The Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team showed incredible fighting spirit to put in a stunning performance during the FIM Endurance World Championship season finale at the Bol d’Or in France, finishing in fourth to secure the title after an epic race.

The YART Yamaha team of Karel Hanika, Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz, and Reserve Rider Robin Mulhauser arrived in France at Circuit Paul Ricard for the final round of the Endurance World Championship (EWC), trailing the championship leaders by 14 points after a sensational season. 

The Austrian squad finished second at the opening round in Le Mans before winning the 24H SPA EWC Motos in superb fashion, their first 24-hour race victory since 2009, which was also the last year they went to win the Endurance World Championship.

Having opened up a substantial lead at the top of the overall standings, they were battling for a podium at the legendary Suzuka 8 Hours before a minor technical issue saw them relegated to dead last within the first two hours. Showing incredible determination and tenacity, the team fought back to finish 22nd overall and 18th in class, securing two vital championship points in the process, but it seemed as though lousy luck might once again deny them the chance to fight for the title.

This meant they arrived in Le Castellet for the Bol d’Or, knowing they had to attack from the off to stand any chance of becoming champions. After showing good pace during the test and Free Practice on their Bridgestone-shod R1, a challenging qualifying saw them have to settle for fourth on the grid for the title decider. 

Ahead of the race, the team revealed the eye-catching special livery they would run that celebrated the 25th anniversary of the iconic R1 superbike, based on the colour scheme of the recently launched Yamaha R1 GYTR Pro Limited Edition. Then, a couple of hours before the lights went out for the race, heavy thunderstorms hit the Côte d’Azur circuit, and a damp but drying track presented the team with a conundrum. 

Play it safe and go for intermediate tyres like the rest of the other five title contenders, or take a risk and go for a full slick setup in the treacherous but drying conditions. Canepa was the rider who took the first stint, and the experienced Italian and the team chose to go with slicks, which proved to be a tactical masterstroke.

While the 35-year-old had to manage the risk during the opening few laps on the still-wet track, within 15 minutes, the surface was fully dry, and he got the hammer down, opening up a lap advantage before the end of his stint as others had to pit to swap tyres. Unfortunately, a safety car meant that his gap at the front was effectively wiped out, and the team had to settle down and do the hard work all over again.

What ensued then was an enthralling battle between the leading three teams, with YART and their two main title rivals swapping the lead consistently at seemingly every pit stop as they constantly battled each other on track, much to the delight of the tens of thousands of French fans who had created an electric atmosphere at the circuit since Thursday. 

Fritz and Hanika continued the excellent pace shown by Canepa at the start, and by the eight-hour mark, the trio were in second place to claim nine championship points, closing the gap to the team leading the standings by one.

As night fell in the South of France, YART continued to push and maintain their lightning pace; then, as the 12-hour mark approached, their main championship rivals were forced to retire, effectively making it a two-way battle for the title between YART and the SERT team. 

Knowing they had a comfortable points cushion over SERT, they decided to conserve their energy and pace around the incredibly demanding circuit, especially down the engine-breaking 1.8km Mistral Straight, taking no risks to ensure they finished. This tactic worked well, and they held a comfortable second position until about eight hours to go in the race. 

As Canepa came into the pits, there were signs that the YART R1 was overheating, and the team spent an extra minute bringing the bike into the box to top up the water in the radiator. Undeterred, Fritz completed his next stint before the team decided to try and address the issue. This saw the German rider bring the bike back into the box again, with the team spending five minutes replenishing the water in the cooling system and trying to diagnose the cause.

Now five laps behind the leaders but three laps ahead of the team in third, and knowing that a top-nine finish would secure them the championship even if SERT won, the team wisely decided to take no chances and, during every pit stop, took the time to check the bike and carry out running repairs to ensure the issue did not become more serious.

Still, as the hours ticked away and they started to lose more and more time, the pressure began to mount. Surely they would not be denied the championship by another cruel piece of bad luck? Fortunately, this would not be the case, as the YART team managed to diagnose the problem, which turned out to be an issue with the water pump and replace it with two hours to go while they were still in fourth.

Knowing they just had to bring it home to claim their second championship as a team, all three riders completed their final stints showing nerves of steel and were utterly faultless the entire race. When they crossed the line at the end of an incredibly nerve-wracking 24 hours, they had maintained fourth and completed 705 laps, 12 behind the winners SERT, but four ahead of the team in fifth. 

The impressive resolve the entire team had shown marked them out as worthy champions, and despite all of the drama, they had managed to secure their second EWC crown by a margin of 20 points, with a total tally of 181, to end the season in spectacular fashion after an incredibly tense finish.

There was more success in France for Yamaha in the Superstock class, as Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore secured a third-place finish in class after ending the race in eighth overall, with the Maco Racing Team in ninth.

The Moto Ain Yamaha EWC Supported Team fought back after some early difficulties to secure 16th, with KM Motos, who were on course for a top-six finish before technical issues in the latter stages, bringing it home in 17th, while it was a race to forget for the Wojcik Racing Team as they retired on just the second lap.

JOLIET, Illinois (September 15, 2023) – This weekend at the Joliet, Illinois, round of the SuperMotocross Finals, Team Honda HRC’s CRF450RWE and CRF250R race bikes are wearing special graphics featuring a pattern created by camouflage-industry leader TrueTimber®. The theme calls attention to American Honda’s co-branded marketing campaign with the brand, a partnership that is highlighted by an “Embrace the Pursuit” Sweepstakes in which the grand prize includes a Honda Pioneer 1000-5 side-by-side featuring TrueTimber’s Atera camo pattern. Other components of the partnership are Honda products to be offered with TrueTimber patterns, as well as an apparel licensing agreement. Members of TrueTimber’s management team are on hand at Chicagoland Speedway to watch the race.

The pattern featured this weekend on the bikes of riders Jett Lawrence, Chase Sexton and Hunter Lawrence (all of whom have already earned AMA Championships this season), is a modified version of TrueTimber’s Viper Urban Camo. Honda coordinated with TrueTimber to add a red tint to the Viper pattern and worked closely with Team Honda HRC graphics partner Throttle Jockey to place it at key locations on the bikes’ radiator shrouds and side panels. In addition, some of the team’s usual red Cycra bodywork has been replaced with black parts.

“We’re excited about this new partnership with TrueTimber, and it will be fun to celebrate it by featuring a modified version of one of the brand’s popular camo patterns on our championship-winning CRF Performance bikes,” said Jeremy McGuire, American Honda Senior Manager of Customer Engagement. “Thanks to our team partners for helping to come up with this striking look, and best of luck to our riders putting it at the front of the pack.”

“This is an exciting addition to our partnership with Honda, and it’s great to continue to see all the creative ways we can collaborate between the two brands,” added TrueTimber CEO Rusty Sellars. “Our relationship with Honda continues to help us reach new customers and make that connection and passion towards the outdoors even more rewarding.”

Team HRC’s Tim Gajser and Ruben Fernandez came fourth and fifth respectively after a morning of heavy rain, left the Maggiora track extremely muddy for the afternoon qualification race.

Given the deluge, the track crew did a fantastic job of getting the surface in decent shape, and although one section was cut-off, the rest of the circuit was much more rideable than it appeared it would be after a good four hours of consistent rain.

After a timed practice session where Gajser was third and Fernandez was seventh, the pair lined up for the qualification race, knowing that a start was crucial on this one-lined track where roost and goggle-conservation would be crucial. And, utilising the power of the Honda CRF450R, both riders were able to do exactly that, getting round the first couple of bends in third and sixth. With Gajser pressuring the rider two riders in front, and Fernandez not too far behind, it was looking like the duo were in position for a great moto.

A few laps later, Gajser had moved into second place and Fernandez was up into fifth, and there was the potential for a really strong finish for both Team HRC riders, however a mistake on the slippery uphill from the #243 when chasing the leader dropped him behind Fernandez and he had to try and regroup from there. Quickly he caught up to his teammate, and after battling for a couple of laps, the pair switched positions so that for the two motos tomorrow, Gajser will have fourth gate-pick and Fernandez will be right after him.

While there is still a little bit more rain forecast on Sunday morning, it shouldn’t be as much as there was today and with an evening to work on the track, the circuit should be in better condition with hopefully a few more lines available for passing. If that turns out to be the case, there is a very real chance that the pair will be fighting for the podium spots at this MXGP of Italy.

It was a rollercoaster of emotion for the Husqvarna Racing team this past weekend at the fifth and final round of the National Cross Country Championship conquering the relentless heat and challenges. In a race marked by adversity, Davin Cocker's remarkable performance in the OR2 class and the team's determination stood as a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence and the sport.

Despite facing a couple of difficulties, Davin Cocker showcased his exceptional riding capabilities and commitment by piloting his Husqvarna FX350 to the top spot in the OR2 class after dealing with setbacks and unfortunately losing the formidable Overall Championship. Clawing his way back from 16th to 12th overall and first in OR2 class in just two laps. Cocker's tenacity and talent ensured that he maintained his remarkable form and secured another victory for round 5, further solidifying his status as a force to be reckoned with in off-road racing.

He commented, “2023 ended with a twist, not necessarily what we wanted but still happy with my end result. I’m super stoked to come away with the victory in OR2 and 2nd in the overall championship. I can’t wait to get back into the racing next year with new changes and improvements, thanks to the Husqvarna Racing team, everyone behind me, and for all the support they give. I couldn’t do it without you all.”

Group Marketing Coordinator, Megan Prinsloo, commended Davin Cocker's remarkable achievement, saying, "Davin's performance in Bloemfontein was nothing short of remarkable. He faced a challenging race with the odds stacked against him, but his determination and skill prevailed. Winning the OR2 class is a testament to his talent and the exceptional capabilities of the Husqvarna FX350."

Ryan Pelser, competing in the OR3 class, having a solid day in the saddle, secured a seventh-place finish. Despite the challenges encountered, Pelser stayed committed to the race and the team to persevere in challenging conditions.

Pelser said, “It was my first time racing in Bloemfontein and it was the fastest race of the season. I enjoyed the Time Trial and finished 3rd in OR3. The main race was fast and challenging. I will work hard to come back stronger!”

Closing off the season Megan Prinsloo commented, “It was a long and hard year of racing, and we are very proud of our riders. We will come back strong and fight for the Overall Championship win next year!”

• Reigning AMA Supercross champ wins both motos in Charlotte
• Jett Lawrence posts a runner-up finish in 450 moto 2 for fourth overall
• Eighth overall for Hunter Lawrence in 250 class 

With Chase Sexton and Jett Lawrence having taken the 2023 450 titles in AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross, respectively, Team Honda HRC seemed to have its bases covered heading into the inaugural SuperMotocross race, held at Charlotte’s zMax Dragway. That’s the way it played out, as Sexton returned to his winning ways, taking the overall victory with impressive 1-1 moto scores. Although Lawrence struggled with his settings in moto 1, he rode impressively in the second outing, and his 7-2 moto scores earned him fourth overall. In the 250 class, Hunter Lawrence suffered from poor starts and inopportune falls, tallying 9-7 moto scores for eighth overall.

Sexton nailed a strong moto 1 start aboard his CRF450RWE and secured the lead on lap 2, then rode smoothly to secure the win. Meanwhile, Jett Lawrence started sixth and lost a position before a lap-6 fall dropped him back to 10^th. He was able to reach seventh by the finish. In moto 2, Sexton was in third place by the completion of lap 1, and he took over the second spot a few laps in, then set about tracking down the leading Ken Roczen. Sexton took over the top spot with six laps remaining and never looked back, earning the overall victory and establishing a healthy points lead. Jett was only eighth one lap in, but he was much faster than in moto 1, moving into the top five with just five laps gone. He was into podium position two laps later, and with three laps remaining, he put an amazing pass on Roczen to secure second place, which he held to the finish.

An 11th-place start presented a challenge for Hunter Lawrence in the first 250 moto, and an early crash made things even worse, with the newly crowned AMA Pro Motocross 250 Champion sitting 21^st after lap 2. He was up to 15th by lap 6, and a burst of speed on the penultimate lap helped him to reach his finishing position of ninth. A turn 1 fall left Hunter in 19^th place in moto 2, but he was up to 15^th by the end of lap 1. He broke into the top 10 on lap 10, and he crossed the finish line in seventh place.

A ‘perfect race’ for Marc Marquez on his way to a hard fought seventh and a return to the top ten ahead of an important Monday Test. Joan Mir focuses on the positives after a fall ends his race early.

The weekend of progress continued inside the Repsol Honda Team garage as the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini reached its climax with the 27-lap Grand Prix on Sunday. As the track temperature crept above 40°C, the MotoGP field set their sights on the challenge ahead.

From ninth on the grid, Marc Marquez made another flying start to establish himself well inside the top ten. By lap nine, he had moved himself up to sixth place where he would sit for the majority of the race as he stalked Maverick Viñales. Only in the final laps would the eight-time MotoGP World Champion be challenged, first by Miguel Oliveira and then by Raul Fernandez and Luca Marini – Marquez fending off the latter two in a fierce final lap battle.

The result is another step in the upward trajectory of Marquez and Honda’s results in recent rounds, the #93 now having taken points in three consecutive races and earning a first top-ten of the year. All involved remain unsatisfied with these results however as the Repsol Honda Team strive to return to challenging at the front of the MotoGP World Championship. Monday’s test will be another important step in this journey with the final in-season MotoGP test taking place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

Joan Mir will also be aiming to make the most of Monday’s running after failing to finish the Grand Prix. The #36 had already been forced to take avoiding action earlier in the race as Pirro and Miller clashed ahead of him, losing the ground he had gained and he ultimatley slipped off at Turn 4. Despite the lack of results, Mir was pleased with the steps he and the team have made over the course of the weekend to improve his feeling on the Honda RC213V machine.

Both Repsol Honda Team riders will be back on track for Monday’s MotoGP test, a chance to sample what Honda HRC engineers have been working on away from the track.

Icing on the cake for the rider of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team with the second position in the race, after the second place in yesterday's Sprint and the provisional P3 in the Championship. Top10 for Luca Marini.

Misano Adriatico (Italy), September 10th 2023 - Marco Bezzecchi scores his eleventh podium of the 2023 season in front of the Italian crowd (6 Sunday race podiums and 5 Sprint race podiums) on the Ducati Desmosedici GP of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team. Incredible result, considering the injury to his left hand, which means the third place the overall standings with 218 points (P2 among the Teams with 353 points). Another Top10 placement for Luca Marini who crosses the finishing line in ninth place.

Immediately together with the leaders and fighting for the podium, Marco is in the slipstream of the leading duo for 18 laps. Protagonist of a beautiful overtaking on Bagnaia 9 laps from the checkered flag, he crosses the finishing line second.

Nice recovery after a complicated start for Luca from the P8. Battling in the group behind the podium for most of the race, he is capable of a great final and finishes by collecting seven points (P7 in the general standings with 135 points). Next appointment for him tomorrow for the official MotoGP test day, while Marco will return to the track directly for the Indian GP to focus on his recovery after the injury. 

The Yamaha Ténéré World Raid Team, in partnership with Riders for Health, continues to rip up the record books, this time after Pol Tarrés secured his maiden rally raid victory and a stunning first win for a twin-cylinder adventure bike at the TransAnatolia with his teammate Alessandro Botturi ensuring they created more history by making at a 1-2.

The 2023 TransAnatolia saw competitors ride over 2,300km in seven days as they traversed from the east to the west coast of Turkey, starting at the Black Sea port of Samsun before ending in Izmir on the Aegean Sea. After the first six days, Tarrés had opened up an advantage of 12 minutes and 14 seconds at the head of the overall general classification over Botturi in second, with a four-minute and 22-second buffer to the rider in third. 

The duo were on the verge of re-writing the record books as they aimed to be the first riders on a twin-cylinder adventure bike competing in the B2 class to win the rally against the 450cc prototypes in the B1 category, but there was all still to play for on the final day.

Saturday’s schedule involved a 18.22km liaison from the bivouac in Simav to the beginning of the 54.94km 14th stage on the Raiders Road. The riders then had a long 198.40km liaison to the start of the final 39.69km special of the rally before a 22.39km liaison to the official podium ceremony.

Having taken the lead in the general classification on Day 3, Tarrés had the unenviable task of leading out the day's first special, as he has on many of the stages during the event. Despite the pressure, the 29-year-old showed no nerves and managed to maintain a good pace without taking any unnecessary risks to finish the stage in fifth. While it was the first time he had not been on the overall stage podium during the rally, his time of 53 minutes and 53 seconds meant he only conceded two minutes and 24 seconds to the winner of the special.

After a long liaison, Tarrés went into stage 15, knowing precisely what he had to do to win his maiden rally. The Andorran rode superbly, once again ensuring he made zero errors to record another fifth-place finish with a time of 40 minutes and 29 seconds, conceding just one minute and 22 seconds to the stage winner. 

This meant that Tarrés, who was not 100% fit coming into the TransAnatolia after suffering a leg injury, had achieved his dream of winning a rally at only the fifth attempt in his fledgeling career. His combined time of 16 hours, 10 minutes, and 10 seconds saw him finish with an 11-minute and seven-second advantage over his teammate in second. Tarrés secured the overall victory in impressive style on his GYRT-kitted Ténéré 700 World Rally, with two special stage victories and a further nine podiums to his name, leaving no doubt he is one to watch in the world of rally raid.

Botturi, competing in his first international rally of 2023, came into the final day after mounting an impressive comeback on Friday. Comfortably in second after the fourth day in the general classification, a crash on day five saw his gap over the rider in third reduced to just 20 seconds. Despite suffering pain in his shoulder, the Italian was determined to secure second for the team. On day six, he showed his fighting spirit to win his first stage of the rally and extend the lead over his nearest rival to four minutes and 22 seconds with just two stages to go.

Heading into Saturday with the goal of maintaining the gap to the rider in third, the 49-year-old used all of his experience to finish the first special of the day in fourth, with a time of 53 minutes and 26 seconds. This left him with a two-minute and 25-second advantage over the rider in third and only the 36.59km final stage left.

Botturi, the winner of the 2014 edition of the TransAnatolia, controlled the final stage brilliantly and powered to his sixth podium of the rally in third, just 42 seconds behind the winner, to ensure a dramatic end to the day and a momentous 1-2 for Yamaha and the team in the overall general classification. His final combined time was 16 hours, 21 minutes and 17 seconds, which saw him end the event one minute and 43 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.

The Yamaha Ténéré World Raid Team’s epic 1-2 in Turkey has been the perfect preparation for the next rally on their agenda, the 2023 Africa Eco Race, which retraces the original routes of the Paris-Dakar in the 1970s and takes place between the 30th of December 2023 – 14th of January 2023.

The ninth round of the 2023 Superbike World Championship has now concluded for Team HRC at the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit in France, with rider Xavi Vierge placing ninth in today’s races and Iker Lecuona eleventh in Race 2.

After a constructive warm-up, the team was ready for the morning’s ten-lap Superpole race. Lining up on the grid in the positions they earned during yesterday’s qualifying, Lecuona got away from fourteenth and Vierge from sixteenth. Xavi made a lightning start, passing a number of riders to move straight into ninth place. The Spaniard’s lap times improved as the race went on, with the rider able to hold ninth all the way to the line and earn a spot three rows further forward on the Race 2 grid.

Iker was unable to gain ground off the line but did his best to maintain contact with the riders immediately ahead. Although the sprint format of the race means that the gaps between riders are quick to open up and very tough to close, Lecuona worked to gradually increase his pace. Thirteenth by mid-race, Iker pushed to pass a rider in the final stages and cross the line twelfth as a result.

The second 21-lap Superbike race ran in particularly hot conditions (air temp. 35°C, track temp. 51°C) and according to schedule, with the lights going out at 3.15pm local time (CEST). Thanks to his result in the morning’s sprint, Vierge lined up in ninth spot on the grid, Lecuona from fifteenth. While Xavi placed eleventh through the opening stages of the race, his team-mate Iker was lying seventeenth. Lecuona suffered a crash on lap four, but the race was simultaneously red-flagged following an incident for two other riders. Quick to react, Iker remounted his bike and pitted, while his team was immediately ready to take care of his bike. Working at lightning speed, the crew was able to get their rider back on his bike and on track for the quick restart procedure in a matter of minutes.

The race was restarted just a short time later and shortened to seventeen laps. Vierge made a strong start and was in seventh through the first corners, with Lecuona lying fifteenth. Demonstrating better pace than the riders immediately ahead of him, Iker progressed to twelfth place by lap seven, while Xavi remained in a group of riders battling for seventh place for the entirety of the race. He finally had to settled for ninth through the very last corner, but it was in any case a positive result, for two top ten finishes in the day’s races. Iker also achieved a solid eleventh place finish after a challenging start to the weekend.

With nine championship rounds now complete, Vierge currently lies tenth in the general standings with 117 points, Lecuona thirteenth with a tally of 94. Next up for Team HRC is round ten of the Superbike World Championship, set to take place over the weekend of 22-24 September at Motorland Aragón in Spain.

Luca will be a rider of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team also in 2024 on the Ducati Desmosedici GP.

Misano Adriatico (Italy), September 7th 2023 – Luca Marini and the Mooney VR46 Racing Team will be together again in 2024. A choice of continuity for Luca, in the orbit of the Tavullia Team since 2018 and the first rider to wear the VR46 colors in MotoGP (Season 2021).

Joining the Moto2 Team in 2018, Luca links the key moments of his sporting career to this crew. First podium (GermanGP 2018) and the second place in the Championship in 2020 in the middle category (result also enhanced by the Team title).

Currently seventh in the general standings (125 points), Luca is among the most solid riders in MotoGP. Constantly in the Top10, once on the podium (P2 AmericasGP, plus P3 in the Sprint at ArgentinaGP) he will be lined up at the start of the new season on the Ducati Desmosedici GP.