Cycle News Staff | October 28, 2023
2023 Thailand MotoGP News—Saturday
Honda to OK Marquez Valencia test
Honda has given permission for Marc Marquez to test the Gresini Ducati at the crucial post-race test at Valencia on November 28th.
Repsol Honda Team Manager Alberto Puig confirmed HRC would not stand in Marquez’s way, giving him a significant advantage in adapting to the Desmosedici. “There will be no objection from Honda’s side,” Puig revealed.
For his part, Marquez was thankful of the decision. “It’s great news,” he said. “I want to say thanks to Honda and all the staff because they allowed me. For a rider it’s very important because it’s not just a one-day test; it’s a two-month test. If not, you go on holidays in December and January without trying the bike. For a rider that’s like a nightmare. At least, I will have the first chance to understand the new riding style.”
New seat unit for Espargaro
Thailand was one of Aprilia’s worst tracks in 2022. But both Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales were competitive through practice, with the former qualifying on the front row and fighting among the podium contenders in the Sprint.
One of the reasons? Espargaro was using a new swingarm the factory had brought to Thailand. Another? A new seat unit was brought from Noale, which moves the rider further back on the bike, in a bid to put more weight over the rear tire and increase the RS-GP’s stopping capabilities.
“At home we have one department that’s trying to compare with our rivals, analyzing by photos, videos,” Espargaro revealed. “It’s clear one our weakest points is stopping performance. It looks like we are not sitting in the right position. We’re not putting enough weight on the rear tire. So I tried a different seat to see if I can bring my body closer to the rear tire.”
Morbidelli v Oliveira
There were several memorable battles in Saturday’s Sprint. But none were as dramatic as Franco Morbidelli and Miguel Oliveira’s Turn 3 clash on the first lap, an incident which left both men dealing with the airbags in their respective racing suits deployed.
“He gave me a big hit,” said Morbidelli of the incident. “I overtook him in Turn 3, and then I went a bit wide, and when I came back, he was … basically I didn’t feel he was there, I felt that he just didn’t care about who was on the outside.”
Oliveira explained, “Morbidelli overtook me, took me wide and I made the comeback but then so did (Maverick) Viñales on both of us. He hit me, I hit Morbidelli and broke my wing, the airbag went off. For half a lap it was not ideal! I My airbag had a lot of air and I am not a big guy, I’m short and the thing is full of air! It’s like riding a naked bike because you get all this wind and you cannot do much but half a lap later it was all OK.”
2023 Thailand MotoGP Results—MotoGP Sprint
The pressure is well and truly back on for reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as key title rival Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) bounced back from Australian GP disappointment to take a statement Tissot Sprint victory at the OR Thailand Grand Prix. That brings the gap down from 27 to just 18 points, with Bagnaia only managing P7 on Saturday… meaning the Championship lead goes back on the table on Sunday.
There was more to the Sprint than a Martin masterclass, however, as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) duelled Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and was then able to close the gap the winner to less than a second. Headlines were made just behind that battle too as Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) made a stunning final corner dive on Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) for fourth.
As the lights went out, it wasn’t the best start for Martin but it was enough for the number 89 to head off a Turn 1 charge from Marini. From there it was hammer down for the Spaniard, with the Mooney VR46 machine denied and settling into second ahead of Aleix Espargaro and Binder, who had moved up into fourth.
The bigger drama was for Bagnaia as he dropped down to ninth, and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) also had a tougher start as he was pushed wide and lost out too. The big winner? Marc Marquez as he moved up into fifth early doors.
The first big moves saw Aleix Espargaro attack Marini but find the door shut, a problem not encountered by Binder soon after as the KTM shot past the Aprilia, up into third. That set up what would become the duel behind Martin, with the number 33 tailgating Marini lap after lap.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez was on the move. A brilliant dive up the inside of Aleix Espargaro saw the number 93 take over in fourth, but the number 41 repaid the favour not long after to take it back and then extend a little – very little – breathing space.
Up at the front, Martin was starting to build his own clear air. The number 89 was edging away tenth by tenth, with Marini still holding on ahead of Binder and the KTM looking a little impatient with it.
With Martin over 1.5s up the road, Marini and Binder were left to battle it out as the laps ticked away. Binder was all over the back of the VR46 machine but couldn’t find a way through until eight laps to go. The South African made a first move but headed wide, with Marini slicing straight back through. Next lap around though, it was time for take two. The KTM shot through at the final corner and the two headed side-by-side down the straight, mission accomplished and a new one unlocked: hold Marini off.
The Italian latched himself onto the back of the KTM ahead as Aleix Espargaro also joined the party, shadowing Marini’s every move, and the same was true of Marc Marquez harrying Bezzecchi just behind.
Bagnaia, down in P7, was the rider on the move in terms of pace though, homing in on the VR46-MM93 duel. Before he arrived, Marc Marquez was able to make a move stick on Bezzecchi though, and from there the Repsol Honda headed off on the chase behind Aleix Espargaro.
Over a second clear as the final lap began, the number 41 then made a big mistake and all of sudden he had Marc Marquez for more than close company. The number 93 was side by side by side with the Aprilia but denied, leaving it all going down to the final corner.
As Martin crossed the line just under a second clear of Binder and Marini secured third, the focus shifted to the final apex. Marc Marquez was right on Aleix Espargaro and Bagnaia was right on Bezzecchi, and it looked like it could be two parallel lunges as the four riders all dropped anchor. However, it was only the Repsol Honda who decided to go for it and he made it stick, nabbing fourth from Aleix Espargaro and holding it to the line as Bezzecchi held off Bagnaia in the fight for sixth.
Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) came home eighth after getting his own elbows out both in the group and against Phillip Island winner Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), with the Frenchman forced to settle for ninth. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) just missed out on a point in P10.
2023 Thailand MotoGP Results—MotoGP Sprint Race
| 1 | Jorge Martin | (Prima Pramac Racing) | |
| 2 | Brad Binder | (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) | +0.933 |
| 3 | Luca Marini | (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) | +1.841 |
| 4 | Marc Marquez | (Repsol Honda Team) | +3.503 |
| 5 | Aleix Espargaro | (Aprilia Racing) | +3.581 |
| 6 | Marco Bezzecchi | (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) | +4.029 |
| 7 | Francesco Bagnaia | (Ducati Lenovo Team) | +4.121 |
| 8 | Alex Marquez | (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) | +6.727 |
| 9 | Johann Zarco | (Prima Pramac Racing) | +7.323 |
| 10 | Jack Miller | (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) | +9.240 |
2023 Thailand Moto2 Results—Saturday
It’s back-to-back pole positions for Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) after his 1:35.371 saw him top the timesheets in Moto2™ qualifying at the OR Thailand Grand Prix, denying title protagonist Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as the number 37 is forced to settle for second on the grid ahead of his first match point. Albert Arenas (Red Bull KTM Ajo) nabbed the final spot on the front row, denying Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) by 0.020s.
Home hero Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) rounds out the top five as he guns for glory, with Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing) on row two after more impressive pace. The third row of the grid went to Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp), Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team), and Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team), with Arbolino in the spotlight as he needs to finish better than tenth if Acosta wins. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) rounds out the top ten on the grid.
2023 Thailand Moto2 Results—Saturday Times
| 1 | Fermin Aldeguer | (Speed Up Racing) | 1:35.371 |
| 2 | Pedro Acosta | (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | +0.177 |
| 3 | Albert Arenas | (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | +0.319 |
| 4 | Aron Canet | (Pons Wegow Los40) | +0.339 |
| 5 | Somkiat Chantra | (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) | +0.417 |
| 6 | Marcos Ramirez | (American Racing) | +0.452 |
| 7 | Alonso Lopez | (SpeedUp Racing) | +0.557 |
| 8 | Tony Arbolino | (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) | +0.592 |
| 9 | Jake Dixon | (GASGAS Aspar Team) | +0.594 |
| 10 | Joe Roberts | (Italtrans Racing Team) | +0.599 |
2023 Thailand Moto3 Results—Saturday
Pole position at the OR Thailand Grand Prix went the way of Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) after the Turkish rider put down an impressive 1:42.061. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider already took the all-time lap record in Practice and was just a tenth shy of it in Q2 which was just enough to clinch pole. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) will line up alongside the Turk as the young Brazilian missed out pole by just 0.057s to finish in P2, and rounding out the front row will be second in the Championship Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), whose lap time was just 0.001s shy of Moreira.
Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), meanwhile, is down in P7.
Ryusei Yamanaka (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) took 4th place after missing out on the front row by just 0.093s. The Japanese rider crashed late in the session, but was declared fit after a check up. He is set to head row two ahead of Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), the latter another faller in Q2 and from a hot lap. Rider ok.
Masia is next up in seventh, and the Championship leader also came across Yellow Flags late on. Joining the Spaniard on row three will be his teammate Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) and Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), with David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) rounding out the top 10 and title challenger Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) down in P11.
2023 Thailand Moto3 Results—Saturday Times
| 1 | Deniz Öncü | (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:42.061 |
| 2 | Diogo Moreira | (MT Helmets – MSI) | +0.057 |
| 3 | Ayumu Sasaki | (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) | +0.058 |
| 4 | Ryusei Yamanaka | (GASGAS Aspar Team) | +0.164 |
| 5 | Collin Veijer | (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) | +0.257 |
| 6 | Taiyo Furusato | (Honda Team Asia) | +0.410 |
| 7 | Jaume Masia | (Leopard Racing) | +0.413 |
| 8 | Adrian Fernandez | (Leopard Racing) | +0.440 |
| 9 | Jose Rueda | (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | +0.462 |
| 10 | David Muñoz | (BOE Motorsports) | +0.470 |
2023 Thailand MotoGP—Friday News
Tensions mount between factory and satellite Ducatis?
As the title fight intensifies, it would appear Jorge Martin’s comments that he faces less pressure than Francesco Bagnaia due to the fact he’s in a satellite team have riled members of the factory squad.
Speaking in the Italian newspaper La Gazetta dello Sport, Bagnaia’s crew chief Cristian Gabarrini said, “It’s easy to be on a factory team dressed as a satellite and have all the benefits of the factory team without the drawbacks, primarily pressure. Martín, whatever happens, will have done well. But Pramac is a factory team.”
On Friday there was an indication Pramac was fired up to get one over on their factory rivals. “We made some mistakes but the bad news for the red guys is we’re much more ready for the fighting,” said Team Manager Gino Borsoi. “We are much stronger than before Phillip Island.”
Di Giannantonio edging toward Repsol Honda deal
Fabio Di Giannantonio is edging toward a one-year deal with Repsol Honda in 2024 after Miguel Oliveira ruled himself out of the running. The Portuguese star had previously indicated he was interested in replacing Marc Marquez.
But it’s understood Oliveira was keen on a two-year deal, when Repsol Honda was only keen on offering one. Asked if he was in talks with Honda on Thursday, he replied: “No, we are not.”
As Iker Lecuona was confirmed to stay in Honda’s WorldSBK program, the coast is now clear for Di Giannantonio. “I think in the next couple of weeks we will know something better,” he said, while admitting his personal manager was Thailand bound. “When you do a good job, your manager has to present you as a guy with a podium,” he said of his Australian GP heroics. “I’m trying to help him to help me find a seat for next year.”
Rins absent again
After withdrawing from the Australian MotoGP on Saturday due to a persistent pain in his right leg, Alex Rins was absent once again in Thailand after undergoing minor surgery on Thursday. The Spaniard underwent tests in Madrid, which revealed a small hernia near the fibula area, which more than likely led to the pain he was feeling.
Rins’ persistent leg injury problems since June are a worry for Yamaha, who is counting on him to provide able backup for Fabio Quartararo in 2024. On the health of his future teammate, the Frenchman said there is no rush for Rins to return.
“The health is more important than the bike so I wish that he can be back 100 percent with the leg,” he said. “I don’t know how bad is the surgery but to come back too early is never really good. So to not be in Valencia test for him and for us won’t be a massive change. The most important is that he is 100 percent.”
2023 Thailand MotoGP Results—Friday
Day 1 of the OR Thailand Grand Prix was seriously close. Despite the tiny margins, however, Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin took to the top of the pile once more, fastest in both sessions on Friday and that despite a late tumble too. His stunning 1:28.826 is just two-tenths shy of the all-time lap record. The Aprilia Racing duo are looking very strong as well, with Maverick Viñales finishing the day just 0.098s from Martin and Aleix Espargaro only another 0.062s back. The top three were split by just 0.160s.
With Friday afternoon’s Practice session deciding who goes through to Q2, the riders spent the majority of the session working on their race packages before engaging in full time-attack mode.
Martin got his flyer in right in the closing stages and demoted the Aprilias down a spot each. The Spaniard then went from hero to zero just after, however, after a Turn 3 mistake saw his Prima Pramac machine skating through the gravel trap.
Martin’s teammate was another who improved right at the end. Fresh from finally tasting victory in the premier class, Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) showed good promise as he finished just 0.020s shy of the top three.
Next up was the Mooney VR46 Racing Team duo of Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi. Both still recovering from injury, both riders picked up automatic Q2 positions in 5th and 6th respectively.
Reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) looked like he could be under a little pressure, but the #1 ultimately finished the day in seventh. it’s not the top of the timesheets, but it’s the first time in three Grands Prix that the Championship leader will be going directly into Q2 as he ensures himself a sligtly less stressful Saturday morning.
The Yamahas also showed decent potential in Thailand. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) consistently kept himself within the top ten and finished the day in P8, saying a good qualifying could see him fight for the podium, ahead of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and rookie Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3).
Q1 is set to be a tense affair as always with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) being the first rider to miss out on Q2. The number 93 also go caught out by a rogue wing from Martin’s machine – check out the video below.
The eight-time Champion will have to battle it out with Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), recent form Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), and Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) to decide who will take the final two Q2 spots. The whole grid is split by just 1.2 seconds.
2023 Thailand MotoGP Results—Friday Times
| 1 | Jorge Martin | (Prima Pramac Racing) | 1:29.826 |
| 2 | Maverick Viñales | (Aprilia Racing) | +0.098 |
| 3 | Aleix Espargaro | (Aprilia Racing) | +0.160 |
| 4 | Johann Zarco | (Prima Pramac Racing) | +0.180 |
| 5 | Luca Marini | (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) | +0.199 |
| 6 | Marco Bezzecchi | (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) | +0.208 |
| 7 | Francesco Bagnaia | (Ducati Lenovo Team) | +0.243 |
| 8 | Fabio Quartararo | (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) | +0.248 |
| 9 | Brad Binder | (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) | +0.295 |
| 10 | Augusto Fernandez | (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) | +0.304 |
2023 Thailand Moto2 Results—Friday Times
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Pedro Acosta made his intentions known on Day 1 of the OR Thailand Grand Prix as he sets his sights on wrapping up the 2023 Moto2™ title. After topping Practice 1, the Spaniard went even quicker in Practice 2 as his 1:35.985 saw him snatch the top spot once more, but by just 0.014s. Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing) was the closest to the Championship leader. The Spaniard put in an impressive Day 1 performance as he joined Acosta in the 1:35 club to finish P2 ahead of Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp).
Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) is looking determined as he runs a special livery on his Triumph-powered Moto2™ machine at his home Grand Prix (see below!). The Thai rider bagged P4 on Day 1 as he sits just 0.189s away from the top spot.
Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) rounded out the top five ahead of Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) who had a positive start to his weekend in P6. Ai Ogura (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) was 0.029s back from the Brit in P7 with Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) taking 8th. Dennis Foggia (Italtrans Racing Team) put in an impressive time to finish 3rd in Practice 1, and although the Italian failed to improve in Practice 2 his time held strong as he bagged P9 ahead of compatriot and Championship challenger Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team), who rounded out the top ten.
2023 Thailand Moto2 Results—Friday Times
| 1 | Pedro Acosta | (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | 1:35.985 |
| 2 | Marcos Ramírez | (American Racing) | +0.014 |
| 3 | Fermín Aldeguer | (Speed Up Racing) | +0.020 |
| 4 | Arón Canet | (Pons Wegow Los40) | +0.209 |
| 5 | Somkiat Chantra | (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) | +0.255 |
| 6 | Jake Dixon | (GASGAS Aspar Team) | +0.298 |
| 7 | Ai Ogura | (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) | +0.327 |
| 8 | Manuel González | (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) | +0.369 |
| 9 | Dennis Foggia | (Italtrans Racing Team) | +0.438 |
| 10 | Tony Arbolino | (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) | +0.600 |
2023 Thailand Moto3 Results—Friday
Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) put in an impressive day’s work to open the weekend’s Moto3™ action at the OR Thailand Grand Prix. The Spaniard’s 1:42.318 saw him improve his Practice 1 time by just 0.001s, but was more than enough to secure him top honors on Day 1. David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) was also looking very strong and made a big step in Practice 2, putting himself into P2 as he got to grips with Buriram. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI), winner in Indonesia, bounced back from a tough Australian GP as he secured a top three on Day 1 in Thailand.
Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) had another strong showing as the rookie found himself just 0.073s away from the top three in P4. Ryusei Yamanaka (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) has looked strong from the off too, and the Japanese rider rounded out the top five with Australian GP winner Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and first time podium finisher at Phillip Island, Joel Kelso (CFMOTO Racing PrüstelGP), slotting in just behind in 6th and 7th.
Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) had a solid day at the office as he took P8. The Spaniard was 0.602s slower than his title rival Masia, but does currently have 0.140s over another key rival, Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), who finished in P10 just behind Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse).
2023 Thailand Moto3 Results—Friday Times
| 1 | Jaume Masia | (Leopard Racing) | 1:42.318 |
| 2 | David Alonso | (GASGAS Aspar Team) | +0.112 |
| 3 | Diogo Moreira | (MT Helmets – MSI) | +0.237 |
| 4 | Collin Veijer | (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) | +0.310 |
| 5 | Ryusei Yamanaka | (GASGAS Aspar Team) | +0.427 |
| 6 | Deniz Öncü | (Red Bull KTM Ajo) | +0.555 |
| 7 | Joel Kelso | (CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP) | +0.573 |
| 8 | Daniel Holgado | (Red Bull KTM Tech3) | +0.602 |
| 9 | Ricardo Rossi | (SIC58 Squadra Corse) | +0.711 |
| 10 | Ayumu Sasaki | (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) | +0.742 |
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