Dani Pedrosa to be named MotoGP™ Legend in Valencia

As decided by the Permanent Bureau formed by FIM President Vito Ippolito and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, three-time World Champion Dani Pedrosa will become a MotoGP™ Legend when he hangs up his leathers, with the Spaniard set to be inducted into the MotoGP™ Legends Hall of Fame at the season finale at Valencia. Pedrosa won the 125 Championship in 2003, the 250 title in 2004 and 2005, and is one of the most successful riders of all time in the premier class.

Pedrosa’s international career began in 2001 in the 125 World Championship. As a rookie, he took two podiums and finished his first season within the top ten overall in eighth. The following year he took his first wins – three of them – to finish the season third overall, before he went two better in 2003 and won his first title with five wins.

Despite breaking both his ankles in a crash at the end of 2003, the ‘Little Samurai’ then moved up to the 250 World Championship for 2004 – and won on his debut. At 18 years and 202 days old Pedrosa became the youngest rider to win in the class, and it was on his way to becoming the youngest ever intermediate class World Champion at 19 years and 18 days old. In 2005, he defended the crown.

2006 marked Pedrosa’s debut in the premier class. On the podium first time out in Jerez and then needing only four races to take his first win when he took to the top step in Shanghai, one of the most successful premier class riders ever had arrived on the scene. He took another win in his rookie year, at Donington Park, and ended the year in the top five.

In 2007 Pedrosa was second overall to only Casey Stoner and added more wins and podiums to his tally, and he was in the top three in the Championship in 2008 – despite breaking his right hand in pre-season testing and sitting out the US GP after injuring his left hand at the German GP. In 2009 he managed the same top three despite more struggles with injury, and in 2010 was runner-up once again. 2011 was another battle through the pain barrier, before an incredible assault on the title in 2012 that saw the Spaniard only narrowly miss out on the crown – and win the most races that year.

In 2013 Pedrosa was leading the standings before a collarbone break and was third overall, and in 2014 he suffered with arm problems throughout the season and despite that, took another win. 2015 began with career-saving surgery to fix the problem, and Pedrosa was back on the top step towards the end of the year at Motegi and at Sepang. In 2016 he won at Misano as he destroyed the field, and 2017 saw him make another piece of history as he took to the top step in the 3000th race counting towards the World Championship, in Jerez. He also won the season finale in style, underlining an incredible achievement: he’s the first rider in history to win at least one Grand Prix per season for 16 consecutive years.

After taking the third most podiums of all time behind only Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini, Pedrosa retires at the end of 2018 – and will now join the ranks of MotoGP™ Legends.

“Dani Pedrosa is a true great,” says Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports. “A World Champion on 125cc and 250cc machinery and one of the most successful riders we’ve ever had the pleasure of watching, Pedrosa has contributed an incredible amount to the world of motorcycle racing over a long and distinguished career in MotoGP. With a legacy that includes his incredible winning run over so many years, and so many wins and podium finishes, we’re very proud that he will be inducted as a MotoGP Legend.”

Pedrosa will join a long list of greats that have been or will be made MotoGP™ Legends that includes Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Geoff Duke, Wayne Gardner, Mike Hailwood, Daijiro Kato, Eddie Lawson, Anton Mang, Angel Nieto, Wayne Rainey, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kenny Roberts, Jarno Saarinen, Kevin Schwantz, Barry Sheene, Marco Simoncelli, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, John Surtees, Carlo Ubbiali, Alex Crivillé, Franco Uncini, Marco Lucchinelli, Randy Mamola, Kork Ballington and the late Nicky Hayden.

Testing kicks the inaugural British Talent Cup season into gear

The inaugural British Talent Cup will soon be underway, with two days of testing giving the class of 2018 their first track time ahead of the first race weekend at the end of March. The test days are the 5th and 6th of March, with the Official Test taking place at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia.

Valencia is 4km long with five right- and nine left-handed corners, set in a natural amphitheatre just outside the village of Cheste. Spectators can see most of the track from every seat – a unique claim to fame on the MotoGP™ and BTC calendars – and later in the year it could see the first ever British Talent Cup Champion crowned as it hosts the final race of the season.

23 riders will be lining up this year, from both the UK and Ireland. Chosen during the first ever selection event ahead of the 2017 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the Valencia test will now be their first taste of what’s to come. It will also be the first time the class of 2018 test their Honda NSF250R Moto3™ machinery, all on track together.

Who will be the first ever British Talent Cup and take a step forward on their Road to MotoGP™? The first BTC test will begin to tell us the answer, on the 5th and 6thMarch.

Jorge Navarro and Federal oil Gresini Moto2 Team start 2018 season

After a learning year in the middleweight class for Jorge Navarro, Team Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 prepares for an important new year of racing with higher expectations and goals.

2017 was an up-and-down year for Navarro, with great performances like in Montmeló. Sachsenring and Aragón; he also endured difficult moments such as the injury suffered at Phillip Island, which kept Navarro away from racing for a whole month during the final leg of the season.

This is all part of a learning curve that will enable Team Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 to step up in 2018, a year that has started in an encouraging way after two positive tests at Valencia and Jerez de la Frontera, the latter of which will also host the final pre-season IRTA test in a week’s time.

JORGE NAVARRO:

“I think the season has started in a positive way. We weren’t looking for the absolute performance but instead for the right feeling with the bike – without taking too many unnecessary risks. Our second Moto2 season comes with higher and more ambitious goals: we will need to be among the top 7-8 on the grid and if we manage to be consistent I’m sure the results will come sooner rather than later. The team has grown and so did I, and we learned from our mistakes from last year. I feel very comfortable with the team both on the technical and human sides and I think this will only help our cause. First and foremost, I would like to thank the managing side of the squad – Fausto and Carlo – but also all the sponsors that make all of this possible. I will give my 110% as always to allow team and bike to be in the positions they deserve to be. We now have to focus on the IRTA test, where we will surely push a bit harder before what will be an exciting season!”

 
FAUSTO GRESINI:

“This is going to be Navarro’s second season in the series, so the goal is to build on the results from last year, where we suffered a bit too much in the final part. We want to be among the fastest and I’m sure we can be consistently within the top-10 this season. Jorge has the age and the experience to get this type of results. He’s still not 100% fit, but we hope he’ll get better before Qatar. One year of experience with the Federal Oil Team Gresini and with the Kalex machine will pay dividends I’m sure, so I’m confident we will get some good results. I would also like to thank Federal Oil for being a parter of Gresini Racing for such a long time; there’s also a wider group of Indonesian companies that have adhered to this project with great passion and enthusiasm – something that makes me proud. I hope we won’t disappoint and that we’ll get the results we’re expecting.”

Martin and Pasini start 2018 on top

Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) made a habit of going fast in 2017 as he took pole in half the races, and 2018 has begun much the same for the Spaniard as he took to the top in testing. But expected key rival Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) made it far from easy, ending the three days of Official testing just 0.095 in arrears. Behind the two Hondas at the top, Italian sophomore Marco Bezzechi (PruestelGP) kept KTM close behind, 0.007 further back.

It was a tight first test for the Moto3™ field despite early delays and some difficult conditions. After Tuesday was affected by rain, cold temperatures then delayed action on both subsequent days – but warmer afternoons allowed the paddock to get down to work for the first Official Test of 2018.

Behind the top three, the gaps didn’t get any bigger. Day 2 crasher Aron Canet (EG 0,0) was fourth overall and only 0.017 off Bezzecchi, with exactly the same gap back to Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) in fifth as the Italian gets up to speed quickly in his new team, much like compatriot Bastianini. Philipp Oettl (Südmetall Schedl GP Racing) broke the Spanish and Italian dominion at the top in six, with the German on the Austrian bike a tenth and a half further back.

Caballito

Tony Arbolino (Marinelli Snipers Team) was eighth quickest, ahead of Albert Arenas (Angel Nieto Team Moto3) despite a crash, and Alonso Lopez (EG 0,0) was impressive on his debut; the Spaniard the quickest rookie. Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Skull Rider) was tenth overall, having gone quickest on Day 2 ad that laptime putting him in P10 on the combined.

Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) was P11, ahead of another sophomore in the form of 2017 Rookie of the Year Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing). Just behind him was compatriot, rookie and reigning Red Bull Rookies Cup Champion Kazuki Masaki (RBA BOE Skull Rider), by only 0.031, with Andrea Migno (Angel Nieto Team Moto3) even closer in P14. The 2017 Mugello winner was only 0.001 off the Japanese rookie. Livio Loi (Reale Stylobike) completed the fastest fifteen.

Meanwhile in Moto2™, Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) set the fastest lap of the intermediate class runners with a 1:35.779 – but only just. The Italian finished up track action only 0.016 ahead of compatriot Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP 40), with Simone Corsi (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2) completing an Italian triple at the top, only a further tenth off despite a crash.

Behind the three Kalex machines at the top, the winner of the final three races of 2017 struck back for KTM. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) kept the Austrian factory high on the timesheets for the majority of the test, and put in a 1:36.146 as his best to end Day 3 just two tenths back on the top three. Teammate Brad Binder, after struggling with injury during preseason last year as a Moto2™ rookie, begins 2017 healthy and also had a solid best lap, putting in a 1:36.729 to complete the top ten on the timesheets.

Behind Oliveira, however, was an impressive first outing in 2018 for Isaac Viñales (SAG Team). The Spaniard was less than a tenth off the KTM ahead of him, but also had compatriot Hector Barbera for close company behind – with the second Pons HP 40 machine only 0.037 in arrears. Barbera is a rookie in Moto2™ but far from it in the intermediate class, having raced in the 250 World Championship before moving up to MotoGP™. Now the Spaniard faces a new challenge and began 2018 on the back foot after suffering with illness on the first day of the Official Test, but once back out Barbera was quickly back up the timesheets.

Marcel Schrötter and new Dynavolt Intact GP teammate Xavi Vierge took P7 and P8 on combined times, with Vierge adapting well to life on a Kalex, ahead of another rider adapting well to a change of a different kind: Romano Fenati. Fenati moves up to Moto2™ this year with the Marinelli Snipers Team, and the Italian was within a second of the best lap set by veteran compatriot Pasini at the top.

Behind Binder completing the top ten, Fabio Quartararo was the fastest Speed Up in P11; less than a tenth off the KTM ahead of him and half a tenth quicker than the Tech 3 of rookie Dutchman Bo Bendsneyder behind him. In an incredibly tight midfield on the timesheets, American rookie Joe Roberts (NTS RW Racing GP) was P13 as he prepares for his first full season, impressing as he completed the sessions as quickest NTS rider. Teammate Steven Odendaal, the 2016 European Moto2™ Champion, was just over a tenth off his teammate, however, making for an impressive first showing for the new NTS chassis on the 2018 timesheets.

Separating the two NTS machines, sophomore Jorge Navarro (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) was P14 and Australian Remy Gardner (Tech 3) fifteenth. The final manufacturer represented in the Moto2™ field this season is Suter, and Stefano Manzi (Forward Racing Team) took P19 as the Forward Team adjust to the bike, making it all six Moto2™ manufacturers in the top 20.

Now it’s next stop Jerez for the lightweight and intermediate classes, with action beginning again on the 12th February.

Best Lap Times (3 days combined)

Moto2:

Moto2™ Official Test Valencia 8th February Combined Standings Days 1-2-3 PDF

Moto3

Moto3™ Official Test Valencia 8th February Combined Standings Days 1-2-3 PDF

Valencia NASCAR Fest 2018

The Ricardo Tormo Circuit celebrates the Valencia NASCAR Fest on April 14 and 15. The only race in Spain of the popular American series. An opportunity for the whole family to enjoy a day of action at the Circuit. With kids activities in the paddock and a great offer of leisure and fun for everyone.The Valencia Circuit will inaugurate the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series forth session on April 14 and 15. The championship will be held in six European circuits with twelve rounds, and has consolidated the NASCAR Euro as one of the best motorsport series away from North America. The 2018 NASCAR calendar includes races in Spain, Italy, Great Britain, France, Germany and Belgium.Tickets (from 15€)In addition to the four NASCAR races, 2 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday, the Circuit will also hold races of the Spanish Endurance and GT Championship, the new Kobe Circuit Cup, we will have our Inflatable Castles for kids, the food trucks and much more fun.

Racing Legends 2018

Ricardo Tormo Circuit celebrates the 3rd and 4th of March the fifth edition of its concentration of classic vehicles, the Racing Legends 2018. The best way to enjoy a remember weekend with an eye on the past and also in the future.


Tickets are already on sale for only 10 euros per day, or € 15 all weekend. But there are many ways to participate, you can come to see the exhibition of classic cars and motorcycles or you can exhibit your own more than 25 years old vehicle.

Participation

Fans who have classic vehicles will have the opportunity to exhibit them. Only with the purchase of the ticket, cars and motorcycles prior to 1993 can be exhibited in the paddock without any cost.

Hundreds of motorcycles and classic cars, prior to 1993, will fill the paddock and the Circuit track with activity, as well as several classic truck collections that will be showed in Cheste.Time Table (comming soon)

FIM CEV Repsol 2020

Entering its 21th season, the excitement, passion and speed of FIM CEV Repsol racing will arrive to Ricardo Tormo Circuit twice during 2020 with the biggest young riders on two wheels.

Moto3 Junior World Championship, Moto2 European Championship, Hawkers European Talent Cup and European Kawasaki Z Cup usually offer free access racing show to all fans but this year we will celebrate the races behing clodes doors on October 31st and November 1st, just one week before the European and the Comunitat Valenciana Grand Prixes

July 7th Circuito do Estoril
Julu 14th Circuito do Algarve
August 29th and 30th Circuito de Jerez Ángel Nieto
October 3rd and 4th Motorland Aragón
Oct. 31st and Nov. 1st CIRCUIT RICARDO TORMO

Valencia Grand Prix

The Circuit Ricardo Tormo celebrates, as every year, the Motorcycling World Championship last races. The Motul Comunitat Valenciana Grand Prix will take place in Cheste (Valencia) on 2018 November 16, 17 and 18. The Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP categories will decide their titles in Valencia. In addition, the traditional award ceremony of the FIM will be held.TicketsVIP LoungesBest riders in the world will meet once again at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo for the final round. More than a hundred thousand people will enjoy the great final party of the Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP  World Championships.

The fans will be the protagonists of the best weekend of the year in Cheste.

Valentino Rossi, Marc Márquez, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, Maverick Viñales, Héctor Barberá, Jorge Navarro, Iker Lecuona, Álex Márquez, Franco Morbidelli, Arón Canet, Joan Mir, Jorge Martín, Johann Zarco, Romano Fenati and many more in the 20th Motul Valencia Grand Prix edition

Marquez crowned Champion as Pedrosa wins dramatic race

In a stunningly dramatic and tense #FinalShowdown at Valencia, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) took his sixth world title and fourth MotoGP™ World Championship despite a huge front end moment into Turn 1 and a run off track, coming home third in the race to defend his crown. Title rival Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) similarly suffered a run off from P4, but the Italian was unable to save it and sadly crashed out of contention in the race and Championship.

At the front, the race was a duel to the line between Repsol Honda Team’s Dani Pedrosa and Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Johann Zarco – with the race decided in favour of the Spaniard on final lap as Pedrosa pounced and defended to perfection for his second victory of the year.

Marquez got the holeshot from pole, with teammate Pedrosa slicing through from the second row to take over in second – and Zarco pushed down to third. Dovizioso made a good start to move up to sixth, then past Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and glued to the back of the second Ducati of Jorge Lorenzo.

Early on, Zarco took over in the lead – with Marquez seeing him coming and slotting into second. Pedrosa remained in third, with the two Ducati machines glued together around a second behind and the tense tick of the clock counting down.
After a Zarco error, a Marquez pass and then the Frenchman hitting back, laps ticked down before Marquez struck for the lead – and ran wide. Sliding on his knee for a stunning save into Turn 1, the reigning Champion headed for the gravel – but managed to rejoin, yet behind Dovizioso.

Lorenzo then bolted to chase down Pedrosa and Zarco ahead, before the Ducati Team rider went down suddenly – and just as suddenly, the dream was over for his teammate. A run off into the gravel that couldn’t be saved saw Dovizioso’s title hopes disappear after a nevertheless stunning season to take the runner up spot.

Dani Pedrosa vs Johann Zarco was then the duel for the win, with Pedrosa initially attacking at the final corner but the Frenchman able to hit back. As the last lap dawned, the Spaniard tucked in and then pounced into Turn 1, managing to hold off Zarco around the tight Circuit Ricardo Tormo Circuit to take his second victory of the season.

Marquez, back into the podium places after the falls ahead, kept his calm to the end to take third and the title, making him the youngest ever six-time World Champion and the youngest to take four premier class Championships.

Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) put in an impressive rookie ride into fourth, ahead of Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) after a more difficult race for the ‘Doctor’. Iannone dropped back slightly after a run off at Turn 1 to take sixth, ahead of a great final race with EG 0,0 Marc VDS for Jack Miller in P7. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) moved up after crashing out in Q1 and qualifying outside the top ten to cross the line in P8, with Michele Pirro (Ducati Team) putting in another solid wildcard appearance to come home in ninth. Tito Rabat (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) also impressed, locking out the top ten.

Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) rounded out the Austrian factory’s first season in the premier class in P11, and it was a tough weekend and final race of 2017 for third-placed in the Championship Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), as the Spaniard came home in P12. Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing), Karel Abraham (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) and Hector Barbera (Reale Avintia Racing) completed the points in the #FinalShowdown, with the dust settling around the dramatic final race as the flag flew.

That’s a wrap on a stunning season to savour, with 2017 having provided some of the most incredible racing ever seen. Marquez retains the crown, and Dovizioso fought to the end – and on Tuesday, the clock resets once again. #2018StartsNow

MOTOGP

1.- Dani PEDROSA            SPA               Repsol Honda                      46.08.125

2.- Johann ZARCO             FRA               Yamaha Tech3                    46.08.462

3.- Marc MARQUEZ           SPA               Repsol Honda                      46.18.986

4.- Alex RINS                       SPA               Suzuki Ecstar                       46.21.692

5.- Valentino ROSSI           ITA                  Movistar Yamaha                46.21.942

6.- Andrea IANNONE         ITA                  Suzuki Ecstar                       46.22.641

Lorenzo leads, Dovi third and Marquez sixth

  • Jorge Lorenzo marca el mejor tiempo, por delante de Pedrosa y el italiano; Márquez sexto
  • Miguel Oliveira domina en Moto2 y Jorge Martín en Moto3

Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) was quickest on Day 1 at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana, taking to the top late on in FP2 as a number of high profile crashers also marked the session, including FP1’s fastest Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Championship leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). Lorenzo has the most premier class wins at the venue, with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) – then man with the most wins at Valencia across all classes – hot on the chase in was second. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) the quickest of the title challengers in third to complete the good news for the Borgo Panigale factory on Friday.

Iannone ended Day 1 in fourth on combined times, ahead of Rookie of the Year and top Independent Team rider Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3). Marquez was sixth but showed good pace, with Jack Miller (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) taking P7 after a stunning session in the morning – and exactly the same laptime in both sessions, down to the thousandth.

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) was eighth, with Ducati Team test rider and wildcard Michele Pirro putting in another impressive performance to go ninth quickest overall. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) impressed once more, close to the top in the morning and then able to complete the top ten by the end of action.

It was a more difficult first day for the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP duo, with Valentino Rossi in eleventh to edge teammate Maverick Viñales in P12. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was thirteenth despite a crash as he returns from injury, with Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Racing) and Karel Abraham (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) the final of the fastest fifteen on Friday.

Day 2 of the #FinalShowdown kicks off on Saturday with a final push for automatic graduation to Q2, before qualifying in the afternoon from 14:10 (GMT +1).