Moto3

2023 Portimão Moto3 Practice 3 Result: Ortolá Takes Over Lap Record

By Zara Daniela | Sat, 25/03/2023 - 09:22

Before the day’s schedule starts to get more unfamiliar, the lightweight class enjoyed their usual third practice session, albeit in a shortened version focused on fighting for a precious spot in Q2. Although Friday’s leader, Dani Holgado, held onto top spot on the combined standings for much of proceedings, Ivan Ortolá attacked in the final seven minutes and improved the all time lap record with the only 1:46 time of the morning. Jose Antonio Rueda came within a tenth of a second of the leader, with compatriot David Muñoz in third.

Sprint Races: The Right Answer To The Wrong Question

By David Emmett | Wed, 22/03/2023 - 23:49

In its 75th season, the premier class of grand prix motorcycle racing is to introduce something revolutionary. For the first time since Assen moved race day at the Dutch TT to Sunday, MotoGP is to race on a Saturday. 2023 sees the introduction of sprint races, half-distance races to be held at the end of the day on Saturday, in addition to the usual full-length races on Sunday.

If you want to know exactly how this will work, I would refer you to the piece I wrote on Monday, answering most of the questions I have seen on the MotoGP sprint races. But it is worth asking what Dorna hope to achieve by the introduction of sprint races.

The short answer, of course, is to add some excitement to the series, and better value for spectators at the circuits. "It's time to give MotoGP more exposure, not only on television but also to the fans," said FIM president Jorge Viegas at the presentation of the new schedule at the Red Bull Ring in 2022. "We need more fans, we need a better spectacle, and we are going to fill the schedule on Saturdays."

Empty grandstands

This had been brought into stark contrast last year at some tracks. Attendance at the Portimão round of MotoGP had been mediocre, and Jerez had a little sparse. Mugello was almost deserted, a track where previously the hillsides had been packed. By contrast, Le Mans was sold out, and Assen was not far off being full. The German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring was heaving with fans, back to pre-pandemic levels.

2023 MotoGP FAQ: Everything You Wanted To Know About Sprint Races But Were Afraid To Ask

By David Emmett | Mon, 20/03/2023 - 23:54

The MotoGP championship faces one of the biggest shakeups in recent years in 2023. The biggest change is of course the introduction of sprint races (or "Sprints", as Dorna is trying to insist on calling them). That change, allied with a calendar expanded to 21 rounds, has a lot of knock-on effects in the championship.

All of this is likely to confuse regular fans who have committed the former schedule to memory. And it will confuse new fans, who are still struggling to work out what happens when during a MotoGP weekend.

To help you keep track of the new schedule and the sprint races, here's your handy FAQ for the most important changes to MotoGP for the 2023.

What The Actual Sprint?

What is this "sprint race" you speak of?

Sprint races are a new, shorter race added to the schedule. Only the MotoGP class will have sprint races, Moto2 and Moto3 will have just the one main race on Sunday, as last year. Dorna wants you not to call them "sprint races", but to refer to them as "Sprints". This request is almost certain to fall on deaf ears, especially as the FIM sporting regulations refers to them as "Sprint races".

When does the sprint race happen?

Saturday, 3pm local time. Sprint races will have a big impact on the schedule. I'll explain more later though.

How long is a sprint race?

2023 Portimão Moto3 Test Combined Test: Rossi And Rueda Under Lap Record As Testing Ends

By David Emmett | Sun, 19/03/2023 - 21:42

With the final three days of testing under their belts, the Moto3 riders head into the first grand prix of the 2023 season in a week's time. Sic58 Squadra Corse rider Riccardo Rossi ended the test on top of the pile, diving under Sergio Garcia's record from 2021 by a few hundredths of a second. Red Bull KTM Ajo and rookie José Antonio Rueda was third fastest, ahead of David Muñoz on the BOE Motorsports KTM. Ayumi Sasaki was the fastest Husqvarna in fourth, just ahead of Moto3 veteran Romano Fenati.

Combined times from all three days:

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