Six wins from six races! Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler has claimed victory at GetzenRodeo to complete a championship clean sweep in his title-winning 2023 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship season.

To the delight of the huge crowd that lined the track throughout the two-day GetzenRodeo event, Lettenbichler made his intentions clear on Friday night by winning the head-to-head Red Bull Double Trouble prologue race. On Saturday, Mani continued his domination by topping the morning’s GetzenRace before going on to win the GetzenChamp finale.

Winning the GetzenChamp finale was no easy task for Letti, however. Showing supreme sportsmanship alongside closest rival Billy Bolt, the two riders helped each other to summit some of the toughest climbs during the grueling afternoon race, but it was Bolt who led for much of the multi-lap event. Coming into the final 20 minutes, Bolt made a small mistake which allowed Lettenbichler into the lead – a lead he extended all the way to the finish.

First to reach the checkered flag, Mani not only completed the perfect event, with wins in all three legs, but also achieved the perfect season, securing victories in all six, very different events. From the wet and demanding conditions of the opening round at Xross Hard Enduro Rally in Serbia to the iconic rock climbs of Red Bull Erzbergrodeo in Austria, Lettenbichler consistently demonstrated incredible speed and skill, securing back-to-back FIM Hard Enduro titles.

Manuel Lettenbichler: “That was such a hard race. We had to dig so deep out there to just keep going. Billy was riding really well and there were a few places where we had to help each other out. He made a small mistake and that’s all it took for me to finally get past him. After that I just focused and rode as smoothly as I could to the finish. It’s been such a mega event – the best of the season. The crowd here has been wild. All the way around the track today there wasn’t a part where you couldn’t hear them, the level of support was insane, and not just for me but for all the riders. It feels amazing to get six wins in a row and to finish my season here at home in Germany.”

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart, although not present in Germany due to other commitments, placed third overall in the final FIM Hard Enduro World Championship standings. The Canadian showed impressive pace and style throughout the season, claiming podium results at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, Red Bull Romaniacs, and his home race – Red Bull Outliers.

After this 2023 MXGP campaign, Team HRC General Manager Marcus Pereira de Freitas gave his thoughts on what has been an up and down season for the team and it’s two riders, Ruben Fernandez and Tim Gajser…

What would you give the 2023 season out of ten?
I think if you asked in January what I hoped for the season, and after what happened in Trentino, you’d get two very different answers. However, considering what happened to Tim, I think overall the season was probably around a seven out of ten. Of course, we go into every championship hoping to win, but Ruben still made a massive step with his results and the victory in Argentina was a moment I’ll never forget. Winning a GP is a great achievement and it really raised everyone’s expectations about what is possible. And credit to Ruben because he kept pushing throughout the whole campaign, getting podiums at rounds one, six, nine and eighteen, showing he never gave up. Then Tim coming back and winning two of the last three rounds was a good lift heading into 2024.

What were your impressions of Ruben’s season, on his riding and how well he integrated himself into the team?
I thought he did excellently. It is never easy coming into a factory team, but he immediately got on with every member of staff and his ability to communicate in many languages and just his personality as a whole is a pleasure to be around. As I mentioned, he won in Argentina and then got three more podiums, finishing fifth in the championship and perhaps if he hadn’t had the crash in Finland, he’d have got even higher. It was an impressive first year and we are very excited about what he can do next time around.

What about the performance of the Honda CRF450R for both riders?
I think we have an excellent platform to give both riders the opportunity to challenge for wins. The team work tirelessly, both here in Europe and back in Japan on the smallest details to try and improve the machine and I think it shows with the level of consistency out on the track. We are always trying to test and make things better and that’s what we are doing already, to make things better for 2024.

Tim’s injury was obviously a massive moment, but how well did you think he did once he came back?
We saw straight away that Tim had the speed on his return when he was fastest in timed practice in Loket. However, then we saw the true affects of the injury when he couldn’t quite put it together in any of the first few races. We knew the motos in Czech would be a lot harder than practice because you simply can’t replicate racing when you are at home. Then there were three sand tracks in the next four, with the other one being Sweden which was almost impossible to pass on, so again, we weren’t expecting too much just because of how little he’d been able to train in the sand. Finally, in Turkey, Maggiora and Matterley, there were three tracks that he liked and he was able to win three motos and two GPs and just show everyone that he is back. The double win in Matterley was a great finish and he gave himself a lot of confidence for this off-season that he is still at the very top of the field when he is on his A-game.

How was the Motocross of Nations?
That was an incredible event to be part of. There were so many fans and the atmosphere was amazing so I’m glad that Team HRC was a strong part of that. Having Tim, Ruben and the Lawrence brothers in our setup was nice and it was a good chance to catch-up with our American colleagues. We stay in touch with them throughout the year, and they had a very good year, but it is always nicer to be able to chat in person and you can share ideas a lot faster and just work much more efficiently. We love hosting those guys and we hope they can comeback at Matterley Basin in 2024. Obviously, Jett showed us what he is capable of, and we can see why he was able to do so well stateside, so that was good to see as well. Both him and Hunter have a very bright future and we’re very glad they’re part of Team HRC.

Thoughts on the 2024 calendar release?
It looks like a similar year to this year, honestly. A lot of the rounds are the same, although in a slightly different order. There were all these rumours about new locations and going here or there, but in the end, it seems we will be familiar with most of the circuits. Of course, there are a couple of TBAs listed so we don’t know everything yet, so planning can’t begin completely but already we are working on logistics for what we do know and making sure we are setup as best as possible.

And what about the hopes for the 2024 season as a whole?
Our main hope is that we can go into the first round with both of our riders 100% fit and healthy. If we can do that, I think we can have a very good year indeed. Tim will of course be looking to win the title back and make it six championships, and Ruben will be even stronger than this year and will be pushing for podiums and victories himself. He is only going to get better and between the two of them, I believe Team HRC will be a strong force at every round of the campaign.

The “JR” #65 Yamaha R1 WorldSBK made its debut at the hands of six-time FIM Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea for Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK yesterday morning, beginning a two-day test and a new chapter for both team and rider at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto.

While inclement weather on Tuesday meant just seven full timed laps were completed (12 in total), today was a chance for the Northern Irishman to really engage with his new R1 and the team as early winter Spanish sunshine allowed more track time.

Completing 68 laps after an early lunch, Rea took the third-fastest spot on his final lap just before the end of the test – with fellow Yamaha rider Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha) making the fastest lap with a 1:38.448, which would have seen him take pole position last weekend.

The next chance to get further acquainted with his new R1 WorldSBK for Rea will be on 20-21 November back here at Jerez, alongside teammate Andrea Locatelli – with a key focus on 2024 development with Yamaha’s engineers.

Jonathan Rea – 1:39.179

“My first feelings with this team have been fantastic, ever since I agreed to make the move. Both the team and Yamaha have been really welcoming and making everything easy. The first test was just about getting familiar with the bike – it was a bit of a shock, I had a lot of different sensations than I am used to – but in a positive way! The R1 is very user-friendly – not necessarily easy to go to the absolute limit just yet, but easy to ride. It generates a lot of traction which encourages you to go fast and inspires confidence. You can get into the throttle and use the power of the machine – it feels good and now I can see how Toprak was riding the way he was, also Loka being so competitive this year. It’s all good! Just a nice first contact with the set-up and the team, so I expect next time we can get more deeply into it. Step-by-step today we have tried some different things, fork spec, different tyre combinations so that I can understand how the Yamaha uses different compounds – I could see from the past that Yamaha have been able to maximise the SCX tyre. I requested some different electronics set-up – but not really too much. I have been using the current “base setting” let’s say of the R1 and in the next test we will start to work on development parts. A really positive experience on both days and the R1 is feeling more like my bike, particularly as we have been lucky with the weather this afternoon and got through more than we expected. I’m sure I could wake up tomorrow and even more performance would come but now I have to wait a couple of weeks...! Thanks to everybody – I really enjoyed myself!”

The Husqvarna Racing team demonstrated outstanding skill in very tough weather conditions at the final round of the National Hard Enduro Championship held in Hilton, Kwa-Zulu Natal. Despite facing the tough conditions, the team showcased remarkable strength, with Travis Teasdale clinching a stellar second place in the Gold Class after losing a significant amount of time having to change his radiator. Additionally, Heinrich Aust secured an impressive 6th place, further highlighting the team's ability to overcome challenges and perform at a high level.

Travis Teasdale exhibited sheer determination and unwavering ability, securing a remarkable second place in the fiercely competitive Gold Class, even after a radiator change. His outstanding performance underscores the Husqvarna Racing team's commitment to excellence and their unyielding pursuit of success in the demanding world of Hard Enduro racing.

Teasdale commented, “It was a challenging weekend, having to change my radiator mid-race but it only fuelled my determination to push harder and overcome. I’m so grateful for the team to help me out so quickly in getting my bike back up and running to put my Husqvarna on the podium and excited to keep pushing the limits in the upcoming races.”

Heinrich Aust's formidable 6th place finish in the Gold Class further reinforces the team's collective strength and capability in facing the challenges presented at the pinnacle of Hard Enduro competition.

“The final round of the National Hard Enduro Championship went down very challenging because of the weather conditions, I didn’t have the best day out but I still managed to keep myself together to bag some good points for the championship on the day.  Every race pushes us to our limits, and it's overcoming these challenges that fuels our passion for the sport.” Aust said.

Megan Prinsloo, KTM Group Marketing Coordinator commented on the season saying. “ We are incredibly proud of our rider’s performances during this season and we will be back next year, fighting for the Championship win!”

Just 24 hours after the end of the 2023 season, six-time FIM Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea stepped into the Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK pit box for the first time to meet his #65 Yamaha R1 WorldSBK – featuring a special grey, white and carbon fibre winter test livery which hints at some of Yamaha’s historical colour schemes. 

Welcomed by his new crew and Yamaha’s engineers, Rea enjoyed a detailed riding position fitting in advance of one of the most highly-anticipated manufacturer changes in WorldSBK history. Tomorrow will be the first chance to see Rea and the #65 R1 WorldSBK on track, as two days of testing commence at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto.

Jonathan Rea: Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK

“It’s been an incredible first day and it was so surreal putting on my Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK polo – the feeling in blue is really nice – and when I walked into the box, everyone was so enthusiastic. I felt a lot of love and support straight away – the attention to detail on the team is amazing. From even my rider office having personalised logos in there already, to getting perfectly fitted on the bike – the attention to detail on that process was incredible. I just can’t wait now to spin my first laps on the R1. It’s a bike that I’ve seen up close on track but never had an opportunity to ride, so for tomorrow the main idea is to get comfortable on the bike – to understand my crew, for them to understand me and of course, to learn and have a positive outcome. Between now and Phillip Island we have a lot of time, but first impressions are always important and today was a really good one. I’m really excited to start and I want to thank everyone from Crescent Racing, Yamaha Motor Europe and all the sponsors for this opportunity because I think it’s going to be a great partnership and I’m looking forward to it.”

Paul Denning: Team Principal, Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK

“We witnessed one of the most exciting race performances ever in WorldSBK yesterday afternoon, and here we are only 24 hours later looking forward to a surreal moment. Back in the day, I honestly never dreamed we would get a rider of Jonathan Rea’s stature to join our team and to see him climbing on the R1 today with a huge smile on his face has created an incredibly enthusiastic atmosphere and a lot of hope for the 2024 season.

The next two days will be extremely interesting, but we want to start in a very step-by-step way without any pressure. The plan is to allow Jonathan to learn the R1 after so many years on a different bike and to treat this as the “first touch”, the first experience together and build from here. “JR” is a rider that history has shown will always deliver the goods, and we can’t wait to start this journey together.”

Reigning 250SX East and Pro Motocross 250 Champion will move up to Premier Class

TORRANCE, Calif. (October 30, 2023) – Team Honda HRC confirmed today that Hunter Lawrence will move up to the 450 class for the 2024 season, competing in the AMA Supercross, AMA Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross series. The 24-year-old Australian, who last season earned crowns in the 250SX East Region and 250 outdoor series, will campaign the factory Honda CRF450RWE alongside his brother, Jett Lawrence.

A native of Landsborough, Queensland, Australia, Hunter raced Down Under and in Europe before signing with American Honda’s Factory Connection satellite squad for the 2019 season. He was promoted to Team Honda HRC for 2021, and after his first two years with Honda’s factory squad saw him finish second and third in the indoor and outdoor series, respectively, he delivered championships in both series in 2023.

“I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in my 250 career, but it’s exciting to move up to the premier class for 2024,” Hunter Lawrence said. “I feel like my style is well-suited for the CRF450RWE, and off-season testing has been going well so far. I enjoyed battling with Jett in the 250 class before he moved up, and I’m looking forward to doing that again now that we’re both on the big bike. I’ve got a great team around me, and I can’t wait to get back in action at Anaheim 1.”

“It’s a pleasure to move Hunter up to the CRF450RWE,” added Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing and Experiential Marketing at American Honda. “Since joining our team three years ago, he has consistently made a positive impact, in terms of results but also for the constructive, optimistic influence that he invariably brings. Last season saw him earn the 250 titles that we all knew he was capable of, but he’s also a very good 450 rider. We look forward to him adding to his success now that he’s in the premier class.”

COLLIN VEIJER RODE HIS FR 250 GP TO 3RD POSITION AT A HOT BURIRAM AND AYUMU SASAKI SUFFERS A BLAMELESS DNF AS MOTOGP™ ENDS A HECTIC TRIPLE-HEADER AND ROUND 17 OF 20.

MotoGP unpacked in a world championship race circuit for the third week in a row and in the intense heat of Thailand after demanding events in Indonesia and Australia.The LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna IntactGP Team were glad to find drier, warmer and sunnier conditions for racing at the relatively new Chang International Circuit in Buriram, a hefty distance east of Bangkok. The Thai climate was not without its challenges however with the increased temperatures and humidity meaning a contrasting set of demands to the cold and wind of Phillip Island the previous weekend.

The Thai layout was flat and fast with three decent-sized straights separated by a twisty section. Lap-times were impossibly close as the teams worked on refining their race settings to master the braking and accelerating demands but also enough to thread through the weave from corners 5-10 on the 12-turn trajectory. Friday was sunny and sweltering and Vejier made his mark with the 4th fastest time and Sasaki was 10th but just 0.7 from Provisional Pole.

On Saturday the skies contained more clouds, but the threat of showers remained mostly absent. Fifteen riders were split by eight tenths of a second and both Sasaki and Veijer were in the mix. Sasaki made the front row with 3rd position and Veijer secured the second thanks to 5th spot.

The group surged away for 19 laps on Sunday morning but Sasaki’s race did not last longer than two laps. David Muñoz had a technical problem while charging through the final part of the course and Sasaki could not avoid the Spaniard. Ayumu escaped injury and the crash but suffered his third non-score of the season. The onus was left on Veijer to push for his first silverware and help repel Sasaki’s main rivals in the championship. The youngster led several times in the close dispute and then survived a massive ‘moment’ on the final lap to seize 3rd by just three tenths of a second! It was Veijer’s first GP podium in his maiden Moto3 campaign and gives the team a total of ten appearances in 2023.

Sasaki is 2nd in the Moto3 Riders World Championship with 17 points separating him from 1st and with a margin of 8 over 3rd place. Veijer’s consistency has pulled him up to 9th. The Teams contest continues to be fronted by IntactGP; they have a 16 point advantage while Husqvarna Motorcycles is the 3rd best manufacturer. With three Grands Prix left to run, a maximum of 75 points remain up for grabs.

MotoGP enters a much-needed reprieve of duties for the teams and riders this week but the final rally to Malaysia, Qatar and Spain to end 2023 will begin with the trip to the Sepang International Circuit for round eighteen on November 9-12th.

Collin Veijer:“This feels amazing. Better than a Pole Position! At the end my tyre was finished because I tried to lead all the way. I almost highsided at the end but I thought ‘I’m not going to give it away now…’ so I tried my best and I was perfect out of the last corner. This feels great and I’d love to thank my team and all my sponsors, family and friends.”

Ayumu Sasaki:“A very disappointing day. We were so unlucky. It was a racing accident. Nothing more we can say. We just need to try to come back in the next race stronger. We have 17 points to catch and we are capable of doing that. We’ll try our best to make it happen.”

The IntactGP crew affronted far better racing conditions for Moto2™ compared to the blustery winds, rain and cold air that blighted the shortened outing in Australia. The proximity of the Thai event meant a chance for both Darryn Binder and Lukas Tulovic to forget the adversity of Phillip Island and get their positive momentum back on the boil.

Binder, still a rookie to the Moto2 division, fared better in qualification on Saturday but only marginally. The South African was 25th and Tulovic, who is working his way back to full fitness, throttled around Buriram as hard as he could for the 26th best lap-time and the same slot on the grid.

Moto2 laid rubber around the Chang International Circuit for 22 laps early Sunday afternoon. Binder had made a bright start and burst into the GP points zone. The South African had a close duel with Bo Bendsneyder and won the dispute for 15th and the last world championship point on the day. Tulovic ranked 23rd after a late fall. Similar heat and unpredictable weather could affect round eighteen and the Malaysian Grand Prix in two weeks’ time.

Darryn Binder: “It’s been a difficult weekend. I set out in the race today just to try and gain some information, learn as much as I could and take as many positions as I could! In the beginning I made quite a good start but I reached a point where I could not make much more progress. I did my best and made it to the flag with one point today. Disappointed. It has been a tough one but I did what I could. We’ll try again in Malaysia.”

Lukas Tulovic:“It was very annoying that I crashed on the last lap. I wanted to defend this 19th place. Unfortunately, I lost it minimally over the bumps. I wish I could name even one thing that explains why we are struggling so much at the moment. Unfortunately, it is very complex, so I will try to clear my head in the short break before Malaysia. I will prepare well and then we will start with a different strategy in there.”.

The final race weekend of the 2023 season was an emotional one for Yamaha as they acknowledged the parting of Toprak Razgatlıoğlu with several special nods to the title winning Turk - including a farewell video which has been released to sum up the best moments shared and sentiments felt.

The 27-year-old has taken 131 race starts with Yamaha in WorldSBK since 2020 and in this time he has achieved a remarkable 100 podiums, 37 wins and 12 pole positions with the brand, as well as a superb World Championship crown in 2021. Toprak not only brought success, celebrations and a supreme riding style to the blue corner, but his unique personality, humour and showmanship too. Naturally, all those who worked with him have fond and funny memories of their time with the #54 rider.

These were revealed in special interviews carried out with the Pata Yamaha Prometeon team and key figures from Yamaha Racing ahead of the final round, and they made for interesting viewing with a wide range of, sometimes surprising, answers.

“I’ll never forget it, in 2021 we were in Indonesia and we spent so much time talking about the championship, it was amazing. He was really excited and we were eating a pizza and French fries together and it was really fun, especially because he then became champion.”- Andrea Locatelli, team-mate

“All the way back to the start, our first race together. He was sick with the ‘flu, he was struggling, but Kenan Sofuoğlu (Toprak’s Manager) told us that he could win the race. That’s exactly what he did. From that moment everything moved forward. But the wider picture is what I’ll remember most; the rider he became with us and the friendships made that I hope will last long term.”– Paul Denning, Team Principal, Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK

“The first stoppie I saw him do was just massive, I was standing in pitlane thinking ‘what is this?’ There’s been lots of fun along the way. Winning the title was unbelievable, a total dream come true. He made that happen, it was really emotional.”– Russ Joyner, Chief Mechanic

“Standing on the podium with him after his first victory with Yamaha is a memory that will stay in my heart forever.”– Andrea Dosoli, Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager

When asked to describe Toprak in one word the simple yet powerful answers were testament to the talent and determination he’s shown during the past four seasons with Yamaha…

“Extraordinary”

“Incomparable”

“Relentless”

“Magic”

“Outstanding”

For the victories, the joys, the humour and the humility. For everything you gave us. Thank you, Toprak.

MotoGP 2023 - Round 17 of 20, Chang International Circuit, Thailand – Race

Brad Binder doubled-up with podium finishes at a hot Chang International Circuit and took part in a magnificent Sunday race that saw the 2023 Thai Grand Prix deliver the fourth closest podium finish in the history of the sport. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider fought for the lead and finished in 3rd by the slimmest of margins.

Brad Binder’s ninth MotoGP podium means he becomes the most successful premier class rider ever from South Africa. #33 crossed the line in 2nd but was bumped to 3rd due to a track limits infringement on the last lap

Tough race of traction issues and settings for Jack Miller who makes it to the line in 16th

Pedro Acosta nears Moto2™ world championship acclaim with 2nd position and a 63-point lead with 75 remaining, Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate Deniz Öncü takes a top five finish in Moto3™

2023 MotoGP breaks for one week before an intense triple header in Malaysia, Qatar and Spain in three weekends to finish the season in late November

After the upheaval for the MotoGP class in Australia the previous weekend (the Saturday Sprint replaced by the full distance race due to the inclement weather forecast and cancellation of the Sunday agenda at Phillip Island), the Chang International Circuit provided a return to normality.

Even though Red Bull KTM Factory Racing were able to watch Binder notch a sixth podium of the season in the Saturday Sprint and absorb critical tire data in race conditions for the Sunday 26-lapper, the insufferable heat meant a demanding and difficult scenario, similar to what the teams and riders had encountered in India and Indonesia in recent events.

As on Saturday, Binder and Miller launched from 5th and 15th slots on the grid but with full knowledge that tire preservation would be key to race pace throughout the 26-lap chase. Both RC16s started well and it was Binder who hovered with the leaders in the opening stages. The South African moved up from 5th to 2nd and then closed a small gap to the back of Jorge Martin. When Francesco Bagnaia joined the pair, a three-way tussle for the win took place. Binder grabbed the lead briefly and then smothered the rear wheel of Martin all the way through the final lap. He almost slid out on Turn 4 and the incident took the #33 marginally onto the green track limits. Although Brad crossed the line just 0.11 of a second behind Martin he was demoted to 3rd spot. The trophy still represented the ninth of his career in the premier class – all with the KTM RC16 – and the fourth of the season. Miller had a harder time trying to manage optimum traction and drive grip. The Australian was able to make the flag in 16th.

Binder continues to occupy 4th in the world championship standings and needs 61 points to be able to displace Marco Bezzecchi for the top three and with only a maximum of 75 left to go this season. Miller is 10th as the Aussie nears the end of his first term in MotoGP orange. The team are currently ranked 4th and KTM are the second-best manufacturer.

After a well-earned break, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will join their peers at the Sepang International Circuit for the Malaysian Grand Prix from November 9th-12th.

Brad Binder, 3rd: “I tried my best today and left nothing on the table. I wanted to keep as much rubber as I could while I was behind Jorge. I saw my opportunity and tried to go but a lap later that was it for my rear tire. We did what we could. My team did a terrific job and I’m sure the win is coming.”

Jack Miller, 16th: “A long race and I gave it everything I could. I’ve been struggling all weekend to get out of Turn 1 and Turn 3. I didn’t make any mistakes really…I was just missing the pace and lacking drive. I lost too much time. We need to analyze and understand why we cannot get this tire casing to work. I’m disappointed by we’ll learn from this. It’s a good time to be in MotoGP right now but also a really hard time!” 

Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Team Manager: “An amazing race, and an amazing race for the win by Brad with a strong result. Unluckily he touched the green zone on the last lap so he had to drop one position but he did so well to push all the way inside the top three. We really enjoyed it. We’re already looking forward to the next race with a lot of confidence. A different story with Jack as we just couldn’t give him the setting he needed with the special tire allocation here. For sure there is still work to do.”

Both Repsol Honda Team riders put together hard-fought races to leave the triple-header on a high, each with a clutch of points and an ever-improving feeling on the Honda RC213V after battling through the Buriram heat.

Fans and riders alike hardly knew which way to look during an explosive 26-lap Thai Grand Prix, the premier class putting on one of the most exciting races of the year. There were battles throughout the entire field from the moment the lights went out until the field crossed the line, the Repsol Honda Team pair featuring heavily in the action as each authored strong races.

An intense opening lap saw Marc Marquez immediately thrust into the heart of the action as the entirety of the top ten were glued together for the first five laps. Every corner there was a new challenger as the #93 battled the likes of Aleix Espargaro and a mix of Ducati riders. One of the fiercest battles would be with MotoGP World Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia, the pair duking it out for sixth place in the early part of the race.

The melee would last until the middle of race when the group began to stretch out, Marquez focusing on holding himself inside the top ten. Another battle late in the race with Fabio Quartararo gave the fans in the MM93 Grandstand something to cheer about again, audibly erupting whenever Marquez made a move. Crossing the line in seventh, a post-race penalty of Aleix Espargaro would see Marquez promoted to sixth place.

Joan Mir’s Sunday was much like his Saturday as the double World Champion again put together an impressive come back from 19th on the grid. Immediately, the #36 was making progress forward in the race and was already into the points before the lap counter passed the midway mark. Lapping consistently in the mid 1’31s, the Repsol Honda Team rider made his way right to the edge of the top ten with just a few laps to go. Tyre wear would see him cross the line in 12th, mirroring his finish from the Sprint as he once again gained seven places from his starting position.

The Repsol Honda Team will now enjoy a well-earned week away from the circuit after an intense period of five races in six weeks before returning for the final push of the year. Another triple header consisting of Sepang, Qatar and Valencia will sign off the 2023 season.