LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Tom Vialle has made it three straight 250MX podium results to open the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship after claiming a hard-fought third position overall at Thunder Valley's third round of the season in Colorado.

Vialle rode his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to P5 in qualifying and then made steps forward to contend for the race victory in Moto 1, leading in the final stages and falling while challenging for a late pass for the lead. Still, he managed to remount efficiently and cross the line in P2.

Later this afternoon in Moto 2, despite an average start that cost him important time early on and an untimely crash while working his way back through the pack, Tom eventually took the checkered flag in P4. That was enough to secure third place for the round and he now sits tied on points with second in the standings, 23 points outside of the lead.

Tom Vialle: "Overall, the speed was good, just too many mistakes. I crashed in the second moto, then I was catching again and I tipped over in a corner, so I was really mad. But that's racing and the track was really good, a lot of fun today, so it was pretty nice and I'm excited for next weekend."

Colorado saw teenager Julien Beaumer match his overall finish from one week ago in scoring ninth position again. The Pro Motocross rookie qualified 12th and then improved to ninth in the opening encounter, before 10th in the final outing was another positive performance. He has now moved to eighth in the championship, motivated to keep inching closer to the front as experience grows.

Julien Beaumer: "Really good riding for me today, but bad starts and early crashes slowed my results down. I'm happy with the progress we made this weekend, so now we'll get ready for High Point!"

In wearing the red plates on his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION for the first time outdoors and coming off a victory at Hangtown, Chase Sexton displayed his front-running pace once again, but track position and a heavy crash while looking to take charge of Moto 2 resulted in 6-5 scores for fifth overall. He currently sits second in the standings, six points from the series lead following Round 3.

Chase Sexton: "It was nice to have the red plate today, and I felt like we had speed on our side, but it just didn't come together in the motos. Considering the results, we're still right there in the championship, so look forward to rebounding at High Point next weekend."

450MX teammate Aaron Plessinger was also competitive throughout the Thunder Valley weekend, gradually gaining comfort in the middle stages of the first moto on his way to fifth place, and then being affected by his start in the second race. 'The Cowboy' recovered from 15th at the end of lap one to finish in P8, which put him sixth overall for the round and he holds fifth in the point standings.

Aaron Plessinger: "Thunder Valley was kind of a struggle in practice, and then I felt better in the first moto. I got a really good start, but fell back and wasn't really gelling that much until I started clicking off some good laps around halfway and through to the end, so ended up fifth. In the second moto, I royally messed up the start, so that cost me and I paid for it. I came from around 20th place, which in conditions like that being hard and slick, it's tough to come through the pack. I've just gotta put myself in better positions early on and we'll move on to High Point."

MXGP

Tim Gajser’s fourth qualification victory of the season meant that the gap at the top of the championship is just one point as they head into tomorrow’s two GP-scoring races. In an updated Kegums circuit layout, the Team HRC riders got to grips with it quickly, setting the fastest lap in timed qualifying by over a second, and then leading every moment of the qualification race for another deserved victory.

In what is already an intense 2024 MXGP World Championship battle, the #243 wasn’t quite able to reclaim it for tomorrow’s races, but the maximum 10-point total for winning this qualification means that a GP victory tomorrow by more than two points, will be enough for him to reclaim the championship red-plate.

The day started off well with a timed practice lap that none of his rivals could come close to matching, and that gave him the all-important first gate-pick for today’s race. Lining up on the inside, he used it to maximum effect, sweeping around the first turn and grabbing the holeshot. From there, on what is a much-changed Kegums track, he was able to lead the field round, and although he wasn’t able to break free, he was able to keep a big enough margin so that the rider behind never had an opportunity to make any moves. He crossed the line, over three seconds ahead and pleased to have put in such a strong ride, both mentally and physically, which sets him up nicely for tomorrow.

It does seem like there is potential for rain, but the Honda CRF450R rider has proved he is capable in any conditions, and whether the sand is wet or dry, he’ll be challenging at the front of the field and looking for his second GP overall.

Tim Gajser  243

Really happy with today’s riding and it was great to get the qualification win to finish it off. I felt good in timed practice, and setting the fastest lap by over a second was a real confidence booster and that gave me first gate-pick. I then was able to use that to take a holeshot and just control the race. I had pressure the entire moto, but I knew my speed was good and it was nice to receive that chequered flag again. Obviously, I want to try and do that again tomorrow, and I think if I can get out front, I’ll be able to make that happen.

As we approach the ninth round of the 2024 MXGP World Championship, Team HRC duo Tim Gajser and Ferruccio Zanchi are preparing for the sandy Kegums circuit, south of Riga, Latvia for their next challenge in what has been an exciting season so far.

Gajser went one-three-two across the weekend in Germany last time out and he’ll be looking for more podium visits and race wins in the qualification race and GP-scoring motos in Latvia. It is a track that he has won at four previous times, in 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022 so the hope is that he’ll be able to add to his one GP victory so far this year and try to regain the championship red-plate, which he is just two-points away from holding.

Zanchi has also enjoyed some good results in the Baltic nation and will go there off the back of seven top 10 finishes in the last nine motos since his return from injury. It is an impressive series of results for the youngster and one that is seeing him climb up the MX2 rankings quickly. He now sits in 12th place, and given his current form it won’t be long before he is inside the top 10 in the championship. Those are longer-term goals though, so for this weekend, he just wants to continue putting in the good-work and making sure the Honda CRF250R is represented in the top 10 of each race and trying to edge his way nearer to the top five performers.

Meanwhile, third rider in the team Ruben Fernandez is still recovering from the injury he sustained at the opening round in Argentina. The treatment and physio process has been going well so far, with positive comments from the doctors’ checkups that he’s been to, but as with an injury of this nature, everything takes time. At the moment, the hope is that he’ll be back for the final quarter of the season, but there is no cause for the Spaniard to rush back and risk further damage, so the proper procedures will be followed before we see the #70 back on track.

Tim Gajser  243

It was a good overall performance in Teutschenthal, but I know Kegums will be a much different test. It’s a tricky track with the soft layer on top, and then a lot harder underneath so its always critical to get the setup right for the conditions on the day. Of course, I think we have done a very good job with that so far, so I am confident we will get it right in Latvia and I can once again fight for the win again. Unfortunately, we have lost a few riders in the class these past couple of rounds so I know concentration is critical as we approach the midpoint in the calendar.

Ferruccio Zanchi  73

It was a good Sunday for me in Germany, coming eighth in both races is where I am looking to be at this stage but there is always room for improvement and having now done a few rounds, I can see myself progressing nearer to the guys at the front of the field. I’ve ridden in Latvia a couple of times in the past and had some decent results so once again I’ll be trying to get inside the top 10 in all three races and hopefully take advantage if anything better is possible.

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Chase Sexton charged to a spectacular 1-1 result to capture his first AMA Pro Motocross Championship round victory of 2024 at the Hangtown National, in a day that also saw teammates Aaron Plessinger and Tom Vialle – winner of 250MX Moto 2 – stand on the podium overall.

Sexton managed to break through for the first moto win onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before falling on the opening lap of the second encounter later this afternoon. The 24-year-old remounted at the rear of the field in 40th position and stormed back into contention by the closing stages of the race, ultimately making a last lap pass on Plessinger in the finest moto victory of his career to date.

It was a pivotal result for Chase in what is his first year with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team, taking over the red plate as series leader in the 450MX title race following 2 of 11 rounds, and importantly signaling his intentions to fight for a maiden Pro Motocross Championship this season.

Chase Sexton: "First race, it definitely felt good to win my first moto in a while, although not the way I wanted to with Jett [Lawrence] going down, but I had a good flow going and was able to win that one. In that second moto, I slid out at the start and I was dead-last, so I knew it was going to be a hard moto! That was wide-open from the start to the end. I don't even know what to say – that was the best ride, I think, of my life. Thanks to the team, they put in so much hard work, and these fans are awesome. They were cheering me on the whole way around the track and this one means a lot. This has been one of my best races and wins so far!"

After finishing fifth in Moto 1, Plessinger was also exceptional in the second race, taking control at the front of the pack on lap one and then leading the duration. He eventually followed Sexton across the finish in a 1-2 result for the team in terms of the moto, which in turn placed him third overall for the weekend. His first podium of the 2024 outdoors has resulted in him climbing to third position in the standings.

Aaron Plessinger: "I got out front and I pushed as hard as I could, and then I figured I could back it down just a little bit, but no, these guys were riding so good – Chase was riding unreal – and I couldn't seal the deal. But we're back up here on the podium, I missed out on it last weekend, and we've bounced back! It's third place, but we'll take it and move on to the next round. I've gotta give it up to the whole team, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and everybody who has helped me get here."

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing also picked up a moto win in the 250MX Class, where two-time MX2 World Champion Vialle asserted himself as a title threat by delivering a commanding performance in race two. Earlier, the Frenchman finished P4 in the opening moto, which placed him second on the podium for the round, and he is currently positioned third in the points following back-to-back podium finishes.

Tom Vialle: "I knew I could do it and the second moto was way better! I want to thank the team, we changed a lot for the second moto and I felt great, so I am pretty happy. That's the first moto where I could push to my full potential and now I'm really excited for the next races with that setting on the bike. The track was awesome today, so I'm really happy to be on the podium."

Also equipped with the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Hangtown was a step forward for 250MX rookie Julien Beaumer, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing newcomer once again displaying intensity early on and remaining consistent for a top 10 result. The teenager took the checkered flag ninth in both races at the Prairie City facility, earning him 10th overall and elevating him to an encouraging eighth place in the championship.

Matching the pace of the top ten in the second half of the race, Luca Marini was able to post competitive lap times after Joan Mir suffered an early fall in the Italian GP.

A busy weekend at the Gran Premio d’Italia comes to a close for the Repsol Honda Team with Luca Marini fighting until the very end of the 23-lap race for the top Honda spot. Changes to the aerodynamic package of the Honda RC213V produced positive gains for both Mir and Marini as the pair and HRC target further improvements in the future.

Saving himself for the end of the race, Luca Marini was able to match the pace of those inside the top ten in the closing stages of his home GP as he hunted down Johann Zarco. Once again looking to focus at the positives, Marini rated this as his best race as a Repsol Honda Team rider to date – able to improve his pace and close the distance to the other Hondas. The Italian knows there is still work to do and speed to find, luckily Monday’s test will provide the perfect opportunity for that.

Launching from 17th, Joan Mir moved his way into the group and found himself battling with former Repsol Honda Team rider Pol Espargaro in the opening laps. Seeing the group ahead starting to break away, Mir attempted to escape but fell at Turn 1 on lap seven. Unharmed in the fall, Mir will be back out on track tomorrow.

There’s no time to rest as the entire grid remains in Mugello for a post-race test on Monday, the second in-season test of the year. Running from 10:00 Local Time to 18:00 Local Time, the Repsol Honda Team will be working on a number of items throughout the day.

Luca Marini:

“I think this race was even better than in Barcelona, the last seven laps I was feeling good, and my pace was close to that of the top ten. For sure there is still more work to do as the distance to first is too much, but we are working in the correct direction now. It’s a pity I couldn’t give a better performance for the fans, but it will be better in the future. Our base now is quite good, we need to keep working on those final details. Tomorrow at the test gives us a good chance to experiment.”

Joan Mir  36

“Honestly the bike was feeling good at the start of the race and I think everything was there to make some progress forward so it’s a shame to crash on lap seven. I was able to push on the front end and I was fighting with Pol Espargaro. I could see the group ahead starting to break away and he and I had a bit of a battle. Heading into Turn 1, braking behind him I lost the front and fell. It’s a shame for sure but we pick ourselves up and get ready for tomorrow’s test to try a few things.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing chased speed and feeling at the Italian Grand Prix and the second weekend of MotoGP in a row. Brad Binder rode to 10th position at a busy and bright Mugello for six points and moves up to 7th in the championship as teammate Jack Miller made it to the finish in 16th place.

Mugello basked in sunny and warm late Spring weather with only the occasional dark cloud threatening the positive outlook. After the intensity of Saturday qualification and the Sprint, MotoGP formed a grid to tackle 23 laps on Sunday. Brad Binder and Jack Miller slotted into the depths of the pack and with hopes of repeating the same rapid start that Binder accomplished on Saturday when he zoomed from 13th to 4th in the first corners.

The getaways were decent but not as striking as the Sprint and Binder, in particular, began to work and attack from the lower reaches of the top ten. He suffered with front end grip and eventually made sure of 10th. Miller, still coping with the slight effects of a vibration issue that hampered his progress on Saturday, rode to 16th and was a few tenths of a second in front of Pol Espargaro who used the Italian GP as part of a data-gathering exercise and a view towards his testing role.

Binder is 7th in the MotoGP standings and only 16 points from the top five, with Miller in 16th. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing crew rank 7th of 11 crews in pitlane and the company is still the second-best Constructor in the sport, according to the table.

MotoGP will bring a hectic seven-day period of concentration and focus to a close on Monday afternoon. The second one-day official test of the season will now run around Mugello, and is followed by a three-week reprieve before another consecutive tally of dates in the Netherlands and Germany at the end of the month.

Brad Binder, 10th: “For sure we expected more today but the reality is that once we started rolling we just didn’t have the pace to go with the guys in front. I tried my best but when I started to push I kept losing the front and couldn’t hold the line well. It was a tricky race today and we’re lucky we have a test tomorrow because we have a lot of ideas and we’d like to find a direction to work in.”

Jack Miller, 16th: “We battled along, and it was a lot of work for no points but I was really suffering with the front end at the start and it wasn’t until 6-7 laps into the race and the rear dropped that everything was a bit more balanced. I was able to get a decent rhythm at one point and make some passes at the end. It’s no secret that we’ve struggled this weekend and we made a lot of changes and I’m really looking forward to the test tomorrow to try and sort it out.”

Pol Espargaro, 17th: “We were not expecting a lot because we wanted to get some data, finish the race and get some information on the tire degradation. The pace was still decent and I was moving forwards with Jack. The guys [Brad and Jack] will use some of the stuff we’ve tried this weekend and because we ran it today it will make their job faster for tomorrow. I think we did a good job overall. We set some targets both for one-lap pace and the full distance.”

Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Brad’s weekend was affected by that touch of the green track limits on Friday. It started from there, and although he made a great start in the Sprint he couldn’t do it today and got stuck around 10th place. Overall, he improved a lot in terms of race speed from last year but the leading group improved even more; the amount of time is crazy. Almost twenty seconds! We have to keep working because we are not shining with Jack like we should. He is struggling with the feeling, and we have to help him get out of this period. I hope we can make some progress in the test tomorrow and then use the three-week break to rest and gather our energy for improvements. It was Pol’s first wild card and he did a great job. We have to thank him and we look forward to his next race.”

MXGP

The Teutschenthal circuit in Germany once again proved a really tough test for man and machine, with Team HRC’s fighting hard for his three-two results, giving him the second step on the podium and keeping him right in this 2024 MXGP Championship hunt.

After winning the qualification race yesterday, he had first gate-pick for the two motos today, but in vastly different conditions, he wasn’t quite able to get the starts he needed in either of the races. After there had been rain overnight and in the morning, the track was a lot heavier than yesterday and created much rougher conditions that the Slovenian wasn’t quite able to get to grips with for the majority of the first moto. He worked his way into second place but then had a tough period of the moto when he lost his rhythm and dropped down to fifth. However, like the five-time champion that he is, and knowing that every point is valuable, he fought until the very end to get back to third place as he crossed the finish line.

Working with the team to make sure that things went better in race two, he immediately looked more comfortable as he moved into third place early-on. Studying the two riders in front, he kept probing for possible passing spots on a track that was developing its traditional deep ruts on a large portion of the circuit. With just under two-thirds of the race completed he made an excellent pass on the rider in second and set his sights on the leader. Closing the gap down from 2.6 seconds to just 0.6, he looked poised to make the move, but he was forced to adapt his lines as he came into lapped traffic and had to concede a potential victory.

As it stands after eight rounds, he is just two points off the championship lead, and with 12 still to race, he is in a great position to add to his already impressive resumé. That opportunity continues next weekend in Latvia, and the sandy circuit of Kegums where Gajser has also enjoyed success in previous years.

MX2

It didn’t take long for Ferruccio Zanchi to put the disappointment of his points-streak coming to end in yesterday’s MX2 qualification race, by storming out of the gate in race one and placing himself firmly inside the top 10. The #73 then remained there for the entire moto, trying to get as high as sixth, before eventually crossing the line in eighth place.

It was a similar story in race two, with another good start on his Honda CRF250R giving him the chance to race with the top riders in the class. Once again, he stayed consistent for the entire moto, in what very were difficult conditions, receiving the chequered flag in eighth place. This was good enough to put him in eighth overall and brings him closer to the top 10 in the MX2 championship standings, an impressive feat given he missed three rounds through injury.

Tim Gajser  243

It was a solid weekend of racing, winning the qualification race and then going three-two here. I’m a bit disappointed in the first race, getting arm-pump and not being able to push how I wanted but I was still third. And then race two, I was able to ride a lot better and was a lot closer to the lead but I couldn’t quite get close enough to make the pass. Still, the championship is very close and I am happy, and healthy and I’m looking forward to Latvia next weekend.

The trip to Teutschenthal means MXGP in Germany, and the time-honored hard-pack and narrow circuit near the city of Halle witnessed another podium finish for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Jeffrey Herlings at round eight of 2024 MXGP and the first of another triple header.

The tight and winding dark dirt of the Talkessel layout brought MXGP back to speed and meant the 2024 edition of the German Grand Prix launched the latest trio of back-to-back fixtures in the world championship. Red Bull KTM went searching for more podium results as the season reaches the midway point and with the surface of the Teutschenthal course soft, rutty and bumpy due to rain in the region and in the build-up to the race.

On Saturday Herlings secured 4th position in the RAM Qualification Heat with his KTM 450 SX-F for a decent gate pick for Sunday’s two 30 minute and 2 lap motos. In MX2 a close contest for victory saw Andrea Adamo take 2nd spot with Liam Everts close behind in 3rd. Sacha Coenen classified in 13th.

Sunday was again cloudy and with the prospect of rainfall ever present. Herlings rode well after a so-so start to recover to 2nd place in the first moto. The Dutchman, who defied arm-pump problems on Saturday to find stronger form, was P2 at the launch of the second race. He tussled with Tim Gajser and looked to close-up to leader Jorge Prado but lost some time through backmarkers and confirmed 3rd place. Jeffrey tied on points with Gajser but accepted P3 due to the second moto ranking.

In MX2 Adamo suffered a two mistakes in the second moto that cost him as lot higher than 6th and lowered his scorecard average to 4th overall. He had a bit better speed and consistency of pace than Everts who also hit the German soil to place 7th. Coenen’s 10th position in the second outing was the higher of his 13-10 efforts and translated into 12th overall.

Herlings now has 336 points and sits 3rd in the standings, 66 from the red plate. In MX2 Liam Everts is the top KTM 250 SX-F runner in 4th but Adamo is close in 5th while Coenen holds 9th. MXGP will motor across part of the continent to Riga and then onto the sandy texture of Kegums for the Grand Prix of Latvia next weekend.

Jeffrey Herlings, 2nd and 3rd for 3rd overall in MXGP: “My speed is getting better and better. We changed my set-up today and it was an improvement. I got unlucky with the lapped riders twice today but I guess they were having their own race! Anyway, 2-3 for 3rd: not bad. In the past I’ve left here a few times straight to the hospital and now I’m going home! It’s not my favorite track and there are some better ones for me coming up. We’re 3rd in the championship and it’s still a long season ahead. I’m proud of today but I’m hoping for a GP win at some point.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler has won the 2024 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, conquering the epic Iron Giant for the third year in a row. Teammate FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart secured a career-best runner-up result in the race to make it a KTM 1-2 at round two of the 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship (HEWC) in Austria.

The Red Bull Erzbergrodeo is the most iconic race on the HEWC calendar, and the 28th edition of the Austrian hard enduro provided no shortage of excitement and entertainment. A prologue held over two days set the starting order for Sunday’s main event: a grueling 35-kilometer race around the Iron Giant featuring legendary sections such as Carl’s Dinner, Machine and Dynamite, which riders have just four hours to complete. The 2024 edition saw many curveballs thrown at competitors, from new sections and significant changes to the order of the checkpoints. Riders were also not allowed to walk the track prior to racing.

A two-day qualification process on Friday and Saturday faced the 1300 riders brave enough to take on the Iron Giant. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia topped the time sheets by over 30 seconds to win comfortably. Mani Lettenbichler set the fifth-fastest overall time on his KTM 300 EXC. The Iron Road Prologue also saw Trystan Hart ensure his spot on the front row for Sunday’s Main Race, qualifying ninth overall.

The 500 fastest riders lined up for Sunday’s Main Race, with both Lettenbichler and Hart comfortably positioned on the front row. Mani had a strong start, emerging from the quarry near the front of the pack. He immediately put his head down and got his elbows out, storming into the lead just meters before the first checkpoint. Unfazed by the tough course, the German put on an Erzbergrodeo masterclass to build up an impressive 20-minute lead as he took on some of the most difficult sections in hard enduro. Choosing his lines tactically, Mani preserved his energy and maintained his speed until the very end of the race, where he crossed the finish line with over an hour to spare.

Teammate Trystan Hart also had an incredible day at the Iron Giant, finishing 20 minutes behind Mani as the runner-up. Despite getting caught in a small crash in the first corner at the start of the race, Trystan demonstrated his skill and experience to work his way through the pack to move up to second place by the time he reached checkpoint nine.

Mani’s victory increases his win streak to 10 in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, as well as marking his third victory in a row at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, making him one of only two people to ever achieve the incredible feat. The German extends his lead in the HEWC standings to 13 points after two rounds. The 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship continues with round three in Serbia for the Xross Hard Enduro Rally on June 19-22.

Manuel Lettenbichler: “That was such a crazy race and I’m so stoked to have been able to ride those incredibly gnarly sections. It’s amazing to have got my tenth win in a row and my third Erzberg win in a row. It feels amazing, it was definitely my day today and I’m super happy with this result. I’m honestly surprised at how confident I felt in the new sections, even when they were quite slippery and tough, but I just tried to use my head and choose the best lines to keep my speed up. Of course, I’m super excited for the rest of the season and I want to continue my winning streak.”

What is the biggest difference between MotoGP and World Superbike? It’s a question which, depending on who you ask, has a number of different answers, but having competed in both championships, GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK rider Remy Gardner is a man who knows.

In terms of the ultimate lap time, the gap isn’t huge. A relatively fair example of that is Qualifying (Superpole in WorldSBK talk!) for both series at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this year. With near to identical air and track temperatures, the gap between pole position for MotoGP and pole position in WorldSBK was just 1.2 seconds. The speed difference down the straight was roughly 30km/h. 

But it isn’t quite that simple. While a production derived WorldSBK machine can get close(ish) to a prototype Grand Prix machine over a single fast lap, racing a Superbike over race distance is a completely different experience to doing the same on a MotoGP bike. 

Someone who knows all about the differences between a Superbike and a MotoGP prototype is GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK rider, Remy Gardner, who joined the Superbike grid from MotoGP for the 2023 season.  

“The main difference in the actual characteristics of the bikes is the power and the brakes,” explains Gardner, who until he stepped on his R1 ahead of his rookie year in WorldSBK last year, had always raced prototype Grand Prix machines. 

“MotoGP bikes have a good chunk more power, we’re talking maybe 40-50bhp and this is very noticeable and then in MotoGP you run carbon brakes, which are very different in both feeling and power to the more traditional brakes we run on the Superbike. But if being completely honest, the biggest difference to get your head as a rider is probably the tyres.

“It’s a completely different philosophy. The Pirelli [used in WorldSBK] is a tyre which has really good grip in the beginning, but it deteriorates very quickly, so you basically have to nurse it to the end which is an art in itself. In MotoGP, honestly, you could be pretty much flat out for most of a race and still be pretty strong at the end. There is obviously some level of tyre management in MotoGP, especially at certain circuits, but it’s nothing like it is in World Superbike and that means you have to attack a race in a completely different way. Over one lap, the difference between a MotoGP bike and a Superbike isn’t huge, but over race distance it’s massive. It’s a completely different style of riding, and if I’m honest, it’s taken me some time to get my head around that.” 

That different style of riding leads to a different style of racing. 

“I think the rider can ride the bike a little bit more in WorldSBK,” he continues. “In MotoGP, it’s very much you ride X bike, and this is the way you have to ride it, whereas here there is a little bit of that but it’s not quite the same. I’d say MotoGP is more of a technical way of racing compared to Superbike, which is perhaps more racing in the traditional sense? It’s a bit more elbows out, which is both good and bad, but I personally enjoy it!”

Gardner’s transition from Grand Prix to Superbike hasn’t been straightforward, most of his rookie season with the GYTR GRT Yamaha team was spent trying to understand the different style of racing in Superbike but as that understanding started to come, so did the results. He narrowly missed out on a debut WorldSBK podium in the final race of 2023, but that’s a box he’s ticked in the first three rounds of 2024, taking third place last time out at Assen as he continues to progress towards the front.

“Coming from a different championship last year, there was a lot for me to get my head around,” he continued. “It almost felt like I was starting from scratch, learning everything again as most of what I knew from racing GP bikes didn’t apply here and that meant if we had a bit of a problem, it took a bit longer to work through with the boys in the garage because to me it was all new. But about halfway through last year, we managed to take a big step and from there on, we’ve just gradually got better and better as I’ve started to get a bit more understanding of what is needed here. How I can get the most out of the Yamaha, the Pirelli tyres, the electronics – everything! It feels like we’re just starting to come good, and the podium shows that, but of course, you always want more!”