Moto '23 - All things MotoGP, WSBK, EWC, Moto2, Moto3, SSP, AMA, BSB, Sidecar, Speedway, SX, MXGP, WR2C, Enduro

Hello Moto enthusiasts,

Now with the last big Champion crowned in 2022 it's time to fully switch our focus to 2023. I know there's still the Philip Island round left for WSBK but with that incredible venue being the season opener in 2023, I think it's best to look forward to next year.

To continue the tradition of the long title, please know that this thread is not only for MotoGP but at least all these fantastic two-wheel Championships from around the world. A place here for all you enthusiasts of everything Moto in all it's astonishingly diverse forms and inspiring, insane Racing.

So with no further ado, let's one last time Celebrate all the Champions of 2022 below:

2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Champion - Manuel Lettenbichler, KTM

2022 FIM Word Rally Ride Bikes World Champion - #3 Sam Sunderland, GasGas







2022 FIM MXGP World Champion - #243 Tim Gajser, Honda







2022 AMA Supercross AND Pro Moto Champion - #3 Eli Tomac, Yamaha

2022 FIM Speedway GP World Champion - #95 Bartosz Zmarzlik







2022 FIM Sidecar World Champions - #6 Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement, Yamaha







2022 British Superbike Champion - #28 Bradley Ray, Yamaha







2022 AMA MotoAmerica Champion - #1 Jake Gagne, Yamaha







2022 FIM World Supersport AND MotoE Champion - #77 Dominique Aegerter








2022 Moto3 World Champion - #28 Izan Guevara, GasGas







2022 - Moto2 World Champion - #37 Augusto Fernandez, KTM







2022 FIM Endurance World Champions - #5 Joshua Hook & Mike Di Meglio, Honda







2022 Superbike World Champion - #19 Alvaro Bautista, Ducati







2022 MotoGP World Champion - #63 Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati







What a year for Ducati





And one last thing from me, Eli Tomac's Season of All Seasons has been my most treasure Racing memory in all series and something that will inspire me my whole life.



2022 is done.

Let's talk 2023.

Here's the new podcast from Crash about this week's first test:



And a cool article and Podcast from The Race about some key take-aways:

https://the-race.com...ia-motogp-test/

https://the-race.com...-foot-for-2023/

Let's have a great and safe, victorious new year in everything Moto. Race On

Beautiful thread, great pictures.

We love Moto Racing!!

It was an awesome season of racing all around the world in all the categories.

Some tragic losses too, we'll never forget those.

Fingers crossed for a safe but exciting 2023. 

Edited by thegamer23, 13 November 2022 - 15:28.

OMG, there's steam coming out of my modem downloading that lot   

I enjoyed these two videos from MotoGP on Ducati's factory ride decision for 2023:





More content like this please.


And also please allow the video thumbnails to be shown when the link is shared, good Lord...

Thanks for the thread, but I wanted to propose to have two threads - one for MotoGP (including Moto2 and Moto3), other for everything else. Because MotoGP content makes for 90% of the posts, so other stuff just kinda comes in as a spam, while on the other hand, for someone interested in other series, it would be much easier going through dedicated posts, instead of searching in the pile of MotoGP posts. Maybe even having 3 threads wouldn't be a bad idea, where the second one would be for WSBK, as I think having a dedicated thread might increase the discussion, and the third thread for everything else.

I actually liked it before when we had a new thread for each race, even though they had much less posts then the F1 threads, I have a feeling there was more posts then as opposed to when we have only one thread. That's why I think having a dedicated WSBK thread and possibly dedicated MotoGP race thread might be a good idea.

Formula 1 gets at least three threads per race, more if there is controversy, surely having a few moto threads wouldn't break anything.

More better new content on the MotoGP channel, this one about the inner workings at Aprilia:



More of this please.

And also, for the love of God, please allow the thumbnails on sites, wtf, it's 2022, dorna.

There are also a bunch of these cheesy 'get-to-know' a rider videos if you fancy such content.

And here's one from World Superbike as a shortened review of this previous just finished season. Hopefully we get more from themselves as well:



The piece of content I am by far looking most forward to is the Supercross season preview video that usually drops around the holidays in mid-late December. Those are the best.

Edited by DavidAntW, 22 November 2022 - 18:07.

Honda and BMW are forever threatening to move up the grid, but without ever delivering any real signs of progress, so I wouldn't hold your breath unfortunately.

Good job the top 3 have put on a pretty amazing show all year. 

It's been a decade since the properly fun time of Melandri at BMW and Rea at Honda when these two brands were much more relevant.

I keep hoping that they take it all seriously and have 5 manufacturers going at it.

The BMW S1000 RR is a weird bike. In stock trim it is fantastic, and a weapon at the club level. For whatever reason, in Superbike and British Superbike (without the BMW ecu/imu) it isn't quite there. It's great in Superstock though...

Honda and BMW are forever threatening to move up the grid, but without ever delivering any real signs of progress, so I wouldn't hold your breath unfortunately.

Good job the top 3 have put on a pretty amazing show all year.

Edited by milestone 11, 23 November 2022 - 10:34.

Honda and BMW are forever threatening to move up the grid, but without ever delivering any real signs of progress, so I wouldn't hold your breath unfortunately.

 

Good job the top 3 have put on a pretty amazing show all year. 

Honda does well with a different tire maker, does not gel with the tire in WSBK.

The BMW made quite a large step with the introduction of a new swingarm. It's just small steps that are needed to refine the bike, it's very strong on the roads, and in superstock, just lacking that fine tuning which short a circuit demands. They'll get there. The biggest problem for them, and others, is the Ducati is likely to be better still next year whilst Kawasaki are still hobbled by the rev restriction. They, Kawasaki, should certainly lobby for getting the 500 revs back or the competition is likely to lose a manufacturer.

The feedback problem I'm hearing is the BMW setup with M sport supplied engines - and no customer development allowed. There are a lot of very clever people who would like to have a go at the BMW - but can't.

Quite a lineup for the "100 KM dei campioni", the final event of the season organized by the VR46 Academy at Valentino Rossi's Tavullia Ranch.

Event will be held tomorrow & on November 25th.

No live TV coverage, but a documentary-report will be produced for the Christmas period.

Instagram: 

Edited by thegamer23, 24 November 2022 - 07:33.

Petrucci will ride in Superbike next season!

He'll ride for the costumer team Ducati Barni.

Slightly worrying that Eugene Laverty has had to go back in to hospital, following his accident in the final WSBK race, and his last race, having announced his retirement. Initial reports were that there would be no long term effects of the accident.

I really hope all ends up being okay; it would be incredibly sad if he has significant issues after falling a few laps from the end of a very long career.

Edited by DS27, 30 November 2022 - 09:32.

https://iridehardend...r-set-for-2023/

An amended Hard Enduro 2023 calendar; interesting - the first series to recognise the global economic & political situation, and cutback their championship. Yet other series add more and more races.....

Portuguese Jorge Viegas was re-elected as President of the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), in the Annual General Assembly  in Rimini (Italy) with 99% votes. He will have another mandate of four years.

According to Jorge Viegas, VR46 possibly switching to Yamaha in '24.

https://www.msn.com/...f7a73b33eaab920

I wonder where Tarran McKenzie is going next year. 

Bradley Ray to WSBK on Motoxracing Yamaha... I don't know much about them other than Roberto Tamburini  rode for them for some rounds. Sounds like European rounds only for Brad Ray.

The World Champions list missed Emma Bristow.  Eight times Women's World Trials Champion.

Toni Bou - 32 times World Trials champion, indoor and out, 16 consecutive years unbeaten.

Notable 3rd place in Hard Enduro Championship - Graham Jarvis, still up at the top at 47.

Jarvis is a legend - and would possibly have been challenging Mani if he hadn't been DSQ from Erzbergrodeo after the bike failed at the start, and he tried to get it going.....

According to Jorge Viegas, VR46 possibly switching to Yamaha in '24.

 

https://www.msn.com/...f7a73b33eaab920

Would not seem to make sporting sense at the moment, but perhaps financial sense?

The World Champions list missed Emma Bristow. Eight times Women's World Trials Champion.

Toni Bou - 32 times World Trials champion, indoor and out, 16 consecutive years unbeaten.


Notable 3rd place in Hard Enduro Championship - Graham Jarvis, still up at the top at 47.

Toni Bou: The Greatest GOAT Of All Time.

Trials in now the only motor sport than a novice can't even walk the route used in championships, let alone ride/drive it.  That said, it's become more of a circus act than the events I remember.

https://wsxchampions...ndar-announced/

Provisional calendar for 2023; the British round will be held at Villa Park.....

Toni Bou: The Greatest GOAT Of All Time.

I dont have any link but, they asked Bou about future retirement... and apparently he wants to keep on going until someone beats him. But before retiring, he will compete one more year to beat this guy that will beat him, and then retire. 

Will he be Raga, the eternal runner up? I dont think so, Bou is 36, Raga is 40

Edited by RacingFan10, 09 December 2022 - 10:02.

Toni Bou: The Greatest GOAT Of All Time.

Edited by LucaP, 09 December 2022 - 11:13.

Crazy. 

Ken Roczen just signed up for both AMA Supercross and Pro Moto with HEP Suzuki.

This is the last Suzuki outfit anywhere in the whole of the Racing world that they are still behind.

Absolutely mental.







With Progressive as title sponsors alongside Twisted Tea maybe and that bike that had some amazing holeshots this past year, can Roczen actually win ? Maybe Anaheim again ? I cannot wait for SX to start in less than a month!

"Danger Zone" system to be introduced next season.

A popup will appear in the riders dashboards when a crash happens in front of them, and the bike rear rain-light will activate, making it easier to spot the crash.

https://www.crash.ne...ystem-explained

A step towards the right direction to prevent fatal crashes like Steeman's & dupasquier.

Edited by thegamer23, 10 December 2022 - 13:07.

I wonder where Tarran McKenzie is going next year. 

 

Bradley Ray to WSBK on Motoxracing Yamaha... I don't know much about them other than Roberto Tamburini  rode for them for some rounds. Sounds like European rounds only for Brad Ray.

WSS? Teammate might be John McPhee?

I kept waiting for the now traditional start of the year, Supercross preview show to arrive on Youtube, but apparently it all got moved behind a paywall that includes a whole season pass and pro coverage of Supercross and Motocross together. Might be tempted to go for it.

We still got Racer X's traditional preview show at least and it is great as always. Lots to look forward to in Supercross with Anaheim 1 starting this week on the 7th and also in Europe we have the Super Enduro round at Alemagne on the same day.

Already ready to RACE

Edited by OvDrone, 01 January 2023 - 11:36.

WSS? Teammate might be John McPhee?

McPhee Confirmed at Puccetti Racing as teammate to Can Oncu I believe

Yup. That is correct. McPhee to Puccetti. McKenzie with Petronas Mie-Honda with Adam Norrodin. 

Edited by ehagar, 01 January 2023 - 18:05.

Who's good in Supercross this year Ov?

Who's good in Supercross this year Ov?

Thank you for that great question and interest, Risil ^^

From my point of view, the 4 favorites for the title are Yamaha's Eli Tomac, Kawasaki's Jason Anderson, Honda's Chase Sexton and KTM's Copper Webb.

Tomac just had the year of all years in 2022, winning both Supercross, Motocross as well as the Motocross of Nation and the inaugural World SX round at Cardiff. And even though Blue Star Yamaha have a new bike out for this season, Tomac is still favorite to get his third and climb up the all-time winning records. 
However Anderson ran him insanely close last year but lost previous points in various unneeded incidents. Dude is gelling well with Tomac's former team but we'll see if he can have the consistency all season long. 
Sexton was a revelation in Motocross, running Tomac close all Summer in a duel of the ages and he is clearly the upcoming 450 guy. His Supercross season had amazing highs and abysmal lows so it Sexton keeps the elite level from outdoors to indoors, than he'll be right there for title glory.
And then there's Copper Webb, two-time Champ, bitter and in full underdog mode from not winning anything last year, so that's incredibly dangerous for the whole field.

Aaaaand I spoke too soon on the previous post and the official channel as well as NBC just posted The 2023 Preview Show!



The video marks the official start of the Racing year, every year, so get some hype in and enjoy the show! See y'all at Anaheim 1 

Sito Pons escapes 24-year prison sentence and €12m fine

As someone who has to deal with the devil, that is the spanish tax authorities - this news makes me smile - good on him!

Bradle saying something along the line that Honda is to conservative and not able to compete with innovative competitors.

That is not a bike problem that is easily addressed, it's a corporation problem that it seems Honda has yet to start addressing. Odd from a company that is racing to innovate.

https://www.crash.ne...rage-experiment

Bradle saying something along the line that Honda is to conservative and not able to compete with innovative competitors.

 

That is not a bike problem that is easily addressed, it's a corporation problem that it seems Honda has yet to start addressing. Odd from a company that is racing to innovate.

 

https://www.crash.ne...rage-experiment

I feel that's the same story with HRC in Superbikes as well.
The potential is there but they seem so scared of their own shadow.

Oh and btw, the official Superbikes Youtube channel just posted the official season review for last year.
Feel free to check it out for anyone interested in more WSBK goodness:



 

Bradle saying something along the line that Honda is to conservative and not able to compete with innovative competitors.

 

That is not a bike problem that is easily addressed, it's a corporation problem that it seems Honda has yet to start addressing. Odd from a company that is racing to innovate.

 

https://www.crash.ne...rage-experiment

Not having read the article, but is it possible that Honda's engineers are uncomfortable with innovating in areas that have minimal relevance to the problems of road bike design, like aerodynamics and holeshot devices?

Thank you for that great question and interest, Risil ^^

From my point of view, the 4 favorites for the title are Yamaha's Eli Tomac, Kawasaki's Jason Anderson, Honda's Chase Sexton and KTM's Copper Webb.

Tomac just had the year of all years in 2022, winning both Supercross, Motocross as well as the Motocross of Nation and the inaugural World SX round at Cardiff. And even though Blue Star Yamaha have a new bike out for this season, Tomac is still favorite to get his third and climb up the all-time winning records. 
However Anderson ran him insanely close last year but lost previous points in various unneeded incidents. Dude is gelling well with Tomac's former team but we'll see if he can have the consistency all season long. 
Sexton was a revelation in Motocross, running Tomac close all Summer in a duel of the ages and he is clearly the upcoming 450 guy. His Supercross season had amazing highs and abysmal lows so it Sexton keeps the elite level from outdoors to indoors, than he'll be right there for title glory.
And then there's Copper Webb, two-time Champ, bitter and in full underdog mode from not winning anything last year, so that's incredibly dangerous for the whole field.

Aaaaand I spoke too soon on the previous post and the official channel as well as NBC just posted The 2023 Preview Show!



The video marks the official start of the Racing year, every year, so get some hype in and enjoy the show! See y'all at Anaheim 1 

RacerX.com has a couple of different preview stories up this week. To sum up, Tomac will always be a favorite but they're saying the new Yamaha frame is quite a bit stiffer than last year's and Eli and crew have been working hard on it;

But the frame might suit Ferrandis better, so ...;

Webb probably will benefit from the full year he had with his new frame last year, plus he returned to training with Aldon Baker;

But watch out for KTM teammate Musquin, who reportedly has been superfast in testing;

And as you said, Sexton oughta be right there but needs to eliminate the mistakes.

They didn't talk much about Anderson, but I agree with you -- more consistency and less dumb mistakes and bad luck needed for El Hombre; he had some odd breakages last year as I recall.

You didn't mention Roczen, who looked strong in WSX and allegedly is confident in his Suzuki, an aging bike run by a team that hasn't shown much before. Will be interesting.

Also interesting to me this year is Husqvarna, to see if Malcolm Stewart finally snags a win or two and lives up to everyone's hype -- I'm not sure he's ever shown more than being a maybe occasional race winner, but he was always hanging around the podium last year -- and if Christian Craig finds the speed he showed in crushing the 250 ranks last year. If the bike is good, I think Craig could do something.

Fantastic breakdown Racinggeek, appreciate the contribution. 

I believe Roczen can win on that Suzuki, but I need to see a consistent season. Which I hope to see as we need Kenny up there. 

Also think that Craig can do something and he's my second dude after main dude Tomac. A Malcom win would be amazing as well. 

I am so ready for this and intrigued by it all. And I agree with Weigandt in the video below. Based on stats, it's hard to disagree yet #deepfield is deeper than it has ever been imho. There are easily 10+, nearly 15 riders that are world championship level out there.



And here are more videos to make this first page of the thread overly saturated with them:











Official Anaheim 1 Preview Show is here as well:



Cannot wait for tomorrow!

Based on stats, it's hard to disagree yet #deepfield is deeper than it has ever been imho. There are easily 10+, nearly 15 riders that are world championship level out there.

Not having read the article, but is it possible that Honda's engineers are uncomfortable with innovating in areas that have minimal relevance to the problems of road bike design, like aerodynamics and holeshot devices?

Saw something to that effect, but that will not bring you a title against Ducati that are really innovating in all areas giving them an edge.

Not having read the article, but is it possible that Honda's engineers are uncomfortable with innovating in areas that have minimal relevance to the problems of road bike design, like aerodynamics and holeshot devices?

I think Mat Oxley's interview with the HRC tech guy(most recent article) basically says this. 

Which is

1. Understandable from a Honda Marketing standpoint

2. But simulataneously goes against the general "Make it weirder" approach of Honda Racing historically, and their approach to using racing as a way to train engineers and management.

3. A generally great approach to MotoGP rules, don't get carried away with technology.