Split rear seat

Italian rider Bassani's move to Kawasaki, where he will replace Yamaha-bound Jonathan Rea, was finally made official on Friday on the eve of the penultimate round of the season at Portimao . It opens up a coveted seat at one of the most competitive satellite teams on the grid, with Motocorsa boss Lorenzo Mauri confirming he has two candidates in mind to take over from Bassani next year. Ahead of the Portimao weekend, Bassani sits fifth in the overall standings, ahead of works Ducati rider Michael Ruben Rinaldi, highlighting the strength of the one-bike satellite squad's Ducati V4 R package. Mauri told the official World Superbike team that the chances of the two remaining candidates for the seat are "50/50", and although he would not name Baz and Oettl directly, he clarified the neither rider was Italian. Both Baz and Oettl are in need of alternative seats for 2024 having lost their places at the Bonovo BMW and Go Eleven Ducati teams respectively. Baz has been replaced … [Read more...] about Two riders in contention for Motocorsa Ducati WSBK seat

The 23-year-old Los Angeles-born New Zealander is coming off his second season in IndyCar’s developmental category, earning two wins, six podiums and two poles en route to finishing behind champion Christian Rasmussen. McElrea contested both seasons with Andretti Global (then Andretti Autosport ), which featured an additional two wins, seven podiums and three poles in finish fourth in the 2022 standings and claim top rookie honors. While McElrea has no plans of returning for a third campaign in Indy NXT, things are also tricky moving forward due to the increased focus of testing going toward IndyCar’s hybrid program that is set to be unleashed for 2024. “The first thing is trying to get a test sorted,” McElrea said. “It's good chats, but nothing really to say right now. The new hybrid thing, there's not really a schedule that anyone has in terms of testing, right? All the chats I've had, no one really knows when the test days are 'cause the hybrid thing has everything … [Read more...] about McElrea planning for IMSA events in ’24 while pursuing IndyCar shot

After Mazda followed Nissan through the exit door at the end of 2021, last season's DPi class was contested exclusively between Cadillac and Acura teams, but the move to all new LMDh cars running spec hybrid systems for 2023 has attracted Porsche and BMW to join the renamed GTP division. All four manufacturers have won a race this season, with Porsche's 963 LMDh taking three victories, the Acura ARX-06 and Cadillac V-Series.R managing two apiece and BMW M Hybrid V8 breaking through at Watkins Glen. Albuquerque and Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti team-mate Ricky Taylor enter next month's Petit Le Mans season finale three points shy of the championship lead, despite having yet to win a race this season. They are one of four crews split by just 38 points in the standings, with Action Express Racing's Cadillac of Pipo Derani and Alexander Sims leading the way, the #6 Penske Porsche of Nick Tandy and Matthieu Jaminet trailing them by five points and Team RLL's #25 BMW … [Read more...] about Albuquerque enjoys “wild” unpredictability of 2023 IMSA title fight

F1 presenter Rob Kamphues says while he would love to see Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso as team-mates, Alonso is probably now “too old” for such a challenge. Alonso has proven to be quite the revelation in F1 2023 as he continues to demonstrate at the wheel of the Aston Martin AMR23 that age is just a number. The Spaniard left Alpine for a multi-year deal with Aston Martin, the team with which the 42-year-old Alonso has claimed seven podium finishes, including P2s at the 2023 Monaco, Canadian and Dutch GPs. Fernando Alonso “too old” to be Max Verstappen’s team-mate The ultimate goal for Aston Martin and Alonso is to take another giant step forward next season and take the fight to F1 2023’s dominant force Red Bull, who once more are having some trouble with the driver in their second seat. There are zero concerns for Verstappen, who with his 13th victory of the season in Japan, continued his inevitable march towards a third World Championship on the trot, but team-mate … [Read more...] about ‘Too old’ Fernando Alonso ruled out of forming F1 dream team

If Mick Schumacher wants to race in Formula 1 again, then former F1 racer Nick Heidfeld says it is pivotal that he keeps his foot in the door in any way he can. Schumacher joined the Formula 1 grid in 2021 surrounded by a great deal of fanfare as the son of seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher and the reigning Formula 2 champion. It was far from a smooth two-season spell for Schumacher though with the Haas team, who replaced him with Nico Hulkenberg for F1 2023. Mick Schumacher advised to keep reserve role Following his axing by Haas and with no other opening on the grid for F1 2023, Schumacher was handed a lifeline as Mercedes brought him into the fold as a reserve driver. Schumacher took on the role with a view to chasing a return to the grid for the following season, though all doors now seem to have closed, with Alpine instead in talks with Schumacher for him to join their endurance racing programme. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has left the door open for … [Read more...] about Mick Schumacher given key advice to keep his F1 dream alive