After a two-week break following the Japanese GP at Motegi, the MotoGP paddock gathered for the southernmost race on the calendar: the Australian GP at the iconic Phillip Island circuit. Known for its unpredictable weather, Friday and Saturday were a challenge, with conditions changing constantly. However, by Sunday, the skies cleared, giving riders nearly perfect track conditions, though the wind continued to disrupt at times.
It wasn’t the best weekend for our Kabuto riders, as none of them were able to truly shine in the cold and challenging conditions. Despite their best efforts, Aleix Espargaró, Jeremy Alcoba, and Collin Veijer faced struggles that left them searching for answers. But with the next race in Thailand just around the corner, all three riders are eager to bounce back and find their form again.
Saturday Sprint Race: P8
Sunday Race: P16
Championship: P10 – Points: 136
Aleix's weekend was tough, struggling with tire temperature on Saturday and a collision with Jack Miller on Sunday that damaged his bike’s right wing. He showed resilience by making up several positions early in the race, but the damage to his bike affected his pace. Despite this, Aleix remains optimistic.
Aleix’s thoughts: "I made a good start and managed to pass a few riders early on, but unfortunately, Jack and I touched in Turn 10, and it broke my right wing. That made the bike unstable, and my pace became inconsistent. It was a tough weekend, but I’m not using that as an excuse. We just need to focus on improving and move forward."
Sunday Race: P11
Championship: P12 – Points: 79
Jeremy had a mixed weekend, struggling with setup and wind issues on Saturday, which affected his qualifying. The dry race conditions on Sunday were a challenge with tire management, but he fought hard in the group battle, even finding some enjoyment in the fierce overtakes. Though his result wasn’t as high as hoped, Jeremy showed his determination.
Jeremy’s thoughts: "The setup wasn’t right, and I struggled with the wind. I wanted to do well here because I like this track, but it was tough. We adjusted the bike for the race, and I fought all the way to the end. I enjoyed the battle, but starting so far back made it difficult to move up."
Sunday Race: P18
Championship: P3 – Points: 209
Collin faced a frustrating race weekend, starting with a poor launch off the grid and struggling to make progress. Unfortunately, a clash with another rider in Turn 4 ended his race early, though not without a crash that also affected Ortola. Despite the disappointment, Collin is still in the championship fight and remains optimistic for the races ahead.
Collin’s thoughts: "The race was long and tough, and tire management was key. My start wasn’t good, and I couldn’t recover. Then in Turn 4, I hit another rider and crashed, taking Ortola with me. I apologize for that, but we can still be happy with our speed this weekend. We’ll bounce back in Thailand."
Though it was a challenging weekend for our Kabuto riders, they remain focused on the upcoming races. With Thailand on the horizon next weekend, the team is determined to bounce back and take on the final stretch of the season.
Coming up next – (25-27 Oct) #ThaiGP at Buriram 🇹🇭