The showcase reflects Gulf’s expanding motorsport presence and its global partnership with Trackhouse MotoGP Team, which made its MotoGP debut in 2024. From the 2025 season, the iconic Gulf logo will feature on Trackhouse’s RS-GP25 bikes.

Ravi Chawla, MD & CEO, Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd. shares, “India Bike Week is a true celebration of motorcycling, and our third consecutive year with IBW deepens our bond with this passionate community. This year, we’ve scaled up with more immersive experiences, hands-on showcases, and a stronger motorsport connect. This year, we’ve elevated our presence with a stronger global motorsport connection through our partnership with Trackhouse MotoGP Team. Showcasing a MotoGP race bike in India for the first time gives fans a close look at the precision and advanced technology at the pinnacle of racing and underscores that machines built for such performance demand equally high standards of care.”

The display highlighted Gulf’s motorsport heritage and its focus on supporting high-performance machines with technology and care worthy of the world’s most demanding racing environments.

The post Gulf Oil Unveils MotoGP Bike at India Bike Week appeared first on NRI News.

AUSTRIA: A day of complications for the Repsol Honda Team in the Styrian hills, Joan Mir crossed the line in the 17th as Luca Marini retired on lap six with a technical issue.

Evening storms were nowhere to be seen as the clouds burned away to reveal a clear sky in the build-up to the Austrian GP. An intense warm-up session gave the Repsol Honda Team a chance for final checks and setup changes ahead of the race.

Joan Mir was again able to make the difference when the lights went out as he and his Repsol Honda Team RC213V shot forward from 19th – moving immediately to join the battle for the points. Working to complete the race and deepen the breadth of data available to engineers, Mir took 17th at the end of the 28-lap. Wanting more from his Austrian GP weekend, the #36 remains focused on the future and the upgrades in the development pipeline.

After a positive morning warm-up, Luca Marini was aiming to continue his run of form to again challenge the other Honda riders. Unfortunately, the Italian experienced a technical issue early in the race and returned to the pits on lap six, retiring from the Grand Prix. HRC engineers will investigate deeply ahead of the next race in Aragon.

The Repsol Honda Team will now head to Misano for a private test before Round 12 of the 2024 MotoGP World Championship in Aragon. Both outings will allow Marini and Mir to keep on improving and focusing on delivering the potential the pair have consistently shown throughout the season so far.

Luca Marini (DNF) “Not too much to say about today. We had an issue with the bike that we needed to explore deeper before the next race, I could feel it from the start of the race. Aside from this, we have had a very good and important weekend here. When you have something like this on Sunday you have to take a step back and look at the whole weekend – which has been positive. Now we have a busy period and a lot of work and races until the end of the year.”

Joan Mir (17^th) “It was a challenging race today and we did what we could with the situation in front of us. There are still some areas that we need to keep working on and a few of our issues were made more challenging at this track. But the important part is the information, and I am looking to the future for what is to come from HRC. Now is the moment to stay focused and keep working through our things.” 

Motorrad Grand Prix von Oesterriech Resutls

Rider standings

The post Mir’s Future Plans and Marini’s Surprising Exit at Spielberg appeared first on NRI News.

AUSTRIA: Both Repsol Honda Team riders fought back to set up for a stronger Sunday in a complicated Sprint where Luca Marini and Joan Mir took 17th and 19th, masking their true potential.

Overnight thunderstorms did little to change the conditions in Spielberg as another day of intense heat enveloped the 4.35 kilometers of the Red Bull Ring. Q1 was an intense 15-minute session where inch-perfect precision was needed to gain an advantage in the tight group battling for the top two transfer spots. Setting the eighth and ninth fastest times in Q1 respectively, Luca Marini and Joan Mir lined up nearby for the Sprint Race.

Initially dropping back at the start, Luca Marini remained focused on his Repsol Honda Team RC213V. With the hot temperatures came even more challenging conditions, many around the #10 making mistakes while Marini steadily matched his pace lap after lap. Crossing the line on the 17th, the Italian was hoping for much more from the Sprint but is positive that the data collected will help on Sunday.

Joan Mir’s race started well, the #36 immediately gaining ground with a rapid start when the lights went out. Contact with another rider and an early long lap penalty for track limits would also force Mir into recovery mode. Ending just behind his Repsol Honda Team teammate, Mir is confident his true potential will be on show in the full-length Grand Prix.

The lights are set to go out for the Motorrad Grand Prix von Oesterreich at 14:00 Local Time tomorrow, Sunday, August 18.

Luca Marini (17^th) “We were hoping for more in the Sprint speaking honestly. I didn’t make a good start and then in this heat, it’s quite complicated with the carbon brakes. The positive point is that we learned some more things for Sunday and also for the development in the future. Once we were in the race we were able to set an OK pace given we were playing catch up, but we were far behind because of the opening lap.”

Joan Mir (19^th) “I made a really good start to the race and was able to gain a lot, then I had some contact with Raul Fernandez and lost about four positions. Then with the Long Lap Penalty, I dropped far back, and we did what we could. It’s a shame because our pace was much better than what we were able to show in the race. Tomorrow will be another tough race for everyone on the grid with these conditions.”

Austrian GP – Sprint Result

The post How Early Race Incidents Obscured Marini and Mir’s True Speed appeared first on NRI News.

ITALY: An intense burst of action with back-to-back races and a test for Joan Mir and Luca Marini as the 2024 MotoGP World Championship season progresses at pace.

The first back-to-back weekend of the season sees the Repsol Honda Team travel the 1,000 kilometers plus from Barcelona to Mugello for another weekend of MotoGP action. A classic on the MotoGP calendar, the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello is known for its incredibly straight and fast, flowing corners. The layout of the circuit will give both teams and riders a great opportunity to continue collecting data and working towards the future.

Local hero Luca Marini enters the weekend eager to embrace the boost from his home fans off the back of a weekend of progress in Barcelona. Recent upgrades and changes to the Honda RC213V have helped Marini to improve his feeling and close the distance to the other Honda riders, authoring a strong start to the Catalan GP where he challenged for top Honda honors.

On the other side of the Repsol Honda Team garage, Joan Mir is targeting a return to his early-year form. Despite taking points and fighting for top Honda honors in Barcelona, Mir is hungry for more around the Italian track. His best premier class result at the track came in 2021 when he finished third.

Luca Marini said, “Your home GP is always something nice and I am excited to go there as a factory Honda rider for the first time. I want to enjoy the weekend with the Italian fans and enjoy their support. We made progress in Barcelona and I know that we can keep building on what we found during our private Mugello test for this coming weekend. It’s all about making this progress at each round and continuing to feel better and better. You can understand a lot about a bike around Mugello so the weekend, and post-race test, will be very useful for us.”

Joan Mir said, “We have this race and a test before a bit of a break in the calendar. I want to extract the maximum possible from this weekend to recover from the tricky weekend we had in Barcelona. Everyone in the team and HRC is working hard to make improvements and continue development. We have some ideas already from the test we had here, so let’s keep on going and enjoy riding.”

The post Straight Back To Work For The Repsol Honda Team In Mugello appeared first on NRI News.

Ranveer expressed his interest and excitement for the Ducati MotoGP bikes and was also taken to the MotoGP grid before the race started, closer to the action where thousands of Indian fans roared and shared their excitement with him at the starting grid. Post the race start, Singh saw the entire race with the team in the Ducati garage and got closer to the action from the main straight where he was greeted by the epic roar of MotoGP bikes going flat out towards Turn 1 of the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida.

“It’s a great honor to attend the first-ever MotoGP race with the Ducati Corse team in India. I have always been a fan of the Ducati range but to be able to see the Ducati MotoGP race bikes, in the garage, with the team was an awesome experience. MotoGP is truly a spectacle, and I had a superb time, full of adrenaline and I am going back with amazing memories. It’s a great day for India, Indian Motorsport fans and I can’t wait to experience racing and Ducati again!” said Ranveer.

Bipul Chandra, Managing Director of Ducati India, said, “As part of our collaboration, Mr. Ranveer Singh attended the inaugural Indian GP as a Ducati guest and ended up giving us a course on humility. He was thrilled to see the Ducati MotoGP bikes up close, experienced the MotoGP race with us, and obliged hundreds of fans with selfies, hugs, and a few words of endearment. MotoGP Bharat is already super special for us as it’s a dream come true, and Ranveer’s enthusiasm and support took it to the next level.“

The high-resolution images of Singh from the MotoGP race can be downloaded from the provided link. Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. is a sole shareholder company subject to the management and coordination activities of AUDI AG. Founded in 1926, Ducati has been manufacturing sport-inspired motorcycles characterized by high-performance engines, innovative design, and cutting-edge technology. Ducati’s iconic motorcycles, together with an extensive range of bike accessories and technical and lifestyle apparel, are distributed in 90 countries worldwide.

The post Ranveer Singh, Ducati India Brand Ambassador, Attends Inaugural MotoGP Bharat appeared first on NRI News.

Meanwhile, Marquez shot off the line and immediately hooked himself to the back of the leading trio. Unfortunately, at Turn 1 on lap five, Marquez fell but remounted within just eight seconds and rejoined in 16th place. From here, he cut through the field and found himself back inside the top ten by lap 14. The eight-time World Champion would take ninth at the flag, a solid result considering the fall.

The entire Repsol Honda Team now heads directly to Japan for Honda’s home race at the Motegi circuit.

Marquez said, “If you just looked at the final result and see ninth you wouldn’t know the whole story of our race – but to achieve what could be considered our ‘normal’ result after a crash is a positive. It was a really small crash but I was pushing very hard to stay in the slipstream of the bikes ahead, I went a bit wide and just fell. I came into this race with the motivation of the Sprint podium, so when I saw Pecco and Martin make a mistake I decided I needed to push. This led to the mistake. The most important thing was finishing the race, overall our rhythm was very close to Quartararo so I think we can be overall happy with what we have done this weekend.”

Mir added, “A great race today. I am super happy with our performance over the weekend and of course, to finish in fifth position is a big boost for us. The team and I did a great job understanding the bike more, and how you need to make the lap time and be fast this weekend. On the other hand, we had a small thing at the end of the race that meant I lost ground to Fabio and we dropped back. Finally in the end we were able to push and try to catch Binder after I almost crashed. It was a big save! But yeah, a really nice race overall and I have enjoyed my time in India. Let’s keep it up in Japan“

Indian Grand Prix Results

The post Honda’s Joan Mir earns best result of the season at scorching Indian GP, Marquez makes a classic comeback appeared first on NRI News.

Francesco Bagnaia, who recently secured a third-place finish in his home round in Misano despite still recovering from a nasty crash suffered in Barcelona, will lead the team in India. He is determined to get more important points for the overall standings, which currently sees him leading with 36 lengths ahead of fellow Ducati rider Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing Team). Ducati test rider Michele Pirro will join him in India, replacing the still-injured Enea Bastianini.

The track, which was inaugurated in 2011, has hosted three editions of the Formula 1 Grand Prix and several rounds of the Asia Road Racing Championship. With its 4.96 kilometers, the Buddh International Circuit features 14 corners, including five left and nine right turns.

Track action will begin on Friday at 11:15 am (CEST 7:45 am) with the first free practice session. The Sprint will be held on Saturday at 3:30 pm local time over a 12-lap distance, while the Indian GP will be held on Sunday at 3:30 pm (12:00 pm in Italy) over a 24-lap distance.

Francesco Bagnaia, who currently leads the Riders’ Standings with 283 points, said, “Maintaining concentration and avoiding making mistakes will be crucial” during this intense and important period.

Ducati, which was founded in 1926, has been manufacturing sport-inspired motorcycles characterized by high-performance engines, innovative design, and cutting-edge technology. The model range covers several market segments with families such as DesertX, Diavel, XDiavel, Hypermotard, Monster, Multistrada, Panigale, Streetfighter, and SuperSport. In 2015, Ducati presented the Ducati Scrambler, a new brand made of bikes, accessories, and apparel that stands out for its creativity and self-expression. In 2020, Ducati unveiled the Multistrada V4, the world’s first motorcycle equipped with front and rear radar, which marks a new milestone for the world of two wheels.

Ducati’s iconic motorcycles, together with an extensive range of bike accessories and technical and lifestyle apparel, are distributed in 90 countries worldwide.

Francesco Bagnaia (#1, Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1° (283 points) “After the race in Misano, I rested, but I also worked hard to get back as fit as possible for the Indian and Japanese GPs that await us in these two weeks. Physically, I feel better, but India will be an unknown territory for everyone. We will work as always to try to arrive ready to face the Sprint and the GP on Sunday. Now begins a very intense and important period, so maintaining concentration and avoiding making mistakes will be crucial.”

Michele Pirro (#51, Ducati Lenovo Team) – 25° (5 points) “After the Grand Prix of San Marino and the Riviera di Rimini, I am happy to participate in two more MotoGP events, although I feel sorry for Enea. His season is really turning out to be complicated, and I hope he can come back soon. In the San Marino GP, my feeling had been good, and I hope to be able to pick up from there. We are going to India, and we will race on a new track, so it will be a surprise for everyone, and only on Friday will find out the characteristics of this track. In any case, I am calm: I will do my best, and as always, it will be an honor to share the garage with the World Champion.”

Circuit Information

Country: India

Name: Buddh International Circuit

Track Length: 4,96 km

Sprint distance: 12 laps (59,52 km)

Race distance: 24 laps (118,97 km)

Corners: 14 (5 left, 9 right)

Rider Information

Francesco Bagnaia

Bike: Desmosedici GP

Race Number: 1

GP Starts: 183 (78 x MotoGP, 36 x Moto2, 69 x Moto3)

First GP: Qatar 2019 (MotoGP), Qatar 2017 (Moto2), Qatar 2013 (Moto3)

Wins: 26 (16 MotoGP + 8 Moto2 + 2 Moto3)

Sprint Wins: 4

First GP Win: Aragón 2021 (MotoGP), Qatar 2018 (Moto2), Netherlands 2016 (Moto3)

Pole position: 24 (17 MotoGP + 6 Moto2 + 1 Moto3)

First: Qatar 2021 (MotoGP), France 2018 (Moto2), Great Britain 2016 (Moto3)

World Titles: 2 (MotoGP 2022, Moto2 2018)

Michele Pirro

Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP

Race Number: 51

GP Starts: 113 (66 x MotoGP, 18 x Moto2, 29 x 125cc)

First GP: Qatar 2012 (MotoGP), Aragón 2010 (Moto2), Italy 2003 (125cc)

Wins: 1 (Moto2)

Sprint Wins: –

First GP Win: Valencia 2011 (Moto2)

Pole Position: 1 (Moto2)

First Pole: Valencia 2011 (Moto2)

World Title: –

Championship Information

Riders’ Standings

Francesco Bagnaia (#1 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1º (283 points)

Michele Pirro (#23 Ducati Lenovo Team) -25° (5 points)

Constructors’ Standings

Ducati – 1º (416 points)

Teams’ Standings

Ducati Lenovo Team – 3º (318 points)

The post Ducati Lenovo Team Ready to Take on First MotoGP Indian GP appeared first on NRI News.

SACHSENRING: Marc Marquez aims for better results at the historically happy hunting ground at the Sachsenring, a circuit where he has taken 11 wins in his last 11 appearances there.

Since 2010, the Repsol Honda Team has claimed 11 wins at the unique Sachsenring circuit. The German track’s 3.67 kilometers are unlike any others on the MotoGP World Championship calendar, an undulating rollercoaster of predominately left-hand bends. From 2013 onwards, Marc Marquez has been the ‘SachsenKing’ and authored a number of incredible results in Germany – most recently in 2021 when he took an emotional first win after his 2020 injury.

The #93 enters the weekend with the same focus and determination as each year before but the challenge in MotoGP only continues to grow. Mugello proved to be a difficult weekend for the Repsol Honda Team and Marquez, a crash in Sunday’s race a frustrating end. From one of the calendar’s fastest circuits to one of its slowest and most technical, the change in circuit layout is an interesting proposition as Honda HRC continues to work on improving the Honda RC213V.

Upon returning home, Joan Mir underwent an MRI at the Centre d’Imatge Diagnostica de la Dra. Cuesta in Andorra. It revealed a significant contusion on his right hand with synovial fluid and inflammation, limiting the strength and mobility of his right hand. Taking into consideration the results of the MRI, Mir will not participate in the German GP. He will travel to Palma to visit his trusted traumatologist, Dr. Juan Garcias, to evaluate the best treatment and recovery plan for the injury to his right hand, in order to return as soon as possible. He will not be replaced by the German GP.

Marc Marquez

“When you have a difficult weekend the best thing that can happen is to go racing straight away – and this is exactly what we get to do. We arrive in Sachsenring, a track I have always enjoyed a lot and had a lot of success at. Of course, I arrived wanting to do well, my focus and determination are at 100% like always. There will be many challenges this year and we need to work well from the start of the weekend to prepare for Saturday and Sunday and keep working with Honda to improve.”

The post Sachsenring calls Marquez and the Repsol Honda Team, Mir continues recovery appeared first on NRI News.