(crash.net)
KTM rookie Brad Binder (No. 33 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) delivered a stunning debut victory in the Czech Republic MotoGP at Brno, in only his third premier-class race. Franco Morbidelli (No. 21 Petronas Yamaha SRT) claims his first podium in second for Petronas Yamaha, while Johann Zarco (No. 5 Esponsorama Racing Ducati) finished third, despite a long-lap penalty for a clash that sent Binder's teammate, Pol Espargaro (No. 44 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) sliding out of the race. Here is what our special AE Contributor - Whit Bazemore - had to say after the race: "Brad Binder’s early struggles and subsequent success during the 2019 season on board this finicky KTM Moto 2 machine raised eyebrows throughout the MotoGP paddock. His talent was already well known and respected, but the last season put his reputation on another, higher level. Thus it comes as no real surprise that Brad (as a MotoGP rookie - this was only his third ever MotoGP race) was the rider to deliver KTM’s first ever MotoGP win. What is a surprise to many is the sudden overall competitiveness of the KTM machine. KTM is a factory with Championships in every racing category in which they have ever competed in - and this first MotoGP win - with their rookie star - erases any doubt that a MotoGP Championship is in the future. It isn’t a question of if, only a question of when. And, given the Brno domination - could this be the catalyst for a Championship THIS season? Don’t bet against it." - Whit Bazemore
Editor-In-Chief's Note: We certainly hope you're enjoying the superb photography and insider's perspective of MotoGP racing by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore. MotoGP has become my personal favorite form of motorsport, and to have someone with Whit's talent share his visual art and deep knowledge of MotoGP is truly special for us, and we really appreciate it. By the way, you may recognize Whit's last name - Bazemore began making a living from drag racing when he was sixteen years old, and he is a two-time U.S. Nationals winner and still the fifth-fastest Funny Car driver ever at 333.25 MPH. -PMD
(Photo by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore)
Brad Binder on the No. 33 Red Bull KTM in Austin, Texas, last year.
(Photo by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore)
Franco Morbidelli (No. 21 Petronas Yamaha SRT) at the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, last year.
(Photo by special AE contributor Whit Bazemore)
Johann Zarco.
(Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Max Verstappen (No. 33 Red Bull Racing Honda) started on the hard tire compound he used in qualifying and beat Mercedes-Benz outright to win in the 70th Anniversary F1 Grand Prix at Silverstone. Lewis Hamilton (No. 44 Mercedes-AMG Petronas) was second - his 155th career podium, tieing Michael Schumacher's record - and Valterr Bottas (No. 77 Mercedes-AMG Petronas) finished third.
(Trans Am by Pirelli)
Chris Dyson (No. 20 CDR Plaid Ford Mustang) led all the way on Saturday morning at Road America, surviving a pair of restarts to capture his first Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli victory of the season. Dyson held off Ernie Francis Jr. (No. 98 One South Florida Wealth Advisors Ford Mustang) to win by 8.19s for his fifth career victory, and first since beating reigning champion Francis Jr. in the 2019 season finale at Daytona as the duo fought for the title. “The car was absolutely fantastic the whole race, from start to finish.” Dyson said. “The Plaid Mustang was brilliant and Pirelli tires were strong the whole way. I got a bit nervous on the last restart, because you can never take anything for granted in this series. We came here to win, and this was big for the team. I just want to say thanks to everyone at the Trans Am Series and Road America in a difficult circumstances for putting on a great show for us and holding this wonderful event,” Dyson added. “This is one of my all-time favorite tracks. It’s one of the greatest tracks in the whole world and being here every summer is just an absolute gift — especially this year.” Local favorite Cliff Ebben finished third, 17.848s back in the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/McMahon Group Ford Mustang.
(Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Kevin Harvick’s victory in Sunday’s Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway gave the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford team a weekend race sweep and a whole lot of momentum as the NASCAR Cup Series closes out its regular-season schedule at the end of this month. Harvick held off Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) to complete the doubleheader sweep. Harvick beat Hamlin to the line by .093 seconds, the second-closest finish in Michigan International Speedway history. Harvick’s win is a series-best sixth of the season - and 55th of his career – placing the 44-year-old Californian in 10th on the NASCAR Cup Series all-time wins list, tied with NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace. Sunday marked the first time since 1971 (Richard Petty) that a driver has won back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series races on back-to-back days. It was the fourth win in the last five Michigan races for Harvick and his weekend double earned the prestigious Michigan Heritage Trophy for Ford Motor Company – honoring the weekend’s top make in America’s auto manufacturer’s backyard. (Thank you to Holly Cain/NASCAR.com)
(Steve Revere/Getty Images)
Austin Cindric (No. 22 Team Penske Ford) had to really earn his victory in Saturday’s Henry 180 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the historic 4.048-mile Road America road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, managing to hold off traffic on numerous restarts both early and late in an elongated afternoon of competition that included wet and dry conditions and 13 dramatic lead changes. Cindric, 21, took the lead for good on a restart with three laps remaining, having to hold off hard-charging veteran road-course ace A.J. Allmendinger (No. 16 Chevrolet) and ultimately taking a 1.318-second victory – Cindric’s fourth win in the last five races and third career road course vistory. He is the 11th different Road America winner in the last 11 races on the track. “I had a lot of fun,” Cindric said of the head-to-head racing with so many of his championship challengers on the day. Chase Briscoe (No. 98 Ford), a five-time winner in 2020 who is second to Cindric by 11 points in the driver standings, finished third, followed by Kaz Grala (No. 21 Chevrolet) and IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Series star Andy Lally (No. 02 Chevrolet). (Thanks again to Holly Cain/NASCAR.com)
(Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli)
Mike Skeen (No. 77 Liqui Moly Chevrolet Camaro) emerged as the winner following a dramatic TA2® Powered by AEM race Saturday afternoon at Road America. The American racer claimed his third victory of the 2020 season following a multi-car incident in the high-speed kink that red-flagged the event with 16 minutes still on the clock. With at least 20 minutes of cleanup required, the race activity was halted. Despite having lost the position on the unscored final lap, Skeen led all 13 scored laps, and extended his lead in the season championship after four races. Local-favorite Sam Mayer (No. 96 M1 Racecars Camaro) finished second, with Rafa Matos (No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Camaro) netting the final podium position in a race that included multiple incidents at "America's National Park of Speed." (Thank you to Trans Am media)
(Chevrolet)
A Torch Red 2020 Corvette Stingray coupe will serve as the Official Pace Car for the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. The Pace Car will be driven by GM President Mark Reuss. This year, the race will be held outside of May for the first time – Sunday, Aug. 23 – with live NBC coverage at 2:30 p.m. (ET). This marks the 17th time a Corvette has served as the Pace Car, starting in 1978, and the 31st time a Chevrolet has led the field, dating to 1948 when a Fleetmaster Six convertible held the honor. No other brand or vehicle has served as the “500” Pace Car more often than Chevrolet and the Corvette, respectively. “It’s truly an honor to have the opportunity to be behind the wheel of the mid-engine Corvette Pace Car at such a historic race as the Indy 500,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “The 2020 Corvette Stingray is the result of a close collaboration between the Corvette Racing and production engineering teams, setting a new benchmark for supercars around the world.” The 2020 Corvette Stingray Pace Car features: All-new mid-engine LT2 6.2L V8 engine with 495HP; 8-Speed Dual Clutch transmission; Z51 performance package; Corvette accessory spoiler and ground effects package; Carbon Flash exterior accents and badge package; GT2 Bucket Seats and, of course, Unique Indy 500 Livery. Chevrolet has a storied history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chevrolet was founded in 1911, the year of the inaugural 500-mile race, and company co-founder Louis Chevrolet, along with brothers Arthur and Gaston, competed in early Indy 500s. Arthur competed in the 1911 race and Gaston won in 1920. The race will be televised live on NBC for the second consecutive year, with the pre-race show starting at 1 p.m. The Pennzoil INDYCAR Radio Network will provide live coverage of the race to its affiliates and on Sirius 211, XM 205, indycar.com and the INDYCAR Mobile App powered by NTT DATA. Visit IMS.com for more information about this year’s schedule.