Yamaha Thailand Racing Team Sets Objectives & Announces Riders

David Swarts

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March 23, 2024

Yamaha Thailand Racing Team Sets Objectives & Announces Riders

Yamaha Thailand Racing Team Sets Ambitious Objectives And Announces 2024 Rider Lineup

As the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team (YTRT) gears up for the 2024 season, we are proud to announce our ambitious objectives for the year ahead and build on our 2023 experience.

Bangkok, Thailand – 20 March, 2024: With extensive experience working in international motorsports, YTRT aims to leverage our rich history and experience to excel in the competitive world-championship environment while competing in the 2024 WorldSSP championship series.

Since the inception of motorsports in Thailand, Yamaha Thailand Racing has been at the forefront of the racing scene. With countless victories and championships to our name, we have been trailblazers for Thailand on the world stage. From the dominance of the Siam Yamaha Racing Team in the 1970s and 1980s to our current status as championship winners in both national and international race series, YTRT has established a winning reputation within the motorsports industry.

In 2023, Yamaha Thailand Racing Team made history by becoming the first Thai team to compete in the World Supersport class of the FIM Superbike World Championship. This prestigious series attracts a global audience and is a testament to our commitment to excellence on the international stage. As the only Thai team in the WorldSBK paddock, YTRT is committed to raising our professional standards and profile while competing at the highest level of motorsports and establishing ourselves as a world-class racing team.

Yamaha Thailand Racing Team will focus on a year of growth and progress as we develop our riders and continue to build a leading Thai motorsports team.

2024 Rider Lineup

Yamaha Thailand Racing Team rider Anupab Sarmoon will race in WorldSSP for his second year with the team. Photo courtesy Yamaha Thailand Racing Team.

Name: Anupab Sarmoon #51

Team: Yamaha Thailand Racing Team

Motorcycle: Yamaha YZF-R6

Date of Birth: 09 December, 1993

Birthplace: Chiang Mai

Anupab Sarmoon will be entering his second season with Yamaha Thailand Racing Team in the 2024 WorldSSP championship. With notable achievements including finishing fourth overall in the 2022 Asia Road Racing Championship and solid performances in the 2023 WorldSSP season, Sarmoon is poised to take a positive step forward in his international racing career.

Name: Krittapat Keankum #39

Team: Yamaha Thailand Racing Team

Motorcycle: Yamaha YZF-R6

Date of Birth: 22 February, 2005

Birthplace: Nonthabuuri

Krittapat Keankum, a rising talent, joins Yamaha Thailand Racing Team for the 2024 WorldSSP season. After a successful campaign in the R3 bLU cRU championship, finishing sixth in the standings, Keankum is ready to step up to the challenge of racing the supersport Yamaha R6 and aims to showcase his skills on the international stage and the opportunity to progress among Yamaha alumni.

As we embark on the 2024 season, Yamaha Thailand Racing Team is committed to pushing the boundaries of excellence and representing Thailand with pride on the world stage.

For media inquiries, please contact:

[email protected]

Follow us on social media for updates:

Yamaha Thailand Racing Team Facebook Fan page

WorldWCR: Woman and Rider – Sonya Lloyd

Mathilde Gasnier

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September 1, 2025

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23-year-old Sonya came to motorcycle racing a little later than most, discovering flat-track just six years ago, at the age of 17.

“I started riding pretty late, it’s true, but I instantly fell in love with it. I started flat tracking at about 17 and then road racing at 20. Before I started riding, I did soccer and competitive cheerleading and stuff, so nothing super serious, just a lot of club sports. I’ve always been pretty active.”

Balancing the pressures

A dedicated student, Sonya has spent the last few years studying for a degree in biological engineering back home in America, a course that she completed in 2024.

“It wasn’t as hard as people would think to juggle it all, in fact it was kind of nice, as I would get stressed with one part of my life and could go work on a different part of it. So, it was kind of a good balance to have my studies and my racing. But I graduated last spring after completing my capstone project.”

“My degree is in biological engineering. I started out studying biology, but then realised I really like the engineering side of things. Most people in my field go into prosthetics or something more medical, but I really like the inventiveness of it, whereby we take inspiration from forms found in nature to engineer something – it’s called biomimicry – for example turbine fins are inspired by whale fins because they’re the optimal design for pushing fluid. You actually see a lot of this in motorcycle racing too.”

Racing goals, corporate goals

Sonya’s focus is on the WorldWCR championship right now, but she will enter the world of full-time work come the fall.

“So, this year I’m racing full-time, which is a ton of fun and a really cool experience. I want to start regularly finishing in the points, that’s the main goal. If I can just keep moving forward and get better each round, I think I’ll be happy. I wanted to give myself this year to kind of go all in and see what I could do with the racing.”

“Work-wise, I’ll be doing technical consultancy for Siemens Digital Industries. It’s not exactly bioengineering, but more the engineering side of business and communicating with the engineers, basically being that point of connection.”

“I plan on committing to this championship and trying again next season. This year is kind of me dipping a toe in the water so that I can learn all the tracks, figure out how everything works, and just kind of be as prepared as possible for next year.”

International relations

This is Sonya’s first year discovering the WorldWCR circuits and getting to know her fellow racers, but she has spent time in Europe before, as an intern.

“A few years ago, I had the chance to do an internship in Spain for about three months, so I got to be based there and traveled around a little bit. That involved technical consulting too, so I worked on solar panel fields and design and wind farms. I got very good at writing Spanish but I’m a terrible speaker of Spanish – that’s one of my goals this year in fact, I want to get better at speaking Spanish and Italian with my team.”

“Everyone’s been very welcoming. The language barrier sometimes gets in the way, but overall, everybody’s been super friendly, and I have two teammates, so I think that’s really helped me to integrate myself into the series. They already knew everybody and so have introduced me to people. I’ve found it very collaborative too, sharing our data and helping each other. I know at the front of the pack it’s pretty cutthroat, but since I am closer to the back right now, I’ve gotten a lot of support from other teams and have found that people are willing to tell me what they’re doing. When I get a bit faster, maybe they’ll stop helping me.”

Rider, and mechanic too!

She might be a biological engineering graduate, but Sonya is equally at home getting her hands dirty as a mechanic. Two years ago, she took part in Build.Train.Race., a road race program organized by Royal Enfield North America that runs alongside the MotoAmerica championship.

“I did it two years ago, and it was probably the best way I could have started in road racing. Royal Enfield picks 12 women each year, they give you a street bike and help you to build it into a race bike. They’re not the most powerful or technical machines, but they’re pretty good for starting out and getting comfortable working on your own bike. They take you to a training day, give you all the basics, and then you race at six of the MotoAmerica rounds. Each racer is basically their own mechanic. You’re really doing a lot of your own work, which was an uphill battle, but they give you all the technical sheets and manuals and professional mechanics are on hand to provide support.”

“The program’s brought a lot of women into the MotoAmerica paddock to watch, and you see little girls coming up wanting pictures with the women riders. It’s great to see, because it’s helping more females to get into racing but also enjoy the sport as spectators. I’ve had a fantastic crash course from so many professionals in America – it’s been like ten lifetimes in the past two years!”

Finding the way

As an American, Sonya now has first-hand experience of the challenges of racing on another continent and is also optimistic about the opportunities available to youngsters in her home country.

“I think there is a way for children to come up in America and become professional racers, but you have to know where to look and it’s not as easy as putting your kid into soccer or something. I think the hardest part is working out how to do it, but we have some great initiatives, like with Build.Train.Race for women and now the Talent Cup and the Mini Cup, to help youngsters get into the Rookies Cup, so there are opportunities if you look for them. It’s also a bit harder to send your kid across an ocean to race, rather than just the country next door, so it’s definitely a family commitment.”

“The WorldWCR is fantastic to launch women into the sport and kind of give them that platform. I love racing with the guys in the States but here is where I can grow as a rider, which is why I came. I started late and obviously missed a lot of the ‘bar banging’ and tight racing growing up, so I’m starting to experience that here. I think it’s great to put all these women who want to be champions together so we can elevate each other. I think we’re getting closer, and the girls at the front are no joke. I’d love to see us on some bigger bikes in the future, to help showcase that women can handle bigger bikes, maybe R9s or R1s. I’m sure the organisers had no idea how everybody was going to stack up last year, but it already seems a lot more competitive this year.”

About WorldWCR

The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR) is a groundbreaking single-make series exclusively for aspiring female riders, featuring the Yamaha R7. Building on the success of its inaugural season in 2024, which saw Ana Carrasco crowned, the series aims to continue advancing women’s motorsport by fostering new talent and showcasing competitive racing on a global stage.

With six rounds scheduled for 2025, the WorldWCR offers emerging talent an equal platform to showcase their skills alongside the world’s best riders. By addressing disparities and breaking down barriers, the series empowers women to reach new heights in professional racing. As a dedicated space for female riders, WorldWCR celebrates skill, passion, and diversity. It inspires the next generation of female racers while shaping a more inclusive motorsport landscape.

WorldWCR will return to action for the French Round on September 5-7
at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.

MotoGP: HRC And Luca Marini Extend Contract To 2026

Mathilde Gasnier

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September 1, 2025

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Luca Marini will continue as a Honda HRC rider in the factory Honda HRC Castrol team for the 2026 MotoGP World Championship season. 2025 has seen the Italian take a significant step forward on the Honda RC213V, scoring points in every weekend he has started and more than tripling his points haul from 2024 after just 12 rounds. His best result to date is fifth, achieved at the Hungarian GP.

Luca Marini:

“I am very happy to make this announcement and remain with Honda HRC. We have just been working on a few final details, both HRC’s management and myself have been aligned on the future for quite a while. I am completely invested in this project and determined to help Honda return to the front in the MotoGP World Championship. Since joining the team in 2024, we have continued to improve and work together in an ever-improving way. Working with a factory, and especially a factory like Honda HRC, gives you huge motivation as a rider. We have had a good season so far and the focus remains to continue improving until the very last lap in Valencia.”

Taichi Honda – HRC General Manager:

“We are happy to continue with Luca for another year, he has shown a high level of professionalism and dedication throughout. Luca has earned himself a reputation as an analytical rider and an incredibly hard worker, a valuable asset to any MotoGP project. Luca’s feedback is clear and precise and has been very useful for Honda HRC’s engineers in continuing the development of the Honda RC213V over the past season and a half.”

AFT: Lowe Takes Honda to Victory

Mathilde Gasnier

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September 1, 2025

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Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp) scored Honda’s first twin-cylinder premier-class victory in more than a quarter century in a momentous and pivotal Springfield Mile II presented by Drag Specialties, the penultimate round of the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.

Lowe dove past long-time leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) entering Turn 3 on the race’s final lap and then held off the Mission AFT SuperTwins title contender by a scant 0.026-second margin at the checkered flag.

Despite that minor disappointment, it was still a huge day for Daniels at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, when taking the bigger picture into consideration. 

While seven riders finished within a second of the win, three of the race’s most significant figures weren’t included among them. Early leader Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (No. 123 Happy Trails Racing, Carver’s BBQ Kawasaki Ninja 650) was the first to pull out with mechanical issues. He was joined a few minutes later by AFT Singles champ Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), who was ensconced in the lead pack in his premier-class debut before being forced out with problems of his own.

Moments later – and most consequentially of all – then-Grand National Championship leader Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) was black-flagged while racing up front as a result of smoke that billowed from his machine.

Daniels’ runner-up, combined with Bauman being credited in 14th, completely alters the championship outlook with just a single race remaining. The Estenson Racing Yamaha rider now leads his Rick Ware Racing Harley rival by 13 points with only 23 points left in play. That means even if Bauman wins the finale, Daniels needs to finish just seventh or better in order to defeat him for the ‘25 Mission AFT SuperTwins crown.

Despite that shift, this day belongs to Lowe, who delivered the Big Red SuperTwins program its first win since kicking off the initial development of a Honda Transalp-based racebike ahead of the 2024 season. It was also the first for Lowe, who had already made a strong impression in his first full premier-class season.

The Indiana native’s win was the first for a Honda twin-cylinder since Rich King claimed victory at the 1998 Joliet Half-Mile aboard a Honda RS750. It was also the first such podium since King finished second at the Springfield Mile later that same year. Honda’s last win of any kind in the premier-class came back in 2016 with Jake Johnson riding a Honda CRF450R at the DAYTONA Short Track II.

Afterward, Lowe said, “First and foremost, I want to thank my whole team. I’ve been a little bit of a pain, but there has to be a little bit of conflict in the pit area just to kind of get everything going. I’m serious, they’re serious. We all want to figure this out. 

“I have to give a huge shout out to Mission Foods, Jerry Stinchfield, Mike Turner and the whole Turner family, Steve Watt, Kenny Coolbeth, Randy Triplett, Mike Lozano, the whole Maxwell Industries crew, and Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda… I’m just so thankful for this. These guys put so much into this. It just means a lot to finally get one here.”

Meanwhile, Brandon Price (No. 92 HRP Racing/Duffs Speed Machine Yamaha MT-07) closed out a remarkable comeback weekend with a third to add to yesterday’s runner-up. 

He was followed closely to the line by Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha MT-07), Henry Wiles(No. 911 1st Impressions Racing KTM 790 Duke), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R).

Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) was the last rider to finish in the lead pack, just 0.548 seconds off the win yet relegated to seventh in the final order.

Trent Lowe (48) celebrates his Main Event victory with the team and the checkered flag Sunday. Photo by Tim Lester / courtesy American Flat Track.

AFT Singles presented by KICKER

With the 2025 championship already decided, the AFT Singles presented by KICKER category simply delivered a Springfield Mile classic. A huge pack of riders went bar-to-bar for ten minutes plus two laps, with 11 riders taking the checkered flag within a second of victory.

But despite the extraordinarily close margin, victory once again belonged to the newly crowned class king, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).

The Australian cemented his reputation as a young master of the Springfield Mile, now boasting five wins in the last six AFT Singles Main Events contested at the venue (and that’s even after compacting yesterday’s 1-1-1 into a single victory).

Other than a single, momentary stint outside the top five, Drane factored heavily at the front throughout, trading the lead with fellow front-row runners Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), and polesitter Kage Tadman (No. 288 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450).

Meanwhile, Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R), Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio/Sluggo/Unsettled Racing KTM 450 SX-F) poked at them from meters behind, with Walker Porter (No. 100 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F), Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/Reel Medics Yamaha YZ450F), and Ryder Reese (No. 244 Mission Foods Roof Systems) a double draft away from pulling the upset.

Despite the seeming unpredictability of the contest, Drane calmly positioned himself where he needed to be on the final lap, pulling in behind late leader Brunner as the pack negotiated the race’s final two corners.

The Estenson Racing star pulled out at just the right moment, soaring past in time to grab the checkered flag by 0.028 seconds over the Turner Honda pilot.

“I’ve had a really good run here,” Drane said. “Ever since we first came here in ‘22, I’ve always done well here. I had a great bike underneath me, which really helped. Big thanks to my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy team. They’ve put in a lot of work and given me a really fast bike. It’s been amazing. We’ve had a really good year.”

Cose edged teammate Tadman once again for third, the two taking the stripe 0.086 and 0.150 seconds behind Drane, respectively.

Raggio edged Lowe and Pfanders for fifth, while Porter, RoosEvans, and Bauer rounded out the top ten. Rookie Reese missed out on a third-career top ten despite finishing just 0.892 behind race winner Drane.

Speaking of Drane, he now has seven race wins on the season and 18 for his career, putting him in position to tie Dallas Daniels and Kody Kopp for most single-season wins and Shayna Texter-Bauman for second in career AFT Singles Main Event wins in two weeks at the ‘25 season finale.

Next Up:

Progressive American Flat Track will conclude an epic 2025 Grand National Championship season with the Arby’s Lake Ozark Short Track presented by Arrowhead Brass at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Missouri, on Saturday, September 13.

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/lake-ozark-short-track-126438 to purchase your tickets now.

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://flosports.link/aft.

FOX Sports coverage of the Springfield Mile I presented by Drag Specialties, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, September 6, at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT). The Springfield Mile IIpresented by Drag Specialties will air the following Saturday, September 13, at  10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

Where To Ride In September 2025

Mathilde Gasnier

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September 1, 2025

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The following track days, riding schools, and racing events are scheduled by organizations based in the United States during September 2025.

This list includes 71 opportunities to ride at races, schools, and track days during the months of September in North America.

To have your motorcycle racing or riding event added to the Event Calendar on this website and published in the print edition of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine, submit your calendar and contact information via the contact page on this website or by emailing to [email protected] or to [email protected].

Before heading to an event, contact the organization or track and confirm that it’s going to be held as publicized.

9/1 Motovid, Blackhawk Farms Raceway S. Beloit, IL

9/1 316 Superbike Camp, Harris Hill Raceway, San Marcos, TX

9/1 Zalusky Advanced Riding School & Track Days, Track Day, Comp. Course, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, MN

9/1 USCRA, Granite State Championships- New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, New Hampshire

9/4-5 California Superbike School, Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA (All Levels)

9/5-7 AHRMA, Nelson Ledges Road Course, Garrettsville, OH

9/5-7 CRA (California Roadrace Association) Series, Buttonwillow Raceway Park Circuit Track, Buttonwillow, CA

9/6-7 ASMA Series, Arroyo Seco Raceway CW, Deming, NM

9/6-7 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Blackhawk Farms Raceway, South Beloit, IL

9/6-7 CMRA Series, Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Hallett OK

9/6-7 N2 Track Days, Summit Point Raceway (Main), Summit Point, WV

9/6-7 Evolve GT School And Track Days, Atlanta Motorsports Park (AMP), Dawsonville, GA

9/6-7 Compact Octane Track Days, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Desert Center, CA

9/6-7 Pacific Track Time Track Days, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA

9/7 The Riders Club, Thunderbolt , 8000 Dividing Creek Rd., Millville, NJ 08332

9/7 Superbike-Coach Corp. Schools & Track Days, Cornering School Day 3, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton, CA

9/7-8 ASMA Series, Arroyo Seco Raceway CW, Deming, NM

9/8 The Riders Club, Thunderbolt , 8000 Dividing Creek Rd., Millville, NJ 08332 – powered by RevZilla

9/8 Penguin Riding School, Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Thompson, CT

9/8-9 Precision Track Days, Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC

9/9-10-11-12 Evolve GT School And Track Days, Ozarks International Raceway, Gravois Mills, MO

9/11 The Riders Club, Lightning , 8000 Dividing Creek Rd., Millville, NJ 08332 – VIP

9/12 The Riders Club, Thunderbolt , 8000 Dividing Creek Rd., Millville, NJ 08332

9/12 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, GingerMan Raceway Bike Night, South Haven, MI

9/12-14 MotoAmerica AMA/ FIM North America Road Racing Series, Circuit of The Americas, Austin, TX

9/13 AMA Pro American Flat Track, Lake Ozark Short Track, Lake Ozark Speedway, Eldon, MO

9/13 Southeast Mini Moto Series, MidPond Raceway, Columbiana, AL

9/13-14 ASRA National Series, Ozark International Raceway, Gravois Mills, MO

9/13-14 Pacific Track Time Track Days, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA

9/13-14 N2 Track Days, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA

9/13-14 California Superbike School, Streets of Willow Springs, Rosamond, CA (Level Five)

9/13-14 Evolve GT School And Track Days, NCBIKE, Garysburg, NC

9/13-14 Evolve GT School And Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ (Thunderbolt)

9/13-14 Fast Line Track Days, NCM Motorsports Park, Bowling Green, KY

9/13-14 ASRA Mid-West Region Championship Series, Ozark International Raceway, Gravois Mills, MO

9/13-14 ASRA Southeast Region Championship Series, Ozark International Raceway, Gravois Mills, MO

9/15 Evolve GT School And Track Days, Summit Point Circuit, Summit Point, WV (Main Track)

9/17 Motovid, Blackhawk Farms Raceway S. Beloit, IL

9/17 The Riders Club, Thunderbolt , 8000 Dividing Creek Rd., Millville, NJ 08332

9/18 The Riders Club, Thunderbolt , 8000 Dividing Creek Rd., Millville, NJ 08332 *Advances/experts only

9/18-19 Yamaha Champions Riding School, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA

9/19-21 CRA (Central Roadracing Association) Series, Competition Course, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, MN

9/20 WERA National Endurance Series Co-Sanctioned by AMA, Nelson Ledges Road Course, Garrettsville, OH

9/20 Ramming Speed/Classic Trackdays, Willow Springs International Raceway, Big Track, Rosamond, CA

9/20 Superbike-Coach Corp. Schools & Track Days, Body Position Camp/Knee Down Class, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton, CA

9/20-21 South Central Motorcycle Roadracing Championship, Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Hallett, OK

9/20-21 WERA Sportsman Series North Central Region Co-Sanctioned by AMA, Nelson Ledges Road Course, Garrettsville, OH-E,M,rs,V,

9/20-21 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, Munford, AL

9/20-21 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Grattan Raceway, Belding, MI

9/20-21 TrackAddix Track Days & Races, Motorsports Park Hastings, Hastings, NE

9/20-21 Trackdaz Track Days, Buttonwillow Circuit (New Track), Buttonwillow, CA

9/20-21-22 Jennings GP Track Days & Novice Schools, Jennings GP, Jennings, FL (Track Days)

9/21 MRA Series, Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, CO (Saturday lapping by Legion Moto Trackdays)

9/21 Superbike-Coach Corp. Schools & Track Days, Wheelie Course, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton, CA

9/21 Evolve GT School And Track Days, Summit Point Circuit, Summit Point, WV (Shenandoah)

9/22 Motovid, Road America Elkhart Lake, WI

9/22 The Riders Club, Thunderbolt , 8000 Dividing Creek Rd., Millville, NJ 08332 – powered by RevZilla

9/22 Evolve GT School And Track Days, Summit Point Circuit, Summit Point, WV (Main Track)

9/22-23 Yamaha Champions Riding School, Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC

9/25 Volant Vivere Track Days, Thunderhill Raceway Park, West Course, Willow, CA

9/26-28 MotoAmerica AMA/ FIM North America Road Racing Series, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ

9/27 Southeast Mini Moto Series, Lamar County Speedway, Barnesville, GA

9/27-28 AFM Series, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA

9/27-28 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, IL

9/27-28 Compact Octane Track Days, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA

9/27-28 Evolve GT School And Track Days, Polecat Training Center (PTC), Lynchburg, TN

9/27-28 N2 Track Days, NCBike, Garysville, NC

9/27-28 Zalusky Advanced Riding School & Track Days, Track Day, Comp. Course, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, MN

9/28-29 Precision Track Days, Roebling Road Raceway, Bloomingdale, GA

9/29 Aprilia Racers Days (Track Days), New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ

9/30-10/01 Yamaha Champions Riding School, NCM Motorsports Park, Bowling Green, KY

ASRA: Time Trial Results

Mathilde Gasnier

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August 30, 2025

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The 2026 ASRA Time Trials debut kicks off a new era of competition, featuring GTO Unlimited, GTU Middleweight, and GTL Lightweight classes.

Here are the results:

Time Trial GTL class

Time trial GTO class

Time Trial GTU class

AFT: Daniels Triumphs in Springfield Triple Thriller

Mathilde Gasnier

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August 30, 2025

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AFT: Daniels Triumphs in Springfield Triple Thriller

The Grand National Championship is now separated by just two points following an epic and unpredictable Springfield Mile I presented by Drag Specialties, Round 14 of the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.

Home-state hero Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) fought through adversity to come up huge in the clutch and reignite his Mission AFT SuperTwins title hopes at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois.

Last Chance Qualifier

Things got mighty serious even before the first Main Event of the Mission Triple Challenge. A deep field packed with some high-profile recent retirees and part-timers – including the legendary Jared Mees (No. 1 Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki Ninja 650), Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (No. 123 Happy Trails Racing, Carver’s BBQ Kawasaki Ninja 650), Brandon Price (No. 92 

HRP Racing/Duffs Speed Machine Yamaha MT-07), and Henry Wiles (No. 911 1st Impressions Racing KTM 790 Duke) – pushed some of the class’ leading riders into the Last Chance Qualifier during qualifying.

That list included title leader Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R), who managed to survive that near scare with a narrow victory over Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) in the LCQ.

Fifth-ranked Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) wasn’t so fortunate, dropping out of a qualifying position with mechanical woes on the race’s final lap. Even worse, he was soon joined by fourth-ranked Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), who had dibs on the lone provisional starting slot due to his superior championship positioning. That advantage was awarded via the tiebreaker, as both riders came into Springfield all even at 158 points.

Main Event 1

The new-for-‘25 Mission Triple Challenge format, which features three successive Main Events – a 10-lap sprint, a 15-lapper that pays double points, and a final 20-lap Main which concludes the meeting with triple points – was employed for the third and final time this season on Saturday at Springfield.

However, it didn’t include one of its designers – 10-time Grand National Champion Mees – as his day ended prematurely; transmission issues encountered during qualifying ruled him out before he could even take the grid for Main Event 1.

With the modern-day Springfield master removed from the equation – as well as Fisher, whose backup bike went up in smoke early in Main Event 1 – Daniels jumped into first off the line.

However, Carver and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp) soon took control at the head of a seven-rider pack. But just when it looked like they might escape into a fight of their own, they were tracked down by James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) who promptly beat them both to the checkered flag.

Daniels held on for fourth, followed by Price, and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R).

Bauman finished seventh despite crossing the stripe just 0.836 seconds behind Ott.

Main Event 2

Main Event 2 brought the action early and never relented. From the start, a four-rider lead pack formed featuring Carver, Ott, Lowe, and Price, followed by a heavy-hitting next pack consisting of Daniels, Bauman, Robinson and Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTB Racing Yamaha MT-07) about a second behind.

The race’s shape was upended when Carver bumped the elbow of Ott while attempting to take the lead, instantly transforming the contest into an eight-rider battle for the win.

At that point, title leader Bauman made his move, working his way up to the lead on the final lap. While he was ultimately unable to fend off Lowe – who put the Honda Transalp on top of the box – he did hold on for second while rival Daniels could only manage seventh.

Price finished third, followed by Bender, Ott, and Robinson.

Following his moment with Ott, Carver came home behind Daniels in eighth.

Dallas Daniels (32) leads Declan Bender (70) and Henry Wiles (911) Saturday. Photo by Tim Lester / courtesy American Flat Track.

Main Event 3

A tense and enthralling Main Event 3 closed things out with massive championship implications.

Once Main Event 2 winner Lowe dropped out with a mechanical, the 20-lapper took shape as a five-rider fight at the front with Harley-Davidson-mounted Bauman faced up against the Yamahas of Daniels, Bender, Ott, and Price.

Bauman repeatedly featured in first, slicing his way back through whenever Bender and Ott – and later Daniels and Price – clawed their way forward.

However, Bauman’s brilliant riding was overmatched by sheer speed when it mattered the most. Despite leading with two laps to go, Bauman lost out in the final shuffle; he was dropped all the way down to fifth at the flag while rival Daniels blasted up to hit the stripe in first.

Price finished second (0.092 seconds), followed by Ott (0.146), Bender (0.183), and Bauman (0.194). And with triple points in effect, that re-racked the day’s Overall results in nearly in that same order, with Bauman ahead of Bender for fourth the only alteration.

As a result, Bauman’s championship lead has been reduced to just two points (280-278) with just only races remaining. Robinson remains third at 186.

An emotional Daniels said, “The beginning of the day today has just been the story of the season. It’s been tough, but I’ll tell you one thing, it’s making us a helluva lot stronger. We proved that we don’t give up. That’s the motto for sure. I kind of had my head down after the second Main Event, and my dad grabbed me and said, ‘Hey dude, we’re not out of this.’

“Briar was so good in (Turns) 3 and 4, I was just nervous. I didn’t know where to place myself. But when Brandon (Price) got up there, I knew it was time to go. On the last lap, I knew I had to cut the best Turns 3 and 4 I did all day, and I really felt I did. Winning the Springfield Mile is pretty cool.”

AFT Singles presented by KICKER

Australian Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) became the first non-American champion in any class in the long history of Progressive American Flat Track, securing the AFT Singles presented by KICKER title a full two rounds early today in Springfield.

He did so by being both faster and more consistent than any other rider, racking up podiums at a historic rate while rapidly climbing his way up the career victory ranks.

Even in the event of a Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) victory, the Estenson Racing Yamaha ace needed just a ninth-place finish on Saturday to wrap up his first AFT Singles crown.

But finishing ninth isn’t really Drane’s style…

Main Event 1

Drane made his intentions clear from the start, grabbing the holeshot to open Main Event 1 with Brunner slotting in behind him.

They were joined by 1st Impressions teammates Kage Tadman (No. 288 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) to create a five-rider breakaway at the front.

Try as they might, no one could move Drane out of first for long, and the Estenson Racing star grabbed the checkered flag with relatively little drama.

Tadman edged Brunner for second, followed by Cose and Pfanders.

Main Event 2

Tadman powered by Drane on the opening lap, signaling the start of a very different race for top honors in Main Event 2. The two shook free of the pack almost immediately, with the lone exception of Cose, who managed to reel the two back in and join the fight for the win.

With Cose lurking just behind, Tadman and Drane went back and forth throughout. Tadman registered his final pass for the lead with two to go, while Drane returned the favor entering Turn 1 on the final lap. 

Drane’s task was then made a bit easier when Cose slipped up the inside of his young teammate as they negotiated Turns 3-4 for the final time.

Behind the Drane-Cose-Tadman 1-2-3, Brunner picked up fourth after coming out on top of a massive melee for the position with just 0.643 seconds separating fourth from tenth.

Main Event 3

The decisive Main Event 3 saw its lead pack ebb-and-flow – eight to three back up to seven as packs split and merged. All the while, Drane, Brunner, and Tadman dominated the front three positions, repeatedly trading first position.

The 20-lap Main was red flagged with eight laps to go when fourth-placed Pfanders crashed after getting sucked up in the draft just as Tadman closed down in front of him. The resultant staggered restart changed what was a long haul into a sprint race with the championship on the line.

From there a big pack stuck tight to the flag, but the end result was still the same; Drane had a counter for every move Brunner and Tadman threw at him, and he took the checkered flag – and the 2025 title with it – via a 0.017-second victory over Brunner.

After earning the #1 plate with his sixth win of the season, Drane said, “I’ve got a great team behind me. I can’t thank any of them enough. Tommy (Hayden) and Tim (Estenson) gave me this opportunity, and I wouldn’t be here without them. The whole Estenson Racing team worked hard all year to get this bike underneath me. And I can’t thank my family enough. All the sacrifices my mum and dad have made for me to be here is just awesome. It’s amazing.”

Despite getting edged by Drane, Brunner jumped up to second in the Overall results.

Meanwhile, Cose again pipped teammate Tadman for third, both in Main Event 3 and the event at large. Pfanders, who fought his way back up into contention from the back of the pack, came home fifth in Main Event 3 and Overall.

While the title is now taken care of, Drane still has a chance to tie Dallas Daniels and Kody Kopp for most wins in an AFT Singles season (eight) and Shayna Texter-Bauman for second all-time class race wins (19) before the year is out.

Next Up:

Progressive American Flat Track will be right back in action here in Springfield tomorrow, Sunday, August 31, for the 2025 season’s penultimate round, the Springfield Mile II presented by Drag Specialties.

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/springfield-mile-day-2-125375 to purchase your tickets now.

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://flosports.link/aft.

FOX Sports coverage of the Springfield Mile I presented by Drag Specialties, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, September 6, at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT). The Springfield Mile IIpresented by Drag Specialties will air the following Saturday, September 13, at  10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

Mission AFT SuperTwins Mission Triple Challenge Race #1 (10 Laps)

Mission AFT SuperTwins Mission Triple Challenge Race #2 (15 Laps)

Mission AFT SuperTwins Mission Triple Challenge Race #3 (20 Laps)

U.S. Women’s Team Wins FIM 6-Days Enduro

Mathilde Gasnier

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August 30, 2025

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U.S. Women’s Team Wins FIM 6-Days Enduro

The U.S. Women’s World Trophy Team (WWT) has clinched a record-equaling sixth 6DAYS FIM Enduro of Nations victory in Bergamo, Italy, with a brilliant display resulting in Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede – alongside United States teammates Brandy Richards and Rachel Gutish – standing on top of the podium.

Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250, Steede showcased front-running form throughout the entirety of the event, posting a string of top-three results while enduring what was a challenging Italian landscape in the heat of the European summer.

Placing second in the final test of the week behind WWT scratch winner Richards, the 24-year-old formed part of the winning squad that sealed victory with an exceptional +37:23.58 margin over second position, which resulted in the USA earn a record-equaling sixth women’s crown at the coveted event. Steede was also ranked P2 behind Richards in the individual standings.

“It was a great week here at the 6DAYS in Italy, and a huge moment for both me and the team to get our sixth win for the United States,” reflected Steede. “It wasn’t easy out there with the conditions being really challenging throughout each day, and we were definitely tested over the duration of the event, but overall to come away with another win is a super-proud moment for all of us. Thanks to my team and my teammates for making this happen, it is really special! I love competing in the 6DAYS, and I’m already looking forward to next year.”

Women’s World Trophy Classification (After Day 6 of 6)

1. USA, 10:11:54.09

2. Australia, +37:23.58

3. France, +44:05.32

4. Italy, +57:24.59

5. Great Britain, +1:39:15.38

EWC: Take Five With Niccolò Canepa

Mathilde Gasnier

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August 30, 2025

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Niccolò Canepa, the FIM Endurance World Championship winner turned Yamaha Motor Europe’s Road Racing Sporting Manager, took time out to reflect on the 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race and look ahead to next month’s EWC season-deciding Bol d’Or. This is what the 37-year-old from Italy had to say.

On Yamaha Racing Team’s return to the Suzuka 8 Hours…

“It was great to have the factory Yamaha Racing Team back racing at Suzuka for the first time since 2019. It shows our commitment to racing at the highest level. We had an incredible line-up with Jack [Miller] from MotoGP, Andrea [Locatelli] from WorldSBK and, of course, four-time Suzuka winner and 12-time JSB1000 champion, Katsuyuki Nakasuga. With such a talented trio of riders, we felt from the start, and the guys proved it, that we would have the chance to fight for victory.”

On World Superbike star Andrea Locatelli’s EWC debut…

“I was delighted for Andrea. He is having a great season in WorldSBK this year, so he was full of confidence, but he had never ridden at Suzuka before the test. With this in mind, his lap in the Top 10 Trial was incredible, as he smashed the existing lap record, admittedly to then have it beaten by a rival, but to be able to produce a lap like that to secure second on the grid under such pressure was incredible. I think it highlights the level of talent in WorldSBK. The race itself had everything, and it was great to see the team fight at the front for its entirety. All three riders showed superb pace, with Andrea setting the fastest race lap as he again impressed, and they gave it absolutely everything in the extreme heat and humidity. Jack rode perfectly throughout the race and put in some amazing stints, while Nakasuga-san was as fast and consistent as ever. To finish just 34 seconds behind the winners, after eight hours of intense racing, showcased just what an impressive team effort it was.”

On Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team’s podium run ending…

“For YART, it was a tougher weekend. They struggled to find a good setup at the test, but once they arrived for race week, they immediately felt better on the bike. They qualified in sixth, and Marvin [Fritz], Karel [Hanika], and Jason [O’Halloran] all had good pace during the race. They were firmly in the hunt for a podium before, unfortunately, they had to retire. It was the first time that they had not finished on the podium at an EWC race since the Bol d’Or in 2023, and it was tough to take, especially with only four rounds on the EWC calendar, and considering how well they had performed in the previous races. The good news is that they still lead the championship standings by a point, with just one round left at the Bol d’Or. The way the team are working at the moment is very impressive, and if they can keep that focus heading into the final round, anything is possible.”

On ELF Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99’s Suzuka personal best…

“It was great to see ELF Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99 have such a good race. They had been struggling to find the right balance with their bike in the lead-up, and could only qualify in 18th, but they then produced a faultless performance on Sunday. They made no mistakes and kept a fast, consistent pace, and ended the race in a very competitive ninth place as the leading team on Dunlop tyres, which was an excellent result and their second consecutive top ten at Suzuka.”

On next month’s EWC title-deciding Bol d’Or…

“We are in for an incredible final round of the EWC season at the Bol d’Or, as not only do YART have the chance to win the championship, Yamaha also has a chance to be crowned the Superstock and Production class champions as well, so it should be an amazing showdown, and we are hoping to come back with all three titles.”

The EWC season-deciding Bol d’Or takes place from 18-21 September. Click HERE for more information.

CNN To Air “It Doesn’t Have To Hurt” On September 7

Mathilde Gasnier

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August 30, 2025

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CNN To Air “It Doesn’t Have To Hurt” On September 7

Canadian road racer Dan Kruger is featured in an upcoming documentary to air on CNN that goes in-depth on opioid addiction, chronic pain, and the recovery process using the M.O.R.E. Program–an evidence-based mindfulness program that has changed his life. CNN followed Dan out to California to meet with the doctor that founded the program–Dr. Eric Garland. A CNN camera crew then spent the weekend at Roebling Raceway watching Dan compete in the WERA National Endurance Championship. The CNN crew then made the trip to Dan’s home in Georgia for a long-form interview with world renowned neurosurgeon and CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: “It Doesn’t Have to Hurt” on Pain

Dan suffered a serious head injury racing in Japan in 2015, broke his back competing in the China Superbike Championship, and has had over 20 surgeries during his extensive motorcycle racing career. He also suffers from psoriatic arthritis and several other inflammatory diseases that he has been dealing with since his early 20s.

Dan Kruger (71) in action circa 2022. Highside Photo/courtesy Dan Kruger Racing Team.

Recently, Dan was a featured speaker at the RX and Illicit Summit https://hmpglobal.com/…/rx-summit-hope-ambassador-dan… , briefed Congress last year in Washington, and has several major speaking engagements planned later this year and early 2026. His goal is to break the stigma that surrounds opioid addiction and share a success story on how he not only beat it but is effectively managing his chronic pain.

Dan Kruger on the left and Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the right. Photo courtesy Dan Kruger.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta has written a book also titled “It doesn’t have to Hurt” that comes out September 2nd that also features Dan’s story and takes an in-depth look at a variety of ways to manage serious chronic pain including the M.O.R.E. Program.

If you ride motorcycles, there is a very good chance you have suffered an injury at some point. You may have been on pain medication to help you through it. Many times, that leads to chronic pain that many times is with you for life. We think the documentary and the book will resonate with almost everyone in one way or another. There are also millions of “silent addicts” living amongst us and this story will give hope to them and others that there is an option to get through it and it works!

For more information:

https://x.com/drsanjaygupta

https://drericgarland.com/

https://dankrugerofficial.com/

https://www.facebook.com/dankrugerracingteam

Stockill’s Perfect Day In Wet MiniGP Quebec Debut

Mathilde Gasnier

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August 29, 2025

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Stockill’s Perfect Day In Wet MiniGP Quebec Debut

The Motul FIM MiniGP Canadian National series made a much-awaited debut in Quebec August 28, with wet conditions for all three races in round two of the Championship tour.

Jager Stockill on his 613 Motorsports/Lean Angle Ohvale was fastest in all but one of the dry Free Practices on Wednesday, then set the pace on the wet 17-turn, 1.3 km long venue on race day, taking pole in Q2 at 1:21.94.

Fastest dry lap in training belonged to Ethan Reardon at 1:08.07, but the top two so far this year, Stockill and Reardon, would be split of the grid by the on-form Stefan Tanasic at 1:28.03. Reardon was third best in the wet after missing time due to a practice fall, in a second session that also took down three other National racers.

Race one conditions remained cool and wet, with Stockill taking o] from the blink of the lights as three of the front runners fell on the opening lap. Among the fallers was Tanasic, who pitted and then returned to the track only to su]er a stall – once again the wet conditions caused havoc with running of the Italian singles, with water getting into the combustion cycle in a variety of ways, including via the vent in the fuel cap.

At the front, Stockill quickly pulled clear of the rough-running Terraburst Trenchless supported entry of second overall Reardon. The departure of Tanasic, third in all three of the opening races less than a week earlier at Lombardy, meant that ten-year-old Martina Cardenas of British Columbia moved to third, confirming the top three.

Stockill did well in the worsening conditions, turning a best lap at 1:24.63, with Reardon next best with a tour of 1:28.20 of a second. Stockill competed for Canada in the wet at Aragon, Spain in late 2024, while Reardon has limited wet experience.

In race two, Stockill again took control at the start, with Reardon second from a charging Tanasic. Under pressure for runner-up honors, Reardon made a rare error and ran o] track, dropping behind Cardenas to fourth. Now well back of the leader, the popular Tanasic was second as Reardon chased down the smooth-riding Cardenas. Eventually Reardon would move past Cardenas for third overall after ten slippery laps.

Lap time wise, Stockill was again quickest with a best of 1:24.90, Reardon next up with a lap at 1:27,27, slightly faster than third best Tanasic at 1:27.87.

Conditions improved slightly for the third race, with the rain briefly stopping as the clouds in the famously mountainous ski-resort area continued to descend, restricting available light.

As the comfortable Stockill (“I was just trying to relax”) set the pace on the still very wet track, a good battle developed for second, with Reardon/Tanasic/Cardenas running close together, closer to the leader than in the earlier races. But Tanasic fell in the tight infield, setting Reardon loose for second as Cardenas pulled past to establish herself in third. Tanasic remounted and resumed in fourth.

Reardon has earlier been on the ‘phone with his riding coach in Spain, as Stockill later thanked his tutor, CSBK National star “T.V. Tommy” Casas.

Podium for race three of three at the Motul MiniGP FIM Canadian National in Quebec with (left to Right) runner up Ethan Reardon, victor Jager Stockill and third placed Martina Cardenas – her second Podium effort of the rainy day. Photo courtesy Colin Fraser.

The front runners finished in that order, Stockill completing an impressive display of rain work with his third win of the day and fifth of the 2025 National Championship series. His best lap was a slightly improved 1:2242, the next best tour belonging to Reardon at 1:27.76.

Cardenas, riding the Bridgestone CSBK National Scholarship entry, ended up with two third place finishes, the best results for a female on the Canadian MiniGP tour.

With one more triple header to run at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Saturday, September 6, Stockill heads the standings with 145 points, followed by Reardon at 121 and Cardenas in third at 84. Fourth is Tanasic with 81 points.

Reardon and Cardenas, as ten-year-olds, are in their first season of eligibility for the World Finals, while at 14 rookie racer Tanasic is about to age out.

Yamaha Thailand Racing Team Sets Objectives & Announces Riders

March 23, 2024

Yamaha Thailand Racing Team Sets Ambitious Objectives And Announces 2024 Rider Lineup

As the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team (YTRT) gears up for the 2024 season, we are proud to announce our ambitious objectives for the year ahead and build on our 2023 experience.

Bangkok, Thailand – 20 March, 2024: With extensive experience working in international motorsports, YTRT aims to leverage our rich history and experience to excel in the competitive world-championship environment while competing in the 2024 WorldSSP championship series.

Since the inception of motorsports in Thailand, Yamaha Thailand Racing has been at the forefront of the racing scene. With countless victories and championships to our name, we have been trailblazers for Thailand on the world stage. From the dominance of the Siam Yamaha Racing Team in the 1970s and 1980s to our current status as championship winners in both national and international race series, YTRT has established a winning reputation within the motorsports industry.

In 2023, Yamaha Thailand Racing Team made history by becoming the first Thai team to compete in the World Supersport class of the FIM Superbike World Championship. This prestigious series attracts a global audience and is a testament to our commitment to excellence on the international stage. As the only Thai team in the WorldSBK paddock, YTRT is committed to raising our professional standards and profile while competing at the highest level of motorsports and establishing ourselves as a world-class racing team.

Yamaha Thailand Racing Team will focus on a year of growth and progress as we develop our riders and continue to build a leading Thai motorsports team.

2024 Rider Lineup

Name: Anupab Sarmoon #51

Team: Yamaha Thailand Racing Team

Motorcycle: Yamaha YZF-R6

Date of Birth: 09 December, 1993

Birthplace: Chiang Mai

Anupab Sarmoon will be entering his second season with Yamaha Thailand Racing Team in the 2024 WorldSSP championship. With notable achievements including finishing fourth overall in the 2022 Asia Road Racing Championship and solid performances in the 2023 WorldSSP season, Sarmoon is poised to take a positive step forward in his international racing career.

Name: Krittapat Keankum #39

Team: Yamaha Thailand Racing Team

Motorcycle: Yamaha YZF-R6

Date of Birth: 22 February, 2005

Birthplace: Nonthabuuri

Krittapat Keankum, a rising talent, joins Yamaha Thailand Racing Team for the 2024 WorldSSP season. After a successful campaign in the R3 bLU cRU championship, finishing sixth in the standings, Keankum is ready to step up to the challenge of racing the supersport Yamaha R6 and aims to showcase his skills on the international stage and the opportunity to progress among Yamaha alumni.

As we embark on the 2024 season, Yamaha Thailand Racing Team is committed to pushing the boundaries of excellence and representing Thailand with pride on the world stage.

For media inquiries, please contact:

[email protected]

Follow us on social media for updates:

Yamaha Thailand Racing Team Facebook Fan page

WorldWCR: Woman and Rider – Sonya Lloyd

September 1, 2025

23-year-old Sonya came to motorcycle racing a little later than most, discovering flat-track just six years ago, at the age of 17.

“I started riding pretty late, it’s true, but I instantly fell in love with it. I started flat tracking at about 17 and then road racing at 20. Before I started riding, I did soccer and competitive cheerleading and stuff, so nothing super serious, just a lot of club sports. I’ve always been pretty active.”

Balancing the pressures

A dedicated student, Sonya has spent the last few years studying for a degree in biological engineering back home in America, a course that she completed in 2024.

“It wasn’t as hard as people would think to juggle it all, in fact it was kind of nice, as I would get stressed with one part of my life and could go work on a different part of it. So, it was kind of a good balance to have my studies and my racing. But I graduated last spring after completing my capstone project.”

“My degree is in biological engineering. I started out studying biology, but then realised I really like the engineering side of things. Most people in my field go into prosthetics or something more medical, but I really like the inventiveness of it, whereby we take inspiration from forms found in nature to engineer something – it’s called biomimicry – for example turbine fins are inspired by whale fins because they’re the optimal design for pushing fluid. You actually see a lot of this in motorcycle racing too.”

Racing goals, corporate goals

Sonya’s focus is on the WorldWCR championship right now, but she will enter the world of full-time work come the fall.

“So, this year I’m racing full-time, which is a ton of fun and a really cool experience. I want to start regularly finishing in the points, that’s the main goal. If I can just keep moving forward and get better each round, I think I’ll be happy. I wanted to give myself this year to kind of go all in and see what I could do with the racing.”

“Work-wise, I’ll be doing technical consultancy for Siemens Digital Industries. It’s not exactly bioengineering, but more the engineering side of business and communicating with the engineers, basically being that point of connection.”

“I plan on committing to this championship and trying again next season. This year is kind of me dipping a toe in the water so that I can learn all the tracks, figure out how everything works, and just kind of be as prepared as possible for next year.”

International relations

This is Sonya’s first year discovering the WorldWCR circuits and getting to know her fellow racers, but she has spent time in Europe before, as an intern.

“A few years ago, I had the chance to do an internship in Spain for about three months, so I got to be based there and traveled around a little bit. That involved technical consulting too, so I worked on solar panel fields and design and wind farms. I got very good at writing Spanish but I’m a terrible speaker of Spanish – that’s one of my goals this year in fact, I want to get better at speaking Spanish and Italian with my team.”

“Everyone’s been very welcoming. The language barrier sometimes gets in the way, but overall, everybody’s been super friendly, and I have two teammates, so I think that’s really helped me to integrate myself into the series. They already knew everybody and so have introduced me to people. I’ve found it very collaborative too, sharing our data and helping each other. I know at the front of the pack it’s pretty cutthroat, but since I am closer to the back right now, I’ve gotten a lot of support from other teams and have found that people are willing to tell me what they’re doing. When I get a bit faster, maybe they’ll stop helping me.”

Rider, and mechanic too!

She might be a biological engineering graduate, but Sonya is equally at home getting her hands dirty as a mechanic. Two years ago, she took part in Build.Train.Race., a road race program organized by Royal Enfield North America that runs alongside the MotoAmerica championship.

“I did it two years ago, and it was probably the best way I could have started in road racing. Royal Enfield picks 12 women each year, they give you a street bike and help you to build it into a race bike. They’re not the most powerful or technical machines, but they’re pretty good for starting out and getting comfortable working on your own bike. They take you to a training day, give you all the basics, and then you race at six of the MotoAmerica rounds. Each racer is basically their own mechanic. You’re really doing a lot of your own work, which was an uphill battle, but they give you all the technical sheets and manuals and professional mechanics are on hand to provide support.”

“The program’s brought a lot of women into the MotoAmerica paddock to watch, and you see little girls coming up wanting pictures with the women riders. It’s great to see, because it’s helping more females to get into racing but also enjoy the sport as spectators. I’ve had a fantastic crash course from so many professionals in America – it’s been like ten lifetimes in the past two years!”

Finding the way

As an American, Sonya now has first-hand experience of the challenges of racing on another continent and is also optimistic about the opportunities available to youngsters in her home country.

“I think there is a way for children to come up in America and become professional racers, but you have to know where to look and it’s not as easy as putting your kid into soccer or something. I think the hardest part is working out how to do it, but we have some great initiatives, like with Build.Train.Race for women and now the Talent Cup and the Mini Cup, to help youngsters get into the Rookies Cup, so there are opportunities if you look for them. It’s also a bit harder to send your kid across an ocean to race, rather than just the country next door, so it’s definitely a family commitment.”

“The WorldWCR is fantastic to launch women into the sport and kind of give them that platform. I love racing with the guys in the States but here is where I can grow as a rider, which is why I came. I started late and obviously missed a lot of the ‘bar banging’ and tight racing growing up, so I’m starting to experience that here. I think it’s great to put all these women who want to be champions together so we can elevate each other. I think we’re getting closer, and the girls at the front are no joke. I’d love to see us on some bigger bikes in the future, to help showcase that women can handle bigger bikes, maybe R9s or R1s. I’m sure the organisers had no idea how everybody was going to stack up last year, but it already seems a lot more competitive this year.”

About WorldWCR

The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR) is a groundbreaking single-make series exclusively for aspiring female riders, featuring the Yamaha R7. Building on the success of its inaugural season in 2024, which saw Ana Carrasco crowned, the series aims to continue advancing women’s motorsport by fostering new talent and showcasing competitive racing on a global stage.

With six rounds scheduled for 2025, the WorldWCR offers emerging talent an equal platform to showcase their skills alongside the world’s best riders. By addressing disparities and breaking down barriers, the series empowers women to reach new heights in professional racing. As a dedicated space for female riders, WorldWCR celebrates skill, passion, and diversity. It inspires the next generation of female racers while shaping a more inclusive motorsport landscape.

WorldWCR will return to action for the French Round on September 5-7
at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.

MotoGP: HRC And Luca Marini Extend Contract To 2026

September 1, 2025

Luca Marini will continue as a Honda HRC rider in the factory Honda HRC Castrol team for the 2026 MotoGP World Championship season. 2025 has seen the Italian take a significant step forward on the Honda RC213V, scoring points in every weekend he has started and more than tripling his points haul from 2024 after just 12 rounds. His best result to date is fifth, achieved at the Hungarian GP.

Luca Marini:

“I am very happy to make this announcement and remain with Honda HRC. We have just been working on a few final details, both HRC’s management and myself have been aligned on the future for quite a while. I am completely invested in this project and determined to help Honda return to the front in the MotoGP World Championship. Since joining the team in 2024, we have continued to improve and work together in an ever-improving way. Working with a factory, and especially a factory like Honda HRC, gives you huge motivation as a rider. We have had a good season so far and the focus remains to continue improving until the very last lap in Valencia.”

Taichi Honda – HRC General Manager:

“We are happy to continue with Luca for another year, he has shown a high level of professionalism and dedication throughout. Luca has earned himself a reputation as an analytical rider and an incredibly hard worker, a valuable asset to any MotoGP project. Luca’s feedback is clear and precise and has been very useful for Honda HRC’s engineers in continuing the development of the Honda RC213V over the past season and a half.”

AFT: Lowe Takes Honda to Victory

September 1, 2025

Trent Lowe (48) leads Henry Wiles (911) and Brandon Price (92) during the Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Event Sunday at the Springfield Mile II presented by Drag Specialties event. Photo credit Tim Lester / courtesy American Flat Track.