After a hard-fought weekend of racing at Calabogie Motorsports Park, Ben Young finished with two second-place finishes. This strong result means he will maintain the lead in the premier class of the Canadian Superbike Championship after Round 2.
Young was racing the brand new 2022 M 1000 RR for the weekend. The team had been working hard to get the bike ready for it’s debut weekend. During qualifying, Young posted an impressive 2:01.309 lap time which safely secured him the second-place spot on the grid for the upcoming races.
The racing began on Saturday evening, with Young rocketing off the line and taking the hole shot into the first corner. After leading for a few turns, he fell back into second position. Young would remain in a comfortable second for the remainder of the race, finishing on the second step of the podium.
Race two brought another great start for Young aboard his Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW. Young rode strong, shutting the door on many challenges for the lead and for the first half of the race, he lead the pack. Eventually, he would slot into second, and despite trying his hardest to challenge for the lead, he would ultimately cross the line with another second place.
Of the weekend, Young had this to say: “It was a fun debut weekend on the BMW M 1000 RR. With a lack of track time, no one was able to manage a race distance on a tire. With fellow competitors being on the same bikes as previous years we struggled a bit with the race set up with the tire going off during the race. Big changes for race 2 helped a bunch but still lacked that bit of edge grip.”
Thanks to Young’s consistent results over the weekend, he maintains the lead in the championship, albeit by 1 point. He looks to the Nova Scotia race in two weekends’ time at “Shubie” to regain a points cushion in his campaign for the 2022 title.
The next CSBK round will be held July 21st-24th at Atlantic Motorsports Park.
Young’s partners for his 2022 CSBK Championship season include; BMW Motorrad Canada, Van Dolder’s Home Team, Scot-Build Developments Inc, Parts Canada, HJC Helmets, Alpinestars, Hindle Exhaust, Barrie Trim and Mouldings, Clearlite, Primitive Patterns, DP Brakes, Alpha Racing and Vass Performance Cycle.
ENDING MOTOGP™ AND EWC FACTORY PARTICIPATION AT THE END OF THE 2022 SEASON
Suzuki Motor Corporation and Dorna have come to an agreement to terminate Suzuki’s participation in MotoGP at the end of the 2022 season. Suzuki will also terminate its factory participation in the World Endurance Championship (EWC) at the end of the 2022 season.
We will continue to race in the 2022 MotoGP and EWC championships, maintaining our maximum efforts to win the remaining races. We aim to continue our support for our customers’ racing activities through our global distributor network.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all Suzuki fans who have given us their enthusiastic support and to all those who have supported Suzuki’s motorcycle racing activities for many years.
Quote from Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President
“Suzuki has decided to end the participation of MotoGP and EWC in the face of the need to re-allocate resources on other initiatives for sustainability. Motorcycle racing has always been a challenging place for technological innovation, including sustainability, and human resource development. This decision means that we will take on the challenge to build the new motorcycle business operation by redirecting the technological capabilities and human resources we have cultivated through the motorcycle racing activities to investigate other routes for a sustainable society.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all our fans, riders and all stakeholders who joined us and enthusiastically supported us from the development stage since we returned to MotoGP racing.
“I will continue to do my best to support Alex Rins, Joan Mir, Team SUZUKI ECSTAR and YOSHIMURA SERT MOTUL to compete competitively until the end of the season.
Donington Park welcomes next chapter of drama in 2022 WorldSBK title race
The historic home of WorldSBK and unequivocally home to some of the Championship’s greatest sporting moments, more emotions lie ahead this weekend
Back to where it all began, where on a cold Sunday in 1988, the Championship was born. The 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has arrived at Donington Park for Round 5 of the season and the Prosecco DOC UK Round. The 35th season of World Superbike action is proving to be one of the best yet and with a three-way fight for the title clear, other stars aim to have a say at a round that brings seen shocks and surprises. Could this be one of the key turning points in 2022, or will we see the usual suspects continue to knock spots off each other?
TITANIC TRIO: is this the place Bautista is caught?
12 podiums from 12 races in 2022 and leading the Championship by 36 points, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) has undertaken a more measured approach in 2022 in comparison to 2019 and it seems to be working. The Spaniard has won six races and is the only rider in the Championship to have finished on the podium in every race he’s finished. However, Donington Park has been far from a happy hunting ground for Ducati in recent years; no win since 2011 and the Ducati Panigale V4 R has only had one third place – courtesy of Bautista in 2019’s Race 2. No top two finish since 2016, will Bautista change all of that? Teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi had a successful test at Misano during the break and will look to back-up his findings and step back on the podium, whilst Ducati chase their 1000th podium place in WorldSBK; they currently have 998.
Chasing down Bautista and heading home to rule the roost, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) will be keen to continue his success at Donington Park. A sole win last year and a triple in 2019, Rea’s got amazing form at Donington Park. He’s been testing for the Suzuka 8 Hour race during the gap since Misano and will hope that he can hit the ground running at a circuit at which he crashed at in 2021’s Race 2, relinquishing the Championship lead. This time, he’s chasing it from Bautista at a circuit where Rea certainly seems to have the upper hand. On the other side of the garage, Alex Lowes hopes to dazzle at home after a podium in Race 1 in 2021; Kawasaki as a manufacturer are one podium place away from 500 in WorldSBK – will they manage it?
Looking to build on a first victory from the last round at Misano, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) hopes that Donington Park lives up to be the happy hunting ground of years gone by. Along with San Juan, Donington Park is one of just two circuits where Razgatlioglu has taken a podium at least once every year he’s raced there. In 2018, he took a first rostrum whilst in 2019, he battled for victory in Race 2 with Jonathan Rea. However, the Turk’s opening lap of Race 1 in 2021 will go down as one of WorldSBK’s finest moments as he cruised to two wins and the Championship lead. Does more success await? Teammate Andrea Locatelli will aim to consolidate his top five placing with a strong ride this weekend, where he had a best of ninth in the Superpole Race.
HONDA AND BMW: have Donington Park tests put them in contention?
In what has been a very strong opening four rounds of the Championship, a challenge lies ahead for Iker Lecuona (Team HRC). The Spanish rookie has never raced at Donington Park and only completed a track day at the circuit prior to the round. One of just two riders to finish every race – the other being compatriot Bautista – Lecuona is nine points from Locatelli in the battle for fourth. Honda only have one round of experience with their current bike at Donington Park, with a best of fourth with Leon Haslam in the Superpole Race last year, but they’ll hope a pre-round test at Misano can give them a boost going to the UK. Hoping to be fighting fit, Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) will have to get his head around the quirky circuit layout during the round.
Likewise in a track day at Donington Park in between rounds, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and Scott Redding. One of Redding’s career highlights came at the British circuit, when in 2008, he became the then-youngest Grand Prix winner in the 125cc World Championship Grand Prix, aged just 15. Since then, wins in BSB but no podiums in WorldSBK have come at the circuit, with a best of fourth in Race 2 last year. Illia Mykhalchyk (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) will once again be present in the place of double Donington Park winner Michael van der Mark who is still recovering from injury; he’s scored points in WorldSSP and STK1000 at Donington Park before.
INDEPENDENT BATTLE: Bassani continues to shine as wildcards aim to surprise
The Independent battle is led by Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), who returns to Donington Park, historically a tricky circuit for him, despite being top Ducati in Race 1 last year. Eighth overall and just seven points behind Alex Lowes, he’s 23 ahead of Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW), who aims to return to the top six at a track he knows well, having fought for victory in 2014. 11 points further back of Baz is Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who returns to the circuit at which he got his last podium at 12 months ago, when he was second in Race 2. Philipp Oettl (Team Goeleven) will race at Donington Park for the first time, whilst Eugene Laverty (Bonovo Action BMW) has a podium to his name at the track; both complete the top five in the Independent standings.
Roberto Tamburini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) is next up in 15th place overall, with the Italian just marginally ahead of Sammarinese rider Luca Bernardi (BARNI Spark Racing Team), who’s made steps of late. Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) will hope to be passed fit after being ruled out of Misano, whilst Kohta Nozane (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) makes a racing debut at the track as he missed out through injury in 2021. Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha), like Mahias, hopes to be fit after being ruled out in Italy, whilst the target for MIE Racing Honda Team duo Leandro Mercado and Hafizh Syahrin is points. Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) is another rider hoping to be passed fit, whilst home-hero Leon Haslam returns with the TPR Team Pedercini Racing Kawasaki outfit. Two wildcards to keep an eye on: the long-awaited debut of Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) and the return of Peter Hickman (FHO Racing) on a BMW M1000RR.
Progressive AFT Title Fighters Head Home to Port Royal Half-Mile
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 12, 2022) – The 2022 Progressive American Flat Track season reaches its midpoint with this weekend’s Mission Port Royal Half-Mile presented by Appalachian Harley-Davidson at Port Royal Speedway on Saturday, July 16.
Besides its centralized location on the schedule chronologically, its physical location in Port Royal, Pennsylvania, adds some extra significance as well. Pennsylvania is arguably America’s most fertile hotbed of motorcycle dirt track talent with an outsized number of the Progressive AFT’s competitors either native or resident Pennsylvanians.
The most high-profile of them all – reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) and two-time class king Briar Bauman (No. 3 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) – lead the series into this weekend’s showdown.
The more things change, the more they stay the same; while it took a bit of a circuitous route to get to this point, the two factory Indian aces find themselves right back where they’ve been for the bulk of the previous three seasons – 1-2 in the points with over half the season’s eight wins shared between them.
The aforementioned change, however, remains a factor in the form of a significant shift in the balance of power. Mees and Bauman are no longer locked in confrontation with only one another but also under fire from a formidable pair of teammates.
Estenson Racing Yamaha’s Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) have been battling up front nearly every weekend. As a result, they’re currently a close 3-4 in the standings, with Daniels actually level with Bauman in points and ranked third only due to the tiebreaker.
And the Mission Roof Systems’ duo of Pennsylvanian Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) have come on strong as of late, scoring a combined 1-2-3 over the last three rounds.
The gifted premier-class field offers even more potential race winners as well. Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) each boast a runner-up finish in the first half of the ‘22 campaign, while Brandon Price (No. 92 Cory Texter Racing/JCS Racing Yamaha MT-07) finished as a close runner-up at Port Royal Speedway a year ago.
Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines
This year’s Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines title fight has taken shape as a two-man show with a rotating cast of guest stars.
Defending class champ (and native Pennsylvanian) Cory Texter (No. 1 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07) and title challenger Jesse Janisch (No. 33 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R) have distanced themselves from the pack in terms of the points race via a combined five wins and 13 podiums.
However, the pack has shown the capacity to present a serious additional challenger for race wins on just about any given weekend with Nick Armstrong (No. 60 Competitive Racing Frames/Lessley Brothers Yamaha MT-07), Billy Ross (No. 109 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), and James Rispoli (No. 43 Wally Brown Racing/Haversack KTM 890 Duke) having all stood on the top step of the podium this year.
Pennsylvanian Cameron Smith (No. 34 Thee Cathy Gray/Al Barker Royal Enfield 650) very nearly added his name to the list last time out while riding in place of another “Keystone State” pilot in Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650). Smith will have another shot aboard the Royal Enfield Twins FT this weekend with the home crowd cheering him on as Lewis continues to heal from his injuries.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
It’s a different story in Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER action as Kody Kopp (No. 12 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE) has established himself the rider to beat – and a difficult one at that.
While the class championship outlook currently lacks the drama of the other two classes, Kopp’s excellence has been enthralling in its own right. The 17-year-old has been close to perfect in each of the last three rounds, controlling the proceedings pretty much all day long, capped off by a runaway race win.
Kopp has already earned five wins en route to building an imposing 42-point championship advantage (66 points over third place). Only twice in class’ history has a rider taken more race wins than that in a single season (Dallas Daniels with eight in 2019 and Michael Avila with six in 2011), and the young KTM ace still has over half the season ahead of him to further pad his stats.
Despite the one-sided nature of the title fight, there’s an incredible collection of talent who could step forward and go on a run of their own at any point. Kopp’s teammate, Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE), scored five wins himself a year ago and didn’t look too far removed from his familiar form in his return from injury in New York.
And all three of the American Honda-backed Turner Racing pilots – Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R), and Chase Saathoff (No. 106 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R), have the requisite speed, talent, and determination to claim the top step of the podium this weekend.
The weekend also marks the midpoint of the season for Royal Enfield’s extremely popular BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. program which serves to highlight and celebrate women and motorcycle culture in North America. Jaycee Jones (No. 33 Royal Enfield/S&S Cycle Royal Enfield INT650) leads the standings with two wins and a runner-up in the season’s opening three races and heads into Port Royal Speedway as last year’s winner at the venue.
There will be plenty to keep fans entertained off the track as well, including numerous vendors, a variety of food and beverage options, and a bouncy house in the Kids Zone. Road Case will perform its hard-hitting, guitar-driven brand of rock and roll. Finally, the evening will be topped off with a spectacular fireworks display.
Visit https://store.americanflattrack.com/ebooking/ticket/view/id/3694/ to reserve your tickets today. General Admission (both SRO Infield and Grandstand) tickets start at just $25 with kids 12 and under free when accompanied by an adult when purchased in advance. Other options include Reserved Grandstand tickets and Camping Passes.
Paddock Access Upgrades are also available for purchase, which provide all-day access to the paddock where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.
Gates will open for fans at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT ahead of the day’s Main Event program. You can catch the livestream of all the weekend’s racing activities on FansChoice.tv. FansChoice.tv provides free-to-view livestreaming of Practice and Qualifying. FansChoice.tv subscribers will then be able to watch the drama unfold from Opening Ceremonies through the Semis, Main Events, and podium celebrations. FansChoice.tv offers two subscription options, granting unlimited access to premium AFT content. Monthly subscriptions start at just $7.99, while a six-month subscription is available for $44.99.
The Mission Port Royal Half-Mile presented by Appalachian Harley-Davidson will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, July 23, at 9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT, including exclusive features, cutting-edge aerial drone and onboard footage, and expert commentary.
FOX Sports and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of Progressive American Flat Track. For the 2022 season, all races will premiere in one-hour telecasts on FS1 during highly desirable weekend time slots. The complete schedule can be viewed at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. FansChoice.tv provides livestreaming coverage of every Progressive AFT round at http://www.FansChoice.tv.
More solid results on the west coast races for Tytlers Cycle Racing
The Tytlers Cycle Racing team expanded from two to three in the recent round of the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with Larry Pegram joining series regulars PJ Jacobsen and Hector Barbera aboard a third BMW M1000 RR machine.
Solid rides in qualifying by all three set the scene for a strong weekend at the 2.2-mile iconic Laguna Seca Raceway.
Saturday’s opening twenty lap encounter saw Hector finish sixth with PJ seventh, the pair running consistent pace throughout. Larry just missed a top ten finish after a race long battle with five other riders. He crossed the line eleventh.
A faster pace by all three riders than twenty-four hours earlier saw them closer to the front at the flag after another exciting race that saw Hector race to fifth ahead of PJ who took P6. Just as he was a day earlier Larry was involved in another race long battle with a bunch of riders, eventually picking up four championship points in twelfth.
Sunday saw the team’s Stock1000 regulars Travis Wyman and Corey Alexander secure eighth and ninth places, respectively. Travis had finished tenth in Saturday’s opening race, ensuring a double top ten for him as the series heads to Brainerd International Raceway in a couple of weeks.
In terms of the overall championship standings Hector and PJ are fifth and seventh respectively with Travis P10 and Corey P11.
Hector Barbera (80). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
Hector Barbera: “Saturday was disappointing. I thought after qualifying that we could fight for a podium, but I knew after five laps that I didn’t have a good feeling and I was struggling a lot for grip. I honestly think it’s the track condition and not anything that we could solve once the race started. I tried changing mapping, but I was limited on corner exit. Sunday’s race was a bit better but honestly, I am not happy. I finished fifth but I want to be fighting for the podium. We were faster than Saturday but it’s not enough. The team worked well all weekend, but at the moment we have a limit, and we need to understand what to do to allow us to be closer to the front. The gap in qualifying is much closer and sure we are coming more to the front, but I want more. We hope that in Brainerd we will be more competitive.”
PJ Jacobsen (66). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
PJ Jacobsen: “It was a difficult opening race. I thought we had good race pace after the opening few sessions on Friday but unfortunately, I was unable to run closer to the front and we took seventh. Race 2 was another difficult one for me. It was more or less the same story from race one where I struggled with grip. I took sixth but I want to be closer to the front. The next tracks should suit us, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can do at Brainerd and for the rest of the season. I want to thank the whole team for their work. We will keep plugging away and the results will come”
More, from a press release issued by SportbikeTrackGear.com:
Limandri Bags Second Win at Laguna
Joe LiMandri (62) and Max Van (48) in action at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Despite it being his first visit to iconic Laguna Seca Raceway, Joseph Limandri Jr. was able to pick up his second professional win in Race 1 of the SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup this past weekend.
The race was red flagged after a dramatic entanglement between team mate Max Van and another rider entering turn 5. With Max spinning wildly down the track and into the dirt, he was quickly on his feet and rushed to aid the other fallen rider.
“Glad we’re both OK, that could have been a lot worse. I’m not going to lie, when I got up my butt felt like it was on fire from that Alpinestars Kevlar heating up during the slide,” Max said. “But I escaped relatively unscathed, that suit did it’s job so I’m thankful. I’m a little bummed because I felt confident after qualifying second in both sessions, but that’s racing.”
“I’ve been working with Jason Pridmore this weekend and I wanted to lead as many laps as I could because getting pushed back makes it so much harder to get to the front” Joe said. “Thankfully that plan worked so I was leading when the red flag came out. I didn’t see it, but I’m glad everyone is OK from the crash.”
Race 2 was a different story entirely. While the race was red flagged on lap 7 due to another crasher in the world-famous Corkscrew, the restart saw an intense battle at the front between 6 riders within tenths of each other’s lap times. Unfortunately while in 2nd place, Joe suffered a massive highside on the final lap, ending his race prematurely.
“I got a bad start after the red flag, so I wanted to make up some ground. I tried to save it, but the data backs up exactly what I thought. I just got a little trigger happy with the throttle trying to get to the front.”
As all the riders behind Joe scrambled, Max was able to compose himself enough through the dirt to bring home a 6th place and some valuable points.
“We felt good in warmup, and I had confidence in the bike after the previous days crash,” Max reflected. “I got a good drive coming out of that corner, started to close the gap a bit, but then had to take it to the dirt to avoid Joe. I’m glad he’s ok after that!”
As expected in the SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup, the championship chase is filled with unexpected events that seem to impact every team this season. With four rounds to go, Joey and Max sit 3rd and 5th in the the title hunt.
Catch the team during the next MotoAmerica round at Brainerd International Raceway on July 29th.
As always thanks to:
All the SportbikeTrackGear.com customers, Helmet House, Bauce Racing, Cybersafe Solutions, Racing for a Reason, Vortex Racing, M4 Exhaust, REB Graphics, Armour Bodies, Woodcraft Technologies, Motul, Alpinestars, Shoei Helmets, RST, Arai Helmets, SportbikeTrackTime, Evolve GT Track Days, N2 Track Days, Gazebo Contracting, UTR/Torres Racing, Brake Tech USA, Ferodo Racing, Scott Powersports, Spiegler USA, Hanshaw Racing Engines, Precision Auto Works and Driven Racing.
Powersports personality Jacqui Van Ham hosts live stream of AHRMA event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
(Elora, Tennessee) – Jacqui Van Ham, a nationally-recognized powersports announcer and brand expert, will host a live stream of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Classic MotoFestTM of Monterey July 16 and 17 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Van Ham is a powersports announcer and video host who has represented the biggest brands in motorcycling and announced for some of the most exciting racing in the country including American Flat Track, Super Hooligan, Flat Out Friday, Sons of Speed and FITE.TV.
“I’m thrilled to be going back to Laguna Seca with AHRMA for their second Classic MotoFestTM of Monterey,” said Van Ham. “This was a highlight of my calendar last year. It brings racers from across America and is guaranteed great racing in a picture-perfect setting with gorgeous machines, both vintage and new. What more could you ask for?”
The live stream will be hosted on the AHRMA Facebook page (Facebook.com/ahrma.historic.motorcycle.racing/live) and YouTube channel (AHRMAvideos) on Saturday, July 16th and Sunday, July 17th.
In addition to motorcycle and sidecar road racing, the event will feature vintage and post vintage motocross, observed trials, cross country and dirt track racing.
Off the track, motorcycle and racing fans will enjoy a vintage bike swap meet and vintage motorcycle show sponsored by Hagerty Insurance. A Family Fun Zone will include the Strider Bike Adventure, “Mimi and Moto, The Motorcycle Monkeys” children’s books and Santa Claus will be onsite Saturday from noon till two to go over the naughty and nice lists.
Additional event activities include Pacific Motorcycle Training’s rider training, Motul’s Moto Museum and California Motorcycle Safety Program’s “Slow Race” in which spectators can participate.
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With about 3,300 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
Triumph TE-1 Prototype Testing Completed: “This Has Been About A Bigger Ambition…”
by Michael Gougis
It’s not just one of the best-looking electric motorcycles to date. Triumph’s TE-1 is fast, powerful, and pushes the bar for electric motorcycles forward, with a charging time half that of the quickest charging electric motorcycles on the market.
Triumph’s TE-1 electric prototype was styled after the company’s Street Triple machines. Although a prototype, it has a nearly full lighting system and is “not a million miles away” from homologation status, company officials say. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
Triumph has wrapped up the development of its electric motorcycle prototype, the TE-1, and the company says the partnerships created during the process and the lessons learned have given it a clear path to the electric motorcycles it will be bringing to market.
While Triumph is more than satisfied with the prototype’s performance, “This has been about a bigger ambition,” said Miles Perkins, Triumph Head of Brand Management, in an international teleconference introducing the final version of the prototype TE-1.
The TE-1 project was designed to push Triumph’s knowledge of how to build an electric motorcycle, and to incorporate the knowledge of others in the field who have know-how that is applicable to the future of electric bikes. Williams Advanced Engineering, a spinoff of the longstanding Formula One company, provided technical support that is absolutely at the cutting edge of electric vehicle technology – the company makes the batteries for the Formula E, Extreme E and ETCR electric racing vehicles.
Triumph’s track shakedown was designed to finalize the functional parameters of systems like traction control, ABS, etc. Two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch demonstrates the power of the TE-1 at Oulton Park. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
With the TE-1’s track testing by two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch used to finalize settings and specifications, the company’s final prototype looks like this:
– Weight: 220 kg (485 lbs.)
– Range: 100 miles (160 km)
– Power: 175 bhp, 80 lbs.-ft. torque
– Four riding modes, lean angle sensitive traction control and ABS, wheelie control, adjustable rear wheel braking regeneration and reverse.
Triumph chose to go with a 15 kWh battery, made up of 900 cells in eight different modules. While this battery capacity is smaller than some of the more upscale models on the market currently, it is in line with the mid-range electric motorcycles. The downside is the more limited range; the upside is the speed of recharging and the lighter weight. The TE-1 is nearly 100 pounds lighter than the Energica Ego that forms the basis of the current MotoE racing machines.
Note the layout of the battery pack on the Triumph TE-1 electric motorcycle. The components have been arranged to place the center of gravity in the same place as it is found on the company’s Speed Triple internal-combustion machine. Image courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
It is unusual in its configuration, which has batteries in a tapered stack where a conventional motorcycle’s engine would be, and also in a nearly horizontal line along the centerline of the machine, through the area where an airbox would be found and under the seat. The tapered shape narrows the machine at the bottom for cornering clearance and the overall configuration of battery, inverter and motor leaves the center of gravity exactly where it is on the firm’s Speed Triple.
The company chose to go with a Williams-derived 50 kw DC charger, which can take the battery pack from zero to 80 percent charged in 20 minutes, the company claims. In addition, because the machine’s two independent cooling systems – one for the motor and inverter, the other for the batteries – keep the battery pack at optimum temperature, recharging can begin immediately after a ride.
Triumph says the TE-1 can be charged from 0 to 80 percent capacity in 20 minutes. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
The 175 bhp motor, developed with Williams for the machine, spins to 17,500 rpm, and is lighter than other units in its output category, the company says. The motor and inverter combined weigh only 15 kilograms, says Steve Sargent, Chief Product Officer for Triumph.
“Williams have gained a lot of knowledge in getting a lot of power out of a small package,” he says.
The running gear – suspension, brakes, etc. comes from the company’s gas-powered Speed Triple, although the machine’s aesthetics are derived from its Street Triple lineup. The physical similarities to the Speed Triple sped the development process, because algorithms for vehicle dynamic management systems like ABS transferred directly to the TE-1.
Running gear, including the Ohlins suspension, comes from the company’s Speed Triple. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
The TE-1 is equipped with a lighting system, although it does not have turn indicators. While it is not homologated for street use, “it’s not a million miles away,” Sargent says. And while the lessons learned here will drive the development direction of Triumph’s production electric motorcycles, the biggest challenge is economic. Building the machine at a price point that customers will find acceptable remains a difficulty, Sargent says.
Triumph says the TE-1 weighs in at just over 485 pounds. While that would make it one of the lighter electric bikes on the street, it does not have the larger battery capacity of the street-going Energica machines or the upcoming Ducati MotoE racebike. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
Riding Triumph’s Electric Prototype – And Making The List With Evel Knievel
by Michael Gougis
Winning the Daytona 200 for the second time, this time on a Triumph, helped Brandon Paasch land a track test riding gig on the company’s electric prototype machine. And while he was in England for the evaluation, he found himself immortalized on the company’s Avenue of Legends, on the list with some of the world’s most well-known motorcyclists – including stuntman Evel Knievel.
Two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch tested the Triumph TE-1 electric prototype at Oulton Park. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
What Paasch found was a machine that hid its weight well, he says. “I think it’ll be a really cool bike,” Paasch told Roadracing World.
The story began shortly after Paasch had earned the second of his back-to-back wins at Daytona, this time on a Triumph Street Triple 765 in race trim. (Paasch actually owns one of the company’s Daytona 765 Moto2 machines, which was not eligible for the race as it is a limited-edition model.)
The company wanted to do something to honor the accomplishment, and Paasch wanted to expand his involvement with the company beyond racing. So the visit to Triumph HQ for the unveiling of his plaque was scheduled along with the test of the TE-1 electric prototype.
Paasch’s plaque is next to those of Peter Hickman, who took Triumph’s latest victory at the Isle of Man, and Alex Marquez, who won the first Moto2 World Championship contested with Triumph’s 765cc three-cylinder engines. The Triumph Avenue of Legends includes names that are icons in the sport, he noted, with racers like Gary Nixon and perhaps the original stunter Evel Knievel represented. (While Knievel may be most well-known for riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the infamous failed Caesar’s Palace jump of 1967 took place on a Triumph T120 TT Special 650.)
“There were some pretty cool people there, and I was on that list!” Paasch says.
Shortly afterward, Paasch showed up for filming duties on the dyno on the TE-1, and then spent the day testing the prototype at Oulton Park.
Brandon Paasch on the Triumph electric prototype. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
“It was interesting going through all the briefings – what to do if it breaks, what to do if it catches on fire. I haven’t been to school for a while, so keeping that stuff in my head was a challenge at first,” Paasch says.
Paasch’s prior experience with electric bikes was limited to a dirtbike that he nearly looped when he grabbed a handful of throttle, so he approached the TE-1 with a little more restraint.
“I thought I’ve be a little more careful,” he says. “It’s super torquey. It doesn’t feel heavy when you ride it. They did a really good job with that. It doesn’t feel like a heavy electric bike. It feels like a nimble Street Triple.”
Paasch liked one other thing in particular about the TE-1 – the styling. The belt drive, the single-sided swingarm – all added up to a unique and positive visual impression, Paasch says.
Read more in an official press release issued by Triumph:
TRIUMPH TE-1
PROJECT COMPLETION WITH FINAL PROTOTYPE TESTING RESULTS
Triumph announces the official completion of the TE-1 electric development project, with the release of the final prototype test results which exceed the project objectives and demonstrate the incredible success of this unique collaboration.
· 100 Mile Range
Significantly exceeding the real-world range of the equivalent electric motorcycles available today, with a category-leading 100-mile (161 km) range, based on live
testing and official projections
· 175 HP Peak Power (130 kW / 177PS)
The TE-1 prototype delivers an incredible standard of acceleration, achieving
3.6 seconds 0-60mph, and an outstanding 6.2 seconds 0-100mph
· 20-minute charge time (0-80%)
A game-changing outcome, faster than today’s equivalent electric motorcycles
· 485 lbs, with an incredible power-to-weight ratio
Up to 25% lighter than comparable electric motorcycles currently available
· Stunning final prototype that demonstrates Triumph’s class-leading USPs and hints at the exciting future to come for Triumph fans across the world
o Pure, unique, and characterful new electric-Triumph soundtrack that builds to a hair-raising crescendo
o The ergonomics, geometry, and weight distribution of a Speed Triple, with the scale and visual impact of a Street Triple
o Triumph’s signature thrilling feel and neutral handling, with the throttle and torque delivery map equivalent to a Speed Triple 1200 RS
o A style and presence that is 100% Triumph, with signature design DNA
The unique collaboration between Triumph Motorcycles, Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain Ltd, and WMG, University of Warwick, funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles through Innovate UK, was set up to create ground-breaking developments in specialist electric motorcycle engineering and innovative integrated technology design.
The extensive live testing program, which involved numerous assessments of the bike’s performance on the rolling road, as well as on track, provided vital direction into the final set-up and calibration of the TE-1 prototype demonstrator, which has now delivered on all its targets and objectives.
Now officially complete, the live testing phase of the Triumph TE-1 project has seen the prototype demonstrator exceed expectations and achieve some incredible outcomes, delivering on all project objectives of accelerating electric motorcycle development and innovation, setting new standards for the sector overall, including final battery and range performance. The expertise and capabilities developed throughout the project now pave the way for the exciting electric future to come from Triumph Motorcycles.
Category-leading 100 Mile range
Exceeding the real-world range of the equivalent electric motorcycles available today, the Triumph TE-1 prototype has achieved all project targets with regards to the energy capacity of the Williams TE-1 project developed battery, with an incredible 100-mile (161 km) range, based on official testing and projections.
Regenerative braking has been successfully implemented for TE-1, with scope for further optimization, as well as greater efficiencies in the motor generator unit and transmission, which could improve the range further for the future of Triumph electric motorcycles.
Performance that matches the Speed Triple 1200, with an even faster 0-100mph
With a level of performance similar to the current Speed Triple 1200, the TE-1 prototype delivers an impressive 175 hp (130kW / 177PS) peak power, as well as peak torque of 80 lbft (109Nm), for instant responsiveness, smooth controlled power all the way up through the rev range, and a completely exhilarating ride.
The TE-1 has also achieved an incredible standing start acceleration official test result of 3.6 seconds 0-60mph and 6.2 seconds 0-100mph.
With further refinement of the electronics, including the traction control system and front wheel lift control, the team responsible for delivering the TE-1 project anticipate that performance could be enhanced further, harnessing the full torque potential to enable even quicker standing start acceleration.
Daytona 200 Champion Brandon Paasch participated in the final testing phase, both in engine performance evaluation and with the final set-up of the prototype through track testing.
“The throttle response on the TE-1 is kind of incredible, it’s very torquey and when you first touch the throttle it’s instant power, which is obviously what I love as a motorcycle racer – I love when it’s super-torquey and picks up right away, so for me it was a really great experience”, said Brandon. “I got to peg this thing all the way from zero to 100% throttle and it’s unbelievably quick, it pulls like crazy.”
Game-changing 20-minute charge time
Advances in battery and charging technologies that have been developed as part of the Triumph TE-1 project, in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), have resulted in a game-changing 20-minute charge time (0-80%), successfully delivering against the ambitious targets laid out by Innovate UK, the government’s research and innovation agency that supports business led R&D funding and UK business growth.
485lb overall weight
With an overall weight of 485lb (220kg), the TE-1 prototype is lighter than the equivalent electric bikes available currently, by up to 25%, giving it an incredible power-to-weight ratio. Having a physical size and scale comparable to a Street Triple, but with the ergonomics, geometry and weight distribution of a Speed Triple, the TE-1 delivers a completely thrilling ride, while being confidence-inspiring, nimble, and compact.
“I wish I’d had this at Daytona, that acceleration in this chassis, and how it corners – wow!” said Brandon Paasch. “I think this would be a really nice motorcycle to ride on the street, just based on how nimble and agile it is, and how light it feels.”
Triumph’s signature thrilling feel and neutral, confidence-inspiring handling
With a throttle action and torque delivery map directly engineered from a Speed Triple 1200 RS, the track testing and dynamic rider assessments on the TE-1 prototype demonstrator deliver a level of handling that matches Triumph’s current triple cylinder internal combustion sports performance motorcycles.
The TE-1’s exhilarating level of performance and acceleration, combined with its engaging and dynamic riding package, result in a bike that delivers all of Triumph’s signature feel, and world-renowned neutral handling – a smooth, predictable ride, that is agile and nimble, great in the corners, with a controllable power that incites confidence and guarantees fun.
A pure, unique, and characterful new electric-Triumph soundtrack that builds to a hair-raising crescendo
Distinctive and thrilling soundtrack, building to the most spine-tingling crescendo – the Triumph TE-1 prototype’s pure and characterful sound is considered to be more appealing and exciting than any of the equivalent electric motorcycles currently available, thanks to its unique helical gear pair primary transmission.
With noise levels tested at Mira’s external noise measurement facility, the TE-1 successfully achieved all noise standards set by the R41 homologation tests for wide open throttle, cruising and urban.
A style and presence that is 100% Triumph, with signature design DNA
Instantly recognizable as a Triumph, the TE-1 prototype’s muscular presence utilizes signature design cues from the brand’s iconic modern history of performance motorcycles, while clearly being a bike of the future. Now updated with its final body panels and paint scheme, the prototype demonstrator brings a style and presence that is 100% Triumph, with all the brand’s signature design DNA, from its aluminum frame to its distinctive twin headlights and head-down focused stance and poise.
Project TE-1 Completion
“We have already seen an incredibly positive reaction to the TE-1 prototype from motorcyclists all around the world, where many people are telling us that for the first time, they are seeing an electric motorcycle as desirable, and something that they would genuinely want to own. Being the first step in our journey towards developing our future approach to electric powertrain technology, the TE-1 prototype and the incredible results it has achieved in its intensive testing program has provided crucial insights and capabilities that will ultimately guide our future development. Of course, the final production motorcycle will not be exactly what you see here today, but rest assured, the models we do develop will encompass all its learnings and its exciting dynamic spirit.” – Steve Sargent, Chief Product Officer, Triumph Motorcycles.
Overall, the key objective of the TE-1 project has always been focused on developing electric motorcycle capability, to provide an input into Triumph’s future electric motorcycle offering, driving innovation, capability, and new intellectual property, and enhancing the credibility and profile of British industry and design.
The achievements in the live testing phase, exceeding current benchmarks and targets, provide a platform with great potential for future development in electric motorcycle performance.
“We are incredibly proud to be able to share such positive outcomes from the completion of Project Triumph TE‑1, where the prototype demonstrator has exceeded many of our initial targets and expectations. Everyone on the team is thrilled with the results we have achieved with our partners, and how the outcomes of the project will feed into the electric future to come from Triumph.” – Nick Bloor, CEO, Triumph Motorcycles.
Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE)
“WAE are delighted to have been involved in this exciting program to deliver the TE-1 prototype. Since its conception in 2018, all the partners have worked with collaboration, innovation, and passion to bring the boundary breaking prototype to life. It is pleasing to hear positive rider comments which confirm that the dynamics of the bike are aligned with Triumph’s DNA. This has been underpinned by the class leading Battery and Control System that WAE has produced within a lightweight and integrated package. This core WAE technology has allowed us to exceed performance and charging targets for the battery which we look forward to seeing in future powertrains.” – Dyrr Ardash, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Williams Advanced Engineering.
Integral Powertrain Ltd.’s E-Drive Division
“We’re delighted to see the final TE-1 motorcycle testing phase completed and with that, further validation of the performance and efficiency of our Scalable Ultra-Integrated Motor and Inverter.
For the TE-1 application, the motor has achieved peak and continuous power densities of 13kW/kg and 9kW/kg respectively; 60% higher than APC technology roadmap targets for 2025. All this has been achieved using materials and processes compatible with volume automotive production and on a length scalable motor platform. The motor scalability concept deployed on TE-1 has provided a springboard for a new scalable motor architecture, to be announced later this year, which will provide similar performance levels but much greater manufacturing scale than previously.
The ultra-integrated inverter concept, also scalable such that the number of Silicon-Carbide power stages increases for larger diameter motors has really delivered on performance (capable of >500kW) and gives us the opportunity to optimize for production or meet much higher power requirements.
We’re really proud to have been a key part of this exciting project which has been a landmark for electric motorcycles and British industry.” – Andrew Cross, Chief Technology Manager, Integral Powertrain Ltd.
WMG, University of Warwick
“To meet our ambitious emission reduction targets in the UK we will have to rethink the way we travel, not only transitioning from ICE to electric propulsion vehicles, but also encouraging a modal shift away from private cars. Electric two wheelers have a pivotal role to play in the transport revolution as a zero-tailpipe emission option.
In our partnership with Triumph, WMG used our research experience in electrification to demonstrate manufacturers can deliver products with a lower emission burden as well as outstanding performance-offering customers an EV that is great fun to ride.” – Prof. David Greenwood, CEO, WMG centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult, University of Warwick
KYLE WYMAN LEADS HARLEY-DAVIDSON SWEEP OF KING OF THE BAGGERS PODIUM AT LAGUNA SECA
Kyle Wyman Wins; Travis Wyman Second; James Rispoli Third; Championship Battle Tightens to a Single Point
MILWAUKEE, WI – Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory rider Kyle Wyman led his brother and factory teammate Travis Wyman, and Vance & Hines racer James “Hogspoli” Rispoli to a sweep of the podium positions in the MotoAmerica Mission Foods King of the Baggers race on Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA. Kyle passed early leader Tyler O’Hara on the second lap of race and crossed the finish line 3.063 seconds ahead of Travis. Rispoli finished third, a half-second ahead of O’Hara’s factory Indian Challenger. Six of the top 10 finishers were aboard Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Travis Wyman was the fast qualifier on Saturday, setting a new class record of 1:29.748 on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course. But it was Kyle Wyman who won the King of the Baggers Mission Challenge 3-lap sprint race and winner-take-all $5,000 purse immediately following Q2. Both factory Harley-Davidson riders started from the front row along with Rispoli.
In the 8-lap King of the Baggers feature race, O’Hara jumped out into the lead from the second row of the grid. But Kyle Wyman kept the pressure on him with inside and outside moves at several points around the course and then passed him cleanly in turn 9 on the second lap. From that point, Kyle broke away and was never challenged for the lead.
“It was really greasy out there today, and I was cautious with how the edge grip was,” said Kyle Wyman. “O’Hara lost the rear coming out of turn nine and that allowed me to go by. I was happy to get clear and run my own race and manage the gap to the finish. It’s just great to get a 1-2-3 for Harley-Davidson and to reward the entire Harley-Davidson factory team who made this possible.”
“To come home second to Kyle is pretty amazing,” said Travis Wyman. “We did it the other way around at Road America. And now we’re tied in points. So these last two rounds are going to be pretty awesome for the fans.”
MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers race winner Kyle Wyman (center), his brother and the runner-up Travis Wyman (left), and third-place finisher James Rispoli (right) on the podium at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
The Mission King of the Baggers series features race-prepared American V-Twin touring motorcycles. Harley-Davidson® Factory Team Road Glide® motorcycles are powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle® Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engines.
After five of seven rounds on the 2022 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series, Kyle and Travis Wyman are tied for second in the series standings with 86 points. O’Hara leads by one point with 87. The Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory team returns to the track July 29-31 at the MotoAmerica Superbikes in Minnesota at Brainerd International Raceway.
MotoAmerica King of the Bagger Race Results – Laguna Seca
Zack Nation (H-D) Zack Nation Racing Revolution Performance
Eric Stahl (H-D) Jiffy Tune Racing
More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing:
Four consecutive Stock 1000 wins for Tytlers Cycle Racing powered by #RideHVMC
It was another lights to flag win for Corey Alexander and the Tytlers Cycle Racing #RideHVMC squad in the latest round of the MotoAmerica Stock1000 race at Laguna Seca on Saturday. After storming to the Pole Position the #23 hit the front from the off and was never headed, taking a convincing 4.7s win at the end of the fourteen-lap encounter.
Travis Wyman kept his championship hopes alive with a fighting fourth place finish, missing a podium after a race long fight in the early stages. After losing touch with the leading trio, he eventually finished in a solid P4.
Zac Schumacher, on his first visit to Laguna Seca, finished twenty-sixth.
The next round of the championship sees the riders head to the Brainerd International Raceway at the end of July.
Corey Alexander (center), after beating runner-up Bryce Prince (left), and third-place finisher Hayden Gillim (right) in the lone Stock 1000 race at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytler Cycle/RideHVMC Racing.
Corey Alexander: “Overall it was a positive weekend. Initially we took a bit of time to get going, everyone was going pretty fast, and I needed to find a bit more with the set-up of the bike. The team worked hard, and we found a good direction and that was enough to take pole and the win. It was an uneventful race, and we were able to take another twenty-five points. We will keep plugging away and look ahead to Brainerd.”
Travis Wyman (10). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing.
Travis Wyman: “It was a good race. I couldn’t quite hang with the leaders and ended up finishing fourth which wasn’t too bad which I am pretty happy with considering the small issues we had.”
Zac Schumacher (90). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing.
Zac Schumacher: “The race didn’t go as well as I had hoped. It was my first time at Laguna and it’s a pretty challenging track and I just struggled to find a setting that I was comfortable enough with. The team supported me the entire weekend and I want to thank them for that. The next round is Brainerd and I’ve been there before and so I am looking forward to being back in the mix with a much better result.”
More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA LLC:
SCOTT CONTINUES PODIUM STAND FOR VISION WHEEL M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI
The GSX-R750 Class of the Field in New Generation Supersport Series
BREA, Calif., July 11, 2022 — Suzuki and Team Hammer closed out an encouraging weekend of MotoAmerica competition at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday with their rookie aces once again leading the charge.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott continued his successful upward progress, adding another MotoAmerica Supersport runner-up result along with fast lap honors to a weekend that had already seen him collect pole position and a second-place podium on Saturday.
The 16-year-old was embroiled in a six-rider charge for the lead early aboard his next-generation Suzuki GSX-R750 that also included the team’s talented substitute rider, Cory Ventura.
Ventura slotted into third early. He then took advantage of Scott’s back-and-forth battle for first to slip into second and then, momentarily, the lead as the hectic race continued to change shape in the early laps.
Tyler Scott (70) continues to impress with his sixth podium in his rookie season in the Supersport class aboard the GSX-R750. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Scott pulled off a remarkable save on lap 3 after hitting a bump on the track but was shuffled down to fourth in the aftermath. The youngster then set about the difficult task of clawing back up the order as Ventura settled into sixth.
During his charge, Scott ripped off the fastest lap of the race – a 1.26.985-second lap that ultimately proved more than a half-second quicker than any other rider could manage. He leveraged that pace to slash back up into second and then proceeded to defend the position to the checkered flag.
The result was the rookie’s sixth podium of the year and the fifth occasion where Scott finished in either first or second position. He said, “The Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki worked great in the first part of the race, but I got bottled up and shuffled back. I had to get my pace back and then hold onto second while battling grip issues,” stated Scott.
“We’re improving every round – both with my riding and with the bike set-up. I definitely think we’ll be on the podium a lot more and hopefully get some more wins.”
A top five for Cory Ventura (24) in Race Two to cap off a great first weekend aboard the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA LLC.
Ventura gained a position on the race’s final lap to move into fifth, earning the squad two top-five finishes in a single Supersport race for the fourth time this year.
Ventura said, “I got the call to ride for the team last Friday, and I knew I had to do it. I’ve been training hard for this moment for a long, long time. Early in the weekend, it was a little hard to transition to the Supersport bike, but slowly we improved throughout the weekend to where we were able to run up front for a couple of laps today. We’re still learning… I wish we had just one more day and one more race tomorrow!”
Liam Grant (90). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA LLC.
Young gun Liam Grant missed the race due to a concussion. He crashed in qualifying on Saturday. The GSX-R750 proves to be a front runner in the new generation Supersport class with 45% of the top ten this weekend being Suzuki’s.
Meanwhile, Richie Escalante put the finishing touches on his best weekend yet as a Superbike pilot, backing up Saturday’s career-best fourth-place finish with yet another fourth on Sunday.
Back-to-back fourth-place finishes for Richie Escalante (54) aboard the GSX-R1000R and he is looking to gain even more speed in the second half of the season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA LLC.
Escalante powered into fifth early aboard the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R and then slipped up the inside of a pair of veteran Superbike stars to move into third on lap 2. He then maintained the position until being displaced on lap 4 of 20.
Escalante was overtaken by another competitor on lap 6 but regained the position on lap 11, which he controlled to the contest’s conclusion.
Escalante declared, “For today, the team tried to improve the bike for the later laps when the tire goes off. The bike’s handling was more calm and it was easier to do consistent laps. I got a strong start and also was able to use our great starting position. We were happy to battle for the podium early in the race, and I was happy with the pace today. In the end, we were 17 seconds behind the leader again at the checkered flag, but I think we made many steps forward.”
“Thanks to the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team and my crew for doing a great job. We need to find a half-second a lap to be fighting for the podium every time, but we are much closer than we were earlier in the season. I like Brainerd. It is a cool track and super-fast. Hopefully, we will be able to continue improving.
The super-sub Kyle Wyman (33) collected a top 10 on Sunday at the iconic Laguna Seca circuit. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA LLC.
Kyle Wyman bettered his strong Saturday with an eighth-place result in substitute duty aboard the second Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R, collecting a seventh-place finish on Sunday. Wyman steadily picked up his pace as he gained seat time aboard the bike, posting the best lap nearly six-tenths quicker in Race 2 compared with Race 1.
Team Hammer will return to action in three weeks, as the 2022 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing season continues on July 29-31 at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2022 season marks Team Hammer’s 42nd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 129 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 342 times, and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
ABOUT SUZUKI
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
More, from a press release issued by Robem Engineering:
Robem Engineering Aprilia rider Gloddy nets fourth-place finish Saturday in MotoAmerica Twins Cup race at Laguna Seca
Hobbs claims sixth top-10 Twins Cup finish of the 2022 season
MONTEREY, Calif. — Ben Gloddy was hoping to be back to his usual front running form in MotoAmerica’s Twins Cup after enduring a tough weekend two weeks ago at The Ridge Motorsports Park. And that’s exactly what the Robem Engineering Aprilia rider delivered Saturday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca when he qualified third and finished fourth in the event’s lone Twins Cup race.
Though Gloddy and his teammate, Teagg Hobbs, weren’t at the top of the time sheets during Friday practice and qualifying, Gloddy’s gritty Saturday performance helped move him up from ninth to eighth in the Twins Cup points standings. Hobbs – who is still recovering a broken collarbone he suffered at the Road America round in June – persevered to score his sixth top-10 finish of the 2022 season and hold onto sixth place in the standings.
Both riders were a little off the pace at the start of the weekend. Gloddy was the faster of the two riders in Friday practice, as he finished the session 10th-fastest with best lap time of 1:32.890. Hobbs finished practice in 12th with a 1:33.410. Later Friday, Gloddy and Hobbs improved their pace to the rest of the field, as Gloddy finished Qualifying 1 in eighth place and Hobbs 11th. It all came together for Gloddy in Saturday morning’s Qualifying 2, as he moved up five places to secure third on the starting grid. Hobbs qualified 11th.
The Twins Cup race got underway late Saturday afternoon, and Gloddy got a phenomenal jump off the line. He nearly got the holeshot and was running in second place for the majority of Lap 1. Though he lost touch with the leading group on Laps 2 and 3, Gloddy was back in the leading group on Laps 4-6. Unfortunately, another rider crashed at the exit of Turn 2 on Lap 7, and Gloddy was among the riders who had to run off track to avoid the down rider. Gloddy rejoined the race quickly but had fallen to sixth place at the end of Lap 7. With six laps remaining in the 13-lap race, Gloddy put his head down and battled with several other riders to score a hard-fought fourth-place finish. Hobbs moved up two positions to finish Lap 1 in ninth place and ran the remaining 12 laps in ninth- or tenth-place before finishing tenth.
The MotoAmerica series goes on a three weekend break until the next round, which is scheduled for July 29-31 at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn.
Ben Gloddy (72). Photo by Sara Chappell Photo, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Ben Gloddy / No. 72
“I think we had a good race. I got a really good start and put myself in a good spot for about half the race. Then another rider high-sided in front of me, which caused me to run off the track. I came back on track in seventh or eighth place, then was able to make my way back to fourth on the second to last lap. Another rider tried to pass me at the last corner, but he ran wide and I was able to get my Aprilia turned and got a good run to the checkered flag.”
Teagg Hobbs (79). Photo by Sara Chappell Photo, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Teagg Hobbs / No. 79
“Laguna Seca was an up and down weekend, and the team and I gave it everything we had. Unfortunately, the results don’t reflect that effort. We know what needs to be done for the next round, so all we can do is move on and prepare for Brainerd. Thank you to Robem Engineering for all the hard work this weekend, and I’m looking forward to some better results at the next round.”
Robem Engineering’s technical partners for 2022 include Aprilia Racing, Piaggio Group Americas, The Center for Plastic Surgery, Synchrony, Velocity Calibrations, Bitubo Suspension, Dunlop, Woodcraft Technologies, Dymag, Vesrah, Sprint Filter, DID, Magura USA, Sara Chappell Photos, NGK/NTK, Blud Lubricants, Millennium Technologies, Motovation USA and SC-Project.
More, from a press release issued by Luke Power Racing:
P6 on track, winner off it… Luke Power shines on his Laguna Seca debut
Luke Power (68). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy 3D Motorsports LLC.
A strong opening day paved the way for an even stronger Saturday with Luke Power qualifying a strong seventh before storming to sixth in Race 1 after getting the better of a total mic battle with Cory Ventura in the early stages of the nineteen-lap encounter. Once clear of his rival Power’s pace was as fast as the lead group, the #68 reducing an almost six second deficit to the guys ahead to a mere 0.2s at the flag. He crossed the line to secure another ten championship points, closing the gap to the top five in the overall standings.
Sunday saw improvements in terms of lap time in morning up but sadly Race 2 was short lived. Luke, who was running in the leading pack, crashed out of the podium battle in the early stages. Unhurt, he is now focused on the next round of the series at Brainerd International Raceway at the end of July.
One of the highlights of the weekend was Saturday’s ‘Party at the Podium’ which is a now annual affair at the iconic Laguna Seca circuit. Along with 3D Motorsports team manager Dustin Dominguez, Luke took part in the fan party at the end of the opening day of race action, the pair’s rendition of the classic song ‘Tequila’ earning them the MotoAmerica’s Got Talent winner’s trophy.
Luke Power: “Race 1 was not a bad race. I got held up a little at the start but recovered well and had good race pace, especially on used tyres. Race 2 started well, and I was running inside the top six and in touch with the leaders. I made a small mistake overtaking into the corkscrew and unfortunately, I went down. It goes like that sometimes, but it certainly wasn’t in the plan. I am sorry to the team and to everyone that supports me, we will try to come back stronger at Brainerd. Outside of the racing I had a blast at Laguna Seca. We were invited to the Party at the Podium on Saturday night, and we decided to enter the talent contest. There were so many fans, and it was great to be part of it. We went with the iconic song Tequila but went all in with matching watermelon outfits. I was so much fun and hopefully we can defend our crown next year. I want to say a big thanks to Jason Aguilar’s father Bob, and his sister Alyssa who presented us with some of his memorabilia – it will be displayed proudly.”
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
KALEB DE KEYREL SCORES POLE, PODIUM FINISH IN MOTOAMERICA TWINS CUP RACE AT LAGUNA SECA ABOARD VELOCE RACING APRILIA RS 660
FIVE APRILIA RIDERS FINISH IN THE TOP 10; JODY BARRY REMAINS ATOP POINTS STANDINGS
Kaleb De Keyrel (1). Photo by Sara Chappell Photo, courtesy Aprilia.
MONTEREY, CA – JULY 11, 2022 – Reigning MotoAmerica Twins Cup champion Kaleb De Keyrel was back to his frontrunning form Friday and Saturday. The Veloce Racing rider put his Aprilia RS 660 on pole for the weekend’s lone MotoAmerica Twins Cup race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and claimed his second podium finish of the 2022 season.
De Keyrel was joined in the top five by Robem Engineering rider Ben Gloddy, who finished in fourth after starting the race from third.
When racing got underway late Saturday afternoon, De Keyrel led the field through the first corner, with Gloddy right on his tail. De Keyrel and Gloddy finished the first lap first and fourth, respectively, and De Keyrel was part of the small group of riders battling for the lead on Laps 2-6. Gloddy had fallen back to fifth on Laps 2-3 but had made his way to the tail end of the leading group just as a rider crashed hard at the exit of Turn 2. Unfortunately, several Aprilia riders – including De Keyrel and Gloddy – had to take evasive action to avoid the down rider, which caused them to lose touch with the front runners.
Not one to give up, De Keyrel showed great pace to quickly catch up to the race leaders from a distant third place. He was back to vying for the lead for the closing laps of the race and had to settle for a third-place finish. Gloddy came out on top in a battle for fourth place that went down to the last corner.
The other Aprilia RS 660 riders who finished in the top 10 are Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK Racing rider Anthony Mazziotto in sixth, Veloce Racing’s Edoardo Mazzuoli in ninth and Robem Engineering rider Teagg Hobbs in 10th.
De Keyrel’s other Veloce Racing teammate, Jody Barry, suffered an unfortunate crash on the last corner of the first lap. Thanks to the four wins he reeled off earlier in the season, Barry continues to lead the Twins Cup points standings. Barry now has a four-point lead over Mazziotto, and half of the riders in the top 10 in the points standings compete aboard Aprilia RS 660s.
The Laguna Seca round started off well for several Aprilia riders on Friday. Four of the top 10 riders in Friday morning’s practice session were on Aprilias. The top Aprilia rider was De Keyrel, who finished the session third fastest. Points leader Barry was seventh-fastest.
Later Friday, it was De Keyrel who paced the field in Qualifying 1 while improving his best lap time by more than a second. There were again four Aprilia riders in the top 10 for the session, including Mazziotto in fourth, Gloddy in eighth and Barry in 10th.
The second and final Twins Cup qualifying session took place Saturday morning, which saw De Keyrel improve his best lap time by another about four-tenths of a second to claim pole position. Gloddy shot up the time sheets to third, giving Aprilia two riders on the front row of the starting grid.
Of the 34 riders entered for the Twins Cup race at Laguna Seca, 14 were riding Aprilia RS 660s.
The MotoAmerica Twins Cup will be back in action in three weeks’ time when the series heads to its second-ever event at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn., on July 29-31.
More, from a press release issued by Pure Attitude Racing:
Solid weekend in the sunshine state for Chase, Liam and Trevor
The Pure Attitude Racing team kickstarted the second half of the 2022 MotoAmerica championship at Laguna Seca this past weekend with riders Chase Black, Liam MacDonald, and Trevor Standish once again on track.
After receiving further technical support for the event from Yoshimura, who already supply the team with exhausts, the Twins Cup program was given a real boost as the series entered its second half.
Both Trevor and Liam continued their run of form, the pair qualifying well before contesting for the top ten in the early stages of the Twins Cup race on Saturday. Liam ultimately crossed the line in twelfth whilst Trevor was forced to retire with a broken gear linkage.
In Junior Cup teenager Chase Black also qualified strongly and showed podium pace in both races. A spill in Saturday’s opener after posting the fastest lap at the time was unfortunate but the youngster showed real determination on Sunday. A shortened five lap sprint following an earlier red flag saw the #14 once again close to the podium – he finished seventh but showed pace throughout.
Liam MacDonald (37). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Liam MacDonald: “I am a little bit disappointed to miss the top ten but overall, I am happy. I had grip issues towards the end of the race, but I dug deep and was able to score another four championship points. I was involved in a good race with Trevor and a few other guys, and we were closer again to the front. It was great to be back at Laguna Seca and a ton of fun to party with the fans on Saturday night.”
Trevor Standish (16). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Trevor Standish: “I got a great start and was in the top ten immediately which gave me so much confidence. I was able to hang with them for a few laps and I think was running eighth or ninth but unfortunately, I had to retire when the gear linkage broke. I had crashed in Q2, and the team did a great job to fix the bike so we could race but the part that broke was not visible and it kind of sucked to miss out on a top ten as we should have had one in both races on the west coast. That’s how it goes sometimes. I will take it on the chin and head to Brainerd ready to fight.”
Chase Black (14). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Chase Black: “Race 1 was going well. I was in the lead group and had set the fastest lap when I went down. We could have had the podium but that’s racing. I was pushing hard and so on one hand I am disappointed, but I am happy with how I was riding. Race 2 was red flagged which for me was a good thing as it gave me time to reset and, in the restart, I was with the front group throughout. Perhaps if I was a little bit more aggressive, I could have finished higher than seventh, but I think we have shown that we are getting closer to being a front runner every race and that’s exciting for the rest of the season.”
Dean Standish – Team Owner: “It was a couple of rough rounds on the West Coast but nevertheless we made progress and achieved our best results of the season. It was very humbling to have so many people help us out after the issues we had with Trevor’s bike at the Ridge. Yoshimura, who we are proud partners of, saved the day ahead of Laguna by providing us a motor for Trevor and helped us throughout the weekend with set-up advice. We were able to field a strong package with both of our Twins Cup bikes with Liam scoring points again. Unfortunately, Trevor had to retire due to a broken gear linkage. Despite this it was pleasing to see him and Liam fighting confidently for the top ten, something I am confident we can continue to improve on in the next few races. I am very happy with the job that Chase did. He cannot be disappointed with what he showed. Despite the crash he had when he was fighting for the podium he continues to develop and improve every race and he put in a very strong second race. Liam’s P12 means he has now moved up in the overall standings and has a real shot of the top ten.”
Due to low participation at WERA West events the past few years and with the costs of racing and travel getting higher this season we have had to make a very hard decision and have decided to cancel the three remaining WERA West events for this season. Those events were scheduled for 8/25 at Auto Club Speedway, 9/17-18 at Las Vegas Classic Course, and 11/12-13 at Willow Springs.
We want to thank all the racers who made the effort to support us and to all the wonderful officials who helped make the WERA West events run smoothly each and every time. It is too soon to look ahead but we will always do our best to give our racers good, safe, and smoothly run events.
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was founded in 1973 and remains the foremost place to develop talent in the sport of motorcycle road racing. The legacy of Pro Riders on a National and World level is legendary. All events are run by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing with a co-sanction by the AMA and they go coast to coast offering entry level racing with the WERA Sportsman Series as well as a Pro-Am Series which is the Pirelli/WERA National Challenge Series. WERA also offers Vintage Racing and hosts the Concours de ’Competition and Concours d’ Elegance in July at Barber Motorsports Park. Endurance Racing is also on the menu with our partner N2 and runs 4-5 events a year with a Big Bike Endurance and an Ultralightweight Endurance. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was voted the 2017 AMA Track Organizer of the year.
For more information on WERA Motorcycle Roadracing please check out our web site at wera.com.
Ben Young (86). Photo by Damian Pereira, courtesy Ben Young Racing.
Two Seconds for Young at Calabogie
After a hard-fought weekend of racing at Calabogie Motorsports Park, Ben Young finished with two second-place finishes. This strong result means he will maintain the lead in the premier class of the Canadian Superbike Championship after Round 2.
Young was racing the brand new 2022 M 1000 RR for the weekend. The team had been working hard to get the bike ready for it’s debut weekend. During qualifying, Young posted an impressive 2:01.309 lap time which safely secured him the second-place spot on the grid for the upcoming races.
The racing began on Saturday evening, with Young rocketing off the line and taking the hole shot into the first corner. After leading for a few turns, he fell back into second position. Young would remain in a comfortable second for the remainder of the race, finishing on the second step of the podium.
Race two brought another great start for Young aboard his Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW. Young rode strong, shutting the door on many challenges for the lead and for the first half of the race, he lead the pack. Eventually, he would slot into second, and despite trying his hardest to challenge for the lead, he would ultimately cross the line with another second place.
Of the weekend, Young had this to say: “It was a fun debut weekend on the BMW M 1000 RR. With a lack of track time, no one was able to manage a race distance on a tire. With fellow competitors being on the same bikes as previous years we struggled a bit with the race set up with the tire going off during the race. Big changes for race 2 helped a bunch but still lacked that bit of edge grip.”
Thanks to Young’s consistent results over the weekend, he maintains the lead in the championship, albeit by 1 point. He looks to the Nova Scotia race in two weekends’ time at “Shubie” to regain a points cushion in his campaign for the 2022 title.
The next CSBK round will be held July 21st-24th at Atlantic Motorsports Park.
Young’s partners for his 2022 CSBK Championship season include; BMW Motorrad Canada, Van Dolder’s Home Team, Scot-Build Developments Inc, Parts Canada, HJC Helmets, Alpinestars, Hindle Exhaust, Barrie Trim and Mouldings, Clearlite, Primitive Patterns, DP Brakes, Alpha Racing and Vass Performance Cycle.
Xavier Simeon (1) at speed on the Yoshimura SERT Motul Suzuki GSX-R1000 in 2022. Photo courtesy Team Suzuki Press Office.
ENDING MOTOGP™ AND EWC FACTORY PARTICIPATION AT THE END OF THE 2022 SEASON
Suzuki Motor Corporation and Dorna have come to an agreement to terminate Suzuki’s participation in MotoGP at the end of the 2022 season. Suzuki will also terminate its factory participation in the World Endurance Championship (EWC) at the end of the 2022 season.
We will continue to race in the 2022 MotoGP and EWC championships, maintaining our maximum efforts to win the remaining races. We aim to continue our support for our customers’ racing activities through our global distributor network.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all Suzuki fans who have given us their enthusiastic support and to all those who have supported Suzuki’s motorcycle racing activities for many years.
Quote from Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President
“Suzuki has decided to end the participation of MotoGP and EWC in the face of the need to re-allocate resources on other initiatives for sustainability. Motorcycle racing has always been a challenging place for technological innovation, including sustainability, and human resource development. This decision means that we will take on the challenge to build the new motorcycle business operation by redirecting the technological capabilities and human resources we have cultivated through the motorcycle racing activities to investigate other routes for a sustainable society.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all our fans, riders and all stakeholders who joined us and enthusiastically supported us from the development stage since we returned to MotoGP racing.
“I will continue to do my best to support Alex Rins, Joan Mir, Team SUZUKI ECSTAR and YOSHIMURA SERT MOTUL to compete competitively until the end of the season.
The start of a World Superbike race at Donington Park in 2021. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Donington Park welcomes next chapter of drama in 2022 WorldSBK title race
The historic home of WorldSBK and unequivocally home to some of the Championship’s greatest sporting moments, more emotions lie ahead this weekend
Back to where it all began, where on a cold Sunday in 1988, the Championship was born. The 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has arrived at Donington Park for Round 5 of the season and the Prosecco DOC UK Round. The 35th season of World Superbike action is proving to be one of the best yet and with a three-way fight for the title clear, other stars aim to have a say at a round that brings seen shocks and surprises. Could this be one of the key turning points in 2022, or will we see the usual suspects continue to knock spots off each other?
TITANIC TRIO: is this the place Bautista is caught?
12 podiums from 12 races in 2022 and leading the Championship by 36 points, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) has undertaken a more measured approach in 2022 in comparison to 2019 and it seems to be working. The Spaniard has won six races and is the only rider in the Championship to have finished on the podium in every race he’s finished. However, Donington Park has been far from a happy hunting ground for Ducati in recent years; no win since 2011 and the Ducati Panigale V4 R has only had one third place – courtesy of Bautista in 2019’s Race 2. No top two finish since 2016, will Bautista change all of that? Teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi had a successful test at Misano during the break and will look to back-up his findings and step back on the podium, whilst Ducati chase their 1000th podium place in WorldSBK; they currently have 998.
Chasing down Bautista and heading home to rule the roost, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) will be keen to continue his success at Donington Park. A sole win last year and a triple in 2019, Rea’s got amazing form at Donington Park. He’s been testing for the Suzuka 8 Hour race during the gap since Misano and will hope that he can hit the ground running at a circuit at which he crashed at in 2021’s Race 2, relinquishing the Championship lead. This time, he’s chasing it from Bautista at a circuit where Rea certainly seems to have the upper hand. On the other side of the garage, Alex Lowes hopes to dazzle at home after a podium in Race 1 in 2021; Kawasaki as a manufacturer are one podium place away from 500 in WorldSBK – will they manage it?
Looking to build on a first victory from the last round at Misano, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) hopes that Donington Park lives up to be the happy hunting ground of years gone by. Along with San Juan, Donington Park is one of just two circuits where Razgatlioglu has taken a podium at least once every year he’s raced there. In 2018, he took a first rostrum whilst in 2019, he battled for victory in Race 2 with Jonathan Rea. However, the Turk’s opening lap of Race 1 in 2021 will go down as one of WorldSBK’s finest moments as he cruised to two wins and the Championship lead. Does more success await? Teammate Andrea Locatelli will aim to consolidate his top five placing with a strong ride this weekend, where he had a best of ninth in the Superpole Race.
HONDA AND BMW: have Donington Park tests put them in contention?
In what has been a very strong opening four rounds of the Championship, a challenge lies ahead for Iker Lecuona (Team HRC). The Spanish rookie has never raced at Donington Park and only completed a track day at the circuit prior to the round. One of just two riders to finish every race – the other being compatriot Bautista – Lecuona is nine points from Locatelli in the battle for fourth. Honda only have one round of experience with their current bike at Donington Park, with a best of fourth with Leon Haslam in the Superpole Race last year, but they’ll hope a pre-round test at Misano can give them a boost going to the UK. Hoping to be fighting fit, Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) will have to get his head around the quirky circuit layout during the round.
Likewise in a track day at Donington Park in between rounds, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and Scott Redding. One of Redding’s career highlights came at the British circuit, when in 2008, he became the then-youngest Grand Prix winner in the 125cc World Championship Grand Prix, aged just 15. Since then, wins in BSB but no podiums in WorldSBK have come at the circuit, with a best of fourth in Race 2 last year. Illia Mykhalchyk (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) will once again be present in the place of double Donington Park winner Michael van der Mark who is still recovering from injury; he’s scored points in WorldSSP and STK1000 at Donington Park before.
INDEPENDENT BATTLE: Bassani continues to shine as wildcards aim to surprise
The Independent battle is led by Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), who returns to Donington Park, historically a tricky circuit for him, despite being top Ducati in Race 1 last year. Eighth overall and just seven points behind Alex Lowes, he’s 23 ahead of Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW), who aims to return to the top six at a track he knows well, having fought for victory in 2014. 11 points further back of Baz is Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who returns to the circuit at which he got his last podium at 12 months ago, when he was second in Race 2. Philipp Oettl (Team Goeleven) will race at Donington Park for the first time, whilst Eugene Laverty (Bonovo Action BMW) has a podium to his name at the track; both complete the top five in the Independent standings.
Roberto Tamburini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) is next up in 15th place overall, with the Italian just marginally ahead of Sammarinese rider Luca Bernardi (BARNI Spark Racing Team), who’s made steps of late. Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) will hope to be passed fit after being ruled out of Misano, whilst Kohta Nozane (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) makes a racing debut at the track as he missed out through injury in 2021. Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha), like Mahias, hopes to be fit after being ruled out in Italy, whilst the target for MIE Racing Honda Team duo Leandro Mercado and Hafizh Syahrin is points. Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) is another rider hoping to be passed fit, whilst home-hero Leon Haslam returns with the TPR Team Pedercini Racing Kawasaki outfit. Two wildcards to keep an eye on: the long-awaited debut of Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) and the return of Peter Hickman (FHO Racing) on a BMW M1000RR.
Teammates and AFT SuperTwins Championship rivals Jared Mees (1) and Briar Bauman (3). Photo courtesy AFT.
Progressive AFT Title Fighters Head Home to Port Royal Half-Mile
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 12, 2022) – The 2022 Progressive American Flat Track season reaches its midpoint with this weekend’s Mission Port Royal Half-Mile presented by Appalachian Harley-Davidson at Port Royal Speedway on Saturday, July 16.
Besides its centralized location on the schedule chronologically, its physical location in Port Royal, Pennsylvania, adds some extra significance as well. Pennsylvania is arguably America’s most fertile hotbed of motorcycle dirt track talent with an outsized number of the Progressive AFT’s competitors either native or resident Pennsylvanians.
The most high-profile of them all – reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) and two-time class king Briar Bauman (No. 3 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) – lead the series into this weekend’s showdown.
The more things change, the more they stay the same; while it took a bit of a circuitous route to get to this point, the two factory Indian aces find themselves right back where they’ve been for the bulk of the previous three seasons – 1-2 in the points with over half the season’s eight wins shared between them.
The aforementioned change, however, remains a factor in the form of a significant shift in the balance of power. Mees and Bauman are no longer locked in confrontation with only one another but also under fire from a formidable pair of teammates.
Estenson Racing Yamaha’s Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) have been battling up front nearly every weekend. As a result, they’re currently a close 3-4 in the standings, with Daniels actually level with Bauman in points and ranked third only due to the tiebreaker.
And the Mission Roof Systems’ duo of Pennsylvanian Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) have come on strong as of late, scoring a combined 1-2-3 over the last three rounds.
The gifted premier-class field offers even more potential race winners as well. Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) each boast a runner-up finish in the first half of the ‘22 campaign, while Brandon Price (No. 92 Cory Texter Racing/JCS Racing Yamaha MT-07) finished as a close runner-up at Port Royal Speedway a year ago.
Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines
This year’s Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines title fight has taken shape as a two-man show with a rotating cast of guest stars.
Defending class champ (and native Pennsylvanian) Cory Texter (No. 1 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07) and title challenger Jesse Janisch (No. 33 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R) have distanced themselves from the pack in terms of the points race via a combined five wins and 13 podiums.
However, the pack has shown the capacity to present a serious additional challenger for race wins on just about any given weekend with Nick Armstrong (No. 60 Competitive Racing Frames/Lessley Brothers Yamaha MT-07), Billy Ross (No. 109 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), and James Rispoli (No. 43 Wally Brown Racing/Haversack KTM 890 Duke) having all stood on the top step of the podium this year.
Pennsylvanian Cameron Smith (No. 34 Thee Cathy Gray/Al Barker Royal Enfield 650) very nearly added his name to the list last time out while riding in place of another “Keystone State” pilot in Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650). Smith will have another shot aboard the Royal Enfield Twins FT this weekend with the home crowd cheering him on as Lewis continues to heal from his injuries.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
It’s a different story in Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER action as Kody Kopp (No. 12 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE) has established himself the rider to beat – and a difficult one at that.
While the class championship outlook currently lacks the drama of the other two classes, Kopp’s excellence has been enthralling in its own right. The 17-year-old has been close to perfect in each of the last three rounds, controlling the proceedings pretty much all day long, capped off by a runaway race win.
Kopp has already earned five wins en route to building an imposing 42-point championship advantage (66 points over third place). Only twice in class’ history has a rider taken more race wins than that in a single season (Dallas Daniels with eight in 2019 and Michael Avila with six in 2011), and the young KTM ace still has over half the season ahead of him to further pad his stats.
Despite the one-sided nature of the title fight, there’s an incredible collection of talent who could step forward and go on a run of their own at any point. Kopp’s teammate, Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE), scored five wins himself a year ago and didn’t look too far removed from his familiar form in his return from injury in New York.
And all three of the American Honda-backed Turner Racing pilots – Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R), and Chase Saathoff (No. 106 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R), have the requisite speed, talent, and determination to claim the top step of the podium this weekend.
The weekend also marks the midpoint of the season for Royal Enfield’s extremely popular BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. program which serves to highlight and celebrate women and motorcycle culture in North America. Jaycee Jones (No. 33 Royal Enfield/S&S Cycle Royal Enfield INT650) leads the standings with two wins and a runner-up in the season’s opening three races and heads into Port Royal Speedway as last year’s winner at the venue.
There will be plenty to keep fans entertained off the track as well, including numerous vendors, a variety of food and beverage options, and a bouncy house in the Kids Zone. Road Case will perform its hard-hitting, guitar-driven brand of rock and roll. Finally, the evening will be topped off with a spectacular fireworks display.
Visit https://store.americanflattrack.com/ebooking/ticket/view/id/3694/ to reserve your tickets today. General Admission (both SRO Infield and Grandstand) tickets start at just $25 with kids 12 and under free when accompanied by an adult when purchased in advance. Other options include Reserved Grandstand tickets and Camping Passes.
Paddock Access Upgrades are also available for purchase, which provide all-day access to the paddock where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.
Gates will open for fans at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT ahead of the day’s Main Event program. You can catch the livestream of all the weekend’s racing activities on FansChoice.tv. FansChoice.tv provides free-to-view livestreaming of Practice and Qualifying. FansChoice.tv subscribers will then be able to watch the drama unfold from Opening Ceremonies through the Semis, Main Events, and podium celebrations. FansChoice.tv offers two subscription options, granting unlimited access to premium AFT content. Monthly subscriptions start at just $7.99, while a six-month subscription is available for $44.99.
The Mission Port Royal Half-Mile presented by Appalachian Harley-Davidson will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, July 23, at 9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT, including exclusive features, cutting-edge aerial drone and onboard footage, and expert commentary.
FOX Sports and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of Progressive American Flat Track. For the 2022 season, all races will premiere in one-hour telecasts on FS1 during highly desirable weekend time slots. The complete schedule can be viewed at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. FansChoice.tv provides livestreaming coverage of every Progressive AFT round at http://www.FansChoice.tv.
Larry Pegram (73) competed on a Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR as a wild card at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
More solid results on the west coast races for Tytlers Cycle Racing
The Tytlers Cycle Racing team expanded from two to three in the recent round of the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with Larry Pegram joining series regulars PJ Jacobsen and Hector Barbera aboard a third BMW M1000 RR machine.
Solid rides in qualifying by all three set the scene for a strong weekend at the 2.2-mile iconic Laguna Seca Raceway.
Saturday’s opening twenty lap encounter saw Hector finish sixth with PJ seventh, the pair running consistent pace throughout. Larry just missed a top ten finish after a race long battle with five other riders. He crossed the line eleventh.
A faster pace by all three riders than twenty-four hours earlier saw them closer to the front at the flag after another exciting race that saw Hector race to fifth ahead of PJ who took P6. Just as he was a day earlier Larry was involved in another race long battle with a bunch of riders, eventually picking up four championship points in twelfth.
Sunday saw the team’s Stock1000 regulars Travis Wyman and Corey Alexander secure eighth and ninth places, respectively. Travis had finished tenth in Saturday’s opening race, ensuring a double top ten for him as the series heads to Brainerd International Raceway in a couple of weeks.
In terms of the overall championship standings Hector and PJ are fifth and seventh respectively with Travis P10 and Corey P11.
Hector Barbera (80). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
Hector Barbera: “Saturday was disappointing. I thought after qualifying that we could fight for a podium, but I knew after five laps that I didn’t have a good feeling and I was struggling a lot for grip. I honestly think it’s the track condition and not anything that we could solve once the race started. I tried changing mapping, but I was limited on corner exit. Sunday’s race was a bit better but honestly, I am not happy. I finished fifth but I want to be fighting for the podium. We were faster than Saturday but it’s not enough. The team worked well all weekend, but at the moment we have a limit, and we need to understand what to do to allow us to be closer to the front. The gap in qualifying is much closer and sure we are coming more to the front, but I want more. We hope that in Brainerd we will be more competitive.”
PJ Jacobsen (66). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
PJ Jacobsen: “It was a difficult opening race. I thought we had good race pace after the opening few sessions on Friday but unfortunately, I was unable to run closer to the front and we took seventh. Race 2 was another difficult one for me. It was more or less the same story from race one where I struggled with grip. I took sixth but I want to be closer to the front. The next tracks should suit us, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can do at Brainerd and for the rest of the season. I want to thank the whole team for their work. We will keep plugging away and the results will come”
More, from a press release issued by SportbikeTrackGear.com:
Limandri Bags Second Win at Laguna
Joe LiMandri (62) and Max Van (48) in action at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Despite it being his first visit to iconic Laguna Seca Raceway, Joseph Limandri Jr. was able to pick up his second professional win in Race 1 of the SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup this past weekend.
The race was red flagged after a dramatic entanglement between team mate Max Van and another rider entering turn 5. With Max spinning wildly down the track and into the dirt, he was quickly on his feet and rushed to aid the other fallen rider.
“Glad we’re both OK, that could have been a lot worse. I’m not going to lie, when I got up my butt felt like it was on fire from that Alpinestars Kevlar heating up during the slide,” Max said. “But I escaped relatively unscathed, that suit did it’s job so I’m thankful. I’m a little bummed because I felt confident after qualifying second in both sessions, but that’s racing.”
“I’ve been working with Jason Pridmore this weekend and I wanted to lead as many laps as I could because getting pushed back makes it so much harder to get to the front” Joe said. “Thankfully that plan worked so I was leading when the red flag came out. I didn’t see it, but I’m glad everyone is OK from the crash.”
Race 2 was a different story entirely. While the race was red flagged on lap 7 due to another crasher in the world-famous Corkscrew, the restart saw an intense battle at the front between 6 riders within tenths of each other’s lap times. Unfortunately while in 2nd place, Joe suffered a massive highside on the final lap, ending his race prematurely.
“I got a bad start after the red flag, so I wanted to make up some ground. I tried to save it, but the data backs up exactly what I thought. I just got a little trigger happy with the throttle trying to get to the front.”
As all the riders behind Joe scrambled, Max was able to compose himself enough through the dirt to bring home a 6th place and some valuable points.
“We felt good in warmup, and I had confidence in the bike after the previous days crash,” Max reflected. “I got a good drive coming out of that corner, started to close the gap a bit, but then had to take it to the dirt to avoid Joe. I’m glad he’s ok after that!”
As expected in the SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup, the championship chase is filled with unexpected events that seem to impact every team this season. With four rounds to go, Joey and Max sit 3rd and 5th in the the title hunt.
Catch the team during the next MotoAmerica round at Brainerd International Raceway on July 29th.
As always thanks to:
All the SportbikeTrackGear.com customers, Helmet House, Bauce Racing, Cybersafe Solutions, Racing for a Reason, Vortex Racing, M4 Exhaust, REB Graphics, Armour Bodies, Woodcraft Technologies, Motul, Alpinestars, Shoei Helmets, RST, Arai Helmets, SportbikeTrackTime, Evolve GT Track Days, N2 Track Days, Gazebo Contracting, UTR/Torres Racing, Brake Tech USA, Ferodo Racing, Scott Powersports, Spiegler USA, Hanshaw Racing Engines, Precision Auto Works and Driven Racing.
Jacqui Van Ham. Photo by Dominik Miles, courtesy AHRMA.
Powersports personality Jacqui Van Ham hosts live stream of AHRMA event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
(Elora, Tennessee) – Jacqui Van Ham, a nationally-recognized powersports announcer and brand expert, will host a live stream of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Classic MotoFestTM of Monterey July 16 and 17 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Van Ham is a powersports announcer and video host who has represented the biggest brands in motorcycling and announced for some of the most exciting racing in the country including American Flat Track, Super Hooligan, Flat Out Friday, Sons of Speed and FITE.TV.
“I’m thrilled to be going back to Laguna Seca with AHRMA for their second Classic MotoFestTM of Monterey,” said Van Ham. “This was a highlight of my calendar last year. It brings racers from across America and is guaranteed great racing in a picture-perfect setting with gorgeous machines, both vintage and new. What more could you ask for?”
The live stream will be hosted on the AHRMA Facebook page (Facebook.com/ahrma.historic.motorcycle.racing/live) and YouTube channel (AHRMAvideos) on Saturday, July 16th and Sunday, July 17th.
In addition to motorcycle and sidecar road racing, the event will feature vintage and post vintage motocross, observed trials, cross country and dirt track racing.
Off the track, motorcycle and racing fans will enjoy a vintage bike swap meet and vintage motorcycle show sponsored by Hagerty Insurance. A Family Fun Zone will include the Strider Bike Adventure, “Mimi and Moto, The Motorcycle Monkeys” children’s books and Santa Claus will be onsite Saturday from noon till two to go over the naughty and nice lists.
Additional event activities include Pacific Motorcycle Training’s rider training, Motul’s Moto Museum and California Motorcycle Safety Program’s “Slow Race” in which spectators can participate.
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With about 3,300 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
American Brandon Paasch, who won the 2022 Daytona 200 on a Triumph Street Triple RS 765, helped Triumph do on-track testing with its TE-1 electric prototype. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
Triumph TE-1 Prototype Testing Completed: “This Has Been About A Bigger Ambition…”
by Michael Gougis
It’s not just one of the best-looking electric motorcycles to date. Triumph’s TE-1 is fast, powerful, and pushes the bar for electric motorcycles forward, with a charging time half that of the quickest charging electric motorcycles on the market.
Triumph’s TE-1 electric prototype was styled after the company’s Street Triple machines. Although a prototype, it has a nearly full lighting system and is “not a million miles away” from homologation status, company officials say. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
Triumph has wrapped up the development of its electric motorcycle prototype, the TE-1, and the company says the partnerships created during the process and the lessons learned have given it a clear path to the electric motorcycles it will be bringing to market.
While Triumph is more than satisfied with the prototype’s performance, “This has been about a bigger ambition,” said Miles Perkins, Triumph Head of Brand Management, in an international teleconference introducing the final version of the prototype TE-1.
The TE-1 project was designed to push Triumph’s knowledge of how to build an electric motorcycle, and to incorporate the knowledge of others in the field who have know-how that is applicable to the future of electric bikes. Williams Advanced Engineering, a spinoff of the longstanding Formula One company, provided technical support that is absolutely at the cutting edge of electric vehicle technology – the company makes the batteries for the Formula E, Extreme E and ETCR electric racing vehicles.
Triumph’s track shakedown was designed to finalize the functional parameters of systems like traction control, ABS, etc. Two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch demonstrates the power of the TE-1 at Oulton Park. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
With the TE-1’s track testing by two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch used to finalize settings and specifications, the company’s final prototype looks like this:
– Weight: 220 kg (485 lbs.)
– Range: 100 miles (160 km)
– Power: 175 bhp, 80 lbs.-ft. torque
– Four riding modes, lean angle sensitive traction control and ABS, wheelie control, adjustable rear wheel braking regeneration and reverse.
Triumph chose to go with a 15 kWh battery, made up of 900 cells in eight different modules. While this battery capacity is smaller than some of the more upscale models on the market currently, it is in line with the mid-range electric motorcycles. The downside is the more limited range; the upside is the speed of recharging and the lighter weight. The TE-1 is nearly 100 pounds lighter than the Energica Ego that forms the basis of the current MotoE racing machines.
Note the layout of the battery pack on the Triumph TE-1 electric motorcycle. The components have been arranged to place the center of gravity in the same place as it is found on the company’s Speed Triple internal-combustion machine. Image courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
It is unusual in its configuration, which has batteries in a tapered stack where a conventional motorcycle’s engine would be, and also in a nearly horizontal line along the centerline of the machine, through the area where an airbox would be found and under the seat. The tapered shape narrows the machine at the bottom for cornering clearance and the overall configuration of battery, inverter and motor leaves the center of gravity exactly where it is on the firm’s Speed Triple.
The company chose to go with a Williams-derived 50 kw DC charger, which can take the battery pack from zero to 80 percent charged in 20 minutes, the company claims. In addition, because the machine’s two independent cooling systems – one for the motor and inverter, the other for the batteries – keep the battery pack at optimum temperature, recharging can begin immediately after a ride.
Triumph says the TE-1 can be charged from 0 to 80 percent capacity in 20 minutes. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
The 175 bhp motor, developed with Williams for the machine, spins to 17,500 rpm, and is lighter than other units in its output category, the company says. The motor and inverter combined weigh only 15 kilograms, says Steve Sargent, Chief Product Officer for Triumph.
“Williams have gained a lot of knowledge in getting a lot of power out of a small package,” he says.
The running gear – suspension, brakes, etc. comes from the company’s gas-powered Speed Triple, although the machine’s aesthetics are derived from its Street Triple lineup. The physical similarities to the Speed Triple sped the development process, because algorithms for vehicle dynamic management systems like ABS transferred directly to the TE-1.
Running gear, including the Ohlins suspension, comes from the company’s Speed Triple. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
The TE-1 is equipped with a lighting system, although it does not have turn indicators. While it is not homologated for street use, “it’s not a million miles away,” Sargent says. And while the lessons learned here will drive the development direction of Triumph’s production electric motorcycles, the biggest challenge is economic. Building the machine at a price point that customers will find acceptable remains a difficulty, Sargent says.
Triumph says the TE-1 weighs in at just over 485 pounds. While that would make it one of the lighter electric bikes on the street, it does not have the larger battery capacity of the street-going Energica machines or the upcoming Ducati MotoE racebike. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
Riding Triumph’s Electric Prototype – And Making The List With Evel Knievel
by Michael Gougis
Winning the Daytona 200 for the second time, this time on a Triumph, helped Brandon Paasch land a track test riding gig on the company’s electric prototype machine. And while he was in England for the evaluation, he found himself immortalized on the company’s Avenue of Legends, on the list with some of the world’s most well-known motorcyclists – including stuntman Evel Knievel.
Two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch tested the Triumph TE-1 electric prototype at Oulton Park. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
What Paasch found was a machine that hid its weight well, he says. “I think it’ll be a really cool bike,” Paasch told Roadracing World.
The story began shortly after Paasch had earned the second of his back-to-back wins at Daytona, this time on a Triumph Street Triple 765 in race trim. (Paasch actually owns one of the company’s Daytona 765 Moto2 machines, which was not eligible for the race as it is a limited-edition model.)
The company wanted to do something to honor the accomplishment, and Paasch wanted to expand his involvement with the company beyond racing. So the visit to Triumph HQ for the unveiling of his plaque was scheduled along with the test of the TE-1 electric prototype.
Paasch’s plaque is next to those of Peter Hickman, who took Triumph’s latest victory at the Isle of Man, and Alex Marquez, who won the first Moto2 World Championship contested with Triumph’s 765cc three-cylinder engines. The Triumph Avenue of Legends includes names that are icons in the sport, he noted, with racers like Gary Nixon and perhaps the original stunter Evel Knievel represented. (While Knievel may be most well-known for riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the infamous failed Caesar’s Palace jump of 1967 took place on a Triumph T120 TT Special 650.)
“There were some pretty cool people there, and I was on that list!” Paasch says.
Shortly afterward, Paasch showed up for filming duties on the dyno on the TE-1, and then spent the day testing the prototype at Oulton Park.
Brandon Paasch on the Triumph electric prototype. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
“It was interesting going through all the briefings – what to do if it breaks, what to do if it catches on fire. I haven’t been to school for a while, so keeping that stuff in my head was a challenge at first,” Paasch says.
Paasch’s prior experience with electric bikes was limited to a dirtbike that he nearly looped when he grabbed a handful of throttle, so he approached the TE-1 with a little more restraint.
“I thought I’ve be a little more careful,” he says. “It’s super torquey. It doesn’t feel heavy when you ride it. They did a really good job with that. It doesn’t feel like a heavy electric bike. It feels like a nimble Street Triple.”
Paasch liked one other thing in particular about the TE-1 – the styling. The belt drive, the single-sided swingarm – all added up to a unique and positive visual impression, Paasch says.
Read more in an official press release issued by Triumph:
TRIUMPH TE-1
PROJECT COMPLETION WITH FINAL PROTOTYPE TESTING RESULTS
Triumph announces the official completion of the TE-1 electric development project, with the release of the final prototype test results which exceed the project objectives and demonstrate the incredible success of this unique collaboration.
· 100 Mile Range
Significantly exceeding the real-world range of the equivalent electric motorcycles available today, with a category-leading 100-mile (161 km) range, based on live
testing and official projections
· 175 HP Peak Power (130 kW / 177PS)
The TE-1 prototype delivers an incredible standard of acceleration, achieving
3.6 seconds 0-60mph, and an outstanding 6.2 seconds 0-100mph
· 20-minute charge time (0-80%)
A game-changing outcome, faster than today’s equivalent electric motorcycles
· 485 lbs, with an incredible power-to-weight ratio
Up to 25% lighter than comparable electric motorcycles currently available
· Stunning final prototype that demonstrates Triumph’s class-leading USPs and hints at the exciting future to come for Triumph fans across the world
o Pure, unique, and characterful new electric-Triumph soundtrack that builds to a hair-raising crescendo
o The ergonomics, geometry, and weight distribution of a Speed Triple, with the scale and visual impact of a Street Triple
o Triumph’s signature thrilling feel and neutral handling, with the throttle and torque delivery map equivalent to a Speed Triple 1200 RS
o A style and presence that is 100% Triumph, with signature design DNA
The unique collaboration between Triumph Motorcycles, Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain Ltd, and WMG, University of Warwick, funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles through Innovate UK, was set up to create ground-breaking developments in specialist electric motorcycle engineering and innovative integrated technology design.
The extensive live testing program, which involved numerous assessments of the bike’s performance on the rolling road, as well as on track, provided vital direction into the final set-up and calibration of the TE-1 prototype demonstrator, which has now delivered on all its targets and objectives.
Now officially complete, the live testing phase of the Triumph TE-1 project has seen the prototype demonstrator exceed expectations and achieve some incredible outcomes, delivering on all project objectives of accelerating electric motorcycle development and innovation, setting new standards for the sector overall, including final battery and range performance. The expertise and capabilities developed throughout the project now pave the way for the exciting electric future to come from Triumph Motorcycles.
Category-leading 100 Mile range
Exceeding the real-world range of the equivalent electric motorcycles available today, the Triumph TE-1 prototype has achieved all project targets with regards to the energy capacity of the Williams TE-1 project developed battery, with an incredible 100-mile (161 km) range, based on official testing and projections.
Regenerative braking has been successfully implemented for TE-1, with scope for further optimization, as well as greater efficiencies in the motor generator unit and transmission, which could improve the range further for the future of Triumph electric motorcycles.
Performance that matches the Speed Triple 1200, with an even faster 0-100mph
With a level of performance similar to the current Speed Triple 1200, the TE-1 prototype delivers an impressive 175 hp (130kW / 177PS) peak power, as well as peak torque of 80 lbft (109Nm), for instant responsiveness, smooth controlled power all the way up through the rev range, and a completely exhilarating ride.
The TE-1 has also achieved an incredible standing start acceleration official test result of 3.6 seconds 0-60mph and 6.2 seconds 0-100mph.
With further refinement of the electronics, including the traction control system and front wheel lift control, the team responsible for delivering the TE-1 project anticipate that performance could be enhanced further, harnessing the full torque potential to enable even quicker standing start acceleration.
Daytona 200 Champion Brandon Paasch participated in the final testing phase, both in engine performance evaluation and with the final set-up of the prototype through track testing.
“The throttle response on the TE-1 is kind of incredible, it’s very torquey and when you first touch the throttle it’s instant power, which is obviously what I love as a motorcycle racer – I love when it’s super-torquey and picks up right away, so for me it was a really great experience”, said Brandon. “I got to peg this thing all the way from zero to 100% throttle and it’s unbelievably quick, it pulls like crazy.”
Game-changing 20-minute charge time
Advances in battery and charging technologies that have been developed as part of the Triumph TE-1 project, in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), have resulted in a game-changing 20-minute charge time (0-80%), successfully delivering against the ambitious targets laid out by Innovate UK, the government’s research and innovation agency that supports business led R&D funding and UK business growth.
485lb overall weight
With an overall weight of 485lb (220kg), the TE-1 prototype is lighter than the equivalent electric bikes available currently, by up to 25%, giving it an incredible power-to-weight ratio. Having a physical size and scale comparable to a Street Triple, but with the ergonomics, geometry and weight distribution of a Speed Triple, the TE-1 delivers a completely thrilling ride, while being confidence-inspiring, nimble, and compact.
“I wish I’d had this at Daytona, that acceleration in this chassis, and how it corners – wow!” said Brandon Paasch. “I think this would be a really nice motorcycle to ride on the street, just based on how nimble and agile it is, and how light it feels.”
Triumph’s signature thrilling feel and neutral, confidence-inspiring handling
With a throttle action and torque delivery map directly engineered from a Speed Triple 1200 RS, the track testing and dynamic rider assessments on the TE-1 prototype demonstrator deliver a level of handling that matches Triumph’s current triple cylinder internal combustion sports performance motorcycles.
The TE-1’s exhilarating level of performance and acceleration, combined with its engaging and dynamic riding package, result in a bike that delivers all of Triumph’s signature feel, and world-renowned neutral handling – a smooth, predictable ride, that is agile and nimble, great in the corners, with a controllable power that incites confidence and guarantees fun.
A pure, unique, and characterful new electric-Triumph soundtrack that builds to a hair-raising crescendo
Distinctive and thrilling soundtrack, building to the most spine-tingling crescendo – the Triumph TE-1 prototype’s pure and characterful sound is considered to be more appealing and exciting than any of the equivalent electric motorcycles currently available, thanks to its unique helical gear pair primary transmission.
With noise levels tested at Mira’s external noise measurement facility, the TE-1 successfully achieved all noise standards set by the R41 homologation tests for wide open throttle, cruising and urban.
A style and presence that is 100% Triumph, with signature design DNA
Instantly recognizable as a Triumph, the TE-1 prototype’s muscular presence utilizes signature design cues from the brand’s iconic modern history of performance motorcycles, while clearly being a bike of the future. Now updated with its final body panels and paint scheme, the prototype demonstrator brings a style and presence that is 100% Triumph, with all the brand’s signature design DNA, from its aluminum frame to its distinctive twin headlights and head-down focused stance and poise.
Project TE-1 Completion
“We have already seen an incredibly positive reaction to the TE-1 prototype from motorcyclists all around the world, where many people are telling us that for the first time, they are seeing an electric motorcycle as desirable, and something that they would genuinely want to own. Being the first step in our journey towards developing our future approach to electric powertrain technology, the TE-1 prototype and the incredible results it has achieved in its intensive testing program has provided crucial insights and capabilities that will ultimately guide our future development. Of course, the final production motorcycle will not be exactly what you see here today, but rest assured, the models we do develop will encompass all its learnings and its exciting dynamic spirit.” – Steve Sargent, Chief Product Officer, Triumph Motorcycles.
Overall, the key objective of the TE-1 project has always been focused on developing electric motorcycle capability, to provide an input into Triumph’s future electric motorcycle offering, driving innovation, capability, and new intellectual property, and enhancing the credibility and profile of British industry and design.
The achievements in the live testing phase, exceeding current benchmarks and targets, provide a platform with great potential for future development in electric motorcycle performance.
“We are incredibly proud to be able to share such positive outcomes from the completion of Project Triumph TE‑1, where the prototype demonstrator has exceeded many of our initial targets and expectations. Everyone on the team is thrilled with the results we have achieved with our partners, and how the outcomes of the project will feed into the electric future to come from Triumph.” – Nick Bloor, CEO, Triumph Motorcycles.
Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE)
“WAE are delighted to have been involved in this exciting program to deliver the TE-1 prototype. Since its conception in 2018, all the partners have worked with collaboration, innovation, and passion to bring the boundary breaking prototype to life. It is pleasing to hear positive rider comments which confirm that the dynamics of the bike are aligned with Triumph’s DNA. This has been underpinned by the class leading Battery and Control System that WAE has produced within a lightweight and integrated package. This core WAE technology has allowed us to exceed performance and charging targets for the battery which we look forward to seeing in future powertrains.” – Dyrr Ardash, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Williams Advanced Engineering.
Integral Powertrain Ltd.’s E-Drive Division
“We’re delighted to see the final TE-1 motorcycle testing phase completed and with that, further validation of the performance and efficiency of our Scalable Ultra-Integrated Motor and Inverter.
For the TE-1 application, the motor has achieved peak and continuous power densities of 13kW/kg and 9kW/kg respectively; 60% higher than APC technology roadmap targets for 2025. All this has been achieved using materials and processes compatible with volume automotive production and on a length scalable motor platform. The motor scalability concept deployed on TE-1 has provided a springboard for a new scalable motor architecture, to be announced later this year, which will provide similar performance levels but much greater manufacturing scale than previously.
The ultra-integrated inverter concept, also scalable such that the number of Silicon-Carbide power stages increases for larger diameter motors has really delivered on performance (capable of >500kW) and gives us the opportunity to optimize for production or meet much higher power requirements.
We’re really proud to have been a key part of this exciting project which has been a landmark for electric motorcycles and British industry.” – Andrew Cross, Chief Technology Manager, Integral Powertrain Ltd.
WMG, University of Warwick
“To meet our ambitious emission reduction targets in the UK we will have to rethink the way we travel, not only transitioning from ICE to electric propulsion vehicles, but also encouraging a modal shift away from private cars. Electric two wheelers have a pivotal role to play in the transport revolution as a zero-tailpipe emission option.
In our partnership with Triumph, WMG used our research experience in electrification to demonstrate manufacturers can deliver products with a lower emission burden as well as outstanding performance-offering customers an EV that is great fun to ride.” – Prof. David Greenwood, CEO, WMG centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult, University of Warwick
Kyle Wyman (1) on his Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson Road Glide at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
KYLE WYMAN LEADS HARLEY-DAVIDSON SWEEP OF KING OF THE BAGGERS PODIUM AT LAGUNA SECA
Kyle Wyman Wins; Travis Wyman Second; James Rispoli Third; Championship Battle Tightens to a Single Point
MILWAUKEE, WI – Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory rider Kyle Wyman led his brother and factory teammate Travis Wyman, and Vance & Hines racer James “Hogspoli” Rispoli to a sweep of the podium positions in the MotoAmerica Mission Foods King of the Baggers race on Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA. Kyle passed early leader Tyler O’Hara on the second lap of race and crossed the finish line 3.063 seconds ahead of Travis. Rispoli finished third, a half-second ahead of O’Hara’s factory Indian Challenger. Six of the top 10 finishers were aboard Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Travis Wyman was the fast qualifier on Saturday, setting a new class record of 1:29.748 on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course. But it was Kyle Wyman who won the King of the Baggers Mission Challenge 3-lap sprint race and winner-take-all $5,000 purse immediately following Q2. Both factory Harley-Davidson riders started from the front row along with Rispoli.
In the 8-lap King of the Baggers feature race, O’Hara jumped out into the lead from the second row of the grid. But Kyle Wyman kept the pressure on him with inside and outside moves at several points around the course and then passed him cleanly in turn 9 on the second lap. From that point, Kyle broke away and was never challenged for the lead.
“It was really greasy out there today, and I was cautious with how the edge grip was,” said Kyle Wyman. “O’Hara lost the rear coming out of turn nine and that allowed me to go by. I was happy to get clear and run my own race and manage the gap to the finish. It’s just great to get a 1-2-3 for Harley-Davidson and to reward the entire Harley-Davidson factory team who made this possible.”
“To come home second to Kyle is pretty amazing,” said Travis Wyman. “We did it the other way around at Road America. And now we’re tied in points. So these last two rounds are going to be pretty awesome for the fans.”
MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers race winner Kyle Wyman (center), his brother and the runner-up Travis Wyman (left), and third-place finisher James Rispoli (right) on the podium at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
The Mission King of the Baggers series features race-prepared American V-Twin touring motorcycles. Harley-Davidson® Factory Team Road Glide® motorcycles are powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle® Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engines.
After five of seven rounds on the 2022 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series, Kyle and Travis Wyman are tied for second in the series standings with 86 points. O’Hara leads by one point with 87. The Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory team returns to the track July 29-31 at the MotoAmerica Superbikes in Minnesota at Brainerd International Raceway.
MotoAmerica King of the Bagger Race Results – Laguna Seca
Zack Nation (H-D) Zack Nation Racing Revolution Performance
Eric Stahl (H-D) Jiffy Tune Racing
More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing:
Four consecutive Stock 1000 wins for Tytlers Cycle Racing powered by #RideHVMC
It was another lights to flag win for Corey Alexander and the Tytlers Cycle Racing #RideHVMC squad in the latest round of the MotoAmerica Stock1000 race at Laguna Seca on Saturday. After storming to the Pole Position the #23 hit the front from the off and was never headed, taking a convincing 4.7s win at the end of the fourteen-lap encounter.
Travis Wyman kept his championship hopes alive with a fighting fourth place finish, missing a podium after a race long fight in the early stages. After losing touch with the leading trio, he eventually finished in a solid P4.
Zac Schumacher, on his first visit to Laguna Seca, finished twenty-sixth.
The next round of the championship sees the riders head to the Brainerd International Raceway at the end of July.
Corey Alexander (center), after beating runner-up Bryce Prince (left), and third-place finisher Hayden Gillim (right) in the lone Stock 1000 race at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytler Cycle/RideHVMC Racing.
Corey Alexander: “Overall it was a positive weekend. Initially we took a bit of time to get going, everyone was going pretty fast, and I needed to find a bit more with the set-up of the bike. The team worked hard, and we found a good direction and that was enough to take pole and the win. It was an uneventful race, and we were able to take another twenty-five points. We will keep plugging away and look ahead to Brainerd.”
Travis Wyman (10). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing.
Travis Wyman: “It was a good race. I couldn’t quite hang with the leaders and ended up finishing fourth which wasn’t too bad which I am pretty happy with considering the small issues we had.”
Zac Schumacher (90). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing.
Zac Schumacher: “The race didn’t go as well as I had hoped. It was my first time at Laguna and it’s a pretty challenging track and I just struggled to find a setting that I was comfortable enough with. The team supported me the entire weekend and I want to thank them for that. The next round is Brainerd and I’ve been there before and so I am looking forward to being back in the mix with a much better result.”
More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA LLC:
SCOTT CONTINUES PODIUM STAND FOR VISION WHEEL M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI
The GSX-R750 Class of the Field in New Generation Supersport Series
BREA, Calif., July 11, 2022 — Suzuki and Team Hammer closed out an encouraging weekend of MotoAmerica competition at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday with their rookie aces once again leading the charge.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott continued his successful upward progress, adding another MotoAmerica Supersport runner-up result along with fast lap honors to a weekend that had already seen him collect pole position and a second-place podium on Saturday.
The 16-year-old was embroiled in a six-rider charge for the lead early aboard his next-generation Suzuki GSX-R750 that also included the team’s talented substitute rider, Cory Ventura.
Ventura slotted into third early. He then took advantage of Scott’s back-and-forth battle for first to slip into second and then, momentarily, the lead as the hectic race continued to change shape in the early laps.
Tyler Scott (70) continues to impress with his sixth podium in his rookie season in the Supersport class aboard the GSX-R750. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Scott pulled off a remarkable save on lap 3 after hitting a bump on the track but was shuffled down to fourth in the aftermath. The youngster then set about the difficult task of clawing back up the order as Ventura settled into sixth.
During his charge, Scott ripped off the fastest lap of the race – a 1.26.985-second lap that ultimately proved more than a half-second quicker than any other rider could manage. He leveraged that pace to slash back up into second and then proceeded to defend the position to the checkered flag.
The result was the rookie’s sixth podium of the year and the fifth occasion where Scott finished in either first or second position. He said, “The Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki worked great in the first part of the race, but I got bottled up and shuffled back. I had to get my pace back and then hold onto second while battling grip issues,” stated Scott.
“We’re improving every round – both with my riding and with the bike set-up. I definitely think we’ll be on the podium a lot more and hopefully get some more wins.”
A top five for Cory Ventura (24) in Race Two to cap off a great first weekend aboard the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA LLC.
Ventura gained a position on the race’s final lap to move into fifth, earning the squad two top-five finishes in a single Supersport race for the fourth time this year.
Ventura said, “I got the call to ride for the team last Friday, and I knew I had to do it. I’ve been training hard for this moment for a long, long time. Early in the weekend, it was a little hard to transition to the Supersport bike, but slowly we improved throughout the weekend to where we were able to run up front for a couple of laps today. We’re still learning… I wish we had just one more day and one more race tomorrow!”
Liam Grant (90). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA LLC.
Young gun Liam Grant missed the race due to a concussion. He crashed in qualifying on Saturday. The GSX-R750 proves to be a front runner in the new generation Supersport class with 45% of the top ten this weekend being Suzuki’s.
Meanwhile, Richie Escalante put the finishing touches on his best weekend yet as a Superbike pilot, backing up Saturday’s career-best fourth-place finish with yet another fourth on Sunday.
Back-to-back fourth-place finishes for Richie Escalante (54) aboard the GSX-R1000R and he is looking to gain even more speed in the second half of the season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA LLC.
Escalante powered into fifth early aboard the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R and then slipped up the inside of a pair of veteran Superbike stars to move into third on lap 2. He then maintained the position until being displaced on lap 4 of 20.
Escalante was overtaken by another competitor on lap 6 but regained the position on lap 11, which he controlled to the contest’s conclusion.
Escalante declared, “For today, the team tried to improve the bike for the later laps when the tire goes off. The bike’s handling was more calm and it was easier to do consistent laps. I got a strong start and also was able to use our great starting position. We were happy to battle for the podium early in the race, and I was happy with the pace today. In the end, we were 17 seconds behind the leader again at the checkered flag, but I think we made many steps forward.”
“Thanks to the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team and my crew for doing a great job. We need to find a half-second a lap to be fighting for the podium every time, but we are much closer than we were earlier in the season. I like Brainerd. It is a cool track and super-fast. Hopefully, we will be able to continue improving.
The super-sub Kyle Wyman (33) collected a top 10 on Sunday at the iconic Laguna Seca circuit. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA LLC.
Kyle Wyman bettered his strong Saturday with an eighth-place result in substitute duty aboard the second Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R, collecting a seventh-place finish on Sunday. Wyman steadily picked up his pace as he gained seat time aboard the bike, posting the best lap nearly six-tenths quicker in Race 2 compared with Race 1.
Team Hammer will return to action in three weeks, as the 2022 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing season continues on July 29-31 at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2022 season marks Team Hammer’s 42nd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 129 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 342 times, and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
ABOUT SUZUKI
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
More, from a press release issued by Robem Engineering:
Robem Engineering Aprilia rider Gloddy nets fourth-place finish Saturday in MotoAmerica Twins Cup race at Laguna Seca
Hobbs claims sixth top-10 Twins Cup finish of the 2022 season
MONTEREY, Calif. — Ben Gloddy was hoping to be back to his usual front running form in MotoAmerica’s Twins Cup after enduring a tough weekend two weeks ago at The Ridge Motorsports Park. And that’s exactly what the Robem Engineering Aprilia rider delivered Saturday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca when he qualified third and finished fourth in the event’s lone Twins Cup race.
Though Gloddy and his teammate, Teagg Hobbs, weren’t at the top of the time sheets during Friday practice and qualifying, Gloddy’s gritty Saturday performance helped move him up from ninth to eighth in the Twins Cup points standings. Hobbs – who is still recovering a broken collarbone he suffered at the Road America round in June – persevered to score his sixth top-10 finish of the 2022 season and hold onto sixth place in the standings.
Both riders were a little off the pace at the start of the weekend. Gloddy was the faster of the two riders in Friday practice, as he finished the session 10th-fastest with best lap time of 1:32.890. Hobbs finished practice in 12th with a 1:33.410. Later Friday, Gloddy and Hobbs improved their pace to the rest of the field, as Gloddy finished Qualifying 1 in eighth place and Hobbs 11th. It all came together for Gloddy in Saturday morning’s Qualifying 2, as he moved up five places to secure third on the starting grid. Hobbs qualified 11th.
The Twins Cup race got underway late Saturday afternoon, and Gloddy got a phenomenal jump off the line. He nearly got the holeshot and was running in second place for the majority of Lap 1. Though he lost touch with the leading group on Laps 2 and 3, Gloddy was back in the leading group on Laps 4-6. Unfortunately, another rider crashed at the exit of Turn 2 on Lap 7, and Gloddy was among the riders who had to run off track to avoid the down rider. Gloddy rejoined the race quickly but had fallen to sixth place at the end of Lap 7. With six laps remaining in the 13-lap race, Gloddy put his head down and battled with several other riders to score a hard-fought fourth-place finish. Hobbs moved up two positions to finish Lap 1 in ninth place and ran the remaining 12 laps in ninth- or tenth-place before finishing tenth.
The MotoAmerica series goes on a three weekend break until the next round, which is scheduled for July 29-31 at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn.
Ben Gloddy (72). Photo by Sara Chappell Photo, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Ben Gloddy / No. 72
“I think we had a good race. I got a really good start and put myself in a good spot for about half the race. Then another rider high-sided in front of me, which caused me to run off the track. I came back on track in seventh or eighth place, then was able to make my way back to fourth on the second to last lap. Another rider tried to pass me at the last corner, but he ran wide and I was able to get my Aprilia turned and got a good run to the checkered flag.”
Teagg Hobbs (79). Photo by Sara Chappell Photo, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Teagg Hobbs / No. 79
“Laguna Seca was an up and down weekend, and the team and I gave it everything we had. Unfortunately, the results don’t reflect that effort. We know what needs to be done for the next round, so all we can do is move on and prepare for Brainerd. Thank you to Robem Engineering for all the hard work this weekend, and I’m looking forward to some better results at the next round.”
Robem Engineering’s technical partners for 2022 include Aprilia Racing, Piaggio Group Americas, The Center for Plastic Surgery, Synchrony, Velocity Calibrations, Bitubo Suspension, Dunlop, Woodcraft Technologies, Dymag, Vesrah, Sprint Filter, DID, Magura USA, Sara Chappell Photos, NGK/NTK, Blud Lubricants, Millennium Technologies, Motovation USA and SC-Project.
More, from a press release issued by Luke Power Racing:
P6 on track, winner off it… Luke Power shines on his Laguna Seca debut
Luke Power (68). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy 3D Motorsports LLC.
A strong opening day paved the way for an even stronger Saturday with Luke Power qualifying a strong seventh before storming to sixth in Race 1 after getting the better of a total mic battle with Cory Ventura in the early stages of the nineteen-lap encounter. Once clear of his rival Power’s pace was as fast as the lead group, the #68 reducing an almost six second deficit to the guys ahead to a mere 0.2s at the flag. He crossed the line to secure another ten championship points, closing the gap to the top five in the overall standings.
Sunday saw improvements in terms of lap time in morning up but sadly Race 2 was short lived. Luke, who was running in the leading pack, crashed out of the podium battle in the early stages. Unhurt, he is now focused on the next round of the series at Brainerd International Raceway at the end of July.
One of the highlights of the weekend was Saturday’s ‘Party at the Podium’ which is a now annual affair at the iconic Laguna Seca circuit. Along with 3D Motorsports team manager Dustin Dominguez, Luke took part in the fan party at the end of the opening day of race action, the pair’s rendition of the classic song ‘Tequila’ earning them the MotoAmerica’s Got Talent winner’s trophy.
Luke Power: “Race 1 was not a bad race. I got held up a little at the start but recovered well and had good race pace, especially on used tyres. Race 2 started well, and I was running inside the top six and in touch with the leaders. I made a small mistake overtaking into the corkscrew and unfortunately, I went down. It goes like that sometimes, but it certainly wasn’t in the plan. I am sorry to the team and to everyone that supports me, we will try to come back stronger at Brainerd. Outside of the racing I had a blast at Laguna Seca. We were invited to the Party at the Podium on Saturday night, and we decided to enter the talent contest. There were so many fans, and it was great to be part of it. We went with the iconic song Tequila but went all in with matching watermelon outfits. I was so much fun and hopefully we can defend our crown next year. I want to say a big thanks to Jason Aguilar’s father Bob, and his sister Alyssa who presented us with some of his memorabilia – it will be displayed proudly.”
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
KALEB DE KEYREL SCORES POLE, PODIUM FINISH IN MOTOAMERICA TWINS CUP RACE AT LAGUNA SECA ABOARD VELOCE RACING APRILIA RS 660
FIVE APRILIA RIDERS FINISH IN THE TOP 10; JODY BARRY REMAINS ATOP POINTS STANDINGS
Kaleb De Keyrel (1). Photo by Sara Chappell Photo, courtesy Aprilia.
MONTEREY, CA – JULY 11, 2022 – Reigning MotoAmerica Twins Cup champion Kaleb De Keyrel was back to his frontrunning form Friday and Saturday. The Veloce Racing rider put his Aprilia RS 660 on pole for the weekend’s lone MotoAmerica Twins Cup race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and claimed his second podium finish of the 2022 season.
De Keyrel was joined in the top five by Robem Engineering rider Ben Gloddy, who finished in fourth after starting the race from third.
When racing got underway late Saturday afternoon, De Keyrel led the field through the first corner, with Gloddy right on his tail. De Keyrel and Gloddy finished the first lap first and fourth, respectively, and De Keyrel was part of the small group of riders battling for the lead on Laps 2-6. Gloddy had fallen back to fifth on Laps 2-3 but had made his way to the tail end of the leading group just as a rider crashed hard at the exit of Turn 2. Unfortunately, several Aprilia riders – including De Keyrel and Gloddy – had to take evasive action to avoid the down rider, which caused them to lose touch with the front runners.
Not one to give up, De Keyrel showed great pace to quickly catch up to the race leaders from a distant third place. He was back to vying for the lead for the closing laps of the race and had to settle for a third-place finish. Gloddy came out on top in a battle for fourth place that went down to the last corner.
The other Aprilia RS 660 riders who finished in the top 10 are Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK Racing rider Anthony Mazziotto in sixth, Veloce Racing’s Edoardo Mazzuoli in ninth and Robem Engineering rider Teagg Hobbs in 10th.
De Keyrel’s other Veloce Racing teammate, Jody Barry, suffered an unfortunate crash on the last corner of the first lap. Thanks to the four wins he reeled off earlier in the season, Barry continues to lead the Twins Cup points standings. Barry now has a four-point lead over Mazziotto, and half of the riders in the top 10 in the points standings compete aboard Aprilia RS 660s.
The Laguna Seca round started off well for several Aprilia riders on Friday. Four of the top 10 riders in Friday morning’s practice session were on Aprilias. The top Aprilia rider was De Keyrel, who finished the session third fastest. Points leader Barry was seventh-fastest.
Later Friday, it was De Keyrel who paced the field in Qualifying 1 while improving his best lap time by more than a second. There were again four Aprilia riders in the top 10 for the session, including Mazziotto in fourth, Gloddy in eighth and Barry in 10th.
The second and final Twins Cup qualifying session took place Saturday morning, which saw De Keyrel improve his best lap time by another about four-tenths of a second to claim pole position. Gloddy shot up the time sheets to third, giving Aprilia two riders on the front row of the starting grid.
Of the 34 riders entered for the Twins Cup race at Laguna Seca, 14 were riding Aprilia RS 660s.
The MotoAmerica Twins Cup will be back in action in three weeks’ time when the series heads to its second-ever event at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn., on July 29-31.
More, from a press release issued by Pure Attitude Racing:
Solid weekend in the sunshine state for Chase, Liam and Trevor
The Pure Attitude Racing team kickstarted the second half of the 2022 MotoAmerica championship at Laguna Seca this past weekend with riders Chase Black, Liam MacDonald, and Trevor Standish once again on track.
After receiving further technical support for the event from Yoshimura, who already supply the team with exhausts, the Twins Cup program was given a real boost as the series entered its second half.
Both Trevor and Liam continued their run of form, the pair qualifying well before contesting for the top ten in the early stages of the Twins Cup race on Saturday. Liam ultimately crossed the line in twelfth whilst Trevor was forced to retire with a broken gear linkage.
In Junior Cup teenager Chase Black also qualified strongly and showed podium pace in both races. A spill in Saturday’s opener after posting the fastest lap at the time was unfortunate but the youngster showed real determination on Sunday. A shortened five lap sprint following an earlier red flag saw the #14 once again close to the podium – he finished seventh but showed pace throughout.
Liam MacDonald (37). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Liam MacDonald: “I am a little bit disappointed to miss the top ten but overall, I am happy. I had grip issues towards the end of the race, but I dug deep and was able to score another four championship points. I was involved in a good race with Trevor and a few other guys, and we were closer again to the front. It was great to be back at Laguna Seca and a ton of fun to party with the fans on Saturday night.”
Trevor Standish (16). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Trevor Standish: “I got a great start and was in the top ten immediately which gave me so much confidence. I was able to hang with them for a few laps and I think was running eighth or ninth but unfortunately, I had to retire when the gear linkage broke. I had crashed in Q2, and the team did a great job to fix the bike so we could race but the part that broke was not visible and it kind of sucked to miss out on a top ten as we should have had one in both races on the west coast. That’s how it goes sometimes. I will take it on the chin and head to Brainerd ready to fight.”
Chase Black (14). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Chase Black: “Race 1 was going well. I was in the lead group and had set the fastest lap when I went down. We could have had the podium but that’s racing. I was pushing hard and so on one hand I am disappointed, but I am happy with how I was riding. Race 2 was red flagged which for me was a good thing as it gave me time to reset and, in the restart, I was with the front group throughout. Perhaps if I was a little bit more aggressive, I could have finished higher than seventh, but I think we have shown that we are getting closer to being a front runner every race and that’s exciting for the rest of the season.”
Dean Standish – Team Owner: “It was a couple of rough rounds on the West Coast but nevertheless we made progress and achieved our best results of the season. It was very humbling to have so many people help us out after the issues we had with Trevor’s bike at the Ridge. Yoshimura, who we are proud partners of, saved the day ahead of Laguna by providing us a motor for Trevor and helped us throughout the weekend with set-up advice. We were able to field a strong package with both of our Twins Cup bikes with Liam scoring points again. Unfortunately, Trevor had to retire due to a broken gear linkage. Despite this it was pleasing to see him and Liam fighting confidently for the top ten, something I am confident we can continue to improve on in the next few races. I am very happy with the job that Chase did. He cannot be disappointed with what he showed. Despite the crash he had when he was fighting for the podium he continues to develop and improve every race and he put in a very strong second race. Liam’s P12 means he has now moved up in the overall standings and has a real shot of the top ten.”
David Price (13) leads Chris Duran (27) during a WERA West Formula One race at Willow Springs International Raceway in 2021. Photo by Michael Gougis.
TOUGH TIMES RESULT IN TOUGH DECISIONS
Due to low participation at WERA West events the past few years and with the costs of racing and travel getting higher this season we have had to make a very hard decision and have decided to cancel the three remaining WERA West events for this season. Those events were scheduled for 8/25 at Auto Club Speedway, 9/17-18 at Las Vegas Classic Course, and 11/12-13 at Willow Springs.
We want to thank all the racers who made the effort to support us and to all the wonderful officials who helped make the WERA West events run smoothly each and every time. It is too soon to look ahead but we will always do our best to give our racers good, safe, and smoothly run events.
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was founded in 1973 and remains the foremost place to develop talent in the sport of motorcycle road racing. The legacy of Pro Riders on a National and World level is legendary. All events are run by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing with a co-sanction by the AMA and they go coast to coast offering entry level racing with the WERA Sportsman Series as well as a Pro-Am Series which is the Pirelli/WERA National Challenge Series. WERA also offers Vintage Racing and hosts the Concours de ’Competition and Concours d’ Elegance in July at Barber Motorsports Park. Endurance Racing is also on the menu with our partner N2 and runs 4-5 events a year with a Big Bike Endurance and an Ultralightweight Endurance. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was voted the 2017 AMA Track Organizer of the year.
For more information on WERA Motorcycle Roadracing please check out our web site at wera.com.
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
November 10, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
