DSPHonda Racing’s young 17-year-old Damian Jigalov continues to impress his quick progress on a 1000cc motorcycle with a race win in A Superstock at Summit Point Raceway in the WERA NATIONAL Race. Jigalov is 2nd in the points Championship going into the final round at Barber Motorsports Park on October 22-24th weekend.
“It feels great to win in a competitive class with fast riders,” said Jigalov. “I was able to get a good start from 2nd row and settle into 4th spot after the first lap. I felt good and was able to be aggressive making passes and settle into P2 on the second lap, closing in on the leader. The Moore Mafia-tuned Honda CBR1000RR SP2 felt great and the Pirelli tires gave me great grip and feel. On lap 3, braking hard into turn 1, I was close to the leader and we both were braking hard and late. The leader had an unfortunate low side crash putting me into the lead. I was able to maintain the lead to the finish unchallenged”.
Jigalov’s goal for next season is to enter the MotoAmerica race series, feeling fast and ready to be competitive in the premier series.
Jigalov would like to thank DSPHonda.com as the title sponsor for making the 2021 season possible, Moore Mafia for tuning the bike and the support, Podium Motorsports/Pirelli for the great tires, Shoei helmets and OneX suits for keeping me safe, along with supporting sponsors, Pop Shadow Decals and Twistys Cycle.
Army of Darkness Wins N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop Championship.
Summit Point, WV September 2021 – The Army of Darkness with riders Chris Peris and Ben Walters took the overall victory and won the 2021 Heavyweight and Overall National Championship on a Yamaha YZF-R1 at the Summit Point round of the N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop. The 4-Hour Endurance Race was held under picture perfect conditions with 46 teams competing for a huge purse and bonuses at one of the most iconic tracks in the country.
In total, a whopping 92 teams and hundreds of riders competed in the 2021 N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop with an average attendance of 43 teams per event, while Pitt Race hosted an amazing 56 teams in a single round. This represents a huge increase and interest in Endurance racing.
The Heavyweight and Overall war has raged all year between Army of Darkness and Twisted Speed Racing. The two teams came into the final round at Summit Point Raceway in a winner take all scenario for the championship. The AoD duo of Chris Peris and Ben Walters were set for battle against Twisted Speed’s Taylor Knapp, Danny Eslick, and Brad Burns. Knapp and Peris took the first stint and spent more than 20 minutes exchanging fastest laps as they sliced through traffic. Knapp came in early and Eslick took over the Dunlop shod Twisted Speed GSX-R1000, but after only 20 minutes the bike was on the side of the track with a mechanical signaling an end to Twisted Speeds quest for victory, and the championship. Army of Darkness was able to cruise home with a 28-lap lead to take their fourth consecutive National Endurance Championship. N2/BobbleHeadMoto with Emerson Amaya, Corey Heflin, and CJ Crosslin finished a season best second and Team Club Racers, No Ringers with Anthony Sabbatino, Tom Delegram, and Ian Groom finishing third.
The Middleweight Class was won by Mr. CBX Racing with riders Jose Lloreda, Joby Maynard, and
Robby Ringnalda on a Yamaha YZF-R6. Although Top Box Road Racing finished the Summit 4-Hour Endurance in ninth, they won the 2021 Middleweight National Championship by 66 points with riders Doug Royce, Mark Faulkner, Brandon Salyer, and Caleb Odom on a Yamaha YZF-R6. Indy United SBK finished second at Summit and third in Middleweight points with riders Ben Napier, Christian Guffy, Geoff Gruber, and Damian Jigalov on a Yamaha YZF-R6.
Yeam Yo! won the Lightweight Class race and with it, the 2021 Lightweight National Endurance Championship and a brand new 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 provided by Yamaha Motors USA. Team Yo! riders are Chris Parrish, Kris Lillegard, and Darren Crooks. SWG Motorsports/419 Racing came in second place at Summit point. This was a fantastic podium for 419 Racing riders Jerry Reeves and Jon Crawford after a difficult year. Some Expense Spared came in third on a Suzuki SV650.
The new for 2021 Road Race Relay Class which features individual riders on their own bikes, only switching transponders was won by Kings Fitness with riders Dennis King, Arnold Hastings, Arthur Diaz, Michael Swank, and Todd Stoner. Tar Heels Twins and Triples won the inaugural 2021 Road Race Relay Championship with riders Pete TenHoopen, Eric Burrell, Shawn Veisz, and Danny Miller.
The 2-Hour Ultralightweight Endurance Race was won by Team Yo! Ultra on a Kawasaki Ninja 400. The 2021 Ultralightweight National Endurance Championship was dominated by Blake Davis on a Yamaha YZF-R3, but Blake had previous commitments at MotoAmerica and could not attend the final round. Riders Tea Music and Kayleigh Buyck rode in place of Blake at Summit Point, but unfortunately broke a chain. Despite the mechanical, they scored enough points to win the championship.
“When we started this experiment in 2018 with WERA, endurance racing in America had all but died completely. Flash forward just a few years, we had had 56 team participate at this year’s PittRace round alone.” said N2 CEO Rob Cichielo. “This would not have been possible without all the amazing sponsors and the fantastic staff at N2 and WERA. I would also like to extend a heart felt thank you to all the teams and riders and those that supported them. 2022 is already shaping up to be even bigger and better with additional venues in consideration for next year.”
The N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop is proudly sponsored by: N2 Track Days, Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, Yamaha Motor USA, WERA Road Racing, Arai Helmets America, Innovative Motorsports, R.E.B Graphics, Woodcraft, Rise Moto, Ghetto Customs, JE Pistons, Wiseco Pistons, Yamaha Power Products and Boxo USA.
For Information: N2 Track Days – www.N2td.org
More, from a press release issued by Pirelli:
Pirelli Congratulates Army of Darkness Race Team on Capturing the WERA/N2 Endurance Championship
DIABLO Superbike Slicks Lead Army of Darkness to Summit Point Raceway Series Finale Victory and 17th National Championship
ROME, Ga. (September 15, 2021) – Pirelli Tire North America congratulates the Army of Darkness (AoD) racing team of Chris Peris and Ben Walters on capturing the WERA/N2 endurance victory at Summit Point Raceway and their 17th national endurance championship. The AoD Yamaha YZF-R1 relied on the performance of Pirelli’s DIABLO Superbike 125/70R-17 SC2 front and 200/65R-17 SC1 rear slicks to take the race win and secure the Heavyweight and overall championships for the fourth consecutive season.
The Army of Darkness racing team captured their 17th national championship.
“Endurance racing is definitely making the most of a lot of variables together to give the team the best chance to win in the long run,” said Oscar Solis, senior racing manager, Pirelli. “Army of Darkness have managed to do this both on and off the track this year. We applaud them for their tenacity. This not only proves Pirelli as a great tire for a single race, but also for an endurance of four hours. It has been great to work with the team to secure the championship.”
Peris managed to put in an incredible time during qualifying that saw him take pole position with 1.5 seconds to spare on his nearest competitor. Peris would go on to set the fastest laps of the race and was backed by his teammate Walters’ strong, consistent laps and the team’s quick pit stops, making it too much for their competition to overcome.
Chris Peris set the quickest time for pole position and would go on to set the fastest laps of racing at Summit Point Raceway.
“There have been 18 WERA/N2 endurance races over the last four years and I’ve been privileged to be a part of AoD winning 13 of them,” said Walters. “There are thousands of things that can go wrong with the bike, track, or another competitor and then we still have to bring a fast platform to the track and turn the lap times and, after all that, still have perfect pit stops. If you told me at the start of 2018 that we were going to win over 70 percent of the races going forward, I wouldn’t have believed it. We have had very strong competition each year, but racing fortune is smiling upon us and we keep pulling off the late-season rally to win the championships. It’s like a storybook ending each year!”
In addition to the national endurance championship, Pirelli has consistently proven the performance capabilities of its DIABLO Superbike range throughout the 2021-racing season, capturing more than five absolute motorcycle track records as well as countless victories in regions across the nation. Whether racers are looking for an endurance race tire, the performance needed in a traditional race, or even going all out for a single lap, Pirelli remains the go-to option for racers competing at events that do not require the use of a spec tire.
For more information about the complete line of Pirelli motorcycle tires, please visit Pirelli.com
DIABLOTM is a registered trademark of Pirelli Tire S.p.A
Editorial Note: The RPM Act, as proposed, also applies to motorcycles.
Senators Burr and Tester Introduce RPM Act in U.S. Senate
— Bipartisan Pro-Motorsports, Pro-Business Legislation Introduced To Protect the Future of Racing and Motorsports-Parts Businesses —
— Americans Send More Than 1.5 Million Letters Urging Congress to Sign the RPM Act Into Law —
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (Sept. 15, 2021) — Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Jon Tester (D-MT) have reintroduced the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act (S. 2736) in the U.S. Senate. The pro-motorsports, pro-business bill, which was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in May 2021, is critical to ensuring that racers can continue to modify street vehicles into race cars used exclusively in competition, and that businesses can continue to produce, market, and install racing equipment. The bipartisan Senate bill includes six original sponsors, including Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).
The racing community has been vocal in supporting the RPM Act since 2016, after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first declared that the 50-year-old Clean Air Act does not allow street vehicles to be converted into racing vehicles, even if the vehicles are trailered to the track and are used exclusively for motorsports competition. The RPM Act enjoys unprecedented energy in 2021, as racers and motorsports parts businesses have sent more than 1.5 million letters to federal lawmakers urging passage of the bill this year.
“The racing industry has made clear that the RPM Act is critical to protecting an American pastime and the small businesses involved,” said Dr. Jamie Meyer, President of Performance Racing Industry (PRI). “We thank Senators Burr and Tester for introducing the RPM Act in the U.S. Senate and for bringing the bill one step closer to becoming law.”
The RPM Act is now being considered by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The bill is well positioned for passage in the current Congress as a result of the strong grassroots support for the legislation. Members of Congress are familiar with the RPM Act, which has already been the subject of hearings in previous years by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which have jurisdiction over the bill.
“Amateur motorsports is a unique American pastime,” said Senator Burr. “This bipartisan legislation provides certainty for folks who enjoy America’s long-held racing tradition, in the spirit Congress intended when it passed the Clean Air Act more than 50 years ago. I’m proud to work with my colleagues on this common-sense legislation to protect the legacy of American motorsports for years to come.”
Motorsports competition involves tens of thousands of participants and vehicle owners each year, both amateur and professional. Retail sales of racing products make up a nearly $2 billion market annually. A majority of the estimated 1,300 racetracks operating across the U.S., including oval, road, dirt and off-road, feature converted race vehicles that the EPA now considers illegal.
“Folks in the motorsport community have always relied on the freedom to modify their vehicles to race and compete,” said Senator Tester. “This legislation will codify that freedom into law by preventing unnecessary regulations on motorsport hobbyists, allowing amateurs and professionals alike to uphold tradition while still following the intent of the Clean Air Act.”
As advocates for the worldwide motorsports industry, PRI is urging the racing community to unite and contact lawmakers to pass the RPM Act.
“It is critical that members of Congress continue to hear from the racing and automotive enthusiast communities about the importance of passing the RPM Act into law during this session of Congress,” said Meyer. “We’ve witnessed the impact that our actions have had in getting the RPM Act to where it is today, but we must continue the momentum and continue to tell Congress to pass the RPM Act immediately.”
Supporters can contact their legislators about the RPM Act by visiting www.saveourracecars.com.
About Performance Racing Industry
Performance Racing Industry fuels the passion for motorsports by building, promoting, and protecting the worldwide racing community. PRI supports the interests of racers, enthusiasts, builders, tracks, sanctioning bodies, and businesses through legislative action and advocacy, its monthly business magazine Performance Racing Industry, and the world’s premier auto racing trade show, the PRI Trade Show. PRI also supports businesses by providing market research, education, and best practices in motorsports business and racing technology. For more information, visit PerformanceRacing.com.
Yamaha Unveils Stunning 60th Grand Prix Anniversary Supersport Models Along with Rest of the Dynamic R WORLD 2022 Model Lineup
MARIETTA, Ga. – Sept. 15, 2021 – In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Yamaha’s first-ever entry into a World Grand Prix race, Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA is proud to introduce three new Special Edition models for 2022—the stunning new YZF-R3 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition, YZF-R7 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition and YZF-R1 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition. Inspired by Yamaha’s historic decision to compete in its first World GP race at the 1961 Grand Prix of France, and based on the iconic 60th Anniversary Yamaha white and red chain block livery recently unveiled on the factory YZR-M1 race bikes at this year’s Official MotoGP™ Test in Qatar, these striking machines pay tribute to Yamaha’s passion for racing and winning at the highest levels of motorsport.
“Racing has always been in Yamaha’s DNA, as well as a cornerstone of motorcycle development. Nowhere is this fact more evident than with our R-series bikes, which have benefited from years of Grand Prix racing. Technology and designs have trickled down to our production Superbike and Supersport machines, making them dominant forces in MotoAmerica racing for so many years,” said Derek Brooks, Yamaha Motorcycle Product Line Manager. “That’s why we’re thrilled to give Yamaha enthusiasts the opportunity to own this piece of Yamaha racing history. These distinctive World GP 60th Anniversary editions are amazing to see in person with the instantly recognizable classic white and red Yamaha Racing livery and a range of other special detailing.”
Along with the World GP 60th Anniversary color scheme, each bike also includes gold wheels, gold forks, Yamaha factory race-bike Gold Tuning Fork emblems, black levers and special commemorative badging on the airbox cover. The new 2022 YZF-R3 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition will be available from dealers this February for $5,499 MSRP; the new 2022 YZF-R7 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition will be available from dealers this January for $9,299 MSRP; and the new 2022 YZF-R1 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition will be available from dealers this November for $18,099 MSRP.
R World is Calling
Yamaha has a rich heritage of building the most sought after Supersport motorcycles designed to deliver the pinnacle of performance on and off the track. From the rider-friendly YZF-R3 to the exclusive and track-focused YZF-R1M, the Yamaha R-series model lineup provides options for riders of all skill levels to experience the pure exhilaration of R World.
2022 Yamaha Supersports
Returning to the Yamaha Supersport lineup for 2022 are the standard edition Yamaha YZF-R3—Yamaha’s renowned entry-level Supersport bike featuring bold R-series styling, light weight and a high-revving 321cc liquid-cooled inline twin-cylinder engine—and the standard edition Yamaha YZF-R1—the ultimate high performance sportbike boasting advanced MotoGP™-derived electronics and powerful crossplane 998cc CP4 engine. New for 2022, both the YZF-R3 and YZF-R1 now feature an updated Team Yamaha Blue color option with graphic detailing and accents more closely aligned with the distinctive styling of the incredibly successful new 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7, including matte blue and cyan blue accents throughout. For riders looking for a darker option, the YZF-R3 also comes in Midnight Black, and the YZF-R1 is available in Performance Black.
Also returning to the Yamaha Supersport lineup for 2022, the pinnacle of Yamaha Superbikes, none other than the ultra-high tech, ultra-rare Yamaha R1M, now featuring a new color design further accentuating the full carbon fiber front fairing and aluminum fuel tank—with just a touch more blue added to the side fairing.
The 2022 YZF-R3 will be available from dealers this December in Team Yamaha Blue or Midnight Black for an MSRP of $5,299. The 2022 YZF-R1 will be available from dealers this November in Team Yamaha Blue or Performance Black for an MSRP of $17,599. The 2022 YZF-R1M will be available from dealers this January for an MSRP of $26,299.
2022 Yamaha YZF-R6 GYTR
Though Yamaha has discontinued the YZF-R6 as a street homologated model, the company has a long history of supporting both amateur and professional Supersport racing, along with dedicated racers and track-day riders in the motorsports community. To demonstrate this commitment, for 2022 a closed-course track-only Yamaha YZF-R6 GYTR will be offered for purchase in extremely limited numbers. These race-spec machines will feature full race bodywork in primer white, GYTR YZF-R6 Race Seat, GYTR ECU and wiring harness with interface cable, full Akrapovič exhaust, a 520 chain and sprocket kit, racing rear sets, AIS plug set, billet front brake lever guard, shark fin rear sprocket guard, GYTR ABS emulator, GYTR racing fuel cap, GYTR on/off switch, and GYTR brake line set, among other specialty parts.
This new 2022 Yamaha YZF-R6 GYTR is a fully kitted out competition bike designed to continue the Yamaha R6’s tradition of dominance on the track, and provides a select group of racing enthusiasts and track-day riders the chance to own the ultimate, no-compromise Yamaha Supersport. The new 2022 Yamaha YZF-R6 GYTR will be available from dealers this April for $18,399 MSRP. Please contact your local Yamaha dealer immediately for the opportunity to place a deposit on this limited production motorcycle.
Also for 2022, Yamaha would like to welcome back the Bolt R-Spec available from dealers this October in Storm Gray for an MSRP of $8,599; the V Star 250, available from dealers this October in Raven Black for an MSRP of $4,599; and the XMAX, available from dealers this November in Storm Gray for an MSRP of $5,799.
Follow Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, through your favorite social media sites at www.facebook.com/yamahamotorusa, www.instagram.com/yamahamotorusa, www.twitter.com/yamahamotorusa. #Yamaha #YamahaMotor #YamahaMotorUSA
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida) and Kracor Systems (Wisconsin), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana).
In the wake of Pecco’s first win, the paddock heads for familiar and fast territory for the Italian. And one of Yamaha’s most successful tracks…
Tuesday, 14 September 2021
As the dust settles following a truly spectacular duel at MotorLand, the paddock is already setting up to take on the stunning Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. For the winner of that Aragon showdown, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), there could scarcely be a better place to head next on the heels of his first MotoGP™ win. Home turf, and somewhere he’s been incredibly quick before.
It wasn’t just pace that Bagnaia had at MotorLand, however. What made his maiden win such a stunner was the sheer pressure from Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) lap after lap, the Italian brushing off Marquez’ attempts at the lead like they weren’t coming from one of the most decorated riders in history – or one of the most successful at anti-clockwise Aragon. It was no mean feat, and Marquez himself pointed out something in Bagnaia’s arsenal that could be crucial come Misano too: corner speed.
Bagnaia has used it before to great effect at the track, even before he truly mastered the art this year, taking his first MotoGP™ podium in the first visit in 2020 and leading in the second until crashing out. But he also set the fastest race lap as he left the rest behind, and missed out on pole for track limits. That performance, compounded by MotorLand, will likely play on everyone’s mind.
His fellow Ducati runners like stablemate Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), who had an issue that took him wide at Aragon and then couldn’t make up ground from fifth, will be looking for a lot more on home turf for the Borgo Panigale factory too. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) and teammate Johann Zarco had a more muted weekend at Aragon – the rookie fading a little after a good start and the Frenchman suffering some arm pump issues – and they’ll want to bounce back.
Reigning Moto2™ Champion Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) could be one to watch too: a stunning Aragon GP saw him take his best yet of sixth, and Misano is home, familiar and successful turf for the Italian, as well as where he took his first ever win in Moto3™. Ducati test rider Michele Pirro returns in a wildcard as well, often a bother for those looking to make it straight through to Q2, and Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Avintia) will want more on home turf – also a winner at the track in Moto2™.
The most likely barrier to Bagnaia and Ducati’s dreams of Riviera di Rimini success though, despite Aragon, still likely comes from Yamaha. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) struggled for grip on Sunday at MotorLand and came home in eighth, giving up some points to both his key title rivals, but Misano is Yamaha territory. The Iwata marque is the most successful at the venue with eight wins, and Quartararo was already fast there as a rookie. Last season didn’t quite go to plan, but the Frenchman has ramped it up so far in 2021. Will it be a showdown between the top two in the Championship this time around?
There are also some more headlines aside from El Diablo. Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT), by definition, as the Doctor takes on Misano for the penultimate time. Can the familiar ground help him move forward after a tough MotorLand? And Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis spoke of a “verbal” agreement regarding Quartararo and Rossi’s teammates too: Franco Morbidelli is slated to return and move to Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, and Andrea Dovizioso is expected to join the Petronas Yamaha SRT ranks alongside Rossi. Both home heroes, Morbidelli coming back from injury but a winner at the track last season… and Dovizioso returning to Yamaha. The two should be a treat to watch if their comebacks are confirmed.
Meanwhile, for Suzuki, Aragon was more a mixed bag. But reigning Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) locked out the podium and from a solid qualifying, and he’s the only rider last year at Misano who was on the rostrum in both races. The track should suit and he’s got and on form, so can he take that next step to trouble the top step? The mixed bag was more completed by teammate Alex Rins, meanwhile, as the winner of one of last year’s races in Aragon equalled his worst ever MotoGP™ qualifying in P20 and then came home 12th. After a podium at Silverstone, was it a blip and can he prove so at Misano?
Aprilia continued showing form at Aragon, and will expect to carry that on at Misano. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) took fourth and was top Independent Team rider, which may not be another history-making milestone like Silverstone, but it’s still their second best result in the MotoGP™ era. So the momentum rolls on, and Misano is familiar turf as well as home for the Noale factory. Maverick Viñales, new to the ranks, also has a few more laps round the venue on his new RS-GP, as it’s where he got the first taste. A winner last year at the track too, can he take a step forward? Lorenzo Savadori will also make it three Aprilias on the grid as he returns in a wildcard with Aprilia Racing.
It will also be an interesting watch at Honda to see how Marc Marquez fares at a venue that’s less emblematic for the Spaniard. MotorLand was a stunner, can he get in the podium fight again at Misano? And can Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) take a step back forward after a tougher day at the office in P13? Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will want more too, having completed the top ten, and Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) crashed early so will want to bounce back. Stefan Bradl will also be on track in a wildcard for HRC.
And what about KTM? The Austrian factory took a podium last year at Misano, and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is building some good momentum to get in that mid-top ten again, incredible Red Bull Ring win aside. Iker Lecuona (Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing) put on quite a show at MotorLand once again too, storming through the ranks early on. What can he do? And can his teammate Danilo Petrucci and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Miguel Oliveira bother some bigger points hauls?
Bagnaia on a roll. Yamaha with an incredible record. Quartararo with proven pace and the likes of Mir, Miller and more waiting in the wings… Misano promises a showstopper, so tune in at 14:00 (GMT +2) when the lights go out for the Gran Premio OCTO di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini.
2 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 161
3 Joan Mir – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – 157
4 Johann Zarco* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – 137
5 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 129
*Independent Team rider
Moto2™: who can hit back at Misano?
It could be an intriguing weekend ahead, with the form book and momentum at odds on the way in…
When news broke that Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had been forced to have surgery on his hand after a cycling mishap, following a crash out at Silverstone no less, it seemed there had been two massive swings in favour of teammate and Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in less than a week. But come race day at MotorLand, the only swings landing on his rivals came from the number 25’s incredible laptimes as he dominated despite the pain barrier, taking back five of those points lost at Silverstone as Gardner came home second. And instead, it’s Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) who arrive at Misano on the back foot after both crashed out. So what will the Adriatic bring?
Raul Fernandez will likely be strong again, as he has been everywhere, and despite the pain in his hand. And he’ll be more fired up than ever to keep cutting that gap, with the Spaniard having so far found the perfect answer when he’s needed to. He could also wrap up Rookie of the Year, although he’s had one hand on that for a while despite an impressive season of consistency from Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia).
However, Gardner hasn’t put a foot wrong this season and he’s still 39 points clear despite Aragon not being a circuit he loves, and he can now afford to take two paths: gloves off or very much on. The first because everything else is signed, sealed or delivered: the team are already Champions and his 2022 deal is inked. Nothing “except” the Riders’ title hangs in the balance, and 39 points is a big margin to play with.
Recklessness, or maybe something more akin to pushing the limits, hasn’t been part of Gardner’s vocabulary in 2021 so far though and it seems unlikely he’d start now, especially when he’s still won four races as part of his campaign. And the gloves remaining very much on option is that 39 points easily allows him to follow his teammate home in every remaining race this season and still wrap up the crown.
Despite the return of the Red Bull KTM Ajo domination at Aragon though, there are some interesting records at Misano for those looking to threaten the duo, especially for Bezzecchi. Riding on home turf is always something special and the Italian had two good races there last season, just off the podium but less than a second off the win in the first and duelling for victory throughout the race with then-teammate Luca Marini in the second. Now really needing to dig deep to get back on terms with Red Bull KTM Ajo, can the Italian come out swinging?
Lowes, too, is looking for redemption as the Brit crashed out at MotorLand – a venue where he’s had some serious success. He’s been there or thereabouts in Misano in recent seasons, although the results sheets from the first visit to the venue last year need an asterisk: he came eighth, 16 seconds off the win. But he also did so from pitlane, forfeiting the pole position he’d taken after a penalty from the Styrian GP. So how will his MotorLand crash affect his approach? Earlier in the season we saw the number 22 go for solid points when he needed to build back up but will the same be true this time around?
Lowes’ teammate, Augusto Fernandez, said that was his mission after a tougher start to the year too. And he’s seriously fulfilled it, now fifth overall in the Championship as his momentum keeps building. Since Assen, he’s outscored everyone except the top two and had more podiums than any other rider. Anyone remember Misano 2019? He and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) staged a spectacular showdown, so the number 37 has form at the venue and momentum in the season. Can he go better than third?
‘Diggia’, meanwhile, evidently has shown speed at the track but this season has seen the Italian’s early charge take a dip in the middle. The last two races have seen him back in the top six though, so can he get back in the fight for the podium? And what can the likes of Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team) and Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) do on the Boscoscuro? Ogura, too, remains on a solid roll. The Japanese rider is less than a race win’s worth of points off the top five overall is on a good run of top tens, including that first podium.
Misano is always a classic and 2021 will be no different, with a chess match in the title fight and some eager home heroes looking to make life difficult. Tune in as Moto2™ take on the venue at 12:20 on Sunday – with another fascinating contest just around the corner!
Moto2™ Championship top five:
1 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 251
2 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 212
3 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 179
4 Sam Lowes – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 127
5 Augusto Fernandez – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 108
Can Foggia take the momentum to Misano?
The Italian won in style in “enemy” territory… can he keep the roll at home?
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) gave his rivals an open goal at Aragon with his first race day mistake of the year, but for one reason or another only one rider was able to capitalise: Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing). The Italian took his third win of the season, moved back into third overall and is now 58 points off Acosta as five races remain on the table… so can he continue the charge on home turf at Misano?
Last season Foggia fought at the front in both races but hit bad luck in one, although the form was there. Based on his form so far in 2021, there’s no reason to count against the Italian managing to battle for the win again. And with the pressure a little more on for Acosta, and the rookie with less experience of the venue by far, it could be another key weekend as Foggia pushes to make gains. There’s also another home hero to consider, however: Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team).
Fenati actually showed some good speed at MotorLand, and checking the results is far from the whole story. The veteran campaigner got forced out wide by a crash ahead of him and dropped well outside the points, but somehow managed to push back through and take a couple. After Silverstone and his absolute masterclass, it seems more muted in the points but less so in the pace. And Misano? The number 55 has the best record in the field. He’s taken two victories at the track, one of which came last year in the dry, and one of which was a poetry-in-motion wet weather masterpiece in 2017. Can he pull the pin again?
If Foggia is to continue making big gains, he’ll also want to defeat Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) too, which is no mean feat when the Spaniard is on it. Unfortunately, he came off it at MotorLand and lost the chance to home in on Acosta, but he’s the other rider with multiple wins so far this year and still has a little cushion back to Foggia, such was the deficit before. Can he, and teammate Izan Guevara, bother the podium fight again?
Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia VR46 Academy) is another experienced veteran with podium form at Misano, and a home hero, and John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) have won there. What can they do? And Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team)? Red Bull KTM Tech3 riders Deniz Öncü and Ayumu Sasaki will also be aiming high after their podiums in Aragon. For Sasaki it’s rebuilding after a difficult few months, and a key relief to be back on the rostrum after injury struggles and more.
For Öncü, it was another race where he missed the win by hundredths, and that’s not enough after it having happened twice. Can Deniz defeat Dennis this time around? The Turk ran at the front for much of the race at MotorLand, which is fast becoming the weapon of choice for winning in the lightweight class…
Misano welcomes Moto3™ back for more this weekend, with the home heroes on song and Acosta and Garcia looking to bounce back. What will the Riviera di Rimini bring? We’ll find out at 11:00 (GMT +2) on Sunday.
Circuito San Juan Villicum to host WorldSBK until 2023, 2021 round confirmed
The Argentinean Round will be back on the calendar for two more seasons with a renewal seeing San Juan host WorldSBK until 2023
Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO), Grupo OSD and the San Juan government are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached to ensure that the Circuito San Juan Villicum in Argentina will be featured on the MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship calendar for the next two years. The new agreement not only means the WorldSBK and WorldSSP classes will return to San Juan in 2022 and 2023, but also confirms the Argentinean Round will go ahead for the current 2021 season too.
The 2021 event is scheduled to take place on October 15, 16 and 17, with updates on ticket sales and event schedule to be released in the coming days. The event will be held under specific protocols to be announced shortly, but will mark a return for WorldSBK in Argentina and South America for the first time since 2019.
Jorge Chica, San Juan Government – Sports Secretary
“Ensuring the presence of WorldSBK in our province allows us to push forward the sporting project of the government, but also to generate an economic impact and employment opportunities for the people of San Juan. Having an international event again takes a joint effort and we’ll keep working to improve the services, facilities and values of our province.”
Orlando Terranova, Grupo OSD – CEO
“The extension of the WorldSBK agreement in San Juan reflects the hard work which we carried out in challenging circumstances. This way, we ensure WorldSBK’s foothold in the region and retain a great sporting show on the biggest stage in South America.”
Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Executive Director
“We’re pleased to be able to return and race in the San Juan province. There’s a great passion for racing and motorcycling in the area and after postponing last year’s event, we wanted to secure WorldSBK presence in the region for years to come. For the Championship, our teams, our riders and also for our partners, the Argentinean round is a unique opportunity we want to consolidate, as having a round in South America is key for WorldSBK’s growth.”
Sam Lowes extends Elf Marc VDS Racing Team contract
The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team is delighted to confirm it has reached an agreement with multiple Moto2 race winner Sam Lowes to remain with the Belgian squad for 2022.
Since joining Marc VDS Racing last year, the British rider has continued to bring success to the most decorated team in the history of the Moto2 World Championship.
Lowes enjoyed a hugely successful debut season with the squad in 2020 and he finished third in the World Championship standings with three wins, seven podiums and three pole positions.
The 30-year-old has enjoyed more success in 2021 in the livery of the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team and he is firmly in contention for a top three World Championship finish again after winning the opening two races in Qatar and finishing third in Jerez.
The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team is also pleased to announce that Lowes will be supported by an unchanged technical crew. Vastly experienced crew chief Gilles Bigot will lead a highly motivated squad including data technician Julien Robert and mechanics Olivier Boutron and Anthony Couturier.
The renewal with Lowes completes an exciting Elf Marc VDS Racing Team line-up for 2022 following the recent signing of talented Italian Tony Arbolino.
Sam Lowes:
“I’m very happy to confirm this renewal with the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team. I want to thank Marc van der Straten for believing in me. He gave me an opportunity in 2020 and he’s now giving me this chance to stay where I love to be. It has been a great adventure together already and I feel I’ve improved my performances being part of this project. There is a great atmosphere with my crew, and I still feel like I’m improving all the time. I know the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team is doing everything to make me stronger and I feel proud to be staying in this great team and I’m confident we can enjoy more success in the future. My goal is to fight for the World Championship, and I believe remaining with the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team gives me the best chance of achieving that.”
Marc Van Der Straten, Team Owner:
“It gives me immense pleasure to renew the contract with Sam and to continue to count on the talent and dedication he has shown since the first day he joined our team. We had high expectations of him, and he has not disappointed. He is a great rider who is always willing to fight and give his best in any circumstances and his results back that up. We both want more; we want to achieve it together and I am convinced that we will get it.”
SUZUKI’S KELLY AND LEWIS CLINCHED CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES IN NEW JERSEY
Brea, CA – During this weekend’s penultimate round at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Suzuki Motor USA, LLC and Team Hammer saw GSX-R pilots collect three more race wins, five additional podiums, and two national championships in MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing competition.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s emerging superstar, Sean Dylan Kelly, transformed his childhood ambitions into reality by clinching the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport crown.
‘SDK’ did so in his inimitable fashion, showcasing the trademark daring and racecraft that got him to this point. Despite the temptation to play it safe with a big championship lead in hand, the 19-year-old instead chose to battle it out for victory both days.
On Saturday, he scored his 11th victory of the season by an impossibly tight 0.001 seconds thanks to even more last-lap heroics aboard his GSX-R600. On Sunday, he earned his 15th podium of the year, missing out on a 12th victory by just 0.040 in second position, which was more than enough to claim the Supersport throne.
“This is very emotional,” Kelly said after being handed the ceremonial number one plate. “I’ve been working really hard for this. My family and I put everything on the line and it’s been tough. My parents have given everything they’ve had for me to get to this point. We never stopped fighting.
“I want to thank everyone who has supported me and pushed me since I started racing. This is my first national championship and it’s a dream come true. I fought for this. I had a lot of doubters last year, thinking I wasn’t good enough, but I came back stronger this year and did what I needed to do to win.
“Thank you to M4 ECSTAR Suzuki for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. And thanks to all my guys for sacrificing so much to make sure the bike was always as good as it could be.”
Sam Lochoff (44) took his first Supersport win on Sunday with the performance of his Suzuki GSX-R600. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Kelly’s narrow defeat on Sunday was still a massive success for the team, however. Teammate Sam Lochoff emerged victorious in the four-rider showdown.
Lochoff was in spectacular form all weekend long at NJMP. He was on provisional pole on Friday, led laps en route to a fighting third on Saturday, and at last claimed his maiden MotoAmerica Supersport win in thrilling fashion on Sunday.
The South African said, “It’s my first victory in three years. I’ve finished on the podium several times, but I really wanted to get that win. Now that I have, it’s kind of hard to speak.
“It was a great race with Sean and the guys. I fixed what I was struggling with yesterday, and that just made the difference. I’m pretty sure this won’t be the last time I battle with them. I just want to thank M4 ECSTAR Suzuki for everything.”
The win was also Team Hammer’s 125th win in AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National competition.
Jake Lewis (85) took his fifth win and the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship on his Suzuki GSX-R1000R. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Lochoff and Kelly weren’t the only Team Hammer-supported riders celebrating wins in New Jersey. Altus Motorsports Suzuki’s Jake Lewis also locked down the Stock 1000 national championship on Saturday with his fifth victory of the year.
And like Kelly, Lewis earned his win with a final-lap pass aboard his Team Hammer-built GSX-R1000R to close out his championship campaign in style.
“I wanted to go out and get the championship from the top step to reward my team and that’s what we did,” Lewis said. “Last year, I was out of the paddock, sitting on the couch, over 200 pounds, and in a tough spot. I thought about quitting racing, but I’ve been traveling the country in a van with my mom and dad since I was four years old, chasing a dream. I worked hard to get back in shape. After I got my butt kicked at the first round, I knew it was time to get going, and we’ve been on the podium pretty much ever since.
“Big thanks to Altus Motorsports for the opportunity and to Team Hammer as well for the amazing technical package.”
Bobby Fong (50) raced hard and claimed fourth place on his Suzuki GSX-R1000R on Saturday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Superbike duo of Cameron Petersen and Bobby Fong combined to claim three top five finishes, although both riders flashed the speed to be on the podium.
Fong finished fourth on Saturday while taking his challenge for third to the flag. He then led briefly in Sunday’s morning race before crashing out of third. The Californian gritted it out later in the day by finishing ninth in the weekend’s third premier-class contest.
Cam Petersen (45) was impressive delivering three top-ten finishes in New Jersey. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Petersen, meanwhile, improved throughout the weekend. He finished seventh on Saturday while fighting for fifth, and then picked up a pair of fifths on Sunday, including one taken after putting forth an extended challenge for third in the final race of the weekend.
Wyatt Farris (79) rode well and earned a top ten finish in the Stock 1000 race on his GSX-R1000R. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Wyatt Farris bounced back from his Pittsburgh disappointment to return to the top ten with a tenth-place ride in the Stock 1000 race. Farris earned a fighting fourth in Sunday’s afternoon Superbike Cup race-within-a-race.
Team Hammer will now put the finishing touches on an already successful 2021 MotoAmerica season next weekend, September 17-19, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.
More, from a press release issued by Altus Motorsports:
MotoAmerica: Jake Lewis Clinches the 2021 Stock 1000 Championship. Results from Round 8 New Jersey Motorsports Park for the Altus Motorsports Tucker Environmental Service Solutions Team
(Millville, NJ) The Altus Motorsports team celebrated their second Stock 1000 title in consecutive seasons. Jake Lewis picked up where Cam Petersen left off last year and rode the Altus Suzuki GSX-R1000R to win the class.
“It’s a great feeling. We couldn’t ask for a better person to take over our Stock 1000 bike this year. Jake has been a good fit with the team in the pits and he’s proven his ability on the track. This weekend we grabbed the Stock 1000 championship and next weekend we hope to secure the Superbike Cup as well,” said George Nassaney.
Jake Lewis (85). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Honos Superbike & Stock 1000:
Jake Lewis clinched the 2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 championship with a win in the solitary race at NJMP this weekend but it was not easy. After being on pole the last few rounds, Jake had to settle for second on the starting grid. In the race, he took the holeshot and led for the first two laps before being relegated to second. After following for the entire race, Jake made a pass for the lead at the beginning of the last lap and held it to the line.
But Lewis is also contesting the Superbike Cup in 2021. With the Superbike class running a triple-header at NJMP, Jake had to grid up three more times on his Stock 1000 GSX-R1000 against the Superbikes. In Race 1, he finished 9th but finished as the top Stock 1000 bike. He was also the top stock bike in the second Superbike race where he crossed the line in 8th overall. In the final Superbike race he took the checkered flag in 12th overall and as the third Superbike Cup rider. All totaled, that puts Lewis 70 points ahead of his nearest rival. With three Superbike races at the final round in Alabama, he’s a few points shy of having that championship wrapped up.
“A huge thanks to George & Janette Nassaney and Altus Motorsports for giving me the opportunity. Last year I was out of the paddock and thought my racing career might be over. I have been chasing this dream since I was four years old and I can’t thank the team enough for taking a chance on me to pick up where they left off last year. Thanks to My Crew Chief Eric Gray and my mechanics, Tony and David. Also to Chris Ulrich and Team Hammer for their technical support. I rode the bike, but this championship is truly a team effort,” said Jake Lewis.
Supersport 600:
It was another difficult weekend for the two Altus Supersport 600 racers. Both riders were running mid-pack lap times in Practice 1 and felt there was room for improvement. An unfortunate collision put Jaret Nassaney on the ground during Qualifying 1 and caused a massive amount of damage to the bike. The team managed to put the machine back together overnight, but, in Qualifying 2 on Saturday, the bike didn’t feel right and Jaret was unable to drop his times. Kevin Olmedo was also looking to improve on Saturday but ended up having a crash before he could better his lap time. With no improvements to starging positions and both bikes needing work, the team made the decision to skip Parc Ferme, take the DQ and use that time to prepare the motorcycles for the first race.
Kevin Olmedo (16). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Kevin Olmedo got an amazing start in the first Supersport race of the weekend. He launched from 9th and was in 4th place by turn one. He finished the race in 6th. Kevin started the Sunday race from 10th and matched his Saturday finish with another 6th.
Jaret Nassaney (59). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Jaret Nassaney started the Saturday Supersport race from 14th and fell back a bit off the start. He fought his way up into a battle for 10th. A mistake on lap 14 put him on the ground but Jaret picked the bike up and finished the race in 17th. The Sunday race went a bit better. Again he started form 14th but this time he managed to take 10th place at the finish.
Junior Cup:
Hayden Bicknese made significant improvements between the first practice session and the final qualifying session. He started both Junior Cup races from 12th. On Saturday he crossed the finish line in 11th. On Sunday, he improved one position and finished in 10th. For the final round of the season, MotoAmerica heads to Barber Motorsports Park. A track that Bicknese has a significant amount of experience on.
Hayden Bicknese (69). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
“It’s hard to believe next weekend is the final round of the 2021 season. All of our riders enjoy Barber so it should be a good time. I am excited to see what Hayden can do at a track he knows,” said team owner George Nassaney.
The Altus Motorsports team is supported by our great family of sponsors: Altus Motorsports, Environmental Service Solutions, Suzuki Motor USA, Creative Sports Concepts, Tucker Powersports, Schaefer Engineering, Hot Bodies Racing, M4 Exhausts, Vortex EK, Motion Pro, Barnett, VP Lubricants, SBS Brakes, Galfer USA, Moto-D Racing, Bonamici, Ohlins, K-Techs, RS Taichi, Arai, Law Tigers Oklahoma, and Altus Factory Racing.
More, from a press release issued by Kyle Wyman Racing:
Wyman fights for top-10 finishes in Jersey for One Cure Ducati
Kyle Wyman (33). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy KWR Ducati.
TUCSON, Ariz. — The One Cure Ducati team scored three top-10 finishes this past weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Kyle Wyman battled through adversity to finish 8th-7th-8th in three races over the event.
Wyman was 9th overall on Friday and qualified 9th on Saturday morning, going into Saturday’s race one with a third row starting position. On the opening lap of race one, Wyman was hit by another rider and pushed off the race track, having to run into the grass in turn 7. He rejoined the race in last place (26th), and was able to fight back to finish 8th at the stripe. Wyman passed 18 riders in 20 laps to claim his position and his starting grid spot for race two.
“On the first lap I was running 6th or 7th, and just got blindsided by another rider who had a mechanical and couldn’t stop,” Wyman said. “I fell off the inside of the bike but was able to save it and gather it up before I rode off into the grass. After that I just put my head down and had to force my way up the order. I knew my fishing position in the race would determine my grid spot for Sunday so I was in a hurry to pass as many people as I could, and was able to find myself in 8th after making my final pass on the second-to-last lap. It was a pretty fun race, even though I wish I could have finished that first lap in the front group.”
Starting from 8th on the grid, Sunday morning’s race two would see Wyman struggle in the opening laps with a less than ideal setup change that was a step backward. After some attrition, Wyman was able to bring the One Cure Ducati home in a lonely 7th place.
“After the pace we had in race one, I was eager to give it another go in Sunday’s races,” Wyman added. “We tried some changes for morning warmup that I didn’t feel were enough to find any significant progress, we didn’t go any faster, and there was only an hour before our second race at 11am so we made a couple minor adjustments but it was the wrong direction. I struggled a lot in the beginning and was able to inherit a 7th mid-race.”
The One Cure Ducati team went to work between races two and three, making significant changes to the front end of the motorcycle to make a gamble for the afternoon. Wyman’s third race got off to a much stronger start, where he was able to latch on to the front group and run the first few laps in the top 6. He battled with Hector Barbera and Toni Elias briefly before falling into a race-long duel with Bobby Fong, and eventually besting Fong for 8th overall.
“Our third race was much better than race two and I was able to learn quite a bit from the setup change we made,” Wyman said. “I missed out on some good laps in the beginning just because I had to kind of learn the bike, but overall the pace was better and the overall race time improved. Fong kept me honest for most of the race was he sat on my back wheel, I had +0 on the board each lap with no gap. Fortunately I was able to hold him at bay and put in a solid ride.”
“It has been a trying weekend as we’ve come back from our mid-season injury hiatus, but after some experimenting with our Ducati Panigale V4 R we feel we have some good ideas on how to make our bike perform well at the season ending round at Barber. I look forward to a few days of rest before we go right back to work in Alabama.”
MotoAmerica returns to action for the final round of the championship with another three-race triple header, at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama – September 17-19, 2021.
Visit www.kylewyman.com for more news and updates.
More, from a press release issued by Travis Wyman Racing:
Travis Wyman battles through engine issues to secure top five finishes in Stock 1000, Superbike Cup at MotoAmerica Superbikes at New Jersey
Motul-sponsored BMW rider ready to finish strong at season finale next weekend at Barber Motorsports Park
Travis Wyman (10). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Travis Wyman Racing.
MILLVILLE, N.J. — The Motul Travis Wyman Racing BMW team realized in the first on-track session of this past weekend’s MotoAmerica Superbikes at New Jersey that it had a technical problem with its motorcycle that couldn’t be fixed at the track, and team owner Travis Wyman still found a way to score top-five finishes in Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup on Saturday at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Though the issue grew worse as Wyman raced in weekend’s lone Stock 1000 race and three Superbike contests at the Sept. 10-12 event, the Las Vegas resident wrung every ounce of performance he could out of his BMW S 1000 RR – and managed to keep himself in contention for second place in the Stock 1000 Class standings and still in the hunt for the Superbike Cup title.
It was a positive start to the event for Wyman, who was the fourth-fastest rider in Friday’s Stock 1000 practice session. Wyman’s pace improved later that day in Qualifying 1, but not to the same degree as some other riders in the class. He laid down a lap time 0.2 seconds faster than his best practice time but finished the session sixth fastest. Wyman ended up qualifying eighth when Stock 1000 Qualifying 2 concluded Saturday morning.
Saturday also featured the event’s Stock 1000 race and one Superbike race. In the Stock 1000 contest, Wyman got a good start and was running in sixth place by the time the field entered Turn 1. After falling to seventh by the end of Lap 1, Wyman made up two positions before the end of the race and scored his eighth Stock 1000 top-five finish of the season. Later Saturday, Wyman started the day’s Superbike race in 17th place. Thanks to some attrition farther up the running order and a late race move to get by another Superbike Cup rider, Wyman finished the race in 15th place overall and fifth among the Cup riders.
The second Superbike race took place Sunday morning, and Wyman got the most he could out of his ailing motorcycle and finished four positions higher than he started. From 16th on the grid, Wyman dropped as low as 17th in the running order on Laps 2-4 but — with several riders dropping out of the race – Wyman managed to secure a 12th-place finish. In the third and final Superbike race of the weekend, Wyman got off the line well, but the problem of getting good drive off of corners had grown much worse. Starting from 13th on the grid, Wyman struggled to maintain pace and gradually tumbled down the running order. He finished Lap 1 in 14th place, Lap 2 in 15th and Lap 3 in 17th. Wyman would lose another position on Lap 6 but finished the race in 18th.
After racing had concluded, the Motul Travis Wyman Racing BMW team swapped a fresh engine into its BMW S 1000 RR. It will have a couple days at its East Coast shop near Rochester, N.Y. to get the engine broken in and ready to go for the 2021 MotoAmerica season finale, which takes place Sept. 17-19 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.
Travis Wyman / No. 10
“This was a frustrating weekend to say the least, but I’m happy we got the best results we could have asked for given the circumstances. I have to thank my team for doing everything within their power to keep our BMW S 1000 RR running as strong as it could for as long as it did. I also have to thank Motul for coming onboard as title sponsor for these final two rounds, and the rest of the team and I are determined to give them a good showing at Barber next weekend. We have a fresh engine that will be ready to go there, and I did really well in qualifying last year at Barber on this same BMW S 1000 RR.”
More, from a press release issued by HONOS HVMC Racing Team:
CHAMPIONSHIP HUNT CONCLUDES FOR HONOS HVMC RACING AT NJMP
Approaching the penultimate round of the 2021 MotoAmerica championship there was still a mathematical chance for both Richie Escalante and Corey Alexander to win their respective championship titles.
Richie narrowly missed out on Saturdays win by .001 and earned a third place finish during Sundays race ending his title fight. Corey saw his championship hopes end when his bike had a technical issue on the line during the weekends only Stock 1000cc race.
Corey Alexander (23). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy HONOS HVMC Racing.
Despite being a tough weekend for the team, the HONOS HVMC squad was still able to make the most of it through Corey’s special FDNY Engine 23 tribute for the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks which captured the hearts of the NJMP paddock and it’s spectators.
The custom painted #23 Graves-Spec Kawasaki ZX-10RR showed immediate speed during the weekends first qualifying with a time that earned Alexander pole position despite never clocking a time in Qualifying 2 after suffering a crash.
During the Q2 crash bike rebuild the #23 crew discovered a crack in the frame of the machine forcing a last minute switch to an alternate machine that had not been ridden. Corey lined up on the grid the bike would not start forcing him to pull off and let the race go on.
Superbike Race 1 saw Corey battle his way up to 8th position only to settle for 11th citing a lack of front tire grip. Corey again battled for 7th position in SBK Race 2 only to be caught up in another riders crash destroying his Stock 1000cc spec ZX-10RR for the second time on the weekend and sidelining him for SBK Race 3.
Corey commented.. “It seems like it was just not meant to be this weekend no matter how hard we all tried! My bike worked so well and we couldn’t capitalize for one reason or another. All in all I’m still so honored for all of the amazing feedback we had on the “Engine 23″ project and thankful for the $5000+ we raised for the Honor365 foundation over the course of the weekend. It’s a bummer to lose the championship this way but it still feels good knowing we were able to support an amazing cause and pay tribute to the heroes of NYC. I’m healthy and my guys are working hard to build us a new bike in time for Barber after Sundays incident. Thanks everyone”.
Corey’s DNF places him 3 points ahead of 3rd position in the Stock 1000cc championship going into the final round this weekend. Corey’s personal sponsors include: Arai Helmets, Alpinestars, Sals Pizza & Pasta, Ikoniqa, Four3 Performance Lab, Redshift, Gemini, Tucker, and Prestige Services Group.
Richie’s weekend started off with great pace and showed promise for another strong fight with his championship rival. Despite dealing with technical gremlins of his own on the #1 Graves-Spec ZX-6R in practice 1, Richie qualified on the front row of the grid for the weekends two races.
Supersport race one saw the duo battling back and forth for the final few laps. A mistake in the tricky turn 9 had him in second place coming to the front straight away on the final lap. As the two rubbed elbows to the finish line it was only by photo finish review that Richie missed out on the victory.
Richie Escalante (1). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy HONOS HVMC Racing.
Richies race two told a different story as a third rider was introduced to the lead battle throughout the entirety of the race. Escalante was patient throughout the race but could not capitalize on the last few laps to put him in a position to take the victory.
Richie commented “An important weekend ended with two podiums and some tough battles. Despite the difficulties this season we always gave 100% percent. I can only thank my team and offer congratulations to Sean for winning the championship. We have one last round to earn a good result”.
The HONOS HVMC Racing team heads to the final round of the championship at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. You can purchase tickets to the event via MotoAmerica.com or in person at the race track.
About WE ARE HONOS®
Founded in 2018, HONOS is a Los Angeles based performance gear and fashion apparel brand that promotes talent within the adrenaline sports realm. With worldwide partnerships ranging from the American Racing team in Moto2 to title sponsorship of the HONOS Superbike class in MotoAmerica, HONOS has heavily invested it’s brand into motorsports. Follow @wearehonos or visit wearehonos.com to shop for team gear now.
About Hudson Valley Motorcycles
Hudson Valley Motorcycles (HVMC) is a family owned and operated motorcycle dealership that has been serving New York’s Hudson Valley and Westchester County as well as Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New England region. HVMC has offered Kawasaki, Ducati, Scrambler Ducati, Suzuki, Energica and ATV, motorcycle or UTV Sales, Parts, and Service for over 50 years. For more info visit hudsonvalleymotorcycles.com, call (914)-762-2722 or follow @hvmotorcycles on social media.
ZERO MOTORCYCLES LAUNCHES MODEL YEAR 2022 S, DS, and DSR MOTORCYCLES
Continued unprecedented demand for electric motorcycles motivates early release of new 2022 models.
SANTA CRUZ, Calif., (Sept. 14, 2021) – Zero Motorcycles, the worldwide leader in electric motorcycles and powertrains, today announced the early release of Model Year 2022 S street motorcycles and DS, and DSR dual sport models. The release of these new models is to support the consistently high demand for Zero Motorcycles and the continued growth of the company’s dealer network.
The brand that defined the category of electric motorcycles continues to see demand that far outpaces the market appetite for internal combustion engine motorcycles. Though the overall demand for all powersports, particularly dual-sport models, has increased since the onset of lockdown restrictions in early 2020, demand for electric motorcycles has continued to spike upward even well into the calendar year 2021 riding season.
A 2022-model Zero S electric motorcycle. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
This continued drive to own Zero models has triggered the company’s decision to launch several models early to support demand while riders still enjoy agreeable weather nationwide. The Zero Motorcycles dealer network is the largest electric motorcycle sales channel in the world, and these models will begin shipping now to continue putting more riders on electric motorcycles than any other manufacturer.
“Supporting our dealer network is a key priority for Zero and this early release of select 2022 models is a great way to do that in the face of an unyielding demand for Zero Motorcycles,” said Mike Cunningham, VP of Sales for the Americas for Zero Motorcycles.
A 2022-model Zero DS electric motorcycle. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
Zero recognizes that a critical aspect of supporting the dealer network isn’t just bringing new inventory to market, but also making certain that inventory offers a distinct rider benefit. The 2022 Zero S, DS, and DSR are all powered with the company’s proprietary Cypher II Operating System that orchestrates all of the motorcycles’ subsystems into a transformational riding experience. That includes Bosch ABS which is standard on all three models, motor, battery, and Bluetooth connectivity module to pair the machine to the mobile app for rider customizations. In addition to the industry standard in OS for electric motorcycles, these models also received updated hardware in the form of a full-color, optically bonded, 5” TFT display that is as sharp as the performance of the underlying motorcycle.
The 2022 Zero S naked street motorcycle gets 89 miles of range through city streets, is capable of a top speed of 98 mph, comes in Twilight color and produces 78 foot pounds of torque and 46 horsepower from the Z-Force 75-5 passively air-cooled, high efficiency, radial flux, interior permanent magnet, brushless motor which is supplied energy from a Z-Force 7.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, and retails for $11,195. The trail-ready 2022 Zero DS comes in a Quicksand colorway and is also powered by the Z-Force 75-5 motor and can achieve 98 mph while getting 82 miles of off-road adventure, carries a Z-Force 7.2 kWh battery, and retails for $11,195. The 2022 Zero DSR comes in Black and is the R-type variant of the dual sport model DS and is powered by a Z-Force 75-7 passively air-cooled, high efficiency, radial flux, interior permanent magnet, brushless motor that is capable of 102 mph while producing 116 foot pounds of torque and 70 horsepower, is fueled by the Z-Force 14.4 kWh power pack, gets 163 miles of range on city streets or off road, and retails for $15,695.
All of these new models are available for order and will be shipping today to all Zero Motorcycles Dealers worldwide.
About Zero Motorcycles
Zero Motorcycles is the global leader in electric motorcycles and powertrains. Designed and crafted by hand in California, Zero Motorcycles combines Silicon Valley technology with traditional motorcycle soul to elevate the motorcycling experience for intelligent, innovative riders around the world.
Damian Jigalov, as seen in 2021. Photo by Adrian Jigalov.
Summit Point National Win-
DSPHonda Racing’s young 17-year-old Damian Jigalov continues to impress his quick progress on a 1000cc motorcycle with a race win in A Superstock at Summit Point Raceway in the WERA NATIONAL Race. Jigalov is 2nd in the points Championship going into the final round at Barber Motorsports Park on October 22-24th weekend.
“It feels great to win in a competitive class with fast riders,” said Jigalov. “I was able to get a good start from 2nd row and settle into 4th spot after the first lap. I felt good and was able to be aggressive making passes and settle into P2 on the second lap, closing in on the leader. The Moore Mafia-tuned Honda CBR1000RR SP2 felt great and the Pirelli tires gave me great grip and feel. On lap 3, braking hard into turn 1, I was close to the leader and we both were braking hard and late. The leader had an unfortunate low side crash putting me into the lead. I was able to maintain the lead to the finish unchallenged”.
Jigalov’s goal for next season is to enter the MotoAmerica race series, feeling fast and ready to be competitive in the premier series.
Jigalov would like to thank DSPHonda.com as the title sponsor for making the 2021 season possible, Moore Mafia for tuning the bike and the support, Podium Motorsports/Pirelli for the great tires, Shoei helmets and OneX suits for keeping me safe, along with supporting sponsors, Pop Shadow Decals and Twistys Cycle.
Dorsey Birch (182) took the win in the Motogladiator Supersport 600 Expert race on Sept 13 at VIR. Photo by Joshua Barnett/Apex Pro Photo, courtesy Motogladiator.
Army of Darkness (99) won the overall 2021 N2/WERA National Endurance Championship. Photo by Vae Veng – Noiseless Productions, courtesy N2 Racing.
Army of Darkness Wins N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop Championship.
Summit Point, WV September 2021 – The Army of Darkness with riders Chris Peris and Ben Walters took the overall victory and won the 2021 Heavyweight and Overall National Championship on a Yamaha YZF-R1 at the Summit Point round of the N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop. The 4-Hour Endurance Race was held under picture perfect conditions with 46 teams competing for a huge purse and bonuses at one of the most iconic tracks in the country.
In total, a whopping 92 teams and hundreds of riders competed in the 2021 N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop with an average attendance of 43 teams per event, while Pitt Race hosted an amazing 56 teams in a single round. This represents a huge increase and interest in Endurance racing.
The Heavyweight and Overall war has raged all year between Army of Darkness and Twisted Speed Racing. The two teams came into the final round at Summit Point Raceway in a winner take all scenario for the championship. The AoD duo of Chris Peris and Ben Walters were set for battle against Twisted Speed’s Taylor Knapp, Danny Eslick, and Brad Burns. Knapp and Peris took the first stint and spent more than 20 minutes exchanging fastest laps as they sliced through traffic. Knapp came in early and Eslick took over the Dunlop shod Twisted Speed GSX-R1000, but after only 20 minutes the bike was on the side of the track with a mechanical signaling an end to Twisted Speeds quest for victory, and the championship. Army of Darkness was able to cruise home with a 28-lap lead to take their fourth consecutive National Endurance Championship. N2/BobbleHeadMoto with Emerson Amaya, Corey Heflin, and CJ Crosslin finished a season best second and Team Club Racers, No Ringers with Anthony Sabbatino, Tom Delegram, and Ian Groom finishing third.
The Middleweight Class was won by Mr. CBX Racing with riders Jose Lloreda, Joby Maynard, and
Robby Ringnalda on a Yamaha YZF-R6. Although Top Box Road Racing finished the Summit 4-Hour Endurance in ninth, they won the 2021 Middleweight National Championship by 66 points with riders Doug Royce, Mark Faulkner, Brandon Salyer, and Caleb Odom on a Yamaha YZF-R6. Indy United SBK finished second at Summit and third in Middleweight points with riders Ben Napier, Christian Guffy, Geoff Gruber, and Damian Jigalov on a Yamaha YZF-R6.
Yeam Yo! won the Lightweight Class race and with it, the 2021 Lightweight National Endurance Championship and a brand new 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7 provided by Yamaha Motors USA. Team Yo! riders are Chris Parrish, Kris Lillegard, and Darren Crooks. SWG Motorsports/419 Racing came in second place at Summit point. This was a fantastic podium for 419 Racing riders Jerry Reeves and Jon Crawford after a difficult year. Some Expense Spared came in third on a Suzuki SV650.
The new for 2021 Road Race Relay Class which features individual riders on their own bikes, only switching transponders was won by Kings Fitness with riders Dennis King, Arnold Hastings, Arthur Diaz, Michael Swank, and Todd Stoner. Tar Heels Twins and Triples won the inaugural 2021 Road Race Relay Championship with riders Pete TenHoopen, Eric Burrell, Shawn Veisz, and Danny Miller.
The 2-Hour Ultralightweight Endurance Race was won by Team Yo! Ultra on a Kawasaki Ninja 400. The 2021 Ultralightweight National Endurance Championship was dominated by Blake Davis on a Yamaha YZF-R3, but Blake had previous commitments at MotoAmerica and could not attend the final round. Riders Tea Music and Kayleigh Buyck rode in place of Blake at Summit Point, but unfortunately broke a chain. Despite the mechanical, they scored enough points to win the championship.
“When we started this experiment in 2018 with WERA, endurance racing in America had all but died completely. Flash forward just a few years, we had had 56 team participate at this year’s PittRace round alone.” said N2 CEO Rob Cichielo. “This would not have been possible without all the amazing sponsors and the fantastic staff at N2 and WERA. I would also like to extend a heart felt thank you to all the teams and riders and those that supported them. 2022 is already shaping up to be even bigger and better with additional venues in consideration for next year.”
The N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop is proudly sponsored by: N2 Track Days, Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, Yamaha Motor USA, WERA Road Racing, Arai Helmets America, Innovative Motorsports, R.E.B Graphics, Woodcraft, Rise Moto, Ghetto Customs, JE Pistons, Wiseco Pistons, Yamaha Power Products and Boxo USA.
For Information: N2 Track Days – www.N2td.org
More, from a press release issued by Pirelli:
Pirelli Congratulates Army of Darkness Race Team on Capturing the WERA/N2 Endurance Championship
DIABLO Superbike Slicks Lead Army of Darkness to Summit Point Raceway Series Finale Victory and 17th National Championship
ROME, Ga. (September 15, 2021) – Pirelli Tire North America congratulates the Army of Darkness (AoD) racing team of Chris Peris and Ben Walters on capturing the WERA/N2 endurance victory at Summit Point Raceway and their 17th national endurance championship. The AoD Yamaha YZF-R1 relied on the performance of Pirelli’s DIABLO Superbike 125/70R-17 SC2 front and 200/65R-17 SC1 rear slicks to take the race win and secure the Heavyweight and overall championships for the fourth consecutive season.
The Army of Darkness racing team captured their 17th national championship.
“Endurance racing is definitely making the most of a lot of variables together to give the team the best chance to win in the long run,” said Oscar Solis, senior racing manager, Pirelli. “Army of Darkness have managed to do this both on and off the track this year. We applaud them for their tenacity. This not only proves Pirelli as a great tire for a single race, but also for an endurance of four hours. It has been great to work with the team to secure the championship.”
Peris managed to put in an incredible time during qualifying that saw him take pole position with 1.5 seconds to spare on his nearest competitor. Peris would go on to set the fastest laps of the race and was backed by his teammate Walters’ strong, consistent laps and the team’s quick pit stops, making it too much for their competition to overcome.
Chris Peris set the quickest time for pole position and would go on to set the fastest laps of racing at Summit Point Raceway.
“There have been 18 WERA/N2 endurance races over the last four years and I’ve been privileged to be a part of AoD winning 13 of them,” said Walters. “There are thousands of things that can go wrong with the bike, track, or another competitor and then we still have to bring a fast platform to the track and turn the lap times and, after all that, still have perfect pit stops. If you told me at the start of 2018 that we were going to win over 70 percent of the races going forward, I wouldn’t have believed it. We have had very strong competition each year, but racing fortune is smiling upon us and we keep pulling off the late-season rally to win the championships. It’s like a storybook ending each year!”
In addition to the national endurance championship, Pirelli has consistently proven the performance capabilities of its DIABLO Superbike range throughout the 2021-racing season, capturing more than five absolute motorcycle track records as well as countless victories in regions across the nation. Whether racers are looking for an endurance race tire, the performance needed in a traditional race, or even going all out for a single lap, Pirelli remains the go-to option for racers competing at events that do not require the use of a spec tire.
For more information about the complete line of Pirelli motorcycle tires, please visit Pirelli.com
DIABLOTM is a registered trademark of Pirelli Tire S.p.A
Dustin Dominguez (912) on the Twisted Speed Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 during the 2021 N2/WERA National Endurance Series. Photo by Photos by Marty, LLC, courtesy Twisted Speed Racing.
Editorial Note: The RPM Act, as proposed, also applies to motorcycles.
Senators Burr and Tester Introduce RPM Act in U.S. Senate
— Bipartisan Pro-Motorsports, Pro-Business Legislation Introduced To Protect the Future of Racing and Motorsports-Parts Businesses —
— Americans Send More Than 1.5 Million Letters Urging Congress to Sign the RPM Act Into Law —
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (Sept. 15, 2021) — Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Jon Tester (D-MT) have reintroduced the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act (S. 2736) in the U.S. Senate. The pro-motorsports, pro-business bill, which was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in May 2021, is critical to ensuring that racers can continue to modify street vehicles into race cars used exclusively in competition, and that businesses can continue to produce, market, and install racing equipment. The bipartisan Senate bill includes six original sponsors, including Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).
The racing community has been vocal in supporting the RPM Act since 2016, after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first declared that the 50-year-old Clean Air Act does not allow street vehicles to be converted into racing vehicles, even if the vehicles are trailered to the track and are used exclusively for motorsports competition. The RPM Act enjoys unprecedented energy in 2021, as racers and motorsports parts businesses have sent more than 1.5 million letters to federal lawmakers urging passage of the bill this year.
“The racing industry has made clear that the RPM Act is critical to protecting an American pastime and the small businesses involved,” said Dr. Jamie Meyer, President of Performance Racing Industry (PRI). “We thank Senators Burr and Tester for introducing the RPM Act in the U.S. Senate and for bringing the bill one step closer to becoming law.”
The RPM Act is now being considered by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The bill is well positioned for passage in the current Congress as a result of the strong grassroots support for the legislation. Members of Congress are familiar with the RPM Act, which has already been the subject of hearings in previous years by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which have jurisdiction over the bill.
“Amateur motorsports is a unique American pastime,” said Senator Burr. “This bipartisan legislation provides certainty for folks who enjoy America’s long-held racing tradition, in the spirit Congress intended when it passed the Clean Air Act more than 50 years ago. I’m proud to work with my colleagues on this common-sense legislation to protect the legacy of American motorsports for years to come.”
Motorsports competition involves tens of thousands of participants and vehicle owners each year, both amateur and professional. Retail sales of racing products make up a nearly $2 billion market annually. A majority of the estimated 1,300 racetracks operating across the U.S., including oval, road, dirt and off-road, feature converted race vehicles that the EPA now considers illegal.
“Folks in the motorsport community have always relied on the freedom to modify their vehicles to race and compete,” said Senator Tester. “This legislation will codify that freedom into law by preventing unnecessary regulations on motorsport hobbyists, allowing amateurs and professionals alike to uphold tradition while still following the intent of the Clean Air Act.”
As advocates for the worldwide motorsports industry, PRI is urging the racing community to unite and contact lawmakers to pass the RPM Act.
“It is critical that members of Congress continue to hear from the racing and automotive enthusiast communities about the importance of passing the RPM Act into law during this session of Congress,” said Meyer. “We’ve witnessed the impact that our actions have had in getting the RPM Act to where it is today, but we must continue the momentum and continue to tell Congress to pass the RPM Act immediately.”
Supporters can contact their legislators about the RPM Act by visiting www.saveourracecars.com.
About Performance Racing Industry
Performance Racing Industry fuels the passion for motorsports by building, promoting, and protecting the worldwide racing community. PRI supports the interests of racers, enthusiasts, builders, tracks, sanctioning bodies, and businesses through legislative action and advocacy, its monthly business magazine Performance Racing Industry, and the world’s premier auto racing trade show, the PRI Trade Show. PRI also supports businesses by providing market research, education, and best practices in motorsports business and racing technology. For more information, visit PerformanceRacing.com.
Yamaha's 2022 60th Grand Prix Anniversary Edition Supersport models (from left): YZF-R1, YZF-R7, and YZF-R3. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Yamaha Unveils Stunning 60th Grand Prix Anniversary Supersport Models Along with Rest of the Dynamic R WORLD 2022 Model Lineup
MARIETTA, Ga. – Sept. 15, 2021 – In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Yamaha’s first-ever entry into a World Grand Prix race, Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA is proud to introduce three new Special Edition models for 2022—the stunning new YZF-R3 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition, YZF-R7 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition and YZF-R1 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition. Inspired by Yamaha’s historic decision to compete in its first World GP race at the 1961 Grand Prix of France, and based on the iconic 60th Anniversary Yamaha white and red chain block livery recently unveiled on the factory YZR-M1 race bikes at this year’s Official MotoGP™ Test in Qatar, these striking machines pay tribute to Yamaha’s passion for racing and winning at the highest levels of motorsport.
“Racing has always been in Yamaha’s DNA, as well as a cornerstone of motorcycle development. Nowhere is this fact more evident than with our R-series bikes, which have benefited from years of Grand Prix racing. Technology and designs have trickled down to our production Superbike and Supersport machines, making them dominant forces in MotoAmerica racing for so many years,” said Derek Brooks, Yamaha Motorcycle Product Line Manager. “That’s why we’re thrilled to give Yamaha enthusiasts the opportunity to own this piece of Yamaha racing history. These distinctive World GP 60th Anniversary editions are amazing to see in person with the instantly recognizable classic white and red Yamaha Racing livery and a range of other special detailing.”
Along with the World GP 60th Anniversary color scheme, each bike also includes gold wheels, gold forks, Yamaha factory race-bike Gold Tuning Fork emblems, black levers and special commemorative badging on the airbox cover. The new 2022 YZF-R3 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition will be available from dealers this February for $5,499 MSRP; the new 2022 YZF-R7 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition will be available from dealers this January for $9,299 MSRP; and the new 2022 YZF-R1 World GP 60th Anniversary Edition will be available from dealers this November for $18,099 MSRP.
R World is Calling
Yamaha has a rich heritage of building the most sought after Supersport motorcycles designed to deliver the pinnacle of performance on and off the track. From the rider-friendly YZF-R3 to the exclusive and track-focused YZF-R1M, the Yamaha R-series model lineup provides options for riders of all skill levels to experience the pure exhilaration of R World.
2022 Yamaha Supersports
Returning to the Yamaha Supersport lineup for 2022 are the standard edition Yamaha YZF-R3—Yamaha’s renowned entry-level Supersport bike featuring bold R-series styling, light weight and a high-revving 321cc liquid-cooled inline twin-cylinder engine—and the standard edition Yamaha YZF-R1—the ultimate high performance sportbike boasting advanced MotoGP™-derived electronics and powerful crossplane 998cc CP4 engine. New for 2022, both the YZF-R3 and YZF-R1 now feature an updated Team Yamaha Blue color option with graphic detailing and accents more closely aligned with the distinctive styling of the incredibly successful new 2022 Yamaha YZF-R7, including matte blue and cyan blue accents throughout. For riders looking for a darker option, the YZF-R3 also comes in Midnight Black, and the YZF-R1 is available in Performance Black.
Also returning to the Yamaha Supersport lineup for 2022, the pinnacle of Yamaha Superbikes, none other than the ultra-high tech, ultra-rare Yamaha R1M, now featuring a new color design further accentuating the full carbon fiber front fairing and aluminum fuel tank—with just a touch more blue added to the side fairing.
The 2022 YZF-R3 will be available from dealers this December in Team Yamaha Blue or Midnight Black for an MSRP of $5,299. The 2022 YZF-R1 will be available from dealers this November in Team Yamaha Blue or Performance Black for an MSRP of $17,599. The 2022 YZF-R1M will be available from dealers this January for an MSRP of $26,299.
2022 Yamaha YZF-R6 GYTR
Though Yamaha has discontinued the YZF-R6 as a street homologated model, the company has a long history of supporting both amateur and professional Supersport racing, along with dedicated racers and track-day riders in the motorsports community. To demonstrate this commitment, for 2022 a closed-course track-only Yamaha YZF-R6 GYTR will be offered for purchase in extremely limited numbers. These race-spec machines will feature full race bodywork in primer white, GYTR YZF-R6 Race Seat, GYTR ECU and wiring harness with interface cable, full Akrapovič exhaust, a 520 chain and sprocket kit, racing rear sets, AIS plug set, billet front brake lever guard, shark fin rear sprocket guard, GYTR ABS emulator, GYTR racing fuel cap, GYTR on/off switch, and GYTR brake line set, among other specialty parts.
This new 2022 Yamaha YZF-R6 GYTR is a fully kitted out competition bike designed to continue the Yamaha R6’s tradition of dominance on the track, and provides a select group of racing enthusiasts and track-day riders the chance to own the ultimate, no-compromise Yamaha Supersport. The new 2022 Yamaha YZF-R6 GYTR will be available from dealers this April for $18,399 MSRP. Please contact your local Yamaha dealer immediately for the opportunity to place a deposit on this limited production motorcycle.
Also for 2022, Yamaha would like to welcome back the Bolt R-Spec available from dealers this October in Storm Gray for an MSRP of $8,599; the V Star 250, available from dealers this October in Raven Black for an MSRP of $4,599; and the XMAX, available from dealers this November in Storm Gray for an MSRP of $5,799.
Follow Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, through your favorite social media sites at www.facebook.com/yamahamotorusa, www.instagram.com/yamahamotorusa, www.twitter.com/yamahamotorusa. #Yamaha #YamahaMotor #YamahaMotorUSA
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida) and Kracor Systems (Wisconsin), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana).
The start of the MotoGP race at Misano II in 2020. Photo courtesy Michelin.
Misano: Bagnaia leads the cavalry onto home turf
In the wake of Pecco’s first win, the paddock heads for familiar and fast territory for the Italian. And one of Yamaha’s most successful tracks…
Tuesday, 14 September 2021
As the dust settles following a truly spectacular duel at MotorLand, the paddock is already setting up to take on the stunning Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. For the winner of that Aragon showdown, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), there could scarcely be a better place to head next on the heels of his first MotoGP™ win. Home turf, and somewhere he’s been incredibly quick before.
It wasn’t just pace that Bagnaia had at MotorLand, however. What made his maiden win such a stunner was the sheer pressure from Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) lap after lap, the Italian brushing off Marquez’ attempts at the lead like they weren’t coming from one of the most decorated riders in history – or one of the most successful at anti-clockwise Aragon. It was no mean feat, and Marquez himself pointed out something in Bagnaia’s arsenal that could be crucial come Misano too: corner speed.
Bagnaia has used it before to great effect at the track, even before he truly mastered the art this year, taking his first MotoGP™ podium in the first visit in 2020 and leading in the second until crashing out. But he also set the fastest race lap as he left the rest behind, and missed out on pole for track limits. That performance, compounded by MotorLand, will likely play on everyone’s mind.
His fellow Ducati runners like stablemate Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), who had an issue that took him wide at Aragon and then couldn’t make up ground from fifth, will be looking for a lot more on home turf for the Borgo Panigale factory too. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) and teammate Johann Zarco had a more muted weekend at Aragon – the rookie fading a little after a good start and the Frenchman suffering some arm pump issues – and they’ll want to bounce back.
Reigning Moto2™ Champion Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) could be one to watch too: a stunning Aragon GP saw him take his best yet of sixth, and Misano is home, familiar and successful turf for the Italian, as well as where he took his first ever win in Moto3™. Ducati test rider Michele Pirro returns in a wildcard as well, often a bother for those looking to make it straight through to Q2, and Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Avintia) will want more on home turf – also a winner at the track in Moto2™.
The most likely barrier to Bagnaia and Ducati’s dreams of Riviera di Rimini success though, despite Aragon, still likely comes from Yamaha. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) struggled for grip on Sunday at MotorLand and came home in eighth, giving up some points to both his key title rivals, but Misano is Yamaha territory. The Iwata marque is the most successful at the venue with eight wins, and Quartararo was already fast there as a rookie. Last season didn’t quite go to plan, but the Frenchman has ramped it up so far in 2021. Will it be a showdown between the top two in the Championship this time around?
There are also some more headlines aside from El Diablo. Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT), by definition, as the Doctor takes on Misano for the penultimate time. Can the familiar ground help him move forward after a tough MotorLand? And Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis spoke of a “verbal” agreement regarding Quartararo and Rossi’s teammates too: Franco Morbidelli is slated to return and move to Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, and Andrea Dovizioso is expected to join the Petronas Yamaha SRT ranks alongside Rossi. Both home heroes, Morbidelli coming back from injury but a winner at the track last season… and Dovizioso returning to Yamaha. The two should be a treat to watch if their comebacks are confirmed.
Meanwhile, for Suzuki, Aragon was more a mixed bag. But reigning Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) locked out the podium and from a solid qualifying, and he’s the only rider last year at Misano who was on the rostrum in both races. The track should suit and he’s got and on form, so can he take that next step to trouble the top step? The mixed bag was more completed by teammate Alex Rins, meanwhile, as the winner of one of last year’s races in Aragon equalled his worst ever MotoGP™ qualifying in P20 and then came home 12th. After a podium at Silverstone, was it a blip and can he prove so at Misano?
Aprilia continued showing form at Aragon, and will expect to carry that on at Misano. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) took fourth and was top Independent Team rider, which may not be another history-making milestone like Silverstone, but it’s still their second best result in the MotoGP™ era. So the momentum rolls on, and Misano is familiar turf as well as home for the Noale factory. Maverick Viñales, new to the ranks, also has a few more laps round the venue on his new RS-GP, as it’s where he got the first taste. A winner last year at the track too, can he take a step forward? Lorenzo Savadori will also make it three Aprilias on the grid as he returns in a wildcard with Aprilia Racing.
It will also be an interesting watch at Honda to see how Marc Marquez fares at a venue that’s less emblematic for the Spaniard. MotorLand was a stunner, can he get in the podium fight again at Misano? And can Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) take a step back forward after a tougher day at the office in P13? Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will want more too, having completed the top ten, and Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) crashed early so will want to bounce back. Stefan Bradl will also be on track in a wildcard for HRC.
And what about KTM? The Austrian factory took a podium last year at Misano, and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is building some good momentum to get in that mid-top ten again, incredible Red Bull Ring win aside. Iker Lecuona (Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing) put on quite a show at MotorLand once again too, storming through the ranks early on. What can he do? And can his teammate Danilo Petrucci and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Miguel Oliveira bother some bigger points hauls?
Bagnaia on a roll. Yamaha with an incredible record. Quartararo with proven pace and the likes of Mir, Miller and more waiting in the wings… Misano promises a showstopper, so tune in at 14:00 (GMT +2) when the lights go out for the Gran Premio OCTO di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini.
2 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 161
3 Joan Mir – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – 157
4 Johann Zarco* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – 137
5 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 129
*Independent Team rider
Moto2™: who can hit back at Misano?
It could be an intriguing weekend ahead, with the form book and momentum at odds on the way in…
When news broke that Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had been forced to have surgery on his hand after a cycling mishap, following a crash out at Silverstone no less, it seemed there had been two massive swings in favour of teammate and Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in less than a week. But come race day at MotorLand, the only swings landing on his rivals came from the number 25’s incredible laptimes as he dominated despite the pain barrier, taking back five of those points lost at Silverstone as Gardner came home second. And instead, it’s Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) who arrive at Misano on the back foot after both crashed out. So what will the Adriatic bring?
Raul Fernandez will likely be strong again, as he has been everywhere, and despite the pain in his hand. And he’ll be more fired up than ever to keep cutting that gap, with the Spaniard having so far found the perfect answer when he’s needed to. He could also wrap up Rookie of the Year, although he’s had one hand on that for a while despite an impressive season of consistency from Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia).
However, Gardner hasn’t put a foot wrong this season and he’s still 39 points clear despite Aragon not being a circuit he loves, and he can now afford to take two paths: gloves off or very much on. The first because everything else is signed, sealed or delivered: the team are already Champions and his 2022 deal is inked. Nothing “except” the Riders’ title hangs in the balance, and 39 points is a big margin to play with.
Recklessness, or maybe something more akin to pushing the limits, hasn’t been part of Gardner’s vocabulary in 2021 so far though and it seems unlikely he’d start now, especially when he’s still won four races as part of his campaign. And the gloves remaining very much on option is that 39 points easily allows him to follow his teammate home in every remaining race this season and still wrap up the crown.
Despite the return of the Red Bull KTM Ajo domination at Aragon though, there are some interesting records at Misano for those looking to threaten the duo, especially for Bezzecchi. Riding on home turf is always something special and the Italian had two good races there last season, just off the podium but less than a second off the win in the first and duelling for victory throughout the race with then-teammate Luca Marini in the second. Now really needing to dig deep to get back on terms with Red Bull KTM Ajo, can the Italian come out swinging?
Lowes, too, is looking for redemption as the Brit crashed out at MotorLand – a venue where he’s had some serious success. He’s been there or thereabouts in Misano in recent seasons, although the results sheets from the first visit to the venue last year need an asterisk: he came eighth, 16 seconds off the win. But he also did so from pitlane, forfeiting the pole position he’d taken after a penalty from the Styrian GP. So how will his MotorLand crash affect his approach? Earlier in the season we saw the number 22 go for solid points when he needed to build back up but will the same be true this time around?
Lowes’ teammate, Augusto Fernandez, said that was his mission after a tougher start to the year too. And he’s seriously fulfilled it, now fifth overall in the Championship as his momentum keeps building. Since Assen, he’s outscored everyone except the top two and had more podiums than any other rider. Anyone remember Misano 2019? He and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) staged a spectacular showdown, so the number 37 has form at the venue and momentum in the season. Can he go better than third?
‘Diggia’, meanwhile, evidently has shown speed at the track but this season has seen the Italian’s early charge take a dip in the middle. The last two races have seen him back in the top six though, so can he get back in the fight for the podium? And what can the likes of Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team) and Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) do on the Boscoscuro? Ogura, too, remains on a solid roll. The Japanese rider is less than a race win’s worth of points off the top five overall is on a good run of top tens, including that first podium.
Misano is always a classic and 2021 will be no different, with a chess match in the title fight and some eager home heroes looking to make life difficult. Tune in as Moto2™ take on the venue at 12:20 on Sunday – with another fascinating contest just around the corner!
Moto2™ Championship top five:
1 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 251
2 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 212
3 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 179
4 Sam Lowes – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 127
5 Augusto Fernandez – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 108
Can Foggia take the momentum to Misano?
The Italian won in style in “enemy” territory… can he keep the roll at home?
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) gave his rivals an open goal at Aragon with his first race day mistake of the year, but for one reason or another only one rider was able to capitalise: Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing). The Italian took his third win of the season, moved back into third overall and is now 58 points off Acosta as five races remain on the table… so can he continue the charge on home turf at Misano?
Last season Foggia fought at the front in both races but hit bad luck in one, although the form was there. Based on his form so far in 2021, there’s no reason to count against the Italian managing to battle for the win again. And with the pressure a little more on for Acosta, and the rookie with less experience of the venue by far, it could be another key weekend as Foggia pushes to make gains. There’s also another home hero to consider, however: Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team).
Fenati actually showed some good speed at MotorLand, and checking the results is far from the whole story. The veteran campaigner got forced out wide by a crash ahead of him and dropped well outside the points, but somehow managed to push back through and take a couple. After Silverstone and his absolute masterclass, it seems more muted in the points but less so in the pace. And Misano? The number 55 has the best record in the field. He’s taken two victories at the track, one of which came last year in the dry, and one of which was a poetry-in-motion wet weather masterpiece in 2017. Can he pull the pin again?
If Foggia is to continue making big gains, he’ll also want to defeat Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) too, which is no mean feat when the Spaniard is on it. Unfortunately, he came off it at MotorLand and lost the chance to home in on Acosta, but he’s the other rider with multiple wins so far this year and still has a little cushion back to Foggia, such was the deficit before. Can he, and teammate Izan Guevara, bother the podium fight again?
Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia VR46 Academy) is another experienced veteran with podium form at Misano, and a home hero, and John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) have won there. What can they do? And Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team)? Red Bull KTM Tech3 riders Deniz Öncü and Ayumu Sasaki will also be aiming high after their podiums in Aragon. For Sasaki it’s rebuilding after a difficult few months, and a key relief to be back on the rostrum after injury struggles and more.
For Öncü, it was another race where he missed the win by hundredths, and that’s not enough after it having happened twice. Can Deniz defeat Dennis this time around? The Turk ran at the front for much of the race at MotorLand, which is fast becoming the weapon of choice for winning in the lightweight class…
Misano welcomes Moto3™ back for more this weekend, with the home heroes on song and Acosta and Garcia looking to bounce back. What will the Riviera di Rimini bring? We’ll find out at 11:00 (GMT +2) on Sunday.
Jonathan Rea (1) leads a World Superbike race at Argentina's Circuito San Juan Villicum in 2019, the last time the FIM Superbike World Championship raced there. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Circuito San Juan Villicum to host WorldSBK until 2023, 2021 round confirmed
The Argentinean Round will be back on the calendar for two more seasons with a renewal seeing San Juan host WorldSBK until 2023
Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO), Grupo OSD and the San Juan government are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached to ensure that the Circuito San Juan Villicum in Argentina will be featured on the MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship calendar for the next two years. The new agreement not only means the WorldSBK and WorldSSP classes will return to San Juan in 2022 and 2023, but also confirms the Argentinean Round will go ahead for the current 2021 season too.
The 2021 event is scheduled to take place on October 15, 16 and 17, with updates on ticket sales and event schedule to be released in the coming days. The event will be held under specific protocols to be announced shortly, but will mark a return for WorldSBK in Argentina and South America for the first time since 2019.
Jorge Chica, San Juan Government – Sports Secretary
“Ensuring the presence of WorldSBK in our province allows us to push forward the sporting project of the government, but also to generate an economic impact and employment opportunities for the people of San Juan. Having an international event again takes a joint effort and we’ll keep working to improve the services, facilities and values of our province.”
Orlando Terranova, Grupo OSD – CEO
“The extension of the WorldSBK agreement in San Juan reflects the hard work which we carried out in challenging circumstances. This way, we ensure WorldSBK’s foothold in the region and retain a great sporting show on the biggest stage in South America.”
Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Executive Director
“We’re pleased to be able to return and race in the San Juan province. There’s a great passion for racing and motorcycling in the area and after postponing last year’s event, we wanted to secure WorldSBK presence in the region for years to come. For the Championship, our teams, our riders and also for our partners, the Argentinean round is a unique opportunity we want to consolidate, as having a round in South America is key for WorldSBK’s growth.”
Sam Lowes (22), as seen at Le Mans in 2021. Photo courtesy Marc VDS Racing Team.
Sam Lowes extends Elf Marc VDS Racing Team contract
The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team is delighted to confirm it has reached an agreement with multiple Moto2 race winner Sam Lowes to remain with the Belgian squad for 2022.
Since joining Marc VDS Racing last year, the British rider has continued to bring success to the most decorated team in the history of the Moto2 World Championship.
Lowes enjoyed a hugely successful debut season with the squad in 2020 and he finished third in the World Championship standings with three wins, seven podiums and three pole positions.
The 30-year-old has enjoyed more success in 2021 in the livery of the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team and he is firmly in contention for a top three World Championship finish again after winning the opening two races in Qatar and finishing third in Jerez.
The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team is also pleased to announce that Lowes will be supported by an unchanged technical crew. Vastly experienced crew chief Gilles Bigot will lead a highly motivated squad including data technician Julien Robert and mechanics Olivier Boutron and Anthony Couturier.
The renewal with Lowes completes an exciting Elf Marc VDS Racing Team line-up for 2022 following the recent signing of talented Italian Tony Arbolino.
Sam Lowes:
“I’m very happy to confirm this renewal with the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team. I want to thank Marc van der Straten for believing in me. He gave me an opportunity in 2020 and he’s now giving me this chance to stay where I love to be. It has been a great adventure together already and I feel I’ve improved my performances being part of this project. There is a great atmosphere with my crew, and I still feel like I’m improving all the time. I know the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team is doing everything to make me stronger and I feel proud to be staying in this great team and I’m confident we can enjoy more success in the future. My goal is to fight for the World Championship, and I believe remaining with the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team gives me the best chance of achieving that.”
Marc Van Der Straten, Team Owner:
“It gives me immense pleasure to renew the contract with Sam and to continue to count on the talent and dedication he has shown since the first day he joined our team. We had high expectations of him, and he has not disappointed. He is a great rider who is always willing to fight and give his best in any circumstances and his results back that up. We both want more; we want to achieve it together and I am convinced that we will get it.”
Sean Dylan Kelly (40) clinched the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship on this Team Hammer Suzuki GSX-R600. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
SUZUKI’S KELLY AND LEWIS CLINCHED CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES IN NEW JERSEY
Brea, CA – During this weekend’s penultimate round at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Suzuki Motor USA, LLC and Team Hammer saw GSX-R pilots collect three more race wins, five additional podiums, and two national championships in MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing competition.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s emerging superstar, Sean Dylan Kelly, transformed his childhood ambitions into reality by clinching the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport crown.
‘SDK’ did so in his inimitable fashion, showcasing the trademark daring and racecraft that got him to this point. Despite the temptation to play it safe with a big championship lead in hand, the 19-year-old instead chose to battle it out for victory both days.
On Saturday, he scored his 11th victory of the season by an impossibly tight 0.001 seconds thanks to even more last-lap heroics aboard his GSX-R600. On Sunday, he earned his 15th podium of the year, missing out on a 12th victory by just 0.040 in second position, which was more than enough to claim the Supersport throne.
“This is very emotional,” Kelly said after being handed the ceremonial number one plate. “I’ve been working really hard for this. My family and I put everything on the line and it’s been tough. My parents have given everything they’ve had for me to get to this point. We never stopped fighting.
“I want to thank everyone who has supported me and pushed me since I started racing. This is my first national championship and it’s a dream come true. I fought for this. I had a lot of doubters last year, thinking I wasn’t good enough, but I came back stronger this year and did what I needed to do to win.
“Thank you to M4 ECSTAR Suzuki for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. And thanks to all my guys for sacrificing so much to make sure the bike was always as good as it could be.”
Sam Lochoff (44) took his first Supersport win on Sunday with the performance of his Suzuki GSX-R600. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Kelly’s narrow defeat on Sunday was still a massive success for the team, however. Teammate Sam Lochoff emerged victorious in the four-rider showdown.
Lochoff was in spectacular form all weekend long at NJMP. He was on provisional pole on Friday, led laps en route to a fighting third on Saturday, and at last claimed his maiden MotoAmerica Supersport win in thrilling fashion on Sunday.
The South African said, “It’s my first victory in three years. I’ve finished on the podium several times, but I really wanted to get that win. Now that I have, it’s kind of hard to speak.
“It was a great race with Sean and the guys. I fixed what I was struggling with yesterday, and that just made the difference. I’m pretty sure this won’t be the last time I battle with them. I just want to thank M4 ECSTAR Suzuki for everything.”
The win was also Team Hammer’s 125th win in AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National competition.
Jake Lewis (85) took his fifth win and the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship on his Suzuki GSX-R1000R. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Lochoff and Kelly weren’t the only Team Hammer-supported riders celebrating wins in New Jersey. Altus Motorsports Suzuki’s Jake Lewis also locked down the Stock 1000 national championship on Saturday with his fifth victory of the year.
And like Kelly, Lewis earned his win with a final-lap pass aboard his Team Hammer-built GSX-R1000R to close out his championship campaign in style.
“I wanted to go out and get the championship from the top step to reward my team and that’s what we did,” Lewis said. “Last year, I was out of the paddock, sitting on the couch, over 200 pounds, and in a tough spot. I thought about quitting racing, but I’ve been traveling the country in a van with my mom and dad since I was four years old, chasing a dream. I worked hard to get back in shape. After I got my butt kicked at the first round, I knew it was time to get going, and we’ve been on the podium pretty much ever since.
“Big thanks to Altus Motorsports for the opportunity and to Team Hammer as well for the amazing technical package.”
Bobby Fong (50) raced hard and claimed fourth place on his Suzuki GSX-R1000R on Saturday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Superbike duo of Cameron Petersen and Bobby Fong combined to claim three top five finishes, although both riders flashed the speed to be on the podium.
Fong finished fourth on Saturday while taking his challenge for third to the flag. He then led briefly in Sunday’s morning race before crashing out of third. The Californian gritted it out later in the day by finishing ninth in the weekend’s third premier-class contest.
Cam Petersen (45) was impressive delivering three top-ten finishes in New Jersey. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Petersen, meanwhile, improved throughout the weekend. He finished seventh on Saturday while fighting for fifth, and then picked up a pair of fifths on Sunday, including one taken after putting forth an extended challenge for third in the final race of the weekend.
Wyatt Farris (79) rode well and earned a top ten finish in the Stock 1000 race on his GSX-R1000R. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Wyatt Farris bounced back from his Pittsburgh disappointment to return to the top ten with a tenth-place ride in the Stock 1000 race. Farris earned a fighting fourth in Sunday’s afternoon Superbike Cup race-within-a-race.
Team Hammer will now put the finishing touches on an already successful 2021 MotoAmerica season next weekend, September 17-19, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.
More, from a press release issued by Altus Motorsports:
MotoAmerica: Jake Lewis Clinches the 2021 Stock 1000 Championship. Results from Round 8 New Jersey Motorsports Park for the Altus Motorsports Tucker Environmental Service Solutions Team
(Millville, NJ) The Altus Motorsports team celebrated their second Stock 1000 title in consecutive seasons. Jake Lewis picked up where Cam Petersen left off last year and rode the Altus Suzuki GSX-R1000R to win the class.
“It’s a great feeling. We couldn’t ask for a better person to take over our Stock 1000 bike this year. Jake has been a good fit with the team in the pits and he’s proven his ability on the track. This weekend we grabbed the Stock 1000 championship and next weekend we hope to secure the Superbike Cup as well,” said George Nassaney.
Jake Lewis (85). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Honos Superbike & Stock 1000:
Jake Lewis clinched the 2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 championship with a win in the solitary race at NJMP this weekend but it was not easy. After being on pole the last few rounds, Jake had to settle for second on the starting grid. In the race, he took the holeshot and led for the first two laps before being relegated to second. After following for the entire race, Jake made a pass for the lead at the beginning of the last lap and held it to the line.
But Lewis is also contesting the Superbike Cup in 2021. With the Superbike class running a triple-header at NJMP, Jake had to grid up three more times on his Stock 1000 GSX-R1000 against the Superbikes. In Race 1, he finished 9th but finished as the top Stock 1000 bike. He was also the top stock bike in the second Superbike race where he crossed the line in 8th overall. In the final Superbike race he took the checkered flag in 12th overall and as the third Superbike Cup rider. All totaled, that puts Lewis 70 points ahead of his nearest rival. With three Superbike races at the final round in Alabama, he’s a few points shy of having that championship wrapped up.
“A huge thanks to George & Janette Nassaney and Altus Motorsports for giving me the opportunity. Last year I was out of the paddock and thought my racing career might be over. I have been chasing this dream since I was four years old and I can’t thank the team enough for taking a chance on me to pick up where they left off last year. Thanks to My Crew Chief Eric Gray and my mechanics, Tony and David. Also to Chris Ulrich and Team Hammer for their technical support. I rode the bike, but this championship is truly a team effort,” said Jake Lewis.
Supersport 600:
It was another difficult weekend for the two Altus Supersport 600 racers. Both riders were running mid-pack lap times in Practice 1 and felt there was room for improvement. An unfortunate collision put Jaret Nassaney on the ground during Qualifying 1 and caused a massive amount of damage to the bike. The team managed to put the machine back together overnight, but, in Qualifying 2 on Saturday, the bike didn’t feel right and Jaret was unable to drop his times. Kevin Olmedo was also looking to improve on Saturday but ended up having a crash before he could better his lap time. With no improvements to starging positions and both bikes needing work, the team made the decision to skip Parc Ferme, take the DQ and use that time to prepare the motorcycles for the first race.
Kevin Olmedo (16). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Kevin Olmedo got an amazing start in the first Supersport race of the weekend. He launched from 9th and was in 4th place by turn one. He finished the race in 6th. Kevin started the Sunday race from 10th and matched his Saturday finish with another 6th.
Jaret Nassaney (59). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Jaret Nassaney started the Saturday Supersport race from 14th and fell back a bit off the start. He fought his way up into a battle for 10th. A mistake on lap 14 put him on the ground but Jaret picked the bike up and finished the race in 17th. The Sunday race went a bit better. Again he started form 14th but this time he managed to take 10th place at the finish.
Junior Cup:
Hayden Bicknese made significant improvements between the first practice session and the final qualifying session. He started both Junior Cup races from 12th. On Saturday he crossed the finish line in 11th. On Sunday, he improved one position and finished in 10th. For the final round of the season, MotoAmerica heads to Barber Motorsports Park. A track that Bicknese has a significant amount of experience on.
Hayden Bicknese (69). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
“It’s hard to believe next weekend is the final round of the 2021 season. All of our riders enjoy Barber so it should be a good time. I am excited to see what Hayden can do at a track he knows,” said team owner George Nassaney.
The Altus Motorsports team is supported by our great family of sponsors: Altus Motorsports, Environmental Service Solutions, Suzuki Motor USA, Creative Sports Concepts, Tucker Powersports, Schaefer Engineering, Hot Bodies Racing, M4 Exhausts, Vortex EK, Motion Pro, Barnett, VP Lubricants, SBS Brakes, Galfer USA, Moto-D Racing, Bonamici, Ohlins, K-Techs, RS Taichi, Arai, Law Tigers Oklahoma, and Altus Factory Racing.
More, from a press release issued by Kyle Wyman Racing:
Wyman fights for top-10 finishes in Jersey for One Cure Ducati
Kyle Wyman (33). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy KWR Ducati.
TUCSON, Ariz. — The One Cure Ducati team scored three top-10 finishes this past weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Kyle Wyman battled through adversity to finish 8th-7th-8th in three races over the event.
Wyman was 9th overall on Friday and qualified 9th on Saturday morning, going into Saturday’s race one with a third row starting position. On the opening lap of race one, Wyman was hit by another rider and pushed off the race track, having to run into the grass in turn 7. He rejoined the race in last place (26th), and was able to fight back to finish 8th at the stripe. Wyman passed 18 riders in 20 laps to claim his position and his starting grid spot for race two.
“On the first lap I was running 6th or 7th, and just got blindsided by another rider who had a mechanical and couldn’t stop,” Wyman said. “I fell off the inside of the bike but was able to save it and gather it up before I rode off into the grass. After that I just put my head down and had to force my way up the order. I knew my fishing position in the race would determine my grid spot for Sunday so I was in a hurry to pass as many people as I could, and was able to find myself in 8th after making my final pass on the second-to-last lap. It was a pretty fun race, even though I wish I could have finished that first lap in the front group.”
Starting from 8th on the grid, Sunday morning’s race two would see Wyman struggle in the opening laps with a less than ideal setup change that was a step backward. After some attrition, Wyman was able to bring the One Cure Ducati home in a lonely 7th place.
“After the pace we had in race one, I was eager to give it another go in Sunday’s races,” Wyman added. “We tried some changes for morning warmup that I didn’t feel were enough to find any significant progress, we didn’t go any faster, and there was only an hour before our second race at 11am so we made a couple minor adjustments but it was the wrong direction. I struggled a lot in the beginning and was able to inherit a 7th mid-race.”
The One Cure Ducati team went to work between races two and three, making significant changes to the front end of the motorcycle to make a gamble for the afternoon. Wyman’s third race got off to a much stronger start, where he was able to latch on to the front group and run the first few laps in the top 6. He battled with Hector Barbera and Toni Elias briefly before falling into a race-long duel with Bobby Fong, and eventually besting Fong for 8th overall.
“Our third race was much better than race two and I was able to learn quite a bit from the setup change we made,” Wyman said. “I missed out on some good laps in the beginning just because I had to kind of learn the bike, but overall the pace was better and the overall race time improved. Fong kept me honest for most of the race was he sat on my back wheel, I had +0 on the board each lap with no gap. Fortunately I was able to hold him at bay and put in a solid ride.”
“It has been a trying weekend as we’ve come back from our mid-season injury hiatus, but after some experimenting with our Ducati Panigale V4 R we feel we have some good ideas on how to make our bike perform well at the season ending round at Barber. I look forward to a few days of rest before we go right back to work in Alabama.”
MotoAmerica returns to action for the final round of the championship with another three-race triple header, at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama – September 17-19, 2021.
Visit www.kylewyman.com for more news and updates.
More, from a press release issued by Travis Wyman Racing:
Travis Wyman battles through engine issues to secure top five finishes in Stock 1000, Superbike Cup at MotoAmerica Superbikes at New Jersey
Motul-sponsored BMW rider ready to finish strong at season finale next weekend at Barber Motorsports Park
Travis Wyman (10). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Travis Wyman Racing.
MILLVILLE, N.J. — The Motul Travis Wyman Racing BMW team realized in the first on-track session of this past weekend’s MotoAmerica Superbikes at New Jersey that it had a technical problem with its motorcycle that couldn’t be fixed at the track, and team owner Travis Wyman still found a way to score top-five finishes in Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup on Saturday at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Though the issue grew worse as Wyman raced in weekend’s lone Stock 1000 race and three Superbike contests at the Sept. 10-12 event, the Las Vegas resident wrung every ounce of performance he could out of his BMW S 1000 RR – and managed to keep himself in contention for second place in the Stock 1000 Class standings and still in the hunt for the Superbike Cup title.
It was a positive start to the event for Wyman, who was the fourth-fastest rider in Friday’s Stock 1000 practice session. Wyman’s pace improved later that day in Qualifying 1, but not to the same degree as some other riders in the class. He laid down a lap time 0.2 seconds faster than his best practice time but finished the session sixth fastest. Wyman ended up qualifying eighth when Stock 1000 Qualifying 2 concluded Saturday morning.
Saturday also featured the event’s Stock 1000 race and one Superbike race. In the Stock 1000 contest, Wyman got a good start and was running in sixth place by the time the field entered Turn 1. After falling to seventh by the end of Lap 1, Wyman made up two positions before the end of the race and scored his eighth Stock 1000 top-five finish of the season. Later Saturday, Wyman started the day’s Superbike race in 17th place. Thanks to some attrition farther up the running order and a late race move to get by another Superbike Cup rider, Wyman finished the race in 15th place overall and fifth among the Cup riders.
The second Superbike race took place Sunday morning, and Wyman got the most he could out of his ailing motorcycle and finished four positions higher than he started. From 16th on the grid, Wyman dropped as low as 17th in the running order on Laps 2-4 but — with several riders dropping out of the race – Wyman managed to secure a 12th-place finish. In the third and final Superbike race of the weekend, Wyman got off the line well, but the problem of getting good drive off of corners had grown much worse. Starting from 13th on the grid, Wyman struggled to maintain pace and gradually tumbled down the running order. He finished Lap 1 in 14th place, Lap 2 in 15th and Lap 3 in 17th. Wyman would lose another position on Lap 6 but finished the race in 18th.
After racing had concluded, the Motul Travis Wyman Racing BMW team swapped a fresh engine into its BMW S 1000 RR. It will have a couple days at its East Coast shop near Rochester, N.Y. to get the engine broken in and ready to go for the 2021 MotoAmerica season finale, which takes place Sept. 17-19 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.
Travis Wyman / No. 10
“This was a frustrating weekend to say the least, but I’m happy we got the best results we could have asked for given the circumstances. I have to thank my team for doing everything within their power to keep our BMW S 1000 RR running as strong as it could for as long as it did. I also have to thank Motul for coming onboard as title sponsor for these final two rounds, and the rest of the team and I are determined to give them a good showing at Barber next weekend. We have a fresh engine that will be ready to go there, and I did really well in qualifying last year at Barber on this same BMW S 1000 RR.”
More, from a press release issued by HONOS HVMC Racing Team:
CHAMPIONSHIP HUNT CONCLUDES FOR HONOS HVMC RACING AT NJMP
Approaching the penultimate round of the 2021 MotoAmerica championship there was still a mathematical chance for both Richie Escalante and Corey Alexander to win their respective championship titles.
Richie narrowly missed out on Saturdays win by .001 and earned a third place finish during Sundays race ending his title fight. Corey saw his championship hopes end when his bike had a technical issue on the line during the weekends only Stock 1000cc race.
Corey Alexander (23). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy HONOS HVMC Racing.
Despite being a tough weekend for the team, the HONOS HVMC squad was still able to make the most of it through Corey’s special FDNY Engine 23 tribute for the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks which captured the hearts of the NJMP paddock and it’s spectators.
The custom painted #23 Graves-Spec Kawasaki ZX-10RR showed immediate speed during the weekends first qualifying with a time that earned Alexander pole position despite never clocking a time in Qualifying 2 after suffering a crash.
During the Q2 crash bike rebuild the #23 crew discovered a crack in the frame of the machine forcing a last minute switch to an alternate machine that had not been ridden. Corey lined up on the grid the bike would not start forcing him to pull off and let the race go on.
Superbike Race 1 saw Corey battle his way up to 8th position only to settle for 11th citing a lack of front tire grip. Corey again battled for 7th position in SBK Race 2 only to be caught up in another riders crash destroying his Stock 1000cc spec ZX-10RR for the second time on the weekend and sidelining him for SBK Race 3.
Corey commented.. “It seems like it was just not meant to be this weekend no matter how hard we all tried! My bike worked so well and we couldn’t capitalize for one reason or another. All in all I’m still so honored for all of the amazing feedback we had on the “Engine 23″ project and thankful for the $5000+ we raised for the Honor365 foundation over the course of the weekend. It’s a bummer to lose the championship this way but it still feels good knowing we were able to support an amazing cause and pay tribute to the heroes of NYC. I’m healthy and my guys are working hard to build us a new bike in time for Barber after Sundays incident. Thanks everyone”.
Corey’s DNF places him 3 points ahead of 3rd position in the Stock 1000cc championship going into the final round this weekend. Corey’s personal sponsors include: Arai Helmets, Alpinestars, Sals Pizza & Pasta, Ikoniqa, Four3 Performance Lab, Redshift, Gemini, Tucker, and Prestige Services Group.
Richie’s weekend started off with great pace and showed promise for another strong fight with his championship rival. Despite dealing with technical gremlins of his own on the #1 Graves-Spec ZX-6R in practice 1, Richie qualified on the front row of the grid for the weekends two races.
Supersport race one saw the duo battling back and forth for the final few laps. A mistake in the tricky turn 9 had him in second place coming to the front straight away on the final lap. As the two rubbed elbows to the finish line it was only by photo finish review that Richie missed out on the victory.
Richie Escalante (1). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy HONOS HVMC Racing.
Richies race two told a different story as a third rider was introduced to the lead battle throughout the entirety of the race. Escalante was patient throughout the race but could not capitalize on the last few laps to put him in a position to take the victory.
Richie commented “An important weekend ended with two podiums and some tough battles. Despite the difficulties this season we always gave 100% percent. I can only thank my team and offer congratulations to Sean for winning the championship. We have one last round to earn a good result”.
The HONOS HVMC Racing team heads to the final round of the championship at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. You can purchase tickets to the event via MotoAmerica.com or in person at the race track.
About WE ARE HONOS®
Founded in 2018, HONOS is a Los Angeles based performance gear and fashion apparel brand that promotes talent within the adrenaline sports realm. With worldwide partnerships ranging from the American Racing team in Moto2 to title sponsorship of the HONOS Superbike class in MotoAmerica, HONOS has heavily invested it’s brand into motorsports. Follow @wearehonos or visit wearehonos.com to shop for team gear now.
About Hudson Valley Motorcycles
Hudson Valley Motorcycles (HVMC) is a family owned and operated motorcycle dealership that has been serving New York’s Hudson Valley and Westchester County as well as Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New England region. HVMC has offered Kawasaki, Ducati, Scrambler Ducati, Suzuki, Energica and ATV, motorcycle or UTV Sales, Parts, and Service for over 50 years. For more info visit hudsonvalleymotorcycles.com, call (914)-762-2722 or follow @hvmotorcycles on social media.
A 2022-model Zero DSR electric motorcycle. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
ZERO MOTORCYCLES LAUNCHES MODEL YEAR 2022 S, DS, and DSR MOTORCYCLES
Continued unprecedented demand for electric motorcycles motivates early release of new 2022 models.
SANTA CRUZ, Calif., (Sept. 14, 2021) – Zero Motorcycles, the worldwide leader in electric motorcycles and powertrains, today announced the early release of Model Year 2022 S street motorcycles and DS, and DSR dual sport models. The release of these new models is to support the consistently high demand for Zero Motorcycles and the continued growth of the company’s dealer network.
The brand that defined the category of electric motorcycles continues to see demand that far outpaces the market appetite for internal combustion engine motorcycles. Though the overall demand for all powersports, particularly dual-sport models, has increased since the onset of lockdown restrictions in early 2020, demand for electric motorcycles has continued to spike upward even well into the calendar year 2021 riding season.
A 2022-model Zero S electric motorcycle. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
This continued drive to own Zero models has triggered the company’s decision to launch several models early to support demand while riders still enjoy agreeable weather nationwide. The Zero Motorcycles dealer network is the largest electric motorcycle sales channel in the world, and these models will begin shipping now to continue putting more riders on electric motorcycles than any other manufacturer.
“Supporting our dealer network is a key priority for Zero and this early release of select 2022 models is a great way to do that in the face of an unyielding demand for Zero Motorcycles,” said Mike Cunningham, VP of Sales for the Americas for Zero Motorcycles.
A 2022-model Zero DS electric motorcycle. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
Zero recognizes that a critical aspect of supporting the dealer network isn’t just bringing new inventory to market, but also making certain that inventory offers a distinct rider benefit. The 2022 Zero S, DS, and DSR are all powered with the company’s proprietary Cypher II Operating System that orchestrates all of the motorcycles’ subsystems into a transformational riding experience. That includes Bosch ABS which is standard on all three models, motor, battery, and Bluetooth connectivity module to pair the machine to the mobile app for rider customizations. In addition to the industry standard in OS for electric motorcycles, these models also received updated hardware in the form of a full-color, optically bonded, 5” TFT display that is as sharp as the performance of the underlying motorcycle.
The 2022 Zero S naked street motorcycle gets 89 miles of range through city streets, is capable of a top speed of 98 mph, comes in Twilight color and produces 78 foot pounds of torque and 46 horsepower from the Z-Force 75-5 passively air-cooled, high efficiency, radial flux, interior permanent magnet, brushless motor which is supplied energy from a Z-Force 7.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, and retails for $11,195. The trail-ready 2022 Zero DS comes in a Quicksand colorway and is also powered by the Z-Force 75-5 motor and can achieve 98 mph while getting 82 miles of off-road adventure, carries a Z-Force 7.2 kWh battery, and retails for $11,195. The 2022 Zero DSR comes in Black and is the R-type variant of the dual sport model DS and is powered by a Z-Force 75-7 passively air-cooled, high efficiency, radial flux, interior permanent magnet, brushless motor that is capable of 102 mph while producing 116 foot pounds of torque and 70 horsepower, is fueled by the Z-Force 14.4 kWh power pack, gets 163 miles of range on city streets or off road, and retails for $15,695.
All of these new models are available for order and will be shipping today to all Zero Motorcycles Dealers worldwide.
About Zero Motorcycles
Zero Motorcycles is the global leader in electric motorcycles and powertrains. Designed and crafted by hand in California, Zero Motorcycles combines Silicon Valley technology with traditional motorcycle soul to elevate the motorcycling experience for intelligent, innovative riders around the world.
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
April 15, 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
