MotoGP: Vinales Will Start Racing Aprilia At Motorland Aragon

David Swarts

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September 1, 2021

MotoGP: Vinales Will Start Racing Aprilia At Motorland Aragon

MAVERICK VIÑALES ON THE TRACK WITH APRILIA FROM THE ARAGÓN GP

LORENZO SAVADORI WILD CARD IN THIS SEASON AND 2022 TEST RIDER

All the pieces have now fallen in place for the Aprilia Racing rider line-up after Maverick Viñales’ début astride the RS-GP during the two days of testing on the Misano Adriatico circuit.

The Spanish rider, extremely impressed by the first contact with the Italian team, will be on the track officially from the Aragón GP, scheduled to be held on the weekend of 12 September. He will take a spot on the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini alongside Aleix Espargaró, who just brought the Noale-based manufacturer their first podium in MotoGP at Silverstone.

Lorenzo Savadori will therefore be confirmed as test rider for the 2022 season, completing an extremely high level trio with the goal of continuing to improve the young RS-GP project. For the rest of the 2021 season, his presence on the track will not be lacking, taking advantage of the wild cards Aprilia has available. Lorenzo’s work schedule will be formalised as soon as he has recovered fully from the injury suffered during the Styria GP, a fractured right malleolus that required surgery.

MASSIMO RIVOLA – APRILIA RACING CEO

“We are extremely proud to be able to announce our plans for the current season and for 2022 with the goal of optimising the contributions of our three riders to the utmost. Alongside our confirmed rider, Aleix, it is our pleasure to welcome a talented athlete like Maverick to the Aprilia Racing team, who demonstrated a great feeling with the team and the bike straight away and who I am confident will be able to give his best as early as the Aragón GP. At the same time, we are also confirming Lorenzo’s role as 2022 test rider. This is a fundamental position that rewards the great efforts he has demonstrated in developing the new RS-GP, whereas he will finish out the 2021 season taking advantage of the wild cards that we’ll decide on together as soon as he is back to 100% fitness.”

ROMANO ALBESIANO – APRILIA RACING TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

“The decision to have Maverick on the track from Aragón is a direct result of the tests done in Misano. It was not a given that, after a career spent up to now on a bike with an in-line engine, Maverick would have a good feeling with our V4 straight away. This is why the test on this track, historically not an easy one for our bike, was an important moment of assessment. Therefore, we are satisfied with Maverick’s immediately positive reactions, which demonstrated a good feeling both with the RS-GP and with the team and our work method. His and Aleix’s talent, combined with the experience Lorenzo has gained this season, make us optimistic about the future of our MotoGP project.”

Kawasaki Increasing Production Capacity In North America

David Swarts

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August 31, 2021

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Kawasaki Increasing Production Capacity In North America

KAWASAKI TO INCREASE PRODUCTION CAPACITY TO MEET GROWING DEMAND
STRENGTHENING OFF-ROAD BUSINESS FOR NORTH AMERICA

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that construction will begin on new production facilities at its Mexican subsidiary Kawasaki Motores de México S.A. de C.V. (KMX). These new production facilities will be added to the current Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp. (KMM) facilities which will also build new, enhanced production capabilities in Lincoln, Nebraska.

In North America, the side x side market for off-road four-wheeled vehicles continues to expand in all categories from utility to sport recreation. In order to meet the increasing demand, Kawasaki will invest a total of approximately $265 Million for production facilities at KMX and KMM. KMX will expand Kawasaki’s production capacity and start producing off-road vehicles in fiscal 2023. In addition, KMM also plans to increase its production capacity for new models by March of 2023.

In addition to off-road vehicles, KMM’s production for consumer products such as personal watercraft (Jet Ski®) and general-purpose gasoline engines includes Lincoln, NE, Maryville, MO as well as the Boonville, MO plant scheduled to start operation and production of general-purpose gasoline engines in 2022. The new KMX plant will bring the number of Kawasaki production facilities in North America to a total of four.

By strengthening its business foundation in the North American market and by organically utilizing the four production facilities, Kawasaki will further enhance the Kawasaki brand, customer satisfaction, and aggressively expand its business.

ABOUT KAWASAKI

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) started full-scale production of motorcycles over a half century ago. The first Kawasaki motorcycle engine was designed based on technical know-how garnered from the development and production of aircraft engines, and Kawasaki’s entry into the motorcycle industry was driven by the company’s constant effort to develop new technologies. Numerous new Kawasaki models introduced over the years have helped shape the market, and in the process have created enduring legends based on their unique engineering, power, design and riding pleasure. In the future, Kawasaki’s commitment to maintaining and furthering these strengths will surely give birth to new legends.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, side x sides, and JET SKI® watercraft through a network of approximately 1,100 independent retailers, with close to an additional 7,700 retailers specializing in general purpose engines. KMC and its affiliates employ nearly 3,100 people in the United States, with approximately 260 of them located at KMC’s Foothill Ranch, California headquarters.

Kawasaki’s tagline, “Let the good times roll.®”, is recognized worldwide. The Kawasaki brand is synonymous with powerful, stylish and category-leading vehicles. Information about Kawasaki’s complete line of powersports products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.com.

KTM Introduces All-New, Lighter, More Powerful RC 390

David Swarts

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August 31, 2021

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KTM Introduces All-New, Lighter, More Powerful RC 390

THE 2022 KTM RC 390 BRINGS READY TO RACE DNA TO THE STREET

MURRIETA, Calif. – KTM North America, Inc. is excited to announce that the highly anticipated all-new KTM RC 390 is ready to roll out of pit lane and onto the starting grid in 2022.

The KTM RC 390 has been a staple Supersport model in the KTM range since 2014, filling the sport bike gap in KTM’s lineup for a number of years. Now boasting Grand Prix-inspired design, a true race-derived chassis and high-end electronics previously unseen in the small displacement Supersport segment, the new generation RC 390 charges out of pitlane with real-world and race-winning intentions.

The most immediately obvious update across the board is the Grand Prix-inspired styling, which sees almost every panel being redesigned, boasting race-inspired lines and two new colorways that clearly define the sporty character of this motorcycle.

This redesign has also been purposely done to not only give the RC 390 a striking visual presence but to optimize aerodynamics due to its now higher top speeds, thanks in part to a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) design process.

A 2022-model KTM RC 390 at rest. Photo by Kiska, courtesy KTM.

This new design has also optimized wind and weather protection, with enhanced heat management by using a combination of inner and outer body panels to direct airflow away from the rider.

The rear bodywork has been reduced as much as possible for a more aggressive profile, but also to show off as much of the redesigned steel trellis subframe as possible.

As a true sport bike, special care has been taken in improving overall ergonomics. The knee area is now ergonomically developed to allow for easier, more fluid rider movement—being as narrow as possible with the largest possible contact area.

The top-right view of a 2022-model KTM RC 390 at rest. Photo by Kiska, courtesy KTM.

An all-new two-part cockpit and windscreen holder makes use of a cast aluminum upper area and a lower composite part that secures the headlight, while a larger 3.6 gallon (13.7 liter) fuel tank has been added for improved day-to-day riding comfort and fuel range.

The new bodywork is easily removable, with a reduced number of screws being used as well as a redesigned mounting system. This makes swapping out the street-legal bodywork for race-ready panels more practical. However, the most notable updates to the KTM RC 390 can be found underneath the new bodywork.

The 2022 KTM RC 390 was developed with a focus on weight saving, particularly throughout the chassis. An all-new wheel design accounts for 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) of unsprung weight saving over the previous generation, while the newByBre braking system saves an impressive 2.11 lbs (960 g). The frame, too, has undergone the knife with a massive 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) of savings.

A stripped 2022-model KTM RC 390. Photo by Kiska, courtesy KTM.

The suspension has also undergone a major refresh, with adjustable open cartridge WP APEX upside-down front forks, featuring 30 clicks of compression adjustment on the left and 30 clicks for rebound on the right.

The class-topping KTM RC 390 is fitted with a WP APEX rear shock absorber, which offers pre-load adjustment and five clicks of rebound settings.

The KTM RC 390 is powered by a state-of-the-art, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder four-stroke engine with twin overhead camshafts, four valves and electronic fuel injection. For 2022, it delivers more torque compared to previous models thanks to a new airbox design. New engine mapping can also be thanked for the increased torque and overall rideability.

From an electronic standpoint, the new generation KTM RC 390 sets the benchmark for the small displacement Supersport segment with a selection of rider aids typically available only on bigger motorcycles. These features include namely SUPERMOTO ABS, Lean-Angle Sensitive Cornering ABS and Cornering MTC, as well as the optional Quickshifter+.

KTM MY RIDE can now also be added to the KTM RC 390 through the new TFT color display, which allows riders to access important information at a glance, with the added flexibility of being able to tailor the display to show exactly what data they want to see. The display also automatically adapts its brightness to ambient light.

As a package, the 2022 KTM RC 390 promises to bring more READY TO RACE into the realm of Supersport with real, race-bred ability and technology to match.

The new generation KTM RC 390 will be available in dealers beginning March 2022.

Complete 2022 KTM RC 390 information is available at www.ktm.com.

World Superbike: Rinaldi Continuing With Aruba.it Racing Ducati

David Swarts

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August 31, 2021

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World Superbike: Rinaldi Continuing With Aruba.it Racing Ducati

Michael Ruben Rinaldi to continue racing aboard the Panigale V4 R of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Team alongside Alvaro Bautista in the 2022 WorldSBK season

Michael Ruben Rinaldi will defend the colors of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team also in the 2022 WorldSBK season.

With the confirmation of the Italian rider, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Team defines its line-up that will also see the return of Alvaro Bautista riding the Ducati Panigale V4R in the next World Superbike Championship.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi was born in Rimini on 21st December 1995 and started racing with the minimoto when he was 7 years old, winning the Italian championship in 2006. After winning the Italian Sport Production Championship in 2011, in 2014 he faced his first international experience in the European Superstock 600 championship, which closed as runner-up in 2015. In 2016 Rinaldi rode the Ducati Panigale R of the Aruba.it Racing – Junior team in the SuperStock 1000 FIM championship, finishing sixth and then conquering the European Champion title at the end of the following season. With the Aruba.it Racing – Junior team, Michael Ruben Rinaldi also made his WorldSBK debut in the 2018 season, racing only in European rounds and then competing in all events of the 2019 Championship with the Barni Racing Team. In the 2020 Rinaldi achieved his first WorldSBK success with the Panigale V4R of the Go Eleven team in Race-1 at Aragon, weekend that also saw him on the podium in the Superpole Race (P3) and in Race-2 (P2). In the current season the Italian rider was the absolute protagonist in the Misano round, where he got two victories (Race-1 and SPR) and a second place (Race-2). Thanks also to the P2 in the SPR conquered in Assen (Netherlands) Rinaldi is currently sixth in the Superbike World Championship standings with 150 points.

AHRMA: Brodock Named Interim Dirt Track Coordinator

David Swarts

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August 31, 2021

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AHRMA: Brodock Named Interim Dirt Track Coordinator

Introducing Richard Brodock as AHRMA Interim Dirt Track Coordinator

AHRMA is pleased to announce that Richard Brodock, AHRMA Member from Nashville, Tennessee, has accepted the role of AHRMA Interim Dirt Track Coordinator.

Richard Brodock, AHRMA #1012964 / Racer #278

I grew up around racing with my dad, uncles, and aunt who all raced cars. Little did I know that I was growing up in the heart of dirt track country in Michigan. It wasn’t until I was 17 when I bought my first bike right out of high school. Even though I always had an eye for motorcycles I wasn’t allowed to own one. I’ve been a part of the motorcycle community ever since. A friend got me into drag racing motorcycles and since then if it had 2 wheels I was in. Today I am the president of the Nashville Ton Up Club in which we are dedicated to educating the public and preservation of vintage British motorcycles.

I moved to Nashville, TN from Michigan in 2004 to finish college and worked in the music and television industry for 10 years. The last 8 years I have focused on building and growing my own construction company.

I started road racing with AHRMA in 2016 after attending the Barber Vintage Fest and meeting several racers that live in and around Nashville.

After a nasty get off in 2017 I tried my hand at dirt track and, as they say, the rest is history. I came onboard the dirt track program earlier this year as the technical director after being asked to assist in revitalizing the program. I’m excited and honored to now take the reins and rebuild the AHRMA dirt track program with the support of Off-Road Director Tony Paul and AHRMA’s Chairman of the Board, Arthur Kowitz.

You can read more of my story in the AHRMA MAG; May 2020 Vol No 2 Issue No 4, page 18 found here: ahrma.org/ahrma-mag-may-2020-vol-no-2-issue-no-4/

About AHRMA:

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association Ltd. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to restoring and competing on classic motorcycles. With about 4000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.

MotoAmerica: ESPN Latin America Broadcasting Supersport Races

David Swarts

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August 31, 2021

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MotoAmerica: ESPN Latin America Broadcasting Supersport Races

ESPN Latin America To Broadcast MotoAmerica Supersport Races

Beginning with Brainerd International Raceway Round, Supersport Races Have Been Airing From Mexico To Argentina On ESPN Latin America

IRVINE, CA (August 31, 2021) – MotoAmerica, the home of the premier motorcycle road racing series in North America, is thrilled to announce its agreement with PTV Video Productions Inc. that gives ESPN Latin America exclusive Spanish-speaking rights to transmit MotoAmerica Supersport races across the ESPN linear platform and the upcoming STAR+ direct-to-consumer platform throughout Latin America.

Miami, Florida-based PTV Video Productions Inc. is owned and operated by former AMA Superbike racer Roberto Pietri and his partners Peter Tinoco and Federico Vegas. Tinoco is a former president of Venevision Productions and Studios in Miami, Florida.

“The timing is perfect for ESPN Latin America to start broadcasting MotoAmerica Supersport races,” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “A lot of our top riders in Supersport, including our defending champion Richie Escalante, current points leader Sean Dylan Kelly, Kevin Olmedo, and Stefano Mesa are Latin-Americans, so the fit is perfect. We look forward to having them onboard for the rest of the season and introducing MotoAmerica to millions of new fans in Latin America.”

“Motorcycle racing has always been my passion,” said Pietri, who was a Honda factory Superbike racer in the 1980s. “I am so happy to be able to work with MotoAmerica to bring its Supersport class to new Latin-America fans. This is the beginning of a wonderful relationship and I have no doubt we will exponentially grow MotoAmerica’s fan base throughout Latin America.”

ESPN Latin America successfully broadcasted the two Supersport races from Brainerd International Raceway, round six of the MotoAmerica Series, and round seven from Pittsburgh International Race Complex to its audience.

“Our vision is to not only show the MotoAmerica Supersport races, but to focus on the riders, their development and their stories,” Tinoco said. “We have many Latin-American racers from Mexico, Argentina, El Salvador, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil in Supersport, and we want to help make them stars in Latin America by showing the behind-the-scenes interaction and the lifestyle of the riders.”

2021 MotoAmerica Series Schedule

April 30-May 2 Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia

May 21-23 Virginia International Raceway Alton, Virginia

June 11-13 Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

June 25-27 Ridge Motorsports Park Shelton, Washington

July 9-11 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, California

July 30-August 1 Brainerd International Raceway Brainerd, Minnesota

August 13-15 Pitt Race Wampum, Pennsylvania

September 10-12 New Jersey Motorsports Park Millville, New Jersey

September 17-19 Barber Motorsports Park Birmingham, Alabama

For the complete 2021 MotoAmerica Series schedule, click HERE

To purchase tickets to any of the 2021 series rounds, click HERE

For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica Series, click HERE

About MotoAmerica

MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com. Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

World Superbike: Championship Tied Heading Into Magny-Cours

David Swarts

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August 30, 2021

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World Superbike: Championship Tied Heading Into Magny-Cours

C’est magnifique: all square as WorldSBK’s intense title fight heads for France

Level on points heading to Magny-Cours, the top two in the Championship are set for another showdown…

The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is into the second half of the year and heads to the iconic Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours for round eight and the Motul French Round. Usually, there’s a Championship on the line but not this time and in fact, the title race couldn’t be any different. It’s all square between Championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), as both have 311 points each – Toprak leading the standings by virtue of more full-length race wins (5 vs 4). However, with Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) making big gains in the last two rounds, it’s a three-horse race.

NOTHING BETWEEN THEM: Razgatlioglu and Rea are neck and neck

For the first time in WorldSBK history after 21 races, the top two in the Championship are level on points and we’re heading to a track that Razgatlioglu relishes. He took his first ever win at Magny-Cours back in 2014 in the STK600 class, of which he’d be Champion in 2015. Then, he took a first STK1000 podium there in 2016 with second, before in 2019, his first WorldSBK win in a final lap shoot-out with Jonathan Rea came from 16th on the grid. He doubled up in the Superpole Race but with it being wet in 2020, he’s yet to show his strengths at the track on a Yamaha. Teammate Andrea Locatelli hopes be back on the podium, having established himself as a solid front-runner. He took a WorldSSP win at Magny-Cours in 2020, can he convert that into strong pace in WorldSBK though?

However, if Toprak’s ready for the challenge then so is his title rival Jonathan Rea – he’s won eight races at Magny-Cours, all of them for Kawasaki and apart from 2016, it has been every year. Add on to that the fact he’s been on the podium in all but one race at Magny-Cours on a Kawasaki (Race 2, 2017), then you’d be hard-pushed to find someone with a better track record. However, Rea’s coming into France on the backfoot, having relinquished his Championship lead and, in the last six races, handed 37 points to Razgatlioglu. Both enjoy the track and have already had final lap battles there before. Rea’s teammate Alex Lowes aims to fight for the podium despite a persistent injury, but he was on the podium twice at Magny-Cours for Kawasaki in 2020, so the pace is there.

EYES ON THE PRIZE: Redding and Ducati are back in the race

Edging closer with each round is Scott Redding, as the Ducati star is now 38 points behind the top two in the title race, having been 81 back just six races ago. Redding’s been in top form lately; seven straight podiums and all of them within the top two positions. It’s a devastating run of form which neither Razgatlioglu nor Rea have matched so far this year. Redding’s in the best form of his career and with a win at Magny-Cours in 2020 to keep his title hopes alive, he’s one of the favourites. In stark contrast, teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi had a subdued weekend at Navarra where he took 15 points, but a return to the top six will be welcome at Magny-Cours, as he did in 2020.

BMW AND HONDA: revelation achieved, resurgence required

It was an impressive weekend for BMW at Navarra, as they seemingly found form in the hotter conditions in comparison to where they had come from in the past couple of seasons. Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) achieved his tenth front row for BMW at Navarra and capitalised on that with two top six finishes in Race 1 and the Superpole Race, before taking fifth in Race 2. He was on the front row at Magny-Cours in 2020 as part of BMW’s first ever Superpole 1-2, when Eugene Laverty took pole. On the other side of the garage, Michael van der Mark didn’t have the same weekend as Sykes, with seventh, eighth and ninth being the Dutchman’s results at Navarra. However, six Magny-Cours podiums could propel van der Mark back to the sharp end.

Over at Honda, it was another difficult round endured by Team HRC as Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam worked hard to break into the top ten once again. For Bautista, there was just one point-scoring ride across the weekend with eighth in Race 2, whilst Leon Haslam’s only points came in Race 1 with 13th. Both lie outside the top ten in the Championship but could break into it it this weekend, with Bautista level on points with ex-teammate Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven). However, with no top ten coming in the wet of Magny-Cours in 2020, both Bautista and Haslam aim to get back into the fight for the leading positions in France.

THE INDEPENDENTS: tightening at the top

The Independent battle is as fierce as ever and whilst Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) has taken a slight dip in form across the last two rounds, he’s comfortably clear of the next-best Independent rider Chaz Davies by 43 points. However, closing in on Davies is Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), who is now just five points behind the Brit and has leapfrogged Leon Haslam in the standings. For Gerloff, he was fast in the rain of Magny-Cours in 2020, whilst Chaz Davies took a double win back in 2016 and won again in 2017. Axel Bassani’s form is somewhat unknown in WorldSBK, but back in World Supersport, he took his best ever finish with fourth in 2016.

The rest of the Independent battle is being fought further down, with Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in 14th place, but going to his home-round full of confidence after two wins in the last three races held at the track in WorldSSP. Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team) tackles Magny-Cours for the first time and is three points behind Mahias, whilst Yamaha’s Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) will also go to Magny-Cours for the first time, after what seemed like a bit of a breakthrough at Navarra.

Isaac Viñales (ORELAC Racing VerdNatura) returns to action after a positive COVID-19 test prior to Navarra, with Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing) next up, just five points back. Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport Yamaha) heads for his home round and will hope to impress, whilst Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team) aims for points once more. Loris Cresson (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) and teammate Jayson Uribe also aim for points, particularly Uribe who is yet to score. Eugene Laverty (RC Squadra Corse) is on the entry list, but he will not be present on track.

Join the conversation across our social channels with #FRAWorldSBK and watch all the drama unfold with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Northern Talent Cup: Luciano Wins Race Two In Austria

David Swarts

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August 30, 2021

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Northern Talent Cup: Luciano Wins Race Two In Austria

NTC_2021_AUT_R2_Classification
NTC_2021_Classification_AUT_After_Race14

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Moor vs Luciano: spectacular Spielberg duel rounds out the season in style

The fight for second overall went all the way to the wire, with the Hungarian coming out on top on track but a penalty then adding some post-race drama

Sunday, 29 August 2021

The 2021 Northern Talent Cup concluded with a spectacular and sunny final chapter in Spielberg. With Rossi Moor (FAIRIUM Next Generation Riders Team) and Lorenz Luciano (Junior Black Knights Team) fighting for second overall in the standings, there was plenty on the line and their duel didn’t disappoint. Pulling away from the pack in the latter stages, the two went toe-to-toe in a fabulous final decider – with Moor just taking it by thousandths. But then there was drama as he got a penalty for his riding after the flag – dropping him to fourth in the race . That means Luciano wins and takes second overall, Kevin Farkas (Agria Racing Team) is second in the race and Jacopo Hosciuc (Hos Racing Team) slots into third to round out the year.

As the lights went out, Moor took the holeshot from pole but 2021 Cup winner Jakub Gurecky (JRT Brno Circuit) made an early move through. Luciano then got back in the mix, with Farkas another name starting to stand out. Still, it was a huge freight train at the front for much of the first half of the race.

By Lap 10, however, simply being at the head of the train had started to turn into a gap for Moor. The number 92 was pushing to break away, but Luciano was on the case. The Belgian tagged onto the back of the Hungarian and went with him, the two carving out some space for a duel to decide the runner up for 2021.

From thereon out, it was war. Clean, aggressive and a real thriller to end the season, the penultimate lap was already a showstopper. Luciano was ahead over the line, Moor attacked at Turn 1, the 81 responded, the 92 found another answer. The last lap started the same, with Luciano ahead, but Moor struck again at Turn 1. But this time the Belgian shoved it up the inside at Turn 3, and after that Moor seemed to hold off.

The Hungarian stayed glued to the back of the Junior Black Knights Team machine ahead, but waited for his moment: Turn 9. Getting it done and able to keep it around the final corner, it came down to the drag to the line and Luciano pulled out to try and slipstream past but the metres ran out. Moor stayed just millimetres ahead to take the final win of the year, or so he thought. But then he was awarded the penalty, seeing the Belgian take the 25 points.

Behind, what had been a few tenths of gap for Farkas became another freight train but he held on to third over the line and second in the end, with Hosciuc close behind as the Romanian got back in the mix after his Long Laps on Saturday. Moor was classified fourth, and Jonas Kocourek (JRT Brno Circuit) took fifth. Loris Veneman (Kahuna Racing) and Cup winner Gurecky came home in P6 and P7 respectively.

Noel Willemsen (MCA Racing Team) took eighth, with Race 1 winner Jordan Bartucca (Allesauto Racing) shuffled down to P9. Ferre Fleerackers (B.art Racing) completed the top ten.

That’s it for 2021 in the Northern Talent Cup. Over seven rounds we’ve seen some incredible races and performances, as well as some impressive progress throughout the field. What will 2022 bring? Time will tell, but for now: congratulations to the class of 2021 on an impressive learning curve and entertaining season of competition!

American Flat Track: Springfield Double-Doubleheader Is Sept. 3-5

David Swarts

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August 30, 2021

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American Flat Track: Springfield Double-Doubleheader Is Sept. 3-5

Progressive AFT Bound for Springfield Spectacular

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 30, 2021) – The crown jewel of the 2021 season awaits as Progressive American Flat Track prepares for a monumental Labor Day Weekend double-doubleheader at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, on September 3-5.

The weekend will kick off on Friday evening with the Springfield Short Track Doubleheader, which packs two complete rounds of the tightly fought AFT Singles championship into a single evening. And then Saturday and Sunday will see the big twins head over to the “World’s Fastest Mile” for the Memphis Shades Springfield Mile I & II presented by Law Tigers.

An epic by any measure, this year’s Progressive AFT weekend in Springfield has a bit of added meaning as it represents the end of an era on two fronts.

First, it will mark the final time the “Mile Master,” Bryan Smith (No. 4 Crosley/Howerton Motorsports Indian FTR750) competes at the Springfield Mile after recently announcing his intention to retire at the end of the season. Smith is currently tied with the legendary Bubba Shobert for third all-time in Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle Mile victories at 25, nine of which have come at the Springfield Mile. Few could script a better ending to his history with the venue than by going out on top.

Perhaps the single biggest obstacle standing in the way of that sort of storybook ending is long-time rival Jared Mees (No. 9 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750). Mees has developed into a Mile ace himself in recent seasons, now boasting 18 Mile victories of his own, including three of the last four in Springfield.

Mees, coincidentally, also factors heavily into the other aforementioned era-defining shift. This year’s edition marks the final time that the race will be promoted by Kiesow Racing and IMDA. Kiesow Racing and IMDA resurrected the Springfield Mile in 1981 following a 15-year layoff and, over the past four decades, built it into arguably the most fabled motorcycle dirt track race anywhere in the world. Starting in 2022, Jared and his wife, Nichole, will promote the race, building on the massive success Mees Promotions has enjoyed doing the same for the Lima Half-Mile.

Briar Bauman (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) has a leg up on securing a third consecutive Grand National Championship as he powers into Springfield with a 25-point cushion over Mees. While he has two career Mile wins to his name, the champ is still looking for his first Springfield Mile win.

That’s not the case for third-ranked Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), who doubled at the venue back in 2013, nor Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Coolbeth-Nila Racing Indian FTR750), who was victorious in last year’s Springfield Mile I.

DPR Racing/Brian Bigelow Racing will field a pair of heavy-hitting wild cards in Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (No. 23 Happy Trails Racing/DPC Racing/Bryan Bigelow Indian FTR750) and Henry Wiles (No. 17 DPC Racing/Bryan Bigelow Indian FTR750).

Home track hero Carver was the star of one of the more memorable Springfield Miles in recent years when he defeated Mees and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. to score a hugely popular win in 2018.

Wiles, meanwhile, will make a welcome one-off return to Mission SuperTwins action this weekend as well. The AFT Singles regular needs just one premier-class Mile win to complete the career Grand Slam. He’s come close in the past, including twice finishing as a Mile runner-up during his second-ranked ‘18 season.

Hayden Gillim (No. 59 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R Rev X) is another intriguing wild card. The versatile Gillim is fresh off an impressive fourth-place performance in the AFT Production Twins class at the Peoria TT. He was rewarded for that effort with a shot at the premier-class on a Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R in Springfield.

AFT Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines

AFT Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines returns to the venue where the class was originally introduced to the world at speed in 2018.

The Memphis Shades Babe DeMay Challenge — a four-lap dash similar to the Mission SuperTwins Mission Challenge — will underline that important historical tie by providing class competitors an opportunity to win an additional $5000 on both Saturday and Sunday.

As always, Cory Texter (No. 65 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07) remains the rider in the crosshairs. While the heavy title favorite is still seeking his first-ever Progressive AFT win at the Springfield Mile, he did enjoy a career highlight here by finishing on the box in the premier class back in 2016.

Reigning AFT Singles champion Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) will look to keep his perfect class podium record intact while providing another glimpse of his future and immense potential on a twin.

‘18 AFT Singles champ Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07), meanwhile, comes in riding high after earning his maiden AFT Production Twins victory last weekend in Peoria.

Others to watch include Ryan Varnes (No. 68 RVR/Rausch Fuel Kawasaki Ninja 650) who won at Springfield a year ago, Ben Lowe (No. 25 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), who podiumed the race in 2018 and also comes in hot following a strong effort in Peoria, and Chad Cose (No. 49 Voodoo Ranger/Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), who finished second and third in last year’s Springfield Mile I & II.

Speaking of Cose, the Vance & Hines-backed pilot will be joined this weekend by a pair of talented wild cards in Jesse Janisch (No. 96 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R) and Morgen Mischler (No. 13 Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson XG750R).

AFT Singles

An already wild AFT Singles title fight has the potential for another titanic shift with two full points-paying rounds taking place in a single night during Friday’s Springfield Short Track Doubleheader.

Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE) have traded haymakers as the two rising stars have battled for 450cc supremacy all season long.

Daniels is coming off the roughest weekend of his young professional career, with a pair of crashes in the Peoria TT Main Event. The Springfield ST could serve as a “get-right” evening for the Illinois native, considering he’s finished first, third, and fifth in his only three previous attempts at the race.

Aussie Whale is no slouch on the tight oval either, having earned third- and fourth-place results a year ago.

Henry Wiles (No. 17 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R), meanwhile, is among the greatest Short Track riders in the history of the sport. He added to his legend by racking up a pair of Springfield ST second-place results a year ago. His young teammate, Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R), meanwhile, earned his maiden Progressive AFT win here last year and has threatened to add to his victory tally on more than one occasion this season.

Morgen Mischler (No. 13 Mission Roof Systems KTM 450 SX-F) was the other rider to land on the podium at last year’s Springfield ST. It would come as a surprise to absolutely no one if he manages to do so again next weekend, as that’s something he’s done more than any other rider in the class thus far in 2021.

Four-time premier-class race winner Johnny “Showtime” Murphree will serve as the weekend’s Grand Marshal. Additionally, the Fan Walk will return, with fencing in place to provide safe social distancing while still allowing fans to talk with riders and crew members and get a closeup view of the racebikes.

Tickets for the weekend are available at https://www.springfieldmile.org/Tabs/Events/EventList.aspx. Included among the ticket packages is an option to purchase a Premier Pass for Saturday and/or Sunday that includes a ticket, t-shirt, program, pit pass, along with catered food & beverages.

Friday’s Opening Ceremonies will start at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT ahead of two full Main Event programs. On Saturday and Sunday, gates will open for fans at 9:00 a.m. local time with Opening Ceremonies slated to begin at 2:10 p.m. ET/11:10 a.m. PT. Live coverage of the entire weekend’s racing activities will be available on any device for only $1.99 a month via TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.

The Memphis Shades Springfield Mile I & II presented by Law Tigers will premiere back-to-back on NBCSN on Sunday, September 12, starting at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The Springfield Short Track Doubleheader will air one week later on NBCSN, starting at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Both broadcasts will feature exclusive features and cutting-edge aerial drone and onboard footage.

For more information, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com.

To score the latest gear for the Progressive American Flat Track fan, visit our official merchandise store at https://store.americanflattrack.com.

Harley-Davidson Pan America Is #1 ADV Bike In North America

David Swarts

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August 30, 2021

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Harley-Davidson Pan America Is #1 ADV Bike In North America

HARLEY-DAVIDSON PAN AMERICA 1250 SPECIAL BECOMES THE #1 SELLING ADVENTURE TOURING MOTORCYCLE IN NORTH AMERICA

Built to Endure, Designed to Explore, and Engineered for Adventure

MILWAUKEE (August 30, 2021) – Since launching in February 2021, the Pan America™ 1250 Special adventure touring motorcycle has taken the motorcycling world by storm. In creating the Pan America™, Harley-Davidson leveraged its cutting-edge design and engineering capabilities to create both the Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special. Today, we are pleased to announce that the Pan America 1250 Special has become the #1 selling adventure touring motorcycle in North America.

Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, CEO and President, Harley-Davidson:

“Taking inspiration from our heritage, we wanted to create a motorcycle that redefined the adventure touring category and most importantly was designed and built in America. With the Pan America Special now the #1 selling ADV motorcycle model in North America, we targeted a selective expansion into adventure touring as part of the Hardwire Strategy with the goal to reach new and existing Harley-Davidson customers. Pan America is squarely built on our mission to deliver a timeless pursuit of adventure for our riders. Those who now own or have tested one of our Pan America’s absolutely love this bike – having sold out of our 2021 allocation, we are excited about what the future has in store for Pan America and for the Adventure Touring category at Harley-Davidson.”

MotoGP: Vinales Will Start Racing Aprilia At Motorland Aragon

September 1, 2021

Maverick Vinales (12) testing the Aprilia RS-GP at Misano. Photo courtesy Aprilia.

MAVERICK VIÑALES ON THE TRACK WITH APRILIA FROM THE ARAGÓN GP

LORENZO SAVADORI WILD CARD IN THIS SEASON AND 2022 TEST RIDER

All the pieces have now fallen in place for the Aprilia Racing rider line-up after Maverick Viñales’ début astride the RS-GP during the two days of testing on the Misano Adriatico circuit.

The Spanish rider, extremely impressed by the first contact with the Italian team, will be on the track officially from the Aragón GP, scheduled to be held on the weekend of 12 September. He will take a spot on the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini alongside Aleix Espargaró, who just brought the Noale-based manufacturer their first podium in MotoGP at Silverstone.

Lorenzo Savadori will therefore be confirmed as test rider for the 2022 season, completing an extremely high level trio with the goal of continuing to improve the young RS-GP project. For the rest of the 2021 season, his presence on the track will not be lacking, taking advantage of the wild cards Aprilia has available. Lorenzo’s work schedule will be formalised as soon as he has recovered fully from the injury suffered during the Styria GP, a fractured right malleolus that required surgery.

MASSIMO RIVOLA – APRILIA RACING CEO

“We are extremely proud to be able to announce our plans for the current season and for 2022 with the goal of optimising the contributions of our three riders to the utmost. Alongside our confirmed rider, Aleix, it is our pleasure to welcome a talented athlete like Maverick to the Aprilia Racing team, who demonstrated a great feeling with the team and the bike straight away and who I am confident will be able to give his best as early as the Aragón GP. At the same time, we are also confirming Lorenzo’s role as 2022 test rider. This is a fundamental position that rewards the great efforts he has demonstrated in developing the new RS-GP, whereas he will finish out the 2021 season taking advantage of the wild cards that we’ll decide on together as soon as he is back to 100% fitness.”

ROMANO ALBESIANO – APRILIA RACING TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

“The decision to have Maverick on the track from Aragón is a direct result of the tests done in Misano. It was not a given that, after a career spent up to now on a bike with an in-line engine, Maverick would have a good feeling with our V4 straight away. This is why the test on this track, historically not an easy one for our bike, was an important moment of assessment. Therefore, we are satisfied with Maverick’s immediately positive reactions, which demonstrated a good feeling both with the RS-GP and with the team and our work method. His and Aleix’s talent, combined with the experience Lorenzo has gained this season, make us optimistic about the future of our MotoGP project.”

Kawasaki Increasing Production Capacity In North America

August 31, 2021

A 2022 Kawasaki Mule Pro-FXT side-by-side utility vehicle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Motor Corp., U.S.A. — A 2022 Kawasaki Mule Pro-FXT side-by-side utility vehicle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.

KAWASAKI TO INCREASE PRODUCTION CAPACITY TO MEET GROWING DEMAND
STRENGTHENING OFF-ROAD BUSINESS FOR NORTH AMERICA

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that construction will begin on new production facilities at its Mexican subsidiary Kawasaki Motores de México S.A. de C.V. (KMX). These new production facilities will be added to the current Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp. (KMM) facilities which will also build new, enhanced production capabilities in Lincoln, Nebraska.

In North America, the side x side market for off-road four-wheeled vehicles continues to expand in all categories from utility to sport recreation. In order to meet the increasing demand, Kawasaki will invest a total of approximately $265 Million for production facilities at KMX and KMM. KMX will expand Kawasaki’s production capacity and start producing off-road vehicles in fiscal 2023. In addition, KMM also plans to increase its production capacity for new models by March of 2023.

In addition to off-road vehicles, KMM’s production for consumer products such as personal watercraft (Jet Ski®) and general-purpose gasoline engines includes Lincoln, NE, Maryville, MO as well as the Boonville, MO plant scheduled to start operation and production of general-purpose gasoline engines in 2022. The new KMX plant will bring the number of Kawasaki production facilities in North America to a total of four.

By strengthening its business foundation in the North American market and by organically utilizing the four production facilities, Kawasaki will further enhance the Kawasaki brand, customer satisfaction, and aggressively expand its business.

ABOUT KAWASAKI

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) started full-scale production of motorcycles over a half century ago. The first Kawasaki motorcycle engine was designed based on technical know-how garnered from the development and production of aircraft engines, and Kawasaki’s entry into the motorcycle industry was driven by the company’s constant effort to develop new technologies. Numerous new Kawasaki models introduced over the years have helped shape the market, and in the process have created enduring legends based on their unique engineering, power, design and riding pleasure. In the future, Kawasaki’s commitment to maintaining and furthering these strengths will surely give birth to new legends.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, side x sides, and JET SKI® watercraft through a network of approximately 1,100 independent retailers, with close to an additional 7,700 retailers specializing in general purpose engines. KMC and its affiliates employ nearly 3,100 people in the United States, with approximately 260 of them located at KMC’s Foothill Ranch, California headquarters.

Kawasaki’s tagline, “Let the good times roll.®”, is recognized worldwide. The Kawasaki brand is synonymous with powerful, stylish and category-leading vehicles. Information about Kawasaki’s complete line of powersports products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.com.

KTM Introduces All-New, Lighter, More Powerful RC 390

August 31, 2021

A 2022-model KTM RC 390 at speed. Photo by Kiska, courtesy KTM.