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Come Visit The Roadracing World Booth At COTA!

Roadracing World has a booth set up at Circuit of The Americas during this weekend’s MotoGP/MotoAmerica event.

Fans are invited to stop by and pick up the latest issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine (April 2022), which includes coverage of the 80th Daytona 200, a test of BMW’s M 1000 RR, a profile on MotoAmerica CFO Richard Varner, the 26th annual Young Gun awards, and more.

 

Fans can purchase the current April 2022 issue and selected past issues of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine and sign up for subscriptions at a special at-track rate. Photo by Anne Roberts.
Fans can purchase the current April 2022 issue and selected past issues of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine and sign up for subscriptions at a special at-track rate. Photo by Anne Roberts.

 

Fans can also purchase Roadracing World gear, sign up for a subscription at a special at-track rate, or donate to the Roadracing World Action Fund charity to help keep racers safe.

 

Fans can purchase Roadracing World gear at the booth at COTA. Photo by Anne Roberts.
Fans can purchase Roadracing World gear at the booth at COTA. Photo by Anne Roberts.

 

The Roadracing World booth is located in the vendor expo area near the big ferris wheel and Moto Liberty’s booth.

Roadracing World Young Guns 2022: Blake Davis

Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 26th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.

Roadracing World Young Guns have won:

FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;

MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 11 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;

A KTM RC Cup World Final race;

The Daytona 200 (11 times);

WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;

ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;

AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;

USGPRU National Championships;

Many regional and local titles.

The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.

We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2022 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.

The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.

We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.

 

Blake Davis and his N2 Racing Yamaha YZF-R7. Photo courtesy N2 Racing.
Blake Davis and his N2 Racing Yamaha YZF-R7. Photo courtesy N2 Racing.

 

Blake Davis

Age: 15.

Current home: Lynchburg, Virginia.

Current height/weight: 5’7”/117 pounds.

Current school grade level: 9th grade.

Began riding at age: 3 years.

First road race: 2016, Talladega, Alabama, WERA, Formula 3 and E Superstock, 1st place in both.

Current racebike: Yamaha YZF-R7.

Current tuner/mechanic: Shiloh Salopek, BobbleHeadMoto.

Primary race series: MotoAmerica Twins Cup.

Top sponsors: N2 Racing, BobbleHeadMoto, Dainese, Shoei, Bran Supply Company, Better Investing, Fire Code Compliance, Cornerspin, Biothermal, Blackhawk Racing.

Recent racing accomplishments: 2021 season, finished 6th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (15 top-10 finishes in 18 races, best race finish was 4th), co-rode to win 4 out of 5 N2/WERA National Endurance Utralightweight races and the class Championship; 2020 season, placed 9th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (best race finish was sixth – three times), won 6 WERA Sportsman races; 2019 season, won AMA Nicky Hayden Road Racing Horizon Award, won Lightweight Twins Superstock Expert and Formula Two Expert WERA National Challenge Championships, won D Superstock Expert WERA Sportsman National Championship, won 7 WERA Sportsman Regional Championships (won 20 WERA races); 2018 season, named AMA Youth Road Racer of the Year, won AMA 300 Superstock Grand Championship, won 3 WERA National Challenge Championships, won 13 WERA Sportsman Regional Championships, won 41 of 60 WERA races started; 2017 season, won 3 WERA Sportsman Regional Championships.

2022 racing goal: Be a front-runner in MotoAmerica Twins Cup.

Racing career goal: Race on the world stage.

Racing hero: Scott Russell.

Favorite track: Inde Motorsports Ranch.

Favorite hobbies: Riding anything on two wheels, mountain biking.

If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Maybe competing in triathlons or mountain bike races.

MotoGP: Photos From Friday At COTA

By Michael Gougis

The MotoGP circus came to Austin, Texas for the fourth round of the 2022 season with Aleix Espargaro leading the Championship on the strength of his first-ever Grand Prix victory in Argentina the previous weekend.

 

 

Factory Ducati honors were upheld by Jack Miller (43), second and 0.247 seconds off of Zarco's pace. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Factory Ducati honors were upheld by Jack Miller (43), second and 0.247 second off of Johann Zarco’s pace. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

 

Fabio Quartararo (20) wrestled his Monster Yamaha YZR-M1 around the partially repaved Circuit Of The Americas to the third quickest time. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Fabio Quartararo (20) wrestled his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1 around the partially repaved Circuit of The Americas to the third-quickest time. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

 

Enea Bastianini (23) said he felt confident in the braking zones on his year-old GP21, and the Gresini Racing rider leapt to fourth overall. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Enea Bastianini (23) said he felt confident in the braking zones on his year-old Ducati Desmosedici GP21, and the Gresini Racing rider leapt to fourth overall. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

 

Alex Rins (42) popped on a soft rear tire halfway through the second practice session, fired off a pair of quick laps and then concentrated on evaluating whether the soft was an option for the race. His quick time was good enough for fifth overall on the day. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Alex Rins (42) popped on a soft-compound rear Michelin tire halfway through the second practice session, fired off a pair of quick laps and then concentrated on evaluating whether the soft was an option for the race. His quickest time was good enough for fifth overall on the day. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

 

Marc Marquez (93) returned from injury, saying in the pre-race news conference that he had lacked the motivation to try to race in Argentina, that the injury to his optical nerve that had sidelined him after a horrendous highside in Mandalika had frightened him. He told reporters that he wasn't racing for the win, that he was just trying to get his confidence back. Then he topped most of FP1 and ended the day sixth, 0.499 seconds off the best lap of the day. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marc Marquez (93) returned from injury, saying in the pre-race news conference that he had lacked the motivation to try to race in Argentina, that the injury to his optical nerve that had sidelined him after a horrendous highside at Mandalika had frightened him. He told reporters that he wasn’t racing for the win, that he was just trying to get his confidence back. Then he topped most of FP1 and ended the day sixth, 0.499 second off the best lap of the day. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

 

Aleix Espargaro (41) said that COTA would challenge the Aprilia RS-GP, and he was unable to crack the top 10 in practice. Teammate Maverick Vinales was second in FP1 and remained in seventh after the second practice session. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Aleix Espargaro said that COTA would challenge the Aprilia RS-GP, and he was unable to crack the top 10 in practice. Teammate Maverick Vinales was second in FP1 and remained in seventh after the second practice session. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

 

Cameron Beaubier (6) said he had high expectations for himself at COTA, and he started strongly, finishing second and third in Moto2 practice. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Cameron Beaubier (6) said he had high expectations for himself at COTA, and he started strongly, finishing second and third in Moto2 FP1 and FP2, respectively. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

 

Joe Roberts (16) has struggled this season with rear grip issues and wound up 11th on the combined practice sheets. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Joe Roberts (16) has struggled this season with rear grip issues and wound up 11th on the Moto2 combined practice sheets. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Quick Look: 2022 BMW M 1000 RR—Ultimate Evolution, In The April Issue

Featured In the April 2022 issue of Roadracing World:

         At the 2021 Bol d’Or 24-hour World Endurance Championship (EWC) race, I was a guest in the BMW Motorrad factory garage, invited to carefully examine the bits and pieces that go into a race-winning machine at that level of competition. One of the things that struck me was how often Steven Casaer, Technical Director for the team, kept using the words ‘stock’ and ‘over-the-counter’ as he detailed the components and the overall machine build. “It’s a pretty basic machine,” he finally said at the end of the interview.

         There’s no such thing as a true racing-spec streetbike. Emissions and noise regulations, reliability and usability concerns—as well as price—drive certain concessions to legality, reality, and sanity for anything that can be purchased off a showroom floor. But some race replicas are more racebike than others. And BMW’s M 1000 RR, the company’s most advanced and highest-performing streetbike, legitimately shares its core with the racebike that finished second in the EWC series last year, ending the season with a win at Most in the Czech Republic…

            —Quick Look: 2022 BMW M 1000 RR, by Michael Gougis

 

            Roadracing World took the newest M 1000 RR to the track and put test consultant Jeremy Toye aboard. Toye is uniquely qualified to evaluate BMW’s quickest sportbike, as he not only rides a BMW S 1000 RR regularly as a coach with Fastrack Riders, but raced an S 1000 RR to a podium finish at the Macau Grand Prix. What did Toye think of the M 1000 RR? Read his impressions in the latest issue of Roadracing World!

 

Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology is THE definitive source for motorcycle racing, riding, and tech information. 

PREVIEW  the April 2022 Issue of Roadracing World!

Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats. SUBSCRIBE NOW . Or call (909) 654-4779, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. Read the April 2022 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology with your online subscription. Log in HERE

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MotoAmerica: Gagne Hangs On To Superbike Pole Position At COTA (Updated Again)

Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha rider Jake Gagne will start the first MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike race of the 2022 season from pole position Saturday at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), in Austin, Texas, in spite of the defending Champion not posting any lap times in the final qualifying session Friday.

Gagne led Qualifying One with a lap time of 2:08.450 on his YZF-R1, but his bike suffered a technical problem and lost power early in Qualifying Two (Q2), preventing him from completing any timed laps in Q2.

Gagne’s time from the earlier session held up as fastest overall and he got pole position, but the veteran lost the 40 minutes of track time in Q2 that he planned to use doing long runs and evaluating his race tire choices.

The fastest rider in Q2 was Mathew Scholtz, who did a 2:08.484 on his Westby Racing Yamaha and ended up second-best overall.

Former MotoGP rider Danilo Petrucci qualified third with a time of 2:08.788 on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Panigale V4 R.

Gagne’s teammate also suffered an engine failure on his Yamaha and failed to do any fast laps during Q2.

After the Q2 session, Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha informed MotoAmerica that they would be taking their Superbikes directly back to their area in the paddock to start swapping motors instead of going to mandatory impound in Parc Ferme, according to Team Owner Richard Stanboli. Because they failed to report to Parc Ferme, Gagne and Petersen were disqualified from Q2, but their lap times from Q1 earned them places on the grid for this weekend’s races.

 

22_2_COTA_SBK_Q2_comb
22_2_COTA_SBK_R1_grid (1)

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Gagne On Top On Opening Day For The MotoAmerica Superbikes At COTA

Despite Missing The Entire Q2 Session, Jake Gagne Nabs Pole Position In Texas

 

Jake Gagne (1). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Jake Gagne (1). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

 

AUSTIN, TX (April 8, 2022) – After an eventful final qualifying that saw him fail to complete a lap when a mechanical problem derailed his session, Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne hung on to pole position for this weekend’s two MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike races at Circuit of The Americas by just .034 of a second.

When all was said and done after the opening day for the premier class of the Auto Parts 4 Less MotoAmerica Championship, it was Gagne at the top of the heap by virtue of his 2:08.450 lap on a sunny Friday afternoon in Texas. But it was oh so close with Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz second and just .034 of a second from snatching pole from Gagne, who was already out of his leathers and back at his team’s transporter.

The front row will be completed by Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Danilo Petrucci, the Italian making his MotoAmerica debut at COTA this weekend in impressive fashion. Petrucci was on a flying final lap in an effort to grab pole but ran wide and failed to improve his best of 2:08.788.

Row two for the pair of Medallia Superbikes will be led by Gagne’s new teammate Cameron Petersen, the South African also suffering a mechanical failure on his Yamaha YZF-R1 after just two laps of the final session. Fortunately, Petersen’s best from Q1 was good enough to put him fourth on the grid. The final rider to lap in the 2:09s was Tytler’s Cycle Racing’s Hector Barbera, the Spaniard riding the team’s new BMW to a 2:09.999. Barbera’s teammate PJ Jacobsen will start from sixth on the grid in his return to racing action after a year-and-a-half sabbatical.

The pair of Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzukis were seventh and eighth, respectively, with Jake Lewis just a 10th of a second quicker than his Superbike rookie teammate Richie Escalante. Disrupt Racing Suzuki’s Hayden Gillim rounded out the top 10 qualifiers.

“It’s been an interesting day,” Gagne said. “We had a little mishap in this last qualifying a few minutes ago and I think we’re still on pole, but I know it’s close. I know those guys are going and we’re at the front for tomorrow and it will be some good racing. I’m looking forward to getting the year kicked off. I’m good to go. We’ve got it sorted out and we’ll be ready to go and ready to race tomorrow.”

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Ducati:

Danilo Petrucci Leaps to Third on Day One at Circuit of The Americas

The Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Rider on The Pace in Texas

 

Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati North America.
Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati North America.

 

Sunnyvale, Calif., April 8, 2022 – The opening day of Danilo Petrucci’s MotoAmerica career started in splendid style as the Italian superstar finished third overall after two qualifying sessions today at Circuit of The Americas.

Former double MotoGP race winner Petrucci completed a mammoth 34 laps across three official timed sessions in Texas for round one of the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, steadily closing the gap to Yamaha’s Jake Gagne and Mathew Scholtz to finally end the day 0.338 seconds off the leader.

The result is an exceptional one for Petrucci and the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC team as Petrucci gets used to the control Dunlop tires and the demands of the factory-backed Ducati Panigale V4 SBK after a career largely spent on prototype machinery in MotoGP.

Qualifying 2 Results—Top 5

P1 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 2:08.450

P2 – Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 2:08.484

P3 – Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) 2:08.788

P4 – Cameron Petersen (Yamaha) 2:09.724

P5 – Hector Barbera (BMW) 2:09.999

Danilo Petrucci (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – Ducati #9): “I am very happy because today was the first real day on the bike and everything is new for me, even down to the format for qualifying and the soft tire,” Petrucci said. “We suffered a little with chatter so we are searching for the right feeling from the rear of the bike but, anyway, I think the pace we have is very good. I am enjoying the challenge. The bike is really nice to ride and for sure I want to enjoy tomorrow. The track conditions will be pretty good so I cannot wait to go racing.”

Race one of the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship season from Austin, TX, will commence at 5:15 p.m. CDT.

World Supersport: Baldassarri Best In Superpole Qualifying In Spain

Lorenzo Baldassarri (7). Photo courtesy Evan Bros. Yamaha.
Lorenzo Baldassarri (7). Photo courtesy Evan Bros. Yamaha.
SSP Superpole

WorldSBK: Razgatlioglu Takes Superpole At MotorLand Aragon

Toprak Razgatlioglu (1). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Reigning Superbike World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu's (1) deals with Shoei, Alpinestars, and Red Bull are likely smaller than deals given to similarly successful MotoGP riders. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
SBK Superpole

Come Visit The Roadracing World Booth At COTA!

The Roadracing World booth at COTA is located near the ferris wheel and Moto Liberty. Photo by Anne Roberts.
The Roadracing World booth at COTA is located near the ferris wheel and Moto Liberty. Photo by Anne Roberts.

Roadracing World has a booth set up at Circuit of The Americas during this weekend’s MotoGP/MotoAmerica event.

Fans are invited to stop by and pick up the latest issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine (April 2022), which includes coverage of the 80th Daytona 200, a test of BMW’s M 1000 RR, a profile on MotoAmerica CFO Richard Varner, the 26th annual Young Gun awards, and more.

 

Fans can purchase the current April 2022 issue and selected past issues of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine and sign up for subscriptions at a special at-track rate. Photo by Anne Roberts.
Fans can purchase the current April 2022 issue and selected past issues of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine and sign up for subscriptions at a special at-track rate. Photo by Anne Roberts.

 

Fans can also purchase Roadracing World gear, sign up for a subscription at a special at-track rate, or donate to the Roadracing World Action Fund charity to help keep racers safe.

 

Fans can purchase Roadracing World gear at the booth at COTA. Photo by Anne Roberts.
Fans can purchase Roadracing World gear at the booth at COTA. Photo by Anne Roberts.

 

The Roadracing World booth is located in the vendor expo area near the big ferris wheel and Moto Liberty’s booth.

Roadracing World Young Guns 2022: Blake Davis

Blake Davis (22) in action during the 2021 MotoAmerica season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Blake Davis (22) in action during the 2021 MotoAmerica season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 26th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.

Roadracing World Young Guns have won:

FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;

MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 11 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;

A KTM RC Cup World Final race;

The Daytona 200 (11 times);

WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;

ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;

AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;

USGPRU National Championships;

Many regional and local titles.

The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.

We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2022 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.

The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.

We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.

 

Blake Davis and his N2 Racing Yamaha YZF-R7. Photo courtesy N2 Racing.
Blake Davis and his N2 Racing Yamaha YZF-R7. Photo courtesy N2 Racing.

 

Blake Davis

Age: 15.

Current home: Lynchburg, Virginia.

Current height/weight: 5’7”/117 pounds.

Current school grade level: 9th grade.

Began riding at age: 3 years.

First road race: 2016, Talladega, Alabama, WERA, Formula 3 and E Superstock, 1st place in both.

Current racebike: Yamaha YZF-R7.

Current tuner/mechanic: Shiloh Salopek, BobbleHeadMoto.

Primary race series: MotoAmerica Twins Cup.

Top sponsors: N2 Racing, BobbleHeadMoto, Dainese, Shoei, Bran Supply Company, Better Investing, Fire Code Compliance, Cornerspin, Biothermal, Blackhawk Racing.

Recent racing accomplishments: 2021 season, finished 6th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (15 top-10 finishes in 18 races, best race finish was 4th), co-rode to win 4 out of 5 N2/WERA National Endurance Utralightweight races and the class Championship; 2020 season, placed 9th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (best race finish was sixth – three times), won 6 WERA Sportsman races; 2019 season, won AMA Nicky Hayden Road Racing Horizon Award, won Lightweight Twins Superstock Expert and Formula Two Expert WERA National Challenge Championships, won D Superstock Expert WERA Sportsman National Championship, won 7 WERA Sportsman Regional Championships (won 20 WERA races); 2018 season, named AMA Youth Road Racer of the Year, won AMA 300 Superstock Grand Championship, won 3 WERA National Challenge Championships, won 13 WERA Sportsman Regional Championships, won 41 of 60 WERA races started; 2017 season, won 3 WERA Sportsman Regional Championships.

2022 racing goal: Be a front-runner in MotoAmerica Twins Cup.

Racing career goal: Race on the world stage.

Racing hero: Scott Russell.

Favorite track: Inde Motorsports Ranch.

Favorite hobbies: Riding anything on two wheels, mountain biking.

If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Maybe competing in triathlons or mountain bike races.

MotoGP: Photos From Friday At COTA

With three races complete in the season, the satellite Ducati Pramac team has both of its riders in the top 10 in points, ahead of the factory team. Johann Zarco (5) continued Pramac's string of solid performances by topping the second practice session with the fastest time of the day, a 2:02.542, more than a second quicker than the race lap record of 2:03.575 set by Marc Marquez in 2014. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Johann Zarco (5), as seen at COTA. Photo by Michael Gougis.

By Michael Gougis

The MotoGP circus came to Austin, Texas for the fourth round of the 2022 season with Aleix Espargaro leading the Championship on the strength of his first-ever Grand Prix victory in Argentina the previous weekend.

 

 

Factory Ducati honors were upheld by Jack Miller (43), second and 0.247 seconds off of Zarco's pace. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Factory Ducati honors were upheld by Jack Miller (43), second and 0.247 second off of Johann Zarco’s pace. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

 

Fabio Quartararo (20) wrestled his Monster Yamaha YZR-M1 around the partially repaved Circuit Of The Americas to the third quickest time. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Fabio Quartararo (20) wrestled his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1 around the partially repaved Circuit of The Americas to the third-quickest time. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

 

Enea Bastianini (23) said he felt confident in the braking zones on his year-old GP21, and the Gresini Racing rider leapt to fourth overall. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Enea Bastianini (23) said he felt confident in the braking zones on his year-old Ducati Desmosedici GP21, and the Gresini Racing rider leapt to fourth overall. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

 

Alex Rins (42) popped on a soft rear tire halfway through the second practice session, fired off a pair of quick laps and then concentrated on evaluating whether the soft was an option for the race. His quick time was good enough for fifth overall on the day. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Alex Rins (42) popped on a soft-compound rear Michelin tire halfway through the second practice session, fired off a pair of quick laps and then concentrated on evaluating whether the soft was an option for the race. His quickest time was good enough for fifth overall on the day. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

 

Marc Marquez (93) returned from injury, saying in the pre-race news conference that he had lacked the motivation to try to race in Argentina, that the injury to his optical nerve that had sidelined him after a horrendous highside in Mandalika had frightened him. He told reporters that he wasn't racing for the win, that he was just trying to get his confidence back. Then he topped most of FP1 and ended the day sixth, 0.499 seconds off the best lap of the day. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marc Marquez (93) returned from injury, saying in the pre-race news conference that he had lacked the motivation to try to race in Argentina, that the injury to his optical nerve that had sidelined him after a horrendous highside at Mandalika had frightened him. He told reporters that he wasn’t racing for the win, that he was just trying to get his confidence back. Then he topped most of FP1 and ended the day sixth, 0.499 second off the best lap of the day. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

 

Aleix Espargaro (41) said that COTA would challenge the Aprilia RS-GP, and he was unable to crack the top 10 in practice. Teammate Maverick Vinales was second in FP1 and remained in seventh after the second practice session. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Aleix Espargaro said that COTA would challenge the Aprilia RS-GP, and he was unable to crack the top 10 in practice. Teammate Maverick Vinales was second in FP1 and remained in seventh after the second practice session. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

 

Cameron Beaubier (6) said he had high expectations for himself at COTA, and he started strongly, finishing second and third in Moto2 practice. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Cameron Beaubier (6) said he had high expectations for himself at COTA, and he started strongly, finishing second and third in Moto2 FP1 and FP2, respectively. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

 

Joe Roberts (16) has struggled this season with rear grip issues and wound up 11th on the combined practice sheets. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Joe Roberts (16) has struggled this season with rear grip issues and wound up 11th on the Moto2 combined practice sheets. Photo by Michael Gougis.

North America Talent Cup: Shedden Secures Pole Position At COTA

Jesse James Shedden (99). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Jesse James Shedden (99), as seen at Circuit of The Americas earlier in 2022. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Session for AME NATC QP

Quick Look: 2022 BMW M 1000 RR—Ultimate Evolution, In The April Issue

Jeremy Toye was impressed with the BMW M 1000 RR at Auto Club Speedway. “There aren't many bikes you can just jump on and go that fast with confidence,” Toye said. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Jeremy Toye was impressed with the BMW M 1000 RR at Auto Club Speedway. “There aren't many bikes you can just jump on and go that fast with confidence,” Toye said. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Featured In the April 2022 issue of Roadracing World:

         At the 2021 Bol d’Or 24-hour World Endurance Championship (EWC) race, I was a guest in the BMW Motorrad factory garage, invited to carefully examine the bits and pieces that go into a race-winning machine at that level of competition. One of the things that struck me was how often Steven Casaer, Technical Director for the team, kept using the words ‘stock’ and ‘over-the-counter’ as he detailed the components and the overall machine build. “It’s a pretty basic machine,” he finally said at the end of the interview.

         There’s no such thing as a true racing-spec streetbike. Emissions and noise regulations, reliability and usability concerns—as well as price—drive certain concessions to legality, reality, and sanity for anything that can be purchased off a showroom floor. But some race replicas are more racebike than others. And BMW’s M 1000 RR, the company’s most advanced and highest-performing streetbike, legitimately shares its core with the racebike that finished second in the EWC series last year, ending the season with a win at Most in the Czech Republic…

            —Quick Look: 2022 BMW M 1000 RR, by Michael Gougis

 

            Roadracing World took the newest M 1000 RR to the track and put test consultant Jeremy Toye aboard. Toye is uniquely qualified to evaluate BMW’s quickest sportbike, as he not only rides a BMW S 1000 RR regularly as a coach with Fastrack Riders, but raced an S 1000 RR to a podium finish at the Macau Grand Prix. What did Toye think of the M 1000 RR? Read his impressions in the latest issue of Roadracing World!

 

Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology is THE definitive source for motorcycle racing, riding, and tech information. 

PREVIEW  the April 2022 Issue of Roadracing World!

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MotoAmerica: Gagne Hangs On To Superbike Pole Position At COTA (Updated Again)

Jake Gagne (1). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Jake Gagne (1). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha rider Jake Gagne will start the first MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike race of the 2022 season from pole position Saturday at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), in Austin, Texas, in spite of the defending Champion not posting any lap times in the final qualifying session Friday.

Gagne led Qualifying One with a lap time of 2:08.450 on his YZF-R1, but his bike suffered a technical problem and lost power early in Qualifying Two (Q2), preventing him from completing any timed laps in Q2.

Gagne’s time from the earlier session held up as fastest overall and he got pole position, but the veteran lost the 40 minutes of track time in Q2 that he planned to use doing long runs and evaluating his race tire choices.

The fastest rider in Q2 was Mathew Scholtz, who did a 2:08.484 on his Westby Racing Yamaha and ended up second-best overall.

Former MotoGP rider Danilo Petrucci qualified third with a time of 2:08.788 on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Panigale V4 R.

Gagne’s teammate also suffered an engine failure on his Yamaha and failed to do any fast laps during Q2.

After the Q2 session, Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha informed MotoAmerica that they would be taking their Superbikes directly back to their area in the paddock to start swapping motors instead of going to mandatory impound in Parc Ferme, according to Team Owner Richard Stanboli. Because they failed to report to Parc Ferme, Gagne and Petersen were disqualified from Q2, but their lap times from Q1 earned them places on the grid for this weekend’s races.

 

22_2_COTA_SBK_Q2_comb
22_2_COTA_SBK_R1_grid (1)

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Gagne On Top On Opening Day For The MotoAmerica Superbikes At COTA

Despite Missing The Entire Q2 Session, Jake Gagne Nabs Pole Position In Texas

 

Jake Gagne (1). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Jake Gagne (1). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

 

AUSTIN, TX (April 8, 2022) – After an eventful final qualifying that saw him fail to complete a lap when a mechanical problem derailed his session, Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne hung on to pole position for this weekend’s two MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike races at Circuit of The Americas by just .034 of a second.

When all was said and done after the opening day for the premier class of the Auto Parts 4 Less MotoAmerica Championship, it was Gagne at the top of the heap by virtue of his 2:08.450 lap on a sunny Friday afternoon in Texas. But it was oh so close with Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz second and just .034 of a second from snatching pole from Gagne, who was already out of his leathers and back at his team’s transporter.

The front row will be completed by Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Danilo Petrucci, the Italian making his MotoAmerica debut at COTA this weekend in impressive fashion. Petrucci was on a flying final lap in an effort to grab pole but ran wide and failed to improve his best of 2:08.788.

Row two for the pair of Medallia Superbikes will be led by Gagne’s new teammate Cameron Petersen, the South African also suffering a mechanical failure on his Yamaha YZF-R1 after just two laps of the final session. Fortunately, Petersen’s best from Q1 was good enough to put him fourth on the grid. The final rider to lap in the 2:09s was Tytler’s Cycle Racing’s Hector Barbera, the Spaniard riding the team’s new BMW to a 2:09.999. Barbera’s teammate PJ Jacobsen will start from sixth on the grid in his return to racing action after a year-and-a-half sabbatical.

The pair of Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzukis were seventh and eighth, respectively, with Jake Lewis just a 10th of a second quicker than his Superbike rookie teammate Richie Escalante. Disrupt Racing Suzuki’s Hayden Gillim rounded out the top 10 qualifiers.

“It’s been an interesting day,” Gagne said. “We had a little mishap in this last qualifying a few minutes ago and I think we’re still on pole, but I know it’s close. I know those guys are going and we’re at the front for tomorrow and it will be some good racing. I’m looking forward to getting the year kicked off. I’m good to go. We’ve got it sorted out and we’ll be ready to go and ready to race tomorrow.”

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Ducati:

Danilo Petrucci Leaps to Third on Day One at Circuit of The Americas

The Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Rider on The Pace in Texas

 

Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati North America.
Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati North America.

 

Sunnyvale, Calif., April 8, 2022 – The opening day of Danilo Petrucci’s MotoAmerica career started in splendid style as the Italian superstar finished third overall after two qualifying sessions today at Circuit of The Americas.

Former double MotoGP race winner Petrucci completed a mammoth 34 laps across three official timed sessions in Texas for round one of the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, steadily closing the gap to Yamaha’s Jake Gagne and Mathew Scholtz to finally end the day 0.338 seconds off the leader.

The result is an exceptional one for Petrucci and the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC team as Petrucci gets used to the control Dunlop tires and the demands of the factory-backed Ducati Panigale V4 SBK after a career largely spent on prototype machinery in MotoGP.

Qualifying 2 Results—Top 5

P1 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 2:08.450

P2 – Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 2:08.484

P3 – Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) 2:08.788

P4 – Cameron Petersen (Yamaha) 2:09.724

P5 – Hector Barbera (BMW) 2:09.999

Danilo Petrucci (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – Ducati #9): “I am very happy because today was the first real day on the bike and everything is new for me, even down to the format for qualifying and the soft tire,” Petrucci said. “We suffered a little with chatter so we are searching for the right feeling from the rear of the bike but, anyway, I think the pace we have is very good. I am enjoying the challenge. The bike is really nice to ride and for sure I want to enjoy tomorrow. The track conditions will be pretty good so I cannot wait to go racing.”

Race one of the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship season from Austin, TX, will commence at 5:15 p.m. CDT.

North America Talent Cup: Shedden Still Fastest In FP2 At COTA

Jesse James Shedden (99) on hot pit lane at COTA. Photo by David Swarts.
Jesse James Shedden (99) as seen earlier this season at COTA. Photo by David Swarts.
Session for AME NATC FP2

Moto3: Foggia Fastest In FP2 In Texas

Dennis Foggia (7). Photo courtesy Leopard Racing Team.
Dennis Foggia (7). Photo courtesy Leopard Racing Team.
Moto3 FP2