MotoGP™ Race Director Mike Webb explains two additions ahead of the Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich
Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Two new dashboard message options will debut in the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship during the upcoming Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich. Dashboard messages are a tool available to Race Direction to facilitate direct communication with riders when they’re out on track, and a number of messages can also be sent and managed by teams.
This weekend, two new message options will become available. The first is a message communicating a problem with rider equipment – leathers, boots, gloves, helmet – introduced by Race Direction. The second is a request from the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards to introduce a warning regarding rider behaviour.
Race Director Mike Webb explains:
What are the two new messages?
Mike Webb: “For many years we’ve had dashboard messages where Race Direction can send messages to riders on the bike; flag signals and information about penalties, things like that. From time to time more signals. But a couple of things have come up recently, one is at the Catalan GP we had something that has never happened before, where a rider’s equipment; leathers, wasn’t functioning correctly and we needed to tell the rider to fix it. And there isn’t really an appropriate signal, we have signals about a mechanical failure on the bike, signals about disqualifications and things like that, but we decided after this incident that we needed a specific signal about rider equipment because it’s different to a mechanical failure, where if a bike is leaking oil or water or something, it’s important the bike goes off the track immediately.
“In the case of a problem or fastening undone on rider equipment, or something that’s not immediately a problem but needs to be fixed, it’s a different situation. So we have a new signal on the dashboard, it shows ‘equipment’ on the rider dashboard and the meaning has been explained to the riders and teams: there is a problem with your equipment and you’re required to fix it immediately. If that means coming into the pits to fix it, ok. Or if you can fix it yourself on track, that’s also ok. What we require is that you fix it immediately, so there’s a new message about rider equipment.
“The other update is a request from the FIM MotoGP Stewards about rider behaviour. There are times when a rider may do something we don’t like, but it is borderline and could have been a misjudgement or a mistake. However, if they repeat that behaviour and prove it was neither, it will incur a penalty. So the Stewards want a warning signal to say ‘hey, don’t do that. We’re watching and if you do it again there will be a penalty’. So there’s a new display on the dashboard called ‘warning’ and it’s specifically about rider behaviour. The warning signal says to the rider ‘what you’re doing, we don’t like it. Pay attention and if you continue there could be a penalty’. That’s the two new messages to improve communication between Race Direction and the riders.”
Why are these updates coming into force now?
Mike Webb: “Messages on the dashboard take a bit of lead time. The manufacturers of the dashboards and motorcycles have to adjust their systems, and the timekeeping, to send the messages, they all have to get ready and it takes a little time so we’ve agreed on the messages, the technical part is being changed now and these messages will be available from the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend.”
Can Gagne Be Stopped? MotoAmerica Heads To PittRace To Find Out
Jake Gagne Arrives In Pittsburgh, August 13-15, Riding An 11-Race MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Win Streak
IRVINE, CA (August 11, 2021) – Plain and simple. Jake Gagne is on a roll and has looked unstoppable in winning a record-setting 11 MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike races in a row. But with another race comes renewed hope for his rivals. Maybe, just maybe, this is their week.
The MotoAmerica paddock heads to Pennsylvania, August 13-15, for one of the more popular stops on the calendar – round seven: Pittsburgh International Race Complex – and everyone rolls out on track on Friday morning hoping to have the answer to the biggest question of 2021. Can anyone stop Gagne and his Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha?
So far, the answer is no. And the more he wins, the more his confidence grows and the harder he is to beat. Case in point, the last round at Brainerd International Raceway. Gagne crashed in front of the HONOS Superbike pack on the opening lap and somehow neither he nor his motorcycle got struck by another rider. He was unscathed and so was his Yamaha YZF-R1. Meanwhile, 100 yards up the track and a few seconds later, Loris Baz slid off his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Panigale V4 R, the bike hit the gravel trap, cartwheeled, and basically broke in half. Fast forward half an hour and Gagne was on his way to winning his 10th in a row while Baz watched from hot pit.
Such is the life of Jake Gagne in 2021.
Gagne crashed and won on Saturday in Minnesota, and then went out and won again on Sunday for a record-setting 11th in a row. This coming weekend in Pennsylvania, the Californian will be trying for an even dozen.
With Gagne’s win streak comes a generous points lead of 79 over Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz, the only other rider to win a HONOS Superbike race in 2021. Since his win in the opening round when Gagne’s bike failed him, Scholtz has visited the podium seven more times, including his runner-up finish to Gagne in Sunday’s race at BIR a couple of weeks ago.
With two races left to be run at Pitt Race and three at both New Jersey Motorsports Park and Barber Motorsports Park to close the season, there’s still plenty to play for with 200 points on the table. But first things first: Someone has to stop the runaway train that is Gagne.
Scholtz, meanwhile, has a 35-point cushion on his South African countryman Cameron Petersen, the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki rider having a consistent season with four trips to the podium in 2021. Petersen, in turn, has 16 points on Gagne’s teammate Josh Herrin with the 2013 AMA Superbike Champion missing the last round after testing positive for COVID-19.
While the points leader is way out front and Scholtz looks sort of secure in second, the battle for points behind them is close with only 23 points separating Petersen in third from Baz in sixth, with Herrin and M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Bobby Fong separating the two.
Seventh is held by Scheibe Racing BMW’s Hector Barbera, with the Spaniard continuing to impress in his first season in the MotoAmerica Series.
The next three riders in the Superbike title chase are the three riders fighting to take home the $25,000 for winning the Superbike Cup, a class within a class for those racing their Stock 1000-spec motorcycles in the premier class. Altus Motorsports’ Jake Lewis is leading the way into Pitt Race, but he’s just seven points ahead of Travis Wyman Racing’s Travis Wyman and another seven clear of HONOS HVMC Racing’s Corey Alexander with that trio rounding out the top 10 in the Superbike Championship.
Pitt Race Superbike Notes…
This year’s race at Pittsburgh International Race Complex will mark the track’s fifth straight MotoAmerica event. The 2.87-mile, 19-turn track was constructed in 2002 and MotoAmerica made its debut there in 2017.
Five different riders have won the eight MotoAmerica Superbike races held at the track in Beaver County: Cameron Beaubier (3), Toni Elias (2), Roger Hayden (1), Josh Herrin (1) and Garrett Gerloff (1).
Five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier, who is now competing in the Moto2 World Championship, is the MotoAmerica Superbike lap record holder at Pitt Race. Beaubier set the outright lap record of 1:39.472 during Superpole in 2019 and set the race record of 1:40.550 in race two last year.
Beaubier won both HONOS Superbike races at Pitt Race in 2020 besting Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz and Beaubier’s teammate Jake Gagne in the pair of races.
Only two riders have won HONOS Superbike races in 2021 – Jake Gagne and Mathew Scholtz. Six riders, however, have earned podium finishes this year: Gagne (11), Scholtz (8), Josh Herrin (5), Loris Baz (5), Cameron Petersen (4) and Bobby Fong (2).
With his 11th victory coming in the last round at Brainerd International Raceway, Jake Gagne moved into a tie for 17th on the all-time AMA Superbike win list with Australian Anthony Gobert. A single win at Pitt Race will move Gagne into a tie with Doug Chandler for 16th; two wins and Gagne will slot into a tie with Doug Polen and Blake Young for 14th all-time.
Cameron Beaubier won 13 races en route to the Superbike title in 2020 and Gagne already has 11 wins this year with eight races left on the schedule. Beaubier scored 436 points in his dominating 2020 season; Gagne currently has 275 points with 200 points still up for grabs.
If/when Loris Baz wins a HONOS Superbike race he will become the first Frenchman to ever win an AMA Superbike race. Australia, Italy, England, and Canada are the countries that follow the U.S. in the number of riders winning AMA Superbike races with two riders from each country. In total, riders from seven different foreign countries have won AMA Superbike races.
Californians have the most AMA Superbike victories with 18 different riders from the Golden State taking wins. Texas (8), Kentucky (4) and Georgia (3) are next on the list.
More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:
Westby Racing Brings Their Steely Determination To The Steel City This Weekend
Tulsa, OK – August 11, 2021 – Round seven of the 2021 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship starts this Friday at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania. Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike rider Mathew Scholtz and YZF-R3 Junior Cup rider Jack Roach are happy to be back East and are looking forward to racing at one of their favorite tracks on the MotoAmerica schedule.
For Mathew and the team, eight podium finishes in 12 races is an impressive accomplishment, as well as a powerful statement of consistency. But, they’re not satisfied. In fact, they are more determined than ever to end championship leader Jake Gagne’s winning streak. And so, the theme for this weekend is “there’s no better place than Pitt Race” as Mathew and the team steel their determination.
Mathew Scholtz (11). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
“This is a race weekend that I am really looking forward to,” said Mathew. “Pitt Race is one of my favorite circuits on the calendar, and I always enjoy racing there. I’ve had some very positive results in the past there, and with the momentum we are experiencing with the bike, the team, and my riding, I think we can have a really good weekend. I’ve got a couple of things that I’ve been working on with my riding, and I know we have some ideas for setting up the bike. I can’t wait to get out on the track and continue working hard to bridge the gap to Jake Gagne because I know we are more than capable of running up at the front. Also, I look forward to seeing all the fans this weekend.”
Crew chief Ed Sullivan commented, “After a solid couple of rounds, we have a really good direction with the bike and the rider, but now it’s time to take the next step forward. We’ve been working hard with the data from Brainerd, and we look forward to trying some setup options on Friday. Pitt Race has been good to us in the past, and the team is excited to see what Mathew can do this year.
Team manager Chuck Giacchetto added, “Coming to Pitt Race always makes me feel good. Our first ever time at this facility was a test a few years back, and we left being the fastest overall. Our team has always adapted well to this circuit, and I know our crew has been working very diligently since our double podium at Brainerd. The fellas and Mathew, I’m sure, are excited and ready for FP1.”
Superbike final qualifying is on Saturday morning at 10:20 a.m. ET. Superbike race one will go green on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. ET, and Superbike race two is on Sunday afternoon also at 2 p.m. ET. Both races will be broadcast LIVE on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), as well as streamed on MotoAmerica Live+.
Jack’s 2021 Junior Cup season has been a trying one for the young Brit, but just like his mentor Mathew, he is equally determined to perform his best this weekend at Pitt Race. He’ll approach the weekend one step at a time, striving for fast lap times in practice and qualifying, and then applying his racecraft in both races to finish strong.
“Pitt Race is one of my favorite tracks,” Jack said. “And I think the weather conditions may come into effect. You could call me a wet-weather specialist from my background in the British Superbike Series, so I think this round will be very interesting.
“Also, I want to give a shout out to Chuck (Giacchetto) for giving me his support throughout this season. Without him, none of this would be possible.”
Junior Cup race one starts on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, and Junior Cup race two is on Sunday, also at 3 p.m. ET. Both races will be broadcast via tape-delay on FS2 this Tuesday, August 17, beginning at 5 p.m. ET.
Meet Mathew and Jack, Get Some Autographed Posters, And More
Mathew and Jack will both be available at the Westby Racing transporter in the paddock at Pitt Race with free, autographed posters and other team items to hand out, so be sure to check the schedule and stop by during those autograph sessions.
Check Out The Westby Racing Sponsor Showcase
Eazi-Grip, GB Racing, and Renthal will be the featured team sponsors on display in the Westby Racing paddock area, so be sure to stop by to say hello and learn about some of the companies that support the team.
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Ducati:
Ducati’s Dynamic Duo Ready to Tackle One of the Gems in the MotoAmerica Calendar at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex
Sunnyvale, Calif., August 11, 2021 – MotoAmerica 2021 resumes this weekend as America’s finest Superbike stars head to the lush surrounds of the Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
One of the most popular rounds of the season, Pitt Race, as it’s affectionately known, will be something of a homecoming for Loris Baz and the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York team, as their base is located 400 miles east of the Pittsburgh venue in New York City.
This weekend presents one of the best opportunities yet for Baz to capture his first MotoAmerica win, after testing at the venue earlier this year on a Ducati Panigale V4 S. Should Baz take the spoils, he will also add France to the list of AMA Superbike/MotoAmerica race winning countries alongside Australia, Italy, England, and Canada.
Pitt Race will also see Kyle Wyman back in the saddle of the Panera Bread Ducati Panigale V4 R. The Arizona resident aborted his comeback ride on Friday at Brainerd citing excessive pain and strength issues on his still healing broken left elbow, but a couple of weeks recouperation have been kind to him and Wyman’s ready to go at a track he knows well, having also tested at the venue two months ago.
Loris Baz (76). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York – Ducati #76)
“It’s good to ride a nice track like Pittsburgh,” Baz said. “I really enjoyed the pace when I rode a track day on the Ducati Panigale V4 S. Like every round, we’ll be trying our best to ride well and find a good setting early on in the weekend with the Panigale. We were a bit unlucky at the last round at Brainerd, but I think the Pittsburgh track is more suited to our bike than Brainerd. It’s not as bumpy, and it’s a bit like a home race for the team. We just have to watch what the weather does and try to adapt the bike to suit the conditions, but I’m really looking forward to riding such a nice track.”
Kyle Wyman (33). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Kyle Wyman (Panera Bread Ducati – Ducati #33)
“Feeling pretty good for this weekend,” Wyman said. “The elbow is coming along well. There hasn’t been a whole lot of time since Brainerd but I feel I’m in a lot better position than I was a couple of weeks ago. I’m really looking forward to Pittsburgh because this is the only track we’ve tested at this year, so we have some good data and feedback from our two days here back in May. I’m just hoping my body can withstand the number of laps I need to do. The weather looks a little dodgy so we’ll see if we get a bit of rain in the first half of the weekend, but I’m really looking forward to getting back on my bike and getting back into the rhythm.”
More, from a press release issued by Kyle Wyman Racing:
Kyle Wyman will ride at Pittsburgh this weekend on Panera Bread Ducati
Kyle Wyman (33), as seen earlier this season at Road Atlanta. Photo courtesy KWR.
TUCSON, Ariz. (Aug. 11) — Kyle Wyman will ride his Panera Bread Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike this weekend for round 7 of the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, after withdrawing from the previous round at Brainerd International Raceway with lingering effects from his fractured elbow.
Wyman, who is now 8 weeks post-surgery, has been recovering while riding at races like Laguna Seca, just three weeks after surgery and winning the King of the Baggers race and championship. While this previous round at Brainerd was a further three weeks later with more recovery time, the injury was not healed and strong enough to ride the beastly Ducati Superbike.
Wyman’s hope is that another two weeks of recovery will put the New York native in a better position physically to compete at what is essentially his home race.
“Obviously pulling out mid-weekend at Brainerd was a surprise and a major setback on our season,” Wyman said. “But the past week I’ve seen some big progress in the strength and pain management of my elbow that did not exist a short time ago. At this point the bone is very much healed around the titanium plate and seven screws, but there are so many ligaments and tendons in the elbow joint that, along with the muscles, take a lot longer to heal and find strength again.”
While not back to full-fitness, Wyman’s current state should allow him to control the bike safely and put in a complete weekend, further developing the Panigale V4 R Superbike. The KWR team tested at Pittsburgh in May of this year, after the Virginia International Raceway round and has high hopes for good results.
“I will need to take it lap by lap, day by day,” Wyman added. “But we’ve made some ergonomic changes to the bike and with the improvements I’ve made there is a good chance we can be in a position to fight in the top 5. It’s been three rounds I’ve missed now, which sucks. After our test here at Pittsburgh in the spring we found a really good setup for this place so I’m really hoping to be physically in a position to make the most of it.”
Find out how the weekend will play out by subscribing to MotoAmerica Live+. FP1 practice starts Friday, August 13th at 10:25am EST. Live coverage begins at 2:00pm EST. Both Superbike races will be LIVE on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) on Saturday and Sunday, both at 2:00pm EST.
Please visit our sponsor page to support the companies who support KWR.
Motorcycle Competition Decision Announced by Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Organizers
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — After two years of research, deliberation, thoughtful consideration and advice from colleagues in the motorsports industry, the Board of the Directors of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has made the decision to discontinue motorcycle competition as part of the annual Race to the Clouds.
“Motorcycle competition has been part of the history of the race off-and-on since 1916, and has been both thrilling and tragic for competitors and fans alike,” explained Fred Veitch, Interim Chairman of the Board. “This has been a long process and a difficult decision, but we believe it is the right decision and one that is in the best interest of the organization at this time.”
View a complete history of motorcycle racing on Pikes Peak HERE.
Ready, set… show! MotoE™ rocks up at the Red Bull Ring
Spielberg welcomes the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup back for another showstopper, with crunch time fast approaching in the standings
Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Summer break was a little longer for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup, but we’re back in business at the Austrian GP as the spectacular Red Bull Ring welcomes the electric runners for the penultimate round of the season. A venue the Cup has visited before, it’s familiar turf for those who competed in MotoE™ in 2019… but a new challenge for a few competitors.
Alessandro Zaccone (Octo Pramac MotoE) is one of them, the Italian making his MotoE™ debut last year. But so far this season it hasn’t seemed to matter where we’ve raced or what his previous CV or track knowledge was like, the number 61 keeps getting the job done and often in style. Three races remain in 2021 and his advantage is only seven points, but his consistency has been rock solid so far and he has to remain the favourite heading into the Red Bull Ring.
Jordi Torres (HP Pons 40) is now the man on the chase, the Spaniard making up good ground at Assen to move into second. At Assen he also got his elbows out, as promised, and there seemed to be a switch from focusing on consistency above all else to laying a little more on the line. Can he keep that going? He may have to try if he’s to defend the crown, because Zaccone has been watertight so far.
Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP), meanwhile, arrives with the opposite conundrum. After a crash at Assen that’s sent him down to fourth and 17 points down, he can no longer wait for a mistake from his rivals and will need to go on the attack. Will that risk vs reward pay off? He’s not won a race so far this year, but now would be a good time to do it.
And then there’s Eric Granado (ONE Energy Racing), who is the opposite again. The Brazilian is now ahead of Aegerter in the standings, although equal on points, with two wins to his name. Two bouts of bad luck join them on his rap sheet, but when it comes together – like it did at Assen – Granado is hard to beat. When he’s needed to, he’s also found the perfect bounce back this season, including that spectacular final corner ballet against Zaccone in France, when the opposite outcome could have seriously dented his charge for the Cup. Can he bring the magic and avoid the bad luck again in Austria? He is one of those who raced here in 2019…
Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) is another and rekindled his solid points hauls at Assen, but he’ll be looking to move up as he’s now ten points off Granado and Aegerter, and only a single point ahead of Barcelona winner Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team). Pons had a tougher visit to the TT Circuit Assen and will be aiming for more in Austria.
Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE), meanwhile, got more at the Dutch GP. After a tougher start to the year the Italian took his best 2021 finish yet at Assen in fourth, and was the top Red Bull Ring finisher on the current grid back in 2019. He’s consistent as ever too, with a top ten finish in every race this season – something that only Zaccone, Torres and Yonny Hernandez (Octo Pramac MotoE) can join in claiming.
Lukas Tulovic (Tech3 E-Racing), Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE) and Fermin Aldeguer (Openbank Aspar Team) are waiting in the wings to fight it out for that top ten – as a minimum – too, and all three are covered by just eight points in the standings, with time left to make up some good ground. Mathematically, the 2021 Cup remains anyone’s to win… but the clock is ticking and crunch time is coming as we head into the penultimate round.
Zaccone? Torres? Granado? Aegerter? Or another shake up in the standings? We’ll find out on Sunday as MotoE™ go racing at 15:30 (GMT +2) around the stunning Red Bull Ring – Spielberg.
ENERGICA AND MOTOE BACK AT THE RED BULL RING FOR ROUND FIVE
Energica and the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup are back in action this weekend after a seemingly endless, eight-week summer break comes to a close as riders and teams arrive at the Red Bull Ring for the penultimate event of 2021. The Austrian venue has returned to the calendar after a one-year absence due to the ongoing global pandemic, for a round that will be crucial for the title hopes of the main title contenders – and the ones hoping to enter the battle for the ultimate prize aboard their Energica Ego Corsa machines ahead of the final two races at Misano in September.
Leading the way after four encounters is Alessandro Zaccone (OCTO Pramac MotoE), by far the most consistent rider in the MotoE field – and consistency once again is proving to be the key for success in the series. The 22-year-old Italian has a seven-point margin over reigning world cup champion Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) with one win, two thirds and one fourth place (at Montmeló).
Speaking of consistency, Torres has followed a similar path so far, although he is yet to step atop the podium this year. Eric Granado (One Energy Racing) and Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt IntactGP) are both 17 points adrift in third and fourth, the two riders having to face disappointment along the way. Unlike the Brazilian opponent, Aegerter needs to bounce back after crashing out at Assen in late June, while Granado could enjoy a dominant win on Dutch turf.
The #AustrianGP is going to be even more important for Mattia Casadei (Ongetta Sic58 Squadracorse), Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team) and Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE), who absolutely need to make some ground to the top as they currently are 27, 28 and 30 points in arrears, respectively. Casadei and Ferrari are two of only four riders who raced here in 2019 in the MotoE Class, the other two being Maria Herrera (OpenBank Aspar Team) and the aforementioned Granado.
MotoE proceedings will begin this Friday at 11:50 local time (GMT +2), with the race set to get underway on Sunday at 15:30.
MotoE action will get underway this Friday at 11:50 for Free Practice 1, with the E-Pole scheduled for Saturday at 16:10 and the race on Sunday at 15:30 local time (GMT +2).
ABOUT ENERGICA MOTOR COMPANY S.p.A
Energica Motor Company is the first Italian manufacturer of high-performing electric motorcycles and is the single manufacturer chosen by Dorna for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup. Energica Motorcycles are on sale worldwide.
When I first rode the new Aprilia 660 RS last year, my first thought was, “There’s no way this thing is only a 660.”
When I first twisted the throttle on the 2021 Tuono V4 Factory, my first thought expressed the same sentiment, just from a different direction. I thought, “This is absolutely an 1100! Woo-hoo!”
It’s a winning formula for Aprilia — take a powerful engine from a sportbike and stick it into a chassis that has a slightly friendlier riding position. Voila, the Tuono, historically one of the company’s most important models.
The 2021 Tuono V4 models refine that idea a bit, with Aprilia offering two similar yet very distinctive models of its iconic “standard “sports model lineup. The Factory version is even more track oriented than the prior RR model, while the V4 version is aimed at the person who rides on the street and wants to rack up serious mileage.
When Aprilia turned a handful of motojournalists loose on the new machines on the roads of the Southern California mountains last week, the glorious sounds of V4 motorcycle engines echoed through the canyons above Pasadena.
Technical Overview
The machine is powered by Aprilia‘s 1077cc 65-degree V4, with architecture it shares with the company’s flagship RSV4 sportbike. Aprilia says the Tuono version has been re-tuned for more mid-range torque, but still puts out a claimed 175 horsepower at 11,350 rpm with a torque peak of 89.25 lbs.-ft. at 9,000 rpm. Aprilia was determined to ensure that compliance with the new Euro5 emissions standards did not reduce overall engine performance.
The rest of the powertrain is very similar to, and in keeping with, the Aprilia V4 sportbike DNA. The engine retains its unique chain/gear camshaft drive system. Lighter valve spring bucket tappets raise the redline from 12,500 rpm to 12,800 rpm.
A new Magneti Marelli 11MP ECU offers more pins (from 80 to 144, to allow for more inputs into the bike’s electronic brain) and four times the computing speed of the prior unit. Rider aids include cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control, engine braking, launch control, clutchless up- and down-shifting, a pit speed limiter, cruise control, three engine maps, and six riding modes. (You know you’ve got a real all-arounder when your bike has a pit lane speed limiter and cruise control. That’s a broad spread of functionality!)
The cosmetic changes for this model year are subtle, but significant. Both versions get a re-styled fairing, and both versions get a new inverted swingarm based on a MotoGP design and is lighter, simpler to produce, and 48% stiffer. A new tank is featured on both machines, as are LED headlights that light the inside of corners. The changes, or the differences between the two models, are found in the suspension, in the riding position, and in the details.
The Factory model comes with Ohlins Smart EC 2.0 semi-active electronically adjustable suspension, a system which also controls adjustments at the steering damper. On this model, suspension adjustments are made using buttons on the left handlebar and displayed on the Thin-Film Transistor dash.
The windscreen is bobbed, the tubular bars are lower than on the prior model, and at the back of the machine, the Factory utilizes the subframe, passenger pegs, and passenger seating accommodations from the RSV4. For people who have been passengers on the RSV4, those accommodations are a polite way of saying that the rider prefers to travel solo! They have been designed, however, to be removed quickly for track use.
And with track use in mind, the Factory comes with shorter final gearing and a larger (200-series) and stickier Pirelli Supercorsa rear tire, mated to a 120-series Supercorsa front tire.
The base V4 model comes with conventional Sachs suspension front and rear; handlebars lifted approximately an inch via taller risers; a broad, flat passenger seat; and passenger footpegs that are located on longer stalks to offer additional legroom for the passenger.
In addition, the bike is offered with a bespoke set of soft luggage consisting of a remarkably spacious tank bag and a set of saddlebags that are asymmetrical to fit around the exhaust system.
A final touch to increase rider comfort is a taller windscreen than the one found on the Factory and a pair of small side panels that help direct wind blast away from the rider. Taller gearing for more relaxed cruising and Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tires complete the street package.
Suggested MSRP for the base model is $15,999, while the Factory version runs $19,499.
These are important models for Aprilia. Depending on the year, Aprilia will sell between two to three times as many Tuonos as RSV4s. In addition, the Tuono is the model that brings people into the Aprilia brand, and an owner is more likely to hang onto it for a longer period of time than an RSV4 owner. So Aprilia did not take this model revision lightly.
Aprilia followed the lead of its customers and built the Tuono V4 into a more street-oriented machine, with attention on comfort for both the rider and passenger–and lots of cargo space. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Riding Impressions
As mentioned, the first thing I noticed is the power. It’s everywhere. And while the company’s claims about usable mid-range torque sound so much like a marketing cliché, the fact is that it’s true. The torque produced by this big-bore sportbike engine is a joy, and there in bucketfuls. Pick a gear, twist the throttle, and there’s always enough poke to get moving, quickly. Unlike some other Euro5 machines I’ve ridden, the Tuono still revs quickly and enthusiastically.
Heading up Angeles Crest Highway and on the surrounding roads, I found that I had a choice of gears to play in. I could rev the thing closer to redline in second and let the power at the top pull me out of corners, or I could leave it in third and just ride the torque all the way through the apex, carrying even more speed for a longer portion of the corner and coming out harder on the throttle. Either way provided plenty of speed.
The author at speed on a 2021 Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
The chassis clearly demonstrated its cutting-edge sportbike roots. The best way to describe this machine’s behavior are responsive and precise, as you might expect from a bike with the RSV4’s chassis and an upgraded swingarm. But I felt every pavement imperfection, courtesy of the very stiff chassis and swingarm. Perhaps it was a function of the more upright tubular handlebars, as compared to clip-on handlebars, but it felt like I could react to those very direct messages from the bike with a light, precise touch. Carving through the corners on the Crest, I felt like I could put the bike anywhere I wanted, even at speed. Between that, the excellent Brembo M50 Monobloc brakes and the ease with which the engine delivers power, it made for a very stress-free ride, even while carrying more than a little bit of speed.
The riding position is definitely more comfortable than on a full-on sport bike. It’s not a naked bike, and is closer to a full-fairing sportbike than a naked. Aprilia‘s philosophy is that a motorcycle going this rapidly needs to provide protection for the rider and aero stability, hence the fairing. And the fairing works, providing a still pocket of air for the rider, lessening the turbulence, and leaving the rider with a more planted feel at the bars.
The clutchless up- and down-shifts work seamlessly, the on-off throttle response is precise and fluid. The clutch pull is a little heavier than I expected after being utterly spoiled by the modern crop of assisted slipper clutches that are now standard on seemingly every motorcycle.
The Factory version felt a little soft and vague when I initially turned into corners, but poking at a couple of buttons on the left handlebar allowed me to dial up one electronic “click” more firmness at the front and at the rear, and, to add a little more resistance, adding one “click” of steering damper. It was an absolute pleasure to ride, with more feedback and feel than most other motorcycles, and the utter confidence of knowing that the bike would do anything I asked it to do.
After lunch, I jumped onto the base V4 model and I was prepared to be disappointed. I can honestly say that I was not disappointed — a remarkable surprise. The Sachs suspension is more than adequate for getting down the mountain at a very, very brisk pace. The more upright handlebars increased the comfort of an already-comfortable riding position, and the slightly larger windscreen provided noticeably more protection.
The Tuono V4, in either base [as pictured] or Factory trim, is a potent combination of RSV4 chassis technology and a stout Superbike-derived engine. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Aprilia marketeers say that the two new models are based on what they found Aprilia customers were actually doing with their Tuonos. Either they were being built into more track-oriented machines, or they were being outfitted for longer street rides.
It’s best to not think of the two new models as being better or worse. Instead, think of them as two very, very good motorcycles aimed at different target audiences and configured to meet the needs of those two different riders. It’s very much a case of horses for courses, and in each case, Aprilia has created an even better thoroughbred.
WERA WEST SPORTSMAN SERIES PRESENTED BY LUCAS OIL RETURNS AFTER A MONTH BREAK!
The WERA West Sportsman Series presented by Lucas Oil returns to racing after a break! On August 14-15 the riders will be at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in Buttonwillow, CA for a double-header sprint event. There is a Rider’s School offered on Saturday for anyone wanting to transition from track days to road racing. First-time riders with WERA are eligible for a discount on the school and on their license.
On Saturday and Sunday racing begins at noon and has a full slate of sprint races from 1000cc down to mini machines as well as some Vintage Races will be available.
Credentials available at the gate! Come on out and see some great action and the future stars of the sport.
If you have not tried Lucas Oil Products you should – best products available for all your things with motors!
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was founded in 1973 and remains the foremost place to develop talent in the sport of motorcycle road racing. The legacy of Pro Riders on a National and World level is legendary. All events are run by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing with a co-sanction by the AMA and they go coast to coast offering entry-level racing with the WERA Sportsman Series as well as a Pro-Am Series which is the Pirelli/WERA National Challenge Series. WERA also offers Vintage Racing and hosts the Concours de ’Competition and Concours d’ Elegance in July at Barber Motorsports Park. Endurance Racing is also on the menu with our partner N2 and runs 4-5 events a year with a Big Bike Endurance and an Ultralightweight Endurance. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was voted the 2017 AMA Track Organizer of the year.
For more information on WERA Motorcycle Roadracing please check out our web site at wera.com.
2021 Springfield Mile Marks Final Year for Kiesow Racing/IMDA Promotions
Mees Promotions to inherit event in 2022.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Springfield Mile is pleased to announce new event promoters for 2022. After four decades of successful event promotion, Kiesow Racing and IMDA are pleased to pass the torch to Jared and Nichole Mees of Mees Promotions.
Kiesow Racing and IMDA have promoted this legendary race since 1981, taking great pride in many accomplishments through the years. Such accomplishments include 78 national Mile events, 16 national TT’s and 16 national Short Tracks at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
“We proudly supported the sport for 40 years and have amazing memories and even more amazing friends because of it,” said Tommra Kiesow of Kiesow Racing.
The IMDA and Kiesow Racing would like to thank the team that has been so dedicated and helpful in making these events a success.
The future of this iconic event has been entrusted to Mees Promotions. Bringing years of experience as racers and promoters to this event, Jared and Nichole Mees are uniquely set to continue the legacy of flat track’s crown jewel. Adding to their experience promoting the wildly successful Lima Half-Mile, both Jared and Nichole have raced at the Springfield Mile, were engaged and subsequently married there.
“We wish them many years of success at Springfield and we look forward to being there watching in the stands,” said Kiesow. “The IMDA members and us at Kiesow Racing hope to see all the familiar faces at this year’s race as we end a 40 year run at Springfield. Thank you all!”
Ducati Homologates Panigale V4 Range For Canadian Superbike Championship
Sunnyvale, Calif., August 10, 2021 – Ducati is delighted to announce its three Superbike class contenders – the Panigale V4, Panigale V4 S and Panigale V4 R – have been homologated to compete in Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK) from the 2022 season onwards.
Already a force in the WorldSBK, MotoAmerica, British, Italian, and Australian Superbike Championships, the Ducati Panigale V4 platform will be homologated to compete in two CSBK classes —the premier Pro Superbike Feature class and the Amateur Superbike class.
The unique rule set applied to CSBK, whereby a superbike machine is permitted to race if it produces up to 200 rear wheel horsepower on the Official Series Dynojet dyno and weigh no less than 360 lb after finishing qualifying and racing. This will allow the admission of the Panigale V4 R as well as the larger 1103 cc V4 and V4 S into the championship.
This offers potential teams the chance to join the Ducati family with a broader selection of racing motorcycles than any other manufacturer currently competing in the series.
Ducati has a proud history in the Canadian Superbike Championship, dating back to the late 1970s with Marco Mancini, Frank Mrazek and David Fleming, who competed with the 750 SS and 900 SS models.
In the early 1990s, Canadian legend Pascal Picotte and the Fast By Ferracci squad used a Ducati 888 to capture five National wins between 1992 and 1993. Three years later, in 1995, Jeff Sneyd piloted Bar Hodgson’s ex-Fast By Ferracci Ducati 888 to a National win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport).
The last homologated Ducati to run in the CSBK was the iconic 999 in 2004, piloted by two-time series champion Michael Taylor for the Z1 organization. As such, it’s been a long time between champagne for Ducati in the Canadian Superbike Championship, and with the increasingly competitive nature of the series and the passionate support from Canadian Ducatisti, the Bologna factory is ready to do battle in the series once again.
Jason Chinnock – Chief Executive Officer, Ducati North America
“Ducati has a rich racing heritage throughout the world and it is exciting for us to spread this tradition into Canada by joining the Canadian Superbike series,” said Chinnock. “Canada has always been a valued market for Ducati globally and this investment in racing will bring our Ducati owners and fans together to cheer on the teams. We look forward to seeing Ducati teams get back on the track and competing for the championship.”
Colin Fraser — President, Canadian Superbike Championship
“We are very proud of our history in the Canadian Superbike Championship and Ducati is a global player whose participation in the series is very important to us,” Fraser said. “Our series dates back to 1978 and Ducati was a major player back then, and we strongly believe more manufacturers and competition is always better for everyone involved. There are many reasons people will choose a particular motorcycle, be it commercial loyalty, sponsor, shop or distributor affiliation, and I believe with Ducati’s success in Superbike competition across the world, it brings a new element to the CSBK Championship and increases the potential competitive choices for riders wishing to compete.”
Take two: MotoGP™ ready for another stunner in Spielberg
Rise and shine! After a history maker of a Styrian GP, we’re ready to go again at the glorious Red Bull Ring
Tuesday, 10 August 2021
You know how it is, you wait all summer for a MotoGP™ race weekend… and then two come along at once! The venue remains the same as we race back-to-back at the emblematic Red Bull Ring, but there’s plenty to talk about on take two as we return for the Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, not least of all our first time winner: Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing).
A quick blitz through the stats: rookie, first Independent Team rider to win on a Ducati, first Pramac Racing win with Ducati, first rookie to win with an Independent Team, and only fifth rookie to win in MotoGP™: Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and the legendary Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo are the other members of that club. And Martin did it from his second pole position of his rookie season, with little drama and a whole load of speed. That must make him a favourite as we return to the track, but likewise the man he just defeated: Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar).
The reigning Champion has a great record in Austria; it’s where he took his first Grand Prix win and later, his first premier class podium too. He’s added another to that in the Styrian GP, which is his best of the year so far, and he also set the fastest lap for the first time in MotoGP™. So Mir will surely be a threat, but can he take another step forward to go one better on Sunday?
Given he’s now moved up to third overall in the standings, a few of his rivals will be hoping not – even more than the rest. Ducati Lenovo Team duo Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller are the two key names shuffled down in the standings, and they’ll want to come back stronger on take two… especially having watched the Red Bull Ring remain Ducati territory, just not theirs. Bagnaia at least had a good qualifying and first start to set him up for more this time around, and Miller had a good weekend too – until he crashed. The Australian didn’t have the pace of the Martin-Mir duo in the lead, but he was stalking Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) for the podium and has made looking for redemption work for him before.
Quartararo, meanwhile, already found some for Yamaha at a venue that’s usually a tougher one for the Iwata marque. When you’re leading the Championship and realise you can’t win, what do you do? The next best thing possible, which a podium more than fulfilled for the Frenchman – and he was ultimately a few places ahead of closest challenger Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) to compound the good day’s work. Can he do it again if the likes of Bagnaia and Miller come out swinging? Time will tell, and it will for former polesitter at the venue Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) after more bad luck for the Spaniard.
On the note of Zarco, however, the more veteran Pramac rider did start the last lap fourth and only one place behind Quartararo. He had a solid weekend and was the second Ducati home, after all. But he didn’t come home in fourth, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) saw to that, and he’ll want to figure out his teammate’s secret to the Red Bull Ring and take back some ground on Quartararo as a minimum.
So what about KTM and the aforementioned South African? The weekend was a rollercoaster for the Austrian marque from the off. Dani Pedrosa’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) wildcard put him top KTM on Friday, and drama hit early for Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) as the Portuguese rider highsided and was left riding through the pain barrier thereafter. Meanwhile Binder spent the day, and the day after, MIA from the top ten… but the story changed somewhat on Sunday.
From P16 on the grid, taking fourth place is an impressive performance. Doing so in a race where there were no big dramas ahead on track and on a day that, despite the weather forecast, stayed dry, made it even more so. For a final flourish, the South African also managed to get past both Zarco and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) on just the final lap alone… so can he repeat his incredible race, and from a starting position giving him a little less work to do? It was a spectacular reminder of just how and why he was the most recent rookie winner before Martin.
So Binder could be one to watch, and Oliveira will have hopefully gained from some days off to heal and get some better Sunday luck to pick up where his form left off before summer. Both will likely be getting some more Pedrosa feedback as the MotoGP™ Legend returns to test duty too. Can KTM territory ring more true on take two?
Honda, meanwhile, had a mixed bag too. Nakagami was top Honda on Sunday and whilst he did lose out to Binder, he gained on Zarco and the result was a top five. That’s encouraging after a tougher season at times, and likewise the performance of teammate Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) as he got back in the top ten and showed some serious pace. Can they build on that in the Austrian GP?
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) did pip Alex Marquez in the end and took eighth – via a couple of higher profile moments – but he’ll want more this time around. And his teammate Pol Espargaro too, after a late penalty compounded a tough weekend, as did the restart. Can they find more in the second run at it?
Finally, for Aprilia the promise was there but the luck was not. For Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) less than anyone as the Italian made contact with Pedrosa’s fallen bike and the results made for a dramatic Red Flag moment. He was up and ok after the incident, but an ankle fracture was found in further checks and after surgery, he’s sidelined. On the restart Aleix Espargaro then suffered a retirement, so he’ll be looking to restart his consistent run of form this season as we get back in business at the Red Bull Ring, alone in the Noale garage this weekend at least.
A rookie winner, a Ducati winner… a reigning Champion on a charge and a Yamaha locking out the podium was quite a spread of headlines. What will Spielberg deliver in the Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich? Find out on Sunday as the lights go out at 14:00 (GMT +2).
4 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 114
5 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 100
*Independent Team rider
Can Red Bull KTM Ajo strike back against Bezzecchi?
For only the second time this season, neither Gardner nor Raul Fernandez were on the rostrum. Will that change as Moto2™ returns to the Red Bull Ring?
There has been one constant for the vast majority of the 2021 Moto2™ season so far: one or both Red Bull KTM Ajo riders on the podium. But in the Styrian GP it proved not so, with Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) ruling the venue once more and with some serious speed. As we head into the second back-to-back weekend in Austria, can the orange machines fight back?
Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KT Ajo), certainly, looked to have the raw speed – and took pole – but the Australian had a couple of uncharacteristic moments, one of which sealed his fate of a finish off the podium. But uncharacteristic is the key word, with the number 87’s form so far this season having been so imperious, and he took a good finish and some good points despite that run off. Bezzecchi also said he’d improved a couple of things in his riding from watching how Gardner attacked the venue, so the two surely lead the bets heading into the Austrian GP…
Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), meanwhile, had a tougher weekend as he came home in seventh – his worst Moto2™ finish to date. With plenty of talk around the Spaniard and his future it was a busy weekend on track and off, so will some serenity return at Spielberg this time around?
In the end, it was Aron Canet (Aspar Team Moto2) who emerged as the rider putting the pressure on Bezzecchi, so the Spaniard should be one to watch again. He’s also got a bowtie to explain too, which he says he’ll do when he wins. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) was also back on the podium and although he acknowledged a little luck playing its part there, the Spaniard backed up his speed from Assen. Is there more in the locker? And what about his teammate Sam Lowes, who, like Gardner, also paid the price for a run off and dropped down the order?
Finally, there is another rider who created a little Jaws music on Sunday for those ahead of him: Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia). The Japanese rookie fell foul of track limits, got a Long Lap penalty and then another that took him out of podium contention, but he was fast – fastest lap fast, and more than once. He’d also not only been homing in on a debut Moto2™ podium, but the race lead… so with even more fire from feeling he could have left the Styrian GP with more, can Ogura get back in that fight for victory?
The Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich sees the lights go out for Moto2™ at 12:20 (GMT +2).
Moto2™ Championship top five:
1 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 197
2 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 162
3 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 153
4 Sam Lowes – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 101
5 Fabio Di Giannantonio – Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 – Kalex – 76
Acosta vs Garcia: a replay in Moto3™?
Sunday was a stunner. But the two were well matched before race day rolled round…
The Moto3™ race at the Styrian GP was an all-time great. Tricky conditions, a little tyre intrigue, and the top two in the Championship leaving the field in the dust for their own duel made for an electrifying contest – and a final lap and corner that will become legendary in the lightweight class. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Sergio Garcia (Santander Consumer Bank GASGAS Aspar) were in a league of their own on Sunday, and now we’re going to do it all again. Can they?
The first thing we learned from the Styrian GP is that Acosta only continues to deserve his hype. He didn’t need to win, but he put it on the line to do just that – and pulled it off. A few points would have been fine for the rider now 53 points clear at the top of the standings, but Pedro Acosta doesn’t really race for a few points. He also showed he’s still a master of the Red Bull Ring as the stakes rose from five Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup wins in a row to his first Moto3™ appearance at the track. So heading into the Austrian GP, there’s a clear favourite at the top – and that gap is even bigger.
The second thing we learned, however, is that Garcia will also put it on the line… and the stakes for the Aspar rider were arguably even higher than those for Acosta. His lunge down the inside, squarely underlining a belief in rubbing sometimes very much being racing, was a statement in itself – even if it didn’t ultimately secure him the win. If he hadn’t remounted and managed to hold onto second, he could have ended up taking himself out of real contention for the crown, and he was still willing to go for it. Looking ahead to the Austrian GP, there’s no reason to expect him to turn down the chance on take two. And he and Acosta were already firm favourites in Free Practice in the dry…
A few more fast faces made a good mark in der Steiermark too though. Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) was back on the box, already has winning form there and went for a late move, also completing the PR dream to make it a KTM, GASGAS, Husqvarna podium. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was back in a frontrunning postcode after a tougher rollercoaster so far, and Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3) returned from injury to get straight back into the top five, as ever aiming for more next time out.
Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), meanwhile, somehow outpaced everyone else on slicks by the kind of margin that would normally contain the entirety of the points scorers… and took a top six. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) deserves a shoutout too for his pole position – the first for Turkey – and then taking the gamble, which on another day may have proven a masterstroke. But that’s racing, and that’s what we’re returning to the Red Bull Ring to do this weekend.
Acosta remains the man to beat, but Garcia already showed he’s willing to put a lot on the line to try and do just that. What awaits in the Bitci Motorrand Grand Prix von Österreich? If it’s anything like last weekend, we’re in for a treat! The lights go out for Moto3™ at 11:00 (GMT +2).
The cockpit and blank dashboard display of Francesco Bagnaia's Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici MotoGP racebike. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Dashboard messages updated ahead of Austrian GP
MotoGP™ Race Director Mike Webb explains two additions ahead of the Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich
Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Two new dashboard message options will debut in the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship during the upcoming Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich. Dashboard messages are a tool available to Race Direction to facilitate direct communication with riders when they’re out on track, and a number of messages can also be sent and managed by teams.
This weekend, two new message options will become available. The first is a message communicating a problem with rider equipment – leathers, boots, gloves, helmet – introduced by Race Direction. The second is a request from the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards to introduce a warning regarding rider behaviour.
Race Director Mike Webb explains:
What are the two new messages?
Mike Webb: “For many years we’ve had dashboard messages where Race Direction can send messages to riders on the bike; flag signals and information about penalties, things like that. From time to time more signals. But a couple of things have come up recently, one is at the Catalan GP we had something that has never happened before, where a rider’s equipment; leathers, wasn’t functioning correctly and we needed to tell the rider to fix it. And there isn’t really an appropriate signal, we have signals about a mechanical failure on the bike, signals about disqualifications and things like that, but we decided after this incident that we needed a specific signal about rider equipment because it’s different to a mechanical failure, where if a bike is leaking oil or water or something, it’s important the bike goes off the track immediately.
“In the case of a problem or fastening undone on rider equipment, or something that’s not immediately a problem but needs to be fixed, it’s a different situation. So we have a new signal on the dashboard, it shows ‘equipment’ on the rider dashboard and the meaning has been explained to the riders and teams: there is a problem with your equipment and you’re required to fix it immediately. If that means coming into the pits to fix it, ok. Or if you can fix it yourself on track, that’s also ok. What we require is that you fix it immediately, so there’s a new message about rider equipment.
“The other update is a request from the FIM MotoGP Stewards about rider behaviour. There are times when a rider may do something we don’t like, but it is borderline and could have been a misjudgement or a mistake. However, if they repeat that behaviour and prove it was neither, it will incur a penalty. So the Stewards want a warning signal to say ‘hey, don’t do that. We’re watching and if you do it again there will be a penalty’. So there’s a new display on the dashboard called ‘warning’ and it’s specifically about rider behaviour. The warning signal says to the rider ‘what you’re doing, we don’t like it. Pay attention and if you continue there could be a penalty’. That’s the two new messages to improve communication between Race Direction and the riders.”
Why are these updates coming into force now?
Mike Webb: “Messages on the dashboard take a bit of lead time. The manufacturers of the dashboards and motorcycles have to adjust their systems, and the timekeeping, to send the messages, they all have to get ready and it takes a little time so we’ve agreed on the messages, the technical part is being changed now and these messages will be available from the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend.”
Cameron Beaubier (1) leads Jake Gagne (32), Mathew Scholtz (11), Toni Elias (24) and the rest of the field at the start of MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Race Two at PittRace in 2020. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Can Gagne Be Stopped? MotoAmerica Heads To PittRace To Find Out
Jake Gagne Arrives In Pittsburgh, August 13-15, Riding An 11-Race MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Win Streak
IRVINE, CA (August 11, 2021) – Plain and simple. Jake Gagne is on a roll and has looked unstoppable in winning a record-setting 11 MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike races in a row. But with another race comes renewed hope for his rivals. Maybe, just maybe, this is their week.
The MotoAmerica paddock heads to Pennsylvania, August 13-15, for one of the more popular stops on the calendar – round seven: Pittsburgh International Race Complex – and everyone rolls out on track on Friday morning hoping to have the answer to the biggest question of 2021. Can anyone stop Gagne and his Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha?
So far, the answer is no. And the more he wins, the more his confidence grows and the harder he is to beat. Case in point, the last round at Brainerd International Raceway. Gagne crashed in front of the HONOS Superbike pack on the opening lap and somehow neither he nor his motorcycle got struck by another rider. He was unscathed and so was his Yamaha YZF-R1. Meanwhile, 100 yards up the track and a few seconds later, Loris Baz slid off his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Panigale V4 R, the bike hit the gravel trap, cartwheeled, and basically broke in half. Fast forward half an hour and Gagne was on his way to winning his 10th in a row while Baz watched from hot pit.
Such is the life of Jake Gagne in 2021.
Gagne crashed and won on Saturday in Minnesota, and then went out and won again on Sunday for a record-setting 11th in a row. This coming weekend in Pennsylvania, the Californian will be trying for an even dozen.
With Gagne’s win streak comes a generous points lead of 79 over Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz, the only other rider to win a HONOS Superbike race in 2021. Since his win in the opening round when Gagne’s bike failed him, Scholtz has visited the podium seven more times, including his runner-up finish to Gagne in Sunday’s race at BIR a couple of weeks ago.
With two races left to be run at Pitt Race and three at both New Jersey Motorsports Park and Barber Motorsports Park to close the season, there’s still plenty to play for with 200 points on the table. But first things first: Someone has to stop the runaway train that is Gagne.
Scholtz, meanwhile, has a 35-point cushion on his South African countryman Cameron Petersen, the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki rider having a consistent season with four trips to the podium in 2021. Petersen, in turn, has 16 points on Gagne’s teammate Josh Herrin with the 2013 AMA Superbike Champion missing the last round after testing positive for COVID-19.
While the points leader is way out front and Scholtz looks sort of secure in second, the battle for points behind them is close with only 23 points separating Petersen in third from Baz in sixth, with Herrin and M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Bobby Fong separating the two.
Seventh is held by Scheibe Racing BMW’s Hector Barbera, with the Spaniard continuing to impress in his first season in the MotoAmerica Series.
The next three riders in the Superbike title chase are the three riders fighting to take home the $25,000 for winning the Superbike Cup, a class within a class for those racing their Stock 1000-spec motorcycles in the premier class. Altus Motorsports’ Jake Lewis is leading the way into Pitt Race, but he’s just seven points ahead of Travis Wyman Racing’s Travis Wyman and another seven clear of HONOS HVMC Racing’s Corey Alexander with that trio rounding out the top 10 in the Superbike Championship.
Pitt Race Superbike Notes…
This year’s race at Pittsburgh International Race Complex will mark the track’s fifth straight MotoAmerica event. The 2.87-mile, 19-turn track was constructed in 2002 and MotoAmerica made its debut there in 2017.
Five different riders have won the eight MotoAmerica Superbike races held at the track in Beaver County: Cameron Beaubier (3), Toni Elias (2), Roger Hayden (1), Josh Herrin (1) and Garrett Gerloff (1).
Five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier, who is now competing in the Moto2 World Championship, is the MotoAmerica Superbike lap record holder at Pitt Race. Beaubier set the outright lap record of 1:39.472 during Superpole in 2019 and set the race record of 1:40.550 in race two last year.
Beaubier won both HONOS Superbike races at Pitt Race in 2020 besting Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz and Beaubier’s teammate Jake Gagne in the pair of races.
Only two riders have won HONOS Superbike races in 2021 – Jake Gagne and Mathew Scholtz. Six riders, however, have earned podium finishes this year: Gagne (11), Scholtz (8), Josh Herrin (5), Loris Baz (5), Cameron Petersen (4) and Bobby Fong (2).
With his 11th victory coming in the last round at Brainerd International Raceway, Jake Gagne moved into a tie for 17th on the all-time AMA Superbike win list with Australian Anthony Gobert. A single win at Pitt Race will move Gagne into a tie with Doug Chandler for 16th; two wins and Gagne will slot into a tie with Doug Polen and Blake Young for 14th all-time.
Cameron Beaubier won 13 races en route to the Superbike title in 2020 and Gagne already has 11 wins this year with eight races left on the schedule. Beaubier scored 436 points in his dominating 2020 season; Gagne currently has 275 points with 200 points still up for grabs.
If/when Loris Baz wins a HONOS Superbike race he will become the first Frenchman to ever win an AMA Superbike race. Australia, Italy, England, and Canada are the countries that follow the U.S. in the number of riders winning AMA Superbike races with two riders from each country. In total, riders from seven different foreign countries have won AMA Superbike races.
Californians have the most AMA Superbike victories with 18 different riders from the Golden State taking wins. Texas (8), Kentucky (4) and Georgia (3) are next on the list.
More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:
Westby Racing Brings Their Steely Determination To The Steel City This Weekend
Tulsa, OK – August 11, 2021 – Round seven of the 2021 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship starts this Friday at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania. Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike rider Mathew Scholtz and YZF-R3 Junior Cup rider Jack Roach are happy to be back East and are looking forward to racing at one of their favorite tracks on the MotoAmerica schedule.
For Mathew and the team, eight podium finishes in 12 races is an impressive accomplishment, as well as a powerful statement of consistency. But, they’re not satisfied. In fact, they are more determined than ever to end championship leader Jake Gagne’s winning streak. And so, the theme for this weekend is “there’s no better place than Pitt Race” as Mathew and the team steel their determination.
Mathew Scholtz (11). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
“This is a race weekend that I am really looking forward to,” said Mathew. “Pitt Race is one of my favorite circuits on the calendar, and I always enjoy racing there. I’ve had some very positive results in the past there, and with the momentum we are experiencing with the bike, the team, and my riding, I think we can have a really good weekend. I’ve got a couple of things that I’ve been working on with my riding, and I know we have some ideas for setting up the bike. I can’t wait to get out on the track and continue working hard to bridge the gap to Jake Gagne because I know we are more than capable of running up at the front. Also, I look forward to seeing all the fans this weekend.”
Crew chief Ed Sullivan commented, “After a solid couple of rounds, we have a really good direction with the bike and the rider, but now it’s time to take the next step forward. We’ve been working hard with the data from Brainerd, and we look forward to trying some setup options on Friday. Pitt Race has been good to us in the past, and the team is excited to see what Mathew can do this year.
Team manager Chuck Giacchetto added, “Coming to Pitt Race always makes me feel good. Our first ever time at this facility was a test a few years back, and we left being the fastest overall. Our team has always adapted well to this circuit, and I know our crew has been working very diligently since our double podium at Brainerd. The fellas and Mathew, I’m sure, are excited and ready for FP1.”
Superbike final qualifying is on Saturday morning at 10:20 a.m. ET. Superbike race one will go green on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. ET, and Superbike race two is on Sunday afternoon also at 2 p.m. ET. Both races will be broadcast LIVE on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), as well as streamed on MotoAmerica Live+.
Jack’s 2021 Junior Cup season has been a trying one for the young Brit, but just like his mentor Mathew, he is equally determined to perform his best this weekend at Pitt Race. He’ll approach the weekend one step at a time, striving for fast lap times in practice and qualifying, and then applying his racecraft in both races to finish strong.
“Pitt Race is one of my favorite tracks,” Jack said. “And I think the weather conditions may come into effect. You could call me a wet-weather specialist from my background in the British Superbike Series, so I think this round will be very interesting.
“Also, I want to give a shout out to Chuck (Giacchetto) for giving me his support throughout this season. Without him, none of this would be possible.”
Junior Cup race one starts on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, and Junior Cup race two is on Sunday, also at 3 p.m. ET. Both races will be broadcast via tape-delay on FS2 this Tuesday, August 17, beginning at 5 p.m. ET.
Meet Mathew and Jack, Get Some Autographed Posters, And More
Mathew and Jack will both be available at the Westby Racing transporter in the paddock at Pitt Race with free, autographed posters and other team items to hand out, so be sure to check the schedule and stop by during those autograph sessions.
Check Out The Westby Racing Sponsor Showcase
Eazi-Grip, GB Racing, and Renthal will be the featured team sponsors on display in the Westby Racing paddock area, so be sure to stop by to say hello and learn about some of the companies that support the team.
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Ducati:
Ducati’s Dynamic Duo Ready to Tackle One of the Gems in the MotoAmerica Calendar at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex
Sunnyvale, Calif., August 11, 2021 – MotoAmerica 2021 resumes this weekend as America’s finest Superbike stars head to the lush surrounds of the Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
One of the most popular rounds of the season, Pitt Race, as it’s affectionately known, will be something of a homecoming for Loris Baz and the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York team, as their base is located 400 miles east of the Pittsburgh venue in New York City.
This weekend presents one of the best opportunities yet for Baz to capture his first MotoAmerica win, after testing at the venue earlier this year on a Ducati Panigale V4 S. Should Baz take the spoils, he will also add France to the list of AMA Superbike/MotoAmerica race winning countries alongside Australia, Italy, England, and Canada.
Pitt Race will also see Kyle Wyman back in the saddle of the Panera Bread Ducati Panigale V4 R. The Arizona resident aborted his comeback ride on Friday at Brainerd citing excessive pain and strength issues on his still healing broken left elbow, but a couple of weeks recouperation have been kind to him and Wyman’s ready to go at a track he knows well, having also tested at the venue two months ago.
Loris Baz (76). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York – Ducati #76)
“It’s good to ride a nice track like Pittsburgh,” Baz said. “I really enjoyed the pace when I rode a track day on the Ducati Panigale V4 S. Like every round, we’ll be trying our best to ride well and find a good setting early on in the weekend with the Panigale. We were a bit unlucky at the last round at Brainerd, but I think the Pittsburgh track is more suited to our bike than Brainerd. It’s not as bumpy, and it’s a bit like a home race for the team. We just have to watch what the weather does and try to adapt the bike to suit the conditions, but I’m really looking forward to riding such a nice track.”
Kyle Wyman (33). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Kyle Wyman (Panera Bread Ducati – Ducati #33)
“Feeling pretty good for this weekend,” Wyman said. “The elbow is coming along well. There hasn’t been a whole lot of time since Brainerd but I feel I’m in a lot better position than I was a couple of weeks ago. I’m really looking forward to Pittsburgh because this is the only track we’ve tested at this year, so we have some good data and feedback from our two days here back in May. I’m just hoping my body can withstand the number of laps I need to do. The weather looks a little dodgy so we’ll see if we get a bit of rain in the first half of the weekend, but I’m really looking forward to getting back on my bike and getting back into the rhythm.”
More, from a press release issued by Kyle Wyman Racing:
Kyle Wyman will ride at Pittsburgh this weekend on Panera Bread Ducati
Kyle Wyman (33), as seen earlier this season at Road Atlanta. Photo courtesy KWR.
TUCSON, Ariz. (Aug. 11) — Kyle Wyman will ride his Panera Bread Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike this weekend for round 7 of the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, after withdrawing from the previous round at Brainerd International Raceway with lingering effects from his fractured elbow.
Wyman, who is now 8 weeks post-surgery, has been recovering while riding at races like Laguna Seca, just three weeks after surgery and winning the King of the Baggers race and championship. While this previous round at Brainerd was a further three weeks later with more recovery time, the injury was not healed and strong enough to ride the beastly Ducati Superbike.
Wyman’s hope is that another two weeks of recovery will put the New York native in a better position physically to compete at what is essentially his home race.
“Obviously pulling out mid-weekend at Brainerd was a surprise and a major setback on our season,” Wyman said. “But the past week I’ve seen some big progress in the strength and pain management of my elbow that did not exist a short time ago. At this point the bone is very much healed around the titanium plate and seven screws, but there are so many ligaments and tendons in the elbow joint that, along with the muscles, take a lot longer to heal and find strength again.”
While not back to full-fitness, Wyman’s current state should allow him to control the bike safely and put in a complete weekend, further developing the Panigale V4 R Superbike. The KWR team tested at Pittsburgh in May of this year, after the Virginia International Raceway round and has high hopes for good results.
“I will need to take it lap by lap, day by day,” Wyman added. “But we’ve made some ergonomic changes to the bike and with the improvements I’ve made there is a good chance we can be in a position to fight in the top 5. It’s been three rounds I’ve missed now, which sucks. After our test here at Pittsburgh in the spring we found a really good setup for this place so I’m really hoping to be physically in a position to make the most of it.”
Find out how the weekend will play out by subscribing to MotoAmerica Live+. FP1 practice starts Friday, August 13th at 10:25am EST. Live coverage begins at 2:00pm EST. Both Superbike races will be LIVE on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) on Saturday and Sunday, both at 2:00pm EST.
Please visit our sponsor page to support the companies who support KWR.
Jeremy Toye (57), competing as a rookie in the event, took top honors in the motorcycle division at the 2014 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Photo courtesy Pirelli.
Motorcycle Competition Decision Announced by Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Organizers
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — After two years of research, deliberation, thoughtful consideration and advice from colleagues in the motorsports industry, the Board of the Directors of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has made the decision to discontinue motorcycle competition as part of the annual Race to the Clouds.
“Motorcycle competition has been part of the history of the race off-and-on since 1916, and has been both thrilling and tragic for competitors and fans alike,” explained Fred Veitch, Interim Chairman of the Board. “This has been a long process and a difficult decision, but we believe it is the right decision and one that is in the best interest of the organization at this time.”
View a complete history of motorcycle racing on Pikes Peak HERE.
The FIM MotoE World Cup returns to action this coming weekend at Red Bull Ring. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Ready, set… show! MotoE™ rocks up at the Red Bull Ring
Spielberg welcomes the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup back for another showstopper, with crunch time fast approaching in the standings
Wednesday, 11 August 2021
Summer break was a little longer for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup, but we’re back in business at the Austrian GP as the spectacular Red Bull Ring welcomes the electric runners for the penultimate round of the season. A venue the Cup has visited before, it’s familiar turf for those who competed in MotoE™ in 2019… but a new challenge for a few competitors.
Alessandro Zaccone (Octo Pramac MotoE) is one of them, the Italian making his MotoE™ debut last year. But so far this season it hasn’t seemed to matter where we’ve raced or what his previous CV or track knowledge was like, the number 61 keeps getting the job done and often in style. Three races remain in 2021 and his advantage is only seven points, but his consistency has been rock solid so far and he has to remain the favourite heading into the Red Bull Ring.
Jordi Torres (HP Pons 40) is now the man on the chase, the Spaniard making up good ground at Assen to move into second. At Assen he also got his elbows out, as promised, and there seemed to be a switch from focusing on consistency above all else to laying a little more on the line. Can he keep that going? He may have to try if he’s to defend the crown, because Zaccone has been watertight so far.
Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP), meanwhile, arrives with the opposite conundrum. After a crash at Assen that’s sent him down to fourth and 17 points down, he can no longer wait for a mistake from his rivals and will need to go on the attack. Will that risk vs reward pay off? He’s not won a race so far this year, but now would be a good time to do it.
And then there’s Eric Granado (ONE Energy Racing), who is the opposite again. The Brazilian is now ahead of Aegerter in the standings, although equal on points, with two wins to his name. Two bouts of bad luck join them on his rap sheet, but when it comes together – like it did at Assen – Granado is hard to beat. When he’s needed to, he’s also found the perfect bounce back this season, including that spectacular final corner ballet against Zaccone in France, when the opposite outcome could have seriously dented his charge for the Cup. Can he bring the magic and avoid the bad luck again in Austria? He is one of those who raced here in 2019…
Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) is another and rekindled his solid points hauls at Assen, but he’ll be looking to move up as he’s now ten points off Granado and Aegerter, and only a single point ahead of Barcelona winner Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team). Pons had a tougher visit to the TT Circuit Assen and will be aiming for more in Austria.
Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE), meanwhile, got more at the Dutch GP. After a tougher start to the year the Italian took his best 2021 finish yet at Assen in fourth, and was the top Red Bull Ring finisher on the current grid back in 2019. He’s consistent as ever too, with a top ten finish in every race this season – something that only Zaccone, Torres and Yonny Hernandez (Octo Pramac MotoE) can join in claiming.
Lukas Tulovic (Tech3 E-Racing), Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE) and Fermin Aldeguer (Openbank Aspar Team) are waiting in the wings to fight it out for that top ten – as a minimum – too, and all three are covered by just eight points in the standings, with time left to make up some good ground. Mathematically, the 2021 Cup remains anyone’s to win… but the clock is ticking and crunch time is coming as we head into the penultimate round.
Zaccone? Torres? Granado? Aegerter? Or another shake up in the standings? We’ll find out on Sunday as MotoE™ go racing at 15:30 (GMT +2) around the stunning Red Bull Ring – Spielberg.
ENERGICA AND MOTOE BACK AT THE RED BULL RING FOR ROUND FIVE
Energica and the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup are back in action this weekend after a seemingly endless, eight-week summer break comes to a close as riders and teams arrive at the Red Bull Ring for the penultimate event of 2021. The Austrian venue has returned to the calendar after a one-year absence due to the ongoing global pandemic, for a round that will be crucial for the title hopes of the main title contenders – and the ones hoping to enter the battle for the ultimate prize aboard their Energica Ego Corsa machines ahead of the final two races at Misano in September.
Leading the way after four encounters is Alessandro Zaccone (OCTO Pramac MotoE), by far the most consistent rider in the MotoE field – and consistency once again is proving to be the key for success in the series. The 22-year-old Italian has a seven-point margin over reigning world cup champion Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) with one win, two thirds and one fourth place (at Montmeló).
Speaking of consistency, Torres has followed a similar path so far, although he is yet to step atop the podium this year. Eric Granado (One Energy Racing) and Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt IntactGP) are both 17 points adrift in third and fourth, the two riders having to face disappointment along the way. Unlike the Brazilian opponent, Aegerter needs to bounce back after crashing out at Assen in late June, while Granado could enjoy a dominant win on Dutch turf.
The #AustrianGP is going to be even more important for Mattia Casadei (Ongetta Sic58 Squadracorse), Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team) and Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE), who absolutely need to make some ground to the top as they currently are 27, 28 and 30 points in arrears, respectively. Casadei and Ferrari are two of only four riders who raced here in 2019 in the MotoE Class, the other two being Maria Herrera (OpenBank Aspar Team) and the aforementioned Granado.
MotoE proceedings will begin this Friday at 11:50 local time (GMT +2), with the race set to get underway on Sunday at 15:30.
MotoE action will get underway this Friday at 11:50 for Free Practice 1, with the E-Pole scheduled for Saturday at 16:10 and the race on Sunday at 15:30 local time (GMT +2).
ABOUT ENERGICA MOTOR COMPANY S.p.A
Energica Motor Company is the first Italian manufacturer of high-performing electric motorcycles and is the single manufacturer chosen by Dorna for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup. Energica Motorcycles are on sale worldwide.
The 2021 Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory is aimed at more aggressive street and track riders. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Copyright 2021, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By Michael Gougis
When I first rode the new Aprilia 660 RS last year, my first thought was, “There’s no way this thing is only a 660.”
When I first twisted the throttle on the 2021 Tuono V4 Factory, my first thought expressed the same sentiment, just from a different direction. I thought, “This is absolutely an 1100! Woo-hoo!”
It’s a winning formula for Aprilia — take a powerful engine from a sportbike and stick it into a chassis that has a slightly friendlier riding position. Voila, the Tuono, historically one of the company’s most important models.
The 2021 Tuono V4 models refine that idea a bit, with Aprilia offering two similar yet very distinctive models of its iconic “standard “sports model lineup. The Factory version is even more track oriented than the prior RR model, while the V4 version is aimed at the person who rides on the street and wants to rack up serious mileage.
When Aprilia turned a handful of motojournalists loose on the new machines on the roads of the Southern California mountains last week, the glorious sounds of V4 motorcycle engines echoed through the canyons above Pasadena.
Technical Overview
The machine is powered by Aprilia‘s 1077cc 65-degree V4, with architecture it shares with the company’s flagship RSV4 sportbike. Aprilia says the Tuono version has been re-tuned for more mid-range torque, but still puts out a claimed 175 horsepower at 11,350 rpm with a torque peak of 89.25 lbs.-ft. at 9,000 rpm. Aprilia was determined to ensure that compliance with the new Euro5 emissions standards did not reduce overall engine performance.
The rest of the powertrain is very similar to, and in keeping with, the Aprilia V4 sportbike DNA. The engine retains its unique chain/gear camshaft drive system. Lighter valve spring bucket tappets raise the redline from 12,500 rpm to 12,800 rpm.
A new Magneti Marelli 11MP ECU offers more pins (from 80 to 144, to allow for more inputs into the bike’s electronic brain) and four times the computing speed of the prior unit. Rider aids include cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control, engine braking, launch control, clutchless up- and down-shifting, a pit speed limiter, cruise control, three engine maps, and six riding modes. (You know you’ve got a real all-arounder when your bike has a pit lane speed limiter and cruise control. That’s a broad spread of functionality!)
The cosmetic changes for this model year are subtle, but significant. Both versions get a re-styled fairing, and both versions get a new inverted swingarm based on a MotoGP design and is lighter, simpler to produce, and 48% stiffer. A new tank is featured on both machines, as are LED headlights that light the inside of corners. The changes, or the differences between the two models, are found in the suspension, in the riding position, and in the details.
The Factory model comes with Ohlins Smart EC 2.0 semi-active electronically adjustable suspension, a system which also controls adjustments at the steering damper. On this model, suspension adjustments are made using buttons on the left handlebar and displayed on the Thin-Film Transistor dash.
The windscreen is bobbed, the tubular bars are lower than on the prior model, and at the back of the machine, the Factory utilizes the subframe, passenger pegs, and passenger seating accommodations from the RSV4. For people who have been passengers on the RSV4, those accommodations are a polite way of saying that the rider prefers to travel solo! They have been designed, however, to be removed quickly for track use.
And with track use in mind, the Factory comes with shorter final gearing and a larger (200-series) and stickier Pirelli Supercorsa rear tire, mated to a 120-series Supercorsa front tire.
The base V4 model comes with conventional Sachs suspension front and rear; handlebars lifted approximately an inch via taller risers; a broad, flat passenger seat; and passenger footpegs that are located on longer stalks to offer additional legroom for the passenger.
In addition, the bike is offered with a bespoke set of soft luggage consisting of a remarkably spacious tank bag and a set of saddlebags that are asymmetrical to fit around the exhaust system.
A final touch to increase rider comfort is a taller windscreen than the one found on the Factory and a pair of small side panels that help direct wind blast away from the rider. Taller gearing for more relaxed cruising and Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tires complete the street package.
Suggested MSRP for the base model is $15,999, while the Factory version runs $19,499.
These are important models for Aprilia. Depending on the year, Aprilia will sell between two to three times as many Tuonos as RSV4s. In addition, the Tuono is the model that brings people into the Aprilia brand, and an owner is more likely to hang onto it for a longer period of time than an RSV4 owner. So Aprilia did not take this model revision lightly.
Aprilia followed the lead of its customers and built the Tuono V4 into a more street-oriented machine, with attention on comfort for both the rider and passenger–and lots of cargo space. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Riding Impressions
As mentioned, the first thing I noticed is the power. It’s everywhere. And while the company’s claims about usable mid-range torque sound so much like a marketing cliché, the fact is that it’s true. The torque produced by this big-bore sportbike engine is a joy, and there in bucketfuls. Pick a gear, twist the throttle, and there’s always enough poke to get moving, quickly. Unlike some other Euro5 machines I’ve ridden, the Tuono still revs quickly and enthusiastically.
Heading up Angeles Crest Highway and on the surrounding roads, I found that I had a choice of gears to play in. I could rev the thing closer to redline in second and let the power at the top pull me out of corners, or I could leave it in third and just ride the torque all the way through the apex, carrying even more speed for a longer portion of the corner and coming out harder on the throttle. Either way provided plenty of speed.
The author at speed on a 2021 Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
The chassis clearly demonstrated its cutting-edge sportbike roots. The best way to describe this machine’s behavior are responsive and precise, as you might expect from a bike with the RSV4’s chassis and an upgraded swingarm. But I felt every pavement imperfection, courtesy of the very stiff chassis and swingarm. Perhaps it was a function of the more upright tubular handlebars, as compared to clip-on handlebars, but it felt like I could react to those very direct messages from the bike with a light, precise touch. Carving through the corners on the Crest, I felt like I could put the bike anywhere I wanted, even at speed. Between that, the excellent Brembo M50 Monobloc brakes and the ease with which the engine delivers power, it made for a very stress-free ride, even while carrying more than a little bit of speed.
The riding position is definitely more comfortable than on a full-on sport bike. It’s not a naked bike, and is closer to a full-fairing sportbike than a naked. Aprilia‘s philosophy is that a motorcycle going this rapidly needs to provide protection for the rider and aero stability, hence the fairing. And the fairing works, providing a still pocket of air for the rider, lessening the turbulence, and leaving the rider with a more planted feel at the bars.
The clutchless up- and down-shifts work seamlessly, the on-off throttle response is precise and fluid. The clutch pull is a little heavier than I expected after being utterly spoiled by the modern crop of assisted slipper clutches that are now standard on seemingly every motorcycle.
The Factory version felt a little soft and vague when I initially turned into corners, but poking at a couple of buttons on the left handlebar allowed me to dial up one electronic “click” more firmness at the front and at the rear, and, to add a little more resistance, adding one “click” of steering damper. It was an absolute pleasure to ride, with more feedback and feel than most other motorcycles, and the utter confidence of knowing that the bike would do anything I asked it to do.
After lunch, I jumped onto the base V4 model and I was prepared to be disappointed. I can honestly say that I was not disappointed — a remarkable surprise. The Sachs suspension is more than adequate for getting down the mountain at a very, very brisk pace. The more upright handlebars increased the comfort of an already-comfortable riding position, and the slightly larger windscreen provided noticeably more protection.
The Tuono V4, in either base [as pictured] or Factory trim, is a potent combination of RSV4 chassis technology and a stout Superbike-derived engine. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Aprilia marketeers say that the two new models are based on what they found Aprilia customers were actually doing with their Tuonos. Either they were being built into more track-oriented machines, or they were being outfitted for longer street rides.
It’s best to not think of the two new models as being better or worse. Instead, think of them as two very, very good motorcycles aimed at different target audiences and configured to meet the needs of those two different riders. It’s very much a case of horses for courses, and in each case, Aprilia has created an even better thoroughbred.
WERA West racer Sahar Zvik (161) at speed. Photo by Michael Gougis.
WERA WEST SPORTSMAN SERIES PRESENTED BY LUCAS OIL RETURNS AFTER A MONTH BREAK!
The WERA West Sportsman Series presented by Lucas Oil returns to racing after a break! On August 14-15 the riders will be at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in Buttonwillow, CA for a double-header sprint event. There is a Rider’s School offered on Saturday for anyone wanting to transition from track days to road racing. First-time riders with WERA are eligible for a discount on the school and on their license.
On Saturday and Sunday racing begins at noon and has a full slate of sprint races from 1000cc down to mini machines as well as some Vintage Races will be available.
Credentials available at the gate! Come on out and see some great action and the future stars of the sport.
If you have not tried Lucas Oil Products you should – best products available for all your things with motors!
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was founded in 1973 and remains the foremost place to develop talent in the sport of motorcycle road racing. The legacy of Pro Riders on a National and World level is legendary. All events are run by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing with a co-sanction by the AMA and they go coast to coast offering entry-level racing with the WERA Sportsman Series as well as a Pro-Am Series which is the Pirelli/WERA National Challenge Series. WERA also offers Vintage Racing and hosts the Concours de ’Competition and Concours d’ Elegance in July at Barber Motorsports Park. Endurance Racing is also on the menu with our partner N2 and runs 4-5 events a year with a Big Bike Endurance and an Ultralightweight Endurance. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was voted the 2017 AMA Track Organizer of the year.
For more information on WERA Motorcycle Roadracing please check out our web site at wera.com.
Jared Mees (9) and his wife Nichole, doing business as Mees Promotions, will be the new promoter of the Springfield Mile in 2022. Photo courtesy AFT.
2021 Springfield Mile Marks Final Year for Kiesow Racing/IMDA Promotions
Mees Promotions to inherit event in 2022.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Springfield Mile is pleased to announce new event promoters for 2022. After four decades of successful event promotion, Kiesow Racing and IMDA are pleased to pass the torch to Jared and Nichole Mees of Mees Promotions.
Kiesow Racing and IMDA have promoted this legendary race since 1981, taking great pride in many accomplishments through the years. Such accomplishments include 78 national Mile events, 16 national TT’s and 16 national Short Tracks at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
“We proudly supported the sport for 40 years and have amazing memories and even more amazing friends because of it,” said Tommra Kiesow of Kiesow Racing.
The IMDA and Kiesow Racing would like to thank the team that has been so dedicated and helpful in making these events a success.
The future of this iconic event has been entrusted to Mees Promotions. Bringing years of experience as racers and promoters to this event, Jared and Nichole Mees are uniquely set to continue the legacy of flat track’s crown jewel. Adding to their experience promoting the wildly successful Lima Half-Mile, both Jared and Nichole have raced at the Springfield Mile, were engaged and subsequently married there.
“We wish them many years of success at Springfield and we look forward to being there watching in the stands,” said Kiesow. “The IMDA members and us at Kiesow Racing hope to see all the familiar faces at this year’s race as we end a 40 year run at Springfield. Thank you all!”
Ducati Homologates Panigale V4 Range For Canadian Superbike Championship
Sunnyvale, Calif., August 10, 2021 – Ducati is delighted to announce its three Superbike class contenders – the Panigale V4, Panigale V4 S and Panigale V4 R – have been homologated to compete in Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK) from the 2022 season onwards.
Already a force in the WorldSBK, MotoAmerica, British, Italian, and Australian Superbike Championships, the Ducati Panigale V4 platform will be homologated to compete in two CSBK classes —the premier Pro Superbike Feature class and the Amateur Superbike class.
The unique rule set applied to CSBK, whereby a superbike machine is permitted to race if it produces up to 200 rear wheel horsepower on the Official Series Dynojet dyno and weigh no less than 360 lb after finishing qualifying and racing. This will allow the admission of the Panigale V4 R as well as the larger 1103 cc V4 and V4 S into the championship.
This offers potential teams the chance to join the Ducati family with a broader selection of racing motorcycles than any other manufacturer currently competing in the series.
Ducati has a proud history in the Canadian Superbike Championship, dating back to the late 1970s with Marco Mancini, Frank Mrazek and David Fleming, who competed with the 750 SS and 900 SS models.
In the early 1990s, Canadian legend Pascal Picotte and the Fast By Ferracci squad used a Ducati 888 to capture five National wins between 1992 and 1993. Three years later, in 1995, Jeff Sneyd piloted Bar Hodgson’s ex-Fast By Ferracci Ducati 888 to a National win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport).
The last homologated Ducati to run in the CSBK was the iconic 999 in 2004, piloted by two-time series champion Michael Taylor for the Z1 organization. As such, it’s been a long time between champagne for Ducati in the Canadian Superbike Championship, and with the increasingly competitive nature of the series and the passionate support from Canadian Ducatisti, the Bologna factory is ready to do battle in the series once again.
Jason Chinnock – Chief Executive Officer, Ducati North America
“Ducati has a rich racing heritage throughout the world and it is exciting for us to spread this tradition into Canada by joining the Canadian Superbike series,” said Chinnock. “Canada has always been a valued market for Ducati globally and this investment in racing will bring our Ducati owners and fans together to cheer on the teams. We look forward to seeing Ducati teams get back on the track and competing for the championship.”
Colin Fraser — President, Canadian Superbike Championship
“We are very proud of our history in the Canadian Superbike Championship and Ducati is a global player whose participation in the series is very important to us,” Fraser said. “Our series dates back to 1978 and Ducati was a major player back then, and we strongly believe more manufacturers and competition is always better for everyone involved. There are many reasons people will choose a particular motorcycle, be it commercial loyalty, sponsor, shop or distributor affiliation, and I believe with Ducati’s success in Superbike competition across the world, it brings a new element to the CSBK Championship and increases the potential competitive choices for riders wishing to compete.”
Scott Dell (53s), riding a 1950 Vincent Comet, and Grant Spence, riding a 1950 AJS 350, at speed during the Class C Footshift race at Blackhawk Farms Raceway. Photo by etechphoto.com, courtesy AHRMA.
Editorial Note: Use the scroll and zoom tools at the bottom left corner of the PDF viewer to better see all of the race results.
Action from the MotoGP race August 8 at the Red Bull Ring, in Austria. Photo courtesy Monster Energy Yamaha.
Take two: MotoGP™ ready for another stunner in Spielberg
Rise and shine! After a history maker of a Styrian GP, we’re ready to go again at the glorious Red Bull Ring
Tuesday, 10 August 2021
You know how it is, you wait all summer for a MotoGP™ race weekend… and then two come along at once! The venue remains the same as we race back-to-back at the emblematic Red Bull Ring, but there’s plenty to talk about on take two as we return for the Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, not least of all our first time winner: Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing).
A quick blitz through the stats: rookie, first Independent Team rider to win on a Ducati, first Pramac Racing win with Ducati, first rookie to win with an Independent Team, and only fifth rookie to win in MotoGP™: Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and the legendary Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo are the other members of that club. And Martin did it from his second pole position of his rookie season, with little drama and a whole load of speed. That must make him a favourite as we return to the track, but likewise the man he just defeated: Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar).
The reigning Champion has a great record in Austria; it’s where he took his first Grand Prix win and later, his first premier class podium too. He’s added another to that in the Styrian GP, which is his best of the year so far, and he also set the fastest lap for the first time in MotoGP™. So Mir will surely be a threat, but can he take another step forward to go one better on Sunday?
Given he’s now moved up to third overall in the standings, a few of his rivals will be hoping not – even more than the rest. Ducati Lenovo Team duo Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller are the two key names shuffled down in the standings, and they’ll want to come back stronger on take two… especially having watched the Red Bull Ring remain Ducati territory, just not theirs. Bagnaia at least had a good qualifying and first start to set him up for more this time around, and Miller had a good weekend too – until he crashed. The Australian didn’t have the pace of the Martin-Mir duo in the lead, but he was stalking Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) for the podium and has made looking for redemption work for him before.
Quartararo, meanwhile, already found some for Yamaha at a venue that’s usually a tougher one for the Iwata marque. When you’re leading the Championship and realise you can’t win, what do you do? The next best thing possible, which a podium more than fulfilled for the Frenchman – and he was ultimately a few places ahead of closest challenger Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) to compound the good day’s work. Can he do it again if the likes of Bagnaia and Miller come out swinging? Time will tell, and it will for former polesitter at the venue Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) after more bad luck for the Spaniard.
On the note of Zarco, however, the more veteran Pramac rider did start the last lap fourth and only one place behind Quartararo. He had a solid weekend and was the second Ducati home, after all. But he didn’t come home in fourth, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) saw to that, and he’ll want to figure out his teammate’s secret to the Red Bull Ring and take back some ground on Quartararo as a minimum.
So what about KTM and the aforementioned South African? The weekend was a rollercoaster for the Austrian marque from the off. Dani Pedrosa’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) wildcard put him top KTM on Friday, and drama hit early for Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) as the Portuguese rider highsided and was left riding through the pain barrier thereafter. Meanwhile Binder spent the day, and the day after, MIA from the top ten… but the story changed somewhat on Sunday.
From P16 on the grid, taking fourth place is an impressive performance. Doing so in a race where there were no big dramas ahead on track and on a day that, despite the weather forecast, stayed dry, made it even more so. For a final flourish, the South African also managed to get past both Zarco and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) on just the final lap alone… so can he repeat his incredible race, and from a starting position giving him a little less work to do? It was a spectacular reminder of just how and why he was the most recent rookie winner before Martin.
So Binder could be one to watch, and Oliveira will have hopefully gained from some days off to heal and get some better Sunday luck to pick up where his form left off before summer. Both will likely be getting some more Pedrosa feedback as the MotoGP™ Legend returns to test duty too. Can KTM territory ring more true on take two?
Honda, meanwhile, had a mixed bag too. Nakagami was top Honda on Sunday and whilst he did lose out to Binder, he gained on Zarco and the result was a top five. That’s encouraging after a tougher season at times, and likewise the performance of teammate Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) as he got back in the top ten and showed some serious pace. Can they build on that in the Austrian GP?
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) did pip Alex Marquez in the end and took eighth – via a couple of higher profile moments – but he’ll want more this time around. And his teammate Pol Espargaro too, after a late penalty compounded a tough weekend, as did the restart. Can they find more in the second run at it?
Finally, for Aprilia the promise was there but the luck was not. For Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) less than anyone as the Italian made contact with Pedrosa’s fallen bike and the results made for a dramatic Red Flag moment. He was up and ok after the incident, but an ankle fracture was found in further checks and after surgery, he’s sidelined. On the restart Aleix Espargaro then suffered a retirement, so he’ll be looking to restart his consistent run of form this season as we get back in business at the Red Bull Ring, alone in the Noale garage this weekend at least.
A rookie winner, a Ducati winner… a reigning Champion on a charge and a Yamaha locking out the podium was quite a spread of headlines. What will Spielberg deliver in the Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich? Find out on Sunday as the lights go out at 14:00 (GMT +2).
4 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 114
5 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 100
*Independent Team rider
Can Red Bull KTM Ajo strike back against Bezzecchi?
For only the second time this season, neither Gardner nor Raul Fernandez were on the rostrum. Will that change as Moto2™ returns to the Red Bull Ring?
There has been one constant for the vast majority of the 2021 Moto2™ season so far: one or both Red Bull KTM Ajo riders on the podium. But in the Styrian GP it proved not so, with Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) ruling the venue once more and with some serious speed. As we head into the second back-to-back weekend in Austria, can the orange machines fight back?
Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KT Ajo), certainly, looked to have the raw speed – and took pole – but the Australian had a couple of uncharacteristic moments, one of which sealed his fate of a finish off the podium. But uncharacteristic is the key word, with the number 87’s form so far this season having been so imperious, and he took a good finish and some good points despite that run off. Bezzecchi also said he’d improved a couple of things in his riding from watching how Gardner attacked the venue, so the two surely lead the bets heading into the Austrian GP…
Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), meanwhile, had a tougher weekend as he came home in seventh – his worst Moto2™ finish to date. With plenty of talk around the Spaniard and his future it was a busy weekend on track and off, so will some serenity return at Spielberg this time around?
In the end, it was Aron Canet (Aspar Team Moto2) who emerged as the rider putting the pressure on Bezzecchi, so the Spaniard should be one to watch again. He’s also got a bowtie to explain too, which he says he’ll do when he wins. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) was also back on the podium and although he acknowledged a little luck playing its part there, the Spaniard backed up his speed from Assen. Is there more in the locker? And what about his teammate Sam Lowes, who, like Gardner, also paid the price for a run off and dropped down the order?
Finally, there is another rider who created a little Jaws music on Sunday for those ahead of him: Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia). The Japanese rookie fell foul of track limits, got a Long Lap penalty and then another that took him out of podium contention, but he was fast – fastest lap fast, and more than once. He’d also not only been homing in on a debut Moto2™ podium, but the race lead… so with even more fire from feeling he could have left the Styrian GP with more, can Ogura get back in that fight for victory?
The Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich sees the lights go out for Moto2™ at 12:20 (GMT +2).
Moto2™ Championship top five:
1 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 197
2 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 162
3 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 153
4 Sam Lowes – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 101
5 Fabio Di Giannantonio – Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 – Kalex – 76
Acosta vs Garcia: a replay in Moto3™?
Sunday was a stunner. But the two were well matched before race day rolled round…
The Moto3™ race at the Styrian GP was an all-time great. Tricky conditions, a little tyre intrigue, and the top two in the Championship leaving the field in the dust for their own duel made for an electrifying contest – and a final lap and corner that will become legendary in the lightweight class. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Sergio Garcia (Santander Consumer Bank GASGAS Aspar) were in a league of their own on Sunday, and now we’re going to do it all again. Can they?
The first thing we learned from the Styrian GP is that Acosta only continues to deserve his hype. He didn’t need to win, but he put it on the line to do just that – and pulled it off. A few points would have been fine for the rider now 53 points clear at the top of the standings, but Pedro Acosta doesn’t really race for a few points. He also showed he’s still a master of the Red Bull Ring as the stakes rose from five Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup wins in a row to his first Moto3™ appearance at the track. So heading into the Austrian GP, there’s a clear favourite at the top – and that gap is even bigger.
The second thing we learned, however, is that Garcia will also put it on the line… and the stakes for the Aspar rider were arguably even higher than those for Acosta. His lunge down the inside, squarely underlining a belief in rubbing sometimes very much being racing, was a statement in itself – even if it didn’t ultimately secure him the win. If he hadn’t remounted and managed to hold onto second, he could have ended up taking himself out of real contention for the crown, and he was still willing to go for it. Looking ahead to the Austrian GP, there’s no reason to expect him to turn down the chance on take two. And he and Acosta were already firm favourites in Free Practice in the dry…
A few more fast faces made a good mark in der Steiermark too though. Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) was back on the box, already has winning form there and went for a late move, also completing the PR dream to make it a KTM, GASGAS, Husqvarna podium. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was back in a frontrunning postcode after a tougher rollercoaster so far, and Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3) returned from injury to get straight back into the top five, as ever aiming for more next time out.
Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), meanwhile, somehow outpaced everyone else on slicks by the kind of margin that would normally contain the entirety of the points scorers… and took a top six. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) deserves a shoutout too for his pole position – the first for Turkey – and then taking the gamble, which on another day may have proven a masterstroke. But that’s racing, and that’s what we’re returning to the Red Bull Ring to do this weekend.
Acosta remains the man to beat, but Garcia already showed he’s willing to put a lot on the line to try and do just that. What awaits in the Bitci Motorrand Grand Prix von Österreich? If it’s anything like last weekend, we’re in for a treat! The lights go out for Moto3™ at 11:00 (GMT +2).
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