Evan Bros Yamaha to Run Second Yamaha R6 for Sebestyén from Assen
From the Assen FIM Supersport World Championship round, the Evan Bros Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team has announced it will run a second Yamaha R6 bike for Péter Sebestyén for the remainder of the season.
The Hungarian will get his first opportunity to run with the Evan Bros Yamaha team in a test at Autodrom Most on 16 – 17 July, before making his return to the world championship paddock at Assen, The Netherlands, on 23 – 25 July, alongside full-season rider and championship contender Steven Odendaal.
Born in Budapest, Sebestyén contested the Red Bull Rookies Cup and CEV before making sporadic appearances in the MotoGP-supporting 125cc World Championship. He then switched over to the FIM Superbike World Championship paddock, competing in the 2013 European Junior Cup, where he scored a best finish of second at Magny-Cours.
His performances earned him a spot on the 2014 WorldSBK grid, before switching to the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup the following year. The 27-year-old returned to WorldSBK in 2016, riding a Yamaha R1 and scoring his first points finish at Jerez.
In 2017, Sebestyén took part in the European rounds of WorldSSP, where he remained for a second season, scoring his first top 10 result in Qatar after a mid-season team switch. In 2019, he was given his first full-season in the championship, taking points in 11 of the 12 rounds. Last year, he raced the Yamaha R6 for the first time and scored his best-ever finish of sixth at MotorLand Aragón.
Sebestyén will join the team which has taken the last two riders’ titles, with Evan Bros Yamaha teammate Odendaal locked in a title battle, having won the opening three races of 2021.
Péter Sebestyén
Evan Bros Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team
“I still find it hard to believe that I will be racing with the best team in the category. I have been following the Evan Bros Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team for the last few seasons and I have been impressed by their methods and mentality. I have always dreamed of being part of such a team, and now that dream has come true. My strengths are tenacity, modesty and passion, which I will use from the first day I can get on the bike and work with my team, while giving my best. Now I am 100 percent focused on training, because the WorldSSP championship requires a lot of effort, and I want to be in the best condition right away. I want to say a big thank you to the Hungarian Motorsport Development Agency for giving me this opportunity. It’s an honour to represent my country, and I’m happy that the efforts of these last few years have produced such a chance.”
Fabio Evangelista – Team Principal
Evan Bros Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team
“I’m very pleased to welcome Péter Sebestyén to our team, to start this new adventure from the Assen round. He’s a rider I have followed for a few years now, with an untapped potential that I and the whole team will try with all our might to bring out. Péter will have the best possible package at his disposal, with a proven team and I’m convinced that, even though he hasn’t done the winter tests with us, after a short period of adaptation he will be ready to obtain excellent results. I would like to sincerely thank HUMDA for the great effort they have made in reaching this agreement. I am aware of how much the Hungarian motorcycling movement wants to expand in these years, and to be part of this project is a great honour. Finally, I’m convinced that with two riders our team can shine, as it has already amply demonstrated in 2019, so this new challenge gives us a big incentive for the future, which we will enjoy together with Yamaha and our sponsors.”
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Team Claims 2-2 Finishes at Laguna Seca Superbike
Following 4-3 finishes at round four of the 2021 MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Championship in Ridge Motorsports Park, Sheldon, Wash., the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Team and rider Loris Baz arrived at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in California confident for additional podium finishes.
The reason was simple; the team already had data from the Ducati Panigale V4 R, and Baz had raced at Laguna Seca before— although never on a Ducati with Dunlop tires. The confidence paid off, and the 28-year-old Frenchman rode consistently to take second in both races at round five—the best performance so far this season.
The team wasted no time getting up to speed during Friday’s practice and qualifying, and secured second place to start Saturday’s race one. During race one, Baz got off to a quick start ahead of a red flag. Although Baz was the only rider on the front two rows using an extra soft front tire and didn’t have as good of a launch during the restart, he moved his way to the front and kept the pressure on Yamaha’s Jacke Gagne to the checkered flag. Baz would end Saturday in second.
The team made some minor modifications to the VR 4 ahead of Sunday’s race. Baz was quick off the line and once again kept the pressure on Gagne throughout race two, even taking the lead after a mistake by Gagne. When Sunday’s race ended, Baz crossed the line second for a 2-2 finish at round five of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship in California.
“It’s been a great weekend; the best we’ve had so far,” Baz said. “We’ve had no real issues all weekend, besides the small fumble on Friday, we’ve been strong all weekend. I think since Road America, race one, we finally found a base setup that I like on the bike, so I’m riding better and better. I’ve really enjoyed riding the V4 R at Laguna Seca. I was able to put pressure on Jake during race one and race two. We put on a great show in front of the many fans around the track. Considering how new this project is, we are getting better and better, so I look forward to the future.”
After five of nine rounds, Baz is fifth in the Superbike Championship with 122 points, up another position. The team will now prep for the sixth round July 30 – August 1 at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota, a track Baz is familiar with due to testing.
The team is made possible through key partners: North American Warhorse, Parts Unlimited, Ducati New York, Horsepower HD, Competition Werkes, Mount Airy Casino & Resort, New York Safety Track, and Fast by Ferraci. In addition to the support of their technical sponsors: Akrapovic, Bickle Racing, DID Chain, DNA Air Filters, Drippen Wet, Drive Systems USA, EVOL Technologies, FullSix Carbon, Full Spectrum, Hard Knocks Moto Coffee, Melotti Racing, OGNIBENE S.p.A., RaceSeats, Spider Racing , Samco Sport, Spiegler Performance, Race Technologies, and TechSpec.
More, from a press release issued by Scott Powersports:
Tyler Scott Doubles and Beats Track Record at Laguna Seca
It was a fairy tale weekend for the Scott Powersports crew as Tyler Scott put his KTM RC 390 R on the top step of the podium in both Sportbike Track Gear Junio Cup races. Adding to that success, Tyler broke the track record on Saturday, then broke his own record in race two on Sunday with a blistering 1:36.234.
“This is some rock star type stuff right here” crew member and rider motivator Davey Loikits beamed. “We were setting the pace all weekend, but ended up with two epic battles in both races. We’re proud of the results and adding a little to the points lead.”
“The whole race was crazy. The front end was chattering at that speed. But my KTM worked great all weekend and it was a great race” Tyler said. “It was especially cool to be able to perform like that in front of Chris Fillmore who helped us with the whole KTM package initially.” Fillmore is an accomplished racer, and KTM North America’s Road Racing and Flat Track Manager.
Tyler Scott at Laguna Seca. Photo by Alexis Olivera.
As the team works its way back east for the next MotoAmerica round they’ll stop off in Illinois for the American Flat Track Amateur Nationals at the DuQuoin Mile on 7/17. “We started out in flat track and Tyler still uses it to train, so it kind of made sense on the way back to stop off and race there” Mike Scott, team owner said. “He’s been dreaming of winning the Nicky Hayden Horizon award for years, and we think showing his versatility in multiple forms of racing embodies Nicky’s spirit.”
Round 5 of the MotoAmerica series kicks off on July 31st in Brainerd, Minnesota.
As always, Tyler and the team thank KTM North America, Arai Helmets, Scott Powersports, Bob Robbins, Davey Loikits, Dunlop , Motorex, N2 , Champschool, EvolveGT, Alpinestars, Dale Quarterley, and all the fans for their continued support.
More, from a press release issued by Jackson Blackmon Racing:
Blackmon continues consistency at Laguna
Jackson Blackmon fresh off a pair of Twins Cup wins at The Ridge Motorsports park, continued consistency at Laguna Seca. It was a one race weekend for Twins Cup competitors that resulted in some really close racing all weekend long. The pace was fast and very close as Blackmon qualified 7th, but only 0.55 behind the polesitter. Jackson got a good start and was up with the lead pack of 4 for most of the race. However, Blackmon just didn’t have the confidence in the front end with about 4 laps to go to stay with the pack at the end. It was a good result for Blackmon, still sitting 2nd in the championship just 15 points out of the lead.
“I am very happy to continue my consistency at Laguna with a 4th place finish. We struggled a little bit with my confidence in the front end, however my bike was capable of winning I just didn’t quite have the pace late in the race to stay with the leaders. We learned from the weekend and looking to improve at Brainerd. Big thanks to Yamaha and all of my supporters for making this year possible. We are right in the championship and gelling with my bike more and more everytime out.”
Jackson Blackmon at Laguna Seca. Photo by Sara Chappell.
Jackson Blackmon Racing has had a tremendous first half of the season and looking to keep the ball rolling next time out at the new race on the schedule, Brainerd International Raceway. The team has been working hard to get the all new 2022 Yamaha R7 together to race in the Twins Cup. Will Brainerd be the round they bring it out? Stay tuned to find out.
JBR would like to thank their sponsors: Yamaha Motor USA, Finishline Machine, North East Cycles, Yamalube, Trackday Winner, GP Tech, Wiseco Pistons, HJC Helmets, Roaring Toyz, Millennium Technologies, OneX, Web Cams, SBS Brakes, Vortex, and 64 Degrees.
More, from a press release issued by HONOS HVMC Racing:
SECOND PLACE FINISHES FOR HONOS HVMC RACING AT LAGUNA SECA
During the 5th round of the MotoAmerica season at Weather Tech Laguna Seca Raceway in the Monterey Bay region of California the HONOS HVMC Racing team secured a pair of second place finishes in Supersport and a single second place finish in the sole Stock 1000cc race of the weekend.
Continuing with the momentum of his previous double win Corey Alexander immediately set the pace in practice. He was able to follow that up by putting his Graves-spec Kawasaki ZX-10RR in pole position to earn his first of the season. Saturday’s Superbike race one proved to be difficult for the #23 and the team as he fell back to 13th during the race due to lack of grip. This led to some set up changes in preparation for Sunday’s races.
Starting from the first position for Sunday’s Stock 1000cc race Corey fell back to 3rd place on the opening lap where he would trade passes throughout the majority of the race. Around 3/4 race distance there was a two rider breakaway with Corey out front but a late race charge from Travis Wyman would see Corey get nipped at the line for the win by just .0032 of a second.
Corey Alexander (23) finished a close second at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
During Superbike race two Corey suffered a low side crash whilst battling for a top ten amongst fellow Superbike Cup competitors. He was able to get up and rejoin the race securing 5 points towards the Superbike Cup championship.
“This weekend has left me with a lot of mixed emotions. We came into it with a lot of momentum and seemed to start off very strong but struggled with grip throughout. Our bike worked great with a new tire and that helped to earn us our first pole position of the year but otherwise we struggled to stay consistent over race distance. We worked hard at it all weekend and literally came up short by the blink of an eye. That’s racing and I’m happy to have extended my points lead. Thanks to everyone for the support” Corey added.
Corey’s second place finish extends his Stock 1000cc championship lead to 12 points. He also maintains third place in the Superbike Cup points race, 30 behind the leader with 4 rounds remaining.
Just a few days prior to the weekend Richie Escalante unfortunately injured his foot, ankle, and wrist in a crash while testing. This meant he was quite literally on his back foot going into the weekend though never showing it after leading the first practice session and qualifying just 0.158 behind pole position.
Supersport Race 1 saw Escalante and his Graves-spec ZX-6R off to a strong start applying pressure wherever he could to his championship rival. Despite his injury Richie heroically looked for a way around the leader making a few attempts throughout the 19 lap race. He would come up just short at the line 0.099 behind first place.
Richie Escalante earned a pair of second-place finishes in Supersport at Laguna Seca despite riding injured. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
During the opening laps of race 2 there was a shuffle of positions with an unsuspecting leader out front for a short time. Eventually Richie and his championship competitor would make a break for it mirroring that of race number 1. What looked like would be an eventual last lap pass never came and Richie ended up again just short of victory at the line. Following the race Richie would be penalized 4 seconds for exceeding track limits still securing him second place.
When asked about his feelings on the weekend Richie commented.. “This was a difficult weekend for me in Laguna Seca. Always tough and harder with a broken bone in my left foot after a crash test on Tuesday. We are clear on where we have to improve with the bike and obviously my health. Now we have some time to rest and try to be 100% fit for the next part of the season. See you in Minnesota. Thanks to all the fans for your great support. I really appreciate it! And thank you team for always being there.”
Escalante now trails his championship rival by 31 points as the team heads into the second half of the season. Richie’s personal sponsors include Fresh & Lean, HJC Helmets, Vircos Leathers, Alpinestars Boots & Gloves, and Hidalgo.
The HONOS HVMC Racing team heads to Brainerd International Raceway for the first time during round 6 of the MotoAmerica Championship July 30-August 1st. You can purchase tickets to the event via MotoAmerica.com or in person at the race track.
About WE ARE HONOS®
Founded in 2018, HONOS is a Los Angeles based performance gear and fashion apparel brand that promotes talent within the adrenaline sports realm. With worldwide partnerships ranging from the American Racing team in Moto2 to title sponsorship of the HONOS Superbike class in MotoAmerica, HONOS has heavily invested it’s brand into motorsports. Follow @wearehonos or visit wearehonos.com to shop for team gear now.
About Hudson Valley Motorcycles
Hudson Valley Motorcycles (HVMC) is a family owned and operated motorcycle dealership that has been serving New York’s Hudson Valley and Westchester County as well as Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New England region. HVMC has offered Kawasaki, Ducati, Scrambler Ducati, Suzuki, Energica and ATV, motorcycle or UTV Sales, Parts, and Service for over 50 years. For more info visit hudsonvalleymotorcycles.com, call (914)-762-2722 or follow @hvmotorcycles on social media.
BREITLING AND TRIUMPH READY TO EXPLORE NEW HORIZONS
Swiss watchmaker Breitling and British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph announce a long-term partnership and are gearing up for a limited-edition watch and a customized motorcycle to be revealed in early 2022.
Fans of both brands can now visit a Breitling boutique and see that the journey has already begun.
Both are innovators in their fields. And both have a cool factor that keeps getting better with age. They know how to celebrate their storied past while embracing the future.
Breitling has played a truly pioneering role in the development of the modern chronograph. And partner Triumph has passionately helped shape the evolution of the motorcycle. The two makers share a bold and original design philosophy and a flair for precision craftsmanship.
For this exciting partnership, the two brands will collaborate on two special editions: a watch and a motorcycle to be revealed in early 2022.
“This is where substance meets original styling. You can expect purposeful engineering paired with modern retro designs,” says Breitling CEO Georges Kern. “But however you want to describe it, there’ll be a huge sense of adventure and discovery.”
Triumph Motorcycles CEO Nick Bloor welcomes this unique chance to collaborate with another established heritage brand. “Like Breitling we’re committed to providing the flawless handling and incredible finishes that give our community an incomparable experience.”
Their journey has already begun. Triumph Thruxton RS motorcycles — the original modern café racer — are now on display in top Breitling boutiques around the world. Drop by and find inspiration while waiting for next year’s unveilings…
In the US, a motorcycle will be on display in Breitling’s New York City – Madison Avenue location this August upon completion of the store’s remodel.
ABOUT BREITLING
• Since 1884, Breitling has established a global reputation for high-precision timepieces, its pioneering role in the development of the wrist chronograph, and its uncompromising commitment to design excellence. With the brand’s storied association with aviation, Breitling has shared the finest moments in humankind’s conquest of the skies. Renowned for its spirit of innovation, it has also earned a place of privilege in the worlds of science, sport, and technology. Breitling manufactures its own movements in-house and the quality of every one is – like the movements in all Breitling watches – confirmed by its status as a COSC-certified chronometer, made in Switzerland.
ABOUT TRIUMPH
• First established in 1902, Triumph Motorcycles celebrated 119 years of motorcycle manufacture in 2021. For more than three decades, Triumph has been based in Hinckley, Leicestershire producing iconic bikes that perfectly blend authentic design, character, charisma and performance. With more than 75,000 motorcycles delivered in the last financial year, and close to 700 dealers across the world, Triumph is the largest British motorcycle manufacturer. Triumph also has a glorious racing history, competing in and winning races in almost every class of motorcycle sporting achievement, from winning the second ever Isle of Man TT in 1908, through to 1960s domination, and right up to contemporary Supersports racing achievements winning at the Daytona 200 and taking multiple British Supersports Championships and Isle of Man TT titles, including 2019 courtesy of Peter Hickman. Triumph’s racing legend continues as the exclusive engine supplier to the FIM Moto2™ World Championship and the return to the British Superbike Championship in 2021 with a factory-supported race team, Dynavolt Triumph.
Ducati and MT Distribution present MG-20, the first folding magnesium e-bike in the Ducati Urban e-Mobility line
The new folding e-bike of the Ducati Urban e-Mobility line guarantees lightness and solidity thanks to the frame, forks and rims in magnesium
The sporting character of Ducati is underlined by its distinctive design and by the sharp lines of the six-spoke rims
MG-20 will be available from July 2021 at dealerships and in the official Ducati e-shop, as well as in specialized consumer electronics stores and major online stores
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy) – Ducati presents MG-20, the first folding e-bike in magnesium in the Ducati Urban e-Mobility line, developed under license by MT Distribution.
The new MG-20 is nimble and light. The sporting character of Ducati is underlined by its distinctive design, characterized by a fluid and aerodynamic profile, and by the sharp lines of the six-spoke rims, both made with a die-casting technique.
Frame, forks and rims are made of magnesium, a material that ensures lightness and solidity, thus providing maximum performance without affecting impact resistance. The small size of the wheels (20″ x 2.125″) and the possibility of easily folding the e-bike and pedals make MG-20 the ideal vehicle for urban travel, also convenient for combined use with public and private transport thanks to its minimum size.
A Ducati MG-20 folding magnesium e-bike in the folded configuration. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The e-bike is equipped with a 250W rear motor capable of recognizing the road conditions, the slope and the force used in pedalling, providing the appropriate level of assistance depending on the riding mode selected. The 36V 10.5Ah 378Wh SAMSUNG battery is integrated into the frame and can be pulled out for more convenient charging. A full charge allows to travel up to 50 km, at a maximum speed of 25km/h, as per regulations.
Management of the main functions, such as switching on the lights and selecting between three levels of assistance (12-18-25 km/h), takes place via the waterproof LCD display. The front LED headlight and the reflective strips on the wheels ensure safer riding even at night.
The MG-20 will be available starting from July 2021 at dealerships and in the official Ducati e-shop, as well as in specialized consumer electronics stores and major online stores.
Further information on all products in the Ducati Urban e-Mobility range are available on the website www.ducatiurbanemobility.com.
NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON® SPORTSTER® S MODEL DELIVERS UNRELENTING PERFORMANCE
Next Generation Sportster Motorcycle Combines Unbridled Power with Contemporary Technology
MILWAUKEE (July 13, 2021) – The Harley-Davidson® Sportster® S model is an all-new sport custom motorcycle designed to deliver a thrilling riding experience and ushers in a new era of Sportster performance. A 121-horsepower Revolution® Max 1250T V-Twin engine puts the Sportster S rider in command of unrelenting, on-demand torque. A taut, lightweight chassis and premium suspension deliver responsive, intuitive handling. From stop light to stop light, and corner to corner, the Sportster® S model offers riders extraordinary power and performance and creates a new standard for the most enduring Harley-Davidson model.
An addition to the 2021 Harley-Davidson motorcycle line, the Sportster S will reach Harley-Davidson dealers this fall with a base MSRP of $14,999.
“The Sportster S is the next all-new motorcycle built on the Revolution Max platform and sets a new performance standard for the Sportster line,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and CEO, Harley-Davidson. “This is a next generation Sportster defined by power, performance, technology and style. And it’s part of our commitment to introduce motorcycles that align with our strategy to increase desirability and to drive the legacy of Harley-Davidson.”
Styling Communicates Power
In profile, the Sportster S model appears crouched and powerful. The fuel tank and tail section frame the engine as the predominate centerpiece of the motorcycle. The massive front tire recalls the fenderless front end of a classic bobber, while the tail section, high-mount exhaust and slim solo seat draw inspiration from the Harley-Davidson XR750 flat tracker. The thick inverted forks and wide-profile tires suggest high-performance sport bike.
“Every visual design element of the Sportster S model is an expression of the motorcycle’s raw power,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson vice president of styling and design. “This is a wolf in wolf’s clothing.”
The powertrain is highlighted with a Chocolate Satin finish on the lightweight magnesium engine covers. Textures, colors, finishes and details were selected to give the Sportster S model the look of a custom show bike that just happens to be parked in the owner’s garage.
Amplified Performance
The 1250cc Revolution Max 1250T engine is the mechanical heart of the Sportster S model. This new version of the latest Harley-Davidson liquid-cooled V-Twin engine is tuned to make tremendous torque at low RPM, with a torque curve that stays flat through the powerband – engine performance designed to deliver strong acceleration from a start with robust power through the mid-range. To minimize overall motorcycle weight the engine is integrated into the vehicle as the central member of the chassis. The use of lightweight materials helps achieve a desirable power-to-weight ratio. Ready to ride with the 3.1-gallon fuel tank topped off, the Sportster S model weighs just 502 pounds. A high-mount 2-into-1-into-2 exhaust is designed to produce a pleasing low-frequency tone. (See separate Sportster S Technology release for full details)
Technology Enhances the Ride
The Sportster S model is equipped with a host of technologies designed to the enhance the riding experience. Three pre-programmed, selectable Ride Modes (Sport, Road and Rain) electronically control the performance characteristics of the motorcycle, and the level of technology intervention. Two Custom modes may be used by the rider to create a set of performance characteristics to meet personal preference or for special situations. Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements by Harley-Davidson®, a collection of technologies intended to enhance rider confidence during unexpected situations or adverse road conditions, are designed to match motorcycle performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking, in a straight line or while in a turn.
A round, 4.0-inch-diameter TFT screen displays all instrumentation and supports infotainment generated by the rider’s Bluetooth®-equipped mobile device and helmet headset, including music, incoming and out-going calls, and navigation supplied by the Harley-Davidson® App. All-LED lighting includes a Daymaker® Signature LED headlamp designed to produce a homogenous spread of light, eliminating distracting “hot spots.” The headlamp has a distinctive oval or capsule shape that adds style to the front end and will identify the Sportster® S model to other riders and motorists.
Optimized Chassis
The powertrain is a stressed member of the chassis, eliminating the traditional frame, a design that significantly reduces motorcycle weight and results in a very stiff chassis that contributes to precise handling. A welded tubular steel trellis swingarm features a braced design and stamped X-member to further stiffen the chassis, while its shape adds distinctive style to the motorcycle.
The Sportster® S model is equipped with fully adjustable, premium front and rear suspension – SHOWA® 43mm inverted cartridge forks and a SHOWA® Piggyback reservoir rear shock. Rear suspension features hydraulic pre-load adjustment using a convenient knob located on the left side of the motorcycle. Lightweight cast aluminum wheels with a staggered, five-spoke design are shod with wide Dunlop®/Harley-Davidson® Series GT503 tires. Premium Brembo braking components produce outstanding braking feel and performance. The single front brake features a new Brembo radial monoblock four-piston caliper and a 320mm diameter disc. The rear brake is a two-piston Brembo caliper and a 260mm diameter disc.
Forward foot controls and a low handlebar put the Sportster S rider in an aggressive posture on the bike. Unladen seat height is 29.6 inches, low enough for most riders to get feet down at a stop. Brake and clutch hand levers are adjustable for reach, to best match rider hand size or preference. The Sportster S model is pre-wired for accessory heated hand grips for added comfort in cool weather, and is equipped with two dedicated power points for heated riding gear (heated hand grips and heated riding gear/apparel each sold separately), plus a USB-C port for charging a phone or other device. An external ambient temperature sensor and a low-temp warning on the display screen alert the rider to changing conditions. Cruise control and a proximity-based security system are standard equipment. The steel fuel tank holds 3.1 gallons.
Paint Colors: Vivid Black; Stone Washed White Pearl; Midnight Crimson
Accessories
Sportster S model accessories available at launch through Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories include these key items:
Mid-Control Conversion Kit
Relocates the left and right rider foot pegs and foot controls from the Original Equipment forward position to a mid-position on the bike. This may place the rider in a more athletic position and may also provide an improved fit for riders who cannot comfortably reach the forward controls.
Passenger Accommodations
A Pillion Kit, Passenger Footpeg Kit and Passenger Backrest Kit (each sold separately) may be installed. The pillion and backrest feature upholstery styled to match the rider seat.
Sundowner Solo Seat
This seat offers an enhanced bucket design and spherical-void foam construction for improved long-haul comfort and shaping for more-aggressive riding. Seam sealed stitch lines prevent water from soaking into the foam and leaving the rider with a damp bum. Details in the top seat cover enhance overall style.
Compact Detachable Windshield
Black mounting hardware and support brackets, and the dark tint of the windshield, are a style match for the motorcycle. The windshield mounts to the forks with quick-release clamps, and can be installed or removed quickly and easily.
Sportster® S Tailbag
This tailbag is designed specifically to fit and look great on the Sportster® S model, and gives the rider a convenient luggage option for ride essentials. It is recommended that the Tailbag be installed over the accessory pillion (purchased separately). Luggage capacity is 5 pounds. The main compartment volume is expandable from 8.2 liters to 11.5 liters.
Learn more about the Harley-Davidson Sportster S model at www.harley-davidson.com.
About Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Our ambition is to maintain our place as the most desirable motorcycle brand in the world. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture by delivering a motorcycle lifestyle with distinctive and customizable motorcycles, experiences, motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get riders on the road. www.harley-davidson.com.
Liqui Moly MPG Fast Riding School Suzuki’s 18-year-old Alex Dumas made history with double Canadian Superbike race wins during the 2021 opening round of the series at Calabogie Motorsports Park, becoming the first rider in CSBK’s 42-year history to win in their Pro Superbike debut. The Quebec City, Quebec youngster won the 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship on a KTM 390 at age 15; then won the 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship on a Suzuki SV650 in his first try, at age 16; and competed in the 2020 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Championships at age 17, finishing on the Stock 1000 podium before missing several races due to a broken elbow. He returned to Canada to compete in the CSBK Series for the first time this season.
“I was very excited to ride with my new competitors and I must admit that the competition level is very high,” said Alex. “Friday practice went very well but Saturday in qualifying I crashed due to an error on my part, still qualifying in fourth position. On Sunday afternoon I won both Superbike finals on my Liqui Moly MPG Fast Riding School Suzuki. I would like to thank all my sponsors, but especially my crew chief Patrice Goyette of MPG Moto.
“Thanks to all my supporters and sponsors, including Liqui Moly, MPG Moto, FAST Riding School, Suzuki Canada, SM Sport, VR St-Cyr, Hindle Exhaust, Öhlins USA, RoadracingWorld.com, T.A import, Furygan, Arai Helmet Americas, G2 Ergonomics, Domino Racing, TCX Boots, Vortex Racing, Attack Performance, Hotbodies Racing, BrakeTech USA, CL Brakes, Motovan, Team Hammer, and DSM body. It’s great to be racing in Canada and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
DOUBLE M 1000 RR VICTORY FOR BUCHAN & SYNETIQ BMW AT KNOCKHILL
Danny Buchan produced a masterful display aboard his SYNETIQ BMW M 1000 RR, taking both of today’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship race wins at Knockhill in Scotland. Those victories completed a full house of podiums for the official BMW Motorrad rider, having recorded a third place during Saturday’s opening race for the SYNETIQ Intelligent Solutions backed TAS Racing team.
His double top step feat is a Superbike first for the all-new BMW M 1000 RR and in doing so, Buchan moves into third place in the overall BSB standings, just 20 points off the series lead. His team-mate Andrew Irwin made a number of set-up changes during the Knockhill event, and while not yet as comfortable as Buchan, he did make significant progress, scoring points in all three races.
PHILIP NEILL SYNETIQ BMW TEAM PRINCIPAL
It’s been a long wait and not without effort but winning again does feel really sweet. Especially at Knockhill where we have not enjoyed the best of luck in recent years. To be fair, BMW Motorrad has shown a lot of faith in TAS Racing and with our title sponsor SYNETIQ being relatively new to the racing scene, we knew we had to win races this year. Absolutely no excuses.
The new BMW M 1000 RR has already shown great potential in BSB and in WSB and we fully believed the package was capable of running at the front. However, being perfectly honest, Danny made the difference today, he was simply superb. Andrew has not enjoyed the early season so much, but we believe we have found a direction for him even though it didn’t show in our results today. He is a quality rider and I have no doubt he will challenge for podiums when we find the sweet spot for him and his M 1000 RR.
Thanks to all our partners for what we can only describe as a dream weekend for TAS Racing and SYNETIQ BMW.
Danny Buchan (83) in action. Photo courtesy SYNETIQ BMW.
DANNY BUCHAN
#83 BRITISH SUPERBIKE
Well where do we start? What a weekend, three races and three podiums and of course those two wins today. I’m over the moon, so massive credit to the SYNETIQ BMW team as they really did put together a fantastic package with the MRR. It made my day a whole lot easier. To win two British Superbike races so early in the life of the M 1000 RR, which is a new package and in amongst such stiff competition, shows just how good this new BMW really is. Let’s dig deep and keep building on this, but for now I’m going to enjoy the moment.
Andrew Irwin (18) in the heat of battle at Knockhill. Photo courtesy SYNETIQ BMW.
ANDREW IRWIN
#18 BRITISH SUPERBIKE
It definitely doesn’t look like it was my best weekend, but it was a step forward from Oulton Park for sure. It’s a matter of just trying to keep on building on that and look forward to Brands now. Well done to Danny. He did an awesome job this weekend on the SYNETIQ BMW M 1000 RR, showing it’s true potential and what it really can do, so hopefully it will not be too long before I can be close to where he is.
More, from a press release issued by VisionTrack Ducati:
Iddon Leads Championship After Knockhill
Defending Bennetts British Superbike champions VisionTrack Ducati left the second round of the 2021 series with the championship lead following Christian Iddon’s solid performance in all three races at Knockhill this weekend.
After yesterday’s superb victory, the Tyneside-based rider followed that up with a pair of hard-fought fourth places today aboard the factory-supported VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4 RR to leave the Scottish track with a six-point lead.
But for teammate and defending champion Josh Brookes, the meeting proved to be another challenging one as he again struggled but salvaged a handful of points for Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team.
Starting from the front row in today’s opening 30-lap encounter, Iddon again took the lead early on which he held until half race distance. But such was the ferocity, he became embroiled in a three-rider battle for the final podium positions for the remainder of the race but just missed out and had to settle for fourth.
Today’s second race followed a similar pattern with Iddon holding onto second place for the first half of the race despite numerous riders battling at the head of the field. As places constantly changed Iddon found himself shuffled back to fourth when the red flags came out following a crash meaning he missed out on the podium again.
On the other side of the garage, it was another tough day for Brookes and after struggling throughout Saturday, he was unable to make an impression on the top ten in both races today. The Bedfordshire-based Aussie took an unfamiliar 12th and 13th place finishes in the two races to leave Scotland in 11th overall in the early championship table.
Christian Iddon (21) leads a pack of riders at Knockhill. Photo courtesy VisionTrack Ducati.
Christian Iddon: “I struggled a bit in the first race today when the bike had a full fuel load, and I wasn’t riding as smoothly as I had been. I made a few mistakes and got mugged on the last lap which meant I ended up fourth, but the second race was a lot better. I was in the mix throughout and my pace was good but there were some sizeable moves, and I lost a couple of places. But I felt good and regained some of those places quite quickly only for the red flag to come out. It was a shame as I felt the race was coming to me and I felt confident of a podium if the race had gone the full distance. With a win and two fourths, I’ve taken a good haul of points and it’s obviously great to be leading the championship.”
Josh Brookes: “I’m obviously disappointed with how today has gone and embarrassed to be that far back with the number one plate. It’s not natural and it’s not normal for me to be in those positions and I’m in a bit of shock to be honest. The bike hasn’t felt right from the moment we rolled it out the truck and it doesn’t matter what we’ve done, the feeling has been the same. I’ve had bad races in the past but not so many in a row like we’ve had so far this season. I’ve always been able to turn it round and end the weekend on a positive note but that wasn’t the case here at Knockhill. But we won’t give in, I’ll work with my team to sort what we need to.”
Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “We’ve experienced different emotions on both sides of the garage this weekend. With Christian’s win yesterday and two solid performances today, it’s great that he’s leading the championship and has been strong all weekend but for Josh, to see him struggling as he has done once again is frustrating. But we won’t rest until we have sorted the problem with Josh and whilst Christian has momentum going into Brands Hatch, Josh has an excellent record there, so we’ll hopefully find some improvements to kickstart his season.”
The next round takes place at Brands Hatch, Kent on July 23-25.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (30 laps)
1 Danny Buchan (BMW)
2 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)
3 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)
4 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)
5 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)
6 Ryan Vickers (Kawasaki)
12 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)
Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (24 laps)
1 Danny Buchan (BMW)
2 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)
3 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)
4 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)
5 Bradley Ray (BMW)
6 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)
13 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)
Championship Standings (after two rounds)
1 Iddon 111pts
2 O’Halloran 105
3 Buchan 91
4 Mackenzie 76
5 Skinner 61
6 Bridewell 60
11 Brookes 38
More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing UK:
Solid weekend of points for Tom Neave at Knockhill
Honda Racing UK’s Tom Neave holds seventh place in the Pirelli National Superstock Championship standings after a positive weekend at Knockhill. Leading the way for the Honda team aboard the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, Tom finished fourth and fifth in the day’s two races and boosted his championship position to seventh place after arriving this weekend with zero points on the table.
Meanwhile for Glenn Irwin in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, today was a vast improvement on yesterday’s frustrations. Coming home 11th in Race 2, Glenn and the team worked hard to improve the set-up of the Fireblade at the Scottish circuit, but in the final race of the day it wasn’t to be as Glenn crashed out, unhurt, while chasing down 10th place.
Teammate Ryo Mizuno continued to make progress aboard the Fireblade, as he continues to get to grips racing in the UK. An 18th place finish was the best of the pick for Ryo in the second BSB race of the weekend. Meanwhile Takumi Takahashi enjoyed putting in over 200 laps of Knockhill during his first visit to the venue. Still struggling with strength in his shoulder Takumi’s highest place finish across the weekend was 21st.
The Honda Racing UK team will now head back to its Louth-base in Lincolnshire and prepare for the third round of the championship which takes place over 23-25 July at Brands Hatch.
Glenn Irwin (2). Photo courtesy Honda Racing UK.
#2 Glenn Irwin
Racing in 11th isn’t usually what gets us excited, but the progress we’ve made this weekend has been massive. Fair play to the boys in that last race I felt strong and I probably could have caught the guys ahead of me. Everyone will talk about the crash, but that was 1% of the race as 99% was so positive. This weekend we have struggled a bit from a physical point of view, but the changes the boys made to the bike made it easier to ride, and I could also go faster. I’m gutted for them to be honest, I can take it on the chin but they’ve worked hard all weekend and it’s been testing at times! How we turned up for the last race shows the progress and we were able to respond properly. The Fireblade is new to this circuit, so we had a bit to learn this weekend but I am looking forward to coming back, it’s just a shame it ended with a crash.
Ryo Mizuno (88). Photo courtesy Honda Racing UK.
#88 Ryo Mizuno
It’s been a very tough weekend. I feel like I’ve been running all the way from Saturday’s free practice to today’s Race 3 and now I’m feeling very tired. It’s been a weekend where I’ve been able to step up my performance little by little. I’m not satisfied with the race results but I’m happy that I could finish the three races. I’m still working on my physical condition and I’m looking forward to the next race at Brands Hatch.
Takumi Takahashi (13). Photo courtesy Honda Racing UK.
#13 Takumi Takahashi
Today was as difficult as yesterday’s race for me. During today’s first race I had some problems and retired from the running. During the first half of the final race I was getting better little by little, but going into the second half my shoulder became weak and I couldn’t hold the pace I had been running until the end. I will continue to train until the next race and prepare for the ride.
Tom Neave (68). Photo courtesy Honda Racing UK.
#68 Tom Neave
You always want to finish at the top in a race, or at least be on the podium, but I did what I came to do this weekend and that was to finish both races and get some solid points for the championship. For the most part this weekend we went faster in each session and just continued to understand the Fireblade a bit more. I can go home happy and relax, we came into the weekend with zero points and now we’re seventh in the standings. I’m still getting over an illness and also recovering with my knee, so things still aren’t 100% perfect. It’s a long season and there’s so much more we can do, so we’ll keep at it and keep playing the long game.
More, from a press release issued by Buildbase Suzuki:
Rea shows potential at Knockhill with top five challenge
Buildbase Suzuki’s Gino Rea twice challenged for a top five finish at Knockhill this weekend during the second round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, but while unable to remain consistent into the closing stages of the races and dropping down the order, his lap times prove the potential for better results is there.
Rea finished 13th in race one on Saturday but made drastic changes to the setup of his GSX-R1000R for Sunday’s double-header in a bid to improve the contact and feel from the rear tyre. The result saw him able to launch off the line and compete with the leading group, running inside the top five, but on both occasions he struggled in the closing stages and was unlucky to drop down the order. He finished 10th and 11th but set the fifth fastest lap of the final race, to showcase the pace he and the package has.
Gino Rea (44). Photo courtesy Team Suzuki Press Office.
Gino Rea, “I’m actually really happy with the last race and Sunday in general. Although my one lap pace was good we struggled in the races. After warm up we took a big risk with the chassis – playing with linkages, the rear shock, swingarm pivot – and it paid off. We were able to run with the front group and I felt comfortable. In race two it was physical and I struggled to remain consistent, but we showed how fast we were with the seventh fastest lap time. In race three we set the fifth fastest lap which shows we have the pace, and we stuck in the leading group for longer but I made a small mistake which cost me time and positions. I then felt something with the bike and tried to pull off the racing line but unfortunately [Glenn] Irwin touched me and went down and that caused the red flag. But again, the final position in the races doesn’t show our potential and I’m really happy with my pace.”
Danny Kent suffered more bad luck that saw him leave Knockhill with two DNFs. A technical issue in race one and a crash in race two meant it was a trip to Scotland to forget. He finished in the points in 14th in race three.
Danny Kent (52). Photo courtesy Team Suzuki Press Office.
Danny Kent, “It wasn’t the weekend I was hoping for, though not through a lack of trying. My pace for one or a few laps wasn’t so bad but my consistency wasn’t great and at a short track like Knockhill every tenth is important. I feel my biggest problem, currently, is trying to rush things which then slows you down, especially on a superbike. I can’t fault the team, they’re doing a great job to help me, and what is important is that we can be fast and do good lap times, we just need to do them consistently.”
There were two National Superstock 1000 races for Tim Neave. He continued his solid start to the season with another fifth in race one after making some tweaks to the bike between Saturday and Sunday. After being embroiled in the fight for the podium in race two he was unfortunate to crash out at the final turn on the final lap.
Tim Neave, “I’m not disheartened to be fair. The first race was good fun really after starting 15th. We had an issue in qualifying which gave us work to do but I enjoyed it and it was nearly fourth in the end. I got stuck in from the start of race two and we were in that podium group. On the final lap I’d kind of settled for fourth but Chrissy [Rouse] made a slight mistake and I was back on him and was planning a go into the hairpin. He went defensive and as I lined up the cutback I caught myself out and lost the front. But I’ve not lost any confidence and I actually feel more myself after today. We made some changes to the bike from Saturday to Sunday and it felt like mine again. So I feel good, we were back in the mix, and go again at Brands.”
More, from a press release issued by Dynavolt Triumph:
Fourth for Smith and more points for Paasch in Scotland
It may not have been the finish that he was hoping for, but after yesterday’s crushing disappointment in the Sprint Race, Kyle Smith brought the Dynavolt Triumph home in a respectable 4th place in today’s 26-lap Quattro Group British Championship Supersport Feature Race.
Again, Smith got a blistering start from 2nd on the grid and led the charge, but a lack of rear grip feel meant he couldn’t push as hard as he wanted from the outset and lost positions, with his best race laps coming towards the end of the race.
Kyle Smith (11) finished fourth in the British Supersport race Sunday at Knockhill. Photo courtesy Dynavolt Triumph.
Kyle Smith: It’s the finish to a bit of a sweet and sour weekend, starting on pole yesterday and leading the race until a small crash at the end. I thought today I could make up for yesterday’s mistakes but I had some problems with tyres in the race. From the beginning I had no rear grip. At least I know we have the pace now, we’ve worked hard on the bike and found a set up where I feel comfortable, where I can push on the bike. We just need it to come together and get some results, so roll on Brands Hatch.”
Starting from Row 5 on the grid in 14th spot, teammate Brandon Paasch had made up one position and, looking at his best laps, had the pace to challenge in the top five when, in the early stages of the race, he was forced to take action to avoid a rider falling in front of him demoting him to 18th. Paasch fought back through the field to take 7th at the flag.
Brandon Paasch (96) had to avoid a downed rider early in the Supersport race Sunday at Knockhill, which set him back. Photo courtesy Dynavolt Triumph.
Brandon Paasch: Got a little bit unlucky there in the beginning. I got bumped back to 18th after someone crashed in front of me but I made my way back through to finish 7th. Not the best result, not the worst result. We improved the bike and I improved my riding a little bit so I’m happy about that and happy about the lap times and consistency so we’ll keep building on that and look forward to Brands Hatch in a couple of weeks’ time.”
Dynavolt Triumph Team Manager Simon Buckmaster: “Early in the race Brandon had to pick the bike up when someone fell and that put him back to 18th and he genuinely pulled through the field to finish 7th in Supersport. It’s probably the best I have seen him ride the bike. His lap times were good and he made a good step forward. Obviously we want better positions for him but it was good to see him find some more confidence and, when he gets off the bike, to feel like he has ridden better, which he did.”
“Kyle made another good start and led the race but the confidence wasn’t there. He had a new tyre on the bike on the grid as per the norm but the feel wasn’t there for him. As he learned to adapt to the bike he got faster but by that time he’d lost positions and finished 4th. It wasn’t the result that we wanted especially after missing out yesterday on the win that was there for the taking but we have to look at the positives. We qualified on pole, we led, we’ve shown pace and we’ve shown that the bike can do it. There are areas we need to improve and we will work on that for the next round at Brand Hatch. Full capacity crowd, see you all there.”
The 2022 Gresini Racing MotoGP project continues to take shape.
After the announcement of the two-year deal with Ducati and the confirmation of the all-Italian line up of Fabio Di Giannantonio and Enea Bastianini, another piece of the puzzle has fallen into place.
FLEX-BOX, for more than fifteen years a leading international company in the development and manufacturing of long-distance shipping containers, will be the title sponsor of the team entered by Gresini Racing in the 2022 MotoGP season.
FLEX-BOX, which has already been present for many years in the world of motorcycle racing as an official sponsor of Ducati Corse, will become title sponsor of a MotoGP team for the first time, with the Team being named FLEX-BOX Gresini MotoGP TEAM.
HENRIK NIELSEN – CEO FLEX-BOX
“We are delighted to join Gresini Racing in their new effort in MotoGP. We have been in the motorsport world for a while already, and it is still pretty exciting to start a partnership like this that places our bran at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing. I believe we have two very talented young riders and a very solid project for the next season, and I can’t wait to work alongside Nadia, Carlo and all the Team”.
CARLO MERLINI – DIRETTORE COMMERCIALE E MARKETING GRESINI RACING
“I’m so happy to welcome Flex-Box and Henrik Nielsen in the #gresinifamily. Building new partnerships is always very exciting and the fact that Henrik was one of the first believers in the new Gresini’s MotoGP project makes it somehow special. Flex-Box will be an integrant part of the team naming and this tells a lot about how they decided to places their bets in the Gresini MotoGP, since the beginning, and I’m obviously very grateful to Henrik for his trust. Everybody knows that our 2022 project will be “dressed in red” and I’m sure that, together with Enea and Fabio, we will put some good show on stage and deliver excitements to our partners like Flex-Box, as well to all our fans.”
Wyman Crowned Mission King Of The Baggers Champion
Kyle Wyman Takes The Crown Despite Injury At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
MONTEREY, CA – Broken elbow, be damned. Kyle Wyman is the 2021 MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Champion. Wyman did what was needed to do to earn the title on his factory Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide as the three-round series culminated on a sunny day on the Monterey Peninsula.
Mission King Of The Baggers: Wyman Crowned!
Kyle Wyman (33) got the holeshot at the start of the King Of The Baggers race and rode on to victory. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
The three-round Mission King Of The Baggers Championship wrapped up on Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle rider Kyle Wyman left no doubt, from the beginning of the race, that he would not only win the race, but clinch the title in dominant fashion.
Wyman started from the pole and was never headed in the eight-lap race. He gained more than a full second on second-place finisher and Mission Foods S&S Cycle Indian rider Tyler O’Hara on almost every lap of the race until he decided to slow his pace just a bit towards the end. At the checkers, he took the win by just under four-and-a-half seconds over O’Hara. Third place went to DTF Performance/Hoban Brothers Performance Racing Harley-Davidson’s Michael Barnes, who added yet another podium finish in yet another motorcycle road race class on yet another brand of motorcycle.
Wyman, who had broken his elbow in a crash last month at Road America, made a miraculous recovery from his injury, and he talked about it after the race.
“Those guys are world-class doctors and surgeons, putting me back together, knowing exactly the timeline and how he needed to fix everything for me to be able to get what I needed to get done,” Wyman said. “Honestly, we didn’t make any changes to the bike ergonomically for me to ride it. It was just a matter of Friday it was like, okay, this is the lap time I can do without braking so hard that I’m screaming in my helmet. Then here’s a lap I can do when it really sucks. Then just decided from there how hard I wanted to push. I pushed pretty hard in the beginning of the race and saw the board grow pretty quickly, so I was pretty happy with that. I could kind of keep a steady rhythm from there and not have to brake too hard. That’s all it was. It was just more brake force and the more I have to hold my body weight, especially these downhill left-handers in 2 and 11 and stuff like that. Structurally it’s been good. It’s been a very fast recovery. If I was only racing Superbike this year, I probably would have ridden the Superbike, but both would have been a lot. I would have jeopardized both. So, my plan was just to focus on this. Pretty minimal laps for a race weekend. After doing double duty riding on the Harley only is like a vacation, so it was pretty awesome. Got it done.”
Stock 1000: Wyman By An Inch
Travis Wyman (10) beat Corey Alexander (23) by a small margin in the Stock 1000 race. Jake Lewis (85) got third. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca started off with a bang as MotoAmerica’s literbike riders put on an amazing show in their only Stock 1000 race of the weekend. Motul Travis Wyman Racing BMW rider Travis Wyman showed his tenacity when he started from back in seventh on the grid and methodically worked his way to the front. Meanwhile, HONOS HVMC Racing Kawasaki’s Corey Alexander was in the lead and heading for the win…until Wyman descended upon him from seemingly nowhere with four laps to go in the 14-lap event. Wyman stalked Alexander, and then, on the final run to the checkers, he nipped Alexander at the finish line by a scant .032 of a second. Altus Motorsports Suzuki’s Jake Lewis also emerged from way back in the pack – a victim of a bad tire choice – to take the final spot on the podium just .286 0f a second behind Alexander.
“The guys got my bike dialed in where I can get off of that corner (turn 11) really well,” said Wyman about his race-long surge to the win. “That was my focus going into this weekend, was figuring out 11. Overall, the guys just figured out a great setup for me. We struggled in qualifying and they threw something together for me in the Superbike race and it was a gamble and it paid off. We didn’t change the bike one bit from yesterday’s race to this race because I knew we had pace and I just wanted to focus on riding and not having to take another gamble, because we were good. I just got a terrible start and I had to work my way through the field, and I knew Cory and (fourth-place finisher) Andrew (Lee) wouldn’t make it easy for me. Lapped traffic came into play. I actually thought that I was going to settle for second because of how far back I was from Cory coming down the hill, but when I got up behind him in 11, I was like, ‘Man, I haven’t made a pass by the start/finish yet, but I think if I can get a killer drive, I could do it,’ and I did and obviously it paid off. So stoked for BMW and everyone.”
Super Hooligans: Fillmore Over DiBrino
KTM’s Chris Fillmore (11) topped Andy DiBrino (62) in the RSD Super Hooligans race. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Round one of the Roland Sands Design Super Hooligans QuaTTro Championship took place on Sunday with the road race portion of the multi-disciplinary series. Two KTM-mounted riders battled at the front with Chris Fillmore prevailing over his teammate Andy DiBrino by just .045 of a second. SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup regular David Kohlstaedt rode his Indian to third place.
“We didn’t ride together really at all these past three days,” Fillmore said in reference to his teammate DiBrino. “So, I wasn’t sure where I was going to be strong. I just figured it out throughout the race. I decided to kind of play the wise old thoughts and kind of sit back and watch and pick my place where I was going to make my move. I saved it for the last corner because I didn’t want to give him another chance to come back by me. So, it would have been nice to battle back and forth a little bit because we, for sure, could have done a little bit of that, but I went for the safe last-lap pass.”
Supersport: Kelly Again
Sean Dylan Kelly won his seventh Supersport race of the season Sunday at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly and HONOS HVMC Racing Kawasaki’s Richie Escalante continued what has been a season-long, round-by-round and race-by-race battle, but as has been the trend this season, Kelly, who started from the pole, prevailed with his seventh race victory of the season over Escalante.
The two riders had their usual paint-swapping skirmishes during the 19-lap event, but they were joined this time by CV28 Racing Yamaha’s Cory Ventura, who followed up his podium finish from Saturday’s race one with a turn in a lead for at least a brief few moments. As the race approached its conclusion, things became processional with Kelly beating Escalante by a little over four seconds, and Ventura just under two-and-a-half seconds adrift of Escalante.
“That wasn’t an easy race,” Kelly said. “I was really happy about the weekend. Truthfully, another solid job. We got the double. Did the pole yesterday. We’ve been in the fight the entire time. Just working away. Really happy, honestly, with how I’m working with the team. This is exactly what I want to be doing every single weekend. Definitely proud of the job. Today’s race was a little bit more tough than yesterday. Richie and I started off with some close battles and a few rubs, which is honestly one of the best ways to race. We’re tough competitors, but we have a level of respect, which is definitely necessary just to keep human. But it’s good. Cory definitely surprised me. I struggled to get by him for a lap or two. Just a different riding style I had never seen. Just a couple different things here and there. I actually almost hit him twice and decided to take it a little easy and study him a little bit more to do it the right way. So, I’m definitely happy about the job. Overall, just excited to get the double this weekend. We just have to continue. The goal is higher than this, so we’re just going to keep on working away.”
SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup: Scott Again
Tyler Scott (70) held off Ben Gloddy (72) to win SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
The final race of the weekend was in SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup, and Saturday’s winner Tyler Scott did the double aboard his Scott Powersports KTM despite facing a very strong challenge from Landers Racing Kawasaki’s Ben Gloddy. Scott started from the pole, but Gloddy was undeterred and kept Scott in his sights throughout the race, which included overtaking Scott on lap eight. Scott was equally undeterred, however, and he quickly took back the lead and maintained all the way to the checkers. Veloce Racing’s David Kohlstaedt, who was third in Saturday’s Junior Cup race one and third in Sunday morning’s Super Hooligans race, finished third in Junior Cup race two to record his third podium finish of the weekend.
“It feels great to go back-to-back this weekend,” Scott said. “I couldn’t ask for a more perfect weekend. Great race today with Ben. It was definitely tiring. I knew he was there the whole time. Way more competitive than yesterday, in my opinion. We started going back and forth battling and saw our lap times going down, so in the last couple laps I decided to take the lead and try to set the pace for the last lap.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati:
Ducati Double Podiums at Laguna Seca with 2-2 Results
Sunnyvale, Calif. – The rolling hills of the world renowned WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca show no trouble for the European duo Loris Baz and Toni Elias, with Baz recording the fastest lap of the weekend propelling him to his best performance of the season to date, taking two second place podiums from two starts in California. The 2-2 result hoists Baz into fifth in the standing, 15 points off Suzuki rider Cameron Peterson.
Baz, on his return back to Laguna Seca, consistently challenging Jake Gagne (Yamaha) in an exceptional showing for the Warhouse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Ducati Panigale V4 R SBK.
Toni Elias also showed his mettle as he battles through 8-7 results for his first showing on the Panera Bread Ducati, as he fills in for Kyle Wyman at Laguna Seca who suffered from a broken arm at Road Atlanta.
2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Standing – Top 5
P1 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 225
P2 – Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 160
P3 – Josh Herrin (Yamaha) 145
P4 – Cameron Petersen (Suzuki) 137
P5 – Loris Baz (Ducati) 122
P10 – Kyle Wyman (Ducati) 49
Loris Baz. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York – Ducati #76)
“It’s been a great weekend; the best we’ve had so far,” Baz said. “We’ve had no real issues all weekend, besides the small fumble on Friday, we’ve been strong all weekend. I think since Road America, race one, we finally found a bass setup that I like on the bike, so I’m riding better and better. I’ve really enjoyed riding the V4 R at Laguna Seca. I was able to put pressure on Jake during race one and race two. We put on a great show in front of the many fans around the track. Considering how new this project is, we are getting better and better, so I look forward to the future.”
Toni Elias (24). Photo courtesy Ducati.
Toni Elias (Panera Bread Ducati – Ducati #24)
“I am really happy to come here and have the opportunity to ride Kyle’s bike,” said Elias. “I felt what it was like to be racing again; feeling the pressure, the nervousness, and battling all the way up until the last corner. It’s been amazing. We worked on improving every session to get better and better. We suffered with traction and that’s what made me suffer a little, but in general we made good steps forward. I felt super great with Kyle’s team – a lot of good people. They were very open and listened to my opinion, which can be difficult when coming into a new team. Overall, it was a good experience and now I have more information on the Ducati, so I look forward to the future to hopefully continue riding for the brand.”
More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz Podiums In Sunday’s Superbike Race At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Mathew Scholtz. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Monterey, CA – Following his fourth-place finish in Saturday’s Superbike race one at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz returned to the podium in Sunday’s race two. For Mathew, it was his sixth podium finish of the season, and he maintained second in the championship point standings.
After making a couple of changes to the bike’s setup overnight and testing the new settings in the Sunday morning warmup session, Mathew got off to a good start in the afternoon’s race. In the opening laps, he challenged Jake Gagne and Loris Baz for the lead in a dramatic skirmish that occurred while the three riders were going through Laguna Seca’s iconic Corkscrew. Ultimately, Mathew settled into third and tenaciously hung onto his podium position all the way to the checkered flag.
Reflecting on his weekend, Mathew said, “Yesterday was good. Finishing just 4.8 seconds behind Jake (Gagne) is the closest we’ve been to him. Last night, we made some changes, and it definitely helped today. The past two rounds have been difficult, so we came here and just reset everything, worked our way up slowly Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and just got quicker and quicker. I think I hung onto Baz and Jake for the first 12 (of 20) laps or something like that. I didn’t think it would be possible running low to mid 24’s for most of the race. I got a nice surprise for myself there. Just a huge thank you to the Westby Racing team. These have been difficult times, but we persevered and managed to work our way back up to the podium here. We definitely have our work cut out for us to catch (Gagne and Baz). I feel like the bike is now going where I feel comfortable riding it. I’ve had to change how I go into corners, slightly. I feel like if we carry on working in the direction that we are now, we should be able to hopefully catch them soon.”
Westby Racing’s Junior Cup rider Jack Roach had a solid weekend aboard his Yamaha YZF-R3. He followed up his sixth-place finish in Saturday’s race one with another sixth-place finish in Sunday’s race two. In both races, Jack was in a group of riders who were competing for the podium. Also, on the strength of his two sixth-place results over the weekend, he moved up to 11th in the championship point standings.
Next up for Westby Racing is round seven of the MotoAmerica Championship, which will take place at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, on July 30 through August 1.
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More, from a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:
FACTORY H-D RIDER KYLE WYMAN WINS KING OF BAGGERS RACE AND CHAMPIONSHIP
Wyman Leads Every Lap to Score Second Win of Season, Earns Bagger Title by 25 Points
Kyle Wyman (33) on his Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson Road Glide. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory team rider Kyle Wyman won the 2021 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers championship with a dominating performance at MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest at Monterey in Laguna Seca, Calif. Aboard the #33 factory-prepared Harley-Davidson Road Glide® Special powered by a modified Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engine, Wyman took the holeshot, set a new class lap record, and led every lap of the race on the 2.238-mile WeatherTech Raceway road course. Wyman beat second place Tyler O’Hara on the #29 S&S Cycle Indian Challenger by 4.388 seconds at the finish. Michael Barnes finished third on the #34 Hoban Brothers Racing DTF/Horsepower Inc./Darkhorse Crankworks Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special. Travis Wyman was fourth on the #10 Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory team Road Glide Special.
The victory by Kyle Wyman came only weeks after surgery following a crash in the MotoAmerica Superbike race at Road America on June 13 in which he suffered multiple fractures of his elbow. Wyman chose to sit out the Superbike races at Ridge Motorsports Park and Laguna Seca to focus on the King of the Baggers race and championship title.
“I just wanted to give one lap of absolutely everything I had and see where that put me, and I saw plus one after the first lap and put my head down again,” said Wyman. “The Harley-Davidson team has given me such an amazing motorcycle, and this is a dream come true for me. I grew up in a Harley-Davidson dealership but have been road racing all different brands. I never thought I’d race a Harley again after the XR1200 series, and here we are, King of the Baggers champions. Thank you so much to everyone at Harley-Davidson.”
Using the power of his Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee-Eight 131R motor, Wyman posted a fastest lap of 1:31.983 seconds, good for a new class track record, and more than a second faster than O’Hara’s fastest race lap.
“Everyone at Harley-Davidson is immensely proud of Kyle and the entire factory team for their tireless commitment to securing this championship,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president, and CEO Harley-Davidson. “Kyle’s incredible dedication and focus on winning was matched by the passion and energy of the team of Harley-Davidson engineers who developed these bagger race bikes, constantly working to improve the performance of these remarkable motorcycles. This team truly exemplifies the spirit of Harley-Davidson Number 1.”
The MotoAmerica King of the Baggers series is for race-prepared, American V-Twin touring motorcycles equipped with fairing and saddlebags. With two wins and a second-place finish, Wyman wrapped up the three-race King of the Baggers series with 70 points. O’Hara finished second with 45 points. Hayden Gillim slotted in third with 39 points on the #79 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Street Glide entry.
Kyle and Travis Wyman are the sons of Kim Wyman, owner of Harv’s Harley-Davidson in Macedon, N.Y., and grew up around Harley-Davidson and flat track racing.
MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race Results Laguna Seca:
1. Kyle Wyman (Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson)
2. Tyler O’Hara (S&S Indian)
3. Michael Barnes (Hoban Brothers Racing/DTF Performance Harley-Davidson)
4. Travis Wyman (Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson)
5. Ben Bostrom (Feuling Harley-Davidson)
6. Hayden Gillim (Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson)
7. Frankie Garcia (RSD Indian)
8. Patricia Fernandez (Saddlemen Indian)
9. Zack Nation (Zach Nation Racing Harley-Davidson)
10. Eric Stahl (Jiffy Tune Racing Harley-Davidson)
6. Eric Stahl 25 (Jiffy Tune Racing Harley-Davidson)
7. John Sueberling 19 (Mad Monkey Motorsports Harley-Davidson)
8. Danny Eslick 18 (Rossmeyer Daytona Racing Harley-Davidson)
9. Zack Nation 17 (Zack Nation Racing Harley-Davidson)
10. Michael Barnes 16 (Hoban Brothers Racing/DTF Performance Harley-Davidson)
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
APRILIA DOMINATES AT LAGUNA SECA
THREE RS 660 ON THE PODIUM IN MOTOAMERICA, DE KEYREL STRENGTHENS THE LEADERSHIP IN THE TWINS CUP
Aprilia swept the MotoAmerica Twins Cup podium at Laguna Seca with Kaleb De Keyrel (center) winning over runner-up Anthony Mazziotto (left) and third-place finisher Jody Barry (right). Photo courtesy Aprilia.
The famous American circuit of Laguna Seca hosted the Twins Cup of MotoAmerica last weekend. And it was a race to remember for Aprilia, which took three steps on the podium with three RS 660s.
Championship leader Kaleb De Keyrel (Robem Engineering team) got off to a good start from fifth place on the grid, gained during a very tight qualifying session. He quickly grabbed the first position, maintained the lead until the checkered flag and, at the halfway mark of the championship, strengthens his leadership in the category.
“We were trying to get comfortable most of the weekend, making progress each step, and when the race arrived, we had a good setup,” explains Kaleb De Keyrel, “I was able to make a few passes early on and get out front, and get into the lap times we needed to be keep a lead. When I can get out front, I like that best, as it allows me to set the pace, and focus. I felt comfortable, precise, and had a great ride on my RS 660.”
After his debut in the Veloce Racing Team last race, with little experience riding the RS 660, Anthony Mazziotto confirmed in California what he had already shown in Washington. After having just missed the pole position by 13 thousandths, he was 27 thousandths behind De Keyrel for a well deserved second place.
“Team Veloce put a really great bike underneath me, and I want to thank Spiros Gabrilis and the crew for the opportunity, we’re making it work,” said Anthony Mazziotto, “Kaleb had me working here, and I just couldn’t get around him today. The Aprilia surprised me, because at The Ridge, Jackson [Blackmon] was very fast on his FZ, and also being a technical track, I expected to see the same thing climbing up the hill, but the Aprilia definitely dominated here at Laguna Seca.”
Jody Barry arrived at Laguna Seca determined, showing speed right from practice and taking the Superpole. Despite the fastest lap of the weekend, he had to settle for the third step of the podium after 13 laps, 1.071 seconds behind the winner.
“Pace of the race was very fast, set by De Keyrel. The bike has been great, we had grip throughout the race, and were stable the whole time, it’s been amazing,” said Jody Barry of Righteous Racing team, “Toward the end, I was pushing and closing the gap, but unfortunately, we hit some traffic, and just couldn’t get it to work, but we’re happy with the result and can’t complain.”
After five rounds of the MotoAmerica Twins Cup championship, riders continue to arrive to the grid aboard Aprilia RS 660 machines, proving the ability of the motorcycles to compete in America’s premiere championship as frontrunners. MotoAmerica heads to Brainerd International Raceway, in Minnesota for Round 6, of the 9-round championship, July 30 – August 1.
More, from a press release issued by Robem Engineering:
Robem Engineering rider De Keyrel scores third win of 2021 season, extends championship lead Saturday at MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest at Monterey
Khamsouk’s fifth place gives team two top five finishes in Twins Cup race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
MONTEREY, Calif. — Robem Engineering rider Kaleb De Keyrel is no stranger to winning at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, but Saturday marked his first victory at the iconic California track aboard an Aprilia.
It was De Keyrel’s third victory in this year’s MotoAmerica Twins Cup, and the runner-up in the 2020 Twins Cup was at the head of the second all-Aprilia podium of the 2021 season.
Another Robem Engineering rider, Toby Khamsouk, scored a fifth place, giving the team two top-five finishes in the event’s only Twins Cup race. The team’s third rider, Hayden Schultz, led the team’s qualifying effort but had to settle for a seventh-place finish after suffering a near crash on Lap 2.
The victory allowed De Keyrel to increase his lead in the Twins Cup points standings. The Minnesotan now holds a 15-point margin over the rest of the field, and Schultz and Khamsouk are now fifth and seventh in the standings, respectively.
The team got a slower-than-usual start to the weekend in its first time campaigning its Aprilia RS 660s on the same 2.2-mile circuit the stars of FIM MotoGP and the Superbike World Championship have raced on in years past. In Friday’s practice session, Khamsouk was the fastest of the team’s three riders. The Californian ended the session fifth fastest at his home track, with Schultz finishing the session in sixth and De Keyrel in seventh. The team’s pace improved later that day when Khamsouk posted the second-best time of Friday qualifying. De Keyrel ended the session in third — about 0.15 seconds off Khamsouk’s pace — and Schultz finished the session in seventh.
Qualifying wrapped up on Saturday morning with Schultz claiming third on the starting grid – rounding out an all-Aprilia front row. De Keyrel and Khamsouk weren’t far behind Schultz as they claimed the fifth and sixth spots on the grid, respectively.
When racing got underway Saturday afternoon, De Keyrel got a great start and was in second place as the field made its way through Turn 2 for the first time. Schultz wasn’t far behind De Keyrel in fourth place, and Khamsouk finished the opening lap of the 13-lap race in seventh. Schultz briefly ran behind De Keyrel in second before nearly crashing as he entered Turn 2. After running off track, Schultz rejoined the race in eighth place. De Keyrel was part of race-long battle for the lead with two other riders while Khamsouk was running in the top five by the end of Lap 2. Though he fell out of the lead twice, De Keyrel led the field for most of the race and claimed the win by 0.217 seconds. Khamsouk scored his third top five of the 2021 season, and Schultz salvaged a seventh-place finish.
Next up on the 2021 Twins Cup schedule is MotoAmerica’s first event at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn., on July 30-Aug. 1.
Kaleb De Keyrel (51). Photo by Sara Chappell Photos, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Kaleb De Keyrel / No. 51
“Overall, it was an awesome weekend at Laguna Seca. Everyone was really close in terms of lap times in qualifying, and I got bumped down from third to fifth on the last lap of qualifying. I knew that it wouldn’t be easy starting a little ways back from where I usually have this year. I made some quick passes almost right away and later made a pass for the lead within the first couple laps. I found a comfortable pace out front and was able to stay calm and hit my marks. My Aprilia RS 660 was working awesome, and I was able to stay focused on being smooth. I got passed a couple times, but was able to pass right back. I made a bit of a sketchy pass around some lappers on the last lap, but made it to the end of the race and took the checkered flag. It was an awesome race for me. Coming from fifth to a win was epic.”
Hayden Schultz (49). Photo by Sara Chappell Photo, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Hayden Schultz / No. 49
“We made progress all throughout the weekend, and I’m really happy with where we ended this weekend compared to where we started it. I give credit to the entire team for giving me a bike that was capable of winning. The race started out pretty well for me. On Lap 1, I was running in second right behind Kaleb. But, I made an error that pushed me all the way back to eighth place. I tried to fight my way back up the running order, but had to settle for seventh. I don’t think the result showed where we should have been today. We had the pace to be on the podium, and, if I had not made that mistake, I think we would’ve had our best shot at getting a win this year. You live and learn, and I’ll try to use this experience to improve at the next round.”
Toby Khamsouk (27). Photo by Sara Chappell Photos, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Toby Khamsouk / No. 27
“We learned a lot about our Aprilia RS 660 this weekend that I think will help me run closer to the front. I’m looking forward to the next round at Brainerd, and I think I’ll be much closer to the battle for the race lead there.”
Robem Engineering’s technical partners for 2021 include Aprilia Racing, Piaggio Group Americas, The Center for Plastic Surgery, Velocity Calibrations, Bitubo Suspension, Dunlop, Woodcraft Technologies, Dymag, Vesrah, DNA Filters, Magura USA, Sara Chappell Photos, NGK/NTK, Blud Lubricants, Millennium Technologies and SC-Project.
More, from a press release issued by Pure Attitude Racing:
Liam, Austin & Nate continue to rack up the points in Twins Cup and Supersport as MotoAmerica lands at Laguna Seca
The latest round of the 2021 MotoAmerica series took place at the iconic Laguna Seca circuit, home of the famous Corkscrew, this passed weekend, and Pure Attitude Racing was once again in the mix throughout, thanks to their competing riders Nate Minster, Austin Miller, and Liam MacDonald.
With tens of thousands packing the venue, the team, who were once again on track in both Twins Cup and Supersport, also took part in the first ever Party at The Podium on Saturday evening, entering the #MotoAmericanIdol contest as a group – with hilarious results.
The Twins Cup category had only one race with Liam MacDonald the team’s sole entry following Trevor Standish’s spill at Road America. The flying Kiwi as he is affectionately known rode well. Improving his lap times by over two seconds from Friday to Saturday to finish a more than respectable ninth on his first visit to the Californian Circuit. He remains the only ‘rookie’ in the series to have finished inside the Top Ten in every race he’s finished this season – an impressive statistic.
In Supersport Austin Miller and Nate Minster’s efforts ensured a 100% points scoring weekend for Pure Attitude Racing. Austin racing to twelfth and fourteenth in the two nineteen lap encounters, whilst Nate overcoming small issues to salvage a double fifteenth.
Liam MacDonald (37). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Liam MacDonald: “I started ninth and finished ninth. It took me a while in the race to find my rhythm and that cost me time in the beginning. I don’t know why but I felt like I wasn’t hitting my marks and that stopped me from potentially finishing higher, but that’s racing, and it can happen sometime. Able to set my fastest laps in the last laps which the team and I were happy with, we found a really good direction with the bike. It was a bit of a lonely race, but it was another top ten which is really positive. I am looking forward to Brainerd in a few weeks which is a circuit not many people have been to. A big thanks to the team – see you at the next one.”
Austin Miller (61). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Austin Miller: “It was another great opening race for me. I made a good start and as everyone went to the inside I went around the outside. I rode my own race and was able to stick with the group. This meant that I was in a position to pick them off one by one and I took P12 in a photo finish on the last lap to take my second-best result in MotoAmerica Supersport. Race two wasn’t the result I wanted but I was able to drop lap times and went faster. I lost grip towards the end of the race but overall, I am happy with my performance this weekend and am looking forward to Brainerd.”
Nate Minster (99). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Nate Minster: “Race 1 was a struggle, but I managed to dig deep and take the last point. Race two was a pleasing step forward. We found the issue that had been affecting us all weekend and I was able to improve my lap time quite a lot. I made a good start but faded a bit towards the end. I’m happy though as we now have the right direction, and the next race is my home race so see you all there.”
More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA, LLC:
SUPERSPORT DOUBLE VICTORY FOR SUZUKI’S SEAN DYLAN KELLY AT LAGUNA SECA
Brea, CA ( July 12, 2021) – Suzuki Motor USA, LLC and Team Hammer added to its rapidly expanding 2021 trophy collection with two more victories, four podiums, and a pole position as the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship visited the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California this weekend.
Sean Dylan Kelly (40) dominated the weekend with two Supersport wins at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Sean Dylan Kelly was again at the front of the charge, assembling a second consecutive perfect weekend. Despite twice being confronted with a relentless challenge from his rivals, the 19-year-old pulled off a pair of tight victories aboard his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R600 to up his MotoAmerica Supersport title advantage to an imposing 31 points.
For ‘SDK,’ the dominating weekend represented his second double win in a row, both in 2021 and at Laguna Seca. On Saturday, Kelly managed a fast pace despite closing off the traditional passing zones to any potential maneuvers. On Sunday, his rivals were even more aggressive, but the Floridian survived early attacks to consolidate the lead in the middle portions of the race and hold it until the checkered flag.
Reflecting on his seventh triumph of the season, Kelly said, “It was another hard race at the front, just like yesterday. It was a really close gap, and I just tried to be consistent. It came down to the end again and they were right on me. It was another one of those races where I had to play it smart and defend, and I think I played it exactly the right way.
“I’m really stoked. Thank you to my whole M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team — this is amazing.”
Cameron Petersen (45) continues to impress with a third and fourth place finish on his GSX-R1000R. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Meanwhile, M4 ECSTAR Suzuki MotoAmerica Superbike ace Cameron Petersen put together another outstanding weekend himself. The South African further established himself a genuine podium threat in the premier class, adding his fourth top three in five races on Saturday. After a red flag, he jumped into third place and held it.
Petersen backed it up with a fourth-place ride on Sunday.
“Hats off to the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team,” Petersen said following his Saturday third. “They keep working hard and keep giving me the best possible bike every weekend. That’s allowing me to show that I can do my thing and get on the podium in the Superbike class.”
Jake Lewis (85) battled his way up to a third place finish on his Suzuki GSX-R1000. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Stock 1000 championship contender Jake Lewis added a fourth podium of the weekend for the larger effort. The lanky Kentuckian dipped as low as eighth at mid-distance, but put in a spirited charge aboard his Team Hammer-built Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the late stages of the race to work his way into winning contention by the final lap.
Lewis ultimately finished third, just 0.286 seconds behind the winner. As a result, he is now just 12 points off the title lead.
Lewis said, “It was my and the team’s decision to run the harder rear tire and I think we were the only one in the top eight running it. I just couldn’t get going in the beginning. They were smoking me. I just did the best I could, charged the whole race, and made some good passes. I wish I would have rewarded the Altus Motorsports Suzuki team with a win, but third is not bad. It was a good points weekend for us.”
Bobby Fong (50) raced hard and delivered two solid top-ten finishes at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Superbike race winner Bobby Fong gritted out sixth- and seventh-place rides on his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R.
Sam Lochoff (44) maintained his 3rd place position in the championship with strong rides on his GSX-R600. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Meanwhile, rising star Sam Lochoff still ranks third in the MotoAmerica Supersport standings despite a tough weekend in California that saw him finish seventh on Saturday and crash from contention on Sunday.
Wyatt Farris (79) earned another solid top ten finish in the Stock 1000 class. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Wyatt Farris earned his sixth top-ten Stock 1000 result of the year with a run to tenth.
Team Hammer will next return to the Midwest with a long-awaited return to Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, on July 30-August 1.
Evan Bros Yamaha to Run Second Yamaha R6 for Sebestyén from Assen
From the Assen FIM Supersport World Championship round, the Evan Bros Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team has announced it will run a second Yamaha R6 bike for Péter Sebestyén for the remainder of the season.
The Hungarian will get his first opportunity to run with the Evan Bros Yamaha team in a test at Autodrom Most on 16 – 17 July, before making his return to the world championship paddock at Assen, The Netherlands, on 23 – 25 July, alongside full-season rider and championship contender Steven Odendaal.
Born in Budapest, Sebestyén contested the Red Bull Rookies Cup and CEV before making sporadic appearances in the MotoGP-supporting 125cc World Championship. He then switched over to the FIM Superbike World Championship paddock, competing in the 2013 European Junior Cup, where he scored a best finish of second at Magny-Cours.
His performances earned him a spot on the 2014 WorldSBK grid, before switching to the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup the following year. The 27-year-old returned to WorldSBK in 2016, riding a Yamaha R1 and scoring his first points finish at Jerez.
In 2017, Sebestyén took part in the European rounds of WorldSSP, where he remained for a second season, scoring his first top 10 result in Qatar after a mid-season team switch. In 2019, he was given his first full-season in the championship, taking points in 11 of the 12 rounds. Last year, he raced the Yamaha R6 for the first time and scored his best-ever finish of sixth at MotorLand Aragón.
Sebestyén will join the team which has taken the last two riders’ titles, with Evan Bros Yamaha teammate Odendaal locked in a title battle, having won the opening three races of 2021.
Péter Sebestyén
Evan Bros Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team
“I still find it hard to believe that I will be racing with the best team in the category. I have been following the Evan Bros Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team for the last few seasons and I have been impressed by their methods and mentality. I have always dreamed of being part of such a team, and now that dream has come true. My strengths are tenacity, modesty and passion, which I will use from the first day I can get on the bike and work with my team, while giving my best. Now I am 100 percent focused on training, because the WorldSSP championship requires a lot of effort, and I want to be in the best condition right away. I want to say a big thank you to the Hungarian Motorsport Development Agency for giving me this opportunity. It’s an honour to represent my country, and I’m happy that the efforts of these last few years have produced such a chance.”
Fabio Evangelista – Team Principal
Evan Bros Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team
“I’m very pleased to welcome Péter Sebestyén to our team, to start this new adventure from the Assen round. He’s a rider I have followed for a few years now, with an untapped potential that I and the whole team will try with all our might to bring out. Péter will have the best possible package at his disposal, with a proven team and I’m convinced that, even though he hasn’t done the winter tests with us, after a short period of adaptation he will be ready to obtain excellent results. I would like to sincerely thank HUMDA for the great effort they have made in reaching this agreement. I am aware of how much the Hungarian motorcycling movement wants to expand in these years, and to be part of this project is a great honour. Finally, I’m convinced that with two riders our team can shine, as it has already amply demonstrated in 2019, so this new challenge gives us a big incentive for the future, which we will enjoy together with Yamaha and our sponsors.”
Loris Baz (76) leads Josh Herrin (2), Mathew Scholtz (11) and Bobby Fong (50) At Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Team Claims 2-2 Finishes at Laguna Seca Superbike
Following 4-3 finishes at round four of the 2021 MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Championship in Ridge Motorsports Park, Sheldon, Wash., the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Team and rider Loris Baz arrived at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in California confident for additional podium finishes.
The reason was simple; the team already had data from the Ducati Panigale V4 R, and Baz had raced at Laguna Seca before— although never on a Ducati with Dunlop tires. The confidence paid off, and the 28-year-old Frenchman rode consistently to take second in both races at round five—the best performance so far this season.
The team wasted no time getting up to speed during Friday’s practice and qualifying, and secured second place to start Saturday’s race one. During race one, Baz got off to a quick start ahead of a red flag. Although Baz was the only rider on the front two rows using an extra soft front tire and didn’t have as good of a launch during the restart, he moved his way to the front and kept the pressure on Yamaha’s Jacke Gagne to the checkered flag. Baz would end Saturday in second.
The team made some minor modifications to the VR 4 ahead of Sunday’s race. Baz was quick off the line and once again kept the pressure on Gagne throughout race two, even taking the lead after a mistake by Gagne. When Sunday’s race ended, Baz crossed the line second for a 2-2 finish at round five of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship in California.
“It’s been a great weekend; the best we’ve had so far,” Baz said. “We’ve had no real issues all weekend, besides the small fumble on Friday, we’ve been strong all weekend. I think since Road America, race one, we finally found a base setup that I like on the bike, so I’m riding better and better. I’ve really enjoyed riding the V4 R at Laguna Seca. I was able to put pressure on Jake during race one and race two. We put on a great show in front of the many fans around the track. Considering how new this project is, we are getting better and better, so I look forward to the future.”
After five of nine rounds, Baz is fifth in the Superbike Championship with 122 points, up another position. The team will now prep for the sixth round July 30 – August 1 at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota, a track Baz is familiar with due to testing.
The team is made possible through key partners: North American Warhorse, Parts Unlimited, Ducati New York, Horsepower HD, Competition Werkes, Mount Airy Casino & Resort, New York Safety Track, and Fast by Ferraci. In addition to the support of their technical sponsors: Akrapovic, Bickle Racing, DID Chain, DNA Air Filters, Drippen Wet, Drive Systems USA, EVOL Technologies, FullSix Carbon, Full Spectrum, Hard Knocks Moto Coffee, Melotti Racing, OGNIBENE S.p.A., RaceSeats, Spider Racing , Samco Sport, Spiegler Performance, Race Technologies, and TechSpec.
More, from a press release issued by Scott Powersports:
Tyler Scott Doubles and Beats Track Record at Laguna Seca
It was a fairy tale weekend for the Scott Powersports crew as Tyler Scott put his KTM RC 390 R on the top step of the podium in both Sportbike Track Gear Junio Cup races. Adding to that success, Tyler broke the track record on Saturday, then broke his own record in race two on Sunday with a blistering 1:36.234.
“This is some rock star type stuff right here” crew member and rider motivator Davey Loikits beamed. “We were setting the pace all weekend, but ended up with two epic battles in both races. We’re proud of the results and adding a little to the points lead.”
“The whole race was crazy. The front end was chattering at that speed. But my KTM worked great all weekend and it was a great race” Tyler said. “It was especially cool to be able to perform like that in front of Chris Fillmore who helped us with the whole KTM package initially.” Fillmore is an accomplished racer, and KTM North America’s Road Racing and Flat Track Manager.
Tyler Scott at Laguna Seca. Photo by Alexis Olivera.
As the team works its way back east for the next MotoAmerica round they’ll stop off in Illinois for the American Flat Track Amateur Nationals at the DuQuoin Mile on 7/17. “We started out in flat track and Tyler still uses it to train, so it kind of made sense on the way back to stop off and race there” Mike Scott, team owner said. “He’s been dreaming of winning the Nicky Hayden Horizon award for years, and we think showing his versatility in multiple forms of racing embodies Nicky’s spirit.”
Round 5 of the MotoAmerica series kicks off on July 31st in Brainerd, Minnesota.
As always, Tyler and the team thank KTM North America, Arai Helmets, Scott Powersports, Bob Robbins, Davey Loikits, Dunlop , Motorex, N2 , Champschool, EvolveGT, Alpinestars, Dale Quarterley, and all the fans for their continued support.
More, from a press release issued by Jackson Blackmon Racing:
Blackmon continues consistency at Laguna
Jackson Blackmon fresh off a pair of Twins Cup wins at The Ridge Motorsports park, continued consistency at Laguna Seca. It was a one race weekend for Twins Cup competitors that resulted in some really close racing all weekend long. The pace was fast and very close as Blackmon qualified 7th, but only 0.55 behind the polesitter. Jackson got a good start and was up with the lead pack of 4 for most of the race. However, Blackmon just didn’t have the confidence in the front end with about 4 laps to go to stay with the pack at the end. It was a good result for Blackmon, still sitting 2nd in the championship just 15 points out of the lead.
“I am very happy to continue my consistency at Laguna with a 4th place finish. We struggled a little bit with my confidence in the front end, however my bike was capable of winning I just didn’t quite have the pace late in the race to stay with the leaders. We learned from the weekend and looking to improve at Brainerd. Big thanks to Yamaha and all of my supporters for making this year possible. We are right in the championship and gelling with my bike more and more everytime out.”
Jackson Blackmon at Laguna Seca. Photo by Sara Chappell.
Jackson Blackmon Racing has had a tremendous first half of the season and looking to keep the ball rolling next time out at the new race on the schedule, Brainerd International Raceway. The team has been working hard to get the all new 2022 Yamaha R7 together to race in the Twins Cup. Will Brainerd be the round they bring it out? Stay tuned to find out.
JBR would like to thank their sponsors: Yamaha Motor USA, Finishline Machine, North East Cycles, Yamalube, Trackday Winner, GP Tech, Wiseco Pistons, HJC Helmets, Roaring Toyz, Millennium Technologies, OneX, Web Cams, SBS Brakes, Vortex, and 64 Degrees.
More, from a press release issued by HONOS HVMC Racing:
SECOND PLACE FINISHES FOR HONOS HVMC RACING AT LAGUNA SECA
During the 5th round of the MotoAmerica season at Weather Tech Laguna Seca Raceway in the Monterey Bay region of California the HONOS HVMC Racing team secured a pair of second place finishes in Supersport and a single second place finish in the sole Stock 1000cc race of the weekend.
Continuing with the momentum of his previous double win Corey Alexander immediately set the pace in practice. He was able to follow that up by putting his Graves-spec Kawasaki ZX-10RR in pole position to earn his first of the season. Saturday’s Superbike race one proved to be difficult for the #23 and the team as he fell back to 13th during the race due to lack of grip. This led to some set up changes in preparation for Sunday’s races.
Starting from the first position for Sunday’s Stock 1000cc race Corey fell back to 3rd place on the opening lap where he would trade passes throughout the majority of the race. Around 3/4 race distance there was a two rider breakaway with Corey out front but a late race charge from Travis Wyman would see Corey get nipped at the line for the win by just .0032 of a second.
Corey Alexander (23) finished a close second at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
During Superbike race two Corey suffered a low side crash whilst battling for a top ten amongst fellow Superbike Cup competitors. He was able to get up and rejoin the race securing 5 points towards the Superbike Cup championship.
“This weekend has left me with a lot of mixed emotions. We came into it with a lot of momentum and seemed to start off very strong but struggled with grip throughout. Our bike worked great with a new tire and that helped to earn us our first pole position of the year but otherwise we struggled to stay consistent over race distance. We worked hard at it all weekend and literally came up short by the blink of an eye. That’s racing and I’m happy to have extended my points lead. Thanks to everyone for the support” Corey added.
Corey’s second place finish extends his Stock 1000cc championship lead to 12 points. He also maintains third place in the Superbike Cup points race, 30 behind the leader with 4 rounds remaining.
Just a few days prior to the weekend Richie Escalante unfortunately injured his foot, ankle, and wrist in a crash while testing. This meant he was quite literally on his back foot going into the weekend though never showing it after leading the first practice session and qualifying just 0.158 behind pole position.
Supersport Race 1 saw Escalante and his Graves-spec ZX-6R off to a strong start applying pressure wherever he could to his championship rival. Despite his injury Richie heroically looked for a way around the leader making a few attempts throughout the 19 lap race. He would come up just short at the line 0.099 behind first place.
Richie Escalante earned a pair of second-place finishes in Supersport at Laguna Seca despite riding injured. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
During the opening laps of race 2 there was a shuffle of positions with an unsuspecting leader out front for a short time. Eventually Richie and his championship competitor would make a break for it mirroring that of race number 1. What looked like would be an eventual last lap pass never came and Richie ended up again just short of victory at the line. Following the race Richie would be penalized 4 seconds for exceeding track limits still securing him second place.
When asked about his feelings on the weekend Richie commented.. “This was a difficult weekend for me in Laguna Seca. Always tough and harder with a broken bone in my left foot after a crash test on Tuesday. We are clear on where we have to improve with the bike and obviously my health. Now we have some time to rest and try to be 100% fit for the next part of the season. See you in Minnesota. Thanks to all the fans for your great support. I really appreciate it! And thank you team for always being there.”
Escalante now trails his championship rival by 31 points as the team heads into the second half of the season. Richie’s personal sponsors include Fresh & Lean, HJC Helmets, Vircos Leathers, Alpinestars Boots & Gloves, and Hidalgo.
The HONOS HVMC Racing team heads to Brainerd International Raceway for the first time during round 6 of the MotoAmerica Championship July 30-August 1st. You can purchase tickets to the event via MotoAmerica.com or in person at the race track.
About WE ARE HONOS®
Founded in 2018, HONOS is a Los Angeles based performance gear and fashion apparel brand that promotes talent within the adrenaline sports realm. With worldwide partnerships ranging from the American Racing team in Moto2 to title sponsorship of the HONOS Superbike class in MotoAmerica, HONOS has heavily invested it’s brand into motorsports. Follow @wearehonos or visit wearehonos.com to shop for team gear now.
About Hudson Valley Motorcycles
Hudson Valley Motorcycles (HVMC) is a family owned and operated motorcycle dealership that has been serving New York’s Hudson Valley and Westchester County as well as Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New England region. HVMC has offered Kawasaki, Ducati, Scrambler Ducati, Suzuki, Energica and ATV, motorcycle or UTV Sales, Parts, and Service for over 50 years. For more info visit hudsonvalleymotorcycles.com, call (914)-762-2722 or follow @hvmotorcycles on social media.
Breitling watches and Triumph motorcycles have formed a promotional partnership which includes displaying bikes in Breitling boutiques worldwide.
BREITLING AND TRIUMPH READY TO EXPLORE NEW HORIZONS
Swiss watchmaker Breitling and British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph announce a long-term partnership and are gearing up for a limited-edition watch and a customized motorcycle to be revealed in early 2022.
Fans of both brands can now visit a Breitling boutique and see that the journey has already begun.
Both are innovators in their fields. And both have a cool factor that keeps getting better with age. They know how to celebrate their storied past while embracing the future.
Breitling has played a truly pioneering role in the development of the modern chronograph. And partner Triumph has passionately helped shape the evolution of the motorcycle. The two makers share a bold and original design philosophy and a flair for precision craftsmanship.
For this exciting partnership, the two brands will collaborate on two special editions: a watch and a motorcycle to be revealed in early 2022.
“This is where substance meets original styling. You can expect purposeful engineering paired with modern retro designs,” says Breitling CEO Georges Kern. “But however you want to describe it, there’ll be a huge sense of adventure and discovery.”
Triumph Motorcycles CEO Nick Bloor welcomes this unique chance to collaborate with another established heritage brand. “Like Breitling we’re committed to providing the flawless handling and incredible finishes that give our community an incomparable experience.”
Their journey has already begun. Triumph Thruxton RS motorcycles — the original modern café racer — are now on display in top Breitling boutiques around the world. Drop by and find inspiration while waiting for next year’s unveilings…
In the US, a motorcycle will be on display in Breitling’s New York City – Madison Avenue location this August upon completion of the store’s remodel.
ABOUT BREITLING
• Since 1884, Breitling has established a global reputation for high-precision timepieces, its pioneering role in the development of the wrist chronograph, and its uncompromising commitment to design excellence. With the brand’s storied association with aviation, Breitling has shared the finest moments in humankind’s conquest of the skies. Renowned for its spirit of innovation, it has also earned a place of privilege in the worlds of science, sport, and technology. Breitling manufactures its own movements in-house and the quality of every one is – like the movements in all Breitling watches – confirmed by its status as a COSC-certified chronometer, made in Switzerland.
ABOUT TRIUMPH
• First established in 1902, Triumph Motorcycles celebrated 119 years of motorcycle manufacture in 2021. For more than three decades, Triumph has been based in Hinckley, Leicestershire producing iconic bikes that perfectly blend authentic design, character, charisma and performance. With more than 75,000 motorcycles delivered in the last financial year, and close to 700 dealers across the world, Triumph is the largest British motorcycle manufacturer. Triumph also has a glorious racing history, competing in and winning races in almost every class of motorcycle sporting achievement, from winning the second ever Isle of Man TT in 1908, through to 1960s domination, and right up to contemporary Supersports racing achievements winning at the Daytona 200 and taking multiple British Supersports Championships and Isle of Man TT titles, including 2019 courtesy of Peter Hickman. Triumph’s racing legend continues as the exclusive engine supplier to the FIM Moto2™ World Championship and the return to the British Superbike Championship in 2021 with a factory-supported race team, Dynavolt Triumph.
A Ducati MG-20 folding magnesium e-bike. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Ducati and MT Distribution present MG-20, the first folding magnesium e-bike in the Ducati Urban e-Mobility line
The new folding e-bike of the Ducati Urban e-Mobility line guarantees lightness and solidity thanks to the frame, forks and rims in magnesium
The sporting character of Ducati is underlined by its distinctive design and by the sharp lines of the six-spoke rims
MG-20 will be available from July 2021 at dealerships and in the official Ducati e-shop, as well as in specialized consumer electronics stores and major online stores
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy) – Ducati presents MG-20, the first folding e-bike in magnesium in the Ducati Urban e-Mobility line, developed under license by MT Distribution.
The new MG-20 is nimble and light. The sporting character of Ducati is underlined by its distinctive design, characterized by a fluid and aerodynamic profile, and by the sharp lines of the six-spoke rims, both made with a die-casting technique.
Frame, forks and rims are made of magnesium, a material that ensures lightness and solidity, thus providing maximum performance without affecting impact resistance. The small size of the wheels (20″ x 2.125″) and the possibility of easily folding the e-bike and pedals make MG-20 the ideal vehicle for urban travel, also convenient for combined use with public and private transport thanks to its minimum size.
A Ducati MG-20 folding magnesium e-bike in the folded configuration. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The e-bike is equipped with a 250W rear motor capable of recognizing the road conditions, the slope and the force used in pedalling, providing the appropriate level of assistance depending on the riding mode selected. The 36V 10.5Ah 378Wh SAMSUNG battery is integrated into the frame and can be pulled out for more convenient charging. A full charge allows to travel up to 50 km, at a maximum speed of 25km/h, as per regulations.
Management of the main functions, such as switching on the lights and selecting between three levels of assistance (12-18-25 km/h), takes place via the waterproof LCD display. The front LED headlight and the reflective strips on the wheels ensure safer riding even at night.
The MG-20 will be available starting from July 2021 at dealerships and in the official Ducati e-shop, as well as in specialized consumer electronics stores and major online stores.
Further information on all products in the Ducati Urban e-Mobility range are available on the website www.ducatiurbanemobility.com.
NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON® SPORTSTER® S MODEL DELIVERS UNRELENTING PERFORMANCE
Next Generation Sportster Motorcycle Combines Unbridled Power with Contemporary Technology
MILWAUKEE (July 13, 2021) – The Harley-Davidson® Sportster® S model is an all-new sport custom motorcycle designed to deliver a thrilling riding experience and ushers in a new era of Sportster performance. A 121-horsepower Revolution® Max 1250T V-Twin engine puts the Sportster S rider in command of unrelenting, on-demand torque. A taut, lightweight chassis and premium suspension deliver responsive, intuitive handling. From stop light to stop light, and corner to corner, the Sportster® S model offers riders extraordinary power and performance and creates a new standard for the most enduring Harley-Davidson model.
An addition to the 2021 Harley-Davidson motorcycle line, the Sportster S will reach Harley-Davidson dealers this fall with a base MSRP of $14,999.
“The Sportster S is the next all-new motorcycle built on the Revolution Max platform and sets a new performance standard for the Sportster line,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and CEO, Harley-Davidson. “This is a next generation Sportster defined by power, performance, technology and style. And it’s part of our commitment to introduce motorcycles that align with our strategy to increase desirability and to drive the legacy of Harley-Davidson.”
Styling Communicates Power
In profile, the Sportster S model appears crouched and powerful. The fuel tank and tail section frame the engine as the predominate centerpiece of the motorcycle. The massive front tire recalls the fenderless front end of a classic bobber, while the tail section, high-mount exhaust and slim solo seat draw inspiration from the Harley-Davidson XR750 flat tracker. The thick inverted forks and wide-profile tires suggest high-performance sport bike.
“Every visual design element of the Sportster S model is an expression of the motorcycle’s raw power,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson vice president of styling and design. “This is a wolf in wolf’s clothing.”
The powertrain is highlighted with a Chocolate Satin finish on the lightweight magnesium engine covers. Textures, colors, finishes and details were selected to give the Sportster S model the look of a custom show bike that just happens to be parked in the owner’s garage.
Amplified Performance
The 1250cc Revolution Max 1250T engine is the mechanical heart of the Sportster S model. This new version of the latest Harley-Davidson liquid-cooled V-Twin engine is tuned to make tremendous torque at low RPM, with a torque curve that stays flat through the powerband – engine performance designed to deliver strong acceleration from a start with robust power through the mid-range. To minimize overall motorcycle weight the engine is integrated into the vehicle as the central member of the chassis. The use of lightweight materials helps achieve a desirable power-to-weight ratio. Ready to ride with the 3.1-gallon fuel tank topped off, the Sportster S model weighs just 502 pounds. A high-mount 2-into-1-into-2 exhaust is designed to produce a pleasing low-frequency tone. (See separate Sportster S Technology release for full details)
Technology Enhances the Ride
The Sportster S model is equipped with a host of technologies designed to the enhance the riding experience. Three pre-programmed, selectable Ride Modes (Sport, Road and Rain) electronically control the performance characteristics of the motorcycle, and the level of technology intervention. Two Custom modes may be used by the rider to create a set of performance characteristics to meet personal preference or for special situations. Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements by Harley-Davidson®, a collection of technologies intended to enhance rider confidence during unexpected situations or adverse road conditions, are designed to match motorcycle performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking, in a straight line or while in a turn.
A round, 4.0-inch-diameter TFT screen displays all instrumentation and supports infotainment generated by the rider’s Bluetooth®-equipped mobile device and helmet headset, including music, incoming and out-going calls, and navigation supplied by the Harley-Davidson® App. All-LED lighting includes a Daymaker® Signature LED headlamp designed to produce a homogenous spread of light, eliminating distracting “hot spots.” The headlamp has a distinctive oval or capsule shape that adds style to the front end and will identify the Sportster® S model to other riders and motorists.
Optimized Chassis
The powertrain is a stressed member of the chassis, eliminating the traditional frame, a design that significantly reduces motorcycle weight and results in a very stiff chassis that contributes to precise handling. A welded tubular steel trellis swingarm features a braced design and stamped X-member to further stiffen the chassis, while its shape adds distinctive style to the motorcycle.
The Sportster® S model is equipped with fully adjustable, premium front and rear suspension – SHOWA® 43mm inverted cartridge forks and a SHOWA® Piggyback reservoir rear shock. Rear suspension features hydraulic pre-load adjustment using a convenient knob located on the left side of the motorcycle. Lightweight cast aluminum wheels with a staggered, five-spoke design are shod with wide Dunlop®/Harley-Davidson® Series GT503 tires. Premium Brembo braking components produce outstanding braking feel and performance. The single front brake features a new Brembo radial monoblock four-piston caliper and a 320mm diameter disc. The rear brake is a two-piston Brembo caliper and a 260mm diameter disc.
Forward foot controls and a low handlebar put the Sportster S rider in an aggressive posture on the bike. Unladen seat height is 29.6 inches, low enough for most riders to get feet down at a stop. Brake and clutch hand levers are adjustable for reach, to best match rider hand size or preference. The Sportster S model is pre-wired for accessory heated hand grips for added comfort in cool weather, and is equipped with two dedicated power points for heated riding gear (heated hand grips and heated riding gear/apparel each sold separately), plus a USB-C port for charging a phone or other device. An external ambient temperature sensor and a low-temp warning on the display screen alert the rider to changing conditions. Cruise control and a proximity-based security system are standard equipment. The steel fuel tank holds 3.1 gallons.
Paint Colors: Vivid Black; Stone Washed White Pearl; Midnight Crimson
Accessories
Sportster S model accessories available at launch through Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories include these key items:
Mid-Control Conversion Kit
Relocates the left and right rider foot pegs and foot controls from the Original Equipment forward position to a mid-position on the bike. This may place the rider in a more athletic position and may also provide an improved fit for riders who cannot comfortably reach the forward controls.
Passenger Accommodations
A Pillion Kit, Passenger Footpeg Kit and Passenger Backrest Kit (each sold separately) may be installed. The pillion and backrest feature upholstery styled to match the rider seat.
Sundowner Solo Seat
This seat offers an enhanced bucket design and spherical-void foam construction for improved long-haul comfort and shaping for more-aggressive riding. Seam sealed stitch lines prevent water from soaking into the foam and leaving the rider with a damp bum. Details in the top seat cover enhance overall style.
Compact Detachable Windshield
Black mounting hardware and support brackets, and the dark tint of the windshield, are a style match for the motorcycle. The windshield mounts to the forks with quick-release clamps, and can be installed or removed quickly and easily.
Sportster® S Tailbag
This tailbag is designed specifically to fit and look great on the Sportster® S model, and gives the rider a convenient luggage option for ride essentials. It is recommended that the Tailbag be installed over the accessory pillion (purchased separately). Luggage capacity is 5 pounds. The main compartment volume is expandable from 8.2 liters to 11.5 liters.
Learn more about the Harley-Davidson Sportster S model at www.harley-davidson.com.
About Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Our ambition is to maintain our place as the most desirable motorcycle brand in the world. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture by delivering a motorcycle lifestyle with distinctive and customizable motorcycles, experiences, motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get riders on the road. www.harley-davidson.com.
Teenager Alex Dumas won both Canadian Superbike races during the 2021 season opener at Calabogie. Photo by Anik Sanfacon.
Liqui Moly MPG Fast Riding School Suzuki’s 18-year-old Alex Dumas made history with double Canadian Superbike race wins during the 2021 opening round of the series at Calabogie Motorsports Park, becoming the first rider in CSBK’s 42-year history to win in their Pro Superbike debut. The Quebec City, Quebec youngster won the 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship on a KTM 390 at age 15; then won the 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship on a Suzuki SV650 in his first try, at age 16; and competed in the 2020 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Championships at age 17, finishing on the Stock 1000 podium before missing several races due to a broken elbow. He returned to Canada to compete in the CSBK Series for the first time this season.
“I was very excited to ride with my new competitors and I must admit that the competition level is very high,” said Alex. “Friday practice went very well but Saturday in qualifying I crashed due to an error on my part, still qualifying in fourth position. On Sunday afternoon I won both Superbike finals on my Liqui Moly MPG Fast Riding School Suzuki. I would like to thank all my sponsors, but especially my crew chief Patrice Goyette of MPG Moto.
“Thanks to all my supporters and sponsors, including Liqui Moly, MPG Moto, FAST Riding School, Suzuki Canada, SM Sport, VR St-Cyr, Hindle Exhaust, Öhlins USA, RoadracingWorld.com, T.A import, Furygan, Arai Helmet Americas, G2 Ergonomics, Domino Racing, TCX Boots, Vortex Racing, Attack Performance, Hotbodies Racing, BrakeTech USA, CL Brakes, Motovan, Team Hammer, and DSM body. It’s great to be racing in Canada and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Christian Iddon (21) and Peter Hickman (60) fight for position ahead of Danny Buchan (83) and others at Knockhill. Photo courtesy MotorSport Vision Racing.
DOUBLE M 1000 RR VICTORY FOR BUCHAN & SYNETIQ BMW AT KNOCKHILL
Danny Buchan produced a masterful display aboard his SYNETIQ BMW M 1000 RR, taking both of today’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship race wins at Knockhill in Scotland. Those victories completed a full house of podiums for the official BMW Motorrad rider, having recorded a third place during Saturday’s opening race for the SYNETIQ Intelligent Solutions backed TAS Racing team.
His double top step feat is a Superbike first for the all-new BMW M 1000 RR and in doing so, Buchan moves into third place in the overall BSB standings, just 20 points off the series lead. His team-mate Andrew Irwin made a number of set-up changes during the Knockhill event, and while not yet as comfortable as Buchan, he did make significant progress, scoring points in all three races.
PHILIP NEILL SYNETIQ BMW TEAM PRINCIPAL
It’s been a long wait and not without effort but winning again does feel really sweet. Especially at Knockhill where we have not enjoyed the best of luck in recent years. To be fair, BMW Motorrad has shown a lot of faith in TAS Racing and with our title sponsor SYNETIQ being relatively new to the racing scene, we knew we had to win races this year. Absolutely no excuses.
The new BMW M 1000 RR has already shown great potential in BSB and in WSB and we fully believed the package was capable of running at the front. However, being perfectly honest, Danny made the difference today, he was simply superb. Andrew has not enjoyed the early season so much, but we believe we have found a direction for him even though it didn’t show in our results today. He is a quality rider and I have no doubt he will challenge for podiums when we find the sweet spot for him and his M 1000 RR.
Thanks to all our partners for what we can only describe as a dream weekend for TAS Racing and SYNETIQ BMW.
Danny Buchan (83) in action. Photo courtesy SYNETIQ BMW.
DANNY BUCHAN
#83 BRITISH SUPERBIKE
Well where do we start? What a weekend, three races and three podiums and of course those two wins today. I’m over the moon, so massive credit to the SYNETIQ BMW team as they really did put together a fantastic package with the MRR. It made my day a whole lot easier. To win two British Superbike races so early in the life of the M 1000 RR, which is a new package and in amongst such stiff competition, shows just how good this new BMW really is. Let’s dig deep and keep building on this, but for now I’m going to enjoy the moment.
Andrew Irwin (18) in the heat of battle at Knockhill. Photo courtesy SYNETIQ BMW.
ANDREW IRWIN
#18 BRITISH SUPERBIKE
It definitely doesn’t look like it was my best weekend, but it was a step forward from Oulton Park for sure. It’s a matter of just trying to keep on building on that and look forward to Brands now. Well done to Danny. He did an awesome job this weekend on the SYNETIQ BMW M 1000 RR, showing it’s true potential and what it really can do, so hopefully it will not be too long before I can be close to where he is.
More, from a press release issued by VisionTrack Ducati:
Iddon Leads Championship After Knockhill
Defending Bennetts British Superbike champions VisionTrack Ducati left the second round of the 2021 series with the championship lead following Christian Iddon’s solid performance in all three races at Knockhill this weekend.
After yesterday’s superb victory, the Tyneside-based rider followed that up with a pair of hard-fought fourth places today aboard the factory-supported VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4 RR to leave the Scottish track with a six-point lead.
But for teammate and defending champion Josh Brookes, the meeting proved to be another challenging one as he again struggled but salvaged a handful of points for Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team.
Starting from the front row in today’s opening 30-lap encounter, Iddon again took the lead early on which he held until half race distance. But such was the ferocity, he became embroiled in a three-rider battle for the final podium positions for the remainder of the race but just missed out and had to settle for fourth.
Today’s second race followed a similar pattern with Iddon holding onto second place for the first half of the race despite numerous riders battling at the head of the field. As places constantly changed Iddon found himself shuffled back to fourth when the red flags came out following a crash meaning he missed out on the podium again.
On the other side of the garage, it was another tough day for Brookes and after struggling throughout Saturday, he was unable to make an impression on the top ten in both races today. The Bedfordshire-based Aussie took an unfamiliar 12th and 13th place finishes in the two races to leave Scotland in 11th overall in the early championship table.
Christian Iddon (21) leads a pack of riders at Knockhill. Photo courtesy VisionTrack Ducati.
Christian Iddon: “I struggled a bit in the first race today when the bike had a full fuel load, and I wasn’t riding as smoothly as I had been. I made a few mistakes and got mugged on the last lap which meant I ended up fourth, but the second race was a lot better. I was in the mix throughout and my pace was good but there were some sizeable moves, and I lost a couple of places. But I felt good and regained some of those places quite quickly only for the red flag to come out. It was a shame as I felt the race was coming to me and I felt confident of a podium if the race had gone the full distance. With a win and two fourths, I’ve taken a good haul of points and it’s obviously great to be leading the championship.”
Josh Brookes: “I’m obviously disappointed with how today has gone and embarrassed to be that far back with the number one plate. It’s not natural and it’s not normal for me to be in those positions and I’m in a bit of shock to be honest. The bike hasn’t felt right from the moment we rolled it out the truck and it doesn’t matter what we’ve done, the feeling has been the same. I’ve had bad races in the past but not so many in a row like we’ve had so far this season. I’ve always been able to turn it round and end the weekend on a positive note but that wasn’t the case here at Knockhill. But we won’t give in, I’ll work with my team to sort what we need to.”
Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “We’ve experienced different emotions on both sides of the garage this weekend. With Christian’s win yesterday and two solid performances today, it’s great that he’s leading the championship and has been strong all weekend but for Josh, to see him struggling as he has done once again is frustrating. But we won’t rest until we have sorted the problem with Josh and whilst Christian has momentum going into Brands Hatch, Josh has an excellent record there, so we’ll hopefully find some improvements to kickstart his season.”
The next round takes place at Brands Hatch, Kent on July 23-25.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (30 laps)
1 Danny Buchan (BMW)
2 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)
3 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)
4 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)
5 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)
6 Ryan Vickers (Kawasaki)
12 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)
Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (24 laps)
1 Danny Buchan (BMW)
2 Rory Skinner (Kawasaki)
3 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)
4 Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati)
5 Bradley Ray (BMW)
6 Jason O’Halloran (Yamaha)
13 Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati)
Championship Standings (after two rounds)
1 Iddon 111pts
2 O’Halloran 105
3 Buchan 91
4 Mackenzie 76
5 Skinner 61
6 Bridewell 60
11 Brookes 38
More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing UK:
Solid weekend of points for Tom Neave at Knockhill
Honda Racing UK’s Tom Neave holds seventh place in the Pirelli National Superstock Championship standings after a positive weekend at Knockhill. Leading the way for the Honda team aboard the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, Tom finished fourth and fifth in the day’s two races and boosted his championship position to seventh place after arriving this weekend with zero points on the table.
Meanwhile for Glenn Irwin in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, today was a vast improvement on yesterday’s frustrations. Coming home 11th in Race 2, Glenn and the team worked hard to improve the set-up of the Fireblade at the Scottish circuit, but in the final race of the day it wasn’t to be as Glenn crashed out, unhurt, while chasing down 10th place.
Teammate Ryo Mizuno continued to make progress aboard the Fireblade, as he continues to get to grips racing in the UK. An 18th place finish was the best of the pick for Ryo in the second BSB race of the weekend. Meanwhile Takumi Takahashi enjoyed putting in over 200 laps of Knockhill during his first visit to the venue. Still struggling with strength in his shoulder Takumi’s highest place finish across the weekend was 21st.
The Honda Racing UK team will now head back to its Louth-base in Lincolnshire and prepare for the third round of the championship which takes place over 23-25 July at Brands Hatch.
Glenn Irwin (2). Photo courtesy Honda Racing UK.
#2 Glenn Irwin
Racing in 11th isn’t usually what gets us excited, but the progress we’ve made this weekend has been massive. Fair play to the boys in that last race I felt strong and I probably could have caught the guys ahead of me. Everyone will talk about the crash, but that was 1% of the race as 99% was so positive. This weekend we have struggled a bit from a physical point of view, but the changes the boys made to the bike made it easier to ride, and I could also go faster. I’m gutted for them to be honest, I can take it on the chin but they’ve worked hard all weekend and it’s been testing at times! How we turned up for the last race shows the progress and we were able to respond properly. The Fireblade is new to this circuit, so we had a bit to learn this weekend but I am looking forward to coming back, it’s just a shame it ended with a crash.
Ryo Mizuno (88). Photo courtesy Honda Racing UK.
#88 Ryo Mizuno
It’s been a very tough weekend. I feel like I’ve been running all the way from Saturday’s free practice to today’s Race 3 and now I’m feeling very tired. It’s been a weekend where I’ve been able to step up my performance little by little. I’m not satisfied with the race results but I’m happy that I could finish the three races. I’m still working on my physical condition and I’m looking forward to the next race at Brands Hatch.
Takumi Takahashi (13). Photo courtesy Honda Racing UK.
#13 Takumi Takahashi
Today was as difficult as yesterday’s race for me. During today’s first race I had some problems and retired from the running. During the first half of the final race I was getting better little by little, but going into the second half my shoulder became weak and I couldn’t hold the pace I had been running until the end. I will continue to train until the next race and prepare for the ride.
Tom Neave (68). Photo courtesy Honda Racing UK.
#68 Tom Neave
You always want to finish at the top in a race, or at least be on the podium, but I did what I came to do this weekend and that was to finish both races and get some solid points for the championship. For the most part this weekend we went faster in each session and just continued to understand the Fireblade a bit more. I can go home happy and relax, we came into the weekend with zero points and now we’re seventh in the standings. I’m still getting over an illness and also recovering with my knee, so things still aren’t 100% perfect. It’s a long season and there’s so much more we can do, so we’ll keep at it and keep playing the long game.
More, from a press release issued by Buildbase Suzuki:
Rea shows potential at Knockhill with top five challenge
Buildbase Suzuki’s Gino Rea twice challenged for a top five finish at Knockhill this weekend during the second round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, but while unable to remain consistent into the closing stages of the races and dropping down the order, his lap times prove the potential for better results is there.
Rea finished 13th in race one on Saturday but made drastic changes to the setup of his GSX-R1000R for Sunday’s double-header in a bid to improve the contact and feel from the rear tyre. The result saw him able to launch off the line and compete with the leading group, running inside the top five, but on both occasions he struggled in the closing stages and was unlucky to drop down the order. He finished 10th and 11th but set the fifth fastest lap of the final race, to showcase the pace he and the package has.
Gino Rea (44). Photo courtesy Team Suzuki Press Office.
Gino Rea, “I’m actually really happy with the last race and Sunday in general. Although my one lap pace was good we struggled in the races. After warm up we took a big risk with the chassis – playing with linkages, the rear shock, swingarm pivot – and it paid off. We were able to run with the front group and I felt comfortable. In race two it was physical and I struggled to remain consistent, but we showed how fast we were with the seventh fastest lap time. In race three we set the fifth fastest lap which shows we have the pace, and we stuck in the leading group for longer but I made a small mistake which cost me time and positions. I then felt something with the bike and tried to pull off the racing line but unfortunately [Glenn] Irwin touched me and went down and that caused the red flag. But again, the final position in the races doesn’t show our potential and I’m really happy with my pace.”
Danny Kent suffered more bad luck that saw him leave Knockhill with two DNFs. A technical issue in race one and a crash in race two meant it was a trip to Scotland to forget. He finished in the points in 14th in race three.
Danny Kent (52). Photo courtesy Team Suzuki Press Office.
Danny Kent, “It wasn’t the weekend I was hoping for, though not through a lack of trying. My pace for one or a few laps wasn’t so bad but my consistency wasn’t great and at a short track like Knockhill every tenth is important. I feel my biggest problem, currently, is trying to rush things which then slows you down, especially on a superbike. I can’t fault the team, they’re doing a great job to help me, and what is important is that we can be fast and do good lap times, we just need to do them consistently.”
There were two National Superstock 1000 races for Tim Neave. He continued his solid start to the season with another fifth in race one after making some tweaks to the bike between Saturday and Sunday. After being embroiled in the fight for the podium in race two he was unfortunate to crash out at the final turn on the final lap.
Tim Neave, “I’m not disheartened to be fair. The first race was good fun really after starting 15th. We had an issue in qualifying which gave us work to do but I enjoyed it and it was nearly fourth in the end. I got stuck in from the start of race two and we were in that podium group. On the final lap I’d kind of settled for fourth but Chrissy [Rouse] made a slight mistake and I was back on him and was planning a go into the hairpin. He went defensive and as I lined up the cutback I caught myself out and lost the front. But I’ve not lost any confidence and I actually feel more myself after today. We made some changes to the bike from Saturday to Sunday and it felt like mine again. So I feel good, we were back in the mix, and go again at Brands.”
More, from a press release issued by Dynavolt Triumph:
Fourth for Smith and more points for Paasch in Scotland
It may not have been the finish that he was hoping for, but after yesterday’s crushing disappointment in the Sprint Race, Kyle Smith brought the Dynavolt Triumph home in a respectable 4th place in today’s 26-lap Quattro Group British Championship Supersport Feature Race.
Again, Smith got a blistering start from 2nd on the grid and led the charge, but a lack of rear grip feel meant he couldn’t push as hard as he wanted from the outset and lost positions, with his best race laps coming towards the end of the race.
Kyle Smith (11) finished fourth in the British Supersport race Sunday at Knockhill. Photo courtesy Dynavolt Triumph.
Kyle Smith: It’s the finish to a bit of a sweet and sour weekend, starting on pole yesterday and leading the race until a small crash at the end. I thought today I could make up for yesterday’s mistakes but I had some problems with tyres in the race. From the beginning I had no rear grip. At least I know we have the pace now, we’ve worked hard on the bike and found a set up where I feel comfortable, where I can push on the bike. We just need it to come together and get some results, so roll on Brands Hatch.”
Starting from Row 5 on the grid in 14th spot, teammate Brandon Paasch had made up one position and, looking at his best laps, had the pace to challenge in the top five when, in the early stages of the race, he was forced to take action to avoid a rider falling in front of him demoting him to 18th. Paasch fought back through the field to take 7th at the flag.
Brandon Paasch (96) had to avoid a downed rider early in the Supersport race Sunday at Knockhill, which set him back. Photo courtesy Dynavolt Triumph.
Brandon Paasch: Got a little bit unlucky there in the beginning. I got bumped back to 18th after someone crashed in front of me but I made my way back through to finish 7th. Not the best result, not the worst result. We improved the bike and I improved my riding a little bit so I’m happy about that and happy about the lap times and consistency so we’ll keep building on that and look forward to Brands Hatch in a couple of weeks’ time.”
Dynavolt Triumph Team Manager Simon Buckmaster: “Early in the race Brandon had to pick the bike up when someone fell and that put him back to 18th and he genuinely pulled through the field to finish 7th in Supersport. It’s probably the best I have seen him ride the bike. His lap times were good and he made a good step forward. Obviously we want better positions for him but it was good to see him find some more confidence and, when he gets off the bike, to feel like he has ridden better, which he did.”
“Kyle made another good start and led the race but the confidence wasn’t there. He had a new tyre on the bike on the grid as per the norm but the feel wasn’t there for him. As he learned to adapt to the bike he got faster but by that time he’d lost positions and finished 4th. It wasn’t the result that we wanted especially after missing out yesterday on the win that was there for the taking but we have to look at the positives. We qualified on pole, we led, we’ve shown pace and we’ve shown that the bike can do it. There are areas we need to improve and we will work on that for the next round at Brand Hatch. Full capacity crowd, see you all there.”
Fabio Di Giannantonio (21) is moving up from Moto2 to MotoGP with Gresini Racing in 2022. Photo courtesy Gresini Racing.
2022 HAS A NAME: FLEX-BOX Gresini MotoGP TEAM
The 2022 Gresini Racing MotoGP project continues to take shape.
After the announcement of the two-year deal with Ducati and the confirmation of the all-Italian line up of Fabio Di Giannantonio and Enea Bastianini, another piece of the puzzle has fallen into place.
FLEX-BOX, for more than fifteen years a leading international company in the development and manufacturing of long-distance shipping containers, will be the title sponsor of the team entered by Gresini Racing in the 2022 MotoGP season.
FLEX-BOX, which has already been present for many years in the world of motorcycle racing as an official sponsor of Ducati Corse, will become title sponsor of a MotoGP team for the first time, with the Team being named FLEX-BOX Gresini MotoGP TEAM.
HENRIK NIELSEN – CEO FLEX-BOX
“We are delighted to join Gresini Racing in their new effort in MotoGP. We have been in the motorsport world for a while already, and it is still pretty exciting to start a partnership like this that places our bran at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing. I believe we have two very talented young riders and a very solid project for the next season, and I can’t wait to work alongside Nadia, Carlo and all the Team”.
CARLO MERLINI – DIRETTORE COMMERCIALE E MARKETING GRESINI RACING
“I’m so happy to welcome Flex-Box and Henrik Nielsen in the #gresinifamily. Building new partnerships is always very exciting and the fact that Henrik was one of the first believers in the new Gresini’s MotoGP project makes it somehow special. Flex-Box will be an integrant part of the team naming and this tells a lot about how they decided to places their bets in the Gresini MotoGP, since the beginning, and I’m obviously very grateful to Henrik for his trust. Everybody knows that our 2022 project will be “dressed in red” and I’m sure that, together with Enea and Fabio, we will put some good show on stage and deliver excitements to our partners like Flex-Box, as well to all our fans.”
Sean Dylan Kelly (40) leads Cory Ventura (28), Richie Escalante (1), Benjamin Smith (88), and Kevin Olmedo (16) down the Corkscrew early in Supersport Race Two at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Wyman Crowned Mission King Of The Baggers Champion
Kyle Wyman Takes The Crown Despite Injury At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
MONTEREY, CA – Broken elbow, be damned. Kyle Wyman is the 2021 MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Champion. Wyman did what was needed to do to earn the title on his factory Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide as the three-round series culminated on a sunny day on the Monterey Peninsula.
Mission King Of The Baggers: Wyman Crowned!
Kyle Wyman (33) got the holeshot at the start of the King Of The Baggers race and rode on to victory. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
The three-round Mission King Of The Baggers Championship wrapped up on Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle rider Kyle Wyman left no doubt, from the beginning of the race, that he would not only win the race, but clinch the title in dominant fashion.
Wyman started from the pole and was never headed in the eight-lap race. He gained more than a full second on second-place finisher and Mission Foods S&S Cycle Indian rider Tyler O’Hara on almost every lap of the race until he decided to slow his pace just a bit towards the end. At the checkers, he took the win by just under four-and-a-half seconds over O’Hara. Third place went to DTF Performance/Hoban Brothers Performance Racing Harley-Davidson’s Michael Barnes, who added yet another podium finish in yet another motorcycle road race class on yet another brand of motorcycle.
Wyman, who had broken his elbow in a crash last month at Road America, made a miraculous recovery from his injury, and he talked about it after the race.
“Those guys are world-class doctors and surgeons, putting me back together, knowing exactly the timeline and how he needed to fix everything for me to be able to get what I needed to get done,” Wyman said. “Honestly, we didn’t make any changes to the bike ergonomically for me to ride it. It was just a matter of Friday it was like, okay, this is the lap time I can do without braking so hard that I’m screaming in my helmet. Then here’s a lap I can do when it really sucks. Then just decided from there how hard I wanted to push. I pushed pretty hard in the beginning of the race and saw the board grow pretty quickly, so I was pretty happy with that. I could kind of keep a steady rhythm from there and not have to brake too hard. That’s all it was. It was just more brake force and the more I have to hold my body weight, especially these downhill left-handers in 2 and 11 and stuff like that. Structurally it’s been good. It’s been a very fast recovery. If I was only racing Superbike this year, I probably would have ridden the Superbike, but both would have been a lot. I would have jeopardized both. So, my plan was just to focus on this. Pretty minimal laps for a race weekend. After doing double duty riding on the Harley only is like a vacation, so it was pretty awesome. Got it done.”
Stock 1000: Wyman By An Inch
Travis Wyman (10) beat Corey Alexander (23) by a small margin in the Stock 1000 race. Jake Lewis (85) got third. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca started off with a bang as MotoAmerica’s literbike riders put on an amazing show in their only Stock 1000 race of the weekend. Motul Travis Wyman Racing BMW rider Travis Wyman showed his tenacity when he started from back in seventh on the grid and methodically worked his way to the front. Meanwhile, HONOS HVMC Racing Kawasaki’s Corey Alexander was in the lead and heading for the win…until Wyman descended upon him from seemingly nowhere with four laps to go in the 14-lap event. Wyman stalked Alexander, and then, on the final run to the checkers, he nipped Alexander at the finish line by a scant .032 of a second. Altus Motorsports Suzuki’s Jake Lewis also emerged from way back in the pack – a victim of a bad tire choice – to take the final spot on the podium just .286 0f a second behind Alexander.
“The guys got my bike dialed in where I can get off of that corner (turn 11) really well,” said Wyman about his race-long surge to the win. “That was my focus going into this weekend, was figuring out 11. Overall, the guys just figured out a great setup for me. We struggled in qualifying and they threw something together for me in the Superbike race and it was a gamble and it paid off. We didn’t change the bike one bit from yesterday’s race to this race because I knew we had pace and I just wanted to focus on riding and not having to take another gamble, because we were good. I just got a terrible start and I had to work my way through the field, and I knew Cory and (fourth-place finisher) Andrew (Lee) wouldn’t make it easy for me. Lapped traffic came into play. I actually thought that I was going to settle for second because of how far back I was from Cory coming down the hill, but when I got up behind him in 11, I was like, ‘Man, I haven’t made a pass by the start/finish yet, but I think if I can get a killer drive, I could do it,’ and I did and obviously it paid off. So stoked for BMW and everyone.”
Super Hooligans: Fillmore Over DiBrino
KTM’s Chris Fillmore (11) topped Andy DiBrino (62) in the RSD Super Hooligans race. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Round one of the Roland Sands Design Super Hooligans QuaTTro Championship took place on Sunday with the road race portion of the multi-disciplinary series. Two KTM-mounted riders battled at the front with Chris Fillmore prevailing over his teammate Andy DiBrino by just .045 of a second. SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup regular David Kohlstaedt rode his Indian to third place.
“We didn’t ride together really at all these past three days,” Fillmore said in reference to his teammate DiBrino. “So, I wasn’t sure where I was going to be strong. I just figured it out throughout the race. I decided to kind of play the wise old thoughts and kind of sit back and watch and pick my place where I was going to make my move. I saved it for the last corner because I didn’t want to give him another chance to come back by me. So, it would have been nice to battle back and forth a little bit because we, for sure, could have done a little bit of that, but I went for the safe last-lap pass.”
Supersport: Kelly Again
Sean Dylan Kelly won his seventh Supersport race of the season Sunday at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly and HONOS HVMC Racing Kawasaki’s Richie Escalante continued what has been a season-long, round-by-round and race-by-race battle, but as has been the trend this season, Kelly, who started from the pole, prevailed with his seventh race victory of the season over Escalante.
The two riders had their usual paint-swapping skirmishes during the 19-lap event, but they were joined this time by CV28 Racing Yamaha’s Cory Ventura, who followed up his podium finish from Saturday’s race one with a turn in a lead for at least a brief few moments. As the race approached its conclusion, things became processional with Kelly beating Escalante by a little over four seconds, and Ventura just under two-and-a-half seconds adrift of Escalante.
“That wasn’t an easy race,” Kelly said. “I was really happy about the weekend. Truthfully, another solid job. We got the double. Did the pole yesterday. We’ve been in the fight the entire time. Just working away. Really happy, honestly, with how I’m working with the team. This is exactly what I want to be doing every single weekend. Definitely proud of the job. Today’s race was a little bit more tough than yesterday. Richie and I started off with some close battles and a few rubs, which is honestly one of the best ways to race. We’re tough competitors, but we have a level of respect, which is definitely necessary just to keep human. But it’s good. Cory definitely surprised me. I struggled to get by him for a lap or two. Just a different riding style I had never seen. Just a couple different things here and there. I actually almost hit him twice and decided to take it a little easy and study him a little bit more to do it the right way. So, I’m definitely happy about the job. Overall, just excited to get the double this weekend. We just have to continue. The goal is higher than this, so we’re just going to keep on working away.”
SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup: Scott Again
Tyler Scott (70) held off Ben Gloddy (72) to win SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
The final race of the weekend was in SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup, and Saturday’s winner Tyler Scott did the double aboard his Scott Powersports KTM despite facing a very strong challenge from Landers Racing Kawasaki’s Ben Gloddy. Scott started from the pole, but Gloddy was undeterred and kept Scott in his sights throughout the race, which included overtaking Scott on lap eight. Scott was equally undeterred, however, and he quickly took back the lead and maintained all the way to the checkers. Veloce Racing’s David Kohlstaedt, who was third in Saturday’s Junior Cup race one and third in Sunday morning’s Super Hooligans race, finished third in Junior Cup race two to record his third podium finish of the weekend.
“It feels great to go back-to-back this weekend,” Scott said. “I couldn’t ask for a more perfect weekend. Great race today with Ben. It was definitely tiring. I knew he was there the whole time. Way more competitive than yesterday, in my opinion. We started going back and forth battling and saw our lap times going down, so in the last couple laps I decided to take the lead and try to set the pace for the last lap.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati:
Ducati Double Podiums at Laguna Seca with 2-2 Results
Sunnyvale, Calif. – The rolling hills of the world renowned WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca show no trouble for the European duo Loris Baz and Toni Elias, with Baz recording the fastest lap of the weekend propelling him to his best performance of the season to date, taking two second place podiums from two starts in California. The 2-2 result hoists Baz into fifth in the standing, 15 points off Suzuki rider Cameron Peterson.
Baz, on his return back to Laguna Seca, consistently challenging Jake Gagne (Yamaha) in an exceptional showing for the Warhouse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Ducati Panigale V4 R SBK.
Toni Elias also showed his mettle as he battles through 8-7 results for his first showing on the Panera Bread Ducati, as he fills in for Kyle Wyman at Laguna Seca who suffered from a broken arm at Road Atlanta.
2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Standing – Top 5
P1 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 225
P2 – Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 160
P3 – Josh Herrin (Yamaha) 145
P4 – Cameron Petersen (Suzuki) 137
P5 – Loris Baz (Ducati) 122
P10 – Kyle Wyman (Ducati) 49
Loris Baz. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York – Ducati #76)
“It’s been a great weekend; the best we’ve had so far,” Baz said. “We’ve had no real issues all weekend, besides the small fumble on Friday, we’ve been strong all weekend. I think since Road America, race one, we finally found a bass setup that I like on the bike, so I’m riding better and better. I’ve really enjoyed riding the V4 R at Laguna Seca. I was able to put pressure on Jake during race one and race two. We put on a great show in front of the many fans around the track. Considering how new this project is, we are getting better and better, so I look forward to the future.”
Toni Elias (24). Photo courtesy Ducati.
Toni Elias (Panera Bread Ducati – Ducati #24)
“I am really happy to come here and have the opportunity to ride Kyle’s bike,” said Elias. “I felt what it was like to be racing again; feeling the pressure, the nervousness, and battling all the way up until the last corner. It’s been amazing. We worked on improving every session to get better and better. We suffered with traction and that’s what made me suffer a little, but in general we made good steps forward. I felt super great with Kyle’s team – a lot of good people. They were very open and listened to my opinion, which can be difficult when coming into a new team. Overall, it was a good experience and now I have more information on the Ducati, so I look forward to the future to hopefully continue riding for the brand.”
More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz Podiums In Sunday’s Superbike Race At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Mathew Scholtz. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Monterey, CA – Following his fourth-place finish in Saturday’s Superbike race one at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz returned to the podium in Sunday’s race two. For Mathew, it was his sixth podium finish of the season, and he maintained second in the championship point standings.
After making a couple of changes to the bike’s setup overnight and testing the new settings in the Sunday morning warmup session, Mathew got off to a good start in the afternoon’s race. In the opening laps, he challenged Jake Gagne and Loris Baz for the lead in a dramatic skirmish that occurred while the three riders were going through Laguna Seca’s iconic Corkscrew. Ultimately, Mathew settled into third and tenaciously hung onto his podium position all the way to the checkered flag.
Reflecting on his weekend, Mathew said, “Yesterday was good. Finishing just 4.8 seconds behind Jake (Gagne) is the closest we’ve been to him. Last night, we made some changes, and it definitely helped today. The past two rounds have been difficult, so we came here and just reset everything, worked our way up slowly Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and just got quicker and quicker. I think I hung onto Baz and Jake for the first 12 (of 20) laps or something like that. I didn’t think it would be possible running low to mid 24’s for most of the race. I got a nice surprise for myself there. Just a huge thank you to the Westby Racing team. These have been difficult times, but we persevered and managed to work our way back up to the podium here. We definitely have our work cut out for us to catch (Gagne and Baz). I feel like the bike is now going where I feel comfortable riding it. I’ve had to change how I go into corners, slightly. I feel like if we carry on working in the direction that we are now, we should be able to hopefully catch them soon.”
Westby Racing’s Junior Cup rider Jack Roach had a solid weekend aboard his Yamaha YZF-R3. He followed up his sixth-place finish in Saturday’s race one with another sixth-place finish in Sunday’s race two. In both races, Jack was in a group of riders who were competing for the podium. Also, on the strength of his two sixth-place results over the weekend, he moved up to 11th in the championship point standings.
Next up for Westby Racing is round seven of the MotoAmerica Championship, which will take place at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, on July 30 through August 1.
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:
FACTORY H-D RIDER KYLE WYMAN WINS KING OF BAGGERS RACE AND CHAMPIONSHIP
Wyman Leads Every Lap to Score Second Win of Season, Earns Bagger Title by 25 Points
Kyle Wyman (33) on his Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson Road Glide. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory team rider Kyle Wyman won the 2021 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers championship with a dominating performance at MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest at Monterey in Laguna Seca, Calif. Aboard the #33 factory-prepared Harley-Davidson Road Glide® Special powered by a modified Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engine, Wyman took the holeshot, set a new class lap record, and led every lap of the race on the 2.238-mile WeatherTech Raceway road course. Wyman beat second place Tyler O’Hara on the #29 S&S Cycle Indian Challenger by 4.388 seconds at the finish. Michael Barnes finished third on the #34 Hoban Brothers Racing DTF/Horsepower Inc./Darkhorse Crankworks Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special. Travis Wyman was fourth on the #10 Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory team Road Glide Special.
The victory by Kyle Wyman came only weeks after surgery following a crash in the MotoAmerica Superbike race at Road America on June 13 in which he suffered multiple fractures of his elbow. Wyman chose to sit out the Superbike races at Ridge Motorsports Park and Laguna Seca to focus on the King of the Baggers race and championship title.
“I just wanted to give one lap of absolutely everything I had and see where that put me, and I saw plus one after the first lap and put my head down again,” said Wyman. “The Harley-Davidson team has given me such an amazing motorcycle, and this is a dream come true for me. I grew up in a Harley-Davidson dealership but have been road racing all different brands. I never thought I’d race a Harley again after the XR1200 series, and here we are, King of the Baggers champions. Thank you so much to everyone at Harley-Davidson.”
Using the power of his Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee-Eight 131R motor, Wyman posted a fastest lap of 1:31.983 seconds, good for a new class track record, and more than a second faster than O’Hara’s fastest race lap.
“Everyone at Harley-Davidson is immensely proud of Kyle and the entire factory team for their tireless commitment to securing this championship,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president, and CEO Harley-Davidson. “Kyle’s incredible dedication and focus on winning was matched by the passion and energy of the team of Harley-Davidson engineers who developed these bagger race bikes, constantly working to improve the performance of these remarkable motorcycles. This team truly exemplifies the spirit of Harley-Davidson Number 1.”
The MotoAmerica King of the Baggers series is for race-prepared, American V-Twin touring motorcycles equipped with fairing and saddlebags. With two wins and a second-place finish, Wyman wrapped up the three-race King of the Baggers series with 70 points. O’Hara finished second with 45 points. Hayden Gillim slotted in third with 39 points on the #79 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Street Glide entry.
Kyle and Travis Wyman are the sons of Kim Wyman, owner of Harv’s Harley-Davidson in Macedon, N.Y., and grew up around Harley-Davidson and flat track racing.
MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race Results Laguna Seca:
1. Kyle Wyman (Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson)
2. Tyler O’Hara (S&S Indian)
3. Michael Barnes (Hoban Brothers Racing/DTF Performance Harley-Davidson)
4. Travis Wyman (Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson)
5. Ben Bostrom (Feuling Harley-Davidson)
6. Hayden Gillim (Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson)
7. Frankie Garcia (RSD Indian)
8. Patricia Fernandez (Saddlemen Indian)
9. Zack Nation (Zach Nation Racing Harley-Davidson)
10. Eric Stahl (Jiffy Tune Racing Harley-Davidson)
6. Eric Stahl 25 (Jiffy Tune Racing Harley-Davidson)
7. John Sueberling 19 (Mad Monkey Motorsports Harley-Davidson)
8. Danny Eslick 18 (Rossmeyer Daytona Racing Harley-Davidson)
9. Zack Nation 17 (Zack Nation Racing Harley-Davidson)
10. Michael Barnes 16 (Hoban Brothers Racing/DTF Performance Harley-Davidson)
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
APRILIA DOMINATES AT LAGUNA SECA
THREE RS 660 ON THE PODIUM IN MOTOAMERICA, DE KEYREL STRENGTHENS THE LEADERSHIP IN THE TWINS CUP
Aprilia swept the MotoAmerica Twins Cup podium at Laguna Seca with Kaleb De Keyrel (center) winning over runner-up Anthony Mazziotto (left) and third-place finisher Jody Barry (right). Photo courtesy Aprilia.
The famous American circuit of Laguna Seca hosted the Twins Cup of MotoAmerica last weekend. And it was a race to remember for Aprilia, which took three steps on the podium with three RS 660s.
Championship leader Kaleb De Keyrel (Robem Engineering team) got off to a good start from fifth place on the grid, gained during a very tight qualifying session. He quickly grabbed the first position, maintained the lead until the checkered flag and, at the halfway mark of the championship, strengthens his leadership in the category.
“We were trying to get comfortable most of the weekend, making progress each step, and when the race arrived, we had a good setup,” explains Kaleb De Keyrel, “I was able to make a few passes early on and get out front, and get into the lap times we needed to be keep a lead. When I can get out front, I like that best, as it allows me to set the pace, and focus. I felt comfortable, precise, and had a great ride on my RS 660.”
After his debut in the Veloce Racing Team last race, with little experience riding the RS 660, Anthony Mazziotto confirmed in California what he had already shown in Washington. After having just missed the pole position by 13 thousandths, he was 27 thousandths behind De Keyrel for a well deserved second place.
“Team Veloce put a really great bike underneath me, and I want to thank Spiros Gabrilis and the crew for the opportunity, we’re making it work,” said Anthony Mazziotto, “Kaleb had me working here, and I just couldn’t get around him today. The Aprilia surprised me, because at The Ridge, Jackson [Blackmon] was very fast on his FZ, and also being a technical track, I expected to see the same thing climbing up the hill, but the Aprilia definitely dominated here at Laguna Seca.”
Jody Barry arrived at Laguna Seca determined, showing speed right from practice and taking the Superpole. Despite the fastest lap of the weekend, he had to settle for the third step of the podium after 13 laps, 1.071 seconds behind the winner.
“Pace of the race was very fast, set by De Keyrel. The bike has been great, we had grip throughout the race, and were stable the whole time, it’s been amazing,” said Jody Barry of Righteous Racing team, “Toward the end, I was pushing and closing the gap, but unfortunately, we hit some traffic, and just couldn’t get it to work, but we’re happy with the result and can’t complain.”
After five rounds of the MotoAmerica Twins Cup championship, riders continue to arrive to the grid aboard Aprilia RS 660 machines, proving the ability of the motorcycles to compete in America’s premiere championship as frontrunners. MotoAmerica heads to Brainerd International Raceway, in Minnesota for Round 6, of the 9-round championship, July 30 – August 1.
More, from a press release issued by Robem Engineering:
Robem Engineering rider De Keyrel scores third win of 2021 season, extends championship lead Saturday at MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest at Monterey
Khamsouk’s fifth place gives team two top five finishes in Twins Cup race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
MONTEREY, Calif. — Robem Engineering rider Kaleb De Keyrel is no stranger to winning at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, but Saturday marked his first victory at the iconic California track aboard an Aprilia.
It was De Keyrel’s third victory in this year’s MotoAmerica Twins Cup, and the runner-up in the 2020 Twins Cup was at the head of the second all-Aprilia podium of the 2021 season.
Another Robem Engineering rider, Toby Khamsouk, scored a fifth place, giving the team two top-five finishes in the event’s only Twins Cup race. The team’s third rider, Hayden Schultz, led the team’s qualifying effort but had to settle for a seventh-place finish after suffering a near crash on Lap 2.
The victory allowed De Keyrel to increase his lead in the Twins Cup points standings. The Minnesotan now holds a 15-point margin over the rest of the field, and Schultz and Khamsouk are now fifth and seventh in the standings, respectively.
The team got a slower-than-usual start to the weekend in its first time campaigning its Aprilia RS 660s on the same 2.2-mile circuit the stars of FIM MotoGP and the Superbike World Championship have raced on in years past. In Friday’s practice session, Khamsouk was the fastest of the team’s three riders. The Californian ended the session fifth fastest at his home track, with Schultz finishing the session in sixth and De Keyrel in seventh. The team’s pace improved later that day when Khamsouk posted the second-best time of Friday qualifying. De Keyrel ended the session in third — about 0.15 seconds off Khamsouk’s pace — and Schultz finished the session in seventh.
Qualifying wrapped up on Saturday morning with Schultz claiming third on the starting grid – rounding out an all-Aprilia front row. De Keyrel and Khamsouk weren’t far behind Schultz as they claimed the fifth and sixth spots on the grid, respectively.
When racing got underway Saturday afternoon, De Keyrel got a great start and was in second place as the field made its way through Turn 2 for the first time. Schultz wasn’t far behind De Keyrel in fourth place, and Khamsouk finished the opening lap of the 13-lap race in seventh. Schultz briefly ran behind De Keyrel in second before nearly crashing as he entered Turn 2. After running off track, Schultz rejoined the race in eighth place. De Keyrel was part of race-long battle for the lead with two other riders while Khamsouk was running in the top five by the end of Lap 2. Though he fell out of the lead twice, De Keyrel led the field for most of the race and claimed the win by 0.217 seconds. Khamsouk scored his third top five of the 2021 season, and Schultz salvaged a seventh-place finish.
Next up on the 2021 Twins Cup schedule is MotoAmerica’s first event at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn., on July 30-Aug. 1.
Kaleb De Keyrel (51). Photo by Sara Chappell Photos, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Kaleb De Keyrel / No. 51
“Overall, it was an awesome weekend at Laguna Seca. Everyone was really close in terms of lap times in qualifying, and I got bumped down from third to fifth on the last lap of qualifying. I knew that it wouldn’t be easy starting a little ways back from where I usually have this year. I made some quick passes almost right away and later made a pass for the lead within the first couple laps. I found a comfortable pace out front and was able to stay calm and hit my marks. My Aprilia RS 660 was working awesome, and I was able to stay focused on being smooth. I got passed a couple times, but was able to pass right back. I made a bit of a sketchy pass around some lappers on the last lap, but made it to the end of the race and took the checkered flag. It was an awesome race for me. Coming from fifth to a win was epic.”
Hayden Schultz (49). Photo by Sara Chappell Photo, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Hayden Schultz / No. 49
“We made progress all throughout the weekend, and I’m really happy with where we ended this weekend compared to where we started it. I give credit to the entire team for giving me a bike that was capable of winning. The race started out pretty well for me. On Lap 1, I was running in second right behind Kaleb. But, I made an error that pushed me all the way back to eighth place. I tried to fight my way back up the running order, but had to settle for seventh. I don’t think the result showed where we should have been today. We had the pace to be on the podium, and, if I had not made that mistake, I think we would’ve had our best shot at getting a win this year. You live and learn, and I’ll try to use this experience to improve at the next round.”
Toby Khamsouk (27). Photo by Sara Chappell Photos, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Toby Khamsouk / No. 27
“We learned a lot about our Aprilia RS 660 this weekend that I think will help me run closer to the front. I’m looking forward to the next round at Brainerd, and I think I’ll be much closer to the battle for the race lead there.”
Robem Engineering’s technical partners for 2021 include Aprilia Racing, Piaggio Group Americas, The Center for Plastic Surgery, Velocity Calibrations, Bitubo Suspension, Dunlop, Woodcraft Technologies, Dymag, Vesrah, DNA Filters, Magura USA, Sara Chappell Photos, NGK/NTK, Blud Lubricants, Millennium Technologies and SC-Project.
More, from a press release issued by Pure Attitude Racing:
Liam, Austin & Nate continue to rack up the points in Twins Cup and Supersport as MotoAmerica lands at Laguna Seca
The latest round of the 2021 MotoAmerica series took place at the iconic Laguna Seca circuit, home of the famous Corkscrew, this passed weekend, and Pure Attitude Racing was once again in the mix throughout, thanks to their competing riders Nate Minster, Austin Miller, and Liam MacDonald.
With tens of thousands packing the venue, the team, who were once again on track in both Twins Cup and Supersport, also took part in the first ever Party at The Podium on Saturday evening, entering the #MotoAmericanIdol contest as a group – with hilarious results.
The Twins Cup category had only one race with Liam MacDonald the team’s sole entry following Trevor Standish’s spill at Road America. The flying Kiwi as he is affectionately known rode well. Improving his lap times by over two seconds from Friday to Saturday to finish a more than respectable ninth on his first visit to the Californian Circuit. He remains the only ‘rookie’ in the series to have finished inside the Top Ten in every race he’s finished this season – an impressive statistic.
In Supersport Austin Miller and Nate Minster’s efforts ensured a 100% points scoring weekend for Pure Attitude Racing. Austin racing to twelfth and fourteenth in the two nineteen lap encounters, whilst Nate overcoming small issues to salvage a double fifteenth.
Liam MacDonald (37). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Liam MacDonald: “I started ninth and finished ninth. It took me a while in the race to find my rhythm and that cost me time in the beginning. I don’t know why but I felt like I wasn’t hitting my marks and that stopped me from potentially finishing higher, but that’s racing, and it can happen sometime. Able to set my fastest laps in the last laps which the team and I were happy with, we found a really good direction with the bike. It was a bit of a lonely race, but it was another top ten which is really positive. I am looking forward to Brainerd in a few weeks which is a circuit not many people have been to. A big thanks to the team – see you at the next one.”
Austin Miller (61). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Austin Miller: “It was another great opening race for me. I made a good start and as everyone went to the inside I went around the outside. I rode my own race and was able to stick with the group. This meant that I was in a position to pick them off one by one and I took P12 in a photo finish on the last lap to take my second-best result in MotoAmerica Supersport. Race two wasn’t the result I wanted but I was able to drop lap times and went faster. I lost grip towards the end of the race but overall, I am happy with my performance this weekend and am looking forward to Brainerd.”
Nate Minster (99). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Nate Minster: “Race 1 was a struggle, but I managed to dig deep and take the last point. Race two was a pleasing step forward. We found the issue that had been affecting us all weekend and I was able to improve my lap time quite a lot. I made a good start but faded a bit towards the end. I’m happy though as we now have the right direction, and the next race is my home race so see you all there.”
More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA, LLC:
SUPERSPORT DOUBLE VICTORY FOR SUZUKI’S SEAN DYLAN KELLY AT LAGUNA SECA
Brea, CA ( July 12, 2021) – Suzuki Motor USA, LLC and Team Hammer added to its rapidly expanding 2021 trophy collection with two more victories, four podiums, and a pole position as the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship visited the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California this weekend.
Sean Dylan Kelly (40) dominated the weekend with two Supersport wins at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Sean Dylan Kelly was again at the front of the charge, assembling a second consecutive perfect weekend. Despite twice being confronted with a relentless challenge from his rivals, the 19-year-old pulled off a pair of tight victories aboard his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R600 to up his MotoAmerica Supersport title advantage to an imposing 31 points.
For ‘SDK,’ the dominating weekend represented his second double win in a row, both in 2021 and at Laguna Seca. On Saturday, Kelly managed a fast pace despite closing off the traditional passing zones to any potential maneuvers. On Sunday, his rivals were even more aggressive, but the Floridian survived early attacks to consolidate the lead in the middle portions of the race and hold it until the checkered flag.
Reflecting on his seventh triumph of the season, Kelly said, “It was another hard race at the front, just like yesterday. It was a really close gap, and I just tried to be consistent. It came down to the end again and they were right on me. It was another one of those races where I had to play it smart and defend, and I think I played it exactly the right way.
“I’m really stoked. Thank you to my whole M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team — this is amazing.”
Cameron Petersen (45) continues to impress with a third and fourth place finish on his GSX-R1000R. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Meanwhile, M4 ECSTAR Suzuki MotoAmerica Superbike ace Cameron Petersen put together another outstanding weekend himself. The South African further established himself a genuine podium threat in the premier class, adding his fourth top three in five races on Saturday. After a red flag, he jumped into third place and held it.
Petersen backed it up with a fourth-place ride on Sunday.
“Hats off to the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team,” Petersen said following his Saturday third. “They keep working hard and keep giving me the best possible bike every weekend. That’s allowing me to show that I can do my thing and get on the podium in the Superbike class.”
Jake Lewis (85) battled his way up to a third place finish on his Suzuki GSX-R1000. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Stock 1000 championship contender Jake Lewis added a fourth podium of the weekend for the larger effort. The lanky Kentuckian dipped as low as eighth at mid-distance, but put in a spirited charge aboard his Team Hammer-built Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the late stages of the race to work his way into winning contention by the final lap.
Lewis ultimately finished third, just 0.286 seconds behind the winner. As a result, he is now just 12 points off the title lead.
Lewis said, “It was my and the team’s decision to run the harder rear tire and I think we were the only one in the top eight running it. I just couldn’t get going in the beginning. They were smoking me. I just did the best I could, charged the whole race, and made some good passes. I wish I would have rewarded the Altus Motorsports Suzuki team with a win, but third is not bad. It was a good points weekend for us.”
Bobby Fong (50) raced hard and delivered two solid top-ten finishes at Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Superbike race winner Bobby Fong gritted out sixth- and seventh-place rides on his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R.
Sam Lochoff (44) maintained his 3rd place position in the championship with strong rides on his GSX-R600. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Meanwhile, rising star Sam Lochoff still ranks third in the MotoAmerica Supersport standings despite a tough weekend in California that saw him finish seventh on Saturday and crash from contention on Sunday.
Wyatt Farris (79) earned another solid top ten finish in the Stock 1000 class. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Wyatt Farris earned his sixth top-ten Stock 1000 result of the year with a run to tenth.
Team Hammer will next return to the Midwest with a long-awaited return to Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, on July 30-August 1.
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