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UtahSBA: Hicks Wins Again In King Of The Mountain GTO

David Swarts
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UtahSBA: Hicks Wins Again In King Of The Mountain GTO

The Utah Sport Bike Association hosted their third round of the Utah Motorcycle Law Masters of the Mountains Race Series on June 19th, at the Utah Motorsports Campus’ East Track. Despite the Utah sun beaming on the paddock with temperatures getting close to triple digits, road racers from across the country were out in full force to find the limits of their bikes.

On the Friday prior to Round 3 the UtahSBA worked with partner, Apex Trackdays, to host 10 New Racer Certification (NRC) students as well as 12 Advanced Racer Course (ARC) students. The NRC students were taught about the meanings and importance of different flags, as well as what to do in certain race scenarios to keep themselves and other racers safe. NRC students also learned a variety of techniques on and off track to help simplify the students’ racing season. These techniques ranged from line choices to gearing up before a race. The ARC is a course taught by racers Jerry Hicks and Brian Childree for racers. The course is designed to help racers progress their skills and improve their race season. Racers were taught about bike preparation, season strategy, and on-track skills. The classes were very successful with many many riders safely cutting lap times as the day progressed. On Saturday the UtahSBA also taught the Advanced Rider Training (ART). The ART is in partnership with the Yamaha Champions Riding School (YCRS) and teaches skills developed by the world’s top riders. ART students got classroom time, drill time, and when the racing was finished the ART students took to the track to put it all to work.

As Saturday race day kicked off, UtahSBA was up early getting racers bikes inspected and preparing for a busy day of racing. After riders had their coffee and squeezed into their leathers, they began entering the track for Moto Station/Pirelli and Trackstar/Dunlop King of the Mountain Qualifying. The pace was slower in the early morning Q1 session, Eric Jones set an early 1:39.089 but was quickly outdone by Jerry Hicks with a 1:37.378. Q2 was much more eventful with Hicks setting an early 1:35.926, and Anthony Norton charging closely behind setting a 1:36.713 for P2. On the fourth lap Bill Davis pulled in a 1:37.686 which got him P3, and on lap five Hicks dropped his time to a 1:34.549 to cement his pole position.

With qualifying done it was time to go racing and the late mornings’ Legion of Speed Novice GTO class did not disappoint. The lights went out, engines roared to life, and the mad dash down the front straight began. David Behrend was able to get the holeshot followed closely by Matthew Cooper, who started P4 on the grid. Remington Mathews had a strong start from 12th on the grid and was able to move up five spots before turn one, and then take two more spots on the outside of turn two moving him into P5. As racers came flying down the front straight to begin the second lap Mathews attempted to take an aggressive inside line on turn one to take fourth position, when disaster struck. While he was making the pass, Edwin Hofeling’s rearset popped Mathews rear slick, this sent Mathews and his S1000RR lowsiding out of the race. Behrend, Cooper, and Victor Arias then continued to lead at the start of lap three. As racers came barreling down the front straight into turn one, yellow and medical flags were waving to indicate the incident, and Cooper made a pass on Behrend in the turn. The move caused Cooper to be penalized 30 seconds from his ending result when he failed to return the position, and although he grew a gap on the field it wasn’t enough to hold the P1 spot at the race’s conclusion. Throughout lap three Sam Arquit had begun musciling around his CBR 1000 and was catching Arias in third by the start of lap four. Arquit knew that if he could be smooth in the turns then he could out power Arias on the straight. Arquit made a move on Arias coming down the front straight and made it stick in turn one. A few laps later, Arquit could tell that Behrend was tiring from the Utah sun and the long race. Arquit just bid his time and waited for Behrend to make a mistake. Arquit found his opening when Behrend broke a bit early into turn 13, and made a pass on the inside to take the lead. Novice GTO finished with Cooper leading but taking a 30 second penalty which put Arquit in first. In second podium position was Victor Arias and in third was John Tillotson.

After a break to let everyone cool off, riders began gearing up for the King of the Mountain race. The racers were gridded, marshals cleared the track, and the lights went out. Hicks, who had not been able to figure out how to use his launch control in the previous round, finally took advantage of the launch control on his ZX-10R. As he powered off the grid from pole, he held first and got his Pirelli SCX on the race line into turn one. Norton and Jones followed behind Hicks through turn one and into lap two. Genaro Lopez, who was forced to be at the back of the grid due to missing qualifying, was starting from 14th. Lopez was so confident in his launch that he chose to take an outside line into turn one. By turn one Lopez was able to get himself into mid pack, so he put his head down and rushed himself to start making safe, but aggressive passes. With that, Lopez was able to work his BMW up to fifth going into lap two. In turn seven Lopez made a big move on the outside of Bill Davis and moved into fourth. Hicks led, followed by Norton, Jones, and Lopez. Hicks had begun noticing vibrations and a jingling coming from the left side of his bike. He thought possibly his toe guard had come loose, but it was later found out to be the heel guard from his rearsets. On the fifth lap Ty Bengford crashed out in the Attitudes too close to the track for the race to continue and race control red flagged the race. Racers exited the track and headed into pit lane where they were told the race restart would be determined by the racers last known position. The new starting grid  had Hicks on pole followed by Norton, Jones, and Lopez. As the lights went out, Hicks bogged off the line and Jones was able to get the holeshot. Lopez also had a good start and went second into turn one followed by Norton which left Hicks in fourth. Hicks just kept focus and got a hard drive out of turn one. He made a couple of passes stick on the two right-handers and managed to block the line into the following left turn. Hicks then made a move for the lead on the entrance to turn seven and was able to stay consistent from there. As the riders came over the line to start the final lap it was Hicks leading followed closely by Lopez, Norton, Jones, and Davis. Davis powered his race machine through Jones on lap eight to take fourth. Norton finished in third behind Lopez who finished second, and Hicks took home the win at KOM Round 3.

After the races we caught up with Hicks who wanted to congratulate Genaro Lopez on his win in the Napa Auto Parts Tooele Stock 1000 Series. Hicks said, “As expected, he made another step forward and is consistently a challenger, finally getting the better of me in that race. I hope both of us keep improving all year and hit the lap times I think we’re capable of.”

Hicks would like to thank the Moto Station crew, Pirelli tires, and his wife Carrie for their continued support. Hicks also wanted to give a shout out to Kory Cowan for helping with wheel changes, which allowed him a break from the sun. Hicks also gave a nod to the students that took the ARC on Friday. “The group was very engaged and super fun. I hope they were able to learn a bit from the experience and keep on the path of constant improvement.”

As the race day ran into the late afternoon, it was time for the Vortex Open Superbike race. Norton sat on pole, Hicks held P2, and Davis was on P3. Rev limiters sounded as lights went out on East Track. Norton had a perfect start and was able to take the holeshot in turn one while Hicks followed closely behind. Hicks made a pass on Norton for the lead before lap one was over. As riders came down the front straight to start lap three, it was Hicks leading followed by Norton and Davis. Lopez was late to the grid and didn’t have time to turn his launch control on. By the time racers were going through turn one Lopez was in last, it was time for him to make another comeback. Lopez worked his way through the racers until he was behind Davis on lap three, and from there Lopez made a move on Davis for the third podium position. Lopez still had good pace and was hoping to catch Norton, but due to the race being cut by one lap, it wasn’t going to happen. Lopez finished the race in third, in front of Lopez was Norton for second, and Hicks got the win for the Vortex Open Superbike Series.

Round three was filled with exciting and close racing that forced riders to find the limits of their bikes. The Redline Realty Moto 3 had Mark Taylor fighting Brian Gerwe and Rachel Kuns for the lead into turn one. Taylor began his stretch on the Moto 3 group after lap one. At the start of lap two Kuns made a bold overtake on Grewe in turn two to move into P2, Grewe maintained his spot to finish third on the podium, Kuns took a well-deserved second, and Taylor led the Moto 3 race for the win. In the Toxic Moto Racing/Michelin Middleweight Superstock event Brian Childree sat on pole. As the track went green, it was Peter Hofpointner who was able to take the holeshot. Childree followed Hofpointner closely, until turn seven when he made the move past Hofpointer for first. Richard Findlay held down third across the finish line after a sixth grid position start. Hofpointner maintained second and Childree had the win for Middleweight Superstock.

Although the Utah summer heat made it a bit more difficult, Round 3 was very successful. After the race day ended riders pulled themselves out of their leathers and headed to UtahSBA’s garage for awards and their famous post-race BBQ. As the grill sizzled riders came together to talk about some of the battles from the race day and share excitement for the upcoming Round 4. Round 4 is scheduled for July 10th on UMC’s West track. We look forward to seeing you all then.

The Utah Sport Bike Association is a Utah Non-Profit dedicated to promoting education, safe riding, and competition in the Intermountain West. You can find more information about the USBA, upcoming events, and schools at www.utahsba.com or find us on Facebook.

Overall Results:

 

Motostation/Trackstar KOM Overall:

  1. Jerry Hicks (KAW ZX-10R)
  2. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)
  3. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX10R)
  4. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)
  5. Eric Jones (YAM R1)
  6. Ryan Richardson (KAW ZX-10R)

 

Motostation KOM GTO:

  1. Jerry Hicks (KAW ZX-10R)
  2. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)
  3. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX-10R)
  4. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)
  5. Eric Jones (YAM R1)
  6. Ryan Richardson (KAW ZX-10R)

 

Trackstar KOM GTU:

  1. Brian Childree (KAW ZX-6R)
  2. Richard Findlay (SUZ GSXR-600)

 

AZ Riding Academy Combined GTO

  1. Rick Squires (SUZ GSXR1000)
  2. John Tran (YAM R1)
  3. Peter Hofpointner (YAM R6)
  4. Marshall Miller (BMW S1000RR)
  5. David Behrend (YAM YZFR1)
  6. Max Tseng (YAM R1)

 

C&R Coatings Combined GTU

  1. Peter Hofpointner (YAM R6)
  2. Christopher Robison (KAW ZX6R)
  3. Max Tseng (YAM R6)
  4. Joshua Fisher (TRI DAYTONA-675R)
  5. Braxton Young (HON CBR600RR)
  6. James Riggs (YAM R6)

 

The Edge Powersports Deseret Dash – Expert

  1. Eric Jones (YAM R1)
  2. Braden Jones (YAM R1)
  3. Tyler Jones (YAM R1)
  4. David Meyer (YAM R1)
  5. Marshall Miller (BMW S1000RR)
  6. James Riggs (YAM R6)

 

The Edge Powersports Deseret Dash – Novice

  1. Sam Arquit (HON CBR1000RR)
  2. Joshua Fisher (TRI DAYTONA-675R)
  3. Barry Ketmany (YAM R1)
  4. Mike Jensen (KAW ZX10R)
  5. Remington Mathews (BMW S1000RR)
  6. Brian Gerwe (HON CBR600RR)

 

Harrison Eurosports Formula 40 – GTO

  1. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)
  2. Tyler Jones (YAM R1)
  3. Alex Zinaich (YAM R1)
  4. David Meyer (YAM R1)
  5. John Tran (YAM R1)
  6. Steven Marco (YAM R1)

 

Harrison Eurosports Formula 40 – GTU

  1. Brian Naylor (KAW ZX6R)
  2. Victor Arias (SUZ GSX-R600)
  3. Raymond Clark (TRI 675)
  4. Donald Rothfuss (DUC 848-EVO)
  5. James Snow (SUZ SV650)
  6. Mark Taylor (KAW NINJA-400)

 

Bingham Cyclery Lightweight Superbike

  1. Ryan Smith (APR RS660)
  2. James Snow (SUZ SV650)
  3. Mark Taylor (KAW NINJA-400)
  4. Daniel Egbert (SUZ SV650)
  5. Rachel Kuns (KAW NINJA-400)
  6. Travers Johnson (YAM YZF-R3)

 

Blud Racing Lubricants Middleweight Superbike

  1. Brian Childree (KAW ZX-6R)
  2. Richard Findlay (SUZ GSXR-600)
  3. Brian Naylor (KAW ZX6R)
  4. Braxton Young (HON CBR600RR)

 

Toxic Moto Racing Middleweight Superstock

  1. Brian Childree (KAW ZX-6R)
  2. Peter Hofpointner (YAM R6)
  3. Richard Findlay (SUZ GSXR-600)
  4. Christopher Robison (KAW ZX-6R)
  5. Brian Naylor (KAW ZX-6R)
  6. Braxton Young (HON CBR600RR)

 

The Mechanic Modern Vintage – GTO

  1. Marshall Miller (BMW S1000RR)
  2. Barry Ketmany (YAM R1)
  3. Sam Arquit (HON CBR1000RR)
  4. Joshua Snow (YAM R1)

 

The Mechanic Modern Vintage – GTU

  1. Richard Findlay (SUZ GSXR-600)
  2. Braxton Young (HON CBR600RR)
  3. Victor Arias (SUZ GSX-R600)
  4. Kirk Doyle (KAW ZX-6R)
  5. Shawn Rothmeyer (YAM R6)
  6. Tyler Donaworth (TRI DAYTONA-675)

 

Karl Malone Powersports  Moto 2

  1. Brian Childree (KAW ZX-6R)
  2. Peter Hofpointner (YAM R6)
  3. Brock Jones (YAM R6)
  4. Christopher Robison (KAW ZX-6R)
  5. Max Tseng (YAM R6)
  6. Braxton Young (HON CBR600RR)

 

Redline Realty Moto 3

  1. Mark Taylor (KAW NINJA-400)
  2. Rachel Kuns (KAW NINJA-400)
  3. Brian Gerwe (KAW NINJA-400)
  4. Travers Johnson (YAM YZF-R3)
  5. Alex Hatfield (KAW NINJA-400)
  6. Stephen Webster (YAM YZF-R3)

 

Legion of Speed Novice GTO

  1. Sam Arquit (HON CBR1000RR)
  2. Victor Arias (SUZ GSX-R600)
  3. John Tillotson (YAM R1)
  4. David Behrend (YAM R1)
  5. Mike Jensen (KAW ZX-10R)
  6. Matthew Cooper (APR RSV4)

 

Brighton Peak Financial Novice GTU

  1. Brock Jones (YAM R6)
  2. Belisario Arango (KAW ZX-6R)
  3. Kirk Doyle (KAW ZX-6R)
  4. Brian Gerwe (HON CBR600RR)
  5. Raymond Clark (TRI 675)
  6. Mario Fernandez (YAM R6)

 

Vortex Open Superbike

  1. Jerry Hicks (KAW ZX-10R)
  2. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX-10R)
  3. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)
  4. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)
  5. Ryan Richardson (KAW ZX-10R)
  6. Steven Marco (YAM R1)

 

MotoUnited Open Superstock

  1. Jerry Hicks (KAW ZX-10R)
  2. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)
  3. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)
  4. David Meyer (YAM R1)
  5. John Tran (YAM R1)
  6. Ryan Richardson (KAW ZX-10R)

 

Karl Malone Powersports Open Twins

  1. Ryan Smith (APR RS660)
  2. Joshua Fisher (TRI 675R)
  3. Daniel Egbert (DUC 1199S)
  4. Raymond Clark (TRI 675)
  5. Tyler Donaworth (TRI 675R)
  6. James Snow (SUZ SV650)

 

Velosio Production 500

  1. Brian Childree (KAW NINJA-400)
  2. Mark Taylor (KAW NINJA-400)
  3. Kirk Doyle (YAM FZR400)
  4. Travers Johnson (YAM YZF-R3)
  5. Brian Gerwe (KAW NINJA-400)

 

Monarch Powersports Sportsman

  1. Russell Carpenter (YAM R6)
  2. Miguel Alamillo (SUZ GSX-R-600)
  3. Stacey Welch (HON CBR600RR)
  4. John Tillotson (YAM R1)
  5. Rainey Pogue (YAM R6)
  6. Travers Johnson (YAM YZF-R3)

 

Napa Auto Parts Tooele Stock 1000

  1. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)
  2. Jerry Hicks (KAW ZX-10R)
  3. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)
  4. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX-10R)
  5. David Meyer (YAM R1)
  6. John Tran (YAM R1)

 

Carbonsmith Super Street Bike

1. Victor Arias (HON CBR1000RR-SP)

AHRMA: Race Results From New Jersey Motorsports Park

David Swarts
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AHRMA: Race Results From New Jersey Motorsports Park
2021 NJMP Final Race Results

MotoGP: Quartararo Still On Top As Series Returns To The “Cathedral”

David Swarts
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MotoGP: Quartararo Still On Top As Series Returns To The “Cathedral”

Reset, reload, GO! MotoGP™ returns to the Cathedral

The fastest motorcycle racing Championship on Earth vs one of the world’s greatest racetracks = another chapter in 90 years of history

Wednesday, 23 June 2021

Most fans of MotoGP™ would find it fairly easy to write a love letter to the TT Circuit Assen, and after a year off the calendar the Cathedral is back to gives us more history-making close racing. History is a real buzzword too as it’s the 90th TT this season and the 72nd time the event has counted towards the World Championship. Quite a record, but then it’s quite a track. Fast, flowing and with a final chicane whose reputation precedes it, Assen rarely disappoints… and maybe we’re biased, but neither does MotoGP™.

Heading in, it’s Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) still ahead of the game in the standings, and the Frenchman took a podium with a late charge in Germany. The last time MotoGP™ raced in Drenthe it was a Yamaha on the top step, too and their recent record at the track is a good one. Can Quartararo take back a little momentum? He’s the only rider to score points in every race, but he’ll want to get back on the top step.

Someone also in need of some momentum is the man who took that Yamaha win at Assen in 2019: Quartararo’s teammate Maverick Viñales. After his stunner in Qatar to open the season it’s been up ad down at times, but nowhere more down than his worst MotoGP™ finish ever last time out. Can he start to find a way back to the top? In 2019 he left Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) five seconds in the dust for that victory, and Quartararo was another five seconds back… so there’s a solid CV to fall back on.

Speaking of solid CVs… no one has a better one than Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) at the Cathedral. It may be a difficult season so far for the number 46, but Assen should or could be a venue that helps him take a step forward. With Franco Morbidelli missing the event after injuring his knee in training, there will be plenty of eyes on the other side of the garage too as American Garrett Gerloff comes in on replacement duty. The GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team rider already impressed in the premier class of Grand Prix racing in practice in Valencia last year, and now he’ll make his race debut.

Next – notwithstanding the incredible comeback win for Marc Marquez – KTM are a key recent headline stealer. 2021 started with the Austrian factory struggling to gain traction – figuratively and, at times, literally – but it’s been an incredible turnaround of late. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is now the first KTM rider to take three podiums in a row, one of which was a win and the most recent of which saw the Portuguese rider able to push Marc Marquez at the Sachsenring. Even with this number 93 on the comeback, that’s something to write home about. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) made it two KTMs in the top four for the first time this year in Germany too, which made the Austrian factory team the top performers as a duo… and that was despite the South African never having ridden the track before in the premier class. How well can they attack Assen?

And now, Marquez. It was an incredible performance from the eight-time World Champion to get back onto the top step 581 days after last doing so, and after not only his injury struggles but also a difficult run of DNFs. One of the all-time greats – the race win and the rider – was history truly in the making. But with 11 in a row at the Sachnsenring now, can he stay with the front group at Assen? It’s certainly a bigger ask, and it was a big ask to manage what he did in Germany. But Marc Marquez is Marc Marquez…

For the other Hondas, however, the tough times continued in Germany, although the losing streak is over after Marc Marquez’ win. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) took tenth and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) 13th, but they’ll want more, as will Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) after he made it through to Q2 for the first time this year and then crashed out.

More is also something Ducati will be looking for. After some impressive speed in qualifying and then in the early stages on race day, somehow it was Francesco Bagnaia (Ducato Lenovo Team) finished the race as the top Borgo Panigale machine – after having been mired down the field early on. Polesitter Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) faded to eighth and Jack Miller was pipped to fifth by Bagnaia, so they’ll definitely be two men looking for a lot more this Sunday. For Miller the venue does hold some incredible memories though, with the Australian having taken his first premier class win at the track in that dramatic and emotional 2016 race. There are some good CVs elsewhere in the Ducati camp too, and both man and machine, for the most part, have been serious threats at the front so far in 2021 – so that seems unlikely to change based on solely the Sachsenring…

Suzuki will also be interesting to watch. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) made some quick progress in Germany after a tough qualifying but then couldn’t move much further forward, and Alex Rins remains on the comeback from injury. Last time MotoGP™ raced at Assen though, Rins was on the podium in second, which could be a good sign for the GSX-RR. Can the reigning team Champions move forward and get back to the front?

Finally, for Aprilia, it must be mixed feelings after the Sachsenring. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) took their best MotoGP™ qualifying and led the way early on Lap 1 after taking the holeshot, and they were right in the battle. But that fifth place or a place in the top five escaped in an incredibly tight fight just off the podium. Can the TT Circuit Assen deliver? Their best to date in MotoGP™ at the track is seventh, and their best ever anywhere is sixth. The field is closer than ever, but the RS-GP is better than ever…

90 years of history seems like a lot to live up to, but with the classics we’ve seen staged at Assen it’s a solid bet that we’ll get another chapter. Who will come out swinging and head into summer break on top of the world? We’ll find out in the Motul TT Assen, with the lights going out for MotoGP™ on Sunday at 14:00 (GMT +2).

MotoGP™ Championship top five:

1 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 131

2 Johann Zarco* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – 109

3 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 100

4 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 99

5 Joan Mir – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – 85

*Independent Team rider

 

 

Advantage Gardner as Moto2™ heads for Assen

The Australian made a little history in Germany to pull clear. Can anyone strike back at the Cathedral?

Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) may have been beaten to a first win of the year by his rookie teammate Raul Fernandez, but since then the Australian has put the pedal to the metal. Now it’s three victories in a row and he’s the first Australian to do that in the intermediate class, gaining some good ground in the standings. Not only that, but his teammate crashed out in Germany – a first error of what’s nevertheless an incredibly impressive debut year – and it’s now a 36-point cushion for Gardner at the top. So will he play it safe?

Unfortunately for the rest of the field watching the number 87 enjoy a somewhat solo track day at the Sachsenring, his calling card in 2021 is already balancing risk and reward better than the rest – as well as staying just as devastatingly quick. So why would it change now? The pressure of taking a win is off, some pressure is off in the standings and he’s already made a little history. The speed the Australian has often shown before has now been paired with consistency, and it’s proving a problem for the rest of the field.

For Raul Fernandez on the other side of the garage, the pressure is on a little more after his crash – certainly in the standings. But then, as a rookie winning races, his performance remains one of the biggest standouts of the season so far in any class, and the season remains long. Can he fight back at Assen? And will we get a rerun of the incredible speed he and Gardner showed as they disappeared at the front in Germany early on?

Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46), meanwhile, remains on the hunt for more than a podium, but the Italian did do a sterling job at the Sachsenring to go from a difficult Friday to the podium on Sunday. So too did Aron Canet (Aspar Team Moto2), who took his second rostrum of the season in second on a great day for the Boscoscuro chassis, with three in the top nine for the first time. Can that form continue at Assen?

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) will be looking for a bit more after ending up off the podium, and so too will Sam Lowes (El Marc VDS Racing Team) and his teammate Augusto Fernandez, the most recent winner at Assen in Moto2™. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) and Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) both crashed late and will want some redemption too, and Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) had an incident with Augusto Fernandez. To complicate their lives a little more, both Roberts and Dixon have Long Lap penalties for Assen as well… the former for crashing under yellows, the latter for the aforementioned incident. Dixon does, however, have a fair bit of experience at Assen from the BSB paddock.

There are some shoutouts from a little further down the order too: Albert Arenas (Aspar Team Moto2) was top rookie and took his best Moto2™ result yet by far, and injury replacement Alonso Lopez – then at Flexbox HP 40, this weekend back at +Ego Speed Up – equalled his European Moto2™ Championship teammate Fermin Aldeguer’s best stand in ride of P12 from Mugello. Their rivalry won’t continue at Assen as Aldeguer heads back to MotoE™, but Lopez will be gaining more track time on the Triumph back on a Boscocuro chassis.

Gardner heads the field on the way in, and he will most definitely do the same on the way out with 36 points in his pocket. But can he make it four in a row? Can Fernandez strike back? Or can those on the chase close down the Red Bull KTM Ajo duo just before we head into the summer break? Find out in the Motul TT Assen on Sunday at 12:20 (GMT +2).

Moto2™ Championship top five:

1 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 164

2 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 128

3 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 117

4 Sam Lowes – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 86

5 Fabio Di Giannantonio – Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 – Kalex – 73

 

 

Acosta vs Assen: Moto3™ takes on the Cathedral

The Championship leader was back with a bang last time out, but Assen is a different challenge…

After a stunning start to the season for rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), the Spaniard then spent a few races taking home some good points but not really seeming able to challenge for the win. He brought that run to a convincing end in Germany, however, returning to the top step in style to take the momentum back from closest challenger Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team). So can he keep it rolling?

If he can, it’ll likely be through another tactical coup. The final chicane at Assen stages some amazing showdowns throughout the classes, but in Moto3™ it can shuffle the podium in one change of direction. Planning that out can be key… and Acosta said one of the things he’s learned and put into practice in Germany is that last lap battle.

Assen is also a track where many of those on Acosta’s tail have a little more experience – not that it made too much difference at the Sachsenring – but for Garcia he’s only raced there once, so he’ll be pushing to come out swinging and get reacquainted. The more veteran crew of Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3), Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), teammate John McPhee, Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), meanwhile, will be gunning to get back nearer the front after some misadventures for most in Germany, and they do know Assen pretty well: McPhee, Migno and Fenati all have podiums at the track, and Antonelli is the only rider in the field to have qualified on pole there.

The likes of Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) and Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) will arrive high on confidence from the podium too, and Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) will know he was almost there in Germany before that penalty, despite having never ridden the Sachsenring before, at all. Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was in the front group again too. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo), meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back although he remains up there in the standings, and Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) needs a little luck to convert his pace into points.

Four and a half kilometres of a truly classic venue, all leading up to that final chicane. What does Moto3™ have in store before summer break? We’ll find out on Sunday at 11:00 (GMT +2) as the lights go out for the Motul TT Assen.

Moto3™ Championship top five:

1 Pedro Acosta – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM –  145

2 Sergio Garcia – Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team – GASGAS – 90

3 Jaume Masia – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM –  72

4 Niccolo Antonelli – Avtintia Esponsorama Moto3 – KTM – 65

5 Romano Fenati – Sterilgarda Max Racing Team – Husqvarna – 64

AHRMA: Joyce, Read Split Vintage Cup Wins At NJMP

David Swarts
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AHRMA: Joyce, Read Split Vintage Cup Wins At NJMP

Racing into the Solstice

(Millville, NJ June 23, 2021) A familiar combination returned to its winning ways during the latest round of the American Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Vintage Cup.

After his double wins on John Turner’s impeccable BMW at Heartland Motorsports Park last month, Tim Joyce was back on the scene riding his old familiar saw, Maurice Candy’s Manx Norton, a combination that is arguably the winningest in AHRMA’s Premier 500 history.

Joyce and Candy had partnered for years prior to Candy’s recent passing. Maurice’s son, Chris now holds the keys to the kingdom and brings the bike out for select events.

This weekend was the sixth round of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Vintage Cup featuring Premier 500 sponsored by NYC Norton (nycnorton.com) and Roadracing World (roadracingworld.com).

This event saw several racers return to Vintage Cup action including Tony Read on Andy Findling’s BSA Goldstar, Helmi Niederer on NYC Norton’s Seely Matchless G50, Brian Larrabure on NYC Norton’s Seely Matchless G50, Andy Findling on his BSA B50, Chris Jensen on his Manx Norton, and Chuck Crocco on a BSA B50.

On Saturday, although taking the checkered flag in first position, Joyce was penalized a lap for jumping the start, relegating him to fifth position.  Read and Niederer took first and second with Larrabure rounding out the podium.

It was obvious the racers did their homework on Saturday night because Sunday’s race was much closer, faster, and more exciting.   Joyce got a great start and held the lead from flag to flag. Niederer and Read battled for second place, but Read made some good moves and was able to put a few bike lengths between him and Niederer on the last lap, taking second place with Neiderer in third.

“The sun was shining, humidity was down and it was a great time to be at New Jersey Motorsports Park.  It is a wonderful track that flows, and is well suited for the high corner speeds that the 500 Premier bikes must carry,” said Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton. “I am happy to see Timmy on the top of the box again, but the points chase is not a certainty in any respect.  The championship is still up for grabs.”

The next round will be at the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca July the weekend of 17-18, 2021.

AHRMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving, restoring, and competing on historic motorcycles. With more than 3,000 members, AHRMA is the leading historic motorcycle racing group in North America and one of the largest in the world. The association’s enthusiastic membership reflects this country’s strong interest in classic bikes.

Race Results Saturday, June 19, 2021

  1. Tony Read, 1971 BSA Goldstar, Charlotte, TN
  2. Helmut Niederer, 1968 Seeley Matchless G50, Nashville, TN
  3. Brian Larrabure, 1968 Seeley Matchless G50, Calabassas, CA
  4. Christian Jensen, 1961 Norton Manx, Fords, NJ
  5. Tim Joyce, 1961 Norton Summerfield Manx, Laurel Hill, FL
  6. Chuck Crocco, 1971 BSA B50, Covington, LA

Race Results Sunday, June 20, 2021

  1. Tim Joyce, 1961 Norton Summerfield Manx, Laurel Hill, FL
  2. Tony Read, 1971 BSA B50, Charlotte, TN
  3. Helmut Niederer, 1968 Seeley Matchless G50, Nashville, TN
  4. Brian Larrabure, 1968 Seeley Matchless G50, Calabassas, CA
  5. Chuck Crocco, 1971 BSA B50, Covington, LA

MotoAmerica: Can Anyone Stop Gagne At Ridge Motorsports Park?

David Swarts
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MotoAmerica: Can Anyone Stop Gagne At Ridge Motorsports Park?

Can Anyone Stop Gagne? MotoAmerica’s Fourth Round Set For Pacific Northwest And Ridge Motorsports Park

Jake Gagne Is On A Heater With Wins In Five Of The First Six HONOS Superbike Races As The Series Heads To Washington State

IRVINE, CA (June 23, 2021) – Last year marked the debut of MotoAmerica in the Pacific Northwest with the first-ever HONOS Superbike race at Ridge Motorsports Park and Cameron Beaubier left Washington State with two more wins as he approached the middle of a 10-race win streak that ultimately led him to a fifth MotoAmerica Superbike title. Although that was then and this is now, you’d be excused for thinking there is a bit of déjà vu going on here as Beaubier’s teammate from a season ago, Jake Gagne, arrives for the Komatsu MotoAmerica Superbikes At The Ridge on a win streak of his own with five successive victories.

Gagne and his Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha YZF-R1 are now the benchmark in the HONOS Superbike class as the Californian, who now makes his home in Colorado, is winning and winning big. Following his DNF in the very first race of the year, Gagne has won by 4.7 seconds (Road Atlanta), 11.8 and 13.9 seconds (VIRginia International Raceway) and 5.9 and 6.7 seconds (Road America). Other than the VIR margin of victories, the other gaps are manageable. And his rivals aren’t throwing in the towel just yet.

As for the championship, Gagne has clawed back the deficit he lost with his DNF at Road Atlanta and he now leads the title chase by 18 over the man who has been the most consistent thus far, Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz. The South African is the only rider other than Gagne to win a race, and he has been on the podium in every race except race one at Road America where he finished an uncharacteristic sixth with a “technical issue.”

Gagne’s teammate Josh Herrin sits third in the championship. Herrin started his season with three straight podiums but hasn’t been close since. He is 42 points behind Gagne and just one in front of M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Cameron Petersen, with the South African on the upswing after earning the first two HONOS Superbike podiums of his career two weeks ago at Road America.

Petersen’s teammate Bobby Fong hasn’t had the start to his season he was hoping for. After finishing second in race one at Road Atlanta, Fong has been off the podium in the following races, though it wouldn’t be a big surprise for him to turn things around starting at Ridge Motorsports Park this coming weekend. He is, however, 53 points behind Gagne, but only 10 behind his teammate Petersen.

If there has been a surprise so far in 2020 it has been the performance of MotoAmerica rookie/international racing veteran Hector Barbera. The Spaniard, who signed on with the Scheibe Racing BMW team at the 11th hour before the season started, has finished every race and has been in a battle in every race. His best finish is sixth (he has three of them), but he’s been in fights higher up the order, especially so at VIR where an off-track excursion cost him what likely would have been his best finish of the young season. Team owner Steve Scheibe is thrilled with Barbera’s effort, and things should only get better as he becomes more comfortable with the bike, the team, the tires and the racetracks.

Loris Baz has only finished three of the six races held thus far in 2021, but two of those three were runner-up finishes to Gagne. The Frenchman will again face a new circuit when he arrives in the Pacific Northwest, but the test day on Thursday should help him and his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York team get up to speed before wheels are turned in anger on Friday. Not many would be surprised if it is Baz who at some point stops the Gagne steamroller.

Panera Bread Ducati’s Kyle Wyman sits eighth in the championship, but that’s going to get worse rather than better as he suffered a broken elbow at Road America and will miss the Ridge round and perhaps WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Wyman’s goal at this point in time is to be healthy enough to focus his efforts on wrapping up the Mission King Of The Baggers title at Laguna. If he doesn’t race the Superbike in Monterey, he will put someone on his Ducati Panigale V4 R.

Wyman’s brother Travis sits ninth in the HONOS Superbike Championship, which puts him atop the Superbike Cup standings on his Stock 1000-spec Travis Wyman Racing BMW S 1000 RR. Altus Motorsports’ Jake Lewis, who leads the Stock 1000 Championship heading to Ridge, rounds out the top 10 in HONOS Superbike and is second in Superbike Cup.

There are 32 entries for the two HONOS Superbike races at Ridge Motorsport Park.

The Ridge Notes…

With last year’s MotoAmerica debut event at Ridge Motorsports Park not allowing spectators, this year’s round will give fans in the Pacific Northwest their first opportunity to witness HONOS Superbike racing first-hand.

Cameron Beaubier won the two HONOS Superbike races at Ridge last year, the five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion beating Mathew Scholtz by 8.1 seconds in race one and then topping his Attack Performance Yamaha teammate Jake Gagne by 3.2 seconds in race two. Bobby Fong was third in both races on his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki.

Beaubier holds both the outright HONOS Superbike lap record and race lap record from his dominant weekend at Ridge Motorsports Park in 2020. Beaubier’s best lap was a 1:40.358 set during FP2 with his best race lap coming in race one – a 1:40.662.

With his five successive victories in 2021, Jake Gagne now has five career wins in his MotoAmerica Superbike career. If Gagne continues his domination this weekend at Ridge Motorsports Park and wins both races, he will move into a tie with Roger Hayden for 24th on the all-time AMA Superbike win list. The all-time leader in AMA Superbike wins is Mat Mladin, the Australian winning 82 Superbike races in his career.

Prior to last year’s MotoAmerica debut in the Pacific Northwest, the last AMA Superbike National held in Washington State was at Seattle International Raceway in Kent, Washington in 1985. The race was won by a young phenom by the name of Kevin Schwantz.

Sixty-one men have won AMA Superbike races since the series began in 1976. There have been 21 different champions in those 45 years and MotoAmerica has been interviewing those champions weekly in its “21 In ‘21” series that can be found on the series website at www.motoamerica.com.

The 2021 MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Series boasts of four active racers who have won AMA Superbike Nationals: Josh Herrin (8), Jake Gagne (5), Bobby Fong (3) and Mathew Scholtz (3).

In addition to his five wins thus far in 2021, Jake Gagne has also earned pole position for each of the three rounds heading into this weekend’s battle at Ridge. Coincidentally, Gagne earned his first career MotoAmerica Superbike pole position at Ridge Motorsports Park last year.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:

Westby Racing’s Scholtz And Roach Are Ready For Some Ridge Running This Weekend

Tulsa, OK – June 23, 2021 – Round four of the 2021 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship starts this Friday at Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, and Westby Racing’s riders Mathew Scholtz—aboard the #11 Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike—and Jack Roach—aboard the #12 Yamaha YZF-R3 Junior Cup bike—along with the entire crew, are excited to be making an encore visit to the Pacific Northwest track after their first-ever race weekend at Ridge last year.

Mathew finished as runner-up to winner Cameron Beaubier in Superbike race one at Ridge in 2020, and he followed that up with a fourth-place result in Superbike race two. With its 16 turns and 2.47 miles of meandering asphalt that features over 300 feet in elevation change, Ridge is a race course that Mathew really enjoys and is very much looking forward to racing at again.

 

Mathew Scholtz (11). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Mathew Scholtz (11). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.

 

“It’ll be great racing at Ridge this weekend and getting back on the bike,” commented Mathew. “We made some big steps forward at the test at Brainerd (International Raceway) earlier this week. I’m extremely comfortable on the bike right now, and I’m looking forward to racing at a track where we did pretty well last year. Road America wasn’t the greatest weekend for me, but I feel like the next couple of tracks, with the improvements that we made to the bike during two productive days of testing, will really help us at these next couple of rounds on the West Coast. I don’t feel as if (points leader) Jake (Gagne) is too far ahead. We’ve just got to keep our heads down and keep fighting. I’ve got a great bunch of guys with me, and I know that I am still capable of winning Superbike races. We will push hard and see what happens.”

Superbike final qualifying is on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. PT. Superbike race one will go green on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Superbike race two is on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. PT and will also be broadcast live on FS1. Both races will be streamed on MotoAmerica Live+.

Ridge Motorsports Park is the closest racetrack to Jack’s home in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, which is just outside Vancouver and about 200 miles from Ridge. He finished seventh in both Junior Cup races last year at Ridge, and he will be looking to improve on those results when he races in front of friends and family this weekend.

 

Jack Roach (12). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Jack Roach (12). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.

 

“This is my home track,” Jack said. “Or at least it’s the MotoAmerica track that’s located closest to my home. So, I want to do well in front of my friends and family who will be coming down from Canada to see me race. I like Ridge a lot, and I’m looking to put together two race finishes much closer to the front this weekend. Inside the top five in both races is my goal. I’ve been knocked down a lot this season, but my tenacity and want for success drives me to keep getting back up. I will never stop fighting because that’s what it takes to be a part of Westby Racing, and I’m willing to go above and beyond to get a good result.”

Junior Cup race one starts on Saturday at 5 p.m. PT, and Junior Cup race two is on Sunday at 3 p.m. PT. Both races will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 2 (FS2), streamed on MotoAmerica Live+, and then, broadcast again via tape-delay on FS2 this Tuesday, June 29, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

Meet Mathew and Jack, Get Some Autographed Posters, And More

Mathew and Jack will both be at the Westby Racing transporter in the paddock at Ridge paddock during two Dunlop Paddock Autograph Signings. The first one is on Saturday from 12 to 12:30 p.m. PT, and the second one is on Sunday from 10:30 to 11 a.m. PT. They’ll have free, autographed posters and other team items to hand out, so be sure to stop by.

Check Out The Westby Racing Sponsor Showcase

Bike Sport Developments Ltd., Fast Frank Racing, and Pro-Bolt USA will be the featured team sponsors on display in the Westby Racing paddock area, so be sure to stop by to say hello and learn about some of the companies that support the team.

For more updates about Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit https://www.WestbyRacing.com

Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.

British Superbike: Season Starts This Coming Weekend At Oulton Park

David Swarts
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British Superbike: Season Starts This Coming Weekend At Oulton Park

Oulton Park awaits: The Bennetts British Superbike Championship is back

The Bennetts British Superbike Championship is back at Oulton Park for the opening triple-header clash of 2021 this weekend (25/26/27 June), as the Cheshire circuit sets the stage for the start of an incredible 25th anniversary season.

The number one plate returns to the grid for the first time since 2012 as Josh Brookes lines up for his title defence with VisionTrack Ducati. The double champion is bidding for back-to-back crowns against a strong field including many of his closest rivals from last year.

Fellow Australian Jason O’Halloran had his strongest ever campaign in 2020 and the McAMS Yamaha rider is back to try and go one better after just missing out at the season finale last year.

Likewise, Christian Iddon was in the title fight for the first time last year and he will be determined to try to overhaul his VisionTrack Ducati teammate, starting this weekend at his home circuit.

The 2021 line-up features an impressive 12 previous race-winners in total including Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha), Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) and Dan Linfoot (TAG Honda).

Whilst some contenders are back in familiar surroundings for this season, there has been a big shake-up of the grid too, with some riders changing teams, and others joining the premier class as rookies for the first time.

Honda Racing’s line-up is led by the returning Glenn Irwin, who will be keen to replicate the strong start, which saw him lead the standings for much of 2020. He is joined by two new faces in Japanese contenders Ryo Mizuno and Takumi Takahashi, who will complete the team’s three-strong line-up when they debut this weekend.

An impressive list of rookies includes Quattro Group British Supersport champion Rory Skinner who joins Lee Jackson at FS-3 Kawasaki on the all-new Ninja ZX-10RR. Skinner will renew his rivalry with former sparring partner Brad Jones, who moves to iForce Lloyd & Jones BMW alongside Joe Francis.

Race winners Andrew Irwin and Danny Buchan complete a new-look team at SYNETIQ BMW and the debuting FHO Racing BMW team have the returning Xavi Forés and Peter Hickman in their experienced line-up. Meanwhile at Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW, Bradley Ray and Kyle Ryde join forces as they bid to return to winning ways.

The BMW teams are set to unleash the all-new BMW M 1000 RR at the opening round and the new model has already been competitive in testing.

Buildbase Suzuki have former Moto3 World champion Danny Kent alongside Gino Rea and the pair have shown promising pace pre-season, whilst Ryan Vickers returns with RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki and Storm Stacey is back for a second season with Team LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki.

The on track action gets underway on Friday with the opening two BSB SUPERPICKS 12 Free Practice sessions. These sessions now take on an added importance to the weekend, as the top 12 riders on combined times will automatically secure their place in Saturday’s BSB SUPERPICKS Qualifying 2 session.

The remaining 16 riders will take part in the BSB SUPERPICKS Qualifying 1 session, with the fastest six progressing into Q2, making 18 riders in the final battle for the race one pole position.

The opening race of the weekend kicks off on Saturday afternoon with the BikeSocial race, ahead of the two feature races on Sunday.

The event will be limited to just 4,000 spectators per day due to the current government guidelines, as crowds return to witness the live racing spectacle of Bennetts BSB for the first time since October 2019.

Fans at home can follow all of the action live on Eurosport 2 from 13:00 – 18:00 on both Saturday and Sunday.

For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Josh Brookes – VisionTrack Ducati 
Defending champion

“I’m interested on getting started this year on a track that we’ve previously had good results. We’ve got a history of doing well at Oulton Park with the Ducati so to open the season up there will be good – I’m interested to see how we’ll go this time round.

“I don’t really feel like I’m a target so much [as champion], but maybe that is for other people perhaps. Winning the championship last year doesn’t define me, so for example it won’t change how I analyse myself or prepare.

“Every year takes the same amount of work, desire, perseverance and sacrifice to get there, and so I don’t really change my perspective on how I will start the season.

“I think everybody is going to be looking at improving themselves and looking at who the challengers are going to be, so to get the season started at a circuit where we’ve had good results is just a positive for me. I am ready to get the season started.”

MotoGP: Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix Of The Americas Rescheduled

David Swarts
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MotoGP: Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix Of The Americas Rescheduled

New Americas GP date confirmed as the 2021 Japanese GP is cancelled and Thai GP delayed one week

Wednesday, 23 June 2021

The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports can now announce a new date for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The event was previously postponed and will now take place from the 1st to the 3rd of October 2021.

The OR Grand Prix of Thailand will therefore take place a week later than previously scheduled, from the 15th to the 17th of October.

The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports must also confirm the cancellation of the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and resulting travel complications and logistical restrictions mean that it has not been possible to confirm the event at this time, meaning that it will therefore not feature on the 2021 calendar. The FIM MotoGP™ Championship looks forward to returning to race in front of the Japanese fans at their home Grand Prix in 2022.

MotoGP: Gerloff Filling In For Morbidelli At Assen

David Swarts
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MotoGP: Gerloff Filling In For Morbidelli At Assen

Gerloff joins PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team in Assen

Garrett Gerloff to make PYSRT debut as stand-in for Franco Morbidelli

PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team will welcome American Garrett Gerloff to the squad for this weekend’s DutchGP in Assen as a stand-in for the injured Franco Morbidelli.

Franco sustained an injury to his left knee yesterday and is currently undergoing medical assessment and treatment. 25 year-old Gerloff is currently a GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team rider. This will be Gerloff’s first time in Assen but he has previously ridden the Yamaha YZR-M1 when he substituted for Valentino Rossi at the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team in the European GP practice sessions at Valencia last year.

 

Razlan Razali, Team Principal, PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team

Everyone has had to move very quickly after the news late yesterday that Franco would not be able to race this weekend and we give our thanks to Yamaha for facilitating this. We’re very excited to welcome Garrett to the team this weekend and realise that it’s a tough task to come in at late notice but we are confident that he will be able to do a good job. We wish Franco all the best for his recovery and hope to welcome him back to the track after the summer break.

Garrett Gerloff, PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team

I’m excited for the opportunity ahead, I’m not someone who runs away from a challenge, so I’m ready to get to the track. It’ll be a new circuit for me, I like trying new tracks, it looks fun, fast and flowing, and really suits my riding style. I’m looking forward to jumping on the Yamaha M1 again and twisting the throttle. We’ll see how things go, but I feel good and would like to thank Yamaha and the team for considering me. It won’t be easy, but I’m going to give it my best shot!

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:

Gerloff to Replace Injured Morbidelli at PETRONAS Yamaha SRT at Dutch TT

GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team’s Garrett Gerloff will make his MotoGP race debut this weekend at TT Circuit Assen, riding for PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team at the Dutch TT in place of the injured Franco Morbidelli.

With Morbidelli sustaining a knee injury during training on Tuesday, Gerloff was called up to race at the Dutch round, as the American gets another chance to ride the Yamaha YZR-M1, having previously substituted for Valentino Rossi at the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team in the European GP practice sessions at Valencia last year.

The Texan has impressed throughout his FIM Superbike World Championship career so far and currently lies sixth in the riders’ standings, while he’s been a consistent front-runner throughout the opening three rounds.

Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK’s Toprak Razgatlıoğlu was also in the running to replace Morbidelli at Assen but turned down the opportunity in favour of remaining focused on his main aim in 2021, challenging for the FIM Superbike World Championship crown. The Turkish rider currently lies second in the championship standings and just 20 points off the top spot going into the next round at Donington Park round on 2-4 July.

After winning two MotoAmerica Supersport championship titles in 2016 and 2017, Gerloff further confirmed his potential with a third-place finish in the 2019 MotoAmerica Superbike championship. That saw the 25-year-old called up to the GRT Yamaha squad in WorldSBK, where he became a rookie sensation, scoring podiums at Barcelona and Estoril.

He impressed in his MotoGP practice sessions at Valencia, while also earning another year in WorldSBK, this time riding the latest spec Yamaha R1 bike. Gerloff has already added another podium to his tally and continues to show race winning potential in 2021.

Garrett Gerloff

PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team

“I’m excited for the opportunity ahead, I’m not someone who runs away from a challenge, so I’m ready to get to the track. It’ll be a new circuit for me, I like trying new tracks, it looks fun, fast and flowing, and really suits my riding style. I’m looking forward to jumping on the Yamaha M1 again and twisting the throttle. We’ll see how things go, but I feel good and would like to thank Yamaha and the team for considering me. It won’t be easy, but I’m going to give it my best shot!”

R.I.P. WMRRA Racer Sam Crawford

David Swarts
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R.I.P. WMRRA Racer Sam Crawford

It is with heavy hearts that we can now make this official announcement regarding Round 3, this previous weekend.

In morning practice on 6/20/21, during the WMRRA Round 3 event at The Ridge Motorsports Park, rider #870 Sam Crawford was involved in a single bike incident in Turn 10, which ultimately claimed his life.

The practice session was immediately halted by race control and corner-worker staff, and priority medical response was deployed without delay. Sam was unconscious and unresponsive when first responders arrived on scene.

Trained race-day staff, with on-site medical teams performed CPR and worked to stabilize Sam prior to his transport to Mason General, where he was to meet an air-transport to Seattle. Sadly, during the transit to Mason General, Sam’s pulse was lost, and the medical teams could not revive him.

Sam was well known within the WMRRA paddock for many years as his brother’s (Rich Kim) personal cheerleader, a volunteer, and really just an all-around nice guy. Sam participated in the WMRRA NRS in 2020, and successfully completed all his novice graduation requirements, receiving the Race-Director’s final sign-off signature, Saturday night.

Sam was one of those ‘cool’ guys with a good poker face, but he could not hide his smile when he achieved his goal of becoming an ‘Expert’ rider. When Sam mounted his machine Sunday morning, he did it with pride of making his goal, and even prodding Rich to come race again so they could go out together.

As a final act of self-giving, Sam was also an organ donor and parts of him will live on, saving the lives of deserving folks who are in need. Rich asks that we celebrate Sam’s life, and that if anyone needs help coping with this loss to reach out if they need help.

We are all better people for having known Sam, and we will do our best to honor his contributions to our community and family.

We do understand that speculation and inaccuracies are bound to arise in the absence of absolute facts. If you have questions, please direct them to the E-board, and we will provide direct answers. Please respect Sam’s memory, and his family by not engaging in gross speculation, or other rumors that may be discussed.

For information on becoming an organ donor, please visit this link. https://www.organdonor.gov/

Ride easy Sam. We will miss you.

MotoGP: Morbidelli Injured, Will Miss Dutch GP

David Swarts
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MotoGP: Morbidelli Injured, Will Miss Dutch GP

Franco Morbidelli to miss DutchGP

Knee injury sustained in training puts Franco out of action for ninth round of season

PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team can confirm that Franco Morbidelli will miss this weekend’s DutchGP due to an injury to his left knee sustained in training today.

The injury is sufficient to mean Franco will miss this weekend’s event and he is undergoing medical assessment to determine the best course of action for recovery.

PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team wishes Franky a speedy recovery.

UtahSBA: Hicks Wins Again In King Of The Mountain GTO

Jerry Hicks (527) leads Genaro Lopez (322) and Anthony Norton (521) through the Attitudes at Utah Motorsports Campus. Photo by Steve Midgley, courtesy UtahSBA.
Jerry Hicks (527) leads Genaro Lopez (322) and Anthony Norton (521) through the Attitudes at Utah Motorsports Campus. Photo by Steve Midgley, courtesy UtahSBA.

The Utah Sport Bike Association hosted their third round of the Utah Motorcycle Law Masters of the Mountains Race Series on June 19th, at the Utah Motorsports Campus’ East Track. Despite the Utah sun beaming on the paddock with temperatures getting close to triple digits, road racers from across the country were out in full force to find the limits of their bikes.

On the Friday prior to Round 3 the UtahSBA worked with partner, Apex Trackdays, to host 10 New Racer Certification (NRC) students as well as 12 Advanced Racer Course (ARC) students. The NRC students were taught about the meanings and importance of different flags, as well as what to do in certain race scenarios to keep themselves and other racers safe. NRC students also learned a variety of techniques on and off track to help simplify the students’ racing season. These techniques ranged from line choices to gearing up before a race. The ARC is a course taught by racers Jerry Hicks and Brian Childree for racers. The course is designed to help racers progress their skills and improve their race season. Racers were taught about bike preparation, season strategy, and on-track skills. The classes were very successful with many many riders safely cutting lap times as the day progressed. On Saturday the UtahSBA also taught the Advanced Rider Training (ART). The ART is in partnership with the Yamaha Champions Riding School (YCRS) and teaches skills developed by the world’s top riders. ART students got classroom time, drill time, and when the racing was finished the ART students took to the track to put it all to work.

As Saturday race day kicked off, UtahSBA was up early getting racers bikes inspected and preparing for a busy day of racing. After riders had their coffee and squeezed into their leathers, they began entering the track for Moto Station/Pirelli and Trackstar/Dunlop King of the Mountain Qualifying. The pace was slower in the early morning Q1 session, Eric Jones set an early 1:39.089 but was quickly outdone by Jerry Hicks with a 1:37.378. Q2 was much more eventful with Hicks setting an early 1:35.926, and Anthony Norton charging closely behind setting a 1:36.713 for P2. On the fourth lap Bill Davis pulled in a 1:37.686 which got him P3, and on lap five Hicks dropped his time to a 1:34.549 to cement his pole position.

With qualifying done it was time to go racing and the late mornings’ Legion of Speed Novice GTO class did not disappoint. The lights went out, engines roared to life, and the mad dash down the front straight began. David Behrend was able to get the holeshot followed closely by Matthew Cooper, who started P4 on the grid. Remington Mathews had a strong start from 12th on the grid and was able to move up five spots before turn one, and then take two more spots on the outside of turn two moving him into P5. As racers came flying down the front straight to begin the second lap Mathews attempted to take an aggressive inside line on turn one to take fourth position, when disaster struck. While he was making the pass, Edwin Hofeling’s rearset popped Mathews rear slick, this sent Mathews and his S1000RR lowsiding out of the race. Behrend, Cooper, and Victor Arias then continued to lead at the start of lap three. As racers came barreling down the front straight into turn one, yellow and medical flags were waving to indicate the incident, and Cooper made a pass on Behrend in the turn. The move caused Cooper to be penalized 30 seconds from his ending result when he failed to return the position, and although he grew a gap on the field it wasn’t enough to hold the P1 spot at the race’s conclusion. Throughout lap three Sam Arquit had begun musciling around his CBR 1000 and was catching Arias in third by the start of lap four. Arquit knew that if he could be smooth in the turns then he could out power Arias on the straight. Arquit made a move on Arias coming down the front straight and made it stick in turn one. A few laps later, Arquit could tell that Behrend was tiring from the Utah sun and the long race. Arquit just bid his time and waited for Behrend to make a mistake. Arquit found his opening when Behrend broke a bit early into turn 13, and made a pass on the inside to take the lead. Novice GTO finished with Cooper leading but taking a 30 second penalty which put Arquit in first. In second podium position was Victor Arias and in third was John Tillotson.

After a break to let everyone cool off, riders began gearing up for the King of the Mountain race. The racers were gridded, marshals cleared the track, and the lights went out. Hicks, who had not been able to figure out how to use his launch control in the previous round, finally took advantage of the launch control on his ZX-10R. As he powered off the grid from pole, he held first and got his Pirelli SCX on the race line into turn one. Norton and Jones followed behind Hicks through turn one and into lap two. Genaro Lopez, who was forced to be at the back of the grid due to missing qualifying, was starting from 14th. Lopez was so confident in his launch that he chose to take an outside line into turn one. By turn one Lopez was able to get himself into mid pack, so he put his head down and rushed himself to start making safe, but aggressive passes. With that, Lopez was able to work his BMW up to fifth going into lap two. In turn seven Lopez made a big move on the outside of Bill Davis and moved into fourth. Hicks led, followed by Norton, Jones, and Lopez. Hicks had begun noticing vibrations and a jingling coming from the left side of his bike. He thought possibly his toe guard had come loose, but it was later found out to be the heel guard from his rearsets. On the fifth lap Ty Bengford crashed out in the Attitudes too close to the track for the race to continue and race control red flagged the race. Racers exited the track and headed into pit lane where they were told the race restart would be determined by the racers last known position. The new starting grid  had Hicks on pole followed by Norton, Jones, and Lopez. As the lights went out, Hicks bogged off the line and Jones was able to get the holeshot. Lopez also had a good start and went second into turn one followed by Norton which left Hicks in fourth. Hicks just kept focus and got a hard drive out of turn one. He made a couple of passes stick on the two right-handers and managed to block the line into the following left turn. Hicks then made a move for the lead on the entrance to turn seven and was able to stay consistent from there. As the riders came over the line to start the final lap it was Hicks leading followed closely by Lopez, Norton, Jones, and Davis. Davis powered his race machine through Jones on lap eight to take fourth. Norton finished in third behind Lopez who finished second, and Hicks took home the win at KOM Round 3.

After the races we caught up with Hicks who wanted to congratulate Genaro Lopez on his win in the Napa Auto Parts Tooele Stock 1000 Series. Hicks said, “As expected, he made another step forward and is consistently a challenger, finally getting the better of me in that race. I hope both of us keep improving all year and hit the lap times I think we’re capable of.”

Hicks would like to thank the Moto Station crew, Pirelli tires, and his wife Carrie for their continued support. Hicks also wanted to give a shout out to Kory Cowan for helping with wheel changes, which allowed him a break from the sun. Hicks also gave a nod to the students that took the ARC on Friday. “The group was very engaged and super fun. I hope they were able to learn a bit from the experience and keep on the path of constant improvement.”

As the race day ran into the late afternoon, it was time for the Vortex Open Superbike race. Norton sat on pole, Hicks held P2, and Davis was on P3. Rev limiters sounded as lights went out on East Track. Norton had a perfect start and was able to take the holeshot in turn one while Hicks followed closely behind. Hicks made a pass on Norton for the lead before lap one was over. As riders came down the front straight to start lap three, it was Hicks leading followed by Norton and Davis. Lopez was late to the grid and didn’t have time to turn his launch control on. By the time racers were going through turn one Lopez was in last, it was time for him to make another comeback. Lopez worked his way through the racers until he was behind Davis on lap three, and from there Lopez made a move on Davis for the third podium position. Lopez still had good pace and was hoping to catch Norton, but due to the race being cut by one lap, it wasn’t going to happen. Lopez finished the race in third, in front of Lopez was Norton for second, and Hicks got the win for the Vortex Open Superbike Series.

Round three was filled with exciting and close racing that forced riders to find the limits of their bikes. The Redline Realty Moto 3 had Mark Taylor fighting Brian Gerwe and Rachel Kuns for the lead into turn one. Taylor began his stretch on the Moto 3 group after lap one. At the start of lap two Kuns made a bold overtake on Grewe in turn two to move into P2, Grewe maintained his spot to finish third on the podium, Kuns took a well-deserved second, and Taylor led the Moto 3 race for the win. In the Toxic Moto Racing/Michelin Middleweight Superstock event Brian Childree sat on pole. As the track went green, it was Peter Hofpointner who was able to take the holeshot. Childree followed Hofpointner closely, until turn seven when he made the move past Hofpointer for first. Richard Findlay held down third across the finish line after a sixth grid position start. Hofpointner maintained second and Childree had the win for Middleweight Superstock.

Although the Utah summer heat made it a bit more difficult, Round 3 was very successful. After the race day ended riders pulled themselves out of their leathers and headed to UtahSBA’s garage for awards and their famous post-race BBQ. As the grill sizzled riders came together to talk about some of the battles from the race day and share excitement for the upcoming Round 4. Round 4 is scheduled for July 10th on UMC’s West track. We look forward to seeing you all then.

The Utah Sport Bike Association is a Utah Non-Profit dedicated to promoting education, safe riding, and competition in the Intermountain West. You can find more information about the USBA, upcoming events, and schools at www.utahsba.com or find us on Facebook.

Overall Results:

 

Motostation/Trackstar KOM Overall:

  1. Jerry Hicks (KAW ZX-10R)
  2. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)
  3. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX10R)
  4. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)
  5. Eric Jones (YAM R1)
  6. Ryan Richardson (KAW ZX-10R)

 

Motostation KOM GTO:

  1. Jerry Hicks (KAW ZX-10R)
  2. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)
  3. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX-10R)
  4. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)
  5. Eric Jones (YAM R1)
  6. Ryan Richardson (KAW ZX-10R)

 

Trackstar KOM GTU:

  1. Brian Childree (KAW ZX-6R)
  2. Richard Findlay (SUZ GSXR-600)

 

AZ Riding Academy Combined GTO

  1. Rick Squires (SUZ GSXR1000)
  2. John Tran (YAM R1)
  3. Peter Hofpointner (YAM R6)
  4. Marshall Miller (BMW S1000RR)
  5. David Behrend (YAM YZFR1)
  6. Max Tseng (YAM R1)

 

C&R Coatings Combined GTU

  1. Peter Hofpointner (YAM R6)
  2. Christopher Robison (KAW ZX6R)
  3. Max Tseng (YAM R6)
  4. Joshua Fisher (TRI DAYTONA-675R)
  5. Braxton Young (HON CBR600RR)
  6. James Riggs (YAM R6)

 

The Edge Powersports Deseret Dash – Expert

  1. Eric Jones (YAM R1)
  2. Braden Jones (YAM R1)
  3. Tyler Jones (YAM R1)
  4. David Meyer (YAM R1)
  5. Marshall Miller (BMW S1000RR)
  6. James Riggs (YAM R6)

 

The Edge Powersports Deseret Dash – Novice

  1. Sam Arquit (HON CBR1000RR)
  2. Joshua Fisher (TRI DAYTONA-675R)
  3. Barry Ketmany (YAM R1)
  4. Mike Jensen (KAW ZX10R)
  5. Remington Mathews (BMW S1000RR)
  6. Brian Gerwe (HON CBR600RR)

 

Harrison Eurosports Formula 40 – GTO

  1. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)
  2. Tyler Jones (YAM R1)
  3. Alex Zinaich (YAM R1)
  4. David Meyer (YAM R1)
  5. John Tran (YAM R1)
  6. Steven Marco (YAM R1)

 

Harrison Eurosports Formula 40 – GTU

  1. Brian Naylor (KAW ZX6R)
  2. Victor Arias (SUZ GSX-R600)
  3. Raymond Clark (TRI 675)
  4. Donald Rothfuss (DUC 848-EVO)
  5. James Snow (SUZ SV650)
  6. Mark Taylor (KAW NINJA-400)

 

Bingham Cyclery Lightweight Superbike

  1. Ryan Smith (APR RS660)
  2. James Snow (SUZ SV650)
  3. Mark Taylor (KAW NINJA-400)
  4. Daniel Egbert (SUZ SV650)
  5. Rachel Kuns (KAW NINJA-400)
  6. Travers Johnson (YAM YZF-R3)

 

Blud Racing Lubricants Middleweight Superbike

  1. Brian Childree (KAW ZX-6R)
  2. Richard Findlay (SUZ GSXR-600)
  3. Brian Naylor (KAW ZX6R)
  4. Braxton Young (HON CBR600RR)

 

Toxic Moto Racing Middleweight Superstock

  1. Brian Childree (KAW ZX-6R)
  2. Peter Hofpointner (YAM R6)
  3. Richard Findlay (SUZ GSXR-600)
  4. Christopher Robison (KAW ZX-6R)
  5. Brian Naylor (KAW ZX-6R)
  6. Braxton Young (HON CBR600RR)

 

The Mechanic Modern Vintage – GTO

  1. Marshall Miller (BMW S1000RR)
  2. Barry Ketmany (YAM R1)
  3. Sam Arquit (HON CBR1000RR)
  4. Joshua Snow (YAM R1)

 

The Mechanic Modern Vintage – GTU

  1. Richard Findlay (SUZ GSXR-600)
  2. Braxton Young (HON CBR600RR)
  3. Victor Arias (SUZ GSX-R600)
  4. Kirk Doyle (KAW ZX-6R)
  5. Shawn Rothmeyer (YAM R6)
  6. Tyler Donaworth (TRI DAYTONA-675)

 

Karl Malone Powersports  Moto 2

  1. Brian Childree (KAW ZX-6R)
  2. Peter Hofpointner (YAM R6)
  3. Brock Jones (YAM R6)
  4. Christopher Robison (KAW ZX-6R)
  5. Max Tseng (YAM R6)
  6. Braxton Young (HON CBR600RR)

 

Redline Realty Moto 3

  1. Mark Taylor (KAW NINJA-400)
  2. Rachel Kuns (KAW NINJA-400)
  3. Brian Gerwe (KAW NINJA-400)
  4. Travers Johnson (YAM YZF-R3)
  5. Alex Hatfield (KAW NINJA-400)
  6. Stephen Webster (YAM YZF-R3)

 

Legion of Speed Novice GTO

  1. Sam Arquit (HON CBR1000RR)
  2. Victor Arias (SUZ GSX-R600)
  3. John Tillotson (YAM R1)
  4. David Behrend (YAM R1)
  5. Mike Jensen (KAW ZX-10R)
  6. Matthew Cooper (APR RSV4)

 

Brighton Peak Financial Novice GTU

  1. Brock Jones (YAM R6)
  2. Belisario Arango (KAW ZX-6R)
  3. Kirk Doyle (KAW ZX-6R)
  4. Brian Gerwe (HON CBR600RR)
  5. Raymond Clark (TRI 675)
  6. Mario Fernandez (YAM R6)

 

Vortex Open Superbike

  1. Jerry Hicks (KAW ZX-10R)
  2. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX-10R)
  3. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)
  4. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)
  5. Ryan Richardson (KAW ZX-10R)
  6. Steven Marco (YAM R1)

 

MotoUnited Open Superstock

  1. Jerry Hicks (KAW ZX-10R)
  2. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)
  3. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)
  4. David Meyer (YAM R1)
  5. John Tran (YAM R1)
  6. Ryan Richardson (KAW ZX-10R)

 

Karl Malone Powersports Open Twins

  1. Ryan Smith (APR RS660)
  2. Joshua Fisher (TRI 675R)
  3. Daniel Egbert (DUC 1199S)
  4. Raymond Clark (TRI 675)
  5. Tyler Donaworth (TRI 675R)
  6. James Snow (SUZ SV650)

 

Velosio Production 500

  1. Brian Childree (KAW NINJA-400)
  2. Mark Taylor (KAW NINJA-400)
  3. Kirk Doyle (YAM FZR400)
  4. Travers Johnson (YAM YZF-R3)
  5. Brian Gerwe (KAW NINJA-400)

 

Monarch Powersports Sportsman

  1. Russell Carpenter (YAM R6)
  2. Miguel Alamillo (SUZ GSX-R-600)
  3. Stacey Welch (HON CBR600RR)
  4. John Tillotson (YAM R1)
  5. Rainey Pogue (YAM R6)
  6. Travers Johnson (YAM YZF-R3)

 

Napa Auto Parts Tooele Stock 1000

  1. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)
  2. Jerry Hicks (KAW ZX-10R)
  3. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)
  4. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX-10R)
  5. David Meyer (YAM R1)
  6. John Tran (YAM R1)

 

Carbonsmith Super Street Bike

1. Victor Arias (HON CBR1000RR-SP)

AHRMA: Race Results From New Jersey Motorsports Park

Michael Platt (10P) and passenger Bob Robbins in action at NJMP. Photo by etechphoto.com, courtesy AHRMA.
Michael Platt (10P) and passenger Bob Robbins in action at NJMP. Photo by etechphoto.com, courtesy AHRMA.
2021 NJMP Final Race Results

MotoGP: Quartararo Still On Top As Series Returns To The “Cathedral”

Fabio Quartararo (20) leading a group of riders during the MotoGP race at Sachsenring. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Fabio Quartararo (20) leading a group of riders during the MotoGP race at Sachsenring. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Reset, reload, GO! MotoGP™ returns to the Cathedral

The fastest motorcycle racing Championship on Earth vs one of the world’s greatest racetracks = another chapter in 90 years of history

Wednesday, 23 June 2021

Most fans of MotoGP™ would find it fairly easy to write a love letter to the TT Circuit Assen, and after a year off the calendar the Cathedral is back to gives us more history-making close racing. History is a real buzzword too as it’s the 90th TT this season and the 72nd time the event has counted towards the World Championship. Quite a record, but then it’s quite a track. Fast, flowing and with a final chicane whose reputation precedes it, Assen rarely disappoints… and maybe we’re biased, but neither does MotoGP™.

Heading in, it’s Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) still ahead of the game in the standings, and the Frenchman took a podium with a late charge in Germany. The last time MotoGP™ raced in Drenthe it was a Yamaha on the top step, too and their recent record at the track is a good one. Can Quartararo take back a little momentum? He’s the only rider to score points in every race, but he’ll want to get back on the top step.

Someone also in need of some momentum is the man who took that Yamaha win at Assen in 2019: Quartararo’s teammate Maverick Viñales. After his stunner in Qatar to open the season it’s been up ad down at times, but nowhere more down than his worst MotoGP™ finish ever last time out. Can he start to find a way back to the top? In 2019 he left Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) five seconds in the dust for that victory, and Quartararo was another five seconds back… so there’s a solid CV to fall back on.

Speaking of solid CVs… no one has a better one than Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) at the Cathedral. It may be a difficult season so far for the number 46, but Assen should or could be a venue that helps him take a step forward. With Franco Morbidelli missing the event after injuring his knee in training, there will be plenty of eyes on the other side of the garage too as American Garrett Gerloff comes in on replacement duty. The GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team rider already impressed in the premier class of Grand Prix racing in practice in Valencia last year, and now he’ll make his race debut.

Next – notwithstanding the incredible comeback win for Marc Marquez – KTM are a key recent headline stealer. 2021 started with the Austrian factory struggling to gain traction – figuratively and, at times, literally – but it’s been an incredible turnaround of late. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is now the first KTM rider to take three podiums in a row, one of which was a win and the most recent of which saw the Portuguese rider able to push Marc Marquez at the Sachsenring. Even with this number 93 on the comeback, that’s something to write home about. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) made it two KTMs in the top four for the first time this year in Germany too, which made the Austrian factory team the top performers as a duo… and that was despite the South African never having ridden the track before in the premier class. How well can they attack Assen?

And now, Marquez. It was an incredible performance from the eight-time World Champion to get back onto the top step 581 days after last doing so, and after not only his injury struggles but also a difficult run of DNFs. One of the all-time greats – the race win and the rider – was history truly in the making. But with 11 in a row at the Sachnsenring now, can he stay with the front group at Assen? It’s certainly a bigger ask, and it was a big ask to manage what he did in Germany. But Marc Marquez is Marc Marquez…

For the other Hondas, however, the tough times continued in Germany, although the losing streak is over after Marc Marquez’ win. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) took tenth and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) 13th, but they’ll want more, as will Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) after he made it through to Q2 for the first time this year and then crashed out.

More is also something Ducati will be looking for. After some impressive speed in qualifying and then in the early stages on race day, somehow it was Francesco Bagnaia (Ducato Lenovo Team) finished the race as the top Borgo Panigale machine – after having been mired down the field early on. Polesitter Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) faded to eighth and Jack Miller was pipped to fifth by Bagnaia, so they’ll definitely be two men looking for a lot more this Sunday. For Miller the venue does hold some incredible memories though, with the Australian having taken his first premier class win at the track in that dramatic and emotional 2016 race. There are some good CVs elsewhere in the Ducati camp too, and both man and machine, for the most part, have been serious threats at the front so far in 2021 – so that seems unlikely to change based on solely the Sachsenring…

Suzuki will also be interesting to watch. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) made some quick progress in Germany after a tough qualifying but then couldn’t move much further forward, and Alex Rins remains on the comeback from injury. Last time MotoGP™ raced at Assen though, Rins was on the podium in second, which could be a good sign for the GSX-RR. Can the reigning team Champions move forward and get back to the front?

Finally, for Aprilia, it must be mixed feelings after the Sachsenring. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) took their best MotoGP™ qualifying and led the way early on Lap 1 after taking the holeshot, and they were right in the battle. But that fifth place or a place in the top five escaped in an incredibly tight fight just off the podium. Can the TT Circuit Assen deliver? Their best to date in MotoGP™ at the track is seventh, and their best ever anywhere is sixth. The field is closer than ever, but the RS-GP is better than ever…

90 years of history seems like a lot to live up to, but with the classics we’ve seen staged at Assen it’s a solid bet that we’ll get another chapter. Who will come out swinging and head into summer break on top of the world? We’ll find out in the Motul TT Assen, with the lights going out for MotoGP™ on Sunday at 14:00 (GMT +2).

MotoGP™ Championship top five:

1 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 131

2 Johann Zarco* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – 109

3 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 100

4 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 99

5 Joan Mir – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – 85

*Independent Team rider

 

 

Advantage Gardner as Moto2™ heads for Assen

The Australian made a little history in Germany to pull clear. Can anyone strike back at the Cathedral?

Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) may have been beaten to a first win of the year by his rookie teammate Raul Fernandez, but since then the Australian has put the pedal to the metal. Now it’s three victories in a row and he’s the first Australian to do that in the intermediate class, gaining some good ground in the standings. Not only that, but his teammate crashed out in Germany – a first error of what’s nevertheless an incredibly impressive debut year – and it’s now a 36-point cushion for Gardner at the top. So will he play it safe?

Unfortunately for the rest of the field watching the number 87 enjoy a somewhat solo track day at the Sachsenring, his calling card in 2021 is already balancing risk and reward better than the rest – as well as staying just as devastatingly quick. So why would it change now? The pressure of taking a win is off, some pressure is off in the standings and he’s already made a little history. The speed the Australian has often shown before has now been paired with consistency, and it’s proving a problem for the rest of the field.

For Raul Fernandez on the other side of the garage, the pressure is on a little more after his crash – certainly in the standings. But then, as a rookie winning races, his performance remains one of the biggest standouts of the season so far in any class, and the season remains long. Can he fight back at Assen? And will we get a rerun of the incredible speed he and Gardner showed as they disappeared at the front in Germany early on?

Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46), meanwhile, remains on the hunt for more than a podium, but the Italian did do a sterling job at the Sachsenring to go from a difficult Friday to the podium on Sunday. So too did Aron Canet (Aspar Team Moto2), who took his second rostrum of the season in second on a great day for the Boscoscuro chassis, with three in the top nine for the first time. Can that form continue at Assen?

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) will be looking for a bit more after ending up off the podium, and so too will Sam Lowes (El Marc VDS Racing Team) and his teammate Augusto Fernandez, the most recent winner at Assen in Moto2™. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) and Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) both crashed late and will want some redemption too, and Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) had an incident with Augusto Fernandez. To complicate their lives a little more, both Roberts and Dixon have Long Lap penalties for Assen as well… the former for crashing under yellows, the latter for the aforementioned incident. Dixon does, however, have a fair bit of experience at Assen from the BSB paddock.

There are some shoutouts from a little further down the order too: Albert Arenas (Aspar Team Moto2) was top rookie and took his best Moto2™ result yet by far, and injury replacement Alonso Lopez – then at Flexbox HP 40, this weekend back at +Ego Speed Up – equalled his European Moto2™ Championship teammate Fermin Aldeguer’s best stand in ride of P12 from Mugello. Their rivalry won’t continue at Assen as Aldeguer heads back to MotoE™, but Lopez will be gaining more track time on the Triumph back on a Boscocuro chassis.

Gardner heads the field on the way in, and he will most definitely do the same on the way out with 36 points in his pocket. But can he make it four in a row? Can Fernandez strike back? Or can those on the chase close down the Red Bull KTM Ajo duo just before we head into the summer break? Find out in the Motul TT Assen on Sunday at 12:20 (GMT +2).

Moto2™ Championship top five:

1 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 164

2 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 128

3 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 117

4 Sam Lowes – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 86

5 Fabio Di Giannantonio – Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 – Kalex – 73

 

 

Acosta vs Assen: Moto3™ takes on the Cathedral

The Championship leader was back with a bang last time out, but Assen is a different challenge…

After a stunning start to the season for rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), the Spaniard then spent a few races taking home some good points but not really seeming able to challenge for the win. He brought that run to a convincing end in Germany, however, returning to the top step in style to take the momentum back from closest challenger Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team). So can he keep it rolling?

If he can, it’ll likely be through another tactical coup. The final chicane at Assen stages some amazing showdowns throughout the classes, but in Moto3™ it can shuffle the podium in one change of direction. Planning that out can be key… and Acosta said one of the things he’s learned and put into practice in Germany is that last lap battle.

Assen is also a track where many of those on Acosta’s tail have a little more experience – not that it made too much difference at the Sachsenring – but for Garcia he’s only raced there once, so he’ll be pushing to come out swinging and get reacquainted. The more veteran crew of Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3), Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), teammate John McPhee, Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), meanwhile, will be gunning to get back nearer the front after some misadventures for most in Germany, and they do know Assen pretty well: McPhee, Migno and Fenati all have podiums at the track, and Antonelli is the only rider in the field to have qualified on pole there.

The likes of Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) and Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) will arrive high on confidence from the podium too, and Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) will know he was almost there in Germany before that penalty, despite having never ridden the Sachsenring before, at all. Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was in the front group again too. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo), meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back although he remains up there in the standings, and Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) needs a little luck to convert his pace into points.

Four and a half kilometres of a truly classic venue, all leading up to that final chicane. What does Moto3™ have in store before summer break? We’ll find out on Sunday at 11:00 (GMT +2) as the lights go out for the Motul TT Assen.

Moto3™ Championship top five:

1 Pedro Acosta – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM –  145

2 Sergio Garcia – Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team – GASGAS – 90

3 Jaume Masia – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM –  72

4 Niccolo Antonelli – Avtintia Esponsorama Moto3 – KTM – 65

5 Romano Fenati – Sterilgarda Max Racing Team – Husqvarna – 64

AHRMA: Joyce, Read Split Vintage Cup Wins At NJMP

Tony Read (338) and Helmi Niederer (80R) racing for the lead at NJMP. Photo by Etechphotos.com, courtesy AHRMA.
Tony Read (338) and Helmi Niederer (80R) racing for the lead at NJMP. Photo by Etechphotos.com, courtesy AHRMA.

Racing into the Solstice

(Millville, NJ June 23, 2021) A familiar combination returned to its winning ways during the latest round of the American Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Vintage Cup.

After his double wins on John Turner’s impeccable BMW at Heartland Motorsports Park last month, Tim Joyce was back on the scene riding his old familiar saw, Maurice Candy’s Manx Norton, a combination that is arguably the winningest in AHRMA’s Premier 500 history.

Joyce and Candy had partnered for years prior to Candy’s recent passing. Maurice’s son, Chris now holds the keys to the kingdom and brings the bike out for select events.

This weekend was the sixth round of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Vintage Cup featuring Premier 500 sponsored by NYC Norton (nycnorton.com) and Roadracing World (roadracingworld.com).

This event saw several racers return to Vintage Cup action including Tony Read on Andy Findling’s BSA Goldstar, Helmi Niederer on NYC Norton’s Seely Matchless G50, Brian Larrabure on NYC Norton’s Seely Matchless G50, Andy Findling on his BSA B50, Chris Jensen on his Manx Norton, and Chuck Crocco on a BSA B50.

On Saturday, although taking the checkered flag in first position, Joyce was penalized a lap for jumping the start, relegating him to fifth position.  Read and Niederer took first and second with Larrabure rounding out the podium.

It was obvious the racers did their homework on Saturday night because Sunday’s race was much closer, faster, and more exciting.   Joyce got a great start and held the lead from flag to flag. Niederer and Read battled for second place, but Read made some good moves and was able to put a few bike lengths between him and Niederer on the last lap, taking second place with Neiderer in third.

“The sun was shining, humidity was down and it was a great time to be at New Jersey Motorsports Park.  It is a wonderful track that flows, and is well suited for the high corner speeds that the 500 Premier bikes must carry,” said Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton. “I am happy to see Timmy on the top of the box again, but the points chase is not a certainty in any respect.  The championship is still up for grabs.”

The next round will be at the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca July the weekend of 17-18, 2021.

AHRMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving, restoring, and competing on historic motorcycles. With more than 3,000 members, AHRMA is the leading historic motorcycle racing group in North America and one of the largest in the world. The association’s enthusiastic membership reflects this country’s strong interest in classic bikes.

Race Results Saturday, June 19, 2021

  1. Tony Read, 1971 BSA Goldstar, Charlotte, TN
  2. Helmut Niederer, 1968 Seeley Matchless G50, Nashville, TN
  3. Brian Larrabure, 1968 Seeley Matchless G50, Calabassas, CA
  4. Christian Jensen, 1961 Norton Manx, Fords, NJ
  5. Tim Joyce, 1961 Norton Summerfield Manx, Laurel Hill, FL
  6. Chuck Crocco, 1971 BSA B50, Covington, LA

Race Results Sunday, June 20, 2021

  1. Tim Joyce, 1961 Norton Summerfield Manx, Laurel Hill, FL
  2. Tony Read, 1971 BSA B50, Charlotte, TN
  3. Helmut Niederer, 1968 Seeley Matchless G50, Nashville, TN
  4. Brian Larrabure, 1968 Seeley Matchless G50, Calabassas, CA
  5. Chuck Crocco, 1971 BSA B50, Covington, LA

MotoAmerica: Can Anyone Stop Gagne At Ridge Motorsports Park?

Jake Gagne (32). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Jake Gagne (32). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Can Anyone Stop Gagne? MotoAmerica’s Fourth Round Set For Pacific Northwest And Ridge Motorsports Park

Jake Gagne Is On A Heater With Wins In Five Of The First Six HONOS Superbike Races As The Series Heads To Washington State

IRVINE, CA (June 23, 2021) – Last year marked the debut of MotoAmerica in the Pacific Northwest with the first-ever HONOS Superbike race at Ridge Motorsports Park and Cameron Beaubier left Washington State with two more wins as he approached the middle of a 10-race win streak that ultimately led him to a fifth MotoAmerica Superbike title. Although that was then and this is now, you’d be excused for thinking there is a bit of déjà vu going on here as Beaubier’s teammate from a season ago, Jake Gagne, arrives for the Komatsu MotoAmerica Superbikes At The Ridge on a win streak of his own with five successive victories.

Gagne and his Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha YZF-R1 are now the benchmark in the HONOS Superbike class as the Californian, who now makes his home in Colorado, is winning and winning big. Following his DNF in the very first race of the year, Gagne has won by 4.7 seconds (Road Atlanta), 11.8 and 13.9 seconds (VIRginia International Raceway) and 5.9 and 6.7 seconds (Road America). Other than the VIR margin of victories, the other gaps are manageable. And his rivals aren’t throwing in the towel just yet.

As for the championship, Gagne has clawed back the deficit he lost with his DNF at Road Atlanta and he now leads the title chase by 18 over the man who has been the most consistent thus far, Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz. The South African is the only rider other than Gagne to win a race, and he has been on the podium in every race except race one at Road America where he finished an uncharacteristic sixth with a “technical issue.”

Gagne’s teammate Josh Herrin sits third in the championship. Herrin started his season with three straight podiums but hasn’t been close since. He is 42 points behind Gagne and just one in front of M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Cameron Petersen, with the South African on the upswing after earning the first two HONOS Superbike podiums of his career two weeks ago at Road America.

Petersen’s teammate Bobby Fong hasn’t had the start to his season he was hoping for. After finishing second in race one at Road Atlanta, Fong has been off the podium in the following races, though it wouldn’t be a big surprise for him to turn things around starting at Ridge Motorsports Park this coming weekend. He is, however, 53 points behind Gagne, but only 10 behind his teammate Petersen.

If there has been a surprise so far in 2020 it has been the performance of MotoAmerica rookie/international racing veteran Hector Barbera. The Spaniard, who signed on with the Scheibe Racing BMW team at the 11th hour before the season started, has finished every race and has been in a battle in every race. His best finish is sixth (he has three of them), but he’s been in fights higher up the order, especially so at VIR where an off-track excursion cost him what likely would have been his best finish of the young season. Team owner Steve Scheibe is thrilled with Barbera’s effort, and things should only get better as he becomes more comfortable with the bike, the team, the tires and the racetracks.

Loris Baz has only finished three of the six races held thus far in 2021, but two of those three were runner-up finishes to Gagne. The Frenchman will again face a new circuit when he arrives in the Pacific Northwest, but the test day on Thursday should help him and his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York team get up to speed before wheels are turned in anger on Friday. Not many would be surprised if it is Baz who at some point stops the Gagne steamroller.

Panera Bread Ducati’s Kyle Wyman sits eighth in the championship, but that’s going to get worse rather than better as he suffered a broken elbow at Road America and will miss the Ridge round and perhaps WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Wyman’s goal at this point in time is to be healthy enough to focus his efforts on wrapping up the Mission King Of The Baggers title at Laguna. If he doesn’t race the Superbike in Monterey, he will put someone on his Ducati Panigale V4 R.

Wyman’s brother Travis sits ninth in the HONOS Superbike Championship, which puts him atop the Superbike Cup standings on his Stock 1000-spec Travis Wyman Racing BMW S 1000 RR. Altus Motorsports’ Jake Lewis, who leads the Stock 1000 Championship heading to Ridge, rounds out the top 10 in HONOS Superbike and is second in Superbike Cup.

There are 32 entries for the two HONOS Superbike races at Ridge Motorsport Park.

The Ridge Notes…

With last year’s MotoAmerica debut event at Ridge Motorsports Park not allowing spectators, this year’s round will give fans in the Pacific Northwest their first opportunity to witness HONOS Superbike racing first-hand.

Cameron Beaubier won the two HONOS Superbike races at Ridge last year, the five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion beating Mathew Scholtz by 8.1 seconds in race one and then topping his Attack Performance Yamaha teammate Jake Gagne by 3.2 seconds in race two. Bobby Fong was third in both races on his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki.

Beaubier holds both the outright HONOS Superbike lap record and race lap record from his dominant weekend at Ridge Motorsports Park in 2020. Beaubier’s best lap was a 1:40.358 set during FP2 with his best race lap coming in race one – a 1:40.662.

With his five successive victories in 2021, Jake Gagne now has five career wins in his MotoAmerica Superbike career. If Gagne continues his domination this weekend at Ridge Motorsports Park and wins both races, he will move into a tie with Roger Hayden for 24th on the all-time AMA Superbike win list. The all-time leader in AMA Superbike wins is Mat Mladin, the Australian winning 82 Superbike races in his career.

Prior to last year’s MotoAmerica debut in the Pacific Northwest, the last AMA Superbike National held in Washington State was at Seattle International Raceway in Kent, Washington in 1985. The race was won by a young phenom by the name of Kevin Schwantz.

Sixty-one men have won AMA Superbike races since the series began in 1976. There have been 21 different champions in those 45 years and MotoAmerica has been interviewing those champions weekly in its “21 In ‘21” series that can be found on the series website at www.motoamerica.com.

The 2021 MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Series boasts of four active racers who have won AMA Superbike Nationals: Josh Herrin (8), Jake Gagne (5), Bobby Fong (3) and Mathew Scholtz (3).

In addition to his five wins thus far in 2021, Jake Gagne has also earned pole position for each of the three rounds heading into this weekend’s battle at Ridge. Coincidentally, Gagne earned his first career MotoAmerica Superbike pole position at Ridge Motorsports Park last year.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:

Westby Racing’s Scholtz And Roach Are Ready For Some Ridge Running This Weekend

Tulsa, OK – June 23, 2021 – Round four of the 2021 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship starts this Friday at Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, and Westby Racing’s riders Mathew Scholtz—aboard the #11 Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike—and Jack Roach—aboard the #12 Yamaha YZF-R3 Junior Cup bike—along with the entire crew, are excited to be making an encore visit to the Pacific Northwest track after their first-ever race weekend at Ridge last year.

Mathew finished as runner-up to winner Cameron Beaubier in Superbike race one at Ridge in 2020, and he followed that up with a fourth-place result in Superbike race two. With its 16 turns and 2.47 miles of meandering asphalt that features over 300 feet in elevation change, Ridge is a race course that Mathew really enjoys and is very much looking forward to racing at again.

 

Mathew Scholtz (11). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Mathew Scholtz (11). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.

 

“It’ll be great racing at Ridge this weekend and getting back on the bike,” commented Mathew. “We made some big steps forward at the test at Brainerd (International Raceway) earlier this week. I’m extremely comfortable on the bike right now, and I’m looking forward to racing at a track where we did pretty well last year. Road America wasn’t the greatest weekend for me, but I feel like the next couple of tracks, with the improvements that we made to the bike during two productive days of testing, will really help us at these next couple of rounds on the West Coast. I don’t feel as if (points leader) Jake (Gagne) is too far ahead. We’ve just got to keep our heads down and keep fighting. I’ve got a great bunch of guys with me, and I know that I am still capable of winning Superbike races. We will push hard and see what happens.”

Superbike final qualifying is on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. PT. Superbike race one will go green on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Superbike race two is on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. PT and will also be broadcast live on FS1. Both races will be streamed on MotoAmerica Live+.

Ridge Motorsports Park is the closest racetrack to Jack’s home in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, which is just outside Vancouver and about 200 miles from Ridge. He finished seventh in both Junior Cup races last year at Ridge, and he will be looking to improve on those results when he races in front of friends and family this weekend.

 

Jack Roach (12). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Jack Roach (12). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.

 

“This is my home track,” Jack said. “Or at least it’s the MotoAmerica track that’s located closest to my home. So, I want to do well in front of my friends and family who will be coming down from Canada to see me race. I like Ridge a lot, and I’m looking to put together two race finishes much closer to the front this weekend. Inside the top five in both races is my goal. I’ve been knocked down a lot this season, but my tenacity and want for success drives me to keep getting back up. I will never stop fighting because that’s what it takes to be a part of Westby Racing, and I’m willing to go above and beyond to get a good result.”

Junior Cup race one starts on Saturday at 5 p.m. PT, and Junior Cup race two is on Sunday at 3 p.m. PT. Both races will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 2 (FS2), streamed on MotoAmerica Live+, and then, broadcast again via tape-delay on FS2 this Tuesday, June 29, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

Meet Mathew and Jack, Get Some Autographed Posters, And More

Mathew and Jack will both be at the Westby Racing transporter in the paddock at Ridge paddock during two Dunlop Paddock Autograph Signings. The first one is on Saturday from 12 to 12:30 p.m. PT, and the second one is on Sunday from 10:30 to 11 a.m. PT. They’ll have free, autographed posters and other team items to hand out, so be sure to stop by.

Check Out The Westby Racing Sponsor Showcase

Bike Sport Developments Ltd., Fast Frank Racing, and Pro-Bolt USA will be the featured team sponsors on display in the Westby Racing paddock area, so be sure to stop by to say hello and learn about some of the companies that support the team.

For more updates about Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit https://www.WestbyRacing.com

Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.

British Superbike: Season Starts This Coming Weekend At Oulton Park

The start of a previous British Superbike race at Oulton Park. Photo courtesy MSVR.
The start of a previous British Superbike race at Oulton Park. Photo courtesy MSVR.

Oulton Park awaits: The Bennetts British Superbike Championship is back

The Bennetts British Superbike Championship is back at Oulton Park for the opening triple-header clash of 2021 this weekend (25/26/27 June), as the Cheshire circuit sets the stage for the start of an incredible 25th anniversary season.

The number one plate returns to the grid for the first time since 2012 as Josh Brookes lines up for his title defence with VisionTrack Ducati. The double champion is bidding for back-to-back crowns against a strong field including many of his closest rivals from last year.

Fellow Australian Jason O’Halloran had his strongest ever campaign in 2020 and the McAMS Yamaha rider is back to try and go one better after just missing out at the season finale last year.

Likewise, Christian Iddon was in the title fight for the first time last year and he will be determined to try to overhaul his VisionTrack Ducati teammate, starting this weekend at his home circuit.

The 2021 line-up features an impressive 12 previous race-winners in total including Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha), Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) and Dan Linfoot (TAG Honda).

Whilst some contenders are back in familiar surroundings for this season, there has been a big shake-up of the grid too, with some riders changing teams, and others joining the premier class as rookies for the first time.

Honda Racing’s line-up is led by the returning Glenn Irwin, who will be keen to replicate the strong start, which saw him lead the standings for much of 2020. He is joined by two new faces in Japanese contenders Ryo Mizuno and Takumi Takahashi, who will complete the team’s three-strong line-up when they debut this weekend.

An impressive list of rookies includes Quattro Group British Supersport champion Rory Skinner who joins Lee Jackson at FS-3 Kawasaki on the all-new Ninja ZX-10RR. Skinner will renew his rivalry with former sparring partner Brad Jones, who moves to iForce Lloyd & Jones BMW alongside Joe Francis.

Race winners Andrew Irwin and Danny Buchan complete a new-look team at SYNETIQ BMW and the debuting FHO Racing BMW team have the returning Xavi Forés and Peter Hickman in their experienced line-up. Meanwhile at Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW, Bradley Ray and Kyle Ryde join forces as they bid to return to winning ways.

The BMW teams are set to unleash the all-new BMW M 1000 RR at the opening round and the new model has already been competitive in testing.

Buildbase Suzuki have former Moto3 World champion Danny Kent alongside Gino Rea and the pair have shown promising pace pre-season, whilst Ryan Vickers returns with RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki and Storm Stacey is back for a second season with Team LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki.

The on track action gets underway on Friday with the opening two BSB SUPERPICKS 12 Free Practice sessions. These sessions now take on an added importance to the weekend, as the top 12 riders on combined times will automatically secure their place in Saturday’s BSB SUPERPICKS Qualifying 2 session.

The remaining 16 riders will take part in the BSB SUPERPICKS Qualifying 1 session, with the fastest six progressing into Q2, making 18 riders in the final battle for the race one pole position.

The opening race of the weekend kicks off on Saturday afternoon with the BikeSocial race, ahead of the two feature races on Sunday.

The event will be limited to just 4,000 spectators per day due to the current government guidelines, as crowds return to witness the live racing spectacle of Bennetts BSB for the first time since October 2019.

Fans at home can follow all of the action live on Eurosport 2 from 13:00 – 18:00 on both Saturday and Sunday.

For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Josh Brookes – VisionTrack Ducati 
Defending champion

“I’m interested on getting started this year on a track that we’ve previously had good results. We’ve got a history of doing well at Oulton Park with the Ducati so to open the season up there will be good – I’m interested to see how we’ll go this time round.

“I don’t really feel like I’m a target so much [as champion], but maybe that is for other people perhaps. Winning the championship last year doesn’t define me, so for example it won’t change how I analyse myself or prepare.

“Every year takes the same amount of work, desire, perseverance and sacrifice to get there, and so I don’t really change my perspective on how I will start the season.

“I think everybody is going to be looking at improving themselves and looking at who the challengers are going to be, so to get the season started at a circuit where we’ve had good results is just a positive for me. I am ready to get the season started.”

MotoGP: Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix Of The Americas Rescheduled

Circuit of The Americas. Photo courtesy Circuit of The Americas.
Circuit of The Americas. Photo courtesy Circuit of The Americas.

New Americas GP date confirmed as the 2021 Japanese GP is cancelled and Thai GP delayed one week

Wednesday, 23 June 2021

The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports can now announce a new date for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The event was previously postponed and will now take place from the 1st to the 3rd of October 2021.

The OR Grand Prix of Thailand will therefore take place a week later than previously scheduled, from the 15th to the 17th of October.

The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports must also confirm the cancellation of the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and resulting travel complications and logistical restrictions mean that it has not been possible to confirm the event at this time, meaning that it will therefore not feature on the 2021 calendar. The FIM MotoGP™ Championship looks forward to returning to race in front of the Japanese fans at their home Grand Prix in 2022.

MotoGP: Gerloff Filling In For Morbidelli At Assen

Garrett Gerloff. Photo courtesy of GRT Yamaha.
Garrett Gerloff. Photo courtesy of GRT Yamaha.

Gerloff joins PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team in Assen

Garrett Gerloff to make PYSRT debut as stand-in for Franco Morbidelli

PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team will welcome American Garrett Gerloff to the squad for this weekend’s DutchGP in Assen as a stand-in for the injured Franco Morbidelli.

Franco sustained an injury to his left knee yesterday and is currently undergoing medical assessment and treatment. 25 year-old Gerloff is currently a GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team rider. This will be Gerloff’s first time in Assen but he has previously ridden the Yamaha YZR-M1 when he substituted for Valentino Rossi at the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team in the European GP practice sessions at Valencia last year.

 

Razlan Razali, Team Principal, PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team

Everyone has had to move very quickly after the news late yesterday that Franco would not be able to race this weekend and we give our thanks to Yamaha for facilitating this. We’re very excited to welcome Garrett to the team this weekend and realise that it’s a tough task to come in at late notice but we are confident that he will be able to do a good job. We wish Franco all the best for his recovery and hope to welcome him back to the track after the summer break.

Garrett Gerloff, PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team

I’m excited for the opportunity ahead, I’m not someone who runs away from a challenge, so I’m ready to get to the track. It’ll be a new circuit for me, I like trying new tracks, it looks fun, fast and flowing, and really suits my riding style. I’m looking forward to jumping on the Yamaha M1 again and twisting the throttle. We’ll see how things go, but I feel good and would like to thank Yamaha and the team for considering me. It won’t be easy, but I’m going to give it my best shot!

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:

Gerloff to Replace Injured Morbidelli at PETRONAS Yamaha SRT at Dutch TT

GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team’s Garrett Gerloff will make his MotoGP race debut this weekend at TT Circuit Assen, riding for PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team at the Dutch TT in place of the injured Franco Morbidelli.

With Morbidelli sustaining a knee injury during training on Tuesday, Gerloff was called up to race at the Dutch round, as the American gets another chance to ride the Yamaha YZR-M1, having previously substituted for Valentino Rossi at the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team in the European GP practice sessions at Valencia last year.

The Texan has impressed throughout his FIM Superbike World Championship career so far and currently lies sixth in the riders’ standings, while he’s been a consistent front-runner throughout the opening three rounds.

Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK’s Toprak Razgatlıoğlu was also in the running to replace Morbidelli at Assen but turned down the opportunity in favour of remaining focused on his main aim in 2021, challenging for the FIM Superbike World Championship crown. The Turkish rider currently lies second in the championship standings and just 20 points off the top spot going into the next round at Donington Park round on 2-4 July.

After winning two MotoAmerica Supersport championship titles in 2016 and 2017, Gerloff further confirmed his potential with a third-place finish in the 2019 MotoAmerica Superbike championship. That saw the 25-year-old called up to the GRT Yamaha squad in WorldSBK, where he became a rookie sensation, scoring podiums at Barcelona and Estoril.

He impressed in his MotoGP practice sessions at Valencia, while also earning another year in WorldSBK, this time riding the latest spec Yamaha R1 bike. Gerloff has already added another podium to his tally and continues to show race winning potential in 2021.

Garrett Gerloff

PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team

“I’m excited for the opportunity ahead, I’m not someone who runs away from a challenge, so I’m ready to get to the track. It’ll be a new circuit for me, I like trying new tracks, it looks fun, fast and flowing, and really suits my riding style. I’m looking forward to jumping on the Yamaha M1 again and twisting the throttle. We’ll see how things go, but I feel good and would like to thank Yamaha and the team for considering me. It won’t be easy, but I’m going to give it my best shot!”

R.I.P. WMRRA Racer Sam Crawford

WMRRA racer Sam Crawford (870), R.I.P. Photo courtesy WMRRA.
WMRRA racer Sam Crawford (870), R.I.P. Photo courtesy WMRRA.

It is with heavy hearts that we can now make this official announcement regarding Round 3, this previous weekend.

In morning practice on 6/20/21, during the WMRRA Round 3 event at The Ridge Motorsports Park, rider #870 Sam Crawford was involved in a single bike incident in Turn 10, which ultimately claimed his life.

The practice session was immediately halted by race control and corner-worker staff, and priority medical response was deployed without delay. Sam was unconscious and unresponsive when first responders arrived on scene.

Trained race-day staff, with on-site medical teams performed CPR and worked to stabilize Sam prior to his transport to Mason General, where he was to meet an air-transport to Seattle. Sadly, during the transit to Mason General, Sam’s pulse was lost, and the medical teams could not revive him.

Sam was well known within the WMRRA paddock for many years as his brother’s (Rich Kim) personal cheerleader, a volunteer, and really just an all-around nice guy. Sam participated in the WMRRA NRS in 2020, and successfully completed all his novice graduation requirements, receiving the Race-Director’s final sign-off signature, Saturday night.

Sam was one of those ‘cool’ guys with a good poker face, but he could not hide his smile when he achieved his goal of becoming an ‘Expert’ rider. When Sam mounted his machine Sunday morning, he did it with pride of making his goal, and even prodding Rich to come race again so they could go out together.

As a final act of self-giving, Sam was also an organ donor and parts of him will live on, saving the lives of deserving folks who are in need. Rich asks that we celebrate Sam’s life, and that if anyone needs help coping with this loss to reach out if they need help.

We are all better people for having known Sam, and we will do our best to honor his contributions to our community and family.

We do understand that speculation and inaccuracies are bound to arise in the absence of absolute facts. If you have questions, please direct them to the E-board, and we will provide direct answers. Please respect Sam’s memory, and his family by not engaging in gross speculation, or other rumors that may be discussed.

For information on becoming an organ donor, please visit this link. https://www.organdonor.gov/

Ride easy Sam. We will miss you.

MotoGP: Morbidelli Injured, Will Miss Dutch GP

Franco Morbidelli. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Franco Morbidelli. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Franco Morbidelli to miss DutchGP

Knee injury sustained in training puts Franco out of action for ninth round of season

PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team can confirm that Franco Morbidelli will miss this weekend’s DutchGP due to an injury to his left knee sustained in training today.

The injury is sufficient to mean Franco will miss this weekend’s event and he is undergoing medical assessment to determine the best course of action for recovery.

PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team wishes Franky a speedy recovery.

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