Chase Black ready for sophomore MotoAmerica Junior Cup season… he joins Pure Attitude Racing in 2022
Pure Attitude Racing is delighted to announce that in addition to competing in both the MotoAmerica Supersport and Twins Cup championships in 2022, they will field Chase Black in the Junior Cup category.
No stranger to Junior Cup, where they finished on the podium in 2019, the team are excited to return to the class and to welcome Chase into their family. Chase will embark on his Pure Attitude Racing Academy journey for the upcoming season early in the new year.
Black, who has progressed through the MotoAmerica ranks in recent years, firstly in the Mini Cup by Motul, finished a credible fifteenth overall in last year’s Junior Cup series achieving a season’s best of eighth during the season finale at Barber Motorsports Park. His target for 2022 is to run consistently in the top five.
In addition to competing on track with Pure Attitude Racing, Black will also benefit from a range of off-track initiatives all designed and aimed to create the total all round racer.
Chase Black: “Signing to ride with Pure Attitude Racing is like a dream come true. I honestly believe that together we can be consistently in the top five and even fight for the top three and I cannot wait to get started. I have seen great things from the team already and I know that they will get me to where I want to be. With a year under my belt, I now know the tracks so I am not riding blind anymore and I will have team mates that will help me which is great. The team believe in me, and I will really try to make it onto the podium to repay the faith that Pure Attitude Racing have shown in me.”
Dean Standish – Team Owner: “By signing Chase for our Junior Cup program, Pure Attitude Racing is one step closer to achieving our long-term goals. Our aim is to nurture young riders from the very beginning of their careers both on and off track, and hopefully take them all the way to the top. We spoke to Chase several times during the 2021 season, and we know that he comes from a good family, who see the value in what we are doing within Pure Attitude Racing. He is a great kid with a bright future, and we are really looking forward to working with him and seeing him improve on his performances to date.”
Further rider and partner announcements for 2022 will be made in due course.
Ducati MotoE bike takes to the track for the first time on the Misano circuit
The Ducati MotoE bike took to the track for the first time at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, right where the agreement with Dorna Sports was announced in October. In fact, starting from the 2023 season, the Borgo Panigale motorcycle manufacturer will be the sole supplier of motorcycles for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup, the electric class of the MotoGP™ World Championship.
Test rider Michele Pirro at speed on Ducati’s prototype electric racebike at Misano. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The electric motorcycle prototype, code-named “V21L”, is the result of the joint work of the Ducati Corse team and the Ducati R&D engineers, led by Roberto Canè, Ducati eMobility Director, and was taken out on track by Michele Pirro, professional rider and Ducati test rider since 2013, who evaluated the technical characteristics and potential of Ducati’s first electric motorcycle.
Test rider Michele Pirro at speed on Ducati’s prototype electric racebike at Misano. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Roberto Canè, Ducati eMobility Director: “We are experiencing a truly extraordinary moment. I find it hard to believe it is reality and still not a dream! The first electric Ducati on the track is exceptional not only for its uniqueness but also for the type of undertaking: challenging both for its performance objectives and for its extremely short timescales. Precisely for this reason, the work of the whole team dedicated to the project has been incredible and today’s result repays us for the efforts made in recent months. We are certainly not finished yet; indeed, we know that the road ahead is still very long, but in the meantime, we have laid a first important ‘brick’.”
The Ducati prototype MotoE racebike. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Michele Pirro, Ducati test rider: “Testing the MotoE prototype on the circuit was a great thrill, because it marks the beginning of an important chapter in Ducati history. The bike is light and already has a good balance. Furthermore, the throttle connection in the first opening phase and the ergonomics are very similar to those of a MotoGP bike. If it weren’t for the silence and for the fact that in this test, we decided to limit the power output to just 70% of performance, I could easily have imagined that I was riding my bike.”
The most important challenges in the development of an electric racing motorcycle remain related to the size, weight and range of the batteries. Ducati’s goal is to make electric motorcycles that are high-performance and characterized by their lightness available to all FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup participants. The focus of the project are, in addition to better performance, the containment of weight and the consistency of power delivery during the race, obtained thanks to the attention in the development of a cooling system suitable for the objective.
Ducati’s experience in the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup will be a fundamental support for product R&D. The goal is to create, as soon as the technology allows it, a Ducati electric vehicle for road use that is sporty, light, exciting and able to satisfy all enthusiasts.
Filmmaker Peter Starr interviews 1993 Superbike World Champion and five-time Daytona 200 winner Scott Russell for the MotoStarr American Racing Legends podcast/video.
RED BULL KTM WELCOMES KODY KOPP TO 2022 FLAT TRACK LINEUP
December 20, 2021
MURRIETA, Calif. – The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team is pleased to announce the addition of 17-year-old up-and-comer Kody Kopp to its rider lineup for the 2022 American Flat Track Championship. Racing alongside teammate and championship contender, Max Whale, Kopp will pilot the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in the AFT Singles class this season, which begins on March 10 and 11 with the Volusia Half-Mile in Barberville, Florida.
Kopp, a Washington native, earned Rookie of the Year in his 2021 AFT Singles debut season, finishing an impressive seventh overall in the championship. Claiming three podium finishes and six top-10s, the young rider laid a solid foundation in his first season and he looks to build upon that experience in 2022. Spending a lot of time training and riding with his teammate during the off-season, Kopp continues to learn and grow with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing program.
Kody Kopp: “I’m very thankful for this amazing opportunity to join Red Bull KTM Factory Racing! I raced KTMs a lot as an amateur, so I am super excited to be returning back to my roots. I’m also stoked to have Max as my teammate. We’ve had some decent battles in the past and he is going to be a great mentor to learn from. I’ve looked up to the entire KTM organization for a long time, so I couldn’t be more ecstatic to get this 2022 season started!”
Chris Fillmore – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Flat Track Team Manager: “With one year of racing at the top level under his belt, the timing felt right to bring Kody on-board with Red Bull KTM. At 17, you are quite young and have some experience still to gain, but Kody’s level of talent and natural ability were very evident after watching him race last season. Kody has had great mentorship from his father Joe, who is a legend in the sport of flat track himself, and I look forward to continuing to help him grow. From the first week of riding, I feel the chemistry between the two riders is really good and they will continue to push each other on and off the track to deliver on KTM’s Ready to Race brand promise.”
RICKY CARMICHAEL, The G.O.A.T. TO KEYNOTE AIMExpo 2022
IRVINE, CALIF. — Motocross legend Ricky Carmichael, known as the Greatest of All Time, heads to AIMExpo as a keynote speaker. Carmichael will take the stage on Thursday, January 20 at 5pm followed by a meet-and-greet on the show floor.
Five-time AMA Supercross champion, ten-time AMA Motocross Champion, and countless records and achievements that will likely never be seen again, Ricky Carmichael shares what it takes to be champion.
“Through the years, one thing has separated successful people from the rest of the pack – mindset,” Carmichael said. “A champion mindset is what drives individuals and teams to reach new heights and do what has never been done before. To push past what was previously seen as a success and achieve a new level of greatness. I can’t wait to headline AIMExpo’s DISRUPTIVE THINKING educational lineup and help everyone embrace their champion mindset.”
You make the most with the tools you are given and you go to work every day. Carmichael’s story, from his blue-collar family roots with zero experience in motorcycle racing to becoming the Greatest of all Time, is proof that if you apply his winning principles, checkered flags are in your future, no matter your job description.
What it took to make Ricky a champion both on and off the track was applied equally and continues to drive him to this day.
“Ricky Carmichael embodied success to become the winningest professional motocross rider; some of his records may never be broken,” said Andre Albert, director of marketing and events for the Motorcycle Industry Council. “As our industry leans into expanding, Ricky’s champion mindset will be instructive and inspirational, enabling all participants to walk away with strategies to help them discover their inner champion.”
Determination, drive, accountability, mental toughness, being honest with yourself, and always doing your best, even if it means finishing second or third some days: being a champion isn’t something you turn on and off. Becoming a champion starts with total commitment and continues with a relentless passion for winning and doing everything in your power to succeed, regardless of the competition.
“I will work harder than ever to show the potential I know I have”
After making his Moto2 World Championship debut in 2021, Tony Arbolino has placed his trust and confidence in the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team to help make him a consistent frontrunner in the future. He analyses his first season in Moto2, explains why he signed for the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team and shares his hopes for a successful future in this exclusive first interview since joining the Belgian squad.
What convinced you to join the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team?
“I decided to come to the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team because it is one of the best in the history of the Moto2 class. It’s a great emotion for me to be here and I’m looking forward to this new adventure. My first season in Moto2 was difficult at times but I learned so much and when I was given the opportunity to join this Team I didn’t even hesitate for one second. I’m so proud to be part of this project and so motivated to make it a success.”
How do you think Elf Marc VDS Racing can help make you stronger and more competitive?
“A rider always wants to improve and be better and I think the environment provided by the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team is the perfect place for me to do it. This is a Team who can help me win and I’m convinced with them I can achieve better results and I can be a better rider.”
What are your impressions of the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team?
“This Team is incredible. Already I have found a very good feeling with my new crew but everybody in this Team is very professional and motivated to give their best at all times. I love the mentality of all the people involved. I’ve never felt such a powerful feeling in another project before and this always gives me a lot of motivation because I can see from everybody a big desire to succeed.”
How do you evaluate your first season in Moto2?
“I feel it was a great first season in Moto2 for me because I was able to learn so many things. There were ups and downs but I understood so many things about this category that will make me stronger in the future. I can’t deny I expected more from my first season and thought I would be fighting for the podium in some races but it was not possible. Now is the time to make the step and with the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team I’m sure I can achieve my goals.”
What were the big things you learned in 2021?
“Moto2 is completely different to what I was used to in Moto3. The bike is very different and not easy to understand the limit and it takes time to adjust to the weight, the power and the tyres. And the level of the other riders is super high. It is a very competitive class and it is down to the rider to make that final very important step.”
How would you describe yourself as a rider?
“Well, first and foremost I think I’m a good rider. I like to think that when I need to be I am an aggressive rider and also a consistent rider. I think I’m a talented rider but now I need to show that I am and what I am capable of doing.”
And how would you describe Tony Arbolino the person?
“As a person I think I’m very easy going. Away from the track I’m very much a family person and I love spending time with all the people who are closest to me. I love sport and I love competition and I love pushing myself to be the best and trying to win.”
What are your strong points as a rider and where do you need to improve?
“I think my strong point is that when I feel confident and comfortable with the bike I can make the difference. A rider is always looking to improve in every area and it is the same for me. I’d like to be stronger in all conditions and I think this Team can help improve me as a rider. They have so much experience and I think that will be crucial to help my development.”
What are your thoughts on your new teammate Sam Lowes?
“Even when I was in Moto3 I have always tried to watch him closely because his results mean he is a reference rider in this class. It is unbelievable to be in the same garage as him and I want to use his experience to help me progress. I know he can help me a lot and hopefully I can also help him but being with him gives me a lot of confidence and motivation. He’s a very good guy as well and I’m really looking forward to having a lot of fun with him inside and out of the track.”
What are your goals for the 2022 season?
“My main focus is to make another step as a rider and work on improving in the areas I need to. The reason I signed for this Team though is because I want to show everybody what I am capable of in Moto2 and I’ve no doubt I will do that. I’m convinced that with the help from this Team that I will be at the top soon and already I can’t wait to start the season.”
What will do to make sure you achieve your goals?
“I will work harder than ever before during each day to show the potential I know I have. I will work hard with every single person in this project to give them the results they deserve. I’m fully committed to making this relationship a success and to be ready to fight from the first race in Qatar.”
Filmmaker Peter Starr interviews three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion and MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey for the MotoStarr American Racing Legends podcast/video.
The British rider has joined the factory Honda team for the 2022 FIM EWC season. Gino Rea will share the saddle of F.C.C. TSR Honda France’s CBR1000RR-R with Australian rider Josh Hook and Frenchman Mike di Meglio.
Having participated in the Suzuka 8 Hours while competing in the Supersport World Championship, Gino Rea made his debut in the FIM Endurance World Championship with Wójcik Racing Team. After a noteworthy 2nd-place finish at an epic Bol d’Or in 2019, Gino Rea has become an experienced endurance rider, and contributed to winning the young Polish team 4th place overall.
The talent and performances of the British rider have now been recognized by one of the most prominent factory teams.
The FIM EWC champions in 2017-2018, F.C.C. TSR Honda France are re-entering the race for the title in 2022 with a new three-rider line-up. Gino Rea will ride alongside the two mainstays of the Japanese team, Josh Hook and Mike di Meglio.
Australian rider Josh Hook won the world title with F.C.C. TSR Honda France during the 2017-2018 season.
Frenchman Mike di Meglio, the GP 125 world champion in 2008, got his first taste of endurance racing with GMT94 before joining the factory Honda team and winning, among other races, the 2018 Bol d’Or and the 2020 24 Heures Motos.
The new F.C.C. TSR Honda France rider line-up will be heading to Japan and then to Spain for winter testing to prepare for the opening round of the 2022 FIM EWC season in April at Le Mans.
Pure Attitude Racing head into 2022 with Yamaha support in MotoAmerica Twins Cup
Pure Attitude Racing are proud to announce that they will be a Yamaha supported team in the 2022 MotoAmerica Twins Cup championship
The deal, which was finalised in the last week, will see riders Liam MacDonald and Trevor Standish campaign the Yamaha YZF-R7 machine.
The team is excited to represent bLU cRU, Yamaha Financial Services and the Yamaha brand and look forward to round one at Daytona in March.
Dean Standish – Team Owner: “I am truly humbled to have Yamaha believe in our program and what we are trying to do within the sport. The timing is right with the direction that the Twins Cup is going and to see how Yamaha are investing is exciting for us and for MotoAmerica. Seeing how strong the Yamaha YZF-R7 was in 2021 gives me great confidence in what we can achieve with Trevor and Liam in 2022.
Trevor Standish: “I am super excited that Pure Attitude Racing will be joining forces with Yamaha USA for the 2022 season. I can’t wait to swing a leg over the Yamaha YZF-R7. I think we will have a great package and will be a force to be reckoned with. It’s a dream come true to be a manufacturer supported racer and I am excited to see what we can do.”
Liam MacDonald: “I’m absolutely stoked to be working with Yamaha in 2022. I’ve raced on Yamaha machinery in the past but never to the level that Pure Attitude Racing will benefit from. I can’t wait to see what we can do and how we can build this new relationship. It’s also incredibly exciting to be able to say you’re working directly with a manufacturer, not a lot of people can say that!”
To find out more about Pure Attitude Racing, the Pure Attitude Racing Academy and to subscribe to their race reports please visit their website.
BMW Motorrad Motorsport attends first winter test in southern Spain in preparation for the 2022 WorldSBK season.
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and Bonovo action BMW Racing Team test in Jerez de la Frontera.
Michael van der Mark, Scott Redding, Eugene Laverty and Loris Baz in action.
Marc Bongers: “We take a lot of positives back home”.
Jerez de la Frontera. In preparation for the 2022 season of the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), BMW Motorrad Motorsport carried out its first winter test. The two BMW teams – BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and Bonovo action BMW Racing Team – took to the track in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, this week.
In the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, Michael van der Mark (NED) continued his work on the BMW M 1000 RR as he looks to take another step forward next season after one win and a further two podiums in 2021. Scott Redding (GBR) used the test days to familiarise himself with his future bike and team. The Brit had gained his first experience on his new bike during a private test in Estoril (POR) last week. The focus there was on getting to know the bike and recording the ergometry. The findings from the test were implemented quickly and the modified parts and new components were already available by the time he arrived at the Jerez de la Frontera test.
With the two riders, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team tested engine specifications for 2022, as well as chassis modifications. The direct competitive comparison allows the team to determine the work direction in preparation for the next test in the new year.
The Bonovo action BMW Racing Team is also at Jerez de la Frontera with its two new riders. After Eugene Laverty (IRL) and Loris Baz (FRA) visited the team headquarters in Germany in November, they began the test work together at the racetrack. Laverty, who was heavily involved in the development of the BMW M 1000 RR, will be racing with the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team in his third season as a BMW works driver. Baz is already familiar with the BMW S 1000 RR, on which he rode in the WorldSBK in 2018, and uses the test to learn more about the M RR.
Quotes after the Jerez de la Frontera test.
Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “There have been a lot of new things at this test. In general, it has been important to test with all four riders, including the two new additions Baz and Redding, before Christmas. It was good to have all four riders on the same bike on the same race track. We brought a lot of new test items that we either confirmed or evaluated with all four of the in order to get the right direction. With two new riders you of course first to get used to the way they give their feedback and how to transfer their comments but we managed that very well. We then also compared this feedback with that given by van der Mark and Laverty who already knew the bike very well. We have ticked all boxes in our test programme but maybe might do some further laps tomorrow. We gathered a huge amount of information and this is now to be analysed. Overall, we found very good directions and in general, I am very satisfied. We take a lot of positives back home. Now we will have a well-deserved Christmas break but then we will continue to intensively prepare for the season. We are very optimistic looking forward.”
Shaun Muir, Team Principal BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It has been a successful test for both sides of the pit box. We have a new rider with Scott. He had a lot of things to work through but most importantly for him was to find that comfortable setting feeling with the bike. I am really pleased about his work ethic in the pit box. He has put a lot of laps in and he acclimatised very well. On Michael’s side, we worked on similar development parts to what Scott has and he has been working through that very well as well. Comparing both riders’ feedback it is very similar and I am very pleased about that. I think it is proving that the set-up direction we are going with the BMW M 1000 RR is aligned between both riders which is very important. Equally important is that we got new team-members within the group and I am really pleased to see how all these guys are working together. There has been a lot of overlapping, a lot of chassis changes, a lot of engine changes and everybody has been working as a group, so I applaud all the team and all the guys working very closely together. Overall I think we can leave the test here at Jerez with our heads held up high, we have done a good job and we can go into the Christmas break with a lot of confidence and get ready for our next test in the new year.”
Michael van der Mark. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
Michael van der Mark, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It was good to have a test even if it was so late in the year. We had a lot of new components and items to try on the bike. At this test we barely played around with the set-up of the bike, we mainly tried new parts to figure out what brings improvement and what does not. We need to get some ideas and start producing the new things. It has been a really good test and I am really happy with a lot of new things. It was great to gather good information and now I am looking forward to a short Christmas break.”
Michael Galinski, Team Manager Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “It has been the first test for the new season and the first time for us to be at the race track with the big team. I want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Jürgen Röder, who made it possible for us to now compete as a two-rider team. He will attend many races next year and we are looking forward to that. We have a lot of new people with us, also the riders are partly new for us. Of course we have known both for many years. Loris has already raced for our team and I have also known Eugene for quite some time. Both did a great job at the test. But not only that, it was also important for me to gel with the new members as a team and to get used to each other. That worked very well. With new people, for example from England and France, our team has become more international after being a more or less German squad in the past. Like at every other team, English is now our team language. The collaboration in the combination with SMR and Bonovo action also works very well. There are always a lot of things to try and when time allows we share this between us. The test has been very positive in all aspects, we are also happy with the lap times. But we still have some things to find and work to do.”
Eugene Laverty (50). Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
Eugene Laverty, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “I already met the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team in November when we went to Germany and spent a weekend together with the guys. They invited us all there and it was so nice to meet each other away from the track because sometimes you only meet the guys in a work environment. So to go there, have some beers and relax away from the track and made me feel at home straight away. The first test days with the team have been very positive. I felt comfortable on the bike immediately after the first couple of exits on day one. I feel good in braking which is an area I am always working on. I am happy with the progress we are making. There is still work to do to improve our turning in the long corners compared to the other BMW riders but I am happy that we are right there in the mix. There is a really good atmosphere in the box, I get on very well with Loris. He is a fast guy and that’s important, to have a fast team-mate to push you. We work together well and all the guys are experienced as well. It’s great crew and I think we have a good year ahead of us.”
Loris Baz (76). Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
Loris Baz, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “I am happy to be back with BMW and about the opportunity to be back in WorldSBK. I was really looking forward to that test to have a first impression. A December test is never the most crucial one of the season but it’s really important for getting to know the team, to meet the people and for the feeling you are going into the winter with. The test was a lot of work, we did a lot of laps. Also, I was back on the bike after nearly three months and it is never easy when you jump on a bike that is completely different. The test was about understanding how the bike works and also to try to give the best input based on the differences of all the bikes I know. I have riden a lot of bikes in WorldSBK so I was trying to adapt to the bike and at the same time give the right input on what we can improve on that bike. The M RR has a lot of strong points, we just need to put them together to get a bike that works well from a riding side. When you start working with a new bike, you have to switch from one riding style to another but we did a good job, completing over 150 laps. Yes, I am happy. We tried some new parts for next year and mainly a lot of things on the electronics, and with every run we went faster and I felt a bit more confident on the bike. I am satisfied with the job so far.”
More, from a press release issued by Team HRC:
A new season has begun for Team HRC in sunny Jerez de la Frontera
Xavi Vierge (97). Photo courtesy Team HRC.
A new WorldSBK season has begun for Team HRC in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, where the team’s new riders have completed an initial test (December 15-17) aboard the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE.
Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge benefitted from excellent weather conditions during this first outing with their new bike and team, an experience that proved positive. The pair were able to make the most of the track time available to them and, despite the sessions coming to a premature end for Iker after he suffered a fall with minor consequences, this doesn’t alter the fact that both he and his team-mate were able to complete some solid work with their new squad.
Team HRC will now take a short break over the holiday season before returning to the track in January with renewed energy and confidence.
Leon Camier
Team Manager, Team HRC
“We’ve essentially made a very good start and both Iker and Xavi have adapted very quickly to the bike and to the team – you could sense that they’re highly motivated. The lap times were good right away, but this was not our goal and so we were not pushing for those. It was all about trying to understand the bike, the tyres and the changes we made, which have most related to electronics at this initial stage. Their comments were in line with what we already knew about the bike, and that’s impressive at what is their first test. We used our current bike so that they could understand the base set-up and what we have now, and then they’ll be able to evaluate the updates we’ll introduce next year. Conditions have been very good throughout the whole test, so even though Iker missed the final day, he was able to take advantage of a lot of useful track time and has already completed a lot of work. Of course, we need more time on track with both riders, so that they gradually gain experience. It’s an all-round learning process, but so far everything has been going very well”.
Iker Lecuona (7). Photo courtesy Team HRC.
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Successful Jerez Test For KRT
Kawasaki Racing Team riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes completed a positive test at Jerez in Spain on Friday 17 December, marking KRT’s first major step into the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship season.
Both riders carried out evaluations of new components and settings on the official Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR to allow the KMC and KRT technical staff to work over the winter break on improving real race performance for the new season which starts in early April 2022.
Weather conditions were very kind at the popular 4.423km long Circuito de Jerez Angel Nieto, allowing a clear run through the test programme and a positive overall conclusion to what was finally a two-day test.
On-track action was only conducted by the KRT riders on the first and last available days, Wednesday 15 December and Friday 17, with a rider rest and technical evaluation day on Thursday.
The target of the test was to find overall improvements in the performance of the Ninja ZX-10RR on race tyres and despite focusing on this Rea was able to set impressive times on Friday after the team had made changes to the machine’s overall spec and set-up.
For Alex Lowes, still recovering from an injury-affected 2021 season, his lap times also proved strong even though this was not his main target at this test. Lowes was also pleasantly surprised by how well his body withstood the rigours of testing and he will now aim to be back at full fitness before the new season gets underway.
There will now be a short winter break from track action for the team, with the next scheduled test taking place at Jerez once more, in late January.
Jonathan Rea. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “It has been a really fun two days riding. We structured the test to ride on day one, then have a day off to let the mechanics work on the bike. We got going again on day three. We found out a lot of good information and I am really happy with the team, Showa and KMC for their continued hard work in bringing new parts to test. I had a lot of fun on the bike and we managed to get through everything we had on the list at this test. Now is the important time because we will act on our findings and try to improve and re-evaluate some items again in January. The weather was great at Jerez, quite consistent, and we got a lot of valuable track time in. To be honest, this test was quite challenging mentally because I did a lot of work and I had been off the bike for quite some time. I’m really looking forward to going home now and spending Christmas with my family and just having some downtime. I want to recharge now before I get stuck into my winter training again and look forward to the next test in January.”
Alex Lowes. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes, stated: “It was a positive test for me. Today, Friday, we had a great day and ticked off all the boxes on the list of our test items. Obviously, I am still not 100% fit in my physical condition, so I am quite surprised with the lap times we managed. Now I can enjoy Christmas. I have given the engineers a lot of feedback on some of the new parts so we can expect to make another good step when we ride the bike again in January. It was really nice for me to check the condition of my shoulder, which was positive, but there is still a long way to go. It was also really nice to see some improvements coming from the Kawasaki guys and all of the KRT team. A good test after a long season, and a difficult one for me, with some injuries and without the results we wanted. But I can go home now, reset over Christmas and the New Year period and I am looking forward to 2022. Personally, I want to say a massive thank you to all of the team. It has been a long season for everybody – from the hospitality guys, the truck drivers, mechanics, everybody. It has been really, really nice and it’s a pleasure to be part of the team – see you soon guys!”
Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “The test has been positive and for three days the weather has been good. We concentrated on the chassis side at first, comparing different items with a good result. Johnny gave us very good and accurate information and comments and this helps us a lot to develop things and understand our direction. On the first day we tried something from Showa, something new, and Johnny was also very happy with those items. On the second day we analysed everything and prepared for riding again on day three. We have ten test days during the whole year so we have to save some days for the future tests. On the final day we focused more on the engine side because KMC has been working hard to send us some new material for 2022. We focused with the engine and clutch and Johnny was very happy. The rhythm in terms of lap times was very strong, and we did not use a qualifying tyre. I am honestly very pleased and happy to finish this test in this direction because Johnny was ‘talking’ very deep with the bike and enjoying riding it, and this is very important.”
Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “We had a very nice test. We had a lot of updated material and we got to tick everything off the list. We tested every single new part during these last days and the weather was also very good. We felt we found improvements in every single area of the bike. The rider left with a very big smile on his face! Now we have all the information to start from a slightly different and higher specification when we test again in January. We will start to build again from that moment.”
Chase Black ready for sophomore MotoAmerica Junior Cup season… he joins Pure Attitude Racing in 2022
Pure Attitude Racing is delighted to announce that in addition to competing in both the MotoAmerica Supersport and Twins Cup championships in 2022, they will field Chase Black in the Junior Cup category.
No stranger to Junior Cup, where they finished on the podium in 2019, the team are excited to return to the class and to welcome Chase into their family. Chase will embark on his Pure Attitude Racing Academy journey for the upcoming season early in the new year.
Black, who has progressed through the MotoAmerica ranks in recent years, firstly in the Mini Cup by Motul, finished a credible fifteenth overall in last year’s Junior Cup series achieving a season’s best of eighth during the season finale at Barber Motorsports Park. His target for 2022 is to run consistently in the top five.
In addition to competing on track with Pure Attitude Racing, Black will also benefit from a range of off-track initiatives all designed and aimed to create the total all round racer.
Chase Black: “Signing to ride with Pure Attitude Racing is like a dream come true. I honestly believe that together we can be consistently in the top five and even fight for the top three and I cannot wait to get started. I have seen great things from the team already and I know that they will get me to where I want to be. With a year under my belt, I now know the tracks so I am not riding blind anymore and I will have team mates that will help me which is great. The team believe in me, and I will really try to make it onto the podium to repay the faith that Pure Attitude Racing have shown in me.”
Dean Standish – Team Owner: “By signing Chase for our Junior Cup program, Pure Attitude Racing is one step closer to achieving our long-term goals. Our aim is to nurture young riders from the very beginning of their careers both on and off track, and hopefully take them all the way to the top. We spoke to Chase several times during the 2021 season, and we know that he comes from a good family, who see the value in what we are doing within Pure Attitude Racing. He is a great kid with a bright future, and we are really looking forward to working with him and seeing him improve on his performances to date.”
Further rider and partner announcements for 2022 will be made in due course.
Test rider Michele Pirro at speed on Ducati's prototype electric racebike at Misano. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Ducati MotoE bike takes to the track for the first time on the Misano circuit
The Ducati MotoE bike took to the track for the first time at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, right where the agreement with Dorna Sports was announced in October. In fact, starting from the 2023 season, the Borgo Panigale motorcycle manufacturer will be the sole supplier of motorcycles for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup, the electric class of the MotoGP™ World Championship.
Test rider Michele Pirro at speed on Ducati’s prototype electric racebike at Misano. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The electric motorcycle prototype, code-named “V21L”, is the result of the joint work of the Ducati Corse team and the Ducati R&D engineers, led by Roberto Canè, Ducati eMobility Director, and was taken out on track by Michele Pirro, professional rider and Ducati test rider since 2013, who evaluated the technical characteristics and potential of Ducati’s first electric motorcycle.
Test rider Michele Pirro at speed on Ducati’s prototype electric racebike at Misano. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Roberto Canè, Ducati eMobility Director: “We are experiencing a truly extraordinary moment. I find it hard to believe it is reality and still not a dream! The first electric Ducati on the track is exceptional not only for its uniqueness but also for the type of undertaking: challenging both for its performance objectives and for its extremely short timescales. Precisely for this reason, the work of the whole team dedicated to the project has been incredible and today’s result repays us for the efforts made in recent months. We are certainly not finished yet; indeed, we know that the road ahead is still very long, but in the meantime, we have laid a first important ‘brick’.”
The Ducati prototype MotoE racebike. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Michele Pirro, Ducati test rider: “Testing the MotoE prototype on the circuit was a great thrill, because it marks the beginning of an important chapter in Ducati history. The bike is light and already has a good balance. Furthermore, the throttle connection in the first opening phase and the ergonomics are very similar to those of a MotoGP bike. If it weren’t for the silence and for the fact that in this test, we decided to limit the power output to just 70% of performance, I could easily have imagined that I was riding my bike.”
The most important challenges in the development of an electric racing motorcycle remain related to the size, weight and range of the batteries. Ducati’s goal is to make electric motorcycles that are high-performance and characterized by their lightness available to all FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup participants. The focus of the project are, in addition to better performance, the containment of weight and the consistency of power delivery during the race, obtained thanks to the attention in the development of a cooling system suitable for the objective.
Ducati’s experience in the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup will be a fundamental support for product R&D. The goal is to create, as soon as the technology allows it, a Ducati electric vehicle for road use that is sporty, light, exciting and able to satisfy all enthusiasts.
Scott Russell on a factory Harley-Davidson VR1000 Superbike at Daytona International Speedway. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Filmmaker Peter Starr interviews 1993 Superbike World Champion and five-time Daytona 200 winner Scott Russell for the MotoStarr American Racing Legends podcast/video.
Kody Kopp. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
RED BULL KTM WELCOMES KODY KOPP TO 2022 FLAT TRACK LINEUP
December 20, 2021
MURRIETA, Calif. – The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team is pleased to announce the addition of 17-year-old up-and-comer Kody Kopp to its rider lineup for the 2022 American Flat Track Championship. Racing alongside teammate and championship contender, Max Whale, Kopp will pilot the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in the AFT Singles class this season, which begins on March 10 and 11 with the Volusia Half-Mile in Barberville, Florida.
Kopp, a Washington native, earned Rookie of the Year in his 2021 AFT Singles debut season, finishing an impressive seventh overall in the championship. Claiming three podium finishes and six top-10s, the young rider laid a solid foundation in his first season and he looks to build upon that experience in 2022. Spending a lot of time training and riding with his teammate during the off-season, Kopp continues to learn and grow with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing program.
Kody Kopp: “I’m very thankful for this amazing opportunity to join Red Bull KTM Factory Racing! I raced KTMs a lot as an amateur, so I am super excited to be returning back to my roots. I’m also stoked to have Max as my teammate. We’ve had some decent battles in the past and he is going to be a great mentor to learn from. I’ve looked up to the entire KTM organization for a long time, so I couldn’t be more ecstatic to get this 2022 season started!”
Chris Fillmore – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Flat Track Team Manager: “With one year of racing at the top level under his belt, the timing felt right to bring Kody on-board with Red Bull KTM. At 17, you are quite young and have some experience still to gain, but Kody’s level of talent and natural ability were very evident after watching him race last season. Kody has had great mentorship from his father Joe, who is a legend in the sport of flat track himself, and I look forward to continuing to help him grow. From the first week of riding, I feel the chemistry between the two riders is really good and they will continue to push each other on and off the track to deliver on KTM’s Ready to Race brand promise.”
Ricky Carmichael (4), as seen during the 2006 Daytona Supercross. Photo courtesy of Daytona International Speedway.
RICKY CARMICHAEL, The G.O.A.T. TO KEYNOTE AIMExpo 2022
IRVINE, CALIF. — Motocross legend Ricky Carmichael, known as the Greatest of All Time, heads to AIMExpo as a keynote speaker. Carmichael will take the stage on Thursday, January 20 at 5pm followed by a meet-and-greet on the show floor.
Five-time AMA Supercross champion, ten-time AMA Motocross Champion, and countless records and achievements that will likely never be seen again, Ricky Carmichael shares what it takes to be champion.
“Through the years, one thing has separated successful people from the rest of the pack – mindset,” Carmichael said. “A champion mindset is what drives individuals and teams to reach new heights and do what has never been done before. To push past what was previously seen as a success and achieve a new level of greatness. I can’t wait to headline AIMExpo’s DISRUPTIVE THINKING educational lineup and help everyone embrace their champion mindset.”
You make the most with the tools you are given and you go to work every day. Carmichael’s story, from his blue-collar family roots with zero experience in motorcycle racing to becoming the Greatest of all Time, is proof that if you apply his winning principles, checkered flags are in your future, no matter your job description.
What it took to make Ricky a champion both on and off the track was applied equally and continues to drive him to this day.
“Ricky Carmichael embodied success to become the winningest professional motocross rider; some of his records may never be broken,” said Andre Albert, director of marketing and events for the Motorcycle Industry Council. “As our industry leans into expanding, Ricky’s champion mindset will be instructive and inspirational, enabling all participants to walk away with strategies to help them discover their inner champion.”
Determination, drive, accountability, mental toughness, being honest with yourself, and always doing your best, even if it means finishing second or third some days: being a champion isn’t something you turn on and off. Becoming a champion starts with total commitment and continues with a relentless passion for winning and doing everything in your power to succeed, regardless of the competition.
Tony Arbolino (14) testing at Jerez. Photo courtesy Marc VDS Racing Team.
“I will work harder than ever to show the potential I know I have”
After making his Moto2 World Championship debut in 2021, Tony Arbolino has placed his trust and confidence in the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team to help make him a consistent frontrunner in the future. He analyses his first season in Moto2, explains why he signed for the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team and shares his hopes for a successful future in this exclusive first interview since joining the Belgian squad.
What convinced you to join the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team?
“I decided to come to the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team because it is one of the best in the history of the Moto2 class. It’s a great emotion for me to be here and I’m looking forward to this new adventure. My first season in Moto2 was difficult at times but I learned so much and when I was given the opportunity to join this Team I didn’t even hesitate for one second. I’m so proud to be part of this project and so motivated to make it a success.”
How do you think Elf Marc VDS Racing can help make you stronger and more competitive?
“A rider always wants to improve and be better and I think the environment provided by the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team is the perfect place for me to do it. This is a Team who can help me win and I’m convinced with them I can achieve better results and I can be a better rider.”
What are your impressions of the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team?
“This Team is incredible. Already I have found a very good feeling with my new crew but everybody in this Team is very professional and motivated to give their best at all times. I love the mentality of all the people involved. I’ve never felt such a powerful feeling in another project before and this always gives me a lot of motivation because I can see from everybody a big desire to succeed.”
How do you evaluate your first season in Moto2?
“I feel it was a great first season in Moto2 for me because I was able to learn so many things. There were ups and downs but I understood so many things about this category that will make me stronger in the future. I can’t deny I expected more from my first season and thought I would be fighting for the podium in some races but it was not possible. Now is the time to make the step and with the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team I’m sure I can achieve my goals.”
What were the big things you learned in 2021?
“Moto2 is completely different to what I was used to in Moto3. The bike is very different and not easy to understand the limit and it takes time to adjust to the weight, the power and the tyres. And the level of the other riders is super high. It is a very competitive class and it is down to the rider to make that final very important step.”
How would you describe yourself as a rider?
“Well, first and foremost I think I’m a good rider. I like to think that when I need to be I am an aggressive rider and also a consistent rider. I think I’m a talented rider but now I need to show that I am and what I am capable of doing.”
And how would you describe Tony Arbolino the person?
“As a person I think I’m very easy going. Away from the track I’m very much a family person and I love spending time with all the people who are closest to me. I love sport and I love competition and I love pushing myself to be the best and trying to win.”
What are your strong points as a rider and where do you need to improve?
“I think my strong point is that when I feel confident and comfortable with the bike I can make the difference. A rider is always looking to improve in every area and it is the same for me. I’d like to be stronger in all conditions and I think this Team can help improve me as a rider. They have so much experience and I think that will be crucial to help my development.”
What are your thoughts on your new teammate Sam Lowes?
“Even when I was in Moto3 I have always tried to watch him closely because his results mean he is a reference rider in this class. It is unbelievable to be in the same garage as him and I want to use his experience to help me progress. I know he can help me a lot and hopefully I can also help him but being with him gives me a lot of confidence and motivation. He’s a very good guy as well and I’m really looking forward to having a lot of fun with him inside and out of the track.”
What are your goals for the 2022 season?
“My main focus is to make another step as a rider and work on improving in the areas I need to. The reason I signed for this Team though is because I want to show everybody what I am capable of in Moto2 and I’ve no doubt I will do that. I’m convinced that with the help from this Team that I will be at the top soon and already I can’t wait to start the season.”
What will do to make sure you achieve your goals?
“I will work harder than ever before during each day to show the potential I know I have. I will work hard with every single person in this project to give them the results they deserve. I’m fully committed to making this relationship a success and to be ready to fight from the first race in Qatar.”
Wayne Rainey (17) at speed on a Team Roberts Yamaha in 1988. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Filmmaker Peter Starr interviews three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion and MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey for the MotoStarr American Racing Legends podcast/video.
Gino Rea on the British Superbike podium at Donington Park. Photo courtesy Team Suzuki Press Office.
GINO REA JOINS F.C.C. TSR HONDA FRANCE
The British rider has joined the factory Honda team for the 2022 FIM EWC season. Gino Rea will share the saddle of F.C.C. TSR Honda France’s CBR1000RR-R with Australian rider Josh Hook and Frenchman Mike di Meglio.
Having participated in the Suzuka 8 Hours while competing in the Supersport World Championship, Gino Rea made his debut in the FIM Endurance World Championship with Wójcik Racing Team. After a noteworthy 2nd-place finish at an epic Bol d’Or in 2019, Gino Rea has become an experienced endurance rider, and contributed to winning the young Polish team 4th place overall.
The talent and performances of the British rider have now been recognized by one of the most prominent factory teams.
The FIM EWC champions in 2017-2018, F.C.C. TSR Honda France are re-entering the race for the title in 2022 with a new three-rider line-up. Gino Rea will ride alongside the two mainstays of the Japanese team, Josh Hook and Mike di Meglio.
Australian rider Josh Hook won the world title with F.C.C. TSR Honda France during the 2017-2018 season.
Frenchman Mike di Meglio, the GP 125 world champion in 2008, got his first taste of endurance racing with GMT94 before joining the factory Honda team and winning, among other races, the 2018 Bol d’Or and the 2020 24 Heures Motos.
The new F.C.C. TSR Honda France rider line-up will be heading to Japan and then to Spain for winter testing to prepare for the opening round of the 2022 FIM EWC season in April at Le Mans.
A 2022-model Yamaha YZF-R7. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Pure Attitude Racing head into 2022 with Yamaha support in MotoAmerica Twins Cup
Pure Attitude Racing are proud to announce that they will be a Yamaha supported team in the 2022 MotoAmerica Twins Cup championship
The deal, which was finalised in the last week, will see riders Liam MacDonald and Trevor Standish campaign the Yamaha YZF-R7 machine.
The team is excited to represent bLU cRU, Yamaha Financial Services and the Yamaha brand and look forward to round one at Daytona in March.
Dean Standish – Team Owner: “I am truly humbled to have Yamaha believe in our program and what we are trying to do within the sport. The timing is right with the direction that the Twins Cup is going and to see how Yamaha are investing is exciting for us and for MotoAmerica. Seeing how strong the Yamaha YZF-R7 was in 2021 gives me great confidence in what we can achieve with Trevor and Liam in 2022.
Trevor Standish: “I am super excited that Pure Attitude Racing will be joining forces with Yamaha USA for the 2022 season. I can’t wait to swing a leg over the Yamaha YZF-R7. I think we will have a great package and will be a force to be reckoned with. It’s a dream come true to be a manufacturer supported racer and I am excited to see what we can do.”
Liam MacDonald: “I’m absolutely stoked to be working with Yamaha in 2022. I’ve raced on Yamaha machinery in the past but never to the level that Pure Attitude Racing will benefit from. I can’t wait to see what we can do and how we can build this new relationship. It’s also incredibly exciting to be able to say you’re working directly with a manufacturer, not a lot of people can say that!”
To find out more about Pure Attitude Racing, the Pure Attitude Racing Academy and to subscribe to their race reports please visit their website.
Scott Redding (45). Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
BMW Motorrad Motorsport attends first winter test in southern Spain in preparation for the 2022 WorldSBK season.
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and Bonovo action BMW Racing Team test in Jerez de la Frontera.
Michael van der Mark, Scott Redding, Eugene Laverty and Loris Baz in action.
Marc Bongers: “We take a lot of positives back home”.
Jerez de la Frontera. In preparation for the 2022 season of the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), BMW Motorrad Motorsport carried out its first winter test. The two BMW teams – BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and Bonovo action BMW Racing Team – took to the track in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, this week.
In the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, Michael van der Mark (NED) continued his work on the BMW M 1000 RR as he looks to take another step forward next season after one win and a further two podiums in 2021. Scott Redding (GBR) used the test days to familiarise himself with his future bike and team. The Brit had gained his first experience on his new bike during a private test in Estoril (POR) last week. The focus there was on getting to know the bike and recording the ergometry. The findings from the test were implemented quickly and the modified parts and new components were already available by the time he arrived at the Jerez de la Frontera test.
With the two riders, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team tested engine specifications for 2022, as well as chassis modifications. The direct competitive comparison allows the team to determine the work direction in preparation for the next test in the new year.
The Bonovo action BMW Racing Team is also at Jerez de la Frontera with its two new riders. After Eugene Laverty (IRL) and Loris Baz (FRA) visited the team headquarters in Germany in November, they began the test work together at the racetrack. Laverty, who was heavily involved in the development of the BMW M 1000 RR, will be racing with the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team in his third season as a BMW works driver. Baz is already familiar with the BMW S 1000 RR, on which he rode in the WorldSBK in 2018, and uses the test to learn more about the M RR.
Quotes after the Jerez de la Frontera test.
Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “There have been a lot of new things at this test. In general, it has been important to test with all four riders, including the two new additions Baz and Redding, before Christmas. It was good to have all four riders on the same bike on the same race track. We brought a lot of new test items that we either confirmed or evaluated with all four of the in order to get the right direction. With two new riders you of course first to get used to the way they give their feedback and how to transfer their comments but we managed that very well. We then also compared this feedback with that given by van der Mark and Laverty who already knew the bike very well. We have ticked all boxes in our test programme but maybe might do some further laps tomorrow. We gathered a huge amount of information and this is now to be analysed. Overall, we found very good directions and in general, I am very satisfied. We take a lot of positives back home. Now we will have a well-deserved Christmas break but then we will continue to intensively prepare for the season. We are very optimistic looking forward.”
Shaun Muir, Team Principal BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It has been a successful test for both sides of the pit box. We have a new rider with Scott. He had a lot of things to work through but most importantly for him was to find that comfortable setting feeling with the bike. I am really pleased about his work ethic in the pit box. He has put a lot of laps in and he acclimatised very well. On Michael’s side, we worked on similar development parts to what Scott has and he has been working through that very well as well. Comparing both riders’ feedback it is very similar and I am very pleased about that. I think it is proving that the set-up direction we are going with the BMW M 1000 RR is aligned between both riders which is very important. Equally important is that we got new team-members within the group and I am really pleased to see how all these guys are working together. There has been a lot of overlapping, a lot of chassis changes, a lot of engine changes and everybody has been working as a group, so I applaud all the team and all the guys working very closely together. Overall I think we can leave the test here at Jerez with our heads held up high, we have done a good job and we can go into the Christmas break with a lot of confidence and get ready for our next test in the new year.”
Michael van der Mark. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
Michael van der Mark, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It was good to have a test even if it was so late in the year. We had a lot of new components and items to try on the bike. At this test we barely played around with the set-up of the bike, we mainly tried new parts to figure out what brings improvement and what does not. We need to get some ideas and start producing the new things. It has been a really good test and I am really happy with a lot of new things. It was great to gather good information and now I am looking forward to a short Christmas break.”
Michael Galinski, Team Manager Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “It has been the first test for the new season and the first time for us to be at the race track with the big team. I want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Jürgen Röder, who made it possible for us to now compete as a two-rider team. He will attend many races next year and we are looking forward to that. We have a lot of new people with us, also the riders are partly new for us. Of course we have known both for many years. Loris has already raced for our team and I have also known Eugene for quite some time. Both did a great job at the test. But not only that, it was also important for me to gel with the new members as a team and to get used to each other. That worked very well. With new people, for example from England and France, our team has become more international after being a more or less German squad in the past. Like at every other team, English is now our team language. The collaboration in the combination with SMR and Bonovo action also works very well. There are always a lot of things to try and when time allows we share this between us. The test has been very positive in all aspects, we are also happy with the lap times. But we still have some things to find and work to do.”
Eugene Laverty (50). Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
Eugene Laverty, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “I already met the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team in November when we went to Germany and spent a weekend together with the guys. They invited us all there and it was so nice to meet each other away from the track because sometimes you only meet the guys in a work environment. So to go there, have some beers and relax away from the track and made me feel at home straight away. The first test days with the team have been very positive. I felt comfortable on the bike immediately after the first couple of exits on day one. I feel good in braking which is an area I am always working on. I am happy with the progress we are making. There is still work to do to improve our turning in the long corners compared to the other BMW riders but I am happy that we are right there in the mix. There is a really good atmosphere in the box, I get on very well with Loris. He is a fast guy and that’s important, to have a fast team-mate to push you. We work together well and all the guys are experienced as well. It’s great crew and I think we have a good year ahead of us.”
Loris Baz (76). Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
Loris Baz, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team: “I am happy to be back with BMW and about the opportunity to be back in WorldSBK. I was really looking forward to that test to have a first impression. A December test is never the most crucial one of the season but it’s really important for getting to know the team, to meet the people and for the feeling you are going into the winter with. The test was a lot of work, we did a lot of laps. Also, I was back on the bike after nearly three months and it is never easy when you jump on a bike that is completely different. The test was about understanding how the bike works and also to try to give the best input based on the differences of all the bikes I know. I have riden a lot of bikes in WorldSBK so I was trying to adapt to the bike and at the same time give the right input on what we can improve on that bike. The M RR has a lot of strong points, we just need to put them together to get a bike that works well from a riding side. When you start working with a new bike, you have to switch from one riding style to another but we did a good job, completing over 150 laps. Yes, I am happy. We tried some new parts for next year and mainly a lot of things on the electronics, and with every run we went faster and I felt a bit more confident on the bike. I am satisfied with the job so far.”
More, from a press release issued by Team HRC:
A new season has begun for Team HRC in sunny Jerez de la Frontera
Xavi Vierge (97). Photo courtesy Team HRC.
A new WorldSBK season has begun for Team HRC in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, where the team’s new riders have completed an initial test (December 15-17) aboard the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE.
Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge benefitted from excellent weather conditions during this first outing with their new bike and team, an experience that proved positive. The pair were able to make the most of the track time available to them and, despite the sessions coming to a premature end for Iker after he suffered a fall with minor consequences, this doesn’t alter the fact that both he and his team-mate were able to complete some solid work with their new squad.
Team HRC will now take a short break over the holiday season before returning to the track in January with renewed energy and confidence.
Leon Camier
Team Manager, Team HRC
“We’ve essentially made a very good start and both Iker and Xavi have adapted very quickly to the bike and to the team – you could sense that they’re highly motivated. The lap times were good right away, but this was not our goal and so we were not pushing for those. It was all about trying to understand the bike, the tyres and the changes we made, which have most related to electronics at this initial stage. Their comments were in line with what we already knew about the bike, and that’s impressive at what is their first test. We used our current bike so that they could understand the base set-up and what we have now, and then they’ll be able to evaluate the updates we’ll introduce next year. Conditions have been very good throughout the whole test, so even though Iker missed the final day, he was able to take advantage of a lot of useful track time and has already completed a lot of work. Of course, we need more time on track with both riders, so that they gradually gain experience. It’s an all-round learning process, but so far everything has been going very well”.
Iker Lecuona (7). Photo courtesy Team HRC.
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Successful Jerez Test For KRT
Kawasaki Racing Team riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes completed a positive test at Jerez in Spain on Friday 17 December, marking KRT’s first major step into the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship season.
Both riders carried out evaluations of new components and settings on the official Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR to allow the KMC and KRT technical staff to work over the winter break on improving real race performance for the new season which starts in early April 2022.
Weather conditions were very kind at the popular 4.423km long Circuito de Jerez Angel Nieto, allowing a clear run through the test programme and a positive overall conclusion to what was finally a two-day test.
On-track action was only conducted by the KRT riders on the first and last available days, Wednesday 15 December and Friday 17, with a rider rest and technical evaluation day on Thursday.
The target of the test was to find overall improvements in the performance of the Ninja ZX-10RR on race tyres and despite focusing on this Rea was able to set impressive times on Friday after the team had made changes to the machine’s overall spec and set-up.
For Alex Lowes, still recovering from an injury-affected 2021 season, his lap times also proved strong even though this was not his main target at this test. Lowes was also pleasantly surprised by how well his body withstood the rigours of testing and he will now aim to be back at full fitness before the new season gets underway.
There will now be a short winter break from track action for the team, with the next scheduled test taking place at Jerez once more, in late January.
Jonathan Rea. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “It has been a really fun two days riding. We structured the test to ride on day one, then have a day off to let the mechanics work on the bike. We got going again on day three. We found out a lot of good information and I am really happy with the team, Showa and KMC for their continued hard work in bringing new parts to test. I had a lot of fun on the bike and we managed to get through everything we had on the list at this test. Now is the important time because we will act on our findings and try to improve and re-evaluate some items again in January. The weather was great at Jerez, quite consistent, and we got a lot of valuable track time in. To be honest, this test was quite challenging mentally because I did a lot of work and I had been off the bike for quite some time. I’m really looking forward to going home now and spending Christmas with my family and just having some downtime. I want to recharge now before I get stuck into my winter training again and look forward to the next test in January.”
Alex Lowes. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes, stated: “It was a positive test for me. Today, Friday, we had a great day and ticked off all the boxes on the list of our test items. Obviously, I am still not 100% fit in my physical condition, so I am quite surprised with the lap times we managed. Now I can enjoy Christmas. I have given the engineers a lot of feedback on some of the new parts so we can expect to make another good step when we ride the bike again in January. It was really nice for me to check the condition of my shoulder, which was positive, but there is still a long way to go. It was also really nice to see some improvements coming from the Kawasaki guys and all of the KRT team. A good test after a long season, and a difficult one for me, with some injuries and without the results we wanted. But I can go home now, reset over Christmas and the New Year period and I am looking forward to 2022. Personally, I want to say a massive thank you to all of the team. It has been a long season for everybody – from the hospitality guys, the truck drivers, mechanics, everybody. It has been really, really nice and it’s a pleasure to be part of the team – see you soon guys!”
Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “The test has been positive and for three days the weather has been good. We concentrated on the chassis side at first, comparing different items with a good result. Johnny gave us very good and accurate information and comments and this helps us a lot to develop things and understand our direction. On the first day we tried something from Showa, something new, and Johnny was also very happy with those items. On the second day we analysed everything and prepared for riding again on day three. We have ten test days during the whole year so we have to save some days for the future tests. On the final day we focused more on the engine side because KMC has been working hard to send us some new material for 2022. We focused with the engine and clutch and Johnny was very happy. The rhythm in terms of lap times was very strong, and we did not use a qualifying tyre. I am honestly very pleased and happy to finish this test in this direction because Johnny was ‘talking’ very deep with the bike and enjoying riding it, and this is very important.”
Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “We had a very nice test. We had a lot of updated material and we got to tick everything off the list. We tested every single new part during these last days and the weather was also very good. We felt we found improvements in every single area of the bike. The rider left with a very big smile on his face! Now we have all the information to start from a slightly different and higher specification when we test again in January. We will start to build again from that moment.”
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