Last month, MotoAmerica, following the lead of the FIM Supersport World Championship, announced proposed new technical rules for its 2022 Supersport Championship.
Under the new rules, the class, which has traditionally been contested by riders on 599cc and 636cc inline four-cylinder motorcycles, will now be open to the 955cc V-Twin Ducati Panigale V2, the 798cc inline three-cylinder MV Agusta F3, and the 765cc inline three-cylinder Triumph Street Triple 765 RS.
The new machines will be required to use control electronics packages and be subject to restrictions, including prescribed engine maps and rev limits, to limit their performance, while the 599cc and 636cc machines will be allowed to add aftermarket camshafts, aftermarket velocity stacks, and have some light cylinder head modifications to bring the level of their engine performance up and closer to that of the new machines.
According to MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland, MotoAmerica will constantly evaluate the performance of the different machines during the 2022 season,and then make adjustments to the balancing parameters and rules governing the various machines after every third race or more often if it is deemed necessary.
To get reaction to the new Supersport technical rules we reached out to riders and teams that contested the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
First, we asked if anyone from MotoAmerica leadership consulted with them during the 2021 season to get their feedback on proposed changes to the Supersport class or inform them that big changes were coming.
None of those contacted by Roadracingworld.com said they were consulted by MotoAmerica on the current status or future of the Supersport class and rules.
Next, we asked for their opinion of the proposed 2022 Supersport technical rules and if they planned to continue in the class next season. Here are the reactions we received. Responding parties are listed in order of 2021 Championship finishing position.
Rocco Landers (97) took four podium finishes on his Landers Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 during his rookie year in the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Stoney Landers, who fielded his rider/son Rocco Landers on a Landers Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 supported by Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. and took 4th in the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship with four podium finishes, said: “It’s very difficult when you have different cc [engine size] motorcycles competing against each other. We experienced it in Supersport with the Kawasaki 636, in Junior Cup we experienced it, and I guess we’re going to experience it again. I don’t know how it’s going to play out.
“As soon as you add all these different engine sizes it’s up to MotoAmerica to balance the class. I think that’s going to put a lot of pressure on them to make it right. I also understand that’s the direction the world is going, so it is what it is.”
Landers said he had not finalized his team’s 2022 racing plans at post time.
Benjamin Smith (88) fights for the lead with Sean Dylan Kelly (40) and Richie Escalante (1) during Supersport Race One at VIRginia International Raceway in 2021. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Benjamin Smith, who finished 5th in the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship with two podium finishes on his North East Cycle Outlet Racing Yamaha YZF-R6, said: “I think it’s going to be interesting. I think it’s just going to come down to us getting the most we can out of the R6.
“We know the chassis is great. It really just comes down to what we can do with the motor to have it be reliable and fast enough to keep up with the Triumph and the Ducati and the MV.
“I think it’s also going to come down to if people can get those other bikes to work and handle well. I think it’s going to take some time to figure out what bikes need to be restricted and how much restriction. That’s definitely going to take some time. I’m not opposed to it, that’s for sure, but it’s going to change the look of the class a lot, in my opinion.”
Smith said he looked at moving up to the Stock 1000 and Superbike classes but has decided to continue with his Yamaha in Supersport in 2022.
Stefano Mesa (37) won a MotoAmerica Supersport race in 2021 on his Kawasaki ZX-6R. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Stefano Mesa, who finished 6th in the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship with one race win and four more podiums finishes on his 636cc MESA37 Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R, said, “To be honest with you when the rules came out, I threw my [MotoAmerica Supersport] program aside because for me it doesn’t make sense to go do something when they are kind of allowing in superior bikes, in a way. I know they are new bikes and they have to go test and do a lot of stuff, but HSBK [Racing] is going to do something very good [with a Ducati Panigale V2].
“Even if we do all of this work, the new bikes are going to be 10 horsepower up on us. And the bad thing is when we do all of this work things can go bad much easier. And for sure it will cost us more.
“I know how MotoAmerica is looking at all of this, but I feel every time they do something right they do something so big and mess everything up.”
Nolan Lamkin (52) finished on the podium in MotoAmerica Supersport Race One at Road Atlanta in 2021. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Nolan Lamkin, who finished 12th in the 2021 MotoAmerica Championship with one podium finish, said, “It is what it is. Even if I wanted something changed I couldn’t really get it changed. And if this is what it’s got to be to have the series survive, then that’s cool.
“I haven’t priced the stuff out yet. If you stay on the R6 it will be a lot quicker speed-wise, [but] I’ve heard our motors are now going to cost $4,000 [each] before labor. I believe it was $1,800 [each] before.
“It adds, one, the cost, and, two, questions about reliability. Before, we were running OEM everything, so we didn’t really have to worry about going through that many [engines]. Now that they’re going to be higher performing and tuned closer to the edge, we may have to have another motor. I’m not sure right now how that will change things.
“My thing is, I can’t control the bikes. I can’t control the other riders. The only things I can actually control are myself and my program.
“I am [planning to go racing in MotoAmerica Supersport again]. I looked at doing something different, because I am one of the taller riders and a 1000, on paper, would fit me well, but I already have my 600 program. I’ve heard some issues people are having with the supply chain and things like that while trying to get parts, and I don’t want to have to go through building a new bike and not be able to get stuff. I have the majority of my [600] program, and it’s just a matter of finding the financial backing.”
“Starting together and fighting together would be nice”: the gloves come off on the Algarve
Thursday, 04 November 2021
The dust has somewhat settled after a dramatic title decider last time out, but now it’s time to get back in gear for another stunner. The Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve got underway on Thursday with the Pre-Event Press Conference, with newly-crowned 2021 MotoGP™ World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) joined by second overall Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Repsol Honda Team’s podium finisher Pol Espargaro, home hero Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and the leader in the battle for Rookie of the Year Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama), also fresh from the rostrum.
Here are some key quotes!
Fabio Quartararo: “My voice is still quite bad but it was super nice to celebrate with the team after Misano on Sunday and I spent a few days with my family and yeah, it was super nice! It was also tough to go back to training after a few parties but it was necessary and of course, to feel ready for the race. But of course it was a really special week after winning the title in Misano.
Fabio Quartararo. Photo courtesy Dorna.
“Honestly I feel – I would not say pressure because I achieved my goal. I will give my best, of course I come here to fight for the victory and for the podium but it’s not something I can really control. I will give my best but we will see the final result. It would be nice to achieve the triple crown and to see if we can achieve it!”
Francesco Bagnaia: “I think that it is more because I lost the race than the Championship, because I was sure Fabio deserved that more. I was a lot of points behind and also, I was winning the race in Misano. If I had won, then I would have been like 36 points behind, and with 36 points we have a lot of possibility to win the title. In any case, I tried my all. It was not our objective to win the Championship this season because I was coming from two very difficult seasons. My first two years in MotoGP I struggled a lot. This year I learned a lot, I grew with the team and in the last part of the season I was fighting for the Championship, but I was too far behind. In any case we tried. I knew with the hard front I was more competitive, but I crashed. I tried my all and this was the only possibility to remain in the Championship fight, to win the race. And I tried.
Francesco Bagnaia. Photo courtesy Dorna.
“For sure these two races will be nice to do. Now Fabio doesn’t have any pressure. So, I would really like to fight with him, not like in Misano, but starting together and fighting together would be nice to have. They are two different tracks. In April/May I was fast here, in Valencia I’ve never been fast in my life so I have to understand how to do it.”
Pol Espargaro: “This is a place where I enjoy quite a lot and in the past year with KTM I performed and, for sure it wasn’t amazingly good but it was a decent race and I almost finished on the podium. But in the beginning of the year we came here with many many problems, we struggled a lot, I had a big crash at the last corner and I don’t have the best memories with the Honda here. Anyway I came here during the summer break to train so I have the layout fresher maybe than the others which is nice, also the bike has changed quite a lot from that moment at the beginning of the year. Honestly speaking we have more possibilities to have a great weekend than what we did at the beginning of the year, so really looking forward to jumping on the bike again after the nice vibes we took in the past weekend in Misano.
Pol Espargaro. Photo courtesy Dorna.
“From the past races I have been, you know, working in that direction thinking that this year is over for me. It was over a lot of races ago, I started to think about the future with Honda, we tried to do the maximum we could with the current package, thinking of next year, trying to generate or copy what we have inside the rules with next year’s bike. We had some benefits and some contrasts, we had a lot of problems in Texas and then we come to Misano and we had all the contrasts, we had the benefits with the current package thinking about next year. There are these pros and cons, thinking about next year, I’m looking to just make a reset. With all the experience and knowledge I have with Honda I sometimes feel quite comfortable and I can achieve great results, start from zero with a good base, and from there try to enjoy the bike. I haven’t enjoyed much because I’ve been struggling quite a lot. The future I think is bright but we have to work harder than the others because we start with a disadvantage.”
Miguel Oliveira: “For sure we get to a home GP with a different kind of mentality. Beginning of the season we were having too many problems and the package was not really complete. The conditions were much different from what we had in November the previous season, so definitely we didn’t have anything going our way, and now towards the end of the championship even if the result was not finished in Misano, at least I had a good connection back with the bike. Already in Texas I found a little bit more of this connection and although if the result is not there the feeling is there, so I think this is the most important thing to build a good weekend. For sure the key is to start tomorrow with this feeling, give a good feedback to the team and finish these two last races of the season on a high.
Miguel Oliveira. Photo courtesy Dorna.
“We have every reason to believe that we can achieve a good result. Of course, it’s always depending on a lot of things, but we know that the intention is there, and we have every reason to believe in that direction. The opponents are going to be tough of course, everyone likes this track, everyone who goes fast on it, so it’s going to be about adapting better to every situation on the track and especially during the race understanding what is a good line and the normal racing routine at the weekend.”
Enea Bastianini: “I took another podium in the last race and I am very happy about this. Now I have an advantage over Jorge Martin but he can be fast like me, especially here in Portimão, but in Valencia I’m not very fast and I have to improve in this area. In Misano we did a good job in the race but not on Saturday because I did three crashes in eight laps, I think, but we can be Rookie (of the Year) this year and we can battle for this.
Enea Bastianini. Photo courtesy Dorna.
“I like Portimão a lot, it’s a very strange circuit but I like, it’s one of my favourites. You know it’s not easy to be fast here, and I’m advantaged in respect to Jorge because he’s crashed in the last races but we have to stay concentrated and understand what we can do to be competitive in the weekend and also on Saturday.”
Stoner returns! The two-time Champion and MotoGP™ Legend stops in at Portimão
Jack Miller (left), Casey Stoner (center), and Francesco Bagnaia (right) in Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
It’s been a while but the paddock in Portimão has the pleasure of welcoming back MotoGP™ Legend and two-time premier class Champion Casey Stoner for the weekend! And of course, one priority on his first day was a check in with Ducati. Both Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia were on hand in the box for a photo op (and a natter) on Thursday. Stay tuuuuuned!
Gardner vs Raul Fernandez, Acosta vs Foggia: the title contenders talk business on Thursday
Thursday, 04 November 2021
It’s crunch time for both the Moto2™ and Moto3™ World Championships this weekend – or it could be – so ahead of track action at the Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve, Moto2™ World Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo), teammate Raul Fernandez, Moto3™ points leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia sat down for a special Press Conference on Thursday.
Here are some key quotes!
Remy Gardner: “Feeling good for this weekend, you know, it’s always a track I’ve really loved, I got my first victory here in the World Championship. So yeah, it’s a track that inspires me, let’s say, and, you know, I think we’re just gonna go into this weekend like every other weekend with a with an open mind and a calm head.”
Is he proud of the season so far?
“100%. You know, whatever happens this year, you know, I think it’s a year that I can be proud of. A lot of mistakes I’ve made in the past I’ve managed to render and fix. And yeah, we’ve had a lot of podiums this year, and a few wins. So yeah, for me, it’s been an amazing season. And it’s not over yet. So there’s still two more to go. I think it’s a season I can be really proud of whatever happens, but yeah hopefully we can finish it off well!”
Raul Fernandez: “I will try to get another victory! Always when I crash, the next race I fight for the win again. But in this part of the season I’m really strong, in the last four races I think I was the faster rider because I was first in all races and also in Misano when I crashed. I made a small mistake and I crashed, but in the end the mentality is the same: I’ll try and do my best, enjoy it, and if can win I will… if not I’ll still try! The mentality is the same. Sometimes it’s very difficult, for example in Misano when you’re a rookie and you have a difficult weekend, you don’t have the experience have all the control over the situation but I’m really happy with my speed, with the job of the team and I’ll try to do my best.
“I don’t want to think about the Championship, I want to go race by race. We’re at the last two races and now the gap is too big. This is a big distance now for the last two races, too much But the mentality is try to win, I have the speed and the calm. I will try.”
Pedro Acosta: “I’m happy now about the Misano race. Finally I understand that we can’t win every weekend, and this weekend we have to take the maximum points we can, and try to fight for the podium. We’re focused on this weekend, now we know where the problem as in Misano and now we’ve changed specific things to try and be more competitive here.
“If we can win, I’ll try. But if we have to manage it, take points and finish the Championship in Valencia we’ll do it. The important thing now is to not make big mistakes and not crash. 21 points now… we have to have fun, be focused on our job.”
Dennis Foggia: “It was an incredible but difficult weekend in Misano, all weekend in the wet and finally on Sunday it was dry. And I won the race, and I’m so happy about my last weekend. So now it’s time to attack, because we’re got two races to go and the gap is 21 points. I know it’s difficult but it’s not mathematically impossible. Mathematically, it’s possible. I’ll try and do my best, give 100% in these two races.
“I saw the Portugal GP one week ago, so… Pedro in this circuit is so strong, but me too. And I have nothing to lose, no pressure, and I’m happy with my Championship. Now I’ focused to do my best.”
Provisional Moto2™ and Moto3™ pre-season test dates and venue changed
The official pre-season test for the Moto2™ and Moto3™ classes was previously set to take place at the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto from the 22nd to the 24th of February 2022.
The dates and venue for the test have changed. The Moto2™ and Moto3™ class official pre-season test is now scheduled to take place at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve from the 19th to the 21st of February.
Set up takes place on the day preceding the Moto2™ and Moto3™ test.
ZERO MOTORCYCLES INTRODUCES NEW BATTERIES, SOFTWARE PERFORMANCE UPGRADES, AND ALL-NEW 2022 ZERO SR
Massive battery capacity increases and industry-first software marketplace for motorcycles highlight advances in the 2022 Zero Model Line
SANTA CRUZ, Calif., (Nov. 4, 2021) – Zero Motorcycles, the worldwide leader in
electric motorcycles and powertrains, today announced significant upgrades to their
core differentiating technologies as well as several new products for the 2022 Model
Line. Headlining that release is the massive improvements to the company’s largest Z-Force lithium-ion batteries. Zero has boosted the energy density in its batteries to build
upon its already best-in-class standing by up to 20%. Thanks to significant advances in
battery design and architecture, these improved power packs come in two standard
capacities of 14.4+ kWh and 15.6+ kWh. The “+” designation noted in the pack size
indicates additional capacity increase opportunities of up to 17.3 kWh. The larger 15.6+
kWh battery configuration will be available on the premium street models of the 2022
SR/S and SR/F and the 14.4+ kWh will come on standard SR/S and SR/F as well as the
all new 2022 SR. All three models will be able to increase their capacity through a
revolutionary on-demand upgrade exclusive to Zero Motorcycles. Maximizing the
capacity of the new batteries through those upgrades and combining it with the optional
Power Tank creates nearly 21 kWh of onboard energy storage. This breakthrough
represents a new high-water mark for Zero’s onboard battery capacity and delivers an
industry-leading 227 miles/365 km of city range and 113 miles/182 km at 70 mph.
Zero has boosted the energy density of its re-engineered Z-Force lithium-ion battery pack by 20%. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
“Being the brand that both defined and continues to lead the category of electric
motorcycles means that we have the responsibility to push the boundaries of what is
possible in electric powertrains. We consistently work to deliver massive steps forward
and not just incremental improvements to our powertrains and our products,” said Sam
Paschel, CEO of Zero Motorcycles. “As part of that effort, a relentless focus on range
improvements, driven by battery capacity and powertrain efficiency, provide the
foundations that allow us to transform the rider’s experience and drive acceleration in
electric vehicle adoption and sales. These leaps forward in battery technology in our
2022 model line have set a new standard for Zero Motorcycles.”
On-Demand Upgrades with the Cypher Store
With the new Cypher III+ operating system and the Cypher Store, owners of Zero Motorcycles can now order performance upgrades on demand and download them to their motorcycle via their smart phone. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
Owners will unlock these additional battery capacities through the brand new Cypher
Store. The Cypher Store is an on-demand marketplace of feature upgrades for Zero
Motorcycles. It represents a major breakthrough in vehicle adaptability and a first for the
powersports industry. These latest software innovations are made possible by Zero’s
proprietary Cypher operating system. The latest iteration of the ground-breaking Cypher
III+ operating system comes standard on 2022 SR/F, SR/S and the all-new 2022 SR
models. Cypher III+ also grants owners of those motorcycles access to a suite of range,
performance, and feature upgrades on the Cypher Store. Accessible with the tap of a
finger, the Cypher Store features a variety of performance options, available either
through the Zero Motorcycles mobile app or online at
www.zeromotorcycles.com/cypherstore. Included as part of the initial list of features
upgrades to be released in Q1 of 2022 are the following:
• Faster Charging
• Extended Range
• Speed & Performance Boost
• Park Mode, Heated Grips
• and On-Dash Navigation.
A 2022-model Zero SR/S electric motorcycle. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
All of these upgrades are optional for 2022 SR/S, SR/F, and SR with more features and
expanded model compatibility planned for subsequent model years.
“The opportunity to customize your motorcycle on-demand is nothing short of
revolutionary in the powersports industry,” said Jeremy Kent, GM of Software and Parts
& Accessories for Zero Motorcycles. “We’ve created the ability to instantly improve the
performance of our products without much more than a Wi-Fi signal, offering a dramatic
shift in how Zero’s motorcycles can grow and evolve along with the owner.”
A 2022-model Zero SR/F electric motorcycle. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
All Cypher Store upgrades will be available for purchase and installation on the Zero
Motorcycles mobile application, website, or even directly from any Zero Motorcycles
dealership worldwide by early Spring 2022.
Zero Motorcycles 2022 SR
A 2022-model Zero SR electric motorcycle. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
Game-changing new battery technology and access to Cypher Store upgrades headline
the long list of improvements to the 2022 SR. The original electric street motorcycle, the
SR, is one of Zero’s most successful and longest running models. and The 2022 SR
improves on that historic model in every way. Built on Zero’s distinctive exposed steel
trellis frame, the 2022 SR shares the performance DNA of Zero’s most premium options
at a more affordable price.
“The SR is the motorcycle that really established the electric naked street category and
it’s significant that it be the first model to introduce all of these new technologies,” said
Abe Askenazi, CTO of Zero Motorcycles. “Now, with the array of never-before-seen
features, the SR is the most adaptable motorcycle ever and is poised to maintain its
prominence for years to come.”
The 2022 SR is powered by the proven ZF 75-10 motor tuned to deliver 122 ft-lb of
torque, 74 hp, and reaches a top speed of 104 mph. Enabling the Speed & Performance
Boost via the Cypher Store unlocks the full capabilities of the motor as well as upgrades
the SR to Advanced Bosch Motorcycle Stability Control, which adds cornering
capabilities to its existing straight-line ABS, traction control, and drag torque controls.
When equipped with all available Cypher Store battery capacity upgrades and the
additional Power Tank accessory, available in early 2022, the SR’s total battery capacity
can be increased to 20.9 kWh- Zero’s largest onboard battery capacity ever. Also new
to the SR is the ability to charge from the public EV charging network via standard
J1772 connections. The 2022 SR comes in Thermal Red, retails for $17,995, and will
ship to Zero Motorcycles dealerships worldwide through Q1 2022.
About Zero Motorcycles
Zero Motorcycles is the global leader in electric motorcycles and powertrains. Designed
and crafted by hand in California, Zero Motorcycles combines Silicon Valley technology
with traditional motorcycle soul to elevate the motorcycling experience for intelligent,
innovative riders around the world
MotoAmerica: Kayla Yaakov Joins the Altus Motorsports Tucker Environmental Service Solutions Team for 2022
(Altus, OK) Altus Motorsports is excited to announce that Kayla Yaakov will be taking the reins of the Altus Factory Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400 and competing in the MotoAmerica Junior Cup class for 2022. In spite of only racing in six of the nine rounds in 2021, Yaakov finished the season in 8th overall. She was a consistent top-10 finisher and took second place at the final round. Even more impressive is the fact that most of the tracks were completely new to her.
Kayla started on two wheels at four years old riding flat track. She progressed to motocross at age six and then swapped her dirt wheels for slicks and went to the kart track on a supermoto bike at age seven. And that kicked off her road racing career.
In 2021, she split time between the United States and Europe. She competed in all but the final round of the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup. While MotoAmerica will be her primary focus for 2022, she hopes to also compete in a few European wild card rounds (depending on the new age requirements from FIM).
“I’m really happy to be on the Altus team for next year. I felt strong this year and was able to be competitive in spite of having to learn the tracks. On top of that, it was also my first time on the Ninja 400, so there was a lot to learn every weekend. I’ll be doing a lot of off-season training to come into the MotoAmerica season ready to put up some great results. I’ll know the bike, most of the tracks, and will be in the best mental and physical shape of my career by round one,” said Kayla Yaakov.
Kayla Yaakov. Photo courtesy Altus Motorsports.
In addition to her training at home, Kayla plans to join the team for some off-season testing at CVMA races at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in California during the winter.
“We are extremely excited to have Kayla join our team. She was very impressive last year and she has shown that she is a skilled, committed, and professional racer with a lot of experience,” said team owner George Nassaney.
Royal Enfield North America reveals EPIC RIDES 2021: ALASKA – the first in a series films starring Royal Enfield riders and motorcycles.
Milwaukee, WI – The spirit of adventure on two wheels can be traced back to the very advent of the motorcycle itself. Royal Enfield has celebrated this pure motorcycling culture since 1901, and in its 120th year, continues commemorate the spirit of adventure with an all-new film series: Epic Rides. The premiere episode – EPIC RIDES: ALASKA – made its debut at the recent 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan media launch at Doffo Winery in Temecula, California, in front of motorcycle media, industry guests and friends.
In a contrast to the prevalent solo-style of modern adventure riding, EPIC RIDES: ALASKA a testament to how the calling of the unknown can bring people together. Six strangers came together for the first time in Alaska to plan out and ride an adventure tour aboard Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycles. Through the temperate rainforests of the Alaskan coast to its rugged inland terrain strewn with river crossings and breathtaking glaciers, six strangers quickly became friends, bound together by their journey.
EPIC RIDES 2021: ALASKA – ROYAL ENFIELD NORTH AMERICA
“We started the Epic Ride Series to not only showcase the beautiful landscapes our world has to offer but to show how motorcycling itself builds communities, friendships and memories to last a lifetime,” said Breeann Poland, Marketing & Communications Lead – Royal Enfield Americas. “Beyond the capabilities of the Himalayan motorcycle, it’s the camaraderie, the bonds that people forge through a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that we set out to capture, and EPIC RIDES: ALASKA showcases that so beautifully.”
Following the North American launch of the 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle at beautiful Doffo Winery in Temecula, California, motorcycle media, industry guests and friends gathered in the famous MotoDoffo Barrel Room for the premiere viewing of EPIC RIDES: ALASKA, the first in a series to come from Royal Enfield North America. The post viewing discussion became an impromptu roundtable between media and the cast and crew of the film. The immediate reaction clearly demonstrated that the sentiment of the film – the indomitable spirit of adventure, the call of the outdoors and the bonds of the motorcycling community – resonated with everyone.
“We needed an epic venue to premiere our film and what could be more beautiful than a vineyard in Temecula Wine Country surrounded by our friends and motorcycle community?” said Poland. “The discussion that followed after was even more amazing. We hope this film, and more to come in the series, inspires people everywhere to get out and ride, meet new people, have adventures, twist a throttle and live your best life. This is absolutely what Royal Enfield is all about.”
Click to download high-res images.
Images provided by Royal Enfield North America are copyright free for editorial purposes only.
About Royal Enfield
The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the midsize motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market.
Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 140 dealers in North America, including the contiguous U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. RENA currently offers the all-new Meteor 350, Himalayan and the 650 Twins (INT 650 and Continental GT 650) motorcycles, along with a range of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories and apparel.
For more information on Royal Enfield North America, visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.
The MotoAmerica Supersport class has featured very close racing, as seen here at Road America in 2021 when Sean Dylan Kelly (40), Richie Escalante (1), Stefano Mesa (37), and Benjamin Smith (88) contested the lead. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Copyright 2021, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
Last month, MotoAmerica, following the lead of the FIM Supersport World Championship, announced proposed new technical rules for its 2022 Supersport Championship.
Under the new rules, the class, which has traditionally been contested by riders on 599cc and 636cc inline four-cylinder motorcycles, will now be open to the 955cc V-Twin Ducati Panigale V2, the 798cc inline three-cylinder MV Agusta F3, and the 765cc inline three-cylinder Triumph Street Triple 765 RS.
The new machines will be required to use control electronics packages and be subject to restrictions, including prescribed engine maps and rev limits, to limit their performance, while the 599cc and 636cc machines will be allowed to add aftermarket camshafts, aftermarket velocity stacks, and have some light cylinder head modifications to bring the level of their engine performance up and closer to that of the new machines.
According to MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland, MotoAmerica will constantly evaluate the performance of the different machines during the 2022 season,and then make adjustments to the balancing parameters and rules governing the various machines after every third race or more often if it is deemed necessary.
To get reaction to the new Supersport technical rules we reached out to riders and teams that contested the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
First, we asked if anyone from MotoAmerica leadership consulted with them during the 2021 season to get their feedback on proposed changes to the Supersport class or inform them that big changes were coming.
None of those contacted by Roadracingworld.com said they were consulted by MotoAmerica on the current status or future of the Supersport class and rules.
Next, we asked for their opinion of the proposed 2022 Supersport technical rules and if they planned to continue in the class next season. Here are the reactions we received. Responding parties are listed in order of 2021 Championship finishing position.
Rocco Landers (97) took four podium finishes on his Landers Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 during his rookie year in the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Stoney Landers, who fielded his rider/son Rocco Landers on a Landers Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 supported by Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. and took 4th in the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship with four podium finishes, said: “It’s very difficult when you have different cc [engine size] motorcycles competing against each other. We experienced it in Supersport with the Kawasaki 636, in Junior Cup we experienced it, and I guess we’re going to experience it again. I don’t know how it’s going to play out.
“As soon as you add all these different engine sizes it’s up to MotoAmerica to balance the class. I think that’s going to put a lot of pressure on them to make it right. I also understand that’s the direction the world is going, so it is what it is.”
Landers said he had not finalized his team’s 2022 racing plans at post time.
Benjamin Smith (88) fights for the lead with Sean Dylan Kelly (40) and Richie Escalante (1) during Supersport Race One at VIRginia International Raceway in 2021. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Benjamin Smith, who finished 5th in the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship with two podium finishes on his North East Cycle Outlet Racing Yamaha YZF-R6, said: “I think it’s going to be interesting. I think it’s just going to come down to us getting the most we can out of the R6.
“We know the chassis is great. It really just comes down to what we can do with the motor to have it be reliable and fast enough to keep up with the Triumph and the Ducati and the MV.
“I think it’s also going to come down to if people can get those other bikes to work and handle well. I think it’s going to take some time to figure out what bikes need to be restricted and how much restriction. That’s definitely going to take some time. I’m not opposed to it, that’s for sure, but it’s going to change the look of the class a lot, in my opinion.”
Smith said he looked at moving up to the Stock 1000 and Superbike classes but has decided to continue with his Yamaha in Supersport in 2022.
Stefano Mesa (37) won a MotoAmerica Supersport race in 2021 on his Kawasaki ZX-6R. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Stefano Mesa, who finished 6th in the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship with one race win and four more podiums finishes on his 636cc MESA37 Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R, said, “To be honest with you when the rules came out, I threw my [MotoAmerica Supersport] program aside because for me it doesn’t make sense to go do something when they are kind of allowing in superior bikes, in a way. I know they are new bikes and they have to go test and do a lot of stuff, but HSBK [Racing] is going to do something very good [with a Ducati Panigale V2].
“Even if we do all of this work, the new bikes are going to be 10 horsepower up on us. And the bad thing is when we do all of this work things can go bad much easier. And for sure it will cost us more.
“I know how MotoAmerica is looking at all of this, but I feel every time they do something right they do something so big and mess everything up.”
Nolan Lamkin (52) finished on the podium in MotoAmerica Supersport Race One at Road Atlanta in 2021. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Nolan Lamkin, who finished 12th in the 2021 MotoAmerica Championship with one podium finish, said, “It is what it is. Even if I wanted something changed I couldn’t really get it changed. And if this is what it’s got to be to have the series survive, then that’s cool.
“I haven’t priced the stuff out yet. If you stay on the R6 it will be a lot quicker speed-wise, [but] I’ve heard our motors are now going to cost $4,000 [each] before labor. I believe it was $1,800 [each] before.
“It adds, one, the cost, and, two, questions about reliability. Before, we were running OEM everything, so we didn’t really have to worry about going through that many [engines]. Now that they’re going to be higher performing and tuned closer to the edge, we may have to have another motor. I’m not sure right now how that will change things.
“My thing is, I can’t control the bikes. I can’t control the other riders. The only things I can actually control are myself and my program.
“I am [planning to go racing in MotoAmerica Supersport again]. I looked at doing something different, because I am one of the taller riders and a 1000, on paper, would fit me well, but I already have my 600 program. I’ve heard some issues people are having with the supply chain and things like that while trying to get parts, and I don’t want to have to go through building a new bike and not be able to get stuff. I have the majority of my [600] program, and it’s just a matter of finding the financial backing.”
MotoGP riders (from left) Francesco Bagnaia, Miguel Oliveira, Fabio Quartararo, Enea Bastianini, and Pol Espargaro. Photo courtesy Dorna.
“Starting together and fighting together would be nice”: the gloves come off on the Algarve
Thursday, 04 November 2021
The dust has somewhat settled after a dramatic title decider last time out, but now it’s time to get back in gear for another stunner. The Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve got underway on Thursday with the Pre-Event Press Conference, with newly-crowned 2021 MotoGP™ World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) joined by second overall Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Repsol Honda Team’s podium finisher Pol Espargaro, home hero Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and the leader in the battle for Rookie of the Year Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama), also fresh from the rostrum.
Here are some key quotes!
Fabio Quartararo: “My voice is still quite bad but it was super nice to celebrate with the team after Misano on Sunday and I spent a few days with my family and yeah, it was super nice! It was also tough to go back to training after a few parties but it was necessary and of course, to feel ready for the race. But of course it was a really special week after winning the title in Misano.
Fabio Quartararo. Photo courtesy Dorna.
“Honestly I feel – I would not say pressure because I achieved my goal. I will give my best, of course I come here to fight for the victory and for the podium but it’s not something I can really control. I will give my best but we will see the final result. It would be nice to achieve the triple crown and to see if we can achieve it!”
Francesco Bagnaia: “I think that it is more because I lost the race than the Championship, because I was sure Fabio deserved that more. I was a lot of points behind and also, I was winning the race in Misano. If I had won, then I would have been like 36 points behind, and with 36 points we have a lot of possibility to win the title. In any case, I tried my all. It was not our objective to win the Championship this season because I was coming from two very difficult seasons. My first two years in MotoGP I struggled a lot. This year I learned a lot, I grew with the team and in the last part of the season I was fighting for the Championship, but I was too far behind. In any case we tried. I knew with the hard front I was more competitive, but I crashed. I tried my all and this was the only possibility to remain in the Championship fight, to win the race. And I tried.
Francesco Bagnaia. Photo courtesy Dorna.
“For sure these two races will be nice to do. Now Fabio doesn’t have any pressure. So, I would really like to fight with him, not like in Misano, but starting together and fighting together would be nice to have. They are two different tracks. In April/May I was fast here, in Valencia I’ve never been fast in my life so I have to understand how to do it.”
Pol Espargaro: “This is a place where I enjoy quite a lot and in the past year with KTM I performed and, for sure it wasn’t amazingly good but it was a decent race and I almost finished on the podium. But in the beginning of the year we came here with many many problems, we struggled a lot, I had a big crash at the last corner and I don’t have the best memories with the Honda here. Anyway I came here during the summer break to train so I have the layout fresher maybe than the others which is nice, also the bike has changed quite a lot from that moment at the beginning of the year. Honestly speaking we have more possibilities to have a great weekend than what we did at the beginning of the year, so really looking forward to jumping on the bike again after the nice vibes we took in the past weekend in Misano.
Pol Espargaro. Photo courtesy Dorna.
“From the past races I have been, you know, working in that direction thinking that this year is over for me. It was over a lot of races ago, I started to think about the future with Honda, we tried to do the maximum we could with the current package, thinking of next year, trying to generate or copy what we have inside the rules with next year’s bike. We had some benefits and some contrasts, we had a lot of problems in Texas and then we come to Misano and we had all the contrasts, we had the benefits with the current package thinking about next year. There are these pros and cons, thinking about next year, I’m looking to just make a reset. With all the experience and knowledge I have with Honda I sometimes feel quite comfortable and I can achieve great results, start from zero with a good base, and from there try to enjoy the bike. I haven’t enjoyed much because I’ve been struggling quite a lot. The future I think is bright but we have to work harder than the others because we start with a disadvantage.”
Miguel Oliveira: “For sure we get to a home GP with a different kind of mentality. Beginning of the season we were having too many problems and the package was not really complete. The conditions were much different from what we had in November the previous season, so definitely we didn’t have anything going our way, and now towards the end of the championship even if the result was not finished in Misano, at least I had a good connection back with the bike. Already in Texas I found a little bit more of this connection and although if the result is not there the feeling is there, so I think this is the most important thing to build a good weekend. For sure the key is to start tomorrow with this feeling, give a good feedback to the team and finish these two last races of the season on a high.
Miguel Oliveira. Photo courtesy Dorna.
“We have every reason to believe that we can achieve a good result. Of course, it’s always depending on a lot of things, but we know that the intention is there, and we have every reason to believe in that direction. The opponents are going to be tough of course, everyone likes this track, everyone who goes fast on it, so it’s going to be about adapting better to every situation on the track and especially during the race understanding what is a good line and the normal racing routine at the weekend.”
Enea Bastianini: “I took another podium in the last race and I am very happy about this. Now I have an advantage over Jorge Martin but he can be fast like me, especially here in Portimão, but in Valencia I’m not very fast and I have to improve in this area. In Misano we did a good job in the race but not on Saturday because I did three crashes in eight laps, I think, but we can be Rookie (of the Year) this year and we can battle for this.
Enea Bastianini. Photo courtesy Dorna.
“I like Portimão a lot, it’s a very strange circuit but I like, it’s one of my favourites. You know it’s not easy to be fast here, and I’m advantaged in respect to Jorge because he’s crashed in the last races but we have to stay concentrated and understand what we can do to be competitive in the weekend and also on Saturday.”
Stoner returns! The two-time Champion and MotoGP™ Legend stops in at Portimão
Jack Miller (left), Casey Stoner (center), and Francesco Bagnaia (right) in Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
It’s been a while but the paddock in Portimão has the pleasure of welcoming back MotoGP™ Legend and two-time premier class Champion Casey Stoner for the weekend! And of course, one priority on his first day was a check in with Ducati. Both Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia were on hand in the box for a photo op (and a natter) on Thursday. Stay tuuuuuned!
Moto2 title contenders Remy Gardner (second from right) and Raul Fernandez (far right) with Moto3 title contenders Pedro Acosta (second from left) and Dennis Foggia (far left) in Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Gardner vs Raul Fernandez, Acosta vs Foggia: the title contenders talk business on Thursday
Thursday, 04 November 2021
It’s crunch time for both the Moto2™ and Moto3™ World Championships this weekend – or it could be – so ahead of track action at the Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve, Moto2™ World Championship leader Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo), teammate Raul Fernandez, Moto3™ points leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia sat down for a special Press Conference on Thursday.
Here are some key quotes!
Remy Gardner: “Feeling good for this weekend, you know, it’s always a track I’ve really loved, I got my first victory here in the World Championship. So yeah, it’s a track that inspires me, let’s say, and, you know, I think we’re just gonna go into this weekend like every other weekend with a with an open mind and a calm head.”
Is he proud of the season so far?
“100%. You know, whatever happens this year, you know, I think it’s a year that I can be proud of. A lot of mistakes I’ve made in the past I’ve managed to render and fix. And yeah, we’ve had a lot of podiums this year, and a few wins. So yeah, for me, it’s been an amazing season. And it’s not over yet. So there’s still two more to go. I think it’s a season I can be really proud of whatever happens, but yeah hopefully we can finish it off well!”
Raul Fernandez: “I will try to get another victory! Always when I crash, the next race I fight for the win again. But in this part of the season I’m really strong, in the last four races I think I was the faster rider because I was first in all races and also in Misano when I crashed. I made a small mistake and I crashed, but in the end the mentality is the same: I’ll try and do my best, enjoy it, and if can win I will… if not I’ll still try! The mentality is the same. Sometimes it’s very difficult, for example in Misano when you’re a rookie and you have a difficult weekend, you don’t have the experience have all the control over the situation but I’m really happy with my speed, with the job of the team and I’ll try to do my best.
“I don’t want to think about the Championship, I want to go race by race. We’re at the last two races and now the gap is too big. This is a big distance now for the last two races, too much But the mentality is try to win, I have the speed and the calm. I will try.”
Pedro Acosta: “I’m happy now about the Misano race. Finally I understand that we can’t win every weekend, and this weekend we have to take the maximum points we can, and try to fight for the podium. We’re focused on this weekend, now we know where the problem as in Misano and now we’ve changed specific things to try and be more competitive here.
“If we can win, I’ll try. But if we have to manage it, take points and finish the Championship in Valencia we’ll do it. The important thing now is to not make big mistakes and not crash. 21 points now… we have to have fun, be focused on our job.”
Dennis Foggia: “It was an incredible but difficult weekend in Misano, all weekend in the wet and finally on Sunday it was dry. And I won the race, and I’m so happy about my last weekend. So now it’s time to attack, because we’re got two races to go and the gap is 21 points. I know it’s difficult but it’s not mathematically impossible. Mathematically, it’s possible. I’ll try and do my best, give 100% in these two races.
“I saw the Portugal GP one week ago, so… Pedro in this circuit is so strong, but me too. And I have nothing to lose, no pressure, and I’m happy with my Championship. Now I’ focused to do my best.”
Provisional Moto2™ and Moto3™ pre-season test dates and venue changed
The official pre-season test for the Moto2™ and Moto3™ classes was previously set to take place at the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto from the 22nd to the 24th of February 2022.
The dates and venue for the test have changed. The Moto2™ and Moto3™ class official pre-season test is now scheduled to take place at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve from the 19th to the 21st of February.
Set up takes place on the day preceding the Moto2™ and Moto3™ test.
A close-up of a 2022-model Zero SR electric motorcycle. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
ZERO MOTORCYCLES INTRODUCES NEW BATTERIES, SOFTWARE PERFORMANCE UPGRADES, AND ALL-NEW 2022 ZERO SR
Massive battery capacity increases and industry-first software marketplace for motorcycles highlight advances in the 2022 Zero Model Line
SANTA CRUZ, Calif., (Nov. 4, 2021) – Zero Motorcycles, the worldwide leader in
electric motorcycles and powertrains, today announced significant upgrades to their
core differentiating technologies as well as several new products for the 2022 Model
Line. Headlining that release is the massive improvements to the company’s largest Z-Force lithium-ion batteries. Zero has boosted the energy density in its batteries to build
upon its already best-in-class standing by up to 20%. Thanks to significant advances in
battery design and architecture, these improved power packs come in two standard
capacities of 14.4+ kWh and 15.6+ kWh. The “+” designation noted in the pack size
indicates additional capacity increase opportunities of up to 17.3 kWh. The larger 15.6+
kWh battery configuration will be available on the premium street models of the 2022
SR/S and SR/F and the 14.4+ kWh will come on standard SR/S and SR/F as well as the
all new 2022 SR. All three models will be able to increase their capacity through a
revolutionary on-demand upgrade exclusive to Zero Motorcycles. Maximizing the
capacity of the new batteries through those upgrades and combining it with the optional
Power Tank creates nearly 21 kWh of onboard energy storage. This breakthrough
represents a new high-water mark for Zero’s onboard battery capacity and delivers an
industry-leading 227 miles/365 km of city range and 113 miles/182 km at 70 mph.
Zero has boosted the energy density of its re-engineered Z-Force lithium-ion battery pack by 20%. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
“Being the brand that both defined and continues to lead the category of electric
motorcycles means that we have the responsibility to push the boundaries of what is
possible in electric powertrains. We consistently work to deliver massive steps forward
and not just incremental improvements to our powertrains and our products,” said Sam
Paschel, CEO of Zero Motorcycles. “As part of that effort, a relentless focus on range
improvements, driven by battery capacity and powertrain efficiency, provide the
foundations that allow us to transform the rider’s experience and drive acceleration in
electric vehicle adoption and sales. These leaps forward in battery technology in our
2022 model line have set a new standard for Zero Motorcycles.”
On-Demand Upgrades with the Cypher Store
With the new Cypher III+ operating system and the Cypher Store, owners of Zero Motorcycles can now order performance upgrades on demand and download them to their motorcycle via their smart phone. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
Owners will unlock these additional battery capacities through the brand new Cypher
Store. The Cypher Store is an on-demand marketplace of feature upgrades for Zero
Motorcycles. It represents a major breakthrough in vehicle adaptability and a first for the
powersports industry. These latest software innovations are made possible by Zero’s
proprietary Cypher operating system. The latest iteration of the ground-breaking Cypher
III+ operating system comes standard on 2022 SR/F, SR/S and the all-new 2022 SR
models. Cypher III+ also grants owners of those motorcycles access to a suite of range,
performance, and feature upgrades on the Cypher Store. Accessible with the tap of a
finger, the Cypher Store features a variety of performance options, available either
through the Zero Motorcycles mobile app or online at
www.zeromotorcycles.com/cypherstore. Included as part of the initial list of features
upgrades to be released in Q1 of 2022 are the following:
• Faster Charging
• Extended Range
• Speed & Performance Boost
• Park Mode, Heated Grips
• and On-Dash Navigation.
A 2022-model Zero SR/S electric motorcycle. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
All of these upgrades are optional for 2022 SR/S, SR/F, and SR with more features and
expanded model compatibility planned for subsequent model years.
“The opportunity to customize your motorcycle on-demand is nothing short of
revolutionary in the powersports industry,” said Jeremy Kent, GM of Software and Parts
& Accessories for Zero Motorcycles. “We’ve created the ability to instantly improve the
performance of our products without much more than a Wi-Fi signal, offering a dramatic
shift in how Zero’s motorcycles can grow and evolve along with the owner.”
A 2022-model Zero SR/F electric motorcycle. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
All Cypher Store upgrades will be available for purchase and installation on the Zero
Motorcycles mobile application, website, or even directly from any Zero Motorcycles
dealership worldwide by early Spring 2022.
Zero Motorcycles 2022 SR
A 2022-model Zero SR electric motorcycle. Photo courtesy Zero Motorcycles.
Game-changing new battery technology and access to Cypher Store upgrades headline
the long list of improvements to the 2022 SR. The original electric street motorcycle, the
SR, is one of Zero’s most successful and longest running models. and The 2022 SR
improves on that historic model in every way. Built on Zero’s distinctive exposed steel
trellis frame, the 2022 SR shares the performance DNA of Zero’s most premium options
at a more affordable price.
“The SR is the motorcycle that really established the electric naked street category and
it’s significant that it be the first model to introduce all of these new technologies,” said
Abe Askenazi, CTO of Zero Motorcycles. “Now, with the array of never-before-seen
features, the SR is the most adaptable motorcycle ever and is poised to maintain its
prominence for years to come.”
The 2022 SR is powered by the proven ZF 75-10 motor tuned to deliver 122 ft-lb of
torque, 74 hp, and reaches a top speed of 104 mph. Enabling the Speed & Performance
Boost via the Cypher Store unlocks the full capabilities of the motor as well as upgrades
the SR to Advanced Bosch Motorcycle Stability Control, which adds cornering
capabilities to its existing straight-line ABS, traction control, and drag torque controls.
When equipped with all available Cypher Store battery capacity upgrades and the
additional Power Tank accessory, available in early 2022, the SR’s total battery capacity
can be increased to 20.9 kWh- Zero’s largest onboard battery capacity ever. Also new
to the SR is the ability to charge from the public EV charging network via standard
J1772 connections. The 2022 SR comes in Thermal Red, retails for $17,995, and will
ship to Zero Motorcycles dealerships worldwide through Q1 2022.
About Zero Motorcycles
Zero Motorcycles is the global leader in electric motorcycles and powertrains. Designed
and crafted by hand in California, Zero Motorcycles combines Silicon Valley technology
with traditional motorcycle soul to elevate the motorcycling experience for intelligent,
innovative riders around the world
Kayla Yaakov (31) in action during the 2021 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup. Photo courtesy American Racing Academy.
MotoAmerica: Kayla Yaakov Joins the Altus Motorsports Tucker Environmental Service Solutions Team for 2022
(Altus, OK) Altus Motorsports is excited to announce that Kayla Yaakov will be taking the reins of the Altus Factory Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400 and competing in the MotoAmerica Junior Cup class for 2022. In spite of only racing in six of the nine rounds in 2021, Yaakov finished the season in 8th overall. She was a consistent top-10 finisher and took second place at the final round. Even more impressive is the fact that most of the tracks were completely new to her.
Kayla started on two wheels at four years old riding flat track. She progressed to motocross at age six and then swapped her dirt wheels for slicks and went to the kart track on a supermoto bike at age seven. And that kicked off her road racing career.
In 2021, she split time between the United States and Europe. She competed in all but the final round of the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup. While MotoAmerica will be her primary focus for 2022, she hopes to also compete in a few European wild card rounds (depending on the new age requirements from FIM).
“I’m really happy to be on the Altus team for next year. I felt strong this year and was able to be competitive in spite of having to learn the tracks. On top of that, it was also my first time on the Ninja 400, so there was a lot to learn every weekend. I’ll be doing a lot of off-season training to come into the MotoAmerica season ready to put up some great results. I’ll know the bike, most of the tracks, and will be in the best mental and physical shape of my career by round one,” said Kayla Yaakov.
Kayla Yaakov. Photo courtesy Altus Motorsports.
In addition to her training at home, Kayla plans to join the team for some off-season testing at CVMA races at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in California during the winter.
“We are extremely excited to have Kayla join our team. She was very impressive last year and she has shown that she is a skilled, committed, and professional racer with a lot of experience,” said team owner George Nassaney.
A scene from Epic Rides 2021: Alaska. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield North America.
ROYAL ENFIELD DEBUTS EPIC RIDES: ALASKA
Royal Enfield North America reveals EPIC RIDES 2021: ALASKA – the first in a series films starring Royal Enfield riders and motorcycles.
Milwaukee, WI – The spirit of adventure on two wheels can be traced back to the very advent of the motorcycle itself. Royal Enfield has celebrated this pure motorcycling culture since 1901, and in its 120th year, continues commemorate the spirit of adventure with an all-new film series: Epic Rides. The premiere episode – EPIC RIDES: ALASKA – made its debut at the recent 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan media launch at Doffo Winery in Temecula, California, in front of motorcycle media, industry guests and friends.
In a contrast to the prevalent solo-style of modern adventure riding, EPIC RIDES: ALASKA a testament to how the calling of the unknown can bring people together. Six strangers came together for the first time in Alaska to plan out and ride an adventure tour aboard Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycles. Through the temperate rainforests of the Alaskan coast to its rugged inland terrain strewn with river crossings and breathtaking glaciers, six strangers quickly became friends, bound together by their journey.
EPIC RIDES 2021: ALASKA – ROYAL ENFIELD NORTH AMERICA
“We started the Epic Ride Series to not only showcase the beautiful landscapes our world has to offer but to show how motorcycling itself builds communities, friendships and memories to last a lifetime,” said Breeann Poland, Marketing & Communications Lead – Royal Enfield Americas. “Beyond the capabilities of the Himalayan motorcycle, it’s the camaraderie, the bonds that people forge through a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that we set out to capture, and EPIC RIDES: ALASKA showcases that so beautifully.”
Following the North American launch of the 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle at beautiful Doffo Winery in Temecula, California, motorcycle media, industry guests and friends gathered in the famous MotoDoffo Barrel Room for the premiere viewing of EPIC RIDES: ALASKA, the first in a series to come from Royal Enfield North America. The post viewing discussion became an impromptu roundtable between media and the cast and crew of the film. The immediate reaction clearly demonstrated that the sentiment of the film – the indomitable spirit of adventure, the call of the outdoors and the bonds of the motorcycling community – resonated with everyone.
“We needed an epic venue to premiere our film and what could be more beautiful than a vineyard in Temecula Wine Country surrounded by our friends and motorcycle community?” said Poland. “The discussion that followed after was even more amazing. We hope this film, and more to come in the series, inspires people everywhere to get out and ride, meet new people, have adventures, twist a throttle and live your best life. This is absolutely what Royal Enfield is all about.”
Click to download high-res images.
Images provided by Royal Enfield North America are copyright free for editorial purposes only.
About Royal Enfield
The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the midsize motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market.
Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 140 dealers in North America, including the contiguous U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. RENA currently offers the all-new Meteor 350, Himalayan and the 650 Twins (INT 650 and Continental GT 650) motorcycles, along with a range of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories and apparel.
For more information on Royal Enfield North America, visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.
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Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
November 10, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
