Racer and TrackDaz owner Dustin Coyner presents “Ask a Superbike Genius” with Richard Stanboli, owner of Attack Performance and the Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha MotoAmerica Superbike team.
This interview was conducted following the MotoAmerica event April 30-May 2 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia.
FUELL – Reinventing Urban Mobility
May 7, 2021 – FUELL’s mission is to reinvent the pleasure of riding. The primary concept behind FUELL is to develop a unique range of vehicles for the new urban adventurers, thanks to freedom of design, engineering, and distribution.
The Flluid E-bike is the first step in the journey with a host of new products being developed like the Fllow Electric motorcycle that will complement and enhance the entire FUELL collection of vehicles.
FUELL is proud to present the Flluid-1S. The Flluid-1S E-bike is a beautiful and efficient urban mobility vehicle featuring elegant design, premium components, and built to deliver low maintenance and ease of use. Available in dark grey, blue, red, or silver, the Flluid-1S delivers a wonderful and unique riding experience for the rider in a variety of settings.
The Flluid 1-S comes standard with two large 504Wh Lithium batteries, for a total of over 1kWh, a torque sensing 500w mid motor, and a Gates Carbon belt drive with an internally geared hub. This exceptional E-bike provides incredible efficiency, a sleek modern look and a range of up to 125 miles. Additionally, the Flluid 1-S is available for new FUELL dealers to order now as part of the new FUELL Powersports Dealer Program.
PERFECT – ★★★★★
“This is my 4th ebike and the best I’ve experienced. My thoughts were when I saw it in an ad was that of a sleek modern euro design, two batteries, 125 miles per charge, belt drive, and 28mph I knew right away that I wanted it. My impression on my first ride was that I made the right decision like driving a fine quality designed European car, smooth, quiet, solid, and fast. Now that I believe I’ve found the winning combination of ebikes I found a true WINNER and won’t need to one up this one….. simply the BEST!”
Ron R. on Apr 21, 2021
To sign up to become a new FUELL dealer contact FUELL at [email protected] and to learn more about FUELL vehicles head to www.FUELL.US.
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team concludes its last pre-season test of 2021 at Navarra Circuit (Spain)
Scott Redding and Michael Rinaldi have concluded two days of testing on the Circuito de Navarra (Spain), which will host for the first time in history a WorldSBK round from August 20 to 22.
After a first day dedicated to familiarizing themselves with the new circuit, the two riders of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team have pushed today their Ducati Panigale V4R satisfactorily, bringing home very interesting data.
Scott Redding and Michael Rinaldi closed the two-days testing completing respectively 170 and 165 laps.
For the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team now begins the wait for the first round of the 2021 WorldSBK season, which will take place from 21 to 23 May at the Motorland circuit in Aragon, Spain.
Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #45)
“It was an extremely positive two days. The weather conditions helped us to do a very intense job. The feeling with the bike has been really good and the race pace has been extremely positive. If I have to be honest I had a lot of fun riding on this circuit that reminds me a lot of the BSB ones. We are ready to race and I can’t wait to be in Aragon”.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #21)
“It was a very productive day. Compared to yesterday we made a big step forward and so I’m very happy also because we were able to improve on a not easy track. Now, however, I just want to think about Aragon. In the next few days, I’ll be training, trying to relax and stay calm in order to arrive at the first race of the season in the best possible condition.”
Copyright 2021, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By Michael Gougis
BMW Motorrad factory rider and former Superbike World Champion Tom Sykes is scheduled to make a guest appearance at the 9th Annual DoubleRFest at Virginia International Raceway (VIR).
“We’ve put together a program that moves the needle for BMW, and they’re sending Tom as a kind of a thank-you,” says Nate Kern, professional racer and founder of the premier track day events that celebrate BMW’s groundbreaking S1000RR supersport machine.
“The DoubleRFest is really something unique, and BMW recognizes what we’re doing here, especially in a market this important to them. It’s also BMW’s way of expressing its appreciation to its customers in this market.”
Kern is a brand ambassador for BMW and has raced for and represented the German firm for years. The DoubleRFest started as a track day focused on the S1000RR and its riders, but has expanded to allow the company to showcase many of its products to attendees.
Sykes is not attending as an instructor, Kern says. The 2013 Superbike World Champion and all-time World Superbike pole position record holder is there to ride when he chooses, to ride demonstration laps during the lunch break and appear at dinner on the Saturday evening of the event.
The DoubleRFest also features riding coaches and hot laps in BMW four-wheelers, lunch on both days, and technical assistance on setting up and adapting the bike’s running gear and electronics to the rider.
The event is slated for July 10-11, 2021. For more information, visit www.kerntrackdays.com.
VISIT TOPEKA NAMED OFFICIAL DESTINATION SPONSOR OF
AHRMA CLASSIC MOTOFEST IN THE HEARTLAND
TOPEKA, KS, May 6, 2021 … Visit Topeka has been named the official destination sponsor of the AHRMA Classic MotoFest® in the Heartland (May 28-20). The partnership was formed to better involve the local community and serve as a resource to the motorcycle enthusiasts from around the United States that will be converging on Topeka for the Memorial Day weekend festivities.
AHRMA Classic MotoFest® in the Heartland will showcase an array of vintage 2- and 3-wheel action including road racing, sidecar racing, motocross, cross country, trials and classic drag racing at Heartland Motorsports Park (HMP). The event also features a swap meet, bike show, cycle corral, plenty of family friendly activities and Summer KickStart, Friday, May 28 in Downtown Topeka, featuring music, motorcycles and more.
“We can’t wait to bring the vintage motorcycle racing experience to Kansas and really appreciate the support from Visit Topeka to make it possible,” said Arthur Kowitz, Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees. “We’re going to put on a great show and I know Topeka is going to offer us some great hospitality.”
As destination sponsor of the event, Visit Topeka received a fully integrated community partnership including:
Special ticket and activation offers for local Topeka businesses.
Featured activations at Summer KickStart and Heartland Motorsports Park.
Digital advertising and various other marketing initiatives through AHRMA owned media.
“We’re excited to welcome AHRMA and its members to Topeka to help kickstart our summer travel season,” said Sean Dixon, President of Visit Topeka. “This event is the perfect opportunity for racing fans throughout the region to visit Heartland Motorsports Park for an exciting weekend of family-friendly experiences. We look forward to working with AHRMA to grow this event into an annual tradition for Topeka.”
AHRMA Classic MotoFest® in the Heartland tickets start at just $15 for general admission access and kids under 16 are free when accompanied by an adult. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.AHRMA.org.
ABOUT AHRMA
AHRMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving, restoring, and competing on historic motorcycles. With more than 3,000 members, AHRMA is the leading historic motorcycle racing group in North America and one of the largest in the world. The association’s enthusiastic membership reflects this country’s strong interest in classic bikes.
ABOUT VISIT TOPEKA
Visit Topeka, Inc. is the visitor’s bureau for the capital city of Kansas. Visit Topeka’s mission is to increase tourism’s economic impact on Topeka through destination development and brand management. VisitTopeka.com
Dorna restructures to create new Global Commercial Area
Thursday, 06 May 2021
After more than 20 years working at Dorna Sports as a Commercial Managing Director, Pau Serracanta departs his role to take on fresh challenges.
As a consequence, Dorna has decided to restructure the commercial areas of the company to create a new single Global Commercial Area, as the company continues to focus on strategies for the future in the ever-changing world of sports organisation, promotion and 360º event management. This philosophy is a cornerstone of Dorna’s approach both within the FIM MotoGP™️ World Championship and across its different Championships and projects, from the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship to the Road to MotoGP™️ programme.
Manel Arroyo, Media Managing Director at Dorna until now, will head this new Global Commercial Area assuming the responsibilities of Chief Commercial Officer and will continue leading the Media Area.
Marc Saurina, current WorldSBK Executive Director Commercial Marketing, will assume new responsibilities as Global Commercial Partnerships Senior Director and Ferran Juncar remains as Global Sponsorship Senior Director.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna CEO, commented, “The restructuring of Dorna involves the creation of this new unique Commercial Area that will encompass Media and Sponsorship and seeks the primary objective of undertaking the new future challenges facing both the company and the business that we have managed for 30 years.”
More, from another press release issued by Dorna:
Commercial Managing Director Pau Serracanta departs Dorna
Thursday, 06 May 2021
After 22 years and 355 Grands Prix as director and partner of Dorna Sports, Pau Serracanta has communicated his decision to leave his role in the company.
Pau Serracanta: “My passion has always been the sports sector and the fact that I have been able to dedicate a good part of my professional career to Dorna Sports, I can affirm that it has been a great privilege and that I am very grateful to have worked with a team of excellent professionals. Dorna Sports is like a big family, under the leadership of Carmelo Ezpeleta, a great mentor and whom I consider almost like a father on the professional side. With all the support and knowledge that he has given me, he has meant that these more than two decades will pass at the same speed as the bikes of our fantastic championships. My future plans continue around innovation, technology and sustainability projects.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna Sports CEO: “I’m very grateful for the work and effort that Pau has dedicated to Dorna for more than 22 years. Pau leaves behind a great team of professionals that will allow us to consolidate our partnerships and look for new opportunities and milestones. We want to continue growing this fabulous sport that is motorcycling with the help of all our partners.”
Four BMW M 1000 RRs at MotorLand Aragón: BMW Motorrad Motorsport enters the crucial phase of preparations ahead of the 2021 WorldSBK.
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, Bonovo MGM Racing and RC Squadra Corse complete intensive tests in Alcañiz, Spain.
Preparation for the start of the FIM Superbike World Championship at the same venue in two weeks.
Marc Bongers: “Overall I am happy and I am very much looking forward to finally race”.
Alcañiz. With two weeks to go until the start of the 2021 season in the FIM FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), BMW Motorrad Motorsport has entered a crucial phase of preparations. MotorLand Aragón, the Spanish circuit that will host the opening races of the year, was the venue for this week’s intensive tests with the new BMW M 1000 RR. Among those attending were the factory team, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, with riders Tom Sykes (GBR) and Michael van der Mark (NED), as well as the two BMW satellite teams: Bonovo MGM Racing with Jonas Folger (GER) and RC Squadra Corse with Eugene Laverty (IRL).
The test was primarily used to test further developments and fine-tune the bikes to the individual needs of the riders ahead of the start of the season. Working closely together, and blessed with ideal conditions in the Spanish sun, the teams and riders gained a lot of valuable information for their final preparations.
WorldSBK kicks off the 2021 season with a double-header. The action takes place from 21st to 23rd May at MotorLand Aragón. Round two of the season follows just one week later (28th to 30th May), at Estoril, Portugal.
Quotes after the test at MotorLand Aragón.
Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “It was the last test before it really gets serious – on this same track. Again, we had productive days under perfect weather conditions without any large technical issues so we could clearly conduct our test plan. Already, the satellite teams have shown added value for us because we can get more confirmation and we can share the test points so we can get through more work. That is very positive, we still have some homework to do before the first race but I am confident we will get there and already in some areas it’s a clear improvement, like top speed, brakes and so on. Overall I am happy and I am very much looking forward to finally race.”
Shaun Muir, Team Principal BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It was good to get to the final test in pre-season preparation at Aragón. We again had good conditions. I think we have been very fortunate this year with the late start of the season and selecting to start our testing late has paid dividends. On track activities – we have been focusing on chassis and electronic work. I think it is fair to say that we have completed most of that; we have a good direction going into the Aragón race weekend. Lap times are difficult to judge as from starting at ten o’clock to the middle of the day and the end of the day, it is difficult to tell who was running what tyres. But it is clear that the race pace is very strong from last year to this year from the competition and we need to be on point come Aragón race to be in contention for the podium. Nevertheless, we are happy where we are and we look forward to the first round.”
Tom Sykes, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It has been a very productive test. We have done such a lot now with the electronics all over, the traction control, the engine brake, the power level maps. We’ve also been working with different chassis configurations and set-up and were also trying some things with the engine. Apart from that it was quite some other fundamental things that we have been trying. So overall, they have been very busy days. A big thanks to the whole BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team that has put in very long hours on all the preparations. We just need to go back now and use all this information but certainly there has been a lot gathered and I really feel we can improve the whole package of the new BMW M 1000 RR. I am looking forward to the first races now.”
Michael van der Mark, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “They have been fantastic days. All days, the weather was good. On Monday, it was a bit cold but then it got warmer and warmer so we got a lot of different weather and track conditions and this was really good. It was perfect to test here just before the first race. A lot of things to try, a lot of things to improve but I am really happy with the progression we are making. Of course it’s always difficult to see where you are at a test but we will find out at the race weekends. I am looking forward to some good battles again and to fight with the other guys on track.”
Jonas Folger, Bonovo MGM Racing: “That was our final test before the start of the season. We once again used the time to test all our options and directions, from the chassis to the electronics. We learned a lot, so we are well-prepared for the first races.”
Eugene Laverty, RC Squadra Corse: “First and foremost, I am so happy to be back on a bike after six and a half months off. The big surprise for me was that after this period I was able to get back on my bike and within two exits be on a good pace. So we had three really good days, good weather, surprisingly fast lap times and my main focus has been to improve the baking performance and we did that. So, job well done and I am really happy with my RC Squadra Corse team. Now I am looking forward to the first round here at Aragón after our successful test.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Motor Europe:
Positive End To Pre-Season For KRT
Official Kawasaki WorldSBK riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes have successfully completed their final pre-season WorldSBK test sessions at Motorland Aragon and are now ready to compete for real on the new Ninja ZX-10RR
After a warm and dry two-day private test at the venue of the first championship round Rea was fastest of all and Lowes the second quickest rider.
Rea set a blistering best lap time of 1’48.528 on day two, and also completed the second of two full race simulations. He and his team worked on refining the final set up for the start of the season, confirming the base set-up they will start the exciting 2021 season with on their new Ninja.
For Lowes, who set a total of 104 laps today, his best time of 1’49.182 proved the strong pace of man and machine. He will now put all the pieces together with his crew to start the year in the best way possible.
This Motorland test was conducted in near ideal conditions, and alongside some of Kawasaki’s 2021 WorldSBK rivals from Yamaha and BMW, plus some MotoGP machinery. Rea set the fastest pace even compared to the more powerful MotoGP bikes, with Lowes also ahead of the MotoGP prototype machines.
Kawasaki’s latest Ninja ZX-10RR features engine, chassis and aerodynamic changes for 2021 including a higher rev ceiling and internal front winglets that generate significant extra downforce at high speed.
The first round of the FIM Superbike World Championship will be held at Motorland Aragon from 21-23 May. It will be followed one week later by the second round at Estoril in Portugal, between 28-30 May.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “I am super-content with this test. We managed to tick everything off the list we had, which we prioritised with race simulations. I did one each day, at the time of day the races will be held – in fact we left them a little bit later, to the peak of the temperatures at 3pm. We expect the race weekend will be a little bit hotter than it is now. We have a lot of good information about those. I used both rear tyre options, so we have a lot of good information. Step-by-step we worked some more on my riding, some electronic items. But, more so myself, getting a rhythm and understanding how the tyre behaves over a lot of laps and setting up electronic strategies to utilise during the race. I want to thank the guys because they rebuilt the bike completely as we have been trying to understand where there has been some issues coming. So to rule everything out they have built me a completely new bike and they worked tirelessly. Kudos to all the team staff for this whole winter test programme. It has been very busy but I am looking forward to going to round one in a few weeks’ time and seeing where we stack up.”
Alex Lowes, stated: “That was a good test for me. One of the main targets for today was to improve my feeling with the electronics on the bike. We did two race simulations this afternoon in hot conditions when the track, in theory, has the least grip. We were trying to find a better feeling with the bike. Overall I am really happy. We didn’t piece the whole bike together but now we have a couple of weeks to check the data and put our favourite feelings together and start the party for round one! 104 laps is maybe not the most I have done on one day on the Kawasaki but I had a smile on my face for all of them, so that is the main thing.”
Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “We have used two complete days here in Aragon and with the new rules about testing this is maybe a lot. But we decided to make good preparations for the first race and immediately after Aragon is Estoril, and then the next one after that is quite close. So we wanted to make a base and confirm some things from the previous test. All has been going very well. On day one we focused on testing and confirming these small items, on the chassis side a kind of link with a little bit different character that we have been testing all winter. It has been confirmed and we are happy with the result. Johnny is very happy. We also made the final points with the electronics, working a lot with torque delivery to give the best feeling for JR, and to make a long run with the whole package. Yesterday we made a long run with an SC0 rear tyre, and it was very, very positive. He was very fast and consistent, and happy with the feeling on the bike. Today we focused on making a fast lap time and Johnny made the fastest lap time ever in Aragon. He improved two-tenths compared to last year. We made a second long run on a softer tyre on the final day too. Johnny is very happy, he is ‘talking’ very deeply with the bike and we are ready for the first race.”
Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “We had a good test at Motorland and Alex was very happy. The conditions were fantastic and we used the full two days to make ourselves ready for the first race weekend. We simulated some parts of a race weekend, and of course several long runs and race distances were included. This is the time to fine-tune our bike for real races. We have a clear opinion about our bike in hot and slippery conditions and a clear opinion about the tyres. We are ready for race weekend after our positive experience over two days here.”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK Completes Pre-Season Testing at Aragón
Yamaha’s young rider line-up of Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Andrea Locatelli signed off their 2021 FIM Superbike World Championship preparations with two constructive days of testing at MotorLand Aragón, in picture-perfect weather conditions this week.
Completing a combined total of nearly 350 laps, both 24-year-old riders put the finishing touches on their Yamaha R1 WorldSBK machines ahead of the season-opener at the Alcañiz venue, due to take place on 21-23 May.
The third Aragón test came as an additional fixture on the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK planner, following inclement weather for Locatelli last week and Razgatlıoğlu’s absence from the team test programme in April following his diagnosis with Covid-19.
An eager Razgatlıoğlu re-joined his crew ahead of his second season on the #54 Yamaha R1 WorldSBK with a clean bill of health after undergoing precautionary medical checks in Barcelona on Monday.
For 2020 WorldSSP Champion Locatelli, the test was an important opportunity to take another step forward in his understanding of the R1 WorldSBK before his first race start in the premier class later this month.
The team worked on a mixture of race-length simulations, outright pace and final developments to end pre-season testing in an optimistic frame of mind ahead of the first round of the campaign. Locatelli and Razgatlıoğlu will next don their Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK leathers, race helmets, boots and gloves for Free Practice 1 on Friday 21 May.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu: 1’49.763 / 175 laps
“I was excited to be back on my Yamaha R1 after a long wait! Day one was ok, I enjoyed riding a lot, but day two was a positive improvement after we tried some new parts to find a good set-up for the first race. I felt the lap times were coming really good on the race tyres, but as always we will have to see what happens in the races. I think this year I am more strong, last year I was not fast at this track but this time I have improved physically and mentally. The conditions have been quite hot, and to test some new parts in these conditions and find some improvements is good preparation. Now we must put together the best package, but I am happy to be back and I feel ready for the first race.”
Andrea Locatelli: 1’50.702 / 174 laps
“It was better on day two compared to day one and in general, the feeling of my R1 is good. We have worked a lot and tried different set-ups, we also did a long run to understand the performance over a race distance. It was very good for me to do this because it’s important, but also it has not been easy for Yamaha on this track in the past so I want to work and push to understand where I can improve. The last test here was not so good for me, but now the feeling is better, like I had at Barcelona or Misano. I know my first race in WorldSBK will not be easy, this I expect, but I want to learn and to improve. During the race weekend we have a lot less track time, but maybe I can follow other riders and learn more – and then maybe on Saturday during the first race I can be in a position to fight a little bit. The weekend of the first race, with the emotion and energy, for sure will push me more compared to testing!”
Paul Denning – Team Principal
“Aragón’s weather was much kinder for this test, we had two beautiful sunny days and the opportunity to put in over 1,750 kilometres and improve our performance at this circuit. It was really good to have Toprak back on the bike after his enforced absence and immediately he was able to find his rhythm and significantly improve his performance potential at MotorLand Aragón compared to last year’s race event, both on the Pirelli SC0 race tyre and the SCX sprint race tyre. The race simulation this afternoon wasn’t quite as good as we had hoped, but was still an improvement on 2020 and has given us some really important information for the next steps. It was great to have Toprak around the team again, in positive spirits and we can’t wait to see him perform under race conditions again on the Yamaha R1. As a rookie in the WorldSBK class, there’s a lot to learn for Loka and his third visit to Aragón was the best test so far. It’s a tough balance when a rider has to learn how to get the best from the superbike in terms of technique, and also improve the machine from a technical point of view. Finally this afternoon, the guys found some points that helped him to improve his style and the race simulation was quite encouraging in terms of pace and consistency. We know that Aragón is going to be a challenging event to start the 2021 WorldSBK Championship but, with the great support of Yamaha and the whole group around the team, every possible effort has been made and we’re looking forward to getting back here to see what we can achieve!”
Iddon sets the pace on Snetterton return as testing continues for Bennetts BSB contenders
Christian Iddon set the early pace in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship Official Test at Snetterton today, as the VisionTrack Ducati rider waited until the final moments of the second session to post his best lap, which put him 0.166s ahead of rival Tommy Bridewell.
There was no track action yesterday due to the weather conditions, however the morning started with a busy opening 30-minute session for the teams and riders as Iddon topped the times ahead of FHO Racing BMW’s Peter Hickman and Danny Buchan on the SYNETIQ BMW.
As the conditions continued to improve at the Norfolk circuit, the riders headed out for their second 30-minute session of the day with Buchan setting the fastest lap after ten minutes from teammate Andrew Irwin and Hickman.
The session was briefly red flagged when Joe Francis crashed out at Palmer, and when the action got underway again Tarran Mackenzie was down at Nelson, however he was able to return to the pitlane with the McAMS Yamaha.
As the final ten minutes counted down, Kyle Ryde edged to the top with Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW; holding a 0.218s advantage over Andrew Irwin and Buchan with Ryan Vickers and Hickman holding the top five positions.
However, Bridewell surged back to the top for the Oxford Products Racing Ducati team, putting him 0.191s ahead of Ryde as Iddon began his final run of the session.
Iddon’s best time came with less than a minute remaining on the clock and that put him 0.166s ahead of Bridewell as the two Ducatis locked out the top two positions ahead of the BMW charge which was led by Buchan.
Ryde held fourth position ahead of Hickman, whilst Glenn Irwin narrowly held off his brother for sixth place with Xavi Forés posting the eighth fastest time. Vickers was able to remain in the top ten in ninth place as Lee Jackson completed the top ten for FS-3 Kawasaki.
The rain returned for the third session and teams chose to end the day early in preparation for tomorrow’s final day of testing at Snetterton, before the championship moves on to the next Official Test on May 19 at Oulton Park.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Snetterton Official Test, Combined Times Day 2:
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Christian Iddon, VisionTrack Ducati
“In the first session I didn’t have a lot of feeling to start with, but I think that was just the nature of the track conditions after a lot of rain yesterday and it was the same for everyone. In the second session, the times were much faster and it felt much better. We have been trying to continue working where we finished at Silverstone – we have a plan we are sticking to, and so far we have been quick and the bike feels good.
“We have a lot to work through, but we know we have a good base in our pocket. We are going to keep working and hopefully improving some more in the next sessions as this track has a bit of everything, so we can evaluate a lot of areas. I want to do some more work on tyre life and that was what we worked on at the Silverstone test too, and hopefully we can finish here tomorrow in a good place ready for the next test.”
KWR team scores solid points in Atlanta to open 2021 MotoAmerica season
TUCSON, Ariz. (May 5) — The KWR/Panera Bread Ducati Team competed in the first round of the MotoAmerica Superbike series this past weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Kyle Wyman finished 5th and 6th in races one and two respectively while also finishing 2nd place in the King of the Baggers race on his Factory Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide.
Friday’s qualifying practice day was filled with hiccups for the Ducati team as they sorted through some electronics gremlins that kept them in pit lane for most of the day. Wyman was able to complete 11 solid laps at the end of QP2 that would place him 6th on the day. Saturday’s final qualifying session saw Wyman put his Panera Bread Ducati 7th on the grid for race one later that afternoon, after being unable to utilize the Dunlop qualifying rear tire due to a clutch issue.
“Going into the Road Atlanta weekend we had less than ten laps on our new Ducati Superbike,” Wyman said. “I was really looking forward to putting a solid day together on Friday to acquaint myself with the new package, but some small issues prevented us from really putting in the time needed to get that done.”
“Truly it’s hard to find anything on the new bike that hasn’t been changed or improved over 2020,” Wyman added. “‘We’ve moved over to Accossato brakes which is a big deal, and the new factory fuel tank and tail unit seen on the current WSBK spec Ducati machines overseas. We’ve done everything possible this winter to align our motorcycle with the world championship bikes so that we can have a better comparison with our peers in Bologna. We’ve added Racebolt with KATO Thread Inserts to every corner of the machine to ensure its reliability. We’ve moved to a vastly improved SC-Project Exhaust system that uses a double undertail outlet. This is by far the highest level spec we’ve been able to produce at KWR, and I know that the ceiling his high with this new machine.”
In Saturday’s King of the Baggers qualifying, Wyman was able to put his Harley-Davidson Road Glide in P2 on the grid, just .050 of a second behind series rival Tyler O’Hara on his Factory Indian Motorcycle. This qualifying would set the grid for Sunday’s race, but Saturday afternoon would host the debut of the Panera Bread Ducati in Superbike Race One.
In Superbike race one Wyman got off to a strong start and settled into a lonely 6th position, running the full 19 lap race distance with no battle. He was the benefactor of some late race attrition that would put him in 5th spot by race-end.
“Race one I spent a lot of time just getting familiar with the new machine and trying to adjust myself to the SBK coming off the Bagger, which was more difficult than I had originally thought it would be going into the weekend,” Wyman said. “5th place is a good result considering the time on the bike but the top guys are quite a way up the road. We needed to try a few things for the Sunday warm-up to be better prepared for race two.”
On Sunday Wyman would pull double duty, and race the Harley-Davidson Road Glide in the King of the Baggers main event before SBK race two. In the baggers race Wyman got off to a hole shot lead that would put him with a 1 second gap over rival O’Hara. Wyman relinquished the lead on lap 4 after a two-lap scrap that saw the leaders swap positions. In the end, Wyman finished 2nd in the race just a half second behind in his King of the Baggers debut, and 25 seconds clear of 3rd.
“On the Harley I knew it was going to be between Tyler and I when the race started,” Wyman said. “My plan in the race was to manage the pace the best I could so I could look after my equipment, as we had had some cooling issues with the bike throughout the race weekend. My goal was to bring it home no worse than second but if I had a chance at the win, I would take it. When Tyler got a bad start I decided to put my head down and pull a gap. I was able to do that but toward the middle of the race I had to start looking after the engine and make sure I could bring it home. I was able to stay with him through the last lap but we just didn’t have the steam to bring home the win.”
“All told I’m happy with our debut and we learned a ton about our Road Glide, which is still in its early stages of development. With round one of three now in the books, we need to win the last two races at Road America and Laguna Seca to take this championship. That’s our focus.”
Next up was Superbike race two, and Wyman got off to a stronger start than race one, but found himself in the same lonely position falling short of the race pace in the front group. Wyman would bring home the Panera Bread Ducati in 6th place. With loads of data and experience that was missed in the abbreviated pre-season, the KWR team now has a plan for the upcoming round two at Virginia International Raceway in three weeks time.
“The first round is in the books now and I’m happy to have scored points in both races, but not satisfied with our pace or results overall. We’ve got some work to do in order to get more comfortable with the bike but I know the KWR team will be able to put out a runner for the rest of the season. It’s up to me as a rider to start maximizing the potential of our bike so with our few mechanicals sorted out I look forward to pounding out laps in Virginia and figuring it out.”
Round two at Virginia International Raceway will not feature the King of the Baggers but is set for a Superbike double-header May 21-23, 2021.
For more information about Panera Bread, visit www.panerabread.com.
Stay tuned for news and updates on KWR at www.kylewyman.com
More, from a press release issued by Scott Powersports KTM:
Tyler Scott Wins at MotoAmerica Junior Cup Debut
Tyler Scott, aboard his Scott Powersports KTM RC 390 R, won the opening race of MotoAmerica’s SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup. Scott backed the win up with a second place in the race two on Sunday. The performance has him tied for the championship lead going into the second round at Virginia International Raceway.
“We had a lot of unknowns coming into this race. Tyler hasn’t raced this KTM at all prior to this, and the Ninja 400’s have been consistently developed for a couple of years,” team owner Mike Scott said. “And while the results are impressive, what’s also impressive is the outpouring of support from the MotoAmerica paddock, the fans, and specifically fans of the KTM brand. Tyler was even asked to sign a fan’s bike in the pits after his win!”
“I’m not usually the nervous type, but coming in here not knowing if our package could be competitive definitely had me thinking,” Tyler added. “Once we got going, and I could see that the bike could hang in the draft, I knew it would just come down to my riding and using the KTM’s strengths. Racing with a bunch of my friends was really fun. The first win was awesome, but the second place in race two stung a little. We’ll head to VIR even stronger using everything we learned this first weekend.”
The team is incredibly thankful to the companies that have helped them along the way, including KTM North America, Arai helmets and Scott Powersports. Special thanks also go out to Bob Robbins, Dave Loikits, Dale Quarterley and Eraldo Ferracci for their help and mentorship.
The next MotoAmerica SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup round is at Virginia International Raceway on 5/21.
More, from a press release issued by Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York:
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Team Recaps Road Atlanta MotoAmerica
The Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Team and rider Loris Baz had their ups and downs during the opening round of the 2021 MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Championship at Road Atlanta.
The 28-year-old Frenchman Baz had never ridden the track previously but went straight to work during Friday practice and qualifying aboard his Ducati V4 R. Baz and finished third overall. The team had another round of qualifying Saturday morning, and Baz remained as fast, qualifying third.
Baz got off to a strong start during Saturday’s Race 1 but crashed while battling for the lead with five laps remaining. The crash led to an 11th place starting position on Sunday’s grid for Race 2. Baz quickly worked his way to the fourth position before a DNF due to a technical problem aboard the V4 R.
“For sure, it was not the weekend we wanted,” Baz said. “But we will keep the head up. The guys in the team did a strong job. I needed a better start in race two than on I did on Saturday and got it, but I still don’t have a good feeling on the new tire. But once the tire started to drop, I felt so good. The feeling was awesome on the Ducati. I went P3 but then we had a technical issue, so I had to come in and change the part. I am disappointed, but once again, I will keep the head up because there is still 450 points in this championship on offer. We’re alive and we’re going make it up. We will work harder and we will come to VIR stronger than ever.”
With 450 championship points remaining in the nine-race MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Championship, the team will regroup and prepare for the challenge at Virginia International Raceway, which is set for May 21-23.
For ongoing race season updates, subscribe to HSBK Racing on:
YouTube (www.youtube.com/hsbkracing)
Facebook (www.facebook.com/HSBKRACING/)
Instagram (@hsbkracing)
More, from a press release issued by HONOS HVMC Racing:
Mixed Results For HONOS HVMC Racing During Atlanta Season Opener
Braselton, Georgia ( May 5th, 2021 ) – Honos HVMC Racing leaves Road Atlanta with mixed results from riders Corey Alexander and Richie Escalante over the weekend.
Riding his all new 2021 Graves Spec Kawasaki ZX-10RR for the first time ever, Corey Alexander showed good pace in practice and qualifying sessions immediately running within the top 8. Ultimately he would have to settle for a P6 starting position whilst getting caught out by a red flag in the final minutes of Q2. Stock 1000cc Race 1 resulted in a 6th place finish with a failed mid-race charge to the front after Corey miscalculated a pass through lapped traffic. Race two added to the frustration with a ride through penalty after a jumped start, compounded by another penalty for pit lane speeding. Despite this, Corey managed to rally to a P13 finish.
In Superbike Race 1 the #23 machine was forced to start from the back of the grid after missing the sighting lap. Corey managed to work his way up through the field into 8th position and in the lead of Superbike Cup class only to have a mechanical issue force him out of the race. Sunday’s Superbike race 2 saw Corey wrap up his weekend with a solid 11th place finish and 3rd in the Superbike Cup class amongst fellow Stock 1000cc competitors.
Corey commented “This weekend was trying for the entire team with Richie and I both having to swap to a backup chassis after big crashes. After virtually no testing we had hoped for the best but things did not go 100% according to plan. Overall I am super pumped with our program for 2021 and how everything has come together. I want to thank all of our sponsors for getting us here. We will come back to fight even harder at VIR.”
Richie Escalante had a better weekend than his teammate aboard his HONOS HVMC Graves Spec Kawasaki ZX-6R, challenging for the lead through practice and both qualifying sessions. In race one Richie was able to keep close to the eventual race winner and finish second, without any challengers from behind – a full thirty seconds clear of the pack. Race two proved to be a bit more difficult after an early race mistake distanced him from the leader but again resulted in a second place finish twenty seconds clear of the rest of the field.
Richie was overall happy with his results and stated “After a big crash Saturday I am happy to come away from the weekend healthy and with 40 points. Our whole team worked really well together and I am very thankful to them for their hard work. I am eager to get to Virginia, one of my favorite tracks!”.
The Honos HVMC Racing team heads to Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia for round 2 of the MotoAmerica Championship May 21-23. You can purchase tickets to the event via MotoAmerica.com or in person at the race track.
About WE ARE HONOS®
Founded in 2018, HONOS is a Los Angeles based performance gear and fashion apparel brand that promotes talent within the adrenaline sports realm. With worldwide partnerships ranging from the American Racing team in Moto2 to title sponsorship of the HONOS Superbike class in MotoAmerica, HONOS has heavily invested it’s brand into motorsports. Follow @wearehonos or visit wearehonos.com to shop now.
About Hudson Valley Motorcycles
Hudson Valley Motorcycles is a family owned and operated motorcycle dealership that has been serving New York’s Hudson Valley and Westchester County as well as Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New England region. HVMC has offered Kawasaki, Ducati, Scrambler Ducati, Suzuki, Energica and ATV, motorcycle or UTV Sales, Parts, and Service for over 50 years. For more info visit hudsonvalleymotorcycles.com, call (914)-762-2722 or follow @hvmotorcycles on social media.
More, from a press release issued by Ethan Cook Racing:
Floor to the Top 8 for Ethan in Atlanta
Ethan Cook leaves the opening round of the 2021 MotoAmerica Twins Cup championship at Road Atlanta with eight points after an eighth-place finish in Sunday’s second race.
He missed the season opener on Saturday following a crash in qualifying which saw his team working flat out to get him back on track.
For Cook, a ‘rookie’ in the category, Sunday’s race result is a confidence builder for the rest of the season which continues at Virginia International Raceway in a couple of weeks.
Ethan Cook: “It was a pretty tough weekend, the first together as a new team for an actual racing event. On Friday I missed the opening Free Practice session as we were still working through some things with the electronics and then in Q1 I rode half the session and unfortunately crashed at Turn 10. It was my fault, but my Wrench Motorsports crew did a great job to get me back out for Q2. I kept it upright and made the grid which was the target. When it came to the race the bike had another small issue, so we weren’t able to ride. The guys stayed up late and we switched the ECU and wiring harness and luckily, we were able to get it all sorted for Sunday. The bike felt good in Warm-Up and finally I felt confident. The race was really enjoyable, I made an average start, and I was able to improve my lap times, but then there was a red flag. On the restart I worked my further up the field and eventually finished eighth. All in all, considering all the frustrations, and all the challenges we faced I am happy. We move to VIR with points on the board and we will be in great shape from the off there.”
For more information go to EthanCookRacing.com
More, from a press release issued by Landers Racing:
After a winter full of training on the ice, supermoto, motocross, and road racing, Ben Gloddy came into the 2021 Sportbiketrackgear.com MotoAmerica Junior Cup Season more prepared than in the past and with a new team, Landers Racing. The first round at Road Atlanta seemed to prove that his hard work and off-season training paid off.
In race one after a red flag restart, Gloddy had a decent start and was able to work his way into second place where he swapped positions a few times with the leader. On the final lap, Gloddy was trying to close the gap to the leader but was not able to make up enough ground to make a pass for the lead. Finishing the race in second place, Gloddy logged the fastest lap of the race with a 1:41.513.
In race two after another red flag, Gloddy had a good start and was in the lead group exchanging positions throughout the race. On the final lap, it was obvious he was trying to set himself up for a strong move. On the back straight away, he was able to draft for the lead and held on through the final few corners and onto straight to capture his first MotoAmerica victory. On the final lap, Gloddy again logged the fastest lap of the race and weekend with a 1:41.130, three-tenths off the lap record.
Ben had this to say, “Coming away from Road Atlanta with second and first place finishes was a great way to kick off the 2021 season. I cannot thank the Landers Racing crew; Stoney, Tarl, Will, Thomas, Lees Cycle Service, Ohlins USA, KFG Motorsports, CJR Performance, Evol Technology, enough for putting together such a competitive bike. After a great test at COTA and then this past weekend at Road Atlanta, I am feeling very confident in our ability to be a championship contender. Thank you to my team, The Big S, Freedom Cycle, American Supercamp, Penguin Racing, REB Graphics/Innovative Motorsports, Atlantic Cruising Yachts, Arai Helmets, Dunlop, Scott Stump, Roche Realty Group, Sportbike Track Gear, Fast by Ferracci, Barnett Clutches and Cables, Tyrant Designs CNC and all of my team and personal sponsors for all of the support, as well as my parents, family, friends, and fans! I am excited for round two at VIR in a few weeks!”
Team owner Stoney Landers had this to say about Ben’s breakout performance, “Ben showed last year that he had the consistency and speed to be on the podium, but this year, it seems Ben has risen to a new level. It has been a very rewarding experience thus far to work with another talented and focused racer. Ben just does everything right, he knows when to push and when to be a bit more conservative, he sits down and writes his notes after every session, gives great feedback, and then he gives it his all on the track. I am very impressed with him. Saturday he did a great job giving Tyler and some of the other kids a run for their money and ended up with a solid 2nd place. He and I knew directly after the race we could make the bike a little better for Sunday’s race. When it came time for Sunday’s race, we talked about a strategy for the race and Ben implemented it absolutely perfectly. On the last lap, his run out of turn 7, his riding technique from turn 10 to the final corner was brilliant. He rode a perfect race and ended up on top of the box finally. He was so happy on the podium, it was really cool. His mechanic, Tarl, his teammate Rocco, the rest of our crew, and his family that was in attendance, were so happy for him!
Rocco Landers lands on the podium in his first-ever weekend racing in the ultra-competitive 600ss class
After 2 stunning seasons, 38 wins, 3 championships, and multiple broken records, it finally came time for Rocco Landers to graduate to the stacked 600ss class. With so little time to test on his new Yamaha YZF-R6, it really was an unknown as to what to expect coming into the Atlanta Round.
Saturday’s race ended early for Rocco as he was involved in a turn one incident and hit the deck. His mechanics Thomas and Will worked hard to get the bike back together and ready for Sunday’s warm-up and race 2.
Rocco had this to say, “After Saturday’s crash and dealing with the traction control issue in race two, I never thought I would be as happy as I was to get 3rd in race two. I felt like it was a big accomplishment to get on the box after such a difficult weekend. We are going to get several technical issues sorted out for VIR and of course, we are always pushing for the win. I would like to thank my mechanics, Thomas and Will, my mom, and dad for all their all of their hard work, and all of my sponsors who push to support me.”
Stoney Landers had this to say, “Race 2 started with some interruption as a red flag stopped the action after only a couple laps. For the re-start, Rocco did not get the best start and ended up roughly 8th in turn 1. He lost some ground and had to work his way back up to the 3rd-6th place group. He got by 6th, then was kind of dangling back behind Stefano Mesa and Benjamin Smith who were holding the 3rd and 4th positions down. He noticed in the race that the bike felt a bit flat and didn’t have a great drive out of the corners. With roughly 3 laps to go, he noticed that his traction control indicator showed “level 4″. It must have gotten accidentally bumped up while he was racing. As he doesn’t really mess with traction control on the 600, he turned it back down as he was heading into turn 6. Immediately his Yamaha started to pull off the corners better and he was able to get back up to the Mesa and Smith battle. We have not seen coverage of the pass yet, but on the final lap, heading into turn 10, he was able to out-brake both Mesa and Smith in one maneuver, then hold that position to get a well-deserved 3rd place!”
Stoney continued by saying, “I really cannot thank my team enough, which includes but is not limited to Thomas, Will, Tarl, my wife, Barry and all of the guys at Ohlins, Steve with Evol Technology, Philipe with Beringer Brakes, Chuck and the guys at Westby Racing, Cameron with CJR Performance, Tige and all of the MotoAmerica Crew, Thomas with Tyrant CNC, Tony, Cory and all of the crew at Dunlop, Reese and Scott with REB Graphics, Tom Halverson and Jim Roach at Yamaha USA/Yamalube, Jody and Eric at Lees Cycle, Barnett Clutches and Cables, California Superbike School, HJC Helmets, Mithos Leathers, Chuckwalla Raceway, Vortex/EK, and SBS Brakes, Track Daz, American Racing Team, Brian and Jimmy with Sportbike Track Gear, Mike Welch and all of our other sponsors. Without everyone’s contribution, none of this would be possible.”
Individual and Team Sponsorship Opportunities are still available for the 2021 MotoAmerica Season, please contact:
Christina Day, [email protected]
Stoney Landers, [email protected]
Rider Connection:
Ben Gloddy, [email protected]
bengloddyracing.com
More, from a press release issued by Altus Motorsports:
MotoAmerica: Round 1 Results from Road Atlanta for the Altus Motorsports Tucker Environmental Service Solutions Team
(Braselton, GA) Since their first participation in a MotoAmerica event back in 2015, Altus Motorsports has been committed to the sport and developing talent. In 2020, the team took home the Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup championships. Every year they put in an impressive team effort from both riders and crew and this year is no different. The 2021 MotoAmerica season kicked off at Road Atlanta and Altus showed up ready to begin where they left off.
Honos Superbike & Stock 1000:
Jake Lewis came back to racing after a year off and took the reins of the Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000 in both Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup classes.
The Stock 1000 races were extremely exciting and hard-fought racing. Jake started both races from the front row in third. Race One turned into a seven-bike battle for the podium for the entire race. In the end, Lewis finished just off the podium in fourth place. An amazing start to Race Two saw Jake take the holeshot and then run a close second in a two bike breakaway at the front. An unfortunate incident in Turn Seven put him back to eighth. He spent the remainder of the race fighting his way back up to fourth.
In the Superbike Class, Jake started the first race from 13th and finished 11th place overall. Sunday, in Superbike Race Two, Lewis crossed the line in ninth place overall and as the second-fastest Stock 1000 bike.
Supersport 600:
Round One of the MotoAmerica Series was Jaret Nassaney’s first time back on his Suzuki GSX-R600 after several months off recovering from an injury to his arm sustained during off-season training. Nassaney was progressively faster each session and qualified 16th for Race One. He finished the race in an impressive eighth place. He started from 15th in Race Two and spent most of the race fighting for ninth. Ultimately, he took the checkered flag in 12th position.
“Overall it was a good weekend. It took me a bit to reacclimate to the bike after the crash a couple of months ago. I wanted to improve every time I went out and I did,” said Jaret Nassaney. “It was great to get back to racing at the national level. My arm definitely is not up to full strength and endurance but I have three weeks before VIR to get it back to 100%.”
Cooper McDonald stepped in for the injured Kevin Olmedo for Round One of the MotoAmerica season. McDonald has spent the last few years racing in the Twins Class. As a result, he had to spend the weekend learning the bike and how to ride Road Atlanta with significantly more horsepower. He started the first Supersport race from 18th. A first corner incident ahead of him broke the back field up. As a result he could not latch onto the faster pack and spent much of the race circulating in a lonely 10th. Unfortunately, a last corner mistake put him back a few spots to finish in 16th place. On Sunday, he started from 17th. Cooper spent most of the race in great battles and fought his way forward to finish in 13th place. Impressive results for his first weekend on a 600.
“What a great weekend. I was on quite the learning curve with the bike. It’s very different from riding a Twin. I was adapting every lap of every session. In Race One, there was an incident in Turn One that caused the pack to break up a bit. As a result, I couldn’t go with the pack I wanted to run with. Race Two was better. I had a good battle,” said Cooper McDonald. “I can’t thank the Altus team enough for thinking of me. They are a great group of people and made the weekend super easy. I just had to show up and ride.”
In spite of his inability to ride, Kevin Olmedo came to the event to support the team and show off his scars from shoulder surgery. Olmedo will meet with his doctors this week to evaluate his chances to make VIR. He is hopeful he can make Round Two but if not, he will definitely be at Road America for Round Three.
Liqui Moly Junior Cup:
2021 is Hayden Bicknese’s first season in the Junior Cup and, as a result, most of the tracks are new to him. At Road Atlanta, Bicknese impressed early by ranking third on the charts during first practice. He spent the weekend getting used to the Altus Factory Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400 and learning the technical Road Atlanta track. In the first Junior Cup race of the weekend, Hayden started ninth and finished seventh in a close, three-bike battle for 6th place. He spent Sunday’s race in another multi-bike battle, this time for eighth. In the end, he crossed the line in ninth place. His pace showed his capabilities. As the season goes on he will only get stronger.
“Overall I’d say it was a good weekend. We started strong and finished strong. We consistently improved as a team which gave me confidence. I still have some learning to do on how to ride the Altus bike fast. I don’t know VIR so I will be learning that track as well,” said Hayden Bicknese.
“I think the weekend was a success! New riders, new mechanics and by Sunday everyone was working together. We really appreciate Suzuki stepping up to help and I’m excited to get the season underway and get our riders on the Box!” said team-owner, George Nassaney.
The Altus Motorsports team is supported by our great family of sponsors: Altus Motorsports, Environmental Service Solutions, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Creative Sports Concepts, Tucker Powersports, Schaefer Engineering, Hot Bodies Racing, M4 Exhausts, Vortex EK, Motion Pro, Barnett, VP Lubricants, SBS Brakes,Galfer USA, Moto-D Racing, Bonamici, Ohlins, K-Techs, RS Taichi, Arai, Law Tigers Oklahoma, and Altus Factory Racing.
Estenson Racing Makes History with Yamaha Atlanta Super TT Sweep
Estenson Racing was unbeatable at last night’s Yamaha Atlanta Super TT, making history as the first team and manufacturer to win every class at a Progressive American Flat Track round. JD Beach put on a masterclass performance to win the Mission SuperTwins Main Event. Dallas Daniels completed the sweep at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a stunning two-category double, first in the AFT Production Twins class and then shortly after, in AFT Singles, where he was joined on the podium by teammate Mikey Rush for a stellar 1-2 finish. Kolby Carlile also had a top night, earning a career-best Mission SuperTwins finish in fifth.
Even in the premier Mission SuperTwins category, Beach was in a class of his own all weekend long at Atlanta. Fastest by a significant margin from the opening session, he proved untouchable aboard his Yamaha MT-07 DT right through to the checkered flag in the Main Event. The runaway victory was Beach’s third in the premier class, three out of four of the series’ most recent TTs. After earlier securing a runner-up result at the Volusia Half-Mile season opener, the win furthered his claim as a legitimate class contender in 2021 as he moved into the points lead.
Carlile flashed podium-caliber speed in Atlanta as well, qualifying third fastest. A tough outing in his Semi ultimately put that beyond his reach, but the 2017 AFT Singles Champion still managed to come through the pack from 11th to fifth.
Like Beach, Daniels showed strength straight away and in both classes. The prodigious 17-year-old was absolutely dominant in his AFT Production Twins debut, leading every session en route to his first victory on the Yamaha MT-07 DT. Daniels then backed that up with a clutch victory in AFT Singles class.
Even if Daniels had faltered, teammate Rush would have completed the sweep in his stead. After winning his Semi, the Californian grabbed the holeshot in the Main Event with Daniels right behind him, but the race was red-flagged after a crash on the first lap. This time around, the reigning AFT Singles Champion got the flying start with Rush in third. Daniels rode a smart race up front, putting the pressure on the competition. In the final four laps, Rush moved into second for the team’s second double podium of the season. The pair also sit 1-2 in the championship standings, with Daniels holding a three-point advantage over his teammate.
Estenson Racing will look to translate its momentum into continued top results when the series picks back up again at Texas Motor Speedway for the Texas Half-Mile on May 22.
Tommy Hayden – Estenson Racing Team Manager
“What an incredible night at the Atlanta Super TT for Estenson Racing. So many things have to go right to have a night like we did tonight, and fortunately, they did for us. All of our riders were on point all day. I could go on and on about how well all four of them rode tonight, but I want to say thanks to all of our crew members; each one of them played a role in this special night. To dominate all three classes at the event that Yamaha sponsored, and to leave here with the points lead in AFT Singles and the SuperTwins class, it’s just a night you dream of.”
JD Beach – Estenson Racing Mission SuperTwins
“Tonight couldn’t have gone any better. It was a dream night not only for myself but for the whole team. We swept all the classes, which is amazing. For me, after the win, it was almost more of a relief than excitement. After leading the whole test day, then leading everything today, I felt like I had a huge weight on my shoulders. So it’s awesome to get a win and leave with the points lead. We still have a lot of work to do for oval tracks, but we are getting there.”
Kolby Carlile – Estenson Racing Mission SuperTwins
“I had a good two days here in Atlanta. I was second fastest in almost every practice and qualified third overall. Going into my Semi, I was pretty nervous starting second and I didn’t get the best start and made a quick mistake, putting me to the back of the pack. Going into the Main Event I had no pressure and just put in 20 solid laps, coming from 11th to 5th. I’m happy with that performance. I just need to iron out some details, and I will be finishing where my speed shows I can be.”
Dallas Daniels – Estenson Racing AFT Singles and AFT Production Twins
“It was a really good night here at the Atlanta TT. Obviously, it couldn’t have gone any better. It was just a dream night for the team, winning every class for Estenson Racing. The day started out awesome. As soon as we got on the twin, we were fastest in every session on the track, won the Semi and the Main Event. It was just an amazing day on the twin. On the 450, I kind of struggled a little bit in the Semi and got second to Ferran (Cardus). I’m not going to lie, I was a little nervous going into the weekend and thinking about racing both classes; I didn’t want to mess up. I have to give a big thanks to the team. We’re sitting good in the AFT Singles points right now, and we’re hoping to keep it going.”
Mikey Rush – Estenson Racing AFT Singles
“I’m pumped to get another second-place finish this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was an awesome track, and I really enjoyed racing it. I’m also stoked that my teammate Dallas and I went 1-2, getting both YZ450Fs on the box at Yamaha’s home race. Being a part of the Estenson Racing crew and Yamaha is awesome. They give me a great bike week-in and week-out, and I’m looking to carry this momentum into Texas in a few weeks and the rest of the season. I’m so proud of the whole team this weekend. We all work so hard. It was just a great weekend. I had a blast!”
More, from a press release issued by KTM:
RED BULL KTM’S MAX WHALE FINISHES JUST OFF THE PODIUM AT ATLANTA SUPER TT
Round 3 – American Flat Track Championship – May 2, 2021
ATLANTA, Ga. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Max Whale finished just shy of the AFT Singles podium on Saturday with a hard-fought fourth-place at Round 3 of the 2021 American Flat Track Championship. Motorsport icon, Travis Pastrana, made a guest appearance at the Atlanta Super TT alongside the Red Bull KTM squad where he scored an impressive ninth-place in the AFT Singles class aboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION.
Whale, who qualified sixth with a competitive lap time in the singles division, set himself up for a favorable day of racing as he lined up on the front row of AFT Singles Semi 2. He powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION off the line and into third on the opening lap, where he battled for most of the race. With three laps to go, Whale clicked it up a notch to overtake second as he laid down blazing fast lap times to finish second in the semi.
Following a red-flag restart in the Main Event, Whale got off to a fifth-place start and battled inside the top-five for the first half of the race. The Australian native was able to make his way into fourth at the halfway mark and from there he maintained a steady pace to finish just shy of the podium in fourth.
Whale: “What an awesome weekend Atlanta was! It was super fun having Travis Pastrana, Ryan Sipes and Shayna Texter as teammates all weekend. I feel like I had good speed but the first couple laps I got pushed around and dropped back a few positions but I passed a few people and ended up fourth. I feel like I had pace to run with the front three but it was too little too late and I couldn’t catch them quick enough. I just want to thank everyone who helps me out, the whole Red Bull KTM team worked really hard all weekend and it’s much appreciated.”
Coming off a 1-1 sweep at the opening rounds, Shayna Texter-Bauman had a challenging day at the Atlanta Super TT. She made it through qualifying to line up in AFT Singles Semi 2 but she didn’t get the start she was looking for and wasn’t able to make her way through the field to claim a transfer into the Main Event. Despite missing the main, Texter-Bauman still maintains third overall in the championship standings with two Main Event wins in the first three rounds.
Texter-Bauman: “It was a challenging night for myself as I failed to qualify for the Main Event. This TT track was a bit unique to our sport for TT racing in particular because they added an asphalt section to the track. I felt really good on the asphalt but I was really struggling myself in the dirt section. The Georgia red clay as we saw in Supercross was very hard to find a consistent base and we battled rough-dry-slick conditions all night long. We will regroup tomorrow with some oval testing and be ready to come out strong in Texas in a couple weeks.”
As part of his weekend racing extravaganza, Travis Pastrana lined up in the AFT Singles Class for Round 3 aboard the iconic #199 KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to try his hand at a different discipline of racing. Pastrana came away with a respectable ninth-place finish in the Main Event after battling inside the top-10 throughout the day. Pastrana was a welcomed addition to the team for the weekend as he demonstrated his ability to be ready to race at any time, any place.
Pastrana: “It was an epic day of fun here in Atlanta. The KTM was by far the fastest 450 I’ve ever ridden and a huge advantage on the field and I had a blast trying to figure everything out. I brought my mechanic Ron with me to help out but besides bleeding the front brake a few times, we didn’t touch anything all weekend. I wish I could have finished one spot higher and been in front of [Ryan] Sipes but I was really happy to make the main and get a top-10 result. I need some practice using the metal shoe and being consistent with my slides but maybe the chance will come up to ride another TT in the future.”
Next Race: Texas Half-Mile – Fort Worth, Texas – May 22, 2021
AFT Singles Main Event – Atlanta Super TT
1. Dallas Daniels, YAM
2. Michael Rush, YAM
3. Ferran Cardus, HON
4. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
OTHER KTM
9. Travis Pastrana, KTM
17. Aiden RoosEvans, KTM
AFT Singles Point Standings (After Round 3)
1. Dallas Daniels, 60 points
2. Michael Rush, 57
3. Shayna Texter-Bauman, 50
4. Max Whale, 43
More, from a press release issued by Royal Enfield North America:
Moto Anatomy x Royal Enfield Rider Johnny Lewis Captures Fifth Place at Atlanta
Lewis charged from the back of the field after first lap incident
Atlanta, GA: Moto Anatomy x Royal Enfield rider Johnny Lewis captured fifth place during the American Flat Track (AFT) Atlanta Super TT at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Lewis was fast all weekend and despite a crash on the first lap that forced him to start from the back of the field, Lewis made quick work of the back half of the field and settled into fifth. The top five finish showcases the development work the team has done since the opening round in Volusia.
The Super TT format played well into Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfield rider’s strengths, as Lewis is an accomplished supermoto rider and rides motocross regularly as part of his training. During the opening lap, Lewis made a strong start, but high-sided coming out of the first corner, breaking his helmet visor and inflating his airbag suit. After the field was red-flagged, Lewis was able to regroup and rejoin the race at the back of the field.
“We showed great speed all weekend, but the incident on the first lap meant we had our work cut out for us,” said Moto Anatomy x Royal Enfield rider Johnny Lewis. “The team has been working extremely hard since Volusia. David and Bryan Lloyd along with the rest of the team have put in long hours to get more power out of the Twins FT. We ran at the top of the field all weekend and feel great about the progress we’ve made. Obviously, we had hoped for a podium result but that’s racing.”
The Atlanta Super TT course utilized both the front straightaway of the NASCAR oval and portions of dirt in the infield grass. The track made for great racing action and Lewis was running in the top two during practice and qualifying, then won his semi-final race in convincing fashion. The fifth-place finish and the speed shown by Lewis all weekend highlights the behind-the-scenes work the team continues to do in search of furthering the performance of the Twins FT package.
The American Flat Track season will return on May 22 at Texas Motor Speedway for the Mission Foods Texas Half Mile Presented by Roof Systems. Lewis will look to take the momentum from his fifth-place finish into the next round in Texas.
During the race weekend, the Get On! Moto Show will also take place around the speedway, with demo rides, custom bike displays, music, food and more Friday through Sunday. Johnny Lewis will also be hosting a Royal Enfield Slide School powered by Moto Anatomy that weekend as well.
To learn more, visit Get On! Moto Show or purchase tickets directly at AmericanFlatTrack.com.
Be sure to follow @MotoAnatomyxRoyalEnfield on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest results and insights from the track. The team will continue to release short films documenting each round, which can be seen on Royal Enfield North America’s YouTube channel throughout the season.
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 mid-size 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 125 dealers in North America, including the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. RENA currently offers the Himalayan, Meteor 350 and the 650 Twins: INT 650 and Continental GT 650 motorcycles along with a range of genuine motorcycle accessories and apparel.
The Moto Anatomy x Royal Enfield team is supported by Harris Performance, SENA, Spectro Oils, Beringer Brakes, Solid Performance, EVS, ODI, Just 1, Tucker, Saddlemen, S&S Cycle, Team Lawant, Quayle Construction and Goon Glass and Rubber.
For more information on Royal Enfield North America, please visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.
Racer and TrackDaz owner Dustin Coyner presents “Ask a Superbike Genius” with Richard Stanboli, owner of Attack Performance and the Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha MotoAmerica Superbike team.
This interview was conducted following the MotoAmerica event April 30-May 2 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia.
FUELL – Reinventing Urban Mobility
May 7, 2021 – FUELL’s mission is to reinvent the pleasure of riding. The primary concept behind FUELL is to develop a unique range of vehicles for the new urban adventurers, thanks to freedom of design, engineering, and distribution.
The Flluid E-bike is the first step in the journey with a host of new products being developed like the Fllow Electric motorcycle that will complement and enhance the entire FUELL collection of vehicles.
FUELL is proud to present the Flluid-1S. The Flluid-1S E-bike is a beautiful and efficient urban mobility vehicle featuring elegant design, premium components, and built to deliver low maintenance and ease of use. Available in dark grey, blue, red, or silver, the Flluid-1S delivers a wonderful and unique riding experience for the rider in a variety of settings.
The Flluid 1-S comes standard with two large 504Wh Lithium batteries, for a total of over 1kWh, a torque sensing 500w mid motor, and a Gates Carbon belt drive with an internally geared hub. This exceptional E-bike provides incredible efficiency, a sleek modern look and a range of up to 125 miles. Additionally, the Flluid 1-S is available for new FUELL dealers to order now as part of the new FUELL Powersports Dealer Program.
PERFECT – ★★★★★
“This is my 4th ebike and the best I’ve experienced. My thoughts were when I saw it in an ad was that of a sleek modern euro design, two batteries, 125 miles per charge, belt drive, and 28mph I knew right away that I wanted it. My impression on my first ride was that I made the right decision like driving a fine quality designed European car, smooth, quiet, solid, and fast. Now that I believe I’ve found the winning combination of ebikes I found a true WINNER and won’t need to one up this one….. simply the BEST!”
Ron R. on Apr 21, 2021
To sign up to become a new FUELL dealer contact FUELL at [email protected] and to learn more about FUELL vehicles head to www.FUELL.US.
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team concludes its last pre-season test of 2021 at Navarra Circuit (Spain)
Scott Redding and Michael Rinaldi have concluded two days of testing on the Circuito de Navarra (Spain), which will host for the first time in history a WorldSBK round from August 20 to 22.
After a first day dedicated to familiarizing themselves with the new circuit, the two riders of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team have pushed today their Ducati Panigale V4R satisfactorily, bringing home very interesting data.
Scott Redding and Michael Rinaldi closed the two-days testing completing respectively 170 and 165 laps.
For the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team now begins the wait for the first round of the 2021 WorldSBK season, which will take place from 21 to 23 May at the Motorland circuit in Aragon, Spain.
Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #45)
“It was an extremely positive two days. The weather conditions helped us to do a very intense job. The feeling with the bike has been really good and the race pace has been extremely positive. If I have to be honest I had a lot of fun riding on this circuit that reminds me a lot of the BSB ones. We are ready to race and I can’t wait to be in Aragon”.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #21)
“It was a very productive day. Compared to yesterday we made a big step forward and so I’m very happy also because we were able to improve on a not easy track. Now, however, I just want to think about Aragon. In the next few days, I’ll be training, trying to relax and stay calm in order to arrive at the first race of the season in the best possible condition.”
Copyright 2021, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By Michael Gougis
BMW Motorrad factory rider and former Superbike World Champion Tom Sykes is scheduled to make a guest appearance at the 9th Annual DoubleRFest at Virginia International Raceway (VIR).
“We’ve put together a program that moves the needle for BMW, and they’re sending Tom as a kind of a thank-you,” says Nate Kern, professional racer and founder of the premier track day events that celebrate BMW’s groundbreaking S1000RR supersport machine.
“The DoubleRFest is really something unique, and BMW recognizes what we’re doing here, especially in a market this important to them. It’s also BMW’s way of expressing its appreciation to its customers in this market.”
Kern is a brand ambassador for BMW and has raced for and represented the German firm for years. The DoubleRFest started as a track day focused on the S1000RR and its riders, but has expanded to allow the company to showcase many of its products to attendees.
Sykes is not attending as an instructor, Kern says. The 2013 Superbike World Champion and all-time World Superbike pole position record holder is there to ride when he chooses, to ride demonstration laps during the lunch break and appear at dinner on the Saturday evening of the event.
The DoubleRFest also features riding coaches and hot laps in BMW four-wheelers, lunch on both days, and technical assistance on setting up and adapting the bike’s running gear and electronics to the rider.
The event is slated for July 10-11, 2021. For more information, visit www.kerntrackdays.com.
VISIT TOPEKA NAMED OFFICIAL DESTINATION SPONSOR OF
AHRMA CLASSIC MOTOFEST IN THE HEARTLAND
TOPEKA, KS, May 6, 2021 … Visit Topeka has been named the official destination sponsor of the AHRMA Classic MotoFest® in the Heartland (May 28-20). The partnership was formed to better involve the local community and serve as a resource to the motorcycle enthusiasts from around the United States that will be converging on Topeka for the Memorial Day weekend festivities.
AHRMA Classic MotoFest® in the Heartland will showcase an array of vintage 2- and 3-wheel action including road racing, sidecar racing, motocross, cross country, trials and classic drag racing at Heartland Motorsports Park (HMP). The event also features a swap meet, bike show, cycle corral, plenty of family friendly activities and Summer KickStart, Friday, May 28 in Downtown Topeka, featuring music, motorcycles and more.
“We can’t wait to bring the vintage motorcycle racing experience to Kansas and really appreciate the support from Visit Topeka to make it possible,” said Arthur Kowitz, Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees. “We’re going to put on a great show and I know Topeka is going to offer us some great hospitality.”
As destination sponsor of the event, Visit Topeka received a fully integrated community partnership including:
Special ticket and activation offers for local Topeka businesses.
Featured activations at Summer KickStart and Heartland Motorsports Park.
Digital advertising and various other marketing initiatives through AHRMA owned media.
“We’re excited to welcome AHRMA and its members to Topeka to help kickstart our summer travel season,” said Sean Dixon, President of Visit Topeka. “This event is the perfect opportunity for racing fans throughout the region to visit Heartland Motorsports Park for an exciting weekend of family-friendly experiences. We look forward to working with AHRMA to grow this event into an annual tradition for Topeka.”
AHRMA Classic MotoFest® in the Heartland tickets start at just $15 for general admission access and kids under 16 are free when accompanied by an adult. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.AHRMA.org.
ABOUT AHRMA
AHRMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving, restoring, and competing on historic motorcycles. With more than 3,000 members, AHRMA is the leading historic motorcycle racing group in North America and one of the largest in the world. The association’s enthusiastic membership reflects this country’s strong interest in classic bikes.
ABOUT VISIT TOPEKA
Visit Topeka, Inc. is the visitor’s bureau for the capital city of Kansas. Visit Topeka’s mission is to increase tourism’s economic impact on Topeka through destination development and brand management. VisitTopeka.com
Dorna restructures to create new Global Commercial Area
Thursday, 06 May 2021
After more than 20 years working at Dorna Sports as a Commercial Managing Director, Pau Serracanta departs his role to take on fresh challenges.
As a consequence, Dorna has decided to restructure the commercial areas of the company to create a new single Global Commercial Area, as the company continues to focus on strategies for the future in the ever-changing world of sports organisation, promotion and 360º event management. This philosophy is a cornerstone of Dorna’s approach both within the FIM MotoGP™️ World Championship and across its different Championships and projects, from the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship to the Road to MotoGP™️ programme.
Manel Arroyo, Media Managing Director at Dorna until now, will head this new Global Commercial Area assuming the responsibilities of Chief Commercial Officer and will continue leading the Media Area.
Marc Saurina, current WorldSBK Executive Director Commercial Marketing, will assume new responsibilities as Global Commercial Partnerships Senior Director and Ferran Juncar remains as Global Sponsorship Senior Director.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna CEO, commented, “The restructuring of Dorna involves the creation of this new unique Commercial Area that will encompass Media and Sponsorship and seeks the primary objective of undertaking the new future challenges facing both the company and the business that we have managed for 30 years.”
More, from another press release issued by Dorna:
Commercial Managing Director Pau Serracanta departs Dorna
Thursday, 06 May 2021
After 22 years and 355 Grands Prix as director and partner of Dorna Sports, Pau Serracanta has communicated his decision to leave his role in the company.
Pau Serracanta: “My passion has always been the sports sector and the fact that I have been able to dedicate a good part of my professional career to Dorna Sports, I can affirm that it has been a great privilege and that I am very grateful to have worked with a team of excellent professionals. Dorna Sports is like a big family, under the leadership of Carmelo Ezpeleta, a great mentor and whom I consider almost like a father on the professional side. With all the support and knowledge that he has given me, he has meant that these more than two decades will pass at the same speed as the bikes of our fantastic championships. My future plans continue around innovation, technology and sustainability projects.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna Sports CEO: “I’m very grateful for the work and effort that Pau has dedicated to Dorna for more than 22 years. Pau leaves behind a great team of professionals that will allow us to consolidate our partnerships and look for new opportunities and milestones. We want to continue growing this fabulous sport that is motorcycling with the help of all our partners.”
Four BMW M 1000 RRs at MotorLand Aragón: BMW Motorrad Motorsport enters the crucial phase of preparations ahead of the 2021 WorldSBK.
BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, Bonovo MGM Racing and RC Squadra Corse complete intensive tests in Alcañiz, Spain.
Preparation for the start of the FIM Superbike World Championship at the same venue in two weeks.
Marc Bongers: “Overall I am happy and I am very much looking forward to finally race”.
Alcañiz. With two weeks to go until the start of the 2021 season in the FIM FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), BMW Motorrad Motorsport has entered a crucial phase of preparations. MotorLand Aragón, the Spanish circuit that will host the opening races of the year, was the venue for this week’s intensive tests with the new BMW M 1000 RR. Among those attending were the factory team, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, with riders Tom Sykes (GBR) and Michael van der Mark (NED), as well as the two BMW satellite teams: Bonovo MGM Racing with Jonas Folger (GER) and RC Squadra Corse with Eugene Laverty (IRL).
The test was primarily used to test further developments and fine-tune the bikes to the individual needs of the riders ahead of the start of the season. Working closely together, and blessed with ideal conditions in the Spanish sun, the teams and riders gained a lot of valuable information for their final preparations.
WorldSBK kicks off the 2021 season with a double-header. The action takes place from 21st to 23rd May at MotorLand Aragón. Round two of the season follows just one week later (28th to 30th May), at Estoril, Portugal.
Quotes after the test at MotorLand Aragón.
Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “It was the last test before it really gets serious – on this same track. Again, we had productive days under perfect weather conditions without any large technical issues so we could clearly conduct our test plan. Already, the satellite teams have shown added value for us because we can get more confirmation and we can share the test points so we can get through more work. That is very positive, we still have some homework to do before the first race but I am confident we will get there and already in some areas it’s a clear improvement, like top speed, brakes and so on. Overall I am happy and I am very much looking forward to finally race.”
Shaun Muir, Team Principal BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It was good to get to the final test in pre-season preparation at Aragón. We again had good conditions. I think we have been very fortunate this year with the late start of the season and selecting to start our testing late has paid dividends. On track activities – we have been focusing on chassis and electronic work. I think it is fair to say that we have completed most of that; we have a good direction going into the Aragón race weekend. Lap times are difficult to judge as from starting at ten o’clock to the middle of the day and the end of the day, it is difficult to tell who was running what tyres. But it is clear that the race pace is very strong from last year to this year from the competition and we need to be on point come Aragón race to be in contention for the podium. Nevertheless, we are happy where we are and we look forward to the first round.”
Tom Sykes, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It has been a very productive test. We have done such a lot now with the electronics all over, the traction control, the engine brake, the power level maps. We’ve also been working with different chassis configurations and set-up and were also trying some things with the engine. Apart from that it was quite some other fundamental things that we have been trying. So overall, they have been very busy days. A big thanks to the whole BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team that has put in very long hours on all the preparations. We just need to go back now and use all this information but certainly there has been a lot gathered and I really feel we can improve the whole package of the new BMW M 1000 RR. I am looking forward to the first races now.”
Michael van der Mark, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “They have been fantastic days. All days, the weather was good. On Monday, it was a bit cold but then it got warmer and warmer so we got a lot of different weather and track conditions and this was really good. It was perfect to test here just before the first race. A lot of things to try, a lot of things to improve but I am really happy with the progression we are making. Of course it’s always difficult to see where you are at a test but we will find out at the race weekends. I am looking forward to some good battles again and to fight with the other guys on track.”
Jonas Folger, Bonovo MGM Racing: “That was our final test before the start of the season. We once again used the time to test all our options and directions, from the chassis to the electronics. We learned a lot, so we are well-prepared for the first races.”
Eugene Laverty, RC Squadra Corse: “First and foremost, I am so happy to be back on a bike after six and a half months off. The big surprise for me was that after this period I was able to get back on my bike and within two exits be on a good pace. So we had three really good days, good weather, surprisingly fast lap times and my main focus has been to improve the baking performance and we did that. So, job well done and I am really happy with my RC Squadra Corse team. Now I am looking forward to the first round here at Aragón after our successful test.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Motor Europe:
Positive End To Pre-Season For KRT
Official Kawasaki WorldSBK riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes have successfully completed their final pre-season WorldSBK test sessions at Motorland Aragon and are now ready to compete for real on the new Ninja ZX-10RR
After a warm and dry two-day private test at the venue of the first championship round Rea was fastest of all and Lowes the second quickest rider.
Rea set a blistering best lap time of 1’48.528 on day two, and also completed the second of two full race simulations. He and his team worked on refining the final set up for the start of the season, confirming the base set-up they will start the exciting 2021 season with on their new Ninja.
For Lowes, who set a total of 104 laps today, his best time of 1’49.182 proved the strong pace of man and machine. He will now put all the pieces together with his crew to start the year in the best way possible.
This Motorland test was conducted in near ideal conditions, and alongside some of Kawasaki’s 2021 WorldSBK rivals from Yamaha and BMW, plus some MotoGP machinery. Rea set the fastest pace even compared to the more powerful MotoGP bikes, with Lowes also ahead of the MotoGP prototype machines.
Kawasaki’s latest Ninja ZX-10RR features engine, chassis and aerodynamic changes for 2021 including a higher rev ceiling and internal front winglets that generate significant extra downforce at high speed.
The first round of the FIM Superbike World Championship will be held at Motorland Aragon from 21-23 May. It will be followed one week later by the second round at Estoril in Portugal, between 28-30 May.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “I am super-content with this test. We managed to tick everything off the list we had, which we prioritised with race simulations. I did one each day, at the time of day the races will be held – in fact we left them a little bit later, to the peak of the temperatures at 3pm. We expect the race weekend will be a little bit hotter than it is now. We have a lot of good information about those. I used both rear tyre options, so we have a lot of good information. Step-by-step we worked some more on my riding, some electronic items. But, more so myself, getting a rhythm and understanding how the tyre behaves over a lot of laps and setting up electronic strategies to utilise during the race. I want to thank the guys because they rebuilt the bike completely as we have been trying to understand where there has been some issues coming. So to rule everything out they have built me a completely new bike and they worked tirelessly. Kudos to all the team staff for this whole winter test programme. It has been very busy but I am looking forward to going to round one in a few weeks’ time and seeing where we stack up.”
Alex Lowes, stated: “That was a good test for me. One of the main targets for today was to improve my feeling with the electronics on the bike. We did two race simulations this afternoon in hot conditions when the track, in theory, has the least grip. We were trying to find a better feeling with the bike. Overall I am really happy. We didn’t piece the whole bike together but now we have a couple of weeks to check the data and put our favourite feelings together and start the party for round one! 104 laps is maybe not the most I have done on one day on the Kawasaki but I had a smile on my face for all of them, so that is the main thing.”
Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “We have used two complete days here in Aragon and with the new rules about testing this is maybe a lot. But we decided to make good preparations for the first race and immediately after Aragon is Estoril, and then the next one after that is quite close. So we wanted to make a base and confirm some things from the previous test. All has been going very well. On day one we focused on testing and confirming these small items, on the chassis side a kind of link with a little bit different character that we have been testing all winter. It has been confirmed and we are happy with the result. Johnny is very happy. We also made the final points with the electronics, working a lot with torque delivery to give the best feeling for JR, and to make a long run with the whole package. Yesterday we made a long run with an SC0 rear tyre, and it was very, very positive. He was very fast and consistent, and happy with the feeling on the bike. Today we focused on making a fast lap time and Johnny made the fastest lap time ever in Aragon. He improved two-tenths compared to last year. We made a second long run on a softer tyre on the final day too. Johnny is very happy, he is ‘talking’ very deeply with the bike and we are ready for the first race.”
Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “We had a good test at Motorland and Alex was very happy. The conditions were fantastic and we used the full two days to make ourselves ready for the first race weekend. We simulated some parts of a race weekend, and of course several long runs and race distances were included. This is the time to fine-tune our bike for real races. We have a clear opinion about our bike in hot and slippery conditions and a clear opinion about the tyres. We are ready for race weekend after our positive experience over two days here.”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK Completes Pre-Season Testing at Aragón
Yamaha’s young rider line-up of Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Andrea Locatelli signed off their 2021 FIM Superbike World Championship preparations with two constructive days of testing at MotorLand Aragón, in picture-perfect weather conditions this week.
Completing a combined total of nearly 350 laps, both 24-year-old riders put the finishing touches on their Yamaha R1 WorldSBK machines ahead of the season-opener at the Alcañiz venue, due to take place on 21-23 May.
The third Aragón test came as an additional fixture on the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK planner, following inclement weather for Locatelli last week and Razgatlıoğlu’s absence from the team test programme in April following his diagnosis with Covid-19.
An eager Razgatlıoğlu re-joined his crew ahead of his second season on the #54 Yamaha R1 WorldSBK with a clean bill of health after undergoing precautionary medical checks in Barcelona on Monday.
For 2020 WorldSSP Champion Locatelli, the test was an important opportunity to take another step forward in his understanding of the R1 WorldSBK before his first race start in the premier class later this month.
The team worked on a mixture of race-length simulations, outright pace and final developments to end pre-season testing in an optimistic frame of mind ahead of the first round of the campaign. Locatelli and Razgatlıoğlu will next don their Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK leathers, race helmets, boots and gloves for Free Practice 1 on Friday 21 May.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu: 1’49.763 / 175 laps
“I was excited to be back on my Yamaha R1 after a long wait! Day one was ok, I enjoyed riding a lot, but day two was a positive improvement after we tried some new parts to find a good set-up for the first race. I felt the lap times were coming really good on the race tyres, but as always we will have to see what happens in the races. I think this year I am more strong, last year I was not fast at this track but this time I have improved physically and mentally. The conditions have been quite hot, and to test some new parts in these conditions and find some improvements is good preparation. Now we must put together the best package, but I am happy to be back and I feel ready for the first race.”
Andrea Locatelli: 1’50.702 / 174 laps
“It was better on day two compared to day one and in general, the feeling of my R1 is good. We have worked a lot and tried different set-ups, we also did a long run to understand the performance over a race distance. It was very good for me to do this because it’s important, but also it has not been easy for Yamaha on this track in the past so I want to work and push to understand where I can improve. The last test here was not so good for me, but now the feeling is better, like I had at Barcelona or Misano. I know my first race in WorldSBK will not be easy, this I expect, but I want to learn and to improve. During the race weekend we have a lot less track time, but maybe I can follow other riders and learn more – and then maybe on Saturday during the first race I can be in a position to fight a little bit. The weekend of the first race, with the emotion and energy, for sure will push me more compared to testing!”
Paul Denning – Team Principal
“Aragón’s weather was much kinder for this test, we had two beautiful sunny days and the opportunity to put in over 1,750 kilometres and improve our performance at this circuit. It was really good to have Toprak back on the bike after his enforced absence and immediately he was able to find his rhythm and significantly improve his performance potential at MotorLand Aragón compared to last year’s race event, both on the Pirelli SC0 race tyre and the SCX sprint race tyre. The race simulation this afternoon wasn’t quite as good as we had hoped, but was still an improvement on 2020 and has given us some really important information for the next steps. It was great to have Toprak around the team again, in positive spirits and we can’t wait to see him perform under race conditions again on the Yamaha R1. As a rookie in the WorldSBK class, there’s a lot to learn for Loka and his third visit to Aragón was the best test so far. It’s a tough balance when a rider has to learn how to get the best from the superbike in terms of technique, and also improve the machine from a technical point of view. Finally this afternoon, the guys found some points that helped him to improve his style and the race simulation was quite encouraging in terms of pace and consistency. We know that Aragón is going to be a challenging event to start the 2021 WorldSBK Championship but, with the great support of Yamaha and the whole group around the team, every possible effort has been made and we’re looking forward to getting back here to see what we can achieve!”
Iddon sets the pace on Snetterton return as testing continues for Bennetts BSB contenders
Christian Iddon set the early pace in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship Official Test at Snetterton today, as the VisionTrack Ducati rider waited until the final moments of the second session to post his best lap, which put him 0.166s ahead of rival Tommy Bridewell.
There was no track action yesterday due to the weather conditions, however the morning started with a busy opening 30-minute session for the teams and riders as Iddon topped the times ahead of FHO Racing BMW’s Peter Hickman and Danny Buchan on the SYNETIQ BMW.
As the conditions continued to improve at the Norfolk circuit, the riders headed out for their second 30-minute session of the day with Buchan setting the fastest lap after ten minutes from teammate Andrew Irwin and Hickman.
The session was briefly red flagged when Joe Francis crashed out at Palmer, and when the action got underway again Tarran Mackenzie was down at Nelson, however he was able to return to the pitlane with the McAMS Yamaha.
As the final ten minutes counted down, Kyle Ryde edged to the top with Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW; holding a 0.218s advantage over Andrew Irwin and Buchan with Ryan Vickers and Hickman holding the top five positions.
However, Bridewell surged back to the top for the Oxford Products Racing Ducati team, putting him 0.191s ahead of Ryde as Iddon began his final run of the session.
Iddon’s best time came with less than a minute remaining on the clock and that put him 0.166s ahead of Bridewell as the two Ducatis locked out the top two positions ahead of the BMW charge which was led by Buchan.
Ryde held fourth position ahead of Hickman, whilst Glenn Irwin narrowly held off his brother for sixth place with Xavi Forés posting the eighth fastest time. Vickers was able to remain in the top ten in ninth place as Lee Jackson completed the top ten for FS-3 Kawasaki.
The rain returned for the third session and teams chose to end the day early in preparation for tomorrow’s final day of testing at Snetterton, before the championship moves on to the next Official Test on May 19 at Oulton Park.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Snetterton Official Test, Combined Times Day 2:
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Christian Iddon, VisionTrack Ducati
“In the first session I didn’t have a lot of feeling to start with, but I think that was just the nature of the track conditions after a lot of rain yesterday and it was the same for everyone. In the second session, the times were much faster and it felt much better. We have been trying to continue working where we finished at Silverstone – we have a plan we are sticking to, and so far we have been quick and the bike feels good.
“We have a lot to work through, but we know we have a good base in our pocket. We are going to keep working and hopefully improving some more in the next sessions as this track has a bit of everything, so we can evaluate a lot of areas. I want to do some more work on tyre life and that was what we worked on at the Silverstone test too, and hopefully we can finish here tomorrow in a good place ready for the next test.”
KWR team scores solid points in Atlanta to open 2021 MotoAmerica season
TUCSON, Ariz. (May 5) — The KWR/Panera Bread Ducati Team competed in the first round of the MotoAmerica Superbike series this past weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Kyle Wyman finished 5th and 6th in races one and two respectively while also finishing 2nd place in the King of the Baggers race on his Factory Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide.
Friday’s qualifying practice day was filled with hiccups for the Ducati team as they sorted through some electronics gremlins that kept them in pit lane for most of the day. Wyman was able to complete 11 solid laps at the end of QP2 that would place him 6th on the day. Saturday’s final qualifying session saw Wyman put his Panera Bread Ducati 7th on the grid for race one later that afternoon, after being unable to utilize the Dunlop qualifying rear tire due to a clutch issue.
“Going into the Road Atlanta weekend we had less than ten laps on our new Ducati Superbike,” Wyman said. “I was really looking forward to putting a solid day together on Friday to acquaint myself with the new package, but some small issues prevented us from really putting in the time needed to get that done.”
“Truly it’s hard to find anything on the new bike that hasn’t been changed or improved over 2020,” Wyman added. “‘We’ve moved over to Accossato brakes which is a big deal, and the new factory fuel tank and tail unit seen on the current WSBK spec Ducati machines overseas. We’ve done everything possible this winter to align our motorcycle with the world championship bikes so that we can have a better comparison with our peers in Bologna. We’ve added Racebolt with KATO Thread Inserts to every corner of the machine to ensure its reliability. We’ve moved to a vastly improved SC-Project Exhaust system that uses a double undertail outlet. This is by far the highest level spec we’ve been able to produce at KWR, and I know that the ceiling his high with this new machine.”
In Saturday’s King of the Baggers qualifying, Wyman was able to put his Harley-Davidson Road Glide in P2 on the grid, just .050 of a second behind series rival Tyler O’Hara on his Factory Indian Motorcycle. This qualifying would set the grid for Sunday’s race, but Saturday afternoon would host the debut of the Panera Bread Ducati in Superbike Race One.
In Superbike race one Wyman got off to a strong start and settled into a lonely 6th position, running the full 19 lap race distance with no battle. He was the benefactor of some late race attrition that would put him in 5th spot by race-end.
“Race one I spent a lot of time just getting familiar with the new machine and trying to adjust myself to the SBK coming off the Bagger, which was more difficult than I had originally thought it would be going into the weekend,” Wyman said. “5th place is a good result considering the time on the bike but the top guys are quite a way up the road. We needed to try a few things for the Sunday warm-up to be better prepared for race two.”
On Sunday Wyman would pull double duty, and race the Harley-Davidson Road Glide in the King of the Baggers main event before SBK race two. In the baggers race Wyman got off to a hole shot lead that would put him with a 1 second gap over rival O’Hara. Wyman relinquished the lead on lap 4 after a two-lap scrap that saw the leaders swap positions. In the end, Wyman finished 2nd in the race just a half second behind in his King of the Baggers debut, and 25 seconds clear of 3rd.
“On the Harley I knew it was going to be between Tyler and I when the race started,” Wyman said. “My plan in the race was to manage the pace the best I could so I could look after my equipment, as we had had some cooling issues with the bike throughout the race weekend. My goal was to bring it home no worse than second but if I had a chance at the win, I would take it. When Tyler got a bad start I decided to put my head down and pull a gap. I was able to do that but toward the middle of the race I had to start looking after the engine and make sure I could bring it home. I was able to stay with him through the last lap but we just didn’t have the steam to bring home the win.”
“All told I’m happy with our debut and we learned a ton about our Road Glide, which is still in its early stages of development. With round one of three now in the books, we need to win the last two races at Road America and Laguna Seca to take this championship. That’s our focus.”
Next up was Superbike race two, and Wyman got off to a stronger start than race one, but found himself in the same lonely position falling short of the race pace in the front group. Wyman would bring home the Panera Bread Ducati in 6th place. With loads of data and experience that was missed in the abbreviated pre-season, the KWR team now has a plan for the upcoming round two at Virginia International Raceway in three weeks time.
“The first round is in the books now and I’m happy to have scored points in both races, but not satisfied with our pace or results overall. We’ve got some work to do in order to get more comfortable with the bike but I know the KWR team will be able to put out a runner for the rest of the season. It’s up to me as a rider to start maximizing the potential of our bike so with our few mechanicals sorted out I look forward to pounding out laps in Virginia and figuring it out.”
Round two at Virginia International Raceway will not feature the King of the Baggers but is set for a Superbike double-header May 21-23, 2021.
For more information about Panera Bread, visit www.panerabread.com.
Stay tuned for news and updates on KWR at www.kylewyman.com
More, from a press release issued by Scott Powersports KTM:
Tyler Scott Wins at MotoAmerica Junior Cup Debut
Tyler Scott, aboard his Scott Powersports KTM RC 390 R, won the opening race of MotoAmerica’s SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup. Scott backed the win up with a second place in the race two on Sunday. The performance has him tied for the championship lead going into the second round at Virginia International Raceway.
“We had a lot of unknowns coming into this race. Tyler hasn’t raced this KTM at all prior to this, and the Ninja 400’s have been consistently developed for a couple of years,” team owner Mike Scott said. “And while the results are impressive, what’s also impressive is the outpouring of support from the MotoAmerica paddock, the fans, and specifically fans of the KTM brand. Tyler was even asked to sign a fan’s bike in the pits after his win!”
“I’m not usually the nervous type, but coming in here not knowing if our package could be competitive definitely had me thinking,” Tyler added. “Once we got going, and I could see that the bike could hang in the draft, I knew it would just come down to my riding and using the KTM’s strengths. Racing with a bunch of my friends was really fun. The first win was awesome, but the second place in race two stung a little. We’ll head to VIR even stronger using everything we learned this first weekend.”
The team is incredibly thankful to the companies that have helped them along the way, including KTM North America, Arai helmets and Scott Powersports. Special thanks also go out to Bob Robbins, Dave Loikits, Dale Quarterley and Eraldo Ferracci for their help and mentorship.
The next MotoAmerica SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup round is at Virginia International Raceway on 5/21.
More, from a press release issued by Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York:
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Team Recaps Road Atlanta MotoAmerica
The Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Team and rider Loris Baz had their ups and downs during the opening round of the 2021 MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Championship at Road Atlanta.
The 28-year-old Frenchman Baz had never ridden the track previously but went straight to work during Friday practice and qualifying aboard his Ducati V4 R. Baz and finished third overall. The team had another round of qualifying Saturday morning, and Baz remained as fast, qualifying third.
Baz got off to a strong start during Saturday’s Race 1 but crashed while battling for the lead with five laps remaining. The crash led to an 11th place starting position on Sunday’s grid for Race 2. Baz quickly worked his way to the fourth position before a DNF due to a technical problem aboard the V4 R.
“For sure, it was not the weekend we wanted,” Baz said. “But we will keep the head up. The guys in the team did a strong job. I needed a better start in race two than on I did on Saturday and got it, but I still don’t have a good feeling on the new tire. But once the tire started to drop, I felt so good. The feeling was awesome on the Ducati. I went P3 but then we had a technical issue, so I had to come in and change the part. I am disappointed, but once again, I will keep the head up because there is still 450 points in this championship on offer. We’re alive and we’re going make it up. We will work harder and we will come to VIR stronger than ever.”
With 450 championship points remaining in the nine-race MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Championship, the team will regroup and prepare for the challenge at Virginia International Raceway, which is set for May 21-23.
For ongoing race season updates, subscribe to HSBK Racing on:
YouTube (www.youtube.com/hsbkracing)
Facebook (www.facebook.com/HSBKRACING/)
Instagram (@hsbkracing)
More, from a press release issued by HONOS HVMC Racing:
Mixed Results For HONOS HVMC Racing During Atlanta Season Opener
Braselton, Georgia ( May 5th, 2021 ) – Honos HVMC Racing leaves Road Atlanta with mixed results from riders Corey Alexander and Richie Escalante over the weekend.
Riding his all new 2021 Graves Spec Kawasaki ZX-10RR for the first time ever, Corey Alexander showed good pace in practice and qualifying sessions immediately running within the top 8. Ultimately he would have to settle for a P6 starting position whilst getting caught out by a red flag in the final minutes of Q2. Stock 1000cc Race 1 resulted in a 6th place finish with a failed mid-race charge to the front after Corey miscalculated a pass through lapped traffic. Race two added to the frustration with a ride through penalty after a jumped start, compounded by another penalty for pit lane speeding. Despite this, Corey managed to rally to a P13 finish.
In Superbike Race 1 the #23 machine was forced to start from the back of the grid after missing the sighting lap. Corey managed to work his way up through the field into 8th position and in the lead of Superbike Cup class only to have a mechanical issue force him out of the race. Sunday’s Superbike race 2 saw Corey wrap up his weekend with a solid 11th place finish and 3rd in the Superbike Cup class amongst fellow Stock 1000cc competitors.
Corey commented “This weekend was trying for the entire team with Richie and I both having to swap to a backup chassis after big crashes. After virtually no testing we had hoped for the best but things did not go 100% according to plan. Overall I am super pumped with our program for 2021 and how everything has come together. I want to thank all of our sponsors for getting us here. We will come back to fight even harder at VIR.”
Richie Escalante had a better weekend than his teammate aboard his HONOS HVMC Graves Spec Kawasaki ZX-6R, challenging for the lead through practice and both qualifying sessions. In race one Richie was able to keep close to the eventual race winner and finish second, without any challengers from behind – a full thirty seconds clear of the pack. Race two proved to be a bit more difficult after an early race mistake distanced him from the leader but again resulted in a second place finish twenty seconds clear of the rest of the field.
Richie was overall happy with his results and stated “After a big crash Saturday I am happy to come away from the weekend healthy and with 40 points. Our whole team worked really well together and I am very thankful to them for their hard work. I am eager to get to Virginia, one of my favorite tracks!”.
The Honos HVMC Racing team heads to Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia for round 2 of the MotoAmerica Championship May 21-23. You can purchase tickets to the event via MotoAmerica.com or in person at the race track.
About WE ARE HONOS®
Founded in 2018, HONOS is a Los Angeles based performance gear and fashion apparel brand that promotes talent within the adrenaline sports realm. With worldwide partnerships ranging from the American Racing team in Moto2 to title sponsorship of the HONOS Superbike class in MotoAmerica, HONOS has heavily invested it’s brand into motorsports. Follow @wearehonos or visit wearehonos.com to shop now.
About Hudson Valley Motorcycles
Hudson Valley Motorcycles is a family owned and operated motorcycle dealership that has been serving New York’s Hudson Valley and Westchester County as well as Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New England region. HVMC has offered Kawasaki, Ducati, Scrambler Ducati, Suzuki, Energica and ATV, motorcycle or UTV Sales, Parts, and Service for over 50 years. For more info visit hudsonvalleymotorcycles.com, call (914)-762-2722 or follow @hvmotorcycles on social media.
More, from a press release issued by Ethan Cook Racing:
Floor to the Top 8 for Ethan in Atlanta
Ethan Cook leaves the opening round of the 2021 MotoAmerica Twins Cup championship at Road Atlanta with eight points after an eighth-place finish in Sunday’s second race.
He missed the season opener on Saturday following a crash in qualifying which saw his team working flat out to get him back on track.
For Cook, a ‘rookie’ in the category, Sunday’s race result is a confidence builder for the rest of the season which continues at Virginia International Raceway in a couple of weeks.
Ethan Cook: “It was a pretty tough weekend, the first together as a new team for an actual racing event. On Friday I missed the opening Free Practice session as we were still working through some things with the electronics and then in Q1 I rode half the session and unfortunately crashed at Turn 10. It was my fault, but my Wrench Motorsports crew did a great job to get me back out for Q2. I kept it upright and made the grid which was the target. When it came to the race the bike had another small issue, so we weren’t able to ride. The guys stayed up late and we switched the ECU and wiring harness and luckily, we were able to get it all sorted for Sunday. The bike felt good in Warm-Up and finally I felt confident. The race was really enjoyable, I made an average start, and I was able to improve my lap times, but then there was a red flag. On the restart I worked my further up the field and eventually finished eighth. All in all, considering all the frustrations, and all the challenges we faced I am happy. We move to VIR with points on the board and we will be in great shape from the off there.”
For more information go to EthanCookRacing.com
More, from a press release issued by Landers Racing:
After a winter full of training on the ice, supermoto, motocross, and road racing, Ben Gloddy came into the 2021 Sportbiketrackgear.com MotoAmerica Junior Cup Season more prepared than in the past and with a new team, Landers Racing. The first round at Road Atlanta seemed to prove that his hard work and off-season training paid off.
In race one after a red flag restart, Gloddy had a decent start and was able to work his way into second place where he swapped positions a few times with the leader. On the final lap, Gloddy was trying to close the gap to the leader but was not able to make up enough ground to make a pass for the lead. Finishing the race in second place, Gloddy logged the fastest lap of the race with a 1:41.513.
In race two after another red flag, Gloddy had a good start and was in the lead group exchanging positions throughout the race. On the final lap, it was obvious he was trying to set himself up for a strong move. On the back straight away, he was able to draft for the lead and held on through the final few corners and onto straight to capture his first MotoAmerica victory. On the final lap, Gloddy again logged the fastest lap of the race and weekend with a 1:41.130, three-tenths off the lap record.
Ben had this to say, “Coming away from Road Atlanta with second and first place finishes was a great way to kick off the 2021 season. I cannot thank the Landers Racing crew; Stoney, Tarl, Will, Thomas, Lees Cycle Service, Ohlins USA, KFG Motorsports, CJR Performance, Evol Technology, enough for putting together such a competitive bike. After a great test at COTA and then this past weekend at Road Atlanta, I am feeling very confident in our ability to be a championship contender. Thank you to my team, The Big S, Freedom Cycle, American Supercamp, Penguin Racing, REB Graphics/Innovative Motorsports, Atlantic Cruising Yachts, Arai Helmets, Dunlop, Scott Stump, Roche Realty Group, Sportbike Track Gear, Fast by Ferracci, Barnett Clutches and Cables, Tyrant Designs CNC and all of my team and personal sponsors for all of the support, as well as my parents, family, friends, and fans! I am excited for round two at VIR in a few weeks!”
Team owner Stoney Landers had this to say about Ben’s breakout performance, “Ben showed last year that he had the consistency and speed to be on the podium, but this year, it seems Ben has risen to a new level. It has been a very rewarding experience thus far to work with another talented and focused racer. Ben just does everything right, he knows when to push and when to be a bit more conservative, he sits down and writes his notes after every session, gives great feedback, and then he gives it his all on the track. I am very impressed with him. Saturday he did a great job giving Tyler and some of the other kids a run for their money and ended up with a solid 2nd place. He and I knew directly after the race we could make the bike a little better for Sunday’s race. When it came time for Sunday’s race, we talked about a strategy for the race and Ben implemented it absolutely perfectly. On the last lap, his run out of turn 7, his riding technique from turn 10 to the final corner was brilliant. He rode a perfect race and ended up on top of the box finally. He was so happy on the podium, it was really cool. His mechanic, Tarl, his teammate Rocco, the rest of our crew, and his family that was in attendance, were so happy for him!
Rocco Landers lands on the podium in his first-ever weekend racing in the ultra-competitive 600ss class
After 2 stunning seasons, 38 wins, 3 championships, and multiple broken records, it finally came time for Rocco Landers to graduate to the stacked 600ss class. With so little time to test on his new Yamaha YZF-R6, it really was an unknown as to what to expect coming into the Atlanta Round.
Saturday’s race ended early for Rocco as he was involved in a turn one incident and hit the deck. His mechanics Thomas and Will worked hard to get the bike back together and ready for Sunday’s warm-up and race 2.
Rocco had this to say, “After Saturday’s crash and dealing with the traction control issue in race two, I never thought I would be as happy as I was to get 3rd in race two. I felt like it was a big accomplishment to get on the box after such a difficult weekend. We are going to get several technical issues sorted out for VIR and of course, we are always pushing for the win. I would like to thank my mechanics, Thomas and Will, my mom, and dad for all their all of their hard work, and all of my sponsors who push to support me.”
Stoney Landers had this to say, “Race 2 started with some interruption as a red flag stopped the action after only a couple laps. For the re-start, Rocco did not get the best start and ended up roughly 8th in turn 1. He lost some ground and had to work his way back up to the 3rd-6th place group. He got by 6th, then was kind of dangling back behind Stefano Mesa and Benjamin Smith who were holding the 3rd and 4th positions down. He noticed in the race that the bike felt a bit flat and didn’t have a great drive out of the corners. With roughly 3 laps to go, he noticed that his traction control indicator showed “level 4″. It must have gotten accidentally bumped up while he was racing. As he doesn’t really mess with traction control on the 600, he turned it back down as he was heading into turn 6. Immediately his Yamaha started to pull off the corners better and he was able to get back up to the Mesa and Smith battle. We have not seen coverage of the pass yet, but on the final lap, heading into turn 10, he was able to out-brake both Mesa and Smith in one maneuver, then hold that position to get a well-deserved 3rd place!”
Stoney continued by saying, “I really cannot thank my team enough, which includes but is not limited to Thomas, Will, Tarl, my wife, Barry and all of the guys at Ohlins, Steve with Evol Technology, Philipe with Beringer Brakes, Chuck and the guys at Westby Racing, Cameron with CJR Performance, Tige and all of the MotoAmerica Crew, Thomas with Tyrant CNC, Tony, Cory and all of the crew at Dunlop, Reese and Scott with REB Graphics, Tom Halverson and Jim Roach at Yamaha USA/Yamalube, Jody and Eric at Lees Cycle, Barnett Clutches and Cables, California Superbike School, HJC Helmets, Mithos Leathers, Chuckwalla Raceway, Vortex/EK, and SBS Brakes, Track Daz, American Racing Team, Brian and Jimmy with Sportbike Track Gear, Mike Welch and all of our other sponsors. Without everyone’s contribution, none of this would be possible.”
Individual and Team Sponsorship Opportunities are still available for the 2021 MotoAmerica Season, please contact:
Christina Day, [email protected]
Stoney Landers, [email protected]
Rider Connection:
Ben Gloddy, [email protected]
bengloddyracing.com
More, from a press release issued by Altus Motorsports:
MotoAmerica: Round 1 Results from Road Atlanta for the Altus Motorsports Tucker Environmental Service Solutions Team
(Braselton, GA) Since their first participation in a MotoAmerica event back in 2015, Altus Motorsports has been committed to the sport and developing talent. In 2020, the team took home the Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup championships. Every year they put in an impressive team effort from both riders and crew and this year is no different. The 2021 MotoAmerica season kicked off at Road Atlanta and Altus showed up ready to begin where they left off.
Honos Superbike & Stock 1000:
Jake Lewis came back to racing after a year off and took the reins of the Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000 in both Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup classes.
The Stock 1000 races were extremely exciting and hard-fought racing. Jake started both races from the front row in third. Race One turned into a seven-bike battle for the podium for the entire race. In the end, Lewis finished just off the podium in fourth place. An amazing start to Race Two saw Jake take the holeshot and then run a close second in a two bike breakaway at the front. An unfortunate incident in Turn Seven put him back to eighth. He spent the remainder of the race fighting his way back up to fourth.
In the Superbike Class, Jake started the first race from 13th and finished 11th place overall. Sunday, in Superbike Race Two, Lewis crossed the line in ninth place overall and as the second-fastest Stock 1000 bike.
Supersport 600:
Round One of the MotoAmerica Series was Jaret Nassaney’s first time back on his Suzuki GSX-R600 after several months off recovering from an injury to his arm sustained during off-season training. Nassaney was progressively faster each session and qualified 16th for Race One. He finished the race in an impressive eighth place. He started from 15th in Race Two and spent most of the race fighting for ninth. Ultimately, he took the checkered flag in 12th position.
“Overall it was a good weekend. It took me a bit to reacclimate to the bike after the crash a couple of months ago. I wanted to improve every time I went out and I did,” said Jaret Nassaney. “It was great to get back to racing at the national level. My arm definitely is not up to full strength and endurance but I have three weeks before VIR to get it back to 100%.”
Cooper McDonald stepped in for the injured Kevin Olmedo for Round One of the MotoAmerica season. McDonald has spent the last few years racing in the Twins Class. As a result, he had to spend the weekend learning the bike and how to ride Road Atlanta with significantly more horsepower. He started the first Supersport race from 18th. A first corner incident ahead of him broke the back field up. As a result he could not latch onto the faster pack and spent much of the race circulating in a lonely 10th. Unfortunately, a last corner mistake put him back a few spots to finish in 16th place. On Sunday, he started from 17th. Cooper spent most of the race in great battles and fought his way forward to finish in 13th place. Impressive results for his first weekend on a 600.
“What a great weekend. I was on quite the learning curve with the bike. It’s very different from riding a Twin. I was adapting every lap of every session. In Race One, there was an incident in Turn One that caused the pack to break up a bit. As a result, I couldn’t go with the pack I wanted to run with. Race Two was better. I had a good battle,” said Cooper McDonald. “I can’t thank the Altus team enough for thinking of me. They are a great group of people and made the weekend super easy. I just had to show up and ride.”
In spite of his inability to ride, Kevin Olmedo came to the event to support the team and show off his scars from shoulder surgery. Olmedo will meet with his doctors this week to evaluate his chances to make VIR. He is hopeful he can make Round Two but if not, he will definitely be at Road America for Round Three.
Liqui Moly Junior Cup:
2021 is Hayden Bicknese’s first season in the Junior Cup and, as a result, most of the tracks are new to him. At Road Atlanta, Bicknese impressed early by ranking third on the charts during first practice. He spent the weekend getting used to the Altus Factory Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400 and learning the technical Road Atlanta track. In the first Junior Cup race of the weekend, Hayden started ninth and finished seventh in a close, three-bike battle for 6th place. He spent Sunday’s race in another multi-bike battle, this time for eighth. In the end, he crossed the line in ninth place. His pace showed his capabilities. As the season goes on he will only get stronger.
“Overall I’d say it was a good weekend. We started strong and finished strong. We consistently improved as a team which gave me confidence. I still have some learning to do on how to ride the Altus bike fast. I don’t know VIR so I will be learning that track as well,” said Hayden Bicknese.
“I think the weekend was a success! New riders, new mechanics and by Sunday everyone was working together. We really appreciate Suzuki stepping up to help and I’m excited to get the season underway and get our riders on the Box!” said team-owner, George Nassaney.
The Altus Motorsports team is supported by our great family of sponsors: Altus Motorsports, Environmental Service Solutions, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Creative Sports Concepts, Tucker Powersports, Schaefer Engineering, Hot Bodies Racing, M4 Exhausts, Vortex EK, Motion Pro, Barnett, VP Lubricants, SBS Brakes,Galfer USA, Moto-D Racing, Bonamici, Ohlins, K-Techs, RS Taichi, Arai, Law Tigers Oklahoma, and Altus Factory Racing.
Estenson Racing Makes History with Yamaha Atlanta Super TT Sweep
Estenson Racing was unbeatable at last night’s Yamaha Atlanta Super TT, making history as the first team and manufacturer to win every class at a Progressive American Flat Track round. JD Beach put on a masterclass performance to win the Mission SuperTwins Main Event. Dallas Daniels completed the sweep at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a stunning two-category double, first in the AFT Production Twins class and then shortly after, in AFT Singles, where he was joined on the podium by teammate Mikey Rush for a stellar 1-2 finish. Kolby Carlile also had a top night, earning a career-best Mission SuperTwins finish in fifth.
Even in the premier Mission SuperTwins category, Beach was in a class of his own all weekend long at Atlanta. Fastest by a significant margin from the opening session, he proved untouchable aboard his Yamaha MT-07 DT right through to the checkered flag in the Main Event. The runaway victory was Beach’s third in the premier class, three out of four of the series’ most recent TTs. After earlier securing a runner-up result at the Volusia Half-Mile season opener, the win furthered his claim as a legitimate class contender in 2021 as he moved into the points lead.
Carlile flashed podium-caliber speed in Atlanta as well, qualifying third fastest. A tough outing in his Semi ultimately put that beyond his reach, but the 2017 AFT Singles Champion still managed to come through the pack from 11th to fifth.
Like Beach, Daniels showed strength straight away and in both classes. The prodigious 17-year-old was absolutely dominant in his AFT Production Twins debut, leading every session en route to his first victory on the Yamaha MT-07 DT. Daniels then backed that up with a clutch victory in AFT Singles class.
Even if Daniels had faltered, teammate Rush would have completed the sweep in his stead. After winning his Semi, the Californian grabbed the holeshot in the Main Event with Daniels right behind him, but the race was red-flagged after a crash on the first lap. This time around, the reigning AFT Singles Champion got the flying start with Rush in third. Daniels rode a smart race up front, putting the pressure on the competition. In the final four laps, Rush moved into second for the team’s second double podium of the season. The pair also sit 1-2 in the championship standings, with Daniels holding a three-point advantage over his teammate.
Estenson Racing will look to translate its momentum into continued top results when the series picks back up again at Texas Motor Speedway for the Texas Half-Mile on May 22.
Tommy Hayden – Estenson Racing Team Manager
“What an incredible night at the Atlanta Super TT for Estenson Racing. So many things have to go right to have a night like we did tonight, and fortunately, they did for us. All of our riders were on point all day. I could go on and on about how well all four of them rode tonight, but I want to say thanks to all of our crew members; each one of them played a role in this special night. To dominate all three classes at the event that Yamaha sponsored, and to leave here with the points lead in AFT Singles and the SuperTwins class, it’s just a night you dream of.”
JD Beach – Estenson Racing Mission SuperTwins
“Tonight couldn’t have gone any better. It was a dream night not only for myself but for the whole team. We swept all the classes, which is amazing. For me, after the win, it was almost more of a relief than excitement. After leading the whole test day, then leading everything today, I felt like I had a huge weight on my shoulders. So it’s awesome to get a win and leave with the points lead. We still have a lot of work to do for oval tracks, but we are getting there.”
Kolby Carlile – Estenson Racing Mission SuperTwins
“I had a good two days here in Atlanta. I was second fastest in almost every practice and qualified third overall. Going into my Semi, I was pretty nervous starting second and I didn’t get the best start and made a quick mistake, putting me to the back of the pack. Going into the Main Event I had no pressure and just put in 20 solid laps, coming from 11th to 5th. I’m happy with that performance. I just need to iron out some details, and I will be finishing where my speed shows I can be.”
Dallas Daniels – Estenson Racing AFT Singles and AFT Production Twins
“It was a really good night here at the Atlanta TT. Obviously, it couldn’t have gone any better. It was just a dream night for the team, winning every class for Estenson Racing. The day started out awesome. As soon as we got on the twin, we were fastest in every session on the track, won the Semi and the Main Event. It was just an amazing day on the twin. On the 450, I kind of struggled a little bit in the Semi and got second to Ferran (Cardus). I’m not going to lie, I was a little nervous going into the weekend and thinking about racing both classes; I didn’t want to mess up. I have to give a big thanks to the team. We’re sitting good in the AFT Singles points right now, and we’re hoping to keep it going.”
Mikey Rush – Estenson Racing AFT Singles
“I’m pumped to get another second-place finish this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was an awesome track, and I really enjoyed racing it. I’m also stoked that my teammate Dallas and I went 1-2, getting both YZ450Fs on the box at Yamaha’s home race. Being a part of the Estenson Racing crew and Yamaha is awesome. They give me a great bike week-in and week-out, and I’m looking to carry this momentum into Texas in a few weeks and the rest of the season. I’m so proud of the whole team this weekend. We all work so hard. It was just a great weekend. I had a blast!”
More, from a press release issued by KTM:
RED BULL KTM’S MAX WHALE FINISHES JUST OFF THE PODIUM AT ATLANTA SUPER TT
Round 3 – American Flat Track Championship – May 2, 2021
ATLANTA, Ga. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Max Whale finished just shy of the AFT Singles podium on Saturday with a hard-fought fourth-place at Round 3 of the 2021 American Flat Track Championship. Motorsport icon, Travis Pastrana, made a guest appearance at the Atlanta Super TT alongside the Red Bull KTM squad where he scored an impressive ninth-place in the AFT Singles class aboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION.
Whale, who qualified sixth with a competitive lap time in the singles division, set himself up for a favorable day of racing as he lined up on the front row of AFT Singles Semi 2. He powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION off the line and into third on the opening lap, where he battled for most of the race. With three laps to go, Whale clicked it up a notch to overtake second as he laid down blazing fast lap times to finish second in the semi.
Following a red-flag restart in the Main Event, Whale got off to a fifth-place start and battled inside the top-five for the first half of the race. The Australian native was able to make his way into fourth at the halfway mark and from there he maintained a steady pace to finish just shy of the podium in fourth.
Whale: “What an awesome weekend Atlanta was! It was super fun having Travis Pastrana, Ryan Sipes and Shayna Texter as teammates all weekend. I feel like I had good speed but the first couple laps I got pushed around and dropped back a few positions but I passed a few people and ended up fourth. I feel like I had pace to run with the front three but it was too little too late and I couldn’t catch them quick enough. I just want to thank everyone who helps me out, the whole Red Bull KTM team worked really hard all weekend and it’s much appreciated.”
Coming off a 1-1 sweep at the opening rounds, Shayna Texter-Bauman had a challenging day at the Atlanta Super TT. She made it through qualifying to line up in AFT Singles Semi 2 but she didn’t get the start she was looking for and wasn’t able to make her way through the field to claim a transfer into the Main Event. Despite missing the main, Texter-Bauman still maintains third overall in the championship standings with two Main Event wins in the first three rounds.
Texter-Bauman: “It was a challenging night for myself as I failed to qualify for the Main Event. This TT track was a bit unique to our sport for TT racing in particular because they added an asphalt section to the track. I felt really good on the asphalt but I was really struggling myself in the dirt section. The Georgia red clay as we saw in Supercross was very hard to find a consistent base and we battled rough-dry-slick conditions all night long. We will regroup tomorrow with some oval testing and be ready to come out strong in Texas in a couple weeks.”
As part of his weekend racing extravaganza, Travis Pastrana lined up in the AFT Singles Class for Round 3 aboard the iconic #199 KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to try his hand at a different discipline of racing. Pastrana came away with a respectable ninth-place finish in the Main Event after battling inside the top-10 throughout the day. Pastrana was a welcomed addition to the team for the weekend as he demonstrated his ability to be ready to race at any time, any place.
Pastrana: “It was an epic day of fun here in Atlanta. The KTM was by far the fastest 450 I’ve ever ridden and a huge advantage on the field and I had a blast trying to figure everything out. I brought my mechanic Ron with me to help out but besides bleeding the front brake a few times, we didn’t touch anything all weekend. I wish I could have finished one spot higher and been in front of [Ryan] Sipes but I was really happy to make the main and get a top-10 result. I need some practice using the metal shoe and being consistent with my slides but maybe the chance will come up to ride another TT in the future.”
Next Race: Texas Half-Mile – Fort Worth, Texas – May 22, 2021
AFT Singles Main Event – Atlanta Super TT
1. Dallas Daniels, YAM
2. Michael Rush, YAM
3. Ferran Cardus, HON
4. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
OTHER KTM
9. Travis Pastrana, KTM
17. Aiden RoosEvans, KTM
AFT Singles Point Standings (After Round 3)
1. Dallas Daniels, 60 points
2. Michael Rush, 57
3. Shayna Texter-Bauman, 50
4. Max Whale, 43
More, from a press release issued by Royal Enfield North America:
Moto Anatomy x Royal Enfield Rider Johnny Lewis Captures Fifth Place at Atlanta
Lewis charged from the back of the field after first lap incident
Atlanta, GA: Moto Anatomy x Royal Enfield rider Johnny Lewis captured fifth place during the American Flat Track (AFT) Atlanta Super TT at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Lewis was fast all weekend and despite a crash on the first lap that forced him to start from the back of the field, Lewis made quick work of the back half of the field and settled into fifth. The top five finish showcases the development work the team has done since the opening round in Volusia.
The Super TT format played well into Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfield rider’s strengths, as Lewis is an accomplished supermoto rider and rides motocross regularly as part of his training. During the opening lap, Lewis made a strong start, but high-sided coming out of the first corner, breaking his helmet visor and inflating his airbag suit. After the field was red-flagged, Lewis was able to regroup and rejoin the race at the back of the field.
“We showed great speed all weekend, but the incident on the first lap meant we had our work cut out for us,” said Moto Anatomy x Royal Enfield rider Johnny Lewis. “The team has been working extremely hard since Volusia. David and Bryan Lloyd along with the rest of the team have put in long hours to get more power out of the Twins FT. We ran at the top of the field all weekend and feel great about the progress we’ve made. Obviously, we had hoped for a podium result but that’s racing.”
The Atlanta Super TT course utilized both the front straightaway of the NASCAR oval and portions of dirt in the infield grass. The track made for great racing action and Lewis was running in the top two during practice and qualifying, then won his semi-final race in convincing fashion. The fifth-place finish and the speed shown by Lewis all weekend highlights the behind-the-scenes work the team continues to do in search of furthering the performance of the Twins FT package.
The American Flat Track season will return on May 22 at Texas Motor Speedway for the Mission Foods Texas Half Mile Presented by Roof Systems. Lewis will look to take the momentum from his fifth-place finish into the next round in Texas.
During the race weekend, the Get On! Moto Show will also take place around the speedway, with demo rides, custom bike displays, music, food and more Friday through Sunday. Johnny Lewis will also be hosting a Royal Enfield Slide School powered by Moto Anatomy that weekend as well.
To learn more, visit Get On! Moto Show or purchase tickets directly at AmericanFlatTrack.com.
Be sure to follow @MotoAnatomyxRoyalEnfield on Instagram to stay up to date on the latest results and insights from the track. The team will continue to release short films documenting each round, which can be seen on Royal Enfield North America’s YouTube channel throughout the season.
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 mid-size 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 125 dealers in North America, including the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. RENA currently offers the Himalayan, Meteor 350 and the 650 Twins: INT 650 and Continental GT 650 motorcycles along with a range of genuine motorcycle accessories and apparel.
The Moto Anatomy x Royal Enfield team is supported by Harris Performance, SENA, Spectro Oils, Beringer Brakes, Solid Performance, EVS, ODI, Just 1, Tucker, Saddlemen, S&S Cycle, Team Lawant, Quayle Construction and Goon Glass and Rubber.
For more information on Royal Enfield North America, please visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.
