The Brazilian smoked the rear all the way round Jerez to come out on top, ahead of Tulovic and rookie Aldeguer
Saturday, 01 May 2021
Eric Granado (One Energy Racing) will start his 2021 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup campaign from pole position at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, the Brazilian putting in a stunner in E-Pole to head the grid by two and a half tenths. Lukas Tulovic (Tech 3 E-Racing) returns to the front row in Spain as the German made a big step forward from Friday to take second, with rookie sensation Fermin Aldeguer (Openbank Aspar Team) starting third for his debut race in MotoE™.
As the first few riders put in their times, it was Maria Herrera who set the first benchmark that outlasted a few rivals, with the Openbank Aspar Team rider cutting two tenths off her previous best during Free Practice. Next the rider to beat was Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) as he took another two tenths off the top, before drama hit for his compatriot Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE).
2019 Cup winner Ferrari was up, setting red sectors, before the Italian made a key E-Pole mistake: track limits. Seemingly just on the green at Turn 4, everyone held their breath to wait for the official confirmation of whether Ferrari was in or out, and when it came it was bad news: he has to start from the back.
Back on track, Alessandro Zaccone (Octo Pramac MotoE) was the next to head the timesheets as he shaved another chunk off for provisional pole, but it wouldn’t last long as rookie Aldeguer headed out. Faster still, he took over on top. Next out was Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) but the Spaniard slotted in behind Zaccone, so there were just three riders left: Tulovic, Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Granado.
Tulovic was up first, the German putting his almost signature Saturday speed on display to take another slice of time off provisional pole, setting a 1:48.012 and taking over. So could Aegerter do it? Surprisingly, not quite. The Swiss rider took third behind Aldeguer, so a front row would all come down to whether the last man out could leapfrog Aegerter or all three: Granado.
Despite fearing the green after falling foul of track limits in 2020, it was something special as the Brazilian lit up the rear tyre and took a stunning four tenths out of the time to beat by the end of the third sector, with pole his if he could hold on. A sideways trip into the final corner saw him lose a little time, but keeping it well within track limits and pinned to the line saw him take E-Pole by a quarter of a second.
That’s a full house of sessions he’s now topped this weekend, the best case scenario as Granado aims to repeat his Jerez win last year. Tulovic, who recovered from a small allergy that dampened his progress on Friday, takes second and aim at his first podium as rookie Aldeguer impresses once again on the outside of the front row.
Aegerter heads up Row 2 ahead of Zaccone, with Torres taking sixth. Seventh went to Casadei, joined on the third row by Xavi Cardelus (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) and Herrera as she took a step forward up the timesheets. Rookie Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team) completes the top ten.
The stage is set for a stunner at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, so make sure to tune in at 10:05 (GMT+2) on Sunday for the first MotoE™ race of the year. All eyes will be on Granado at the front and Ferrari looking to move through from the back, with eight laps of action just around the corner!
Eric Granado: “I’m very happy, we did a great job all preseason and all this weekend, I have a really good feeling with the bike and I’m very happy with my new team, I want to say thanks to them for trusting me this season. It was a good lap, I came in with a lot of confidence but trying to avoid all the kerbs and all the green because I didn’t want to make a mistake and lose my lap. The last corner is somewhere I’ve had a lot of confidence all weekend and you know, you always try to push more! I went sideways a little bit and then I preferred to go wide than try to go in the corner and maybe crash, Finally it was ok, we could get pole and I’m ready for tomorrow!”
More, from a press release issued by Energica:
GRANADO SECURES FIRST E-POLE OF THE SEASON AT JEREZ
Race results are what matter the most to every rider and team, but the single-lap E-Pole qualifying format represents a key moment in every event of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, and it was no different today at ‘Circuito de Jerez’ for the opening round of the 2021 season. All the 18 participants had to do their best aboard their Energica Ego Corsa machines while trying to avoid any mistake, and in the end it was Eric Granado (One Energy Racing) who clinched pole position – his fourth in the series – with a time of 1’47.778secs – despite a mistake at the last turn that cost him at least two tenths of a second.
Last year’s opening round race winner – currently in his third MotoE season – will be joined on the front row by Germany’s Lukas Tulovic (Tech 3 E-Racing), who has showed once again how quick and polished his riding style is, especially on Saturday afternoon. Third on the grid will be the 15-year-old rookie Fermin Aldeguer (OpenBank Aspar Team), with the young Spaniard looking forward to making an impact in his official debut in the series.
With the eight-lap race scheduled to get underway at 10:05 local time (GMT +2), Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt IntactGP) will head row two. So far this weekend, the experienced Swiss rider has been unable to match the same type of performance shown during the two official tests at this track, but his chances to battle for honours are still extremely high.
Fifth place went to OCTO Pramac MotoE’s Alessandro Zaccone, ahead of the reigning world cup champion Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40), Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadracorse), Xavier Cardelus (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) and Maria Herrera (OpenBank Aspar Team), who completes row three after a stellar qualifying performance.
The challenging start of the year continues for Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE), who saw his lap cancelled as he exceeded track limits at turn four. He will start the race from the back of the grid.
ABOUT ENERGICA MOTOR COMPANY S.p.A
Energica Motor Company is the first Italian manufacturer of high-performing electric motorcycle and is the single manufacturer chosen by Dorna for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup. Energica Motorcycles are on sale worldwide.
Editorial Note: Defending MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Richie Escalante crashed his HONOS HVMC Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R late in Supersport Qualifying Two Saturday morning at Road Atlanta. Escalante fell at high speed entering the Turn Three chicane and his motorcycle tumbled violently, before briefly catching on fire. Escalante was seen walking away from the incident.
Mathew Scholtz crashed his Westby Racing Yamaha in MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Qualifying Two Saturday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The South African was able to pick his YZF-R1 up and ride it back to pit lane, and then after some quick repairs, Scholtz returned to the track and did a 1:23.852 to top the session.
Jake Gagne, however, had done a 1:23.746 (a new lap record) during Qualifying One on Friday, which earned him the pole position for Superbike Race One on Saturday afternoon.
The grid for Superbike Race Two, scheduled for Sunday afternoon, will be gridded based on the finishing order of the riders in Race One.
Editorial Note: The MotoAmerica Stock 1000 lap record at Road Atlanta coming into the weekend was 1:27.195, set by Cameron Petersen in 2020, according to MotoAmerica.
Gardner lays down a lap record as Diggia and Bezzecchi home in
The Championship leader takes pole in Jerez, with the front row split by just 0.086 and Lowes crashing out
Remy Gardner (87). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) may have only described his pole position lap at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España as “decent”, but the 1:40.667 is actually a new lap record at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto and secures the Australian his first pole of the season. It was close though, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) just 0.071 off and Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) within 0.086 as they complete the front row. Polesitter in the first three races, Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) crashed out but will start the fourth showdown of the season from fifth.
Q1 saw rookie Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) take to the top and the American moved through along with teammate Marcos Ramirez, Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) and Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) as the Italian denied compatriot Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP 40) on his last push for the top.
So the stage was set for Q2, and the pace was hot from the off as Gardner slammed in a 1:40.667 to lead the way. Di Giannantonio and Bezzecchi got within a tenth, but the Australian held on at the top as the clock ticked down. Some drama then hit for Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team) as he slid off, although he was able to get back out, before Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) also hit the deck but was also able to rejoin.
Meanwhile, red sectors started to appear for Lowes. Two tenths under in the third split, the Brit was making a march for the top – but a bobble at the final corner put paid to that. He did improve but stayed fourth, and not long after suffered more drama as he crashed at Turn 2, out the fight. And that was all she wrote, with the front row unchallenged and Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) then pushing Lowes down a place further to fifth.
That means Championship leader Gardner takes his first pole of the season and becomes the first rider other than Lowes to start from the front this year. ‘Diggia’ takes second, with Bezzecchi back in the mix in a big way on Saturday to take a front row in third and within 0.086 of the top. Raul Fernandez is fourth, ahead of Lowes who is at least in sight of some of his biggest rivals. Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) completes the second row.
Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) took P7 ahead of Roberts and rookie Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), with Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) completing the top ten despite an earlier crash. Canet, another crasher, took P11 ahead of Jorge Navarro (Lightech Speed Up).
Remy Gardner: “I guess I could say I know this track really well! I’ve done a few laps around here. Everyone’s fast here so it’s always tough in Jerez, but I feel good, the bike was working pretty well from FP1, there wasn’t much to play around with on the bike side. The lap was decent, wasn’t perfect but enough to get me on pole so I’m happy.”
More, from a press release issued by Italtrans Racing:
Italtrans Racing Team to start the Spanish Grand Prix from rows 3rd and 8th.
Fourth round of the MotoGP World Championship at Jerez de la Frontera with the Spanish Grand Prix.
Italtrans Racing Team is preparing for a new challenge aware of being among the rulers of this season after the positive experience in Portugal, with Joe Roberts close to the podium and Lorenzo Dalla Porta author of a great comeback race ended on the verge of the top ten.
Among the best riders of the weekend, Roberts went straight to Q2 thanks to the excellent times recorded in the free practices: unfortunately, right on the lap in which he was signing the pole position, he crashed at turn 6 just five minutes from the end of the session. He went back to the pit lane and qualifying thanks to the excellent job of the team, but he could not improve his best lap of 1’41”235, finishing 8th.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta didn’t make it thru Q1 and tomorrow will start the Spanish GP from the 23rd position on the grid with a best time of 1’41”636.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta (19). Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing Team.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta
23° | 1’41”636
“Unfortunately, I made some mistakes and tomorrow I will start from the back of the grid. The bike has a good set-up and from yesterday to today I have taken a step forward. The pace is good and I can fight for the points. Let’s look forward to the race”.
Joe Roberts (16). Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing Team.
Joe Roberts
8° | 1’41”35
“The first part of the day was really good and the pace was really strong. Unfortunately, in qualifying I lose the front and I made a small mistake in the lap I was going faster. We had a good race starting from this position last weekend and so I’m looking forward to the race tomorrow”.
Giovanni Sandi, Technical Director
“We are confident because we are performing well and have a good race pace, definitely among the best. Unfortunately, the crash affected Joe’s qualifying and we didn’t have enough time to get back in the best shape. Lorenzo always makes a few too many mistakes in practice, but he can have a good race tomorrow”.
More, from a press release issued by American Racing Team:
Ramirez and Beaubier will start midfield for Spanish Grand Prix
American Racing teammates topped Moto2 Qualifying 1 at Jerez
CADIZ, Spain (May 1, 2021) — Marcos Ramirez and Cameron Beaubier will start Sunday’s Grand Prix of Spain, Round 4 of the FIM Moto2 World Championship, from the fifth and sixth rows of the grid after qualifying 14th and 16th.
Cameron Beaubier (6). Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
The American Racing teammates have shown steady improvement at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, which is located in the southernmost region of Spain, known as Andalucía. The track is 2.75 miles in length, with 13 corners, eight of which are right handers.
Ramirez hails from the nearby coastal town of Conil de la Frontera. After the opening practice on Friday, he and Beaubier were 24th and 23rd overall. The 23-year-old Spaniard was quicker in the second 40-minute session, while Beaubier crashed, unhurt. They ended the day 23rd and 27th.
Marcos Ramirez (42). Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
Ramirez also led the way in FP3, finishing 19th; Beaubier was 25th. The five-time MotoAmerica Superbike champion turned the tables in Qualifying 1, topping the 15-minute session with a 1:41.308 lap. Ramirez was second, with a nearly identical time, 1:41.351.
“Things started to click this morning, especially for Cameron,” said American Racing Race Director John Hopkins. “He and his new crew chief, Stuart Shenton, got the bike working well, and Cameron went out and did what he knows how to do.”
In Qualifying 2, neither Beaubier nor Ramirez was able to match his Q1 times. Both sessions were run in warm, dry conditions. Dunlop introduced a softer-compound rear tire at Jerez, the use of which only was permitted in practice and qualifying.
KTM Ajo rider Remy Gardner earned pole position with a new lap record, 1:40.667.
Shenton replaces Luca Capocchiano. The highly experienced Grand Prix engineer has worked with Americans Freddie Spencer, Kevin Schwantz and Hopkins, among other riders. Shenton spent 19 years at Suzuki, retiring at the end of the 2010 season.
“Stuart was my crew chief throughout my entire career at Suzuki MotoGP,” said Hopkins. “It is really cool having him back. It is a good feeling.”
Beaubier and Ramirez delivered their best race results of the season, ninth and 15th, two weeks ago in Portugal. The pair intend to improve on those performances for Los Angeles-based American Racing in Sunday’s 23-lap Moto2 race.
About the American Racing Team
The American Racing Team is owned by Avner Kass and Eitan Butbul and competes in the FIM MotoGP World Championship. Based in California, the team fields two riders in the Moto2 class: American Cameron Beaubier (No. 6) and Spaniard Marcos Ramirez (No. 42). American Racing has grown under Butbul’s guidance and is a respected member of the MotoGP paddock.
RST Leathers Protecting Team Hammer Riders In 2021
Team Hammer is pleased to announce a new, multi-year partnership with RST leathers. Bobby Fong, Cameron Petersen, Sean Dylan Kelly, Sam Lochoff, and Wyatt Farris are going into battle wearing RST’s V4.1 airbag suit during the 2021 MotoAmerica season.
“Like Team Hammer, RST is a brand that was founded and is run by motorcycle enthusiasts, so it was a great fit for us,” said Team Hammer Vice President Chris Ulrich. “RST is also continually developing its product line, improving fit and safety, which is why we chose them to protect our riders on the racetrack. We look forward to helping RST establish its high-performance credentials and gain market share in the United States.”
“From our very first conversations with Team Hammer, we knew we had found the right partner to launch RST into MotoAmerica,” said RST Head of Brand & Product Stuart Millington. “Team Hammer and RST share many of the same values and we have a shared passion for success. We are super proud to work with such a professional and prestigious team. We are excited to see the V4.1 airbag suit, our flagship product, on the grid for the first time in MotoAmerica, representing RST at the very highest level. We look forward to the beginning of a long and successful partnership together and wish Team Hammer all the very best for the season.”
While based in the United Kingdom, RST is sold exclusively in the United States by www.sportbiketrackgear.com.
SportbikeTrackGear.com owner Brian Van said, “RST is a brand that we are proud to offer our customers in the United States. In the sportbike segment, RST offers the best ratio of performance to value, there is no other brand on the market like it.”
RST is a British motorcycling apparel brand with market-leading presence in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The brand’s racing pedigree is evident in its status of Official Safety Partner for the Isle of Man TT, along with the numerous race wins and championships its riders have achieved globally. RST riders for the 2021 season include Kenny Foray (FSBK & WEC), Alex Lowes (WSBK), Ian Hutchinson (16 x Isle of Man TT winner), Barry Baltus (Moto 2), Alan Techer (WEC).
The team behind RST, the vast majority of which are passionate motorcyclists, have an obsession with safety and rider protection.
Having been recently acquired by Bihr NV, the largest motorcycle parts, accessories and rider gear distributor in Continental Europe, RST is set for significant global growth thanks to its core principles of quality products alongside unrivalled value.
About Team Hammer
The 2021 season marks Team Hammer’s 41st consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 108 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 291 times and have won nine AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
More, from another press release issued by Team Hammer:
Team Hammer Partners With R&G For 2021
Bobby Fong’s Team Hammer-built M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike fitted with R&G products. Photo By Brian J Nelson.
Team Hammer, competing as M4 ECSTAR Suzuki in the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, is pleased to announce a partnership with R&G, a global leader in aftermarket motorcycle protection products. Team Hammer is using R&G engine case covers, radiator screens, chain guards and other products.
Team Hammer Technical Director Keith Perry said, “We rely on quality products from our partners to limit damage during crashes and keep our riders in the race. R&G’s high quality products are MotoAmerica homologated and also fit well, which is a big help when working on the bike.”
“R&G has been an Official Partner of the MotoAmerica championship for several years now and has a long history of sponsoring race teams around the world; particularly in our homeland of England,” said R&G Managing Director Simon Hughes. “We are absolutely thrilled to be sponsoring M4 ECSTAR Suzuki this year, taking care of all their protection needs, and we can’t wait for the season to start!”
While based in England, R&G’s products are distributed in North America by Twisted Throttle and are available through leading retailers.
R&G products are on the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki racebikes for this weekend’s MotoAmerica season opener at Road Atlanta April 30-May 2.
About R&G
R&G is the world’s number one manufacturer of motorcycle crash protection and the only such one to be awarded insurance approval.
Formed in 1999 with the express intention of designing, manufacturing and distributing quality crash protection for motorcycles, R&G now offers nearly 5,000 SKUs for hundreds of bikes.
R&G’s products have won numerous awards from a variety of trade and consumer motorcycle press and they are used to protect and enhance the machines of many teams and riders in the British Superbike and club racing paddocks. The Company invests heavily in the motorcycle industry every year and 2021 is the seventh consecutive season R&G will be the ‘Official Crash Protection Supplier’ to the British Superbike Championship; with a dedicated support service attending each round. Also entering its seventh year is the R&G Rookies’ Trophy, which helps to promote young and up-and-coming riders in the BSB paddock..
R&G is also continuing to offer all ACU, SACU and MCUI motorcycle race license holders 10% discount on its products
The Company employs 50 people, plus field-based agents, and, due to the global growth of its business, constantly expands its purpose-built industrial units near Alton, Hampshire, England.
About Team Hammer
The 2021 season marks Team Hammer’s 41st consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 108 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 291 times and have won nine AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
More, from a press release issued by HONOS HVMC Racing Team:
Chuckwalla Raceway Joins Honos HVMC Racing As Official Motorsports Destination
Corey Alexander (23). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Joshua Tree, CA – Southern California-based motorsports destination Chuckwalla Valley Raceway (CVR) is proud to announce its partnership with Corey Alexander and the Honos HVMC Racing team for the 2021 MotoAmerica season.
Located east of Palm Springs off the I-10 near Joshua Tree National Park, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway is ~3.5 hours from LA, San Diego, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. The facility features a world-class car and motorcycle grand prix track focused on safety and excitement. Built in 2010, the bi-directional track is 2.68 miles in length and 40 feet wide with 17 flowing corners and elevation changes that will challenge even the most experienced drivers and riders.
In recent years, the track has undergone a series of upgrades and established itself as one of the premier motorsports destinations in the United States. Visitors can stay overnight in one of forty 400sq ft cabins located on the property, and choose between the recently resurfaced road course, mini-track, dirt track, or drag strip. The expansion of the onsite Chuckwalla/Desert Center Airport (CN64) now features a newly paved 5,300′ x 80’ runway that can accommodate jets of all sizes, and is in use weekly for skydiving.
Chuckwalla Valley Raceway is also one of few race tracks in the United States to host its own motorcycle racing series – CVMA (Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association). With the warm winter climate in the California desert, CVMA’s 7-round September-April race calendar offers the perfect winter competitive and training opportunity for racers of all levels. Race hauler storage options and the track’s short distance to Palm Springs International Airport allow guests nationwide to easily commute to and from CVR.
Corey Alexander is excited to welcome Chuckwalla Valley Raceway to the Honos HVMC Racing team, and stated “I really want to thank everyone at Chuckwalla for all their support. I have been riding and teaching with JP43 Training at the CVR for several seasons now and I have developed a close relationship with everyone there. I’m glad I can help promote their business with my 2021 racing program, and I look forward to making my Chuckwalla family proud at each event this season!”
President of CVR, Micky Grana, commented, “Being part of the Honos HVMC Racing racing effort is a great way to promote our motorsports facility. We are thrilled to have #23 and the rest of the HONOS HVMC team as ambassadors for our “Visit Chuckwalla” campaign and for our CVMA Winter Road Race Series”.
You can catch the HONOS HVMC Racing team throughout the off-season at their Chuckwalla Valley Raceway home base working alongside JP43 Training or at any of the nine MotoAmerica rounds nationwide throughout the 2021 calendar. To purchase tickets or learn more about the series, please visit MotoAmerica.com
About Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
Built in 2010 and considered by many to be Southern California’s premier motorsports destination, CVR is situated on over 1,000 acres. The 17-turn, 2.68 mile track was designed to run both clockwise and counterclockwise. Located east of Palm Springs off the I-10 near Joshua Tree National Park, the track is ~3.5 hours from LA, San Diego, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Visit chuckwalla.com or follow @chuckwallavalleyraceway to ride, drive, slide, drag, fly, or jump!
More, from a press release issued by Jeremy Cook Racing:
Jeremy Cook Racing welcomes continued support from Bob’s BMW for 2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship season
Maryland dealership to serve as title sponsor for Cook’s first full-time racing season
Jeremy Cook (81). Photo by BrockImaging, courtesy Jeremy Cook Racing.
PASADENA, Md. — Jeremy Cook kicks off his first full professional road racing season this weekend at MotoAmerica’s Superbikes at Atlanta round, and his long-time sponsor, Bob’s BMW, is set to be Cook’s team’s title sponsor for the 2021 MotoAmerica season. The Maryland BMW motorcycle dealership has supported Cook’s racing career for more than a decade, and its increased level of support will allow Cook to contest the full MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship this year.
Cook, who competed in his first MotoAmerica race in 2015 and has more than a dozen pro road races under his belt, will race a 2020 BMW S 1000 RR at all nine of this season’s scheduled MotoAmerica rounds. The Pasadena, Md., resident started racing BMW motorcycles in 2010 after he purchased his first BMW S 1000 RR from Bob’s BMW.
“As I look ahead to a year of crisscrossing the country to race against some of the most talented road racers in North America, I can’t help but think about my first customer experience at Bob’s BMW,” Cook said. “If it wasn’t for the exceptional customer service Bob’s staff showed me when I bought that first S 1000 RR, I probably wouldn’t be pursuing my racing career this vigorously. I can’t thank the ownership and staff at Bob’s enough for their generous support over the last 11 years. The dealership’s employees are like family to me, and I feel very fortunate to have them in my corner.”
Located in Jessup, Md., Bob’s BMW was founded in 1981 by Bob Henig and has grown to be one of the most respected BMW motorcycle dealerships in North America. The dealership has won several awards for overall dealer excellence, customer satisfaction, and community service, and prides itself on providing customers with an experience that exceeds expectations.
To learn more about Bob’s BMW, visit its website at www.bobsbmw.com or stop by the dealership, located at 10720 Guildford Road, Jessup, MD 20794.
For the MotoAmerica Superbikes at Atlanta round, there are two Stock 1000 races on the schedule. Both races will be broadcast live on MotoAmerica’s streaming platform, MotoAmerica Live+. To learn more about MotoAmerica Live+ and watch Cook compete against the nation’s top motorcycle road racers, visit www.motoamericaliveplus.com.
More, from a press release issued by Jeremy Cook Racing:
Motorcycle Xcitement steps up to presenting sponsor of Bob’s BMW Jeremy Cook Racing at MotoAmerica Superbikes at Atlanta
Rider training school’s support helps Maryland rider overcome mechanical woes at 2021 MotoAmerica season opener
BRASELTON, Ga. — For the last decade, Jeremy Cook has helped novice road racers hone their riding skills as an instructor for the Roger Lyle’s Motorcycle Xcitement riding school. For this weekend’s season-opening MotoAmerica round at Road Atlanta, the school has stepped up to be presenting sponsor for Cook’s team as it battled mechanical woes Thursday and Friday.
The school, which was one of Bob’s BMW Jeremy Cook Racing’s several sponsors for the 2021 season, has provided the team with additional technical and financial support for Cook’s first time racing on the 2.55-mile Road Atlanta circuit.
When the team was getting set up on Thursday, a problem was discovered with its 2020 BMW S 1000 RR’s clutch assembly that required the system to be overhauled. On Friday, Cook’s machine experienced more mechanical gremlins with the clutch system. Lyle has been instrumental in helping Cook get the BMW repaired and has provided coaching to Cook to help him learn the track on Friday. With the clutch system repaired, Cook bested his best lap time from the Stock 1000 Class’ morning practice session by about four seconds in afternoon qualifying.
“I can’t thank Roger enough for helping my team when we needed it most this weekend,” Cook said. “He’s helped me track down parts we needed and has coached me on how to best approach riding a track I’ve never raced at before. I started riding with Motorcycle Xcitement in 2010 and, after winning some club races, Roger brought me onboard as one of his coaches. It’s been a blast using my experience to help new road racers learn to ride at their limit, and I’m happy to say that the school that helped me reach the pro level is continuing its support of my team.”
Founded by motorcycle industry veteran and safety advocate Lyle, Motorcycle Xcitement offers rider training courses and track day events for riders of all skill levels. To learn more about Motorcycle Xcitement, visit www.motorcyclexcitement.com.
Cook is slated to race today at 1:10 p.m. when the Stock 1000 Class takes to the track for the first time in 2021. Sunday’s Stock 1000 contest gets underway at noon. Both races will be broadcast live on MotoAmerica Live+, and Sunday’s race can be watched on Facebook Live. To learn more about MotoAmerica Live+ and tune in to Cook’s races today and tomorrow, visit www.motoamericaliveplus.com.
The Brazilian smoked the rear all the way round Jerez to come out on top, ahead of Tulovic and rookie Aldeguer
Saturday, 01 May 2021
Eric Granado (One Energy Racing) will start his 2021 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup campaign from pole position at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, the Brazilian putting in a stunner in E-Pole to head the grid by two and a half tenths. Lukas Tulovic (Tech 3 E-Racing) returns to the front row in Spain as the German made a big step forward from Friday to take second, with rookie sensation Fermin Aldeguer (Openbank Aspar Team) starting third for his debut race in MotoE™.
As the first few riders put in their times, it was Maria Herrera who set the first benchmark that outlasted a few rivals, with the Openbank Aspar Team rider cutting two tenths off her previous best during Free Practice. Next the rider to beat was Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) as he took another two tenths off the top, before drama hit for his compatriot Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE).
2019 Cup winner Ferrari was up, setting red sectors, before the Italian made a key E-Pole mistake: track limits. Seemingly just on the green at Turn 4, everyone held their breath to wait for the official confirmation of whether Ferrari was in or out, and when it came it was bad news: he has to start from the back.
Back on track, Alessandro Zaccone (Octo Pramac MotoE) was the next to head the timesheets as he shaved another chunk off for provisional pole, but it wouldn’t last long as rookie Aldeguer headed out. Faster still, he took over on top. Next out was Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) but the Spaniard slotted in behind Zaccone, so there were just three riders left: Tulovic, Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Granado.
Tulovic was up first, the German putting his almost signature Saturday speed on display to take another slice of time off provisional pole, setting a 1:48.012 and taking over. So could Aegerter do it? Surprisingly, not quite. The Swiss rider took third behind Aldeguer, so a front row would all come down to whether the last man out could leapfrog Aegerter or all three: Granado.
Despite fearing the green after falling foul of track limits in 2020, it was something special as the Brazilian lit up the rear tyre and took a stunning four tenths out of the time to beat by the end of the third sector, with pole his if he could hold on. A sideways trip into the final corner saw him lose a little time, but keeping it well within track limits and pinned to the line saw him take E-Pole by a quarter of a second.
That’s a full house of sessions he’s now topped this weekend, the best case scenario as Granado aims to repeat his Jerez win last year. Tulovic, who recovered from a small allergy that dampened his progress on Friday, takes second and aim at his first podium as rookie Aldeguer impresses once again on the outside of the front row.
Aegerter heads up Row 2 ahead of Zaccone, with Torres taking sixth. Seventh went to Casadei, joined on the third row by Xavi Cardelus (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) and Herrera as she took a step forward up the timesheets. Rookie Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team) completes the top ten.
The stage is set for a stunner at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, so make sure to tune in at 10:05 (GMT+2) on Sunday for the first MotoE™ race of the year. All eyes will be on Granado at the front and Ferrari looking to move through from the back, with eight laps of action just around the corner!
Eric Granado: “I’m very happy, we did a great job all preseason and all this weekend, I have a really good feeling with the bike and I’m very happy with my new team, I want to say thanks to them for trusting me this season. It was a good lap, I came in with a lot of confidence but trying to avoid all the kerbs and all the green because I didn’t want to make a mistake and lose my lap. The last corner is somewhere I’ve had a lot of confidence all weekend and you know, you always try to push more! I went sideways a little bit and then I preferred to go wide than try to go in the corner and maybe crash, Finally it was ok, we could get pole and I’m ready for tomorrow!”
More, from a press release issued by Energica:
GRANADO SECURES FIRST E-POLE OF THE SEASON AT JEREZ
Race results are what matter the most to every rider and team, but the single-lap E-Pole qualifying format represents a key moment in every event of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, and it was no different today at ‘Circuito de Jerez’ for the opening round of the 2021 season. All the 18 participants had to do their best aboard their Energica Ego Corsa machines while trying to avoid any mistake, and in the end it was Eric Granado (One Energy Racing) who clinched pole position – his fourth in the series – with a time of 1’47.778secs – despite a mistake at the last turn that cost him at least two tenths of a second.
Last year’s opening round race winner – currently in his third MotoE season – will be joined on the front row by Germany’s Lukas Tulovic (Tech 3 E-Racing), who has showed once again how quick and polished his riding style is, especially on Saturday afternoon. Third on the grid will be the 15-year-old rookie Fermin Aldeguer (OpenBank Aspar Team), with the young Spaniard looking forward to making an impact in his official debut in the series.
With the eight-lap race scheduled to get underway at 10:05 local time (GMT +2), Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt IntactGP) will head row two. So far this weekend, the experienced Swiss rider has been unable to match the same type of performance shown during the two official tests at this track, but his chances to battle for honours are still extremely high.
Fifth place went to OCTO Pramac MotoE’s Alessandro Zaccone, ahead of the reigning world cup champion Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40), Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadracorse), Xavier Cardelus (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) and Maria Herrera (OpenBank Aspar Team), who completes row three after a stellar qualifying performance.
The challenging start of the year continues for Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE), who saw his lap cancelled as he exceeded track limits at turn four. He will start the race from the back of the grid.
ABOUT ENERGICA MOTOR COMPANY S.p.A
Energica Motor Company is the first Italian manufacturer of high-performing electric motorcycle and is the single manufacturer chosen by Dorna for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup. Energica Motorcycles are on sale worldwide.
Editorial Note: Defending MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Richie Escalante crashed his HONOS HVMC Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R late in Supersport Qualifying Two Saturday morning at Road Atlanta. Escalante fell at high speed entering the Turn Three chicane and his motorcycle tumbled violently, before briefly catching on fire. Escalante was seen walking away from the incident.
Mathew Scholtz crashed his Westby Racing Yamaha in MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Qualifying Two Saturday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The South African was able to pick his YZF-R1 up and ride it back to pit lane, and then after some quick repairs, Scholtz returned to the track and did a 1:23.852 to top the session.
Jake Gagne, however, had done a 1:23.746 (a new lap record) during Qualifying One on Friday, which earned him the pole position for Superbike Race One on Saturday afternoon.
The grid for Superbike Race Two, scheduled for Sunday afternoon, will be gridded based on the finishing order of the riders in Race One.
Editorial Note: The MotoAmerica Stock 1000 lap record at Road Atlanta coming into the weekend was 1:27.195, set by Cameron Petersen in 2020, according to MotoAmerica.
Gardner lays down a lap record as Diggia and Bezzecchi home in
The Championship leader takes pole in Jerez, with the front row split by just 0.086 and Lowes crashing out
Remy Gardner (87). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) may have only described his pole position lap at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España as “decent”, but the 1:40.667 is actually a new lap record at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto and secures the Australian his first pole of the season. It was close though, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) just 0.071 off and Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) within 0.086 as they complete the front row. Polesitter in the first three races, Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) crashed out but will start the fourth showdown of the season from fifth.
Q1 saw rookie Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) take to the top and the American moved through along with teammate Marcos Ramirez, Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) and Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) as the Italian denied compatriot Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP 40) on his last push for the top.
So the stage was set for Q2, and the pace was hot from the off as Gardner slammed in a 1:40.667 to lead the way. Di Giannantonio and Bezzecchi got within a tenth, but the Australian held on at the top as the clock ticked down. Some drama then hit for Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team) as he slid off, although he was able to get back out, before Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) also hit the deck but was also able to rejoin.
Meanwhile, red sectors started to appear for Lowes. Two tenths under in the third split, the Brit was making a march for the top – but a bobble at the final corner put paid to that. He did improve but stayed fourth, and not long after suffered more drama as he crashed at Turn 2, out the fight. And that was all she wrote, with the front row unchallenged and Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) then pushing Lowes down a place further to fifth.
That means Championship leader Gardner takes his first pole of the season and becomes the first rider other than Lowes to start from the front this year. ‘Diggia’ takes second, with Bezzecchi back in the mix in a big way on Saturday to take a front row in third and within 0.086 of the top. Raul Fernandez is fourth, ahead of Lowes who is at least in sight of some of his biggest rivals. Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) completes the second row.
Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) took P7 ahead of Roberts and rookie Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), with Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) completing the top ten despite an earlier crash. Canet, another crasher, took P11 ahead of Jorge Navarro (Lightech Speed Up).
Remy Gardner: “I guess I could say I know this track really well! I’ve done a few laps around here. Everyone’s fast here so it’s always tough in Jerez, but I feel good, the bike was working pretty well from FP1, there wasn’t much to play around with on the bike side. The lap was decent, wasn’t perfect but enough to get me on pole so I’m happy.”
More, from a press release issued by Italtrans Racing:
Italtrans Racing Team to start the Spanish Grand Prix from rows 3rd and 8th.
Fourth round of the MotoGP World Championship at Jerez de la Frontera with the Spanish Grand Prix.
Italtrans Racing Team is preparing for a new challenge aware of being among the rulers of this season after the positive experience in Portugal, with Joe Roberts close to the podium and Lorenzo Dalla Porta author of a great comeback race ended on the verge of the top ten.
Among the best riders of the weekend, Roberts went straight to Q2 thanks to the excellent times recorded in the free practices: unfortunately, right on the lap in which he was signing the pole position, he crashed at turn 6 just five minutes from the end of the session. He went back to the pit lane and qualifying thanks to the excellent job of the team, but he could not improve his best lap of 1’41”235, finishing 8th.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta didn’t make it thru Q1 and tomorrow will start the Spanish GP from the 23rd position on the grid with a best time of 1’41”636.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta (19). Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing Team.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta
23° | 1’41”636
“Unfortunately, I made some mistakes and tomorrow I will start from the back of the grid. The bike has a good set-up and from yesterday to today I have taken a step forward. The pace is good and I can fight for the points. Let’s look forward to the race”.
Joe Roberts (16). Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing Team.
Joe Roberts
8° | 1’41”35
“The first part of the day was really good and the pace was really strong. Unfortunately, in qualifying I lose the front and I made a small mistake in the lap I was going faster. We had a good race starting from this position last weekend and so I’m looking forward to the race tomorrow”.
Giovanni Sandi, Technical Director
“We are confident because we are performing well and have a good race pace, definitely among the best. Unfortunately, the crash affected Joe’s qualifying and we didn’t have enough time to get back in the best shape. Lorenzo always makes a few too many mistakes in practice, but he can have a good race tomorrow”.
More, from a press release issued by American Racing Team:
Ramirez and Beaubier will start midfield for Spanish Grand Prix
American Racing teammates topped Moto2 Qualifying 1 at Jerez
CADIZ, Spain (May 1, 2021) — Marcos Ramirez and Cameron Beaubier will start Sunday’s Grand Prix of Spain, Round 4 of the FIM Moto2 World Championship, from the fifth and sixth rows of the grid after qualifying 14th and 16th.
Cameron Beaubier (6). Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
The American Racing teammates have shown steady improvement at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, which is located in the southernmost region of Spain, known as Andalucía. The track is 2.75 miles in length, with 13 corners, eight of which are right handers.
Ramirez hails from the nearby coastal town of Conil de la Frontera. After the opening practice on Friday, he and Beaubier were 24th and 23rd overall. The 23-year-old Spaniard was quicker in the second 40-minute session, while Beaubier crashed, unhurt. They ended the day 23rd and 27th.
Marcos Ramirez (42). Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
Ramirez also led the way in FP3, finishing 19th; Beaubier was 25th. The five-time MotoAmerica Superbike champion turned the tables in Qualifying 1, topping the 15-minute session with a 1:41.308 lap. Ramirez was second, with a nearly identical time, 1:41.351.
“Things started to click this morning, especially for Cameron,” said American Racing Race Director John Hopkins. “He and his new crew chief, Stuart Shenton, got the bike working well, and Cameron went out and did what he knows how to do.”
In Qualifying 2, neither Beaubier nor Ramirez was able to match his Q1 times. Both sessions were run in warm, dry conditions. Dunlop introduced a softer-compound rear tire at Jerez, the use of which only was permitted in practice and qualifying.
KTM Ajo rider Remy Gardner earned pole position with a new lap record, 1:40.667.
Shenton replaces Luca Capocchiano. The highly experienced Grand Prix engineer has worked with Americans Freddie Spencer, Kevin Schwantz and Hopkins, among other riders. Shenton spent 19 years at Suzuki, retiring at the end of the 2010 season.
“Stuart was my crew chief throughout my entire career at Suzuki MotoGP,” said Hopkins. “It is really cool having him back. It is a good feeling.”
Beaubier and Ramirez delivered their best race results of the season, ninth and 15th, two weeks ago in Portugal. The pair intend to improve on those performances for Los Angeles-based American Racing in Sunday’s 23-lap Moto2 race.
About the American Racing Team
The American Racing Team is owned by Avner Kass and Eitan Butbul and competes in the FIM MotoGP World Championship. Based in California, the team fields two riders in the Moto2 class: American Cameron Beaubier (No. 6) and Spaniard Marcos Ramirez (No. 42). American Racing has grown under Butbul’s guidance and is a respected member of the MotoGP paddock.
Team Hammer riders (from left) Bobby Fong, Sam Lochoff, Sean Dylan Kelly, Wyatt Farris, and Cameron Petersen.
Photo By Brian J Nelson.
RST Leathers Protecting Team Hammer Riders In 2021
Team Hammer is pleased to announce a new, multi-year partnership with RST leathers. Bobby Fong, Cameron Petersen, Sean Dylan Kelly, Sam Lochoff, and Wyatt Farris are going into battle wearing RST’s V4.1 airbag suit during the 2021 MotoAmerica season.
“Like Team Hammer, RST is a brand that was founded and is run by motorcycle enthusiasts, so it was a great fit for us,” said Team Hammer Vice President Chris Ulrich. “RST is also continually developing its product line, improving fit and safety, which is why we chose them to protect our riders on the racetrack. We look forward to helping RST establish its high-performance credentials and gain market share in the United States.”
“From our very first conversations with Team Hammer, we knew we had found the right partner to launch RST into MotoAmerica,” said RST Head of Brand & Product Stuart Millington. “Team Hammer and RST share many of the same values and we have a shared passion for success. We are super proud to work with such a professional and prestigious team. We are excited to see the V4.1 airbag suit, our flagship product, on the grid for the first time in MotoAmerica, representing RST at the very highest level. We look forward to the beginning of a long and successful partnership together and wish Team Hammer all the very best for the season.”
While based in the United Kingdom, RST is sold exclusively in the United States by www.sportbiketrackgear.com.
SportbikeTrackGear.com owner Brian Van said, “RST is a brand that we are proud to offer our customers in the United States. In the sportbike segment, RST offers the best ratio of performance to value, there is no other brand on the market like it.”
RST is a British motorcycling apparel brand with market-leading presence in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The brand’s racing pedigree is evident in its status of Official Safety Partner for the Isle of Man TT, along with the numerous race wins and championships its riders have achieved globally. RST riders for the 2021 season include Kenny Foray (FSBK & WEC), Alex Lowes (WSBK), Ian Hutchinson (16 x Isle of Man TT winner), Barry Baltus (Moto 2), Alan Techer (WEC).
The team behind RST, the vast majority of which are passionate motorcyclists, have an obsession with safety and rider protection.
Having been recently acquired by Bihr NV, the largest motorcycle parts, accessories and rider gear distributor in Continental Europe, RST is set for significant global growth thanks to its core principles of quality products alongside unrivalled value.
About Team Hammer
The 2021 season marks Team Hammer’s 41st consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 108 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 291 times and have won nine AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
More, from another press release issued by Team Hammer:
Team Hammer Partners With R&G For 2021
Bobby Fong’s Team Hammer-built M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike fitted with R&G products. Photo By Brian J Nelson.
Team Hammer, competing as M4 ECSTAR Suzuki in the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, is pleased to announce a partnership with R&G, a global leader in aftermarket motorcycle protection products. Team Hammer is using R&G engine case covers, radiator screens, chain guards and other products.
Team Hammer Technical Director Keith Perry said, “We rely on quality products from our partners to limit damage during crashes and keep our riders in the race. R&G’s high quality products are MotoAmerica homologated and also fit well, which is a big help when working on the bike.”
“R&G has been an Official Partner of the MotoAmerica championship for several years now and has a long history of sponsoring race teams around the world; particularly in our homeland of England,” said R&G Managing Director Simon Hughes. “We are absolutely thrilled to be sponsoring M4 ECSTAR Suzuki this year, taking care of all their protection needs, and we can’t wait for the season to start!”
While based in England, R&G’s products are distributed in North America by Twisted Throttle and are available through leading retailers.
R&G products are on the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki racebikes for this weekend’s MotoAmerica season opener at Road Atlanta April 30-May 2.
About R&G
R&G is the world’s number one manufacturer of motorcycle crash protection and the only such one to be awarded insurance approval.
Formed in 1999 with the express intention of designing, manufacturing and distributing quality crash protection for motorcycles, R&G now offers nearly 5,000 SKUs for hundreds of bikes.
R&G’s products have won numerous awards from a variety of trade and consumer motorcycle press and they are used to protect and enhance the machines of many teams and riders in the British Superbike and club racing paddocks. The Company invests heavily in the motorcycle industry every year and 2021 is the seventh consecutive season R&G will be the ‘Official Crash Protection Supplier’ to the British Superbike Championship; with a dedicated support service attending each round. Also entering its seventh year is the R&G Rookies’ Trophy, which helps to promote young and up-and-coming riders in the BSB paddock..
R&G is also continuing to offer all ACU, SACU and MCUI motorcycle race license holders 10% discount on its products
The Company employs 50 people, plus field-based agents, and, due to the global growth of its business, constantly expands its purpose-built industrial units near Alton, Hampshire, England.
About Team Hammer
The 2021 season marks Team Hammer’s 41st consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 108 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 291 times and have won nine AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
More, from a press release issued by HONOS HVMC Racing Team:
Chuckwalla Raceway Joins Honos HVMC Racing As Official Motorsports Destination
Corey Alexander (23). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Joshua Tree, CA – Southern California-based motorsports destination Chuckwalla Valley Raceway (CVR) is proud to announce its partnership with Corey Alexander and the Honos HVMC Racing team for the 2021 MotoAmerica season.
Located east of Palm Springs off the I-10 near Joshua Tree National Park, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway is ~3.5 hours from LA, San Diego, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. The facility features a world-class car and motorcycle grand prix track focused on safety and excitement. Built in 2010, the bi-directional track is 2.68 miles in length and 40 feet wide with 17 flowing corners and elevation changes that will challenge even the most experienced drivers and riders.
In recent years, the track has undergone a series of upgrades and established itself as one of the premier motorsports destinations in the United States. Visitors can stay overnight in one of forty 400sq ft cabins located on the property, and choose between the recently resurfaced road course, mini-track, dirt track, or drag strip. The expansion of the onsite Chuckwalla/Desert Center Airport (CN64) now features a newly paved 5,300′ x 80’ runway that can accommodate jets of all sizes, and is in use weekly for skydiving.
Chuckwalla Valley Raceway is also one of few race tracks in the United States to host its own motorcycle racing series – CVMA (Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association). With the warm winter climate in the California desert, CVMA’s 7-round September-April race calendar offers the perfect winter competitive and training opportunity for racers of all levels. Race hauler storage options and the track’s short distance to Palm Springs International Airport allow guests nationwide to easily commute to and from CVR.
Corey Alexander is excited to welcome Chuckwalla Valley Raceway to the Honos HVMC Racing team, and stated “I really want to thank everyone at Chuckwalla for all their support. I have been riding and teaching with JP43 Training at the CVR for several seasons now and I have developed a close relationship with everyone there. I’m glad I can help promote their business with my 2021 racing program, and I look forward to making my Chuckwalla family proud at each event this season!”
President of CVR, Micky Grana, commented, “Being part of the Honos HVMC Racing racing effort is a great way to promote our motorsports facility. We are thrilled to have #23 and the rest of the HONOS HVMC team as ambassadors for our “Visit Chuckwalla” campaign and for our CVMA Winter Road Race Series”.
You can catch the HONOS HVMC Racing team throughout the off-season at their Chuckwalla Valley Raceway home base working alongside JP43 Training or at any of the nine MotoAmerica rounds nationwide throughout the 2021 calendar. To purchase tickets or learn more about the series, please visit MotoAmerica.com
About Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
Built in 2010 and considered by many to be Southern California’s premier motorsports destination, CVR is situated on over 1,000 acres. The 17-turn, 2.68 mile track was designed to run both clockwise and counterclockwise. Located east of Palm Springs off the I-10 near Joshua Tree National Park, the track is ~3.5 hours from LA, San Diego, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Visit chuckwalla.com or follow @chuckwallavalleyraceway to ride, drive, slide, drag, fly, or jump!
More, from a press release issued by Jeremy Cook Racing:
Jeremy Cook Racing welcomes continued support from Bob’s BMW for 2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship season
Maryland dealership to serve as title sponsor for Cook’s first full-time racing season
Jeremy Cook (81). Photo by BrockImaging, courtesy Jeremy Cook Racing.
PASADENA, Md. — Jeremy Cook kicks off his first full professional road racing season this weekend at MotoAmerica’s Superbikes at Atlanta round, and his long-time sponsor, Bob’s BMW, is set to be Cook’s team’s title sponsor for the 2021 MotoAmerica season. The Maryland BMW motorcycle dealership has supported Cook’s racing career for more than a decade, and its increased level of support will allow Cook to contest the full MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship this year.
Cook, who competed in his first MotoAmerica race in 2015 and has more than a dozen pro road races under his belt, will race a 2020 BMW S 1000 RR at all nine of this season’s scheduled MotoAmerica rounds. The Pasadena, Md., resident started racing BMW motorcycles in 2010 after he purchased his first BMW S 1000 RR from Bob’s BMW.
“As I look ahead to a year of crisscrossing the country to race against some of the most talented road racers in North America, I can’t help but think about my first customer experience at Bob’s BMW,” Cook said. “If it wasn’t for the exceptional customer service Bob’s staff showed me when I bought that first S 1000 RR, I probably wouldn’t be pursuing my racing career this vigorously. I can’t thank the ownership and staff at Bob’s enough for their generous support over the last 11 years. The dealership’s employees are like family to me, and I feel very fortunate to have them in my corner.”
Located in Jessup, Md., Bob’s BMW was founded in 1981 by Bob Henig and has grown to be one of the most respected BMW motorcycle dealerships in North America. The dealership has won several awards for overall dealer excellence, customer satisfaction, and community service, and prides itself on providing customers with an experience that exceeds expectations.
To learn more about Bob’s BMW, visit its website at www.bobsbmw.com or stop by the dealership, located at 10720 Guildford Road, Jessup, MD 20794.
For the MotoAmerica Superbikes at Atlanta round, there are two Stock 1000 races on the schedule. Both races will be broadcast live on MotoAmerica’s streaming platform, MotoAmerica Live+. To learn more about MotoAmerica Live+ and watch Cook compete against the nation’s top motorcycle road racers, visit www.motoamericaliveplus.com.
More, from a press release issued by Jeremy Cook Racing:
Motorcycle Xcitement steps up to presenting sponsor of Bob’s BMW Jeremy Cook Racing at MotoAmerica Superbikes at Atlanta
Rider training school’s support helps Maryland rider overcome mechanical woes at 2021 MotoAmerica season opener
BRASELTON, Ga. — For the last decade, Jeremy Cook has helped novice road racers hone their riding skills as an instructor for the Roger Lyle’s Motorcycle Xcitement riding school. For this weekend’s season-opening MotoAmerica round at Road Atlanta, the school has stepped up to be presenting sponsor for Cook’s team as it battled mechanical woes Thursday and Friday.
The school, which was one of Bob’s BMW Jeremy Cook Racing’s several sponsors for the 2021 season, has provided the team with additional technical and financial support for Cook’s first time racing on the 2.55-mile Road Atlanta circuit.
When the team was getting set up on Thursday, a problem was discovered with its 2020 BMW S 1000 RR’s clutch assembly that required the system to be overhauled. On Friday, Cook’s machine experienced more mechanical gremlins with the clutch system. Lyle has been instrumental in helping Cook get the BMW repaired and has provided coaching to Cook to help him learn the track on Friday. With the clutch system repaired, Cook bested his best lap time from the Stock 1000 Class’ morning practice session by about four seconds in afternoon qualifying.
“I can’t thank Roger enough for helping my team when we needed it most this weekend,” Cook said. “He’s helped me track down parts we needed and has coached me on how to best approach riding a track I’ve never raced at before. I started riding with Motorcycle Xcitement in 2010 and, after winning some club races, Roger brought me onboard as one of his coaches. It’s been a blast using my experience to help new road racers learn to ride at their limit, and I’m happy to say that the school that helped me reach the pro level is continuing its support of my team.”
Founded by motorcycle industry veteran and safety advocate Lyle, Motorcycle Xcitement offers rider training courses and track day events for riders of all skill levels. To learn more about Motorcycle Xcitement, visit www.motorcyclexcitement.com.
Cook is slated to race today at 1:10 p.m. when the Stock 1000 Class takes to the track for the first time in 2021. Sunday’s Stock 1000 contest gets underway at noon. Both races will be broadcast live on MotoAmerica Live+, and Sunday’s race can be watched on Facebook Live. To learn more about MotoAmerica Live+ and tune in to Cook’s races today and tomorrow, visit www.motoamericaliveplus.com.
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We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
