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MotoAmerica: Even More From The Races At VIR

David Swarts
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MotoAmerica: Even More From The Races At VIR

M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI’S SEAN DYLAN KELLY TAKES CHARGE IN MOTOAMERICA SUPERSPORT

Brea, CA – Suzuki and Team Hammer upped the ante following a successful 2021 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship season opener with an even stronger Round 2, notching up two victories, two pole positions, and four podiums at Virginia International Raceway.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly continued to lead the charge, scoring the pole in MotoAmerica Supersport for a second consecutive weekend aboard his GSX-R600 and then backing it up with a fifth consecutive race win dating back to the end of the 2020 season.

‘SDK’ rounded out his weekend with a runner-up result on Sunday to leave VIR with a healthy 17-point championship advantage following four races.

“It was definitely a challenging day and we’re not satisfied at all with the P2,” a motivated Kelly said. “We’ve been working hard. We’ve got three wins so far and we’re looking for more. I promise we won’t make it as easy for the opposition at the next one. We’re going to do our homework and come back stronger at the next one,” added SDK.

“Thanks again to M4 ECSTAR Suzuki and all my guys.”

 

Sam Lochoff (44). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Sam Lochoff (44) continues to learn and claimed a career best fifth-place finish on Sunday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

 

Sam Lochoff, Kelly’s young M4 ECSTAR Suzuki stablemate, continued to show vast potential early in his MotoAmerica Supersport career. After seeing a potential podium foiled by an off-track excursion that resulted in an eighth on Saturday, the South African rebounded with a fifth-place ride on Sunday to match his career best in the class.

 

Jake Lewis (85). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Jake Lewis (85) proved that he’s back with a pole position and Stock 1000 victory on Saturday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

 

Meanwhile, Altus Motorsports Suzuki’s Jake Lewis effectively mirrored Kelly’s weekend in Stock 1000 aboard his Team Hammer-built GSX-R1000. The Kentuckian earned the pole on Saturday and then parlayed it into his first race win since claiming the Superstock 1000 victory at Sonoma Raceway aboard an M4 ECSTAR Suzuki back in 2017.

Like Kelly, Lewis rounded out his weekend with a Sunday runner-up in a thriller that came down to the race’s final lap. As a result, Lewis now leads the Stock 1000 championship fight by a seven-point margin.

 

Bobby Fong (50). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Bobby Fong (50) continues to race with determination and earned a fifth-place finish on Sunday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

 

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Superbike duo of Bobby Fong and Cam Petersen again demonstrated podium pace and race-winning potential but were unable to fully exploit it.

An electronics issue dropped Fong out of a fight for second on Saturday and down to an eventual 12th-place finish. As a result, he was forced to start Sunday’s rematch from the outside of Row 4. Despite the disadvantage, the charging Californian hustled his GSX-R1000 Superbike into another scrap for the podium before taking fifth in the end.

 

Cameron Petersen (45). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Cameron Petersen (45) battled hard for two impressive finishes at VIR in the Superbike class. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

 

Petersen was shuffled back from third to fifth in the race’s decisive laps on Saturday. Looking to make amends, the South African got an excellent start and attempted to storm into second in the race’s opening corner, only to be pushed off track and down to last place.

Petersen spent the remainder of the race making up that lost ground, finally clawing his way to seventh at the checkered flag.

 

 

Wyatt Farris (79). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Wyatt Farris (79) rode well and delivered two point-scoring results on his GSX-R1000. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

 

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Wyatt Farris improved on his opening round performance in Stock 1000, claiming eighth and 11th-place finishes as he continues to acclimate to the team’s GSX-R1000.

Team Hammer and Suzuki will be back in action for Round 3 at high-speed Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, on June 11-13.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Cody Wyman Racing:

Cody Wyman Grabs First Career MotoAmerica Victory

 

Cody Wyman (34). Photo courtesy Cody Wyman Racing.
Cody Wyman (34). Photo courtesy Cody Wyman Racing.

 

It was a very successful weekend for KERmoto rider Cody Wyman at VIRginia International Raceway with a fourth-place finish on Saturday and then emerging on Sunday with a career-first victory in MotoAmerica SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup. Leaving round two third place in points standings had the New Yorker satisfied with his results.

“I was pretty hard on myself for trying to put myself in the right spot in race one, and it really backfired on me,” said Wyman. “Fourth-place points was solid, but I wanted more.”

Cody achieved his first career MotoAmerica podium last round at Road Atlanta, but wanted to improve results on finish on the top step.

“Sunday morning we tried some changes and kind of gambled into race two,” said Wyman. “I was more comfortable on the bike thanks to tuning by Weir Everywhere and Quarterley Racing to put me up front. I rode a great race until the end I had a moment and bucked myself out of the seat. Then I never gave up put my head down and got the drive of my life to draft pass for the win.”

It was Cody’s first professional victory in road racing and a long time coming for the 27-year-old.

“I’ve worked really hard since a hiatus from the sport, and it feels amazing to come back and be so strong on a different bike,” said Wyman. “We’ve got a ton of momentum and can’t wait to keep it going at Road America!”

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Altus Motorsports:

MotoAmerica: Round 2 Results from VIR for the Altus Motorsports Tucker Environmental Service Solutions Team

(Alton, VA). Round 2 of the MotoAmerica Season at Virginia International Raceway [VIR], saw solid improvements across the entire team.

 

Jake Lewis (85). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Jake Lewis (85). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.

 

Honos Superbike & Stock 1000:

After finishing just off the podium in fourth in both races at Round 1, Jake Lewis came to VIR fired up. He and the team put their heads down and improved every session. The reward for that hard work was Jake putting the Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R 1000 on Pole for both the Stock 1000 races. At the season opener, the Stock 1000 grids were deep and highly competitive. The races at VIR were more of the same. In Race 1 Jake Lewis was in a three bike battle all the way to the finish. Ultimately, he crossed the line as the winner. Race 2 on Sunday continued where Saturday left off. Lewis fell back to third for a few laps and the pair at the front pulled a bit of a gap. As a veteran, Jake was patient. He took a few laps to reel the leaders in and, eventually, claimed the lead. In a hard fought, last lap battle, Jake finished in second just barely off the top step.

“This feels amazing. We had some great battles this weekend. I can’t thank Altus Motorsports enough for giving me this opportunity to come back to the paddock and show what I can do. Last year was depressing being away from racing. I have a hell of a lot of motivation to keep winning. I also want to thank my crew chief, Eric Gray, mechanic Shawn, and Victor for their hard work getting the bike dialed in. And also to Team Hammer for their support,” said Jake Lewis. “We struggled a bit at Round 1, but we made big progress this weekend and I’m looking forward to Road America and the rest of the season.”

In Superbike, Lewis started Race 1 from 10th and finished in 9th as the top Stock 1000 bike. Unfortunately, an issue with the shifter forced a retirement from Race 2 on Sunday.

The team heads to Round 3 at Road America leading in the Stock 1000 Championship.

Supersport 600:

 

Jaret Nassaney (59). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Jaret Nassaney (59). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.

 

At Round 1, Jaret Nassaney was still recovering from an injury. He was, admittedly, not at full strength. With three weeks of healing between the rounds, Jaret rolled into Virgina feeling good. He started both Supersport 600 races from 14th. In the Saturday race, he fought his way forward to finish 9th. On Sunday he crossed the line in 10th.

“It was a really positive weekend! We went faster than I ever have at VIR and we made good progress with the bike setup. I ended up with a 9th and a 10th which I’m pretty happy with. Two top tens so it was a good weekend,” said Jaret Nassaney.

 

Cooper McDonald (33). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Cooper McDonald (33). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.

 

At Round 2, Cooper McDonald once again sat in for the recovering Kevin Olmedo. Coming from racing Twins, he is still adapting to the 600. To complicate things, this was also Cooper’s first visit to VIR. After qualifying in 19th, McDonald finished Race 1 in 17th and Race 2 in an impressive 12th.

“I loved this weekend. This track is awesome. It was my first time here so I had to learn the track and get fast on the equipment quickly. The team put me on a great bike. In the first race I ran off the track twice and pulled 17th, but today I pushed hard and finished 12th. Overall I am super happy,” said Cooper McDonald.

Kevin Olmedo plans to remount the Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R600 for Round 3 at Road America.

Junior Cup: 

 

Hayden Bicknese (69). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Hayden Bicknese (69). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.

 

VIR is another new track for Hayden Bicknese and, as such, he set out to learn the track as quickly as possible. Every time he took to the track he went faster. He qualified 14th for both Junior Cup races. An unfortunate mechanical issue knocked him out of Race 1 on Saturday. In Race 2, Bicknese got into an epic, race-long, four bike battle for 9th place. Every lap saw multiple passes and position changes. Hayden crossed the line in 9th on the penultimate lap but, in the end, he finished in 12th.

“I’d say this was a fantastic weekend for our entire team. We made huge improvements on the 1000. Jake won the Saturday Stock 100 race and took a second on Sunday. Jaret looked great and went faster than he ever has at this track. Cooper continues to improve and we are thankful he could step in for these first two rounds. Hayden is doing great. He’s only been on a road race bike for a couple of years. To step up to the national level and learn completely new tracks and race against the fastest kids in the country is pretty impressive. I can’t wait to see what he can do when we get to tracks he knows,” 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, Lawton Motorsports, and Altus Factory Racing.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by N2 Racing:

Blake Davis Scores a Pair of 8’s at VIR

 

Blake Davis (22). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy N2 Racing.
Blake Davis (22). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy N2 Racing.

 

Alton, VA (May 2021) – N2 Racing’s Blake Davis scored two eighth-place finishes at Virginia International Raceway in MotoAmerica Junior Cup. Although the two top-10 finishes scored valuable points toward the championship, they did not show Blake’s true potential or speed.

The weekend started with some struggles with chassis set up in FP1 and QP1 that saw Blake in the 11th and 10th position, respectively. The team, led by crew chief Shiloh Salopek, worked hard overnight to find a solution and by Qualifying 2 on Saturday morning, Blake was going very quickly leading most of the session. At the end of qualifying, Blake was in the seventh spot but was disqualified for being a pound, or 15oz of fuel, underweight. This meant that Blake would qualify with his Qualifying 1 time, which put him 11th on the grid.

Blake got a great start in Race 1, but the starting position hurt his chances for a fight with the lead group. Blake worked his way through the pack with well-timed and patient passes. On lap seven, Blake turned the fastest lap of the race with a time of 136:921, but it wasn’t enough to catch the lead group and Blake had to settle for eighth.

Race 2 once again saw Blake starting from 11th on the grid. Blake quickly sliced through the pack working his way up to seventh on lap seven. Blake fell into a race-long battle with his friend Gus Rodio. The two riders battled back and forth for eight laps with Rodio finishing seventh and Blake finishing eighth

Blake Davis – “Getting disqualified really hurt my spot on the grid and I just couldn’t make it up in the races. Now I’m really just looking forward to the next race at Road America. I really want to thank the team for all the hard work and sponsors like N2, BobbleHeadMoto, and Ohlins USA for the support.”

Shiloh Salopek (Crew Chief) – “The defining moment of the weekend was qualifying 2 when we were disqualified for being underweight. When you are giving up 80cc of displacement to the competition, you must push things to the limit, and we pushed it too far. The YZF-R3 is a fantastic motorcycle and Blake is a great rider. We feel confident that we can put together a package that will allow him to run up front.

 

About N2 Track Days:

N2 provides a structured riding environment for sport-bike riders of all levels promoting motorcycle safety through instruction on a closed course racetrack. Our instructors and coaching staff are comprised of club-racers, pro racers, and experienced track day riders who are articulate and passionate about all aspects of this sport. N2 strives to provide an enjoyable riding experience in an environment where members can hone their skills and inspire confidence in their riding ability. Riding with N2 means you and your sportbike gain access to a structured environment without the hazards, limitations, distractions, and obstacles that you’ll find on the street.

N2 Racing is proudly sponsored by: N2 Track Days, BobbleHeadMoto, SBS Brakes, Renthal, Motorex, Shoei Helmets, Ohlins USA, Trading Paint, Westby Racing, and Moto Liberty.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Ethan Cook Racing:

First double points finish in MotoAmerica Twins Cup for Ethan Cook 

Ethan Cook secured his first double points finish of the 2021 MotoAmerica Twins Cup season, finishing ninth and tenth in the two races at VIR (Virginia International Raceway).

The weekend started well for Ethan, who despite having never ridden at VIR before, qualified strongly on the third row of the grid, ahead of many more experienced riders. His race results elevated Cook, who is in his debut MotoAmerica season, into P12 in the overall points classification ahead of Round 3 at Road America in a fortnight.

Ethan Cook: “Friday’s practice went well; I hadn’t ridden at this track before, so it was just about getting to grips with it. The bike felt way off compared to where it was at Atlanta. We made some big adjustments in Q1 which went well. That continued into Q2 where we set the bike up closer to where it was in Atlanta. We qualified on the third row in P9, I put in some good laps and the times were close, especially in the top three. We were working really hard on making the bike right and found a good setting ahead of race 1. The first race went well, I spent the first half in a big group but was in P9 for most of that. The top eight guys were riding at a slightly quicker pace. At half race distance we lost so much grip and had no rear tyre at all, I had to conserve it for the rest of the race, so the group ahead managed to pull away from me I pulled a gap on the group behind, so I found myself running a lonely race. I came across the line, securing a good result and putting in some good times as well so I’m happy enough with that. Race 2 was good for us; I came across the line in P10 making that two top ten results throughout the weekend. We made a couple of changes to the bike hoping that they would work in our favour, but they went in the wrong direction and gave me a worse feeling with the rear end of the bike. We’ve got a bit of work to do for the next round but I’m really happy with the progress we made this weekend. We started and finished both races so I’m happy with that and I’m looking forward to Wisconsin.”

For more information go to EthanCookRacing.com

MotoGP: Miller Staying With Ducati In 2022

David Swarts
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MotoGP: Miller Staying With Ducati In 2022

Jack Miller and the Ducati Lenovo Team to continue together in 2022

Ducati is pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached with Jack Miller that will see the Australian rider continue aboard the official Desmosedici GP of the Ducati Lenovo Team in the 2022 MotoGP World Championship.

Gifted with great talent and strong determination, Miller made his debut as a factory rider this year after competing with the Pramac Racing Team for three seasons. After a challenging start to his 2021 campaign, he brilliantly overcame difficulties by securing two fantastic back-to-back victories in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain and the last French GP at Le Mans, held in tricky wet conditions.

After the first five Grands Prix for 2021, Miller sits fourth in the general standings, only 16 points behind the current leader, while Ducati and the Ducati Lenovo Team lead the Constructors’ and Teams’ standings.

Jack Miller (#43 Ducati Lenovo Team)

“I am thrilled to be able to continue my adventure with the Ducati Lenovo Team also next season! Wearing these colours is a great honour for me, and having been able to win the last two races on the Desmosedici GP is a real dream! It wouldn’t have been possible without the great support that I’ve received from Ducati and the whole team during the last months, and I want to thank Gigi, Paolo, Davide, and Claudio for the faith they had in me. Now I can solely concentrate on the current season. We are fourth in the standings, not far from the leader, and the Championship is still very long. I will do my best to continue this positive trend and fight for the title. Forza Ducati!”.

Luigi Dall’Igna, Ducati Corse General Manager

“We are delighted to be able to announce that we will continue with Miller also in 2022. In this first season, Jack has shown great talent, professionalism, and strong determination. He was able to secure two important victories in different conditions after a tough start to the season. For sure, he is one of the riders that better knows how to understand our Desmosedici GP to fully take advantage of its potential in any condition, as the recent success in Le Mans has demonstrated. As always, our goal remains the Championship title, and we believe that with Jack and Pecco, we will be among the main protagonists of the 2022 title charge”.

2021 Trackday Directory

Trudy Ulrich
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2021 Trackday Directory

On the Front Cover: A rider at speed on a stock 2020-model KTM 890 Duke R streetbike on the racetrack using standard Michelin Power Cup 2 street-legal track day tires. Photo by R. Schedl/Courtesy KTM.

 

The Roadracing World 2021 Trackday Directory Special Issue is included with  your subscription to Roadracing World magazine. 

SUBSCRIBE NOW 

Or call (909) 654-4779, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday to start your subscription.

Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.

 

In This Issue:

INTRODUCTION: Riding Out The Storm

 

FEATURES

Getting On The Track:

How To Do A Track Day

10 Steps To Becoming A Track Day Rider

Overcoming Excuses: No Good Reason To Stay Home

All-Inclusive Schools & Track Days Eliminate Obstacles

 

Basic Bike Prep:

Part 1: Make It Track-Ready

Part 2: Don’t Ruin A Perfectly Good Motorcycle

Part 3: Easy Changes

Part 4: Don’t Go Crazy

 

Better Performance:

Suspension Starting Point: Measuring Sag

Improving Your Bike’s Suspension

Picking Tires: Street, Racing, Or Track Day?

Changing Tires

Bolt-On Upgrades

Safety Wiring Made Easier

 

At The Track:

RWAF Soft Barriers Help Keep Riders Safe

Signaling Riders: Flags At The Track

Staying Hydrated

Always Do This/Never Do That

Seen At The Racetrack

Exotic Track Days: Riding MotoGP Tracks With Leod Escapes

 

Getting There:

Hauling Your Bike

Loading Your Bike

 

Riding Gear:

The Right Stuff Overview

The Airbag Movement

 

Having Fun & Improving Skills:

Sportbike Track Time: 20 Years On The Repeating Road

Trackdaz Track Days: 21 Years Of On-Track Fun

D-Day With Reg Pridmore: Opening The Door To Better Riding

California Superbike School: Throttle Control In The Age Of Electronics

Entry Points: YCRS ChampDay/ChampStreet Track Days

Fastrack Riders ProAC: Bringing Pros To Track Days

Accredited Kids Ride & Wrench Camps:  Teaching Home-School Kids To Ride

 

WHO, WHEN, & WHERE

Track Day Organization & Racing School Calendar

Road Racing Organizations

Mini Road Racing Organizations

Track Day & Track Riding Schools By State/Province

Guide To Racetrack Locations, With U.S./Canada Map

 

High-Performance Parts & Services Directory

MotoAmerica: More From The Races At VIR

David Swarts
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0
MotoAmerica: More From The Races At VIR

Gagne Unstoppable at VIR

Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne completed a perfect weekend at Virginia International Raceway with another dominant MotoAmerica Superbike victory in today’s Race Two. His teammate Herrin battled for a podium position but ultimately had to settle for fourth.

It was another hot one in Alton, Virginia, but that didn’t stop Gagne’s forward charge. The Californian topped morning warm-up to lead every session of the second round of the championship and then got another flying start from pole position to grab the holeshot. He then put in some consistently fast times, including the fastest lap of the race on Lap 2, and checked out to score his third consecutive win in the premier class by nearly 14 seconds. Gagne’s masterclass victory closed the gap on the points leader to six points.

With Sunday’s race being gridded by yesterday’s results, Herrin joined his teammate on the front row in third. Although he didn’t get the start he was hoping for, he was able to advance to third amidst the chaos going into the first turn. The 2013 Superbike Champion then drafted past the competition on the front straight to take the runner-up position at the start of Lap 2 but was passed on the following lap. While his teammate continued to stretch his lead, Herrin once again had a fight on his hands. At times, it was a four-rider battle for the podium, but he held onto third for eight laps despite the pressure. After the halfway mark, he found himself in a heated battle with the points leader, Mathew Scholtz. With four laps to go, Herrin went wide into Turn 1 and was passed by his fellow Yamaha rider, ultimately having to settle for fourth. The California rider leaves Virginia sitting third in the championship standings.

Next up for the Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing team is Round 3 of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship on June 11- 13, at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Richard Stanboli – Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing Team Manager

“As I said after Race One at Road Atlanta, everyone gives up one or two races and that we would make sure that we did not give up anymore. We did just that this weekend. Our R1s once again proved to be the fastest and best-handling bikes on the track. We went away with another track record and Jake is super motivated to continue his momentum. We also made some good headway with Josh. He will for sure be super strong at Road America and we are anxious to race there as our bikes always work well there.”

 

Jake Gagne (32). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Jake Gagne (32). Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

Jake Gagne – Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing

“We rolled this R1 off the truck on Friday, and it was working amazing straight away. To get pole and my first double win feels amazing! I’m so stoked for the whole team. These guys have been working so hard, and to have a stellar weekend like this is a huge pay off. We’ll try to keep this momentum rolling!”

 

Josh Herrin (2). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Josh Herrin (2). Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

Josh Herrin – Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing

“I’m happy with our results this weekend. We made a lot of headway towards getting me more confident on the motorcycle. Also, we got some solid points and are leaving here healthy. Thank you to the entire team for all of their hard work and congrats to Gagne and his team on two great races.”

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Ducati:

Ducati on the Podium at VIRginia International Raceway

Sunnyvale, Calif. – Round two of the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship was a fine one for the Bologna boys as Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York) clinched the first podium of his MotoAmerica career with second place in race two behind Yamaha’s Jake Gagne, who took out both races in Virginia.

Baz, who finished fourth in Saturday’s race one, used all his experience to fend off the attack from Mathew Scholtz and Josh Herrin, the Frenchman holding a gap of just over one second at the flag to the Yamaha duo.

It was a similarly great race from Panera Bread Ducati rider Kyle Wyman, who after finishing seventh in race one, changed the set up on his green and black Ducati to come home sixth in race two. The result saw Wyman seven seconds closer to winner Gagne at the flag, and optimistic of a good result next time out at Road America on June 25-27.

2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Standing – Top 5

P1 – Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 81

P2 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 75

P3 – Josh Herrin (Yamaha) 61

P4 – Bobby Fong (Suzuki) 46

P5 – Cameron Petersen (Suzuki) 46

P6 – Kyle Wyman (Ducati) 40

P8 – Loris Baz Ducati 33

 

Loris Baz (76). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Loris Baz (76). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.

 

Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York – Ducati #76)

“I wanted more coming into this weekend but, honestly, it’s been a tough weekend for us,” Baz said. “We had to guess the set-up of the bike a little bit—we got the guess right in Atlanta but we missed the mark in VIR. We changed the bike a lot from Friday to Saturday, a lot of electronics, which made the straight line speed less than we’d hoped for in race one. I had to fight really hard to stay in front of the guys and I lost the podium.

“Today we improved the bike a lot in the warm-up, and we had a really good race. I had to fight so hard to bring it home. I kept increasing the gap until I was 4.5 seconds in front, then I just tried to manage it to the flag and we got our first podium, which I’m so happy about. Thank you very much to Ducati and my team who have worked so hard and hats off to Jake Gagne on an excellent ride today.”

 

Kyle Wyman (33). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Kyle Wyman (33). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.

 

Kyle Wyman (Panera Bread Ducati – Ducati #33)

“Race one was a struggle as we were trying to get to some edge grip out of the bike and we really struggled to find our way,” Wyman said. “I thought we had a set up but it turned out not to be, and I couldn’t do much back in seventh.

“But, we got some good data and tried some stuff overnight that got us a lot closer in the morning. Then this morning’s data was pivotal for us to make a decision for the race to go a little bit softer in the rear, and race two was awesome.

“I had so much fun out there. It felt so good to be up towards the front and battling with the with the podium guys. That put us back where I know we belong. We ended up sixth but it was such a positive takeaway for us to realize we can be up there at the front and fighting for it.

“I’m really looking forward to our two-day test and in about a week and half at Pittsburgh. It’s going to get us even closer to the front. We haven’t tested yet this year so this is really good for us moving forward and I can’t wait to get to Road America and fight up the front.”

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Pure Attitude Racing:

For the second race running, VIR sees four Pure Attitude Racing riders in the points

Pure Attitude Racing enjoyed another successful weekend in the latest round of the MotoAmerica championship with all four riders achieving points scoring finishes for the second consecutive event.

Buoyed by their front running pace in the Twins Cup season opener Trevor Standish and Liam MacDonald were once again in the mix, both riders bagging a double top ten finish. Trevor taking a sixth and a fifth to remain second overall in the points classification, while Liam took a tenth and ninth place finish to consolidate ninth overall in his debut season of racing in the US.

In Supersport both riders, Nate Minster and Austin Miller overcome small issues to salvage 12th and 15th respectively at the flag in race one on Saturday, with Austin racing solo on Sunday following an incident that saw Nate Minster take a tumble through no fault of his own. Miller raced to fourteenth and his first double points finish of the year.

 

Trevor Standish (16). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Trevor Standish (16). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.

 

Trevor Standish: “I made a good start in Race 1 and was leading but got shuffled back a bit early on. I was holding my own but then ran into some rear grip issues which prevented me from pushing as hard as I knew we could have. It was a solid Saturday and good points for the championship. Race 2 was a nice step forward. I was leading again for a lap and was able to hang with the lead group before arm pump meant I faded a little. Fifth and still second overall in the points is a great result and I am ready to race again at Road America in a couple of weeks.”

 

Liam MacDonald (37). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Liam MacDonald (37). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.

 

Liam MacDonald: “Race 1 went really well. I had a much better feeling and was able to settle into my rhythm more quickly than at Road Atlanta. I was able to lap consistently but it was tough with my arm pumping towards the end. VIR is really physical. I am really proud of my race and of the team for giving me such a great bike, and for rebuilding it after I stepped off in Q1. Mentally it was the best I have ever felt, coming back from a crash, and getting a good result and it’s all down to the team. I couldn’t ask for a better bunch of people to be with. Race 2 went even better. I got a lightning start and was running fifth. I felt really good. I lost the rear and the front on the same lap but saved it and was able to bring it home for my fourth points finish in a row!”

 

Nate Minster (99). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Nate Minster (99). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.

 

Nate Minster: “Qualifying was ok. We had some pretty big suspension issues, but the team worked well, and we were able to improve although Q2 was still a little rough. I was suffering some arm pump which meant it was hard to hang onto the bike I was determined to give it my all in the races. Race 1 was actually pretty good all things considered. We still don’t have the ideal setting, but I was able to lap consistently and got some points. In the Warm-Up we wanted to test some things. We got down to pace right away but then I was taken out by another rider in the last five minutes of the session. I decided not to ride as I wasn’t feeling the best. The team fully supported my decision, and we will come back strong at Road America.”

 

Austin Miller (61). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Austin Miller (61). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.

 

Austin Miller: “We finally got the bike straightened out for Q2 and it went really well. It was a hard day of working on things, but we made the race which was the important thing and the target. The focus was to push for points in the race and I was able to achieve that. I needed that after all the problems and missing most of the first day as I was beginning to lose hope. I was able to finish fifteenth after gaining eight places from where I started. I made an ok start and made a few mistakes but was able to bring it home. Race Two went great. I made a good start but around lap eleven my arm started to stiffen, and it was difficult to ride as I wanted. I almost got one more position on the last lap, but I ran out of time. We made a step from Race 1 and it was two races in the points for the first time in my Supersport career so I can move on to Road America happy.”

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Robem Engineering:

Robem Engineering riders score podium, top-five finishes at MotoAmerica Superbikes at Virginia

Aprilia team leaves VIRginia International Raceway with all three riders in top eight in Twins Cup standings

ALTON, Va. — The Robem Engineering squad faced much uncertainty as it prepared for this weekend’s MotoAmerica’s Superbikes at Virgina round at VIRginia International Raceway. The team was campaigning a new-for-2021 motorcycle at a track two of its riders had little or no experience on. Despite the odds not being in its favor, the three-rider team scored a podium and two additional top-five finishes in the round’s two MotoAmerica Twins Cup races.

The team had only one race weekend under its belt with its Aprilia RS 660 motorcycles prior to the May 21-23 event getting underway. By the end of the weekend, all three of the team’s riders – Kaleb De Keyrel, Hayden Schultz and Toby Khamsouk — had maintained or improved their position in the Twins Cup standings. De Keyrel held onto fourth in the championship – just 11 points behind the class leader — Schultz moved up from ninth place to seventh and Khamsouk advanced from 12th place to eighth.

The team got off to a good start when on-track activity commenced Friday morning. Khamsouk was the third-fastest rider in the session, with Schultz finishing practice in fourth and De Keyrel in seventh. When Twins Cup qualifying got underway on Friday afternoon, Khamsouk was again the third-fastest rider in the 28-bike field. De Keyrel finished the session in seventh – posting a lap time about three seconds faster than his best practice time – and Schultz ended up in sixth place. When qualifying wrapped up early Saturday afternoon, De Keyrel had secured second place on the starting grid. Schultz qualified sixth and Khamsouk seventh.

Saturday’s race saw Schultz and De Keyrel in the pack of riders in the hunt for the race lead. Schultz was the team’s top-finishing rider, bringing his Aprilia home in fourth place and missing out on a podium finish by less than three-tenths of a second. De Keyrel was right behind Schultz, finishing fifth, and Khamsouk crossed the finish line in seventh place.

Sunday’s Twins Cup race went better for the team, as De Keyrel claimed the last step on the podium and Schultz and Khamsouk finished sixth and eighth, respectively. De Keyrel got a great start, led the field into Turn 1 and finished about three-tenths of a second behind the second-place rider.

The next round on the 2021 MotoAmerica schedule takes place June 11-13 at the Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wis. The team plans to test on Monday on VIR’s South Course, which will provide the team valuable data to help perfect its setup for its Aprilia RS 660s.

 

Kaleb De Keyrel (51). Photo by Sara Chappell Photography, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Kaleb De Keyrel (51). Photo by Sara Chappell Photography, courtesy Robem Engineering.

 

Kaleb De Keyrel / No. 51

“It’s been a little bit of a struggle this weekend, but we ended it on a pretty positive note. I’m extremely happy with the setup we used for Race 2. We changed our tire choice as the weekend went on, which also worked out for us. Overall, I felt a lot better in Race 2 than Race 1 as far as being comfortable on the bike. On Saturday, I had trouble pushing the bike without it pushing back. The team worked really hard on finding solutions to our setup issues. I’m really looking forward to the next round at Road America. I grew up in Minnesota and will have lots of friends and family coming to see me race there.”

 

Hayden Schultz (49). Photo by Sara Chappell Photography, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Hayden Schultz (49). Photo by Sara Chappell Photography, courtesy Robem Engineering.

 

Hayden Schultz / No. 49

“The weekend had some positives and some things we can improve on. This was my first time racing at VIR, so I had to learn a new track before we could really get going on figuring out how to make our Aprilia work best here. You can play as many hours on a video game as you want, but it just doesn’t replicate reality. Race 1 wasn’t so bad, but we missed out on a podium finish. We were only about a second off the win in that race. For Race 2, we didn’t have the race we wanted, as I struggled getting by a couple other riders that I maybe had a chance to. The bike was working well, and I know it will get better as the season goes along. I owe a big shout out to the team for giving me a bike that can run up front. Now it’s my job to get better and make those better results happen. I expect a lot out of myself as a rider, especially after consistently being on the podium last year. Even though I was a learning a new track, I still expected to be on the podium. We’re not far off from getting a win, but it’s frustrating to get the results we had this weekend.”

 

Toby Khamsouk (27). Photo by Sara Chappell Photography, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Toby Khamsouk (27). Photo by Sara Chappell Photography, courtesy Robem Engineering.

 

Toby Khamsouk / No. 27

“It was an up and down weekend. We learn a lot though, and I really like this track. With having to learn a new bike, it just wasn’t the weekend we’d hoped for. We were working to find the right setup for me. Lots of positive vibes from this event though, and I’ll be working hard to help my team find a good setup quicker at Road America.”

Robem Engineering’s technical partners for 2021 include The Center for Plastic Surgery, Velocity Calibrations, Bitubo Suspension, Dunlop, Woodcraft Technologies, Dymag, Vesrah, DNA Filters, Magura USA, Sara Chappell Photos, NGK/NTK, Blud Lubricants, Millennium Technologies and SC-Project.

MotoGP: World Championship Resumes Next Weekend At Mugello

David Swarts
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MotoGP: World Championship Resumes Next Weekend At Mugello

V for Velocità: can Ducati keep the momentum at Mugello?

Home turf beckons for the Italian manufacturer and with Miller on a roll, three Ducatis in the top four and two 1-2s in a row, it’s great reading for Borgo Panigale and a warning for the rest

Monday, 24 May 2021

Would you have predicted this in Qatar? The gossip went into overdrive back in the desert as Ducati didn’t win either of the season openers at one of their “favourite” or most successful tracks, but now the factory can enjoy its elegant silence on the matter even more. Two 1-2s in a row, with Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) on the top step in both and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) taking a second place apiece, make quite a statement. The three are all in the top four in the standings too – something Ducati have never had before – and Bagnaia is only a point off the lead. That would be enough to grab some attention in itself but the next track up, unfortunately for the rest, is also the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello.

The Italian venue is a rider and fan favourite for a reason, a stunning enough landmark in itself even before adding the spectacle of one of MotoGP™’s most golden of eras carving its way through the Tuscan hills. Fast, flowing and fast becoming a place synonymous with Ducati glory, yes it’s home turf. But it’s also somewhere Borgo Panigale machinery has won the last three editions and been on the podium since 2015.

The favourite to keep the roll going must be Miller. With his win in Le Mans in tough conditions, and that despite two Long Lap penalties, he followed up his Jerez stunner in style and it seems safe to say the Australian will now read the stats about Mugello with glee rather than pressure. Miller is a key architect of the momentum behind the manufacturer and the monkey some saw on his back after the first three rounds of the season is nowhere in sight now, whichever way you want to spin it. Can he make it three in a row? Or can his teammate fight back?

Bagnaia has been impressive in 2021 and led the standings for the first time just before Le Mans, with speed at every venue and few mistakes to go with it. With less premier class experience than Miller, he could have been forgiven for a few too. His French GP was a solid statement of intent, however, as the Italian somehow found himself down in 19th just after the start… then rode back through to fourth in conditions that caught out the very best, and again, like Miller, despite two Long Lap Penalties. If there was a day to lose your head, it was leading the Championship and sinking to the bottom of the top 20 early doors. But he didn’t.

And what about Zarco? The Frenchman hunted down another podium and moved back up to third overall, so what does he have in the locker? A Pramac win on home turf would be a popular one and the number 5, like Bagnaia, hasn’t yet tasted the top step in the premier class although he’s been close. His teammate this weekend could also be one to watch complicating the lives of a few riders who could find themselves on the cusp of Q2 too as Michele Pirro steps in to replace the injured Jorge Martin. Pirro knows both track and machine, and has impressed aplenty on wildcards.

All that said, it’s far from a foregone conclusion that Ducati will take their fourth Mugello win in a row. Three in the top four they may have, but it’s Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) back on top – and the Frenchman’s there despite his tough plummet down the order after arm pump in Jerez. He took a well-earned home podium at Le Mans despite coming back from surgery, and before Ducati started to assert their dominance at Mugello it was Yamaha territory. Jorge Lorenzo took the most recent wins but Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was on the podium in 2018 and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) the year before that. With a dry, less chaotic weekend hopefully ahead, what can they – and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) – do?

Dry and less chaotic will likely be a hope for Team Suzuki Ecstar too. A double DNF in France saw reigning Champion Joan Mir fall outside the top five in the standings, and left teammate Alex Rins with an even bigger hill to climb to get back into real contention. The Hamamatsu factory have form at Mugello though, with Rins only two tenths off the podium in 2019 as he hung on to the Marquez-Ducati fight and almost managed to ruin the party for all of them. The Suzuki works well around the majority of the venue and Rins will be out to show that and bounce back, as will Mir – but the reigning Champion also has a fair bit less experience of the track on premier class machinery, with MotoGP™ having not visited Mugello last year.

Aprilia are another who, like Ducati, will be both optimistic and riding on home turf. The Noale factory have taken a big step forward in 2021 and their bike should prove a good fit for Mugello. It may have been heartbreak at Le Mans but Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) just keeps impressing, and teammate Lorenzo Savadori was a serious threat in the damp. Can he take another step forward, and can Aleix Espargaro pick up where he left off? Aprilia also have Andrea Dovizioso confirmed as doing more testing throughout the season, whose record at Mugello is one of the best in recent years. He’s also already ridden the RS-GP there, although the weather didn’t play ball…

Mugello, meanwhile, was also a place where Honda really hammered home their top speed gains in 2019 as Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) went toe to toe with the Bologna bullets and was absolutely not left in the dust. Marquez’ win in 2014 at the track is the only non-Ducati win for a rider still on the grid since then too, and his 2019 battle at the front against the factory Ducati duo at the time was a stunner. The French GP saw flag-to-flag master Marquez make an uncharacteristic mistake and crash out, but there were more flashes of his former self as his comeback continues. What can he do?

LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami and LCR Honda Castrol teammate Alex Marquez both took solid results in France too after a tougher start to the season, and Nakagami equalled his best ever result in Jerez just before that. Alex Marquez won at Mugello in Moto2™ last time he rode there as well, although this is his first taste of it in the premier class. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) was also gaining ground in France, so they can’t be counted out of the increasingly tough fight for Q2 and more.

That also goes for KTM. It’s been a tougher start to the season but Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) equalled the best result of the Austrian factory’s year so far at Le Mans, and he knows the top step at Mugello, although in red. Teammate Iker Lecuona also impressed in France, so can both start to cut the gap to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira? There have been flashes of speed from them since Binder’s fifth in Portugal, but it’s not all come together on race day for either since. Binder and Lecuona have also not yet ridden at Mugello in MotoGP™ though, so that could also factor in to the weekend. Can KTM push back towards the bigger points hauls?

Tuscany is one of the world’s most emblematic destinations, and MotoGP™ is lucky enough to have Mugello nestled right in the middle. The paddock returns to the venue in 2021 looking quite different to the last time we were there, but the track remains the same stunner for man and machine. Make sure to tune in for the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley on Sunday the 30th of May, with lights out for the premier class at 14:00 (GMT +2).

MotoGP™ Championship top five:

1 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 80

2 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 79

3 Johann Zarco* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – 68

4 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 64

5 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 56

*Independent Team rider
 

Gardner? Fernandez? The home heroes? Moto2™ rolls into Mugello

The Australian hasn’t won yet this season, Fernandez has less laps at the venue and the home heroes want to strike back… what awaits for Moto2™?

After another stunner from Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), the Moto2™ rookie is now just a single point behind his veteran teammate atop the Moto2™ standings as the paddock heads for Mugello. But given its absence on the 2020 calendar, the Tuscan venue is one where Fernandez has quite a few fewer laps than his rivals: he’s only raced there as a Moto3™ rookie in 2019. The Spaniard came home 11th, however… already proving his CV as a fast learner. So will he be leading from the front or playing catch up this time round?

His teammate Remy Gardner will be pushing to make sure it’s the latter. The Australian is on a supreme run of form stretching back to even before the start of 2021, and that’s exactly how he finds himself at the top of the table. With his rookie teammate proving such a force to be reckoned with, already winning two races, Gardner knows he has to strike when Fernandez is on the back foot and take the maximum points when he isn’t. So far so good on both counts, but Mugello will be another test of his so far exemplary judgments on Sundays.

Waiting in the wings there are two riders with even more motivation at this particular racetrack, however: Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2). The former is on a podium run and the latter already a race winner this year, but both will want victory on home turf. Bezzecchi hasn’t had all the pieces come together perfectly so far this year but is proving super consistent since we left Qatar, whereas Diggia is somewhat the opposite. The Gresini rider created himself a new postcode in the lead at Jerez to win his first Moto2™ race in style, adding to a podium first time out in 2021, but in the other three races it’s been up and down. Can the home heroes make a push for the front again?

For Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) meanwhile, it’ll be a different challenge. The Brit bounced back well from a DNF in Portugal and said it was important to do so, with no OTT heroics and solid points. That will likely be the mission as he aims to hit back at Mugello following a crash in France: take points. Get on or near the podium. Claw back a little deficit. But the Brit is also one of the fastest men in the intermediate class on any given Sunday, so he can’t be counted out.

The next two riders in the standings likely have similar goals though: Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) crashed from the front in France and Aron Canet (Kipin Energy Aspar Team) earlier than that, although they’re holding on as the next two in the standings after the fastest five so far this season. What can they do? Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) is now equal on points with Canet too, and the German will want to build momentum after a solid result.

Recent Mugello history also says Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) could be up there in the top five again, and he’ll want some redemption after Le Mans followed some good steps forward, but speaking of… the king of those in France must surely be Tony Arbolino (Liqui Moly Intact GP). Le Mans was a stunner from the rookie Italian, so has he got more in the locker at Mugello on home turf?

Gardner has the consistency and the experience. Raul Fernandez is a fast learner. Bezzecchia and Diggia want some home turf glory, and Sam Lowes needs some good points. Who’ll come out on top? Mugello puts plenty on the line in Moto2™, so make sure to tune in at 12:20 (GMT +2) on Sunday!

Moto2™ Championship top five:

1 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 89

2 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 88

3 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 72

4 Sam Lowes – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 66

5 Fabio Di Giannantonio – Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 – Kalex – 60

 

 

 

Moto3™ vs Mugello: Acosta leads the freight train into Tuscany

The Championship leader increased his lead significantly in France, and that despite a crash. But now, more new turf awaits at Mugello… in Moto3™ at least

The course of a Moto3™ race rarely did run smooth, but Le Mans was even more drama than normal. With Sergio Garcia (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) taking his first win of the year, second overall and first for GASGAS, it was a different face on the top step to the one we’d become accustomed to seeing in 2021. But Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), despite taking a tumble in the difficult conditions, still got back on and took a good haul of points – and finished far ahead of those who’d previously been his closest challengers to boot. The result? An even bigger Championship lead.

For the veterans on his tail – Garcia, and Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team), Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) and Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3) – the good news is the experience they all have at Mugello, and for the most part, their CVs there too. The Italians will also be fired up on home turf as we return to the track for the first time since 2019. The slightly worse news is that, unlike Le Mans, Acosta does actually have a track record at Mugello: a second place in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies race at the venue in 2019, the year he came runner up overall before going on to annihilate the competition last season. So it’s new turf on his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine… but it’s not a shot in the dark.

The Italians will be gunning hard though, as will Garcia after a good shot of confidence from his win in France. Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team) too, and home hero Riccardo Rossi (BOE Owlride) after their first podiums. Both will be wanting more good points. Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3) remained on his consistent roll of top finishes too despite the different conditions in France, and John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) got some good points on the board just ahead of his former teammate. Adrian Fernandez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) and fellow rookie Xavier Artigas (Leopard Racing) also took their best finishes of the season so far, and confidence goes a long way.

Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), meanwhile, will be on an opposite mission: bouncing back. After the South African got skittled out at Jerez through no fault of his own, a crash in France put paid to solid points and he’s now down in eighth overall. Can he fight back before summer break and get back into the upper echelons of the Championship? He’ll be aiming to start that at Mugello.

The kilometre-long straight at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello always provides one of the greatest Moto3™ spectacles of the season. They’ll take it on again this Sunday, with the lights out at 11:00 (GMT +2) for another incredible lightweight class challenge.

Moto3™ Championship top five:

1 Pedro Acosta – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM –  103

2 Sergio Garcia – Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team – GASGAS – 49

3 Andrea Migno – Rivacold Snipers Team – Honda – 47

4 Romano Fenati – Sterilgarda Max Racing Team – Husqvarna – 46

5 Niccolo Antonelli – Avintia Esponsorama Moto3 – KTM – 44

Video: RIDE Motorcycles Presents “The Year Of Jubilee,” Episode 2

David Swarts
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Video: RIDE Motorcycles Presents “The Year Of Jubilee,” Episode 2

For the racers, race team technicians and families at the highest level of professional Motocross and Supercross, a return to racing was not guaranteed in 2020, and it was treasured when it came.  While a surge of new off-road motorcycle enthusiasts were born in the 2020 lockdown, some of the sport’s most faithful allies were laying the groundwork for the sport’s future.

Producer Troy Adamitis and director Nate Scribner, who have created The Great Outdoors, The Moto: Inside the Outdoors, Supercross: Behind the Dream, MX Nation and MX World, have partnered with RIDE Motorcycles to bring you an account of American Motocross’ Year of Jubilee.

 

Northern Talent Cup: Race Results From Oschersleben

David Swarts
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Northern Talent Cup: Race Results From Oschersleben
NTC_2021_OSC_R1_Classification
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More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Gurecky gets the hammer down for another wet weather masterclass in Race 1

The Czech rider was up to his old tricks in tricky conditions at Oschersleben, with Kocourek back on the podium in second and Phommara impressing in third

 

Jakub Gurecky (59). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jakub Gurecky (59). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Sunday, 23 May 2021

Jakub Gurecky (JRT Brno Circuit) hammered home his wet weather mastery once again at Oschersleben, the Czech rider disappearing in Race 1 for another stunner of a victory out front in difficult conditions. Teammate Jonas Kocourek came home second in a JRT Brno Circuit 1-2, with Swiss rookie Lennoxx Phommara (Phommara Team) impressing in the wet once again to take his first Northern Talent Cup podium in third.

From the start it was Gurecky in charge as he took the holeshot, with Lorenz Luciano (Junior Black Knights Team) initially able to go with him… but not for long. The number 81 had an early excursion on Lap 1 and, although he was able to re-join, that left Gurecky ahead of the game and Kocourek in second.

Initially, Jacopo Hosciuc (Hos Racing Team), Tibor Varga (Forty Racing Team) and polesitter Rossi Moor (FAIRIUM Next Generation Riders Team) were on the chase, although the number 81 of Luciano didn’t lose too much time slicing back through into a podium place.

From there he set about reeling in Kocourek as Phommara set about making his way through the pack. By Lap 11, the number 81 of Luciano was back past Kocourek and Phommara had leapfrogged the rest to get in the fight for fourth, but more drama was to come.

In the last couple of laps disaster struck for Luciano once again. Heading off track for the second time, the Belgian rider shuffled way back down the order upon re-joining, with Kocourek able to take back second and secure himself a safer gap behind himself to boot. Phommara, meanwhile, had continued his charge and swept back round the outside of Hosciuc to lead the fight for the podium on the penultimate lap as well.

Conditions remained tricky, and Jordan Bartucca (Allesauto Racing) found that out as he then suddenly slid off in the background, leaving Phommara vs Hosciuc as the battle for third. As Gurecky crossed the line nearly 18 seconds clear to complete his masterclass and Kocourek took second place though, there was even more drama behind the two Czech riders: Hosciuc was down, leaving Phommara unthreatened round the rest of the last lap to take an impressive third place.

Fourth went to Bartucca despite his brief spill, the Swiss rider with enough time to slot back in and just beat polesitter Moor by a few tenths. Nevertheless, the Hungarian rookie and pacesetter in the dry will likely be satisfied by completing the top five and taking his first big haul of points this year.

Varga took sixth ahead of a good race for Martin Vincze (Chrobák Motorsport Egyesület), with Kas Beekmans (Team KNMV) a little further back in P8. Stepan Zuda (Motoracing23 Klub V ACR) took ninth, with Luciano able to salvage tenth place and some valuable points despite two run offs in the first race of the day.

 

Gurecky flexes his wet weather prowess to extend his lead in Race 2

Can he be beaten in the wet? Not so far! The Czech rider wins again, with Luciano in second and Kocourek taking third despite a tumble

Jakub Gurecky (JRT Brno Circuit) completed the double at Oschersleben as the weather stayed wet on Sunday afternoon, the Czech rider needing no excuse to once again flex his prowess in difficult conditions. This time around his closest challenger in the standings, Lorenz Luciano (Junior Black Knights Team), had a less adventurous race to come home second, with Jonas Kocourek in third to make it both JRT Brno Circuit riders on the podium in both races… and that despite a tumble for the number 56.

Gurecky got away in the lead for the holeshot once again, but unlike Race 1 Luciano was able to stay with him on take two. Kocourek had good speed once again to slot into third, with Jacopo Hosciuc (Hos Racing Team) on the chase as he fought to bounce back from late disaster on Sunday morning. He had Rossi Moor (FAIRIUM Next Generation Riders Team) and Kas Beekmans (Team KNMV) for company not long after, and behind Lennoxx Phommara (Phommara Team) was a man on the move once again as the Race 1 podium finisher started gaining ground. By Lap 7, he was up into fourth.

Meanwhile at the front, Gurecky was starting to stretch his legs as Luciano moved back into the clutches of Kocourek. On Lap 10 the Czech rider arrived and struck to take over in second, the fastest man on track before disaster suddenly struck. He slid off, Luciano cruised past through and the number 56 scrambled to slot back into the podium places. He did, re-joining in third but with Phommara then much closer…

Ultimately, however, it would remain the same top three to the line. Gurecky completed the double with an even bigger gap – this time over 20 seconds – with Luciano finding some redemption and crossing the line second to take 20 valuable points. Kocourek was able to keep third, managing to pull away out of the clutches of another incredibly impressive performance from Phommara.

In turn, the Swiss rookie just held off Moor as the Hungarian completed the top five, with Beekmans taking sixth after losing tabs on the two ahead in the latter stages. Likewise Hosciuc, who was forced to settle for seventh but took some good points after a late crash in Race 1.

Damian Boessenkool (Team KNMV) took eighth, with Niklas Kitzbichler (Racing-Team-Kitzbichler) fending off Noel Willemson (PrüstelGP Junior Team), Martin Vincze (Chrobák Motorsport Egyesület) and Tibor Varga (Forty Racing Team) for ninth. The battle between the four was covered by less than two and a half tenths.

That’s it from Oschersleben and Round 2, with Gurecky starting to pull away at the top. The NTC is back in action in a month as the legendary Sachsenring plays host, the Cup back racing alongside the MotoGP™ World Championship!

MotoAmerica: HONOS Superbike Race Two Results From VIR (Updated)

David Swarts
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MotoAmerica: HONOS Superbike Race Two Results From VIR (Updated)

This weekend’s results are brought to you by 6D Helmets.

 

Next Level Brain Protection

21_3_VIR_SBK_R2_res
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More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

MotoAmerica: Gagne Takes Third Straight With Dominant VIR Victory

Yamaha’s Jake Gagne Completes Perfect Weekend In Virginia

 

Jake Gagne (32) leads Kyle Wyman (33), Josh Herrin (2), Loris Baz (76), Travis Wyman (10), Hector Barbera (80), Bobby Fong (50) and the rest of the field at the start of Superbike Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Jake Gagne (32) leads Kyle Wyman (33), Josh Herrin (2), Loris Baz (76), Travis Wyman (10), Hector Barbera (80), Bobby Fong (50) and the rest of the field at the start of Superbike Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

 

DANVILLE, VA (May 23, 2021) – Three races a championship does not make, but the performance of Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha’s Jake Gagne certainly makes sleeping a little rough for those who are racing against him.

Gagne won his third straight MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike race on Sunday at VIRginia International Raceway, and he did so in impressive fashion. Again. On Saturday, Gagne won by 11.8 seconds. Today that gap swelled to 13.9 seconds. As he did yesterday, Gagne led into turn one and proceeded to lead every lap thereafter, crossing the finish line well clear of Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York’s Loris Baz, the Frenchman earning his first career MotoAmerica podium.

“Today was a little more comfortable for us,” Gagne said. “I think it was a little hotter today. I think the track temp was maybe a little hotter. So, I knew I needed to be a little easier on the tires because yesterday we roasted out here pretty good. After yesterday’s race, we really learned a lot, when you get a whole 20 laps underneath you in race conditions. So, we just made a couple minor tweaks, and the bike just came a lot easier for me to ride today. I was just having fun sliding around out there. It’s nice when you’ve got a little bit of a gap. I was keeping an eye on my pit board. But you can’t let up. These guys, I know they’re going to keep rolling and if you just back off a couple percent that’s when something can happen. So, I just kept riding and having fun. Hats off to the Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance crew. Even after a great day yesterday, they went back and worked hard last night to get a couple little improvements coming into today. This Yamaha came off the truck good on Friday. We changed the gearing for Atlanta, and she was rolling good. I’m really looking forward to Road America. I think that will be kind of a whole different track than these first two we dealt with, so it will be cool to switch it up a little bit. It’s good to get a win.”

Baz’s race was eventful early as he battled with a pack of four for second place, but once he got to the spot, he was able to pull clear and monitor his gap to third place. He knew there was no catching Gagne. In fact, he knew that before the race started based on Gagne’s race pace from Saturday.

“I’m enjoying it a lot since three months,” Baz said of his working visit to the U.S. “We’ve been working so hard with the team to do good work. We knew that the test in Austin we were fast, but we knew we were coming to tracks where we struggle a bit more. I was surprised we struggled so much. Race one (at Road Atlanta where he crashed) we were able to win and race two the bike broke. It was hard to swallow that for three weeks. We came here with the same goal as Atlanta, but we just struggled more all weekend. We were so far off on Friday. We didn’t expect to put the bike in the top five. We were so far away. It was so hard to ride. The crew did an amazing job this Friday to improve the electronics and we made a decent qualifying. Unfortunately, we had trouble on the tire. I knew the track was killing the tread. It was a tough race yesterday before and today. I knew that the best we could do with our pace was P2. The target was to try to go behind Jake (Gagne) and follow him. I gave everything that I had and still could not do it. So, it was a lonely race, trying to increase the gap to the guys behind and just manage my tires because I didn’t know what to expect at the end. I was just managing the gap and had a couple of tenths. Just trying to bring it to the end because I was struggling with my rear tire. I’m really happy. I think one of the hardest parts of the Ducati we improved a lot. The target is still exactly the same as when I came. I know these guys are fast and I’m just ready to battle with them.”

Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz was roughed up in turn one off the start and finished the opening lap in 14th, but the South African didn’t give up and pushed his way through the pack, eventually making his way to the heels of those battling for third. When all was said and done, Scholtz had worked his to third to maintain his perfect season of podium finishes.

“I just saw one of the M4 Suzuki bikes coming up the inside, so I gave him space,” Scholtz said. “I could have followed him, but I don’t know what happened from there. I think Cam (Petersen) ran off the track. I’m not sure if he got touched. It’s just one of those unfortunate things. I’m trying to get aggressive in the first corner trying to hang onto Jake (Gagne) because I knew if I could slot in behind Jake, he would pull me and I kind of had the pace over everyone else after about lap eight or 10.”

Scholtz’s fourth podium, including his win in race one at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, keeps him in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship lead with his 81 points, six more than the fast-closing Gagne. Gagne’s Fresh N’ Easy Attack Performance Yamaha teammate Josh Herrin is third with 61 points, the 2013 AMA Superbike Champion finishing off the podium for first time this season on Sunday at VIR.

Herrin, meanwhile, managed to hold off the advances of M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Bobby Fong for fourth with the latter bouncing back from mechanical issues that thwarted his progress on Saturday.

Kyle Wyman had his strongest race of the 2021 season, the Panera Bread Ducati rider in the fight for second/third early on before slipping back to finish sixth.

Fong’s M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teammate Cameron Petersen was some two seconds adrift of Wyman and in seventh after having to fight through from well back after being involved in the melee in turn one.

Scheibe Racing’s Hector Barbera was eighth, but he really deserved more. An off-track excursion cost him a shot at the podium as he was fighting for third when he couldn’t get the BMW stopped for turn one in the heat of battle and was forced to take to the grass.

Ninth went to HONOS HVMC Racing’s Corey Alexander, the Stock 1000-spec Kawasaki ZX-10R mounted New Yorker ending the race as the top finishing Superbike Cup entry. Franklin Armory/Disrupt/RG Racing/Kawasaki’s Andrew Lee had his best result of the season thus far in 10th, some four seconds adrift of Alexander and only .001 of a second ahead of Travis Wyman Racing’s Travis Wyman.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:

Scholtz And Westby Racing Leave VIR With The Superbike Points Lead In Hand

Alton, VA – May 23, 2021 – With two rounds and four races completed in the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz holds a six-point lead in the standings based on the strength of his race finishes thus far. Mathew notched a victory and a second-place finish at Road Atlanta in round two, and then, he added another runner-up finish on Saturday at VIRginia International Raceway. On Sunday, “The Scholtz Kid” added a third-place finish to his four-race podium streak in a hard-fought result where he had to overcome adversity.

On the opening lap of Sunday’s final race of the weekend, Mathew got caught up in traffic going into turn one. Thankfully, he didn’t suffer a tipover in the incident, but it did shuffle him all the way back to 14th. Undaunted, he went about his business and started clicking off laps as fast as, or faster than, the leaders. On lap 13, he made it all the way back up to third place where he battled with Josh Herrin for a few laps before securing the final spot on the podium on lap 17.

All in all, it was a hero effort from Mathew, who knows that podium finishes all season long are the key to winning his first MotoAmerica Superbike title.

 

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

 

“I just saw one of the M4 Suzuki bikes coming up the inside, so I gave him space,” Mathew commented. “I could have followed him, but I don’t know what happened from there. I think Cam (Petersen) ran off the track. I’m not sure if he got touched. It’s just one of those unfortunate things. I was trying to get aggressive in the first corner, trying to hang onto Jake (Gagne) because I knew if I could slot in behind him, he would pull me, and I kind of had the pace over everyone else after about lap 8 or 10.”

Westby Racing’s Junior Cup rider Jack Roach’s weekend at VIR went from bad on Saturday to worse on Sunday. After not being able to finish race one due to a technical issue, he crashed out of race two on lap 4 while in heavy traffic.

 

Jack Roach (12), Max VanDenBrouck (48), David Kohlstaedt (29), and Gus Rodio (96) on track. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Jack Roach (12), Max VanDenBrouck (48), David Kohlstaedt (29), and Gus Rodio (96) on track. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.

 

Jack said, “This round was full of ups and downs, and as it turned out, the best part was qualifying P3 and maintaining consistent speed throughout the weekend. I wanted to get two really good race results but, unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way. Two DNF’s obviously don’t show my potential. I can’t thank Chuck (Giacchetto) from Westby Racing and Shiloh (Salopek) from N2 Racing enough for all their support. Road America is my favorite track, so I can’t wait for the next round to begin.”

Next up for Westby Racing is round three of the MotoAmerica Championship, which will take place at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, on June 11 through 13.

MotoAmerica Superbike Standings

1. Mathew Scholtz – Yamaha – 81

2. Jake Gagne – Yamaha – 75

3. Josh Herrin – Yamaha – 61

MotoAmerica Junior Cup Standings

1. Benjamin Gloddy – Kawasaki – 90

2. Tyler Scott – KTM – 74

3. Cody Wyman – Kawasaki – 65

15. Jack Roach – Yamaha – 11

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

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

MotoAmerica: SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race Two Results

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MotoAmerica: SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race Two Results

This weekend’s results are brought to you by 6D Helmets.

 

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MotoAmerica: Supersport Race Two Results From VIR (Updated)

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MotoAmerica: Supersport Race Two Results From VIR (Updated)

This weekend’s results are brought to you by 6D Helmets.

 

Next Level Brain Protection

 

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 21_3_VIR_SSP_PTS_points

 

 

More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Escalante Rebounds To Get First Supersport Win Of The Year At VIR

Richie Escalante Fights Off Injury To Win MotoAmerica Supersport

DANVILLE, VA (May 23, 2021) – As Richie Escalante said from Parc Ferme after winning Sunday’s second of two MotoAmerica Supersport races at VIRginia International Raceway, “Richie is back.”

Two weeks removed from having his collarbone plated, Escalante won his first Supersport race of the season on Sunday and not a minute too soon as his championship rival Sean Dylan Kelly had won three straight races to begin the 2021 season.

Escalante wasn’t the only championship hopeful to return to the top step of the podium at VIR as Corey Alexander went out and won his first Stock 1000 race of the season after a rocky start to his campaign.

As for the SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup and Twins Cup races at VIR, it was a case of a pair of first-time class winners in Cody Wyman and Jody Barry.

 

Corey Alexander (23) beat Jake Lewis (85) by a fraction of a second in Stock 1000 Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Corey Alexander (23) beat Jake Lewis (85) by a fraction of a second in Stock 1000 Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

Stock 1000: Happy Birthday To Alexander

On the occasion of his 27th birthday, HONOS HVMC Kawasaki rider Corey Alexander gave himself a priceless, hard-fought gift when he won Sunday’s Stock 1000 race two at VIRginia International Raceway.

Saturday’s race one winner Jake Lewis almost spoiled Alexander’s rolling birthday party when he very nearly overtook Alexander on the final lap, but Alexander maintained his position at the front and kept Lewis and his Altus Motorsports Suzuki behind him, taking the checkers by .047 of a second over the Kentuckian. With Lewis in second, third place went to Michael Gilbert Racing Kawasaki’s Michael Gilbert, who was just under a second behind Lewis.

“It was fun riding with these guys up front,” Alexander said. “You can kind of depend on them to at least give you a little bit of space. There wasn’t much there, but I knew (Lewis) wasn’t just going to punt me. So, I was holding on tight a little bit, and I knew I was dragging him out to the grass and the only way I could really get the bike off of him was to accelerate. Fortunately, I kind of fell forward a little bit. But otherwise, we went back and watched the race last night and kind of saw some spots where he was better than me. I don’t know if I really improved in them, but I knew that I couldn’t let him by me in those spots, so I kind of tightened up my lines a little bit. The guys made a couple changes to allow me to brake better, which was kind of my strong suit I think today. I utilized that to make sure that I could lead the race. I learned yesterday from Jake that catching those backmarkers and kind of keeping your race under a lead and get through them smoothly, that will put you in a position to win. So that’s all I really cared about. As soon as Geoff (May) got by me, I needed to get back by him. Same thing with Jake. I knew I had to pass everybody on the brakes. Can’t ask for a better birthday.”

 

Richie Escalante (1) leads Stefano Mesa (37), Sean Dylan Kelly (40), Benjamin Smith (88), Sam Lochoff (44), and the rest of the field in Supersport Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Richie Escalante (1) leads Stefano Mesa (37), Sean Dylan Kelly (40), Benjamin Smith (88), Sam Lochoff (44), and the rest of the field in Supersport Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

Supersport: The Return Of Richie

Defending MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Richie Escalante’s title defense got off to a bit of a rocky start. The HONOS Kawasaki rider did finish second in both races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, but then, right after that round, he fractured his collarbone in a training accident on his bicycle. Despite the setback, Escalante not only raced at VIR, but he put in a dominant performance in Sunday’s race, winning by more than seven-and-a-half seconds over M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly, who has been unstoppable up to this point.

Kelly did finish second, but he was clearly not happy with the result and felt like the changes they made to the bike overnight after Saturday’s race did not improve the bike. Mesa37 Racing Kawasaki’s Stefano Mesa, himself also dealing with some bumps and bruises, toughed it out and finished third albeit a little more than 11 seconds behind Kelly.

“I’m so happy,” Escalante said. “I think yesterday my confidence changed for today. Just as I start the race, I was feeling maybe don’t think it’s a race. Maybe very long the first group. Today I feel great. I woke up more motivated, more relaxed. I feel great in my collarbone. So, I’m so happy. My Honos Racing team is working amazing giving me my bike. My feeling is the same as last year. So, really happy. I’m pushing hard and I passed Sean and then I just waited for pass me again. I tried my best in the first laps. So hard in the last five laps I had to ride the bike not looking at the people waiting for finish the race. I’m so happy. Thanks to all my sponsors and people supporting me. I’m ready for the next round. It’s one of my favorite tracks, so let’s go.”

 

Jackson Blackmon (18), Jody Barry (717), Kaleb De Keyrel (51), and Trevor Standish (16) battle at the front during Twins Cup Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Jackson Blackmon (18), Jody Barry (717), Kaleb De Keyrel (51), Teagg Hobbs (behind De Keyrel), and Trevor Standish (16) battle at the front during Twins Cup Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

Twins Cup: Barry Turns Up The Heat

Former KTM RC Cup competitor Jody Barry has returned to the MotoAmerica paddock after a few years away, and the Righteous Racing Aprilia rider is making quite a name for himself in his return. After reaching the podium at Road Atlanta a couple of weeks ago, Barry got a breakthrough win in Sunday’s Twins Cup race two at VIR. He overtook Jackson Blackmon Yamaha rider Jackson Blackmon on the final lap of the 10-lap event and held onto the lead to win by just .166 of a second over second-place Blackmon. Robem Engineering Aprilia’s Kaleb De Keyrel finished third, just under half-a-second behind Blackmon.

“I definitely figured I had to put the move on early because (Blackmon’s) Yamaha is no slouch in the straightaway,” Barry said. “I was praying to everything out there that I could put enough of a gap on him that he didn’t pass me. It really is just awesome.”

 

Tyler Scott (70) leads Cody Wyman (34), Max VanDenBrouck (48) and the rest of the field early in Junior Cup Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Tyler Scott (70) leads Cody Wyman (34), Max VanDenBrouck (48) and the rest of the field early in Junior Cup Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

 

SportbikeTrackGear.Com Junior Cup: Wyman’s First

In Sunday’s SportbikeTrackGear.com race two, Kermoto/Madden Painting Kawasaki rider Cody Wyman finally got the breakthrough MotoAmerica win that has eluded him for a couple of years. The youngest of the racing Wyman brothers, Cody has become a master of the draft pass, and he used it to perfection on the final lap to escape the gaggle of riders at the front and put himself in perfect position to take the checkered flag first. Wyman nipped second-place finisher Ben Gloddy, who was aboard a Landers Racing Kawasaki, by just .049 of a second. Gloddy won Saturday’s race one and appeared to be headed for the double win until Wyman swooped in and grabbed the victory. Also among the lead group was Veloce Racing Kawasaki’s Maxwell Toth, the California rider taking third just .113 of a second behind Gloddy.

“I’ve got to thank team Westby for taking a chance on me a couple years ago,” Wyman said. “To get on a competitive bike and get more comfortable, this is really just the momentum to keep this rolling for the rest of the year. I thought I blew it on the last lap when I got really loose through the esses. Really pushed the braking zones harder than I ever had, and I was driving my life out of the last corner. Lucky that start/finish line is pretty far down there, because I sure needed that. This is great to get my first win and match my brothers’ wins. For all three of us to get a win… it means a lot for the family.”

MotoAmerica: Even More From The Races At VIR

Sean Dylan Kelly (40). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Sean Dylan Kelly (40). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI’S SEAN DYLAN KELLY TAKES CHARGE IN MOTOAMERICA SUPERSPORT

Brea, CA – Suzuki and Team Hammer upped the ante following a successful 2021 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship season opener with an even stronger Round 2, notching up two victories, two pole positions, and four podiums at Virginia International Raceway.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly continued to lead the charge, scoring the pole in MotoAmerica Supersport for a second consecutive weekend aboard his GSX-R600 and then backing it up with a fifth consecutive race win dating back to the end of the 2020 season.

‘SDK’ rounded out his weekend with a runner-up result on Sunday to leave VIR with a healthy 17-point championship advantage following four races.

“It was definitely a challenging day and we’re not satisfied at all with the P2,” a motivated Kelly said. “We’ve been working hard. We’ve got three wins so far and we’re looking for more. I promise we won’t make it as easy for the opposition at the next one. We’re going to do our homework and come back stronger at the next one,” added SDK.

“Thanks again to M4 ECSTAR Suzuki and all my guys.”

 

Sam Lochoff (44). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Sam Lochoff (44) continues to learn and claimed a career best fifth-place finish on Sunday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

 

Sam Lochoff, Kelly’s young M4 ECSTAR Suzuki stablemate, continued to show vast potential early in his MotoAmerica Supersport career. After seeing a potential podium foiled by an off-track excursion that resulted in an eighth on Saturday, the South African rebounded with a fifth-place ride on Sunday to match his career best in the class.

 

Jake Lewis (85). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Jake Lewis (85) proved that he’s back with a pole position and Stock 1000 victory on Saturday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

 

Meanwhile, Altus Motorsports Suzuki’s Jake Lewis effectively mirrored Kelly’s weekend in Stock 1000 aboard his Team Hammer-built GSX-R1000. The Kentuckian earned the pole on Saturday and then parlayed it into his first race win since claiming the Superstock 1000 victory at Sonoma Raceway aboard an M4 ECSTAR Suzuki back in 2017.

Like Kelly, Lewis rounded out his weekend with a Sunday runner-up in a thriller that came down to the race’s final lap. As a result, Lewis now leads the Stock 1000 championship fight by a seven-point margin.

 

Bobby Fong (50). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Bobby Fong (50) continues to race with determination and earned a fifth-place finish on Sunday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

 

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Superbike duo of Bobby Fong and Cam Petersen again demonstrated podium pace and race-winning potential but were unable to fully exploit it.

An electronics issue dropped Fong out of a fight for second on Saturday and down to an eventual 12th-place finish. As a result, he was forced to start Sunday’s rematch from the outside of Row 4. Despite the disadvantage, the charging Californian hustled his GSX-R1000 Superbike into another scrap for the podium before taking fifth in the end.

 

Cameron Petersen (45). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Cameron Petersen (45) battled hard for two impressive finishes at VIR in the Superbike class. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

 

Petersen was shuffled back from third to fifth in the race’s decisive laps on Saturday. Looking to make amends, the South African got an excellent start and attempted to storm into second in the race’s opening corner, only to be pushed off track and down to last place.

Petersen spent the remainder of the race making up that lost ground, finally clawing his way to seventh at the checkered flag.

 

 

Wyatt Farris (79). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Wyatt Farris (79) rode well and delivered two point-scoring results on his GSX-R1000. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

 

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Wyatt Farris improved on his opening round performance in Stock 1000, claiming eighth and 11th-place finishes as he continues to acclimate to the team’s GSX-R1000.

Team Hammer and Suzuki will be back in action for Round 3 at high-speed Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, on June 11-13.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Cody Wyman Racing:

Cody Wyman Grabs First Career MotoAmerica Victory

 

Cody Wyman (34). Photo courtesy Cody Wyman Racing.
Cody Wyman (34). Photo courtesy Cody Wyman Racing.

 

It was a very successful weekend for KERmoto rider Cody Wyman at VIRginia International Raceway with a fourth-place finish on Saturday and then emerging on Sunday with a career-first victory in MotoAmerica SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup. Leaving round two third place in points standings had the New Yorker satisfied with his results.

“I was pretty hard on myself for trying to put myself in the right spot in race one, and it really backfired on me,” said Wyman. “Fourth-place points was solid, but I wanted more.”

Cody achieved his first career MotoAmerica podium last round at Road Atlanta, but wanted to improve results on finish on the top step.

“Sunday morning we tried some changes and kind of gambled into race two,” said Wyman. “I was more comfortable on the bike thanks to tuning by Weir Everywhere and Quarterley Racing to put me up front. I rode a great race until the end I had a moment and bucked myself out of the seat. Then I never gave up put my head down and got the drive of my life to draft pass for the win.”

It was Cody’s first professional victory in road racing and a long time coming for the 27-year-old.

“I’ve worked really hard since a hiatus from the sport, and it feels amazing to come back and be so strong on a different bike,” said Wyman. “We’ve got a ton of momentum and can’t wait to keep it going at Road America!”

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Altus Motorsports:

MotoAmerica: Round 2 Results from VIR for the Altus Motorsports Tucker Environmental Service Solutions Team

(Alton, VA). Round 2 of the MotoAmerica Season at Virginia International Raceway [VIR], saw solid improvements across the entire team.

 

Jake Lewis (85). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Jake Lewis (85). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.

 

Honos Superbike & Stock 1000:

After finishing just off the podium in fourth in both races at Round 1, Jake Lewis came to VIR fired up. He and the team put their heads down and improved every session. The reward for that hard work was Jake putting the Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R 1000 on Pole for both the Stock 1000 races. At the season opener, the Stock 1000 grids were deep and highly competitive. The races at VIR were more of the same. In Race 1 Jake Lewis was in a three bike battle all the way to the finish. Ultimately, he crossed the line as the winner. Race 2 on Sunday continued where Saturday left off. Lewis fell back to third for a few laps and the pair at the front pulled a bit of a gap. As a veteran, Jake was patient. He took a few laps to reel the leaders in and, eventually, claimed the lead. In a hard fought, last lap battle, Jake finished in second just barely off the top step.

“This feels amazing. We had some great battles this weekend. I can’t thank Altus Motorsports enough for giving me this opportunity to come back to the paddock and show what I can do. Last year was depressing being away from racing. I have a hell of a lot of motivation to keep winning. I also want to thank my crew chief, Eric Gray, mechanic Shawn, and Victor for their hard work getting the bike dialed in. And also to Team Hammer for their support,” said Jake Lewis. “We struggled a bit at Round 1, but we made big progress this weekend and I’m looking forward to Road America and the rest of the season.”

In Superbike, Lewis started Race 1 from 10th and finished in 9th as the top Stock 1000 bike. Unfortunately, an issue with the shifter forced a retirement from Race 2 on Sunday.

The team heads to Round 3 at Road America leading in the Stock 1000 Championship.

Supersport 600:

 

Jaret Nassaney (59). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Jaret Nassaney (59). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.

 

At Round 1, Jaret Nassaney was still recovering from an injury. He was, admittedly, not at full strength. With three weeks of healing between the rounds, Jaret rolled into Virgina feeling good. He started both Supersport 600 races from 14th. In the Saturday race, he fought his way forward to finish 9th. On Sunday he crossed the line in 10th.

“It was a really positive weekend! We went faster than I ever have at VIR and we made good progress with the bike setup. I ended up with a 9th and a 10th which I’m pretty happy with. Two top tens so it was a good weekend,” said Jaret Nassaney.

 

Cooper McDonald (33). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Cooper McDonald (33). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.

 

At Round 2, Cooper McDonald once again sat in for the recovering Kevin Olmedo. Coming from racing Twins, he is still adapting to the 600. To complicate things, this was also Cooper’s first visit to VIR. After qualifying in 19th, McDonald finished Race 1 in 17th and Race 2 in an impressive 12th.

“I loved this weekend. This track is awesome. It was my first time here so I had to learn the track and get fast on the equipment quickly. The team put me on a great bike. In the first race I ran off the track twice and pulled 17th, but today I pushed hard and finished 12th. Overall I am super happy,” said Cooper McDonald.

Kevin Olmedo plans to remount the Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R600 for Round 3 at Road America.

Junior Cup: 

 

Hayden Bicknese (69). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Hayden Bicknese (69). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.

 

VIR is another new track for Hayden Bicknese and, as such, he set out to learn the track as quickly as possible. Every time he took to the track he went faster. He qualified 14th for both Junior Cup races. An unfortunate mechanical issue knocked him out of Race 1 on Saturday. In Race 2, Bicknese got into an epic, race-long, four bike battle for 9th place. Every lap saw multiple passes and position changes. Hayden crossed the line in 9th on the penultimate lap but, in the end, he finished in 12th.

“I’d say this was a fantastic weekend for our entire team. We made huge improvements on the 1000. Jake won the Saturday Stock 100 race and took a second on Sunday. Jaret looked great and went faster than he ever has at this track. Cooper continues to improve and we are thankful he could step in for these first two rounds. Hayden is doing great. He’s only been on a road race bike for a couple of years. To step up to the national level and learn completely new tracks and race against the fastest kids in the country is pretty impressive. I can’t wait to see what he can do when we get to tracks he knows,” 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, Lawton Motorsports, and Altus Factory Racing.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by N2 Racing:

Blake Davis Scores a Pair of 8’s at VIR

 

Blake Davis (22). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy N2 Racing.
Blake Davis (22). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy N2 Racing.

 

Alton, VA (May 2021) – N2 Racing’s Blake Davis scored two eighth-place finishes at Virginia International Raceway in MotoAmerica Junior Cup. Although the two top-10 finishes scored valuable points toward the championship, they did not show Blake’s true potential or speed.

The weekend started with some struggles with chassis set up in FP1 and QP1 that saw Blake in the 11th and 10th position, respectively. The team, led by crew chief Shiloh Salopek, worked hard overnight to find a solution and by Qualifying 2 on Saturday morning, Blake was going very quickly leading most of the session. At the end of qualifying, Blake was in the seventh spot but was disqualified for being a pound, or 15oz of fuel, underweight. This meant that Blake would qualify with his Qualifying 1 time, which put him 11th on the grid.

Blake got a great start in Race 1, but the starting position hurt his chances for a fight with the lead group. Blake worked his way through the pack with well-timed and patient passes. On lap seven, Blake turned the fastest lap of the race with a time of 136:921, but it wasn’t enough to catch the lead group and Blake had to settle for eighth.

Race 2 once again saw Blake starting from 11th on the grid. Blake quickly sliced through the pack working his way up to seventh on lap seven. Blake fell into a race-long battle with his friend Gus Rodio. The two riders battled back and forth for eight laps with Rodio finishing seventh and Blake finishing eighth

Blake Davis – “Getting disqualified really hurt my spot on the grid and I just couldn’t make it up in the races. Now I’m really just looking forward to the next race at Road America. I really want to thank the team for all the hard work and sponsors like N2, BobbleHeadMoto, and Ohlins USA for the support.”

Shiloh Salopek (Crew Chief) – “The defining moment of the weekend was qualifying 2 when we were disqualified for being underweight. When you are giving up 80cc of displacement to the competition, you must push things to the limit, and we pushed it too far. The YZF-R3 is a fantastic motorcycle and Blake is a great rider. We feel confident that we can put together a package that will allow him to run up front.

 

About N2 Track Days:

N2 provides a structured riding environment for sport-bike riders of all levels promoting motorcycle safety through instruction on a closed course racetrack. Our instructors and coaching staff are comprised of club-racers, pro racers, and experienced track day riders who are articulate and passionate about all aspects of this sport. N2 strives to provide an enjoyable riding experience in an environment where members can hone their skills and inspire confidence in their riding ability. Riding with N2 means you and your sportbike gain access to a structured environment without the hazards, limitations, distractions, and obstacles that you’ll find on the street.

N2 Racing is proudly sponsored by: N2 Track Days, BobbleHeadMoto, SBS Brakes, Renthal, Motorex, Shoei Helmets, Ohlins USA, Trading Paint, Westby Racing, and Moto Liberty.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Ethan Cook Racing:

First double points finish in MotoAmerica Twins Cup for Ethan Cook 

Ethan Cook secured his first double points finish of the 2021 MotoAmerica Twins Cup season, finishing ninth and tenth in the two races at VIR (Virginia International Raceway).

The weekend started well for Ethan, who despite having never ridden at VIR before, qualified strongly on the third row of the grid, ahead of many more experienced riders. His race results elevated Cook, who is in his debut MotoAmerica season, into P12 in the overall points classification ahead of Round 3 at Road America in a fortnight.

Ethan Cook: “Friday’s practice went well; I hadn’t ridden at this track before, so it was just about getting to grips with it. The bike felt way off compared to where it was at Atlanta. We made some big adjustments in Q1 which went well. That continued into Q2 where we set the bike up closer to where it was in Atlanta. We qualified on the third row in P9, I put in some good laps and the times were close, especially in the top three. We were working really hard on making the bike right and found a good setting ahead of race 1. The first race went well, I spent the first half in a big group but was in P9 for most of that. The top eight guys were riding at a slightly quicker pace. At half race distance we lost so much grip and had no rear tyre at all, I had to conserve it for the rest of the race, so the group ahead managed to pull away from me I pulled a gap on the group behind, so I found myself running a lonely race. I came across the line, securing a good result and putting in some good times as well so I’m happy enough with that. Race 2 was good for us; I came across the line in P10 making that two top ten results throughout the weekend. We made a couple of changes to the bike hoping that they would work in our favour, but they went in the wrong direction and gave me a worse feeling with the rear end of the bike. We’ve got a bit of work to do for the next round but I’m really happy with the progress we made this weekend. We started and finished both races so I’m happy with that and I’m looking forward to Wisconsin.”

For more information go to EthanCookRacing.com

MotoGP: Miller Staying With Ducati In 2022

Jack Miller (43). Photo courtesy Ducati.
Jack Miller (43). Photo courtesy Ducati.

Jack Miller and the Ducati Lenovo Team to continue together in 2022

Ducati is pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached with Jack Miller that will see the Australian rider continue aboard the official Desmosedici GP of the Ducati Lenovo Team in the 2022 MotoGP World Championship.

Gifted with great talent and strong determination, Miller made his debut as a factory rider this year after competing with the Pramac Racing Team for three seasons. After a challenging start to his 2021 campaign, he brilliantly overcame difficulties by securing two fantastic back-to-back victories in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain and the last French GP at Le Mans, held in tricky wet conditions.

After the first five Grands Prix for 2021, Miller sits fourth in the general standings, only 16 points behind the current leader, while Ducati and the Ducati Lenovo Team lead the Constructors’ and Teams’ standings.

Jack Miller (#43 Ducati Lenovo Team)

“I am thrilled to be able to continue my adventure with the Ducati Lenovo Team also next season! Wearing these colours is a great honour for me, and having been able to win the last two races on the Desmosedici GP is a real dream! It wouldn’t have been possible without the great support that I’ve received from Ducati and the whole team during the last months, and I want to thank Gigi, Paolo, Davide, and Claudio for the faith they had in me. Now I can solely concentrate on the current season. We are fourth in the standings, not far from the leader, and the Championship is still very long. I will do my best to continue this positive trend and fight for the title. Forza Ducati!”.

Luigi Dall’Igna, Ducati Corse General Manager

“We are delighted to be able to announce that we will continue with Miller also in 2022. In this first season, Jack has shown great talent, professionalism, and strong determination. He was able to secure two important victories in different conditions after a tough start to the season. For sure, he is one of the riders that better knows how to understand our Desmosedici GP to fully take advantage of its potential in any condition, as the recent success in Le Mans has demonstrated. As always, our goal remains the Championship title, and we believe that with Jack and Pecco, we will be among the main protagonists of the 2022 title charge”.

2021 Trackday Directory

Michael Gougis (20) and an instructor (03) at a California Superbike School. Photo by Etechphoto.com.
Michael Gougis (20) and an instructor (03) at a California Superbike School. Photo by Etechphoto.com.

On the Front Cover: A rider at speed on a stock 2020-model KTM 890 Duke R streetbike on the racetrack using standard Michelin Power Cup 2 street-legal track day tires. Photo by R. Schedl/Courtesy KTM.

 

The Roadracing World 2021 Trackday Directory Special Issue is included with  your subscription to Roadracing World magazine. 

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Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.

 

In This Issue:

INTRODUCTION: Riding Out The Storm

 

FEATURES

Getting On The Track:

How To Do A Track Day

10 Steps To Becoming A Track Day Rider

Overcoming Excuses: No Good Reason To Stay Home

All-Inclusive Schools & Track Days Eliminate Obstacles

 

Basic Bike Prep:

Part 1: Make It Track-Ready

Part 2: Don’t Ruin A Perfectly Good Motorcycle

Part 3: Easy Changes

Part 4: Don’t Go Crazy

 

Better Performance:

Suspension Starting Point: Measuring Sag

Improving Your Bike’s Suspension

Picking Tires: Street, Racing, Or Track Day?

Changing Tires

Bolt-On Upgrades

Safety Wiring Made Easier

 

At The Track:

RWAF Soft Barriers Help Keep Riders Safe

Signaling Riders: Flags At The Track

Staying Hydrated

Always Do This/Never Do That

Seen At The Racetrack

Exotic Track Days: Riding MotoGP Tracks With Leod Escapes

 

Getting There:

Hauling Your Bike

Loading Your Bike

 

Riding Gear:

The Right Stuff Overview

The Airbag Movement

 

Having Fun & Improving Skills:

Sportbike Track Time: 20 Years On The Repeating Road

Trackdaz Track Days: 21 Years Of On-Track Fun

D-Day With Reg Pridmore: Opening The Door To Better Riding

California Superbike School: Throttle Control In The Age Of Electronics

Entry Points: YCRS ChampDay/ChampStreet Track Days

Fastrack Riders ProAC: Bringing Pros To Track Days

Accredited Kids Ride & Wrench Camps:  Teaching Home-School Kids To Ride

 

WHO, WHEN, & WHERE

Track Day Organization & Racing School Calendar

Road Racing Organizations

Mini Road Racing Organizations

Track Day & Track Riding Schools By State/Province

Guide To Racetrack Locations, With U.S./Canada Map

 

High-Performance Parts & Services Directory

MotoAmerica: More From The Races At VIR

Jake Gagne (32) leads Kyle Wyman (33), Josh Herrin (2), Loris Baz (76), Travis Wyman (10), Hector Barbera (80), Bobby Fong (50) and the rest of the field at the start of Superbike Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha.
Jake Gagne (32) leads Kyle Wyman (33), Josh Herrin (2), Loris Baz (76), Travis Wyman (10), Hector Barbera (80), Bobby Fong (50) and the rest of the field at the start of Superbike Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha.

Gagne Unstoppable at VIR

Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne completed a perfect weekend at Virginia International Raceway with another dominant MotoAmerica Superbike victory in today’s Race Two. His teammate Herrin battled for a podium position but ultimately had to settle for fourth.

It was another hot one in Alton, Virginia, but that didn’t stop Gagne’s forward charge. The Californian topped morning warm-up to lead every session of the second round of the championship and then got another flying start from pole position to grab the holeshot. He then put in some consistently fast times, including the fastest lap of the race on Lap 2, and checked out to score his third consecutive win in the premier class by nearly 14 seconds. Gagne’s masterclass victory closed the gap on the points leader to six points.

With Sunday’s race being gridded by yesterday’s results, Herrin joined his teammate on the front row in third. Although he didn’t get the start he was hoping for, he was able to advance to third amidst the chaos going into the first turn. The 2013 Superbike Champion then drafted past the competition on the front straight to take the runner-up position at the start of Lap 2 but was passed on the following lap. While his teammate continued to stretch his lead, Herrin once again had a fight on his hands. At times, it was a four-rider battle for the podium, but he held onto third for eight laps despite the pressure. After the halfway mark, he found himself in a heated battle with the points leader, Mathew Scholtz. With four laps to go, Herrin went wide into Turn 1 and was passed by his fellow Yamaha rider, ultimately having to settle for fourth. The California rider leaves Virginia sitting third in the championship standings.

Next up for the Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing team is Round 3 of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship on June 11- 13, at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Richard Stanboli – Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing Team Manager

“As I said after Race One at Road Atlanta, everyone gives up one or two races and that we would make sure that we did not give up anymore. We did just that this weekend. Our R1s once again proved to be the fastest and best-handling bikes on the track. We went away with another track record and Jake is super motivated to continue his momentum. We also made some good headway with Josh. He will for sure be super strong at Road America and we are anxious to race there as our bikes always work well there.”

 

Jake Gagne (32). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Jake Gagne (32). Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

Jake Gagne – Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing

“We rolled this R1 off the truck on Friday, and it was working amazing straight away. To get pole and my first double win feels amazing! I’m so stoked for the whole team. These guys have been working so hard, and to have a stellar weekend like this is a huge pay off. We’ll try to keep this momentum rolling!”

 

Josh Herrin (2). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Josh Herrin (2). Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

Josh Herrin – Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing

“I’m happy with our results this weekend. We made a lot of headway towards getting me more confident on the motorcycle. Also, we got some solid points and are leaving here healthy. Thank you to the entire team for all of their hard work and congrats to Gagne and his team on two great races.”

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Ducati:

Ducati on the Podium at VIRginia International Raceway

Sunnyvale, Calif. – Round two of the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship was a fine one for the Bologna boys as Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York) clinched the first podium of his MotoAmerica career with second place in race two behind Yamaha’s Jake Gagne, who took out both races in Virginia.

Baz, who finished fourth in Saturday’s race one, used all his experience to fend off the attack from Mathew Scholtz and Josh Herrin, the Frenchman holding a gap of just over one second at the flag to the Yamaha duo.

It was a similarly great race from Panera Bread Ducati rider Kyle Wyman, who after finishing seventh in race one, changed the set up on his green and black Ducati to come home sixth in race two. The result saw Wyman seven seconds closer to winner Gagne at the flag, and optimistic of a good result next time out at Road America on June 25-27.

2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Standing – Top 5

P1 – Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 81

P2 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 75

P3 – Josh Herrin (Yamaha) 61

P4 – Bobby Fong (Suzuki) 46

P5 – Cameron Petersen (Suzuki) 46

P6 – Kyle Wyman (Ducati) 40

P8 – Loris Baz Ducati 33

 

Loris Baz (76). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Loris Baz (76). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.

 

Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York – Ducati #76)

“I wanted more coming into this weekend but, honestly, it’s been a tough weekend for us,” Baz said. “We had to guess the set-up of the bike a little bit—we got the guess right in Atlanta but we missed the mark in VIR. We changed the bike a lot from Friday to Saturday, a lot of electronics, which made the straight line speed less than we’d hoped for in race one. I had to fight really hard to stay in front of the guys and I lost the podium.

“Today we improved the bike a lot in the warm-up, and we had a really good race. I had to fight so hard to bring it home. I kept increasing the gap until I was 4.5 seconds in front, then I just tried to manage it to the flag and we got our first podium, which I’m so happy about. Thank you very much to Ducati and my team who have worked so hard and hats off to Jake Gagne on an excellent ride today.”

 

Kyle Wyman (33). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Kyle Wyman (33). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.

 

Kyle Wyman (Panera Bread Ducati – Ducati #33)

“Race one was a struggle as we were trying to get to some edge grip out of the bike and we really struggled to find our way,” Wyman said. “I thought we had a set up but it turned out not to be, and I couldn’t do much back in seventh.

“But, we got some good data and tried some stuff overnight that got us a lot closer in the morning. Then this morning’s data was pivotal for us to make a decision for the race to go a little bit softer in the rear, and race two was awesome.

“I had so much fun out there. It felt so good to be up towards the front and battling with the with the podium guys. That put us back where I know we belong. We ended up sixth but it was such a positive takeaway for us to realize we can be up there at the front and fighting for it.

“I’m really looking forward to our two-day test and in about a week and half at Pittsburgh. It’s going to get us even closer to the front. We haven’t tested yet this year so this is really good for us moving forward and I can’t wait to get to Road America and fight up the front.”

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Pure Attitude Racing:

For the second race running, VIR sees four Pure Attitude Racing riders in the points

Pure Attitude Racing enjoyed another successful weekend in the latest round of the MotoAmerica championship with all four riders achieving points scoring finishes for the second consecutive event.

Buoyed by their front running pace in the Twins Cup season opener Trevor Standish and Liam MacDonald were once again in the mix, both riders bagging a double top ten finish. Trevor taking a sixth and a fifth to remain second overall in the points classification, while Liam took a tenth and ninth place finish to consolidate ninth overall in his debut season of racing in the US.

In Supersport both riders, Nate Minster and Austin Miller overcome small issues to salvage 12th and 15th respectively at the flag in race one on Saturday, with Austin racing solo on Sunday following an incident that saw Nate Minster take a tumble through no fault of his own. Miller raced to fourteenth and his first double points finish of the year.

 

Trevor Standish (16). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Trevor Standish (16). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.

 

Trevor Standish: “I made a good start in Race 1 and was leading but got shuffled back a bit early on. I was holding my own but then ran into some rear grip issues which prevented me from pushing as hard as I knew we could have. It was a solid Saturday and good points for the championship. Race 2 was a nice step forward. I was leading again for a lap and was able to hang with the lead group before arm pump meant I faded a little. Fifth and still second overall in the points is a great result and I am ready to race again at Road America in a couple of weeks.”

 

Liam MacDonald (37). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Liam MacDonald (37). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.

 

Liam MacDonald: “Race 1 went really well. I had a much better feeling and was able to settle into my rhythm more quickly than at Road Atlanta. I was able to lap consistently but it was tough with my arm pumping towards the end. VIR is really physical. I am really proud of my race and of the team for giving me such a great bike, and for rebuilding it after I stepped off in Q1. Mentally it was the best I have ever felt, coming back from a crash, and getting a good result and it’s all down to the team. I couldn’t ask for a better bunch of people to be with. Race 2 went even better. I got a lightning start and was running fifth. I felt really good. I lost the rear and the front on the same lap but saved it and was able to bring it home for my fourth points finish in a row!”

 

Nate Minster (99). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Nate Minster (99). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.

 

Nate Minster: “Qualifying was ok. We had some pretty big suspension issues, but the team worked well, and we were able to improve although Q2 was still a little rough. I was suffering some arm pump which meant it was hard to hang onto the bike I was determined to give it my all in the races. Race 1 was actually pretty good all things considered. We still don’t have the ideal setting, but I was able to lap consistently and got some points. In the Warm-Up we wanted to test some things. We got down to pace right away but then I was taken out by another rider in the last five minutes of the session. I decided not to ride as I wasn’t feeling the best. The team fully supported my decision, and we will come back strong at Road America.”

 

Austin Miller (61). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Austin Miller (61). Photo courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.

 

Austin Miller: “We finally got the bike straightened out for Q2 and it went really well. It was a hard day of working on things, but we made the race which was the important thing and the target. The focus was to push for points in the race and I was able to achieve that. I needed that after all the problems and missing most of the first day as I was beginning to lose hope. I was able to finish fifteenth after gaining eight places from where I started. I made an ok start and made a few mistakes but was able to bring it home. Race Two went great. I made a good start but around lap eleven my arm started to stiffen, and it was difficult to ride as I wanted. I almost got one more position on the last lap, but I ran out of time. We made a step from Race 1 and it was two races in the points for the first time in my Supersport career so I can move on to Road America happy.”

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Robem Engineering:

Robem Engineering riders score podium, top-five finishes at MotoAmerica Superbikes at Virginia

Aprilia team leaves VIRginia International Raceway with all three riders in top eight in Twins Cup standings

ALTON, Va. — The Robem Engineering squad faced much uncertainty as it prepared for this weekend’s MotoAmerica’s Superbikes at Virgina round at VIRginia International Raceway. The team was campaigning a new-for-2021 motorcycle at a track two of its riders had little or no experience on. Despite the odds not being in its favor, the three-rider team scored a podium and two additional top-five finishes in the round’s two MotoAmerica Twins Cup races.

The team had only one race weekend under its belt with its Aprilia RS 660 motorcycles prior to the May 21-23 event getting underway. By the end of the weekend, all three of the team’s riders – Kaleb De Keyrel, Hayden Schultz and Toby Khamsouk — had maintained or improved their position in the Twins Cup standings. De Keyrel held onto fourth in the championship – just 11 points behind the class leader — Schultz moved up from ninth place to seventh and Khamsouk advanced from 12th place to eighth.

The team got off to a good start when on-track activity commenced Friday morning. Khamsouk was the third-fastest rider in the session, with Schultz finishing practice in fourth and De Keyrel in seventh. When Twins Cup qualifying got underway on Friday afternoon, Khamsouk was again the third-fastest rider in the 28-bike field. De Keyrel finished the session in seventh – posting a lap time about three seconds faster than his best practice time – and Schultz ended up in sixth place. When qualifying wrapped up early Saturday afternoon, De Keyrel had secured second place on the starting grid. Schultz qualified sixth and Khamsouk seventh.

Saturday’s race saw Schultz and De Keyrel in the pack of riders in the hunt for the race lead. Schultz was the team’s top-finishing rider, bringing his Aprilia home in fourth place and missing out on a podium finish by less than three-tenths of a second. De Keyrel was right behind Schultz, finishing fifth, and Khamsouk crossed the finish line in seventh place.

Sunday’s Twins Cup race went better for the team, as De Keyrel claimed the last step on the podium and Schultz and Khamsouk finished sixth and eighth, respectively. De Keyrel got a great start, led the field into Turn 1 and finished about three-tenths of a second behind the second-place rider.

The next round on the 2021 MotoAmerica schedule takes place June 11-13 at the Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wis. The team plans to test on Monday on VIR’s South Course, which will provide the team valuable data to help perfect its setup for its Aprilia RS 660s.

 

Kaleb De Keyrel (51). Photo by Sara Chappell Photography, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Kaleb De Keyrel (51). Photo by Sara Chappell Photography, courtesy Robem Engineering.

 

Kaleb De Keyrel / No. 51

“It’s been a little bit of a struggle this weekend, but we ended it on a pretty positive note. I’m extremely happy with the setup we used for Race 2. We changed our tire choice as the weekend went on, which also worked out for us. Overall, I felt a lot better in Race 2 than Race 1 as far as being comfortable on the bike. On Saturday, I had trouble pushing the bike without it pushing back. The team worked really hard on finding solutions to our setup issues. I’m really looking forward to the next round at Road America. I grew up in Minnesota and will have lots of friends and family coming to see me race there.”

 

Hayden Schultz (49). Photo by Sara Chappell Photography, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Hayden Schultz (49). Photo by Sara Chappell Photography, courtesy Robem Engineering.

 

Hayden Schultz / No. 49

“The weekend had some positives and some things we can improve on. This was my first time racing at VIR, so I had to learn a new track before we could really get going on figuring out how to make our Aprilia work best here. You can play as many hours on a video game as you want, but it just doesn’t replicate reality. Race 1 wasn’t so bad, but we missed out on a podium finish. We were only about a second off the win in that race. For Race 2, we didn’t have the race we wanted, as I struggled getting by a couple other riders that I maybe had a chance to. The bike was working well, and I know it will get better as the season goes along. I owe a big shout out to the team for giving me a bike that can run up front. Now it’s my job to get better and make those better results happen. I expect a lot out of myself as a rider, especially after consistently being on the podium last year. Even though I was a learning a new track, I still expected to be on the podium. We’re not far off from getting a win, but it’s frustrating to get the results we had this weekend.”

 

Toby Khamsouk (27). Photo by Sara Chappell Photography, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Toby Khamsouk (27). Photo by Sara Chappell Photography, courtesy Robem Engineering.

 

Toby Khamsouk / No. 27

“It was an up and down weekend. We learn a lot though, and I really like this track. With having to learn a new bike, it just wasn’t the weekend we’d hoped for. We were working to find the right setup for me. Lots of positive vibes from this event though, and I’ll be working hard to help my team find a good setup quicker at Road America.”

Robem Engineering’s technical partners for 2021 include The Center for Plastic Surgery, Velocity Calibrations, Bitubo Suspension, Dunlop, Woodcraft Technologies, Dymag, Vesrah, DNA Filters, Magura USA, Sara Chappell Photos, NGK/NTK, Blud Lubricants, Millennium Technologies and SC-Project.

MotoGP: World Championship Resumes Next Weekend At Mugello

The Mugello Circuit in Italy. Photo courtesy Michelin.
The Mugello Circuit in Italy. Photo courtesy Michelin.

V for Velocità: can Ducati keep the momentum at Mugello?

Home turf beckons for the Italian manufacturer and with Miller on a roll, three Ducatis in the top four and two 1-2s in a row, it’s great reading for Borgo Panigale and a warning for the rest

Monday, 24 May 2021

Would you have predicted this in Qatar? The gossip went into overdrive back in the desert as Ducati didn’t win either of the season openers at one of their “favourite” or most successful tracks, but now the factory can enjoy its elegant silence on the matter even more. Two 1-2s in a row, with Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) on the top step in both and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) taking a second place apiece, make quite a statement. The three are all in the top four in the standings too – something Ducati have never had before – and Bagnaia is only a point off the lead. That would be enough to grab some attention in itself but the next track up, unfortunately for the rest, is also the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello.

The Italian venue is a rider and fan favourite for a reason, a stunning enough landmark in itself even before adding the spectacle of one of MotoGP™’s most golden of eras carving its way through the Tuscan hills. Fast, flowing and fast becoming a place synonymous with Ducati glory, yes it’s home turf. But it’s also somewhere Borgo Panigale machinery has won the last three editions and been on the podium since 2015.

The favourite to keep the roll going must be Miller. With his win in Le Mans in tough conditions, and that despite two Long Lap penalties, he followed up his Jerez stunner in style and it seems safe to say the Australian will now read the stats about Mugello with glee rather than pressure. Miller is a key architect of the momentum behind the manufacturer and the monkey some saw on his back after the first three rounds of the season is nowhere in sight now, whichever way you want to spin it. Can he make it three in a row? Or can his teammate fight back?

Bagnaia has been impressive in 2021 and led the standings for the first time just before Le Mans, with speed at every venue and few mistakes to go with it. With less premier class experience than Miller, he could have been forgiven for a few too. His French GP was a solid statement of intent, however, as the Italian somehow found himself down in 19th just after the start… then rode back through to fourth in conditions that caught out the very best, and again, like Miller, despite two Long Lap Penalties. If there was a day to lose your head, it was leading the Championship and sinking to the bottom of the top 20 early doors. But he didn’t.

And what about Zarco? The Frenchman hunted down another podium and moved back up to third overall, so what does he have in the locker? A Pramac win on home turf would be a popular one and the number 5, like Bagnaia, hasn’t yet tasted the top step in the premier class although he’s been close. His teammate this weekend could also be one to watch complicating the lives of a few riders who could find themselves on the cusp of Q2 too as Michele Pirro steps in to replace the injured Jorge Martin. Pirro knows both track and machine, and has impressed aplenty on wildcards.

All that said, it’s far from a foregone conclusion that Ducati will take their fourth Mugello win in a row. Three in the top four they may have, but it’s Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) back on top – and the Frenchman’s there despite his tough plummet down the order after arm pump in Jerez. He took a well-earned home podium at Le Mans despite coming back from surgery, and before Ducati started to assert their dominance at Mugello it was Yamaha territory. Jorge Lorenzo took the most recent wins but Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was on the podium in 2018 and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) the year before that. With a dry, less chaotic weekend hopefully ahead, what can they – and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) – do?

Dry and less chaotic will likely be a hope for Team Suzuki Ecstar too. A double DNF in France saw reigning Champion Joan Mir fall outside the top five in the standings, and left teammate Alex Rins with an even bigger hill to climb to get back into real contention. The Hamamatsu factory have form at Mugello though, with Rins only two tenths off the podium in 2019 as he hung on to the Marquez-Ducati fight and almost managed to ruin the party for all of them. The Suzuki works well around the majority of the venue and Rins will be out to show that and bounce back, as will Mir – but the reigning Champion also has a fair bit less experience of the track on premier class machinery, with MotoGP™ having not visited Mugello last year.

Aprilia are another who, like Ducati, will be both optimistic and riding on home turf. The Noale factory have taken a big step forward in 2021 and their bike should prove a good fit for Mugello. It may have been heartbreak at Le Mans but Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) just keeps impressing, and teammate Lorenzo Savadori was a serious threat in the damp. Can he take another step forward, and can Aleix Espargaro pick up where he left off? Aprilia also have Andrea Dovizioso confirmed as doing more testing throughout the season, whose record at Mugello is one of the best in recent years. He’s also already ridden the RS-GP there, although the weather didn’t play ball…

Mugello, meanwhile, was also a place where Honda really hammered home their top speed gains in 2019 as Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) went toe to toe with the Bologna bullets and was absolutely not left in the dust. Marquez’ win in 2014 at the track is the only non-Ducati win for a rider still on the grid since then too, and his 2019 battle at the front against the factory Ducati duo at the time was a stunner. The French GP saw flag-to-flag master Marquez make an uncharacteristic mistake and crash out, but there were more flashes of his former self as his comeback continues. What can he do?

LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami and LCR Honda Castrol teammate Alex Marquez both took solid results in France too after a tougher start to the season, and Nakagami equalled his best ever result in Jerez just before that. Alex Marquez won at Mugello in Moto2™ last time he rode there as well, although this is his first taste of it in the premier class. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) was also gaining ground in France, so they can’t be counted out of the increasingly tough fight for Q2 and more.

That also goes for KTM. It’s been a tougher start to the season but Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) equalled the best result of the Austrian factory’s year so far at Le Mans, and he knows the top step at Mugello, although in red. Teammate Iker Lecuona also impressed in France, so can both start to cut the gap to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira? There have been flashes of speed from them since Binder’s fifth in Portugal, but it’s not all come together on race day for either since. Binder and Lecuona have also not yet ridden at Mugello in MotoGP™ though, so that could also factor in to the weekend. Can KTM push back towards the bigger points hauls?

Tuscany is one of the world’s most emblematic destinations, and MotoGP™ is lucky enough to have Mugello nestled right in the middle. The paddock returns to the venue in 2021 looking quite different to the last time we were there, but the track remains the same stunner for man and machine. Make sure to tune in for the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley on Sunday the 30th of May, with lights out for the premier class at 14:00 (GMT +2).

MotoGP™ Championship top five:

1 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 80

2 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 79

3 Johann Zarco* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – 68

4 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 64

5 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 56

*Independent Team rider
 

Gardner? Fernandez? The home heroes? Moto2™ rolls into Mugello

The Australian hasn’t won yet this season, Fernandez has less laps at the venue and the home heroes want to strike back… what awaits for Moto2™?

After another stunner from Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), the Moto2™ rookie is now just a single point behind his veteran teammate atop the Moto2™ standings as the paddock heads for Mugello. But given its absence on the 2020 calendar, the Tuscan venue is one where Fernandez has quite a few fewer laps than his rivals: he’s only raced there as a Moto3™ rookie in 2019. The Spaniard came home 11th, however… already proving his CV as a fast learner. So will he be leading from the front or playing catch up this time round?

His teammate Remy Gardner will be pushing to make sure it’s the latter. The Australian is on a supreme run of form stretching back to even before the start of 2021, and that’s exactly how he finds himself at the top of the table. With his rookie teammate proving such a force to be reckoned with, already winning two races, Gardner knows he has to strike when Fernandez is on the back foot and take the maximum points when he isn’t. So far so good on both counts, but Mugello will be another test of his so far exemplary judgments on Sundays.

Waiting in the wings there are two riders with even more motivation at this particular racetrack, however: Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2). The former is on a podium run and the latter already a race winner this year, but both will want victory on home turf. Bezzecchi hasn’t had all the pieces come together perfectly so far this year but is proving super consistent since we left Qatar, whereas Diggia is somewhat the opposite. The Gresini rider created himself a new postcode in the lead at Jerez to win his first Moto2™ race in style, adding to a podium first time out in 2021, but in the other three races it’s been up and down. Can the home heroes make a push for the front again?

For Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) meanwhile, it’ll be a different challenge. The Brit bounced back well from a DNF in Portugal and said it was important to do so, with no OTT heroics and solid points. That will likely be the mission as he aims to hit back at Mugello following a crash in France: take points. Get on or near the podium. Claw back a little deficit. But the Brit is also one of the fastest men in the intermediate class on any given Sunday, so he can’t be counted out.

The next two riders in the standings likely have similar goals though: Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) crashed from the front in France and Aron Canet (Kipin Energy Aspar Team) earlier than that, although they’re holding on as the next two in the standings after the fastest five so far this season. What can they do? Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) is now equal on points with Canet too, and the German will want to build momentum after a solid result.

Recent Mugello history also says Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) could be up there in the top five again, and he’ll want some redemption after Le Mans followed some good steps forward, but speaking of… the king of those in France must surely be Tony Arbolino (Liqui Moly Intact GP). Le Mans was a stunner from the rookie Italian, so has he got more in the locker at Mugello on home turf?

Gardner has the consistency and the experience. Raul Fernandez is a fast learner. Bezzecchia and Diggia want some home turf glory, and Sam Lowes needs some good points. Who’ll come out on top? Mugello puts plenty on the line in Moto2™, so make sure to tune in at 12:20 (GMT +2) on Sunday!

Moto2™ Championship top five:

1 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 89

2 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 88

3 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 72

4 Sam Lowes – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 66

5 Fabio Di Giannantonio – Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 – Kalex – 60

 

 

 

Moto3™ vs Mugello: Acosta leads the freight train into Tuscany

The Championship leader increased his lead significantly in France, and that despite a crash. But now, more new turf awaits at Mugello… in Moto3™ at least

The course of a Moto3™ race rarely did run smooth, but Le Mans was even more drama than normal. With Sergio Garcia (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) taking his first win of the year, second overall and first for GASGAS, it was a different face on the top step to the one we’d become accustomed to seeing in 2021. But Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), despite taking a tumble in the difficult conditions, still got back on and took a good haul of points – and finished far ahead of those who’d previously been his closest challengers to boot. The result? An even bigger Championship lead.

For the veterans on his tail – Garcia, and Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team), Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) and Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3) – the good news is the experience they all have at Mugello, and for the most part, their CVs there too. The Italians will also be fired up on home turf as we return to the track for the first time since 2019. The slightly worse news is that, unlike Le Mans, Acosta does actually have a track record at Mugello: a second place in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies race at the venue in 2019, the year he came runner up overall before going on to annihilate the competition last season. So it’s new turf on his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine… but it’s not a shot in the dark.

The Italians will be gunning hard though, as will Garcia after a good shot of confidence from his win in France. Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team) too, and home hero Riccardo Rossi (BOE Owlride) after their first podiums. Both will be wanting more good points. Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech3) remained on his consistent roll of top finishes too despite the different conditions in France, and John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) got some good points on the board just ahead of his former teammate. Adrian Fernandez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) and fellow rookie Xavier Artigas (Leopard Racing) also took their best finishes of the season so far, and confidence goes a long way.

Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), meanwhile, will be on an opposite mission: bouncing back. After the South African got skittled out at Jerez through no fault of his own, a crash in France put paid to solid points and he’s now down in eighth overall. Can he fight back before summer break and get back into the upper echelons of the Championship? He’ll be aiming to start that at Mugello.

The kilometre-long straight at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello always provides one of the greatest Moto3™ spectacles of the season. They’ll take it on again this Sunday, with the lights out at 11:00 (GMT +2) for another incredible lightweight class challenge.

Moto3™ Championship top five:

1 Pedro Acosta – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM –  103

2 Sergio Garcia – Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team – GASGAS – 49

3 Andrea Migno – Rivacold Snipers Team – Honda – 47

4 Romano Fenati – Sterilgarda Max Racing Team – Husqvarna – 46

5 Niccolo Antonelli – Avintia Esponsorama Moto3 – KTM – 44

Video: RIDE Motorcycles Presents “The Year Of Jubilee,” Episode 2

KTM's Marvin Musquin (25) as seen during the 2020 Pro Motocross season. Photo by Simon Cudby, courtesy KTM.
KTM's Marvin Musquin (25) as seen during the 2020 Pro Motocross season. Photo by Simon Cudby, courtesy KTM.

For the racers, race team technicians and families at the highest level of professional Motocross and Supercross, a return to racing was not guaranteed in 2020, and it was treasured when it came.  While a surge of new off-road motorcycle enthusiasts were born in the 2020 lockdown, some of the sport’s most faithful allies were laying the groundwork for the sport’s future.

Producer Troy Adamitis and director Nate Scribner, who have created The Great Outdoors, The Moto: Inside the Outdoors, Supercross: Behind the Dream, MX Nation and MX World, have partnered with RIDE Motorcycles to bring you an account of American Motocross’ Year of Jubilee.

 

Northern Talent Cup: Race Results From Oschersleben

The start of a Northern Talent Cup race at Oschersleben. Photo courtesy Dorna.
The start of a Northern Talent Cup race at Oschersleben. Photo courtesy Dorna.
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More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Gurecky gets the hammer down for another wet weather masterclass in Race 1

The Czech rider was up to his old tricks in tricky conditions at Oschersleben, with Kocourek back on the podium in second and Phommara impressing in third

 

Jakub Gurecky (59). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jakub Gurecky (59). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Sunday, 23 May 2021

Jakub Gurecky (JRT Brno Circuit) hammered home his wet weather mastery once again at Oschersleben, the Czech rider disappearing in Race 1 for another stunner of a victory out front in difficult conditions. Teammate Jonas Kocourek came home second in a JRT Brno Circuit 1-2, with Swiss rookie Lennoxx Phommara (Phommara Team) impressing in the wet once again to take his first Northern Talent Cup podium in third.

From the start it was Gurecky in charge as he took the holeshot, with Lorenz Luciano (Junior Black Knights Team) initially able to go with him… but not for long. The number 81 had an early excursion on Lap 1 and, although he was able to re-join, that left Gurecky ahead of the game and Kocourek in second.

Initially, Jacopo Hosciuc (Hos Racing Team), Tibor Varga (Forty Racing Team) and polesitter Rossi Moor (FAIRIUM Next Generation Riders Team) were on the chase, although the number 81 of Luciano didn’t lose too much time slicing back through into a podium place.

From there he set about reeling in Kocourek as Phommara set about making his way through the pack. By Lap 11, the number 81 of Luciano was back past Kocourek and Phommara had leapfrogged the rest to get in the fight for fourth, but more drama was to come.

In the last couple of laps disaster struck for Luciano once again. Heading off track for the second time, the Belgian rider shuffled way back down the order upon re-joining, with Kocourek able to take back second and secure himself a safer gap behind himself to boot. Phommara, meanwhile, had continued his charge and swept back round the outside of Hosciuc to lead the fight for the podium on the penultimate lap as well.

Conditions remained tricky, and Jordan Bartucca (Allesauto Racing) found that out as he then suddenly slid off in the background, leaving Phommara vs Hosciuc as the battle for third. As Gurecky crossed the line nearly 18 seconds clear to complete his masterclass and Kocourek took second place though, there was even more drama behind the two Czech riders: Hosciuc was down, leaving Phommara unthreatened round the rest of the last lap to take an impressive third place.

Fourth went to Bartucca despite his brief spill, the Swiss rider with enough time to slot back in and just beat polesitter Moor by a few tenths. Nevertheless, the Hungarian rookie and pacesetter in the dry will likely be satisfied by completing the top five and taking his first big haul of points this year.

Varga took sixth ahead of a good race for Martin Vincze (Chrobák Motorsport Egyesület), with Kas Beekmans (Team KNMV) a little further back in P8. Stepan Zuda (Motoracing23 Klub V ACR) took ninth, with Luciano able to salvage tenth place and some valuable points despite two run offs in the first race of the day.

 

Gurecky flexes his wet weather prowess to extend his lead in Race 2

Can he be beaten in the wet? Not so far! The Czech rider wins again, with Luciano in second and Kocourek taking third despite a tumble

Jakub Gurecky (JRT Brno Circuit) completed the double at Oschersleben as the weather stayed wet on Sunday afternoon, the Czech rider needing no excuse to once again flex his prowess in difficult conditions. This time around his closest challenger in the standings, Lorenz Luciano (Junior Black Knights Team), had a less adventurous race to come home second, with Jonas Kocourek in third to make it both JRT Brno Circuit riders on the podium in both races… and that despite a tumble for the number 56.

Gurecky got away in the lead for the holeshot once again, but unlike Race 1 Luciano was able to stay with him on take two. Kocourek had good speed once again to slot into third, with Jacopo Hosciuc (Hos Racing Team) on the chase as he fought to bounce back from late disaster on Sunday morning. He had Rossi Moor (FAIRIUM Next Generation Riders Team) and Kas Beekmans (Team KNMV) for company not long after, and behind Lennoxx Phommara (Phommara Team) was a man on the move once again as the Race 1 podium finisher started gaining ground. By Lap 7, he was up into fourth.

Meanwhile at the front, Gurecky was starting to stretch his legs as Luciano moved back into the clutches of Kocourek. On Lap 10 the Czech rider arrived and struck to take over in second, the fastest man on track before disaster suddenly struck. He slid off, Luciano cruised past through and the number 56 scrambled to slot back into the podium places. He did, re-joining in third but with Phommara then much closer…

Ultimately, however, it would remain the same top three to the line. Gurecky completed the double with an even bigger gap – this time over 20 seconds – with Luciano finding some redemption and crossing the line second to take 20 valuable points. Kocourek was able to keep third, managing to pull away out of the clutches of another incredibly impressive performance from Phommara.

In turn, the Swiss rookie just held off Moor as the Hungarian completed the top five, with Beekmans taking sixth after losing tabs on the two ahead in the latter stages. Likewise Hosciuc, who was forced to settle for seventh but took some good points after a late crash in Race 1.

Damian Boessenkool (Team KNMV) took eighth, with Niklas Kitzbichler (Racing-Team-Kitzbichler) fending off Noel Willemson (PrüstelGP Junior Team), Martin Vincze (Chrobák Motorsport Egyesület) and Tibor Varga (Forty Racing Team) for ninth. The battle between the four was covered by less than two and a half tenths.

That’s it from Oschersleben and Round 2, with Gurecky starting to pull away at the top. The NTC is back in action in a month as the legendary Sachsenring plays host, the Cup back racing alongside the MotoGP™ World Championship!

MotoAmerica: HONOS Superbike Race Two Results From VIR (Updated)

VIRginia International Raceway. Photo courtesy of VIR.
VIRginia International Raceway. Photo courtesy of VIR.

This weekend’s results are brought to you by 6D Helmets.

 

Next Level Brain Protection

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More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

MotoAmerica: Gagne Takes Third Straight With Dominant VIR Victory

Yamaha’s Jake Gagne Completes Perfect Weekend In Virginia

 

Jake Gagne (32) leads Kyle Wyman (33), Josh Herrin (2), Loris Baz (76), Travis Wyman (10), Hector Barbera (80), Bobby Fong (50) and the rest of the field at the start of Superbike Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Jake Gagne (32) leads Kyle Wyman (33), Josh Herrin (2), Loris Baz (76), Travis Wyman (10), Hector Barbera (80), Bobby Fong (50) and the rest of the field at the start of Superbike Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

 

DANVILLE, VA (May 23, 2021) – Three races a championship does not make, but the performance of Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha’s Jake Gagne certainly makes sleeping a little rough for those who are racing against him.

Gagne won his third straight MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike race on Sunday at VIRginia International Raceway, and he did so in impressive fashion. Again. On Saturday, Gagne won by 11.8 seconds. Today that gap swelled to 13.9 seconds. As he did yesterday, Gagne led into turn one and proceeded to lead every lap thereafter, crossing the finish line well clear of Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York’s Loris Baz, the Frenchman earning his first career MotoAmerica podium.

“Today was a little more comfortable for us,” Gagne said. “I think it was a little hotter today. I think the track temp was maybe a little hotter. So, I knew I needed to be a little easier on the tires because yesterday we roasted out here pretty good. After yesterday’s race, we really learned a lot, when you get a whole 20 laps underneath you in race conditions. So, we just made a couple minor tweaks, and the bike just came a lot easier for me to ride today. I was just having fun sliding around out there. It’s nice when you’ve got a little bit of a gap. I was keeping an eye on my pit board. But you can’t let up. These guys, I know they’re going to keep rolling and if you just back off a couple percent that’s when something can happen. So, I just kept riding and having fun. Hats off to the Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance crew. Even after a great day yesterday, they went back and worked hard last night to get a couple little improvements coming into today. This Yamaha came off the truck good on Friday. We changed the gearing for Atlanta, and she was rolling good. I’m really looking forward to Road America. I think that will be kind of a whole different track than these first two we dealt with, so it will be cool to switch it up a little bit. It’s good to get a win.”

Baz’s race was eventful early as he battled with a pack of four for second place, but once he got to the spot, he was able to pull clear and monitor his gap to third place. He knew there was no catching Gagne. In fact, he knew that before the race started based on Gagne’s race pace from Saturday.

“I’m enjoying it a lot since three months,” Baz said of his working visit to the U.S. “We’ve been working so hard with the team to do good work. We knew that the test in Austin we were fast, but we knew we were coming to tracks where we struggle a bit more. I was surprised we struggled so much. Race one (at Road Atlanta where he crashed) we were able to win and race two the bike broke. It was hard to swallow that for three weeks. We came here with the same goal as Atlanta, but we just struggled more all weekend. We were so far off on Friday. We didn’t expect to put the bike in the top five. We were so far away. It was so hard to ride. The crew did an amazing job this Friday to improve the electronics and we made a decent qualifying. Unfortunately, we had trouble on the tire. I knew the track was killing the tread. It was a tough race yesterday before and today. I knew that the best we could do with our pace was P2. The target was to try to go behind Jake (Gagne) and follow him. I gave everything that I had and still could not do it. So, it was a lonely race, trying to increase the gap to the guys behind and just manage my tires because I didn’t know what to expect at the end. I was just managing the gap and had a couple of tenths. Just trying to bring it to the end because I was struggling with my rear tire. I’m really happy. I think one of the hardest parts of the Ducati we improved a lot. The target is still exactly the same as when I came. I know these guys are fast and I’m just ready to battle with them.”

Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz was roughed up in turn one off the start and finished the opening lap in 14th, but the South African didn’t give up and pushed his way through the pack, eventually making his way to the heels of those battling for third. When all was said and done, Scholtz had worked his to third to maintain his perfect season of podium finishes.

“I just saw one of the M4 Suzuki bikes coming up the inside, so I gave him space,” Scholtz said. “I could have followed him, but I don’t know what happened from there. I think Cam (Petersen) ran off the track. I’m not sure if he got touched. It’s just one of those unfortunate things. I’m trying to get aggressive in the first corner trying to hang onto Jake (Gagne) because I knew if I could slot in behind Jake, he would pull me and I kind of had the pace over everyone else after about lap eight or 10.”

Scholtz’s fourth podium, including his win in race one at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, keeps him in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship lead with his 81 points, six more than the fast-closing Gagne. Gagne’s Fresh N’ Easy Attack Performance Yamaha teammate Josh Herrin is third with 61 points, the 2013 AMA Superbike Champion finishing off the podium for first time this season on Sunday at VIR.

Herrin, meanwhile, managed to hold off the advances of M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Bobby Fong for fourth with the latter bouncing back from mechanical issues that thwarted his progress on Saturday.

Kyle Wyman had his strongest race of the 2021 season, the Panera Bread Ducati rider in the fight for second/third early on before slipping back to finish sixth.

Fong’s M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teammate Cameron Petersen was some two seconds adrift of Wyman and in seventh after having to fight through from well back after being involved in the melee in turn one.

Scheibe Racing’s Hector Barbera was eighth, but he really deserved more. An off-track excursion cost him a shot at the podium as he was fighting for third when he couldn’t get the BMW stopped for turn one in the heat of battle and was forced to take to the grass.

Ninth went to HONOS HVMC Racing’s Corey Alexander, the Stock 1000-spec Kawasaki ZX-10R mounted New Yorker ending the race as the top finishing Superbike Cup entry. Franklin Armory/Disrupt/RG Racing/Kawasaki’s Andrew Lee had his best result of the season thus far in 10th, some four seconds adrift of Alexander and only .001 of a second ahead of Travis Wyman Racing’s Travis Wyman.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:

Scholtz And Westby Racing Leave VIR With The Superbike Points Lead In Hand

Alton, VA – May 23, 2021 – With two rounds and four races completed in the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz holds a six-point lead in the standings based on the strength of his race finishes thus far. Mathew notched a victory and a second-place finish at Road Atlanta in round two, and then, he added another runner-up finish on Saturday at VIRginia International Raceway. On Sunday, “The Scholtz Kid” added a third-place finish to his four-race podium streak in a hard-fought result where he had to overcome adversity.

On the opening lap of Sunday’s final race of the weekend, Mathew got caught up in traffic going into turn one. Thankfully, he didn’t suffer a tipover in the incident, but it did shuffle him all the way back to 14th. Undaunted, he went about his business and started clicking off laps as fast as, or faster than, the leaders. On lap 13, he made it all the way back up to third place where he battled with Josh Herrin for a few laps before securing the final spot on the podium on lap 17.

All in all, it was a hero effort from Mathew, who knows that podium finishes all season long are the key to winning his first MotoAmerica Superbike title.

 

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

 

“I just saw one of the M4 Suzuki bikes coming up the inside, so I gave him space,” Mathew commented. “I could have followed him, but I don’t know what happened from there. I think Cam (Petersen) ran off the track. I’m not sure if he got touched. It’s just one of those unfortunate things. I was trying to get aggressive in the first corner, trying to hang onto Jake (Gagne) because I knew if I could slot in behind him, he would pull me, and I kind of had the pace over everyone else after about lap 8 or 10.”

Westby Racing’s Junior Cup rider Jack Roach’s weekend at VIR went from bad on Saturday to worse on Sunday. After not being able to finish race one due to a technical issue, he crashed out of race two on lap 4 while in heavy traffic.

 

Jack Roach (12), Max VanDenBrouck (48), David Kohlstaedt (29), and Gus Rodio (96) on track. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Jack Roach (12), Max VanDenBrouck (48), David Kohlstaedt (29), and Gus Rodio (96) on track. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.

 

Jack said, “This round was full of ups and downs, and as it turned out, the best part was qualifying P3 and maintaining consistent speed throughout the weekend. I wanted to get two really good race results but, unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way. Two DNF’s obviously don’t show my potential. I can’t thank Chuck (Giacchetto) from Westby Racing and Shiloh (Salopek) from N2 Racing enough for all their support. Road America is my favorite track, so I can’t wait for the next round to begin.”

Next up for Westby Racing is round three of the MotoAmerica Championship, which will take place at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, on June 11 through 13.

MotoAmerica Superbike Standings

1. Mathew Scholtz – Yamaha – 81

2. Jake Gagne – Yamaha – 75

3. Josh Herrin – Yamaha – 61

MotoAmerica Junior Cup Standings

1. Benjamin Gloddy – Kawasaki – 90

2. Tyler Scott – KTM – 74

3. Cody Wyman – Kawasaki – 65

15. Jack Roach – Yamaha – 11

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

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MotoAmerica: SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race Two Results

VIRginia International Raceway. Photo courtesy of VIR.
VIRginia International Raceway. Photo courtesy of VIR.

This weekend’s results are brought to you by 6D Helmets.

 

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 21_3_VIR_JRC_PTS_points

MotoAmerica: Supersport Race Two Results From VIR (Updated)

VIRginia International Raceway. Photo courtesy of VIR.
VIRginia International Raceway. Photo courtesy of VIR.

This weekend’s results are brought to you by 6D Helmets.

 

Next Level Brain Protection

 

21_3_VIR_SSP_R2_res
 21_3_VIR_SSP_PTS_points

 

 

More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Escalante Rebounds To Get First Supersport Win Of The Year At VIR

Richie Escalante Fights Off Injury To Win MotoAmerica Supersport

DANVILLE, VA (May 23, 2021) – As Richie Escalante said from Parc Ferme after winning Sunday’s second of two MotoAmerica Supersport races at VIRginia International Raceway, “Richie is back.”

Two weeks removed from having his collarbone plated, Escalante won his first Supersport race of the season on Sunday and not a minute too soon as his championship rival Sean Dylan Kelly had won three straight races to begin the 2021 season.

Escalante wasn’t the only championship hopeful to return to the top step of the podium at VIR as Corey Alexander went out and won his first Stock 1000 race of the season after a rocky start to his campaign.

As for the SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup and Twins Cup races at VIR, it was a case of a pair of first-time class winners in Cody Wyman and Jody Barry.

 

Corey Alexander (23) beat Jake Lewis (85) by a fraction of a second in Stock 1000 Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Corey Alexander (23) beat Jake Lewis (85) by a fraction of a second in Stock 1000 Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

Stock 1000: Happy Birthday To Alexander

On the occasion of his 27th birthday, HONOS HVMC Kawasaki rider Corey Alexander gave himself a priceless, hard-fought gift when he won Sunday’s Stock 1000 race two at VIRginia International Raceway.

Saturday’s race one winner Jake Lewis almost spoiled Alexander’s rolling birthday party when he very nearly overtook Alexander on the final lap, but Alexander maintained his position at the front and kept Lewis and his Altus Motorsports Suzuki behind him, taking the checkers by .047 of a second over the Kentuckian. With Lewis in second, third place went to Michael Gilbert Racing Kawasaki’s Michael Gilbert, who was just under a second behind Lewis.

“It was fun riding with these guys up front,” Alexander said. “You can kind of depend on them to at least give you a little bit of space. There wasn’t much there, but I knew (Lewis) wasn’t just going to punt me. So, I was holding on tight a little bit, and I knew I was dragging him out to the grass and the only way I could really get the bike off of him was to accelerate. Fortunately, I kind of fell forward a little bit. But otherwise, we went back and watched the race last night and kind of saw some spots where he was better than me. I don’t know if I really improved in them, but I knew that I couldn’t let him by me in those spots, so I kind of tightened up my lines a little bit. The guys made a couple changes to allow me to brake better, which was kind of my strong suit I think today. I utilized that to make sure that I could lead the race. I learned yesterday from Jake that catching those backmarkers and kind of keeping your race under a lead and get through them smoothly, that will put you in a position to win. So that’s all I really cared about. As soon as Geoff (May) got by me, I needed to get back by him. Same thing with Jake. I knew I had to pass everybody on the brakes. Can’t ask for a better birthday.”

 

Richie Escalante (1) leads Stefano Mesa (37), Sean Dylan Kelly (40), Benjamin Smith (88), Sam Lochoff (44), and the rest of the field in Supersport Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Richie Escalante (1) leads Stefano Mesa (37), Sean Dylan Kelly (40), Benjamin Smith (88), Sam Lochoff (44), and the rest of the field in Supersport Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

Supersport: The Return Of Richie

Defending MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Richie Escalante’s title defense got off to a bit of a rocky start. The HONOS Kawasaki rider did finish second in both races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, but then, right after that round, he fractured his collarbone in a training accident on his bicycle. Despite the setback, Escalante not only raced at VIR, but he put in a dominant performance in Sunday’s race, winning by more than seven-and-a-half seconds over M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly, who has been unstoppable up to this point.

Kelly did finish second, but he was clearly not happy with the result and felt like the changes they made to the bike overnight after Saturday’s race did not improve the bike. Mesa37 Racing Kawasaki’s Stefano Mesa, himself also dealing with some bumps and bruises, toughed it out and finished third albeit a little more than 11 seconds behind Kelly.

“I’m so happy,” Escalante said. “I think yesterday my confidence changed for today. Just as I start the race, I was feeling maybe don’t think it’s a race. Maybe very long the first group. Today I feel great. I woke up more motivated, more relaxed. I feel great in my collarbone. So, I’m so happy. My Honos Racing team is working amazing giving me my bike. My feeling is the same as last year. So, really happy. I’m pushing hard and I passed Sean and then I just waited for pass me again. I tried my best in the first laps. So hard in the last five laps I had to ride the bike not looking at the people waiting for finish the race. I’m so happy. Thanks to all my sponsors and people supporting me. I’m ready for the next round. It’s one of my favorite tracks, so let’s go.”

 

Jackson Blackmon (18), Jody Barry (717), Kaleb De Keyrel (51), and Trevor Standish (16) battle at the front during Twins Cup Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Jackson Blackmon (18), Jody Barry (717), Kaleb De Keyrel (51), Teagg Hobbs (behind De Keyrel), and Trevor Standish (16) battle at the front during Twins Cup Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

Twins Cup: Barry Turns Up The Heat

Former KTM RC Cup competitor Jody Barry has returned to the MotoAmerica paddock after a few years away, and the Righteous Racing Aprilia rider is making quite a name for himself in his return. After reaching the podium at Road Atlanta a couple of weeks ago, Barry got a breakthrough win in Sunday’s Twins Cup race two at VIR. He overtook Jackson Blackmon Yamaha rider Jackson Blackmon on the final lap of the 10-lap event and held onto the lead to win by just .166 of a second over second-place Blackmon. Robem Engineering Aprilia’s Kaleb De Keyrel finished third, just under half-a-second behind Blackmon.

“I definitely figured I had to put the move on early because (Blackmon’s) Yamaha is no slouch in the straightaway,” Barry said. “I was praying to everything out there that I could put enough of a gap on him that he didn’t pass me. It really is just awesome.”

 

Tyler Scott (70) leads Cody Wyman (34), Max VanDenBrouck (48) and the rest of the field early in Junior Cup Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Tyler Scott (70) leads Cody Wyman (34), Max VanDenBrouck (48) and the rest of the field early in Junior Cup Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

 

SportbikeTrackGear.Com Junior Cup: Wyman’s First

In Sunday’s SportbikeTrackGear.com race two, Kermoto/Madden Painting Kawasaki rider Cody Wyman finally got the breakthrough MotoAmerica win that has eluded him for a couple of years. The youngest of the racing Wyman brothers, Cody has become a master of the draft pass, and he used it to perfection on the final lap to escape the gaggle of riders at the front and put himself in perfect position to take the checkered flag first. Wyman nipped second-place finisher Ben Gloddy, who was aboard a Landers Racing Kawasaki, by just .049 of a second. Gloddy won Saturday’s race one and appeared to be headed for the double win until Wyman swooped in and grabbed the victory. Also among the lead group was Veloce Racing Kawasaki’s Maxwell Toth, the California rider taking third just .113 of a second behind Gloddy.

“I’ve got to thank team Westby for taking a chance on me a couple years ago,” Wyman said. “To get on a competitive bike and get more comfortable, this is really just the momentum to keep this rolling for the rest of the year. I thought I blew it on the last lap when I got really loose through the esses. Really pushed the braking zones harder than I ever had, and I was driving my life out of the last corner. Lucky that start/finish line is pretty far down there, because I sure needed that. This is great to get my first win and match my brothers’ wins. For all three of us to get a win… it means a lot for the family.”

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