Hard Knocks Moto Coffee to Officially Fuel Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Team in 2021
The Moto-Centric Coffee Brand will Provide the Team with The Doses of Caffeine They Need.
Hard Knocks Moto Coffee (www.hardknocksmoto.com) will sponsor the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Team for the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike season by fueling the team’s coffee needs throughout each race event. Hard Knocks Moto Coffee will provide ongoing supplies of its moto-centric coffee roasts.
“Our Ducati Panigale V4R needs its fuel, and we need ours,” says team Principal Bobby Shek. “A big shout out to Allan Lane and his company Hard Knocks Moto Coffee for supplying the team with our must-have coffee needs through the 2021 MotoAmerica season”
“I’m proud and honored that Hard Knocks Moto Coffee will be taking care of the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Team’s caffeinated needs for the 2021 MotoAmerica season,” says Hard Knocks Moto Coffee owner Allan Lane. “Coffee and racing go hand in hand.”
Hard Knocks Moto Coffee offers many blends of Columbian and Arabic coffee with exciting names such as “Less Bitching More Riding”, “Hard to Kill” and “Life is Hard,” along with a lineup of apparel.
Piloting the Warhorse HSBK Ducati Panigale V4 R during the 9-round Superbike Series is the 28-year-old Frenchman Loris Baz, who spent three years in MotoGP (2015-2017) and six years in World Superbike (2012-2014; 2018-2020). During the 2020 WorldSBK season, Baz scored four podiums and finished the season eight overall, the second-best of independent riders. Throughout his WorldSBK career, he had achieved two wins, two poles, 18 podiums, and three fastest laps.
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Motorcycle racing returns to Oregon, with the Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association (OMRRA) hosting its first round of the 2021 season at Portland International Raceway (PIR).
Saturday was a rainy affair with the weather, which not only brought out the rain tires, but also saw a large contingency of riders hitting the asphalt in the tricky conditions. Luckily, the weather improved on Sunday, with cold but dry conditions throughout the day.
On the big bikes, it was a battle between last year’s champion, Andy DiBrino, and the Pacific Northwest’s fastest teacher, Kevin Pinkstaff, with DiBrino able to take the victory each time. Kevin’s brother Brian rounds out the Top 3 for the OMRRA Title Championship standings.
In the lower classes, the races were just as hard-fought, but it was Dustin Walbon who stood above the rest of the field. The Washington “superman” made his mark with a strong weekend of results, and leads the OMRRA Clubman Championship with 98 points in total.
Only a handful of our vintage riders braved the blustery conditions, but those who did were rewarded with some precious championship points, which could be a factor as the season continues onward. As such, our favorite Dane, Theis Corneliussen, leads the OMRRA Vintage Championship Standings, though the top three vintage riders are separated by only four points.
OMRRA racers return to the track on May 8th, to The Ridge Motorsports Park, with a co-hosted round the Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association (WMRRA).
Geneva Financial Overall Championship Standings – Round 1 of 6
1. Kevin Pinkstaff – 47 pts 2. Andy DiBrino – 40 pts 3. Brian Pinkstaff – 30 pts 4. Chris Sarbora – 28 pts 5. Kevin LaFavor – 32 pts
MotoCorsa Clubman Championship Standings – Round 1 of 6
Langlitz Leathers Vintage Championship Standings – Round 1 of 6
1. Theis Corneliussen – 8 pts 1. Ryan Shanahan – 6 pts 3. Alex Clarke – 4 pts
OMRRA, incorporated in 1972 as a non-profit, volunteer run organization, has members ranging in age from 12 to over 70, racing motorcycles of many brands, sizes and ages. OMRRA operates at Portland International Raceway, a city park and world class track. For more information, visit www.omrra.com and join us at www.facebook.com/omrra.racing.
Autumn Coffee Roasting 600 Supersport
Dustin Walbon (Kaw ZX-6R)
AJ Peaslee (Yam YZF-R6)
Josh McKay (Yam YZF-R6)
Harry Brehm (Kaw ZX-6R)
Mallory Dobbs (Kaw ZX-6R)
Chris Burgess (Yam YZF-R6)
Bob Lanphere’s Beaverton Motorcycles Novice 1000
Seth Isaacs (BMW S1000RR)
Kevin O’Brien (Hon CBR1000RR)
Maggie Browne (Suz GSX-R750)
Joshua Gonzalez (Yam YZF-R1)
Novice 600
Phillip Hranicka (Yam YZF-R6)
Logan Oster (Yam YZF-R6)
Ben Rockwood (Kaw ZX-6R)
Racer Gloves USA Ultra-Lightweight GP
Chase Farthing (Yam YZF-R3)
Alex Clarke (Kaw Ninja 300)
Justin Carr (Yam YZF-R3)
Anthony Giglio (Kaw Ninja 300)
Clifford Griffin (Kaw Ninja 300)
Colin James (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Trackside Support Services Lightweight Superbike
Adam Faussett (-)
Todd Eugene (Kaw Ninja 400)
Cycletune 450 Superbike
Dustin Walbon (Kaw ZX-6R)
Drat Diestler (Kra Evo2 R)
Nathan Aldrich (Yam YZF-R6)
Austen Brown (Suz SV650)
Jon Campbell (Suz SV650)
Darin Wade (Yam YZF-R6)
SFRC 160 Vintage
Ryan Shanahan (Hon CB175)
Alex Clarke (Hon CB160)
Lawrence Farm 250 Ninja Cup
Darrin Griffin (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Pete Markey (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Loren DeShon (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Jolene Janacek (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Colin James (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Kumpy Kump (Kaw Ninja 250R)
2 Wheel Dyno Works Formula Ultra
Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R)
Chris Sarbora (BMW S1000RR)
Brian Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R)
Kevin LaFavor (Yam YZF-R1)
Keith DiBrino (Suz GSX-R1000)
Brap Talk Middleweight Supersport
Jon Campbell (Suz SV650)
Austen Brown (Suz SV650)
Danny Houghton (Suz SV650)
Joe Rocha (Suz SV650)
Daniel Silvis (Suz SV650)
Kramer Middleweight Superbike
Nathan Aldrich (Yam YZF-R6)
Drat Diestler (Kra Evo2 R)
Darin Wade (Yam YZF-R6)
Alex Taylor (Yam YZF-R4.5)
Hannah Johnson (Kra HKR EVO2 R)
Seth Richardson (Yam FZR400)
EDR Performance Open Sportsman
Seth Isaacs (BMW S1000RR)
Kevin O’Brien (Hon CBR1000RR)
Gore Electric Company 600 Sportsman
Phillip Hranicka (Yam YZF-R6)
Gavin Soderholm (-)
Ben Rockwood (Kaw ZX-6R)
Shane Baker (Suz GSX-R600)
Jolene Janacek (-)
Lawrence Farm 250 Ninja Cup
Darrin Griffin (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Pete Markey (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Kumpy Kump (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Colin James (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Loren DeShon (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Jolene Janacek (Kaw Ninja 250R)
SFRC 160 Vintage
Ryan Shanahan (Hon CB175)
Ever True Tattoo Middleweight GP
Nathan Aldrich (Yam YZF-R6)
Darin Wade (Yam YZF-R6)
Hannah Johnson (Kra HKR EVO2 R)
Jon Campbell (Suz SV650)
Joe Rocha (Suz SV650)
Drat Diestler (Kra Evo2 R)
Hot & Hazardous Performance Ultra Lightweight Supersport
Chase Farthing (Yam YZF-R3)
Dave Pearce (Yam YZF-R3)
Justin Carr (Yam YZF-R3)
Alex Clarke (Kaw Ninja 300)
Anthony Giglio (Kaw Ninja 300)
Colin James (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Lightweight Supersport
Adam Faussett (-)
Todd Eugene (Kaw Ninja 400)
Kumpy Kump (Kaw Ninja 250R)
KP12 Graphix 600 Superbike
Josh McKay (Yam YZF-R6)
Micah Kudo (YamYZF-R6 )
Dustin Walbon (Kaw ZX-6R)
AJ Peaslee (Yam YZF-R6)
Mallory Dobbs (Kaw ZX-6R)
Chris Burgess (Yam YZF-R6)
See See Motor Coffee Open Supersport
Andy DiBrino (Kaw ZX-10R)
Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R)
Brian Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX10-R)
Kevin LaFavor (Yam YZF-R1)
Gore Electric Company 600 Sportsman
Gavin Soderholm (-)
Matt Snipes (Duc 848 EVO)
Phillip Hranicka (Yam YZF-R6)
Shane Baker (Suz GSX-R600)
Joshua Clarizio (Yam YZF-R6)
Jolene Janacek (-)
Asphalt & Rubber Middleweight Sportsman
Darin Wade (Yam YZF-R6)
Danny Houghton (Suz SV650)
Austen Brown (Suz SV650)
Daniel Silvis (Suz SV650)
Damon Schaefer (Suz SV650)
Brad Pinkstaff (Suz SV650)
750 Vintage
Theis Corneliussen (Yam RZ350)
EDR Performance Open Sportsman
Kevin O’Brien (Hon CBR1000RR)
Seth Isaacs (BMW S1000RR)
Maggie Browne (Suz GSX-R750)
Hot & Hazardous Performance Ultra Lightweight Supersport
Mikey Lou Sanchez, a 10-year-old American, started his Cuna de Campeones Moto 5 Championship campaign April 24-25 at the Estoril Circuit, in Portugal.
The young Texan qualified 9th out of 24 riders.
In Race 1, Sanchez placed 7th, finishing in a pack of five riders battling for fourth about seven seconds behind the winner.
Sanchez got a great start in Race 2 and was able to run in the front pack throughout the race. With two laps to go, Sanchez led going into Turn One. On the last lap, there were many passes, and Sanchez tangled with another rider and they both went down fighting for the front.
Unfortunately, Sanchez sustained a bone fracture in his left foot, but luckily it’s very small and he should be ready to ride in the next race in two weeks at Valencia.
Mikey Lou Sanchez on the grid at Estoril with father Michael Sanchez (right) and mother Trinity Richardson (left). Photo courtesy Sanchez Racing.
“We are very thankful for the people who believe in Mikey, and we are 100% committed,” said Sanchez’s father Michael Sanchez. “We’ve been in Spain for one week and Mikey is having a blast!”
“I was really hoping to finish in the top three,” said Mikey Sanchez. “I’m really proud of myself for not giving up and trying my best. Hopefully, we can improve at Valencia!”
Sanchez Racing would like to thank its sponsors for helping Mikey Lou chase his dream: Shawn Knoche, Williams Custom Painting, Corsa Werks, Fondu, Arai Americas, Texas Motorcycle Academy, Moto Liberty, Day One Welding, AGV SPORT America.
Featured In the April 2021 issue of Roadracing World:
Honda announced its withdrawal from 50cc and 125cc Grand Prix road racing at the end of the 1966 season, and announced its complete retirement at the end of the 1967 racing season; Yamaha followed suit a year later.
Factory riders had tough decisions to make with regards to what they would ride in 1969. The governing body, FIM, had also changed the rules, restricting the smaller classes to two cylinders and six gears from 1970 onwards. This change helped Yamaha with its for-sale series of TD and TR racebikes. So, for 1969, multi-time World Champion Phil Read raced a TD2 (250cc) and a TR2 (350cc) mostly in England and at non-championship European meetings as a privateer…
—Historic Racebike Illustrations: 1971 Cheney Yamaha TD2B, by Mick Ofield
For 1971, Eric Cheney of Cheney motocross frames was persuaded to build a road racing frame that was more than five pounds lighter than a TD2B frame, but allowed the use of a stock TD2B tank, seat, exhaust and fairing. Read the background on the first private racebike to win the 250cc Grand Prix World Championship title—it’s all in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
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O’Halloran heads the pack at Silverstone on opening day of official testing action
Jason O’Halloran set the initial benchmark on the opening day of Bennetts British Superbike Championship testing at Silverstone today (Wednesday) as the McAMS Yamaha rider topped all four sessions, edging out title rival and reigning champion Josh Brookes by 0.358s on the combined times.
The Australian’s best time came in the second session of the day before lunch, with the McAMS Yamaha contender continuing to build momentum in the team’s first test of the season.
Brookes meanwhile was consistently close and the defending champion set his best lap of the day in the third session, which put him 0.074s clear of his teammate Christian Iddon as the VisionTrack Ducati pairing locked out the final top three positions.
Kyle Ryde was the leading BMW rider onboard the all-new M 1000 RR, the Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW rider was fourth fastest on the combined timings, setting the second fastest time in the final session of the day as he pushed for a final run before the chequered flag.
Xavi Forés marked his return to Bennetts BSB action with the all-new FHO Racing BMW team by holding fourth place in the final session of the day, putting him in fifth place on the combined times as the Spaniard saved his best until last ahead of day two tomorrow.
The overall combined times featured five different manufacturers in the top seven and Buildbase Suzuki’s Danny Kent bounced back from an earlier crash to lead their charge in sixth place with Honda Racing’s Glenn Irwin in seventh place overall.
Tommy Bridewell and Oxford Products Racing Ducati set their best time in the final session of the day, putting him into eighth place and just ahead of Gino Rea on the second of the Buildbase Suzukis with Tarran Mackenzie in tenth place, ending the day early following a crash in the final session.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Official Test, Silverstone, Day 1 combined times:
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 53.469 seconds
Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati) +0.358s
Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati) +0.432s
Kyle Ryde (RICH Energy OMG Racing BMW) +0.437s
Xavi Forés (FHO Racing BMW) +0.453s
Danny Kent (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.560s
Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing) +0.562s
Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +0.650s
Gino Rea (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.679s
Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) +0.694s
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Jason O’Halloran, McAMS Yamaha
“To be honest it was great to get back out on the bike. The first session was a little bit patchy, so we just did some laps to get the feeling back. The second session was really good for us. It was pretty much an identical bike to the one I rode here last year.
“In the lunchbreak, the boys changed the engine and we tried the 2021 spec, which we tried this afternoon for the last two sessions. Although we ended up at the top, this slowed us down a bit – when you put a new spec in you have to work through things like fuelling and throttle cables, so we’ve just been doing laps this afternoon to get things to my liking.
“Compared with how I felt on the previous bike, the changes we’ve made have been really positive and I feel comfortable, we’ve just got to tweak it to make it my own again. We’ll do that tomorrow and also some chassis stuff, so we can look forward to that tomorrow.”
Scott Powersports is excited to announce that with the support of KTM North America, Tyler Scott will race aboard the KTM RC 390 R in his first MotoAmerica SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup season in 2021.
“KTM is thrilled to have Tyler and Scott Powersports flying the orange flag this year in MotoAmerica,” Chris Fillmore, Racing Manager at KTM said. “Since his run in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, we have kept our eyes on this young gun and we’re looking forward to seeing him line up aboard the KTM RC 390 R against the best young talent in the nation.”
While the 15-year-old Scott is making his MotoAmerica debut, he is no stranger to road racing. He spent the past 2 seasons primarily in Europe where he competed in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and then the European Talent Cup in Spain.
“Racing both the Rookie and Talent Cups was an awesome experience for sure,” Tyler said. “But I grew up racing minis with a lot of my friends who have been racing in MotoAmerica, and I can’t wait to battle with them again on home soil.”
Further, he’s no stranger to the KTM brand, having raced them successfully in Flat Track for several years with great success (winning several AMA Flat Track Grand National Championships and Youth Rider of the Year), while also dominantly showcasing the KTM 790 Duke in the CCS Road Racing Series when schedules permit.
A mutual friend and former MotoAmerica team owner Bob Robbins ignited the idea and set the various wheels in motion.
“We were sort of in a funk about what to do this season” Mike Scott, owner of Scott Powersports, said. “But when Bob mentioned this possibility and helped us connect the dots, it just got more and more exciting.”
Scott Powersports in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania has been a KTM dealer for 20 years.
“We know and love the brand already, so we’re incredibly grateful for this opportunity,” Mike added.
The MotoAmerica season kicks off at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia on April 30th – May 2nd.
It’s Go Time: MotoAmerica Kicks Off Its HONOS Superbike Season In Georgia
The 2021 HONOS Superbike Series Promises Change And It All Begins At Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta This Weekend
IRVINE, CA (April 28, 2021) – Twenty-six HONOS Superbike riders will take to the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta track this weekend for the opening round of the 2021 MotoAmerica Series, and all of them will do so from the same perspective: zero pole positions, zero wins, zero championship points. In other words, a new beginning.
More than anything, 2021 promises change because change in this case is a certainty. What we’ve grown to believe is the norm is gone. Like death and taxes, the one thing everyone could count on in the MotoAmerica Series since its inception in 2015 has been the fact that Cameron Beaubier and Toni Elias would win the most races and challenge for the title. After all, the two combined to win 72 percent of the 116 races run since MotoAmerica took over the AMA Superbike Series in 2015. And those two also won 100 percent of the Superbike Championships with Beaubier taking five titles and Elias one.
But that was then, and this is now.
Beaubier will be in Spain this weekend, racing in round four of the Moto2 World Championship, and Elias will be at home in Southern California, the Spaniard still without a ride for the 2021 season. What’s left in their wake is a hungry horde of wannabe champions licking their lips as the season gets ready to start on Friday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Without exaggeration, this is anybody’s title to win. Without Beaubier and his 54 AMA Superbike wins and Elias with his 32 victories in the class, the next active rider with the most wins is Josh Herrin. With eight. Four of those came pre-MotoAmerica and the other four came during the MotoAmerica era. Based on experience and win record, Herrin is a good place to start when talking about the season opener at Road Atlanta. Let’s also remember that he’s the only rider in the series that has earned a Superbike title even if it was way back in 2013.
Herrin comes into the 2021 season after a year on the Scheibe Racing BMW and he realizes this is his best shot yet of winning a second Superbike Championship. Herrin rejoins forces with Richard Stanboli and the Attack Performance team, and he will be armed with the same YZF-R1 and technical support that dominated the series last year with 16 victories in the hands of Beaubier. No pressure, though.
Herrin will be joined on the championship-winning team by Jake Gagne, the runner-up in last year’s title chase. Gagne has yet to win an AMA Superbike race, but he finished second eight times last year – including twice at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Gagne had a total of 11 podium finishes and ended the year 48 points clear of third place in the standings. The Californian, who now calls Colorado home, was consistently fast at the Dunlop Preseason Test at the Circuit of The Americas a month ago and is full of confidence. He’s also really happy with his new crew chief, former racer and Öhlins technician Jon Cornwell.
The M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team is led by Bobby Fong, one of just three riders who won Superbike races last year (Beaubier, Fong and Italian Lorenzo Zanetti). And he won three of them, which makes him the second-winningest active HONOS Superbike racer in the field behind Herrin. Fong ended the preseason test with the fastest lap, so he arrives in Georgia with a bit of a giddy-up in his step. He also has withstood the pressure that comes with fighting for a title as he won the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship in 2019 for the M4 team.
Fong is joined on the team’s Suzuki GSX-R1000s by 2020 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Cameron Petersen, the South African moves from the Stock 1000-spec Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000 to the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike and that should be a fairly easy transition. In addition to winning the Stock 1000 crown, Petersen also walked away with the Superbike Cup check of $25,000 for his efforts in the Superbike class. Petersen showed up at the COTA test with a limp that slowed him, but he was still fast, and he’s expected to be healthy for the opener.
The other rider in the HONOS Superbike class to have won an AMA Superbike race is Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz, who has won two of them. One of those came on a wet Circuit of The Americas track (on a Superstock 1000 Yamaha) in 2017 and the other in the rain at Barber Motorsports Park in 2018. Scholtz will be one of the main protagonists in the chase for this year’s MotoAmerica Superbike crown and he’s hellbent on showing people that he can win on a dry surface as well as a wet one.
Then there’s Loris Baz. Fast and French, Baz will be armed with a “factory” Ducati under the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York banner, and he’s hot off a solid season of World Superbike racing where he ended the year eighth in the championship. Baz didn’t come here to finish second, and it will be interesting to see how quickly he adapts to life in the MotoAmerica paddock, the Dunlop tires and the American racetracks. Very few expect him to struggle, and he’s shown already how committed he is by partaking in three track days to learn tracks (VIR, Pitt Race and New Jersey Motorsports Park) that are new to him.
If there is a level just below the six already talked about, then it’s just a tiny little bit to Kyle Wyman Racing’s Kyle Wyman. After all, the team owner/rider landed on the podium twice in the second of two rounds held at Road America last season, and he ended the year ranked seventh – and just two points behind Herrin, who was sixth in the title chase. Wyman runs a first-class team, brings unique sponsors to the paddock, and knows how to ride a motorcycle. His 2020 season featured some highs and some lows, and he will be shooting for more of the former and less of the latter in 2021.
Steve Scheibe went to the 11th hour before finding a rider for his Scheibe Racing BMW S 1000 RR, and that rider is Héctor Barberá, a Spaniard with gobs of racing experience in different classes all over the world, including MotoGP. Barbera, like Baz, will have circuits and life in the U.S. to adapt to.
David Anthony is another team owner/racer in the HONOS Superbike class. Anthony will be joined on his FLY Racing ADR Motorsports team by Jayson Uribe, with the Northern Californian set for his first full season of Superbike racing. Both men will be armed with Suzuki GSX-R1000s.
Max Flinders will again be ready to go for the season opener with his signature yellow Thrashed Bike Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. Flinders ended last year’s championship in 13th and will be giving his best to improve upon that in 2021.
The list of those hoping to take home the $25,000 in the Superbike Cup on their Stock 1000-spec motorcycles is long and talented. With Petersen moving to the HONOS Superbike class, last year’s winner won’t be there to defend, making it a wide-open affair.
Among the favorites are last year’s runner-up Corey Alexander on the HONOS HVMC Racing Kawasaki ZX-10RR, Petersen’s replacement on the Altus Motorsports Suzuki, Jake Lewis, Travis Wyman Racing’s Travis Wyman, Jones Honda’s Ashton Yates (on the all-new Honda CBR1000RR-R SP, Michael Gilbert Racing’s Michael Gilbert, M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Wyatt Farris and Tecfil Racing Team’s Danilo Lewis.
Road Atlanta Superbike Notes…
With COVID-19 wreaking havoc on sporting event schedules worldwide in 2020, the MotoAmerica round at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta was moved from April to August last year. This year, the event returns as the series opener.
With the two winningest riders – Cameron Beaubier and Toni Elias – not racing in MotoAmerica in 2021, the current rider with the most victories is Josh Herrin. Herrin is tied for 22nd on the all-time AMA Superbike win list with Wes Cooley and Tommy Hayden.
Riders from seven different countries have entered the HONOS Superbike race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with the U.S., Spain, South Africa, Great Britain, France, Brazil and Australia all represented.
While American racers have, by far, won the most AMA Superbike races, it’s Australia that has the second most wins in the history of the Superbike class in the U.S. Australia has 96 AMA Superbike wins, led by Mat Mladin’s 82 class victories. Anthony Gobert won 11 times and Troy Corser captured three wins. Canada is third on the list with 35 wins, led by Miguel Duhamel’s 32 victories and supported by Pascal Picotte’s three wins. The other countries with AMA Superbike wins to its credit are as follows: Spain, Columbia, Italy, New Zealand and England.
Watch this: If Loris Baz wins a HONOS Superbike race this season, he will become the first French rider to win an AMA Superbike race.
The good old days? The very first AMA Superbike race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta was held in 1980, and it was won by four-time 500cc World Champion Eddie Lawson. The first-ever AMA National motorcycle race at Road Atlanta was held in 1971 and was won by Kel Carruthers. Coincidentally, Carruthers was Lawson’s crew chief for three of his four World Championships.
Cameron Beaubier earned the pole position at Road Atlanta in 2020 with his lap of 1:24.244 set during Superpole. Beaubier’s best was .795 of a second faster than Mathew Scholtz, with Toni Elias completing the front row with a 1:25.364.
Beaubier actually went faster in race one than he did during Superpole, setting the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta race Superbike lap record with a 1:24.085 en route to victory. The outright Superbike lap record on the 2.54-mile Road Atlanta race course is held by Garrett Gerloff with his 1:23.844 set in Superpole in 2019.
MotoAmerica has removed the Superpole session from its schedule for 2021 as demand for track time is at an all-time high. Thus, pole will come from the best time set during the qualifying sessions. The fastest laps, however, will most likely come during the final session on Saturday morning as that’s when the soft Dunlop Q tires will be available.
Beaubier won both HONOS Superbike races here last year, besting his then-teammate Jake Gagne in both. Mathew Scholtz was third in both races in 2020.
On-track action gets started on Friday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with practice and qualifying starting at 8:30 a.m. and running through to the last practice session at 4:40 p.m. The first race of the weekend will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. with Stock 1000 Race 1, followed in rapid succession by Supersport Race 1 (2 p.m.), HONOS Superbike Race 1 (3 p.m.), Twins Cup Race 1 (4 p.m.) and SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race 1 (4:45 p.m.)
On Sunday, racing begins at noon with Stock 1000 Race 2, Mission King Of The Baggers (12:30 p.m.), Supersport Race 2 (1 p.m.), SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race 2 (2 p.m.), HONOS Superbike Race 2 (3 p.m.) and Twins Cup Race 2 (4 p.m.).
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com. Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:
Westby Racing Is Heading Into Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta With All Eyes On The Prize
Mathew Scholtz (11). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Tulsa, OK – April 28, 2021 – The opening round of the 2021 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship starts this Friday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. Riders Mathew Scholtz and Jack Roach, along with the entire Westby Racing team, will be set up and ready to race with a new team transporter serving as their home base, and it promises to be a fan-favorite destination in the MotoAmerica paddock all season long.
Not only is the truck new, but there is also a new spirit of anticipation within the team as rider Mathew Scholtz embarks on what could potentially be a Superbike Championship season for the 2017 Superstock 1000 title winner. Mathew, who is from South Africa, but now makes his home in Georgia, has been with the same team, Westby Racing, for longer than virtually any other rider in the MotoAmerica paddock. He’s also raced the Yamaha YZF-R1 longer than any other rider in the Superbike field. That experience and familiarity will serve Mathew and the team well in what many predict will be MotoAmerica’s most exciting Superbike Championship season yet. And it all begins this weekend at Mathew’s home track, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
“It’s so great to be getting the season under way at Road Atlanta,” Mathew said. “Even though we don’t do too much testing there, it’s still a home track for me because it’s only, like, an hour’s drive. I have friend’s coming over who are supporting me. I’ve got neighbors coming. It really is special. But, most of all, just to kick off the 2021 season at a track that’s really strong for me, I’m really looking forward to it.
“You know, coming back from a terrible injury last year, I’ve been really itching to hop on the bike and race against the other MotoAmerica Superbike riders. I know that this year is going to be extremely hard, and it’s really difficult to pick out who you think is going to be the favorite to win, but I’m really thinking that, after looking at last year, we should be one of the main guys up there battling, but we’re just going to focus on ourselves on Friday, and we’ll take the races as they come on Saturday and Sunday, and just kind of work from there.
“The Westby team has been working hard all off-season. They’ve improved the bike, and I’ve definitely improved myself. So, I am looking forward to putting the whole package together, getting out there, and showing what we’re made of. I’d like to give a big shout-out to Tryg Westby, who obviously is the main man behind the team, and who gives us all the opportunity to showcase our talents. Me, Chuck, Ed, Herschel, Olly, Dustin, Johnny, everyone who’s part of the Westby team, and makes this all possible. Let’s go racing. Let’s get it under way. I hope to see all the fans there.”
Superbike final qualifying is on Saturday morning at 10:20 a.m. ET, Superbike race one will go green on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET, and Superbike Race 2 is on Sunday afternoon also at 3 p.m. ET. Both races will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 2 (FS2), as well as streamed on MotoAmerica Live+.
JR12 Racing/Westby Racing Junior Cup rider Jack Roach will be making his debut aboard the black-and-gold #12 Yamaha YZF-R3 this weekend, and the 17-year-old is looking forward to railing around Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta’s 12-turn, 2.54-mile, undulating, natural road course.
Jack commented, “I’ve had some sleepless nights thinking about jumping on the Westby Racing R3 in full race trim, but I’ve been training harder than I’ve ever trained before, and I am 100% confident that I’m the fittest kid on that Junior Cup grid. And, with the package that Westby Racing has given me, I believe that we have a lot of potential at Atlanta. JR12/Westby Racing will be in full effect this weekend!”
Junior Cup race one starts on Saturday at 4:45 p.m. ET, and Junior Cup race two is on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. Both races will be broadcast via tape-delay on FOX Sports 2 (FS2) this Tuesday, May 4, beginning at 9 p.m. ET. In addition, both Junior Cup races will be streamed on MotoAmerica Live+.
Pick Up Some FREE Westby Racing Collectibles
Westby Racing has produced some great collectibles featuring Mathew and Jack, and they’ll be available at the team transporter throughout the weekend, so swing by and pick one up while maintaining proper social distancing.
For more updates about Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit https://www.WestbyRacing.com
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia USA:
APRILIA RS 660 ARRIVES FOR MOTOAMERICA
WITH APRILIA JOINING THE PADDOCK, THE GROWING TWINS CUP GRID RECEIVES 10 RIDERS ABOARD THE NEWLY HOMOLOGATED RS 660
MINIMAL MODIFICATIONS WITH APRILIA’S POTENT ENGINE AND CAPABLE CHASSIS MAKE THE RS 660 RACE READY FOR ROAD ATLANTA OPENER
APRILIA EXPANDS GLOBAL FOOTPRINT IN MOTORSPORT COMPETITION
A Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660 MotoAmerica Twins Cup racebike. Photo courtesy Aprilia USA.
With the season opener of MotoAmerica beginning in Road Atlanta April 30, Aprilia, with the recently homologated RS 660, will arrive to the series with over 10 riders registered across the national Twins Cup championship to compete. The middleweight twin-cylinder class with 4-stroke models ranging 600-800cc, continues to be one of the most exciting series, attracting a growing grid of riders across manufacturers.
“With over 28 riders entered for this weekend’s Twins Cup race, it’s exciting to see that the new Aprilia 660 will take to the track with 8 competitors for the new machines’ debut in MotoAmerica,” explains Chuck Aksland, Partner in MotoAmerica, “We’ve followed the progress of the 660 since it was announced and our staff worked hand in hand with Aprilia to ensure that it could compete this season. Not many people have seen the bike on-track and the anticipation certainly brings another level of excitement to the weekend. We truly welcome Aprilia into our paddock and look forward to working with them for seasons to come.”
“We are pleased to see the excitement around this new model, and interest to be a part of Aprilia’s history on the track,” says Mario Di Maria, President and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, “The RS 660 is a new chapter for Aprilia and our racing history, which we are eager to follow and support as it competes in the US.”
Aprilia Racing is the most advanced technological expression of the Piaggio Group. With 294 Grand Prix races won in Road Racing World Championship, Aprilia holds the record for the most wins of any European manufacturer in the history of maximum motorcycle competition. These are joined by an impressive 54 world titles: 38 in Road Racing World Championship (20 in 125 and 18 in 250), 7 in Superbike (Rider and Manufacturer double win in 2010, 2012 and 2014, manufacturers in 2013) and 9 in Off Road disciplines (7 in Supermoto and 2 in Trial).
From its inception, Aprilia Racing has represented an extraordinary forge for new talent. Astride the bikes from Noale, almost all the riders who have made history in motorcycle racing in recent decades have made their début, raced and won. These include Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi, Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner, as well as Manuel Poggiali, Marco Simoncelli, Alvaro Bautista.
The twin-cylinder 659cc creates a new and exciting opportunity for riders to compete on an Aprilia, consistently praised for its chassis and engine capabilities over its history.
Among the teams competing in MotoAmerica is Robem Engineering, which has competed in the Twins Cup championship since 2018, is one example of teams which has made the switch to Aprilia RS 660’s for this year. With riders Kaleb DeKeyrel (23 years old, finished 2nd in Twins Cup 2020), Hayden Schultz (23 years old, finished 3rd in Twins Cup 2020), and Toby Khamsouk (18 years old, finished 5th in Twins Cup 2020), riding for Robem, Team Owner, Matthew Spicer explains their decision, “When we saw Aprilia launch their new middleweight, I knew there could be some unique opportunities with the machine, which already makes good power. Knowing the history of the brand, we were happy to confirm expectations of a promising chassis and general geometry. It’s a gamble to switch to a bike that has not yet been raced competitively, but we’re optimistic the RS 660 will quickly evolve to be a top challenger in the championship.”
Internationally, Aprilia Racing has launched a spec-race series in Italy, aimed to grow young riders into champions, called the Aprilia RS 660 Trofeo. As a spec machine with racing in mind, the model has been optimized to deliver 105hp, and trim away weight to 337 pounds with bodywork, forged wheels and race-derived components. The series will begin in May at the Misano circuit and will have a field of riders starting from 15 years old. Similar to that of the MotoAmerica Twins cup, the class is attractive to younger riders, and budget conscious race teams.
Stezzano (BG), Italy, April 28, 2021 – With this transaction, the Group expands its brand family and completes the range of solutions for motorbike braking systems.
Brembo has signed an agreement for the acquisition of a 100 percent stake in the J.Juan Group, a Spanish company specializing in the development and production of motorbike braking systems.
Founded in 1965, J.Juan is based in Gavà (Barcelona) and has three plants in Spain and one in China, manufacturing especially brake hoses, and a strategic safety component for braking systems that will complement the current range of Brembo products for motorbikes.
With this transaction, Brembo forges ahead with its path to become a trusted solution provider. The acquisition of J.Juan will enable the Group to complete its range of solutions for the motorbike braking system and to expand its brand family for the growing motorbike sector.
“We are proud to welcome J.Juan in the Brembo Group,” stated Alberto Bombassei, Chairman of Brembo. “This transaction is in line with our global strategy and follows the recent acquisition of SBS Friction in Denmark. We continue to invest with the aim of strengthening our motorbike core business. The addition of J.Juan is a great opportunity for us, as it reinforces our positioning as a company increasingly oriented to offering comprehensive, integrated and high-quality solutions to our customers.”
“We are glad to join the Brembo Group,” stated José Luis Juan, CEO of J.Juan. “The transaction will allow us to become part of a strong company with a solid global footprint that will support J.Juan’s development for the professional growth of all our employees and the benefit of customers.”
Under the agreement, the consideration for the transaction is currently estimated at €70 million, to be paid using available cash. The final price will be subject to the usual adjustment mechanisms envisaged for similar transactions. The enterprise value is €73 million.
The acquisition is subject to the approval of the Antitrust authorities, following which the closing is expected to occur in the second half of 2021.
About Brembo SpA
About Brembo SpA Brembo SpA is the world leader and acknowledged innovator of brake technology for automotive vehicles. Brembo supplies high performance brake systems for the most important manufacturers of cars, commercial vehicles and motorbikes worldwide, as well as clutches and other components for racing. Brembo is also a leader in the racing sector and has won more than 500 championships. Today the company operates in 15 countries on 3 continents, with 26 production and business sites, and a pool of over 11,000 employees, about 10% of whom are engineers and product specialists active in the R&D. 2020 turnover is € 2,208.6 million (12.31.2020). Brembo is the owner of the Brembo, Breco, AP, Bybre, Marchesini and SBS Friction brands and operates through the AP Racing brand.
About J.Juan
J.Juan is a family-owned multinational Group headquartered in Gavà (Barcelona, Spain) and it’s a world leader in the design and manufacturing of metallic braided brake hoses. J.Juan is also active in the manufacturing of components of brake systems for motorbike, specifically in the trial segment. The Group consists of four companies, three in Spain and one in China. It operates with two plants in Gavà, one in San Cugat (Barcelona) and one in Jiaxing, in Zhejiang Province (China). Revenues amounted to about €60 million in 2020, with EBITDA of approximately 17%. The Group has a workforce of about 580 people.
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer and Racing Legend Dick Mann Passes
Mann, a two-time AMA Grand National Champion, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Dick “Bugsy” Mann, one of the most versatile racers to ever throw a leg over a motorcycle, passed away on April 26 at the age of 86.
Mr. Mann, born June 13, 1934 in Salt Lake City, Utah, was a two-time AMA Grand National Champion (1963 and 1971), and became best known for being the first person to achieve a motorcycle racing Grand Slam, which involved winning across all five types of circuits included in the Grand National Championship: road racing, TT, short track, half-mile and mile. When he retired from racing in 1974, Mann had 24 national victories, which — at the time — placed him second in all-time wins within the AMA Grand National Series.
While Mann got his racing start in scrambles, he soon got hooked on turning left on dirt ovals, and after some time learning his trade, headed to the professional racing circuit in 1954, turning expert in 1955. He achieved his first national win at the Peoria TT in 1959, quickly establishing himself as an elite racer in the series.
Mann also helped pioneer the sport of motocross in the U.S., competing in several of the early AMA professional motocross races in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Dick Mann (right). Photo courtesy AMA.
Perhaps Mann’s most fulfilling national win was his victory in the 1970 Daytona 200 aboard the then-new Honda CB750. He’d been racing the Daytona 200 for 15 years and finished second three times, and in 1970 finally got to the top step of the podium, holding off rising stars and future Hall of Famers Gary Nixon and Gene Romero, as well as former world champion and Hall of Famer Mike Hailwood. That win wasn’t just Mann’s first victory at the 200, but the first time a Honda had won an AMA national.
Despite retiring from professional racing in 1974, Mann returned to his trail-riding roots in 1975, qualifying for the United States International Six Days Trial team, competed for the U.S. on the Isle of Man, and brought home a bronze medal.
Beyond being a legendary racer, Mann’s mentorship of the next generation of American racers and future Hall of Famers like Dave Aldana, Mert Lawwill and Kenny Roberts, was just as important.
In 1995, Mr. Mann was presented with the AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the sport. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.
Look for more coverage of Mann’s legacy and career in future issues of American Motorcyclist.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: americanmotorcyclist.com.
More, from a press release issued by American Flat Track:
Honoring Motorcycle Racing Legend Dick Mann
Dick Mann (2). Photo courtesy AMA.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 28, 2021) – AMA Pro Racing joins the motorcycle community in mourning the loss of the great Dick Mann. Mann passed Monday at 86 years of age.
The winner of two Grand National Championships, Mann was touted as one of the greatest to ever compete in various motorcycle racing disciplines. Mann is best known for being the first person to ever win all five types of circuit included in the AMA Grand National Championship: short track, TT, half-mile, mile and road race.
Mann continued to contribute to the legacy of motorcycle racing by influencing some of the greatest names in flat track including Gene Romero, Gary Nixon, Mert Lawwill, Kenny Roberts and Dave Aldana.
Mann was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1993 and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.
Progressive American Flat Track will observe a moment of silence in Mann’s honor during its opening ceremonies at Saturday’s event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
How to Watch
NBCSN and TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold are the official homes for coverage of Progressive American Flat Track. For the 2021 season, NBCSN’s coverage of Progressive AFT remains in highly-coveted programming, the complete schedule for which can be viewed at http://www.americanflattrack.com/events-nbcsn/. TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold – the most-robust motorsports offering in the digital marketplace – is a cornerstone of Progressive AFT’s digital strategy, providing live streaming coverage of every event and maintaining an active archive of all AFT content.
About Progressive American Flat Track
Progressive American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram, live stream the events with TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold and catch all the Progressive American Flat Track racing action on NBCSN.
More, from a press release issued by American Honda:
Statement of Condolence on Passing of Dick Mann
Hall of Famer earned Honda’s first big motorcycle-race win in the U.S.
April 28, 2021 — TORRANCE, Calif.
Following Monday’s passing of Dick “Bugsy” Mann at the age of 86, American Honda today honored the versatile racer.
A true Renaissance man, Mann was noted for his adaptability as a rider, and for the longevity of his professional motorcycle-racing career, which included charter membership in the exclusive Grand Slam Club (for riders who earned Grand National wins in road racing, short track, TT, half-mile and mile competition), two AMA Grand National Championships and a bronze medal for Team USA in the 1975 International Six Days Trial. According to Racer X Illustrated, Mann even scored a win at the first AMA-sanctioned professional motocross race. Those successes came with a variety of brands, but the Utah native’s primary tie with Honda centered on a single race—the 1970 Daytona 200.
It was Honda’s first factory effort in the legendary endurance event, with a four-rider project aboard CR750 machinery (the racing version of the now-iconic CB750 four-cylinder, which had started production just a year earlier). Conversely, Mann (then 35) had a long and relatively successful history at the race, though victory had eluded him to that point.
After launching from the front row of an all-star starting grid, Mann eventually secured the lead, then preserved the bike in the race’s latter stages to score a 10-second win over Gene Romero, with Don Castro third. In the process, Mann ran a record average race speed of 102.697 mph. It was Honda’s first AMA National Championship race win, and it established the CB750 at the top of the performance hierarchy. (Over four decades later, Motorcyclist magazine would name it the Bike of the Century.) As such, the victory was significant not only for Honda, but for its American subsidiary.
“For a Japanese company with its first, completely unproven big bike, it was hard to top that,” Bob Hansen, then American Honda’s National Service Manager, is quoted as saying in Aaron P. Frank’s book Honda Motorcycles.
“Hansen prepared the machine, and I rode it as best I could, just as I was contracted to do. That was it,” said the humble Mann in the same book.
Mann, who would back up the Daytona 200 win the following year aboard a BSA, was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1993, and he is a charter member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
“Everyone at American Honda sends their heartfelt condolences to Dick Mann’s family, friends and fans,” said Bill Savino, Senior Manager of Customer Engagement at American Honda. “Dick tallied a number of accomplishments over the course of his long career, but he’ll always hold a special spot in our hearts for the role he played in proving that Honda motorcycles could perform with the very best.”
Toronto, ON – The Canadian National Superbike Championship, CSBK, has cancelled their 2021 event schedule for Atlantic Motorsport Park, near Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. The east coast National would have been the fourth event of the 2021 tour.
The races, sponsored by Pro Cycle of Dartmouth, N.S. and organized in conjunction with the local Society of the Atlantic Roadracing League, were planned for July 30, 31 and Sunday, August 1.
CSBK expect to replace this round during the summer of 2021, and a planned schedule update will be provided when details are available.
The National round at “Shubie” has been a popular part of the National tour for more than four decades and had a successful run of twenty-one consecutive years before the Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 race last spring.
Atlantic Motorsport Park is a unique race venue, built on rolling hills with 11 turns over the course of each 2.5 kilometer/1.65-mile-long lap. The undulating back straight is known as the “roller coaster.”
The CSBK tour plans to return to Shubenacadie’s scenic Atlantic Motorsport Park in the summer 2022.
“We’re very sorry that we couldn’t work out a way to ensure our east coast event,” explains CSBK boss Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsports Productions in Toronto, ON. “The Atlantic races are immensely popular with our competitors, as well as fans and television and video viewers.
“Unfortunately, with the worsening situation regarding the third wave of the pandemic, and the large number of competitors and crew from western provinces planning to travel, it became impossible to be sure of having all the key requirements safely in place. We appreciate all the effort that goes into staging this event, ironically even more effort than usual in a year when we ultimately had to postpone our National until 2022.”
Motorcycle and powersports dealer Pro Cycle has sponsored the eastern-most National events on-and-off since Pro opened in 1983 and have more recently provided the stability required to keep the CSBK events viable. Pro Cycle offer a wide range of service and accessories, and offer new Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and KTM equipment at their 27,000 square foot facility just up the hill from Ikea.
Atlantic Motorsport Park was constructed by an enthusiastic group of volunteers in 1974 and hosted a wide variety of events including Formula Atlantic and sports car auto racing. By far the most successful visiting event held at A.M.P. is the CSBK series, the tour tracing their origins all the way back to July 5, 1981.
That day, reigning Canadian National Superbike Champion George Morin of Mississauga, ON, took the rain-delayed main race win on his CAM2-Suzuki GS1000S. Morin earned the distinction of being the first-ever Canadian overall Superbike National Champion the previous year, in 1980, for Kawasaki.
The circuit’s outright motorcycle track lap record belongs to 2011 CSBK National Champ Brett McCormick of Saskatoon, SK. In 2009, riding for the Picotte-Blackfoot Suzuki team on a GSX-R1000, McCormick ran a lap during SuperPole qualifying at 1.06.031. The best recent race record lap was set by 14-time CSBK overall Champion Jordan Szoke of Lynden, ON, in 2018 on an Express Lane BMW S1000RR, at 1:07.812.
Loris Baz's Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Superbike. Photo courtesy Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York.
Hard Knocks Moto Coffee to Officially Fuel Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Team in 2021
The Moto-Centric Coffee Brand will Provide the Team with The Doses of Caffeine They Need.
Hard Knocks Moto Coffee (www.hardknocksmoto.com) will sponsor the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Team for the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike season by fueling the team’s coffee needs throughout each race event. Hard Knocks Moto Coffee will provide ongoing supplies of its moto-centric coffee roasts.
“Our Ducati Panigale V4R needs its fuel, and we need ours,” says team Principal Bobby Shek. “A big shout out to Allan Lane and his company Hard Knocks Moto Coffee for supplying the team with our must-have coffee needs through the 2021 MotoAmerica season”
“I’m proud and honored that Hard Knocks Moto Coffee will be taking care of the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Team’s caffeinated needs for the 2021 MotoAmerica season,” says Hard Knocks Moto Coffee owner Allan Lane. “Coffee and racing go hand in hand.”
Hard Knocks Moto Coffee offers many blends of Columbian and Arabic coffee with exciting names such as “Less Bitching More Riding”, “Hard to Kill” and “Life is Hard,” along with a lineup of apparel.
Piloting the Warhorse HSBK Ducati Panigale V4 R during the 9-round Superbike Series is the 28-year-old Frenchman Loris Baz, who spent three years in MotoGP (2015-2017) and six years in World Superbike (2012-2014; 2018-2020). During the 2020 WorldSBK season, Baz scored four podiums and finished the season eight overall, the second-best of independent riders. Throughout his WorldSBK career, he had achieved two wins, two poles, 18 podiums, and three fastest laps.
For ongoing race season updates, subscribe to HSBK Racing on:
Dustin Walbon (177R) won five races on his Kawasaki ZX-6R. Photo by Minh-Tri Le/NW Focal Point Photography, courtesy OMRRA.
OMRRA Series
Portland International Raceway, Portland
April 24-25, 2021
Motorcycle racing returns to Oregon, with the Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association (OMRRA) hosting its first round of the 2021 season at Portland International Raceway (PIR).
Saturday was a rainy affair with the weather, which not only brought out the rain tires, but also saw a large contingency of riders hitting the asphalt in the tricky conditions. Luckily, the weather improved on Sunday, with cold but dry conditions throughout the day.
On the big bikes, it was a battle between last year’s champion, Andy DiBrino, and the Pacific Northwest’s fastest teacher, Kevin Pinkstaff, with DiBrino able to take the victory each time. Kevin’s brother Brian rounds out the Top 3 for the OMRRA Title Championship standings.
In the lower classes, the races were just as hard-fought, but it was Dustin Walbon who stood above the rest of the field. The Washington “superman” made his mark with a strong weekend of results, and leads the OMRRA Clubman Championship with 98 points in total.
Only a handful of our vintage riders braved the blustery conditions, but those who did were rewarded with some precious championship points, which could be a factor as the season continues onward. As such, our favorite Dane, Theis Corneliussen, leads the OMRRA Vintage Championship Standings, though the top three vintage riders are separated by only four points.
OMRRA racers return to the track on May 8th, to The Ridge Motorsports Park, with a co-hosted round the Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association (WMRRA).
Geneva Financial Overall Championship Standings – Round 1 of 6
1. Kevin Pinkstaff – 47 pts 2. Andy DiBrino – 40 pts 3. Brian Pinkstaff – 30 pts 4. Chris Sarbora – 28 pts 5. Kevin LaFavor – 32 pts
MotoCorsa Clubman Championship Standings – Round 1 of 6
Langlitz Leathers Vintage Championship Standings – Round 1 of 6
1. Theis Corneliussen – 8 pts 1. Ryan Shanahan – 6 pts 3. Alex Clarke – 4 pts
OMRRA, incorporated in 1972 as a non-profit, volunteer run organization, has members ranging in age from 12 to over 70, racing motorcycles of many brands, sizes and ages. OMRRA operates at Portland International Raceway, a city park and world class track. For more information, visit www.omrra.com and join us at www.facebook.com/omrra.racing.
Autumn Coffee Roasting 600 Supersport
Dustin Walbon (Kaw ZX-6R)
AJ Peaslee (Yam YZF-R6)
Josh McKay (Yam YZF-R6)
Harry Brehm (Kaw ZX-6R)
Mallory Dobbs (Kaw ZX-6R)
Chris Burgess (Yam YZF-R6)
Bob Lanphere’s Beaverton Motorcycles Novice 1000
Seth Isaacs (BMW S1000RR)
Kevin O’Brien (Hon CBR1000RR)
Maggie Browne (Suz GSX-R750)
Joshua Gonzalez (Yam YZF-R1)
Novice 600
Phillip Hranicka (Yam YZF-R6)
Logan Oster (Yam YZF-R6)
Ben Rockwood (Kaw ZX-6R)
Racer Gloves USA Ultra-Lightweight GP
Chase Farthing (Yam YZF-R3)
Alex Clarke (Kaw Ninja 300)
Justin Carr (Yam YZF-R3)
Anthony Giglio (Kaw Ninja 300)
Clifford Griffin (Kaw Ninja 300)
Colin James (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Trackside Support Services Lightweight Superbike
Adam Faussett (-)
Todd Eugene (Kaw Ninja 400)
Cycletune 450 Superbike
Dustin Walbon (Kaw ZX-6R)
Drat Diestler (Kra Evo2 R)
Nathan Aldrich (Yam YZF-R6)
Austen Brown (Suz SV650)
Jon Campbell (Suz SV650)
Darin Wade (Yam YZF-R6)
SFRC 160 Vintage
Ryan Shanahan (Hon CB175)
Alex Clarke (Hon CB160)
Lawrence Farm 250 Ninja Cup
Darrin Griffin (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Pete Markey (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Loren DeShon (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Jolene Janacek (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Colin James (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Kumpy Kump (Kaw Ninja 250R)
2 Wheel Dyno Works Formula Ultra
Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R)
Chris Sarbora (BMW S1000RR)
Brian Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R)
Kevin LaFavor (Yam YZF-R1)
Keith DiBrino (Suz GSX-R1000)
Brap Talk Middleweight Supersport
Jon Campbell (Suz SV650)
Austen Brown (Suz SV650)
Danny Houghton (Suz SV650)
Joe Rocha (Suz SV650)
Daniel Silvis (Suz SV650)
Kramer Middleweight Superbike
Nathan Aldrich (Yam YZF-R6)
Drat Diestler (Kra Evo2 R)
Darin Wade (Yam YZF-R6)
Alex Taylor (Yam YZF-R4.5)
Hannah Johnson (Kra HKR EVO2 R)
Seth Richardson (Yam FZR400)
EDR Performance Open Sportsman
Seth Isaacs (BMW S1000RR)
Kevin O’Brien (Hon CBR1000RR)
Gore Electric Company 600 Sportsman
Phillip Hranicka (Yam YZF-R6)
Gavin Soderholm (-)
Ben Rockwood (Kaw ZX-6R)
Shane Baker (Suz GSX-R600)
Jolene Janacek (-)
Lawrence Farm 250 Ninja Cup
Darrin Griffin (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Pete Markey (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Kumpy Kump (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Colin James (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Loren DeShon (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Jolene Janacek (Kaw Ninja 250R)
SFRC 160 Vintage
Ryan Shanahan (Hon CB175)
Ever True Tattoo Middleweight GP
Nathan Aldrich (Yam YZF-R6)
Darin Wade (Yam YZF-R6)
Hannah Johnson (Kra HKR EVO2 R)
Jon Campbell (Suz SV650)
Joe Rocha (Suz SV650)
Drat Diestler (Kra Evo2 R)
Hot & Hazardous Performance Ultra Lightweight Supersport
Chase Farthing (Yam YZF-R3)
Dave Pearce (Yam YZF-R3)
Justin Carr (Yam YZF-R3)
Alex Clarke (Kaw Ninja 300)
Anthony Giglio (Kaw Ninja 300)
Colin James (Kaw Ninja 250R)
Lightweight Supersport
Adam Faussett (-)
Todd Eugene (Kaw Ninja 400)
Kumpy Kump (Kaw Ninja 250R)
KP12 Graphix 600 Superbike
Josh McKay (Yam YZF-R6)
Micah Kudo (YamYZF-R6 )
Dustin Walbon (Kaw ZX-6R)
AJ Peaslee (Yam YZF-R6)
Mallory Dobbs (Kaw ZX-6R)
Chris Burgess (Yam YZF-R6)
See See Motor Coffee Open Supersport
Andy DiBrino (Kaw ZX-10R)
Kevin Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX-10R)
Brian Pinkstaff (Kaw ZX10-R)
Kevin LaFavor (Yam YZF-R1)
Gore Electric Company 600 Sportsman
Gavin Soderholm (-)
Matt Snipes (Duc 848 EVO)
Phillip Hranicka (Yam YZF-R6)
Shane Baker (Suz GSX-R600)
Joshua Clarizio (Yam YZF-R6)
Jolene Janacek (-)
Asphalt & Rubber Middleweight Sportsman
Darin Wade (Yam YZF-R6)
Danny Houghton (Suz SV650)
Austen Brown (Suz SV650)
Daniel Silvis (Suz SV650)
Damon Schaefer (Suz SV650)
Brad Pinkstaff (Suz SV650)
750 Vintage
Theis Corneliussen (Yam RZ350)
EDR Performance Open Sportsman
Kevin O’Brien (Hon CBR1000RR)
Seth Isaacs (BMW S1000RR)
Maggie Browne (Suz GSX-R750)
Hot & Hazardous Performance Ultra Lightweight Supersport
American Mikey Lou Sanchez (55) sandwiched in between Oliver Cantos Llorca (11) and Vasco Cesar Fonseca (48) during Cuna de Campeones Moto 5 Race Two at Portugal. Llorca won the race, and Sanchez crashed out while battling for the lead. Photo courtesy Sanchez Racing.
Cuna de Campeones Moto 5 Series
Circuit do Estoril, Portugal
April 24-25
Mikey Lou Sanchez, a 10-year-old American, started his Cuna de Campeones Moto 5 Championship campaign April 24-25 at the Estoril Circuit, in Portugal.
The young Texan qualified 9th out of 24 riders.
In Race 1, Sanchez placed 7th, finishing in a pack of five riders battling for fourth about seven seconds behind the winner.
Sanchez got a great start in Race 2 and was able to run in the front pack throughout the race. With two laps to go, Sanchez led going into Turn One. On the last lap, there were many passes, and Sanchez tangled with another rider and they both went down fighting for the front.
Unfortunately, Sanchez sustained a bone fracture in his left foot, but luckily it’s very small and he should be ready to ride in the next race in two weeks at Valencia.
Mikey Lou Sanchez on the grid at Estoril with father Michael Sanchez (right) and mother Trinity Richardson (left). Photo courtesy Sanchez Racing.
“We are very thankful for the people who believe in Mikey, and we are 100% committed,” said Sanchez’s father Michael Sanchez. “We’ve been in Spain for one week and Mikey is having a blast!”
“I was really hoping to finish in the top three,” said Mikey Sanchez. “I’m really proud of myself for not giving up and trying my best. Hopefully, we can improve at Valencia!”
Sanchez Racing would like to thank its sponsors for helping Mikey Lou chase his dream: Shawn Knoche, Williams Custom Painting, Corsa Werks, Fondu, Arai Americas, Texas Motorcycle Academy, Moto Liberty, Day One Welding, AGV SPORT America.
1971 Cheney Yamaha TD2B, seen above, as illustrated by Mick Ofield.
Featured In the April 2021 issue of Roadracing World:
Honda announced its withdrawal from 50cc and 125cc Grand Prix road racing at the end of the 1966 season, and announced its complete retirement at the end of the 1967 racing season; Yamaha followed suit a year later.
Factory riders had tough decisions to make with regards to what they would ride in 1969. The governing body, FIM, had also changed the rules, restricting the smaller classes to two cylinders and six gears from 1970 onwards. This change helped Yamaha with its for-sale series of TD and TR racebikes. So, for 1969, multi-time World Champion Phil Read raced a TD2 (250cc) and a TR2 (350cc) mostly in England and at non-championship European meetings as a privateer…
—Historic Racebike Illustrations: 1971 Cheney Yamaha TD2B, by Mick Ofield
For 1971, Eric Cheney of Cheney motocross frames was persuaded to build a road racing frame that was more than five pounds lighter than a TD2B frame, but allowed the use of a stock TD2B tank, seat, exhaust and fairing. Read the background on the first private racebike to win the 250cc Grand Prix World Championship title—it’s all in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
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Jason O'Halloran (22) leads the British Superbike Championship standings as the series heads to Donington Park. Photo courtesy MSVR.
O’Halloran heads the pack at Silverstone on opening day of official testing action
Jason O’Halloran set the initial benchmark on the opening day of Bennetts British Superbike Championship testing at Silverstone today (Wednesday) as the McAMS Yamaha rider topped all four sessions, edging out title rival and reigning champion Josh Brookes by 0.358s on the combined times.
The Australian’s best time came in the second session of the day before lunch, with the McAMS Yamaha contender continuing to build momentum in the team’s first test of the season.
Brookes meanwhile was consistently close and the defending champion set his best lap of the day in the third session, which put him 0.074s clear of his teammate Christian Iddon as the VisionTrack Ducati pairing locked out the final top three positions.
Kyle Ryde was the leading BMW rider onboard the all-new M 1000 RR, the Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW rider was fourth fastest on the combined timings, setting the second fastest time in the final session of the day as he pushed for a final run before the chequered flag.
Xavi Forés marked his return to Bennetts BSB action with the all-new FHO Racing BMW team by holding fourth place in the final session of the day, putting him in fifth place on the combined times as the Spaniard saved his best until last ahead of day two tomorrow.
The overall combined times featured five different manufacturers in the top seven and Buildbase Suzuki’s Danny Kent bounced back from an earlier crash to lead their charge in sixth place with Honda Racing’s Glenn Irwin in seventh place overall.
Tommy Bridewell and Oxford Products Racing Ducati set their best time in the final session of the day, putting him into eighth place and just ahead of Gino Rea on the second of the Buildbase Suzukis with Tarran Mackenzie in tenth place, ending the day early following a crash in the final session.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Official Test, Silverstone, Day 1 combined times:
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 53.469 seconds
Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati) +0.358s
Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati) +0.432s
Kyle Ryde (RICH Energy OMG Racing BMW) +0.437s
Xavi Forés (FHO Racing BMW) +0.453s
Danny Kent (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.560s
Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing) +0.562s
Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +0.650s
Gino Rea (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.679s
Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) +0.694s
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Jason O’Halloran, McAMS Yamaha
“To be honest it was great to get back out on the bike. The first session was a little bit patchy, so we just did some laps to get the feeling back. The second session was really good for us. It was pretty much an identical bike to the one I rode here last year.
“In the lunchbreak, the boys changed the engine and we tried the 2021 spec, which we tried this afternoon for the last two sessions. Although we ended up at the top, this slowed us down a bit – when you put a new spec in you have to work through things like fuelling and throttle cables, so we’ve just been doing laps this afternoon to get things to my liking.
“Compared with how I felt on the previous bike, the changes we’ve made have been really positive and I feel comfortable, we’ve just got to tweak it to make it my own again. We’ll do that tomorrow and also some chassis stuff, so we can look forward to that tomorrow.”
Tyler Scott and his KTM RC 390 R. Photo courtesy Scott Powersports KTM.
Scott Powersports is excited to announce that with the support of KTM North America, Tyler Scott will race aboard the KTM RC 390 R in his first MotoAmerica SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup season in 2021.
“KTM is thrilled to have Tyler and Scott Powersports flying the orange flag this year in MotoAmerica,” Chris Fillmore, Racing Manager at KTM said. “Since his run in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, we have kept our eyes on this young gun and we’re looking forward to seeing him line up aboard the KTM RC 390 R against the best young talent in the nation.”
While the 15-year-old Scott is making his MotoAmerica debut, he is no stranger to road racing. He spent the past 2 seasons primarily in Europe where he competed in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and then the European Talent Cup in Spain.
“Racing both the Rookie and Talent Cups was an awesome experience for sure,” Tyler said. “But I grew up racing minis with a lot of my friends who have been racing in MotoAmerica, and I can’t wait to battle with them again on home soil.”
Further, he’s no stranger to the KTM brand, having raced them successfully in Flat Track for several years with great success (winning several AMA Flat Track Grand National Championships and Youth Rider of the Year), while also dominantly showcasing the KTM 790 Duke in the CCS Road Racing Series when schedules permit.
A mutual friend and former MotoAmerica team owner Bob Robbins ignited the idea and set the various wheels in motion.
“We were sort of in a funk about what to do this season” Mike Scott, owner of Scott Powersports, said. “But when Bob mentioned this possibility and helped us connect the dots, it just got more and more exciting.”
Scott Powersports in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania has been a KTM dealer for 20 years.
“We know and love the brand already, so we’re incredibly grateful for this opportunity,” Mike added.
The MotoAmerica season kicks off at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia on April 30th – May 2nd.
Action from a MotoAmerica Superbike race at Road Atlanta in 2020. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy of MotoAmerica.
It’s Go Time: MotoAmerica Kicks Off Its HONOS Superbike Season In Georgia
The 2021 HONOS Superbike Series Promises Change And It All Begins At Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta This Weekend
IRVINE, CA (April 28, 2021) – Twenty-six HONOS Superbike riders will take to the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta track this weekend for the opening round of the 2021 MotoAmerica Series, and all of them will do so from the same perspective: zero pole positions, zero wins, zero championship points. In other words, a new beginning.
More than anything, 2021 promises change because change in this case is a certainty. What we’ve grown to believe is the norm is gone. Like death and taxes, the one thing everyone could count on in the MotoAmerica Series since its inception in 2015 has been the fact that Cameron Beaubier and Toni Elias would win the most races and challenge for the title. After all, the two combined to win 72 percent of the 116 races run since MotoAmerica took over the AMA Superbike Series in 2015. And those two also won 100 percent of the Superbike Championships with Beaubier taking five titles and Elias one.
But that was then, and this is now.
Beaubier will be in Spain this weekend, racing in round four of the Moto2 World Championship, and Elias will be at home in Southern California, the Spaniard still without a ride for the 2021 season. What’s left in their wake is a hungry horde of wannabe champions licking their lips as the season gets ready to start on Friday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Without exaggeration, this is anybody’s title to win. Without Beaubier and his 54 AMA Superbike wins and Elias with his 32 victories in the class, the next active rider with the most wins is Josh Herrin. With eight. Four of those came pre-MotoAmerica and the other four came during the MotoAmerica era. Based on experience and win record, Herrin is a good place to start when talking about the season opener at Road Atlanta. Let’s also remember that he’s the only rider in the series that has earned a Superbike title even if it was way back in 2013.
Herrin comes into the 2021 season after a year on the Scheibe Racing BMW and he realizes this is his best shot yet of winning a second Superbike Championship. Herrin rejoins forces with Richard Stanboli and the Attack Performance team, and he will be armed with the same YZF-R1 and technical support that dominated the series last year with 16 victories in the hands of Beaubier. No pressure, though.
Herrin will be joined on the championship-winning team by Jake Gagne, the runner-up in last year’s title chase. Gagne has yet to win an AMA Superbike race, but he finished second eight times last year – including twice at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Gagne had a total of 11 podium finishes and ended the year 48 points clear of third place in the standings. The Californian, who now calls Colorado home, was consistently fast at the Dunlop Preseason Test at the Circuit of The Americas a month ago and is full of confidence. He’s also really happy with his new crew chief, former racer and Öhlins technician Jon Cornwell.
The M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team is led by Bobby Fong, one of just three riders who won Superbike races last year (Beaubier, Fong and Italian Lorenzo Zanetti). And he won three of them, which makes him the second-winningest active HONOS Superbike racer in the field behind Herrin. Fong ended the preseason test with the fastest lap, so he arrives in Georgia with a bit of a giddy-up in his step. He also has withstood the pressure that comes with fighting for a title as he won the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship in 2019 for the M4 team.
Fong is joined on the team’s Suzuki GSX-R1000s by 2020 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Cameron Petersen, the South African moves from the Stock 1000-spec Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000 to the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike and that should be a fairly easy transition. In addition to winning the Stock 1000 crown, Petersen also walked away with the Superbike Cup check of $25,000 for his efforts in the Superbike class. Petersen showed up at the COTA test with a limp that slowed him, but he was still fast, and he’s expected to be healthy for the opener.
The other rider in the HONOS Superbike class to have won an AMA Superbike race is Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz, who has won two of them. One of those came on a wet Circuit of The Americas track (on a Superstock 1000 Yamaha) in 2017 and the other in the rain at Barber Motorsports Park in 2018. Scholtz will be one of the main protagonists in the chase for this year’s MotoAmerica Superbike crown and he’s hellbent on showing people that he can win on a dry surface as well as a wet one.
Then there’s Loris Baz. Fast and French, Baz will be armed with a “factory” Ducati under the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York banner, and he’s hot off a solid season of World Superbike racing where he ended the year eighth in the championship. Baz didn’t come here to finish second, and it will be interesting to see how quickly he adapts to life in the MotoAmerica paddock, the Dunlop tires and the American racetracks. Very few expect him to struggle, and he’s shown already how committed he is by partaking in three track days to learn tracks (VIR, Pitt Race and New Jersey Motorsports Park) that are new to him.
If there is a level just below the six already talked about, then it’s just a tiny little bit to Kyle Wyman Racing’s Kyle Wyman. After all, the team owner/rider landed on the podium twice in the second of two rounds held at Road America last season, and he ended the year ranked seventh – and just two points behind Herrin, who was sixth in the title chase. Wyman runs a first-class team, brings unique sponsors to the paddock, and knows how to ride a motorcycle. His 2020 season featured some highs and some lows, and he will be shooting for more of the former and less of the latter in 2021.
Steve Scheibe went to the 11th hour before finding a rider for his Scheibe Racing BMW S 1000 RR, and that rider is Héctor Barberá, a Spaniard with gobs of racing experience in different classes all over the world, including MotoGP. Barbera, like Baz, will have circuits and life in the U.S. to adapt to.
David Anthony is another team owner/racer in the HONOS Superbike class. Anthony will be joined on his FLY Racing ADR Motorsports team by Jayson Uribe, with the Northern Californian set for his first full season of Superbike racing. Both men will be armed with Suzuki GSX-R1000s.
Max Flinders will again be ready to go for the season opener with his signature yellow Thrashed Bike Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. Flinders ended last year’s championship in 13th and will be giving his best to improve upon that in 2021.
The list of those hoping to take home the $25,000 in the Superbike Cup on their Stock 1000-spec motorcycles is long and talented. With Petersen moving to the HONOS Superbike class, last year’s winner won’t be there to defend, making it a wide-open affair.
Among the favorites are last year’s runner-up Corey Alexander on the HONOS HVMC Racing Kawasaki ZX-10RR, Petersen’s replacement on the Altus Motorsports Suzuki, Jake Lewis, Travis Wyman Racing’s Travis Wyman, Jones Honda’s Ashton Yates (on the all-new Honda CBR1000RR-R SP, Michael Gilbert Racing’s Michael Gilbert, M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Wyatt Farris and Tecfil Racing Team’s Danilo Lewis.
Road Atlanta Superbike Notes…
With COVID-19 wreaking havoc on sporting event schedules worldwide in 2020, the MotoAmerica round at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta was moved from April to August last year. This year, the event returns as the series opener.
With the two winningest riders – Cameron Beaubier and Toni Elias – not racing in MotoAmerica in 2021, the current rider with the most victories is Josh Herrin. Herrin is tied for 22nd on the all-time AMA Superbike win list with Wes Cooley and Tommy Hayden.
Riders from seven different countries have entered the HONOS Superbike race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with the U.S., Spain, South Africa, Great Britain, France, Brazil and Australia all represented.
While American racers have, by far, won the most AMA Superbike races, it’s Australia that has the second most wins in the history of the Superbike class in the U.S. Australia has 96 AMA Superbike wins, led by Mat Mladin’s 82 class victories. Anthony Gobert won 11 times and Troy Corser captured three wins. Canada is third on the list with 35 wins, led by Miguel Duhamel’s 32 victories and supported by Pascal Picotte’s three wins. The other countries with AMA Superbike wins to its credit are as follows: Spain, Columbia, Italy, New Zealand and England.
Watch this: If Loris Baz wins a HONOS Superbike race this season, he will become the first French rider to win an AMA Superbike race.
The good old days? The very first AMA Superbike race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta was held in 1980, and it was won by four-time 500cc World Champion Eddie Lawson. The first-ever AMA National motorcycle race at Road Atlanta was held in 1971 and was won by Kel Carruthers. Coincidentally, Carruthers was Lawson’s crew chief for three of his four World Championships.
Cameron Beaubier earned the pole position at Road Atlanta in 2020 with his lap of 1:24.244 set during Superpole. Beaubier’s best was .795 of a second faster than Mathew Scholtz, with Toni Elias completing the front row with a 1:25.364.
Beaubier actually went faster in race one than he did during Superpole, setting the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta race Superbike lap record with a 1:24.085 en route to victory. The outright Superbike lap record on the 2.54-mile Road Atlanta race course is held by Garrett Gerloff with his 1:23.844 set in Superpole in 2019.
MotoAmerica has removed the Superpole session from its schedule for 2021 as demand for track time is at an all-time high. Thus, pole will come from the best time set during the qualifying sessions. The fastest laps, however, will most likely come during the final session on Saturday morning as that’s when the soft Dunlop Q tires will be available.
Beaubier won both HONOS Superbike races here last year, besting his then-teammate Jake Gagne in both. Mathew Scholtz was third in both races in 2020.
On-track action gets started on Friday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with practice and qualifying starting at 8:30 a.m. and running through to the last practice session at 4:40 p.m. The first race of the weekend will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. with Stock 1000 Race 1, followed in rapid succession by Supersport Race 1 (2 p.m.), HONOS Superbike Race 1 (3 p.m.), Twins Cup Race 1 (4 p.m.) and SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race 1 (4:45 p.m.)
On Sunday, racing begins at noon with Stock 1000 Race 2, Mission King Of The Baggers (12:30 p.m.), Supersport Race 2 (1 p.m.), SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race 2 (2 p.m.), HONOS Superbike Race 2 (3 p.m.) and Twins Cup Race 2 (4 p.m.).
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com. Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:
Westby Racing Is Heading Into Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta With All Eyes On The Prize
Mathew Scholtz (11). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Tulsa, OK – April 28, 2021 – The opening round of the 2021 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship starts this Friday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. Riders Mathew Scholtz and Jack Roach, along with the entire Westby Racing team, will be set up and ready to race with a new team transporter serving as their home base, and it promises to be a fan-favorite destination in the MotoAmerica paddock all season long.
Not only is the truck new, but there is also a new spirit of anticipation within the team as rider Mathew Scholtz embarks on what could potentially be a Superbike Championship season for the 2017 Superstock 1000 title winner. Mathew, who is from South Africa, but now makes his home in Georgia, has been with the same team, Westby Racing, for longer than virtually any other rider in the MotoAmerica paddock. He’s also raced the Yamaha YZF-R1 longer than any other rider in the Superbike field. That experience and familiarity will serve Mathew and the team well in what many predict will be MotoAmerica’s most exciting Superbike Championship season yet. And it all begins this weekend at Mathew’s home track, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
“It’s so great to be getting the season under way at Road Atlanta,” Mathew said. “Even though we don’t do too much testing there, it’s still a home track for me because it’s only, like, an hour’s drive. I have friend’s coming over who are supporting me. I’ve got neighbors coming. It really is special. But, most of all, just to kick off the 2021 season at a track that’s really strong for me, I’m really looking forward to it.
“You know, coming back from a terrible injury last year, I’ve been really itching to hop on the bike and race against the other MotoAmerica Superbike riders. I know that this year is going to be extremely hard, and it’s really difficult to pick out who you think is going to be the favorite to win, but I’m really thinking that, after looking at last year, we should be one of the main guys up there battling, but we’re just going to focus on ourselves on Friday, and we’ll take the races as they come on Saturday and Sunday, and just kind of work from there.
“The Westby team has been working hard all off-season. They’ve improved the bike, and I’ve definitely improved myself. So, I am looking forward to putting the whole package together, getting out there, and showing what we’re made of. I’d like to give a big shout-out to Tryg Westby, who obviously is the main man behind the team, and who gives us all the opportunity to showcase our talents. Me, Chuck, Ed, Herschel, Olly, Dustin, Johnny, everyone who’s part of the Westby team, and makes this all possible. Let’s go racing. Let’s get it under way. I hope to see all the fans there.”
Superbike final qualifying is on Saturday morning at 10:20 a.m. ET, Superbike race one will go green on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET, and Superbike Race 2 is on Sunday afternoon also at 3 p.m. ET. Both races will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 2 (FS2), as well as streamed on MotoAmerica Live+.
JR12 Racing/Westby Racing Junior Cup rider Jack Roach will be making his debut aboard the black-and-gold #12 Yamaha YZF-R3 this weekend, and the 17-year-old is looking forward to railing around Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta’s 12-turn, 2.54-mile, undulating, natural road course.
Jack commented, “I’ve had some sleepless nights thinking about jumping on the Westby Racing R3 in full race trim, but I’ve been training harder than I’ve ever trained before, and I am 100% confident that I’m the fittest kid on that Junior Cup grid. And, with the package that Westby Racing has given me, I believe that we have a lot of potential at Atlanta. JR12/Westby Racing will be in full effect this weekend!”
Junior Cup race one starts on Saturday at 4:45 p.m. ET, and Junior Cup race two is on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. Both races will be broadcast via tape-delay on FOX Sports 2 (FS2) this Tuesday, May 4, beginning at 9 p.m. ET. In addition, both Junior Cup races will be streamed on MotoAmerica Live+.
Pick Up Some FREE Westby Racing Collectibles
Westby Racing has produced some great collectibles featuring Mathew and Jack, and they’ll be available at the team transporter throughout the weekend, so swing by and pick one up while maintaining proper social distancing.
For more updates about Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit https://www.WestbyRacing.com
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia USA:
APRILIA RS 660 ARRIVES FOR MOTOAMERICA
WITH APRILIA JOINING THE PADDOCK, THE GROWING TWINS CUP GRID RECEIVES 10 RIDERS ABOARD THE NEWLY HOMOLOGATED RS 660
MINIMAL MODIFICATIONS WITH APRILIA’S POTENT ENGINE AND CAPABLE CHASSIS MAKE THE RS 660 RACE READY FOR ROAD ATLANTA OPENER
APRILIA EXPANDS GLOBAL FOOTPRINT IN MOTORSPORT COMPETITION
A Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660 MotoAmerica Twins Cup racebike. Photo courtesy Aprilia USA.
With the season opener of MotoAmerica beginning in Road Atlanta April 30, Aprilia, with the recently homologated RS 660, will arrive to the series with over 10 riders registered across the national Twins Cup championship to compete. The middleweight twin-cylinder class with 4-stroke models ranging 600-800cc, continues to be one of the most exciting series, attracting a growing grid of riders across manufacturers.
“With over 28 riders entered for this weekend’s Twins Cup race, it’s exciting to see that the new Aprilia 660 will take to the track with 8 competitors for the new machines’ debut in MotoAmerica,” explains Chuck Aksland, Partner in MotoAmerica, “We’ve followed the progress of the 660 since it was announced and our staff worked hand in hand with Aprilia to ensure that it could compete this season. Not many people have seen the bike on-track and the anticipation certainly brings another level of excitement to the weekend. We truly welcome Aprilia into our paddock and look forward to working with them for seasons to come.”
“We are pleased to see the excitement around this new model, and interest to be a part of Aprilia’s history on the track,” says Mario Di Maria, President and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, “The RS 660 is a new chapter for Aprilia and our racing history, which we are eager to follow and support as it competes in the US.”
Aprilia Racing is the most advanced technological expression of the Piaggio Group. With 294 Grand Prix races won in Road Racing World Championship, Aprilia holds the record for the most wins of any European manufacturer in the history of maximum motorcycle competition. These are joined by an impressive 54 world titles: 38 in Road Racing World Championship (20 in 125 and 18 in 250), 7 in Superbike (Rider and Manufacturer double win in 2010, 2012 and 2014, manufacturers in 2013) and 9 in Off Road disciplines (7 in Supermoto and 2 in Trial).
From its inception, Aprilia Racing has represented an extraordinary forge for new talent. Astride the bikes from Noale, almost all the riders who have made history in motorcycle racing in recent decades have made their début, raced and won. These include Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi, Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner, as well as Manuel Poggiali, Marco Simoncelli, Alvaro Bautista.
The twin-cylinder 659cc creates a new and exciting opportunity for riders to compete on an Aprilia, consistently praised for its chassis and engine capabilities over its history.
Among the teams competing in MotoAmerica is Robem Engineering, which has competed in the Twins Cup championship since 2018, is one example of teams which has made the switch to Aprilia RS 660’s for this year. With riders Kaleb DeKeyrel (23 years old, finished 2nd in Twins Cup 2020), Hayden Schultz (23 years old, finished 3rd in Twins Cup 2020), and Toby Khamsouk (18 years old, finished 5th in Twins Cup 2020), riding for Robem, Team Owner, Matthew Spicer explains their decision, “When we saw Aprilia launch their new middleweight, I knew there could be some unique opportunities with the machine, which already makes good power. Knowing the history of the brand, we were happy to confirm expectations of a promising chassis and general geometry. It’s a gamble to switch to a bike that has not yet been raced competitively, but we’re optimistic the RS 660 will quickly evolve to be a top challenger in the championship.”
Internationally, Aprilia Racing has launched a spec-race series in Italy, aimed to grow young riders into champions, called the Aprilia RS 660 Trofeo. As a spec machine with racing in mind, the model has been optimized to deliver 105hp, and trim away weight to 337 pounds with bodywork, forged wheels and race-derived components. The series will begin in May at the Misano circuit and will have a field of riders starting from 15 years old. Similar to that of the MotoAmerica Twins cup, the class is attractive to younger riders, and budget conscious race teams.
Stezzano (BG), Italy, April 28, 2021 – With this transaction, the Group expands its brand family and completes the range of solutions for motorbike braking systems.
Brembo has signed an agreement for the acquisition of a 100 percent stake in the J.Juan Group, a Spanish company specializing in the development and production of motorbike braking systems.
Founded in 1965, J.Juan is based in Gavà (Barcelona) and has three plants in Spain and one in China, manufacturing especially brake hoses, and a strategic safety component for braking systems that will complement the current range of Brembo products for motorbikes.
With this transaction, Brembo forges ahead with its path to become a trusted solution provider. The acquisition of J.Juan will enable the Group to complete its range of solutions for the motorbike braking system and to expand its brand family for the growing motorbike sector.
“We are proud to welcome J.Juan in the Brembo Group,” stated Alberto Bombassei, Chairman of Brembo. “This transaction is in line with our global strategy and follows the recent acquisition of SBS Friction in Denmark. We continue to invest with the aim of strengthening our motorbike core business. The addition of J.Juan is a great opportunity for us, as it reinforces our positioning as a company increasingly oriented to offering comprehensive, integrated and high-quality solutions to our customers.”
“We are glad to join the Brembo Group,” stated José Luis Juan, CEO of J.Juan. “The transaction will allow us to become part of a strong company with a solid global footprint that will support J.Juan’s development for the professional growth of all our employees and the benefit of customers.”
Under the agreement, the consideration for the transaction is currently estimated at €70 million, to be paid using available cash. The final price will be subject to the usual adjustment mechanisms envisaged for similar transactions. The enterprise value is €73 million.
The acquisition is subject to the approval of the Antitrust authorities, following which the closing is expected to occur in the second half of 2021.
About Brembo SpA
About Brembo SpA Brembo SpA is the world leader and acknowledged innovator of brake technology for automotive vehicles. Brembo supplies high performance brake systems for the most important manufacturers of cars, commercial vehicles and motorbikes worldwide, as well as clutches and other components for racing. Brembo is also a leader in the racing sector and has won more than 500 championships. Today the company operates in 15 countries on 3 continents, with 26 production and business sites, and a pool of over 11,000 employees, about 10% of whom are engineers and product specialists active in the R&D. 2020 turnover is € 2,208.6 million (12.31.2020). Brembo is the owner of the Brembo, Breco, AP, Bybre, Marchesini and SBS Friction brands and operates through the AP Racing brand.
About J.Juan
J.Juan is a family-owned multinational Group headquartered in Gavà (Barcelona, Spain) and it’s a world leader in the design and manufacturing of metallic braided brake hoses. J.Juan is also active in the manufacturing of components of brake systems for motorbike, specifically in the trial segment. The Group consists of four companies, three in Spain and one in China. It operates with two plants in Gavà, one in San Cugat (Barcelona) and one in Jiaxing, in Zhejiang Province (China). Revenues amounted to about €60 million in 2020, with EBITDA of approximately 17%. The Group has a workforce of about 580 people.
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer and Racing Legend Dick Mann Passes
Mann, a two-time AMA Grand National Champion, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Dick “Bugsy” Mann, one of the most versatile racers to ever throw a leg over a motorcycle, passed away on April 26 at the age of 86.
Mr. Mann, born June 13, 1934 in Salt Lake City, Utah, was a two-time AMA Grand National Champion (1963 and 1971), and became best known for being the first person to achieve a motorcycle racing Grand Slam, which involved winning across all five types of circuits included in the Grand National Championship: road racing, TT, short track, half-mile and mile. When he retired from racing in 1974, Mann had 24 national victories, which — at the time — placed him second in all-time wins within the AMA Grand National Series.
While Mann got his racing start in scrambles, he soon got hooked on turning left on dirt ovals, and after some time learning his trade, headed to the professional racing circuit in 1954, turning expert in 1955. He achieved his first national win at the Peoria TT in 1959, quickly establishing himself as an elite racer in the series.
Mann also helped pioneer the sport of motocross in the U.S., competing in several of the early AMA professional motocross races in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Dick Mann (right). Photo courtesy AMA.
Perhaps Mann’s most fulfilling national win was his victory in the 1970 Daytona 200 aboard the then-new Honda CB750. He’d been racing the Daytona 200 for 15 years and finished second three times, and in 1970 finally got to the top step of the podium, holding off rising stars and future Hall of Famers Gary Nixon and Gene Romero, as well as former world champion and Hall of Famer Mike Hailwood. That win wasn’t just Mann’s first victory at the 200, but the first time a Honda had won an AMA national.
Despite retiring from professional racing in 1974, Mann returned to his trail-riding roots in 1975, qualifying for the United States International Six Days Trial team, competed for the U.S. on the Isle of Man, and brought home a bronze medal.
Beyond being a legendary racer, Mann’s mentorship of the next generation of American racers and future Hall of Famers like Dave Aldana, Mert Lawwill and Kenny Roberts, was just as important.
In 1995, Mr. Mann was presented with the AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the sport. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.
Look for more coverage of Mann’s legacy and career in future issues of American Motorcyclist.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: americanmotorcyclist.com.
More, from a press release issued by American Flat Track:
Honoring Motorcycle Racing Legend Dick Mann
Dick Mann (2). Photo courtesy AMA.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 28, 2021) – AMA Pro Racing joins the motorcycle community in mourning the loss of the great Dick Mann. Mann passed Monday at 86 years of age.
The winner of two Grand National Championships, Mann was touted as one of the greatest to ever compete in various motorcycle racing disciplines. Mann is best known for being the first person to ever win all five types of circuit included in the AMA Grand National Championship: short track, TT, half-mile, mile and road race.
Mann continued to contribute to the legacy of motorcycle racing by influencing some of the greatest names in flat track including Gene Romero, Gary Nixon, Mert Lawwill, Kenny Roberts and Dave Aldana.
Mann was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1993 and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.
Progressive American Flat Track will observe a moment of silence in Mann’s honor during its opening ceremonies at Saturday’s event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
How to Watch
NBCSN and TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold are the official homes for coverage of Progressive American Flat Track. For the 2021 season, NBCSN’s coverage of Progressive AFT remains in highly-coveted programming, the complete schedule for which can be viewed at http://www.americanflattrack.com/events-nbcsn/. TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold – the most-robust motorsports offering in the digital marketplace – is a cornerstone of Progressive AFT’s digital strategy, providing live streaming coverage of every event and maintaining an active archive of all AFT content.
About Progressive American Flat Track
Progressive American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram, live stream the events with TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold and catch all the Progressive American Flat Track racing action on NBCSN.
More, from a press release issued by American Honda:
Statement of Condolence on Passing of Dick Mann
Hall of Famer earned Honda’s first big motorcycle-race win in the U.S.
April 28, 2021 — TORRANCE, Calif.
Following Monday’s passing of Dick “Bugsy” Mann at the age of 86, American Honda today honored the versatile racer.
A true Renaissance man, Mann was noted for his adaptability as a rider, and for the longevity of his professional motorcycle-racing career, which included charter membership in the exclusive Grand Slam Club (for riders who earned Grand National wins in road racing, short track, TT, half-mile and mile competition), two AMA Grand National Championships and a bronze medal for Team USA in the 1975 International Six Days Trial. According to Racer X Illustrated, Mann even scored a win at the first AMA-sanctioned professional motocross race. Those successes came with a variety of brands, but the Utah native’s primary tie with Honda centered on a single race—the 1970 Daytona 200.
It was Honda’s first factory effort in the legendary endurance event, with a four-rider project aboard CR750 machinery (the racing version of the now-iconic CB750 four-cylinder, which had started production just a year earlier). Conversely, Mann (then 35) had a long and relatively successful history at the race, though victory had eluded him to that point.
After launching from the front row of an all-star starting grid, Mann eventually secured the lead, then preserved the bike in the race’s latter stages to score a 10-second win over Gene Romero, with Don Castro third. In the process, Mann ran a record average race speed of 102.697 mph. It was Honda’s first AMA National Championship race win, and it established the CB750 at the top of the performance hierarchy. (Over four decades later, Motorcyclist magazine would name it the Bike of the Century.) As such, the victory was significant not only for Honda, but for its American subsidiary.
“For a Japanese company with its first, completely unproven big bike, it was hard to top that,” Bob Hansen, then American Honda’s National Service Manager, is quoted as saying in Aaron P. Frank’s book Honda Motorcycles.
“Hansen prepared the machine, and I rode it as best I could, just as I was contracted to do. That was it,” said the humble Mann in the same book.
Mann, who would back up the Daytona 200 win the following year aboard a BSA, was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1993, and he is a charter member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
“Everyone at American Honda sends their heartfelt condolences to Dick Mann’s family, friends and fans,” said Bill Savino, Senior Manager of Customer Engagement at American Honda. “Dick tallied a number of accomplishments over the course of his long career, but he’ll always hold a special spot in our hearts for the role he played in proving that Honda motorcycles could perform with the very best.”
Jordan Szoke (1) leading Samuel Trepanier (14) during a Canadian Superbike race at Atlantic Motorsport Park in 2018. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
CSBK postpones east coast races until 2022
Toronto, ON – The Canadian National Superbike Championship, CSBK, has cancelled their 2021 event schedule for Atlantic Motorsport Park, near Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia. The east coast National would have been the fourth event of the 2021 tour.
The races, sponsored by Pro Cycle of Dartmouth, N.S. and organized in conjunction with the local Society of the Atlantic Roadracing League, were planned for July 30, 31 and Sunday, August 1.
CSBK expect to replace this round during the summer of 2021, and a planned schedule update will be provided when details are available.
The National round at “Shubie” has been a popular part of the National tour for more than four decades and had a successful run of twenty-one consecutive years before the Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 race last spring.
Atlantic Motorsport Park is a unique race venue, built on rolling hills with 11 turns over the course of each 2.5 kilometer/1.65-mile-long lap. The undulating back straight is known as the “roller coaster.”
The CSBK tour plans to return to Shubenacadie’s scenic Atlantic Motorsport Park in the summer 2022.
“We’re very sorry that we couldn’t work out a way to ensure our east coast event,” explains CSBK boss Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsports Productions in Toronto, ON. “The Atlantic races are immensely popular with our competitors, as well as fans and television and video viewers.
“Unfortunately, with the worsening situation regarding the third wave of the pandemic, and the large number of competitors and crew from western provinces planning to travel, it became impossible to be sure of having all the key requirements safely in place. We appreciate all the effort that goes into staging this event, ironically even more effort than usual in a year when we ultimately had to postpone our National until 2022.”
Motorcycle and powersports dealer Pro Cycle has sponsored the eastern-most National events on-and-off since Pro opened in 1983 and have more recently provided the stability required to keep the CSBK events viable. Pro Cycle offer a wide range of service and accessories, and offer new Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and KTM equipment at their 27,000 square foot facility just up the hill from Ikea.
Atlantic Motorsport Park was constructed by an enthusiastic group of volunteers in 1974 and hosted a wide variety of events including Formula Atlantic and sports car auto racing. By far the most successful visiting event held at A.M.P. is the CSBK series, the tour tracing their origins all the way back to July 5, 1981.
That day, reigning Canadian National Superbike Champion George Morin of Mississauga, ON, took the rain-delayed main race win on his CAM2-Suzuki GS1000S. Morin earned the distinction of being the first-ever Canadian overall Superbike National Champion the previous year, in 1980, for Kawasaki.
The circuit’s outright motorcycle track lap record belongs to 2011 CSBK National Champ Brett McCormick of Saskatoon, SK. In 2009, riding for the Picotte-Blackfoot Suzuki team on a GSX-R1000, McCormick ran a lap during SuperPole qualifying at 1.06.031. The best recent race record lap was set by 14-time CSBK overall Champion Jordan Szoke of Lynden, ON, in 2018 on an Express Lane BMW S1000RR, at 1:07.812.
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