After watching On Any Sunday, a multitude of children, parents, workers and thrill seekers escaped the turmoil of their times on motorcycles. Nothing like that explosion of off-road motorcycle racing in 1971 had been seen ever since, until 2020. Fifty years later, when everyone was told to go home, a new generation discovered the passion of their fathers.
Producer Troy Adamitis and director Nate Scribner, who have created The Great Outdoors, The Moto: Inside the Outdoors, Supercross: Behind the Dream, MX Nation and MX World, have partnered with RIDE Motorcycles to bring you an account of American Motocross’ Year of Jubilee.
Presented by: RIDE Motorcycles
Sponsored by: KTM, Husqvarna Motorcycles, GASGAS, Troy Lee Designs, USMCA
Indian Motorcycles On Board As Official Partner Of 2021 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Series
America’s First Motorcycle Company To Support Three-Round Series
IRVINE, CA (April 9, 2021) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is proud to announce that Indian Motorcycles has come on board as an official partner of the 2021 MotoAmerica Series.
Indian Motorcycles, America’s first motorcycle company, came away with a win in the debut of the King of the Baggers at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca last year with Tyler O’Hara riding his S&S Indian Challenger to victory. O’Hara recently announced that he will defend his title in the three-round 2021 King of the Baggers Championship on his Indian.
“It’s great news that Indian is getting behind the MotoAmerica King of the Baggers,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “They won the first event at Laguna last year and we all saw how hugely popular the event was. It’s perfect that they are coming on board with both sponsorship and a team. The series promises to be intense and Indian starts the season as the team to beat.”
In addition to the sponsorship and the team, Indian will also have a support truck onsite at the MotoAmerica rounds that feature the King of the Baggers Series – Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (April 30-May 2), Road America (June 11-13) and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (July 9-11).
“After the overwhelming fan reaction to the 2020 debut of King of the Baggers with Tyler O’Hara’s win on an Indian Challenger, we are proud to sponsor MotoAmerica’s 2021 King of the Baggers race series,” said Gary Gray, VP of Racing, Technology & Service.
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed North America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 25th consecutive year of showcasing what is actually an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica/AMA Pro races and Championships, including nine MotoAmerica/AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (10 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2021 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
Liam Grant. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Liam Grant
Age: 17.
Current home: Boulder, Colorado.
Current height/weight: 5’11”/140 pounds.
Current school grade level: 11th grade.
Began riding at age: 12 years.
First road race: 2018, Dacono, Colorado, Rocky Mountain Mini Moto, Formula One, 1st place.
Current racebike: Kawasaki ZX-6R.
Current tuners/mechanics: Geoff Cesmat, Brian Robertson, Jason Grant (father).
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Supersport.
Top sponsors: Vortex Racing, Sun Enterprises, Shoei, Graves Motorsports, Boulder MotorSports, 64 Degree Racing, Moto Liberty, RS Taichi.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2020 season, finished 5th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (best race finish was 4th – three times); 2019 season, won 3 UtahSBA Expert Championships (Production 500, Moto3, Lightweight Superbike), won CVMA 500 Supersport Amateur Championship, won 29 races overall in 2019.
2021 racing goals: Finish in top 10 in MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
Racing career goal: Win Superbike World Championship.
Racing hero: Casey Stoner.
Favorite track: Barber Motorsports Park.
Favorite hobby: Ice Hockey.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Playing ice hockey.
Henning Jens appointed as new CFO of Ducati Motor Holding
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 8 April 2021 – Henning Jens has been appointed as new Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Board of Management of Ducati Motor Holding from April 1st. In this role, Henning Jens will be responsible for Finance, Controlling and Information Technology.
Henning Jens takes over from Oliver Stein, who ends his term at Ducati and accepts a new position as CFO at Audi Brussels. A warm thanks to Oliver for his commitment and achievements over the years and all the best wishes for his new professional role.
Mr. Jens completed his studies at the Kiel University of Applied Science, Germany as a Certified Mechanical Engineer. He then graduated with a degree as a Certified Industrial Engineer after further studies in business administration at the University of Kiel. In 2002, he received his MBA at Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA.
While complementing his studies in Germany, Mr. Jens worked as a self-employed Engineering Consultant.
In 1991 he joined Airbus Industries working in Corporate Strategy on various aircraft projects. Between 1996 and 2002 he headed the Controlling for Research and Development of Airbus and then became the Finance Project Leader of the Airbus A380 Program in Toulouse, France.
During 2002, Mr. Jens moved on to the automotive industry and joined the W. Karmann Group, Germany, as a Member of the Management Board in the position of Head of Finance and Controlling, being responsible for the German holding and the international subsidiaries.
In 2010, Mr. Jens joined the Volkswagen AG and founded a new company, the Volkswagen Osnabrueck GmbH, as a member of the Executive Board, heading Finance, IT and Purchasing. In the following years, the company ramped up the production of VW Golf Cabrio, VW Tiguan, VW XL1 as well as the Porsche Boxter, Cayman and Cayenne.
In March 2016, Mr. Jens was assigned as Finance Director Volkswagen Group of South Africa and Region Sub-Saharan Africa, subsequently also including the responsibility for Corporate Strategy.
Beside his corporate career, Mr. Jens set up a private management training seminar with the Controller Academy, Munich, in the field of Research and Development Controlling. He managed the seminar as a lecturer between 1997 and 2010.
GASGAS, Husqvarna, KTM, Troy Lee Designs, and USMCA have teamed up to create a new video series covering the rejuvenation of the sport of motorcycling during the global pandemic. The video series is called RIDE Motorcycles. Here is a trailer for the first video, “The Year of Jubilee,” which will debut on Friday, April 9.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SCREAMIN’ EAGLE FACTORY TEAM TO CONTEND KING OF THE BAGGERS SERIES
H-D Announces Contingency Program for Independent Bagger Teams
MILWAUKEE (April 8, 2021) – A new Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory racing team will compete in MotoAmerica King of the Baggers, a road racing series held in conjunction with the 2021 MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Series. The team is preparing a Harley-Davidson Road Glide® Special powered by a race-modified Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engine for pro rider Kyle Wyman. In addition to its factory team effort, Harley-Davidson will offer a nearly $30,000 cash contingency program for qualified Harley-Davidson racers competing in the three-race King of the Baggers series.
King of the Baggers successfully debuted as a one-off MotoAmerica invitational exhibition event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca last October and, after an exciting race, received a positive reception by fans and racers. MotoAmerica will host a three-round King of the Baggers series in 2021 for race-prepared, American V-Twin touring motorcycles equipped with a fairing/windscreen and saddlebags. The series is open to all qualified AMA license holders, with championship points being tallied at each round and a National Champion crowned at season’s end.
“Competing in the King of the Baggers series gives Harley-Davidson an opportunity to showcase our Screamin’ Eagle performance products in the heat of competition,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president, and CEO Harley-Davidson. “Nobody knows more about building Harley-Davidson performance than our Screamin’ Eagle engineers. Harley-Davidson created the first factory hot rod baggers, the Road Glide Special and Street Glide Special models, for riders craving performance and touring comfort.”
The Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engine is the most-powerful street-compliant performance engine offered by Harley-Davidson. Built from the bottom up in Milwaukee, this street-tuned, 131-cubic-inch (2147cc) Screamin’ Eagle crate engine delivers 131 ft-lb of torque to the rear wheel as soon as the throttle is cranked, and may be installed in 2017-later Harley-Davidson Touring models.
Veteran road racer Kyle Wyman, 31 from Macedon, N.Y., formed Kyle Wyman Racing at the age of 21 to compete at the highest level of professional road racing in the United States. He started racing Harley-Davidson XR750s in flat track at the age of 15. Wyman was a contender and won six races in the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XR1200 series, he won the Daytona 200 in 2019 and placed seventh overall in the 2020 HONOS Superbike series, the premier MotoAmerica road racing class. Wyman is the son of Kim Wyman, owner of Harv’s Harley-Davidson in Macedon.
“I am very excited and honored to be the rider of the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide Special,” said Wyman. “To be a Factory rider for Harley-Davidson is something I’ve dreamed of since I was little, watching my hero Scott Parker win Grand National Championships on the Harley-Davidson XR750. I look forward to our first race at Road Atlanta and competing aboard this amazing machine.”
The MotoAmerica King of the Baggers series kicks off April 30-May 2 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, and continues June 11-13 at Road America Elkhart Lake, Wis., and July 9-11 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Calif.
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed North America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 25th consecutive year of showcasing what is actually an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica/AMA Pro races and Championships, including nine MotoAmerica/AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (10 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2021 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
Ben Gloddy on the MotoAmerica Junior Cup podium. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Ben Gloddy
Age: 15.
Current home: Northfield, New Hampshire.
Current height/weight: 5’6”/135 pounds.
Current school grade level: 10th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2018, Canaan, New Hampshire, NESBC, Formula 300 Class, 3rd place.
Current racebikes: Kawasaki Ninja 400, Suzuki SV650.
Top sponsors: Landers Racing, Penguin Racing School, American Supercamp, Freedom Cycle NH, The Big S, Woodcraft Technologies, First Trax, Inter-Tech Supplies, Stump Racing, Arai, Fast By Ferracci.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2020 season, placed 4th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (8 podium finishes); 2019 season, finished 9th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup (competed in 11 of 17 races, 1 podium, 3 top-5 finishes), won 2 LRRS Championships (12 race wins), won NESBC Lights Championship; 2018 season, named LRRS Rookie of the Year (youngest to ever receive the award), won 24 LRRS races and earned 46 podium finishes, won NESBC Intermediate B Championship.
2021 racing goal: Win MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship.
Racing career goal: Make it to MotoGP World Championship.
Racing hero: Jamison Minor.
Favorite track: Barber Motorsports Park.
Favorite hobby: Downhill mountain biking.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Downhill mountain biking.
On April 5, MotoAmerica hosted an event at Willow Springs International Raceway dubbed “Bikes and Burgers Track Day.” And while having burgers at the racetrack is fairly common, the attendees at this track day were far from it.
For instance…
Orlando Bloom, the actor best known for his roles in the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Lord of the Rings movies, rode one of “Aussie Dave” Anthony’s FLY Racing/ADR Motorsports Stock 1000 racebikes and then went for a 145-mph ride with former Pro racer Chris Ulrich on the Dunlop ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000 two-seat Superbike.
Actor Orlando Bloom prepares to go out on track on a FLY Racing/ADR Motorsports Kawasaki ZX-10R Stock 1000 racebike. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
Actor, stuntman, second unit director, and former racer Tom McComas (who is known for his work as Ryan Reynolds’ stunt double in Dead Pool 2, among many other projects) was there on his new Ducati Panigale V4 S.
Professional stunter Aaron Colton put on a display.
Members of the rock band Incubus Chris Kilmore and Ben Kenney came out to play.
Billy Morrison, the long-time guitarist for Billy Idol, did laps.
Cast members from the Netflix original drama 13 Reasons Why were present.
Guests lining up to go out on track at MotoAmerica’s “Bikes and Burgers Track Day” at Willow Spring. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.
In total, over 100 guests attended the event at the invitation of MotoAmerica and new Vice President, Media + Promotions Jordan Miller.
“[The reasons] for me coming over to MotoAmerica was to find ways to reach an additional audience other than the core fan,” Miller told Roadracingworld.com. “One of the tactics I thought would be impactful early on was to host a track day and introduce ourselves as MotoAmerica to influencers from across entertainment, music, sports, and culture, and do it in a really lowkey way that allowed them to have a really great time.”
In addition to a free lunch, guests were treated to the use of motorcycles from the Yamaha Champions Riding School demo fleet, riding gear from Alpinestars, and helmets from Arai, as well as rides with Ulrich on the Dunlop ECSTAR Suzuki two-seat Superbike.
The invitees were kept company on and off the track by MotoAmerica riders like Anthony, Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha’s Josh Herrin, and M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Cam Petersen, some of whom had their racebikes and team transporters on display.
“We all know why motorcycle road racing is one of the greatest sports ever,” said Miller, “and it’s not that hard to sell it if you can just find the right people to listen and then be able to experience it.”
MotoAmerica opens its 2021 season April 30-May 2 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Off-highway motorcycle sales were up 46.5% in 2020. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
After watching On Any Sunday, a multitude of children, parents, workers and thrill seekers escaped the turmoil of their times on motorcycles. Nothing like that explosion of off-road motorcycle racing in 1971 had been seen ever since, until 2020. Fifty years later, when everyone was told to go home, a new generation discovered the passion of their fathers.
Producer Troy Adamitis and director Nate Scribner, who have created The Great Outdoors, The Moto: Inside the Outdoors, Supercross: Behind the Dream, MX Nation and MX World, have partnered with RIDE Motorcycles to bring you an account of American Motocross’ Year of Jubilee.
Presented by: RIDE Motorcycles
Sponsored by: KTM, Husqvarna Motorcycles, GASGAS, Troy Lee Designs, USMCA
Tyler O'Hara (29) on his Indian Challenger during the inaugural MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers event at Laguna Seca in 2020. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Indian Motorcycles On Board As Official Partner Of 2021 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Series
America’s First Motorcycle Company To Support Three-Round Series
IRVINE, CA (April 9, 2021) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is proud to announce that Indian Motorcycles has come on board as an official partner of the 2021 MotoAmerica Series.
Indian Motorcycles, America’s first motorcycle company, came away with a win in the debut of the King of the Baggers at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca last year with Tyler O’Hara riding his S&S Indian Challenger to victory. O’Hara recently announced that he will defend his title in the three-round 2021 King of the Baggers Championship on his Indian.
“It’s great news that Indian is getting behind the MotoAmerica King of the Baggers,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “They won the first event at Laguna last year and we all saw how hugely popular the event was. It’s perfect that they are coming on board with both sponsorship and a team. The series promises to be intense and Indian starts the season as the team to beat.”
In addition to the sponsorship and the team, Indian will also have a support truck onsite at the MotoAmerica rounds that feature the King of the Baggers Series – Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (April 30-May 2), Road America (June 11-13) and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (July 9-11).
“After the overwhelming fan reaction to the 2020 debut of King of the Baggers with Tyler O’Hara’s win on an Indian Challenger, we are proud to sponsor MotoAmerica’s 2021 King of the Baggers race series,” said Gary Gray, VP of Racing, Technology & Service.
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed North America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 25th consecutive year of showcasing what is actually an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica/AMA Pro races and Championships, including nine MotoAmerica/AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (10 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2021 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
Liam Grant. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Liam Grant
Age: 17.
Current home: Boulder, Colorado.
Current height/weight: 5’11”/140 pounds.
Current school grade level: 11th grade.
Began riding at age: 12 years.
First road race: 2018, Dacono, Colorado, Rocky Mountain Mini Moto, Formula One, 1st place.
Current racebike: Kawasaki ZX-6R.
Current tuners/mechanics: Geoff Cesmat, Brian Robertson, Jason Grant (father).
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Supersport.
Top sponsors: Vortex Racing, Sun Enterprises, Shoei, Graves Motorsports, Boulder MotorSports, 64 Degree Racing, Moto Liberty, RS Taichi.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2020 season, finished 5th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (best race finish was 4th – three times); 2019 season, won 3 UtahSBA Expert Championships (Production 500, Moto3, Lightweight Superbike), won CVMA 500 Supersport Amateur Championship, won 29 races overall in 2019.
2021 racing goals: Finish in top 10 in MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
Racing career goal: Win Superbike World Championship.
Racing hero: Casey Stoner.
Favorite track: Barber Motorsports Park.
Favorite hobby: Ice Hockey.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Playing ice hockey.
Henning Jens, Ducati's new CFO. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Henning Jens appointed as new CFO of Ducati Motor Holding
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 8 April 2021 – Henning Jens has been appointed as new Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Board of Management of Ducati Motor Holding from April 1st. In this role, Henning Jens will be responsible for Finance, Controlling and Information Technology.
Henning Jens takes over from Oliver Stein, who ends his term at Ducati and accepts a new position as CFO at Audi Brussels. A warm thanks to Oliver for his commitment and achievements over the years and all the best wishes for his new professional role.
Mr. Jens completed his studies at the Kiel University of Applied Science, Germany as a Certified Mechanical Engineer. He then graduated with a degree as a Certified Industrial Engineer after further studies in business administration at the University of Kiel. In 2002, he received his MBA at Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA.
While complementing his studies in Germany, Mr. Jens worked as a self-employed Engineering Consultant.
In 1991 he joined Airbus Industries working in Corporate Strategy on various aircraft projects. Between 1996 and 2002 he headed the Controlling for Research and Development of Airbus and then became the Finance Project Leader of the Airbus A380 Program in Toulouse, France.
During 2002, Mr. Jens moved on to the automotive industry and joined the W. Karmann Group, Germany, as a Member of the Management Board in the position of Head of Finance and Controlling, being responsible for the German holding and the international subsidiaries.
In 2010, Mr. Jens joined the Volkswagen AG and founded a new company, the Volkswagen Osnabrueck GmbH, as a member of the Executive Board, heading Finance, IT and Purchasing. In the following years, the company ramped up the production of VW Golf Cabrio, VW Tiguan, VW XL1 as well as the Porsche Boxter, Cayman and Cayenne.
In March 2016, Mr. Jens was assigned as Finance Director Volkswagen Group of South Africa and Region Sub-Saharan Africa, subsequently also including the responsibility for Corporate Strategy.
Beside his corporate career, Mr. Jens set up a private management training seminar with the Controller Academy, Munich, in the field of Research and Development Controlling. He managed the seminar as a lecturer between 1997 and 2010.
Off-highway motorcycle sales were up 46.5% in 2020. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
GASGAS, Husqvarna, KTM, Troy Lee Designs, and USMCA have teamed up to create a new video series covering the rejuvenation of the sport of motorcycling during the global pandemic. The video series is called RIDE Motorcycles. Here is a trailer for the first video, “The Year of Jubilee,” which will debut on Friday, April 9.
A stock 2021-model Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON SCREAMIN’ EAGLE FACTORY TEAM TO CONTEND KING OF THE BAGGERS SERIES
H-D Announces Contingency Program for Independent Bagger Teams
MILWAUKEE (April 8, 2021) – A new Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory racing team will compete in MotoAmerica King of the Baggers, a road racing series held in conjunction with the 2021 MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Series. The team is preparing a Harley-Davidson Road Glide® Special powered by a race-modified Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engine for pro rider Kyle Wyman. In addition to its factory team effort, Harley-Davidson will offer a nearly $30,000 cash contingency program for qualified Harley-Davidson racers competing in the three-race King of the Baggers series.
King of the Baggers successfully debuted as a one-off MotoAmerica invitational exhibition event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca last October and, after an exciting race, received a positive reception by fans and racers. MotoAmerica will host a three-round King of the Baggers series in 2021 for race-prepared, American V-Twin touring motorcycles equipped with a fairing/windscreen and saddlebags. The series is open to all qualified AMA license holders, with championship points being tallied at each round and a National Champion crowned at season’s end.
“Competing in the King of the Baggers series gives Harley-Davidson an opportunity to showcase our Screamin’ Eagle performance products in the heat of competition,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president, and CEO Harley-Davidson. “Nobody knows more about building Harley-Davidson performance than our Screamin’ Eagle engineers. Harley-Davidson created the first factory hot rod baggers, the Road Glide Special and Street Glide Special models, for riders craving performance and touring comfort.”
The Screamin’ Eagle Milwaukee-Eight 131 Performance Crate Engine is the most-powerful street-compliant performance engine offered by Harley-Davidson. Built from the bottom up in Milwaukee, this street-tuned, 131-cubic-inch (2147cc) Screamin’ Eagle crate engine delivers 131 ft-lb of torque to the rear wheel as soon as the throttle is cranked, and may be installed in 2017-later Harley-Davidson Touring models.
Veteran road racer Kyle Wyman, 31 from Macedon, N.Y., formed Kyle Wyman Racing at the age of 21 to compete at the highest level of professional road racing in the United States. He started racing Harley-Davidson XR750s in flat track at the age of 15. Wyman was a contender and won six races in the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XR1200 series, he won the Daytona 200 in 2019 and placed seventh overall in the 2020 HONOS Superbike series, the premier MotoAmerica road racing class. Wyman is the son of Kim Wyman, owner of Harv’s Harley-Davidson in Macedon.
“I am very excited and honored to be the rider of the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide Special,” said Wyman. “To be a Factory rider for Harley-Davidson is something I’ve dreamed of since I was little, watching my hero Scott Parker win Grand National Championships on the Harley-Davidson XR750. I look forward to our first race at Road Atlanta and competing aboard this amazing machine.”
The MotoAmerica King of the Baggers series kicks off April 30-May 2 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, and continues June 11-13 at Road America Elkhart Lake, Wis., and July 9-11 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Calif.
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed North America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 25th consecutive year of showcasing what is actually an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica/AMA Pro races and Championships, including nine MotoAmerica/AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (10 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2021 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
Ben Gloddy on the MotoAmerica Junior Cup podium. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Ben Gloddy
Age: 15.
Current home: Northfield, New Hampshire.
Current height/weight: 5’6”/135 pounds.
Current school grade level: 10th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2018, Canaan, New Hampshire, NESBC, Formula 300 Class, 3rd place.
Current racebikes: Kawasaki Ninja 400, Suzuki SV650.
Top sponsors: Landers Racing, Penguin Racing School, American Supercamp, Freedom Cycle NH, The Big S, Woodcraft Technologies, First Trax, Inter-Tech Supplies, Stump Racing, Arai, Fast By Ferracci.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2020 season, placed 4th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (8 podium finishes); 2019 season, finished 9th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup (competed in 11 of 17 races, 1 podium, 3 top-5 finishes), won 2 LRRS Championships (12 race wins), won NESBC Lights Championship; 2018 season, named LRRS Rookie of the Year (youngest to ever receive the award), won 24 LRRS races and earned 46 podium finishes, won NESBC Intermediate B Championship.
2021 racing goal: Win MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship.
Racing career goal: Make it to MotoGP World Championship.
Racing hero: Jamison Minor.
Favorite track: Barber Motorsports Park.
Favorite hobby: Downhill mountain biking.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Downhill mountain biking.
The paddock at Willow Springs International Raceway filled with MotoAmerica staff, racers, partners, and invited guests. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.
On April 5, MotoAmerica hosted an event at Willow Springs International Raceway dubbed “Bikes and Burgers Track Day.” And while having burgers at the racetrack is fairly common, the attendees at this track day were far from it.
For instance…
Orlando Bloom, the actor best known for his roles in the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Lord of the Rings movies, rode one of “Aussie Dave” Anthony’s FLY Racing/ADR Motorsports Stock 1000 racebikes and then went for a 145-mph ride with former Pro racer Chris Ulrich on the Dunlop ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000 two-seat Superbike.
Actor Orlando Bloom prepares to go out on track on a FLY Racing/ADR Motorsports Kawasaki ZX-10R Stock 1000 racebike. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
Actor, stuntman, second unit director, and former racer Tom McComas (who is known for his work as Ryan Reynolds’ stunt double in Dead Pool 2, among many other projects) was there on his new Ducati Panigale V4 S.
Professional stunter Aaron Colton put on a display.
Members of the rock band Incubus Chris Kilmore and Ben Kenney came out to play.
Billy Morrison, the long-time guitarist for Billy Idol, did laps.
Cast members from the Netflix original drama 13 Reasons Why were present.
Guests lining up to go out on track at MotoAmerica’s “Bikes and Burgers Track Day” at Willow Spring. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.
In total, over 100 guests attended the event at the invitation of MotoAmerica and new Vice President, Media + Promotions Jordan Miller.
“[The reasons] for me coming over to MotoAmerica was to find ways to reach an additional audience other than the core fan,” Miller told Roadracingworld.com. “One of the tactics I thought would be impactful early on was to host a track day and introduce ourselves as MotoAmerica to influencers from across entertainment, music, sports, and culture, and do it in a really lowkey way that allowed them to have a really great time.”
In addition to a free lunch, guests were treated to the use of motorcycles from the Yamaha Champions Riding School demo fleet, riding gear from Alpinestars, and helmets from Arai, as well as rides with Ulrich on the Dunlop ECSTAR Suzuki two-seat Superbike.
The invitees were kept company on and off the track by MotoAmerica riders like Anthony, Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha’s Josh Herrin, and M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Cam Petersen, some of whom had their racebikes and team transporters on display.
“We all know why motorcycle road racing is one of the greatest sports ever,” said Miller, “and it’s not that hard to sell it if you can just find the right people to listen and then be able to experience it.”
MotoAmerica opens its 2021 season April 30-May 2 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
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Accessibility
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Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
November 11, 2026
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Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
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Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
