Bloomingdale, GA – It was a cold, dark and stormy day February 13 at Roebling Road Raceway when the 18 teams lined up to start the second ASRA Team Challenge Presented by Michelin Tire of the 2021 season. Little did the other 17 teams know that Farrell Performance (Jason Farrell, Calvin Martinez) was on fire, and when the smoke cleared, Farrell Performance finished with the largest margin of victory ever in an ASRA Team Challenge event. With three full laps on runner-up Grease Monkey Racing (Stephen Hoffman), Farrell Performance dominated the track and the rest of the field to take their second win in a row.
Editorial Note: Use the scroll and zoom functions in the bottom left corner of the PDF viewer to better see all pages of the race results.
FHO RACING BMW FORMULATE NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH ‘THE ROADHOUSE MACAU’ TO RUN BRIAN MCCORMACK IN THE 2021 BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
FHO Racing BMW have teamed up with The Roadhouse Macau to support ex-Irish Superbike Champion Brian McCormack in the ultra-competitive Bennetts British Superbike Championship in 2021.
McCormack, who is a popular rider in the unique Macau Grand Prix, has brought together the busy restaurant in this bustling city-state and local entrepreneur Faye Ho, for an exciting partnership in the 11 round BSB series. The partnership gives Roadhouse good visibility as main sponsor in this part of the FHO operation whilst the highly experienced BSB personnel will guide Brian though testing and the 33 BSB races to maximise his results.
Although a self-confessed roads specialist, McCormack will be focusing on the short circuit series for 2021, with good experience logged up in last season’s events. The Waterford rider remains the fastest ever Republic of Ireland rider at the Isle of Man TT, having lapped the Mountain Course at 128.812mph.
The Roadhouse Macau venue is known as the leading blues, bikes, rock and booze bar in Macau. Attracting motorsport fans and teams it offers a wide range of pub food, drinks from around the world and live music. The Roadhouse Macau will be the main 2021 team partner on Brian McCormack’s FHO Racing BMW machine. Ciarán Carruthers from ‘The Roadhouse Macau’:
“We have been thrilled to sponsor Brian these past few years, both at the Macau GP and races back home in Ireland and at the Isle of Man TT. When the events of 2020 led to the opportunity for Brian to race in the BSB Championship we were delighted to continue that support with The Roadhouse Macau by On1 Racing BMW. However, without the support of Faye Ho throughout 2020 it would have been a far more difficult year for Brian and the team.
To now have the chance to see him ride for the new FHO Racing Team and continue to fly The Roadhouse Macau name as the team partner is a proud moment personally and we are all thrilled at what lies ahead for the 2021 season…and we can’t wait to have Brian, Faye and the team here in Macau later in the year!”
Brian McCormack:
“I am excited to be given my first full season at BSB thanks to Faye Ho. Not taking this opportunity lightly, I have been training very hard over the off-season and staying away from the Guinness! I will then be prepared for pre-season testing aboard the BMW S1000RR.
Dipping my toe in the championship last year I know how hugely competitive it is so the goal is to start by scoring points and moving my way up the grid. With the team and bike I have behind me, I am sure we can push for some good results this season.
It’s been a hard pill to swallow with no TT, NW200 or Ulster GP this year. After being in the top ten at the TT for the last few years, I think with this team and bikes we could have done something special. I am hoping for a good year, finished off with a race event at the Macau GP. Huge thanks to Ciaran from the Roadhouse Macau for helping make this step.”
FHO Racing BMW Team Owner Faye Ho
“We are really excited to be teaming up with The Roadhouse, somewhere I’m well aware of from Macau of course. We are keen to help them get great support and visibility on the bikes, social media and the TV broadcast throughout the season.
I’m also sure that Brian will massively benefit from the technical support from the rest of the FHO set-up, as the team help him progress in this extremely competitive series.”
CARDO SYSTEMS APPOINTS M.K. SMITH AS GENERAL MANAGER, AMERICAS
Consumer Electronics Industry Veteran Takes Reigns for Cardo’s North American Business
Plano, Texas – Cardo Systems, the global market leader in Bluetooth and mesh communication systems for powersports riders, today announced the appointment of M.K. Smith as its new General Manager, Americas. With over 25 years in the consumer electronics industry, Smith brings robust experience, expertise and leadership to the Cardo team.
Over the span of her career, Smith has occupied leadership roles with numerous Fortune 500 companies and brings a keen understanding of the consumer electronics landscape and the nuances of leading operations where technology and innovation are at the forefront. As General Manager, Americas, Smith will manage Cardo’s U.S. team, and be responsible for the growth and success of the company’s business in the region.
“M.K.’s significant experience in managing large-scale businesses in the consumer tech realm, and her innate leadership skills, make her uniquely equipped for what is a vital position to the overall growth and success of our company,” said Jonathan Yanai, Cardo Systems VP Global Sales. “Her track record speaks for itself, and we’re thrilled by the possibilities she brings to the ongoing development of a region that is so important to our global success.”
Smith’s impressive resume comprises work with leading consumer electronic companies, including Logitech, Micron Technology, U.S. Robotics/3Com, and Palm Computing. Prior to joining Cardo Systems, Smith was a Senior Customer Advisor at Amazon Business, where she managed Amazon’s ongoing service to its largest corporate customers, with revenue in excess of $5 billion. Prior to her successful career, Smith studied Electronic Data Processing at Eastern Kentucky University.
“I could not be more excited by this opportunity to apply my experience and expertise to a dynamic industry leader like Cardo Systems that’s so deeply rooted in a spirit of forward progress and innovation,” said Smith. “As a passionate motorcyclist and outdoor enthusiast, this is a unique opportunity where my personal interests provide added fuel to my professional efforts.”
As Cardo continues to expand the wireless communications industry, the company looks to provide high-quality products for communities and varying powersports applications that rely on helmet-to-helmet communication. With the addition of Smith, Cardo looks to further its hold as the global leader in powersports communication.
For more information about Cardo Systems, please visit www.cardosystems.com. Also visit us and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Cardo Systems
Cardo specializes in the design, development, manufacturing and sale of state-of-the-art wireless communication and entertainment systems for motorcycle riders. Since inception in 2003, Cardo has pioneered the vast majority of innovations for Bluetooth motorcycle communication systems and in 2015, it has also introduced the world’s first mesh powered communication protocol into the motorcycle market. The company’s products, now available in over 100 countries, are the world’s leading communication devices for the motorcycle industry.
Motorcycling Australia and Motorsport Australia regret to advise the postponement of the upcoming Australian All Wheels Race Fest at Phillip Island, scheduled for 18-21 February.
A round of the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships and Round 1 of the 2021 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, the event was to feature both cars and bikes on track across the weekend.
With confirmation of a statewide Victorian lockdown imposed by the Victorian Government limiting travel into and out of the state, the decision to postpone the event was made today to provide certainty to categories, competitors, teams, officials and spectators before the ‘bump-in’ proceedings began.
At this stage, there is no certainty the lockdown will end after the initial 5 day period, and for the event to proceed many attendees will be required to travel into Victoria in the coming days, with many unwilling to do so without a understanding if the event can proceed and on how they may be able to return home once the event concludes.
There is also uncertainty around the level of restrictions once any lockdown ends, making the prospect of hosting this large event a difficult one, given the logistical requirements and uncertainty around gathering numbers and travel between regions.
All spectators who purchased a ticket to this event will be provided with a full refund, and all ticketholders will be contacted in the coming days about this process.
Work will begin shortly to see if an alternative date is possible for this unique event which brings together a spectacular race event of both two and four wheels.
Motorcycling Australia CEO Peter Doyle:
“Motorcycling Australia and the ASBK Management Team have the responsibility to ensure the safety of our ASBK teams, riders, officials and dedicated fans. Whilst we are very disappointed by the impact of the Victorian Governments decision today with this new COVID-19 lockdown. The safety of our MA members come first, and this means a tough decision needs to be made, and in a timely manner.
“We thank the ASBK paddock, our championship partners and fans for their understanding at this difficult time, as these circumstances our outside of our control, and are extremely frustrating this close to the inaugural event together with Motorsport Australia.
“We will work with Motorsport Australia and Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit with the aim to reschedule the Australian All Wheels Race Fest for a new date in 2021.
“ASBK Championship will now kick off at Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla Victoria for ASBK Round 2 on March 12 -14. We look forward to getting back to the trackside and welcome riders and fans.”
Motorsport Australia Director of Motorsport and Commercial Operations Michael Smith:
“We’re all understandably disappointed with this outcome, given the significant planning already underway for this event,” Smith said.
“The health and safety of all those who would be part of the event has to be our priority and unfortunately race meetings like this cannot just be turned on and turned off in 24 hours.
“There would also be a significant costs for organisers, categories, teams, officials and spectators if there was a last minute cancellation, so this decision provides some certainty for everyone who had planned to attend and makes sure that no competitors are disadvantaged in their respective series or Championship.
“For the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships, we now look forward to the opening round taking place as part of the Hi Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour on the Easter Weekend. We look forward to working closely with Matt and the team at Australian Racing Group to deliver an exciting event at Australia’s most iconic circuit.”
Ohvale’s new GP-2 190 Daytona mini road race motorcycle will not be eligible for use in any class of the 2021 MotoAmerica Mini Cup by Motul.
“Only the GP-0 will be allowed in Mini Cup in 2021,” MotoAmerica’s new Technical Director Tige Daane told Roadracingworld.com.
Although the GP-2 has the same 190cc single-cylinder engine as the GP-0 currently used in the Mini Cup 190cc class, the GP-2 has significant differences including the frame, swingarm, suspension, and larger 12-inch wheels.
Read a riding report on the Ohvale GP-2 in an upcoming issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.
Bridgestone Motorcycle Tires named the Title Sponsor of the 2021 AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series
Bridgestone and the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association partner for the 2021 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series.
The 11-race season kicks-off on February 18-21 at Roebling Road Raceway.
Bridgestone shows continued commitment to vintage racing following the 2020 launch of the Battlax CR11 tire.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 12, 2021) –Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (Bridgestone) has partnered with the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) to announce its title sponsorship of the 2021 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series.
The 2021 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Historic Cup Roadracing Series will take place at some of the finest and most historic venues in the United States: Willow Springs, Heartland Motorsports Park, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Laguna Seca and Barber Motorsports Park, to name a few. It will give racers from across the country a chance to exhibit their skills and compete against each other.
“As a global leader in mobility solutions, we’re excited to partner with the AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series to showcase Bridgestone’s technical expertise and commitment to continue to be a leader in motorcycle racing,” said Jared Williams, general manager, Bridgestone Motorcycle Tire Business in the United States and Canada. “It’s an opportunity to highlight the Battlax Classic Racing CR11 tire that was launched in 2020, which was specifically developed for the classic racer. We’ve been looking forward to partnering with AHRMA to support their continued legacy in historic motorcycle racing.”
“Keeping a vintage road racer on the track is much easier when quality tires from Bridgestone are available to our racers,” said Arthur Kowitz, 2021 Chair of the AHRMA Board of Trustees. “We really appreciate Bridgestone creating tires specifically for the unique needs of our bikes.”
Utilizing the technologies Bridgestone has cultivated over years of developing motorcycle race tires, the Battlax Classic Racing CR11 tire is optimized for vintage racing to give riders consistent grip in both wet and dry conditions, as well as offering fast warm-up times without the need for tire warmers.
The 2021 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series will host 11 races this season, starting at Roebling Road Raceway in Bloomingdale, GA on February 18-21 and finishing at Barber Motorsports Park on October 7-10. The Bridgestone Classic Racing CR11 tire and other Bridgestone race tires will be available for purchase onsite at every round. For Bridgestone road race contingency information, please see your AHRMA Tech Official at the track.
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Nashville, Tennessee-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader providing sustainable mobility and advanced solutions. Bridgestone Americas develops, manufactures and markets a diverse portfolio of original equipment and replacement tires, tire-centric solutions, mobility solutions, and other rubber-associated and diversified products that deliver social value and customer value. Guided by its global corporate social responsibility commitment, Our Way to Serve, Bridgestone is dedicated to shaping a sustainable future of mobility and improving the way people move, live, work and play.
About The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association Ltd.:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association Ltd. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving, restoring and competing on historic motorcycles. With over 3000 members, AHRMA is the leading vintage racing group in North America and one of the largest in the world. The association’s enthusiastic membership reflects this country’s strong interest in classic bikes.
A further review of Marc Marquez at the Hospital Ruber Internacional, 10 weeks after surgery for an infected pseudoarthrosis of the right humerus, has confirmed a favourable clinical situation. The medical team led by Doctors Samuel Antuña and Ignacio Roger de Oña, and including Doctors Juan De Miguel, Aitor Ibarzabal and Andrea García Villanueva, assessed the radiographic signs of bone consolidation and were satisfied with the progress. From now on, and during the next few weeks, Marquez will be able to progress steadily in the process of functional recovery of the operated arm.
KTM Factory Racing unveiled the KTM RC16 colors for the 2021 MotoGP FIM World Championship through a digital presentation that introduced the new look, line-ups and objectives for the anticipated season ahead.
On March 28th 2021 MotoGP will tear away from the Losail International Circuit grid and into the Qatari night. As winners of the final round of 2020, perhaps more eyes will be on the four KTM RC16s that will inhabit rows spots and in the hands of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder (South African, 25) and Miguel Oliveira (Portuguese, 26) and Tech3 KTM Factory Racing’s Danilo Petrucci (Italian, 30) and Iker Lecuona (Spanish, 21).
The manufacturer will be hoping to surpass their 4th position in the 2020 Constructors Standings and add to their grand total of three Pole Positions, nine podium trophies and three victories in what will be only their fifth season in the MotoGP paddock. The four-bike roster heads the KTM GP Academy: a stream of potential star athletes and machinery that stretches through the support classes of Moto2 and Moto3 and down into talent-spotting initiatives such as the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and the Northern Talent Cup.
The 2021 liveries for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and the fetching all-orange design for Tech3 KTM Factory Racing will add a prominent aesthetic to what will hopefully be another gripping MotoGP contest.
Brad Binder and his KTM RC16. Photo by Sebas Romero, courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Brad Binder, #33: “2020 in general was a season where I feel we achieved a lot, a few good results and obviously with the first victory – or KTM’s first victory – being the main thing. But there were also many days when we had the potential to do so much more. For sure now the margin is a little bit smaller to try and improve but I think as the season went on last year, even though we had a little bit of a slump in the middle, things got better and better. I felt like I was improving not only for the results but in the way approaching the weekends and going session-by-session. At the moment I feel that we have a really, really strong package. We are in a good direction and I am super-excited to get back on the bike this year.”
Miguel Oliveira and his KTM RC16. Photo by Sebas Romero, courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Miguel Oliveira, #88: “For sure to be world champion you need to have many details together at the same time and for that, depending on how the season is going and what is happening, generally we can find success through the project. Sometimes a 4th place will be a very good result and sometimes a 2nd place may not fulfil our expectations but you have to work through that process and right now, as a start base, I am thinking quite hard to set a bar of results that we can consider as successful. For sure being better than 2020 is already a good start. It is quite a relaxing factor to know that the bike is capable of winning but at the same time you cannot take anything for granted and when it comes to repeating success it becomes harder, so I don’t see it as a static job. I think every year you need to bring something ‘up’ on your side to keep a very good level in this championship. I feel I am able to work more on details in a factory team and to at least be more consistent. I think these are the tools that the factory team is going to give me. I have full conviction in my work.”
Danilo Petrucci and his KTM RC16. Photo by Sebas Romero, courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Danilo Petrucci, #9: “It’s my tenth year in MotoGP and to ‘celebrate’ this I will ride for KTM and I’m very proud about this. Tech3 KTM Factory Racing is one of the most competitive teams we have in MotoGP. Last year they won two races, so I am really happy to race with them. We have all the factory support we need and in a really nice environment. I’m really, really curious to try the bike and get to know the people from the Tech3 team. I want to give some of my experience back to this factory. I know many race situations that can happen during a year and all the other three riders are all very fast and very competitive. I am the ‘most experienced’ but I want to be faster than them or I want to fight with them and share our opinion to let the bike grow. In the end to be satisfied with the season and to make all the KTM people and factory happy: this is the target. To be fast is the thing that matters the most.”
Iker Lecuona and his KTM RC16. Photo by Sebas Romero, courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Iker Lecuona, #27: “This winter I have been working very hard on my preparation because MotoGP is a very physically demanding class and you need to be in perfect condition. In 2021 I want to start at the same level that I reached towards the end of the season and then we will see how it goes. Everybody is strong, the level in the category is very high, but my team is working very good, the bike in 2020 has made a big step and I feel confident to show my best on the track”.
Hubert Trunkenpolz, KTM AG Member of the board (CMO): “MotoGP is the best platform for global motorsports present at the moment and this is why we wanted to prolong the successful co-operation we’ve had so far for the next five years. To win the first MotoGP race in Brno with Brad Binder last summer was one of the most emotional moments of my entire motorsport lifetime and, of course, also for the company. We delivered, and it took away a lot of pressure from us. I don’t know if it happened by accident but from that time our business on a global scale went through the ceiling. I think the fans enjoyed MotoGP in 2020 but what we really missed were them at the tracks. I hope this year we will get back to something like normal. In general our short term objective is very clear: we want to finish with our four riders in the top ten regularly and be on the podium regularly. We would like to win another race to really continue with what we have achieved in 2020.”
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director: “The whole MotoGP journey so far has been a dream but the project started with a dream to become a GP winner in that class, so it is amazing to look back and see where we have come., However I definitely don’t want to commit to us already being title contenders. I think this pressure should still be on other guys in the paddock but we are really, really happy that the dream came true with these GP wins. They are a fact. They are on paper and we are definitely hungry for more. We have great staff and everybody is pushing hard. I think that is the style of KTM and the whole company: to have this new spirit with a new goal means the whole company sticks together and we do it together. It brings extra energy. All four of our riders all have incredible skills and talent otherwise they would not be in that class but then in detail they are all different and in different ways they go for their goal. All four are still riding in that very last second of motorcycle racing. We have our first wins in the pocket but now the new season is starts and everything begins from zero. I will be happy with 2021 if our riders finishing the last GP without any injuries and we can think back to some very successful races. That’s what I am looking for.”
Mike Leitner, Race Manager, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: “Increased pressure for sure brings more motivation to the race team because all the KTM people working in this racing business are ‘built’ for pressure. This is the DNA of our sport – or for sport in general – and we’ll take this as a positive thing. For 2021 we are on the timescale. We had ideas and we had to find a good balance between what we can achieve now and between five days of testing in Doha before the season starts because we have to homologate the engine spec and the aerodynamic package there. We have the things we want for ’21 but of course people in the company are already working on stuff for the ’22 season. The plan we had for the winter tests; these parts or units are ready but what we can finally bring into the 2021 season will be decided after the five days at the Doha test. Both of our riders will get all they need to do their best in 2021.”
Hervé Poncharal, Team Manager Tech3 KTM Factory Racing: “After an incredible 2020 season which saw Tech3 KTM winning two races, we can’t wait to start 2021. It’s going to be a very special season for all of us at Tech3 KTM Factory Racing because we now know that with the KTM RC16 we have the weapon to fight for pole positions and to fight for podiums and victories. We will welcome a new rider with a lot of experience: Danilo is a super charming guy, he is so impatient, so focused and motivated to start the season with testing in Qatar. Iker remains with us. We have a lot of trust and expectations in him. He is not a rookie anymore and this is the time for him to deliver. For me as a team owner, I have to say that the first two years with KTM were like a dream. The improvements from 2019 to 2020 were unbelievable and honestly, even though I was trusting KTM to make a big step, the step they made was something I was not expecting. As I said before, to win two races already in year two is an incredible achievement. We are a happy team, everybody is very impatient to start the 2021 season but before we go to Qatar, there is a great moment for KTM and Tech3 to happen, which is this presentation. We will be wearing the full KTM factory colors, which is a great recognition for our partnership but also a lot of weight on our shoulders to keep pushing even more. We know we represent the brand and we know how important a MotoGP bike with the full factory colors is for everyone. Thanks to all those who follow and supports us.”
After taking the MotoGP World Championship crown in style during a unique racing season, Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir was left with the decision of which number to run on the front of his GSX-RR for 2021. His final choice is to keep his beloved number 36.
As is racing tradition, the reigning champion is the only rider with the right to use number one on their machine during the successive season after winning a title. Mir took into consideration the various pros and cons of running with either number, but the 36 still carries a lot of significance for him.
Said Mir: “More than anything, it represents hard work. I want to continue this way of working and get the opportunity to win more titles. And perhaps if I do win again, I will choose the number one. But for now I feel very happy with this decision and I want to thank the fans for their support.
“It really was a difficult decision to make, it took a lot of consideration and thought. There are benefits to both; on one hand it’s a great opportunity to use the number one on your bike because it’s something you’ve truly earned and also it can look really cool! But equally, number 36 has meant so much to me over the years. It’s almost a part of me, and that’s why I wanted to continue with it.”
“Maybe They Didn’t Expect That They Have To Deal With Us…”
Interview: Mike Leitner, Race Manager, KTM Factory Racing
By Michael Gougis
It would be easy to dismiss KTM’s breakthrough success in the 2020 MotoGP season – its first three wins, more than any manufacturer other than Yamaha – as a fluke. A chaotic schedule whipped back and forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, the absence of the dominating presence of six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez, Yamaha struggling with reliability, consistency and legality issues, Ducati struggling to come to terms with the new-spec Michelin tires – one could argue that others fell more than KTM rose.
Mike Leitner, Race Manager for the KTM Factory Racing MotoGP effort, would disagree.
At the world introduction of the 2021 KTM MotoGP teams – the Red Bull factory squad and the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing team – Leitner said he felt that the company’s RC16 racebike had improved to the point where the team could fight with the best from dominant companies from Japan and Italy.
“I didn’t have the feeling that they were struggling so much. We had very fast competitors,” Leitner told the virtual assembly of international motorsports journalists. “I think maybe sometimes people start struggling when suddenly somebody’s here who was not here before. Maybe they didn’t expect that they have to deal with us for GP victories or podiums. I think this was the situation. I don’t think they struggled more than before.”
KTM’s machines weren’t just competitive in 2020. At Brno and Portimao, they were dominant. Rookie Brad Binder came through the field to take a clean win at Brno, and Miguel Oliveira took pole at Portimao before he crushed the field in the season-ending race, leading at one point by 4.5 seconds.
Miguel Oliveira (88) in action at Algarve International Circuit in Portimao, Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Leitner says the improvement came through adapting the machine to the needs of the riders, who then turned their newfound confidence into speed and results.
“I would say the biggest difference on this bike (the 2020 version) was that we understood better the rider’s needs. And of course we made a step on the engine and the chassis. And this combination really was magic with our riders,” Leitner said.
“It was at that point that the riders start to believe. Suddenly lap times are coming. You go straight to QP2. It’s a combination that starts a reaction. The rider, in their mind, instead of the fourth line on the grid, they are on the second line, you have a better start, you fight with other people, and suddenly things which before you think it’s not possible – suddenly possible.”
2020 saw KTM radically change their frame design – although it is still steel and orange, it now much more closely resembles the class-convention twin-spar configuration. And, to put it simply, the frame worked. For 2021, Leitner said KTM wasn’t focusing on improving any one area of the machine as it had for 2020.
“We are in a lucky situation that we have a quite balanced (racebike). The performance – four riders were able to use this bike (well), even if the riding style of them was completely different,” Leitner said. “We really don’t focus now on one specific part which we try to make better. Of course we try to make a stronger engine, we try to make a better chassis, we try to make a better aerodynamic package, we try just to make another step on the complete package of the bike.”
Before the 2020 season started, KTM moved to bring experience into a rider lineup defined by its youth. Two of the four seats were taken by MotoGP rookies, one rider (Oliveira) was going into his second year, and the team’s most veteran rider, Pol Espargaro, was heading for the Repsol Honda team. Factory Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci had already been told that his services would not be required for 2021, and when he signed for the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing team, he became the only racer under KTM contract who actually had won a MotoGP race.
Then 2020 happened. Binder won, Oliveira won twice. And both have spent years with KTM, the RC16 the only MotoGP machine they have raced. With KTM carving its own technical path, the only manufacturer competing with a steel frame and WP suspension (“We are on this island alone,” Leitner said), how important is it to have a rider from the outside on the team at all?
Danilo Petrucci joins the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing team for 2021. Photo by Philip Platzer, courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Very, Leitner says. It’s not just experience in riding and racing that Petrucci brings to the team. It’s his years of experience in everything else that happens on race weekend, a way of working that increases the chances of success, that turns around a weekend when the team is going the wrong way, that Petrucci brings with him.
“The young kids, they are very enthusiastic, and of course they are pushing and risking and everything,” Leitner said. “But after two, three years you – for example, Miguel (Oliveira) you can feel it already quite a lot – is that he has a different way to approach things. So the guy who is stable in this group like Danilo is for the young kids, the young riders, a good guy to watch, how he’s doing things. And of course he will try to beat them! It will be a very interesting competition.”
Farrell Performance (86) leading the ASRA Team Challenge Presented by Michelin Tire at Roebling Road Raceway. Photo by Lisa Theobald, courtesy ASRA/CCS.
Bloomingdale, GA – It was a cold, dark and stormy day February 13 at Roebling Road Raceway when the 18 teams lined up to start the second ASRA Team Challenge Presented by Michelin Tire of the 2021 season. Little did the other 17 teams know that Farrell Performance (Jason Farrell, Calvin Martinez) was on fire, and when the smoke cleared, Farrell Performance finished with the largest margin of victory ever in an ASRA Team Challenge event. With three full laps on runner-up Grease Monkey Racing (Stephen Hoffman), Farrell Performance dominated the track and the rest of the field to take their second win in a row.
Editorial Note: Use the scroll and zoom functions in the bottom left corner of the PDF viewer to better see all pages of the race results.
Brian McCormack (111) at speed on his BMW. Photo courtesy Brian McCormack.
FHO RACING BMW FORMULATE NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH ‘THE ROADHOUSE MACAU’ TO RUN BRIAN MCCORMACK IN THE 2021 BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
FHO Racing BMW have teamed up with The Roadhouse Macau to support ex-Irish Superbike Champion Brian McCormack in the ultra-competitive Bennetts British Superbike Championship in 2021.
McCormack, who is a popular rider in the unique Macau Grand Prix, has brought together the busy restaurant in this bustling city-state and local entrepreneur Faye Ho, for an exciting partnership in the 11 round BSB series. The partnership gives Roadhouse good visibility as main sponsor in this part of the FHO operation whilst the highly experienced BSB personnel will guide Brian though testing and the 33 BSB races to maximise his results.
Although a self-confessed roads specialist, McCormack will be focusing on the short circuit series for 2021, with good experience logged up in last season’s events. The Waterford rider remains the fastest ever Republic of Ireland rider at the Isle of Man TT, having lapped the Mountain Course at 128.812mph.
The Roadhouse Macau venue is known as the leading blues, bikes, rock and booze bar in Macau. Attracting motorsport fans and teams it offers a wide range of pub food, drinks from around the world and live music. The Roadhouse Macau will be the main 2021 team partner on Brian McCormack’s FHO Racing BMW machine. Ciarán Carruthers from ‘The Roadhouse Macau’:
“We have been thrilled to sponsor Brian these past few years, both at the Macau GP and races back home in Ireland and at the Isle of Man TT. When the events of 2020 led to the opportunity for Brian to race in the BSB Championship we were delighted to continue that support with The Roadhouse Macau by On1 Racing BMW. However, without the support of Faye Ho throughout 2020 it would have been a far more difficult year for Brian and the team.
To now have the chance to see him ride for the new FHO Racing Team and continue to fly The Roadhouse Macau name as the team partner is a proud moment personally and we are all thrilled at what lies ahead for the 2021 season…and we can’t wait to have Brian, Faye and the team here in Macau later in the year!”
Brian McCormack:
“I am excited to be given my first full season at BSB thanks to Faye Ho. Not taking this opportunity lightly, I have been training very hard over the off-season and staying away from the Guinness! I will then be prepared for pre-season testing aboard the BMW S1000RR.
Dipping my toe in the championship last year I know how hugely competitive it is so the goal is to start by scoring points and moving my way up the grid. With the team and bike I have behind me, I am sure we can push for some good results this season.
It’s been a hard pill to swallow with no TT, NW200 or Ulster GP this year. After being in the top ten at the TT for the last few years, I think with this team and bikes we could have done something special. I am hoping for a good year, finished off with a race event at the Macau GP. Huge thanks to Ciaran from the Roadhouse Macau for helping make this step.”
FHO Racing BMW Team Owner Faye Ho
“We are really excited to be teaming up with The Roadhouse, somewhere I’m well aware of from Macau of course. We are keen to help them get great support and visibility on the bikes, social media and the TV broadcast throughout the season.
I’m also sure that Brian will massively benefit from the technical support from the rest of the FHO set-up, as the team help him progress in this extremely competitive series.”
CARDO SYSTEMS APPOINTS M.K. SMITH AS GENERAL MANAGER, AMERICAS
Consumer Electronics Industry Veteran Takes Reigns for Cardo’s North American Business
Plano, Texas – Cardo Systems, the global market leader in Bluetooth and mesh communication systems for powersports riders, today announced the appointment of M.K. Smith as its new General Manager, Americas. With over 25 years in the consumer electronics industry, Smith brings robust experience, expertise and leadership to the Cardo team.
Over the span of her career, Smith has occupied leadership roles with numerous Fortune 500 companies and brings a keen understanding of the consumer electronics landscape and the nuances of leading operations where technology and innovation are at the forefront. As General Manager, Americas, Smith will manage Cardo’s U.S. team, and be responsible for the growth and success of the company’s business in the region.
“M.K.’s significant experience in managing large-scale businesses in the consumer tech realm, and her innate leadership skills, make her uniquely equipped for what is a vital position to the overall growth and success of our company,” said Jonathan Yanai, Cardo Systems VP Global Sales. “Her track record speaks for itself, and we’re thrilled by the possibilities she brings to the ongoing development of a region that is so important to our global success.”
Smith’s impressive resume comprises work with leading consumer electronic companies, including Logitech, Micron Technology, U.S. Robotics/3Com, and Palm Computing. Prior to joining Cardo Systems, Smith was a Senior Customer Advisor at Amazon Business, where she managed Amazon’s ongoing service to its largest corporate customers, with revenue in excess of $5 billion. Prior to her successful career, Smith studied Electronic Data Processing at Eastern Kentucky University.
“I could not be more excited by this opportunity to apply my experience and expertise to a dynamic industry leader like Cardo Systems that’s so deeply rooted in a spirit of forward progress and innovation,” said Smith. “As a passionate motorcyclist and outdoor enthusiast, this is a unique opportunity where my personal interests provide added fuel to my professional efforts.”
As Cardo continues to expand the wireless communications industry, the company looks to provide high-quality products for communities and varying powersports applications that rely on helmet-to-helmet communication. With the addition of Smith, Cardo looks to further its hold as the global leader in powersports communication.
For more information about Cardo Systems, please visit www.cardosystems.com. Also visit us and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Cardo Systems
Cardo specializes in the design, development, manufacturing and sale of state-of-the-art wireless communication and entertainment systems for motorcycle riders. Since inception in 2003, Cardo has pioneered the vast majority of innovations for Bluetooth motorcycle communication systems and in 2015, it has also introduced the world’s first mesh powered communication protocol into the motorcycle market. The company’s products, now available in over 100 countries, are the world’s leading communication devices for the motorcycle industry.
The start of an Australian Superbike race at Phillip Island in February 2020. Photo courtesy Motorcycling Australia.
Australian All Wheels Race Fest Postponed
Motorcycling Australia and Motorsport Australia regret to advise the postponement of the upcoming Australian All Wheels Race Fest at Phillip Island, scheduled for 18-21 February.
A round of the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships and Round 1 of the 2021 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, the event was to feature both cars and bikes on track across the weekend.
With confirmation of a statewide Victorian lockdown imposed by the Victorian Government limiting travel into and out of the state, the decision to postpone the event was made today to provide certainty to categories, competitors, teams, officials and spectators before the ‘bump-in’ proceedings began.
At this stage, there is no certainty the lockdown will end after the initial 5 day period, and for the event to proceed many attendees will be required to travel into Victoria in the coming days, with many unwilling to do so without a understanding if the event can proceed and on how they may be able to return home once the event concludes.
There is also uncertainty around the level of restrictions once any lockdown ends, making the prospect of hosting this large event a difficult one, given the logistical requirements and uncertainty around gathering numbers and travel between regions.
All spectators who purchased a ticket to this event will be provided with a full refund, and all ticketholders will be contacted in the coming days about this process.
Work will begin shortly to see if an alternative date is possible for this unique event which brings together a spectacular race event of both two and four wheels.
Motorcycling Australia CEO Peter Doyle:
“Motorcycling Australia and the ASBK Management Team have the responsibility to ensure the safety of our ASBK teams, riders, officials and dedicated fans. Whilst we are very disappointed by the impact of the Victorian Governments decision today with this new COVID-19 lockdown. The safety of our MA members come first, and this means a tough decision needs to be made, and in a timely manner.
“We thank the ASBK paddock, our championship partners and fans for their understanding at this difficult time, as these circumstances our outside of our control, and are extremely frustrating this close to the inaugural event together with Motorsport Australia.
“We will work with Motorsport Australia and Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit with the aim to reschedule the Australian All Wheels Race Fest for a new date in 2021.
“ASBK Championship will now kick off at Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla Victoria for ASBK Round 2 on March 12 -14. We look forward to getting back to the trackside and welcome riders and fans.”
Motorsport Australia Director of Motorsport and Commercial Operations Michael Smith:
“We’re all understandably disappointed with this outcome, given the significant planning already underway for this event,” Smith said.
“The health and safety of all those who would be part of the event has to be our priority and unfortunately race meetings like this cannot just be turned on and turned off in 24 hours.
“There would also be a significant costs for organisers, categories, teams, officials and spectators if there was a last minute cancellation, so this decision provides some certainty for everyone who had planned to attend and makes sure that no competitors are disadvantaged in their respective series or Championship.
“For the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships, we now look forward to the opening round taking place as part of the Hi Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour on the Easter Weekend. We look forward to working closely with Matt and the team at Australian Racing Group to deliver an exciting event at Australia’s most iconic circuit.”
An Ohvale GP-2 190. Photo by Karen Ott, courtesy Ohvale USA.
Ohvale’s new GP-2 190 Daytona mini road race motorcycle will not be eligible for use in any class of the 2021 MotoAmerica Mini Cup by Motul.
“Only the GP-0 will be allowed in Mini Cup in 2021,” MotoAmerica’s new Technical Director Tige Daane told Roadracingworld.com.
Although the GP-2 has the same 190cc single-cylinder engine as the GP-0 currently used in the Mini Cup 190cc class, the GP-2 has significant differences including the frame, swingarm, suspension, and larger 12-inch wheels.
Read a riding report on the Ohvale GP-2 in an upcoming issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.
AHRMA road racers in action. Photo by etechphoto.com, courtesy AHRMA.
Bridgestone Motorcycle Tires named the Title Sponsor of the 2021 AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series
Bridgestone and the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association partner for the 2021 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series.
The 11-race season kicks-off on February 18-21 at Roebling Road Raceway.
Bridgestone shows continued commitment to vintage racing following the 2020 launch of the Battlax CR11 tire.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 12, 2021) –Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (Bridgestone) has partnered with the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) to announce its title sponsorship of the 2021 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series.
The 2021 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Historic Cup Roadracing Series will take place at some of the finest and most historic venues in the United States: Willow Springs, Heartland Motorsports Park, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Laguna Seca and Barber Motorsports Park, to name a few. It will give racers from across the country a chance to exhibit their skills and compete against each other.
“As a global leader in mobility solutions, we’re excited to partner with the AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series to showcase Bridgestone’s technical expertise and commitment to continue to be a leader in motorcycle racing,” said Jared Williams, general manager, Bridgestone Motorcycle Tire Business in the United States and Canada. “It’s an opportunity to highlight the Battlax Classic Racing CR11 tire that was launched in 2020, which was specifically developed for the classic racer. We’ve been looking forward to partnering with AHRMA to support their continued legacy in historic motorcycle racing.”
“Keeping a vintage road racer on the track is much easier when quality tires from Bridgestone are available to our racers,” said Arthur Kowitz, 2021 Chair of the AHRMA Board of Trustees. “We really appreciate Bridgestone creating tires specifically for the unique needs of our bikes.”
Utilizing the technologies Bridgestone has cultivated over years of developing motorcycle race tires, the Battlax Classic Racing CR11 tire is optimized for vintage racing to give riders consistent grip in both wet and dry conditions, as well as offering fast warm-up times without the need for tire warmers.
The 2021 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series will host 11 races this season, starting at Roebling Road Raceway in Bloomingdale, GA on February 18-21 and finishing at Barber Motorsports Park on October 7-10. The Bridgestone Classic Racing CR11 tire and other Bridgestone race tires will be available for purchase onsite at every round. For Bridgestone road race contingency information, please see your AHRMA Tech Official at the track.
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Nashville, Tennessee-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader providing sustainable mobility and advanced solutions. Bridgestone Americas develops, manufactures and markets a diverse portfolio of original equipment and replacement tires, tire-centric solutions, mobility solutions, and other rubber-associated and diversified products that deliver social value and customer value. Guided by its global corporate social responsibility commitment, Our Way to Serve, Bridgestone is dedicated to shaping a sustainable future of mobility and improving the way people move, live, work and play.
About The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association Ltd.:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association Ltd. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving, restoring and competing on historic motorcycles. With over 3000 members, AHRMA is the leading vintage racing group in North America and one of the largest in the world. The association’s enthusiastic membership reflects this country’s strong interest in classic bikes.
A further review of Marc Marquez at the Hospital Ruber Internacional, 10 weeks after surgery for an infected pseudoarthrosis of the right humerus, has confirmed a favourable clinical situation. The medical team led by Doctors Samuel Antuña and Ignacio Roger de Oña, and including Doctors Juan De Miguel, Aitor Ibarzabal and Andrea García Villanueva, assessed the radiographic signs of bone consolidation and were satisfied with the progress. From now on, and during the next few weeks, Marquez will be able to progress steadily in the process of functional recovery of the operated arm.
The 2021 KTM RC16 MotoGP racebikes of Brad Binder (33) and Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo by Sebas Romero, courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
MOTOGP™ 2021: TIME FOR THE NEXT LEVEL
2021 MotoGP news
KTM Factory Racing unveiled the KTM RC16 colors for the 2021 MotoGP FIM World Championship through a digital presentation that introduced the new look, line-ups and objectives for the anticipated season ahead.
On March 28th 2021 MotoGP will tear away from the Losail International Circuit grid and into the Qatari night. As winners of the final round of 2020, perhaps more eyes will be on the four KTM RC16s that will inhabit rows spots and in the hands of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder (South African, 25) and Miguel Oliveira (Portuguese, 26) and Tech3 KTM Factory Racing’s Danilo Petrucci (Italian, 30) and Iker Lecuona (Spanish, 21).
The manufacturer will be hoping to surpass their 4th position in the 2020 Constructors Standings and add to their grand total of three Pole Positions, nine podium trophies and three victories in what will be only their fifth season in the MotoGP paddock. The four-bike roster heads the KTM GP Academy: a stream of potential star athletes and machinery that stretches through the support classes of Moto2 and Moto3 and down into talent-spotting initiatives such as the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and the Northern Talent Cup.
The 2021 liveries for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and the fetching all-orange design for Tech3 KTM Factory Racing will add a prominent aesthetic to what will hopefully be another gripping MotoGP contest.
Brad Binder and his KTM RC16. Photo by Sebas Romero, courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Brad Binder, #33: “2020 in general was a season where I feel we achieved a lot, a few good results and obviously with the first victory – or KTM’s first victory – being the main thing. But there were also many days when we had the potential to do so much more. For sure now the margin is a little bit smaller to try and improve but I think as the season went on last year, even though we had a little bit of a slump in the middle, things got better and better. I felt like I was improving not only for the results but in the way approaching the weekends and going session-by-session. At the moment I feel that we have a really, really strong package. We are in a good direction and I am super-excited to get back on the bike this year.”
Miguel Oliveira and his KTM RC16. Photo by Sebas Romero, courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Miguel Oliveira, #88: “For sure to be world champion you need to have many details together at the same time and for that, depending on how the season is going and what is happening, generally we can find success through the project. Sometimes a 4th place will be a very good result and sometimes a 2nd place may not fulfil our expectations but you have to work through that process and right now, as a start base, I am thinking quite hard to set a bar of results that we can consider as successful. For sure being better than 2020 is already a good start. It is quite a relaxing factor to know that the bike is capable of winning but at the same time you cannot take anything for granted and when it comes to repeating success it becomes harder, so I don’t see it as a static job. I think every year you need to bring something ‘up’ on your side to keep a very good level in this championship. I feel I am able to work more on details in a factory team and to at least be more consistent. I think these are the tools that the factory team is going to give me. I have full conviction in my work.”
Danilo Petrucci and his KTM RC16. Photo by Sebas Romero, courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Danilo Petrucci, #9: “It’s my tenth year in MotoGP and to ‘celebrate’ this I will ride for KTM and I’m very proud about this. Tech3 KTM Factory Racing is one of the most competitive teams we have in MotoGP. Last year they won two races, so I am really happy to race with them. We have all the factory support we need and in a really nice environment. I’m really, really curious to try the bike and get to know the people from the Tech3 team. I want to give some of my experience back to this factory. I know many race situations that can happen during a year and all the other three riders are all very fast and very competitive. I am the ‘most experienced’ but I want to be faster than them or I want to fight with them and share our opinion to let the bike grow. In the end to be satisfied with the season and to make all the KTM people and factory happy: this is the target. To be fast is the thing that matters the most.”
Iker Lecuona and his KTM RC16. Photo by Sebas Romero, courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Iker Lecuona, #27: “This winter I have been working very hard on my preparation because MotoGP is a very physically demanding class and you need to be in perfect condition. In 2021 I want to start at the same level that I reached towards the end of the season and then we will see how it goes. Everybody is strong, the level in the category is very high, but my team is working very good, the bike in 2020 has made a big step and I feel confident to show my best on the track”.
Hubert Trunkenpolz, KTM AG Member of the board (CMO): “MotoGP is the best platform for global motorsports present at the moment and this is why we wanted to prolong the successful co-operation we’ve had so far for the next five years. To win the first MotoGP race in Brno with Brad Binder last summer was one of the most emotional moments of my entire motorsport lifetime and, of course, also for the company. We delivered, and it took away a lot of pressure from us. I don’t know if it happened by accident but from that time our business on a global scale went through the ceiling. I think the fans enjoyed MotoGP in 2020 but what we really missed were them at the tracks. I hope this year we will get back to something like normal. In general our short term objective is very clear: we want to finish with our four riders in the top ten regularly and be on the podium regularly. We would like to win another race to really continue with what we have achieved in 2020.”
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director: “The whole MotoGP journey so far has been a dream but the project started with a dream to become a GP winner in that class, so it is amazing to look back and see where we have come., However I definitely don’t want to commit to us already being title contenders. I think this pressure should still be on other guys in the paddock but we are really, really happy that the dream came true with these GP wins. They are a fact. They are on paper and we are definitely hungry for more. We have great staff and everybody is pushing hard. I think that is the style of KTM and the whole company: to have this new spirit with a new goal means the whole company sticks together and we do it together. It brings extra energy. All four of our riders all have incredible skills and talent otherwise they would not be in that class but then in detail they are all different and in different ways they go for their goal. All four are still riding in that very last second of motorcycle racing. We have our first wins in the pocket but now the new season is starts and everything begins from zero. I will be happy with 2021 if our riders finishing the last GP without any injuries and we can think back to some very successful races. That’s what I am looking for.”
Mike Leitner, Race Manager, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: “Increased pressure for sure brings more motivation to the race team because all the KTM people working in this racing business are ‘built’ for pressure. This is the DNA of our sport – or for sport in general – and we’ll take this as a positive thing. For 2021 we are on the timescale. We had ideas and we had to find a good balance between what we can achieve now and between five days of testing in Doha before the season starts because we have to homologate the engine spec and the aerodynamic package there. We have the things we want for ’21 but of course people in the company are already working on stuff for the ’22 season. The plan we had for the winter tests; these parts or units are ready but what we can finally bring into the 2021 season will be decided after the five days at the Doha test. Both of our riders will get all they need to do their best in 2021.”
Hervé Poncharal, Team Manager Tech3 KTM Factory Racing: “After an incredible 2020 season which saw Tech3 KTM winning two races, we can’t wait to start 2021. It’s going to be a very special season for all of us at Tech3 KTM Factory Racing because we now know that with the KTM RC16 we have the weapon to fight for pole positions and to fight for podiums and victories. We will welcome a new rider with a lot of experience: Danilo is a super charming guy, he is so impatient, so focused and motivated to start the season with testing in Qatar. Iker remains with us. We have a lot of trust and expectations in him. He is not a rookie anymore and this is the time for him to deliver. For me as a team owner, I have to say that the first two years with KTM were like a dream. The improvements from 2019 to 2020 were unbelievable and honestly, even though I was trusting KTM to make a big step, the step they made was something I was not expecting. As I said before, to win two races already in year two is an incredible achievement. We are a happy team, everybody is very impatient to start the 2021 season but before we go to Qatar, there is a great moment for KTM and Tech3 to happen, which is this presentation. We will be wearing the full KTM factory colors, which is a great recognition for our partnership but also a lot of weight on our shoulders to keep pushing even more. We know we represent the brand and we know how important a MotoGP bike with the full factory colors is for everyone. Thanks to all those who follow and supports us.”
2020 FIM MotoGP World Champion Joan Mir. Photo courtesy Team Suzuki Press Office.
JOAN MIR TO RACE WITH NUMBER 36 FOR 2021 SEASON
After taking the MotoGP World Championship crown in style during a unique racing season, Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir was left with the decision of which number to run on the front of his GSX-RR for 2021. His final choice is to keep his beloved number 36.
As is racing tradition, the reigning champion is the only rider with the right to use number one on their machine during the successive season after winning a title. Mir took into consideration the various pros and cons of running with either number, but the 36 still carries a lot of significance for him.
Said Mir: “More than anything, it represents hard work. I want to continue this way of working and get the opportunity to win more titles. And perhaps if I do win again, I will choose the number one. But for now I feel very happy with this decision and I want to thank the fans for their support.
“It really was a difficult decision to make, it took a lot of consideration and thought. There are benefits to both; on one hand it’s a great opportunity to use the number one on your bike because it’s something you’ve truly earned and also it can look really cool! But equally, number 36 has meant so much to me over the years. It’s almost a part of me, and that’s why I wanted to continue with it.”
Mike Leitner, Race Manager, KTM Factory Racing, on the 2021 KTM RC16 at the world introduction of the 2021 MotoGP program. Photo by Philip Platzer, courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
“Maybe They Didn’t Expect That They Have To Deal With Us…”
Interview: Mike Leitner, Race Manager, KTM Factory Racing
By Michael Gougis
It would be easy to dismiss KTM’s breakthrough success in the 2020 MotoGP season – its first three wins, more than any manufacturer other than Yamaha – as a fluke. A chaotic schedule whipped back and forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, the absence of the dominating presence of six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez, Yamaha struggling with reliability, consistency and legality issues, Ducati struggling to come to terms with the new-spec Michelin tires – one could argue that others fell more than KTM rose.
Mike Leitner, Race Manager for the KTM Factory Racing MotoGP effort, would disagree.
At the world introduction of the 2021 KTM MotoGP teams – the Red Bull factory squad and the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing team – Leitner said he felt that the company’s RC16 racebike had improved to the point where the team could fight with the best from dominant companies from Japan and Italy.
“I didn’t have the feeling that they were struggling so much. We had very fast competitors,” Leitner told the virtual assembly of international motorsports journalists. “I think maybe sometimes people start struggling when suddenly somebody’s here who was not here before. Maybe they didn’t expect that they have to deal with us for GP victories or podiums. I think this was the situation. I don’t think they struggled more than before.”
KTM’s machines weren’t just competitive in 2020. At Brno and Portimao, they were dominant. Rookie Brad Binder came through the field to take a clean win at Brno, and Miguel Oliveira took pole at Portimao before he crushed the field in the season-ending race, leading at one point by 4.5 seconds.
Miguel Oliveira (88) in action at Algarve International Circuit in Portimao, Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Leitner says the improvement came through adapting the machine to the needs of the riders, who then turned their newfound confidence into speed and results.
“I would say the biggest difference on this bike (the 2020 version) was that we understood better the rider’s needs. And of course we made a step on the engine and the chassis. And this combination really was magic with our riders,” Leitner said.
“It was at that point that the riders start to believe. Suddenly lap times are coming. You go straight to QP2. It’s a combination that starts a reaction. The rider, in their mind, instead of the fourth line on the grid, they are on the second line, you have a better start, you fight with other people, and suddenly things which before you think it’s not possible – suddenly possible.”
2020 saw KTM radically change their frame design – although it is still steel and orange, it now much more closely resembles the class-convention twin-spar configuration. And, to put it simply, the frame worked. For 2021, Leitner said KTM wasn’t focusing on improving any one area of the machine as it had for 2020.
“We are in a lucky situation that we have a quite balanced (racebike). The performance – four riders were able to use this bike (well), even if the riding style of them was completely different,” Leitner said. “We really don’t focus now on one specific part which we try to make better. Of course we try to make a stronger engine, we try to make a better chassis, we try to make a better aerodynamic package, we try just to make another step on the complete package of the bike.”
Before the 2020 season started, KTM moved to bring experience into a rider lineup defined by its youth. Two of the four seats were taken by MotoGP rookies, one rider (Oliveira) was going into his second year, and the team’s most veteran rider, Pol Espargaro, was heading for the Repsol Honda team. Factory Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci had already been told that his services would not be required for 2021, and when he signed for the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing team, he became the only racer under KTM contract who actually had won a MotoGP race.
Then 2020 happened. Binder won, Oliveira won twice. And both have spent years with KTM, the RC16 the only MotoGP machine they have raced. With KTM carving its own technical path, the only manufacturer competing with a steel frame and WP suspension (“We are on this island alone,” Leitner said), how important is it to have a rider from the outside on the team at all?
Danilo Petrucci joins the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing team for 2021. Photo by Philip Platzer, courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Very, Leitner says. It’s not just experience in riding and racing that Petrucci brings to the team. It’s his years of experience in everything else that happens on race weekend, a way of working that increases the chances of success, that turns around a weekend when the team is going the wrong way, that Petrucci brings with him.
“The young kids, they are very enthusiastic, and of course they are pushing and risking and everything,” Leitner said. “But after two, three years you – for example, Miguel (Oliveira) you can feel it already quite a lot – is that he has a different way to approach things. So the guy who is stable in this group like Danilo is for the young kids, the young riders, a good guy to watch, how he’s doing things. And of course he will try to beat them! It will be a very interesting competition.”
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alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
