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MotoAmerica: Aguilar Stepping Up To Superbike

“Superbike was my dream, now it’s reality!”

Jason Aguilar will contest the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship aboard a Yamaha YZF-R1 for RiderzLaw Aguilar Racing.

Aguilar, the Superstock 600 US National champion in 2017, moves into the premier class of racing after several successful seasons competing in Supersport. A brace of podiums in 2020 saw the #96 rider finish fourth overall in the ultra-competitive series, the jump to Superbike is therefore a natural progression.

The transition will be made easier thanks to the help and support of both Westby Racing and the Attack Yamaha squad. Attack Yamaha will act as Jason’s official technical partner, supporting him with electronics and data, set-up info and the supply of parts.

His 2021 testing schedule and other details of the project will be announced in due course as will Jason’s new racing color scheme.

Jason Aguilar: “I am stoked to have the opportunity to go Superbike racing this year. It’s something I have always wanted to do and to be able continue as part of the Yamaha family makes it even more special. It’s a lot of work and is totally different to Supersport, but I have seen self-run programs, like Kyle Wyman’s succeed and this is a place I would like to be at with a professional and competitive Superbike team in MotoAmerica. Running my own team seems to work best for me, it’s how I won the Superstock title in ’17. It’s a ton of work. I have a full-time job and I am the one responsible for putting it all together, from the logistics and running the team, to finding the sponsors and then of course the riding, but the reward is worth it, and I love it. After I heard about what was happening in Supersport with the rules and what Yamaha was doing with the R6 I wasn’t really sure what to do this year. The initial plan was to continue in Supersport. I considered Superstock and have a great relationship with Yamaha and so I didn’t want to really switch manufacturer. The more I thought about it, Superbike made the most sense and thanks to the great support of my loyal sponsors and after several discussions with Richard Stanboli (Attack Racing) and Chuck Giacchetto (Westby Racing); and with Yamaha, the decision was made. There’s a lot to do but everything is coming together, and we should be able to unveil the bike livery and all of our sponsors soon. I want to say a massive thanks to RiderzLaw who have been a loyal supporter for several years and who will be the team’s title sponsor. I have a new mechanic coming on board called Josh Merrill who I actually used to work with at my normal day job. He’s in the racing industry and will be a great addition to the team. My Crew Chief Poncho (Rangel), who has been with me for four years is staying. Manny Macias is also staying with me and he has Superbike experience, having worked with Mat Mladin in the past. The R1 will be built in-house but I do want to thank Chuck at Westby Racing and Richard at Attack Racing for all their help and support. I couldn’t have done it without them. Attack Racing will be our official tech partner and with the support from Yamaha Motor USA I am excited for the challenge ahead and to putting a great season together. I was in the Supersport class for a few years and on a 600 for a few years before that and it’s safe to say that I was looking to challenge myself in the biggest way on-track and this announcement is the start. It’s important for me to involve and interact with the fans and so I hope everyone will follow me on Twitter and Instagram as I will be trying to do more things than I have in recent years on my platforms. That’s it for now. Stay tuned for the livery reveal soon!”

Be sure to stay up to date with Jason’s debut Superbike season through his social media channels and on his recently updated interactive website.

For more information go to www.aguilarracing.com

Video: “HogSpoli” James Rispoli’s AFT Production Twins Title Chase, P4

“HogSpoli” is a series of videos chronicling former road racer James Rispoli’s pursuit of the 2020 American Flat Track AFT Production Twins Championship on his Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson.

The video was shot and edited by Gray Pham of Gp Industries.

Here is Part Four.

 

Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup Entries Nearly Full

Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup Close to Maximum Entries, Registration Remains Open

With the start of the inaugural Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup fast approaching, young aspiring superbike riders still have an opportunity to register their interest, with limited spaces available as the championship’s attention continues to grow.

Aimed at riders aged 12-20 and acting as the first step on the Road to WorldSBK, the highly anticipated Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup has attracted global interest and just a few of the 36 available entries are yet to be filled.

The series will support six FIM Superbike World Championship rounds, which is preceded by the official Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup promo day and test at Misano (18-19 March), where Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team riders Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Andrea Locatelli, as well as GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team’s Garrett Gerloff will be in attendance to help the aspiring talents maximise their Yamaha R3 machinery.

Youngsters from various backgrounds have already registered, with attention stretching beyond Europe, as riders from Asia, Australia and South America, have already signed up or expressed interest.

Riders who register will receive their race kit of helmet, leather suit, gloves, boots and Paddock Blue apparel at the Misano test, while they’ll benefit from a full riding package including Pirelli tyres, fuel, coaching and technical assistance throughout the season.

The top three in the final standings will also be rewarded, with the champion earning a spot on the 2022 FIM Superport 300 World Championship grid with the WorldSSP300 bLU cRU team, while cash prizes will also be given to individual race winners.

Riders who are interested in signing up to the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup can find out more information and register today HERE.

2021 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup Calendar

Test: 18-19 March, Misano, Italy

Round 1: 23-24 April, Assen, The Netherlands

Round 2: 7-8 May, Estoril, Portugal

Round 3: 11-12 June, Misano, Italy

Round 4: 2-3 July, Donington Park, UK

Round 5: 3-4 September, Magny-Cours, France

Round 6: 17-18 September, Catalunya, Spain

FBI Agents Raid Ducati North America Headquarters (Updates From FBI)

FBI agents raided Ducati North America headquarters last month, searching for financial documents and other information, according to a post on the Bay Area Rider Forum (BARF).

More than 30 agents took part in the raid at the company’s Mountain View, California offices, witnesses at the location told the author of the web post.

FBI officials contacted by Roadracing World said the agency would investigate and respond to the request for information about the alleged action.

Asked about the post and if the FBI had raided the company, Ducati Marketing Director Phil Read said, in an e-mail to Roadracing World: “It is Ducati North America’s practice to cooperate fully with inquiries from government agencies. As part of that cooperation, Ducati North America does not comment on those inquiries.”

Shawn Keane, who posts as elskipador and is a BARF moderator, replied to the original post and wrote, “I was there. Never been so scared in my life!” and followed up to a question about how many employees were at the location when the raid happened with “2 at the beginning, 3 at the end.” Asked why so many agents would be involved, Keane posted “Maybe huge tax fraud or embezzlement?”

Read the entire post here:

https://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=547856

Stay tuned.

Update:

FBI officials contacted by Roadracing World responded to the request for information via an e-mail from FBI spokesperson Katherine Zackel, who wrote “I can confirm that FBI San Francisco was at that location on December 17, 2020, to conduct court-authorized law enforcement activity.  As of today’s date, no public records are available. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, I cannot comment further at this time.”

British Supersport: Kyle Smith Riding Dynavolt Triumph

KYLE SMITH TO HEAD UP DYNAVOLT TRIUMPH CAMPAIGN IN 2021

8 January 2021

Dynavolt Triumph is delighted to confirm that Kyle Smith will spearhead the factory supported team in the 2021 Quattro Group British Supersport Championship campaign.

Smith is no stranger to the squad, having previously ridden for the team in the FIM Supersport World Championship in 2016, enjoying race wins at Assen & Losail, one third position in Jerez and scoring four fastest race laps over the season. The Spain-based British rider returned to the team for seven races of the twelve-round series in 2018, awarding the team a podium with second position at Portimao.

Moving on from winning the 2019 FIM Europe Supersport Cup, 29-year-old Smith celebrated one pole position and two podiums with GMT94 while deputising for the injured Jules Cluzel in the FIM Supersport World Championship in 2020.

Smith said: “I’m very excited to be back with PTR in a whole new project. It will be exciting to be in a full British set-up racing in the UK where, except for Donington Park, I have never raced even though I’m English. I’m very grateful that Triumph, Simon and the team have counted on me. I think it is a great opportunity and we will have a fantastic year racing”.

Triumph’s Chief Product Officer Steve Sargent said: “I am really pleased to see Kyle racing on a Triumph and of course it is great news that there will be a British rider spearheading the team. Kyle has proven his talent on the World stage and it will be great for the British public and Triumph fans to see him racing in the UK. I am sure that his experience will help us to develop the bike and it will be exciting to see how Kyle and the team progress in the 2021 British Supersport Championship.”

Dynavolt Triumph Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “For us to re-sign Kyle is exciting news. We’re a British team with a British bike and we’ve come back with a British rider that is well known to us.  We felt we needed an experienced rider to lead the development with our team for this exciting new project.  Kyle has won races for us, he finished top five in the World Championship, he was the last winner on a Honda and the last podium finisher on a Honda, all for us so there is a lot of synergy between us. We can‘t wait for the season to start with a rider and a team that know each other well to give us the best chance of hitting the ground running and achieving success from the word go. He hasn’t raced in the British Championship, but there is a great testing programme put forward by MSVR before the season starts and we will make sure he is up to speed on all the tracks and he has got the grit and determination to do a great job for us in 2021. Of course, with his experience we would look to go back into the World Championship with Kyle in 2022.”

As part of a strategy to re-define the Supersport category, Dynavolt Triumph will be a two rider line-up in 2021. The rider who will fill the second slot will be announced in the very near future.

Podcast: Greg’s Garage Pod With Jason Pridmore, Episode 108

Greg’s Garage Pod with Co-Host Jason Pridmore – A motorcycle racing Pod about MotoGP, MotoAmerica, and World Superbike, Pro Motocross, American Flat Track, Supercross, and more. In this episode, Co-Hosts Greg White and Jason Pridmore talk:

ARAI Helmets News – MotoAmerica tickets on sale. https://motoamerica.com/tickets/ use code EARLYBIRD. Wishing well to MotoGP Champ Fausto Gresini, James Rispoli going to the big show in AFT, and Davide Brivio takes his World Championship and heads to F1.

Battle of the Olds – The boys talk about what is coming up with the White vs. Kolb battle at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in March.

FIM EWC – The 2021 World Endurance calendar is out. Jason talk to us about his view on endurance racing, the good and the bad.

SX Fantasy – The decision has been made… PulpMX. Join us! Link here: https://pulpmxfantasy.com/leagues/gregsgaragepodcast

 

Pirelli Celebrates 5 Million Radial Motorcycle Tires Sold Since 2008

Pirelli DIABLO ROSSO™ in Numbers: Five Million Tires Sold Plus a New Upcoming Fourth Generation

Since 2008 the DIABLO ROSSO™ Brand has Been Using the Technology Developed by Pirelli in the FIM Superbike World Championship to Offer Uncompromising Riding Performance

ROME, Ga. (January 7, 2021) – The Pirelli DIABLO ROSSO™ tire family enters the new year with record numbers and celebrates the achievement of an important milestone: over 5,000,000 radial tires sold since its introduction on the market in 2008.

The origins of DIABLO™ and DIABLO ROSSO™ brands

DIABLO™ represents Pirelli’s excellence in the world of high-performance tires designed for two-wheeled vehicles. The DIABLO™ product family, after its introduction into the market in 2002, has rapidly evolved to include in its broad portfolio tires dedicated to other market segments, from professional racing to the supersports road arena. The DIABLO™ brand brings with it more than 18 years of experience, technology and victories in the most prestigious national and international two-wheeled competitions.

Within the DIABLO™ range, the DIABLO ROSSO™ products are dedicated to road machines of a sport leaning. The name DIABLO ROSSO™ was born with the intention of honoring the distinctive color of the Italian national motorsport team since 1922, which was the color racing red (PANTONE® 185C).

The most prestigious motorcycle manufacturers in the world choose DIABLO ROSSO™ products as original equipment for their top models, while many respected international magazines and websites consider DIABLO ROSSO™ products a benchmark for this sector. Among the leading products of this family there are currently tires such as DIABLO ROSSO™ Corsa II, DIABLO ROSSO™ III, and DIABLO ROSSO™ Scooter, still reference tires in their respective segments.

Thanks to the high performance of each of these products, supported by the ability of Pirelli engineers to anticipate the demands of a constantly evolving market, and to use cutting-edge materials and technologies, the DIABLO ROSSO™ product family has been able to reach the important milestone of 5,000,000 radial tires sold worldwide.

Respectable numbers that allow Pirelli to announce with great satisfaction and pride the fourth generation of this tire family, with the arrival of DIABLO ROSSO™ IV, the new supersport product created to continue the history of this successful brand. As the direct successor of DIABLO ROSSO™ III, DIABLO ROSSO™ IV raises the bar of this product range even higher, pushing the qualities of handling and grip to the highest levels, both in dry and wet conditions.

 

A set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV motorcycle tires. Photo courtesy Pirelli.
A set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV motorcycle tires. Photo courtesy Pirelli.

 

DIABLO ROSSO™ IV is dedicated to motorcyclists who love a more dynamic riding style, owners of supersports, hypernaked or crossover bikes who demand from a tire a high level of grip, on all types of asphalt and weather conditions, as well as precise feedback and great handling to make the most of the high performance of their bikes.

For more information about the complete line of Pirelli motorcycle tires, please visit Pirelli.com

American Flat Track: Wally Brown Racing Signs Lowe

Wally Brown Racing Signs Trent Lowe for 2021 AFT Singles Season

DAVIDSON, N.C. (January 7, 2021) – Wally Brown Racing is pleased to announce Trent Lowe as its full-time rider in the 2021 Progressive American Flat Track season. Lowe will ride the WBR Suzuki RMZ 450 in the AFT Singles Class. This will be WBR’s second season participating in Progressive AFT, after a stellar premiere season wherein the team won the first race of the AFT Finale at DAYTONA in the final weekend of competition.

“Trent is going to be a great fit for our program,” said Wally Brown. “He’s proved he can be competitive in the Singles class with consistency. As a team we learned a lot in our first year and have much to add to our race program in 2021. I foresee an exciting season.”

The 2021 Progressive AFT season will be Lowe’s third year of participation in AFT Singles. In 2020 he qualified for every race on the revised schedule and landed on the podium at Williams Grove and the AFT Finale at DAYTONA. Lowe finished fifth in overall standings.

 

Trent Lowe. Photo courtesy Wally Brown Racing.
Trent Lowe. Photo courtesy Wally Brown Racing.

 

“I am grateful for the opportunity Wally Brown Racing has given me for the upcoming 2021 race season,” said Lowe. “With this team behind me, I know we will be a contender for the championship.”

Progressive AFT will continue to release developments to the 2021 event schedule in the coming weeks. Fans are encouraged to stay tuned to Progressive AFT news and social media channels for the latest developments in America’s Original Extreme Sport.

For more information on Progressive American Flat Track visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

To score the latest gear for the Progressive American Flat Track fan, visit the Official Progressive AFT Merchandise store at https://store.americanflattrack.com.

How to Watch Progressive American Flat Track

NBCSN and TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold are the official homes for coverage of Progressive American Flat Track. The complete schedule for Progressive AFT on NBCSN can be viewed at http://www.americanflattrack.com/events-nbcsn/. TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold – the most-robust motorsports offering in the digital marketplace – is a cornerstone of Progressive AFT’s digital strategy, providing live streaming coverage of every event and maintaining an active archive of all Progressive AFT content.

About Progressive American Flat Track

Progressive American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram, live stream the events with TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold and catch all the Progressive American Flat Track racing action on NBCSN.

MotoGP: Team Manager Brivio Leaving Suzuki MotoGP Team

Editorial Note: It’s being reported by European media outlets that Brivio is leaving Suzuki to accept the position of CEO of the Alpine Formula One racing team.

 

DAVIDE BRIVIO AND TEAM SUZUKI ECSTAR PART WAYS

After eight years at the helm of Team Suzuki Ecstar in the role of Team Manager, Davide Brivio and Suzuki have announced an end to their collaboration.

The Italian has been present in the MotoGP World Championship paddock for more than 20 years and has been involved with Suzuki since 2013. He held the position of Team Manager when Suzuki embarked on their new MotoGP project, and has remained in place throughout their rise to success, which was this year topped-off by the incredible World Championship crown achieved by Joan Mir, and the Teams’ Championship title for Team Suzuki Ecstar.

Brivio is pleased with the milestones achieved with Suzuki but now wishes to pursue new challenges in his professional and personal life, away from MotoGP.

Team Suzuki Ecstar appreciate the work done by Davide Brivio, and the excellent goals achieved together. The Suzuki squad now look to the future with sights set high for the 2021 season.

Davide Brivio:

“A new professional challenge and opportunity suddenly came to me and in the end I decided to take it. It has been a difficult decision. The hardest part will be to leave this fabulous group of people, whom I started this project with when Suzuki rejoined the Championship. And it’s hard to say goodbye also to all the people who have arrived over the years to create this great Team. I feel sad from this point of view, but at the same time I feel a lot of motivation for this new challenge – which was the key when I had to decide between renewing my contract with Suzuki or starting a completely new experience.

“Achieving a MotoGP title is something that will remain in the Suzuki history books and it will always have a special place in my life memories. I would like to deeply thank all the Suzuki management for their trust and confidence in me, which they had since the beginning. I would like to thank every single member of our MotoGP group in Japan and at the track, all the Suzuki network, and of course all the riders who rode for the Team in this period, especially Joan and Alex who did a great 2020 season.

“Joan becoming World Champion was a dream come true for me and for all the people who worked hard and accompanied me on this magnificent journey. I wish the best to Team Suzuki MotoGP, I hope that the results in the future will be better and better and I will always be a Suzuki fan. Thanks very much Suzuki!”

Shinichi Sahara – Team Suzuki Ecstar Project Leader:

“Sincerely, it was shocking news for us about Davide’s departure from Team Suzuki Ecstar. It feels like somebody took a part of me, because I always discussed with him how to develop the team and the bikes, and we’ve worked together for a long time. In 2020 we achieved fantastic results despite the unusual and difficult situation due to Covid-19. And 2021 will be an even more important year for us to keep the momentum. Now we are trying to find the best way to cover for the ‘Davide loss’. Luckily in most cases I have had quite a similar way of thinking to him, therefore it is not so difficult to keep the direction we should go as Team Suzuki Ecstar, I think. We would like to wish him the best of luck for the future.”

WERA Hires New Employee Gabe Harman

WERA WELCOMES GABE HARMAN!

Gabe Harman, 21, has joined the WERA Motorcycle Roadracing headquarters staff.  The Harman family (David (Dad), Rhonda (Mom) and Zach (Brother)) have been a part of the WERA family since the early 1980s.  They might be better known to you as our Rider’s School Instructor/Pit Out/Announcer/Registrar/Starter/Assistant Starter and Computer Whiz!

“The twins are my Godchildren and I have known them since they were less than 24-hours-old.  They have grown into responsible young men and I could not be prouder of them.  Zach is an Advanced EMT, and Gabe is still in college looking for a degree in Computer Science.  Gabe will be a natural here at WERA Motorcycle Roadracing and I look forward to working with him for many years to come,” said WERA CEO Evelyne Clarke.

Gabe’s duties will include Office Management, Contingency Reporting, Event Staffing, Event set up, Timing/Scoring, and whatever else he wants to tackle!

The 2021 schedule has been released and we look forward to seeing all our WERA Motorcycle Roadracing riders next season. With Covid still being an issue some of our events may be impacted, please keep an eye on our website, Facebook page, and Roadracingworld.com for updates!

WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was founded in 1973 and remains the foremost place to develop talent in the sport of motorcycle Roadracing.  The legacy of Pro riders on a National and World level is legendary.  All events are run by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing with a co-sanction by the AMA and they go coast to coast offering entry level racing with the WERA Sportsman Series as well as a Pro-Am Series with the WERA National Challenge Series, WERA Motorcycle Roadracing also offer Vintage Racing and limited Endurance Racing with Track Day Partners N2 and Sportbike Track Time.  WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was voted the 2017 AMA Track Organizer of the Year.

For more information on WERA Motorcycle Roadracing please check out our web site at wera.com!

MotoAmerica: Aguilar Stepping Up To Superbike

Jason Aguilar (96) in action in 2019. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Jason Aguilar (96) in action in 2019. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

“Superbike was my dream, now it’s reality!”

Jason Aguilar will contest the 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship aboard a Yamaha YZF-R1 for RiderzLaw Aguilar Racing.

Aguilar, the Superstock 600 US National champion in 2017, moves into the premier class of racing after several successful seasons competing in Supersport. A brace of podiums in 2020 saw the #96 rider finish fourth overall in the ultra-competitive series, the jump to Superbike is therefore a natural progression.

The transition will be made easier thanks to the help and support of both Westby Racing and the Attack Yamaha squad. Attack Yamaha will act as Jason’s official technical partner, supporting him with electronics and data, set-up info and the supply of parts.

His 2021 testing schedule and other details of the project will be announced in due course as will Jason’s new racing color scheme.

Jason Aguilar: “I am stoked to have the opportunity to go Superbike racing this year. It’s something I have always wanted to do and to be able continue as part of the Yamaha family makes it even more special. It’s a lot of work and is totally different to Supersport, but I have seen self-run programs, like Kyle Wyman’s succeed and this is a place I would like to be at with a professional and competitive Superbike team in MotoAmerica. Running my own team seems to work best for me, it’s how I won the Superstock title in ’17. It’s a ton of work. I have a full-time job and I am the one responsible for putting it all together, from the logistics and running the team, to finding the sponsors and then of course the riding, but the reward is worth it, and I love it. After I heard about what was happening in Supersport with the rules and what Yamaha was doing with the R6 I wasn’t really sure what to do this year. The initial plan was to continue in Supersport. I considered Superstock and have a great relationship with Yamaha and so I didn’t want to really switch manufacturer. The more I thought about it, Superbike made the most sense and thanks to the great support of my loyal sponsors and after several discussions with Richard Stanboli (Attack Racing) and Chuck Giacchetto (Westby Racing); and with Yamaha, the decision was made. There’s a lot to do but everything is coming together, and we should be able to unveil the bike livery and all of our sponsors soon. I want to say a massive thanks to RiderzLaw who have been a loyal supporter for several years and who will be the team’s title sponsor. I have a new mechanic coming on board called Josh Merrill who I actually used to work with at my normal day job. He’s in the racing industry and will be a great addition to the team. My Crew Chief Poncho (Rangel), who has been with me for four years is staying. Manny Macias is also staying with me and he has Superbike experience, having worked with Mat Mladin in the past. The R1 will be built in-house but I do want to thank Chuck at Westby Racing and Richard at Attack Racing for all their help and support. I couldn’t have done it without them. Attack Racing will be our official tech partner and with the support from Yamaha Motor USA I am excited for the challenge ahead and to putting a great season together. I was in the Supersport class for a few years and on a 600 for a few years before that and it’s safe to say that I was looking to challenge myself in the biggest way on-track and this announcement is the start. It’s important for me to involve and interact with the fans and so I hope everyone will follow me on Twitter and Instagram as I will be trying to do more things than I have in recent years on my platforms. That’s it for now. Stay tuned for the livery reveal soon!”

Be sure to stay up to date with Jason’s debut Superbike season through his social media channels and on his recently updated interactive website.

For more information go to www.aguilarracing.com

Video: “HogSpoli” James Rispoli’s AFT Production Twins Title Chase, P4

James Rispoli (43). Photo by Scott Hunter, courtesy AFT.
James Rispoli (43). Photo by Scott Hunter, courtesy AFT.

“HogSpoli” is a series of videos chronicling former road racer James Rispoli’s pursuit of the 2020 American Flat Track AFT Production Twins Championship on his Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson.

The video was shot and edited by Gray Pham of Gp Industries.

Here is Part Four.

 

Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup Entries Nearly Full

Yamaha FIM Supersport 300 World Championship racers Bahattin Sofuoglu (54) and Victor Rodriguez Nunez (19). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Yamaha FIM Supersport 300 World Championship racers Bahattin Sofuoglu (54) and Victor Rodriguez Nunez (19). Photo courtesy Yamaha.

Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup Close to Maximum Entries, Registration Remains Open

With the start of the inaugural Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup fast approaching, young aspiring superbike riders still have an opportunity to register their interest, with limited spaces available as the championship’s attention continues to grow.

Aimed at riders aged 12-20 and acting as the first step on the Road to WorldSBK, the highly anticipated Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup has attracted global interest and just a few of the 36 available entries are yet to be filled.

The series will support six FIM Superbike World Championship rounds, which is preceded by the official Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup promo day and test at Misano (18-19 March), where Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team riders Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Andrea Locatelli, as well as GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team’s Garrett Gerloff will be in attendance to help the aspiring talents maximise their Yamaha R3 machinery.

Youngsters from various backgrounds have already registered, with attention stretching beyond Europe, as riders from Asia, Australia and South America, have already signed up or expressed interest.

Riders who register will receive their race kit of helmet, leather suit, gloves, boots and Paddock Blue apparel at the Misano test, while they’ll benefit from a full riding package including Pirelli tyres, fuel, coaching and technical assistance throughout the season.

The top three in the final standings will also be rewarded, with the champion earning a spot on the 2022 FIM Superport 300 World Championship grid with the WorldSSP300 bLU cRU team, while cash prizes will also be given to individual race winners.

Riders who are interested in signing up to the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup can find out more information and register today HERE.

2021 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup Calendar

Test: 18-19 March, Misano, Italy

Round 1: 23-24 April, Assen, The Netherlands

Round 2: 7-8 May, Estoril, Portugal

Round 3: 11-12 June, Misano, Italy

Round 4: 2-3 July, Donington Park, UK

Round 5: 3-4 September, Magny-Cours, France

Round 6: 17-18 September, Catalunya, Spain

FBI Agents Raid Ducati North America Headquarters (Updates From FBI)

Ducati will unveil six new-for-2024 models beginning July 27. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Ducati will unveil six new-for-2024 models beginning July 27. Photo courtesy Ducati.

FBI agents raided Ducati North America headquarters last month, searching for financial documents and other information, according to a post on the Bay Area Rider Forum (BARF).

More than 30 agents took part in the raid at the company’s Mountain View, California offices, witnesses at the location told the author of the web post.

FBI officials contacted by Roadracing World said the agency would investigate and respond to the request for information about the alleged action.

Asked about the post and if the FBI had raided the company, Ducati Marketing Director Phil Read said, in an e-mail to Roadracing World: “It is Ducati North America’s practice to cooperate fully with inquiries from government agencies. As part of that cooperation, Ducati North America does not comment on those inquiries.”

Shawn Keane, who posts as elskipador and is a BARF moderator, replied to the original post and wrote, “I was there. Never been so scared in my life!” and followed up to a question about how many employees were at the location when the raid happened with “2 at the beginning, 3 at the end.” Asked why so many agents would be involved, Keane posted “Maybe huge tax fraud or embezzlement?”

Read the entire post here:

https://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=547856

Stay tuned.

Update:

FBI officials contacted by Roadracing World responded to the request for information via an e-mail from FBI spokesperson Katherine Zackel, who wrote “I can confirm that FBI San Francisco was at that location on December 17, 2020, to conduct court-authorized law enforcement activity.  As of today’s date, no public records are available. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, I cannot comment further at this time.”

British Supersport: Kyle Smith Riding Dynavolt Triumph

Kyle Smith, as seen at Brno in 2018. Photo courtesy Dorna WorldSBK Press Office.
Kyle Smith, as seen at Brno in 2018. Photo courtesy Dorna WorldSBK Press Office.

KYLE SMITH TO HEAD UP DYNAVOLT TRIUMPH CAMPAIGN IN 2021

8 January 2021

Dynavolt Triumph is delighted to confirm that Kyle Smith will spearhead the factory supported team in the 2021 Quattro Group British Supersport Championship campaign.

Smith is no stranger to the squad, having previously ridden for the team in the FIM Supersport World Championship in 2016, enjoying race wins at Assen & Losail, one third position in Jerez and scoring four fastest race laps over the season. The Spain-based British rider returned to the team for seven races of the twelve-round series in 2018, awarding the team a podium with second position at Portimao.

Moving on from winning the 2019 FIM Europe Supersport Cup, 29-year-old Smith celebrated one pole position and two podiums with GMT94 while deputising for the injured Jules Cluzel in the FIM Supersport World Championship in 2020.

Smith said: “I’m very excited to be back with PTR in a whole new project. It will be exciting to be in a full British set-up racing in the UK where, except for Donington Park, I have never raced even though I’m English. I’m very grateful that Triumph, Simon and the team have counted on me. I think it is a great opportunity and we will have a fantastic year racing”.

Triumph’s Chief Product Officer Steve Sargent said: “I am really pleased to see Kyle racing on a Triumph and of course it is great news that there will be a British rider spearheading the team. Kyle has proven his talent on the World stage and it will be great for the British public and Triumph fans to see him racing in the UK. I am sure that his experience will help us to develop the bike and it will be exciting to see how Kyle and the team progress in the 2021 British Supersport Championship.”

Dynavolt Triumph Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “For us to re-sign Kyle is exciting news. We’re a British team with a British bike and we’ve come back with a British rider that is well known to us.  We felt we needed an experienced rider to lead the development with our team for this exciting new project.  Kyle has won races for us, he finished top five in the World Championship, he was the last winner on a Honda and the last podium finisher on a Honda, all for us so there is a lot of synergy between us. We can‘t wait for the season to start with a rider and a team that know each other well to give us the best chance of hitting the ground running and achieving success from the word go. He hasn’t raced in the British Championship, but there is a great testing programme put forward by MSVR before the season starts and we will make sure he is up to speed on all the tracks and he has got the grit and determination to do a great job for us in 2021. Of course, with his experience we would look to go back into the World Championship with Kyle in 2022.”

As part of a strategy to re-define the Supersport category, Dynavolt Triumph will be a two rider line-up in 2021. The rider who will fill the second slot will be announced in the very near future.

Podcast: Greg’s Garage Pod With Jason Pridmore, Episode 108

Image courtesy Greg's Garage Pod.
Image courtesy Greg's Garage Pod.

Greg’s Garage Pod with Co-Host Jason Pridmore – A motorcycle racing Pod about MotoGP, MotoAmerica, and World Superbike, Pro Motocross, American Flat Track, Supercross, and more. In this episode, Co-Hosts Greg White and Jason Pridmore talk:

ARAI Helmets News – MotoAmerica tickets on sale. https://motoamerica.com/tickets/ use code EARLYBIRD. Wishing well to MotoGP Champ Fausto Gresini, James Rispoli going to the big show in AFT, and Davide Brivio takes his World Championship and heads to F1.

Battle of the Olds – The boys talk about what is coming up with the White vs. Kolb battle at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in March.

FIM EWC – The 2021 World Endurance calendar is out. Jason talk to us about his view on endurance racing, the good and the bad.

SX Fantasy – The decision has been made… PulpMX. Join us! Link here: https://pulpmxfantasy.com/leagues/gregsgaragepodcast

 

Pirelli Celebrates 5 Million Radial Motorcycle Tires Sold Since 2008

Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires in action. Photo courtesy Pirelli.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires in action. Photo courtesy Pirelli.

Pirelli DIABLO ROSSO™ in Numbers: Five Million Tires Sold Plus a New Upcoming Fourth Generation

Since 2008 the DIABLO ROSSO™ Brand has Been Using the Technology Developed by Pirelli in the FIM Superbike World Championship to Offer Uncompromising Riding Performance

ROME, Ga. (January 7, 2021) – The Pirelli DIABLO ROSSO™ tire family enters the new year with record numbers and celebrates the achievement of an important milestone: over 5,000,000 radial tires sold since its introduction on the market in 2008.

The origins of DIABLO™ and DIABLO ROSSO™ brands

DIABLO™ represents Pirelli’s excellence in the world of high-performance tires designed for two-wheeled vehicles. The DIABLO™ product family, after its introduction into the market in 2002, has rapidly evolved to include in its broad portfolio tires dedicated to other market segments, from professional racing to the supersports road arena. The DIABLO™ brand brings with it more than 18 years of experience, technology and victories in the most prestigious national and international two-wheeled competitions.

Within the DIABLO™ range, the DIABLO ROSSO™ products are dedicated to road machines of a sport leaning. The name DIABLO ROSSO™ was born with the intention of honoring the distinctive color of the Italian national motorsport team since 1922, which was the color racing red (PANTONE® 185C).

The most prestigious motorcycle manufacturers in the world choose DIABLO ROSSO™ products as original equipment for their top models, while many respected international magazines and websites consider DIABLO ROSSO™ products a benchmark for this sector. Among the leading products of this family there are currently tires such as DIABLO ROSSO™ Corsa II, DIABLO ROSSO™ III, and DIABLO ROSSO™ Scooter, still reference tires in their respective segments.

Thanks to the high performance of each of these products, supported by the ability of Pirelli engineers to anticipate the demands of a constantly evolving market, and to use cutting-edge materials and technologies, the DIABLO ROSSO™ product family has been able to reach the important milestone of 5,000,000 radial tires sold worldwide.

Respectable numbers that allow Pirelli to announce with great satisfaction and pride the fourth generation of this tire family, with the arrival of DIABLO ROSSO™ IV, the new supersport product created to continue the history of this successful brand. As the direct successor of DIABLO ROSSO™ III, DIABLO ROSSO™ IV raises the bar of this product range even higher, pushing the qualities of handling and grip to the highest levels, both in dry and wet conditions.

 

A set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV motorcycle tires. Photo courtesy Pirelli.
A set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV motorcycle tires. Photo courtesy Pirelli.

 

DIABLO ROSSO™ IV is dedicated to motorcyclists who love a more dynamic riding style, owners of supersports, hypernaked or crossover bikes who demand from a tire a high level of grip, on all types of asphalt and weather conditions, as well as precise feedback and great handling to make the most of the high performance of their bikes.

For more information about the complete line of Pirelli motorcycle tires, please visit Pirelli.com

American Flat Track: Wally Brown Racing Signs Lowe

Trent Lowe (48). Photo by Scott Hunter, courtesy AFT.
Trent Lowe (48). Photo by Scott Hunter, courtesy AFT.

Wally Brown Racing Signs Trent Lowe for 2021 AFT Singles Season

DAVIDSON, N.C. (January 7, 2021) – Wally Brown Racing is pleased to announce Trent Lowe as its full-time rider in the 2021 Progressive American Flat Track season. Lowe will ride the WBR Suzuki RMZ 450 in the AFT Singles Class. This will be WBR’s second season participating in Progressive AFT, after a stellar premiere season wherein the team won the first race of the AFT Finale at DAYTONA in the final weekend of competition.

“Trent is going to be a great fit for our program,” said Wally Brown. “He’s proved he can be competitive in the Singles class with consistency. As a team we learned a lot in our first year and have much to add to our race program in 2021. I foresee an exciting season.”

The 2021 Progressive AFT season will be Lowe’s third year of participation in AFT Singles. In 2020 he qualified for every race on the revised schedule and landed on the podium at Williams Grove and the AFT Finale at DAYTONA. Lowe finished fifth in overall standings.

 

Trent Lowe. Photo courtesy Wally Brown Racing.
Trent Lowe. Photo courtesy Wally Brown Racing.

 

“I am grateful for the opportunity Wally Brown Racing has given me for the upcoming 2021 race season,” said Lowe. “With this team behind me, I know we will be a contender for the championship.”

Progressive AFT will continue to release developments to the 2021 event schedule in the coming weeks. Fans are encouraged to stay tuned to Progressive AFT news and social media channels for the latest developments in America’s Original Extreme Sport.

For more information on Progressive American Flat Track visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

To score the latest gear for the Progressive American Flat Track fan, visit the Official Progressive AFT Merchandise store at https://store.americanflattrack.com.

How to Watch Progressive American Flat Track

NBCSN and TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold are the official homes for coverage of Progressive American Flat Track. The complete schedule for Progressive AFT on NBCSN can be viewed at http://www.americanflattrack.com/events-nbcsn/. TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold – the most-robust motorsports offering in the digital marketplace – is a cornerstone of Progressive AFT’s digital strategy, providing live streaming coverage of every event and maintaining an active archive of all Progressive AFT content.

About Progressive American Flat Track

Progressive American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram, live stream the events with TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold and catch all the Progressive American Flat Track racing action on NBCSN.

MotoGP: Team Manager Brivio Leaving Suzuki MotoGP Team

Davide Brivio (right) shakes hands with 2020 MotoGP World Champion Joan Mir (left). Mir's teammate Alex Rins looks on in the background. Photo courtesy Team Suzuki Press Office.
Davide Brivio (right) shakes hands with 2020 MotoGP World Champion Joan Mir (left). Mir's teammate Alex Rins looks on in the background. Photo courtesy Team Suzuki Press Office.

Editorial Note: It’s being reported by European media outlets that Brivio is leaving Suzuki to accept the position of CEO of the Alpine Formula One racing team.

 

DAVIDE BRIVIO AND TEAM SUZUKI ECSTAR PART WAYS

After eight years at the helm of Team Suzuki Ecstar in the role of Team Manager, Davide Brivio and Suzuki have announced an end to their collaboration.

The Italian has been present in the MotoGP World Championship paddock for more than 20 years and has been involved with Suzuki since 2013. He held the position of Team Manager when Suzuki embarked on their new MotoGP project, and has remained in place throughout their rise to success, which was this year topped-off by the incredible World Championship crown achieved by Joan Mir, and the Teams’ Championship title for Team Suzuki Ecstar.

Brivio is pleased with the milestones achieved with Suzuki but now wishes to pursue new challenges in his professional and personal life, away from MotoGP.

Team Suzuki Ecstar appreciate the work done by Davide Brivio, and the excellent goals achieved together. The Suzuki squad now look to the future with sights set high for the 2021 season.

Davide Brivio:

“A new professional challenge and opportunity suddenly came to me and in the end I decided to take it. It has been a difficult decision. The hardest part will be to leave this fabulous group of people, whom I started this project with when Suzuki rejoined the Championship. And it’s hard to say goodbye also to all the people who have arrived over the years to create this great Team. I feel sad from this point of view, but at the same time I feel a lot of motivation for this new challenge – which was the key when I had to decide between renewing my contract with Suzuki or starting a completely new experience.

“Achieving a MotoGP title is something that will remain in the Suzuki history books and it will always have a special place in my life memories. I would like to deeply thank all the Suzuki management for their trust and confidence in me, which they had since the beginning. I would like to thank every single member of our MotoGP group in Japan and at the track, all the Suzuki network, and of course all the riders who rode for the Team in this period, especially Joan and Alex who did a great 2020 season.

“Joan becoming World Champion was a dream come true for me and for all the people who worked hard and accompanied me on this magnificent journey. I wish the best to Team Suzuki MotoGP, I hope that the results in the future will be better and better and I will always be a Suzuki fan. Thanks very much Suzuki!”

Shinichi Sahara – Team Suzuki Ecstar Project Leader:

“Sincerely, it was shocking news for us about Davide’s departure from Team Suzuki Ecstar. It feels like somebody took a part of me, because I always discussed with him how to develop the team and the bikes, and we’ve worked together for a long time. In 2020 we achieved fantastic results despite the unusual and difficult situation due to Covid-19. And 2021 will be an even more important year for us to keep the momentum. Now we are trying to find the best way to cover for the ‘Davide loss’. Luckily in most cases I have had quite a similar way of thinking to him, therefore it is not so difficult to keep the direction we should go as Team Suzuki Ecstar, I think. We would like to wish him the best of luck for the future.”

WERA Hires New Employee Gabe Harman

Gabe Harman. Photo courtesy WERA Motorcycle Roadracing Inc.
Gabe Harman. Photo courtesy WERA Motorcycle Roadracing Inc.

WERA WELCOMES GABE HARMAN!

Gabe Harman, 21, has joined the WERA Motorcycle Roadracing headquarters staff.  The Harman family (David (Dad), Rhonda (Mom) and Zach (Brother)) have been a part of the WERA family since the early 1980s.  They might be better known to you as our Rider’s School Instructor/Pit Out/Announcer/Registrar/Starter/Assistant Starter and Computer Whiz!

“The twins are my Godchildren and I have known them since they were less than 24-hours-old.  They have grown into responsible young men and I could not be prouder of them.  Zach is an Advanced EMT, and Gabe is still in college looking for a degree in Computer Science.  Gabe will be a natural here at WERA Motorcycle Roadracing and I look forward to working with him for many years to come,” said WERA CEO Evelyne Clarke.

Gabe’s duties will include Office Management, Contingency Reporting, Event Staffing, Event set up, Timing/Scoring, and whatever else he wants to tackle!

The 2021 schedule has been released and we look forward to seeing all our WERA Motorcycle Roadracing riders next season. With Covid still being an issue some of our events may be impacted, please keep an eye on our website, Facebook page, and Roadracingworld.com for updates!

WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was founded in 1973 and remains the foremost place to develop talent in the sport of motorcycle Roadracing.  The legacy of Pro riders on a National and World level is legendary.  All events are run by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing with a co-sanction by the AMA and they go coast to coast offering entry level racing with the WERA Sportsman Series as well as a Pro-Am Series with the WERA National Challenge Series, WERA Motorcycle Roadracing also offer Vintage Racing and limited Endurance Racing with Track Day Partners N2 and Sportbike Track Time.  WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was voted the 2017 AMA Track Organizer of the Year.

For more information on WERA Motorcycle Roadracing please check out our web site at wera.com!