MotoAmerica: Final Round Of PR From Indy (Updated)

David Swarts

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October 14, 2020

MotoAmerica: Final Round Of PR From Indy (Updated)

The eighth round for the 2020 MotoAmerica season proved to be both rewarding and troublesome for Quarterley Racing On Track Development’s rider, Ben Gloddy. Despite an unfortunate track incident during the second qualifying session on Saturday morning, Gloddy was able to secure a front row start for both races at Indy.

Ben Gloddy:

“Knowing how iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway is, I was excited to race here. Race one started off with a red flag, resulting in a restart which I think helped me a little because I had made mistakes in the pack in turn two. I had a decent restart, but wasn’t able to pull away and ended up battling the whole race with four other riders. When we came across the line, it was so close that I wasn’t even sure what my place was. Fortunately, I was able to pull off 3rd place by 23 thousandths of a second.”

After a bar banging start to race two, Gloddy looked like he was going to be in another podium battle. Pushing through as best he could with a couple of issues, Gloddy began to fall back, ultimately finishing in 12th place. This ended his five-race podium streak.

“Race two was really disappointing for me even though I feel like I pushed as hard as I could. All I can do is move forward, learn from this race and stay positive. Laguna is in a couple weeks and I will be back stronger.”

Gloddy remains in fourth place in the championship points standings heading into the final MotoAmerica Junior Cup Round at Laguna Seca the weekend of October 23rd – 25th.

For Sponsorship Opportunities please contact:

Dale Quarterley – [email protected]

Phone: 413-218-6464

Rider Connection:

Ben Gloddy – [email protected]

bengloddyracing.com

Some of Gloddy’s personal sponsors for 2020 include: The Big S, SDM298 Racing, D’Andrea Foods, Penguin Racing School, Moto-Pizza, Woodcraft Technologies, First Trax Sports Shop, American Supercamp, Roche Realty Group, Stump Racing Kids, Arai Helmets, Freedom Cycle NH, C. Allaert, Sportbiketrackgear.com, Tink’s Customs, Looney Bin, CFO Speed Shop, JC Tinting, REB Graphics, Innovative Motorsports, A&B Lock, Finn’s Garage, MotoLiberty, Inter-tech, Fast Bike Industries, Yoshimura and Fast By Ferracci

Quarterley Racing On Track Development sponsors for 2020 include: Inter-Tech Supplies, Fast By Ferracci, Inc, Yoshimura Research & Development of America, Inc., Wiseco Powersports, Motul USA., Regina Chain, BrakeTech USA, Inc., Ferodo Racing, Matt & Jesse, Inc., Woodcraft Technologies, Fast Bike Industries, Nitron Racing Systems Ltd., Dynojet Research Inc., Beta Tools of Italy – USA, N2 Track Days, RoadracingWorld.com, MOTO-D Racing, VAN DYK Recycling Solutions, Earl’s Racing Team, Barnett Clutches & Cables and Kiwi Classic Moto.

More, from a press release issued by Team Hammer:

FONG WINS BIG FOR TEAM HAMMER AT THE BRICKYARD

Brea, CA – Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., and Team Hammer reaped the rewards of a season’s worth of hard work with a highlight weekend of the 2020 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing season to date at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. By the time the final checkered flag at the Brickyard had waved, the pairing had gained two national championships, three race victories, four pole positions, and six podiums.

Bobby Fong (50) earned two strong Superbike victories on his GSX-R1000. Photo by Brian J Nelson.

The rider who grabbed that final checkered flag was M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Bobby Fong, who enjoyed perhaps the finest weekend of his decorated professional career. On a historic MotoAmerica Superbike tripleheader weekend, Fong took a narrow victory in the Saturday’s race aboard his Suzuki GSX-R1000, backed it up with a close second in Sunday’s first race, and then pulled off a dominant, runaway win in the day’s concluding contest.

“It’s great to be back up here,” Fong said after his Sunday triumph. “It’s been a long season and my M4 ECSTAR Suzuki is finally coming into its own. I didn’t really have a gameplan coming into the final race, but my coach, Josh Hayes, said I just had to be relentless out there. I just plugged away and put in my laps.”

Fong consistently performed his best despite a large number of obstacles, including several red flags as well as competitors crashing near him. Fong avoided trouble throughout yet ran a strong race pace that was tough to match. The Californian now has three Superbike victories this season to go with the Supersport crown he won last year while mounted on a Suzuki GSX-R.

“The bike was awesome,” he added. “Big kudos to everyone on the team. They’ve been supporting me all year long, and I can’t thank them enough for all they’ve done.”

Toni Elias (24) was impressive taking pole position and securing a pair of top-five finishes at Indy. Photo by Brian J Nelson.

His premier-class teammate, Toni Elias, was in outstanding form in Indy as well, powering to pole position aboard his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000. Elias’ results were dampened by some misfortune — a red flag was shown while he was running second on Saturday and he crashed out of the lead as he and Fong were pulling clear early in Sunday’s second race – but he still managed to net a pair of top fives (fourth and fifth) on the weekend.

Sean Dylan Kelly (40) took pole position and had a solid result on his GSX-R600. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Meanwhile, M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s MotoAmerica Supersport duo of Sean Dylan Kelly and Lucas Silva showcased their skills as well. Kelly earned the pole aboard his GSX-R600, but made a small mistake on Saturday while leading in a ‘must win’ effort to keep his title hopes alive. He bounced back from the fall to finish as the Supersport runner-up on Sunday.

Lucas Silva (23) continued his streak of top-ten finishes on his GSX-R600 at Indy. Photo by Brian J Nelson.

Silva, meanwhile, battled for the podium on Saturday, running in second position until he was pushed wide on the final lap and ultimately came home in fourth. He followed that up with a sixth on Sunday to keep his season-long run of top tens alive.

Team Hammer will look to continue its hot form and close out the 2020 season in a flourish at the 2020 MotoAmerica season finale, which will take place at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, on October 23-25.

About Team Hammer: The 2020 season marks Team Hammer’s 40th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 104 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 284 times and have won nine AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships. The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA. Championships.

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup: Landers Will Miss Motorland Aragon I

David Swarts

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October 14, 2020

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Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup: Landers Will Miss Motorland Aragon I

Rocco Landers, the 15-year-old two-time MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion and 2020 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, will miss the next Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup races scheduled for this coming weekend, October 16-18, at Motorland Aragon.

Dorna’s COVID-19 protocol requires Landers and his father Stoney Landers to have a specific type of COVID-19 test done, with negative results, within 48 hours of departing the United States and then undergo another COVID-19 test once they arrive in Spain.

In spite of extensive searching, Stoney Landers told Roadracingworld.com that he has been unable to find a testing site that could get them in and guarantee a 48-hour turnaround on their test results.

Asked if they are trying to find a testing site that would enable them to attend the next Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup races October 23-25 at Motorland Aragon II or if they are planning to race with MotoAmerica that same weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Stoney Landers said he didn’t know yet.

MotoAmerica: JD Beach Returning To Supersport At Laguna Seca

David Swarts

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October 14, 2020

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MotoAmerica: JD Beach Returning To Supersport At Laguna Seca

Celtic HSBK Racing Announces J.D. Beach to make appearance in MotoAmerica Supersport Championship

Celtic HSBK Racing will field J.D. Beach at the final round of the MotoAmerica Season next week at Monterey. The team has the fastest Yamaha R6 in both this year and last year’s Supersport championship finishing a close second in season points in the 2019 season. With just one round to go, the team looks to bring US fan favorite Beach back to the MotoAmerica grid to close the year out with a bang.

Beach has been competing full time in the 2020 American Flat Track series for the Estenson Racing Team on a Yamaha Twin. He has a history of excellence in both disciplines. Among other successful seasons in 2018, Beach claimed the win in 11 of 17 MotoAmerica Supersport races upon a Yamaha and decisively won the title. He came back in 2019 on an R1 in the Superbike class and was competitive both in the MA paddock and the AFT paddock and became the first rider to top the podium during the same season in the premier class of both disciplines since Nicky Hayden. His resume speaks for itself. Beach has talent and lucky for the fans they will get to see him put his skills to work against another standout competitor and championship winner in just over a week.

Beach commented on the upcoming wildcard saying, “I’m excited to get back to the MotoAmerica grid for a round. I’ve been following the series and this class closely and am looking forward to a chance to put the Yamaha R6 to work against this year’s fastest bike and rider. I know this is a top Yamaha after watching PJ (Jacobsen) ride it last year and jumped at an opportunity that didn’t interfere with my flat track season. A big thanks to Estenson Racing for allowing me take this opportunity and the Celtic HSBK team for welcoming me.”

The team is made possible through key partners: North American Warhorse, Competition Werkes, EVOL Technology, New York Safety Track, Fast by Ferraci, and Admore Air.

In addition to the support of their technical sponsors: Bickle Racing, BrakeTech, Cox Racing, Drippen Wet, Drive Systems USA, EAZIGrip, Full Spectrum, GB Racing, Jap4Performance, MWR Filters, Ohlins USA, Out There Brands, RaceSeats, Samco Sport, Spiegler Performance, SBS Brakes, STM, and Zero Gravity.

For ongoing race season updates, subscribe to HSBK Racing on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/hsbkracing)

HSBK Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/HSBKRACING/) & Instagram (@hsbkracing) Celtic Racing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CelticRacing/) & Instagram (@celticracing)

World Superbike: Rinaldi Replacing Davies At Ducati

David Swarts

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October 14, 2020

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World Superbike: Rinaldi Replacing Davies At Ducati

Michael Ruben Rinaldi will ride the official Ducati Panigale V4 R of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team in the 2021 WorldSBK season

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team is pleased to announce that the Italian rider Michael Ruben Rinaldi – alongside teammate Scott Redding – will defend the colours of the Italian squad in the 2021 WorldSBK season with the official Ducati Panigale V4 R.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi was born in Rimini on 21st December 1995 and started racing with the minimoto when he was 7 years old, winning the Italian championship in 2006. After winning the Italian Sport Production Championship in 2011, in 2014 he faced his first international experience in the European Superstock 600 championship, which closed as runner-up in 2015. In 2016 Rinaldi rode the Ducati Panigale R of the Aruba.it Racing – Junior team in the SuperStock 1000 FIM championship, finishing sixth and then conquering the European Champion title at the end of the following season. With the Aruba.it Racing – Junior team, Michael Ruben Rinaldi also made his WorldSBK debut in the 2018 season, racing only in European rounds and then competing in all events of the 2019 Championship with the Barni Racing Team. In the current season, Rinaldi obtained his first success in WorldSBK with the Panigale V4 R of the Go Eleven team in Race-1 at Aragon, round that saw him finish on the podium also in the Superpole Race (P3) and Race-2 (P2).

Stefano Cecconi (Team Principal Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)

“It’s with great enthusiasm that we welcome Michael to our team. It is a source of great satisfaction for us as well as a confirmation of the goodness of the project we undertook five years ago with the Junior team. Rinaldi himself was one of the great protagonists, achieving important results: the same results we expect him to achieve from next season on. A big thank to Chaz Davies for all the years we have spent together since we decided – together with Aruba.it – to embark on this fascinating adventure and during which a bond of deep respect and trust was created. The affection for the man and the rider will always remain intact, and for this reason, we want to wish Chaz the best for the future, both inside and outside the track”.

Luigi Dall’ Igna (General Manager of Ducati Corse)

“We are pleased to welcome Michael Ruben Rinaldi to the official team. This year Michael has shown great competitiveness, crowned by the Aragon victory, and has always been fighting for top positions. We believe that the time has come for him to join the official team and we are convinced that he has a bright future ahead of him. I want to thank Chaz, who has been an excellent ambassador for our brand over the past seven years and has achieved some very important results with us: 27 victories plus another 59 podiums finish and three consecutive second places in the world championships. We will try to close in the best way our adventure together in the next race weekend in Estoril”.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi

“After an exciting journey in Ducati, joining the official team is an honour for me, as well as confirmation of the quality of the work done over the years. My first target will be to repay, through the results, the trust that has been given to me. For an Italian rider, racing with Ducati is an extraordinary feeling, and I am sure that the passion of the Ducati people will give me an extra boost. I would like to thank Stefano Cecconi and the Aruba family who have always believed in me, and Daniele Casolari, Serafino Foti and the whole Feel Racing for supporting me over the years. A special thought to Claudio Domenicali, Gigi Dall’ Igna and Paolo Ciabatti for having involved me in this new project. Finally, I would like to involve the Ramello family, Denis Sacchetti and all the guys in the Go Eleven team in an ideal embrace. Thanks to them, I was able to make an important quality leap that allowed me to reach this great goal. And of course, I would like to thank my family for having supported me from the beginning together with Germano Bertuzzi whose support has been fundamental. I feel I can promise them all my utmost commitment to achieving great results together”.

Royal Enfield BTR Program Going Road Racing

David Swarts

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October 14, 2020

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Royal Enfield BTR Program Going Road Racing

Royal Enfield BUILD TRAIN RACE Program Goes Road Racing

Four female riders will prepare Continental GT 650 motorcycles into road racing motorcycles

MILWAUKEE, Wis (October 14, 2020) — Today Royal Enfield North America announced phase two of the BUILD TRAIN RACE (BTR) program seeking out female motorcyclists to customize, train and road race Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 motorcycles in 2021. A group of women will be selected by Royal Enfield for the program through an online video selection process. Women interested in the program must submit a video and respond to a questionnaire at https://bit.ly/30aSOXT to be considered.

“Building upon the success of the flat track BTR program, we decided to carry the momentum into the road racing segment, ” said Breeann Poland, Gloabal Brand Manager – Continental GT platform. “This is a unique opportunity for women interested in road racing and to make a name for themselves on a national level. The participants will have the opportunity to learn from world class racer, Melissa Paris, which is not a chance many people get. The ladies will also be some of the first people to road race the Continental GT 650 platform, so the motorcycling world will be watching.”

Professional Road Racer and BTR flat track participant Melissa Paris has agreed to mentor the women during each phase of the program. She will consult each participant on the development of a Continental GT 650 road race motorcycle, including design and parts selection, provide insight into sponsorship aspect of racing, and provide training on and off track for the four participants.

“When I watch the video submissions I’ll be looking for entries that display the same passion and desire to get into road racing that I had when I first started out,” said road racer and BTR mentor, Melissa Paris. “This program will be such an amazing opportunity and I’m looking forward to working with these female racers who have always dreamed of lining up on a road race grid”.

The participants will be selected by Poland, Paris and accomplished racer and journalist Anne Roberts. In their videos, interested participants will need to display a passion for road racing and answer a series of questions about their background and motorcycling experience. The selected participants will then have several months and a budget to convert a 2020 Continental GT 650 Twin into road racing trim. The ladies will then race in conjunction with a national event once they’ve completed the build and training aspects of the program.

The entry period for consideration in the BUILD TRAIN RACE program starts today and will run through December 1, 2020.

To stay up to date on the riders and their motorcycles, visit BUILDTRAINRACE.com or follow Royal Enfield North America on Facebook and Instagram.

About Royal Enfield

The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the mid-size motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market.

Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 125 dealers in North America, including the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. RENA currently offers the Bullet 500, Classic 500, Himalayan and the all new 650 Twins: INT 650 and Continental GT 650 motorcycles along with a range of genuine motorcycle accessories and apparel.

For more information on Royal Enfield North America, please visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.

AHRMA: Race Results From Barber Motorsports Park (Updated)

David Swarts

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October 14, 2020

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AHRMA: Race Results From Barber Motorsports Park (Updated)

Editorial Note: The results below have been updated by AHRMA.

Use the zoom and scrolling tools in the bottom left corner of the PDF viewer to better see all pages of the race results.

2020 Barber Results - RRW 10-15-2020

MotoAmerica: Zanetti Racing At Laguna Seca

David Swarts

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October 14, 2020

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MotoAmerica: Zanetti Racing At Laguna Seca

Italian rider Lorenzo Zanetti will race a Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Panigale V4 R in the 2020 MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike season finale October 23-25 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

After winning one Superbike race and finishing on the podium in two others last weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Zanetti was asked about the possibility of him racing again at Laguna Seca. He said it was not yet decided because he needed to return to Italy to ride his Broncos Racing Team Ducati in the next round of the CIV (Italian) Superbike Championship October 17-18 at Vallelunga and that returning to the U.S. the following weekend would be difficult due to visa challenges and COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Now, according to Zanetti’s social media posts, he has decided to stay in America until he can race the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Panigale again at Laguna Seca.

“After this weekend for Ducati and I have changed our priorities, so I’ll also take part in the final round of the MotoAmerica in Laguna Seca,” Zanetti wrote in English on Facebook. “Due to the current travel restriction I cannot go back to Italy to play the Vallelunga race. I would like to thank all the Broncos racing team and the Campionato Italiano Velocità for their hard work and dedication towards me. A special thank you to Luca BRONCOS Conforti who follows me and supports me in my choices.”

Zanetti is currently fourth in the CIV Superbike Championship point standings with three podium finishes in six races with the two races at Vallelunga remaining.

MotoGP: Will There Be An Eighth Different Winner?

David Swarts

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October 14, 2020

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MotoGP: Will There Be An Eighth Different Winner?

Can MotorLand give us a magic number eight?

After seven winners, we arrive at Aragon with an empty throne. A new winner at the track is a guarantee, but could it be the eighth this year?

Wednesday, 14 October 2020

After a dramatic, at times chaotic but always entertaining French GP, it’s time for the paddock to saddle up and head for the very different MotorLand Aragon. An outpost of speed in rural Teruel, the backdrop is a very different one to that of Le Mans – and so is the track. With Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner the only riders to have won at the venue, we’ll have a new rider on the top step. But will it be a new winner in 2020? Or a first timer? We’re about to find out…

First though, the Championship battle: in a rain-soaked French GP, the top three going in ultimately fought it out for ninth, but Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) remains the man on top. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) lost some ground to the Frenchman but gained ever-so-slightly on Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) right behind him on track, but it was Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) who made the big gains. Fighting for the win before being forced to settle for fourth, it was a welcome chunk of points after his DNF – through no fault of his own – in Barcelona. He’s now third overall, 18 off the top and ahead of Viñales by a single point.

And so we arrive at MotorLand, with the title fight finely poised and a lot on the line. The stats and the form book though, without reigning Champion Marc Marquez in the mix, make predictions difficult. The Honda rider has won at the track five times in MotoGP™, and taken five poles. Last year and the year before, however, Dovizioso took second, with Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) also on the podium in 2019. That makes good reading for the Borgo Panigale factory, as does Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) arriving as the most recent winner. With a little more luck, Miller – or teammate Francesco Bagnaia – could be two real candidates to be the eighth winner of the season.

Quartararo, however, will be feeling fairly optimistic heading in. Yamaha have won twice at the track – although one was in the wet – both courtesy of Lorenzo. But the one man who was usually the key challenge is on the sidelines. Maverick Viñales will also have his eye on that – the Spaniard one who, along with Mir, was sent wide early on in France and forced right to the back before recovering to the top ten – and it would be a good time for the number 12 to pull a Misano and remind the field how fast he is. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) will want to bounce back from a crash in Le Mans too, and he’s now lost out on fifth overall in the Championship as well. But how will Yamaha fare down the long back straight? Will it matter by the time they arrive there?

We must also, of course, mention Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). The number 46 has been on the podium at MotorLand – his 2015 battle against now-retired MotoGP™ Legend Dani Pedrosa is stuff of legend in itself – but it’s been a tougher weekend at times since. This season though, Yamaha are on a roll – and Rossi wants in. The number 46 has had an uncharacteristic three crashes in a row and he’s looking to bounce back, also a candidate to be winner number eight…

And then there are Suzuki. The Hamamatsu factory also have podium form at the track, but last year was a tougher weekend. Their other hurdle remains qualifying too, although Mir and teammate Alex Rins have been doing a stellar job of gaining back on Sunday ground lost on Saturday. For Rins it’s home turf too – about as close as you can get to racing in your own back garden – and for Mir it is too. The number 36 has an interesting record at MotorLand: he’s either won from a good grid position or sliced through the field to a top five or six, although his rookie race in MotoGP™ was the outlier. This season the sophomore has been a threat everywhere, however, and the bike looks to work everywhere – so can he finally take that first win? He’s seemed on the verge so long, he’s a serious threat to be the eighth different man to win, as is Rins. Mir says that’s a bigger focus than the title, too…

For Honda, MotorLand has always been a good stomping ground. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will be eyeing that and knowing he can show good form once again, with the Japanese rider the only man to have scored in every race – and in the top ten. That consistency sees him move up to fifth overall, but it’s not just the maths as Nakagami has also had some impressive speed. And speaking of impressive speed, Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) had that in spades at Le Mans. The rookie – after one practice session in the wet – took a stunning maiden podium from an almost unbelievable P18 on the grid. Will that boost of confidence and almost-winning feeling translate in the dry? He has a good record at MotorLand, and it’s home turf. And what can Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) do? The Brit was fast in both conditions in France, despite his ongoing injury struggles.

And what about KTM? 2020 is already – after only nine races – their best season in terms of points, and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was on the podium once again in France, with Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) only just off it. So what can they do? And can rookies Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) bounce back from a tough first race in the wet? The Austrian factory’s best result at MotorLand so far is a 10th, but the times they have-a-changed this season. Pol Espargaro and Brad Binder also have two wins each in the smaller categories at the track…

For Aprilia too, MotorLand has good memories – and especially for Aleix Espargaro. The number 41 took his MotoGP™ podium in Aragon, although before he rode for the Noale factory, but since he’s impressed at the venue and equalled the marque’s best results ever at this very track. Will that remain true in 2020 with the new RS-GP? Aprilia’s improvement is more than it seems looking solely at position, and it continues.

Technical, challenging and more than the sum of its parts, MotorLand promises another two stunning weekends of racing. And we’ll have a new face on the top step at the venue, with Marc Marquez sidelined and Pedrosa, Lorenzo and Stoner the only others to have taken victory at the track. As well as that, Petrucci was winner number seven in France, so can MotorLand give us number eight? Find out on Sunday the 18th of October at 14:00 (GMT +2).

MotoGP™ Championship Standings

1 Fabio Quartararo* – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – 115

2 Joan Mir – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – 105

3 Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team – Ducati – 97

4 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 96

5 Takaaki Nakagami* – LCR Honda Idemitsu – Honda – 81

*Independent Team riders

British Superbike: Smiths Racing Team Quitting

David Swarts

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October 14, 2020

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British Superbike: Smiths Racing Team Quitting

After eleven seasons as one of the most successful teams, including the past six in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Smiths Racing will contest their final event at Brands Hatch this weekend.

Peter Hickman will be in action in all three races aboard the Global Robots BMW S1000RR before the team ends their successful tenure in the sport.

Under the guidance of Alan Smith and his daughter Rebecca, the Gloucester-based team arrived into the British Championship paddock in 2010 and took their first podium in their debut season with Dan Cooper riding the Smiths Triumph to third place in the British Supersport race at Knockhill.

As the official Triumph factory entry, the team won their first British Supersport Championship in 2012 with Glen Richards before fellow Australian Billy McConnell took their second title in 2014 after a season long battle with teammate Graeme Gowland who finished third. The team also scored points in selected World Supersport Championship races before moving into British Superbikes in 2015 where McConnell took their debut podium at Cadwell Park.

A further seven podiums were highlighted by Peter Hickman winning a race at Thruxton in 2017 and going on to claim a Showdown spot for three successive years with a best result of fourth overall in the 2017 British Superbike Championship.

But it was on the roads that much of the team’s success came as Smiths Racing became the dominant force since making their debut at the 2014 North West 200. Their first TT win came that same year with Gary Johnson winning the Supersport TT with a further five TT wins in the hands of Hickman, including claiming the outright lap record of 135.452mph in 2018.

Hickman also won a record-breaking seven races in a weekend for Smiths at the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix, upping the lap record to 136.415mph and with other successes at the North West 200 and Macau Grand Prix, the tally stands at an impressive 21 major road race victories and multiple podiums.

Rebecca Smith, Team Owner: “We have had a wonderful experience and gained lots of fantastic memories in the British Superbike and Supersport Championships and at the TT, NW200, Ulster GP and Macau GP over the past decade or so. We have enjoyed a lot of success but now as a family and a business, we wish to concentrate our efforts in other directions. I would like to thank all of our riders, team members, sponsors, fans and organisers who have been instrumental in our successes over the years. Whilst it is the end of an era for Smiths Racing as a family owned and operated team, some elements will continue in a new guise and we wish everyone involved good luck for the future.”

Video: Royal Enfield Presents “BUILD TRAIN RACE: Atlanta”

David Swarts

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October 14, 2020

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Video: Royal Enfield Presents “BUILD TRAIN RACE: Atlanta”

Royal Enfield North America presents a short video from its BUILD TRAIN RACE event at the American Flat Track (AFT) Atlanta Short Track, at Dixie Speedway, in Woodstock, Georgia.

MotoAmerica: Final Round Of PR From Indy (Updated)

October 14, 2020