Jim Weatherhead of Centerville, Minnesota, is the winner of the prize pack offered in Roadracing World Reader Survey, Part 10, which was brought to you by MV Agusta and Liqui Moly.
Survey participants had a chance to win an MV Agusta Reparto Corse Down Jacket plus four cases (6 bottles per case) of Liqui Moly motor oil additives!
The MV Agusta Reparto Corse Down Jacket is lightweight and down-filled, featuring mesh panel inserts with rubberized zipper pulls, and embroidered with the MV Agusta Reparto Corse logo on the front and back. This jacket has an MSRP of $232, and can be purchased via the MV Agusta Online Store by visiting https://mvagusta.store.
The Liqui Moly prize included one case (6 bottles per case) each of the following products:
Liqui Moly MoS2 Shooter, which reduces friction and wear inside engines and gearboxes, reduces oil and fuel consumption, is compatible with all powersports motor oils, and is wet clutch safe. MoS2 Shooter is available for $7 MSRP.
Liqui Moly Engine Flush Shooter, (4 stroke only), the easy-to-use, one-shot treatment for up to two quarts of oil, which helps restore engine performance, and will not harm seals, gaskets and clutch materials. Fresh oil develops its full performance immediately! Engine Flush Shooter is available for $6 MSRP.
Liqui Moly 4T Additive Shooter, (4 stroke only), for carburetor and fuel injection systems, removes deposits in fuel system and prevents renewed formation, and provides excellent corrosion protection. 4T Additive Shooter is available for $6 MSRP.
Liqui Moly Speed Additive, which optimizes fuel for better performance, improves bottom end throttle response, increases fuel economy, and keeps fuel system components clean. Speed Additive is available for $6 MSRP.
Liqui Moly products are distributed to Powersports Dealers nationwide through Parts Unlimited/Drag Specialties, and can also be purchased online through Cycle Gear.
Survey results are used to improve content for readers and marketing for our advertisers. Name and address required for prize drawing. Entrants will automatically receive a free three-issue trial subscription to Roadracing World magazine with no obligation. No mailing list or confidential individual information is shared with third parties. Roadracing World’s privacy policy can be viewed here. To sign up to receive upcoming, short installments of future Roadracing World reader surveys and other promotional e-mails from Roadracing World, CLICK HERE.
About MV Agusta Motor S.p.A.
MV Agusta is one of the world’s leading premium motorcycles manufacturers. Based in Varese, in Northern Italy, it crafts legendary racetrack-derived bikes. Iconic design and class-leading performance through advanced technologies and materials make MV Agusta motorcycles admired the world over and celebrated as unique pieces of Motorcycle Art. Since 1945, the brand has evolved to become a point of reference in the industry, having won 37 World Championship titles. A record still undisputed. www.mvagusta.com
About Liqui Moly
Renowned in global auto and motorcycle racing circles, and increasingly popular in repair shops throughout the US and Canada, LIQUI MOLY has been voted the number one motor oil for ten consecutive years in Germany. Whether for a motorcycle, moped, scooter, trike, quad bike or go-cart; for the road, off-road or race circuit; for the engine, gears or suspension fork — LIQUI MOLY offers you motor oils, gear oils, fork oils and filter oils, as well as additives, perfectly tailored to the needs of two-wheeled vehicles, plus a range of care products including chain grease, leather balm and visor cleaner completing the full Motorbike selection. For more information go to https://www.liqui-moly.com/.
For more information on how your product can be the presenting sponsor of an upcoming Roadracing World Reader Survey, email Natalie Ulrich Heard, [email protected].
Quartararo and Morbidelli head to Austria eager for more glory
PETRONAS Yamaha SRT looking to continue their strong start to the 2020 MotoGP season at the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg this weekend
Fresh from achieving their tenth podium at Brno, PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team, with riders Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli, are heading to the Grand Prix von Österreich confident of obtaining more strong results. As current leaders in both the riders’ and teams’ championships, the squad travel to Austria in high spirits.
Although the CzechGP wasn’t the best for Quartararo, with increased tyre in the race wear preventing him from making the most of his front row start, the Frenchman was still about to rack up nine more championship points. Aware that it could be another tricky weekend, with extremely varied weather conditions predicted, Quartararo is keen to ensure that he is back on the podium on Sunday – especially as he finished third in Austria last year.
Team-mate Morbidelli will arrive at the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg bolstered by achieving his first ever MotoGP podium last weekend. The Italian raced with a mature head, knowing that his tyres were dropping off, to ensure that his bike crossed the line second. Despite the perception that the 4.3km circuit is not one of the strongest for the Yamaha YZR-M1, Franco is confident that he can still be at the sharp end of the grid and fight for another podium finish. He will arrive at the Austrian GP third in the championship.
The Grand Prix von Österreich will get underway for the MotoGP riders with FP1 at 9.55am local time (3.55pm MYT) on Friday. Sunday’s 28-lap race is due to start at 2pm local time (8pm MYT).
Fabio Quartararo
It wasn’t the best weekend at Brno, but we will go to Austria with nine more points in the championship. That was important to do. The Austrian track is one that I really like and I’m really looking to these next two races there. We know that KTM will be strong again as they’ve tested a lot there, which means they will have a lot of important data to use in the races. Of course, we will have to see what the conditions are when we arrive, as at the moment the weather forecast is very mixed, but I think we can be quick there and be back on the podium. We will definitely be trying to repeat, at least, the top-three finish from last year.
Franco Morbidelli
I think it has finally sunk in that I achieved my first MotoGP podium last time out! I’m really happy because it has given us a big injection of confidence going into these two races in Austria and the knowledge that we can fight at the front. On paper it doesn’t look like one of our strongest tracks, but that is just on paper! We will have to see what the conditions are like and how we feel in the first practice session on Friday. I’m really looking forward to it though and can’t wait to be back on track after these next few days.
The South East Mini Roadracing Association (SEMRA) is excited to return to the world of racing!
We are an organization that is devoted to providing a professional, safe environment for racers and fans of all ages to enjoy the great sport of road racing. Those of you who have been part of the SEMRA organization can attest that there is no better environment to craft your skills on a motorcycle. Whether you are a young rider on the way to MotoGP or just enjoy having fun on a bike, SEMRA is the place for you! In addition to a fun and safe environment, SEMRA will have a MyLaps system for timed qualifying and race scoring. Now you and your friends can compete for pole position and compare lap times just like the pros!
Our first organized event will be a SEMRA Reunion Trackday later this year. We will have more details to follow. To stay up to date, please visit us at our website here: https://www.semra.org/. Be sure to join our forum to learn more about the organization, rules, classes and provide input on future events. We look forward to connecting with you and enjoying some good ol’ fashioned bench racing. We look forward to seeing you at a racetrack soon!
Travis Wyman claims first podium finish in more than a year at MotoAmerica Superbikes at Pittsburgh
BMW rider also scores two top-10 finishes in Superbike races aboard repaired motorcycle
WAMPUM, Pa. — Travis Wyman is no stranger to making the podium in MotoAmerica competition, but the third place he scored in Sunday’s Stock 1000 race at Pittsburgh International Race Complex was a symbolic triumph over adverse circumstances.
Despite racing through pain in his surgically repaired left elbow to contending with numbness in his right arm and leg late in races –- and having to do a motor swap on the team’s 2020 BMW S 1000 RR on the Thursday before the race –- Wyman’s performance at the Aug. 7-9 event was his best of the season. It was his first podium appearance since Round 3 of the 2019 season at VIRginia International Raceway.
Wyman had his freshly repaired BMW’s potential on full display Friday. He finished both qualifying sessions in second place and claimed his first front-row starting grid spot of the 2020 season. He missed taking pole position by 0.072 seconds.
Saturday ended on a high note for the team. In the morning practice session, the team opted to test a new set-up, but it didn’t work out as planned and Wyman ended the practice session in seventh. In the Saturday Stock 1000 race, Wyman got good start and was running in fourth when the race was red flagged due to a crash that collapsed a section of air fence. When the race restarted with eight laps to go, Wyman got another good start and was running in second for the first two laps of the race. Though he dropped to fourth place on Lap 3, Wyman was in the group vying for the race lead when a false neutral at Turn 1 sent him off-track. He rejoined the race in eighth place and was able to make up a position to finish seventh. In the Saturday Superbike race, Wyman finished 10th and had the best finish of the Superbike Cup riders.
Sunday’s Stock 1000 race was the team’s shining moment so far in 2020. Wyman got another good start and was running second – hounding the race leader – in the race’s early stages. However, numbness in Wyman’s right arm and leg – a result of Wyman having to change his riding style to accommodate his nagging left elbow injury – caused his pace to slow. Despite the setback, Wyman still finished on the podium and showed that he will be contending for Stock 1000 victories as soon as his elbow has fully healed. In the Superbike race, Wyman was able to maintain a consistent pace – even with the pain in his elbow increasing as the race went on – to claim his second top-10 finish of the weekend in Superbike.
Though there were some setbacks, the Travis Wyman Racing BMW team ended the weekend in as good a position as it had started it. Wyman maintained fifth place in the Stock 1000 Class standings and second place in the Superbike Cup points. It will be Wyman’s first time racing at Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Wa., when the next MotoAmerica round takes place there Aug. 28-30.
Travis Wyman / #10
“We were fast right out of the gate this weekend, and it was the first time I’ve been able to push the bike from the get-go. I felt really good about the bike heading into Saturday’s races, and I was hanging with the leaders for most of the race. The false neutral was unfortunate and caused me to run off track, but we still came away with good points from that race. We made an adjustment to the shifter before the Superbike race, and it was great being the top-finishing Superbike Cup rider on Saturday. We made some setup changes to our BMW S 1000 RR Sunday morning, and my fastest lap in the day’s Stock 1000 race was about two seconds faster than my previous best lap at Pitt Race. I got a good start and was pushing hard to stay with the race leader as long as I could. Though the numbness in my right limbs kept me from maintaining the pace of the leaders, it was great to be back on the podium. The weekend as a whole was a win for the team, because we keep progressing even with all the setbacks we’ve had with me and the bike. We’re finally getting into the cusp of it and running up front. Steve Weir and Alex Torres did a stellar job again this weekend, and I can’t thank Mark Buche from BMW North America enough for getting us this new engine that we raced this weekend.”
More, from a press release issued by LaRoche Racing:
Bellaire business owner LaRoche scores top-10 finish in pro motorcycle races at Pittsburgh International Race Complex
Ohioan puts in best career performances in MotoAmerica competition at home track
WAMPUM, Pa. — Bellaire, Ohio, resident C.J. LaRoche put in the best performances of his professional motorcycle racing career when MotoAmerica — the nation’s official motorcycle road racing championship — visited Pittsburgh International Race Complex Aug. 7-9.
The owner of Bellaire’s LaRoche Tree Service scored 11th- and ninth-place finishes in MotoAmerica’s Supersport Class races on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. It was his first time finishing in the top-15 and top-10 in Supersport. He raced aboard a new-to-him 2019 Yamaha YZF-R6, which he had not had many opportunities to ride on a racetrack before the PittRace event.
LaRoche began racing professionally in 2016 and has competed part time in MotoAmerica’s Supersport and Superstock 600 classes. His previous best performances were two top-10 finishes in Superstock 600 at Pitt Race in 2017. Superstock 600 was a feeder class for Supersport, MotoAmerica’s premier middleweight class.
LaRoche had endured challenging weekends the last two years at his home round on the MotoAmerica schedule. He qualified 22nd and 18th in 2018 and 2019, respectively. In 2018, he finished 16th in one race and failed to finish the second contest. At the 2019 edition of the event, LaRoche finished 16th in the Saturday race and crashed out of the Sunday race.
LaRoche credits his improved racing performance to Ken Hill, a motorcycle road racing instructor LaRoche met through teaching at several Yamaha Champions Riding School events.
MotoAmerica’s Supersport Class features lightly-modified production-based motorcycles – road-legal sportbikes that can be purchased at a local motorcycle dealership.
MotoAmerica took over operating the AMA Superbike Championship in 2015 and features the nation’s top motorcycle road racers competing in five competition classes at racetracks across the country. The series is sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association, which also sanctions AMA Supercross and thousands of recreational and competition-oriented motorcycling events throughout the nation each year.
C.J. LaRoche / #20
“It was a great weekend and, without a doubt, the team’s most successful to date. There are a lot of very talented riders competing in MotoAmerica’s Supersport Class, and working with Ken [Hill] helped close the gap to them. I’m surrounded by a fantastic team that kept my Yamaha R6 in top condition. It felt great rewarding them for their hard work with two strong finishes. The entire team is looking forward to more good results at the Indianapolis round.”
More, from a press release issued by Hayden Schultz Racing:
Hayden Schultz Continues Podium Streak at Pittsburgh
Hayden Schultz (259). Photo by Karen E. Ott Photography, courtesy Hayden Schultz Racing.
After a weekend that presented many challenges, Hayden Schultz was able to continue his run of podium finishes in Twins Cup competition at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Coming into a weekend with no previous experience at the circuit, Schultz would have to learn the track quickly. After a promising start, Hayden would find himself at the top of qualifying until the last minutes. In an effort to regain pole position for the race, Schultz went back on track and pushed for a faster lap. He would not be able to top his previous time after suffering a high side crash that left him, and the bike battered. A team effort would be required from the Brittenum Construction / Law Tigers / Hayden Schultz Racing crew to get the bike repaired in time for the Sunday afternoon race. Fortunately, Schultz would escape the crash without any injuries that would keep him from racing. With a front row start, Schultz would manage to continue his podium streak with a lonely 3rd place ride in the race.
“It was quite the weekend at Pittsburgh. I learned a new track and got up to speed quickly. My team worked hard to give me a great bike and we found we had the pace to run up front,” Schultz said. “In qualifying I found myself so close to pole that I had to push and unfortunately found the edge. I am blessed to walk away from that crash and able to race. Gene Burcham, Gary Jeffries, and Russell and Ron “Dink” Glidden are the best crew I could ask for and worked overtime to get the bike together for the race. I am happy to finish on the podium after that crash, but I feel like I had more than I showed in the race. I know we can battle with Rocco and Kaleb for wins, but I have to keep working hard to get there. My team and sponsors are incredible and have given me a great program, I’ll be doing my all to get that first win.”
The team was also joined by Twins Cup Veteran Jim Whitten. Jim would be making his season debut with the team after competing in the full series in 2019. After progressing in each session, Jim qualified for the race and finish in 24th in the race.
The team thanks its 2020 sponsors for their support: Law Tigers, Brittenum Construction, aRacer USA, Ohlins, Glidden Racing, 6D Helmets, RS Taichi USA, Moto Liberty, Blud Lubricants, Wossner Pistons, Robem Engineering, Moto-D, Dreyer Motorsports, Full Spectrum Power, Vance and Hines, Woodcraft Technologies, Shundi Self Storage.
CSRA Vintage Superbikes revisit Buttonwillow with the AFM for round 2
Cooler temperatures greeted the competitors for the latest installment of CSRA Saturday Superbike Shootout which runs in conjunction with AFM events. The thermometer in Californian’s Central Valley might have read a bit lower than round 1, but the race action was still hot as ever.
As the green flag fell the ever fast-starting Terry “The Colonel” Cheney (Hon) lead the charge into turn one with Mark “Birdman” McKinney (Suz), Kevin McKee (Kaw), and the rest of the field following closely. The battle for the lead got even closer when McKinney made his move on Cheney as they headed up the “Grapevine” on lap one causing Cheney to miss a shift as McKinney went for the pass. McKinney got “high, wide, and handsome” running out of real estate and into the dirt on the exit for what was no doubt a tense few moments. McKee in third took advantage of his fellow combatants’ simultaneous misfortune to rocket into the lead heading towards the bus stop.
The action continued its torrid pace through lap one with McKinney taking a shot on the outside of Cheney through Riverside and was finally able to overtake Cheney in the braking zone making it stick into the sweeper before the run up through the esses. At the end of lap one McKee on his ex-Bob Sherwood Kawasaki Z1 warhorse “Jethro” was taking over at the front and trying to set sail and settle the issue early.
With the leaders in sight, Darrin Gauvin making a guest appearance on the ex-Bernd Koegler Racing Honda CB750F had his hands full with CJ Bonura’s JES Built Honda 900F, Anthony Guarderas (Suz), and Mike Butler on his Rick Oats-tuned Suzuki as the field started to settle in.
As the laps continued to wind down, the order throughout the field had pretty much sorted itself out and positions stabilized. It was McKee, McKinney, Cheney, Gauvin across the checkered flag without positions in doubt. There was one more battle yet to be decided, when coming into the final turn, Bonura lost a bit of pace with the rookie Butler closing in on his heels and Guarderas looking for the spoils if things didn’t work out. As they straightened up out of the final corner for the run to the finish, Bonura was showing his beast the whip all the way to the line. Butler had different ideas he made the pass at the line for 5th place overall and top Novice. Butler seems intent on letting his fellow competitors know he is not satisfied fighting for middle of the pack positions and plans to be at the sharp end of the field in short order. Onlookers continue to remark on how quickly Butler has gotten up to speed and think he is one to keep an eye on. Guarderas and Andrew Gray (Guzzi) rounded out the field with Gray unable to make the green flag as his booming V-twin Moto-Guzzi lost its bellow on the warmup lap. Paul “Kelly Leake” Kieffer (Suz) had a DNS as his disappointing season continues, maybe Oats can sprinkle some magic his direction next round. Hellfritsch (Kaw) DNS with a Friday afternoon withdrawal as social media showed cam issues.
We are half way through the shortened four-race season as the series moves up the coast to Thunderhill for Round 3 Sept. 19th-20th before the final round at Laguna Oct. 23rd-25th with MotoAmerica. Please keep an eye out for information or stay up to date by following us at www.csra.us or on Facebook@Classic Superbike Racing Association
A “Celebration of Life” for the late Phil McDonald has been scheduled August 16, in Tulsa Oklahoma.
Racer, mechanic, and tuner McDonald died August 5 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
According to his brother, former AMA Pro racer Sam McDonald, Phil McDonald was fixing a leak in the roof of his home when he fell two stories and landed head-first on a concrete patio and brick planter.
Phil McDonald suffered a fractured skull, a brain injury, and numerous other bone fractures. He was 64.
In addition to being a successful AMA Formula One racer, Phil McDonald served as the Crew Chief for Mike Baldwin on Team Honda.
Among McDonald’s many survivors are his father, AMA Hall of Famer and K&N Filters co-founder Norm McDonald; nephew Tyler McDonald, a former AMA Pro road racer; and another nephew current MotoAmerica Twins Cup racer Cooper McDonald.
The Celebration of Life will be held beginning at 1:00 p.m. local time at 2020 N. Wild Mountain Rd, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. No RSVP is required as everyone is welcome. Those attending are encouraged to ride their motorcycles. Anyone with questions can call (918) 688-9903.
Forecasts are predicting a wet and wild Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring as Alex Marquez and Stefan Bradl look to launch a rejuvenated challenge.
The MotoGP World Championship arrives in Austria for the first of two races at the Red Bull Ring hot off the back of the Czech GP. It proved to be a trying weekend for the Repsol Honda Team, but both riders are ready to put the weekend behind them and focus on adapting their respective Repsol Honda RC213V machines to the Austrian circuit. At 4.3-kilometre-long, the Red Bull Ring is characterised by hard braking and heavy acceleration, producing memorable last laps in recent years.
After three hot weekends, the weather looks set to turn at the Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich with heavy rain predicted throughout the weekend. For MotoGP rookie Alex Marquez, riding in the wet conditions will be another new challenge but the Moto2 World Champion has been quick to adapt to the wet in the past. Marquez currently sits second in the Rookie of the Year standings and is aiming to continue his perfect run of point scoring finishes in the premier class this weekend.
Stefan Bradl will once again join the Repsol Honda Team, filling in for the recovering Marc Marquez. It was a busy weekend in Brno for Bradl as he adapted to the 2020 RC213V and worked through a number of items for HRC. Although he finished outside of the points, Bradl showed strong progress over the course of the Czech weekend. The German joined the factory Honda team at the Red Bull Ring last year and raced to 13th place, returning to the points his objective for his second weekend aboard the RC213V.
Action at the Red Bull Ring begins at 09:55 Local Time with Free Practice 1 with a 90% chance of rain.
Alex Marquez
“The second of three MotoGP races in a row and the second time we will have more than one race at the same circuit. In Jerez we were able to benefit a lot from having two races so I think it will be an interesting couple of races. It looks like it will rain, a lot, so I will need to adapt to the RC213V in the wet. It’s a new challenge, but being a rookie is all about accepting the challenges and learning. Our goal for the weekend is to keep understanding the MotoGP class and close the gap to the front.”
Stefan Bradl
“After an intense and busy weekend I am looking forward to riding at the Red Bull Ring as I have a race under my belt and understand what we need to do. I think we will have another busy weekend, but maybe the weather will change it a bit. I am really pleased to be back with the Repsol Honda Team again and I’m sure we can have a more competitive weekend. Let’s see how the weekend unfolds, I am confident we can be closer to the MotoGP regulars.”
Off-Highway and Dual-Purpose Motorcycle Sales Soar
IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 11, 2020 — Off-highway motorcycle sales rocketed 50.3 percent in the first half of the year compared with the same period last year, while dual-purpose motorcycle sales jumped 20.9 percent in the same time frame, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council Retail Sales Reporting System.
“Riding dirt and trail bikes has always been one of the best ways to spend time with family and friends,” said Erik Pritchard, president and CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Council. “Now, with the pandemic, it has amplified what’s positive about getting out on motorcycles. You can get out of the house, have fun with your loved ones, and still maintain social distancing.”
Off-highway motorcycles include dirt bikes, trail bikes, competition motorcycles, and other motorized two-wheelers that cannot be used on public roads. Dual-purpose motorcycles are street legal and are also designed to be used on off-road trails.
On-highway motorcycles saw sales dip 9.6 percent, while scooter sales rose 4 percent. Combined with off-highway and dual, this puts total motorcycle sales in the first half of the year up 6.4 percent compared with 2019.
The MIC recently launched a Commuter Distancing campaign to encourage people to consider motorized two- and three-wheelers as transportation alternatives.
“There are many benefits to motorcycles and scooters,” Pritchard said. “In normal times, studies have shown that they help alleviate congestion. During this pandemic, being on a motorcycle means being able to avoid crowds and lessening the chance of spreading and picking up germs. And many riders say it adds fun to a normally mundane commute. Our Commuter Distancing social media posts are a reminder of these benefits.”
The Commuter Distancing posts point people to FindYourRide.org, where they can quickly find information on how to get rider training and where to find a bike.
“It’s just a first step, and many in the powersports industry are waiting to help riders-to-be explore their options,” Pritchard said. “Sales from the first half of the year indicate growing interest in powersports products and we’re excited to help them on their journey.”
The MIC Retail Sales Reporting System gathers new motorcycle sales data from the 14 leading manufacturers and distributors in the U.S., providing a strong indicator of sales trends.
The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect, and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications, media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, data communications standards, and involvement in technical and regulatory issues. As a not-for-profit national industry association, the MIC seeks to support motorcyclists by representing manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and retailers of motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, ROVs, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts, accessories, and related services, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies, and consultants.
The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office in metropolitan Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Keep up with the industry association on Twitter @followMIC and at MIC.org.
Rossi Moor #92 Sweeps Round 2 190cc Class Races of MotoAmerica MiniCup by Motul
The ForzaGP Snipers Junior Team rider continues to lead the competition by taking pole position and winning heat and main races in the 190cc class.
Seattle, Washington – Rossi Moor (Portland, OR) again put the incredible performance of the Ohvale GP-0 and his raw talent on display during Round 2 of the MotoAmerica MiniCup by Motul series at Pitt Race by pushing the bike and PMT tires to the limit every lap.
The twelve-year old ForzaGP Snipers Junior Team rider secured pole position for the 190cc heat race with a blistering 1:00.237. After a restart due to a red flag incident, Rossi was able to get a good start off the line and gradually increased the gap over the rest of the field. The final margin of victory was 10.895, with Jesse James Shedden coming in second. For the main, Rossi got the hole shot and steadily pulled away, ultimately winning the fourteen-lap race with a 13.850 second margin of victory. Rossi lead the series in the 190cc class going into the final round.
The ForzaGP Snipers Junior Team was able to put a strong 190cc bike and solid setup under Rossi for the weekend. The team opted for a full front and rear Ohlins package for round two, rather than the stock DMN suspension used in round one. After some minor adjustments to gearing and geometry, Rossi’s confidence in the bike allowed him to push his race pace to consistent 1:00s.
“It was an awesome race weekend, but with some minor challenges,” Rossi explained. “No matter what happens, I always enjoy racing motorcycles. We were able to get a good setup on the bike through free practice, and I felt confident going into qualifying that I would be able to secure pole. Then I was able to keep the pace and win the heat and main races.
“Thank you to everybody who helped me throughout the weekend. Thanks to my managers, Nathan Fitzgerald with ForzaGP and Stefano Favaro with Snipers Junior Team. A very special thank you to the Banish family, my tech Ed Billet, my moto family Ed Enriquez, Kuni Matsudaira, and Rueben of 35 Motorsports! And of course, thank you to Dainese, AGV, and Ohvale USA.”
Team manager Nathan Fitzgerald commented on round two; “It’s very cool to see the MotoAmerica MiniCup series find its footing and evolve into a formidable testing ground for young racers. I’m seeing the other competitors really rise to the challenge and get very quick as their confidence increases. Even though Rossi had incredible pace, he’s always pushing for that extra tenth. He really wanted a :59 second lap, but in the end, we just needed to focus on consistency, which Rossi was able to accomplish. I think this is only the beginning for Rossi’s career and a very exciting future of motorsports in the US thanks to Ohvale and MotoAmerica.”
Round three of the MotoAmerica MiniCup by Motul will take place at Ridge Motorsports Park kart track in Shelton, Washington on August 28-29 during round five of the MotoAmerica Superbike series.
Founded in 2018, ForzaGP and its subsidiary, ForzaSBK, operate one of the largest Ohvale GP-0 fleets in the U.S. ForzaGP supports local racers and offers opportunities to train or race using fleet bikes, while ForzaSBK is the Pacific Northwest’s official Ohvale dealer and custom bike builder and tuner.
WERA WEST SPORTSMAN PRESENTED BY LUCAS OIL DOUBLE HEADER THIS COMING WEEKEND AT BUTTONWILLOW!
August 15-16 will see the WERA West Sportsman Series presented by Lucas Oil at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in Buttonwillow, CA with a Double Header. Fastrack Riders will host the Friday Practice Day.
As the season winds down for what has been the craziest year to date WERA Motorcycle Roadracing will welcome racers to Buttonwillow where they will have two action-packed days of racing. This event is presented by Lucas Oil, WERA’s longtime sponsor who has the best products for your vehicles on the planet! This event is also a round of the 2020 A Superbike and C Superbike Expert Class races carrying a purse on Sunday! This purse is possible through the generosity of Fresh N Lean, 61DTC, ChaChaCha Motorsports, Capit and Calishine Racing. Please support those who support our sport! Qualifying for these two classes will be on both days using the best time in the second practice session for their group. Camping is available !
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
Jim Weatherhead of Centerville, Minnesota, is the winner of the prize pack offered in Roadracing World Reader Survey, Part 10, which was brought to you by MV Agusta and Liqui Moly.
Survey participants had a chance to win an MV Agusta Reparto Corse Down Jacket plus four cases (6 bottles per case) of Liqui Moly motor oil additives!
The MV Agusta Reparto Corse Down Jacket is lightweight and down-filled, featuring mesh panel inserts with rubberized zipper pulls, and embroidered with the MV Agusta Reparto Corse logo on the front and back. This jacket has an MSRP of $232, and can be purchased via the MV Agusta Online Store by visiting https://mvagusta.store.
The Liqui Moly prize included one case (6 bottles per case) each of the following products:
Liqui Moly MoS2 Shooter, which reduces friction and wear inside engines and gearboxes, reduces oil and fuel consumption, is compatible with all powersports motor oils, and is wet clutch safe. MoS2 Shooter is available for $7 MSRP.
Liqui Moly Engine Flush Shooter, (4 stroke only), the easy-to-use, one-shot treatment for up to two quarts of oil, which helps restore engine performance, and will not harm seals, gaskets and clutch materials. Fresh oil develops its full performance immediately! Engine Flush Shooter is available for $6 MSRP.
Liqui Moly 4T Additive Shooter, (4 stroke only), for carburetor and fuel injection systems, removes deposits in fuel system and prevents renewed formation, and provides excellent corrosion protection. 4T Additive Shooter is available for $6 MSRP.
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Liqui Moly products are distributed to Powersports Dealers nationwide through Parts Unlimited/Drag Specialties, and can also be purchased online through Cycle Gear.
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Quartararo and Morbidelli head to Austria eager for more glory
PETRONAS Yamaha SRT looking to continue their strong start to the 2020 MotoGP season at the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg this weekend
Fresh from achieving their tenth podium at Brno, PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team, with riders Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli, are heading to the Grand Prix von Österreich confident of obtaining more strong results. As current leaders in both the riders’ and teams’ championships, the squad travel to Austria in high spirits.
Although the CzechGP wasn’t the best for Quartararo, with increased tyre in the race wear preventing him from making the most of his front row start, the Frenchman was still about to rack up nine more championship points. Aware that it could be another tricky weekend, with extremely varied weather conditions predicted, Quartararo is keen to ensure that he is back on the podium on Sunday – especially as he finished third in Austria last year.
Team-mate Morbidelli will arrive at the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg bolstered by achieving his first ever MotoGP podium last weekend. The Italian raced with a mature head, knowing that his tyres were dropping off, to ensure that his bike crossed the line second. Despite the perception that the 4.3km circuit is not one of the strongest for the Yamaha YZR-M1, Franco is confident that he can still be at the sharp end of the grid and fight for another podium finish. He will arrive at the Austrian GP third in the championship.
The Grand Prix von Österreich will get underway for the MotoGP riders with FP1 at 9.55am local time (3.55pm MYT) on Friday. Sunday’s 28-lap race is due to start at 2pm local time (8pm MYT).
Fabio Quartararo
It wasn’t the best weekend at Brno, but we will go to Austria with nine more points in the championship. That was important to do. The Austrian track is one that I really like and I’m really looking to these next two races there. We know that KTM will be strong again as they’ve tested a lot there, which means they will have a lot of important data to use in the races. Of course, we will have to see what the conditions are when we arrive, as at the moment the weather forecast is very mixed, but I think we can be quick there and be back on the podium. We will definitely be trying to repeat, at least, the top-three finish from last year.
Franco Morbidelli
I think it has finally sunk in that I achieved my first MotoGP podium last time out! I’m really happy because it has given us a big injection of confidence going into these two races in Austria and the knowledge that we can fight at the front. On paper it doesn’t look like one of our strongest tracks, but that is just on paper! We will have to see what the conditions are like and how we feel in the first practice session on Friday. I’m really looking forward to it though and can’t wait to be back on track after these next few days.
A mini road racer in action. Photo courtesy SEMRA.
The South East Mini Roadracing Association (SEMRA) is excited to return to the world of racing!
We are an organization that is devoted to providing a professional, safe environment for racers and fans of all ages to enjoy the great sport of road racing. Those of you who have been part of the SEMRA organization can attest that there is no better environment to craft your skills on a motorcycle. Whether you are a young rider on the way to MotoGP or just enjoy having fun on a bike, SEMRA is the place for you! In addition to a fun and safe environment, SEMRA will have a MyLaps system for timed qualifying and race scoring. Now you and your friends can compete for pole position and compare lap times just like the pros!
Our first organized event will be a SEMRA Reunion Trackday later this year. We will have more details to follow. To stay up to date, please visit us at our website here: https://www.semra.org/. Be sure to join our forum to learn more about the organization, rules, classes and provide input on future events. We look forward to connecting with you and enjoying some good ol’ fashioned bench racing. We look forward to seeing you at a racetrack soon!
Travis Wyman claims first podium finish in more than a year at MotoAmerica Superbikes at Pittsburgh
BMW rider also scores two top-10 finishes in Superbike races aboard repaired motorcycle
WAMPUM, Pa. — Travis Wyman is no stranger to making the podium in MotoAmerica competition, but the third place he scored in Sunday’s Stock 1000 race at Pittsburgh International Race Complex was a symbolic triumph over adverse circumstances.
Despite racing through pain in his surgically repaired left elbow to contending with numbness in his right arm and leg late in races –- and having to do a motor swap on the team’s 2020 BMW S 1000 RR on the Thursday before the race –- Wyman’s performance at the Aug. 7-9 event was his best of the season. It was his first podium appearance since Round 3 of the 2019 season at VIRginia International Raceway.
Wyman had his freshly repaired BMW’s potential on full display Friday. He finished both qualifying sessions in second place and claimed his first front-row starting grid spot of the 2020 season. He missed taking pole position by 0.072 seconds.
Saturday ended on a high note for the team. In the morning practice session, the team opted to test a new set-up, but it didn’t work out as planned and Wyman ended the practice session in seventh. In the Saturday Stock 1000 race, Wyman got good start and was running in fourth when the race was red flagged due to a crash that collapsed a section of air fence. When the race restarted with eight laps to go, Wyman got another good start and was running in second for the first two laps of the race. Though he dropped to fourth place on Lap 3, Wyman was in the group vying for the race lead when a false neutral at Turn 1 sent him off-track. He rejoined the race in eighth place and was able to make up a position to finish seventh. In the Saturday Superbike race, Wyman finished 10th and had the best finish of the Superbike Cup riders.
Sunday’s Stock 1000 race was the team’s shining moment so far in 2020. Wyman got another good start and was running second – hounding the race leader – in the race’s early stages. However, numbness in Wyman’s right arm and leg – a result of Wyman having to change his riding style to accommodate his nagging left elbow injury – caused his pace to slow. Despite the setback, Wyman still finished on the podium and showed that he will be contending for Stock 1000 victories as soon as his elbow has fully healed. In the Superbike race, Wyman was able to maintain a consistent pace – even with the pain in his elbow increasing as the race went on – to claim his second top-10 finish of the weekend in Superbike.
Though there were some setbacks, the Travis Wyman Racing BMW team ended the weekend in as good a position as it had started it. Wyman maintained fifth place in the Stock 1000 Class standings and second place in the Superbike Cup points. It will be Wyman’s first time racing at Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Wa., when the next MotoAmerica round takes place there Aug. 28-30.
Travis Wyman / #10
“We were fast right out of the gate this weekend, and it was the first time I’ve been able to push the bike from the get-go. I felt really good about the bike heading into Saturday’s races, and I was hanging with the leaders for most of the race. The false neutral was unfortunate and caused me to run off track, but we still came away with good points from that race. We made an adjustment to the shifter before the Superbike race, and it was great being the top-finishing Superbike Cup rider on Saturday. We made some setup changes to our BMW S 1000 RR Sunday morning, and my fastest lap in the day’s Stock 1000 race was about two seconds faster than my previous best lap at Pitt Race. I got a good start and was pushing hard to stay with the race leader as long as I could. Though the numbness in my right limbs kept me from maintaining the pace of the leaders, it was great to be back on the podium. The weekend as a whole was a win for the team, because we keep progressing even with all the setbacks we’ve had with me and the bike. We’re finally getting into the cusp of it and running up front. Steve Weir and Alex Torres did a stellar job again this weekend, and I can’t thank Mark Buche from BMW North America enough for getting us this new engine that we raced this weekend.”
More, from a press release issued by LaRoche Racing:
Bellaire business owner LaRoche scores top-10 finish in pro motorcycle races at Pittsburgh International Race Complex
Ohioan puts in best career performances in MotoAmerica competition at home track
WAMPUM, Pa. — Bellaire, Ohio, resident C.J. LaRoche put in the best performances of his professional motorcycle racing career when MotoAmerica — the nation’s official motorcycle road racing championship — visited Pittsburgh International Race Complex Aug. 7-9.
The owner of Bellaire’s LaRoche Tree Service scored 11th- and ninth-place finishes in MotoAmerica’s Supersport Class races on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. It was his first time finishing in the top-15 and top-10 in Supersport. He raced aboard a new-to-him 2019 Yamaha YZF-R6, which he had not had many opportunities to ride on a racetrack before the PittRace event.
LaRoche began racing professionally in 2016 and has competed part time in MotoAmerica’s Supersport and Superstock 600 classes. His previous best performances were two top-10 finishes in Superstock 600 at Pitt Race in 2017. Superstock 600 was a feeder class for Supersport, MotoAmerica’s premier middleweight class.
LaRoche had endured challenging weekends the last two years at his home round on the MotoAmerica schedule. He qualified 22nd and 18th in 2018 and 2019, respectively. In 2018, he finished 16th in one race and failed to finish the second contest. At the 2019 edition of the event, LaRoche finished 16th in the Saturday race and crashed out of the Sunday race.
LaRoche credits his improved racing performance to Ken Hill, a motorcycle road racing instructor LaRoche met through teaching at several Yamaha Champions Riding School events.
MotoAmerica’s Supersport Class features lightly-modified production-based motorcycles – road-legal sportbikes that can be purchased at a local motorcycle dealership.
MotoAmerica took over operating the AMA Superbike Championship in 2015 and features the nation’s top motorcycle road racers competing in five competition classes at racetracks across the country. The series is sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association, which also sanctions AMA Supercross and thousands of recreational and competition-oriented motorcycling events throughout the nation each year.
C.J. LaRoche / #20
“It was a great weekend and, without a doubt, the team’s most successful to date. There are a lot of very talented riders competing in MotoAmerica’s Supersport Class, and working with Ken [Hill] helped close the gap to them. I’m surrounded by a fantastic team that kept my Yamaha R6 in top condition. It felt great rewarding them for their hard work with two strong finishes. The entire team is looking forward to more good results at the Indianapolis round.”
More, from a press release issued by Hayden Schultz Racing:
Hayden Schultz Continues Podium Streak at Pittsburgh
Hayden Schultz (259). Photo by Karen E. Ott Photography, courtesy Hayden Schultz Racing.
After a weekend that presented many challenges, Hayden Schultz was able to continue his run of podium finishes in Twins Cup competition at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Coming into a weekend with no previous experience at the circuit, Schultz would have to learn the track quickly. After a promising start, Hayden would find himself at the top of qualifying until the last minutes. In an effort to regain pole position for the race, Schultz went back on track and pushed for a faster lap. He would not be able to top his previous time after suffering a high side crash that left him, and the bike battered. A team effort would be required from the Brittenum Construction / Law Tigers / Hayden Schultz Racing crew to get the bike repaired in time for the Sunday afternoon race. Fortunately, Schultz would escape the crash without any injuries that would keep him from racing. With a front row start, Schultz would manage to continue his podium streak with a lonely 3rd place ride in the race.
“It was quite the weekend at Pittsburgh. I learned a new track and got up to speed quickly. My team worked hard to give me a great bike and we found we had the pace to run up front,” Schultz said. “In qualifying I found myself so close to pole that I had to push and unfortunately found the edge. I am blessed to walk away from that crash and able to race. Gene Burcham, Gary Jeffries, and Russell and Ron “Dink” Glidden are the best crew I could ask for and worked overtime to get the bike together for the race. I am happy to finish on the podium after that crash, but I feel like I had more than I showed in the race. I know we can battle with Rocco and Kaleb for wins, but I have to keep working hard to get there. My team and sponsors are incredible and have given me a great program, I’ll be doing my all to get that first win.”
The team was also joined by Twins Cup Veteran Jim Whitten. Jim would be making his season debut with the team after competing in the full series in 2019. After progressing in each session, Jim qualified for the race and finish in 24th in the race.
The team thanks its 2020 sponsors for their support: Law Tigers, Brittenum Construction, aRacer USA, Ohlins, Glidden Racing, 6D Helmets, RS Taichi USA, Moto Liberty, Blud Lubricants, Wossner Pistons, Robem Engineering, Moto-D, Dreyer Motorsports, Full Spectrum Power, Vance and Hines, Woodcraft Technologies, Shundi Self Storage.
The CSRA starting grid August 8 at Buttonwillow Raceway Park, in California. Photo by Max Klein/Oxymoron Photography, courtesy CSRA.
CSRA Vintage Superbikes revisit Buttonwillow with the AFM for round 2
Cooler temperatures greeted the competitors for the latest installment of CSRA Saturday Superbike Shootout which runs in conjunction with AFM events. The thermometer in Californian’s Central Valley might have read a bit lower than round 1, but the race action was still hot as ever.
As the green flag fell the ever fast-starting Terry “The Colonel” Cheney (Hon) lead the charge into turn one with Mark “Birdman” McKinney (Suz), Kevin McKee (Kaw), and the rest of the field following closely. The battle for the lead got even closer when McKinney made his move on Cheney as they headed up the “Grapevine” on lap one causing Cheney to miss a shift as McKinney went for the pass. McKinney got “high, wide, and handsome” running out of real estate and into the dirt on the exit for what was no doubt a tense few moments. McKee in third took advantage of his fellow combatants’ simultaneous misfortune to rocket into the lead heading towards the bus stop.
The action continued its torrid pace through lap one with McKinney taking a shot on the outside of Cheney through Riverside and was finally able to overtake Cheney in the braking zone making it stick into the sweeper before the run up through the esses. At the end of lap one McKee on his ex-Bob Sherwood Kawasaki Z1 warhorse “Jethro” was taking over at the front and trying to set sail and settle the issue early.
With the leaders in sight, Darrin Gauvin making a guest appearance on the ex-Bernd Koegler Racing Honda CB750F had his hands full with CJ Bonura’s JES Built Honda 900F, Anthony Guarderas (Suz), and Mike Butler on his Rick Oats-tuned Suzuki as the field started to settle in.
As the laps continued to wind down, the order throughout the field had pretty much sorted itself out and positions stabilized. It was McKee, McKinney, Cheney, Gauvin across the checkered flag without positions in doubt. There was one more battle yet to be decided, when coming into the final turn, Bonura lost a bit of pace with the rookie Butler closing in on his heels and Guarderas looking for the spoils if things didn’t work out. As they straightened up out of the final corner for the run to the finish, Bonura was showing his beast the whip all the way to the line. Butler had different ideas he made the pass at the line for 5th place overall and top Novice. Butler seems intent on letting his fellow competitors know he is not satisfied fighting for middle of the pack positions and plans to be at the sharp end of the field in short order. Onlookers continue to remark on how quickly Butler has gotten up to speed and think he is one to keep an eye on. Guarderas and Andrew Gray (Guzzi) rounded out the field with Gray unable to make the green flag as his booming V-twin Moto-Guzzi lost its bellow on the warmup lap. Paul “Kelly Leake” Kieffer (Suz) had a DNS as his disappointing season continues, maybe Oats can sprinkle some magic his direction next round. Hellfritsch (Kaw) DNS with a Friday afternoon withdrawal as social media showed cam issues.
We are half way through the shortened four-race season as the series moves up the coast to Thunderhill for Round 3 Sept. 19th-20th before the final round at Laguna Oct. 23rd-25th with MotoAmerica. Please keep an eye out for information or stay up to date by following us at www.csra.us or on Facebook@Classic Superbike Racing Association
Phil McDonald (right) with teammate the late Randy Cleek (left) at Daytona International Speedway in 1975. Photo by Dave Friedman, courtesy Don Emde Collection.
A “Celebration of Life” for the late Phil McDonald has been scheduled August 16, in Tulsa Oklahoma.
Racer, mechanic, and tuner McDonald died August 5 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
According to his brother, former AMA Pro racer Sam McDonald, Phil McDonald was fixing a leak in the roof of his home when he fell two stories and landed head-first on a concrete patio and brick planter.
Phil McDonald suffered a fractured skull, a brain injury, and numerous other bone fractures. He was 64.
In addition to being a successful AMA Formula One racer, Phil McDonald served as the Crew Chief for Mike Baldwin on Team Honda.
Among McDonald’s many survivors are his father, AMA Hall of Famer and K&N Filters co-founder Norm McDonald; nephew Tyler McDonald, a former AMA Pro road racer; and another nephew current MotoAmerica Twins Cup racer Cooper McDonald.
The Celebration of Life will be held beginning at 1:00 p.m. local time at 2020 N. Wild Mountain Rd, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. No RSVP is required as everyone is welcome. Those attending are encouraged to ride their motorcycles. Anyone with questions can call (918) 688-9903.
Forecasts are predicting a wet and wild Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring as Alex Marquez and Stefan Bradl look to launch a rejuvenated challenge.
The MotoGP World Championship arrives in Austria for the first of two races at the Red Bull Ring hot off the back of the Czech GP. It proved to be a trying weekend for the Repsol Honda Team, but both riders are ready to put the weekend behind them and focus on adapting their respective Repsol Honda RC213V machines to the Austrian circuit. At 4.3-kilometre-long, the Red Bull Ring is characterised by hard braking and heavy acceleration, producing memorable last laps in recent years.
After three hot weekends, the weather looks set to turn at the Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich with heavy rain predicted throughout the weekend. For MotoGP rookie Alex Marquez, riding in the wet conditions will be another new challenge but the Moto2 World Champion has been quick to adapt to the wet in the past. Marquez currently sits second in the Rookie of the Year standings and is aiming to continue his perfect run of point scoring finishes in the premier class this weekend.
Stefan Bradl will once again join the Repsol Honda Team, filling in for the recovering Marc Marquez. It was a busy weekend in Brno for Bradl as he adapted to the 2020 RC213V and worked through a number of items for HRC. Although he finished outside of the points, Bradl showed strong progress over the course of the Czech weekend. The German joined the factory Honda team at the Red Bull Ring last year and raced to 13th place, returning to the points his objective for his second weekend aboard the RC213V.
Action at the Red Bull Ring begins at 09:55 Local Time with Free Practice 1 with a 90% chance of rain.
Alex Marquez
“The second of three MotoGP races in a row and the second time we will have more than one race at the same circuit. In Jerez we were able to benefit a lot from having two races so I think it will be an interesting couple of races. It looks like it will rain, a lot, so I will need to adapt to the RC213V in the wet. It’s a new challenge, but being a rookie is all about accepting the challenges and learning. Our goal for the weekend is to keep understanding the MotoGP class and close the gap to the front.”
Stefan Bradl
“After an intense and busy weekend I am looking forward to riding at the Red Bull Ring as I have a race under my belt and understand what we need to do. I think we will have another busy weekend, but maybe the weather will change it a bit. I am really pleased to be back with the Repsol Honda Team again and I’m sure we can have a more competitive weekend. Let’s see how the weekend unfolds, I am confident we can be closer to the MotoGP regulars.”
Off-Highway and Dual-Purpose Motorcycle Sales Soar
IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 11, 2020 — Off-highway motorcycle sales rocketed 50.3 percent in the first half of the year compared with the same period last year, while dual-purpose motorcycle sales jumped 20.9 percent in the same time frame, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council Retail Sales Reporting System.
“Riding dirt and trail bikes has always been one of the best ways to spend time with family and friends,” said Erik Pritchard, president and CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Council. “Now, with the pandemic, it has amplified what’s positive about getting out on motorcycles. You can get out of the house, have fun with your loved ones, and still maintain social distancing.”
Off-highway motorcycles include dirt bikes, trail bikes, competition motorcycles, and other motorized two-wheelers that cannot be used on public roads. Dual-purpose motorcycles are street legal and are also designed to be used on off-road trails.
On-highway motorcycles saw sales dip 9.6 percent, while scooter sales rose 4 percent. Combined with off-highway and dual, this puts total motorcycle sales in the first half of the year up 6.4 percent compared with 2019.
The MIC recently launched a Commuter Distancing campaign to encourage people to consider motorized two- and three-wheelers as transportation alternatives.
“There are many benefits to motorcycles and scooters,” Pritchard said. “In normal times, studies have shown that they help alleviate congestion. During this pandemic, being on a motorcycle means being able to avoid crowds and lessening the chance of spreading and picking up germs. And many riders say it adds fun to a normally mundane commute. Our Commuter Distancing social media posts are a reminder of these benefits.”
The Commuter Distancing posts point people to FindYourRide.org, where they can quickly find information on how to get rider training and where to find a bike.
“It’s just a first step, and many in the powersports industry are waiting to help riders-to-be explore their options,” Pritchard said. “Sales from the first half of the year indicate growing interest in powersports products and we’re excited to help them on their journey.”
The MIC Retail Sales Reporting System gathers new motorcycle sales data from the 14 leading manufacturers and distributors in the U.S., providing a strong indicator of sales trends.
The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect, and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications, media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, data communications standards, and involvement in technical and regulatory issues. As a not-for-profit national industry association, the MIC seeks to support motorcyclists by representing manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and retailers of motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, ROVs, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts, accessories, and related services, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies, and consultants.
The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office in metropolitan Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Keep up with the industry association on Twitter @followMIC and at MIC.org.
Rossi Moor (92). Photo by Karen E. Ott Photography, courtesy Forza GP.
Rossi Moor #92 Sweeps Round 2 190cc Class Races of MotoAmerica MiniCup by Motul
The ForzaGP Snipers Junior Team rider continues to lead the competition by taking pole position and winning heat and main races in the 190cc class.
Seattle, Washington – Rossi Moor (Portland, OR) again put the incredible performance of the Ohvale GP-0 and his raw talent on display during Round 2 of the MotoAmerica MiniCup by Motul series at Pitt Race by pushing the bike and PMT tires to the limit every lap.
The twelve-year old ForzaGP Snipers Junior Team rider secured pole position for the 190cc heat race with a blistering 1:00.237. After a restart due to a red flag incident, Rossi was able to get a good start off the line and gradually increased the gap over the rest of the field. The final margin of victory was 10.895, with Jesse James Shedden coming in second. For the main, Rossi got the hole shot and steadily pulled away, ultimately winning the fourteen-lap race with a 13.850 second margin of victory. Rossi lead the series in the 190cc class going into the final round.
The ForzaGP Snipers Junior Team was able to put a strong 190cc bike and solid setup under Rossi for the weekend. The team opted for a full front and rear Ohlins package for round two, rather than the stock DMN suspension used in round one. After some minor adjustments to gearing and geometry, Rossi’s confidence in the bike allowed him to push his race pace to consistent 1:00s.
“It was an awesome race weekend, but with some minor challenges,” Rossi explained. “No matter what happens, I always enjoy racing motorcycles. We were able to get a good setup on the bike through free practice, and I felt confident going into qualifying that I would be able to secure pole. Then I was able to keep the pace and win the heat and main races.
“Thank you to everybody who helped me throughout the weekend. Thanks to my managers, Nathan Fitzgerald with ForzaGP and Stefano Favaro with Snipers Junior Team. A very special thank you to the Banish family, my tech Ed Billet, my moto family Ed Enriquez, Kuni Matsudaira, and Rueben of 35 Motorsports! And of course, thank you to Dainese, AGV, and Ohvale USA.”
Team manager Nathan Fitzgerald commented on round two; “It’s very cool to see the MotoAmerica MiniCup series find its footing and evolve into a formidable testing ground for young racers. I’m seeing the other competitors really rise to the challenge and get very quick as their confidence increases. Even though Rossi had incredible pace, he’s always pushing for that extra tenth. He really wanted a :59 second lap, but in the end, we just needed to focus on consistency, which Rossi was able to accomplish. I think this is only the beginning for Rossi’s career and a very exciting future of motorsports in the US thanks to Ohvale and MotoAmerica.”
Round three of the MotoAmerica MiniCup by Motul will take place at Ridge Motorsports Park kart track in Shelton, Washington on August 28-29 during round five of the MotoAmerica Superbike series.
Founded in 2018, ForzaGP and its subsidiary, ForzaSBK, operate one of the largest Ohvale GP-0 fleets in the U.S. ForzaGP supports local racers and offers opportunities to train or race using fleet bikes, while ForzaSBK is the Pacific Northwest’s official Ohvale dealer and custom bike builder and tuner.
WERA West racers Anthony Norton (521), Sahar Zvik (161), Matt Tisdale (81), David Price (13) and Thomas Asseo (hidden) at the start of a WERA West race at Willow Springs. Photo by Michael Gougis.
WERA WEST SPORTSMAN PRESENTED BY LUCAS OIL DOUBLE HEADER THIS COMING WEEKEND AT BUTTONWILLOW!
August 15-16 will see the WERA West Sportsman Series presented by Lucas Oil at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in Buttonwillow, CA with a Double Header. Fastrack Riders will host the Friday Practice Day.
As the season winds down for what has been the craziest year to date WERA Motorcycle Roadracing will welcome racers to Buttonwillow where they will have two action-packed days of racing. This event is presented by Lucas Oil, WERA’s longtime sponsor who has the best products for your vehicles on the planet! This event is also a round of the 2020 A Superbike and C Superbike Expert Class races carrying a purse on Sunday! This purse is possible through the generosity of Fresh N Lean, 61DTC, ChaChaCha Motorsports, Capit and Calishine Racing. Please support those who support our sport! Qualifying for these two classes will be on both days using the best time in the second practice session for their group. Camping is available !
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
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Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
November 12, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
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
