British Superbike: Jackson Tops Tight Test At Donington Park

David Swarts

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July 28, 2020

British Superbike: Jackson Tops Tight Test At Donington Park

Jackson ends final official Bennetts BSB test fastest with the top 18 riders covered by 0.787s

Massingberd-Mundy Kawasaki’s Lee Jackson topped the Bennetts British Superbike Championship official test times at Donington Park today ahead of the #BSBrestart, taking the top spot in the last two minutes of the final session, to edge out McAMS Yamaha’s Jason O’Halloran by just 0.014s.

The Massingberd-Mundy Kawasaki team had a strong start to the day with Danny Buchan holding a top three place in the earlier sessions, although the leading position was initially held by the Honda Racing team with the Irwin brothers earlier in the day. Andrew Irwin headed the pack at lunchtime before Glenn Irwin topped session three.

A frantic end to the day saw Buchan setting the pace with just under ten minutes to go, however it was constantly changing and soon Hector Barbera had fired the Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW into second ahead of Andrew Irwin and Jackson.

Glenn Irwin moved back to the top of the times with four minutes to go ahead of Buchan who had edged back into second place with Josh Brookes then moving into third for the VisionTrack PBM Ducati team.

O’Halloran then hit the top after his final run with two minutes on the clock remaining despite an earlier crash in session three, but the McAMS Yamaha rider was nudged into second as Jackson saved his best laps until last.

Barbera held third position at the end of the final session ahead of Glenn who led the Irwin charge ahead of brother Andrew with Buchan just 0.001s adrift to end the day sixth fastest, leaving Brookes holding seventh after the chequered flag.

Ryan Vickers bounced back from a crash in the opening session on the RAF Regular and Reserve Kawasaki to post the ninth fastest time with Joe Francis and Bradley Ray completing the top ten ahead of the opening round of the season on August 7/8/9.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, Official Test, combined result:

Lee Jackson (Massingberd-Mundy Kawasaki) 1m:06.583s
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +0.014s
Hector Barbera (Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW) +0.017s
Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing) +0.054s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing) +0.080s
Danny Buchan (Massingberd-Mundy Kawasaki) +0.081s
Josh Brookes (VisionTrack PBM Ducati) +0.136s
Ryan Vickers (RAF Regular and Reserve Kawasaki) +0.253s
Joe Francis (Lloyds & Jones Bowker Motorrad BMW) +0.266s
Bradley Ray (Synetiq BMW Motorrad) +0.288s

For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com.

More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing UK:

Dominant debut for the new Fireblade at Donington Park

It has been a strong day for the Honda Racing team at Donington Park for the final test before Round 1 of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship on 7/8/9 August. Making its debut at Donington Park’s National Circuit, the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP dominated the timesheets leading three of the four timed sessions.

With near-perfect conditions at the Leicestershire circuit, it was Andrew Irwin who topped the times in the first session of the day with a 0.137-second advantage over championship rival Danny Buchan, with his older brother and teammate Glenn finishing third.

The second session of the day saw another Honda 1-3, again with Andrew leading the way and showing the potential of the brand-new Fireblade. But it was all change at the top in the third session with Glenn topping the sheets with a time of 1:06.640, while Andrew came home in third place.

In the final session of the day it was looking to be a clean sweep for the Honda Racing team at the top of times, with Andrew and Glenn swapping places at the top, but in the final stages it was Lee Jackson who claimed the top spot. Times were close with the top-18 riders covered by just 0.787s, which saw Glenn finish fourth (+0.054) and Andrew seventh (+0.207).

The teams’ National Superstock 1000 Championship contenders Tom Neave and Davey Todd also enjoyed their first official outing on the Fireblade. Again, showing the potential of the new machine, Tom was in the top-six in the first three sessions and finished the final session of the day in second place, just 0.073 seconds from the top. Teammate Davey used the day to work through a number of settings and get used to the circuit again, having last ridden at Donington Park in 2017.

The team will now look forward to returning to Donington Park next weekend as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship roars into life with Round 1 kicking off on Friday 7 August.

#18 Andrew Irwin

Today was a positive day, we probably didn’t expect to be as close to the front as we were, which is a nice feeling. The Fireblade is completely new and we don’t have a lot of different parts on it from the road bike, so that’s a positive of how good the bike is out of the crate. I am looking forward to coming back to Donington in just over a weeks’ time and get racing. My consistency is good, I have good race pace and I’m feeling strong ahead of the first race.

#2 Glenn Irwin

It has been great to get out on track with other riders, other than my Honda teammates, it’s been a long time for me since Assen last year. It’s been a really enjoyable day and we managed to get an idea of where we are. We needed every lap today and we worked through a lot and topping the times in the third session was really encouraging to show we are competitive. The last session I didn’t really get a clean lap, but overall I am really happy with the times and today is a real testament to the new Fireblade, we do need to stay realistic to where we are keep our feet on the ground heading into Round 1, but I’m looking forward to keep on developing the new machine and moving forward.

#68 Tom Neave

It’s nice to be back up there again after wrapping up the day second fastest! During our testing we’ve gone from strength to strength from when we first tested the bike out in Spain in March. We knew from the off we had a great package with the new Fireblade, but during our testing schedule that has really shown and I’m really happy with the progress we’ve made. It’s been a long time coming, but I’m so excited that it’s not long now until we’re racing, and I just can’t wait to get going!

#74 Davey Todd

It’s awesome to be back at Donington Park after years away, I still luckily know my way around – just about! Today has been about getting to grips with the circuit and also the Fireblade, I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made and myself more than anything, we’re still making big leaps right now, but come Round 1, I don’t think we’ll be too far away.

Team Manager Havier Beltran

Finally, today for the first time in 2020 we have got to run the all-new Fireblade with our competition and it’s been a strong day. During our private tests we had a lot to look at and get through and you’re never really sure where you’ll be with your competition, so it’s refreshing and pleasing to see both Andrew and Glenn are extremely competitive and up there leading the times. Likewise, with Tom and Davey in the Superstock 1000 class, Tom finished second quickest and it is great to see all the hard work paying off as we get closer to Round 1. I would like to thank all our sponsors and partners for getting us to where we are today, in what has been a difficult start to the season for everybody.

More, from a press release issued by Paul Bird Motorsport:

Productive Day At Donington As VisionTrack Ducati Conclude Testing

Defending Bennetts British Superbike champions Paul Bird Motorsport concluded their COVID-19 delayed pre-season testing schedule at Donington Park today prior to the condensed season getting underway next weekend.

After testing in Spain back in February, former champion Josh Brookes and new team mate Christian Iddon followed up exclusive tests at Croft and Knockhill over the past month for the Penrith-based squad who won their seventh title with Scott Redding last year.

Today’s official test was the final opportunity to dial in the factory-supported 1000cc VisionTrack Ducati Panigale V4Rs for both Australian Brookes, who finished a close runner up after winning ten races last season and new recruit Iddon, who currently makes his home on Tyneside, prior to the six-round season starting on 8/9 August.

2015 BSB champion Brookes worked through a number of settings throughout the day and set his fastest lap of 1:06.719 in the fourth and final session to end up just over a tenth of a second behind the fastest rider. Iddon meanwhile, a double BSB Rider’s Cup champion, made further progress with the bike and team and set his best time in session three of 1:07.370. Brookes finished seventh overall with Iddon in 18th.

Josh Brookes: “The bike was good at the end of last year and I was very pleased with pre-season testing in Spain and the changes to the bike all felt good. The Croft and Knockhill tests proved to be very beneficial also. We started putting things together at Donington Park today, but we got on the wrong path and the bike wasn’t suited to the track and we ended up with something like what he had in Spain. But we plugged away and it was a positive finish at the end. The benefit of test days is you get to test stuff and we did get through a few settings. It’s all positive and we were only a tenth of a second in it on the timesheets in the end. It’s looking good for the race and the bike I finished the day on was great.”

Christian Iddon: “That’s pre-season done about four months late. Today was the first time we rode the bike in anger on home soil and it went really well. I wasn’t super-fast all day which was a bit frustrating, but I felt good on the bike. I just wanted to improve a few things to get a better lap time and in the last session I struggled a bit in a few areas which hindered me. But I’m pleased with my consistency and we have a way to work forward to the race in a week’s time. That’s everything done for now, so we now need to concentrate on round one which I’m looking forward to.”

The revised calendar for the Bennetts British Superbike Championship will be over six rounds, all featuring three races making 18 rounds in total.

Quick Look: Kawasaki Z900, Smarter Than Ever! In the July Issue

Feature

Trudy Ulrich

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July 28, 2020

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Quick Look: Kawasaki Z900, Smarter Than Ever! In the July Issue

Featured In The July Issue: The 2020 Z900 Kawasaki, Smarter Than Ever!

“Kawasaki’s Z900 has legit racetrack credentials. The Z Cup Championship in Europe featured Z800s and Z900s in National-level competition, and the race-spec Z900 was a serious piece of racing kit—akin to the early, naked, and tubular handlebar AMA Superbikes, circa 1980. (Was that really 40 years ago?)

“When I threw my leg over a 2020 version of the firm’s 948cc Inline-Four naked performance bike, it had been a while since I’d been on a big, upright bike on the street, and I’d forgotten that they deliver more than performance. They also deliver fun, in big, heaping shovels-full. I put a lot of street, freeway, and twisty-road miles on the Z900, and I spent a lot of the time laughing …”

—Michael Gougis, Editor At Large

Wheelies, stoppies, or just cruising around town in style—Kawasaki’s Z900 is right at home in the city and on the freeway. It’s fun to ride, easy to handle, and looks like a custom. Read the details on Kawasaki’s latest and coolest naked performance bike in the latest issue of Roadracing World!

Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology is THE definitive source for motorcycle racing, riding, and tech information.

PREVIEW the July 2020 Issue of Roadracing World!

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MotoAmerica: Witter Making Pro Debut In Twins Cup

David Swarts

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July 28, 2020

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MotoAmerica: Witter Making Pro Debut In Twins Cup

Dante Witter Making MotoAmerica Twins Cup Debut with Hayden Schultz Racing at Road Atlanta.

Dante Witter will be making his jump into the pro ranks next weekend when the third round of the MotoAmerica series makes its way to Road Atlanta. The Georgia native is teaming up with Hayden Schultz Racing to pilot a Yamaha FZ-07 in the highly competitive Twins Cup class.

“’A chance is like a picture; it’d be nice if you just take it.’ That is my mindset coming into the race weekend,” Witter said. “As a fan, it has always been a dream of mine to race in MotoAmerica, so in my eyes this is an opportunity of a lifetime! I am excited, but I cannot deny the butterflies. Road Atlanta is my hometown track, my family and friends are coming to support and I am itching to make my mark. Thanks to my dad and the Hayden Schultz Racing rental program I’ll get a taste of the dream, so I’m ready.”

“I’m excited to have Dante join us at Road Atlanta. It will be great to help him make his pro debut at his home track. I know he is excited, and I think with a competitive bike and experience at this track he will do great! It is awesome to see our program become a reality and allow riders to get to the next level with MotoAmerica. I know my team has worked so hard to make this possible and produce a competitive bike. Gene and Mick Burcham, Gary Jeffries, and Ron ‘Dink’ Glidden always work overtime to make sure the team is prepared, and this time is no exception. I can’t thank them enough for their hard work to get myself and Dante on track, it wouldn’t happen without them,” said Hayden Schultz

ASRA/CCS: Info For Racers Headed To Blackhawk Farms

David Swarts

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July 28, 2020

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ASRA/CCS: Info For Racers Headed To Blackhawk Farms

Blackhawk Farms Raceway July 31 – August 2 Supplemental Information

Registration will be in the building in front of the gate for this event. Updated hours for the June event are 6:00am to 8:00pm on Friday, 7:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday and 7:00am to 3:00pm on Sunday. These are the only times you can get credentials for this event. If you arrive outside these hours, you will not be allowed to enter the property.

In addition to the Registration and Tech guidelines listed below, here are the supplemental guidelines from the track:

BFR Guidelines During the COVID-19 Precautionary Period

In response to new health risks created by gatherings of multiple people, we are implementing additional precautions to lessen the potential transmission of COVID-19 to our participants and staff.

When you arrive at BFR

1. If you feel sick or have been in contact with someone displaying symptoms, stay at home. If you should become sick during an event, see our medical staff and/or leave the facility immediately.

2. Your temperature will be taken prior to entering the event. Please allow extra time to get through the gate.

3. Download, complete and sign your waiver at home and bring it to registration if you prefer not to sign documents at the track. Bring your own pen. Adult Waiver Minor Waiver (2-sided)

4. Wear a face covering when presenting your documents to registration. Maintain social distancing whenever possible remaining 6 feet from other individuals.

5. Avoid personal contact with other participants. Do not touch other participants’ tools, vehicles, or other personal items.

6. Participants must bring their own hand sanitizer and masks. All team members should practice frequent hand washing. Additional hand sanitizing stations will be available in the paddock area.

7. Participants are required to provide their own personal gear. Sharing personal equipment is prohibited.

8. The restrooms and porta-potties will be available and sanitized frequently. Facial covering is required in the restrooms.

Paddock and Grid Areas

1. The Illinois Department of Public Health mandates the use of a face covering for everyone over the age of 2 who can medically tolerate one in all public areas such as the Café, Pit Stop, Tech Building, Control Tower, Pavilion, Medical, and restrooms and in situations where you are unable to maintain a safe social distance of 6 feet from others.

2. Concessions will be available. Food will be available at the window while maintaining social distancing.

3. Seating in the Pavilion area may be available for dining. When the Pavilion is unavailable, participants will need to use the limited outdoor seating near the Pavilion or in the Hawk’s Nest or return to their paddock areas.

4. No group events will be permitted. Evening meals and gatherings will be prohibited.

5. Communication with drivers/racers/riders will be done via the PA system and/or FM radio.

6. Each driver/racer/rider will be allowed 3 crew members. No spectators will be permitted. On the false grid, one crew member can assist the driver/racer/rider.

7. Racers will paddock 10 feet from each other.

8. Camping will only be available for participants and their crew members.

9. BFR will refine procedures for classroom sessions to accommodate social distancing. Please sit in your own chair and use your own pen to sign paperwork.
Failure to follow the BFR guidelines may result in your removal from the facility.

These guidelines will be reviewed according to changing conditions.

Latest Registration and Tech Procedures

These new procedures will allow us to comply with existing orders for limiting contact in enclosed spaces, masks, gloves and hand sanitizer for the staff who deal directly with the racers. (For the foreseeable future we will use these at every event.)

Since these are the two areas where the closest interaction takes place, here is our new procedure for registration and tech.

Registration:

Our goal is to limit personal contact to a minimum. (We are working on a touch-less registration but unfortunately we do not have a clear answer how an “app” would stand up in court as a signed waiver/release.)

One door in, (at Summit, the door to the East), and one door out, (the North door).

Each rider will be given their own pen, at the end on the line there will be a bucket for the rider to drop the pen in for us to sanitize when registration closes. (Registrars will sanitize their work station with wipes and/or spray anytime they return to their station and before leaving in the evening.)

One registrar will be stationed the door with gloves, face mask and hand sanitizer. They will have all riders sign a waiver and release at the door and control the access to 10 racers at a time in the room. (Unfortunately we have been advised that to get a true body temperature with an infrared thermometer, the subject has to acclimate to the ambient room temp for nearly 10 minutes before the test would be considered accurate so while we will have a touch-less thermometer available its accuracy could be compromised.)

Each registrar will have gloves, face mask and hand sanitizer for them and/or the racer to use. All staff in registration will be at least 6’ apart with their own table between them and the racer. We will allow only 10 riders in the room (east classroom at Summit), at a time with 3 registrars. (Tape lines on the floor 6’ apart).

Once the racer is finished and deposits their pen in the bucket, they will be asked to use the exit (At Summit, the North door).

Tech:

Our goal is to limit personal contact to a minimum.

Each inspector will have gloves, face mask and hand sanitizer for them and/or the racer to use.

We will have multiple tech lines approximately 10-12’ apart.

Inspectors will strive to maintain 6’ separation in the lines waiting to be inspected.

Racer will bring a stand to tech with the motorcycle and place the bike on the stand and move 6’ away from the motorcycle. Then the inspector will evaluate the machines race-readiness. After placing an approval sticker on the machine or notifying the rider of what needs to be addressed, the inspector will move away from the machine and let the racer remove their machine from the tech area.

While we have some specific in-depth procedure changes for the staff, these are the outline we are starting with to mitigate the potential of spreading the virus among or racers and staff.

ASRA/CCS management believe these measures would allow us to be safe and in full compliance with existing restrictions but we understand new orders could be issued with immediate implementation that could remove/change procedures or require postponement or cancellation.

World Superbike: Top 10 Facts About Pirelli Spanish Round

David Swarts

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July 28, 2020

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World Superbike: Top 10 Facts About Pirelli Spanish Round

#ESPWorldSBK

Discover the 10 most important facts you need to know ahead of the Pirelli Spanish Round

1. In Jerez, Tom Sykes is set for his 300th race start in Race 1. The all-time record belongs to Troy Corser (377), followed by Noriyuki Haga (313).

2. Jonathan Rea reached 170 WorldSBK podiums in Phillip Island: that is 40 more than the second all-time rider, Troy Corser (130).

3. Chaz Davies has started 164 races for Ducati: in Jerez he will have the first chance to equal Carl Fogarty for starts with the Italian manufacturer (167). The record for Ducati belongs to Lucio Pedercini: 176 starts for the Borgo Panigale factory from 1998 to 2006.

4. After Phillip Island, Kawasaki has 148 wins: that is 210 less than the leading manufacturer, Ducati (358).

5. After Phillip Island, Jonathan Rea counts 89 wins: that is 30 clear of his best competitor, Carl Fogarty.

6. It’s a tie for the riders with most podium finishes here: Tom Sykes and Chaz Davies climbed on the podium seven times in Jerez. They both missed out last year.

7. The sixth place on the grid is Davies’ lucky one in Jerez: he won all his three races at Jerez from there.

8. Of the current grid, we have seven out of eight Jerez winners: Chaz Davies (3); Alvaro Bautista, Jonathan Rea, Eugene Laverty and Marco Melandri (2); Tom Sykes and Michael Van der Mark (1). The only one absent from this list is Raymond Roche (2 wins in 1990).

9. Only three manufacturers have recorded the Superpole here: Kawasaki (4), Ducati (2), Aprilia (1).

10. Last year, all three wins came from second on the grid.

MotoAmerica: Twins Cup Racer Bays Returning At Road Atlanta

David Swarts

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July 28, 2020

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MotoAmerica: Twins Cup Racer Bays Returning At Road Atlanta

MotoAmerica: Bays Returns to Twins Cup at Road Atlanta

Chris Bays returns to MotoAmerica Twins Cup competition aboard a Suzuki SV650 as the series heads to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Bays is no stranger to the Twins Cup. He finished on the podium in his MotoAmerica debut at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in 2018. In 2019, Bays contested the entire nine round series with RBoM Racing, running top-10 in points before the season was cut short by injuries sustained in a crash at Sonoma.

“I learned so much in my first full MotoAmerica season, especially going to the race tracks in Wisconsin, Utah, or California for the first time. Each weekend, we had so much work to do in practice and qualifying to learn the track and set up the bike. It’s too bad I got hurt just before we returned to the east coast tracks where I have a lot of experience, but hey, that’s racing…”

After a long off-season, Bays is eager to start his 2020 MotoAmerica Twins Cup campaign in Road Atlanta.

“I’m really excited about this year. Robem Engineering and Velocity Calibration have come on board to help with the chassis, and we made some big improvements already in pre-season club races. We have a brand new Copoulos Built Motor with plenty of power for the long Road Atlanta back straightaway. I’m confident we can improve on our solid results from Road Atlanta last year.”

Bays Racing is supported in 2020 by RBoM Racing, Copoulos Built Motors, Shoei Helmets, Racer Gloves USA, M4 Exhaust, Woodcraft Technologies, Velocity Calibrations, and Robem Engineering.

Twins Cup racing kicks off at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Friday July 31st. Bays will be back in action again just one week later as MotoAmerica heads to Pittsburgh International Race Complex August 7-9th.

MotoGirlGT: Miraglia & Moore Win At NJMP

David Swarts

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July 28, 2020

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MotoGirlGT: Miraglia & Moore Win At NJMP

MotoGirlGT Championship Cup Series

New Jersey Motorsports Park

Millville, New Jersey

July 26, 2020

Race Results:

MotoGirlGT Superbike:

1. Justine Miraglia (Yam YZF-R1)

2. Michele Beneducci (Yam YZF-R6)

3. Jessica Klima (Yam YZF-R6)

MotoGirlGT 500 Superbike:

1. Mikayla Moore (Kaw Ninja 400)

2. Cassie Cuppek (KTM RC 390)

3. Michele Beneducci (Kaw Ninja 300)

For more information on MotoGirlGT contact https://evolveGT.com/motogirlgt or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. For More information on ASRA and CCS racing contact http://www.ccsraing.us/ and http://www.asraracing.com/

Racing Chaplain Plans Trackside Sanctuary

David Swarts

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July 28, 2020

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Racing Chaplain Plans Trackside Sanctuary

By Michael Gougis

Longtime racing chaplain Raymond Rizzo, a regular at AMA Pro Flat Track, ASRA/CCS and AMA/MotoAmerica races, wants to bring a physical presence to the racing paddock. His dream is a tractor-trailer that will serve as a sanctuary–neutral territory, if you will, in an environment of competition.

“I do everything that a pastor would do at a local church, but I don’t have a building,” Rizzo says. “The front (of the rig) would be home, in the back would be all of the tools I need to serve the community. And when we park it, we’d deploy the canopy, and it would be a space for the community.”

A model depicting Chaplain Raymond Rizzo's goal of a paddock presence for his traveling ministry. — A model depicting Chaplain Raymond Rizzo’s goal of a paddock presence for his traveling ministry.

Rizzo, of Franklin, Tennessee, began serving in the motorsports field in 2005, when he was asked to do the invocation at a stock car race at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

“I did the invocation standing there, and it was like the beginning of a Disney movie, where the birds wrap ribbons around the fence posts, and I heard God say, ‘This is what I want you to do,’” Rizzo says.

Through his contact with the Christian-based Motor Racing Outreach, Rizzo was put in touch with the ASRA/CCS series, and attended his first event at Daytona in 2007. It was his first motorcycle event as well, and as he recalls, “I didn’t know anything about motorcycles. That was my first view of motorcycles. I said, ‘Lord, if you want me to do this, I’m in.’”

Raymond Rizzo praying with MotoAmerica Superbike racer Max Flinders on the grid before a race at Circuit of The Americas.

Since then, Rizzo has become the Lead Chaplain for AMA Pro Road Racing and serves in the same role for ASRA/CCS, as well as ministering at MotoAmerica races.

Rizzo hopes to raise enough in donations to purchase and operate the stacker tractor-trailer. His first mobile center, a standard RV, simply wore out under the 50,000 miles Rizzo drove every year. The new one would be called by the same name as the project to fund it–Finding The Finish 2.0.

The vehicle and its deployed canopy would serve as a gathering spot for the public, as well as a location for recovering program meetings and a space for service groups like the Christian Motorcyclists Association, Rizzo says.

For more information, text FTFCC to 71777 for a link to Rizzo’s fundraising page.

Pacific Track Time Adds Sept. 5-6 Event At Sonoma

David Swarts

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July 28, 2020

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Pacific Track Time Adds Sept. 5-6 Event At Sonoma

Pacific Track Time Adds September 5th/6th weekend at Sonoma Raceway!

Sonoma Raceway – Season Opener February 22-23 Sat/Sun

Thunderhill Raceway Park (East) March 28-29 Sat/Sun

Thunderhill Raceway Park (East) April 18 Sat

WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway May 9 Sat

Thunderhill Raceway Park (West) May 23-24 Sat/Sun

Thunderhill Raceway Park (East) June 26-27 Fri/Sat

Thunderhill Raceway Park (East) July 4-5 Sat/Sun

Buttonwillow Raceway July 11-12 Sat/Sun

Thunderhill Raceway Park (East) August 15-16 Sat/Sun

WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway August 24 Mon

Sonoma Raceway September 5-6 Sat/Sun

Buttonwillow Raceway September 19-20 Sat/Sun

WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway September 28 Mon

Thunderhill Raceway Park (East) – Season Finale October 17-18 Sat/Sun

World Superbike: Kawasaki Team Primed For Return To Action

David Swarts

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July 28, 2020

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World Superbike: Kawasaki Team Primed For Return To Action

Competition Begins Again For KRT

The official Kawasaki Racing Team is primed and ready to get back into full-on WorldSBK action at Jerez de la Frontera this coming weekend as the long wait for the return of competitive racing finally ends and the second round of the new-look season begins.

Five times WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea and current 2020 season points leader Alex Lowes will now happily shift gear from preparation mode to racing mode after two positive recent experiences at Misano and then Catalunya on their Ninja ZX-10RR machines.

The first round of the season took place in Australia at the end of February but due to the global Covid-19 pandemic the subsequent round in Qatar – and every other round until the forthcoming restart at Jerez – has either been cancelled or postponed.

Both KRT riders won a race apiece at that Phillip Island event, personal high points of what proved to be an intense and endlessly entertaining opening WorldSBK weekend of action in Australia. With Lowes top of the current championship table with 51 points and Rea fourth overall on 32 it has already been a strong start from the official Kawasaki pairing. The opening races provided a solid platform the entire team is aiming to build on in what will now be a relatively short but very intense calendar in WorldSBK.

As well as all the usual challenges that competition will bring numerous Covid-19 protocols will have to be followed this coming weekend, as they were in the two recent tests in Italy and Catalunya. The expected high ambient and track temperatures that were evident at the recent pair of Jerez-based MotoGP rounds will be another factor for the team and riders to take into particular consideration when it is their turn to face the 4.423km long circuit in Andalusia.

The first action of the re-started season will take place with FP1 and FP2 on Friday 31st July, with racedays scheduled for Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August. It has been a long and often frustrating road for all in the WorldSBK paddock to travel since the exciting opening round some five months ago, but the expectation of all is for more excitement and close competition at the popular Jerez circuit, before the championship heads to Portimao in Portugal for more of the same on the following weekend.

Jonathan Rea (1) at speed at Misano. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

Jonathan Rea, stated: “I’m very excited to go racing again after this long break in the calendar. Over the last few weeks I have been able to familiarise myself with our ZX-10RR and enjoy the buzz of riding again. Both Misano and Montmeló tests have been positive. We were able to achieve what we wanted which was to be competitive in both our single lap pace and long run pace. Jerez is a great circuit and one I enjoy. I believe the work and conclusions we have arrived at during testing will help this weekend in the hot conditions when the grip level is not at the optimum. It will be strange not to have the SBK atmosphere with fans in the grandstand and a packed paddock show, but I’m looking forward to whatever is in store.”

Alex Lowes, stated: “It feels exciting – like the start of a new season – after such a long time without racing. I’ve had two really good tests with the ZX-10RR and feel like I have a lot better understanding of the bike, which will be crucial to help me find a setting in the high temperatures at Jerez. We now have back-to-back rounds, which will be a bonus after few months off. Two race weekends and six races to get stuck into – it’s going to be fun! Obviously I’m going to miss the fans being there but I know the races are going to be great, so they should make sure they tune in – and thanks as always for the support.”

Other strong Ninja ZX-10RR entrants will be out for success at Jerez, with Xavi Fores (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Sandro Cortese (Outdo Kawasaki TPR) and Maximilian Scheib (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) all set for their second round of championship competition in 2020. Scheib is currently 11th overall, Cortese 12th and Fores 14th.

2020 KRT Rider WorldSBK Statistics

Jonathan Rea: World Champion 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019

2020: Races 3, Wins 1, Podiums 2, Superpoles 0

Career Race Wins: 89 (74 for Kawasaki)

Career Podiums: 170 (128 for Kawasaki)

Career Poles: 23 (19 for Kawasaki)

Alex Lowes:

2020: Races: 3, Wins 1, Podiums 2, Superpoles 0

Career Race Wins: 2 (1 for Kawasaki)

Career Podiums: 22 (2 for Kawasaki)

Career Poles: 1 (0 for Kawasaki)

7 x Riders’ Championships (Scott Russell 1993, Tom Sykes 2013, Rea 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019), 1 x EVO Riders’ Championship (David Salom 2014)

5 x Manufacturers’ Championships (Ninja ZX-10R 2015 & 2016, Ninja ZX-10RR 2017, 2018 & 2019)

5 x Teams’ Championships (KRT/Provec Racing 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019)

Kawasaki FIM Superbike World Championship Statistics

Total Kawasaki Race Wins: 148 – second overall

Total Kawasaki Podiums: 437 – second overall

Total Kawasaki Poles: 88 – second overall

British Superbike: Jackson Tops Tight Test At Donington Park

July 28, 2020

Lee Jackson (14) at the British Superbike test at Donington Park. Photo courtesy BSB/MSVR.