Credentials for the event will be open from 6pm-8pm Thursday, 7am-7pm Friday, 7am to 4pm Saturday and 7am-3pm Sunday,These are the only times you can get hot pit credentials for this event.
Registration will be in the normal outside location for this event. Updated hours for the July event are 5:30pm to 7:00pm on Friday, 7:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday and 7:00am to 12:00pm on Sunday.
Since Road America registration uses walk up windows, any reference to indoor policies will not be in effect. We do ask that you wear a mask when you come to pick up trophies after your races.
In addition to the Registration and Tech guidelines listed below, here are the supplemental guidelines from the track:
ASRA/CCS and NCBike management have decided to cancel the August 1-2 event to allow the newly repaired section of the track to cure before putting motorcycles on the new asphalt.
With the cancellation, the September 12-13 event is now a twin sprint event and all August entries have been moved to that date.
Current Registration and Tech Procedures
These 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.)
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 using gloves, face mask and hand sanitizer. They will have all riders sign a waiver and release at the door and control the access to 12 racers at a time in the room. All entrants will have their temperature taken and any rider with a temperature of 100.0 of higher will be turned away
Each registrar will have gloves, face mask for themselves and hand sanitizer available for 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 12 riders in the room 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 .
Tech:
Our goal is to limit personal contact to a minimum.
Each inspector will have gloves, face mask for themselves and hand sanitizer available for the racer to use..
We will have multiple tech lines approximately 10’ 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.
Remaining ASRA & TC Schedules for 2020 Updated ASRA TC Schedule for 2020!
As of June 30, 2020
AMA Sanctioned ASRA Team Challenge Presented by Michelin Tire
Jul 18 Road America
Aug 15 Summit Point Circuit (Date change)
Sept 6 NJMP Thunderbolt
Sept 19 Blackhawk Farms
Dec 5 Homestead
Revised ASRA Schedules for 2020
AMA Sanctioned ASRA Championship Series Presented by Pirelli Tire
Jul 18-19 Road America
Jul 25-26 NJMP Thunderbolt
Aug 15-16 Summit Point Circuit
Aug 22-23 Roebling Road Raceway
Oct 16-18 Daytona Intl Speedway
Dec 5-6 Homestead
We appreciate your patience and support during this difficult time for our country as well as our sport.
CSBK targeting Calabogie launch for revised 2020 season
Toronto, ON – The Canadian National Superbike Championship is nearing a revised schedule for the 2020 season, previously put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with plans for a brand new four-race Pro Superbike class slate set to decide the winner of the Canada Cup in the series’ 40th anniversary.
The pandemic has now resulted in the cancellation of all previously scheduled 2020 National events, those events not possible under the current health and safety guidelines. In addition, the new 2020 format will run without spectators permitted at any venues to ensure the safety of the competitors and staff.
The shortened season will feature the return of Calabogie Motorsports Park for round one on July 25, with only select National classes joining the one-day invitational. The opener will run in conjunction with a Pro6 Cycle track day, with a fact sheet available through Pro6 and CSBK.
Online registration details for the event are available now on the Pro6 Cycle web site. Pre-Registration is required, and the deadline for entries is Saturday, July 18. Racer will be required to list their four official crew members at the time of Registration, and no additional staff or family members will be permitted at the Calabogie event.
Calabogie has long been a popular track with riders since its CSBK debut in 2008, last holding a full-scale National weekend in 2015 before the Amateur Lightweight class made a return in 2019. Featuring multiple long straights and drastic elevation changes, the 20-turn circuit has served as the season opener on four occasions, making it an ideal location to begin the 2020 season.
The doubleheader weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – traditionally the season finale – could also return in part for 2020, likely near the originally scheduled dates of August 14-16, with more details to be announced shortly through CSBK. Again, no spectators would be permitted at any potential 2020 CSBK National event.
The unfortunate circumstances surrounding the season will mean the absence of the series’ longest-running event, as Atlantic Motorsport Park will not be on the National calendar for the first time since 1999. The series is thankful for long-time promoter and event sponsor Pro Cycle, as well as the Society of ARL, as they look to return to Nova Scotia in the future.
The upcoming season will see Collingwood, ON’s Ben Young looking to defend his first Pro Superbike title for BMW, roughly 40 years after Kawasaki’s George Morin won the inaugural championship with a win in Edmonton and podium at Shannonville.
Young will have no shortage of competition in the shortened season, headlined by rival and 13-time National champion Jordan Szoke, who is looking to steal back his throne for Kawasaki after a rollercoaster year in 2019.
The two will be joined by Yamaha youngster Tomas Casas and Suzuki frontrunner Trevor Daley, the fourth and fifth-place finishers from last season, as well as BMW veterans Michael Leon and Jeff Williams, fan-favourite Sebastian Tremblay, and Yamaha’s Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike champion Will Hornblower, among others.
CSBK would like to thank all racers and fans for their patience and support over the past few months, as series officials continue to address the best procedures and health guidelines and follow the various restrictions across Canada.
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports regret to announce the cancellation of the 2020 Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas. Previously postponed, the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and resulting complications now sadly oblige the cancellation of the event to be confirmed.
However the Promoters of the event and Dorna have already begun working on possible dates to propose to the FIM for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in April 2021 and plans have started in order to welcome the fans back to the iconic venue.
The Circuit of the Americas is a stunning modern classic just outside of Austin, TX, and first welcomed MotoGP™ in 2013. Splashed with colour across the whole venue, and with one of the most awe-inspiring ascents into a tight Turn 1, the facility has turned heads since it joined the calendar and the FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports are very much looking forward to returning to the track next season.
RANDY KRUMMENACHER WILL NOT CONTINUE THE 2020 SEASON WITH MV AGUSTA REPARTO CORSE
Italy 10-07-2020
With this press release, rider Randy Krummenacher confirms his intention to dissolve his contract with MVRC srl, (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) due to serious breaches on the part of the company that compromise both the rider‘s performance as well as his professionalism, reputation and personal integrity.
Krummenacher has sent the company formal notification, in which all the reasons leading to his decision are clearly outlined.
Krummenacher has also moved to inform the competent bodies, responsible for verifying any technical irregularities.
The Supersport 600 World Championship title holder has reached this difficult decision after having carefully evaluated the risks involved in dissolving the agreement, on the one hand, and the values for which he has always stood, professionally and personally-speaking, on the other.
RK: “This is not a pleasant situation and I never wanted any of this. The aim was to fight for the world title once more but unfortunately, the foundations needed to move ahead with the project with MV Agusta Reparto Corse are not there. I have had to take this decision in order to preserve my moral and professional integrity, as well as my safety. Throughout my career, I have always tried to do the right thing, giving it my all in any situation, even the most challenging. But this time there was only one decision I could make. I cannot say more about my motives at this time, but further details will be communicated in due course.”
More, from a press release issued by MV Agusta Motor S.p.A:
STATEMENT FROM MV AGUSTA MOTOR S.P.A. REGARDING RIDER RANDY KRUMMENACHER’S DECISION TO QUIT MVRC TEAM
Varese, July 10 2020 – MV Agusta Motor S.p.A.had no knowledge of the rider Randy Krummenacher’s decision to terminate his contract with MVRC S.r.l. after only competing in the first race of the 2020 Supersport World Championship.
It being understood that this decision comes as a total surprise to MV Agusta Motor S.p.A., who learned about it through the media.MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. points out that MVRC S.r.l. is a completely independent company which participates in the Supersport World Championship as a private external team. This apparently sudden decision by the rider was completely unexpected as the company had received no prior warning signs about a possible contentious situation from either Krummenacher nor from the MVRC team.
Following the very encouraging results obtained during the first race of the 2020 World Supersport Championship in Phillip Island, with a front row position on the race’s starting grid, as well as a second place finish by Raffaele De Rosa in the race, MV Agusta was entirely satisfied with the performance and competitiveness of the F3 Supersport bike. Since its inception the F3 Supersport project has brought MV Agusta several vice-World-Championship titles and numerous race wins and podium finishes.
Due to the fact that MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. has no direct contractual relationship with the rider, we will start a comprehensive investigation concerning this matter and reserveany and all rightsto take all properlegal actions to protect our brand image and reputation.
July 12 is the 15th anniversary of MotoGP’s arrival in the USA. We’re celebrating the 2005 Laguna Seca race and, especially, the life of Nicky Hayden with a special free screening online of “The Doctor, The Tornado & The Kentucky Kid.”
July 12 2020 all day all around the world.
This is a new, re-mastered HD version of the film, re-edited with a tribute to Nicky.
We’ll also be video chatting with some of the stars of that historic race weekend.
Maybe you were planning to be at Laguna on the same weekend this year, for the MotoAmerica event that has been postponed due to Covid 19. Wherever you are, you’re no doubt counting the days to the first MotoGP race of 2020. So here’s an extra, very special grand prix to enjoy. Please join us on the day: Sunday July 12 2020 – Laguna Seca MotoGP.
AGVSPORT Monza racing boots are lightweight and well-ventilated, offering protection at a mid-level price point.
The boots are constructed of perforated, 1.6mm-1.8mm thick Rexine, a synthetic leather. An exoskeleton helps provide protection from torsional forces, and there’s hard armor in the shins and heels. The heel protection is ventilated, and the top of the boot is secured with a ratcheting strap, ski-boot style.
The AGVSPORT Monza race boot is heavily armored and seriously ventilated, with vents in the heel armor allowing air to flow through the entire boot. Photo by Michael Gougis.
The Monza is shipped with a pair of sole inserts of varying thicknesses. To customize the fit, the rider can select the 2mm insert, the 4mm insert, or use both to create a 6mm insert.
In use, the boots flow a lot of air, which is comforting on hot summer days. The upper ratchet strap is designed to be easy to use and to seal the boot to the leathers, preventing debris from being forced inside during a crash. The exoskeleton pivot point is secured by a flush bolt, which should be checked occasionally to ensure it is tight.
Currently, the Monza comes in the black/white color scheme shown, with the company planning to offer an all-black version soon. The boot is available in sizes 38-47, and the suggested retail price is $299.99, from dealers. For more information, contact AGVSPORT, Dept. RW, 11901 Hilltop #1, Argyle, TX 76226, (214) 919-0118, www.gearhousepros.com.
Redding and Razgatlioglu fight at the top of day two, Rea leads overall
It really is too close to call as whole variety of riders and manufacturers showcase their improvements…
The two-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship teams and riders has concluded with many talking points before the first round. The scorching heat, high track temperature and slippery circuit meant that crashes and Red Flags were in abundance and that times for the top ten didn’t improve on this morning’s session, leaving Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) as the rider to beat, albeit by the slimmest of margins.
Jonathan Rea (1) testing at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
After times failed to improve in the afternoon, Jonathan Rea leads the way on exit from Montmelo. The Ulsterman set a blistering lap in the morning session that was never headed, meaning he leaves the test with a good feeling aboard his ZX-10RR. Teammate Alex Lowes backed up the team’s efforts with fourth as the Championship leader continued his adaptation from Yamaha to Kawasaki. Working on rear end set-up and acclimatising to the changes of direction, Lowes has already built on refining his braking style from day one. All in all, a strong showing for the Spanish-run squad.
It was another British rider in second place as Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) led Ducati’s charge in Catalunya. The rookie was top in the afternoon session and come the close of day one and was a mere 0.156s behind Rea overall after day two. His goal was to work on the bike’s performance in hot conditions, although this was hampered by two technical gremlins throughout the day; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Chaz Davies (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) worked on chassis direction was fourth this afternoon and finished ninth overall, although race pace looks good.
The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team had a very strong showing on day two, with Tom Sykes leading their charge in third place. The 2013 World Champion was one of just three riders in the 1’40s after the morning session and enjoyed his first time out at the circuit, doing plenty of race simulations. Teammate Eugene Laverty was also right in the mix and concluded the top six overall and was just over a second from top spot, despite a crash in the morning on the Q tyre. Neither finished inside the top ten during the hotter afternoon session as both worked on race pace, eager to get the bike dialled in on the new circuit.
The first Yamaha on the timesheets was in fifth place and Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA YAMAHA WorldSBK Official Team). The tenacious Turk wrestled his Yamaha into position after getting back up to speed, although a morning crash at Turn 7 and afternoon technical issues suggested that it wasn’t all plain sailing. Teammate Michael van der Mark also had a morning technical problem as he concluded the test on seventh. The aim for the Dutchman was to focus on rear grip whilst both riders aimed at just getting laps under their belt.
The first of the Independent riders came home in eighth place overall and that was Loris Baz. The French star was on the pace on his 2020 Yamaha R1 and focussed on tyre life in hot conditions and his work gave him third in the afternoon on day two. However, Leandro Mercado (Motocorsa Racing) made it two Independent teams in the top ten and despite an afternoon tumble between Turn 2 and 3, was seventh in the afternoon and tenth overall. It was a great afternoon showing for Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team) and teammate Federico Caricasulo; they were eighth and eleventh this afternoon, with Gerloff just missing out on an overall top ten.
After missing much of the entire morning session, Team HRC were out on track in the afternoon heat. Leon Haslam was up inside the top five after lunch but finished in ninth, whilst Alvaro Bautista was cemented to 15th, and whilst not testing any new parts, electronics refinement was key. Haslam would end up 12th overall whilst Bautista was 15th but not a full day on track, the potential is yet to be reached for the team and its new Honda CBR1000RR-R.
In World Supersport, it was Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) who shone the brightest as he got his YZF R6 into a good position at a circuit he knows extremely well. Steven Odendaal (EAB Ten Kate Racing) was second ahead Cluzel’s teammate, Corentin Perolari, who suffered a small crash in the morning session but was otherwise OK.
Top six after day two:
1.) Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’40.450
2.) Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) +0.156
3.) Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.506
4.) Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.687
5.) Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA YAMAHA WorldSBK Official Team) +0.768
Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes have successfully completed an intense two day test at their team’s home circuit of Montmeló, with Rea setting the best lap of all during this morning’s slightly cooler session.
Although both official KRT riders worked on machine and tyre set-up to suit the hot conditions they expect to experience at the next few races, they were also fast over one lap. Rea set a best-of-test 1’40.450 single lap time and Lowes was fourth overall with his 1’41.137.
Hot and dry weather conditions characterised this test at the new-for-WorldSBK circuit of Montmeló, with both KRT riders enjoying the full experience of testing their machines around the challenging 4.627km layout.
In all, 17 WorldSBK riders were at the Montmeló circuit for this test, giving Lowes and Rea a good reference of their main competitors’ performance levels after a long halt to the 2020 season.
This test had two main uses for the entire KRT squad, which is based just a short distance from the track itself. The first was a final on-track preparation before the season restarts at Jerez in a few weeks. Secondly, it was ideal preparation for the Catalunya race weekend itself, which is scheduled for the weekend of 18th to 20th September.
The WorldSBK season will restart for real – after what will be almost a five month break due to the global Covid-19 pandemic – at Jerez de la Frontera with race days on the first and second of August.
Jonathan Rea (1) testing at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “This morning I used a race tyre, the soft tyre and then two qualifying tyres. That was the target this morning – to work on ultimate pace and see what we could do. After that we started to work with the set-up again and tried to confirm some items on the front to give me some more stability. We backed-to-backed both bikes to find if we confirmed the set-up of what we arrived with at the Misano test. I preferred that to my old base set-up so it seems like we have moved our base set-up away from what I had. I don’t know if that is because the temperature suits that kind of bike set-up or if my riding style has evolved during this lockdown period and it has changed. But what I am requesting from the bike now I have a good feeling with this one. In the afternoon I waited for the temperature to be at the maximum to do two longer runs on both bikes to understand some test items. We felt pretty happy and now we look forward to Jerez.”
Alex Lowes (22) at speed during testing at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes, stated: “In the final hour or so we put everything together what we had found positives with and the bike was working really well. We did more laps than I thought – 107 today – so a busy one. But I am really happy with such a positive second day here. This is still a learning process and with the amount of laps I have done I am trying to learn as quickly as possible. I am happy with my pace this afternoon, it was strong and a little bit faster than I expected, which is always nice. After such a long break in the season it has been easier to get back into the swing of things than I thought but it will be nice to get a couple of weeks off now before the back-to-back races that restart the season. My pace with the used tyres is more competitive than with the new tyres, same as we saw in Phillip Island. Luckily for me we have had the same characteristic here. On used tyres I am feeling good with the bike. Joining this team, every day I am learning more. It is a fantastic team and I am enjoying it a lot.”
Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “Our test has been really, really positive. We had some info from the last test here in January that we collected for this test. We started with that base set-up and then we focused to understand the hot conditions and how to use the tyres. This track is very demanding on tyres, and it is the key point. We have been very focused on making a good lap time and working over a long distance. I am very happy because we reached all the targets that we put on the paper and Johnny was also the fastest one – this morning when the track temperature was cooler. We used a qualifying soft tyre and took the fastest lap. We also confirmed some items we tested in Misano and I feel very good. Johnny is in very good shape after the long break because of Covid-19 and he did a great job here; very calm and working well.”
Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “We had a very good test and we are prepared for the second race of the season at Jerez. We know we should have very hot conditions there. We started off with a base set-up and then understood in which direction we needed to work when it is hot and slippery. That is what we achieved. Alex is fast and consistent. Over half race distance it was quite impressive, so this makes us very confident. I think in the end we made the most laps of anyone at this test and we have a happy rider. We are ready now for Jerez.”
Guim Roda, KRT Team Manager, stated: “We have finished in Montmeló and it has been a good test. Our conclusions are positive because after two days we can understand much better how the track is working. In September, for the race, it should still be quite hot, so the information from this test will be so useful. The riders enjoyed the track a lot and we could see how the other riders’ lap times were. We can see how everybody has tried to understand the position of the competition. I think in general everybody in WorldSBK has been happy to be here and from our side it has been incredible so now we wait to come back again for the race.”
In addition to the KRT riders on their Ninja ZX-10RRs at Montmeló, Sandro Cortese (Outdo Kawasaki TPR) continued his largely positive test experiences and ended up 13th overall. Maximilian Scheib (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) was 16th quickest. Cortese set a 1’42.187 personal best lap and Scheib a 1’42.436.
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
Testing concludes at Barcelona for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team with Redding 2nd and Davies 9th respectively
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team ended today the two-day testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the last one before the long-awaited second round of the 2020 WorldSBK season scheduled from 31 July to 2 August in Jerez de la Frontera.
Scott (P2 in the combined standings) was fast throughout the sessions, confirming the great feeling with his Ducati Panigale V4 R. After setting the Day-1 fastest chrono, the Englishman took an exciting head-to-head with Rea in the early morning laps today, then returned to the track in the afternoon for a 18-lap long run.
Tangible progress, especially in Day-2, for Chaz Davies (P9 in the combined standings). The Welshman worked hard on used tyres, before pushing hard on the final lap which allowed him to end up the afternoon session in fourth place.
Scott Redding (45) at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Rider #45)
“I am satisfied with this test. We have worked very well these two days especially with used tyres. This morning’s challenge with Rea was a lot of fun. We pushed hard but after a few fast laps I wanted to remind myself what the real objective of the test was. That’s why we did a long run this afternoon. I couldn’t try the time attack because of a technical issue but it doesn’t matter”.
Chaz Davies (7) backs his Ducati into a corner during testing at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Rider #7)
“It was very important to get back on track to work again on some of the solutions we already tried at Misano. They were two intense days in which we worked well and they were also important to get familiar with this circuit in conditions similar to those we will find during the race weekend. All in all I am satisfied and the aim now is to get to Jerez in the best possible condition”.
More, from a press release issued by BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team:
Countdown to season restart: BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team tests the BMW S 1000 RR at the ‘Circuit de Catalunya’.
Barcelona. The countdown is on to the restart of the 2020 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). After several months without racing, the season is set to resume on the first weekend in August at Jerez de la Frontera (ESP). In preparation for the coming races, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and its riders Tom Sykes (GBR) and Eugene Laverty (IRL) took part in this week’s tests at the ‘Circuit de Catalunya’ near Barcelona (ESP).
The test allowed the team to evaluate various updates for the BMW S 1000 RR, which have been worked upon during the enforced break since the season-opener in Australia. The fine-tuning primarily centred around finding the best possible basic set-up for round two of the season at Jerez de la Frontera.
The team also used the test to familiarise itself with the ‘Circuit de Catalunya’ and to gain data on the track properties. That is particularly important, as the circuit to the north of Barcelona is new to the WorldSBK calendar in 2020. ‘Circuit de Catalunya’ will host the sixth event of the season from 18th to 20th September.
Shaun Muir, Team Principal:
“We had some items to test and, very importantly, track familiarisation to get ready for the upcoming race later in the season. The updates that we had to test were mainly electronic strategy related and a lot of the other work that was focused on were race simulations runs and tyre wear in the latter stages of the race. I’m generally happy with both Tom and Eugene. It was very difficult to judge lap times overall with it being very cool in the morning and most were pushing for the times early on. Once the temperatures rose, we concentrated on the race runs. Overall we are happy, we’ve had a good test in Lausitz and here in Barcelona so now we can look forward to the restart of the WorldSBK Championship at Jerez.”
Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director:
“We can’t wait to go racing again after the long break we had since Australia. Testing at Barcelona was very beneficial in our preparation for the restart of the season. Conditions have been like we expect them to be at the next rounds we will have in Spain and Portugal. It was also great to get familiar with the ‘Circuit de Catalunya’ which we will race on for the first time in September. We now know a little bit more what to expect there. Now we are looking forward to Jerez and getting back to competition mode again.”
Tom Sykes (66). Photo courtesy of BMW Motorrad.
Tom Sykes:
“I’m feeling really good as we had a very productive test in Germany and have continued that same form here into Catalunya. It’s great to be here as I have never ridden the track so I’ve really enjoyed the layout of the whole circuit. We’ve had a good test schedule and worked through a lot of test items with the BMW S 1000 RR gathering some crucial information. It’s clear to see that the whole of the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team has been hard at work during this difficult period as we arrived here with a lot of ideas. It’s been working on different geometry settings, front and rear suspensions parameters, chassis options and we have certainly improved the electronic strategy. We are still exploring these set ups; we just need some time to put all this together.”
Eugene Laverty (50) . Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad.
Eugene Laverty:
“This test has been my best run on the bike yet, it’s been fantastic and in particular my race run in that final session there. I did a race run yesterday which was a good pace, but I knew I had more to give today and I proved that. We lapped from the start in the 1’43.300’s and by lap 18 we were at 1’43.900, which was incredible compared to what a lot of the others lads were doing over the race distance. This morning I had some good pace on the ‘X’ tyre and then jumped to the ‘Q’ tyre but had a little crash. The crash was a similar crash to the one in Phillip Island which is something we need to look at. Overall I’m happy with the test and I’m looking forward to getting out in Jerez in a few weeks’ time.”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Pata Yamaha’s Razgatlıoğlu and Van der Mark Enjoy Positive Return in Barcelona Testing
At a private test in Barcelona attended by the top WorldSBK competitors, the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team with Rizla completed a combined 332 total of laps over the two days, with riders Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Michael van der Mark making best use of this important track time ahead of the second round of the series in Jerez (31 July – 2 August).
The two-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which is set to host a WorldSBK round for the first time on 18-20 September, saw Phillip Island race-winner Razgatlıoğlu complete 154 laps with a best time of 1:41.217 on his Yamaha R1 with team-mate van der Mark posting1:41.679 from his 178 laps, as Yamaha’s engineers focused on new development parts and collecting valuable data.
In the mid-summer Barcelona heat, testing got underway on Wednesday, with Razgatlıoğlu quickly getting back up to speed with the sixth-fastest time in the morning just ahead of van der Mark in seventh.
During the afternoon, both riders continued to refamiliarise themselves with their R1’s after a four-month layoff and to test different parts as Razgatlıoğlu improved his time to finish the day in ninth as the grip levels dropped. Van der Mark’s best effort was enough for 11th in the afternoon, to conclude his first full day on the race-ready Yamaha R1 since the Australian opener.
In the cooler conditions of day two’s morning, the Pata Yamaha riders made a big step in pace and then both set their fastest times of the test in the final hour before the lunch break. Turkish racer Razgatlıoğlu was fifth with a time of 1’41.217, despite a crash without injury at the exit of Turn 7, as Dutch star van der Mark went seventh quickest with a time of 1’41.679.
In the afternoon, both Razgatlıoğlu and van der Mark continued to rack up their mammoth lap counts, with the former going second quickest on his final tour of testing, and both were confident in the development work done by the Pata Yamaha squad.
The team is now ready for the WorldSBK season restart, scheduled for Spain and the Circuito de Jerez in three weeks’ time, as both van der Mark and Razgatlıoğlu look to continue their championship challenge.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu: 154 Laps – 1’41.217
“I’m happy because I was able to ride the Yamaha R1 again! We tried many new parts and sometimes they didn’t work, but we found some new things that did make improvements. It’s not been a bad test at all, it was very important as it’s a new track for me and we are now ready for the race in Jerez. I only knew this circuit from video games, so it was good to get some laps in before we come back here later this year. The first day was quite difficult after so much time away from the bike, and I had a huge crash on day 2 and I’m lucky to have no injury. But even with this, we were quite fast and we improved the R1, so we can be happy.”
Michael van der Mark (60). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Michael van der Mark: 178 Laps – 1’41.679
“It was nice to be back on the bike; it’s been a while and also it’s been 10 years since I’ve last been here, so it was all quite new. We had so many new things to try and I think we can be quite happy with this test, even if it doesn’t maybe look as good from the results alone. We had so many new developments and we were just focused on improving the bike, because in the last four months the guys have been working really hard at home. A lot of positives on the R1, I’m happy to be back after four months not riding and I’m ready to be racing again. I can’t wait for the restart in Jerez.”
Paul Denning: Team Principal, Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team
“It’s a pleasure to be back at the racetrack with the team, riders and Yamaha engineers, ahead of the restart to the season. The Barcelona Grand Prix circuit is a new one for our team and both of our riders, so after four months off the bikes yesterday was a little challenging to get fully back up to speed. Nonetheless, we still got through a reasonable amount of work, maybe leaving more questions than answers, but with a good night’s sleep the riders were ready to go this morning. The crew chiefs and engineers had also made a clear plan for today and we were a lot more competitive. Testing here in these conditions is almost like running at two different circuits as the temperature increases, and the grip level drops significantly. We were quick in cooler conditions and we’ve improved the bike to be a lot closer in hotter temperatures than we were yesterday. Some problems, some challenges, and an extremely busy couple of days, but in the end a great job by Michael, Toprak and all the team, and now we are looking forward to Jerez.”
Barcelona WorldSBK Test Combined Times
1. Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki Racing Team, 1’40.450
2. Scott Redding, Ducati Aruba, 1’40.606
3.. Tom Sykes, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, 1’40.956
4. Alex Lowes, Kawasaki Racing Team, 1’41.137
5. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, Pata Yamaha, 1’41.218
6. Eugene Laverty, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, 1’41.494
7. Michael van der Mark, Pata Yamaha, 1’41.679
8. Loris Baz, Ten Kate Racing Yamaha, 1’41.881
9. Chaz Davies, Ducati Aruba, 1’41.903
10. Leandro Mercado, Motocorsa Racing Team, 1’42.024
11. Garrett Gerloff, GRT Yamaha, 1’42.121
12. Leon Haslam, Honda Racing Corporation, 1’42.126
More, from a press release issued by Honda Pro Racing:
Team HRC concludes its first post-lockdown tests in Spain
Team HRC has concluded its first testing session in months at the Catalunya-Barcelona circuit in Spain. Following the enforced break owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, official riders Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam were enthusiastic to return to the track and get back to work.
Having not visited a racetrack since the conclusion of the opening Superbike World Championship round at Phillip Island, Australia, in late February, they essentially started from where they last left off. Testing alongside most of the Superbike field, the dry, sunny conditions allowed the team to work on many areas of the bike, continuing its set-up work. At the same time the riders have had the opportunity to regain feeling aboard their bikes and set some fast lap times, day one closing with Alvaro having set the fifth fastest time, Leon placing twelfth.
On day two however, Leon and Alvaro missed the chance to further improve on their lap times as they were forced to spend a few hours in the garage in the early stages of the morning. This meant that at the end of the day they had to settle for twelfth and fourteenth place respectively in the combined classification. The set-up work nevertheless resumed in the early afternoon and carried on until the very end of the session at 6pm local time.
Both riders now look forward to their next track outing, where the team will be joined by Japanese staff who were unable to attend the current session due to some travel restrictions only recently lifted, and the development of their CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP bikes can continue. Team HRC will therefore continue its preparations ahead of round 2 of the WorldSBK championship, scheduled to take place over the weekend of 1-2 August at the Jerez de la Frontera track in Spain.
Leon Haslam 91
Today has been quite productive despite a long stop in the garage this morning. Yesterday was less ideal as I had a crash in the morning: a wheelie turned into a big high side, so that definitely woke me up after the long break! I hit my head and ankle but luckily did no serious damage. Having said that, we had a productive afternoon on the second bike anyway, and as I said, another good session this afternoon. The main aim here was to analyse our Phillip Island performance and try to iron out a few of the issues we had there. I feel that the bike has great potential but that, considering the brand-new package, we simply need time. Many small things create a good package, and we are trying to find all that in what is a very short space of time. One positive is that Alvaro and I agree on many things, so this makes development a little smoother. All in all, I’m pleased. I hadn’t been at this track for 18 years, so it’s been good to get a feel for it again seeing as we’ll be racing here later in the summer. I feel we’ve been able to get up to speed here and then, as of the next test, we will have a long list of parts and elements to test.
Alvaro Bautista 19
This is only our first test back and so understandably it took me a little time to reset mentally and find the right feeling with my bike again, but now I already feel like I’m back in the groove let’s say. We haven’t really tested anything new here – that’s something we’ll focus on next time – and so we’ve concentrated mainly on confidence, and also on the electronics, working to find more traction through the corners and improve our braking on corner entry. I hadn’t ridden at this track for a while, and never with the Superbike of course, but it seems like it offers quite good grip; the levels are not at all bad, particularly considering the heat. Today we had to spend some time in the garage as the engineers had to analyse a lot of data to fix some issues we had, so we missed the chance to go for some fast lap times during the best part of the day. We’ve been productive anyway, and it looks like we’ve found some things to work on again next time out, when we will also have the HRC engineers present with some new parts for us to test.
AFT Launches Ticket Sales for Roof Systems Dallas Half-Mile presented by Law Tigers Doubleheader Weekend
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 9, 2020) – American Flat Track announced today that tickets are live for its return to Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX for an unmissable back-to-back race weekend. The Roof Systems Dallas Half-Mile presented by Law Tigers will bring the heart-pumping action of American Flat Track to the Lone Star State on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26.
Located just 20 minutes from downtown Dallas, this half-mile black clay racetrack is best known as the birthplace of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. Nearly three decades since AFT’s last running at this venue, this racetrack presents a new challenge and level playing field for today’s competitors.
Right in the backyard of its entitlement sponsor – Roof Systems of Dallas, Texas – fans can look forward to a showing from the Roof Systems team strongly represented in all three classes of AFT competition – the AFT SuperTwins presented by Vance & Hines class, the AFT Production Twins class and the AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys class.
Tickets begin at just $25 with a multi-day discount of $10-off each pair of Friday/Saturday General Admission passes purchased in advance. As always, children 12 and under are admitted free to GA areas with the purchase of an Adult GA ticket, so bring the kids for the most exciting two-wheeled racing weekend of 2020.
Tickets for AFT’s return to the historic Devil’s Bowl Speedway for the 2020 Roof Systems Dallas Half-Mile I and Dallas Half-Mile II presented by Law Tigers doubleheader weekend on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26 are available now at www.americanflattrack.com.
For more information on American Flat Track visit www.americanflattrack.com.
To get the latest American Flat Track clothing and merchandise visit www.americanflattracker.com.
Catch all the AFT action LIVE!
For less than $1 a race, watch American Flat Track LIVE with TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold!
How to Watch:
NBCSN and TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold are the official homes for coverage of American Flat Track. The complete schedule for AFT on NBCSN can be viewed at http://www.americanflattrack.com/events-nbcsn/. TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold – the most-robust motorsports offering in the digital marketplace – is a cornerstone of AFT’s digital strategy, providing live streaming coverage of every event and maintaining an active archive of all AFT content.
About American Flat Track:
American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on American Flat Track, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram, live stream the events with TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold and catch all the American Flat Track racing action on NBCSN.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ANNOUNCES REWIRE PROGRESS, NEW OPERATING MODEL AND LEANER ORGANIZATION TO DRIVE FOCUS AND EFFICIENCY
Milwaukee, July 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As part of its comprehensive efforts to rewire the company (The Rewire), announced in April, Harley-Davidson, Inc. (“Harley-Davidson”) (NYSE:HOG) today announced an overhaul of its global operating model, including a leaner, more nimble organization. Initial Rewire actions are expected to result in restructuring costs of approximately $42 million in Q2 2020. The company plans to share a summary of The Rewire, including additional costs and expected savings, when it releases its Q2 results.
“The Rewire is progressing very well and substantial work is being done to eliminate complexity and get Harley-Davidson on a path to winning. Our new operating model is simpler, more focused and enables faster decisions across the entire company,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and CEO of Harley-Davidson. “We’ve taken a hard look at our entire set up, our spending, and how work is getting done, to align our operating model, structure and processes. We are building a strong foundation to drive a high-performance organization in the future.”
Changes to the company’s operating model under The Rewire include all areas of the business globally, from commercial operations to corporate functions. Changes have also occurred in the company’s leadership, among them, Chief Financial Officer John Olin has left his role, with current VP Treasurer, Darrell Thomas assuming duties as interim CFO until a successor is appointed. “Significant changes are necessary, and we must move in new directions. I thank John for his commitment during his 17 years with the company and for his leadership during this critical phase of The Rewire,” Zeitz said.
Overall, the streamlined structure requires approximately 700 fewer positions across the company’s global operations with approximately 500 employees expected to exit the organization through 2020.
The key elements of The Rewire:
Enhance core strengths and better balance expansion into new spaces
Prioritize the markets that matter
Reset product launches and product line up for simplicity and maximum impact
Build the Parts & Accessories and General Merchandise businesses to full potential
Adjust and align the organizational structure, cost structure and operating model to reduce complexity and drive efficiency to set Harley-Davidson up for stability and success
The company plans to share a comprehensive summary of The Rewire actions and financial impacts when it releases its Q2 results later this month. The Rewire will set the foundation for a new 2021-2025 strategic plan which is expected to be shared in Q4.
Company Background
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has stood for the timeless pursuit of adventure and delivered freedom for the soul with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get Harley-Davidson riders on the road. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com.
The company intends that certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because the context of the statements will include words such as the company “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “estimates,” “likely” or words of similar meaning. Similarly, statements that describe or refer to future expectations, future plans, strategies, objectives, outlooks, targets, guidance, commitments, or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, unfavorably or favorably, from those anticipated as of the date of this press release. Certain of such risks and uncertainties are described below. Shareholders, potential investors, and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release, and the company disclaims any obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Important factors that could affect future results and cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, among others, uncertainties regarding the company’s ability to effectively execute the company’s restructuring activities within expected costs and timing and to successfully implement the elements of The Rewire.
As announced yesterday, the ASBK Management Team responded quickly to the circumstances of updated border closures which have occurred over the past 48hrs to address the difficult situation faced in Victoria.
The ASBK Management Team has been strongly committed throughout the COVID-19 period to providing clear and timely information as we attempt to meet the challenges faced by the entire ASBK paddock.
ASBK Management Team has worked extremely hard over the past 48 hours to again find suitable solutions to ensure the 2020 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul can be the best it can be and worthy of the crown – Australian champion.
ASBK is pleased to advise that the ASBK Round scheduled for Morgan Park Raceway in August now moves to November 6 – 8.
An additional change will also occur with the ASBK Round at Winton in September moving back one week, to be held on 18 – 20 September.
ASBK Management wishes to again express our thanks to the Motorcycle Sportsmen of QLD for their flexibility and support, and further thanks to Winton Motor Raceway who have been a long-time supporter of ASBK.
ASBK wishes to also advise that any further impact of COVID-19 to the 2020 ASBK Championship will result in the cancellation of any such round, and no further postponements will occur.
We continue to ask the ASBK paddock for their understanding in this complex time, and again remind competitors and teams that the COVID-19 environment is an unprecedented challenge, and their flexibility will be required throughout 2020.
Keep up to date with further announcements on the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul via – asbk.com.au and following ASBK on social media.
Australian Superbike Championship Updated 2020 Calendar
Version 11
as of 8 July 2020
ROUND 1 – WSBK – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC 27 Feb – 1 March
ROUND 2 – Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla VIC 18 – 20 September
ROUND 3 – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Cowes VIC 2 – 4 October
ROUND 4 – Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn NSW 16 – 18 October
ROUND 5 – Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick QLD 6 – 8 November
ROUND 6 – International MotoFest @ The Bend, SA 20 – 22 November
ASBK Night of Champions Awards – The Bend Sunday 22 November
Racers Keagan Brown (17) and Scott Fallen (8) in action during a Motogladiator race at NCBike. Photo by Joshua Barnett/Apex Pro Photography, courtesy of Motogladiator.
Road America Supplemental Information
Friday practice day is hosted by EvolveGT
Credentials for the event will be open from 6pm-8pm Thursday, 7am-7pm Friday, 7am to 4pm Saturday and 7am-3pm Sunday,These are the only times you can get hot pit credentials for this event.
Registration will be in the normal outside location for this event. Updated hours for the July event are 5:30pm to 7:00pm on Friday, 7:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday and 7:00am to 12:00pm on Sunday.
Since Road America registration uses walk up windows, any reference to indoor policies will not be in effect. We do ask that you wear a mask when you come to pick up trophies after your races.
In addition to the Registration and Tech guidelines listed below, here are the supplemental guidelines from the track:
ASRA/CCS and NCBike management have decided to cancel the August 1-2 event to allow the newly repaired section of the track to cure before putting motorcycles on the new asphalt.
With the cancellation, the September 12-13 event is now a twin sprint event and all August entries have been moved to that date.
Current Registration and Tech Procedures
These 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.)
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 using gloves, face mask and hand sanitizer. They will have all riders sign a waiver and release at the door and control the access to 12 racers at a time in the room. All entrants will have their temperature taken and any rider with a temperature of 100.0 of higher will be turned away
Each registrar will have gloves, face mask for themselves and hand sanitizer available for 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 12 riders in the room 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 .
Tech:
Our goal is to limit personal contact to a minimum.
Each inspector will have gloves, face mask for themselves and hand sanitizer available for the racer to use..
We will have multiple tech lines approximately 10’ 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.
Remaining ASRA & TC Schedules for 2020 Updated ASRA TC Schedule for 2020!
As of June 30, 2020
AMA Sanctioned ASRA Team Challenge Presented by Michelin Tire
Jul 18 Road America
Aug 15 Summit Point Circuit (Date change)
Sept 6 NJMP Thunderbolt
Sept 19 Blackhawk Farms
Dec 5 Homestead
Revised ASRA Schedules for 2020
AMA Sanctioned ASRA Championship Series Presented by Pirelli Tire
Jul 18-19 Road America
Jul 25-26 NJMP Thunderbolt
Aug 15-16 Summit Point Circuit
Aug 22-23 Roebling Road Raceway
Oct 16-18 Daytona Intl Speedway
Dec 5-6 Homestead
We appreciate your patience and support during this difficult time for our country as well as our sport.
Action from the 2019 Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship. Photo by Rob O'Brien, courtesy of CSBK/PMP.
CSBK targeting Calabogie launch for revised 2020 season
Toronto, ON – The Canadian National Superbike Championship is nearing a revised schedule for the 2020 season, previously put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with plans for a brand new four-race Pro Superbike class slate set to decide the winner of the Canada Cup in the series’ 40th anniversary.
The pandemic has now resulted in the cancellation of all previously scheduled 2020 National events, those events not possible under the current health and safety guidelines. In addition, the new 2020 format will run without spectators permitted at any venues to ensure the safety of the competitors and staff.
The shortened season will feature the return of Calabogie Motorsports Park for round one on July 25, with only select National classes joining the one-day invitational. The opener will run in conjunction with a Pro6 Cycle track day, with a fact sheet available through Pro6 and CSBK.
Online registration details for the event are available now on the Pro6 Cycle web site. Pre-Registration is required, and the deadline for entries is Saturday, July 18. Racer will be required to list their four official crew members at the time of Registration, and no additional staff or family members will be permitted at the Calabogie event.
Calabogie has long been a popular track with riders since its CSBK debut in 2008, last holding a full-scale National weekend in 2015 before the Amateur Lightweight class made a return in 2019. Featuring multiple long straights and drastic elevation changes, the 20-turn circuit has served as the season opener on four occasions, making it an ideal location to begin the 2020 season.
The doubleheader weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – traditionally the season finale – could also return in part for 2020, likely near the originally scheduled dates of August 14-16, with more details to be announced shortly through CSBK. Again, no spectators would be permitted at any potential 2020 CSBK National event.
The unfortunate circumstances surrounding the season will mean the absence of the series’ longest-running event, as Atlantic Motorsport Park will not be on the National calendar for the first time since 1999. The series is thankful for long-time promoter and event sponsor Pro Cycle, as well as the Society of ARL, as they look to return to Nova Scotia in the future.
The upcoming season will see Collingwood, ON’s Ben Young looking to defend his first Pro Superbike title for BMW, roughly 40 years after Kawasaki’s George Morin won the inaugural championship with a win in Edmonton and podium at Shannonville.
Young will have no shortage of competition in the shortened season, headlined by rival and 13-time National champion Jordan Szoke, who is looking to steal back his throne for Kawasaki after a rollercoaster year in 2019.
The two will be joined by Yamaha youngster Tomas Casas and Suzuki frontrunner Trevor Daley, the fourth and fifth-place finishers from last season, as well as BMW veterans Michael Leon and Jeff Williams, fan-favourite Sebastian Tremblay, and Yamaha’s Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike champion Will Hornblower, among others.
CSBK would like to thank all racers and fans for their patience and support over the past few months, as series officials continue to address the best procedures and health guidelines and follow the various restrictions across Canada.
Alex Rins (42) leads Valentino Rossi (46) and Jorge Lorenzo (99) during the 2019 Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas. Photo courtesy Team Suzuki ECSTAR.
Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas cancelled
Friday, 10 July 2020
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports regret to announce the cancellation of the 2020 Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas. Previously postponed, the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and resulting complications now sadly oblige the cancellation of the event to be confirmed.
However the Promoters of the event and Dorna have already begun working on possible dates to propose to the FIM for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in April 2021 and plans have started in order to welcome the fans back to the iconic venue.
The Circuit of the Americas is a stunning modern classic just outside of Austin, TX, and first welcomed MotoGP™ in 2013. Splashed with colour across the whole venue, and with one of the most awe-inspiring ascents into a tight Turn 1, the facility has turned heads since it joined the calendar and the FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports are very much looking forward to returning to the track next season.
Randy Krummenacher (1) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy MV Agusta.
RANDY KRUMMENACHER WILL NOT CONTINUE THE 2020 SEASON WITH MV AGUSTA REPARTO CORSE
Italy 10-07-2020
With this press release, rider Randy Krummenacher confirms his intention to dissolve his contract with MVRC srl, (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) due to serious breaches on the part of the company that compromise both the rider‘s performance as well as his professionalism, reputation and personal integrity.
Krummenacher has sent the company formal notification, in which all the reasons leading to his decision are clearly outlined.
Krummenacher has also moved to inform the competent bodies, responsible for verifying any technical irregularities.
The Supersport 600 World Championship title holder has reached this difficult decision after having carefully evaluated the risks involved in dissolving the agreement, on the one hand, and the values for which he has always stood, professionally and personally-speaking, on the other.
RK: “This is not a pleasant situation and I never wanted any of this. The aim was to fight for the world title once more but unfortunately, the foundations needed to move ahead with the project with MV Agusta Reparto Corse are not there. I have had to take this decision in order to preserve my moral and professional integrity, as well as my safety. Throughout my career, I have always tried to do the right thing, giving it my all in any situation, even the most challenging. But this time there was only one decision I could make. I cannot say more about my motives at this time, but further details will be communicated in due course.”
More, from a press release issued by MV Agusta Motor S.p.A:
STATEMENT FROM MV AGUSTA MOTOR S.P.A. REGARDING RIDER RANDY KRUMMENACHER’S DECISION TO QUIT MVRC TEAM
Varese, July 10 2020 – MV Agusta Motor S.p.A.had no knowledge of the rider Randy Krummenacher’s decision to terminate his contract with MVRC S.r.l. after only competing in the first race of the 2020 Supersport World Championship.
It being understood that this decision comes as a total surprise to MV Agusta Motor S.p.A., who learned about it through the media.MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. points out that MVRC S.r.l. is a completely independent company which participates in the Supersport World Championship as a private external team. This apparently sudden decision by the rider was completely unexpected as the company had received no prior warning signs about a possible contentious situation from either Krummenacher nor from the MVRC team.
Following the very encouraging results obtained during the first race of the 2020 World Supersport Championship in Phillip Island, with a front row position on the race’s starting grid, as well as a second place finish by Raffaele De Rosa in the race, MV Agusta was entirely satisfied with the performance and competitiveness of the F3 Supersport bike. Since its inception the F3 Supersport project has brought MV Agusta several vice-World-Championship titles and numerous race wins and podium finishes.
Due to the fact that MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. has no direct contractual relationship with the rider, we will start a comprehensive investigation concerning this matter and reserveany and all rightsto take all properlegal actions to protect our brand image and reputation.
The late Nicky Hayden a.k.a. The Kentucky Kid) at the U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca in 2005. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
July 12 is the 15th anniversary of MotoGP’s arrival in the USA. We’re celebrating the 2005 Laguna Seca race and, especially, the life of Nicky Hayden with a special free screening online of “The Doctor, The Tornado & The Kentucky Kid.”
July 12 2020 all day all around the world.
This is a new, re-mastered HD version of the film, re-edited with a tribute to Nicky.
We’ll also be video chatting with some of the stars of that historic race weekend.
Maybe you were planning to be at Laguna on the same weekend this year, for the MotoAmerica event that has been postponed due to Covid 19. Wherever you are, you’re no doubt counting the days to the first MotoGP race of 2020. So here’s an extra, very special grand prix to enjoy. Please join us on the day: Sunday July 12 2020 – Laguna Seca MotoGP.
The AGVSPORT Monza boot's ratcheting upper strap holds tight around the leg of a racing suit when the rider is in motion. Photo by Caliphotography.com.
AGVSPORT Monza racing boots are lightweight and well-ventilated, offering protection at a mid-level price point.
The boots are constructed of perforated, 1.6mm-1.8mm thick Rexine, a synthetic leather. An exoskeleton helps provide protection from torsional forces, and there’s hard armor in the shins and heels. The heel protection is ventilated, and the top of the boot is secured with a ratcheting strap, ski-boot style.
The AGVSPORT Monza race boot is heavily armored and seriously ventilated, with vents in the heel armor allowing air to flow through the entire boot. Photo by Michael Gougis.
The Monza is shipped with a pair of sole inserts of varying thicknesses. To customize the fit, the rider can select the 2mm insert, the 4mm insert, or use both to create a 6mm insert.
In use, the boots flow a lot of air, which is comforting on hot summer days. The upper ratchet strap is designed to be easy to use and to seal the boot to the leathers, preventing debris from being forced inside during a crash. The exoskeleton pivot point is secured by a flush bolt, which should be checked occasionally to ensure it is tight.
Currently, the Monza comes in the black/white color scheme shown, with the company planning to offer an all-black version soon. The boot is available in sizes 38-47, and the suggested retail price is $299.99, from dealers. For more information, contact AGVSPORT, Dept. RW, 11901 Hilltop #1, Argyle, TX 76226, (214) 919-0118, www.gearhousepros.com.
Redding and Razgatlioglu fight at the top of day two, Rea leads overall
It really is too close to call as whole variety of riders and manufacturers showcase their improvements…
The two-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship teams and riders has concluded with many talking points before the first round. The scorching heat, high track temperature and slippery circuit meant that crashes and Red Flags were in abundance and that times for the top ten didn’t improve on this morning’s session, leaving Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) as the rider to beat, albeit by the slimmest of margins.
Jonathan Rea (1) testing at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
After times failed to improve in the afternoon, Jonathan Rea leads the way on exit from Montmelo. The Ulsterman set a blistering lap in the morning session that was never headed, meaning he leaves the test with a good feeling aboard his ZX-10RR. Teammate Alex Lowes backed up the team’s efforts with fourth as the Championship leader continued his adaptation from Yamaha to Kawasaki. Working on rear end set-up and acclimatising to the changes of direction, Lowes has already built on refining his braking style from day one. All in all, a strong showing for the Spanish-run squad.
It was another British rider in second place as Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) led Ducati’s charge in Catalunya. The rookie was top in the afternoon session and come the close of day one and was a mere 0.156s behind Rea overall after day two. His goal was to work on the bike’s performance in hot conditions, although this was hampered by two technical gremlins throughout the day; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Chaz Davies (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) worked on chassis direction was fourth this afternoon and finished ninth overall, although race pace looks good.
The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team had a very strong showing on day two, with Tom Sykes leading their charge in third place. The 2013 World Champion was one of just three riders in the 1’40s after the morning session and enjoyed his first time out at the circuit, doing plenty of race simulations. Teammate Eugene Laverty was also right in the mix and concluded the top six overall and was just over a second from top spot, despite a crash in the morning on the Q tyre. Neither finished inside the top ten during the hotter afternoon session as both worked on race pace, eager to get the bike dialled in on the new circuit.
The first Yamaha on the timesheets was in fifth place and Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA YAMAHA WorldSBK Official Team). The tenacious Turk wrestled his Yamaha into position after getting back up to speed, although a morning crash at Turn 7 and afternoon technical issues suggested that it wasn’t all plain sailing. Teammate Michael van der Mark also had a morning technical problem as he concluded the test on seventh. The aim for the Dutchman was to focus on rear grip whilst both riders aimed at just getting laps under their belt.
The first of the Independent riders came home in eighth place overall and that was Loris Baz. The French star was on the pace on his 2020 Yamaha R1 and focussed on tyre life in hot conditions and his work gave him third in the afternoon on day two. However, Leandro Mercado (Motocorsa Racing) made it two Independent teams in the top ten and despite an afternoon tumble between Turn 2 and 3, was seventh in the afternoon and tenth overall. It was a great afternoon showing for Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team) and teammate Federico Caricasulo; they were eighth and eleventh this afternoon, with Gerloff just missing out on an overall top ten.
After missing much of the entire morning session, Team HRC were out on track in the afternoon heat. Leon Haslam was up inside the top five after lunch but finished in ninth, whilst Alvaro Bautista was cemented to 15th, and whilst not testing any new parts, electronics refinement was key. Haslam would end up 12th overall whilst Bautista was 15th but not a full day on track, the potential is yet to be reached for the team and its new Honda CBR1000RR-R.
In World Supersport, it was Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) who shone the brightest as he got his YZF R6 into a good position at a circuit he knows extremely well. Steven Odendaal (EAB Ten Kate Racing) was second ahead Cluzel’s teammate, Corentin Perolari, who suffered a small crash in the morning session but was otherwise OK.
Top six after day two:
1.) Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’40.450
2.) Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) +0.156
3.) Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.506
4.) Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.687
5.) Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA YAMAHA WorldSBK Official Team) +0.768
Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes have successfully completed an intense two day test at their team’s home circuit of Montmeló, with Rea setting the best lap of all during this morning’s slightly cooler session.
Although both official KRT riders worked on machine and tyre set-up to suit the hot conditions they expect to experience at the next few races, they were also fast over one lap. Rea set a best-of-test 1’40.450 single lap time and Lowes was fourth overall with his 1’41.137.
Hot and dry weather conditions characterised this test at the new-for-WorldSBK circuit of Montmeló, with both KRT riders enjoying the full experience of testing their machines around the challenging 4.627km layout.
In all, 17 WorldSBK riders were at the Montmeló circuit for this test, giving Lowes and Rea a good reference of their main competitors’ performance levels after a long halt to the 2020 season.
This test had two main uses for the entire KRT squad, which is based just a short distance from the track itself. The first was a final on-track preparation before the season restarts at Jerez in a few weeks. Secondly, it was ideal preparation for the Catalunya race weekend itself, which is scheduled for the weekend of 18th to 20th September.
The WorldSBK season will restart for real – after what will be almost a five month break due to the global Covid-19 pandemic – at Jerez de la Frontera with race days on the first and second of August.
Jonathan Rea (1) testing at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “This morning I used a race tyre, the soft tyre and then two qualifying tyres. That was the target this morning – to work on ultimate pace and see what we could do. After that we started to work with the set-up again and tried to confirm some items on the front to give me some more stability. We backed-to-backed both bikes to find if we confirmed the set-up of what we arrived with at the Misano test. I preferred that to my old base set-up so it seems like we have moved our base set-up away from what I had. I don’t know if that is because the temperature suits that kind of bike set-up or if my riding style has evolved during this lockdown period and it has changed. But what I am requesting from the bike now I have a good feeling with this one. In the afternoon I waited for the temperature to be at the maximum to do two longer runs on both bikes to understand some test items. We felt pretty happy and now we look forward to Jerez.”
Alex Lowes (22) at speed during testing at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes, stated: “In the final hour or so we put everything together what we had found positives with and the bike was working really well. We did more laps than I thought – 107 today – so a busy one. But I am really happy with such a positive second day here. This is still a learning process and with the amount of laps I have done I am trying to learn as quickly as possible. I am happy with my pace this afternoon, it was strong and a little bit faster than I expected, which is always nice. After such a long break in the season it has been easier to get back into the swing of things than I thought but it will be nice to get a couple of weeks off now before the back-to-back races that restart the season. My pace with the used tyres is more competitive than with the new tyres, same as we saw in Phillip Island. Luckily for me we have had the same characteristic here. On used tyres I am feeling good with the bike. Joining this team, every day I am learning more. It is a fantastic team and I am enjoying it a lot.”
Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “Our test has been really, really positive. We had some info from the last test here in January that we collected for this test. We started with that base set-up and then we focused to understand the hot conditions and how to use the tyres. This track is very demanding on tyres, and it is the key point. We have been very focused on making a good lap time and working over a long distance. I am very happy because we reached all the targets that we put on the paper and Johnny was also the fastest one – this morning when the track temperature was cooler. We used a qualifying soft tyre and took the fastest lap. We also confirmed some items we tested in Misano and I feel very good. Johnny is in very good shape after the long break because of Covid-19 and he did a great job here; very calm and working well.”
Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “We had a very good test and we are prepared for the second race of the season at Jerez. We know we should have very hot conditions there. We started off with a base set-up and then understood in which direction we needed to work when it is hot and slippery. That is what we achieved. Alex is fast and consistent. Over half race distance it was quite impressive, so this makes us very confident. I think in the end we made the most laps of anyone at this test and we have a happy rider. We are ready now for Jerez.”
Guim Roda, KRT Team Manager, stated: “We have finished in Montmeló and it has been a good test. Our conclusions are positive because after two days we can understand much better how the track is working. In September, for the race, it should still be quite hot, so the information from this test will be so useful. The riders enjoyed the track a lot and we could see how the other riders’ lap times were. We can see how everybody has tried to understand the position of the competition. I think in general everybody in WorldSBK has been happy to be here and from our side it has been incredible so now we wait to come back again for the race.”
In addition to the KRT riders on their Ninja ZX-10RRs at Montmeló, Sandro Cortese (Outdo Kawasaki TPR) continued his largely positive test experiences and ended up 13th overall. Maximilian Scheib (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) was 16th quickest. Cortese set a 1’42.187 personal best lap and Scheib a 1’42.436.
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
Testing concludes at Barcelona for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team with Redding 2nd and Davies 9th respectively
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team ended today the two-day testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the last one before the long-awaited second round of the 2020 WorldSBK season scheduled from 31 July to 2 August in Jerez de la Frontera.
Scott (P2 in the combined standings) was fast throughout the sessions, confirming the great feeling with his Ducati Panigale V4 R. After setting the Day-1 fastest chrono, the Englishman took an exciting head-to-head with Rea in the early morning laps today, then returned to the track in the afternoon for a 18-lap long run.
Tangible progress, especially in Day-2, for Chaz Davies (P9 in the combined standings). The Welshman worked hard on used tyres, before pushing hard on the final lap which allowed him to end up the afternoon session in fourth place.
Scott Redding (45) at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Rider #45)
“I am satisfied with this test. We have worked very well these two days especially with used tyres. This morning’s challenge with Rea was a lot of fun. We pushed hard but after a few fast laps I wanted to remind myself what the real objective of the test was. That’s why we did a long run this afternoon. I couldn’t try the time attack because of a technical issue but it doesn’t matter”.
Chaz Davies (7) backs his Ducati into a corner during testing at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Rider #7)
“It was very important to get back on track to work again on some of the solutions we already tried at Misano. They were two intense days in which we worked well and they were also important to get familiar with this circuit in conditions similar to those we will find during the race weekend. All in all I am satisfied and the aim now is to get to Jerez in the best possible condition”.
More, from a press release issued by BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team:
Countdown to season restart: BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team tests the BMW S 1000 RR at the ‘Circuit de Catalunya’.
Barcelona. The countdown is on to the restart of the 2020 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). After several months without racing, the season is set to resume on the first weekend in August at Jerez de la Frontera (ESP). In preparation for the coming races, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and its riders Tom Sykes (GBR) and Eugene Laverty (IRL) took part in this week’s tests at the ‘Circuit de Catalunya’ near Barcelona (ESP).
The test allowed the team to evaluate various updates for the BMW S 1000 RR, which have been worked upon during the enforced break since the season-opener in Australia. The fine-tuning primarily centred around finding the best possible basic set-up for round two of the season at Jerez de la Frontera.
The team also used the test to familiarise itself with the ‘Circuit de Catalunya’ and to gain data on the track properties. That is particularly important, as the circuit to the north of Barcelona is new to the WorldSBK calendar in 2020. ‘Circuit de Catalunya’ will host the sixth event of the season from 18th to 20th September.
Shaun Muir, Team Principal:
“We had some items to test and, very importantly, track familiarisation to get ready for the upcoming race later in the season. The updates that we had to test were mainly electronic strategy related and a lot of the other work that was focused on were race simulations runs and tyre wear in the latter stages of the race. I’m generally happy with both Tom and Eugene. It was very difficult to judge lap times overall with it being very cool in the morning and most were pushing for the times early on. Once the temperatures rose, we concentrated on the race runs. Overall we are happy, we’ve had a good test in Lausitz and here in Barcelona so now we can look forward to the restart of the WorldSBK Championship at Jerez.”
Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director:
“We can’t wait to go racing again after the long break we had since Australia. Testing at Barcelona was very beneficial in our preparation for the restart of the season. Conditions have been like we expect them to be at the next rounds we will have in Spain and Portugal. It was also great to get familiar with the ‘Circuit de Catalunya’ which we will race on for the first time in September. We now know a little bit more what to expect there. Now we are looking forward to Jerez and getting back to competition mode again.”
Tom Sykes (66). Photo courtesy of BMW Motorrad.
Tom Sykes:
“I’m feeling really good as we had a very productive test in Germany and have continued that same form here into Catalunya. It’s great to be here as I have never ridden the track so I’ve really enjoyed the layout of the whole circuit. We’ve had a good test schedule and worked through a lot of test items with the BMW S 1000 RR gathering some crucial information. It’s clear to see that the whole of the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team has been hard at work during this difficult period as we arrived here with a lot of ideas. It’s been working on different geometry settings, front and rear suspensions parameters, chassis options and we have certainly improved the electronic strategy. We are still exploring these set ups; we just need some time to put all this together.”
Eugene Laverty (50) . Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad.
Eugene Laverty:
“This test has been my best run on the bike yet, it’s been fantastic and in particular my race run in that final session there. I did a race run yesterday which was a good pace, but I knew I had more to give today and I proved that. We lapped from the start in the 1’43.300’s and by lap 18 we were at 1’43.900, which was incredible compared to what a lot of the others lads were doing over the race distance. This morning I had some good pace on the ‘X’ tyre and then jumped to the ‘Q’ tyre but had a little crash. The crash was a similar crash to the one in Phillip Island which is something we need to look at. Overall I’m happy with the test and I’m looking forward to getting out in Jerez in a few weeks’ time.”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Pata Yamaha’s Razgatlıoğlu and Van der Mark Enjoy Positive Return in Barcelona Testing
At a private test in Barcelona attended by the top WorldSBK competitors, the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team with Rizla completed a combined 332 total of laps over the two days, with riders Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Michael van der Mark making best use of this important track time ahead of the second round of the series in Jerez (31 July – 2 August).
The two-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which is set to host a WorldSBK round for the first time on 18-20 September, saw Phillip Island race-winner Razgatlıoğlu complete 154 laps with a best time of 1:41.217 on his Yamaha R1 with team-mate van der Mark posting1:41.679 from his 178 laps, as Yamaha’s engineers focused on new development parts and collecting valuable data.
In the mid-summer Barcelona heat, testing got underway on Wednesday, with Razgatlıoğlu quickly getting back up to speed with the sixth-fastest time in the morning just ahead of van der Mark in seventh.
During the afternoon, both riders continued to refamiliarise themselves with their R1’s after a four-month layoff and to test different parts as Razgatlıoğlu improved his time to finish the day in ninth as the grip levels dropped. Van der Mark’s best effort was enough for 11th in the afternoon, to conclude his first full day on the race-ready Yamaha R1 since the Australian opener.
In the cooler conditions of day two’s morning, the Pata Yamaha riders made a big step in pace and then both set their fastest times of the test in the final hour before the lunch break. Turkish racer Razgatlıoğlu was fifth with a time of 1’41.217, despite a crash without injury at the exit of Turn 7, as Dutch star van der Mark went seventh quickest with a time of 1’41.679.
In the afternoon, both Razgatlıoğlu and van der Mark continued to rack up their mammoth lap counts, with the former going second quickest on his final tour of testing, and both were confident in the development work done by the Pata Yamaha squad.
The team is now ready for the WorldSBK season restart, scheduled for Spain and the Circuito de Jerez in three weeks’ time, as both van der Mark and Razgatlıoğlu look to continue their championship challenge.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu: 154 Laps – 1’41.217
“I’m happy because I was able to ride the Yamaha R1 again! We tried many new parts and sometimes they didn’t work, but we found some new things that did make improvements. It’s not been a bad test at all, it was very important as it’s a new track for me and we are now ready for the race in Jerez. I only knew this circuit from video games, so it was good to get some laps in before we come back here later this year. The first day was quite difficult after so much time away from the bike, and I had a huge crash on day 2 and I’m lucky to have no injury. But even with this, we were quite fast and we improved the R1, so we can be happy.”
Michael van der Mark (60). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Michael van der Mark: 178 Laps – 1’41.679
“It was nice to be back on the bike; it’s been a while and also it’s been 10 years since I’ve last been here, so it was all quite new. We had so many new things to try and I think we can be quite happy with this test, even if it doesn’t maybe look as good from the results alone. We had so many new developments and we were just focused on improving the bike, because in the last four months the guys have been working really hard at home. A lot of positives on the R1, I’m happy to be back after four months not riding and I’m ready to be racing again. I can’t wait for the restart in Jerez.”
Paul Denning: Team Principal, Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team
“It’s a pleasure to be back at the racetrack with the team, riders and Yamaha engineers, ahead of the restart to the season. The Barcelona Grand Prix circuit is a new one for our team and both of our riders, so after four months off the bikes yesterday was a little challenging to get fully back up to speed. Nonetheless, we still got through a reasonable amount of work, maybe leaving more questions than answers, but with a good night’s sleep the riders were ready to go this morning. The crew chiefs and engineers had also made a clear plan for today and we were a lot more competitive. Testing here in these conditions is almost like running at two different circuits as the temperature increases, and the grip level drops significantly. We were quick in cooler conditions and we’ve improved the bike to be a lot closer in hotter temperatures than we were yesterday. Some problems, some challenges, and an extremely busy couple of days, but in the end a great job by Michael, Toprak and all the team, and now we are looking forward to Jerez.”
Barcelona WorldSBK Test Combined Times
1. Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki Racing Team, 1’40.450
2. Scott Redding, Ducati Aruba, 1’40.606
3.. Tom Sykes, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, 1’40.956
4. Alex Lowes, Kawasaki Racing Team, 1’41.137
5. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, Pata Yamaha, 1’41.218
6. Eugene Laverty, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, 1’41.494
7. Michael van der Mark, Pata Yamaha, 1’41.679
8. Loris Baz, Ten Kate Racing Yamaha, 1’41.881
9. Chaz Davies, Ducati Aruba, 1’41.903
10. Leandro Mercado, Motocorsa Racing Team, 1’42.024
11. Garrett Gerloff, GRT Yamaha, 1’42.121
12. Leon Haslam, Honda Racing Corporation, 1’42.126
More, from a press release issued by Honda Pro Racing:
Team HRC concludes its first post-lockdown tests in Spain
Team HRC has concluded its first testing session in months at the Catalunya-Barcelona circuit in Spain. Following the enforced break owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, official riders Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam were enthusiastic to return to the track and get back to work.
Having not visited a racetrack since the conclusion of the opening Superbike World Championship round at Phillip Island, Australia, in late February, they essentially started from where they last left off. Testing alongside most of the Superbike field, the dry, sunny conditions allowed the team to work on many areas of the bike, continuing its set-up work. At the same time the riders have had the opportunity to regain feeling aboard their bikes and set some fast lap times, day one closing with Alvaro having set the fifth fastest time, Leon placing twelfth.
On day two however, Leon and Alvaro missed the chance to further improve on their lap times as they were forced to spend a few hours in the garage in the early stages of the morning. This meant that at the end of the day they had to settle for twelfth and fourteenth place respectively in the combined classification. The set-up work nevertheless resumed in the early afternoon and carried on until the very end of the session at 6pm local time.
Both riders now look forward to their next track outing, where the team will be joined by Japanese staff who were unable to attend the current session due to some travel restrictions only recently lifted, and the development of their CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP bikes can continue. Team HRC will therefore continue its preparations ahead of round 2 of the WorldSBK championship, scheduled to take place over the weekend of 1-2 August at the Jerez de la Frontera track in Spain.
Leon Haslam 91
Today has been quite productive despite a long stop in the garage this morning. Yesterday was less ideal as I had a crash in the morning: a wheelie turned into a big high side, so that definitely woke me up after the long break! I hit my head and ankle but luckily did no serious damage. Having said that, we had a productive afternoon on the second bike anyway, and as I said, another good session this afternoon. The main aim here was to analyse our Phillip Island performance and try to iron out a few of the issues we had there. I feel that the bike has great potential but that, considering the brand-new package, we simply need time. Many small things create a good package, and we are trying to find all that in what is a very short space of time. One positive is that Alvaro and I agree on many things, so this makes development a little smoother. All in all, I’m pleased. I hadn’t been at this track for 18 years, so it’s been good to get a feel for it again seeing as we’ll be racing here later in the summer. I feel we’ve been able to get up to speed here and then, as of the next test, we will have a long list of parts and elements to test.
Alvaro Bautista 19
This is only our first test back and so understandably it took me a little time to reset mentally and find the right feeling with my bike again, but now I already feel like I’m back in the groove let’s say. We haven’t really tested anything new here – that’s something we’ll focus on next time – and so we’ve concentrated mainly on confidence, and also on the electronics, working to find more traction through the corners and improve our braking on corner entry. I hadn’t ridden at this track for a while, and never with the Superbike of course, but it seems like it offers quite good grip; the levels are not at all bad, particularly considering the heat. Today we had to spend some time in the garage as the engineers had to analyse a lot of data to fix some issues we had, so we missed the chance to go for some fast lap times during the best part of the day. We’ve been productive anyway, and it looks like we’ve found some things to work on again next time out, when we will also have the HRC engineers present with some new parts for us to test.
AFT Launches Ticket Sales for Roof Systems Dallas Half-Mile presented by Law Tigers Doubleheader Weekend
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 9, 2020) – American Flat Track announced today that tickets are live for its return to Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, TX for an unmissable back-to-back race weekend. The Roof Systems Dallas Half-Mile presented by Law Tigers will bring the heart-pumping action of American Flat Track to the Lone Star State on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26.
Located just 20 minutes from downtown Dallas, this half-mile black clay racetrack is best known as the birthplace of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. Nearly three decades since AFT’s last running at this venue, this racetrack presents a new challenge and level playing field for today’s competitors.
Right in the backyard of its entitlement sponsor – Roof Systems of Dallas, Texas – fans can look forward to a showing from the Roof Systems team strongly represented in all three classes of AFT competition – the AFT SuperTwins presented by Vance & Hines class, the AFT Production Twins class and the AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys class.
Tickets begin at just $25 with a multi-day discount of $10-off each pair of Friday/Saturday General Admission passes purchased in advance. As always, children 12 and under are admitted free to GA areas with the purchase of an Adult GA ticket, so bring the kids for the most exciting two-wheeled racing weekend of 2020.
Tickets for AFT’s return to the historic Devil’s Bowl Speedway for the 2020 Roof Systems Dallas Half-Mile I and Dallas Half-Mile II presented by Law Tigers doubleheader weekend on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26 are available now at www.americanflattrack.com.
For more information on American Flat Track visit www.americanflattrack.com.
To get the latest American Flat Track clothing and merchandise visit www.americanflattracker.com.
Catch all the AFT action LIVE!
For less than $1 a race, watch American Flat Track LIVE with TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold!
How to Watch:
NBCSN and TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold are the official homes for coverage of American Flat Track. The complete schedule for AFT on NBCSN can be viewed at http://www.americanflattrack.com/events-nbcsn/. TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold – the most-robust motorsports offering in the digital marketplace – is a cornerstone of AFT’s digital strategy, providing live streaming coverage of every event and maintaining an active archive of all AFT content.
About American Flat Track:
American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on American Flat Track, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram, live stream the events with TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold and catch all the American Flat Track racing action on NBCSN.
Harley-Davidson headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photo by David Swarts.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ANNOUNCES REWIRE PROGRESS, NEW OPERATING MODEL AND LEANER ORGANIZATION TO DRIVE FOCUS AND EFFICIENCY
Milwaukee, July 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As part of its comprehensive efforts to rewire the company (The Rewire), announced in April, Harley-Davidson, Inc. (“Harley-Davidson”) (NYSE:HOG) today announced an overhaul of its global operating model, including a leaner, more nimble organization. Initial Rewire actions are expected to result in restructuring costs of approximately $42 million in Q2 2020. The company plans to share a summary of The Rewire, including additional costs and expected savings, when it releases its Q2 results.
“The Rewire is progressing very well and substantial work is being done to eliminate complexity and get Harley-Davidson on a path to winning. Our new operating model is simpler, more focused and enables faster decisions across the entire company,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and CEO of Harley-Davidson. “We’ve taken a hard look at our entire set up, our spending, and how work is getting done, to align our operating model, structure and processes. We are building a strong foundation to drive a high-performance organization in the future.”
Changes to the company’s operating model under The Rewire include all areas of the business globally, from commercial operations to corporate functions. Changes have also occurred in the company’s leadership, among them, Chief Financial Officer John Olin has left his role, with current VP Treasurer, Darrell Thomas assuming duties as interim CFO until a successor is appointed. “Significant changes are necessary, and we must move in new directions. I thank John for his commitment during his 17 years with the company and for his leadership during this critical phase of The Rewire,” Zeitz said.
Overall, the streamlined structure requires approximately 700 fewer positions across the company’s global operations with approximately 500 employees expected to exit the organization through 2020.
The key elements of The Rewire:
Enhance core strengths and better balance expansion into new spaces
Prioritize the markets that matter
Reset product launches and product line up for simplicity and maximum impact
Build the Parts & Accessories and General Merchandise businesses to full potential
Adjust and align the organizational structure, cost structure and operating model to reduce complexity and drive efficiency to set Harley-Davidson up for stability and success
The company plans to share a comprehensive summary of The Rewire actions and financial impacts when it releases its Q2 results later this month. The Rewire will set the foundation for a new 2021-2025 strategic plan which is expected to be shared in Q4.
Company Background
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has stood for the timeless pursuit of adventure and delivered freedom for the soul with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get Harley-Davidson riders on the road. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com.
The company intends that certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because the context of the statements will include words such as the company “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “estimates,” “likely” or words of similar meaning. Similarly, statements that describe or refer to future expectations, future plans, strategies, objectives, outlooks, targets, guidance, commitments, or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, unfavorably or favorably, from those anticipated as of the date of this press release. Certain of such risks and uncertainties are described below. Shareholders, potential investors, and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release, and the company disclaims any obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Important factors that could affect future results and cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, among others, uncertainties regarding the company’s ability to effectively execute the company’s restructuring activities within expected costs and timing and to successfully implement the elements of The Rewire.
Action from the Australian Superbike Championship in 2019. Photo by Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport, courtesy Motorcycling Australia.
ASBK Calendar Update – 9th July
As announced yesterday, the ASBK Management Team responded quickly to the circumstances of updated border closures which have occurred over the past 48hrs to address the difficult situation faced in Victoria.
The ASBK Management Team has been strongly committed throughout the COVID-19 period to providing clear and timely information as we attempt to meet the challenges faced by the entire ASBK paddock.
ASBK Management Team has worked extremely hard over the past 48 hours to again find suitable solutions to ensure the 2020 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul can be the best it can be and worthy of the crown – Australian champion.
ASBK is pleased to advise that the ASBK Round scheduled for Morgan Park Raceway in August now moves to November 6 – 8.
An additional change will also occur with the ASBK Round at Winton in September moving back one week, to be held on 18 – 20 September.
ASBK Management wishes to again express our thanks to the Motorcycle Sportsmen of QLD for their flexibility and support, and further thanks to Winton Motor Raceway who have been a long-time supporter of ASBK.
ASBK wishes to also advise that any further impact of COVID-19 to the 2020 ASBK Championship will result in the cancellation of any such round, and no further postponements will occur.
We continue to ask the ASBK paddock for their understanding in this complex time, and again remind competitors and teams that the COVID-19 environment is an unprecedented challenge, and their flexibility will be required throughout 2020.
Keep up to date with further announcements on the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul via – asbk.com.au and following ASBK on social media.
Australian Superbike Championship Updated 2020 Calendar
Version 11
as of 8 July 2020
ROUND 1 – WSBK – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC 27 Feb – 1 March
ROUND 2 – Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla VIC 18 – 20 September
ROUND 3 – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Cowes VIC 2 – 4 October
ROUND 4 – Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn NSW 16 – 18 October
ROUND 5 – Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick QLD 6 – 8 November
ROUND 6 – International MotoFest @ The Bend, SA 20 – 22 November
ASBK Night of Champions Awards – The Bend Sunday 22 November
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Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
November 13, 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,
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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.
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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
