2020 FIM ASIA ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP BURIRAM ROUND 5 POSTPONED
In response to the ever-evolving global health concerns related to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the 2020 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship wishes to inform its partners, teams, riders, officials, fans and media that Round 5 at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand (originally scheduled for August 21 to 23), will be postponed.
Two Wheels Motor Racing is working closely with the Chang International Circuit, and the FIM Asia to find a suitable alternate date. As the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship draws participants from more than 11 countries, the differing travel restrictions and quarantine processes has made coordination efforts to assemble the grid quite challenging.
The new date, as well as the amended 2020 calendar will be announced as soon as possible.
Two Wheels Motor Racing and FIM Asia hopes that everyone continues to stay safe and healthy even as we work tirelessly with the respective FMNs and circuits to ensure the continuity of the 2020 season.
with the opening of 3 new dealerships and for the joy of MV Agusta enthusiasts in the Charentes Maritimes, Loire Atlantique and Gironde regions.
Varese, July 9, 2020 – The growing success of the MV Agusta brand among France’s motorcycling enthusiasts reflects in the almost simultaneous opening of 3 new dealerships on France’s Atlantic West coast, respectively in Savenay, near Nantes in the Loire Atlantique; Royan, close to La Rochelle in the Charentes Maritimes, and Latresne, in the vicinity of Bordeaux in the Département de la Gironde. These launches follow those recently announced in Belgium and Switzerland and mark the determination of MV Agusta in pursuing its expansion strategy across international markets. They also underline the attention and appreciation of the French for Italy’s highest expressions of style, design and engineering.
Atlantic Motos, in Savenay between Nantes and Saint Nazaire, was the first to open, on June 20th. The multibrand showroom extends over 300 square metres and has been proudly serving the region’s motorcycling pundits for over 30 years. Team Moto 17 was next, on June 27th. Located in Royan, near La Rochelle, its 200 square metres showroom is entirely dedicated to MV Agusta. Deux Roues, another monobrand store, held its launch event on July 4th. It is situated in Latresne, near Bordeaux. Its 230 square metres showroom is brand new and is ready to welcome MV Agusta fans from Bordeaux and the Gironde region.
Claudio Rizzotto, Head of Sales France, MV Agusta Motor S.p.A., attended all of the launch events in France and commented “I am thrilled by the enthusiasm of both dealers and public. In the past few days I’ve seen first-hand the tremendous brand equity MV Agusta enjoys in this country. I was impressed by the level of service and professionalism demonstrated by our French partners, and I am confident that they will do extremely well as ambassadors of Italy’s ultimate Motorcycle Art.”
Yamaha Announces Full Lineup of 2021 Motocross Bikes
Race like a Champion with Yamaha’s Redesigned YZ250F and Monster Energy® Yamaha Racing Editions
MARIETTA, Ga. – July 9, 2020 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, introduces its complete lineup of race-ready 2021 motocross bikes including the updated YZ250F. Featuring a thoroughly refined engine, revised frame, new suspension settings and new brakes, the YZ250F continues to dominate the competition with the best balance of power and handling.
“The YZ250F is clearly the leader in its class, winning back-to-back Monster Energy AMA Supercross West Coast 250SX Championships, dominating media shootouts year after year, and by offering industry-exclusive features like the free Power Tuner app, which allows riders to wirelessly tune engine performance for changing track conditions,” said Derek Brooks, Yamaha Motorsports Motorcycle Product Line Manager. “For 2021 the YZ250F gets significant engine, frame, suspension and brake updates to deliver more class-leading power and offer a superior balance of nimble yet confidence-inspiring handling. Yamaha’s entire 2021 motocross lineup continues to raise the bar of competitive performance.”
Also new for 2021, the YZ250F and YZ450F will be offered in special Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Editions, pairing Yamaha’s legendary YZ performance with a new, race team-inspired aesthetic.
In addition to the updated YZ250F and the Monster Energy Racing Edition models, the full two-stroke lineup consisting of the YZ65, YZ85, YZ125 and YZ250, as well as the four-stroke YZ450F, all return for 2021 with the next-generation Team Yamaha Blue color and graphics scheme to further accentuate the advances of the YZ series.
Welcome to the victorYZone
Yamaha’s off-road competition bikes offer the very latest in technology with performance features designed to help racing enthusiasts reach their maximum potential, win races, and stand on top of the podium.
A 2021-model YZ250F in Team Yamaha Blue. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
New 2021 YZ250F: Tune, Race, Win
The new 2021 Yamaha YZ250F has been redesigned for a more competitive, greater performing motocross experience. The new 250cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, electric start engine features an all-new cylinder head with an improved intake port shape and new camshaft profile, as well a new airbox and intake track, a new silencer, and an updated ECU. These modifications, along with other refinements like an updated transmission and shift cam, a revised clutch design and improved water pump impeller, all help to produce stronger mid- to top-end power and increased peak power, while retaining its class-leading low-end torque.
Tuned specifically for the 2021 YZ250F, the updated lightweight aluminum, bilateral beam frame, and new engine mounts have been redesigned with all-new flex characteristics to improve bump absorption, traction, and cornering performance. The industry-leading, fully adjustable KYB® coil spring-type fork, with enhanced speed-sensitive damping, provides an exceptional balance between comfort and bottoming resistance while the link-type rear suspension features a KYB shock with revised damping characteristics to match the updated chassis. Other chassis components such as the top triple clamp, handlebar mounts, and front axle were also redesigned to complement the new frame. Improved braking performance is achieved with newly engineered lighter weight front and rear brake calipers, larger surface area brake pads, and redesigned front (270mm) and rear (240mm) discs.
The 2021 YZ250F gives racers the edge right out of the gate. Standard equipment includes electric start, a lightweight lithium battery, advanced fuel injection, a front-positioned intake, and rear-positioned exhaust layout to deliver the widest spread of power with reliable performance while balancing the weight for excellent mass-centralization. Racers can adjust their engine performance straight from their phone using the onboard wireless connectivity through the industry’s only free-of-charge complete tuning system, which is highlighted by the Yamaha Power Tuner App. Once settings are dialed in, racers can then choose between two user-defined ECU maps on the fly via the handlebar mounted dual-mode engine map switch. Complemented by new next-generation Team Yamaha Blue color and graphics, the 2021 YZ250F showcases Yamaha’s race-winning pedigree.
The new 2021 YZ250F will be available from dealers this September in next-generation Team Yamaha Blue for $8,299 MSRP. The Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Edition will be available from dealers in September for $8,499 MSRP.
A 2021 Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Edition YZ450F. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
New for 2021: Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Editions
Stand out from the crowd. The 2021 YZ250F and 2021 YZ450F now come in new Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Editions. With a factory team-inspired color and graphics package, riders can feel as if they too are part of a Yamaha championship-winning Supercross team.
2021 YZ450F: Tune into Victory
The 2021 YZ450F returns with all of the class-leading features first introduced on the 2020 YZ450F, including an updated engine, cylinder head, frame and technology features for a more powerful and better handling motocross experience. Racers can achieve quicker, smoother race starts through Yamaha’s Launch Control System, adjust their on-track performance using the onboard wireless connectivity through the free-of-charge Yamaha Power Tuner App right from their phone, and choose between two user-defined ECU maps on the fly through the handlebar-mounted dual-mode engine map switch.
Owners can tune their 2021 Yamaha YZs using a free smart phone app. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
The 2021 YZ450F will be available from dealers this month in next-generation Team Yamaha Blue for $9,399 MSRP. The Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Edition will be available from dealers in August for $9,599 MSRP.
2021 YZ125 and YZ250
Yamaha’s YZ125 and YZ250 models return for 2021 to complete Yamaha’s full-size lineup of motocross bikes. With their modern styling, lightweight aluminum frame and industry-leading KYB Speed Sensitive System front forks and KYB fully-adjustable rear shock, the 2021 YZ125 and YZ250 continue their outstanding performance and durability with a rider-friendly chassis and race-ready features.
The 2021 YZ125 will begin arriving at Yamaha dealerships in August, while the YZ250 will be available from dealers this month. Both models will be available in next-generation Team Yamaha Blue for $6,599 and $7,499 MSRP, respectively.
2021 YZ65 and YZ85
The 2021 youth models are once again ready to tackle the track. The YZ65 and YZ85 are powered by confidence-inspiring 65cc and 85cc two-stroke engines. Featuring the Yamaha Power Valve System, these engines deliver a broad spread of power and torque across the entire rev range, without losing any power at high RPM. Fully adjustable, industry-leading 36mm KYB spring type forks and KYB rear shock contribute to class-leading handling and performance in a wide range of conditions. Four-way, adjustable handlebar positioning, as well as lever-reach adjustability are designed for ultimate rider comfort, regardless of size. Finally, with two-stroke ease of maintenance and Yamaha’s proven durability, the 2021 YZ65 and YZ85 are built to keep kids on the track.
The 2021 YZ65 and YZ85 will both be available from dealers this month in next-generation Team Yamaha Blue for $4,599 and $4,699 MSRP, respectively.
Yamaha bLU cRU Off-Road Racing Contingency Program
All 2021 YZ models are eligible for Yamaha’s current 2020 bLU cRU Off-Road Racing Contingency Program, which features nearly $5 million for Yamaha bLU cRU riders competing in off-road motorcycle racing. YZ riders can earn contingency payouts via a bLU cRU debit card, receive a 10 percent rebate on GYTR parts and accessory purchases of up to $1,000, and receive an instant $45 credit on http://www.bLUcRUswag.com. The 2021 bLU cRU Off-Road Racing Contingency Program details will be announced soon.
For complete details on how to register for the bLU cRU Off-Road Racing Contingency Program, along with specific information on which racing series, events, and classes are included, visit the Off-Road Racing Contingency page on the Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, website at: https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/motocross/pages/yamaha-off-road-contingency-program.
Learn more about the new 2021 YZ250F and Yamaha’s complete motocross lineup at:
www.yamahamotorsports.com/motocross.
Follow Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, through your favorite social media site:
#Yamaha #YamahaMotor #YamahaMotorUSA
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About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the powersports industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based Yamaha companies include Skeeter Boats (Texas), G3 Boats (Missouri), Bennet Marine (Florida), Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana), and Kracor, Inc. (Wisconsin).
SECOND ANNUAL CONCOURS de’COMPETITION AND d’ELEGANCE AT BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK JULY 4, 2020!!
The 2nd Annual Concours de Competition et Concours d’Elegance met with great success on a hot July 4th day at BarberMotorsportsPark. Winners were:
Best of Show:
1962 Bultaco TSS250 owned by Stu Carter and ridden by Mark Williams
“Go” Class:
1. 1973 Ducati 750 Sport owned by Jim Urmson ridden by Malcolme Tunstall
2. 1987 Yamaha FZR750R owned and ridden by Steve Liberatore
3. 1990 Tigcraft Super Mono owned and ridden by David Rutherford
“Show” Class:
1. 1967 Greeves Oulton 350 owned by Mark Smithard
2. 1972 Kawasaki Monocoque 350 built and owned by Art Kowitz
3. 1970 Kawasaki H1R owned by Jim Hinshaw
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum Executive Director Jeff Ray brought out some of the Museum bikes for display, handed out the unique museum-made trophies, and generally brought the Barber “class” to the event. Brian Slark, the Museum’s Technical Advisor, headed a panel of judges for the event which included legendary crew chief Ed Toomey.
How good was the field? A genuine beautiful Team Roberts YZR500 ridden by Lawson and Rainey did not make the podium! Neither did an immaculately preserved original VR1000! The road racer Dan Gurney built that Chuck Palmgren ran in 1973 was DQ for not completing enough laps! This was a tough event at which to win a trophy.
Grand Marshall Malcolme Tunstall reflected on his winning ride on his old bike now owned by Jim Urmson who loaned it to him for the event, “I started racing “Old Yeller” in 1975 as a 750 Production racer till the end of 1976, at which time I acquired my Superbike Expert license. AMA assigned me #266. We then bored our 750 to 860 well under the 1000cc rules. I raced this machine from 1977 to 1978 changing to a DUCATI 900 SS from 1979 onward. I had to give “Old Yeller” a hug the morning of this race before suiting up and Parading July 4th, 2020.”
Organizer Ron Raven said, “My thanks to all of the WERA crew who ran the event, the Museum staff for making the trophies (the go class trophies were mounted on piece taken up from the track) and provided the judging supervision, the volunteers who worked the event as pit marshals making sure everyone got to the track on time and all the facility staff.
“We plan to have a 3rd annual next year. Hopefully Covid will be gone and we can expand the event to twice its size when we return to normal paddock spacing. Start planning now. What is in your garage? or your friend’s garage? With a one-year notice do you think you can have it looking decent and running well? Submit an application and see if you can participate.”
WERA CEO Evelyne Clarke said, “We had history at this event. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing is proud to have this at our event and we thank Ron Raven and his crew as well as the Barber Museum and all the participants for making another great experience for all!”
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was founded in 1973 and remains the foremost place to develop talent in the sport of motorcycle Roadracing. The legacy of Pro riders on a National and World level is legendary. All events are run by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing with a co-sanction by the AMA and they go coast to coast offering entry level racing with the WERA Sportsman Series as well as a Pro-Am Series with the WERA National Challenge Series, WERA Motorcycle Roadracing also offer Vintage Racing and limited Endurance Racing with Track Day Partners N2 and Sportbike Track Time. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was voted the 2017 AMA Track Organizer of the Year.
Fountain, CO, July 8, 2020 – The MRA is excited to announce the upcoming
Round 4 of their Championship Series at High Plains Raceway. A feature of
this event is the 10th Annual 4-hour Endurance on Saturday, July 18th. The
weekend will feature the usual full schedule of MRA sprint races on Saturday
and Sunday utilizing the full course configuration of HPR.
Saturday afternoon, the 4-hour endurance will start at approximately 3pm.
Three classes will run simultaneously – True Endurance (sponsored by Fay
Myers Motorcycle World featuring one bike, multiple riders), Pony Express
(sponsored by Supreme Lending/Lisa Gaimara featuring multiple bikes,
multiple riders), and Titanium Butt (sponsored by Calli Walters & Dan Burke
featuring one bike & one rider). In addition to trophies and bragging
rights, there will be cash payouts for all classes!
Details, contact, and entry information are at https://www.mra-racing.org/racers/4-hour-endurance-race-information/
Entries for the endurance and all sprint races are open through Monday
night, July 13th. The MRA has license reciprocity agreements with almost
all clubs in the US, so please come join us for this exciting annual event.
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is dedicated to promoting safe and
competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and
the surrounding area. For more information go to http://www.mra-racing.org/.
Gus Rodio won every race he entered during the July 4th CCS weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Saturday saw the first of the 500 specific races, with Gus taking a commanding lead over the competition eventually winning by nearly a full minute after 12 laps. He repeated the dominant win in 500 SuperSport with a 24 second gap to 2nd place. Gus rounded out Saturday with his 3rd win in UltraLightweight SuperBike.
“This is my home track, and a lot of friends and family come to hang out with us when we’re here,” Gus said. “It’s great to have a nice, low pressure weekend where I can just relax a bit and work on some fine tuning of my riding compared to a MotoAmerica event.”
Sunday brought a warm-up race win in Lightweight SuperSport after a race long battle with a KTM Duke 790 that eventually was disqualified due to illegal wheels for the class. The wins continued with 500 SuperBike and a runaway 30 second gap in Moto3 bringing the total to six wins for the weekend.
Rodio Racing will race one more local round in preparation for the MotoAmerica Liqui Moly Junior Cup round at Road Atlanta on August 1st.
Royal Enfield Launches Slide School Presented by Moto Anatomy
Johnny Lewis to lead flat track training program
MILWAUKEE, Wis — American Flat Track racer Johnny Lewis will host Slide School presented by Royal Enfield, a multi-faceted flat track training program in 2020. Lewis will use a combination of Royal Enfield FT411 and a soon-to-be added FT 650 motorcycles as the primary training tools used in the curriculum. Lewis initially developed the program in India and will now debut at select tracks across the U.S. and also at his Moto Anatomy training facility in Florida this year.
“I’m excited to continue building a deeper relationship with Royal Enfield,” said Lewis. “It was a great opportunity to fine tune the program in India while being immersed in the Royal Enfield culture. I was also able to see first hand just how much potential the FT411 has as a training tool. I am impressed by its versatility and can’t wait to get my students on the FT411. Royal Enfield is committed to growing motorcycling and I’m proud to be part of that effort.”
Lewis will run Slide Schools out of his Moto Anatomy facility in central Florida including in conjunction with select AFT rounds. During the schools, Slide School participants will be taught the basics of flat track and then given one-on-one direction and coaching from Lewis. The program will equip any level rider with the skills needed to become a proficient flat tracker.
The program is built around a three and a half hour course with the FT411. Participants will use gear provided by JUST 1 Racing, EVS Sports and have the option to ride with the Bluetooth Sena communication systems, all for $250.
Additional stops will be added throughout the remainder of 2020. Classes are limited to eight participants per time slot and appropriate mask and social distancing guidelines will be in place to ensure a safe environment for all riders and coaches.
September 13: Gettysburg, PA following Williams Grove AFT
October 6: Travelers Rest, SC
October 18: Center Hill, FL following Daytona Beach AFT
About Royal Enfield
The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the mid-size motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market.
Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 110 dealers in North America, including the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. RENA currently offers the Bullet 500, Classic 500, Himalayan and the all new 650 Twins: INT 650 and Continental GT 650 motorcycles along with a range of genuine motorcycle accessories and apparel.
Scott Redding v Jonathan Rea and Ducati v Kawasaki headline the opening day of the WorldSBK test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
As MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship nears a resumption, teams and riders returned to track action at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the first of two days of testing. Kawasaki and Ducati machines made up three of the top four of the results with Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) leading Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) by just over a tenth of a second with all five manufacturers in the top six.
Track temperatures exceeded 47 degrees Celsius in the afternoon session and it would take until the last 15 minutes of the session before times started to improve at the top of the timesheets; Redding finding another two tenths to top the overall timesheets and the afternoon session. Reigning Champion Rea was second overall as the pair battled it out to be fastest on day one.
Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) finished the session in third place on his Yamaha machine, just over two tenths off Redding’s fastest time of the day as he was the fastest Yamaha rider of the day as he completed 100 laps during the day. He held off Championship leader Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who finished in fourth place for the day.
Team HRC’s Alvaro Bautista rounded out the top five with Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) finishing in sixth. Sykes was testing with new crew chief Ian Lord at the Montmelo circuit, with the 2013 Champion beating teammate Eugene Laverty by four tenths of a second.
Sandro Cortese (OUTDO Kawasaki TPR) also improved in the afternoon session to finish the day in seventh placed, with Chaz Davies (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA YAMAHA WorldSBK Official Team) following just behind with the two riders separated by a tenth. For Turkish sensation Razgatlioglu, today was about getting back up to speed following Phillip Island; since then, Razgatlioglu had only been riding on a small track in Turkey.
Razgatlioglu’s Yamaha teammate, Michael van der Mark was 11th as he lapped the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 1.2s slower than pace setter Redding. Like his teammate, van der Mark had not been on a WorldSBK machine since Phillip Island; his only outing coming on a standard bike at TT Circuit Assen.
Leon Haslam (Team HRC) was able to get back out on track following his crash in the morning session as he finished 12th fastest overall; completing 29 laps in the afternoon session and 53 laps overall. Haslam finished ahead of Leandro ‘Tati’ Mercado (Motocorsa Racing Team) and Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team). Gerloff was classified 14th overall but improved significantly in the afternoon session as he ran as high as fifth before the times started tumbling.
Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team), Maximilian Scheib (Orelac Racing) and Sylvain Barrier (Brixx Performance Ducati) rounded out the field as the day’s running came to a close.
The top six after day one of running:
1.) Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) 1’41.727
2.) Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.183
3.) Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.253
4.) Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.591
5.) Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) +0.593
6.) Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.728
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Home Town Test Begins Well For KRT
Jonathan Rea (1) during testing at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
The official Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK line-up of Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes enjoyed a full opening day of testing at KRT’s home circuit of Montmelo in Catalunya, with Rea second quickest and Lowes fourth fastest against all of their main 2020 season opposition.
This was the second time on their Ninja ZX-10RR machines the Montmelo circuit for both riders, after taking part in just a short track session, during in changeable weather conditions, in January.
With track temperatures almost hitting 50°C today five times WorldSBK champion Rea finished up with a best lap of 1.41.911. First year Kawasaki signing Lowes, the championship leader after the opening round in Australia, set a best of 1’42.318. One more day of testing remains at the 4.627km long circuit located within a stone’s throw of the team’s headquarters in Granollers.
Just like the most recent test at Misano the global Covid-19 situation saw the team adopting several measures designed to prevent the spread of the virus, both inside and outside their designated working areas.
After Thursday’s final day of testing at Montmelo – a regular MotoGP host venue but an ‘all-new’ one in WorldSBK racing terms – the season re-starts for real at the well-known Jerez circuit in Andalusia, with racedays scheduled on 1st and 2nd August.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “In the January test I kind of understood where the Montmelo track went, and I really enjoyed it, but we were not really riding in anger. Today I really enjoyed the track and did a lot of laps. I felt like I just picked up automatically and I can feel the bike really well. The bike is turning great and that is the biggest issue we have had in the past – especially at Jerez. When the temperature comes up it is hard to turn around those long corners. I used the rear tyre so much because I was turning on the rear all the time. But it seems like we made a huge step in that direction because the bike is turning really well. I felt things were happening quite normally today.”
Alex Lowes (22) testing at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes, stated: “We rode here in January but we did not get the best weather so it has been nice to get here in beautiful sunshine and get to ride all day. I felt I got my teeth into the track. I am enjoying my riding and working with the guys. In this kind of heat the grip naturally drops so you have to be a little bit smoother on the bike. The guys have been reminding me today to be smooth and not force the bike too much. It has been quite good because in the early rounds at Jerez, Portimao and Aragon I am expecting some hot weather. To test in these conditions in very important for us. We are also understanding the best bike configuration to suit me and the feeling I have on the front of the bike.”
As well as the official KRT riders at Montmelo today, Sandro Cortese (Outdo Kawasaki TPR) was well under a second from the fastest rider of all with his 1’42.573, and in seventh position overall. Maximilian Scheib (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) was 16th quickest, with a 1’43.568 lap.
IRVINE, CA (July 8, 2020) – With the announcement coming today from Dorna and the Circuit of The Americas that the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, scheduled for November 13-15, has been cancelled, MotoAmerica is also announcing that it will not be racing at the Austin, Texas, facility in 2020.
MotoAmerica and MotoGP won’t be racing at the Circuit of The Americas in 2020.
MotoAmerica, however, is working diligently on options to keep its 20-race HONOS Superbike Series intact for 2020.
“It’s a shame that we have to cancel the MotoAmerica round at COTA,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “The race is a highlight of our schedule and it’s always good to combine our efforts with Dorna to put on a great show in Austin. COVID-19 has made it virtually impossible for the MotoGP series to travel to the U.S. so we fully understand the issues they are facing in 2020. We look forward to returning to COTA with MotoGP in 2021. In the meantime, we are working on a solution to find a replacement round as we continue to strive towards having a 20-race Superbike Series.”
The COTA round was scheduled to be the MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Series finale.
The 2020 MotoAmerica Series continues with round three of the championship at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, July 31-August 2.
It is with frustration that the ASBK Management Team advise that the recently rescheduled ASBK Round 2 at Morgan Park Raceway, Queensland on August 21-23 will now not occur on these dates.
The future of the ASBK Round at Morgan Park will be determined in the coming days.
The ASBK Management Team has no choice but to react to the circumstances in Victoria over the past 48hrs.
ASBK Sporting Director, Simon Maas, said: ‘’We have been clear with competitors and teams that the COVID-19 environment will require their flexibility and understanding in 2020”.
“These date changes are incredibly difficult and challenging to keep finding workable solutions. We are sure the ASBK paddock is frustrated by this latest delay, as we are too.
“We again thank the entire ASBK paddock for their patience as we are all in this situation together right now.’’
A further review to the 2020 ASBK Championship calendar is now underway and the ASBK Management Team aims to provide an updated calendar in the next few days.
Information and updates on the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, will be released as it becomes available, so keep up to date with further announcements via – asbk.com.au and following ASBK on social media.
Chang International Circuit in Thailand. Photo courtesy Michelin.
2020 FIM ASIA ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP BURIRAM ROUND 5 POSTPONED
In response to the ever-evolving global health concerns related to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the 2020 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship wishes to inform its partners, teams, riders, officials, fans and media that Round 5 at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand (originally scheduled for August 21 to 23), will be postponed.
Two Wheels Motor Racing is working closely with the Chang International Circuit, and the FIM Asia to find a suitable alternate date. As the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship draws participants from more than 11 countries, the differing travel restrictions and quarantine processes has made coordination efforts to assemble the grid quite challenging.
The new date, as well as the amended 2020 calendar will be announced as soon as possible.
Two Wheels Motor Racing and FIM Asia hopes that everyone continues to stay safe and healthy even as we work tirelessly with the respective FMNs and circuits to ensure the continuity of the 2020 season.
The Atlantic Motos MV Agusta dealership in France. Photo courtesy MV Agusta.
MV AGUSTA TAKES FRANCE’S ATLANTIC COAST BY STORM
with the opening of 3 new dealerships and for the joy of MV Agusta enthusiasts in the Charentes Maritimes, Loire Atlantique and Gironde regions.
Varese, July 9, 2020 – The growing success of the MV Agusta brand among France’s motorcycling enthusiasts reflects in the almost simultaneous opening of 3 new dealerships on France’s Atlantic West coast, respectively in Savenay, near Nantes in the Loire Atlantique; Royan, close to La Rochelle in the Charentes Maritimes, and Latresne, in the vicinity of Bordeaux in the Département de la Gironde. These launches follow those recently announced in Belgium and Switzerland and mark the determination of MV Agusta in pursuing its expansion strategy across international markets. They also underline the attention and appreciation of the French for Italy’s highest expressions of style, design and engineering.
Atlantic Motos, in Savenay between Nantes and Saint Nazaire, was the first to open, on June 20th. The multibrand showroom extends over 300 square metres and has been proudly serving the region’s motorcycling pundits for over 30 years. Team Moto 17 was next, on June 27th. Located in Royan, near La Rochelle, its 200 square metres showroom is entirely dedicated to MV Agusta. Deux Roues, another monobrand store, held its launch event on July 4th. It is situated in Latresne, near Bordeaux. Its 230 square metres showroom is brand new and is ready to welcome MV Agusta fans from Bordeaux and the Gironde region.
Claudio Rizzotto, Head of Sales France, MV Agusta Motor S.p.A., attended all of the launch events in France and commented “I am thrilled by the enthusiasm of both dealers and public. In the past few days I’ve seen first-hand the tremendous brand equity MV Agusta enjoys in this country. I was impressed by the level of service and professionalism demonstrated by our French partners, and I am confident that they will do extremely well as ambassadors of Italy’s ultimate Motorcycle Art.”
Yamaha's 2021 lineup of YZ motocross models. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
Yamaha Announces Full Lineup of 2021 Motocross Bikes
Race like a Champion with Yamaha’s Redesigned YZ250F and Monster Energy® Yamaha Racing Editions
MARIETTA, Ga. – July 9, 2020 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, introduces its complete lineup of race-ready 2021 motocross bikes including the updated YZ250F. Featuring a thoroughly refined engine, revised frame, new suspension settings and new brakes, the YZ250F continues to dominate the competition with the best balance of power and handling.
“The YZ250F is clearly the leader in its class, winning back-to-back Monster Energy AMA Supercross West Coast 250SX Championships, dominating media shootouts year after year, and by offering industry-exclusive features like the free Power Tuner app, which allows riders to wirelessly tune engine performance for changing track conditions,” said Derek Brooks, Yamaha Motorsports Motorcycle Product Line Manager. “For 2021 the YZ250F gets significant engine, frame, suspension and brake updates to deliver more class-leading power and offer a superior balance of nimble yet confidence-inspiring handling. Yamaha’s entire 2021 motocross lineup continues to raise the bar of competitive performance.”
Also new for 2021, the YZ250F and YZ450F will be offered in special Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Editions, pairing Yamaha’s legendary YZ performance with a new, race team-inspired aesthetic.
In addition to the updated YZ250F and the Monster Energy Racing Edition models, the full two-stroke lineup consisting of the YZ65, YZ85, YZ125 and YZ250, as well as the four-stroke YZ450F, all return for 2021 with the next-generation Team Yamaha Blue color and graphics scheme to further accentuate the advances of the YZ series.
Welcome to the victorYZone
Yamaha’s off-road competition bikes offer the very latest in technology with performance features designed to help racing enthusiasts reach their maximum potential, win races, and stand on top of the podium.
A 2021-model YZ250F in Team Yamaha Blue. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
New 2021 YZ250F: Tune, Race, Win
The new 2021 Yamaha YZ250F has been redesigned for a more competitive, greater performing motocross experience. The new 250cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, electric start engine features an all-new cylinder head with an improved intake port shape and new camshaft profile, as well a new airbox and intake track, a new silencer, and an updated ECU. These modifications, along with other refinements like an updated transmission and shift cam, a revised clutch design and improved water pump impeller, all help to produce stronger mid- to top-end power and increased peak power, while retaining its class-leading low-end torque.
Tuned specifically for the 2021 YZ250F, the updated lightweight aluminum, bilateral beam frame, and new engine mounts have been redesigned with all-new flex characteristics to improve bump absorption, traction, and cornering performance. The industry-leading, fully adjustable KYB® coil spring-type fork, with enhanced speed-sensitive damping, provides an exceptional balance between comfort and bottoming resistance while the link-type rear suspension features a KYB shock with revised damping characteristics to match the updated chassis. Other chassis components such as the top triple clamp, handlebar mounts, and front axle were also redesigned to complement the new frame. Improved braking performance is achieved with newly engineered lighter weight front and rear brake calipers, larger surface area brake pads, and redesigned front (270mm) and rear (240mm) discs.
The 2021 YZ250F gives racers the edge right out of the gate. Standard equipment includes electric start, a lightweight lithium battery, advanced fuel injection, a front-positioned intake, and rear-positioned exhaust layout to deliver the widest spread of power with reliable performance while balancing the weight for excellent mass-centralization. Racers can adjust their engine performance straight from their phone using the onboard wireless connectivity through the industry’s only free-of-charge complete tuning system, which is highlighted by the Yamaha Power Tuner App. Once settings are dialed in, racers can then choose between two user-defined ECU maps on the fly via the handlebar mounted dual-mode engine map switch. Complemented by new next-generation Team Yamaha Blue color and graphics, the 2021 YZ250F showcases Yamaha’s race-winning pedigree.
The new 2021 YZ250F will be available from dealers this September in next-generation Team Yamaha Blue for $8,299 MSRP. The Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Edition will be available from dealers in September for $8,499 MSRP.
A 2021 Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Edition YZ450F. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
New for 2021: Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Editions
Stand out from the crowd. The 2021 YZ250F and 2021 YZ450F now come in new Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Editions. With a factory team-inspired color and graphics package, riders can feel as if they too are part of a Yamaha championship-winning Supercross team.
2021 YZ450F: Tune into Victory
The 2021 YZ450F returns with all of the class-leading features first introduced on the 2020 YZ450F, including an updated engine, cylinder head, frame and technology features for a more powerful and better handling motocross experience. Racers can achieve quicker, smoother race starts through Yamaha’s Launch Control System, adjust their on-track performance using the onboard wireless connectivity through the free-of-charge Yamaha Power Tuner App right from their phone, and choose between two user-defined ECU maps on the fly through the handlebar-mounted dual-mode engine map switch.
Owners can tune their 2021 Yamaha YZs using a free smart phone app. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
The 2021 YZ450F will be available from dealers this month in next-generation Team Yamaha Blue for $9,399 MSRP. The Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Edition will be available from dealers in August for $9,599 MSRP.
2021 YZ125 and YZ250
Yamaha’s YZ125 and YZ250 models return for 2021 to complete Yamaha’s full-size lineup of motocross bikes. With their modern styling, lightweight aluminum frame and industry-leading KYB Speed Sensitive System front forks and KYB fully-adjustable rear shock, the 2021 YZ125 and YZ250 continue their outstanding performance and durability with a rider-friendly chassis and race-ready features.
The 2021 YZ125 will begin arriving at Yamaha dealerships in August, while the YZ250 will be available from dealers this month. Both models will be available in next-generation Team Yamaha Blue for $6,599 and $7,499 MSRP, respectively.
2021 YZ65 and YZ85
The 2021 youth models are once again ready to tackle the track. The YZ65 and YZ85 are powered by confidence-inspiring 65cc and 85cc two-stroke engines. Featuring the Yamaha Power Valve System, these engines deliver a broad spread of power and torque across the entire rev range, without losing any power at high RPM. Fully adjustable, industry-leading 36mm KYB spring type forks and KYB rear shock contribute to class-leading handling and performance in a wide range of conditions. Four-way, adjustable handlebar positioning, as well as lever-reach adjustability are designed for ultimate rider comfort, regardless of size. Finally, with two-stroke ease of maintenance and Yamaha’s proven durability, the 2021 YZ65 and YZ85 are built to keep kids on the track.
The 2021 YZ65 and YZ85 will both be available from dealers this month in next-generation Team Yamaha Blue for $4,599 and $4,699 MSRP, respectively.
Yamaha bLU cRU Off-Road Racing Contingency Program
All 2021 YZ models are eligible for Yamaha’s current 2020 bLU cRU Off-Road Racing Contingency Program, which features nearly $5 million for Yamaha bLU cRU riders competing in off-road motorcycle racing. YZ riders can earn contingency payouts via a bLU cRU debit card, receive a 10 percent rebate on GYTR parts and accessory purchases of up to $1,000, and receive an instant $45 credit on http://www.bLUcRUswag.com. The 2021 bLU cRU Off-Road Racing Contingency Program details will be announced soon.
For complete details on how to register for the bLU cRU Off-Road Racing Contingency Program, along with specific information on which racing series, events, and classes are included, visit the Off-Road Racing Contingency page on the Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, website at: https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/motocross/pages/yamaha-off-road-contingency-program.
Learn more about the new 2021 YZ250F and Yamaha’s complete motocross lineup at:
www.yamahamotorsports.com/motocross.
Follow Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, through your favorite social media site:
#Yamaha #YamahaMotor #YamahaMotorUSA
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About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the powersports industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based Yamaha companies include Skeeter Boats (Texas), G3 Boats (Missouri), Bennet Marine (Florida), Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana), and Kracor, Inc. (Wisconsin).
Barber Motorsports Park's George Barber hands Malcome Tunstall the first-place trophy in the "Go" class for Jim Urmson's 1973 Ducati 750 Sport. Tunstall rode the bike in the 2nd Annual WERA Concours de Competition et Concours d’Elegance at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo courtesy WERA.
SECOND ANNUAL CONCOURS de’COMPETITION AND d’ELEGANCE AT BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK JULY 4, 2020!!
The 2nd Annual Concours de Competition et Concours d’Elegance met with great success on a hot July 4th day at BarberMotorsportsPark. Winners were:
Best of Show:
1962 Bultaco TSS250 owned by Stu Carter and ridden by Mark Williams
“Go” Class:
1. 1973 Ducati 750 Sport owned by Jim Urmson ridden by Malcolme Tunstall
2. 1987 Yamaha FZR750R owned and ridden by Steve Liberatore
3. 1990 Tigcraft Super Mono owned and ridden by David Rutherford
“Show” Class:
1. 1967 Greeves Oulton 350 owned by Mark Smithard
2. 1972 Kawasaki Monocoque 350 built and owned by Art Kowitz
3. 1970 Kawasaki H1R owned by Jim Hinshaw
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum Executive Director Jeff Ray brought out some of the Museum bikes for display, handed out the unique museum-made trophies, and generally brought the Barber “class” to the event. Brian Slark, the Museum’s Technical Advisor, headed a panel of judges for the event which included legendary crew chief Ed Toomey.
How good was the field? A genuine beautiful Team Roberts YZR500 ridden by Lawson and Rainey did not make the podium! Neither did an immaculately preserved original VR1000! The road racer Dan Gurney built that Chuck Palmgren ran in 1973 was DQ for not completing enough laps! This was a tough event at which to win a trophy.
Grand Marshall Malcolme Tunstall reflected on his winning ride on his old bike now owned by Jim Urmson who loaned it to him for the event, “I started racing “Old Yeller” in 1975 as a 750 Production racer till the end of 1976, at which time I acquired my Superbike Expert license. AMA assigned me #266. We then bored our 750 to 860 well under the 1000cc rules. I raced this machine from 1977 to 1978 changing to a DUCATI 900 SS from 1979 onward. I had to give “Old Yeller” a hug the morning of this race before suiting up and Parading July 4th, 2020.”
Organizer Ron Raven said, “My thanks to all of the WERA crew who ran the event, the Museum staff for making the trophies (the go class trophies were mounted on piece taken up from the track) and provided the judging supervision, the volunteers who worked the event as pit marshals making sure everyone got to the track on time and all the facility staff.
“We plan to have a 3rd annual next year. Hopefully Covid will be gone and we can expand the event to twice its size when we return to normal paddock spacing. Start planning now. What is in your garage? or your friend’s garage? With a one-year notice do you think you can have it looking decent and running well? Submit an application and see if you can participate.”
WERA CEO Evelyne Clarke said, “We had history at this event. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing is proud to have this at our event and we thank Ron Raven and his crew as well as the Barber Museum and all the participants for making another great experience for all!”
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was founded in 1973 and remains the foremost place to develop talent in the sport of motorcycle Roadracing. The legacy of Pro riders on a National and World level is legendary. All events are run by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing with a co-sanction by the AMA and they go coast to coast offering entry level racing with the WERA Sportsman Series as well as a Pro-Am Series with the WERA National Challenge Series, WERA Motorcycle Roadracing also offer Vintage Racing and limited Endurance Racing with Track Day Partners N2 and Sportbike Track Time. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was voted the 2017 AMA Track Organizer of the Year.
MRA racers in action during 2019. Photo by Sara Hunter, courtesy of MRA.
Fountain, CO, July 8, 2020 – The MRA is excited to announce the upcoming
Round 4 of their Championship Series at High Plains Raceway. A feature of
this event is the 10th Annual 4-hour Endurance on Saturday, July 18th. The
weekend will feature the usual full schedule of MRA sprint races on Saturday
and Sunday utilizing the full course configuration of HPR.
Saturday afternoon, the 4-hour endurance will start at approximately 3pm.
Three classes will run simultaneously – True Endurance (sponsored by Fay
Myers Motorcycle World featuring one bike, multiple riders), Pony Express
(sponsored by Supreme Lending/Lisa Gaimara featuring multiple bikes,
multiple riders), and Titanium Butt (sponsored by Calli Walters & Dan Burke
featuring one bike & one rider). In addition to trophies and bragging
rights, there will be cash payouts for all classes!
Details, contact, and entry information are at https://www.mra-racing.org/racers/4-hour-endurance-race-information/
Entries for the endurance and all sprint races are open through Monday
night, July 13th. The MRA has license reciprocity agreements with almost
all clubs in the US, so please come join us for this exciting annual event.
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is dedicated to promoting safe and
competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and
the surrounding area. For more information go to http://www.mra-racing.org/.
Gus Rodio (196) in action at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Photo by etechphoto.com, courtesy Rodio Racing.
Six for Six at New Jersey for Rodio Racing
Gus Rodio won every race he entered during the July 4th CCS weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Saturday saw the first of the 500 specific races, with Gus taking a commanding lead over the competition eventually winning by nearly a full minute after 12 laps. He repeated the dominant win in 500 SuperSport with a 24 second gap to 2nd place. Gus rounded out Saturday with his 3rd win in UltraLightweight SuperBike.
“This is my home track, and a lot of friends and family come to hang out with us when we’re here,” Gus said. “It’s great to have a nice, low pressure weekend where I can just relax a bit and work on some fine tuning of my riding compared to a MotoAmerica event.”
Sunday brought a warm-up race win in Lightweight SuperSport after a race long battle with a KTM Duke 790 that eventually was disqualified due to illegal wheels for the class. The wins continued with 500 SuperBike and a runaway 30 second gap in Moto3 bringing the total to six wins for the weekend.
Rodio Racing will race one more local round in preparation for the MotoAmerica Liqui Moly Junior Cup round at Road Atlanta on August 1st.
Riders in action on the new Royal Enfield FT411, which will be used at the Slide School. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield North America.
Royal Enfield Launches Slide School Presented by Moto Anatomy
Johnny Lewis to lead flat track training program
MILWAUKEE, Wis — American Flat Track racer Johnny Lewis will host Slide School presented by Royal Enfield, a multi-faceted flat track training program in 2020. Lewis will use a combination of Royal Enfield FT411 and a soon-to-be added FT 650 motorcycles as the primary training tools used in the curriculum. Lewis initially developed the program in India and will now debut at select tracks across the U.S. and also at his Moto Anatomy training facility in Florida this year.
“I’m excited to continue building a deeper relationship with Royal Enfield,” said Lewis. “It was a great opportunity to fine tune the program in India while being immersed in the Royal Enfield culture. I was also able to see first hand just how much potential the FT411 has as a training tool. I am impressed by its versatility and can’t wait to get my students on the FT411. Royal Enfield is committed to growing motorcycling and I’m proud to be part of that effort.”
Lewis will run Slide Schools out of his Moto Anatomy facility in central Florida including in conjunction with select AFT rounds. During the schools, Slide School participants will be taught the basics of flat track and then given one-on-one direction and coaching from Lewis. The program will equip any level rider with the skills needed to become a proficient flat tracker.
The program is built around a three and a half hour course with the FT411. Participants will use gear provided by JUST 1 Racing, EVS Sports and have the option to ride with the Bluetooth Sena communication systems, all for $250.
Additional stops will be added throughout the remainder of 2020. Classes are limited to eight participants per time slot and appropriate mask and social distancing guidelines will be in place to ensure a safe environment for all riders and coaches.
September 13: Gettysburg, PA following Williams Grove AFT
October 6: Travelers Rest, SC
October 18: Center Hill, FL following Daytona Beach AFT
About Royal Enfield
The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the mid-size motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market.
Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 110 dealers in North America, including the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. RENA currently offers the Bullet 500, Classic 500, Himalayan and the all new 650 Twins: INT 650 and Continental GT 650 motorcycles along with a range of genuine motorcycle accessories and apparel.
Scott Redding v Jonathan Rea and Ducati v Kawasaki headline the opening day of the WorldSBK test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
As MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship nears a resumption, teams and riders returned to track action at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the first of two days of testing. Kawasaki and Ducati machines made up three of the top four of the results with Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) leading Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) by just over a tenth of a second with all five manufacturers in the top six.
Track temperatures exceeded 47 degrees Celsius in the afternoon session and it would take until the last 15 minutes of the session before times started to improve at the top of the timesheets; Redding finding another two tenths to top the overall timesheets and the afternoon session. Reigning Champion Rea was second overall as the pair battled it out to be fastest on day one.
Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) finished the session in third place on his Yamaha machine, just over two tenths off Redding’s fastest time of the day as he was the fastest Yamaha rider of the day as he completed 100 laps during the day. He held off Championship leader Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who finished in fourth place for the day.
Team HRC’s Alvaro Bautista rounded out the top five with Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) finishing in sixth. Sykes was testing with new crew chief Ian Lord at the Montmelo circuit, with the 2013 Champion beating teammate Eugene Laverty by four tenths of a second.
Sandro Cortese (OUTDO Kawasaki TPR) also improved in the afternoon session to finish the day in seventh placed, with Chaz Davies (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA YAMAHA WorldSBK Official Team) following just behind with the two riders separated by a tenth. For Turkish sensation Razgatlioglu, today was about getting back up to speed following Phillip Island; since then, Razgatlioglu had only been riding on a small track in Turkey.
Razgatlioglu’s Yamaha teammate, Michael van der Mark was 11th as he lapped the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 1.2s slower than pace setter Redding. Like his teammate, van der Mark had not been on a WorldSBK machine since Phillip Island; his only outing coming on a standard bike at TT Circuit Assen.
Leon Haslam (Team HRC) was able to get back out on track following his crash in the morning session as he finished 12th fastest overall; completing 29 laps in the afternoon session and 53 laps overall. Haslam finished ahead of Leandro ‘Tati’ Mercado (Motocorsa Racing Team) and Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team). Gerloff was classified 14th overall but improved significantly in the afternoon session as he ran as high as fifth before the times started tumbling.
Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team), Maximilian Scheib (Orelac Racing) and Sylvain Barrier (Brixx Performance Ducati) rounded out the field as the day’s running came to a close.
The top six after day one of running:
1.) Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) 1’41.727
2.) Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.183
3.) Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.253
4.) Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.591
5.) Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) +0.593
6.) Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.728
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Home Town Test Begins Well For KRT
Jonathan Rea (1) during testing at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
The official Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK line-up of Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes enjoyed a full opening day of testing at KRT’s home circuit of Montmelo in Catalunya, with Rea second quickest and Lowes fourth fastest against all of their main 2020 season opposition.
This was the second time on their Ninja ZX-10RR machines the Montmelo circuit for both riders, after taking part in just a short track session, during in changeable weather conditions, in January.
With track temperatures almost hitting 50°C today five times WorldSBK champion Rea finished up with a best lap of 1.41.911. First year Kawasaki signing Lowes, the championship leader after the opening round in Australia, set a best of 1’42.318. One more day of testing remains at the 4.627km long circuit located within a stone’s throw of the team’s headquarters in Granollers.
Just like the most recent test at Misano the global Covid-19 situation saw the team adopting several measures designed to prevent the spread of the virus, both inside and outside their designated working areas.
After Thursday’s final day of testing at Montmelo – a regular MotoGP host venue but an ‘all-new’ one in WorldSBK racing terms – the season re-starts for real at the well-known Jerez circuit in Andalusia, with racedays scheduled on 1st and 2nd August.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “In the January test I kind of understood where the Montmelo track went, and I really enjoyed it, but we were not really riding in anger. Today I really enjoyed the track and did a lot of laps. I felt like I just picked up automatically and I can feel the bike really well. The bike is turning great and that is the biggest issue we have had in the past – especially at Jerez. When the temperature comes up it is hard to turn around those long corners. I used the rear tyre so much because I was turning on the rear all the time. But it seems like we made a huge step in that direction because the bike is turning really well. I felt things were happening quite normally today.”
Alex Lowes (22) testing at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes, stated: “We rode here in January but we did not get the best weather so it has been nice to get here in beautiful sunshine and get to ride all day. I felt I got my teeth into the track. I am enjoying my riding and working with the guys. In this kind of heat the grip naturally drops so you have to be a little bit smoother on the bike. The guys have been reminding me today to be smooth and not force the bike too much. It has been quite good because in the early rounds at Jerez, Portimao and Aragon I am expecting some hot weather. To test in these conditions in very important for us. We are also understanding the best bike configuration to suit me and the feeling I have on the front of the bike.”
As well as the official KRT riders at Montmelo today, Sandro Cortese (Outdo Kawasaki TPR) was well under a second from the fastest rider of all with his 1’42.573, and in seventh position overall. Maximilian Scheib (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) was 16th quickest, with a 1’43.568 lap.
The start of MotoAmerica Superbike Race Two at COTA in 2019. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
COTA Round Of MotoAmerica Series Cancelled
No U.S. GP And No MotoAmerica In Austin In 2020
IRVINE, CA (July 8, 2020) – With the announcement coming today from Dorna and the Circuit of The Americas that the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, scheduled for November 13-15, has been cancelled, MotoAmerica is also announcing that it will not be racing at the Austin, Texas, facility in 2020.
MotoAmerica and MotoGP won’t be racing at the Circuit of The Americas in 2020.
MotoAmerica, however, is working diligently on options to keep its 20-race HONOS Superbike Series intact for 2020.
“It’s a shame that we have to cancel the MotoAmerica round at COTA,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “The race is a highlight of our schedule and it’s always good to combine our efforts with Dorna to put on a great show in Austin. COVID-19 has made it virtually impossible for the MotoGP series to travel to the U.S. so we fully understand the issues they are facing in 2020. We look forward to returning to COTA with MotoGP in 2021. In the meantime, we are working on a solution to find a replacement round as we continue to strive towards having a 20-race Superbike Series.”
The COTA round was scheduled to be the MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Series finale.
The 2020 MotoAmerica Series continues with round three of the championship at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, July 31-August 2.
Wayne Maxwell (47) and Cru Halliday (65) in action during the opening round of the 2020 Australian Superbike Championship February 28-March 1 at Phillip Island. Photo by Russell Colvin, courtesy of Motorcycling Australia.
ASBK Management Team Update
It is with frustration that the ASBK Management Team advise that the recently rescheduled ASBK Round 2 at Morgan Park Raceway, Queensland on August 21-23 will now not occur on these dates.
The future of the ASBK Round at Morgan Park will be determined in the coming days.
The ASBK Management Team has no choice but to react to the circumstances in Victoria over the past 48hrs.
ASBK Sporting Director, Simon Maas, said: ‘’We have been clear with competitors and teams that the COVID-19 environment will require their flexibility and understanding in 2020”.
“These date changes are incredibly difficult and challenging to keep finding workable solutions. We are sure the ASBK paddock is frustrated by this latest delay, as we are too.
“We again thank the entire ASBK paddock for their patience as we are all in this situation together right now.’’
A further review to the 2020 ASBK Championship calendar is now underway and the ASBK Management Team aims to provide an updated calendar in the next few days.
Information and updates on the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, will be released as it becomes available, so keep up to date with further announcements via – asbk.com.au and following ASBK on social media.
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Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
November 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,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
