The Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas, in Austin, Texas, has been cancelled for 2020.
The event was originally scheduled to happen in April 2020 and was postponed until the end of the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, according to posts by Circuit of The Americas on its social media feeds, the 2020 event is cancelled and a race date for 2021 has been set.
“Big news! The fastest bikes in the world will return next year for an even bigger and better MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas on April 16-18, 2021! This year’s event on November 13-15, 2020 has been canceled. Ticket holders will receive an email with further information. #AmericasGP”
New livery for the Ducati Multistrada 950 S: “Every road, a new world”
Ducati presents the “GP White” livery for the Multistrada 950 S. The bike will be available in dealers within July
The new livery adds sportiness to the elegant lines of the Multistrada, with a MotoGP-inspired graphic and a colour scheme that alternates white, grey and Ducati Red
The Multistrada 950 is the ideal motorcycle to discover the roads and panoramas of the Italian regional territory, such as those of the Motor Valley in Emilia-Romagna
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 8 July 2020 – Ducati completes the colour range of the Multistrada 950 S for the Model Year 2021 by introducing a new “GP White” livery, which adds to the classic Ducati Red colour.
The “GP White” livery takes its inspiration from the Ducati MotoGP graphics and is based on a colour scheme that alternates white and grey, maintaining the unmistakable Ducati touch in some red details, like in the frame and in the graphics on the alloy wheels. This new colouring was designed by the Borgo Panigale motorcycle manufacturer to add sportiness to the Multistrada 950 S, which makes elegance, fluidity and balance of lines its strengths.
A Ducati Multistrada 950 S in “GP White” livery. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The Ducati Multistrada 950 is the ideal motorcycle to experience the excitement of the journey every day, rediscovering well-known roads or venturing into new territories. Riding pleasure and versatility make it perfect for any type of use. The low weight, the 19″ front wheel and the reduced seat height (840 mm) ensure agility and ease of riding, while the advanced technological equipment guarantees maximum safety and comfort in all conditions, both for those who want to tackle long journeys, maybe as a couple and with luggage, and for those looking for an agile and fun bike to use every day.
On the occasion of the launch of the new livery, the Multistrada 950 S “GP White” was the protagonist of a true “Extraordinary Journey ” set among the unmistakable landscapes of the Motor Valley in Emilia-Romagna. For a motorcycle that makes every road a new world, this land is the ideal place to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of the regional and Italian territory.
The Multistrada 950, in its S version, is equipped with the most innovative technology at the service of safety and riding pleasure: electronic suspension with Ducati Skyhook Suspension Evo (DSS) system, Ducati Quick Shift up & down (DQS), full-LED headlamp with Ducati Cornering Lights (DCL), 5” colour TFT display, Hands Free system, Cruise Control and backlit handlebar controls, as well as Bosch ABS Cornering, which increases the active safety of the vehicle. Starting from MY21, the entire Multistrada 950 range, powered by the Testastretta 11° engine (937 cc and 113 hp), will comply with Euro 5 standard in all countries where it is in force.
On all models of the Multistrada family, Ducati offers the exclusive “4Ever Multistrada” warranty, valid for 4 years with unlimited mileage. The warranty relies on the service offered by the entire network of dealers of the Bologna-based company, a competent and constantly trained team that treats every Ducati motorcycle with the same care with which it is designed and assembled in Borgo Panigale.
The Multistrada 950 S “GP White”, both in the alloy wheels and spoked wheels versions, will be available in Ducati dealers within July.
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Open House and Bike Night feature motorcycles, music, food and fun
Vintage BMW sidecar raffle drawing, swap meet vendors on location
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame invites all fans of motorcycling to an open house and bike night on July 11, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington.
The museum, located at 13515 Yarmouth Drive, will open to all visitors at 9 a.m., with displays that provide an in-depth look at the history of motorcycling in America. The bike night will kick off at 5 p.m. with music, food trucks and more. At 7 p.m., the Hall of Fame will draw the winning ticket for the 2020 raffle bike, a 1973 BMW R75/5 sidecar rig.
“Our summer open house and bike night provide a great opportunity for the community to learn more about the AMA and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, while motorcyclists have another reason to get on their bikes and ride,” said AMA Director of Member Activity Heather Wilson. “Whether you’ve ridden your whole life, or you’re curious about the sport, we encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity. And rest assured that safety guidelines in compliance with state and local requirements will be followed so everyone can stay safe while experiencing some of the best of motorcycling history.”
For the first time ever, the open house and bike night will welcome swap meet vendor displays, giving attendees opportunities to pick up some deals on vintage motorcycles and parts.
Starting at 5 p.m., Schmidt’s Sausage Truck and Kenny’s Meat Wagon will be selling food. A selection of beer from North High Brewing will be available for purchase.
Any additional vendors or groups, including any AMA-chartered clubs, that would like to display at the open house and bike night, should call (614) 856-2222 to reserve a spot.
More information is available on the Facebook event page at facebook.com/events/660261894832671/.
To mitigate exposure in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the following measures will be in place: indoor occupancy to the museum will be limited 70 visitors at a time, motorcycle parking will be spaced to allow social distancing, outside restroom facilities will be provided, social distancing will be required for guests, face coverings will be mandatory for staff and volunteers and encouraged for visitors, hand-sanitizing stations will be located throughout the facility, disinfecting wipes will be provided at high touch areas, signage will convey current state guidelines, and there will be temperature checks and health questionnaires for staff and volunteers.
All proceeds from AMA bike nights benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The nonprofit AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame was established in 1998 by the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation to honor the legends and heroes of American motorcycling and highlight their achievements and contributions to motorcycling.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: americanmotorcyclist.com.
The Kawasaki KX™250 motorcycle has more AMA motocross and supercross championships combined than any other manufacturer in its class and returns for 2021 with a list of enhancements that are designed to continue its winning history by keeping it the best performing bike on track. The 2021 model builds on the engine changes from the previous year to deliver even more power and make it the most powerful KX250 to date. In addition to its high revving engine, it now features new electric start, new coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch, and a new slim aluminum perimeter frame that improves handling to enable quicker lap times, making the KX250 even more potent on the racetrack. With a championship heritage that boasts 18 AMA professional titles and 189 race wins since 2004, the KX250 is the ideal platform for mid-level to expert riders looking to reach the top step of the podium.
The KX250 motorcycle is instilled with a high level of technology and KX™ DNA so that you can be the next moto prodigy. Its power, handling and adjustability personalize the feel of the motorcycle and provide higher confidence for motocross riding at all levels. The powerful engine of the KX250 features upgrades to both the top and bottom end for increased power, improved brakes offer more control when harnessing the power of the stronger engine, and an updated KX™450-style frame and fine-tuned suspension settings to create the ultimate performance package.
A 2021 Kawasaki KX250. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
Highlights of the 2021 KX250
· NEW More powerful engine
· NEW Electric start
· NEW Coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch
· NEW Lightweight aluminum perimeter frame
· NEW Fine-tuned race-ready suspension and brake components
· NEW Slim, ergonomic bodywork
ENGINE
· NEW Engine with increased peak power
· NEW Processing for intake and exhaust ports
· NEW Exhaust cam timing
· NEW Stiffer valve springs
· NEW Combustion chamber design and flatter piston crown
· NEW Longer connecting rod
· NEW Lighter crankshaft design
· NEW Revised pressure balance inside the crankcase
· NEW Coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch
· NEW Electric start via the push of a button
· NEW Lightweight, compact Li-ion battery
Despite the 2020 KX250 already benefitting from a significant power increase thanks to its adoption of finger-follower valve actuation, the engine of the 2021 KX250 has received additional changes to raise peak power even further and enable an even higher rev limit, while significantly increasing low-mid range performance.
Tuned to best suit race-experienced riders, the 249cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke engine focuses on more top-end revs thanks to improvements gleaned through Kawasaki’s factory racing efforts.
The 2021 KX250 becomes Kawasaki’s first electric start 250 motocross bike, which is activated by the push of a button located on the handlebar near the right grip, making starting easy and convenient. The ability to restart the engine quickly can mean the difference between keeping your lead or having to fight your way through the pack under intense race situations. A lightweight, compact Li-ion battery helps keep weight down, as does an automatic centrifugal decompression system fitted to the exhaust cam, which lifts one exhaust valve to facilitate starting.
In addition to electric start, the 2021 KX250 also becomes Kawasaki’s first 250 motocross bike equipped with a coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch. The new high-capacity coned disk-spring clutch offers a more direct feel and an easier pull for lighter lever action, reducing fatigue while on the racetrack. The use of coned disk-spring contributes to lighter clutch actuation when the lever is pulled in, and a wider clutch engagement range, which facilitates control. In order to promote clean separation and help reduce drag when the clutch is pulled in, the friction plates were designed with offset segments. The hydraulic clutch is designed to provide a more consistent feeling through minimal change in clutch play as the clutch heats up during heavy use.
Utilizing the finger-follower valve actuation – a valve train designed by Kawasaki’s World Superbike engineers – helps achieve a high rev limit and allows for the use of more aggressive cam profiles, which contributes to high rpm performance. A diamond-like carbon coating on the finger followers helps protect against wear. Complementing the aggressive cams are large-diameter intake and exhaust valves with high lift, which flow more air and contribute to strong power. The processing for the intake and exhaust ports has been revised with a new, larger-diameter angle that contributes to increased performance. The cams benefit from a thin and highly durable gas soft-nitride treatment to reduce wear and increase high rpm reliability and the exhaust cam timing has been retarded 3º for better engine performance. Lightweight titanium valves reduce reciprocating weight and offer high rpm reliability, while the valve springs now feature a higher spring rate to match the higher rev limit. The addition of a 3 mm longer connecting rod decreases lateral force on the cylinder walls as the piston moves up and down, helping to reduce mechanical loss and improving reliability. The cylinder is offset 3 mm forward, reducing mechanical loss and increasing engine performance. A cylinder head mounted cam chain tensioner adds to the KX250’s dependability by offsetting the increased loads from the aggressive camshaft and high revving engine.
A plateau honing process of the cylinder bore results in a smooth surface with good oil-retention. The smooth surface also helps to reduce mechanical loss and improve power. A revised combustion chamber design and a flatter piston crown contribute to increased performance. The high-performance piston features the same design used by Kawasaki’s factory racers and contributes strong performance at all rpm. A short skirt, reinforced external ribs and the use of a bridged-box piston, featuring internal bracing, allow for a lightweight and strong piston design. A dry film lubricant coating on the piston skirts reduces friction at low rpm and helps with the piston bedding-in process.
To reduce weight, an update has been made to the crankshaft web design and the pressure balance has been revised inside the crankcase, adding to the engine’s increased performance. Low-friction plain bearings on the crankshaft pin help reduce mechanical loss and lift overall performance. For strengthening of the transmission, axle spacing has been revised to match the increased engine output. Along with matching the revised axle spacing, shape-optimized gears contribute to weight reduction.
The airbox construction features a shorter, tapered intake funnel, contributing to increased high rpm performance. The KX250 was the first production motocross bike with dual injectors an injector downstream of the throttle valve that is tasked with delivering a smooth, instant response, and a second, upstream injector located close to the airbox for a significant contribution to engine output at high rpm. The exhaust system length helps increase high rpm performance and the hydro-formed joint pipe features a reverse taper design. A large throttle body flows a great volume of air and provides a boost in high rpm performance. Adding to Kawasaki’s engineering efforts for optimized airflow is the positioning of the intake duct for a straight approach for intake air. The downdraft-style intake routing increases the intake air’s approach angle into the cylinder, improving cylinder-filling efficiency and increasing the engines power.
DFI® COUPLERS
Contributing to the race-winning engine characteristics, the digital fuel injection system of the KX250 features a coupler package that has set the industry standard. Each KX250 motorcycle comes standard with three different couplers, easily allowing riders to select pre-programmed fuel injection and ignition mapping to suit their riding style or track conditions. The four-pin DFI® couplers select maps that are designed for standard, hard or soft terrain settings. Changing the engine map is as simple as connecting the coupler cap of choice. For riders looking to fine tune their ECU settings, the KX™ FI Calibration Kit (Handheld) is offered as a Kawasaki Genuine Accessory and provides access to the fully programmable ECU. Used by the factory race teams, the handheld device eliminates the need for a trackside laptop and gives riders the ability to create custom maps for precise adjustment of fuel and ignition settings. The user-friendly device can store up to seven preset maps and is PC-compatible.
LAUNCH CONTROL
The launch control system of the KX250 motorcycle is a major advantage and favorite for riders who are focused on getting to the first turn ahead of their competition. The push-button activation retards ignition timing in first and second gear, helping maximize traction on slippery surfaces like concrete starting pads and put the bike’s potent power to the ground. Once the rider shifts into third gear, normal ignition mapping immediately resumes and full power is restored.
CHASSIS
NEW KX™450-based slim aluminum perimeter frame
NEW Engine is used as a stressed member
NEW Steering head area with optimized rigidity
NEW KX450 swingarm for increased rear traction
The KX250’s new slim aluminium perimeter frame is based off of its KX450 counterpart and with lightweight, nimble handling, and slim ergonomics in mind. Its design is a lightweight construction composed of forged, extruded, and cast parts. The new frame offers a better overall rigidity balance, and while many of the parts are common with the KX450’s frame, the cast parts like shock tower mount and engine hangers were designed specifically for the needs of the KX250. Adding to the frame’s rigidity balance is the use of the engine as a stressed member. The steering head area, main frame rails with updated cross-sections, line for the swingarm brackets, and wider lower frame rails have all been revised and contribute to the overall rigidity balance.
The addition of a KX450 swingarm delivers the rigidity necessary to match the frame and helps to increase traction at the rear wheel. The center of gravity and key dimensions such as swingarm pivot, output sprocket and rear axle locations have all been carefully selected so that the rear tire drives the bike forward.
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
NEW Lower triple clamp design
NEW Revised linkage ratios
NEW Fine-tuned front and rear suspension settings
NEW Smaller-diameter 240 mm rear disc
NEW KX450 front master cylinder
The KX250 is equipped with large diameter 48 mm KYB inverted coil-spring front forks that offer optimum action at the initial part of the fork stroke. The forks feature large-diameter inner tubes, enabling the use of 25 mm damping pistons and delivering smooth action and firm damping. A Kashima Coat on the forks’ outer tubes creates a hard, low-friction surface to help prevent wear abrasion on the inside of the tubes, ensuring the sliding surfaces remain smooth over time while protecting the outside against corrosion. The lubricating material in the coat contributes to smoother suspension action and a better overall ride feel. The lower triple clamp has been revised for optimized rigidity and reduced weight, while contributing to the front’s ability to absorb bumps.
In the rear, a KYB shock unit complements the front fork. The rear shock features dual compression adjustability, which allows high-speed and low-speed damping to be tuned separately. Kashima Coat on the tank cylinder helps prevent wear abrasion and reduces friction for smoother suspension action. A new Uni-Trak® rear suspension system mounts the linkage arm below the swingarm, allowing a longer rear suspension stroke. The linkage ratios have been revised, now using the same as those found on the KX450 motorcycle, contributing to both increased absorption and damping performance. Both front and rear suspension feature new fine-tuned settings that are designed to match the frame and provide increased bump absorption as well as increased traction.
Contributing to the numerous factory-style racing components on the KX250 motorcycle are petal disc brakes. Up front is an oversized 270 mm Braking® brand rotor, which delivers strong braking force and superb control. A new front master cylinder like the one on the KX450 adds to the high level of control and overall feedback found in the front brake.
On the rear, a new smaller-diameter 240 mm Braking brand disc contributes to controllability and offers optimized stopping performance. The petal-style discs contribute to both sporty looks and help deflect debris. A rear caliper guard helps protect the caliper from damage.
ERGONOMICS & ERGO-FIT® ADJUSTABLE COMPONENTS
NEW Factory-style 1-1/8” Renthal® Fatbar® Handlebar
Kawasaki continues its unmatched commitment towards providing riders with class-leading comfort thanks to its ERGO-FIT® adjustable handlebar mounting system and footpegs to fit a variety of riders and riding styles. New for 2021 is a factory-style 1-1/8” thick aluminum Renthal® Fatbar® handlebar, a popular aftermarket part that is now a standard feature. The handlebars feature four-way adjustable mounts. The multi-position handlebars offer two mounting holes with 35 mm of adjustability, and the 180-degree offset clamps boast four individual settings to suit different size riders. The footpegs feature dual-position mounting points, with a lower position that reduces the standard setting by an additional 5 mm. The lower position effectively lowers the center of gravity when standing, and reduces knee angle when taller riders are seated.
BODYWORK & SEAT
NEW Bodywork facilitates rider movement
NEW Flatter design at the top of the fuel tank
NEW Slimmer radiator shrouds
NEW Smoother engine covers
NEW Gold finish on the oil cap and generator cover plugs
Complementing the improved peak power and precise handling of the KX250 is sleek new bodywork with factory-style graphics that helps ensure it’s the sharpest looking bike in the paddock and further reflect its highly-tuned performance.
For 2021, the bodywork has been designed to facilitate rider movement with long, smooth surfaces that make it easy to slide back and forth. The seams between the shrouds, seat, and side covers are as flush as possible to help the rider move around on the bike. A revised design on the top of the fuel tank allows an even flatter progression from the seat to the tank, which gives the rider greater freedom of movement when changing riding position and facilitates sitting farther forward. The single-piece radiator shrouds are now slimmer where they come in contact with the rider’s legs and positioned closer to the frame. In-mold graphics result in an ultra-smooth surface and contribute to the KX250’s factor-racer looks.
Engine covers have been redesigned and are smooth in order to not impede rider movement. Helping the KX250 retain its factory-style look is a new gold finish on the oil cap and the two plugs on the generator cover, while the rims are coated in black alumite.
Kawasaki Team Green™ Racer Rewards
Kawasaki Team Green Racer Rewards return for the 2021 racing season with more than seven million dollars in contingency available for eligible KX riders. Team Green’s Racer Rewards program will be available at more than 240 events across the nation. Motocross racers will have more than $5.4 million up for grabs, while off-road riders will also be rewarded with more than $2.2 million available.
KAWASAKI KX™250
Color: Lime Green
MSRP: $8,299
Availability: Now
More, from another press release issued by Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.:
2021 KAWASAKI KX™450 MOTORCYCLE
THE BIKE THAT BUILDS CHAMPIONS
A 2021 Kawasaki KX450. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
The Kawasaki KX™450 motorcycle returns as the flagship model in the Kawasaki KX™ lineup for 2021 and boasts several new updates to maintain its edge as the leader in its class. Tuned to best suit race-experienced riders, the 449cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke engine with improved engine power, slim aluminum perimeter frame, Showa A-KIT technology suspension, redesigned hydraulic clutch and electric start are the ultimate combination of a championship winning package.
The KX450 is built with race-winning components to help Kawasaki riders get to the top step of the podium. For 2021 the KX450 receives engine updates for increased performance, a new coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch, and a new 1-1/8” Renthal® Fatbar® handlebar. From the showroom to the racetrack, the performance of Kawasaki’s KX family of motorcycles is proof of its engineering pedigree. It truly is The Bike That Builds Champions.
ENGINE
· NEW Dry film lubricant coating on the piston skirt
· NEW Larger diameter clutch plates and revised friction material
· NEW Coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch for improved clutch performance
The four-stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, water-cooled 449cc lightweight engine package utilizes input derived directly from the Monster Energy® Kawasaki race team, producing peak power and a torque curve that makes it easy to get on the gas early. The potent KX450 engine features an electric start, which is activated by the push of a button and powered by a compact Li-ion battery.
Kawasaki utilizes top-level road racing technology in the KX450 valve train, using designs from Kawasaki World Superbike engineers. It uses finger-follower valve actuation, enabling larger-diameter valves and more aggressive cam profiles. The intake and exhaust valves are formed from lightwight titanium, while a bridged-box piston uses the same design as the race team’s factory motorcycles. A new dry film lubricant coating on the piston skirt reduces friction between the piston and cylinder wall, contributing to increased performance.
A close-ratio five speed transmission features lightweight gears and shafts to keep weight down, yet retain strength, while contributing to the motorcycle’s winning performance. The transmision is paired with a new high-capacity coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch for 2021. The clutch’s coil springs have been replaced with a coned disk-spring, resulting in lighter clutch actuation when the lever is pulled in, and a wider clutch engagement range to help facilitate control. Larger diameter clutch plates and revised friction material is designed to provide a consistent feeling through minimal change in play as the clutch heats up during heavy use. The friction plates feature offset segments to help promote clean separation of the discs and reduce drag when the clutch is pulled in.
CHASSIS
An industry-leading slim aluminum perimeter frame provides precise cornering through excellent front-end feel and agility when riding at high speeds. The frame’s lightweight construction is composed of forged, extruded and cast parts, while the engine is used as a stressed member and adds to the frames rigidity balance. A lightweight alloy swingarm is constructed of a cast front section and twin tapered hydro-formed spars in a raw aluminum finish, complementing the frame. Engineers carefully placed the dimension of the swingarm pivot, output sprocket and rear axle locations, helping to focus on center of gravity and balanced handling.
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
High-performance Showa 49 mm coil spring front forks with A-KIT technology can be found up front, featuring large diameter inner tubes that are the same size as those found on the machines of Kawasaki’s factory racing team (KRT). The forks enable the use of large damping pistons for smooth action and firm damping.
In the rear, a new Uni-Trak® linkage system is designed to work in conjunction with the Showa shock, aluminum frame and swingarm. The linkage, which is mounted below the swingarm, allows for a longer rear suspension stroke and more precise rear suspension tuning. The Showa Compact Design rear shock boasts A-KIT technology with large diameter compression adjusters, improving on the high frequency movements found on today’s motocross tracks.
An oversized 270 mm, petal-shaped front brake rotor from the renowned manufacturer, Braking®, is fitted to perfectly complement the powerful engine of the KX450. The rear is equipped with a 250 mm petal-shaped Braking rotor that matches the large front disc.
ERGONOMICS & ERGO-FIT® ADJUSTABILITY
· NEW Factory-style 1-1/8” Renthal® Fatbar® handlebar
New for the 2021 KX450 is a factory-style aluminum Renthal Fatbar handlebar that helps to reduce vibration and shocks transmitted to the rider through the thicker 1-1/8” handlebar. The new handlebar grip position is lower and closer to the rider, making it easier for the rider to weight the front wheel.
Kawasaki continues its umatched commitment towards providing riders with class-leading ERGO-FIT® comfort thanks its adjustable handlebar mounting system and footpegs to fit a variety of riders and riding styles. The handlebars feature four-way adjustable mounts. The multi-positition handlebars offer two mounting holes with 35 mm of adjustability, and the 180-degree offset clamps boast four individual settings to suit different size riders. The footpegs feature dual-position mounting points, with a lower position that reduces the standard setting by an additional 5 mm. The lower position effectively lowers the center of gravity when standing, and reduces knee angle when tallers riders are seated.
BODYWORK & SEAT
Complementing the championship proven technology, the 2021 KX450 features aggressive styling along with in-mold graphics on the radiator shrouds that result in an ultra-smooth surface and racy look needed to finish at the top of its class. The sleek bodywork has been molded to match the V-mounted radiators and narrow chassis design. Each piece of the bodywork has been designed to help facilitate riders movement with long, smooth surfaces that make it easy to slide back and forth.
Kawasaki Team Green™ Racer Rewards
Kawasaki Team Green Racer Rewards return for the 2021 racing season with more than seven million dollars in contingency available for eligible KX riders. Team Green’s Racer Rewards program will be available at more than 240 events across the nation. Motocross racers will have more than $5.4 million up for grabs, while off-road riders will also be rewarded with more than $2.2 million available.
KAWASAKI KX™450
Color: Lime Green
MSRP: $9,399
Availability: Now
More, from another press release issued by Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.:
2021 KAWASAKI KX™ XC OFF-ROAD LINEUP
GET THE OFF-ROAD EDGE.
A 2021 Kawasaki KX450XC. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
The championship-proven technology of KX™ race machines has now been purposely tuned for off-road competition. Kawasaki is proud to announce all-new race ready off-road KX™ XC models with the all-new 2021 KX™250XC and KX™450XC models.
As a brand that has a rich history in off-road racing with more than 25 championships in WORCS, National Hare & Hound, GNCC, and Endurocross over the past 20 years, there’s no denying the all-new KX XC models are powered by technology that hails from a legacy of champions.
The KX250XC and KX450XC share many winning traits with their motocross counterparts including the engine, frame, chassis, and styling, paired with unique cross-country tuning and settings such as suspension settings, gearing, off-road 21”/18” wheel combination, Dunlop Geomax AT81 tires, brake components, skid plate, and kickstand. The softer suspension settings and shorter gearing ratio help to create the optimal handling off-road race package for the KX XC lineup.
Developed to dominate off-road racecourses in both the woods and the desert, the KX XC lineup offers riders an arsenal of factory-style features along with the dominant engine and chassis performance right off the showroom floor.
Highlights of the 2021 KX XC Lineup
· ALL-NEW Off-road optimized engine and suspension settings
· ALL-NEW 21” front wheel and 18” rear wheel
· ALL-NEW Dunlop GEOMAX AT81 tires
· ALL-NEW Brake components
· ALL-NEW Skid plate
· ALL-NEW Kickstand
KAWASAKI KX™450XC
The all-new 2021 KX450XC has been designed as the flagship model of the KX XC lineup. Whether in the woods, desert, or cross-country the KX450XC is a race-ready championship winning machine right off the showroom floor, and shares numerous winning traits of its motocross counterpart, the KX450.
An cross-country race machine tuned for more experienced riders, the 449cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke engine, slim aluminum perimeter frame, Showa A-KIT technology suspension, hydraulic clutch and electric start are the ultimate combination of a championship winning package.
The KX450XC is built with race-winning components to help Kawasaki riders get to the top step of the podium. From the showroom to the racetrack, the performance of Kawasaki’s KX family of motorcycles is proof of its engineering pedigree.
ENGINE
The four-stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, water-cooled 449cc lightweight engine package utilizes input derived directly from the factory race team, with optimized engine mapping and settings for off-road racing. The potent KX450XC engine features an electric start, which is activated by the push of a button and powered by a compact Li-ion battery.
Kawasaki brought top-level road racing technology to the KX450XC valve train, using designs from Kawasaki World Superbike engineers. It uses a finger-follower valve actuation, enabling larger-diameter valves and more aggressive cam profiles. The intake and exhaust valves are formed from lightwight titanium, while a bridged-box piston uses the same design as the Monster Energy® Kawasaki race team’s factory motorcycles. For increased performance on the 2021 KX450XC engine, the piston also features a dry film lubricant coating on the piston skirt to reduce friction.
A close-ratio five speed transmission features lightweight gears and shafts to keep weight down, yet retains strength, while contributing to the motorcycle’s winning performance. The KX450XC has shorter gearing than its counterpart, the KX450, with a final gear ratio of 51/13. The transmission is paired with a coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch that is designed to provide a consistent feeling through minimal change in play as the clutch heats up during heavy use. The coned disc-spring contributes to a light clutch actuation and a wide clutch engagement range, which facilitates increased control.
CHASSIS
An industry-leading slim aluminum perimeter frame provides pecise cornering through excellent front-end feel and the ultimate agility when riding at high speeds. The frame’s lightweight construction is composed of forged, extruded and cast parts, while the engine is used as a stressed member and adds to the frames rigidity balance. A lightweight alloy swingarm is constructed of a cast front section and twin tapered hydro-formed spars in a raw aluminum finish, complementing the frame’s raw look. Engineers carefully placed the dimension of the swingarm pivot, output sprocket and rear axle locations, helping to focus on lower center of gravity and balanced handling.
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
The race-ready suspension found on the KX450XC features front and rear spring rates and damping settings that have been optimized for technical off-road and cross-country racing environments. High-performance Showa 49 mm coil spring front forks with A-KIT technology can be found up front, featuring large diameter inner tubes that are the same size as those found on Kawasaki’s factory racing team’s machines. The forks enable the use of large damping pistons for smooth action and firm damping. A super-hard titanium coating on the outer surface of the inner/lower fork tubes helps prevent wear and abrasion. The increased surface hardness of the dark navy-blue coating also helps to prevent scratches and damage to the tubes. Kashima Coating on the fork tubes also helps prevent wear and abrasion while optimizing performance.
On the rear, a new Uni-Trak® linkage system is designed to work in conjunction with the Showa shock, aluminum frame and swingarm. The linkage, which is mounted below the swingarm, allows for a longer rear suspension stroke and more precise rear suspension tuning. The Showa Compact Design rear shock boasts A-KIT technology with large diameter compression adjusters, improving on the high frequency movements found when racing cross-country. The Showa shock features a self-lubricating alumite coating on the shock body to help prevent wear and abrasion, while also reducing friction for smoother suspension action.
An oversized 270 mm, petal-shaped front brake rotor from the renowned manufacturer, Braking, is fitted to perfectly complement the powerful engine of the KX450XC. Optimized for cross-country riding and increased control, the rear is equipped with a 240 mm petal-shaped Braking® rotor that matches the large front disc. Both are gripped by Nissin master cylinder and caliper setups with XC-specific pads.
XC SPECIFIC COMPONENTS
The KX450XC is equipped with many specific cross-country components, such as the 21” front and 18” rear wheel combination paired with Dunlop GEOMAX AT81 tires, which were selected for optimal handling in off-road racing conditions. Other cross-country specific components include the durable plastic skid plate and side stand.
ERGONOMICS & ERGO-FIT® ADJUSTABLE COMPONENTS
Kawasaki continues its umatched commitment towards providing riders with class-leading comfort thanks to its ERGO-FIT® adjustable handlebar mounting system and footpegs to fit a variety of riders and riding styles. The KX450XC is equipped with factory-style 1-1/8” aluminum Renthal® Fatbar® handlebar, as standard equipment. The handlebars feature four-way adjustable mounts. The multi-positition handlebars offer two mounting holes with 35 mm of adjustability, and the 180-degree offset clamps boast four individual settings to suit different size riders. The footpegs feature dual-position mounting points, with a lower position that reduces the standard setting by an additional 5 mm. The lower position effectively lowers the center of gravity when standing, and reduces knee angle when tallers riders are seated.
BODYWORK & SEAT
Complementing the championship proven technology, the 2021 KX450XC features aggressive styling along with in-mold graphics on the radiator shrouds that result in an ultra-smooth surface and a factory-racer look needed to finish at the top of its class. The sleek bodywork has been molded to match the V-mounted radiators and narrow chassis design. Each piece of the bodywork has been designed to help facilitate the rider’s movement with long, smooth surfaces. The rims are coated with tough, durable black alumite treatment. Adjusters on the fork and shock both feature a high-quality green alumite finish. A gold finish on the oil cap and the both plugs on the engine cover further contribute to KX factory-racer looks and styling.
Kawasaki Team Green™ Racer Rewards
Kawasaki Team Green Racer Rewards return for the 2021 racing season with more than seven million dollars in contingency available for eligible KX riders. With unmatched trackside support at over 40 events across the nation each year, Kawasaki’s Team Green program continues to raise the bar in support of amateur and professional racing by offering its payouts of over seven million dollars up for grabs, with an increased emphasis on payouts for off-road series, such as GNCC, National Enduro, JDay Off-Road, Hare & Hound and Full Gas Sprint Enduro. The off-road payout alone boasts an impressive $2.2 million dollars there for the taking, making it the highest in the industry.
KAWASAKI KX™450XC
Color: Lime Green
MSRP: $9,599
Availability: Summer 2020
A 2021 Kawasaki KX250XC. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
KAWASAKI KX™250XC
The all-new 2021 KX250XC has been designed for the rising stars in the XC2 250 Pro or Pro 2 Class and provides riders with a race-ready off-road motorcycle. Built from the legendary motocross winning pedigree of the KX™250 motorcycle and tuned to best suit off-road race-experienced riders, the 249cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke engine, slim aluminum perimeter frame, top of the line KYB suspension components, hydraulic clutch and electric start are the ultimate combination of a championship winning package.
The KX250XC is built with race-winning components to help Kawasaki riders get to the top step of the podium in all off-road and cross-country racing enviornments. From the showroom to the racetrack, the performance of Kawasaki’s KX™ family of motorcycles is proof of its engineering pedigree.
ENGINE
The four-stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, water-cooled 249cc lightweight engine package utilizes input derived directly from the factory race team, with optimized engine mapping and settings for off-road racing. The powerful KX250XC engine features an electric start, which is activated by the push of a button and powered by a compact Li-ion battery.
Kawasaki brought top-level road racing technology to the KX250XC valve train, using designs from Kawasaki World Superbike engineers. It uses finger-follower valve actuation, enabling larger-diameter valves and more aggressive cam profiles. The intake and exhaust valves are formed from lightwight titanium, while a bridged-box piston uses the same design as the Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki race team’s motorcycles.
A close-ratio five speed transmission features lightweight gears and shafts to keep weight down, yet retain strength, while contributing to the motorcycle’s winning performance. The KX250XC has shorter gearing than its counterpart, the KX250, with a final gear ratio of 51/13. The transmission is paired with a coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch that is designed to provide a consistent feeling through minimal change in play as the clutch heats up during heavy use. The coned disc-spring contributes to a light clutch actuation and a wide clutch engagement range, which facilitates increased control.
CHASSIS
The industry-leading slim aluminum perimeter frame is all-new for 2021 and provides precise cornering through excellent front-end feel and the ultimate agility when riding at high speeds. The frame’s lightweight construction is composed of forged, extruded and cast parts, while the engine is used as a stressed member and adds to the frame’s rigidity balance. A lightweight alloy swingarm is constructed of a cast front section and twin tapered hydro-formed spars in a raw aluminum finish, complementing the frame’s raw look. Engineers carefully placed the dimension of the swingarm pivot, output sprocket and rear axle locations, helping to focus on center of gravity and balanced handling.
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
High-performance KYB 48 mm coil spring front forks can be found up front, featuring large diameter inner tubes that are the same size as those found on Kawasaki’s factory racing team’s machines, but with optimized spring rates and damping settings for off-road riding. The forks enable the use of large damping pistons for smooth action and firm damping. Kashima Coating on the fork tubes helps prevent wear and abrasion while optimizing performance.
In the rear, a new Uni-Trak® linkage system is designed to work in conjunction with the KYB shock, aluminum frame and swingarm. The linkage, which is mounted below the swingarm, allows for a longer rear suspension stroke and more precise rear suspension tuning. The KYB rear shock features dual compression adjustability, allowing high-speed and low-speed damping to be tuned separately. Kashima Coating on the shock helps prevent wear and reduces friction for smoother suspension action.
An oversized 270 mm, petal-shaped front brake rotor from the renowned manufacturer, Braking, is fitted to perfectly complement the powerful engine of the KX250XC. The rear is equipped with a 240 mm petal-shaped Braking® rotor that matches the large front disc. Both are gripped by Nissin master cylinder and caliper setups and feature XC-specific pads.
XC SPECIFIC COMPONENTS
The KX250XC is equipped with many specific cross-country components, such as the 21” front and 18” rear wheel combination paired with Dunlop GEOMAX AT81 tires, which were selected for optimal handling in off-road racing conditions. Other cross-country specific components include the durable plastic skid plate and side stand.
ERGONOMICS & ERGO-FIT® ADJUSTABLE COMPONENTS
Kawasaki continues its umatched commitment towards providing riders with class-leading comfort thanks to its ERGO-FIT® adjustable handlebar mounting system and footpegs to fit a variety of riders and riding styles. The KX250XC is equipped with factory-style 1-1/8” aluminum Renthal® Fatbar® handlebar, as standard equipment. The handlebars feature four-way adjustable mounts. The multi-positition handlebars offer two mounting holes with 35 mm of adjustability, and the 180-degree offset clamps boast four individual settings to suit different size riders. The footpegs feature dual-position mounting points, with a lower position that reduces the standard setting by an additional 5 mm. The lower position effectively lowers the center of gravity when standing, and reduces knee angle when tallers riders are seated.
BODYWORK & SEAT
Complementing the championship proven technology, the 2021 KX250XC features aggressive styling along with in-mold graphics on the radiator shrouds that result in an ultra-smooth surface and factory-racer look needed to finish at the top of its class. The sleek bodywork has been molded to match the V-mounted radiators and narrow chassis design. Each piece of the bodywork has been designed to help facilitate the rider’s movement with long, smooth surfaces. The rims are coated with a tough, durable black alumite treatment. Adjusters on the fork and shock both feature a high-quality green alumite finish. A gold finish on the oil cap and the both plugs on the engine cover further contribute to KX factory-racer looks and styling.
Kawasaki Team Green™ Racer Rewards
Kawasaki Team Green Racer Rewards return for the 2021 racing season with more than seven million dollars in contingency available for eligible KX riders. With unmatched trackside support at over 40 events across the nation each year, Kawasaki’s Team Green program continues to raise the bar in support of amateur and professional racing by offering its payouts of over seven million dollars up for grabs, with an increased emphasis on payouts for off-road series, such as GNCC, National Enduro, JDay Off-Road, Hare & Hound and Full Gas Sprint Enduro. The off-road payout alone boasts an impressive $2.2 million dollars there for the taking, making it the highest in the industry.
The Catalunya based Kawasaki Racing Team will make its final major step to restarting the WorldSBK season with a two day test at the Montmeló circuit, located less than a kilometre from their headquarters in Granollers, near Barcelona. Testing will take place between the eighth and ninth of July and will also feature many of the championship’s main competitors.
Five times WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea and early 2020 championship points leader Alex Lowes have already ridden their Ninja ZX-10RR machines during a short but important test session at Montmeló in late January. The 4.627km long circuit has been a regular host to MotoGP events for many years but this season it will feature a WorldSBK race weekend for the very first time.
KRT has already started its journey back into the 2020 season overall with a two-day test at Misano in Italy last month, with both riders finding positives to take into the forthcoming tests at Montmeló.
Great care was taken at the Misano test to prevent the transmission of the Covid-19 virus that has brought all forms of international motorsport to a virtual halt since the first round of WorldSBK on the first day of March. Those precautions will be continued and enhanced at the Montmeló tests, especially as there will be more participants in the paddock than were present at Misano.
The Montmeló test will be particularly important one as it is the final full WorldSBK track session for the team before they relocate to Andalusia for the restart of the 2020 season. The first of four races to be held in relatively quick succession in Iberia will begin at Jerez de la Frontera, with racedays scheduled for Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “I have been enjoying ‘van life’ and I stayed out in Misano after the test. I have been pretty much cycling around Italy with Fabien Foret and my mate Gaz for a good few days, in the campground I often stay at in Misano while observing social distancing. I have been cycling a lot, basically smashing the pedals. I also stopped off at Andrew Pitt’s place in Lucca. He is an old team-mate of mine and when he retired I ended up staying at his place for a couple of months a few years ago. It was good to be able to hit the roads on the bicycle that I used to ride there in the Tuscan hills. At Fabien’s we also did a bit of riding with Regis Laconi – even though we cycled at the correct distance from each other he definitely knows how to pedal a bicycle, I will tell you that much! So I have been full gas training since Misano. Thinking about Lockdown as an athlete, it was a strange period. We did not know when we would ride the racebike again so having no fixed date I was just trying to brush up with things I have struggled with in the past, like flexibility, and try to drop a couple of kilos safely, which managed to do. I feel in really good place and I am just trying to take my foot off the gas a little bit now because it is coming up to crunch time. We will go to Montmeló for testing now. It is super-fast and flowing and really suits my natural style. We got an afternoon there at the start of the season to do our team video shoot and I enjoyed the place. Now we will get to ride the track with all our main competitors. We were right in the mix testing at Misano, as far as lap time and consistency goes. I started feeling good with the bike again and I left there feeling great. Feeling comfortable with the bike before we go to Jerez for the race weekend will be the most important thing.”
Alex Lowes, stated: “I have been staying close to Misano at my brother’s house. His fiancé is Italian so we had some family time and also some training, which has been nice. I spent a couple days on my new KX250 motocross bike and had some nice mountain bike rides around the San Marino area. Right now I am in Barcelona, close to the team’s workshop and we will stay here until after the Portimao race. When we tested at Montmeló in January we didn’t have very good weather so although I have some knowledge of the track I didn’t fully get to get my teeth into it. Now I have a better understanding of the bike it’s going to be great to ride the circuit in full-on mode because my first impressions of Montmeló were really good. I need to work on a couple of things with my riding that my crew chief Marcel and I identified from the recent Misano test. We’re also looking to improve the rear of the bike, from a set up point of view. Although I’ve been with the team eight months or so now I am still learning the ZX-10RR. I really enjoying that process so I can’t wait to get back out!”
Guim Roda, KRT Team Manager, stated: “It is so special to make this test in Montmeló, which is so close to our KRT headquarters. We are just 1km from the circuit. Will be very interested to see many WorldSBK competitors will ride, for the first time all together, at the Circuit of Catalunya. For sure it will be very good to compare our references with those of the other riders, and from then on start to work to set up the bike for this track. Of course, we will continue working in our Covid-19 mode, with a target to keep the Paddock safe from the spread of the virus. I know everybody in KRT is particularly motivated for this test and the race itself in September!”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Yamaha WorldSBK Teams Geared Up for 2020 Return at Barcelona Test
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54) leads Michael van der Mark (60), Scott Redding, Alex Lowes, and Leon Haslam (91) during a race at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
With the coronavirus-inflicted hiatus coming to an end, Yamaha’s three Superbike World Championship teams are eager and ready to get back to work at a private two-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain, which kicks off tomorrow, Wednesday 8th July.
This week’s test will mark the first time since the WorldSBK paddock left Phillip Island in March that the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team, GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team, and the Ten Kate Racing Yamaha WorldSBK Supported squad will take to the circuit, as they prepare to resume battle at round two of the 2020 season in Jerez on 31 July – 2 August.
Pata Yamaha are in their fifth WorldSBK season together with Yamaha and they already got 2020 off to a winning start in the Australian opener, as new arrival Toprak Razgatlıoğlu showed exactly why he’s rated so highly on his Yamaha R1 race debut. The team will look to build on its early promise at the end of the month, when they return to the Jerez circuit, the site of their first victory with Michael van der Mark last year.
Both riders will be back in action for the test, with Razgatlıoğlu gaining special permission to travel to Barcelona, avoiding potential restrictions due to COVID-19. The 23-year-old Turkish star sits third in the riders’ standings with a win and Superpole race podium to his name this season, while Van der Mark’s triple top-five finish in Phillip Island puts the Dutch rider just a few points behind in fifth.
At the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team, Federico Caricasulo and Garrett Gerloff will both return to action more than four months after making their WorldSBK debuts.
American Gerloff is another who required special exemption from restrictions to allow him to travel from the United States to participate in the Barcelona test. The double MotoAmerica Supersport Champion impressed on his maiden WorldSBK outing in Australia and will use the test to reacquaint himself with the Yamaha R1.
Team-mate Caricasulo also showed promise on his first WorldSBK appearance and has been a winner at Jerez in the Supersport World Championship, making the upcoming test all-the-more important if the Italian’s to take the fight to his seasoned opposition.
Ten Kate Racing’s sole entrant Loris Baz will also ride in Spain this week ahead of the Frenchman’s return to Jerez, where he made his debut on the Yamaha R1 last year. Since that first race together, Ten Kate Racing and Baz finished 10th in the 2019 riders’ championship despite only contesting half the season. The former MotoGP ace is seventh in the current standings, following a solid opening weekend in Australia.
All riders and teams will be following strict COVID-19 measures before, during and after the two-day test to ensure that the risk to staff, riders and the general public is minimised.
To follow the three Yamaha teams progress during the official test, make sure to stay up to date on the Yamaha website and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Andrea Dosoli: Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager
“It’s been a long time since the last race, with the world finding itself in an unprecedented situation since we departed Phillip Island back in March. A lot of people in many countries have suffered hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which is still far from over. The situation has improved to the point where we can return to racing, but we must make this return in a responsible manner. We have implemented a strict safety protocol for this week’s test and the rescheduled races, to ensure that we minimise the risk of infection to our riders, our team staff and the people we come into contact with. We have a lot to test during the two days in Barcelona if we are to be ready to restart the season in Jerez. We saw in Australia that our riders and our R1 are able to fight for race wins and I am confident that we can maintain this momentum during what promises, with six confirmed race events in just 10 weeks, to be an intense season.”
Kenny Noyes crashed hard into a tire wall during a Spanish Superbike race. Doctors said he would never wake up, and would be a vegetable. That he’d never walk again. That he’d never stop trembling. In the five years since his big crash, he’s re-learned to do everything they said was impossible–and he’s not done yet!
Kenny Noyes, post-accident in a Spanish hospital. Photo courtesy Kenny Noyes.
Interview By Judit Florensa
Judit Florensa: Kenny, it’s been five years since your accident on July 5, 2015, and many people want to know where you are in your recuperation.
Kenny Noyes: I’d say I am at the half-way point, kind of advanced, but I started from way back. At first I was in a deep coma. When I got to a better state of consciousness and awareness, I could barely move. I couldn’t get up or do practically anything on my own. Now I get along pretty well by myself and the progress is on a physical level, easier to see.
JF: When did you decide to tell the people who follow your story on the social media about your progress?
KN: My dad was the one who actually began it. He wanted to inform all the people who were asking about me and social media was his best tool for doing that. The continual support from fans motivates me to keep up the connection because, in addition to explaining what I am doing, it lets me interact with them.
JF: With an injury like yours, how are you most affected?
KN: It is not like breaking a leg or a spinal injury, which is much, much worse, but with injuries like those it is clear from the start what happened to you. In my case, since the brain controls everything, I was affected at every level. So first we had to deal with the biggest problems and as I advanced we worked on smaller problems. There are thousands of tiny details that we don’t even think about because we learned all that as small children, but with a traumatic brain injury you have to learn almost everything over again.
JF: Sounds like a 24-hour a day job.
KN: Yes, but I don’t get paid. In fact, I pay to work. But, seriously, I am lucky to be able to do it, to have this second opportunity that life has given me. Every day I get a bit better. Although I was told the recovery would slow down, for me it continues and continues…. There are changes as simple as seeing the surface of a wall, appreciating textures or distinguishing the buttons on my jacket. At first everything I saw was flat, like in 2-D, and now, as my brain improves, I see all the details.
JF: Your recovery has been incredible, keeping in mind the initial expectations of the doctors. You have come far beyond that. Did you imagine you would get to this point?
KN: They told my wife that I would be in a vegetative state for the rest of my life. Then that I would never walk well, then that I wouldn’t ever stop trembling. For me, every time they said that I “could never,” that became a challenge and continues to be so. Many people say that after the first year you don’t get better. It’s true that everyone is different, but in my case it’s not like that, I am improving year by year. There are those who stop trying the first year because they don’t notice any big change, but I believe that is a mistake. Just like in racing, each small improvement counts and, in the end, all these little things add up to put you on the pole.
Kenny Noyes with his wife Iana. Photo by Nidori Media, courtesy Kenny Noyes.
JF: Did you imagine reaching this point so fast?
KN: For me it was not fast at all. It seemed very slow, agonizingly slow. And I didn’t even experience the worst. When I was unconscious, it was as if nothing had happened. I have no memory of that time, but my family remembers everything, including from the most uncertain times, when it wasn’t clear that I would survive or in what state I would end up.
JF: And were you thinking about racing again?
KN: Yes, I thought about it from the beginning, like after every injury I’ve had riding a motorcycle. My goal was to recover and get back out there. At the beginning of my recovery, I didn’t realize much and nothing scared me. In fact, I tried driving the car, riding a motorcycle, and even riding a bicycle… on safe circuits and with a lot of help, but I saw that I could do it.
One day the neuropsychologist at the Guttmann Institute in Badalona (a few miles north of Barcelona) asked me a question that made me rethink everything. She asked why I wanted to race. To be better than the others? Or to be better than I was before? I never thought of it like that! For me it had always been about the physical challenge, but I had never considered if I “wanted to race.” I never doubted that.
Before, my goal was always to improve in order to be faster than the others, never to try to be faster than I had been before. The challenge was also to be faster than my rivals, not to beat my own lap times, but to beat theirs. There is a big difference between being able to ride a motorcycle and wanting to race.
My goal now is to have enough balance and control to be able to ride a motorcycle well enough to be an instructor at our Noyes Camp racing school again. But, I don’t want to compete anymore.
JF: How does your family participate in your recovery?
KN: Without my wife and my family I would have never gotten where I am today. They have been pushing me from minute 0. The one that pushes me the most is my mother. She may be a saint to others, but she forces me to do everything for myself. She won’t even hand me the controls to the TV. My parents take turns coming to Spain to help as much as they can. When they are not here, my mother-in-law is the one helping me, taking me to parks where I can work on walking.
JF: And your wife, Iana?
KN: She is my “external” mind. We talk about everything and before I make a move I check with her. She has been fundamental to my recuperation because she has stood up to doctors and questioned everything. Also, she knows me better than anyone. She could even read my expressions when I was in the coma. She was in league with my brother and together they kept everyone in the hospital in line. If it hadn’t been for the two of them I wouldn’t have progressed so much or so quickly.
Kenny Noyes putting in work at the racetrack. Photo by Nidori Media, courtesy Kenny Noyes.
JF: What goals have you set for yourself?
KN: The main one is to improve so much that I will be able to work again and if it is in the world of motorcycles, all the better.
JF: Do you have any short-term goals?
KN: To be able to go to the “Club Metropolitan” gym, driving the car myself. Also, I would like to visit my parents in California. I haven’t taken a long trip since my accident. But these are physical objectives. As far as ongoing projects now, to present my autobiography that I am writing.
JF: Since you’ve mentioned your first book titled “The Challenges of Superbike, Moto2 and Glasgow3,” could you tell us something about it?
KN: As an autobiography, it is about my experiences in life and all the stages in my recuperation progress. There are many stories and experiences before and after the accident, including some from my childhood. And, how difficult it is to be aware of your limitations and to accept that things will never again be as they were before. They won’t be better or worse, simply different.
My goal with this book is to help everyone, and everyone´s family, who has suffered an injury similar to mine through this long and hard process. But I also write about my racing career, from flat track to road racing, with all the ups and downs—battles, victories, falls. Very lucky moments and others I would prefer to forget, such as the World Supersport race in Russia where I almost ran over a rider who had a terrible fall right in front of me and later died.
I am very happy and grateful because the legendary racer and my friend, Wayne Rainey, has written the prologue for my book.
Kenny Noyes’ upcoming autobiography “The Challenges of Superbike, Moto2 and Glasgow3.” Photo courtesy Kenny Noyes.
JF: But do you think that your case, since it was on a racetrack, will be useful to everyone?
In the racing world you are always aware that something horrible could happen to you. And when it happens, you look for a solution. But imagine receiving a phone call and hearing that a family member has had an accident, that you must come to the hospital right away. Your world would surely fall apart. The purpose of this book is to show that as long as you are alive and aware, you can and must keep fighting.
JF: The first chapter is about coming out of the coma and it’s very shocking.
KN: It is! But those were the first memories of this second part of my life.
Glasgow 3 is the lowest conscious state that exists—deep coma. I believe there is a need to make people aware of what it is to be in a coma and to come out of one, which isn’t as depicted in the movies. It is a long and complicated process.
In this book I want to show that even a person in bad shape with severe injuries can improve. I want to give people some guidelines, show some real examples that could be useful to the families. There is no one better than your family to recognize and interpret your reactions.
JF: How do you plan to finance the publication since you are doing it yourself?
KN: Yes, it will be a self-published book. As you know, publishers keep a big portion of the profits from the sale of a book and I want to be able to supervise all the expenses and use the profits to pay for continuing therapy. Writing is now the only work I can do, besides rehabilitation. Also, auto-publishing allows me to express things my own way, so you know no one has written this for me.
We have created a section in my web page: https://www.kennynoyes.com/en/book where you can pre-order the book now, although the release date will be in 2021, meaning that the people who reserve a copy now are helping to finance the publication of my book. This will be a limited edition of 500 copies and those who pre-order the book now will have a few benefits, like an early delivery of the first chapter dedicated and signed by me and the prologue by Wayne Rainey.
JF: Do you still have your GoFundMe site?
KN: Yes. We are still receiving funds and though we have not yet reached our goal, every small donation helps. It would have been impossible to pay the costs of my treatments without the help from so many fans who contributed. I can’t thank them enough.
JF: Is it so complicated and costly because of the kind of injury it is?
KN: Yes, that’s right. It is very complicated because of all the different treatments you need for speech, vision, physical therapy, balance, dexterity, dermatology–the expenses never end. And we have had to pay for the majority of the costs.
JF: How would you value the help of other people over these years?
KN: Fantastic! If it weren’t for the people who have helped us via GoFundMe, I would not be where I am today. Of that, I have no doubt. I am surprised every time someone makes a donation and I thank each one myself. Also, I have had some very good conversations with many of the people who have contributed to my recovery.
JF: How would you react to children of yours asking to ride a motorcycle?
KN: I would support them in whatever. My dad tried to keep me away from bikes but it didn’t work. He tried many things like baseball or basketball, but what I loved most was to climb on behind him on those big, fast test bikes he brought home to our house in Spain. Once he saw I was determined to race, he helped a lot. Thinking about it, there are risks in everything we do, including walking down the street.
In one chapter of the book, I tell the stories of several people I have met during this time who have suffered horrible injuries from common accidents, such as falling off a chair.
JF: One last question… How do you feel now when you watch a MotoGP race?
KN: Today I have no problem watching them, but earlier it was too hard. The level of racing in Spain these days is unbelievable. Marquez is one of a kind, but there are many other very fast Spaniards in the MotoGP class. Not many years ago there were hardly any Spaniards in the 500 class. Now it is amazing, largely due to the promotion cups and the CEV that develop great riders. I hope that in the States, through MotoAmerica, we can get with it and soon there will be a whole bunch of talented American road racers like before.
Greenwood back to winning ways, Gloddy sets a record
After nine long months since the 2019 season finale, the Loudon Road Race Series (LRRS) held the first of six races on the schedule for 2020 this past weekend (July 4-5) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
2020 marked a change for LRRS as New Hampshire Motor Speedway turned the management of the series over to longtime racers Eric Wood and John Grush.
“We’re grateful for the efforts of NHMS on behalf of LRRS over the years. They allocated corporate resources to promoting the series and spent more money on Airfence and safety upgrades than any racetrack I am aware of over the past decade,” noted Wood.
Grush agreed, saying, “Eric and I share the same vision of bringing back a true club and family atmosphere while also focusing on growing the sport of road racing in the Northeast and in the US as a whole.”
In the Amateur ranks Lincoln Gottier was the star of the show raking in six victories on his Yamaha R6. Fellow middleweight riders Anthony DiCecca, Bryan Wardius and Paul Hosue all took turns trying to unseat Gottier from his position on top of the podium, but in the end ended up taking turns occupying the second step of the podium. Gottier ran times in the low 1:17’s and is a likely candidate to get bumped to Expert before the end of the 2020 season.
In the lightweight Amateur races a similar performance was put on by SV650-mounted Drew Bailey, who went five for five for a super successful weekend. Other notable Amateur riders were Anthony Franco with three wins on his Husqvarna 450 and Thomas Sands with three wins on his KTM 390.
Scott Greenwood (4). Photo by Martin Hanlon, courtesy LRRS.
In the Expert ranks some familiar faces were back at the front. Charles “Jesse” Sandoz raked in six wins on his Ducati 1100 in the lightweight classes and Eric Wood carded four victories on his Kawasaki ZX-10R in the unlimited classes. Scott Greenwood was the star of the weekend carding six victories on his new Tony Romo-built Yamaha R6, including the premier Michelin-Motorace Middleweight GP class. One milestone of note was in the Heavyweight Supersport race where Scott Greenwood made a mistake and Sam Greenwood (Scott’s son) ended up taking home his first win against the “old man.” We’re not calling for a changing of the guard just yet, but Sammy rode well all weekend long.
Also of note, Ben Gloddy won his first race of the weekend on his Ninja 400 and then in his second race did a number on his motorcycle with a big high-side crash in Turn Four. His MotoAmerica team owner and coach Dale Quarterley lent him a motorcycle for Sunday’s 500 Superbike race and Ben bounced back with a particularly impressive ride. The previous 500 Superbike class record was a 1:19.2, and Ben smashed it with an incredible 1:17.9!
LRRS riders are back in action on July 18-19 for round #2.
The 2021 Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas is provisionally scheduled April 16-28 at Circuit of The Americas. Photo courtesy Red Bull.
The Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas, in Austin, Texas, has been cancelled for 2020.
The event was originally scheduled to happen in April 2020 and was postponed until the end of the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, according to posts by Circuit of The Americas on its social media feeds, the 2020 event is cancelled and a race date for 2021 has been set.
“Big news! The fastest bikes in the world will return next year for an even bigger and better MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas on April 16-18, 2021! This year’s event on November 13-15, 2020 has been canceled. Ticket holders will receive an email with further information. #AmericasGP”
A Ducati Multistrada 950 S in "GP White" livery at speed. Photo courtesy Ducati.
New livery for the Ducati Multistrada 950 S: “Every road, a new world”
Ducati presents the “GP White” livery for the Multistrada 950 S. The bike will be available in dealers within July
The new livery adds sportiness to the elegant lines of the Multistrada, with a MotoGP-inspired graphic and a colour scheme that alternates white, grey and Ducati Red
The Multistrada 950 is the ideal motorcycle to discover the roads and panoramas of the Italian regional territory, such as those of the Motor Valley in Emilia-Romagna
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 8 July 2020 – Ducati completes the colour range of the Multistrada 950 S for the Model Year 2021 by introducing a new “GP White” livery, which adds to the classic Ducati Red colour.
The “GP White” livery takes its inspiration from the Ducati MotoGP graphics and is based on a colour scheme that alternates white and grey, maintaining the unmistakable Ducati touch in some red details, like in the frame and in the graphics on the alloy wheels. This new colouring was designed by the Borgo Panigale motorcycle manufacturer to add sportiness to the Multistrada 950 S, which makes elegance, fluidity and balance of lines its strengths.
A Ducati Multistrada 950 S in “GP White” livery. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The Ducati Multistrada 950 is the ideal motorcycle to experience the excitement of the journey every day, rediscovering well-known roads or venturing into new territories. Riding pleasure and versatility make it perfect for any type of use. The low weight, the 19″ front wheel and the reduced seat height (840 mm) ensure agility and ease of riding, while the advanced technological equipment guarantees maximum safety and comfort in all conditions, both for those who want to tackle long journeys, maybe as a couple and with luggage, and for those looking for an agile and fun bike to use every day.
On the occasion of the launch of the new livery, the Multistrada 950 S “GP White” was the protagonist of a true “Extraordinary Journey ” set among the unmistakable landscapes of the Motor Valley in Emilia-Romagna. For a motorcycle that makes every road a new world, this land is the ideal place to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of the regional and Italian territory.
The Multistrada 950, in its S version, is equipped with the most innovative technology at the service of safety and riding pleasure: electronic suspension with Ducati Skyhook Suspension Evo (DSS) system, Ducati Quick Shift up & down (DQS), full-LED headlamp with Ducati Cornering Lights (DCL), 5” colour TFT display, Hands Free system, Cruise Control and backlit handlebar controls, as well as Bosch ABS Cornering, which increases the active safety of the vehicle. Starting from MY21, the entire Multistrada 950 range, powered by the Testastretta 11° engine (937 cc and 113 hp), will comply with Euro 5 standard in all countries where it is in force.
On all models of the Multistrada family, Ducati offers the exclusive “4Ever Multistrada” warranty, valid for 4 years with unlimited mileage. The warranty relies on the service offered by the entire network of dealers of the Bologna-based company, a competent and constantly trained team that treats every Ducati motorcycle with the same care with which it is designed and assembled in Borgo Panigale.
The Multistrada 950 S “GP White”, both in the alloy wheels and spoked wheels versions, will be available in Ducati dealers within July.
Justine Miraglia (290) leading the MotoGirlGT Superbike race and making her way through the Heavyweight Supersport Amateur field at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Photo by etechphoto.com, courtesy MotoGirlGT.
A scene from a Bike Night at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in 2019. Photo by Jen Muecke, courtesy AMA.
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Open House and Bike Night feature motorcycles, music, food and fun
Vintage BMW sidecar raffle drawing, swap meet vendors on location
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame invites all fans of motorcycling to an open house and bike night on July 11, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington.
The museum, located at 13515 Yarmouth Drive, will open to all visitors at 9 a.m., with displays that provide an in-depth look at the history of motorcycling in America. The bike night will kick off at 5 p.m. with music, food trucks and more. At 7 p.m., the Hall of Fame will draw the winning ticket for the 2020 raffle bike, a 1973 BMW R75/5 sidecar rig.
“Our summer open house and bike night provide a great opportunity for the community to learn more about the AMA and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, while motorcyclists have another reason to get on their bikes and ride,” said AMA Director of Member Activity Heather Wilson. “Whether you’ve ridden your whole life, or you’re curious about the sport, we encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity. And rest assured that safety guidelines in compliance with state and local requirements will be followed so everyone can stay safe while experiencing some of the best of motorcycling history.”
For the first time ever, the open house and bike night will welcome swap meet vendor displays, giving attendees opportunities to pick up some deals on vintage motorcycles and parts.
Starting at 5 p.m., Schmidt’s Sausage Truck and Kenny’s Meat Wagon will be selling food. A selection of beer from North High Brewing will be available for purchase.
Any additional vendors or groups, including any AMA-chartered clubs, that would like to display at the open house and bike night, should call (614) 856-2222 to reserve a spot.
More information is available on the Facebook event page at facebook.com/events/660261894832671/.
To mitigate exposure in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the following measures will be in place: indoor occupancy to the museum will be limited 70 visitors at a time, motorcycle parking will be spaced to allow social distancing, outside restroom facilities will be provided, social distancing will be required for guests, face coverings will be mandatory for staff and volunteers and encouraged for visitors, hand-sanitizing stations will be located throughout the facility, disinfecting wipes will be provided at high touch areas, signage will convey current state guidelines, and there will be temperature checks and health questionnaires for staff and volunteers.
All proceeds from AMA bike nights benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The nonprofit AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame was established in 1998 by the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation to honor the legends and heroes of American motorcycling and highlight their achievements and contributions to motorcycling.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: americanmotorcyclist.com.
A 2021 Kawasaki KX250 in action. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
2021 KAWASAKI KX™250 MOTORCYCLE
BE NEXT
The Kawasaki KX™250 motorcycle has more AMA motocross and supercross championships combined than any other manufacturer in its class and returns for 2021 with a list of enhancements that are designed to continue its winning history by keeping it the best performing bike on track. The 2021 model builds on the engine changes from the previous year to deliver even more power and make it the most powerful KX250 to date. In addition to its high revving engine, it now features new electric start, new coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch, and a new slim aluminum perimeter frame that improves handling to enable quicker lap times, making the KX250 even more potent on the racetrack. With a championship heritage that boasts 18 AMA professional titles and 189 race wins since 2004, the KX250 is the ideal platform for mid-level to expert riders looking to reach the top step of the podium.
The KX250 motorcycle is instilled with a high level of technology and KX™ DNA so that you can be the next moto prodigy. Its power, handling and adjustability personalize the feel of the motorcycle and provide higher confidence for motocross riding at all levels. The powerful engine of the KX250 features upgrades to both the top and bottom end for increased power, improved brakes offer more control when harnessing the power of the stronger engine, and an updated KX™450-style frame and fine-tuned suspension settings to create the ultimate performance package.
A 2021 Kawasaki KX250. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
Highlights of the 2021 KX250
· NEW More powerful engine
· NEW Electric start
· NEW Coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch
· NEW Lightweight aluminum perimeter frame
· NEW Fine-tuned race-ready suspension and brake components
· NEW Slim, ergonomic bodywork
ENGINE
· NEW Engine with increased peak power
· NEW Processing for intake and exhaust ports
· NEW Exhaust cam timing
· NEW Stiffer valve springs
· NEW Combustion chamber design and flatter piston crown
· NEW Longer connecting rod
· NEW Lighter crankshaft design
· NEW Revised pressure balance inside the crankcase
· NEW Coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch
· NEW Electric start via the push of a button
· NEW Lightweight, compact Li-ion battery
Despite the 2020 KX250 already benefitting from a significant power increase thanks to its adoption of finger-follower valve actuation, the engine of the 2021 KX250 has received additional changes to raise peak power even further and enable an even higher rev limit, while significantly increasing low-mid range performance.
Tuned to best suit race-experienced riders, the 249cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke engine focuses on more top-end revs thanks to improvements gleaned through Kawasaki’s factory racing efforts.
The 2021 KX250 becomes Kawasaki’s first electric start 250 motocross bike, which is activated by the push of a button located on the handlebar near the right grip, making starting easy and convenient. The ability to restart the engine quickly can mean the difference between keeping your lead or having to fight your way through the pack under intense race situations. A lightweight, compact Li-ion battery helps keep weight down, as does an automatic centrifugal decompression system fitted to the exhaust cam, which lifts one exhaust valve to facilitate starting.
In addition to electric start, the 2021 KX250 also becomes Kawasaki’s first 250 motocross bike equipped with a coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch. The new high-capacity coned disk-spring clutch offers a more direct feel and an easier pull for lighter lever action, reducing fatigue while on the racetrack. The use of coned disk-spring contributes to lighter clutch actuation when the lever is pulled in, and a wider clutch engagement range, which facilitates control. In order to promote clean separation and help reduce drag when the clutch is pulled in, the friction plates were designed with offset segments. The hydraulic clutch is designed to provide a more consistent feeling through minimal change in clutch play as the clutch heats up during heavy use.
Utilizing the finger-follower valve actuation – a valve train designed by Kawasaki’s World Superbike engineers – helps achieve a high rev limit and allows for the use of more aggressive cam profiles, which contributes to high rpm performance. A diamond-like carbon coating on the finger followers helps protect against wear. Complementing the aggressive cams are large-diameter intake and exhaust valves with high lift, which flow more air and contribute to strong power. The processing for the intake and exhaust ports has been revised with a new, larger-diameter angle that contributes to increased performance. The cams benefit from a thin and highly durable gas soft-nitride treatment to reduce wear and increase high rpm reliability and the exhaust cam timing has been retarded 3º for better engine performance. Lightweight titanium valves reduce reciprocating weight and offer high rpm reliability, while the valve springs now feature a higher spring rate to match the higher rev limit. The addition of a 3 mm longer connecting rod decreases lateral force on the cylinder walls as the piston moves up and down, helping to reduce mechanical loss and improving reliability. The cylinder is offset 3 mm forward, reducing mechanical loss and increasing engine performance. A cylinder head mounted cam chain tensioner adds to the KX250’s dependability by offsetting the increased loads from the aggressive camshaft and high revving engine.
A plateau honing process of the cylinder bore results in a smooth surface with good oil-retention. The smooth surface also helps to reduce mechanical loss and improve power. A revised combustion chamber design and a flatter piston crown contribute to increased performance. The high-performance piston features the same design used by Kawasaki’s factory racers and contributes strong performance at all rpm. A short skirt, reinforced external ribs and the use of a bridged-box piston, featuring internal bracing, allow for a lightweight and strong piston design. A dry film lubricant coating on the piston skirts reduces friction at low rpm and helps with the piston bedding-in process.
To reduce weight, an update has been made to the crankshaft web design and the pressure balance has been revised inside the crankcase, adding to the engine’s increased performance. Low-friction plain bearings on the crankshaft pin help reduce mechanical loss and lift overall performance. For strengthening of the transmission, axle spacing has been revised to match the increased engine output. Along with matching the revised axle spacing, shape-optimized gears contribute to weight reduction.
The airbox construction features a shorter, tapered intake funnel, contributing to increased high rpm performance. The KX250 was the first production motocross bike with dual injectors an injector downstream of the throttle valve that is tasked with delivering a smooth, instant response, and a second, upstream injector located close to the airbox for a significant contribution to engine output at high rpm. The exhaust system length helps increase high rpm performance and the hydro-formed joint pipe features a reverse taper design. A large throttle body flows a great volume of air and provides a boost in high rpm performance. Adding to Kawasaki’s engineering efforts for optimized airflow is the positioning of the intake duct for a straight approach for intake air. The downdraft-style intake routing increases the intake air’s approach angle into the cylinder, improving cylinder-filling efficiency and increasing the engines power.
DFI® COUPLERS
Contributing to the race-winning engine characteristics, the digital fuel injection system of the KX250 features a coupler package that has set the industry standard. Each KX250 motorcycle comes standard with three different couplers, easily allowing riders to select pre-programmed fuel injection and ignition mapping to suit their riding style or track conditions. The four-pin DFI® couplers select maps that are designed for standard, hard or soft terrain settings. Changing the engine map is as simple as connecting the coupler cap of choice. For riders looking to fine tune their ECU settings, the KX™ FI Calibration Kit (Handheld) is offered as a Kawasaki Genuine Accessory and provides access to the fully programmable ECU. Used by the factory race teams, the handheld device eliminates the need for a trackside laptop and gives riders the ability to create custom maps for precise adjustment of fuel and ignition settings. The user-friendly device can store up to seven preset maps and is PC-compatible.
LAUNCH CONTROL
The launch control system of the KX250 motorcycle is a major advantage and favorite for riders who are focused on getting to the first turn ahead of their competition. The push-button activation retards ignition timing in first and second gear, helping maximize traction on slippery surfaces like concrete starting pads and put the bike’s potent power to the ground. Once the rider shifts into third gear, normal ignition mapping immediately resumes and full power is restored.
CHASSIS
NEW KX™450-based slim aluminum perimeter frame
NEW Engine is used as a stressed member
NEW Steering head area with optimized rigidity
NEW KX450 swingarm for increased rear traction
The KX250’s new slim aluminium perimeter frame is based off of its KX450 counterpart and with lightweight, nimble handling, and slim ergonomics in mind. Its design is a lightweight construction composed of forged, extruded, and cast parts. The new frame offers a better overall rigidity balance, and while many of the parts are common with the KX450’s frame, the cast parts like shock tower mount and engine hangers were designed specifically for the needs of the KX250. Adding to the frame’s rigidity balance is the use of the engine as a stressed member. The steering head area, main frame rails with updated cross-sections, line for the swingarm brackets, and wider lower frame rails have all been revised and contribute to the overall rigidity balance.
The addition of a KX450 swingarm delivers the rigidity necessary to match the frame and helps to increase traction at the rear wheel. The center of gravity and key dimensions such as swingarm pivot, output sprocket and rear axle locations have all been carefully selected so that the rear tire drives the bike forward.
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
NEW Lower triple clamp design
NEW Revised linkage ratios
NEW Fine-tuned front and rear suspension settings
NEW Smaller-diameter 240 mm rear disc
NEW KX450 front master cylinder
The KX250 is equipped with large diameter 48 mm KYB inverted coil-spring front forks that offer optimum action at the initial part of the fork stroke. The forks feature large-diameter inner tubes, enabling the use of 25 mm damping pistons and delivering smooth action and firm damping. A Kashima Coat on the forks’ outer tubes creates a hard, low-friction surface to help prevent wear abrasion on the inside of the tubes, ensuring the sliding surfaces remain smooth over time while protecting the outside against corrosion. The lubricating material in the coat contributes to smoother suspension action and a better overall ride feel. The lower triple clamp has been revised for optimized rigidity and reduced weight, while contributing to the front’s ability to absorb bumps.
In the rear, a KYB shock unit complements the front fork. The rear shock features dual compression adjustability, which allows high-speed and low-speed damping to be tuned separately. Kashima Coat on the tank cylinder helps prevent wear abrasion and reduces friction for smoother suspension action. A new Uni-Trak® rear suspension system mounts the linkage arm below the swingarm, allowing a longer rear suspension stroke. The linkage ratios have been revised, now using the same as those found on the KX450 motorcycle, contributing to both increased absorption and damping performance. Both front and rear suspension feature new fine-tuned settings that are designed to match the frame and provide increased bump absorption as well as increased traction.
Contributing to the numerous factory-style racing components on the KX250 motorcycle are petal disc brakes. Up front is an oversized 270 mm Braking® brand rotor, which delivers strong braking force and superb control. A new front master cylinder like the one on the KX450 adds to the high level of control and overall feedback found in the front brake.
On the rear, a new smaller-diameter 240 mm Braking brand disc contributes to controllability and offers optimized stopping performance. The petal-style discs contribute to both sporty looks and help deflect debris. A rear caliper guard helps protect the caliper from damage.
ERGONOMICS & ERGO-FIT® ADJUSTABLE COMPONENTS
NEW Factory-style 1-1/8” Renthal® Fatbar® Handlebar
Kawasaki continues its unmatched commitment towards providing riders with class-leading comfort thanks to its ERGO-FIT® adjustable handlebar mounting system and footpegs to fit a variety of riders and riding styles. New for 2021 is a factory-style 1-1/8” thick aluminum Renthal® Fatbar® handlebar, a popular aftermarket part that is now a standard feature. The handlebars feature four-way adjustable mounts. The multi-position handlebars offer two mounting holes with 35 mm of adjustability, and the 180-degree offset clamps boast four individual settings to suit different size riders. The footpegs feature dual-position mounting points, with a lower position that reduces the standard setting by an additional 5 mm. The lower position effectively lowers the center of gravity when standing, and reduces knee angle when taller riders are seated.
BODYWORK & SEAT
NEW Bodywork facilitates rider movement
NEW Flatter design at the top of the fuel tank
NEW Slimmer radiator shrouds
NEW Smoother engine covers
NEW Gold finish on the oil cap and generator cover plugs
Complementing the improved peak power and precise handling of the KX250 is sleek new bodywork with factory-style graphics that helps ensure it’s the sharpest looking bike in the paddock and further reflect its highly-tuned performance.
For 2021, the bodywork has been designed to facilitate rider movement with long, smooth surfaces that make it easy to slide back and forth. The seams between the shrouds, seat, and side covers are as flush as possible to help the rider move around on the bike. A revised design on the top of the fuel tank allows an even flatter progression from the seat to the tank, which gives the rider greater freedom of movement when changing riding position and facilitates sitting farther forward. The single-piece radiator shrouds are now slimmer where they come in contact with the rider’s legs and positioned closer to the frame. In-mold graphics result in an ultra-smooth surface and contribute to the KX250’s factor-racer looks.
Engine covers have been redesigned and are smooth in order to not impede rider movement. Helping the KX250 retain its factory-style look is a new gold finish on the oil cap and the two plugs on the generator cover, while the rims are coated in black alumite.
Kawasaki Team Green™ Racer Rewards
Kawasaki Team Green Racer Rewards return for the 2021 racing season with more than seven million dollars in contingency available for eligible KX riders. Team Green’s Racer Rewards program will be available at more than 240 events across the nation. Motocross racers will have more than $5.4 million up for grabs, while off-road riders will also be rewarded with more than $2.2 million available.
KAWASAKI KX™250
Color: Lime Green
MSRP: $8,299
Availability: Now
More, from another press release issued by Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.:
2021 KAWASAKI KX™450 MOTORCYCLE
THE BIKE THAT BUILDS CHAMPIONS
A 2021 Kawasaki KX450. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
The Kawasaki KX™450 motorcycle returns as the flagship model in the Kawasaki KX™ lineup for 2021 and boasts several new updates to maintain its edge as the leader in its class. Tuned to best suit race-experienced riders, the 449cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke engine with improved engine power, slim aluminum perimeter frame, Showa A-KIT technology suspension, redesigned hydraulic clutch and electric start are the ultimate combination of a championship winning package.
The KX450 is built with race-winning components to help Kawasaki riders get to the top step of the podium. For 2021 the KX450 receives engine updates for increased performance, a new coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch, and a new 1-1/8” Renthal® Fatbar® handlebar. From the showroom to the racetrack, the performance of Kawasaki’s KX family of motorcycles is proof of its engineering pedigree. It truly is The Bike That Builds Champions.
ENGINE
· NEW Dry film lubricant coating on the piston skirt
· NEW Larger diameter clutch plates and revised friction material
· NEW Coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch for improved clutch performance
The four-stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, water-cooled 449cc lightweight engine package utilizes input derived directly from the Monster Energy® Kawasaki race team, producing peak power and a torque curve that makes it easy to get on the gas early. The potent KX450 engine features an electric start, which is activated by the push of a button and powered by a compact Li-ion battery.
Kawasaki utilizes top-level road racing technology in the KX450 valve train, using designs from Kawasaki World Superbike engineers. It uses finger-follower valve actuation, enabling larger-diameter valves and more aggressive cam profiles. The intake and exhaust valves are formed from lightwight titanium, while a bridged-box piston uses the same design as the race team’s factory motorcycles. A new dry film lubricant coating on the piston skirt reduces friction between the piston and cylinder wall, contributing to increased performance.
A close-ratio five speed transmission features lightweight gears and shafts to keep weight down, yet retain strength, while contributing to the motorcycle’s winning performance. The transmision is paired with a new high-capacity coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch for 2021. The clutch’s coil springs have been replaced with a coned disk-spring, resulting in lighter clutch actuation when the lever is pulled in, and a wider clutch engagement range to help facilitate control. Larger diameter clutch plates and revised friction material is designed to provide a consistent feeling through minimal change in play as the clutch heats up during heavy use. The friction plates feature offset segments to help promote clean separation of the discs and reduce drag when the clutch is pulled in.
CHASSIS
An industry-leading slim aluminum perimeter frame provides precise cornering through excellent front-end feel and agility when riding at high speeds. The frame’s lightweight construction is composed of forged, extruded and cast parts, while the engine is used as a stressed member and adds to the frames rigidity balance. A lightweight alloy swingarm is constructed of a cast front section and twin tapered hydro-formed spars in a raw aluminum finish, complementing the frame. Engineers carefully placed the dimension of the swingarm pivot, output sprocket and rear axle locations, helping to focus on center of gravity and balanced handling.
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
High-performance Showa 49 mm coil spring front forks with A-KIT technology can be found up front, featuring large diameter inner tubes that are the same size as those found on the machines of Kawasaki’s factory racing team (KRT). The forks enable the use of large damping pistons for smooth action and firm damping.
In the rear, a new Uni-Trak® linkage system is designed to work in conjunction with the Showa shock, aluminum frame and swingarm. The linkage, which is mounted below the swingarm, allows for a longer rear suspension stroke and more precise rear suspension tuning. The Showa Compact Design rear shock boasts A-KIT technology with large diameter compression adjusters, improving on the high frequency movements found on today’s motocross tracks.
An oversized 270 mm, petal-shaped front brake rotor from the renowned manufacturer, Braking®, is fitted to perfectly complement the powerful engine of the KX450. The rear is equipped with a 250 mm petal-shaped Braking rotor that matches the large front disc.
ERGONOMICS & ERGO-FIT® ADJUSTABILITY
· NEW Factory-style 1-1/8” Renthal® Fatbar® handlebar
New for the 2021 KX450 is a factory-style aluminum Renthal Fatbar handlebar that helps to reduce vibration and shocks transmitted to the rider through the thicker 1-1/8” handlebar. The new handlebar grip position is lower and closer to the rider, making it easier for the rider to weight the front wheel.
Kawasaki continues its umatched commitment towards providing riders with class-leading ERGO-FIT® comfort thanks its adjustable handlebar mounting system and footpegs to fit a variety of riders and riding styles. The handlebars feature four-way adjustable mounts. The multi-positition handlebars offer two mounting holes with 35 mm of adjustability, and the 180-degree offset clamps boast four individual settings to suit different size riders. The footpegs feature dual-position mounting points, with a lower position that reduces the standard setting by an additional 5 mm. The lower position effectively lowers the center of gravity when standing, and reduces knee angle when tallers riders are seated.
BODYWORK & SEAT
Complementing the championship proven technology, the 2021 KX450 features aggressive styling along with in-mold graphics on the radiator shrouds that result in an ultra-smooth surface and racy look needed to finish at the top of its class. The sleek bodywork has been molded to match the V-mounted radiators and narrow chassis design. Each piece of the bodywork has been designed to help facilitate riders movement with long, smooth surfaces that make it easy to slide back and forth.
Kawasaki Team Green™ Racer Rewards
Kawasaki Team Green Racer Rewards return for the 2021 racing season with more than seven million dollars in contingency available for eligible KX riders. Team Green’s Racer Rewards program will be available at more than 240 events across the nation. Motocross racers will have more than $5.4 million up for grabs, while off-road riders will also be rewarded with more than $2.2 million available.
KAWASAKI KX™450
Color: Lime Green
MSRP: $9,399
Availability: Now
More, from another press release issued by Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.:
2021 KAWASAKI KX™ XC OFF-ROAD LINEUP
GET THE OFF-ROAD EDGE.
A 2021 Kawasaki KX450XC. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
The championship-proven technology of KX™ race machines has now been purposely tuned for off-road competition. Kawasaki is proud to announce all-new race ready off-road KX™ XC models with the all-new 2021 KX™250XC and KX™450XC models.
As a brand that has a rich history in off-road racing with more than 25 championships in WORCS, National Hare & Hound, GNCC, and Endurocross over the past 20 years, there’s no denying the all-new KX XC models are powered by technology that hails from a legacy of champions.
The KX250XC and KX450XC share many winning traits with their motocross counterparts including the engine, frame, chassis, and styling, paired with unique cross-country tuning and settings such as suspension settings, gearing, off-road 21”/18” wheel combination, Dunlop Geomax AT81 tires, brake components, skid plate, and kickstand. The softer suspension settings and shorter gearing ratio help to create the optimal handling off-road race package for the KX XC lineup.
Developed to dominate off-road racecourses in both the woods and the desert, the KX XC lineup offers riders an arsenal of factory-style features along with the dominant engine and chassis performance right off the showroom floor.
Highlights of the 2021 KX XC Lineup
· ALL-NEW Off-road optimized engine and suspension settings
· ALL-NEW 21” front wheel and 18” rear wheel
· ALL-NEW Dunlop GEOMAX AT81 tires
· ALL-NEW Brake components
· ALL-NEW Skid plate
· ALL-NEW Kickstand
KAWASAKI KX™450XC
The all-new 2021 KX450XC has been designed as the flagship model of the KX XC lineup. Whether in the woods, desert, or cross-country the KX450XC is a race-ready championship winning machine right off the showroom floor, and shares numerous winning traits of its motocross counterpart, the KX450.
An cross-country race machine tuned for more experienced riders, the 449cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke engine, slim aluminum perimeter frame, Showa A-KIT technology suspension, hydraulic clutch and electric start are the ultimate combination of a championship winning package.
The KX450XC is built with race-winning components to help Kawasaki riders get to the top step of the podium. From the showroom to the racetrack, the performance of Kawasaki’s KX family of motorcycles is proof of its engineering pedigree.
ENGINE
The four-stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, water-cooled 449cc lightweight engine package utilizes input derived directly from the factory race team, with optimized engine mapping and settings for off-road racing. The potent KX450XC engine features an electric start, which is activated by the push of a button and powered by a compact Li-ion battery.
Kawasaki brought top-level road racing technology to the KX450XC valve train, using designs from Kawasaki World Superbike engineers. It uses a finger-follower valve actuation, enabling larger-diameter valves and more aggressive cam profiles. The intake and exhaust valves are formed from lightwight titanium, while a bridged-box piston uses the same design as the Monster Energy® Kawasaki race team’s factory motorcycles. For increased performance on the 2021 KX450XC engine, the piston also features a dry film lubricant coating on the piston skirt to reduce friction.
A close-ratio five speed transmission features lightweight gears and shafts to keep weight down, yet retains strength, while contributing to the motorcycle’s winning performance. The KX450XC has shorter gearing than its counterpart, the KX450, with a final gear ratio of 51/13. The transmission is paired with a coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch that is designed to provide a consistent feeling through minimal change in play as the clutch heats up during heavy use. The coned disc-spring contributes to a light clutch actuation and a wide clutch engagement range, which facilitates increased control.
CHASSIS
An industry-leading slim aluminum perimeter frame provides pecise cornering through excellent front-end feel and the ultimate agility when riding at high speeds. The frame’s lightweight construction is composed of forged, extruded and cast parts, while the engine is used as a stressed member and adds to the frames rigidity balance. A lightweight alloy swingarm is constructed of a cast front section and twin tapered hydro-formed spars in a raw aluminum finish, complementing the frame’s raw look. Engineers carefully placed the dimension of the swingarm pivot, output sprocket and rear axle locations, helping to focus on lower center of gravity and balanced handling.
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
The race-ready suspension found on the KX450XC features front and rear spring rates and damping settings that have been optimized for technical off-road and cross-country racing environments. High-performance Showa 49 mm coil spring front forks with A-KIT technology can be found up front, featuring large diameter inner tubes that are the same size as those found on Kawasaki’s factory racing team’s machines. The forks enable the use of large damping pistons for smooth action and firm damping. A super-hard titanium coating on the outer surface of the inner/lower fork tubes helps prevent wear and abrasion. The increased surface hardness of the dark navy-blue coating also helps to prevent scratches and damage to the tubes. Kashima Coating on the fork tubes also helps prevent wear and abrasion while optimizing performance.
On the rear, a new Uni-Trak® linkage system is designed to work in conjunction with the Showa shock, aluminum frame and swingarm. The linkage, which is mounted below the swingarm, allows for a longer rear suspension stroke and more precise rear suspension tuning. The Showa Compact Design rear shock boasts A-KIT technology with large diameter compression adjusters, improving on the high frequency movements found when racing cross-country. The Showa shock features a self-lubricating alumite coating on the shock body to help prevent wear and abrasion, while also reducing friction for smoother suspension action.
An oversized 270 mm, petal-shaped front brake rotor from the renowned manufacturer, Braking, is fitted to perfectly complement the powerful engine of the KX450XC. Optimized for cross-country riding and increased control, the rear is equipped with a 240 mm petal-shaped Braking® rotor that matches the large front disc. Both are gripped by Nissin master cylinder and caliper setups with XC-specific pads.
XC SPECIFIC COMPONENTS
The KX450XC is equipped with many specific cross-country components, such as the 21” front and 18” rear wheel combination paired with Dunlop GEOMAX AT81 tires, which were selected for optimal handling in off-road racing conditions. Other cross-country specific components include the durable plastic skid plate and side stand.
ERGONOMICS & ERGO-FIT® ADJUSTABLE COMPONENTS
Kawasaki continues its umatched commitment towards providing riders with class-leading comfort thanks to its ERGO-FIT® adjustable handlebar mounting system and footpegs to fit a variety of riders and riding styles. The KX450XC is equipped with factory-style 1-1/8” aluminum Renthal® Fatbar® handlebar, as standard equipment. The handlebars feature four-way adjustable mounts. The multi-positition handlebars offer two mounting holes with 35 mm of adjustability, and the 180-degree offset clamps boast four individual settings to suit different size riders. The footpegs feature dual-position mounting points, with a lower position that reduces the standard setting by an additional 5 mm. The lower position effectively lowers the center of gravity when standing, and reduces knee angle when tallers riders are seated.
BODYWORK & SEAT
Complementing the championship proven technology, the 2021 KX450XC features aggressive styling along with in-mold graphics on the radiator shrouds that result in an ultra-smooth surface and a factory-racer look needed to finish at the top of its class. The sleek bodywork has been molded to match the V-mounted radiators and narrow chassis design. Each piece of the bodywork has been designed to help facilitate the rider’s movement with long, smooth surfaces. The rims are coated with tough, durable black alumite treatment. Adjusters on the fork and shock both feature a high-quality green alumite finish. A gold finish on the oil cap and the both plugs on the engine cover further contribute to KX factory-racer looks and styling.
Kawasaki Team Green™ Racer Rewards
Kawasaki Team Green Racer Rewards return for the 2021 racing season with more than seven million dollars in contingency available for eligible KX riders. With unmatched trackside support at over 40 events across the nation each year, Kawasaki’s Team Green program continues to raise the bar in support of amateur and professional racing by offering its payouts of over seven million dollars up for grabs, with an increased emphasis on payouts for off-road series, such as GNCC, National Enduro, JDay Off-Road, Hare & Hound and Full Gas Sprint Enduro. The off-road payout alone boasts an impressive $2.2 million dollars there for the taking, making it the highest in the industry.
KAWASAKI KX™450XC
Color: Lime Green
MSRP: $9,599
Availability: Summer 2020
A 2021 Kawasaki KX250XC. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
KAWASAKI KX™250XC
The all-new 2021 KX250XC has been designed for the rising stars in the XC2 250 Pro or Pro 2 Class and provides riders with a race-ready off-road motorcycle. Built from the legendary motocross winning pedigree of the KX™250 motorcycle and tuned to best suit off-road race-experienced riders, the 249cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke engine, slim aluminum perimeter frame, top of the line KYB suspension components, hydraulic clutch and electric start are the ultimate combination of a championship winning package.
The KX250XC is built with race-winning components to help Kawasaki riders get to the top step of the podium in all off-road and cross-country racing enviornments. From the showroom to the racetrack, the performance of Kawasaki’s KX™ family of motorcycles is proof of its engineering pedigree.
ENGINE
The four-stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, water-cooled 249cc lightweight engine package utilizes input derived directly from the factory race team, with optimized engine mapping and settings for off-road racing. The powerful KX250XC engine features an electric start, which is activated by the push of a button and powered by a compact Li-ion battery.
Kawasaki brought top-level road racing technology to the KX250XC valve train, using designs from Kawasaki World Superbike engineers. It uses finger-follower valve actuation, enabling larger-diameter valves and more aggressive cam profiles. The intake and exhaust valves are formed from lightwight titanium, while a bridged-box piston uses the same design as the Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki race team’s motorcycles.
A close-ratio five speed transmission features lightweight gears and shafts to keep weight down, yet retain strength, while contributing to the motorcycle’s winning performance. The KX250XC has shorter gearing than its counterpart, the KX250, with a final gear ratio of 51/13. The transmission is paired with a coned disk-spring hydraulic clutch that is designed to provide a consistent feeling through minimal change in play as the clutch heats up during heavy use. The coned disc-spring contributes to a light clutch actuation and a wide clutch engagement range, which facilitates increased control.
CHASSIS
The industry-leading slim aluminum perimeter frame is all-new for 2021 and provides precise cornering through excellent front-end feel and the ultimate agility when riding at high speeds. The frame’s lightweight construction is composed of forged, extruded and cast parts, while the engine is used as a stressed member and adds to the frame’s rigidity balance. A lightweight alloy swingarm is constructed of a cast front section and twin tapered hydro-formed spars in a raw aluminum finish, complementing the frame’s raw look. Engineers carefully placed the dimension of the swingarm pivot, output sprocket and rear axle locations, helping to focus on center of gravity and balanced handling.
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
High-performance KYB 48 mm coil spring front forks can be found up front, featuring large diameter inner tubes that are the same size as those found on Kawasaki’s factory racing team’s machines, but with optimized spring rates and damping settings for off-road riding. The forks enable the use of large damping pistons for smooth action and firm damping. Kashima Coating on the fork tubes helps prevent wear and abrasion while optimizing performance.
In the rear, a new Uni-Trak® linkage system is designed to work in conjunction with the KYB shock, aluminum frame and swingarm. The linkage, which is mounted below the swingarm, allows for a longer rear suspension stroke and more precise rear suspension tuning. The KYB rear shock features dual compression adjustability, allowing high-speed and low-speed damping to be tuned separately. Kashima Coating on the shock helps prevent wear and reduces friction for smoother suspension action.
An oversized 270 mm, petal-shaped front brake rotor from the renowned manufacturer, Braking, is fitted to perfectly complement the powerful engine of the KX250XC. The rear is equipped with a 240 mm petal-shaped Braking® rotor that matches the large front disc. Both are gripped by Nissin master cylinder and caliper setups and feature XC-specific pads.
XC SPECIFIC COMPONENTS
The KX250XC is equipped with many specific cross-country components, such as the 21” front and 18” rear wheel combination paired with Dunlop GEOMAX AT81 tires, which were selected for optimal handling in off-road racing conditions. Other cross-country specific components include the durable plastic skid plate and side stand.
ERGONOMICS & ERGO-FIT® ADJUSTABLE COMPONENTS
Kawasaki continues its umatched commitment towards providing riders with class-leading comfort thanks to its ERGO-FIT® adjustable handlebar mounting system and footpegs to fit a variety of riders and riding styles. The KX250XC is equipped with factory-style 1-1/8” aluminum Renthal® Fatbar® handlebar, as standard equipment. The handlebars feature four-way adjustable mounts. The multi-positition handlebars offer two mounting holes with 35 mm of adjustability, and the 180-degree offset clamps boast four individual settings to suit different size riders. The footpegs feature dual-position mounting points, with a lower position that reduces the standard setting by an additional 5 mm. The lower position effectively lowers the center of gravity when standing, and reduces knee angle when tallers riders are seated.
BODYWORK & SEAT
Complementing the championship proven technology, the 2021 KX250XC features aggressive styling along with in-mold graphics on the radiator shrouds that result in an ultra-smooth surface and factory-racer look needed to finish at the top of its class. The sleek bodywork has been molded to match the V-mounted radiators and narrow chassis design. Each piece of the bodywork has been designed to help facilitate the rider’s movement with long, smooth surfaces. The rims are coated with a tough, durable black alumite treatment. Adjusters on the fork and shock both feature a high-quality green alumite finish. A gold finish on the oil cap and the both plugs on the engine cover further contribute to KX factory-racer looks and styling.
Kawasaki Team Green™ Racer Rewards
Kawasaki Team Green Racer Rewards return for the 2021 racing season with more than seven million dollars in contingency available for eligible KX riders. With unmatched trackside support at over 40 events across the nation each year, Kawasaki’s Team Green program continues to raise the bar in support of amateur and professional racing by offering its payouts of over seven million dollars up for grabs, with an increased emphasis on payouts for off-road series, such as GNCC, National Enduro, JDay Off-Road, Hare & Hound and Full Gas Sprint Enduro. The off-road payout alone boasts an impressive $2.2 million dollars there for the taking, making it the highest in the industry.
Jonathan Rea (1) and team as seen during a recent World Superbike test at Misano. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
KRT’s Track Preparations Head Home
The Catalunya based Kawasaki Racing Team will make its final major step to restarting the WorldSBK season with a two day test at the Montmeló circuit, located less than a kilometre from their headquarters in Granollers, near Barcelona. Testing will take place between the eighth and ninth of July and will also feature many of the championship’s main competitors.
Five times WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea and early 2020 championship points leader Alex Lowes have already ridden their Ninja ZX-10RR machines during a short but important test session at Montmeló in late January. The 4.627km long circuit has been a regular host to MotoGP events for many years but this season it will feature a WorldSBK race weekend for the very first time.
KRT has already started its journey back into the 2020 season overall with a two-day test at Misano in Italy last month, with both riders finding positives to take into the forthcoming tests at Montmeló.
Great care was taken at the Misano test to prevent the transmission of the Covid-19 virus that has brought all forms of international motorsport to a virtual halt since the first round of WorldSBK on the first day of March. Those precautions will be continued and enhanced at the Montmeló tests, especially as there will be more participants in the paddock than were present at Misano.
The Montmeló test will be particularly important one as it is the final full WorldSBK track session for the team before they relocate to Andalusia for the restart of the 2020 season. The first of four races to be held in relatively quick succession in Iberia will begin at Jerez de la Frontera, with racedays scheduled for Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “I have been enjoying ‘van life’ and I stayed out in Misano after the test. I have been pretty much cycling around Italy with Fabien Foret and my mate Gaz for a good few days, in the campground I often stay at in Misano while observing social distancing. I have been cycling a lot, basically smashing the pedals. I also stopped off at Andrew Pitt’s place in Lucca. He is an old team-mate of mine and when he retired I ended up staying at his place for a couple of months a few years ago. It was good to be able to hit the roads on the bicycle that I used to ride there in the Tuscan hills. At Fabien’s we also did a bit of riding with Regis Laconi – even though we cycled at the correct distance from each other he definitely knows how to pedal a bicycle, I will tell you that much! So I have been full gas training since Misano. Thinking about Lockdown as an athlete, it was a strange period. We did not know when we would ride the racebike again so having no fixed date I was just trying to brush up with things I have struggled with in the past, like flexibility, and try to drop a couple of kilos safely, which managed to do. I feel in really good place and I am just trying to take my foot off the gas a little bit now because it is coming up to crunch time. We will go to Montmeló for testing now. It is super-fast and flowing and really suits my natural style. We got an afternoon there at the start of the season to do our team video shoot and I enjoyed the place. Now we will get to ride the track with all our main competitors. We were right in the mix testing at Misano, as far as lap time and consistency goes. I started feeling good with the bike again and I left there feeling great. Feeling comfortable with the bike before we go to Jerez for the race weekend will be the most important thing.”
Alex Lowes, stated: “I have been staying close to Misano at my brother’s house. His fiancé is Italian so we had some family time and also some training, which has been nice. I spent a couple days on my new KX250 motocross bike and had some nice mountain bike rides around the San Marino area. Right now I am in Barcelona, close to the team’s workshop and we will stay here until after the Portimao race. When we tested at Montmeló in January we didn’t have very good weather so although I have some knowledge of the track I didn’t fully get to get my teeth into it. Now I have a better understanding of the bike it’s going to be great to ride the circuit in full-on mode because my first impressions of Montmeló were really good. I need to work on a couple of things with my riding that my crew chief Marcel and I identified from the recent Misano test. We’re also looking to improve the rear of the bike, from a set up point of view. Although I’ve been with the team eight months or so now I am still learning the ZX-10RR. I really enjoying that process so I can’t wait to get back out!”
Guim Roda, KRT Team Manager, stated: “It is so special to make this test in Montmeló, which is so close to our KRT headquarters. We are just 1km from the circuit. Will be very interested to see many WorldSBK competitors will ride, for the first time all together, at the Circuit of Catalunya. For sure it will be very good to compare our references with those of the other riders, and from then on start to work to set up the bike for this track. Of course, we will continue working in our Covid-19 mode, with a target to keep the Paddock safe from the spread of the virus. I know everybody in KRT is particularly motivated for this test and the race itself in September!”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Yamaha WorldSBK Teams Geared Up for 2020 Return at Barcelona Test
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54) leads Michael van der Mark (60), Scott Redding, Alex Lowes, and Leon Haslam (91) during a race at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
With the coronavirus-inflicted hiatus coming to an end, Yamaha’s three Superbike World Championship teams are eager and ready to get back to work at a private two-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain, which kicks off tomorrow, Wednesday 8th July.
This week’s test will mark the first time since the WorldSBK paddock left Phillip Island in March that the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team, GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team, and the Ten Kate Racing Yamaha WorldSBK Supported squad will take to the circuit, as they prepare to resume battle at round two of the 2020 season in Jerez on 31 July – 2 August.
Pata Yamaha are in their fifth WorldSBK season together with Yamaha and they already got 2020 off to a winning start in the Australian opener, as new arrival Toprak Razgatlıoğlu showed exactly why he’s rated so highly on his Yamaha R1 race debut. The team will look to build on its early promise at the end of the month, when they return to the Jerez circuit, the site of their first victory with Michael van der Mark last year.
Both riders will be back in action for the test, with Razgatlıoğlu gaining special permission to travel to Barcelona, avoiding potential restrictions due to COVID-19. The 23-year-old Turkish star sits third in the riders’ standings with a win and Superpole race podium to his name this season, while Van der Mark’s triple top-five finish in Phillip Island puts the Dutch rider just a few points behind in fifth.
At the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team, Federico Caricasulo and Garrett Gerloff will both return to action more than four months after making their WorldSBK debuts.
American Gerloff is another who required special exemption from restrictions to allow him to travel from the United States to participate in the Barcelona test. The double MotoAmerica Supersport Champion impressed on his maiden WorldSBK outing in Australia and will use the test to reacquaint himself with the Yamaha R1.
Team-mate Caricasulo also showed promise on his first WorldSBK appearance and has been a winner at Jerez in the Supersport World Championship, making the upcoming test all-the-more important if the Italian’s to take the fight to his seasoned opposition.
Ten Kate Racing’s sole entrant Loris Baz will also ride in Spain this week ahead of the Frenchman’s return to Jerez, where he made his debut on the Yamaha R1 last year. Since that first race together, Ten Kate Racing and Baz finished 10th in the 2019 riders’ championship despite only contesting half the season. The former MotoGP ace is seventh in the current standings, following a solid opening weekend in Australia.
All riders and teams will be following strict COVID-19 measures before, during and after the two-day test to ensure that the risk to staff, riders and the general public is minimised.
To follow the three Yamaha teams progress during the official test, make sure to stay up to date on the Yamaha website and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Andrea Dosoli: Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager
“It’s been a long time since the last race, with the world finding itself in an unprecedented situation since we departed Phillip Island back in March. A lot of people in many countries have suffered hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which is still far from over. The situation has improved to the point where we can return to racing, but we must make this return in a responsible manner. We have implemented a strict safety protocol for this week’s test and the rescheduled races, to ensure that we minimise the risk of infection to our riders, our team staff and the people we come into contact with. We have a lot to test during the two days in Barcelona if we are to be ready to restart the season in Jerez. We saw in Australia that our riders and our R1 are able to fight for race wins and I am confident that we can maintain this momentum during what promises, with six confirmed race events in just 10 weeks, to be an intense season.”
Matt Lamb (5) won both Supermoto Expert races and Will Moore, Jr. (802) won both Superbike 390 Expert races at the Motogladiator round July 5 at VIR Patriot course. Photo by Joshua Barnett/Apex Pro Photo, courtesy Motogladiator.
Kenny Noyes crashed hard into a tire wall during a Spanish Superbike race. Doctors said he would never wake up, and would be a vegetable. That he’d never walk again. That he’d never stop trembling. In the five years since his big crash, he’s re-learned to do everything they said was impossible–and he’s not done yet!
Kenny Noyes, post-accident in a Spanish hospital. Photo courtesy Kenny Noyes.
Interview By Judit Florensa
Judit Florensa: Kenny, it’s been five years since your accident on July 5, 2015, and many people want to know where you are in your recuperation.
Kenny Noyes: I’d say I am at the half-way point, kind of advanced, but I started from way back. At first I was in a deep coma. When I got to a better state of consciousness and awareness, I could barely move. I couldn’t get up or do practically anything on my own. Now I get along pretty well by myself and the progress is on a physical level, easier to see.
JF: When did you decide to tell the people who follow your story on the social media about your progress?
KN: My dad was the one who actually began it. He wanted to inform all the people who were asking about me and social media was his best tool for doing that. The continual support from fans motivates me to keep up the connection because, in addition to explaining what I am doing, it lets me interact with them.
JF: With an injury like yours, how are you most affected?
KN: It is not like breaking a leg or a spinal injury, which is much, much worse, but with injuries like those it is clear from the start what happened to you. In my case, since the brain controls everything, I was affected at every level. So first we had to deal with the biggest problems and as I advanced we worked on smaller problems. There are thousands of tiny details that we don’t even think about because we learned all that as small children, but with a traumatic brain injury you have to learn almost everything over again.
JF: Sounds like a 24-hour a day job.
KN: Yes, but I don’t get paid. In fact, I pay to work. But, seriously, I am lucky to be able to do it, to have this second opportunity that life has given me. Every day I get a bit better. Although I was told the recovery would slow down, for me it continues and continues…. There are changes as simple as seeing the surface of a wall, appreciating textures or distinguishing the buttons on my jacket. At first everything I saw was flat, like in 2-D, and now, as my brain improves, I see all the details.
JF: Your recovery has been incredible, keeping in mind the initial expectations of the doctors. You have come far beyond that. Did you imagine you would get to this point?
KN: They told my wife that I would be in a vegetative state for the rest of my life. Then that I would never walk well, then that I wouldn’t ever stop trembling. For me, every time they said that I “could never,” that became a challenge and continues to be so. Many people say that after the first year you don’t get better. It’s true that everyone is different, but in my case it’s not like that, I am improving year by year. There are those who stop trying the first year because they don’t notice any big change, but I believe that is a mistake. Just like in racing, each small improvement counts and, in the end, all these little things add up to put you on the pole.
Kenny Noyes with his wife Iana. Photo by Nidori Media, courtesy Kenny Noyes.
JF: Did you imagine reaching this point so fast?
KN: For me it was not fast at all. It seemed very slow, agonizingly slow. And I didn’t even experience the worst. When I was unconscious, it was as if nothing had happened. I have no memory of that time, but my family remembers everything, including from the most uncertain times, when it wasn’t clear that I would survive or in what state I would end up.
JF: And were you thinking about racing again?
KN: Yes, I thought about it from the beginning, like after every injury I’ve had riding a motorcycle. My goal was to recover and get back out there. At the beginning of my recovery, I didn’t realize much and nothing scared me. In fact, I tried driving the car, riding a motorcycle, and even riding a bicycle… on safe circuits and with a lot of help, but I saw that I could do it.
One day the neuropsychologist at the Guttmann Institute in Badalona (a few miles north of Barcelona) asked me a question that made me rethink everything. She asked why I wanted to race. To be better than the others? Or to be better than I was before? I never thought of it like that! For me it had always been about the physical challenge, but I had never considered if I “wanted to race.” I never doubted that.
Before, my goal was always to improve in order to be faster than the others, never to try to be faster than I had been before. The challenge was also to be faster than my rivals, not to beat my own lap times, but to beat theirs. There is a big difference between being able to ride a motorcycle and wanting to race.
My goal now is to have enough balance and control to be able to ride a motorcycle well enough to be an instructor at our Noyes Camp racing school again. But, I don’t want to compete anymore.
JF: How does your family participate in your recovery?
KN: Without my wife and my family I would have never gotten where I am today. They have been pushing me from minute 0. The one that pushes me the most is my mother. She may be a saint to others, but she forces me to do everything for myself. She won’t even hand me the controls to the TV. My parents take turns coming to Spain to help as much as they can. When they are not here, my mother-in-law is the one helping me, taking me to parks where I can work on walking.
JF: And your wife, Iana?
KN: She is my “external” mind. We talk about everything and before I make a move I check with her. She has been fundamental to my recuperation because she has stood up to doctors and questioned everything. Also, she knows me better than anyone. She could even read my expressions when I was in the coma. She was in league with my brother and together they kept everyone in the hospital in line. If it hadn’t been for the two of them I wouldn’t have progressed so much or so quickly.
Kenny Noyes putting in work at the racetrack. Photo by Nidori Media, courtesy Kenny Noyes.
JF: What goals have you set for yourself?
KN: The main one is to improve so much that I will be able to work again and if it is in the world of motorcycles, all the better.
JF: Do you have any short-term goals?
KN: To be able to go to the “Club Metropolitan” gym, driving the car myself. Also, I would like to visit my parents in California. I haven’t taken a long trip since my accident. But these are physical objectives. As far as ongoing projects now, to present my autobiography that I am writing.
JF: Since you’ve mentioned your first book titled “The Challenges of Superbike, Moto2 and Glasgow3,” could you tell us something about it?
KN: As an autobiography, it is about my experiences in life and all the stages in my recuperation progress. There are many stories and experiences before and after the accident, including some from my childhood. And, how difficult it is to be aware of your limitations and to accept that things will never again be as they were before. They won’t be better or worse, simply different.
My goal with this book is to help everyone, and everyone´s family, who has suffered an injury similar to mine through this long and hard process. But I also write about my racing career, from flat track to road racing, with all the ups and downs—battles, victories, falls. Very lucky moments and others I would prefer to forget, such as the World Supersport race in Russia where I almost ran over a rider who had a terrible fall right in front of me and later died.
I am very happy and grateful because the legendary racer and my friend, Wayne Rainey, has written the prologue for my book.
Kenny Noyes’ upcoming autobiography “The Challenges of Superbike, Moto2 and Glasgow3.” Photo courtesy Kenny Noyes.
JF: But do you think that your case, since it was on a racetrack, will be useful to everyone?
In the racing world you are always aware that something horrible could happen to you. And when it happens, you look for a solution. But imagine receiving a phone call and hearing that a family member has had an accident, that you must come to the hospital right away. Your world would surely fall apart. The purpose of this book is to show that as long as you are alive and aware, you can and must keep fighting.
JF: The first chapter is about coming out of the coma and it’s very shocking.
KN: It is! But those were the first memories of this second part of my life.
Glasgow 3 is the lowest conscious state that exists—deep coma. I believe there is a need to make people aware of what it is to be in a coma and to come out of one, which isn’t as depicted in the movies. It is a long and complicated process.
In this book I want to show that even a person in bad shape with severe injuries can improve. I want to give people some guidelines, show some real examples that could be useful to the families. There is no one better than your family to recognize and interpret your reactions.
JF: How do you plan to finance the publication since you are doing it yourself?
KN: Yes, it will be a self-published book. As you know, publishers keep a big portion of the profits from the sale of a book and I want to be able to supervise all the expenses and use the profits to pay for continuing therapy. Writing is now the only work I can do, besides rehabilitation. Also, auto-publishing allows me to express things my own way, so you know no one has written this for me.
We have created a section in my web page: https://www.kennynoyes.com/en/book where you can pre-order the book now, although the release date will be in 2021, meaning that the people who reserve a copy now are helping to finance the publication of my book. This will be a limited edition of 500 copies and those who pre-order the book now will have a few benefits, like an early delivery of the first chapter dedicated and signed by me and the prologue by Wayne Rainey.
JF: Do you still have your GoFundMe site?
KN: Yes. We are still receiving funds and though we have not yet reached our goal, every small donation helps. It would have been impossible to pay the costs of my treatments without the help from so many fans who contributed. I can’t thank them enough.
JF: Is it so complicated and costly because of the kind of injury it is?
KN: Yes, that’s right. It is very complicated because of all the different treatments you need for speech, vision, physical therapy, balance, dexterity, dermatology–the expenses never end. And we have had to pay for the majority of the costs.
JF: How would you value the help of other people over these years?
KN: Fantastic! If it weren’t for the people who have helped us via GoFundMe, I would not be where I am today. Of that, I have no doubt. I am surprised every time someone makes a donation and I thank each one myself. Also, I have had some very good conversations with many of the people who have contributed to my recovery.
JF: How would you react to children of yours asking to ride a motorcycle?
KN: I would support them in whatever. My dad tried to keep me away from bikes but it didn’t work. He tried many things like baseball or basketball, but what I loved most was to climb on behind him on those big, fast test bikes he brought home to our house in Spain. Once he saw I was determined to race, he helped a lot. Thinking about it, there are risks in everything we do, including walking down the street.
In one chapter of the book, I tell the stories of several people I have met during this time who have suffered horrible injuries from common accidents, such as falling off a chair.
JF: One last question… How do you feel now when you watch a MotoGP race?
KN: Today I have no problem watching them, but earlier it was too hard. The level of racing in Spain these days is unbelievable. Marquez is one of a kind, but there are many other very fast Spaniards in the MotoGP class. Not many years ago there were hardly any Spaniards in the 500 class. Now it is amazing, largely due to the promotion cups and the CEV that develop great riders. I hope that in the States, through MotoAmerica, we can get with it and soon there will be a whole bunch of talented American road racers like before.
Ben Gloddy (72). Photo by Martin Hanlon, courtesy LRRS.
Greenwood back to winning ways, Gloddy sets a record
After nine long months since the 2019 season finale, the Loudon Road Race Series (LRRS) held the first of six races on the schedule for 2020 this past weekend (July 4-5) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
2020 marked a change for LRRS as New Hampshire Motor Speedway turned the management of the series over to longtime racers Eric Wood and John Grush.
“We’re grateful for the efforts of NHMS on behalf of LRRS over the years. They allocated corporate resources to promoting the series and spent more money on Airfence and safety upgrades than any racetrack I am aware of over the past decade,” noted Wood.
Grush agreed, saying, “Eric and I share the same vision of bringing back a true club and family atmosphere while also focusing on growing the sport of road racing in the Northeast and in the US as a whole.”
In the Amateur ranks Lincoln Gottier was the star of the show raking in six victories on his Yamaha R6. Fellow middleweight riders Anthony DiCecca, Bryan Wardius and Paul Hosue all took turns trying to unseat Gottier from his position on top of the podium, but in the end ended up taking turns occupying the second step of the podium. Gottier ran times in the low 1:17’s and is a likely candidate to get bumped to Expert before the end of the 2020 season.
In the lightweight Amateur races a similar performance was put on by SV650-mounted Drew Bailey, who went five for five for a super successful weekend. Other notable Amateur riders were Anthony Franco with three wins on his Husqvarna 450 and Thomas Sands with three wins on his KTM 390.
Scott Greenwood (4). Photo by Martin Hanlon, courtesy LRRS.
In the Expert ranks some familiar faces were back at the front. Charles “Jesse” Sandoz raked in six wins on his Ducati 1100 in the lightweight classes and Eric Wood carded four victories on his Kawasaki ZX-10R in the unlimited classes. Scott Greenwood was the star of the weekend carding six victories on his new Tony Romo-built Yamaha R6, including the premier Michelin-Motorace Middleweight GP class. One milestone of note was in the Heavyweight Supersport race where Scott Greenwood made a mistake and Sam Greenwood (Scott’s son) ended up taking home his first win against the “old man.” We’re not calling for a changing of the guard just yet, but Sammy rode well all weekend long.
Also of note, Ben Gloddy won his first race of the weekend on his Ninja 400 and then in his second race did a number on his motorcycle with a big high-side crash in Turn Four. His MotoAmerica team owner and coach Dale Quarterley lent him a motorcycle for Sunday’s 500 Superbike race and Ben bounced back with a particularly impressive ride. The previous 500 Superbike class record was a 1:19.2, and Ben smashed it with an incredible 1:17.9!
LRRS riders are back in action on July 18-19 for round #2.
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