Cameron Beaubier (1) leads Bobby Fong (50), Kyle Wyman (33), Toni Elias (24), Jake Gagne (32), Josh Herrin (2), Mathew Scholtz (11), and the rest of the field early in MotoAmerica Superbike One. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:
Beaubier Wins Again In Race One At Road America 2
Three In A Row For Defending HONOS Superbike Champion
ELKHART LAKE, WI (June 27, 2020) – Stop rubbing your eyes, you have seen this before. Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha’s Cameron Beaubier won his third successive race of the 2020 season on a sunny Saturday at Road America, the four-time defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion winning his third straight race in Wisconsin as he continued his mastery of the HONOS Superbike class.
Beaubier led this one flag-to-flag, beating M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Bobby Fong by 6.325 seconds, which was less that his previous wins here three weeks ago when he won by 7.8 and 14.3 seconds, respectively. In winning today’s race, Beaubier became the all-time winningest rider at Road America with his 10th Superbike victory. It was also the 41st win of Beaubier’s Superbike career.
“To be honest, those first couple laps when I was trying to hang it out and open a gap, it wasn’t comfortable,” Beaubier said after winning in front of large crowd. “I didn’t have nearly the amount of grip up front and in the rear that we have yesterday morning and also this morning. I think the track temperature was just pretty high and it got pretty greasy out there. So, I wasn’t really able to roll the corners exactly like I wanted to. Once I saw that the gap started opening, I just tried to hit my marks and ride consistent. Hats off to both these guys. Bob (Fong) really upped the pace this morning and got me a little worried going into the race. I had obviously a pretty comfortable gap yesterday, but today wasn’t that case. We’re going to go try to improve what we can improve on our bike. Regardless, my R1 is just working so good right now. I’m really comfortable on it. Just hope to keep it going.”
The runner-up spot was Fong’s best finish of the season after his fourth and DNF from round one.
“We did a lot of homework,” Fong said. “We definitely improved the bike. The lap times didn’t show it today compared to last round, but we definitely improved the bike quite a bit. I’m okay in the first sector, the second and the middle, but I’m losing maybe four tenths, three tenths a lap just in the last sector. We’re messing with the electronics a lot. We don’t know exactly where to go with the electronics on the last sector. Just figuring it out. It’s just a puzzle. We’re putting it together piece by piece. I am working on trying to ride a little bit differently. Last round it seemed like I was charging stuff a little too hard. So, I’m backing off a little bit. Hopefully, we can find something today and bring it tomorrow.”
Third place today went KATO Fastening/KWR Ducati’s Kyle Wyman, the New Yorker in a battle for most of the race for the position. The war went to the final lap with Wyman making a pass in the chicane before Elias retaliated. Elias beat Wyman to the line, but it was determined that he’d passed under a standing yellow flag at the marshal post and was docked two seconds. That bumped Elias back to fourth, which took him off the podium but still gave him his first championship points of the season after his dismal opener in Road America 1.
“When you’ve been off the pace for a while you go into the race wondering if you have the pace,” Wyman said. “What are you going to have? So, I just got as good a start as I could. I was second. I was alongside Cameron (Beaubier) going into turn one. I was just so upset with myself last month, not being able to tag onto the front guys right away, not even for two or three laps. I was really determined to get the thing up there. It turns out I got into a really, really long, long battle with Toni (Elias). I just kind followed him and figured out where he was stronger or weaker. I could make a lunge into the chicane if I stayed close enough to him through the carousel, so that’s what I set up. Honestly, that’s what got me to the podium even though he passed me back. If I wasn’t able to make that move, there would have been no passes probably at all, because I wasn’t strong enough to get into Canada Corner. So to get in there in front of him, to get out of the chicane is what got us here. He rode awesome. I’m happy me just being up here. It’s a long road, but we’re back to the podium after three years.”
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz finished fifth, the South African getting a bad start and never really recovering. Beaubier’s teammate Jake Gagne was next, the Californian battling for third early on before having a mechanical issue that forced him to slow and then recover for sixth.
Scheibe Racing BMWs’ Josh Herrin was seventh with FLY Racing ADR Motorsports’ David Anthony barely besting Celtic HSBK Racing’s PJ Jacobsen for eighth. Altus Motorsports’ Cameron Petersen rounded out the top 10 on his Suzuki GSX-R1000.
After three races, Beaubier leads the title chase with a perfect 75 points. Gagne retains second with 46 points, six more than Wyman’s 40 points. Herrin is fourth with 35 points with Fong moving to fifth with 33 points.
Superbike Race 1
Cameron Beaubier (Yamaha)
Bobby Fong (Suzuki)
Kyle Wyman (Ducati)
Ton Elias (Suzuki)
Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha)
Jake Gagne (Yamaha)
Josh Herrin (BMW)
David Anthony (Suzuki)
PJ Jacobsen (Ducati)
Cameron Petersen (Suzuki)
More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:
Westby Racing’s Scholtz Finishes Fifth In Superbike and Wyman Is Seventh In Junior Cup At Road America
Elkhart Lake, WI – June 27, 2020 – On Saturday at Road America, MotoAmerica’s first race day of the 2020 season with spectators, Westby Racing’s Superbike rider Mathew Scholtz finished fifth and, in Junior Cup, Cody Wyman was seventh. The results weren’t what either rider had hoped for, but Mathew, Cody, and the team gained valuable information that should help them improve on their results in Sunday’s races.
Mathew Scholtz (11) and Josh Herrin (2) during MotoAmerica Superbike Race One at Road America 2. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
At the start of the Superbike race, Mathew struggled to get a clean launch off the line, and that setback put him at a deficit from the beginning. He had an exciting battle with Josh Herrin and was able to finish ahead of him, but the time spent in that battle enabled the frontrunners to pull away, and Mathew was just not able to catch them. A technical issue also cropped up with the bike, but the team fixed the problem and they are ready to go for tomorrow.
“My starts are just not helping me,” Mathew said. “Today, it put me too far back in the pack, and I had to fight my way to the front. And, then, I had to contend with (Josh) Herrin for a few laps. Also, we had a small problem with the bike, which the crew were able to find and fix. Tomorrow should be a better day for us.”
Cody, who is racing the only Yamaha against virtually an entire grid of Kawasaki’s with engines of larger displacement, knows that he has his work cut out for him at tracks like Road America that place a premium on top speed. He has to fully exploit the corner speed of his bike in order to counter the straight-line speed advantage of the other bikes on track.
Cody Wyman (34) leads a group of riders during MotoAmerica Junior Cup Race One at Road America 2. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
For Cody, it’s a challenge that he absolutely does not shy away from, but on Saturday, finishing seventh was the reality of the situation.
“It was a decent day at Road America, and it was awesome to see the turnout and the number of fans at the track,” commented Cody. “In the race, it was tough coming from the fourth row, but I did my best to ride through the field and put myself in the best spot for a solid result. I knew in the opening laps, when I was getting held up, that it would be a big ask to challenge for a top-five finish. So, I settled in with our group and strategized to win that battle. It worked out to plan, and I ended up winning the battle and finishing seventh. It’s not where I want to be, but we’ll get another shot at it tomorrow.”
Sunday’s Superbike Race 2 is at 1:30 PM Central and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and Eurosport, as well as streamed on MotoAmerica Live+.
Junior Cup Race 2 is at 2:30 PM Central and will be broadcast via tape-delay on FS2 (check your local listings for FS2 airtimes), in addition to being live-streamed on MotoAmerica Live+.
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Team Hammer:
STRONG SECONDS FOR FONG, KELLY, AND M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI AT ROAD AMERICA
Bobby Fong (50) finished second in MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 at Road America 2. Photo by Brian J Nelson, courtesy Team Hammer.
A highly motivated M4 ECSTAR Suzuki squad returned to Road America for Round 2 of the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing season and finished Saturday with a pair of trophies and two pole positions for its efforts.
Eager to set things right after a difficult opener at the same venue one month ago, Bobby Fong and Toni Elias showcased podium form in Saturday’s MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1. Fong in particular was impressive, the 2019 Supersport Champion continuing to rapidly adapt to the fire-breathing M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R Superbike and qualifying second in Superpole.
Fong got a good start and put himself in second place on the opening lap of the premier-class contest. Lap-after-lap, the Californian skillfully hustled his machine down the long straights and through the varied corners of the four-mile-long circuit to hold his position and ultimately score an unchallenged runner-up finish.
The podium result signals many more in the future as Fong expects to get stronger with more experience on the bike. “It was definitely greasy out there today,” Fong said. “It wasn’t the same as the last time we were here when the conditions were more ideal. But still, we did the best we could and I’m happy with second. We’re chipping away and getting closer to a race-winning pace.
“My team has been doing a lot of homework, and I’ve been adapting to the motorcycle. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s race and hoping to close the gap even more.”
Elias, the 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike champion, engaged in a spirited battle for third a few seconds back. An adversary slipped underneath the Spaniard on the race’s final lap, but Elias immediately responded with a superior drive off the corner heading down the back straightaway. Elias successfully retook third position and held the spot to the checkered flag.
However, he was later assessed to have completed the pass under yellow-flag conditions and was given a 2-second penalty, relegating him to fourth in the official results.
Meanwhile, Sean Dylan Kelly, popularly known as “SDK,” backed up Fong’s result with a second-place finish of his own in Supersport Race 1.
SDK twice leapt out from pole position to grab an early lead on his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R600 in the red-flagged and restarted affair, setting the stage for a back-and-forth dogfight over the race’s first half.
The 18-year-old eventually settled into a clear second and scored his second consecutive runner-up finish of the season.
“It was definitely a nice race,” Kelly said. “It’s good to get 20 points, although as a rider, you always want the win, right? But we take the positives, and we gave a better fight today compared with the two races here during the opener.
“I’m just happy we showed a little more potential. And earlier today, I got my first pole position in MotoAmerica, so that’s also something positive. We took a step forward today. We still have some more things to work on, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Teammate Lucas Silva added a solid seventh-place finish in the Supersport race.
Young Rocco Landers will start Sunday morning’s Twins Cup race from pole after topping qualifying with a new class record lap of 2:27.452 aboard the Roadracing World Young Guns/Sportbiketrackgear.com Suzuki SV650 built by Team Hammer. Landers is out for revenge this weekend after missing out on two victories at the opener by a combined 0.084-second
Alex Dumas, who raced another Team Hammer-built SV650 to the MotoAmerica Twins Cup title last season, continued to flash major-league talent with an impressive performance in Stock 1000 qualifying. After qualifying and finishing seventh in his class debut on the Team M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000, Dumas qualified fourth on Saturday with a lap nearly two seconds quicker than his qualifying best from the opener.
Team Hammer will round out the Road America weekend on Sunday, looking to continue the momentum.
About Team Hammer
The 2020 season marks Team Hammer’s 40th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 83 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 239 times and have won seven AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
About Suzuki
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Outboard Motors and Automotive Parts and Accessories via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:
Beaubier Stays Perfect with Another Win at Road America
Cameron Beaubier continued to dominate the MotoAmerica Superbike field aboard his Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Racing R1 with another stellar victory in race one at Road America 2 on Saturday, June 27. His teammate Jake Gagne finished sixth.
Once again, Beaubier was the man to raise the bar at the four-mile circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The four-time Superbike Champion broke the lap record that he set at the previous outing, not once but twice, first in Friday’s QP1 and then again today in Superpole with a 2’10.623. When the lights went out, Beaubier rocketed down the straight to take the holeshot and never looked back. He crossed the line over six-seconds ahead of the competition to take his ninth-career victory at Road America and his third on the trot this season.
Gagne qualified third to join his teammate on the front row, but dropped to fifth at the start and found himself locked in a three-way battle for that final podium spot. He made a move for fourth in the final corner of the first lap, but was passed back on the front straight. On lap three, the Californian was right on the heels of his competitor and looking to make the pass for fourth but then had a technical issue. He had to blow the chicane to avoid making contact with the other rider and was dropped back to seventh. A few laps later, Gagne was able to put his head down and close the gap on sixth. With two laps to go, he made the pass going into Turn 5 and held onto it all the way to the finish. Although not what he was hoping for, it was an important top-10 finish at this early stage of the championship.
The Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Racing team now gears up for Sunday’s race two at Road America.
Richard Stanboli – Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“The team is happy to add another victory to our winning streak. Cameron has been riding great and his Yamaha R1 performed flawlessly. Jake was also riding well until a technical issue caused him to run straight through the chicane. We will have him on rails tomorrow and our goal is another double podium”
Cameron Beaubier – Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Racing
“We were able to pick up where we left off at the first round and come out with a win today. The conditions were a lot hotter which made the track pretty greasy but everything went to plan. It felt really good racing in front of a big crowd today and I’m looking forward to tomorrow!”
Jake Gagne (32). Photo courtesy Yamaha Racing.
Jake Gagne – Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Racing
“We had a good Superpole and made some nice progress from yesterday. My start was really bad though and I was fighting with the guys behind Cam. I had a little issue a few laps in and it took us a couple laps to get things back on track. We still managed to learn a lot from race one and I’m sure we can step up the pace for tomorrow. It’s going to be an exciting race two!”
Rocco Landers, riding his Roadracing World Young Guns/SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki SV650, broke Jackson Blackmon’s month-old lap record of 2:28.584 with a 2:27.452 during qualifying Saturday at Road America to claim pole position for the Twins Cup race.
Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha’s Cameron Beaubier broke his own lap record of 2:10.926, which he set Friday morning, with a 2:10.623 to win the MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Superpole Saturday at Road America.
Bobby Fong only got a couple of laps on his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R during Superpole, but he made the most of them, recording a lap time of 2:11.240 to secure the second spot on the grid for this weekend’s two Superbike races.
Beaubier’s teammate Jake Gagne secured the third and final spot on the front row with a time of 2:11.632 on his YZF-R1.
Starting on row two will be: Westby Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz (2:12.161), Fong’s teammate Toni Elias (2:12.733), and KATO/KWR Ducati’s Kyle Wyman (2:12.863).
MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Free Practice Three (FP3) is the session when the Stock 1000 competitors eligible to compete in Superbike Cup can ride with the Superbike field. Apparently, PJ Jacobsen has decided to ride in Stock 1000 FP3 instead.
MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Free Practice 3 Results
Dominic Doyle, riding his BARTCON Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400, lowered his day-old class lap record of 2:39.989 to 2:39.981 during MotoAmerica Junior Cup Qualifying Two Saturday morning and secured pole position for this weekend’s two races at Road America.
METZELER PRESENTS THE NEW RACETEC™ TD SLICK, A TIRE THAT MAKES EACH LAP OF EVERY CIRCUIT COUNT
RACETEC™ TD SLICK is dedicated to track day fans and club racers. It combines the advantages of a slick tire that does not require tire warmers or elaborate bike settings to achieve top performance and versatility for different riding styles.
Munich (Germany) – RACETEC™ TD SLICK becomes part of the METZELER slick racing tire range and is dedicated to motorcyclists and club racers for both racing and track day events.
RACETEC™ TD Slick is a track tire that is quick and easy to use. The RACETEC™ TD SLICK can be used without tire warmers and does not require any changes to a rider’s normal set-up to perform at its best. RACETEC™ TD Slick’s main features include consistent high performance over multiple sessions, versatility on different asphalt types and operating temperatures, high abrasion resistance and the possibility of reversing the rear tire between sessions (if the circuit wears a tire more on one side).
RACETEC ™ TD Slick has been designed for motorcyclists who want the advantage of a slick product but without the need for additional racing equipment (stands / electric blankets / power generators, etc.) or the refined set-up of motorcycle and suspension that a slick racing tire usually requires.
RACETEC™ TD Slick is therefore intended for all motorcyclists who look for the performance of a slick tire. Expert riders who need a plug & play product for long practice sessions as well as club racers who require an excellent value for their money. The RACETEC™ TD Slick is a tire that allows riders to focus on improving lap times throughout the race weekend.
RACETEC™ TD Slick is part of the METZELER slick racing portfolio with a range that includes one front and four rear sizes which are most commonly found as original equipment on supersport bikes, to further testify the plug & play characteristics of the product.
The METZELER slick product family includes also the renowned RACETEC™ RR Slick, a tire for top competition, available in different compounds according to the type of use. The K1 compound is dedicated to professional use in the Superbike class of road racing such as the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy and various national championships. The K2 compound is the most versatile within the RACETEC™ RR Slick range and is developed for those competitions at professional and amateur level where it is necessary to combine constant peak performance over several sessions, resulting in the best solution on particularly demanding circuits and in endurance sessions.
Features and benefits of RACETEC™ TD SLICK
The main benefits are:A quick warm up, which allows motorcyclists to free themselves from the use of tire warmers thanks to the polymers characterized by a lower glass transition temperature. RACETEC™ TD SLICK is suitable for use from low operating temperatures, with a consequent resistance to cold tearing.
Reusable over multiple sessions. The evolution of resins resistant to high temperatures and their patented mixing process give RACETEC™ TD SLICK a uniform behaviour both on a thermal and mechanical level. This provides a high resistance to thermal decay, thus keeping the chemical-physical properties of the tire constant lap after lap, session after session.
Plug & play solution, thanks to the choice of street-legal sizes that use sharp profiles but retain the geometries of tires approved for road use, thus not requiring complicated set-up solutions for track use. RACETEC™ TD SLICK is the result of a development aimed at combining ease of driving, plug & play performance and the METZELER road racing imprint to allow all motorcyclists to enjoy a weekend on the track.
Reversible rear tire, thanks to the symmetrical structure that evenly distributes the dynamic stresses and allows itself to be fully exploited, even on circuits with a prevalence of turns in one direction.
THE TIRE IN DETAILS
The compound
RACETEC™ TD SLICK features a racing compound that includes polymers with a low glass transition temperature, carbon black and high melting temperature resins. This combination has numerous advantages: first of all the ability of the tire to get up to temperature very quickly, and even without the use of tire warmers.
Strengthened by the experience accumulated in road racing such as the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man, which was used as a testing ground for the versatility of its products, METZELER engineers have designed a compound capable of operating in a wide range of temperatures and asphalt conditions, in order to offer consistency in performance and resistance to cold tearing.
The exclusive patented CCM process – Compound Continuous Mixing process – maximizes the homogeneity of the components in the polymetric matrix and allows the tire to consistently offer high performance, from the first to the last lap, even if divided between several thermal cycles.
The structure
The carcass of the RACETEC™ TD SLICK rear tire is characterised by a classic radial single-ply rayon structure, similar to that used in supersport road tires, and represents a plug & play solution. Allowing riders to make the bike track ready while maintaining their standard set-up.
The zero-degree steel belts used both on the front and on the rear tires are a patented technological solution that allows a high degree of structural flexibility and consequently a better feeling with the tire. These features allow the motorcyclist to be more precise in their trajectory, adjusting it when already mid-lean or delaying the braking point when entering the corner.
The profile
The rear RACETEC™ TD SLICK features a sharp profile that improves the handling of the motorcycle and at the same time increases the contact area when cornering, resulting in a considerable increase of grip. The profile of the front tire reflects that of the rear for a balanced and harmonious behaviour of the tire set.
The range
The RACETEC™ TD SLICK range includes the following sizes, all currently available:
Size
Front
120/70 XR 17 NHS TL
Rear
180/60 ZR 17 NHS TL
200/55 ZR 17 NHS TL
ABOUT METZELER
Metzeler has manufactured motorcycle tires since 1892 and our history goes hand in hand with the history of the motorcycle. From the use of new materials and the development of innovative tread designs to the introduction of advanced rubber compounds, the German brand is always at the forefront of technical development. Learn more at www.metzeler.com.
Between the 1978 and 1993 seasons of FIM 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing (the precursor to MotoGP), American racers won 13 of the 16 World Championship titles. But with the notable exception of Nicky Hayden’s MotoGP World Championship in 2006, since the dawn of four-stroke MotoGP, Americans have largely fallen off the radar in top level road racing, while riders from Italy, Spain, and the UK occupy the podiums (and grids) today.
Although a multitude of factors have likely contributed to this paradigm shift, one aspect that stands out in particular is the contrast between how young grassroots racers climb the ranks in European competition versus those racing here in the United States. “For a while there really hasn’t been a good system in the U.S. for a young rider to work his or her way up and eventually compete at a global level,” notes Motul USA brand manager Nolan Browning. “It just hasn’t been a focus in America like it has been in Europe, and as a result, there hasn’t been as many kids getting into the sport as there once was.”
That’s a development that Motul is hoping to help change, though. The company that originally made inroads into the U.S. market back in mid-1980s when Dave Wolman, a mechanic on the Yoshimura Suzuki team, started importing Motul fluids as part of team’s racing program. In the years since, Wolman went on to become the President of Motul USA and now serves as the Director of COE Powersports Americas for the company, so it should come as little surprise that motorcycle racing is part of Motul’s DNA.
Now, as we all find ourselves spending more time at home than we might have ever imagined possible, an interesting new trend has emerged. “People are going a little bit stir crazy as of late, and they want to go out and ride,” Browning points out. “What we’ve seen is that the sales of mini bikes, ATVs, and smaller dirt bikes have actually gone up recently, so we may soon see an increased interest in these kinds of active outdoor sports.”
A Motul replica Ohvale.
And that coincides well with the partnership between Motul and Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ohvale, along with Motul’s latest sponsorship agreement with MotoAmerica. The two developments are part of Motul USA’s ongoing support for motorcycle racing in America, efforts which the company hopes will help stoke the interest of young riders looking to mix it up while also making make it easier for these fledging competitors to get out on the track.
“Ohvale makes these great GP-0 bikes,” Browning tells us. “Some of the 190 and 160s are used by adult riders for training, but Ohvale has also done a great job using it as a platform for younger racers – they’re the perfect size, and they’re a lot like the bikes that these kids will be racing in higher classes as they progress.”
That fact didn’t go unnoticed by former Superbike racer Brandon Cretu, who saw the potential the Ohvale had in that context early on. “He started importing these bikes once he saw a similar need in the market, and last year he ran his own races alongside MotoAmerica,” Browning explains. “This year they’ve combined forces to form the MotoAmerica Mini Cup.”
Motul supports the ETG-Ohvale Cup held in Spain for kids ages 7-12. It includes an eight-race series with riders on 110cc and 160cc Ohvale racebikes. It is supported by the Catalan Motorcycling Federation.
The Mini Cup by Motul is designed to provide an entry point for riders under the age of 14, addressing a void that has gone unchecked for some time to provide a clear path for young racers toward the MotoAmerica Junior Cup. As the presenting sponsor for the Mini Cup, Motul will provide product kits for teams, technical support at the events, and all registered racers will be eligible for product discounts regardless of finishing order or other race-specific achievements. And as you’d expect, each Ohvale bike will be filled with Motul fluids.
“Between MotoAmerica, Ohvale, and Motul, we all have a vested interest in making sure younger riders in the U.S. have the support they need,” says Browning. “We feel that engaging with these racers at the early stages of their careers is important. If we want road racing to grow in America, it’s going to start building from the ground level on up.”
Cameron Beaubier (1) leads Bobby Fong (50), Kyle Wyman (33), Toni Elias (24), Jake Gagne (32), Josh Herrin (2), Mathew Scholtz (11), and the rest of the field early in MotoAmerica Superbike One. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:
Beaubier Wins Again In Race One At Road America 2
Three In A Row For Defending HONOS Superbike Champion
ELKHART LAKE, WI (June 27, 2020) – Stop rubbing your eyes, you have seen this before. Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha’s Cameron Beaubier won his third successive race of the 2020 season on a sunny Saturday at Road America, the four-time defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion winning his third straight race in Wisconsin as he continued his mastery of the HONOS Superbike class.
Beaubier led this one flag-to-flag, beating M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Bobby Fong by 6.325 seconds, which was less that his previous wins here three weeks ago when he won by 7.8 and 14.3 seconds, respectively. In winning today’s race, Beaubier became the all-time winningest rider at Road America with his 10th Superbike victory. It was also the 41st win of Beaubier’s Superbike career.
“To be honest, those first couple laps when I was trying to hang it out and open a gap, it wasn’t comfortable,” Beaubier said after winning in front of large crowd. “I didn’t have nearly the amount of grip up front and in the rear that we have yesterday morning and also this morning. I think the track temperature was just pretty high and it got pretty greasy out there. So, I wasn’t really able to roll the corners exactly like I wanted to. Once I saw that the gap started opening, I just tried to hit my marks and ride consistent. Hats off to both these guys. Bob (Fong) really upped the pace this morning and got me a little worried going into the race. I had obviously a pretty comfortable gap yesterday, but today wasn’t that case. We’re going to go try to improve what we can improve on our bike. Regardless, my R1 is just working so good right now. I’m really comfortable on it. Just hope to keep it going.”
The runner-up spot was Fong’s best finish of the season after his fourth and DNF from round one.
“We did a lot of homework,” Fong said. “We definitely improved the bike. The lap times didn’t show it today compared to last round, but we definitely improved the bike quite a bit. I’m okay in the first sector, the second and the middle, but I’m losing maybe four tenths, three tenths a lap just in the last sector. We’re messing with the electronics a lot. We don’t know exactly where to go with the electronics on the last sector. Just figuring it out. It’s just a puzzle. We’re putting it together piece by piece. I am working on trying to ride a little bit differently. Last round it seemed like I was charging stuff a little too hard. So, I’m backing off a little bit. Hopefully, we can find something today and bring it tomorrow.”
Third place today went KATO Fastening/KWR Ducati’s Kyle Wyman, the New Yorker in a battle for most of the race for the position. The war went to the final lap with Wyman making a pass in the chicane before Elias retaliated. Elias beat Wyman to the line, but it was determined that he’d passed under a standing yellow flag at the marshal post and was docked two seconds. That bumped Elias back to fourth, which took him off the podium but still gave him his first championship points of the season after his dismal opener in Road America 1.
“When you’ve been off the pace for a while you go into the race wondering if you have the pace,” Wyman said. “What are you going to have? So, I just got as good a start as I could. I was second. I was alongside Cameron (Beaubier) going into turn one. I was just so upset with myself last month, not being able to tag onto the front guys right away, not even for two or three laps. I was really determined to get the thing up there. It turns out I got into a really, really long, long battle with Toni (Elias). I just kind followed him and figured out where he was stronger or weaker. I could make a lunge into the chicane if I stayed close enough to him through the carousel, so that’s what I set up. Honestly, that’s what got me to the podium even though he passed me back. If I wasn’t able to make that move, there would have been no passes probably at all, because I wasn’t strong enough to get into Canada Corner. So to get in there in front of him, to get out of the chicane is what got us here. He rode awesome. I’m happy me just being up here. It’s a long road, but we’re back to the podium after three years.”
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz finished fifth, the South African getting a bad start and never really recovering. Beaubier’s teammate Jake Gagne was next, the Californian battling for third early on before having a mechanical issue that forced him to slow and then recover for sixth.
Scheibe Racing BMWs’ Josh Herrin was seventh with FLY Racing ADR Motorsports’ David Anthony barely besting Celtic HSBK Racing’s PJ Jacobsen for eighth. Altus Motorsports’ Cameron Petersen rounded out the top 10 on his Suzuki GSX-R1000.
After three races, Beaubier leads the title chase with a perfect 75 points. Gagne retains second with 46 points, six more than Wyman’s 40 points. Herrin is fourth with 35 points with Fong moving to fifth with 33 points.
Superbike Race 1
Cameron Beaubier (Yamaha)
Bobby Fong (Suzuki)
Kyle Wyman (Ducati)
Ton Elias (Suzuki)
Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha)
Jake Gagne (Yamaha)
Josh Herrin (BMW)
David Anthony (Suzuki)
PJ Jacobsen (Ducati)
Cameron Petersen (Suzuki)
More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:
Westby Racing’s Scholtz Finishes Fifth In Superbike and Wyman Is Seventh In Junior Cup At Road America
Elkhart Lake, WI – June 27, 2020 – On Saturday at Road America, MotoAmerica’s first race day of the 2020 season with spectators, Westby Racing’s Superbike rider Mathew Scholtz finished fifth and, in Junior Cup, Cody Wyman was seventh. The results weren’t what either rider had hoped for, but Mathew, Cody, and the team gained valuable information that should help them improve on their results in Sunday’s races.
Mathew Scholtz (11) and Josh Herrin (2) during MotoAmerica Superbike Race One at Road America 2. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
At the start of the Superbike race, Mathew struggled to get a clean launch off the line, and that setback put him at a deficit from the beginning. He had an exciting battle with Josh Herrin and was able to finish ahead of him, but the time spent in that battle enabled the frontrunners to pull away, and Mathew was just not able to catch them. A technical issue also cropped up with the bike, but the team fixed the problem and they are ready to go for tomorrow.
“My starts are just not helping me,” Mathew said. “Today, it put me too far back in the pack, and I had to fight my way to the front. And, then, I had to contend with (Josh) Herrin for a few laps. Also, we had a small problem with the bike, which the crew were able to find and fix. Tomorrow should be a better day for us.”
Cody, who is racing the only Yamaha against virtually an entire grid of Kawasaki’s with engines of larger displacement, knows that he has his work cut out for him at tracks like Road America that place a premium on top speed. He has to fully exploit the corner speed of his bike in order to counter the straight-line speed advantage of the other bikes on track.
Cody Wyman (34) leads a group of riders during MotoAmerica Junior Cup Race One at Road America 2. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
For Cody, it’s a challenge that he absolutely does not shy away from, but on Saturday, finishing seventh was the reality of the situation.
“It was a decent day at Road America, and it was awesome to see the turnout and the number of fans at the track,” commented Cody. “In the race, it was tough coming from the fourth row, but I did my best to ride through the field and put myself in the best spot for a solid result. I knew in the opening laps, when I was getting held up, that it would be a big ask to challenge for a top-five finish. So, I settled in with our group and strategized to win that battle. It worked out to plan, and I ended up winning the battle and finishing seventh. It’s not where I want to be, but we’ll get another shot at it tomorrow.”
Sunday’s Superbike Race 2 is at 1:30 PM Central and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and Eurosport, as well as streamed on MotoAmerica Live+.
Junior Cup Race 2 is at 2:30 PM Central and will be broadcast via tape-delay on FS2 (check your local listings for FS2 airtimes), in addition to being live-streamed on MotoAmerica Live+.
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Team Hammer:
STRONG SECONDS FOR FONG, KELLY, AND M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI AT ROAD AMERICA
Bobby Fong (50) finished second in MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 at Road America 2. Photo by Brian J Nelson, courtesy Team Hammer.
A highly motivated M4 ECSTAR Suzuki squad returned to Road America for Round 2 of the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing season and finished Saturday with a pair of trophies and two pole positions for its efforts.
Eager to set things right after a difficult opener at the same venue one month ago, Bobby Fong and Toni Elias showcased podium form in Saturday’s MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1. Fong in particular was impressive, the 2019 Supersport Champion continuing to rapidly adapt to the fire-breathing M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R Superbike and qualifying second in Superpole.
Fong got a good start and put himself in second place on the opening lap of the premier-class contest. Lap-after-lap, the Californian skillfully hustled his machine down the long straights and through the varied corners of the four-mile-long circuit to hold his position and ultimately score an unchallenged runner-up finish.
The podium result signals many more in the future as Fong expects to get stronger with more experience on the bike. “It was definitely greasy out there today,” Fong said. “It wasn’t the same as the last time we were here when the conditions were more ideal. But still, we did the best we could and I’m happy with second. We’re chipping away and getting closer to a race-winning pace.
“My team has been doing a lot of homework, and I’ve been adapting to the motorcycle. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s race and hoping to close the gap even more.”
Elias, the 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike champion, engaged in a spirited battle for third a few seconds back. An adversary slipped underneath the Spaniard on the race’s final lap, but Elias immediately responded with a superior drive off the corner heading down the back straightaway. Elias successfully retook third position and held the spot to the checkered flag.
However, he was later assessed to have completed the pass under yellow-flag conditions and was given a 2-second penalty, relegating him to fourth in the official results.
Meanwhile, Sean Dylan Kelly, popularly known as “SDK,” backed up Fong’s result with a second-place finish of his own in Supersport Race 1.
SDK twice leapt out from pole position to grab an early lead on his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R600 in the red-flagged and restarted affair, setting the stage for a back-and-forth dogfight over the race’s first half.
The 18-year-old eventually settled into a clear second and scored his second consecutive runner-up finish of the season.
“It was definitely a nice race,” Kelly said. “It’s good to get 20 points, although as a rider, you always want the win, right? But we take the positives, and we gave a better fight today compared with the two races here during the opener.
“I’m just happy we showed a little more potential. And earlier today, I got my first pole position in MotoAmerica, so that’s also something positive. We took a step forward today. We still have some more things to work on, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Teammate Lucas Silva added a solid seventh-place finish in the Supersport race.
Young Rocco Landers will start Sunday morning’s Twins Cup race from pole after topping qualifying with a new class record lap of 2:27.452 aboard the Roadracing World Young Guns/Sportbiketrackgear.com Suzuki SV650 built by Team Hammer. Landers is out for revenge this weekend after missing out on two victories at the opener by a combined 0.084-second
Alex Dumas, who raced another Team Hammer-built SV650 to the MotoAmerica Twins Cup title last season, continued to flash major-league talent with an impressive performance in Stock 1000 qualifying. After qualifying and finishing seventh in his class debut on the Team M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000, Dumas qualified fourth on Saturday with a lap nearly two seconds quicker than his qualifying best from the opener.
Team Hammer will round out the Road America weekend on Sunday, looking to continue the momentum.
About Team Hammer
The 2020 season marks Team Hammer’s 40th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 83 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 239 times and have won seven AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
About Suzuki
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Outboard Motors and Automotive Parts and Accessories via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:
Beaubier Stays Perfect with Another Win at Road America
Cameron Beaubier continued to dominate the MotoAmerica Superbike field aboard his Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Racing R1 with another stellar victory in race one at Road America 2 on Saturday, June 27. His teammate Jake Gagne finished sixth.
Once again, Beaubier was the man to raise the bar at the four-mile circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The four-time Superbike Champion broke the lap record that he set at the previous outing, not once but twice, first in Friday’s QP1 and then again today in Superpole with a 2’10.623. When the lights went out, Beaubier rocketed down the straight to take the holeshot and never looked back. He crossed the line over six-seconds ahead of the competition to take his ninth-career victory at Road America and his third on the trot this season.
Gagne qualified third to join his teammate on the front row, but dropped to fifth at the start and found himself locked in a three-way battle for that final podium spot. He made a move for fourth in the final corner of the first lap, but was passed back on the front straight. On lap three, the Californian was right on the heels of his competitor and looking to make the pass for fourth but then had a technical issue. He had to blow the chicane to avoid making contact with the other rider and was dropped back to seventh. A few laps later, Gagne was able to put his head down and close the gap on sixth. With two laps to go, he made the pass going into Turn 5 and held onto it all the way to the finish. Although not what he was hoping for, it was an important top-10 finish at this early stage of the championship.
The Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Racing team now gears up for Sunday’s race two at Road America.
Richard Stanboli – Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“The team is happy to add another victory to our winning streak. Cameron has been riding great and his Yamaha R1 performed flawlessly. Jake was also riding well until a technical issue caused him to run straight through the chicane. We will have him on rails tomorrow and our goal is another double podium”
Cameron Beaubier – Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Racing
“We were able to pick up where we left off at the first round and come out with a win today. The conditions were a lot hotter which made the track pretty greasy but everything went to plan. It felt really good racing in front of a big crowd today and I’m looking forward to tomorrow!”
Jake Gagne (32). Photo courtesy Yamaha Racing.
Jake Gagne – Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Racing
“We had a good Superpole and made some nice progress from yesterday. My start was really bad though and I was fighting with the guys behind Cam. I had a little issue a few laps in and it took us a couple laps to get things back on track. We still managed to learn a lot from race one and I’m sure we can step up the pace for tomorrow. It’s going to be an exciting race two!”
Rocco Landers (97) on his Roadracing World Young Guns/SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki SV650 at Road America. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Rocco Landers, riding his Roadracing World Young Guns/SportbikeTrackGear.com Suzuki SV650, broke Jackson Blackmon’s month-old lap record of 2:28.584 with a 2:27.452 during qualifying Saturday at Road America to claim pole position for the Twins Cup race.
Cameron Beaubier in action at Road America. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha’s Cameron Beaubier broke his own lap record of 2:10.926, which he set Friday morning, with a 2:10.623 to win the MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Superpole Saturday at Road America.
Bobby Fong only got a couple of laps on his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R during Superpole, but he made the most of them, recording a lap time of 2:11.240 to secure the second spot on the grid for this weekend’s two Superbike races.
Beaubier’s teammate Jake Gagne secured the third and final spot on the front row with a time of 2:11.632 on his YZF-R1.
Starting on row two will be: Westby Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz (2:12.161), Fong’s teammate Toni Elias (2:12.733), and KATO/KWR Ducati’s Kyle Wyman (2:12.863).
Cameron Beaubier (1). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Free Practice Three (FP3) is the session when the Stock 1000 competitors eligible to compete in Superbike Cup can ride with the Superbike field. Apparently, PJ Jacobsen has decided to ride in Stock 1000 FP3 instead.
MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Free Practice 3 Results
Dominic Doyle (25) at speed at Road America. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Dominic Doyle, riding his BARTCON Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400, lowered his day-old class lap record of 2:39.989 to 2:39.981 during MotoAmerica Junior Cup Qualifying Two Saturday morning and secured pole position for this weekend’s two races at Road America.
METZELER PRESENTS THE NEW RACETEC™ TD SLICK, A TIRE THAT MAKES EACH LAP OF EVERY CIRCUIT COUNT
RACETEC™ TD SLICK is dedicated to track day fans and club racers. It combines the advantages of a slick tire that does not require tire warmers or elaborate bike settings to achieve top performance and versatility for different riding styles.
Munich (Germany) – RACETEC™ TD SLICK becomes part of the METZELER slick racing tire range and is dedicated to motorcyclists and club racers for both racing and track day events.
RACETEC™ TD Slick is a track tire that is quick and easy to use. The RACETEC™ TD SLICK can be used without tire warmers and does not require any changes to a rider’s normal set-up to perform at its best. RACETEC™ TD Slick’s main features include consistent high performance over multiple sessions, versatility on different asphalt types and operating temperatures, high abrasion resistance and the possibility of reversing the rear tire between sessions (if the circuit wears a tire more on one side).
RACETEC ™ TD Slick has been designed for motorcyclists who want the advantage of a slick product but without the need for additional racing equipment (stands / electric blankets / power generators, etc.) or the refined set-up of motorcycle and suspension that a slick racing tire usually requires.
RACETEC™ TD Slick is therefore intended for all motorcyclists who look for the performance of a slick tire. Expert riders who need a plug & play product for long practice sessions as well as club racers who require an excellent value for their money. The RACETEC™ TD Slick is a tire that allows riders to focus on improving lap times throughout the race weekend.
RACETEC™ TD Slick is part of the METZELER slick racing portfolio with a range that includes one front and four rear sizes which are most commonly found as original equipment on supersport bikes, to further testify the plug & play characteristics of the product.
The METZELER slick product family includes also the renowned RACETEC™ RR Slick, a tire for top competition, available in different compounds according to the type of use. The K1 compound is dedicated to professional use in the Superbike class of road racing such as the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy and various national championships. The K2 compound is the most versatile within the RACETEC™ RR Slick range and is developed for those competitions at professional and amateur level where it is necessary to combine constant peak performance over several sessions, resulting in the best solution on particularly demanding circuits and in endurance sessions.
Features and benefits of RACETEC™ TD SLICK
The main benefits are:A quick warm up, which allows motorcyclists to free themselves from the use of tire warmers thanks to the polymers characterized by a lower glass transition temperature. RACETEC™ TD SLICK is suitable for use from low operating temperatures, with a consequent resistance to cold tearing.
Reusable over multiple sessions. The evolution of resins resistant to high temperatures and their patented mixing process give RACETEC™ TD SLICK a uniform behaviour both on a thermal and mechanical level. This provides a high resistance to thermal decay, thus keeping the chemical-physical properties of the tire constant lap after lap, session after session.
Plug & play solution, thanks to the choice of street-legal sizes that use sharp profiles but retain the geometries of tires approved for road use, thus not requiring complicated set-up solutions for track use. RACETEC™ TD SLICK is the result of a development aimed at combining ease of driving, plug & play performance and the METZELER road racing imprint to allow all motorcyclists to enjoy a weekend on the track.
Reversible rear tire, thanks to the symmetrical structure that evenly distributes the dynamic stresses and allows itself to be fully exploited, even on circuits with a prevalence of turns in one direction.
THE TIRE IN DETAILS
The compound
RACETEC™ TD SLICK features a racing compound that includes polymers with a low glass transition temperature, carbon black and high melting temperature resins. This combination has numerous advantages: first of all the ability of the tire to get up to temperature very quickly, and even without the use of tire warmers.
Strengthened by the experience accumulated in road racing such as the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man, which was used as a testing ground for the versatility of its products, METZELER engineers have designed a compound capable of operating in a wide range of temperatures and asphalt conditions, in order to offer consistency in performance and resistance to cold tearing.
The exclusive patented CCM process – Compound Continuous Mixing process – maximizes the homogeneity of the components in the polymetric matrix and allows the tire to consistently offer high performance, from the first to the last lap, even if divided between several thermal cycles.
The structure
The carcass of the RACETEC™ TD SLICK rear tire is characterised by a classic radial single-ply rayon structure, similar to that used in supersport road tires, and represents a plug & play solution. Allowing riders to make the bike track ready while maintaining their standard set-up.
The zero-degree steel belts used both on the front and on the rear tires are a patented technological solution that allows a high degree of structural flexibility and consequently a better feeling with the tire. These features allow the motorcyclist to be more precise in their trajectory, adjusting it when already mid-lean or delaying the braking point when entering the corner.
The profile
The rear RACETEC™ TD SLICK features a sharp profile that improves the handling of the motorcycle and at the same time increases the contact area when cornering, resulting in a considerable increase of grip. The profile of the front tire reflects that of the rear for a balanced and harmonious behaviour of the tire set.
The range
The RACETEC™ TD SLICK range includes the following sizes, all currently available:
Size
Front
120/70 XR 17 NHS TL
Rear
180/60 ZR 17 NHS TL
200/55 ZR 17 NHS TL
ABOUT METZELER
Metzeler has manufactured motorcycle tires since 1892 and our history goes hand in hand with the history of the motorcycle. From the use of new materials and the development of innovative tread designs to the introduction of advanced rubber compounds, the German brand is always at the forefront of technical development. Learn more at www.metzeler.com.
Between the 1978 and 1993 seasons of FIM 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing (the precursor to MotoGP), American racers won 13 of the 16 World Championship titles. But with the notable exception of Nicky Hayden’s MotoGP World Championship in 2006, since the dawn of four-stroke MotoGP, Americans have largely fallen off the radar in top level road racing, while riders from Italy, Spain, and the UK occupy the podiums (and grids) today.
Although a multitude of factors have likely contributed to this paradigm shift, one aspect that stands out in particular is the contrast between how young grassroots racers climb the ranks in European competition versus those racing here in the United States. “For a while there really hasn’t been a good system in the U.S. for a young rider to work his or her way up and eventually compete at a global level,” notes Motul USA brand manager Nolan Browning. “It just hasn’t been a focus in America like it has been in Europe, and as a result, there hasn’t been as many kids getting into the sport as there once was.”
That’s a development that Motul is hoping to help change, though. The company that originally made inroads into the U.S. market back in mid-1980s when Dave Wolman, a mechanic on the Yoshimura Suzuki team, started importing Motul fluids as part of team’s racing program. In the years since, Wolman went on to become the President of Motul USA and now serves as the Director of COE Powersports Americas for the company, so it should come as little surprise that motorcycle racing is part of Motul’s DNA.
Now, as we all find ourselves spending more time at home than we might have ever imagined possible, an interesting new trend has emerged. “People are going a little bit stir crazy as of late, and they want to go out and ride,” Browning points out. “What we’ve seen is that the sales of mini bikes, ATVs, and smaller dirt bikes have actually gone up recently, so we may soon see an increased interest in these kinds of active outdoor sports.”
A Motul replica Ohvale.
And that coincides well with the partnership between Motul and Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ohvale, along with Motul’s latest sponsorship agreement with MotoAmerica. The two developments are part of Motul USA’s ongoing support for motorcycle racing in America, efforts which the company hopes will help stoke the interest of young riders looking to mix it up while also making make it easier for these fledging competitors to get out on the track.
“Ohvale makes these great GP-0 bikes,” Browning tells us. “Some of the 190 and 160s are used by adult riders for training, but Ohvale has also done a great job using it as a platform for younger racers – they’re the perfect size, and they’re a lot like the bikes that these kids will be racing in higher classes as they progress.”
That fact didn’t go unnoticed by former Superbike racer Brandon Cretu, who saw the potential the Ohvale had in that context early on. “He started importing these bikes once he saw a similar need in the market, and last year he ran his own races alongside MotoAmerica,” Browning explains. “This year they’ve combined forces to form the MotoAmerica Mini Cup.”
Motul supports the ETG-Ohvale Cup held in Spain for kids ages 7-12. It includes an eight-race series with riders on 110cc and 160cc Ohvale racebikes. It is supported by the Catalan Motorcycling Federation.
The Mini Cup by Motul is designed to provide an entry point for riders under the age of 14, addressing a void that has gone unchecked for some time to provide a clear path for young racers toward the MotoAmerica Junior Cup. As the presenting sponsor for the Mini Cup, Motul will provide product kits for teams, technical support at the events, and all registered racers will be eligible for product discounts regardless of finishing order or other race-specific achievements. And as you’d expect, each Ohvale bike will be filled with Motul fluids.
“Between MotoAmerica, Ohvale, and Motul, we all have a vested interest in making sure younger riders in the U.S. have the support they need,” says Browning. “We feel that engaging with these racers at the early stages of their careers is important. If we want road racing to grow in America, it’s going to start building from the ground level on up.”
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as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
