Debut Event In Washington State Moved To August 28-30
IRVINE, CA (April 13, 2020) – MotoAmerica has announced that the Komatsu MotoAmerica Superbikes at the Ridge round at the Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, has been rescheduled for August 28-30 due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
“With so much uncertainty in the coming months we wanted to be proactive to ensure we can hold such a vital event that can fully support the racers and the fans,” said the Ridge’s General Manager, Tracie Schmitt. “After lengthy discussions we thought it was in the best interest of everyone to move the event to the last weekend in August. We all feel to make this event a success, August 28-30 will allow racers, spectators, the local community, and the Pacific Northwest to fully enjoy this event at the Ridge Motorsports Park. We are very excited for our upcoming Komatsu MotoAmerica Superbikes at the Ridge round this August.”
The Komatsu MotoAmerica Superbikes at the Ridge event will now be round five of the 2020 MotoAmerica Series. The series is scheduled to begin May 29-31 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
“Obviously, we have kept in close contact with all of our track partners and when Tracie (Schmitt) suggested an alternate date, although disappointed, we obviously understand the reasoning behind the change,” MotoAmerica’s Chuck Aksland said. “We are all very excited about our first trip to the Northwest for the Komatsu MotoAmerica Superbikes at the Ridge and moving the date to the end of August will eliminate some of the uncertainty that a June date would otherwise bring. August is also a great time of year in the Northwest and we look forward to seeing everyone there.”
2020 MotoAmerica Series
May 29-31: Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
July 10-12: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California
July 31-August 2: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia
August 7-9: Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, Pennsylvania
August 28-30: Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, Washington
September 11-13: New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, New Jersey
September 18-20: Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama
October 9-11: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana
November 13-15: Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas
For the full 2020 MotoAmerica Series schedule, click HERE
To purchase tickets to any of the 2020 series rounds, click HERE
For information on how to watch the 2020 MotoAmerica Series, click HERE
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com. Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Editor’s Note: The following competition bulletin was issued by MX Sports, which promotes motocross, GNCC cross-country, and ATV races, including the (outdoor) AMA Motocross Championship. The listed programs can also apply to professional road racers, crew members, teams, promoters, racetracks, and other companies involved in road racing, as well as, in certain cases, track day-related businesses, paid crew members and instructors. Thanks to Racer Productions and the Coombs family and staff for making this available to roadracingworld.com.
Financial Relief Available to Pro Athletes and Promoters
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provides financial assistance through a series of emergency loans and grants to large and small businesses to assist them during this difficult economic period. In addition to providing financial support to businesses, the program also provides assistance to independent contractors and self-employed individuals, which includes many of our professional athletes and their agents.
In the sport of professional motorcycle/ATV competition, including Pro Motocross, GNCC and ATVMX, most of our pro athletes and promoters operate as either small business entities (LLC or S-corporations), independent contractors or are self-employed. To help navigate the complicated application process for these funding programs, the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) has prepared a summary of resources and contact information. The MIC COVID-19 Economic Assistance Resources summary outlines the various financial assistance programs available to our pro athletes. https://mic.org/Downloads/COVID/EconomicAssistanceResources.pdf
Individuals and companies that have been adversely impacted by the crisis are encouraged to explore how these programs may assist them until our sport returns to competition. To summarize:
Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): Pro athletes and businesses may be eligible for up to $2 million in loans, as well as a $10,000 1-time cash grant. The application process is easy and available online. You will need your SSN or EIN and bank account and routing numbers. You will know if you are approved for the $10,000 grant within 3 days and the money will be directly wired to your account. https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): If you have employees and continue to pay them during the crisis, you may be eligible for payroll protection. This program pays 2.5 times your monthly payroll costs and is 100% forgivable, so long as you don’t reduce your payroll by more than 25%. Starting April 10th, independent contractors and self-employed individuals (pro athletes) may also apply for loans of up to $100,000 to cover the loss of income and net earnings from self-employment during this time. These loans are forgivable as well.
This program is administered through the Small Business Association (SBA) but you must apply through your local bank. Applications close June 30th and there is a funding cap, so apply now. The 6-digit NAICS Code for independent professional racers is 711219.
Tax Credits: Several tax credit programs are available and should be exercised if applicable. You will need to consult with your tax advisor to take advantage of these tax credits:
a. Payroll tax credit
b. Social Security tax deferment
c. Net operating loss 5-year carry back with full offset
d. Increase in business interest expense deductions
e. Immediate recovery of corporate alternative minimum tax credits
f. Immediate write-off for facility improvement costs (i.e., racetrack upgrades?)
We hope this information has been helpful to our professional athletes and promoters. The RLT will continue to provide weekly updates regarding event schedules, postponements and cancellations, along with other updates intended to provide our motorsports community with the most current and accurate information available regarding our competition programs, and encourages everyone to follow local, state and federal rules and recommendations designed to address the impacts of Covid-19.
The health, safety and welfare of our riders and their families remains paramount, and we will keep our race community apprised of all further developments.
More, from MotoAmerica:
Federal Economic Aid Available
MotoAmerica would like to thank the GNCC, Carrie Coombs and the MIC for providing the research for the information shared below. We hope it is of service to our teams in navigating these very rough financial waters.
For the MIC infographic summary of aid available please click here:
The following options may provide you with aid while we work towards the start of the season.
Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): Pro athletes and businesses may be eligible for up to $2 million in loans, as well as a $10,000 1-time cash grant. The application process is easy and available online. You will need your SSN or EIN and bank account and routing numbers. You will know if you are approved for the $10,000 grant within 3 days and the money will be directly wired to your account. https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): If you have employees and continue to pay them during the crisis, you may be eligible for payroll protection. This program pays 2.5 times your monthly payroll costs and is 100% forgivable, so long as you don’t reduce your payroll by more than 25%. Starting April 10th, independent contractors and self-employed individuals (pro athletes) may also apply for loans of up to $100,000 to cover the loss of income and net earnings from self-employment during this time. These loans are forgivable as well.
This program is administered through the Small Business Association (SBA) but you must apply through your local bank. Applications close June 30th and there is a funding cap, so apply now. The 6-digit NAICS Code for independent professional racers is 711219
Tax Credits: Several tax credit programs are available and should be exercised if applicable. You will need to consult with your tax advisor to take advantage of these tax credits:
a. Payroll tax credit
b. Social Security tax deferment
c. Net operating loss 5-year carry back with full offset
d. Increase in business interest expense deductions
e. Immediate recovery of corporate alternative minimum tax credits
f. Immediate write-off for facility improvement costs
We hope you are all staying safe and healthy and please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions regarding our plans to return to racing or ways we can help assist you.
Check www.motoamerica.com for news and updates.
Entry, registration, technical bulletins can be found at www.motoamericaregistration.com
Here are some downloadable coloring pages for kids who are staying safer at home during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The pages are in PDF format and can be downloaded and saved for later or printed immediately.
We will feature additional coloring pages, word finds, mazes, and more in the near future, so check back often.
Some of the coloring pages come directly from The Little Motorcycle, a children’s motorcycle picture book written by C. Edward Link, illustrated by Jim Serfass, and published by Roadracing World.
The Little Motorcycle story follows TeeZee the racebike from winter sleep to Daytona racing action. The vivid, energetic illustrations of the earnest TeeZee add to the charm of this racer’s storybook. Recommended for ages up to 8. To order The Little Motorcycle, click Here.
Click on the thumbnail images below to open up the downloadable PDF files.
The Little Motorcycle Coloring Page Three. Illustration by Jim Serfass.
The Little Motorcycle Coloring Page Four. Illustration by Jim Serfass.
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 24th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
AMA Pro races and Championships, including eight AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (8 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 11 and 18 (as of the start of the 2020 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships on a 125cc two-stroke/250cc four-stroke or larger racebike or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
David Kohlstaedt. Photo courtesy of David Kohlstaedt.
David Kohlstaedt
Age: 16.
Current home: Puyallup, Washington.
Current height/weight: 5’10”/130 pounds.
Current school grade level: 10th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2013, Shelton, Washington, WMRRA, 125GP, 3rd place.
Current racebikes: Kawasaki Ninja 400, Yamaha YZF-R6.
Current tuners/mechanics: Dave Kohlstaedt (father), Dave Alexander.
Top sponsors: 2 Fast Track Days, Fluid Suspension Science, 2Wheel Dyno Works, Bell Helmets, Sammy Halbert Racing, Dunlop, Bellevue Kawasaki, Motion Pro, Vortex Racing, Track Skinz Leather, EBC, Umbrella Girls USA, Purveyors of Speed.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2019 season, placed 30th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (best race finish 11th at Barber), won WMRRA Ultralightweight Superbike Championship (5 wins), placed 2nd in WMRRA Formula Ultra 2 Championship (3 podiums in 4 races); 2018 season, placed 7th in overall WMRRA Championship, won WMRRA Ultra-Lightweight SS Championship, finished 2nd in WMRRA 500 Superbike and Ultra-Lightweight GP Championships, set WMRRA Ultra-Lightweight class lap record at The Ridge Motorsports Park, collected 2 top-20 finishes in MotoAmerica Junior Cup races while riding a Kawasaki Ninja 300; 2015 season, named AMA Youth Rider of the Year in Flat Track.
2020 racing goals: Win MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship, place in top 5 overall in WMRRA Championship.
Racing career goal: Race in the MotoGP World Championship.
Racing heroes: Sammy Halbert, Valentino Rossi
Favorite track: Sonoma Raceway.
Favorite hobby: Playing guitar and piano.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Enjoying time with my family.
Featured In the April 2020 issue of Roadracing World:
It started as a casual, ‘let’s build a fun track day or club racebike’ thing when the latest-generation Suzuki SV650 came out in 2017. The first pass involved flatter handlebars, modifying the forks and shock, installing number plates, Venhill braided stainless-steel brake lines, an M4 exhaust system, and a WERA-required belly pan to catch any leaking fluids. It was a friendly and easy bike to ride. Step two was fitting a used GSX-R1000 front end (forks/triple clamps/brakes/clip-on handlebars), along with K-Tech fork cartridges and a K-Tech shock, and a different version of a belly pan.
But something was seriously missing in the set-up; the bike didn’t want to turn, the belly pan was dragging in fast corners, and it was a lot less fun to ride …
—Suzuki SV650 Project: Part One, by John Ulrich
When 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion Alex Dumas was bumped out of the class for finishing too well over three seasons and needed a new ride, Team Hammer wanted to sign him to race in Supersport. But pre-season testing didn’t go well and the team decided to put him on a Suzuki SV650 in the Twins Cup instead. It was a long road, but what started as a lightly modified track bike turned into a serious R&D program that saw the bike get faster at every round and it ended up with another National Championship for Dumas and the team. Step-by-step, the SV was developed into a powerful, reliable race winner, Dumas kept getting better at riding it, and the combination charged from behind to win. The start of the journey is in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology is THE definitive source for motorcycle racing, riding, and tech information.
PREVIEW the April 2020 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.
New Jersey Motorsports Park Announces New Date for the 2020 Designer Wraps Beer Fest
Millville, N.J. – New Jersey Motorsports Park announced today that the Designer Wraps Beer Fest will be rescheduled for Saturday September 12th, 2020 between 4:00pm – 8:00pm to be held in following the MotoAmerica Superbikes at New Jersey.
NJMP expects over 30 craft breweries to participate with 60 styles of beer, in addition to food trucks, vendors, live music and more. The event ticket includes beer samples from all participating breweries. Megan Knight who recently appeared on American Idol will be the featured performer at the Beer Festival.
While there will be more details to come in the upcoming weeks, the Beer Fest will be held after the track activity is done that Saturday on the grounds of the NJMP Clubhouse.
Tickets for the Beer Festival can be purchased for $35.00 on-line and $40.00 at the gate.
This will be the 12th visit to New Jersey for MotoAmerica which is always one of the biggest events of the season for NJMP. In a statement from Brad Scott, NJMP President/COO he states, “Everyone from the breweries that are participating to the MotoAmerica organizers are excited about the new date and the pairing of the beer fest with world class motorcycle racing.”
Sitting on more than 500 acres in Millville, N.J., New Jersey Motorsports Park is the premier motorsports entertainment complex in the Northeast. NJMP is conveniently located near Philadelphia and New York City, offering diverse and dynamic attractions both on and off-track. The park includes two world-class road courses, Thunderbolt and Lightning Raceway, two motorsports country club membership program for cars and motorcycles, one of the top outdoor karting complexes in the U.S. – Tempest Raceway, 10 acres of paintball fields, outdoor axe throwing, concert and festival space, overnight accommodations, real estate development opportunities, and a clubhouse with a bar/restaurant and built-in pool. NJMP continues to elevate its commercial and private real estate development including: The Villas at Breighton, private garage condominiums: Exotic Car Garages, and NJMP Speedplex featuring performance/automotive services and more.
Editorial Note: View a video recording of the race HERE.
Bagnaia beats Viñales for victory in MotoGP™ Virtual Race 2
The Italian comes out on top after ten high-octane laps around the Red Bull Ring, with some of the stars of MotoGP™ putting on another awesome show
Some of the biggest names in MotoGP™ put on another awesome show in the second Virtual MotoGP™ Race, with Pramac Racing’s Francesco Bagnaia coming out on top after the Red Bull Ring delivered yet another last lap classic! Bagnaia and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Viñales went toe-to-toe, with the Italian taking this victory and a debut MotoGP™ win after diving up the inside of Viñales, on the grass, on the last lap. The second #StayAtHomeGP was filled with yet more thrills and spills as ten premier class riders again put on a show to bring a little light relief and entertainment to a tougher time for many MotoGP™ fans around the world – with more than twenty households connected up behind-the-scenes to make it a reality.
Takaaki Nakagami (30) leads Francesco Bagnaia (63), Maverick Vinales (12), Michele Pirro (51), and Marc Marquez (93) during MotoGP Virtual Race Two at Red Bull Ring. Image courtesy of Dorna/www.motogp.com.
The race got underway in chaotic style with nearly all of the field getting caught up in a huge crash going into Turn 1, with LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami somehow emerging ahead and in the lead in the aftermath. It didn’t last long though, with first Bagnaia and Viñales both motoring past the Japanese rider, and then Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez also finding a way past to move into third.
At the start of Lap 2 though, Nakagami ran straight into the rear wheel of Marquez and took out the number 93, much to the nine-time Champion’s frustration. And it wouldn’t be the Japanese rider’s only controversial move! The number 30 stayed on but was quickly passed by Alex Marquez, who had his eyes firmly on the duo ahead, but Nakagami would then take out Alex as well after once again riding straight into the back of him. That allowed Marc Marquez back into the podium hunt and Nakagami started to drift back. Younger brother Alex had too much pace for the reigning MotoGP™ World Champion though and he eventually broke clear and settled into third place.
Back at the front and it was Viñales who was leading, eight tenths clear of Bagnaia with now just a handful of laps remaining. The win was in sight for the factory Yamaha, but disaster then struck when Viñales tucked the front end of his M1 and he crashed out the lead. Bagnaia didn’t need a second invitation to sweep through and retake control of the race, and the gap was quite something… surely it was done and dusted?
Maverick Vinales (12) goes inside of Francesco Bagnaia (63) during MotoGP Virtual Race Two at Red Bull Ring. Image courtesy of Dorna/www.motogp.com.
Not quite. Viñales found something to little by little cut the three-second gap down to nothing as the pair started the final lap. Remarkably he then took the lead from Bagnaia at Turn 3, plunging downhill and up the inside, but the Italian wasn’t tapping out and giving up. He immediately responded with a huge dive up the inside of the Yamaha, even taking a trip across the grass to do so, and that would prove the race-winning overtake. Viñales was able to cut the gap back down again, but a big slide out of the final corner put paid to any chance of him drafting past Bagnaia before the chequered flag…
It wouldn’t be another Virtual Race win for Alex Marquez, who came across the line in third place, but it was another trip to the rostrum and ahead of his brother Marc Marquez, who finished fourth. Behind them, three crashes cost Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Quartararo dearly as he ended up in fifth despite showing podium pace once again, just as he had at Mugello.
Sixth place was another tight fight and went right down to the wire as Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team), both making their Virtual Race debuts, slugged it out. In the end, Petrucci came out on top despite The Doctor’s best efforts after the number 46 put in an almighty lunge at the final corner, that ultimately ending in the nine-time World Champion crashing out spectacularly and Petrucci able to escape. Nakagami slipped back to eighth after a few more exploits, making no friends on the virtual track in this race but providing some top entertainment, with Ducati Team’s Michele Pirro and Reale Avintia Racing’s Tito Rabat completing the top ten.
That’s it from the second MotoGP™ Virtual Race, and we hope you’ve enjoyed it! Make sure to stay tuned to motogp.com and social media for more reactions, clips, interviews and #StayAtHomeGP content from MotoGP™, riders and teams.
Francesco Bagnaia: “I had to concentrate so hard! When Maverick overtook me he was setting a really good pace, then when he crashed and I took the lead again I started to make a lot of mistakes. It was difficult to manage the grip but I tried to stay in front of him. On the last lap when he overtook me I gave it everything, also touching the grass a little, but the battle was so much fun!”
Race Results from MotoGP Virtual Race Two at Red Bull Ring. Image courtesy of Dorna/www.motogp.com.
More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:
Miraculous Alex Marquez recovers for Virtual GP podium at the Red Bull Ring
A resurgent Alex Marquez returned to the rostrum after twice crashing due to the mistakes of others, Repsol Honda Team team-mate Marc Marquez making in a double top five for the team.
The second #StayAtHomeGP of 2020 proved to be the most dramatic yet as riders frantic fought over ten laps at the Red Bull Ring. Qualifying between the riders was close with just a tenth splitting the front row. Alex continued his run of form to take third on the grid with Marc just a tenth behind in fourth.
After winning the first race, Alex Marquez was looking strong again but was unfortunately twice forced off by other riders. Despite two crashes, the 23-year old remained focused and charged through the field to continue his perfect podium record with a well-earned third place at the Red Bull Ring.
Marc Marquez again proved to be competitive on his virtual Honda RC213V and landed his best finish of the series yet with fourth. Trying to stay out of trouble in the early laps, the World Champion found himself in contention for the podium by mid-race. Unfortunately a mistake while battling with his team mate saw Marc slip out of the battle for the top three, taking solid points with fourth.
Alex Marquez
THIRD
“An exciting race! I’m happy to be back on the podium after an intense race at the Red Bull Ring. There were some very aggressive riders in the race and I crashed twice with the others. For sure being able to get a podium finish with two crashes is something very special so I have to really enjoy this, even if I thought I could have fought for victory again. This is racing! I hope everyone who watched had a good time, it was fun to go racing with everyone again.”
Marc Marquez
FOURTH
“Like the first race it was really fun to race with everyone. We were in the top five so I’m happy with the consistency and we were a little closer to where we want to be. The most important thing is we put on a nice show for the fans again. Congratulations again to Alex for another podium.”
More, from a press release issued by Pramac Racing:
PECCO BAGNAIA SHOW
Francesco Bagnaia won the second #StayAtHomeGP at the Red Bull Ring Circuit. Pecco run a fantastic Virtual Race, he led from the Qualifying to the end of the race. He made no mistakes, what a perfect race. This success comes after a hard training with his Virtual Coach (Pecco’s little brother), one of the best in the world, who worked closely with Pecco all this time. Thanks to this amazing performance Pramac Racing Team is the leader of the Virtual MotoGP Championship. We wish you a happy Easter, hoping the sponsors and fans enjoyed the second #StayAtHomeGP like we did.
More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
VIÑALES SCORES SECOND, ROSSI TAKES SEVENTH IN MOTOGP VIRTUAL RACE II
MotoGP Virtual Race came back with a second round today, and Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi were part of the rider line-up, eager to entertain MotoGP fans with some eSport action. The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP riders took second and seventh place respectively.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP‘s Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi joined the line-up for today‘s MotoGP Virtual Race II. For this round, the riders would be fighting for glory in a ten-lap race at the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg, and the team-mates were up for the task, taking second and seventh place respectively.
Viñales shone in the first MotoGP Virtual Race, held on 29 March. Despite a collision with Fabio Quartararo in the first corner and another fall towards the end of the race, the Spaniard rode to an impressive third place, attesting to his great gaming skills.
Having gotten further tips from Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP eRider Lorenzo Daretti (aka Trastevere73 or 73Trast) and after training with him (see video), Viñales was feeling confident that he could do an even better job today and was immediately off to a good start. He qualified in second place, like he had done in the first round, and again he enjoyed a good launch off the starting grid, slotting into third. Once the Yamaha rider passed Takaaki Nakagami for second, the fight for the win was between him and Francesco Bagnaia. Viñales took over the lead on lap 6 but struggled to keep Bagnaia at bay. A small mistake ultimately cost him the frontrunner position. He was able to quickly resume his fight with Bagnaia. It went down to the wire, but ultimately Viñales finished in second place, just 0.074s from first (after penalties from Race Direction). He also managed to set the best lap time of all riders, 0.603s faster than everyone else.
Rossi was a new entry to the MotoGP Virtual Race challenge, to the delight of his fans the world over. Not normally an active MotoGP eSport gamer, the Italian had put in some time to train beforehand, aiming to make his fans proud and entertaining them at the same time. Naturally, The Doctor didn‘t have the experience the majority of the rider field had, it being his first time competing in a MotoGP Virtual Race. He steadily familiarised himself with the MotoGP eSport game during qualifying but had to start from the back of the grid, in 10th place.
As with Race I, lots of damage was done in the first corners of Race II. The number-46 Yamaha was one of the bikes that went down but later emerged from the chaos fighting for eighth position. Despite another crash, Rossi kept pushing all the way through, refusing to give up, and his determination paid off in the end. As other riders suffered falls, he climbed up the order and found himself frequently in sixth place. On the last lap he had a close battle with Danilo Petrucci, who ran wide in the very last corner, leaving enough space for the Yamaha man to try to dive on the inside, but their wheels touched. In a dramatic climax, The Doctor went down right before the finish line, but was still awarded a respectable seventh position on his first Virtual Race attempt.
MAVERICK VIÑALES
I finished third in the first MotoGP Virtual Race and today, in the second one, I finished second. These are good results, so I can be happy, though I really wanted to win today. I qualified in second place for the second race, and things were going well. The level at the front is quite high – you need to push hard. Especially Pecco Bagnaia is really good at playing MotoGP eSport. I tried really hard to break away from him when I was leading the race, but I made a small mistake and I crashed. Thankfully, in the game you’re able to get up quickly. I was able to fight with Pecco again, but in the end it wasn’t enough to win.
VALENTINO ROSSI
Having a MotoGP Race on the PlayStation was really strange! It was a new experience for me. I like playing online with friends, but I’m more competitive with four-wheel games. However, I had a lot of fun. I tried to fight! I hope all the MotoGP fans had a good time. We need to continue to respect the quarantine rules, we have to stay at home so we can go back to ’normal life‘ as soon as possible. I look forward to seeing the fans again next time I do a virtual race!
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 24th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
AMA Pro races and Championships, including eight AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (8 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 11 and 18 (as of the start of the 2020 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships on a 125cc two-stroke/250cc four-stroke or larger racebike or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
Toby Khamsouk. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Toby Khamsouk
Age: 17.
Current home: Banning, California.
Current height/weight: 6’1”/150 pounds.
Current school grade level: 12th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2012, Apple Valley, California, Minimoto USA, Minimoto, 1st place.
Current racebike: Suzuki SV650.
Current tuners/mechanics: Phet Khamsouk (father), Michael Copolous, Matt Spicer.
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Twins Cup.
Sponsors: Robem Engineering, Precision Auto Service, HJC, Mithos.
Recent racing accomplishments (so far): 2019 season, finished 12th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (8 top-10 finishes), 2 podium finishes with CVMA; 2018 season, finished 14th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (best race finished was 5th – twice), placed 2nd in 3 CVMA Championships (350 Supersport, Junior Cup, 500 Supersport); 2017 season, placed 6th in MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship (1 podium, 4 top-5 finishes); 2016 season, won Yamaha YZF-R3 Cup Novice Championship, won 2 WERA West Championships (Formula 2 Novice, Formula Three Combined).
2020 racing goals: Improve, go fast, do the best that I can.
Racing career goal: Win a MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Racing hero: Casey Stoner.
Favorite track: Road Atlanta.
Favorite hobby: Off-roading.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Pursuing a career in Business or Marketing or helping my parents with the family business.
From the very beginning helmets have been much more than just a business for Arai. Started from a need for self-protection, evolving into a pursuit of always improving, even if only by small increments. The accumulation of many such small improvements over time can show remarkable results, even beyond our expectations. Learn more at www.araiamericas.com.
About Arai Helmet:
Hirotake Arai created the first helmet in Japan for his own protection, not just for business. To this day, the Arai company is still owned and operated by the Arai family, driven by the same motivation of superior rider protection that drove Hirotake. Comfort, ventilation, aerodynamics, low weight and low noise are just a few of the benefits most riders look for in a helmet, and of course Arai strives to deliver those things. However, Arai has never forgotten the most import function of a helmet – protection – which is why Arai focuses on The Consistent Pursuit of Gains in Protection. See more at www.araiamericas.com
In January, Royal Enfield North America announced its Build Train Race program. This program gave four female motorcycle enthusiasts from varied backgrounds a Royal Enfield INT 650 and two months to customize their bikes before racing them against each other in a series of flat track events, including a special exhibition race during the Atlanta Short Track round of the American Flat Track (AFT) Championship series, which was originally scheduled for March 28.
Then came the COVID-19 outbreak, and plans changed.
Melissa Paris, however, didn’t stop her bike build even though the mother of a two-year-old and MP13 Racing team owner spent considerable time preparing for, traveling to, and attending the now-postponed Daytona 200 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
While plans for the completion of the BUILD TRAIN RACE program remain on hold, Royal Enfield is sharing images of Paris’ Royal Enfield INT 650 flat tracker as captured by photographer Brandon LaJoie.
From Royal Enfield:
Melissa chose to leverage as many of her road racing partners as possible in the build. The suspension was her number one focus, and for that, she leaned heavily on Öhlins, who provided a stunning set of gold forks and rear shocks for her motorcycle.
The rest of the build centered around those components, which required some custom triple clamps by Evol Technology. The black and gold color theme was carried visually throughout the rest of the motorcycle, from the Dubya wheels to the bodywork. And Phillipe Danh from Beringer Brakes US came down and personally fitted an under-mounted rear brake caliper and rear brake master cylinder.
Power is always on Melissa’s mind, so a 2-into-1 exhaust from S&S was bolted on to add some bark to the INT 650. She also added a Dynojet Power Commander to optimize the performance of the free-flowing exhaust and S&S air filter that replaced the stock units. The motorcycle spent time on the dyno at Lee’s Cycle to dial in the power delivery even further.
The stock INT 650 fuel tank was kept, but the subframe was cut down and a universal flat track seat was installed. A carbon front number plate and fork guards were added to complete the look of the motorcycle. David Tovar at SBK Paint took on the bodywork and tied everything together perfectly.
Partners / Special Thanks: Dynojet, Dubya Wheels, Öhlins, SBK Paint, Lee’s Cycle, Evol Technology, S&S Cycle, Beringer Brakes, and Nick Cliing.
The left side of Melissa Paris’ one-off Royal Enfield INT 650 flat tracker. Photo by Brandon LaJoie, courtesy of Royal Enfield North America.The carbon-fiber number plate and fork guards on Melissa Paris’ one-off Royal Enfield INT 650 flat tracker. Photo by Brandon LaJoie, courtesy of Royal Enfield North America.The addition of Öhlins forks necessitated the use of custom triple clamps from Evol Technology on Melissa Paris’ one-off Royal Enfield INT 650 flat tracker. Photo by Brandon LaJoie, courtesy of Royal Enfield North America.A close up of the Öhlins shocks and seat/tail unit on Melissa Paris’ one-off Royal Enfield INT 650 flat tracker. Photo by Brandon LaJoie, courtesy of Royal Enfield North America.An S&S racing exhaust was added to Paris’ one-off Royal Enfield INT 650 flat tracker and matched with an S&S air filter, Dynojet Power Commander, and a custom dyno tune at Lee’s Cycle. Photo by Brandon LaJoie, courtesy of Royal Enfield North America. Beringer Brakes US supplied an under-mounted rear brake caliper and rear brake master cylinder.
Ridge Motorsports Park, in Shelton, Washington. Photo courtesy of TrackTime.
The Ridge Motorsports Park Round Rescheduled
Debut Event In Washington State Moved To August 28-30
IRVINE, CA (April 13, 2020) – MotoAmerica has announced that the Komatsu MotoAmerica Superbikes at the Ridge round at the Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, has been rescheduled for August 28-30 due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
“With so much uncertainty in the coming months we wanted to be proactive to ensure we can hold such a vital event that can fully support the racers and the fans,” said the Ridge’s General Manager, Tracie Schmitt. “After lengthy discussions we thought it was in the best interest of everyone to move the event to the last weekend in August. We all feel to make this event a success, August 28-30 will allow racers, spectators, the local community, and the Pacific Northwest to fully enjoy this event at the Ridge Motorsports Park. We are very excited for our upcoming Komatsu MotoAmerica Superbikes at the Ridge round this August.”
The Komatsu MotoAmerica Superbikes at the Ridge event will now be round five of the 2020 MotoAmerica Series. The series is scheduled to begin May 29-31 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
“Obviously, we have kept in close contact with all of our track partners and when Tracie (Schmitt) suggested an alternate date, although disappointed, we obviously understand the reasoning behind the change,” MotoAmerica’s Chuck Aksland said. “We are all very excited about our first trip to the Northwest for the Komatsu MotoAmerica Superbikes at the Ridge and moving the date to the end of August will eliminate some of the uncertainty that a June date would otherwise bring. August is also a great time of year in the Northwest and we look forward to seeing everyone there.”
2020 MotoAmerica Series
May 29-31: Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
July 10-12: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California
July 31-August 2: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia
August 7-9: Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, Pennsylvania
August 28-30: Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, Washington
September 11-13: New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, New Jersey
September 18-20: Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama
October 9-11: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana
November 13-15: Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas
For the full 2020 MotoAmerica Series schedule, click HERE
To purchase tickets to any of the 2020 series rounds, click HERE
For information on how to watch the 2020 MotoAmerica Series, click HERE
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com. Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The start of a MotoAmerica Superbike race at Sonoma Raceway in 2019. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Editor’s Note: The following competition bulletin was issued by MX Sports, which promotes motocross, GNCC cross-country, and ATV races, including the (outdoor) AMA Motocross Championship. The listed programs can also apply to professional road racers, crew members, teams, promoters, racetracks, and other companies involved in road racing, as well as, in certain cases, track day-related businesses, paid crew members and instructors. Thanks to Racer Productions and the Coombs family and staff for making this available to roadracingworld.com.
Financial Relief Available to Pro Athletes and Promoters
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provides financial assistance through a series of emergency loans and grants to large and small businesses to assist them during this difficult economic period. In addition to providing financial support to businesses, the program also provides assistance to independent contractors and self-employed individuals, which includes many of our professional athletes and their agents.
In the sport of professional motorcycle/ATV competition, including Pro Motocross, GNCC and ATVMX, most of our pro athletes and promoters operate as either small business entities (LLC or S-corporations), independent contractors or are self-employed. To help navigate the complicated application process for these funding programs, the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) has prepared a summary of resources and contact information. The MIC COVID-19 Economic Assistance Resources summary outlines the various financial assistance programs available to our pro athletes. https://mic.org/Downloads/COVID/EconomicAssistanceResources.pdf
Individuals and companies that have been adversely impacted by the crisis are encouraged to explore how these programs may assist them until our sport returns to competition. To summarize:
Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): Pro athletes and businesses may be eligible for up to $2 million in loans, as well as a $10,000 1-time cash grant. The application process is easy and available online. You will need your SSN or EIN and bank account and routing numbers. You will know if you are approved for the $10,000 grant within 3 days and the money will be directly wired to your account. https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): If you have employees and continue to pay them during the crisis, you may be eligible for payroll protection. This program pays 2.5 times your monthly payroll costs and is 100% forgivable, so long as you don’t reduce your payroll by more than 25%. Starting April 10th, independent contractors and self-employed individuals (pro athletes) may also apply for loans of up to $100,000 to cover the loss of income and net earnings from self-employment during this time. These loans are forgivable as well.
This program is administered through the Small Business Association (SBA) but you must apply through your local bank. Applications close June 30th and there is a funding cap, so apply now. The 6-digit NAICS Code for independent professional racers is 711219.
Tax Credits: Several tax credit programs are available and should be exercised if applicable. You will need to consult with your tax advisor to take advantage of these tax credits:
a. Payroll tax credit
b. Social Security tax deferment
c. Net operating loss 5-year carry back with full offset
d. Increase in business interest expense deductions
e. Immediate recovery of corporate alternative minimum tax credits
f. Immediate write-off for facility improvement costs (i.e., racetrack upgrades?)
We hope this information has been helpful to our professional athletes and promoters. The RLT will continue to provide weekly updates regarding event schedules, postponements and cancellations, along with other updates intended to provide our motorsports community with the most current and accurate information available regarding our competition programs, and encourages everyone to follow local, state and federal rules and recommendations designed to address the impacts of Covid-19.
The health, safety and welfare of our riders and their families remains paramount, and we will keep our race community apprised of all further developments.
More, from MotoAmerica:
Federal Economic Aid Available
MotoAmerica would like to thank the GNCC, Carrie Coombs and the MIC for providing the research for the information shared below. We hope it is of service to our teams in navigating these very rough financial waters.
For the MIC infographic summary of aid available please click here:
The following options may provide you with aid while we work towards the start of the season.
Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): Pro athletes and businesses may be eligible for up to $2 million in loans, as well as a $10,000 1-time cash grant. The application process is easy and available online. You will need your SSN or EIN and bank account and routing numbers. You will know if you are approved for the $10,000 grant within 3 days and the money will be directly wired to your account. https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): If you have employees and continue to pay them during the crisis, you may be eligible for payroll protection. This program pays 2.5 times your monthly payroll costs and is 100% forgivable, so long as you don’t reduce your payroll by more than 25%. Starting April 10th, independent contractors and self-employed individuals (pro athletes) may also apply for loans of up to $100,000 to cover the loss of income and net earnings from self-employment during this time. These loans are forgivable as well.
This program is administered through the Small Business Association (SBA) but you must apply through your local bank. Applications close June 30th and there is a funding cap, so apply now. The 6-digit NAICS Code for independent professional racers is 711219
Tax Credits: Several tax credit programs are available and should be exercised if applicable. You will need to consult with your tax advisor to take advantage of these tax credits:
a. Payroll tax credit
b. Social Security tax deferment
c. Net operating loss 5-year carry back with full offset
d. Increase in business interest expense deductions
e. Immediate recovery of corporate alternative minimum tax credits
f. Immediate write-off for facility improvement costs
We hope you are all staying safe and healthy and please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions regarding our plans to return to racing or ways we can help assist you.
Check www.motoamerica.com for news and updates.
Entry, registration, technical bulletins can be found at www.motoamericaregistration.com
Here are some downloadable coloring pages for kids who are staying safer at home during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The pages are in PDF format and can be downloaded and saved for later or printed immediately.
We will feature additional coloring pages, word finds, mazes, and more in the near future, so check back often.
Some of the coloring pages come directly from The Little Motorcycle, a children’s motorcycle picture book written by C. Edward Link, illustrated by Jim Serfass, and published by Roadracing World.
The Little Motorcycle story follows TeeZee the racebike from winter sleep to Daytona racing action. The vivid, energetic illustrations of the earnest TeeZee add to the charm of this racer’s storybook. Recommended for ages up to 8. To order The Little Motorcycle, click Here.
Click on the thumbnail images below to open up the downloadable PDF files.
The Little Motorcycle Coloring Page Three. Illustration by Jim Serfass.
The Little Motorcycle Coloring Page Four. Illustration by Jim Serfass.
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 24th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
AMA Pro races and Championships, including eight AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (8 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 11 and 18 (as of the start of the 2020 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships on a 125cc two-stroke/250cc four-stroke or larger racebike or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
David Kohlstaedt. Photo courtesy of David Kohlstaedt.
David Kohlstaedt
Age: 16.
Current home: Puyallup, Washington.
Current height/weight: 5’10”/130 pounds.
Current school grade level: 10th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2013, Shelton, Washington, WMRRA, 125GP, 3rd place.
Current racebikes: Kawasaki Ninja 400, Yamaha YZF-R6.
Current tuners/mechanics: Dave Kohlstaedt (father), Dave Alexander.
Top sponsors: 2 Fast Track Days, Fluid Suspension Science, 2Wheel Dyno Works, Bell Helmets, Sammy Halbert Racing, Dunlop, Bellevue Kawasaki, Motion Pro, Vortex Racing, Track Skinz Leather, EBC, Umbrella Girls USA, Purveyors of Speed.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2019 season, placed 30th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (best race finish 11th at Barber), won WMRRA Ultralightweight Superbike Championship (5 wins), placed 2nd in WMRRA Formula Ultra 2 Championship (3 podiums in 4 races); 2018 season, placed 7th in overall WMRRA Championship, won WMRRA Ultra-Lightweight SS Championship, finished 2nd in WMRRA 500 Superbike and Ultra-Lightweight GP Championships, set WMRRA Ultra-Lightweight class lap record at The Ridge Motorsports Park, collected 2 top-20 finishes in MotoAmerica Junior Cup races while riding a Kawasaki Ninja 300; 2015 season, named AMA Youth Rider of the Year in Flat Track.
2020 racing goals: Win MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship, place in top 5 overall in WMRRA Championship.
Racing career goal: Race in the MotoGP World Championship.
Racing heroes: Sammy Halbert, Valentino Rossi
Favorite track: Sonoma Raceway.
Favorite hobby: Playing guitar and piano.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Enjoying time with my family.
MotoAmerica 2019 Twins Cup Champion Alex Dumas on the Suzuki SV650 project racebike. Features include GSX-R600 forks and brakes; Dymag wheels; Hotbodies GSX-RR replica bodywork; carbon-fiber airbox; GBRacing covers; K-Tech shock; Vortex clip-ons and sprockets; Woodcraft rearsets; and a lot more. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Featured In the April 2020 issue of Roadracing World:
It started as a casual, ‘let’s build a fun track day or club racebike’ thing when the latest-generation Suzuki SV650 came out in 2017. The first pass involved flatter handlebars, modifying the forks and shock, installing number plates, Venhill braided stainless-steel brake lines, an M4 exhaust system, and a WERA-required belly pan to catch any leaking fluids. It was a friendly and easy bike to ride. Step two was fitting a used GSX-R1000 front end (forks/triple clamps/brakes/clip-on handlebars), along with K-Tech fork cartridges and a K-Tech shock, and a different version of a belly pan.
But something was seriously missing in the set-up; the bike didn’t want to turn, the belly pan was dragging in fast corners, and it was a lot less fun to ride …
—Suzuki SV650 Project: Part One, by John Ulrich
When 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion Alex Dumas was bumped out of the class for finishing too well over three seasons and needed a new ride, Team Hammer wanted to sign him to race in Supersport. But pre-season testing didn’t go well and the team decided to put him on a Suzuki SV650 in the Twins Cup instead. It was a long road, but what started as a lightly modified track bike turned into a serious R&D program that saw the bike get faster at every round and it ended up with another National Championship for Dumas and the team. Step-by-step, the SV was developed into a powerful, reliable race winner, Dumas kept getting better at riding it, and the combination charged from behind to win. The start of the journey is in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology is THE definitive source for motorcycle racing, riding, and tech information.
PREVIEW the April 2020 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.
Thunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Photo courtesy NJMP.
Beer, Bikes and Live Music!
New Jersey Motorsports Park Announces New Date for the 2020 Designer Wraps Beer Fest
Millville, N.J. – New Jersey Motorsports Park announced today that the Designer Wraps Beer Fest will be rescheduled for Saturday September 12th, 2020 between 4:00pm – 8:00pm to be held in following the MotoAmerica Superbikes at New Jersey.
NJMP expects over 30 craft breweries to participate with 60 styles of beer, in addition to food trucks, vendors, live music and more. The event ticket includes beer samples from all participating breweries. Megan Knight who recently appeared on American Idol will be the featured performer at the Beer Festival.
While there will be more details to come in the upcoming weeks, the Beer Fest will be held after the track activity is done that Saturday on the grounds of the NJMP Clubhouse.
Tickets for the Beer Festival can be purchased for $35.00 on-line and $40.00 at the gate.
This will be the 12th visit to New Jersey for MotoAmerica which is always one of the biggest events of the season for NJMP. In a statement from Brad Scott, NJMP President/COO he states, “Everyone from the breweries that are participating to the MotoAmerica organizers are excited about the new date and the pairing of the beer fest with world class motorcycle racing.”
Sitting on more than 500 acres in Millville, N.J., New Jersey Motorsports Park is the premier motorsports entertainment complex in the Northeast. NJMP is conveniently located near Philadelphia and New York City, offering diverse and dynamic attractions both on and off-track. The park includes two world-class road courses, Thunderbolt and Lightning Raceway, two motorsports country club membership program for cars and motorcycles, one of the top outdoor karting complexes in the U.S. – Tempest Raceway, 10 acres of paintball fields, outdoor axe throwing, concert and festival space, overnight accommodations, real estate development opportunities, and a clubhouse with a bar/restaurant and built-in pool. NJMP continues to elevate its commercial and private real estate development including: The Villas at Breighton, private garage condominiums: Exotic Car Garages, and NJMP Speedplex featuring performance/automotive services and more.
A scene from MotoGP Virtual Race Two. Image courtesy of Dorna/www.motogp.com.
Editorial Note: View a video recording of the race HERE.
Bagnaia beats Viñales for victory in MotoGP™ Virtual Race 2
The Italian comes out on top after ten high-octane laps around the Red Bull Ring, with some of the stars of MotoGP™ putting on another awesome show
Some of the biggest names in MotoGP™ put on another awesome show in the second Virtual MotoGP™ Race, with Pramac Racing’s Francesco Bagnaia coming out on top after the Red Bull Ring delivered yet another last lap classic! Bagnaia and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Viñales went toe-to-toe, with the Italian taking this victory and a debut MotoGP™ win after diving up the inside of Viñales, on the grass, on the last lap. The second #StayAtHomeGP was filled with yet more thrills and spills as ten premier class riders again put on a show to bring a little light relief and entertainment to a tougher time for many MotoGP™ fans around the world – with more than twenty households connected up behind-the-scenes to make it a reality.
Takaaki Nakagami (30) leads Francesco Bagnaia (63), Maverick Vinales (12), Michele Pirro (51), and Marc Marquez (93) during MotoGP Virtual Race Two at Red Bull Ring. Image courtesy of Dorna/www.motogp.com.
The race got underway in chaotic style with nearly all of the field getting caught up in a huge crash going into Turn 1, with LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami somehow emerging ahead and in the lead in the aftermath. It didn’t last long though, with first Bagnaia and Viñales both motoring past the Japanese rider, and then Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez also finding a way past to move into third.
At the start of Lap 2 though, Nakagami ran straight into the rear wheel of Marquez and took out the number 93, much to the nine-time Champion’s frustration. And it wouldn’t be the Japanese rider’s only controversial move! The number 30 stayed on but was quickly passed by Alex Marquez, who had his eyes firmly on the duo ahead, but Nakagami would then take out Alex as well after once again riding straight into the back of him. That allowed Marc Marquez back into the podium hunt and Nakagami started to drift back. Younger brother Alex had too much pace for the reigning MotoGP™ World Champion though and he eventually broke clear and settled into third place.
Back at the front and it was Viñales who was leading, eight tenths clear of Bagnaia with now just a handful of laps remaining. The win was in sight for the factory Yamaha, but disaster then struck when Viñales tucked the front end of his M1 and he crashed out the lead. Bagnaia didn’t need a second invitation to sweep through and retake control of the race, and the gap was quite something… surely it was done and dusted?
Maverick Vinales (12) goes inside of Francesco Bagnaia (63) during MotoGP Virtual Race Two at Red Bull Ring. Image courtesy of Dorna/www.motogp.com.
Not quite. Viñales found something to little by little cut the three-second gap down to nothing as the pair started the final lap. Remarkably he then took the lead from Bagnaia at Turn 3, plunging downhill and up the inside, but the Italian wasn’t tapping out and giving up. He immediately responded with a huge dive up the inside of the Yamaha, even taking a trip across the grass to do so, and that would prove the race-winning overtake. Viñales was able to cut the gap back down again, but a big slide out of the final corner put paid to any chance of him drafting past Bagnaia before the chequered flag…
It wouldn’t be another Virtual Race win for Alex Marquez, who came across the line in third place, but it was another trip to the rostrum and ahead of his brother Marc Marquez, who finished fourth. Behind them, three crashes cost Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Quartararo dearly as he ended up in fifth despite showing podium pace once again, just as he had at Mugello.
Sixth place was another tight fight and went right down to the wire as Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team), both making their Virtual Race debuts, slugged it out. In the end, Petrucci came out on top despite The Doctor’s best efforts after the number 46 put in an almighty lunge at the final corner, that ultimately ending in the nine-time World Champion crashing out spectacularly and Petrucci able to escape. Nakagami slipped back to eighth after a few more exploits, making no friends on the virtual track in this race but providing some top entertainment, with Ducati Team’s Michele Pirro and Reale Avintia Racing’s Tito Rabat completing the top ten.
That’s it from the second MotoGP™ Virtual Race, and we hope you’ve enjoyed it! Make sure to stay tuned to motogp.com and social media for more reactions, clips, interviews and #StayAtHomeGP content from MotoGP™, riders and teams.
Francesco Bagnaia: “I had to concentrate so hard! When Maverick overtook me he was setting a really good pace, then when he crashed and I took the lead again I started to make a lot of mistakes. It was difficult to manage the grip but I tried to stay in front of him. On the last lap when he overtook me I gave it everything, also touching the grass a little, but the battle was so much fun!”
Race Results from MotoGP Virtual Race Two at Red Bull Ring. Image courtesy of Dorna/www.motogp.com.
More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:
Miraculous Alex Marquez recovers for Virtual GP podium at the Red Bull Ring
A resurgent Alex Marquez returned to the rostrum after twice crashing due to the mistakes of others, Repsol Honda Team team-mate Marc Marquez making in a double top five for the team.
The second #StayAtHomeGP of 2020 proved to be the most dramatic yet as riders frantic fought over ten laps at the Red Bull Ring. Qualifying between the riders was close with just a tenth splitting the front row. Alex continued his run of form to take third on the grid with Marc just a tenth behind in fourth.
After winning the first race, Alex Marquez was looking strong again but was unfortunately twice forced off by other riders. Despite two crashes, the 23-year old remained focused and charged through the field to continue his perfect podium record with a well-earned third place at the Red Bull Ring.
Marc Marquez again proved to be competitive on his virtual Honda RC213V and landed his best finish of the series yet with fourth. Trying to stay out of trouble in the early laps, the World Champion found himself in contention for the podium by mid-race. Unfortunately a mistake while battling with his team mate saw Marc slip out of the battle for the top three, taking solid points with fourth.
Alex Marquez
THIRD
“An exciting race! I’m happy to be back on the podium after an intense race at the Red Bull Ring. There were some very aggressive riders in the race and I crashed twice with the others. For sure being able to get a podium finish with two crashes is something very special so I have to really enjoy this, even if I thought I could have fought for victory again. This is racing! I hope everyone who watched had a good time, it was fun to go racing with everyone again.”
Marc Marquez
FOURTH
“Like the first race it was really fun to race with everyone. We were in the top five so I’m happy with the consistency and we were a little closer to where we want to be. The most important thing is we put on a nice show for the fans again. Congratulations again to Alex for another podium.”
More, from a press release issued by Pramac Racing:
PECCO BAGNAIA SHOW
Francesco Bagnaia won the second #StayAtHomeGP at the Red Bull Ring Circuit. Pecco run a fantastic Virtual Race, he led from the Qualifying to the end of the race. He made no mistakes, what a perfect race. This success comes after a hard training with his Virtual Coach (Pecco’s little brother), one of the best in the world, who worked closely with Pecco all this time. Thanks to this amazing performance Pramac Racing Team is the leader of the Virtual MotoGP Championship. We wish you a happy Easter, hoping the sponsors and fans enjoyed the second #StayAtHomeGP like we did.
More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
VIÑALES SCORES SECOND, ROSSI TAKES SEVENTH IN MOTOGP VIRTUAL RACE II
MotoGP Virtual Race came back with a second round today, and Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi were part of the rider line-up, eager to entertain MotoGP fans with some eSport action. The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP riders took second and seventh place respectively.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP‘s Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi joined the line-up for today‘s MotoGP Virtual Race II. For this round, the riders would be fighting for glory in a ten-lap race at the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg, and the team-mates were up for the task, taking second and seventh place respectively.
Viñales shone in the first MotoGP Virtual Race, held on 29 March. Despite a collision with Fabio Quartararo in the first corner and another fall towards the end of the race, the Spaniard rode to an impressive third place, attesting to his great gaming skills.
Having gotten further tips from Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP eRider Lorenzo Daretti (aka Trastevere73 or 73Trast) and after training with him (see video), Viñales was feeling confident that he could do an even better job today and was immediately off to a good start. He qualified in second place, like he had done in the first round, and again he enjoyed a good launch off the starting grid, slotting into third. Once the Yamaha rider passed Takaaki Nakagami for second, the fight for the win was between him and Francesco Bagnaia. Viñales took over the lead on lap 6 but struggled to keep Bagnaia at bay. A small mistake ultimately cost him the frontrunner position. He was able to quickly resume his fight with Bagnaia. It went down to the wire, but ultimately Viñales finished in second place, just 0.074s from first (after penalties from Race Direction). He also managed to set the best lap time of all riders, 0.603s faster than everyone else.
Rossi was a new entry to the MotoGP Virtual Race challenge, to the delight of his fans the world over. Not normally an active MotoGP eSport gamer, the Italian had put in some time to train beforehand, aiming to make his fans proud and entertaining them at the same time. Naturally, The Doctor didn‘t have the experience the majority of the rider field had, it being his first time competing in a MotoGP Virtual Race. He steadily familiarised himself with the MotoGP eSport game during qualifying but had to start from the back of the grid, in 10th place.
As with Race I, lots of damage was done in the first corners of Race II. The number-46 Yamaha was one of the bikes that went down but later emerged from the chaos fighting for eighth position. Despite another crash, Rossi kept pushing all the way through, refusing to give up, and his determination paid off in the end. As other riders suffered falls, he climbed up the order and found himself frequently in sixth place. On the last lap he had a close battle with Danilo Petrucci, who ran wide in the very last corner, leaving enough space for the Yamaha man to try to dive on the inside, but their wheels touched. In a dramatic climax, The Doctor went down right before the finish line, but was still awarded a respectable seventh position on his first Virtual Race attempt.
MAVERICK VIÑALES
I finished third in the first MotoGP Virtual Race and today, in the second one, I finished second. These are good results, so I can be happy, though I really wanted to win today. I qualified in second place for the second race, and things were going well. The level at the front is quite high – you need to push hard. Especially Pecco Bagnaia is really good at playing MotoGP eSport. I tried really hard to break away from him when I was leading the race, but I made a small mistake and I crashed. Thankfully, in the game you’re able to get up quickly. I was able to fight with Pecco again, but in the end it wasn’t enough to win.
VALENTINO ROSSI
Having a MotoGP Race on the PlayStation was really strange! It was a new experience for me. I like playing online with friends, but I’m more competitive with four-wheel games. However, I had a lot of fun. I tried to fight! I hope all the MotoGP fans had a good time. We need to continue to respect the quarantine rules, we have to stay at home so we can go back to ’normal life‘ as soon as possible. I look forward to seeing the fans again next time I do a virtual race!
Toby Khamsouk (27) at speed. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
24th-Annual Roadracing World Young Gun Honors:
By David Swarts
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 24th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
AMA Pro races and Championships, including eight AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (8 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 11 and 18 (as of the start of the 2020 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships on a 125cc two-stroke/250cc four-stroke or larger racebike or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
Toby Khamsouk. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Toby Khamsouk
Age: 17.
Current home: Banning, California.
Current height/weight: 6’1”/150 pounds.
Current school grade level: 12th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2012, Apple Valley, California, Minimoto USA, Minimoto, 1st place.
Current racebike: Suzuki SV650.
Current tuners/mechanics: Phet Khamsouk (father), Michael Copolous, Matt Spicer.
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Twins Cup.
Sponsors: Robem Engineering, Precision Auto Service, HJC, Mithos.
Recent racing accomplishments (so far): 2019 season, finished 12th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (8 top-10 finishes), 2 podium finishes with CVMA; 2018 season, finished 14th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (best race finished was 5th – twice), placed 2nd in 3 CVMA Championships (350 Supersport, Junior Cup, 500 Supersport); 2017 season, placed 6th in MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship (1 podium, 4 top-5 finishes); 2016 season, won Yamaha YZF-R3 Cup Novice Championship, won 2 WERA West Championships (Formula 2 Novice, Formula Three Combined).
2020 racing goals: Improve, go fast, do the best that I can.
Racing career goal: Win a MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Racing hero: Casey Stoner.
Favorite track: Road Atlanta.
Favorite hobby: Off-roading.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Pursuing a career in Business or Marketing or helping my parents with the family business.
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About Arai Helmet:
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The right side of Melissa Paris' one-off Royal Enfield INT 650 flat tracker. Photo by Brandon LaJoie, courtesy of Royal Enfield North America.
By David Swarts
In January, Royal Enfield North America announced its Build Train Race program. This program gave four female motorcycle enthusiasts from varied backgrounds a Royal Enfield INT 650 and two months to customize their bikes before racing them against each other in a series of flat track events, including a special exhibition race during the Atlanta Short Track round of the American Flat Track (AFT) Championship series, which was originally scheduled for March 28.
Then came the COVID-19 outbreak, and plans changed.
Melissa Paris, however, didn’t stop her bike build even though the mother of a two-year-old and MP13 Racing team owner spent considerable time preparing for, traveling to, and attending the now-postponed Daytona 200 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
While plans for the completion of the BUILD TRAIN RACE program remain on hold, Royal Enfield is sharing images of Paris’ Royal Enfield INT 650 flat tracker as captured by photographer Brandon LaJoie.
From Royal Enfield:
Melissa chose to leverage as many of her road racing partners as possible in the build. The suspension was her number one focus, and for that, she leaned heavily on Öhlins, who provided a stunning set of gold forks and rear shocks for her motorcycle.
The rest of the build centered around those components, which required some custom triple clamps by Evol Technology. The black and gold color theme was carried visually throughout the rest of the motorcycle, from the Dubya wheels to the bodywork. And Phillipe Danh from Beringer Brakes US came down and personally fitted an under-mounted rear brake caliper and rear brake master cylinder.
Power is always on Melissa’s mind, so a 2-into-1 exhaust from S&S was bolted on to add some bark to the INT 650. She also added a Dynojet Power Commander to optimize the performance of the free-flowing exhaust and S&S air filter that replaced the stock units. The motorcycle spent time on the dyno at Lee’s Cycle to dial in the power delivery even further.
The stock INT 650 fuel tank was kept, but the subframe was cut down and a universal flat track seat was installed. A carbon front number plate and fork guards were added to complete the look of the motorcycle. David Tovar at SBK Paint took on the bodywork and tied everything together perfectly.
Partners / Special Thanks: Dynojet, Dubya Wheels, Öhlins, SBK Paint, Lee’s Cycle, Evol Technology, S&S Cycle, Beringer Brakes, and Nick Cliing.
The left side of Melissa Paris’ one-off Royal Enfield INT 650 flat tracker. Photo by Brandon LaJoie, courtesy of Royal Enfield North America.The carbon-fiber number plate and fork guards on Melissa Paris’ one-off Royal Enfield INT 650 flat tracker. Photo by Brandon LaJoie, courtesy of Royal Enfield North America.The addition of Öhlins forks necessitated the use of custom triple clamps from Evol Technology on Melissa Paris’ one-off Royal Enfield INT 650 flat tracker. Photo by Brandon LaJoie, courtesy of Royal Enfield North America.A close up of the Öhlins shocks and seat/tail unit on Melissa Paris’ one-off Royal Enfield INT 650 flat tracker. Photo by Brandon LaJoie, courtesy of Royal Enfield North America.An S&S racing exhaust was added to Paris’ one-off Royal Enfield INT 650 flat tracker and matched with an S&S air filter, Dynojet Power Commander, and a custom dyno tune at Lee’s Cycle. Photo by Brandon LaJoie, courtesy of Royal Enfield North America. Beringer Brakes US supplied an under-mounted rear brake caliper and rear brake master cylinder.
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November 13, 2026
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