Razlan Razali to focus fully on PETRONAS SRT Team Principal role
PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team’s Team Principal, Razlan Razali, will place added focus on the team’s activities from April 8 as he will leave his previously concurrent position as Chief Executive Officer of Sepang International Circuit.
PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team will remain under the ownership of Sepang International Circuit after this change, with his incoming replacement, Azhan Shafriman Hanif, having a strong motorsport background, having previously worked at team title sponsor, PETRONAS.
Razlan Razali was appointed as CEO of SIC on 8th October 2008 and during his tenure oversaw a series of key circuit developments, including rolling out a 5-year Master Plan for the circuit in 2014. Having maxed out the potential of the track, with overall track usage as high as 94% across the year as a whole, the Master Plan seeks to turn the circuit into a multifaceted facility that draws repeat visits throughout the year.
In combination with developing the circuit’s potential, Razlan has promoted Malaysian riders and a Malaysian team on the world stage, starting with entering wildcard riders such as Zulfahmi Khairuddin, followed by full-season competitors. This combined with establishing a solid pipeline for Malaysian motorsports development, starting from programmes like the SIC MiniGP, Asia Talent Cup and Spanish CEV leading to the MotoGP world championship. Razlan also spearheaded the formation of PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team.
With his focus now 100% on PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team, Razlan aims to steer the team through the current challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the team is well placed to build on its exceptional 2019 season once racing resumes.
Razlan Razali
Team Principal
By taking on the role of Team Principal of the Sepang Racing Team full-time, I will be able to focus 100% on my responsibilities. I look forward to strengthening activation and engagement with Partners, attracting new companies to join us, improving the team’s function as a platform for Malaysians to compete in the MotoGP, and also strengthening the team’s corporate governance. Being CEO of SIC was already living a dream; managing a World Championship team is even more amazing. I will not waste this opportunity to make Malaysia proud, to see Malaysians do well in our team and uplift the name of Malaysia around the world, flying the Jalur Gemilang high as ambassadors for Malaysia in two-wheel motor racing.
I wish SIC and the new CEO great success. The Board of Directors has chosen someone capable and passionate, and well-versed in the ins and outs of the motorsport world. Together with the team, I am confident that the new CEO will take the circuit to greater heights, building upon what we have achieved these past years.
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.
Damian Jigalov on the MotoAmerica Junior Cup podium in 2019. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Top sponsors: Intact GP Dynavolt, Arch Motorcycle Co., Alpinestars, Shoei, WERA, Lionize Delivery Solutions, WERA, Liqui Moly.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2019 season, finished 7th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (1 podium finish, 6 top-5 finishes); 2018 season, finished 12th in CIV (Italian) Pre-Moto3 Championship (best race finish of 6th), finished 13th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup (best race finish was 2nd, twice), won WERA Sportsman D Superstock National Championship, won 18 WERA races; 2017 season, placed 8th in CIV (Italian) Pre-Moto3 4T Championship (best race finish was 5th), placed 4th in Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Cup Final; 2016 season, placed 10th in CIV (Italian) Pre-Moto3 Championship (best race finish was 5th).
2020 racing goal: Finish in top 10 in European Talent Cup Championship with at least one podium finish.
Racing career goal: Win MotoGP World Championship.
Racing hero: Marc Marquez.
Favorite track: Valencia.
Favorite hobby: Skiing.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Pursuing a career in business.
A statement from Dorna Sports: racing is our top priority in 2020
Thursday, 09 April 2020
The coronavirus pandemic is ongoing and has already resulted in revisions to the 2020 calendar for the MotoGP™ World Championship, including the postponement or rescheduling of a number of events. In light of the continued uncertainty, Dorna Sports would like to reaffirm that racing is our top priority in 2020.
At Dorna, we remain in continuous discussion with the FIM, IRTA, the MSMA and Grand Prix promoters as we closely monitor the situation, keeping channels of communication and support between each pillar of our sport as open as possible. The aim of every party involved is to begin racing again as soon as it is safe to do so.
Our number one focus has always been and will remain on trying to run the 2020 season with as many Grands Prix as possible, finishing within the 2020 calendar year. However, we will always act in line with health and safety advice from governments and relevant health authorities.
If the pandemic continues to put our lives and sport on hold for longer than any of us are able to anticipate and travel restrictions remain in place, only as a last resort would Dorna Sports ever consider discussing cancellation of the 2020 season with the FIM, IRTA and the MSMA.
Our number one focus for WorldSBK is likewise trying to run the 2020 season with as many Rounds as possible once it is safe to do so.
The priority of all parties involved is to race, safely, and bring our fans more of what they love: motorcycle racing.
When the 2020 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship begins there will be some familiar faces on the grid, but there will also be a whole lot of newness: New bikes, new teams, new crew chiefs, and new classes.
To help preview the season, we’ve enlisted the help of Josh Hayes.
Not only has Hayes won four AMA Pro Superbike Championships, he’s won a total of 83 AMA Pro/MotoAmerica races and three support class titles; raced in the Endurance World Championship; run at the front in Supersport World Championship races; and finished seventh while competing in his first MotoGP race as a substitute rider at Valencia in 2011.
More recently, Hayes won two races at the International Island Classic vintage event in January of this year at Phillip Island; raced at the front throughout the 2019 Daytona 200 and was on provisional pole position for the 2020 Daytona 200; and finished on the podium in the MotoAmerica Supersport class in 2019.
When he’s not racing, Hayes is a rider coach for top competitors, including Bobby Fong and Jake Gagne, as well as working with Garrett Gerloff.
And if these weren’t enough qualifications to preview the upcoming season, Hayes rode in place of injured Mathew Scholtz on Westby Racing’s 2020-model Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike during the official MotoAmerica pre-season test at Barber Motorsports Park in March. So, he’s had a close look at most of the field.
This preview series is highlighting one Superbike or Superbike Cup/Stock 1000 rider each day, but it will not feature every rider entered in the two classes.
Max Flinders. Photo by Brian J Nelson.
Max Flinders
Max Flinders is not a household name among MotoAmerica racing fans, but he is a young privateer rider to watch as he continues to progress year after year in the series.
Flinders joined MotoAmerica in its inaugural season, 2015, riding his bright yellow Yamaha YZF-R1 for Tim Ivanoff’s Thrashed Bike Racing – “the friendliest team in the paddock,” as the small, private team likes to bill itself.
In that first year, Flinders, then just 18, took three seventh-place finishes on his way to 12th in the MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Championship. The following season, Flinders improved his speed and consistency to end up eighth in the Superstock 1000 title chase.
Flinders progressed again in 2017 when he took 16 top-10 finishes in 20 races, including a fifth in Race Two at Road Atlanta, which made him seventh in the Superstock 1000 Championship. And when scored as a Superbike racer in the combined Superbike/Superstock 1000 races, Flinders was 18th in the final Superbike point standings with 11th as his best Superbike race finish.
In 2018, Flinders rode his Arrow Aviation-backed Thrashed Bike Racing Yamaha in the MotoAmerica Superbike class only, finishing ninth twice and in the top 10 four times. He claimed 13th in the Championship rankings.
Thanks to backing from UK-based Integrity Personnel, British-born Flinders stepped up to claim sixth place in MotoAmerica Superbike Race One at Sonoma Raceway and took seven other top-10 finishes, earning 12th in the 2019 Superbike Championship.
Flinders, now 23, is returning with Thrashed Bike Racing in 2020. Thanks to new sponsor Used Bike Direct, a pre-owned motorcycle dealer in Louisiana, he will have a new, 2020-model Yamaha YZF-R1 at his disposal.
Flinders has youth, a comfortable team environment, and consistency on his side. But he has to deal with limited resources and a motorcycle built to a lower spec than the factory machines on the grid. Which means he will have to step up his level as a rider to improve his MotoAmerica Superbike finishes in 2020.
“I’m hoping to see some progress from Max Flinders this year,” said Hayes. “I don’t think he’s a bad rider at all, but I definitely think there’s some room for him to improve.
“I hope he’s been doing his homework and watching some of the other guys and learning so he can get himself closer to the front group in 2020. I know he’s getting a new motorcycle this season, but new bike or not, I think he’s definitely capable of doing more.”
Don Emde Named Grand Marshal Of King Of The Baggers Invitational
Former Daytona 200 Winner To Grand Marshal Laguna Seca Event
IRVINE, CA – Former Daytona 200 and AMA Hall of Fame inductee Don Emde has been named as the Grand Marshal of the inaugural Drag Specialties King of the Baggers Invitational, scheduled to run in conjunction with the MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest At Monterey, July 10-12, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Emde’s primary role as Grand Marshal will be to pace the field on the warm-up lap of the race. Sporting his old racing #25, he will ride a rare three-cylinder Feuling W-3 provided by Feuling Parts, one of the participating teams in the race that is exclusively for American-made Performance Baggers.
In addition to his long history with the racetrack, Emde’s publishing business has a connection with Drag Specialties as it has produced their official dealer magazine for over 25 years. Emde’s latest book, “The Speed Kings. The Rise and Fall of Motordrome Racing” was recently honored as the Best Book of 2019 by the Motor Press Guild, the largest motorsports press organization in North America. It was the first-time ever that a motorcycle book has beaten out all of the automotive books for the top honors.
“I’m looking forward to the Drag Specialties King of the Baggers event,” Emde said. “I think it will be a great addition to the rest of the MotoAmerica weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Laguna is definitely an iconic racetrack and it’s the perfect place to have the first-ever King of the Baggers.”
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.
‘Join Ducati’: The winner of the competition is chosen and will receive a brand-new Hypermotard 950 with special livery
Over 155,000 Ducatisti involved confirming the strong sense of belonging to the brand
A winner was drawn from all participants, to whom a Hypermotard 950 with special livery will be delivered
Other similar initiatives that will involve Ducati motorcycle owners enrolled in the ‘My Ducati’ program scheduled for the coming months
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy) – The ‘Join Ducati’ competition, the special initiative organized by Ducati to reward the loyalty of its customers, where the only necessary requirement to participate was to own at least one Ducati motorcycle, has come to an end.
The 155,000 members of the ‘My Ducati’ program — the reserved area in which customers can manage their garage by accessing all the information on their bikes, update their profile and personal preferences to take part in initiatives of their interest and receive exclusive content — have responded with massive enthusiasm. Participants in the competition uploaded the registration document of each Ducati motorcycle currently owned in the Borgo Panigale motorcycle manufacturer’s website area dedicated to ‘Join Ducati.’
The most prestigious prize is a Hypermotard 950 with a special livery, an exclusive replica of the concept presented at the 2019 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, which immediately met with fan approval, generating numerous articles and shares on social media channels throughout the world.
Ducati has decided to make it available to its community, transforming it from concept to prototype. A unique piece, featuring graphics created by the Ducati Design Centre and inspired by the graffiti of the metropolitan area, created only for the competition and personalized with the autograph of Andrea Amato, the designer of this captivating livery, has been created.
The lucky winner of the motorbike is a passionate Californian Ducatista, Jose Carlos Sagarminaga, 34 years old, already owner of a Hypermotard SP that he also uses on the track, and a member of the DOC of Sacramento, will soon see delivered to him this exclusive and beautiful motorbike which is already on its way from Borgo Panigale to the USA.
The competition also offered three Ducati MotoGP Experience packages, an invitation for two people during one of the next European race weekends (to be defined once the 2020 calendar has been confirmed), which includes, in addition to accommodations, access to the most exclusive areas of the circuit and a meet and greet with the Ducati Team MotoGP riders. Also, assigned are 15 1:8 scale reproductions of the Hypermotard 950 Concept and 10 Redline B2 backpacks made by Ogio exclusively for Ducati.
Given the success of ‘Join Ducati,’ the initiative will be repeated in the coming months. To receive information and access to future competitions, participants must be registered with MyDucati.
When the 2020 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship begins there will be some familiar faces on the grid, but there will also be a whole lot of newness: New bikes, new teams, new crew chiefs, and new classes.
To help preview the season, we’ve enlisted the help of Josh Hayes.
Not only has Hayes won four AMA Pro Superbike Championships, he’s won a total of 83 AMA Pro/MotoAmerica races and three support class titles; raced in the Endurance World Championship; run at the front in Supersport World Championship races; and finished seventh while competing in his first MotoGP race as a substitute rider at Valencia in 2011.
More recently, Hayes won two races at the International Island Classic vintage event in January of this year at Phillip Island; raced at the front throughout the 2019 Daytona 200 and was on provisional pole position for the 2020 Daytona 200; and finished on the podium in the MotoAmerica Supersport class in 2019.
When he’s not racing, Hayes is a rider coach for top competitors, including Bobby Fong and Jake Gagne, as well as working with Garrett Gerloff.
And if these weren’t enough qualifications to preview the upcoming season, Hayes rode in place of injured Mathew Scholtz on Westby Racing’s 2020-model Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike during the official MotoAmerica pre-season test at Barber Motorsports Park in March. So, he’s had a close look at most of the field.
This preview series is highlighting one Superbike or Superbike Cup/Stock 1000 rider each day, but it will not feature every rider entered in the two classes.
Ashton Yates (second from right) on the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 grid with grandfather Luckey Yates (far left), father Aaron Yates (far right), and VFR owner Vic Fasola (second from left) at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in 2019. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Ashton Yates
Ashton Yates started racing as a Pro in the 2015 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup, which was run on KTM RC 390 motorcycles built and tuned under tightly restricted rules, including the use of approved KTM race kit parts and spec Dunlop tires.
Ashton Yates, then 16, didn’t immediately set the world on fire in his debut season. Some thought it was the fact that he was larger than many of his competitors, but late in the season it was discovered that he was near-sighted and needed to wear corrective lenses when he was riding to see things in the distance, like brake markers. Once he started wearing glasses while on track, Yates’ riding instantly went up to a new level, and he then qualified on the front row at the season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park, and ran at the front all weekend.
Yates didn’t get the strongest start when he returned for the 2016 KTM RC Cup, but once he found his stride, Yates won three races, took 10 total podium finishes in 15 races, and placed third in the final Championship standings.
Riding for a team run by his father, multi-time AMA Pro Road Racing Champion Aaron Yates, and his grandfather, former racer Luckey Yates, Ashton Yates moved up to MotoAmerica’s Superstock 600 category in 2018 on a Yamaha YZF-R6 supported by long-time sponsor GPtech. This ended up being a learning year for Yates, who took five top-10 finishes in 2017.
In 2018, Ashton Yates pulled double duty (like his father and many of the top stars did years ago) by moving up to the MotoAmerica Supersport class on his Yamaha and also racing in the new MotoAmerica Junior Cup on one of Kawasaki’s new Ninja 400s.
The Ninja 400 was the bike to be on and Yates made the most of it, winning three races and getting on the podium four other times, but he said he never got along perfectly with the spec front Dunlop used in Junior Cup and crashed out of race leads four times. In Supersport, meanwhile, Yates earned a podium finish in wet Race Two at Road Atlanta, making him one of the only racers in recent memory to podium in two different AMA or MotoAmerica classes in the same season.
Yates started out the 2019 season focusing on his Yamaha YZF-R6 in the MotoAmerica Supersport class, and he earned a few top-10 finishes. Then halfway through the year, Yates was recruited to ride the Vic Fasola Racing (VFR) Yamaha YZF-R1 in MotoAmerica’s Stock 1000 class. Yates immediately got comfortable on the more powerful machine and claimed a runner-up finish at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, giving Yates podium finishes in four different MotoAmerica classes on four different motorcycles over the span of four seasons.
Yates’ ability to adapt to new motorcycles will come in handy again in 2020 as the Georgian is slated to race a 2019 Honda CBR1000RR SP supplied by Jones Honda in MotoAmerica’s Stock 1000 and the Superbike Cup classes. And Yates said Jones Honda may supply him with a 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, the homologation special, when it becomes available.
Yates, now 21, clearly has riding skills, but putting together a full season of racing at the front on a 1000cc machine – in two different classes – is a tough challenge for anyone, especially a young rider on a privateer team.
“I don’t think it matters which CBR1000RR he’s on,” said Hayes. “Either way, he’s probably going to have a pretty decent motorcycle. I’ve always believed that the Honda is capable, but there are a few things that are particular about the bike and if you can get the most out of them you can do good things with it.
“Watching Ashton ride, it’s clear he’s a Yates. He’s a bruiser with the machine. My memory of riding a Honda was you got from it what you asked of it. You could grind on it. The harder you tried, the more effort you put into it, the more performance you got in return from the Honda, which lends to Ashton well.
“Other machines have been a little bit different, in my experience. The Yamaha is from the tuning fork company. It is refinement, and you couldn’t force it. Sometimes you had to be nice to it and play with it the way it wanted to be played with to get it to go really fast. You couldn’t bend its will.
“So, if that is still true to the DNA of the Honda it could work out quite well for him.
“But like I talked about with Kyle Wyman, there’s not a lot of Hondas being raced at a high level right now so there’s not a lot of information to draw from. And you’re looking at a young guy who may or may not know how to convey what he needs from the motorcycle to go faster and what he needs to work on as a rider and which is which. That’s a very difficult thing to learn and figure out.
“Guys like me got so much experience by riding endurance bikes for hours at a time that we shared with three other people. And that’s just one of the many different things that I went through during my career that helped me play this game and figure those things out that Ashton might not have available to him. His success in 2020 will be a matter of just how well he and his team play the game.”
The full lowdown on the second eSports event, set to be broadcast on Sunday
Wednesday, 08 April 2020
Following the overwhelming success of MotoGP™’s first ever Virtual Race, a second event was recently announced and it’s now getting closer – with lights out at 15:00 (GMT +2) on Sunday the 12th of April. Another cast of premier class superstars will be lining up, with a few returning from the first race – like reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Marc Marquez – and a few new faces taking on the competition too, including the likes of Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team). As ever, the riders will be playing on the official MotoGP™19 Videogame from videogame developer, publisher and longstanding partner Milestone, with MotoGP™20 set for launch soon on Friday the 23rd of April.
For Race 2, it’s the Red Bull Ring that plays host as the riders take on the digital rendition of the stunning Styrian track, with the race length set to 10 laps. Just like in the first event, a five-minute qualifying session in time-attack mode will decide the grid positions before the lights go out, although as we saw in Race 1 there’s far more to winning that just being the fastest! And remember, there’s nowhere to hide – with each rider live on the stream throughout the broadcast.
The second event will be shown in full on Sunday the 12th of April at 15:00 (GMT+2), with qualifying broadcast before the race. Fans can watch on motogp.com and esport.motogp.com, on selected TV broadcasters, and across social media platforms including YouTube (via the MotoGP and MotoGP eSport channels), MotoGP eSport Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (via both the MotoGP and MotoGP eSport pages). An Instagram Live with the winner will debrief fans soon after the race too, at 16:00!
Broadcasters will include SKY Italy, Canal+ in France, DAZN in Spain, Italy and DACHS, BT Sport in the UK, ServusTV in Austria and Germany, OTE in Greece, SwissTV in Switzerland, SportTV in Portugal, Sport5 Israel, Sportklub in Serbia, MTV Finland, NBC in the USA, ESPN in Latin America, Trans TV in Indonesia and Fox Asia, amongst others.
Once again, the riders will each be playing via a private “Race Direction” lobby, set up to invite each rider to the event and send them the bike settings.
The line-up:
Repsol Honda Team: Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez
Ducati Team: Danilo Petrucci, Michele Pirro
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP: Valentino Rossi, Maverick Viñales
Petronas Yamaha SRT: Fabio Quartararo
Pramac Racing: Francesco Bagnaia
LCR Honda Idemitsu: Takaaki Nakagami
Reale Avintia Racing: Tito Rabat
Keep up to date with everything across social media platforms as the riders get ready to suit up – virtually – and see who takes the second ever Virtual Race win on Sunday at 15:00 (GMT+2). And don’t forget, the winner will then go LIVE on Instagram with MotoGP™ to debrief at 16:00!
Featured In the April 2020 issue of Roadracing World:
“The 1290 Super Duke R is a one of-a-kind hyper-naked motorcycle, unlike anything else on the market. With an updated, rowdy 1301cc V-Twin engine—a lot of displacement for any motorcycle—improved electronics, and a new chassis, it’s made to carve up twisty roads and rip around the racetrack as well as cruise through the countryside or head into the city, with a lot of power wheelies along the way.
“KTM engineers are unapologetic about it, giving the Super Duke R the nickname of Beast; this 2020 model is the third version of the Super Duke R, so they’ve designated it Beast 3.0.
“On the spec sheet, on the road, and on the racetrack, the Super Duke R is an exciting motorcycle …”
—Bike Intro, KTM 1290 Super Duke R: Beast Mode! By Chris Ulrich
Beast Mode is official factory policy at KTM, and the latest 1290 Super Duke R demonstrates that the Austrian factory is dedicated to that policy without reservation. Racing Editor Chris Ulrich sampled the new beast on the street and on the track. Find out how he got along with the biggest beast in KTM’s catalog— it’s all 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.
PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team’s Team Principal Razlan Razali. Photo courtesy of PETRONAS SRT.
Razlan Razali to focus fully on PETRONAS SRT Team Principal role
PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team’s Team Principal, Razlan Razali, will place added focus on the team’s activities from April 8 as he will leave his previously concurrent position as Chief Executive Officer of Sepang International Circuit.
PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team will remain under the ownership of Sepang International Circuit after this change, with his incoming replacement, Azhan Shafriman Hanif, having a strong motorsport background, having previously worked at team title sponsor, PETRONAS.
Razlan Razali was appointed as CEO of SIC on 8th October 2008 and during his tenure oversaw a series of key circuit developments, including rolling out a 5-year Master Plan for the circuit in 2014. Having maxed out the potential of the track, with overall track usage as high as 94% across the year as a whole, the Master Plan seeks to turn the circuit into a multifaceted facility that draws repeat visits throughout the year.
In combination with developing the circuit’s potential, Razlan has promoted Malaysian riders and a Malaysian team on the world stage, starting with entering wildcard riders such as Zulfahmi Khairuddin, followed by full-season competitors. This combined with establishing a solid pipeline for Malaysian motorsports development, starting from programmes like the SIC MiniGP, Asia Talent Cup and Spanish CEV leading to the MotoGP world championship. Razlan also spearheaded the formation of PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team.
With his focus now 100% on PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team, Razlan aims to steer the team through the current challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the team is well placed to build on its exceptional 2019 season once racing resumes.
Razlan Razali
Team Principal
By taking on the role of Team Principal of the Sepang Racing Team full-time, I will be able to focus 100% on my responsibilities. I look forward to strengthening activation and engagement with Partners, attracting new companies to join us, improving the team’s function as a platform for Malaysians to compete in the MotoGP, and also strengthening the team’s corporate governance. Being CEO of SIC was already living a dream; managing a World Championship team is even more amazing. I will not waste this opportunity to make Malaysia proud, to see Malaysians do well in our team and uplift the name of Malaysia around the world, flying the Jalur Gemilang high as ambassadors for Malaysia in two-wheel motor racing.
I wish SIC and the new CEO great success. The Board of Directors has chosen someone capable and passionate, and well-versed in the ins and outs of the motorsport world. Together with the team, I am confident that the new CEO will take the circuit to greater heights, building upon what we have achieved these past years.
Damian Jigalov (78) in action in 2019. 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.
Damian Jigalov on the MotoAmerica Junior Cup podium in 2019. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Top sponsors: Intact GP Dynavolt, Arch Motorcycle Co., Alpinestars, Shoei, WERA, Lionize Delivery Solutions, WERA, Liqui Moly.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2019 season, finished 7th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (1 podium finish, 6 top-5 finishes); 2018 season, finished 12th in CIV (Italian) Pre-Moto3 Championship (best race finish of 6th), finished 13th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup (best race finish was 2nd, twice), won WERA Sportsman D Superstock National Championship, won 18 WERA races; 2017 season, placed 8th in CIV (Italian) Pre-Moto3 4T Championship (best race finish was 5th), placed 4th in Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Cup Final; 2016 season, placed 10th in CIV (Italian) Pre-Moto3 Championship (best race finish was 5th).
2020 racing goal: Finish in top 10 in European Talent Cup Championship with at least one podium finish.
Racing career goal: Win MotoGP World Championship.
Racing hero: Marc Marquez.
Favorite track: Valencia.
Favorite hobby: Skiing.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Pursuing a career in business.
Marc Marquez 93) leading the MotoGP race at Mugello in 2019. Photo courtesy of Dorna.
A statement from Dorna Sports: racing is our top priority in 2020
Thursday, 09 April 2020
The coronavirus pandemic is ongoing and has already resulted in revisions to the 2020 calendar for the MotoGP™ World Championship, including the postponement or rescheduling of a number of events. In light of the continued uncertainty, Dorna Sports would like to reaffirm that racing is our top priority in 2020.
At Dorna, we remain in continuous discussion with the FIM, IRTA, the MSMA and Grand Prix promoters as we closely monitor the situation, keeping channels of communication and support between each pillar of our sport as open as possible. The aim of every party involved is to begin racing again as soon as it is safe to do so.
Our number one focus has always been and will remain on trying to run the 2020 season with as many Grands Prix as possible, finishing within the 2020 calendar year. However, we will always act in line with health and safety advice from governments and relevant health authorities.
If the pandemic continues to put our lives and sport on hold for longer than any of us are able to anticipate and travel restrictions remain in place, only as a last resort would Dorna Sports ever consider discussing cancellation of the 2020 season with the FIM, IRTA and the MSMA.
Our number one focus for WorldSBK is likewise trying to run the 2020 season with as many Rounds as possible once it is safe to do so.
The priority of all parties involved is to race, safely, and bring our fans more of what they love: motorcycle racing.
Max Flinders (88) in action during the 2019 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
By David Swarts
When the 2020 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship begins there will be some familiar faces on the grid, but there will also be a whole lot of newness: New bikes, new teams, new crew chiefs, and new classes.
To help preview the season, we’ve enlisted the help of Josh Hayes.
Not only has Hayes won four AMA Pro Superbike Championships, he’s won a total of 83 AMA Pro/MotoAmerica races and three support class titles; raced in the Endurance World Championship; run at the front in Supersport World Championship races; and finished seventh while competing in his first MotoGP race as a substitute rider at Valencia in 2011.
More recently, Hayes won two races at the International Island Classic vintage event in January of this year at Phillip Island; raced at the front throughout the 2019 Daytona 200 and was on provisional pole position for the 2020 Daytona 200; and finished on the podium in the MotoAmerica Supersport class in 2019.
When he’s not racing, Hayes is a rider coach for top competitors, including Bobby Fong and Jake Gagne, as well as working with Garrett Gerloff.
And if these weren’t enough qualifications to preview the upcoming season, Hayes rode in place of injured Mathew Scholtz on Westby Racing’s 2020-model Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike during the official MotoAmerica pre-season test at Barber Motorsports Park in March. So, he’s had a close look at most of the field.
This preview series is highlighting one Superbike or Superbike Cup/Stock 1000 rider each day, but it will not feature every rider entered in the two classes.
Max Flinders. Photo by Brian J Nelson.
Max Flinders
Max Flinders is not a household name among MotoAmerica racing fans, but he is a young privateer rider to watch as he continues to progress year after year in the series.
Flinders joined MotoAmerica in its inaugural season, 2015, riding his bright yellow Yamaha YZF-R1 for Tim Ivanoff’s Thrashed Bike Racing – “the friendliest team in the paddock,” as the small, private team likes to bill itself.
In that first year, Flinders, then just 18, took three seventh-place finishes on his way to 12th in the MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Championship. The following season, Flinders improved his speed and consistency to end up eighth in the Superstock 1000 title chase.
Flinders progressed again in 2017 when he took 16 top-10 finishes in 20 races, including a fifth in Race Two at Road Atlanta, which made him seventh in the Superstock 1000 Championship. And when scored as a Superbike racer in the combined Superbike/Superstock 1000 races, Flinders was 18th in the final Superbike point standings with 11th as his best Superbike race finish.
In 2018, Flinders rode his Arrow Aviation-backed Thrashed Bike Racing Yamaha in the MotoAmerica Superbike class only, finishing ninth twice and in the top 10 four times. He claimed 13th in the Championship rankings.
Thanks to backing from UK-based Integrity Personnel, British-born Flinders stepped up to claim sixth place in MotoAmerica Superbike Race One at Sonoma Raceway and took seven other top-10 finishes, earning 12th in the 2019 Superbike Championship.
Flinders, now 23, is returning with Thrashed Bike Racing in 2020. Thanks to new sponsor Used Bike Direct, a pre-owned motorcycle dealer in Louisiana, he will have a new, 2020-model Yamaha YZF-R1 at his disposal.
Flinders has youth, a comfortable team environment, and consistency on his side. But he has to deal with limited resources and a motorcycle built to a lower spec than the factory machines on the grid. Which means he will have to step up his level as a rider to improve his MotoAmerica Superbike finishes in 2020.
“I’m hoping to see some progress from Max Flinders this year,” said Hayes. “I don’t think he’s a bad rider at all, but I definitely think there’s some room for him to improve.
“I hope he’s been doing his homework and watching some of the other guys and learning so he can get himself closer to the front group in 2020. I know he’s getting a new motorcycle this season, but new bike or not, I think he’s definitely capable of doing more.”
Feuling's Luke Leatherman (right with Don Emde (left), who has been named the Grand Marshal for the Drag Specialties King of the Baggers that will run in conjunction with the MotoAmerica round scheduled for WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, July 10-12. Emde will pace the field on this three-cylinder Feuling W3. Photo courtesy of MotoAmerica.
Don Emde Named Grand Marshal Of King Of The Baggers Invitational
Former Daytona 200 Winner To Grand Marshal Laguna Seca Event
IRVINE, CA – Former Daytona 200 and AMA Hall of Fame inductee Don Emde has been named as the Grand Marshal of the inaugural Drag Specialties King of the Baggers Invitational, scheduled to run in conjunction with the MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest At Monterey, July 10-12, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Emde’s primary role as Grand Marshal will be to pace the field on the warm-up lap of the race. Sporting his old racing #25, he will ride a rare three-cylinder Feuling W-3 provided by Feuling Parts, one of the participating teams in the race that is exclusively for American-made Performance Baggers.
In addition to his long history with the racetrack, Emde’s publishing business has a connection with Drag Specialties as it has produced their official dealer magazine for over 25 years. Emde’s latest book, “The Speed Kings. The Rise and Fall of Motordrome Racing” was recently honored as the Best Book of 2019 by the Motor Press Guild, the largest motorsports press organization in North America. It was the first-time ever that a motorcycle book has beaten out all of the automotive books for the top honors.
“I’m looking forward to the Drag Specialties King of the Baggers event,” Emde said. “I think it will be a great addition to the rest of the MotoAmerica weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Laguna is definitely an iconic racetrack and it’s the perfect place to have the first-ever King of the Baggers.”
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 special Ducati Hypermotard 950 given as a grand prize in the "Join Ducati" contest. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
‘Join Ducati’: The winner of the competition is chosen and will receive a brand-new Hypermotard 950 with special livery
Over 155,000 Ducatisti involved confirming the strong sense of belonging to the brand
A winner was drawn from all participants, to whom a Hypermotard 950 with special livery will be delivered
Other similar initiatives that will involve Ducati motorcycle owners enrolled in the ‘My Ducati’ program scheduled for the coming months
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy) – The ‘Join Ducati’ competition, the special initiative organized by Ducati to reward the loyalty of its customers, where the only necessary requirement to participate was to own at least one Ducati motorcycle, has come to an end.
The 155,000 members of the ‘My Ducati’ program — the reserved area in which customers can manage their garage by accessing all the information on their bikes, update their profile and personal preferences to take part in initiatives of their interest and receive exclusive content — have responded with massive enthusiasm. Participants in the competition uploaded the registration document of each Ducati motorcycle currently owned in the Borgo Panigale motorcycle manufacturer’s website area dedicated to ‘Join Ducati.’
The most prestigious prize is a Hypermotard 950 with a special livery, an exclusive replica of the concept presented at the 2019 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, which immediately met with fan approval, generating numerous articles and shares on social media channels throughout the world.
Ducati has decided to make it available to its community, transforming it from concept to prototype. A unique piece, featuring graphics created by the Ducati Design Centre and inspired by the graffiti of the metropolitan area, created only for the competition and personalized with the autograph of Andrea Amato, the designer of this captivating livery, has been created.
The lucky winner of the motorbike is a passionate Californian Ducatista, Jose Carlos Sagarminaga, 34 years old, already owner of a Hypermotard SP that he also uses on the track, and a member of the DOC of Sacramento, will soon see delivered to him this exclusive and beautiful motorbike which is already on its way from Borgo Panigale to the USA.
The competition also offered three Ducati MotoGP Experience packages, an invitation for two people during one of the next European race weekends (to be defined once the 2020 calendar has been confirmed), which includes, in addition to accommodations, access to the most exclusive areas of the circuit and a meet and greet with the Ducati Team MotoGP riders. Also, assigned are 15 1:8 scale reproductions of the Hypermotard 950 Concept and 10 Redline B2 backpacks made by Ogio exclusively for Ducati.
Given the success of ‘Join Ducati,’ the initiative will be repeated in the coming months. To receive information and access to future competitions, participants must be registered with MyDucati.
Ashton Yates (22) in action on his VFR Yamaha YZF-R1 Stock 1000 racebike at Sonoma Raceway in 2019. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
By David Swarts
When the 2020 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship begins there will be some familiar faces on the grid, but there will also be a whole lot of newness: New bikes, new teams, new crew chiefs, and new classes.
To help preview the season, we’ve enlisted the help of Josh Hayes.
Not only has Hayes won four AMA Pro Superbike Championships, he’s won a total of 83 AMA Pro/MotoAmerica races and three support class titles; raced in the Endurance World Championship; run at the front in Supersport World Championship races; and finished seventh while competing in his first MotoGP race as a substitute rider at Valencia in 2011.
More recently, Hayes won two races at the International Island Classic vintage event in January of this year at Phillip Island; raced at the front throughout the 2019 Daytona 200 and was on provisional pole position for the 2020 Daytona 200; and finished on the podium in the MotoAmerica Supersport class in 2019.
When he’s not racing, Hayes is a rider coach for top competitors, including Bobby Fong and Jake Gagne, as well as working with Garrett Gerloff.
And if these weren’t enough qualifications to preview the upcoming season, Hayes rode in place of injured Mathew Scholtz on Westby Racing’s 2020-model Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike during the official MotoAmerica pre-season test at Barber Motorsports Park in March. So, he’s had a close look at most of the field.
This preview series is highlighting one Superbike or Superbike Cup/Stock 1000 rider each day, but it will not feature every rider entered in the two classes.
Ashton Yates (second from right) on the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 grid with grandfather Luckey Yates (far left), father Aaron Yates (far right), and VFR owner Vic Fasola (second from left) at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in 2019. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Ashton Yates
Ashton Yates started racing as a Pro in the 2015 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup, which was run on KTM RC 390 motorcycles built and tuned under tightly restricted rules, including the use of approved KTM race kit parts and spec Dunlop tires.
Ashton Yates, then 16, didn’t immediately set the world on fire in his debut season. Some thought it was the fact that he was larger than many of his competitors, but late in the season it was discovered that he was near-sighted and needed to wear corrective lenses when he was riding to see things in the distance, like brake markers. Once he started wearing glasses while on track, Yates’ riding instantly went up to a new level, and he then qualified on the front row at the season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park, and ran at the front all weekend.
Yates didn’t get the strongest start when he returned for the 2016 KTM RC Cup, but once he found his stride, Yates won three races, took 10 total podium finishes in 15 races, and placed third in the final Championship standings.
Riding for a team run by his father, multi-time AMA Pro Road Racing Champion Aaron Yates, and his grandfather, former racer Luckey Yates, Ashton Yates moved up to MotoAmerica’s Superstock 600 category in 2018 on a Yamaha YZF-R6 supported by long-time sponsor GPtech. This ended up being a learning year for Yates, who took five top-10 finishes in 2017.
In 2018, Ashton Yates pulled double duty (like his father and many of the top stars did years ago) by moving up to the MotoAmerica Supersport class on his Yamaha and also racing in the new MotoAmerica Junior Cup on one of Kawasaki’s new Ninja 400s.
The Ninja 400 was the bike to be on and Yates made the most of it, winning three races and getting on the podium four other times, but he said he never got along perfectly with the spec front Dunlop used in Junior Cup and crashed out of race leads four times. In Supersport, meanwhile, Yates earned a podium finish in wet Race Two at Road Atlanta, making him one of the only racers in recent memory to podium in two different AMA or MotoAmerica classes in the same season.
Yates started out the 2019 season focusing on his Yamaha YZF-R6 in the MotoAmerica Supersport class, and he earned a few top-10 finishes. Then halfway through the year, Yates was recruited to ride the Vic Fasola Racing (VFR) Yamaha YZF-R1 in MotoAmerica’s Stock 1000 class. Yates immediately got comfortable on the more powerful machine and claimed a runner-up finish at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, giving Yates podium finishes in four different MotoAmerica classes on four different motorcycles over the span of four seasons.
Yates’ ability to adapt to new motorcycles will come in handy again in 2020 as the Georgian is slated to race a 2019 Honda CBR1000RR SP supplied by Jones Honda in MotoAmerica’s Stock 1000 and the Superbike Cup classes. And Yates said Jones Honda may supply him with a 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, the homologation special, when it becomes available.
Yates, now 21, clearly has riding skills, but putting together a full season of racing at the front on a 1000cc machine – in two different classes – is a tough challenge for anyone, especially a young rider on a privateer team.
“I don’t think it matters which CBR1000RR he’s on,” said Hayes. “Either way, he’s probably going to have a pretty decent motorcycle. I’ve always believed that the Honda is capable, but there are a few things that are particular about the bike and if you can get the most out of them you can do good things with it.
“Watching Ashton ride, it’s clear he’s a Yates. He’s a bruiser with the machine. My memory of riding a Honda was you got from it what you asked of it. You could grind on it. The harder you tried, the more effort you put into it, the more performance you got in return from the Honda, which lends to Ashton well.
“Other machines have been a little bit different, in my experience. The Yamaha is from the tuning fork company. It is refinement, and you couldn’t force it. Sometimes you had to be nice to it and play with it the way it wanted to be played with to get it to go really fast. You couldn’t bend its will.
“So, if that is still true to the DNA of the Honda it could work out quite well for him.
“But like I talked about with Kyle Wyman, there’s not a lot of Hondas being raced at a high level right now so there’s not a lot of information to draw from. And you’re looking at a young guy who may or may not know how to convey what he needs from the motorcycle to go faster and what he needs to work on as a rider and which is which. That’s a very difficult thing to learn and figure out.
“Guys like me got so much experience by riding endurance bikes for hours at a time that we shared with three other people. And that’s just one of the many different things that I went through during my career that helped me play this game and figure those things out that Ashton might not have available to him. His success in 2020 will be a matter of just how well he and his team play the game.”
Riders scheduled to take part in MotoGP Virtual Race Two include (from left): Valentino Rossi, Maverick Vinales, Danilo Petrucci, Michele Pirro, Francesco Bagnaia, Tito Rabat, Takaaki Nakagami, Fabio Quartararo, Alex Marquez, and Marc Marquez. Image courtesy of Dorna.
MotoGP™ Virtual Race 2: get ready for more!
The full lowdown on the second eSports event, set to be broadcast on Sunday
Wednesday, 08 April 2020
Following the overwhelming success of MotoGP™’s first ever Virtual Race, a second event was recently announced and it’s now getting closer – with lights out at 15:00 (GMT +2) on Sunday the 12th of April. Another cast of premier class superstars will be lining up, with a few returning from the first race – like reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Marc Marquez – and a few new faces taking on the competition too, including the likes of Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team). As ever, the riders will be playing on the official MotoGP™19 Videogame from videogame developer, publisher and longstanding partner Milestone, with MotoGP™20 set for launch soon on Friday the 23rd of April.
For Race 2, it’s the Red Bull Ring that plays host as the riders take on the digital rendition of the stunning Styrian track, with the race length set to 10 laps. Just like in the first event, a five-minute qualifying session in time-attack mode will decide the grid positions before the lights go out, although as we saw in Race 1 there’s far more to winning that just being the fastest! And remember, there’s nowhere to hide – with each rider live on the stream throughout the broadcast.
The second event will be shown in full on Sunday the 12th of April at 15:00 (GMT+2), with qualifying broadcast before the race. Fans can watch on motogp.com and esport.motogp.com, on selected TV broadcasters, and across social media platforms including YouTube (via the MotoGP and MotoGP eSport channels), MotoGP eSport Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (via both the MotoGP and MotoGP eSport pages). An Instagram Live with the winner will debrief fans soon after the race too, at 16:00!
Broadcasters will include SKY Italy, Canal+ in France, DAZN in Spain, Italy and DACHS, BT Sport in the UK, ServusTV in Austria and Germany, OTE in Greece, SwissTV in Switzerland, SportTV in Portugal, Sport5 Israel, Sportklub in Serbia, MTV Finland, NBC in the USA, ESPN in Latin America, Trans TV in Indonesia and Fox Asia, amongst others.
Once again, the riders will each be playing via a private “Race Direction” lobby, set up to invite each rider to the event and send them the bike settings.
The line-up:
Repsol Honda Team: Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez
Ducati Team: Danilo Petrucci, Michele Pirro
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP: Valentino Rossi, Maverick Viñales
Petronas Yamaha SRT: Fabio Quartararo
Pramac Racing: Francesco Bagnaia
LCR Honda Idemitsu: Takaaki Nakagami
Reale Avintia Racing: Tito Rabat
Keep up to date with everything across social media platforms as the riders get ready to suit up – virtually – and see who takes the second ever Virtual Race win on Sunday at 15:00 (GMT+2). And don’t forget, the winner will then go LIVE on Instagram with MotoGP™ to debrief at 16:00!
Racing Editor Chris Ulrich on a 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R, a.k.a. Beast
3.0. With Wheelie Control turned off, the KTM power-wheelies easily, even when the rider is keeping body weight forward.
Featured In the April 2020 issue of Roadracing World:
“The 1290 Super Duke R is a one of-a-kind hyper-naked motorcycle, unlike anything else on the market. With an updated, rowdy 1301cc V-Twin engine—a lot of displacement for any motorcycle—improved electronics, and a new chassis, it’s made to carve up twisty roads and rip around the racetrack as well as cruise through the countryside or head into the city, with a lot of power wheelies along the way.
“KTM engineers are unapologetic about it, giving the Super Duke R the nickname of Beast; this 2020 model is the third version of the Super Duke R, so they’ve designated it Beast 3.0.
“On the spec sheet, on the road, and on the racetrack, the Super Duke R is an exciting motorcycle …”
—Bike Intro, KTM 1290 Super Duke R: Beast Mode! By Chris Ulrich
Beast Mode is official factory policy at KTM, and the latest 1290 Super Duke R demonstrates that the Austrian factory is dedicated to that policy without reservation. Racing Editor Chris Ulrich sampled the new beast on the street and on the track. Find out how he got along with the biggest beast in KTM’s catalog— it’s all 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.
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode 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
Improves website's visuals
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
Helps to focus on specific content
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
Reduces distractions and improve focus
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
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
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.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
November 13, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
