Toprak Razgatlioglu: Full focus on further recovery, no participation in the WorldSBK races in Cremona.
After the severe crash in Magny-Cours, WorldSBK leader Toprak Razgatlioglu’s recovery will take more time.
The new goal is to return for the next round at Motorland Aragón.
BMW Motorrad factory rider Markus Reiterberger will race for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team in Cremona.
Cremona. Championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) will not participate in the upcoming FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) race weekend in Cremona, Italy. Recent medical examinations have shown that Razgatlioglu requires more time for his recovery following his heavy crash in Magny-Cours (FRA). Therefore, in coordination with the BMW Motorrad Motorsport doctors, it has been decided together to withdraw Razgatlioglu from participating in Cremona. In his place, BMW Motorrad factory rider Markus Reiterberger (GER) is ready to race alongside Michael van der Mark (NED) for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team in Cremona.
Razgatlioglu sustained a mild pneumothorax in the crash during the second free practice session in Magny-Cours and has been receiving medical care since then. Reiterberger, who just completed the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) season in third place overall with the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team last weekend, will step in. As a key member of the BMW Motorrad factory riders’ family, he also contributes to WorldSBK development work with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Test Team. Reiterberger is also very familiar with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, having competed with the squad as a regular rider in the 2019 WorldSBK season.
“I would have loved to be back on track in Cremona, but the recovery of the mild pneumothorax is taking longer than I initially hoped,” Razgatlioglu said. “It’s important that I make a full recovery, and my goal now is to return on my BMW M 1000 RR at the next race weekend at Motorland Aragón. But we need to wait and take it step by step. One thing is certain: as soon as possible and when my health allows, I will rejoin the championship fight! I’ll be rooting for my team in Cremona, and I hope to see the BMW M 1000 RR at the front and on the podium. A big thanks to everyone who’s been supporting me through this tough time – we’ll see each other back on the track soon!”
Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport, added: “Toprak’s complete recovery is the top priority for everyone. Everything else takes a back seat for now. That’s why we decided together that he will not return to racing at Cremona. He’s in good hands and working closely with the medical team to get back on his BMW M 1000 RR by the next race weekend at Motorland Aragón. However, we will take all the time needed. In Markus Reiterberger, we have an excellent stand-in for Cremona, who brings a wealth of experience with the bike, WorldSBK, the team, and BMW Motorrad Motorsport. He will focus on basic and preparation work during the weekend, gathering crucial information so that Toprak can fight for the championship with the best possible material after his comeback.”
Markus Reiterberger. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
“First and foremost, I want to wish Toprak all the best and a speedy recovery,” said Reiterberger. “In Cremona, my focus will be on supporting the team and BMW Motorrad Motorsport as best as possible. I know the bike, the team, and the WorldSBK, so there shouldn’t be any issues getting up to speed quickly. I aim to do my part to ensure that Toprak, the team, and BMW enter the final races with a well-prepared BMW M 1000 RR, fighting for the world championship titles that he and everyone involved deserve this season.”
Yamaha took part in its first motorcycle race within weeks of the company’s inception in 1955, as the Y-A1 – Yamaha’s first ever motorcycle – took to the Mount Fuji Ascent Race, securing victory in its first attempt. Since then, racing has been deep-rooted in Yamaha’s DNA.
Across the globe, Yamaha has won an abundance of races and championships, from the grass roots of club racing to the elite, premier class of Motorcycle Grand Prix. And while the taste of victory is sweet, each step Yamaha has made in the ultra-competitive racing world has influenced, inspired and filtered down to every motorcycle Yamaha has produced.
No range has benefitted more from Yamaha’s racing activities than its Supersport models. From MotoGP-inspired design to technology developed in the championship-winning Yamaha WorldSBK programme, each Supersport model is defined by Yamaha’s racing roots.
None more so than the iconic R1. A game changer when first introduced in 1998, the R1 has won both races and hearts in its almost-three decades of existence. The introduction of the crossplane engine in 2009, followed by the MotoGP-derived electronics package and styling in 2015, saw the R1 offer customers a glimpse into the life of a Yamaha MotoGP rider and over the past decade, the R1’s race results speak for itself.
Since 2015, the R1 has won a Superbike World Championship, two Endurance World Championship titles, eight All Japan Road Race Championships, eight MotoAmerica titles, three British Superbike Championship crowns and two German IDM Superbike championships. And to this day, the R1 continues to fight for podiums and victories in the WorldSBK and EWC championships, as well as competing for title glory in various national series.
The 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1 RACE is essentially a YZF-R1 stripped of all its street hardware like lights and turn signals that is sold for track-use only. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Europe.
Dedicated Track Performance: R1 RACE
Over the last decade, the European motorcycle market has seen significant changes as the needs of riders have evolved, and with emissions regulations becoming stricter, the Supersport category has taken a new direction.
In line with this, the R1’s future and development will be fully focussed on racing and track-use in Europe.
The 2025 R1 RACE is the embodiment of this commitment. Taking a step even closer to the YZR-M1 Grand Prix machine which inspires both the R1’s aesthetics and technology, the R1 RACE features MotoGP-inspired aerodynamic winglets, upgraded suspension and an all new Brembo braking system to offer the ultimate track riding experience.
MotoGP-inspired Aerodynamic Winglets
The R1 RACE features MotoGP-style aerodynamic winglets fitted to the top of the main fairing. Designed and developed from the technical feedback from the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP team, the new winglets maximise the effects of the R1’s anti-wheelie electronics as well as improving front-end feel and feedback when braking and cornering.
Made from carbon fibre to add as little weight as possible while ensuring strength and rigidity, the winglets not only generate downforce, but also offer an increased feeling of stability and take the R1’s look one step closer to the modern MotoGP style without compromising the streamlined and evocative R1 design.
New generation KYB front fork
The R1 RACE’s new 43mm KYB inverted front forks have been fully re-designed and now feature individual adjusters for rebound and compression damping on the left and right fork tubes. Each can be adjusted individually, with the right tube for rebound damping and the left for compression, both high-speed and low-speed.
Each fork leg now features a base valve, designed to optimise pressure in the cylinder by limiting or entirely preventing oil from flowing into the bottom of the fork. This new lay-out results in an improved damping response, enhanced contact feeling and better all-round stability.
A new Kashima coating darkens the gold/bronze colour with true performance aesthetics.
Race-derived Brembo Braking Performance
To enhance the R1’s track capability, the R1 RACE is fitted with an entirely new front braking system consisting of a Brembo master cylinder and Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers. Responsive and high performing, these new brakes take the R1’s stopping power to the next level. The radial master cylinder features a piston which moves in a direction parallel to the brake lever travel, applying pressure in a linear manner as the rider pulls the lever resulting in an refined feeling of control.
The lightweight Stylema calipers produce their stopping power through four 30mm pistons and are designed to allow an optimised air flow for efficient cooling, reducing brake fade on track.
Revised seat offers improved riding experience
Racing is all about finding those extra tenths on track, so engineers are looking for performance gains in all areas. For this reason, the R1 RACE features an all-new seat cover material with a new texture, which offers greater grip while still allowing the rider to shift their weight easily. In cornering, this helps the rider feel more connected to their R1 and adds to the feeling of stability from the chassis.
Proven CP4 engine
The renowned 998cc CP4 engine, with its uneven 270o-180o-90o-180o firing sequence delivers strong, linear torque. Featuring a high-efficiency intake system along with specially designed finger-follower rocker arms, this race-developed engine delivers optimal track performance.
The engine, derived from Yamaha’s YZR-M1 MotoGP machine, produces 200PS with a strong connection between the throttle and the rear wheel, making the R1 controllable and intuitive to ride.
Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T) with APSG
The R1 RACE is equipped with the proven Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T), which continues to utilise an Accelerator Position Sensor Grip (APSG) ride-by-wire unit which is both lightweight and provides the rider with excellent throttle feeling.
The APSG is comprised of a spring, slider and gear to produce various degrees of resistance, replicating the natural and progressive throttle feel offered by a traditional cable.
Sophisticated race-developed electronics package
The R1 was one of the first motorcycles to feature MotoGP derived intelligence in the form of a 6-axis IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit). Equipped with gyro and G-force sensors which monitor pitch, roll and yaw – as well as an accelerometer to measure fore-aft, up-down and left-right acceleration – the IMU transmits machine status data 125 times per second to the ECU, which controls the R1’s sophisticated electronic rider aids including Traction Control (TCS), Slide Control (SCS), Brake Control (BC), Lift Control (LIF), Launch Control (LCS) and a three-mode Engine Brake Management (EBM). On top of this, the R1 RACE also features Yamaha’s Quickshift System (QSS) and Power selection modes (PWR).
Technical Specs: R1 RACE
New MotoGP-inspired downforce winglets
New generation KYB front forks
New Brembo front master cylinder and Stylema calipers
New grippy seat cover
Fully track focused, all road components removed
998cc 200PS crossplane 4-cylinder engine with linear torque
Sophisticated electronics package
6-axis IMU with Gyro/G sensors for 3D motion data
Banking sensitive Traction Control (TCS) and Slide Control (SCS)
Power Delivery Modes (PWR)
Front Lift Control (LIF) and Launch Control (LCS)
Quick Shift System (QSS)
Engine Brake Management (EBM) and Brake Control (BC)
Short wheelbase aluminium Deltabox frame
Upward truss type aluminium swingarm/magnesium rear frame
Magnesium rear wheels and 17 litre aluminium fuel tank
4.2 inch TFT instrument panel with Track Mode
Enhanced Racing Performance with R1 GYTR
For an even more refined, race-ready track experience, the R1 GYTR boasts the new features offered by the R1 RACE, plus a selection of race-developed Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing (GTYR) parts to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of racing performance.
For over a decade, the GYTR accessories have been strategically developed with speed in mind by the same result-hungry engineers responsible for Yamaha’s reputation for racing success. This includes the team behind Yamaha’s championship-winning efforts in both the Superbike World Championship and EWC.
Offering optimised and balanced performance, each R1 GYTR is built and delivered by one of Yamaha’s specialist GYTR PRO Shops to meet FIM Superstock 1000 regulations. Designed to offer the essential base for racing, the R1 GYTR can be further customised to meet each individual rider’s needs as they strive for the next level of superbike performance.
Offering an improved power output across the rev range, the R1 GYTR offers refined track-focused performance for all ability levels and with a wide range of ECU adjustability, customisation to a rider’s feeling and specific performance targets can be more easily achieved.
The ideal riding position can be enhanced through adjustable GYTR rearsets and handlebars, while the R1 GYTR’s agility is enhanced through the weight savings made by each GYTR component.
The carbon-reinforced fibre glass lightweight and aerodynamic GYTR race cowl, including the new winglets, is available in black primer, and also includes a GYTR decal set, while a racing seat further enhances the rider’s manoeuvrability on the bike.
Enhanced, race-level braking performance is offered with the pairing of the new Brembo Stylema calipers with Z04 racing pads, with the connection refined further with the R1 GYTR brake lines.
Equipped with the GYTR Racing ECU and racing wiring harness, the R1 GYTR is a refined, track-focused weapon. In a further effort to improve performance, the R1 GYTR comes with an Akrapovič muffler (<100DB), 15/42T 520 sprockets and an R-Series 520 racing chain.
The R1 GYTR is fully keyless, featuring the track-focused GYTR On/Off switch, and pit box convenience is enhanced through the fitment of GYTR rear stand hooks with each R1 GYTR coming with a R-Series Racing rear stand.
The combination of factory modifications, GYTR parts and the know-how of the GYTR PRO Shop technicians makes the R1 GYTR faster and more fine-tuned than ever before.
A full list of GYTR parts featured on the R1 GYTR can be found below.
Technical Specs: R1 GYTR
New black glass fiber race cowl with MotoGP-inspired winglets & sticker kit
New generation KYB front forks
New Brembo front master cylinder and Stylema calipers
New GYTR race rear set
New GYTR R1 handlebar set
GYTR Racing ECU (SST spec)
GYTR Racing Wire Harness
Akrapovic Race muffler with mid-damper system (<100 dB)
GYTR AIS plug set
15/42T 520 sprockets and 520 racing chain
GYTR ABS emulator
GYTR ON/OFF switch
GYTR brake line set
GYTR racing fuel cap
GYTR engine cover set
GYTR sharkfin rear sprocket guard
GYTR brake lever guard
Stand hook set and rear racing stand
GYTR steering stoppers
GYTR racing screen
Brembo Z04 racing brake pads
Availability
The R1 RACE will be available from Yamaha dealers from November 2024 and the R1 GYTR available from GYTR PRO SHOPS from November 2024.
Now with New MotoGP®-Inspired Aerodynamic Winglets
MARIETTA, Ga. – September 18, 2024 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, announces key updates to its flagship YZF-R1 and YZF-R1M Supersport models aimed at further enhancing aerodynamic performance, handling and braking. Highlighting these updates is the addition of new carbon fiber aerodynamic winglets for both models, technology developed through extensive on- and off-track testing by Yamaha’s factory MotoGP® racing program. Additionally, the standard YZF-R1 receives a fully redesigned KYB® fork and all-new Brembo® front brakes, taking Yamaha’s flagship R-Series Superbike to even higher levels of capability.
A 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
2025 YZF-R1
Created to represent the pinnacle of sportbike performance, Yamaha’s iconic R1 returns for 2025 with the same explosive 998cc CP4 crossplane engine, comprehensive electronics suite and renowned handling character which has led to an incredible run of AMA/MotoAmerica Superbike titles in 13 of the past 14 seasons. Yamaha continues to use knowledge gained from high-level competition to offer some of the most advanced and capable Supersport models in the industry.
New features for 2025 begin with lightweight Brembo® Stylema monobloc front brake calipers. They come paired with a new Brembo® master cylinder to offer outstanding braking power and exceptional feel. There is also a fully redesigned KYB® front fork offering excellent response, road feel and chassis performance. The new carbon fiber winglets not only add to the R1’s sleek, aerodynamic look, they create additional downforce for enhanced front-end feel when braking or cornering. Finally, a new rider and passenger seat cover texture balances both grip and ease of movement for a better sense of control and connection to the machine.
A 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1 at speed. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
2025 YZF-R1 Top Features
New carbon fiber aerodynamic winglets
New fully adjustable 43mm KYB® front fork
New radial-mounted Brembo® Stylema monobloc front calipers
New Brembo® master cylinder
New seat cover texture
Advanced 998cc CP4 engine with crossplane crankshaft technology
Lightweight titanium connecting rods, titanium intake valves and forged pistons
Variable Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-I®) System
Lightweight titanium muffler and heat shield
Compact, stacked 6-speed transmission with close-ratio gearing
Advanced assist and slipper clutch
Ride-by-wire Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T®) System
Advanced, 4.2-inch full-color TFT display
Six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)
Lean-sensitive Brake Control (BC) System
Three-level Engine Brake Management (EBM) System
Four-level Power Delivery Mode (PWR)
Lean-sensitive Traction Control (TCS)
Four-level Slide Control System (SCS)
Four-level Lift Control System (LIF)
Three-level Launch Control System (LCS)
Quick Shift System (QSS) with three settings
Slim, compact aluminum Deltabox frame
Fully adjustable KYB® rear shock
Lightweight aluminum alloy fuel tank
Premium 10-spoke cast magnesium wheels
High performance Bridgestone® RS11 tires
Full LED lighting
Colors, Availability & Price
The new 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1 will be available in Team Yamaha Blue or Matte Raven Black, and will begin arriving to dealers in November for $18,999 MSRP.
A 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
2025 YZF-R1M
Yamaha’s highest specification and most exclusive Supersport model, the 2025 YZF-R1M immediately sets itself apart with a distinctive color scheme, polished aluminum swingarm and striking full carbon fiber bodywork, which seamlessly integrates with the new carbon fiber winglets for an aggressive, track-focused look. An engraved, serial numbered badge further highlights its exclusivity.
A 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1M at speed. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
Along with the same advanced performance provided by the powerful 998cc CP4 crossplane engine, comprehensive electronics suite and lightweight aluminum Deltabox frame found on the standard R1, capability is pushed to an even higher level on the R1M with the addition of its sophisticated Öhlins® Electronic Racing Suspension, where data from the motorcycle’s IMU—such as vehicle speed, lean angle, acceleration and brake pressure—is supplied to a dedicated Suspension Control Unit to rapidly adjust front and rear damping in real time for optimum suspension performance whether braking, cornering or accelerating. The ERS simplifies suspension tuning by providing streamlined dynamic tuning modes for both street and track, as well as manual modes for more conventional suspension tuning.
Additionally, GPS data logging comes as a standard feature on the YZF-R1M. Yamaha’s unique Communication Control Unit is an integrated data-logging and GPS system that puts factory superbike technology in the palm of your hand. Vehicle data can be recorded with course mapping and automatic lap timing managed by GPS, then wirelessly downloaded to an Android® or Apple® iOS® app where it can be analyzed. The rider is then able to adjust system settings and upload these changes back to the R1M for the next track session.
A 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1M at rest. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
2025 YZF-R1M Top Features
Full carbon fiber bodywork including new aerodynamic winglets
New seat cover texture
Advanced 998cc CP4 engine with crossplane crankshaft technology
Lightweight titanium connecting rods, titanium intake valves and forged pistons
Variable Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-I®) System
Lightweight titanium muffler and heat shield
Compact, stacked 6-speed transmission with close-ratio gearing
Advanced assist and slipper clutch
Ride-by-wire Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T®) System
Six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)
Lean-sensitive Brake Control (BC) System
Three-level Engine Brake Management (EBM) System
Four-level Power Delivery Mode (PWR)
Lean-sensitive Traction Control (TCS)
Four-level Slide Control System (SCS)
Four-level Lift Control System (LIF)
Three-level Launch Control System (LCS)
Integrated GPS data-logging enabled through Yamaha Communication Control Unit
Quick Shift System (QSS) with three settings
Slim, compact aluminum Deltabox frame
Dynamic Öhlins® Electronic Racing Suspension (ERS)
Öhlins® gas-charged NPX fork
Radial-mounted 4-piston front brake calipers with braided stainless steel lines
Premium 10-spoke cast magnesium wheels
High performance Bridgestone® RS11 tires
Advanced, 4.2-inch full-color TFT display
Full LED lighting
Polished aluminum swingarm
Exclusive R1M color scheme
Colors, Availability & Price
The new 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1M will be available in Carbon Fiber and will begin arriving to dealers in March for $27,699 MSRP.
Yamaha’s remaining 2025 R-Series Supersport lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.
Learn more about Yamaha’s complete Supersport lineup, as well as other Yamaha products at: www.yamahamotorsports.com.
Find a range of Genuine Yamaha Accessories, apparel and more at: www.yamaha-motor.com/shop.
For more information related to all Yamaha products, visit: www.yamahamotorsports.com.
Follow Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, through your favorite social media sites:
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About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, three corporate offices in Georgia, as well as facilities in Wisconsin, Alabama, and Florida. YMUS subsidiaries Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America (YMMC), based in Georgia, and Yamaha Jet Boat Manufacturing U.S.A. (YJBM) based in Tennessee, each assemble and manufacture selected Yamaha brand products. YMUS owns Skeeter Boats [Texas] with its division G3 Boats [Missouri]. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company, Inc. (YMSC) with subsidiary Siren Marine [Rhode Island] and divisions Bennett Marine [Florida], Yamaha Marine Rotational Molders [Wisconsin] and Yamaha Precision Propeller Inc. [Indiana].
Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, USA (Yamaha Financial Services), an affiliate of YMUS, offers financing solutions to support Yamaha Dealers and loyal Yamaha Customers nationwide. Yamaha Financial Services provides retail and commercial financing for the diverse line of Yamaha brand motor products based out of Cypress, CA and Marietta, GA.
GYTR GRT Yamaha Welcome Marvin Fritz for second Home Round in Cremona
Marvin Fritz will join Remy Gardner as the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team return to action at the Cremona Circuit, Italy, for the ninth round of the 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship.
Fritz joins the team as a replacement for regular rider Dominique Aegerter, who is still focusing on a full recovery. Fritz, who will race with the #17 this weekend, is no stranger to the Yamaha Family and the Yamaha R1, having raced in the FIM Endurance World Championship with the Yamaha Austria Racing Team (YART). He has recently narrowly missed out on claiming again the World Title at the Bol d’Or and he is also no stranger to WorldSBK, having completed four rounds in total previously.
On the other side of the garage, Gardner is keen to enjoy a strong round in a new venue for the WorldSBK. Indeed, the Italian Circuit will make his first appearance in the World Championship, with the Australian rider having completed a great test session in May, setting the fastest lap overall that day. Following that, the #87 and his crew are confident to face a good weekend in Cremona.
After the Friday practice sessions and the Superpole qualifier, Race 1 will get underway at 14:00 local time on Saturday, with Race 2 starting exactly 24 hours later on Sunday, following the SPRC at 11:00.
Marvin Fritz
“First of all, I would like to wish Dominique a speedy recovery! I cannot wait to be in Cremona, to ride for the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team and the Yamaha R1 in the WorldSBK is like a dream for me, I’ll take care of Domi’s bike. I’ll have to adapt to a lot of things as since my last wild card in Portimao (2022) things have changed, but I’ll try to enjoy the weekend and do my best, having no pressure. I’m looking forward to meet all the team, I’m confident it’ll be a nice experience.”
Remy Gardner
“Firstly, I would like to welcome Marvin in our team, wishing again a speedy and full recovery to Domi. I think Cremona could be an interesting round. It’s a new venue and almost everyone will race for the first time here, so anything could happen. In May we enjoyed a very positive test session there, so I’m looking forward to hit the track as I’m confident we could enjoy a strong weekend in Italy.”
Jared Mees Rides Off into Sunset, Announces Retirement After Setting New Career Championship Record & Completing FTR750’s Perfect Championship Run
Mees Caps Off Historic Career with Win at Lake Ozark Short Track, Sets All-Time Career Grand National Championship Record with 10 Titles & Secures FTR750’s 8th Consecutive American Flat Track Championship in as Many Seasons
Indian FTR750 Leaves Behind Unprecedented Legacy, As New 2025 Rule Changes Render Indian Motorcycle’s Premier Flat Track Race Bike Ineligible
MINNEAPOLIS – The 2024 American Flat Track season began with Jared Mees seeking an unprecedented 10th-career Grand National Championship. In a triumphant and emotional conclusion to an unparalleled career, Mees stood on top of the box one final time – closing out the most successful career in the sport of professional flat track racing. Mees’ final win not only secured his record-setting 10th-career championship but closed the book on the sport’s most dominant race bike, the Indian FTR750.
“This victory is more than just another championship—it’s the perfect way to honor everything we’ve achieved with the Indian FTR750,” said Mees, “We’ve had an incredible journey with this bike, and to go out on top, knowing it’s the last time, makes this win even more special.”
Racing for the final time aboard the FTR750, Mees showcased his relentless determination and elite skill, outpacing a field of talented riders, including fierce competitors Dallas Daniels and Brandon Robinson. Only needing three points to secure the historic title, Mees grabbed the holeshot and battled until the end – beating Robinson by a mere 0.423 seconds. The win is a testament to the historic partnership between Mees and Indian Motorcycle, who have dominated the American Flat Track series since 2017.
“In 2017, at the Daytona TT, Jared secured the FTR750’s first win, as he and Bryan Smith went 1-2 in our first race as a factory team,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “Back then, none of us knew it was the start of a historic run of eight consecutive championships. We’re extremely proud of our accomplishments and want to thank all our factory riders and privateers that contributed to the FTR750’s success.”
The 2024 AFT SuperTwins championship marks an end of an era for Indian Motorcycle, as new 2025 rules will render the flat track race bike ineligible. Since its debut, the FTR750 has not only revived the storied tradition of the original Indian Wrecking Crew, but it revolutionized the landscape of flat track racing – quickly earning a reputation as the most dominant machine in the AFT paddock. The FTR750 retires with 75%-win ratio, winning 104 of the 138 races it competed in. The FTR750 has a perfect championship record, winning all premier class titles since 2017.
For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE
Indian Motorcycle is America’s First Motorcycle Company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
More, from a press release issued by Dunlop:
Progressive American Flat Track 2024 Champions on Dunlop DT4!
Image courtesy Dunlop.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA: It is with utmost honor that Dunlop marks over a decade as the official Progressive American Flat Track tire across all categories! Every year, the anticipation grows as North America’s premier flat-track racing series keeps reaching new heights. The exhilaration of the 2024 American Flat Track Series culminated in a spectacular finale at the Lake Ozark Short Track in Eldon, Missouri. Both the 2024 American Flat Track SuperTwins and Singles Series reached a season culmination, with record books on the line and reigning champions in control until the very end.
As the final round approached, the gap in the Mission SuperTwins championship stood at an adequate twenty-two points. Returning multi-time champ Jared Mees on his Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750 had to only score three points to break a tie with the legendary Scott Parker and become the only rider in the seven-decade existence of the series to claim a tenth Grand National Championship!
The always competitive SuperTwins racers, Brandon Robinson on his Mission Roof Systems, Hudson Roofing, Liqui Moly Indian FTR750 and the Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 racer, Dallas Daniels were not going to let Mees win effortlessly. Unfortunately, Dallas Daniels missed out on three races during the season due to a broken femur and just about put him out of contention for the championship.
The decisive moment came when Jared Mees decided to put his head down, grab the holeshot, battling it out in the early stages of the race then never look back, winning by nearly half a second! Mees clinched the title with a margin of thirty-one points while racing on his reliable and trustworthy Dunlop DT4 tires. This makes it his fourth championship in a row and a total of ten championships for Mees, beating Scott Parker for most of all time!
On another front, in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles class presented by Kicker, reigning champion Kody Kopp entered with a significant twenty-two-point advantage as well. With a dramatic main event that included a red flag restart, the Rick Ware Racing, Parts Plus, Jacob Construction Kopp, rode conservatively to finish third on the night and locked in his third consecutive championship, surpassing Tom Drane by fifteen points.
Mike Buckley, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing at Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, remarked, “The 2024 American Flat Track races have offered some of the most exhilarating moments in recent memory. With new records being made, it proves the competitiveness is at an all-time high. The continued progress across series, categories, motorcycles, and the outstanding performance of DT4 tires stands as a testament to AFT’s unwavering commitment and the collective efforts of all racers, teams, and supporters. Next year will see some major changes in the series, but our privilege being the official tire partner of American Flat Track will continue.”
About Dunlop Motorcycle Tires: Dunlop stands tall as the premier provider of original and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S. For further details, navigate to www.DunlopMotorcycleTires.com. Stay updated with the latest from Dunlop by following @ridedunlop on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X. Celebrate your Dunlop experiences using #RideDunlop or #RaceDunlop
Kakeru and Sakchai selected to compete in Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European SuperFinale at Estoril
Two of the leading riders from the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia Pacific Championship have been selected to race in the R3 bLU cRU European SuperFinale.
Japan’s Kakeru Okunuke and Thailand’s Sakchai Kongduangdee will line up with contemporaries from all across the world in the R3 bLU cRU European SuperFinale, which will be run at the 11th round of the FIM World Superbike Championship in Estoril, Portugal on October 11-13.
With five out of six rounds completed, Kakeru leads the APAC series, having mounted the podium 5 times, with 4 wins and one second. Sakchai has also achieved 5 podium finishes, with two wins, a second and two thirds. He is third in the standings. The selection of Kakeru and Sakchai gives the pair an early and exciting taste of life in the FIM World Superbike paddock.
Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia Pacific Championship point leader Kakeru Okunuke (31) has been selected to compete in the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European SuperFinale October 11-13 at Estoril. Photo courtesy Yamaha Racing Thailand.
The Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia Pacific Championship is open to riders from 12 to 18 and provides a shot at world championship racing. The winner of the APAC title receives full support to race in the 2025 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup, which runs in conjunction with the FIM World Superbike Championship. Following on from that, the World Cup winner gets Yamaha support to race in the FIM World Supersport 300 Championship.The final round of the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia Pacific Championship is scheduled for the weekend of November 8-10 at The Bend in South Australia. It joins the program for Round 7 of the Australian Superbike Championship. For more information please visit https://www.yamahablucruasiapacific.com
Thailand’s Sakchai Kongduangdee (left) and Japan’s Kakeru Okunuke (right) have been selected to compete in the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European SuperFinale October 11-13 at Estoril. Photo courtesy Yamaha Racing Thailand.
Pata Prometeon Yamaha Field All-Italian Line-Up for Cremona, Rea Aiming for Aragon Return
Pata Prometeon Yamaha will feature an all-Italian rider line-up for Round 9 of the FIM Superbike World Championship this weekend at Cremona near Milan, from 20-22 September.
Spearheading the attack will be Andrea Locatelli – who is aiming for a strong weekend in front of the Italian fans, including many from his home town in Bergamo also nearby.
Based on current medical advice, both from his surgeon in France and local medical team in Northern Ireland, Jonathan Rea will miss the Italian Round in order to allow the skin graft and internal repairs to his right thumb to fully heal – with eyes firmly fixed on a return in Aragon next week. Rea withdrew from the French Round in Magny-Cours following a crash at the end of Lap 1 in Race 1 and underwent emergency surgery in Clermont-Ferrand on 7 September. The Northern Irishman has since focused on recovery at home, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions to assist healing.
Yamaha’s Official Test and Development Rider, Niccolò Canepa, will ride the Pata Prometeon Yamaha R1 WorldSBK in Cremona – joining the team for one final dance before his retirement from professional racing. Last weekend, Canepa finished third with his teammates for the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team at the 24-hour Bol d’Or race at Paul Ricard.
Canepa will join the pit box with Crew Chief Andrew Pitt, who provides an overview of the new WorldSBK venue in Italy from a technical point of view, citing the main ingredient to be competitive across the weekend.
“Cremona is not a “typical” World Championship-style circuit, it’s a tight and twisty little track where the riders use first gear a lot and it is quite short,” Pitt explains. “Qualifying will be the most important part of the weekend, it will be critical to be at front because overtaking is going to be very difficult. We only did half a day of testing with Jonathan for familiarisation, but Loka knew the circuit already and was fast. We should be able to really use the best strengths of the R1 WorldSBK for the braking and turns – so, if we can qualify well, we should be in a position to be able to fight for some good results!”
The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship returns in Cremona as well, with Beatriz Neila and the #36 Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha entry. Neila finished fourth place in both races in Portimão last month and is fired up to fight for the podium once again, with three rounds remaining in the inaugural season of the series exclusively for women.
A jam-packed weekend schedule awaits, beginning with Free Practice for WorldWCR at 9:40 CEST on Friday, WorldSBK FP1 at 10:20, WorldWCR Superpole at 14:10 and WorldSBK FP2 at 15:00.
Andrea Locatelli
“I’m excited to be back on track, especially in Cremona because at the test we did a really good job. I hope that we can find immediately a good feeling on the bike and on track. Honestly, this week I think the Italian riders especially will race for Luca Salvadori. Luca was a special guy, a well-liked YouTuber and rider with the same passion as us – I am so sorry about what happened to him and the news of his passing was a shock to everyone, so for sure this week we will give something more also for this reason. Cremona is our closest “home race” and I think we will see a lot of warmth from the fans for this event. Magny-Cours was a difficult weekend in tricky conditions, but I want to be positive and I am excited to be back on track and to give my all for everyone – for Yamaha, for Pata Snack, for Prometeon and for the team and the fans. We will enjoy the races like always, but it is also important to take some good results and this is our target, so let’s see!”
Niccolò Canepa
“The news may come as a bit of a surprise since I announced my retirement a couple of weeks ago! But, to be honest, I am really proud to do one more race weekend – especially with this team, Pata Prometeon Yamaha, Crescent and Yamaha’s official R1 WorldSBK with this crew. I am really sorry for what happened with Jonathan and I wish him a speedy recovery. On the other side I am thankful to Yamaha for this opportunity. It’s always great to race for this team and to race for Yamaha in WorldSBK. Cremona is a track that I don’t know so well, I just did a few laps one day with the Yamaha R7 for the WorldWCR shakedown and I am aware that it is going to be a challenging weekend in terms of performance. For my job as the WorldSBK test rider, we may have something to test and if I can give feedback to help the other Yamaha riders on track then it will be “mission accomplished”. I am really happy and looking forward to the “very last” race weekend of my career now, so let’s see what we can do!”
STRONG RESULTS FOR SUZUKI ACROSS ALL CLASSES IN TEXAS
A Win, and Multiple Podium Finishes for Suzuki Racers at the Circuit of the Americas
Brea, CA — The official MotoAmerica entries of Suzuki Motor USA (Suzuki) collected some serious trophy hardware at the Circuit of the Americas this weekend, scoring podium finishes across all three of its classes.
Race Highlights
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
Superbike
Richie Escalante finished on the box for the second time in his premier-class career in only his second weekend back from injury.
Brandon Paasch enjoyed a strong weekend, scooping up two sixths and a seventh.
Supersport
Tyler Scott was in dynamic form, battling up front en route to second- and fourth-place finishes.
Teagg Hobbs endured a difficult weekend in Austin.
Joel Ohman continued to gain experience and speed as the weekend progressed
Twins Cup
Rossi Moor bravely fought back following a devastating Saturday crash to finish as the race runner-up on Sunday.
Altus Motorsports
Supersport
Jake Lewis takes the Supersport Race 1 victory on his GSX-R750.
RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines
Twins Cup
Rocco Landers had a weekend to forget in Twins Cup action but still wound up second in the final championship standings aboard the all-new GSX-8R.
Richie Escalante (54) has returned to form post injury despite low personal expectations. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
It didn’t take long for Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike ace Richie Escalante to return to peak form after missing the bulk of the ‘24 campaign due to an injury suffered in the season opener. The Mexican raced near the front aboard his GSX-R1000R all weekend long, highlighted by a third-place finish in Race 1 that marked his second-career MotoAmerica Superbike podium. While he crashed out of fifth in Race 2, Escalante finished out the weekend with an excellent run to fourth in Race 3.
“I’m super happy to finish on the podium – especially this season where I wasn’t expecting to be able to do it,” Escalante said. “My goal was just to get back out there and race these final three weekends to prepare for next year. I love this track, and my bike and crew worked so well this weekend.”
Brandon Paasch (96) ran inside the top 10 all weekend on his GSX-R1000R. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Escalante’s premier-class teammate, Brandon Paasch, rounded out an all-around strong weekend for the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike crew, stringing together finishes of seventh, sixth, and sixth aboard his GSX-R1000R.
“The second race on Sunday was really nice, running at the front end of the field,” said Paasch. “I didn’t have a lot left in the tank the last couple of laps, but I felt confident being up there. The bike felt good, and they weren’t getting away. That’s the closest I have been to the winner in a Superbike race although not the best result. We have one more event at my home track and maybe we can build on this.”
Tyler Scott (70) earned his spot on the podium on Sunday aboard the next-generation GSX-R750. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Supersport ace Tyler Scott took a starring role this weekend himself, qualifying second quick aboard the next-generation Suzuki GSX-R750 and then tussling for the podium in both outings. He came up just short of a top-three on Saturday, finishing fourth in what was a five-rider melee for second. Scott got his revenge on Sunday, successfully defending his position over a tense final few laps to hold on for second.
Scott said, “I wasn’t really happy with fourth – we’re trying to be on the top of the box, but today was a lot better. I have to give thanks to the whole Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team for all the hard work they put in over the second half of the season to get the bike dialed in. I couldn’t ask much more out of the bike today – I had a great feeling on it.”
Scott’s Supersport teammate, Teagg Hobbs, found the going considerably more difficult in Texas. Hobbs finished 16th on Saturday and then suffered a DNF on Sunday.
“We were having a problem slowing down the bike in both races,” Hobbs said. “I couldn’t slow down going into the corners, and I pulled in about halfway. I wasn’t able to ride around it, and we weren’t getting good data. We will work hard to get it fixed for the next race.”
The squad’s third Supersport pilot, Joel Ohman, continued to accumulate experience, twice improving upon his qualifying position in the races.
Ohman said, “I went 1.8 seconds faster than last year, and my race pace was better. We are still working on setup, and I didn’t feel I could fully battle with the bike yet. But we are improving and the lap times are the real story. We have a strong idea of what to address for New Jersey so we can still keep making more solid progress.”
Rossi Moor (92) proved to be unwavering this weekend with a spectacular crash on Saturday, followed by a second-place finish on Sunday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Vision Wheel M4 Suzuki’s Rossi Moor showed serious grit, determination and speed aboard the Suzuki GSX-8R in Twins Cup action. Moor’s race on Saturday ended in prematurely due to a terrifying highside crash suffered while holding down second position. Undaunted, the young gun came back out on Sunday to earn a runner-up result. Doing so secured him fifth in the class’ final championship standings on the strength of four podiums.
“I’m still a little banged and bruised, but nothing ever stopped me,” Moor said. “It was a great race – it was definitely a hot one. I’m glad to be on the podium, and I can’t thank my team enough. It’s been a great year developing this bike. It’s been a bit up and down, but looking back on it, it was worth all the hard work we put in, especially finishing up with a second-place finish.”
Jake Lewis (85) utilized his Altus Motorsports GSX-R750 to get a win this weekend. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Suzuki congratulates Jake Lewis and Altus Motorsports on their Supersport Race 1 victory. Lewis was able to capitalize on his great start and finished out front with a near three second lead on his GSX-R750.
RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines star Rocco Landers had a similarly difficult Saturday but was less fortunate in his hopes of a successful rebound on Sunday. Landers crashed twice in Saturday’s race, resulting in a DNF, while Sunday’s rematch saw him forced to retire due to mechanical issues. Despite the disappointing Twins Cup finale, Landers wrapped up the season ranked second in the points with four victories and seven total podiums.
Rocco Landers (97) had a hard weekend on track without finishing a race, but his strong season keeps him ranked in second for points. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
“I had a small mistake in Race 1 that cost me a good finish, and we had a mechanical in Race 2. The team was great all weekend, anything that went wrong was on me. It was a great season, and the bike performed way better than I expected. It’s the most fun twin I have ever ridden. I learned a lot of great lessons this year and am looking forward to what the future holds.”
While the Twins Cup season is now complete, the official Suzuki Superbike and Supersport runners will conclude their season at the 2024 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship season finale, which will be waged at New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 27-29.
For more information and updates on Team Hammer, visit teamhammer.com.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2024 season marks Team Hammer’s 44th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 134 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 373 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.:
Petersen Concludes MotoAmerica Superbike Tripleheader at Texas with Pair of Top-10 Finishes
Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Cameron Petersen finished seventh and 10th on the final day of racing at COTA
Attack Performance/Progressive Yamaha’s Cameron Petersen (45) and Xavi Fores (34). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha.
MARIETTA, Ga. – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Cameron Petersen scored a pair of top-10 finishes, crossing the line seventh and 10th, respectively, in Sunday’s MotoAmerica Superbike Race 2 and Race 3 at the Circuit of The Americas. Fill-in rider Xavi Forés battled in the tricky conditions and finished eighth in the first race of the day, but unfortunately had to withdraw from the final race of the weekend.
It was another hot day making for challenging conditions on the newly resurfaced track in Austin, Texas. After a tough start to the tripleheader weekend, Petersen had a much better start from the fourth row of the grid in Race 2 and was ninth on the opening lap. He then passed his teammate on the following lap to move to eighth and gained another position when a rider ahead crashed. From there it was a four-rider battle for sixth, with riders jockeying for position. On the final lap, Petersen made the move to seventh, where he would finish.
In Race 3, Petersen got a great start in fifth, but unfortunately the race was redflagged after the opening lap with oil on track leading into the first turn. After the complete restart of the shortened 10-lap race, the South African was eighth and advanced to seventh, but was struggling with grip and shuffled to 13th on the following lap. Petersen continued to fight despite the challenges and made his way back to 10th, salvaging points on a tough weekend.
Forés had another good start in Race 2, slotting into the top five, but found himself eighth on that opening lap after running wide in the greasy track conditions. He then found himself further back in ninth, but the Spaniard regrouped and made his way to eighth before the halfway mark. In that four-rider battle for sixth, Forés exchanged positions and moved to sixth with two laps to go, but would ultimately cross the line eighth. After the complete restart of the final race of the weekend, Forés was ninth. He did what he could to maintain the position despite dealing with a technical issue but had to withdraw from the race with four laps remaining.
The Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing team heads to Millville, New Jersey, in two weeks’ time for the MotoAmerica season finale at the New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 27-29.
Richard Stanboli – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“It was an unfortunate situation at COTA. We did the best we could with the cards that we were dealt. We’re moving on to New Jersey and look to finish the season strong.”
Cameron Petersen – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #45
“It was a challenging weekend for the team. We did everything we could to make the most out of what we had, but just couldn’t make it work. We will bounce back for Jersey.”
Xavi Forés – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #34
“It was a pretty tough weekend for all the Yamahas out there. The maximum we could do is fight for a top six. We struggled a lot with grip, especially in Race 3 where we had an issue and had to retire. It wasn’t what we were expecting before the weekend, but it is what it is. I want to say thanks to the team because they worked so hard to give me the best bike possible today. I’m looking forward to New Jersey, which I think is a track that will suit our bike better, and I will try to make some improvements on myself now that I am more familiar with the bike.”
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars [sold, serviced, and distributed by Yamaha Golf-Car Company], Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, three corporate offices in Georgia, as well as facilities in Wisconsin, Alabama, and Florida. YMUS subsidiaries Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America (YMMC), based in Georgia, and Yamaha Jet Boat Manufacturing U.S.A. (YJBM) based in Tennessee, each assemble and manufacture selected Yamaha brand products. YMUS owns Skeeter Boats [Texas] with its division G3 Boats [Missouri]. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company, Inc. (YMSC) with subsidiary Siren Marine [Rhode Island] and divisions Bennett Marine [Florida], Yamaha Marine Rotational Molders [Wisconsin] and Yamaha Precision Propeller Inc. [Indiana].
Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, USA, dba Yamaha Financial Services, is an affiliate of Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA offering financing solutions to support Yamaha Dealers and loyal Yamaha Customers nationwide.
More, from a press release issued by Indian Motorcycle:
Indian Motorcycle Racing and Troy Herfoss Win at Circuit of the Americas, Now Two Points Back in King of the Baggers Championship Standings
Three-Time Australian Superbike Champion Troy Herfoss Goes 1-2 Aboard S&S Indian Challenger, Eyes Potential First-Career King of the Baggers Championship as Final Round Approaches
S&S Indian’s Troy Herfoss (17). Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
AUSTIN, TX. – Indian Motorcycle Factory Racing delivered a remarkable performance this weekend at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Down 14 points heading into the eighth round of the 2024 King of the Baggers (KOTB) season, Indian Motorcycle factory rider Troy Herfoss delivered the results needed to make a final push for his first-career KOTB championship – piloting his No. 17 S&S Indian Challenger to his sixth win and sixth second-place finish of the season.
Herfoss started the weekend off hot, winning the Mission Foods Challenge, its $5,000 prize, and qualifying for the pole position for the weekend’s KOTB doubleheader. Race 1 saw both Indian Motorcycle factory riders run in the front pack, as Herfoss took second and Tyler O’Hara successfully edged out Harley-Davidson factory rider Kyle Wyman for third – further widening the point differential between Herfoss and Wyman. In Race 2, Herfoss showcased his racing prowess, leading all six laps with precision and successfully capping off the weekend with his sixth KOTB victory.
“This was a great team effort, as S&S had the Indian Challengers dialed in to near perfection while Troy and Tyler worked together to fully maximize this important weekend at COTA,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “We’re riding a high after that performance and carrying momentum into New Jersey that will put us in great position to fight for the No. 1 plate.”
MotoAmerica’s King of the Baggers season concludes with a doubleheader at New Jersey Motorsports Park September 27-29. The 2024 season has seen an intense battle between the two factory teams, as both Herfoss and Wyman each have six wins and six second-place finishes this season. Since bagger racing’s debut in 2020, when O’Hara won the inaugural race aboard the S&S Indian Challenger, each American V-Twin factory team has earned one KOTB series championship, with Indian Motorcycle winning in 2022 and Harley-Davidson in 2021.
For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, X and Instagram. Indian Motorcycle Racing and the S&S Indian Challenger is sponsored by S&S, Progressive, Mission Foods, Drag Specialties, Parts Unlimited, and Performance Finance.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE®
Indian Motorcycle Company is America’s First Motorcycle Company®. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
INDIAN and INDIAN MOTORCYCLE are registered trademarks of Indian Motorcycle International, LLC. Always wear a helmet, protective clothing and eyewear and insist your passenger does the same. Ride within the limits of the law and your own abilities. Read, understand and follow your owner’s manual. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
ABOUT S&S® CYCLE
S&S® Cycle was born from a passion for racing and has spent over six decades building performance for the powersports market. Their unwavering focus on quality, reliability and top shelf power has made S&S® Cycle the absolute leader in high performance on the street and track.
More, from a press release issued by Altus Motorsports:
MotoAmerica: Altus Motorsports Results from Circuit of the Americas
(Austin, TX) Successful weekend at Circuit of the Americas in Austin Texas for the Altus Motorsports team.
Jake Lewis brought home a win for the Altus Motorsports team. He qualified with the 4th fastest Supersport time on his GSX-R750. Jake took the lead on lap 1 of Saturday’s race and never looked back. The win was a great reward for Lewis and the team after a challenging season. In Race 2, he crossed the finish line in 5th, just a tenth of a second out of 4th place.
Jake Lewis (85). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Jake Lewis: “It felt so good to win my first Supersport race in 10 years. The team has worked so hard all year, and the bike felt really good. In Race 2, the pace was faster, and it was my 5th race of the weekend in the brutal heat. Halfway through, I just got physically exhausted, which was a bit of a bummer. We’re still 3rd in points with just the finale left, so it’ll be time to give it my all again at New Jersey.”
Coming into the weekend, the team decided to change the suspension hardware on Jaret Nassaney’s GSX-R to match the setup that Lewis is running. With that, they also consolidated the setup decisions within the team. This created more parity and allowed for better data sharing between teammates. The changes worked for Jaret. He leaves Texas with a 15th on Saturday and a 14th on Sunday. While not where he wants to be, he goes to New Jersey with confidence.
Jaret Nassaney (59). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Jaret Nassaney: “Really happy with the direction we are headed and looking forward to carrying it forward to New Jersey. I love that track and can’t wait to apply the progress we made at COTA.”
Torin Collins qualified 17th in the crowded Supersport class, which featured 32 riders. In Race 1, he fought his way to an impressive 9th-place finish. During Race 2, Collins engaged in a tight three-bike battle for 7th place but ultimately finished in 9th.
Torin Collins (171). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Torin Collins: “Very fun weekend. We didn’t get the top 5 I wanted, but I can’t complain with two top-ten finishes after starting 17th. We are definitely on the right path and I’m looking forward to ending the season strong.”
George Nassaney: “This year has been tough, but we finally had a weekend where everything clicked. All our riders performed exceptionally well, and the crew is truly coming together as a team. We’re celebrating Jake’s win and are excited to carry this momentum into New Jersey to close out the season on a high note. It was also great to have our sponsors Buy A Jet From Steve Main, SBS, and Moto Liberty/Taichi spend the weekend with our team.”
Altus Motorsports team is supported by our great family of sponsors: Altus Motorsports, WPS, Firepower, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Buy A Jet From Steve Main, Barnett, Evol Technology, Maxima Oils, Hot Bodies Racing, M4 Exhausts, Vortex EK, Motion Pro, SBS Brakes, BrakeTech USA, Inc., Pit Bull Products, GB Racing, Ohlins, K-Tech, Puig Racing, RS Taichi, Arai, Core Moto, Pro Bolt, Chicken Hawk Tire Warmers, Law Tigers Oklahoma, and Altus Factory Racing.
More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle Racing:
Cameron does the double whilst JD and Stefano show front running pace at COTA
Tytlers Cycle Racing are still in with a shot of lifting the 2024 MotoAmerica Superbike title thanks to Cameron Beaubier’s double win and second place finish in the penultimate round of the series at the Circuit of the Americas.
Dominating practice, the #6 BMW M1000RR rider broke the outright circuit record in qualifying to take pole position for all three races, his team mate JD Beach also riding well to secure a third row of the grid start in eighth.
Saturday’s opening race saw Beaubier locked in an incredible battle with his closest rival for the title Josh Herrin and Sean Dylan Kelly. Trading fastest laps the race became a two-rider affair following SDK’s retirement with Cameron pulling away in the closing stages to claim victory.
Race two was an equally thrilling affair with the same three riders swapping positions several times a lap. Cameron crossed the line second but importantly ahead of Herrin to keep the pressure on in terms of the championship fight.
In temperatures of almost one hundred degrees, race three was for many the highlight of the weekend with the three aforementioned riders once again covered by the narrowest of margins from start to finish. At the flag Beaubier got the nod taking his second win of the weekend to ensure the title fight goes to the final round in New Jersey in a fortnight.
JD Beach produced solid results crossing the line fifth, ninth and seventh in three races respectively, leaving COTA eighth overall in the championship.
The team’s other rider Stefano Mesa was also back in action in both Supersport and Super Hooligans. The #37 races to seventh and eighth place finishes aboard his Kawasaki in Supersport, whilst on the Energica in the Hooligans class he crossed the line eleventh and ninth.
Cameron Beaubier (6). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
Cameron Beaubier: “It was good to ride COTA again on a superbike, especially on the BMW M1000 RR. The team got the bike working good around the place and they made progress with the setup every race.in all three races we had good battles, and it felt good going 1-2-1. It was a hot one. The championship is out of sight now but with what I have been through this year I am content. We will give it our all at jersey!”
JD Beach (95). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
JD Beach: “COTA race weekend was a hot one, but I always love going there. The track is a lot of fun and we had to work hard since there were three superbike races. Friday was a rough day with a mechanical problem, starting our weekend on the backfoot. My crew worked hard and gave me a great bike for first qualifying. We didn’t have our best qualifying, but we got some good data going into Saturday. For race one I got a great start and was able to latch onto the leaders and up my pace a bit. After a race long battle with Loris Baz, we were able to get a fifth. Races two and three weren’t as good for us. Picking up a ninth and seventh. I know the crew and I gave it our all, but we just couldn’t get the job done. We are not done yet and I am looking forward to NJMP.”
Stefano Mesa (37). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
Stefano Mesa: “Cota was a hot one this past weekend. It started on a positive note and the team worked hard to give me the best bikes possible. The hooligan weekend on the Energica was all progress every session out. We found some time and figured out the bike a bit more. I was able to go three seconds faster than last year by Q2 and we got closer to the pack of factory bikes. Both races were good. We had solid races running in P7 for the whole race, but unfortunately the heat was so bad we had to slow down on the last lap just a bit to finish the races. We ended race one P11 and P9 in race two. It’s the end of the season for this class and we sure will miss it. We did solid steps forward at every round and the class keeps getting more stacked. Big thanks to the Tytlers & Energica boys for making all this work out and hopefully we will be back next year for some more. It was the first time around COTA on a Supersport bike for me. We made some good times through FP and Q1 on Friday. For Q2 we did a big chassis change to see if we could go quicker but unfortunately, we went backwards so we ended up racing on what we knew would work. Race one we got a good start, and I was able to run with the front pack for a few laps. I ended up in a good battle for the podium with six other riders an ended up P7 at the flag. In race two we struggled a bit and fell back off the start, but we kept working and passed a few guys. It was another good battle, and we ended up P8.”
TRIUMPH REVEALS NEW SPEED TWIN 1200 RS AND NEXT GENERATION SPEED TWIN 1200
Triumph Motorcycles launches two new Speed Twin models for 2025, including a new, even more dynamic 1200 RS model
Chassis upgrades and extra technology including Optimized Cornering ABS and traction control, enhance its engaging, focused and dynamic handling
Thrilling sports performance, with an extra 5HP peak power
Refreshed styling that blends contemporary sports features with classic design elements
Triumph Motorcycles has announced significant updates to its Speed Twin 1200, as well as the launch of a new Speed Twin 1200 RS, which is more focused, more engaging and with even sharper responses.
Available in dealers around the world beginning December 2024, the new Speed Twin 1200 features chassis upgrades including Marzocchi forks and twin Marzocchi rear suspension units, further enhancing the engaging and dynamic handling, taking corners in a balanced, natural and confidence-inspiring way.
A 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS at speed. Photo courtesy Triumph.
This sophisticated handling is coupled with extra performance, with an extra 5HP peak power to deliver added character and sports thrills. New technologies, like Optimized Cornering ABS and traction control, are integrated seamlessly and sensitively.
The styling has been refreshed to blend a bright, contemporary sports style with modern classic design DNA, and features beautiful design details that showcase Triumph’s exceptional build quality.
The new RS model will offer riders even more. Sportier ergonomics, courtesy of repositioned handlebars and rear-set footpegs, are matched with an exceptional level of specification, including fully adjustable Marzocchi forks and top-spec Öhlins rear suspension units, as well as Brembo Stylema calipers. A pair of Metzeler Racetec RR K3 tires are fitted as standard, and Triumph Shift Assist is included for the first time on a Modern Classic.
A 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS at rest. Photo courtesy Triumph.
Steve Sargent – Chief Product Officer, Triumph Motorcycles
“The new Speed Twin 1200 RS is more focused, more engaging and with even sharper responses. It’s designed for riders who want the absolute best in dynamic performance, with classic sporty looks.
The updates to the new Speed Twin 1200 are a significant evolution for this much-loved model, and as always, we’ve made sure we retain the superior handling and classic style that everyone admires, while introducing extra power and technology that improves the riding experience seamlessly.”
CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC SPORTS STYLE
The new tank is more sculpted, with raked lines and deep front cutouts, and there is a new flip-up fuel cap. The side panels are simpler and styled to integrate into the new minimal throttle body covers with their brushed aluminum finisher.
Many classic-inspired details have been refined and updated, including new black powder-coated engine casings, which are now leaner and more angular. More compact silencers add to the timeless beauty of the uninterrupted exhaust run.
A 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 at speed. Photo courtesy Triumph.
The elegant round headlight is housed within a new brushed aluminum bezel and stylish cast aluminum finishers.
The stunning one-piece bench seat has been reprofiled to be shallower and more sculpted, matching the sporty styling, and is narrower at the front, facilitating an easier stand over position for riders. The RS seat gains a sporty and stylish napped finish with exceptional stitch detailing.
New cast aluminum wheels perfectly complement the new bodywork with seven pairs of slim spokes angled in a sporty turbine pattern.
A 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 at rest. Photo courtesy Triumph.
For the Speed Twin 1200, two split-color designs accentuate the modern feel further, with a bold ‘1200’ tank graphic separating either a Crystal White or Carnival Red upper from a Sapphire black lower that creates a sleeker look by making the tank appear shallower and longer. There’s also a more classically inspired Aluminum Silver option with discreet ‘1200’ numbering and twin black stripes.
The Speed Twin 1200 RS comes in two choices; a bright Baja Orange or subtle Sapphire Black, both with RS decals in gold which complement the anodized suspension components.
FOCUSED DYNAMIC HANDLING
Increasing choice for riders, each Speed Twin 1200 model has its own specific riding position, creating a distinct feel and personality.
Creating a more spacious feel while riding, the bars on the new Speed Twin 1200 are higher and further forward than the previous model. The 1.7” (43mm) diameter Marzocchi forks and twin Marzocchi rear suspension units have been upgraded and now feature remote reservoirs in addition to adjustable preload on the back. These upgrades to the chassis increase the agility of the dynamic Speed Twin 1200, while ensuring a smooth, high-quality ride in real-world conditions. New Triumph-branded radial calipers mounted to twin 12.6” (320mm) discs provide excellent stopping power, together with all-round Metzeler Sportec M9RR tires, fitted as standard.
For riders looking for an even more dynamic performance and extra thrills, the new Speed Twin 1200 RS has a more engaged and focused riding position. With the rear of the bike raised, the seat height increases slightly. The handlebars remain at the same height as the previous generation, but move further forwards, while the footpegs are slightly raised and further back.
Top specification suspension matches the dynamic attitude of the RS, with fully-adjustable Marzocchi forks and Öhlins rear suspension units. Added finesse is provided by twin Brembo Stylema calipers on 12.6” (320mm) discs and high performance Metzeler Racetec RR K3 tires as standard.
THRILLING SPORTS PERFORMANCE
An extra 5HP of peak power has been achieved from Triumph’s impressive high-compression Bonneville 1200 twin engine, reaching 103.5HP at 7750rpm, pulling harder for longer up to the rev limit. The 270-degree firing order and low inertia crankshaft provide instant response with distinct and characterful power pulses and retains a rich torque delivery throughout the rev range, peaking at 82.6 LB-FT (112 Nm).
BLENDING LATEST TECHNOLOGY WITH CLASSIC DESIGN
Combining modern performance with classic personality, riders can tailor the engine response with Road and Rain riding modes, and now benefit from Optimized Cornering ABS and traction control, which are fitted as standard on both models. The focused Speed Twin 1200 RS has an additional Sport riding mode, which sharpens the throttle response and optimizes the traction control settings, adding to the bike’s powerful and dynamic feel.
In a first for the Bonneville platform, and unique to this version, the Speed Twin 1200 RS will be fitted with Triumph Shift Assist, an up and down quickshifter that perfectly complements the power delivery and character of the bike. Discreetly placed behind the gear-shifter, the bike’s modern classic styling is maintained.
New LCD and TFT displays have been meticulously encased in a classic circular dial, improving visibility and functionality, while retaining the Speed Twin’s timeless look. This enables compatibility with turn-by-turn navigation and phone connectivity, as well as concealing a convenient USB-C charging socket.
PREMIUM FINISH AND DETAILING
Riders taking a closer look will be rewarded with examples of Triumph’s acute attention to detail. From the re-styled heel guards and headlight bezel to the embellishers on the new side panels, these details are crafted from aluminum, with a brushed finish, and the aluminum swingarm and the new headlight brackets are clear-anodized to ensure that quality finish is even more durable. The Speed Twin 1200 RS comes with the special addition of brushed aluminum front and rear mudguards.
ACCESSORIES
More than 70% of Speed Twin customers add Triumph accessories to their bike, reflecting their personal style, which is why there is the option to add over 50 genuine accessories, including clip-on bars, a quilted bullet seat or a seat cowl, for those seeking a modern café racer.
AVAILABILITY & PRICE
The new Speed Twin 1200 will be available from $13,595 USD / $15,495 CAD and the new Speed Twin 1200 RS will be available from $15,995 / $18,395 CAD. Customers can configure their own or find out more at triumphmotorcycles.com. Bikes will be arriving in dealerships beginning mid-December 2024.
SPECIFICATION – SPEED TWIN 1200 RS
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
Type
Liquid-cooled parallel twin, 8 valve, SOHC, 2700 firing order
Capacity
1200 cc
Bore
3.84” (97.6 mm)
Stroke
3.15: (80.0 mm)
Compression
12.1:1
Maximum Power
105 PS / 103.5 bhp (77.2 kW) @ 7,750 rpm
Maximum Torque
82.6 lb-ft (112 Nm) @ 4,250 rpm
Fuel System
Multipoint fuel injection with electronic throttle control. Two rider modes.
Exhaust
Brushed stainless steel 2 into 2 exhaust system with twin brushed stainless steel silencers
Final Drive
X-ring chain
Clutch
Wet, multi-plate, slip & assist
Gearbox
6-speed
CHASSIS
Frame
Tubular steel, with steel cradles
Swingarm
Twin sided aluminum
Front Wheel
Cast aluminum alloy 17” x 3.5”
Rear Wheel
Cast aluminum alloy 17” x 5.0”
Front Tire
120/70 R17
Rear Tire
160/60 R17
Front Suspension
1.69” (43mm) upside-down Marzocchi forks, adjustable for pre-load, compression and rebound damping. 4.72” (120 mm) wheel travel
Rear Suspension
Twin Öhlins RSUs with external reservoirs, adjustable for pre-load, compression and rebound damping. 4.84” (123 mm) wheel travel
Single 8.66” (220mm) fixed disc, Nissin 2-piston floating caliper, OCABS
Instruments
LCD multi-function instruments with integrated color TFT screen
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS
Length
81.6” (2073 mm)
Width (Handlebars)
31.2” (792 mm)
Height Without Mirrors
44.4” (1127 mm)
Seat Height
31.9” (810 mm)
Wheelbase
55.7” (1414 mm)
Rake
22.6 °
Trail
3.62” (92 mm)
Wet weight
476 lbs (216 kg)
Fuel Tank Capacity
3.83 gallons (14.5 liters)
SERVICE
Service Interval
10,000 miles (16,000km) / 12 months
CONSUMPTION AND EMISSIONS (EU)
Fuel Consumption
TBC
Emissions
EURO 5+
CO2 emissions and fuel consumption data are measured according to regulation 168/2013/EC. Figures for fuel consumption are derived from specific test conditions and are for comparative purposes only. They may not reflect real driving results.
SPECIFICATION – SPEED TWIN 1200
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
Type
Liquid-cooled parallel twin, 8 valve, SOHC, 2700 firing order
Capacity
1200 cc
Bore
3.84” (97.6 mm)
Stroke
3.15” (80.0 mm)
Compression
12.1:1
Maximum Power
105 PS / 103.5 bhp (77.2 kW) @ 7,750 rpm
Maximum Torque
82.6 lb-ft (112 Nm) @ 4,250 rpm
Fuel System
Multipoint fuel injection with electronic throttle control. Two rider modes.
Exhaust
Brushed stainless steel 2 into 2 exhaust system with twin brushed stainless steel silencers
Single 8.66” (220mm) fixed disc, Nissin 2-piston floating caliper, OCABS
Instruments
LCD multi-function instruments with integrated color TFT screen
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS
Length
81.5” (2070 mm)
Width (Handlebars)
31.2” (792 mm)
Height Without Mirrors
44.9” (1140 mm)
Seat Height
31.7” (805 mm)
Wheelbase
55.6” (1413 mm)
Rake
22.4 °
Trail
3.58” (91 mm)
Wet weight
476 lbs (216 kg)
Fuel Tank Capacity
3.83 gallons (14.5 liters)
SERVICE
Service Interval
10,000 miles (16,000km) / 12 months
CONSUMPTION AND EMISSIONS (EU)
Fuel Consumption
TBC
Emissions
EURO 5+
CO2 emissions and fuel consumption data are measured according to regulation 168/2013/EC. Figures for fuel consumption are derived from specific test conditions and are for comparative purposes only. They may not reflect real driving results.
VANCE & HINES HARLEY-DAVIDSON RACER ROCCO LANDERS SCORES FIRST KING OF THE BAGGERS VICTORY AT COTA; HARLEY-DAVIDSON FACTORY RACER KYLE WYMAN HOLDS KOTB SERIES POINTS LEAD HEADING INTO SERIES FINALE
Team Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Racer Cory West Claims Super Hooligan Championship
MILWAUKEE (September 16, 2024) – RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson® rider Rocco Landers scored his first series victory and Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing rider Kyle Wyman maintained his series points lead in a double-header weekend of MotoAmerica® Mission King of the Baggers racing action at Circuit of the Americas in Travis County, Texas. Landers won the Saturday race and finished third on Sunday. With a fourth-place finish on Saturday and second place on Sunday, Wyman holds a two-point championship lead heading into the final double-header weekend of the season.
Cory West (back row holding #1 plate) won the 2024 MotoAmerica Super Hooligan Championship. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
West Crowned Mission Super Hooligan Champion
Team Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson rider Cory West on Sunday won the 10-race Mission Super Hooligan championship aboard a race-prepared Harley-Davidson® Pan America® 1250 Special motorcycle. A consistent front-runner all season, West scored three series race wins and was on the podium in six other races. The veteran racer from Eureka Springs, Ark., took over the points lead with a win and a second-place finish at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on September 18. At Circuit of the Americas, West locked up the title with a third-place finish on Saturday and second place on Sunday, holding off the challenge of the defending Super Hooligan champion, S&S Indian rider Tyler O’Hara.
“The Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Pan America, I can’t say enough. That bike worked awesome,” said West after locking up the title. “This was a really stressful race. I had to finish at least third and I knew Tyler was going to go out and try to win it. I just kept my head down and did what I could. This is a dream come true. It’s something you always wanted when you were a kid and started racing. To be a champion, it’s just complete. I really have to thank everybody. Dave, Amy, Chris. My beautiful wife, who is due in eight days. Jake, Taylor, Kento, Eric, Matty, Fury, Ricky, everybody. I love you guys. My family is here this weekend. I’ve got so many friends. We brought home the number-one plate, and I couldn’t be happier.”
For the season, West scored 183 points to take the title. O’Hara finished second with 179 points, followed by Team Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson rider Jake Lewis with 146 points.
Rocco Landers (97) leads Troy Herfoss (17) during a King Of The Baggers race at COTA. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
Landers Breaks Through
The race win by 19-year-old Landers followed a string of four consecutive Mission King of the Bagger podium finishes. Landers qualified third at Circuit of the Americas and led each of the six laps in Saturday’s main event on the 3.472-mile, 20-turn road course. Landers held off the determined challenge of Factory Indian riders Troy Herfoss and Tyler O’Hara to win by 1.347 seconds.
“I got a decent start and then took advantage of some of the other riders getting caught up in traffic,” said Landers. “Everyone on the Vance & Hines team has been working so hard all season, so a big shout-out to the team and my family for all the support.”
On Sunday Wyman was in second place and chasing Herfoss when the race was stopped for fluid leaked on the track by Factory Indian rider O’Hara. The race was re-started with five laps remaining, and Herfoss again took the lead with Wyman trailing by less than a second as the pair opened a gap on Landers, Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing rider James Rispoli and RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider Hayden Gillim. Wyman trailed Herfoss by 0.445 seconds at the finish, with Landers third, Gillim fourth and Rispoli fifth.
“I’m happy with the ride today,” said Wyman after Sunday’s race. “We had a slow build all weekend, and today I had good pace in a couple of spots on the track but not enough to risk a pass for the lead. We’ll leave here with the points lead. I’ve got some great memories from previous races at New Jersey, so let’s go back there make a few more.”
On the opening lap of Sunday’s race, Rispoli suspected a flat rear tire and pulled off the track on the second lap.
“We had podium pace all weekend,” said Rispoli. “We have really found a great setting and I am getting confident on the bike. The finishing positions don’t show the potential we have, and we hope to put the final pieces of the puzzle together at New Jersey.”
After 16 of 18 rounds in the 2024 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series, Wyman has 315 points to 313 for Herfoss. Gillim is in third place with 213 points, followed by O’Hara with 198 points, Landers with 179 points, and Rispoli with 175 points.
The final race in the Mission King of the Baggers series is September 27-29 at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J.
Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing is sponsored by Mission® Foods, Rockford Fosgate®, Brembo®, Öhlins®, Protolabs®, SYN3® lubricants, and Screamin’ Eagle® Performance Parts and Accessories.
MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers Race Results – Circuit of the Americas Race 1
Toprak Razgatlioglu. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
Toprak Razgatlioglu: Full focus on further recovery, no participation in the WorldSBK races in Cremona.
After the severe crash in Magny-Cours, WorldSBK leader Toprak Razgatlioglu’s recovery will take more time.
The new goal is to return for the next round at Motorland Aragón.
BMW Motorrad factory rider Markus Reiterberger will race for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team in Cremona.
Cremona. Championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) will not participate in the upcoming FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) race weekend in Cremona, Italy. Recent medical examinations have shown that Razgatlioglu requires more time for his recovery following his heavy crash in Magny-Cours (FRA). Therefore, in coordination with the BMW Motorrad Motorsport doctors, it has been decided together to withdraw Razgatlioglu from participating in Cremona. In his place, BMW Motorrad factory rider Markus Reiterberger (GER) is ready to race alongside Michael van der Mark (NED) for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team in Cremona.
Razgatlioglu sustained a mild pneumothorax in the crash during the second free practice session in Magny-Cours and has been receiving medical care since then. Reiterberger, who just completed the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) season in third place overall with the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team last weekend, will step in. As a key member of the BMW Motorrad factory riders’ family, he also contributes to WorldSBK development work with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Test Team. Reiterberger is also very familiar with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, having competed with the squad as a regular rider in the 2019 WorldSBK season.
“I would have loved to be back on track in Cremona, but the recovery of the mild pneumothorax is taking longer than I initially hoped,” Razgatlioglu said. “It’s important that I make a full recovery, and my goal now is to return on my BMW M 1000 RR at the next race weekend at Motorland Aragón. But we need to wait and take it step by step. One thing is certain: as soon as possible and when my health allows, I will rejoin the championship fight! I’ll be rooting for my team in Cremona, and I hope to see the BMW M 1000 RR at the front and on the podium. A big thanks to everyone who’s been supporting me through this tough time – we’ll see each other back on the track soon!”
Sven Blusch, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport, added: “Toprak’s complete recovery is the top priority for everyone. Everything else takes a back seat for now. That’s why we decided together that he will not return to racing at Cremona. He’s in good hands and working closely with the medical team to get back on his BMW M 1000 RR by the next race weekend at Motorland Aragón. However, we will take all the time needed. In Markus Reiterberger, we have an excellent stand-in for Cremona, who brings a wealth of experience with the bike, WorldSBK, the team, and BMW Motorrad Motorsport. He will focus on basic and preparation work during the weekend, gathering crucial information so that Toprak can fight for the championship with the best possible material after his comeback.”
Markus Reiterberger. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
“First and foremost, I want to wish Toprak all the best and a speedy recovery,” said Reiterberger. “In Cremona, my focus will be on supporting the team and BMW Motorrad Motorsport as best as possible. I know the bike, the team, and the WorldSBK, so there shouldn’t be any issues getting up to speed quickly. I aim to do my part to ensure that Toprak, the team, and BMW enter the final races with a well-prepared BMW M 1000 RR, fighting for the world championship titles that he and everyone involved deserve this season.”
A 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1 GYTR track-only motorcycle. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Europe.
R Future Is Here: The New R1 RACE and R1 GYTR
R History
Yamaha took part in its first motorcycle race within weeks of the company’s inception in 1955, as the Y-A1 – Yamaha’s first ever motorcycle – took to the Mount Fuji Ascent Race, securing victory in its first attempt. Since then, racing has been deep-rooted in Yamaha’s DNA.
Across the globe, Yamaha has won an abundance of races and championships, from the grass roots of club racing to the elite, premier class of Motorcycle Grand Prix. And while the taste of victory is sweet, each step Yamaha has made in the ultra-competitive racing world has influenced, inspired and filtered down to every motorcycle Yamaha has produced.
No range has benefitted more from Yamaha’s racing activities than its Supersport models. From MotoGP-inspired design to technology developed in the championship-winning Yamaha WorldSBK programme, each Supersport model is defined by Yamaha’s racing roots.
None more so than the iconic R1. A game changer when first introduced in 1998, the R1 has won both races and hearts in its almost-three decades of existence. The introduction of the crossplane engine in 2009, followed by the MotoGP-derived electronics package and styling in 2015, saw the R1 offer customers a glimpse into the life of a Yamaha MotoGP rider and over the past decade, the R1’s race results speak for itself.
Since 2015, the R1 has won a Superbike World Championship, two Endurance World Championship titles, eight All Japan Road Race Championships, eight MotoAmerica titles, three British Superbike Championship crowns and two German IDM Superbike championships. And to this day, the R1 continues to fight for podiums and victories in the WorldSBK and EWC championships, as well as competing for title glory in various national series.
The 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1 RACE is essentially a YZF-R1 stripped of all its street hardware like lights and turn signals that is sold for track-use only. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Europe.
Dedicated Track Performance: R1 RACE
Over the last decade, the European motorcycle market has seen significant changes as the needs of riders have evolved, and with emissions regulations becoming stricter, the Supersport category has taken a new direction.
In line with this, the R1’s future and development will be fully focussed on racing and track-use in Europe.
The 2025 R1 RACE is the embodiment of this commitment. Taking a step even closer to the YZR-M1 Grand Prix machine which inspires both the R1’s aesthetics and technology, the R1 RACE features MotoGP-inspired aerodynamic winglets, upgraded suspension and an all new Brembo braking system to offer the ultimate track riding experience.
MotoGP-inspired Aerodynamic Winglets
The R1 RACE features MotoGP-style aerodynamic winglets fitted to the top of the main fairing. Designed and developed from the technical feedback from the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP team, the new winglets maximise the effects of the R1’s anti-wheelie electronics as well as improving front-end feel and feedback when braking and cornering.
Made from carbon fibre to add as little weight as possible while ensuring strength and rigidity, the winglets not only generate downforce, but also offer an increased feeling of stability and take the R1’s look one step closer to the modern MotoGP style without compromising the streamlined and evocative R1 design.
New generation KYB front fork
The R1 RACE’s new 43mm KYB inverted front forks have been fully re-designed and now feature individual adjusters for rebound and compression damping on the left and right fork tubes. Each can be adjusted individually, with the right tube for rebound damping and the left for compression, both high-speed and low-speed.
Each fork leg now features a base valve, designed to optimise pressure in the cylinder by limiting or entirely preventing oil from flowing into the bottom of the fork. This new lay-out results in an improved damping response, enhanced contact feeling and better all-round stability.
A new Kashima coating darkens the gold/bronze colour with true performance aesthetics.
Race-derived Brembo Braking Performance
To enhance the R1’s track capability, the R1 RACE is fitted with an entirely new front braking system consisting of a Brembo master cylinder and Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers. Responsive and high performing, these new brakes take the R1’s stopping power to the next level. The radial master cylinder features a piston which moves in a direction parallel to the brake lever travel, applying pressure in a linear manner as the rider pulls the lever resulting in an refined feeling of control.
The lightweight Stylema calipers produce their stopping power through four 30mm pistons and are designed to allow an optimised air flow for efficient cooling, reducing brake fade on track.
Revised seat offers improved riding experience
Racing is all about finding those extra tenths on track, so engineers are looking for performance gains in all areas. For this reason, the R1 RACE features an all-new seat cover material with a new texture, which offers greater grip while still allowing the rider to shift their weight easily. In cornering, this helps the rider feel more connected to their R1 and adds to the feeling of stability from the chassis.
Proven CP4 engine
The renowned 998cc CP4 engine, with its uneven 270o-180o-90o-180o firing sequence delivers strong, linear torque. Featuring a high-efficiency intake system along with specially designed finger-follower rocker arms, this race-developed engine delivers optimal track performance.
The engine, derived from Yamaha’s YZR-M1 MotoGP machine, produces 200PS with a strong connection between the throttle and the rear wheel, making the R1 controllable and intuitive to ride.
Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T) with APSG
The R1 RACE is equipped with the proven Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T), which continues to utilise an Accelerator Position Sensor Grip (APSG) ride-by-wire unit which is both lightweight and provides the rider with excellent throttle feeling.
The APSG is comprised of a spring, slider and gear to produce various degrees of resistance, replicating the natural and progressive throttle feel offered by a traditional cable.
Sophisticated race-developed electronics package
The R1 was one of the first motorcycles to feature MotoGP derived intelligence in the form of a 6-axis IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit). Equipped with gyro and G-force sensors which monitor pitch, roll and yaw – as well as an accelerometer to measure fore-aft, up-down and left-right acceleration – the IMU transmits machine status data 125 times per second to the ECU, which controls the R1’s sophisticated electronic rider aids including Traction Control (TCS), Slide Control (SCS), Brake Control (BC), Lift Control (LIF), Launch Control (LCS) and a three-mode Engine Brake Management (EBM). On top of this, the R1 RACE also features Yamaha’s Quickshift System (QSS) and Power selection modes (PWR).
Technical Specs: R1 RACE
New MotoGP-inspired downforce winglets
New generation KYB front forks
New Brembo front master cylinder and Stylema calipers
New grippy seat cover
Fully track focused, all road components removed
998cc 200PS crossplane 4-cylinder engine with linear torque
Sophisticated electronics package
6-axis IMU with Gyro/G sensors for 3D motion data
Banking sensitive Traction Control (TCS) and Slide Control (SCS)
Power Delivery Modes (PWR)
Front Lift Control (LIF) and Launch Control (LCS)
Quick Shift System (QSS)
Engine Brake Management (EBM) and Brake Control (BC)
Short wheelbase aluminium Deltabox frame
Upward truss type aluminium swingarm/magnesium rear frame
Magnesium rear wheels and 17 litre aluminium fuel tank
4.2 inch TFT instrument panel with Track Mode
Enhanced Racing Performance with R1 GYTR
For an even more refined, race-ready track experience, the R1 GYTR boasts the new features offered by the R1 RACE, plus a selection of race-developed Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing (GTYR) parts to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of racing performance.
For over a decade, the GYTR accessories have been strategically developed with speed in mind by the same result-hungry engineers responsible for Yamaha’s reputation for racing success. This includes the team behind Yamaha’s championship-winning efforts in both the Superbike World Championship and EWC.
Offering optimised and balanced performance, each R1 GYTR is built and delivered by one of Yamaha’s specialist GYTR PRO Shops to meet FIM Superstock 1000 regulations. Designed to offer the essential base for racing, the R1 GYTR can be further customised to meet each individual rider’s needs as they strive for the next level of superbike performance.
Offering an improved power output across the rev range, the R1 GYTR offers refined track-focused performance for all ability levels and with a wide range of ECU adjustability, customisation to a rider’s feeling and specific performance targets can be more easily achieved.
The ideal riding position can be enhanced through adjustable GYTR rearsets and handlebars, while the R1 GYTR’s agility is enhanced through the weight savings made by each GYTR component.
The carbon-reinforced fibre glass lightweight and aerodynamic GYTR race cowl, including the new winglets, is available in black primer, and also includes a GYTR decal set, while a racing seat further enhances the rider’s manoeuvrability on the bike.
Enhanced, race-level braking performance is offered with the pairing of the new Brembo Stylema calipers with Z04 racing pads, with the connection refined further with the R1 GYTR brake lines.
Equipped with the GYTR Racing ECU and racing wiring harness, the R1 GYTR is a refined, track-focused weapon. In a further effort to improve performance, the R1 GYTR comes with an Akrapovič muffler (<100DB), 15/42T 520 sprockets and an R-Series 520 racing chain.
The R1 GYTR is fully keyless, featuring the track-focused GYTR On/Off switch, and pit box convenience is enhanced through the fitment of GYTR rear stand hooks with each R1 GYTR coming with a R-Series Racing rear stand.
The combination of factory modifications, GYTR parts and the know-how of the GYTR PRO Shop technicians makes the R1 GYTR faster and more fine-tuned than ever before.
A full list of GYTR parts featured on the R1 GYTR can be found below.
Technical Specs: R1 GYTR
New black glass fiber race cowl with MotoGP-inspired winglets & sticker kit
New generation KYB front forks
New Brembo front master cylinder and Stylema calipers
New GYTR race rear set
New GYTR R1 handlebar set
GYTR Racing ECU (SST spec)
GYTR Racing Wire Harness
Akrapovic Race muffler with mid-damper system (<100 dB)
GYTR AIS plug set
15/42T 520 sprockets and 520 racing chain
GYTR ABS emulator
GYTR ON/OFF switch
GYTR brake line set
GYTR racing fuel cap
GYTR engine cover set
GYTR sharkfin rear sprocket guard
GYTR brake lever guard
Stand hook set and rear racing stand
GYTR steering stoppers
GYTR racing screen
Brembo Z04 racing brake pads
Availability
The R1 RACE will be available from Yamaha dealers from November 2024 and the R1 GYTR available from GYTR PRO SHOPS from November 2024.
The 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1 comes with new KYB front forks, new Brembo front brakes, and new carbon-fiber aerodynamic wings. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
Yamaha Introduces 2025 YZF-R1 and YZF-R1M
Now with New MotoGP®-Inspired Aerodynamic Winglets
MARIETTA, Ga. – September 18, 2024 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, announces key updates to its flagship YZF-R1 and YZF-R1M Supersport models aimed at further enhancing aerodynamic performance, handling and braking. Highlighting these updates is the addition of new carbon fiber aerodynamic winglets for both models, technology developed through extensive on- and off-track testing by Yamaha’s factory MotoGP® racing program. Additionally, the standard YZF-R1 receives a fully redesigned KYB® fork and all-new Brembo® front brakes, taking Yamaha’s flagship R-Series Superbike to even higher levels of capability.
A 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
2025 YZF-R1
Created to represent the pinnacle of sportbike performance, Yamaha’s iconic R1 returns for 2025 with the same explosive 998cc CP4 crossplane engine, comprehensive electronics suite and renowned handling character which has led to an incredible run of AMA/MotoAmerica Superbike titles in 13 of the past 14 seasons. Yamaha continues to use knowledge gained from high-level competition to offer some of the most advanced and capable Supersport models in the industry.
New features for 2025 begin with lightweight Brembo® Stylema monobloc front brake calipers. They come paired with a new Brembo® master cylinder to offer outstanding braking power and exceptional feel. There is also a fully redesigned KYB® front fork offering excellent response, road feel and chassis performance. The new carbon fiber winglets not only add to the R1’s sleek, aerodynamic look, they create additional downforce for enhanced front-end feel when braking or cornering. Finally, a new rider and passenger seat cover texture balances both grip and ease of movement for a better sense of control and connection to the machine.
A 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1 at speed. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
2025 YZF-R1 Top Features
New carbon fiber aerodynamic winglets
New fully adjustable 43mm KYB® front fork
New radial-mounted Brembo® Stylema monobloc front calipers
New Brembo® master cylinder
New seat cover texture
Advanced 998cc CP4 engine with crossplane crankshaft technology
Lightweight titanium connecting rods, titanium intake valves and forged pistons
Variable Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-I®) System
Lightweight titanium muffler and heat shield
Compact, stacked 6-speed transmission with close-ratio gearing
Advanced assist and slipper clutch
Ride-by-wire Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T®) System
Advanced, 4.2-inch full-color TFT display
Six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)
Lean-sensitive Brake Control (BC) System
Three-level Engine Brake Management (EBM) System
Four-level Power Delivery Mode (PWR)
Lean-sensitive Traction Control (TCS)
Four-level Slide Control System (SCS)
Four-level Lift Control System (LIF)
Three-level Launch Control System (LCS)
Quick Shift System (QSS) with three settings
Slim, compact aluminum Deltabox frame
Fully adjustable KYB® rear shock
Lightweight aluminum alloy fuel tank
Premium 10-spoke cast magnesium wheels
High performance Bridgestone® RS11 tires
Full LED lighting
Colors, Availability & Price
The new 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1 will be available in Team Yamaha Blue or Matte Raven Black, and will begin arriving to dealers in November for $18,999 MSRP.
A 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
2025 YZF-R1M
Yamaha’s highest specification and most exclusive Supersport model, the 2025 YZF-R1M immediately sets itself apart with a distinctive color scheme, polished aluminum swingarm and striking full carbon fiber bodywork, which seamlessly integrates with the new carbon fiber winglets for an aggressive, track-focused look. An engraved, serial numbered badge further highlights its exclusivity.
A 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1M at speed. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
Along with the same advanced performance provided by the powerful 998cc CP4 crossplane engine, comprehensive electronics suite and lightweight aluminum Deltabox frame found on the standard R1, capability is pushed to an even higher level on the R1M with the addition of its sophisticated Öhlins® Electronic Racing Suspension, where data from the motorcycle’s IMU—such as vehicle speed, lean angle, acceleration and brake pressure—is supplied to a dedicated Suspension Control Unit to rapidly adjust front and rear damping in real time for optimum suspension performance whether braking, cornering or accelerating. The ERS simplifies suspension tuning by providing streamlined dynamic tuning modes for both street and track, as well as manual modes for more conventional suspension tuning.
Additionally, GPS data logging comes as a standard feature on the YZF-R1M. Yamaha’s unique Communication Control Unit is an integrated data-logging and GPS system that puts factory superbike technology in the palm of your hand. Vehicle data can be recorded with course mapping and automatic lap timing managed by GPS, then wirelessly downloaded to an Android® or Apple® iOS® app where it can be analyzed. The rider is then able to adjust system settings and upload these changes back to the R1M for the next track session.
A 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1M at rest. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
2025 YZF-R1M Top Features
Full carbon fiber bodywork including new aerodynamic winglets
New seat cover texture
Advanced 998cc CP4 engine with crossplane crankshaft technology
Lightweight titanium connecting rods, titanium intake valves and forged pistons
Variable Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-I®) System
Lightweight titanium muffler and heat shield
Compact, stacked 6-speed transmission with close-ratio gearing
Advanced assist and slipper clutch
Ride-by-wire Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T®) System
Six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)
Lean-sensitive Brake Control (BC) System
Three-level Engine Brake Management (EBM) System
Four-level Power Delivery Mode (PWR)
Lean-sensitive Traction Control (TCS)
Four-level Slide Control System (SCS)
Four-level Lift Control System (LIF)
Three-level Launch Control System (LCS)
Integrated GPS data-logging enabled through Yamaha Communication Control Unit
Quick Shift System (QSS) with three settings
Slim, compact aluminum Deltabox frame
Dynamic Öhlins® Electronic Racing Suspension (ERS)
Öhlins® gas-charged NPX fork
Radial-mounted 4-piston front brake calipers with braided stainless steel lines
Premium 10-spoke cast magnesium wheels
High performance Bridgestone® RS11 tires
Advanced, 4.2-inch full-color TFT display
Full LED lighting
Polished aluminum swingarm
Exclusive R1M color scheme
Colors, Availability & Price
The new 2025 Yamaha YZF-R1M will be available in Carbon Fiber and will begin arriving to dealers in March for $27,699 MSRP.
Yamaha’s remaining 2025 R-Series Supersport lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.
Learn more about Yamaha’s complete Supersport lineup, as well as other Yamaha products at: www.yamahamotorsports.com.
Find a range of Genuine Yamaha Accessories, apparel and more at: www.yamaha-motor.com/shop.
For more information related to all Yamaha products, visit: www.yamahamotorsports.com.
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About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, three corporate offices in Georgia, as well as facilities in Wisconsin, Alabama, and Florida. YMUS subsidiaries Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America (YMMC), based in Georgia, and Yamaha Jet Boat Manufacturing U.S.A. (YJBM) based in Tennessee, each assemble and manufacture selected Yamaha brand products. YMUS owns Skeeter Boats [Texas] with its division G3 Boats [Missouri]. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company, Inc. (YMSC) with subsidiary Siren Marine [Rhode Island] and divisions Bennett Marine [Florida], Yamaha Marine Rotational Molders [Wisconsin] and Yamaha Precision Propeller Inc. [Indiana].
Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, USA (Yamaha Financial Services), an affiliate of YMUS, offers financing solutions to support Yamaha Dealers and loyal Yamaha Customers nationwide. Yamaha Financial Services provides retail and commercial financing for the diverse line of Yamaha brand motor products based out of Cypress, CA and Marietta, GA.
Marvin Fritz (1) at speed on the Yamalube YART Yamaha YZF-R1 at Suzuka. Photo by Kohei Hirota.
GYTR GRT Yamaha Welcome Marvin Fritz for second Home Round in Cremona
Marvin Fritz will join Remy Gardner as the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team return to action at the Cremona Circuit, Italy, for the ninth round of the 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship.
Fritz joins the team as a replacement for regular rider Dominique Aegerter, who is still focusing on a full recovery. Fritz, who will race with the #17 this weekend, is no stranger to the Yamaha Family and the Yamaha R1, having raced in the FIM Endurance World Championship with the Yamaha Austria Racing Team (YART). He has recently narrowly missed out on claiming again the World Title at the Bol d’Or and he is also no stranger to WorldSBK, having completed four rounds in total previously.
On the other side of the garage, Gardner is keen to enjoy a strong round in a new venue for the WorldSBK. Indeed, the Italian Circuit will make his first appearance in the World Championship, with the Australian rider having completed a great test session in May, setting the fastest lap overall that day. Following that, the #87 and his crew are confident to face a good weekend in Cremona.
After the Friday practice sessions and the Superpole qualifier, Race 1 will get underway at 14:00 local time on Saturday, with Race 2 starting exactly 24 hours later on Sunday, following the SPRC at 11:00.
Marvin Fritz
“First of all, I would like to wish Dominique a speedy recovery! I cannot wait to be in Cremona, to ride for the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team and the Yamaha R1 in the WorldSBK is like a dream for me, I’ll take care of Domi’s bike. I’ll have to adapt to a lot of things as since my last wild card in Portimao (2022) things have changed, but I’ll try to enjoy the weekend and do my best, having no pressure. I’m looking forward to meet all the team, I’m confident it’ll be a nice experience.”
Remy Gardner
“Firstly, I would like to welcome Marvin in our team, wishing again a speedy and full recovery to Domi. I think Cremona could be an interesting round. It’s a new venue and almost everyone will race for the first time here, so anything could happen. In May we enjoyed a very positive test session there, so I’m looking forward to hit the track as I’m confident we could enjoy a strong weekend in Italy.”
Davis Fisher (67), Sammy Halbert (69) , Brandon Price (92), and Jared Mees (1) lined up in front of a big crowd at the Lake Ozark Short Track. Photo by Scott Hunter, courtesy AFT.
Jared Mees Rides Off into Sunset, Announces Retirement After Setting New Career Championship Record & Completing FTR750’s Perfect Championship Run
Mees Caps Off Historic Career with Win at Lake Ozark Short Track, Sets All-Time Career Grand National Championship Record with 10 Titles & Secures FTR750’s 8th Consecutive American Flat Track Championship in as Many Seasons
Indian FTR750 Leaves Behind Unprecedented Legacy, As New 2025 Rule Changes Render Indian Motorcycle’s Premier Flat Track Race Bike Ineligible
MINNEAPOLIS – The 2024 American Flat Track season began with Jared Mees seeking an unprecedented 10th-career Grand National Championship. In a triumphant and emotional conclusion to an unparalleled career, Mees stood on top of the box one final time – closing out the most successful career in the sport of professional flat track racing. Mees’ final win not only secured his record-setting 10th-career championship but closed the book on the sport’s most dominant race bike, the Indian FTR750.
“This victory is more than just another championship—it’s the perfect way to honor everything we’ve achieved with the Indian FTR750,” said Mees, “We’ve had an incredible journey with this bike, and to go out on top, knowing it’s the last time, makes this win even more special.”
Racing for the final time aboard the FTR750, Mees showcased his relentless determination and elite skill, outpacing a field of talented riders, including fierce competitors Dallas Daniels and Brandon Robinson. Only needing three points to secure the historic title, Mees grabbed the holeshot and battled until the end – beating Robinson by a mere 0.423 seconds. The win is a testament to the historic partnership between Mees and Indian Motorcycle, who have dominated the American Flat Track series since 2017.
“In 2017, at the Daytona TT, Jared secured the FTR750’s first win, as he and Bryan Smith went 1-2 in our first race as a factory team,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “Back then, none of us knew it was the start of a historic run of eight consecutive championships. We’re extremely proud of our accomplishments and want to thank all our factory riders and privateers that contributed to the FTR750’s success.”
The 2024 AFT SuperTwins championship marks an end of an era for Indian Motorcycle, as new 2025 rules will render the flat track race bike ineligible. Since its debut, the FTR750 has not only revived the storied tradition of the original Indian Wrecking Crew, but it revolutionized the landscape of flat track racing – quickly earning a reputation as the most dominant machine in the AFT paddock. The FTR750 retires with 75%-win ratio, winning 104 of the 138 races it competed in. The FTR750 has a perfect championship record, winning all premier class titles since 2017.
For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE
Indian Motorcycle is America’s First Motorcycle Company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
More, from a press release issued by Dunlop:
Progressive American Flat Track 2024 Champions on Dunlop DT4!
Image courtesy Dunlop.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA: It is with utmost honor that Dunlop marks over a decade as the official Progressive American Flat Track tire across all categories! Every year, the anticipation grows as North America’s premier flat-track racing series keeps reaching new heights. The exhilaration of the 2024 American Flat Track Series culminated in a spectacular finale at the Lake Ozark Short Track in Eldon, Missouri. Both the 2024 American Flat Track SuperTwins and Singles Series reached a season culmination, with record books on the line and reigning champions in control until the very end.
As the final round approached, the gap in the Mission SuperTwins championship stood at an adequate twenty-two points. Returning multi-time champ Jared Mees on his Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750 had to only score three points to break a tie with the legendary Scott Parker and become the only rider in the seven-decade existence of the series to claim a tenth Grand National Championship!
The always competitive SuperTwins racers, Brandon Robinson on his Mission Roof Systems, Hudson Roofing, Liqui Moly Indian FTR750 and the Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 racer, Dallas Daniels were not going to let Mees win effortlessly. Unfortunately, Dallas Daniels missed out on three races during the season due to a broken femur and just about put him out of contention for the championship.
The decisive moment came when Jared Mees decided to put his head down, grab the holeshot, battling it out in the early stages of the race then never look back, winning by nearly half a second! Mees clinched the title with a margin of thirty-one points while racing on his reliable and trustworthy Dunlop DT4 tires. This makes it his fourth championship in a row and a total of ten championships for Mees, beating Scott Parker for most of all time!
On another front, in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles class presented by Kicker, reigning champion Kody Kopp entered with a significant twenty-two-point advantage as well. With a dramatic main event that included a red flag restart, the Rick Ware Racing, Parts Plus, Jacob Construction Kopp, rode conservatively to finish third on the night and locked in his third consecutive championship, surpassing Tom Drane by fifteen points.
Mike Buckley, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing at Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, remarked, “The 2024 American Flat Track races have offered some of the most exhilarating moments in recent memory. With new records being made, it proves the competitiveness is at an all-time high. The continued progress across series, categories, motorcycles, and the outstanding performance of DT4 tires stands as a testament to AFT’s unwavering commitment and the collective efforts of all racers, teams, and supporters. Next year will see some major changes in the series, but our privilege being the official tire partner of American Flat Track will continue.”
About Dunlop Motorcycle Tires: Dunlop stands tall as the premier provider of original and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S. For further details, navigate to www.DunlopMotorcycleTires.com. Stay updated with the latest from Dunlop by following @ridedunlop on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X. Celebrate your Dunlop experiences using #RideDunlop or #RaceDunlop
Thailand’s Sakchai Kongduangdee (54), a race winner in the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia Pacific Championship, is heading to the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European SuperFinale in Portugal. Photo courtesy Yamaha Racing Thailand.
Kakeru and Sakchai selected to compete in Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European SuperFinale at Estoril
Two of the leading riders from the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia Pacific Championship have been selected to race in the R3 bLU cRU European SuperFinale.
Japan’s Kakeru Okunuke and Thailand’s Sakchai Kongduangdee will line up with contemporaries from all across the world in the R3 bLU cRU European SuperFinale, which will be run at the 11th round of the FIM World Superbike Championship in Estoril, Portugal on October 11-13.
With five out of six rounds completed, Kakeru leads the APAC series, having mounted the podium 5 times, with 4 wins and one second. Sakchai has also achieved 5 podium finishes, with two wins, a second and two thirds. He is third in the standings. The selection of Kakeru and Sakchai gives the pair an early and exciting taste of life in the FIM World Superbike paddock.
Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia Pacific Championship point leader Kakeru Okunuke (31) has been selected to compete in the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European SuperFinale October 11-13 at Estoril. Photo courtesy Yamaha Racing Thailand.
The Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia Pacific Championship is open to riders from 12 to 18 and provides a shot at world championship racing. The winner of the APAC title receives full support to race in the 2025 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup, which runs in conjunction with the FIM World Superbike Championship. Following on from that, the World Cup winner gets Yamaha support to race in the FIM World Supersport 300 Championship.The final round of the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Asia Pacific Championship is scheduled for the weekend of November 8-10 at The Bend in South Australia. It joins the program for Round 7 of the Australian Superbike Championship. For more information please visit https://www.yamahablucruasiapacific.com
Thailand’s Sakchai Kongduangdee (left) and Japan’s Kakeru Okunuke (right) have been selected to compete in the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European SuperFinale October 11-13 at Estoril. Photo courtesy Yamaha Racing Thailand.
Niccolo Canepa (1), as seen during the 2024 Bol d'Or 24-hour World Endurance race.. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Pata Prometeon Yamaha Field All-Italian Line-Up for Cremona, Rea Aiming for Aragon Return
Pata Prometeon Yamaha will feature an all-Italian rider line-up for Round 9 of the FIM Superbike World Championship this weekend at Cremona near Milan, from 20-22 September.
Spearheading the attack will be Andrea Locatelli – who is aiming for a strong weekend in front of the Italian fans, including many from his home town in Bergamo also nearby.
Based on current medical advice, both from his surgeon in France and local medical team in Northern Ireland, Jonathan Rea will miss the Italian Round in order to allow the skin graft and internal repairs to his right thumb to fully heal – with eyes firmly fixed on a return in Aragon next week. Rea withdrew from the French Round in Magny-Cours following a crash at the end of Lap 1 in Race 1 and underwent emergency surgery in Clermont-Ferrand on 7 September. The Northern Irishman has since focused on recovery at home, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions to assist healing.
Yamaha’s Official Test and Development Rider, Niccolò Canepa, will ride the Pata Prometeon Yamaha R1 WorldSBK in Cremona – joining the team for one final dance before his retirement from professional racing. Last weekend, Canepa finished third with his teammates for the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team at the 24-hour Bol d’Or race at Paul Ricard.
Canepa will join the pit box with Crew Chief Andrew Pitt, who provides an overview of the new WorldSBK venue in Italy from a technical point of view, citing the main ingredient to be competitive across the weekend.
“Cremona is not a “typical” World Championship-style circuit, it’s a tight and twisty little track where the riders use first gear a lot and it is quite short,” Pitt explains. “Qualifying will be the most important part of the weekend, it will be critical to be at front because overtaking is going to be very difficult. We only did half a day of testing with Jonathan for familiarisation, but Loka knew the circuit already and was fast. We should be able to really use the best strengths of the R1 WorldSBK for the braking and turns – so, if we can qualify well, we should be in a position to be able to fight for some good results!”
The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship returns in Cremona as well, with Beatriz Neila and the #36 Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha entry. Neila finished fourth place in both races in Portimão last month and is fired up to fight for the podium once again, with three rounds remaining in the inaugural season of the series exclusively for women.
A jam-packed weekend schedule awaits, beginning with Free Practice for WorldWCR at 9:40 CEST on Friday, WorldSBK FP1 at 10:20, WorldWCR Superpole at 14:10 and WorldSBK FP2 at 15:00.
Andrea Locatelli
“I’m excited to be back on track, especially in Cremona because at the test we did a really good job. I hope that we can find immediately a good feeling on the bike and on track. Honestly, this week I think the Italian riders especially will race for Luca Salvadori. Luca was a special guy, a well-liked YouTuber and rider with the same passion as us – I am so sorry about what happened to him and the news of his passing was a shock to everyone, so for sure this week we will give something more also for this reason. Cremona is our closest “home race” and I think we will see a lot of warmth from the fans for this event. Magny-Cours was a difficult weekend in tricky conditions, but I want to be positive and I am excited to be back on track and to give my all for everyone – for Yamaha, for Pata Snack, for Prometeon and for the team and the fans. We will enjoy the races like always, but it is also important to take some good results and this is our target, so let’s see!”
Niccolò Canepa
“The news may come as a bit of a surprise since I announced my retirement a couple of weeks ago! But, to be honest, I am really proud to do one more race weekend – especially with this team, Pata Prometeon Yamaha, Crescent and Yamaha’s official R1 WorldSBK with this crew. I am really sorry for what happened with Jonathan and I wish him a speedy recovery. On the other side I am thankful to Yamaha for this opportunity. It’s always great to race for this team and to race for Yamaha in WorldSBK. Cremona is a track that I don’t know so well, I just did a few laps one day with the Yamaha R7 for the WorldWCR shakedown and I am aware that it is going to be a challenging weekend in terms of performance. For my job as the WorldSBK test rider, we may have something to test and if I can give feedback to help the other Yamaha riders on track then it will be “mission accomplished”. I am really happy and looking forward to the “very last” race weekend of my career now, so let’s see what we can do!”
Josh Herrin (2) leads Cameron Beaubier (6), Sean Dylan Kelly (40), and the rest of the field at the start of MotoAmerica Superbike Race Three at COTA. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
STRONG RESULTS FOR SUZUKI ACROSS ALL CLASSES IN TEXAS
A Win, and Multiple Podium Finishes for Suzuki Racers at the Circuit of the Americas
Brea, CA — The official MotoAmerica entries of Suzuki Motor USA (Suzuki) collected some serious trophy hardware at the Circuit of the Americas this weekend, scoring podium finishes across all three of its classes.
Race Highlights
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
Superbike
Richie Escalante finished on the box for the second time in his premier-class career in only his second weekend back from injury.
Brandon Paasch enjoyed a strong weekend, scooping up two sixths and a seventh.
Supersport
Tyler Scott was in dynamic form, battling up front en route to second- and fourth-place finishes.
Teagg Hobbs endured a difficult weekend in Austin.
Joel Ohman continued to gain experience and speed as the weekend progressed
Twins Cup
Rossi Moor bravely fought back following a devastating Saturday crash to finish as the race runner-up on Sunday.
Altus Motorsports
Supersport
Jake Lewis takes the Supersport Race 1 victory on his GSX-R750.
RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines
Twins Cup
Rocco Landers had a weekend to forget in Twins Cup action but still wound up second in the final championship standings aboard the all-new GSX-8R.
Richie Escalante (54) has returned to form post injury despite low personal expectations. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
It didn’t take long for Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike ace Richie Escalante to return to peak form after missing the bulk of the ‘24 campaign due to an injury suffered in the season opener. The Mexican raced near the front aboard his GSX-R1000R all weekend long, highlighted by a third-place finish in Race 1 that marked his second-career MotoAmerica Superbike podium. While he crashed out of fifth in Race 2, Escalante finished out the weekend with an excellent run to fourth in Race 3.
“I’m super happy to finish on the podium – especially this season where I wasn’t expecting to be able to do it,” Escalante said. “My goal was just to get back out there and race these final three weekends to prepare for next year. I love this track, and my bike and crew worked so well this weekend.”
Brandon Paasch (96) ran inside the top 10 all weekend on his GSX-R1000R. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Escalante’s premier-class teammate, Brandon Paasch, rounded out an all-around strong weekend for the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike crew, stringing together finishes of seventh, sixth, and sixth aboard his GSX-R1000R.
“The second race on Sunday was really nice, running at the front end of the field,” said Paasch. “I didn’t have a lot left in the tank the last couple of laps, but I felt confident being up there. The bike felt good, and they weren’t getting away. That’s the closest I have been to the winner in a Superbike race although not the best result. We have one more event at my home track and maybe we can build on this.”
Tyler Scott (70) earned his spot on the podium on Sunday aboard the next-generation GSX-R750. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Supersport ace Tyler Scott took a starring role this weekend himself, qualifying second quick aboard the next-generation Suzuki GSX-R750 and then tussling for the podium in both outings. He came up just short of a top-three on Saturday, finishing fourth in what was a five-rider melee for second. Scott got his revenge on Sunday, successfully defending his position over a tense final few laps to hold on for second.
Scott said, “I wasn’t really happy with fourth – we’re trying to be on the top of the box, but today was a lot better. I have to give thanks to the whole Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team for all the hard work they put in over the second half of the season to get the bike dialed in. I couldn’t ask much more out of the bike today – I had a great feeling on it.”
Scott’s Supersport teammate, Teagg Hobbs, found the going considerably more difficult in Texas. Hobbs finished 16th on Saturday and then suffered a DNF on Sunday.
“We were having a problem slowing down the bike in both races,” Hobbs said. “I couldn’t slow down going into the corners, and I pulled in about halfway. I wasn’t able to ride around it, and we weren’t getting good data. We will work hard to get it fixed for the next race.”
The squad’s third Supersport pilot, Joel Ohman, continued to accumulate experience, twice improving upon his qualifying position in the races.
Ohman said, “I went 1.8 seconds faster than last year, and my race pace was better. We are still working on setup, and I didn’t feel I could fully battle with the bike yet. But we are improving and the lap times are the real story. We have a strong idea of what to address for New Jersey so we can still keep making more solid progress.”
Rossi Moor (92) proved to be unwavering this weekend with a spectacular crash on Saturday, followed by a second-place finish on Sunday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Vision Wheel M4 Suzuki’s Rossi Moor showed serious grit, determination and speed aboard the Suzuki GSX-8R in Twins Cup action. Moor’s race on Saturday ended in prematurely due to a terrifying highside crash suffered while holding down second position. Undaunted, the young gun came back out on Sunday to earn a runner-up result. Doing so secured him fifth in the class’ final championship standings on the strength of four podiums.
“I’m still a little banged and bruised, but nothing ever stopped me,” Moor said. “It was a great race – it was definitely a hot one. I’m glad to be on the podium, and I can’t thank my team enough. It’s been a great year developing this bike. It’s been a bit up and down, but looking back on it, it was worth all the hard work we put in, especially finishing up with a second-place finish.”
Jake Lewis (85) utilized his Altus Motorsports GSX-R750 to get a win this weekend. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Suzuki congratulates Jake Lewis and Altus Motorsports on their Supersport Race 1 victory. Lewis was able to capitalize on his great start and finished out front with a near three second lead on his GSX-R750.
RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines star Rocco Landers had a similarly difficult Saturday but was less fortunate in his hopes of a successful rebound on Sunday. Landers crashed twice in Saturday’s race, resulting in a DNF, while Sunday’s rematch saw him forced to retire due to mechanical issues. Despite the disappointing Twins Cup finale, Landers wrapped up the season ranked second in the points with four victories and seven total podiums.
Rocco Landers (97) had a hard weekend on track without finishing a race, but his strong season keeps him ranked in second for points. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
“I had a small mistake in Race 1 that cost me a good finish, and we had a mechanical in Race 2. The team was great all weekend, anything that went wrong was on me. It was a great season, and the bike performed way better than I expected. It’s the most fun twin I have ever ridden. I learned a lot of great lessons this year and am looking forward to what the future holds.”
While the Twins Cup season is now complete, the official Suzuki Superbike and Supersport runners will conclude their season at the 2024 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship season finale, which will be waged at New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 27-29.
For more information and updates on Team Hammer, visit teamhammer.com.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2024 season marks Team Hammer’s 44th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 134 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 373 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.:
Petersen Concludes MotoAmerica Superbike Tripleheader at Texas with Pair of Top-10 Finishes
Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Cameron Petersen finished seventh and 10th on the final day of racing at COTA
Attack Performance/Progressive Yamaha’s Cameron Petersen (45) and Xavi Fores (34). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha.
MARIETTA, Ga. – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Cameron Petersen scored a pair of top-10 finishes, crossing the line seventh and 10th, respectively, in Sunday’s MotoAmerica Superbike Race 2 and Race 3 at the Circuit of The Americas. Fill-in rider Xavi Forés battled in the tricky conditions and finished eighth in the first race of the day, but unfortunately had to withdraw from the final race of the weekend.
It was another hot day making for challenging conditions on the newly resurfaced track in Austin, Texas. After a tough start to the tripleheader weekend, Petersen had a much better start from the fourth row of the grid in Race 2 and was ninth on the opening lap. He then passed his teammate on the following lap to move to eighth and gained another position when a rider ahead crashed. From there it was a four-rider battle for sixth, with riders jockeying for position. On the final lap, Petersen made the move to seventh, where he would finish.
In Race 3, Petersen got a great start in fifth, but unfortunately the race was redflagged after the opening lap with oil on track leading into the first turn. After the complete restart of the shortened 10-lap race, the South African was eighth and advanced to seventh, but was struggling with grip and shuffled to 13th on the following lap. Petersen continued to fight despite the challenges and made his way back to 10th, salvaging points on a tough weekend.
Forés had another good start in Race 2, slotting into the top five, but found himself eighth on that opening lap after running wide in the greasy track conditions. He then found himself further back in ninth, but the Spaniard regrouped and made his way to eighth before the halfway mark. In that four-rider battle for sixth, Forés exchanged positions and moved to sixth with two laps to go, but would ultimately cross the line eighth. After the complete restart of the final race of the weekend, Forés was ninth. He did what he could to maintain the position despite dealing with a technical issue but had to withdraw from the race with four laps remaining.
The Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing team heads to Millville, New Jersey, in two weeks’ time for the MotoAmerica season finale at the New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 27-29.
Richard Stanboli – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“It was an unfortunate situation at COTA. We did the best we could with the cards that we were dealt. We’re moving on to New Jersey and look to finish the season strong.”
Cameron Petersen – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #45
“It was a challenging weekend for the team. We did everything we could to make the most out of what we had, but just couldn’t make it work. We will bounce back for Jersey.”
Xavi Forés – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #34
“It was a pretty tough weekend for all the Yamahas out there. The maximum we could do is fight for a top six. We struggled a lot with grip, especially in Race 3 where we had an issue and had to retire. It wasn’t what we were expecting before the weekend, but it is what it is. I want to say thanks to the team because they worked so hard to give me the best bike possible today. I’m looking forward to New Jersey, which I think is a track that will suit our bike better, and I will try to make some improvements on myself now that I am more familiar with the bike.”
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars [sold, serviced, and distributed by Yamaha Golf-Car Company], Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, three corporate offices in Georgia, as well as facilities in Wisconsin, Alabama, and Florida. YMUS subsidiaries Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America (YMMC), based in Georgia, and Yamaha Jet Boat Manufacturing U.S.A. (YJBM) based in Tennessee, each assemble and manufacture selected Yamaha brand products. YMUS owns Skeeter Boats [Texas] with its division G3 Boats [Missouri]. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company, Inc. (YMSC) with subsidiary Siren Marine [Rhode Island] and divisions Bennett Marine [Florida], Yamaha Marine Rotational Molders [Wisconsin] and Yamaha Precision Propeller Inc. [Indiana].
Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, USA, dba Yamaha Financial Services, is an affiliate of Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA offering financing solutions to support Yamaha Dealers and loyal Yamaha Customers nationwide.
More, from a press release issued by Indian Motorcycle:
Indian Motorcycle Racing and Troy Herfoss Win at Circuit of the Americas, Now Two Points Back in King of the Baggers Championship Standings
Three-Time Australian Superbike Champion Troy Herfoss Goes 1-2 Aboard S&S Indian Challenger, Eyes Potential First-Career King of the Baggers Championship as Final Round Approaches
S&S Indian’s Troy Herfoss (17). Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
AUSTIN, TX. – Indian Motorcycle Factory Racing delivered a remarkable performance this weekend at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Down 14 points heading into the eighth round of the 2024 King of the Baggers (KOTB) season, Indian Motorcycle factory rider Troy Herfoss delivered the results needed to make a final push for his first-career KOTB championship – piloting his No. 17 S&S Indian Challenger to his sixth win and sixth second-place finish of the season.
Herfoss started the weekend off hot, winning the Mission Foods Challenge, its $5,000 prize, and qualifying for the pole position for the weekend’s KOTB doubleheader. Race 1 saw both Indian Motorcycle factory riders run in the front pack, as Herfoss took second and Tyler O’Hara successfully edged out Harley-Davidson factory rider Kyle Wyman for third – further widening the point differential between Herfoss and Wyman. In Race 2, Herfoss showcased his racing prowess, leading all six laps with precision and successfully capping off the weekend with his sixth KOTB victory.
“This was a great team effort, as S&S had the Indian Challengers dialed in to near perfection while Troy and Tyler worked together to fully maximize this important weekend at COTA,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “We’re riding a high after that performance and carrying momentum into New Jersey that will put us in great position to fight for the No. 1 plate.”
MotoAmerica’s King of the Baggers season concludes with a doubleheader at New Jersey Motorsports Park September 27-29. The 2024 season has seen an intense battle between the two factory teams, as both Herfoss and Wyman each have six wins and six second-place finishes this season. Since bagger racing’s debut in 2020, when O’Hara won the inaugural race aboard the S&S Indian Challenger, each American V-Twin factory team has earned one KOTB series championship, with Indian Motorcycle winning in 2022 and Harley-Davidson in 2021.
For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, X and Instagram. Indian Motorcycle Racing and the S&S Indian Challenger is sponsored by S&S, Progressive, Mission Foods, Drag Specialties, Parts Unlimited, and Performance Finance.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE®
Indian Motorcycle Company is America’s First Motorcycle Company®. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
INDIAN and INDIAN MOTORCYCLE are registered trademarks of Indian Motorcycle International, LLC. Always wear a helmet, protective clothing and eyewear and insist your passenger does the same. Ride within the limits of the law and your own abilities. Read, understand and follow your owner’s manual. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
ABOUT S&S® CYCLE
S&S® Cycle was born from a passion for racing and has spent over six decades building performance for the powersports market. Their unwavering focus on quality, reliability and top shelf power has made S&S® Cycle the absolute leader in high performance on the street and track.
More, from a press release issued by Altus Motorsports:
MotoAmerica: Altus Motorsports Results from Circuit of the Americas
(Austin, TX) Successful weekend at Circuit of the Americas in Austin Texas for the Altus Motorsports team.
Jake Lewis brought home a win for the Altus Motorsports team. He qualified with the 4th fastest Supersport time on his GSX-R750. Jake took the lead on lap 1 of Saturday’s race and never looked back. The win was a great reward for Lewis and the team after a challenging season. In Race 2, he crossed the finish line in 5th, just a tenth of a second out of 4th place.
Jake Lewis (85). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Jake Lewis: “It felt so good to win my first Supersport race in 10 years. The team has worked so hard all year, and the bike felt really good. In Race 2, the pace was faster, and it was my 5th race of the weekend in the brutal heat. Halfway through, I just got physically exhausted, which was a bit of a bummer. We’re still 3rd in points with just the finale left, so it’ll be time to give it my all again at New Jersey.”
Coming into the weekend, the team decided to change the suspension hardware on Jaret Nassaney’s GSX-R to match the setup that Lewis is running. With that, they also consolidated the setup decisions within the team. This created more parity and allowed for better data sharing between teammates. The changes worked for Jaret. He leaves Texas with a 15th on Saturday and a 14th on Sunday. While not where he wants to be, he goes to New Jersey with confidence.
Jaret Nassaney (59). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Jaret Nassaney: “Really happy with the direction we are headed and looking forward to carrying it forward to New Jersey. I love that track and can’t wait to apply the progress we made at COTA.”
Torin Collins qualified 17th in the crowded Supersport class, which featured 32 riders. In Race 1, he fought his way to an impressive 9th-place finish. During Race 2, Collins engaged in a tight three-bike battle for 7th place but ultimately finished in 9th.
Torin Collins (171). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Altus Motorsports.
Torin Collins: “Very fun weekend. We didn’t get the top 5 I wanted, but I can’t complain with two top-ten finishes after starting 17th. We are definitely on the right path and I’m looking forward to ending the season strong.”
George Nassaney: “This year has been tough, but we finally had a weekend where everything clicked. All our riders performed exceptionally well, and the crew is truly coming together as a team. We’re celebrating Jake’s win and are excited to carry this momentum into New Jersey to close out the season on a high note. It was also great to have our sponsors Buy A Jet From Steve Main, SBS, and Moto Liberty/Taichi spend the weekend with our team.”
Altus Motorsports team is supported by our great family of sponsors: Altus Motorsports, WPS, Firepower, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Buy A Jet From Steve Main, Barnett, Evol Technology, Maxima Oils, Hot Bodies Racing, M4 Exhausts, Vortex EK, Motion Pro, SBS Brakes, BrakeTech USA, Inc., Pit Bull Products, GB Racing, Ohlins, K-Tech, Puig Racing, RS Taichi, Arai, Core Moto, Pro Bolt, Chicken Hawk Tire Warmers, Law Tigers Oklahoma, and Altus Factory Racing.
More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle Racing:
Cameron does the double whilst JD and Stefano show front running pace at COTA
Tytlers Cycle Racing are still in with a shot of lifting the 2024 MotoAmerica Superbike title thanks to Cameron Beaubier’s double win and second place finish in the penultimate round of the series at the Circuit of the Americas.
Dominating practice, the #6 BMW M1000RR rider broke the outright circuit record in qualifying to take pole position for all three races, his team mate JD Beach also riding well to secure a third row of the grid start in eighth.
Saturday’s opening race saw Beaubier locked in an incredible battle with his closest rival for the title Josh Herrin and Sean Dylan Kelly. Trading fastest laps the race became a two-rider affair following SDK’s retirement with Cameron pulling away in the closing stages to claim victory.
Race two was an equally thrilling affair with the same three riders swapping positions several times a lap. Cameron crossed the line second but importantly ahead of Herrin to keep the pressure on in terms of the championship fight.
In temperatures of almost one hundred degrees, race three was for many the highlight of the weekend with the three aforementioned riders once again covered by the narrowest of margins from start to finish. At the flag Beaubier got the nod taking his second win of the weekend to ensure the title fight goes to the final round in New Jersey in a fortnight.
JD Beach produced solid results crossing the line fifth, ninth and seventh in three races respectively, leaving COTA eighth overall in the championship.
The team’s other rider Stefano Mesa was also back in action in both Supersport and Super Hooligans. The #37 races to seventh and eighth place finishes aboard his Kawasaki in Supersport, whilst on the Energica in the Hooligans class he crossed the line eleventh and ninth.
Cameron Beaubier (6). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
Cameron Beaubier: “It was good to ride COTA again on a superbike, especially on the BMW M1000 RR. The team got the bike working good around the place and they made progress with the setup every race.in all three races we had good battles, and it felt good going 1-2-1. It was a hot one. The championship is out of sight now but with what I have been through this year I am content. We will give it our all at jersey!”
JD Beach (95). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
JD Beach: “COTA race weekend was a hot one, but I always love going there. The track is a lot of fun and we had to work hard since there were three superbike races. Friday was a rough day with a mechanical problem, starting our weekend on the backfoot. My crew worked hard and gave me a great bike for first qualifying. We didn’t have our best qualifying, but we got some good data going into Saturday. For race one I got a great start and was able to latch onto the leaders and up my pace a bit. After a race long battle with Loris Baz, we were able to get a fifth. Races two and three weren’t as good for us. Picking up a ninth and seventh. I know the crew and I gave it our all, but we just couldn’t get the job done. We are not done yet and I am looking forward to NJMP.”
Stefano Mesa (37). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
Stefano Mesa: “Cota was a hot one this past weekend. It started on a positive note and the team worked hard to give me the best bikes possible. The hooligan weekend on the Energica was all progress every session out. We found some time and figured out the bike a bit more. I was able to go three seconds faster than last year by Q2 and we got closer to the pack of factory bikes. Both races were good. We had solid races running in P7 for the whole race, but unfortunately the heat was so bad we had to slow down on the last lap just a bit to finish the races. We ended race one P11 and P9 in race two. It’s the end of the season for this class and we sure will miss it. We did solid steps forward at every round and the class keeps getting more stacked. Big thanks to the Tytlers & Energica boys for making all this work out and hopefully we will be back next year for some more. It was the first time around COTA on a Supersport bike for me. We made some good times through FP and Q1 on Friday. For Q2 we did a big chassis change to see if we could go quicker but unfortunately, we went backwards so we ended up racing on what we knew would work. Race one we got a good start, and I was able to run with the front pack for a few laps. I ended up in a good battle for the podium with six other riders an ended up P7 at the flag. In race two we struggled a bit and fell back off the start, but we kept working and passed a few guys. It was another good battle, and we ended up P8.”
A 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS followed by a 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200. Photo courtesy Triumph.
TRIUMPH REVEALS NEW SPEED TWIN 1200 RS AND NEXT GENERATION SPEED TWIN 1200
Triumph Motorcycles launches two new Speed Twin models for 2025, including a new, even more dynamic 1200 RS model
Chassis upgrades and extra technology including Optimized Cornering ABS and traction control, enhance its engaging, focused and dynamic handling
Thrilling sports performance, with an extra 5HP peak power
Refreshed styling that blends contemporary sports features with classic design elements
Triumph Motorcycles has announced significant updates to its Speed Twin 1200, as well as the launch of a new Speed Twin 1200 RS, which is more focused, more engaging and with even sharper responses.
Available in dealers around the world beginning December 2024, the new Speed Twin 1200 features chassis upgrades including Marzocchi forks and twin Marzocchi rear suspension units, further enhancing the engaging and dynamic handling, taking corners in a balanced, natural and confidence-inspiring way.
A 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS at speed. Photo courtesy Triumph.
This sophisticated handling is coupled with extra performance, with an extra 5HP peak power to deliver added character and sports thrills. New technologies, like Optimized Cornering ABS and traction control, are integrated seamlessly and sensitively.
The styling has been refreshed to blend a bright, contemporary sports style with modern classic design DNA, and features beautiful design details that showcase Triumph’s exceptional build quality.
The new RS model will offer riders even more. Sportier ergonomics, courtesy of repositioned handlebars and rear-set footpegs, are matched with an exceptional level of specification, including fully adjustable Marzocchi forks and top-spec Öhlins rear suspension units, as well as Brembo Stylema calipers. A pair of Metzeler Racetec RR K3 tires are fitted as standard, and Triumph Shift Assist is included for the first time on a Modern Classic.
A 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS at rest. Photo courtesy Triumph.
Steve Sargent – Chief Product Officer, Triumph Motorcycles
“The new Speed Twin 1200 RS is more focused, more engaging and with even sharper responses. It’s designed for riders who want the absolute best in dynamic performance, with classic sporty looks.
The updates to the new Speed Twin 1200 are a significant evolution for this much-loved model, and as always, we’ve made sure we retain the superior handling and classic style that everyone admires, while introducing extra power and technology that improves the riding experience seamlessly.”
CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC SPORTS STYLE
The new tank is more sculpted, with raked lines and deep front cutouts, and there is a new flip-up fuel cap. The side panels are simpler and styled to integrate into the new minimal throttle body covers with their brushed aluminum finisher.
Many classic-inspired details have been refined and updated, including new black powder-coated engine casings, which are now leaner and more angular. More compact silencers add to the timeless beauty of the uninterrupted exhaust run.
A 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 at speed. Photo courtesy Triumph.
The elegant round headlight is housed within a new brushed aluminum bezel and stylish cast aluminum finishers.
The stunning one-piece bench seat has been reprofiled to be shallower and more sculpted, matching the sporty styling, and is narrower at the front, facilitating an easier stand over position for riders. The RS seat gains a sporty and stylish napped finish with exceptional stitch detailing.
New cast aluminum wheels perfectly complement the new bodywork with seven pairs of slim spokes angled in a sporty turbine pattern.
A 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 1200 at rest. Photo courtesy Triumph.
For the Speed Twin 1200, two split-color designs accentuate the modern feel further, with a bold ‘1200’ tank graphic separating either a Crystal White or Carnival Red upper from a Sapphire black lower that creates a sleeker look by making the tank appear shallower and longer. There’s also a more classically inspired Aluminum Silver option with discreet ‘1200’ numbering and twin black stripes.
The Speed Twin 1200 RS comes in two choices; a bright Baja Orange or subtle Sapphire Black, both with RS decals in gold which complement the anodized suspension components.
FOCUSED DYNAMIC HANDLING
Increasing choice for riders, each Speed Twin 1200 model has its own specific riding position, creating a distinct feel and personality.
Creating a more spacious feel while riding, the bars on the new Speed Twin 1200 are higher and further forward than the previous model. The 1.7” (43mm) diameter Marzocchi forks and twin Marzocchi rear suspension units have been upgraded and now feature remote reservoirs in addition to adjustable preload on the back. These upgrades to the chassis increase the agility of the dynamic Speed Twin 1200, while ensuring a smooth, high-quality ride in real-world conditions. New Triumph-branded radial calipers mounted to twin 12.6” (320mm) discs provide excellent stopping power, together with all-round Metzeler Sportec M9RR tires, fitted as standard.
For riders looking for an even more dynamic performance and extra thrills, the new Speed Twin 1200 RS has a more engaged and focused riding position. With the rear of the bike raised, the seat height increases slightly. The handlebars remain at the same height as the previous generation, but move further forwards, while the footpegs are slightly raised and further back.
Top specification suspension matches the dynamic attitude of the RS, with fully-adjustable Marzocchi forks and Öhlins rear suspension units. Added finesse is provided by twin Brembo Stylema calipers on 12.6” (320mm) discs and high performance Metzeler Racetec RR K3 tires as standard.
THRILLING SPORTS PERFORMANCE
An extra 5HP of peak power has been achieved from Triumph’s impressive high-compression Bonneville 1200 twin engine, reaching 103.5HP at 7750rpm, pulling harder for longer up to the rev limit. The 270-degree firing order and low inertia crankshaft provide instant response with distinct and characterful power pulses and retains a rich torque delivery throughout the rev range, peaking at 82.6 LB-FT (112 Nm).
BLENDING LATEST TECHNOLOGY WITH CLASSIC DESIGN
Combining modern performance with classic personality, riders can tailor the engine response with Road and Rain riding modes, and now benefit from Optimized Cornering ABS and traction control, which are fitted as standard on both models. The focused Speed Twin 1200 RS has an additional Sport riding mode, which sharpens the throttle response and optimizes the traction control settings, adding to the bike’s powerful and dynamic feel.
In a first for the Bonneville platform, and unique to this version, the Speed Twin 1200 RS will be fitted with Triumph Shift Assist, an up and down quickshifter that perfectly complements the power delivery and character of the bike. Discreetly placed behind the gear-shifter, the bike’s modern classic styling is maintained.
New LCD and TFT displays have been meticulously encased in a classic circular dial, improving visibility and functionality, while retaining the Speed Twin’s timeless look. This enables compatibility with turn-by-turn navigation and phone connectivity, as well as concealing a convenient USB-C charging socket.
PREMIUM FINISH AND DETAILING
Riders taking a closer look will be rewarded with examples of Triumph’s acute attention to detail. From the re-styled heel guards and headlight bezel to the embellishers on the new side panels, these details are crafted from aluminum, with a brushed finish, and the aluminum swingarm and the new headlight brackets are clear-anodized to ensure that quality finish is even more durable. The Speed Twin 1200 RS comes with the special addition of brushed aluminum front and rear mudguards.
ACCESSORIES
More than 70% of Speed Twin customers add Triumph accessories to their bike, reflecting their personal style, which is why there is the option to add over 50 genuine accessories, including clip-on bars, a quilted bullet seat or a seat cowl, for those seeking a modern café racer.
AVAILABILITY & PRICE
The new Speed Twin 1200 will be available from $13,595 USD / $15,495 CAD and the new Speed Twin 1200 RS will be available from $15,995 / $18,395 CAD. Customers can configure their own or find out more at triumphmotorcycles.com. Bikes will be arriving in dealerships beginning mid-December 2024.
SPECIFICATION – SPEED TWIN 1200 RS
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
Type
Liquid-cooled parallel twin, 8 valve, SOHC, 2700 firing order
Capacity
1200 cc
Bore
3.84” (97.6 mm)
Stroke
3.15: (80.0 mm)
Compression
12.1:1
Maximum Power
105 PS / 103.5 bhp (77.2 kW) @ 7,750 rpm
Maximum Torque
82.6 lb-ft (112 Nm) @ 4,250 rpm
Fuel System
Multipoint fuel injection with electronic throttle control. Two rider modes.
Exhaust
Brushed stainless steel 2 into 2 exhaust system with twin brushed stainless steel silencers
Final Drive
X-ring chain
Clutch
Wet, multi-plate, slip & assist
Gearbox
6-speed
CHASSIS
Frame
Tubular steel, with steel cradles
Swingarm
Twin sided aluminum
Front Wheel
Cast aluminum alloy 17” x 3.5”
Rear Wheel
Cast aluminum alloy 17” x 5.0”
Front Tire
120/70 R17
Rear Tire
160/60 R17
Front Suspension
1.69” (43mm) upside-down Marzocchi forks, adjustable for pre-load, compression and rebound damping. 4.72” (120 mm) wheel travel
Rear Suspension
Twin Öhlins RSUs with external reservoirs, adjustable for pre-load, compression and rebound damping. 4.84” (123 mm) wheel travel
Single 8.66” (220mm) fixed disc, Nissin 2-piston floating caliper, OCABS
Instruments
LCD multi-function instruments with integrated color TFT screen
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS
Length
81.6” (2073 mm)
Width (Handlebars)
31.2” (792 mm)
Height Without Mirrors
44.4” (1127 mm)
Seat Height
31.9” (810 mm)
Wheelbase
55.7” (1414 mm)
Rake
22.6 °
Trail
3.62” (92 mm)
Wet weight
476 lbs (216 kg)
Fuel Tank Capacity
3.83 gallons (14.5 liters)
SERVICE
Service Interval
10,000 miles (16,000km) / 12 months
CONSUMPTION AND EMISSIONS (EU)
Fuel Consumption
TBC
Emissions
EURO 5+
CO2 emissions and fuel consumption data are measured according to regulation 168/2013/EC. Figures for fuel consumption are derived from specific test conditions and are for comparative purposes only. They may not reflect real driving results.
SPECIFICATION – SPEED TWIN 1200
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
Type
Liquid-cooled parallel twin, 8 valve, SOHC, 2700 firing order
Capacity
1200 cc
Bore
3.84” (97.6 mm)
Stroke
3.15” (80.0 mm)
Compression
12.1:1
Maximum Power
105 PS / 103.5 bhp (77.2 kW) @ 7,750 rpm
Maximum Torque
82.6 lb-ft (112 Nm) @ 4,250 rpm
Fuel System
Multipoint fuel injection with electronic throttle control. Two rider modes.
Exhaust
Brushed stainless steel 2 into 2 exhaust system with twin brushed stainless steel silencers
Single 8.66” (220mm) fixed disc, Nissin 2-piston floating caliper, OCABS
Instruments
LCD multi-function instruments with integrated color TFT screen
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS
Length
81.5” (2070 mm)
Width (Handlebars)
31.2” (792 mm)
Height Without Mirrors
44.9” (1140 mm)
Seat Height
31.7” (805 mm)
Wheelbase
55.6” (1413 mm)
Rake
22.4 °
Trail
3.58” (91 mm)
Wet weight
476 lbs (216 kg)
Fuel Tank Capacity
3.83 gallons (14.5 liters)
SERVICE
Service Interval
10,000 miles (16,000km) / 12 months
CONSUMPTION AND EMISSIONS (EU)
Fuel Consumption
TBC
Emissions
EURO 5+
CO2 emissions and fuel consumption data are measured according to regulation 168/2013/EC. Figures for fuel consumption are derived from specific test conditions and are for comparative purposes only. They may not reflect real driving results.
Team Saddlemen Harley-Davidson's Cory West (13) and Jake Lewis (85) during a MotoAmerica Super Hooligan race at COTA. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
VANCE & HINES HARLEY-DAVIDSON RACER ROCCO LANDERS SCORES FIRST KING OF THE BAGGERS VICTORY AT COTA; HARLEY-DAVIDSON FACTORY RACER KYLE WYMAN HOLDS KOTB SERIES POINTS LEAD HEADING INTO SERIES FINALE
Team Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Racer Cory West Claims Super Hooligan Championship
MILWAUKEE (September 16, 2024) – RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson® rider Rocco Landers scored his first series victory and Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing rider Kyle Wyman maintained his series points lead in a double-header weekend of MotoAmerica® Mission King of the Baggers racing action at Circuit of the Americas in Travis County, Texas. Landers won the Saturday race and finished third on Sunday. With a fourth-place finish on Saturday and second place on Sunday, Wyman holds a two-point championship lead heading into the final double-header weekend of the season.
Cory West (back row holding #1 plate) won the 2024 MotoAmerica Super Hooligan Championship. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
West Crowned Mission Super Hooligan Champion
Team Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson rider Cory West on Sunday won the 10-race Mission Super Hooligan championship aboard a race-prepared Harley-Davidson® Pan America® 1250 Special motorcycle. A consistent front-runner all season, West scored three series race wins and was on the podium in six other races. The veteran racer from Eureka Springs, Ark., took over the points lead with a win and a second-place finish at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on September 18. At Circuit of the Americas, West locked up the title with a third-place finish on Saturday and second place on Sunday, holding off the challenge of the defending Super Hooligan champion, S&S Indian rider Tyler O’Hara.
“The Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Pan America, I can’t say enough. That bike worked awesome,” said West after locking up the title. “This was a really stressful race. I had to finish at least third and I knew Tyler was going to go out and try to win it. I just kept my head down and did what I could. This is a dream come true. It’s something you always wanted when you were a kid and started racing. To be a champion, it’s just complete. I really have to thank everybody. Dave, Amy, Chris. My beautiful wife, who is due in eight days. Jake, Taylor, Kento, Eric, Matty, Fury, Ricky, everybody. I love you guys. My family is here this weekend. I’ve got so many friends. We brought home the number-one plate, and I couldn’t be happier.”
For the season, West scored 183 points to take the title. O’Hara finished second with 179 points, followed by Team Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson rider Jake Lewis with 146 points.
Rocco Landers (97) leads Troy Herfoss (17) during a King Of The Baggers race at COTA. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
Landers Breaks Through
The race win by 19-year-old Landers followed a string of four consecutive Mission King of the Bagger podium finishes. Landers qualified third at Circuit of the Americas and led each of the six laps in Saturday’s main event on the 3.472-mile, 20-turn road course. Landers held off the determined challenge of Factory Indian riders Troy Herfoss and Tyler O’Hara to win by 1.347 seconds.
“I got a decent start and then took advantage of some of the other riders getting caught up in traffic,” said Landers. “Everyone on the Vance & Hines team has been working so hard all season, so a big shout-out to the team and my family for all the support.”
On Sunday Wyman was in second place and chasing Herfoss when the race was stopped for fluid leaked on the track by Factory Indian rider O’Hara. The race was re-started with five laps remaining, and Herfoss again took the lead with Wyman trailing by less than a second as the pair opened a gap on Landers, Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing rider James Rispoli and RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson rider Hayden Gillim. Wyman trailed Herfoss by 0.445 seconds at the finish, with Landers third, Gillim fourth and Rispoli fifth.
“I’m happy with the ride today,” said Wyman after Sunday’s race. “We had a slow build all weekend, and today I had good pace in a couple of spots on the track but not enough to risk a pass for the lead. We’ll leave here with the points lead. I’ve got some great memories from previous races at New Jersey, so let’s go back there make a few more.”
On the opening lap of Sunday’s race, Rispoli suspected a flat rear tire and pulled off the track on the second lap.
“We had podium pace all weekend,” said Rispoli. “We have really found a great setting and I am getting confident on the bike. The finishing positions don’t show the potential we have, and we hope to put the final pieces of the puzzle together at New Jersey.”
After 16 of 18 rounds in the 2024 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series, Wyman has 315 points to 313 for Herfoss. Gillim is in third place with 213 points, followed by O’Hara with 198 points, Landers with 179 points, and Rispoli with 175 points.
The final race in the Mission King of the Baggers series is September 27-29 at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J.
Harley-Davidson® Factory Racing is sponsored by Mission® Foods, Rockford Fosgate®, Brembo®, Öhlins®, Protolabs®, SYN3® lubricants, and Screamin’ Eagle® Performance Parts and Accessories.
MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers Race Results – Circuit of the Americas Race 1
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July 3, 2025
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