MotoAmerica – New “Bagger” race at WeatherTech Raceway and 2020 Commentary Team announced!
MotoAmerica – Bobby Fong is the new M4 ECSTAR Suzuki MA Superbike rider for 2020! He teams with Toni Elias. We speak with him about that and more!
MotoGP – The first full test of 2020 is in the books. The boys break down how each manufacturer ended the 3-day affair.
Supercross – San Diego wrap-up
SXFantasy p/b ARAI Helmets – Greg got his picks in, but JP is up to 10th! We’ve chosen pulpmxfantasy.com for out 2020 SX Fantasy League. Join the Greg’s Garage Podcast League now to win an ARAI Corsair-X Helmet of your choice!
MotoAmerica – Kyle Wyman announces his 2020 KW Army stuff! Visit www.kwarmy.com
This coming weekend, February 13-15, the Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association (CMRA) opens its 2020 season at MSR Houston in Angleton, Texas. The track is located 13 miles south of Highway 6 off Highway 288. MSR Houston is a 17-turn, 2.38 mile full road course.
The weekend activities begin at 8:00 a.m. Friday with a CMRA License school and a full day CMRA racer practice. Registration and Tech open for all activities at 6:30 a.m. The full weekend’s event schedule can be found at http://www.cmraracing.com/2020-schedule/
Friday is a full day of practice and CMRA Racer School. You can also cornerwork for cash, provisional novice credits, or a FREE CMRA PRACTICE DAY!
Saturday’s schedule has 2 hours of morning practice, followed by integrated Big Bike and Lightweight sprints, as well as Mini Sprints. Solo 30 and ULW Endurance round out Saturday’s racing activities.
Sunday’s schedule is packed full with more Big bike/Lightweight integrated sprints, with a longer morning practice and qualifying for Formula 1 Expert, C Superbike Expert, Formula 2 Expert, and 500 GP Expert.
Rooster’s BBQ opens at 6:30am Saturday and Sunday at the track for some great BBQ!
Gates open each day at 6:00 a.m. and we race rain or shine! Weekend entry into the event is only $25 on Thursday and Friday, $15 on Saturday, and just $15 on Sunday. There is a $5 wristband refund for participants leaving Saturday night – turn in your wristband at the gate as you leave. Tickets are good for the entire weekend. Ride your street bike to the event and you’ll pay just $5 for entry on both Saturday and Sunday! Kids 12 and under are free. A spectator lap of the track will be conducted during the lunch break on Sunday, schedule and weather permitting.
Please note that NO PETS are allowed at any of the CMRA race events.
On behalf of our racers, the CMRA would like to thank our 2020 Class Sponsors including: RACEWORX, RES, VONHERTELL RACING SERVICES, 3:16 TRACK DAYS, RIDESMART. And more to come!
For more information about this event and a detailed event schedule, please visit our website at www.cmraracing.com or call the CMRA office at 817-570-9779.
The development of a new, large-scale road course on public land in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is being proposed to local government officials.
According to documents submitted to the Oak Ridge City Council, developer Hardin Valley Land Partners is seeking to purchase three parcels of land totaling over 300 acres in the Horizon Center Industrial Park, which is located just west of Knoxville, Tennessee, to develop a “motorsports park” that could cost “in excess of $50,000,000.00.”
The proposed motorsports park project was presented in abstract form during an Oak Ridge City Council meeting on February 10, and the City Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution of “support and interest in the further development” of the project.
However, the character of the facility remains in question.
The resolution approved by the Oak Ridge City Council states a “test track and research facility.” However, the cover letter provided by developer Hardin Valley Land Partners states “The main components of the park will be a road course suitable for FIA” events, an amphitheater with seating for over 7,000, a karting track, a paddock club, a club house, a pro shop, garages, overnight lodging, an RV park, conference space, restaurants, and more.
Roadracingworld.com reached out to Hardin Valley Land Partners for additional information, but we have not received a response prior to post time.
2020 WERA SOUTHEAST/MID-CENTRAL SEASON KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND AT TALLADEGA GRAN PRIX RACEWAY IN ALABAMA!
The WERA Southeast/Mid-Central Sportsman Series will be at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway over the February 15-16 weekend.
New for 2020 will be two premier classes each weekend which will be gridded by the best time in the second practice session of the morning. The two classes are the A Superbike Expert and C Superbike Expert Classes. These classes will also have two additional laps added. Pit Bull has returned as trophy sponsor for the C Superstock Classes. There is contingency available at this event which can be found on the bottom of the schedule (www.wera.com under Schedule Tab).
A Rider’s School will be held on Saturday for those interested in taking their machines to their limit. Sportbike Track Time will host the Friday prior to this event. Come out and see the riders of WERA Motorcycle Roadracing start their season.
Racing for all the sprints starts at noon and camping is available. Come out and see the riders of WERA Motorcycle Roadracing take on Talladega Gran Prix Raceway in Alabama February 15-16!
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was founded in 1973 and remains the foremost place to develop talent in the sport of motorcycle road racing. The legacy of Pro riders on a National and World level is legendary. All events are run by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing with a co-sanction by the AMA and they go coast to coast offering entry-level racing with the WERA Sportsman Series as well as a Pro-Am series with the WERA National Challenge Series. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing also offer vintage racing and limited endurance racing with track day partners N2. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was voted the 2017 AMA Track Organizer of the Year.
For more information on WERA Motorcycle Roadracing please check out our web site at wera.com
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team 2020 Superbike season presented today at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola.
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team for the 2020 Superbike World Championship was presented today inside the alluring surroundings of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola).
The iconic tower of the circuit, now entirely branded Aruba.it, welcomed authorities, guests and the numerous media present, who crowded the press room as spectators of the team presentation ceremony. After the home honours by the President of the Circuit Uberto Selvatico Estense, Sky reporter Vera Spadini called on stage Stefano Cecconi (CEO Aruba S.p.A. and Team Principal Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Claudio Domenicali (CEO Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.), Luigi Dall’Igna (General Manager Ducati Corse), Paolo Ciabatti (Sporting Director Ducati Corse), Serafino Foti (Team Manager Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Marco Zambenedetti (SBK Technical Coordinator Ducati Corse) and Daniele Casolari (Team Owner Feel Racing). The long-awaited unveiling of the two Panigale V4 R finally came, with Chaz Davies and Scott Redding already set to defend the colors of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team in what specialised media predict could be one of the most exciting seasons in recent Superbike history.
Scott Redding, who has just won the British Superbike Championship (BSB) with the Ducati Panigale V4 R, is the main novelty of the team who will also count on the great experience of Chaz Davies, now in his seventh season on Ducati with an extraordinary 26 wins and 50 podiums.
Scott Redding and Chaz Davies will start the 2020 World Superbike season – scheduled at the Phillip Island circuit (Australia) at the end of February – onboard the Panigale V4 Rs of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team. A tried and tested combination, the one between the leading company in Italy for data centers, web hosting, email, certified email (PEC) and domain registration services and the manufacturer of Borgo Panigale, that will continue their partnership in 2020 for the sixth consecutive year.
Stefano Cecconi, CEO of Aruba S.p.A. and Team Principal.
“It is a source of great pride for us to be here today, at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit in Imola, and to be able to admire its tower – witness to epic challenges on two and four wheels – dressed in our colors. This will make the Italian round of the SBK championship even more special for all of us and truly a “home race”. For the sixth consecutive year we are together with Ducati to launch our team and renew our commitment to give great satisfaction to all Ducatisti. The results obtained in the past season have shown that the cards in our hands are fully in order to be title contenders and this, of course, remains our only goal. The extraordinary performance of the Panigale V4 R, the great experience of Chaz Davies, the enthusiasm of Scott Redding combined with the dedication, commitment and passion of the entire team, will be the essential ingredients to create a winning mix”.
Chaz Davies (right) and Scott Redding (left) in front of the Aruba.it-branded control tower at the Imola Circuit. Photo courtesy of Aruba.it Racing Ducati.
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
“I am particularly pleased to present the official 2020 Ducati Superbike team here in Imola, in the heart of the Motor Valley, just a few kilometers away from our factory in Borgo Panigale. Last year the Panigale V4 R made its debut in World Superbike and immediately showed its great competitiveness by winning 17 races, and contributed to the commercial success of the Panigale V4, which in 2019 was confirmed as the world’s best-selling sports bike in its segment. The new Panigale V4 S 2020, that is now available at Ducati dealers worldwide, has actually been inspired by the V4 R Superbike, with which it shares the fairing with the original winglets. I would like to thank Stefano Cecconi for the passion and professionalism with which he has taken this commitment since the beginning of our partnership and I wish Chaz, Scott and the whole team the best of luck for the championship that is about to start”.
Luigi Dall’Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse.
“In the last months we have continued to work on the development of the Panigale V4 R as we are convinced that, despite the great competitiveness shown by our bike last year, the 2020 championship will be even more competitive thanks to the presence of new models from our main competitors. As Stefano Cecconi has already said, we have only one target, and that is to bring home the World Superbike title that we have been missing since 2011. We have two strong and very motivated riders: Chaz, who has been with us for seven years and is one of the pillars of the team, and Scott, a fresh BSB champion and already very fast during the winter tests. We believe to have all the necessary ingredients to be protagonists in every race of the championship starting from Phillip Island”.
Chaz Davies’ 2020 Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
Chaz Davies, Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7
“My expectations are very high. In the second part of the 2019 season our performances and results have improved considerably and, in the last races, we have always fought for the podium. The goal is to do even better and I believe that the experience accumulated over the years can help us. We have done a good job during the winter and the feeling is positive even though I have never been looking for the lap-time during the tests. I feel much better than I did 12 months ago, both physically and with the feeling with my bike. I want to thank all our fans for their support and I hope to celebrate many victories with them, maybe even in a few months on this same circuit”.
Scott Redding’s 2020 Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
Scott Redding, Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #45.
“I’m very excited for this new adventure. It will be important to get off to a good start, especially on the first circuits that I know very well. We still have to understand where we really are in terms of absolute performance but it is clear that our mission is to start winning as soon as possible. I am very satisfied with what we achieved during the tests. I would like to thank the team that has done a great job and has given me a lot of confidence. We all have the same goal and this is a very important motivation. I would like to thank in a special way Aruba.it and Ducati for giving me this opportunity and for welcoming me in an exceptional way. What can I promise to the fans? I know that the passion of the Ducatisti is extraordinary and so I’ll give all my energy with just one goal: to bring the title back to Bologna”.
The studio photos of World Champions Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez with their 2020 Repsol Honda RC213V machines have arrived.
Having debuted the 2020 Repsol Honda Team livery at the launch in Jakarta, the Spanish duo entered the photographer’s studio to show off the colours they’ll be racing this season.
The pair will soon head to Qatar for the final pre-season test, February 22 – 24, before the season begins at the same venue on March 08.
Marc Marquez (left) and Alex Marquez (right). Photo courtesy of Repsol Honda.
The expectation is clear – a 2020 vision of future World Champions
This will be the 14th season of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and 26 teenagers from 14 nations can’t wait to contest 13 races at Grand Prix across Europe.
They follow in the footsteps of World Champions including Johann Zarco, Brad Binder, Jorge Martín and other ex Rookies who have won 6 world titles and 101 Grand Prix.
The KTM RC 250 Rs provide the motive power and the Rookies bring their own motivation. Those returning for a second or third season still have plenty to learn, we go back to Le Mans for the first time since 2008 and join the first Grand Prix in Finland since 1982 at the all new KymiRing.
Dunlop Development Team to race CMRA Ultra Lightweight Endurance Championship.
Dunlop Development Team is proud to announce it will be competing in the CMRA Ultra Lightweight (ULW) Endurance Championship. The team is made up of local fast guys Dustin Dominguez, Alan Phillips, Bobby Davies, and Carl Price. They look to win the overall championship.
With many years of endurance experience, the team is ready to get started. With only a few days to build a bike, the team is under pressure to make the first round February 15-16 at MSR Houston. They are confident the bike will be done and they are ready to win.
The team would like to thank Dunlop, The Center for Plastic Surgery, and Raceworx for making this season possible.
Sixty years as a fixture, pioneering trademarks and technological innovation
It was 1960 when an old barn was transformed to create the first SIDI artisan workshop that produced hiking boots and sports shoes. The company’s indefatigable founder, Dino Signori, mastered the craft of shoemaking during extensive experience working in various shops, while simultaneously pursuing his studies beyond the fourth grade. It was a time that Dino describes as when he “really started to work.”
Sidi founder Dino Signori on his racing bicycle in 1955. Photo courtesy of Sidi.
Determination is one of Dino Signori’s irrefutable characteristics. For him a decision is the same thing as a done deal. Presumably, he learned discipline, another trait that sets him apart, during that time in his life in which there was a lot to do: train on a bicycle – his greatest passion – studies and work; all of this during a historic era in Italy’s past when the country was thriving and there was a fantastic drive to breakthrough and succeed.
Who could imagine that everything started on the back of a Vespa? That was how Dino did his very first “market research”, as he covered endless kilometres and faced all sorts of weather challenges. The initial orders for his first products started coming in 1959. And so, the enterprise took off and, with bold business savvy, the company with headquarters in Maser (Treviso) expanded to become the fantastic operation that shines today among the hills of Asolo.
Sidi’s original factory/warehouse (above) and its current factory/warehouse (below). Photos courtesy of Sidi.
The sacrifices he has had to make in life and in sports have taught Dino Signori to persevere, so after SIDI’s rapid rise in the post-war age, the company changed course in the 70’s to specialize in the production of motorcycle boots and cycling shoes, sectors which soon became the market for the brand’s main business. The company was quickly carving out a name for itself in the world of sports shoes.
There are many stories of innovation that could be told from the pages of Dino Signori’s company history. Creativity, passion, competence and intuition led Dino to develop his original ideas and register trademarks which became cornerstones in the industry. From heel-opening ski boots in ’66 to the motocross boot with a six-lever closure system in ’69, to the unsnapping clip in ’73 that revolutionized bicycle shoe clip systems of the day, which up to then had consisted of fixed screws that blocked a rider on to the bike pedals.
Some of Sidi’s first cycling and motorcycle products. Photo courtesy of Sidi.
From the 70’s on, there was a quick succession of innovations and successes: nylon soles, the use of Velcro, micrometric levers, updated closure systems, the first MTB and Cyclocross shoes and many more products have highlighted the stages of SIDI’s expansion.
With the 90’s came a greater focus on design and styles, which have made SIDI shoes veritable icons throughout time.
Some of Sidi’s current cycling products. Photo courtesy of Sidi.
The carbon sole was introduced in the early 2000’s. The history of shoes is rapidly evolving, as is the rest of the world of sports.
Motorcycling has also had a good run. In 1968 the company became interested in the world of motors on two wheels, and we soon realized that the pilots needed proper equipment. A lot of thought, sketches and projects went into producing the Grand Prix, which featured a six-lever closing system. Then came the quick heel closure, the ‘fix-lock’, which led to the revolution in what had been considered protection until then, the ‘quick-release mechanism’ that debuted in 1986. This evolution culminated in the Vertigo corsa about ten years later. The latest generation of on- and off- road boots feature sophisticated technology that guarantees excellent quality standards of protection and comfort, as well as unparalleled performance.
Examples of Sidi’s motorcycle products through the years. Photo courtesy of Sidi.
Dino Signori is a company man, the first one to enter the factory and the last one to leave late at night. But he also a man who loves to measure up. “Only by competing and with feedback from athletes who use our shoes can we keep improving, day in and day out,” says Dino. This is why SIDI has always invested in the support of athletes like Francesco Moser, Giacomo Agostini, Joel Robert, Stefan Everts, Paolo Bettini, Tony Cairoli, Billy Bolt, Egan Bernal and Richard Carapaz, just to mention a few. All these riders have contributed to the development of the products which have made SIDI a world-leading company in the production of cycling shoes and motorcycling boots. The first 60 years are behind us but, as Dino Signori likes to say, “the future is still to be written.” And we will carry on into the future without compromise, in the same style as the company’s founder.
Sidi founder Dino Signori today. Photo courtesy of Sidi.
Sixty years of history and success is a lot to cover in just a few sentences; that is why this will be just the first in a series of stories we will be telling about SIDI in the year of their anniversary.
MotoAmerica – New “Bagger” race at WeatherTech Raceway and 2020 Commentary Team announced!
MotoAmerica – Bobby Fong is the new M4 ECSTAR Suzuki MA Superbike rider for 2020! He teams with Toni Elias. We speak with him about that and more!
MotoGP – The first full test of 2020 is in the books. The boys break down how each manufacturer ended the 3-day affair.
Supercross – San Diego wrap-up
SXFantasy p/b ARAI Helmets – Greg got his picks in, but JP is up to 10th! We’ve chosen pulpmxfantasy.com for out 2020 SX Fantasy League. Join the Greg’s Garage Podcast League now to win an ARAI Corsair-X Helmet of your choice!
MotoAmerica – Kyle Wyman announces his 2020 KW Army stuff! Visit www.kwarmy.com
Action from a previous CMRA event. Photo by David Gillen/dgillenphoto.com, courtesy of CMRA.
This coming weekend, February 13-15, the Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association (CMRA) opens its 2020 season at MSR Houston in Angleton, Texas. The track is located 13 miles south of Highway 6 off Highway 288. MSR Houston is a 17-turn, 2.38 mile full road course.
The weekend activities begin at 8:00 a.m. Friday with a CMRA License school and a full day CMRA racer practice. Registration and Tech open for all activities at 6:30 a.m. The full weekend’s event schedule can be found at http://www.cmraracing.com/2020-schedule/
Friday is a full day of practice and CMRA Racer School. You can also cornerwork for cash, provisional novice credits, or a FREE CMRA PRACTICE DAY!
Saturday’s schedule has 2 hours of morning practice, followed by integrated Big Bike and Lightweight sprints, as well as Mini Sprints. Solo 30 and ULW Endurance round out Saturday’s racing activities.
Sunday’s schedule is packed full with more Big bike/Lightweight integrated sprints, with a longer morning practice and qualifying for Formula 1 Expert, C Superbike Expert, Formula 2 Expert, and 500 GP Expert.
Rooster’s BBQ opens at 6:30am Saturday and Sunday at the track for some great BBQ!
Gates open each day at 6:00 a.m. and we race rain or shine! Weekend entry into the event is only $25 on Thursday and Friday, $15 on Saturday, and just $15 on Sunday. There is a $5 wristband refund for participants leaving Saturday night – turn in your wristband at the gate as you leave. Tickets are good for the entire weekend. Ride your street bike to the event and you’ll pay just $5 for entry on both Saturday and Sunday! Kids 12 and under are free. A spectator lap of the track will be conducted during the lunch break on Sunday, schedule and weather permitting.
Please note that NO PETS are allowed at any of the CMRA race events.
On behalf of our racers, the CMRA would like to thank our 2020 Class Sponsors including: RACEWORX, RES, VONHERTELL RACING SERVICES, 3:16 TRACK DAYS, RIDESMART. And more to come!
For more information about this event and a detailed event schedule, please visit our website at www.cmraracing.com or call the CMRA office at 817-570-9779.
The Horizon Center and its available parcels of land in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Photo courtesy of the city of Oak Ridge.
The development of a new, large-scale road course on public land in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is being proposed to local government officials.
According to documents submitted to the Oak Ridge City Council, developer Hardin Valley Land Partners is seeking to purchase three parcels of land totaling over 300 acres in the Horizon Center Industrial Park, which is located just west of Knoxville, Tennessee, to develop a “motorsports park” that could cost “in excess of $50,000,000.00.”
The proposed motorsports park project was presented in abstract form during an Oak Ridge City Council meeting on February 10, and the City Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution of “support and interest in the further development” of the project.
However, the character of the facility remains in question.
The resolution approved by the Oak Ridge City Council states a “test track and research facility.” However, the cover letter provided by developer Hardin Valley Land Partners states “The main components of the park will be a road course suitable for FIA” events, an amphitheater with seating for over 7,000, a karting track, a paddock club, a club house, a pro shop, garages, overnight lodging, an RV park, conference space, restaurants, and more.
Roadracingworld.com reached out to Hardin Valley Land Partners for additional information, but we have not received a response prior to post time.
2020 WERA SOUTHEAST/MID-CENTRAL SEASON KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND AT TALLADEGA GRAN PRIX RACEWAY IN ALABAMA!
The WERA Southeast/Mid-Central Sportsman Series will be at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway over the February 15-16 weekend.
New for 2020 will be two premier classes each weekend which will be gridded by the best time in the second practice session of the morning. The two classes are the A Superbike Expert and C Superbike Expert Classes. These classes will also have two additional laps added. Pit Bull has returned as trophy sponsor for the C Superstock Classes. There is contingency available at this event which can be found on the bottom of the schedule (www.wera.com under Schedule Tab).
A Rider’s School will be held on Saturday for those interested in taking their machines to their limit. Sportbike Track Time will host the Friday prior to this event. Come out and see the riders of WERA Motorcycle Roadracing start their season.
Racing for all the sprints starts at noon and camping is available. Come out and see the riders of WERA Motorcycle Roadracing take on Talladega Gran Prix Raceway in Alabama February 15-16!
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was founded in 1973 and remains the foremost place to develop talent in the sport of motorcycle road racing. The legacy of Pro riders on a National and World level is legendary. All events are run by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing with a co-sanction by the AMA and they go coast to coast offering entry-level racing with the WERA Sportsman Series as well as a Pro-Am series with the WERA National Challenge Series. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing also offer vintage racing and limited endurance racing with track day partners N2. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was voted the 2017 AMA Track Organizer of the Year.
For more information on WERA Motorcycle Roadracing please check out our web site at wera.com
Chaz Davies (right) and Scott Redding (left). Photo courtesy of Aruba.it Racing Ducati.
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team 2020 Superbike season presented today at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola.
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team for the 2020 Superbike World Championship was presented today inside the alluring surroundings of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola).
The iconic tower of the circuit, now entirely branded Aruba.it, welcomed authorities, guests and the numerous media present, who crowded the press room as spectators of the team presentation ceremony. After the home honours by the President of the Circuit Uberto Selvatico Estense, Sky reporter Vera Spadini called on stage Stefano Cecconi (CEO Aruba S.p.A. and Team Principal Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Claudio Domenicali (CEO Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.), Luigi Dall’Igna (General Manager Ducati Corse), Paolo Ciabatti (Sporting Director Ducati Corse), Serafino Foti (Team Manager Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Marco Zambenedetti (SBK Technical Coordinator Ducati Corse) and Daniele Casolari (Team Owner Feel Racing). The long-awaited unveiling of the two Panigale V4 R finally came, with Chaz Davies and Scott Redding already set to defend the colors of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team in what specialised media predict could be one of the most exciting seasons in recent Superbike history.
Scott Redding, who has just won the British Superbike Championship (BSB) with the Ducati Panigale V4 R, is the main novelty of the team who will also count on the great experience of Chaz Davies, now in his seventh season on Ducati with an extraordinary 26 wins and 50 podiums.
Scott Redding and Chaz Davies will start the 2020 World Superbike season – scheduled at the Phillip Island circuit (Australia) at the end of February – onboard the Panigale V4 Rs of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team. A tried and tested combination, the one between the leading company in Italy for data centers, web hosting, email, certified email (PEC) and domain registration services and the manufacturer of Borgo Panigale, that will continue their partnership in 2020 for the sixth consecutive year.
Stefano Cecconi, CEO of Aruba S.p.A. and Team Principal.
“It is a source of great pride for us to be here today, at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit in Imola, and to be able to admire its tower – witness to epic challenges on two and four wheels – dressed in our colors. This will make the Italian round of the SBK championship even more special for all of us and truly a “home race”. For the sixth consecutive year we are together with Ducati to launch our team and renew our commitment to give great satisfaction to all Ducatisti. The results obtained in the past season have shown that the cards in our hands are fully in order to be title contenders and this, of course, remains our only goal. The extraordinary performance of the Panigale V4 R, the great experience of Chaz Davies, the enthusiasm of Scott Redding combined with the dedication, commitment and passion of the entire team, will be the essential ingredients to create a winning mix”.
Chaz Davies (right) and Scott Redding (left) in front of the Aruba.it-branded control tower at the Imola Circuit. Photo courtesy of Aruba.it Racing Ducati.
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
“I am particularly pleased to present the official 2020 Ducati Superbike team here in Imola, in the heart of the Motor Valley, just a few kilometers away from our factory in Borgo Panigale. Last year the Panigale V4 R made its debut in World Superbike and immediately showed its great competitiveness by winning 17 races, and contributed to the commercial success of the Panigale V4, which in 2019 was confirmed as the world’s best-selling sports bike in its segment. The new Panigale V4 S 2020, that is now available at Ducati dealers worldwide, has actually been inspired by the V4 R Superbike, with which it shares the fairing with the original winglets. I would like to thank Stefano Cecconi for the passion and professionalism with which he has taken this commitment since the beginning of our partnership and I wish Chaz, Scott and the whole team the best of luck for the championship that is about to start”.
Luigi Dall’Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse.
“In the last months we have continued to work on the development of the Panigale V4 R as we are convinced that, despite the great competitiveness shown by our bike last year, the 2020 championship will be even more competitive thanks to the presence of new models from our main competitors. As Stefano Cecconi has already said, we have only one target, and that is to bring home the World Superbike title that we have been missing since 2011. We have two strong and very motivated riders: Chaz, who has been with us for seven years and is one of the pillars of the team, and Scott, a fresh BSB champion and already very fast during the winter tests. We believe to have all the necessary ingredients to be protagonists in every race of the championship starting from Phillip Island”.
Chaz Davies’ 2020 Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
Chaz Davies, Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7
“My expectations are very high. In the second part of the 2019 season our performances and results have improved considerably and, in the last races, we have always fought for the podium. The goal is to do even better and I believe that the experience accumulated over the years can help us. We have done a good job during the winter and the feeling is positive even though I have never been looking for the lap-time during the tests. I feel much better than I did 12 months ago, both physically and with the feeling with my bike. I want to thank all our fans for their support and I hope to celebrate many victories with them, maybe even in a few months on this same circuit”.
Scott Redding’s 2020 Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
Scott Redding, Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #45.
“I’m very excited for this new adventure. It will be important to get off to a good start, especially on the first circuits that I know very well. We still have to understand where we really are in terms of absolute performance but it is clear that our mission is to start winning as soon as possible. I am very satisfied with what we achieved during the tests. I would like to thank the team that has done a great job and has given me a lot of confidence. We all have the same goal and this is a very important motivation. I would like to thank in a special way Aruba.it and Ducati for giving me this opportunity and for welcoming me in an exceptional way. What can I promise to the fans? I know that the passion of the Ducatisti is extraordinary and so I’ll give all my energy with just one goal: to bring the title back to Bologna”.
Marc Marquez (left) and Alex Marquez (right). Photo courtesy of Repsol Honda.
Repsol Honda Team’s 2020 colours
The studio photos of World Champions Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez with their 2020 Repsol Honda RC213V machines have arrived.
Having debuted the 2020 Repsol Honda Team livery at the launch in Jakarta, the Spanish duo entered the photographer’s studio to show off the colours they’ll be racing this season.
The pair will soon head to Qatar for the final pre-season test, February 22 – 24, before the season begins at the same venue on March 08.
Marc Marquez (left) and Alex Marquez (right). Photo courtesy of Repsol Honda.
Red Bull MotoGP Rookies at speed. Photo courtesy of Red Bull.
The expectation is clear – a 2020 vision of future World Champions
This will be the 14th season of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and 26 teenagers from 14 nations can’t wait to contest 13 races at Grand Prix across Europe.
They follow in the footsteps of World Champions including Johann Zarco, Brad Binder, Jorge Martín and other ex Rookies who have won 6 world titles and 101 Grand Prix.
The KTM RC 250 Rs provide the motive power and the Rookies bring their own motivation. Those returning for a second or third season still have plenty to learn, we go back to Le Mans for the first time since 2008 and join the first Grand Prix in Finland since 1982 at the all new KymiRing.
Dunlop Development Team’s Kawasaki Ninja 400 endurance racebike. Photo courtesy of Dunlop Development Team.
Dunlop Development Team to race CMRA Ultra Lightweight Endurance Championship.
Dunlop Development Team is proud to announce it will be competing in the CMRA Ultra Lightweight (ULW) Endurance Championship. The team is made up of local fast guys Dustin Dominguez, Alan Phillips, Bobby Davies, and Carl Price. They look to win the overall championship.
With many years of endurance experience, the team is ready to get started. With only a few days to build a bike, the team is under pressure to make the first round February 15-16 at MSR Houston. They are confident the bike will be done and they are ready to win.
The team would like to thank Dunlop, The Center for Plastic Surgery, and Raceworx for making this season possible.
Sidi-sponsored Moto2 World Championship rider Remy Gardner (87). Photos courtesy of Sidi.
SIDI CELEBRATES ITS FIRST 60 YEARS
Sixty years as a fixture, pioneering trademarks and technological innovation
It was 1960 when an old barn was transformed to create the first SIDI artisan workshop that produced hiking boots and sports shoes. The company’s indefatigable founder, Dino Signori, mastered the craft of shoemaking during extensive experience working in various shops, while simultaneously pursuing his studies beyond the fourth grade. It was a time that Dino describes as when he “really started to work.”
Sidi founder Dino Signori on his racing bicycle in 1955. Photo courtesy of Sidi.
Determination is one of Dino Signori’s irrefutable characteristics. For him a decision is the same thing as a done deal. Presumably, he learned discipline, another trait that sets him apart, during that time in his life in which there was a lot to do: train on a bicycle – his greatest passion – studies and work; all of this during a historic era in Italy’s past when the country was thriving and there was a fantastic drive to breakthrough and succeed.
Who could imagine that everything started on the back of a Vespa? That was how Dino did his very first “market research”, as he covered endless kilometres and faced all sorts of weather challenges. The initial orders for his first products started coming in 1959. And so, the enterprise took off and, with bold business savvy, the company with headquarters in Maser (Treviso) expanded to become the fantastic operation that shines today among the hills of Asolo.
Sidi’s original factory/warehouse (above) and its current factory/warehouse (below). Photos courtesy of Sidi.
The sacrifices he has had to make in life and in sports have taught Dino Signori to persevere, so after SIDI’s rapid rise in the post-war age, the company changed course in the 70’s to specialize in the production of motorcycle boots and cycling shoes, sectors which soon became the market for the brand’s main business. The company was quickly carving out a name for itself in the world of sports shoes.
There are many stories of innovation that could be told from the pages of Dino Signori’s company history. Creativity, passion, competence and intuition led Dino to develop his original ideas and register trademarks which became cornerstones in the industry. From heel-opening ski boots in ’66 to the motocross boot with a six-lever closure system in ’69, to the unsnapping clip in ’73 that revolutionized bicycle shoe clip systems of the day, which up to then had consisted of fixed screws that blocked a rider on to the bike pedals.
Some of Sidi’s first cycling and motorcycle products. Photo courtesy of Sidi.
From the 70’s on, there was a quick succession of innovations and successes: nylon soles, the use of Velcro, micrometric levers, updated closure systems, the first MTB and Cyclocross shoes and many more products have highlighted the stages of SIDI’s expansion.
With the 90’s came a greater focus on design and styles, which have made SIDI shoes veritable icons throughout time.
Some of Sidi’s current cycling products. Photo courtesy of Sidi.
The carbon sole was introduced in the early 2000’s. The history of shoes is rapidly evolving, as is the rest of the world of sports.
Motorcycling has also had a good run. In 1968 the company became interested in the world of motors on two wheels, and we soon realized that the pilots needed proper equipment. A lot of thought, sketches and projects went into producing the Grand Prix, which featured a six-lever closing system. Then came the quick heel closure, the ‘fix-lock’, which led to the revolution in what had been considered protection until then, the ‘quick-release mechanism’ that debuted in 1986. This evolution culminated in the Vertigo corsa about ten years later. The latest generation of on- and off- road boots feature sophisticated technology that guarantees excellent quality standards of protection and comfort, as well as unparalleled performance.
Examples of Sidi’s motorcycle products through the years. Photo courtesy of Sidi.
Dino Signori is a company man, the first one to enter the factory and the last one to leave late at night. But he also a man who loves to measure up. “Only by competing and with feedback from athletes who use our shoes can we keep improving, day in and day out,” says Dino. This is why SIDI has always invested in the support of athletes like Francesco Moser, Giacomo Agostini, Joel Robert, Stefan Everts, Paolo Bettini, Tony Cairoli, Billy Bolt, Egan Bernal and Richard Carapaz, just to mention a few. All these riders have contributed to the development of the products which have made SIDI a world-leading company in the production of cycling shoes and motorcycling boots. The first 60 years are behind us but, as Dino Signori likes to say, “the future is still to be written.” And we will carry on into the future without compromise, in the same style as the company’s founder.
Sidi founder Dino Signori today. Photo courtesy of Sidi.
Sixty years of history and success is a lot to cover in just a few sentences; that is why this will be just the first in a series of stories we will be telling about SIDI in the year of their anniversary.
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November 13, 2026
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