BobbleHeadMoto and Karns Performance to field Jake Lewis in the Daytona 200.
BobbleHeadMoto and Karns Performance have teamed up with Jake Lewis to contend the 79th running of the Daytona 200. Lewis will be aboard the BobbleHeadMoto built Yamaha YZF-R6 with engine built and tuned by Karns Performance.
Jake Lewis said “I’m very excited and thankful for the opportunity to race the BobbleHeadMoto R6 in the Daytona 200. I’ve always wanted some redemption since my last run in 2014 and I’m excited to jump back on a 600. I know the race is a tough one to win but I know myself and the crew are more than capable of making it happen. I’m ready to get back on the high banks and fight for the win.”
Lewis will be alongside Shiloh Salopek, the Team’s Crew Chief and Lead Mechanic. Salopek’s attention to detail and efficiency keeps her running the N2Racing program in the MotoAmerica Supersport Series.
About BobbleHeadMoto –
BobbleHeadMoto is a premier parts supplier of used motorcycle parts. They also provide properly kitted, top level motorcycle rentals for track use.
About Karns Performance –
Karns Performance is a franchised Suzuki Dealership located in central Pennsylvania that specializes in Engine building and Dyno Services. These include the latest in FT Ecu, Woolich Racing, Power Commander, Bazzaz, & ECUnleashed Tuning.
The Panigale V4 becomes Superleggera: the dream bike is now a reality, and it’s a Ducati
The Superleggera V4 is the most powerful and technologically advanced production Ducati ever built and will be produced as a limited edition of just 500 individually numbered motorcycles
The only street-legal motorcycle in the world with a carbon fibre chassis, swingarm and wheels
Biplane wings and extreme aerodynamics
A power/weight ratio of 1.54 hp/kg in racing kit configuration, a record value for a street-legal bike
Deliveries start in June 2020 at the rate of 5 bikes per day
Purchasers of the Superleggera V4 will also be offered a track test on the factory Panigale V4 R competing in the Superbike World Championship and, for the first time ever, a unique opportunity to test the Desmosedici GP20
A close up of the Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 6 February 2020 – With the Superleggera V4, Ducati fulfils the dream of pushing back the limits of engineering, attention to detail and motorcycle design, with a project that represents the Bolognese company’s greatest masterpiece in terms of engineering, performance and design.
The Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
After an exclusive preview for its most passionate and loyal clients, Ducati now officially unveils its new Superleggera V4, the most powerful and technologically advanced motorcycle ever made by the Borgo Panigale manufacturer, produced in a limited edition of just 500 individually numbered bikes.
A close up of the carbon-fiber frame on the Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
The Superleggera V4 is the world’s only street-legal motorcycle with the entire load-bearing structure of the chassis (frame, subframe, swingarm and wheels) made from composite material, achieving a 6.7 kg reduction in weight thanks to these components.
To ensure the highest quality and safety standards, these components are 100% tested using the most sophisticated techniques borrowed from the aerospace industry, such as thermography, ultrasound inspections and tomography.
The chassis dimensions have been modified for optimised track use by increasing the length of the swingarm.
A close up of the carbon-fiber swingarm on the Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
The overall result is unparalleled deceleration power, faster leaning down into corners and sharper lines riding out of bends.
The level of performance achieved is extremely high: Alessandro Valia, an official Ducati tester, took the bike, fitted with the racing kit and slick tires, around the Mugello circuit in 1:52:45, less than two seconds from the lap time of the Panigale V4 R SBK, winner of the 2019 Italian Motorspeed Championship (CIV) with Michele Pirro.
A close up of the carbon-fiber winglets on the Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
Many components are made of carbon fibre, moulded into advanced aerodynamic shapes. These include the fairing, which ensures a level of aerodynamic efficiency that matches and exceeds that of current MotoGP bikes. Thanks to the ‘biplane’ aerofoils inspired by the 2016 Ducati MotoGP, with the highest performance in this field, it can guarantee a downforce of 50 kg at 270 kph, 20 kg more than that created by the aerofoils on the Panigale V4 MY20 and V4 R. This downforce improves acceleration, by countering the tendency to wheel-up, and increases braking stability.
The carbon fibre fairings also sport an eye-catching Desmosedici GP19-inspired livery that juxtaposes the red of the GP19 with a naked carbon that emphasises shapes, materials and technical details.
A stripped-down view of the Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
Beneath the carbon skin lies the Desmosedici Stradale R engine, lighter and more powerful than ever. The 998 cm3 90° V4 that powers the Superleggera V4 weighs, in fact, 2.8 kg less than the 1,103 cm3 V4. Thanks to a type-approved Akrapovič exhaust, it delivers no less than 224 CV in road-legal configuration (EU homologation figures). That figure rises to 234 CV when fitted with the titanium Akrapovič exhaust for track use, which is included in the Racing Kit supplied with the bike.
The racing nature of the engine is enhanced by the use of the dry clutch and the individual manual adjustment of the Desmodromic timing system.
The left side view of the Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
Only on the Superleggera V4, a special engine calibration for the racing exhaust gives riders access to a “RaceGP” display. Intended exclusively for track use, and designed with valuable input from Andrea Dovizioso, it is a direct offshoot of the instrument panel on the Desmosedici GP20.
Thanks to extensive use of carbon fibre, titanium and magnesium components and others machined from solid aluminium, the Superleggera V4 has a dry weight of just 159 kg (16 kg less than the Panigale V4), resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 1.41 hp/kg: a record-breaking figure for a road-legal sports bike. Mounting the supplied Racing kit and switching the bike to its track configuration boosts power to 234 hp, dropping the weight to 152.2 kg and raising the power-to-weight ratio to 1.54 hp/kg.
The right side view of the Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
The electronic controls have also been developed to enhance the racing nature of this motorcycle. Their operational parameters are associated by default with three reprogrammed Riding Modes (named Race A, Race B and Sport ). There are also – for the very first time – five additional Riding Modes that can be personalised with the rider’s preferred settings. Riders can monitor lap times via the upgraded Lap Timer, which can record finish line and split times coordinates for five favourite circuits. These can be recalled at the start of each track day without having to repeat the set-up procedure. The default system settings feature the finish line/split time details of: Laguna Seca, Mugello, Jerez, Sepang and Losail.
This is topped by a latest-generation electronics package including EVO 2 strategies for the DTC and DQS up/down.
Other standard items include a lighter Öhlins suspension system, with a pressurised fork and lighter machined aluminium fork bottoms, a titanium shock absorber spring and GP-derived valves that improve the damping of road bumps during the initial compression stage.
The braking system is the best in the Brembo production range, with an MCS calliper featuring a remotely adjusted lever gap and Stylema® R callipers, exclusive to the Superleggera V4, to provide greater front-brake stroke consistency in long track runs.
Meticulous attention to detail is also obvious in the radiator cap machined from solid aluminium and the dedicated ignition key with an aluminium insert showing the bike number.
The exclusiveness of the materials and technical solutions is reflected in the limited number of bikes: just 500, all individually numbered and provided with a certificate of authenticity. The bike ID number (XXX/500), which matches the VIN, is displayed on the frame, fork yoke and ignition key.
The start of deliveries is planned for June 2020 in Europe and, given the extreme complexity of the production of so many components, the rate is limited to only 5 bikes/day. However, all the bikes will be produced within 2020.
Superleggera customers only have the chance to purchase an exclusive Superleggera V4 premium leather suit with integrated air-bag and a carbon fibre helmet, both emblazoned with the bike’s colours and graphics. Produced by Dainese, the leathers combine lightness and strength with the safety of the D-air® system. Likewise, the meticulously crafted Arai helmet – which features aeronautical-grade carbon fibre – offers unsurpassed protection and comfort.
The package that Ducati has prepared for enthusiasts who purchase a Superleggera V4 also includes access to the “SBK Experience”, allowing owners to ride the Panigale V4 R, which competes in the SBK World Championship, on a test track at Mugello. Even more amazingly, 30 Superleggera V4 owners will have an exclusive opportunity to enjoy the “MotoGP Experience” and live the dream of every racing enthusiast. For the very first time, they will be able to ride a circuit on the Desmosedici GP20 used by Dovizioso and Petrucci, with the close support of the Ducati Corse technicians.
These special events and opportunities are as unique as this new Ducati model. The Superleggera V4 is extreme, designed and developed to achieve maximum on-track performance and ensure all the reliability and rider-friendliness of a road-legal sport bike.
With the Superleggera V4, Ducati pushes back the limits even further. The technical expertise and knowledge developed and continuously evolved in MotoGP is made available to enthusiasts of engineering and performance on two wheels.
Team SUZUKI ECSTAR begin the new decade with their sights firmly set on the future, whilst also giving a nod to their illustrious racing past.
2020 marks Suzuki’s 60th year in racing, a milestone which will be celebrated with the team’s brand new colour scheme. The elegant combination of the familiar blue mixed with a more traditional slate silver is sure to make the ambitious duo of Alex Rins and Joan Mir stand out from the pack.
This season’s GSX-RR will honour the rich racing pedigree which Suzuki began in 1960 with their participation in the Isle of Man’s Tourist Trophy – where just two years later Ernst Degner won the first GP race for Suzuki, and also their first World Championship Title in the 50cc category.
Since then, Suzuki as a manufacturer has celebrated a long list of successes including 14 more World Championship titles, right up until the most recent victories in 2019 with Álex Rins at the Grand Prix of The Americas and the British GP.
Aiming to tame the beast are Team SUZUKI ECSTAR’s industrious and impressive pair-ing of Rins and Mir. The young Spaniards enter the 2020 season following a successful and propitious 2019.
Finishing 4th in last year’s championship standings, taking two excellent victories and eleven Top 5 finishes, Álex Rins proved his place among the top riders in MotoGP. He is ready to attack this brand new season with gusto, aiming to build on his results and add more trophies to the cabinet.
Joan Mir completed a notable rookie season with Team SUZUKI ECSTAR in 2019, which included a total of ten Top 10 finishes, with a fifth place finish in the Australian GP as his best result.
The left side of the 2020 Team Suzuki ECSTAR GSX-RR. Photo courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office.
Shinichi Sahara – MotoGP Project Leader:
“Last season gave us important information about our competitive level compared to other teams and also contributed to the growth of the MotoGP project, in terms of technical package of the GSX-RR, work methodology within the Team and – last but not least – experience and solidness of Rins and Mir. We had some positive results and also two outstanding victories, which is positive, but also got the clear feeling that our potential can be even better exploited. This is the spirit with which we head into the 2020 season, carrying 60 years of experiences in racing to try our best to even better results. Since our comeback in 2015 we have done small but steady steps that led us into the top of the competition, having more than one rider get Suzuki podiums and wins. We are now called to further improve this competitiveness and make a further step, being able to fight consistently into the podium positions.”
The right side of the 2020 Team Suzuki ECSTAR GSX-RR. Photo courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office.
Ken Kawauchi – Technical Manager:
“The heritage that we carry on our fairing this year represents a long history of racing, that includes many successes. This gives us a further push to carry on improving. Since the very beginning, the DNA of Suzuki has been to develop a good starting package and then build on it with small but steady technical steps. This strategy has paid off in the last few years with podiums and victories in the MotoGP modern era, and I believe that it can work in the future as well. We have already developed a new engine spec which was appreciated by our Test Rider Guintoli, and our Factory riders Rins and Mir at the Valencia and Jerez Tests. So this is likely to be the base from where we will start testing in Sepang and Qatar before the beginning of the season. During the winter we have worked to develop new solutions for the chassis and set up, as well as the electronics. The fairings will play an important role as well, and we are going to test some solutions that hopefully can help to improve the overall performance.”
Davide Brivio – Team Manager:
“The 2019 season was important for us because we showed consistent progress throughout the whole year, and I believe this is the right path to success. Alex got two wins which was our target before the season and then another podium. We learnt a lot and it was another important step for Alex and for the Team. We are also very happy with Joan because he showed steady progress and overcame the significant injury he got in Brno to end the season with some very solid races. Not only the results have been out-standing, but also the whole approach to the race weekend and the working methodolo-gy. On both sides we can take good lessons from 2019 into 2020. Of course, this will be a special year for Suzuki as it’s the 60th year in racing, so we feel even more motivated to do well in front of all our Company and our fans. Our Engineers in Japan have worked on several items and small details, other than engine, during the winter trying to improve our good package. The riders are ready and excited, so I believe we have to set our target to improve again and again the performance of the team with both riders.”
Alex Rins. Photo courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office.
Alex Rins:
“Last season brought me one of the most exciting feelings on earth which was to win my first MotoGP race. It was a dream come true, and the second victory felt amazing too. I will bring those emotions with me into 2020, as well as the awareness of the growth that I’ve made. One of the most important lessons I’ve learnt is how to better manage a race, especially when I’m leading or fighting. I will carry the special livery for the 60 years in racing and this makes me proud. One of the best things about being with Suzuki is that I feel a real family atmosphere, I don’t know if it was also like that in the past, but to me it feels like something they have in the Suzuki DNA, together with constantly striving to win, and I think this really makes a difference. Now in 2020 we have to stay focused and get good results, more podiums for sure and hopefully also more wins. This is the path to success, I believe; little by little, step by step, with hard work all together.”
Joan Mir. Photo courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office.
Joan Mir:
“For sure my expectations for 2020 are much higher than last year, because I’m not a rookie anymore. We ended last season on a good path, with consistent improvements that helped me to overcome the difficulties that came from the crash in Brno and led me to have some very positive races at the end of the season. The first year has been a learning one, the MotoGP machine is such a beast that you have to learn how to control it, and I had huge support from all of my team. Now I want to build on my experience and start placing my name among the top riders. I have trained very well during winter, I have focused on physical preparation and also on smoothness in riding, which is one thing that my GSX-RR requires, I think. Beside this, I’m really eager to get on my MotoGP machine again in Sepang and start to improve further. It’s going to be an important year for Suzuki and the blue-silver livery looks amazing on my GSX-RR, I’m proud to be part of this historic year and carry such racing heritage on my fairing.”
In Part 1 (MV Agusta: How A Millennial Russian Financier Is Remaking A Italian Icon, posted January 30), and in Part 2 (MV Agusta: A Millennial CEO Bets On Attracting Millennial Buyers, posted January 31), we met MV Agusta Motor S.p.A.’s new owner, Chairman and CEO Timur Sardarov. He is a 37-year-old Russian rider who spent 10 years on the Board of Burning Man, had a gig as a well-known DJ in Europe, and describes himself as a serial entrepreneur on a mission to revive the iconic Italian company. He’s already developed plans, updated current products, restarted production lines, paid off creditors and, for what he says is the first time, made sure the company has enough working capital to operate as an actual business should, with an eye on growth.
MV Agusta Chairman & CEO Timur Sardarov. Photo by John Ulrich.
Sardarov’s revitalization plan for the company includes restoring its reputation, solving historic problems with U.S. distribution, (which he now controls), and restarting a working relationship with existing dealers and recruiting new dealers in the country. And, of course, connecting with millennials with the right products at the right price, using digital assets and apps designed to enhance the buying (and ownership) experience and connect MV riders in an online community. “Certain brands go through this identity crisis where the main core customers get older, but they are failing to attract the new ones, the so-called millennials,” Sardarov told us. “And why? Because they are stuck in the limbo of serving the needs of the older customers rather than understanding the new ones.” And he talked about taking market share from Ducati, Harley-Davison and Triumph.
MV Agusta already has good bikes with more to come, Sardarov said—including a product line built using the philosophy of “make it sexy to be the best naked bike,” and an all-new 950cc engine under development while the iconic F4 1000 continues. “F4 is an icon and I don’t want to be the guy who f—ked it up,” Sardarov said. “The MV Agusta customer must feel recognized. We have the best management (team) in the world. (And) MV is the only brand in the world with production capability to do rapid growth, not 10%, not 15%, but double…Our style is different than anybody else; we don’t want to grow by 10% per year, we have to grow much faster.” He also said, “The past is the past.”
In Part 3, we talk to new MV Agusta USA CEO Doug McCloskey, (an American enthusiast whose profession for 30 years has been successfully restoring troubled businesses to profitability), who got the job based on a recently rediscovered resurrection plan he sent the company in 2014–and after undergoing a grueling two-way interview process that stretched over months. Now he’s tasked with enacting Sardarov’s plans for the American market.
MV Agusta USA CEO Doug McCloskey.
I start my recorded interview with McCloskey with a statement and a question. “Obviously you took on a big job here. Can you give me a quick version of how you got connected to MV Agusta?”
“It’s actually a really funny story,” McCloskey tells me. “For 10 years, I ran a business called Superbike Tour of Laguna Seca (for tourists attending World Championship races there), and I had a shop in Northern Nevada. A neighboring business two doors down was called XTest, and they did the homologation (emissions) testing for MV Agusta. So my neighbor is a friend of mine, and he introduced me to Francesco Valentini, who is the Manager of Homologation for MV Agusta. I ended up becoming friends with—we call him Frankie—and Frankie was really impressed with how we were motivating our particular demographic at Superbike Tour, which was really the same demographic, the high-spending motorcycle enthusiast. So that led to a number of conversations and an invitation to write a business plan, because I’m a consultant, a business transformation consultant, and I agreed. Out of Moto Love (a slogan McCloskey uses to describe a passion for all things motorcycle), I sent them basically a six or seven-page document, kind of a mini business plan, in 2014. They were impressed with that so they invited me to Varese, and I went to Varese and visited them in 2014. End of Story. They go through the next generation of management, they hire (somebody else), they go through the next set of changes. Fast forward to October, 2019. I get a phone call from my oldest son. He says, ‘Dad, MV Agusta is trying to get ahold of you.’
“I said, ‘What are you talking about?’
“He said, ‘Yeah, Frankie reached out to me on Facebook, because they’re trying to get ahold of you. ‘
“I didn’t have any idea what this was about. I call Frankie, and he says ‘Doug, Doug, we’re trying to get ahold of you. Hey, you know that business plan you wrote in 2014?’ I say, ‘Yeah.” And he says, ‘The bad news is, we didn’t take any of your advice. The good news is, you were right about everything. Will you please reconsider working for us?’
“So, if you went back six years ago and read that document, it would be interesting because I told them about the need for smaller displacement bikes, and the building of the community, and the inter-connectivity using technology to build networks across riders, all the things you see now in the (coming new) 350, the 500, the connected app. So they had the humility to tell me that they got it all wrong, and they wanted to start over. Would I consider doing that?
“I was absolutely floored because this came out of left field. We went from nothing, to ‘Will you be CEO?’ in one step. Because they knew where I was coming from, they knew I had been there, and they knew I had made that impression. I still had to go through an interview process, and I still had to beat out a few other candidates, but it was that paper that I wrote in 2014 and that story I told of what they should do, and the fact that they had the chance to go five years to see if my advice was any good or not. So they knew my advice was good, but this is my main business, business transformation. I’m just doing it now for a motorcycle company.
“So that led to an opportunity then to come and meet Timur. You heard a bit about that in the presentation, because as a quality guy who turns businesses around, I only agree to do that if certain preconditions are met, because I know what the preconditions to success are. It’s not enough to want it; it’s not enough to pay me to do it; it’s not enough to have the resources; and it’s not enough to have the vision. You have to have all of that.
“Because if you don’t have all of that, you don’t even have a chance. This is my core business. Some people say, ‘Well, why did you go hire a guy who’s not a motorcycle guy?’ Because, we don’t need to do anything the way we’ve done it before.”
I interjected, “You are a motorcycle guy, and you owned a motorcycle business.”
“But I wasn’t coming from a manufacturer or a distributor,” said McCloskey. “Yeah, I was at the peripheral”
“And you are a consumer,” I added.
“I’m in the top 1% of consumers,” McCloskey admitted.
“You were actually perfect for the job,” I said. “Plus you like bikes and you ride them, and you’re not contaminated…”
“That last statement is probably critical,” McCloskey said. “And Timur has had to explain that to a few people here, because he has been asked that question. So I come in and I say, ‘I know what the unconditional conditions are for success.’ Now they offer me the job. Do I accept it? No. Because there’s another precondition. ‘Now that you agree that I can help you, now we have to make it real.’ So I had to put together a two-year plan, I had to put together a cash-flow plan, I had to put together a strategic plan; I had to basically do what I did in 2014, and I had to add a financial assessment to it. They asked me for that, but I was happy to do that.
“Now, I still don’t have the job at this point. Because we have to agree, what does success mean? And we have to agree, what they are bringing to the party to contribute to it?
“For example—this is before I get the job—I go to them and I say, ‘You know you’ve pissed off everybody in the United States—the brand’s trash. So we have to make recompense for that. From a quality perspective, it’s not enough to have a vision, we have to have the resources to support the mission going forward. We have to do something about what happened before. It begins with being honest, it begins with being transparent, it follows up with accepting responsibility, and once we accept responsibility and say we’re sorry, that’s not enough. We have to materially go back and make recompense to the people who suffered on our behalf, yet stuck with us through the tough times, through the bankruptcy and all of that.’
“He (Sardarov) agreed to that. He’s absolutely on track with that. Like I was saying earlier, we’ve heard from Timur today, we got a good presentation of him. What you saw today is 100% real Timur because there isn’t another version of him. But what you heard on the other side of the door–like I mentioned in the meeting, the conversation that we have on the other side of the door, when no-one is listening but the executives and the key business stakeholders, that conversation–is a heightened, high-energy version of the one you heard (in the presentation).
“Meaning there’s no compromise, and Timur is the kind of guy, that once he communicates what his vision is, what his expectation is, there aren’t any other options. Because once we agree what we are trying to do strategically, it’s our job to come up with the way to execute the strategy. If we as executives can’t execute the strategy, he needs new executives.
“So, we went through an unusually large process even though they knew they wanted to hire me, because I needed to know that I was going to be successful. Because all of my past clients with business transformation have been successful after 30 years of consulting, and I’m very proud of that.
“At this point, I have a fear that I didn’t have at the beginning of my career, of people trading on my credibility. So I obviously was concerned that MV Agusta was looking for somebody that they could tell a story that might sound favorable but might not reflect reality. So I had to be sure with Timur and the others that they were going to address the production schedules, that they were going to address their buy-back issues, that they were going to clear any remaining legal issues, that they were gonna resolve any parts disputes, in addition to making the business whole. That’s all the recompense, that’s the making right.
“Then, when we talked about ‘How are we gonna become competitive,’ I had to convince him of another thing that nobody does. Which is, we have to go in and invest in dealers, with no other requirement on the dealer’s side, other than their willingness to meet our quality requirements and place a minimum order that’s appropriate to the dealer’s size and market. All the manufacturers make investments of different types, but generally with those investments there’s a contribution on the part of the dealer, and there are usually conditions that have to be met before, in order for the money to be returned to the dealer. In our deal, we’re just paying for it up front. Because we owe the dealers something, we owe the community something, and in order for us to convince the community that we’re good guys, running the company a new way, it begins with acknowledging the failures of the past and coming with solutions to fix them.
“But at the same time, we have to remediate and repair the relationships that we’ve damaged. People lost money, because of us. People disappointed customers who were very important, because of us. That’s hard medicine to take, but that’s been my business for 30 years.
“So getting into a situation where I’m excited about something like MV Agusta–something that is so beautiful and so awesome with so much potential, and just getting the business behind that straight–was a challenge that had nothing to do with finances because honestly it stung me a bit financially. But what a tremendous opportunity to go into that motorcycle community that I just love being a member of, and potentially help a famous brand recover itself so that it goes forward and future generations of motorcycle riders can enjoy the MV Agusta brand.
“Because you’ll see some really cool stuff this year. The SuperVeloce in particular is awesome, beautiful. What they’ve done with the Rush 1000, absolutely crazy beautiful. Can you imagine what MV does two years from now, three years from now, five years from now? So that’s what I want to be a part of.
A 2020 MV Agusta SuperVeloce 800A 2020 MV Agusta SuperVeloce 800 Serie OroA 2020 MV Agusta Rush 1000
“If we can get this business together, we can grow to a level that we haven’t previously enjoyed, all of this crazy creative energy is going to go up to the next level, and it’s going to make exciting products, which will generate exciting experiences, that all of our community gets to benefit from. And the thought of being a part of that is a privilege and something that I’m really excited about.
“Like I said in the middle of the presentation to the dealers today, I said, ‘Listen, there’s really one thing that has to happen; there’s many little things, but there’s one big thing that has to happen today. That is that we have to convince you that we’re good people and that we’re sincere.
“And that we know that promises have been made in the past and circumstances have been encountered in the past that were not favorable, and those circumstances were attributable to our choices and our decisions corporately, even though I wasn’t a part of it at that time.
“But that’s where it begins; even though I wasn’t the guy who made the mistakes, I’m the guy who’s responsible now to acknowledge the mistakes and address them, not only to make right–which should be done regarding the mistakes themselves–but to also create the foundation to build trust so that we can have that partnership, agree to work together, and allow us to invest in our dealership network to create new experience, new opportunity, and obviously to sell our exciting product.”
Tomorrow in Part 4: A timeline of MV Agusta’s business history from its founding in 1945 by Count Domenico Agusta, running through many significant changes in control of the company, to the company’s latest (and most credible) reincarnation, being owned and run by Russian millennial businessman, investor, and MV Chairman and CEO Timur Sardarov.
MotoAmerica Hires Event Director For Superbikes At The Brickyard
Eric Rowles Will Oversee Local Relations And Community Engagement In Indy
IRVINE, CA (February 5, 2020) – MotoAmerica is proud to announce that it has contracted Eric Rowles, the CEO and founder of Rowles Event Services, as Event Director for the Superbikes at the Brickyard event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, August 21-23.
Rowles will oversee local partnership relations and community engagement for MotoAmerica as it introduces the new event to Indianapolis. Rowles has nearly 20 years of experience producing some of the nation’s largest and most diverse events and programs.
Rowles most recently served as the Vice President of Operations for the Indianapolis-based 500 Festival, where he oversaw the production of nearly 50 events and programs annually, including one of the nation’s largest half marathons, the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, and the nation’s third largest parade, the IPL 500 Festival Parade.
“We know it’s going to be a great benefit in having Eric on our team to help with our event at the Brickyard,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “Having someone who knows the local market and community as well as he does is going to bode well for us and the Superbikes at the Brickyard event. We have big plans for our return to Indy and Eric will be playing a big role in those plans.”
“Playing a part of MotoAmerica’s return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an amazing opportunity and I am looking forward to taking on the role of Event Director,” Rowles said. “The history of motorcycle racing at IMS goes back to this historic venue’s creation and getting the chance to re-introduce Superbike racing to the Racing Capital of the World is like a dream come true. The incredible growth of the MotoAmerica series over the past few years has been wonderful to observe, and the Superbikes at the Brickyard event couldn’t come to Indianapolis at a better time. Indy is known for producing amazing large-scale events and come August 2020, we’ll be treated to an event like none other at a venue like none other.”
Before his time with the 500 Festival, Rowles was the Senior Director of Operations for The Promotion Company/Family Events, Inc., an Indianapolis-based event production company specializing in a series of nationally recognized enthusiast events. In his time with Family Events, he oversaw event production and logistics for approximately 40 events annually, including the 4 Wheel Jamboree Series, Street Machine Nationals, Monster Truck Nationals, and many more.
To purchase tickets for the Superbikes at the Brickyard event or any of the 10 rounds in the 2020 MotoAmerica Series, visit https://motoamerica.com/tickets/
2020 MotoAmerica Series
April 3-5 Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
April 17-19 Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia
May 1-3 Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia
May 29-31 Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
June 26-28 The Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, Washington
July 10-12 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California
August 7-9 Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, Pennsylvania
August 21-23 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana
September 11-13 New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, New Jersey
September 18-20 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com. Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Quattro Group on track with new Bennetts British Superbike Championship partnership
The Bennetts British Superbike Championship will feature a new partnership with leading infrastructure equipment specialists the Quattro Group for the 2020 season following an agreement reached with commercial rights holder MSVR.
The Quattro Group celebrated 30 years of business success last year, evolving from the early days of sweeper hire, to providing professionally managed services to the rail, road and construction industries across the UK.
The Quattro Group has enjoyed a long-standing association within the Championship, working closely with the Bournemouth Kawasaki team, who lifted the 2018 title with Leon Haslam.
The new official associate sponsor status includes title sponsorship of the leading support class to Bennetts BSB, the fiercely-contested British Supersport and GP2 Championships, naming rights to three events and prominent trackside visibility.
Quattro Group Managing Director John Murphy said: “We have long been involved in the Superbikes, and this is a really exciting development for us! We have really enjoyed working with some fantastic teams over the years, and are looking forward to carrying on our long-standing association with the brilliant Bournemouth Kawasaki at the road races in 2020.
“However, we felt that this opportunity would allow us to experience a different side of the sport that we love. Across the Quattro Group, our teams and customers are passionate BSB fans, so seeing the brand that we work so hard for as a leading sponsor is something that we’re all very proud of.”
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Series Director Stuart Higgs commented: “The Quattro Group has been a widely-recognised sponsor within the Championship for several seasons and so I am delighted that they will continue with a high level series association alongside their sporting programme with the Bournemouth Kawasaki team at the major road racing events.
“The Quattro Group British Supersport and GP2 Championships uniquely brings together production derived and prototype machinery and is renowned for close racing.”
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
New Financial Options for Exciting Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM European Cup, Registration Ends Soon
The highly anticipated Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM European Cup launches this year to provide a pathway for young riders looking to make a name for themselves in the FIM Superbike World Championship. For the upcoming season, Yamaha Motor Europe is now offering the opportunity for entrants to split their registration costs throughout the 2020 campaign.
The Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM European Cup will support the WorldSBK season for eight European rounds, with riders aged 12 to 16 years old eligible for entry. Each of the 36 maximum competitors will be provided with a latest-spec Yamaha R3, which found success in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship last year, additionally benefiting from exclusive coaching, world-class technical assistance and Pirelli tyres at each event.
Being a part of the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM European Cup offers young riders a clear first step on the path to the pinnacle of superbike racing. This path includes opportunities in all the WorldSBK support classes with Yamaha supported teams and culminates at the top of the racing pyramid with the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team.
Registration for the ground-breaking championship closes on 28th February 2020, and despite the heightened interest, there are still a few places left. The total cost for this is Eur (€) 36,000, which alongside the coaching, assistance, bike and tyres, also includes fuel, helmet, leather suit, gloves, boots and Paddock Blue uniform, providing one of the best low-cost options at this level.
That fee can now be shared across the season, with an initial payment of Eur (€) 6,000, followed by monthly instalments of Eur (€) 5,000 between March and August 2020. This will cover all rounds, alongside an exclusive pre-season test session at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, where entries can trial the race-ready Yamaha R3 for the first time. Yamaha Motor Europe also offer an insurance policy to cover the subscription fee.
Future stars from across the globe are already set to contest the eight-round European series, with entries from Austria, Brazil, France, Greece, Slovakia, and Turkey confirming their interest.
The Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM European Cup will benefit from extensive global TV and online live streaming coverage of each round, with highlights broadcast as part of the International World Feed before the second WorldSBK race of each weekend. Additionally, it also gives the riders unprecedented access to the Superbike World Championship paddock, giving riders the best opportunity to make a name for themselves in front of the sport’s top personnel.
The end-of-season prize money will be split across the top three, with the champion winning Eur (€) 10,000, second earning Eur (€) 7,500 and third receiving Eur (€) 5,000. They are also automatically entered into Yamaha Motor Europe’s bLU cRU Masterclass event for the chance to earn a fully supported ride in 2021. Moreover, the winner of each race will be rewarded with Eur (€) 500.
Alberto Barozzi: Yamaha Motor Europe bLU cRU Racing Manager
“We are very much looking forward to getting underway for the exciting Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM European Cup. This championship will allow us to discover new talents who have ambitions of racing at the top level of this sport and can help Yamaha retain its championship-winning history on the world stage. The final date to register is fast approaching and with only a few places left now’s the chance to sign up for this fantastic opportunity. We know that there’s so much talent out there and we can’t wait to find the next motorcycle racing stars of the future.”
The 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R (SP) Fireblade with its all new engine has a limit based on the maximum rpm of the homologated street machine.
The 2020 Yamaha YZF-R1 (M) with its engine incrementally revised for EU4 legislation has a rev limit based on the performance balancing algorithm following the 2019 season.
Note: rpm*= Revolutions per minute
Editorial Note:
The maximum engine rev limits allowed at the end of the 2019 World Superbike season:
MotoGP – The first of motorcycles on track as Sepang hosted a “Shake-Down” test for Rookies and testers. Aprilia introduces the brand new RS-GP20, Lorenzo back on a Yamaha and more.
MotoGP – Andrea Iannone hearing happened Tuesday. What happened?
MotoAmerica – Dunlop re-ups for three more years as the tire supplier with a cool incentive for 2020 to one special racer.
MotoAmerica – Roadracing World reports the MA racer Damian Jigalov heads to Euro Talent Cup.
Supercross – Oakland wrap-up
SXFantasy p/b ARAI Helmets – Greg got his picks in, but JP is up to 13th! 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!
WorldSBK – Oli Bayliss, the 16-year-old son of Troy Bayliss, gets WorldSSP Wild Card ride at Phillip Island.
AMA Flat Track Grand Championship takes place in Indiana, Ohio in 2020
Plymouth Speedway, Ashland County Fairgrounds host rounds of four-day amateur national championship
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The 2020 AMA Flat Track Grand Championship, featuring the nation’s fastest amateur flat track racers, takes place July 20-24 at venues in two states.
Plymouth Speedway in Plymouth, Ind., and the Ashland County Fairgrounds in Ashland, Ohio, provide the settings for the battle for AMA National No. 1 plates and AMA Racing Awards.
“Using two venues provides a challenge that is fitting for an amateur national championship event,” AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant said. “Racers will have to demonstrate mastery in three flat track racing disciplines, as well as show their speed on two different racing surfaces. We look forward to seeing the nation’s up-and-coming flat track racing stars battle it out in July.”
The first three rounds of the championship are at Plymouth Speedway July 20-22 and feature half mile, TT and short track competition. After a one-day break, the event concludes July 24 with half-mile racing at the Ashland County Fairgrounds.
The top riders at the event compete for the Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award, which honors an amateur racer poised for success at the pro level. Previous winners have also included Brad Baker, Jared Mees, Dan Bromley, Bryan Smith, and Roger Lee Hayden.
Awards also are presented for AMA Youth Flat Track Racer of the Year and AMA Vet/Senior Flat Track Racer of the Year.
The AMA Fast Brain Award is bestowed upon a racer, based upon the racer’s performance at the event, as well as official school transcripts supplied at the time of application.
Competitors at the AMA Flat Track Grand Championship ride traditional flat track motorcycles as well as DTX motorcycles, the latter beginning as stock motocross bikes that are then fitted with flat track tires and suspension and undergo other modifications.
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com
BobbleHeadMoto and Karns Performance to field Jake Lewis in the Daytona 200.
BobbleHeadMoto and Karns Performance have teamed up with Jake Lewis to contend the 79th running of the Daytona 200. Lewis will be aboard the BobbleHeadMoto built Yamaha YZF-R6 with engine built and tuned by Karns Performance.
Jake Lewis said “I’m very excited and thankful for the opportunity to race the BobbleHeadMoto R6 in the Daytona 200. I’ve always wanted some redemption since my last run in 2014 and I’m excited to jump back on a 600. I know the race is a tough one to win but I know myself and the crew are more than capable of making it happen. I’m ready to get back on the high banks and fight for the win.”
Lewis will be alongside Shiloh Salopek, the Team’s Crew Chief and Lead Mechanic. Salopek’s attention to detail and efficiency keeps her running the N2Racing program in the MotoAmerica Supersport Series.
About BobbleHeadMoto –
BobbleHeadMoto is a premier parts supplier of used motorcycle parts. They also provide properly kitted, top level motorcycle rentals for track use.
About Karns Performance –
Karns Performance is a franchised Suzuki Dealership located in central Pennsylvania that specializes in Engine building and Dyno Services. These include the latest in FT Ecu, Woolich Racing, Power Commander, Bazzaz, & ECUnleashed Tuning.
A Ducati Superleggera V4 at speed. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
The Panigale V4 becomes Superleggera: the dream bike is now a reality, and it’s a Ducati
The Superleggera V4 is the most powerful and technologically advanced production Ducati ever built and will be produced as a limited edition of just 500 individually numbered motorcycles
The only street-legal motorcycle in the world with a carbon fibre chassis, swingarm and wheels
Biplane wings and extreme aerodynamics
A power/weight ratio of 1.54 hp/kg in racing kit configuration, a record value for a street-legal bike
Deliveries start in June 2020 at the rate of 5 bikes per day
Purchasers of the Superleggera V4 will also be offered a track test on the factory Panigale V4 R competing in the Superbike World Championship and, for the first time ever, a unique opportunity to test the Desmosedici GP20
A close up of the Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 6 February 2020 – With the Superleggera V4, Ducati fulfils the dream of pushing back the limits of engineering, attention to detail and motorcycle design, with a project that represents the Bolognese company’s greatest masterpiece in terms of engineering, performance and design.
The Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
After an exclusive preview for its most passionate and loyal clients, Ducati now officially unveils its new Superleggera V4, the most powerful and technologically advanced motorcycle ever made by the Borgo Panigale manufacturer, produced in a limited edition of just 500 individually numbered bikes.
A close up of the carbon-fiber frame on the Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
The Superleggera V4 is the world’s only street-legal motorcycle with the entire load-bearing structure of the chassis (frame, subframe, swingarm and wheels) made from composite material, achieving a 6.7 kg reduction in weight thanks to these components.
To ensure the highest quality and safety standards, these components are 100% tested using the most sophisticated techniques borrowed from the aerospace industry, such as thermography, ultrasound inspections and tomography.
The chassis dimensions have been modified for optimised track use by increasing the length of the swingarm.
A close up of the carbon-fiber swingarm on the Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
The overall result is unparalleled deceleration power, faster leaning down into corners and sharper lines riding out of bends.
The level of performance achieved is extremely high: Alessandro Valia, an official Ducati tester, took the bike, fitted with the racing kit and slick tires, around the Mugello circuit in 1:52:45, less than two seconds from the lap time of the Panigale V4 R SBK, winner of the 2019 Italian Motorspeed Championship (CIV) with Michele Pirro.
A close up of the carbon-fiber winglets on the Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
Many components are made of carbon fibre, moulded into advanced aerodynamic shapes. These include the fairing, which ensures a level of aerodynamic efficiency that matches and exceeds that of current MotoGP bikes. Thanks to the ‘biplane’ aerofoils inspired by the 2016 Ducati MotoGP, with the highest performance in this field, it can guarantee a downforce of 50 kg at 270 kph, 20 kg more than that created by the aerofoils on the Panigale V4 MY20 and V4 R. This downforce improves acceleration, by countering the tendency to wheel-up, and increases braking stability.
The carbon fibre fairings also sport an eye-catching Desmosedici GP19-inspired livery that juxtaposes the red of the GP19 with a naked carbon that emphasises shapes, materials and technical details.
A stripped-down view of the Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
Beneath the carbon skin lies the Desmosedici Stradale R engine, lighter and more powerful than ever. The 998 cm3 90° V4 that powers the Superleggera V4 weighs, in fact, 2.8 kg less than the 1,103 cm3 V4. Thanks to a type-approved Akrapovič exhaust, it delivers no less than 224 CV in road-legal configuration (EU homologation figures). That figure rises to 234 CV when fitted with the titanium Akrapovič exhaust for track use, which is included in the Racing Kit supplied with the bike.
The racing nature of the engine is enhanced by the use of the dry clutch and the individual manual adjustment of the Desmodromic timing system.
The left side view of the Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
Only on the Superleggera V4, a special engine calibration for the racing exhaust gives riders access to a “RaceGP” display. Intended exclusively for track use, and designed with valuable input from Andrea Dovizioso, it is a direct offshoot of the instrument panel on the Desmosedici GP20.
Thanks to extensive use of carbon fibre, titanium and magnesium components and others machined from solid aluminium, the Superleggera V4 has a dry weight of just 159 kg (16 kg less than the Panigale V4), resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 1.41 hp/kg: a record-breaking figure for a road-legal sports bike. Mounting the supplied Racing kit and switching the bike to its track configuration boosts power to 234 hp, dropping the weight to 152.2 kg and raising the power-to-weight ratio to 1.54 hp/kg.
The right side view of the Ducati Superleggera V4. Photo courtesy of Ducati.
The electronic controls have also been developed to enhance the racing nature of this motorcycle. Their operational parameters are associated by default with three reprogrammed Riding Modes (named Race A, Race B and Sport ). There are also – for the very first time – five additional Riding Modes that can be personalised with the rider’s preferred settings. Riders can monitor lap times via the upgraded Lap Timer, which can record finish line and split times coordinates for five favourite circuits. These can be recalled at the start of each track day without having to repeat the set-up procedure. The default system settings feature the finish line/split time details of: Laguna Seca, Mugello, Jerez, Sepang and Losail.
This is topped by a latest-generation electronics package including EVO 2 strategies for the DTC and DQS up/down.
Other standard items include a lighter Öhlins suspension system, with a pressurised fork and lighter machined aluminium fork bottoms, a titanium shock absorber spring and GP-derived valves that improve the damping of road bumps during the initial compression stage.
The braking system is the best in the Brembo production range, with an MCS calliper featuring a remotely adjusted lever gap and Stylema® R callipers, exclusive to the Superleggera V4, to provide greater front-brake stroke consistency in long track runs.
Meticulous attention to detail is also obvious in the radiator cap machined from solid aluminium and the dedicated ignition key with an aluminium insert showing the bike number.
The exclusiveness of the materials and technical solutions is reflected in the limited number of bikes: just 500, all individually numbered and provided with a certificate of authenticity. The bike ID number (XXX/500), which matches the VIN, is displayed on the frame, fork yoke and ignition key.
The start of deliveries is planned for June 2020 in Europe and, given the extreme complexity of the production of so many components, the rate is limited to only 5 bikes/day. However, all the bikes will be produced within 2020.
Superleggera customers only have the chance to purchase an exclusive Superleggera V4 premium leather suit with integrated air-bag and a carbon fibre helmet, both emblazoned with the bike’s colours and graphics. Produced by Dainese, the leathers combine lightness and strength with the safety of the D-air® system. Likewise, the meticulously crafted Arai helmet – which features aeronautical-grade carbon fibre – offers unsurpassed protection and comfort.
The package that Ducati has prepared for enthusiasts who purchase a Superleggera V4 also includes access to the “SBK Experience”, allowing owners to ride the Panigale V4 R, which competes in the SBK World Championship, on a test track at Mugello. Even more amazingly, 30 Superleggera V4 owners will have an exclusive opportunity to enjoy the “MotoGP Experience” and live the dream of every racing enthusiast. For the very first time, they will be able to ride a circuit on the Desmosedici GP20 used by Dovizioso and Petrucci, with the close support of the Ducati Corse technicians.
These special events and opportunities are as unique as this new Ducati model. The Superleggera V4 is extreme, designed and developed to achieve maximum on-track performance and ensure all the reliability and rider-friendliness of a road-legal sport bike.
With the Superleggera V4, Ducati pushes back the limits even further. The technical expertise and knowledge developed and continuously evolved in MotoGP is made available to enthusiasts of engineering and performance on two wheels.
Team Suzuki ECSTAR’s Joan Mir (left) and Alex Rins (right) and their GSX-RR racebikes. Photo courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office.
Team SUZUKI ECSTAR begin the new decade with their sights firmly set on the future, whilst also giving a nod to their illustrious racing past.
2020 marks Suzuki’s 60th year in racing, a milestone which will be celebrated with the team’s brand new colour scheme. The elegant combination of the familiar blue mixed with a more traditional slate silver is sure to make the ambitious duo of Alex Rins and Joan Mir stand out from the pack.
This season’s GSX-RR will honour the rich racing pedigree which Suzuki began in 1960 with their participation in the Isle of Man’s Tourist Trophy – where just two years later Ernst Degner won the first GP race for Suzuki, and also their first World Championship Title in the 50cc category.
Since then, Suzuki as a manufacturer has celebrated a long list of successes including 14 more World Championship titles, right up until the most recent victories in 2019 with Álex Rins at the Grand Prix of The Americas and the British GP.
Aiming to tame the beast are Team SUZUKI ECSTAR’s industrious and impressive pair-ing of Rins and Mir. The young Spaniards enter the 2020 season following a successful and propitious 2019.
Finishing 4th in last year’s championship standings, taking two excellent victories and eleven Top 5 finishes, Álex Rins proved his place among the top riders in MotoGP. He is ready to attack this brand new season with gusto, aiming to build on his results and add more trophies to the cabinet.
Joan Mir completed a notable rookie season with Team SUZUKI ECSTAR in 2019, which included a total of ten Top 10 finishes, with a fifth place finish in the Australian GP as his best result.
The left side of the 2020 Team Suzuki ECSTAR GSX-RR. Photo courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office.
Shinichi Sahara – MotoGP Project Leader:
“Last season gave us important information about our competitive level compared to other teams and also contributed to the growth of the MotoGP project, in terms of technical package of the GSX-RR, work methodology within the Team and – last but not least – experience and solidness of Rins and Mir. We had some positive results and also two outstanding victories, which is positive, but also got the clear feeling that our potential can be even better exploited. This is the spirit with which we head into the 2020 season, carrying 60 years of experiences in racing to try our best to even better results. Since our comeback in 2015 we have done small but steady steps that led us into the top of the competition, having more than one rider get Suzuki podiums and wins. We are now called to further improve this competitiveness and make a further step, being able to fight consistently into the podium positions.”
The right side of the 2020 Team Suzuki ECSTAR GSX-RR. Photo courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office.
Ken Kawauchi – Technical Manager:
“The heritage that we carry on our fairing this year represents a long history of racing, that includes many successes. This gives us a further push to carry on improving. Since the very beginning, the DNA of Suzuki has been to develop a good starting package and then build on it with small but steady technical steps. This strategy has paid off in the last few years with podiums and victories in the MotoGP modern era, and I believe that it can work in the future as well. We have already developed a new engine spec which was appreciated by our Test Rider Guintoli, and our Factory riders Rins and Mir at the Valencia and Jerez Tests. So this is likely to be the base from where we will start testing in Sepang and Qatar before the beginning of the season. During the winter we have worked to develop new solutions for the chassis and set up, as well as the electronics. The fairings will play an important role as well, and we are going to test some solutions that hopefully can help to improve the overall performance.”
Davide Brivio – Team Manager:
“The 2019 season was important for us because we showed consistent progress throughout the whole year, and I believe this is the right path to success. Alex got two wins which was our target before the season and then another podium. We learnt a lot and it was another important step for Alex and for the Team. We are also very happy with Joan because he showed steady progress and overcame the significant injury he got in Brno to end the season with some very solid races. Not only the results have been out-standing, but also the whole approach to the race weekend and the working methodolo-gy. On both sides we can take good lessons from 2019 into 2020. Of course, this will be a special year for Suzuki as it’s the 60th year in racing, so we feel even more motivated to do well in front of all our Company and our fans. Our Engineers in Japan have worked on several items and small details, other than engine, during the winter trying to improve our good package. The riders are ready and excited, so I believe we have to set our target to improve again and again the performance of the team with both riders.”
Alex Rins. Photo courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office.
Alex Rins:
“Last season brought me one of the most exciting feelings on earth which was to win my first MotoGP race. It was a dream come true, and the second victory felt amazing too. I will bring those emotions with me into 2020, as well as the awareness of the growth that I’ve made. One of the most important lessons I’ve learnt is how to better manage a race, especially when I’m leading or fighting. I will carry the special livery for the 60 years in racing and this makes me proud. One of the best things about being with Suzuki is that I feel a real family atmosphere, I don’t know if it was also like that in the past, but to me it feels like something they have in the Suzuki DNA, together with constantly striving to win, and I think this really makes a difference. Now in 2020 we have to stay focused and get good results, more podiums for sure and hopefully also more wins. This is the path to success, I believe; little by little, step by step, with hard work all together.”
Joan Mir. Photo courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office.
Joan Mir:
“For sure my expectations for 2020 are much higher than last year, because I’m not a rookie anymore. We ended last season on a good path, with consistent improvements that helped me to overcome the difficulties that came from the crash in Brno and led me to have some very positive races at the end of the season. The first year has been a learning one, the MotoGP machine is such a beast that you have to learn how to control it, and I had huge support from all of my team. Now I want to build on my experience and start placing my name among the top riders. I have trained very well during winter, I have focused on physical preparation and also on smoothness in riding, which is one thing that my GSX-RR requires, I think. Beside this, I’m really eager to get on my MotoGP machine again in Sepang and start to improve further. It’s going to be an important year for Suzuki and the blue-silver livery looks amazing on my GSX-RR, I’m proud to be part of this historic year and carry such racing heritage on my fairing.”
A 2020 MV Brutale 800 RR SCS. Photos courtesy MV Agusta Motor S.p.A.
By John Ulrich
In Part 1 (MV Agusta: How A Millennial Russian Financier Is Remaking A Italian Icon, posted January 30), and in Part 2 (MV Agusta: A Millennial CEO Bets On Attracting Millennial Buyers, posted January 31), we met MV Agusta Motor S.p.A.’s new owner, Chairman and CEO Timur Sardarov. He is a 37-year-old Russian rider who spent 10 years on the Board of Burning Man, had a gig as a well-known DJ in Europe, and describes himself as a serial entrepreneur on a mission to revive the iconic Italian company. He’s already developed plans, updated current products, restarted production lines, paid off creditors and, for what he says is the first time, made sure the company has enough working capital to operate as an actual business should, with an eye on growth.
MV Agusta Chairman & CEO Timur Sardarov. Photo by John Ulrich.
Sardarov’s revitalization plan for the company includes restoring its reputation, solving historic problems with U.S. distribution, (which he now controls), and restarting a working relationship with existing dealers and recruiting new dealers in the country. And, of course, connecting with millennials with the right products at the right price, using digital assets and apps designed to enhance the buying (and ownership) experience and connect MV riders in an online community. “Certain brands go through this identity crisis where the main core customers get older, but they are failing to attract the new ones, the so-called millennials,” Sardarov told us. “And why? Because they are stuck in the limbo of serving the needs of the older customers rather than understanding the new ones.” And he talked about taking market share from Ducati, Harley-Davison and Triumph.
MV Agusta already has good bikes with more to come, Sardarov said—including a product line built using the philosophy of “make it sexy to be the best naked bike,” and an all-new 950cc engine under development while the iconic F4 1000 continues. “F4 is an icon and I don’t want to be the guy who f—ked it up,” Sardarov said. “The MV Agusta customer must feel recognized. We have the best management (team) in the world. (And) MV is the only brand in the world with production capability to do rapid growth, not 10%, not 15%, but double…Our style is different than anybody else; we don’t want to grow by 10% per year, we have to grow much faster.” He also said, “The past is the past.”
In Part 3, we talk to new MV Agusta USA CEO Doug McCloskey, (an American enthusiast whose profession for 30 years has been successfully restoring troubled businesses to profitability), who got the job based on a recently rediscovered resurrection plan he sent the company in 2014–and after undergoing a grueling two-way interview process that stretched over months. Now he’s tasked with enacting Sardarov’s plans for the American market.
MV Agusta USA CEO Doug McCloskey.
I start my recorded interview with McCloskey with a statement and a question. “Obviously you took on a big job here. Can you give me a quick version of how you got connected to MV Agusta?”
“It’s actually a really funny story,” McCloskey tells me. “For 10 years, I ran a business called Superbike Tour of Laguna Seca (for tourists attending World Championship races there), and I had a shop in Northern Nevada. A neighboring business two doors down was called XTest, and they did the homologation (emissions) testing for MV Agusta. So my neighbor is a friend of mine, and he introduced me to Francesco Valentini, who is the Manager of Homologation for MV Agusta. I ended up becoming friends with—we call him Frankie—and Frankie was really impressed with how we were motivating our particular demographic at Superbike Tour, which was really the same demographic, the high-spending motorcycle enthusiast. So that led to a number of conversations and an invitation to write a business plan, because I’m a consultant, a business transformation consultant, and I agreed. Out of Moto Love (a slogan McCloskey uses to describe a passion for all things motorcycle), I sent them basically a six or seven-page document, kind of a mini business plan, in 2014. They were impressed with that so they invited me to Varese, and I went to Varese and visited them in 2014. End of Story. They go through the next generation of management, they hire (somebody else), they go through the next set of changes. Fast forward to October, 2019. I get a phone call from my oldest son. He says, ‘Dad, MV Agusta is trying to get ahold of you.’
“I said, ‘What are you talking about?’
“He said, ‘Yeah, Frankie reached out to me on Facebook, because they’re trying to get ahold of you. ‘
“I didn’t have any idea what this was about. I call Frankie, and he says ‘Doug, Doug, we’re trying to get ahold of you. Hey, you know that business plan you wrote in 2014?’ I say, ‘Yeah.” And he says, ‘The bad news is, we didn’t take any of your advice. The good news is, you were right about everything. Will you please reconsider working for us?’
“So, if you went back six years ago and read that document, it would be interesting because I told them about the need for smaller displacement bikes, and the building of the community, and the inter-connectivity using technology to build networks across riders, all the things you see now in the (coming new) 350, the 500, the connected app. So they had the humility to tell me that they got it all wrong, and they wanted to start over. Would I consider doing that?
“I was absolutely floored because this came out of left field. We went from nothing, to ‘Will you be CEO?’ in one step. Because they knew where I was coming from, they knew I had been there, and they knew I had made that impression. I still had to go through an interview process, and I still had to beat out a few other candidates, but it was that paper that I wrote in 2014 and that story I told of what they should do, and the fact that they had the chance to go five years to see if my advice was any good or not. So they knew my advice was good, but this is my main business, business transformation. I’m just doing it now for a motorcycle company.
“So that led to an opportunity then to come and meet Timur. You heard a bit about that in the presentation, because as a quality guy who turns businesses around, I only agree to do that if certain preconditions are met, because I know what the preconditions to success are. It’s not enough to want it; it’s not enough to pay me to do it; it’s not enough to have the resources; and it’s not enough to have the vision. You have to have all of that.
“Because if you don’t have all of that, you don’t even have a chance. This is my core business. Some people say, ‘Well, why did you go hire a guy who’s not a motorcycle guy?’ Because, we don’t need to do anything the way we’ve done it before.”
I interjected, “You are a motorcycle guy, and you owned a motorcycle business.”
“But I wasn’t coming from a manufacturer or a distributor,” said McCloskey. “Yeah, I was at the peripheral”
“And you are a consumer,” I added.
“I’m in the top 1% of consumers,” McCloskey admitted.
“You were actually perfect for the job,” I said. “Plus you like bikes and you ride them, and you’re not contaminated…”
“That last statement is probably critical,” McCloskey said. “And Timur has had to explain that to a few people here, because he has been asked that question. So I come in and I say, ‘I know what the unconditional conditions are for success.’ Now they offer me the job. Do I accept it? No. Because there’s another precondition. ‘Now that you agree that I can help you, now we have to make it real.’ So I had to put together a two-year plan, I had to put together a cash-flow plan, I had to put together a strategic plan; I had to basically do what I did in 2014, and I had to add a financial assessment to it. They asked me for that, but I was happy to do that.
“Now, I still don’t have the job at this point. Because we have to agree, what does success mean? And we have to agree, what they are bringing to the party to contribute to it?
“For example—this is before I get the job—I go to them and I say, ‘You know you’ve pissed off everybody in the United States—the brand’s trash. So we have to make recompense for that. From a quality perspective, it’s not enough to have a vision, we have to have the resources to support the mission going forward. We have to do something about what happened before. It begins with being honest, it begins with being transparent, it follows up with accepting responsibility, and once we accept responsibility and say we’re sorry, that’s not enough. We have to materially go back and make recompense to the people who suffered on our behalf, yet stuck with us through the tough times, through the bankruptcy and all of that.’
“He (Sardarov) agreed to that. He’s absolutely on track with that. Like I was saying earlier, we’ve heard from Timur today, we got a good presentation of him. What you saw today is 100% real Timur because there isn’t another version of him. But what you heard on the other side of the door–like I mentioned in the meeting, the conversation that we have on the other side of the door, when no-one is listening but the executives and the key business stakeholders, that conversation–is a heightened, high-energy version of the one you heard (in the presentation).
“Meaning there’s no compromise, and Timur is the kind of guy, that once he communicates what his vision is, what his expectation is, there aren’t any other options. Because once we agree what we are trying to do strategically, it’s our job to come up with the way to execute the strategy. If we as executives can’t execute the strategy, he needs new executives.
“So, we went through an unusually large process even though they knew they wanted to hire me, because I needed to know that I was going to be successful. Because all of my past clients with business transformation have been successful after 30 years of consulting, and I’m very proud of that.
“At this point, I have a fear that I didn’t have at the beginning of my career, of people trading on my credibility. So I obviously was concerned that MV Agusta was looking for somebody that they could tell a story that might sound favorable but might not reflect reality. So I had to be sure with Timur and the others that they were going to address the production schedules, that they were going to address their buy-back issues, that they were going to clear any remaining legal issues, that they were gonna resolve any parts disputes, in addition to making the business whole. That’s all the recompense, that’s the making right.
“Then, when we talked about ‘How are we gonna become competitive,’ I had to convince him of another thing that nobody does. Which is, we have to go in and invest in dealers, with no other requirement on the dealer’s side, other than their willingness to meet our quality requirements and place a minimum order that’s appropriate to the dealer’s size and market. All the manufacturers make investments of different types, but generally with those investments there’s a contribution on the part of the dealer, and there are usually conditions that have to be met before, in order for the money to be returned to the dealer. In our deal, we’re just paying for it up front. Because we owe the dealers something, we owe the community something, and in order for us to convince the community that we’re good guys, running the company a new way, it begins with acknowledging the failures of the past and coming with solutions to fix them.
“But at the same time, we have to remediate and repair the relationships that we’ve damaged. People lost money, because of us. People disappointed customers who were very important, because of us. That’s hard medicine to take, but that’s been my business for 30 years.
“So getting into a situation where I’m excited about something like MV Agusta–something that is so beautiful and so awesome with so much potential, and just getting the business behind that straight–was a challenge that had nothing to do with finances because honestly it stung me a bit financially. But what a tremendous opportunity to go into that motorcycle community that I just love being a member of, and potentially help a famous brand recover itself so that it goes forward and future generations of motorcycle riders can enjoy the MV Agusta brand.
“Because you’ll see some really cool stuff this year. The SuperVeloce in particular is awesome, beautiful. What they’ve done with the Rush 1000, absolutely crazy beautiful. Can you imagine what MV does two years from now, three years from now, five years from now? So that’s what I want to be a part of.
A 2020 MV Agusta SuperVeloce 800A 2020 MV Agusta SuperVeloce 800 Serie OroA 2020 MV Agusta Rush 1000
“If we can get this business together, we can grow to a level that we haven’t previously enjoyed, all of this crazy creative energy is going to go up to the next level, and it’s going to make exciting products, which will generate exciting experiences, that all of our community gets to benefit from. And the thought of being a part of that is a privilege and something that I’m really excited about.
“Like I said in the middle of the presentation to the dealers today, I said, ‘Listen, there’s really one thing that has to happen; there’s many little things, but there’s one big thing that has to happen today. That is that we have to convince you that we’re good people and that we’re sincere.
“And that we know that promises have been made in the past and circumstances have been encountered in the past that were not favorable, and those circumstances were attributable to our choices and our decisions corporately, even though I wasn’t a part of it at that time.
“But that’s where it begins; even though I wasn’t the guy who made the mistakes, I’m the guy who’s responsible now to acknowledge the mistakes and address them, not only to make right–which should be done regarding the mistakes themselves–but to also create the foundation to build trust so that we can have that partnership, agree to work together, and allow us to invest in our dealership network to create new experience, new opportunity, and obviously to sell our exciting product.”
Tomorrow in Part 4: A timeline of MV Agusta’s business history from its founding in 1945 by Count Domenico Agusta, running through many significant changes in control of the company, to the company’s latest (and most credible) reincarnation, being owned and run by Russian millennial businessman, investor, and MV Chairman and CEO Timur Sardarov.
MotoAmerica Hires Event Director For Superbikes At The Brickyard
Eric Rowles Will Oversee Local Relations And Community Engagement In Indy
IRVINE, CA (February 5, 2020) – MotoAmerica is proud to announce that it has contracted Eric Rowles, the CEO and founder of Rowles Event Services, as Event Director for the Superbikes at the Brickyard event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, August 21-23.
Rowles will oversee local partnership relations and community engagement for MotoAmerica as it introduces the new event to Indianapolis. Rowles has nearly 20 years of experience producing some of the nation’s largest and most diverse events and programs.
Rowles most recently served as the Vice President of Operations for the Indianapolis-based 500 Festival, where he oversaw the production of nearly 50 events and programs annually, including one of the nation’s largest half marathons, the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, and the nation’s third largest parade, the IPL 500 Festival Parade.
“We know it’s going to be a great benefit in having Eric on our team to help with our event at the Brickyard,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “Having someone who knows the local market and community as well as he does is going to bode well for us and the Superbikes at the Brickyard event. We have big plans for our return to Indy and Eric will be playing a big role in those plans.”
“Playing a part of MotoAmerica’s return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an amazing opportunity and I am looking forward to taking on the role of Event Director,” Rowles said. “The history of motorcycle racing at IMS goes back to this historic venue’s creation and getting the chance to re-introduce Superbike racing to the Racing Capital of the World is like a dream come true. The incredible growth of the MotoAmerica series over the past few years has been wonderful to observe, and the Superbikes at the Brickyard event couldn’t come to Indianapolis at a better time. Indy is known for producing amazing large-scale events and come August 2020, we’ll be treated to an event like none other at a venue like none other.”
Before his time with the 500 Festival, Rowles was the Senior Director of Operations for The Promotion Company/Family Events, Inc., an Indianapolis-based event production company specializing in a series of nationally recognized enthusiast events. In his time with Family Events, he oversaw event production and logistics for approximately 40 events annually, including the 4 Wheel Jamboree Series, Street Machine Nationals, Monster Truck Nationals, and many more.
To purchase tickets for the Superbikes at the Brickyard event or any of the 10 rounds in the 2020 MotoAmerica Series, visit https://motoamerica.com/tickets/
2020 MotoAmerica Series
April 3-5 Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
April 17-19 Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia
May 1-3 Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia
May 29-31 Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
June 26-28 The Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, Washington
July 10-12 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California
August 7-9 Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, Pennsylvania
August 21-23 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana
September 11-13 New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, New Jersey
September 18-20 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com. Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Quattro Group is an official sponsor of the 2020 British Superbike Championship. Photo courtesy of MSVR.
Quattro Group on track with new Bennetts British Superbike Championship partnership
The Bennetts British Superbike Championship will feature a new partnership with leading infrastructure equipment specialists the Quattro Group for the 2020 season following an agreement reached with commercial rights holder MSVR.
The Quattro Group celebrated 30 years of business success last year, evolving from the early days of sweeper hire, to providing professionally managed services to the rail, road and construction industries across the UK.
The Quattro Group has enjoyed a long-standing association within the Championship, working closely with the Bournemouth Kawasaki team, who lifted the 2018 title with Leon Haslam.
The new official associate sponsor status includes title sponsorship of the leading support class to Bennetts BSB, the fiercely-contested British Supersport and GP2 Championships, naming rights to three events and prominent trackside visibility.
Quattro Group Managing Director John Murphy said: “We have long been involved in the Superbikes, and this is a really exciting development for us! We have really enjoyed working with some fantastic teams over the years, and are looking forward to carrying on our long-standing association with the brilliant Bournemouth Kawasaki at the road races in 2020.
“However, we felt that this opportunity would allow us to experience a different side of the sport that we love. Across the Quattro Group, our teams and customers are passionate BSB fans, so seeing the brand that we work so hard for as a leading sponsor is something that we’re all very proud of.”
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Series Director Stuart Higgs commented: “The Quattro Group has been a widely-recognised sponsor within the Championship for several seasons and so I am delighted that they will continue with a high level series association alongside their sporting programme with the Bournemouth Kawasaki team at the major road racing events.
“The Quattro Group British Supersport and GP2 Championships uniquely brings together production derived and prototype machinery and is renowned for close racing.”
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Riders in action on Yamaha YZF-R3 racebikes. Photo courtesy of Yamaha Motor Europe.
New Financial Options for Exciting Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM European Cup, Registration Ends Soon
The highly anticipated Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM European Cup launches this year to provide a pathway for young riders looking to make a name for themselves in the FIM Superbike World Championship. For the upcoming season, Yamaha Motor Europe is now offering the opportunity for entrants to split their registration costs throughout the 2020 campaign.
The Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM European Cup will support the WorldSBK season for eight European rounds, with riders aged 12 to 16 years old eligible for entry. Each of the 36 maximum competitors will be provided with a latest-spec Yamaha R3, which found success in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship last year, additionally benefiting from exclusive coaching, world-class technical assistance and Pirelli tyres at each event.
Being a part of the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM European Cup offers young riders a clear first step on the path to the pinnacle of superbike racing. This path includes opportunities in all the WorldSBK support classes with Yamaha supported teams and culminates at the top of the racing pyramid with the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team.
Registration for the ground-breaking championship closes on 28th February 2020, and despite the heightened interest, there are still a few places left. The total cost for this is Eur (€) 36,000, which alongside the coaching, assistance, bike and tyres, also includes fuel, helmet, leather suit, gloves, boots and Paddock Blue uniform, providing one of the best low-cost options at this level.
That fee can now be shared across the season, with an initial payment of Eur (€) 6,000, followed by monthly instalments of Eur (€) 5,000 between March and August 2020. This will cover all rounds, alongside an exclusive pre-season test session at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, where entries can trial the race-ready Yamaha R3 for the first time. Yamaha Motor Europe also offer an insurance policy to cover the subscription fee.
Future stars from across the globe are already set to contest the eight-round European series, with entries from Austria, Brazil, France, Greece, Slovakia, and Turkey confirming their interest.
The Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM European Cup will benefit from extensive global TV and online live streaming coverage of each round, with highlights broadcast as part of the International World Feed before the second WorldSBK race of each weekend. Additionally, it also gives the riders unprecedented access to the Superbike World Championship paddock, giving riders the best opportunity to make a name for themselves in front of the sport’s top personnel.
The end-of-season prize money will be split across the top three, with the champion winning Eur (€) 10,000, second earning Eur (€) 7,500 and third receiving Eur (€) 5,000. They are also automatically entered into Yamaha Motor Europe’s bLU cRU Masterclass event for the chance to earn a fully supported ride in 2021. Moreover, the winner of each race will be rewarded with Eur (€) 500.
Alberto Barozzi: Yamaha Motor Europe bLU cRU Racing Manager
“We are very much looking forward to getting underway for the exciting Yamaha R3 bLU cRU FIM European Cup. This championship will allow us to discover new talents who have ambitions of racing at the top level of this sport and can help Yamaha retain its championship-winning history on the world stage. The final date to register is fast approaching and with only a few places left now’s the chance to sign up for this fantastic opportunity. We know that there’s so much talent out there and we can’t wait to find the next motorcycle racing stars of the future.”
Ducati’s Panigale V4 R will be allowed to rev to 16,100 RPM at the start of the 2020 FIM Superbike World Championship. Photo courtesy of Dorna WorldSBK Press Office.
MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship
2020 Starting Rev-Limits
The initial rev limits (rpm*) will be as follows:
WorldSBK Initial Rev-Limit (rpm)
Brand
Rev Limit
Aprilia
14,700
BMW
14,950
BMW 2019
14,900
Ducati V2
12,400
Ducati V4
16,100
Honda (SC77)
15,050
Honda (SC82)
15,600
Kawasaki
14,600
MV Agusta
14,950
Suzuki
14,900
Yamaha
14,950
The 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R (SP) Fireblade with its all new engine has a limit based on the maximum rpm of the homologated street machine.
The 2020 Yamaha YZF-R1 (M) with its engine incrementally revised for EU4 legislation has a rev limit based on the performance balancing algorithm following the 2019 season.
Note: rpm*= Revolutions per minute
Editorial Note:
The maximum engine rev limits allowed at the end of the 2019 World Superbike season:
MotoGP – The first of motorcycles on track as Sepang hosted a “Shake-Down” test for Rookies and testers. Aprilia introduces the brand new RS-GP20, Lorenzo back on a Yamaha and more.
MotoGP – Andrea Iannone hearing happened Tuesday. What happened?
MotoAmerica – Dunlop re-ups for three more years as the tire supplier with a cool incentive for 2020 to one special racer.
MotoAmerica – Roadracing World reports the MA racer Damian Jigalov heads to Euro Talent Cup.
Supercross – Oakland wrap-up
SXFantasy p/b ARAI Helmets – Greg got his picks in, but JP is up to 13th! 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!
WorldSBK – Oli Bayliss, the 16-year-old son of Troy Bayliss, gets WorldSSP Wild Card ride at Phillip Island.
Action from the 2019 AMA Flat Track Grand Championship. Photo by Jen Muecke, courtesy of AMA.
AMA Flat Track Grand Championship takes place in Indiana, Ohio in 2020
Plymouth Speedway, Ashland County Fairgrounds host rounds of four-day amateur national championship
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The 2020 AMA Flat Track Grand Championship, featuring the nation’s fastest amateur flat track racers, takes place July 20-24 at venues in two states.
Plymouth Speedway in Plymouth, Ind., and the Ashland County Fairgrounds in Ashland, Ohio, provide the settings for the battle for AMA National No. 1 plates and AMA Racing Awards.
“Using two venues provides a challenge that is fitting for an amateur national championship event,” AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant said. “Racers will have to demonstrate mastery in three flat track racing disciplines, as well as show their speed on two different racing surfaces. We look forward to seeing the nation’s up-and-coming flat track racing stars battle it out in July.”
The first three rounds of the championship are at Plymouth Speedway July 20-22 and feature half mile, TT and short track competition. After a one-day break, the event concludes July 24 with half-mile racing at the Ashland County Fairgrounds.
The top riders at the event compete for the Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award, which honors an amateur racer poised for success at the pro level. Previous winners have also included Brad Baker, Jared Mees, Dan Bromley, Bryan Smith, and Roger Lee Hayden.
Awards also are presented for AMA Youth Flat Track Racer of the Year and AMA Vet/Senior Flat Track Racer of the Year.
The AMA Fast Brain Award is bestowed upon a racer, based upon the racer’s performance at the event, as well as official school transcripts supplied at the time of application.
Competitors at the AMA Flat Track Grand Championship ride traditional flat track motorcycles as well as DTX motorcycles, the latter beginning as stock motocross bikes that are then fitted with flat track tires and suspension and undergo other modifications.
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com
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