2020 Moto3: Max Biaggi-Owned Husqvarna Team To Field Romano Fenati And Alonso Lopez

David Swarts

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November 8, 2019

2020 Moto3: Max Biaggi-Owned Husqvarna Team To Field Romano Fenati And Alonso Lopez

HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES RETURN TO MOTO3 COMPETITION WITH MAX RACING TEAM

OFFICIALLY SUPPORTED SATELLITE TEAM WILL FIELD TWO RIDERS IN 2020 MOTO3 SEASON ONBOARD NEW HUSQVARNA FR 250 GP MACHINES

HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES RETURN TO MOTO3 COMPETITION WITH MAX RACING TEAM

Husqvarna Motorcycles are pleased to announce their return to international road racing and the FIM World Championship Grand Prix Moto3 class where they will officially support the Max Racing Team. Owned by four-time 250cc World Champion Max Biaggi who secured no fewer than 42 GP victories during an illustrious career and under the management of experienced German former-racer Peter Öttl, the team will field Romano Fenati and Alonso Lopez in the 2020 season on the new Husqvarna FR 250 GP.

The Moto3 class replaced the outgoing 125cc category in 2012 and is restricted to single-cylinder 250cc four-stroke machines. In 2014 Husqvarna Motorcycles secured Moto3 class podium finishes, stepping away from the series at the end of 2015. With a rich heritage in road racing, Husqvarna Motorcycles’ return to the hotly contested Moto3 category mirrors the brand’s wider expansion into the global street motorcycle market.

The experienced Romano Fenati finished the 2017 Moto3 World Championship as runner-up, showing himself to be a rider capable of delivering strong, season-long performances. During his time as a Moto3 campaigner Fenati has earned 11 GP victories, 24 podiums and four pole positions. Alonso Lopez, at just 17 years old, is also keen to make his mark on the Moto3 series. 2020 will be the young Spaniard’s third year in the class having made his debut in 2018, claiming a recent third-place result at the Thai Grand Prix he has shown he is more than capable of fighting for top results.

Moto3 World Championship kicks off in Qatar on March 8th.

Stefan Pierer – CEO KTM AG: “We are very much looking forward to seeing the return of Husqvarna Motorcycles to the MotoGP paddock. The Moto3 class represents the perfect platform to showcase the Husqvarna brand, as we have seen in the past during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. With Husqvarna Motorcycles continuing to expand in the direction of performance street motorcycles, we believe the added exposure from racing in the Moto3 class will help us maintain the brand’s continued growth for many years to come.”

Pit Beirer – Motorsports Director at KTM / Husqvarna Motorcycles: “We’re really excited to be able to bring the Husqvarna Motorcycles brand back into road racing and the Moto3 World Championship. The Moto3 category is an excellent platform to nurture new Grand Prix talent and represents the first rung in MotoGP World Championship competition when it comes to developing rider potential. With the knowledgeable and experienced pairing of Max Biaggi and Peter Öttl heading the team, and riders Fenati and Lopez both more than capable of challenging for race wins, we are really looking forward to seeing what the Max Racing Team can do in the 2020 season with the Husqvarna FR 250 GP.”

Max Biaggi – Max Racing Team Principal: “I am very happy that Husqvarna Motorcycles have chosen to support our team for their return to international road racing. Husqvarna’s re-entry into Moto3 is a very special and unique moment, one that personally I am very proud to be associated with. Everyone in the team is looking forward to 2020. We believe that with the support of Husqvarna Motorcycles we can achieve great things. Our two riders are both very motivated. With Romano Fenati and Alonso Lopez, we have one experienced and one young rider, but both can deliver strong results. We will give our riders all we can to allow them to show their true potential.”

Peter Öttl – Max Racing Team Manager: “I am really proud to work with Husqvarna Motorcycles in the Moto3 World Championship. After my active racing career, I worked for Husqvarna in their Offroad Racing Department, so to be opening another chapter with the brand in 2020 is personally very special to me. We have a close relationship with the company for almost 10 years now and this project is another display of trust but also a huge responsibility for our team. With the signing of Romano Fenati and Alonso Lopez, we will have two promising riders on the Husqvarna FR 250 GP. Fenati is one of the most successful Moto3 riders in recent years and he proved it already with 11 GP victories. We are convinced that he has the potential to fight for the podium right away. With Alonso Lopez, we rely on a young rider – he´s just 17 years old but already with two years’ experience in the FIM World Championship. During the last races he has produced some great performances in the category and we are confident he will evolve and improve in our team. I am more than satisfied with our rider line-up – with an experienced rider and a young talent both at a high level in the Moto3 FIM World Championship we’re looking forward to a very positive 2020 season.”

Auction November 9th: Mavros Collection On The Block Saturday In Tampa

David Swarts

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November 8, 2019

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Auction November 9th: Mavros Collection On The Block Saturday In Tampa

200+ Bikes Up For Bid Saturday, November 9th

The Auctioneer & The Collector: The Bigger-Than-Life Racing Stories Of Charlie Mavros, Jerry Wood, And Their Final Intersection

By Michael Gougis

Kyriacos “Charlie” Mavros lived the club racer’s dream. Able to purchase virtually any motorcycle he wanted, Mavros did so—and raced them hard with CCS, ASRA, WERA, AHRMA and other organizations, winning races and titles and occasionally getting himself banned from racetracks for transgressions like sharing passes he could have easily bought 10-fold…

Charlie Mavros, as seen in 2017, in Victory Circle at Daytona International Speedway with his de-stroked Suzuki GSX-R600/565 racebike. Photo by David Swarts.

One of his competitors was Jerry Wood, founder of the Penguin Racing School, a quick, accomplished racer whose sons Eric and Jeff have carried on the family motorcycling tradition. Eric’s Woodcraft Technologies company is known worldwide for its racer-friendly, high-quality aftermarket parts and the Penguin Racing School founded by Jerry and now run by Eric and Jeff pioneered teaching riders to be better and safer racers.

Racer and auctioneer Jerry Wood in action at one of his J. Wood Company motorcycle auctions, which he has held annually during Daytona Bike Week.

Wood and Mavros knew each other well. Not only did they race each other on the track, they both had a passion for Ducati motorcycles and knew many others in the Italian marque’s circle of aficionados and employees.

Mavros died March 29th, 2018, in a motorhome crash on I-95 in South Carolina. He was on his way to an AHRMA race at Carolina Motorsports Park. He was 52. Displayed at his funeral were his leathers, boots, helmet, and an NCR Ducati racebike.

Somehow, it seems fitting that Wood, a longtime motorcycle auctioneer, would be the one called on to auction off Mavros’ extensive collection of performance and racing motorcycles.

***

Who races an exotic Bimota in club endurance races? Charlie Mavros did. Mavros was known to compete in the ASRA Team Challenge GT Lights class on a Bimota DB5, and it wasn’t the only bit of Italian exotica that he raced. A Ducati Paul Smart 1000, a Ducati 800 SuperSport, a Ducati 1000 SuperSport—Mavros raced all of those and the Bimota DB5 in one day of CCS Florida competition at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Part of Charlie Mavros’ extensive motorcycle collection.

A Tampa, Florida real estate entrepreneur, Mavros also was part-owner of a strip club in New York that was well-known for the celebrities who would visit and occasionally argue and more. His business enterprises succeeded wildly. And Mavros used his wealth to pursue his passion—road racing motorcycles.

Mavros raced with WERA early in his career, entering Suzuki GSX-Rs as a Novice in 2006 and adding a Yamaha YZF-R1 to his racing fleet in 2007. But he was best-known for the trick, rule-bending Italian racebikes that he later entered in Lightweight classes. “His bikes were so good and so exotic, they would just kill the regular guys,” Wood says. “I raced in Charlie’s class, and he just put me on the truck. You didn’t know where he went.” In 2016, Mavros won an AMA Sports Expert SuperSport Lightweight Twins National Championship, just one of many titles he earned.

Mavros didn’t just pursue his passion on the track. He loved having motorcycles around, and he was not shy about purchasing the ones he liked. His collection grew and grew, with a few of his truly prized possessions on display in his expansive Tampa home. He bought mountains of spares. He imported models from overseas. And no matter how exotic a bike was, he could find a way to make it even tricker.

***

Jerry Wood has been in the motorcycle business for more than 50 years, and raced for half a century as well. He got into motorcycle sales while working as a mechanic. “I realized there was more money in selling bikes than there was in fixing them,” Wood says.

Wood’s experience with motorcycle auctions started when he was 12 and bought his first motorcycle at a church fund-raising auction. In 1971, he opened a shop with the help of a friend and sold Ducati, Norton, Maico and Moto Guzzi motorcycles. In 1980, Jerry and his wife Dee started J. Wood & Co. Auctioneers. They sold the contents of motorcycle shops, machine shops, and factories. They were positioned perfectly for the explosion of interest in Vintage bikes in the 1980s. And Wood, an experienced auctioneer by then, thought he could bring stability to the market.

Jerry Wood at another one of his auctions during Daytona Bike Week.

“In 1988, we thought, during Daytona Bike Week, we’ll set up an international auction, and we won’t have any phony bidding. We’ll set it up in the old Daytona armory and we’ll put the bikes up one at a time,” Wood says. “If it sells, good. If it doesn’t sell, we’re going to write that price down and start to establish what the real market is. People liked the straightforward approach to finding out what the real value was.”

The auction was a hit. And the revival of interest in vintage racing helped propel the popularity of the auction, which has been a staple of Bike Week for a quarter of a century. BMW invested in a racing series for retired racers, the BMW Battle Of The Legends, which took place alongside the other Vintage events going on during Bike Week. Wood said that series further fueled interest in the auctions and all things Vintage.

“That was such a hit to get Yvon Duhamel and Gary Nixon and Don Castro on the track again,” Wood said. “We out-sold the Daytona 200! It was the best of times.”

So when Mavros’ estate decided that it was time to sell off the motorcycle collection, it was only logical that Wood would get the call. Mavros had spent more than a few dollars with Ducati, and he was well-known in their organization. Someone at Ducati recommended Wood for the job, and then called Wood to prepare him.

“The guy told me, ‘Jerry, you’re not going to believe what you’re going to see,’” Wood said.

***

Charlie Mavros kept his favorite personal Ducati-powered racebikes in his house alongside his Ducati Desmosedici RR streetbike (far right), which he turned into a Casey Stoner replica. — Charlie Mavros kept his favorite personal Ducati-powered racebikes in his house alongside his Ducati Desmosedici RR (far right), which he turned into a Casey Stoner replica, and in front of a packed trophy case.

Inside Mavros’ home, Wood found a four-cylinder Yamaha TZ750 road racer, a Ducati Desmosedici RR with race bodywork painted to replicate MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner’s factory racebike, and a series of Red Bull-liveried Ducati racebikes.

A 1978 Yamaha TZ750 two-stroke racebike owned by the late Charlie Mavros.

That was just the stuff inside the house.

Outside, motorcycles were found in the garage adjacent to the house and in another massive garage on the property. In addition, there was an off-site storage facility and there were the shipping containers. Wood said in October that he was still finding containers on the property, each is packed with motorcycling history.

“There are rows of 125cc GP bikes, 250cc GP bikes, two-stroke overseas street models,” Wood says. “There are production racebikes and the corresponding street versions. Back when the manufacturers were building special models with flat-slide carburetors and aluminum tanks for homologation purposes—he’s got those.

“And there are so many containers that when I went down with my son Jeff, Jeff found another whole container! Every time you look, there’s another pile.”

Charlie Mavros’ collection includes many Grand Prix racebikes, like this vintage Honda RS125.

In total, Wood estimates that there are more than 200 motorcycles alone. And that’s just the complete bikes. There are toolboxes that are far nicer what Wood remembered from his days as a mechanic. And there are spares galore.

The auction will also include tool boxes, equipment, spare parts, and more.

“I’m not so much up on the modern stuff,” Wood says. “But Jeff kept pointing at things and saying, ‘Do you know how much those forks are worth? That’s original GSX-R bodywork! Do you know how much those things are going for on eBay?”

What really caught Wood’s eye were the NCR machines. Wood raced Ducatis as well as selling them, and Ducatis that had been breathed on by the famed tuning house were show-stoppers to him. “The starting price for those NCRs is $50,000. And then Charlie started adding high-end, high-end stuff to them,” Wood says.

A modified 1980s Yamaha RZ500 V4 two-stroke steetbike is far from the most rare or exotic motorcycle in the collection.

The collection is so large that it took planning to set up an auction. Wood has rented a small arena in Tampa and will move the bikes across the auction stage on November 9th. It’s a larger-than-life end to a larger-than-life racer’s dream, and it’s not just the collection, but what it represents, Wood says—an honest appreciation for performance bikes.

“Charlie had more money than God, and he had a passion for the motorcycles,” Wood says.

The late Charlie Mavros’ collection includes many Suzuki GSX-R sportbikes including many different models, different generations, and in all states of tune from lightly modified originals to racebikes to one-off customs.

To get more information about this auction, go HERE

Kawasaki Announces Revival Of Bimota Brand, Displays TESI H2 Concept Bike At EICMA

David Swarts

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November 8, 2019

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Bimota Kawasaki collaboration and TESI H2 concept revealed at EICMA 2019

Kawasaki Motors Europe NV (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.) established Italian Motorcycle Investment S.p.A. (hereafter IMI) on April 16, 2019 to manufacture and sell top class motorcycles under the BIMOTA brand in Rimini, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Upon receipt of the investment funds from Bimota S.A., it will be renamed Bimota S.p.A.

Bimota is a premium motorcycle brand with a rich history. Ever since the release of their first model in 1972, the unique and carefully crafted motorcycles have earned fans from all over the world.

A Bimota Kawasaki TESI H2 Concept bike on display at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy. Photo courtesy of Kawasaki UK.

Together with illustrious members like Pierluigi Marconi, the father of TESI, IMI will revive the BIMOTA brand and expand its operations, developing, producing and selling BIMOTA motorcycles for its fans around the globe. Through the supply of engines and other key components, Kawasaki Motors Europe N.V., along with the KHI Group, will support BIMOTA’s revival. The KHI Group considers it a privilege to be able to, through IMI, support the BIMOTA brand in its revival. At the 2019 EICMA show, reference models of new BIMOTA motorcycles born from the collaboration of Mr. Marconi and Kawasaki will be on exhibit. These completely new concept models will combine for the first time TESI technology from BIMOTA and innovative technology from Kawasaki’s ultra-high performance Ninja H2 motorcycle.

IMI plans to offer 200 BIMOTA brand motorcycles for sale in 2020.

Podcast: Greg’s Garage Pod With Co-Host Jason Pridmore Episode 57 Is Now Available

David Swarts

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November 8, 2019

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Podcast: Greg’s Garage Pod With Co-Host Jason Pridmore Episode 57 Is Now Available

Greg’s Garage Pod with Co-Host Jason Pridmore – A motorcycle racing Pod about MotoGP, MotoAmerica and World Superbike, Pro Motocross, American Flat Track and more. In this episode Co-Hosts Greg White and Jason Pridmore talk:

MotoGP – The boys review what happened at Sepang in Malaysia. MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3 discussed.

News – The biggest motorcycle expo, EICMA, happened this week. New products launched and teams were unveiled. Jason and Greg talk about some of the highlights including the hotly anticipated Honda CBR1000RR-R SP introduction and what it means to racing in the US and abroad.

News – Auto Racing legend Roger Penske purchases Indy Car and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. What does this mean for motorcycle road racing in the States? Will MotoGP be back??

News – Some new rules and regs for MotoGP. We talk about what they are and what they mean.

Race Calendar

AHRMA Racers Donate $2,404 To Help RWAF Buy And Deploy More Soft Barriers

David Swarts

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November 7, 2019

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AHRMA Racers Donate $2,404 To Help RWAF Buy And Deploy More Soft Barriers

AHRMA vintage racers rallied to support motorcycle racing safety with donations totaling $2,404 for the Roadracing World Action Fund.

AHRMA racer and trustee Arthur Kowitz started the grassroots fund-raising effort in the middle of the 2019 season.

“I’m fond of what you folks do, and I make contributions accordingly,” said Kowitz. “I had this idea and went to AHRMA’s Executive Director [Curtis Comer] and asked about AHRMA having a fund-raising drive.

“It didn’t go through AHRMA’s account or anything. It was merely allowing me to stand up during rider’s meetings and ask people to send money to the Roadracing World Action Fund and make sure to make a note on the donation that it’s for AHRMA.

“Part of my pitch was, ‘When you’re on your butt and sliding toward the Armco it’s too late to stroke that check. Do it now while you can.’ I also hand-made a flyer letting people know how they can [contribute] with a little bit of basic information, and I put that up at each of the last race meets.”

The AHRMA fundraiser was announced in July and ran to a scheduled end-date of October 31, 2019. Contributors included: Pam and Herb Haigh, who won a raffle at the 2019 AHRMA awards ceremony and immediately donated $200 to the fundraiser; David A. Pierce, $500; AHRMA, $500; Kevin Dinsmoor (AHRMA #304), $304; Arthur Kowitz, $300; Lorraine Crussell, $200; New Jersey Motorsports Park, $150; Curtis Comer, $100; William Doran, $100; and John Rickard, $50.

“We raised $2,400 or so,” said Kowitz, “and it was all directly from members sending in their $50 or $200 or whatever they did. So it was good. We’ll probably do it again.”

About the Roadracing World Action Fund

The Roadracing World Action Fund – a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization – began back in 2001 as a grassroots movement to improve racetrack safety for motorcycle racers and riders. At the time, hay bales or stacks of tires were sometimes placed in front of concrete walls for rider protection in case of a crash. A far better solution for rider safety existed – inflatable soft barriers which absorb the energy of a crash. Soft barriers – made by Airfence or Alpina – can allow racers to often walk away from a crash which in the past might have caused catastrophic injury, or even death.

The Roadracing World Action Fund gained the support of the motorcycle community, as racers, riders, family and friends, motorcycle businesses, and racing organizations and racetracks helped to make use of soft barriers the standard, rather than the exception, for motorcycle races and track days at racetracks across the nation. Now, from Laguna to Daytona, Motorsports Ranch to VIR, AutoClub Speedway to Blackhawk Farms, and many more, soft barriers are deployed more frequently and in greater quantities than ever before, thanks to the contributors who, over 18 years, have donated $2,101,154.09 to support the Roadracing World Action Fund mission of helping prevent racetrack injuries and spread the word through motorcycle road racing safety education. Donations are tax-deductible.

How to Donate

To help save lives and prevent injuries at the racetrack, you may make your donation as follows:

•call (909) 654-4779 to donate by credit card (M – F, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time);

•donate via Paypal to [email protected]; or

•send your tax deductible donation to:

Roadracing World Action Fund

P.O. Box 1428

Lake Elsinore, CA 92531

Your name will be added to Roadracing World’s growing list of contributors.

More About Soft Barriers

Soft barriers come in two versions, a inflatable longer version (about 30 feet long) designed to be folded up and transported between tracks, and another, shorter version (about six feet long) which does not fold up and is designed to deploy at a single track. The ambient air chamber in the longer version is supported by inflated ribs and columns, and the barrier is inflated before being deployed and tied down. The ambient air chamber in the shorter version (which does not fold up) is supported by closed-cell foam ribs and columns, which are less likely to be damaged or need repair after being hit by a crashed motorcycle. Both types of soft barriers have been deployed during every AHRMA event weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park since 2012, with the inflatable sections deployed and maintained by an ASRA/CCS crew.

Other racing organizations RWAF is currently working with (or has worked with) include MotoAmerica, AHRMA, AMA Racing, ASRA/CCS, AFM, CMRA, LRRS, MCRA, SMRI, and WERA. Track day organizations RWAF is currently working with include Fastrack Riders, Midwest, Motovid, N2, PRE, XCEL, and others.

For more information, go to https://www.roadracingworld.com/actionfund/

Future Of Ulster Grand Prix In Question

David Swarts

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November 7, 2019

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The 2019 Ulster Grand Prix race week began in a blaze of glory as Peter Hickman set a new lap record speed of 136.415 mph that brought the ‘World’s Fastest Road Race’ title back to the Dundrod circuit.

More fantastic racing was to follow but a severe weather warning forecast for Saturday’s main race day saw most fans decide to remain at home, resulting in perhaps the smallest crowd the event has ever witnessed. The huge loss of income, compounded by existing liabilities, has resulted in a major financial crisis for the organisers of the Ulster Grand Prix, the Dundrod and District Motorcycle Club.

A scene from the 2019 Ulster Grand Prix. Photo courtesy of the Ulster Grand Prix Press Office.

Over the past few months the Club has been trying to manage this difficult situation. A critical juncture has now been reached and a decision must be made as to whether or not the race will take place in 2020.

Professional advice has been sought and an urgent review is being carried out in respect of the viability of the event for 2020, together with the options available for dealing with the existing financial liabilities. Race organisers will consider the outcome of this review and a decision will be taken in the coming weeks as to the future of the Club and the Ulster Grand Prix.

“The Ulster Grand Prix celebrated its 97th birthday in 2019,” Robert Graham, Chairman of the Dundrod and District Motorcycle Club, said. “The race organisers have met with local MP, Jeffrey Donaldson, alongside representatives of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council as we continue to seek a solution to the financial problems that would enable Northern Ireland’s most prestigious and historic motorcycle race to continue towards its 100th anniversary.

“It is clear though, that in the absence of significant financial support, the Ulster Grand Prix is in real and imminent danger of disappearing from the road racing calendar, an outcome that would be a major blow for motorcycle sport in Northern Ireland.”

MotoGP: Iker Lecuona To Ride In Place Of Injured Miguel Oliveira At Valencia

David Swarts

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November 7, 2019

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MotoGP: Iker Lecuona To Ride In Place Of Injured Miguel Oliveira At Valencia

Lecuona will replace Oliveira in Valencia

Iker Lecuona is set to give his premier class debut during the final round of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship in one weeks’ time at the Circuito de la Comunitat Valenciana, replacing Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Miguel Oliveira. The Portuguese talent is forced to sit out the 19th Grand Prix of the season following a successful surgery on the ligaments of his right shoulder last weekend and is already on his road to recovery in order to be fully fit for the 2020 campaign.

Just a fortnight ago, Red Bull KTM Tech3 together with KTM announced, that Lecuona will line up next to Oliveira in the French squad for 2020, yet thanks to the open-minded Eitan Butbul, team owner of American Racing team in the Moto2 class, the 19-year-old will have the chance to try the KTM RC16 for the first time before the end of the 2019 season on his home track. Following three full years in the Moto2 World Championship, where Lecuona secured two podiums, the talented Spaniard is now eager to graduate to the MotoGP category.

American Sean Dylan Kelly Making Moto2 World Championship Debut At Valencia (Updated)

David Swarts

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November 7, 2019

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AMERICAN SEAN DYLAN KELLY MAKING MOTO2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUT

American Sean Dylan Kelly is set to make his Moto2 World Championship debut at the 2019 season finale in Valencia, Spain, on November 15-17.

Team Hammer has granted the 17-year-old rising star — who is currently in the midst of a two-year (2019-2020) contract to race in MotoAmerica — permission to compete that weekend with American Racing Team. He’ll ride a Moto2 racebike in place of Spaniard Iker Lecuona, who is racing in MotoGP at Valencia prior to moving up to the Red Bull KTM Tech3 MotoGP squad in 2020.

“First of all, this is the start of a dream for me. The next week and a half is something my family, the circle around me, and I have long hoped for,” said Kelly, known as SDK in the MotoAmerica paddock. “I’m super excited. We’ve come a long way and honestly I’m still letting the moment sink in before getting down to business.”

Sean Dylan Kelly. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

For Kelly, the exciting opportunity marks a temporary return to the MotoGP paddock and a fitting way to celebrate his breakout rookie season in the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing series. Armed with an M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R600 in 2019, Kelly finished this year’s MotoAmerica Supersport Championship ranked fourth in points. The Hollywood, Florida resident did so on the strength of seven podium finishes, including a thrilling double-victory weekend at Pittsburgh International Race Complex.

Prior to the start of the MotoAmerica season, Kelly played a starring role in the 78th Daytona 200 in his Team Hammer debut on a Suzuki GSX-R600, where he became the youngest pole winner in the prestigious event’s nearly eight-decade history and backed that achievement up with a runner-up result in the arduous race.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole career and I have a good idea of what I am getting into,” said Kelly. “Last year about this time, I was able to test a Moto2 bike so I’ve done quite a bit of ‘studying’ for my next opportunity and I think I am prepared. Going from a single bike test to a World Championship Moto2 race is a big deal. There’s no pressure on me, I am just going to learn and enjoy the competition and do my best. I’m really grateful to Eitan with American Racing Team for believing in me, to give me this chance. Also, thanks to John and Chris Ulrich of Team Hammer for not just having me race on their team, but for also helping me along the path.”

Kelly came to Team Hammer fresh off of three seasons as a full-time participant in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, where he showed steady, incremental progress each year. That improvement culminated in a final Rookies Cup campaign in which he ranked inside the championship top-10 after tallying up seven top-10 race results.

Kelly first attracted global attention as a 13-year-old wunderkind due to his remarkable success at the 2015 KTM RC390 Cup World Finals, in which he won Race One and ended the World Finals ranked second overall.

“Team Hammer has a reputation for finding, developing, and winning with talented young American racers, then launching them on the next step in their professional careers,” said Chris Ulrich, Team Hammer Vice President of Racing Operations. “We have helped Sean understand how to ride a 600, use data, and set up a motorcycle during the 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport season, his first on a 600 after competing on Moto3 bikes for three years in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. So we are happy that Sean’s performance while racing for our team has earned him an opportunity to ride as a fill-in Moto2 World Championship rider at Valencia in a little more than a week. This is just the first step for SDK, and we have agreed to explore potential future opportunities with American Racing Team owner Eitan Butbul. I’m proud to be a part of it and will be in Valencia to cheer SDK on!”

“I think this is great for American racing,” said MotoAmerica President and three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Wayne Rainey. “This is a strong opportunity for SDK to ride in the Moto2 class. He is a very aggressive rider, a well-spoken young man, and has a ton of talent. He’s been in our series for a year and really performed. We feel our series is starting to work well and one of our goals is to get our riders a chance in World Championships. I’m looking forward to see how well Sean Dylan does.”

About Team Hammer

The 2020 season will mark Team Hammer’s 40th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 83 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 234 times and have won seven AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships on Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” Suzuki GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.

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.

More, from a press release issued by American Racing Team:

Iker Lecuona to ride MotoGP class in Valencia and the American Team to have second American rider at the last race of the season.

Iker Lecuona, The American Racing Team KTM rider, will ride in the MotoGP class at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit.

The Valencian Grand Prix was going to be the last race for Lecuona with the American Racing Team, but Miguel Oliveira’s injury opened the opportunity for Iker to debut in the MotoGP category that offered by Tech3 Team and as a reward from American Racing team for all the hard work he has done in last three seasons and especially in 2019.

As a replacement rider the 17-year-old American rider Sean Dylan Kelly will join the American Racing team for his debut at the Moto2 World championship. The American Racing Team will be participating with two American riders Joe Roberts and Sean Dylan Kelly in the world championship race in Valencia.

Eitan Butbul: “The team was approached by Tech3 team to offer the option to have Iker to replace Oliveira on the MotoGP bike at the last race in Valencia. We were very happy for this opportunity and thought it would show our appreciation to Iker after three seasons and we fully agreed to release him to participate at his home race on a MotoGP bike.

“As a replacement rider for the Valencia round the team will have the 17-year-old American rider Sean Dylan Kelly to have his debut at the Moto2 World Championship. Sean rode three years at the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup until 2018, and in 2019 season he finished 4th place at the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship with Team Hammer. We thought it will be an amazing opportunity to let him try the Moto2 bike in a race weekend and at the same time have two American Riders.

“This debut and wild card to follow is a result of a corporation between the American Team and Team Hammer to work together when possible to create career opportunities for young American racers.”

Iker Lecuona: “To have this opportunity in my home Grand Prix is a proud moment for me. We must enjoy this beautiful experience, but above all learn as much as possible for the future. All this would not have been possible without the help and encouragement of Hervé Poncharal, as well as Eitan Butbul and the American Racing Team amazing Crew, they helped me to grow as a rider and as a person. I also want to wish the best possible recovery to Oliveira, who will be my team mate next season. I will give my best in Valencia as I always do.”

Sean Dylan Kelly, Team Hammer Rider: “I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole career and I have a good idea of what I am getting into. I am just going to learn and enjoy the competition and do my best. I’m really grateful to Eitan with American Racing Team for believing in me, for giving me this chance. Also, thanks to John and Chris Ulrich of Team Hammer for not just having me race on their team, but for also helping me along the path.”

Chris Ulrich, Team Hammer Vice President of Racing Operations: “Team Hammer has a reputation for finding, developing, and winning with talented young American racers, then launching them on the next step in their professional careers. We have helped Sean understand how to ride a 600, use data, and set up a motorcycle during the 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport season, his first on a 600 after competing on Moto3 bikes for three years in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. So we are happy that Sean’s performance while racing for our team has earned him an opportunity to ride as a fill-in Moto2 World Championship rider at Valencia in a little more than a week. This is just the first step for SDK, and we have agreed to explore potential future opportunities with American Racing Team owner Eitan Butbul. I’m proud to be a part of it and will be in Valencia to cheer SDK on!”

2019 Ducati Dealer Of The Year For North & South America Goes To AMS Ducati Dallas

David Swarts

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November 6, 2019

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2019 Ducati Dealer Of The Year For North & South America Goes To AMS Ducati Dallas

Editorial Note: AMS Ducati Dallas’ Jeff Nash won the 2000 AMA Pro Thunder Championship riding a Ducati 748.

Ducati Global Dealer Conference Shines Spotlight on Thriving North American Dealership Network

Event highlighted 19 award-winners, including regional categories for sales volume and growth

AMS Ducati Dallas awarded special recognition by global Chief Executive Officer Claudio Domenicali as Ducati Dealer of the Year 2019 for North & South America

Ducati North America Chief Executive Jason Chinnock in attendance to honor leading dealerships alongside global Chief Executive Officer Claudio Domenicali

Mountain View, Calif. – As Ducati continues to grow in influence and importance within the global motorcycle industry, North America remains an integral market for the Italian brand. This international significance of North America was recently reflected during a private award ceremony at the Ducati Global Dealer Conference, which took place along the shores of the Adriatic Sea in Rimini, Italy.

Accolades were given in areas of Top Sales Volume and Top Growth for various regions, as well as overall Top Sales Volume awards for the United States, Canada and Mexico. Among the regional and national categories, Ducati also notably honored Jeff Nash, President of Advanced Motorsports (AMS) Ducati Dallas, with a special award for his dealership’s dedication and performance as Ducati Dealer Of The Year 2019 for North & South America. The award was personally presented to Nash by Ducati’s global Chief Executive Officer, Claudio Domenicali, who was in attendance alongside Ducati North America’s Chief Executive, Jason Chinnock.

“We are incredibly honored and excited to receive this award,” said Jeff Nash, Founder of AMS Ducati Dallas. “Since 1995, our team has been a leader in Ducati sales and service in the United States and we have always strived to provide our customers with the best experience possible when visiting our dealership. From sales to service our team is made up of passionate, knowledgeable Ducatisti and we hope that our customers see and feel this in their experiences with us. We are grateful for our customers and friends who reach out to us both local and abroad as we would not be able to achieve this honor without them.”

“Our dealer network is the cornerstone of our success,” said Chinnock. “Ducati’s reputation for exceptional customer service is something we must value, preserve, and strengthen – and our dealerships do. Everyday. From Mexico City to our new flagship location in Montréal, all the way to our exclusive new showrooms like those in Newport Beach, California and Richmond, British Columbia, we are one team. To have the opportunity to gather everyone together in our home country of Italy and celebrate our achievements is something special. It’s what being part of the Ducati family is all about.”

The Ducati Global Dealer Conference in Italy was timed to coincide with the Ducati World Premiere program, which took place on October 23 at the Palacongressi di Rimini, and included the premiere of such highly anticipated motorcycles as the Streetfighter V4, the Panigale V2, and the new Panigale V4 superbike.

The full list of winners from the Ducati Global Dealer Conference can be found below:

United States of America

Top Growth – Northeast Region – Cross Country Ducati – Metuchen, N.J.

Top Sales Volume – Northeast Region – Ducati New York – New York, N.Y.

Top Growth – Southeast Region – Bloodworth Motorcycle – Nashville, Tenn.

Top Sales Volume – Southeast Region – Ducati Miami – Miami, Fla.

Top Growth – Southwest Region – A&S Ducati – Roseville, Calif.

Top Sales Volume – Southwest Region – Ducati Newport Beach – Costa Mesa, Calif.

Top Growth – South Central Region – V1 Moto – Houston, Texas

Top Sales Volume – South Central Region – AMS Ducati Dallas – Dallas, Texas

Top Growth – Northwest Region – Ducati Las Vegas – Las Vegas, Nev.

Top Sales Volume – Northwest Region – MotoCorsa – Portland, Ore.

Top Growth – Midwest Region – Ducati Indianapolis – Zionsville, Ind.

Top Sales Volume – Midwest Region – Ducati Detroit – Birmingham, Mich.

Top Growth – Mid-Atlantic Region – North American Warhorse – Dunmore, Pa.

Top Sales Volume – Mid-Atlantic Region – Coleman Powersports – Falls Church, Va.

Top Sales Volume – United States – Ducati New York – New York, N.Y.

Canada

Top Growth – Canada – Motos Thibault Sherbrooke – Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada

Top Sales Volume – Canada – GP Bikes – Whitby, Ontario, Canada

Mexico

Top Growth – Mexico – Ducati Polanco – Mexico City, Mexico

Top Sales Volume – Mexico – Ducati Puebla – Puebla, Mexico

Metzeler Introduces Four New Tire Models, Including Track-Day Slicks

David Swarts

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November 6, 2019

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Metzeler Introduces Four New Tire Models, Including Track-Day Slicks

A winning hand from METZELER: four new tires for 2020

SPORTEC™ M9 RR, ROADTEC™ 01 SE, RACETEC™ TD Slick and ROADTEC™ Scooter are the new products to join the brand’s range in their relative segments

Munich (Germany), 6 November 2019 –METZELER, always at the forefront of research and technological innovation, announces that, in 2020, it will broaden its range with four new tire models.

SPORTEC™ M9 RR, ROADTEC™ 01 SE, RACETEC™ TD Slick and ROADTEC™ Scooter are the new products strengthening the brand’s range in their relative segments.

SPORTEC™ M9 RR is the successor of the multiple award-winning SPORTEC™ M7 RR, which is still considered a benchmark in the Supersport segment. ROADTEC™ 01 SE represents the evolution of ROADTEC™ 01, available in radial sizes for owners of naked, supersport and sport-touring bikes who are looking for improved handling and sportier performance. RACETEC™ TD Slick is a new slick tire for track-day lovers and club racers. Finally, ROADTEC™ Scooter, the chosen heir of the FEELFREE™ family, is designed for urban mobility, commuting and sport-touring use typical of the ROADTEC™product family.

Metzeler SPORTEC M9 RR tires. Photo courtesy of Metzeler.

SPORTEC™ M9 RR – Ride the unexpected

SPORTEC™ M9 RR is without a doubt the most keenly awaited release for all supersport riders who have had the chance to appreciate the already excellent experience offered by the SPORTEC™ M7 RR, with SPORTEC™ M9 RR bringing further performance improvements across the board. SPORTEC™ M9 RR, as you may guess from the name, has a strong connection to its predecessor and its roots. The name SPORTEC™ identifies the range of sports road tires designed for day-to-day use and to guarantee a great riding experience, safety and versatility. RR stands for Road Racing and immediately brings to mind the iconic Isle of Man TT competition, won this year by champion Dean Harrison on METZELER tires. Road racing competitions bring to mind not only performance but also the typical characteristics associated with the use of road bikes, which generally include unpredictable weather and road-surface conditions. This is the concept behind the claim for the new product, “Ride the Unexpected.”

SPORTEC™ M9 RR perfectly combines the typical versatility of day-to-day use with the brand’s competitive experience in road racing, building on the important legacy of the SPORTEC™ M7 RR, a tire that boasts an impressive list of awards and recognitions. This is completed with the most recent technological advances from the German brand’s research and development pursuits.

One of the most pervasive innovations in motorcycle technology from the introduction of the SPORTEC™ M7 RR has been the development of electronic rider-assist technology, supported by sophisticated sensors that offer riders greater security, regardless of the type of motorcycle. In this context, tires play a fundamental role in allowing the electronics to interpret the true behavior of the vehicle and calibrate it to offer the best riding experience and optimum performance. The biggest challenge for the METZELER Research and Development Center was to adapt the dynamic performance of the SPORTEC™ M9 RRto a wide range of motorcycles, allowing electronic rider assistance systems to function properly.

SPORTEC™ M9 RR has been designed for motorcyclists, primarily owners of supersport and naked bikes, with a sporty riding style and who use their bikes almost every day in conditions from the urban jungle to the winding weekend roads. These riders are looking for improved performance and want a great riding experience with sporty performance even in wet conditions, but also with the option to take their bike on the track as well. These riders need a sports tire that provides precise and reliable feedback while they enjoy their bike’s performance.

The full SPORTEC™ M9 RRrange includes 3 front and 9 rear tires sizes.

Metzeler ROADTEC 01 SE tires. Photo courtesy of Metzeler.

ROADTEC™ 01 SE – The sporty side of touring

Following the success of the multiple award-winning ROADTEC™ 01 that debuted in 2015 for the sport-touring tire segment, METZELER has decided to introduce the new ROADTEC™ 01 SE.

The ROADTEC™ 01 SE radial range completes METZELER’s catalog, consolidating the strengths of the ROADTEC™ 01 – with its exceptional performance in wet conditions and high mileage – and enhancing the sporty characteristics in terms of the grip and agility needed by supersport, naked and sport-touring riders.

To meet sports requirements that imply high performance at sharp lean angles, the tread design for the ROADTEC™ 01 SEbuilds on that of the ROADTEC™ 01, with an evolution towards a tire with a slicker shoulder, optimizing drive with a greater surface area coming into contact with the asphalt.

The front models of the ROADTEC™ 01 SE inherit the latest version of the full-silica compound used for the ROADTEC™ 01 and feature the same tread pattern in the middle section, a key aspect of its exceptional grip on low-friction surfaces. The shoulders are slicker, and the relative structural refinement optimizes performance through half and full lean, improving agility and steering stability.

The rear models of the ROADTEC™ 01 SE use a bi-compoundand, as with the front, feature a sportier evolution of the ROADTEC™ 01 tread pattern, aimed at offering greater drive at sharper lean angles together with comfort and driving pleasure capable of satisfying even the most demanding riders, both on long routes and winding roads. ROADTEC™ 01 and ROADTEC™ 01 SE: two products perfect for any adventurer with a sports attitude.

RACETEC™ TD Slick

RACETEC™ TD Slick joins the range of METZELER™ racing slick tires, dedicated to riders and club racers with a focus on competition and training use.

RACETEC™ TD Slick is a slick tire for the track that is quick and easy to use. It can also be used without tire warmers and does not require any special bike set-up to offer optimal performance. The key features of the RACETEC™ TD Slickinclude optimal performance, uniformity of yield even after several sessions, versatility for different track surfaces and operating temperatures, high resistance to abrasion and the option to reverse the direction of rotation of the rear tires between sessions if the circuit configuration generates more wear on one side.

RACETEC™ TD Slick has been designed for riders that want the advantages of a slick product but without the need for additional racing equipment (stands, tire warmers, generators, etc.) or a highly tuned bike set-up and suspension, as are normally needed with slick racing tires.

RACETEC™ TD Slick is therefore aimed at all riders who do not want to go without slick tires on the track, expert riders who want a plug-and-play product for long free sessions, and club riders who need a tire with endurance mileage and an excellent quality/price ratio that allows them to focus on improving lap times for the entire race weekend.

The new tire will be available in four sizes at 17 inches: 120/70 front and 180/55, 190/55 and 200/55 rear.

Metzeler ROADTEC Scooter tires. Photo courtesy of Metzeler.

ROADTEC™ Scooter

ROADTEC™ Scooter is the new tire developed by METZELER for all types of scooters with wheels from 10 to 16 inches. ROADTEC™ Scooter boasts extreme flexibility and versatility, meets the broadest range of weather, temperature and road-surface conditions, in urban areas and beyond.

The development of the ROADTEC™ Scooter naturally took inspiration from the ROADTEC™ 01, while optimizing its features for scooter use. The full range includes 51 sizes, and ROADTEC™ Scooter will gradually replace the current METZELER catalog, including FEELFREE™, FEELFREE™ WINTEC and ME 7 TEEN™, with a single product offering optimum performance.

More specifically, ROADTEC™ Scooter, compared to the products it will replace,guarantees greater grip on wet and low-friction surfaces, along with use under a greater range of temperatures and improved handling.

The tread design of this new tire is directly based on the ROADTEC™ 01, specifically developed to allow the use of a system partially based on siping. The primary benefits of this help with warm-up and comfort, as the siping contributes to the deformability of the tread, and first-class grip on low-friction surfaces, guaranteed by the recognizable ROADTEC™ 01 groove pattern.

Compared to its predecessors, ROADTEC™ Scooter features a rounder profile to increase the tread contact area, and a more rigid structure to support the profile and improve handling.

Finally, the ROADTEC™ Scooter compounds feature a high percentage of silica for greater control in wet conditions and use at a greater range of temperatures. All ROADTEC™ Scooter rear radial tires use a bi-compound.

2020 Moto3: Max Biaggi-Owned Husqvarna Team To Field Romano Fenati And Alonso Lopez

November 8, 2019

Max Racing Team Manager Peter Öttl (left), Max Racing Team Principal Max Biaggi (right), and a Husqvarna FR 250 GP Moto3 racebike. Photo courtesy of Husqvarna Motorcycles.

HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES RETURN TO MOTO3 COMPETITION WITH MAX RACING TEAM

OFFICIALLY SUPPORTED SATELLITE TEAM WILL FIELD TWO RIDERS IN 2020 MOTO3 SEASON ONBOARD NEW HUSQVARNA FR 250 GP MACHINES

HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES RETURN TO MOTO3 COMPETITION WITH MAX RACING TEAM

Husqvarna Motorcycles are pleased to announce their return to international road racing and the FIM World Championship Grand Prix Moto3 class where they will officially support the Max Racing Team. Owned by four-time 250cc World Champion Max Biaggi who secured no fewer than 42 GP victories during an illustrious career and under the management of experienced German former-racer Peter Öttl, the team will field Romano Fenati and Alonso Lopez in the 2020 season on the new Husqvarna FR 250 GP.

The Moto3 class replaced the outgoing 125cc category in 2012 and is restricted to single-cylinder 250cc four-stroke machines. In 2014 Husqvarna Motorcycles secured Moto3 class podium finishes, stepping away from the series at the end of 2015. With a rich heritage in road racing, Husqvarna Motorcycles’ return to the hotly contested Moto3 category mirrors the brand’s wider expansion into the global street motorcycle market.

The experienced Romano Fenati finished the 2017 Moto3 World Championship as runner-up, showing himself to be a rider capable of delivering strong, season-long performances. During his time as a Moto3 campaigner Fenati has earned 11 GP victories, 24 podiums and four pole positions. Alonso Lopez, at just 17 years old, is also keen to make his mark on the Moto3 series. 2020 will be the young Spaniard’s third year in the class having made his debut in 2018, claiming a recent third-place result at the Thai Grand Prix he has shown he is more than capable of fighting for top results.

Moto3 World Championship kicks off in Qatar on March 8th.

Stefan Pierer – CEO KTM AG: “We are very much looking forward to seeing the return of Husqvarna Motorcycles to the MotoGP paddock. The Moto3 class represents the perfect platform to showcase the Husqvarna brand, as we have seen in the past during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. With Husqvarna Motorcycles continuing to expand in the direction of performance street motorcycles, we believe the added exposure from racing in the Moto3 class will help us maintain the brand’s continued growth for many years to come.”

Pit Beirer – Motorsports Director at KTM / Husqvarna Motorcycles: “We’re really excited to be able to bring the Husqvarna Motorcycles brand back into road racing and the Moto3 World Championship. The Moto3 category is an excellent platform to nurture new Grand Prix talent and represents the first rung in MotoGP World Championship competition when it comes to developing rider potential. With the knowledgeable and experienced pairing of Max Biaggi and Peter Öttl heading the team, and riders Fenati and Lopez both more than capable of challenging for race wins, we are really looking forward to seeing what the Max Racing Team can do in the 2020 season with the Husqvarna FR 250 GP.”

Max Biaggi – Max Racing Team Principal: “I am very happy that Husqvarna Motorcycles have chosen to support our team for their return to international road racing. Husqvarna’s re-entry into Moto3 is a very special and unique moment, one that personally I am very proud to be associated with. Everyone in the team is looking forward to 2020. We believe that with the support of Husqvarna Motorcycles we can achieve great things. Our two riders are both very motivated. With Romano Fenati and Alonso Lopez, we have one experienced and one young rider, but both can deliver strong results. We will give our riders all we can to allow them to show their true potential.”

Peter Öttl – Max Racing Team Manager: “I am really proud to work with Husqvarna Motorcycles in the Moto3 World Championship. After my active racing career, I worked for Husqvarna in their Offroad Racing Department, so to be opening another chapter with the brand in 2020 is personally very special to me. We have a close relationship with the company for almost 10 years now and this project is another display of trust but also a huge responsibility for our team. With the signing of Romano Fenati and Alonso Lopez, we will have two promising riders on the Husqvarna FR 250 GP. Fenati is one of the most successful Moto3 riders in recent years and he proved it already with 11 GP victories. We are convinced that he has the potential to fight for the podium right away. With Alonso Lopez, we rely on a young rider – he´s just 17 years old but already with two years’ experience in the FIM World Championship. During the last races he has produced some great performances in the category and we are confident he will evolve and improve in our team. I am more than satisfied with our rider line-up – with an experienced rider and a young talent both at a high level in the Moto3 FIM World Championship we’re looking forward to a very positive 2020 season.”

Auction November 9th: Mavros Collection On The Block Saturday In Tampa

November 8, 2019

Some of the motorcycles from the late Charlie Mavros’ 200+ motorcycle collection that will be auctioned off in Florida in November. — Some of the motorcycles from the late Charlie Mavros’ 200+ motorcycle collection that will be auctioned off in Tampa, Florida on November 9th.