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British Superbike: FS-3 Racing To Become Kawasaki Motors UK’s Official Team In 2020

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British Superbike: FS-3 Racing To Become Kawasaki Motors UK’s Official Team In 2020

After four years of building a strong relationship campaigning Kawasaki machinery, the FS-3 Racing team will step up to represent Kawasaki Motors UK at the highest level of domestic Superbike championship racing in 2020 and beyond.

Working their way through the ranks in the ultra-competitive British Superbike Championship paddock over the years, the team took their maiden race wins in 2019 with Danny Buchan and secured a place in the end of season Showdown. The hard work and dedication shown by FS-3 Racing in the lead-up to these achievements are principles shared by Team Green and deserving of the added support that the official status provides.

Danny Buchan will be remaining with the team for 2020 to pilot the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR on which he has achieved his successes this season. Buchan has been part of the Kawasaki family since he entered the Junior Superstock class a decade ago. Winning two National Superstock 1000 titles along the way, Kawasaki are delighted by Buchan’s development. His place with FS-3 Racing completes the Team Green programme in the UK, representing Kawasaki at the highest level.

“Most of my racing career has been with Kawasaki so It’s nice to look back on when I first signed up with Team Green in 2010, and now going into 2020 as an official Kawasaki rider and in the official Team Green outfit is just amazing. I’m really looking forward to it,” commented Buchan.

“My goal for next year is to win the championship and that’s that. There is no other outcome for me. I’ve made my way to the top in all the other classes I’ve raced in, because I want to win.”

“There will be some strong competition, but it will come down to our testing programme and how much we can get done in the off season to prepare. I am riding very well now so hopefully we can take the edge off the competition and get ourselves at the front regularly, fighting for wins every weekend. I want to solidify myself as a regular race winner and not just Danny Buchan, the showdown rider, so that’s the goal for 2020,” said Buchan.

Team owner, Nigel Snook is understandably pleased with the achievements of the team in such a short space of time and is excited about what lies ahead, saying, ‘’We’re delighted to be going forward into 2020 as Kawasaki’s official BSB entrant and with Danny Buchan with us for a third year. Danny has done a fantastic job for the team this year, chalking up race wins and comfortably qualifying for the Showdown. We’re delighted that he’s sticking with us as we operate as a tight knit team.”

“Danny’s performances are a feather in the cap for everyone in the team. Less than four years ago we joined the championship with a second-hand bike and two vans. The key has been putting together a great team of people and working with technical experts who have helped us develop our Ninja ZX-10RR into a race winner. We’ve taken one step at a time and have had great support from Stuart Higgs, our many trade supporters and sponsors. It’s a good feeling to reward everyone’s faith in us as we step up to run two Superbikes on behalf of Kawasaki.’’

Kawasaki Motors UK Senior Racing Coordinator, Ross Burridge shares the excitement saying, “Danny and the FS-3 Racing team have been remarkable this season, having really stepped up to the plate and producing results that we are all extremely happy with. Moving into 2020, I truly believe that we can fight for the title and be competitive at the highest level for the next three years. On behalf of Kawasaki UK, we would like to thank Pete Extance and the entire Bournemouth Kawasaki team for all of their efforts over the past three seasons with the highlight of course being the Championship win last year! We wish you all the best in whatever the future holds for you and the team”.

FS-3 Racing and Kawasaki are looking forward to developing a successful partnership over the next three years.

MotoGP: World Championship Heading To Motorland Aragon This Coming Weekend

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MotoGP: World Championship Heading To Motorland Aragon This Coming Weekend

Engines ON for Aragon!

MotorLand Aragon awaits, with Marquez in the driving seat – and the crosshairs

Wednesday, 18 September 2019

After the raucous seaside of the Riviera di Rimini, it’s now time to head for the unique backdrop of MotorLand Aragon. The technically challenging track is an oasis of speed nestled in the stunning scenery of the area, an outpost of racing excellence in a region where competition has serious history – and more of it is made year on year. This season, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) arrives with an aptly numbered 93-point lead, but the last three races have more than shown that the reigning Champion doesn’t always get his own way…so how will it play out on home turf?

Maquez’ speed at the circuit is something to seriously respect. The number 93 has won four times in the premier class at MotorLand, including the last three in a row, and has four pole positions to undoubtedly make him the man to beat at the track. Can he do it again this season to extend his lead even further? If he can, there’s a chance he’ll tee himself up with a chance to win the title in Thailand…

It’s never an easy ask though – even when the track has a corner named after you. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) seems a good bet as someone who will be aiming to derail Marquez’ assault on Aragon, and coming from two podiums in a row he’s on good form. He’s never won at MotorLand in the premier class, but there’s no time like the present to start creating some momentum. His teammate Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) will also be aiming for the podium, and plenty of eyes will once again be on Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT).

The rookie had a stunning race in Misano, taking the reigning Champion to the wire and putting up a fight on the last lap. In the end it was another podium and not a maiden win, but it’s the closest the fast Frenchman has come to the top step so far – and in some serious style. Can he do it again this weekend? If he does it, Rookie of the Year will start to look less like a probability and more like a formality.

Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), meanwhile, is looking for a comeback. The number 42 hails from mere kilometers away from MotorLand to make it a true home venue for the Suzuki rider. After defeating Marquez with his stunning move at Silverstone, Rins faltered at Misano and crashed out – so motivation will be higher than ever. He also slipped to fourth in the standings with the mistake on the Riviera di Rimini, so Aragon is a chance to get back into that top three and stake his claim on another podium at least.

The man who moved above Rins at Misano was Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) who, despite a tougher few rounds of late, has kept raking in the points to put himself back behind teammate Andrea Dovizioso in the standings. Misano was also tougher weekend than many expected for the Borgo Panigale factory though, so can they bounce back at MotorLand? Traditionally a tougher track for Ducati than some, a good few eyes will be on the two Italians in red and Dovizioso will be aiming to repeat his impressive performance from last year.

In the fight for top Independent Team rider, it’s also close, although Quartararo’s Misano masterpiece put him back above Jack Miller (Pramac Racing), and gave him some breathing space ahead of Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) for now. Is another twist coming in Round 14? Crutchlow certainly will want to score big and bounce back from a crash on the Riviera di Rimini and Miller made good progress forward on Sunday in San Marino.

Making life increasingly difficult for the riders who started the season bothering the top five, top eight and top ten is Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), however. A stunning performance from the Spaniard in qualifying at Misano gave KTM their second front row of the season, and the number 44 brought it home in seventh at the flag, battling the likes of Rins and the Ducatis. Espargaro has impressed more than a few times this season, and home turf at Aragon will see him pushing to do the same. And there’s news on the other side of the KTM garage: after announcing in the summer that Johann Zarco would be parting ways with the Austrian factory for 2020, the switch has come early and it’s test rider Mika Kallio who takes over for the remaining races of this season. How will Kallio fare in a full-time seat? And can KTM profit even more from the Finn’s feedback as they continue their huge development push?

At Aprilia, meanwhile, it’s also home turf for Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and he’s been on the podium at the track before – his only rostrum in the premier class. Teammate Andrea Iannone was forced to sit Misano out after hurting his shoulder and could find it tougher going, although Noale factory test rider Bradley Smith will be out on track too, with the goal for all good points.

Misano is unique and MotorLand the same – in a completely different way. Can Marquez extend his lead in the final race before the flyaways? Or will the likes of Viñales, Quartararo and Rins fight back? The outpost of speed fires up for MotoGP™ on Friday 20th September, with the premier class race at the slightly earlier time of 13:00 (GMT +2) on Sunday 22nd.

Championship standings

1 – Marc Marquez (SPA – Honda) – 275

2 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA – Ducati) – 182

3 – Danilo Petrucci (ITA – Ducati) – 151

4 – Alex Rins (SPA – Suzuki) – 149

5 – Maverick Viñales (SPA – Yamaha) – 134


Marquez vs Fernandez: is this the duel for the crown?

An investigation, a last-lap move on the limit and back-to-back wins put the rider from Madrid on a roll

After another stunner at Misano, Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) remains in charge of the Moto2™ standings, but Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) is starting to make his presence more than felt. Two wins on the bounce and a crash for Marquez on the day of the first puts Fernandez only 26 points in arrears, and next up is MotorLand – a track both know well, and a track where both race on home turf.

As has been true throughout an incredibly interesting season in the intermediate class so far, however, things can turn on a dime. The only constant since earlier in the year has often been Marquez and his pace, with Silverstone the only self-inflicted hiccup, but Fernandez took the gloves off at Misano, Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) was back in the battle and Speed Up put on a serious show of pace. This time it wasn’t Jorge Navarro (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) but teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio who took Fernandez to the wire, but competitors need to keep an eye on both the Spanish veteran and Italian rookie after an impressive season so far.

Meanwhile, there are the men with the track records. Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) was back in the top five and on form at Misano, and he’s won before at Aragon. And so has Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who took victory last year and is slowly making his way up the standings after a tougher start to the year. He’s won one race in 2019 already, could MotorLand see him fight for another?

The track is a challenging and technical way to end the European leg of the season ahead of the flyaways, and it will be another fascinating Moto2™ race. One thing is sure: Alex Marquez will leave for Buriram in the lead, but it could be by a single point or by 51, and MotorLand will decide. So make sure to tune in for the Gran Premio Michelin® de Aragon from the 20th to 22nd September, with the intermediate class racing on Sunday at the slightly later time of 14:30 (GMT +2).

Championship standings

1 – Alex Marquez (SPA – Kalex) – 197

2 – Augusto Fernandez (SPA – Kalex) – 171

3 – Tom Lüthi (SWI – Kalex) – 159

4 – Jorge Navarro (SPA – Speed Up) – 155

5 – Brad Binder (RSA – KTM) – 135


Is Dalla Porta now in the driving seat?

Despite a penalty dropping him slightly down the order at Misano, the Italian now has a comfortable margin at the top…

At Misano, all eyes were on Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) as the Championship leader arrived with a healthy lead to the track where he took his first Grand Prix win, but early in the race focus shifted quickly as Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) suffered a mechanical problem. Would Dalla Porta be able to capitalise? In part, although track limits caught him out and left him far off the podium. And so, as we arrive to what’s now Canet’s home turf, Dalla Porta has a lead of 22 points and it would be a long shot to see him lose that at MotorLand. Canet would have to win and Dalla Porta would have to score a 0.

It’s far from a two-horse race, however. Tatsuki Suzuki’s (SIC58 Squadra Corse) stunning and emotional victory means 2019 is the first time there have been ten different winners in a single season in the lightweight class, with competition so fierce it’s making history. And there are two names at the top but Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) isn’t far behind Canet, Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) is just within touching distance…then the likes of John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) lurk just behind with some serious proven pace.

Meanwhile Jaume Masia (WWR) is on home turf at Aragon, Albert Arenas (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) had some pace in Italy and Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) is another fast man now back from injury. There’s a reason Moto3™ races are often a freight train: the field is fast and deep.

The only man in the class who has conquered MotorLand before, Romano Fenati (VNE Snipers), broke his scaphoid at Misano – so a new name will be on the top step. Will it be one who has already won a race this year or another record-breaking different winner? Watch the Gran Premio Michelin® de Aragon from the 20th to 22nd September.

Championship standings

1 – Lorenzo Dalla Porta (ITA – Honda) – 179

2 – Aron Canet (SPA – KTM) – 157

3 – Tony Arbolino (ITA – Honda) – 149

4 – Marcos Ramirez (SPA – Honda) – 123

5 – Niccolo Antonelli (ITA – Honda) – 118

MotoGP: RBoM Racing Looking To Fill 20% Of Twins Cup Grid At Barber (Updated)

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MotoGP: RBoM Racing Looking To Fill 20% Of Twins Cup Grid At Barber (Updated)

As the 2019 MotoAmerica season comes to a close this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park, a maximum-capacity grid of 36 Twins Cup competitors is expected and RBoM Racing looks forward to filling about 20% of the field.

Headlining the RBoM assault will be new recruit #18 Jackson Blackmon and veteran front-runner #180 Curtis Murray. Both Blackmon and Murray are riding the wave of momentum after they both finished on the podium at New Jersey Motorsports Park, with 2nd and 3rd place finishes, respectively. Blackmon turned the fastest lap of the race, setting an unofficial SV650 lap record in the process, crossing the finish line just 0.3 seconds behind the eventual winner. Murray has been working tirelessly with Robem Engineering to develop his 2018 Suzuki SV650 into the package he needs to win and, with podium finishes at Road Atlanta, VIR, and now New Jersey, the finale at Barber should be Murray’s chance to shine.

#440 Gillis Glidewell, #615 Austin Miller, and #119 Tyler Freeman will also be making their return to the Twins Cup grid flying RBoM colors. Tennessee-native Glidewell considers Barber to be his “home track” and will have plenty of friends and family in attendance to cheer him on. 16-year-old Austin Miller, from North Carolina, has never raced at Barber, but the ex-motocross standout should be up to speed quickly. Dawsonville, GA-racer Tyler Freeman has years of racing experience at Barber with WERA and looks forward to showing his true potential this weekend. The pace is expected to be faster than ever on the freshly repaved Barber racetrack as 44 entrants attempt to qualify for the 36 available starting spots.

RBoM Racing ambassador #621 Chris Bays is questionable at the moment due to lingering injuries sustained in a crash that happened during qualifying for the Sonoma round of the Twins Cup series. Bays competed in both subsequent rounds at PittRace and NJMP but could not race to his full potential. Bays’ status is “day by day”, at the moment.

More, from another press release issued by RBoM Racing:

Pete Murray to race RBoM Racing SV650 at Barber

Arizona Speed Engineering’s Pete Murray has spent 5 years racing a variety of machinery for VRS Racing on the mountain course of the Isle of Mann, including the Manx GP, and will bring his international experience to Barber Motorsport Park to test his skills against MotoAmerica’s top Twins Cup competitors. Pete has won Replica trophies, awarded to those finishing within 110% of the winners time, at each of the three Manx GP’s he has competed in. Pete Murray was one of only a handful of Americans to compete at the Isle of Mann in 2017 and 2018.

Pete Murray, no relation to RBoM Racing’s Curtis Murray, cut his teeth racing a Suzuki SV650 in west coast WERA regional races before pursuing his dream of racing in the historic Isle of Mann TT. Murray’s experience at the Isle of Mann has been primarily on Kawasaki machinery, but Murray should have no problem adapting quickly to his #183 RBoM Racing Suzuki SV650. Tracktime will be at a premium for Murray as he has a lot to learn having never seen Barber Motorsports Park before. Practice starts on Friday afternoon, qualifying takes place on Saturday and Sunday, and the final Twins Cup race of the 2019 season starts at 4:00pm on Sunday Sept. 22nd.

Arizona Speed Engineering is an old-school speed shop located in Phoenix, Arizona that engineers, fabricates, and installs high performance components for automobiles and motorcycles. Visit az-speed.com for more info.

American Flat Track: Championship, Milestone Within Reach Of Briar Bauman This Coming Weekend In Minnesota

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American Flat Track: Championship, Milestone Within Reach Of Briar Bauman This Coming Weekend In Minnesota

Bauman in Position to Grand Slam Grand National Championship at Minnesota Mile

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – American Flat Track is on the verge of crowning a new AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines Champion as it arrives in Shakopee, Minnesota, for Saturday’s Indian Motorcycle Minnesota Mile presented by Law Tigers.

With a 35-point advantage and two races to go, AFT Twins title leader Briar Bauman (No. 14 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) has battled back and forth with multi-time defending champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) all season long and moved himself within touching distance of his first premier class crown.

The two have combined to claim 11 out of possible 16 victories this season. And while Mees leads in wins with six of those 11, Bauman’s remarkable week-to-week consistently has him just 16 points away from securing the title.

That means a pair of 11th-place finishes would be good enough to do the trick, but Bauman will almost certainly be gunning to seal the title with his 15th podium finish in 17 races this season at Canterbury Park. Better yet, the 24-year-old California native could take the title with his sixth win of the season, earning a second career-long achievement in the process by scoring his maiden Mile win and completing the Grand Slam.

Mees, seemingly unstoppable on these Mile tracks, can be relied upon to do what he does — apply immense mental and on-track pressure through his outright pace — in search of another win. A win backed by the determined pursuit to extend his quest for a third-straight title.

Besides Mees there’s a stacked field of gifted pilots in the class who will do everything in their power to push Bauman’s celebrations back at least one more round.

Chief among them is rookie sensation Brandon Price (No. 192 Roof Systems of Dallas TX/DPC Racing Indian FTR750), who has looked like one of the paddock’s top riders over the past two rounds. Price came up just 0.169 seconds short of victory at Springfield II and then gave Bauman all he could handle in a battle for the win last time out at Williams Grove. All that’s left on Price’s rookie checklist is a first-career AFT Twins Main Event triumph.

Meanwhile, Dalton Gauthier (No. 122 D&D Cycles/Gobert Smash Husqvarna FC450) and Dan Bromley (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) also bring their Roof Systems AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys title fight into the Minnesota Mile.

Gauthier grabbed the upper hand with his Williams Grove win and now leads the reigning class champ by 15 points. That margin is close enough that even a pair of podium finishes in the final two rounds wouldn’t necessarily be enough to guarantee him the crown, so there’s little room to ease up now.

While still mathematically alive in the championship chase, the odds are stacked heavily against Mikey Rush (No. 15 RMR Honda/Red Riders Rewards Honda CRF450R). That said, unlike Gauthier and Bromley, Rush has taken a victory on a Mile already this season and should be expected to be in contention for the top step on the podium again this weekend.

The ultimate spoiler, however, could be Shayna Texter (No. 52 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing SX-F 450). Texter boasts eight career Mile victories among her 17 total AFT Singles wins (Gauthier is second with nine wins across all four disciplines). It’s very possible that she’ll have the speed to aid teammate Bromley’s cause — if he has the speed to keep her behind him.

Texter’s older brother, Cory Texter (No. 65 G&G Racing/Holeshot Powersports Yamaha MT-07), continues to lead the AFT Production Twins championship standings, although his advantage has been whittled down since he opened the season with three consecutive victories.

Texter now leads two-race winner Ryan Varnes (No. 68 Varnes Racing/RoyBuilt Kawasaki Ninja 650) by 16 points, while Kolby Carlile (No. 136 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) and Dalton Gauthier (No. 122 Black Hills Harley-Davidson XG750R Rev X) also remain in contention.

Besides the possibility of crowning a trio champions this weekend, there will be numerous off-track attractions to keep fans entertained all Saturday. Live music will be provided by Iowa-based high-energy cover band The Pork Tornadoes on the Mystic Lake Stage, along with the Minnesota Vikings Skol Line drumline. There will also be numerous vendors and a variety of food and beverage options available to spectators.

Tickets for the Indian Motorcycle Minnesota Mile Presented By Law Tigers are available for purchase today at tickets.americanflattrack.com. General Admission tickets start at just $35 and kids 12 and under are free. Multiple upgraded ticket options are also available, including Reserved Outdoor Grandstand, Reserved Indoor Grandstand, Mezzanine Table Seating, VIP Experience, and for the first time at the Minnesota Mile, guests may purchase a Pit Pass upgrade.

FansChoice.tv will again provide live coverage of the Minnesota Mile starting with the day’s opening practice session at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT. Opening Ceremonies will begin at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m PT. The Rider Autograph Session/Open Paddock period is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m PT, followed immediately by the Main Event program at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT.

Catch the feature broadcast of the Minnesota Mile on NBCSN with flag-to-flag coverage of the Main Events, enhanced by exclusive features and cutting-edge aerial drone and onboard footage. The broadcast will debut on Sunday, September 29, at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT and will re-air on Monday, September 30, at 4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT.

For more information on American Flat Track visit www.americanflattrack.com.

To get the latest American Flat Track clothing and merchandise visit www.americanflattracker.com.

How to Watch:

NBCSN and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of American Flat Track. For the 2019 season, NBCSN’s coverage of AFT moves to highly-coveted, weekend afternoon programming slots within two weeks of each event. The complete schedule for AFT on NBCSN can be viewed at http://www.americanflattrack.com/events-nbcsn/. FansChoice.tv remains a cornerstone of AFT’s digital strategy, providing live streaming coverage of every event on AFT’s live page while previous events and exclusive features are available on AFT’s VOD page.

About American Flat Track:

American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on American Flat Track, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram, live stream the events at FansChoice.tv and catch all the American Flat Track racing action on NBCSN.

MotoGP: Marc Marquez Says He Will Continue To Push To Achieve The Maximum At Motorland Aragon

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MotoGP: Marc Marquez Says He Will Continue To Push To Achieve The Maximum At Motorland Aragon

Repsol Honda Team look to maximize results in back-to-back races

Both sides of the Repsol Honda Team garage are excited at the prospect of back-to-back races as they aim to continue the pace shown in Misano.

Added to the MotoGP World Championship calendar in 2010, Motorland Aragon has become a favourite amongst fans and riders with a number of memorable races over the years. The circuit presents a number of set up challenges for the team and several key points for the riders. Turn two is always a critical point, the right hand side of the tyre cool after the long straight and final corners. 2018 saw Turn 10 at the Aragon circuit named after the reigning champion Marc Marquez.

Marc Marquez is ready for any and all challenges as he chases a fifth premier class win at one of his favourite circuits on the calendar. The number 93 enters round 14 with a healthy 93-point lead over closest title rival Andrea Dovizioso, but remains fully focused on working towards a fourth straight victory in front of his home fans. The Gran Premio Michelin® de Aragon will see Marc Marquez conquer yet another milestone in his career as the reigning World Champion is scheduled to make his 200th Grand Prix start.

A promising start to the San Marino GP has Jorge Lorenzo confident of more improvements to come in Spain. Suffering from less physical discomfort after the race, Lorenzo and his Repsol Honda Team are eager to return to track to continue closing the distance to the front. With two premier class wins and seven podiums to his name at the Aragon circuit, Lorenzo has enjoyed significant past success.

Sunday’s MotoGP race will take place at 13:00 Local Time, an hour earlier than the originally scheduled 14:00.

Marc Marquez

“After a fantastic win in Misano I am excited to race again, especially in Aragon where I really feel like I am at home as it is so close to Cervera. It’s where the most people from my hometown come to watch and always the fans help to give me something extra. We have a good lead in the championship but it doesn’t change how we approach the weekend, we keep pushing and trying to achieve our maximum. Let’s see what happens in Aragon!”

Jorge Lorenzo

“Aragon is a circuit I like and have had good results at in the past and in Misano we started the weekend well so I am hopeful we can be strong. Our objective is to keep closing the distance to the front as I improve physically and finish better than we did in Silverstone and in Misano. It will be good to race in front of the home fans before we begin the tour overseas.”

CCS: Mark Heckles Wins Unlimited Grand Prix At VIR

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CCS: Mark Heckles Wins Unlimited Grand Prix At VIR

Heckles Fastest at VIR

CCS MidAtlantic/SE and ASRA Team Challenge

VIRginia International Raceway – Alton, VA

September 14-15, 2019

by Lisa Theobald

Greg Melka was the winningest racer of the two day Championship Cup Series Featuring the AMA Sanctioned ASRA Team Challenge Presented by Michelin Tire race weekend at Virginia International Raceway. Melka won five of his classes on board his pair of Yamaha YZF-R6’s, finishing first in the GTU, Heavyweight Supersport, Middleweight Grand Prix races on Saturday. He was back out front on Sunday to claim additional victories in the Middleweight Superbike, and Heavyweight Superbike races.

Malka claimed a personal best lap time of 1:28.9 during the Middleweight Superbike race which he credited to his new Michelin Power Performance tires. He is sponsored by Michelin, ProFlow, Arai, EBC, and JRI Suspension.

Mark Heckles was the second winningest rider of the event with four first place finishes, including the hotly contested Unlimited Grand Prix race. He dominated the unlimited classes with his Ryders Alley NYC Yamaha YZF-R1, taking early leads in all four of his races, winning two-for-two each day. On Saturday, Heckles nabbed the holeshot lead in the GTO race and never looked back, taking his first win of the event with Gregory Ludt and Paul Scalph rounding off the podium. Heckles was back out front again later in the day during the Unlimited Supersport race, where he ran the fastest lap of the weekend with a 1:27.446 during lap three. He went on to take his second podium of the weekend with Ludt finishing second and William Gawler third.

Sunday afternoon, Heckles followed Ryan Jones through the first several corners of the Unlimited Grand Prix race before taking over the lead and another victory with Jones finishing second and Scalph third. Heckles’ final win of the weekend was during the Unlimited Superbike race with yet another early lead and a gap over the rest of the field. Scalph and Ludt rounded off the top three. Heckles thanked Donny Kelley for all his help during the event as well as Dunlop, Ryders Alley, Arai, SBS, and Woodcraft Technologies.

Team J&J Farrell won both the Overall and GTU classes of the ASRA Team Challenge endurance race on Sunday afternoon, with Jason Farrell and Jessica Capizzi on board the Farrell Performance Kawasaki ZX-6R. J&J Farrell was the first of only three teams to complete all 89 laps of the race. They were followed by Team Jinba Ittai Motorsport and Team Grease Monkey, both in the GTO class. The race was completed in 2.75 hours with one delay for a red flag incident. J&J Farrell led the majority of the race, after taking over the front spot from Lloyd Bayley, riding solo on his LB Sports BMW S1000RR. Bayley was knocked back one lap after the restart with a brief mechanical issue that caused his machine to shut off.

Team Jinba Ittai Motorsport won the GTO class with Joel Lenk on board his Yamaha YZF-R1. And, Team Racing 101 won the GTL class with Doug Stufflebeam and Mark Evry on a Ducati 1100.

The next event scheduled for the CCS MidAtlantic, SE, and ASRA Team Challenge is the 36th Annual Race of Champions at Daytona International Speedway October 18-20th. The event will include ASRA Sprint race finals and as well as CCS National Championship Sprints for all CCS regions.

Full race results, lap times, points standings and remaining 2019 season schedules for the Championship Cup Series, ASRA sprint races, and ASRA Team Challenge Series are available online at: www.ccsracing.us.

RESULTS:

ASRA TEAM CHALLENGE COMBINED OVERALL:
1. J&J Farrell (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Jinba Ittai Motorsport (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Grease Monkey (BMW S1000RR)
4. LB Sports (BMW S1000RR)
5. Fast Lane Racing (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Barry Motorsports (BMW S1000RR)

ASRA TEAM CHALLENGE COMBINED GTO:
1. Jinba Itai Motorsport (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Grease Monkey (BMW S1000RR)
3. LB Sports (BMW S1000RR)
4. Barry Motorsports (BMW S1000RR)
5. Slopoke Rodriguez (Kaw ZX-10R)
6. Gawler Motorsports (Suz GSX-R1000)

ASRA TEAM CHALLENGE COMBINED GTU:
1. J&J Farrell (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Fast Lane Racing (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Birch Racing/B&D (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Hazardous Racing (Yam YZF-R6)
5. National Granite (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Not All Who Wander (Yam YZF-R6)

ASRA TEAM CHALLENGE COMBINED GTL:
1. Racing 101 (Duc 1100)
2. Two Man Group (Suz SV650)
3. 1-833-CJKNOWS (Duc 1100)
4. Ready-to-Rip (Suz SV650)
5. LWT 61Hadcore (Suz SV650)

EXPERT UNLIMITED GRAND PRIX:
1. Mark Heckles (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Ryan Jones (BMW S1000RR)
3. Paul Scalph (Yam YZF-R1)
4. Gregory Ludt (BMW S1000RR)
5. Ricky Clemons (Yam YZF-R1)
6. Vincent Spivey (Yam YZF-R1)
7. Matt DiLorenzo (Suz GSX-R1000)
8. Antonio Rodriguez (Kaw ZX-10R)
9. Lloyd Bayley (BMW S1000RR)

Canadian Dan Kruger Finishes Second In 2019 Chinese Superbike Championship

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Canadian Dan Kruger Finishes Second In 2019 Chinese Superbike Championship

Canadian Dan Kruger ends up 2nd in the China Superbike Championship for Motul Kawasaki with Double Podium in the Blistering Heat

Zhuhai, China- Hot, Humid

The Motul Kawasaki Team and Dan Kruger finished off a great season with a double podium and a solid performance in the blistering heat. Kruger also signed with Kawasaki again for 2020 to pilot the 2020 Kawasaki ZX-10RR keeping Motul on as the team’s title sponsor. 

“I am really happy how the weekend went and also confirming our plans for 2020,” said Dan. “This is the earliest we have ever had everything locked in for the next season and it feels great.” 

Dan also did daily fan appreciation events at the Motul booth and it was busier than ever.

The team worked through some electronics issues during a pre-race test earlier in the week as well as some ongoing front end chatter issues that have been haunting the team in the latter part of the season.

Race 1: Having Qualified in 4th, Kruger started on the 2nd row and mid-race started suffering front-end chatter gremlins that got progressively worse as the race went on. The Track Temperature was over 50c and the team feels tyre pressure was the main culprit as other teams were facing similar issues.

Race 2: The team made a lot of changes since we had already locked in 2nd for the Championship so we took a few chances including gearing, tyre pressure and rear suspension. We also used the super-soft SCX tyre we usually only use for qualifying for the race. The changes helped and we found a half second per lap but it was not enough to charge for the win. We finished 3rd but sorted out the chatter and are now prepared for the December Endurance Race in China as we defend our 6 year winning streak for this event.

The year-end Prize-giving Ceremony took place as well this past weekend were the team received 2nd overall in the Championship. It was the best season in terms of overall pace and the first season in years with no major injuries to report. 

“Getting the arm pump surgery before the start of the season was the best thing I could have done and it made riding more enjoyable and a heck of a lot easier,” Kruger stated.

We will start preparing immediately for the 2020 season with a hectic training schedule and Dan will also race at the EWC Round at Sepang in Malaysia in December and is planning on doing a few Rounds in 2020 with the Penz 13 BMW Team in Europe including the Imatra, Finland IRRC Round on the “Roads”.

The team would like to thank all of our sponsors for another season of support including Titanic Kawasaki, Motul, Hindle, Zero Gravity, Tech Spec, RK, Mototron, Brembo, BG Pirelli, EBC, X-lite, Dainese, MF Jebsen, RS Itoh, Japan Planning, Mr. Pizza, Fenice, and Nature Power.

Please follow us at www.facebook.com/dankrugerracingteam or stop by and see us at the Hong Kong Motorcycle Show October 20th.

AHRMA: $10,000 Cash Purse Up For Grabs In Barber Cup Pro Challenge At Barber Motorsports Park

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AHRMA: $10,000 Cash Purse Up For Grabs In Barber Cup Pro Challenge At Barber Motorsports Park

AHRMA Announces $10k Purse and Top Line-up for 3rd annual AHRMA “Barber Cup” Pro Challenge Presented by MotoCorse Performance

AHRMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association) is excited to announce a $10,000 purse for the 2019 Barber Cup Pro Challenge on Saturday, October 5, at the 15th Annual Barber Vintage Festival. This purse will be split between the podium finishers on Saturday night at the Awards Ceremony.

The Barber Cup race is attracting a big name line-up, including racers such as Scott “Mr. Daytona” Russell, Nate Kern, Geoff May (winner of the inaugural event), and Steve Rapp – to name a few. AHRMA will be accepting entries up until 10 am Friday morning, October 4.

This 10-lap special race is open to 20 competitors and will take place immediately following completion of the AHRMA’s Saturday race schedule. A 20-minute qualifying session will run after practice on Thursday or Friday (depending on weather conditions).

A qualified racer will:

Be a licensed AHRMA competitor

Take part in at least one day of practice, either Thursday or Friday

Participate in qualifying round following scheduled practice on Friday evening

Be entered in the regular Formula Thunder race on Saturday

Be capable of running in the front part of the field in an AHRMA Formula Thunder race (based on lap times)

For equipment rules, see the AHRMA Handbook, and specific Sections 9.8 and 10.17. (AHRMA Handbook is available at www.ahrma.org/ahrma-handbook)

Contact [email protected] for additional information.

MotoGP: Fabio Quartararo Says He’s Going Into Motorland Aragon With A Lot Of Confidence

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MotoGP: Fabio Quartararo Says He’s Going Into Motorland Aragon With A Lot Of Confidence

Quartararo and Morbidelli optimistic as PETRONAS Yamaha SRT heads to Aragon

Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli look to build on strong results at Misano last weekend as they prepare for their second race in seven days

Aragon GP – 17 September 2019

PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team riders Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli are going into this weekend’s Aragon Grand Prix full of optimism about what’s possible at MotorLand Aragon after strong results last time out. Heading directly from Italy to Spain after finishing Sunday’s San Marino Grand Prix in second and fifth, the duo are confident that they’ll be able to maintain their form this weekend.

Quartararo spent much of Sunday’s race in the lead and battling with reigning world champion Marc Marquez for the win, and says that he can use the same rapid-start strategy to try and add to his tally of four top-three finishes so far in his rookie season. Full of self-belief after the stunning performance at Misano, he’s determined to once again get stuck into the podium battle at Aragon.

Morbidelli is also excited to be heading to the Spanish circuit after an impressive fifth place at his home race on Sunday. A previous race winner in the Moto2 class and enjoying a strong MotoGP debut in 2018 at MotorLand Aragon, improvements to the base setting of his Yamaha YZR-M1 at Misano means he too is raring to get going.

The action at MotorLand Aragon gets underway at 0955 local time (1555 Malaysian time) on Friday 20th September, ahead of race day at the Gran Premio de Aragon on Sunday 22nd.

Franco Morbidelli:

“I’m feeling very good on the bike at the minute and I’ve had two great performances at Silverstone and Misano, so we’re arriving with a lot of trust in ourselves. We’re hoping that the level will be similar to how it was last weekend even though there is a long straight at Aragon, because we’ve found something with the corner speed that’s enabling us to be faster. I won there in 2017 in Moto2, I was on the podium the season before and last year I was very fast, so it’s somewhere where I already have good memories.”

Fabio Quartararo:

“Fighting with Marc at Misano means that I’m going to Aragon with a lot of confidence. It showed how good a job we did there, and only five days after getting off the bike in a really good condition I get to ride again. The long straights aren’t too much of a problem for us, because we showed at the Red Bull Ring and at Misano that as long as you make a good start and five strong laps at the beginning you can be in the fight. The first target will be to be on the front row again, because we need to ensure a good start, and then we’ll try and do our best as always.”

MotoAmerica: CJ Crosslin To Ride RBoM Racing Suzuki In Twins Cup At Barber

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MotoAmerica: CJ Crosslin To Ride RBoM Racing Suzuki In Twins Cup At Barber

Chris “CJ” Crosslin, a 22-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina, will make a welcome return to MotoAmerica action this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park in an attempt to upset the proverbial apple cart in the final round of 2019 Twins Cup competition. Inspired by the New Jersey Twins Cup podium success of RBoM Racing competitors Jackson Blackmon and Curtis Murray, Crosslin has dusted off his leathers and will fly RBoM Racing colors on his #409 RBoM Racing-prepped Suzuki SV650. Chris Crosslin competed in select 2015 and 2016 east coast MotoAmerica events in the 600 Superstock class, with a best finish of 5th place at Virginia International Raceway in 2015.

Unbeknownst to most, Chris Crosslin’s “misfit” lineage dates back nearly 10 years when he transitioned from 125GP machinery to the easy-to-ride Suzuki SV650. Since his transition to 4-stroke racebikes, Crosslin has raced a variety of 600’s and 1000’s and is looking forward to getting back on an SV650.

Some astute observers may recognize the Crosslin name from recent Twins Cup results as Calvin Crosslin made his MotoAmerica racing debut at round 8 in Pittsburg, PA. Calvin Crosslin is CJ’s 54-year-old father and the duo plan to make racing history as the first father-and-son team to grid up for a MotoAmerica race. The Crosslin’s are planning to compete in more MotoAmerica Twins Cup races in 2020 on Suzuki SV650 machinery.

44 Twins Cup entrants will test their skills this weekend, attempting to qualify for the 36 main-event grid spots, as the final Twins Cup race of the 2019 season lines up for green-flag action at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday Sept. 22nd.

British Superbike: FS-3 Racing To Become Kawasaki Motors UK’s Official Team In 2020

After four years of building a strong relationship campaigning Kawasaki machinery, the FS-3 Racing team will step up to represent Kawasaki Motors UK at the highest level of domestic Superbike championship racing in 2020 and beyond.

Working their way through the ranks in the ultra-competitive British Superbike Championship paddock over the years, the team took their maiden race wins in 2019 with Danny Buchan and secured a place in the end of season Showdown. The hard work and dedication shown by FS-3 Racing in the lead-up to these achievements are principles shared by Team Green and deserving of the added support that the official status provides.

Danny Buchan will be remaining with the team for 2020 to pilot the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR on which he has achieved his successes this season. Buchan has been part of the Kawasaki family since he entered the Junior Superstock class a decade ago. Winning two National Superstock 1000 titles along the way, Kawasaki are delighted by Buchan’s development. His place with FS-3 Racing completes the Team Green programme in the UK, representing Kawasaki at the highest level.

“Most of my racing career has been with Kawasaki so It’s nice to look back on when I first signed up with Team Green in 2010, and now going into 2020 as an official Kawasaki rider and in the official Team Green outfit is just amazing. I’m really looking forward to it,” commented Buchan.

“My goal for next year is to win the championship and that’s that. There is no other outcome for me. I’ve made my way to the top in all the other classes I’ve raced in, because I want to win.”

“There will be some strong competition, but it will come down to our testing programme and how much we can get done in the off season to prepare. I am riding very well now so hopefully we can take the edge off the competition and get ourselves at the front regularly, fighting for wins every weekend. I want to solidify myself as a regular race winner and not just Danny Buchan, the showdown rider, so that’s the goal for 2020,” said Buchan.

Team owner, Nigel Snook is understandably pleased with the achievements of the team in such a short space of time and is excited about what lies ahead, saying, ‘’We’re delighted to be going forward into 2020 as Kawasaki’s official BSB entrant and with Danny Buchan with us for a third year. Danny has done a fantastic job for the team this year, chalking up race wins and comfortably qualifying for the Showdown. We’re delighted that he’s sticking with us as we operate as a tight knit team.”

“Danny’s performances are a feather in the cap for everyone in the team. Less than four years ago we joined the championship with a second-hand bike and two vans. The key has been putting together a great team of people and working with technical experts who have helped us develop our Ninja ZX-10RR into a race winner. We’ve taken one step at a time and have had great support from Stuart Higgs, our many trade supporters and sponsors. It’s a good feeling to reward everyone’s faith in us as we step up to run two Superbikes on behalf of Kawasaki.’’

Kawasaki Motors UK Senior Racing Coordinator, Ross Burridge shares the excitement saying, “Danny and the FS-3 Racing team have been remarkable this season, having really stepped up to the plate and producing results that we are all extremely happy with. Moving into 2020, I truly believe that we can fight for the title and be competitive at the highest level for the next three years. On behalf of Kawasaki UK, we would like to thank Pete Extance and the entire Bournemouth Kawasaki team for all of their efforts over the past three seasons with the highlight of course being the Championship win last year! We wish you all the best in whatever the future holds for you and the team”.

FS-3 Racing and Kawasaki are looking forward to developing a successful partnership over the next three years.

MotoGP: World Championship Heading To Motorland Aragon This Coming Weekend

Engines ON for Aragon!

MotorLand Aragon awaits, with Marquez in the driving seat – and the crosshairs

Wednesday, 18 September 2019

After the raucous seaside of the Riviera di Rimini, it’s now time to head for the unique backdrop of MotorLand Aragon. The technically challenging track is an oasis of speed nestled in the stunning scenery of the area, an outpost of racing excellence in a region where competition has serious history – and more of it is made year on year. This season, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) arrives with an aptly numbered 93-point lead, but the last three races have more than shown that the reigning Champion doesn’t always get his own way…so how will it play out on home turf?

Maquez’ speed at the circuit is something to seriously respect. The number 93 has won four times in the premier class at MotorLand, including the last three in a row, and has four pole positions to undoubtedly make him the man to beat at the track. Can he do it again this season to extend his lead even further? If he can, there’s a chance he’ll tee himself up with a chance to win the title in Thailand…

It’s never an easy ask though – even when the track has a corner named after you. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) seems a good bet as someone who will be aiming to derail Marquez’ assault on Aragon, and coming from two podiums in a row he’s on good form. He’s never won at MotorLand in the premier class, but there’s no time like the present to start creating some momentum. His teammate Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) will also be aiming for the podium, and plenty of eyes will once again be on Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT).

The rookie had a stunning race in Misano, taking the reigning Champion to the wire and putting up a fight on the last lap. In the end it was another podium and not a maiden win, but it’s the closest the fast Frenchman has come to the top step so far – and in some serious style. Can he do it again this weekend? If he does it, Rookie of the Year will start to look less like a probability and more like a formality.

Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), meanwhile, is looking for a comeback. The number 42 hails from mere kilometers away from MotorLand to make it a true home venue for the Suzuki rider. After defeating Marquez with his stunning move at Silverstone, Rins faltered at Misano and crashed out – so motivation will be higher than ever. He also slipped to fourth in the standings with the mistake on the Riviera di Rimini, so Aragon is a chance to get back into that top three and stake his claim on another podium at least.

The man who moved above Rins at Misano was Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) who, despite a tougher few rounds of late, has kept raking in the points to put himself back behind teammate Andrea Dovizioso in the standings. Misano was also tougher weekend than many expected for the Borgo Panigale factory though, so can they bounce back at MotorLand? Traditionally a tougher track for Ducati than some, a good few eyes will be on the two Italians in red and Dovizioso will be aiming to repeat his impressive performance from last year.

In the fight for top Independent Team rider, it’s also close, although Quartararo’s Misano masterpiece put him back above Jack Miller (Pramac Racing), and gave him some breathing space ahead of Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) for now. Is another twist coming in Round 14? Crutchlow certainly will want to score big and bounce back from a crash on the Riviera di Rimini and Miller made good progress forward on Sunday in San Marino.

Making life increasingly difficult for the riders who started the season bothering the top five, top eight and top ten is Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), however. A stunning performance from the Spaniard in qualifying at Misano gave KTM their second front row of the season, and the number 44 brought it home in seventh at the flag, battling the likes of Rins and the Ducatis. Espargaro has impressed more than a few times this season, and home turf at Aragon will see him pushing to do the same. And there’s news on the other side of the KTM garage: after announcing in the summer that Johann Zarco would be parting ways with the Austrian factory for 2020, the switch has come early and it’s test rider Mika Kallio who takes over for the remaining races of this season. How will Kallio fare in a full-time seat? And can KTM profit even more from the Finn’s feedback as they continue their huge development push?

At Aprilia, meanwhile, it’s also home turf for Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and he’s been on the podium at the track before – his only rostrum in the premier class. Teammate Andrea Iannone was forced to sit Misano out after hurting his shoulder and could find it tougher going, although Noale factory test rider Bradley Smith will be out on track too, with the goal for all good points.

Misano is unique and MotorLand the same – in a completely different way. Can Marquez extend his lead in the final race before the flyaways? Or will the likes of Viñales, Quartararo and Rins fight back? The outpost of speed fires up for MotoGP™ on Friday 20th September, with the premier class race at the slightly earlier time of 13:00 (GMT +2) on Sunday 22nd.

Championship standings

1 – Marc Marquez (SPA – Honda) – 275

2 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA – Ducati) – 182

3 – Danilo Petrucci (ITA – Ducati) – 151

4 – Alex Rins (SPA – Suzuki) – 149

5 – Maverick Viñales (SPA – Yamaha) – 134


Marquez vs Fernandez: is this the duel for the crown?

An investigation, a last-lap move on the limit and back-to-back wins put the rider from Madrid on a roll

After another stunner at Misano, Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) remains in charge of the Moto2™ standings, but Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) is starting to make his presence more than felt. Two wins on the bounce and a crash for Marquez on the day of the first puts Fernandez only 26 points in arrears, and next up is MotorLand – a track both know well, and a track where both race on home turf.

As has been true throughout an incredibly interesting season in the intermediate class so far, however, things can turn on a dime. The only constant since earlier in the year has often been Marquez and his pace, with Silverstone the only self-inflicted hiccup, but Fernandez took the gloves off at Misano, Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) was back in the battle and Speed Up put on a serious show of pace. This time it wasn’t Jorge Navarro (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) but teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio who took Fernandez to the wire, but competitors need to keep an eye on both the Spanish veteran and Italian rookie after an impressive season so far.

Meanwhile, there are the men with the track records. Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) was back in the top five and on form at Misano, and he’s won before at Aragon. And so has Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who took victory last year and is slowly making his way up the standings after a tougher start to the year. He’s won one race in 2019 already, could MotorLand see him fight for another?

The track is a challenging and technical way to end the European leg of the season ahead of the flyaways, and it will be another fascinating Moto2™ race. One thing is sure: Alex Marquez will leave for Buriram in the lead, but it could be by a single point or by 51, and MotorLand will decide. So make sure to tune in for the Gran Premio Michelin® de Aragon from the 20th to 22nd September, with the intermediate class racing on Sunday at the slightly later time of 14:30 (GMT +2).

Championship standings

1 – Alex Marquez (SPA – Kalex) – 197

2 – Augusto Fernandez (SPA – Kalex) – 171

3 – Tom Lüthi (SWI – Kalex) – 159

4 – Jorge Navarro (SPA – Speed Up) – 155

5 – Brad Binder (RSA – KTM) – 135


Is Dalla Porta now in the driving seat?

Despite a penalty dropping him slightly down the order at Misano, the Italian now has a comfortable margin at the top…

At Misano, all eyes were on Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) as the Championship leader arrived with a healthy lead to the track where he took his first Grand Prix win, but early in the race focus shifted quickly as Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) suffered a mechanical problem. Would Dalla Porta be able to capitalise? In part, although track limits caught him out and left him far off the podium. And so, as we arrive to what’s now Canet’s home turf, Dalla Porta has a lead of 22 points and it would be a long shot to see him lose that at MotorLand. Canet would have to win and Dalla Porta would have to score a 0.

It’s far from a two-horse race, however. Tatsuki Suzuki’s (SIC58 Squadra Corse) stunning and emotional victory means 2019 is the first time there have been ten different winners in a single season in the lightweight class, with competition so fierce it’s making history. And there are two names at the top but Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) isn’t far behind Canet, Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) is just within touching distance…then the likes of John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) lurk just behind with some serious proven pace.

Meanwhile Jaume Masia (WWR) is on home turf at Aragon, Albert Arenas (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) had some pace in Italy and Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) is another fast man now back from injury. There’s a reason Moto3™ races are often a freight train: the field is fast and deep.

The only man in the class who has conquered MotorLand before, Romano Fenati (VNE Snipers), broke his scaphoid at Misano – so a new name will be on the top step. Will it be one who has already won a race this year or another record-breaking different winner? Watch the Gran Premio Michelin® de Aragon from the 20th to 22nd September.

Championship standings

1 – Lorenzo Dalla Porta (ITA – Honda) – 179

2 – Aron Canet (SPA – KTM) – 157

3 – Tony Arbolino (ITA – Honda) – 149

4 – Marcos Ramirez (SPA – Honda) – 123

5 – Niccolo Antonelli (ITA – Honda) – 118

MotoGP: RBoM Racing Looking To Fill 20% Of Twins Cup Grid At Barber (Updated)

As the 2019 MotoAmerica season comes to a close this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park, a maximum-capacity grid of 36 Twins Cup competitors is expected and RBoM Racing looks forward to filling about 20% of the field.

Headlining the RBoM assault will be new recruit #18 Jackson Blackmon and veteran front-runner #180 Curtis Murray. Both Blackmon and Murray are riding the wave of momentum after they both finished on the podium at New Jersey Motorsports Park, with 2nd and 3rd place finishes, respectively. Blackmon turned the fastest lap of the race, setting an unofficial SV650 lap record in the process, crossing the finish line just 0.3 seconds behind the eventual winner. Murray has been working tirelessly with Robem Engineering to develop his 2018 Suzuki SV650 into the package he needs to win and, with podium finishes at Road Atlanta, VIR, and now New Jersey, the finale at Barber should be Murray’s chance to shine.

#440 Gillis Glidewell, #615 Austin Miller, and #119 Tyler Freeman will also be making their return to the Twins Cup grid flying RBoM colors. Tennessee-native Glidewell considers Barber to be his “home track” and will have plenty of friends and family in attendance to cheer him on. 16-year-old Austin Miller, from North Carolina, has never raced at Barber, but the ex-motocross standout should be up to speed quickly. Dawsonville, GA-racer Tyler Freeman has years of racing experience at Barber with WERA and looks forward to showing his true potential this weekend. The pace is expected to be faster than ever on the freshly repaved Barber racetrack as 44 entrants attempt to qualify for the 36 available starting spots.

RBoM Racing ambassador #621 Chris Bays is questionable at the moment due to lingering injuries sustained in a crash that happened during qualifying for the Sonoma round of the Twins Cup series. Bays competed in both subsequent rounds at PittRace and NJMP but could not race to his full potential. Bays’ status is “day by day”, at the moment.

More, from another press release issued by RBoM Racing:

Pete Murray to race RBoM Racing SV650 at Barber

Arizona Speed Engineering’s Pete Murray has spent 5 years racing a variety of machinery for VRS Racing on the mountain course of the Isle of Mann, including the Manx GP, and will bring his international experience to Barber Motorsport Park to test his skills against MotoAmerica’s top Twins Cup competitors. Pete has won Replica trophies, awarded to those finishing within 110% of the winners time, at each of the three Manx GP’s he has competed in. Pete Murray was one of only a handful of Americans to compete at the Isle of Mann in 2017 and 2018.

Pete Murray, no relation to RBoM Racing’s Curtis Murray, cut his teeth racing a Suzuki SV650 in west coast WERA regional races before pursuing his dream of racing in the historic Isle of Mann TT. Murray’s experience at the Isle of Mann has been primarily on Kawasaki machinery, but Murray should have no problem adapting quickly to his #183 RBoM Racing Suzuki SV650. Tracktime will be at a premium for Murray as he has a lot to learn having never seen Barber Motorsports Park before. Practice starts on Friday afternoon, qualifying takes place on Saturday and Sunday, and the final Twins Cup race of the 2019 season starts at 4:00pm on Sunday Sept. 22nd.

Arizona Speed Engineering is an old-school speed shop located in Phoenix, Arizona that engineers, fabricates, and installs high performance components for automobiles and motorcycles. Visit az-speed.com for more info.

American Flat Track: Championship, Milestone Within Reach Of Briar Bauman This Coming Weekend In Minnesota

Bauman in Position to Grand Slam Grand National Championship at Minnesota Mile

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – American Flat Track is on the verge of crowning a new AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines Champion as it arrives in Shakopee, Minnesota, for Saturday’s Indian Motorcycle Minnesota Mile presented by Law Tigers.

With a 35-point advantage and two races to go, AFT Twins title leader Briar Bauman (No. 14 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) has battled back and forth with multi-time defending champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) all season long and moved himself within touching distance of his first premier class crown.

The two have combined to claim 11 out of possible 16 victories this season. And while Mees leads in wins with six of those 11, Bauman’s remarkable week-to-week consistently has him just 16 points away from securing the title.

That means a pair of 11th-place finishes would be good enough to do the trick, but Bauman will almost certainly be gunning to seal the title with his 15th podium finish in 17 races this season at Canterbury Park. Better yet, the 24-year-old California native could take the title with his sixth win of the season, earning a second career-long achievement in the process by scoring his maiden Mile win and completing the Grand Slam.

Mees, seemingly unstoppable on these Mile tracks, can be relied upon to do what he does — apply immense mental and on-track pressure through his outright pace — in search of another win. A win backed by the determined pursuit to extend his quest for a third-straight title.

Besides Mees there’s a stacked field of gifted pilots in the class who will do everything in their power to push Bauman’s celebrations back at least one more round.

Chief among them is rookie sensation Brandon Price (No. 192 Roof Systems of Dallas TX/DPC Racing Indian FTR750), who has looked like one of the paddock’s top riders over the past two rounds. Price came up just 0.169 seconds short of victory at Springfield II and then gave Bauman all he could handle in a battle for the win last time out at Williams Grove. All that’s left on Price’s rookie checklist is a first-career AFT Twins Main Event triumph.

Meanwhile, Dalton Gauthier (No. 122 D&D Cycles/Gobert Smash Husqvarna FC450) and Dan Bromley (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) also bring their Roof Systems AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys title fight into the Minnesota Mile.

Gauthier grabbed the upper hand with his Williams Grove win and now leads the reigning class champ by 15 points. That margin is close enough that even a pair of podium finishes in the final two rounds wouldn’t necessarily be enough to guarantee him the crown, so there’s little room to ease up now.

While still mathematically alive in the championship chase, the odds are stacked heavily against Mikey Rush (No. 15 RMR Honda/Red Riders Rewards Honda CRF450R). That said, unlike Gauthier and Bromley, Rush has taken a victory on a Mile already this season and should be expected to be in contention for the top step on the podium again this weekend.

The ultimate spoiler, however, could be Shayna Texter (No. 52 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing SX-F 450). Texter boasts eight career Mile victories among her 17 total AFT Singles wins (Gauthier is second with nine wins across all four disciplines). It’s very possible that she’ll have the speed to aid teammate Bromley’s cause — if he has the speed to keep her behind him.

Texter’s older brother, Cory Texter (No. 65 G&G Racing/Holeshot Powersports Yamaha MT-07), continues to lead the AFT Production Twins championship standings, although his advantage has been whittled down since he opened the season with three consecutive victories.

Texter now leads two-race winner Ryan Varnes (No. 68 Varnes Racing/RoyBuilt Kawasaki Ninja 650) by 16 points, while Kolby Carlile (No. 136 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) and Dalton Gauthier (No. 122 Black Hills Harley-Davidson XG750R Rev X) also remain in contention.

Besides the possibility of crowning a trio champions this weekend, there will be numerous off-track attractions to keep fans entertained all Saturday. Live music will be provided by Iowa-based high-energy cover band The Pork Tornadoes on the Mystic Lake Stage, along with the Minnesota Vikings Skol Line drumline. There will also be numerous vendors and a variety of food and beverage options available to spectators.

Tickets for the Indian Motorcycle Minnesota Mile Presented By Law Tigers are available for purchase today at tickets.americanflattrack.com. General Admission tickets start at just $35 and kids 12 and under are free. Multiple upgraded ticket options are also available, including Reserved Outdoor Grandstand, Reserved Indoor Grandstand, Mezzanine Table Seating, VIP Experience, and for the first time at the Minnesota Mile, guests may purchase a Pit Pass upgrade.

FansChoice.tv will again provide live coverage of the Minnesota Mile starting with the day’s opening practice session at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT. Opening Ceremonies will begin at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m PT. The Rider Autograph Session/Open Paddock period is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m PT, followed immediately by the Main Event program at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT.

Catch the feature broadcast of the Minnesota Mile on NBCSN with flag-to-flag coverage of the Main Events, enhanced by exclusive features and cutting-edge aerial drone and onboard footage. The broadcast will debut on Sunday, September 29, at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT and will re-air on Monday, September 30, at 4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT.

For more information on American Flat Track visit www.americanflattrack.com.

To get the latest American Flat Track clothing and merchandise visit www.americanflattracker.com.

How to Watch:

NBCSN and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of American Flat Track. For the 2019 season, NBCSN’s coverage of AFT moves to highly-coveted, weekend afternoon programming slots within two weeks of each event. The complete schedule for AFT on NBCSN can be viewed at http://www.americanflattrack.com/events-nbcsn/. FansChoice.tv remains a cornerstone of AFT’s digital strategy, providing live streaming coverage of every event on AFT’s live page while previous events and exclusive features are available on AFT’s VOD page.

About American Flat Track:

American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on American Flat Track, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram, live stream the events at FansChoice.tv and catch all the American Flat Track racing action on NBCSN.

MotoGP: Marc Marquez Says He Will Continue To Push To Achieve The Maximum At Motorland Aragon

Repsol Honda Team look to maximize results in back-to-back races

Both sides of the Repsol Honda Team garage are excited at the prospect of back-to-back races as they aim to continue the pace shown in Misano.

Added to the MotoGP World Championship calendar in 2010, Motorland Aragon has become a favourite amongst fans and riders with a number of memorable races over the years. The circuit presents a number of set up challenges for the team and several key points for the riders. Turn two is always a critical point, the right hand side of the tyre cool after the long straight and final corners. 2018 saw Turn 10 at the Aragon circuit named after the reigning champion Marc Marquez.

Marc Marquez is ready for any and all challenges as he chases a fifth premier class win at one of his favourite circuits on the calendar. The number 93 enters round 14 with a healthy 93-point lead over closest title rival Andrea Dovizioso, but remains fully focused on working towards a fourth straight victory in front of his home fans. The Gran Premio Michelin® de Aragon will see Marc Marquez conquer yet another milestone in his career as the reigning World Champion is scheduled to make his 200th Grand Prix start.

A promising start to the San Marino GP has Jorge Lorenzo confident of more improvements to come in Spain. Suffering from less physical discomfort after the race, Lorenzo and his Repsol Honda Team are eager to return to track to continue closing the distance to the front. With two premier class wins and seven podiums to his name at the Aragon circuit, Lorenzo has enjoyed significant past success.

Sunday’s MotoGP race will take place at 13:00 Local Time, an hour earlier than the originally scheduled 14:00.

Marc Marquez

“After a fantastic win in Misano I am excited to race again, especially in Aragon where I really feel like I am at home as it is so close to Cervera. It’s where the most people from my hometown come to watch and always the fans help to give me something extra. We have a good lead in the championship but it doesn’t change how we approach the weekend, we keep pushing and trying to achieve our maximum. Let’s see what happens in Aragon!”

Jorge Lorenzo

“Aragon is a circuit I like and have had good results at in the past and in Misano we started the weekend well so I am hopeful we can be strong. Our objective is to keep closing the distance to the front as I improve physically and finish better than we did in Silverstone and in Misano. It will be good to race in front of the home fans before we begin the tour overseas.”

CCS: Mark Heckles Wins Unlimited Grand Prix At VIR

005 (12)
Mark Heckles (5). Photo by Lisa Theobald, courtesy of ASRA/CCS.

Heckles Fastest at VIR

CCS MidAtlantic/SE and ASRA Team Challenge

VIRginia International Raceway – Alton, VA

September 14-15, 2019

by Lisa Theobald

Greg Melka was the winningest racer of the two day Championship Cup Series Featuring the AMA Sanctioned ASRA Team Challenge Presented by Michelin Tire race weekend at Virginia International Raceway. Melka won five of his classes on board his pair of Yamaha YZF-R6’s, finishing first in the GTU, Heavyweight Supersport, Middleweight Grand Prix races on Saturday. He was back out front on Sunday to claim additional victories in the Middleweight Superbike, and Heavyweight Superbike races.

Malka claimed a personal best lap time of 1:28.9 during the Middleweight Superbike race which he credited to his new Michelin Power Performance tires. He is sponsored by Michelin, ProFlow, Arai, EBC, and JRI Suspension.

Mark Heckles was the second winningest rider of the event with four first place finishes, including the hotly contested Unlimited Grand Prix race. He dominated the unlimited classes with his Ryders Alley NYC Yamaha YZF-R1, taking early leads in all four of his races, winning two-for-two each day. On Saturday, Heckles nabbed the holeshot lead in the GTO race and never looked back, taking his first win of the event with Gregory Ludt and Paul Scalph rounding off the podium. Heckles was back out front again later in the day during the Unlimited Supersport race, where he ran the fastest lap of the weekend with a 1:27.446 during lap three. He went on to take his second podium of the weekend with Ludt finishing second and William Gawler third.

Sunday afternoon, Heckles followed Ryan Jones through the first several corners of the Unlimited Grand Prix race before taking over the lead and another victory with Jones finishing second and Scalph third. Heckles’ final win of the weekend was during the Unlimited Superbike race with yet another early lead and a gap over the rest of the field. Scalph and Ludt rounded off the top three. Heckles thanked Donny Kelley for all his help during the event as well as Dunlop, Ryders Alley, Arai, SBS, and Woodcraft Technologies.

Team J&J Farrell won both the Overall and GTU classes of the ASRA Team Challenge endurance race on Sunday afternoon, with Jason Farrell and Jessica Capizzi on board the Farrell Performance Kawasaki ZX-6R. J&J Farrell was the first of only three teams to complete all 89 laps of the race. They were followed by Team Jinba Ittai Motorsport and Team Grease Monkey, both in the GTO class. The race was completed in 2.75 hours with one delay for a red flag incident. J&J Farrell led the majority of the race, after taking over the front spot from Lloyd Bayley, riding solo on his LB Sports BMW S1000RR. Bayley was knocked back one lap after the restart with a brief mechanical issue that caused his machine to shut off.

Team Jinba Ittai Motorsport won the GTO class with Joel Lenk on board his Yamaha YZF-R1. And, Team Racing 101 won the GTL class with Doug Stufflebeam and Mark Evry on a Ducati 1100.

The next event scheduled for the CCS MidAtlantic, SE, and ASRA Team Challenge is the 36th Annual Race of Champions at Daytona International Speedway October 18-20th. The event will include ASRA Sprint race finals and as well as CCS National Championship Sprints for all CCS regions.

Full race results, lap times, points standings and remaining 2019 season schedules for the Championship Cup Series, ASRA sprint races, and ASRA Team Challenge Series are available online at: www.ccsracing.us.

RESULTS:

ASRA TEAM CHALLENGE COMBINED OVERALL:
1. J&J Farrell (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Jinba Ittai Motorsport (Yam YZF-R1)
3. Grease Monkey (BMW S1000RR)
4. LB Sports (BMW S1000RR)
5. Fast Lane Racing (Kaw ZX-6R)
6. Barry Motorsports (BMW S1000RR)

ASRA TEAM CHALLENGE COMBINED GTO:
1. Jinba Itai Motorsport (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Grease Monkey (BMW S1000RR)
3. LB Sports (BMW S1000RR)
4. Barry Motorsports (BMW S1000RR)
5. Slopoke Rodriguez (Kaw ZX-10R)
6. Gawler Motorsports (Suz GSX-R1000)

ASRA TEAM CHALLENGE COMBINED GTU:
1. J&J Farrell (Kaw ZX-6R)
2. Fast Lane Racing (Kaw ZX-6R)
3. Birch Racing/B&D (Suz GSX-R600)
4. Hazardous Racing (Yam YZF-R6)
5. National Granite (Yam YZF-R6)
6. Not All Who Wander (Yam YZF-R6)

ASRA TEAM CHALLENGE COMBINED GTL:
1. Racing 101 (Duc 1100)
2. Two Man Group (Suz SV650)
3. 1-833-CJKNOWS (Duc 1100)
4. Ready-to-Rip (Suz SV650)
5. LWT 61Hadcore (Suz SV650)

EXPERT UNLIMITED GRAND PRIX:
1. Mark Heckles (Yam YZF-R1)
2. Ryan Jones (BMW S1000RR)
3. Paul Scalph (Yam YZF-R1)
4. Gregory Ludt (BMW S1000RR)
5. Ricky Clemons (Yam YZF-R1)
6. Vincent Spivey (Yam YZF-R1)
7. Matt DiLorenzo (Suz GSX-R1000)
8. Antonio Rodriguez (Kaw ZX-10R)
9. Lloyd Bayley (BMW S1000RR)

Canadian Dan Kruger Finishes Second In 2019 Chinese Superbike Championship

Canadian Dan Kruger ends up 2nd in the China Superbike Championship for Motul Kawasaki with Double Podium in the Blistering Heat

Zhuhai, China- Hot, Humid

The Motul Kawasaki Team and Dan Kruger finished off a great season with a double podium and a solid performance in the blistering heat. Kruger also signed with Kawasaki again for 2020 to pilot the 2020 Kawasaki ZX-10RR keeping Motul on as the team’s title sponsor. 

“I am really happy how the weekend went and also confirming our plans for 2020,” said Dan. “This is the earliest we have ever had everything locked in for the next season and it feels great.” 

Dan also did daily fan appreciation events at the Motul booth and it was busier than ever.

The team worked through some electronics issues during a pre-race test earlier in the week as well as some ongoing front end chatter issues that have been haunting the team in the latter part of the season.

Race 1: Having Qualified in 4th, Kruger started on the 2nd row and mid-race started suffering front-end chatter gremlins that got progressively worse as the race went on. The Track Temperature was over 50c and the team feels tyre pressure was the main culprit as other teams were facing similar issues.

Race 2: The team made a lot of changes since we had already locked in 2nd for the Championship so we took a few chances including gearing, tyre pressure and rear suspension. We also used the super-soft SCX tyre we usually only use for qualifying for the race. The changes helped and we found a half second per lap but it was not enough to charge for the win. We finished 3rd but sorted out the chatter and are now prepared for the December Endurance Race in China as we defend our 6 year winning streak for this event.

The year-end Prize-giving Ceremony took place as well this past weekend were the team received 2nd overall in the Championship. It was the best season in terms of overall pace and the first season in years with no major injuries to report. 

“Getting the arm pump surgery before the start of the season was the best thing I could have done and it made riding more enjoyable and a heck of a lot easier,” Kruger stated.

We will start preparing immediately for the 2020 season with a hectic training schedule and Dan will also race at the EWC Round at Sepang in Malaysia in December and is planning on doing a few Rounds in 2020 with the Penz 13 BMW Team in Europe including the Imatra, Finland IRRC Round on the “Roads”.

The team would like to thank all of our sponsors for another season of support including Titanic Kawasaki, Motul, Hindle, Zero Gravity, Tech Spec, RK, Mototron, Brembo, BG Pirelli, EBC, X-lite, Dainese, MF Jebsen, RS Itoh, Japan Planning, Mr. Pizza, Fenice, and Nature Power.

Please follow us at www.facebook.com/dankrugerracingteam or stop by and see us at the Hong Kong Motorcycle Show October 20th.

AHRMA: $10,000 Cash Purse Up For Grabs In Barber Cup Pro Challenge At Barber Motorsports Park

AHRMA Announces $10k Purse and Top Line-up for 3rd annual AHRMA “Barber Cup” Pro Challenge Presented by MotoCorse Performance

AHRMA (American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association) is excited to announce a $10,000 purse for the 2019 Barber Cup Pro Challenge on Saturday, October 5, at the 15th Annual Barber Vintage Festival. This purse will be split between the podium finishers on Saturday night at the Awards Ceremony.

The Barber Cup race is attracting a big name line-up, including racers such as Scott “Mr. Daytona” Russell, Nate Kern, Geoff May (winner of the inaugural event), and Steve Rapp – to name a few. AHRMA will be accepting entries up until 10 am Friday morning, October 4.

This 10-lap special race is open to 20 competitors and will take place immediately following completion of the AHRMA’s Saturday race schedule. A 20-minute qualifying session will run after practice on Thursday or Friday (depending on weather conditions).

A qualified racer will:

Be a licensed AHRMA competitor

Take part in at least one day of practice, either Thursday or Friday

Participate in qualifying round following scheduled practice on Friday evening

Be entered in the regular Formula Thunder race on Saturday

Be capable of running in the front part of the field in an AHRMA Formula Thunder race (based on lap times)

For equipment rules, see the AHRMA Handbook, and specific Sections 9.8 and 10.17. (AHRMA Handbook is available at www.ahrma.org/ahrma-handbook)

Contact [email protected] for additional information.

MotoGP: Fabio Quartararo Says He’s Going Into Motorland Aragon With A Lot Of Confidence

Quartararo and Morbidelli optimistic as PETRONAS Yamaha SRT heads to Aragon

Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli look to build on strong results at Misano last weekend as they prepare for their second race in seven days

Aragon GP – 17 September 2019

PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team riders Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli are going into this weekend’s Aragon Grand Prix full of optimism about what’s possible at MotorLand Aragon after strong results last time out. Heading directly from Italy to Spain after finishing Sunday’s San Marino Grand Prix in second and fifth, the duo are confident that they’ll be able to maintain their form this weekend.

Quartararo spent much of Sunday’s race in the lead and battling with reigning world champion Marc Marquez for the win, and says that he can use the same rapid-start strategy to try and add to his tally of four top-three finishes so far in his rookie season. Full of self-belief after the stunning performance at Misano, he’s determined to once again get stuck into the podium battle at Aragon.

Morbidelli is also excited to be heading to the Spanish circuit after an impressive fifth place at his home race on Sunday. A previous race winner in the Moto2 class and enjoying a strong MotoGP debut in 2018 at MotorLand Aragon, improvements to the base setting of his Yamaha YZR-M1 at Misano means he too is raring to get going.

The action at MotorLand Aragon gets underway at 0955 local time (1555 Malaysian time) on Friday 20th September, ahead of race day at the Gran Premio de Aragon on Sunday 22nd.

Franco Morbidelli:

“I’m feeling very good on the bike at the minute and I’ve had two great performances at Silverstone and Misano, so we’re arriving with a lot of trust in ourselves. We’re hoping that the level will be similar to how it was last weekend even though there is a long straight at Aragon, because we’ve found something with the corner speed that’s enabling us to be faster. I won there in 2017 in Moto2, I was on the podium the season before and last year I was very fast, so it’s somewhere where I already have good memories.”

Fabio Quartararo:

“Fighting with Marc at Misano means that I’m going to Aragon with a lot of confidence. It showed how good a job we did there, and only five days after getting off the bike in a really good condition I get to ride again. The long straights aren’t too much of a problem for us, because we showed at the Red Bull Ring and at Misano that as long as you make a good start and five strong laps at the beginning you can be in the fight. The first target will be to be on the front row again, because we need to ensure a good start, and then we’ll try and do our best as always.”

MotoAmerica: CJ Crosslin To Ride RBoM Racing Suzuki In Twins Cup At Barber

Chris “CJ” Crosslin, a 22-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina, will make a welcome return to MotoAmerica action this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park in an attempt to upset the proverbial apple cart in the final round of 2019 Twins Cup competition. Inspired by the New Jersey Twins Cup podium success of RBoM Racing competitors Jackson Blackmon and Curtis Murray, Crosslin has dusted off his leathers and will fly RBoM Racing colors on his #409 RBoM Racing-prepped Suzuki SV650. Chris Crosslin competed in select 2015 and 2016 east coast MotoAmerica events in the 600 Superstock class, with a best finish of 5th place at Virginia International Raceway in 2015.

Unbeknownst to most, Chris Crosslin’s “misfit” lineage dates back nearly 10 years when he transitioned from 125GP machinery to the easy-to-ride Suzuki SV650. Since his transition to 4-stroke racebikes, Crosslin has raced a variety of 600’s and 1000’s and is looking forward to getting back on an SV650.

Some astute observers may recognize the Crosslin name from recent Twins Cup results as Calvin Crosslin made his MotoAmerica racing debut at round 8 in Pittsburg, PA. Calvin Crosslin is CJ’s 54-year-old father and the duo plan to make racing history as the first father-and-son team to grid up for a MotoAmerica race. The Crosslin’s are planning to compete in more MotoAmerica Twins Cup races in 2020 on Suzuki SV650 machinery.

44 Twins Cup entrants will test their skills this weekend, attempting to qualify for the 36 main-event grid spots, as the final Twins Cup race of the 2019 season lines up for green-flag action at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday Sept. 22nd.

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