Leon Camier recovery update

Following a blameless collision with another rider during the Superpole qualifying session at the Italian WSBK round in Imola, which left him with damage to his left shoulder ligaments and unfit to race that weekend, Leon Camier will also miss the two-day test set to take place at Misano (Italy) on 29-30 May.

The injury is expected to heal by itself with the Brit needing more recovery time. No surgery is currently advisable, but the situation will be re-assessed as and when necessary.

For the Misano test, the Moriwaki Althea Honda team will field BSB Honda Racing’s Xavi Forés and All Japan Road Race JSB1000 Championship rider Yuki Takahashi alongside Moriwaki Althea Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari.

AFTER THREE ROUNDS ANTHONY WEST LEADING BRAZILIAN SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 3 Interlagos, Brazil

(Sao Paolo, Brazil) — Team Kawasaki Brasil rider Anthony West continues to lead the Brazilian Superbike Championship after three rounds. Sunday’s third place points put Ant at the top of the championship standings with forty one points, eight clear of second place.

Once again the Interlagos track of Sao Paolo, Brazil delivered all four seasons in one weekend. The team and Ant had many things to test to try and close the setup advantage that the Brazil Superbike riders enjoy over the Brazil Superbike Championship newcomer. The weekend was also going to be challenging because the Interlagos circuit demolished all the pitboxes in order to rebuild new ones, necessitating the use of a new temporary pitlane.

Thursday morning was raining and the first session was skipped. The second session was to find current track conditions using the previous race weekend’s setup. The third session saw the implementation of a new solution to try and increase edge grip. The team skipped the final session of the day as the temperature dropped significantly and the sun was going down quickly—days are getting shorter as Brazil enters the Fall season.

Friday arrived and the team implemented another radical change to the setup of the bike. The team and Ant’s efforts were rewarded with a new personal best lap record of 1:36.4 around the 4.4 km circuit. The team continued to work on the power delivery of the awesome ZX-10R engine, trying to help Ant get as much grip as possible.

Saturday the setup work continued and the lap times became more consistent and easier to maintain. Although a little down on one lap pace, the team was optimistic with Ant’s race pace. Ant qualified in the middle of the front row in second place.

Sunday morning’s 8:45am ten minute warm up was held under cool overcast conditions and Ant tried the new setup with a full fuel load to simulate the opening laps of the race. At the end of the session, Ant was in second place and looking forward to the race. As the 1pm race time approached, the clouds gave way to bright blue skies and intense sun. The track temperature was 36 degrees, significantly warmer then it had been in any earlier session. Eric Granado demonstrated he had the one lap pace in qualifying, Ant and the team were hoping to close the gap over race distance on worn tires. When the lights went out, Ant rocketed off the line and made his way to the lead. Unfortunately, it was short lived. Granado made it past Ant and pulled a small gap. Alex Barros and Ant then fought the entire race distance over second place, allowing Granado to escape. Unlike the first round, Barros was able to beat Ant to the finish line in second, Ant was third. Ant continues to lead the Brazilian Superbike Championship. 8 points clear of second place.

Anthony West 13

The good news is, we are still leading the championship. Unlike Barros and Granado who have hundreds of laps here, we are still making big changes to the bike trying to find a better setup for Interlagos. The team is working really hard and we are making progress, we just need to close the gap to the front.

Team Kawasaki Brasil is operated by JC Racing. Team Kawasaki Brasil is sponsored by: Steck, Castropil, Flip Racing Moto Parts

Ant West personal sponsors include FuSport, Accent Timber Flooring, Graeme Cavanagh, Arai, SC Exhaust, CHC Leathers

Unique season long and one event sponsorship opportunities are available.

For more information contact Murph at Syndicate Motorsport Management.

+1.831.464.3458 or [email protected]

Repsol Honda Team ready for marvellous Mugello

With a historic 300th premier class win in the books, the Repsol Honda Team now head to Italy for the next challenge.

Nestled in the hills and valleys northeast of Florence, the 5.2km long Mugello circuit is a favourite of fans and riders alike. Sweeping corners and one of the fastest straights of the year regularly produce some of the best races of the season.

Fresh from another dominating win, Marc Marquez leads the MotoGP World Championship by eight points and is looking as strong as ever aboard the Honda RC213V. While the Mugello circuit has seen Marquez take only a single win in the premier class, the Repsol Honda Team are hopeful of adding another victory thanks to the upgrades to the RC213V over winter.

Having taken his best finish of the season so far, Jorge Lorenzo heads for happy hunting grounds in Mugello. The Italian track has been ‘Lorenzo’s Land’ on six occasions in the premier class, missing the podium on only two occasions since 2008. Lorenzo’s progress adapting to the Repsol Honda Team RC213V took a major step forward in France and he arrives in Italy with renewed focus and motivation.

Free Practice 1 begins the weekend at 09:55 local time, Friday May 31 with the lights going out on Sunday, June 02, for the 23-lap race at 14:00 local time.

Marc Marquez

“After Le Mans I am first of all hoping for good weather in Mugello! I like the circuit, even if we have not always had the best results there. If we keep working well from Friday as in previous rounds, I feel confident we can have a good race. Our rivals are always very strong and very close at this circuit, it can be a fun race on Sunday!”

Jorge Lorenzo

“We made good progress in Le Mans with the setting of the bike and were able to be much closer to the front. I’ve had similar success in the past in Mugello as to Le Mans, so I am hopefully of continuing to improve our position. The Repsol Honda Team has been working very hard and I am sure soon I will be able to achieve some results to thank them.”

Ford Motor Company On Board With MotoAmerica

Ford Will Display Its Vehicles At Three Events

COSTA MESA, CA (May 28, 2019)– MotoAmerica is proud to announce that the Ford Motor Company is joining the 2019 MotoAmerica Series as a sponsorship partner and will be bringing its display of Ford vehicles to three events, beginning with the Dunlop Championship at Road America, May 31-June 2.

In addition to bringing its display to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Ford will also be showing its vehicles at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca round (July 12-14) in Monterey, California, and at Pittsburgh International Race Complex (August 23-25) in Wampum, Pennsylvania.

“Ford Motor Company is excited to share the latest Ford vehicles with MotoAmerica fans,” said Scott Denby, Brand Content & Alliances Strategy Manager, Ford Marketing.“From the iconic Mustang to the F-Series, the best-selling truck in America, we have vehicles that deliver on MotoAmerica fans’ passion for performance and help enable their love for motorcycle racing.”

“Having Ford Motor Company join MotoAmerica as a sponsorship partner is exciting news,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “Ford is an iconic American brand and for them to come on board as a sponsor and to showcase their vehicles at our MotoAmerica races is fantastic. We are excited to have them there supporting us and it’s a great opportunity for both MotoAmerica and Ford. And, obviously, it gives our fans the to chance watch races and learn more about Ford’s products at the same time.”

The 2019 MotoAmerica Series heads to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, May 31-June 2, for round four of the series. For more information, visit www.motoamerica.com

About MotoAmerica

MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com. Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

DAN BROMLEY PODIUMS AT SPRINGFIELD TT

Round 7 – American Flat Track Championship – May 26, 2019

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Dan Bromley earned his third podium finish of the season at the Springfield TT on Saturday for Round 7 of the 2019 American Flat Track Championship in Springfield, Illinois.

Coming off a few tough finishes, Bromley put forth a solid performance throughout the day in Springfield. He lined up in AFT Singles Heat 1, where he got off to a second-place start on the opening lap. He rode a steady pace throughout the five-lap race to finish a solid second in the heat. In Semi 2, he started off in the second-place position once again, putting in eight consistent laps to secure a second-place transfer into the Main Event. In the Main, Bromley got off to a great start, positioning himself in second going into turn one. He came out in third and maintained that position until KTM-mounted rider Ryan Sipes went down ahead of him, giving Bromley the second-place position at the end on lap one. He held onto second until lap six when he got passed on the straightaway. From there, he put his head down and attempted to make a charge in the final laps, ultimately making a few small mistakes that kept him from catching the leaders. With a hard-fought performance, Bromley came away with third-place in the Main Event, earning his third podium finish of the season.

Dan Bromley: “Throughout the day we were chasing the bike a bit, making it stiffer every time I went out. I felt good in the Main Event but I think I was just overriding to get to the front towards then end and by doing that I made little mistakes that cost me in catching the leaders. Overall, I’m happy to come away with another podium and gain some points on the leader.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Shayna Texter made big strides over the weekend as she continues to work on refining her skills on the TT-style tracks. Texter qualified 21st overall, which gave her big confidence as she headed into the racing program only one-second off the top riders in the class. In AFT Singles Heat 1, Texter got off to a good start aboard her KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION where she was running just outside the top-five early on. However, as she was coming into the right-hander on the first lap she was taken out by another rider and immediately dropped back to last-place. With only 10 riders advancing to the Semi-Finals, Texter unfortunately missed out on the opportunity to fight for a position in the Main Event. All things considered, the Pennsylvania native has a positive outlook on the night.

Shayna Texter: “It was a bit of a bummer to end the day like that but it gives us confidence to continue to grow and work hard on these TTs to score points and to go after the championship here in the future.We made a bunch of improvements since the last round and I’ve been putting in a lot of work during the week riding motocross and training with Aldon Baker, just trying to get stronger both physically and mentally. It really showed yesterday that we have a lot of potential to grow and to get better on these TTs. I’m super excited to be making progress and definitely looking forward to some of my stronger tracks coming up in the season.”

Next Race: June 1, 2019 – The Red Mile – Lexington, Kentucky

AFT Singles Main Event

1. Jesse Janisch, Yamaha

2. Mikey Rush, Honda

3. Dan Bromley, KTM

OTHER KTM

12. Ryan Sipes, KTM

AFT Singles Point Standings

1. Jesse Janisch, 111 points

2. Dalton Gauthier, 96

3. Mikey Rush, 91

4. Dan Bromley, 90

OTHER KTM

7. Morgan Mischler, 52

9. Shayna Texter, 46

12. Tristan Avery, 31

More, from a press release issued by Estenson Racing:

Ryan Wells Fights Back from Adversity to Score Valuable Points at Springfield TT

Estenson Racing’s Ryan Wells made a valiant effort after a first-lap incident to fight his way back through the pack to finish just shy of a top-10 finish Saturday night at the Springfield TT, round six of the American Flat Track AFT Singles Championship.

The 2016 AFT Singles Champion went into weekend fired up after his first win with the team at the previous round in Southern California. That win propelled his motivation, and he went to work on preparing for his first win on a TT by training out east at the Hayden compound in Owensboro, Kentucky, during the week off.

Wells’ day got off to a solid start with a good qualifying effort in fourth. He went on to score a pair of thirds in the Heat and Semi and was looking to keep that forward progress rolling into the Main. Unfortunately, he got caught up in a log jam for position going into the right hander after the jump on the first lap and went down. Not willing to give up, a determined Wells got back on the bike, put his head down and fought his way from the back of the pack to 11th. Although disappointing after a good start to the day, Wells was able to salvage valuable points and stay in the top five of the title chase.

On the amateur side of the event, it was a big night for the Estenson Racing squad with twins rider JD Beach battling Dallas Daniels for top honors in the Steve Nace All Stars Singles Main Event. 15-year-old Daniels will make his professional flat track debut on the Estenson Racing team this June at the Lima Half-Mile. The Illinois native got the holeshot from the outside, with Davis Fisher following behind in second and Beach in third. Beach quickly got past Fisher and went after his teammate Daniels. He passed his young teammate in the left-handed sweeper before the finish line on lap two and held onto the lead until the checkers. Daniels found himself locked in a battle with Fisher as the race wound down. Fisher made some moves and made one last push out of the final turn, but Daniels was able to hold off the 2015 AFT Singles Champion to take the runner-up position. In addition to second place in the All Star race, he also notched a couple of wins in the other two 450 amateur classes.

The Estenson Racing squad heads east to Lexington, Kentucky, for the Red Mile on Saturday, June 1.

Ryan Wells — AFT Singles #94:

“A pretty disappointing night in Springfield. I had a pretty good day going, qualified fourth and got third in my Heat and Semi. I got off to a decent start in the Main Event from the outside, and I went into the right-hander in about third or fourth, but I got run into when another rider went down. I almost saved it and then I ran into another guy and crashed. It’s a bummer to have a good day going and end up on the ground. But I’m looking forward to heading to these next two tracks and hopefully get back on the box where we belong. We’re trying to just keep chipping away.”

Beating Marquez: can Ducati fight back at Mugello?

The reigning Champion is on a run of top form. But now it’s Italian turf, and a venue Ducati – and Rossi – have reigned

Monday, 27 May 2019

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) is on an undeniable roll as the Championship rocks into Mugello, but this is now unmistakably enemy territory. Not only for the banks of yellow that trim the circuit every race weekend, but also for the swathes of red crowding into the track to support home factory Ducati – the most recent winners twice in a row. As venues for a pivotal point in the Championship go, it couldn’t be better.

Mugello, put simply, is a masterpiece. Sculpted from the hills of Tuscany; fast, flowing and boasting perfect curves, the place is a special one even before the crowds roll in. And boy, do they roll in. Yellow is their colour, Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) is their hero and the volume level is a record one. And they have good reason to come to worship at the alter of speed: Rossi won every year from 2004 to 2008, he was on pole last season…is now the time for another?

For the partisan crowd though, there’s more: Ducati were the ones who took the baton from the Rossi winning streak in 2009, but they have won the last two too: in 2017 with Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati) and last year with Jorge Lorenzo. It’s a venue the bike works well at, and it’s one that would provide the perfect stage for ‘DesmoDovi’ to fight back against Marquez – especially in his 300th Grand Prix. The Italian has a lot more points at this stage in the season than he had last year and the year before, so Marquez’s form aside, it makes for good reading. But can he cut his seven point deficit to the number 93’s Championship-topping 95 points? And can and will teammate Danilo Petrucci, on the podium in factory colours for the first time in France, get in the battle too?

There’s also Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) to consider. The Australian made Marquez work for it in the early stages at Le Mans and has been one to watch so far this season. With the bike underneath him, can he be another weapon in Borgo Panigale’s armoury? And likewise can wildcard and test rider Michele Pirro, who also makes his 100th Grand Prix start this weekend?

Behind the Ducati-riding army and Rossi, there are many more lining up to get in the fight too. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) showed serious speed at times in France, and, of course, man of the moment Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) has already proven he’s not a flash in the pan. Despite a tough start at his home race, the Frenchman had Marquez pace. If the cards fall differently in Mugello, can he convert that speed into a podium? Or will teammate and home turf contender Franco Morbidelli get ahead?

Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), meanwhile, remains third in the standings despite his tough French Grand Prix. It never quite came together for the Hamamatsu factory there, so Mugello needs to be a turnaround if Rins is to continue to charge in the Championship. That’s also true for compatriot Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team) after he suffered another tough round. There were encouraging signs for the five-time World Champion there though and he’s gaining experience every weekend, and now we’re into a run of venues that have all been Lorenzo’s Land – Mugello most recently last season as he took his first win in red. That adds to five more, making the 99’s record at the track the most enviable. A good place to start a challenge further forward and, if he can echo his 250cc days, a good place for a return of the king.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Johann Zarco is looking for a similar step forward too, although the Austrian factory more broadly had a top weekend at Le Mans. Pol Espargaro took an awesome P6 for the factory team, in the dry and with nothing else tipping the scales his way, and all KTMs scored points. They’ll want more and Mugello will be an interesting one as home team Aprilia Racing Team Gresini push to close the gap in the constructor standings. They’re another gunning for further forward and that home turf boost will see many cheering for the Noale factory.

Mugello, in all its glory, awaits. Will Marquez’ form be enough to see him take another win? Or does the venue – and the awe-inspiring crowd – leave the likes of Dovizioso and Rossi walking a little taller into the Tuscan track? The Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley could prove pivotal for those aiming to chase down the reigning Champion and it gets underway on Friday 31st May, with the lights out for racing on Sunday 2nd June.

Championship standings

1 – Marc Marquez (SPA – Honda) – 95

2 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA – Ducati) – 87

3 – Alex Rins (SPA – Suzuki) – 75

4 – Valentino Rossi (ITA – Yamaha) – 72

5 – Danilo Petrucci (ITA – Ducati) – 57

Glory or gravel: Baldassarri sets sights on home turf

The Italian has either won or failed to finish so far this season. So will Mugello follow the pattern?

It remains an all-or-nothing season for Championship leader Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) as the dust settles after Le Mans, with the Italian suffering a second DNF of the season at another track where he’d struggled in the past. But with three out of three he’s finished being wins, 75 points is enough to keep him on top – and Mugello is somewhere he’s shone. It’s also home turf.

So are the grid to expect Baldassarri straight back at the business end? If Texas was anything to go by, the answer may well be yes. But it’s a deep grid this season and there are plenty who’ll be trying to get in his way. Fellow home heroes Mattia Pasini (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) are two who share his serious motivation, and Pasini especially could be a serious threat…

The men with some momentum after Le Mans, however, are winner Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), newcomer to the front Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40), and Jorge Navarro (MB Conveyors Speed Up). Navarro has three podiums in a row now, and he’s chomping at the bit to go one better. Putting all the pieces together to perfection so far, a win can’t be too far away.

But what of those needing, like Baldassarri, a bounce back? Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) may have made some points gains in France but it wasn’t as much as he would have wanted after a tougher race, teammate Marcel Schrötter wants more, and early season pace man Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) has had two DNFs in a row…leaving him equal on points with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as the South African starts to find some more traction for KTM.

Will Baldassarri reign the stunning Tuscan scenery of Mugello and make it a fourth win of the year? Can Marini give the home crowd more to cheer about? Or will the Spaniards, Australians, South Africans fight back? Find out on Sunday 2nd June.

Championship standings

1 – Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA – Kalex) – 75

2 – Tom Lüthi (SWI – Kalex) – 68

3 – Jorge Navarro (SPA – Speed Up) – 64

4 – Alex Marquez (SPA – Kalex) – 61

5 – Marcel Schrötter (GER – Kalex) – 56

Mugello awaits: are Moto3™ ready for slipstream city?

With one of the longest straights on the calendar, the Italian Grand Prix is always a lightweight class thriller

Records broken, five riders wide into Turn 1, thousandths deciding the podium…that’s what Moto3™ have to expect from the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley. Every season, it’s one of the most spectacular events on the calendar as the long, long main straight sees the masters of slipstreaming shuffle the order lap after lap.

Last year’s podium have all graduated to Moto2™, and the top finisher from 2018 was Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) so he’ll want to fill the void left behind. After a tougher season than expected so far now would be a good time to begin the charge – and it would be a good time for the likes of Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) and Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) to flip their luck, but they’ll have some serious company.

Championship leader Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) must be pencilled in as a favourite and for his team it’s also a home race, but key rival in the standings Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) will be gunning for home glory. SIC58 Squadra Corse also race at home as a team and Tatsuki Suzuki is a man on the pace as late, but a lot of home hearts will be set on teammate Niccolo Antonelli on the other side of a garage; a home favourite and Grand Prix winner.

The list of Italians goes on: Andrea Migno (Bester Capital Dubai) is another – and a former winner at Mugello – and Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46), top rookie as it stands, could well be up in the mix, as could Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers). And what of his teammate Romano Fenati? It’s been a tough year so far but the veteran has some serious form at Mugello having taken his second win there. Will the home crowd will them to glory? Or can Le Mans winner John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) join the likes of Rodrigo and Toba on a charge to stop them?

The secret to Mugello Moto3™ glory is being in the right place at the right time. Who will reign slipstream city in 2019? Find out in the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley from the 31st May to 2nd June.

Championship standings

1 – Aron Canet (SPA – KTM) – 74

2 – Lorenzo Dalla Porta (ITA – Honda) – 60

2 – Niccolo Antonelli (ITA – Honda) – 57

3 – Kaito Toba (JPN – Honda) – 51

5 – Jaume Masia (SPA – KTM) – 49