SSR Motorsports Unveiling 2025 Lineup At Vintage Motorcycle Days

David Swarts

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July 22, 2024

SSR Motorsports Unveiling 2025 Lineup At Vintage Motorcycle Days

SSR Motorsports to Unveil 2025 Pit Bike & Dirt Bike Model Line at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

Named Title Sponsor of First Ever AMA National Pit Bike Races

Santa Fe Springs, CA (Monday, July 22, 2024) – SSR Motorsports, the original Pit Bike company, is proud to announce it will debut its highly anticipated 2025 Pit Bike line at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days July 24 -26, 2024 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. In addition, SSR Motorsports will be the Title Sponsor of the first ever AMA National Pit Bike races held in conjunction with VMD.

Utilizing its extensive knowledge and experience in the Pit Bike market, SSR will showcase its 2025 Pit Bike line, consisting of a series of models ranging from 70cc to 140cc. The line has two distinct Pit Bike platforms, one designed for first time riders, the other a performance series focused on the racing market. In addition to a complete line of Pit Bikes, SSR is also debuting its all new XD250 Dirt Bike models perfect for young upcoming riders, women or men looking for a super fun easy to handle Dirt Bike. Finally, SSR is launching the all-new SR-e model, its first ever electric Pit Bike.

“We are very excited to showcase the next generation of SSR Pit Bike and Dirt Bike models”, commented SSR Motorsports President William Li. “These models represent over 22 experience and knowledge serving this market. Our formula for combining quality with performance, all at a very reasonable price is the cornerstone of our success. In addition, the introduction of our all-new electric SR-e model is focused on the youth market, giving parents an easy choice to get their children involved in motorcycling”.

The first of the new 2025 models will arrive in late August, 2024 with additional models arriving in September and October. Attached is a product spec sheet showing the new 2025 models. Final pricing and other information will be available soon.

In addition to debuting the 2025 Pit Bike and Dirt Bike at AMA VMD, SSR Motorsports has also been named Title Sponsor of the first ever AMA National Championship Pit Bike races.

With four classes competing for AMA national titles, along with several fun and exciting exhibition classes, Pit Bike racing will be bigger than ever at VMD this year. The Pit Bike racing program will be operated in partnership with AMA-chartered promoter Bagger Racing League (BRL) this year, with racing taking place on Friday, July 26.

“As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of Pit Bikes, SSR is the perfect partner when it comes to the wide range of Pit Bike racing taking place at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days this year,” AMA Director of Marketing & Communications Joy Burgess said. “We cannot wait to welcome SSR Motorsports to AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days and work closely with them to make this year’s Pit Bike racing program a grand event.”

Anniversary Invitation and Industry classes competing at the event. For more information on Pit Bike racing at VMD, visit vintagemotorcycledays.com/racing/pitbike-racing/.

With many new additional product announcements coming soon and continued involvement in the sport, SSR Motorsports boldly looks forward to the future.

SSR Motorsports was established in 2002 to import and distribute powersports products in the United States. We provide products that are fun to ride, with cutting-edge design, superior engineering and well-managed quality control. Our Mission Statement: Provide Quality Powersports Products at an Affordable Price with Premier Customer Service.

We believe every enthusiast should be able to afford a brand-new powersport product that is backed by a manufacturer warranty, comprehensive dealer network, premier customer service and a West Coast distribution center stocked with readily available replacement parts. For more information, go to: https://www.ssrmotorsports.com/

NEMRR: Gloddy Wins Career-First Dash For Cash

David Swarts

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July 22, 2024

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NEMRR: Gloddy Wins Career-First Dash For Cash

NEMRR Series

Round Four

New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Loudon, New Hampshire

July 20-21, 2024

There has been a lot of rain predicted rain for NEMRR races this season, but for Round Four at New Hampshire Motor Speedway the racers were greeted with a perfect forecast, and Mother Nature came through. From Friday practice through the final race on Sunday, racers were met with bright sunshine and afternoon highs in the low 80’s.

NEMRR hosts classes for four separate categories of racers including the Expert and Amateur classes run by most other organizations, plus both Novice and Super Street divisions. Super Street allows riders to participate in the race weekend with a track day-prepared machine and has been a perfect steppingstone into the sport for many riders.

Novice is a provisional class with NEMRR, allowing new racers to start racing only with other new riders on their first day at the track, making for a more comfortable and safer track environment for all. As soon as riders hit a designated lap time threshold, they are automatically advanced to Amateur.

The race weekends always start with the Super Street Heat Race, the first of two races for the Super Street riders. Randy Morissette, riding his dual-purpose Kawasaki ZX-10R (he uses it both on the street and on the track) continued his string of top performances with a convincing win in the Unlimited Division. Morrisette would go three-for-three over the course of the weekend, winning the main events on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Novice classes were dominated by Marcus Gada, who scored multiple victories in both the Novice Formula One and Formula Two races on his middleweight machine. Lapping consistently in the 1:20 range, Gada will be advanced to the Amateur ranks next round and will do battle in the highly competitive middleweight classes.

In the Amateur ranks, the standout for the weekend was 6-foot-5 Jared Milieka riding his Yamaha YZF-R6. Milieka has made impressive progress in 2024 after running only a few races in 2023 on a Kawasaki Ninja 400 rented from the Penguin Racing School. The 600 class rookie dropped all the way into the 1:16 lap time range and won several events, including the premier Amateur Middleweight GP class – which gave him his first taste of prize money in his young racing career. Look for Mileika to be truly tested as he is likely to advance to the Expert ranks before the end of the season.

Jared Milieka (211). Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR.

In the Expert ranks, it was a battle of NEMRR’s home-grown talent showcasing their exceptional speed in the premier Middleweight GP “Dash for Cash,” sponsored by NEMRR supporter and Dunlop tire vendor Seacoast Sport Cycle. Off the line it was Justin Landr scoring the holeshot over the likes of Eli Block and the remainder of the field. Landry led the opening lap, followed closely by young guns Eli Block and Ben Gloddy. Deeper in the field was past Dash for Cash winner Ian Beam, suffering an uncharacteristic poor start and working his way towards the front. Gloddy had previously competed (admirably) in the premier class on his underpowered Aprilia RS 660, but this week he brought his Loudon Classic weapon – a Yamaha R6 owned by NEMRR Executive Director John Grush with an engine prepared by former factory mechanic Tony Romo.

Block took the point on lap two with a 1:12.1 lap time, followed closely by Gloddy and Landry. Gloddy was in hot pursuit, closing on the brakes into Turn One each lap and taking the point on lap four with a 1:12.1 of his own. From there, Gloddy put his head down as he and Block separated from the pack. The two young riders had both won multiple MotoAmerica races in the Junior Cup division and were now doing battle on middleweight bikes to the delight of the crowd. Still sore from a crash several weeks prior, Block began to fade at the midway point of the race as Gloddy seemed to only get stronger – logging laps in the 1:11 range as the race entered its latter stages. Triumph rider Beam rocketed his British weapon onto the final podium spot late in the race, as Gloddy put on a show in the final laps with big 90+ mph sideways slides backing into Turn One. It was Gloddy’s first victory in the Dash but certainly not his last.

NEMRR Round 5 is August 24-25 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Information is available at www.nemrr.com.

FIM Mini Cup Race Results From Carolina Motorsports Park

David Swarts

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July 22, 2024

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FIM Mini Cup Race Results From Carolina Motorsports Park

Here are results from Round Two of the five-round 2024 FIM Mini Cup USA Championship Series held July 20-21 at Carolina Motorsports Park, in Kershaw, South Carolina.

Day 1 Races - Race 1 160 Ohvale - RaceReduced
Day 1 Races - Race 1 190 Ohvale Supermoto - RaceReduced
Day 1 Races - Race 1 Stock 50 - RaceReduced
Day 1 Races - Race 1 Stock 110 - RaceReduced
Day 1 Races - Race 2 160 Ohvale - RaceReduced
Day 1 Races - Race 2 190 Ohvale - RaceReduced
Day 1 Races - Race 2 Stock 50 - RaceReduced
Day 1 Races - Race 2 Stock 110 - RaceReduced

Kawasaki Does World’s First Public Demo Of Hydrogen-Fueled Motorcycle

David Swarts

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July 22, 2024

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Kawasaki Does World’s First Public Demo Of Hydrogen-Fueled Motorcycle

World’s First Public Demonstration of Hydrogen Engine Motorcycle

On July 20, Kawasaki Motors, a member of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group, conducted the world’s first public demonstration run of a hydrogen ICE (internal combustion engine) motorcycle by a mass-production motorcycle manufacturer at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan.

Kawasaki's hydrogen-fueled prototype motorcycle being ridden in Japan. Photo courtesy Kawasaki. — Kawasaki’s hydrogen-fueled prototype motorcycle being ridden at the Autopolis Circuit in Japan. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

The hydrogen ICE motorcycle was designed and built as part of research that began in March 2023, with test runs starting this year, culminating in the public demonstration run. Mounted in the machine is a hydrogen engine based on the 998 cm3 In-Line Four Supercharged Engine found in Kawasaki’s Ninja H2 motorcycle, with modifications made to allow direct injection of hydrogen fuel into the cylinders. The motorcycle’s chassis was designed to accommodate hydrogen fuel canisters and a hydrogen fuel supply system on-board.

Hydrogen ICE motorcycles run on hydrogen combustion, producing the rumble and pulsating sensation that riders enjoy when twisting the throttle, while emitting mainly water*1.

As part of their carbon neutral initiative, Kawasaki Motors is currently conducting research and development with the aim of realizing a functioning hydrogen ICE motorcycle*2 as one carbon-neutral option for riders in the early 2030s.

Kawasaki Motors is a full member of HySE (Hydrogen Small mobility & Engine technology)*3, a research association focused on hydrogen technology that is actively conducting basic research on hydrogen engines, hydrogen filling systems, and fuel supply systems in order to produce hydrogen-powered small mobility vehicles, including motorcycles.

In order to further strengthen the Kawasaki brand, Kawasaki Motors will provide products and services that meet the needs of our customers and society, including efforts toward achieving carbon neutrality, as we challenge ourselves to examine all possibilities in pursuit of the happiness and joy of all those whose lives Kawasaki touches.

*1: When riding, a very small amount of engine oil is burned, resulting in the generation of a very small amount of CO2.

*2: The time of commercial availability may vary depending on the hydrogen fuel supply infrastructure and the status of legal regulations in each country.

*3: A research association founded by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kawasaki Motors, Ltd., Suzuki Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. in May 2023 for the purpose of basic research on hydrogen engines for small mobility vehicles.

*4: Autopolis Co, Ltd. (Hita City, Oita Prefecture).

Racer, Former AHRMA Chairman Carl Anderson, R.I.P. (Updated With Service Info)

David Swarts

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July 22, 2024

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Racer, Former AHRMA Chairman Carl Anderson, R.I.P. (Updated With Service Info)

AHRMA Mourns the Passing of Carl Anderson

(July 18, Knoxville, TN) Carl Anderson, a pillar of the vintage racing community and former chairman of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Board of Trustees, has died.

“Carl’s passing is a heartbreaking and profoundly saddening loss to our AHRMA family,” said Greg Tomlinson, 2024 Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees. “He served our membership honorably, with a passion for every aspect of our club. His contributions were significant, and his legacy will help guide our future.”

Anderson served as a member of the Board of Trustees for several years before serving as chairman during 2017, 2018, and 2023. He also served several years as Technical Consultant for the Vintage Roadracing Rules and Eligibility Committee.

As Chairman of the Board during 2023, Anderson successfully spearheaded AHRMA’s recovery efforts from financial difficulties.

“Carl had a relentless passion for the AHRMA organization and its members,” said Daniel May, AHRMA Executive Director. “He was a mentor, teacher, racer, and builder who always had time to help a willing learner. His calm and cool demeanor along with an unselfish approach to fairness will remain unmatched. Godspeed as you reach terminal velocity in the afterlife.”

As a racer, Anderson built, raced and maintained several motorcycles for both road racing and off-road events. During the last several years he supported and promoted young racers, specifically his protégé’s Colton Roberts and Jonathan Hollingsworth, who also competes in MotoAmerica events.

“Carl was one of the greatest friends anyone could ever have been blessed with. But to me and many others, he was family,” said Colton Roberts. “He had the ability to move mountains, but more than anything loved to see the people that he surrounded himself with succeed. He shared his wisdom, his expertise, and his witty sense of humor with all that had the privilege of meeting him. He truly loved his friends, family, and our sport,”

“Carl was my mentor, not only in racing, but in my life too. He was one of the most kindhearted people I will ever meet. I’ll always be eternally grateful for our friendship and cherish the many great memories we shared. I will always carry a piece of him with me in my heart, he was my best friend. We will all miss him dearly,” said Roberts.

Tomlinson said, “Our paddocks will miss his genuine enthusiasm for the machines he loved to race and build. Our fellow racers will miss his mentorship, willingness to teach, and sage advice. Our board will miss his institutional knowledge, fair-mindedness, and selfless volunteerism. I will personally miss the light in his eyes and his bearish, southern growl. He was truly one of a kind. On behalf of the AHRMA and vintage racing community, I wish to extend our deepest sympathy to his family and friends. Godspeed, good buddy. You will be missed but not forgotten.”

AHRMA will be paying tribute to Anderson with a parade lap at the 2024 Barber Vintage Festival. Details to be announced later.

About AHRMA:

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.

More, from a press release issued by The J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services:

Jay Carl Anderson, 59, of Decatur, AL, formally of Murray, KY passed away Wednesday, July 17th at Huntsville Hospital surrounded by family. He is survived by his mother, Sharon Anderson of Murray; brother, Michael Anderson and wife Alicia; nieces, Ashten (husband Taylor) and Amanda; nephews, Brandon and Blake all of Mississippi, and several aunts, cousins, and an uncle.

He was preceded in death by his father, Buford Anderson.

Carl graduated Murray State University at 22 and had a decorated 18-year career at Cape Canaveral, FL working on the shuttle program. He relocated to Decatur and worked on Delta rockets at ULA for 17 years and retired in 2022.

Carl’s great passion outside work was building and racing vintage motorcycles. He traveled far and wide and formed many special friendships. He was a great ambassador to the sport of motorcycle racing and AHRMA. A fantastic rider and builder of race bikes with a winning smile, subtle wit, and incredible memory for all things. Godspeed Carl!

A memorial service will be held at J. H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Saturday, July 27th at 11:00 a.m. with visitation from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Burial will be held in Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, KY at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.

Online condolences can be made at, www.jhchurchill.com

World Endurance: More From The Suzuka 8-Hours

David Swarts

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July 22, 2024

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World Endurance: More From The Suzuka 8-Hours

Young, Team Taro BMW finish 13th at Suzuka 8 Hours

Hamilton, ON – Three-time Canadian Superbike champion Ben Young turned in an excellent performance in his FIM World Endurance debut on Sunday, helping Team Taro Plus One BMW finish 13th overall at the famed Suzuka 8-Hours in Japan.

Young joined Japanese riders Taro Sekiguchi and Kyosuke Okuda in the Team Taro program, qualifying 23rd out of 46 entries with an average time of 2:08.944.

Initially slated to ride third in the rotation, Young’s long-run pace and consistency led the team to promote him to second on race day, taking over from Sekiguchi in 28th position and helping them climb to 19th by the end of his first stint.

After the team slipped back to 20th by the midway point, Young regained three positions in his second stint and exited in 17th. His third and final rotation would be the most crucial, climbing to 15th and stretching his stint long enough to avoid an extra stop in the final hour, something many teams ahead of them couldn’t avoid.

Sekiguchi would take over in the final hour and gain two more positions, finishing 13th overall and 12th in the feature WEC Superbike class, the best result in team history at Suzuka.

Johann Zarco, Takumi Takahashi, and Teppei Nagoe would win the Suzuka 8-Hours for Team HRC with Japan Post, Honda’s record-extending 30th victory at the circuit.

A full hour-by-hour recap, including more information on Young and Team Taro BMW’s efforts, can be found below.

Hour One (11:30 am local time)

Markus Reiterberger would grab the holeshot for the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, but his lightning start was quickly negated by pole-sitters YART Yamaha and Niccolo Canepa.

A hard-charging Ryo Mizuno would put Ducati Team Kagayama into the lead on lap five, before Mizuno, Canepa, and Takumi Takahashi traded blows over the next handful of laps in an epic early battle. Takahashi would ultimately take the lead for good on lap 13 and began to stretch his advantage for Team HRC.

A difficult start saw Taro Sekiguchi drop from 23rd on the grid to as low as 30th for Team Taro Plus One BMW, though he was able to stabilize his pace and reclaim two positions by the time Ben Young took over roughly 50 minutes into the race.

Sekiguchi’s stop would set Young up to undercut some of the riders ahead, climbing to 22nd by the end of the first hour.

Hour Two

MotoGP star Johann Zarco would take over for Team HRC, extending their lead further to over 25 seconds through the first 90 minutes of the race. YART remained second, while SDG Team Honda climbed to third ahead of Ducati Kagayama and Yoshimura SERT Suzuki.

Young continued to charge his way up the field, climbing to 19th by the 90-minute mark and lapping better than the three riders ahead of him. He would hand things over to Kyosuke Okuda roughly an hour and 45 minutes into the race, with Okuda holding steady in 20th for the remainder of his stint.

Hour Three

With track temperatures exceeding 60ºC, Team HRC managed to extend their gap over YART to nearly 35 seconds, with Josh Waters and Ducati Kagayama moving up to third.

Sekiguchi would take over for Okuda and manage the Team Taro machine back to 18th, benefitting from a string of issues for former WEC champions F.C.C. Honda.

Young would then begin his second stint just before the halfway point, making up another position to 17th.

Hour Four (2:30 pm local time)

Yoshimura SERT Suzuki continued to charge up the leaderboards, with Dan Linfoot moving them past Ducati Kagayama for third. Moto2 star and former Moto3 champion Albert Arenas, who missed practice and qualifying with passport issues, took over for Linfoot despite his lack of track time with SERT Suzuki.

Young would end his second rotation in 17th place, putting in 24 laps across nearly a full hour, with Sekiguchi quickly making up a pair of positions to climb to 15th.

Hour Five

Team HRC continues their dominant showing, with Zarco helping lap up to fifth place on the grid. YART trails by over 40 seconds, with a pit stop ranging between 40 and 45 seconds for the top teams, nearly giving HRC a “free” stop.

Sekiguchi caps off his stellar third run in 16th, with Okuda staying in the same position throughout the rest of hour five. Eleven of the top 12 teams are running Bridgestone tires, as are Team Taro BMW.

Hour Six

YART has responded slightly, cutting their deficit to just under 40 seconds and erasing a “free stop” for Team HRC. Ducati Kagayama moves back past Yoshimure SERT Suzuki for third, while BMW Motorrad hunts down SDG Team Honda for fifth.

SERT Suzuki is given a ride-through penalty for a fuel cap infringement, which came as Arenas exited the pits for his first stint. This pushes them nearly a minute behind Ducati Kagayama in the battle for the final podium spot.

Young takes over for Okuda once again at 6:17 local time, joining in 16th and quickly chasing down Team Beringer Honda for 15th. Young claims 15th on lap 171, extending a large cushion between himself and the group behind Team Taro. Sekiguchi takes over once again just before the seven-hour mark, with the sun beginning to set.

Hour Seven

Team HRC has restored their 45-second advantage, securing a “free” stop as teams juggle their strategy over the final two hours. Ducati Kagayama makes an early stop, forcing them to make two more over the final 90 minutes.

SDG Team Honda drops down the order after late mechanical issues, slipping from fifth to tenth and promoting BMW Motorrad into the top-five.

Young take over for Sekiguchi early in the hour and puts in a long stint, completing 25 laps and crucially allowing Team Taro to require only one stop in the final hour. Other teams will not have enough fuel to do so, needing a “splash and dash” scenario in their final rotation.

Hour Eight (6:30 pm local time)

Now fully dark, Zarco extends Team HRC’s lead to over 50 seconds, with Ducati Kagayama slipping behind SERT Suzuki after they are forced to make an extra stop for fuel. Hafizh Syahrin tries to fend off Cocoro Atsumi for Ducati, but it is unsuccessful as Atsumi seizes third place.

Young pits for the final time with 45 minutes to go, allowing Sekiguchi to take over in 15th with no extra stops required. Sekiguchi quickly passes Koki Suzuki and Team ATJ for 14th, before a late crash from Anthony West promotes Team Taro to 13th.

Final Results (7:30 pm local time)

Team HRC is handed a 40-second penalty for a pit lane infringement, but Takumi Takahashi manages the gap enough to win his record sixth Suzuka 8 Hours and hold off YART Yamaha by just over seven seconds.

Despite the loss, YART Yamaha extend their lead in the WEC standings over Yoshimura SERT Suzuki with only one round remaining. SERT Suzuki holds onto the final podium spot, with Ducati Kagayama settling for fourth.

MotoGP star Zarco becomes the first premier class winner to take a victory at Suzuka since Valentino Rossi in 2001, and the first Frenchman to win the event since 1989.

Sekiguchi crosses the line 13th overall for Team Taro Plus One BMW, finishing 12th in the feature WEC Superbike class, their best result in team history. Young earns the best result for a Canadian in the modern Superbike era of the Suzuka 8 Hours, and the best finish in any classification for a CSBK rider since Jordan Szoke was 13th in 2002.

Video: More From The British Talent Cup Races At Brands Hatch

David Swarts

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July 22, 2024

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Video: More From The British Talent Cup Races At Brands Hatch

Frost & Brinton grab the glory at Brands Hatch

Two more incredible showdowns bring us to the halfway point on the 2024 R&G British Talent Cup

Amanuel Brinton (43) and Ryan Frost (24) each won a British Talent Cup race at Brands Hatch. Lucas Brown (29) was on the podium in both races and leads the Championship point standings. Photo courtesy BTC.

Monday, 22 July 2024

As the lights went out on Race 1, Ryan Frost (Fibre Tec Honda) made a stunning start, taking the holeshot. In the early stages, Frost and Filip Surowiak (Team City Lifting / RS Racing) held the top spots, while Julian Correa (Microlise Cresswell Racing) and Amanuel Brinton (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) joined the battle, creating a tightly packed group at the front.

Lucas Brown (SENCAT Talent Team / Mortimer Racing) made an incredible triple overtake to put himself back in the fight at the sharp end, though he struggled to maintain the lead against the relentless attacks from Frost and Surowiak.

The final lap saw Brinton drop from the lead into fourth, with Frost, Brown, and Surowiak all making their bids for victory. In a breathtaking finish, Frost executed a perfect slipstream manoeuvre, overtaking Brown to take the victory. Filip Surowiak managed to edge himself up into a second place photo finish by 0.001 seconds, leaving Brown to settle for third.

The R&G British Talent Cup is streamed live on YouTube in 2024! Watch Race 1 above and Race 2 below.

Race 2 was an equally exciting affair. Julian Correa (Microlise Cresswell Racing) made an impressive start from the middle of the front row. However, it was Ryan Frost (Fibre Tec Honda) who grabbed the holeshot again, with Lucas Brown (SENCAT Talent Team / Mortimer Racing) quickly asserting his claim on the race by moving into second place. Amanuel Brinton (Kovara Projects / RS Racing), determined to close the gap in the championship standings, slotted into third.

The front group, comprising Frost, Brown, and Brinton, began to break away from the pack. Filip Surowiak (Team City Lifting / RS Racing), starting from seventh, made excellent progress, carving through the field to join the battle at the front. The front group of four riders was then joined by another pack, led by Correa, creating an eight-rider battle for Brands Hatch honours.

A breathless final lap saw three different leaders, with Brinton, Brown, and Surowiak each taking turns at the front. However, it was out of the final corner that Brinton made his move, a drag to the line, diving past Brown to snatch victory by just 0.027 seconds. Surowiak secured third place, rounding out the podium.

With that, Brinton cut Brown’s championship lead down to just 22 points at the halfway point of the season.

Next time out, the R&G British Talent Cup will race alongside MotoGP™ at Silverstone on the 2nd to the 4th of August – their biggest stage of the season. Join us there for more incredible racing on the Road to MotoGP™!

British Superbike: Race Two & Race Three Results From Brands Hatch

David Swarts

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July 21, 2024

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British Superbike: Race Two & Race Three Results From Brands Hatch

Editorial Note: In British Talent Cup Race One, Americans Julian Correa, Joshua Raymond, Jr., and Eli Banish finished fifth, 11th, and 16th, respectively. In British Talent Cup Race Two, Correa, Raymond, and Banish finished fifth, 10th, and 13th, respectively. Following the races at Brands Hatch, Correa, Raymond, and Banish sat fourth, 17th, and 19th, respectively, in the BTC Championship point standings.

BSB R2
BSB R3
BSB Points after R3

More, from a press release issued by MSVR:

Vickers crowned the Monster Energy King of Brands with terrific treble

Ryan Vickers was crowned the Monster Energy King of Brands after an incredible treble win for OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing as he celebrated a career first with victory in race three.

Vickers had been unstoppable in the opening race yesterday and again he delivered a masterclass performance to win a red flag interrupted race two, in a five-lap restarted race.

The drama began early in race two on the opening lap when Glenn Irwin, Danny Kent and Danny Buchan crashed out heavily at Paddock Hill Bend, with the trio able to line up again in the final race of the weekend.

At the front, it had become a battle for the podium places between Vickers, reigning champion Tommy Bridewell, Christian Iddon and Andrew Irwin before the red flag when Luke Hedger crashed out at Hawthorns.

Vickers wasn’t taking any prisoners in the five-lap dash to the chequered flag after a lightning start, whilst behind him Bridewell, Kyle Ryde and Andrew Irwin diced for the final podium spots.

Bridewell was able to add to his top three tally in second place, holding off Ryde and Andrew Irwin as Honda Racing UK continue their resurgence this season.

In race three Vickers had his sights firmly set on a career first treble and he achieved the feat with another impressive performance that saw him rule on the Grand Prix circuit.

Meanwhile there was another intense dice for the remaining podium places, with Iddon able to attack and then fight off Ryde for second, as he became the fifth different rider to celebrate podium success this weekend.

Bridewell’s strong points haul puts him now at the top of the standings by 19 points ahead of Thruxton next month, whilst Glenn Irwin gave a gritty performance to finish seventh in race three, bouncing back from his crash to make up 16 positions from 23rd on the grid. The Hager PBM Ducati rider holds second in the overall standings despite his race two DNF.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race 2 result:

Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing)
Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +1.188s
Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +1.237s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +2.566s
Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +2.749s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +3.077s
Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +4.618s
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +5.389s
Franco Bourne (Rapid Honda) +5.742s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +6.032s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race 3 result:

Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing)
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +3.073s
Kyle Ryde ( OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +3.322s
Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +4.316s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +8.015s
Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +9.997s
Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +12.599s
Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +12.752s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +13.012s
Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +14.483s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:

Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 217
Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 198
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 193
Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 185
Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 148
Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 146
Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 128
Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) 122
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) 105
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) 98

For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Ryan Vickers

OMG GRILLA Racing Yamaha

“There were a few nerves going into the last race when it’s on the line for the triple and you’re riding so well. So starting that last race I was fully focused, I just had to get a good start and I did again.

“I genuinely don’t think I missed an apex that [last] race so I’m extremely happy with that. I just rode to the limit, the same as Navarra. Towards the end of the race I backed off a bit and just managed the gap but it was really good.

“The team worked really hard, they gave me great information on the pit board as well, so that made life a lot easier. Thanks to the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing Team, they’ve given me a fantastic bike this weekend.

“We’ve struggled with the bike the last few rounds and they’ve believed in me and what I need. To take that next step we needed to change a few things and we’ve done that this weekend and I really feel like I’ve got a race bike now.

“I really feel we’ve made a step with that and that fills me with confidence because it’s not just been a good weekend, we’ve figured something out with the bike so I think that’s going to put us in good stead for the rest of the season.”

EWC: Results From The 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8-Hours In Japan

Michael Gougis

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July 21, 2024

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EWC: Results From The 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8-Hours In Japan

Team HRC with Japan Post won the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8-Hours endurance race by a slender 7.860-second margin over Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC. Team HRC with Japan Post received a 40-second penalty for a pit-stop violation but remained on top. It was Honda’s 30th win in the endurance classic. Takuma Takahashi, who rode with MotoGP winner Johann Zarco and Teppei Nagoe for the winning squad, notched his record-breaking sixth win in the 8-Hours.

Suzuka 2024 results

More, from a press release issued by FIM EWC:

RACE REPORT: HONDA MAKES IT 30 WINS AT SWELTERING SUZUKA AS TEAM HRC SCORES A HOME EWC HAT-TRICK

· MotoGP star Zarco joins team-mates Takahashi and Nagoe in winning iconic EWC race

· EWC title advantage to YART following Top 10 Trial victory and maiden Suzuka podium

· Yoshimura SERT Motul beats Ducati Team Kagayama to third in the scorching heat

· Bio-fuelled Suzuki fitted with several eco-friendly components finishes eighth

· TONE RT Syncedge 4413 BMW wins Suzuka’s FIM Endurance World Cup event

· 56,000 fans in attendance throughout the weekend, a 33% increase from last year

For immediate release (21 July 2024): Team HRC with Japan Post hit back from its Top 10 Trial defeat on Saturday to complete the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race on Sunday with a third consecutive victory – the 30th for Honda – in Japan’s round of the FIM Endurance World Championship.

Starting in third position on the packed grid, lead rider Takumi Takahashi began to inch ahead halfway through his first stint before team-mates Teppei Nagoe and MotoGP star Johann Zarco combined to secure first place ahead of Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team and Suzuki-powered Yoshimura SERT Motul.

However, Team HRC’s winning margin was a slender 7.860s after a 40-second penalty was applied due to a pitstop infringement in what proved to be an anxious finish for the squad as darkness fell.

“I feel totally relieved and honestly very exhausted,” Takahashi said. “I’m very happy to have won my sixth Suzuka 8 Hours and for Honda their 30th win. I really need to thank my team-mates who are two fantastic riders, all of us together were able to accomplish our goal.”

For 34-year-old Japanese rider Takahashi, the result marked a record sixth victory in the Suzuka 8 Hours, the first coming back in 2010. Another record was set with both Team HRC and YART covering 220 laps to beat the previous benchmark of 219 set by Team Cabin Honda in 2002.

“Now I’ve done six wins the only way is up and I wish to continue,” Takahashi said. “I hope I get an offer next season and in which case I will be here. But I wasn’t focused on my sixth win, I just wanted to get a gap and keep a good average pace. In my last stint I was a bit too relaxed maybe, it was hard to focus towards the end in the dark and I was getting cramps. In the last lap, at the 130R corner, I rode over a yellow armband, which a rider must have dropped, I almost slipped and that was a bit scary.”

Following his EWC debut win on his first Suzuka appearance, Zarco said: “I feel good because when you fix this target and you have the victory it’s a big relief. I feel happy, proud and it gives big satisfaction. I’ve been very impressed by the pace of Takumi and his control of the race. I’m so happy with the progress Teppei made form the test to the race. The three riders were necessary for this victory because with the heat we all needed to control the energy.”

Having arrived in Japan one point behind Yoshimura SERT Motul in the 2024 championship standings, YART will return to its Austria base with an advantage of six points after it bagged five points for winning Saturday’s Top 10 Trial, plus 24 points for its first Suzuka podium courtesy of riders Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika.

Canepa had led after overtaking early pacesetter Markus Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team) just before the completion of the opening lap but reckoned his “gamble” to fit a soft-compound front tyre counted against him as the opening stint unfolded amid track temperatures just short of 60 degrees centigrade.

“I realised we chose the wrong front tyre and I realised immediately I didn’t have a good feeling with the bike.” Canepa said. “I tried to stay in front as much as I can because I knew if they passed me, they would go away and I tried to pass back every time they passed me until Takahashi-san was too fast to pass him back. He did an amazing first stint and I regret that it was partly my mistake to choose this front tyre because I would like to have fought with him longer. I think we had the package to do it.”

Ducati Team Kagayama’s Ryo Mizuno also held top spot during a frenetic opening hour with first place switching between the #2 machine, Takahashi’s #30 entry and Canepa’s #1 bike.

In its first Suzuka 8 Hours with Ducati power, Team Kagayama lost vital ground when Hafizh Syahrin was delayed restarting the Panigale V4R at the first round of pitstops. Having slipped out of contention for second place, Ducati Team Kagayama then became embroiled in a thrilling battle for third with Yoshimura SERT Motul, which wasn’t decided until the final 30 minutes of racing.

Despite the latter losing ground after serving a ride-through penalty – handed out when it emerged the fuel tank cover cap hadn’t been replaced following a pitstop – Japan’s Cocoro Atsumi, who learned to ride at Suzuka Circuit in his youth, produced a spectacular final stint to take third place as the clock ticked down. He was joined on the podium by team-mates Dan Linfoot and Moto2 rider Albert Arenas, a Suzuka rookie prior to Friday morning’s Free Practice.

“I’m really happy to be here on the podium for the first time,” Atsumi said. “I’ve been with Yoshimura SERT Motul as a fourth rider and I’ve been checking and learning a lot. I was asked to join this race and I’m very pleased to have this opportunity. We’re fighting for the championship with YART and finishing in third position means the gap is small and we’ll be in a good position at the Bol d’Or to keep fighting for the championship.”

As he did in the 8 Hours of Spa Motos last month, Markus Reiterberger swept into an early lead. But the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team rider couldn’t keep the chasing Canepa at bay and was behind at the entry to the chicane before the opening lap was done. The Belgian squad, which qualified a Suzuka-best fourth finished a Suzuka-best fifth.

The F.C.C. TSR Honda France trio of Mike Di Meglio, Josh Hook and Alan Techer spent the race adapting to their 2024-specification bike, which they were using in competition for the first time. An electronics issue, falls for Hook and Di Meglio and a stop and go penalty, which was issued after work was carried out on the #5 machine during refuelling, left the 2022 EWC title-winning team a distant 34th to compound a frustrating season so far.

Tati Team Beringer Racing’s first Suzuka 8 Hours with Honda power netted 15th to strengthen its status as the EWC’s top independent team, while KM 99 achieved its target of a top 10 finish in 10th place. Motobox Kremer Racing failed to cover more than 15 laps of its 10th Suzuka 8 Hours.

It was a challenging Suzuka 8 Hours for Kawasaki Webike Trickstar. After Grégory Leblanc was ruled out of the race through injury following a crash in this morning’s Warm-Up, Christian Gamarino and Román Ramos were set to race as a pair until Ramos was taken ill, leading to a lengthy stop before the team eventually returned to the track.

Team Suzuki CN Challenge won the Experimental class in a fine eighth overall with a factory-supported GSX-R1000R CN SPEC, which used 40 per cent bio-sourced sustainable ELF Moto R40 FIM fuel, plus other eco-friendly products. They included a bio-sourced base oil from Motul, a catalytic converter developed by Yoshimura, low-dust brake pads from Sunstar Engineering, tyres from Bridgestone with an increased ratio of recycled materials, front and rear fenders made from a natural flax fibre supplied by Bcomp, plus bodywork provided by JHI and utilising recycled carbon materials.

TONE RT SYNCEDGE 4413 BMW TAKES SUPERSTOCK GLORY

Rookie Hannes Soomer helped TONE RT Syncedge 4413 BMW to victory in the Dunlop-equipped FIM Endurance World Cup, which included the Suzuka 8 Hours on its schedule for the first time. Partnered by Japanese riders Tomoya Hoshino and Ainosuke Yoshida, the Estonian was making his Suzuka debut and overcame a late gear issue to triumph ahead of Team Étoile, which beat Taira Promote Racing to second place on the final lap by 2.213s.

“I came here on Tuesday for the first time and now I’ve ended up winning.” Soomer said. “Every motorcycle racer wants to be on this podium and now I’m on the first step I’m very, very happy.”

Teramoto@J-Trip Racing’s bid to convert its Superstock pole position into victory unravelled when Takeru Murase inflicted substantial damage by crashing at Turn 8 after 30 minutes. National Motos Honda FMA finished fifth but a crash for Gino Rea exiting the second Degner Curve in the opening 20 minutes dropped Wójcik Racing Team out of contention.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days: MotoAmerica Deploying RWAF Soft Barriers

David Swarts

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July 21, 2024

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AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days: MotoAmerica Deploying RWAF Soft Barriers

AMA Thanks Roadracing World Action Fund, MotoAmerica for Support in VMD Road Racing Efforts

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — With a wide collection of vintage road racing on the schedule at 2024 Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Yamaha — running July 26-28 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio — the American Motorcyclist Association extends its gratitude to the Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF) and MotoAmerica for their assistance in creating an excellent road racing program at VMD this year.

“We are so grateful to our friends at the RWAF and MotoAmerica for their support in our road racing efforts at VMD,” AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant said. “RWAF Founder and President John Ulrich and the RWAF have shown tremendous generosity for this event, specifically allowing us to use their inflatable soft barriers for VMD road races.”

The RWAF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to reducing racetrack injuries through education and advocating for safer racetrack practices. Created in 2001, the RWAF works with racing and track day organizations to facilitate deployment of soft barriers at events across the country.

Soft barriers made by Alpina and Airfence have an internal ambient air chamber supported by inflated ribs. They’re made to be deployed in front of steel barriers, tire walls, embankments and other hard objects surrounding racetracks. When a rider crashes and hits a soft barrier, air is pushed out through blow-off valves, absorbing energy; in simple terms, soft barriers can be thought of as being like a giant, pre-inflated car airbag.

“Thanks to our generous supporters, the Roadracing World Action Fund has been able to fund the Alpina and Airfence soft barriers assigned to MotoAmerica and deployed at MotoAmerica Superbike events sanctioned by the AMA,” RWAF Founder and President John Ulrich said. “Since the next MotoAmerica round will be held at Mid-Ohio August 16-18, those soft barriers will already be at Mid-Ohio, and I’m happy that we’re able to have AMA use them for the VMD road races. I am proud that, working with MotoAmerica, AMA, and other organizations nationwide, we’ve been able to improve rider safety and reduce injuries. Together, we have helped make a big difference in the culture of road racing in the United States, making attention on rider safety not just accepted, but also expected.”

The road racing program at VMD is sure to deliver, with 35 classes taking to the 2.4-mile racetrack to compete for AMA National No. 1 plates. For the first time, the AMA Amateur National Bagger Champion will be crowned at VMD, adding to the exciting racing slate.

There will be plenty more to do at Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Yamaha, with North America’s largest swap meet, a collection of vendor displays and seminars at the Hall of Fame Fanzone in the infield, demo rides, bike shows, and much more!

There will also be plenty more racing action during the three-day celebration of vintage motorcycling, with competition in motocross, trials, hare scrambles and road racing all taking place. In addition to the extensive racing schedule, this year’s VMD will also include North America largest motorcycle swap meet, vendor displays, stunt shows and much more!

To stay engaged on all things VMD, visit the Vintage Motorcycle Days website at https://vintagemotorcycledays.com/, subscribe to the VMD Newsletter and follow the official VMD social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Not a member? Join the AMA today: AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

SSR Motorsports Unveiling 2025 Lineup At Vintage Motorcycle Days

July 22, 2024

(From left) SSR Motorsports' 2025 SR-E500 electric pit bike, SR125ME, SR140R, and XD250. Photo courtesy SSR Motorsports.