MotoAmerica: Unpredictable Superbike Championship Heads To Brainerd (Updated)

David Swarts

-

June 12, 2024

MotoAmerica: Unpredictable Superbike Championship Heads To Brainerd (Updated)

2024 MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Season Is Anything But Predictable

Jake Gagne Leads A Championship That’s Tipsy-Turvy With Four Different Winners As Series Heads To Minnesota, June 14-16

IRVINE, CA (June 12, 2024) – The only thing predictable about the 2024 MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Championship is its unpredictability as the series embarks on its fourth round at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, June 14-16.

Case in point #1: Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier appeared to be teetering on the verge of dominating this year’s championship after winning three of the first five races. Now Beaubier is out of action for a while after breaking his heel in his race-one crash at Road America in a rainstorm.

Case in point #2: Attack Performance/Progressive/Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne leads the title chase but has only won a single race. He also has unheard-of results for the three-time champion of eighth, seventh and fifth on his scorecard after early-season struggles with arm pump. He is, however, only one of two riders in the top 10 to have scored points in all seven races.

Case in point #3: There have been four different winners in the Superbike class in the first seven races. Last year, there were four different winners in the entire 19-race series.

So, if you add all that up, it’s easy to see the unpredictability of the current season. And there’s plenty more to come. Next up: Brainerd International Raceway.

So, what does it all mean?

Gagne with his lone victory (in race two at Road Atlanta) and four total podiums leads the way into the “Land Of 10,000 Lakes” with 113 points. That puts him 18 points clear of the absent Beaubier, who will be watching from his California home and not sure of when his return will be as he may be out of action until his home round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Gagne’s arm-pump is something we must keep an eye on. One thing we know for certain, if Gagne isn’t winning races and is not a consistent podium finisher, there’s still a problem. Only time will tell, and Brainerd will provide a good test as to the health of those forearms.

Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong is having his best Superbike season since his three-win season in 2020 on the M4 Suzuki that placed him third at season’s end in the championship. Fong’s ride to second place in race two at Road America almost two weeks ago was heroic and more than made up for his struggles in the wet race one where he soldiered on to finish eighth.

Fong, who is the only rider other than Gagne to score points in all seven races, is 25 points behind the three-time series champ and just seven behind Beaubier, who will surely lose that second ranking this coming weekend.

Several riders are giving chase to Gagne, and third to seventh in the championship is tight with 16 points covering the five riders.

Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen has two victories on his scorecard, which already matches his career-high of two wins in 2022. Petersen was robbed of more points when his Yamaha failed him in race two at Road America the day after his second win of the season.

TopPro Racing’s Sean Dylan Kelly’s run of consistent top-level results ended with his scary crash while leading in the quagmire of race one at Road America. Kelly then ran into a mechanical issue on the final lap while dicing for second in race two. He was able to salvage a sixth-place finish that left him in a tie with Petersen for fourth in the standings. A little better luck and he would have left Wisconsin third in the championship.

Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin turned his season around with his first victory of the season in race two at Road America. Herrin’s Sunday victory moved him to sixth in the championship, four points behind Petersen and Kelly and 34 points in arrears of Gagne.

Herrin’s teammate Loris Baz was hoping for a bit more from Road America, but he still came away with his first podium of the season with his third in race one and a fourth in race two. The Frenchman is seven points behind his teammate.

JD Beach came out of the three-race weekend at Barber Motorsports Park in a miserable state as he scored just nine points. What a difference a weekend makes. Beach was actually smiling on Sunday afternoon in Wisconsin after putting his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR on the podium for the first time. A day earlier, Beach raced the bike to fourth, so he went from scoring nine points in three races in Alabama to 29 points in two races in Wisconsin.

Real Steel Motorsports’ Hayden Gillim is ninth in the Superbike standings after sitting out the Road America round, just one point ahead of Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Brandon Paasch, who had his best weekend of the season thus far at Road America with fifth and seventh-place finishes.

Beach will be joined this weekend on the second Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR by Mission King Of The Baggers Championship points leader Troy Herfoss with the three-time Australian Superbike Champion set to fill-in for the injured Beaubier on the team. Herfoss will do double duty on his S&S Indian Challenger in the Baggers race and in Steel Commander Superbike on a racetrack he’s never seen before.

Pre-Race Brainerd Notes…

PJ Jacobsen won the first MotoAmerica Superbike race of his career last year in Sunday’s race two at Brainerd International Raceway, and he did it the right way – by holding off Jake Gagne in a straight fight. Gagne, who won Saturday’s race one, finished second with Mathew Scholtz third. Jacobsen had finished second to Gagne in the first race with Josh Herrin taking the final podium spot.

Two of the names from last year’s Superbike podiums are now racing in the Supersport Championship. PJ Jacobsen leads the series point standings on his Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2 with Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz giving chase in second on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Those two have won all six of the Supersport races this year and Jacobsen leads Scholtz by 12 points, 131-119.

Pole position for last year’s race went to Cameron Beaubier with his 1:30.688. The five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion was the only rider to break into the 1:30s during qualifying. He was joined on the front row by PJ Jacobsen and Jake Gagne.

Jake Gagne’s lap of 1:29.922 from 2021 is still the Superbike lap record and Gagne also has the race record of 1:29.922 from race two in 2021.

Beaubier, a three-time winner thus far in 2024, has been ruled out of racing this year at Brainerd as he recovers from heel surgery after crashing out of race one at Road America nearly two weeks ago.

This year’s round at Brainerd International Raceway is the fourth straight visit to the Minnesotan racetrack since the series ended a 17-year hiatus in 2021.

Of the six Superbike races held at Brainerd in the MotoAmerica era, Jake Gagne has won four of them. The other two went to Italian Danilo Petrucci in 2022 and PJ Jacobsen in 2023.

About MotoAmerica

MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including 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, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. To watch all things MotoAmerica, subscribe to MotoAmerica’s live streaming and video on demand service, MotoAmerica Live+

More, from a press release issued by Ducati:

Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati team heads to Brainerd for round four of MotoAmerica 2024 with all to play for

Sunnyvale, Calif. — Starting this weekend at Brainerd, MN, MotoAmerica heads into a series of three race meetings over a six-week period that will be crucial for the title aspirations of the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati team.

Team riders Josh Herrin and Loris Baz are riding the crest of a wave right now following an exceptional performance at Road America in which Baz scored his first podium of the season by claiming third in race one and Herrin lit up the iconic venue with a dominating win in race two, crossing the line 10-seconds ahead of the second-placed rider.

Brainerd has been a fixture on the MotoAmerica calendar since 2021 and it’s proven a good omen for the team with Herrin taking third in race one in 2023 on the Ducati Panigale V4 R.

Baz also holds fond memories of the venue after his only race meeting at Brainerd in 2021 for the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati team saw the number 76 claim third place in race two.

Brainerd’s ultra-flat, 2.5-mile, 13-turn road course, especially the fast first half of the layout, will play into the strengths of the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, which is often leading the speed trap recordings against the MotoAmerica competition this season.

Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#76)

“I’m really happy. It’s the first time I’ve been able to train properly since the first race, so I’m feeling good heading into Brainerd,” Baz said. “It’s a good track for the Ducati. I have some experience there from my first year back in 2021, and Josh has been fast there with both the Superbike and the Supersport machine.

“I’m looking forward to improving the feeling of the bike and increasing my confidence on it. It’s the best bike in the world as far as I’m concerned, and the goal will be to add to the podiums the team scored at Road America.”

Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#2)

“I can’t wait to ride my Ducati Panigale V4 R at Brainerd!” Herrin said. “We were running well at this track last year, and I expect to be even more competitive this year, given we now have a lot of data we’ve gathered over the past 12 months.

“After the victory in race two at Road America, my team and I are riding a huge wave of confidence, and we’re ready to ride it to shore. This track has historically been good to me, and we’ll be giving it everything come race time.”

On track action for the fourth round of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship kicks off at 8:30 am CDT on Friday, June 14 with Herrin and Baz first taking to the track for Free Practice 1 at 10:20 am.

Superbike racing action commences with race one at 3:10 pm CDT on Saturday, June 15. Race two is scheduled for Sunday, June 16 at 3:10 pm CDT.

N2/WERA Endurance: Alpha Omega Rollers Wins At CMP

David Swarts

-

June 11, 2024

0

N2/WERA Endurance: Alpha Omega Rollers Wins At CMP

Alpha Omega Rollers Wins a N2/WERA National Endurance Race at Carolina Motorsports Park.

Media, PA (June 2024) – The Alpha Omega Rollers Endurance Team with riders Eziah Davis, Blake Davis, and Anthony Mazziotto took the overall and Heavyweight class wins at round two of the N2/WERA National Endurance Series at Carolina Motorsports Park. In all, a total of 39 teams competed for over $100,000 in purse and contingency for the second round of the 2024 N2/WERA National Endurance Championship.

One of the biggest moments of the race happened before the race started when the most dominant team in the series, Army of Darkness, crashed in qualifying. Hunter Dunham crashed the Army of Darkness YZF-R1 in the “kink” at over 140mph destroying the bike only hours before the green flag. Army of Darkness was forced to use their backup bike with several key components missing or damaged.

Nature Power Superbike started on pole with Jason Waters but had a technical problem straight away and had to pit. Alpha Omega Rollers took the lead with Blake Davis and led until the red flag came out on lap eight for a crash in Turn 14. Alpha Omega Rollers led after the restart, only relinquishing the lead briefly after pit stop laps. Despite some issues during pit stops, Alpha Omega Rollers had a drama-free event and cruised to a dominant victory. Army of Darkness finished second overall with riders Hunter Dunham and Taylor Knapp.

Trash Panda finished third overall and first in the Middleweight class with riders Nathan Seethaler, Chuck Ivey, and Donovan Piper on a YZF-R6. Trash Panda had a race-long battle with endurance veterans Top Box Racing, which finished second in class. Wiseco-sponsored Motor Drone Racing finished third.

Robem Engineering continues their dominance of the Lightweight class, but this time on a Suzuki SV650 with riders Alessandro Di Mario and Hank Vossberg. The family team of Brown Town Racing finished second, and endurance veterans Some Expense Spared finished third.

RTR Racing’s Logan Cunnison and Ryne Snooks won the 2-Hour Ultralightweight Endurance after a race-long battle with One One Nine Racing’s 14-year-old Reese Frankenfield and Carson King. The race was stopped for a long red flag when a rider hit a deer going into Turn Eight. After the red flag, the race was like a long sprint race with several riders fighting for position until a final red flag stopped the race with 15 minutes to go. Team Yo! finished in the third position with riders Giacamo Manera and Keith Buras.

RTR Racing’s Logan Cunnison (58). Photo by Apex Pro Photo, courtesy N2 Racing.

A Proper Ding Dong won the Relay Class with riders Pierce Landers, Daniel Hughes, John Dunham, and Mark Keown with Double D and Hart & Co Racing rounded out the podium.

Round 3 of the N2/WERA National Endurance Series is at Roebling Road Raceway on July 13th. Check with www.n2td.org for details.

About N2: N2 – Ride, Learn, Race.

Founded in 2014, N2’s mission is to build a sustainable motorcycle community through safe, structured motorcycle track days, advanced rider training programs based on Yamaha Champions Riding School teaching methods, with a strong affinity for motorcycle road racing. N2 successfully resurrected Motorcycle Endurance Racing in America partnering with WERA Roadracing and creating the N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop. N2 is a premier participant in the MotoAmerica Pro Racing Series with a multi-rider team competing in several classes. N2 is also a major contributor to the Roadracing World Action Fund through fundraising efforts and support from its large member base.

The N2 National Endurance Series is proudly sponsored by: N2 Track Days, Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, Dainese, Woodcraft Technologies, BobbleHeadMoto, WERA Road Racing, KYT Helmets America, R.E.B Graphics, Millennium Technologies, Wiseco Pistons, JE Pistons, Rise Moto, Ghetto Customs, Pit-Lane Moto, SBS Brakes and Yamaha Champions Riding School.

AHRMA: Special Racebike Demos Planned At New Jersey Round

David Swarts

-

June 11, 2024

0

AHRMA: Special Racebike Demos Planned At New Jersey Round

SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS PLANNED FOR AHRMA WEEKEND AT NEW JERSEY MOTORSPORTS PARK

(Knoxville, TN) The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is honoring motorcycle innovator John Britten and bringing back the sounds of the past during their event June 21-23 at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP). Two of the iconic Britten V1000s will be displayed in the paddock and will be seen and heard during on-track demonstrations.

Stephen Briggs will ride the CR & S Britten P-001 which has been part of similar demonstrations during ARHMA events at Barber Motorsports Park, Road America and NJMP as well as at the Isle Of Man, Assen and in New Zealand. Briggs campaigned this motorcycle in the 1995 World BEARS championship taking second place. He won the New Zealand series in the 1996-97 season.

“As a custodian of the bike I feel it is important to keep these bikes in the public eye. It helps to continue John Britten’s legacy of the innovation he and his team used to create a World level racing machine,” said CR & S Britten P-001 owner Bob Robbins. “For people to see and hear them roar on the track is a fitting tribute. It’s always great to hear from people who knew of them from the past and also ones who never knew what they were but are stunned at the timeless design.”

The second Britten that will be at the AHRMA event is P-003 which was purchased new in 1994 and still owned by Dr. Mark Stewart. It was one of three Brittens, along with P-001 and P-002 sent to the Isle of Man for the 1994 TT.

Stewart rode P-003 briefly during the mid 1990s. It was fully rebuilt after not running for almost 30 years. Chuck Huneycutt, long time Barber Dairies Racing team rider and retired Barber Museum Restoration Shop Manager will ride P-003. Huneycutt has previous experience riding a Britten.

The bikes will complete several laps of the NJMP track immediately following the lunch break on Saturday and Sunday. They will be on display and Britten experts will be available to answer questions throughout the weekend.

Joining the Brittens on track will be another very special bike owned by AHRMA racer Ralph Staropoli. He will demonstrate his 1993 Yamaha YZR500ROC, raced in 500GP in 1993 by Italian racer Renzo Colleoni. Restored and upgraded in 2002 by a German Gran Prix motorcycle specialist, it is a beautiful example of the two-stroke era. See and hear it as these three bikes do some spirited laps around the NJMP Thunderbolt circuit.

Ralph Staropoli's 1993 ROC-framed Yamaha YZR500 grand prix racebike. Photo by Ralph Staropoli, courtesy AHRMA. — Ralph Staropoli’s 1993 ROC-framed Yamaha YZR500 grand prix racebike. Photo by Ralph Staropoli, courtesy AHRMA.

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.

101st Loudon Classic: More From New Hampshire Motor Speedway

David Swarts

-

June 11, 2024

0

101st Loudon Classic: More From New Hampshire Motor Speedway

The 101st Loudon Classic was a fantastic event that showcased the talent of both the NorthEast Motorcycle Road Racing (NEMRR) regulars and many of the top racers from MotoAmerica. The race took place one weekend earlier than has been tradition. The oldest motorcycle racing event in the USA normally serves as the close of Laconia Bike Week, and instead for 2024 assumed the role of kicking off the historic rally. Sandwiched between two days of NEMRR racing, the classic Pro day featured four classes of racing action.

In the morning, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott set the paddock ablaze as he shattered the 14-year-old track record on the current New Hampshire Motor Speedway layout with an astounding 1:09.7 lap time during qualifying for the Classic main event. After setting the provisional pole in a previous session, Scott rolled out early and did a single flying lap to kick off the session. The time was nearly a full second faster than his pole time from 2023!

Following qualifying, the skies opened up and soaked the track. Bright sunshine started to dry things out, and as the final call rang out for the 500 Superbike final riders had to choose between rains, slicks or intermediate tires. Across the front row there was a range of choices: pole-sitter Eli Block was on slicks, while runner-up Renee Franco was on rains. Nathan Bettencourt had a front rain and rear slick, and Nathan Muscaro also chose full slicks. As the riders came around for lap one, it was Muscaro at the point, followed by Bettencourt and Block. Block on his BARTCON Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400 was the man on the move, easing past Bettencourt on lap 2 and then assuming the lead from Muscaro on lap 6. As Block eased away, Bettencourt found himself in a battle with Henry Bosland for the final podium spot. As the 13-year-old rising star made a last ditch effort in turn 11 on the last lap, Bettencourt asked a little too much of his worn-out front rain tire and tipped over, allowing Bosland to secure the final spot on the podium.

Eli Block (92). Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR.

Next up, the Thunderbike race feature a Battle Royale between two NEMRR rising stars who had both spent time in MotoAmerica over the past two seasons. Both both riders were mounted on Aprilia RS 660’s and were pulling double duty competing in the Thunderbike and Loudon Classic events. Gloddy jumped out to a nearly two second lead in the early
going, and Crossman had his work cut out for him. The determined Loudon, NH native set after Gloddy with incredible determination and was steadily dropping his times with each lap all the way into the 1:12 range (well below his qualifying time). Crossman passed Gloddy two laps to go and closed the deal by setting the fastest lap of the race on the
final lap of the contest!

Jacob Crossman (218). Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR.

The Loudon Classic in 2023 was run under rainy conditions, and NEMRR Executive Director John Grush was determined to run the 2024 event in the dry. After a roughly two-hour delay Grush, working together with well-known meteorologist and NEMRR racer Mike Wankum, made a call to start the race with a very light rain coming down on a dry track. As it turned out the call was spot-on, as Tyler Scott led the field out of the gate with a series of low 1:11 lap times. Scott lead a Suzuki GSX-R750-mounted quartet as he was tailed by his teammate Teagg Hobbs, Vesrah/Steel Commander’s Hayden Gillim, and Wrench Motorcycles Bobby Fong. As the race entered the middle stages Scott, Gillim and Fong separated themselves from the field. Fong, who chose a different tire compound than the other two riders in the lead trio, began to just lose touch after the halfway point. Gillim gave the crowd a show as he put a late-race charge together on Scott, taking over the lead as the two came through lapped traffic on lap 21 and holding on to secure the win and
the $55,000 winner’s share of the purse by 1.5 seconds over Scott. Scott and Fong were awarded $35,000 and $25,000, respectively, for their podium-level efforts.

Tyler O'Hara (129). Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR. — Tyler O’Hara (129). Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR.

Closing out the event was the ASRA Outlaw Bagger race, an event particularly popular with the Harley Davidson & Indian fans at the event. MotoAmerica star Tyler O’Hara stole the show on his Indian Progressive Mission Foods Indian Challenger. After his dominating
qualifying performance, O’Hara was offered a $4,500 bonus to give the field a 10-second head start, which he wryly accepted after some contemplation on the line. As he set off with determination, O’Hara chased down the field, overtaking eventual third-place finisher Emilio Jiminez and runner-up Craig Braymiller by lap 5 of the contest. From there, O’Hara set sail and thrilled the American Iron fans with both his speed and style during the race and with some epic burnouts in front of the stands after the checkered flag. O’Hara will likely have a tougher go of it in 2025, as Classic Podium finishers Gillim and Fong expressed interest in bringing their Baggers to the event next year. On to the
102nd Loudon Classic in 2025!

More, from a press release issued by Real Steel Motorsports:

Hayden Gillim triumphant at the 101st running of the Loudon Classic on his Vesrah / Real Steel GSX-R750.

Hayden Gillim (95). Photo courtesy Real Steel Motorsports.

At the 101st running of the Loudon Classic presented by NEMRR held Saturday June 8th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, New Hampshire, Hayden Gillim was able to capture the win and the $55,000 share of the purse that came with the victory. Running the same Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R750 that he used earlier this year to get a podium in the Daytona 200, Gillim qualified on the front row in third place with a 1:10.899 lap time.

At the start of the race, which was delayed allowing the track to dry from rain showers, Hayden initially slipped back to fourth place but quickly recovered back to third place. As the 25-lap race went on, Gillim was able to move into second place on lap 15 and set out after the leader. On lap 21, Hayden was able to pass for the lead and never relinquished it finishing 1.513 seconds ahead of second place. Gillim also turned the fastest lap of the race at a 1:10.711 which was faster than his qualifying time.

This effort was proudly supported by Vesrah, Steel Commander Corp. Comstock Energy LLC, Maxima Racing Oils, Fast Line Track Days, KTech suspension, Skip at Orient Express, Dunlop, GB Racing and REB Graphics.

Hayden Gillim – Rider #95: “A last-minute decision to go do the 101st Loudon Classic turned into a great weekend. I talked Mark into loading up the Vesrah racebike from the Daytona 200 and driving up to New Hampshire. Having never been to the track before I didn’t really have any expectations. A top five for me would’ve been amazing. After qualifying, I felt I had pace for the podium and was happy with that. After a bit of a comeback and help from some lapped traffic, I managed to snag the top spot away from some fast competition.”

“Thanks to Mark, Vesrah, Steel Commander, Comstock Energy, Dunlop, and everyone else that made this weekend a huge success!”

Hayden Gillim (right) and Mark Junge (left). Photo courtesy Real Steel Motorsports.

Mark Junge – Team Principal: “I had mixed emotions coming back to Loudon as the last time I was here back in 1998 as a rider I had a big crash and broke my leg – For Hayden to come away with the win was a great outcome. We did this race without our normal crew as it was just Hayden and I and I have to thank several friends who pitched in when needed.”

American Flat Track: Championship Resumes Saturday In New York

David Swarts

-

June 11, 2024

0

American Flat Track: Championship Resumes Saturday In New York

2024 Progressive AFT Season Resumes at Orange County Fair Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 11, 2024) – The 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, resumes with this Father’s Day weekend’s Orange County Half-Mile in Middletown, New York, on Saturday, June 15.

The Grand National Championship made its triumphant return to Orange County Fair Speedway last season after being absent from the fabled venue for more than three decades. It proved worth the wait as Mission AFT SuperTwins legend Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) made history, becoming the sport’s all-time winningest Half-Miler on that occasion with Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke), Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), and Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) all in close contention for the checkered flag.

Those same four riders enter this weekend’s rematch under the spotlight, having combined for all six race wins in 2024. And for the first time this season, last year’s primary championship protagonists, Daniels and Mees, stand 1-2 in the points standings.

While Daniels holds down the top spot thanks to his trademark podium-caliber consistency, Mees has momentum on his side having garnered two wins in four podiums in his last four outings.

Robinson remains right there, only seven points back of Daniels and one off Mees, as he seeks his third win of the young season. Bauman, too, remains within single-race striking distance even while continuing the adaptation to his KTM-powered racebike that was overhauled in the offseason.

The torrid pace at the front has forced the remainder of a talent-laden field to raise their game in order to keep pace. They’ve responded well as a collective, with Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) earning a runner-up finish and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) each earning multiple top fives.

Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) was one of the standout performers in last year’s Orange County Half-Mile, posting the fastest time in qualifying, winning his heat, and then claiming victory in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Unfortunately, Lewis will be out of action this weekend as he recovers from injury. However, he’ll still be on site and managing the team as the skillful Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) steps in to substitute on the official Royal Enfield entry.

Another storyline to track is the progress of this year’s impressive crop of rookies – Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing KTM 790 Duke), Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), and Morgen Mischler (No. 13 Big Red Super Twins/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp) – particularly after having some time to refocus and regroup.

Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER

Last season saw reigning Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) stand victorious at Orange County, flanked by challengers Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) during that night’s podium ceremony.

he three return ranked in that same order and as the overwhelming favorites to battle up front once again this weekend.

Kopp is well on his way to completely rewriting the class record books and he’ll look to continue that trend this weekend. However, Saathoff and Drane have each shown the capacity to not only push the double defending class champion to the absolute limits, but come out on top on occasion.

Similar to the situation in the premier-class, the next group has been put on notice that they need to meet the standard of the top three in order to fight for victory. Riders such as Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R), Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F), Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F), and Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) have all either demonstrated the ability or potential to do exactly that, setting the stage for some thrilling scraps from this point forward.

There will be plenty to keep spectators entertained off the track as well, including numerous vendors, plenty of food and beverage options, live music, extensive motorcycle parking, and a fireworks display to cap things off at the end of the evening.

General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $50 (kids 12 and under $10) or $99 for the Family 4-Pack. Reserved Grandstand tickets ($60, all ages), Party Deck tickets ($355 for up to four individuals), and Indoor Suite Reservation tickets ($100 for one individual, $965 for up to eight individuals) offer premium viewing experiences for fans. The Pit Pass Upgrade grants access to the pit area for $50 (included free with Party Deck and Indoor Suite Reservation tickets). Drive-In Parking is available for motorcycles for $10 and cars for $30. Fans also have the option to purchase Multi-Day Camping Passes for $115 (no hook-up) and $255 (with hook-up).

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/orange-county-half-mile-94110 to reserve your seats today.

Gates will open for fans at 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT). You can catch the livestream of all the weekend’s racing activities on FloRacing. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2024. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.

FOX Sports coverage of the Orange County Half-Mile, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, June 23, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT).

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

AMA Flat Track Grand Championship: Star Racers Will Be Grand Marshals

David Swarts

-

June 11, 2024

0

AMA Flat Track Grand Championship: Star Racers Will Be Grand Marshals

AMA Welcomes Trio of Grand Slam Winners as 2024 Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship Grand Marshals

Briar Bauman, Dallas Daniels and Jared Mees to lead FTGC celebrations

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — While the Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship (FTGC) serves as the coronation of the sport’s next generation, current American Flat Track (AFT) stars and Grand Slam winners Briar Bauman, Dallas Daniels and Jared Mees will serve as this year’s Grand Marshals.

The 2024 Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship, running June 30-July 5 at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds in Du Quoin, Ill., promoted and operated by the American Motorcyclist Association is the only race in the country where one can earn an AMA National No. 1 plate in amateur flat track racing.

“Not only are Briar, Dallas and Jared as quick as lightning on the dirt track, they’re also terrific role models for the up-and-coming generation of flat trackers,” AMA Track Manager Ken Saillant said. “We cannot wait to welcome them back to Du Quoin to help us ring in another great year of amateur flat track racing.”

As the only three active racers to register a grand slam — collecting professional victories on Half-Mile, Mile, Short Track and TT tracks — during their flat track careers, and their status as former Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winners, the trio of Bauman, Daniels and Mees represent the necessary speed and determination to contend at the highest level of the sport. They will be on-site during the week to help celebrate the future stars of the sport.

During his illustrious flat track career, Bauman has captured a pair of AFT Championships, but the Salinas, Calif., native got his start at the AMA Flat Track Grand Championship. The 2010 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner, Bauman transitioned into the professional ranks just one year later and has maintained a consistent level of success.

Daniels raced to a fast start to his professional racing career, winning two AFT Singles championships across his first three seasons at the top level of the sport. Completing his Grand Slam just a month after turning 20, Daniels is the youngest racer to complete the feat.

Since winning the 2001 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award, Mees has emerged as one of the greatest competitors the sport has ever seen. A two-time Grand Slam winner, completing the feat both in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, while capturing many Grand National Championships — including the last three AFT SuperTwins titles — Mees’ racing career is arguably one of the greatest of all time.

In addition to their status as Grand Marshals for the event, Bauman, Daniels and Mees will also have their talent on display in Du Quoin. AFT will run a round of its season at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds’ famous Magic Mile on July 6. For more information, visit https://www.americanflattrack.com/events/2024/view/du-quoin-mile-2024.

Those interested in racing at the 2024 Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship can still pre-register at https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/2024-ama-flat-track-grand-championships-duquoin-state-fairgrounds-330045.

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.

MotoGP: Every Team Will Run Special Liveries At Silverstone

David Swarts

-

June 10, 2024

0

MotoGP: Every Team Will Run Special Liveries At Silverstone

Vintage style, modern spectacle: MotoGP™ celebrates 75 at Silverstone

The world’s most exciting sport will give fans a retro weekend to remember – all revealed live in the MotoGP™ 75th Anniversary Special at 14:00 on Thursday at the British GP

Monday, 10 June 2024

MotoGP™ celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2024 and the festivities are set to kick up a gear at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix. For the first time in the sport’s 75-year history, every bike and rider on the grid will race with a special, one-off livery at Silverstone – and all with a touch of retro style.

Taking inspiration from any chapter in their unique histories, the 11 teams on the grid – including the five factories – will each race with their own special edition, vintage paintwork. What’s more, fans can see each and every one of them revealed LIVE in a special event during the Day of Champions pitlane walk at 14:00 LT on Thursday at the British GP.

There, every bike will be unveiled in the pitlane in front of the crowd, all of whom can see the event free of charge if they have a special Day of Champions Thursday paddock ticket. This retro revolution will also be televised, with a one-hour MotoGP™ 75th Anniversary Special programme set to showcase the styles and colours of each team before history is made as they take to the track.

MotoGP™ has never seen every bike and rider on the grid roll out in special liveries during one single weekend, so history will be made at Silverstone. That’s also just the start, with many of the sport’s partners ready to go retro, from the BMW M Safety Car to podium celebrations, vintage exhibitions and more.

Join us for the Monster Energy British Grand Prix from the 2nd to the 4th of August as the world’s most exciting sport gets back in gear after summer break for the second half of a history-making season – rolling out in vintage style for a very modern spectacle.

Two Wheels for Life is the official charity of MotoGP™, raising funds to ensure vulnerable people in Malawi, Lesotho, The Gambia and Nigeria can access life-saving vital health care, no matter how far from a health centre they live. The local-led programmes they support, working with partner organisation Riders for Health, use reliable transport systems to ensure health workers can reach rural communities.

The Day of Champions, held every year on the Thursday of the British GP, is Two Wheels’ flagship event. It boasts a packed day of entertainment including their stage show and world-renowned auction, featuring every MotoGP™ rider on the grid. Fans can also buy special Day of Champions paddock pass tickets for unrivalled access throughout Thursday afternoon. In 2024, that will include the chance to watch the MotoGP™ 75th Anniversary Special and see the vintage liveries unveiled live in pitlane – they’re limited so make sure you get your ticket now!

WorldSBK: Petrucci Returning To Action At Misano

David Swarts

-

June 10, 2024

0

WorldSBK: Petrucci Returning To Action At Misano

WorldSBK gears up for Pirelli

Emilia-Romagna Round: a thrilling showdown at Misano

What to look out for in Misano

A private test at Misano provided the WorldSBK grid with the opportunity to prepare for the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round.
It was Toprak Razgatlioglu who was fastest at the Misano test after two days of action.
Alvaro Bautista heads to Misano leading the standings, six points ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu.

The anticipation is building as the WorldSBK Championship heads to the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” for the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round from June 14th to 16th.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) comes into Misano with an impeccable record, having won the last four races at this iconic circuit. He is undoubtedly the man to beat, leveraging both his past success and current form, as he leads the Championship standings.

Meanwhile, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) has rapidly adapted to his BMW machinery. Despite just three race weekends under his belt, Razgatlioglu has already propelled BMW into contention, equalling their best season’s tally with three wins. His familiarity with Misano, where he clinched victories in 2021 and 2022, will undoubtedly be an asset as he aims to further BMW’s impressive season.

The Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round will also mark significant firsts and comebacks for several riders. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) will experience their first home race on WorldSBK bikes, a milestone that promises to be special for the Italian duo and their local fans. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha), Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) will also be looking to make their mark at home, while Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) makes a welcome return after recovering from injury.

Adding to the excitement is Michele Pirro making a wildcard appearance with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati. Pirro’s vast experience and familiarity with the Ducati machinery will make him a formidable competitor and a fan favourite.

WorldSBK | KEY STAT

6 points between the championship leader and runner-up after 9 races is the narrowest margin since 2020, when Rea was leading Redding by just 4 points.

WorldSSP takes on Misano with top 4 in nail-biting contest

What to look out for in Misano

Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) leads the Championship with 86 points. Hot on his heels are Italians Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing), both with 85 points. Manzi, who won the last WorldSSP race at Misano, is a strong contender for the top spot, while Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) is the only other rider on the current grid with a WorldSSP win at Misano.

Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) sits in fourth place with 84 points, making the top four in the Championship incredibly tight, with only two points separating them.

Adding to the intrigue, local rider Lorenzo Baldassarri has switched teams and will now compete for WRP-RT Motorsport by SKM-Triumph, while Jorge Navarro will race for Orelac Racing Verdnatura. These team changes could bring a fresh dynamic to the race, with Baldassarri particularly motivated to perform well on home soil.

Misano challenge: WorldSSP300 riders on edge

What to look out for in Misano

Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kawasaki) arrives at Misano as the leader of the WorldSSP300 standings, boasting 63 points. However, hot on his trail is Inigo Iglesias Bravo (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki), determined to close the gap with his 57 points.

Keep an eye on Bruno Ieraci (Team ProDina Kawasaki), currently sitting at P12 in the standings but a double race winner at Misano last season. His experience and past success on this circuit make him a formidable contender.

Matteo Vannucci (Pata Yamaha AG Motorsport Italia) stands out as the only other rider on the grid with a previous win at Misano, adding to the anticipation surrounding his performance. Italian riders are set to shine on home soil, with names like Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse), Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki), Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo-PL Performances) eager to make their mark in front of their home crowd.

Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: MotoGP – Reading The Rider

David Swarts

-

June 10, 2024

0

Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: MotoGP – Reading The Rider

Roadracing World MotoGP Editor and Isle of Man TT winner Mat Oxley and two-time World Championship-winning Crew Chief Peter Bom have started “The Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast,” which will be focused on the FIM MotoGP World Championship.

This podcast is “MotoGP – Reading the Rider.”

The original podcast can be found on BuzzSprout.com or listened to via other places you get podcasts.

From the Oxley Bom Podcast:

We called it: Marquez is coming to Ducati! But he’s definitely not the only one changing teams, as MotoGP faces one of its biggest shuffles in years. All of which begs the question: what makes the right rider ‘fit’ with the right team? Sure, anyone allowed even close to the grid has to be a pilot of exceptional talent, but it takes even more than that to be a champion. What is this elusive x-factor, and how do you spot it?

This week, it’s all about the unbearable weight of massive talent and how to spot it. It’s riding, yes, but also the personality on- and off the bike. And Peter explains how ‘a few squiggly lines’ of data can reveal not just what’s going on with the machine, but with the squishy human on top of it as well…

Want more? Visit our website or support us on Patreon. With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman’s Dub Club for writing our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music!

Canadian Superbike: Race Two Results From Grand Bend

David Swarts

-

June 9, 2024

0

Canadian Superbike: Race Two Results From Grand Bend

Pro Superbike - Race 2

More, from a press release issued by CSBK:

Daley doubles up with maiden Superbike win in wet race two at Grand Bend

Grand Bend, ON – The Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship produced another first-time Superbike winner on Sunday, as Trevor Daley captured an emotional debut Superbike victory in a wet race two at the Grand Bend Motorplex, presented by Southwest Marine & Powersports.

Daley was already victorious on the day after a dramatic win in the Economy Lube Pro Sport Bike class, but saved something even more special for the feature GP Bikes Pro Superbike category as the rain poured down in the afternoon.

It was race one winner Sam Guerin who originally looked poised for a weekend sweep, grabbing the holeshot and pacing 14-time champion Jordan Szoke while pole-sitter Ben Young slipped to third and Daley ran fourth.

A scary moment for Szoke on lap one backed up the pack, however, allowing Daley to move past his close friend and championship leader Young for third, eventually passing Szoke only a lap later as he began to chase down Guerin.

The OneSpeed Suzuki rider attempted a move for the lead on lap four but was denied by Guerin, who fought hard for a second career win and led for almost half the race. It was only a matter of time for Daley though as he made the move into turn eight on lap seven, one that would prove to be the race-winning overtake.

It wasn’t without pressure, as Young would string together a pair of beautiful passes on both Szoke and Guerin to move into second. The three-time champion had then caught his former Daytona teammate and dragged Guerin with him, setting up a brilliant three-rider battle over the final five laps.

Daley would make the crucial decision – similarly to his earlier Sport Bike win – to attack lapped traffic early and put the slower rider between himself and the chasing duo, holding up Young and Guerin and preserving his hard-fought victory.

Sam Guerin (2) grabbed the early Superbike lead in the wet, eventually finishing third behind Ben Young (1) and race winner Trevor Daley (9). 14-time Canadian champion Jordan Szoke (101) finished fourth. Photo by Rob O'Brien, courtesy CSBK. — Sam Guerin (2) grabbed the early Superbike lead in the wet, eventually finishing third behind Ben Young (1) and race winner Trevor Daley (9). 14-time Canadian champion Jordan Szoke (101) finished fourth. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.

It was an emotional one for the perennial frontrunner, considered by many to be the best rider to never win a Superbike race with 16 career podiums – something he put an end to on Sunday.

“I was stepping on spiders all week to get this rain,” Daley joked. “I’m really at a loss for words. It’s been a long time coming. I can’t thank my team and everyone that’s supported me enough. With the adjustments we made, the confidence I had in the rain…it was just incredible!”

Daley missed round one as he balances double duty as part of Sean Dylan Kelly’s crew in MotoAmerica, and while he may miss future rounds for the same reason, he did let on that this won’t be his final appearance in the CSBK paddock.

“I really just wanted to come here and have some fun this weekend, and it’s true that you do ride faster when you’re having more fun,” Daley admitted. “Hopefully we’ll be back soon to have a little more fun.”

It was a popular win throughout the paddock, but one also extremely popular with the man he beat on Sunday, his best friend Ben Young. The Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW rider held off a late charge from Guerin to claim a crucial second for the championship, but was focused mostly on the emotion with Daley on the podium.

“I’ve probably never been this happy to finish second, to be honest. It’s been a bit of a tough weekend for us, but I can’t be happier for Trev, he’s earned this,” Young said. “As the track started to dry a bit our Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW worked really well, but we just got held up by traffic again which is pretty unfortunate.”

As for Guerin, it was still a confidence-inspiring performance after he captured his own debut victory on Saturday, as he pushed Young and Daley right to the end – including a thrilling late attack aboard his EFC Group BMW.

“I had a good start, and I was comfortable up front. It was pretty easy to lead, to be honest, but then Trevor got by me and Ben was just a bit faster when the track was drying,” Guerin said. “It was a crazy race, but we’re still doing well in the championship.”

The second and third-place finishes for Young and Guerin will see the title gap grow to only eleven, just a single point higher than Young’s advantage was going into the weekend.

Round Two Race Two Superbike winner Trevor Daley. Photo by Rob O'Brien, courtesy CSBK. — Round Two Race Two Superbike winner Trevor Daley. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.

Fading backwards in the middle portion of the race was Szoke, who flashed his wet-weather expertise early but quickly lost pace after a couple of moments in the early laps.

The CKM Kawasaki would limit the damage and escape with a solid fourth, however, keeping himself firmly in the title mix entering round three in Edmonton, a track he is the only previous CSBK winner at.

Saturday’s breakout star Steven Nickerson would round out the top five, making a last-lap pass on local friend Chris Pletsch. The DeWildt Honda rider didn’t have quite the same pace as his race leading laps from a day ago, but still managed an impressive performance to cap off the weekend.

As for Pletsch, the Stratford Cycle Centre Honda rider was unable to add another wet podium after doing so in 2023 at Grand Bend, but will be pleased with his performance after a battle with Nickerson and Szoke in the middle portion of the race.

Finishing a career-best seventh was Turcotte Performance Ducati’s Guillaume Fortin, who has struggled with various mechanical issues in his return this season but looked very comfortable in the wet conditions, salvaging much-needed points for Ducati.

Phillip Leckie would take a strong eighth for the SCM/Tanians BMW team, fending off rookie Connor Campbell in ninth, who was hoping for rain aboard his B&T MacFarlane/Kubota Kawasaki but ultimately couldn’t overcome his round one rib injury that has still not fully healed.

Rounding out the top ten despite a last-lap incident was Paul Macdonell, who came together with home favourite David MacKay in the penultimate corner before Macdonell remounted his PMR/Vass Performance BMW.

The two were fighting over seventh position when MacKay attempted a rare pass around the outside, one that collected both riders – though Macdonell had no ill will towards the ODH Snow City Cycle Honda rider in what was described as a racing incident. MacKay would also remount to finish 12th.

Full results from the weekend action can be found on the series’ official website.

MotoAmerica: Unpredictable Superbike Championship Heads To Brainerd (Updated)

June 12, 2024

The start of MotoAmerica Superbike Race One at Brainerd in 2023, seconds before Cameron Beaubier (6) set off a chain-reaction crash that affected Jake Gagne (1), PJ Jacobsen (99), Mathew Scholtz (11), and their Championship aspirations. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.