California Superbike School founder Keith Code and his son, lead instructor Dylan Code discuss the tracks remaining on their 2024 schedule.
To get more information about the California Superbike School or to sign up, go to https://superbikeschool.com/ or call 800-530-3350.
Gloves off, visors down: MotoGP™ arrives in Misano
The battle lines are drawn as the world’s most exciting sport arrives on turf poised to serve up a storm
Wednesday, 04 September 2024
Hallowed ground. Home turf. Enemy territory. All are true at once for the MotoGP™ grid at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, with the stage set for an intriguing showdown this weekend in the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini. Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) heads behind enemy lines with an advantage of 23 points atop the standings, holding off home hero Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). The incentive to defeat the reigning Champion on his own turf, and for his own Italian team, will be matched only by the determination of the #1 to stop him doing just that. Especially as Bagnaia looks to bounce back – something he’s seemingly magically able to do when he most needs to.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was back on the top step in Aragon, 1043 days after winning his last Grand Prix. And that just happened to be the Emilia-Romagna GP at Misano in 2021. He is the rider with most wins across all at Misano, and he’d love to add another. His incentives likewise set up a showdown to remember: enemy territory. Future teammate territory. And current team home turf…
The rider with the next most podiums and an exemplary record at Misano, meanwhile, is another home hero: Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). The Beast’s nightmare Practice and Q1 left him with work to do in Aragon but he did it, slicing up the order as ever to get back to the front and only cede third place overall by just a single point. It may not have been the weekend he’d expected, given the 2022 Aragon GP, but it was far from a disaster by conclusion. Misano is likely to see Bastianini gunning for glory once again.
The home heroes don’t stop there. Last year Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) took two podiums and he’ll hope some home magic will be added to the mix too in a tougher season. Teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio just had the edge still before a tyre pressure penalty in Aragon, however, and with another few days to get back to better strength he’ll be one to watch on his and the team’s home turf. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) continues an impressive trajectory of progress over recent rounds too, with Misano another chance to put it all together and try to attack for the podium.
Attacking for that podium was exactly what Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was doing for much of the Aragon GP, before both he and Bagnaia ended up tangled in the gravel. Opinion columns aside, each got to make their case and the result of the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards investigation was: no further action. We can likely expect more action of a different kind as the #73 takes on the home round for Gresini and Ducati in front of what could prove a partisan crowd more partial to the Pecco Bagnaia side of the argument, but there are plenty of races in even recent memory where the incentive to prove a point has been a powerful one.
Aprilia, meanwhile, have plenty of home glory on the line for their machine and factory, and after a tougher Aragon GP, they’ll want to bounce back quickly. On Day 1 all four RS-GPs were in the top ten: Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) on Marquez’ tail, and Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez flying the flag for Trackhouse. But come Saturday it got tougher, and they’ll want a lot more from Misano. Viñales has a standout record at the track too…
Then comes KTM and GASGAS. Back nearer the front at Aragon with two podiums for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) hot on his heels after his own good form in Austria, there were plenty of positives and Misano has hosted some for the marque before. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is having an up and down ride with some impressive speed and then bad luck or trouble at times so will be looking for a smoother weekend, and Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) had some positives from MotorLand too. Misano awaits with another chance to reset – and another wildcard for Pol Espargaro with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Stefan Bradl will also be on track for the HRC Test Team, and for Honda, there was a first of 2024 at MotorLand as Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) moved directly through to Q2, showing some impressive speed all weekend despite unfortunately crashing out on Saturday. Still, that’s a good tick in one box as the Japanese marque look to move forward, and Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) will be especially keen to do so this weekend on home turf. Teammate Joan Mir had the upper hand at MotorLand on his. But of all, it was Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) who actually took Honda’s best Sunday result so far this season, coming home in P11 when all penalties were said and done. As his future as development rider is confirmed, his value seemed underlined once more.
Yamaha, meanwhile, have recently done their own private test at Misano so it will be interesting to see where they pick up as we return to race. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) put in a more than solid Saturday at MotorLand to battle Bagnaia and take Sprint points, but a crash out on Sunday leaves a little what could have been behind. What was, for teammate Alex Rins, was a top ten though – a good result even if now leaving the factory to focus on cutting down the time deficit. What will be at Misano? It’s traditionally a strong track for the Yamaha.
The Championship remains close but there’s ever more pressure pouring into the duel at the top, with the momentum suddenly back in Martin’s corner. But a Bagnaia needing a result is a Bagnaia to underestimate at your peril, and Marc Marquez has now been back on the top step. And all the while, Bastianini looks through his trophy cabinet, drives down the road to his local racetrack, and looks to steal the spotlight and chip away at that gap to the top…
Who’s taking the spoils? Join us this weekend for the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini to find out:
What’s happening at the #SanMarinoGP?
On Thursday afternoon, MotoGP™ podcast Last On The Brakes will welcome Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 empresario Herve Poncharal.
Then we’re into the press conferences, with the first set to host Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team).
Then, rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) will be joined by Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) for the second.
The FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship returns to action across the weekend and for the grand finale. Misano will decide the 2024 Champion and four riders are in contention, but Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) has a 38-point lead heading in.
On the Road to MotoGP™, the Red Bull MotoGP™ Rookies Cup will also be decided at Misano. Race 1 is on Saturday and Race 2 on Sunday, with the top two contenders split by 13 points on the way in.
Moto2™: Dixon dares to dream as the deficit comes down
Four races ago, Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) sat 105 points adrift of World Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI). Now, heading to the San Marino GP, that deficit has shrunk to 43 points after the Briton claimed a second win of the year in Aragon. And what a weekend it was at MotorLand, with Dixon converting his first pole of the season into a win that has propelled the #96 into the Championship chase equation.
That’s partly because it was another weekend where title favourites failed to pick up sizable points tallies. Garcia retired from Sunday’s race in what was, truth be told, a weekend to forget for the current Championship pacesetter. Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) – on his injury return – dug deep to pocket eight crucial points in P8, while Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) and Fermin Aldeguer (BetaTools SpeedUp) both suffered tougher ends to their Aragon GPs with crashes.
That meant race winner Dixon and Alonso Lopez (BetaTools SpeedUp) – the Spaniard finishing P4 – were the big movers in the title race. Lopez, a bronze medallist at Misano in 2023, is now P3 behind the MT Helmets – MSI duo, 31 points off Garcia, with Dixon P5. 50 points split the top six – Garcia to Aldeguer – as we land at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Now that’s what we call a Championship battle.
Obviously, we can’t go racing again without mentioning the other two riders who stood on the Aragon rostrum – Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The former made his way onto the box for the first time this season and ran Dixon close, as Öncü strung together a fantastic weekend to claim his debut intermediate class rostrum. More of the same will be craved from both between now and Valencia.
Moto3™: Alonso marches on as Veijer takes up the chase
History was made on Sunday morning in Aragon as Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) etched his name alongside the greats by becoming the 400th different Grand Prix winner. Rueda’s first Moto3™ triumph was the #99’s first podium since the Catalan GP and the third of his sophomore year, and one that moved the Spaniard up to P6 in the overall standings.
Also moving up in the Championship was second place finisher Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP). The Dutch star is now P2 in the title chase after earning a sixth podium of the season, as Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) put in a fine ride to secure his first Grand Prix podium in P3 ahead of his and the team’s home race at Misano.
And speaking of Misano, who won there last year in Moto3™? Ah yes, a certain David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team). Despite finishing off the podium for just the fourth time this year – albeit in P4 – the Colombian stretched his healthy points advantage out to 75. Veijer now acts as the chief chaser, and with Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) and Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) picking up a lowkey P12 and P9 respectively, a big response is needed this weekend as the pack attempts to reel in the #80 before time runs out.
American Nathan Gouker Takes Top 5 Finish in ESBK Moto4 in Estoril,
Anthony Lupo Jr. Takes Top 15 Finish in Moto4, Kensei Matsudaira in PreMoto3
Round 5 of the RFME ESBK Spanish Superbike Championship was held this
past weekend at Circuit Estoril in Portugal with Americans Nathan Gouker
and Anthony Lupo Jr. racing in Moto4, and Kensei Matsudaira in the
PreMoto3 category.
Despite missing round 3 held at Circuit Estoril in July due to injury,
Nathan Gouker made a strong impression on his debut at the circuit
qualifying in 9th and achieving his best finish in Moto4 of 5th place in
Saturday’s race 1. He followed that up on Sunday in race 2 with another
impressive top 10 finish in 8th place.
Nathan Gouker:
“It was great to be back with my Ajevo Racing Team in Estoril, Portugal
for Round 5 of the ESBK championship this past weekend. I’m super happy
to come away with 2 top 10 finishes and get my first top 5 of the year.
I’m excited to finish the season strong with the team and know we are
going to push to the front. As always, thank you to the fans,
supporters, and sponsors for all their positive energy.”
Meanwhile, Anthony Lupo Jr. made his best qualifying result of the
season of 12th, and followed that up with a 13th place in race 1
matching his best result so far of the season, and a 15th place finish
in race 2.
Anthony Lupo Jr.:
“It was an okay weekend, it took me a little while to get up to speed
but I had some good battles. I’m looking forward to Navarra and I’m
excited to learn a new track.”
In the PreMoto3 category, Kensei Matsudaira had his second best
qualifying of the year in 14th, 1.9 seconds behind pole. In race 1
Kensei made a great start and gained more than six positions on the
first lap, and was up as high as 6th place racing in the top group until
an unfortunate mechanical issue with his clutch on lap 5 forced him to
drop back. Kensei continued to fight to finish the race, finally
crossing the line in 12th. On Sunday in race 2 Kensei had a good start
but after contact with another rider on the first lap, lost touch with
the front group and finished the race in P12, leading his group.
Kensei Matsudaira:
“In race 1 I started out really strong and though that I could be in the
fight for a podium. After the clutch issue though all I could do was to
finish the race and manage my position. Race 2 was tough. I got a decent
start but got hit in the first lap and lost the front group. I finished
at the front of my group but just didn’t have the pace to catch anyone
out front. We have a bit of a break now so I’ll definitely be putting my
head down and training even harder to finish the season much stronger.”
Round 6 of the RFME ESBK Spanish Superbike Championship will be held at
Circuito de Navarra in Los Arcos, Spain on October 26-27.
The Ajevo Nox#27 Racing Team is supported by: Comodity Window Films,
Alquilocar, FRC Fercometal, Reprocenter, Nadalfret, Viel Carrocerias
Nathan Gouker is supported by: Stadler, CP Motorsports, Bob Robbins,
Quarterly Racing, NGS Racing, KYT Americas, VO2 Leathers, Cornerspin,
Fastglass Media, Motul USA, 64degrees Racing, 35 Motorsports,
FormaBootsUSA, Carolina Supermoto, Ride Supermoto, Daniels Tire
Anthony Lupo is supported by: Hans King, American Supercamp, Nanelli
Riders Academy, MadLabs Minimoto, LS2 Helmets, Mini Moto Alliance, 73
Moto Parts
Kensei Matsudaira is supported by: Evike.com, Iconic Motorbikes, HJC
Helmets, Dave Designs, Bullit Electric Cycles, Bison Track, TJ Corse,
Alpinestars, Almassera El Teular, Project SLUSH, Moto Tecnica,
California Superbike School, Slacker by Motool, Bickle Racing, MadLabs
Minimoto, 73 Moto Parts, D.I.D Chain, Yoshimura R&D, NLAB Studio &
Wraps, Karen E. Ott Photography, VNM Sport, Galfer USA, Vortex Racing,
Hans King, The Starting Grid, Moto Survival School, Mini Moto Alliance,
Live 100 Moto
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Niccolò Canepa to Retire from Racing After Bol d’Or
Yamalube YART Yamaha Official EWC Team rider Niccolò Canepa will retire from racing after the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) season finale at the Bol d’Or on September 12th-15th, with the Italian looking to end his career on a high note by securing back-to-back EWC titles.
The 36-year-old has had an illustrious career spanning over two decades, during which time he has raced in MotoGP, WorldSBK, Moto2, WorldSSP, and MotoE and has become the most successful Italian EWC rider in history.
Canepa, who hails from Genoa, began his career in the Italian national championships before making his WorldSSP debut in 2005. After finishing second in the 2006 European Superstock 600 Championship, he went on to be crowned the 2007 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup Champion.
Following this success, he made his WorldSBK debut the following season with a couple of wildcard rides and became a MotoGP test rider before stepping up to the premier class full-time in 2009. After finishing an impressive 16th overall during his debut MotoGP season, he switched to Moto2 in 2010 and made 11 starts before returning to the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup in 2011. A full season in WorldSBK followed in 2012, and he then finished as runner-up in the 2013 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup.
He returned to WorldSBK for the 2014 and 2015 seasons before starting his long association with Yamaha when he joined the GMT94 Yamaha EWC Team in 2016, finishing as runners-up in the Endurance World Championship that year, with Canepa also becoming the official Yamaha Motor Europe WorldSBK test rider.
His test rider role saw him substitute for an injured Sylvain Guintoli for four races during the 2016 WorldSBK season, securing four top-ten finishes. He also filled in for the sidelined Florian Marino in two races that year in the STK1000 European Championship, recording a podium (3rd) at Donington Park.
In just his second year with GMT94 Yamaha Team, he became the first Italian to win an FIM Endurance World Championship as they lifted the 2016/2017 crown, and in the process, he also became the first Italian to claim victory at the Bol d’Or, before following this up by finishing as runners-up the following season.
Canepa continued to make wildcard appearances in WorldSBK for the Pata Yamaha Team in 2018, contesting both races at Donington Park and then Misano, scoring points during both outings. He then joined the YART Yamaha EWC Official Team for the 2018/2019 EWC season, immediately tasting success as they went on to win the 8 Hours of Slovakia Ring to finish the season in fourth.
In 2019, he also made his MotoE World Cup debut, finishing ninth overall, a result he would repeat the following year, showcasing his ability to be fast whatever the machinery. In his second season with the YART team, victories at Estoril and Sepang meant they secured second overall in the 2019/2020 FIM Endurance World Championship.
During this time, he also became the Yamama WorldSBK rider coach, taking an even more active role in the paddock alongside his test rider duties, which paid dividends in 2021 when Yamaha won the WorldSBK championship. He returned to the MotoE World Cup in 2022, securing his first podium in the class on his way to ending the season in seventh while also competing in the Italian CIV Superbike Championship.
Canepa added another EWC title in 2023 after a stunning season that saw YART win the 24H SPA EWC Motos and secure second at the 24 Heures Motos in Le Mans before finishing fourth at the Bol d’Or to be crowned champions once more.
The Italian is bidding to bow out on a high by winning his third FIM Endurance World Championship crown at his final race, with the YART team heading to the Bol d’Or leading the overall standings by six points after finishing second at the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans, winning the 8 Hours of Spa Motos and securing a dream podium (2nd) at the legendary Suzuka 8 Hours.
While winning another championship title would be the perfect ending to an incredible career, whatever happens at the Bol d’Or, Canepa will go down as one of the most successful EWC riders of all time and is a member of an elite club of people to have won all three major 24-hour races (Spa, Le Mans, and the Bol d’Or).
Niccolò Canepa
Yamalube YART Yamaha Official EWC Team
“It has been a fantastic journey! I started racing minibikes when I was just nine years old, and at 19, I was already riding a MotoGP bike. I have been lucky to have enjoyed an incredible career; of course, there have been some difficult moments, but as a child, I would never have imagined that I would have had so much success and got so much enjoyment from this sport. I gave everything to racing, but I got back much more than I expected, and I have won two EWC titles and one in Superstock. Hopefully, we can make it three in EWC after the Bol d’Or. I have had the opportunity to race in many championships, such as MotoGP, WorldSBK, EWC, WorldSSP, Moto2, and MotoE. I am happy with what I have achieved. As a rider, you know when it is time to stop, and it feels like the perfect moment to retire after the Bol d’Or. I am already thinking about new challenges and starting a new chapter in my life. Of course, I will miss racing, my teammates, and my R1, but I think the time is right. I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career, especially my family and girlfriend and those I have crossed paths with who helped me or taught me something. It has been a pleasure to meet so many people along the way, and I am excited for the next adventure, which will see me continue to wear Yamaha blue!”
Mandy Kainz
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team – Team Manager
“It has been a real pleasure to work with Niccolò. Not only is he an incredible rider, but also a great guy. He has been integral to YART’s success since he joined the team, and his attitude, ability, and teamwork are second to none. We are one big family at YART, and Niccolò has been a huge part of that ever since he joined. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved together, and he will be sorely missed. I want to thank him for everything he has given to the team. It feels fitting he is bowing out after such an incredible season, and I know the Suzuka podium was a long-held dream for him, just as it was for myself and the rest of the team. He will already go down in history as one of the most successful EWC riders ever, but he has the chance to write his name in the records book once more at the Bol d’Or by securing a third title for him and back-to-back titles with YART. We want to finish on a high and create even more history together so he can end his illustrious career in the best way possible.”
Andrea Dosoli
Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing and R&D Manager
“Niccolò has enjoyed an incredible career and has been a part of the Yamaha family for almost ten years. He has raced in and tasted success in every major championship, showcasing his fantastic riding ability, regardless of the machine. When he joined GMT94 in 2016, he immediately gelled with the R1 and made an instant impact, finishing as runners-up in his first EWC season before winning the title in his second. He has also played a huge part in our success in WorldSBK, not only as the official test rider but also as a rider coach and mentor. It is hard to explain how significant an impact he has had at Yamaha, with his wealth of experience, engineering background, and amazing attitude towards teamwork, all contributing to his success, and he can be very proud of what he has achieved. Over the years, he has lost none of his pace and competitive edge, which was showcased by YART’s sensational 2023 EWC title victory, and he will go down as one of the most successful endurance riders of all time. It would be the perfect way to cap off such an illustrious career by securing his third EWC title at the Bol d’Or, but whatever happens, Niccolò can hold his head high and be very proud of what he has achieved. While his career as a rider may be ending, it does not mean he will be leaving the Yamaha family, and we are already looking forward to working with him on some exciting new projects in the future.”
Super Hooligan Homologation Race For HDR and Tampa Ducati at COTA
Hunter Dunham: “I got to ride a Ducati Monster at the Super Hooligan opener at Daytona and I was hooked on how fun it was to ride such raw motorcycles. It’s like riding around with my friends doing backyard flat track, but on much bigger bikes! With the Superbikes I’ve been riding it’s necessary to work on electronic strategies but with the Hooligan, it’s all about managing the spin off the turn and trying to find an aerodynamic body position so I can still breathe with my helmet getting crushed on my face!”
“The Ducati Monster was a little out powered at Daytona so Trever Varney at Tampa Ducati has put together a Ducati Streetfighter V2 for COTA. The bike isn’t homologated yet for the class so we’re going to run it to gather performance data to get it balanced for 2025. I don’t know if its going to be fast enough for the class, or too fast for the class, but I am looking forward to finding out.”
“The streetfighter has a similar engine to the Ducati Supersport bike but in that class the bikes are restricted to something like 80% throttle plate opening. In Hooligan we get to run WFO but we don’t have the benefit of a fairing and we have to run taller bars. I’ve been practicing on my bicycle trying to get as small as possible!”
HDR is sponsored by: Tampa Ducati, Dunlop, Arai, Moto Liberty, Ohlins, My Professional Homes, Riteway Plumbing, Southern Overland Company, Senioa Bicycles, Import Marine Diesel and is part of the Army Of Darkness endurance team.
Follow along on Instagram : Hdunham_17 & Facebook: Hunter Dunham Racing
Misano mission for Pol Espargaro and third 2024 MotoGP™ ‘wildcard’
Round thirteen of the current MotoGP season will take place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli on the first weekend of September and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will again expand to three rider representation. Pol Espargaro is slated for his third wildcard appearance of 2024 at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini.
The 33-year-old Spaniard will steer the latest version of the KTM RC16 once more after competing at Mugello and Red Bull Ring this year. Pol scored 14th in the Sprint and was then 17th in Italy and captured 9th and 11th in Austria after some impressive lap-times at Spielberg.
He now attempts the first of two Grands Prix in San Marino as MotoGP ‘doubles-up’ near the Italian east coast and the final European fixtures before the flyaways. The series will complete a one-day test after the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini.
Pol finished on the podium at Misano in 2020 with the KTM RC16.
Pol Espargaro: “Mugello meant we could come back to MotoGP speed and then we felt much more competitive at Red Bull Ring where we had made a lot of testing laps. Misano is another familiar circuit and I’m happy to get back onto the grid after the work we made at Austria. We need to reconfirm some data in race conditions and also do what we can to help the guys – Brad and Jack – with their settings for the two GPs we have there.”
American Kayla Yaakov, age 17, racing as a wild card on a Barni Racing Team Ducati Panigale V2 on Dunlop control tires in the CIV/Italian Supersport National Championship at Mugello, qualified 35th and finished 25th in each of her two races.
Yaakov normally races a Panigale V2 for Rahal Ducati Moto w/XPEL in the MotoAmerica Supersport class. She is the first female to win a MotoAmerica race (Junior Cup, 2022) and the first female to finish on the podium in a MotoAmerica Supersport race, something she has done three times to date.
More, from a press release issued by Barni Racing Team:
Michele Pirro is Italian Superbike Champion
Michele Pirro wins his tenth Italian title between Superbike, Superstock 1000 and Supersport. It is the seventh with the Barni Spark Racing Team.
Alberto Butti comes back to eighth and concludes his best weekend of the season.
Positive results also for Kayla Yaakov, competing as a wild card in Supersport.
Aquilano chooses not to compete due to physical problems.
The tenth title came in a completely unexpected and dramatic way. At the finish line Michele Pirro did not yet know he was the 2024 Italian Superbike Champion, the news arrived after a few seconds of waiting at the parc fermé when the race direction confirmed that Delbianco, second under the checkered flag, had to give up the position to Pirro for going beyond the track limits on the last lap. The exchange of positions between the two gave the Barni Spark Racing Team rider the mathematical certainty of having won the championship with two races to spare. The final lap was just the last act of a thrilling race, led and won by Bernardi, but whose protagonists were above all Delbianco and Russo, second and third for a long time. Michele was a non-paying “spectator” to their continuous duel, when he tried to slip in Russo responded with aggressive overtaking so the #51 managed the race in view of the championship and in the end benefited from the skirmishes of others. By overtaking Russo at the last corner, who in turn ran wide in the fight with Delbianco, he thus gained the decisive position. For Michele it is the 10th title between Superbike, Superstock 1000 and Supersport, the seventh with the Bergamo team in the premier class.
Podium of the most successful riders ever in the Italian Championship:
1 – Giacomo Agostini – 16 titles. (1 in 250 in 64. 3 in 350 in 70, 71, 72. 12 in 500 in 65, 66 and then from 68 to 77)
2 – Tarquinio Provini – 11 titles. (2 in 125 in 55 and 57. 9 in 175 from 56 to 59, from 61 to 63 and in 65 and 66)
3 – Michele Pirro – 10 titles. (7 in SBK in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024. 1 in SS600 in 2009 and 2 in STK1000 in 2007, 2008)
Positive balance also for Kayla Yaakov who in Supersport obtained the 25th position at the finish line, as in race 1. Her start from the 35th spot on the grid was excellent, the 17-year-old American maintained a good pace despite the track being much slower than yesterday. Results that fully satisfied the team and a very formative experience for the continuation of her career in MotoAmerica. A weekend to forget, however, for Aquilano who, following the fall in qualifying, in mutual agreement with the team, chose not to race.
Michele Pirro
In the end I managed to achieve what I missed last year, the tenth Italian title. It’s been 24 years since my first victory in a race and when I saw the numbers of my career here at the CIV I thought “Wow! It’s incredible”. In Italy I’m the third best rider ever after Agostini and Provini who raced and won in more categories in the same season. The Italian may not be the World Championship, but remaining competitive and winning for so many years is not easy anywhere, and this makes me particularly proud. Work always pays off and now that I’m starting to “get old” I want to be an example for young people, they can’t think of winning only thanks to talent, it takes hard work and sacrifice. Thanks to Barni, to all his family and to the team that helped me reach these goals that make me want to race and have fun again.
Alberto Butti
I made a good step forward this race too, closing the gap to the leaders. It’s a shame about the problem in the alignment lap that compromised the start and consequently the first laps were a comeback, pushing a lot on the front. Once I reached sixth position I wasn’t able to close the gap with the fifth and – due to the drop of the front tire – I lost 2 positions in the last 2 laps. All this, however, has demonstrated the great growth this year and makes me confident for a good conclusion to the championship in Imola!
Kayla Yaakov
I am a rider and these results cannot make me 100% happy, but I learned a lot from this experience. The tires, the suspension, the characteristics of the circuit, it was all different compared to MotoAmerica, but I will take away a lot of information. I worked with fantastic people including Luca Minelli, Danilo Petrucci’s crew chief in Superbike. He and all the others made themselves available to me, the team is very organized and professional, here at the CIV the level is very high and it was nice to deal with a completely new environment.
Marco Barnabò
I am very happy to have achieved with Michele the title that we have been looking for since last year. Winning the seventh championship together is a great satisfaction, it is not easy to stay at the top for so long. I want to thank everyone who works in the organization of the team: from those who make the engines at home to those who assembled the bike for the season, from the mechanics to all the various departments of the team. And then a special thanks to Pirro who always does his part. Today the conditions were even more difficult than yesterday, the front tire in the slipstream overheated and no longer gave the right feeling to attack; the only thing we did not want to do was make mistakes to compromise the race and that’s how it went. Butti was also very good, it’s a shame about the start that penalized him, then he went on a comeback. I must say “well done” to Kayla too, in the working method and in the sensitivity of the ride she shows much more than her 17 years. She will go far. I hope that this wild card has helped her to grow, she is still very young and can grow even more! I’m sorry to have raced with one less rider, but Edoardo and I decided not to do the race so as not to take risks after yesterday’s crash in qualifying.
Editorial Note: Alvaro Bautista will turn 40 on November 21.
Alvaro Bautista aboard the factory Panigale V4R of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team also in the 2025 WorldSBK season
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team is pleased to announce the contract extension of Alvaro Bautista, who will be riding the factory Ducati Panigale V4R again in the 2025 WorldSBK season.
B
autista debuted in Superbike in 2019 aboard the Ducati Panigale V4R, becoming World Superbike Champion for two consecutive seasons in 2022 and 2023. The rider from Talavera de la Reina conquered so far a total of 61 victories in WorldSBK – making him the most successful Ducati rider in the history of the championship – and the 100th podium finish at the end of Race 1 of the last round held at Portimao (Portugal).
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #1)
“I am thrilled to continue another season with Ducati, with Aruba and with this beautiful team that represents a family to me. I feel physically and mentally perfect, and I am sure I can still be very competitive. Furthermore, there is an extraordinary relationship with everyone, from the mechanics to the management, to the sponsors, which is why I am even happier. I want to thank Ducati, Aruba, Stefano Cecconi, Daniele Casolari and Serafino Foti for their trust in me. I hope I can repay them by returning to having as much fun on track as we did in the last rounds”.
Stefano Cecconi (Team Principal Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“I have said many times that our priority was to continue with Alvaro and I couldn’t wait to be able to announce the renewal of our collaboration officially. It is a pleasure to work with him, both from a personal and professional point of view. I am convinced that by continuing to work hard together, we will be able to overcome the new challenges that the new regulations offer us. During the last few races we have found solutions that have allowed Alvaro to rediscover the sensations that were a bit lacking at the beginning of the year. Now, we must continue on this path to make a grand season finale and close the gap that separates us from the top”.
Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager)
“We are delighted to continue with Alvaro Bautista. He has given us great emotions in recent seasons, and his talent certainly remains unquestionable. The new regulations and the very high level reached by the World Superbike Championship will make 2025 challenging, but we are ready to face it together. For now, it is important to stay focused on the current season: the Championship is still long, and we will do everything we can to put Alvaro in a position to defend the World Title till the end”.
Her story: Meet Mallory Dobbs
Mallory Dobbs, Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team
American, 30
Representing the USA
With the history of so many great American riders in World Championship motorcycle racing down the years it is an honour for anyone to represent the USA on the world stage. MotoAmerica graduate Mallory Dobbs does so with pride and her journey to the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship this year has been an unorthodox one, considering she did not begin riding motorcycles until she was in her twenties. The civil engineer from Olympia in Washington State is racing on European tracks for the first time this season at the age of 30 and her story is one of a thrilling ascent in racing.
Catching the motorcycle bug
Detailing her first encounters with motorcycles Dobbs comments, “I didn’t ride a motorcycle until I was 22. I was honestly terrified of the thought of riding motorcycles on the street for the longest time. I just remember my boyfriend at the time showing up to my house on a CBR600 with a spare helmet. I rode on the back of his bike for a couple of months before I decided that I would much rather have my own. My first bike was a 2007 Yamaha R6 that I bought in 2016. I remember the first couple of times I took it out I was too scared to take it out on the highway so I just cruised around town instead.”
A quick switch from road to racetrack
Dobbs may have started her love affair with motorbikes later than many other professional riders, but she has certainly made up for lost time since then. “I started racing at the amateur level six months after I started riding,” she explains. “In 2017 I bought a 2003 Yamaha R6 as my first race bike and raced with the Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association (WMRRA) and the Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association (OMRRA). From 2017 to 2020 I would say I was a casual racer. I was racing for fun on the weekends with my friends. In 2018, I finished second overall in the Novice 600 class and throughout the years won various female championships.”
Stepping things up
Having enjoyed the amateur experience and proving to herself that she had the talent to take things up a notch, Dobbs then decided to test herself at a much higher level. “It wasn’t until 2021 that I decided to put some serious time and effort into my racing program. I started racing in southern California in the winter, where I met Jason Pridmore. I got coaching from him in preparation for my MotoAmerica debut. I bought a brand new ZX6R and finished third overall in all of the 600 race classes I raced in that year. In 2022, I did my first two professional events in Supersport with MotoAmerica at The Ridge Motorsports Park and Laguna Seca. These two rounds were pretty successful and I decided to do a full season of Supersport and Superhooligans in 2023. I finished the season seventh overall in Superhooligans with multiple top 10 finishes, as well as a handful of Supersport points.”
Arriving in WorldWCR
Having increased her level with consistent performances in MotoAmerica Dobbs takes her place on the inaugural WorldWCR in 2024, competing on European tracks at world championship level, with her only previous race experience being on home territory. In fact before this year Dobbs had not visited Europe, stating that prior to this season she had only left the USA twice in her life for vacations in Mexico. She states, “It’s really exciting to go to Europe and see the places, but also race on some iconic race tracks. Regarding the privilege and responsibility of representing the U.S. in WorldWCR”. She adds, “It is incredibly important to me because the racing isn’t just about me anymore. This is the first time in my life I have ever been a representative for my entire country and it definitely feels like a lot of pressure! There are a lot of really good riders in America, so to say that I am the one representing our country instead of all the other girls that I race with and I know are really good…It puts some weight on what I am doing and motivates me to do everything I can to make my home country proud.”
A welcome from her compatriots
Finding her way around the WorldSBK scene and quickly familiarising herself with the tracks visited by the WorldWCR series, Dobbs says she has been made to feel at home by the American contingent already firmly established in the paddock. She reveals, “Members of the other American teams have come and introduced themselves to me, because they know how hard it is, being the only American in the paddock. It’s super cool. Part of [Garrett] Gerloff’s team came over to me and said, ‘Welcome, we want you to know you can come hang out with us anytime, we want to make sure you are taken care of.’ I really appreciated that. I know what it’s like to be the new kid on the block. It’s a very nice community to be involved with and everybody has been so welcoming here.”
Meeting Rins at COTA
Dobbs singles out Alex Rins as her favourite professional rider and again a key factor is a welcoming approach and warmth he demonstrated when meeting her at the Circuit of the Americas, when the two stars crossed paths there. “We went to MotoGP™ at COTA and that was my first MotoGP™ experience,” Dobbs states. “You can pick a favourite rider based on their skill or who they present themselves as on social media, but when we went to MotoGP™ Rins was asking me a lot of questions about how the [MotoAmerica] championship worked, where I was staying, how things were going and if I was excited. He took a big interest in what I was doing as a racer. Racing is inherently a very selfish sport, so it was really cool to hear him asking questions and caring about what we are doing. It was very nice.”
Mallory answers our direct questions…
What motivated you to seriously pursue competitive riding? “I have always been a competitive person, but motorcycle racing was not my first interest. I grew up showing horses competitively at the world level. I got my first horse when I was 11 and I still have him. Motorcycle racing was something I started doing for fun and then realised I wanted to see how far I could go with it. I never would have imagined that I would be racing at the World level. Getting into racing was somewhat of a fluke for me. I started riding track days and met some really nice people that kind of just told me I should come out and try racing, and it didn’t take much to convince me!”
“Once I started racing, I really enjoyed the community and became addicted to the constant work to improve. When I started racing with MotoAmerica, I got to interact with and see so many more fans. And something that has truly inspired me to keep pushing to see how far I can go, is seeing the little girls that get so excited to see a female racer. Being able to be a role model for other kids and little girls in particular is something that I really enjoy while pursuing my passion. Being a female in the sport still has its challenges and I really hope that I can do my part to make it better for other women in the future.”
How did your friends, family, or relatives react when you mentioned your interest for racing? “My family doesn’t quite understand why I love to race so much, but they are my number one fans and support me through it all! I am an only child and it can be hard for my dad to watch me race in person but he is still really proud of me for chasing my dreams.”
What advice would you give to young girls who aspire to compete at the highest level in racing? “My advice is to find people who will always be supportive of you and surround yourself with them. This sport is hard and there will be times when you want to quit, it’s normal. But having the support around you will make it that much easier to keep pushing. Never give up on your dreams! As cliché as it sounds, your dreams may seem big and daunting, but keep working towards them and they will happen, I am living mine right now!”
What does it mean to you to be competing in the inaugural WorldWCR season? “It still feels like a dream! When I talk to people and get to tell them that I am racing in WorldSBK it still doesn’t quite feel real. I never would have thought that I would say that! It means so much to me to be a part of the inaugural season as the only American. This season is something that I won’t soon forget in my life.”
What do you do away from racing? “I am a full time civil engineer outside of racing. It is quite the challenge to juggle a full-time job while trying to be the best athlete I can be as well. As a civil engineer trying to win projects, I talk to people, network and build relationships with them, so that they want to work with me as an engineer. It’s similar in motorsports, you want to meet people and work with people who will set you up for success. That’s the same in motorsports. Your team really matters. The people in your corner are a big part of how success works.”
What are your hobbies? “Outside of motorcycles, I still ride horses from time to time. I also do a handful of sports like bowling, golf, pickleball. But honestly, when I am not racing, it is sometimes nice just to sit at home and play some board games or watch movies. It’s been a while since I’ve had time to do that though! Recently most of my life revolves around motorcycle races. I race in Europe, travel, recover, go to work, do more track days and training at home, road cycling. Those are the sacrifices we have to make to be here. I went to the barn a couple of days ago and got to ride my horse for the first time in a couple of months and that was nice.”
WorldWCR will return to action at the Acerbis Italian Round from September 20th to 22nd at the Cremona Circuit.
California Superbike School founder Keith Code and his son, lead instructor Dylan Code discuss the tracks remaining on their 2024 schedule.
To get more information about the California Superbike School or to sign up, go to https://superbikeschool.com/ or call 800-530-3350.
Gloves off, visors down: MotoGP™ arrives in Misano
The battle lines are drawn as the world’s most exciting sport arrives on turf poised to serve up a storm
Wednesday, 04 September 2024
Hallowed ground. Home turf. Enemy territory. All are true at once for the MotoGP™ grid at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, with the stage set for an intriguing showdown this weekend in the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini. Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) heads behind enemy lines with an advantage of 23 points atop the standings, holding off home hero Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). The incentive to defeat the reigning Champion on his own turf, and for his own Italian team, will be matched only by the determination of the #1 to stop him doing just that. Especially as Bagnaia looks to bounce back – something he’s seemingly magically able to do when he most needs to.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was back on the top step in Aragon, 1043 days after winning his last Grand Prix. And that just happened to be the Emilia-Romagna GP at Misano in 2021. He is the rider with most wins across all at Misano, and he’d love to add another. His incentives likewise set up a showdown to remember: enemy territory. Future teammate territory. And current team home turf…
The rider with the next most podiums and an exemplary record at Misano, meanwhile, is another home hero: Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). The Beast’s nightmare Practice and Q1 left him with work to do in Aragon but he did it, slicing up the order as ever to get back to the front and only cede third place overall by just a single point. It may not have been the weekend he’d expected, given the 2022 Aragon GP, but it was far from a disaster by conclusion. Misano is likely to see Bastianini gunning for glory once again.
The home heroes don’t stop there. Last year Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) took two podiums and he’ll hope some home magic will be added to the mix too in a tougher season. Teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio just had the edge still before a tyre pressure penalty in Aragon, however, and with another few days to get back to better strength he’ll be one to watch on his and the team’s home turf. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) continues an impressive trajectory of progress over recent rounds too, with Misano another chance to put it all together and try to attack for the podium.
Attacking for that podium was exactly what Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was doing for much of the Aragon GP, before both he and Bagnaia ended up tangled in the gravel. Opinion columns aside, each got to make their case and the result of the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards investigation was: no further action. We can likely expect more action of a different kind as the #73 takes on the home round for Gresini and Ducati in front of what could prove a partisan crowd more partial to the Pecco Bagnaia side of the argument, but there are plenty of races in even recent memory where the incentive to prove a point has been a powerful one.
Aprilia, meanwhile, have plenty of home glory on the line for their machine and factory, and after a tougher Aragon GP, they’ll want to bounce back quickly. On Day 1 all four RS-GPs were in the top ten: Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) on Marquez’ tail, and Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez flying the flag for Trackhouse. But come Saturday it got tougher, and they’ll want a lot more from Misano. Viñales has a standout record at the track too…
Then comes KTM and GASGAS. Back nearer the front at Aragon with two podiums for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) hot on his heels after his own good form in Austria, there were plenty of positives and Misano has hosted some for the marque before. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is having an up and down ride with some impressive speed and then bad luck or trouble at times so will be looking for a smoother weekend, and Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) had some positives from MotorLand too. Misano awaits with another chance to reset – and another wildcard for Pol Espargaro with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Stefan Bradl will also be on track for the HRC Test Team, and for Honda, there was a first of 2024 at MotorLand as Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) moved directly through to Q2, showing some impressive speed all weekend despite unfortunately crashing out on Saturday. Still, that’s a good tick in one box as the Japanese marque look to move forward, and Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) will be especially keen to do so this weekend on home turf. Teammate Joan Mir had the upper hand at MotorLand on his. But of all, it was Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) who actually took Honda’s best Sunday result so far this season, coming home in P11 when all penalties were said and done. As his future as development rider is confirmed, his value seemed underlined once more.
Yamaha, meanwhile, have recently done their own private test at Misano so it will be interesting to see where they pick up as we return to race. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) put in a more than solid Saturday at MotorLand to battle Bagnaia and take Sprint points, but a crash out on Sunday leaves a little what could have been behind. What was, for teammate Alex Rins, was a top ten though – a good result even if now leaving the factory to focus on cutting down the time deficit. What will be at Misano? It’s traditionally a strong track for the Yamaha.
The Championship remains close but there’s ever more pressure pouring into the duel at the top, with the momentum suddenly back in Martin’s corner. But a Bagnaia needing a result is a Bagnaia to underestimate at your peril, and Marc Marquez has now been back on the top step. And all the while, Bastianini looks through his trophy cabinet, drives down the road to his local racetrack, and looks to steal the spotlight and chip away at that gap to the top…
Who’s taking the spoils? Join us this weekend for the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini to find out:
What’s happening at the #SanMarinoGP?
On Thursday afternoon, MotoGP™ podcast Last On The Brakes will welcome Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 empresario Herve Poncharal.
Then we’re into the press conferences, with the first set to host Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team).
Then, rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) will be joined by Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) for the second.
The FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship returns to action across the weekend and for the grand finale. Misano will decide the 2024 Champion and four riders are in contention, but Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) has a 38-point lead heading in.
On the Road to MotoGP™, the Red Bull MotoGP™ Rookies Cup will also be decided at Misano. Race 1 is on Saturday and Race 2 on Sunday, with the top two contenders split by 13 points on the way in.
Moto2™: Dixon dares to dream as the deficit comes down
Four races ago, Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) sat 105 points adrift of World Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI). Now, heading to the San Marino GP, that deficit has shrunk to 43 points after the Briton claimed a second win of the year in Aragon. And what a weekend it was at MotorLand, with Dixon converting his first pole of the season into a win that has propelled the #96 into the Championship chase equation.
That’s partly because it was another weekend where title favourites failed to pick up sizable points tallies. Garcia retired from Sunday’s race in what was, truth be told, a weekend to forget for the current Championship pacesetter. Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) – on his injury return – dug deep to pocket eight crucial points in P8, while Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) and Fermin Aldeguer (BetaTools SpeedUp) both suffered tougher ends to their Aragon GPs with crashes.
That meant race winner Dixon and Alonso Lopez (BetaTools SpeedUp) – the Spaniard finishing P4 – were the big movers in the title race. Lopez, a bronze medallist at Misano in 2023, is now P3 behind the MT Helmets – MSI duo, 31 points off Garcia, with Dixon P5. 50 points split the top six – Garcia to Aldeguer – as we land at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Now that’s what we call a Championship battle.
Obviously, we can’t go racing again without mentioning the other two riders who stood on the Aragon rostrum – Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The former made his way onto the box for the first time this season and ran Dixon close, as Öncü strung together a fantastic weekend to claim his debut intermediate class rostrum. More of the same will be craved from both between now and Valencia.
Moto3™: Alonso marches on as Veijer takes up the chase
History was made on Sunday morning in Aragon as Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) etched his name alongside the greats by becoming the 400th different Grand Prix winner. Rueda’s first Moto3™ triumph was the #99’s first podium since the Catalan GP and the third of his sophomore year, and one that moved the Spaniard up to P6 in the overall standings.
Also moving up in the Championship was second place finisher Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP). The Dutch star is now P2 in the title chase after earning a sixth podium of the season, as Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) put in a fine ride to secure his first Grand Prix podium in P3 ahead of his and the team’s home race at Misano.
And speaking of Misano, who won there last year in Moto3™? Ah yes, a certain David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team). Despite finishing off the podium for just the fourth time this year – albeit in P4 – the Colombian stretched his healthy points advantage out to 75. Veijer now acts as the chief chaser, and with Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) and Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) picking up a lowkey P12 and P9 respectively, a big response is needed this weekend as the pack attempts to reel in the #80 before time runs out.
American Nathan Gouker Takes Top 5 Finish in ESBK Moto4 in Estoril,
Anthony Lupo Jr. Takes Top 15 Finish in Moto4, Kensei Matsudaira in PreMoto3
Round 5 of the RFME ESBK Spanish Superbike Championship was held this
past weekend at Circuit Estoril in Portugal with Americans Nathan Gouker
and Anthony Lupo Jr. racing in Moto4, and Kensei Matsudaira in the
PreMoto3 category.
Despite missing round 3 held at Circuit Estoril in July due to injury,
Nathan Gouker made a strong impression on his debut at the circuit
qualifying in 9th and achieving his best finish in Moto4 of 5th place in
Saturday’s race 1. He followed that up on Sunday in race 2 with another
impressive top 10 finish in 8th place.
Nathan Gouker:
“It was great to be back with my Ajevo Racing Team in Estoril, Portugal
for Round 5 of the ESBK championship this past weekend. I’m super happy
to come away with 2 top 10 finishes and get my first top 5 of the year.
I’m excited to finish the season strong with the team and know we are
going to push to the front. As always, thank you to the fans,
supporters, and sponsors for all their positive energy.”
Meanwhile, Anthony Lupo Jr. made his best qualifying result of the
season of 12th, and followed that up with a 13th place in race 1
matching his best result so far of the season, and a 15th place finish
in race 2.
Anthony Lupo Jr.:
“It was an okay weekend, it took me a little while to get up to speed
but I had some good battles. I’m looking forward to Navarra and I’m
excited to learn a new track.”
In the PreMoto3 category, Kensei Matsudaira had his second best
qualifying of the year in 14th, 1.9 seconds behind pole. In race 1
Kensei made a great start and gained more than six positions on the
first lap, and was up as high as 6th place racing in the top group until
an unfortunate mechanical issue with his clutch on lap 5 forced him to
drop back. Kensei continued to fight to finish the race, finally
crossing the line in 12th. On Sunday in race 2 Kensei had a good start
but after contact with another rider on the first lap, lost touch with
the front group and finished the race in P12, leading his group.
Kensei Matsudaira:
“In race 1 I started out really strong and though that I could be in the
fight for a podium. After the clutch issue though all I could do was to
finish the race and manage my position. Race 2 was tough. I got a decent
start but got hit in the first lap and lost the front group. I finished
at the front of my group but just didn’t have the pace to catch anyone
out front. We have a bit of a break now so I’ll definitely be putting my
head down and training even harder to finish the season much stronger.”
Round 6 of the RFME ESBK Spanish Superbike Championship will be held at
Circuito de Navarra in Los Arcos, Spain on October 26-27.
The Ajevo Nox#27 Racing Team is supported by: Comodity Window Films,
Alquilocar, FRC Fercometal, Reprocenter, Nadalfret, Viel Carrocerias
Nathan Gouker is supported by: Stadler, CP Motorsports, Bob Robbins,
Quarterly Racing, NGS Racing, KYT Americas, VO2 Leathers, Cornerspin,
Fastglass Media, Motul USA, 64degrees Racing, 35 Motorsports,
FormaBootsUSA, Carolina Supermoto, Ride Supermoto, Daniels Tire
Anthony Lupo is supported by: Hans King, American Supercamp, Nanelli
Riders Academy, MadLabs Minimoto, LS2 Helmets, Mini Moto Alliance, 73
Moto Parts
Kensei Matsudaira is supported by: Evike.com, Iconic Motorbikes, HJC
Helmets, Dave Designs, Bullit Electric Cycles, Bison Track, TJ Corse,
Alpinestars, Almassera El Teular, Project SLUSH, Moto Tecnica,
California Superbike School, Slacker by Motool, Bickle Racing, MadLabs
Minimoto, 73 Moto Parts, D.I.D Chain, Yoshimura R&D, NLAB Studio &
Wraps, Karen E. Ott Photography, VNM Sport, Galfer USA, Vortex Racing,
Hans King, The Starting Grid, Moto Survival School, Mini Moto Alliance,
Live 100 Moto
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Niccolò Canepa to Retire from Racing After Bol d’Or
Yamalube YART Yamaha Official EWC Team rider Niccolò Canepa will retire from racing after the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) season finale at the Bol d’Or on September 12th-15th, with the Italian looking to end his career on a high note by securing back-to-back EWC titles.
The 36-year-old has had an illustrious career spanning over two decades, during which time he has raced in MotoGP, WorldSBK, Moto2, WorldSSP, and MotoE and has become the most successful Italian EWC rider in history.
Canepa, who hails from Genoa, began his career in the Italian national championships before making his WorldSSP debut in 2005. After finishing second in the 2006 European Superstock 600 Championship, he went on to be crowned the 2007 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup Champion.
Following this success, he made his WorldSBK debut the following season with a couple of wildcard rides and became a MotoGP test rider before stepping up to the premier class full-time in 2009. After finishing an impressive 16th overall during his debut MotoGP season, he switched to Moto2 in 2010 and made 11 starts before returning to the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup in 2011. A full season in WorldSBK followed in 2012, and he then finished as runner-up in the 2013 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup.
He returned to WorldSBK for the 2014 and 2015 seasons before starting his long association with Yamaha when he joined the GMT94 Yamaha EWC Team in 2016, finishing as runners-up in the Endurance World Championship that year, with Canepa also becoming the official Yamaha Motor Europe WorldSBK test rider.
His test rider role saw him substitute for an injured Sylvain Guintoli for four races during the 2016 WorldSBK season, securing four top-ten finishes. He also filled in for the sidelined Florian Marino in two races that year in the STK1000 European Championship, recording a podium (3rd) at Donington Park.
In just his second year with GMT94 Yamaha Team, he became the first Italian to win an FIM Endurance World Championship as they lifted the 2016/2017 crown, and in the process, he also became the first Italian to claim victory at the Bol d’Or, before following this up by finishing as runners-up the following season.
Canepa continued to make wildcard appearances in WorldSBK for the Pata Yamaha Team in 2018, contesting both races at Donington Park and then Misano, scoring points during both outings. He then joined the YART Yamaha EWC Official Team for the 2018/2019 EWC season, immediately tasting success as they went on to win the 8 Hours of Slovakia Ring to finish the season in fourth.
In 2019, he also made his MotoE World Cup debut, finishing ninth overall, a result he would repeat the following year, showcasing his ability to be fast whatever the machinery. In his second season with the YART team, victories at Estoril and Sepang meant they secured second overall in the 2019/2020 FIM Endurance World Championship.
During this time, he also became the Yamama WorldSBK rider coach, taking an even more active role in the paddock alongside his test rider duties, which paid dividends in 2021 when Yamaha won the WorldSBK championship. He returned to the MotoE World Cup in 2022, securing his first podium in the class on his way to ending the season in seventh while also competing in the Italian CIV Superbike Championship.
Canepa added another EWC title in 2023 after a stunning season that saw YART win the 24H SPA EWC Motos and secure second at the 24 Heures Motos in Le Mans before finishing fourth at the Bol d’Or to be crowned champions once more.
The Italian is bidding to bow out on a high by winning his third FIM Endurance World Championship crown at his final race, with the YART team heading to the Bol d’Or leading the overall standings by six points after finishing second at the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans, winning the 8 Hours of Spa Motos and securing a dream podium (2nd) at the legendary Suzuka 8 Hours.
While winning another championship title would be the perfect ending to an incredible career, whatever happens at the Bol d’Or, Canepa will go down as one of the most successful EWC riders of all time and is a member of an elite club of people to have won all three major 24-hour races (Spa, Le Mans, and the Bol d’Or).
Niccolò Canepa
Yamalube YART Yamaha Official EWC Team
“It has been a fantastic journey! I started racing minibikes when I was just nine years old, and at 19, I was already riding a MotoGP bike. I have been lucky to have enjoyed an incredible career; of course, there have been some difficult moments, but as a child, I would never have imagined that I would have had so much success and got so much enjoyment from this sport. I gave everything to racing, but I got back much more than I expected, and I have won two EWC titles and one in Superstock. Hopefully, we can make it three in EWC after the Bol d’Or. I have had the opportunity to race in many championships, such as MotoGP, WorldSBK, EWC, WorldSSP, Moto2, and MotoE. I am happy with what I have achieved. As a rider, you know when it is time to stop, and it feels like the perfect moment to retire after the Bol d’Or. I am already thinking about new challenges and starting a new chapter in my life. Of course, I will miss racing, my teammates, and my R1, but I think the time is right. I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career, especially my family and girlfriend and those I have crossed paths with who helped me or taught me something. It has been a pleasure to meet so many people along the way, and I am excited for the next adventure, which will see me continue to wear Yamaha blue!”
Mandy Kainz
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team – Team Manager
“It has been a real pleasure to work with Niccolò. Not only is he an incredible rider, but also a great guy. He has been integral to YART’s success since he joined the team, and his attitude, ability, and teamwork are second to none. We are one big family at YART, and Niccolò has been a huge part of that ever since he joined. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved together, and he will be sorely missed. I want to thank him for everything he has given to the team. It feels fitting he is bowing out after such an incredible season, and I know the Suzuka podium was a long-held dream for him, just as it was for myself and the rest of the team. He will already go down in history as one of the most successful EWC riders ever, but he has the chance to write his name in the records book once more at the Bol d’Or by securing a third title for him and back-to-back titles with YART. We want to finish on a high and create even more history together so he can end his illustrious career in the best way possible.”
Andrea Dosoli
Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing and R&D Manager
“Niccolò has enjoyed an incredible career and has been a part of the Yamaha family for almost ten years. He has raced in and tasted success in every major championship, showcasing his fantastic riding ability, regardless of the machine. When he joined GMT94 in 2016, he immediately gelled with the R1 and made an instant impact, finishing as runners-up in his first EWC season before winning the title in his second. He has also played a huge part in our success in WorldSBK, not only as the official test rider but also as a rider coach and mentor. It is hard to explain how significant an impact he has had at Yamaha, with his wealth of experience, engineering background, and amazing attitude towards teamwork, all contributing to his success, and he can be very proud of what he has achieved. Over the years, he has lost none of his pace and competitive edge, which was showcased by YART’s sensational 2023 EWC title victory, and he will go down as one of the most successful endurance riders of all time. It would be the perfect way to cap off such an illustrious career by securing his third EWC title at the Bol d’Or, but whatever happens, Niccolò can hold his head high and be very proud of what he has achieved. While his career as a rider may be ending, it does not mean he will be leaving the Yamaha family, and we are already looking forward to working with him on some exciting new projects in the future.”
Super Hooligan Homologation Race For HDR and Tampa Ducati at COTA
Hunter Dunham: “I got to ride a Ducati Monster at the Super Hooligan opener at Daytona and I was hooked on how fun it was to ride such raw motorcycles. It’s like riding around with my friends doing backyard flat track, but on much bigger bikes! With the Superbikes I’ve been riding it’s necessary to work on electronic strategies but with the Hooligan, it’s all about managing the spin off the turn and trying to find an aerodynamic body position so I can still breathe with my helmet getting crushed on my face!”
“The Ducati Monster was a little out powered at Daytona so Trever Varney at Tampa Ducati has put together a Ducati Streetfighter V2 for COTA. The bike isn’t homologated yet for the class so we’re going to run it to gather performance data to get it balanced for 2025. I don’t know if its going to be fast enough for the class, or too fast for the class, but I am looking forward to finding out.”
“The streetfighter has a similar engine to the Ducati Supersport bike but in that class the bikes are restricted to something like 80% throttle plate opening. In Hooligan we get to run WFO but we don’t have the benefit of a fairing and we have to run taller bars. I’ve been practicing on my bicycle trying to get as small as possible!”
HDR is sponsored by: Tampa Ducati, Dunlop, Arai, Moto Liberty, Ohlins, My Professional Homes, Riteway Plumbing, Southern Overland Company, Senioa Bicycles, Import Marine Diesel and is part of the Army Of Darkness endurance team.
Follow along on Instagram : Hdunham_17 & Facebook: Hunter Dunham Racing
Misano mission for Pol Espargaro and third 2024 MotoGP™ ‘wildcard’
Round thirteen of the current MotoGP season will take place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli on the first weekend of September and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will again expand to three rider representation. Pol Espargaro is slated for his third wildcard appearance of 2024 at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini.
The 33-year-old Spaniard will steer the latest version of the KTM RC16 once more after competing at Mugello and Red Bull Ring this year. Pol scored 14th in the Sprint and was then 17th in Italy and captured 9th and 11th in Austria after some impressive lap-times at Spielberg.
He now attempts the first of two Grands Prix in San Marino as MotoGP ‘doubles-up’ near the Italian east coast and the final European fixtures before the flyaways. The series will complete a one-day test after the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini.
Pol finished on the podium at Misano in 2020 with the KTM RC16.
Pol Espargaro: “Mugello meant we could come back to MotoGP speed and then we felt much more competitive at Red Bull Ring where we had made a lot of testing laps. Misano is another familiar circuit and I’m happy to get back onto the grid after the work we made at Austria. We need to reconfirm some data in race conditions and also do what we can to help the guys – Brad and Jack – with their settings for the two GPs we have there.”
American Kayla Yaakov, age 17, racing as a wild card on a Barni Racing Team Ducati Panigale V2 on Dunlop control tires in the CIV/Italian Supersport National Championship at Mugello, qualified 35th and finished 25th in each of her two races.
Yaakov normally races a Panigale V2 for Rahal Ducati Moto w/XPEL in the MotoAmerica Supersport class. She is the first female to win a MotoAmerica race (Junior Cup, 2022) and the first female to finish on the podium in a MotoAmerica Supersport race, something she has done three times to date.
More, from a press release issued by Barni Racing Team:
Michele Pirro is Italian Superbike Champion
Michele Pirro wins his tenth Italian title between Superbike, Superstock 1000 and Supersport. It is the seventh with the Barni Spark Racing Team.
Alberto Butti comes back to eighth and concludes his best weekend of the season.
Positive results also for Kayla Yaakov, competing as a wild card in Supersport.
Aquilano chooses not to compete due to physical problems.
The tenth title came in a completely unexpected and dramatic way. At the finish line Michele Pirro did not yet know he was the 2024 Italian Superbike Champion, the news arrived after a few seconds of waiting at the parc fermé when the race direction confirmed that Delbianco, second under the checkered flag, had to give up the position to Pirro for going beyond the track limits on the last lap. The exchange of positions between the two gave the Barni Spark Racing Team rider the mathematical certainty of having won the championship with two races to spare. The final lap was just the last act of a thrilling race, led and won by Bernardi, but whose protagonists were above all Delbianco and Russo, second and third for a long time. Michele was a non-paying “spectator” to their continuous duel, when he tried to slip in Russo responded with aggressive overtaking so the #51 managed the race in view of the championship and in the end benefited from the skirmishes of others. By overtaking Russo at the last corner, who in turn ran wide in the fight with Delbianco, he thus gained the decisive position. For Michele it is the 10th title between Superbike, Superstock 1000 and Supersport, the seventh with the Bergamo team in the premier class.
Podium of the most successful riders ever in the Italian Championship:
1 – Giacomo Agostini – 16 titles. (1 in 250 in 64. 3 in 350 in 70, 71, 72. 12 in 500 in 65, 66 and then from 68 to 77)
2 – Tarquinio Provini – 11 titles. (2 in 125 in 55 and 57. 9 in 175 from 56 to 59, from 61 to 63 and in 65 and 66)
3 – Michele Pirro – 10 titles. (7 in SBK in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024. 1 in SS600 in 2009 and 2 in STK1000 in 2007, 2008)
Positive balance also for Kayla Yaakov who in Supersport obtained the 25th position at the finish line, as in race 1. Her start from the 35th spot on the grid was excellent, the 17-year-old American maintained a good pace despite the track being much slower than yesterday. Results that fully satisfied the team and a very formative experience for the continuation of her career in MotoAmerica. A weekend to forget, however, for Aquilano who, following the fall in qualifying, in mutual agreement with the team, chose not to race.
Michele Pirro
In the end I managed to achieve what I missed last year, the tenth Italian title. It’s been 24 years since my first victory in a race and when I saw the numbers of my career here at the CIV I thought “Wow! It’s incredible”. In Italy I’m the third best rider ever after Agostini and Provini who raced and won in more categories in the same season. The Italian may not be the World Championship, but remaining competitive and winning for so many years is not easy anywhere, and this makes me particularly proud. Work always pays off and now that I’m starting to “get old” I want to be an example for young people, they can’t think of winning only thanks to talent, it takes hard work and sacrifice. Thanks to Barni, to all his family and to the team that helped me reach these goals that make me want to race and have fun again.
Alberto Butti
I made a good step forward this race too, closing the gap to the leaders. It’s a shame about the problem in the alignment lap that compromised the start and consequently the first laps were a comeback, pushing a lot on the front. Once I reached sixth position I wasn’t able to close the gap with the fifth and – due to the drop of the front tire – I lost 2 positions in the last 2 laps. All this, however, has demonstrated the great growth this year and makes me confident for a good conclusion to the championship in Imola!
Kayla Yaakov
I am a rider and these results cannot make me 100% happy, but I learned a lot from this experience. The tires, the suspension, the characteristics of the circuit, it was all different compared to MotoAmerica, but I will take away a lot of information. I worked with fantastic people including Luca Minelli, Danilo Petrucci’s crew chief in Superbike. He and all the others made themselves available to me, the team is very organized and professional, here at the CIV the level is very high and it was nice to deal with a completely new environment.
Marco Barnabò
I am very happy to have achieved with Michele the title that we have been looking for since last year. Winning the seventh championship together is a great satisfaction, it is not easy to stay at the top for so long. I want to thank everyone who works in the organization of the team: from those who make the engines at home to those who assembled the bike for the season, from the mechanics to all the various departments of the team. And then a special thanks to Pirro who always does his part. Today the conditions were even more difficult than yesterday, the front tire in the slipstream overheated and no longer gave the right feeling to attack; the only thing we did not want to do was make mistakes to compromise the race and that’s how it went. Butti was also very good, it’s a shame about the start that penalized him, then he went on a comeback. I must say “well done” to Kayla too, in the working method and in the sensitivity of the ride she shows much more than her 17 years. She will go far. I hope that this wild card has helped her to grow, she is still very young and can grow even more! I’m sorry to have raced with one less rider, but Edoardo and I decided not to do the race so as not to take risks after yesterday’s crash in qualifying.
Editorial Note: Alvaro Bautista will turn 40 on November 21.
Alvaro Bautista aboard the factory Panigale V4R of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team also in the 2025 WorldSBK season
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team is pleased to announce the contract extension of Alvaro Bautista, who will be riding the factory Ducati Panigale V4R again in the 2025 WorldSBK season.
B
autista debuted in Superbike in 2019 aboard the Ducati Panigale V4R, becoming World Superbike Champion for two consecutive seasons in 2022 and 2023. The rider from Talavera de la Reina conquered so far a total of 61 victories in WorldSBK – making him the most successful Ducati rider in the history of the championship – and the 100th podium finish at the end of Race 1 of the last round held at Portimao (Portugal).
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #1)
“I am thrilled to continue another season with Ducati, with Aruba and with this beautiful team that represents a family to me. I feel physically and mentally perfect, and I am sure I can still be very competitive. Furthermore, there is an extraordinary relationship with everyone, from the mechanics to the management, to the sponsors, which is why I am even happier. I want to thank Ducati, Aruba, Stefano Cecconi, Daniele Casolari and Serafino Foti for their trust in me. I hope I can repay them by returning to having as much fun on track as we did in the last rounds”.
Stefano Cecconi (Team Principal Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“I have said many times that our priority was to continue with Alvaro and I couldn’t wait to be able to announce the renewal of our collaboration officially. It is a pleasure to work with him, both from a personal and professional point of view. I am convinced that by continuing to work hard together, we will be able to overcome the new challenges that the new regulations offer us. During the last few races we have found solutions that have allowed Alvaro to rediscover the sensations that were a bit lacking at the beginning of the year. Now, we must continue on this path to make a grand season finale and close the gap that separates us from the top”.
Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager)
“We are delighted to continue with Alvaro Bautista. He has given us great emotions in recent seasons, and his talent certainly remains unquestionable. The new regulations and the very high level reached by the World Superbike Championship will make 2025 challenging, but we are ready to face it together. For now, it is important to stay focused on the current season: the Championship is still long, and we will do everything we can to put Alvaro in a position to defend the World Title till the end”.
Her story: Meet Mallory Dobbs
Mallory Dobbs, Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team
American, 30
Representing the USA
With the history of so many great American riders in World Championship motorcycle racing down the years it is an honour for anyone to represent the USA on the world stage. MotoAmerica graduate Mallory Dobbs does so with pride and her journey to the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship this year has been an unorthodox one, considering she did not begin riding motorcycles until she was in her twenties. The civil engineer from Olympia in Washington State is racing on European tracks for the first time this season at the age of 30 and her story is one of a thrilling ascent in racing.
Catching the motorcycle bug
Detailing her first encounters with motorcycles Dobbs comments, “I didn’t ride a motorcycle until I was 22. I was honestly terrified of the thought of riding motorcycles on the street for the longest time. I just remember my boyfriend at the time showing up to my house on a CBR600 with a spare helmet. I rode on the back of his bike for a couple of months before I decided that I would much rather have my own. My first bike was a 2007 Yamaha R6 that I bought in 2016. I remember the first couple of times I took it out I was too scared to take it out on the highway so I just cruised around town instead.”
A quick switch from road to racetrack
Dobbs may have started her love affair with motorbikes later than many other professional riders, but she has certainly made up for lost time since then. “I started racing at the amateur level six months after I started riding,” she explains. “In 2017 I bought a 2003 Yamaha R6 as my first race bike and raced with the Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association (WMRRA) and the Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association (OMRRA). From 2017 to 2020 I would say I was a casual racer. I was racing for fun on the weekends with my friends. In 2018, I finished second overall in the Novice 600 class and throughout the years won various female championships.”
Stepping things up
Having enjoyed the amateur experience and proving to herself that she had the talent to take things up a notch, Dobbs then decided to test herself at a much higher level. “It wasn’t until 2021 that I decided to put some serious time and effort into my racing program. I started racing in southern California in the winter, where I met Jason Pridmore. I got coaching from him in preparation for my MotoAmerica debut. I bought a brand new ZX6R and finished third overall in all of the 600 race classes I raced in that year. In 2022, I did my first two professional events in Supersport with MotoAmerica at The Ridge Motorsports Park and Laguna Seca. These two rounds were pretty successful and I decided to do a full season of Supersport and Superhooligans in 2023. I finished the season seventh overall in Superhooligans with multiple top 10 finishes, as well as a handful of Supersport points.”
Arriving in WorldWCR
Having increased her level with consistent performances in MotoAmerica Dobbs takes her place on the inaugural WorldWCR in 2024, competing on European tracks at world championship level, with her only previous race experience being on home territory. In fact before this year Dobbs had not visited Europe, stating that prior to this season she had only left the USA twice in her life for vacations in Mexico. She states, “It’s really exciting to go to Europe and see the places, but also race on some iconic race tracks. Regarding the privilege and responsibility of representing the U.S. in WorldWCR”. She adds, “It is incredibly important to me because the racing isn’t just about me anymore. This is the first time in my life I have ever been a representative for my entire country and it definitely feels like a lot of pressure! There are a lot of really good riders in America, so to say that I am the one representing our country instead of all the other girls that I race with and I know are really good…It puts some weight on what I am doing and motivates me to do everything I can to make my home country proud.”
A welcome from her compatriots
Finding her way around the WorldSBK scene and quickly familiarising herself with the tracks visited by the WorldWCR series, Dobbs says she has been made to feel at home by the American contingent already firmly established in the paddock. She reveals, “Members of the other American teams have come and introduced themselves to me, because they know how hard it is, being the only American in the paddock. It’s super cool. Part of [Garrett] Gerloff’s team came over to me and said, ‘Welcome, we want you to know you can come hang out with us anytime, we want to make sure you are taken care of.’ I really appreciated that. I know what it’s like to be the new kid on the block. It’s a very nice community to be involved with and everybody has been so welcoming here.”
Meeting Rins at COTA
Dobbs singles out Alex Rins as her favourite professional rider and again a key factor is a welcoming approach and warmth he demonstrated when meeting her at the Circuit of the Americas, when the two stars crossed paths there. “We went to MotoGP™ at COTA and that was my first MotoGP™ experience,” Dobbs states. “You can pick a favourite rider based on their skill or who they present themselves as on social media, but when we went to MotoGP™ Rins was asking me a lot of questions about how the [MotoAmerica] championship worked, where I was staying, how things were going and if I was excited. He took a big interest in what I was doing as a racer. Racing is inherently a very selfish sport, so it was really cool to hear him asking questions and caring about what we are doing. It was very nice.”
Mallory answers our direct questions…
What motivated you to seriously pursue competitive riding? “I have always been a competitive person, but motorcycle racing was not my first interest. I grew up showing horses competitively at the world level. I got my first horse when I was 11 and I still have him. Motorcycle racing was something I started doing for fun and then realised I wanted to see how far I could go with it. I never would have imagined that I would be racing at the World level. Getting into racing was somewhat of a fluke for me. I started riding track days and met some really nice people that kind of just told me I should come out and try racing, and it didn’t take much to convince me!”
“Once I started racing, I really enjoyed the community and became addicted to the constant work to improve. When I started racing with MotoAmerica, I got to interact with and see so many more fans. And something that has truly inspired me to keep pushing to see how far I can go, is seeing the little girls that get so excited to see a female racer. Being able to be a role model for other kids and little girls in particular is something that I really enjoy while pursuing my passion. Being a female in the sport still has its challenges and I really hope that I can do my part to make it better for other women in the future.”
How did your friends, family, or relatives react when you mentioned your interest for racing? “My family doesn’t quite understand why I love to race so much, but they are my number one fans and support me through it all! I am an only child and it can be hard for my dad to watch me race in person but he is still really proud of me for chasing my dreams.”
What advice would you give to young girls who aspire to compete at the highest level in racing? “My advice is to find people who will always be supportive of you and surround yourself with them. This sport is hard and there will be times when you want to quit, it’s normal. But having the support around you will make it that much easier to keep pushing. Never give up on your dreams! As cliché as it sounds, your dreams may seem big and daunting, but keep working towards them and they will happen, I am living mine right now!”
What does it mean to you to be competing in the inaugural WorldWCR season? “It still feels like a dream! When I talk to people and get to tell them that I am racing in WorldSBK it still doesn’t quite feel real. I never would have thought that I would say that! It means so much to me to be a part of the inaugural season as the only American. This season is something that I won’t soon forget in my life.”
What do you do away from racing? “I am a full time civil engineer outside of racing. It is quite the challenge to juggle a full-time job while trying to be the best athlete I can be as well. As a civil engineer trying to win projects, I talk to people, network and build relationships with them, so that they want to work with me as an engineer. It’s similar in motorsports, you want to meet people and work with people who will set you up for success. That’s the same in motorsports. Your team really matters. The people in your corner are a big part of how success works.”
What are your hobbies? “Outside of motorcycles, I still ride horses from time to time. I also do a handful of sports like bowling, golf, pickleball. But honestly, when I am not racing, it is sometimes nice just to sit at home and play some board games or watch movies. It’s been a while since I’ve had time to do that though! Recently most of my life revolves around motorcycle races. I race in Europe, travel, recover, go to work, do more track days and training at home, road cycling. Those are the sacrifices we have to make to be here. I went to the barn a couple of days ago and got to ride my horse for the first time in a couple of months and that was nice.”
WorldWCR will return to action at the Acerbis Italian Round from September 20th to 22nd at the Cremona Circuit.
