Race Pace No-Sessions Track Days For Advanced Riders
Race Pace Track Days events for the first half of 2025 have been posted on MotorsportReg and are open for sign-up.
All Race Pace events are held at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in Desert Center, California.
Get registered before they fill up.
January 4th & 5th
February 1st & 2nd
March 1st & 2nd
April 12th & 13th
May 10th & 11th
Race Pace Track Days
25300 Rice Road
Desert Center, CA 92239
Text/SMS [your best option]: 424.287.4222
Robert John MacLean
2/18/1937-12/14/2024
Robert John MacLean (Bob), devoted husband, father, and educator passed away peacefully at his home in Wilson, Wyoming on December 14, 2024, at the age of 87. Born on February 18, 1937, in Coronado, California to Robert John MacLean and Mary Witty MacLean. Bob led a life marked by deep commitment to education, sports, and community.
A graduate of Bronxville High School (Class of 1955), Bob earned a BA in English from Colby College in 1960. After Colby, Bob served three years in the United States Army National Guard. His love of teaching led him to a distinguished career as an educator, beginning with The Allen Stevenson School in New York City. He later joined Rye Country Day School, where he taught English, and spearheaded the construction and operation of the Gerald LaGrange Field House, an ice hockey rink and tennis complex. Bob was the head coach of the Varsity Hockey and Lacrosse teams and served as an assistant Varsity Football coach. In addition, he shared his love of hockey with the Wildcat Hockey Camp, which he founded and ran for multiple years. Bob’s dedication to the sport was further exemplified by his participation in the Master Coaches Clinic, with Fred Shero as headmaster. He served as Chairman of the Hockey Committee for the Hickory Hill Skating Rink in Katonah, NY. He was President of the Southern New England Interscholastic Ice Hockey Coaches Association and was a member of the American Hockey Coaches’ Association.
After many years of racing motorcycles himself, Bob founded World Championship Motorsports in 1991, of which he was the co-owner/ operator until 2005. WCM competed at the highest level of International Motorsports in the FIM Grand Prix Motorcycle series. His entrepreneurial spirit, like his commitment to education and athletics, was a testament to his talent as a leader.
Bob was deeply involved in the community, notably serving on the Board of South Kent School from 1990 to 1999, including as President from 1995 to 1999, where his leadership and generosity helped shape the school’s future. Bob was also an active board member of the Teton County Sheriff’s Auxiliary for over two decades and served on the New York Board of the Shakespeare Globe.
In Wilson, Wyoming, Bob found peace and fulfillment in his love of fly fishing and spending time on his ranch. A supporter of local causes, he contributed to organizations such as the Jackson Hole Land Trust and the National Museum of Wildlife Art, reflecting his deep appreciation for the natural beauty of the region.
Above all, Bob’s greatest joy was his family. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Anna (Marna) MacLean. They raised three sons in Waccabuc, NY and later split their time between Lost Tree Village, Florida and their home in Wilson, Wyoming. Bob is also survived by his three sons, Chris MacLean (Cathryn Kishbaugh), Ian MacLean and Mark MacLean (Marsha Yamaykina) and his five grandchildren.
Bob’s love of life, his sense of humor, and positive outlook will be remembered by his friends and family.
By Michael Gougis
While the long-term outlook for KTM is generally positive, the company will not participate in Grand Prix-level motorcycle road racing in 2026, saving an estimated $47.8 million per year, according to a report from one of Austria’s most prominent national newspapers.
The report, published by Der Standard, says that the company will not withdraw prior to 2026 because it fears “significant PR damage” if it withdraws from Grand Prix racing any earlier.
KTM is undergoing a financial restructuring, layoffs, and a production halt after incurring at least $1.87 billion in debt as well as accumulating excessive unsold inventory. A report from the agency representing the company’s creditors says the company “plans” to withdraw from “MotoGP Moto2/Moto3” racing. The Der Standard report quotes an internal document prepared by the Boston Consulting Group for the restructuring administrator; that document outlines the timeline for the departure and the expected annual savings.
The company spent approximately $208 million on R&D in 2023, with overall motorsports activity spending at approximately $98.8 million, a figure the restructuring administrator called “exceptionally high,” according to the Der Standard report.
Withdrawing at the end of 2025 may require the company to negotiate an end to several contracts. KTM’s 2024 announcement of the signing of Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini to the Tech3 squad, which is slated to have full factory equipment in 2025, said the pair was signed as part of a “multi-year agreement.” Brad Binder’s contract runs through 2026, according to the KTM press center, and the contract Pedro Acosta signed with the company in 2024 also is a “multi-year” agreement, according to KTM’s announcement of the deal. And KTM has a contract with MotoGP series organizer Dorna to put bikes on the grid.
Anticipated growth in the off-road market is expected to help pull KTM out of its current financial difficulties, the report indicates. That segment of the market is expected to grow 3.5 annually in the near future, and KTM’s share of that market hovers between 40 and 60%, the report indicates.
The next court hearing for KTM is set for January 24th.
What Is KTM?
The company at the center of the insolvency is KTM AG, according to a report issued by the agency representing creditors owed money. But it is part of a complex arrangement of companies and subsidiaries–the report says that KTM alone has more than 60 subsidiaries. A review of the company’s financial reports shows that most of these are distribution and supply entities that depend on KTM AG’s activities, and several of these are expected to go through insolvency proceedings as well.
KTM is one of five operating divisions of Pierer Mobility AG. Under the KTM umbrella is Husqvarna, GASGAS, and MV Agusta, although KTM’s 51% ownership stake in the Italian sportbike company is expected to be spun off as part of the restructuring. KTM also has an ownership interest in the Chinese manufacturer CFMOTO and its electric vehicle sub-brand Zeeho.
Pierer Mobility’s other divisions include the Husqvarna, GASGAS and Felt bicycle division; the design and R&D division, headed by Kiska, KTM F&E and Cero; an IT division that includes Pierer Innovation, Avocado, LX Media and KTM Informatics and “operate(s) within various technology fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Blockchain and Business Modeling,” according to the company website; and its Motorsport Factory Racing division.
Pierer Bajaj AG is the majority owner of Pierer Mobility. The Bajaj Group is a massive Indian conglomeration with interests in motorcycles, cars, home appliances, lighting, iron and steel, insurance, travel and finance, according to Wikipedia. The Bajaj family is worth $23.4 billion, according to Forbes.
Pierer Industrie AG is the majority owner of Pierer Bajaj. As of November, Pierer Industrie operated three major divisions, including Abatec, a technology/electronics company; Pierer Bajaj AG; and Pankl AG, which operates in the racing, automotive and aerospace industries.
KTM’s Racing Plans For 2025:
KTM’s racing activities fall into four main categories: Road Racing, Motocross/Supercross, Enduro/Off Road and Rally.
For 2025, the company plans to field six riders in the Motocross World Championship (MXGP) series on KTM 450 SX-F and 250 SX-F machines. In North America, KTM is slated to field four riders in the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) series, which incorporates Supercross and Motocross events from January through the summer.
In the Enduro/Off Road category, KTM is slated to field eight factory riders in a variety of North American series. In addition, the company will field at least two factory riders in Europe, where the company’s factory racing teams compete in more than 100 enduro races each year.
In the Rally segment, KTM plans to field four riders for the Dakar rally.
In Grand Prix road racing, KTM has shelved its GASGAS and Husqvarna brands for 2025. The official provisional entry lists show two riders on the Red Bull KTM Ajo team and two on the CFMOTO Aspar team in Moto2; 16 riders on the company’s RC250GP machines in Moto3; and the two-rider factory Red Bull squad and the two-rider Tech3 team in MotoGP.
Three Different Racetracks In Florida To Offer Young Racers The Chance To Qualify For Mission Mini Cup National Final
MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is pleased to announce that South Florida MiniGP (a.k.a. SFLminiGP) will play host to three MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup Qualifiers at three different racetracks in 2025.
Young road racers of all ages can now attempt to qualify for the Mission Mini Cup National Final via three qualifying races in Florida with South Florida MiniGP.
South Florida MiniGP will organize and host qualifying races for the Mission Mini Cup National Final that will be held for a second successive year at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, August 8-10. The three qualifiers will be held at T4 Kartplex in Palmetto, Florida (March 15-16); Bushnell Motorsports Park in Bushnell, Florida (April 12-13); and Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida (May 3-4).
Qualifiers at the three South Florida MiniGP races will be held for all six classes: Stock 50 (ages 6-8); Stock 110 (ages 8-12); GP 110 (ages 8-12); GP 160 (ages 10-14); GP 190 (ages 10-14); and Street GP (ages 14 and up).
“We’re thrilled that South Florida MiniGP will host three of our Qualifiers in 2025,” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “With its rich history in mini road racing, and its role in introducing many riders to the sport, South Florida MiniGP is a valued partner. We deeply appreciate the dedication of owner Michael Correa and the entire club and are excited to welcome them to our Mini Cup program.”
In 2025, South Florida MiniGP will be celebrating its 10th anniversary of running MiniGP races with the club having a long list of alumni, including MotoAmerica racers like Avery Dreher and his sister Ella, Isaac Woodworth, Logan Cunnison, and more.
“Hold on tight because South Florida MiniGP is turning up the heat in 2025 with three Mission Mini Cup Qualifiers,” said Michael Correa, owner of South Florida MiniGP. “We’re talking about the fastest kids on two wheels, all vying for a chance to compete at the legendary Road America. This is more than just racing, it’s a launchpad for the next generation of motorcycle champions. And it all goes down right here in sunny Florida.”
The three MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup Qualifiers will be part of South Florida MiniGP’s eight-round sprint-race series. The club will also host two endurance rounds, including the Aaron Dreher Classic at Bushnell Motorsports Park, August 9.
For more information on South Florida MiniGP, visit https://www.sflminigp.com/
For more information about the MotoAmerica Mini Cup series or club participation in the series, please contact [email protected] .
2025 South Florida MiniGP Schedule
February 8-9 T4 KartPlex Palmetto, FL
*March 15-16 T4 KartPlex Palmetto, FL
*April 12-13 Bushnell Motorsports Park Bushnell, FL
*May 3-4 Gainesville Raceway Gainesville, FL
June 7-8 Bushnell Motorsports Park Bushnell, FL
August 30-31 Gainesville Raceway Gainesville, FL
October 11-12 Bushnell Motorsports Park Bushnell, FL
November 9-10 Bushnell Motorsports Park Bushnell, FL
*MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup Qualifiers
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+
By Michael Gougis
The night before the 2024 season-ending test at Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya, Ducati Corse General Manager Luigi “Gigi” Dall’Igna met with members of the international media covering MotoGP. The architect of the fastest road racing motorcycles in history (see footnote), Dall’Igna talked about the 2025 season’s machinery, challenges and riders.
Dall’Igna said that while the GP24’s performance was a significant step forward from the prior year’s model, he did not anticipate a similar jump between the GP24 and the GP25, nor would such a leap forward be necessary.
In prior seasons, the new factory Ducatis could take some time to fine-tune to the point where they were consistently better than the Desmosedici of the year before. In 2024, it was clear from the start that the GP24 was a lot faster.
Enea Bastianini, Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia won 10 of the first 11 races on the GP24. It took the talents of eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez to wrestle the GP23 onto the top of the podium, and no other GP23 rider won a race.
“Honestly speaking, the 2025 at this time is not the same step forward. The level of the GP24 at the moment is quite high and if you introduce a lot of differences between the two bikes, you have to take some risks. At the moment, I think it’s not necessary,” Dall’Igna said.
“I think that we have to improve a little bit the speed of the bike on the straight, because some of our competitors I think (are) a bit stronger than us on that point. And I would like to improve a little bit the speed in the middle of the corner.”
One of the areas where the GP24 excelled was in using the new-for-2024 Michelin rear slick to its ultimate performance capability. Riders on other brands said Ducati riders were fast on new tires and could conserve the tire more during a race. Dall’Igna, not surprisingly, said his team’s efforts were not focused on improvements in that area.
“I think we can improve (tire conservation) a little bit, but it is not a real problem at the moment. I think we have an advantage in comparison to the others. It’s not something we are looking for,” Dall’Igna said. When asked why the GP24 was so much better at using the new rear tire than the GP23, Dall’Igna giggled, not about to divulge a performance secret to his competitors. “It’s difficult to explain, you know. Actually, it’s not difficult, but I can’t,” he said, then started laughing out loud.
Ducati is focused on improving braking performance with the GP25, Dall’Igna said.
“The braking point and the braking stability of the bike is one of the keys, because to overtake the others is really difficult. So you need to have this on the bike,” he said. After the test, Bagnaia said the GP25’s braking is not yet to the level of the braking performance of the GP24, but that the GP25 was much better at this stage of development than any Ducati he had tested in the past.
In 2025, Ducati will drop from eight to six bikes on the grid and from four to three of the latest specification machines. Ducati has profited from having so many bikes on the track, as the company can gather more data to fine-tune all aspects of the motorcycles. It’s so critical that at the Sachsenring round, when rumors spread that Ducati was likely to have only three GP25s on the grid, Bagnaia said it was a concern and that he would be happier with four of the latest factory-spec machines in the field. Bagnaia’s comments indicate just how critical data collection has become in MotoGP – when is the last time a racer on a title-winning bike wanted to share that equipment with more riders, not fewer?
Is the reduction in machines a worry for Ducati?
“Honestly speaking, no,” Dall’Igna said. “The real problem (in 2025) is that the other manufacturers have, I think, better riders. Because in the past, you see some bikes, for example, Aprilia, make a step from two bikes to four. The results were more or less the same. So I don’t think to have only six bikes on the grid with six riders will be a real problem for us. The real problem is (2024 MotoGP World Champion Jorge) Martin is leaving for another company, and same for Enea (Bastianini, a seven-time race winner). I think this is the difference between 2024 and 2025.
“From a money point of view, this is the best solution. With three (GP25) bikes, it’s simply better from the economics point of view. On the technical point of view, it’s not any real advantage to have four factory bikes instead of three.”
Dall’Igna said he and other Ducati managers knew that there was every chance that they would lose Martin after 2024, and that there was every chance that he would take the title with him elsewhere, if they didn’t give him a spot on the factory team. After all, Martin had been overlooked before for the factory Ducati ride – Bastianini got the spot, not him. And other teams were approaching Martin with offers. But Ducati still promoted Marquez to the factory team, setting off a chain reaction that saw Martin sign with Aprilia, Bastianini switch to KTM and Ducati’s satellite Pramac Racing team switch to Yamaha.
After a year of working with Marquez, Dall’Igna said promoting the eight-time World Champion to the factory Ducati team was the best move Ducati could make.
“When I took this decision, for sure we thought quite a lot. Also, we thought that Martin could win the Championship this year. This is something that we had to evaluate, and we took the decision. I don’t change my idea at the moment, and I’m convinced that we have the best possible solution,” Dall’Igna says.
At the beginning of 2024, Ducati signed Moto2 standout Fermin Aldeguer to a MotoGP contract for 2025, and later assigned him a place on the Gresini Racing Team. Aldeguer then suffered through an underwhelming Moto2 season, crashing frequently, winning only three races and finishing fifth in the overall standings. Dall’Igna said he still stands by the decision to sign Aldeguer, but admitted the young rider has some work to do.
“He is one of the young talents of the MotoGP. I’m really happy to have him in one of our teams. He has a lot of really good things – and some things that he has to develop and understand better. I think we can help him to do this,” Dall’Igna said. “I’m convinced that in a couple of years he will be in a fight for the Championship.”
Lastly, Dall’Igna reminded everyone that past results are no guarantee of future performance. After a year like 2024, with 19 wins in 20 starts, Ducati is justified in looking for small performance gains that do not come at the expense of performance losses elsewhere. But to win in MotoGP, you must always look for more performance, he said.
“The new season is a completely new book. The manufacturer who is in trouble can make a jump in front. You never know. You have to be focused on the problems that you have to solve and to try to develop the bike as much as possible. This is our job and this is what we have to do,” he said.
Footnote: KTM’s RC16 has clocked a 0.501 mph higher top speed at Mugello, 227.483 mph to the Ducati Desmosedici’s 226.676 mph. However, of the 18 circuits listed on the MotoGP.com website with lap record information, Ducati’s Desmosedici GP24 holds the outright lap record at 12 of them – and the GP23 holds the outright lap record at another.
This is the perfect time to release the 2025 Ramming Speed calendar…so check it out!
JAN 11-12: Biltwell’s Parts & Labor Show Brady Walker & his dad will be manning the Ramming Speed booth next to Buchanan’s in order to spread the word on vintage bikes, events & sell some moto gear.
https://www.biltwellinc.com/pages/parts-labor-about
JAN 27 – FEB 1: Mecum Vegas Moto Auctions If you don’t know, get in the know! It’s more motorcycles than a museum and you’ll see all your friends to boot. Come check out Brady Walker in his fancy blue Mecum shirt, making bikes roll & presentable for the auction block.
https://www.mecum.com/auctions/las-vegas-motorcycles-2025/
MARCH 1st: The Californian Classic Motorcycle Show Note date change. All you Quail lovers may now come see what the Cali is all about!
www.thecalifornian.us
CLASSIC TRACK DAY Take note, we are heading north late next year on a road trip to Thunderhill! Join us on the caravan! Start spreading the news, all of my NorCal friends.
MAR 8: Big Willow (Willow Springs GP Test & Tune)
MAY 31: Streets of Willow
AUG 23: Streets of Willow
SEPT 20: Big Willow
NOV 15: Thunderhill West
www.classictrackday.com
WILLOW SPRINGS ROUNDUP Two days of flat track racing at the historical Walt James Stadium!
MAR 22-23: Spring Roundup
SEPT 13-14: Fall Roundup
www.bradywalker.com
AHRMA Returns to Willow!
APRIL 18-20: Willow Springs Grand Prix AHRMA returns! Practice Friday, Road Race all weekend
www.bradywalker.com
www.ahrma.org
AHRMA races at Inde
APRIL 25-27: AHRMA Road Racing INDE Motorsports Park, Arizona. Join us for back to back road racing!
Willow Springs Superbike Showdown
OCTOBER 4-5: Willow Springs Superbike Showdown A new road racing weekend focusing on modern bikes with vintage & sidecar support. Help us get this first year event off the ground!
www.bradywalker.com
Hansen Dam Rally
NOVEMBER 2: SoCal Norton Club presents the Hansen Dam Rally. Come see the largest vintage rally on the west coast…the best damn rally at a dam site! https://socalnorton.com/calendar
Are you a moto-centric business or sympathetic rider or racer who would like to see your logo or name on any of these event materials? Contact Brady now to get noticed at Ramming Speed’s 2025 events!
Monki Moto Podcast
Lastly, if you would like to know more about Brady Walker than anyone should know, check out Tara Miracle’s Monki Moto Podcast and listen to Brady rattle on about classic bikes & events. He touches base on literally everything in a very candid way. Find Monki Moto podcast on all platforms. Apple link is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/sa/podcast/monki-moto-pod/id1775307979
Thank you for participating in Ramming Speed events and allowing us to continue to bring classic motorcycling fun to y’all! Happy New Year and see y’all soon!
Brady Walker
RAMMING SPEED
CLASSIC TRACK DAY
THE CALIFORNIAN
www.bradywalker.com
310-980-7129
Next year, a grid of 26 talented and hopeful riders from 19 countries will compete in the 2025 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, which will be the 19th consecutive race season for the spec series.
Among those 26 riders, American Kristian Daniel Jr. will compete for the second year in a row. Daniel Jr., who turns 16 in February, finished just outside the top 10 in the 2024 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, and his best result was a fifth-place finish at Aragón.
Daniel Jr. also raced in the FIM JuniorGP European Talent Cup at Aragón, notching his best-ever qualifying result. He was fastest in his qualifying group, which put him second on the grid for Sunday’s two races, and he ultimately finished seventh in Race 1 and eighth in Race 2.
Finally, as a Moto3 wildcard entry in the Campionato Italiano Velocità (CIV) at Imola, Italy, at the end of the season, Daniel Jr. scored a podium finish with his third-place result in Race 2.
“My best race of 2024 was in Aragón,” Daniel Jr. said. “I crashed out of running in P5, which was a huge bummer but I ended up remounting in P17 and raced back up to P5 in less than 15 laps to get my first top-five result in the RBRC.
“My best moment of 2024 was when I was called back to show my skills once more in the RBRC and really show (how much) I’ve improved this year and put all my efforts into next year’s championship.”
Daniel Jr. was born in Los Angeles, California, and started riding motorcycles at age five. In 2018, at age nine, he and his family moved to Barcelona, Spain, where he started racing 110cc, four-stroke MiniGP bikes. When he was 11, Daniel Jr. raced on his first MotoGP track at Circuit Ricardo Tormo when he competed in the Cuna de Campeones Moto5 series.
Since its inception nearly 20 years ago, the Red Bull Rookies Cup has been an important part of Dorna’s Road to MotoGP™ program. How important?
Of the Red Bull Rookies who have graduated from the Cup, more than 50% have made a start in the World Championship and of those, 30% have won at least one GP race. Eleven former Red Bull Rookies have won 15 World Championships including 2024 MotoGP World Champion Jorge Martín, who was part of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup class of 2014. Ai Ogura, Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup class of 2017, won this past season’s Moto2 title, and David Alonso, Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup class of 2021, won the 2024 Moto3 World Championship. Five of this past season’s Red Bull Rookies will race in the Moto3 World Championship led by 2024 champion Álvaro Carpe. He is joined by Valentin Perrone, Màximo Quiles, Ruche Moodley, and Guido Pini.
2025 Red Bull Rookies Cup Provisional Calendar
– TEST: March 26-27-28, Jerez, Spain
– Round 1: April 26-27, Jerez, Spain
– Round 2: May 10-11, Le Mans, France
– Round 3: June 7-8, Aragon, Spain
– Round 4: June 21-22, Mugello, Italy
– Round 5: July 12-13, Sachsenring, Germany
– Round 6: August 16-17, Spielberg, Austria
– Round 7: September 13-14, Misano, Italy
2025 STT Tentative SCHEDULE
February 15 & 16 – NCM Motorsports Park
February 21 – Talladega GP
March 15 & 16 – Talladega GP
March 29, 30 & 31 – Barber Motorsports Park
April 7 – Barber Motorsports Park
April 11 – Talladega GP
April 19 & 20 – Barber Motorsports Park
April 19 & 20 – Grattan Raceway
April 25 – GingerMan Raceway Bike Night
May 10 & 11 – Talladega GP
May 10 & 11 – Grattan Raceway
May 16 – Grattan Raceway
May 17 & 18 – Barber Motorsports Park
May 17 & 18 – Putnam Park
May 24, 25 & 26 – Autobahn Country Club
May 30 – GingerMan Raceway Bike Night
May 31 & June 1 – GingerMan Raceway
May 31 & June 1 – Talladega GP
June 14 & 15 – Road America
June 21 & 22 – Barber Motorsports Park
June 21 & 22 – Grattan Raceway
June 28 & 29 – Autobahn Country Club
June 28 & 29 – Road Atlanta
July 4, 5 & 6 – Grattan Raceway
July 11 – Grattan Raceway
July 19 & 20 – Talladega GP
July 19 & 20 – Putnam Park
July 26 & 27 – Autobahn Country Club
August 1 – GingerMan Raceway Bike Night
August 1 – Talladega GP
August 2 & 3 – Grattan Raceway
August 9 & 10 – Putnam Park
August 9 & 10 – Barber Motorsports Park
August 11 & 12 – Road America
August 15, 16 & 17 – GingerMan Raceway
August 30, 31 & September 1 – Autobahn Country Club
August 30, 31 & September 1 – Barber Motorsports Park
September 6 & 7 – Blackhawk Farms
September 12 – GingerMan Raceway Bike Night
September 20 & 21 – Talladega GP
September 20 & 21 – Grattan Raceway
September 27 & 28 – Autobahn Country Club
October 3 – GingerMan Raceway Bike Night
October 4 & 5 – Putnam Park
October 11 & 12 – Grattan Raceway
October 11, 12 & 13 – Barber Motorsports Park
November 1, 2, & 3 – Barber Motorsports Park
November 29 & 30 – Talladega GP
December 13 & 14 – Jennings GP
ASK STT:
Got a question? Feel free to drop a line to [email protected].
Sportbike Track Time | PO Box 366, Clinton MI 49236
Osamu Suzuki, who led the Japanese motorcycle and car manufacturer for nearly five decades, died in Japan on December 25th, at the age of 94. The cause of death was lymphoma. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Suzuki Motos do Brazil issued this statement, and more information will be posted when it becomes available:
Former Suzuki Global President Osamu Suzuki Dies
It is with deep sorrow that we receive the news of the passing of Suzuki Motor Corporation Senior Advisor Osamu Suzuki at the age of 94.
To respect the wishes of deceased, funeral services were held only for family members. The company plans to hold a farewell meeting at a later date.
President of Suzuki Motos do Brazil, Joao Toledo mourned the death of the former president, who he had the honor of meeting on a few occasions during the more than three decades in which he has represented the brand in Brazil. “We are deeply sorry for the loss of Osamu Suzuki. His contribution and legacy will always be remembered with fondness and respect. May his soul rest in peace and may his family find comfort in this time of sorrow.”
Married to the granddaughter of the company founder, Osamu Suzuki joined Suzuki Motor in April 1958. In 1963 he was appointed director. In June 1978 he took over the company’s presidency, a position he held until 2016, when he handed over the position to his son, Toshiro Suzuki. In 2021, at the age of 91, he was appointed Senior Advisor.
More, From The Japan Times:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2024/12/27/companies/osamu-suzuki-obituary/
More, From Kyodo News:
First Person/Opinion
By Michael Gougis
“I can only say that we have had very interesting conversations with his management. It is no secret that Lewis Hamilton is interested in MotoGP and is thinking about his own team. Here, too, there are concrete discussions.” Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director, in an interview published by Speedweek.com on December 24th, 2024.
Rumors have been floated for months that seven-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton wants to purchase a MotoGP team. Until now, there were never credible sources attached to the rumors. Beirer’s comments are the most solid–and perhaps the first credible–indications that Hamilton may actually be actively seeking an ownership role in the MotoGP paddock.
KTM’s financial difficulties are well-known at this point, and while the company says it is going Grand Prix racing in 2025, an agency representing the company’s creditors says the plan is to pull out of “MotoGP Moto2/Moto3.” There is no timeline and no other details surrounding that assertion by the creditor agency.
Racing requires money, and KTM is actively seeking investors to help the company’s racing efforts. Beirer specifically chose the words “partner” and “investor” in the Speedweek article, because he views them differently than he does a sponsor. “An investor is something different than a sponsor,” he said. “When you have partners at the table to give you money for such a great project, then they get involved. Thus, it is clear that such people will have a certain say.”
So, what would Hamilton bring to the KTM racing project? And is Hamilton the suitor who will rescue KTM’s road racing efforts? Hamilton loves performance bikes. He’s ridden Valentino Rossi’s factory Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP machine and Yamaha factory-spec World Superbike YZF-R1s on the track. He owns a collection of fast Italian two-wheelers.
Start with the basics. Hamilton has the money. According to a list of wealthy Brits published earlier in December by The Mirror, Hamilton’s net worth is approximately $375 million. That’s enough to fund KTM’s Grand Prix road racing efforts for the foreseeable future. The annual interest on that amount–if it was in a certificate at my credit union– would generate significantly more than the reported $11 million or so Red Bull kicks in to the KTM MotoGP effort.
But at the levels of finance Hamilton operates in, the game doesn’t work like that. Hamilton will have personal sponsors who throw money at any project he gets involved with. When basketball legend Michael Jordan ran an AMA Pro Superbike team, much of the funding came not from him but from his personal sponsors and others who wanted the attention that he would attract–the U.S. National Guard being one of them. And when I researched an article on the Target/Ganassi IndyCar program for a business newspaper, I found that Target provided virtually nothing in the way of sponsorship. All of the companies with logos on the Target racing cars paid the bills as part of their overall business interaction with the retail giant.
The point is, Hamilton wouldn’t serve as just some rich businessman throwing personal money at a pet project on an impulse. If he got involved, it would be a complex project involving several large multinational corporations. KTM could end up with all of the money it reasonably needed to compete in MotoGP.
But it would come at the cost of having bosses to report to–bosses who are powerful financial figures who want results.
And one of those bosses would be one of history’s most famous and successful racers. Hamilton is a lot like Marc Marquez, in that the record books are littered with their names. Watching Hamilton drive at his best is just like watching Marquez ride–you know you are watching something otherworldly, something genius. (If you need proof, go watch the 2008 British Formula One Grand Prix at Silverstone. In changing, mixed, treacherous conditions, Hamilton won by 68 seconds.)
Hamilton knows how to win under pressure that is difficult to imagine for motorcycle road racers. The money involved in F1 dwarfs that in MotoGP. The pressure and publicity that goes along with winning multiple titles in F1 makes the public life of Valentino Rossi look like the life of a supporting actor on a moderately successful TV sitcom of the 1990s.
When Team Rahal announced that it was going Supersport racing in MotoAmerica, I wrote that the squad would bring a level of professionalism and publicity to the series because it was a racing organization with a history of success in a very popular and high-profile international racing series. If you think of a potential Hamilton/KTM collaboration, it would be most accurate to see Hamilton’s organization upping the already insanely impressive KTM/Red Bull level. This could be good, because Hamilton and company know what it takes to win. Trackhouse Racing Team Principal Davide Brivio has said that having Justin Marks, a NASCAR race winner, as head of Trackhouse is good because Marks understands what it takes to win. So does Hamilton.
Someone like Hamilton is not going to get involved just for fun. Again, when Jordan got involved in AMA Pro Superbike racing, the team was reasonably successful but wasn’t able to consistently challenge the riders on the factory Yoshimura Suzukis. Jordan said that one of his biggest frustrations was not being able to get factory-spec parts from Suzuki for his team’s bikes. Jordan didn’t want to just be good, he wanted to win. If Hamilton gets involved with KTM, it will be at the factory level. Hamilton will want results, and the factory team will have to develop a bike and attract and retain riders who can beat competitors on the all-conquering Ducatis.
That, ultimately, is the downside of having Hamilton’s organization involved with a racing program. KTM’s progress in recent years has stalled, the team going longer without a race win in MotoGP than even struggling Honda. The RC16 may be as good as anything other than the latest-spec Ducati Desmosedici on any given Sunday. But Hamilton’s interest in the sport isn’t just to be “pretty good,” and it’s definitely not for the ROI. He needs no additional publicity. And there are far better ways to invest money than in MotoGP racing, unless one anticipates a dramatic increase in the value of a MotoGP team under the ownership of Liberty Media. And even that takeover has now been delayed.
No, Hamilton will come to the game to win. And the challenge of working with Aliens is that they want Alien-like results. Again, we can draw a comparison with Marc Marquez, who walked away from an incredibly lucrative contract with Honda because there was no longer any chance of winning on the RC213V. Marquez took a solid financial hit and went to the satellite Gresini team because he missed the taste of victory champagne. Standing on the top of the podium–or at least showing up at the track with a realistic chance of winning–is what motivates Aliens like Marquez and Hamilton. And if KTM can’t deliver that, there could be uncomfortable discussions between the team and its angel investor(s).
Race Pace No-Sessions Track Days For Advanced Riders
Race Pace Track Days events for the first half of 2025 have been posted on MotorsportReg and are open for sign-up.
All Race Pace events are held at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in Desert Center, California.
Get registered before they fill up.
January 4th & 5th
February 1st & 2nd
March 1st & 2nd
April 12th & 13th
May 10th & 11th
Race Pace Track Days
25300 Rice Road
Desert Center, CA 92239
Text/SMS [your best option]: 424.287.4222
Robert John MacLean
2/18/1937-12/14/2024
Robert John MacLean (Bob), devoted husband, father, and educator passed away peacefully at his home in Wilson, Wyoming on December 14, 2024, at the age of 87. Born on February 18, 1937, in Coronado, California to Robert John MacLean and Mary Witty MacLean. Bob led a life marked by deep commitment to education, sports, and community.
A graduate of Bronxville High School (Class of 1955), Bob earned a BA in English from Colby College in 1960. After Colby, Bob served three years in the United States Army National Guard. His love of teaching led him to a distinguished career as an educator, beginning with The Allen Stevenson School in New York City. He later joined Rye Country Day School, where he taught English, and spearheaded the construction and operation of the Gerald LaGrange Field House, an ice hockey rink and tennis complex. Bob was the head coach of the Varsity Hockey and Lacrosse teams and served as an assistant Varsity Football coach. In addition, he shared his love of hockey with the Wildcat Hockey Camp, which he founded and ran for multiple years. Bob’s dedication to the sport was further exemplified by his participation in the Master Coaches Clinic, with Fred Shero as headmaster. He served as Chairman of the Hockey Committee for the Hickory Hill Skating Rink in Katonah, NY. He was President of the Southern New England Interscholastic Ice Hockey Coaches Association and was a member of the American Hockey Coaches’ Association.
After many years of racing motorcycles himself, Bob founded World Championship Motorsports in 1991, of which he was the co-owner/ operator until 2005. WCM competed at the highest level of International Motorsports in the FIM Grand Prix Motorcycle series. His entrepreneurial spirit, like his commitment to education and athletics, was a testament to his talent as a leader.
Bob was deeply involved in the community, notably serving on the Board of South Kent School from 1990 to 1999, including as President from 1995 to 1999, where his leadership and generosity helped shape the school’s future. Bob was also an active board member of the Teton County Sheriff’s Auxiliary for over two decades and served on the New York Board of the Shakespeare Globe.
In Wilson, Wyoming, Bob found peace and fulfillment in his love of fly fishing and spending time on his ranch. A supporter of local causes, he contributed to organizations such as the Jackson Hole Land Trust and the National Museum of Wildlife Art, reflecting his deep appreciation for the natural beauty of the region.
Above all, Bob’s greatest joy was his family. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Anna (Marna) MacLean. They raised three sons in Waccabuc, NY and later split their time between Lost Tree Village, Florida and their home in Wilson, Wyoming. Bob is also survived by his three sons, Chris MacLean (Cathryn Kishbaugh), Ian MacLean and Mark MacLean (Marsha Yamaykina) and his five grandchildren.
Bob’s love of life, his sense of humor, and positive outlook will be remembered by his friends and family.
By Michael Gougis
While the long-term outlook for KTM is generally positive, the company will not participate in Grand Prix-level motorcycle road racing in 2026, saving an estimated $47.8 million per year, according to a report from one of Austria’s most prominent national newspapers.
The report, published by Der Standard, says that the company will not withdraw prior to 2026 because it fears “significant PR damage” if it withdraws from Grand Prix racing any earlier.
KTM is undergoing a financial restructuring, layoffs, and a production halt after incurring at least $1.87 billion in debt as well as accumulating excessive unsold inventory. A report from the agency representing the company’s creditors says the company “plans” to withdraw from “MotoGP Moto2/Moto3” racing. The Der Standard report quotes an internal document prepared by the Boston Consulting Group for the restructuring administrator; that document outlines the timeline for the departure and the expected annual savings.
The company spent approximately $208 million on R&D in 2023, with overall motorsports activity spending at approximately $98.8 million, a figure the restructuring administrator called “exceptionally high,” according to the Der Standard report.
Withdrawing at the end of 2025 may require the company to negotiate an end to several contracts. KTM’s 2024 announcement of the signing of Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini to the Tech3 squad, which is slated to have full factory equipment in 2025, said the pair was signed as part of a “multi-year agreement.” Brad Binder’s contract runs through 2026, according to the KTM press center, and the contract Pedro Acosta signed with the company in 2024 also is a “multi-year” agreement, according to KTM’s announcement of the deal. And KTM has a contract with MotoGP series organizer Dorna to put bikes on the grid.
Anticipated growth in the off-road market is expected to help pull KTM out of its current financial difficulties, the report indicates. That segment of the market is expected to grow 3.5 annually in the near future, and KTM’s share of that market hovers between 40 and 60%, the report indicates.
The next court hearing for KTM is set for January 24th.
What Is KTM?
The company at the center of the insolvency is KTM AG, according to a report issued by the agency representing creditors owed money. But it is part of a complex arrangement of companies and subsidiaries–the report says that KTM alone has more than 60 subsidiaries. A review of the company’s financial reports shows that most of these are distribution and supply entities that depend on KTM AG’s activities, and several of these are expected to go through insolvency proceedings as well.
KTM is one of five operating divisions of Pierer Mobility AG. Under the KTM umbrella is Husqvarna, GASGAS, and MV Agusta, although KTM’s 51% ownership stake in the Italian sportbike company is expected to be spun off as part of the restructuring. KTM also has an ownership interest in the Chinese manufacturer CFMOTO and its electric vehicle sub-brand Zeeho.
Pierer Mobility’s other divisions include the Husqvarna, GASGAS and Felt bicycle division; the design and R&D division, headed by Kiska, KTM F&E and Cero; an IT division that includes Pierer Innovation, Avocado, LX Media and KTM Informatics and “operate(s) within various technology fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Blockchain and Business Modeling,” according to the company website; and its Motorsport Factory Racing division.
Pierer Bajaj AG is the majority owner of Pierer Mobility. The Bajaj Group is a massive Indian conglomeration with interests in motorcycles, cars, home appliances, lighting, iron and steel, insurance, travel and finance, according to Wikipedia. The Bajaj family is worth $23.4 billion, according to Forbes.
Pierer Industrie AG is the majority owner of Pierer Bajaj. As of November, Pierer Industrie operated three major divisions, including Abatec, a technology/electronics company; Pierer Bajaj AG; and Pankl AG, which operates in the racing, automotive and aerospace industries.
KTM’s Racing Plans For 2025:
KTM’s racing activities fall into four main categories: Road Racing, Motocross/Supercross, Enduro/Off Road and Rally.
For 2025, the company plans to field six riders in the Motocross World Championship (MXGP) series on KTM 450 SX-F and 250 SX-F machines. In North America, KTM is slated to field four riders in the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) series, which incorporates Supercross and Motocross events from January through the summer.
In the Enduro/Off Road category, KTM is slated to field eight factory riders in a variety of North American series. In addition, the company will field at least two factory riders in Europe, where the company’s factory racing teams compete in more than 100 enduro races each year.
In the Rally segment, KTM plans to field four riders for the Dakar rally.
In Grand Prix road racing, KTM has shelved its GASGAS and Husqvarna brands for 2025. The official provisional entry lists show two riders on the Red Bull KTM Ajo team and two on the CFMOTO Aspar team in Moto2; 16 riders on the company’s RC250GP machines in Moto3; and the two-rider factory Red Bull squad and the two-rider Tech3 team in MotoGP.
Three Different Racetracks In Florida To Offer Young Racers The Chance To Qualify For Mission Mini Cup National Final
MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is pleased to announce that South Florida MiniGP (a.k.a. SFLminiGP) will play host to three MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup Qualifiers at three different racetracks in 2025.
Young road racers of all ages can now attempt to qualify for the Mission Mini Cup National Final via three qualifying races in Florida with South Florida MiniGP.
South Florida MiniGP will organize and host qualifying races for the Mission Mini Cup National Final that will be held for a second successive year at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, August 8-10. The three qualifiers will be held at T4 Kartplex in Palmetto, Florida (March 15-16); Bushnell Motorsports Park in Bushnell, Florida (April 12-13); and Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida (May 3-4).
Qualifiers at the three South Florida MiniGP races will be held for all six classes: Stock 50 (ages 6-8); Stock 110 (ages 8-12); GP 110 (ages 8-12); GP 160 (ages 10-14); GP 190 (ages 10-14); and Street GP (ages 14 and up).
“We’re thrilled that South Florida MiniGP will host three of our Qualifiers in 2025,” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “With its rich history in mini road racing, and its role in introducing many riders to the sport, South Florida MiniGP is a valued partner. We deeply appreciate the dedication of owner Michael Correa and the entire club and are excited to welcome them to our Mini Cup program.”
In 2025, South Florida MiniGP will be celebrating its 10th anniversary of running MiniGP races with the club having a long list of alumni, including MotoAmerica racers like Avery Dreher and his sister Ella, Isaac Woodworth, Logan Cunnison, and more.
“Hold on tight because South Florida MiniGP is turning up the heat in 2025 with three Mission Mini Cup Qualifiers,” said Michael Correa, owner of South Florida MiniGP. “We’re talking about the fastest kids on two wheels, all vying for a chance to compete at the legendary Road America. This is more than just racing, it’s a launchpad for the next generation of motorcycle champions. And it all goes down right here in sunny Florida.”
The three MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup Qualifiers will be part of South Florida MiniGP’s eight-round sprint-race series. The club will also host two endurance rounds, including the Aaron Dreher Classic at Bushnell Motorsports Park, August 9.
For more information on South Florida MiniGP, visit https://www.sflminigp.com/
For more information about the MotoAmerica Mini Cup series or club participation in the series, please contact [email protected] .
2025 South Florida MiniGP Schedule
February 8-9 T4 KartPlex Palmetto, FL
*March 15-16 T4 KartPlex Palmetto, FL
*April 12-13 Bushnell Motorsports Park Bushnell, FL
*May 3-4 Gainesville Raceway Gainesville, FL
June 7-8 Bushnell Motorsports Park Bushnell, FL
August 30-31 Gainesville Raceway Gainesville, FL
October 11-12 Bushnell Motorsports Park Bushnell, FL
November 9-10 Bushnell Motorsports Park Bushnell, FL
*MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup Qualifiers
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+
By Michael Gougis
The night before the 2024 season-ending test at Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya, Ducati Corse General Manager Luigi “Gigi” Dall’Igna met with members of the international media covering MotoGP. The architect of the fastest road racing motorcycles in history (see footnote), Dall’Igna talked about the 2025 season’s machinery, challenges and riders.
Dall’Igna said that while the GP24’s performance was a significant step forward from the prior year’s model, he did not anticipate a similar jump between the GP24 and the GP25, nor would such a leap forward be necessary.
In prior seasons, the new factory Ducatis could take some time to fine-tune to the point where they were consistently better than the Desmosedici of the year before. In 2024, it was clear from the start that the GP24 was a lot faster.
Enea Bastianini, Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia won 10 of the first 11 races on the GP24. It took the talents of eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez to wrestle the GP23 onto the top of the podium, and no other GP23 rider won a race.
“Honestly speaking, the 2025 at this time is not the same step forward. The level of the GP24 at the moment is quite high and if you introduce a lot of differences between the two bikes, you have to take some risks. At the moment, I think it’s not necessary,” Dall’Igna said.
“I think that we have to improve a little bit the speed of the bike on the straight, because some of our competitors I think (are) a bit stronger than us on that point. And I would like to improve a little bit the speed in the middle of the corner.”
One of the areas where the GP24 excelled was in using the new-for-2024 Michelin rear slick to its ultimate performance capability. Riders on other brands said Ducati riders were fast on new tires and could conserve the tire more during a race. Dall’Igna, not surprisingly, said his team’s efforts were not focused on improvements in that area.
“I think we can improve (tire conservation) a little bit, but it is not a real problem at the moment. I think we have an advantage in comparison to the others. It’s not something we are looking for,” Dall’Igna said. When asked why the GP24 was so much better at using the new rear tire than the GP23, Dall’Igna giggled, not about to divulge a performance secret to his competitors. “It’s difficult to explain, you know. Actually, it’s not difficult, but I can’t,” he said, then started laughing out loud.
Ducati is focused on improving braking performance with the GP25, Dall’Igna said.
“The braking point and the braking stability of the bike is one of the keys, because to overtake the others is really difficult. So you need to have this on the bike,” he said. After the test, Bagnaia said the GP25’s braking is not yet to the level of the braking performance of the GP24, but that the GP25 was much better at this stage of development than any Ducati he had tested in the past.
In 2025, Ducati will drop from eight to six bikes on the grid and from four to three of the latest specification machines. Ducati has profited from having so many bikes on the track, as the company can gather more data to fine-tune all aspects of the motorcycles. It’s so critical that at the Sachsenring round, when rumors spread that Ducati was likely to have only three GP25s on the grid, Bagnaia said it was a concern and that he would be happier with four of the latest factory-spec machines in the field. Bagnaia’s comments indicate just how critical data collection has become in MotoGP – when is the last time a racer on a title-winning bike wanted to share that equipment with more riders, not fewer?
Is the reduction in machines a worry for Ducati?
“Honestly speaking, no,” Dall’Igna said. “The real problem (in 2025) is that the other manufacturers have, I think, better riders. Because in the past, you see some bikes, for example, Aprilia, make a step from two bikes to four. The results were more or less the same. So I don’t think to have only six bikes on the grid with six riders will be a real problem for us. The real problem is (2024 MotoGP World Champion Jorge) Martin is leaving for another company, and same for Enea (Bastianini, a seven-time race winner). I think this is the difference between 2024 and 2025.
“From a money point of view, this is the best solution. With three (GP25) bikes, it’s simply better from the economics point of view. On the technical point of view, it’s not any real advantage to have four factory bikes instead of three.”
Dall’Igna said he and other Ducati managers knew that there was every chance that they would lose Martin after 2024, and that there was every chance that he would take the title with him elsewhere, if they didn’t give him a spot on the factory team. After all, Martin had been overlooked before for the factory Ducati ride – Bastianini got the spot, not him. And other teams were approaching Martin with offers. But Ducati still promoted Marquez to the factory team, setting off a chain reaction that saw Martin sign with Aprilia, Bastianini switch to KTM and Ducati’s satellite Pramac Racing team switch to Yamaha.
After a year of working with Marquez, Dall’Igna said promoting the eight-time World Champion to the factory Ducati team was the best move Ducati could make.
“When I took this decision, for sure we thought quite a lot. Also, we thought that Martin could win the Championship this year. This is something that we had to evaluate, and we took the decision. I don’t change my idea at the moment, and I’m convinced that we have the best possible solution,” Dall’Igna says.
At the beginning of 2024, Ducati signed Moto2 standout Fermin Aldeguer to a MotoGP contract for 2025, and later assigned him a place on the Gresini Racing Team. Aldeguer then suffered through an underwhelming Moto2 season, crashing frequently, winning only three races and finishing fifth in the overall standings. Dall’Igna said he still stands by the decision to sign Aldeguer, but admitted the young rider has some work to do.
“He is one of the young talents of the MotoGP. I’m really happy to have him in one of our teams. He has a lot of really good things – and some things that he has to develop and understand better. I think we can help him to do this,” Dall’Igna said. “I’m convinced that in a couple of years he will be in a fight for the Championship.”
Lastly, Dall’Igna reminded everyone that past results are no guarantee of future performance. After a year like 2024, with 19 wins in 20 starts, Ducati is justified in looking for small performance gains that do not come at the expense of performance losses elsewhere. But to win in MotoGP, you must always look for more performance, he said.
“The new season is a completely new book. The manufacturer who is in trouble can make a jump in front. You never know. You have to be focused on the problems that you have to solve and to try to develop the bike as much as possible. This is our job and this is what we have to do,” he said.
Footnote: KTM’s RC16 has clocked a 0.501 mph higher top speed at Mugello, 227.483 mph to the Ducati Desmosedici’s 226.676 mph. However, of the 18 circuits listed on the MotoGP.com website with lap record information, Ducati’s Desmosedici GP24 holds the outright lap record at 12 of them – and the GP23 holds the outright lap record at another.
This is the perfect time to release the 2025 Ramming Speed calendar…so check it out!
JAN 11-12: Biltwell’s Parts & Labor Show Brady Walker & his dad will be manning the Ramming Speed booth next to Buchanan’s in order to spread the word on vintage bikes, events & sell some moto gear.
https://www.biltwellinc.com/pages/parts-labor-about
JAN 27 – FEB 1: Mecum Vegas Moto Auctions If you don’t know, get in the know! It’s more motorcycles than a museum and you’ll see all your friends to boot. Come check out Brady Walker in his fancy blue Mecum shirt, making bikes roll & presentable for the auction block.
https://www.mecum.com/auctions/las-vegas-motorcycles-2025/
MARCH 1st: The Californian Classic Motorcycle Show Note date change. All you Quail lovers may now come see what the Cali is all about!
www.thecalifornian.us
CLASSIC TRACK DAY Take note, we are heading north late next year on a road trip to Thunderhill! Join us on the caravan! Start spreading the news, all of my NorCal friends.
MAR 8: Big Willow (Willow Springs GP Test & Tune)
MAY 31: Streets of Willow
AUG 23: Streets of Willow
SEPT 20: Big Willow
NOV 15: Thunderhill West
www.classictrackday.com
WILLOW SPRINGS ROUNDUP Two days of flat track racing at the historical Walt James Stadium!
MAR 22-23: Spring Roundup
SEPT 13-14: Fall Roundup
www.bradywalker.com
AHRMA Returns to Willow!
APRIL 18-20: Willow Springs Grand Prix AHRMA returns! Practice Friday, Road Race all weekend
www.bradywalker.com
www.ahrma.org
AHRMA races at Inde
APRIL 25-27: AHRMA Road Racing INDE Motorsports Park, Arizona. Join us for back to back road racing!
Willow Springs Superbike Showdown
OCTOBER 4-5: Willow Springs Superbike Showdown A new road racing weekend focusing on modern bikes with vintage & sidecar support. Help us get this first year event off the ground!
www.bradywalker.com
Hansen Dam Rally
NOVEMBER 2: SoCal Norton Club presents the Hansen Dam Rally. Come see the largest vintage rally on the west coast…the best damn rally at a dam site! https://socalnorton.com/calendar
Are you a moto-centric business or sympathetic rider or racer who would like to see your logo or name on any of these event materials? Contact Brady now to get noticed at Ramming Speed’s 2025 events!
Monki Moto Podcast
Lastly, if you would like to know more about Brady Walker than anyone should know, check out Tara Miracle’s Monki Moto Podcast and listen to Brady rattle on about classic bikes & events. He touches base on literally everything in a very candid way. Find Monki Moto podcast on all platforms. Apple link is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/sa/podcast/monki-moto-pod/id1775307979
Thank you for participating in Ramming Speed events and allowing us to continue to bring classic motorcycling fun to y’all! Happy New Year and see y’all soon!
Brady Walker
RAMMING SPEED
CLASSIC TRACK DAY
THE CALIFORNIAN
www.bradywalker.com
310-980-7129
Next year, a grid of 26 talented and hopeful riders from 19 countries will compete in the 2025 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, which will be the 19th consecutive race season for the spec series.
Among those 26 riders, American Kristian Daniel Jr. will compete for the second year in a row. Daniel Jr., who turns 16 in February, finished just outside the top 10 in the 2024 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, and his best result was a fifth-place finish at Aragón.
Daniel Jr. also raced in the FIM JuniorGP European Talent Cup at Aragón, notching his best-ever qualifying result. He was fastest in his qualifying group, which put him second on the grid for Sunday’s two races, and he ultimately finished seventh in Race 1 and eighth in Race 2.
Finally, as a Moto3 wildcard entry in the Campionato Italiano Velocità (CIV) at Imola, Italy, at the end of the season, Daniel Jr. scored a podium finish with his third-place result in Race 2.
“My best race of 2024 was in Aragón,” Daniel Jr. said. “I crashed out of running in P5, which was a huge bummer but I ended up remounting in P17 and raced back up to P5 in less than 15 laps to get my first top-five result in the RBRC.
“My best moment of 2024 was when I was called back to show my skills once more in the RBRC and really show (how much) I’ve improved this year and put all my efforts into next year’s championship.”
Daniel Jr. was born in Los Angeles, California, and started riding motorcycles at age five. In 2018, at age nine, he and his family moved to Barcelona, Spain, where he started racing 110cc, four-stroke MiniGP bikes. When he was 11, Daniel Jr. raced on his first MotoGP track at Circuit Ricardo Tormo when he competed in the Cuna de Campeones Moto5 series.
Since its inception nearly 20 years ago, the Red Bull Rookies Cup has been an important part of Dorna’s Road to MotoGP™ program. How important?
Of the Red Bull Rookies who have graduated from the Cup, more than 50% have made a start in the World Championship and of those, 30% have won at least one GP race. Eleven former Red Bull Rookies have won 15 World Championships including 2024 MotoGP World Champion Jorge Martín, who was part of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup class of 2014. Ai Ogura, Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup class of 2017, won this past season’s Moto2 title, and David Alonso, Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup class of 2021, won the 2024 Moto3 World Championship. Five of this past season’s Red Bull Rookies will race in the Moto3 World Championship led by 2024 champion Álvaro Carpe. He is joined by Valentin Perrone, Màximo Quiles, Ruche Moodley, and Guido Pini.
2025 Red Bull Rookies Cup Provisional Calendar
– TEST: March 26-27-28, Jerez, Spain
– Round 1: April 26-27, Jerez, Spain
– Round 2: May 10-11, Le Mans, France
– Round 3: June 7-8, Aragon, Spain
– Round 4: June 21-22, Mugello, Italy
– Round 5: July 12-13, Sachsenring, Germany
– Round 6: August 16-17, Spielberg, Austria
– Round 7: September 13-14, Misano, Italy
2025 STT Tentative SCHEDULE
February 15 & 16 – NCM Motorsports Park
February 21 – Talladega GP
March 15 & 16 – Talladega GP
March 29, 30 & 31 – Barber Motorsports Park
April 7 – Barber Motorsports Park
April 11 – Talladega GP
April 19 & 20 – Barber Motorsports Park
April 19 & 20 – Grattan Raceway
April 25 – GingerMan Raceway Bike Night
May 10 & 11 – Talladega GP
May 10 & 11 – Grattan Raceway
May 16 – Grattan Raceway
May 17 & 18 – Barber Motorsports Park
May 17 & 18 – Putnam Park
May 24, 25 & 26 – Autobahn Country Club
May 30 – GingerMan Raceway Bike Night
May 31 & June 1 – GingerMan Raceway
May 31 & June 1 – Talladega GP
June 14 & 15 – Road America
June 21 & 22 – Barber Motorsports Park
June 21 & 22 – Grattan Raceway
June 28 & 29 – Autobahn Country Club
June 28 & 29 – Road Atlanta
July 4, 5 & 6 – Grattan Raceway
July 11 – Grattan Raceway
July 19 & 20 – Talladega GP
July 19 & 20 – Putnam Park
July 26 & 27 – Autobahn Country Club
August 1 – GingerMan Raceway Bike Night
August 1 – Talladega GP
August 2 & 3 – Grattan Raceway
August 9 & 10 – Putnam Park
August 9 & 10 – Barber Motorsports Park
August 11 & 12 – Road America
August 15, 16 & 17 – GingerMan Raceway
August 30, 31 & September 1 – Autobahn Country Club
August 30, 31 & September 1 – Barber Motorsports Park
September 6 & 7 – Blackhawk Farms
September 12 – GingerMan Raceway Bike Night
September 20 & 21 – Talladega GP
September 20 & 21 – Grattan Raceway
September 27 & 28 – Autobahn Country Club
October 3 – GingerMan Raceway Bike Night
October 4 & 5 – Putnam Park
October 11 & 12 – Grattan Raceway
October 11, 12 & 13 – Barber Motorsports Park
November 1, 2, & 3 – Barber Motorsports Park
November 29 & 30 – Talladega GP
December 13 & 14 – Jennings GP
ASK STT:
Got a question? Feel free to drop a line to [email protected].
Sportbike Track Time | PO Box 366, Clinton MI 49236
Osamu Suzuki, who led the Japanese motorcycle and car manufacturer for nearly five decades, died in Japan on December 25th, at the age of 94. The cause of death was lymphoma. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Suzuki Motos do Brazil issued this statement, and more information will be posted when it becomes available:
Former Suzuki Global President Osamu Suzuki Dies
It is with deep sorrow that we receive the news of the passing of Suzuki Motor Corporation Senior Advisor Osamu Suzuki at the age of 94.
To respect the wishes of deceased, funeral services were held only for family members. The company plans to hold a farewell meeting at a later date.
President of Suzuki Motos do Brazil, Joao Toledo mourned the death of the former president, who he had the honor of meeting on a few occasions during the more than three decades in which he has represented the brand in Brazil. “We are deeply sorry for the loss of Osamu Suzuki. His contribution and legacy will always be remembered with fondness and respect. May his soul rest in peace and may his family find comfort in this time of sorrow.”
Married to the granddaughter of the company founder, Osamu Suzuki joined Suzuki Motor in April 1958. In 1963 he was appointed director. In June 1978 he took over the company’s presidency, a position he held until 2016, when he handed over the position to his son, Toshiro Suzuki. In 2021, at the age of 91, he was appointed Senior Advisor.
More, From The Japan Times:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2024/12/27/companies/osamu-suzuki-obituary/
More, From Kyodo News:
First Person/Opinion
By Michael Gougis
“I can only say that we have had very interesting conversations with his management. It is no secret that Lewis Hamilton is interested in MotoGP and is thinking about his own team. Here, too, there are concrete discussions.” Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director, in an interview published by Speedweek.com on December 24th, 2024.
Rumors have been floated for months that seven-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton wants to purchase a MotoGP team. Until now, there were never credible sources attached to the rumors. Beirer’s comments are the most solid–and perhaps the first credible–indications that Hamilton may actually be actively seeking an ownership role in the MotoGP paddock.
KTM’s financial difficulties are well-known at this point, and while the company says it is going Grand Prix racing in 2025, an agency representing the company’s creditors says the plan is to pull out of “MotoGP Moto2/Moto3.” There is no timeline and no other details surrounding that assertion by the creditor agency.
Racing requires money, and KTM is actively seeking investors to help the company’s racing efforts. Beirer specifically chose the words “partner” and “investor” in the Speedweek article, because he views them differently than he does a sponsor. “An investor is something different than a sponsor,” he said. “When you have partners at the table to give you money for such a great project, then they get involved. Thus, it is clear that such people will have a certain say.”
So, what would Hamilton bring to the KTM racing project? And is Hamilton the suitor who will rescue KTM’s road racing efforts? Hamilton loves performance bikes. He’s ridden Valentino Rossi’s factory Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP machine and Yamaha factory-spec World Superbike YZF-R1s on the track. He owns a collection of fast Italian two-wheelers.
Start with the basics. Hamilton has the money. According to a list of wealthy Brits published earlier in December by The Mirror, Hamilton’s net worth is approximately $375 million. That’s enough to fund KTM’s Grand Prix road racing efforts for the foreseeable future. The annual interest on that amount–if it was in a certificate at my credit union– would generate significantly more than the reported $11 million or so Red Bull kicks in to the KTM MotoGP effort.
But at the levels of finance Hamilton operates in, the game doesn’t work like that. Hamilton will have personal sponsors who throw money at any project he gets involved with. When basketball legend Michael Jordan ran an AMA Pro Superbike team, much of the funding came not from him but from his personal sponsors and others who wanted the attention that he would attract–the U.S. National Guard being one of them. And when I researched an article on the Target/Ganassi IndyCar program for a business newspaper, I found that Target provided virtually nothing in the way of sponsorship. All of the companies with logos on the Target racing cars paid the bills as part of their overall business interaction with the retail giant.
The point is, Hamilton wouldn’t serve as just some rich businessman throwing personal money at a pet project on an impulse. If he got involved, it would be a complex project involving several large multinational corporations. KTM could end up with all of the money it reasonably needed to compete in MotoGP.
But it would come at the cost of having bosses to report to–bosses who are powerful financial figures who want results.
And one of those bosses would be one of history’s most famous and successful racers. Hamilton is a lot like Marc Marquez, in that the record books are littered with their names. Watching Hamilton drive at his best is just like watching Marquez ride–you know you are watching something otherworldly, something genius. (If you need proof, go watch the 2008 British Formula One Grand Prix at Silverstone. In changing, mixed, treacherous conditions, Hamilton won by 68 seconds.)
Hamilton knows how to win under pressure that is difficult to imagine for motorcycle road racers. The money involved in F1 dwarfs that in MotoGP. The pressure and publicity that goes along with winning multiple titles in F1 makes the public life of Valentino Rossi look like the life of a supporting actor on a moderately successful TV sitcom of the 1990s.
When Team Rahal announced that it was going Supersport racing in MotoAmerica, I wrote that the squad would bring a level of professionalism and publicity to the series because it was a racing organization with a history of success in a very popular and high-profile international racing series. If you think of a potential Hamilton/KTM collaboration, it would be most accurate to see Hamilton’s organization upping the already insanely impressive KTM/Red Bull level. This could be good, because Hamilton and company know what it takes to win. Trackhouse Racing Team Principal Davide Brivio has said that having Justin Marks, a NASCAR race winner, as head of Trackhouse is good because Marks understands what it takes to win. So does Hamilton.
Someone like Hamilton is not going to get involved just for fun. Again, when Jordan got involved in AMA Pro Superbike racing, the team was reasonably successful but wasn’t able to consistently challenge the riders on the factory Yoshimura Suzukis. Jordan said that one of his biggest frustrations was not being able to get factory-spec parts from Suzuki for his team’s bikes. Jordan didn’t want to just be good, he wanted to win. If Hamilton gets involved with KTM, it will be at the factory level. Hamilton will want results, and the factory team will have to develop a bike and attract and retain riders who can beat competitors on the all-conquering Ducatis.
That, ultimately, is the downside of having Hamilton’s organization involved with a racing program. KTM’s progress in recent years has stalled, the team going longer without a race win in MotoGP than even struggling Honda. The RC16 may be as good as anything other than the latest-spec Ducati Desmosedici on any given Sunday. But Hamilton’s interest in the sport isn’t just to be “pretty good,” and it’s definitely not for the ROI. He needs no additional publicity. And there are far better ways to invest money than in MotoGP racing, unless one anticipates a dramatic increase in the value of a MotoGP team under the ownership of Liberty Media. And even that takeover has now been delayed.
No, Hamilton will come to the game to win. And the challenge of working with Aliens is that they want Alien-like results. Again, we can draw a comparison with Marc Marquez, who walked away from an incredibly lucrative contract with Honda because there was no longer any chance of winning on the RC213V. Marquez took a solid financial hit and went to the satellite Gresini team because he missed the taste of victory champagne. Standing on the top of the podium–or at least showing up at the track with a realistic chance of winning–is what motivates Aliens like Marquez and Hamilton. And if KTM can’t deliver that, there could be uncomfortable discussions between the team and its angel investor(s).
