MotoAmerica: How To Watch MotoAmerica Superbikes at Barber Motorsports Park
It’s All Here: How To Not Miss A Bit Of The Action
Everything you need to know to watch the weekend racing in Alabama
© , Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
MotoAmerica Superbike: Baz Happy With Recovery From Injury
Barber Motorsports Park marks round two of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Sunnyvale, Calif. — One of the most picturesque racing venues anywhere in the world awaits Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati duo Josh Herrin and Loris Baz as they descend on Barber Motorsports Park for round two of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Round two marks the first triple-header format of the year with three races on the MotoAmerica Superbike program in Alabama.
Following an intense opening round at Road Atlanta, the two riders know there’s ground to be made up but are equally confident they have the team and machinery to do so in the factory-backed Ducati Panigale V4 R superbike.
Herrin’s opening race speed in the dry at Road Atlanta will give him plenty of reason to be optimistic as the South’s Ducatisti throng to the green grounds of Barber Motorsports Park. The Georgian has an excellent record at Barber with multiple Superbike podium finishes and race wins in Supersport during his championship year with the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati in 2002.
Baz returns to the paddock recuperated from a crash at Road Atlanta involving Richie Escalante, in which he suffered a fractured ankle. The fast Frenchman has racing experience at Barber during his 2021 MotoAmerica campaign with the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati team and will aim for a debut 2024 podium in Alabama.
Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#76)
“I’ve been back in the U.S. since May 11, testing in New Jersey, so it’s been great to get back on the bike,” Baz enthused. “Regarding the ankle, I’m pretty happy with it after only two weeks since the surgery. I feel good on the bike.”
“I’m really looking forward to the Barber round. It’s an amazing place; I love the track layout, the incredible museum, and everything about it. I’m ready to work hard and super motivated for a good showing.”
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#2)
“Barber is one of my favorite tracks on the MotoAmerica calendar, so I always look forward to racing here. It feels extra special getting to ride my Panigale V4 R at this track. The fans get a really up close and personal experience of the bikes on track.”
“The results from round one were not what we hoped for, but we had great pace in the dry, so I am eager to get things going this weekend and see how fast we can go. This team has become like family to me, so these long breaks make me really start to miss them!”
The second round of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship will go green with the first Superbike practice scheduled for 10:35 am CDT on Friday, May 17. Race One will begin on Saturday, May 18, at 3:10 p.m. CDT. Race Two will begin at 12:15 p.m. CDT on Sunday, May 19, with Race Three scheduled for 3:10 p.m. that same
MotoAmerica: Barber Live+ Coverage Schedule Released
MotoAmerica Live+: MotoAmerica Superbikes at Barber Motorsports Park
It’s All Here: How To Not Miss A Bit Of The Action
Everything you need to know to watch all the racing from Alabama
American Flat Track: Season Finale Event Confirmed
2024 Progressive AFT Season Finale Set for 18th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 15, 2024) – Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is excited to confirm that the 2024 Grand National Championship season finale will be waged at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Missouri, on Saturday, September 14.
The inaugural Lake Ozark Short Track is destined to be a centerpiece attraction of the 18th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest, which will draw more than 125,000 motorcycle enthusiasts to the Lake of the Ozarks to celebrate the area’s beautiful scenery and incredible twisty roads from September 11-15.
This will also mark the first occasion the series will visit Lake Ozark Speedway. The venue, which opened in 2004, is a 1/3-mile semi-banked clay oval with seating for more than 5000 spectators.
Progressive American Flat Track will serve as one of the title partners of Bikefest to maximize awareness of what promises to be one of the most highly anticipated finales in recent memory as living legend and reigning Mission AFT SuperTwins king Jared Mees makes his bid for immortality via an unprecedented tenth Grand National Championship.
Ed Schmidt, Bikefest member said, “We’re thrilled to bring Progressive American Flat Track racing to this year’s Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest. The racing is incredible and should prove to be a hit alongside all the other new attractions we have on tap. With more than 300 bars and restaurants, over 50 live music and entertainment shows, a Harley-Davidson giveaway, and tons of vendor areas, we have every expectation that 2024 will be the largest Bikefest yet.”
Lake Ozark Speedway Owner Kenny Brown said, “We’re extremely excited to host Progressive American Flat Track for the very first time. These are the greatest motorcycle dirt trackers on the planet without question, and we absolutely cannot wait to witness the show they put on.”
Tickets for the 2024 Progressive AFT finale are available for purchase. General Admission tickets are just $40 (kids 12 and under $5 with a paid adult General Admission ticket), while the Pit Pass Upgrade adds access to the pit area for $50.
New for 2024 is the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experience ($150 all ages). This ticket option provides reserved seating with Pit Pass access, a guided tour of, and photo opportunities at, the infield podium and start/finish line, infield viewing of Opening Ceremonies and the heat races, and a track talk and photo opportunity with a special guest.
Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/lake-ozark-short-track-104135 to reserve your seats today.
For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.
About Progressive American Flat Track
Progressive American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. Progressive American Flat Track is televised on FOX Sports and streams live via FloRacing. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on X, and check us out on Instagram.
AHRMA: Race Results From Talladega Gran Prix Raceway
Here are complete race results from the 2024 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series event held May 11-12 at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, in Munford, Alabama.
RRW 2024 Talladega - Weekend Results
MotoAmerica Superbike: Will The Cream Stay At The Top At Barber?
MotoAmerica Heads To Barber With Gagne And Beaubier Tied At The Top
The Steel Commander Superbike Championship Resumes At Barber Motorsports Park With A Tripleheader, May 17-19
IRVINE, CA (May 15, 2024) – With Attack Performance Yamaha’s Jake Gagne and Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier winning 16 of the 20 Steel Commander Superbike races a season ago, it was apparent that they were the cream of the crop for the 2023 season. Gagne ended the year with 11 wins to emerge as the series champion for a third straight time while Beaubier’s five-win season ended prematurely due to the injuries suffered in a crash at Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
So, what did we learn from the 2024 season opener at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta? Well, the cream is still the cream with Gagne and Beaubier splitting wins to start the season after two thrilling races.
With the pair coming out of Georgia with 45 points apiece and tied for the series points lead, the Steel Commander Superbike Championship is back in action this coming weekend, May 17-19, at a series favorite – Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama – with three Superbike races scheduled (one on Saturday, two on Sunday) and 75 points up for grabs.
The two Road Atlanta races proved that the injuries that ended Beaubier’s season were in his rear-view mirror, along with any trepidation that it would take him some time to get back up to speed and ready to fight. Beaubier didn’t qualify well (for him), and he started both races from the middle of the second row. In the dry race one, it came down to a battle between pole sitter Bobby Fong, Beaubier and Gagne with Beaubier taking his 60th career AMA Superbike win by just .240 of a second over Gagne with Fong a shadow third. In Sunday’s wet race two, Beaubier came out second best to Gagne – by just .119 of a second. He was most definitely on top of his game.
While Beaubier was happy to be back, feeling good and up to speed, it was Gagne who ended up fighting some physical issues at Road Atlanta with arm pump bringing a bit of worry into his season opener. Despite numbness in his throttle/front brake hand, Gagne fought for victory on both days, winning the second race over Beaubier with his teammate Cameron Petersen finishing third.
Gagne went back to where it all started during the break between Road Atlanta and Barber: motocross. In an effort to cure what ails him, Gagne rode his motocross bike on a track for the first time in three or four years in the hopes that the arm pump would loosen itself up. We’ll see the results this coming weekend.
With Beaubier and Gagne tied at the top and 21 points in the clear, there’s a horde of riders within spitting distance of third place in the young championship.
TopPro Racing’s Sean Dylan Kelly was nothing if not impressive in his Steel Commander Superbike debut with the Floridian fourth and fifth in the two races at Road Atlanta on his BMW M 1000 RR. Kelly was in the lead pack in both the dry and wet races at what is a difficult racetrack, and he left Road Atlanta smiling, confident and with 21 points in his pocket.
Kelly is just two points clear of Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong with the Yamaha YZF-R1-mounted Californian a fighting third in race one before struggling to 10th in the wet second race.
Fong is tied with Tytlers Cycle Racing’s JD Beach with Beach finishing seventh in the dry and a fighting fourth in the wet conditions of Sunday’s race two in his debut with the team and the BMW M 1000 RR. Beach was in the fight for victory when he crashed in the esses, remounted, and fought his way through to fourth.
Just three and four points behind Beach come the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati duo of Loris Baz and Josh Herrin.
After finishing seventh in race two, Baz was fortunate to escape mostly uninjured after being struck from behind by Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante after the checkered flag. Prior to crossing the finish line seventh in race two on Sunday, Baz had raced to sixth in Saturday’s race one.
Herrin sits seventh in the title chase after Road Atlanta after fifth- and ninth-place finishes in Georgia. Herrin led race one and was battling with Fong, Gagne and Beaubier when he ran off track in the final corner when Fong made an aggressive pass on the inside. From there, Herrin rode to a disappointed fifth. He is 27 points behind Gagne and Beaubier.
Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen had a miserable race one at Road Atlanta where he crashed, remounted, and managed to salvage a 15th-place finish, but he rebounded with a third-place podium result in race two.
Petersen is tied for eighth with Real Steel Motorsports’ Hayden Gillim after the Kentuckian raced to ninth and sixth in the two races at Road Atlanta.
Tom Woods Powersports’ Nolan Lamkin emerged from Road Atlanta 10th in the Steel Commander Superbike Championship while also leading the Superbike Cup standings.
The Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team is hoping for better fortune at Barber after a disastrous start to its 2024 season. In addition to losing Richie Escalante to a broken left wrist, broken left ankle and compression fractures of his L1, L2 and L4 vertebrae, Brandon Paasch failed to score a point from the two races after two crashes. With Escalante out of action while his injuries heal, the team is bringing in 2023 Supersport Champion Xavi Forés to ride his GSX-R1000R.
Steel Commander Superbike action gets started at Barber Motorsports Park with the first practice session set for 10:35 a.m. with Q1 set for 2:40 p.m. Saturday’s race will begin at 3:10 p.m. with Sunday’s two races set for 12:15 p.m. and 3:10 p.m.
Pre-Race Barber Notes
Jake Gagne is the Superbike lap record holder at Barber Motorsports Park after lapping at a best of 1:22.035 in Qualifying 2 last year. Gagne also holds the race lap record of 1:22.463, which he set in race two in 2021.
Jake Gagne beat his teammate Cameron Petersen by 1.8 seconds to win race one last year at Barber Motorsports Park. Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz was third with Cameron Beaubier fourth. In race two, it was Gagne again taking victory with Scholtz second and Beaubier third.
Cameron Beaubier’s race-one win at Road Atlanta was the 60th of his AMA Superbike career. The five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion is third on the all-time Superbike win list and is now just one race win behind his former Yamaha factory teammate Josh Hayes. Jake Gagne, meanwhile, is also charging his way up the all-time win list. Gagne’s race-two win at Road Atlanta was the 41st of his Superbike career and he sits fourth on the all-time Superbike win list.
Australian Mat Mladin, who leads the all-time wins list in AMA Superbike racing with 82 victories, is also the Superbike win leader at Barber Motorsports Park. Mladin had nine victories at Barber from 2004 to 2009. Josh Hayes is second on that list with seven Superbike wins at Barber with all seven coming in a row from 2012 to 2015. Of active Superbike racers, Beaubier leads the way with five Superbike wins in Alabama.
This year’s race will mark the 22nd consecutive season of AMA Superbike racing at Barber Motorsports Park. Aaron Yates and Kurtis Roberts won the first two AMA Superbike races held at Barber in 2003.
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+
Agostini, Rea, Rossi Attending 2024 Yamaha Racing Heritage Club Events
Legends Line Up to Help Yamaha Racing Heritage Club Celebrate 2024
The Yamaha Racing Heritage Club is delighted to announce its schedule for 2024, which includes the Sunday Ride Classic, Dijon Motorcycle Legends Cup, Veterans Motocross des Nations, and the Yamaha Racing Experience at Jerez. Stars from the past and present, including Valentino Rossi, Giacomo Agostini, Jonathan Rea, Alessio Chiodi, Johnny Cecotto and Christian Sarron, alongside their iconic race bikes are all set to celebrate a historic year for the manufacturer with several important racing milestones to commemorate.
Launched at EICMA in 2021, the Yamaha Racing Heritage Club (YRHC) was designed to protect, celebrate, and share Yamaha’s rich racing history across all disciplines with younger generations.
The YRHC gives owners the opportunity to register their bikes on the YRHC database and become official members, bringing together owners of iconic Yamaha racing machinery from around the globe, allowing them to share their knowledge and experience with their fellow collectors and offering them the chance to participate in a number of events throughout the year.
The YRHC is not only about machinery; it also aims to reunite the riders who helped write large Yamaha’s name in the history books with the machines on which they achieved their greatest successes. Plus, by bringing together these legendary riders and their iconic bikes alongside Yamaha’s current roster of racing talent, it allows a whole new generation of fans to experience first-hand the passion, determination, and technology that defined bygone eras.
During its inaugural year in 2022, the YRHC focused on celebrating Yamaha’s road racing success by attending events such as the ASI Motoshow in Italy, the Sachsenring Classic in Germany, and the CRMC Classic Motorcycle Festival in England as well as documenting the emotional reunion of three-time 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey and his title-winning 1992 YZR500 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
In 2023, in addition to continuing to be present at some of the biggest classic events in Europe and making its debut at the Yamaha Racing Experience in Mugello, the YRHC expanded its program by attending events dedicated to celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the YZ range of Motocross bikes.
In 2024, the YRHC aims to honour several historic anniversaries, including the 60th anniversary of Yamaha’s first-ever World Championship when Phil Read lifted the 250cc title in 1964 on the legendary RD56, the 50th anniversary of 15x World Champion Agostini joining the manufacturer and achieving his first title with the marque, the 40th anniversary of Sarron’s 1984 250cc World Championship, the 25th anniversary of the debut of the YZF-R7, plus the 25th anniversary of the first victory for the YZF-R6 in WorldSSP, and much more.
To commemorate these milestones, Agostini and Sarron will take to the track with the YRHC at the Sunday Ride Classic at Circuit Paul Ricard on the 18th and 19th of May before the duo will be joined by two-time World Champion Johnny Cecotto for the Coupes Moto Legende at the Circuit de Dijon-Prenois on the 24th-26th of May.
After the success of 2023, the YRHC will once again play an integral part in the Yamaha Racing Experience (YRE), which this year will be hosted at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto on the 3rd- 4th of July.
Heading up this exclusive event is none other than nine-time World Champion Rossi, who will be joined by six-time Superbike World Champion Rea alongside the rest of the current crop of WorldSBK riders, including Andrea Locatelli, Remy Gardner, and Dominique Aegerter, with a number of special guests yet to be announced. Invited YRHC members will not only have the chance to ride the Jerez circuit alongside these modern heroes on classic two-stroke machinery but also enjoy the full Yamaha Racing Experience.
Then to bring the curtain down on an exciting year, the YRHC will return to the Veterans Motocross des Nations (VMXoN) at Foxhills in the UK from the 22nd to 25th of August with three-time World Champion Alessio Chiodi set to be the star of the show once again, alongside a display of historic Yamaha off-road bikes.
Do you own a classic Yamaha race bike? If so, the YHRC is open to owners of bikes from every discipline. From Grand Prix racing, eligible machines are those raced between 1955 and the end of the 500cc two-stroke era in 2003, as well as TZ125 and TZ250 machinery up until 2009.
Registration of bikes from World Superbike and the Endurance World Championship is open to machines raced in any of the production classes from 1985 until 2009, while from the off-road world, the YRHC is open to motocross bikes raced before 1998 and Paris Dakar machines raced in Africa before 2007.
If you are interested in joining, thanks to an all-new registration portal, it is now even easier to register your machine on the database and become a member of the YRHC; simply click here to begin the registration process.
Paolo Pavesio
Marketing & Motorsport Director, Yamaha Motor Europe“The YRHC has grown from strength to strength since its launch in 2021, and this year is no exception. We are delighted to be able to share the history of Yamaha with our passionate and loyal fans, plus we have now made it even easier to become a member with a new online registration portal. We have an exciting schedule of events for 2024, both on and off-road, to help us celebrate a historic year for Yamaha, with several major anniversaries. The YRHC not only helps us honour the past, but by bringing together our legendary riders and bikes from years gone by with our current roster of riding talent, it allows us to introduce a whole new audience to Yamaha’s rich and illustrious racing legacy.”
Hendry Takes Premier Class Win At MRA Season Opener
Hendry and Behmer Secure First Premier Class Wins of 2024 Season
Byers, CO – The opening round of the 2024 Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) Championship Series took place at High Plains Raceway over the weekend of May 11-12th on their 1.86 mile North Course. The weather this weekend was less than ideal for racing as the temperatures hovered around 50 degrees for much of Saturday and Sunday.
New for the 2024 season, the MRA has added an Amateur GTO payout class to the Saturday race schedule, adding more incentive and excitement during the weekend. Racers must qualify on Saturday morning to participate in the class, adding a new strategic element to the weekend. Tim May-Ellis took the inaugural pole position with a time of (1:19.687), followed by Dylan Unger (1:21.228) and Vinh Nguyen (1:22.012). The race kicked off later Saturday afternoon and was dominated by May-Ellis after he jumped out to an early lead, and never looked back. Unger and Nguyen exchanged positions for much of the race, but ultimately Nguyen secured second, and Unger rounded out the podium in third.
The Race of the Rockies Qualifying on Sunday went well despite the 49 degree temperature and moderate winds. Brad Hendry, continuing his excellent form from last year, qualified on pole with a time of (1:15.237). Gage Mollman qualified second with a time of (1:16.272) followed by Nathan Entz (1:17.040).
As the Race of the Rockies premier class race grew near, the weather started to look a bit ominous. Clouds rolled in, bringing moderate rain and cooler temperatures, causing the racers to scramble to get on their rain tires. The race was delayed 45 minutes to give ample time for the tire changes, ensuring the safest possible conditions. Many racers opted out, causing the grid to shrink down to just eight riders.
The start of RoR GTO saw Hendry jump out to an early lead. Jeremy Ross was right on Hendry’s tail for the first lap, but during lap two, Ross had an incident on the exit of turn 13, ending his race. With Ross out, Hendry settled in and pulled out to a commanding lead, clicking off consistent 1:30’s on a very wet track. Dustin Pfeiffer found some excellent speed during the second half of the 16-lap race as he grew more comfortable on his rain tires. Pfeiffer set the fastest lap of the race with a (1:26.701), easily making his way to second position. Unfortunately, Pfeiffer ran out of laps before he could catch up to Hendry, finishing nine seconds off the lead. Rounding off the podium in third position was Mollman, who was struggling for traction with his DOT road tires.
In RoR GTU, Justin Behmer got an excellent start and led the entire race. Behmer, riding a Twins Cup spec bike, had excellent pace in the wet, leading many of the bigger GTO bikes for much of the race. Salvatore Rizzo, last year’s RoR GTU class champion, stayed in second place for the entirety of the race. The battle for third place was between Dennis Stowers and Kevin Caputo. Caputo held third position for the first six laps, until Stowers made a pass on the back straight. Stowers opened a slight gap, but Caputo was determined to get on the podium. As the race went on, Caputo chipped away at Stowers and executed a clean pass with only a lap and a half to go. Caputo got his head down and never let Stowers get close enough to retaliate. Caputo claimed third position, earning his first ever premier class podium!
Next up, the MRA heads to Pueblo Motorsports Park in Pueblo, CO for Round 2 on May 25-26 for a full weekend of racing including the SuperStreet event on Saturday afternoon. SuperStreet gives street riders the opportunity to experience motorcycle road racing with minimal cost and preparation. See https://www.mra-racing.org/superstreet/superstreet-information for details.
The MRA welcomes racers from other clubs across the nation. If you’re a currently licensed racer, we have several reciprocity agreements in place along with very competitive pricing on license & entries to our 28 classes. Click here for MRA membership & entry information.
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is dedicated to promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding area. For more information go to http://www.mra-racing.org/.
American Flat Track: Rescheduled Silver Dollar Short Track Is Saturday
Progressive AFT Completes California Swing with Inaugural Silver Dollar Short Track
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 14, 2024) – Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, will complete its run of five Short Tracks in its opening six races with this weekend’s inaugural Silver Dollar Short Track at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California, on Saturday, May 18.
While two weeks later than originally scheduled due to inclement weather on the original date, the visit to the historic venue is actually overdue by measure of decades rather than weeks. The track is fabled among West Coast auto racing superstars and finally has its opportunity to earn its place in the esteem of the world’s elite motorcycle dirt trackers starting this weekend.
There have been different winners in each of the four Mission AFT SuperTwins Short Track Main Events to date this season: points leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), second-ranked Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750), and last weekend’s victor, Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke).
Solid arguments can be made for all four heading into this weekend. But that level of parity combined with the novel nature of the Silver Dollar Short Track makes it difficult, if not impossible, to predict who is most likely to hold the upper hand.
Of course, the ‘24 season could continue on brand and deliver fans a fifth winner in as many STs. Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) and Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Dodge Bros. Racing/Castrol Harley-Davidson XR750) have both earned runners-up in the discipline this year, while Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing Mission Foods KTM 790 Duke) have all stood atop the box in recent seasons.
Historically, Short Tracks have a way of springing surprises. So perhaps one of a number of talented underdogs will step to the fore in Chico, a group of riders that includes the likes of Kolby Carlile (No. 36 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing MT-07), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing KTM 790 Duke), Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R), and Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp).
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
By contrast, this year’s four ST wins in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER category have been split evenly by just two riders, reigning class champ Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) and his most persistent challenger, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).
Outside of a last-lap incident in the opener that cost Australian Drane what could prove to be a vital haul of points, the two have been nearly perfectly matched, with each rider boasting two wins among four podium finishes this season.
Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) haven’t been too far off that form. Saathoff boasts a pair of top threes including his maiden victory, former class champ Gauthier has reeled in two runners-up among three podiums, while Lowe has taken a pair of thirds.
Others to watch include Californians James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction, P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R), and Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), as well as up-and-comers Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F) and Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R).
There will be plenty to keep spectators entertained off the track as well, including numerous vendors, plenty of food and beverage options, live music, activities for kids, and extensive motorcycle parking.
General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under free), while Reserved Grandstand tickets are $40 (all ages), Trackside Box tickets are $60 (all ages), and Pit Grandstand tickets offer premium viewing experiences for $70 (all ages).
New for 2024 is the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experience ($150 all ages). This ticket option provides reserved seating with Pit Pass access, a guided tour of, and photo opportunities at, the infield podium and start/finish line, infield viewing of Opening Ceremonies and the heat races, and a track talk and photo opportunity with 2016 Grand National Champion Bryan Smith.
Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/silver-dollar-short-track-89147 to reserve your seats today.
Gates will open for fans at 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT). You can catch the livestream of all the weekend’s racing activities on FloRacing. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2024. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FOX Sports coverage of the Silver Dollar Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, May 25, at 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT).
For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.
AHRMA: Hall, Spargo Win Vintage Cup Races At Talladega
AHRMA 2024 Vintage Cup 350GP Hall and Spargo split wins again
(Knoxville, TN) A two-stroke versus four-stroke battle may mark every round of the 2024 AHRMA Vintage Cup.
Rounds six and seven of AHRMA’s 2024 Vintage Cup series, which highlights its 350 GP class, were held May 11 and 12 at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway in Munford, AL as part of the 2024 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series.
Rob Hall, racing a four-stroke 1965 AJS 7R, in a repeat of rounds three and four, split wins with Christopher Spargo, who was aboard a two-stroke 1967 Yamaha TD2 with Hall taking Saturday’s checkered flag, and Spargo taking Sunday’s.
Sponsored by Hagerty Insurance, Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), AHRMA’s 2024 Vintage Cup features the 350 GP class which includes 350cc four-stroke and 250cc two-stroke powered machines built up to and including 1968. Featured bikes from this era would include bikes such as the AJS 7R “Boy Racer”, 350 Manx Norton, Benelli 350-Four, Aermacchi 350 Road Racer, Yamaha TD2, and more. 350 GP is a true Grand Prix class from the “golden era” up until the early 1980s and was won by such great racers such as Giacomo Agostini, Jim Redman, Mike Hailwood, John Surtees, and Geoff Duke.
“It’s a well-worn battle of the 2 and 4 stroke machines. Rob Hall is so good on the brakes and gets his well handling Seeley 7R through the turns like no one’s business. Spargo is always fast, and he has really gelled with this Yamaha TD2 and uses its peaky power wisely.” said Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton (nycnorton.com). “I’m happy to see everyone in the 350 GP class out there giving it their all at Little Tally, and particularly happy to see these two consistent front-runners splitting it up and keeping the Vintage Cup as exciting as we could ask for. On to Nelson Ledges in a couple of weeks!”
The start of Saturday’s race saw Hall, on Stu Carter’s 1965 AJS 7R taking the lead for the hole shot through turn one with Spargo on John Turner’s 1967 Yamaha TD2 on his heels. Spargo was able to overtake Hall in turn two of lap four, but he was unable to make it stick, with Hall retaking the lead. Hall led in a very close race, and towards the end, was able to navigate through back traffic and held on for the win. Spargo, just a couple of bike lengths behind Hall, took a close second. David Rhodes, riding a 1966 Yamaha TD1 rounded out the podium.
The balance of the grid in order of finish included: Jerry Duke in fourth on his 1967 Ducati 350 Scrambler, Doug Bowie finishing fifth riding a 1968 Ducati Mach 1, Zeca Pires sixth on a 1966 Suzuki X6 Hustler T10, John Tunstall in seventh on his 1968 Ducati 350, and Craig Light eighth, riding his 1973 Bultaco.
On Sunday, Spargo got the hole shot into turn one. Hall pulled alongside Spargo several times but never succeeded in overtaking him. Hall experienced a mechanical failure mid-way through and pulled out of the race. Spargo took the checkered flag unchallenged. Behind Spargo, a heated battle between Rhodes and Tunstall was underway. Rhodes took turn one ahead of Tunstall at the start. Tunstall was close behind, keeping the gap narrow passing Rhodes halfway through lap three and led until they passed the white flag. At that point, Rhodes put his head down and was able to pass Tunstall in the back section, keeping his position through the checkered flag for second place, Tunstall in third.
The balance of the grid, in order of finish was Pires in fourth and Hall finishing in fifth position.
“I’m loving the 2024 Vintage Cup because I love four-strokes and two-strokes,” said Greg Tomlinson, 2024 Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees. “What I love even more is close, unpredictable racing. That’s what this series is shaping up to be all about.”
Rounds eight and nine of the AHRMA National Road Race Series will be May 25-26 at Nelson Ledges Road Course, Garrettsville, OH.
The annual Vintage Cup spotlights one of AHRMA’s road racing classes with extra attention on competitors in the selected class during each race event. Enhanced awards for the Vintage Cup competitors are presented separately from other class trophies during the Saturday awards ceremony at each AHRMA National Road Race event. Highlights from each Vintage Cup race will be reported in RoadracingWorld.com’s online edition. At the conclusion of each season, the perpetual Vintage Cup trophy will be engraved with the national champion winner’s name and presented to the winner at the National Awards Banquet to keep for one year.
2024 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series, 350GP – Vintage Cup Results
Saturday, May 11, 2024
1 – 270 Rob Hall, 1965 AJS 7R, Charlotte, NC
2 – 19 Christopher Spargo, 1967 Yamaha TD2, Hopkins, MN
3 – 97L Dave Rhodes, 1966 Yamaha TD1, Columbia, IL
4 – 9K Jerry Duke, 1967 Ducati 350 Scrambler, Florence, AL
5 – 350 Doug Bowie, 1968 Ducati Mach 1, Lilburn, GA
6 – 50A Zeca Pires, 1966 Suzuki X6 Hustler T10, Sandy Springs, GA
7 – 36T John Tunstall, 1968 Ducati 350, St. Petersburg, FL
8 – 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA
Sunday, May 12, 2024
1 – 19 Christopher Spargo, 1967 Yamaha TD2, Hopkins, MN
2 – 97L David Rhodes, 1966 Yamaha TD1, Columbia, IL
3 – 36T John Tunstall, 1968 Ducati 350, St. Petersburg, FL
4 – 50A Zeca Pires, 1966 Suzuki X6 Hustler T10, Sandy Springs, GA
5 – 270 Rob Hall, 1965 AJS 7R, Charlotte, NC
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
MotoAmerica: How To Watch All The Action From Barber
MotoAmerica: How To Watch MotoAmerica Superbikes at Barber Motorsports Park
It’s All Here: How To Not Miss A Bit Of The Action
Everything you need to know to watch the weekend racing in Alabama
MotoAmerica Superbike: Baz Happy With Recovery From Injury
Barber Motorsports Park marks round two of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Sunnyvale, Calif. — One of the most picturesque racing venues anywhere in the world awaits Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati duo Josh Herrin and Loris Baz as they descend on Barber Motorsports Park for round two of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Round two marks the first triple-header format of the year with three races on the MotoAmerica Superbike program in Alabama.
Following an intense opening round at Road Atlanta, the two riders know there’s ground to be made up but are equally confident they have the team and machinery to do so in the factory-backed Ducati Panigale V4 R superbike.
Herrin’s opening race speed in the dry at Road Atlanta will give him plenty of reason to be optimistic as the South’s Ducatisti throng to the green grounds of Barber Motorsports Park. The Georgian has an excellent record at Barber with multiple Superbike podium finishes and race wins in Supersport during his championship year with the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati in 2002.
Baz returns to the paddock recuperated from a crash at Road Atlanta involving Richie Escalante, in which he suffered a fractured ankle. The fast Frenchman has racing experience at Barber during his 2021 MotoAmerica campaign with the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati team and will aim for a debut 2024 podium in Alabama.
Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#76)
“I’ve been back in the U.S. since May 11, testing in New Jersey, so it’s been great to get back on the bike,” Baz enthused. “Regarding the ankle, I’m pretty happy with it after only two weeks since the surgery. I feel good on the bike.”
“I’m really looking forward to the Barber round. It’s an amazing place; I love the track layout, the incredible museum, and everything about it. I’m ready to work hard and super motivated for a good showing.”
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati–#2)
“Barber is one of my favorite tracks on the MotoAmerica calendar, so I always look forward to racing here. It feels extra special getting to ride my Panigale V4 R at this track. The fans get a really up close and personal experience of the bikes on track.”
“The results from round one were not what we hoped for, but we had great pace in the dry, so I am eager to get things going this weekend and see how fast we can go. This team has become like family to me, so these long breaks make me really start to miss them!”
The second round of the 2024 Steel Commander MotoAmerica Superbike Championship will go green with the first Superbike practice scheduled for 10:35 am CDT on Friday, May 17. Race One will begin on Saturday, May 18, at 3:10 p.m. CDT. Race Two will begin at 12:15 p.m. CDT on Sunday, May 19, with Race Three scheduled for 3:10 p.m. that same
MotoAmerica: Barber Live+ Coverage Schedule Released
MotoAmerica Live+: MotoAmerica Superbikes at Barber Motorsports Park
It’s All Here: How To Not Miss A Bit Of The Action
Everything you need to know to watch all the racing from Alabama
American Flat Track: Season Finale Event Confirmed
2024 Progressive AFT Season Finale Set for 18th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 15, 2024) – Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is excited to confirm that the 2024 Grand National Championship season finale will be waged at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Missouri, on Saturday, September 14.
The inaugural Lake Ozark Short Track is destined to be a centerpiece attraction of the 18th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest, which will draw more than 125,000 motorcycle enthusiasts to the Lake of the Ozarks to celebrate the area’s beautiful scenery and incredible twisty roads from September 11-15.
This will also mark the first occasion the series will visit Lake Ozark Speedway. The venue, which opened in 2004, is a 1/3-mile semi-banked clay oval with seating for more than 5000 spectators.
Progressive American Flat Track will serve as one of the title partners of Bikefest to maximize awareness of what promises to be one of the most highly anticipated finales in recent memory as living legend and reigning Mission AFT SuperTwins king Jared Mees makes his bid for immortality via an unprecedented tenth Grand National Championship.
Ed Schmidt, Bikefest member said, “We’re thrilled to bring Progressive American Flat Track racing to this year’s Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest. The racing is incredible and should prove to be a hit alongside all the other new attractions we have on tap. With more than 300 bars and restaurants, over 50 live music and entertainment shows, a Harley-Davidson giveaway, and tons of vendor areas, we have every expectation that 2024 will be the largest Bikefest yet.”
Lake Ozark Speedway Owner Kenny Brown said, “We’re extremely excited to host Progressive American Flat Track for the very first time. These are the greatest motorcycle dirt trackers on the planet without question, and we absolutely cannot wait to witness the show they put on.”
Tickets for the 2024 Progressive AFT finale are available for purchase. General Admission tickets are just $40 (kids 12 and under $5 with a paid adult General Admission ticket), while the Pit Pass Upgrade adds access to the pit area for $50.
New for 2024 is the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experience ($150 all ages). This ticket option provides reserved seating with Pit Pass access, a guided tour of, and photo opportunities at, the infield podium and start/finish line, infield viewing of Opening Ceremonies and the heat races, and a track talk and photo opportunity with a special guest.
Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/lake-ozark-short-track-104135 to reserve your seats today.
For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.
About Progressive American Flat Track
Progressive American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. Progressive American Flat Track is televised on FOX Sports and streams live via FloRacing. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on X, and check us out on Instagram.
AHRMA: Race Results From Talladega Gran Prix Raceway
Here are complete race results from the 2024 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series event held May 11-12 at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, in Munford, Alabama.
RRW 2024 Talladega - Weekend Results
MotoAmerica Superbike: Will The Cream Stay At The Top At Barber?
MotoAmerica Heads To Barber With Gagne And Beaubier Tied At The Top
The Steel Commander Superbike Championship Resumes At Barber Motorsports Park With A Tripleheader, May 17-19
IRVINE, CA (May 15, 2024) – With Attack Performance Yamaha’s Jake Gagne and Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier winning 16 of the 20 Steel Commander Superbike races a season ago, it was apparent that they were the cream of the crop for the 2023 season. Gagne ended the year with 11 wins to emerge as the series champion for a third straight time while Beaubier’s five-win season ended prematurely due to the injuries suffered in a crash at Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
So, what did we learn from the 2024 season opener at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta? Well, the cream is still the cream with Gagne and Beaubier splitting wins to start the season after two thrilling races.
With the pair coming out of Georgia with 45 points apiece and tied for the series points lead, the Steel Commander Superbike Championship is back in action this coming weekend, May 17-19, at a series favorite – Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama – with three Superbike races scheduled (one on Saturday, two on Sunday) and 75 points up for grabs.
The two Road Atlanta races proved that the injuries that ended Beaubier’s season were in his rear-view mirror, along with any trepidation that it would take him some time to get back up to speed and ready to fight. Beaubier didn’t qualify well (for him), and he started both races from the middle of the second row. In the dry race one, it came down to a battle between pole sitter Bobby Fong, Beaubier and Gagne with Beaubier taking his 60th career AMA Superbike win by just .240 of a second over Gagne with Fong a shadow third. In Sunday’s wet race two, Beaubier came out second best to Gagne – by just .119 of a second. He was most definitely on top of his game.
While Beaubier was happy to be back, feeling good and up to speed, it was Gagne who ended up fighting some physical issues at Road Atlanta with arm pump bringing a bit of worry into his season opener. Despite numbness in his throttle/front brake hand, Gagne fought for victory on both days, winning the second race over Beaubier with his teammate Cameron Petersen finishing third.
Gagne went back to where it all started during the break between Road Atlanta and Barber: motocross. In an effort to cure what ails him, Gagne rode his motocross bike on a track for the first time in three or four years in the hopes that the arm pump would loosen itself up. We’ll see the results this coming weekend.
With Beaubier and Gagne tied at the top and 21 points in the clear, there’s a horde of riders within spitting distance of third place in the young championship.
TopPro Racing’s Sean Dylan Kelly was nothing if not impressive in his Steel Commander Superbike debut with the Floridian fourth and fifth in the two races at Road Atlanta on his BMW M 1000 RR. Kelly was in the lead pack in both the dry and wet races at what is a difficult racetrack, and he left Road Atlanta smiling, confident and with 21 points in his pocket.
Kelly is just two points clear of Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong with the Yamaha YZF-R1-mounted Californian a fighting third in race one before struggling to 10th in the wet second race.
Fong is tied with Tytlers Cycle Racing’s JD Beach with Beach finishing seventh in the dry and a fighting fourth in the wet conditions of Sunday’s race two in his debut with the team and the BMW M 1000 RR. Beach was in the fight for victory when he crashed in the esses, remounted, and fought his way through to fourth.
Just three and four points behind Beach come the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati duo of Loris Baz and Josh Herrin.
After finishing seventh in race two, Baz was fortunate to escape mostly uninjured after being struck from behind by Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante after the checkered flag. Prior to crossing the finish line seventh in race two on Sunday, Baz had raced to sixth in Saturday’s race one.
Herrin sits seventh in the title chase after Road Atlanta after fifth- and ninth-place finishes in Georgia. Herrin led race one and was battling with Fong, Gagne and Beaubier when he ran off track in the final corner when Fong made an aggressive pass on the inside. From there, Herrin rode to a disappointed fifth. He is 27 points behind Gagne and Beaubier.
Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen had a miserable race one at Road Atlanta where he crashed, remounted, and managed to salvage a 15th-place finish, but he rebounded with a third-place podium result in race two.
Petersen is tied for eighth with Real Steel Motorsports’ Hayden Gillim after the Kentuckian raced to ninth and sixth in the two races at Road Atlanta.
Tom Woods Powersports’ Nolan Lamkin emerged from Road Atlanta 10th in the Steel Commander Superbike Championship while also leading the Superbike Cup standings.
The Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team is hoping for better fortune at Barber after a disastrous start to its 2024 season. In addition to losing Richie Escalante to a broken left wrist, broken left ankle and compression fractures of his L1, L2 and L4 vertebrae, Brandon Paasch failed to score a point from the two races after two crashes. With Escalante out of action while his injuries heal, the team is bringing in 2023 Supersport Champion Xavi Forés to ride his GSX-R1000R.
Steel Commander Superbike action gets started at Barber Motorsports Park with the first practice session set for 10:35 a.m. with Q1 set for 2:40 p.m. Saturday’s race will begin at 3:10 p.m. with Sunday’s two races set for 12:15 p.m. and 3:10 p.m.
Pre-Race Barber Notes
Jake Gagne is the Superbike lap record holder at Barber Motorsports Park after lapping at a best of 1:22.035 in Qualifying 2 last year. Gagne also holds the race lap record of 1:22.463, which he set in race two in 2021.
Jake Gagne beat his teammate Cameron Petersen by 1.8 seconds to win race one last year at Barber Motorsports Park. Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz was third with Cameron Beaubier fourth. In race two, it was Gagne again taking victory with Scholtz second and Beaubier third.
Cameron Beaubier’s race-one win at Road Atlanta was the 60th of his AMA Superbike career. The five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion is third on the all-time Superbike win list and is now just one race win behind his former Yamaha factory teammate Josh Hayes. Jake Gagne, meanwhile, is also charging his way up the all-time win list. Gagne’s race-two win at Road Atlanta was the 41st of his Superbike career and he sits fourth on the all-time Superbike win list.
Australian Mat Mladin, who leads the all-time wins list in AMA Superbike racing with 82 victories, is also the Superbike win leader at Barber Motorsports Park. Mladin had nine victories at Barber from 2004 to 2009. Josh Hayes is second on that list with seven Superbike wins at Barber with all seven coming in a row from 2012 to 2015. Of active Superbike racers, Beaubier leads the way with five Superbike wins in Alabama.
This year’s race will mark the 22nd consecutive season of AMA Superbike racing at Barber Motorsports Park. Aaron Yates and Kurtis Roberts won the first two AMA Superbike races held at Barber in 2003.
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+
Agostini, Rea, Rossi Attending 2024 Yamaha Racing Heritage Club Events
Legends Line Up to Help Yamaha Racing Heritage Club Celebrate 2024
The Yamaha Racing Heritage Club is delighted to announce its schedule for 2024, which includes the Sunday Ride Classic, Dijon Motorcycle Legends Cup, Veterans Motocross des Nations, and the Yamaha Racing Experience at Jerez. Stars from the past and present, including Valentino Rossi, Giacomo Agostini, Jonathan Rea, Alessio Chiodi, Johnny Cecotto and Christian Sarron, alongside their iconic race bikes are all set to celebrate a historic year for the manufacturer with several important racing milestones to commemorate.
Launched at EICMA in 2021, the Yamaha Racing Heritage Club (YRHC) was designed to protect, celebrate, and share Yamaha’s rich racing history across all disciplines with younger generations.
The YRHC gives owners the opportunity to register their bikes on the YRHC database and become official members, bringing together owners of iconic Yamaha racing machinery from around the globe, allowing them to share their knowledge and experience with their fellow collectors and offering them the chance to participate in a number of events throughout the year.
The YRHC is not only about machinery; it also aims to reunite the riders who helped write large Yamaha’s name in the history books with the machines on which they achieved their greatest successes. Plus, by bringing together these legendary riders and their iconic bikes alongside Yamaha’s current roster of racing talent, it allows a whole new generation of fans to experience first-hand the passion, determination, and technology that defined bygone eras.
During its inaugural year in 2022, the YRHC focused on celebrating Yamaha’s road racing success by attending events such as the ASI Motoshow in Italy, the Sachsenring Classic in Germany, and the CRMC Classic Motorcycle Festival in England as well as documenting the emotional reunion of three-time 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey and his title-winning 1992 YZR500 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
In 2023, in addition to continuing to be present at some of the biggest classic events in Europe and making its debut at the Yamaha Racing Experience in Mugello, the YRHC expanded its program by attending events dedicated to celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the YZ range of Motocross bikes.
In 2024, the YRHC aims to honour several historic anniversaries, including the 60th anniversary of Yamaha’s first-ever World Championship when Phil Read lifted the 250cc title in 1964 on the legendary RD56, the 50th anniversary of 15x World Champion Agostini joining the manufacturer and achieving his first title with the marque, the 40th anniversary of Sarron’s 1984 250cc World Championship, the 25th anniversary of the debut of the YZF-R7, plus the 25th anniversary of the first victory for the YZF-R6 in WorldSSP, and much more.
To commemorate these milestones, Agostini and Sarron will take to the track with the YRHC at the Sunday Ride Classic at Circuit Paul Ricard on the 18th and 19th of May before the duo will be joined by two-time World Champion Johnny Cecotto for the Coupes Moto Legende at the Circuit de Dijon-Prenois on the 24th-26th of May.
After the success of 2023, the YRHC will once again play an integral part in the Yamaha Racing Experience (YRE), which this year will be hosted at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto on the 3rd- 4th of July.
Heading up this exclusive event is none other than nine-time World Champion Rossi, who will be joined by six-time Superbike World Champion Rea alongside the rest of the current crop of WorldSBK riders, including Andrea Locatelli, Remy Gardner, and Dominique Aegerter, with a number of special guests yet to be announced. Invited YRHC members will not only have the chance to ride the Jerez circuit alongside these modern heroes on classic two-stroke machinery but also enjoy the full Yamaha Racing Experience.
Then to bring the curtain down on an exciting year, the YRHC will return to the Veterans Motocross des Nations (VMXoN) at Foxhills in the UK from the 22nd to 25th of August with three-time World Champion Alessio Chiodi set to be the star of the show once again, alongside a display of historic Yamaha off-road bikes.
Do you own a classic Yamaha race bike? If so, the YHRC is open to owners of bikes from every discipline. From Grand Prix racing, eligible machines are those raced between 1955 and the end of the 500cc two-stroke era in 2003, as well as TZ125 and TZ250 machinery up until 2009.
Registration of bikes from World Superbike and the Endurance World Championship is open to machines raced in any of the production classes from 1985 until 2009, while from the off-road world, the YRHC is open to motocross bikes raced before 1998 and Paris Dakar machines raced in Africa before 2007.
If you are interested in joining, thanks to an all-new registration portal, it is now even easier to register your machine on the database and become a member of the YRHC; simply click here to begin the registration process.
Paolo Pavesio
Marketing & Motorsport Director, Yamaha Motor Europe“The YRHC has grown from strength to strength since its launch in 2021, and this year is no exception. We are delighted to be able to share the history of Yamaha with our passionate and loyal fans, plus we have now made it even easier to become a member with a new online registration portal. We have an exciting schedule of events for 2024, both on and off-road, to help us celebrate a historic year for Yamaha, with several major anniversaries. The YRHC not only helps us honour the past, but by bringing together our legendary riders and bikes from years gone by with our current roster of riding talent, it allows us to introduce a whole new audience to Yamaha’s rich and illustrious racing legacy.”
Hendry Takes Premier Class Win At MRA Season Opener
Hendry and Behmer Secure First Premier Class Wins of 2024 Season
Byers, CO – The opening round of the 2024 Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) Championship Series took place at High Plains Raceway over the weekend of May 11-12th on their 1.86 mile North Course. The weather this weekend was less than ideal for racing as the temperatures hovered around 50 degrees for much of Saturday and Sunday.
New for the 2024 season, the MRA has added an Amateur GTO payout class to the Saturday race schedule, adding more incentive and excitement during the weekend. Racers must qualify on Saturday morning to participate in the class, adding a new strategic element to the weekend. Tim May-Ellis took the inaugural pole position with a time of (1:19.687), followed by Dylan Unger (1:21.228) and Vinh Nguyen (1:22.012). The race kicked off later Saturday afternoon and was dominated by May-Ellis after he jumped out to an early lead, and never looked back. Unger and Nguyen exchanged positions for much of the race, but ultimately Nguyen secured second, and Unger rounded out the podium in third.
The Race of the Rockies Qualifying on Sunday went well despite the 49 degree temperature and moderate winds. Brad Hendry, continuing his excellent form from last year, qualified on pole with a time of (1:15.237). Gage Mollman qualified second with a time of (1:16.272) followed by Nathan Entz (1:17.040).
As the Race of the Rockies premier class race grew near, the weather started to look a bit ominous. Clouds rolled in, bringing moderate rain and cooler temperatures, causing the racers to scramble to get on their rain tires. The race was delayed 45 minutes to give ample time for the tire changes, ensuring the safest possible conditions. Many racers opted out, causing the grid to shrink down to just eight riders.
The start of RoR GTO saw Hendry jump out to an early lead. Jeremy Ross was right on Hendry’s tail for the first lap, but during lap two, Ross had an incident on the exit of turn 13, ending his race. With Ross out, Hendry settled in and pulled out to a commanding lead, clicking off consistent 1:30’s on a very wet track. Dustin Pfeiffer found some excellent speed during the second half of the 16-lap race as he grew more comfortable on his rain tires. Pfeiffer set the fastest lap of the race with a (1:26.701), easily making his way to second position. Unfortunately, Pfeiffer ran out of laps before he could catch up to Hendry, finishing nine seconds off the lead. Rounding off the podium in third position was Mollman, who was struggling for traction with his DOT road tires.
In RoR GTU, Justin Behmer got an excellent start and led the entire race. Behmer, riding a Twins Cup spec bike, had excellent pace in the wet, leading many of the bigger GTO bikes for much of the race. Salvatore Rizzo, last year’s RoR GTU class champion, stayed in second place for the entirety of the race. The battle for third place was between Dennis Stowers and Kevin Caputo. Caputo held third position for the first six laps, until Stowers made a pass on the back straight. Stowers opened a slight gap, but Caputo was determined to get on the podium. As the race went on, Caputo chipped away at Stowers and executed a clean pass with only a lap and a half to go. Caputo got his head down and never let Stowers get close enough to retaliate. Caputo claimed third position, earning his first ever premier class podium!
Next up, the MRA heads to Pueblo Motorsports Park in Pueblo, CO for Round 2 on May 25-26 for a full weekend of racing including the SuperStreet event on Saturday afternoon. SuperStreet gives street riders the opportunity to experience motorcycle road racing with minimal cost and preparation. See https://www.mra-racing.org/superstreet/superstreet-information for details.
The MRA welcomes racers from other clubs across the nation. If you’re a currently licensed racer, we have several reciprocity agreements in place along with very competitive pricing on license & entries to our 28 classes. Click here for MRA membership & entry information.
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is dedicated to promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding area. For more information go to http://www.mra-racing.org/.
American Flat Track: Rescheduled Silver Dollar Short Track Is Saturday
Progressive AFT Completes California Swing with Inaugural Silver Dollar Short Track
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 14, 2024) – Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, will complete its run of five Short Tracks in its opening six races with this weekend’s inaugural Silver Dollar Short Track at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California, on Saturday, May 18.
While two weeks later than originally scheduled due to inclement weather on the original date, the visit to the historic venue is actually overdue by measure of decades rather than weeks. The track is fabled among West Coast auto racing superstars and finally has its opportunity to earn its place in the esteem of the world’s elite motorcycle dirt trackers starting this weekend.
There have been different winners in each of the four Mission AFT SuperTwins Short Track Main Events to date this season: points leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), second-ranked Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750), and last weekend’s victor, Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke).
Solid arguments can be made for all four heading into this weekend. But that level of parity combined with the novel nature of the Silver Dollar Short Track makes it difficult, if not impossible, to predict who is most likely to hold the upper hand.
Of course, the ‘24 season could continue on brand and deliver fans a fifth winner in as many STs. Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) and Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Dodge Bros. Racing/Castrol Harley-Davidson XR750) have both earned runners-up in the discipline this year, while Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing Mission Foods KTM 790 Duke) have all stood atop the box in recent seasons.
Historically, Short Tracks have a way of springing surprises. So perhaps one of a number of talented underdogs will step to the fore in Chico, a group of riders that includes the likes of Kolby Carlile (No. 36 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing MT-07), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing KTM 790 Duke), Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R), and Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp).
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
By contrast, this year’s four ST wins in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER category have been split evenly by just two riders, reigning class champ Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) and his most persistent challenger, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).
Outside of a last-lap incident in the opener that cost Australian Drane what could prove to be a vital haul of points, the two have been nearly perfectly matched, with each rider boasting two wins among four podium finishes this season.
Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) haven’t been too far off that form. Saathoff boasts a pair of top threes including his maiden victory, former class champ Gauthier has reeled in two runners-up among three podiums, while Lowe has taken a pair of thirds.
Others to watch include Californians James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction, P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R), and Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), as well as up-and-comers Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F) and Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R).
There will be plenty to keep spectators entertained off the track as well, including numerous vendors, plenty of food and beverage options, live music, activities for kids, and extensive motorcycle parking.
General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under free), while Reserved Grandstand tickets are $40 (all ages), Trackside Box tickets are $60 (all ages), and Pit Grandstand tickets offer premium viewing experiences for $70 (all ages).
New for 2024 is the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experience ($150 all ages). This ticket option provides reserved seating with Pit Pass access, a guided tour of, and photo opportunities at, the infield podium and start/finish line, infield viewing of Opening Ceremonies and the heat races, and a track talk and photo opportunity with 2016 Grand National Champion Bryan Smith.
Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/silver-dollar-short-track-89147 to reserve your seats today.
Gates will open for fans at 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT). You can catch the livestream of all the weekend’s racing activities on FloRacing. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2024. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FOX Sports coverage of the Silver Dollar Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, May 25, at 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT).
For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.
AHRMA: Hall, Spargo Win Vintage Cup Races At Talladega
AHRMA 2024 Vintage Cup 350GP Hall and Spargo split wins again
(Knoxville, TN) A two-stroke versus four-stroke battle may mark every round of the 2024 AHRMA Vintage Cup.
Rounds six and seven of AHRMA’s 2024 Vintage Cup series, which highlights its 350 GP class, were held May 11 and 12 at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway in Munford, AL as part of the 2024 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series.
Rob Hall, racing a four-stroke 1965 AJS 7R, in a repeat of rounds three and four, split wins with Christopher Spargo, who was aboard a two-stroke 1967 Yamaha TD2 with Hall taking Saturday’s checkered flag, and Spargo taking Sunday’s.
Sponsored by Hagerty Insurance, Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), AHRMA’s 2024 Vintage Cup features the 350 GP class which includes 350cc four-stroke and 250cc two-stroke powered machines built up to and including 1968. Featured bikes from this era would include bikes such as the AJS 7R “Boy Racer”, 350 Manx Norton, Benelli 350-Four, Aermacchi 350 Road Racer, Yamaha TD2, and more. 350 GP is a true Grand Prix class from the “golden era” up until the early 1980s and was won by such great racers such as Giacomo Agostini, Jim Redman, Mike Hailwood, John Surtees, and Geoff Duke.
“It’s a well-worn battle of the 2 and 4 stroke machines. Rob Hall is so good on the brakes and gets his well handling Seeley 7R through the turns like no one’s business. Spargo is always fast, and he has really gelled with this Yamaha TD2 and uses its peaky power wisely.” said Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton (nycnorton.com). “I’m happy to see everyone in the 350 GP class out there giving it their all at Little Tally, and particularly happy to see these two consistent front-runners splitting it up and keeping the Vintage Cup as exciting as we could ask for. On to Nelson Ledges in a couple of weeks!”
The start of Saturday’s race saw Hall, on Stu Carter’s 1965 AJS 7R taking the lead for the hole shot through turn one with Spargo on John Turner’s 1967 Yamaha TD2 on his heels. Spargo was able to overtake Hall in turn two of lap four, but he was unable to make it stick, with Hall retaking the lead. Hall led in a very close race, and towards the end, was able to navigate through back traffic and held on for the win. Spargo, just a couple of bike lengths behind Hall, took a close second. David Rhodes, riding a 1966 Yamaha TD1 rounded out the podium.
The balance of the grid in order of finish included: Jerry Duke in fourth on his 1967 Ducati 350 Scrambler, Doug Bowie finishing fifth riding a 1968 Ducati Mach 1, Zeca Pires sixth on a 1966 Suzuki X6 Hustler T10, John Tunstall in seventh on his 1968 Ducati 350, and Craig Light eighth, riding his 1973 Bultaco.
On Sunday, Spargo got the hole shot into turn one. Hall pulled alongside Spargo several times but never succeeded in overtaking him. Hall experienced a mechanical failure mid-way through and pulled out of the race. Spargo took the checkered flag unchallenged. Behind Spargo, a heated battle between Rhodes and Tunstall was underway. Rhodes took turn one ahead of Tunstall at the start. Tunstall was close behind, keeping the gap narrow passing Rhodes halfway through lap three and led until they passed the white flag. At that point, Rhodes put his head down and was able to pass Tunstall in the back section, keeping his position through the checkered flag for second place, Tunstall in third.
The balance of the grid, in order of finish was Pires in fourth and Hall finishing in fifth position.
“I’m loving the 2024 Vintage Cup because I love four-strokes and two-strokes,” said Greg Tomlinson, 2024 Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees. “What I love even more is close, unpredictable racing. That’s what this series is shaping up to be all about.”
Rounds eight and nine of the AHRMA National Road Race Series will be May 25-26 at Nelson Ledges Road Course, Garrettsville, OH.
The annual Vintage Cup spotlights one of AHRMA’s road racing classes with extra attention on competitors in the selected class during each race event. Enhanced awards for the Vintage Cup competitors are presented separately from other class trophies during the Saturday awards ceremony at each AHRMA National Road Race event. Highlights from each Vintage Cup race will be reported in RoadracingWorld.com’s online edition. At the conclusion of each season, the perpetual Vintage Cup trophy will be engraved with the national champion winner’s name and presented to the winner at the National Awards Banquet to keep for one year.
2024 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series, 350GP – Vintage Cup Results
Saturday, May 11, 2024
1 – 270 Rob Hall, 1965 AJS 7R, Charlotte, NC
2 – 19 Christopher Spargo, 1967 Yamaha TD2, Hopkins, MN
3 – 97L Dave Rhodes, 1966 Yamaha TD1, Columbia, IL
4 – 9K Jerry Duke, 1967 Ducati 350 Scrambler, Florence, AL
5 – 350 Doug Bowie, 1968 Ducati Mach 1, Lilburn, GA
6 – 50A Zeca Pires, 1966 Suzuki X6 Hustler T10, Sandy Springs, GA
7 – 36T John Tunstall, 1968 Ducati 350, St. Petersburg, FL
8 – 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA
Sunday, May 12, 2024
1 – 19 Christopher Spargo, 1967 Yamaha TD2, Hopkins, MN
2 – 97L David Rhodes, 1966 Yamaha TD1, Columbia, IL
3 – 36T John Tunstall, 1968 Ducati 350, St. Petersburg, FL
4 – 50A Zeca Pires, 1966 Suzuki X6 Hustler T10, Sandy Springs, GA
5 – 270 Rob Hall, 1965 AJS 7R, Charlotte, NC
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.