AMA Supercross: Race Report And Video Highlights From Foxborough

David Swarts

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April 14, 2024

AMA Supercross: Race Report And Video Highlights From Foxborough

Cooper Webb Wins Foxborough Supercross, Advances into Tie in Championship Points

Haiden Deegan Earns Second Win with Victory Inside Gillette Stadium

Foxborough, Mass., (April 14, 2024) Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb led every lap and took the win at the Foxborough Supercross; with the victory, Webb tied up the championship points at Round 13 of the 17-round 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. It was Webb’s fourth win of the year, and in one night he erased an eight-point deficit in his pursuit of his third Supercross Championship.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton charged forward and challenged for the lead right up to the Final Lap as the crowd in Gillette Stadium cheered him on. Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen held second place for the majority of the race, and landed the final spot on the podium when the checkered flag flew. In the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan earned his second win of the season.

Cooper Webb (2). Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports.

“It’s crazy, you know, the season’s never over, you’ve just gotta put your head down and now it’s tied; it’s pretty crazy. So we’ll just stick to our thing, but man, it was great. Great race, had a great pace out front, and then made a big mistake. I missed the rhythm, and the guys got [up to] me. And then Chase was riding really well, I could feel him coming. [I lost time] just being kind of dumb in the whoops. [On the] last lap I decided to skim, and it was the best I hit them. But it was great, man. To get a holeshot like that, to lead every lap, was huge. The track was really tricky, especially when it started to rain, it could reach up and bite you. So it was a great race and, man, to get [into] the points lead is amazing. I want to give it up to the Good Lord, the whole Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team, they worked their butts off, my mechanic Alex, [other sponsors], my wife, and man, this feels great.” – Cooper Webb

“I had a few good lines on the track. I was good on the on-off going outside, but it put me on the outside. And then Ken caught on to my line in the sand and was riding smart, so he made it tough on me. I set that pass up for almost a lap, and it was just a tough track overall. I feel like tonight I rode pretty well. I came from fifth or sixth, so [we’re] getting better and better. Obviously wanted that win; I was pretty close, I tried to hit that corner pretty hard after the finish line and slid out [at the start of the final lap]. Other than that, though, we’re making progress and happy to be getting a little closer in points; losing points to Cooper, but we’re kind of inching up a little bit. So we need to click off some wins and end this season on a high.” – Chase Sexton, when asked about having difficultly passing Roczen for second place.

“That was gnarly, but I had a lot of fun. I got off to a really good start… That track was really hardpack and shiny on some areas, and then the whoops got super edgy, and you could just see the ruts were hardpack. It just made for tricky [conditions], especially from the wall [area of the Stadium] through the sand section, and everything, it was really tight. So, it was a track that was hard to stay loose on; there’s a very fine line between pushing and trying to carry momentum. But that was a really good race. I was in second for a long time, and even with a lap to go we all bunched up again. Man, that was a fun race. I’m just really thankful to be back on the podium, that was really important for us. I’m sure the team was wondering sometimes what I was doing out there; especially in practice, I mean it was horrendous, but I’m just happy to be back up on the box.” – Ken Roczen

The Eastern Regional 250SX Class held its sixth round and Haiden Deegan took the victory with three rounds remaining in the regional championship. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo battled forward to second but then steadily lost ground to Deegan. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle held steady for a third-place finish on a challenging track with inconsistent traction.

Haiden Deegan (38). Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports.

“I knew I could do it. It’s inside of me, but man, the highs and lows of this sport, they get to you… I was just days just sitting in my room [after] not winning, I’m like, ‘Dude, this hurts, bro,’ like, it hurt bad. And I was like, ‘I need to win….’ I did a lot of work with our little break and let me tell you, it definitely paid off. I felt super consistent, super smooth, [and] executed my start… That’s just what I needed to do. Unfortunately, we have a big points gap that I need to try and close, but I’m going to do my best. I just gotta thank God for putting me in this position and blessing me with this life. Thank you to my whole team as well, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing put in a ton of work, my mechanic, my family – man we just, we grind baby.” – Haiden Deegan, when asked if he feels back to 100% after injuries earlier in the season.

“To be back after three weeks off, it was just exciting to be back racing and back with the team. It was my first time in Foxborough, so I really enjoyed myself tonight. Haiden rode a great race, too, and I’m just stoked to put together another great points-building night and just happy with where we’re at… I’m just grateful and we’re going to keep on focusing on the same weekend that we’re on and staying where we’re at. So, shout out to all my people behind me, my family, my mechanic, my whole team; they’re so awesome. I’ve been together with them for a while and we’re just enjoying this so thank you everyone. Foxborough, you guys are awesome.” – Cameron McAdoo

“I had a good start, and they [Deegan and McAdoo] were both riding good, and to be honest I wasn’t really comfortable tonight. The track is really slippery, and I couldn’t really find good lines during the whole Main Event. So of course I’m not really happy with my result, but P-3, I didn’t lose a lot [of points] for the championship and we are still in the fight. I enjoy riding here, another great track, and I’m really looking forward to next weekend.” – Tom Vialle

The SX Futures Class held its fourth round of 2024 and Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Drew Adams took the win, his third in a row. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Gavin Towers took second place, and KTM Elite Monster Energy’s Luke Fauser earned third after an exciting defense of the position late in the race from round one winner Troy Lee Designs GASGAS’s Cole Davies, who eventually finished in fifth.

“I’d say [the track] was probably a little bit rougher in qualifying earlier today just because of all the rain we had [earlier in the week]… Two weeks ago in St. Louis I had a really bad start, so I had to work really hard there, and so these past two weeks I’ve just been working on starts. Yeah, it looks like I fixed it.” – Drew Adams, when asked about racing the track straight after the 450 Heats and about his better start compared to the SX Futures race in St. Louis.

The Foxborough event kicked off the final stretch of the 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. The final four rounds take place over the next four consecutive Saturdays, each in an open-air stadium. The next race, Round 14, will be inside Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee; it will host the season’s first East/West 250SX Class Showdown.

The final races will wrap up what has been one of the closest and most exciting seasons in the sport’s history. Every event also pays points towards the SuperMotocross World Championship, which is in its second year. The SMX series combines points from the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the 11-round Pro Motocross Championship to seed riders into the sport’s post-season racing with a points-reset to the equivalent of points normally earned at a single event. Increasing point payouts through two Playoffs and one Final will determine an overall SMX World Champion.

Every race of the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship is available live and on-demand on PeacockTV, with select races also broadcast or streamed domestically via NBC, USA Network, CNBC, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app. CNBC airs next-day encore presentations of all 31 rounds, and live audio coverage for each Supercross race can be heard via NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85. International viewers can find live and on-demand coverage, with both English and Spanish commentary, through the SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv).

For the ultimate family-friendly sports experience, catch one of the remaining Supercross races in-person. Tickets are available for purchase now, along with video highlights, race results, SX Insider insights, and more, all at SupercrossLIVE.com.

Roadracing World Young Guns 2024: Nathan Gouker

David Swarts

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April 14, 2024

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Roadracing World Young Guns 2024: Nathan Gouker

Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 28th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.

Roadracing World Young Guns have won:

FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;

MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 13 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;

A KTM RC Cup World Final race;

WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;

ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;

AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;

USGPRU National Championships;

Many regional and local titles.

The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.

We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2024 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.

The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.

We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.

The entire Roadracing World Young Guns, Class of 2024 is featured in the April 2024 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.

Nathan Gouker

Age: 12.

Current home: Lexington, North Carolina.

Current height/weight: 4’10”/83 pounds.

Current school grade level: 6^th grade.

Began riding at age: 4 years.

First road race: 2018, Alton, Virginia, SFLminiGP, Spec 50, 3^rd place.

Current racebikes: BeOn Moto4, Moriwaki 250, Honda NSF250R.

Current tuners/mechanics: 35 Motorsports, Phillip Gouker (father).

Primary race series: RFME ESBK Moto4 Spanish National Championship, ASRA, WERA.

Top sponsors: Stadler, CP Motorsports, Bob Robbins, NGS Racing, Dunlop, 1/4ley Racing, KYT Americas, VO2 Leathers, Forma Boots USA, Cornerspin, Fast Glass Media, Motul USA, 35 Motorsports, 64 Degree Racing, Carolina Supermoto, Daniels Tire, Ride Supermoto, Alquilocar, Comodity Window Films, FRC Fercometal, Nadalfret, Viel Carrocerias.

Recent racing accomplishments: 2023 season, placed 5^th overall in FIM MiniGP World Final 160 Championship, took 2 top-five finishes in MIR Racing Cup Moto5 races at Cartagena, won MotoAmerica Mini Cup Ohvale 160 Championship (11 wins), placed 2^nd in FIM North America Mini Cup Ohvale 160 Championship (6 wins, 9 total podiums), won 2 WERA Sportsman National Championships (8 race wins with WERA); 2022 season, won MotoAmerica Mini Cup 110 and 160 National Championships, finished 12^th overall in FIM MiniGP World Finals at Valencia, won 10 WERA Sportsman Regional Novice Championships (won 29 races from 32 starts with WERA).

2024 racing goals: Finish in top 5 of RFME ESBK Moto4 Championship.

Racing career goal: To make a living racing at the highest level I can.

Racing hero: Jack Miller.

Favorite track: Jerez.

Favorite hobby: Riding my One Wheel.

If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Racing my One Wheel.

…

Some of the riders who have graduated from Young Guns and gone on to racing success in National or International series include:

2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion Jason Aguilar (R.I.P.);

2013 AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Corey Alexander;

AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race winner Tommy Aquino (R.I.P.);

2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and multi-time MotoAmerica Superbike race winner J.D. Beach;

five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion and Moto2 World Championship point scorer Cameron Beaubier;

MotoAmerica Twins Cup race winner Jackson Blackmon;

former Canadian Sport Bike Champion Tomas Casas;

three-time Canadian Sport Bike Champion and 2014 Canadian Superbike Champion Jodi Christie;

former AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 race winner Josh Day;

2011 Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo;

2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Championship runner-up and current MotoAmerica team owner Dustin Dominguez;

2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, and 2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas;

four-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race winner and former motorcycle track record holder Carlin Dunne (R.I.P.);

Canadian Superbike race winner Bodhi Edie;

two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, two-time AMA Pro XR1200/Harley-Davidson Champion and four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick;

2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Bobby Fong;

2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Superstock 1000 Champion, and three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne;

two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and World Superbike podium finisher Garrett Gerloff;

2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship runner-up Michael Gilbert;

2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Champion, 2023 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Champion Hayden Gillim;

2002 AMA Superbike Champion and 2006 FIM MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden (R.I.P.);

2007 AMA Pro 600cc Supersport Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up, and 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship runner-up Roger Hayden;

eight-time AMA Pro Superbike race winner and two-time AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden;

2013 AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and three-time Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin;

MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Teagg Hobbs;

AMA Pro Superstock race winner Jake Holden;

2011 British Superbike Championship runner-up and former MotoGP and World Superbike regular John Hopkins;

2015 Supersport World Championship runner-up, 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Patrick “P.J.” Jacobsen;

2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, Moto2 World Championship point scorer, and MotoAmerica Superbike racer Sean Dylan Kelly;

Canadian Superbike race winner Kevin Lacombe;

two-time MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2020 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up Rocco Landers;

two-time MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Andrew Lee;

2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Champion Jake Lewis;

MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Sam Lochoff;

MotoAmerica Superstock 600 race winner Nick McFadden;

AMA Pro SuperSport race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Stefano Mesa;

Elena Myers, the first and only woman to win AMA Pro Supersport races;

AMA Pro XR1200 race winner, multi-time Loudon Classic winner, and three-time BRL Champion Shane Narbonne;

2012 Canadian Superbike Championship runner-up Andrew Nelson;

2016 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Champion, 2019 British Motostar (Moto3) Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch;

2012 Daytona 200 winner and 2010 AMA Pro Supersport West Champion Joey Pascarella;

2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and powersports dealership owner Bryce Prince;

AMA Pro and Canadian National race winner and multi-time N2/WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Peris;

two-time AMA Pro SuperSport National Champion, British Supersport podium finisher, 2020 AFT Production Twins Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Championship runner-up James Rispoli;

2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport race winner, and Moto2 World Championship race winner Joe Roberts;

2022 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up and 2023 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship runner-up Gus Rodio;

former Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Champion and former FIM Moto2 European Championship competitor Benny Solis, Jr.;

three-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2009 Superbike World Champion, MotoGP race winner, and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ben Spies;

multi-time AMA Pro race winner and four-time overall WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Ulrich;

MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher and former World Superbike competitor Jayson Uribe;

2017 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship runner-up, 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory Ventura;

Canadian Superbike race winner Alex Welsh;

former AMA Pro Superbike Rookie of the Year, Chinese Superbike Championship race winner, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and MotoAmerica Super Hooligan race winner Cory West;

MotoAmerica Junior Cup and Superbike Cup race winner Ashton Yates;

and two-time AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up Blake Young.

MotoGP: More From Saturday At The Red Bull Grand Prix Of The Americas

Michael Gougis

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April 13, 2024

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MotoGP: More From Saturday At The Red Bull Grand Prix Of The Americas

Maverick Vinales showed that his speed in Friday practice was not just by chance, as he took pole, snatched the lead and rode away from the field to win the MotoGP Sprint race on Saturday.

Vinales said that he had lost confidence in his factory Aprilia RS-GP after a crash in pre-season testing in Malaysia, but in Portugal, the team had changed the balance of the bike dramatically and, as he said, “Now I have the feeling like I did last year.” It was Vinales’ second straight Sprint race victory, and the Spaniard was in contention for the Grand Prix race victory in the Portimao race until a mechanical malfunction threw him to the ground.

Marc Marquez (93). Photo by Michael Gougis.

Marc Marquez resisted the pressure from Pedro Acosta at the beginning of the race and scored his second straight Sprint race podium. Texas has been a happy hunting ground for the eight-time World Champion, and he was pushing. Marquez had more than one hairy moment in qualifying and in the race, but in the end he was well clear of any challenge from behind.

Defending World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (1). Photo by Michael Gougis.

Two-time MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia qualified well but had a horrible start, salvaging only two points with an eighth-place finish.

Raul Fernandez (25). Photo by Michael Gougis.

Raul Fernandez took ninth for the American Trackhouse Racing team on his 2023-spec Aprilia RS-GP. That made it three Aprilias in the top nine, with Aleix Espargaro fifth.

Joe Roberts (16). Photo by Michael Gougis.

American Joe Roberts (16) recovered from a difficult Friday to put his American Racing Team Kalex in fifth place on the Moto2 grid. Roberts edged teammate Marcos Ramirez and cleanly out-qualified both riders on the Italtrans Racing Team he raced with for three years.

MotoAmerica: Mission King Of The Baggers Race Two Results From COTA (Updated)

David Swarts

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April 13, 2024

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MotoAmerica: Mission King Of The Baggers Race Two Results From COTA (Updated)

Harley-Davidson Factory Racing’s Kyle Wyman won MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Race Two Saturday afternoon at Circuit of The Americas, in Austin, Texas.

Wyman took the lead on the final lap, put his head down, set a new All-Time Lap Record of 2:14.890, and secured the victory – his third in four races so far in 2024.

After winning Race One in come-from-behind fashion, S&S Indian’s Troy Herfoss led early in Race Two and looked like he wanted to try to win from the front. Wyman had different plans, however, and demoted the Australian Superbike Champion to the runner-up spot on the final lap and held him off to the checkered flag by 0.677 second.

Wyman’s teammate James Rispoli came out on top of a multi-rider slugfest for third over fourth-place Bobby Fong on his SDI/Roland Sands Racing Indian and Herfoss’ teammate Tyler O’Hara, who crossed the finish line fifth 0.5 second behind Fong.

24_2_COTAGP_KTB_R2_res
24_2_COTAGP_KTB_PTS_points

More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Herfoss, Wyman Split Wins In King Of The Baggers Challenge At COTA

Herfoss Takes Race One, Wyman Turns The Tables In Race Two After Two Epic Texas Battles

The first of two Mission King Of The Baggers races at Circuit of The Americas came down to a last-lap battle between Tyler O'Hara (29), Kyle Wyman (33), and Troy Herfoss (17) on Saturday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica. — The first of two Mission King Of The Baggers races at Circuit of The Americas came down to a last-lap battle between Tyler O’Hara (29), Kyle Wyman (33), and Troy Herfoss (17) on Saturday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

AUSTIN, TX (April 13, 2024)– Fittingly, the top two men in the 2024 Mission King Of The Baggers Championship split victories today at Circuit of The Americas with S&S/Indian Motorcycle’s Troy Herfoss and Harley-Davidson Factory Racing’s Kyle Wyman each winning a race on a sunny Saturday in Texas.

It was Herfoss winning the first of the two races after a come-from-behind ride that saw him at the back of the seven-strong lead pack early in the race. The Australian soldiered on, slicing and dicing his way through the pack and coming out on top of a hectic last-lap battle with his teammate Tyler O’Hara and Wyman. At the finish line it was Herfoss by .295 of a second over Wyman with O’Hara .685 of a second behind the winner in third place.

Troy Herfoss (17) celebrates after his come-from-behind victory in race one at COTA. The win was the Australian's first in the Mission King Of The Baggers series. Photo by Brian J. Nelson. — Troy Herfoss (17) celebrates after his come-from-behind victory in race one at COTA. The win was the Australian’s first in the Mission King Of The Baggers series. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Wyman’s teammate James Rispoli and RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson’s Hayden Gillim were a shadow fourth and fifth and separated by just .145 of a second.

Gillim’s rookie teammate Rocco Landers was a lonely sixth with SDI/Roland Sands Racing/Indian Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong managing to nurse his blown-up motorcycle to seventh. The team would work as fast as possible between race one and two to get Fong back on the grid.

Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson’s Cory West, RydFast Racing’s Kyle Ohnsorg and Mad Monkey Motorsports’s Max Flinders rounded out the top 10.

“Firstly, it’s an honor to be standing here today with my first win, especially with these two great competitors,” Herfoss said after his first-ever Mission King Of The Baggers victory. “There are more wins between these two guys than I dream of having. So, to get my first win here in COTA at MotoGP is a great feeling. To answer your question, yeah, it did feel like I was out of it. I’ve got a lot of days on the bike now. There’re no excuses to not be able to be competitive, but I don’t have a lot of experience racing because Daytona was not really a race in the infield. It was a race to get to the outfield. So, I didn’t see the true speed of these riders in the infield a lot of time, whereas today there were six guys going toe-to-toe, fighting at their best pace. So, I couldn’t ride the lap they were riding. I could not ride my bike the same way the guys in front of me could ride their bikes, even between the different manufacturers.

“I know it’s a short race, but I spent the first two laps just confused. Over-riding the corners, over-riding the braking. I didn’t concede, but I sort of sat back to take a breather. Got nabbed by Bobby Fong and went, ‘okay, it’s time. I’ve got make something of this.’ Honestly, once I started riding my own race it became a lot easier to make my passes. I knew that if I could sneak through on Tyler (O’Hara) behind Kyle (Wyman) I could see that Kyle was calculating what he was going to do with Tyler. I knew that was my only hope because I didn’t have better speed than Kyle. I just knew that if I could get him by surprise… Just because Kyle, Tyler and I are riding a different lap, even on the same bike. You’ve got to take them when you can get them. I fought as hard as I could. It’s a real privilege to be up here on the top step.”

Race two on Saturday at COTA was another Herfoss vs. Wyman battle only this time the win went to Wyman. Photo by Brian J. Nelson. — Race two on Saturday at COTA was another Herfoss (17) vs. Wyman (33) battle only this time the win went to Wyman. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Wyman turned the tables on Herfoss in the second race as those two sped away from the chasing group, setting up a battle between the two that went to the finish. Herfoss led most of it, but Wyman, after an attempted pass at the end of the backstraight didn’t pan out, finally pulled off a pass on the final lap. At that point, Wyman put his head down and set sail, though Herfoss was still within striking distance.

Wyman wasn’t to be denied this time around and he saved his best for last with a record-breaking lap of 2:14.890 sealing his victory, albeit by just .677 of a second over Herfoss.

Behind those two came an epic battle for the final podium spot between Rispoli and Fong with Rispoli getting the spot by less than half a second. O’Hara and Gillim were also in the mix with O’Hara topping Gillim for fifth. Gillim’s teammate Landers ended up seventh.

Tyler O'Hara (29) leads the four-way scrap for third in race two with James Rispoli (43), Hayden Gillim (1), and Bobby Fong (50) giving chase. Rispoli ended up getting the final spot on the podium. Photo by Brian J. Nelson. — Tyler O’Hara (29) leads the four-way scrap for third in race two with James Rispoli (43), Hayden Gillim (1), and Bobby Fong (50) giving chase. Rispoli ended up getting the final spot on the podium. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Ohnsorg, Flinders and West rounded out the top 10.

“Obviously, we’re super happy,” Wyman said after his 15th career Mission King Of The Baggers victory. “To come out of the first two rounds with this many points is a big deal. It was a good race. I got a worse start today, so I had to be more patient. Like I said on the podium, really learned my lesson in September. I really panicked when I got shuffled back and it cost me a championship, potentially. That’s just experience. You can’t rush or pay for it, and I was just patient today and luckily didn’t get caught up in the melee behind me. The Mission Challenge, I was in that, and it was just a joke. You can’t do anything. These guys are gone at the front if they get clean air. Tried to just methodically work my way forward. Got up to Troy (Herfoss) and then he started clicking off good laps. It started to grow the gap from myself back to third. So, that’s always a good feeling because you’ve got some breathing room, and you can start to plan things out. I didn’t really know where I was going to make a move. I was really indecisive. As calculated as I may have looked, I was like, ‘I don’t really know where I’m going to go. I’m just going to go when it feels right.’ I made one move down into 12 off the back straightaway. Got a good run. Got a good draft there. Overcooked it a little bit. He came back underneath me. Last lap, I felt like I had pace in the esses, so I wanted to try him in turn one and see if I could lead the whole rest of the lap, and that’s what we were able to do. So, pretty happy, obviously. Big thanks to Harley- Davidson, the whole team. They’ve just done an incredible job sticking with it this weekend. Doing a new track record on the last lap of the race, as hot as it was, is a great feeling and hopefully a sign of things to come.”

MotoGP: Tissot Sprint Race Results From COTA

David Swarts

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April 13, 2024

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MotoGP: Tissot Sprint Race Results From COTA

Maverick Vinales won the MotoGP World Championship Tissot Sprint Race Saturday at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), in Austin, Texas. Riding his factory Aprilia RS-GP, the Spaniard started from pole position and won the 10-lap race by 2.294 seconds.

Maverick Vinales (12) leads Marc Marquez (93), Pedro Acosta (31), Enea Bastianini (behind Marquez), and Jorge Martin (89) during the MotoGP Tissot Sprint Race at COTA. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez was the runner-up on his Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP23, and Jorge Martin bounced back from two crashes earlier in the day to score third on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP24.

Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta was fourth on his Red Bull Tech3 GASGAS, less than 0.2 second ahead of Vinales’ teammate Aleix Espargaro in fifth.

MotoGP Sprint Race
MotoGP points after Sprint Race

Moto2: Canet On Pole, Roberts Qualifies P5 At COTA

David Swarts

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April 13, 2024

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Moto2: Canet On Pole, Roberts Qualifies P5 At COTA

Veteran Aron Canet took pole position during Moto2 World Championship qualifying Saturday afternoon at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), in Austin, Texas.

Riding his Triumph 765-powered Fantic Racing Kalex on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 3.4-mile (5.5 km) course in 2:07.631 to lead the field of 29 riders.

After topping multiple sessions during the weekend, Fermin Aldegeur slipped to second in qualifying with a 2:07.740 on his Beta Tools SpeedUp Boscoscuro, and Sergio Garcia qualified third with a lap time of 2:07.819 on his MT Helmets – MSI Boscoscuro.

Albert Arenas was fourth-fastest with a 2:07.865 on his QJMOTOR Gresini Kalex, American Joe Roberts earned the fifth spot on the grid with a 2:07.868 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex, and Roberts’ teammate Marcos Ramirez claimed the final spot on row two and sixth overall.

Moto2 Comb Qual

Moto3: Alonso Earns Pole Position At COTA

David Swarts

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April 13, 2024

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Moto3: Alonso Earns Pole Position At COTA

David Alonso continued his domination of the Moto3 World Championship class at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) by taking pole position during qualifying Saturday afternoon in Texas. Riding his CFMOTO Valresa Aspar machine, the young Colombian lapped the 3.4-mile (5.5 km) circuit in 2:14.292.

Jose Antonio Rueda was next-best with a time of 2:14.309 on his Red Bull KTM, and Daniel Holgado claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a lap of 2:14.487 on his Red Bull Tech3 GASGAS.

The top 13 Moto3 qualifiers were separated by less than one second.

Moto3 Combined Qual

Fores Leading MT Helmets’ Entry Into The U.S. Market

David Swarts

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April 13, 2024

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Fores Leading MT Helmets’ Entry Into The U.S. Market

MT Helmets announces its entry into the US market, on the same weekend as the Americas GP

MT Helmets, currently present in over 125 countries, chose the GP event to announce its ambitious project that will start this year: the launch of MT Helmets in the North American market.

The new generation of MT Helmets offer an unbeatable safety-price ratio, a compelling advantage as it enters the demanding American market.

The commercial team introducing the brand to the US will be led by Spanish rider Xavi Forés, who will play a crucial role in this project.

After many years of significant international growth, MT Helmets has yet to tackle the challenge of marketing its products in one of the world’s most competitive markets.

This demanding project required having everything tightly secured, showcasing a product portfolio through which the brand could offer a distinct value, and being represented in the best possible way.

With everything ready and organized for MT Helmets’ entry into the United States, the MotoGP World Championship’s stop in Texas offered the perfect occasion to announce it.

Next-Generation Helmets

The products developed by MT Helmets are continuously evolving, and their latest generation of helmets reaches an exceptionally high level in terms of safety, finishes, product design, and quality.

All this is made possible by the product development team, the engineering team, and the graphic designers, all based at MT Helmets’ headquarters in Cartagena. The Spanish company’s products meet the most demanding European standards.

Xavi Forés, In Charge of the Project

The brand marketing in the United States will be led by Xavi Forés, a Spanish rider with a long international career who has regularly competed in the Superbike World Championship. In 2023, he was a key figure in the American AMA Superbikes Championship, where he clinched the Superport championship.

Forés has gained a deep understanding of the American market and is eager to lead the brand’s launch in the USA.

Xavi Fores on the grid at the 2024 Daytona 200. Photo courtesy MT Helmets.

Statements

XAVI FORÉS

“For me, it is a great honor to represent a Spanish brand in this country and to lead its commercial expansion. Since getting to know the brand deeply, I have been incredibly impressed by the high quality of its products, which I have also experienced first-hand as a rider. I participated in Daytona 200 using a KRE+ helmet, which left me with a fantastic impression.

All of the national distributors we have provided with product samples over these first months share my feeling. In every case, we have received excellent acceptance of the helmet and a strong interest in their sales, so we are confident that this project will be a success.”

JAVIER TOMÁS

CEO of MT Helmets

“We have wanted to enter the US market for many years, but we wanted to do so with the certainty of having a winning project. Our products are becoming more competitive every day and our sales are increasing in the more than 125 countries where we are present, so we are sure that they will also be well accepted in this country.

The truth is that we needed a key figure in this project and we have found in Xavi Forés an excellent leader of the project, so we are convinced that the time has come to enter the USA and grow there with MT Helmets.”

MotoAmerica: Mission King Of The Baggers Race One Results From COTA

David Swarts

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April 13, 2024

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MotoAmerica: Mission King Of The Baggers Race One Results From COTA

Troy Herfoss came from behind to win MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Race One Saturday at Circuit of The Americas, in Austin, Texas.

Herfoss was as far back as sixth mid-race on his S&S Indian Challenger, but the reigning Australian Superbike Champion pushed forward as the race went on and passed both his teammate Tyler O’Hara and Harley-Davidson Factory Racing’s Kyle Wyman on the last lap to claim his first victory in the class.

Wyman out braked O’Hara into Turn 11 on the final lap to take the lead, but Wyman fell victim to an aggressive pass by Herfoss and had to settle for the runner-up spot on his Road Glide.

O’Hara, the pole-sitter, led every lap except the last lap and finished third.

24_2_COTAGP_KTB_R1_res

MotoGP: Vinales Breaks Lap Record, Takes Pole Position At COTA (Updated)

David Swarts

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April 13, 2024

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MotoGP: Vinales Breaks Lap Record, Takes Pole Position At COTA (Updated)

Maverick Vinales captured pole position during MotoGP World Championship qualifying Saturday morning at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), in Austin, Texas.

Riding his factory Aprilia RS-GP, the Spaniard lapped the 20-turn, 3.4-mile (5.5 km) road course in 2:00.864, topping the field of 22 riders and breaking the All-Time Lap Record of 2:01.397 Jorge Martin set on Friday afternoon.

Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta was the best of the rest with a 2:01.192 on his Red Bull Tech3 GASGAS, and six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez earned the third and final spot on the front row with a time of 2:01.266 on his Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP23.

Defending MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia qualified fourth with a 2:01.352 on his Levono Ducati Desmosidici GP24, Bagnaia’s teammate Enea Bastianini was fifth-fastest at 2:01.439, and Jorge Martin (2:01.511) claimed the sixth spot on the grid in spite of crashing his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati twice Saturday morning.

The MotoGP Tissot Sprint race is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m. Central Time/Local Time.

MotoGP Q2
MotoGP Q1

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

All-time classic: dramatic COTA Q2 sees Viñales supreme ahead of Acosta & Marquez

Top spot for Top Gun as Martin crashes twice, Acosta takes his first front row, Marquez denies Bagnaia and Binder faces a fight back in Texas

Maverick Vinales (12). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Saturday, 13 April 2024

Qualifying for the 2024 Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas was a true classic, with a dash of drama and a dash of magic creating an incredible grid for lights out in Austin. On pole position is Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), who smashed the lap record set on Friday by half a second to carve out his own postcode at the front, three tenths clear in Q2. His pole lap is also a second quicker than pole in 2023. In second is rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), who takes his first premier class front row as his pace in Austin continues to awe. And completing that front row is eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) after his first qualifying top three with Ducati, aiming for an eighth win at COTA.

Just behind the #93 on the timesheets is reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), but sat directly behind him, with the #93 blocking his view up to Turn 1, is Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) in P6. There were two crashes for the #89 in Q2.

Q1

The first qualifying session was packed full of contenders looking for a way through, not least of all Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder – second in the Championship heading into COTA. The South African’s session didn’t get off to the best start as he slid off in a low drama crash though, leaving him in a race against time to get back out and move up the grid.

Once everyone was back out for that final push, it was close as ever. Red sectors lit up the timing screens and none more so than for Binder’s teammate Jack Miller, with the Australian wrestling his RC16 round to take over on top – tucked in behind the South African on track too. For Binder it wasn’t to be though, and he’ll start P17 for both showdowns at COTA.

Miller’s final challenge came from Alex Marquez as the Gresini Racing MotoGP™ rider took the second place in Q2, just 0.012 off the Australian but that enough to move through into the fight for pole.

Q2

12 riders, one pole position, and plenty of simmering rivalries. Q2 delivered an immediate small dash of drama for Championship leader Martin as he slid out from just ahead of Marc Marquez, but the number 89 was able to pick it back up and carry on. Marquez then went on to put in a fast one too, but it wasn’t the fastest. That first honour went to Viñales, with the Aprilia slamming in a 2:01.243 to better MM93’s first effort by just 0.023. There would be no foregone conclusion.

Once Martin had picked it up and hit the gas again though, he was motoring in the first sector. But then there was more drama for the points leader, with the Pramac sliding off again at Turn 18. Rider ok once again, but this time it was a race against time to head back to the paddock to try and reset on his second machine.

Back out on track, the session belonged to Top Gun. After duelling Martin for Friday honours and just coming up short, Viñales had a big reply on Saturday. The #12 Aprilia shot round COTA for a new all-time record, shaving nearly half a second off Martin’s record set earlier in the weekend. Gauntlet thrown, statement made, and pole position surely secured.

In the end, it was. Martin couldn’t make another splash to take on the front row, Bagnaia came up short, and Acosta’s own best effort is a stunning statement in itself for a rookie, but it’s still 0.328 off Viñales – the lone star under the 2:00 barrier at COTA. Marquez had one final shot at it, seconds to spare over the line and with yellow flags gone, but after already having hammered it earlier on the same run, there was no more magic left in the tank. In this session, at least. During the rest of the weekend? Stay tuned.

THE GRID

Behind that Viñales – Acosta – Marquez front row teasing enough action in itself, there’s even more waiting in the wings. Bagnaia is one behind Marc Marquez on the timesheets but on track, he’s on the opposite side of the grid, lined up behind pole. He has teammate Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) alongside him, and then completing that second row – right behind Marc Marquez on the road – sits Martin.

Row 3 is Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) despite a crash near the end of Q2, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Mandalika VR46 Racing Team) and Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) alongside. Then comes Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Mandalika VR46 Racing Team) after a spill at T1, ahead of Miller and Alex Marquez in P11 and P12.

Then it’s Trackhouse Racing’s Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira, who just missed the cut in Q1, lining up P13 and P14 for the team’s first ever home GP. Two-time MotoGP™ COTA winner Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) slots into P15, just ahead of teammate Fabio Quartararo, whose Q1 was also cut short by a low drama crash at Turn 1 on his final lap. Then comes Binder, searching for some serious progress once the lights go out as he looks to thread the needle from P17. And stop Martin’s lead growing -– unless someone else does that for him.

The lights go out for the first time on Saturday at 15:00 (UTC-5), before Sunday’s Grand Prix race gets underway at 14:00. It’s almost a guarantee there’ll be some history made this weekend, so do not miss a minute – we’ll save you a seat.

AMA Supercross: Race Report And Video Highlights From Foxborough

April 14, 2024

Gillette Stadium provided good racing conditions after rains the day before the event. There was some rain during the 450SX Class Main Event, but the skies cooperated to provide excellent racing. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports.