HIS FUTURE IS LIGHT BLUE: FERMIN ALDEGUER WITH GRESINI RACING MOTOGP
Fermin Aldeguer is the new standard bearer of Team Gresini Racing MotoGP for the next two seasons, with the Faenza-based team also extending their partnership with Ducati for 2026.
The partnership between Gresini Racing and Ducati Corse is tighter than ever, with the recent seasons that brought Bastianini and Marc Márquez to the official team, and Fabio Di Giannantonio scoring his maiden MotoGP win aboard a Desmosedici GP machine. It is now time for Fermín Aldeguer, who has been among the protagonists in the last two Moto2 season, to shine with the squad lead by Nadia Padovani, alongside Alex Márquez, who has already been confirmed for 2025 and 2026.
The (blue) eyes are now set on November 19th for the first official test…
(From left) Luigi “Gigi” Dall’Igna, Ducati Corse General Manager; Fermin Aldeguer; and Nadia Padovani, Gresini Racing Team Owner. Photo courtesy Gresini Racing.
THE GRESINI-DUCATI PARTNERSHIP EXTENDED TO 2026
FERMIN ALDEGUER – GRESINI RACING MOTOGP RIDER
“I’m extremely happy to be joining the Gresini family; this is an incredible opportunity to make my MotoGP debut with the best bike on the grid and with a fantastic team that has had plenty of iconic riders. I hope to get to grips quickly with the GP24: we’ll need to approach it step by step, but I cannot wait for the first test of the new season in Valencia. I’d like to thank Nadia and Gigi for their trust, which will be repaid.”
NADIA PADOVANI GRESINI – TEAM OWNER GRESINI RACING
“Family spirit is the concept our team is based upon, and it applies to our whole world championship history. It’s a great pleasure for us to welcome one of the most promising young talents in the series and our goal will be to protect him and help him make his way to the type of results that distinguish us. He’ll be with us for the next two seasons and Ducati will also stay in our garage until at least 2026. We’ll doubly happy, so welcome to the team Fermín!”
LUIGI DALL’IGNA – DUCATI CORSE GENERAL MANAGER
“We’re very happy to extend our partnership with the Gresini family until 2026. The team led by Nadia Padovani has managed to achieve great goals in recent years while showing all its strength and professionalism. Team Gresini Racing also brought several riders – some of them very young – to winning ways. This is why we’re sure that this is the ideal squad to welcome Fermín Aldeguer and to accompany him in his MotoGP debut season. I’d like to thank once again Nadia and the whole Gresini family. Looking forward to more exciting times together!”
I could tell which state I was in on Highway 129 with my eyes closed. The Tennessee side of the Tail of the Dragon is smoother and better maintained than most racetrack surfaces. The North Carolina side is no worse than most mountain roads, but it’s certainly no better, and the frost heaves, cracks, and potholes stand out in stark contrast to the satin-like finish of the Tennessee side of the Tail.
Both surfaces test suspension. The Tennessee side invites harder riding, with the rider able to apply more force at the bars and on the brake lever, to flick more quickly, to brake harder, more comfortable in looking for grip and speed. In North Carolina, the rider is looking for stability over pavement irregularities as well as a chassis that can keep both tires consistently in contact with the road.
Yamaha used the Tail to introduce its 2024 MT-09 SP. The new bike is all about suspension, even though its upgraded brakes are a genuine improvement. New KYB forks offer more adjustments and better action throughout the stroke, and an Öhlins shock provides more control at the rear wheel. The better suspension allows the rider to use the brakes with more confidence and precision. And after 161.2 miles of riding, a journey almost exclusively on two-lane mountain roads ranging from moderate to high speeds, it was clear that the upgrades allow the rider to get even more performance and enjoyment out of what is a very good standard model.
The base for the SP is the new-for-2024 MT-09. It is the latest in the line of the hypernaked, unfaired and upright sportbikes Yamaha introduced in 2014. The MT-09 is powered by the company’s smooth and responsive 890cc CP3 inline three-cylinder engine, which puts out a claimed 117.3 bhp at 10,000 rpm. Modern electronic rider aids are included, and Yamaha’s up- and down-quickshifter capabilities are expanded for 2024. The riding position features lower bars that are closer to the rider, and even on the standard model, the suspension has been upgraded.
The SP takes those upgrades several steps further. The SP versions’ KYB forks are adjustable for high- and low-speed compression damping as well as rebound and preload. The sliders feature a diamond-like coating for less stiction. The Öhlins shock is made specifically for the SP and features a remote preload adjuster. And a set of Brembo Stylema calipers are mated to a Brembo master cylinder at the front.
Yamaha engineers added adjustable engine braking to the SP model, as well as the ability to disable the rear wheel ABS. And they added Track Mode to the dash, so the rider can customize the electronics to their preference, trigger a lap timer, and eliminate data that isn’t particularly useful on a racetrack.
The Yamaha MT-09 SP retails for $12,299. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
The SP represents a significant improvement in real-world sport riding. The forks track bumps better, especially mid-corner, and stabilize the entire platform. That allowed me to trail-brake into corners with more confidence, using more of the performance of the Brembo caliper/master cylinder combination at the front. The Öhlins similarly kept the rear more stable, especially at corner exits, allowing me to drive out with more throttle. Incidentally, the most aggressive engine map – Setting 1 – on this machine is quite nicely dialed in. The response at the throttle is direct and – enthusiastic, let’s say – and it wasn’t an on/off light switch. I felt fully in control, even in the tightest switchbacks.
The rest of the MT-09 is just as much fun as I remembered. The engine has a definite powerband, with manageable torque at the bottom and a rush on top. The riding position is comfortable, the seat wide and supportive, and the increased intake noise is music to a gearhead’s ears.
The SP model lists for $12,229, or $1,700 more than the standard model. The standard MT-09 already represents a solid bargain for its level of performance. The SP version delivers an amazing amount of performance at a price that reflects real value. It’s hard to go wrong with either one, but when the pace picks up, the SP’s upgrades are worth every penny.
MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion Matthew Chapin Racing In Twins Cup At COTA
Newly crowned MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion Matthew Chapin will compete on a BARTCON Racing Suzuki GSX-8R powered by Team Hammer in the two Twins Cup races at Circuit of The Americas September 15-16. Team Hammer built the bike and will provide technical support to BARTCON Racing.
Chapin sealed the 2024 Junior Cup Championship one round early, by winning both races at Mid-Ohio on August 17-18. The 16-year-old will return to Junior Cup for the MotoAmerica season finale at his home track, New Jersey Motorsports Park, on September 28-29.
Matthew Chapin poses with his Junior Cup #1 plate at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson/courtesy BARTCON Racing.
BARTCON Racing team owner Colin Barton initially planned to concentrate on his NYC construction business in 2024 but decided to continue to run his race team after rider Eli Block took back-to-back Junior Cup wins at the final event of the 2023 MotoAmerica season. Barton then decided to add young Junior Cup racer Matthew Chapin after consulting with BARTCON Racing Crew Chief Mike Skowronek and after meeting Matthew and his father Phil, who is a former road racer.
Barton said, “Mike with no hesitation informed me that not only was Matty a talented rider but also came from good stock in the sense of his upbringing, personal character, and basic discipline which is very important to both me and Mike. The kicker was that Matty was already racing a Kawasaki Ninja 400 fielded by Mike’s company, TripleStrong Racing.
“I fully intended to minimize my involvement at the track for the season, so after meeting for the first time collectively at the Daytona 200, we formatted a scenario that the team was basically handed off to Eli’s father Eric, Matty’s father Phil, and of course Mike Skowronek who like myself always has his hands full running his performance shop TripleStrong Racing out of Bath, Pennsylvania.
“The 2024 season started at Road Atlanta where Matty won the first race and Eli took third in the second race. Matty then won both races at Road America with Eli second in the first race. At Brainerd, Matty won the first race and finished second in the second race. The penultimate round was at Mid-Ohio and all we wanted Matty to do to was get points and stay in the championship hunt for the finale at New Jersey. But it appears everyone forgot to tell the kid, who checked out and won the first race with Eli finishing third. Matty then won the second race, clinching the MotoAmerica Junior Cup National Championship!
Matthew Chapin (left) on the podium at Road Atlanta with teammate Eli Block (right). Photo by Phil Chapin/courtesy BARTCON Racing.
“So it gives me great pleasure to announce that BARTCON Racing will be fielding a Suzuki GSX-8R powered by Team Hammer for the final two Twins Cup races at COTA, where we are confident that Matthew will put on a good show for all our fans and supporters. And I am grateful to Team Hammer and Chris and John Ulrich who listened to my proposal and agreed to work with me on this project. Over the years they’ve been instrumental in advancing many up-and-coming young riders and I am happy that they agreed to help me give Matty this great opportunity to display more of his natural talent.”
Told about the plan for him to race at COTA, Matthew said, “I am beyond excited for this opportunity to race the Team Hammer-built GSX-8R at COTA and I can’t thank Colin, John, and Chris enough for making it happen so close to the next round. I raced at COTA two years ago when I competed in the North America Talent Cup and I am really looking forward to riding there again as the track is amazing. It’s going to be fun!”
Flo4Law Racing’s Benjamin Smith To Debut Full-Spec Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike At Circuit of The Americas
Flo4Law Racing, which fields team principal Bobby Davies, along with teammate Benjamin Smith, in Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup, is upping its game for the team’s home race at Circuit of The Americas.
While Davies will race his Stock 1000-spec Yamaha YZF-R1 in Superbike Cup, Smith will make his Steel Commander Superbike debut at COTA on a full Superbike-spec Yamaha R1 built by Freddy Carswell and his crew at Superbike Unlimited.
A long-time technical partner with Westby Racing, Carswell has been anxious to get back into Superbike, and Flo4Law Racing came up with an opportunity that suits Carswell, Flo4Law’s founder Florencio “Flo” Moreno, and Smith.
Smith will run his usual number 78 at COTA, and the Yamaha’s livery will feature Flo4Law Racing graphics with a touch of Superbike Unlimited branding to signify the collaboration between Flo4Law and SBU. Photo courtesy of Superbike Unlimited.
Also, Smith had an opportunity to test the bike at Barber Motorsports Park, with Carswell and crew in attendance. Everyone at the test was encouraged by how well Smith performed, and also how well the bike suited Smith.
“We’re incredibly excited to commence this relationship with Ben Smith and Flo4Law Racing,” Carswell said. After Westby Racing’s unexpected departure, I felt a profound loss and a strong sense of ‘unfinished business’. Since then, we’ve been not so quietly tooling up a Yamaha race program at Superbike Unlimited with the blessing of Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS) and with technical support from Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. (YME), but we hadn’t addressed a few key components; a rider and a partner with an equal passion and drive for success in this sport.
“I feel we’ve found a great match in Ben and Flo, and I’m looking forward to the synergy our team will bring to the paddock.
“I’d like to extend special thanks to YMUS, YME, Steve Korol of Evol Technology, Chuck Giacchetto of Giaccmoto Racing, and Richard Stanboli of Attack Performance for helping SBU get this thing going and also encouraging the process. We’re thrilled to arrive as Flo4Law Superbike Unlimited in Austin!”
Flo commented, “Ben Smith deserves to be on a Superbike, and we’re honored to be in a position to make that happen. We look forward to learning and growing with this opportunity, and we would like to thank Superbike Unlimited for their trust in our team. Much like how we run our Texas-based law firm, Flo4Law Racing wouldn’t throw our hat in the ring with the big teams if we didn’t think we were in a position to compete. Stay tuned, we’re just getting started.”
Smith added, “For the past 10 years of my professional career, the ultimate goal has been to be given a shot on a true Superbike. After an incredible first season with my Flo4Law Racing team thus far, I am more than honored and grateful to be granted this opportunity. We were able to complete a very positive test on the bike about a month ago, and I think it will bode well for us coming into COTA.
“This will be my first weekend on a Superbike of this caliber, and I can’t thank Freddy at SBU enough for entrusting me to showcase their machine. I have been working hard to make the most of the opportunity I have in front of me, so the goal will be to put on a show for the home Flo4Law crowd with a solid three races. I can’t wait for everyone to see this thing on track. We’ll see you all in Texas!.”
Smith and Davies will compete in three Steel Commander Superbike races at COTA, with one of the races scheduled for Saturday, and the other two races on Sunday.
Three-Way Grand National Championship Battle Races into Springfield Mile Doubleheader
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 27, 2024) – An unexpectedly tight Grand National Championship battle arrives at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois for the Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties on August 31-September 1, the penultimate weekend of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
Reigning Mission AFT SuperTwins champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) entered the preceding Arrowhead Brass Sturgis TT eying a realistic pathway to clinching an unprecedented tenth Grand National Championship this weekend at the iconic event he co-promotes with his wife, Nichole. However, an incident that took place while Mees was attempting to charge his way up through the field resulted in a disqualification in Sturgis along with a significantly closer points chase.
Mees now leads second-ranked Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) by just six points and third-placed Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) by just 12.
Further complicating Mees’ march to history is the fact that both Robinson and Bauman have stood atop the podium at Springfield – Robinson in doubleheader fashion on August 31 and September 1 of 2013 and Bauman the last time the Mission AFT SuperTwins lined up at the venue less than a year ago.
However, the champ is far from defenseless in his mission to retain the #1 plate. One of the sport’s all-time great milers, Mees has repeatedly proven himself up to the task when under pressure, as evidenced by his record-tying nine championships, and at Springfield specifically, where he boasts an incredible eight victories.
Of course, Mees, Robinson, and Bauman won’t be on track alone. Several potential spoilers could play an outsized role in swaying the championship standings one way or the other at a track that lends itself to incredibly close and unpredictable racing. Ten of the most recent twelve Springfield Miles have been decided by under a second. And of those twelve, half have seen three riders finish within a second of victory, four with four riders in contention, two with seven or more, and one that featured ten riders crossing the stripe at the checkered flag separated by less than a second.
During that span, 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 finished on the podium and within a second of victory at Springfield, while Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Sody Ent/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) have finished within a second of the win.
Meanwhile, rookies Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750), Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), and Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R) are primed to join that list as they return to Springfield armed with the experience of engaging in last year’s huge pack war for victory aboard 450s.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
By scoring his sixth win of the ‘24 season, Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) has put himself in strong position to clinch the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER title early for the third year in succession.
To do so, he need only end the weekend with 25 points in hand (perhaps 26 depending on how tiebreakers continue to shake out). At the moment, his advantage stands at 34 points over Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) and 40 over Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).
While the margin separating first from second and third in the championship chase is considerable, that doesn’t reflect the recent reality on track, where Kopp, Saathoff, and Drane have taken two wins apiece over the last six races.
Expect that same sort of competitiveness to continue at Springfield with the likes of Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R), Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) liable to turn this into a ten-rider barnburner for the top step on the podium.
There will also be plenty of off-track activities for fans to enjoy throughout the weekend, including the CAT Command Trailer, numerous vendors, expansive food and beverage options, and dedicated motorcycle parking.
All tickets are $10 off if purchased prior to Wednesday. If you act fast, Infield Standing Room Only tickets remain just $20 (kids 12 and under $5), Reserved Grandstand tickets are $35, and Premium Reserved Grandstand are $45.
Fans also have the opportunity to enjoy a VIP Experience by selecting a special ticket option that provides access to a premier reserved seat in front of the start/finish line and includes food, beverage, and a Pit Pass for $150.
Pit Pass Upgrades are also available for purchase for non-VIP tickets, which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.
Fans who purchase Saturday and Sunday tickets will receive a $5 discount at checkout. To reserve your tickets today, visit:
Gates will open for fans at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT) both days, with Opening Ceremonies set to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT) on Saturday and Sunday. 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 Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, September 8. The Springfield Mile I will air at 7:00 a.m. ET (4:00 a.m. PT) with the Springfield Mile II scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT).
Superbike Preview: Young looks to wrap up fourth title in season finale at Shannonville
Hamilton, ON – Ben Young will enter the final round of the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship with one hand already on the Canada Cup, as the season concludes this weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park, August 30-September 1.
It’s a return to the same venue where Young kickstarted his title campaign nearly four months ago with a pair of victories on the perimeter “Pro Track” layout, but now he will take to the interior “Long Track” layout to try and close out the season the same way he started it and secure a fourth career GP Bikes Pro Superbike championship.
The math is simple for Young, as he needs to just score four points out of the 54 remaining this weekend to exit with a third consecutive Canada Cup and retain his #1 plate for the Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW squad.
Young has taken nothing for granted, remaining adamant that “anything can happen,” and that is true – after all, he is no stranger to bizarre mechanical issues at Shannonville – but it would still take a near perfect weekend from Sam Guerin to try and leapfrog Young as he trails by 50 points.
What makes the odds even slimmer for Guerin is that Young showed zero signs of vulnerability on the Long Track layout last season, winning two of three races and overcoming a last-round deficit to Alex Dumas to win his third title.
Guerin was hardly as convincing in that 2023 finale, taking finishes of fourth, fifth, and fifth to close out the season. However, the EFC Group BMW star has been an entirely different rider in 2024, making it difficult to judge just how much those results will translate to his current form.
Already locked into a top-three spot, Guerin will have nothing to lose as he tries to erase his deficit to Young at the finale and complete one of the most improbable comebacks in history, but he won’t have a shortage of other contenders trying to get in his way.
Sam Guerin (2) sits in a solid second place in the championship standings and is the only rider with a mathematical chance of robbing Ben Young of a third-straight CSBK title as the series heads to Shannonville for the final round of the season. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.
The main favourite on race day may actually be Dumas, who is the most recent winner on the “Long Track” layout after ending the 2023 campaign on top.
The 2021 champion looked very strong all weekend a year ago, earning pole position and leading early in race one before crashing out, then leading majority of race two and winning race three.
That was also Dumas’ final weekend for Suzuki, and it’s entirely possible his new Economy Lube Ducati will suit the layout even better after Trevor Dion took it to three consecutive podiums on the Long Track last season.
The most recent winner in the feature class is also expected to return to Shannonville, as Trevor Daley makes his third appearance of the season aboard the OneSpeed Suzuki.
The circuit hasn’t been one of Daley’s strongest throughout his career, taking just one podium all the way back in 2014, though the same could have been said for Grand Bend and CTMP prior to his stunning victories.
It’s also difficult to critique Daley’s Long Track results from a year ago, where he overcame brutal injuries to finish fifth, sixth, and sixth. Now healthy, it’s entirely possible he could add a third “Daley Double” to his resumé at Shannonville.
Experience is at a premium on the 15-turn version though, having returned in 2023 after being absent from the calendar since 2004, and that lack of familiarity will play right into the hands of Jordan Szoke.
Szoke admittedly hasn’t raced the Long Track layout as much as other tracks in his career, but he will have more laps to draw from than most of the grid combined, evidenced by his podium charge in race one last season despite being at a worse stage in his recovery than he is now.
The CKM Kawasaki rider has not finished outside the top-four at all this year and should be a strong bet to at least continue that streak to end the campaign, looking much more like his old self in the second half of this season.
Another rider chasing a dream victory is Tomas Casas, who returned to the podium for a third time in his Superbike career last time out at CTMP. The Yamaha Motors Canada rider made his season debut after missing the first four rounds and didn’t miss a beat, finishing fifth and third after leading the opening lap of race two.
Casas looked very strong in practice and qualifying a year ago at the finale before a Q2 crash and injury ended his season prematurely. Now having regained his health and a bit of confidence from his CTMP effort, the two-time Sport Bike champion will be eyeing another podium – or maiden victory – at SMP.
Kawasaki rider Connor Campbell (814) leads the Brooklin Cycle Racing Pro Rookie of the Year battle with two races remaining in the 2024 season. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.
A pair of young Kawasaki riders will be vying for a bit of hardware to end the season, as Torin Collins will return for a third appearance and try to hunt down Connor Campbell in the Brooklin Cycle Racing Pro Rookie of the Year fight.
Campbell has led the award standings for majority of the season, finishing inside the top-ten in each of the first eight races for the B&T MacFarlane/Kubota Kawasaki team and scoring points on every occasion.
It’s been a bit of an opposite story for Collins, who missed rounds one, two, and four but has benefitted from his victory and podium in Edmonton to find himself just eight points behind Campbell entering the final round.
The difference may come down to familiarity, as Collins will be making his first ever trip to Shannonville while Campbell made his Superbike debut on this layout last season, hopping aboard the ZX-10R Ninja on short notice to take two top-eight finishes.
Collins will also be under a new tent for the third time in three appearances, remaining aboard the same Kawasaki from his CTMP appearance but departing the CKM program to ride for Economy Lube alongside Dumas.
More information can be found on the series’ official website.
Ryde has Monster weekend in 90th anniversary Cadwell Park season to reign as Pirelli King of the Mountain
Kyle Ryde (77) leads Tommy Bridewell (1) over the “Mountain” at Cadwell Park. Photo courtesy MSVR.
Kyle Ryde roared to both Pirelli King of the Mountain and Monster Energy Cadwell 90 Trophy honours after an unstoppable weekend as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship hit Cadwell Park.
The OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider lifted the Pirelli King of the Mountain Trophy after winning Sunday’s race and finishing second to Honda Racing UK’s Tommy Bridewell in Monday’s shorter Race Two – and then stamped his authority on the weekend by winning Race Three, and with it the Monster Energy Cadwell 90 Trophy.
Bank Holiday Monday’s opening race was all about defending champion Bridewell at his team’s local circuit, who hit the front on the opening lap and stayed ahead throughout the full 12 laps.
Home hero Lee Jackson on the MasterMac Honda got the holeshot at the start, but Bridewell was also fast off the line and made a move for the front at Park.
Behind, Ryde was pressuring Jackson, finding a way past on the fifth lap. He looked like he was poised to make a move on lap six but it didn’t happen and a lap later he fell back to third as Jackson swept past.
It took two laps for the Race One winner to find his way back past Jackson as the top three stayed close together on track, but nobody seemed to have an answer for Bridewell, who remained in full control.
On the final lap, he was able to just edge a small advantage as Ryde made a tiny mistake on the approach to the Mountain, giving him a small bit of breathing space as he rode to the flag, taking the win by 0.219s, as Jackson crossed the line third.
Ryde stormed to his second win of the weekend in Race Three, this time beating Bridewell by 0.702secs, as Bridewell banked his 100th podium.
Ryde got a flying start from second on the grid to grab the holeshot and lead the pack into Coppice for the first time as MasterMac Honda’s Charlie Nesbitt settled into second with the second OMG GRILLA Yamaha of Ryan Vickers in third.
On the second lap, Vickers shoved his way past Nesbitt and moments later passed Ryde, setting a blistering pace as he crossed the line into lap three.
But it was to be short lived, as he crashed out at Coppice seconds later, handing his team-mate the lead once again as further back, Bridewell moved ahead of Lee Jackson into fourth.
Ryde controlled the rest of the race from the front, as Bridewell’s next target was Glenn Irwin’s Hager PBM Ducati, which he passed on the fifth lap and set off after Nesbitt, passing him at Coppice on Lap Eight.
Behind, Jackson – who had dropped back to fifth – stuck a move on Irwin to climb back to fourth on the seventh lap before passing Nesbitt for third three laps later.
From there, the top three remained the same to the chequered flag, as Bridewell kept close to Ryde’s rear wheel, remaining around half a second at most off his rival.
With two laps to go, it was clear Bridewell wasn’t going to be able to bridge the gap and had to settle for second position behind a delighted Ryde, as Jackson scored another podium in third.
Race Three marked the end of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Main Season, as the riders now prepare to enter the Showdown in the final three rounds, when the points value increases.
After Cadwell Park, Tommy Bridewell remains at the top of the points standings, 19 clear of Ryde with Glenn Irwin third, a further 41 points behind. Oxford Products Racing Ducati’s Christian Iddon has slipped to fourth as Vickers sits fifth.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park Race 2 result:
1. Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 12 laps
2. Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +0.219s
3. Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +0.242s
4. Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +2.025s
5. Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +2.425s
6. Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +5.330s
7. Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +9.263s
8. Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +10.958s
9. Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +11.127s
10. Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +11.667s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park, Race 3: The Monster Energy Cadwell 90 result:
1. Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 20 laps
2. Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +0.702s
3. Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +3.436s
4. Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +4.368s
5. Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +10.337s
6. Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +10.919s
7. Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +18.378s
8. Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +20.150s
9. Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +20.402s
10. Billy McConnell (C&L Fairburn Properties/Look Forward Racing Honda) +22.845s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
1. Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 294
2. Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 275
3. Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 234
4. Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 231
5. Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 208
6. Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 184
7. Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) 170
8. Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) 163
9. Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 158
10. Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) 151
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Kyle Ryde. Photo courtesy MSVR.
Kyle Ryde
OMG GRILLA Racing Yamaha
“From what started off as a bit of a struggle, it ended up being pretty easy, which weekends like that don’t come very often but when they do you have to take the most from them.
“I would’ve liked to have taken all three wins but when it’s 12-laps everyone is pushing to the limit and the risk wasn’t quite worth it going wrong.
“The last race was probably the best race I’ve done, I was consistent and only made one mistake in the 20 laps. I got as many trophies as I could and was crowned Bennetts Rider of the Round – so thank you to the fans and of course my team for it.”
Round Five of the 2024 NorthEast Motorcycle Road Racing (NEMRR) Series had nearly everything you could ask for in a race weekend. Three days of activity under near prefect weather conditions, some great competition with some new faces making their way to the top of the podium, and a moving memorial lap held for an iconic rider who continues to make an impact on the lives of others long after his passing.
It’s often said of NEMRR that riders come for the racing, but stay for the people and relationships they make while they are here. The club is extremely proud of the atmosphere that this diverse group of riders creates at Loudon each weekend, and that family atmosphere was on full display all weekend long.
On Sunday morning hundreds of riders from across the region gathered at Souhegan Valley Motorsports to kick off the annual Scott Mullin Memorial Ride, which runs from the Milford, NH dealer to New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The ride memorializes a life-long motorcycle enthusiast and racer who lived an exemplary life both on and off the racetrack. All proceeds from the event benefit the Scott Mullin Memorial Scholarship Fund, which offers financial assistance to students enrolled in the Powersports program at Manchester Community College. The moving spectacle of hundreds of riders covered nearly the entire 1.6-mile circuit and was led by a truck and trailer carrying the Kawasaki ZX-10R that Scott enjoyed racing so much.
The Scott Mullin Memorial Ride at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR.
The racing action featured both a pair of old veterans who went undefeated over the weekend and a bevy of fresh faces on top of the podium in several classes. The winningest rider of the weekend was veteran Brett Guyer who went five-for-five across a variety of Lightweight and Twins classes. Brett has been developing a Kramer 890 in 2024 and managed to get the bike all the way down into the 1:14 range by the end of the weekend.
Brett Guyer (11) leads Tim Hogan (44) and Rick Doucette (1) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR.
The other “old guy” who had a perfect record at Round Five was Penguin Racing School’s Eric Wood, who started developing a Ducati Panigale V2 after the Loudon Classic. Wood went four-for-four across a variety of Heavyweight and Unlimited classes and was the only rider who found his way into the 1:11 range over the weekend.
Eric Wood (5) at speed on his Ducati Panigale V2. Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR.
Other standouts were Amateur Nik Paganis, who made big strides on his Kawasaki ZX-6R and dropped his times into the 1:16’s on the way to his first victory in the Amateur Middleweight GP Dash for Cash. The Kawasaki rider ended the first lap in third place, but was consistently the fastest rider on the track as he ran down the fast-starting Nino
Jordan and Charles Keighley, who rounded out the podium in the feature Amateur race of the weekend. Paganis has put in consistent effort this season and dropped nearly six seconds a lap since the start of the season. He now has his eyes set on the possibility of winning a national championship at the Daytona CCS races in October.
The other first-time winner of the weekend was rising star Jacob Crossman. Crossman has been sampling MotoAmerica races over the past two seasons, first in the Twins Cup classes and more recently in the Supersport ranks. That national-level experience paid dividends this weekend as he tracked down NEMRR front runners Paul Duval and Ian Beam for his first ever win in the Seacoast Sport Cycle Dash for Cash. The Dunlop-shod Yamaha R6 of Crossman started in third behind the fellow Yamaha rider Duval and the lightning-fast Triumph 675 of Beam. The pair of Yamahas clearly had the advantage on the back side of the course, but Beam was getting killer drives onto the two longest straights at NHMS, and the crowd on hand was on the edge of their seats to see if one of the Yamaha riders was going to be able to make a pass stick.
Crossman picked off Duval on lap two, but the veteran stayed right on the back wheel of his rival as the two closed in on Beam. On Lap Nine Crossman made a big move on the outside of Turn 11 and with clear track ahead of him he immediately pulled out a gap. Two laps later, Duval made his move on Beam, but when he came around at the stripe for Lap 11 Crossman had already pulled out a two-second lead. Crossman made special note to thank his parents for all of their efforts in supporting his racing career and looked forward to riding his R6 at the final MotoAmerica round at NJMP.
The final round of the 2024 NEMRR season will be held at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 21-22, 2024. Information is available www.NEMRR.com
A short movie by Nicolas Winding Refn and MV Agusta will be premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival.
Temptation comes in many shapes and sizes, and giving in to temptation often lets us crave forgiveness and absolution. But being overcome by desire isn’t necessarily immoral. Sometimes, it just expresses our attraction to beauty. And Beauty is not a Sin. In his inimitable style, Nicolas Winding Refn takes us along for the ride.
MV Agusta is proud to announce the production of “Beauty Is Not A Sin”, a short movie written and directed by Hollywood’s acclaimed Nicolas Winding Refn.
The Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro which, thanks to its meticulous craftsmanship, bold and provocative design, stunning beauty and thrilling performance, is a motorcycle that ignites every motorcyclist’s deepest desires, served as inspiration to create a piece of cinematic art that will be premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 31st.
Sport Bike Preview: Young returns to face champion Tremblay at Shannonville
Hamilton, ON – It was five rounds ago when Ben Young earned the first “double” of his career, winning in the Economy Lube Pro Sport Bike class before Sebastien Tremblay got revenge the next day at the opener of the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship.
Now, nearly four months later, they will square off once again at Shannonville Motorsport Park.
Young will return to the middleweight class to face the newly-crowned champion Tremblay in round six, with the two greatest riders in their respective classes set to go head-to-head once again with nothing but pride and resumé’s to play for at SMP.
It was Young who drew first blood in the championship, piloting his Scot-Build Suzuki to a victory in the opener on Shannonville’s perimeter “Pro Track” layout before Tremblay reversed the outcome a day later, fiercely fending off Young before a mechanical failure knocked the three-time Superbike champion out of the race.
That was the last we would see of Young in the Sport Bike division, as he chose to pull out of the class and focus on the GP Bikes Pro Superbike category and a fourth Canada Cup, which he can clinch this weekend with a 50-point lead.
Tremblay, however, would continue on to claim a second career pro national championship, taking three wins and six podiums in the next seven races to clinch the #1 plate for Turcotte Performance Suzuki.
Now the math and “safe strategy” is out of the way for Tremblay and almost gone for Young, allowing the duo to fully wage war on the interior “Long Track” layout at Shannonville in what is shaping up to be the most anticipated Pro Sport Bike duel in years.
It was Tremblay who won both races on the Long Track to end 2023, sweeping the finale in his first weekend aboard the GSX-R750 and sending a warning for what was to come in 2024.
While Young has never ridden his privateer Suzuki on the same configuration, he did win two of the three Superbike races in last year’s Long Track finale and has won five of his last seven races overall at the venue, including three of four across the two pro classes to begin this campaign.
It’s hardly a guarantee the two main protagonists will be alone at the front, however, as the grid has changed dramatically since the last time they squared off in round one.
The most recent winner in the class, Trevor Daley, is expected to compete in both classes once again and has already “done the double” twice this season, with a pair of convincing Sport Bike wins aboard his OneSpeed Suzuki.
Daley is a wet-weather specialist but has shown to be just as capable in the dry conditions that are forecast for SMP, and he will have no issue joining the fight with Tremblay and his close friend Young as part of the lead Suzuki trio.
Superstar rookie Mavrick Cyr has taken podiums in four of his last five races since joining Economy Lube Ducati and will have a more than capable teammate in Elliot Vieira, who challenged both Young and Tremblay at the opener.
Championship runner-up John Laing has also been no slouch at the venue, taking fourth and third-place finishes in round one and being a largely consistent frontrunner across the season aboard his Vass Performance Kawasaki.
Laing is in the midst of a four-race podium drought after taking three in his first six races, but the Alberta star has shown the ability to break out in a big way and could do so again in round six, especially if the weather forecast takes a turn for the worse.
Reigning Pro Twins champion Andrew Van Winkle has also proven to be a regular podium threat since joining the class in round three, and he should be firmly in the mix again aboard his old-gen FD Racing Suzuki.
Van Winkle clinched the inaugural Twins title on this same track last season and should have less of a horsepower disadvantage aboard his GSX-R600, with the tight 15-turn circuit lending less of a boost to the new-gen GSX-R750’s and Ducati’s ahead of him.
Another rider young rider with fond memories of the Long Track layout will be rookie Philip DeGama-Blanchet, who captured his first career CSBK victory in the Amateur Superbike finale a year ago.
The 16-year-old looked strong in the Shannonville opener with a fourth-place finish and took podiums in all four of his amateur races on this layout in 2023, giving the Vass Performance Kawasaki star a chance at a maiden pro podium – or more – this weekend.
While Suzuki has already wrapped up the inaugural Pro Sport Bike Constructors Championship and will surely add onto their lead in the last two races, the fight for second will be a fun one to watch between Kawasaki and Ducati.
The former currently sits in the runner-up spot with a three-point lead over their Italian rivals, but Ducati have outscored Kawasaki in three of the last four races and will hope the duo of Cyr and Vieira can do so again despite stiff competition from Laing and DeGama-Blanchet, amongst others.
More information can be found on the series’ official website.
HIS FUTURE IS LIGHT BLUE: FERMIN ALDEGUER WITH GRESINI RACING MOTOGP
Fermin Aldeguer is the new standard bearer of Team Gresini Racing MotoGP for the next two seasons, with the Faenza-based team also extending their partnership with Ducati for 2026.
The partnership between Gresini Racing and Ducati Corse is tighter than ever, with the recent seasons that brought Bastianini and Marc Márquez to the official team, and Fabio Di Giannantonio scoring his maiden MotoGP win aboard a Desmosedici GP machine. It is now time for Fermín Aldeguer, who has been among the protagonists in the last two Moto2 season, to shine with the squad lead by Nadia Padovani, alongside Alex Márquez, who has already been confirmed for 2025 and 2026.
The (blue) eyes are now set on November 19th for the first official test…
(From left) Luigi “Gigi” Dall’Igna, Ducati Corse General Manager; Fermin Aldeguer; and Nadia Padovani, Gresini Racing Team Owner. Photo courtesy Gresini Racing.
THE GRESINI-DUCATI PARTNERSHIP EXTENDED TO 2026
FERMIN ALDEGUER – GRESINI RACING MOTOGP RIDER
“I’m extremely happy to be joining the Gresini family; this is an incredible opportunity to make my MotoGP debut with the best bike on the grid and with a fantastic team that has had plenty of iconic riders. I hope to get to grips quickly with the GP24: we’ll need to approach it step by step, but I cannot wait for the first test of the new season in Valencia. I’d like to thank Nadia and Gigi for their trust, which will be repaid.”
NADIA PADOVANI GRESINI – TEAM OWNER GRESINI RACING
“Family spirit is the concept our team is based upon, and it applies to our whole world championship history. It’s a great pleasure for us to welcome one of the most promising young talents in the series and our goal will be to protect him and help him make his way to the type of results that distinguish us. He’ll be with us for the next two seasons and Ducati will also stay in our garage until at least 2026. We’ll doubly happy, so welcome to the team Fermín!”
LUIGI DALL’IGNA – DUCATI CORSE GENERAL MANAGER
“We’re very happy to extend our partnership with the Gresini family until 2026. The team led by Nadia Padovani has managed to achieve great goals in recent years while showing all its strength and professionalism. Team Gresini Racing also brought several riders – some of them very young – to winning ways. This is why we’re sure that this is the ideal squad to welcome Fermín Aldeguer and to accompany him in his MotoGP debut season. I’d like to thank once again Nadia and the whole Gresini family. Looking forward to more exciting times together!”
On pool table-smooth roads and cracked and rippled highways, the improved suspension of the 2024 Yamaha MT-09 SP proved its worth. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
I could tell which state I was in on Highway 129 with my eyes closed. The Tennessee side of the Tail of the Dragon is smoother and better maintained than most racetrack surfaces. The North Carolina side is no worse than most mountain roads, but it’s certainly no better, and the frost heaves, cracks, and potholes stand out in stark contrast to the satin-like finish of the Tennessee side of the Tail.
Both surfaces test suspension. The Tennessee side invites harder riding, with the rider able to apply more force at the bars and on the brake lever, to flick more quickly, to brake harder, more comfortable in looking for grip and speed. In North Carolina, the rider is looking for stability over pavement irregularities as well as a chassis that can keep both tires consistently in contact with the road.
Yamaha used the Tail to introduce its 2024 MT-09 SP. The new bike is all about suspension, even though its upgraded brakes are a genuine improvement. New KYB forks offer more adjustments and better action throughout the stroke, and an Öhlins shock provides more control at the rear wheel. The better suspension allows the rider to use the brakes with more confidence and precision. And after 161.2 miles of riding, a journey almost exclusively on two-lane mountain roads ranging from moderate to high speeds, it was clear that the upgrades allow the rider to get even more performance and enjoyment out of what is a very good standard model.
The base for the SP is the new-for-2024 MT-09. It is the latest in the line of the hypernaked, unfaired and upright sportbikes Yamaha introduced in 2014. The MT-09 is powered by the company’s smooth and responsive 890cc CP3 inline three-cylinder engine, which puts out a claimed 117.3 bhp at 10,000 rpm. Modern electronic rider aids are included, and Yamaha’s up- and down-quickshifter capabilities are expanded for 2024. The riding position features lower bars that are closer to the rider, and even on the standard model, the suspension has been upgraded.
The SP takes those upgrades several steps further. The SP versions’ KYB forks are adjustable for high- and low-speed compression damping as well as rebound and preload. The sliders feature a diamond-like coating for less stiction. The Öhlins shock is made specifically for the SP and features a remote preload adjuster. And a set of Brembo Stylema calipers are mated to a Brembo master cylinder at the front.
Yamaha engineers added adjustable engine braking to the SP model, as well as the ability to disable the rear wheel ABS. And they added Track Mode to the dash, so the rider can customize the electronics to their preference, trigger a lap timer, and eliminate data that isn’t particularly useful on a racetrack.
The Yamaha MT-09 SP retails for $12,299. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
The SP represents a significant improvement in real-world sport riding. The forks track bumps better, especially mid-corner, and stabilize the entire platform. That allowed me to trail-brake into corners with more confidence, using more of the performance of the Brembo caliper/master cylinder combination at the front. The Öhlins similarly kept the rear more stable, especially at corner exits, allowing me to drive out with more throttle. Incidentally, the most aggressive engine map – Setting 1 – on this machine is quite nicely dialed in. The response at the throttle is direct and – enthusiastic, let’s say – and it wasn’t an on/off light switch. I felt fully in control, even in the tightest switchbacks.
The rest of the MT-09 is just as much fun as I remembered. The engine has a definite powerband, with manageable torque at the bottom and a rush on top. The riding position is comfortable, the seat wide and supportive, and the increased intake noise is music to a gearhead’s ears.
The SP model lists for $12,229, or $1,700 more than the standard model. The standard MT-09 already represents a solid bargain for its level of performance. The SP version delivers an amazing amount of performance at a price that reflects real value. It’s hard to go wrong with either one, but when the pace picks up, the SP’s upgrades are worth every penny.
Matthew Chapin (95) leads teammate Eli Block (92) on the way to a Junior Cup double podium at Road Atlanta. Photo by Scott Hussey, courtesy BARTCON Racing.
MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion Matthew Chapin Racing In Twins Cup At COTA
Newly crowned MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion Matthew Chapin will compete on a BARTCON Racing Suzuki GSX-8R powered by Team Hammer in the two Twins Cup races at Circuit of The Americas September 15-16. Team Hammer built the bike and will provide technical support to BARTCON Racing.
Chapin sealed the 2024 Junior Cup Championship one round early, by winning both races at Mid-Ohio on August 17-18. The 16-year-old will return to Junior Cup for the MotoAmerica season finale at his home track, New Jersey Motorsports Park, on September 28-29.
Matthew Chapin poses with his Junior Cup #1 plate at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson/courtesy BARTCON Racing.
BARTCON Racing team owner Colin Barton initially planned to concentrate on his NYC construction business in 2024 but decided to continue to run his race team after rider Eli Block took back-to-back Junior Cup wins at the final event of the 2023 MotoAmerica season. Barton then decided to add young Junior Cup racer Matthew Chapin after consulting with BARTCON Racing Crew Chief Mike Skowronek and after meeting Matthew and his father Phil, who is a former road racer.
Barton said, “Mike with no hesitation informed me that not only was Matty a talented rider but also came from good stock in the sense of his upbringing, personal character, and basic discipline which is very important to both me and Mike. The kicker was that Matty was already racing a Kawasaki Ninja 400 fielded by Mike’s company, TripleStrong Racing.
“I fully intended to minimize my involvement at the track for the season, so after meeting for the first time collectively at the Daytona 200, we formatted a scenario that the team was basically handed off to Eli’s father Eric, Matty’s father Phil, and of course Mike Skowronek who like myself always has his hands full running his performance shop TripleStrong Racing out of Bath, Pennsylvania.
“The 2024 season started at Road Atlanta where Matty won the first race and Eli took third in the second race. Matty then won both races at Road America with Eli second in the first race. At Brainerd, Matty won the first race and finished second in the second race. The penultimate round was at Mid-Ohio and all we wanted Matty to do to was get points and stay in the championship hunt for the finale at New Jersey. But it appears everyone forgot to tell the kid, who checked out and won the first race with Eli finishing third. Matty then won the second race, clinching the MotoAmerica Junior Cup National Championship!
Matthew Chapin (left) on the podium at Road Atlanta with teammate Eli Block (right). Photo by Phil Chapin/courtesy BARTCON Racing.
“So it gives me great pleasure to announce that BARTCON Racing will be fielding a Suzuki GSX-8R powered by Team Hammer for the final two Twins Cup races at COTA, where we are confident that Matthew will put on a good show for all our fans and supporters. And I am grateful to Team Hammer and Chris and John Ulrich who listened to my proposal and agreed to work with me on this project. Over the years they’ve been instrumental in advancing many up-and-coming young riders and I am happy that they agreed to help me give Matty this great opportunity to display more of his natural talent.”
Told about the plan for him to race at COTA, Matthew said, “I am beyond excited for this opportunity to race the Team Hammer-built GSX-8R at COTA and I can’t thank Colin, John, and Chris enough for making it happen so close to the next round. I raced at COTA two years ago when I competed in the North America Talent Cup and I am really looking forward to riding there again as the track is amazing. It’s going to be fun!”
Benjamin Smith testing his new Yamaha Superbike at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo courtesy Superbike Unlimited/MotoAmerica.
Flo4Law Racing’s Benjamin Smith To Debut Full-Spec Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike At Circuit of The Americas
Flo4Law Racing, which fields team principal Bobby Davies, along with teammate Benjamin Smith, in Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup, is upping its game for the team’s home race at Circuit of The Americas.
While Davies will race his Stock 1000-spec Yamaha YZF-R1 in Superbike Cup, Smith will make his Steel Commander Superbike debut at COTA on a full Superbike-spec Yamaha R1 built by Freddy Carswell and his crew at Superbike Unlimited.
A long-time technical partner with Westby Racing, Carswell has been anxious to get back into Superbike, and Flo4Law Racing came up with an opportunity that suits Carswell, Flo4Law’s founder Florencio “Flo” Moreno, and Smith.
Smith will run his usual number 78 at COTA, and the Yamaha’s livery will feature Flo4Law Racing graphics with a touch of Superbike Unlimited branding to signify the collaboration between Flo4Law and SBU. Photo courtesy of Superbike Unlimited.
Also, Smith had an opportunity to test the bike at Barber Motorsports Park, with Carswell and crew in attendance. Everyone at the test was encouraged by how well Smith performed, and also how well the bike suited Smith.
“We’re incredibly excited to commence this relationship with Ben Smith and Flo4Law Racing,” Carswell said. After Westby Racing’s unexpected departure, I felt a profound loss and a strong sense of ‘unfinished business’. Since then, we’ve been not so quietly tooling up a Yamaha race program at Superbike Unlimited with the blessing of Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS) and with technical support from Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. (YME), but we hadn’t addressed a few key components; a rider and a partner with an equal passion and drive for success in this sport.
“I feel we’ve found a great match in Ben and Flo, and I’m looking forward to the synergy our team will bring to the paddock.
“I’d like to extend special thanks to YMUS, YME, Steve Korol of Evol Technology, Chuck Giacchetto of Giaccmoto Racing, and Richard Stanboli of Attack Performance for helping SBU get this thing going and also encouraging the process. We’re thrilled to arrive as Flo4Law Superbike Unlimited in Austin!”
Flo commented, “Ben Smith deserves to be on a Superbike, and we’re honored to be in a position to make that happen. We look forward to learning and growing with this opportunity, and we would like to thank Superbike Unlimited for their trust in our team. Much like how we run our Texas-based law firm, Flo4Law Racing wouldn’t throw our hat in the ring with the big teams if we didn’t think we were in a position to compete. Stay tuned, we’re just getting started.”
Smith added, “For the past 10 years of my professional career, the ultimate goal has been to be given a shot on a true Superbike. After an incredible first season with my Flo4Law Racing team thus far, I am more than honored and grateful to be granted this opportunity. We were able to complete a very positive test on the bike about a month ago, and I think it will bode well for us coming into COTA.
“This will be my first weekend on a Superbike of this caliber, and I can’t thank Freddy at SBU enough for entrusting me to showcase their machine. I have been working hard to make the most of the opportunity I have in front of me, so the goal will be to put on a show for the home Flo4Law crowd with a solid three races. I can’t wait for everyone to see this thing on track. We’ll see you all in Texas!.”
Smith and Davies will compete in three Steel Commander Superbike races at COTA, with one of the races scheduled for Saturday, and the other two races on Sunday.
Dallas Daniels (32) leads Davis Fisher (behind Daniels), Briar Bauman (3), Jared Mees (1), and the rest of the AFT Mission SuperTwins field off the line at Springfield in 2023. Photo by Tim Lester.
Three-Way Grand National Championship Battle Races into Springfield Mile Doubleheader
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 27, 2024) – An unexpectedly tight Grand National Championship battle arrives at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois for the Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties on August 31-September 1, the penultimate weekend of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
Reigning Mission AFT SuperTwins champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) entered the preceding Arrowhead Brass Sturgis TT eying a realistic pathway to clinching an unprecedented tenth Grand National Championship this weekend at the iconic event he co-promotes with his wife, Nichole. However, an incident that took place while Mees was attempting to charge his way up through the field resulted in a disqualification in Sturgis along with a significantly closer points chase.
Mees now leads second-ranked Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) by just six points and third-placed Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) by just 12.
Further complicating Mees’ march to history is the fact that both Robinson and Bauman have stood atop the podium at Springfield – Robinson in doubleheader fashion on August 31 and September 1 of 2013 and Bauman the last time the Mission AFT SuperTwins lined up at the venue less than a year ago.
However, the champ is far from defenseless in his mission to retain the #1 plate. One of the sport’s all-time great milers, Mees has repeatedly proven himself up to the task when under pressure, as evidenced by his record-tying nine championships, and at Springfield specifically, where he boasts an incredible eight victories.
Of course, Mees, Robinson, and Bauman won’t be on track alone. Several potential spoilers could play an outsized role in swaying the championship standings one way or the other at a track that lends itself to incredibly close and unpredictable racing. Ten of the most recent twelve Springfield Miles have been decided by under a second. And of those twelve, half have seen three riders finish within a second of victory, four with four riders in contention, two with seven or more, and one that featured ten riders crossing the stripe at the checkered flag separated by less than a second.
During that span, 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 finished on the podium and within a second of victory at Springfield, while Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Sody Ent/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) have finished within a second of the win.
Meanwhile, rookies Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750), Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), and Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R) are primed to join that list as they return to Springfield armed with the experience of engaging in last year’s huge pack war for victory aboard 450s.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
By scoring his sixth win of the ‘24 season, Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) has put himself in strong position to clinch the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER title early for the third year in succession.
To do so, he need only end the weekend with 25 points in hand (perhaps 26 depending on how tiebreakers continue to shake out). At the moment, his advantage stands at 34 points over Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) and 40 over Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).
While the margin separating first from second and third in the championship chase is considerable, that doesn’t reflect the recent reality on track, where Kopp, Saathoff, and Drane have taken two wins apiece over the last six races.
Expect that same sort of competitiveness to continue at Springfield with the likes of Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R), Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) liable to turn this into a ten-rider barnburner for the top step on the podium.
There will also be plenty of off-track activities for fans to enjoy throughout the weekend, including the CAT Command Trailer, numerous vendors, expansive food and beverage options, and dedicated motorcycle parking.
All tickets are $10 off if purchased prior to Wednesday. If you act fast, Infield Standing Room Only tickets remain just $20 (kids 12 and under $5), Reserved Grandstand tickets are $35, and Premium Reserved Grandstand are $45.
Fans also have the opportunity to enjoy a VIP Experience by selecting a special ticket option that provides access to a premier reserved seat in front of the start/finish line and includes food, beverage, and a Pit Pass for $150.
Pit Pass Upgrades are also available for purchase for non-VIP tickets, which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.
Fans who purchase Saturday and Sunday tickets will receive a $5 discount at checkout. To reserve your tickets today, visit:
Gates will open for fans at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT) both days, with Opening Ceremonies set to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT) on Saturday and Sunday. 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 Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, September 8. The Springfield Mile I will air at 7:00 a.m. ET (4:00 a.m. PT) with the Springfield Mile II scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT).
CSBK Championship leader Ben Young (1) heads into the final round of the season this weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park needing to score only four points to secure his fourth Canadian Superbike Championship.
Photo Rob O'Brien, courtesy CSBK.
Superbike Preview: Young looks to wrap up fourth title in season finale at Shannonville
Hamilton, ON – Ben Young will enter the final round of the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship with one hand already on the Canada Cup, as the season concludes this weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park, August 30-September 1.
It’s a return to the same venue where Young kickstarted his title campaign nearly four months ago with a pair of victories on the perimeter “Pro Track” layout, but now he will take to the interior “Long Track” layout to try and close out the season the same way he started it and secure a fourth career GP Bikes Pro Superbike championship.
The math is simple for Young, as he needs to just score four points out of the 54 remaining this weekend to exit with a third consecutive Canada Cup and retain his #1 plate for the Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW squad.
Young has taken nothing for granted, remaining adamant that “anything can happen,” and that is true – after all, he is no stranger to bizarre mechanical issues at Shannonville – but it would still take a near perfect weekend from Sam Guerin to try and leapfrog Young as he trails by 50 points.
What makes the odds even slimmer for Guerin is that Young showed zero signs of vulnerability on the Long Track layout last season, winning two of three races and overcoming a last-round deficit to Alex Dumas to win his third title.
Guerin was hardly as convincing in that 2023 finale, taking finishes of fourth, fifth, and fifth to close out the season. However, the EFC Group BMW star has been an entirely different rider in 2024, making it difficult to judge just how much those results will translate to his current form.
Already locked into a top-three spot, Guerin will have nothing to lose as he tries to erase his deficit to Young at the finale and complete one of the most improbable comebacks in history, but he won’t have a shortage of other contenders trying to get in his way.
Sam Guerin (2) sits in a solid second place in the championship standings and is the only rider with a mathematical chance of robbing Ben Young of a third-straight CSBK title as the series heads to Shannonville for the final round of the season. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.
The main favourite on race day may actually be Dumas, who is the most recent winner on the “Long Track” layout after ending the 2023 campaign on top.
The 2021 champion looked very strong all weekend a year ago, earning pole position and leading early in race one before crashing out, then leading majority of race two and winning race three.
That was also Dumas’ final weekend for Suzuki, and it’s entirely possible his new Economy Lube Ducati will suit the layout even better after Trevor Dion took it to three consecutive podiums on the Long Track last season.
The most recent winner in the feature class is also expected to return to Shannonville, as Trevor Daley makes his third appearance of the season aboard the OneSpeed Suzuki.
The circuit hasn’t been one of Daley’s strongest throughout his career, taking just one podium all the way back in 2014, though the same could have been said for Grand Bend and CTMP prior to his stunning victories.
It’s also difficult to critique Daley’s Long Track results from a year ago, where he overcame brutal injuries to finish fifth, sixth, and sixth. Now healthy, it’s entirely possible he could add a third “Daley Double” to his resumé at Shannonville.
Experience is at a premium on the 15-turn version though, having returned in 2023 after being absent from the calendar since 2004, and that lack of familiarity will play right into the hands of Jordan Szoke.
Szoke admittedly hasn’t raced the Long Track layout as much as other tracks in his career, but he will have more laps to draw from than most of the grid combined, evidenced by his podium charge in race one last season despite being at a worse stage in his recovery than he is now.
The CKM Kawasaki rider has not finished outside the top-four at all this year and should be a strong bet to at least continue that streak to end the campaign, looking much more like his old self in the second half of this season.
Another rider chasing a dream victory is Tomas Casas, who returned to the podium for a third time in his Superbike career last time out at CTMP. The Yamaha Motors Canada rider made his season debut after missing the first four rounds and didn’t miss a beat, finishing fifth and third after leading the opening lap of race two.
Casas looked very strong in practice and qualifying a year ago at the finale before a Q2 crash and injury ended his season prematurely. Now having regained his health and a bit of confidence from his CTMP effort, the two-time Sport Bike champion will be eyeing another podium – or maiden victory – at SMP.
Kawasaki rider Connor Campbell (814) leads the Brooklin Cycle Racing Pro Rookie of the Year battle with two races remaining in the 2024 season. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.
A pair of young Kawasaki riders will be vying for a bit of hardware to end the season, as Torin Collins will return for a third appearance and try to hunt down Connor Campbell in the Brooklin Cycle Racing Pro Rookie of the Year fight.
Campbell has led the award standings for majority of the season, finishing inside the top-ten in each of the first eight races for the B&T MacFarlane/Kubota Kawasaki team and scoring points on every occasion.
It’s been a bit of an opposite story for Collins, who missed rounds one, two, and four but has benefitted from his victory and podium in Edmonton to find himself just eight points behind Campbell entering the final round.
The difference may come down to familiarity, as Collins will be making his first ever trip to Shannonville while Campbell made his Superbike debut on this layout last season, hopping aboard the ZX-10R Ninja on short notice to take two top-eight finishes.
Collins will also be under a new tent for the third time in three appearances, remaining aboard the same Kawasaki from his CTMP appearance but departing the CKM program to ride for Economy Lube alongside Dumas.
More information can be found on the series’ official website.
Ryde has Monster weekend in 90th anniversary Cadwell Park season to reign as Pirelli King of the Mountain
Kyle Ryde (77) leads Tommy Bridewell (1) over the “Mountain” at Cadwell Park. Photo courtesy MSVR.
Kyle Ryde roared to both Pirelli King of the Mountain and Monster Energy Cadwell 90 Trophy honours after an unstoppable weekend as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship hit Cadwell Park.
The OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider lifted the Pirelli King of the Mountain Trophy after winning Sunday’s race and finishing second to Honda Racing UK’s Tommy Bridewell in Monday’s shorter Race Two – and then stamped his authority on the weekend by winning Race Three, and with it the Monster Energy Cadwell 90 Trophy.
Bank Holiday Monday’s opening race was all about defending champion Bridewell at his team’s local circuit, who hit the front on the opening lap and stayed ahead throughout the full 12 laps.
Home hero Lee Jackson on the MasterMac Honda got the holeshot at the start, but Bridewell was also fast off the line and made a move for the front at Park.
Behind, Ryde was pressuring Jackson, finding a way past on the fifth lap. He looked like he was poised to make a move on lap six but it didn’t happen and a lap later he fell back to third as Jackson swept past.
It took two laps for the Race One winner to find his way back past Jackson as the top three stayed close together on track, but nobody seemed to have an answer for Bridewell, who remained in full control.
On the final lap, he was able to just edge a small advantage as Ryde made a tiny mistake on the approach to the Mountain, giving him a small bit of breathing space as he rode to the flag, taking the win by 0.219s, as Jackson crossed the line third.
Ryde stormed to his second win of the weekend in Race Three, this time beating Bridewell by 0.702secs, as Bridewell banked his 100th podium.
Ryde got a flying start from second on the grid to grab the holeshot and lead the pack into Coppice for the first time as MasterMac Honda’s Charlie Nesbitt settled into second with the second OMG GRILLA Yamaha of Ryan Vickers in third.
On the second lap, Vickers shoved his way past Nesbitt and moments later passed Ryde, setting a blistering pace as he crossed the line into lap three.
But it was to be short lived, as he crashed out at Coppice seconds later, handing his team-mate the lead once again as further back, Bridewell moved ahead of Lee Jackson into fourth.
Ryde controlled the rest of the race from the front, as Bridewell’s next target was Glenn Irwin’s Hager PBM Ducati, which he passed on the fifth lap and set off after Nesbitt, passing him at Coppice on Lap Eight.
Behind, Jackson – who had dropped back to fifth – stuck a move on Irwin to climb back to fourth on the seventh lap before passing Nesbitt for third three laps later.
From there, the top three remained the same to the chequered flag, as Bridewell kept close to Ryde’s rear wheel, remaining around half a second at most off his rival.
With two laps to go, it was clear Bridewell wasn’t going to be able to bridge the gap and had to settle for second position behind a delighted Ryde, as Jackson scored another podium in third.
Race Three marked the end of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Main Season, as the riders now prepare to enter the Showdown in the final three rounds, when the points value increases.
After Cadwell Park, Tommy Bridewell remains at the top of the points standings, 19 clear of Ryde with Glenn Irwin third, a further 41 points behind. Oxford Products Racing Ducati’s Christian Iddon has slipped to fourth as Vickers sits fifth.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park Race 2 result:
1. Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 12 laps
2. Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +0.219s
3. Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +0.242s
4. Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +2.025s
5. Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +2.425s
6. Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +5.330s
7. Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +9.263s
8. Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +10.958s
9. Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +11.127s
10. Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +11.667s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park, Race 3: The Monster Energy Cadwell 90 result:
1. Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 20 laps
2. Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +0.702s
3. Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +3.436s
4. Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +4.368s
5. Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +10.337s
6. Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +10.919s
7. Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +18.378s
8. Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +20.150s
9. Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +20.402s
10. Billy McConnell (C&L Fairburn Properties/Look Forward Racing Honda) +22.845s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
1. Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 294
2. Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 275
3. Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 234
4. Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 231
5. Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 208
6. Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 184
7. Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) 170
8. Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) 163
9. Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 158
10. Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) 151
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Kyle Ryde. Photo courtesy MSVR.
Kyle Ryde
OMG GRILLA Racing Yamaha
“From what started off as a bit of a struggle, it ended up being pretty easy, which weekends like that don’t come very often but when they do you have to take the most from them.
“I would’ve liked to have taken all three wins but when it’s 12-laps everyone is pushing to the limit and the risk wasn’t quite worth it going wrong.
“The last race was probably the best race I’ve done, I was consistent and only made one mistake in the 20 laps. I got as many trophies as I could and was crowned Bennetts Rider of the Round – so thank you to the fans and of course my team for it.”
Jacob Crossman (218). Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR.
NEMRR Series
Round Five
August 24-25
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, New Hampshire
Round Five of the 2024 NorthEast Motorcycle Road Racing (NEMRR) Series had nearly everything you could ask for in a race weekend. Three days of activity under near prefect weather conditions, some great competition with some new faces making their way to the top of the podium, and a moving memorial lap held for an iconic rider who continues to make an impact on the lives of others long after his passing.
It’s often said of NEMRR that riders come for the racing, but stay for the people and relationships they make while they are here. The club is extremely proud of the atmosphere that this diverse group of riders creates at Loudon each weekend, and that family atmosphere was on full display all weekend long.
On Sunday morning hundreds of riders from across the region gathered at Souhegan Valley Motorsports to kick off the annual Scott Mullin Memorial Ride, which runs from the Milford, NH dealer to New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The ride memorializes a life-long motorcycle enthusiast and racer who lived an exemplary life both on and off the racetrack. All proceeds from the event benefit the Scott Mullin Memorial Scholarship Fund, which offers financial assistance to students enrolled in the Powersports program at Manchester Community College. The moving spectacle of hundreds of riders covered nearly the entire 1.6-mile circuit and was led by a truck and trailer carrying the Kawasaki ZX-10R that Scott enjoyed racing so much.
The Scott Mullin Memorial Ride at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR.
The racing action featured both a pair of old veterans who went undefeated over the weekend and a bevy of fresh faces on top of the podium in several classes. The winningest rider of the weekend was veteran Brett Guyer who went five-for-five across a variety of Lightweight and Twins classes. Brett has been developing a Kramer 890 in 2024 and managed to get the bike all the way down into the 1:14 range by the end of the weekend.
Brett Guyer (11) leads Tim Hogan (44) and Rick Doucette (1) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR.
The other “old guy” who had a perfect record at Round Five was Penguin Racing School’s Eric Wood, who started developing a Ducati Panigale V2 after the Loudon Classic. Wood went four-for-four across a variety of Heavyweight and Unlimited classes and was the only rider who found his way into the 1:11 range over the weekend.
Eric Wood (5) at speed on his Ducati Panigale V2. Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR.
Other standouts were Amateur Nik Paganis, who made big strides on his Kawasaki ZX-6R and dropped his times into the 1:16’s on the way to his first victory in the Amateur Middleweight GP Dash for Cash. The Kawasaki rider ended the first lap in third place, but was consistently the fastest rider on the track as he ran down the fast-starting Nino
Jordan and Charles Keighley, who rounded out the podium in the feature Amateur race of the weekend. Paganis has put in consistent effort this season and dropped nearly six seconds a lap since the start of the season. He now has his eyes set on the possibility of winning a national championship at the Daytona CCS races in October.
The other first-time winner of the weekend was rising star Jacob Crossman. Crossman has been sampling MotoAmerica races over the past two seasons, first in the Twins Cup classes and more recently in the Supersport ranks. That national-level experience paid dividends this weekend as he tracked down NEMRR front runners Paul Duval and Ian Beam for his first ever win in the Seacoast Sport Cycle Dash for Cash. The Dunlop-shod Yamaha R6 of Crossman started in third behind the fellow Yamaha rider Duval and the lightning-fast Triumph 675 of Beam. The pair of Yamahas clearly had the advantage on the back side of the course, but Beam was getting killer drives onto the two longest straights at NHMS, and the crowd on hand was on the edge of their seats to see if one of the Yamaha riders was going to be able to make a pass stick.
Crossman picked off Duval on lap two, but the veteran stayed right on the back wheel of his rival as the two closed in on Beam. On Lap Nine Crossman made a big move on the outside of Turn 11 and with clear track ahead of him he immediately pulled out a gap. Two laps later, Duval made his move on Beam, but when he came around at the stripe for Lap 11 Crossman had already pulled out a two-second lead. Crossman made special note to thank his parents for all of their efforts in supporting his racing career and looked forward to riding his R6 at the final MotoAmerica round at NJMP.
The final round of the 2024 NEMRR season will be held at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 21-22, 2024. Information is available www.NEMRR.com
A 2025 MV Agusta Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro at speed. Photo courtesy MV Agusta.
BEAUTY IS NOT A SIN
A short movie by Nicolas Winding Refn and MV Agusta will be premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival.
Temptation comes in many shapes and sizes, and giving in to temptation often lets us crave forgiveness and absolution. But being overcome by desire isn’t necessarily immoral. Sometimes, it just expresses our attraction to beauty. And Beauty is not a Sin. In his inimitable style, Nicolas Winding Refn takes us along for the ride.
MV Agusta is proud to announce the production of “Beauty Is Not A Sin”, a short movie written and directed by Hollywood’s acclaimed Nicolas Winding Refn.
The Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro which, thanks to its meticulous craftsmanship, bold and provocative design, stunning beauty and thrilling performance, is a motorcycle that ignites every motorcyclist’s deepest desires, served as inspiration to create a piece of cinematic art that will be premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 31st.
Newly crowned Pro Sport Bike champion Sebastien Tremblay (24). Photo by Rob O'Brien, CSBK.
Sport Bike Preview: Young returns to face champion Tremblay at Shannonville
Hamilton, ON – It was five rounds ago when Ben Young earned the first “double” of his career, winning in the Economy Lube Pro Sport Bike class before Sebastien Tremblay got revenge the next day at the opener of the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship.
Now, nearly four months later, they will square off once again at Shannonville Motorsport Park.
Young will return to the middleweight class to face the newly-crowned champion Tremblay in round six, with the two greatest riders in their respective classes set to go head-to-head once again with nothing but pride and resumé’s to play for at SMP.
It was Young who drew first blood in the championship, piloting his Scot-Build Suzuki to a victory in the opener on Shannonville’s perimeter “Pro Track” layout before Tremblay reversed the outcome a day later, fiercely fending off Young before a mechanical failure knocked the three-time Superbike champion out of the race.
That was the last we would see of Young in the Sport Bike division, as he chose to pull out of the class and focus on the GP Bikes Pro Superbike category and a fourth Canada Cup, which he can clinch this weekend with a 50-point lead.
Tremblay, however, would continue on to claim a second career pro national championship, taking three wins and six podiums in the next seven races to clinch the #1 plate for Turcotte Performance Suzuki.
Now the math and “safe strategy” is out of the way for Tremblay and almost gone for Young, allowing the duo to fully wage war on the interior “Long Track” layout at Shannonville in what is shaping up to be the most anticipated Pro Sport Bike duel in years.
It was Tremblay who won both races on the Long Track to end 2023, sweeping the finale in his first weekend aboard the GSX-R750 and sending a warning for what was to come in 2024.
While Young has never ridden his privateer Suzuki on the same configuration, he did win two of the three Superbike races in last year’s Long Track finale and has won five of his last seven races overall at the venue, including three of four across the two pro classes to begin this campaign.
It’s hardly a guarantee the two main protagonists will be alone at the front, however, as the grid has changed dramatically since the last time they squared off in round one.
The most recent winner in the class, Trevor Daley, is expected to compete in both classes once again and has already “done the double” twice this season, with a pair of convincing Sport Bike wins aboard his OneSpeed Suzuki.
Daley is a wet-weather specialist but has shown to be just as capable in the dry conditions that are forecast for SMP, and he will have no issue joining the fight with Tremblay and his close friend Young as part of the lead Suzuki trio.
Superstar rookie Mavrick Cyr has taken podiums in four of his last five races since joining Economy Lube Ducati and will have a more than capable teammate in Elliot Vieira, who challenged both Young and Tremblay at the opener.
Championship runner-up John Laing has also been no slouch at the venue, taking fourth and third-place finishes in round one and being a largely consistent frontrunner across the season aboard his Vass Performance Kawasaki.
Laing is in the midst of a four-race podium drought after taking three in his first six races, but the Alberta star has shown the ability to break out in a big way and could do so again in round six, especially if the weather forecast takes a turn for the worse.
Reigning Pro Twins champion Andrew Van Winkle has also proven to be a regular podium threat since joining the class in round three, and he should be firmly in the mix again aboard his old-gen FD Racing Suzuki.
Van Winkle clinched the inaugural Twins title on this same track last season and should have less of a horsepower disadvantage aboard his GSX-R600, with the tight 15-turn circuit lending less of a boost to the new-gen GSX-R750’s and Ducati’s ahead of him.
Another rider young rider with fond memories of the Long Track layout will be rookie Philip DeGama-Blanchet, who captured his first career CSBK victory in the Amateur Superbike finale a year ago.
The 16-year-old looked strong in the Shannonville opener with a fourth-place finish and took podiums in all four of his amateur races on this layout in 2023, giving the Vass Performance Kawasaki star a chance at a maiden pro podium – or more – this weekend.
While Suzuki has already wrapped up the inaugural Pro Sport Bike Constructors Championship and will surely add onto their lead in the last two races, the fight for second will be a fun one to watch between Kawasaki and Ducati.
The former currently sits in the runner-up spot with a three-point lead over their Italian rivals, but Ducati have outscored Kawasaki in three of the last four races and will hope the duo of Cyr and Vieira can do so again despite stiff competition from Laing and DeGama-Blanchet, amongst others.
More information can be found on the series’ official website.
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