BMW Motorrad returns to Garmisch-Partenkirchen with the BMW Motorrad Days.
The world’s largest BMW Motorrad meeting in the “Year of the GS” from 5 to 7 July 2024, set against the magnificent backdrop of the Alps.
Munich, Germany… After two successful BMW Motorrad Days in Berlin in 2022 and 2023, BMW Motorrad will continue the legendary format of the previous events this year. The world’s largest BMW Motorrad meeting will return to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Alps. This is BMW Motorrad’s response to the heartfelt desire of its fans all over the world for unadulterated motorcycle culture, a party atmosphere and unique riding experiences against a breathtaking Alpine backdrop.
For more than 20 years, the BMW Motorrad Days have been a highlight and a must in the annual calendar of motorcycle fans from all over the world. For the past two years, the world’s largest gathering dedicated to the BMW Motorrad brand has been held in Berlin, in the heart of Europe, where BMW motorcycles have been built for more than 50 years. Together with BMW Motorrad employees from all over the world, the BMW Motorrad Days 2023 in Berlin marked an important chapter in the company’s history on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of BMW Motorrad.
Through the BMW Motorrad Days, BMW Motorrad maintains a strong emotional bond with its community all over the world. The world’s largest BMW Motorrad meeting has taken place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen for a total of 18 consecutive years against the backdrop of the magnificent Alpine panorama.
And what better location for the “Year of the GS” than Garmisch-Partenkirchen with its magnificent surroundings, winding roads and nearby alpine passes. It is the ideal terrain for unique motorcycle rides – especially with the legendary icon of adventure riding.
This is why the BMW Motorrad Days are returning to this legendary venue in the “Year of the GS”. For three days, from 5 to 7 July, BMW Motorrad will thrill the international community at the foot of the Hausberg mountain with new products, exhibitors, shows, test rides and, last but not least, traditional Bavarian lifestyle and legendary party atmosphere.
BMW Motorrad will provide more detailed information on the BMW Motorrad Days 2024 in due course.
A group of California property owners and residents are suing the County of Monterey (which owns WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca) over increased activity at the track and the resulting increases in noise, traffic, and other environmental issues.
In its Complaint and Petition filed with the Superior Court of California, County of Monterey, on December 12, 2023, the Highway 68 Coalition claims that the County of Monterey was incorrect in approving the current Concession Agreement with Friends of Laguna Seca in 2023 because the County used “categorical exemptions to excuse the preparation and consideration of a legally adequate environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).”
The CEQA, according to the (California) Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, “requires public agencies to ‘look before they leap’ and consider the environmental consequences of their discretionary actions. CEQA is intended to inform government decision-makers and the public about the potential environmental effects of proposed activities and to prevent significant, avoidable environmental damage.”
According to the Highway 68 Coalition, the only environmental reviews occurred in 1974, when ownership of the property was transferred from the U.S. Army to the County of Monterey, and in 1983, when the County Planning Commission approved Use Permit No. 2991 “governing the operation and general development of Laguna Seca.” Neither of those environmental reviews, however, focused on motor vehicle racing or “assessed the sound generated from such activities,” claims the Highway 68 Coalition.
The group of local residents also contends that the 2023 Concession Agreement with Friends of Laguna Seca, unlike previous agreements, places no limit on the amount of event days WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca can host and no sound limitations on any motor vehicles “including racecars,” opening the door for increased activity and noise, which they claim is already happening.
Highway 68 Coalition alleges activity at Laguna Seca Raceway has “substantially increased” from 2021 through 2023 “compared to similar operations from 1974 until 2021,” increasing noise and traffic while providing inadequate water supply and water quality, and inadequate waste water disposal.
All of that, says the Highway 68 Coalition, has adversely impacted local residents and property owners.
The Highway 68 Coalition also claims that racing activity at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca isn’t even allowed under a 1983 Use Permit and the County’s Zoning Codes, which were established in 1985. But in the same complaint, the coalition quotes Section 21.68.020 of the County’s zoning code, which reads “Any use of land, structure or land and structure which was legally established but is nonconforming to subsequently adopted land use regulations is a legal nonconforming use.”
But unlike some media reports and Internet forum headlines read, the lawsuit is not trying to completely shut down WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Highway 68 Coalition is asking the court to order the County of Monterey and Friends of Laguna Seca to “cease and desist” from allowing activity at Laguna Seca Raceway to produce noise levels “in excess of the level of use and noise that existed at the time…when the applicable zoning was established” in 1985.
The Highway 68 Coalition is also asking the court to “vacate and set aside” the County of Monterey’s approval of the 2023 Concession Agreement and to “rescind the Notice of Exemption for the Concession Agreement” and to direct the County to “comply with the requirements of CEQA” and “to comply with Monterey County Code Title 21.84.050 when reviewing any proposed Concession Agreement.”
In a statement, the County of Monterey responded: “It is unfortunate certain individuals have chosen to file a complaint against the County concerning operations at Laguna Seca. The County does not recognize any merit to the allegations and expects a favorable legal conclusion. In the meantime, the lawsuit does not impact Laguna Seca’s scheduled activities and events for 2024.
“Laguna Seca, a world-renowned racetrack and recreation area, has been under the successful ownership of the County of Monterey for 50 years. The facility has become a vital economic asset for the County and the entire region. Beyond its economic contributions, Laguna Seca has served as a hub for charitable initiatives, allowing local organizations to host events and raise millions of dollars for noble causes.”
In 2022, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca produced an economic impact of $247 million in the Monterey County area from just its six spectator events, according to a survey of ticket purchasers. And that does not take into account spending by people attending the dozens of track days, schools, and non-racing events at the track.
“The County of Monterey is dedicated to continuing its responsible stewardship of Laguna Seca and ensuring that the community benefits from this unique resource,” the statement from the County of Monterey continued. “Business operations will proceed as usual, reflecting our steadfast commitment to maintaining the legacy of Laguna Seca as a thriving recreational destination.
“While the County acknowledges the existence of the legal process initiated by the local coalition, it remains confident in the merits of its position. The County anticipates a speedy resolution to the litigation and is committed to upholding the values that have made Laguna Seca an integral part of Monterey County for half a century.”
A hearing on this case has been scheduled for June 20, 2024.
TEAM HAMMER SIGNS YOUNG GUN ROSSI MOOR FOR MOTOAMERICA TWINS CUP
Team Hammer, Inc. has signed with Suzuki Motor, USA LLC to compete in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup series with the newly-homologated GSX-8R for the next two seasons, in addition to the team already racing GSX-R1000Rs in MotoAmerica Superbike and GSX-R750s in MotoAmerica Supersport. Following the new agreement, Team Hammer has contracted Rossi Moor, age 16, to race a Suzuki GSX-8R in Twins Cup. The multi-year contract includes opportunities to advance into Supersport and beyond.
Moor has already had notable results and joins a long list of talented competitors who have launched their professional careers with Team Hammer over the last four decades.
“I’m super excited about the whole thing. It’s a great opportunity and an honor for me. I’m ready to do my best,” said Moor. “I have known people from Team Hammer since I was a kid and I always wanted to race for the team one day. Also, my dad was a huge Suzuki fan when I was growing up, so he had some of those cool bikes. To get to race one myself now is something I always wanted, too.”
After racing and winning in the U.S., Hungarian-American Moor won the 2022 FIM Northern Talent Cup in Europe with five wins and 10 podiums in 14 events. “That series was seen as a gateway to GP racing, so the competition was very tough,” said Moor, who was born in Oregon and has dual American and Hungarian citizenship. Moor also raced in the FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship as a wild card. “There were usually seven guys within a 10th of the leader. If you were a half-second off, you might have been 18th, so not even in the points. Racing hard in Europe is an ‘every day’ thing. It forced me to learn fast against serious competition.”
A serious wrist injury suffered late in the 2022 season put Moor’s 2023 plans in doubt, but after undergoing reconstructive surgery, the Portland, Oregon resident raced in MotoAmerica Junior Cup last season. He finished second in the championship with two wins and a total of five podium finishes. “Due to my injury, it wasn’t sure what we were going to do last year. We ended up getting our bike the day before we had to leave for Road Atlanta. We raced it out of our van and I got to learn a lot along the way. I’m ready for this season and it has always been my dream to race for Team Hammer, a professional team with a long line of success.”
Team Hammer Vice President of Operations Chris Ulrich says Moor is the type of young racer who can benefit from Team Hammer’s racing experience. “He’s a young, hard charger. We’ve been watching him for a long time, over here in the Mini Cup and Junior Cup and also his results in Europe,” said Ulrich. “We’re excited to return to the Twins Cup class with Suzuki and the GSX-8R. It’s been a fun category for us. We had good success with Suzuki SV650s in Twins Cup both seasons we entered, winning the championship in 2019 and 2020–and we’re looking forward to rolling the 8R out at Daytona. With our infrastructure and the new Suzuki GSX-8R, we think we can do great things working with Rossi and Suzuki.”
ABOUT SUZUKI
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2024 season marks Team Hammer’s 44th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Race bikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 133 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 361 times, and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships. Team Hammer races as Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
Team Hammer and Vance & Hines Motorsports To Campaign All-New GSX-8R
Brea, CA (February 7, 2024) – Suzuki Motor USA LLC (Suzuki) named two MotoAmerica Twins Cup race teams today. In partnering with Team Hammer and Vance & Hines Motorsports, Suzuki takes another step toward its objective to race the new GSX-8R following the recent homologation of the latest Suzuki middleweight sportbike.
Team Hammer will race the GSX-8R in the team’s new 2024 Twins Cup effort. Racing the GSX-8R is in addition to Team Hammer’s efforts racing Suzuki GSX-R sportbikes in Superbike and Supersport. As one of road racing’s most successful programs, Team Hammer has earned over 130 pro race wins, 11 championships, and over 360 podium results. The team will race in the Twins Cup class as Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI.
Also bringing the GSX-8R to the starting grid in 2024 is Vance & Hines Motorsports, which fields an all-new Twins Cup effort. Vance & Hines partnered with Suzuki to win the 2023 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle (PSM) World Championship drag racing Suzuki’s legendary Hayabusa. Vance & Hines Motorsports’ new twins class effort is a natural addition to this successful partnership. The team will race the GSX-8R as RevZilla/Mission/Vance & Hines Suzuki.
Each team will name riders for the Team Hammer and Vance & Hines Motorsports efforts shortly.
The 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R sportbike offers a new, powerful parallel-twin engine in a strong and compact chassis. The GSX-8R is ideal for middleweight sportbike enthusiasts seeking dynamic, real-world performance and is anticipated to be the motorcycle of choice in MotoAmerica Twins Cup racing.
“The GSX-8R is engineered to satisfy Suzuki riders wanting a versatile, middleweight sportbike, to deliver on our dealers’ business needs, and to prevail in competition. The GSX-8R is an important motorcycle in today’s market,” said Kerry Graeber, Senior Vice President, Division Manager, Sales and Marketing at Suzuki. “The GSX-8R also represents an exciting new chapter in Suzuki racing and it is a perfect complement to the Suzuki racing efforts in MotoAmerica’s Superbike, Stock 1000, and Supersport classes. Partnering with these two well-respected teams, we anticipate the GSX-8R to be a natural extension of Suzuki’s existing road racing programs.”
The six-round 2024 Twins Cup series runs middleweight, twin-cylinder motorcycles enabling young, up-and-coming racers from around the world to compete at the national level. Twins Cup along with the entire 2024 MotoAmerica Championship kicks off at Daytona International Speedway on March 7 through March 9, 2024.
About Suzuki: Suzuki Motor USA, LLC (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
Will the new FIM Women’s World Championship be a viable class that will attract the best women racers in the world? It remains to be seen. To date, the best women in the world have taken their talent to the “co-ed” classes to compete. Frankly, there have been few, if any, opportunities for the best women to compete against each other in a class open to any woman who wants to enter, qualify and race…on the homologated machine of her choice. Even the new FIM Women’s World Championship does not completely address this, as there is an application process and a one-manufacturer spec grid.
MotoAmerica Junior Cup racer Elisa Gendron Belen.
While I applaud Royal Enfield and the organizers for putting together the Build. Train. Race. series to showcase women and attract them to the sport, it is limited to riders who are selected through an application process, and obviously to one manufacturer/model. This is not unlike Italika Racing’s International Latin American Women’s Cup that I personally competed in for the past three seasons. There is also a selection process for the women competitors and again, a single manufacturer/model to ride. Neither of these series allows for an “open” qualifying opportunity on a variety of homologated machines, which could possibly increase the size of the grids and draw talented women racers from the “co-ed” classes.
In spite of the one manufacturer limitation and application process, there does seem to be some excitement building for the FIM Women’s World Championship, which is marketed as a series that will attract and highlight the talents and abilities of the best female racers around the world. There are high hopes among promoters, teams, racers and fans that the series will finally provide the long-awaited platform that top female road racers have been looking for to showcase their talents on a global stage.
The women will be racing the Yamaha R7 motorcycle in this 12-race spec-class championship and will compete at six European rounds of the FIM Superbike World Championship. The pitch of this single manufacturer/model spec-class is that the promoter-mandated standardized equipment will ensure that the machines are similar in power delivery and handling so that no one machine has a competitive advantage, and the series will therefore exhibit the talent of the individual racer. But there is also a risk to a series completely dependent on one manufacturer for support.
Women from series such as ASRA, WERA, MotoAmerica, Italika Racing, and the European Women’s Cup are preparing to go and compete in this inaugural year of the championship.
Of course, many uncertainties remain regarding the organization of the series and the level of competition it will attract.
While there have been opportunities for women to race in women’s championships before, generally they have not garnered the validation or respect of the racing community at large and many women racers have chosen to avoid them all together in an effort to move further in their careers. There are, in fact, some very fast women riders on the MotoAmerica grid that have publicly stated their lack of interest in a women-only series. Likewise, the fastest women racers in Europe have also generally competed in the traditional “co-ed” classes.
The FIM Women’s World Championship hopes to accomplish what others have not and establish a series where the women’s championship can be taken seriously and enjoyed by fans of the road racing world community. While this will still be a learning year for the championship and its organizers, it is important to the series that their riders are marketed and approached as seriously as any men’s championship. Many women’s championships have struggled to establish validity within the racing community which, as noted previously, has turned women racers away from participating in those competitions.
Women road racers have long had to forge a path for themselves in the heavily male-dominated world of motorcycle racing. The small number of women racers have often led to very few women on the grid at professional race events, if at all. The hopes are high that with World Superbike taking up the effort, that a new era for women racers is just beginning.
Elisa Gendron Belen competes in the MotoAmerica Jr. Cup class on her Karns Performance Kawasaki Ninja 400 and is a Sport Management major with minors in International Studies and Language & Culture at St. John Fisher University. Elisa also works with both KYT Helmet Americas and Chicken Hawk Racing as a customer service representative.
#SepangTest: Bastianini hits back to head Martin & Binder on Day 2
The laptimes tumble on Wednesday as the 1:57 club expands and the ‘Beast’ takes to the top
Wednesday, 07 February 2024
Ducati Lenovo Team’s Enea Bastianini produced late brilliance on Day 2 of the Sepang Test, claiming top spot thanks to a new, albeit unofficial, outright lap record. Five riders all bettered 2023 Champion Pecco Bagnaia’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) pole position lap from late last year, with The Beast firing in a historic 1:57.134 to once again prove his pace in Malaysia.
Jorge Martin (89). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin had to settle for second in the end after leading the pack for the vast majority of the day. The Spaniard finished 0.139 seconds adrift of 2023 Malaysian Grand Prix winner Bastianini. KTM and Aprilia were hot on the heels of the Ducati duo too, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completing the top three ahead of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing).
After an under-the-radar opening day in Sepang, 2023 World Champion Bagnaia also joined the party, claiming the final spot inside the top five with a 1:57.469, leaving him just over three tenths behind his teammate.
Ducati Lenovo, Prima Pramac, Pertamina Enduro VR46 & Gresini
Bastianini, Martin and Bagnaia all put themselves under the lap record on Wednesday, with all three doing their laps with the Bologna factory’s much-improved new engine. The bulk of their work was focused on aerodynamics, however, with a united consensus yet to be reached. Michele Pirro was also back out subbing for Franco Morbidelli.
A late tumble for Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) couldn’t dampen what was otherwise another positive day for The Doctor’s squad. The #72 rounded out Day 2 in ninth place, and ahead of one name he had his eye on, whilst Fabio Di Giannantonio continued to impress. The Italian was one of the riders on top form in the second half of 2023, and he’s carried that momentum into 2024 despite the team switch.
Alex Marquez (73). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Nobody did more laps than Gresini Racing’s Marc Marquez as he looked to make up for some lost time yesterday after a couple of small issues. The eight-time World Champion clocked 72 laps in total, 10 of which were an impressive Tissot Sprint simulation alongside his teammate. The #93 was just over 2 seconds quicker than the Sprint-winning time in 2023. But Alex Marquez on the #73 was a further two seconds quicker again…
Red Bull KTM & Red Bull GASGAS Tech3
Binder led the charge on Wednesday, but superstar rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) found yet another step forward, posting a 1:57.726 – a lap good enough for the middle of the second row of the grid in 2023. Big smiles for his side of the box! It was a tougher day on the other side, however, with Augusto Fernandez frustrated at his lack of progress after a couple of issues lost him some time. Steps forward, he reported, but not fast enough yet.
Brad Binder (33). Photo courtesy Dorna.
On the orange side, Jack Miller joined Binder in working their way through KTM’s various aerodynamic upgrades. The Australian finished 15th as the two take up the workload first refined by test riders Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaro in the Shakedown.
Aprilia & Trackhouse Racing
There were some contrasting emotions in the factory Aprilia box with Aleix Espargaro taking that impressive fourth, whilst Maverick Viñales was struggling with rear grip and, as a result, didn’t push for a time attack. But he reported the aim, regardless, is to be fast all year, not just one lap. The Spaniard was 18th today, one place and one tenth ahead of a similarly frustrated Miguel Oliveira. Trackhouse Racing’s Oliveira, still, said Espargaro’s fast lap was good to see for the whole squad as each work on their own programmes.
Aleix Espargaro (41). Photo courtesy Dorna.
The trio also lapped together in the midday sun, ostensibly to check out the effect of the slipstream and potentially to put the machine through its paces in the heat, something that was tricky for the factory at times in 2023. Lorenzo Savadori, meanwhile, is the replacement for Raul Fernandez at Trackhouse for the rest of this test as Fernandez recovers from a crash on Day 1, with nothing broken but precaution the name of the game.
Repsol Honda & CASTROL/IDEMITSU Honda LCR
Repsol Honda’s Luca Marini and Idemitsu LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami put together the longest runs of anyone on Wednesday: 13 consecutive laps apiece. 10 of Marini’s laps were in the 1:59s, compared to only two 1:59s between all four Honda riders in last year’s Sprint and Grand Prix.
Joan Mir (36). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) was also able to put in a headline laptime, taking the final spot in top ten. The 2020 World Champion was six tenths quicker than his Q1 performance last year, but reiterated that a lot of work is still to be done. Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR), meanwhile, was another tenth and a half off Mir – but he’s been the Honda rider most praising the leap already made.
Monster Energy Yamaha
Electronics was the key focus for Yamaha, but Fabio Quartararo was left wanting a little more. The Frenchman managed to improve on his best lap from last year’s Malaysian Grand Prix but he was still three quarters of a second adrift of top spot. He said they’re still suffering a lack of pace during time attacks, something they’ll continue working on. The 2021 World Champion could only manage 11th today, with his new teammate Alex Rins a quarter of a second further back in 13th. But on the speed trap, there was a big ray of light for the Iwata marque as Quartararo was the outright quickest.
Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Dorna.
That’s all she wrote on Wednesday! There’s more action on yet to come on Thursday from 10:00 local time (UTC+8) until 18:00, so make sure you join us on motogp.com and across social media to get the full lowdown as the #SepangTest concludes. Then it’s off to Qatar for another two days of testing before that first date with racing destiny at Lusail in March.
More, from a press release issued by Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team:
DAY2 IN MALAYSIA FOR THE PERTAMINA ENDURO VR46 RACING TEAM
The work of Di Giannantonio and Bezzecchi continues at Sepang. Both under the wall of 1.58 and respectively in sixth and ninth position in the combined standings
SEPANG (Malaysia), February 7th 2024 – Another productive day for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team at the Sepang International Circuit where the first official MotoGP testing sessions of the 2024 season are underway. Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marco Bezzecchi, riding the Ducati Fluo Stream, they are both under the wall of 1.58 and finished in sixth and ninth place in the combined of the Day2.
Able of a chronometric step already in the morning, Fabio sets an excellent 1’57.619, a time that mean a gap of just four tenths from the provisional P1 (Bastianini, 1’57.134). 54 laps on the eve of the last day of work, tomorrow from 10.00 AM local time.
First ever to back to the track, Marco, immediately dealing with the first time attack of the season and he signs a best of 1’57.867. For him too, around fifty laps and a crash in the final minutes of the session at turn 7.
Marco Bezzecchi (72). Photo courtesy Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team.
MARCO BEZZECCHI – 72
I’m sorry for the ending, the crash wasn’t necessary. I’m happy with the work done, we tried different things and gathered a lot of information. I’m not completely satisfied yet, because I can still make a step in riding. I’m not at 100%, but we already have some ideas for tomorrow. At the moment, if things remain like this, I don’t think we will do a race simulation. I prefer to focus on the setup, but we don’t rule out the possibility of finding some good solutions tomorrow and thus changing our plan.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (49). Photo courtesy Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team.
FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO – 49
I am surprised, in a positive way obviously. In the morning we struggled a bit, I tried two front tires and I wasn’t completely comfortable in riding. We were a little late on the plan, but in the afternoon we tried a change that made us take a big step forward also in terms of quality. We went very fast, we worked well and we moved in the direction we wanted. In terms of flying lap, maybe we’re missing something, but I’m not worried. I’m really happy with the pace and tomorrow maybe we’ll try a Sprint Race simulation.
More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Search for One-Lap Speed at Sepang Test Day 2
Sepang (Malaysia), 7th February 2024
SEPANG MOTOGP OFFICIAL TEST
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins continued their programme at the second day of testing at the Sepang International Circuit. The teammates put in numerous laps and took 11th and 13th place respectively in today’s and the combined timesheets.
11th F. QUARTARARO 1’57.888 / 53 LAPS
13th Á. RINS 1’58.110 / 50 LAPS
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins were back on track at the Sepang MotoGP Official Test for a second day of riding in Malaysia. They continued to work through a number of different settings, taking 11th and 13th place respectively in today’s and the combined testing rankings.
Quartararo continued to show his motivation at the Sepang Test, completing 53 laps in total during which he tried various set-ups. The Frenchman showed off the 2024 YZR-M1’s top speed, clocking 338.5km/h. However, he is still looking to improve his time attack results. His best time of 1’57.888s, set on lap 7, kept him in 11th place, 0.754s from first.
After a solid first day of testing, Rins resumed his work on electronics and bike set-up. Getting more and more used to the YZR-M1 over the course of 50 laps, he bettered his time by 0.606s compared to Day 1. His 1’58.110s, set on lap 49, had him end Day 2 in 13th place with a 0.976s margin to the top.
Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Monster Energy Yamaha.
FABIO QUARTARARO
We are first on top speed today, but that’s not what we aimed to be first in. The bike is very fast, but we still have to improve our fast lap. We’re finding little improvements, but nothing great. We have to find a solution, especially on the rear grip, where I think we are missing out a little bit. Hopefully we can make a step tomorrow and in the Qatar Test.
Alex Rins (42). Photo courtesy Monster Energy Yamaha.
ÁLEX RINS
We are quite happy with the results we got today. We focused a little bit more on the electronics side, just trying to improve the things we tried yesterday. I also tried some different swingarms, and we also worked on the set-up. Overall, I made some kilometres on the bike, and I’m able to understand the M1 better, so I can try to find a better set-up to adapt the bike to my riding style. The engine that Fabio tested in Valencia and that they brought here – but a modified version – works quite well. So, we will start the season with this engine, for sure.
More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:
Mir finds a second on second day of Sepang MotoGP Test action
Both Repsol Honda Team riders made improvements as they continued to work on their 2024 machines, Joan Mir rounding out the top ten and Luca Marini in 17th.
Rain once again stayed away from the Sepang International Circuit as the MotoGP grid enjoyed an uninterrupted day of running. The Repsol Honda Team powered ahead with their testing programme, both riders able to make a step forward in their outright speed.
Wednesday in Sepang saw a return to positive progress for Joan Mir and his side of the Repsol Honda Team garage as they found some of the speed which had illuded them on the opening day. Already over half a second faster than his Qualifying time from the 2023 Malaysian GP and almost a full second faster than his time from the day before, Mir would ultimately end the day in tenth place with 39 laps completed. This left the #36 content with the work done and eager to make further improvements on the final day.
Another busy day in the Malaysian heat saw Luca Marini complete 41 laps with a best time of 1’58.394 – over half a second faster than his quickest time from Tuesday. In the afternoon, Marini turned his attentions to putting together a longer run to better understand the Repsol Honda Team machine over race distance. The exercise provided the Repsol Honda team and Marini with further areas to explore on the last day and later in Qatar.
The third and final day of the Sepang Test will begin at 10:00 Local Time.
Joan Mir (36). Photo courtesy HRC.
Joan Mir
10TH 1’57.872
“Yesterday we tried a lot of things and today was about confirming those things which were working well. Today we had a base that I was comfortable with, so that is a great step to have made here and as a result I was able to improve my laptop by quite a lot. Already 0.6s faster than Qualifying here last year where I was ahead of my teammate. We are seeing the potential that’s there and I am happy with what we’ve done today, but we have to stay grounded and keep on working because there is still some margin. One last day here before we start thinking about the Qatar Test.”
Luca Marini (10). Photo courtesy HRC.
Luca Marini
17TH 1’58.394
“It was another busy day in Sepang. I did a long run alongside trying many different things. The long run showed us many things and we were able to understand the work we need to do because I was wanting a bit more from it. It was positive to understand the bike and how it changes with the tyre wear during the course of a race. With new tyres I feel quite good so we need to match that feeling when the tyres are more used. This is why we go testing, to understand these points and to use the time we have to keep working on them. Time to rest and prepare for the last day here in Malaysia.”
More, from a press release issued by Red Bull GASGAS Tech3:
THE PREPARATION FOR 2024 CONTINUES IN SEPANG TEST AS BOTH ACOSTA AND FERNANDEZ IMPROVE ON DAY 2
The hard work continued on Wednesday in Malaysia with the second day of the Sepang MotoGP™ Official Test, which saw both Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez go through an intense day on a track, with a bit more than one hundred laps between them. The grid did not mess around on that second day as lap times went down quickly, and we saw the all-time lap record of the Sepang International Circuit being smashed two times today. It was first 2023 runner-up Jorge Martin who crushed the 1’57.491 of Pecco Bagnaia with a 1’57.273 after just a couple of laps in this morning. Later on, Enea Bastianini took over with an impressive 1’57.134 as he topped the timesheets on day 2.
Second fastest on Tuesday, which was already impressive for the young rookie Pedro Acosta, things got even better for MotoGP’s new #31 after he improved his fastest lap to 1’57.726 after just fourteen laps this morning, which is 0.494 seconds faster than yesterday. Had he been a MotoGP™ rider back in November, that lap time would have put him fifth on the grid of the 2023 Malaysian Grand Prix. A small crash at turn 9 called it out for the morning session as the team headed to their lunch break, and the action resumed at 4pm. Overall, race pace has improved for the Spaniard who is feeling more and more comfortable on the RC16, and he also felt very positive about the electronics after another day of experience on the machine. Acosta will have one more day on Thursday to finalize his six day-testing program in Sepang. Let’s keep the good vibes for one more!
The first day back to school is never the easiest one, and it was the case on day 1 for Red Bull GASGAS Tech3’s Augusto Fernandez who struggled a bit to find the feeling on his RC16. Things slightly improved for the number 37 on Wednesday as he went under the 1’59, with a lap in 1’58.915 early into the day. The Spaniard continued his search for a better feeling in general, as he tried different settings, still using the carbon chassis. The feeling improved, and there were positives to take from this second day on track after fifty laps of hard work to get the progress going. A crash at around 5:30pm put an end to his day, but the third and final one awaits him on Thursday as he aims to make a step and head to Qatar next week with a clearer vision on the directions to take for the season. The action will be back at 10:00 local time tomorrow.
Pedro Acosta (31). Photo courtesy Red Bull GASGAS Tech3.
Pedro Acosta
Position: 8th
Time: 1’57.726
Laps: 52
“Just like yesterday, the lap time was not our main target, but it is obviously very good to finish the day half a second faster than day 1. We improved our pace, I am also getting accustomed to the electronics, and I understand everything a bit more in general and my feedback when I arrive at the box is also getting more complete as days go by. This is a good feeling in general. The other riders are very experienced and are a lot faster, but remember that it is my third time in Malaysia. Considering this, my pace is very good, and I would say that we are on our way!”
Augusto Fernandez (37). Photo courtesy Red Bull GASGAS Tech3.
Augusto Fernandez
Position: 20th
Time: 1’58.915
Laps: 50
“We continued to try different things, different settings so I could feel comfortable on the bike, in addition to working on the aerodynamics. We have improved compared to yesterday, but we are still too slow. I ended the day with a late crash with just half an hour to go. This is not an easy test for us, nor an easy start to 2024, but we have pointed out the issues, so we know what we have to do tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Trackhouse Racing:
Trackhouse Racing – Sepang Test: Day 2
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia:
Track length: 3.44 miles / 5.54 kilometers
Air Temperature: 89.6°F / 32°C
Track Temperature: 125.6°F / 52°C
America’s MotoGP Team completes its second day on track at the opening MotoGP test of 2024. Today with the #88 Miguel Oliveira and in the absence of Raul Fernandez, following his withdrawal from the action after crashing heavily yesterday, the #25 piloted by Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori.
Miguel Oliveira (88). Photo courtesy Trackhouse Racing.
#88 Miguel Oliveira – spent the day working the Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP 24 through a program of set-up adjustments, electronic updates and further aero configurations.
Completed: 56 Laps – 192.9 miles / 310.4 kilometers
Best lap: 1’58.549 (Pos 19th)
Top speed: 207.1 mph / 333.3 kmh
“It was a long day. We had short stints and were trying a lot of things just to get a better understanding of the bike. Finally, to sum up the end of the day; I’m not having a lot of feeling at the moment and a bit of a hard time to understand how I can push and go faster. But anyway, I think I gave good feedback in the garage. We sit down tonight and look what we can improve for tomorrow. For sure, one of the most important points for me with this bike was the corner speed and that’s where I’m losing the most time. We are getting into that. Right now, the important thing is to know how to go fast because we have a good lap from Aleix (Espargaro). In terms of pace, we are not so far off, but we didn’t get a real good the time attack, so we miss around a second to the front.”
WILCO ZEELENBERG, TEAM MANAGER
“We tried many things throughout this second day. We are not happy with the lap times yet but, saying that, it means we need to work more to find the decent time. It’s great to see that Miguel is enjoying riding the new bike. Of course, it’s always easy to say, we need to be faster. Trying many things to find the right timing to do the time attack is never easy. I’m confident that we will find that quickly. That is very important. I also want to wish all the best to Raul. He is back home and had a disappointing start of the season, but at the same time we are happy that he is not more injured than he could have been. Let’s see how he will come back in Qatar. Meanwhile, we have one more day to go here in Sepang with Miguel.”
MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers To Race At U.S. Round Of MotoGP™ At COTA
MotoAmerica Will Take Its Mission King Of The Baggers To Race In Conjunction With MotoGP At Circuit Of The Americas
IRVINE, CA (February 7, 2024) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is excited to announce that an additional round of the 2024 Mission King Of The Baggers Championship has been added with the thundering V-twins set to do battle as a support race to the third round of the FIM MotoGP World Championship at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, April 12-13.
The COTA round will mark the first time that an international audience will see the King Of The Baggers up close and personal as people converge on Austin from around the globe to attend the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas.
The two Mission King Of The Baggers Presented By Drag Specialties races at COTA will pay full championship points and will be the second round of what is now an 18-race 2024 Mission King Of The Baggers Championship. In addition to the two points-paying races on Saturday, there will also be a three-lap Mission Challenge on Friday afternoon with the six fastest qualifiers battling for a $5,000 winner-take-all purse.
“This is a great opportunity for MotoAmerica and our King Of The Baggers series,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “Having our teams and riders compete at a MotoGP event is groundbreaking and I know the MotoGP fans are going to be surprised and excited about what they see at COTA. I want to thank those at MotoGP who assisted in putting this together, as well as our sponsors Mission Foods and Parts Unlimited and the manufacturers. I can’t wait to see the reaction of the MotoGP paddock and fans when they see the Baggers in action.”
The Mission King Of The Baggers Presented By Drag Specialties races will air live on MotoGP’s YouTube Channel, MotoAmerica Live+, MAVTV and MotoAmerica’s YouTube channels.
The Mission King Of The Baggers series will return to COTA, September 13-15, along with the Steel Commander Superbike, Supersport, BellissiMoto Twins Cup and the Super Hooligan National Championship for what will be the penultimate round of the 2024 MotoAmerica Championship.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
Several MotoAmerica teams and riders were testing Tuesday at The Podium Club, in Casa Grande, Arizona.
Three-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne was at the controls of his official Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike and unofficially recorded the fastest lap time of the test, a 1:28.544, on the 2.32-mile, 15-turn road course.
Bobby Fong was second-best with a time of 1:28.955 on his Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha Superbike.
Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen ranked third on the day with a 1:28.961.
Fong’s teammate and team owner David Anthony was unofficially the quickest of the four Supersport riders present with a time of 1:32.820 on his Suzuki GSX-R750.
Anthony led a trio of Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R750 riders, including Jake Lewis (1:32.840), Torin Collins (1:33.794), and Jaret Nassaney (1:36.596).
Testing is scheduled to continue Wednesday, weather permitting.
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE’S ROADMASTER ELITE COMBINES HIGH-END SOPHISTICATION WITH MENACING BLACKED-OUT STYLING
2024 Roadmaster Elite Delivers Custom-Inspired, Tri-Tone Indian Motorcycle Red Paint Scheme with Upscale Fit-and-Finish & World-Class Touring Capabilities
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 6, 2024 – Indian Motorcycle, America’s First Motorcycle Company, today unveiled its latest Elite model – a showstopping Roadmaster combining high-end sophistication, upscale fit-and-finish, and world-class touring capabilities. Indian Motorcycle designed the 2024 Roadmaster Elite to deliver an authentic, custom-inspired paint scheme for riders looking to turn heads and stand out from the crowd.
In 1904 Indian Motorcycle first debuted the brand’s iconic Indian Motorcycle Red paint scheme. Today, the brand is excited to honor its iconic color with an all-new Indian Motorcycle Red tri-tone paint scheme with a premium candy finish, which delivers a vibrant and eye-catching look. To achieve this, Indian Motorcycle partnered with two of the industry’s most renowned custom paint shops, Gunslinger Custom Paint (GCP) in Colorado and Custom Painted Vehicles (CPV) out of Wisconsin. Indian Motorcycle’s partnership with GCP and CPV provide an extra layer of authenticity, as the two paint shops are widely sought after for one-off, custom-bike paint designs from riders all around the country.
“Our Elite models take the incredibly high bar we set for all of our products, and raise it even higher, offering something more exclusive for the rider who wants to make sure their bike is a cut above anything else on the road,” said Aaron Jax, Vice President for Indian Motorcycle. “What I love about the new Roadmaster Elite, is how we’ve taken the historic Indian Motorcycle Red, and given it a tougher, meaner attitude with blacked-out styling.”
“Our design team is always thrilled to work on the Elite models, because we’re essentially given the keys to design our very own custom bike, but instead of just one, hundreds will be available around the world,” said Ola Stenegard, Director of Product Design for Indian Motorcycle. “With each new Elite model, we pull through custom bike trends to create something that’s not only current and relevant, but authentically aligns with the Indian Motorcycle brand and complements each model’s inherent DNA.”
With only 350 available worldwide and incredible custom-inspired styling, the 2024 Roadmaster Elite is the ultimate in style and exclusivity. Each Roadmaster Elite features exclusive Elite badging, including an individually numbered center console complete with a silhouette of a 1904 Indian Camelback – Indian Motorcycle’s first model to debut the iconic Indian Motorcycle Red paint.
Premium features add to the Roadmaster Elite’s impressive touring capabilities – delivering an Elite-level of personalization and comfort. These Elite features include the following:
Tri-Tone Candy Paint – Indian Motorcycle Red Candy, Dark Indian Motorcycle Red Candy, and Black Candy provide a premium paint scheme that pulls inspiration from both past and present custom bikes. Complete with hand painted Championship Gold pinstripes and finished by two of the industry’s top custom paint shops, GCP and CPV, each bike takes over 24 hours to complete.
Elite Branding & Graphics – Exclusive badging only worthy of an Elite model, riders will stand out from the crowd with premium fit and finish.
PowerBand Audio with Bass Boost & UnderGlow – Introduced in fall 2023, Indian Motorcycle’s PowerBand Audio with Bass Boost delivers 50% louder audio through 12 speakers located in the front fairing, saddlebags, and touring trunk with even more bass when compared to stock sound systems. Each speaker’s UnderGlow delivers a stand-out touch of custom-inspired styling.
Pathfinder Adaptive LED Headlight – The Indian Motorcycle Adaptive LED Headlight provides even more illumination when compared to stock headlights. Patented, cutting-edge technology improves the rider’s visibility by monitoring the bike’s lean angle to optimize illumination of the road ahead.
Gloss Black Dash – It’s all in the details, as the Roadmaster Elite features a fully gloss black painted dash – delivering a clean fit and finish riders expect and appreciate with their Elite models.
Pathfinder Auxiliary LED Saddlebag Lights – Perfectly integrated into the bike’s saddlebags, the added lights deliver custom style while significantly improving visibility of the rider for other motorists.
Polished Driver and Passenger Headdress Floorboards – These spacious floorboards not only provide comfort for long touring rides, but also deliver an extra level of detail and style.
Color-Matched Stitched Heated & Cooled Seat – The Roadmaster Elite’s color-matched stitched seat adds exclusive styling to a high-performing, comfortable touring seat. Whether riding mid-summer or late fall, the heating and cooling features on the Roadmaster Elite seat greatly improves rider and passenger comfort.
Tinted Flare Windshield – Tinted to match its blacked-out menacing style, the flare windshield provides advanced wind protection when compared to stock windshields. Featuring a low-profile, it’s electronically adjustable to provide the best wind protection for riders of all heights.
Black Passenger Arm Rests – Passenger armrests provide premium comfort for passengers, ideal for long touring rides.
Backlit Switch Cubes – The Roadmaster Elite’s backlit switch cubes make it easier to see and select the bike’s hand controls at night – a premium feature for a premium, Elite touring machine.
10-Spoke Precision Machined Wheels – The 10-spoke Precision Machined wheels introduce a new machine pattern on the Roadmaster Elite. Sophisticated, while still packing tons of attitude.
Starting at $41,999, the 2024 Roadmaster Elite will begin shipping to dealers this spring. Riders can learn more at their local Indian Motorcycle dealership, by visiting IndianMotorcycle.com, or by following along on Facebook, X and Instagram.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE
Indian Motorcycle is America’s First Motorcycle Company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities, and Parks and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Collaborate to Support PG&E Recovery Effort
MONTEREY, CA – [February 5, 2024] In the aftermath of the recent severe weather event, commonly referred to as the Pineapple Express, the County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities, and Parks, in conjunction with the management team at Laguna Seca Recreational Area home of the WeatherTech Raceway, announces its pivotal role as the primary staging area for Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) recovery effort in Monterey County. Additionally, the County of Monterey has offered PG&E the use of Toro Regional Park for debris staging in the interest of speedy restoration of services to County residents and businesses.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, renowned for its iconic motorsports’ events, will now shift gears to serve as a central hub for equipment deployment coming from various locations across northern California. This strategic collaboration aims to expedite the restoration of power, inspection of critical infrastructure, and, most significantly, the swift reconnection of over 30,000 customers currently without power in Monterey County.
John Narigi, President at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, expressed his commitment to the recovery effort:
“In times of crisis, our community must come together to support one another. Laguna Seca Raceway is honored to play a crucial role in facilitating the arrival and deployment of vital equipment that will aid in the restoration of power for our fellow residents. We stand united with the County of Monterey and PG&E to ensure a swift recovery for our community.”
Randy Ishii, Director of Public Works, Facilities, and Parks for the County of Monterey, emphasized the collective dedication to the recovery process:
“The collaboration between the County of Monterey and Laguna Seca Raceway exemplifies the strength of our community partnerships. Our collective commitment to supporting PG&E in this recovery effort is unwavering. We understand the urgency of restoring power to the affected areas, and our combined efforts will make a significant impact on the region’s recovery.”
This joint initiative underscores the resilience and solidarity of the Monterey County community as it comes together to overcome the challenges posed by the recent severe weather event.
About County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities, and Parks
The County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities, and Parks is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors by providing and maintaining high-quality parks, facilities, and infrastructure.
About Laguna Seca Raceway
Laguna Seca Raceway, a world-renowned motorsports complex, is committed to serving its community beyond the racetrack by actively participating in critical initiatives that contribute to the well-being and recovery of the region.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, commonly known as PG&E, is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. PG&E is committed to delivering safe, reliable, and affordable energy to its customers.
A scene from BMW Motorrad Days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, in 2019. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad.
BMW Motorrad returns to Garmisch-Partenkirchen with the BMW Motorrad Days.
The world’s largest BMW Motorrad meeting in the “Year of the GS” from 5 to 7 July 2024, set against the magnificent backdrop of the Alps.
Munich, Germany… After two successful BMW Motorrad Days in Berlin in 2022 and 2023, BMW Motorrad will continue the legendary format of the previous events this year. The world’s largest BMW Motorrad meeting will return to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Alps. This is BMW Motorrad’s response to the heartfelt desire of its fans all over the world for unadulterated motorcycle culture, a party atmosphere and unique riding experiences against a breathtaking Alpine backdrop.
For more than 20 years, the BMW Motorrad Days have been a highlight and a must in the annual calendar of motorcycle fans from all over the world. For the past two years, the world’s largest gathering dedicated to the BMW Motorrad brand has been held in Berlin, in the heart of Europe, where BMW motorcycles have been built for more than 50 years. Together with BMW Motorrad employees from all over the world, the BMW Motorrad Days 2023 in Berlin marked an important chapter in the company’s history on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of BMW Motorrad.
Through the BMW Motorrad Days, BMW Motorrad maintains a strong emotional bond with its community all over the world. The world’s largest BMW Motorrad meeting has taken place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen for a total of 18 consecutive years against the backdrop of the magnificent Alpine panorama.
And what better location for the “Year of the GS” than Garmisch-Partenkirchen with its magnificent surroundings, winding roads and nearby alpine passes. It is the ideal terrain for unique motorcycle rides – especially with the legendary icon of adventure riding.
This is why the BMW Motorrad Days are returning to this legendary venue in the “Year of the GS”. For three days, from 5 to 7 July, BMW Motorrad will thrill the international community at the foot of the Hausberg mountain with new products, exhibitors, shows, test rides and, last but not least, traditional Bavarian lifestyle and legendary party atmosphere.
BMW Motorrad will provide more detailed information on the BMW Motorrad Days 2024 in due course.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as seen during the MotoAmerica event in 2022. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
A group of California property owners and residents are suing the County of Monterey (which owns WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca) over increased activity at the track and the resulting increases in noise, traffic, and other environmental issues.
In its Complaint and Petition filed with the Superior Court of California, County of Monterey, on December 12, 2023, the Highway 68 Coalition claims that the County of Monterey was incorrect in approving the current Concession Agreement with Friends of Laguna Seca in 2023 because the County used “categorical exemptions to excuse the preparation and consideration of a legally adequate environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).”
The CEQA, according to the (California) Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, “requires public agencies to ‘look before they leap’ and consider the environmental consequences of their discretionary actions. CEQA is intended to inform government decision-makers and the public about the potential environmental effects of proposed activities and to prevent significant, avoidable environmental damage.”
According to the Highway 68 Coalition, the only environmental reviews occurred in 1974, when ownership of the property was transferred from the U.S. Army to the County of Monterey, and in 1983, when the County Planning Commission approved Use Permit No. 2991 “governing the operation and general development of Laguna Seca.” Neither of those environmental reviews, however, focused on motor vehicle racing or “assessed the sound generated from such activities,” claims the Highway 68 Coalition.
The group of local residents also contends that the 2023 Concession Agreement with Friends of Laguna Seca, unlike previous agreements, places no limit on the amount of event days WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca can host and no sound limitations on any motor vehicles “including racecars,” opening the door for increased activity and noise, which they claim is already happening.
Highway 68 Coalition alleges activity at Laguna Seca Raceway has “substantially increased” from 2021 through 2023 “compared to similar operations from 1974 until 2021,” increasing noise and traffic while providing inadequate water supply and water quality, and inadequate waste water disposal.
All of that, says the Highway 68 Coalition, has adversely impacted local residents and property owners.
The Highway 68 Coalition also claims that racing activity at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca isn’t even allowed under a 1983 Use Permit and the County’s Zoning Codes, which were established in 1985. But in the same complaint, the coalition quotes Section 21.68.020 of the County’s zoning code, which reads “Any use of land, structure or land and structure which was legally established but is nonconforming to subsequently adopted land use regulations is a legal nonconforming use.”
But unlike some media reports and Internet forum headlines read, the lawsuit is not trying to completely shut down WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Highway 68 Coalition is asking the court to order the County of Monterey and Friends of Laguna Seca to “cease and desist” from allowing activity at Laguna Seca Raceway to produce noise levels “in excess of the level of use and noise that existed at the time…when the applicable zoning was established” in 1985.
The Highway 68 Coalition is also asking the court to “vacate and set aside” the County of Monterey’s approval of the 2023 Concession Agreement and to “rescind the Notice of Exemption for the Concession Agreement” and to direct the County to “comply with the requirements of CEQA” and “to comply with Monterey County Code Title 21.84.050 when reviewing any proposed Concession Agreement.”
In a statement, the County of Monterey responded: “It is unfortunate certain individuals have chosen to file a complaint against the County concerning operations at Laguna Seca. The County does not recognize any merit to the allegations and expects a favorable legal conclusion. In the meantime, the lawsuit does not impact Laguna Seca’s scheduled activities and events for 2024.
“Laguna Seca, a world-renowned racetrack and recreation area, has been under the successful ownership of the County of Monterey for 50 years. The facility has become a vital economic asset for the County and the entire region. Beyond its economic contributions, Laguna Seca has served as a hub for charitable initiatives, allowing local organizations to host events and raise millions of dollars for noble causes.”
In 2022, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca produced an economic impact of $247 million in the Monterey County area from just its six spectator events, according to a survey of ticket purchasers. And that does not take into account spending by people attending the dozens of track days, schools, and non-racing events at the track.
“The County of Monterey is dedicated to continuing its responsible stewardship of Laguna Seca and ensuring that the community benefits from this unique resource,” the statement from the County of Monterey continued. “Business operations will proceed as usual, reflecting our steadfast commitment to maintaining the legacy of Laguna Seca as a thriving recreational destination.
“While the County acknowledges the existence of the legal process initiated by the local coalition, it remains confident in the merits of its position. The County anticipates a speedy resolution to the litigation and is committed to upholding the values that have made Laguna Seca an integral part of Monterey County for half a century.”
A hearing on this case has been scheduled for June 20, 2024.
TEAM HAMMER SIGNS YOUNG GUN ROSSI MOOR FOR MOTOAMERICA TWINS CUP
Team Hammer, Inc. has signed with Suzuki Motor, USA LLC to compete in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup series with the newly-homologated GSX-8R for the next two seasons, in addition to the team already racing GSX-R1000Rs in MotoAmerica Superbike and GSX-R750s in MotoAmerica Supersport. Following the new agreement, Team Hammer has contracted Rossi Moor, age 16, to race a Suzuki GSX-8R in Twins Cup. The multi-year contract includes opportunities to advance into Supersport and beyond.
Moor has already had notable results and joins a long list of talented competitors who have launched their professional careers with Team Hammer over the last four decades.
“I’m super excited about the whole thing. It’s a great opportunity and an honor for me. I’m ready to do my best,” said Moor. “I have known people from Team Hammer since I was a kid and I always wanted to race for the team one day. Also, my dad was a huge Suzuki fan when I was growing up, so he had some of those cool bikes. To get to race one myself now is something I always wanted, too.”
After racing and winning in the U.S., Hungarian-American Moor won the 2022 FIM Northern Talent Cup in Europe with five wins and 10 podiums in 14 events. “That series was seen as a gateway to GP racing, so the competition was very tough,” said Moor, who was born in Oregon and has dual American and Hungarian citizenship. Moor also raced in the FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship as a wild card. “There were usually seven guys within a 10th of the leader. If you were a half-second off, you might have been 18th, so not even in the points. Racing hard in Europe is an ‘every day’ thing. It forced me to learn fast against serious competition.”
A serious wrist injury suffered late in the 2022 season put Moor’s 2023 plans in doubt, but after undergoing reconstructive surgery, the Portland, Oregon resident raced in MotoAmerica Junior Cup last season. He finished second in the championship with two wins and a total of five podium finishes. “Due to my injury, it wasn’t sure what we were going to do last year. We ended up getting our bike the day before we had to leave for Road Atlanta. We raced it out of our van and I got to learn a lot along the way. I’m ready for this season and it has always been my dream to race for Team Hammer, a professional team with a long line of success.”
Team Hammer Vice President of Operations Chris Ulrich says Moor is the type of young racer who can benefit from Team Hammer’s racing experience. “He’s a young, hard charger. We’ve been watching him for a long time, over here in the Mini Cup and Junior Cup and also his results in Europe,” said Ulrich. “We’re excited to return to the Twins Cup class with Suzuki and the GSX-8R. It’s been a fun category for us. We had good success with Suzuki SV650s in Twins Cup both seasons we entered, winning the championship in 2019 and 2020–and we’re looking forward to rolling the 8R out at Daytona. With our infrastructure and the new Suzuki GSX-8R, we think we can do great things working with Rossi and Suzuki.”
ABOUT SUZUKI
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2024 season marks Team Hammer’s 44th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Race bikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 133 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 361 times, and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships. Team Hammer races as Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
A 2024-model Suzuki GSX-8R. Photo by Kevin Wing, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
SUZUKI NAMES MOTOAMERICA TWINS CUP RACE TEAMS
Team Hammer and Vance & Hines Motorsports To Campaign All-New GSX-8R
Brea, CA (February 7, 2024) – Suzuki Motor USA LLC (Suzuki) named two MotoAmerica Twins Cup race teams today. In partnering with Team Hammer and Vance & Hines Motorsports, Suzuki takes another step toward its objective to race the new GSX-8R following the recent homologation of the latest Suzuki middleweight sportbike.
Team Hammer will race the GSX-8R in the team’s new 2024 Twins Cup effort. Racing the GSX-8R is in addition to Team Hammer’s efforts racing Suzuki GSX-R sportbikes in Superbike and Supersport. As one of road racing’s most successful programs, Team Hammer has earned over 130 pro race wins, 11 championships, and over 360 podium results. The team will race in the Twins Cup class as Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI.
Also bringing the GSX-8R to the starting grid in 2024 is Vance & Hines Motorsports, which fields an all-new Twins Cup effort. Vance & Hines partnered with Suzuki to win the 2023 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle (PSM) World Championship drag racing Suzuki’s legendary Hayabusa. Vance & Hines Motorsports’ new twins class effort is a natural addition to this successful partnership. The team will race the GSX-8R as RevZilla/Mission/Vance & Hines Suzuki.
Each team will name riders for the Team Hammer and Vance & Hines Motorsports efforts shortly.
The 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R sportbike offers a new, powerful parallel-twin engine in a strong and compact chassis. The GSX-8R is ideal for middleweight sportbike enthusiasts seeking dynamic, real-world performance and is anticipated to be the motorcycle of choice in MotoAmerica Twins Cup racing.
“The GSX-8R is engineered to satisfy Suzuki riders wanting a versatile, middleweight sportbike, to deliver on our dealers’ business needs, and to prevail in competition. The GSX-8R is an important motorcycle in today’s market,” said Kerry Graeber, Senior Vice President, Division Manager, Sales and Marketing at Suzuki. “The GSX-8R also represents an exciting new chapter in Suzuki racing and it is a perfect complement to the Suzuki racing efforts in MotoAmerica’s Superbike, Stock 1000, and Supersport classes. Partnering with these two well-respected teams, we anticipate the GSX-8R to be a natural extension of Suzuki’s existing road racing programs.”
The six-round 2024 Twins Cup series runs middleweight, twin-cylinder motorcycles enabling young, up-and-coming racers from around the world to compete at the national level. Twins Cup along with the entire 2024 MotoAmerica Championship kicks off at Daytona International Speedway on March 7 through March 9, 2024.
About Suzuki: Suzuki Motor USA, LLC (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
Elisa Gendron Belen at a MotoAmerica event in 2023. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
FIRST PERSON/OPINION:
By Elisa Gendron Belen
Will the new FIM Women’s World Championship be a viable class that will attract the best women racers in the world? It remains to be seen. To date, the best women in the world have taken their talent to the “co-ed” classes to compete. Frankly, there have been few, if any, opportunities for the best women to compete against each other in a class open to any woman who wants to enter, qualify and race…on the homologated machine of her choice. Even the new FIM Women’s World Championship does not completely address this, as there is an application process and a one-manufacturer spec grid.
MotoAmerica Junior Cup racer Elisa Gendron Belen.
While I applaud Royal Enfield and the organizers for putting together the Build. Train. Race. series to showcase women and attract them to the sport, it is limited to riders who are selected through an application process, and obviously to one manufacturer/model. This is not unlike Italika Racing’s International Latin American Women’s Cup that I personally competed in for the past three seasons. There is also a selection process for the women competitors and again, a single manufacturer/model to ride. Neither of these series allows for an “open” qualifying opportunity on a variety of homologated machines, which could possibly increase the size of the grids and draw talented women racers from the “co-ed” classes.
In spite of the one manufacturer limitation and application process, there does seem to be some excitement building for the FIM Women’s World Championship, which is marketed as a series that will attract and highlight the talents and abilities of the best female racers around the world. There are high hopes among promoters, teams, racers and fans that the series will finally provide the long-awaited platform that top female road racers have been looking for to showcase their talents on a global stage.
The women will be racing the Yamaha R7 motorcycle in this 12-race spec-class championship and will compete at six European rounds of the FIM Superbike World Championship. The pitch of this single manufacturer/model spec-class is that the promoter-mandated standardized equipment will ensure that the machines are similar in power delivery and handling so that no one machine has a competitive advantage, and the series will therefore exhibit the talent of the individual racer. But there is also a risk to a series completely dependent on one manufacturer for support.
Women from series such as ASRA, WERA, MotoAmerica, Italika Racing, and the European Women’s Cup are preparing to go and compete in this inaugural year of the championship.
Of course, many uncertainties remain regarding the organization of the series and the level of competition it will attract.
While there have been opportunities for women to race in women’s championships before, generally they have not garnered the validation or respect of the racing community at large and many women racers have chosen to avoid them all together in an effort to move further in their careers. There are, in fact, some very fast women riders on the MotoAmerica grid that have publicly stated their lack of interest in a women-only series. Likewise, the fastest women racers in Europe have also generally competed in the traditional “co-ed” classes.
The FIM Women’s World Championship hopes to accomplish what others have not and establish a series where the women’s championship can be taken seriously and enjoyed by fans of the road racing world community. While this will still be a learning year for the championship and its organizers, it is important to the series that their riders are marketed and approached as seriously as any men’s championship. Many women’s championships have struggled to establish validity within the racing community which, as noted previously, has turned women racers away from participating in those competitions.
Women road racers have long had to forge a path for themselves in the heavily male-dominated world of motorcycle racing. The small number of women racers have often led to very few women on the grid at professional race events, if at all. The hopes are high that with World Superbike taking up the effort, that a new era for women racers is just beginning.
Elisa Gendron Belen competes in the MotoAmerica Jr. Cup class on her Karns Performance Kawasaki Ninja 400 and is a Sport Management major with minors in International Studies and Language & Culture at St. John Fisher University. Elisa also works with both KYT Helmet Americas and Chicken Hawk Racing as a customer service representative.
#SepangTest: Bastianini hits back to head Martin & Binder on Day 2
The laptimes tumble on Wednesday as the 1:57 club expands and the ‘Beast’ takes to the top
Wednesday, 07 February 2024
Ducati Lenovo Team’s Enea Bastianini produced late brilliance on Day 2 of the Sepang Test, claiming top spot thanks to a new, albeit unofficial, outright lap record. Five riders all bettered 2023 Champion Pecco Bagnaia’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) pole position lap from late last year, with The Beast firing in a historic 1:57.134 to once again prove his pace in Malaysia.
Jorge Martin (89). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin had to settle for second in the end after leading the pack for the vast majority of the day. The Spaniard finished 0.139 seconds adrift of 2023 Malaysian Grand Prix winner Bastianini. KTM and Aprilia were hot on the heels of the Ducati duo too, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completing the top three ahead of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing).
After an under-the-radar opening day in Sepang, 2023 World Champion Bagnaia also joined the party, claiming the final spot inside the top five with a 1:57.469, leaving him just over three tenths behind his teammate.
Ducati Lenovo, Prima Pramac, Pertamina Enduro VR46 & Gresini
Bastianini, Martin and Bagnaia all put themselves under the lap record on Wednesday, with all three doing their laps with the Bologna factory’s much-improved new engine. The bulk of their work was focused on aerodynamics, however, with a united consensus yet to be reached. Michele Pirro was also back out subbing for Franco Morbidelli.
A late tumble for Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) couldn’t dampen what was otherwise another positive day for The Doctor’s squad. The #72 rounded out Day 2 in ninth place, and ahead of one name he had his eye on, whilst Fabio Di Giannantonio continued to impress. The Italian was one of the riders on top form in the second half of 2023, and he’s carried that momentum into 2024 despite the team switch.
Alex Marquez (73). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Nobody did more laps than Gresini Racing’s Marc Marquez as he looked to make up for some lost time yesterday after a couple of small issues. The eight-time World Champion clocked 72 laps in total, 10 of which were an impressive Tissot Sprint simulation alongside his teammate. The #93 was just over 2 seconds quicker than the Sprint-winning time in 2023. But Alex Marquez on the #73 was a further two seconds quicker again…
Red Bull KTM & Red Bull GASGAS Tech3
Binder led the charge on Wednesday, but superstar rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) found yet another step forward, posting a 1:57.726 – a lap good enough for the middle of the second row of the grid in 2023. Big smiles for his side of the box! It was a tougher day on the other side, however, with Augusto Fernandez frustrated at his lack of progress after a couple of issues lost him some time. Steps forward, he reported, but not fast enough yet.
Brad Binder (33). Photo courtesy Dorna.
On the orange side, Jack Miller joined Binder in working their way through KTM’s various aerodynamic upgrades. The Australian finished 15th as the two take up the workload first refined by test riders Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaro in the Shakedown.
Aprilia & Trackhouse Racing
There were some contrasting emotions in the factory Aprilia box with Aleix Espargaro taking that impressive fourth, whilst Maverick Viñales was struggling with rear grip and, as a result, didn’t push for a time attack. But he reported the aim, regardless, is to be fast all year, not just one lap. The Spaniard was 18th today, one place and one tenth ahead of a similarly frustrated Miguel Oliveira. Trackhouse Racing’s Oliveira, still, said Espargaro’s fast lap was good to see for the whole squad as each work on their own programmes.
Aleix Espargaro (41). Photo courtesy Dorna.
The trio also lapped together in the midday sun, ostensibly to check out the effect of the slipstream and potentially to put the machine through its paces in the heat, something that was tricky for the factory at times in 2023. Lorenzo Savadori, meanwhile, is the replacement for Raul Fernandez at Trackhouse for the rest of this test as Fernandez recovers from a crash on Day 1, with nothing broken but precaution the name of the game.
Repsol Honda & CASTROL/IDEMITSU Honda LCR
Repsol Honda’s Luca Marini and Idemitsu LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami put together the longest runs of anyone on Wednesday: 13 consecutive laps apiece. 10 of Marini’s laps were in the 1:59s, compared to only two 1:59s between all four Honda riders in last year’s Sprint and Grand Prix.
Joan Mir (36). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) was also able to put in a headline laptime, taking the final spot in top ten. The 2020 World Champion was six tenths quicker than his Q1 performance last year, but reiterated that a lot of work is still to be done. Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR), meanwhile, was another tenth and a half off Mir – but he’s been the Honda rider most praising the leap already made.
Monster Energy Yamaha
Electronics was the key focus for Yamaha, but Fabio Quartararo was left wanting a little more. The Frenchman managed to improve on his best lap from last year’s Malaysian Grand Prix but he was still three quarters of a second adrift of top spot. He said they’re still suffering a lack of pace during time attacks, something they’ll continue working on. The 2021 World Champion could only manage 11th today, with his new teammate Alex Rins a quarter of a second further back in 13th. But on the speed trap, there was a big ray of light for the Iwata marque as Quartararo was the outright quickest.
Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Dorna.
That’s all she wrote on Wednesday! There’s more action on yet to come on Thursday from 10:00 local time (UTC+8) until 18:00, so make sure you join us on motogp.com and across social media to get the full lowdown as the #SepangTest concludes. Then it’s off to Qatar for another two days of testing before that first date with racing destiny at Lusail in March.
More, from a press release issued by Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team:
DAY2 IN MALAYSIA FOR THE PERTAMINA ENDURO VR46 RACING TEAM
The work of Di Giannantonio and Bezzecchi continues at Sepang. Both under the wall of 1.58 and respectively in sixth and ninth position in the combined standings
SEPANG (Malaysia), February 7th 2024 – Another productive day for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team at the Sepang International Circuit where the first official MotoGP testing sessions of the 2024 season are underway. Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marco Bezzecchi, riding the Ducati Fluo Stream, they are both under the wall of 1.58 and finished in sixth and ninth place in the combined of the Day2.
Able of a chronometric step already in the morning, Fabio sets an excellent 1’57.619, a time that mean a gap of just four tenths from the provisional P1 (Bastianini, 1’57.134). 54 laps on the eve of the last day of work, tomorrow from 10.00 AM local time.
First ever to back to the track, Marco, immediately dealing with the first time attack of the season and he signs a best of 1’57.867. For him too, around fifty laps and a crash in the final minutes of the session at turn 7.
Marco Bezzecchi (72). Photo courtesy Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team.
MARCO BEZZECCHI – 72
I’m sorry for the ending, the crash wasn’t necessary. I’m happy with the work done, we tried different things and gathered a lot of information. I’m not completely satisfied yet, because I can still make a step in riding. I’m not at 100%, but we already have some ideas for tomorrow. At the moment, if things remain like this, I don’t think we will do a race simulation. I prefer to focus on the setup, but we don’t rule out the possibility of finding some good solutions tomorrow and thus changing our plan.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (49). Photo courtesy Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team.
FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO – 49
I am surprised, in a positive way obviously. In the morning we struggled a bit, I tried two front tires and I wasn’t completely comfortable in riding. We were a little late on the plan, but in the afternoon we tried a change that made us take a big step forward also in terms of quality. We went very fast, we worked well and we moved in the direction we wanted. In terms of flying lap, maybe we’re missing something, but I’m not worried. I’m really happy with the pace and tomorrow maybe we’ll try a Sprint Race simulation.
More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Search for One-Lap Speed at Sepang Test Day 2
Sepang (Malaysia), 7th February 2024
SEPANG MOTOGP OFFICIAL TEST
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins continued their programme at the second day of testing at the Sepang International Circuit. The teammates put in numerous laps and took 11th and 13th place respectively in today’s and the combined timesheets.
11th F. QUARTARARO 1’57.888 / 53 LAPS
13th Á. RINS 1’58.110 / 50 LAPS
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins were back on track at the Sepang MotoGP Official Test for a second day of riding in Malaysia. They continued to work through a number of different settings, taking 11th and 13th place respectively in today’s and the combined testing rankings.
Quartararo continued to show his motivation at the Sepang Test, completing 53 laps in total during which he tried various set-ups. The Frenchman showed off the 2024 YZR-M1’s top speed, clocking 338.5km/h. However, he is still looking to improve his time attack results. His best time of 1’57.888s, set on lap 7, kept him in 11th place, 0.754s from first.
After a solid first day of testing, Rins resumed his work on electronics and bike set-up. Getting more and more used to the YZR-M1 over the course of 50 laps, he bettered his time by 0.606s compared to Day 1. His 1’58.110s, set on lap 49, had him end Day 2 in 13th place with a 0.976s margin to the top.
Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Monster Energy Yamaha.
FABIO QUARTARARO
We are first on top speed today, but that’s not what we aimed to be first in. The bike is very fast, but we still have to improve our fast lap. We’re finding little improvements, but nothing great. We have to find a solution, especially on the rear grip, where I think we are missing out a little bit. Hopefully we can make a step tomorrow and in the Qatar Test.
Alex Rins (42). Photo courtesy Monster Energy Yamaha.
ÁLEX RINS
We are quite happy with the results we got today. We focused a little bit more on the electronics side, just trying to improve the things we tried yesterday. I also tried some different swingarms, and we also worked on the set-up. Overall, I made some kilometres on the bike, and I’m able to understand the M1 better, so I can try to find a better set-up to adapt the bike to my riding style. The engine that Fabio tested in Valencia and that they brought here – but a modified version – works quite well. So, we will start the season with this engine, for sure.
More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:
Mir finds a second on second day of Sepang MotoGP Test action
Both Repsol Honda Team riders made improvements as they continued to work on their 2024 machines, Joan Mir rounding out the top ten and Luca Marini in 17th.
Rain once again stayed away from the Sepang International Circuit as the MotoGP grid enjoyed an uninterrupted day of running. The Repsol Honda Team powered ahead with their testing programme, both riders able to make a step forward in their outright speed.
Wednesday in Sepang saw a return to positive progress for Joan Mir and his side of the Repsol Honda Team garage as they found some of the speed which had illuded them on the opening day. Already over half a second faster than his Qualifying time from the 2023 Malaysian GP and almost a full second faster than his time from the day before, Mir would ultimately end the day in tenth place with 39 laps completed. This left the #36 content with the work done and eager to make further improvements on the final day.
Another busy day in the Malaysian heat saw Luca Marini complete 41 laps with a best time of 1’58.394 – over half a second faster than his quickest time from Tuesday. In the afternoon, Marini turned his attentions to putting together a longer run to better understand the Repsol Honda Team machine over race distance. The exercise provided the Repsol Honda team and Marini with further areas to explore on the last day and later in Qatar.
The third and final day of the Sepang Test will begin at 10:00 Local Time.
Joan Mir (36). Photo courtesy HRC.
Joan Mir
10TH 1’57.872
“Yesterday we tried a lot of things and today was about confirming those things which were working well. Today we had a base that I was comfortable with, so that is a great step to have made here and as a result I was able to improve my laptop by quite a lot. Already 0.6s faster than Qualifying here last year where I was ahead of my teammate. We are seeing the potential that’s there and I am happy with what we’ve done today, but we have to stay grounded and keep on working because there is still some margin. One last day here before we start thinking about the Qatar Test.”
Luca Marini (10). Photo courtesy HRC.
Luca Marini
17TH 1’58.394
“It was another busy day in Sepang. I did a long run alongside trying many different things. The long run showed us many things and we were able to understand the work we need to do because I was wanting a bit more from it. It was positive to understand the bike and how it changes with the tyre wear during the course of a race. With new tyres I feel quite good so we need to match that feeling when the tyres are more used. This is why we go testing, to understand these points and to use the time we have to keep working on them. Time to rest and prepare for the last day here in Malaysia.”
More, from a press release issued by Red Bull GASGAS Tech3:
THE PREPARATION FOR 2024 CONTINUES IN SEPANG TEST AS BOTH ACOSTA AND FERNANDEZ IMPROVE ON DAY 2
The hard work continued on Wednesday in Malaysia with the second day of the Sepang MotoGP™ Official Test, which saw both Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez go through an intense day on a track, with a bit more than one hundred laps between them. The grid did not mess around on that second day as lap times went down quickly, and we saw the all-time lap record of the Sepang International Circuit being smashed two times today. It was first 2023 runner-up Jorge Martin who crushed the 1’57.491 of Pecco Bagnaia with a 1’57.273 after just a couple of laps in this morning. Later on, Enea Bastianini took over with an impressive 1’57.134 as he topped the timesheets on day 2.
Second fastest on Tuesday, which was already impressive for the young rookie Pedro Acosta, things got even better for MotoGP’s new #31 after he improved his fastest lap to 1’57.726 after just fourteen laps this morning, which is 0.494 seconds faster than yesterday. Had he been a MotoGP™ rider back in November, that lap time would have put him fifth on the grid of the 2023 Malaysian Grand Prix. A small crash at turn 9 called it out for the morning session as the team headed to their lunch break, and the action resumed at 4pm. Overall, race pace has improved for the Spaniard who is feeling more and more comfortable on the RC16, and he also felt very positive about the electronics after another day of experience on the machine. Acosta will have one more day on Thursday to finalize his six day-testing program in Sepang. Let’s keep the good vibes for one more!
The first day back to school is never the easiest one, and it was the case on day 1 for Red Bull GASGAS Tech3’s Augusto Fernandez who struggled a bit to find the feeling on his RC16. Things slightly improved for the number 37 on Wednesday as he went under the 1’59, with a lap in 1’58.915 early into the day. The Spaniard continued his search for a better feeling in general, as he tried different settings, still using the carbon chassis. The feeling improved, and there were positives to take from this second day on track after fifty laps of hard work to get the progress going. A crash at around 5:30pm put an end to his day, but the third and final one awaits him on Thursday as he aims to make a step and head to Qatar next week with a clearer vision on the directions to take for the season. The action will be back at 10:00 local time tomorrow.
Pedro Acosta (31). Photo courtesy Red Bull GASGAS Tech3.
Pedro Acosta
Position: 8th
Time: 1’57.726
Laps: 52
“Just like yesterday, the lap time was not our main target, but it is obviously very good to finish the day half a second faster than day 1. We improved our pace, I am also getting accustomed to the electronics, and I understand everything a bit more in general and my feedback when I arrive at the box is also getting more complete as days go by. This is a good feeling in general. The other riders are very experienced and are a lot faster, but remember that it is my third time in Malaysia. Considering this, my pace is very good, and I would say that we are on our way!”
Augusto Fernandez (37). Photo courtesy Red Bull GASGAS Tech3.
Augusto Fernandez
Position: 20th
Time: 1’58.915
Laps: 50
“We continued to try different things, different settings so I could feel comfortable on the bike, in addition to working on the aerodynamics. We have improved compared to yesterday, but we are still too slow. I ended the day with a late crash with just half an hour to go. This is not an easy test for us, nor an easy start to 2024, but we have pointed out the issues, so we know what we have to do tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Trackhouse Racing:
Trackhouse Racing – Sepang Test: Day 2
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia:
Track length: 3.44 miles / 5.54 kilometers
Air Temperature: 89.6°F / 32°C
Track Temperature: 125.6°F / 52°C
America’s MotoGP Team completes its second day on track at the opening MotoGP test of 2024. Today with the #88 Miguel Oliveira and in the absence of Raul Fernandez, following his withdrawal from the action after crashing heavily yesterday, the #25 piloted by Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori.
Miguel Oliveira (88). Photo courtesy Trackhouse Racing.
#88 Miguel Oliveira – spent the day working the Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP 24 through a program of set-up adjustments, electronic updates and further aero configurations.
Completed: 56 Laps – 192.9 miles / 310.4 kilometers
Best lap: 1’58.549 (Pos 19th)
Top speed: 207.1 mph / 333.3 kmh
“It was a long day. We had short stints and were trying a lot of things just to get a better understanding of the bike. Finally, to sum up the end of the day; I’m not having a lot of feeling at the moment and a bit of a hard time to understand how I can push and go faster. But anyway, I think I gave good feedback in the garage. We sit down tonight and look what we can improve for tomorrow. For sure, one of the most important points for me with this bike was the corner speed and that’s where I’m losing the most time. We are getting into that. Right now, the important thing is to know how to go fast because we have a good lap from Aleix (Espargaro). In terms of pace, we are not so far off, but we didn’t get a real good the time attack, so we miss around a second to the front.”
WILCO ZEELENBERG, TEAM MANAGER
“We tried many things throughout this second day. We are not happy with the lap times yet but, saying that, it means we need to work more to find the decent time. It’s great to see that Miguel is enjoying riding the new bike. Of course, it’s always easy to say, we need to be faster. Trying many things to find the right timing to do the time attack is never easy. I’m confident that we will find that quickly. That is very important. I also want to wish all the best to Raul. He is back home and had a disappointing start of the season, but at the same time we are happy that he is not more injured than he could have been. Let’s see how he will come back in Qatar. Meanwhile, we have one more day to go here in Sepang with Miguel.”
Kyle Wyman (33) as seen on his Harley-Davidson Road Glide at COTA in 2023. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers To Race At U.S. Round Of MotoGP™ At COTA
MotoAmerica Will Take Its Mission King Of The Baggers To Race In Conjunction With MotoGP At Circuit Of The Americas
IRVINE, CA (February 7, 2024) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is excited to announce that an additional round of the 2024 Mission King Of The Baggers Championship has been added with the thundering V-twins set to do battle as a support race to the third round of the FIM MotoGP World Championship at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, April 12-13.
The COTA round will mark the first time that an international audience will see the King Of The Baggers up close and personal as people converge on Austin from around the globe to attend the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas.
The two Mission King Of The Baggers Presented By Drag Specialties races at COTA will pay full championship points and will be the second round of what is now an 18-race 2024 Mission King Of The Baggers Championship. In addition to the two points-paying races on Saturday, there will also be a three-lap Mission Challenge on Friday afternoon with the six fastest qualifiers battling for a $5,000 winner-take-all purse.
“This is a great opportunity for MotoAmerica and our King Of The Baggers series,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “Having our teams and riders compete at a MotoGP event is groundbreaking and I know the MotoGP fans are going to be surprised and excited about what they see at COTA. I want to thank those at MotoGP who assisted in putting this together, as well as our sponsors Mission Foods and Parts Unlimited and the manufacturers. I can’t wait to see the reaction of the MotoGP paddock and fans when they see the Baggers in action.”
The Mission King Of The Baggers Presented By Drag Specialties races will air live on MotoGP’s YouTube Channel, MotoAmerica Live+, MAVTV and MotoAmerica’s YouTube channels.
The Mission King Of The Baggers series will return to COTA, September 13-15, along with the Steel Commander Superbike, Supersport, BellissiMoto Twins Cup and the Super Hooligan National Championship for what will be the penultimate round of the 2024 MotoAmerica Championship.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
The Podium Club at Attesa, as seen during a previous car event. Photo courtesy The Podium Club at Attesa.
Several MotoAmerica teams and riders were testing Tuesday at The Podium Club, in Casa Grande, Arizona.
Three-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne was at the controls of his official Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike and unofficially recorded the fastest lap time of the test, a 1:28.544, on the 2.32-mile, 15-turn road course.
Bobby Fong was second-best with a time of 1:28.955 on his Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha Superbike.
Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen ranked third on the day with a 1:28.961.
Fong’s teammate and team owner David Anthony was unofficially the quickest of the four Supersport riders present with a time of 1:32.820 on his Suzuki GSX-R750.
Anthony led a trio of Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R750 riders, including Jake Lewis (1:32.840), Torin Collins (1:33.794), and Jaret Nassaney (1:36.596).
Testing is scheduled to continue Wednesday, weather permitting.
A 2024 Indian Roadmaster Elite. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE’S ROADMASTER ELITE COMBINES HIGH-END SOPHISTICATION WITH MENACING BLACKED-OUT STYLING
2024 Roadmaster Elite Delivers Custom-Inspired, Tri-Tone Indian Motorcycle Red Paint Scheme with Upscale Fit-and-Finish & World-Class Touring Capabilities
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 6, 2024 – Indian Motorcycle, America’s First Motorcycle Company, today unveiled its latest Elite model – a showstopping Roadmaster combining high-end sophistication, upscale fit-and-finish, and world-class touring capabilities. Indian Motorcycle designed the 2024 Roadmaster Elite to deliver an authentic, custom-inspired paint scheme for riders looking to turn heads and stand out from the crowd.
In 1904 Indian Motorcycle first debuted the brand’s iconic Indian Motorcycle Red paint scheme. Today, the brand is excited to honor its iconic color with an all-new Indian Motorcycle Red tri-tone paint scheme with a premium candy finish, which delivers a vibrant and eye-catching look. To achieve this, Indian Motorcycle partnered with two of the industry’s most renowned custom paint shops, Gunslinger Custom Paint (GCP) in Colorado and Custom Painted Vehicles (CPV) out of Wisconsin. Indian Motorcycle’s partnership with GCP and CPV provide an extra layer of authenticity, as the two paint shops are widely sought after for one-off, custom-bike paint designs from riders all around the country.
“Our Elite models take the incredibly high bar we set for all of our products, and raise it even higher, offering something more exclusive for the rider who wants to make sure their bike is a cut above anything else on the road,” said Aaron Jax, Vice President for Indian Motorcycle. “What I love about the new Roadmaster Elite, is how we’ve taken the historic Indian Motorcycle Red, and given it a tougher, meaner attitude with blacked-out styling.”
“Our design team is always thrilled to work on the Elite models, because we’re essentially given the keys to design our very own custom bike, but instead of just one, hundreds will be available around the world,” said Ola Stenegard, Director of Product Design for Indian Motorcycle. “With each new Elite model, we pull through custom bike trends to create something that’s not only current and relevant, but authentically aligns with the Indian Motorcycle brand and complements each model’s inherent DNA.”
With only 350 available worldwide and incredible custom-inspired styling, the 2024 Roadmaster Elite is the ultimate in style and exclusivity. Each Roadmaster Elite features exclusive Elite badging, including an individually numbered center console complete with a silhouette of a 1904 Indian Camelback – Indian Motorcycle’s first model to debut the iconic Indian Motorcycle Red paint.
Premium features add to the Roadmaster Elite’s impressive touring capabilities – delivering an Elite-level of personalization and comfort. These Elite features include the following:
Tri-Tone Candy Paint – Indian Motorcycle Red Candy, Dark Indian Motorcycle Red Candy, and Black Candy provide a premium paint scheme that pulls inspiration from both past and present custom bikes. Complete with hand painted Championship Gold pinstripes and finished by two of the industry’s top custom paint shops, GCP and CPV, each bike takes over 24 hours to complete.
Elite Branding & Graphics – Exclusive badging only worthy of an Elite model, riders will stand out from the crowd with premium fit and finish.
PowerBand Audio with Bass Boost & UnderGlow – Introduced in fall 2023, Indian Motorcycle’s PowerBand Audio with Bass Boost delivers 50% louder audio through 12 speakers located in the front fairing, saddlebags, and touring trunk with even more bass when compared to stock sound systems. Each speaker’s UnderGlow delivers a stand-out touch of custom-inspired styling.
Pathfinder Adaptive LED Headlight – The Indian Motorcycle Adaptive LED Headlight provides even more illumination when compared to stock headlights. Patented, cutting-edge technology improves the rider’s visibility by monitoring the bike’s lean angle to optimize illumination of the road ahead.
Gloss Black Dash – It’s all in the details, as the Roadmaster Elite features a fully gloss black painted dash – delivering a clean fit and finish riders expect and appreciate with their Elite models.
Pathfinder Auxiliary LED Saddlebag Lights – Perfectly integrated into the bike’s saddlebags, the added lights deliver custom style while significantly improving visibility of the rider for other motorists.
Polished Driver and Passenger Headdress Floorboards – These spacious floorboards not only provide comfort for long touring rides, but also deliver an extra level of detail and style.
Color-Matched Stitched Heated & Cooled Seat – The Roadmaster Elite’s color-matched stitched seat adds exclusive styling to a high-performing, comfortable touring seat. Whether riding mid-summer or late fall, the heating and cooling features on the Roadmaster Elite seat greatly improves rider and passenger comfort.
Tinted Flare Windshield – Tinted to match its blacked-out menacing style, the flare windshield provides advanced wind protection when compared to stock windshields. Featuring a low-profile, it’s electronically adjustable to provide the best wind protection for riders of all heights.
Black Passenger Arm Rests – Passenger armrests provide premium comfort for passengers, ideal for long touring rides.
Backlit Switch Cubes – The Roadmaster Elite’s backlit switch cubes make it easier to see and select the bike’s hand controls at night – a premium feature for a premium, Elite touring machine.
10-Spoke Precision Machined Wheels – The 10-spoke Precision Machined wheels introduce a new machine pattern on the Roadmaster Elite. Sophisticated, while still packing tons of attitude.
Starting at $41,999, the 2024 Roadmaster Elite will begin shipping to dealers this spring. Riders can learn more at their local Indian Motorcycle dealership, by visiting IndianMotorcycle.com, or by following along on Facebook, X and Instagram.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE
Indian Motorcycle is America’s First Motorcycle Company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) vehicles and crews staged in a parking/vending area at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Photo courtesy WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca/County of Monterey.
County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities, and Parks and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Collaborate to Support PG&E Recovery Effort
MONTEREY, CA – [February 5, 2024] In the aftermath of the recent severe weather event, commonly referred to as the Pineapple Express, the County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities, and Parks, in conjunction with the management team at Laguna Seca Recreational Area home of the WeatherTech Raceway, announces its pivotal role as the primary staging area for Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) recovery effort in Monterey County. Additionally, the County of Monterey has offered PG&E the use of Toro Regional Park for debris staging in the interest of speedy restoration of services to County residents and businesses.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, renowned for its iconic motorsports’ events, will now shift gears to serve as a central hub for equipment deployment coming from various locations across northern California. This strategic collaboration aims to expedite the restoration of power, inspection of critical infrastructure, and, most significantly, the swift reconnection of over 30,000 customers currently without power in Monterey County.
John Narigi, President at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, expressed his commitment to the recovery effort:
“In times of crisis, our community must come together to support one another. Laguna Seca Raceway is honored to play a crucial role in facilitating the arrival and deployment of vital equipment that will aid in the restoration of power for our fellow residents. We stand united with the County of Monterey and PG&E to ensure a swift recovery for our community.”
Randy Ishii, Director of Public Works, Facilities, and Parks for the County of Monterey, emphasized the collective dedication to the recovery process:
“The collaboration between the County of Monterey and Laguna Seca Raceway exemplifies the strength of our community partnerships. Our collective commitment to supporting PG&E in this recovery effort is unwavering. We understand the urgency of restoring power to the affected areas, and our combined efforts will make a significant impact on the region’s recovery.”
This joint initiative underscores the resilience and solidarity of the Monterey County community as it comes together to overcome the challenges posed by the recent severe weather event.
About County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities, and Parks
The County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities, and Parks is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors by providing and maintaining high-quality parks, facilities, and infrastructure.
About Laguna Seca Raceway
Laguna Seca Raceway, a world-renowned motorsports complex, is committed to serving its community beyond the racetrack by actively participating in critical initiatives that contribute to the well-being and recovery of the region.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, commonly known as PG&E, is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. PG&E is committed to delivering safe, reliable, and affordable energy to its customers.
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www.roadracingworld.com
September 11, 2025
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Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
