BENNETTS BSB – THRILL OF THE RACE – EPISODE 11 – DAY OF DESTINY
The finale episode of Thrill of the Race bringing you closer than ever before to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at an incredible title decider at Brands Hatch. Relive all of the emotion, drama and intensity of the final round of the 2023 season at Brands Hatch in the final battle to become 2023 Champion We hope you enjoyed the ride
Featured In the January 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
An era ended quietly with the conclusion of the Moto2 race in Valencia. Dunlop was out of Grand Prix racing. And the next day a new era opened, with the first official test for the Moto2 and Moto3 teams on spec Pirelli tires.
Already the control tire in World Superbike, World Supersport, and several National-level series, (as well as in Formula One car racing), Pirelli made a positive first impression in the smaller-displacement classes, beating the best-ever Moto2 lap times at Valencia and crushing the Moto3 lap record…
“Pirelli Takes Over,” by Michael Gougis
Giorgio Barbier, Racing Manager for Pirelli, was on hand in Valencia to give an overview of the first official test for Pirelli tires in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes, and he was quite pleased. Setting lap records will do that. Read his impressions in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.
Click here for a sample issue of Roadracing World magazine. (Print Edition, one sample issue per household, U.S. address only.)
Unveiling the 2024 Bagger Racing League “Battle of the Baggers” Schedule.
Rev up your engines and mark your calendars as the 2024 Bagger Racing League promises an adrenaline-fueled season with the “Battle of the Baggers.” With a thrilling schedule featuring international showdowns and new classes, this season is set to redefine the world of bagger GP racing.
**Round 1: Motorsport Park Hastings, NE (May 24-26) – Double Header**
Kicking off the season in grand style, Motorsport Park Hastings in Nebraska will host the inaugural races, treating fans to a double-header extravaganza. The intense competition is sure to set the tone for an action-packed championship.
**Round 2: Gingerman Raceway, MI (June 28-30) – Double Header**
The excitement continues at Gingerman Raceway in Michigan, where riders will face off in another thrilling double-header. The challenging circuit promises to push competitors to their limits, ensuring every lap is a spectacle for fans.
**Round 3: Bridgestone Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, ON (August 9-11) – International Double Header**
The Battle of the Baggers goes international with Round 3 taking place at Bridgestone Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario. This Canadian showdown will not only test the skills of the riders but also add a global flavor to the competition. Get ready for an unforgettable double-header on Canadian soil.
**Round 4: Finals at Willow Springs International Raceway, CA (November 16-17) – Double Header**
As the season reaches its climax, the Finals at Willow Springs International Raceway in California promise to be a spectacular culmination. The double-header format ensures that every twist and turn of this iconic circuit will play a pivotal role in deciding the ultimate champion.
*Introducing the SUPER STREET CLASS.
Adding a new layer of excitement to the 2024 season, the Bagger Racing League introduces the SUPER STREET CLASS. This category will showcase the prowess of baggers in a unique setting, challenging riders to navigate the streets with speed and precision.
*Shane Narbone Defends His Title**
All eyes will be on the reigning champion, Shane Narbone, as he aims to defend his 2023 title in the bagger GP. Narbone’s skill, experience, and determination make him a formidable contender, but the competition will be fierce, and only time will tell if he can secure another championship. For more information and updates on the 2024 Bagger Racing League “Battle of the Baggers,” visit http://www.BaggerRacingLeague.com. Strap in and get ready for a season of high-speed thrills, intense rivalries, and the relentless pursuit of victory on the bagger racing circuit.
Roadracing World MotoGP Editor and Isle of Man TT winner Mat Oxley and two-time World Championship-winning Crew Chief Peter Bom have started “The Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast,” which will be focused on the FIM MotoGP World Championship.
This podcast is “Tech Talk – The Terrible Throttle Tell-All.”
The original podcast can be found on BuzzSprout.com or listened to via other places you get podcasts.
From the Oxley Bom Podcast:
If you want to go fast, you hit the gas. But what actually happens when a rider goes full throttle? The answer, as you might expect of a cutting edge million dollar speed machine, is a little complex. Luckily, we’ve got our very own engineering expert! Join us as Mat asks Peter everything you’ve ever wanted to know about what happens when you turn that handle.
Oh, and make sure to stick around for the end of the episode for some very cool updates about the future of the podcast…
With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman’s Dub Club, who wrote our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music!
Featured In the January 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
Urban legend says Henry Ford once commissioned a study of Ford cars in junkyards. The researcher reported back that they found that the cars had died for all sorts of reasons: Transmissions, crankshafts, broken pistons, etc. The researcher did offer that, on the upside, all the king pin bushings in the front suspension were in excellent condition.
“Make the kingpin bushings cheaper,” was Ford’s response.
That unverified and argued-over anecdote could explain why the king pin bushings on my 1970 E100 were garbage. It also could illustrate how manufacturers may aim to have all the parts wear out at the same rate, as well as strive to deliver performance at a price point…
“An Autopsy Of A 2020 Yamaha YZF-R1 Race Engine,” by Sam Fleming
In the interest of science, Sam Fleming enlisted Michael Godin from KWS Motorsports to tear down a 4,000-mile Army Of Darkness race engine and provide an independent assessment of its condition and a recommendation for how to proceed if it was a track day/streetbike instead of an engine intended to win the 2023 N2 WERA National Endurance Championship. This is what Godin found—and it’s in the latest issue of Roadracing World.
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.
Click here for a sample issue of Roadracing World magazine. (Print Edition, one sample issue per household, U.S. address only.)
At a boutique hotel in the heart of Hollywood, the U.S.-based Aprilia squad Trackhouse Racing on Friday unveiled the livery for the RS-GP machines the team will use in MotoGP competition during the 2024 season.
In addition to Trackhouse founder and owner Justin Marks, a former NASCAR racer and owner of a NASCAR team, riders Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez were on hand, as well as former and current Grand Prix racers. They were joined by Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing, as well as Wilco Zeelenberg, the former 250cc Grand Prix racer who is the team manager for Trackhouse.
Wayne Rainey, a three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion and now President of MotoAmerica, and 1993 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz were both on hand, representing the period of Grand Prix racing that was utterly dominated by American riders. From 1978 to 1993, Americans won 13 of 16 500cc Grand Prix titles.
Trackhouse is based in North Carolina, but the satellite team will operate out of Noale, Italy, in conjunction with the Aprilia racing department. Oliveira will start the season on a 2024 RS-GP, while Fernandez will start racing on the 2023 version of the machine and transition to a 2024 during the season. Oliveira is a multi-time MotoGP winner with KTM, and Fernandez is a multi-time winner in Moto2 and runner-up in the Moto2 World Championship in 2022.
The livery for the Trackhouse Racing Aprilia RS-GP machines for the 2024 season reflects the team’s American heritage. Miguel Oliveira will ride the 2024 version, while Raul Fernandez will start with the 2023 machine that won two races last year. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marks said the opportunity to get involved in MotoGP came about much more quickly than expected, but when told it was now or never by the leaders of Dorna, he jumped at the chance. The CryptoData RNF MotoGP Team was imploding, and the satellite Aprilias that RNF ran – and their grid slots – were available if Trackhouse was willing to move immediately.
“We went to the MotoGP race in Austria,” Marks said. “We went there as a NASCAR team to see what MotoGP was like, to see if we could learn something about making our team a little bit better, to take some inspiration. That was five months ago.
“When I was talking to Carmelo and Carlos (Ezpeleta, CEO and Chief Sporting Officer of Dorna Sports, respectively), they said they would love to have us in MotoGP. I said I know there’s a lot to learn. Let’s look at 2025. Give me a year, in 2024 we’ll take a year, go to races, meet people, learn everything. They said, the door’s open right now and I can’t tell you how long it’s going to be open. It was a ready, fire, aim moment for Trackhouse. We have a lot of exciting things ahead of us and we’re excited.”
“We are super excited, and we share their vision,” Rivola said.
Rainey and Schwantz talked about how important having an American team in Grand Prix racing is for the sport in the U.S.
“Grand Prix racing is something that’s almost been forgotten about here,” Schwantz said. “It’s a great stepping stone. There’s so much talent here in America that could race on the world stage. They just don’t have the manufacturer support to get it done. To have someone like Trackhouse who is focused on racing here – it’s big.”
“I think it’s really exciting news,” Rainey said. “This had to happen. Trackhouse gets to grow their brand, and it will help raise awareness of Grand Prix racing here in the U.S.”
3D Motorsports signs Bicknese and Enriquez for Supersport
Decatur, Texas-based 3D Motorsports has signed Hayden Bicknese as well as Alex Enriquez to pilot their Suzuki GSX-R750s in MotoAmerica Supersport in 2024. Both riders have tested with the team over the winter and feel confident for the 2024 season.
Hayden Bicknese is no stranger to the MotoAmerica podium with six podiums in Junior Cup. He is up for the challenge in Supersport this year and feels he can run up front.
“I’m excited to see what we can do with Hayden. We are lucky enough to be able to ride a lot during the year with him and believe we can develop both the bike and him to be a contender,” expressed 3D Motorsports owner Dustin Dominguez.
Hayden Bicknese (68). Photo courtesy 3D Motorsports.
Bicknese added, “I am very excited to be joining 3D Motorsports on the GSX-R750 for my first year in Supersport. I think that I have the opportunity to have a strong first year in the class with Dustin Dominguez and his team, and I can’t wait to see what I can do at Road Atlanta.”
Alex Enriquez had a great year in 2023 as he was selected to represent America in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. The teenager has also had success finishing on the podium in the North American Talent Cup in 2022. For 2024, the Californian will jump into the Supersport class. Enriquez stated, “I’m happy I will be racing in the MotoAmerica Supersport class on a GSX-R750 with 3D Motorsports. I’m so excited and can’t wait till the season starts!”
Dominguez spoke about Enriquez, “I went out to Chuckwalla in December and watched some races and saw Alex on a 600. I was impressed with his riding and lap times. I went to talk to his father and learned it was his first time ever on a Supersport bike. We’re excited to have him with us for 2024.”
3D Motorsports is excited about the future and plans to announce its Stock 1000 rider lineup soon. For more info about the team email [email protected] We want thank all our sponsors for the tremendous support, Btec Turbines, CG Law, Blud Lubricants, Drippin Wet, M4, Spears Racing, Orient Express, Ktech, Dunlop, AF1 Racing, and Southern Adrenaline.
Featured In the January 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
While many manufacturers have used carbon-fiber for parts of their MotoGP machines, few have committed to full composite chassis. The most successful were the Ducati Desmosedici GP09 and GP10 models in the hands of Casey Stoner, but after going winless in 2011, the Italian company, which had used steel trellis frames until adopting the carbon monocoque design, fell in line with orthodoxy and built its GP12 with a twin-spar aluminum frame.
KTM has been MotoGP’s technical rebel in recent years, sticking with a steel frame and its own suspension components when all others adopted variations on aluminum twin-spar frames and Öhlins…
“Back To The Future,” by Michael Gougis
Now KTM has gone where others have feared to tread, equipping its factory RC16 racebikes with full carbon-fiber chassis. KTM’s Technical Manager for MotoGP, Sebastian Risse, explains why the company feels it is not only the correct choice, but will soon be the only choice for MotoGP machines. It’s in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.
Click here for a sample issue of Roadracing World magazine. (Print Edition, one sample issue per household, U.S. address only.)
Editorial Note: The official All-Time WorldSBK Lap Record at Jerez is 1:38.247, which was set by Jonathan Rea in 2019.
Bulega impresses with blazing fastest lap while Bautista explores combined weight set-up
Nicolo Bulega continued to set the pace at Jerez, clocking an impressive 1’37.809s lap time that remained untouched throughout the day.
Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu, adjusting to their new teams, concluded the second day with the second- and fourth-fastest times, respectively. Scott Redding claimed the third spot on the timesheets.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Challenges arose for Alvaro Bautista, the reigning WorldSBK Champion, as he navigated the Jerez test, focusing on adapting to the new weight regulation.
Alvaro Bautista (1). Photo courtesy Dorna.
On the second day of testing at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Andalucía, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) continued his dominance, setting an exceptional lap record pace, leaving his competitors trailing by more than half a second. In contrast, teammate Alvaro Bautista encountered difficulties, finishing in 16th, lapping in 1’39.583s. Ducati showcased strength with Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) securing fifth place while Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) also delivered a solid performance, finishing seventh. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) claiming ninth while Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) was 15th on his sole day of testing.
Andrea Iannone (29). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sam Lowes (14). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) showcased Yamaha’s prowess, securing second place with a 1’38.345s, while teammate Andrea Locatelli completed the top ten. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) secured eighth place, while Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) took 12th.
Scott Redding (45). Photo courtesy Dorna.
In a surprising turn, Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) surged late to claim third place with a 1’38.572s, pushing Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) to fourth. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) also performed well, securing sixth place. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) finished 13th with a best time of 1’39.224s.
Garrett Gerloff (31). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Leading the Kawasaki camp, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) finished in 11th place, focusing on race pace, with Axel Bassani improving to 14th. Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 18th.
Honda had a challenging day, with Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) leading the team in 16th, and teammate Iker Lecuona finishing 19th.
The WorldSBK Paddock is set to move to Portimao, continuing its testing program on January 29th and 30th.
Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“It was a solid test. We tried things that I liked. The time attack was very good, and the pace was consistent all day with race tyres. I’m very proud and happy of my fast lap. It’s our first test of the year, and we already have this great feeling with the bike. It wasn’t easy, but when I saw the dashboard with 1’37.8s, I was smiling. I’m happy with all the work done during this first test of the year. I’m already looking forward to the next one. We’ll continue working this way and keep improving the feeling with the bike in Portimao.”
Jerez Test Day 2 Results:
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’37.809, 69 laps
2. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’38.345s, 78 laps
3. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’38.572s, 77 laps
4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’38.638s, 78 laps
5. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) 1’38.744s, 61 laps
6. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’38.832s, 74 laps
7. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) 1’38,852s, 91 laps
9. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’38.907s, 73 laps
10. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’38.943s, 73 laps
Stefano Manzi (62). Photo courtesy Dorna.
2023 WorldSSP runner-up Stefano Manzi (Pata Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) took top spot in the World Supersport field with a 1’41.338s, completing 64 laps. He was three tenths clear of Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in second as he continues his comeback from arm surgery, while Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took P3. With Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in fourth, four different manufacturers were inside the top four at the end of Day 2.
More, from a press release issued by Team HRC Honda:
Team HRC preps for the 2024 WorldSBK Championship with a two-day test at Jerez
Team HRC has kicked off preparations for the upcoming 2024 Superbike World Championship with two days of testing at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain.
Benefiting from almost ideal weather conditions on both Wednesday and Thursday, with clear skies and mild temperatures for the time of year, factory riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge made the most of the track time, riding from 10.30am until 6.00pm.
The squad focused on identifying a solid base-setup for the new CBR1000RR-R. This involved testing a series of upgrades made to different areas of the machine, and building on the work completed in November when the bike made its debut outing at Jerez. In addition to this setup work, the team also tested the new E40 sustainable fuel, the use of which is part of the 2024 Superbike regulation, in order to gather data and insights.
Lecuona and Vierge made an impressive number of laps over the course of two intense days, further developing their understanding of the bike’s performance and potential as a result.
Team HRC now looks ahead to its next testing session at Portugal’s Autódromo Internacional do Algarve on 29-30 January, when the preparations for the upcoming racing season will continue.
Xavi Vierge 97
“I’m happy to be back working with my squad and all the members of my team. We’ve had two days of ideal weather conditions here in Jerez, which has allowed us to complete a lot of laps and get through a significant amount of work. It’s true that we’ve had a little more difficulty than expected, especially during the traction phase, so one of our main goals here was to improve traction and grip. The overall feeling on the bike is quite good, but as soon as we close the throttle, we cannot exploit the power and have too much spin. We’ve made a number of adjustments to the bike setup and electronics, and now it will be crucial for the engineers to analyze all the data and come up with a solid plan for Portimão, so that we can quickly make progress.”
Iker Lecuona 7
“Over the winter I had a small surgery on my left hand, as I’d been having some issues last season, an after-effect of having broken my hand back in 2021. Although I’ve had to scale back my gym work a little, I’m almost 100% and am now training properly again; I feel strong physically but also mentally and was looking forward to getting on the bike yesterday. I see 2024 as being an important year for me, and so I want to do my best to be ready for it. I feel we’ve taken a step with the aero package, and the bike overall seems to work in a different way, thanks to updated electronics and the like, which helps us to improve in certain areas. Having said that, the bike is new, and we’re still struggling with certain aspects. I wanted to find better front feeling this week, and we worked hard to achieve that but are not there yet. The next two days of testing at Portimão will be important, giving us the chance to understand how the bike feels at a completely different track and to establish the best possible base before we head to Phillip Island.”
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
Bulega in great form at Jerez (P1). Intense set up work for Bautista. Huertas does well in WorldSSP (P3)
The first two days of testing for the 2024 WorldSBK season concluded at Jerez de la Frontera (Spain).
At the Angel Nieto Circuit, Nicolò Bulega proved to be already at ease on the Ducati Panigale V4R of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, finishing first on both Day 1 and Day 2 and setting an impressive chrono of 1’37.809, the fastest time ever set at the Angel Nieto Circuit by a World Superbike rider.
Extremely intense work by Bautista: for the first time, he was able to test the bike in the 2024 configuration, with the extra kilos of ballast required by the new regulations. The Spanish rider (still not at the top of his condition after the scary crash he was involved in during the previous winter test at Jerez) carried out extensive set-up work with his team, completing 149 laps in two days. The time of 1’39.583 (P17) is not indicative, as Bautista was one of the very few riders not taking to the track on a qualifying tire.
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11)
“I am happy because we took another step forward, even compared to yesterday, and the feeling has grown steadily. We worked well on the time attack and that means I was also able to improve on the qualifying tires. I think it was an important test and now we go to Portimao to continue on this path. Today’s lap time? It doesn’t change anything: I remain a rookie and my objectives are different to the top riders”.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #1)
“I am satisfied because on Day 1, due to some pain, I didn’t get the best feeling; today things went better and this is undoubtedly a good sign. I can say that my condition has even improved. We worked a lot on the set-up, especially in light of the new regulations, and we got some important indications. We haven’t tried a time attack but that wasn’t the priority of this testing. I am looking forward to being at Portimao to continue on this path and to get further feedback on my condition”.
WorldSSP
Good start for Adrian Huertas and the Ducati Panigale V2 of the Aruba.it Racing WSSP team. The Spanish rider completed 124 laps, lowering today (1’41.942) by more than 6 tenths of a second the time recorded on Day 1 and finishing in third place among the 13 WorldSSP riders on track.
Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WSSP #99)
“I am very satisfied with the work we did. We tried many solutions and we were able to understand which of them could be useful and which ones did not work well. We didn’t focus on the lap time but we will have a chance to do that in the upcoming tests.”
More, from a press release issued by Elf Marc VDS Racing:
Lowes steps up WorldSBK preparations in Jerez
With their debut season in the WorldSBK Championship fast approaching, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team and Sam Lowes were back on track for the first time in 2024 to complete a positive two-day test session at the Circuito de Angel Nieto in Jerez.
Riding in the stunning new Elf Marc VDS WorldSBK livery for the first time, favourable weather conditions enabled Lowes to continue his adaptation to Ducati’s Panigale V4 R machine in impressive fashion.
With the majority of this year’s star-studded WorldSBK line-up on track in Jerez, Lowes finished the test in a hugely encouraging eighth position, with plenty of data and experience gained ahead of next month’s season opener in Australia.
The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team now leaves Spain to cross the border into Portugal for another two-day test session at the spectacular Algarve International Circuit next week.
Sam Lowes
/// 8th, 1:38.852, 173 laps
After the winter break, Lowes was busy on track on day one to complete 82 laps, with his prime focus on finding a base set-up while also gaining crucial experience of Pirelli’s hard compound tyres.
Lowes ended the first day only 0.3s behind reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista, with continual improvements made throughout, which was reflected in his fast and constant pace in race trim.
More valuable set-up work was accomplished in a marathon stint of 91 laps on the second day, which saw Lowes use Pirelli’s super grippy soft rear tyre for his first time attack on the Ducati Panigale VR 4.
His performance on softer rubber was particularly eye-catching, with Lowes able to lap 1.3s faster compared to his best time on day one and he ended eighth overall with a fastest lap of 1:38.852 to finish third fastest Ducati on track.
“This test was full of positives”
“I’m really happy with how the test finished. I improved a lot compared to the first day and I felt a lot better on the bike. That’s a normal evolution as I get more used to the Ducati and know what I need to be fast. The team has done an amazing job in helping me understand more how to ride a superbike and I’m starting to feel like this is my bike. I did a lot of good laps on my own and today was the first time I tried the super soft Pirelli tyre. My time was fast, but I only used one tyre, so I’m sure I could go even faster again. We must be happy with the job we’ve done, and I know there is a plenty more to come as we do more laps and get more comfortable with the Ducati. We did a lot of laps in Jerez, and I feel pretty tired now, but I can’t thank the team enough for all their hard work. We tried a lot of different set-ups to help us get very important information and now I’m looking forward to going to Portimao next week to understand the bike on a completely different track. This test was full of positives and gives me a big boost heading to Portugal.”
BigR Racing Signs Jared Lowe for 2024 Progressive AFT Season
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 25, 2024) – BigR Racing is excited to announce it has signed up-and-coming talent Jared Lowe to contest the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER championship aboard a Honda CRF450R during the 2024 Progressive American Track season.
Lowe enters his fourth professional season coming off his most impressive campaign yet and expects to continue the upward trend in ‘24. Last season, “the Jet” signaled his arrival as a serious contender in the extraordinary competitive class, notching up a host of personal bests, including his total number of top-ten finishes (five), championship points (80), top Main Event finish (seventh), and top qualifying performance (fourth).
Lowe’s rise mirrors that of BigR Racing. The Kansas-based outfit burst onto the scene as a top-ten entity in 2022 and then increased its top-ten haul, up from three to four, in 2023. Along with the signing of Jared as the team’s lead pilot for the upcoming season, BigR Racing has also recruited Sam Lowe to serve as the squad’s Crew Chief.
BigR Team Owner Ron Belt said, “The entire Lowe racing family brings good things to the series. And after watching Jared and Sam work together in 2023, I knew they would be a great fit with the team.”
Lowe said, “I’m excited to be a part of BigR Racing this year. I’ve got some seat time on the bikes, and I already feel very comfortable. I’m ready to compete.”
BigR Racing and the team is supported by several of the sport’s leading sponsors. Mike Vinson of Vinson Construction, Mission Foods, Roof Systems of Dallas, Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda, Scott Scherb of Scherb Racing, Ryan Sangals of SPC Racing, Motion Pro, L&R Racing, VP Racing Fuel, and LBP, along with many others.
British Superbike fans on pit lane during an event at Brands Hatch in 2023. Photo courtesy MSVR.
BENNETTS BSB – THRILL OF THE RACE – EPISODE 11 – DAY OF DESTINY
The finale episode of Thrill of the Race bringing you closer than ever before to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at an incredible title decider at Brands Hatch. Relive all of the emotion, drama and intensity of the final round of the 2023 season at Brands Hatch in the final battle to become 2023 Champion We hope you enjoyed the ride
Darryn Binder (15) said the new Pirellis have more grip but that performance falls off more than the Dunlops used previously. “It's definitely going to be interesting next year to see how they go over race distance,” Binder said. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Featured In the January 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
An era ended quietly with the conclusion of the Moto2 race in Valencia. Dunlop was out of Grand Prix racing. And the next day a new era opened, with the first official test for the Moto2 and Moto3 teams on spec Pirelli tires.
Already the control tire in World Superbike, World Supersport, and several National-level series, (as well as in Formula One car racing), Pirelli made a positive first impression in the smaller-displacement classes, beating the best-ever Moto2 lap times at Valencia and crushing the Moto3 lap record…
“Pirelli Takes Over,” by Michael Gougis
Giorgio Barbier, Racing Manager for Pirelli, was on hand in Valencia to give an overview of the first official test for Pirelli tires in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes, and he was quite pleased. Setting lap records will do that. Read his impressions in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.
Click here for a sample issue of Roadracing World magazine. (Print Edition, one sample issue per household, U.S. address only.)
Jesse Janisch (77) and Shane Narbonne (1) in action during the Bagger Racing League event at PittRace in 2023. Photo courtesy Trask Performance.
Unveiling the 2024 Bagger Racing League “Battle of the Baggers” Schedule.
Rev up your engines and mark your calendars as the 2024 Bagger Racing League promises an adrenaline-fueled season with the “Battle of the Baggers.” With a thrilling schedule featuring international showdowns and new classes, this season is set to redefine the world of bagger GP racing.
**Round 1: Motorsport Park Hastings, NE (May 24-26) – Double Header**
Kicking off the season in grand style, Motorsport Park Hastings in Nebraska will host the inaugural races, treating fans to a double-header extravaganza. The intense competition is sure to set the tone for an action-packed championship.
**Round 2: Gingerman Raceway, MI (June 28-30) – Double Header**
The excitement continues at Gingerman Raceway in Michigan, where riders will face off in another thrilling double-header. The challenging circuit promises to push competitors to their limits, ensuring every lap is a spectacle for fans.
**Round 3: Bridgestone Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, ON (August 9-11) – International Double Header**
The Battle of the Baggers goes international with Round 3 taking place at Bridgestone Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario. This Canadian showdown will not only test the skills of the riders but also add a global flavor to the competition. Get ready for an unforgettable double-header on Canadian soil.
**Round 4: Finals at Willow Springs International Raceway, CA (November 16-17) – Double Header**
As the season reaches its climax, the Finals at Willow Springs International Raceway in California promise to be a spectacular culmination. The double-header format ensures that every twist and turn of this iconic circuit will play a pivotal role in deciding the ultimate champion.
*Introducing the SUPER STREET CLASS.
Adding a new layer of excitement to the 2024 season, the Bagger Racing League introduces the SUPER STREET CLASS. This category will showcase the prowess of baggers in a unique setting, challenging riders to navigate the streets with speed and precision.
*Shane Narbone Defends His Title**
All eyes will be on the reigning champion, Shane Narbone, as he aims to defend his 2023 title in the bagger GP. Narbone’s skill, experience, and determination make him a formidable contender, but the competition will be fierce, and only time will tell if he can secure another championship. For more information and updates on the 2024 Bagger Racing League “Battle of the Baggers,” visit http://www.BaggerRacingLeague.com. Strap in and get ready for a season of high-speed thrills, intense rivalries, and the relentless pursuit of victory on the bagger racing circuit.
Roadracing World MotoGP Editor and Isle of Man TT winner Mat Oxley (right) and two-time World Championship-winning Crew Chief Peter Bom (left). Photo courtesy Mat Oxley.
Roadracing World MotoGP Editor and Isle of Man TT winner Mat Oxley and two-time World Championship-winning Crew Chief Peter Bom have started “The Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast,” which will be focused on the FIM MotoGP World Championship.
This podcast is “Tech Talk – The Terrible Throttle Tell-All.”
The original podcast can be found on BuzzSprout.com or listened to via other places you get podcasts.
From the Oxley Bom Podcast:
If you want to go fast, you hit the gas. But what actually happens when a rider goes full throttle? The answer, as you might expect of a cutting edge million dollar speed machine, is a little complex. Luckily, we’ve got our very own engineering expert! Join us as Mat asks Peter everything you’ve ever wanted to know about what happens when you turn that handle.
Oh, and make sure to stick around for the end of the episode for some very cool updates about the future of the podcast…
With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman’s Dub Club, who wrote our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music!
Cody Wyman on the N2/WERA National Endurance Championship-winning Army of Darkness Yamaha YZF-R1. After 4,000+ miles the team took it apart. Raul Jerez/Highside Photo.
Featured In the January 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
Urban legend says Henry Ford once commissioned a study of Ford cars in junkyards. The researcher reported back that they found that the cars had died for all sorts of reasons: Transmissions, crankshafts, broken pistons, etc. The researcher did offer that, on the upside, all the king pin bushings in the front suspension were in excellent condition.
“Make the kingpin bushings cheaper,” was Ford’s response.
That unverified and argued-over anecdote could explain why the king pin bushings on my 1970 E100 were garbage. It also could illustrate how manufacturers may aim to have all the parts wear out at the same rate, as well as strive to deliver performance at a price point…
“An Autopsy Of A 2020 Yamaha YZF-R1 Race Engine,” by Sam Fleming
In the interest of science, Sam Fleming enlisted Michael Godin from KWS Motorsports to tear down a 4,000-mile Army Of Darkness race engine and provide an independent assessment of its condition and a recommendation for how to proceed if it was a track day/streetbike instead of an engine intended to win the 2023 N2 WERA National Endurance Championship. This is what Godin found—and it’s in the latest issue of Roadracing World.
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.
Click here for a sample issue of Roadracing World magazine. (Print Edition, one sample issue per household, U.S. address only.)
From left, Raul Fernandez, Justin Marks and Miguel Oliveira. Fernandez and Oliveira are the riders for the new-for-2024 Trackhouse MotoGP team. Photo by Michael Gougis.
At a boutique hotel in the heart of Hollywood, the U.S.-based Aprilia squad Trackhouse Racing on Friday unveiled the livery for the RS-GP machines the team will use in MotoGP competition during the 2024 season.
In addition to Trackhouse founder and owner Justin Marks, a former NASCAR racer and owner of a NASCAR team, riders Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez were on hand, as well as former and current Grand Prix racers. They were joined by Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing, as well as Wilco Zeelenberg, the former 250cc Grand Prix racer who is the team manager for Trackhouse.
Wayne Rainey, a three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion and now President of MotoAmerica, and 1993 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz were both on hand, representing the period of Grand Prix racing that was utterly dominated by American riders. From 1978 to 1993, Americans won 13 of 16 500cc Grand Prix titles.
Trackhouse is based in North Carolina, but the satellite team will operate out of Noale, Italy, in conjunction with the Aprilia racing department. Oliveira will start the season on a 2024 RS-GP, while Fernandez will start racing on the 2023 version of the machine and transition to a 2024 during the season. Oliveira is a multi-time MotoGP winner with KTM, and Fernandez is a multi-time winner in Moto2 and runner-up in the Moto2 World Championship in 2022.
The livery for the Trackhouse Racing Aprilia RS-GP machines for the 2024 season reflects the team’s American heritage. Miguel Oliveira will ride the 2024 version, while Raul Fernandez will start with the 2023 machine that won two races last year. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marks said the opportunity to get involved in MotoGP came about much more quickly than expected, but when told it was now or never by the leaders of Dorna, he jumped at the chance. The CryptoData RNF MotoGP Team was imploding, and the satellite Aprilias that RNF ran – and their grid slots – were available if Trackhouse was willing to move immediately.
“We went to the MotoGP race in Austria,” Marks said. “We went there as a NASCAR team to see what MotoGP was like, to see if we could learn something about making our team a little bit better, to take some inspiration. That was five months ago.
“When I was talking to Carmelo and Carlos (Ezpeleta, CEO and Chief Sporting Officer of Dorna Sports, respectively), they said they would love to have us in MotoGP. I said I know there’s a lot to learn. Let’s look at 2025. Give me a year, in 2024 we’ll take a year, go to races, meet people, learn everything. They said, the door’s open right now and I can’t tell you how long it’s going to be open. It was a ready, fire, aim moment for Trackhouse. We have a lot of exciting things ahead of us and we’re excited.”
“We are super excited, and we share their vision,” Rivola said.
Rainey and Schwantz talked about how important having an American team in Grand Prix racing is for the sport in the U.S.
“Grand Prix racing is something that’s almost been forgotten about here,” Schwantz said. “It’s a great stepping stone. There’s so much talent here in America that could race on the world stage. They just don’t have the manufacturer support to get it done. To have someone like Trackhouse who is focused on racing here – it’s big.”
“I think it’s really exciting news,” Rainey said. “This had to happen. Trackhouse gets to grow their brand, and it will help raise awareness of Grand Prix racing here in the U.S.”
3D Motorsports signs Bicknese and Enriquez for Supersport
Decatur, Texas-based 3D Motorsports has signed Hayden Bicknese as well as Alex Enriquez to pilot their Suzuki GSX-R750s in MotoAmerica Supersport in 2024. Both riders have tested with the team over the winter and feel confident for the 2024 season.
Hayden Bicknese is no stranger to the MotoAmerica podium with six podiums in Junior Cup. He is up for the challenge in Supersport this year and feels he can run up front.
“I’m excited to see what we can do with Hayden. We are lucky enough to be able to ride a lot during the year with him and believe we can develop both the bike and him to be a contender,” expressed 3D Motorsports owner Dustin Dominguez.
Hayden Bicknese (68). Photo courtesy 3D Motorsports.
Bicknese added, “I am very excited to be joining 3D Motorsports on the GSX-R750 for my first year in Supersport. I think that I have the opportunity to have a strong first year in the class with Dustin Dominguez and his team, and I can’t wait to see what I can do at Road Atlanta.”
Alex Enriquez had a great year in 2023 as he was selected to represent America in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. The teenager has also had success finishing on the podium in the North American Talent Cup in 2022. For 2024, the Californian will jump into the Supersport class. Enriquez stated, “I’m happy I will be racing in the MotoAmerica Supersport class on a GSX-R750 with 3D Motorsports. I’m so excited and can’t wait till the season starts!”
Dominguez spoke about Enriquez, “I went out to Chuckwalla in December and watched some races and saw Alex on a 600. I was impressed with his riding and lap times. I went to talk to his father and learned it was his first time ever on a Supersport bike. We’re excited to have him with us for 2024.”
3D Motorsports is excited about the future and plans to announce its Stock 1000 rider lineup soon. For more info about the team email [email protected] We want thank all our sponsors for the tremendous support, Btec Turbines, CG Law, Blud Lubricants, Drippin Wet, M4, Spears Racing, Orient Express, Ktech, Dunlop, AF1 Racing, and Southern Adrenaline.
Jack Miller on a KTM RC16 with a carbon-fiber frame and camouflaged bodywork hiding experimental ground-effect aerodynamic devices on the upper fairing, in post-season testgin at Valencia. Photo by Gigi Soldano/DPPI Media.
Featured In the January 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
While many manufacturers have used carbon-fiber for parts of their MotoGP machines, few have committed to full composite chassis. The most successful were the Ducati Desmosedici GP09 and GP10 models in the hands of Casey Stoner, but after going winless in 2011, the Italian company, which had used steel trellis frames until adopting the carbon monocoque design, fell in line with orthodoxy and built its GP12 with a twin-spar aluminum frame.
KTM has been MotoGP’s technical rebel in recent years, sticking with a steel frame and its own suspension components when all others adopted variations on aluminum twin-spar frames and Öhlins…
“Back To The Future,” by Michael Gougis
Now KTM has gone where others have feared to tread, equipping its factory RC16 racebikes with full carbon-fiber chassis. KTM’s Technical Manager for MotoGP, Sebastian Risse, explains why the company feels it is not only the correct choice, but will soon be the only choice for MotoGP machines. It’s in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.
Click here for a sample issue of Roadracing World magazine. (Print Edition, one sample issue per household, U.S. address only.)
Editorial Note: The official All-Time WorldSBK Lap Record at Jerez is 1:38.247, which was set by Jonathan Rea in 2019.
Bulega impresses with blazing fastest lap while Bautista explores combined weight set-up
Nicolo Bulega continued to set the pace at Jerez, clocking an impressive 1’37.809s lap time that remained untouched throughout the day.
Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu, adjusting to their new teams, concluded the second day with the second- and fourth-fastest times, respectively. Scott Redding claimed the third spot on the timesheets.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Challenges arose for Alvaro Bautista, the reigning WorldSBK Champion, as he navigated the Jerez test, focusing on adapting to the new weight regulation.
Alvaro Bautista (1). Photo courtesy Dorna.
On the second day of testing at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Andalucía, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) continued his dominance, setting an exceptional lap record pace, leaving his competitors trailing by more than half a second. In contrast, teammate Alvaro Bautista encountered difficulties, finishing in 16th, lapping in 1’39.583s. Ducati showcased strength with Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) securing fifth place while Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) also delivered a solid performance, finishing seventh. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) claiming ninth while Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) was 15th on his sole day of testing.
Andrea Iannone (29). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sam Lowes (14). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) showcased Yamaha’s prowess, securing second place with a 1’38.345s, while teammate Andrea Locatelli completed the top ten. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) secured eighth place, while Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) took 12th.
Scott Redding (45). Photo courtesy Dorna.
In a surprising turn, Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) surged late to claim third place with a 1’38.572s, pushing Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) to fourth. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) also performed well, securing sixth place. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) finished 13th with a best time of 1’39.224s.
Garrett Gerloff (31). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Leading the Kawasaki camp, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) finished in 11th place, focusing on race pace, with Axel Bassani improving to 14th. Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 18th.
Honda had a challenging day, with Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) leading the team in 16th, and teammate Iker Lecuona finishing 19th.
The WorldSBK Paddock is set to move to Portimao, continuing its testing program on January 29th and 30th.
Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“It was a solid test. We tried things that I liked. The time attack was very good, and the pace was consistent all day with race tyres. I’m very proud and happy of my fast lap. It’s our first test of the year, and we already have this great feeling with the bike. It wasn’t easy, but when I saw the dashboard with 1’37.8s, I was smiling. I’m happy with all the work done during this first test of the year. I’m already looking forward to the next one. We’ll continue working this way and keep improving the feeling with the bike in Portimao.”
Jerez Test Day 2 Results:
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’37.809, 69 laps
2. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’38.345s, 78 laps
3. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’38.572s, 77 laps
4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’38.638s, 78 laps
5. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) 1’38.744s, 61 laps
6. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’38.832s, 74 laps
7. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) 1’38,852s, 91 laps
9. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’38.907s, 73 laps
10. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’38.943s, 73 laps
Stefano Manzi (62). Photo courtesy Dorna.
2023 WorldSSP runner-up Stefano Manzi (Pata Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) took top spot in the World Supersport field with a 1’41.338s, completing 64 laps. He was three tenths clear of Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in second as he continues his comeback from arm surgery, while Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took P3. With Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in fourth, four different manufacturers were inside the top four at the end of Day 2.
More, from a press release issued by Team HRC Honda:
Team HRC preps for the 2024 WorldSBK Championship with a two-day test at Jerez
Team HRC has kicked off preparations for the upcoming 2024 Superbike World Championship with two days of testing at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain.
Benefiting from almost ideal weather conditions on both Wednesday and Thursday, with clear skies and mild temperatures for the time of year, factory riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge made the most of the track time, riding from 10.30am until 6.00pm.
The squad focused on identifying a solid base-setup for the new CBR1000RR-R. This involved testing a series of upgrades made to different areas of the machine, and building on the work completed in November when the bike made its debut outing at Jerez. In addition to this setup work, the team also tested the new E40 sustainable fuel, the use of which is part of the 2024 Superbike regulation, in order to gather data and insights.
Lecuona and Vierge made an impressive number of laps over the course of two intense days, further developing their understanding of the bike’s performance and potential as a result.
Team HRC now looks ahead to its next testing session at Portugal’s Autódromo Internacional do Algarve on 29-30 January, when the preparations for the upcoming racing season will continue.
Xavi Vierge 97
“I’m happy to be back working with my squad and all the members of my team. We’ve had two days of ideal weather conditions here in Jerez, which has allowed us to complete a lot of laps and get through a significant amount of work. It’s true that we’ve had a little more difficulty than expected, especially during the traction phase, so one of our main goals here was to improve traction and grip. The overall feeling on the bike is quite good, but as soon as we close the throttle, we cannot exploit the power and have too much spin. We’ve made a number of adjustments to the bike setup and electronics, and now it will be crucial for the engineers to analyze all the data and come up with a solid plan for Portimão, so that we can quickly make progress.”
Iker Lecuona 7
“Over the winter I had a small surgery on my left hand, as I’d been having some issues last season, an after-effect of having broken my hand back in 2021. Although I’ve had to scale back my gym work a little, I’m almost 100% and am now training properly again; I feel strong physically but also mentally and was looking forward to getting on the bike yesterday. I see 2024 as being an important year for me, and so I want to do my best to be ready for it. I feel we’ve taken a step with the aero package, and the bike overall seems to work in a different way, thanks to updated electronics and the like, which helps us to improve in certain areas. Having said that, the bike is new, and we’re still struggling with certain aspects. I wanted to find better front feeling this week, and we worked hard to achieve that but are not there yet. The next two days of testing at Portimão will be important, giving us the chance to understand how the bike feels at a completely different track and to establish the best possible base before we head to Phillip Island.”
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
Bulega in great form at Jerez (P1). Intense set up work for Bautista. Huertas does well in WorldSSP (P3)
The first two days of testing for the 2024 WorldSBK season concluded at Jerez de la Frontera (Spain).
At the Angel Nieto Circuit, Nicolò Bulega proved to be already at ease on the Ducati Panigale V4R of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, finishing first on both Day 1 and Day 2 and setting an impressive chrono of 1’37.809, the fastest time ever set at the Angel Nieto Circuit by a World Superbike rider.
Extremely intense work by Bautista: for the first time, he was able to test the bike in the 2024 configuration, with the extra kilos of ballast required by the new regulations. The Spanish rider (still not at the top of his condition after the scary crash he was involved in during the previous winter test at Jerez) carried out extensive set-up work with his team, completing 149 laps in two days. The time of 1’39.583 (P17) is not indicative, as Bautista was one of the very few riders not taking to the track on a qualifying tire.
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11)
“I am happy because we took another step forward, even compared to yesterday, and the feeling has grown steadily. We worked well on the time attack and that means I was also able to improve on the qualifying tires. I think it was an important test and now we go to Portimao to continue on this path. Today’s lap time? It doesn’t change anything: I remain a rookie and my objectives are different to the top riders”.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #1)
“I am satisfied because on Day 1, due to some pain, I didn’t get the best feeling; today things went better and this is undoubtedly a good sign. I can say that my condition has even improved. We worked a lot on the set-up, especially in light of the new regulations, and we got some important indications. We haven’t tried a time attack but that wasn’t the priority of this testing. I am looking forward to being at Portimao to continue on this path and to get further feedback on my condition”.
WorldSSP
Good start for Adrian Huertas and the Ducati Panigale V2 of the Aruba.it Racing WSSP team. The Spanish rider completed 124 laps, lowering today (1’41.942) by more than 6 tenths of a second the time recorded on Day 1 and finishing in third place among the 13 WorldSSP riders on track.
Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WSSP #99)
“I am very satisfied with the work we did. We tried many solutions and we were able to understand which of them could be useful and which ones did not work well. We didn’t focus on the lap time but we will have a chance to do that in the upcoming tests.”
More, from a press release issued by Elf Marc VDS Racing:
Lowes steps up WorldSBK preparations in Jerez
With their debut season in the WorldSBK Championship fast approaching, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team and Sam Lowes were back on track for the first time in 2024 to complete a positive two-day test session at the Circuito de Angel Nieto in Jerez.
Riding in the stunning new Elf Marc VDS WorldSBK livery for the first time, favourable weather conditions enabled Lowes to continue his adaptation to Ducati’s Panigale V4 R machine in impressive fashion.
With the majority of this year’s star-studded WorldSBK line-up on track in Jerez, Lowes finished the test in a hugely encouraging eighth position, with plenty of data and experience gained ahead of next month’s season opener in Australia.
The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team now leaves Spain to cross the border into Portugal for another two-day test session at the spectacular Algarve International Circuit next week.
Sam Lowes
/// 8th, 1:38.852, 173 laps
After the winter break, Lowes was busy on track on day one to complete 82 laps, with his prime focus on finding a base set-up while also gaining crucial experience of Pirelli’s hard compound tyres.
Lowes ended the first day only 0.3s behind reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista, with continual improvements made throughout, which was reflected in his fast and constant pace in race trim.
More valuable set-up work was accomplished in a marathon stint of 91 laps on the second day, which saw Lowes use Pirelli’s super grippy soft rear tyre for his first time attack on the Ducati Panigale VR 4.
His performance on softer rubber was particularly eye-catching, with Lowes able to lap 1.3s faster compared to his best time on day one and he ended eighth overall with a fastest lap of 1:38.852 to finish third fastest Ducati on track.
“This test was full of positives”
“I’m really happy with how the test finished. I improved a lot compared to the first day and I felt a lot better on the bike. That’s a normal evolution as I get more used to the Ducati and know what I need to be fast. The team has done an amazing job in helping me understand more how to ride a superbike and I’m starting to feel like this is my bike. I did a lot of good laps on my own and today was the first time I tried the super soft Pirelli tyre. My time was fast, but I only used one tyre, so I’m sure I could go even faster again. We must be happy with the job we’ve done, and I know there is a plenty more to come as we do more laps and get more comfortable with the Ducati. We did a lot of laps in Jerez, and I feel pretty tired now, but I can’t thank the team enough for all their hard work. We tried a lot of different set-ups to help us get very important information and now I’m looking forward to going to Portimao next week to understand the bike on a completely different track. This test was full of positives and gives me a big boost heading to Portugal.”
Jared Lowe (63). Photo by Tim Lester, courtesy AFT.
BigR Racing Signs Jared Lowe for 2024 Progressive AFT Season
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 25, 2024) – BigR Racing is excited to announce it has signed up-and-coming talent Jared Lowe to contest the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER championship aboard a Honda CRF450R during the 2024 Progressive American Track season.
Lowe enters his fourth professional season coming off his most impressive campaign yet and expects to continue the upward trend in ‘24. Last season, “the Jet” signaled his arrival as a serious contender in the extraordinary competitive class, notching up a host of personal bests, including his total number of top-ten finishes (five), championship points (80), top Main Event finish (seventh), and top qualifying performance (fourth).
Lowe’s rise mirrors that of BigR Racing. The Kansas-based outfit burst onto the scene as a top-ten entity in 2022 and then increased its top-ten haul, up from three to four, in 2023. Along with the signing of Jared as the team’s lead pilot for the upcoming season, BigR Racing has also recruited Sam Lowe to serve as the squad’s Crew Chief.
BigR Team Owner Ron Belt said, “The entire Lowe racing family brings good things to the series. And after watching Jared and Sam work together in 2023, I knew they would be a great fit with the team.”
Lowe said, “I’m excited to be a part of BigR Racing this year. I’ve got some seat time on the bikes, and I already feel very comfortable. I’m ready to compete.”
BigR Racing and the team is supported by several of the sport’s leading sponsors. Mike Vinson of Vinson Construction, Mission Foods, Roof Systems of Dallas, Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda, Scott Scherb of Scherb Racing, Ryan Sangals of SPC Racing, Motion Pro, L&R Racing, VP Racing Fuel, and LBP, along with many others.
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descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
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
