Three Reasons Why The Rahal Ducati Moto Team Is So Important For MotoAmerica
by Michael Gougis
You could say that it’s just another team in the MotoAmerica paddock, two more bikes on the grid in a support class.
But that misses just how much the entry of the Rahal Ducati Moto Team means to MotoAmerica. Having series President Wayne Rainey on hand for the intro at the iconic Petersen Automotive Museum (a must-visit if you are ever in Los Angeles) is just one indication of how much the new Rahal team means to the series.
Here are three reasons why this announcement means so much to fans of motorcycle road racing in the United States:
1 – Team Rahal’s status and presence in the racing community is massive. I had a straight-up fan boy moment at the news conference when I went to get coffee and realized that Bobby Rahal himself was standing next to me. For those of you who are four-wheel illiterate, Bobby Rahal is an Indy 500 winner and a three-time CART/Indy Car Champion as a driver and a two-time winner of the Indy 500 as an owner. Son Graham Rahal, who is operating the motorcycle team, is a six-time IndyCar race winner who’s found a fair bit of success racing sports cars as well.
Why does this matter? Exposure. The Rahal clan brings attention, wherever it races. They are not just well-known but well respected, in the business world and in the racing world. Bobby Rahal served in a managerial position in the Jaguar Formula One team and was an interim president of the Championship Auto Racing Teams sanctioning body that ran open-wheel racing in the U.S. for decades. Rahal’s IndyCar team has David flippin’ Letterman as one of its owners, and his sports car team is the factory partner of BMW. Team Rahal has connections in racing, knows who to call to get things done, and operates at the highest levels of publicity and professionalism.
It would be hard to find a name that attracts more attention in North American racing than Rahal. The organization brings with it an audience that already follows road racing, admittedly on four wheels rather than two. That means exposure where Team Rahal goes, and the team is going racing with MotoAmerica. Good for everyone.
2 – Team Rahal knows what it is doing when it goes racing.
Graham Rahal pointed out, for example, that the team’s personal and in-depth interactions with Öhlins suspension equipment and personnel goes back decades. They know how to go racing, and when they show up, it’s a professional operation from the ground up. You don’t take 88 podiums at the highest level of American open-wheel racing over 17 years, as Bobby Rahal has, by accident. And Graham Rahal said the team chose to go into the Supersport class with the Ducati Panigale V2 because it could start with a bike in the showroom of one of its Ducati dealerships and make a simple, direct business case for racing on Sunday and selling on Monday. Racing is a business for him.
That works best when you’re running up front. And the initial impression is that Rahal Ducati Moto is putting together an operation capable of running at the front. Hiring Ben Spies as Team Principal is an example of how much effort Rahal is putting into the project. Spies, a MotoGP race winner, multi-time AMA Superbike Champion and Superbike World Champion in his one and only season in the series, has experience at the highest levels of International motorcycle road racing competition. As a rider, Spies knows what it takes to get to the front. Team Rahal is hiring that experience to get it out of the blocks as fast as it can.
Bobby and Graham Rahal aren’t gentleman investors looking to back a team in a sport that they enjoy. For Team Rahal (like Team Hammer) professional racing is its day job. Having a team like that in the paddock forces everyone to up their game. Again, good for everyone.
3 – New sponsors and a multi-year deal are good for the entire paddock. Racing Editor Chris Ulrich wrote recently that baggers were good for professional racing in the U.S., in part, because those were teams spending money on going racing. People get paid to work for teams on racebikes. Team uniforms get purchased. Dunlop sells more tires. You get the idea.
Team Rahal is bringing in XPEL film protectants as a title sponsor. And the plan is to spend 2024 in Supersport, then move up to Superbike in 2025 if all goes well. It’s a multi-year deal, so that means money coming into the paddock for years to come. Good for everyone.
EXCEPTIONAL TRAVEL MACHINE RECEIVES ESSENTIAL UPGRADES TO BOOST PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY
Husqvarna Motorcycles is pleased to reveal the new Norden 901, which offers improved performance and safety thanks to multiple technical enhancements for 2024. An incredibly popular machine since its introduction in 2021, the Norden 901 ensures all adventure enthusiasts can explore the world their way.
The machine of choice for many adventure riders, the Norden 901 retains the same proven, torquey, 889 cc parallel twin engine for 2024. Together with its light steel trellis frame, WP APEX suspension, and multiple ride modes, the Norden 901 continues to offer outstanding comfort, particularly on longer rides when navigating rugged and challenging landscapes.
The 2024-model Husqvarna Norden 901 now offers 10-way adjustable traction control. Photo courtesy Husqvarna Motorcycles.
Husqvarna Motorcycles’ lean-angle sensitive Cornering Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC) now offers ten different levels of rear wheel slip, which can be selected when the optional Explorer Mode is engaged. With a setting to suit all riding abilities, those with more experience will enjoy drifting through turns while riders new to travel machines will benefit from confidence inspiring traction when negotiating technical corners and unpredictable terrain.
Rounding out the new features found on the Norden 901 2024 are new USB port, the Hazard Warning lights, which can be quickly switched on in the event of an emergency, and the new exhaust system that meets EURO 5+ regulations.
A new exhaust system is one of the upgrades on the 2024-model Husqvarna Norden 901. Photo courtesy Husqvarna Motorcycles.
Underlining the premium build quality of the Norden 901, the components used on this versatile machine are all chosen for their performance and durability. The Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres, Bosch Cornering ABS, a Power Assist Slipper Clutch (PASC), and multiple ride modes combine to create the ultimate riding experience.
Technical highlights:
New grey and yellow graphics create a distinctive appearance
Revised Cornering sensitive Traction Control allows for 10 levels of adjustable rear wheel slip with optional Explorer Mode engaged
New exhaust system for EURO 5+ compliance
New USB port on the side of the dashboard
New Hazard Warning system
Bosch Cornering ABS
Chromium-molybdenum steel frame with engine as stressed member
889 cc parallel-twin engine with 105 hp peak power and 100 Nm of torque
Adjustable WP APEX suspension provides exceptional comfort both on and offroad
Four selectable ride modes (Street, Rain, Offroad, optional Explorer)
Ride-by-wire throttle with adjustable response (in Explorer mode)
Standard Easy Shift function (up and down Quickshifter)
PASC Slipper clutch
Tubeless spoked wheels with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres for balanced performance on and offroad
Large capacity, 19-litre fuel tank provides an extended range of up to 400 km
Optional Connectivity Unit provides TbT+ navigation, telephone calls in/out and music selection from the rider’s smartphone
The Husqvarna Motorcycles Functional Apparel Collection comprises quality riding gear designed specifically for global adventures. Complementing the unique design of the Norden 901, each piece of apparel has been developed to keep riders warm, dry, and comfortable in all weathers and seasons. Allowing riders to personalise their Norden 901, Husqvarna Motorcycles’ Technical Accessories features multiple luggage solutions and quality components that further enhance this exceptional travel machine.
Husqvarna Motorcycles’ Norden 901 2024 is available from now onwards at authorised Husqvarna Motorcycles dealers. Availability may differ from country to country. For full details on pricing and availability, please refer to your national Husqvarna Motorcycles subsidiary or importer.
18 points. 22 riders. One island. The title fight is ready to boil over Down Under
Strap in! One of the greatest sporting spectacles on Earth is about to get underway as MotoGP™ returns to Phillip Island
Wednesday, 18 October 2023
When the Tissot Sprint was announced for 2023, where did your mind go? For many, it was the fierce, fabulous and fast Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, and for very good reason. Now, the time has come to take on one of the true greats once more and we get to see the lights go out not just once, but twice. If you’ve watched before, you know what we mean. If you haven’t, just get ready.
Even better, as MotoGP™ arrives back in Australia there’s truly everything on the line after an unbelievable whiplash twist in the title fight. On Saturday in Indonesia, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) continued his stunning run, taking the Championship lead for the first time as he won his fourth Sprint on the bounce and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) struggled to eighth after failing to make it out of Q1. But on Sunday, Martin made a sudden, shocking error to crash out the lead – and Bagnaia had already been on quite some mission to slice through the pack. With Martin’s crash, third became second and then the Italian attacked Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) to take the lead and win. What. A. Twist. And what a performance from a Pecco some had already started to write off.
Now it’s time to take on the Island and the title fighting duo will be stealing plenty of spotlight as the battle just gets hotter and hotter. We’re also in need of a real duel on track to see the gloves come off. Could the Island be the place? Last year, Bagnaia was on the podium and took the Championship lead that would lead to his first premier class crown on this very turf. Martin, after some hot pace early on, was only seventh… but the top seven were covered by eight tenths. For racing series with more wheels, that’s an almost offensively small gap.
Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), meanwhile, ain’t out of it yet either. It’s a long shot, but the Italian soldiered on at Mandalika despite that recent collarbone surgery, and in Australia last year was very, very fast – as was teammate Luca Marini. What can they do Down Under this time around? Can Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) join that fight at the front? Has Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) got more impressive form after his best finish yet? What about his teammate Alex Marquez on the road to recovery? And what can we expect from Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) as he gets back in the groove? Eight Ducatis will be roaring down that Gardner Straight.
Let’s go back to Viñales, however. If you listed the venues you’d expect BatMav – we’ll let the fans decide whether that should stick – to threaten at the front, there’d be a few on there. Phillip Island? This place would definitely feature. Coming off the back of that performance in Indonesia too, the number 12 really could be one to watch, having been almost teasingly close to making that history as the first rider to win with three machines in the MotoGP™ era.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), meanwhile, arrives from bad luck and hot speed wanting a lot more reward, and Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) would also like a little luck back after a bit of a shunting from former teammate Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) at Mandalika. Raul Fernandez’ (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team), meanwhile, needs to rediscover that upward trajectory after a much tougher time of it in Indonesia. He’d been on a run of top ten finishes before yes, taking points last time out, but down in a P13 that was the last of the riders on the same lap.
Also having a much tougher time of it in Indonesia after some real steps forward of late was Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). Two DNFs and nothing much to show from the weekend – except a whole lotta love from one of the sport’s biggest markets – leave the number 93 looking for another uptick Down Under. But he is and has been, since a certain number 27 retired, the king of the Island. He was on the podium, and nearly the top step, in 2022, and he can’t be counted out. Even in the situation in which he finds himself in 2023. Can he?
That “nearly” to quantify Marquez’ 2022, however, came courtesy of now LCR Honda Castrol rider Alex Rins, who was back in the top ten at Mandalika for the first time since his broken leg. That’s impressive enough, and he played a masterpiece last season. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will want to learn a few of those secrets on the other side of the garage, and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) also wants a lot more as the Hondas all had a tougher weekend last time out, especially after the return to the front the number 36 had in India.
Speaking of a return to the front, and in this case just tenths off the win, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) completed the closest podium of the year so far in Indonesia. He qualified well, had a good Sprint and then seriously impressed in the Grand Prix race, scything through the gap to home in on the win and very nearly take it. Can Phillip Island be kinder too, despite it seeing him lose that Championship lead last season? For teammate Franco Morbidelli it’s a slightly opposite arrival as he suffered some issues at Mandalika and was ultimately a few laps down. Still, on Sunday his fastest lap was only a tenth off Quartararo.
Finally, KTM and GASGAS. At GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 it’s all about finding much better fortunes Down Under for both Augusto Fernandez and Pol Espargaro, with both enduring a tougher run of late. Better fortune is something also sought by Binder after a slightly adventurous Mandalika. On Saturday, he got taken out by Aleix Espargaro and on Sunday, he clashed with Marini AND Oliveira in two uncharacteristic incidents, both of which earned him a Long Lap. Uncharacteristic in that the South African usually poises his aggression perfectly. After a crash in Japan too, Binder will want a tidier weekend overall Down Under, but he can take heart from some speed in Indonesia as he came back through to sixth despite those excursions required in penance.
Last and by no means least, home hero Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) will be ready to get his elbows out at Phillip Island. The Australian is having a year of ups and downs in his new adventure with KTM, but there have been plenty of the former and he’ll want to make home turf count for another. The awesome Turn 4 now officially bears his name as we arrive for another showdown too, and fans are guaranteed a Thriller from Miller as he rides for them and some home glory…
SHOWTIME AT PHILLIP ISLAND
We’re underway at 15:00 local time on Saturday for the Sprint, before the GP race on Sunday fires up at 14:00.
Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:00 (GMT +11)
Grand Prix Race: Sunday 14:00 (GMT +11)
Pedro Acosta (37) and Aron Canet (40) fighting over first place in the Moto2 race at Mandalika. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Acosta aims to hammer home his advantage in Australia
With a top five on the grid covered by less than a tenth in Indonesia, it was no surprise that missing out on the front row was no ominous sign for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Once the lights went out the number 37 was off like a shot, and once in the lead he pulled another Acosta. That advantage is now 65 points at the top of the table, so can he do it again?
Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) and Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools Speed Up) will want to be back on that podium and get in Acosta’s way, however, and Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) and Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) will want more. And can Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team) finally crack that podium?
The rider who stole the spotlight last season was Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) though. After a tougher and scrappier run, can the number 21 find another ace up his sleeve – quite literally – this weekend? We’ll find out at 12:15 (GMT +2) as Moto2™ takes on Phillip Island!
Action from the Moto3 race at Mandalika. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Advantage Masia on the road to the Island
As he crossed the line at Mandalika, Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) probably thought it had been quite a tough day at the office. But in reality, the Championship leader only increased his advantage as Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) had crashed on the Warm Up lap and didn’t recover to points, and Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) had not one, but two Long Lap penalties – one of which sent him down the order by way of a time penalty after the flag. All said and done, Masia started the weekend a handful of points clear and is now 16 points ahead of Holgado – and that’s a whole podium’s worth.
Last year at Phillip Island, Sasaki was just off the podium and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) second as the two escaped in a smaller leading group, which could be good news for them on our return. The veterans will also be hoping that first time winner in Indonesia Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI), and podium finishers David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) and David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports), feel the pinch of less experience back on the Island… but will they? Tune in this weekend for more Moto3™ at 11:00 (GMT +11) to find out!
Young Powersports XL Centerville hosts Grand Opening Ceremony
Layton, UT – Holding multiple events and bringing in guests like supercross icon Jeremy McGrath, Young Powersports XL Centerville is holding its official grand opening weekend celebration from Oct. 27-28.
“This is the largest facility ever built specifically to sell powersports products,” Jeramie Young, director of Young Powersports said. “We’re holding a celebration fit for a dealership of Young Powersports XL Centerville’s stature.”
The dealership’s ribbon-cutting ceremony will start on Oct. 27 at 11am, and will feature guest speakers from the Young Automotive Group and Davis County officials like Centerville council-member Gina Hirst. Refreshments from Daily Rise Coffee will also be available to attendees.
Following the ceremony, the dealership will hold a Trunk or Treat from 6-8pm. The event will feature not only sweets and decorated machines, but special prizes for students and teachers.
Before the event, Young Powersports XL Centerville will deliver coloring pages to classrooms across Davis School District. The winning student will receive a Nintendo Switch, and the three teachers whose classes had the most entries will receive $500, $300 and $200.
“Trunk or Treats have become a major tradition for many dealerships in our group,” Young said. “They’re a great way to bring members of the community together, and our new facility is the perfect place to hold one.”
While offering grand opening specials on Saturday, the dealership will have seven-time Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath visit Young Powersports XL Centerville. Known as the King of Supercross, McGrath will be on site for a meet-and-greet on Oct. 28 from 1-4pm.
“Everyone here is extremely excited to have McGrath here,” Young said. “He’s a legendary rider, and a lot of our staff grew up watching him compete.”
Opened in August, Young Powersports XL Centerville carries machines from 12 of the industries most iconic manufacturers, with an adjacent Honda powersports location on the way. The facility houses not only powersports vehicles, accessories, gear and apparel, but also a Daily Rise Coffee franchise, a barber and a nail technician. It is currently the largest powersports dealership in Utah.
“Young Powersports XL Centerville is becoming everything we hoped it would be,” Young said. “Our mission is to provide an exceptional customer experience to anyone who walks through our doors, and with this dealership, we have the capacity to make every shopping experience here memorable.”
The dealership is located at 547 Frontage Rd. in Centerville, Utah. All events for the weekend are free and open to the public.
ANDREA IANNONE IS BACK ON THE TRACK WITH GO ELEVEN: THE PAIRING FOR 2024 WORLDSBK CHAMPIONSHIP!
Andrea Iannone is ready to come back and will do so on board the Ducati Panigale V4-R of Team Go Eleven in the 2024 Superbike World Championship.
Four years after the last race held, the passion and love for motorsport bring Andrea Iannone back to the track in the WorldSBK.
First winner of the new Ducati MotoGP era – 14 victories, 10 Pole Positions and 35 podiums in the MotoGP, of which 11 in the premier class between Suzuki and Borgo Panigale – will have at his disposal the Rossa in the 2024 RS version of Team Go Eleven, the satellite team led by Gianni Ramello and Denis Sacchetti.
The agreement between Andrea Iannone and Team Go Eleven is a one year deal, for the 2024 season, with an option to extend the contract in 2025. The first ride of Andrea Iannone on the Ducati Panigale V4-RS prepared by Team Go Eleven will take place in the Jerez tests, on 31/10 and 01/11.
Andrea Iannone (Rider): “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, I’m finally back on track, where I spent my life. I thank Gigi Dall’Igna, Paolo Ciabatti, Claudio Domenicali, Marco Zambenedetti and the whole Go Eleven team for their trust, with their support I have rediscovered the enthusiasm I had as a child. Special thanks also to the WorldSBK family for the opportunity. I’m fully excited.”
Gianni Ramello (Team Owner): “Since its birth, Go Eleven has tried to achieve increasingly important goals and with the move to Ducati we have come closer to our desire. Despite being a private team we achieved a victory, several podiums, we won a Best Independent World Title, we gave world-famous riders the opportunity to defend our colors with excellent results demonstrating that our Team has done a great job. Now we found ourselves having to take a further step and achieve another goal, a new challenge, and this time it will be more hard and challenging. A rider like Andrea has not only shown over the years that he is fast and truly talented, but he is also certainly a public character of great interest. The challenge is even more stimulating because we jumped at the chance to have Iannone return to a World Championship after 4 years and I can guarantee that we will work hard to get to the positions that count, we strongly want to show that we have made this decision because we believe in potential of the rider, and we are sure that he will give his all to achieve great results.
I can only thank Andrea for choosing our team, giving us great importance and showing that the excellent work is highly appreciated, and also because he has shown the courage to face this new challenge which is not at all simple. I thank all the Ducati management who gave us strong motivation to start this project and I thank my Team who has always shared our projects for better or for worse driven by motivations that excite me, all of them want to win as I do and this, added the certain desire that Andrea will also have, will be a further boost for the 2024 season!”
Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager): “We have worked hard to make this dream real, we have wanted to shout it out to the world for some time now, but creating such an important project is not easy and must be structured carefully. The Maniac has decided to get back into the game, it’s not for everyone, it takes guts after everything that has happened and so much time away from racing. It is a courageous choice, for some it may seem crazy, but the right dose of madness and courage can lead to great feats. Why this bet? When we started talking to him, we were impressed by his determination, grit and desire to go back doing what he loves, I saw in his eyes the desire and need to race a motorbike, like a child who wants to go back playing and everything that happens around him is out of his mind, because he just wants to go back playing, he has no other thoughts at that moment. We know that it won’t be easy, that at the beginning we will have to suffer and work a lot and hard, but this awareness unites us even more and stimulates us further. I want to thank Gianni Ramello for immediately accepting this opportunity, a particular thank you also goes to Paolo Ciabatti, Gigi Dall’Igna, Claudio Domenicali and Marco Zambenedetti for the support they are giving to this project and obviously thanks to Andrea Iannone for the trust in our team! Last but not least, heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors who allow us to take on increasingly important challenges every day, it is only thanks to their passion that it is possible to face new adventures!”
Marco Zambenedetti (SBK Ducati Project Management Responsible):“I am happy that Andrea is back to Ducati. He is a talented rider who certainly still has a lot to give to this sport. Certainly, after such a long stop period, it will be important to give himself all the time necessary to return to being one with the bike, he will have an experienced team with the V4 R at his side who will support him as best as possible this season. I can’t wait to see him around the track with all the other riders.”
Graham Rahal has been part of the auto racing world since before he was born but the six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES race winner is branching out to the two-wheel racing world with the creation of Rahal Ducati Moto, a two-bike team with his father, 1986 Indy 500 and three-time INDYCAR champion, Bobby, that will compete in the Supersport class of MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. The riders of the two Ducati Panigale V2s will be announced at a later date.
XPEL, a leading provider of protective films and coatings, including automotive paint protection film, surface protection film, automotive and commercial/residential window films, and ceramic coatings, will be the primary sponsor for the bikes in a multi-year deal. The San Antonio-based company also has a relationship with Rahal Paint Protection and the Bobby Rahal Automotive Group.
For as long as Graham Rahal can remember, he has had a fascination with Ducatis. He purchased his first one in 2007 – a yellow 1098S – with prize money from his Champ Car rookie season, and he continued to collect various models over the years but owning a Ducati dealership – or two – or especially a Ducati race team was beyond his wildest imagination.
To set the team up with the best chance of immediate success, Rahal Ducati Moto is bringing in five-time AMA Champion, 2009 World Superbike Champion and MotoGP race winner Ben Spies as team principal. The bikes will be prepared for competition for the 2024 season at Rahal Ducati Indianapolis in Brownsburg, Indiana, and then move to the all-new GR Brands headquarters in Zionsville, Indiana, which Rahal broke ground on earlier this year and is scheduled to be completed in the winter of ‘24.
The 2024 MotoAmerica season begins with the 82nd running of the historic Daytona 200, a non-points-paying Supersport race that will take place at Daytona International Speedway, March 7-9. New to the MotoAmerica series will be a round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, August 16-18, the home track for the Rahals, who previously resided in New Albany, Ohio. The 10-round Supersport schedule will be broadcast by MAVTV.
For more information on sponsorship and employment opportunities, please email [email protected]
QUOTEBOARD:
GRAHAM RAHAL, Rahal Ducati Moto Co-Owner: “This has been a long time coming and something I have wanted to do since we got the Ducati brands. Having a couple of those stores now has been great and we want to continue to build our relationship. There is no better way to do that than through the racing program and I am excited to get going. None of this would be possible without XPEL, a brand that I have a long-term relationship with through Rahal Paint Protection and I’m eager to see what we can do as a group in the MotoAmerica series. The series has been experiencing impressive growth in recent years and I’m excited to be part of it.
“Having Ben Spies as general manager is a real asset to our program. He gives us a lot of legitimacy but also brings a lot of success and is someone we can lean on to set our riders and team in the best place for success. This is going to be a great adventure for our organization and Ducati and something we can grow into the future and hopefully have some success on the Ducati Panigale V2.”
BOBBY RAHAL, Rahal Ducati Moto Co-Owner: “I’m really pleased that Graham has been able to put this program together with XPEL in the MotoAmerica series. I have enjoyed working with (MotoAmerica founders) Richard Varner and Terry Karges through the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles and met Wayne Rainey a few years ago as well. I have always been a huge fan of motorcycle racing, particularly Grand Prix road racing, and have had the privilege to get to know Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey and others over the years and have the greatest respect and admiration for what they were able to achieve all over the world. With Graham’s Ducati dealerships, it certainly seems to make sense for us to be involved. He has a tremendous amount of experience with XPEL through his businesses and we have a growing relationship through our automobile dealerships in Pennsylvania and know them to be a leader in the industry so to join with them for Rahal Ducati Moto is something we are very proud of and looking forward to expanding the relationship with them for years to come.”
MICHAEL MAYALL, XPEL Vice President of Corporate Development: “We are extremely excited to expand our partnerships in motorsports from four wheels to two with the Rahal Ducati Moto team and the MotoAmerica series. Joining forces with Rahal Ducati Moto and Ducati is a thrill for us. At XPEL, our motto is ‘Protect everything,’ and we’re ready to bring our world-class protection to the premier motorcycle racing series.”
BEN SPIES, Rahal Ducati Moto Team Principal: “I’m super excited about the project. I was approached a couple of months ago and asked if I wanted to be part of it to put my knowledge to use to help with the team and the riders and it was a no-brainer for me. Between bringing the Rahal name into the sport and partnering with Ducati, who is doing a great job globally, I think this is the perfect time for them to join forces and come into the series. The last two-to-three years have seen a pretty big uptick for MotoAmerica with the fans so there is a bit of a resurgence going on. The Rahals are coming in right now and will probably pull one or two other companies in to start a team and I look at that as a really good thing. I’m just excited to be back in the paddock and use some of my knowledge to help the team and definitely help the riders on the weekends with strategy and all of that. I’m looking forward to it.”
WAYNE RAINEY, MotoAmerica President: “The Rahals are legends in motorsports. We’ve been in discussion with them for a while to get their group involved in motorcycle racing with MotoAmerica. I’m really excited because we know they are going to be a wonderful addition to our paddock and the series. Bobby and Graham Rahal have been involved in auto racing for a long time and have been successful in many different series, and they’ve earned a lot of championships. All of us are super excited to have a team with the Rahal’s prestige in our motorcycle road racing championship. To me, it really shows how far MotoAmerica has come these last nine years.”
More, from a report by Michael Gougis:
Rahal Enters MotoAmerica Competition In 2024
(From left) Wayne Rainey, Bobby Rahal, Ben Spies, Michael Mayall and Graham Rahal at the announcement of the Rahal/Xpel MotoAmerica Supersport racing team. Photo by Michael Gougis.
by Michael Gougis
Graham Rahal, six-time IndyCar race winner and son of Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, will enter a new team into MotoAmerica Supersport competition in 2024 on Ducatis with World Superbike Champion and AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies as team principal and rider coach.
The announcement was made at the Petersen Automotive Museum, in Los Angeles, California.
The team will enter a pair of Ducati Panigale V2s in Supersport. Riders have not yet been determined.
Graham Rahal confirmed that the team would be a customer operation, and that Supersport was chosen for its accessibility and its direct link to the products for sale in the family’s Ducati dealerships.
Roadracing World Advertising Sales Director Anne Barnes and husband Michael Barnes had a daughter, Olivia Grace Barnes, earlier today, October 17, in Athens, Georgia.
Here’s a note from Anne Barnes:
“Good morning. We had quite an unexpected and eventful afternoon yesterday/this morning. Olivia Grace Barnes joined us at 1:34 a.m. on 10/17 weighing in at 7 lbs. 12 oz. and 19 inches long. All Barnes Family members are doing exceptionally well, and we are so grateful.”
With everything that happened at round one of the 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship, we don’t know how they managed to fit it all into Episode 1 of “Pressure To Rise.” But somehow, they did, and it’s a season premiere that you just have to see.
The non-stop schedule of the 2023 World Championship season keeps on coming as the Repsol Honda Team head to the most southernly GP of the year.
A short flight and a quick drive from Lombok to Melbourne and down to Phillip Island and Round 16, the Australian Grand Prix, is already here. The Repsol Honda Team are aiming to use the quick turnaround between races to help turn their fortunes after an ultimately unrewarding weekend in Mandalika. Redemption now calls at a circuit famous for tantalisingly close battles and unique situations.
Phillip Island is a track which has traditionally treated Marc Marquez and the Honda RC213V well, the combination taking three wins there in 2015, 2017, and 2019 – making the #93 Honda’s most successful rider around the 4.45km long track. Outside of these wins, Marquez scored a podium at the track last year – his 100th in the premier class with the Repsol Honda Team. Consistency across the weekend will be key, even if the weather looks set to be as volatile as ever.
Joan Mir arrives in Australia, the scene of his World Championship debut back in 2015, with his trademark positivity intact. Despite a late fall while showing some of his best race pace of the year, the #36 arrives happy with what he achieved and remains confident that there is more to come. Phillip Island was also the scene of Joan Mir’s first World Championship, winning the 2017 Moto3 crown on the Honda NSF250RW.
As always, the weather, and particularly the gusty winds, will be a critically important factor to monitor over the course of the Grand Prix weekend. Forecasts suggest it will certainly be a cooler weekend than the consistent 30°C and higher that the World Championship experienced in Indonesia.
Marc Marquez
“Phillip Island is a circuit with a lot of good memories for me. The place is something really unique on the MotoGP calendar and I have also enjoyed many memorable races there. Last year we got a really good podium there, my 100th in the premier class. As always, we have to see what happens this weekend and especially here in Australia the weather can change a lot and the wind can make things complicated. It will be important to have a good plan for all scenarios.”
Joan Mir (36). Photo courtesy Repsol Honda.
Joan Mir
“I think everyone enjoys Phillip Island, so I am looking forward to getting there. On paper Indonesia didn’t look great but honestly, when you look deeper and especially at our pace on Sunday – we need to see the positives and look to make it happen again this weekend. Now we come to one of those tracks where almost anything can happen, on track and in the sky, so let’s begin! It’s an intense schedule to end the year so we have to keep focused to finish well.”
In retrospect, it seems inevitable that Royal Enfield would build this bike. The 648cc Parallel Twin engine first introduced in the Continental and INT650 models was perfect for a middleweight cruiser. And cruisers are part of the company’s heritage, historically serving as a testing ground for its newest technology and leading its lineup in terms of status and prestige.
Still, it is clear that the company put a great deal of thought and effort into making this bike a cruiser through and through, rather than just putting different pegs and bars on an INT650 roadster and calling it job done. It’s designed to look the part, act the part, and do so in a way that reflects Royal Enfield’s style-first, lifestyle-first approach to motorcycling.
The Super Meteor’s chassis is new, the bodywork is new, the suspension is upgraded, and there are little bits that let you know that this is Royal Enfield’s flagship model.
I spent 140 miles rolling around the highways and byways of north-central Texas, getting an impressions of how well the bike performed its mission–delivering the cruiser experience to riders who want an unintimidating, low-stress ride. It was all about settling back into the plush seat, feeling the thrum of the engine, and being in the moment, on a motorcycle, nowhere better to be and nothing better to do.
Tech Briefing
The core of the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is its 648cc, SOHC, four-valves-per-cylinder engine, introduced in 2018. A gentle, under-stressed powerplant, it produces a claimed 46.4 bhp and 38.6 lbs.-ft. of torque, and is carefully balanced to reduce the vibration inherent in a Parallel Twin. There are some minor upgrades to the cylinder heads for this particular model. As the engine is a stressed member, the cylinder head has been strengthened to handle more load from the steering stem area. Otherwise, the engine internals and transmission ratios remain unchanged from the INT650 and Continental models. Power flows through an assisted/slipper clutch to a fat, 16-inch rear tire.
The chassis is all new, with a raked-out front end and forward-mounted foot controls. For the first time, a Royal Enfield has inverted forks, in this case 43mm Showa Big Piston units with separate functions in each fork leg. One leg handles rebound damping, the other handles compression damping, with no need to know which is which because there are no adjustments.
A single twin-piston Bybre caliper and 320mm (12.6-inch) disc handles braking at the front, and a similar Bybre caliper is mated to a 300mm (11.8-inch) disc at the rear. The bike features antilock brakes, and that is the extent of its electronic rider aids.
Cruisers are all about style, and it is extremely clear that Royal Enfield stylists spent a great deal of effort on how it looks. The finish of individual parts was amazing, especially on a bike built to a price point. The fit, surprisingly, was not as precise as I might have hoped; perhaps that issue will be corrected as production ramps up.
Riding The Super Meteor 650
Throwing a leg over the Super Meteor demonstrates that the company is serious about making it comfortable. The seat is low, the bars are easy to reach, and the overall riding position isn’t particularly extreme. At speed, even without the optional windscreen, the wind blast isn’t fatiguing. The pegs and foot controls are forward, cruiser style, but they are high enough that feet don’t drag during cornering.
Clutch feel is light but substantial, and flawless fuel injection mapping makes the throttle response precise and easy to manage–important for new and returning riders. There’s not a ton of horsepower, but the torque and throttle response at the bottom of the rpm range makes the bike easy to ride in city traffic, which is something Royal Enfield engineers put special effort into.
There’s no tachometer, but the engine tells the rider when it’s time to upshift. When it is in the meat of its powerband, all the rider feels is a steady, pleasant thrumming. When it is near the rev limit, the vibration definitely starts to change from pleasant to intrusive. In sixth gear, the bike rolls along comfortably until the speedometer shows about 75 mph. Then things start to get busy, and while it is possible to nudge the Super Meteor into triple digit speeds, the bike does not feel very happy there at all.
The brakes are progressive and confidence inspiring, if not particularly powerful, but they do provide steady stopping power for the inexperienced rider who gets in over their head and has to grab a handful of front brake lever. The feel at the brake lever is substantial yet light, and it is a good place for a rookie rider to adapt to using the front brake lever more frequently.
There were not many high-speed corners on the ride route, but in the few that we did find, the bike delivered more confidence and more feel than I expected. The ride quality suffered mostly from the relatively limited rear wheel travel and shocks that seemed to lack significant damping in either direction. Some of the truly challenging road surfaces in Texas really highlighted that, and I think this might actually be the first motorcycle I’ve ridden where I would change suspension bits before putting on an aftermarket exhaust. On second thought, I’d go with new mufflers first; I love the sound of one of these Royal Enfield 650 Twins with a good pipe on it.
It’s important to remember the target that Royal Enfield is shooting for with this motorcycle. It is supposed to look good, sound good, and feel good at a moderate or relaxed pace, along with having very affordable pricing. Rolling down a two-lane roadway heading back to the hotel, as long as I was in no rush and kept the bike within its comfort zone, it was easy to enjoy being on a cool-looking motorcycle, middle of the afternoon, just cruising along. That’s what Royal Enfield wants to deliver with the Super Meteor 650. That and the feeling that a new, casual rider can get when they park the bike, take a few steps, turn around, look back, and think with pride, yeah, that one’s mine.
Suggested retail starts at $6,999, with bikes heading for dealerships this week.
Graham Rahal (right) brought on Superbike World Champion Ben Spies (left) to help run Rahal Ducati Moto Team and get the best from its riders in the MotoAmerica Supersport series. It's an indication that the new team is serious about racing and winning, and is bringing its world-class level of publicity and professionalism to the series. Photo by Michael Gougis.
First Person/Opinion:
Three Reasons Why The Rahal Ducati Moto Team Is So Important For MotoAmerica
by Michael Gougis
You could say that it’s just another team in the MotoAmerica paddock, two more bikes on the grid in a support class.
But that misses just how much the entry of the Rahal Ducati Moto Team means to MotoAmerica. Having series President Wayne Rainey on hand for the intro at the iconic Petersen Automotive Museum (a must-visit if you are ever in Los Angeles) is just one indication of how much the new Rahal team means to the series.
Here are three reasons why this announcement means so much to fans of motorcycle road racing in the United States:
1 – Team Rahal’s status and presence in the racing community is massive. I had a straight-up fan boy moment at the news conference when I went to get coffee and realized that Bobby Rahal himself was standing next to me. For those of you who are four-wheel illiterate, Bobby Rahal is an Indy 500 winner and a three-time CART/Indy Car Champion as a driver and a two-time winner of the Indy 500 as an owner. Son Graham Rahal, who is operating the motorcycle team, is a six-time IndyCar race winner who’s found a fair bit of success racing sports cars as well.
Why does this matter? Exposure. The Rahal clan brings attention, wherever it races. They are not just well-known but well respected, in the business world and in the racing world. Bobby Rahal served in a managerial position in the Jaguar Formula One team and was an interim president of the Championship Auto Racing Teams sanctioning body that ran open-wheel racing in the U.S. for decades. Rahal’s IndyCar team has David flippin’ Letterman as one of its owners, and his sports car team is the factory partner of BMW. Team Rahal has connections in racing, knows who to call to get things done, and operates at the highest levels of publicity and professionalism.
It would be hard to find a name that attracts more attention in North American racing than Rahal. The organization brings with it an audience that already follows road racing, admittedly on four wheels rather than two. That means exposure where Team Rahal goes, and the team is going racing with MotoAmerica. Good for everyone.
2 – Team Rahal knows what it is doing when it goes racing.
Graham Rahal pointed out, for example, that the team’s personal and in-depth interactions with Öhlins suspension equipment and personnel goes back decades. They know how to go racing, and when they show up, it’s a professional operation from the ground up. You don’t take 88 podiums at the highest level of American open-wheel racing over 17 years, as Bobby Rahal has, by accident. And Graham Rahal said the team chose to go into the Supersport class with the Ducati Panigale V2 because it could start with a bike in the showroom of one of its Ducati dealerships and make a simple, direct business case for racing on Sunday and selling on Monday. Racing is a business for him.
That works best when you’re running up front. And the initial impression is that Rahal Ducati Moto is putting together an operation capable of running at the front. Hiring Ben Spies as Team Principal is an example of how much effort Rahal is putting into the project. Spies, a MotoGP race winner, multi-time AMA Superbike Champion and Superbike World Champion in his one and only season in the series, has experience at the highest levels of International motorcycle road racing competition. As a rider, Spies knows what it takes to get to the front. Team Rahal is hiring that experience to get it out of the blocks as fast as it can.
Bobby and Graham Rahal aren’t gentleman investors looking to back a team in a sport that they enjoy. For Team Rahal (like Team Hammer) professional racing is its day job. Having a team like that in the paddock forces everyone to up their game. Again, good for everyone.
3 – New sponsors and a multi-year deal are good for the entire paddock. Racing Editor Chris Ulrich wrote recently that baggers were good for professional racing in the U.S., in part, because those were teams spending money on going racing. People get paid to work for teams on racebikes. Team uniforms get purchased. Dunlop sells more tires. You get the idea.
Team Rahal is bringing in XPEL film protectants as a title sponsor. And the plan is to spend 2024 in Supersport, then move up to Superbike in 2025 if all goes well. It’s a multi-year deal, so that means money coming into the paddock for years to come. Good for everyone.
A 2024-model Husqvarna Norden 901. Photo courtesy Husqvarna Motorcycles.
HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES UNVEILS NORDEN 901 2024
EXCEPTIONAL TRAVEL MACHINE RECEIVES ESSENTIAL UPGRADES TO BOOST PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY
Husqvarna Motorcycles is pleased to reveal the new Norden 901, which offers improved performance and safety thanks to multiple technical enhancements for 2024. An incredibly popular machine since its introduction in 2021, the Norden 901 ensures all adventure enthusiasts can explore the world their way.
The machine of choice for many adventure riders, the Norden 901 retains the same proven, torquey, 889 cc parallel twin engine for 2024. Together with its light steel trellis frame, WP APEX suspension, and multiple ride modes, the Norden 901 continues to offer outstanding comfort, particularly on longer rides when navigating rugged and challenging landscapes.
The 2024-model Husqvarna Norden 901 now offers 10-way adjustable traction control. Photo courtesy Husqvarna Motorcycles.
Husqvarna Motorcycles’ lean-angle sensitive Cornering Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC) now offers ten different levels of rear wheel slip, which can be selected when the optional Explorer Mode is engaged. With a setting to suit all riding abilities, those with more experience will enjoy drifting through turns while riders new to travel machines will benefit from confidence inspiring traction when negotiating technical corners and unpredictable terrain.
Rounding out the new features found on the Norden 901 2024 are new USB port, the Hazard Warning lights, which can be quickly switched on in the event of an emergency, and the new exhaust system that meets EURO 5+ regulations.
A new exhaust system is one of the upgrades on the 2024-model Husqvarna Norden 901. Photo courtesy Husqvarna Motorcycles.
Underlining the premium build quality of the Norden 901, the components used on this versatile machine are all chosen for their performance and durability. The Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres, Bosch Cornering ABS, a Power Assist Slipper Clutch (PASC), and multiple ride modes combine to create the ultimate riding experience.
Technical highlights:
New grey and yellow graphics create a distinctive appearance
Revised Cornering sensitive Traction Control allows for 10 levels of adjustable rear wheel slip with optional Explorer Mode engaged
New exhaust system for EURO 5+ compliance
New USB port on the side of the dashboard
New Hazard Warning system
Bosch Cornering ABS
Chromium-molybdenum steel frame with engine as stressed member
889 cc parallel-twin engine with 105 hp peak power and 100 Nm of torque
Adjustable WP APEX suspension provides exceptional comfort both on and offroad
Four selectable ride modes (Street, Rain, Offroad, optional Explorer)
Ride-by-wire throttle with adjustable response (in Explorer mode)
Standard Easy Shift function (up and down Quickshifter)
PASC Slipper clutch
Tubeless spoked wheels with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres for balanced performance on and offroad
Large capacity, 19-litre fuel tank provides an extended range of up to 400 km
Optional Connectivity Unit provides TbT+ navigation, telephone calls in/out and music selection from the rider’s smartphone
The Husqvarna Motorcycles Functional Apparel Collection comprises quality riding gear designed specifically for global adventures. Complementing the unique design of the Norden 901, each piece of apparel has been developed to keep riders warm, dry, and comfortable in all weathers and seasons. Allowing riders to personalise their Norden 901, Husqvarna Motorcycles’ Technical Accessories features multiple luggage solutions and quality components that further enhance this exceptional travel machine.
Husqvarna Motorcycles’ Norden 901 2024 is available from now onwards at authorised Husqvarna Motorcycles dealers. Availability may differ from country to country. For full details on pricing and availability, please refer to your national Husqvarna Motorcycles subsidiary or importer.
Alex Rins (42) leading Francesco Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi (72), and Marc Marquez (93) during the MotoGP race at Phillip Island in 2022. Photo courtesy Dorna.
18 points. 22 riders. One island. The title fight is ready to boil over Down Under
Strap in! One of the greatest sporting spectacles on Earth is about to get underway as MotoGP™ returns to Phillip Island
Wednesday, 18 October 2023
When the Tissot Sprint was announced for 2023, where did your mind go? For many, it was the fierce, fabulous and fast Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, and for very good reason. Now, the time has come to take on one of the true greats once more and we get to see the lights go out not just once, but twice. If you’ve watched before, you know what we mean. If you haven’t, just get ready.
Even better, as MotoGP™ arrives back in Australia there’s truly everything on the line after an unbelievable whiplash twist in the title fight. On Saturday in Indonesia, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) continued his stunning run, taking the Championship lead for the first time as he won his fourth Sprint on the bounce and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) struggled to eighth after failing to make it out of Q1. But on Sunday, Martin made a sudden, shocking error to crash out the lead – and Bagnaia had already been on quite some mission to slice through the pack. With Martin’s crash, third became second and then the Italian attacked Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) to take the lead and win. What. A. Twist. And what a performance from a Pecco some had already started to write off.
Now it’s time to take on the Island and the title fighting duo will be stealing plenty of spotlight as the battle just gets hotter and hotter. We’re also in need of a real duel on track to see the gloves come off. Could the Island be the place? Last year, Bagnaia was on the podium and took the Championship lead that would lead to his first premier class crown on this very turf. Martin, after some hot pace early on, was only seventh… but the top seven were covered by eight tenths. For racing series with more wheels, that’s an almost offensively small gap.
Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), meanwhile, ain’t out of it yet either. It’s a long shot, but the Italian soldiered on at Mandalika despite that recent collarbone surgery, and in Australia last year was very, very fast – as was teammate Luca Marini. What can they do Down Under this time around? Can Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) join that fight at the front? Has Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) got more impressive form after his best finish yet? What about his teammate Alex Marquez on the road to recovery? And what can we expect from Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) as he gets back in the groove? Eight Ducatis will be roaring down that Gardner Straight.
Let’s go back to Viñales, however. If you listed the venues you’d expect BatMav – we’ll let the fans decide whether that should stick – to threaten at the front, there’d be a few on there. Phillip Island? This place would definitely feature. Coming off the back of that performance in Indonesia too, the number 12 really could be one to watch, having been almost teasingly close to making that history as the first rider to win with three machines in the MotoGP™ era.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), meanwhile, arrives from bad luck and hot speed wanting a lot more reward, and Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) would also like a little luck back after a bit of a shunting from former teammate Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) at Mandalika. Raul Fernandez’ (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team), meanwhile, needs to rediscover that upward trajectory after a much tougher time of it in Indonesia. He’d been on a run of top ten finishes before yes, taking points last time out, but down in a P13 that was the last of the riders on the same lap.
Also having a much tougher time of it in Indonesia after some real steps forward of late was Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). Two DNFs and nothing much to show from the weekend – except a whole lotta love from one of the sport’s biggest markets – leave the number 93 looking for another uptick Down Under. But he is and has been, since a certain number 27 retired, the king of the Island. He was on the podium, and nearly the top step, in 2022, and he can’t be counted out. Even in the situation in which he finds himself in 2023. Can he?
That “nearly” to quantify Marquez’ 2022, however, came courtesy of now LCR Honda Castrol rider Alex Rins, who was back in the top ten at Mandalika for the first time since his broken leg. That’s impressive enough, and he played a masterpiece last season. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will want to learn a few of those secrets on the other side of the garage, and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) also wants a lot more as the Hondas all had a tougher weekend last time out, especially after the return to the front the number 36 had in India.
Speaking of a return to the front, and in this case just tenths off the win, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) completed the closest podium of the year so far in Indonesia. He qualified well, had a good Sprint and then seriously impressed in the Grand Prix race, scything through the gap to home in on the win and very nearly take it. Can Phillip Island be kinder too, despite it seeing him lose that Championship lead last season? For teammate Franco Morbidelli it’s a slightly opposite arrival as he suffered some issues at Mandalika and was ultimately a few laps down. Still, on Sunday his fastest lap was only a tenth off Quartararo.
Finally, KTM and GASGAS. At GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 it’s all about finding much better fortunes Down Under for both Augusto Fernandez and Pol Espargaro, with both enduring a tougher run of late. Better fortune is something also sought by Binder after a slightly adventurous Mandalika. On Saturday, he got taken out by Aleix Espargaro and on Sunday, he clashed with Marini AND Oliveira in two uncharacteristic incidents, both of which earned him a Long Lap. Uncharacteristic in that the South African usually poises his aggression perfectly. After a crash in Japan too, Binder will want a tidier weekend overall Down Under, but he can take heart from some speed in Indonesia as he came back through to sixth despite those excursions required in penance.
Last and by no means least, home hero Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) will be ready to get his elbows out at Phillip Island. The Australian is having a year of ups and downs in his new adventure with KTM, but there have been plenty of the former and he’ll want to make home turf count for another. The awesome Turn 4 now officially bears his name as we arrive for another showdown too, and fans are guaranteed a Thriller from Miller as he rides for them and some home glory…
SHOWTIME AT PHILLIP ISLAND
We’re underway at 15:00 local time on Saturday for the Sprint, before the GP race on Sunday fires up at 14:00.
Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:00 (GMT +11)
Grand Prix Race: Sunday 14:00 (GMT +11)
Pedro Acosta (37) and Aron Canet (40) fighting over first place in the Moto2 race at Mandalika. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Acosta aims to hammer home his advantage in Australia
With a top five on the grid covered by less than a tenth in Indonesia, it was no surprise that missing out on the front row was no ominous sign for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Once the lights went out the number 37 was off like a shot, and once in the lead he pulled another Acosta. That advantage is now 65 points at the top of the table, so can he do it again?
Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) and Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools Speed Up) will want to be back on that podium and get in Acosta’s way, however, and Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) and Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) will want more. And can Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team) finally crack that podium?
The rider who stole the spotlight last season was Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) though. After a tougher and scrappier run, can the number 21 find another ace up his sleeve – quite literally – this weekend? We’ll find out at 12:15 (GMT +2) as Moto2™ takes on Phillip Island!
Action from the Moto3 race at Mandalika. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Advantage Masia on the road to the Island
As he crossed the line at Mandalika, Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) probably thought it had been quite a tough day at the office. But in reality, the Championship leader only increased his advantage as Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) had crashed on the Warm Up lap and didn’t recover to points, and Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) had not one, but two Long Lap penalties – one of which sent him down the order by way of a time penalty after the flag. All said and done, Masia started the weekend a handful of points clear and is now 16 points ahead of Holgado – and that’s a whole podium’s worth.
Last year at Phillip Island, Sasaki was just off the podium and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) second as the two escaped in a smaller leading group, which could be good news for them on our return. The veterans will also be hoping that first time winner in Indonesia Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI), and podium finishers David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) and David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports), feel the pinch of less experience back on the Island… but will they? Tune in this weekend for more Moto3™ at 11:00 (GMT +11) to find out!
Young Powersports XL Centerville. Photo courtesy Young Powersports XL Centerville.
Young Powersports XL Centerville hosts Grand Opening Ceremony
Layton, UT – Holding multiple events and bringing in guests like supercross icon Jeremy McGrath, Young Powersports XL Centerville is holding its official grand opening weekend celebration from Oct. 27-28.
“This is the largest facility ever built specifically to sell powersports products,” Jeramie Young, director of Young Powersports said. “We’re holding a celebration fit for a dealership of Young Powersports XL Centerville’s stature.”
The dealership’s ribbon-cutting ceremony will start on Oct. 27 at 11am, and will feature guest speakers from the Young Automotive Group and Davis County officials like Centerville council-member Gina Hirst. Refreshments from Daily Rise Coffee will also be available to attendees.
Following the ceremony, the dealership will hold a Trunk or Treat from 6-8pm. The event will feature not only sweets and decorated machines, but special prizes for students and teachers.
Before the event, Young Powersports XL Centerville will deliver coloring pages to classrooms across Davis School District. The winning student will receive a Nintendo Switch, and the three teachers whose classes had the most entries will receive $500, $300 and $200.
“Trunk or Treats have become a major tradition for many dealerships in our group,” Young said. “They’re a great way to bring members of the community together, and our new facility is the perfect place to hold one.”
While offering grand opening specials on Saturday, the dealership will have seven-time Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath visit Young Powersports XL Centerville. Known as the King of Supercross, McGrath will be on site for a meet-and-greet on Oct. 28 from 1-4pm.
“Everyone here is extremely excited to have McGrath here,” Young said. “He’s a legendary rider, and a lot of our staff grew up watching him compete.”
Opened in August, Young Powersports XL Centerville carries machines from 12 of the industries most iconic manufacturers, with an adjacent Honda powersports location on the way. The facility houses not only powersports vehicles, accessories, gear and apparel, but also a Daily Rise Coffee franchise, a barber and a nail technician. It is currently the largest powersports dealership in Utah.
“Young Powersports XL Centerville is becoming everything we hoped it would be,” Young said. “Our mission is to provide an exceptional customer experience to anyone who walks through our doors, and with this dealership, we have the capacity to make every shopping experience here memorable.”
The dealership is located at 547 Frontage Rd. in Centerville, Utah. All events for the weekend are free and open to the public.
Andrea Iannone (29), as seen in 2020. Photo courtesy of Aprilia Gresini Racing.
ANDREA IANNONE IS BACK ON THE TRACK WITH GO ELEVEN: THE PAIRING FOR 2024 WORLDSBK CHAMPIONSHIP!
Andrea Iannone is ready to come back and will do so on board the Ducati Panigale V4-R of Team Go Eleven in the 2024 Superbike World Championship.
Four years after the last race held, the passion and love for motorsport bring Andrea Iannone back to the track in the WorldSBK.
First winner of the new Ducati MotoGP era – 14 victories, 10 Pole Positions and 35 podiums in the MotoGP, of which 11 in the premier class between Suzuki and Borgo Panigale – will have at his disposal the Rossa in the 2024 RS version of Team Go Eleven, the satellite team led by Gianni Ramello and Denis Sacchetti.
The agreement between Andrea Iannone and Team Go Eleven is a one year deal, for the 2024 season, with an option to extend the contract in 2025. The first ride of Andrea Iannone on the Ducati Panigale V4-RS prepared by Team Go Eleven will take place in the Jerez tests, on 31/10 and 01/11.
Andrea Iannone (Rider): “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, I’m finally back on track, where I spent my life. I thank Gigi Dall’Igna, Paolo Ciabatti, Claudio Domenicali, Marco Zambenedetti and the whole Go Eleven team for their trust, with their support I have rediscovered the enthusiasm I had as a child. Special thanks also to the WorldSBK family for the opportunity. I’m fully excited.”
Gianni Ramello (Team Owner): “Since its birth, Go Eleven has tried to achieve increasingly important goals and with the move to Ducati we have come closer to our desire. Despite being a private team we achieved a victory, several podiums, we won a Best Independent World Title, we gave world-famous riders the opportunity to defend our colors with excellent results demonstrating that our Team has done a great job. Now we found ourselves having to take a further step and achieve another goal, a new challenge, and this time it will be more hard and challenging. A rider like Andrea has not only shown over the years that he is fast and truly talented, but he is also certainly a public character of great interest. The challenge is even more stimulating because we jumped at the chance to have Iannone return to a World Championship after 4 years and I can guarantee that we will work hard to get to the positions that count, we strongly want to show that we have made this decision because we believe in potential of the rider, and we are sure that he will give his all to achieve great results.
I can only thank Andrea for choosing our team, giving us great importance and showing that the excellent work is highly appreciated, and also because he has shown the courage to face this new challenge which is not at all simple. I thank all the Ducati management who gave us strong motivation to start this project and I thank my Team who has always shared our projects for better or for worse driven by motivations that excite me, all of them want to win as I do and this, added the certain desire that Andrea will also have, will be a further boost for the 2024 season!”
Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager): “We have worked hard to make this dream real, we have wanted to shout it out to the world for some time now, but creating such an important project is not easy and must be structured carefully. The Maniac has decided to get back into the game, it’s not for everyone, it takes guts after everything that has happened and so much time away from racing. It is a courageous choice, for some it may seem crazy, but the right dose of madness and courage can lead to great feats. Why this bet? When we started talking to him, we were impressed by his determination, grit and desire to go back doing what he loves, I saw in his eyes the desire and need to race a motorbike, like a child who wants to go back playing and everything that happens around him is out of his mind, because he just wants to go back playing, he has no other thoughts at that moment. We know that it won’t be easy, that at the beginning we will have to suffer and work a lot and hard, but this awareness unites us even more and stimulates us further. I want to thank Gianni Ramello for immediately accepting this opportunity, a particular thank you also goes to Paolo Ciabatti, Gigi Dall’Igna, Claudio Domenicali and Marco Zambenedetti for the support they are giving to this project and obviously thanks to Andrea Iannone for the trust in our team! Last but not least, heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors who allow us to take on increasingly important challenges every day, it is only thanks to their passion that it is possible to face new adventures!”
Marco Zambenedetti (SBK Ducati Project Management Responsible):“I am happy that Andrea is back to Ducati. He is a talented rider who certainly still has a lot to give to this sport. Certainly, after such a long stop period, it will be important to give himself all the time necessary to return to being one with the bike, he will have an experienced team with the V4 R at his side who will support him as best as possible this season. I can’t wait to see him around the track with all the other riders.”
An XPEL-branded Ducati Panigale V2 carrying the number 19 that Ben Spies ran during his Superbike World Championship season. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.
Graham Rahal has been part of the auto racing world since before he was born but the six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES race winner is branching out to the two-wheel racing world with the creation of Rahal Ducati Moto, a two-bike team with his father, 1986 Indy 500 and three-time INDYCAR champion, Bobby, that will compete in the Supersport class of MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. The riders of the two Ducati Panigale V2s will be announced at a later date.
XPEL, a leading provider of protective films and coatings, including automotive paint protection film, surface protection film, automotive and commercial/residential window films, and ceramic coatings, will be the primary sponsor for the bikes in a multi-year deal. The San Antonio-based company also has a relationship with Rahal Paint Protection and the Bobby Rahal Automotive Group.
For as long as Graham Rahal can remember, he has had a fascination with Ducatis. He purchased his first one in 2007 – a yellow 1098S – with prize money from his Champ Car rookie season, and he continued to collect various models over the years but owning a Ducati dealership – or two – or especially a Ducati race team was beyond his wildest imagination.
To set the team up with the best chance of immediate success, Rahal Ducati Moto is bringing in five-time AMA Champion, 2009 World Superbike Champion and MotoGP race winner Ben Spies as team principal. The bikes will be prepared for competition for the 2024 season at Rahal Ducati Indianapolis in Brownsburg, Indiana, and then move to the all-new GR Brands headquarters in Zionsville, Indiana, which Rahal broke ground on earlier this year and is scheduled to be completed in the winter of ‘24.
The 2024 MotoAmerica season begins with the 82nd running of the historic Daytona 200, a non-points-paying Supersport race that will take place at Daytona International Speedway, March 7-9. New to the MotoAmerica series will be a round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, August 16-18, the home track for the Rahals, who previously resided in New Albany, Ohio. The 10-round Supersport schedule will be broadcast by MAVTV.
For more information on sponsorship and employment opportunities, please email [email protected]
QUOTEBOARD:
GRAHAM RAHAL, Rahal Ducati Moto Co-Owner: “This has been a long time coming and something I have wanted to do since we got the Ducati brands. Having a couple of those stores now has been great and we want to continue to build our relationship. There is no better way to do that than through the racing program and I am excited to get going. None of this would be possible without XPEL, a brand that I have a long-term relationship with through Rahal Paint Protection and I’m eager to see what we can do as a group in the MotoAmerica series. The series has been experiencing impressive growth in recent years and I’m excited to be part of it.
“Having Ben Spies as general manager is a real asset to our program. He gives us a lot of legitimacy but also brings a lot of success and is someone we can lean on to set our riders and team in the best place for success. This is going to be a great adventure for our organization and Ducati and something we can grow into the future and hopefully have some success on the Ducati Panigale V2.”
BOBBY RAHAL, Rahal Ducati Moto Co-Owner: “I’m really pleased that Graham has been able to put this program together with XPEL in the MotoAmerica series. I have enjoyed working with (MotoAmerica founders) Richard Varner and Terry Karges through the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles and met Wayne Rainey a few years ago as well. I have always been a huge fan of motorcycle racing, particularly Grand Prix road racing, and have had the privilege to get to know Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey and others over the years and have the greatest respect and admiration for what they were able to achieve all over the world. With Graham’s Ducati dealerships, it certainly seems to make sense for us to be involved. He has a tremendous amount of experience with XPEL through his businesses and we have a growing relationship through our automobile dealerships in Pennsylvania and know them to be a leader in the industry so to join with them for Rahal Ducati Moto is something we are very proud of and looking forward to expanding the relationship with them for years to come.”
MICHAEL MAYALL, XPEL Vice President of Corporate Development: “We are extremely excited to expand our partnerships in motorsports from four wheels to two with the Rahal Ducati Moto team and the MotoAmerica series. Joining forces with Rahal Ducati Moto and Ducati is a thrill for us. At XPEL, our motto is ‘Protect everything,’ and we’re ready to bring our world-class protection to the premier motorcycle racing series.”
BEN SPIES, Rahal Ducati Moto Team Principal: “I’m super excited about the project. I was approached a couple of months ago and asked if I wanted to be part of it to put my knowledge to use to help with the team and the riders and it was a no-brainer for me. Between bringing the Rahal name into the sport and partnering with Ducati, who is doing a great job globally, I think this is the perfect time for them to join forces and come into the series. The last two-to-three years have seen a pretty big uptick for MotoAmerica with the fans so there is a bit of a resurgence going on. The Rahals are coming in right now and will probably pull one or two other companies in to start a team and I look at that as a really good thing. I’m just excited to be back in the paddock and use some of my knowledge to help the team and definitely help the riders on the weekends with strategy and all of that. I’m looking forward to it.”
WAYNE RAINEY, MotoAmerica President: “The Rahals are legends in motorsports. We’ve been in discussion with them for a while to get their group involved in motorcycle racing with MotoAmerica. I’m really excited because we know they are going to be a wonderful addition to our paddock and the series. Bobby and Graham Rahal have been involved in auto racing for a long time and have been successful in many different series, and they’ve earned a lot of championships. All of us are super excited to have a team with the Rahal’s prestige in our motorcycle road racing championship. To me, it really shows how far MotoAmerica has come these last nine years.”
More, from a report by Michael Gougis:
Rahal Enters MotoAmerica Competition In 2024
(From left) Wayne Rainey, Bobby Rahal, Ben Spies, Michael Mayall and Graham Rahal at the announcement of the Rahal/Xpel MotoAmerica Supersport racing team. Photo by Michael Gougis.
by Michael Gougis
Graham Rahal, six-time IndyCar race winner and son of Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, will enter a new team into MotoAmerica Supersport competition in 2024 on Ducatis with World Superbike Champion and AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies as team principal and rider coach.
The announcement was made at the Petersen Automotive Museum, in Los Angeles, California.
The team will enter a pair of Ducati Panigale V2s in Supersport. Riders have not yet been determined.
Graham Rahal confirmed that the team would be a customer operation, and that Supersport was chosen for its accessibility and its direct link to the products for sale in the family’s Ducati dealerships.
Roadracing World Advertising Sales Director Anne Barnes and husband Michael Barnes had a daughter, Olivia Grace Barnes, earlier today, October 17, in Athens, Georgia.
Here’s a note from Anne Barnes:
“Good morning. We had quite an unexpected and eventful afternoon yesterday/this morning. Olivia Grace Barnes joined us at 1:34 a.m. on 10/17 weighing in at 7 lbs. 12 oz. and 19 inches long. All Barnes Family members are doing exceptionally well, and we are so grateful.”
Jake Gagne (1) leads Mathew Scholtz (11), Cameron Beaubier (6), Cameron Petersen (45) and the rest of the Medallia Superbike pack on Saturday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
With everything that happened at round one of the 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship, we don’t know how they managed to fit it all into Episode 1 of “Pressure To Rise.” But somehow, they did, and it’s a season premiere that you just have to see.
The non-stop schedule of the 2023 World Championship season keeps on coming as the Repsol Honda Team head to the most southernly GP of the year.
A short flight and a quick drive from Lombok to Melbourne and down to Phillip Island and Round 16, the Australian Grand Prix, is already here. The Repsol Honda Team are aiming to use the quick turnaround between races to help turn their fortunes after an ultimately unrewarding weekend in Mandalika. Redemption now calls at a circuit famous for tantalisingly close battles and unique situations.
Phillip Island is a track which has traditionally treated Marc Marquez and the Honda RC213V well, the combination taking three wins there in 2015, 2017, and 2019 – making the #93 Honda’s most successful rider around the 4.45km long track. Outside of these wins, Marquez scored a podium at the track last year – his 100th in the premier class with the Repsol Honda Team. Consistency across the weekend will be key, even if the weather looks set to be as volatile as ever.
Joan Mir arrives in Australia, the scene of his World Championship debut back in 2015, with his trademark positivity intact. Despite a late fall while showing some of his best race pace of the year, the #36 arrives happy with what he achieved and remains confident that there is more to come. Phillip Island was also the scene of Joan Mir’s first World Championship, winning the 2017 Moto3 crown on the Honda NSF250RW.
As always, the weather, and particularly the gusty winds, will be a critically important factor to monitor over the course of the Grand Prix weekend. Forecasts suggest it will certainly be a cooler weekend than the consistent 30°C and higher that the World Championship experienced in Indonesia.
Marc Marquez
“Phillip Island is a circuit with a lot of good memories for me. The place is something really unique on the MotoGP calendar and I have also enjoyed many memorable races there. Last year we got a really good podium there, my 100th in the premier class. As always, we have to see what happens this weekend and especially here in Australia the weather can change a lot and the wind can make things complicated. It will be important to have a good plan for all scenarios.”
Joan Mir (36). Photo courtesy Repsol Honda.
Joan Mir
“I think everyone enjoys Phillip Island, so I am looking forward to getting there. On paper Indonesia didn’t look great but honestly, when you look deeper and especially at our pace on Sunday – we need to see the positives and look to make it happen again this weekend. Now we come to one of those tracks where almost anything can happen, on track and in the sky, so let’s begin! It’s an intense schedule to end the year so we have to keep focused to finish well.”
Long, low and stylish, the 2023 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is the company's flagship cruiser model. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Intro: Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650
Cruising Into The Past
By Michael Gougis
In retrospect, it seems inevitable that Royal Enfield would build this bike. The 648cc Parallel Twin engine first introduced in the Continental and INT650 models was perfect for a middleweight cruiser. And cruisers are part of the company’s heritage, historically serving as a testing ground for its newest technology and leading its lineup in terms of status and prestige.
Still, it is clear that the company put a great deal of thought and effort into making this bike a cruiser through and through, rather than just putting different pegs and bars on an INT650 roadster and calling it job done. It’s designed to look the part, act the part, and do so in a way that reflects Royal Enfield’s style-first, lifestyle-first approach to motorcycling.
The Super Meteor’s chassis is new, the bodywork is new, the suspension is upgraded, and there are little bits that let you know that this is Royal Enfield’s flagship model.
I spent 140 miles rolling around the highways and byways of north-central Texas, getting an impressions of how well the bike performed its mission–delivering the cruiser experience to riders who want an unintimidating, low-stress ride. It was all about settling back into the plush seat, feeling the thrum of the engine, and being in the moment, on a motorcycle, nowhere better to be and nothing better to do.
Tech Briefing
The core of the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is its 648cc, SOHC, four-valves-per-cylinder engine, introduced in 2018. A gentle, under-stressed powerplant, it produces a claimed 46.4 bhp and 38.6 lbs.-ft. of torque, and is carefully balanced to reduce the vibration inherent in a Parallel Twin. There are some minor upgrades to the cylinder heads for this particular model. As the engine is a stressed member, the cylinder head has been strengthened to handle more load from the steering stem area. Otherwise, the engine internals and transmission ratios remain unchanged from the INT650 and Continental models. Power flows through an assisted/slipper clutch to a fat, 16-inch rear tire.
The chassis is all new, with a raked-out front end and forward-mounted foot controls. For the first time, a Royal Enfield has inverted forks, in this case 43mm Showa Big Piston units with separate functions in each fork leg. One leg handles rebound damping, the other handles compression damping, with no need to know which is which because there are no adjustments.
A single twin-piston Bybre caliper and 320mm (12.6-inch) disc handles braking at the front, and a similar Bybre caliper is mated to a 300mm (11.8-inch) disc at the rear. The bike features antilock brakes, and that is the extent of its electronic rider aids.
Cruisers are all about style, and it is extremely clear that Royal Enfield stylists spent a great deal of effort on how it looks. The finish of individual parts was amazing, especially on a bike built to a price point. The fit, surprisingly, was not as precise as I might have hoped; perhaps that issue will be corrected as production ramps up.
Riding The Super Meteor 650
Throwing a leg over the Super Meteor demonstrates that the company is serious about making it comfortable. The seat is low, the bars are easy to reach, and the overall riding position isn’t particularly extreme. At speed, even without the optional windscreen, the wind blast isn’t fatiguing. The pegs and foot controls are forward, cruiser style, but they are high enough that feet don’t drag during cornering.
Clutch feel is light but substantial, and flawless fuel injection mapping makes the throttle response precise and easy to manage–important for new and returning riders. There’s not a ton of horsepower, but the torque and throttle response at the bottom of the rpm range makes the bike easy to ride in city traffic, which is something Royal Enfield engineers put special effort into.
There’s no tachometer, but the engine tells the rider when it’s time to upshift. When it is in the meat of its powerband, all the rider feels is a steady, pleasant thrumming. When it is near the rev limit, the vibration definitely starts to change from pleasant to intrusive. In sixth gear, the bike rolls along comfortably until the speedometer shows about 75 mph. Then things start to get busy, and while it is possible to nudge the Super Meteor into triple digit speeds, the bike does not feel very happy there at all.
The brakes are progressive and confidence inspiring, if not particularly powerful, but they do provide steady stopping power for the inexperienced rider who gets in over their head and has to grab a handful of front brake lever. The feel at the brake lever is substantial yet light, and it is a good place for a rookie rider to adapt to using the front brake lever more frequently.
There were not many high-speed corners on the ride route, but in the few that we did find, the bike delivered more confidence and more feel than I expected. The ride quality suffered mostly from the relatively limited rear wheel travel and shocks that seemed to lack significant damping in either direction. Some of the truly challenging road surfaces in Texas really highlighted that, and I think this might actually be the first motorcycle I’ve ridden where I would change suspension bits before putting on an aftermarket exhaust. On second thought, I’d go with new mufflers first; I love the sound of one of these Royal Enfield 650 Twins with a good pipe on it.
It’s important to remember the target that Royal Enfield is shooting for with this motorcycle. It is supposed to look good, sound good, and feel good at a moderate or relaxed pace, along with having very affordable pricing. Rolling down a two-lane roadway heading back to the hotel, as long as I was in no rush and kept the bike within its comfort zone, it was easy to enjoy being on a cool-looking motorcycle, middle of the afternoon, just cruising along. That’s what Royal Enfield wants to deliver with the Super Meteor 650. That and the feeling that a new, casual rider can get when they park the bike, take a few steps, turn around, look back, and think with pride, yeah, that one’s mine.
Suggested retail starts at $6,999, with bikes heading for dealerships this week.
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