Roadracing World Editor at Large Michael Gougis details the new Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma inflatable body armor system after a day of riding on the street and on the Streets of Willow course at Willow Springs International Raceway.
KTM’s 2024 990 Duke publicity photos show a test rider doing burnouts, wheelies and riding knee-down in what appears to be an abandoned parking lot. After riding this machine, I get it. The power, agility, and maneuverability combine to create a bike that’s easy to ride and encourages the rider to explore its performance boundaries. That’s a polite way of saying that it makes its rider want to do burnouts, wheelies and ride knee-down all the time, under any and all circumstances. Any bike that can make me want to act like that is more than OK in my book.
KTM 990 Duke Technical Specifications
KTM’s LC8c Parallel-Twin, four-stroke, four-valve DOHC engine powers the 990 Duke. A 92.5mm x 70.4mm bore and stroke gives the bike a 946cc displacement, a claimed 121.36 bhp at 9,500 rpm and 76.0 lbs.-ft. of torque at 6,750 rpm. New cams with more aggressive profiles and longer valve openings, plus a new exhaust system, bump up the power. The assisted slipper clutch operates with clutchless up- and down-shifting as an option.
Suspension is via WP Apex 3343 inverted front forks with 43mm tubes, and a WP Apex 3146 rear monoshock. The front forks have five clicks of rebound and compression damping, each representing a fairly significant change, and the shock has a new linear-rate spring, five clicks of rebound adjustment, and six spring preload settings.
A pair 300mm discs and four-piston radial-mount calipers handling braking at the front, and a single 240mm disc and single-piston caliper are at the rear. The steel-tube trellis frame is all-new with a gravity-die-cast alumium-alloy swingarm. The aluminum-alloy wheels carry Bridgestone Battlax S22 radials, 120/70R-17 in the front, 180/55R-17 in the rear.
The rider gets five riding modes – Rain, Street, Sport, Performance and Track. Traction control and wheelie control come standard; an enhanced wheelie control and electronic rear slip management system and electronic launch control are optional. The ABS can be switched off at the rear. Ready to ride, the bike weighs in at 424 pounds, and suggested retail price in the U.S.A. is $12,499.
Riding The KTM 990 Duke On The Street
On the street, the bike remains just as friendly as the smaller 790 Duke. The seat is narrow at the front and makes it easier for shorter riders to reach the ground. The throttle response is quick but not overly so and can be easily adjusted. The clutch pull is light, the brake response immediate. The seating position is standard-aggressive, somehow managing to combine a racer crouch, comfort, and legroom into a nicely managed compromise.
The torque and power are just like the 790, except there’s more of both, and it’s pretty much everywhere. It’s like someone took a 790 dyno graph and just moved the whole line up! The 990 has 18 more horsepower and 11 more lbs.-ft of torque, bumping up the throttle fun factor.
The suspension feels more controlled and still absorbs street irregularities. Brakes can handle anything a rider should be doing on the street, and the clutchless shifting feels immediate and direct. It’s a bike built to ride, not just cruise, and the Duke allows the rider to feel and enjoy everything about the ride.
Riding The KTM 990 Duke On The Track
A morning at the tight Streets of Willow course at Willow Springs International Raceway on the 990 Duke, during one of Compact Octane’s small-displacement, non-supersport track day, demonstrated what a difference power and torque can make in changing the riding experience.
Smaller Dukes are amazing on corner entry, with the upright seating position, relatively light weight, and easy-to-manage power making them incredibly precise on tip-in. The 990 requires the rider to be a little more deliberate in this phase of the corner to get the bike exactly where they want it and to full lean angle quickly.
But the extra torque, backed up by the electronic safety net of slip control and traction control, gets the bike out of the corner more quickly. So the focus shifts from entry and lean angle to exit and drive, which the 990 Duke does very well for a wide variety of riders.
Exactly as it comes out of the showroom, with the stock Bridgestone Battlax S22 radials, the 990 Duke is good for a full day of track-day fun, with only some pumping at the rear when on the power, over bumps. It’s easy to ride and it’s easy to enjoy its ample performance capabilities. That makes for a rewarding experience, on street or track.
Look for a full review in an upcoming issue of Roadracing World magazine!
THREE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION KENNY ROBERTS MENTORING FLAT-TRACKER KODY KOPP IN NEW MOTOAMERICA TALENT CUP CLASS
Three-time FIM 500cc Grand Prix World Champion “King” Kenny Roberts begins a new chapter in his hall-of-fame international motorcycle racing career this weekend, March 28-30, at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. Returning to professional competition following an 18-year hiatus, the 73-year-old American is leaning on his decades of experience to steer 20-year-old Kody Kopp in his transition from flat-track champion to rookie road racer in the new MotoAmerica Talent Cup class.
Part of the “Road To MotoGP,” the Talent Cup debuting at COTA in conjunction with the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas is a “spec” class. Riders aged 14 to 21 compete exclusively on the race-only Krämer APX-350 MA, which is powered by a single-cylinder, four-stroke KTM engine. Kopp, a three-time American Flat Track Singles champion, is the son of 2000 AMA Pro Grand National Champion Joe Kopp. Roberts won back-to-back GNC titles in 1973 and ’74 before becoming America’s first Grand Prix world champion in 1978.
Stepping into battle once again as “Team Roberts,” which earned four world titles in the early 1990s with American riders Wayne Rainey and John Kocinski, Roberts intends to base his resurgent race program in Birmingham, Alabama, near Barber Motorsports Park. “We always wanted to help Kody,” admitted Roberts, “but there was never an opportunity. He’s never road raced before. It will probably be the toughest thing that he’s had to master since he started racing, but it’s there to have. Without doing it, we’ll never know. In the past, it was easy to help young kids because you could put them on a Yamaha TZ250. You could always see the talent because everyone had pretty much the same equipment. The Krämer is the only thing that came along where I went, ‘That’s the way to go.’”
One week after its debut, April 4-6, the Talent Cup will travel to Barber Motorsports Park for “MotoAmerica Superbikes at Barber.” The 16-turn, 2.38-mile race course is among the best tracks in the U.S. and the go-to venue for cars and motorcycles alike.
Fans are encouraged to visit the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum to experience the “World Champions” exhibit unveiled in October at the Barber Vintage Festival. Three machines from the Roberts collection acquired by the museum in 2024 are featured at the center of the display. Two world-championship-winning motorcycles, Roberts’ 1980 Yamaha YZR500 and Kenny Roberts Jr.’s 2000 Suzuki RGV500, are paired with the three-cylinder KR3 on which Roberts Jr. contested the 1998 500cc title. Roberts family racing memorabilia is showcased, as well.
Roberts Jr., 51, is expected to lap the Barber road course on the Team Roberts KR211V that he rode to sixth overall in the 2006 MotoGP World Championship. Highlights from that 17-race campaign included podium finishes in Spain and Portugal, plus a fourth at the lone U.S. round. Recommissioned by the museum, the KR211V was a unique collaboration between GP Motorsports, the U.K.-based firm founded by Roberts in 1996, and Honda. GP Motorsports fabricated the chassis, and the Japanese manufacturer supplied 990cc five-cylinder engines.
“The museum has long celebrated racing history, both on two and four wheels, and we are proud to show our support for this new Talent Cup class in the MotoAmerica series,” said Brian Case, executive director of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. “Kenny Roberts’ legacy runs deep here, and seeing him mentor the next generation of American champions is special. This moment highlights the evolution of motorcycle racing and our commitment to preserving its rich heritage.”
About the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit located at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, the museum focuses on various aspects of motorsports design, from displaying motorcycles and cars spanning over 100 years of production to the Barber Advanced Design Center—a high-tech workspace for design exploration. The museum embraces the culture of motorsports enthusiasts by hosting programs such as Barber Design Camp and events such as Barber Vintage Festival. With five floors housing 1,800 motorcycles, over 60 Lotus race cars, and numerous vintage and iconic vehicles, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is the ultimate family-friendly environment for education, inspiration, and exploration with the mission to preserve, interpret and exhibit the history of motorcycles and vintage vehicles in motorsports. The public is welcome, and more information is available at www.BarberMuseum.org.
AHRMA Vintage Cup Roars Back: Iconic 250 Grand Prix to blaze the 2026 season
Get ready for a high-octane blast from the past! The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is thrilled to introduce 250GP as the featured class for the 2026 Vintage Cup.
Sponsored by Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), AHRMA’s 2026 Vintage Cup will feature 250GP which includes any fully GP-kitted 250cc OHV/OHC four-stroke; 250cc air-cooled single-cylinder two stroke; 175cc liquid-cooled single cylinder two-stroke; or 175cc air-cooled twin-cylinder two-stroke built before December 31, 1968. It’s a showdown of classic speed and engineering that’ll leave fans on the edge of their seats.
“I’ve talked a lot lately about getting bikes of the golden era of grand prix racing out of people’s living rooms and onto the racetrack,” says Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton, 2026 Vintage Cup sponsor. “The 250 class opens doors to increase the grids by promoting a more economical yet genuine GP level Vintage Cup class. In the past the 250GP class has brought an international flair to our club with Juan Bulto from Spain, competing on his Bultaco Single, and we’d like to nurture the international aspect again. So, whether you’ve got a Honda 6 or a CB160 and everything in between, let’s get them out onto the track in 2026.”
Typical AHRMA 250GP grids include a wide variety of motorcycles such as Aermacchi, Bultaco, Greeves, Montesa, Ducati, NSU, Ossa, and more.
“As we look ahead to the 2026 AHRMA Vintage Cup, we’re thrilled to feature the 250GP class, a class that represents one of the most competitive and technically refined eras in motorcycle racing history. These machines were the proving ground for some of the greatest riders and teams, pushing the limits of performance and innovation. Showcasing them in the Vintage Cup honors their legacy while giving today’s racers and fans the chance to experience the excitement of true Grand Prix competition,” said Greg “GT” Tomlinson, Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees
“AHRMA continues to do the sport a great service by running a series for people to ride historic race bikes on the track, where they can be seen and heard in action. Roadracing World is happy to be involved with the Vintage Cup program again in 2026. Now go out and have fun on old bikes!” said John Ulrich, Founder & Editor of Roadracing World.”
The Vintage Cup will be highlighted during and after each of the 2026 AHRMA National road races. Added enhancements for the 2026 season include:
*Enhanced trophies throughout the season.
*Special awards for series champion.
*Articles and photos on Roadracingworld.com to spotlight the class.
*Roadracing World print magazine enhanced exposure for AHRMA and 250GP.
*Discounted race entry fees.
*Racer spotlight features in AHRMA MAG.
*Class champion on cover of the AHRMA MAG.
Motorcycles eligible for AHRMA’s 250GP class include any of the following types of fully GP-kitted motorcycles built before December 31, 1968, and like design: 250cc OHV/OHC four-stroke; 250cc air-cooled single-cylinder two-stroke; 175cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder two-stroke; 175cc air-cooled twin-cylinder two-stroke. A list of eligible machines can be found in the AHRMA Handbook in Section 10.2.4 (www.ahrma.org/ahrma-handbook).
The first American to win an Isle of Man TT, Dave Roper, who is also a multi-time AHRMA champion and frequent 250GP competitor shared the following:
“The 250 Grand Prix class has been one of the mainstays of motorcycle road racing since near the beginning. The Isle of Man adopted the 250 Lightweight class in 1922. Ironically, the race was won this first year by a two-stroke Levis. For the next 15 years, the Lightweight 250 TT was won by a four-stroke.
“The World Championship started in 1949, and the 250 class was one of the four initial classes along with 500, 350, and sidecar. The 250 World Championship has been won by two-strokes and four-strokes, singles, twins, fours and sixes. This has been mirrored in the AHRMA 250GP class. 2008-2015, either Paul Germain (6X) or Jack Parker (2X) won the Championship on a Yamaha two-stroke single, then Jeff Henise won on a Kawasaki two-stroke single, then Juan Bulto on a Bultaco single. In 2018, Kevin Burns won the Championship on a Honda four-stroke twin, in 2019 Germain won again on his Yamaha two-stroke single, 2020 saw John Scales win on a Honda four stroke twin, 2021 it was me on a Aermacchi four-stroke single, 2022 John Scales again on his Honda four-stroke twin, 2023 Paul Germain again on his Yamaha two-stroke single, and last year Craig Light on his Bultaco two-stroke single.
“Whether you have a single or twin, two stroke or four stroke, Japanese or European, bring it out for next year’s Vintage Cup.”
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage machines along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
Media reports out of Europe suggest that MotoAmerica’s Chief Operating Officer may replace Carmelo Ezpeleta as head of MotoGP if Liberty Media succeeds in its bid to acquire the international motorcycle road racing series.
Chuck Aksland, a former road racer with management experience in a wide range of operations related to the highest levels of racing, is said to be one of the people under consideration to take over from Ezpeleta if the U.S.-based Liberty organization does take over MotoGP.
“His experience and knowledge of the business could make him a solid option to lead the new era of the championship under the management of Liberty Media,” said an article posted on the Italian motorsports website Motosprint.it.
Aksland did not respond immediately to a phone call seeking comment on the report.
The son of well-known and respected tuner Bud Aksland, Chuck Aksland has spend much of his professional life around motorcycle road racing. Currently, Aksland is a partner in KRAVE Group, LLC., the commercial rights holder of AMA professional road racing in the U.S., along with Wayne Rainey, Terry Karges and Richard Varner. Aksland has been involved in MotoAmerica since its inception.
Aksland also is partner in the content production and delivery platform MotoAmerica Live +, the motorsports programming platform MTRSPT1, and a consultant for International Racers, Inc., which represents racers—Aksland is the agent for six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea.
In the past, Aksland has served as Director, Track Operations and Vice President Motorsport Operations for Circuit of The Americas and as the general manager for Team Roberts for 15 years.
Liberty Media, which owns the rights to Formula One car racing, is bidding to take over Dorna, which currently operates MotoGP and a series of related racing interests. However, European regulators have held up the purchase for review due to antitrust concerns.
If the sale goes through, a number of names have been suggested as a replacement for Ezpeleta, if he is indeed replaced. Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola, Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali, current Trackhouse Racing principal Davide Brivio and former Ducati Sporting Directory Paolo Ciabatti all are under consideration, the Motosprint article says.
Chase Sexton Racks Up the Win at Birmingham Supercross and Narrows Points Gap
Nate Thrasher Becomes Fifth Winner in Eastern Divisional 250SX Class
Birmingham, Ala., (March 23, 2025) After a two-week break, the intense racing of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship is back and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton earned the win inside Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama with (1-1-2) Race results in the third Triple Crown-formatted event of the season.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart gritted out three incredible finishes (3-2-3) after a crash in qualifying left him in severe hip pain throughout the night. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger led laps and earned his second podium of the season with (2-3-5) Race finishes. The Birmingham Supercross capped off the Triple Crown championship; Sexton earned that title with 1-3-1 finishes at the Glendale, Arlington, and Birmingham Supercross events. In the Eastern Divisional 250SX Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher took the win and became the fifth different winner in the first five rounds, something that hasn’t happened in the class since 2016.
Chase Sexton, first place 450SX Class: “Triple Crowns are tough because even if you win the first two Races, just like what happened to RJ [Hampshire in the 250SX Class], something can go wrong in the first turn. Thank God my starts were good tonight; I got the holeshot. I rode pretty solid. I wasn’t doing the [triple jump] in the last Race, just being a little conservative. It was a good race, Coop rode good, and I’m stoked to get that monkey off my back and get another win and get this season going in the right direction finally… This is my favorite part of the season, these last seven or eight rounds. It seems like it’s where I really shine… Coop is riding really good, he’s a fighter, so it should be a good fight to the end.” Sexton’s overall win which moved him from 15 points down to within 8 points of the title chase.
Malcolm Stewart, second place 450SX Class: “I just made a mistake in practice and caught Justin Hill’s front wheel [in mid-air]. I hit my hip pretty good. The good news is I’ve got a solid group with my team. They just said, ‘Just go out there and give it everything you’ve got.’ Huge shout out to Doctor G for getting me back in [shape] to go out there and do these three Races… It’s awesome and I’m so blessed to get back up on here [on the podium]. Yeah, baby, maybe I’ve earned a little bit of fishing money now!” Malcolm Stewart rode through intense pain.
Aaron Plessinger, third place 450SX Class: “I just feel like I’m on a roll, like I’ve found another gear, found a good groove. The boys at the practice track, they’re keeping me on my toes. The Baker’s Factory [Training Facility] is a riot right now; we’re going off. Aldon’s keeping us in shape… It was just a good night. Good starts, good riding, I led a lot of laps, and then just couldn’t seal the deal. But we’re up on the podium… all these fans out here in Alabama, they were insane. We’re going to keep it up and hopefully podium the season out.” Plessinger is #7 in the above photo.
Cooper Webb, fourth place 450SX Class: “You just can’t make that mistake like I did in the first Race. That pretty much dictates your night. I had luck at Dallas, and tonight [I didn’t]. You just can’t put yourself in that position. Obviously that last one was a great ride for me. I finally applied myself well. It’s a bit of a bummer to get fourth [overall], but I feel like I was riding good, that first one really cost me… they say all good things come to an end, so the podium streak’s gone… We’ll regroup and come back swinging, that’s for sure.” Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb who went (7-4-1) due to a first-lap crash in Race 1.
In 250SX Class racing, Nate Thrasher took the event overall through consistent (3-3-2) Race scores. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire (1-2-5) was in good position going into Race 3, but after being slowed by another rider’s crash in the first turn he found himself well outside of the top 15. Hampshire raced his way up to fifth place, one spot shy of a finish that would have given him the overall. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle, the points leader entering the event, finished on the podium with (2-5-3) Race results. Vialle extended his points lead due to a DNS from Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Max Anstie who crashed out of the event during daytime qualifying. The winner of the previous round, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker, crashed on the opening lap of Race 1 and could only recover to ninth. He took the win in Race 2 and Race 3, but his (9-1-1) was only enough to earn him a fourth place overall in Birmingham.
Nate Thrasher, first place 250SX Class:“I really felt coming into this season that this was going to be my year. Tampa went okay, I ended up crashing on the first lap. But then we just kept fighting every round. I just knew that I’m tough enough to be out there. This week I was finally able to do two days [of practice] before coming to this race and those two days were great. I’m super excited and I’m just ready to get the ball rolling. We’re not out of [the championship] yet!”
RJ Hampshire, second place 250SX Class: “You could tell, even the first two races, I just didn’t have the spark. I felt good in practice and then was just flat. I don’t know if it’s things catching up to me or what, but I just didn’t have that intensity. And then I butchered the start in my last Race. My starts were saving me [in Race 1 and 2]… We’re still in this thing and looking forward to Boston in a couple weeks [for the next 250SX East race].”
Tom Vialle, third place 250SX Class: “I’m happy to survive that Triple Crown. It’s always a pretty sketchy race. In the second moto I finished fifth; I made a lot of mistakes and lost some ground and that might have put me out for the overall tonight. But I want that win really bad. I’m working for it and hopefully in the next few races I can do it.”
Seth Hammaker, fourth place 250SX Class: “The night that could have been… but I’m healthy, that’s a lot of what we’re working on this year. That first Race, just gotta learn from it and be better the next time. If you learn off of your mistakes that’s the best thing you can do. Those were good performances in the last two Races, I’m proud of that.”
The future stars of sport delivered one of the wildest races of the night. The SMX Next riders returned for their third race of the year, giving the world’s top amateur racers another opportunity to compete on a professional Supercross track in front of a packed stadium. With three race leaders crashing out of the top spot, Team Green Kawasaki’s Enzo Temmerman took the win through speed and composure. Orange Brigade KTM’s Luke Fauser earned the second-place spot, and Phoenix Racing Honda’s Tiger Wood rounded out the podium. The SMX Next schedule will host one more round, at the Foxborough Supercross, then line the young racers up to compete in the SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Championship at the Pittsburgh Supercross.
Enzo Temmerman, first place SMX Next Class: “I’m going to be honest. I didn’t think this would be the night that I won. I struggled all day in practice. I just tried my best out there and let the race come to me. I was in the right spot at the right time, and we got the win. I can’t thank everyone behind me enough.”
Of the VIPs in attendance in Birmingham, country music artist Bailey Zimmerman visited the Race Day Live broadcasting booth where he mentioned his first dream was to race dirt bikes. He was humble about his talent on a motorcycle and grateful for the success of his music career. He said, “I’m so blessed to do what I do. Even though my first dream was racing dirt bikes, I’m cool with the dream I live now. It’s a lot of fun.”
The Birmingham Supercross pays points toward both the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season as well as toward the SMX World Championship™. The SMX League™ is in its third year; it combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, the AMA Pro Motocross season, two SMX Playoff rounds in September and culminates in the SMX World Championship Final on September 20th.
Live viewing of every Monster Energy AMA Supercross event is available everywhere across the globe. Each race is presented live and on-demand on Peacock. Select events can also be viewed on NBC, CNBC, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital platforms. An encore presentation airs on CNBC on the Monday at 1:00p.m. ET following each. A Spanish-language live presentation is available for every race on Telemundo Deportes’ Facebook and YouTube channels. The SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv) provides live coverage internationally in English, Spanish and French languages. Races can also be heard live on NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85.
Round 11 takes place next Saturday night, March 29th at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. The night’s racing begins at 8:00p.m. ET, 5:00p.m. local time. Tickets are available now for the Seattle Supercross and every remaining round of the 2025 season. For event information, video highlights, race results, live timing, and Supercross as well as SMX World Championship ticket sales please visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
See 450SX Class results here: https://results.supercrosslive.com/results/?p=view_multi_main_result&id=869630
See 250SX Class results here: https://results.supercrosslive.com/results/?p=view_multi_main_result&id=869574
SBS Revolutionizes Brake Performance for High-Performance Sport Motorcycles with SBS 1012
SVENDBORG, DENMARK – SBS Friction A/S, a leader in motorcycle braking technology, proudly announces the launch of the SBS 1012, a groundbreaking compound designed to fit the Brembo Hypure caliper. This innovative brake Pad compound promises to deliver unmatched performance in both visual aesthetics with the caliper and brake efficiency with the brake pad, for high-performance motorbikes.
The SBS 1012 is an OE replacement compound for bikes equipped with sintered pads, making it the perfect choice for modern high-performance, sport motorcycles. This sintered compound is engineered for low wear, high thermal stability, and excellent brake feel, ensuring easy modulation and superior control.
Developed in Racing, fine-tuned for Street use
Developed through rigorous racing conditions and fine-tuned for street use, the SBS 1012 offers class-leading performance. It is compatible with both stainless steel and cast-iron brake discs, providing exceptional braking power and consistency.
The SBS 1012 is available in front HS and RST compounds, that together with the SBS rear compounds will offer the ideal brake balance. For dedicated racing, the SBS 1012 will also be available as SBS Dual-Sinter 1 and 2 with the reinforced HeRi infused backing plate.
The SBS 1012 is compatible with some of the most renowned high-performance motorcycles, including the Aprilia RSV4 series, KTM Superduke, KTM RC-R, and the Ducati Panigale V4 series.
The SBS 1012 is compatible with some of the most renowned high-performance motorcycles, including the Aprilia RSV4 series, KTM Superduke, KTM RC-R, and the Ducati Panigale V4 series.
For more information about the SBS 1012, please visit: SBS.dk/1012
About SBS Friction A/S
SBS Friction A/S is the preferred OE and aftermarket supplier of brake pads and friction solutions for motorcycles, scooters, ATV/UTVs, special cars, and industrial applications, including wind turbines. Our product portfolio also includes brake rotors, clutch kits, brake shoes, brake shims, and more. SBS has, as an industry-first, received full approval according to the ECE R90 regulation, providing riders with the most reliable quality in terms of design, manufacturing, and performance. Furthermore, SBS brake pads are reinforced with NUCAP NRS technology, which secures a mechanical and indestructible bonding of the compound. SBS is your reliable brake part supplier when you seek braking excellence. Go Ahead – we have the power to stop you! Visit https://www.sbsbrakes.com/
ROSSI MOOR: A CRUCIAL 2025 ON THE ROAD TO MOTOGP
The young American-Hungarian talent of Revesz Racing, unveils his season at the Budapest Motorshow and prepares for a decisive year with Team MMR in Moto2 at FIMJuniorGP.
The 2025 season of Rossi Moor has officially begun with the presentation of Team MMR’s Moto2 bike at the Budapest Motorshow, an event that drew nearly 50,000 visitors over three days, including motorcycle enthusiasts and industry professionals.
On the main stage, in front of thousands of fans and numerous Hungarian media outlets, Rossi Moor revealed the livery of his Moto2 bike, which he will race in the JuniorGP, along with his new suit and helmet featuring the Aprilia logo. This confirms the continued interest of Aprilia Racing in this young and talented rider.
Testing and preparation: the road to the season opener
Rossi participated in a private test with Team MMR at the Cremona Circuit, which also hosts the Superbike World Championship.
• Day 1: focused on finding an optimal base setup for the bike.
• Day 2: continuous improvement of lap times, getting as close as 0.158 seconds to the track record, set by Adrian Huertas during the WSSP 2024 Superpole. This result is even more impressive considering that Rossi used Pirelli SC1 tires, while WSSP Superpole runs on SCX qualifying tires.
Currently, Rossi is in Spain, continuing his training with his Aprilia RSV4 Factory, which was personally delivered to him last December by Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing MotoGP.
The next private test with Team MMR’s Moto2 bike is scheduled for April 3-5 at the Almería circuit, while the official race debut will take place on May 2-4 at the Estoril Circuit.
MotoGP Wild-Card Entries
In addition to competing in the JuniorGP Moto2 championship, Rossi Moor will also have the chance to showcase his talent in the MotoGP World Championship with three wild-card entries at:
✔ HungaryGP
✔ MisanoGP
✔ ValenciaGP
This season will be a decisive step for his future and his dream of making it to MotoGP full-time.
TEAM ROBERTS KR211V RACED BY WORLD CHAMPION KENNY ROBERTS JR. TO APPEAR AT CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS DURING MOTOGP RACE WEEKEND
The Team Roberts KR211V raced by 2000 FIM 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr. is returning to the international stage for the March 28-30 Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas, round three of the 2025 FIM Grand Prix World Championship.
Now part of the permanent collection at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, the Honda 990cc V5-powered KR211V was designed and built by GP Motorsports, the U.K.-based firm founded in 1996 by three-time FIM 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts.
Recommissioned by the museum, the KR211V will be displayed throughout the weekend at the Alpinestars hospitality unit in the MotoGP paddock at the Circuit of The Americas. Fans are encouraged to take advantage of this rare opportunity to lay eyes on the one-of-a-kind machine.
The KR211V was a collaboration between GP Motorsports and Honda. Team Roberts fabricated the chassis, and the Japanese manufacturer supplied engines and technical support. On the racetrack, Roberts Jr. showed the speed that earned him eight career victories and a world title.
The American finished the 17-race 2006 MotoGP season sixth overall in points, with podiums at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain and Circuito do Estoril in Portugal. In the U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca Raceway, he qualified third and took the checkered flag in fourth.
“I remember my first time on the Honda,” said Roberts Jr. “It was difficult to tell which gear I was in; the engine was so linear. If we had six months to find all the gremlins with the chassis we found in the last 25% of the season, we could have been fighting quite often for podiums.
“What we were able to accomplish on this bike that season solidified even more in my mind what the other guys had underneath them. It gave me a better perspective of what I rode, what I didn’t ride, and what we did with a lot less.”
Roberts, 73, and Roberts Jr., 51, are the only father-and-son premier-class champions in the 76-year history of the sport. Lauded for his enduring contributions to GP racing’s rider-led safety commission, Roberts Jr. was named a MotoGP Legend in 2017.
One week after the Grand Prix of The Americas, April 4-6, Barber Motorsports Park will host “MotoAmerica Superbikes at Barber.” Roberts Jr. is slated to ride the KR211V for exhibition laps on the 16-turn, 2.38-mile road course.
“The museum is honored to showcase a machine as rare and innovative as the KR211V,” said Executive Director Brian Case. “This motorcycle represents a bold chapter in Grand Prix racing history, highlighting the engineering expertise of Team Roberts and the skill of Kenny Roberts Jr. Seeing the KR211V back in the MotoGP paddock at COTA is a testament to its significance, and hearing it roar to life on track again at Barber Motorsports Park will be an unforgettable experience for everyone in attendance.”
Last October, at the 19th annual Barber Vintage Festival, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum unveiled its “World Champions” exhibit, which features three historic two-stroke 500cc Grand Prix machines from the Kenny Roberts collection acquired by the museum in 2024.
Roberts’ 1980 Yamaha YZR500 and Roberts Jr.’s 2000 Suzuki RGV500 are united with the three-cylinder Team Roberts KR3 campaigned in 1998 by Roberts Jr. Family photographs and personal racing memorabilia round out the remarkable presentation.
Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest motorcycle collection, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum houses thousands of motorcycles spanning more than a century of production and representing 220 different manufacturers from 22 countries.
About the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit located at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, the museum focuses on various aspects of motorsports design, from displaying motorcycles and cars spanning over 100 years of production to the Barber Advanced Design Center—a high-tech workspace for design exploration. The museum embraces the culture of motorsports enthusiasts by hosting programs such as Barber Design Camp and events such as Barber Vintage Festival. With five floors housing 1,800 motorcycles, over 60 Lotus race cars, and numerous vintage and iconic vehicles, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is the ultimate family-friendly environment for education, inspiration, and exploration with the mission to preserve, interpret and exhibit the history of motorcycles and vintage vehicles in motorsports. The public is welcome, and more information is available at www.BarberMuseum.org.
Nathan Bettencourt Gears Up for 2025 MotoAmerica Talent Cup with Bettencourt Racing
Rising motorcycle racing star Nathan Bettencourt is set to make waves in the 2025 MotoAmerica Talent Cup, competing under the AK Race Fab Team banner. At just 14 years old, Bettencourt has already amassed an impressive racing résumé, including multiple championship titles and international competition experience.
A Champion in the Making
Bettencourt’s journey began at just 3½ years old, fueled by a passion for speed and competition. His rapid rise in the sport has included:
• 2023 MotoAmerica MiniCup Stock 125 Champion – Undefeated season
• 3rd place in the Ohvale 190 Championship – Qualifying for the FIM World Series in Spain
• NEMRR Moto 3 Champion – Youngest titleholder in series history
• 2023 Vanson Rookie of the Year at Loudon, NH
His continued success has earned him a place among America’s most promising young riders as he prepares to compete on the Krämer APX-350 MA in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup – a pivotal stepping stone in Dorna’s Road to MotoGP™program.
“I’ve been supporting and working with Nathan through Woodcraft and the Penguin Racing School for several years now,” said Eric Wood, President of Woodcraft Technologies Inc. “He’s the youngest Expert champion we’ve ever had at NEMRR, and I couldn’t be more excited to see him compete on a national level with MotoAmerica. Nathan is perfectly suited for the new Talent Cup bikes and is ready to make this big step up in his racing program in 2025.”
The Road Ahead: 2025 Race Schedule
Bettencourt will take on some of the most prestigious race circuits in the country, including:
• Circuit of the Americas (March 28-30)
• Barber Motorsports Park (April 4-6)
• Road America (May 30-June 1)
• Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (July 25-27)
• Virginia International Raceway (August 1-3)
• Circuit of the Americas (September 12-14)
• New Jersey Motorsports Park (September 26-28)
A Season Powered by Strong Partnerships
The 2025 campaign is made possible through the support of dedicated sponsors, including Genesis Utilities Corporation, AK Race Fab, Apex Enterprises LLC, Innovative Contract Services LLC, Woodcraft CFM, Penguin Roadracing School, Arai Helmets, Motul, 64 Degrees, and Scott Powersports.
“I’ve been working with Nathan since last year and I’ll be his Crew Chief this season,” said Adam Kells owner of AK Race Fab. With 25 years in the industry and massive knowledge in custom parts and an array of services at the shop, AK Race Fab is well positioned to bring this team to MotoAmerica full time. “Beyond chasing the championship, I want to help Nathan become a consummate pro and prepare him for Red Bull Rookies Cup. It’s a huge stepping stone for both of us and I’m excited to be on board.”
Declan Fitzpatrick, a primary sponsor through Genesis Utilities Corporation, expressed his excitement for Bettencourt’s journey, stating, “Nathan cheered for me when I raced, now it’s my turn to cheer for him!”
Tony Pagliaroli, Owner of Scott Powersports, has followed Bettencourt’s progress for years and shared his enthusiasm, saying, “I’ve watched Nathan grow up on a motorcycle, from 50s to now this. We’re excited to see him attack the national stage—not just as a supporter, but always as a fan first.”
Sponsorship opportunities remain available for brands looking to align with an elite young talent on the national stage.
Join the Journey
Fans and supporters can follow Bettencourt’s season through exclusive behind-the-scenes content, race reports, and live updates via @nathanbettencourtracing on social media.
For sponsorship inquiries contact:
Bettencourt Racing – [email protected]
About MotoAmerica Talent Cup
The MotoAmerica Talent Cup is a premier development series aimed at cultivating young American road racers. As part of Dorna’s Road to MotoGP™, the series provides an unparalleled platform for emerging talent to compete on high-performance machines at world-class venues.
Roadracing World Editor at Large Michael Gougis details the new Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma inflatable body armor system after a day of riding on the street and on the Streets of Willow course at Willow Springs International Raceway.
KTM’s 2024 990 Duke publicity photos show a test rider doing burnouts, wheelies and riding knee-down in what appears to be an abandoned parking lot. After riding this machine, I get it. The power, agility, and maneuverability combine to create a bike that’s easy to ride and encourages the rider to explore its performance boundaries. That’s a polite way of saying that it makes its rider want to do burnouts, wheelies and ride knee-down all the time, under any and all circumstances. Any bike that can make me want to act like that is more than OK in my book.
KTM 990 Duke Technical Specifications
KTM’s LC8c Parallel-Twin, four-stroke, four-valve DOHC engine powers the 990 Duke. A 92.5mm x 70.4mm bore and stroke gives the bike a 946cc displacement, a claimed 121.36 bhp at 9,500 rpm and 76.0 lbs.-ft. of torque at 6,750 rpm. New cams with more aggressive profiles and longer valve openings, plus a new exhaust system, bump up the power. The assisted slipper clutch operates with clutchless up- and down-shifting as an option.
Suspension is via WP Apex 3343 inverted front forks with 43mm tubes, and a WP Apex 3146 rear monoshock. The front forks have five clicks of rebound and compression damping, each representing a fairly significant change, and the shock has a new linear-rate spring, five clicks of rebound adjustment, and six spring preload settings.
A pair 300mm discs and four-piston radial-mount calipers handling braking at the front, and a single 240mm disc and single-piston caliper are at the rear. The steel-tube trellis frame is all-new with a gravity-die-cast alumium-alloy swingarm. The aluminum-alloy wheels carry Bridgestone Battlax S22 radials, 120/70R-17 in the front, 180/55R-17 in the rear.
The rider gets five riding modes – Rain, Street, Sport, Performance and Track. Traction control and wheelie control come standard; an enhanced wheelie control and electronic rear slip management system and electronic launch control are optional. The ABS can be switched off at the rear. Ready to ride, the bike weighs in at 424 pounds, and suggested retail price in the U.S.A. is $12,499.
Riding The KTM 990 Duke On The Street
On the street, the bike remains just as friendly as the smaller 790 Duke. The seat is narrow at the front and makes it easier for shorter riders to reach the ground. The throttle response is quick but not overly so and can be easily adjusted. The clutch pull is light, the brake response immediate. The seating position is standard-aggressive, somehow managing to combine a racer crouch, comfort, and legroom into a nicely managed compromise.
The torque and power are just like the 790, except there’s more of both, and it’s pretty much everywhere. It’s like someone took a 790 dyno graph and just moved the whole line up! The 990 has 18 more horsepower and 11 more lbs.-ft of torque, bumping up the throttle fun factor.
The suspension feels more controlled and still absorbs street irregularities. Brakes can handle anything a rider should be doing on the street, and the clutchless shifting feels immediate and direct. It’s a bike built to ride, not just cruise, and the Duke allows the rider to feel and enjoy everything about the ride.
Riding The KTM 990 Duke On The Track
A morning at the tight Streets of Willow course at Willow Springs International Raceway on the 990 Duke, during one of Compact Octane’s small-displacement, non-supersport track day, demonstrated what a difference power and torque can make in changing the riding experience.
Smaller Dukes are amazing on corner entry, with the upright seating position, relatively light weight, and easy-to-manage power making them incredibly precise on tip-in. The 990 requires the rider to be a little more deliberate in this phase of the corner to get the bike exactly where they want it and to full lean angle quickly.
But the extra torque, backed up by the electronic safety net of slip control and traction control, gets the bike out of the corner more quickly. So the focus shifts from entry and lean angle to exit and drive, which the 990 Duke does very well for a wide variety of riders.
Exactly as it comes out of the showroom, with the stock Bridgestone Battlax S22 radials, the 990 Duke is good for a full day of track-day fun, with only some pumping at the rear when on the power, over bumps. It’s easy to ride and it’s easy to enjoy its ample performance capabilities. That makes for a rewarding experience, on street or track.
Look for a full review in an upcoming issue of Roadracing World magazine!
THREE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION KENNY ROBERTS MENTORING FLAT-TRACKER KODY KOPP IN NEW MOTOAMERICA TALENT CUP CLASS
Three-time FIM 500cc Grand Prix World Champion “King” Kenny Roberts begins a new chapter in his hall-of-fame international motorcycle racing career this weekend, March 28-30, at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. Returning to professional competition following an 18-year hiatus, the 73-year-old American is leaning on his decades of experience to steer 20-year-old Kody Kopp in his transition from flat-track champion to rookie road racer in the new MotoAmerica Talent Cup class.
Part of the “Road To MotoGP,” the Talent Cup debuting at COTA in conjunction with the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas is a “spec” class. Riders aged 14 to 21 compete exclusively on the race-only Krämer APX-350 MA, which is powered by a single-cylinder, four-stroke KTM engine. Kopp, a three-time American Flat Track Singles champion, is the son of 2000 AMA Pro Grand National Champion Joe Kopp. Roberts won back-to-back GNC titles in 1973 and ’74 before becoming America’s first Grand Prix world champion in 1978.
Stepping into battle once again as “Team Roberts,” which earned four world titles in the early 1990s with American riders Wayne Rainey and John Kocinski, Roberts intends to base his resurgent race program in Birmingham, Alabama, near Barber Motorsports Park. “We always wanted to help Kody,” admitted Roberts, “but there was never an opportunity. He’s never road raced before. It will probably be the toughest thing that he’s had to master since he started racing, but it’s there to have. Without doing it, we’ll never know. In the past, it was easy to help young kids because you could put them on a Yamaha TZ250. You could always see the talent because everyone had pretty much the same equipment. The Krämer is the only thing that came along where I went, ‘That’s the way to go.’”
One week after its debut, April 4-6, the Talent Cup will travel to Barber Motorsports Park for “MotoAmerica Superbikes at Barber.” The 16-turn, 2.38-mile race course is among the best tracks in the U.S. and the go-to venue for cars and motorcycles alike.
Fans are encouraged to visit the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum to experience the “World Champions” exhibit unveiled in October at the Barber Vintage Festival. Three machines from the Roberts collection acquired by the museum in 2024 are featured at the center of the display. Two world-championship-winning motorcycles, Roberts’ 1980 Yamaha YZR500 and Kenny Roberts Jr.’s 2000 Suzuki RGV500, are paired with the three-cylinder KR3 on which Roberts Jr. contested the 1998 500cc title. Roberts family racing memorabilia is showcased, as well.
Roberts Jr., 51, is expected to lap the Barber road course on the Team Roberts KR211V that he rode to sixth overall in the 2006 MotoGP World Championship. Highlights from that 17-race campaign included podium finishes in Spain and Portugal, plus a fourth at the lone U.S. round. Recommissioned by the museum, the KR211V was a unique collaboration between GP Motorsports, the U.K.-based firm founded by Roberts in 1996, and Honda. GP Motorsports fabricated the chassis, and the Japanese manufacturer supplied 990cc five-cylinder engines.
“The museum has long celebrated racing history, both on two and four wheels, and we are proud to show our support for this new Talent Cup class in the MotoAmerica series,” said Brian Case, executive director of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. “Kenny Roberts’ legacy runs deep here, and seeing him mentor the next generation of American champions is special. This moment highlights the evolution of motorcycle racing and our commitment to preserving its rich heritage.”
About the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit located at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, the museum focuses on various aspects of motorsports design, from displaying motorcycles and cars spanning over 100 years of production to the Barber Advanced Design Center—a high-tech workspace for design exploration. The museum embraces the culture of motorsports enthusiasts by hosting programs such as Barber Design Camp and events such as Barber Vintage Festival. With five floors housing 1,800 motorcycles, over 60 Lotus race cars, and numerous vintage and iconic vehicles, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is the ultimate family-friendly environment for education, inspiration, and exploration with the mission to preserve, interpret and exhibit the history of motorcycles and vintage vehicles in motorsports. The public is welcome, and more information is available at www.BarberMuseum.org.
AHRMA Vintage Cup Roars Back: Iconic 250 Grand Prix to blaze the 2026 season
Get ready for a high-octane blast from the past! The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is thrilled to introduce 250GP as the featured class for the 2026 Vintage Cup.
Sponsored by Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), AHRMA’s 2026 Vintage Cup will feature 250GP which includes any fully GP-kitted 250cc OHV/OHC four-stroke; 250cc air-cooled single-cylinder two stroke; 175cc liquid-cooled single cylinder two-stroke; or 175cc air-cooled twin-cylinder two-stroke built before December 31, 1968. It’s a showdown of classic speed and engineering that’ll leave fans on the edge of their seats.
“I’ve talked a lot lately about getting bikes of the golden era of grand prix racing out of people’s living rooms and onto the racetrack,” says Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton, 2026 Vintage Cup sponsor. “The 250 class opens doors to increase the grids by promoting a more economical yet genuine GP level Vintage Cup class. In the past the 250GP class has brought an international flair to our club with Juan Bulto from Spain, competing on his Bultaco Single, and we’d like to nurture the international aspect again. So, whether you’ve got a Honda 6 or a CB160 and everything in between, let’s get them out onto the track in 2026.”
Typical AHRMA 250GP grids include a wide variety of motorcycles such as Aermacchi, Bultaco, Greeves, Montesa, Ducati, NSU, Ossa, and more.
“As we look ahead to the 2026 AHRMA Vintage Cup, we’re thrilled to feature the 250GP class, a class that represents one of the most competitive and technically refined eras in motorcycle racing history. These machines were the proving ground for some of the greatest riders and teams, pushing the limits of performance and innovation. Showcasing them in the Vintage Cup honors their legacy while giving today’s racers and fans the chance to experience the excitement of true Grand Prix competition,” said Greg “GT” Tomlinson, Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees
“AHRMA continues to do the sport a great service by running a series for people to ride historic race bikes on the track, where they can be seen and heard in action. Roadracing World is happy to be involved with the Vintage Cup program again in 2026. Now go out and have fun on old bikes!” said John Ulrich, Founder & Editor of Roadracing World.”
The Vintage Cup will be highlighted during and after each of the 2026 AHRMA National road races. Added enhancements for the 2026 season include:
*Enhanced trophies throughout the season.
*Special awards for series champion.
*Articles and photos on Roadracingworld.com to spotlight the class.
*Roadracing World print magazine enhanced exposure for AHRMA and 250GP.
*Discounted race entry fees.
*Racer spotlight features in AHRMA MAG.
*Class champion on cover of the AHRMA MAG.
Motorcycles eligible for AHRMA’s 250GP class include any of the following types of fully GP-kitted motorcycles built before December 31, 1968, and like design: 250cc OHV/OHC four-stroke; 250cc air-cooled single-cylinder two-stroke; 175cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder two-stroke; 175cc air-cooled twin-cylinder two-stroke. A list of eligible machines can be found in the AHRMA Handbook in Section 10.2.4 (www.ahrma.org/ahrma-handbook).
The first American to win an Isle of Man TT, Dave Roper, who is also a multi-time AHRMA champion and frequent 250GP competitor shared the following:
“The 250 Grand Prix class has been one of the mainstays of motorcycle road racing since near the beginning. The Isle of Man adopted the 250 Lightweight class in 1922. Ironically, the race was won this first year by a two-stroke Levis. For the next 15 years, the Lightweight 250 TT was won by a four-stroke.
“The World Championship started in 1949, and the 250 class was one of the four initial classes along with 500, 350, and sidecar. The 250 World Championship has been won by two-strokes and four-strokes, singles, twins, fours and sixes. This has been mirrored in the AHRMA 250GP class. 2008-2015, either Paul Germain (6X) or Jack Parker (2X) won the Championship on a Yamaha two-stroke single, then Jeff Henise won on a Kawasaki two-stroke single, then Juan Bulto on a Bultaco single. In 2018, Kevin Burns won the Championship on a Honda four-stroke twin, in 2019 Germain won again on his Yamaha two-stroke single, 2020 saw John Scales win on a Honda four stroke twin, 2021 it was me on a Aermacchi four-stroke single, 2022 John Scales again on his Honda four-stroke twin, 2023 Paul Germain again on his Yamaha two-stroke single, and last year Craig Light on his Bultaco two-stroke single.
“Whether you have a single or twin, two stroke or four stroke, Japanese or European, bring it out for next year’s Vintage Cup.”
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage machines along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
Media reports out of Europe suggest that MotoAmerica’s Chief Operating Officer may replace Carmelo Ezpeleta as head of MotoGP if Liberty Media succeeds in its bid to acquire the international motorcycle road racing series.
Chuck Aksland, a former road racer with management experience in a wide range of operations related to the highest levels of racing, is said to be one of the people under consideration to take over from Ezpeleta if the U.S.-based Liberty organization does take over MotoGP.
“His experience and knowledge of the business could make him a solid option to lead the new era of the championship under the management of Liberty Media,” said an article posted on the Italian motorsports website Motosprint.it.
Aksland did not respond immediately to a phone call seeking comment on the report.
The son of well-known and respected tuner Bud Aksland, Chuck Aksland has spend much of his professional life around motorcycle road racing. Currently, Aksland is a partner in KRAVE Group, LLC., the commercial rights holder of AMA professional road racing in the U.S., along with Wayne Rainey, Terry Karges and Richard Varner. Aksland has been involved in MotoAmerica since its inception.
Aksland also is partner in the content production and delivery platform MotoAmerica Live +, the motorsports programming platform MTRSPT1, and a consultant for International Racers, Inc., which represents racers—Aksland is the agent for six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea.
In the past, Aksland has served as Director, Track Operations and Vice President Motorsport Operations for Circuit of The Americas and as the general manager for Team Roberts for 15 years.
Liberty Media, which owns the rights to Formula One car racing, is bidding to take over Dorna, which currently operates MotoGP and a series of related racing interests. However, European regulators have held up the purchase for review due to antitrust concerns.
If the sale goes through, a number of names have been suggested as a replacement for Ezpeleta, if he is indeed replaced. Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola, Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali, current Trackhouse Racing principal Davide Brivio and former Ducati Sporting Directory Paolo Ciabatti all are under consideration, the Motosprint article says.
Chase Sexton Racks Up the Win at Birmingham Supercross and Narrows Points Gap
Nate Thrasher Becomes Fifth Winner in Eastern Divisional 250SX Class
Birmingham, Ala., (March 23, 2025) After a two-week break, the intense racing of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship is back and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton earned the win inside Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama with (1-1-2) Race results in the third Triple Crown-formatted event of the season.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart gritted out three incredible finishes (3-2-3) after a crash in qualifying left him in severe hip pain throughout the night. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger led laps and earned his second podium of the season with (2-3-5) Race finishes. The Birmingham Supercross capped off the Triple Crown championship; Sexton earned that title with 1-3-1 finishes at the Glendale, Arlington, and Birmingham Supercross events. In the Eastern Divisional 250SX Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher took the win and became the fifth different winner in the first five rounds, something that hasn’t happened in the class since 2016.
Chase Sexton, first place 450SX Class: “Triple Crowns are tough because even if you win the first two Races, just like what happened to RJ [Hampshire in the 250SX Class], something can go wrong in the first turn. Thank God my starts were good tonight; I got the holeshot. I rode pretty solid. I wasn’t doing the [triple jump] in the last Race, just being a little conservative. It was a good race, Coop rode good, and I’m stoked to get that monkey off my back and get another win and get this season going in the right direction finally… This is my favorite part of the season, these last seven or eight rounds. It seems like it’s where I really shine… Coop is riding really good, he’s a fighter, so it should be a good fight to the end.” Sexton’s overall win which moved him from 15 points down to within 8 points of the title chase.
Malcolm Stewart, second place 450SX Class: “I just made a mistake in practice and caught Justin Hill’s front wheel [in mid-air]. I hit my hip pretty good. The good news is I’ve got a solid group with my team. They just said, ‘Just go out there and give it everything you’ve got.’ Huge shout out to Doctor G for getting me back in [shape] to go out there and do these three Races… It’s awesome and I’m so blessed to get back up on here [on the podium]. Yeah, baby, maybe I’ve earned a little bit of fishing money now!” Malcolm Stewart rode through intense pain.
Aaron Plessinger, third place 450SX Class: “I just feel like I’m on a roll, like I’ve found another gear, found a good groove. The boys at the practice track, they’re keeping me on my toes. The Baker’s Factory [Training Facility] is a riot right now; we’re going off. Aldon’s keeping us in shape… It was just a good night. Good starts, good riding, I led a lot of laps, and then just couldn’t seal the deal. But we’re up on the podium… all these fans out here in Alabama, they were insane. We’re going to keep it up and hopefully podium the season out.” Plessinger is #7 in the above photo.
Cooper Webb, fourth place 450SX Class: “You just can’t make that mistake like I did in the first Race. That pretty much dictates your night. I had luck at Dallas, and tonight [I didn’t]. You just can’t put yourself in that position. Obviously that last one was a great ride for me. I finally applied myself well. It’s a bit of a bummer to get fourth [overall], but I feel like I was riding good, that first one really cost me… they say all good things come to an end, so the podium streak’s gone… We’ll regroup and come back swinging, that’s for sure.” Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb who went (7-4-1) due to a first-lap crash in Race 1.
In 250SX Class racing, Nate Thrasher took the event overall through consistent (3-3-2) Race scores. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire (1-2-5) was in good position going into Race 3, but after being slowed by another rider’s crash in the first turn he found himself well outside of the top 15. Hampshire raced his way up to fifth place, one spot shy of a finish that would have given him the overall. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle, the points leader entering the event, finished on the podium with (2-5-3) Race results. Vialle extended his points lead due to a DNS from Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Max Anstie who crashed out of the event during daytime qualifying. The winner of the previous round, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker, crashed on the opening lap of Race 1 and could only recover to ninth. He took the win in Race 2 and Race 3, but his (9-1-1) was only enough to earn him a fourth place overall in Birmingham.
Nate Thrasher, first place 250SX Class:“I really felt coming into this season that this was going to be my year. Tampa went okay, I ended up crashing on the first lap. But then we just kept fighting every round. I just knew that I’m tough enough to be out there. This week I was finally able to do two days [of practice] before coming to this race and those two days were great. I’m super excited and I’m just ready to get the ball rolling. We’re not out of [the championship] yet!”
RJ Hampshire, second place 250SX Class: “You could tell, even the first two races, I just didn’t have the spark. I felt good in practice and then was just flat. I don’t know if it’s things catching up to me or what, but I just didn’t have that intensity. And then I butchered the start in my last Race. My starts were saving me [in Race 1 and 2]… We’re still in this thing and looking forward to Boston in a couple weeks [for the next 250SX East race].”
Tom Vialle, third place 250SX Class: “I’m happy to survive that Triple Crown. It’s always a pretty sketchy race. In the second moto I finished fifth; I made a lot of mistakes and lost some ground and that might have put me out for the overall tonight. But I want that win really bad. I’m working for it and hopefully in the next few races I can do it.”
Seth Hammaker, fourth place 250SX Class: “The night that could have been… but I’m healthy, that’s a lot of what we’re working on this year. That first Race, just gotta learn from it and be better the next time. If you learn off of your mistakes that’s the best thing you can do. Those were good performances in the last two Races, I’m proud of that.”
The future stars of sport delivered one of the wildest races of the night. The SMX Next riders returned for their third race of the year, giving the world’s top amateur racers another opportunity to compete on a professional Supercross track in front of a packed stadium. With three race leaders crashing out of the top spot, Team Green Kawasaki’s Enzo Temmerman took the win through speed and composure. Orange Brigade KTM’s Luke Fauser earned the second-place spot, and Phoenix Racing Honda’s Tiger Wood rounded out the podium. The SMX Next schedule will host one more round, at the Foxborough Supercross, then line the young racers up to compete in the SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Championship at the Pittsburgh Supercross.
Enzo Temmerman, first place SMX Next Class: “I’m going to be honest. I didn’t think this would be the night that I won. I struggled all day in practice. I just tried my best out there and let the race come to me. I was in the right spot at the right time, and we got the win. I can’t thank everyone behind me enough.”
Of the VIPs in attendance in Birmingham, country music artist Bailey Zimmerman visited the Race Day Live broadcasting booth where he mentioned his first dream was to race dirt bikes. He was humble about his talent on a motorcycle and grateful for the success of his music career. He said, “I’m so blessed to do what I do. Even though my first dream was racing dirt bikes, I’m cool with the dream I live now. It’s a lot of fun.”
The Birmingham Supercross pays points toward both the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season as well as toward the SMX World Championship™. The SMX League™ is in its third year; it combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, the AMA Pro Motocross season, two SMX Playoff rounds in September and culminates in the SMX World Championship Final on September 20th.
Live viewing of every Monster Energy AMA Supercross event is available everywhere across the globe. Each race is presented live and on-demand on Peacock. Select events can also be viewed on NBC, CNBC, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital platforms. An encore presentation airs on CNBC on the Monday at 1:00p.m. ET following each. A Spanish-language live presentation is available for every race on Telemundo Deportes’ Facebook and YouTube channels. The SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv) provides live coverage internationally in English, Spanish and French languages. Races can also be heard live on NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85.
Round 11 takes place next Saturday night, March 29th at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. The night’s racing begins at 8:00p.m. ET, 5:00p.m. local time. Tickets are available now for the Seattle Supercross and every remaining round of the 2025 season. For event information, video highlights, race results, live timing, and Supercross as well as SMX World Championship ticket sales please visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
See 450SX Class results here: https://results.supercrosslive.com/results/?p=view_multi_main_result&id=869630
See 250SX Class results here: https://results.supercrosslive.com/results/?p=view_multi_main_result&id=869574
SBS Revolutionizes Brake Performance for High-Performance Sport Motorcycles with SBS 1012
SVENDBORG, DENMARK – SBS Friction A/S, a leader in motorcycle braking technology, proudly announces the launch of the SBS 1012, a groundbreaking compound designed to fit the Brembo Hypure caliper. This innovative brake Pad compound promises to deliver unmatched performance in both visual aesthetics with the caliper and brake efficiency with the brake pad, for high-performance motorbikes.
The SBS 1012 is an OE replacement compound for bikes equipped with sintered pads, making it the perfect choice for modern high-performance, sport motorcycles. This sintered compound is engineered for low wear, high thermal stability, and excellent brake feel, ensuring easy modulation and superior control.
Developed in Racing, fine-tuned for Street use
Developed through rigorous racing conditions and fine-tuned for street use, the SBS 1012 offers class-leading performance. It is compatible with both stainless steel and cast-iron brake discs, providing exceptional braking power and consistency.
The SBS 1012 is available in front HS and RST compounds, that together with the SBS rear compounds will offer the ideal brake balance. For dedicated racing, the SBS 1012 will also be available as SBS Dual-Sinter 1 and 2 with the reinforced HeRi infused backing plate.
The SBS 1012 is compatible with some of the most renowned high-performance motorcycles, including the Aprilia RSV4 series, KTM Superduke, KTM RC-R, and the Ducati Panigale V4 series.
The SBS 1012 is compatible with some of the most renowned high-performance motorcycles, including the Aprilia RSV4 series, KTM Superduke, KTM RC-R, and the Ducati Panigale V4 series.
For more information about the SBS 1012, please visit: SBS.dk/1012
About SBS Friction A/S
SBS Friction A/S is the preferred OE and aftermarket supplier of brake pads and friction solutions for motorcycles, scooters, ATV/UTVs, special cars, and industrial applications, including wind turbines. Our product portfolio also includes brake rotors, clutch kits, brake shoes, brake shims, and more. SBS has, as an industry-first, received full approval according to the ECE R90 regulation, providing riders with the most reliable quality in terms of design, manufacturing, and performance. Furthermore, SBS brake pads are reinforced with NUCAP NRS technology, which secures a mechanical and indestructible bonding of the compound. SBS is your reliable brake part supplier when you seek braking excellence. Go Ahead – we have the power to stop you! Visit https://www.sbsbrakes.com/
ROSSI MOOR: A CRUCIAL 2025 ON THE ROAD TO MOTOGP
The young American-Hungarian talent of Revesz Racing, unveils his season at the Budapest Motorshow and prepares for a decisive year with Team MMR in Moto2 at FIMJuniorGP.
The 2025 season of Rossi Moor has officially begun with the presentation of Team MMR’s Moto2 bike at the Budapest Motorshow, an event that drew nearly 50,000 visitors over three days, including motorcycle enthusiasts and industry professionals.
On the main stage, in front of thousands of fans and numerous Hungarian media outlets, Rossi Moor revealed the livery of his Moto2 bike, which he will race in the JuniorGP, along with his new suit and helmet featuring the Aprilia logo. This confirms the continued interest of Aprilia Racing in this young and talented rider.
Testing and preparation: the road to the season opener
Rossi participated in a private test with Team MMR at the Cremona Circuit, which also hosts the Superbike World Championship.
• Day 1: focused on finding an optimal base setup for the bike.
• Day 2: continuous improvement of lap times, getting as close as 0.158 seconds to the track record, set by Adrian Huertas during the WSSP 2024 Superpole. This result is even more impressive considering that Rossi used Pirelli SC1 tires, while WSSP Superpole runs on SCX qualifying tires.
Currently, Rossi is in Spain, continuing his training with his Aprilia RSV4 Factory, which was personally delivered to him last December by Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing MotoGP.
The next private test with Team MMR’s Moto2 bike is scheduled for April 3-5 at the Almería circuit, while the official race debut will take place on May 2-4 at the Estoril Circuit.
MotoGP Wild-Card Entries
In addition to competing in the JuniorGP Moto2 championship, Rossi Moor will also have the chance to showcase his talent in the MotoGP World Championship with three wild-card entries at:
✔ HungaryGP
✔ MisanoGP
✔ ValenciaGP
This season will be a decisive step for his future and his dream of making it to MotoGP full-time.
TEAM ROBERTS KR211V RACED BY WORLD CHAMPION KENNY ROBERTS JR. TO APPEAR AT CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS DURING MOTOGP RACE WEEKEND
The Team Roberts KR211V raced by 2000 FIM 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr. is returning to the international stage for the March 28-30 Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas, round three of the 2025 FIM Grand Prix World Championship.
Now part of the permanent collection at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, the Honda 990cc V5-powered KR211V was designed and built by GP Motorsports, the U.K.-based firm founded in 1996 by three-time FIM 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts.
Recommissioned by the museum, the KR211V will be displayed throughout the weekend at the Alpinestars hospitality unit in the MotoGP paddock at the Circuit of The Americas. Fans are encouraged to take advantage of this rare opportunity to lay eyes on the one-of-a-kind machine.
The KR211V was a collaboration between GP Motorsports and Honda. Team Roberts fabricated the chassis, and the Japanese manufacturer supplied engines and technical support. On the racetrack, Roberts Jr. showed the speed that earned him eight career victories and a world title.
The American finished the 17-race 2006 MotoGP season sixth overall in points, with podiums at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain and Circuito do Estoril in Portugal. In the U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca Raceway, he qualified third and took the checkered flag in fourth.
“I remember my first time on the Honda,” said Roberts Jr. “It was difficult to tell which gear I was in; the engine was so linear. If we had six months to find all the gremlins with the chassis we found in the last 25% of the season, we could have been fighting quite often for podiums.
“What we were able to accomplish on this bike that season solidified even more in my mind what the other guys had underneath them. It gave me a better perspective of what I rode, what I didn’t ride, and what we did with a lot less.”
Roberts, 73, and Roberts Jr., 51, are the only father-and-son premier-class champions in the 76-year history of the sport. Lauded for his enduring contributions to GP racing’s rider-led safety commission, Roberts Jr. was named a MotoGP Legend in 2017.
One week after the Grand Prix of The Americas, April 4-6, Barber Motorsports Park will host “MotoAmerica Superbikes at Barber.” Roberts Jr. is slated to ride the KR211V for exhibition laps on the 16-turn, 2.38-mile road course.
“The museum is honored to showcase a machine as rare and innovative as the KR211V,” said Executive Director Brian Case. “This motorcycle represents a bold chapter in Grand Prix racing history, highlighting the engineering expertise of Team Roberts and the skill of Kenny Roberts Jr. Seeing the KR211V back in the MotoGP paddock at COTA is a testament to its significance, and hearing it roar to life on track again at Barber Motorsports Park will be an unforgettable experience for everyone in attendance.”
Last October, at the 19th annual Barber Vintage Festival, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum unveiled its “World Champions” exhibit, which features three historic two-stroke 500cc Grand Prix machines from the Kenny Roberts collection acquired by the museum in 2024.
Roberts’ 1980 Yamaha YZR500 and Roberts Jr.’s 2000 Suzuki RGV500 are united with the three-cylinder Team Roberts KR3 campaigned in 1998 by Roberts Jr. Family photographs and personal racing memorabilia round out the remarkable presentation.
Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest motorcycle collection, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum houses thousands of motorcycles spanning more than a century of production and representing 220 different manufacturers from 22 countries.
About the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit located at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, the museum focuses on various aspects of motorsports design, from displaying motorcycles and cars spanning over 100 years of production to the Barber Advanced Design Center—a high-tech workspace for design exploration. The museum embraces the culture of motorsports enthusiasts by hosting programs such as Barber Design Camp and events such as Barber Vintage Festival. With five floors housing 1,800 motorcycles, over 60 Lotus race cars, and numerous vintage and iconic vehicles, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is the ultimate family-friendly environment for education, inspiration, and exploration with the mission to preserve, interpret and exhibit the history of motorcycles and vintage vehicles in motorsports. The public is welcome, and more information is available at www.BarberMuseum.org.
Nathan Bettencourt Gears Up for 2025 MotoAmerica Talent Cup with Bettencourt Racing
Rising motorcycle racing star Nathan Bettencourt is set to make waves in the 2025 MotoAmerica Talent Cup, competing under the AK Race Fab Team banner. At just 14 years old, Bettencourt has already amassed an impressive racing résumé, including multiple championship titles and international competition experience.
A Champion in the Making
Bettencourt’s journey began at just 3½ years old, fueled by a passion for speed and competition. His rapid rise in the sport has included:
• 2023 MotoAmerica MiniCup Stock 125 Champion – Undefeated season
• 3rd place in the Ohvale 190 Championship – Qualifying for the FIM World Series in Spain
• NEMRR Moto 3 Champion – Youngest titleholder in series history
• 2023 Vanson Rookie of the Year at Loudon, NH
His continued success has earned him a place among America’s most promising young riders as he prepares to compete on the Krämer APX-350 MA in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup – a pivotal stepping stone in Dorna’s Road to MotoGP™program.
“I’ve been supporting and working with Nathan through Woodcraft and the Penguin Racing School for several years now,” said Eric Wood, President of Woodcraft Technologies Inc. “He’s the youngest Expert champion we’ve ever had at NEMRR, and I couldn’t be more excited to see him compete on a national level with MotoAmerica. Nathan is perfectly suited for the new Talent Cup bikes and is ready to make this big step up in his racing program in 2025.”
The Road Ahead: 2025 Race Schedule
Bettencourt will take on some of the most prestigious race circuits in the country, including:
• Circuit of the Americas (March 28-30)
• Barber Motorsports Park (April 4-6)
• Road America (May 30-June 1)
• Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (July 25-27)
• Virginia International Raceway (August 1-3)
• Circuit of the Americas (September 12-14)
• New Jersey Motorsports Park (September 26-28)
A Season Powered by Strong Partnerships
The 2025 campaign is made possible through the support of dedicated sponsors, including Genesis Utilities Corporation, AK Race Fab, Apex Enterprises LLC, Innovative Contract Services LLC, Woodcraft CFM, Penguin Roadracing School, Arai Helmets, Motul, 64 Degrees, and Scott Powersports.
“I’ve been working with Nathan since last year and I’ll be his Crew Chief this season,” said Adam Kells owner of AK Race Fab. With 25 years in the industry and massive knowledge in custom parts and an array of services at the shop, AK Race Fab is well positioned to bring this team to MotoAmerica full time. “Beyond chasing the championship, I want to help Nathan become a consummate pro and prepare him for Red Bull Rookies Cup. It’s a huge stepping stone for both of us and I’m excited to be on board.”
Declan Fitzpatrick, a primary sponsor through Genesis Utilities Corporation, expressed his excitement for Bettencourt’s journey, stating, “Nathan cheered for me when I raced, now it’s my turn to cheer for him!”
Tony Pagliaroli, Owner of Scott Powersports, has followed Bettencourt’s progress for years and shared his enthusiasm, saying, “I’ve watched Nathan grow up on a motorcycle, from 50s to now this. We’re excited to see him attack the national stage—not just as a supporter, but always as a fan first.”
Sponsorship opportunities remain available for brands looking to align with an elite young talent on the national stage.
Join the Journey
Fans and supporters can follow Bettencourt’s season through exclusive behind-the-scenes content, race reports, and live updates via @nathanbettencourtracing on social media.
For sponsorship inquiries contact:
Bettencourt Racing – [email protected]
About MotoAmerica Talent Cup
The MotoAmerica Talent Cup is a premier development series aimed at cultivating young American road racers. As part of Dorna’s Road to MotoGP™, the series provides an unparalleled platform for emerging talent to compete on high-performance machines at world-class venues.
