TODD VICTORIOUS IN PRESTIGIOUS MILWAUKEE SENIOR TT RACE
Davey Todd claimed a second win of the week at the Isle of Man TT Races, the Milwaukee BMW rider taking victory in a dramatic Milwaukee Senior by 39.084 seconds from Josh Brookes (Monster Energy BMW by FHO Racing) with Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) in third.
That only tells half the story though as Brookes’ team-mate Peter Hickman led at the end of lap one after lapping at 135.523mph. He was on course for a new outright lap record only to come off, uninjured, at Ginger Hall whilst record 29-time winner Michael Dunlop (MasterMac Hawk Honda) retired on the first lap.
Todd’s success gave TAS Racing their first Senior victory since Adrian Archibald won in 2004 whilst it was also their 21st TT victory in total.
With an evening start time of 6pm, conditions around the Mountain Course were the best they’d been all day and it was Hickman who led through Glen Helen on the opening lap, just a tenth up on Todd. Dunlop was 2.3 seconds adrift in third with Harrison only 1.3 seconds back of him as Brookes and James Hillier (WTF Racing Honda) rounded out the early top six, the latter only a second ahead of John McGuinness (Honda Racing). KTS Racing’s Jamie Coward, meanwhile, withdrew from the race due to an ongoing arm injury.
Hickman flew along the stretch to Ballaugh and stretched his lead out to 1.5 seconds and although Dunlop was still in third, he was now more than four seconds behind the race leader. McGuinness had taken over sixth as James Hind leapt up the order to a superb seventh on the North Lincs Components Suzuki.
By Ramsey, Hickman added another second to his lead, courtesy of the quickest ever sector time from Ballaugh, with Todd now six seconds clear of Dunlop. Harrison was only two tenths of a second ahead of Brookes in the battle for fourth, but drama soon followed as Dunlop pulled into retire just after the Bungalow.
An opening lap of 135.23mph gave Hickman a 2.7 seconds lead over Todd (135.159mph) and it was now Brookes in third, the Australian lapping at 133.388mph. Harrison (132.976mph), Hillier (130.777mph) and Mike Browne (130.536mph) now occupied fourth to sixth, the latter finally setting his first 130mph lap on the IN Competition Aprilia, as McGuinness, Shaun Anderson (Team Classic Suzuki), Nathan Harrison (Honda Racing UK) and Dominic Herbertson (Burrows Engineering/RK Racing BMW) rounded out the top ten.
Hickman set another record sector time at the beginning of lap two, from the Grandstand to Glen Helen, and that enabled him to extend his lead over Todd to 4.8 seconds. The latter was trying harder than ever, but Hickman’s stunning pace meant he was unable to make any headway into his deficit.
Over Ballaugh Bridge and another new record sector time saw Hickman’s lead go out to 8.3 seconds and it was clear the proverbial pin had been pulled. Could Todd respond?
We didn’t get to find out though as Hickman didn’t reach Ramsey, crashing at Ginger Hall, although he was thankfully up and ok. That meant Todd now led Brookes by almost twenty seconds as Dean Harrison moved back into the podium positions.
A second lap of 134.789mph saw Todd’s lead stand at 18.6s but Brookes was flying with a new personal best lap of 134.056mph, only the fifth rider to break into the 134’s. Dean Harrison (132.445) was running in a comfortable third ahead of Hillier (132.068mph), the flying Browne (130.872mph) and McGuinness (130.901mph). All the drama allowed Herbertson to move up to seventh from Nathan Harrison, Rob Hodson (SMT Racing Honda) and Michael Rutter (Bathams Ales BMW).
The solitary pit stop saw further change as Todd’s stop was almost seven seconds quicker than Brookes although the FHO Racing rider was still almost ten seconds ahead of Harrison as they reached Glen Helen for the third and penultimate time. Hillier looked secure in fourth whilst Browne had edged away from McGuinness, the Honda man uncharacteristically losing time in the pits, but Herbertson’s strong ride ended in retirement at Crosby.
Starting the fourth final lap, Todd was more than half a minute clear and on his way to a famous win and despite his vast advantage, he pressed on, continually increasing his lead. With a trouble-free final lap, the 28-year old duly brought the bike home 39 seconds ahead of Brookes who claimed his best TT result in second.
Dean Harrison took a comfortable third ahead of fellow Honda rider Hillier and the race for fifth saw McGuinness come out on top as he got the better of the impressive Browne by seven seconds. Nathan Harrison finished in a fine seventh, his best TT result, and it was Anderson who eventually got the verdict for eighth – aided by a new personal best lap of 130.703mph – ahead of Rutter and Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing Honda).
Veteran Hayden Gillim came from behind to win the 101st Loudon Classic presented by NEMRR Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, New Hampshire.
The 25-lap race was scheduled to start at 3:15 p.m. local time, but it was delayed nearly two hours by small rain showers and time to dry the racetrack with NHMS’s jet-powered dryers.
After rain caused the 100th Loudon Classic to be red-flagged 10 times, race organizers did everything they could to run this year’s Classic on a dry track, and their efforts and patience paid off with a race that ran from start to finish without any stoppages or major incidents and only one crash.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott got the holeshot from pole position and led the first 20 laps on his Dunlop-shod GSX-R750. Gillim, meanwhile, got a poor start on his Vesrah/Steel Commander Suzuki GSX-R750 and finished the first lap in fourth place.
Gillim worked his way forward and said he took advantage of Scott’s bad luck with backmarkers to make a pass for the lead on lap 21. Gillim then put his head down and sprinted to the checkered flag, winning by 1.513 seconds and taking home the $55,000 cash prize for first place.
Scott, the defending Loudon Classic Championship, said he had no trouble when he encountered the first of the lappers mid-race, but toward the end of the race, backmarkers caused him to lose time and then the lead to Gillim. Scott then had to settle for the runner-up spot and its $35,000 prize.
Bobby Fong, riding his Wrench Motorcycles Suzuki GSX-R750, was right behind Scott for the first 13 laps, but Fong said he chose a different rear Dunlop than Gillim and Scott and started to lose grip mid-race. Fong was passed by Gillim on lap 15 but held on to place third, earning $25,000 and completing an all-Dunlop and all-Suzuki GSX-R750 podium.
Stefano Mesa passed Scott’s teammate Teagg Hobbs for fourth place early in the race, but Mesa said he and his Pirelli-shod Boulder Motor Sports Ducati Panigale V2 couldn’t match the pace of the lead three. This resulted in Mesa riding a lonely race to fourth place and a $17,000 prize.
After getting passed by Mesa, Hobbs had to fend off Bauce Racing Yamaha’s Joseph LiMandri, Jr. the rest of the way to get fifth place and its $13,500 prize.
LiMandri took sixth, Yamaha-mounted Ben Gloddy was seventh, BARTCON Racing Yamaha’s Eli Block was eighth, Fong’s teammate/team owner David Anthony finished ninth, and veteran Eric Wood rounded out the top 10 finishers.
101st Loudon Classic
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, New Hampshire
June 8, 2024
Provisional Race Results:
Hayden Gillim (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 25 laps, Total Race Time 30:32.342, Best Lap Time 1:10.711, $55,000
Tyler Scott (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, -1.513 seconds, 1:10.926, $35,000
Bobby Fong (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, -4.430, 1:10.942, $25,000
Levi Badie (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, -17 laps, 1:15.660, $1,000
Michael Lee (Yam YZF-R6), -19 laps, 1:15.272, $500
Ian Beam (Tri Daytona 675), Pirelli, -24 laps, 1:25.834, $500
Provisional ASRA Outlaw Baggers Race Results:
Tyler O’Hara (Indian Challenger RR), 8 laps, Total Race Time 11:41.400, Best Lap Time 1:18.737, $20,000
Craig Braymiller, -22.752, 1:27.079, $10,000
Emilio Jimenez, -22.963, 1:27.027, $7,500
Bryan Shields, -67.643, 1:29.626, $5,000
Provisional Pro Thunderbike Race Results:
Jacob Crossman (Apr RS 600), 10 lap, Total Race Time 13:02.326, Best Lap Time 1:12.884, $2,500
Ben Gloddy (Apr RS 660), -2.233 seconds, 1:13.324, $1,250
Brett Guyer (Kramer), -18.804, 1:15.100, $750
Adam Guyer (Apr RS 660), -21.169, 1:15.357, $350
Gunnar Ouellette, -38.916, 1:16.818, $150
Joseph Ciesnik (Yam MT-07), -50.028, 1:17.804
Peter Gaboriault (Tri 660), -56.005, 1:18.602
Aaron Wolfe (Suz SV650), -56.170, 1:17.810
Isaac Maycotte (Apr RS 660), -60.340, 1:18.438
TJ Bibeau, -61.502, 1:18.972
Sergio Di Molfetta (Apr RS 660), -62.001, 1:18.851
David White (Apr RS 660), -68.021, 1:19.745
Robert Pease, Jr. (Kaw 650), -69.779, 1:19.350
Tom Bibeau, -1 lap, 1:22.532
Thomas Sands (Apr RS 660), -1 lap, 1:22.533
Timothy Hogan (Duc), -10 laps, DNF, crash
Provisional Pro 500 Superbike Race Results:
Eli Block (Kaw Ninja 400), 10 laps, Total Race Time 14:03.882, Best Lap Time, 1:17.135, $2,500
Adam Muscaro, -4.559 seconds, 1:18.286, $1,250
Henry Bosland, -19.260, 1:19.342, $750
Rick Doucette, -35.451, 1:20.431, $350
Renee Franco, -39.022, 1:21.616, $150
Lukas Doucette, -39.213, 1:20.473
Trase Boudreau, -50.545, 1:23.045
Thomas Sands, -57.073, 1:22.602
Shane Lewis, -57.527, 1:22.908
Michele Pierro, -68.109, 1:22.820
Noah Tardif, -70.626, 1:24.331
Grant Imbeault, -76.547, 1:24.923
Robert Taylor, -84.106, 1:25.282
Ty Fazekas, -94.421, 1:22.276
Nathan Bettencourt, -1 lap, 1:19.737
Daniel Caron, -1 lap, 1:26.598
Hendrix Woodman, -5 laps, DNF, 1:25.202
More, from a press release issued by Tyler O’Hara Racing:
O’Hara and the Outlaw Bagger class put on a show for the fans in New Hampshire.
Tyler O’Hara (129) during the ASRA Outlaw Bagger race at NHMS. Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy Tyler O’Hara Racing.
Petaluma, Calif., June 8, 2024 — Former two-time MotoAmerica King of The Baggers Champion, Tyler O’Hara, took the lion’s share of the prize pool by dominating the Outlaw Bagger category at the 2024 Loudon Classic at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NH.
O’Hara qualified his Indian Motorcycle of Southeastern Virginia Indian Challenger RR on pole position by posting a 1:20.349. Yet, despite landing in P1 for the race grid, Northeast Motorcycle Road Racing (NEMRR) Club President John Grush had a challenge for O’Hara.
Grush proposed O’Hara start at the back of the field and give the other Outlaw Bagger competitors a 10-second head start for the eight-lap event, and should O’Hara overcome those odds, he’d bag himself an extra $4500 bonus.
Ever the competitor, O’Hara duly agreed to Grush’s challenge and proceeded to put on a show for the Loudon fans of precision bagger overtaking, wrestling the lead away with two laps to go and coming home the winner ahead of Craig Braymiller.
The extra bonus money for coming from the back of the field with a 10 deficit to make up, combined with the winner’s prize money, meant O’Hara walked away with nearly $25,000 for his Outlaw Bagger class efforts.
O’Hara also took part in the 25-lap Loudon Classic on a Yamaha YZF-R6 supplied by current MotoAmerica Supersport star, Blake Davis, finishing 14th with fellow King of The Baggers competitor and current champion, Hayden Gillim, taking the win.
Tyler O’Hara (right) with NEMRR Executive Director John Grush (left) on the Outlaw Bagger podium. Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy Tyler O’Hara Racing.
Tyler O’Hara (Indian Motorcycle of Southeastern Virginia–#129)
“Man, what an amazing weekend!” O’Hara beamed after taking out the Outlaw Baggers category. “Between John Grush and I, we decided I should run from the back of the pack, a bit like how they do with ice racing when the grids get flipped, just to give a bit of a show for the fans.
“My mechanic, Karl, wasn’t keen on the idea and didn’t want me to risk it—we joked about it after but the expression on his face when the question was first asked was priceless!
“It was a lot of fun coming back through the pack and once I got a bit of clear track in front of me, I could make a good gap to the guys chasing behind, and to get this trophy means a heck of a lot to me.
“I really want to thank the NEMRR club and especially John Grush for not just proposing the back of the grid challenge to me but also for bumping up all the Outlaw Bagger competitor’s prize money to help cover their expenses.
“The turn-out from the bagger crowd here in the Northeast was awesome to see. We had the veterans parade lap with a few hundred American V-twin motorcycles and I made sure I put on a few smoky burnouts at the end to give them something to cheer about.
“I really enjoyed my time on the Yamaha for the Loudon Classic. It had been nearly 15 years since I last raced a Yamaha YZF-R6, but we didn’t quite nail the optimal setting for the race. That’s racing, and I want to thank Blake Davis for the opportunity to have a ride on his bike.
“I want to give a huge shoutout to all my sponsors, especially Dunlop for transporting my bike all this way from California and Ed Maulbeck, owner of Indian Motorcycle of Southeastern Virginia, for helping us in the pits and supporting me with his personal Limited Edition replica Indian Challenger RR 29er as my back up motorcycle.
“Now it’s back to the day job and we’ll be giving it everything in Brainerd next week for MotoAmerica.”
O’Hara now heads west to Brainerd, Minnesota—Indian Motorcycle’s home round—for the fourth round of the MotoAmerica series, scheduled for June 14-16.
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Tyler Scott earned pole position for the 101st Loudon Classic Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, New Hampshire. Riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 with a soft-compound Dunlop rear tire, the 18-year-old defending Champion lapped the 1.6-mile infield road course in 1:09.745 – nearly one second faster than anyone else.
Bobby Fong was the best of the rest with a 1:10.723 on his Wrench Motorcycles Suzuki GSX-R750.
Hayden Gillim moved up from fourth to third during the third and final qualifying session with a 1:10.899 on his Vesrah/Steel Commander Suzuki GSX-R750.
Scott’s teammate Teagg Hobbs claimed the fourth and final spot on the front row with a lap of 1:10.932.
Row two will include Boulder MotorSports Ducati’s Stefano Mesa (1:10.965), Woodcraft/Penguin Racing School Ducati’s Eric Wood (1:11.220), Bauce Racing Yamaha’s Joseph LiMandri, Jr. (1:11.299), and unsponsored Ben Gloddy (1:11.312).
In the other feature classes: BARTCON Racing’s Eli Block (1:15.615) took pole position in Pro 500 Superbike, J. Crossman Racing’s Jacob Crossman (1:13.909) topped Pro Thunderbike qualifying, and Tyler O’Hara (1:20.349) did two laps total on his Indian Motorcycle of Southeastern Virginia/S&S Indian Challenger RR in ASRA Outlaw Bagger qualifying and that was good enough to take pole position by more than six seconds over the next-fastest rider.
101st Loudon Classic
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, New Hampshire
June 8, 2024
Final Combined Qualifying Results (Sessions One, Two, And Three Combined):
Tyler Scott (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:09.745
Bobby Fong (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.723
Hayden Gillim (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.899
Teagg Hobbs (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.932
Stefano Mesa (Duc Panigale V2), Pirelli, 1:10.965
Eric Wood (Duc 848), Dunlop, 1:11.220
Joseph LiMandri, Jr. (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:11.299
Ben Young to race Suzuka 8 Hours with Team Taro Plus One BMW
Hamilton, ON – Three-time CSBK champion Ben Young will enter a star-studded field at this year’s prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours event, joining Team Taro Plus One BMW for the historic Endurance World Championship round.
Young, who currently leads the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship standings, will ride alongside former Grand Prix rider Taro Sekiguchi and Kyosuke Okuda (both of Japan) in the Team Taro Plus One garage for his World Endurance debut next month, July 19-21.
The renowned event – launched in 1978 – has grown into the premier race on the EWC calendar, attracting various stars from MotoGP and World Superbike, amongst other series.
Young most recently proved himself against reigning EWC champions YART Yamaha at the Daytona 200, where he finished ninth and just behind the duo of Karel Hanika (fifth) and Marvin Fritz (sixth).
The Collingwood, Ontario native recently completed a private test with Team Taro Plus One BMW at Suzuka, roughly five hours from Tokyo, and felt very comfortable aboard the M1000RR (a similar version to the Van Dolder’s Home Team machine he rides in Canada).
“The bike felt really good, and the team and everyone there is great to deal with,” Young said. “Already we’re about half a second from our target time, so hopefully we can put on a good show and get a strong result.”
The Team Taro Plus One BMW squad finished an impressive 16th out of 50 teams at last year’s Suzuka 8 Hours, achieving a best result of 14th in 2022.
Young’s trip to Suzuka will take place just days after the fourth round of the CSBK season in Nova Scotia, as he chases his fourth Canada Cup and third in a row in 2024.
The 31-year-old has been no stranger to racing in various series and paddocks, having competed in MotoAmerica, British Superbike, and as a wildcard in the 125cc World Championship during his illustrious career.
Only a handful of Canadians have ever competed in the Suzuka 8 Hours through its history, an exclusive list that includes Ruben McMurter, Steve Crevier, and most recently Jordan Szoke, amongst others.
In the meantime, Young will try to extend his lead atop the Canadian Superbike Championship in round two action this weekend, June 7-9, at the Grand Bend Motorplex.
More information can be found on the series’ official website at CSBK.ca.
MICHAEL DUNLOP WINS ENTIRE COVER SUPERTWIN TT RACE 2
Michael Dunlop took his second win of the day at the Isle of Man TT Races on Saturday when he won the Entire Cover Supertwin TT Race 2, victory on the MD Racing Paton giving him his 29th TT win.
Peter Hickman (Swan Racing Yamaha) took second with Mike Browne (Scott Racing Aprilia) completing the podium in third.
Getting underway at 3.45pm, Dunlop again seized control early and led Hickman through Glen Helen by 3.5 seconds with Jamie Coward (KTS racing powered by Steadplan Kawasaki) a further 1.2 seconds adrift. Browne was just four tenths of a second behind with Dominic Herbertson (Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Paton) only 0.005 seconds down on Browne as Barry Furber (DC Autos Newtown Yamaha) slotted into an excellent sixth.
Stefano Bonetti (VAS Engine Paton), Davey Todd (Dafabet Racing Kawasaki), Adam McLean (Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV Yamaha) and Bonetti’s team-mate Pierre-Yves Bian rounded out the early leaderboard.
Dunlop added a further 3 seconds to his lead over Hickman on the run to Ballaugh, but Coward had cut the gap to Hickman to less than a second whilst Herbertson was right in the mix for the final podium position as he lay just 0.3 seconds further back from Browne.
Aided by the best ever sector time from Ballaugh, Dunlop extended his lead to 8.9 seconds round Ramsey Hairpin for the first time as Hickman edged away slightly from Coward but the latter soon began to slow over the Mountain and eventually pulled in to retire at the Creg Ny Baa.
With another new best sector time, from the Bungalow to Cronk ny Mona, a superb opening lap of 122.451mph gave Dunlop the lead but Hickman got up and over the Mountain quicker, bringing his deficit down to 6.4 seconds ahead of the second and final 37.73 miles. Coward’s demise meant it was now Browne in third ahead of Herbertson, Jordan and Todd.
Further back, Brookes, McLean, Furber and Bonetti completed the top ten but having been forced to start from the back of the field when his SMT Racing Paton refused to fire, Rob Hodson was charging and was up to sixth through Ramsey.
With clear road ahead of him, Dunlop added some three seconds to his lead over Hickman on the second and final run to Glen Helen and although Browne was a further ten seconds behind, he was holding a slender advantage of 1.7 seconds over Herbertson in the battle for third.
Dunlop was increasing his lead through every timing point with another four seconds on the high-speed run to Ballaugh and the famous landmark saw a change in the race for third, Herbertson nosing four tenths of a second ahead of Browne.
At Ramsey, Dunlop was more than seven seconds inside his 2018 lap record having now set the quickest ever time in three of the six sectors but as he descended the Mountain for the final time, the race was stopped due to a red flag.
The race was declared a result at the end of lap one and so Dunlop got the win from Hickman and Browne, Herbertson unluckily missing out in fourth. Jordan finished fifth ahead of Hodson, Todd, Brookes, McClean and Furber.
DUNLOP ASSERTS HIMSELF AS GREATEST OF ALL TIME WITH 28TH TT WIN IN THE MONSTER ENERGY SUPERSPORT TT RACE 2
Michael Dunlop took his 28th victory at the Isle of Man TT Races on Saturday afternoon when he won the Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 2 by just under four seconds, the MD Racing Yamaha rider taking his sixth successive Supersport win and 13th in total.
He saw off the challenge of Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) as Davey Todd (Powertoolmate Ducati) completed the podium in third.
After a delay due to small, isolated showers at various parts of the Mountain Course, the two-lap race eventually got underway at 13:00 and it was Dunlop who grabbed the early initiative, heading Todd by 0.558 seconds round Glen Helen for the first time. James Hillier (Bournemouth Kawasaki) was only 0.136 seconds adrift in third with Harrison just another 0.3s back in fourth as just one second covered the top four. Peter Hickman (Trooper Triumph by PHR Performance) and Jamie Coward (KTS Racing powered by Steadplan Triumph) lay in fifth and sixth, the duo separated by half a second.
On the first run to Ballaugh, Dunlop still led with the gap to Todd now 0.8 seconds as Harrison overhauled Hillier for third, albeit by just three tenths of a second. Hickman was losing ground in fifth but now had James Hind (North Lincs Components Suzuki) close behind him on time, the gap between them only 0.2 seconds.
Further back Mike Browne (Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing Yamaha) and Michael Evans (Smith Racing Triumph) were running well in eighth and ninth, but Dominic Herbertson retired the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Yamaha) shortly afterwards at Kerromoar.
At Ramsey Hairpin, Dunlop doubled his advantage over Todd with Harrison a similar distance back in third and with an opening lap of 127.389mph, the Northern Irishman led. However, his lead had been cut by new second placed rider Harrison (127.281mph) to just 0.9 seconds.
Todd (127.119mph) had slipped back to third, 1.3 seconds behind Harrison, with Hickman, Coward and Hillier now the running order behind. Behind them, the remainder of the top ten now read Browne, Hind, Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing Honda) and Evans. 2023 Senior Manx GP winner Joe Yeardsley was also running well in 13th on the Spin Arena Yamaha.
As the riders reached Glen Helen for the second and final time, Dunlop stretched his lead to 1.79 seconds with Todd still well in touch, the gap between second and third almost identical. The race for fourth was red hot too with Hickman less than half a second ahead of Coward.
Dunlop doubled his lead between Glen Helen and Ballaugh, the lead moving up to 3.2 seconds, with Todd taking half a second back on Harrison but it now looked like it was Dunlop’s race to lose. The gap between Hickman and Coward remained at half a second with just half a lap to go but Hind’s good run came to end as he stopped at Ballacraine.
At Ramsey, Dunlop increased his lead by another 1.5s and he wasn’t to be denied his sixth successive Supersport victory, a second lap of 129.071mph seeing come home 3.889 seconds clear of Harrison who saw off the challenge of Todd by 2.34 seconds. Coward’s strong ride saw him set his best ever Supersport lap, 128.668mph, as he took an excellent fourth ahead of Hickman and Hillier.
Browne, Jordan, Evans and Josh Brookes on the second Boyce Precision Engineering machine completed the top ten, less than three quarters of a second separating the latter two. Other strong rides came from Yeardsley (12th), the Manxman setting a new personal best lap of the Mountain Course at 123.268mph, and Craig Neve (15th) who was having his first ride since a spill in qualifying.
Joey Thompson (17th), Barry Furber (19th) and Frenchman Eddy Ferre (21st) also scored good results with newcomer Loris Majcan taking 34th with a strong final lap of 118.053mph.
Tyler Scott remains on top after the first two of three rounds of qualifying for the 101st Loudon Classic Saturday morning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, New Hampshire. Riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 Next-Gen Supersport bike on Dunlop tires, the 18-year-old defending Champion’s lap time 1:10.707 remains the fastest.
The fastest 32 riders now advance to the third and final qualifying session.
101st Loudon Classic
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, New Hampshire
June 8, 2024
Round One and Two Combined Qualifying Results (top 32 riders only):
Tyler Scott (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.707
Bobby Fong (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.850
Teagg Hobbs (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.932
Hayden Gillim (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.942
Stefano Mesa (Duc Panigale V2), Pirelli, 1:10.965
Eric Wood (Duc 848), Dunlop, 1:11.220
Eli Block (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:11.445
Ben Gloddy (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:11.769
Alex Dumas (Suz GSX-R600), Bridgestone, 1:11.925
Joseph LiMandri, Jr. (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:11.973
Tyler Scott topped the first of three rounds of qualifying for the 101st Loudon Classic Saturday morning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, New Hampshire. Riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 Next-Gen Supersport bike on Dunlop tires, the 18-year-old defending Champion lapped the 1.6-mile infield road course in 1:10.707 to lead the field of 51 entries.
After round two of qualifying the field will be cut down to 32 riders who will then have a third round of qualifying.
Riders’ fastest times from all three sessions will count toward their final qualifying position.
In the other classes: Eli Block was 2.1 seconds quicker than anyone else in the first Pro 500 Superbike qualifier, Jacob Crossman led the first Pro Thunderbike qualifier, and Tyler O’Hara was 9.4 seconds faster than anyone else in the first ASRA Outlaw Bagger qualifying session.
101st Loudon Classic Presented by NEMRR
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, New Hampshire
June 8, 2024
Round One Combined Qualifying Results:
Tyler Scott (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.707
Teagg Hobbs (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.932
Hayden Gillim (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.942
Stefano Mesa (Duc Panigale V2), Pirelli, 1:10.965
Bobby Fong (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:11.508
Eric Wood (Duc 848), Dunlop, 1:11.689
Eli Block (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:11.917
David Anthony (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:12.066
Ben Gloddy (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:12.205
Alex Dumas (Suz GSX-R600), Bridgestone, 1:12.291
Jacob Crossman (Yam YZF-R6), 1:12.294
Joseph LiMandri, Jr. (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:12.372
Shane Narbonne (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:12.482
Tyler Sweeney (Yam YZF-R6), 1:12.542
Tyler O’Hara (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:12.759
Carl Soltisz (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:13.020
Spencer Humphreys (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:13.324
Justin Landry (Yam YZF-R6), 1:13.547
Harlan Hildebrand (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:13.883
Ian Beam (Tri Daytona 675), Pirelli, 1:14.286
Levi Badie (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:14.296
JC Camacho (Suz), 1:14.323
Michael Lee (Yam YZF-R6), 1:14.376
Daniel Weems (Yam YZF-R6), 1:14.572
Kevin Nolde (Yam YZF-R6), 1:14.731
Brian Fernald (Yam YZF-R6), 1:14.732
Ezra Beaubier (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:14.765
Asher Rubright (Suz GSX-R750), 1:15.035
Rick Doucette (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:15.045
Geoffry Bonnard (Yam YZF-R6), 1:15.495
Nicolai Greco (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:15.827
Paul Duval (Yam YZF-R6), 1:15.979
Sam Martin (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.166
Wojciech Kasperuk (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.180
Lincoln Gottier (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.216
Tim Barrows (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.326
Kyle Thompson (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.374
Paul Hosue (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.444
Michael Guarino (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:16.576
Semir Fazlic (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.595
Houk Nichols (Suz GSX-R600), 1:17.086
Brandie Cox (Suz GSX-R600), 1:17.809
Joseph Townsend (Yam YZF-R6), 1:17.893
Josh Gallusser (Suz GSX-R), 1:18.131
Robbie Nigl (MV Agusta F3 RR), 1:18.760
Mavrick Cyr, no lap time recorded
Gabriel Da Silva, no lap time recorded
Jimmy Fassino, no lap time recorded
Scott French (Yam YZF-R6), no lap time recorded
Vicente Frontinan (Yam YZF-R6), no lap time recorded
Young squeaks out pole position for round two at Grand Bend
Grand Bend, ON – Ben Young escaped with a predictable pole position for the second round of the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship on Friday, but by a much closer margin than expected at the Grand Bend Motorplex, presented by Southwest Marine & Powersports.
The GP Bikes Pro Superbike championship leader and overwhelming weekend favourite topped both the initial Q1 session and put in a late flyer to capture BS Battery Pole Position in Q2, but it was hardly a straightforward process as he fought through a number of different challengers.
Home favourite David MacKay led the opening stint of Q2 behind an excellent lap of 1:03.115, looking set for his first career Superbike pole in just his second weekend, but he was replaced by another Honda-mounted local in Steven Nickerson around the midway point of the top-ten shootout.
Things began to look very out of sorts for Young as he tumbled down the order to fifth, falling behind Nickerson, MacKay, and title rivals Jordan Szoke and Sam Guerin with roughly six minutes to go.
The three-time champion seemed to unlock something in the final moments, however, rocketing up the timesheets to post a lap of 1:02.634 – just a quarter-second off the lap record despite cooler conditions – as he overcame a bit of a scare to earn his 15th career BS Battery Pole Position and seventh in the last nine rounds.
“I didn’t think we’d need to put another tire on at the end, but these guys really pushed us. We’re going to have to give it all we got tomorrow, for sure,” Young said. “It’s great to see a close field, even though that makes it tougher for us. Thankfully the team and the BMW are working phenomenally as always, so I’ll put my head down and try and reward them this weekend.”
The Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW rider did admit they have encountered some front suspension issues – a possible reason for his morning practice crash – though it didn’t seem to prevent him from another BS Battery Pole Position award as he extends his lead in the season-long prize standings.
As for Nickerson, it will be a career-best grid position as he lines up alongside Young this weekend, falling just 0.248 seconds shy of a dream pole position in his season debut for DeWildt Honda.
The local rider has plenty of experience at Grand Bend despite his CSBK hiatus, and he will look to convert his front row qualifying spot into a maiden Superbike podium this weekend.
Completing the front row was championship runner-up Sam Guerin, who put in a much-needed late time attack of his own to move off the second row.
Guerin revealed the EFC Group BMW squad was sorting out various setup changes during the day, but he finally looked to be comfortable in the final moments as he leapfrogged MacKay for third, pace he will hope to continue building on this weekend.
As for MacKay, the ODH Snow City Cycle Honda rider saw his hopes of a first career BS Battery Superbike pole evaporate in the final five minutes as he tumbled to fourth, though it will still be an excellent starting position for the home favourite as he headlines the second row in just his second weekend on the CBR1000RR.
Starting alongside him will be Jordan Szoke and Trevor Daley, who both showed front row flashes during the qualifying process but ultimately had to settle for second row spots.
Szoke briefly led Q2 before giving way to MacKay, something the CKM Kawasaki rider will try to replicate in his race pace, while Daley continued his strong return weekend with a sixth-place qualifying finish aboard his OneSpeed Suzuki.
Missing from the weekend action will be local star Trevor Dion, who exited round two as he recovers from arm pump. The Economy Lube Ducati rider’s future remains uncertain, though his unfortunate absence will leave one less threat for Young to tackle.
In other action at Grand Bend, Elliot Vieira secured his first career national pole position in a thrilling Economy Lube Pro Sport Bike qualifying.
In the AIM Insurance Amateur Superbike class, it was a pivotal pole position for title frontrunner Tyler Brewer, as he looks to even the standings with championship leaders Goran Radisic and Tyrone Tavares, who qualified second and fourth, respectively.
Andrew Alcampado will start from pole position in the EBC Brakes Amateur Sport Bike category, snatching his first career honour from championship leader Serge Boyer in second. Fellow title protagonist Laurent Laliberte-Girard will start fourth.
Vincent Wilson escaped with another pole in the Importations Thibault Pro-Am Twins class, though the amateur star claimed the outright top spot by just 0.003 seconds from pro J.P. Tache, who returns to the series for the first time since 2007.
Fourth in the split-class session was Mack Weil, who headlines the Niagara Race Crafters Ninja ZX-4RR Cup for a second consecutive weekend as the top pro, while Rob Lepp took a first career pole as the top amateur ZX-4RR rider.
Teenage sensation Ryan Beattie continued his spectacular start to the Super Sonic Road Race School Pro-Am Lightweight season, taking outright pole position over fellow amateur and title rival Zaim Laflamme. Gary McKinnon will line up as the top pro in fourth, three spots clear of next-best pro Jacob Black.
Full results from Friday’s qualifying action can be found on the series’ official website at CSBK.ca.
Editorial Note: Americans Michael Gilbert, Andrew Lee, and Jason Pridmore, riding their JP43 Racing by Maco Yamaha YZF-R1, qualified 33rd overall and 19th in the Superstock category.
BACK-TO-BACK POLE TIME FOR EWC CHAMPION TEAM YART AS FRITZ BREAKS SPA LAP RECORD
*Yamaha-powered squad secures second-consecutive 2024 EWC pole with sub-lap record run
*F.C.C. TSR Honda France and Yoshimura SERT Motul complete the top three
*Team Étoile charges to maiden Superstock pole position ahead of Wójcik and No Limits
(7 June 2024): Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team made it back-to-back pole positions in the FIM Endurance World Championship as Marvin Fritz underlined the Austrian squad’s dominant display with a new qualifying lap record at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps this afternoon (Friday).
Having set the qualifying standard in the season-opening 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans in April, the EWC championship-winning team from 2023 was again out of reach in the battle for the pole position for the 8 Hours of Spa Motos.
While Niccolò Canepa and Karel Hanika were fastest for YART among the Blue and Red rider groups respectively, it was Fritz’s performance that was particularly noteworthy with his 2m18.552s, set in First Qualifying, bettering Hanika’s qualifying lap record from 2022, a 2m18.845s. Fritz actually went even faster in Free Practice this morning, the 31-year-old clocking a 2m18.551s best, such has been his pace on the spectacular 6.985-kilometre Belgian track.
F.C.C. TSR Honda France – featuring a two-rider-only line-up of Josh Hook, who became a father for the first time yesterday, and Alan Techer following an injury to Mike Di Meglio in a French championship race last weekend – was second fastest as the Japanese outfit bids to rebound from its non-finish in the 24 Heures Motos. Suzuki-powered Yoshimura SERT Motul, which triumphed in round one, was third quickest courtesy of riders Gregg Black, Dan Linfoot and Étienne Masson.
In the Dunlop-supplied Superstock category for the FIM Endurance World Cup, Team Étoile claimed top spot in qualifying in only its second EWC appearance. Kazuki Watanabe combined with Spa rookies Yudai Kamei and Hikari Okubo to deliver a maiden EWC pole position for Takeshi Ichikawa’s BMW-powered outfit from Japan.
“Of course we always have lots we can improve but the day started well because I make a lap record this morning,” Fritz said. “But overall I had a really good lap in qualifying. I didn’t have the best feeling with the front tyre so I always tried to use the rear tyre as much as I could. I expected to be faster but overall I’m pretty happy with the lap time and the new lap record, especially after I took it away from my brother-in-law [Karel Hanika], which is a pretty nice feeling. I’m super-happy about my team-mates, my team, the bike. I think we have a good feeling for tomorrow.”
Watanabe said: “I am the only one from the team with experience of this special circuit but we had a track day on Monday and that helped a lot for my team-mates. I tried to tell my experience to them but it’s the team that is fast here and after I had a fall on Monday, I had some responsibility and I believe I have paid that back just a little bit. But still we have the race tomorrow. Last year it was a 24-hour race, this year it’s only eight hours so it’s like a sprint race. But we haven’t finished a race this year so I would like to try to manage the race for the team.”
Behind the overall top three, BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team was fourth quickest for its home round of the EWC. Honda Viltaïs Racing was the leading independent entrant in fifth, one place ahead of Kawasaki Webike Trickstar. Belgium-based KM 99, Tati Team Beringer Racing, Team Bolliger Switzerland and BMRT3D maxxess Nevers completed the top 10.
Wójcik Racng Team STK, competing with Honda power for only the second time, was the second best Superstock team with Honda No Limits third, National Motos Honda FMA fourth and Tecmas MRP BMW Racing Team fifth.
Friday’s Second Qualifying in focus
Gregg Black set the benchmark time in the Blue Rider group, the Yoshimura SERT Motul star posting a 2m19.458s to head Markus Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team) and Niccolò Canepa, the First Qualifying pacesetter for Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team. Florian Marino (KM 99) was fourth quickest followed by Florian Alt (Honda Viltaïs Racing) and home hero Loris Cresson (BMRT3D maxxess Nevers). Grégory Leblanc was seventh for Kawasaki Webike Trickstar with Hugo Clere (Tati Team Beringer Racing) the next fastest Formula EWC runner ahead of Christoffer Bergman (Maco Racing Team) and Daniel Rubin (Motobox Kremer Racing). The quickest Superstock category time went to Sébastien Suchet (National Motos Honda FMA) with Kevin Manfredi second fastest for Wójcik Raing Team STK followed by Yudai Kamei (Team Étoile), Kevin Calia (Aviobike by M2 Revo) and Enzo De La Vega (Team 18 Sepeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore).
Étienne Masson (Yoshimura SERT Motul) was the Yellow Rider group pacesetter in a time of 2m19.671s followed by Sylvain Guintoli (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team) and Marvin Fritz (Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team). Christian Gamarino posted the fourth best lap for Kawasaki Webike Trickstar as Randy de Puniet (KM 99) completed the top five followed by Danny Webb, the fastest Superstock category contender. Steven Odenaal was the next best Formula EWC runner for Honda Viltaïs Racing followed by Dominik Vincon (Motobox Kremer Racing), Marc Miralles (Mana-Au Competition), Julien Pilot (BMRT3D Maxxess Nevers) and Jurand Kuśmierczyk (Wójcik Racing Team). Behind Webb, National Motos Honda FMA’s Valentin Suchet was second the second fastest Superstock rider, one place ahead of Lorenzo Gabellini (Honda No Limits). Jan Bühn (Tecmas MRP BMW Racing Team) and Baptiste Guittet (Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore) rounded out the top five. JMA Racing Action Bike’s Milan Merckelbagh crashed heavily at the exit of Bruxelles corner but was uninjured.
Alan Techer topped the Red Rider group for F.C.C. TSR Honda France ahead of Dan Linfoot (Yoshimura SERT Motul) and Karel Hanika (Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team). Illya Mykhalchyk (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team) was fourth ahead of Superstock pacesetter Kazuki Watanabe (Team Étoile). The Formula EWC top 10 was rounded out by Jérémy Guarnoni (KM 99), Corentin Perolari (Tati Team Beringer Racing), Román Ramos (Kawasaki Webike Trickstar), Leandro Mercado (Honda Viltaïs Racing), Pedro Romero (Team Bolliger Switzerland) and Takeshi Ishizuka (Maco Racing Team). Guillaume Raymond was the second fastest Superstock rider for National Motos Honda FMA followed by David Sanchís (Team 33 Louit April Moto), Martin Renaudin (Chromeburner-RAC 41-Honda) and Alessandro Delbianco (Pit-Lane Endurance).
BEST LAPS
First Qualifying Blue Rider: Niccolò Canepa, 2m18.938s / Tom Ward, 2m22.567s
First Qualifying Yellow Rider: Marvin Fritz, 2m18.552s / Lorenzo Gabellini, 2m23.083s
First Qualifying Red Rider: Karel Hanika, 2m18.622s / Johan Nigon, 2m22.815s
Second Qualifying Blue Rider: Gregg Black, 2m19.458s / Sébastien Suchet, 2m22.294s
Second Qualifying Yellow Rider: Étienne Masson, 2m19.671s / Danny Webb, 2m22.777s
Second Qualifying Red Rider: Alan Techer, 2m19.379s / Kazuki Watanabe, 2m21.911s
WHAT’S NEXT?
The first running of the 8 Hours of Spa Motos is due to get under way at 13h00 CET on Saturday 8 June.
TODD VICTORIOUS IN PRESTIGIOUS MILWAUKEE SENIOR TT RACE
Davey Todd claimed a second win of the week at the Isle of Man TT Races, the Milwaukee BMW rider taking victory in a dramatic Milwaukee Senior by 39.084 seconds from Josh Brookes (Monster Energy BMW by FHO Racing) with Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) in third.
That only tells half the story though as Brookes’ team-mate Peter Hickman led at the end of lap one after lapping at 135.523mph. He was on course for a new outright lap record only to come off, uninjured, at Ginger Hall whilst record 29-time winner Michael Dunlop (MasterMac Hawk Honda) retired on the first lap.
Todd’s success gave TAS Racing their first Senior victory since Adrian Archibald won in 2004 whilst it was also their 21st TT victory in total.
With an evening start time of 6pm, conditions around the Mountain Course were the best they’d been all day and it was Hickman who led through Glen Helen on the opening lap, just a tenth up on Todd. Dunlop was 2.3 seconds adrift in third with Harrison only 1.3 seconds back of him as Brookes and James Hillier (WTF Racing Honda) rounded out the early top six, the latter only a second ahead of John McGuinness (Honda Racing). KTS Racing’s Jamie Coward, meanwhile, withdrew from the race due to an ongoing arm injury.
Hickman flew along the stretch to Ballaugh and stretched his lead out to 1.5 seconds and although Dunlop was still in third, he was now more than four seconds behind the race leader. McGuinness had taken over sixth as James Hind leapt up the order to a superb seventh on the North Lincs Components Suzuki.
By Ramsey, Hickman added another second to his lead, courtesy of the quickest ever sector time from Ballaugh, with Todd now six seconds clear of Dunlop. Harrison was only two tenths of a second ahead of Brookes in the battle for fourth, but drama soon followed as Dunlop pulled into retire just after the Bungalow.
An opening lap of 135.23mph gave Hickman a 2.7 seconds lead over Todd (135.159mph) and it was now Brookes in third, the Australian lapping at 133.388mph. Harrison (132.976mph), Hillier (130.777mph) and Mike Browne (130.536mph) now occupied fourth to sixth, the latter finally setting his first 130mph lap on the IN Competition Aprilia, as McGuinness, Shaun Anderson (Team Classic Suzuki), Nathan Harrison (Honda Racing UK) and Dominic Herbertson (Burrows Engineering/RK Racing BMW) rounded out the top ten.
Hickman set another record sector time at the beginning of lap two, from the Grandstand to Glen Helen, and that enabled him to extend his lead over Todd to 4.8 seconds. The latter was trying harder than ever, but Hickman’s stunning pace meant he was unable to make any headway into his deficit.
Over Ballaugh Bridge and another new record sector time saw Hickman’s lead go out to 8.3 seconds and it was clear the proverbial pin had been pulled. Could Todd respond?
We didn’t get to find out though as Hickman didn’t reach Ramsey, crashing at Ginger Hall, although he was thankfully up and ok. That meant Todd now led Brookes by almost twenty seconds as Dean Harrison moved back into the podium positions.
A second lap of 134.789mph saw Todd’s lead stand at 18.6s but Brookes was flying with a new personal best lap of 134.056mph, only the fifth rider to break into the 134’s. Dean Harrison (132.445) was running in a comfortable third ahead of Hillier (132.068mph), the flying Browne (130.872mph) and McGuinness (130.901mph). All the drama allowed Herbertson to move up to seventh from Nathan Harrison, Rob Hodson (SMT Racing Honda) and Michael Rutter (Bathams Ales BMW).
The solitary pit stop saw further change as Todd’s stop was almost seven seconds quicker than Brookes although the FHO Racing rider was still almost ten seconds ahead of Harrison as they reached Glen Helen for the third and penultimate time. Hillier looked secure in fourth whilst Browne had edged away from McGuinness, the Honda man uncharacteristically losing time in the pits, but Herbertson’s strong ride ended in retirement at Crosby.
Starting the fourth final lap, Todd was more than half a minute clear and on his way to a famous win and despite his vast advantage, he pressed on, continually increasing his lead. With a trouble-free final lap, the 28-year old duly brought the bike home 39 seconds ahead of Brookes who claimed his best TT result in second.
Dean Harrison took a comfortable third ahead of fellow Honda rider Hillier and the race for fifth saw McGuinness come out on top as he got the better of the impressive Browne by seven seconds. Nathan Harrison finished in a fine seventh, his best TT result, and it was Anderson who eventually got the verdict for eighth – aided by a new personal best lap of 130.703mph – ahead of Rutter and Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing Honda).
Hayden Gillim won the 101st Loudon Classic -- and its $55,000 first-place prize -- Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Photo by David Swarts, copyright Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. 2024.
Veteran Hayden Gillim came from behind to win the 101st Loudon Classic presented by NEMRR Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, New Hampshire.
The 25-lap race was scheduled to start at 3:15 p.m. local time, but it was delayed nearly two hours by small rain showers and time to dry the racetrack with NHMS’s jet-powered dryers.
After rain caused the 100th Loudon Classic to be red-flagged 10 times, race organizers did everything they could to run this year’s Classic on a dry track, and their efforts and patience paid off with a race that ran from start to finish without any stoppages or major incidents and only one crash.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott got the holeshot from pole position and led the first 20 laps on his Dunlop-shod GSX-R750. Gillim, meanwhile, got a poor start on his Vesrah/Steel Commander Suzuki GSX-R750 and finished the first lap in fourth place.
Gillim worked his way forward and said he took advantage of Scott’s bad luck with backmarkers to make a pass for the lead on lap 21. Gillim then put his head down and sprinted to the checkered flag, winning by 1.513 seconds and taking home the $55,000 cash prize for first place.
Scott, the defending Loudon Classic Championship, said he had no trouble when he encountered the first of the lappers mid-race, but toward the end of the race, backmarkers caused him to lose time and then the lead to Gillim. Scott then had to settle for the runner-up spot and its $35,000 prize.
Bobby Fong, riding his Wrench Motorcycles Suzuki GSX-R750, was right behind Scott for the first 13 laps, but Fong said he chose a different rear Dunlop than Gillim and Scott and started to lose grip mid-race. Fong was passed by Gillim on lap 15 but held on to place third, earning $25,000 and completing an all-Dunlop and all-Suzuki GSX-R750 podium.
Stefano Mesa passed Scott’s teammate Teagg Hobbs for fourth place early in the race, but Mesa said he and his Pirelli-shod Boulder Motor Sports Ducati Panigale V2 couldn’t match the pace of the lead three. This resulted in Mesa riding a lonely race to fourth place and a $17,000 prize.
After getting passed by Mesa, Hobbs had to fend off Bauce Racing Yamaha’s Joseph LiMandri, Jr. the rest of the way to get fifth place and its $13,500 prize.
LiMandri took sixth, Yamaha-mounted Ben Gloddy was seventh, BARTCON Racing Yamaha’s Eli Block was eighth, Fong’s teammate/team owner David Anthony finished ninth, and veteran Eric Wood rounded out the top 10 finishers.
101st Loudon Classic
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, New Hampshire
June 8, 2024
Provisional Race Results:
Hayden Gillim (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 25 laps, Total Race Time 30:32.342, Best Lap Time 1:10.711, $55,000
Tyler Scott (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, -1.513 seconds, 1:10.926, $35,000
Bobby Fong (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, -4.430, 1:10.942, $25,000
Levi Badie (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, -17 laps, 1:15.660, $1,000
Michael Lee (Yam YZF-R6), -19 laps, 1:15.272, $500
Ian Beam (Tri Daytona 675), Pirelli, -24 laps, 1:25.834, $500
Provisional ASRA Outlaw Baggers Race Results:
Tyler O’Hara (Indian Challenger RR), 8 laps, Total Race Time 11:41.400, Best Lap Time 1:18.737, $20,000
Craig Braymiller, -22.752, 1:27.079, $10,000
Emilio Jimenez, -22.963, 1:27.027, $7,500
Bryan Shields, -67.643, 1:29.626, $5,000
Provisional Pro Thunderbike Race Results:
Jacob Crossman (Apr RS 600), 10 lap, Total Race Time 13:02.326, Best Lap Time 1:12.884, $2,500
Ben Gloddy (Apr RS 660), -2.233 seconds, 1:13.324, $1,250
Brett Guyer (Kramer), -18.804, 1:15.100, $750
Adam Guyer (Apr RS 660), -21.169, 1:15.357, $350
Gunnar Ouellette, -38.916, 1:16.818, $150
Joseph Ciesnik (Yam MT-07), -50.028, 1:17.804
Peter Gaboriault (Tri 660), -56.005, 1:18.602
Aaron Wolfe (Suz SV650), -56.170, 1:17.810
Isaac Maycotte (Apr RS 660), -60.340, 1:18.438
TJ Bibeau, -61.502, 1:18.972
Sergio Di Molfetta (Apr RS 660), -62.001, 1:18.851
David White (Apr RS 660), -68.021, 1:19.745
Robert Pease, Jr. (Kaw 650), -69.779, 1:19.350
Tom Bibeau, -1 lap, 1:22.532
Thomas Sands (Apr RS 660), -1 lap, 1:22.533
Timothy Hogan (Duc), -10 laps, DNF, crash
Provisional Pro 500 Superbike Race Results:
Eli Block (Kaw Ninja 400), 10 laps, Total Race Time 14:03.882, Best Lap Time, 1:17.135, $2,500
Adam Muscaro, -4.559 seconds, 1:18.286, $1,250
Henry Bosland, -19.260, 1:19.342, $750
Rick Doucette, -35.451, 1:20.431, $350
Renee Franco, -39.022, 1:21.616, $150
Lukas Doucette, -39.213, 1:20.473
Trase Boudreau, -50.545, 1:23.045
Thomas Sands, -57.073, 1:22.602
Shane Lewis, -57.527, 1:22.908
Michele Pierro, -68.109, 1:22.820
Noah Tardif, -70.626, 1:24.331
Grant Imbeault, -76.547, 1:24.923
Robert Taylor, -84.106, 1:25.282
Ty Fazekas, -94.421, 1:22.276
Nathan Bettencourt, -1 lap, 1:19.737
Daniel Caron, -1 lap, 1:26.598
Hendrix Woodman, -5 laps, DNF, 1:25.202
More, from a press release issued by Tyler O’Hara Racing:
O’Hara and the Outlaw Bagger class put on a show for the fans in New Hampshire.
Tyler O’Hara (129) during the ASRA Outlaw Bagger race at NHMS. Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy Tyler O’Hara Racing.
Petaluma, Calif., June 8, 2024 — Former two-time MotoAmerica King of The Baggers Champion, Tyler O’Hara, took the lion’s share of the prize pool by dominating the Outlaw Bagger category at the 2024 Loudon Classic at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NH.
O’Hara qualified his Indian Motorcycle of Southeastern Virginia Indian Challenger RR on pole position by posting a 1:20.349. Yet, despite landing in P1 for the race grid, Northeast Motorcycle Road Racing (NEMRR) Club President John Grush had a challenge for O’Hara.
Grush proposed O’Hara start at the back of the field and give the other Outlaw Bagger competitors a 10-second head start for the eight-lap event, and should O’Hara overcome those odds, he’d bag himself an extra $4500 bonus.
Ever the competitor, O’Hara duly agreed to Grush’s challenge and proceeded to put on a show for the Loudon fans of precision bagger overtaking, wrestling the lead away with two laps to go and coming home the winner ahead of Craig Braymiller.
The extra bonus money for coming from the back of the field with a 10 deficit to make up, combined with the winner’s prize money, meant O’Hara walked away with nearly $25,000 for his Outlaw Bagger class efforts.
O’Hara also took part in the 25-lap Loudon Classic on a Yamaha YZF-R6 supplied by current MotoAmerica Supersport star, Blake Davis, finishing 14th with fellow King of The Baggers competitor and current champion, Hayden Gillim, taking the win.
Tyler O’Hara (right) with NEMRR Executive Director John Grush (left) on the Outlaw Bagger podium. Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy Tyler O’Hara Racing.
Tyler O’Hara (Indian Motorcycle of Southeastern Virginia–#129)
“Man, what an amazing weekend!” O’Hara beamed after taking out the Outlaw Baggers category. “Between John Grush and I, we decided I should run from the back of the pack, a bit like how they do with ice racing when the grids get flipped, just to give a bit of a show for the fans.
“My mechanic, Karl, wasn’t keen on the idea and didn’t want me to risk it—we joked about it after but the expression on his face when the question was first asked was priceless!
“It was a lot of fun coming back through the pack and once I got a bit of clear track in front of me, I could make a good gap to the guys chasing behind, and to get this trophy means a heck of a lot to me.
“I really want to thank the NEMRR club and especially John Grush for not just proposing the back of the grid challenge to me but also for bumping up all the Outlaw Bagger competitor’s prize money to help cover their expenses.
“The turn-out from the bagger crowd here in the Northeast was awesome to see. We had the veterans parade lap with a few hundred American V-twin motorcycles and I made sure I put on a few smoky burnouts at the end to give them something to cheer about.
“I really enjoyed my time on the Yamaha for the Loudon Classic. It had been nearly 15 years since I last raced a Yamaha YZF-R6, but we didn’t quite nail the optimal setting for the race. That’s racing, and I want to thank Blake Davis for the opportunity to have a ride on his bike.
“I want to give a huge shoutout to all my sponsors, especially Dunlop for transporting my bike all this way from California and Ed Maulbeck, owner of Indian Motorcycle of Southeastern Virginia, for helping us in the pits and supporting me with his personal Limited Edition replica Indian Challenger RR 29er as my back up motorcycle.
“Now it’s back to the day job and we’ll be giving it everything in Brainerd next week for MotoAmerica.”
O’Hara now heads west to Brainerd, Minnesota—Indian Motorcycle’s home round—for the fourth round of the MotoAmerica series, scheduled for June 14-16.
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Tyler Scott (70) will start the 101st Loudon Classic from pole position. Photo by David Swarts, copyright Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. 2024.
Tyler Scott earned pole position for the 101st Loudon Classic Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, New Hampshire. Riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 with a soft-compound Dunlop rear tire, the 18-year-old defending Champion lapped the 1.6-mile infield road course in 1:09.745 – nearly one second faster than anyone else.
Bobby Fong was the best of the rest with a 1:10.723 on his Wrench Motorcycles Suzuki GSX-R750.
Hayden Gillim moved up from fourth to third during the third and final qualifying session with a 1:10.899 on his Vesrah/Steel Commander Suzuki GSX-R750.
Scott’s teammate Teagg Hobbs claimed the fourth and final spot on the front row with a lap of 1:10.932.
Row two will include Boulder MotorSports Ducati’s Stefano Mesa (1:10.965), Woodcraft/Penguin Racing School Ducati’s Eric Wood (1:11.220), Bauce Racing Yamaha’s Joseph LiMandri, Jr. (1:11.299), and unsponsored Ben Gloddy (1:11.312).
In the other feature classes: BARTCON Racing’s Eli Block (1:15.615) took pole position in Pro 500 Superbike, J. Crossman Racing’s Jacob Crossman (1:13.909) topped Pro Thunderbike qualifying, and Tyler O’Hara (1:20.349) did two laps total on his Indian Motorcycle of Southeastern Virginia/S&S Indian Challenger RR in ASRA Outlaw Bagger qualifying and that was good enough to take pole position by more than six seconds over the next-fastest rider.
101st Loudon Classic
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, New Hampshire
June 8, 2024
Final Combined Qualifying Results (Sessions One, Two, And Three Combined):
Tyler Scott (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:09.745
Bobby Fong (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.723
Hayden Gillim (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.899
Teagg Hobbs (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.932
Stefano Mesa (Duc Panigale V2), Pirelli, 1:10.965
Eric Wood (Duc 848), Dunlop, 1:11.220
Joseph LiMandri, Jr. (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:11.299
Team Taro Plus One BMW Suzuka 8-Hours riders Kyosuke Okuda (left), Taro Sekiguchi (center), and Ben Young (right). Photo courtesy Team Taro Plus One BMW.
Ben Young to race Suzuka 8 Hours with Team Taro Plus One BMW
Hamilton, ON – Three-time CSBK champion Ben Young will enter a star-studded field at this year’s prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours event, joining Team Taro Plus One BMW for the historic Endurance World Championship round.
Young, who currently leads the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship standings, will ride alongside former Grand Prix rider Taro Sekiguchi and Kyosuke Okuda (both of Japan) in the Team Taro Plus One garage for his World Endurance debut next month, July 19-21.
The renowned event – launched in 1978 – has grown into the premier race on the EWC calendar, attracting various stars from MotoGP and World Superbike, amongst other series.
Young most recently proved himself against reigning EWC champions YART Yamaha at the Daytona 200, where he finished ninth and just behind the duo of Karel Hanika (fifth) and Marvin Fritz (sixth).
The Collingwood, Ontario native recently completed a private test with Team Taro Plus One BMW at Suzuka, roughly five hours from Tokyo, and felt very comfortable aboard the M1000RR (a similar version to the Van Dolder’s Home Team machine he rides in Canada).
“The bike felt really good, and the team and everyone there is great to deal with,” Young said. “Already we’re about half a second from our target time, so hopefully we can put on a good show and get a strong result.”
The Team Taro Plus One BMW squad finished an impressive 16th out of 50 teams at last year’s Suzuka 8 Hours, achieving a best result of 14th in 2022.
Young’s trip to Suzuka will take place just days after the fourth round of the CSBK season in Nova Scotia, as he chases his fourth Canada Cup and third in a row in 2024.
The 31-year-old has been no stranger to racing in various series and paddocks, having competed in MotoAmerica, British Superbike, and as a wildcard in the 125cc World Championship during his illustrious career.
Only a handful of Canadians have ever competed in the Suzuka 8 Hours through its history, an exclusive list that includes Ruben McMurter, Steve Crevier, and most recently Jordan Szoke, amongst others.
In the meantime, Young will try to extend his lead atop the Canadian Superbike Championship in round two action this weekend, June 7-9, at the Grand Bend Motorplex.
More information can be found on the series’ official website at CSBK.ca.
MICHAEL DUNLOP WINS ENTIRE COVER SUPERTWIN TT RACE 2
Michael Dunlop took his second win of the day at the Isle of Man TT Races on Saturday when he won the Entire Cover Supertwin TT Race 2, victory on the MD Racing Paton giving him his 29th TT win.
Peter Hickman (Swan Racing Yamaha) took second with Mike Browne (Scott Racing Aprilia) completing the podium in third.
Getting underway at 3.45pm, Dunlop again seized control early and led Hickman through Glen Helen by 3.5 seconds with Jamie Coward (KTS racing powered by Steadplan Kawasaki) a further 1.2 seconds adrift. Browne was just four tenths of a second behind with Dominic Herbertson (Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Paton) only 0.005 seconds down on Browne as Barry Furber (DC Autos Newtown Yamaha) slotted into an excellent sixth.
Stefano Bonetti (VAS Engine Paton), Davey Todd (Dafabet Racing Kawasaki), Adam McLean (Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV Yamaha) and Bonetti’s team-mate Pierre-Yves Bian rounded out the early leaderboard.
Dunlop added a further 3 seconds to his lead over Hickman on the run to Ballaugh, but Coward had cut the gap to Hickman to less than a second whilst Herbertson was right in the mix for the final podium position as he lay just 0.3 seconds further back from Browne.
Aided by the best ever sector time from Ballaugh, Dunlop extended his lead to 8.9 seconds round Ramsey Hairpin for the first time as Hickman edged away slightly from Coward but the latter soon began to slow over the Mountain and eventually pulled in to retire at the Creg Ny Baa.
With another new best sector time, from the Bungalow to Cronk ny Mona, a superb opening lap of 122.451mph gave Dunlop the lead but Hickman got up and over the Mountain quicker, bringing his deficit down to 6.4 seconds ahead of the second and final 37.73 miles. Coward’s demise meant it was now Browne in third ahead of Herbertson, Jordan and Todd.
Further back, Brookes, McLean, Furber and Bonetti completed the top ten but having been forced to start from the back of the field when his SMT Racing Paton refused to fire, Rob Hodson was charging and was up to sixth through Ramsey.
With clear road ahead of him, Dunlop added some three seconds to his lead over Hickman on the second and final run to Glen Helen and although Browne was a further ten seconds behind, he was holding a slender advantage of 1.7 seconds over Herbertson in the battle for third.
Dunlop was increasing his lead through every timing point with another four seconds on the high-speed run to Ballaugh and the famous landmark saw a change in the race for third, Herbertson nosing four tenths of a second ahead of Browne.
At Ramsey, Dunlop was more than seven seconds inside his 2018 lap record having now set the quickest ever time in three of the six sectors but as he descended the Mountain for the final time, the race was stopped due to a red flag.
The race was declared a result at the end of lap one and so Dunlop got the win from Hickman and Browne, Herbertson unluckily missing out in fourth. Jordan finished fifth ahead of Hodson, Todd, Brookes, McClean and Furber.
DUNLOP ASSERTS HIMSELF AS GREATEST OF ALL TIME WITH 28TH TT WIN IN THE MONSTER ENERGY SUPERSPORT TT RACE 2
Michael Dunlop took his 28th victory at the Isle of Man TT Races on Saturday afternoon when he won the Monster Energy Supersport TT Race 2 by just under four seconds, the MD Racing Yamaha rider taking his sixth successive Supersport win and 13th in total.
He saw off the challenge of Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) as Davey Todd (Powertoolmate Ducati) completed the podium in third.
After a delay due to small, isolated showers at various parts of the Mountain Course, the two-lap race eventually got underway at 13:00 and it was Dunlop who grabbed the early initiative, heading Todd by 0.558 seconds round Glen Helen for the first time. James Hillier (Bournemouth Kawasaki) was only 0.136 seconds adrift in third with Harrison just another 0.3s back in fourth as just one second covered the top four. Peter Hickman (Trooper Triumph by PHR Performance) and Jamie Coward (KTS Racing powered by Steadplan Triumph) lay in fifth and sixth, the duo separated by half a second.
On the first run to Ballaugh, Dunlop still led with the gap to Todd now 0.8 seconds as Harrison overhauled Hillier for third, albeit by just three tenths of a second. Hickman was losing ground in fifth but now had James Hind (North Lincs Components Suzuki) close behind him on time, the gap between them only 0.2 seconds.
Further back Mike Browne (Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing Yamaha) and Michael Evans (Smith Racing Triumph) were running well in eighth and ninth, but Dominic Herbertson retired the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Yamaha) shortly afterwards at Kerromoar.
At Ramsey Hairpin, Dunlop doubled his advantage over Todd with Harrison a similar distance back in third and with an opening lap of 127.389mph, the Northern Irishman led. However, his lead had been cut by new second placed rider Harrison (127.281mph) to just 0.9 seconds.
Todd (127.119mph) had slipped back to third, 1.3 seconds behind Harrison, with Hickman, Coward and Hillier now the running order behind. Behind them, the remainder of the top ten now read Browne, Hind, Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing Honda) and Evans. 2023 Senior Manx GP winner Joe Yeardsley was also running well in 13th on the Spin Arena Yamaha.
As the riders reached Glen Helen for the second and final time, Dunlop stretched his lead to 1.79 seconds with Todd still well in touch, the gap between second and third almost identical. The race for fourth was red hot too with Hickman less than half a second ahead of Coward.
Dunlop doubled his lead between Glen Helen and Ballaugh, the lead moving up to 3.2 seconds, with Todd taking half a second back on Harrison but it now looked like it was Dunlop’s race to lose. The gap between Hickman and Coward remained at half a second with just half a lap to go but Hind’s good run came to end as he stopped at Ballacraine.
At Ramsey, Dunlop increased his lead by another 1.5s and he wasn’t to be denied his sixth successive Supersport victory, a second lap of 129.071mph seeing come home 3.889 seconds clear of Harrison who saw off the challenge of Todd by 2.34 seconds. Coward’s strong ride saw him set his best ever Supersport lap, 128.668mph, as he took an excellent fourth ahead of Hickman and Hillier.
Browne, Jordan, Evans and Josh Brookes on the second Boyce Precision Engineering machine completed the top ten, less than three quarters of a second separating the latter two. Other strong rides came from Yeardsley (12th), the Manxman setting a new personal best lap of the Mountain Course at 123.268mph, and Craig Neve (15th) who was having his first ride since a spill in qualifying.
Joey Thompson (17th), Barry Furber (19th) and Frenchman Eddy Ferre (21st) also scored good results with newcomer Loris Majcan taking 34th with a strong final lap of 118.053mph.
Tyler Scott (70). Photo by David Swarts, copyright Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. 2024.
Tyler Scott remains on top after the first two of three rounds of qualifying for the 101st Loudon Classic Saturday morning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, New Hampshire. Riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 Next-Gen Supersport bike on Dunlop tires, the 18-year-old defending Champion’s lap time 1:10.707 remains the fastest.
The fastest 32 riders now advance to the third and final qualifying session.
101st Loudon Classic
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, New Hampshire
June 8, 2024
Round One and Two Combined Qualifying Results (top 32 riders only):
Tyler Scott (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.707
Bobby Fong (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.850
Teagg Hobbs (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.932
Hayden Gillim (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.942
Stefano Mesa (Duc Panigale V2), Pirelli, 1:10.965
Eric Wood (Duc 848), Dunlop, 1:11.220
Eli Block (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:11.445
Ben Gloddy (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:11.769
Alex Dumas (Suz GSX-R600), Bridgestone, 1:11.925
Joseph LiMandri, Jr. (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:11.973
Tyler Scott (70). Photo by David Swarts, copyright Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Tyler Scott topped the first of three rounds of qualifying for the 101st Loudon Classic Saturday morning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, New Hampshire. Riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 Next-Gen Supersport bike on Dunlop tires, the 18-year-old defending Champion lapped the 1.6-mile infield road course in 1:10.707 to lead the field of 51 entries.
After round two of qualifying the field will be cut down to 32 riders who will then have a third round of qualifying.
Riders’ fastest times from all three sessions will count toward their final qualifying position.
In the other classes: Eli Block was 2.1 seconds quicker than anyone else in the first Pro 500 Superbike qualifier, Jacob Crossman led the first Pro Thunderbike qualifier, and Tyler O’Hara was 9.4 seconds faster than anyone else in the first ASRA Outlaw Bagger qualifying session.
101st Loudon Classic Presented by NEMRR
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, New Hampshire
June 8, 2024
Round One Combined Qualifying Results:
Tyler Scott (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.707
Teagg Hobbs (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.932
Hayden Gillim (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:10.942
Stefano Mesa (Duc Panigale V2), Pirelli, 1:10.965
Bobby Fong (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:11.508
Eric Wood (Duc 848), Dunlop, 1:11.689
Eli Block (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:11.917
David Anthony (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:12.066
Ben Gloddy (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:12.205
Alex Dumas (Suz GSX-R600), Bridgestone, 1:12.291
Jacob Crossman (Yam YZF-R6), 1:12.294
Joseph LiMandri, Jr. (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:12.372
Shane Narbonne (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:12.482
Tyler Sweeney (Yam YZF-R6), 1:12.542
Tyler O’Hara (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:12.759
Carl Soltisz (Suz GSX-R750), Dunlop, 1:13.020
Spencer Humphreys (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:13.324
Justin Landry (Yam YZF-R6), 1:13.547
Harlan Hildebrand (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:13.883
Ian Beam (Tri Daytona 675), Pirelli, 1:14.286
Levi Badie (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:14.296
JC Camacho (Suz), 1:14.323
Michael Lee (Yam YZF-R6), 1:14.376
Daniel Weems (Yam YZF-R6), 1:14.572
Kevin Nolde (Yam YZF-R6), 1:14.731
Brian Fernald (Yam YZF-R6), 1:14.732
Ezra Beaubier (Yam YZF-R6), Pirelli, 1:14.765
Asher Rubright (Suz GSX-R750), 1:15.035
Rick Doucette (Yam YZF-R6), Dunlop, 1:15.045
Geoffry Bonnard (Yam YZF-R6), 1:15.495
Nicolai Greco (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:15.827
Paul Duval (Yam YZF-R6), 1:15.979
Sam Martin (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.166
Wojciech Kasperuk (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.180
Lincoln Gottier (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.216
Tim Barrows (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.326
Kyle Thompson (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.374
Paul Hosue (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.444
Michael Guarino (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:16.576
Semir Fazlic (Yam YZF-R6), 1:16.595
Houk Nichols (Suz GSX-R600), 1:17.086
Brandie Cox (Suz GSX-R600), 1:17.809
Joseph Townsend (Yam YZF-R6), 1:17.893
Josh Gallusser (Suz GSX-R), 1:18.131
Robbie Nigl (MV Agusta F3 RR), 1:18.760
Mavrick Cyr, no lap time recorded
Gabriel Da Silva, no lap time recorded
Jimmy Fassino, no lap time recorded
Scott French (Yam YZF-R6), no lap time recorded
Vicente Frontinan (Yam YZF-R6), no lap time recorded
Ben Young (1) topped GP Bikes Pro Superbike qualifying at Grand Bend Motorplex on Friday afternoon, putting the BMW rider into a P1 starting position for both of the weekend's feature races. Photo by Rob O'Brien, courtesy CSBK.
Young squeaks out pole position for round two at Grand Bend
Grand Bend, ON – Ben Young escaped with a predictable pole position for the second round of the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship on Friday, but by a much closer margin than expected at the Grand Bend Motorplex, presented by Southwest Marine & Powersports.
The GP Bikes Pro Superbike championship leader and overwhelming weekend favourite topped both the initial Q1 session and put in a late flyer to capture BS Battery Pole Position in Q2, but it was hardly a straightforward process as he fought through a number of different challengers.
Home favourite David MacKay led the opening stint of Q2 behind an excellent lap of 1:03.115, looking set for his first career Superbike pole in just his second weekend, but he was replaced by another Honda-mounted local in Steven Nickerson around the midway point of the top-ten shootout.
Things began to look very out of sorts for Young as he tumbled down the order to fifth, falling behind Nickerson, MacKay, and title rivals Jordan Szoke and Sam Guerin with roughly six minutes to go.
The three-time champion seemed to unlock something in the final moments, however, rocketing up the timesheets to post a lap of 1:02.634 – just a quarter-second off the lap record despite cooler conditions – as he overcame a bit of a scare to earn his 15th career BS Battery Pole Position and seventh in the last nine rounds.
“I didn’t think we’d need to put another tire on at the end, but these guys really pushed us. We’re going to have to give it all we got tomorrow, for sure,” Young said. “It’s great to see a close field, even though that makes it tougher for us. Thankfully the team and the BMW are working phenomenally as always, so I’ll put my head down and try and reward them this weekend.”
The Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW rider did admit they have encountered some front suspension issues – a possible reason for his morning practice crash – though it didn’t seem to prevent him from another BS Battery Pole Position award as he extends his lead in the season-long prize standings.
As for Nickerson, it will be a career-best grid position as he lines up alongside Young this weekend, falling just 0.248 seconds shy of a dream pole position in his season debut for DeWildt Honda.
The local rider has plenty of experience at Grand Bend despite his CSBK hiatus, and he will look to convert his front row qualifying spot into a maiden Superbike podium this weekend.
Completing the front row was championship runner-up Sam Guerin, who put in a much-needed late time attack of his own to move off the second row.
Guerin revealed the EFC Group BMW squad was sorting out various setup changes during the day, but he finally looked to be comfortable in the final moments as he leapfrogged MacKay for third, pace he will hope to continue building on this weekend.
As for MacKay, the ODH Snow City Cycle Honda rider saw his hopes of a first career BS Battery Superbike pole evaporate in the final five minutes as he tumbled to fourth, though it will still be an excellent starting position for the home favourite as he headlines the second row in just his second weekend on the CBR1000RR.
Starting alongside him will be Jordan Szoke and Trevor Daley, who both showed front row flashes during the qualifying process but ultimately had to settle for second row spots.
Szoke briefly led Q2 before giving way to MacKay, something the CKM Kawasaki rider will try to replicate in his race pace, while Daley continued his strong return weekend with a sixth-place qualifying finish aboard his OneSpeed Suzuki.
Missing from the weekend action will be local star Trevor Dion, who exited round two as he recovers from arm pump. The Economy Lube Ducati rider’s future remains uncertain, though his unfortunate absence will leave one less threat for Young to tackle.
In other action at Grand Bend, Elliot Vieira secured his first career national pole position in a thrilling Economy Lube Pro Sport Bike qualifying.
In the AIM Insurance Amateur Superbike class, it was a pivotal pole position for title frontrunner Tyler Brewer, as he looks to even the standings with championship leaders Goran Radisic and Tyrone Tavares, who qualified second and fourth, respectively.
Andrew Alcampado will start from pole position in the EBC Brakes Amateur Sport Bike category, snatching his first career honour from championship leader Serge Boyer in second. Fellow title protagonist Laurent Laliberte-Girard will start fourth.
Vincent Wilson escaped with another pole in the Importations Thibault Pro-Am Twins class, though the amateur star claimed the outright top spot by just 0.003 seconds from pro J.P. Tache, who returns to the series for the first time since 2007.
Fourth in the split-class session was Mack Weil, who headlines the Niagara Race Crafters Ninja ZX-4RR Cup for a second consecutive weekend as the top pro, while Rob Lepp took a first career pole as the top amateur ZX-4RR rider.
Teenage sensation Ryan Beattie continued his spectacular start to the Super Sonic Road Race School Pro-Am Lightweight season, taking outright pole position over fellow amateur and title rival Zaim Laflamme. Gary McKinnon will line up as the top pro in fourth, three spots clear of next-best pro Jacob Black.
Full results from Friday’s qualifying action can be found on the series’ official website at CSBK.ca.
Editorial Note: Americans Michael Gilbert, Andrew Lee, and Jason Pridmore, riding their JP43 Racing by Maco Yamaha YZF-R1, qualified 33rd overall and 19th in the Superstock category.
BACK-TO-BACK POLE TIME FOR EWC CHAMPION TEAM YART AS FRITZ BREAKS SPA LAP RECORD
*Yamaha-powered squad secures second-consecutive 2024 EWC pole with sub-lap record run
*F.C.C. TSR Honda France and Yoshimura SERT Motul complete the top three
*Team Étoile charges to maiden Superstock pole position ahead of Wójcik and No Limits
(7 June 2024): Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team made it back-to-back pole positions in the FIM Endurance World Championship as Marvin Fritz underlined the Austrian squad’s dominant display with a new qualifying lap record at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps this afternoon (Friday).
Having set the qualifying standard in the season-opening 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans in April, the EWC championship-winning team from 2023 was again out of reach in the battle for the pole position for the 8 Hours of Spa Motos.
While Niccolò Canepa and Karel Hanika were fastest for YART among the Blue and Red rider groups respectively, it was Fritz’s performance that was particularly noteworthy with his 2m18.552s, set in First Qualifying, bettering Hanika’s qualifying lap record from 2022, a 2m18.845s. Fritz actually went even faster in Free Practice this morning, the 31-year-old clocking a 2m18.551s best, such has been his pace on the spectacular 6.985-kilometre Belgian track.
F.C.C. TSR Honda France – featuring a two-rider-only line-up of Josh Hook, who became a father for the first time yesterday, and Alan Techer following an injury to Mike Di Meglio in a French championship race last weekend – was second fastest as the Japanese outfit bids to rebound from its non-finish in the 24 Heures Motos. Suzuki-powered Yoshimura SERT Motul, which triumphed in round one, was third quickest courtesy of riders Gregg Black, Dan Linfoot and Étienne Masson.
In the Dunlop-supplied Superstock category for the FIM Endurance World Cup, Team Étoile claimed top spot in qualifying in only its second EWC appearance. Kazuki Watanabe combined with Spa rookies Yudai Kamei and Hikari Okubo to deliver a maiden EWC pole position for Takeshi Ichikawa’s BMW-powered outfit from Japan.
“Of course we always have lots we can improve but the day started well because I make a lap record this morning,” Fritz said. “But overall I had a really good lap in qualifying. I didn’t have the best feeling with the front tyre so I always tried to use the rear tyre as much as I could. I expected to be faster but overall I’m pretty happy with the lap time and the new lap record, especially after I took it away from my brother-in-law [Karel Hanika], which is a pretty nice feeling. I’m super-happy about my team-mates, my team, the bike. I think we have a good feeling for tomorrow.”
Watanabe said: “I am the only one from the team with experience of this special circuit but we had a track day on Monday and that helped a lot for my team-mates. I tried to tell my experience to them but it’s the team that is fast here and after I had a fall on Monday, I had some responsibility and I believe I have paid that back just a little bit. But still we have the race tomorrow. Last year it was a 24-hour race, this year it’s only eight hours so it’s like a sprint race. But we haven’t finished a race this year so I would like to try to manage the race for the team.”
Behind the overall top three, BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team was fourth quickest for its home round of the EWC. Honda Viltaïs Racing was the leading independent entrant in fifth, one place ahead of Kawasaki Webike Trickstar. Belgium-based KM 99, Tati Team Beringer Racing, Team Bolliger Switzerland and BMRT3D maxxess Nevers completed the top 10.
Wójcik Racng Team STK, competing with Honda power for only the second time, was the second best Superstock team with Honda No Limits third, National Motos Honda FMA fourth and Tecmas MRP BMW Racing Team fifth.
Friday’s Second Qualifying in focus
Gregg Black set the benchmark time in the Blue Rider group, the Yoshimura SERT Motul star posting a 2m19.458s to head Markus Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team) and Niccolò Canepa, the First Qualifying pacesetter for Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team. Florian Marino (KM 99) was fourth quickest followed by Florian Alt (Honda Viltaïs Racing) and home hero Loris Cresson (BMRT3D maxxess Nevers). Grégory Leblanc was seventh for Kawasaki Webike Trickstar with Hugo Clere (Tati Team Beringer Racing) the next fastest Formula EWC runner ahead of Christoffer Bergman (Maco Racing Team) and Daniel Rubin (Motobox Kremer Racing). The quickest Superstock category time went to Sébastien Suchet (National Motos Honda FMA) with Kevin Manfredi second fastest for Wójcik Raing Team STK followed by Yudai Kamei (Team Étoile), Kevin Calia (Aviobike by M2 Revo) and Enzo De La Vega (Team 18 Sepeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore).
Étienne Masson (Yoshimura SERT Motul) was the Yellow Rider group pacesetter in a time of 2m19.671s followed by Sylvain Guintoli (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team) and Marvin Fritz (Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team). Christian Gamarino posted the fourth best lap for Kawasaki Webike Trickstar as Randy de Puniet (KM 99) completed the top five followed by Danny Webb, the fastest Superstock category contender. Steven Odenaal was the next best Formula EWC runner for Honda Viltaïs Racing followed by Dominik Vincon (Motobox Kremer Racing), Marc Miralles (Mana-Au Competition), Julien Pilot (BMRT3D Maxxess Nevers) and Jurand Kuśmierczyk (Wójcik Racing Team). Behind Webb, National Motos Honda FMA’s Valentin Suchet was second the second fastest Superstock rider, one place ahead of Lorenzo Gabellini (Honda No Limits). Jan Bühn (Tecmas MRP BMW Racing Team) and Baptiste Guittet (Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore) rounded out the top five. JMA Racing Action Bike’s Milan Merckelbagh crashed heavily at the exit of Bruxelles corner but was uninjured.
Alan Techer topped the Red Rider group for F.C.C. TSR Honda France ahead of Dan Linfoot (Yoshimura SERT Motul) and Karel Hanika (Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team). Illya Mykhalchyk (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team) was fourth ahead of Superstock pacesetter Kazuki Watanabe (Team Étoile). The Formula EWC top 10 was rounded out by Jérémy Guarnoni (KM 99), Corentin Perolari (Tati Team Beringer Racing), Román Ramos (Kawasaki Webike Trickstar), Leandro Mercado (Honda Viltaïs Racing), Pedro Romero (Team Bolliger Switzerland) and Takeshi Ishizuka (Maco Racing Team). Guillaume Raymond was the second fastest Superstock rider for National Motos Honda FMA followed by David Sanchís (Team 33 Louit April Moto), Martin Renaudin (Chromeburner-RAC 41-Honda) and Alessandro Delbianco (Pit-Lane Endurance).
BEST LAPS
First Qualifying Blue Rider: Niccolò Canepa, 2m18.938s / Tom Ward, 2m22.567s
First Qualifying Yellow Rider: Marvin Fritz, 2m18.552s / Lorenzo Gabellini, 2m23.083s
First Qualifying Red Rider: Karel Hanika, 2m18.622s / Johan Nigon, 2m22.815s
Second Qualifying Blue Rider: Gregg Black, 2m19.458s / Sébastien Suchet, 2m22.294s
Second Qualifying Yellow Rider: Étienne Masson, 2m19.671s / Danny Webb, 2m22.777s
Second Qualifying Red Rider: Alan Techer, 2m19.379s / Kazuki Watanabe, 2m21.911s
WHAT’S NEXT?
The first running of the 8 Hours of Spa Motos is due to get under way at 13h00 CET on Saturday 8 June.
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A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
November 13, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
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