WorldSBK: Injured Alex Lowes Questionable Heading Into MotorLand Aragon

David Swarts

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September 20, 2023

WorldSBK: Injured Alex Lowes Questionable Heading Into MotorLand Aragon

Aragon Ahead For KRT

Kawasaki Racing Team riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes will soon head to Motorland Aragon in readiness for the tenth round of the FIM Superbike World Championship, to be held between 22-24 September.

The team had a recent test at Motorland in August, during the long summer break. It was not only good preparation for the season restart at Magny Cours earlier this month but an ideal opportunity to get some early planning in for how to approach the return to Motorland for race weekend itself.

In the run-up to the final three rounds of the 2023 race season Rea has found improvements in his machine set-up after an unexpectedly challenging start to the year. Advances since that point have translated into a win and five other podium finishes in the most recent six individual WorldSBK races for Jonathan.

Lowes is hoping to race at Motorland but after suffering a knee injury that prevented him completing a full race weekend during the most recent round at Magny Cours. On the Tuesday after the race Alex underwent a scan that showed a damaged meniscus on his left knee.

One day later Dr. Monllau operated on Alex to remove a part of his meniscus. The procedure was aimed at repairing the damage while allowing him to get back on track as quickly as possible. Dr. Monllau is a specialist in his field, with a history of performing knee surgeries on sportspeople, including FC Barcelona football players. A decision will be taken together with Alex, Team Management and the FIM Medical Director on Thursday about whether he can ride at Motorland this coming weekend or not.

Rea has won nine races at Motorland in the past, his most recent in the 2022 season. Lowes has recorded four podiums at the 5.077km long Motorland Aragon circuit, which features seven right handed corners and 10 lefts.

As things stand, Rea is third in the championship on 290 points. Lowes is eighth, with 129 points.

Motorland Aragon is worthy of respect for many reasons, not least of which is its overall grand scale as a motorsport facility, featuring an expansive track layout that includes several elevation changes and one of the biggest back straights on the whole calendar.

Immediately after the Motorland Aragon race weekend has been completed the teams will traverse almost the entire Iberian peninsula to take part in the eleventh round of the championship, at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, near Portimao in Portugal. Track action will take place there between 29/30 September and 1 October.

Jonathan Rea, stated: “Aragon is a really cool track, It’s one that I really enjoy and very challenging for a rider. I have got great memories there from the past and in fact the first ever time I rode the Ninja ZX-10R was in Aragon and I fondly remember the first laps. I hope to recreate that feeling where I really enjoyed the bike. We had a test there during the summer break and it was positive. I felt fast and consistent. Since the middle part of the season we have started to find some momentum with bike set-up. We have been working well as a team and we have been able to challenge for podiums. It is important to be strong but also consistent. We have two race weekends on the bounce now and the target is to maximise our opportunities to fight for podiums and continue scoring big points.”

Alex Lowes, stated: “Aragon is a track that I enjoy and we have done quite a bit of testing there, including a few weeks ago. It was a positive test and we had good feelings with the bike. I am hoping I am in a position where I can ride and be competitive at Motorland. I had an operation on my knee last week, so we do not know yet if I am going to be able to ride. We have not made a final decision yet.”

Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) returns to the WorldSBK fray at Motorland Aragon for a home race. Isaac Vinales (TPR by Vinales Racing Kawasaki) is another rider racing close to home this weekend. Czech rider Oliver König (Orelac Racing Movisio Kawasaki) is looking for his first points of the season at Motorland.

Texan Sanchez Podiums Again In ESBK PreMoto3 In Spain (Includes Video)

David Swarts

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September 20, 2023

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Texan Sanchez Podiums Again In ESBK PreMoto3 In Spain (Includes Video)

Mikey Lou Sanchez, age 13, had a rough start to Round Five of the RFME ESBK PreMoto3 Championship September 14-17 at Circuito de Navarra. On Thursday, Mikey struggled to get up to speed, but in the afternoon practice, he managed to get comfortable. During Friday morning practice in mixed conditions, Mikey unfortunately had a crash on the first lap while trying to avoid a downed rider. This caused Mikey to lose the whole practice session. In dry conditions Friday afternoon, Mikey struggled once again finishing P15.

Going into qualifying on Saturday morning, Mikey improved his lap times but qualified P10, thus being his worst qualifying so far this year. We knew going into Race One that Mikey needed to finish in the top nine in order to have a good starting position for Sunday’s Race Two.

Mikey finished P4 in Race One, battling for a podium finish between four riders the entire race!

In Sunday’s Race Two, he started on the second row right behind pole position. Mikey put his head down, had a great start, and ran the first two laps in second position with five riders on his tail all fighting for the podium! Light rain began to fall in the middle of the race and Mikey went from P2 to P6 with three laps to go. Mikey charged to the end and in the last corner on the last lap he was able to complete a pass and secure the podium, finishing P3!

American Mikey Lou Sanchez (55) with his team and family in parc ferme after finishing third in RFME ESBK PreMoto3 Race Two at Circuit de Navarra, in Spain. Photo courtesy Sanchez Racing.

Trinity Richardson, Mikey’s mom, said: “On Friday when Mikey crashed and missed the whole morning session I was stressed out because Mikey was already behind since a lot of teams and riders tested at Navarra the weekend before but Mikey did not! We knew that he needed to use Saturday’s race to prepare for Sunday’s race to get a good result. But Mikey being determined and hard headed said he had this and went out there on Saturday and almost put it on the box! At that point I knew the podium was coming on Sunday! Mikey sat down with his coach Caco and together they figured out what he needed to do. Big thanks to Caco and the entire MRE Team for supporting Mikey!”

Mikey said: “Both races were really good. The second race was amazing with the close finish. I’m going to try to get more prepared for Jerez in three weeks. Thanks to my crew chief Caco and my mechanics Diego and Marcos and my team boss Javi Cobos!”

You can watch Mikey’s race on YouTube starting at 1:20:00 mark here:

With this podium Mikey now sits 5th in the ESBK PreMoto3 Championship with two rounds to go!

Mikey is looking forward to Round Six of the ESBK Championship October 14-15 at Circuito de Jerez.

We would personally like to thank all our sponsors: Roadway Traffic Control, HJC Helmets, Texas Motorcycle Academy, San Marcos Iron Doors, Williams Custom Painting, Moto Liberty, 212 Decals, Mark Niemi. Fred and Maggie Beck, Theo Bick, Ben Fondu, Paul Stamper, and Stacey Pawelek.

WorldSBK: BMW Confirms Gerloff, Redding, Van Der Mark For 2024

David Swarts

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September 20, 2023

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WorldSBK: BMW Confirms Gerloff, Redding, Van Der Mark For 2024

BMW Motorrad Motorsport in the WorldSBK 2024: four strong factory riders in two strong BMW teams.

Scott Redding reinforces the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team as new team-mate for Garrett Gerloff.

Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark to compete for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team in 2024.

Dr. Markus Schramm: “With this new allocation, we are set up superbly for the WorldSBK season 2024.”

Munich. Plans for the FIM Superbike World Championship 2024 (WorldSBK) are continuing to take shape for BMW Motorrad Motorsport. A new allocation for the four BMW Motorrad factory riders in the two BMW teams is set to strengthen and optimise the overall project.

The Bonovo action BMW Racing Team will benefit from the experience and ability of Scott Redding (GBR), BMW Motorrad factory rider since 2022. He will be racing alongside his factory rider team-mate Garrett Gerloff (USA).

Scott Redding (45). Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.

The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team will feature new signing Toprak Razgatlioglu (TUR) and Michael van der Mark (NED), BMW Motorrad factory rider since 2021, as team-mates.

Michael van der Mark (60). Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.

Both BMW teams will receive equal support in terms of material specification and technical support from the BMW Motorrad Motorsport development department in order to ensure equal opportunities for the four BMW Motorrad factory riders.

“Four great BMW Motorrad factory riders in our two strong BMW teams – with this new allocation, we are set up superbly for the WorldSBK season 2024,” says Dr. Markus Schramm, Director of BMW Motorrad. “Scott Redding is a great racer and we appreciate that he is staying true to our BMW Motorrad World Superbike project by bringing his skills to bear in the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team. His experience, his speed, and his expertise in particular, will be a key component as we optimise our collective goals together with Garrett Gerloff and the whole team. The addition of Toprak Razgatlioglu allows us to distribute our factory riders perfectly across our two competitive teams. Together with Michael van der Mark in the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, we have the ideal line-up for the overall project.”

Dr. Schramm continues: “Collaborating closely with our BMW Motorrad Motorsport engineers, both teams will use the feedback from the riders to make continuous, collective improvements to the motorbike. We also believe that having two teams with top riders will also raise the internal competitive pressure. That also helps to lift the overall performance levels. We are convinced that this new line-up for riders and teams represents another important step as we move closer to the top of the WorldSBK with our project. Finally, I would like to thank Loris Baz for our collaboration. He will leave the World Superbike project after the end of the current season. After two seasons that he contested for the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, we wish him all the best for the future.”

MotoAmerica: Great Fan Access Is Included

John Ulrich

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September 20, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Great Fan Access Is Included

First Person/Opinion by Michael Gougis

“I could see the food I wanted,” my wife Sandy told me, “but I wasn’t allowed to go over there and get it.”

Sandy had decided she wanted to see her first MotoGP race. I was covering the season-opener in Portugal, so we went the civilian route for her and bought a ticket for a grandstand seat, just like anyone else could purchase. (Tip: If you’re going to see a race at Portimao, get seats overlooking Turn Three. If something is going to happen, it will happen there. Sandy learned lots of colorful Portuguese words from the fans incensed when Marc Marquez took out local hero Miguel Oliveira!)

Her grandstand ticket allowed her access to her grandstand – and that was it. She entered her grandstand directly from the parking lot, and she was stuck with the food in her section, the drinks in her section. She couldn’t wander the paddock, couldn’t see any of the motorcycles when they were in the garages. She couldn’t get anywhere near the riders. She couldn’t roam the trackside. The merchandise booths actually were set up outside of the circuit, because there literally wasn’t a common space inside the track where all ticket holders would be able to shop for hats, shirts and other stuff from their favorite riders!

This is not unusual any more in many forms of motorsport. Last time I was at Valencia for MotoGP, it felt like someone was scanning my pass every 10 feet. It was always, you can go here, you can’t go there, you could go here if you had this pass but you don’t …

That has never been my experience at a MotoAmerica round.

Look, at any commercial event, you will have some experiences that are limited to certain pass holders. But at a MotoAmerica round, you don’t need special tickets just to wander the midway and peruse the booths where the food and souvenirs are sold. You might pay for a grandstand seat, but there’s always a bit of fence to stand at and watch the bikes go blasting past for the general admission folks. Just before Turn Five at Laguna Seca has always been one of my favorite bits of fence for up-close viewing, and the hillside between turns One and Two offers a panoramic view of most of the track. Both are free with general admission.

I’ve usually been free to watch the teams working on the bikes at their trucks, from a couple of feet away, which is awesome. Other than the racing, the other reason we’re all there is that we like cool bikes, and seeing them up close is amazing. Watching a team rebuild a wrecked bike in time to make a restart is pure theater. And I’ve had many conversations with riders wandering through the paddock, because racers are usually more than happy to talk to anybody.

For me, it’s very cool to stand at the base of the podium post-race and watch dedicated, driven, bad-ass road racing warriors break down in tears of joy, overcome by what they’ve accomplished.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that one of the rewards of attending a MotoAmerica round is that you get to see so much more of the entire process of racing than you may get to see elsewhere. You get to see the machines up close, the people who make the machines work doing their magic, and you get to meet the riders who do things on motorcycles that leave us mere mortals just shaking our heads in astonishment.

I love racing. And I really appreciate the opportunity to see it up close, from start to finish, from before the lights go out to after the last checkered flag is thrown.

If that sounds good to you, when MotoAmerica is in town, go, and have fun!

MotoAmerica: Superbike Racing Returning To Mid-Ohio In August 2024

David Swarts

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September 20, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Superbike Racing Returning To Mid-Ohio In August 2024

MotoAmerica: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Here We Come

For The First Time Since 2014, MotoAmerica Brings Superbikes Back To Mid-Ohio

IRVINE, CA (September 20, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is thrilled to announce that it will bring a round of the MotoAmerica Championship to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, August 16-18, for what will be the eighth round of the 2024 Medallia Superbike Championship.

The legendary Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a fan favorite since the first AMA Superbike Championship round was held there in 1983, hosted the AMA championship for 32 consecutive years. The venue first opened its doors in 1962.

The last time the AMA Superbike Championship visited Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course was in 2014 with then-21-year-old Cameron Beaubier winning race one with his then-39-year-old teammate Josh Hayes emerging victorious in race two. Beaubier is now a five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion and Hayes, a four-time Superbike Champion, recently became the all-time win leader across all classes in AMA road racing.

“Since we started MotoAmerica in 2015, the one thing we consistently heard from our fans is ‘When is MotoAmerica coming to Mid-Ohio?’” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “It makes us extremely happy to be able to say that we will be bringing our series to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course next year and we’re looking forward to seeing all those people at the track.”

“We are thrilled to announce the return of MotoAmerica and Superbike racing back to Mid-Ohio in 2024,” said Craig Rust, president of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. “The series has long been a fan favorite in Ohio, and its return has been much anticipated since they last ran in 2014. I know all the avid motorcycle fans throughout the Midwest will join me in welcoming the high-speed bikes back to Mid-Ohio next summer.”

Hayes, who has seven AMA Superbike wins at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, is excited to see the series return to the track located just outside the village of Lexington, 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland.

“From the time that I started racing, Mid-Ohio has been an iconic and regular stop on the calendar,” Hayes said. “All of us were sad to see such a cool racetrack not be a part of the series after 2014. The opportunity to bring that racetrack back into the fold is exciting and with any luck I will be back next year to so some more laps around the place myself.”

Tickets for the 2024 Mid-Ohio event will be available for purchase online at midohio.com and motoamerica.com at a later date.

The entire 2024 MotoAmerica Championship calendar will be released shortly.

About MotoAmerica

MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.

MotoAmerica: Raising The Bar For TV/Video Coverage And Sponsor Exposure

David Swarts

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September 19, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Raising The Bar For TV/Video Coverage And Sponsor Exposure

Back in the 2000s, AMA Pro Superbike racing was covered on cable TV by Speed (formerly known as Speedvision), which served the series, its sponsors, and its fans well for many years. The network was available to most cable TV subscribers at little or no extra cost; the races were usually broadcast live or same-day-tape-delayed; the coverage was good; and sponsors (primarily the four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers) bought commercials to support the broadcasts. Most people involved seemed happy.

But in 2014, Speed went away as a standalone network; Daytona Motorsports Group (DMG, which owned AMA Pro Road Racing at the time) failed to come up with a viable alternative broadcast plan; sponsorship and fan support for the series dwindled rapidly; and America’s premier motorcycle road racing series was hanging by a thread. DMG initially announced a four-round series of events (all east of the Mississippi River) and added a fifth-round at Laguna Seca at the last moment, but still with no TV coverage.

Seeing the writing on the wall for riders and teams that needed TV exposure to attract and retain sponsors, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. founder/Editor and Team Hammer, Inc. co-founder/CEO John Ulrich and his family quickly organized a three-round West Coast-based series of Superbike and Sportbike races called the GEICO Motorcycle Superbike Shootout Presented by Yamaha, and factory Superbike teams committed to running in the series. John and his son Chris put together a high-quality broadcast package that resulted in 36 hours of coverage on MAVTV, proving to sponsors and fans that a road racing series with its own TV package was a viable and valuable source of exposure for team, rider, and event sponsors and potential sponsors. Track owners and managers were soon asking how they could switch from AMA Pro to Superbike Shootout events. Expanding the Superbike Shootout Series to 10 rounds across the country was being discussed. But, says Ulrich, running the three-round series had been a lot of work in addition to running the family’s publishing company plus its separate racing company, and the idea of expanding nationwide was daunting.

The title graphics leading into a broadcast of the GEICO Motorcycle Superbike Shootout in 2014. Photo by David Swarts.

Then the KRAVE Group and partners Chuck Aksland, Terry Karges, Wayne Rainey, and Richard Varner came along at the end of 2014 with the concept of creating what is now known as MotoAmerica. “The sport, including the teams and riders, needed a professional series with TV,” Ulrich says. “We did the Superbike Shootout because nobody else was stepping up to do it. I’ve known Wayne and Chuck since they were young racers, and they’re good guys. They had access to the serious funding needed to start up and staff a professional national series, and I decided to support what they were doing and go back to concentrating on running my family’s magazine and race team businesses. And looking back, I’m glad I did.”

MotoAmerica quickly acquired the rights to run AMA and FIM-sanctioned professional motorcycle road racing in America, scheduled a full season of events, and started to broadcast those races on CBS Sports. The TV package wasn’t perfect, but it was significantly better than what DMG had in 2014 (which was nothing), and it helped keep the sport alive.

AMA President Rob Dingman (second from right) with KRAVE Group/MotoAmerica partners (from left) Terry Karges, Wayne Rainey, Chuck Aksland, and Richard Varner at the MotoAmerica awards banquet in 2018. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

In 2016, MotoAmerica partnered with a new broadcast partner, beIN Sports, which was best known at the time for its coverage of professional soccer. beIN Sports had just done a deal with Dorna and acquired the rights to broadcast MotoGP races in America, and Dorna urged beIN Sports to also broadcast MotoAmerica races.

beIN Sports and MotoAmerica partnered to share the costs of producing and broadcasting many races live, but although it was financially beneficial for fledgling MotoAmerica, it wasn’t a perfect situation. The beIN Sports network was not easy for fans to find or subscribe to, if at all, and MotoAmerica did not own all the rights to the footage that the partnership produced.

On-air commentators Jason Pridmore (left) and Greg White (right) shooting a segment for beIN Sports' coverage of MotoAmerica in 2018. Photo by David Swarts. — On-air commentators Jason Pridmore (left) and Greg White (right) shooting a segment for beIN Sports’ coverage of MotoAmerica in 2018. Photo by David Swarts.

So, in 2019 MotoAmerica made a crucial decision and huge investment to take all production of its TV coverage in-house. This meant that MotoAmerica was going to start paying hundreds of thousands of dollars each round to bring in dozens of video professionals and the special equipment necessary to capture, edit, and transmit coverage of its races. But in return, MotoAmerica would own all rights to the content it created and would be able to negotiate better deals with networks and platforms not just in the U.S. but all around the world.

“It was a little bit of a gamble,” said MotoAmerica Chief Operating Officer (COO) Chuck Aksland, “but certainly, it’s helped us to get where we are now.”

MotoAmerica coverage is now available on 10 different platforms, including linear networks like FOX Sports 1, MAVTV, and ESPN Latin America (LATAM); “fast networks” like MotoAmericaTV and MTRSPT1; and digital platforms like Latin America’s STAR+, YouTube and the MotoAmerica Live+ streaming subscription service. MTRSPT1 by itself is available free in 100 million households.

MotoAmerica coverage can now be found many places its never been before, including bars, restaurants, and hotels thanks to its "fast networks." Photo courtesy MotoAmerica. — MotoAmerica coverage can now be found many places it has never been before, (including bars, restaurants, and hotels) thanks to its “fast networks.” Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.

“People no longer have the excuse of ‘I couldn’t find it,’” said Aksland. “I mean, you have to almost miss it on purpose these days to not find it. I don’t think there’s very many motor sports probably in the world that have as broad a footprint as we have.”

Now, some MotoAmerica races are broadcast live on not just one but on multiple platforms, – MAVTV, YouTube, and MotoAmerica Live+, for instance – which may seem odd to some who have been following the sport for a while. But thanks to some forward thinking, MotoAmerica did this on purpose because the partners understand that not everyone consumes media the same way. Some watch via MAVTV and FOX Sports 1 on the big TV in their house, some watch via MotoAmerica Live+ on their laptop computer or tablet, and some may stream the races live via YouTube on their mobile phone.

“They all have different audiences,” said Aksland. “We get questions: ‘Why should I subscribe to MotoAmerica Live+ if I can watch the race for free on YouTube?’ Well, MotoAmerica Live+ is like 20 hours per weekend of live content. It’s not just a one-hour race where you don’t get all the behind-the-scenes stuff. It’s different, and it’s amazing how long people stay on Live+. Many of them basically watch every hour of every day.”

All of that has led MotoAmerica to becoming the third most watched motorsport content on YouTube, according to Aksland, behind only Formula One and MotoGP. And MotoAmerica currently has over three million followers across all of its social media platforms, where the series promotes its racing and athletes.

“We’ve gone from 100,000 subscribers to over 600,000 subscribers on YouTube in the last year and a half,” said Aksland. “On Instagram, we’re bigger than IndyCar and IMSA.”

MotoAmerica's video audience has grown rapidly since production was taken in-house. Photo by Brian J. Nelson. — MotoAmerica’s video audience has grown rapidly since production was taken in-house. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Those numbers are impressive, and the best part is that they have translated to sponsorship dollars for the series and its teams. Non-endemic sponsors like Fresh N Lean, Medallia, Mission Foods, Progressive Insurance, Steel Commander, and Vision Wheel are being attracted to the series due to its ever-increasing footprint and exposure.

“If you look at how much it costs to run a Superbike team compared to an IndyCar team or a NASCAR team the investment on the team side is minimal for the amount of exposure that you’re creating for a sponsor,” said Aksland. “So, I think unfortunately we’re still probably one of the best kept secrets in motorsport, but we are starting to get more interest from outside of motorcycle racing from sponsors and from other teams from other series that are looking at MotoAmerica as a great addition to what they’re already doing.”

MotoAmerica's expanded video coverage has attracted new, non-endemic sponsors, like Steel Commander. Photo by Brian J. Nelson. — MotoAmerica’s expanded video coverage has attracted new, non-endemic sponsors, like Steel Commander. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

And in addition to all the viewer, household, like, hit, click, share, and subscriber numbers it gets and shares with its riders, teams, and shareholders, Aksland said he has another simpler measuring stick for the success of MotoAmerica growing its exposure.

“At the beginning, my family and friends would ask, ‘When do you think you’re going to be successful?'” said Aksland. “And my answer has always been, ‘If I’m asked what do you do?” and my answer is, ‘I’m the COO of MotoAmerica,’ and if I don’t have to explain what MotoAmerica is, to me that equals success.”

MotoGP: Nakagami Renews With LCR Honda

David Swarts

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September 19, 2023

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LCR HONDA IDEMITSU AND TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI EXTEND CONTRACT FOR 2024
LCR Honda IDEMITSU proudly announces the renewal of Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami for the 2024 season.

31-year-old Nakagami jumped into the MotoGP category alongside LCR Honda IDEMITSU, and since that moment, both the rider and the team have worked unceasingly to make the most out of every season. He is one of the riders who know the Honda best, and considering his experience, the team, and HRC have agreed with Nakagami for the next year to continue developing the bike and fighting for the positions that matter.

Through the time together, the Japanese confirmed his work capacity, commitment, and fighting spirit through these years, which perfectly matches LCR’s philosophy. Cheers to a brighter future together!

Lucio Cecchinello, LCR Honda Team Principal

“I’m proud to count on Nakagami for another year. He’s a fast rider who can get good results, and alongside HRC, we believe it’s time to keep pushing, as he’s one of the most experienced guys with this bike. We will give our best to fight for the positions we aim for”.

Takaaki Nakagami, LCR Honda IDEMITSU rider

“I feel LCR is part of my family, and of course, I’m excited to be with them for another season. I want to thank them and HRC for the opportunity, as I know we are a good match. Now it’s time to work even harder to be ready for the future”.

Ducati Presents New 2024 Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour (Includes Video)

David Swarts

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September 19, 2023

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Ducati Presents New 2024 Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour (Includes Video)

Editorial Note: Scroll down to watch video of the new Ducati Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour.

Ducati Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour: full optional travel

The most complete Multistrada V4 ever, for lovers of long-distance travel in maximum comfort and safety

Total peace of mind even on the most challenging journeys thanks to the reliability of the Multistrada V4 and the Roadside Assistance and Multistrada 4EVER programs

The Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour is arriving in dealerships in exclusive Grand Tour livery

Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 19 September 2023 – With the second episode of the 2024 World Première, Ducati presents the new Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour. A model dedicated to Ducatisti who love to travel without limits, in maximum comfort and safety. A Multistrada for travelers who pay attention to details, who always demand the best from their Ducati, even in style. A motorbike complete with all the accessories to travel long distances “in first class”. The Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour comes about during the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Multistrada, and encapsulates all the values and characteristics that have always made it a motorcycle ahead of its time.

The Multistrada is in fact the flagship on which Ducati has introduced innovations and technological developments, such as Riding Modes, which have redefined the standards of the motorcycle industry.

The Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour is a Full Optional motorcycle based on the S model with Travel & Radar setup. It is in fact equipped as standard with a radar system with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Blind Spot Detection (BSD) to improve safety and riding comfort. Still regarding safety, the TPMS system, which shows the tire pressure on the dashboard, and additional LED lights (standard) to improve visibility at night and in fog, are fitted as standard on the Grand Tour.

The side panniers, standard on the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour, are integrated with the livery of the motorbike. Thanks to the overall volume of 60 liters, they allow you to take everything you need with you even on longer journeys. The central stand, included in the standard equipment, helps to make all operations on the cases easier and safer, from assembly and disassembly to opening and closing.

Comfort on the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour is also increased by the standard equipment of heated grips and rider and passenger seats. Furthermore, the presence of the hands-free fuel cap simplifies refueling, allowing you to always keep the motorbike key in your pocket.

Finally, the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour incorporates several updates adopted on the V4 Rally. The handlebar is in fact mounted rigidly on the steering head, without silent blocks, providing a more direct riding feeling without compromising comfort. The passenger seat is the model introduced on the V4 Rally, for optimal support on long journeys, and like that of the rider it is embellished with an external covering with dedicated graphics.

Furthermore, to improve thermal comfort, the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour adopts heat shields on the swingarm and on the left side of the rear subframe, and closable ducts in the leg area. The compartment dedicated to the smartphone is now ventilated.

As on all the motorbikes of the Multistrada V4 family, the Grand Tour is also equipped with the navigation system based on the Phone Mirroring solution which allows you to transform the 6.5″ TFT dashboard into a color map navigator with all the necessary information for riding the motorcycle.

On the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour there is the Minimum Preload function, which allows the rider to lower the motorbike when stopping and when travelling at low speed, reducing shock absorber preload to a minimum. The Easy Lift function, on the other hand, reduces the effort required to lift the motorbike from the side stand by opening the suspension hydraulics when the key is ON.

The Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour completes the family made up of the V4 Pikes Peak, designed for lovers of sporty riding, and the Multistrada V4 Rally, dedicated to Globetrotters who don’t stop even when the tarmac roads come to an end.

The Multistrada V4 is designed to allow Ducatisti to travel without limits in maximum peace of mind thanks to benchmark maintenance intervals (valve clearance check set every 60,000 km) and the 4EVER Ducati and Roadside Assistance programs. The former offers a warranty valid for 4 years with unlimited mileage*. The Roadside Assistance program, offered on all Multistrada V4s, adds roadside assistance, transport for rider and passenger, a replacement vehicle and overnight stay in a four-star hotel in the event of problems that should occur during the ride to the standard warranty coverage period. All this with the peace of mind offered by a network of more than 800 official Ducati dealers in over 90 countries around the world.

Styling

The Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour is enhanced by dedicated graphics, elegant and dynamic at the same time. The livery of the superstructures is reflected in the black color for the frame, swingarm, steering plates, side cases and handlebars. The rider and passenger seats are embellished with dedicated graphics.

Engine

The 1,158 cc V4 Granturismo engine delivers 170 hp (125 kW) at 10,500 rpm and 125 Nm (12.7 kgm) at 8,750 rpm, with a particularly linear torque curve to guarantee a smooth and progressive response at all speeds. The performance of this engine, combined with its total weight of just 66.7 kg, allows the V4 Granturismo to confirm itself as the category benchmark for power and lightness. These numbers are combined with refined technical solutions, such as the counter-rotating crankshaft, derived from the experience gained by Ducati Corse in MotoGP, which works “against” the gyroscopic inertia of the wheels. The results are a fluid delivery at low rpm, robust torque at medium speeds and power at high speeds.

Electronics

In addition to the systems already mentioned, the electronic package of the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour offers the state of the art in the motorcycle sector for safety, comfort, performance and connectivity. The inertial platform (IMU) manages the operation of ABS Cornering, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Cornering Lights (DCL) and Vehicle Hold Control (VHC), which makes restarting on inclined roads simple.

On the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour, the inertial platform also communicates continuously with the Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS) semi-active suspension control system. This system is not only capable of analyzing riding conditions and adjusting the fork and shock absorber hydraulics instantly, but for the first time it also integrates the Autoleveling function.

Autoleveling recognizes the bike’s set-up and adjusts it autonomously to bring the seat back to the ideal height from the ground in the different riding configurations, adding to the (manual) options already available to the user: rider, rider plus cases, rider and passenger, rider and passenger plus cases.

Finally, the smartphone mirroring functions, implemented through the Ducati Connect system, allow you to control your phone and music in a simple and intuitive way.

Customization

However, the complete equipment of the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour offers ample margin for customization. To meet the ergonomic needs of the rider and passenger, the accessories catalogue offers a variety of saddles, a motorcycle lowering set and several options for the windshield.

Ducatisti who wish to further enhance the tourer qualities of the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour can adopt additional luggage solutions, designed for both the tank and the rear plate, such as a top case or soft bag.

It is also possible to make the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour sportier and embellish it with different carbon fiber trim components, levers and footrests machined from solid aluminum, dynamic LED indicators and brake and clutch fluid reservoirs machined from solid.

Apparel

Ducati has also specifically created some items of apparel to fully enjoy the touring possibilities of the Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour. The Atacama C2 suit, for example, with large areas dedicated to ventilation, detachable sleeves and three independent layers, including thermal lining and waterproof membrane, to offer comfort in all weather conditions.

Alternatively, the Strada C5 suit, made of a comfortable, robust stretch fabric with modular thermal protection, thanks to the detachable internal Gore-Tex® membrane and an internal down jacket that can also be used on its own once the motorbike is parked.

Colours and availability

The new Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour will be available shortly in dealerships in the Ducati network in Grand Tour livery only.

Main standard equipment

1,158 cc Ducati V4 Granturismo engine with valve clearance check every 60,000 km

Aluminum monocoque frame, steel tube subframe and aluminum double-sided swingarm

Marzocchi Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS) Evolution semi-active electronic suspension with Autoleveling, Minimum Preload and Easy Lift functions. Travel 170 – 180 mm

120/70-19” and 170/60-17” wheels with Pirelli SCORPION™ Trail II tyres

Bosch-Brembo ABS 10.3ME Cornering braking system

330 mm diameter front discs with Brembo Stylema 4-piston radial calipers

Full LED headlight with DRL and Ducati Cornering Lights (DCL)

Hands Free starting and tank cap

TPMS (Trie Pressure Monitoring System)

Dashboard with 6.5” full-TFT color screen

Ducati Connect with phone, music and map navigator applications

Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up&Down

Cruise control

Vehicle Hold Control (VHC)

Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)

Power Mode

Riding Mode

Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC)

Ducati Traction Control (DTC)

Side bags matching the bike

Additional LED lights

Radar with Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Detection functionality

Central stand

Heated grips

Heated rider and passenger seats

Heat shield on seat support frame and swingarm

Closable leg area ducts

Ventilated smartphone compartment

Heartland Motorsports Park Ceasing Operations And Closing

David Swarts

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September 19, 2023

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Heartland Motorsports Park Ceasing Operations And Closing

Heartland Motorsports Park, a multi-use motorsports facility located in Topeka, Kansas, will cease operations and close permanently at the end of the 2023 season.

According to a social media post made by the owners of the track, the primary reason the track is closing is ever-increasing property taxes accessed by Shawnee County, where the track is located.

Heartland Motorsports Park posted the following on its Facebook page earlier today:

Heartland Motorsports Park, which was originally known as Heartland Park, was opened in 1989. The 700-acre facility has an NHRA-certified quarter-mile drag strip, a 2.5-mile road course with multiple configurations, a 2.1-mile motocross track, a dirt oval track, and 23 acres of paved paddock that can accommodate autocross and drifting events.

MotoGP: Morbidelli Signs With Prima Pramac Ducati

David Swarts

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September 19, 2023

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MotoGP: Morbidelli Signs With Prima Pramac Ducati

FRANCO MORBIDELLI EMBARKS ON A NEW CHAPTER WITH DUCATI AND PRIMA PRAMAC RACING

Franco Morbidelli has signed an agreement with Ducati that will see the Roman rider join the Pramac Racing Team for the 2024 season alongside Jorge Martin, both riding the Desmosedici GP24.

Vice-World Champion in MotoGP in 2020, Moto2 World Champion in 2017, and European Superstock 600 Champion in 2013, Franco Morbidelli will bring the Italian flag back to the Pramac Racing team’s garage three seasons after Pecco Bagnaia.

Paolo Campinoti – Prima Pramac Racing Team Principal:

“I am very happy that Franco is joining our family for 2024. I have an excellent relationship with him, and he has proven to be a champion on many occasions. I am confident that in our team, he will find the right conditions to fight for the positions he deserves.”

Gino Borsoi – Prima Pramac Racing Team Manager:

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to work with a champion like Franco. I have great confidence in him and his talent. I am sure he will feel very comfortable in our team, and together, we will achieve great results.”

Luigi Dall’Igna – General Manager of Ducati Corse:

“It is a pleasure for us to welcome Franco Morbidelli to our factory-supported Pramac Racing team for the upcoming sports season, riding an official Desmosedici GP. Franco is a rider of great talent and experience, and on more than one occasion, he has demonstrated his strength and speed. It’s no coincidence that in 2020, he was the MotoGP vice-world champion, winning three Grand Prix races. We are confident that, together with the Prima Pramac Racing team and thanks to our support, he will be able to show his full potential. We look forward to embarking on this new exciting adventure together.”

WorldSBK: Injured Alex Lowes Questionable Heading Into MotorLand Aragon

September 20, 2023