2023 MotoAmerica Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. Champion Mikayla Moore will be competing in MotoAmerica Junior Cup this coming weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Moore will be joining forces with Elisa Gendron-Belen for the final round at New Jersey. This partnership started from a simple conversation at the Ruts to Racelines all-female track day event.
“We are elated to have Mikayla ride with us for her first event in Junior Cup,” said Karns Performance Racing Team Owner Jason Karns.
In addition, Jesse James Shedden is returning from racing in Italy and will be filling in for Chris Clark at the season finale. Jesse will be running the number 76. Keep your eye on this rising star.
“The team is very excited,” continued Karns. “We are looking forward to working with Jesse this upcoming weekend. He will be a welcomed addition to the team.”
Thank you to all our sponsors in helping to put this together: Karns Performance, Mecks Autobody, NG Brakes, Motorex oils, Armor body’s, Woodcraft cfm, TST industries, Vortex Racing.
WAGBAR MP13 RACING FIELDS TWO RACERS IN REV’IT! TWINS CUP!
Oceanside, CA (September 18, 2023) — The WagBar MP13 Racing Team is pleased to announce their plans for the MotoAmerica Season finale at New Jersey Motorsport Park this weekend.
Two riders will line up on the grid for the REV’IT! Twins Cup in Millville. Season-long WAGBAR MP13 racer Aiden Sneed (15) moves up from Junior Cup to try the larger displacement, higher horsepower class.
Italian sensation Filippo Rovelli also gets the call to return to the US. The 22-year-old made his MotoAmerica debut at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with a second-place finish. Both riders will be on MP13-prepared Yamaha R7’s.
Team Principal Melissa Paris said, “We are so happy to have an opportunity to move Aiden up to REV’IT! Twins Cup at New Jersey. The whole team has been so impressed with the work ethic, professionalism and determination he has shown all season in Junior Cup. With his height and skillset as a racer, we feel he is perfectly suited for Twins. And to have Rovelli, a proven podium contender, race with us this weekend gives the team a tremendous season-ending boost of enthusiasm. We are looking forward to a great Jersey round.”
Sneed says, “I’m super stoked to be racing in the Twins Cup class at New Jersey for the last MotoAmerica round. With twins being very competitive, I’ll be able to gain more knowledge from the different skill level of riders. I know the WagBar MP13 Yamaha R7 is very fast, and I’m hoping to show all of its potential.”
Rovelli commented, “I’m really excited to race in MotoAmerica for the last race of the Championship and really excited to do it with WagBar MP13 Racing team! I will do my best to do well, improve session from session knowing the track and get the feeling back with the Dunlop tires, and try to finish all the races in the podium!”
The WagBar MP13 Racing Team would like to thank WagBar, Great Lakes Supply, CSU One Cure, Yamaha, bLU cRU, Spears Enterprises, Beringer, Yoshimura, Capit, Ohlins, GHD Designs, Vortex, Attack Performance, SBS Brakes, Maxima, Dunlop, and J4rce.
The 2023 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Road Racing Series finale will be held September 22-24 on the 2.25-mile, 12-turn Thunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), in Millville, New Jersey. And while some of the Championship battles have already been decided, some others will still on the line at one of MotoAmerica’s most convenient venues.
NJMP has been hosting America’s premier motorcycle road racing series since 2009, shortly after it was opened at the end of 2008. It is located on 500 acres immediately adjacent to Millville Airport, which started out as Millville Army Airfield in 1941, at the onset of World War II (WWII). Here, U.S. Army pilots were trained to fly P-47 fighter planes, which were nicknamed Thunderbolts, hence the naming of NJMP’s primary course. NJMP also has a 1.9-mile track named Lightning Raceway, after the P-38 Lightning fighter plane from WWII, and the Liberator karting/mini-bike course, named after the B-24 Liberator bomber from WWII.
Thunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Photo courtesy NJMP.
Millville is a relatively small town located less than an hour from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 45 minutes from Atlantic City, New Jersey; 120 miles from New York City, New York; and about 140 miles from the Washington, D.C. area, making the track easily accessible for the many people who come to spectate — or operate their own vehicles during track days — at the venue each and every year.
Lodging choices for those traveling to NJMP abound, including overnight rentals in the Villas of Breighton and VIP Suites located right on NJMP property with trackside views, and hotels rooms to suit all tastes and budgets are just minutes away in Millville and its neighboring communities. Trackside RV camping and tent camping are also available for the MotoAmerica weekend.
Trackside Villas and Exotic Car Garages at New Jersey Motorsports Park, as seen from the racetrack. Photo courtesy NJMP.
Access to all the action starts with tickets to the MotoAmerica event, which range from General Admission (single-day to three-day), VIP Hospitality, Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary VIP, to the Dunlop ECSTAR Suzuki Two-Seat Superbike Experience ticket package, which includes a thrilling ride around the racetrack on the back of a Superbike piloted by retired Pro racer Chris Ulrich. Fans can also ride their own motorcycles around the track during the Harley-Davidson Parade Laps and the Cardo Parade Lap. U.S. military veterans are eligible for discounted prices on tickets, and kids 12 and under get into the event free with a paying adult. Restrictions apply.
Chris Ulrich giving a ride on the Dunlop ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R two-seat Superbike earlier this season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
One of the best things for fans attending races at NJMP is that all of the activities at the event are within a short walk of everything else and all within view of the racetrack. The race paddock, team garages, Victory Circle, vendors, demo rides, stunt shows, bike shows, concession stands, and Kids Zone featuring free carnival rides and games are all located within the perimeter of the track. And every MotoAmerica event includes the free Dunlop Hot Pit Walk and Autograph Session with all of the riders at one time on Sunday.
A young fan taking a photo with Superbike racer Josh Herrin earlier this season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
On the track, the Medallia Superbike, Supersport, Mission King Of The Baggers, Junior Cup, and REV’IT! Twins Cup classes will each have their final two races of 2023. The titles have been decided in Superbike (Jake Gagne), Supersport (Xavi Fores), and Junior Cup (Avery Dreher), but the hotly contested Championships in King Of The Baggers and Twins Cup will be decided at NJMP.
Kyle Wyman (33), Hayden Gillim (79), Travis Wyman (10), and the rest of the MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers field heads into Turn Five at Road America earlier this season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
In King Of The Baggers, Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson’s Hayden Gillim holds a slim two-point lead over his teammate James Rispoli and an 11-point lead over Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson’s 2021 Champion Kyle Wyman putting the title within reach of all three men. And while they are out of title contention, defending Champion Tyler O’Hara, his Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian teammate Jeremy McWilliams, and Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands Design Indian’s Bobby Fong will be looking to steal some of the Harley-Davidson riders’ glory at the finale.
In REV’IT! Twins Cup, Rodio Racing Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia’s Gus Rodio, who lives just up the road in Hammonton, New Jersey, leads the standings by only eight points over N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto Yamaha’s Blake Davis and by 14 points over his own teammate Rocco Landers with 50 points still available to earn in New Jersey. But the class, which features young talent hoping to showcase themselves and move up the racing hierarchy, will also include Jackson Blackmon, Ben Gloddy, Hayden Schultz, the class debut of Avery Dreher, and the return of American Flat Track (AFT) star Dallas Daniels at this round.
In addition, the MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup by Motul series will wrap up its 2023 season with a doubleheader event on the Liberator track this coming weekend.
The MotoAmerica action starts with practice and qualifying on Friday, followed by final qualifying sessions on Saturday morning and the first races on Saturday afternoon, and the final MotoAmerica races of 2023 take place on Sunday afternoon. Get tickets and more information HERE.
More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:
MotoAmerica’s Season Finale At New Jersey Motorsports Park Has It All
The Final Round Of The MotoAmerica Championship In New Jersey Is Brimming With Fan Activity, September 22-24
IRVINE, CA (September 18, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, will throw out its “Welcome” mat to fans one last time in 2023 with the series visiting New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, for its finale, September 22-24.
MotoAmerica’s season finale will take place at New Jersey Motorsports Park, September 22-24, and will be chock full of fan activity in addition to the on-track racing. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Inarguably the most fan-friendly motorsport championship in the country, MotoAmerica spectators are given the opportunity to roam freely between the paddock area (which is home to the teams that make up the series), and the abundance of spectator areas that the popular 2.25-mile Thunderbolt Raceway provides.
The open paddock is a fan’s delight as it allows spectators to roam freely from team to team where they can watch crews doing everything from complete rebuilds to fine tuning the motorcycles that compete in all five of the MotoAmerica classes racing at NJMP – Medallia Superbike, REV’IT! Twins Cup, Mission King Of The Baggers, Junior Cup and Supersport.
It’s also in the paddock where spectators get the chance to mingle with their favorite riders as they are out and about throughout the weekend and happy to catch up with their fans. If you miss them on Friday and Saturday, you can most definitely find them for a photo and/or an autographed poster during the popular Dunlop Hot Pit Walk and Autograph session that’s held on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Although you won’t find closer on-track racing than in the MotoAmerica Championship, including a Mission King Of The Baggers title chase that will likely not be decided until the last lap of the final race of the year on Sunday afternoon, there’s also plenty of rapid-fire entertainment off the track, and the activities at NJMP are the most plentiful of the season.
Here’s a rundown of the off-track activities at NJMP for the season finale:
Off-track action promises to be every bit as exciting with everything from DJ Vader spinning vinyl all three days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., which coincides with the Clutch Control Moto Show that will also be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all three days.
Friday will kick off three days of the 1 Wheel Revolution Stunt Show with three shows scheduled for Friday (12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.), Saturday (11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.).
Beginning on Saturday, MotoAmerica’s youngest fans can check out the free carnival that opens at 10 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Demo rides from Yamaha and CF Moto will also take place on both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for licensed motorcyclists wanting to do more than just kick tires.
For those riding their own motorcycles to the track, the Harley-Davidson parade laps are scheduled for 11:45 a.m. on Saturday and 10:30 a.m. on Sunday with Cardo guests joining in on the Sunday ride. Staging for the rides will be at the turn-one end of the paddock near the medical center 45 minutes before the scheduled ride on Saturday (11 a.m.) and 30 minutes prior on Sunday (10:30 a.m.) at the same location.
The ShowoutBoyz Stunt Show gets rolling on Saturday with two shows scheduled for noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. On Sunday, the shows are slated for 10:30 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.
More kids’ stuff: the AllKidsBike Strider Zone will be open all three days, beginning on Friday from noon to 4 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, youngsters can ride the bikes again from Noon to 4 p.m.
Those wanting to check out the bikes in the V-Twin Visionary Show can do so throughout the weekend with judging taking place at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday with awards to be handed out an hour later at 3:30 p.m.
VIP Ticket Holders will get the chance to go out to the starting grid for the first of two Mission King Of The Baggers races on Saturday at 3:50 p.m. prior to the start of the race.
The mega Clutch Control Pool Party will take place at the Finish Line Pub from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday night and will feature music by DJ Vader. The party is open to the public and is hosted by the one and only Allen Lane.
The final day of racing on Sunday at NJMP will feature the Dunlop Hot Pit Walk and Autograph Session from 11 to 11:45 a.m.
VIP Ticket Holders will get another shot at a grid walk and this one will be held prior to Medallia Superbike race two at 2:50 p.m.
The weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park will conclude on Sunday afternoon with the series finale of the Mission King Of The Baggers Championship, and the race is scheduled to start at 4:05 p.m.
In addition to the five classes of MotoAmerica racing taking place on the big track, make sure you head over to the karting facility to watch the youngest of the MotoAmerica racers competing in the Mission Mini Cup By Motul races on Friday and Saturday afternoon. See if you can spot the next Superstar. Practice and qualifying takes place throughout the day with the youngsters starting their racing program at 3 p.m. on Friday and 2:20 p.m. on Saturday.
For the complete MotoAmerica fan-activity schedule, click HERE
For the complete MotoAmerica race schedule, click HERE
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.
Bad Boys Racing is excited to announce that 2023 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, Avery Dreher, will be pulling double duty at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Dreher will join in the MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup field on a Blackmon Racing/Finishline Machine-prepared Yamaha R7 for the season finale in addition to his Junior Cup duties on the Bad Boys Racking Kawasaki Ninja 400.
The 17-year-old Rockledge, Florida, native has a breakout year in 2023 with podium finishes in eight out of 10 Junior Cup races (including six wins) so far. Dreher successfully secured his first MotoAmerica Championship at the conclusion of Race Two in Pittsburg and is looking to prepare for a move up in classes next year!
John Ludwig – Team Manager of Bad Boys Racing: “We are crazy excited to be able to put this ride together for Avery. Honestly, I think we almost owe it to him after the stellar year he has had so far. Avery has worked extremely hard, on and off the track, to get his abilities to this level. With our 2023 championship in the books already, the timing is perfect to see what he can do next”
Avery Dreher: “I look forward to the challenge and am excited to learn a new machine. This wouldn’t be possible without Chuck and Jackson Blackmon prepping a bike for me on short notice. I also need to thank everyone who has supported me and gotten me to this point. Jersey is going to be a lot of fun this year.”
MotoAmerica/American Flat Track racers Corey Alexander and James Rispoli are excited to announce the release of Episode 10 of their Pipe Dreams Podcast, featuring Patrick “PJ” Jacobsen, a recent MotoAmerica Superbike race winner, World Supersport Championship runner-up, Suzuka 8-Hours vice champion, and MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up.
PJ was born in New York but spent most of his upbringing from the age of three on at racetracks across the United States and eventually around the world. He began his journey by claiming dozens of national dirt track racing championships before transitioning to asphalt and pursuing his dreams in Europe. Over the past 20 years, he has raced against some of the world’s best motorcycling talents.
Now, at 30 years old and fresh off of his first MotoAmerica Superbike victory, PJ sat down with us to share his journey, as well as some of the mysteries that have left many wondering who he really is and what makes him such an incredibly talented rider. We hope you enjoy!
Available on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, the tenth full episode with PJ launches today. Video of the episode can be viewed on Spotify and YouTube.
About Pipe Dreams Podcast:
Pipe Dreams Podcast launched in 2023 by MotoAmerica and American Flat Track riders Corey Alexander and James Rispoli in an effort to share the stories of fellow racers and motorsport professionals around the world. The podcast releases twice per month for streaming on all major platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube. Editing is curated by Sabotno Media. Follow @pipedreams_pod on social media or visit https://anchor.fm/pipe-dreams to listen now.
New challenges. New horizons. MotoGP™ touches down in India!
A new adventure for all and the start of a pivotal run in the fight for the 2023 crown. Who’s coming out on top in India?
Monday, 18 September 2023
This is it. The fight for the 2023 crown is about to ramp up to an incredible finale, and it all starts with a whole new adventure for everyone: India. Buddh International Circuit welcomes the world’s most exciting sport for the first ever IndianOil Grand Prix of India, organised by Fairstreet Sports, and there is everything to play for.
The dynamic at the top
A whole new venue is a reset of sorts, and after that crash in Barcelona saw reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) riding through the pain barrier on home turf at Misano, the title fight is also a little closer as Pecco now sits only 36 points clear of Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing). So will the #1 remain so at a new track? His modus operandi has often been building his speed and performance, improving those details over time until he’s seemed untouchable. So it will be an interesting race between Bagnaia and Martin to see who can adapt the quickest, especially as Martin arrives from a near-perfect weekend.
Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) wasn’t at full tilt at Misano either though and he’ll want to seize the opportunity to take a new track by the horns, as will Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who is no stranger to that himself. The South African may see Buddh International Circuit as a big opportunity to hit back after a disappointing Sunday at Misano. It wasn’t overall for KTM though, and they had some goodies at the test as the orange push continues to gain momentum overall.
Opportunities abound
One thing that may play in Ducati’s favour at a new track is also data. With eight bikes, although not all the GP23, there’s information at their fingertips. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) will want some of that as the Frenchman looks for a lot more form, and it was a tougher weekend at Misano for Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), who then topped the test, and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) too. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) also seemed to lose some ground he’d made up. On the other side of the Ducati Lenovo Team box we know we won’t have Enea Bastianini on duty either, with Michele Pirro likely called up now he’s off wildcard duty. Can the Ducati armada hit the ground running?
Speaking of data, Aprilia certainly have more of that now they’ve got four bikes on the grid. Misano saw a complete switcharound though as Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) went from doing the double to struggling to get into the top ten as the last Noale machine home on Sunday, with teammate Maverick Viñales leading the charge and making the difference as he’d promised on Thursday. In terms of Aleix’s ascent up the Championship that’s not ideal, but the bike had that pace so that’s another big positive.
The 2022 machine also had pace in the hands of Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) and teammate Raul Fernandez, which is more good news. Raul Fernandez took his best result yet in an impressive P8, and Oliveira has been on a solid run since much of the rest of the grid decided to let him race in peace. He was hot on the heels of Viñales on Sunday. If we’re talking about the challenge of a new track too, Oliveira is the most recent winner at a new venue – twice. He did it at Portimao and then again at Mandalika, so we know the Portuguese rider isn’t averse to eating some adaptation for breakfast.
Reset & reload
For Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who arrives fresh from becoming a father, a new track is probably good news if it can offer that reset. Since impressing a whole lot earlier in the season, it’s been a tougher run for a few races and ‘Thriller’ wants to get back to doing just that. Fellow RC16 riders Pol Espargaro and Augusto Fernandez at GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 too, with the latter losing his run of scoring on every Sunday so far last time out. For a rookie though, a new venue could prove a real injection of opportunity, with rivals’ experience now solely that of their machinery and not the track.
At Yamaha, they’ll hope a new track brings new opportunity too. After Team Manager Massimo Meregalli praised their new engine at the Misano Test but Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) said he’d been expecting more all round, the dynamic remains an interesting one. Quartararo will certainly hope that the new layout will cut the deficit to those ahead as everyone races to get to grips with Buddh International Circuit, and teammate Franco Morbidelli will want to cut his own deficit… but he is now the only rider who’s scored every Sunday.
Grabbing the spotlight
For many reasons, the spotlight was on Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) at Misano. His Grand Prix race may have seen him come home in seventh, but it was some performance as he played all his cards right and finished some distance closer to the winner than the next Honda did to him. The other reasons? The rumour mill about Marquez’ future rolls on…
The next Honda home at Misano was Stefan Bradl on wildcard and testing duty though, so not a true metric, and this time round he’ll be at LCR Honda Castrol replacing Alex Rins. More data, more experience and more work once again goes into that road back to the top for Honda. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will want to show he’s got the measure of the German too. For Joan Mir, meanwhile, the mission is the same: rebuild. It’s been a tough season so far with injury and then a run of DNFs, and the Mayorcan could find that a new track proves a good new challenge as everyone takes on the same new turf at the same time.
SHOWTIME IN INDIA
The schedule and timezone are a little different for the IndianOil Grand Prix of India, so tune in for the main events…
Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:30 (GMT +5:30)
Grand Prix Race: Sunday 15:30 (GMT +5:30)
Acosta leads Moto2™ onto fresh turf
The perfect way to hit back after a couple of tougher rounds is to stamp some authority back on the front, and that’s exactly what Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) did in Misano. His lead increased once again, but now it’s a whole new challenge at Buddh International Circuit and it could be a full reset, with many of the key players arriving in some very different quandries.
Before Misano, Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) probably would have voted for that full reset, but the Italian was back in the podium fight on home turf and he’ll want to keep that going and use experience on the bike in his favour. Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) wants a whole lot more on turf never raced by his rivals though, and Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) needs to bounce back.
Austria winner and Misano podium finisher Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) wouldn’t be too upset with a continuing of the status quo as his form continues though, and Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) was back on that form as he returned to the rostrum for the first time since France. On a circuit new for everyone, however, could it be an opportunity for some of the fast faces who haven’t quite cracked the rostrum to make it work for them?
We’ll find out on Sunday at 13:45 (GMT +5:30) as the intermediate class take on the inaugural IndianOil Grand Prix of India!
Moto3™: India could prove a pivotal point in the fight for the crown
There are now five riders within 21 points and six within 29 in the fight for the 2023 Moto3™ crown, and Championship leader Daniel Holgado’s (Red Bull KTM Tech3) gap is now just four points ahead of closest challenger Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP). Next up it’s Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), then Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo), before David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) enters the chat in fifth. He was 46 points off the top before Misano, but after another stunning win it’s now just 21. Ivan Ortola (MTA Angeluss Team) is the rider sixth overall and he can’t be counted out either…
The good news for the newer faces on the grid is that the veterans don’t have any experience in India either. But the bad news is it’s the last venue that’s true of before a long, long run of flyaways that seem almost tailor made for the likes of Sasaki, Masia and Öncü. So India, with another 25 points in play, could truly prove crucial. Tune in for Moto3™’s debut in India this weekend, with lights out at 12:30 (GMT +5:30) on Sunday!
KYT Extends Congratulations to Xavi Fores for Clinching the 2023 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship
Press Release Issued and Sponsored By KYT
September 2023 – KYT Americas proudly congratulates Xavi Fores for his remarkable season in the 2023 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship. Fores demonstrated exceptional talent, skill, and determination throughout the season, ultimately securing the championship title in his first full year racing MotoAmerica’s Supersport class.
2023 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Xavi Fores (12). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy KYT Americas.
Riding for Warhorse HSBK Racing, the Spaniard’s journey to becoming the 2023 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion is a testament to his world class experience on the racetrack. His years racing World SBK, World Endurance and British Superbike set him apart early on as the racer to beat coming into the national series. Xavi’s record-breaking start to the season, winning the first eight races of the championship, gave him a strong advantage going into the last few rounds. After challenging races at Brainerd and Pittsburgh, he knew he had to deliver at COTA. A win in race one gave Xavi the championship with 357 points; an 86-point margin over second place.
KYT, known for their world class helmets, is proud to have played a role in ensuring Xavi’s safety on the track.
As Xavi Fores enjoys his championship win, KYT extends its gratitude to his team, fans, sponsors, and partners who have supported his exhilarating journey. Together, we look forward to witnessing more remarkable victories in the future.
For more information about KYT and its commitment to motorsport safety, please visit www.kytamericas.com.
About KYT: At KYT, we incorporate over two decades of experience in world-class competition into sleek, race-engineered helmets designed to protect and perform. Our designs offer optimal ventilation and aerodynamics while maintaining the highest level of crash protection. Since 1998, KYT’s intense focus on the competitive environment allows us to produce a helmet with quality and function designed to perform at the highest level of motorsports and performance. KYT America now brings its industry leading safety, style, and service to one of the most innovative motorcycle markets in the world.
Tremblay wins again, MacKay secures Sport Bike title in finale at SMP
Shannonville, ON – A tough weekend ended on a much happier tone for Alex Dumas, as he closed out the year with a start-to-finish victory in race three of the GP Bikes Pro Superbike class at the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship finale at Shannonville Motorsport Park.
With nothing but pride and stats left to play for in the last race of the year after the Canada Cup and Constructors Championship were clinched on Saturday, Dumas jumped out to an early lead on lap one and paced an exciting four-rider battle for majority of the contest, holding off champion Ben Young the entire way.
The victory was dominant but hardly easy, as Young followed close behind his rival for all 14 laps while both outlasted an early assault from Trevor Dion and Jordan Szoke.
Though the victory won’t make Dumas forget the crash that ruined his championship hopes on Friday, the Purple Skull Brewing/Liqui Moly Suzuki rider showed plenty of excitement – and perhaps relief – as he ended the weekend with a win.
“It’s been a hard weekend. Not at all the weekend we wanted, so it’s good to at least end it on a high note,” an emotional Dumas said. “I have to thank the team for putting together a really good program, and one that didn’t plan on being second. But it’s always nice to win the last race of the season, so now we’ll see what we can do next year.”
Dumas was back to his usual self on Sunday after an uncharacteristic stretch of rough performances, earning back some momentum he hopes will carry over into 2024.
As for Young, it was a quiet end to his spectacular 2023 comeback, making no attempt at an overtake as he followed Dumas start-to-finish to claim second. The Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW star didn’t necessarily need to add anything to his season resumé, though, after scoring five consecutive victories to clinch the championship on Saturday.
“Alex rode incredible today, and we knew he was going to be strong, so I didn’t really want to end the year by throwing myself down the road,” Young laughed. “We got what we came here for, so it was just risk vs reward today.”
While Dumas has made no illusions about his future, committing to his goal of recapturing the Canada Cup, the same cannot be said of Young after the three-time champ was coy about his 2024 plans.
“We’ll see. It’s tough to say, because there’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes than people realize, but we’re going to take it one step at a time,” Young said.
Regardless of what happens in the offseason, the era of Dumas vs Young already showed signs of being threatened this weekend, thanks in large part to the breakthrough performances of rookie Trevor Dion.
Piloting the Economy Lube and Tire/LDS Consultants Ducati for the first time this round, he completed the hat-trick of podiums on Sunday by claiming another third-place finish, though this was the most impressive one yet as he challenged Dumas and Young for the lead throughout the middle portion of the race.
“To finish the weekend up here on the box again is incredible, but what makes it even better is proving to myself that I can ride a Superbike at the front with these guys,” Dion said. “It’s been a tough year at times, but this Ducati has been a dream come true. I’m speechless.”
The 48-point weekend also proved to be more than enough to swing the Brooklin Cycle Racing Pro Rookie of the Year fight in his favour, as he clinched the award by moving to sixth in the overall championship, 17 points clear of John Fraser and Paul Macdonell.
Dion’s latest performance came after an exciting early battle with Jordan Szoke, as the pair of former teammates briefly traded places a couple of times before Dion made the move stick in turn three at the halfway point.
Szoke would settle in to a spectacular fourth, though, enough to secure the same spot for him in the championship as the 14-time champion ended a resilient year with top-five finishes in each of the eight races in which he took the chequered flag – also taking home the FAST School Hard Charger award for his efforts on Sunday.
The Canadian Kawasaki rider is expected to return for a 25th season in the Superbike class after celebrating his 150th career feature class race on Sunday, but admitted it’s not as guaranteed as years past.
“I’m an old racer still trying to make it happen,” Szoke joked. “I feel like I’m riding well, and it’s been a great end to the year for me. We’re taking some positive turns for 2024, so we’ll see how things go in the next few months.”
Rounding out the top-five for another day in a row was Sam Guerin, who this time avoided any setbacks on the back-straightaway but was caught up in another familiar battle with Trevor Daley.
Guerin managed to retaliate on Daley’s last-lap pass in the hairpin and put his EFC Group BMW fifth, a discreet end to his spectacular season as he finishes third in the championship, while Daley put in another superhuman effort to salvage sixth despite riding with a broken femur on his OneSpeed Suzuki.
Paul Macdonell would wind up seventh and add a bit of hardware to end the day, helping earn the Team of the Year award for the Acme Motorsports Yamaha crew in his first CSBK season.
The feature class will now get a deserved break as they enter the 2023-24 offseason, one that could be full of changes amongst the Pro Superbike stars following a wild and thrilling Bridgestone CSBK campaign.
Full results from the entire season can now be found on the series’ official website at CSBK.ca.
Tremblay wins again, MacKay secures Sport Bike title in finale at SMP
Shannonville, ON – The wait for David MacKay’s first national title is finally over, as he officially wrapped up the Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike championship in the last day of the Bridgestone CSBK season at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Sunday.
MacKay needed only to finish 14th or higher to seal the middleweight trophy, but there were still some nervous faces in the ODH Snow City Cycle Kawasaki team as title rival Matt Simpson took the lead on lap one and MacKay faded into a six-rider battle for second.
The concern was short-lived, though, as race one winner Sebastien Tremblay hunted down Simpson and snatched the race lead just as MacKay allowed a trio of riders through to settle into a more comfortable gap.
Simpson had just started to lose touch with Tremblay and come under fire from Elliot Vieira and Brad Macrae when a crash further down the order brought out the red flag, with MacKay fifth at the time of the stoppage.
That would prove to be the final result, as the race did not restart and Tremblay scored the victory, but the real celebrations would begin in MacKay’s pits as he clinched the only thing left missing from his impressive Sport Bike resumé after finishing as the title runner-up in each of the last two years.
“This is a long time coming. Long overdue,” MacKay said. “Every year this is the goal, but to finally accomplish it is a once in a lifetime feeling. Now we just get to celebrate!”
The long-time Sport Bike frontrunner wouldn’t confirm anything as he soaked in the moment, but left a slight hint about his future as many expect him to graduate to the feature Pro Superbike class instead of defending his #1 plate in 2024.
“So many people helped make this possible, so I’m happy to reward them and now we can move on to even bigger and better things,” MacKay said.
2023 Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike Champion David MacKay. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.
The trophy celebration overshadowed what was another incredible performance from Tremblay, who ended the year in red-hot form with a third consecutive victory and second in a row aboard the revamped Turcotte Performance Suzuki GSX-R750.
“It was a tough battle for me, as again I did not get a great start, but I was able to gradually fight my way through as the race went on,” Tremblay said. “It’s been a great weekend for us. Unfortunate to end it on a red flag, but happy to showcase an awesome bike in the 750.”
The win – the 12th of his Sport Bike career – also moves Tremblay one clear of Kenny Riedmann (who was in attendance at SMP) for fifth on the category’s all-time list, while he ties MacKay for tenth on the all-time podium list as well.
While Simpson’s title hopes were struck down in the last race of the year, the Blackstock Motorsports Yamaha rider was happy to end his breakout season on the podium in second as he builds towards another potential title challenge in 2024.
“We knew it would be hard to make the points up, but it’s been a great fight with David all year so we tried our best, and congrats to him,” Simpson said. “It’s obviously a bummer, but to come home second today and in the championship makes us pretty happy for the season.”
Completing the podium was Vieira, who continued his own streak of four consecutive podiums as he continues to come to grips with his GP Bikes Ducati.
“It hasn’t really been the year we wanted, but we’re glad to be up on the podium here again today,” Vieira said. “The bike is handling really well and we’re starting to get in a groove, so hopefully it can continue next year.”
The Suzuki-Yamaha-Ducati lineup on the podium means that Kawasaki’s record-breaking streak of 34 consecutive races on the box will finally end, a stretch dating back to St-Eustache in 2018, though they aren’t likely to lose sleep over it after MacKay helped secure the brands 15th Sport Bike crown and third in a row.
Just missing the podium was Macrae, who put all kinds of pressure on Vieira and briefly got past the Ducati rider before the red flag came out, leaving the Colron Excavating Yamaha team seventh in the final standings.
Double-amateur champion Mavrick Cyr was a notable star early in his pro debut, choosing to leave the amateur ranks early after clinching both titles on Saturday. The 18-year-old Rizzin Racing Triumph rider worked his way as high as sixth in the opening laps and in the podium mix before settling into a strong ninth in his maiden appearance.
2023 Bickle Racing Pro Twins Champion Andrew Van Winkle. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.
Another teenager who enjoyed a fantastic day was Andrew Van Winkle, who became the youngest pro champion in CSBK history by winning the Bickle Racing Pro Twins class race.
The 16-year-old FD Racing Suzuki star didn’t even need to enter on Sunday as he was four points clear of the injured and absent Jeff Williams, but added an exclamation point to his sensational year by beating veteran Hans Van Sleuwen as he celebrated the historic title from the top of the box.
“It was a hard few laps, and I actually had a few scary moments out there, but I’m up here to talk about it so it ended up okay,” he joked. “I’m really happy to win the race as well and excited to bring home the #1 plate.”
The Chilliwack, BC phenom said he was undecided on whether or not he would defend that championship, with a possible move to the front of the Sport Bike class on the horizon for the inaugural Twins champion.
The full results from Sunday’s final day of the Sport Bike and Twins season can be found on the series’ official website at CSBK.ca.
BOL D’OR BEST FOR YOSHIMURA SERT AS YART HOLDS ON FOR EWC TITLE GLORY
Yoshimura SERT Motul (12) won the Bol d’Or 24-hour FIM Endurance World Championship race. Photo courtesy FIM EWC.
*Suzuki-powered squad wins epic FIM Endurance World Championship season finale
*Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team lands overall EWC title joy in tense finish
*FIM Endurance World Cup goes to Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda after late drama
*Honda Viltaïs Racing beats BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team to runner-up spot
*Five motorcycle manufacturers in the top five underlines competitiveness of EWC
For immediate release (17 September 2023): Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team is the winner of the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship following a tense climax to the season at Circuit Paul Ricard this afternoon as Yoshimura SERT Motul won the 86th Bol d’Or.
Austria-based YART was one of six teams in EWC title contention starting the legendary 24-hour event, but it endured a nervy conclusion to the race due to a temperature issue that forced the team to make multiple pit stops for running repairs.
With defending champion F.C.C. TSR Honda France retiring at 03h30 following a technical failure and the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team dropping out of the lead fight due to two unscheduled pit visits, YART essentially needed a top-nine Formula EWC finish to secure the EWC’s biggest prize.
Running with a special livery to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Yamaha R1, the Bridgestone-equipped YART trio of Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika rode faultlessly, eventually finishing in fourth position to secure EWC gold, having held the race lead on numerous occasions.
“The team did an amazing job, I’m really proud of them and my team-mates were riding superbly,” said Czech Hanika, whose Yamaha was fully functioning at the finish. “Big thanks to Yamaha for this opportunity. Every rider participates in this championship because they want to win and that’s why we are here trying to do our best.”
Having experienced a season of more lows than highs, Yoshimura SERT Motul was determined to end the 2023 campaign on top of a race that would mark Sylvain Guintoli’s final EWC outing with Suzuki power. Despite Gregg Black and Étienne Masson competing as a duo for the final nine hours after Guintoli fell ill, Yoshimura SERT Motul triumphed by a clear margin. That was despite Black being one of eight riders to fall on oil at the end of the Mistral Straight this morning, which triggered a lengthy safety car period.
“It’s incredible,” said UK-born, France-based Black. “We’ve had a pretty hard season but we’ve been performing, so to finish the season like this with this result is just incredible. The team did a great job, my team-mates also. It was a hard one but we got it and we got the pace and we could win the Bol d’Or. We’re really happy.”
Honda Viltaïs Racing couldn’t quite repeat its Bol d’Or-winning heroics from 2022 but it did secure a season-best second as riders Florian Alt, Steven Odenaal and event rookie Leandro Mercado impressed on the Pirelli-shod #333 machine. BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, featuring Jérémy Guarnoni, Illya Mykhalchyk and Markus Reiterberger, completed the podium, its third top-three finish of the year.
Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar moved into fifth behind Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team when TATI Team Beringer Racing dropped out earlier this morning. The Kawasaki-powered TATI outfit had enjoyed a brief stint in the lead during the opening hour when it capitalised on its decision to use intermediate tyres for the rapidly drying conditions.
Having taken the coveted EWC crown at Circuit Paul Ricard 12 months ago, F.C.C. TSR Honda France hit trouble shortly before 3am when Mike Di Meglio was forced to push the #1 Honda after it stopped at the entrance to the pitlane. Despite its best efforts, the team was forced to retire with a terminal technical issue at 03h26. Along with team-mates Josh Hook and Alan Techer, Di Meglio knew hopes of another EWC title would be salvaged if its main rivals also stopped. In the event, it was a frustrating finish to an otherwise strong season.
Maco Racing Team beat Team LRP Poland to sixth place among the Formula EWC squads with Team Bolliger Switzerland, Moto-Ain and KM99 next up. Belgian outfit KM99, making its Bol d’Or debut, was in the top five when an electrical issue struck at 01h25.
Wójcik Racing Team’s #77 dropped out shortly after eight hours having been delayed by an electronic issue early in the race. Motobox Kremer Racing spent six minutes repairing its Yamaha after Christian Napoli was caught up in the multi-bike accident at Signes Corner.
Chas Davies stopped from the lead battle with 40 minutes of the race run to hand over to Xavi Forés. But his replacement was soon in trouble after a collision at the final corner left the Spaniard limping to the side of the track and his Ducati Pingale V4R suffering terminal damage. The incident led to an early safety car intervention.
DELIGHT FOR CHROMEBURNER-RAC41-HONDA, DESPAIR FOR NATIONAL MOTOS
There was Dunlop Superstock Trophy delight for Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda but despair for National Motos Honda, which lost the Bol d’Or category win and the FIM Endurance World Cup for Teams in the final hour after a technical fault struck.
Swiss brothers Sébastien and Valentin Suchet, plus Frenchman Guillaume Raymond were on course for double delight at Circuit Paul Ricard but their late heartache let in Kawasaki-powered Team 33 Louit April Moto for the race victory and Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda for the Superstock title.
Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore took third behind Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda with Pitlane Endurance – JP3 fourth, BMRT 3D Maxxess Nevers fifth and Wójcik Racing Team sixth followed by 3ART Best of Bike. OG Motorsport World Endurance Team was in third but slipped back as TRT27 Bazar 2 La Bécane also showed strong early form.
Having started the Bol d’Or in contention for Dunlop Superstock Trophy honours, Honda No Limits and Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team dropped out in the opening stages. The former was eliminated in a collision, while Kenny Foray had covered a little more than 30 minutes when engine failure forced the #9 into retirement. ADSS 97, Falcon Racing and Slider Endurance were also unable to go the distance.
More, from a press release issued by FIM:
Update following FIM EWC Bol d’Or
During the Post-Race Technical Inspection on 17 September following the 86th Bol d’Or Endurance Race, the motorcycle n°41 (Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda), which finished in seventh position, was subjected to a fuel tank capacity control by the FIM Technical Directors.
The control recorded a fuel tank overcapacity in contravention of article 2.7.6.10 of the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship and Cup Regulations.
As is required, additional fuel tank capacity controls were conducted with a fuel tank overcapacity also recorded.
The FIM EWC Stewards Panel convened to consider the evidence provided by the FIM Technical Directors and declared motorcycle n°41 did not conform to the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship and Cup Regulations and disqualified motorcycle n°41 from the results of the 86th Bol d’Or Endurance Race.
Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda did not appeal the decision of the FIM EWC Stewards Panel.
As such, the decision to disqualify motorcycle n°41 has been upheld and the positions of all other finishers will be reclassified, while points will be reallocated to the eligible finishers.
Mikayla Moore (78). Photo from 2023 by Brian J. Nelson.
2023 MotoAmerica Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. Champion Mikayla Moore will be competing in MotoAmerica Junior Cup this coming weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Moore will be joining forces with Elisa Gendron-Belen for the final round at New Jersey. This partnership started from a simple conversation at the Ruts to Racelines all-female track day event.
“We are elated to have Mikayla ride with us for her first event in Junior Cup,” said Karns Performance Racing Team Owner Jason Karns.
In addition, Jesse James Shedden is returning from racing in Italy and will be filling in for Chris Clark at the season finale. Jesse will be running the number 76. Keep your eye on this rising star.
“The team is very excited,” continued Karns. “We are looking forward to working with Jesse this upcoming weekend. He will be a welcomed addition to the team.”
Thank you to all our sponsors in helping to put this together: Karns Performance, Mecks Autobody, NG Brakes, Motorex oils, Armor body’s, Woodcraft cfm, TST industries, Vortex Racing.
Italian rider Filippo Rovelli is returning to race in MotoAmerica REV'IT! Twins Cup at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
WAGBAR MP13 RACING FIELDS TWO RACERS IN REV’IT! TWINS CUP!
Oceanside, CA (September 18, 2023) — The WagBar MP13 Racing Team is pleased to announce their plans for the MotoAmerica Season finale at New Jersey Motorsport Park this weekend.
Two riders will line up on the grid for the REV’IT! Twins Cup in Millville. Season-long WAGBAR MP13 racer Aiden Sneed (15) moves up from Junior Cup to try the larger displacement, higher horsepower class.
Italian sensation Filippo Rovelli also gets the call to return to the US. The 22-year-old made his MotoAmerica debut at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with a second-place finish. Both riders will be on MP13-prepared Yamaha R7’s.
Team Principal Melissa Paris said, “We are so happy to have an opportunity to move Aiden up to REV’IT! Twins Cup at New Jersey. The whole team has been so impressed with the work ethic, professionalism and determination he has shown all season in Junior Cup. With his height and skillset as a racer, we feel he is perfectly suited for Twins. And to have Rovelli, a proven podium contender, race with us this weekend gives the team a tremendous season-ending boost of enthusiasm. We are looking forward to a great Jersey round.”
Sneed says, “I’m super stoked to be racing in the Twins Cup class at New Jersey for the last MotoAmerica round. With twins being very competitive, I’ll be able to gain more knowledge from the different skill level of riders. I know the WagBar MP13 Yamaha R7 is very fast, and I’m hoping to show all of its potential.”
Rovelli commented, “I’m really excited to race in MotoAmerica for the last race of the Championship and really excited to do it with WagBar MP13 Racing team! I will do my best to do well, improve session from session knowing the track and get the feeling back with the Dunlop tires, and try to finish all the races in the podium!”
The WagBar MP13 Racing Team would like to thank WagBar, Great Lakes Supply, CSU One Cure, Yamaha, bLU cRU, Spears Enterprises, Beringer, Yoshimura, Capit, Ohlins, GHD Designs, Vortex, Attack Performance, SBS Brakes, Maxima, Dunlop, and J4rce.
Cameron Petersen (45) leads Danilo Petrucci (9), Jake Gagne (1), Hector Barbera (80), Mathew Scholtz (11), PJ Jacobsen (66), Jake Lewis (85), and the rest of the MotoAmerica Superbike field into NJMP's Turn One in 2022. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
The 2023 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Road Racing Series finale will be held September 22-24 on the 2.25-mile, 12-turn Thunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), in Millville, New Jersey. And while some of the Championship battles have already been decided, some others will still on the line at one of MotoAmerica’s most convenient venues.
NJMP has been hosting America’s premier motorcycle road racing series since 2009, shortly after it was opened at the end of 2008. It is located on 500 acres immediately adjacent to Millville Airport, which started out as Millville Army Airfield in 1941, at the onset of World War II (WWII). Here, U.S. Army pilots were trained to fly P-47 fighter planes, which were nicknamed Thunderbolts, hence the naming of NJMP’s primary course. NJMP also has a 1.9-mile track named Lightning Raceway, after the P-38 Lightning fighter plane from WWII, and the Liberator karting/mini-bike course, named after the B-24 Liberator bomber from WWII.
Thunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Photo courtesy NJMP.
Millville is a relatively small town located less than an hour from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 45 minutes from Atlantic City, New Jersey; 120 miles from New York City, New York; and about 140 miles from the Washington, D.C. area, making the track easily accessible for the many people who come to spectate — or operate their own vehicles during track days — at the venue each and every year.
Lodging choices for those traveling to NJMP abound, including overnight rentals in the Villas of Breighton and VIP Suites located right on NJMP property with trackside views, and hotels rooms to suit all tastes and budgets are just minutes away in Millville and its neighboring communities. Trackside RV camping and tent camping are also available for the MotoAmerica weekend.
Trackside Villas and Exotic Car Garages at New Jersey Motorsports Park, as seen from the racetrack. Photo courtesy NJMP.
Access to all the action starts with tickets to the MotoAmerica event, which range from General Admission (single-day to three-day), VIP Hospitality, Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary VIP, to the Dunlop ECSTAR Suzuki Two-Seat Superbike Experience ticket package, which includes a thrilling ride around the racetrack on the back of a Superbike piloted by retired Pro racer Chris Ulrich. Fans can also ride their own motorcycles around the track during the Harley-Davidson Parade Laps and the Cardo Parade Lap. U.S. military veterans are eligible for discounted prices on tickets, and kids 12 and under get into the event free with a paying adult. Restrictions apply.
Chris Ulrich giving a ride on the Dunlop ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R two-seat Superbike earlier this season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
One of the best things for fans attending races at NJMP is that all of the activities at the event are within a short walk of everything else and all within view of the racetrack. The race paddock, team garages, Victory Circle, vendors, demo rides, stunt shows, bike shows, concession stands, and Kids Zone featuring free carnival rides and games are all located within the perimeter of the track. And every MotoAmerica event includes the free Dunlop Hot Pit Walk and Autograph Session with all of the riders at one time on Sunday.
A young fan taking a photo with Superbike racer Josh Herrin earlier this season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
On the track, the Medallia Superbike, Supersport, Mission King Of The Baggers, Junior Cup, and REV’IT! Twins Cup classes will each have their final two races of 2023. The titles have been decided in Superbike (Jake Gagne), Supersport (Xavi Fores), and Junior Cup (Avery Dreher), but the hotly contested Championships in King Of The Baggers and Twins Cup will be decided at NJMP.
Kyle Wyman (33), Hayden Gillim (79), Travis Wyman (10), and the rest of the MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers field heads into Turn Five at Road America earlier this season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.
In King Of The Baggers, Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson’s Hayden Gillim holds a slim two-point lead over his teammate James Rispoli and an 11-point lead over Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson’s 2021 Champion Kyle Wyman putting the title within reach of all three men. And while they are out of title contention, defending Champion Tyler O’Hara, his Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian teammate Jeremy McWilliams, and Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands Design Indian’s Bobby Fong will be looking to steal some of the Harley-Davidson riders’ glory at the finale.
In REV’IT! Twins Cup, Rodio Racing Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia’s Gus Rodio, who lives just up the road in Hammonton, New Jersey, leads the standings by only eight points over N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto Yamaha’s Blake Davis and by 14 points over his own teammate Rocco Landers with 50 points still available to earn in New Jersey. But the class, which features young talent hoping to showcase themselves and move up the racing hierarchy, will also include Jackson Blackmon, Ben Gloddy, Hayden Schultz, the class debut of Avery Dreher, and the return of American Flat Track (AFT) star Dallas Daniels at this round.
In addition, the MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup by Motul series will wrap up its 2023 season with a doubleheader event on the Liberator track this coming weekend.
The MotoAmerica action starts with practice and qualifying on Friday, followed by final qualifying sessions on Saturday morning and the first races on Saturday afternoon, and the final MotoAmerica races of 2023 take place on Sunday afternoon. Get tickets and more information HERE.
More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:
MotoAmerica’s Season Finale At New Jersey Motorsports Park Has It All
The Final Round Of The MotoAmerica Championship In New Jersey Is Brimming With Fan Activity, September 22-24
IRVINE, CA (September 18, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, will throw out its “Welcome” mat to fans one last time in 2023 with the series visiting New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, for its finale, September 22-24.
MotoAmerica’s season finale will take place at New Jersey Motorsports Park, September 22-24, and will be chock full of fan activity in addition to the on-track racing. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Inarguably the most fan-friendly motorsport championship in the country, MotoAmerica spectators are given the opportunity to roam freely between the paddock area (which is home to the teams that make up the series), and the abundance of spectator areas that the popular 2.25-mile Thunderbolt Raceway provides.
The open paddock is a fan’s delight as it allows spectators to roam freely from team to team where they can watch crews doing everything from complete rebuilds to fine tuning the motorcycles that compete in all five of the MotoAmerica classes racing at NJMP – Medallia Superbike, REV’IT! Twins Cup, Mission King Of The Baggers, Junior Cup and Supersport.
It’s also in the paddock where spectators get the chance to mingle with their favorite riders as they are out and about throughout the weekend and happy to catch up with their fans. If you miss them on Friday and Saturday, you can most definitely find them for a photo and/or an autographed poster during the popular Dunlop Hot Pit Walk and Autograph session that’s held on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Although you won’t find closer on-track racing than in the MotoAmerica Championship, including a Mission King Of The Baggers title chase that will likely not be decided until the last lap of the final race of the year on Sunday afternoon, there’s also plenty of rapid-fire entertainment off the track, and the activities at NJMP are the most plentiful of the season.
Here’s a rundown of the off-track activities at NJMP for the season finale:
Off-track action promises to be every bit as exciting with everything from DJ Vader spinning vinyl all three days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., which coincides with the Clutch Control Moto Show that will also be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all three days.
Friday will kick off three days of the 1 Wheel Revolution Stunt Show with three shows scheduled for Friday (12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.), Saturday (11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.).
Beginning on Saturday, MotoAmerica’s youngest fans can check out the free carnival that opens at 10 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Demo rides from Yamaha and CF Moto will also take place on both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for licensed motorcyclists wanting to do more than just kick tires.
For those riding their own motorcycles to the track, the Harley-Davidson parade laps are scheduled for 11:45 a.m. on Saturday and 10:30 a.m. on Sunday with Cardo guests joining in on the Sunday ride. Staging for the rides will be at the turn-one end of the paddock near the medical center 45 minutes before the scheduled ride on Saturday (11 a.m.) and 30 minutes prior on Sunday (10:30 a.m.) at the same location.
The ShowoutBoyz Stunt Show gets rolling on Saturday with two shows scheduled for noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. On Sunday, the shows are slated for 10:30 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.
More kids’ stuff: the AllKidsBike Strider Zone will be open all three days, beginning on Friday from noon to 4 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, youngsters can ride the bikes again from Noon to 4 p.m.
Those wanting to check out the bikes in the V-Twin Visionary Show can do so throughout the weekend with judging taking place at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday with awards to be handed out an hour later at 3:30 p.m.
VIP Ticket Holders will get the chance to go out to the starting grid for the first of two Mission King Of The Baggers races on Saturday at 3:50 p.m. prior to the start of the race.
The mega Clutch Control Pool Party will take place at the Finish Line Pub from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday night and will feature music by DJ Vader. The party is open to the public and is hosted by the one and only Allen Lane.
The final day of racing on Sunday at NJMP will feature the Dunlop Hot Pit Walk and Autograph Session from 11 to 11:45 a.m.
VIP Ticket Holders will get another shot at a grid walk and this one will be held prior to Medallia Superbike race two at 2:50 p.m.
The weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park will conclude on Sunday afternoon with the series finale of the Mission King Of The Baggers Championship, and the race is scheduled to start at 4:05 p.m.
In addition to the five classes of MotoAmerica racing taking place on the big track, make sure you head over to the karting facility to watch the youngest of the MotoAmerica racers competing in the Mission Mini Cup By Motul races on Friday and Saturday afternoon. See if you can spot the next Superstar. Practice and qualifying takes place throughout the day with the youngsters starting their racing program at 3 p.m. on Friday and 2:20 p.m. on Saturday.
For the complete MotoAmerica fan-activity schedule, click HERE
For the complete MotoAmerica race schedule, click HERE
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.
2023 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion Avery Dreher. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Bad Boys Racing is excited to announce that 2023 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, Avery Dreher, will be pulling double duty at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Dreher will join in the MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup field on a Blackmon Racing/Finishline Machine-prepared Yamaha R7 for the season finale in addition to his Junior Cup duties on the Bad Boys Racking Kawasaki Ninja 400.
The 17-year-old Rockledge, Florida, native has a breakout year in 2023 with podium finishes in eight out of 10 Junior Cup races (including six wins) so far. Dreher successfully secured his first MotoAmerica Championship at the conclusion of Race Two in Pittsburg and is looking to prepare for a move up in classes next year!
John Ludwig – Team Manager of Bad Boys Racing: “We are crazy excited to be able to put this ride together for Avery. Honestly, I think we almost owe it to him after the stellar year he has had so far. Avery has worked extremely hard, on and off the track, to get his abilities to this level. With our 2023 championship in the books already, the timing is perfect to see what he can do next”
Avery Dreher: “I look forward to the challenge and am excited to learn a new machine. This wouldn’t be possible without Chuck and Jackson Blackmon prepping a bike for me on short notice. I also need to thank everyone who has supported me and gotten me to this point. Jersey is going to be a lot of fun this year.”
MotoAmerica/American Flat Track racers Corey Alexander and James Rispoli are excited to announce the release of Episode 10 of their Pipe Dreams Podcast, featuring Patrick “PJ” Jacobsen, a recent MotoAmerica Superbike race winner, World Supersport Championship runner-up, Suzuka 8-Hours vice champion, and MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up.
PJ was born in New York but spent most of his upbringing from the age of three on at racetracks across the United States and eventually around the world. He began his journey by claiming dozens of national dirt track racing championships before transitioning to asphalt and pursuing his dreams in Europe. Over the past 20 years, he has raced against some of the world’s best motorcycling talents.
Now, at 30 years old and fresh off of his first MotoAmerica Superbike victory, PJ sat down with us to share his journey, as well as some of the mysteries that have left many wondering who he really is and what makes him such an incredibly talented rider. We hope you enjoy!
Available on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, the tenth full episode with PJ launches today. Video of the episode can be viewed on Spotify and YouTube.
About Pipe Dreams Podcast:
Pipe Dreams Podcast launched in 2023 by MotoAmerica and American Flat Track riders Corey Alexander and James Rispoli in an effort to share the stories of fellow racers and motorsport professionals around the world. The podcast releases twice per month for streaming on all major platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube. Editing is curated by Sabotno Media. Follow @pipedreams_pod on social media or visit https://anchor.fm/pipe-dreams to listen now.
Buddh International Circuit near New Delhi, India. Photo courtesy Buddh International Circuit.
New challenges. New horizons. MotoGP™ touches down in India!
A new adventure for all and the start of a pivotal run in the fight for the 2023 crown. Who’s coming out on top in India?
Monday, 18 September 2023
This is it. The fight for the 2023 crown is about to ramp up to an incredible finale, and it all starts with a whole new adventure for everyone: India. Buddh International Circuit welcomes the world’s most exciting sport for the first ever IndianOil Grand Prix of India, organised by Fairstreet Sports, and there is everything to play for.
The dynamic at the top
A whole new venue is a reset of sorts, and after that crash in Barcelona saw reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) riding through the pain barrier on home turf at Misano, the title fight is also a little closer as Pecco now sits only 36 points clear of Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing). So will the #1 remain so at a new track? His modus operandi has often been building his speed and performance, improving those details over time until he’s seemed untouchable. So it will be an interesting race between Bagnaia and Martin to see who can adapt the quickest, especially as Martin arrives from a near-perfect weekend.
Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) wasn’t at full tilt at Misano either though and he’ll want to seize the opportunity to take a new track by the horns, as will Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who is no stranger to that himself. The South African may see Buddh International Circuit as a big opportunity to hit back after a disappointing Sunday at Misano. It wasn’t overall for KTM though, and they had some goodies at the test as the orange push continues to gain momentum overall.
Opportunities abound
One thing that may play in Ducati’s favour at a new track is also data. With eight bikes, although not all the GP23, there’s information at their fingertips. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) will want some of that as the Frenchman looks for a lot more form, and it was a tougher weekend at Misano for Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), who then topped the test, and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) too. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) also seemed to lose some ground he’d made up. On the other side of the Ducati Lenovo Team box we know we won’t have Enea Bastianini on duty either, with Michele Pirro likely called up now he’s off wildcard duty. Can the Ducati armada hit the ground running?
Speaking of data, Aprilia certainly have more of that now they’ve got four bikes on the grid. Misano saw a complete switcharound though as Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) went from doing the double to struggling to get into the top ten as the last Noale machine home on Sunday, with teammate Maverick Viñales leading the charge and making the difference as he’d promised on Thursday. In terms of Aleix’s ascent up the Championship that’s not ideal, but the bike had that pace so that’s another big positive.
The 2022 machine also had pace in the hands of Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) and teammate Raul Fernandez, which is more good news. Raul Fernandez took his best result yet in an impressive P8, and Oliveira has been on a solid run since much of the rest of the grid decided to let him race in peace. He was hot on the heels of Viñales on Sunday. If we’re talking about the challenge of a new track too, Oliveira is the most recent winner at a new venue – twice. He did it at Portimao and then again at Mandalika, so we know the Portuguese rider isn’t averse to eating some adaptation for breakfast.
Reset & reload
For Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who arrives fresh from becoming a father, a new track is probably good news if it can offer that reset. Since impressing a whole lot earlier in the season, it’s been a tougher run for a few races and ‘Thriller’ wants to get back to doing just that. Fellow RC16 riders Pol Espargaro and Augusto Fernandez at GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 too, with the latter losing his run of scoring on every Sunday so far last time out. For a rookie though, a new venue could prove a real injection of opportunity, with rivals’ experience now solely that of their machinery and not the track.
At Yamaha, they’ll hope a new track brings new opportunity too. After Team Manager Massimo Meregalli praised their new engine at the Misano Test but Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) said he’d been expecting more all round, the dynamic remains an interesting one. Quartararo will certainly hope that the new layout will cut the deficit to those ahead as everyone races to get to grips with Buddh International Circuit, and teammate Franco Morbidelli will want to cut his own deficit… but he is now the only rider who’s scored every Sunday.
Grabbing the spotlight
For many reasons, the spotlight was on Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) at Misano. His Grand Prix race may have seen him come home in seventh, but it was some performance as he played all his cards right and finished some distance closer to the winner than the next Honda did to him. The other reasons? The rumour mill about Marquez’ future rolls on…
The next Honda home at Misano was Stefan Bradl on wildcard and testing duty though, so not a true metric, and this time round he’ll be at LCR Honda Castrol replacing Alex Rins. More data, more experience and more work once again goes into that road back to the top for Honda. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will want to show he’s got the measure of the German too. For Joan Mir, meanwhile, the mission is the same: rebuild. It’s been a tough season so far with injury and then a run of DNFs, and the Mayorcan could find that a new track proves a good new challenge as everyone takes on the same new turf at the same time.
SHOWTIME IN INDIA
The schedule and timezone are a little different for the IndianOil Grand Prix of India, so tune in for the main events…
Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:30 (GMT +5:30)
Grand Prix Race: Sunday 15:30 (GMT +5:30)
Acosta leads Moto2™ onto fresh turf
The perfect way to hit back after a couple of tougher rounds is to stamp some authority back on the front, and that’s exactly what Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) did in Misano. His lead increased once again, but now it’s a whole new challenge at Buddh International Circuit and it could be a full reset, with many of the key players arriving in some very different quandries.
Before Misano, Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) probably would have voted for that full reset, but the Italian was back in the podium fight on home turf and he’ll want to keep that going and use experience on the bike in his favour. Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) wants a whole lot more on turf never raced by his rivals though, and Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) needs to bounce back.
Austria winner and Misano podium finisher Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) wouldn’t be too upset with a continuing of the status quo as his form continues though, and Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) was back on that form as he returned to the rostrum for the first time since France. On a circuit new for everyone, however, could it be an opportunity for some of the fast faces who haven’t quite cracked the rostrum to make it work for them?
We’ll find out on Sunday at 13:45 (GMT +5:30) as the intermediate class take on the inaugural IndianOil Grand Prix of India!
Moto3™: India could prove a pivotal point in the fight for the crown
There are now five riders within 21 points and six within 29 in the fight for the 2023 Moto3™ crown, and Championship leader Daniel Holgado’s (Red Bull KTM Tech3) gap is now just four points ahead of closest challenger Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP). Next up it’s Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), then Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo), before David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) enters the chat in fifth. He was 46 points off the top before Misano, but after another stunning win it’s now just 21. Ivan Ortola (MTA Angeluss Team) is the rider sixth overall and he can’t be counted out either…
The good news for the newer faces on the grid is that the veterans don’t have any experience in India either. But the bad news is it’s the last venue that’s true of before a long, long run of flyaways that seem almost tailor made for the likes of Sasaki, Masia and Öncü. So India, with another 25 points in play, could truly prove crucial. Tune in for Moto3™’s debut in India this weekend, with lights out at 12:30 (GMT +5:30) on Sunday!
KYT Extends Congratulations to Xavi Fores for Clinching the 2023 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship
Press Release Issued and Sponsored By KYT
September 2023 – KYT Americas proudly congratulates Xavi Fores for his remarkable season in the 2023 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship. Fores demonstrated exceptional talent, skill, and determination throughout the season, ultimately securing the championship title in his first full year racing MotoAmerica’s Supersport class.
2023 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Xavi Fores (12). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy KYT Americas.
Riding for Warhorse HSBK Racing, the Spaniard’s journey to becoming the 2023 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion is a testament to his world class experience on the racetrack. His years racing World SBK, World Endurance and British Superbike set him apart early on as the racer to beat coming into the national series. Xavi’s record-breaking start to the season, winning the first eight races of the championship, gave him a strong advantage going into the last few rounds. After challenging races at Brainerd and Pittsburgh, he knew he had to deliver at COTA. A win in race one gave Xavi the championship with 357 points; an 86-point margin over second place.
KYT, known for their world class helmets, is proud to have played a role in ensuring Xavi’s safety on the track.
As Xavi Fores enjoys his championship win, KYT extends its gratitude to his team, fans, sponsors, and partners who have supported his exhilarating journey. Together, we look forward to witnessing more remarkable victories in the future.
For more information about KYT and its commitment to motorsport safety, please visit www.kytamericas.com.
About KYT: At KYT, we incorporate over two decades of experience in world-class competition into sleek, race-engineered helmets designed to protect and perform. Our designs offer optimal ventilation and aerodynamics while maintaining the highest level of crash protection. Since 1998, KYT’s intense focus on the competitive environment allows us to produce a helmet with quality and function designed to perform at the highest level of motorsports and performance. KYT America now brings its industry leading safety, style, and service to one of the most innovative motorcycle markets in the world.
Alex Dumas (23) finished off the 2023 season in style, leading Sunday's GP Bikes Pro Superbike race from start to finish at Shannonville Motorsport Park ahead of newly crowned 2023 CSBK champion Ben Young (1) in second and Trevor Dion (20) in third. Jordan Szoke (101) finished fourth. Photo by Rob O'Brien, courtesy CSBK.
Tremblay wins again, MacKay secures Sport Bike title in finale at SMP
Shannonville, ON – A tough weekend ended on a much happier tone for Alex Dumas, as he closed out the year with a start-to-finish victory in race three of the GP Bikes Pro Superbike class at the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship finale at Shannonville Motorsport Park.
With nothing but pride and stats left to play for in the last race of the year after the Canada Cup and Constructors Championship were clinched on Saturday, Dumas jumped out to an early lead on lap one and paced an exciting four-rider battle for majority of the contest, holding off champion Ben Young the entire way.
The victory was dominant but hardly easy, as Young followed close behind his rival for all 14 laps while both outlasted an early assault from Trevor Dion and Jordan Szoke.
Though the victory won’t make Dumas forget the crash that ruined his championship hopes on Friday, the Purple Skull Brewing/Liqui Moly Suzuki rider showed plenty of excitement – and perhaps relief – as he ended the weekend with a win.
“It’s been a hard weekend. Not at all the weekend we wanted, so it’s good to at least end it on a high note,” an emotional Dumas said. “I have to thank the team for putting together a really good program, and one that didn’t plan on being second. But it’s always nice to win the last race of the season, so now we’ll see what we can do next year.”
Dumas was back to his usual self on Sunday after an uncharacteristic stretch of rough performances, earning back some momentum he hopes will carry over into 2024.
As for Young, it was a quiet end to his spectacular 2023 comeback, making no attempt at an overtake as he followed Dumas start-to-finish to claim second. The Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW star didn’t necessarily need to add anything to his season resumé, though, after scoring five consecutive victories to clinch the championship on Saturday.
“Alex rode incredible today, and we knew he was going to be strong, so I didn’t really want to end the year by throwing myself down the road,” Young laughed. “We got what we came here for, so it was just risk vs reward today.”
While Dumas has made no illusions about his future, committing to his goal of recapturing the Canada Cup, the same cannot be said of Young after the three-time champ was coy about his 2024 plans.
“We’ll see. It’s tough to say, because there’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes than people realize, but we’re going to take it one step at a time,” Young said.
Regardless of what happens in the offseason, the era of Dumas vs Young already showed signs of being threatened this weekend, thanks in large part to the breakthrough performances of rookie Trevor Dion.
Piloting the Economy Lube and Tire/LDS Consultants Ducati for the first time this round, he completed the hat-trick of podiums on Sunday by claiming another third-place finish, though this was the most impressive one yet as he challenged Dumas and Young for the lead throughout the middle portion of the race.
“To finish the weekend up here on the box again is incredible, but what makes it even better is proving to myself that I can ride a Superbike at the front with these guys,” Dion said. “It’s been a tough year at times, but this Ducati has been a dream come true. I’m speechless.”
The 48-point weekend also proved to be more than enough to swing the Brooklin Cycle Racing Pro Rookie of the Year fight in his favour, as he clinched the award by moving to sixth in the overall championship, 17 points clear of John Fraser and Paul Macdonell.
Dion’s latest performance came after an exciting early battle with Jordan Szoke, as the pair of former teammates briefly traded places a couple of times before Dion made the move stick in turn three at the halfway point.
Szoke would settle in to a spectacular fourth, though, enough to secure the same spot for him in the championship as the 14-time champion ended a resilient year with top-five finishes in each of the eight races in which he took the chequered flag – also taking home the FAST School Hard Charger award for his efforts on Sunday.
The Canadian Kawasaki rider is expected to return for a 25th season in the Superbike class after celebrating his 150th career feature class race on Sunday, but admitted it’s not as guaranteed as years past.
“I’m an old racer still trying to make it happen,” Szoke joked. “I feel like I’m riding well, and it’s been a great end to the year for me. We’re taking some positive turns for 2024, so we’ll see how things go in the next few months.”
Rounding out the top-five for another day in a row was Sam Guerin, who this time avoided any setbacks on the back-straightaway but was caught up in another familiar battle with Trevor Daley.
Guerin managed to retaliate on Daley’s last-lap pass in the hairpin and put his EFC Group BMW fifth, a discreet end to his spectacular season as he finishes third in the championship, while Daley put in another superhuman effort to salvage sixth despite riding with a broken femur on his OneSpeed Suzuki.
Paul Macdonell would wind up seventh and add a bit of hardware to end the day, helping earn the Team of the Year award for the Acme Motorsports Yamaha crew in his first CSBK season.
The feature class will now get a deserved break as they enter the 2023-24 offseason, one that could be full of changes amongst the Pro Superbike stars following a wild and thrilling Bridgestone CSBK campaign.
Full results from the entire season can now be found on the series’ official website at CSBK.ca.
Sebastien Tremblay (24) won Sunday's shortened Pro Sport Bike race over Matt Simpson (91) as the CSBK season wrapped up this weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park. Photo by Rob O'Brien, courtesy CSBK.
Tremblay wins again, MacKay secures Sport Bike title in finale at SMP
Shannonville, ON – The wait for David MacKay’s first national title is finally over, as he officially wrapped up the Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike championship in the last day of the Bridgestone CSBK season at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Sunday.
MacKay needed only to finish 14th or higher to seal the middleweight trophy, but there were still some nervous faces in the ODH Snow City Cycle Kawasaki team as title rival Matt Simpson took the lead on lap one and MacKay faded into a six-rider battle for second.
The concern was short-lived, though, as race one winner Sebastien Tremblay hunted down Simpson and snatched the race lead just as MacKay allowed a trio of riders through to settle into a more comfortable gap.
Simpson had just started to lose touch with Tremblay and come under fire from Elliot Vieira and Brad Macrae when a crash further down the order brought out the red flag, with MacKay fifth at the time of the stoppage.
That would prove to be the final result, as the race did not restart and Tremblay scored the victory, but the real celebrations would begin in MacKay’s pits as he clinched the only thing left missing from his impressive Sport Bike resumé after finishing as the title runner-up in each of the last two years.
“This is a long time coming. Long overdue,” MacKay said. “Every year this is the goal, but to finally accomplish it is a once in a lifetime feeling. Now we just get to celebrate!”
The long-time Sport Bike frontrunner wouldn’t confirm anything as he soaked in the moment, but left a slight hint about his future as many expect him to graduate to the feature Pro Superbike class instead of defending his #1 plate in 2024.
“So many people helped make this possible, so I’m happy to reward them and now we can move on to even bigger and better things,” MacKay said.
2023 Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike Champion David MacKay. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.
The trophy celebration overshadowed what was another incredible performance from Tremblay, who ended the year in red-hot form with a third consecutive victory and second in a row aboard the revamped Turcotte Performance Suzuki GSX-R750.
“It was a tough battle for me, as again I did not get a great start, but I was able to gradually fight my way through as the race went on,” Tremblay said. “It’s been a great weekend for us. Unfortunate to end it on a red flag, but happy to showcase an awesome bike in the 750.”
The win – the 12th of his Sport Bike career – also moves Tremblay one clear of Kenny Riedmann (who was in attendance at SMP) for fifth on the category’s all-time list, while he ties MacKay for tenth on the all-time podium list as well.
While Simpson’s title hopes were struck down in the last race of the year, the Blackstock Motorsports Yamaha rider was happy to end his breakout season on the podium in second as he builds towards another potential title challenge in 2024.
“We knew it would be hard to make the points up, but it’s been a great fight with David all year so we tried our best, and congrats to him,” Simpson said. “It’s obviously a bummer, but to come home second today and in the championship makes us pretty happy for the season.”
Completing the podium was Vieira, who continued his own streak of four consecutive podiums as he continues to come to grips with his GP Bikes Ducati.
“It hasn’t really been the year we wanted, but we’re glad to be up on the podium here again today,” Vieira said. “The bike is handling really well and we’re starting to get in a groove, so hopefully it can continue next year.”
The Suzuki-Yamaha-Ducati lineup on the podium means that Kawasaki’s record-breaking streak of 34 consecutive races on the box will finally end, a stretch dating back to St-Eustache in 2018, though they aren’t likely to lose sleep over it after MacKay helped secure the brands 15th Sport Bike crown and third in a row.
Just missing the podium was Macrae, who put all kinds of pressure on Vieira and briefly got past the Ducati rider before the red flag came out, leaving the Colron Excavating Yamaha team seventh in the final standings.
Double-amateur champion Mavrick Cyr was a notable star early in his pro debut, choosing to leave the amateur ranks early after clinching both titles on Saturday. The 18-year-old Rizzin Racing Triumph rider worked his way as high as sixth in the opening laps and in the podium mix before settling into a strong ninth in his maiden appearance.
2023 Bickle Racing Pro Twins Champion Andrew Van Winkle. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.
Another teenager who enjoyed a fantastic day was Andrew Van Winkle, who became the youngest pro champion in CSBK history by winning the Bickle Racing Pro Twins class race.
The 16-year-old FD Racing Suzuki star didn’t even need to enter on Sunday as he was four points clear of the injured and absent Jeff Williams, but added an exclamation point to his sensational year by beating veteran Hans Van Sleuwen as he celebrated the historic title from the top of the box.
“It was a hard few laps, and I actually had a few scary moments out there, but I’m up here to talk about it so it ended up okay,” he joked. “I’m really happy to win the race as well and excited to bring home the #1 plate.”
The Chilliwack, BC phenom said he was undecided on whether or not he would defend that championship, with a possible move to the front of the Sport Bike class on the horizon for the inaugural Twins champion.
The full results from Sunday’s final day of the Sport Bike and Twins season can be found on the series’ official website at CSBK.ca.
BOL D’OR BEST FOR YOSHIMURA SERT AS YART HOLDS ON FOR EWC TITLE GLORY
Yoshimura SERT Motul (12) won the Bol d’Or 24-hour FIM Endurance World Championship race. Photo courtesy FIM EWC.
*Suzuki-powered squad wins epic FIM Endurance World Championship season finale
*Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team lands overall EWC title joy in tense finish
*FIM Endurance World Cup goes to Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda after late drama
*Honda Viltaïs Racing beats BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team to runner-up spot
*Five motorcycle manufacturers in the top five underlines competitiveness of EWC
For immediate release (17 September 2023): Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team is the winner of the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship following a tense climax to the season at Circuit Paul Ricard this afternoon as Yoshimura SERT Motul won the 86th Bol d’Or.
Austria-based YART was one of six teams in EWC title contention starting the legendary 24-hour event, but it endured a nervy conclusion to the race due to a temperature issue that forced the team to make multiple pit stops for running repairs.
With defending champion F.C.C. TSR Honda France retiring at 03h30 following a technical failure and the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team dropping out of the lead fight due to two unscheduled pit visits, YART essentially needed a top-nine Formula EWC finish to secure the EWC’s biggest prize.
Running with a special livery to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Yamaha R1, the Bridgestone-equipped YART trio of Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika rode faultlessly, eventually finishing in fourth position to secure EWC gold, having held the race lead on numerous occasions.
“The team did an amazing job, I’m really proud of them and my team-mates were riding superbly,” said Czech Hanika, whose Yamaha was fully functioning at the finish. “Big thanks to Yamaha for this opportunity. Every rider participates in this championship because they want to win and that’s why we are here trying to do our best.”
Having experienced a season of more lows than highs, Yoshimura SERT Motul was determined to end the 2023 campaign on top of a race that would mark Sylvain Guintoli’s final EWC outing with Suzuki power. Despite Gregg Black and Étienne Masson competing as a duo for the final nine hours after Guintoli fell ill, Yoshimura SERT Motul triumphed by a clear margin. That was despite Black being one of eight riders to fall on oil at the end of the Mistral Straight this morning, which triggered a lengthy safety car period.
“It’s incredible,” said UK-born, France-based Black. “We’ve had a pretty hard season but we’ve been performing, so to finish the season like this with this result is just incredible. The team did a great job, my team-mates also. It was a hard one but we got it and we got the pace and we could win the Bol d’Or. We’re really happy.”
Honda Viltaïs Racing couldn’t quite repeat its Bol d’Or-winning heroics from 2022 but it did secure a season-best second as riders Florian Alt, Steven Odenaal and event rookie Leandro Mercado impressed on the Pirelli-shod #333 machine. BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, featuring Jérémy Guarnoni, Illya Mykhalchyk and Markus Reiterberger, completed the podium, its third top-three finish of the year.
Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar moved into fifth behind Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team when TATI Team Beringer Racing dropped out earlier this morning. The Kawasaki-powered TATI outfit had enjoyed a brief stint in the lead during the opening hour when it capitalised on its decision to use intermediate tyres for the rapidly drying conditions.
Having taken the coveted EWC crown at Circuit Paul Ricard 12 months ago, F.C.C. TSR Honda France hit trouble shortly before 3am when Mike Di Meglio was forced to push the #1 Honda after it stopped at the entrance to the pitlane. Despite its best efforts, the team was forced to retire with a terminal technical issue at 03h26. Along with team-mates Josh Hook and Alan Techer, Di Meglio knew hopes of another EWC title would be salvaged if its main rivals also stopped. In the event, it was a frustrating finish to an otherwise strong season.
Maco Racing Team beat Team LRP Poland to sixth place among the Formula EWC squads with Team Bolliger Switzerland, Moto-Ain and KM99 next up. Belgian outfit KM99, making its Bol d’Or debut, was in the top five when an electrical issue struck at 01h25.
Wójcik Racing Team’s #77 dropped out shortly after eight hours having been delayed by an electronic issue early in the race. Motobox Kremer Racing spent six minutes repairing its Yamaha after Christian Napoli was caught up in the multi-bike accident at Signes Corner.
Chas Davies stopped from the lead battle with 40 minutes of the race run to hand over to Xavi Forés. But his replacement was soon in trouble after a collision at the final corner left the Spaniard limping to the side of the track and his Ducati Pingale V4R suffering terminal damage. The incident led to an early safety car intervention.
DELIGHT FOR CHROMEBURNER-RAC41-HONDA, DESPAIR FOR NATIONAL MOTOS
There was Dunlop Superstock Trophy delight for Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda but despair for National Motos Honda, which lost the Bol d’Or category win and the FIM Endurance World Cup for Teams in the final hour after a technical fault struck.
Swiss brothers Sébastien and Valentin Suchet, plus Frenchman Guillaume Raymond were on course for double delight at Circuit Paul Ricard but their late heartache let in Kawasaki-powered Team 33 Louit April Moto for the race victory and Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda for the Superstock title.
Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore took third behind Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda with Pitlane Endurance – JP3 fourth, BMRT 3D Maxxess Nevers fifth and Wójcik Racing Team sixth followed by 3ART Best of Bike. OG Motorsport World Endurance Team was in third but slipped back as TRT27 Bazar 2 La Bécane also showed strong early form.
Having started the Bol d’Or in contention for Dunlop Superstock Trophy honours, Honda No Limits and Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team dropped out in the opening stages. The former was eliminated in a collision, while Kenny Foray had covered a little more than 30 minutes when engine failure forced the #9 into retirement. ADSS 97, Falcon Racing and Slider Endurance were also unable to go the distance.
More, from a press release issued by FIM:
Update following FIM EWC Bol d’Or
During the Post-Race Technical Inspection on 17 September following the 86th Bol d’Or Endurance Race, the motorcycle n°41 (Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda), which finished in seventh position, was subjected to a fuel tank capacity control by the FIM Technical Directors.
The control recorded a fuel tank overcapacity in contravention of article 2.7.6.10 of the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship and Cup Regulations.
As is required, additional fuel tank capacity controls were conducted with a fuel tank overcapacity also recorded.
The FIM EWC Stewards Panel convened to consider the evidence provided by the FIM Technical Directors and declared motorcycle n°41 did not conform to the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship and Cup Regulations and disqualified motorcycle n°41 from the results of the 86th Bol d’Or Endurance Race.
Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda did not appeal the decision of the FIM EWC Stewards Panel.
As such, the decision to disqualify motorcycle n°41 has been upheld and the positions of all other finishers will be reclassified, while points will be reallocated to the eligible finishers.
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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
April 3, 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
