UtahSBA: Norton Makes It Three Straight Wins

David Swarts

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August 16, 2023

UtahSBA: Norton Makes It Three Straight Wins

Round three of Utah Motorcycle Law Master’s of the Mountain race series, held August 12 at Utah Motorsports Campus West track configuration, kicked off in unusual fashion with a track walk hosted by series points leader Anthony Norton on Friday evening after the Apex track day. During the track walk Norton walked a crowd of interested racers through the correct line selection in preparation for the next day’s racing.

Race day on Saturday began much more conventionally with qualifying for the premier race, Moto United/Moto Station King of the Mountains race, leading the day. Norton has been in a quest all year to join the rarefied company of motorcycle racers posting a lap time under 1:30. Norton missed his goal by just 0.2 second when he handed in a lap time of 1:30.2 in the very first qualifying session. Norton was unable to best his own time in the second qualifying session and settled for pole position as a consolation prize. Qualifying positions second through fifth were much more hotly contested with just 0.5 second separating contestants Tyler Bengford, Genaro Lopez, Bill Davis, and defending number one plate holder Dave Meyer.

Come race time positions one through three, Norton, Bengford, and Lopez, all got off to great starts and maintained their qualifying positions through the first turn. Further back in the field, Gil Gonzalez got an incredible start and launched in fourth position going into Turn One before dropping back. Bengford closed the gap to Norton in front in Turn Five and looked as though he might make the pass but was unable to get the necessary drive to secure first position and even ceded second to Lopez by the end of lap one. The running order at the start of lap two was Norton, Lopez, Bengford, Childree, and Meyer.

Norton also led the start of lap three, but Lopez was hot on his heels and the two had established a sizeable gap to the rest of the pack. By lap four Lopez had lost the pace and Norton had built a straight-away length lead that he would maintain for the remainder of the race. Behind the two leaders Brian Childree went to work and slowly chipped away at Bengford advantage, at this point in third directly ahead.

“I got into fourth on lap two and saw Anthony (Norton), Genaro (Lopez) and Ty (Bengford) ahead of me,” said Childree. “I stayed calm and noticed Ty and Genaro’s pace slow down and I still felt good. I was able to make a pass on Ty in Turn Five and build a small gap and could see I was closing in on Genaro. I pushed and was able to make a pass on Genaro in Turn Six. I want to say thanks to Utah Motorcycle Law, Beyond Health Consulting, and Resultrics.”

Childree’s hard fought second place wouldn’t last long though. Lopez dove inside a lapped a rider as Childree went outside in Turn 10 of lap 13 to take back second place. Childree attempted a pass in that same corner on the final lap but came up short. The final finishing order was Norton, Lopez, and Childree.

Of his race, Norton said afterwards, “Finally started to get some things sorted on the bike setup! Showed some brilliance in qualifying with a few laps in the low 1:30’s and a best of 1:30.2. As the sun came out and the track changed, I missed the setup for the KOM race just a little, so the single lap speed wasn’t there, but I had a great bike to run a consistent race and inch away from the pack lap by lap.

“With the help of Michael Castro from FuziMoto I had a good bike through changing conditions and we grabbed three wins in three races on the Privateer Industries ZX-10R. Looking forward to taking another jump in pace and finishing the fight for the club championship in the final round!”

In other racing the Utah SBA would like to congratulate the three racers whose lap times dropped enough to graduate from the sportsman class. We’d also like to say a sincere thank you to Anthony Norton and the staff of Utah Motorsports Campus who came together to make our Friday track walk a success.

The Utah SBA would also like to thank all the racers and their families, in addition to our generous sponsors. Racing in Utah wouldn’t be possible without you. The Utah Motorcycle Law King of the Mountain race series round four will be held on September second at Utah Motorsports Campus on the West track configuration. We hope to see racers and fans alike there!

The Utah Sport Bike Association is a Utah Non-Profit dedicated to promoting education, safe riding, and competition in the Intermountain West. You can find more information about the USBA, upcoming events, and schools at www.utahsba.com or find us on Facebook.

USBA Round 3 – UMC West – August 12th, 2023

Motostation/Moto United KOM Overall:

1. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX10R)

2. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)

3. Brian Childree (APR RSV4)

4. Tyler Bengford (YAM R1)

5. David Meyer (YAM R1)

6. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)

Motostation KOM GTO:

1. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX10R)

2. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)

3. Brian Childree (APR RSV4)

4. Tyler Bengford (YAM R1)

5. David Meyer (YAM R1)

6. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)

Moto United KOM GTU:

1. Ryan Richardson (YAM R6)

2. Josh Fisher (KAW ZX6R)

3. Justin Delong (YAM R6)

4. Braxton Young (HON CBR600RR)

5. Peter Hofpointner (YAM R6)

AZ Riding Academy Combined GTO:

1. John McKown (YAM R1)

2. Max Tseng (YAM R1)

3. Jared Baird (DUC 1299)

4. Aubrey Credaroli (YAM R6)

5. Dustin Lance (APR RSV4)

6. Miguel Alamillo (SUZ GSXR1000RR)

Off Highway Van Combined GTU:

1. Belisario Arango (KAW ZX6R)

2. Alisson Melo (KAW ZX6R)

3. Kirk Doyle (KAW ZX6R)

4. Phil O’Bryan (KAW ZX6R)

5. Brian Gerwe (HON CBR600RR)

6. Brian Cassel (YAM R6)

The Edge Powersports Deseret Dash – Expert

1. Joshua Fisher (KAW ZX6R)

2. Alban Bonilla (BMW S1000RR)

3. Max Tseng (YAM R1)

4. Chayce Lance (YAM R6)

The Edge Powersports Deseret Dash – Novice

1. Alisson Melo (KAW ZX6R)

2. Miguel Alamillo (SUZ GSXR1000)

3. Jordan DeJarnett (YAM R6)

4. Jared Baird (DUC 1299)

5. Russell Carpenter (YAM R6)

6. Mario Fernandez (YAM R6)

Eurosports Utah Formula 40 – GTO

1. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)

2. Christopher Mousley (YAM R1)

3. Jeremy Morris (YAM R1)

4. John McKown (YAM R1)

5. Dave Loynd (HON CBR1000RR)

6. Dustin Lance (APR RSV4)

Eurosports Utah Formula 40 – GTU

1. Brian Naylor (KAW ZX6R)

2. Belisario Arango (KAW ZX6R)

3. Phil O’Bryan (KAW ZX6R)

4. Kirk Doyle (KAW ZX6R)

5. Jasn Parkinson (YAM R7)

6. Owen Austad (KAW ZX6R)

Velosio Lightweight Superbike

1. Jasn Parkinson (YAM R7)

2. Sean Ungvarsky (KAW 400)

3. Nick Kock (KAW 400)

4. John Carver (YAM R7)

5. Daniel Christiani (YAM R7)

The Weekend Garage Middleweight Superbike

1. Justin Delong (YAM R6)

2. Brian Naylor (KAW ZX6R)

3. Kinzer Naylor (KAW ZX6R)

4. Joshua Fisher (KAW ZX6R)

5. Braxton Young (HON CBR600RR)

6. Christopher Mousley (KAW ZX6R)

Toxic Moto Racing Middleweight Superstock

1. Justin Delong (YAM R6)

2. Brian Naylor (KAW ZX6R)

3. Joshua Fisher (KAW ZX6R)

4. Kinzer Naylor (KAW ZX6R)

5. Christopher Mousley (KAW ZX6R)

6. Braxton Young (HON CBR600RR)

MC & Associates Modern Vintage – GTO

1. Dave Loynd (HON CBR1000RR)

2. Cameron Holladay (YAM R1)

3. Kohl Burmester (BMW S1000RR)

4. Chris Golmon (SUZ GSXR1000)

MC & Associates Modern Vintage – GTU

1. Belisario Arango (KAW ZX6R)

2. Peter Hofpointner (YAM R6)

3. Kirk Doyle (KAW ZX6R)

4. Justin Delong (YAM R6)

5. Brian Cassel (YAM R6)

6. Eliu Heredia (YAM R6)

Karl Malone Powersports Moto 2

1. Ryan Richardson (YAM R6)

2. Brian Naylor (KAW ZX6R)

3. Kinzer Naylor (KAW ZX6R)

4. Joshua Fisher (KAW ZX6R)

5. Christopher Mousley (KAW ZX6R)

6. Zach Jenson (YAM R6)

Redline Realty Moto 3

1. Sean Ungvarsky (KAW 400)

2. Nick Kock (KAW 400

3. Mark Taylor (KAW 400)

4. Raab Gisseman (YAM R3)

5. Kyle Kacprzynski (KAW 400)

Legion of Speed Novice GTO

1. Nolan Kiiskila (KAW ZX10R)

2. Aubrey Credaroli (YAM R6)

3. Jordan DeJarnett (YAM R6)

4. Joseph Ruck (YAM R6)

5. Eliu Heredia (YAM R6)

6. Marop Fernandez (YAM R6)

MC & Associates Novice GTU

1. Alisson Melo (KAW ZX6R)

2. Nolan Kiiskila (KAW ZX6R)

3. Jordan DeJarnett (YAM R6)

4. Mario Fernandez (YAM R6)

5. Joseph Ruck (YAM R6)

6. Eliu Heredia (YAM R6)

Vortex Racing Open Superbike

1. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)

2. Tyler Bengford (YAM R1)

3. David Meyer (YAM R1)

4. Alban Bonilla (BMW S1000RR)

5. Gilbert Gonzalez (KAW ZX10R)

6. John McKown (YAM R1)

MotoUnited Open Superstock

1. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX10R)

2. Tyler Bengford (YAM R1)

3. David Meyer (YAM R1)

4. Brian Childree (APR RSV4)

5. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)

6. Jeff Taylor (YAM R1)

Crossbeam Builders Open Twins

1. Jared Baird (DUC 1299)

2. Sean Ungvarsky (KAW 400

3. Jasn Parkinson (YAM R7)

4. Ray Vernon (DUC 899)

5. Nick Koch (KAW 400)

6. John Carver (YAM R7)

Karl Malone Powersports Production 500

1. Mark Taylor (KAW 400)

2. Raab Gisseman (YAM R3)

3. Kyle Kacprzynski (KAW 400)

Trackstar Stock 1000

1. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX10R)

2. Tyler Bengford (YAM R1)

3. Gilbert Gonzalez (KAW ZX10R)

4. Alban Bonilla (BMW S1000RR)

5. Jeremy Morris (YAM R1)

6. Brian Gerwe (KAW ZX10R)

Carbonsmith Super Street Bike

1. Alex Zinaich (YAM FZ10)

2. Cameron Holladay (YAM R1)

3. Chris Golmon (BMW S1000RR)

4. Eliu Heredia (YAM R6)

5. Dustin Lance (APR RSV4)

N2/WERA Endurance: Max Van Wins ULW 2-Hour At PittRace (With Video)

David Swarts

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August 16, 2023

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N2/WERA Endurance: Max Van Wins ULW 2-Hour At PittRace (With Video)

Team SportbikeTrackGear.com Wins The 2 Hour Ultra Lightweight Class at the N2/WERA National Endurance Race by Dunlop at Pittsburg International Race Complex

Having raced to a second-place finish at this event in 2022 Max and Brian Van were excited to get the trailer loaded and head back to Wampum to have another go at the top step of the podium. Like 2022, this was a well-run event with a ton of teams competing that reminded the senior of the Van’s of the times when he was the one riding an endurance bike.

“PittRace is one of my favorite tracks and this event is one I look forward to racing,” said Max Van. “My dad and I come to this race just the two of us, so we get to spend a weekend working together with the goal of winning a race which is pretty cool. It is nice to have a race weekend away from MotoAmerica in a little more laid-back situation. My dad had my bike dialed in, our man Jose Lloreda helped with the pit stop, and I did my best on the bike. The competition was fierce and it felt good to get my first race win of the season!”

“At this race last year, Max raced his ass off for the first hour and had his opportunity to race for the win taken away by a poor pit stop that was my responsibility,” said Brian Van. “Having to live with that for a year left me eager to take another swing. This year I was prepared, with Jose Lloreda and I having the stop all dialed in. Max came in leading like last year and was back on the bike in 40 seconds. There were two teams that waited another lap or so before they pitted in, once they both made their stops Max was back in the lead by over 30 seconds which went a long way to helping erase the memory of last year’s stop.”

With 36 teams competing, Max was able to start this race from pole position, run the fastest lap of the race, and end it on the top step of the podium! Thank you to N2 and WERA for putting on another excellent event.

ASRA Team Challenge: Grease Monkey Racing Wins At Summit Point

David Swarts

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August 16, 2023

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ASRA Team Challenge: Grease Monkey Racing Wins At Summit Point

Team Challenge Race Results from Summit Point, WV

Summit Point, WV – 8-13-23 – Summit Point Motorsports Park plays host to the much-anticipated ASRA Team Challenge Race.

Race results

OVERALL FINISH

1st – Grease Monkey Racing (Eric Helmbach/Steve Hoffman)

2nd – Coleman Powersports (Brad Moser)

3rd – Hazardous Racing (Chet Finkbeiner/Jonathan Schweiger/RJ Wade)

GTO

1st – Grease Monkey Racing (Eric Helmbach/Stephen Hoffman), Best Lap Time 1:15.782

2nd – Justin Clark (Justin Clark), 1:16.246

3rd – Martinez Motorsports (Calvin Martinez), 1:18.372

4th – Smiley Boyz (Antal Halasz), 1:16.719

GTU

1st – Coleman Powersports (Brad Moser), Best Lap Time 1:16.797

2nd – Hazardous Racing (Chet Finkbeiner/Jonathan Schweiger/RJ Wade), 1:17.098

3rd – Birch Racing (DJ Birch), 1:16.543

4th – Andrew Clarke (Andrew Clarke), 1:17.405

5th – Mandalo Racing (Ricardo DosSantos), 1:19.555

6th – Fairfax Cycle Center (Alex Mackel), 1:19.236

7th – Panda Racing (Schyler Kopp), 1:21.069

8th – TST Industries (Gabriel Wingard), 1:21.430

9th – 5 Star (Adam Wingard), 1:17.526

10th – Nice Guys Racing (Nikolay Zakharyan), 1:16.885

GTL

1st – Chasing Shade Racing (Lance Molnar), Best Lap Time 1:22.073

For more information about the Team Challenge Races and complete results on sprint races please visit www.asraracing.com.

2024 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ Intro: Technology For All!

David Swarts

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August 16, 2023

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Editorial Note: Look for a complete review of the 2024 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ in an upcoming issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.

By Michael Gougis

The very first vehicle I hit while riding a motorcycle (a long time ago) involved me braking too late with too little pressure at the lever, and I smacked the rear bumper of the car in front of me with my Suzuki GS450L. I got off light. The only damage was a crease in my bike’s chrome front fender.

Yamaha’s 2024 Tracer 9 GT+ is the first motorcycle in the world to incorporate an intelligent braking system that might have avoided the above scenario.

Based on the successful and highly competent Tracer 9 GT platform, the 2024 GT+ version adds hard saddlebags as standard, a radar-assisted cruise control, and a Radar-linked Unified Braking System.

The radar cruise control works exactly as it does in cars and trucks. The rider selects the desired speed and distance from the vehicle in front. The bike then maintains that speed until something gets in the way. Using engine braking first, then braking with the triple-disc system if necessary, the machine slows to maintain the desired gap to the leading vehicle. When the coast is clear, the motorcycle accelerates back to the desired speed.

The linked braking system uses feedback from the radar unit to assist the rider. If the rider hits the brakes, and the motorcycle sees that it’s not going to stop in time, it will add braking power, optimize front/rear brake bias, and adjust the suspension damping to slow the bike more quickly. Yamaha reps are quick to point out that the bike doesn’t brake itself, but only assists once the rider has nailed the brakes.

Otherwise, the Tracer 9 GT+ is a more refined version of the machine that is the sport-touring model in Yamaha’s Triple lineup. Powered by the 890cc, three-cylinder engine found in the MT-09 and the XSR900, the Tracer also shares the twin-spar, die-cast aluminum-alloy Deltabox-style frame used for those models. Upgrades for the Tracer include KYB Actimatic Damping System (a.k.a. KADS) semi-active suspension front and rear, a sport-touring fairing and windscreen, a new dash and other conveniences designed to allow the bike to eat miles with comfort as well as rip around back-roads.

Available in Storm Gray, the machine, with a suggested retail price of $16,499, is expected to hit dealer showrooms this month.

Riding The Tracer 9 GT

Yamaha invited a group of motojournalists to Idaho, where we spent a day hauling on two- and four-lane roads just west of the Boise National Forest. We covered nearly 200 miles, ate finger steaks at a place called Dirty Shame, and got a good idea of what the newest Tracer is all about.

Full disclosure: I did not test out the Radar-linked Unified Braking System by trying to get into a panic stop situation involving another vehicle. I was just happy knowing it was there.

I did use the radar cruise control, and under difficult circumstances found that it worked exactly as advertised. Honestly, the cruise control itself was sophisticated and smooth in operation, and the radar-assist element added a major level of comfort and reduced mental exertion during longer stretches.

I found out, over above-mentioned finger steaks at the above-mentioned Dirty Shame, that I had been testing the radar cruise control function during the same portion of the morning ride that other motojournalists were experimenting with it.

Think about that for a moment…

We were in a pack of about eight, including Yamaha employees along for the ride, all on a two-lane road, and at any given point, some or even many of us were riding along in close proximity without touching throttles or brakes. No drama, not a single sketchy moment. The radar cruise control system was sorting it out for us.

I was surprised at how quickly I put my full trust in it, but as I told one of the Yamaha guys at lunch, “The bike is probably smarter than the rider.”

The bike delivers even more functionality than the prior versions of the Tracer. The dash screen is simpler, a new joystick toggles through information on the screen or selects one of the three pre-set riding modes, or a fourth, customizable mode which allows the rider to configure wheelie, traction and slide control, as well as ABS and suspension settings, to their liking.

The chassis is plenty stiff for its intended use. The KYB suspension, even in Sport mode, would wallow just a bit at very enthusiastic speeds, but was still stable enough to encourage straight-up sport riding at anything near a reasonable street speed. The brakes were solid, wind protection more than adequate, and vibration minimal. It’s a comfortable bike, with adjustable handlebar and footpeg positions and adjustable seat height. I was quite happy with the way it came stock.

It was a long day. Photo shoots take time, and we huddled on the ground for quite some time during one of them, hiding from the sun and the 92-degree heat in the shade of a chase vehicle. Rain the night before had left grit on the road in blind corners, adding to the stress level, and if I was riding something else, the combination of the undesirable bits of the day would have left me anxious to get to the end of the ride.

But as we cruised back into Boise, heading for the hotel and dinner, it occurred to me that if I were to fill the 5-gallon gas tank to the top and head out again, I could have easily gone through another tank or two before calling it quits. The bike is that comfortable, that fast, and that easy to ride. For what you get for the retail price, it is a technological marvel that does exactly what I want technology on a motorcycle to do– make riding more fun!

MotoAmerica: Altus Motorsports’ Cody Wyman Racing In Twins Cup At PittRace

David Swarts

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August 16, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Altus Motorsports’ Cody Wyman Racing In Twins Cup At PittRace

MotoAmerica: Cody Wyman to race Twins Cup at PittRace for Altus Motorsports

(ALTUS, OK) With the Stock1000 class not on the schedule for the August 18th MotoAmerica event at PittRace, Cody Wyman will take the helm of the Altus Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R7 and race the Twins Class for the weekend.

Cody Wyman: “I didn’t think I would race in Twins Cup again, but I’m stoked to try and get some redemption in the class. Unfortunately, there’s no Stock 1000 at Pitt, so we’ll try to continue to develop the Yamaha YZF-R7 for the team and enjoy the weekend! Big thank you to Altus Motorsports for keeping me on a motorcycle during MotoAmerica, especially at a track where I had success last year.”

George Nassaney: “We are excited to have Cody ride our Altus Factory built Yamaha R7 and help us continue to develop our bike.”

Altus Motorsports team is supported by our great family of sponsors: Altus Motorsports, FLY Racing WPS, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Yamaha Motor Company, Barnett, Buy A Jet From Steve Main, Maxima Racing Oils, Moto-D Racing, Bonamici, Hot Bodies Racing, M4 Exhausts, Vortex EK, Motion Pro, SBS Brakes, BrakeTech USA, Inc., Ohlins, K-Tech, RS Taichi, Arai, Yoshimura, Chicken Hawk Tire Warmers, CarbonSmith, Law Tigers Oklahoma, and Altus Factory Racing

Video: Garrett Gerloff: “I Screwed Up – Imola”

David Swarts

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August 16, 2023

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Video: Garrett Gerloff: “I Screwed Up – Imola”

AUTODROMO ENZO E DINO FERRARI

What can I say… Not my finest weekend or moment, but there were some positives to take away. Congrats to Loris for his best weekend of the year! Even if I didn’t help start off the weekend great 😅

Thanks for watching, let me know what your favorite part of the video was and let me know when I’ll see you at one of the races! Much love 🫶🏽

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Shot & edited by Brad Schwartzrock (@bradschwartzrock)

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MotoAmerica: Gagne Holds Big Lead Heading Into Tripleheader At PittRace

David Swarts

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August 16, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Gagne Holds Big Lead Heading Into Tripleheader At PittRace

Chasing Points: Three Medallia Superbike Races Set For Pittsburgh International Race Complex

Round Seven Of The MotoAmerica Championship Is A Superbike Tripleheader In Pittsburgh

IRVINE, CA (August 16, 2023) – If this was 2021 or 2022 and Jake Gagne had a 68-point lead you could basically go ahead and hand him the number-one plate right now. But this is different. There are more dogs in the MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike fight and a bad day at the office could result in a fifth or a sixth. Or worse. Finishing second or third on a bad day isn’t necessarily a thing anymore.

But still 68 points is 68 points and Jake Gagne is Jake Gagne. Catching him isn’t going to be easy. After all, he could DNF twice and still lead the championship so he is nestled into a cozy spot at the top of the standings as he aims for a third-straight Medallia Superbike Championship.

Although his 17- and 12-win seasons of 2021 and 2022 likely won’t be repeated, based on the amount of fast and consistent competition in the class, Gagne still has six wins on his scorecard and – more importantly – only one DNF. And that DNF at Road America was the only time the Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing teamster has finished off the podium. In addition to the class-leading six wins, Gagne has four second-place finishes and two thirds. It all adds up to 262 points and a substantial 68-point lead as the series heads to Pittsburgh International Race Complex, August 18-20, for Superbikes At Pittsburgh Presented By Steel Commander, round seven’s triple-header Superbike weekend.

Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin is the rider who is the closest to Gagne even though the 2013 AMA Superbike Champion suffered his first DNF of the season a few weeks ago at Brainerd International Raceway in race two. The DNF came just a day after Herrin had put his Panigale V4 R on the podium for the ninth time in the first 12 races.

Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier’s hopes for a sixth MotoAmerica Superbike crown took a big hit at Brainerd with a DNF and a non-start in the two Minnesota races. Beaubier’s woes started in race one when a huge highside in the early laps left him bruised and battered. It also left him concussed and that put him on the sidelines for race two, leaving him 79 points behind Gagne in the series after his third and fourth non-point scoring races of the year.

While Beaubier’s weekend in Minnesota was one he’d like to put behind him, it’s also a weekend that his teammate PJ Jacobsen will never forget. Jacobsen earned his first MotoAmerica Superbike win on Sunday in Brainerd a day after he finished a close second to Gagne. That all added up to a 45-point weekend for the New Yorker as he moved to fourth in the title chase and an even 100 points behind Gagne.

Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante is the only rider in the top five in the championship to score points in every round and that level of consistency has him fifth in the title chase – 15 points behind Jacobsen and 12 ahead of Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz.

Scholtz’s weekend in Minnesota was up and down with an unlucky DNF in race one followed by a third-place finish in race two that ended a five-race streak without a podium for the Westby Racing rider.

Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Corey Alexander is seventh in the championship after a dreadful weekend without a point scored in Brainerd. Alexander will be hopeful of getting back to the level he had climbed to prior to his misery in Minnesota.

Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim, like Escalante, has a blemish-less 2023 season going for him as far as finishing each and every race, and Brainerd featured a season-high sixth-place finish in race two.

Gagne’s out-with-injury teammate Cameron Petersen is still in the top 10 and 16 points ahead of 10th-ranked Ashton Yates and his Aftercare Scheibe Racing BMW.

Pre-Pitt Race Superbike Notes

This weekend’s MotoAmerica racing at Pittsburgh International Race Complex will feature three Medallia Superbike races and that means there are 75 points available for three wins. PittRace joins WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in playing host to three Superbike races in 2023. The first of the three will be held at 3:10 p.m. on Saturday with race two and race three scheduled for 12 p.m. and 3:10 p.m. on Sunday, respectively.

Defending two-time MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Champion Jake Gagne swept both wins in the class last year en route to his second-straight championship. Gagne beat Danilo Petrucci and Mathew Scholtz in race one before besting Scholtz and Petrucci in race two.

Jake Gagne earned pole position last year at PittRace with his 1:39.344, which finally broke Cameron Beaubier’s lap record from 2019. Beaubier, meanwhile, still holds the race lap record of 1:40.550 from his race-two victory in 2020.

History Lesson: Cameron Beaubier won the first MotoAmerica Superbike race held at PittRace in 2017 with his win in race one over Toni Elias and Roger Hayden. In race two, Beaubier suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out of the rest of the 2017 season. The race-two victory went to Hayden with Elias second and Josh Hayes third.

JD Beach is the latest to get a shot at racing for the Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing team in 2023 as a fill-in rider for the injured Cameron Petersen. Beach has been focusing his efforts on the American Flat Track SuperTwins Championship and he comes to PittRace after a two-day test with the Attack Racing team at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. Beach is the all-time win leader in the MotoAmerica Supersport series with 32 victories. Beach also has a MotoAmerica Superbike win to his credit with that victory coming at VIRginia International Raceway in 2019.

MotoAmerica’s weekend at Pittsburgh International Race Complex will be the series’ seventh straight year after making its debut at the circuit in 2017. The 2.78-mile, 19-turn track, which was built in 2002, is a favorite of the riders, teams, and fans.

Six riders have won the 12 MotoAmerica Superbike races held at Pitt Race: Jake Gagne (4), Cameron Beaubier (3), Toni Elias (2), Roger Hayden (1), Josh Herrin (1) and Garrett Gerloff (1).

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.

MotoGP: New “Practice” Process Clarified

David Swarts

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August 16, 2023

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MotoGP: New “Practice” Process Clarified

FIM Grand Prix World Championship

Decisions of the Grand Prix Commission

The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Paul Duparc (FIM), Hervé Poncharal (IRTA) and Biense Bierma (MSMA), assisted by Carlos Ezpeleta (Dorna), Mike Trimby (IRTA, Secretary of the meeting) and Corrado Cecchinelli (Director of Technology), in a meeting held in on the 4th of August 2023, made the following decisions.

MotoGP™ Class Sporting Regulations – Effective immediately

Clarification of entry to Q1/Q2 if MotoGP Practice is cancelled

MotoGP™ Practice is now the only session that determines entry to Q1 and Q2. In case this Practice session is cancelled on Friday afternoon, the Saturday morning MotoGP™ session will become Practice instead of Free Practice, and will determine entry to Q1 and Q2.

If it is not possible to run the Saturday morning session, then the results of FP1 will be used to determine entry to Q1 and Q2.

In the rare case that no practice sessions have been able to take place, this is deemed force majeure and Race Direction will adjust the schedule and procedure as required, considering the prevailing conditions.

Roadracing World Action Fund Donor Profile: Robb Talbott

David Swarts

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August 16, 2023

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“I Am Sold…”

By Michael Gougis

Robb Talbott was sitting at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca about four years ago, right above Turn Three, when he saw it all go wrong for a racer.

“I got to see a rider in one of the literbike classes go off at full speed and across the gravel and straight into the Airfence right in front of me,” says Talbott, owner of one of the most celebrated vineyards in California’s Carmel Valley as well as the Moto Talbott Museum. “He went straight in! Dust flew up, and he landed on the Airfence. He jumped off the Airfence, got back on his bike, fired it up and rode back onto the track. I was blown away. And then I said, ‘This works. This Airfence really works.’”

Talbott has become a regular supporter of the Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded by Mr. Editor John Ulrich in 2001 to improve racer safety by buying and deploying soft barriers at events and tracks across the country. Over several years now, Talbott has donated enough for the RWAF to purchase five Alpina-brand soft-barrier sections deployed at MotoAmerica races.

Talbott got into motorcycling at the age of 14 on a borrowed bike, then went to a college where first-year students were not allowed to drive cars. The rules said nothing about motorcycles, so Talbott got his first motorcycle, a Honda. Watching his friends race motocross got him into motocrossing as well as hillclimbing, including competing at the storied Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

“By that point, I was hooked. It became part of my DNA,” Talbott says.

Talbott rode mostly on dirt, but developed an interest in street machines as well. The Art of the Motorcycle exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum inspired him to see motorcycles not just as transportation or sporting devices, but also as art. He started collecting and then displaying bikes in the tasting room of the his vineyard. Today, the Moto Talbott Museum houses more than 170 machines from 17 countries.

Inevitably, Talbott was drawn to riding track days. Focusing mostly on the tracks closest to his Northern California home, he settled on a 1998 Ducati Supersport for track duty at Laguna Seca as well as Sonoma Raceway. Riding mostly at Reg Pridmore’s C.L.A.S.S. events, he racked up hundreds of track miles–and had a crash along the way.

Talbott is convinced of the need for increasing rider safety, and says he is happy to write a check for sections of soft barriers each year. To date, the Talbott Foundation has donated $50,000 to the Action Fund.

“I don’t go to tracks to see injuries and death. I go to see racing. And this helps us all,” he says.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Roadracing World Action Fund, go here.

World Supersport: PTR Triumph And Truelove Part Ways

David Swarts

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August 15, 2023

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World Supersport: PTR Triumph And Truelove Part Ways

PTR Triumph agree with Harry Truelove to end partnership early

In spite of the best efforts of everyone involved, PTR Triumph and Truelove have mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect.

The amicable decision was taken following a run of disappointing races, partly attributed to the injury Truelove sustained at Donington Park in early July and a combination of other factors. The previous British Supersport race winner Truelove was side-lined for the latest round in the Czech Republic, still suffering from the injury and the decision was made for him not to return to the squad after the summer break.

Harry Truelove: “It’s been a tricky year obviously, adapting to the Triumph hasn’t gone as we would have liked. The team and I have tried as much as we can to get a good feeling, however this has not come. For this reason we have decided to part ways. I wish the team the best of luck for the remaining rounds and I’d like to thank them for the opportunity.”

PTR Triumph Team Manager Simon Buckmaster: “We always want to succeed with every rider that rides for us, but after so many years of riding an inline four-cylinder machine it was difficult for Harry to adapt to our bike, so we have mutually decided to go our separate ways. It’s such a shame we couldn’t make it work but it’s in everybody’s best interests not to keep going. After seven rounds together, track days and testing with the team, we’ve just not been able to find that solution for Harry and for us as a team to achieve what we’d hoped to achieve together. We wish Harry all the best for whatever he does racing wise in the future and we want to thank him for all his efforts.”

UtahSBA: Norton Makes It Three Straight Wins

August 16, 2023

Anthony Norton (83) en-route to extending his Moto United/Moto Station King of the Mountains win streak to three. Photo courtesy UtahSBA. — Anthony Norton (83) enroute to extending his Moto United/Moto Station King of the Mountains win streak to three. Photo by Steve Midgley, courtesy UtahSBA.