American Julian Correa took pole position during British Talent Cup qualifying Saturday at Circuit de Navarra, in Spain. Riding his Microlise Cresswell Racing Honda, Correa, age 15, turned a 1:49.069 on the 2.4-mile track to lead the field of 28.
American Joshua Raymond, Jr. qualified 11th on his Fibre Tec Honda, but Raymond’s American teammate Eli Banish failed to record a lap time during Saturday’s qualifying session.
BTC Qual
Adrian Huertas won FIM Supersport World Championship Race One Saturday at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V2 on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard won the 18-lap race by 8.149 seconds. Huertas gambled by starting on Pirelli slicks in spite of damp track conditions, but his choice came good at the end when the track dried and he moved forward to take the victory.
Stefano Manzi was the runner-up on his slick-shod Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing YZF-R6, and former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise finished third while using Pirelli rain tires on his Evan Bros. Yamaha.
WSS R1
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Troy Herfoss won the MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Challenge race Saturday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia. The three-time Australian Superbike Champion took the lead early from pole position and went on to win the two-lap dash for cash – and its $5,000 first prize — by 0.594 second on his S&S Indian Challenger.
Defending Champion Hayden Gillim was the runner-up on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, and Kyle Wyman was a close third on his Harley-Davidson Factory Racing Road Glide.
Only the top six qualifiers get the opportunity to compete in the Challenge race.
24_3_RDATL_KTB_CH_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Troy Herfoss claimed pole position during MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Qualifying Two (Q2) Saturday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Georgia. The multi-time Australian Superbike Champion turned a 1:28.509 while riding his Dunlop-shod S&S Indian Challenger on the 2.55-mile track. Not only did that time top the field of 12 riders, it crushed the All-Time Lap Record of 1:29.528 set by Bobby Fong less than 24 hours earlier. The lap record coming into the weekend was a 1:30.036.
SDI/Roland Sands Racing Indian’s Fong improved his time to 1:29.264 in Q2, but that was only good enough for the second spot on the starting grid. Kyle Wyman claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:29.353 on his Harley-Davidson Factory Racing Road Glide.
24_3_RDATL_KTB_Q2_res
Nicholas Spinelli won FIM Superbike World Championship Race One at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands. Riding a Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4 R in place of injured Danilo Petrucci, Spinelli endured wet-but-drying conditions to win the 14-lap, red-flag-shortened race by 1.979 seconds.
Toprak Razgatlioglu was the runner-up on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR, and two-time and defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista finished right behind Razgatlioglu in third on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati.
American Garrett Gerloff finished 16th on his Bonovo Action BMW.
WSBK R1
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Tyre gamble pays off for WorldSBK debutant Spinelli
A brave tyre gamble paid off for the Nicholas Spinelli (Barni Spark Racing Team) at the TT Circuit Assen in Race 1 of the Dutch Round. On a drying track the Italian rider, making his WorldSBK debut, was the only rider to opt for intermediate tyres and he was rewarded with a stunning victory. Spinelli, a replacement rider for the injured Danilo Petrucci, was immediately able to get to the front of the field and led every lap before a red flag ended proceedings. The red flag was brought about by a technical failure for Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and ensured the first WorldSBK victory for the long standing Barni Spark Racing Team.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) joined Spinelli on the podium but the red flag, on Lap 14, cost them the chance to win the race. The duo had closed down a margin of over 20 seconds at one point before being in position to attack for the win prior to the stoppage.
Earlier in the day Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) splashed his way to Superpole success in wet conditions. The Northern Irishman claimed the 44th pole position of his career and his first for Yamaha. He will start tomorrow’s ten lap Tissot Superpole Race from pole position and came away from Race 1 with a sixth place finish.
Championship leader Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) started from the front row of the grid but had to settle for just 11th position at the end of the race. He maintains a championship lead but is now just one point ahead of Razgatlioglu and Bautista.
P1 | Nicholas Spinelli | Barni Spark Racing Team
“It’s incredible because this is my first race and I am in front of Toprak and Bautista! It’s really incredible. The first time I rode a Superbike was in Friday Practice but this bike is very strong. I have tried to approach this weekend step by step and session for session. I don’t have experience with this bike. I told my team that I didn’t know which tyre to use and the team decided to go for the intermediate. I had a gap of 25 seconds but by the last lap the gap was closer! When I saw it was four seconds I thought ‘no! It’s over for me.’ When I saw the red flag it was very lucky for me but that’s the race! I’m happy for this win because it’s very incredible.”
P2 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
“Firstly, congratulations to Spinelli. I needed just one more lap but the race finished like this. I was enjoying this race a lot. The first laps were exciting because the first sector was wet and we were sliding. You are trying to stay on the line for this. I needed a victory here for BMW but in the end we finished in second position. We will see what happens tomorrow but everyone is working hard for the best position possible.”
P3 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“This was a crazy race! It seemed like the first half of the race was about relaxing and not making a mistake but the second part of the race was attacking at 100% or even 120%! It was crazy. In the beginning there were a lot of overtakes all around the lap. It was crazy but I enjoyed this race a lot. The red flag meant that we missed the last seven laps and I think it was going to be a good battle for the victory with Toprak. In any case I’m happy and congratulations to Spinelli because it was incredible. It was a really good tyre choice.”
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Bobby Fong took pole position during MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Qualifying Two Saturday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia. Riding his Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha YZF-R1 on Dunlop Sportmax Slicks, Fong lapped the 2.55-mile 12-turn road course in 1:23.640, topping the field of 24 riders.
TopPro Racing BMW’s Sean Dylan Kelly (SDK) will start his first MotoAmerica Superbike race from second on the grid thanks to his 1:23.818. After taking provisional pole position on Friday, Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati rider Josh Herrin slipped to third in Q2 with a 1:23.887.
Three-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne qualified fourth with a 1:23.991 on his Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1. Five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier was fifth-fastest with a 1:24.024 on his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR. Herrin’s teammate Loris Baz claimed the sixth spot on the grid with a 1:24.314 on his Panigale V4 R.
Row three will be made up of Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen (1:24.669), Beaubier’s teammate JD Beach (1:24.987), and Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante (1:25.018).
24_3_RDATL_SBK_Q2_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Tyler Scott secured pole position during MotoAmerica Supersport Qualifying Two Saturday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, near Atlanta, Georgia. Riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 on Dunlop control tires, 18-year-old Scott covered the 2.55-mile course in 1:27.935. Not only was Scott’s time fastest of the 43-rider field, it nearly broke Garrett Gerloff’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:27.860 from 2017, when the class’s technical rules allowed bikes to make more horsepower.
Blake Davis qualified second with a 1:28.412 on his N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto Yamaha YZF-R6, while veteran PJ Jacobsen secured the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:28.500 on his Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2.
Row-two qualifiers include Altus Motorsports Suzuki’s Jake Lewis (1:28.548), Roller Die + Forming Ducati’s Corey Alexander (1:28.575), and TopPro Racing Suzuki’s Maximiliano Gerardo (1:28.721).
24_3_RDATL_SSP_Q2_comb
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Rocco Landers took pole position during MotoAmerica BellissiMoto Twins Cup Qualifying Two Saturday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in northeast Georgia. Riding his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki GSX-8R on Dunlop control tires, Landers lapped the undulating 2.55-mile course in 1:32.664 to top the field of 31 riders.
Class newcomer Rossi Moor was the best of the rest with a 1:32.970 on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-8R. And Dominic Doyle claimed the third and final spot on the provisional front row with a lap time of 1:33.173 on his Giaccomoto Yamaha Racing YZF-R7.
24_3_RDATL_TWN_Q2_comb
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Ryan Wolfe earned pole position during MotoAmerica Junior Cup Qualifying Two (Q2) Saturday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia. Riding his Wolfe Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400 on Dunlop control tires, Wolfe turned a 1:42.906 on his last lap around the 2.55-mile course. That was the only lap to surpass the 1:42.976 that Yandel Medina did to lead the field in Qualifying One (Q1) and it got Wolfe pole position.
New York Safety Track’s Medina was not able to go faster in Q2, but his time from Q1 held up to get the second spot on the grid.
Avery Dreher, the defending Junior Cup Champion, did improve on his time in Q2, turning a 1:43.281 (from 1:43.768) on his Bad Boys Racing Ninja 400, securing the third and final spot on the front row.
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Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 28th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 13 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2024 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
The entire Roadracing World Young Guns, Class of 2024 is featured in the April 2024 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.
Mahdi Salem
Age: 13.
Current home: Lincoln Park, New Jersey.
Current height/weight: 5’1”/85 pounds.
Current school grade level: 8th grade.
Began riding at age: 5 years.
First road race: 2019, NJminiGP, Millville, New Jersey, Spec 50, 6th place.
Current racebike: Kawasaki Ninja 400, Honda NSF250R, Aprilia RS 250 SP2, Ohvale GP-2 190.
Current tuner/mechanic: Mike Skowronek/Triple Strong Racing.
Primary race series: MIR Racing Finetwork Cup, MotoAmerica Mini Cup, ASRA, PanAmerican Superbike, WERA.
Top sponsors: Historic GP Custom Leathers, Arai, Pirelli, K-Tech, inline4designs, Motul, Vortex.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2023 season, won FIM North America Mini Cup Ohvale 160 Championship (4 wins, 9 total podiums), placed 5th in FIM North America Mini Cup Ohvale 190 Championship (4 podium finishes), placed 4th in MotoAmerica Mini Cup Ohvale 190 Championship (1 win, 9 total podiums).
2024 racing goal: Win MotoAmerica FIM North America Mini Cup Ohvale 190 Championship, win MIR Racing Finetwork Cup races.
Racing career goals: Win Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Championship.
Racing hero: Nicky Hayden.
Favorite track: Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
Favorite hobbies: Riding dirt bikes, cycling, flat track, soccer, wrestling.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: A Pro soccer player.
…
Some of the riders who have graduated from Young Guns and gone on to racing success in National or International series include:
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion Jason Aguilar (R.I.P.);
2013 AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Corey Alexander;
AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race winner Tommy Aquino (R.I.P.);
2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and multi-time MotoAmerica Superbike race winner J.D. Beach;
five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion and Moto2 World Championship point scorer Cameron Beaubier;
MotoAmerica Twins Cup race winner Jackson Blackmon;
former Canadian Sport Bike Champion Tomas Casas;
three-time Canadian Sport Bike Champion and 2014 Canadian Superbike Champion Jodi Christie;
former AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 race winner Josh Day;
2011 Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Championship runner-up and current MotoAmerica team owner Dustin Dominguez;
2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, and 2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas;
four-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race winner and former motorcycle track record holder Carlin Dunne (R.I.P.);
Canadian Superbike race winner Bodhi Edie;
two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, two-time AMA Pro XR1200/Harley-Davidson Champion and four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick;
2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Bobby Fong;
2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Superstock 1000 Champion, and three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne;
two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and World Superbike podium finisher Garrett Gerloff;
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship runner-up Michael Gilbert;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Champion, 2023 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Champion Hayden Gillim;
2002 AMA Superbike Champion and 2006 FIM MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden (R.I.P.);
2007 AMA Pro 600cc Supersport Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up, and 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship runner-up Roger Hayden;
eight-time AMA Pro Superbike race winner and two-time AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden;
2013 AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and three-time Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin;
MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Teagg Hobbs;
AMA Pro Superstock race winner Jake Holden;
2011 British Superbike Championship runner-up and former MotoGP and World Superbike regular John Hopkins;
2015 Supersport World Championship runner-up, 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Patrick “P.J.” Jacobsen;
2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, Moto2 World Championship point scorer, and MotoAmerica Superbike racer Sean Dylan Kelly;
Canadian Superbike race winner Kevin Lacombe;
two-time MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2020 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up Rocco Landers;
two-time MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Andrew Lee;
2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Champion Jake Lewis;
MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Sam Lochoff;
MotoAmerica Superstock 600 race winner Nick McFadden;
AMA Pro SuperSport race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Stefano Mesa;
Elena Myers, the first and only woman to win AMA Pro Supersport races;
AMA Pro XR1200 race winner, multi-time Loudon Classic winner, and three-time BRL Champion Shane Narbonne;
2012 Canadian Superbike Championship runner-up Andrew Nelson;
2016 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Champion, 2019 British Motostar (Moto3) Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch;
2012 Daytona 200 winner and 2010 AMA Pro Supersport West Champion Joey Pascarella;
2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and powersports dealership owner Bryce Prince;
AMA Pro and Canadian National race winner and multi-time N2/WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Peris;
two-time AMA Pro SuperSport National Champion, British Supersport podium finisher, 2020 AFT Production Twins Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Championship runner-up James Rispoli;
2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport race winner, and Moto2 World Championship race winner Joe Roberts;
2022 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up and 2023 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship runner-up Gus Rodio;
former Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Champion and former FIM Moto2 European Championship competitor Benny Solis, Jr.;
three-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2009 Superbike World Champion, MotoGP race winner, and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ben Spies;
multi-time AMA Pro race winner and four-time overall WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Ulrich;
MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher and former World Superbike competitor Jayson Uribe;
2017 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship runner-up, 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory Ventura;
Canadian Superbike race winner Alex Welsh;
former AMA Pro Superbike Rookie of the Year, Chinese Superbike Championship race winner, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and MotoAmerica Super Hooligan race winner Cory West;
MotoAmerica Junior Cup and Superbike Cup race winner Ashton Yates;
and two-time AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up Blake Young.
American Julian Correa took pole position during British Talent Cup qualifying Saturday at Circuit de Navarra, in Spain. Riding his Microlise Cresswell Racing Honda, Correa, age 15, turned a 1:49.069 on the 2.4-mile track to lead the field of 28.
American Joshua Raymond, Jr. qualified 11th on his Fibre Tec Honda, but Raymond’s American teammate Eli Banish failed to record a lap time during Saturday’s qualifying session.
BTC Qual
Adrian Huertas won FIM Supersport World Championship Race One Saturday at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V2 on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard won the 18-lap race by 8.149 seconds. Huertas gambled by starting on Pirelli slicks in spite of damp track conditions, but his choice came good at the end when the track dried and he moved forward to take the victory.
Stefano Manzi was the runner-up on his slick-shod Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing YZF-R6, and former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise finished third while using Pirelli rain tires on his Evan Bros. Yamaha.
WSS R1
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Troy Herfoss won the MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Challenge race Saturday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia. The three-time Australian Superbike Champion took the lead early from pole position and went on to win the two-lap dash for cash – and its $5,000 first prize — by 0.594 second on his S&S Indian Challenger.
Defending Champion Hayden Gillim was the runner-up on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, and Kyle Wyman was a close third on his Harley-Davidson Factory Racing Road Glide.
Only the top six qualifiers get the opportunity to compete in the Challenge race.
24_3_RDATL_KTB_CH_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Troy Herfoss claimed pole position during MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Qualifying Two (Q2) Saturday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Georgia. The multi-time Australian Superbike Champion turned a 1:28.509 while riding his Dunlop-shod S&S Indian Challenger on the 2.55-mile track. Not only did that time top the field of 12 riders, it crushed the All-Time Lap Record of 1:29.528 set by Bobby Fong less than 24 hours earlier. The lap record coming into the weekend was a 1:30.036.
SDI/Roland Sands Racing Indian’s Fong improved his time to 1:29.264 in Q2, but that was only good enough for the second spot on the starting grid. Kyle Wyman claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:29.353 on his Harley-Davidson Factory Racing Road Glide.
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Nicholas Spinelli won FIM Superbike World Championship Race One at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands. Riding a Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4 R in place of injured Danilo Petrucci, Spinelli endured wet-but-drying conditions to win the 14-lap, red-flag-shortened race by 1.979 seconds.
Toprak Razgatlioglu was the runner-up on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR, and two-time and defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista finished right behind Razgatlioglu in third on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati.
American Garrett Gerloff finished 16th on his Bonovo Action BMW.
WSBK R1
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Tyre gamble pays off for WorldSBK debutant Spinelli
A brave tyre gamble paid off for the Nicholas Spinelli (Barni Spark Racing Team) at the TT Circuit Assen in Race 1 of the Dutch Round. On a drying track the Italian rider, making his WorldSBK debut, was the only rider to opt for intermediate tyres and he was rewarded with a stunning victory. Spinelli, a replacement rider for the injured Danilo Petrucci, was immediately able to get to the front of the field and led every lap before a red flag ended proceedings. The red flag was brought about by a technical failure for Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and ensured the first WorldSBK victory for the long standing Barni Spark Racing Team.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) joined Spinelli on the podium but the red flag, on Lap 14, cost them the chance to win the race. The duo had closed down a margin of over 20 seconds at one point before being in position to attack for the win prior to the stoppage.
Earlier in the day Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) splashed his way to Superpole success in wet conditions. The Northern Irishman claimed the 44th pole position of his career and his first for Yamaha. He will start tomorrow’s ten lap Tissot Superpole Race from pole position and came away from Race 1 with a sixth place finish.
Championship leader Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) started from the front row of the grid but had to settle for just 11th position at the end of the race. He maintains a championship lead but is now just one point ahead of Razgatlioglu and Bautista.
P1 | Nicholas Spinelli | Barni Spark Racing Team
“It’s incredible because this is my first race and I am in front of Toprak and Bautista! It’s really incredible. The first time I rode a Superbike was in Friday Practice but this bike is very strong. I have tried to approach this weekend step by step and session for session. I don’t have experience with this bike. I told my team that I didn’t know which tyre to use and the team decided to go for the intermediate. I had a gap of 25 seconds but by the last lap the gap was closer! When I saw it was four seconds I thought ‘no! It’s over for me.’ When I saw the red flag it was very lucky for me but that’s the race! I’m happy for this win because it’s very incredible.”
P2 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
“Firstly, congratulations to Spinelli. I needed just one more lap but the race finished like this. I was enjoying this race a lot. The first laps were exciting because the first sector was wet and we were sliding. You are trying to stay on the line for this. I needed a victory here for BMW but in the end we finished in second position. We will see what happens tomorrow but everyone is working hard for the best position possible.”
P3 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“This was a crazy race! It seemed like the first half of the race was about relaxing and not making a mistake but the second part of the race was attacking at 100% or even 120%! It was crazy. In the beginning there were a lot of overtakes all around the lap. It was crazy but I enjoyed this race a lot. The red flag meant that we missed the last seven laps and I think it was going to be a good battle for the victory with Toprak. In any case I’m happy and congratulations to Spinelli because it was incredible. It was a really good tyre choice.”
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Bobby Fong took pole position during MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Qualifying Two Saturday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia. Riding his Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha YZF-R1 on Dunlop Sportmax Slicks, Fong lapped the 2.55-mile 12-turn road course in 1:23.640, topping the field of 24 riders.
TopPro Racing BMW’s Sean Dylan Kelly (SDK) will start his first MotoAmerica Superbike race from second on the grid thanks to his 1:23.818. After taking provisional pole position on Friday, Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati rider Josh Herrin slipped to third in Q2 with a 1:23.887.
Three-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne qualified fourth with a 1:23.991 on his Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1. Five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier was fifth-fastest with a 1:24.024 on his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR. Herrin’s teammate Loris Baz claimed the sixth spot on the grid with a 1:24.314 on his Panigale V4 R.
Row three will be made up of Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen (1:24.669), Beaubier’s teammate JD Beach (1:24.987), and Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante (1:25.018).
24_3_RDATL_SBK_Q2_res
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Tyler Scott secured pole position during MotoAmerica Supersport Qualifying Two Saturday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, near Atlanta, Georgia. Riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 on Dunlop control tires, 18-year-old Scott covered the 2.55-mile course in 1:27.935. Not only was Scott’s time fastest of the 43-rider field, it nearly broke Garrett Gerloff’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:27.860 from 2017, when the class’s technical rules allowed bikes to make more horsepower.
Blake Davis qualified second with a 1:28.412 on his N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto Yamaha YZF-R6, while veteran PJ Jacobsen secured the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:28.500 on his Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2.
Row-two qualifiers include Altus Motorsports Suzuki’s Jake Lewis (1:28.548), Roller Die + Forming Ducati’s Corey Alexander (1:28.575), and TopPro Racing Suzuki’s Maximiliano Gerardo (1:28.721).
24_3_RDATL_SSP_Q2_comb
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Rocco Landers took pole position during MotoAmerica BellissiMoto Twins Cup Qualifying Two Saturday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in northeast Georgia. Riding his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki GSX-8R on Dunlop control tires, Landers lapped the undulating 2.55-mile course in 1:32.664 to top the field of 31 riders.
Class newcomer Rossi Moor was the best of the rest with a 1:32.970 on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-8R. And Dominic Doyle claimed the third and final spot on the provisional front row with a lap time of 1:33.173 on his Giaccomoto Yamaha Racing YZF-R7.
24_3_RDATL_TWN_Q2_comb
Precision Track Days brings you the results of this weekend’s events.
Revving Up the Track Day Experience with Precision Track Day!
Ryan Wolfe earned pole position during MotoAmerica Junior Cup Qualifying Two (Q2) Saturday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia. Riding his Wolfe Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400 on Dunlop control tires, Wolfe turned a 1:42.906 on his last lap around the 2.55-mile course. That was the only lap to surpass the 1:42.976 that Yandel Medina did to lead the field in Qualifying One (Q1) and it got Wolfe pole position.
New York Safety Track’s Medina was not able to go faster in Q2, but his time from Q1 held up to get the second spot on the grid.
Avery Dreher, the defending Junior Cup Champion, did improve on his time in Q2, turning a 1:43.281 (from 1:43.768) on his Bad Boys Racing Ninja 400, securing the third and final spot on the front row.
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Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 28th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 13 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2024 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
The entire Roadracing World Young Guns, Class of 2024 is featured in the April 2024 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.
Mahdi Salem
Age: 13.
Current home: Lincoln Park, New Jersey.
Current height/weight: 5’1”/85 pounds.
Current school grade level: 8th grade.
Began riding at age: 5 years.
First road race: 2019, NJminiGP, Millville, New Jersey, Spec 50, 6th place.
Current racebike: Kawasaki Ninja 400, Honda NSF250R, Aprilia RS 250 SP2, Ohvale GP-2 190.
Current tuner/mechanic: Mike Skowronek/Triple Strong Racing.
Primary race series: MIR Racing Finetwork Cup, MotoAmerica Mini Cup, ASRA, PanAmerican Superbike, WERA.
Top sponsors: Historic GP Custom Leathers, Arai, Pirelli, K-Tech, inline4designs, Motul, Vortex.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2023 season, won FIM North America Mini Cup Ohvale 160 Championship (4 wins, 9 total podiums), placed 5th in FIM North America Mini Cup Ohvale 190 Championship (4 podium finishes), placed 4th in MotoAmerica Mini Cup Ohvale 190 Championship (1 win, 9 total podiums).
2024 racing goal: Win MotoAmerica FIM North America Mini Cup Ohvale 190 Championship, win MIR Racing Finetwork Cup races.
Racing career goals: Win Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Championship.
Racing hero: Nicky Hayden.
Favorite track: Pittsburgh International Race Complex.
Favorite hobbies: Riding dirt bikes, cycling, flat track, soccer, wrestling.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: A Pro soccer player.
…
Some of the riders who have graduated from Young Guns and gone on to racing success in National or International series include:
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion Jason Aguilar (R.I.P.);
2013 AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Corey Alexander;
AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race winner Tommy Aquino (R.I.P.);
2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and multi-time MotoAmerica Superbike race winner J.D. Beach;
five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion and Moto2 World Championship point scorer Cameron Beaubier;
MotoAmerica Twins Cup race winner Jackson Blackmon;
former Canadian Sport Bike Champion Tomas Casas;
three-time Canadian Sport Bike Champion and 2014 Canadian Superbike Champion Jodi Christie;
former AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 race winner Josh Day;
2011 Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Championship runner-up and current MotoAmerica team owner Dustin Dominguez;
2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, and 2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas;
four-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race winner and former motorcycle track record holder Carlin Dunne (R.I.P.);
Canadian Superbike race winner Bodhi Edie;
two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, two-time AMA Pro XR1200/Harley-Davidson Champion and four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick;
2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Bobby Fong;
2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Superstock 1000 Champion, and three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne;
two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and World Superbike podium finisher Garrett Gerloff;
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship runner-up Michael Gilbert;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Champion, 2023 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Champion Hayden Gillim;
2002 AMA Superbike Champion and 2006 FIM MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden (R.I.P.);
2007 AMA Pro 600cc Supersport Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up, and 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship runner-up Roger Hayden;
eight-time AMA Pro Superbike race winner and two-time AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden;
2013 AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and three-time Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin;
MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Teagg Hobbs;
AMA Pro Superstock race winner Jake Holden;
2011 British Superbike Championship runner-up and former MotoGP and World Superbike regular John Hopkins;
2015 Supersport World Championship runner-up, 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Patrick “P.J.” Jacobsen;
2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, Moto2 World Championship point scorer, and MotoAmerica Superbike racer Sean Dylan Kelly;
Canadian Superbike race winner Kevin Lacombe;
two-time MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2020 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up Rocco Landers;
two-time MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Andrew Lee;
2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Champion Jake Lewis;
MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Sam Lochoff;
MotoAmerica Superstock 600 race winner Nick McFadden;
AMA Pro SuperSport race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Stefano Mesa;
Elena Myers, the first and only woman to win AMA Pro Supersport races;
AMA Pro XR1200 race winner, multi-time Loudon Classic winner, and three-time BRL Champion Shane Narbonne;
2012 Canadian Superbike Championship runner-up Andrew Nelson;
2016 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Champion, 2019 British Motostar (Moto3) Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch;
2012 Daytona 200 winner and 2010 AMA Pro Supersport West Champion Joey Pascarella;
2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and powersports dealership owner Bryce Prince;
AMA Pro and Canadian National race winner and multi-time N2/WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Peris;
two-time AMA Pro SuperSport National Champion, British Supersport podium finisher, 2020 AFT Production Twins Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Championship runner-up James Rispoli;
2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport race winner, and Moto2 World Championship race winner Joe Roberts;
2022 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up and 2023 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship runner-up Gus Rodio;
former Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Champion and former FIM Moto2 European Championship competitor Benny Solis, Jr.;
three-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2009 Superbike World Champion, MotoGP race winner, and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ben Spies;
multi-time AMA Pro race winner and four-time overall WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Ulrich;
MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher and former World Superbike competitor Jayson Uribe;
2017 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship runner-up, 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory Ventura;
Canadian Superbike race winner Alex Welsh;
former AMA Pro Superbike Rookie of the Year, Chinese Superbike Championship race winner, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and MotoAmerica Super Hooligan race winner Cory West;
MotoAmerica Junior Cup and Superbike Cup race winner Ashton Yates;
and two-time AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up Blake Young.
