Dylan Singh led MotoAmerica Junior Cup Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia. Riding his Singh Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400, Singh lapped the mostly dry 2.55-mile road course in 1:51.068 to lead the field of 24 riders.
Eli Block was second-best with a 1:51.123 on his BARTCON Racing Kawasaki, and Jayden Fernandez rounded out the top three with a 1:52.607 on his Fernandez Racing Ninja 400.
Can Oncu topped rain-affected FIM Supersport World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands.
Riding his Puccetti Racing Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R around the 2.8-mile (4.5 km) road course, the Turkish racer turned a lap time of 1:44.919 early in the session, before the rain intensified.
Niki Tuuli was second with a 1:46.355 on his EAB Racing Team Ducati Panigale V2, and Ondrej Vostatek rounded out the top three with a time of 1:47.521 on his PTR Triumph Street Triple RS 765.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise finished the wet session 25th with a 1:56.143 on his Evan Bros. Yamaha YZF-R6.
Rocco Landers led MotoAmerica BellissiMoto Twins Cup Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia. Riding his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki GSX-8R on Dunlop control tires, Landers lapped the damp-but-drying 2.55-mile road course in 1:46.669 to lead the field of 31 riders.
Avery Dreher, the reigning MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, was second-best with a time of 1:49.071 on his TopPro Racing Aprilia RS 660.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Rossi Moor turned a 1:49.780 to finish the session third.
Only 16 of the 31 entered riders went out in the tricky conditions. Current point leader Gus Rodio was among those who did not ride in FP1.
There is no more rain in Friday’s weather forecast.
KTM North America, Inc. proudly announces an increased contingency payout for the 2024 Mission Super Hooligan National Championship.
Posting a total of $67,500 for the 10-round series, KTM is offering a $5,000 Championship bonus for the first time ever to the Super Hooligan National Championship winner! Additionally, the brand is paying out top-five finishers in the class at each of the 10 rounds, with a total offering of $6,250 per round.
To view the 2024 payouts and classes, visit www.ktmcash.com.
Toprak Razgatlioglu topped FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands. Riding his ROKiT BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR on the damp-but-drying 2.8-mile (4.5 km) track, the Turkish star recorded a lap time of 1:35.684 to top the field of 23 riders.
Alex Lowes was the best of the rest with a 1:35.974 on his factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR. Two-time and defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista was third with a 1:36.271 on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R.
American Garrett Gerloff finished the session sixth with a time of 1:36.386 on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.
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.
Joshua Raymond, Jr. Photo courtesy Joshua Raymond, Sr.
Joshua Raymond, Jr.
Age: 13.
Current home: Schwenksville, Pennsylvania.
Current height/weight: 5’1”/95 pounds.
Current school grade level: 8th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2016, NJminiGP, Millville, New Jersey.
Current road racebikes: Ohvale GP2 190cc, Honda NSF250.
Current tuner/mechanic: Mike Skowronek.
Primary race series: British Talent Cup, MotoAmerica Mini Cup, ASRA.
Top Sponsors: American Racing Academy, GeoScapes Solar, Ohvale USA, Arai Helmets, Historic GP Custom Leathers, Dunlop, Liqui Moly, NJminiGP, Evolve Gt, John Martin Automotive, MotoAnatomy, Scott Powersports, Raymond Landscaping.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2023 season, placed 2nd in MotoAmerica Mini Cup Ohvale 190 Championship (2 wins, 11 total podiums), finished 13th in FIM MiniGP World Series 190cc Championship; 2022 season, placed second in MotoAmerica Mini Cup Ohvale 190 Championship (1 win, 7 total podiums).
2024 racing goal: Win the British Talent Cup Championship.
Racing career goal: Win the MotoGP World Championship.
Racing hero: Nicky Hayden.
Favorite track: Pittsburg International Race Complex.
Favorite hobby: Fishing.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Boxing.
…
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;
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.
The best piece of protective equipment does you no good if it’s sitting on the shelf in the garage or hanging in a closet when you crash. Part of the trick of designing truly effective protection is making it easy to use and operate.
Alpinestars’ new Tech-Air 7X airbag system is, in my experience, the most comfortable, easy-to-use and easy-to-operate track-oriented airbag system I have used to date. It does not provide the absolute highest, MotoGP-rider level protection of its most protective system. But it is user-serviceable, easy to get on, and is cooler than other systems. And it is truly universal, in that it can be used under any suit that provides enough space for the system to deploy in the case of a crash.
I wore the system for seven 20-minute sessions at an Aprilia Racer Days event at Circuit of The Americas. When the sun came out, it was baking; when it was cloudy, it was humid. It was a test of the system’s wearability, and it passed that evaluation with five stars.
The internal mechanism of the Alpinstars Tech-Air 7X. In the center is the computer and the battery; the user-switchable argon canisters are on either side. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Tech Overview
Best to think of the Alpinestars Tech-Air 7X as an evolved version of the Tech-Air Race. It is FIM-homologated, meaning that you can race in the system in International-level competition where airbags are mandatory. It comes preset in Track mode, but the Tech-Air app allows the user to switch it to Road mode when desired. When deployed, the system decreases impact force by 90 percent compared to a passive Level One back protector.
The protection configuration differs from the company’s Tech-Air 10 system. The Tech-Air 7X does not have hip protection, and it offers individual bladders on each side of the riders’ chest. The Tech-Air 10 has a solid panel across the chest, offering more protection but flowing less air to the rider. The Tech-Air 7 also is worn like a vest, rather than a mid-thigh bodysuit (similar to a warm-water wetsuit) with the Tech-Air 10. The Tech-Air 7X inflates to cover the riders’ chest, back, collarbones and tailbone.
The Tech-Air 7X comes with two argon cartridges for two separate inflations, and the cartridges can be replaced at the track by the rider. A pull handle releases the protective cover over the internal mechanism, and the cartridges can be unscrewed and replaced literally in seconds. Each cartridge costs approximately $99, and the unit can be deployed four times before it has to be sent back to an Alpinestars service center for inspection and refurbishment. The units are carefully designed to ensure that cartridge replacement is done correctly – if not, the cover cannot be replaced. For racers who are obsessive about weight reduction, one of the argon cartridges can be removed and replaced with the plug that comes with the system.
Activating the system is as simple as attaching two velcro tabs across the chest. An LED array displays the system charging status and its mode, road or track.
When the velcro tab is connected, magnets connect and switch the system on. LEDs indicate charging status and mode. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
Riding Impressions
I found the Tech-Air 7X as easy to slip into as my regular passive Alpinestars protective vest, and the GP Force suit slid easily over the back protector/inflation control unit hump. The back protection construct itself is CE-certified as a Level One protector, which means that even if the airbag failed to deploy in a crash, the rider still has protection against impact forces. It’s nowhere near the protection of a deployed airbag, but I’m old enough to remember when we raced with no back protector at all, so it’s still a dramatic improvement over those days.
The only time I really thought about the Tech-Air 7X system was when I would sit up to brake. The airflow across the chest was noticeably greater than that of the Tech-Air 10, and it made a real difference in rider comfort.
Other than that, I zipped it up in the morning, took it off when I was done, and never thought about it the rest of the day. And that, for me, is the highest praise I can give safety gear without crashing.
I feel like until I experienced this unit, I was paying for airbag levels of protection with decreased comfort and ease of operation. While this system does not offer the protection of the Tech-Air 10, it is easier to use, easier to wear and easier on the rider when they are on the machine. And if that’s what it takes to get riders into an airbag system, that’s nothing but good.
YART FASTEST IN THE EWC SO FAR AFTER DRAMA-HIT FIRST QUALIFYING FOR 24 HEURES MOTOS
The battle for pole position in the 24 Heures Motos, round one of the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship, is go with Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team on top in the first three sessions that help towards forming the grid for the famous Le Mans race.
Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika – riding with the #1 on their Bridgestone-equipped Yamaha YZF-R1 following their 2023 EWC title triumph – were quickest in the Blue, Yellow and Red sessions held on a sunny but chilly Circuit Bugatti this afternoon.
Once again, First Qualifying was split into four colour-coded rider groups (Blue, Yellow, Red and Green) with each group getting 20 minutes of running on the 4.185-kilometre track.
But with the final qualifying order based on the average time of the fastest two riders from each team (the results of the fourth rider are not taken into account), it’s not until after Second Qualifying on Friday morning that the grid for the 47th 24 Heures Moto is known.
Niccolò Canepa was the quickest Blue Rider for Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team in an unofficial lap record time of 1m34.708s followed by Florian Alt (Honda Viltaïs Racing), Gregg Black (Yoshimura SERT Motul), Josh Hook (F.C.C. TSR Honda France) and Illya Mykhalchyk (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team).
Canepa, who is still recovery from a shoulder injury sustained during a crash while practicing for the Daytona 200 in the USA last month, said: “I’m really happy especially because I didn’t do many winter tests. I still don’t fell 100 per cent with my shoulder and I know the race is going to be very tough so I will have to count on my team-mates a lot because I still have pain and not so much power. But to do one lap I really enjoyed and it came out an incredible lap that I really didn’t expect, but the bike and the tyres were really amazing. I was sure this was a record that would not last long because I thought Marvin and Karel would beat it. Unfortunately they couldn’t beat it so I can keep it but they still did an amazing job. It was a bit of drama for them and I am sorry but I’m really happy for the result of today and we are all three in the first place and this is what counts.”
Kenny Foray was the quickest Superstock category contender on a 1m36.868s for Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team with Sébastien Suchet (National Motos Honda) and Yudai Kamei (Team Étoile) next up. Tom Ward (TRT27 AZ Moto), Eemeli Lahti (Pit-Lane Endurance) and Martin Vugrinec (Maco Racing) all fell.
In the Yellow Rider session, Marvin Fritz continued YART’s impressive qualifying performance in a time of 1m35.139s, although his initial best lap 1m34.738s was cancelled due to a track limits infrignement. Steven Odendaal was second for Honda Viltaïs Racing with F.C.C. TSR Honda France rider Mike Di Meglio in third. Despite a fall, Christian Gamarino (Kawasaki Webike Trickstar) excelled on his step up to the Formula EWC category having helped Team 33 Louit April Moto win the Superstock-based FIM Endurance World Cup in 2023. Randy Krummenacher was fifth fastest for Tati Team Beringer Racing, now Honda-powered in the EWC. Jan Bühn (Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team) headed the Superstock order followed by Valentin Suchet (National Motos Honda) and Baptiste Guittet, who returns to Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore following a season competing in the Formula EWC category with Tati Team Beringer Racing. Meanwhile, Florian Marino (KM99) and Kamil Krzemień (Wójcik Racing Team EWC) both suffered falls during their 20-minute session.
Karel Hanika took over the #1 Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team for the Red Rider session and continued the Austrian squad’s dominance in a time of 1m35.028s, despite crashing on his first flying lap, which resulted in his mechanics spending just under seven minutes repairing his damaged bike. Alan Techer was second quickest for F.C.C. TSR Honda France followed by Markus Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team), Leandro Mercado (Honda Viltaïs Racing) and Dan Linfoot on his debut for Yoshimura SERT Motul. National Motos Honda’s Guillaume Raymond was the quickest Superstock contender with a 1m37.756s best. Kevin Calia was second quickest on Team Aviobike by M2 Revo’s Aprilia as Philipp Steinmayr went third fastest on his debut for Honda No Limits. Fallers in the penultimate First Qualifying session included Alan Agogue (TCP Racing), Maiku Watanuki (3ART Best of Bike).
The Green Rider session is taking on added significance for Superstock riders this season under new rules that allow teams contesting the FIM Endurance World Cup to nominate four race riders rather than the traditional three. Martin Renaudin was fastest in the Dunlop-equipped class for Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda followed by Gino Rea (Wójcik Racing Team) on his competition comeback following serious injury. Dylan Mille was third fastest for Junior Team Le Mans Sud Suzuki. The quickest overall session time went to Yoshimura SERT Motul’s reserve rider Cocoro Atsumi ahead of Robin Mulhauser (Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team) and Hannes Soomer, on his first EWC appearance for BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team.
Following Night Practice from 20h30 local time today, Second Qualifying is due to get under way at 10h20 tomorrow (Friday).
Chapter three of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season is about to take place at the legendary TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands. Countless classics at this track and also in recent rounds mean that 2024’s Pirelli Dutch Round is destined to be one for the ages; we caught up with the main stars on Thursday during WorldSBK’s media day.
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “We want to be on the podium!”
After a strong Barcelona, the rostrum is the aim for home-hero Michael van der Mark: “It’s always nice to arrive at your home track when you’ve had some decent results before. In Australia and especially Barcelona, we had some really good results. We come here with confidence and knowing the base we have is really good. We want to be on the podium, and we’ve had a good start to the season. We have a good base and we’re fast. It would be nice to be on the podium. It’s a nice confirmation knowing you have a bike that can fight for the podium and victories. It takes a little bit of pressure away. We know the package is there, we just have to finetune it and focus on riding. Honestly, the only thing I can do is deliver results. I’ve been unlucky the last two years. I’m fit, I’m feeling good on the bike and all I can do now is deliver results.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I have a dream this year to win the Championship”
Two wins last time out at a track he and BMW had never won at, Assen has also been a place where Toprak Razgatlioglu and BMW haven’t mounted the top step: “I’ve never won here at Assen in the Superbike class; I hope I can this weekend. It looks a little strange as the weather can always change easily. It’s cold but I’m ready to race in both wet and dry races. I have a dream this year to win this Championship; I can’t say before the end of the season. My dream looks possible. I am happy with Michael as a teammate and the atmosphere in the garage is very good and we work well together. If BMW ask me, it’s easy to say Michael, he’s a good teammate, a good guy and respectful; we work together in the race and Superpole. Maybe at this track, he’ll help me as he knows it better than me –in the wet, he’ll show me the best line!”
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “I’m not in a hurry to make a decision”
With silly season in full flow, Alvaro Bautista’s future could hold the key to many for 2025: “To win a race is always very important, but especially after coming from a difficult winter for me with my injury and also the feeling I started with the bike in testing that was not the best. It was very important to recover the good feeling during the Barcelona weekend. I think the win was the consequence of this feeling and from my physical condition. It gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the Championship. Honestly, I don’t have anything on my mind about my future. It’s been very tough for me. In Barcelona, I recovered the good feeling. I always say I keep racing because I’m having a lot of fun riding my bike and with a good feeling. It’s important to have a good feeling on my bike and try to always improve. With this crazy grid, you have to be an even better rider than before! I try to always be a better rider. I’m just focused on this and trying to be better and better. I’m not in a hurry to make a decision.”
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “This could be the most difficult race for me”
Back after arm-pump surgery, Nicolo Bulega says this could be his most difficult round yet: “I had some problems during the races so I decided to have the surgery before Assen as this track is a bit difficult physically, with the change of direction. With the Superbike, it can be hard. I decided to do it before this race and I’m still not at 100% but I am recovering day by day and I can ride well. I always push at 100% when I’m on the bike; this could be the most difficult race for me because we’ve had the test before the other races. I also come here after the surgery, without a test, so perhaps Friday will be more difficult for me. I’m happy because it’s a track I like a lot and I’ll try to do my best.”
Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha): “We have to walk before we can run”
17 wins and 25 podiums: will Assen’s most successful rider, Jonathan Rea, get his season off to a proper start after six races where he’s struggled: “I’m really excited to be back at Assen, I like the layout of the track and also my fans bring some good energy here. It’s just a case of trying to find some form and performance both from myself and the R1. I think Catalunya Race 2 was my first normal race with no issue, so I banked some points. What I realised was starting from P13 is that it’s so difficult to reach that front group, so it was a race I started making progress. It’s not the positions we want to fight for, but we have to start somewhere after a lot of disappointments. Looking forward to seeing if Assen can bring us some more fortune. Looking back at previous years, it’s a track that suits not just me but the Yamaha R1. It’s a place we can make that step, but it’s a step by progress. We have to walk before we can run.”
Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven): “My target is to be in a factory team… I felt interest from many manufacturers”
Back at Assen and looking to his future, Andrea Iannone made a bold claim for 2025: “I’m a little bit excited because it’s really good to be back here. I won in the past in my first year in Moto2™ and also, I’ve had really good races more or less every year at this track. It’s the first race we don’t have a test before the round and I’m a little bit worried because I don’t know what happens, but I hope we immediately start in a good way. I don’t know about my future. I’m happy I’m being spoken about, but I don’t know at the moment. I want to continue to live this moment and I’m focused on riding well because I know if I’m on top, I have many chances. My target is to be in a factory team, but we will see. After a long time, I felt many things and I felt interest from many manufacturers. I’m honoured. I think after Assen, in Misano, we will know something more about this.”
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “Anything can happen when the weather’s a little bit inconsistent”
In the top three of the Championship, Alex Lowes is keen to show Kawasaki’s potential at Assen: “Conditions are always a little bit mixed here at Assen. I know the bike and track well, so I think if there’s minimal dry time, it could be good for us. We have to adapt well to the situation. Anything can happen when the weather’s a little bit inconsistent. We have to make sure we make the right decisions, put ourselves in a good position and I think, dry or wet conditions, we can be quite optimistic about the weekend. This weekend, if we can fight for the podium, be in the mix with the front guys fighting at the front, I think we can be happy and that’s the target. I don’t really know about the future, it’s very early. We’ve got a big break after the Assen round with so long until the next round, so maybe there’ll be some more news in the break. From my side, I don’t know yet. I started the year really strong with Kawasaki, I’ve changed some of the working environment inside the team so it would be nice to keep this progression.”
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha): “Let’s push and see what we can do”
With a first win still to be had, can happy memories from previous Assen outings spur Andrea Locatelli on: “I have good memories form Assen; I got my first WorldSBK podium here in 2021 and I’ve had a podium every season with Yamaha here, so why not try to repeat it this year? It won’t be easy and probably this weekend, we’ll ride in different conditions with the forecast will be tricky. I feel comfortable though and OK with the bike, so let’s push and see what we can do. We have a really good feeling and it’s a flowing track, so it’s another good track to show our potential and speed. We’ll push for the maximum and see what we have. Toprak was a big surprise for everyone as we didn’t think it could happen immediately but they’re working well during testing and they found a good solution for the race. I’m happy for him because, firstly, he’s my friend and I have a good relationship with him. He’s a big talent; I sent a message to him because I missed him after the race. I want to try and fight again this weekend.”
MotoAmerica Live+ To Debut “Road Atlanta Preview Show” This Weekend At Steel Commander Superbike Series Opener
Thirty Minute Live Interview Show To Debut On Friday Morning From Road Atlanta
IRVINE, CA (April 18, 2024) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing championship, will debut a new feature on MotoAmerica Live+ at this weekend’s opening round of the Steel Commander Superbike series at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
The “Road Atlanta Preview Show” will feature MotoAmerica Live+ commentators Roger Hayden and Jamie Howe and will air live from Road Atlanta on Friday, April 19 from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
The show will feature live interviews with several of the top stars of the MotoAmerica Championship and will also be available on-demand for subscribers wanting to view the show at their discretion.
“With Road Atlanta being the opening round for several of our classes, it’s the perfect time to debut this new feature for MotoAmerica Live+,” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “Roger and Jamie will be interviewing some of our top stars from various classes and we know our subscribers will like the new content.”
The “Road Atlanta Preview Show” is exclusive to MotoAmerica Live+ subscribers. To subscribe, click HERE.
MotoAmerica is also pleased to announce that MotoAmerica Live+ is now available on Chromecast, which joins IOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV as platforms where Live+ is available.
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. To watch all things MotoAmerica, subscribe to MotoAmerica’s live streaming and video on demand service, MotoAmerica Live+
Dylan Singh led MotoAmerica Junior Cup Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia. Riding his Singh Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400, Singh lapped the mostly dry 2.55-mile road course in 1:51.068 to lead the field of 24 riders.
Eli Block was second-best with a 1:51.123 on his BARTCON Racing Kawasaki, and Jayden Fernandez rounded out the top three with a 1:52.607 on his Fernandez Racing Ninja 400.
Can Oncu topped rain-affected FIM Supersport World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands.
Riding his Puccetti Racing Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R around the 2.8-mile (4.5 km) road course, the Turkish racer turned a lap time of 1:44.919 early in the session, before the rain intensified.
Niki Tuuli was second with a 1:46.355 on his EAB Racing Team Ducati Panigale V2, and Ondrej Vostatek rounded out the top three with a time of 1:47.521 on his PTR Triumph Street Triple RS 765.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise finished the wet session 25th with a 1:56.143 on his Evan Bros. Yamaha YZF-R6.
Rocco Landers led MotoAmerica BellissiMoto Twins Cup Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia. Riding his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki GSX-8R on Dunlop control tires, Landers lapped the damp-but-drying 2.55-mile road course in 1:46.669 to lead the field of 31 riders.
Avery Dreher, the reigning MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, was second-best with a time of 1:49.071 on his TopPro Racing Aprilia RS 660.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Rossi Moor turned a 1:49.780 to finish the session third.
Only 16 of the 31 entered riders went out in the tricky conditions. Current point leader Gus Rodio was among those who did not ride in FP1.
There is no more rain in Friday’s weather forecast.
Andy DiBrino (62) at speed on his KTM 890 Duke R earlier this season at Daytona. Photo courtesy Andy DiBrino Racing.
KTM North America, Inc. proudly announces an increased contingency payout for the 2024 Mission Super Hooligan National Championship.
Posting a total of $67,500 for the 10-round series, KTM is offering a $5,000 Championship bonus for the first time ever to the Super Hooligan National Championship winner! Additionally, the brand is paying out top-five finishers in the class at each of the 10 rounds, with a total offering of $6,250 per round.
To view the 2024 payouts and classes, visit www.ktmcash.com.
Toprak Razgatlioglu topped FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands. Riding his ROKiT BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR on the damp-but-drying 2.8-mile (4.5 km) track, the Turkish star recorded a lap time of 1:35.684 to top the field of 23 riders.
Alex Lowes was the best of the rest with a 1:35.974 on his factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR. Two-time and defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista was third with a 1:36.271 on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R.
American Garrett Gerloff finished the session sixth with a time of 1:36.386 on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.
Joshua Raymond, Jr. (76) in action at the 2023 FIM MiniGP World Final 190 Championship in Valencia, Spain. Photo by Kohei Hirota.
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.
Joshua Raymond, Jr. Photo courtesy Joshua Raymond, Sr.
Joshua Raymond, Jr.
Age: 13.
Current home: Schwenksville, Pennsylvania.
Current height/weight: 5’1”/95 pounds.
Current school grade level: 8th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2016, NJminiGP, Millville, New Jersey.
Current road racebikes: Ohvale GP2 190cc, Honda NSF250.
Current tuner/mechanic: Mike Skowronek.
Primary race series: British Talent Cup, MotoAmerica Mini Cup, ASRA.
Top Sponsors: American Racing Academy, GeoScapes Solar, Ohvale USA, Arai Helmets, Historic GP Custom Leathers, Dunlop, Liqui Moly, NJminiGP, Evolve Gt, John Martin Automotive, MotoAnatomy, Scott Powersports, Raymond Landscaping.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2023 season, placed 2nd in MotoAmerica Mini Cup Ohvale 190 Championship (2 wins, 11 total podiums), finished 13th in FIM MiniGP World Series 190cc Championship; 2022 season, placed second in MotoAmerica Mini Cup Ohvale 190 Championship (1 win, 7 total podiums).
2024 racing goal: Win the British Talent Cup Championship.
Racing career goal: Win the MotoGP World Championship.
Racing hero: Nicky Hayden.
Favorite track: Pittsburg International Race Complex.
Favorite hobby: Fishing.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Boxing.
…
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;
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.
The author at an Aprilia Racer Days event held in conjunction with RideSmart Motorcycle School at Circuit of The Americas, 2024. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
The best piece of protective equipment does you no good if it’s sitting on the shelf in the garage or hanging in a closet when you crash. Part of the trick of designing truly effective protection is making it easy to use and operate.
Alpinestars’ new Tech-Air 7X airbag system is, in my experience, the most comfortable, easy-to-use and easy-to-operate track-oriented airbag system I have used to date. It does not provide the absolute highest, MotoGP-rider level protection of its most protective system. But it is user-serviceable, easy to get on, and is cooler than other systems. And it is truly universal, in that it can be used under any suit that provides enough space for the system to deploy in the case of a crash.
I wore the system for seven 20-minute sessions at an Aprilia Racer Days event at Circuit of The Americas. When the sun came out, it was baking; when it was cloudy, it was humid. It was a test of the system’s wearability, and it passed that evaluation with five stars.
The internal mechanism of the Alpinstars Tech-Air 7X. In the center is the computer and the battery; the user-switchable argon canisters are on either side. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Tech Overview
Best to think of the Alpinestars Tech-Air 7X as an evolved version of the Tech-Air Race. It is FIM-homologated, meaning that you can race in the system in International-level competition where airbags are mandatory. It comes preset in Track mode, but the Tech-Air app allows the user to switch it to Road mode when desired. When deployed, the system decreases impact force by 90 percent compared to a passive Level One back protector.
The protection configuration differs from the company’s Tech-Air 10 system. The Tech-Air 7X does not have hip protection, and it offers individual bladders on each side of the riders’ chest. The Tech-Air 10 has a solid panel across the chest, offering more protection but flowing less air to the rider. The Tech-Air 7 also is worn like a vest, rather than a mid-thigh bodysuit (similar to a warm-water wetsuit) with the Tech-Air 10. The Tech-Air 7X inflates to cover the riders’ chest, back, collarbones and tailbone.
The Tech-Air 7X comes with two argon cartridges for two separate inflations, and the cartridges can be replaced at the track by the rider. A pull handle releases the protective cover over the internal mechanism, and the cartridges can be unscrewed and replaced literally in seconds. Each cartridge costs approximately $99, and the unit can be deployed four times before it has to be sent back to an Alpinestars service center for inspection and refurbishment. The units are carefully designed to ensure that cartridge replacement is done correctly – if not, the cover cannot be replaced. For racers who are obsessive about weight reduction, one of the argon cartridges can be removed and replaced with the plug that comes with the system.
Activating the system is as simple as attaching two velcro tabs across the chest. An LED array displays the system charging status and its mode, road or track.
When the velcro tab is connected, magnets connect and switch the system on. LEDs indicate charging status and mode. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
Riding Impressions
I found the Tech-Air 7X as easy to slip into as my regular passive Alpinestars protective vest, and the GP Force suit slid easily over the back protector/inflation control unit hump. The back protection construct itself is CE-certified as a Level One protector, which means that even if the airbag failed to deploy in a crash, the rider still has protection against impact forces. It’s nowhere near the protection of a deployed airbag, but I’m old enough to remember when we raced with no back protector at all, so it’s still a dramatic improvement over those days.
The only time I really thought about the Tech-Air 7X system was when I would sit up to brake. The airflow across the chest was noticeably greater than that of the Tech-Air 10, and it made a real difference in rider comfort.
Other than that, I zipped it up in the morning, took it off when I was done, and never thought about it the rest of the day. And that, for me, is the highest praise I can give safety gear without crashing.
I feel like until I experienced this unit, I was paying for airbag levels of protection with decreased comfort and ease of operation. While this system does not offer the protection of the Tech-Air 10, it is easier to use, easier to wear and easier on the rider when they are on the machine. And if that’s what it takes to get riders into an airbag system, that’s nothing but good.
Niccolo Canepa (1) turned the fastest lap time during provisional FIM World Endurance qualifying Thursday at the 24-Hours of Le Mans, helping Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC finish on top. Photo courtesy Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe.
YART FASTEST IN THE EWC SO FAR AFTER DRAMA-HIT FIRST QUALIFYING FOR 24 HEURES MOTOS
The battle for pole position in the 24 Heures Motos, round one of the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship, is go with Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team on top in the first three sessions that help towards forming the grid for the famous Le Mans race.
Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika – riding with the #1 on their Bridgestone-equipped Yamaha YZF-R1 following their 2023 EWC title triumph – were quickest in the Blue, Yellow and Red sessions held on a sunny but chilly Circuit Bugatti this afternoon.
Once again, First Qualifying was split into four colour-coded rider groups (Blue, Yellow, Red and Green) with each group getting 20 minutes of running on the 4.185-kilometre track.
But with the final qualifying order based on the average time of the fastest two riders from each team (the results of the fourth rider are not taken into account), it’s not until after Second Qualifying on Friday morning that the grid for the 47th 24 Heures Moto is known.
Niccolò Canepa was the quickest Blue Rider for Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team in an unofficial lap record time of 1m34.708s followed by Florian Alt (Honda Viltaïs Racing), Gregg Black (Yoshimura SERT Motul), Josh Hook (F.C.C. TSR Honda France) and Illya Mykhalchyk (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team).
Canepa, who is still recovery from a shoulder injury sustained during a crash while practicing for the Daytona 200 in the USA last month, said: “I’m really happy especially because I didn’t do many winter tests. I still don’t fell 100 per cent with my shoulder and I know the race is going to be very tough so I will have to count on my team-mates a lot because I still have pain and not so much power. But to do one lap I really enjoyed and it came out an incredible lap that I really didn’t expect, but the bike and the tyres were really amazing. I was sure this was a record that would not last long because I thought Marvin and Karel would beat it. Unfortunately they couldn’t beat it so I can keep it but they still did an amazing job. It was a bit of drama for them and I am sorry but I’m really happy for the result of today and we are all three in the first place and this is what counts.”
Kenny Foray was the quickest Superstock category contender on a 1m36.868s for Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team with Sébastien Suchet (National Motos Honda) and Yudai Kamei (Team Étoile) next up. Tom Ward (TRT27 AZ Moto), Eemeli Lahti (Pit-Lane Endurance) and Martin Vugrinec (Maco Racing) all fell.
In the Yellow Rider session, Marvin Fritz continued YART’s impressive qualifying performance in a time of 1m35.139s, although his initial best lap 1m34.738s was cancelled due to a track limits infrignement. Steven Odendaal was second for Honda Viltaïs Racing with F.C.C. TSR Honda France rider Mike Di Meglio in third. Despite a fall, Christian Gamarino (Kawasaki Webike Trickstar) excelled on his step up to the Formula EWC category having helped Team 33 Louit April Moto win the Superstock-based FIM Endurance World Cup in 2023. Randy Krummenacher was fifth fastest for Tati Team Beringer Racing, now Honda-powered in the EWC. Jan Bühn (Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team) headed the Superstock order followed by Valentin Suchet (National Motos Honda) and Baptiste Guittet, who returns to Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore following a season competing in the Formula EWC category with Tati Team Beringer Racing. Meanwhile, Florian Marino (KM99) and Kamil Krzemień (Wójcik Racing Team EWC) both suffered falls during their 20-minute session.
Karel Hanika took over the #1 Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team for the Red Rider session and continued the Austrian squad’s dominance in a time of 1m35.028s, despite crashing on his first flying lap, which resulted in his mechanics spending just under seven minutes repairing his damaged bike. Alan Techer was second quickest for F.C.C. TSR Honda France followed by Markus Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team), Leandro Mercado (Honda Viltaïs Racing) and Dan Linfoot on his debut for Yoshimura SERT Motul. National Motos Honda’s Guillaume Raymond was the quickest Superstock contender with a 1m37.756s best. Kevin Calia was second quickest on Team Aviobike by M2 Revo’s Aprilia as Philipp Steinmayr went third fastest on his debut for Honda No Limits. Fallers in the penultimate First Qualifying session included Alan Agogue (TCP Racing), Maiku Watanuki (3ART Best of Bike).
The Green Rider session is taking on added significance for Superstock riders this season under new rules that allow teams contesting the FIM Endurance World Cup to nominate four race riders rather than the traditional three. Martin Renaudin was fastest in the Dunlop-equipped class for Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda followed by Gino Rea (Wójcik Racing Team) on his competition comeback following serious injury. Dylan Mille was third fastest for Junior Team Le Mans Sud Suzuki. The quickest overall session time went to Yoshimura SERT Motul’s reserve rider Cocoro Atsumi ahead of Robin Mulhauser (Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team) and Hannes Soomer, on his first EWC appearance for BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team.
Following Night Practice from 20h30 local time today, Second Qualifying is due to get under way at 10h20 tomorrow (Friday).
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
Outspoken ahead of Assen
Chapter three of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season is about to take place at the legendary TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands. Countless classics at this track and also in recent rounds mean that 2024’s Pirelli Dutch Round is destined to be one for the ages; we caught up with the main stars on Thursday during WorldSBK’s media day.
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “We want to be on the podium!”
After a strong Barcelona, the rostrum is the aim for home-hero Michael van der Mark: “It’s always nice to arrive at your home track when you’ve had some decent results before. In Australia and especially Barcelona, we had some really good results. We come here with confidence and knowing the base we have is really good. We want to be on the podium, and we’ve had a good start to the season. We have a good base and we’re fast. It would be nice to be on the podium. It’s a nice confirmation knowing you have a bike that can fight for the podium and victories. It takes a little bit of pressure away. We know the package is there, we just have to finetune it and focus on riding. Honestly, the only thing I can do is deliver results. I’ve been unlucky the last two years. I’m fit, I’m feeling good on the bike and all I can do now is deliver results.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I have a dream this year to win the Championship”
Two wins last time out at a track he and BMW had never won at, Assen has also been a place where Toprak Razgatlioglu and BMW haven’t mounted the top step: “I’ve never won here at Assen in the Superbike class; I hope I can this weekend. It looks a little strange as the weather can always change easily. It’s cold but I’m ready to race in both wet and dry races. I have a dream this year to win this Championship; I can’t say before the end of the season. My dream looks possible. I am happy with Michael as a teammate and the atmosphere in the garage is very good and we work well together. If BMW ask me, it’s easy to say Michael, he’s a good teammate, a good guy and respectful; we work together in the race and Superpole. Maybe at this track, he’ll help me as he knows it better than me –in the wet, he’ll show me the best line!”
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “I’m not in a hurry to make a decision”
With silly season in full flow, Alvaro Bautista’s future could hold the key to many for 2025: “To win a race is always very important, but especially after coming from a difficult winter for me with my injury and also the feeling I started with the bike in testing that was not the best. It was very important to recover the good feeling during the Barcelona weekend. I think the win was the consequence of this feeling and from my physical condition. It gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the Championship. Honestly, I don’t have anything on my mind about my future. It’s been very tough for me. In Barcelona, I recovered the good feeling. I always say I keep racing because I’m having a lot of fun riding my bike and with a good feeling. It’s important to have a good feeling on my bike and try to always improve. With this crazy grid, you have to be an even better rider than before! I try to always be a better rider. I’m just focused on this and trying to be better and better. I’m not in a hurry to make a decision.”
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “This could be the most difficult race for me”
Back after arm-pump surgery, Nicolo Bulega says this could be his most difficult round yet: “I had some problems during the races so I decided to have the surgery before Assen as this track is a bit difficult physically, with the change of direction. With the Superbike, it can be hard. I decided to do it before this race and I’m still not at 100% but I am recovering day by day and I can ride well. I always push at 100% when I’m on the bike; this could be the most difficult race for me because we’ve had the test before the other races. I also come here after the surgery, without a test, so perhaps Friday will be more difficult for me. I’m happy because it’s a track I like a lot and I’ll try to do my best.”
Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha): “We have to walk before we can run”
17 wins and 25 podiums: will Assen’s most successful rider, Jonathan Rea, get his season off to a proper start after six races where he’s struggled: “I’m really excited to be back at Assen, I like the layout of the track and also my fans bring some good energy here. It’s just a case of trying to find some form and performance both from myself and the R1. I think Catalunya Race 2 was my first normal race with no issue, so I banked some points. What I realised was starting from P13 is that it’s so difficult to reach that front group, so it was a race I started making progress. It’s not the positions we want to fight for, but we have to start somewhere after a lot of disappointments. Looking forward to seeing if Assen can bring us some more fortune. Looking back at previous years, it’s a track that suits not just me but the Yamaha R1. It’s a place we can make that step, but it’s a step by progress. We have to walk before we can run.”
Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven): “My target is to be in a factory team… I felt interest from many manufacturers”
Back at Assen and looking to his future, Andrea Iannone made a bold claim for 2025: “I’m a little bit excited because it’s really good to be back here. I won in the past in my first year in Moto2™ and also, I’ve had really good races more or less every year at this track. It’s the first race we don’t have a test before the round and I’m a little bit worried because I don’t know what happens, but I hope we immediately start in a good way. I don’t know about my future. I’m happy I’m being spoken about, but I don’t know at the moment. I want to continue to live this moment and I’m focused on riding well because I know if I’m on top, I have many chances. My target is to be in a factory team, but we will see. After a long time, I felt many things and I felt interest from many manufacturers. I’m honoured. I think after Assen, in Misano, we will know something more about this.”
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “Anything can happen when the weather’s a little bit inconsistent”
In the top three of the Championship, Alex Lowes is keen to show Kawasaki’s potential at Assen: “Conditions are always a little bit mixed here at Assen. I know the bike and track well, so I think if there’s minimal dry time, it could be good for us. We have to adapt well to the situation. Anything can happen when the weather’s a little bit inconsistent. We have to make sure we make the right decisions, put ourselves in a good position and I think, dry or wet conditions, we can be quite optimistic about the weekend. This weekend, if we can fight for the podium, be in the mix with the front guys fighting at the front, I think we can be happy and that’s the target. I don’t really know about the future, it’s very early. We’ve got a big break after the Assen round with so long until the next round, so maybe there’ll be some more news in the break. From my side, I don’t know yet. I started the year really strong with Kawasaki, I’ve changed some of the working environment inside the team so it would be nice to keep this progression.”
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha): “Let’s push and see what we can do”
With a first win still to be had, can happy memories from previous Assen outings spur Andrea Locatelli on: “I have good memories form Assen; I got my first WorldSBK podium here in 2021 and I’ve had a podium every season with Yamaha here, so why not try to repeat it this year? It won’t be easy and probably this weekend, we’ll ride in different conditions with the forecast will be tricky. I feel comfortable though and OK with the bike, so let’s push and see what we can do. We have a really good feeling and it’s a flowing track, so it’s another good track to show our potential and speed. We’ll push for the maximum and see what we have. Toprak was a big surprise for everyone as we didn’t think it could happen immediately but they’re working well during testing and they found a good solution for the race. I’m happy for him because, firstly, he’s my friend and I have a good relationship with him. He’s a big talent; I sent a message to him because I missed him after the race. I want to try and fight again this weekend.”
Jake Gagne (1) leading Mathew Scholtz (11), Cameron Beaubier (6), Cameron Petersen (45), Josh Herrin (2), PJ Jacobsen (99), Toni Elias (24), Richie Escalante (behind Elias), Corey Alexander (23), and the rest of the field during MotoAmerica Superbike Race One at Road Atlanta in 2023. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
MotoAmerica Live+ To Debut “Road Atlanta Preview Show” This Weekend At Steel Commander Superbike Series Opener
Thirty Minute Live Interview Show To Debut On Friday Morning From Road Atlanta
IRVINE, CA (April 18, 2024) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing championship, will debut a new feature on MotoAmerica Live+ at this weekend’s opening round of the Steel Commander Superbike series at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
The “Road Atlanta Preview Show” will feature MotoAmerica Live+ commentators Roger Hayden and Jamie Howe and will air live from Road Atlanta on Friday, April 19 from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
The show will feature live interviews with several of the top stars of the MotoAmerica Championship and will also be available on-demand for subscribers wanting to view the show at their discretion.
“With Road Atlanta being the opening round for several of our classes, it’s the perfect time to debut this new feature for MotoAmerica Live+,” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “Roger and Jamie will be interviewing some of our top stars from various classes and we know our subscribers will like the new content.”
The “Road Atlanta Preview Show” is exclusive to MotoAmerica Live+ subscribers. To subscribe, click HERE.
MotoAmerica is also pleased to announce that MotoAmerica Live+ is now available on Chromecast, which joins IOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV as platforms where Live+ is available.
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. To watch all things MotoAmerica, subscribe to MotoAmerica’s live streaming and video on demand service, MotoAmerica Live+
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