A new stop for the GP Tour, a journey through Italy to discover Giorgio Parodi, the Genoese founder of the most iconic and loved motorcycle in Italy and abroad, this time the beautiful Trapani area hosted the event, thanks to the collaboration of the Giorgio Parodi Association with the 37th Stormo and the Sartarelli Vintage Car and Motorcycle Club of Trapani.
The Parodi’s eagle is back in Trapani with three days rich of events that brought the numerous lovers of the well-known motorcycle brand in the footsteps of the family, traces of the ties with the Sicilian territory date back as far as 1913, when the “Società Anonima Angelo Parodi fu Bartolomeo” was officially founded.
The event, with the patronage of the Municipality of Trapani and Misiliscemi, linked two wheels and flying lovers, the two great passions of Giorgio Parodi, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Italian Air Force. We started with a visit to the base of the 37th Stormo, where the story of the great entrepreneur and his family was told, they ruled the fate of the Tonnare of Favignana for a long time. Followed by a static display of historic aircraft and vehicles with some flights of vintage airplanes.
Moto Guzzi motorcycles parked with a Typhoon of the Italian Air Force’s 37th Stormo. Photo courtesy Giorgio Parodi Association.
The tour continued on Saturday with a visit to the island of Favignana and its tuna traps, which in 1937 passed definitively from the Florio family to the Parodi, to end on Sunday 23rd with a motorcycle meeting in Erice.
A long fly of the Eagle, so Giorgio Parodi would imagine himself, through years of great international successes both in the motorbike competitions and in air races that bond permanently the Italian pilot and entrepreneur to the fascinating history of the Italian Air Force in the year of her 100 Jubilee.
Vintage Moto Guzzi motorcycles on display at the GPA event in Italy. Photo courtesy Giorgio Parodi Association.
“The eagle with spread wings is the universal symbol of all civil and military pilots, as well as being that of Italian Air Force,” explains Elena Bagnasco, president of the Giorgio Parodi Association and granddaughter of Giorgio as well. “Giorgio wanted it on the tanks of his motorcycles in memory of two friends, Stefano Baglietto and Giovanni Ravelli, pilots like he was, who both died in flights accidents and with whom he began to develop a new and innovative motorcycle project.”
“We must also remember,” concludes Elena, “that the eagle was already in the family feelings with ‘Angelo Parodi fu Bartolomeo,’ which officially chose it as its brand in 1911, and with the capital of which Moto Guzzi was founded in 1921.”
Colonel Daniele Donati, Commander of the 37th Stormo, expressed full satisfaction with the organization of the visit, which is part of the events scheduled to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Armed Force and provided a further opportunity to “open the doors” of the Department to the splendid community that hosts him, underlining that “Giorgio Parodi, famous and multi-medal aviator, fully represents the ethical values, passion, dedication and ingenuity that have belonged to all men and women of the Italian Air Force since its inception.”
Salvatore Ingardia, motorcycle enthusiast, founder of Sicily motorcycle Tour, Francesco Sartarelli, member of the Technical National Board of the 150th Club linked to ASI (Historical Italian Car/Moto Association), and the President Alberto Santoro was proud to support a great initiative which paired the passion in the air with the one on the road by bikers; an iconic tour of the locations which the Parodi’s family made to flourish and become Landmark for Western Sicily, to be visited every year by thousands of enthusiasts from all over the world.
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz Returns To The Podium On Sunday At Brainerd
Brainerd, MN – Mathew Scholtz and the Westby Racing team overcame a stroke of bad luck in Saturday’s MotoAmerica Superbike race one at Brainerd International Raceway and wrapped up the weekend with a solid, third-place finish in Sunday’s race two.
After not being able to finish Saturday’s race due to a mechanical issue caused by an incident that wasn’t his fault, Mathew’s experienced crew was able to repair the #11 Yamaha YZF-R1 for Sunday’s race.
Getting a great jump off the line in the 18-lap race, Mathew was in second-place for the first couple of laps. He lost a position on lap three, and then another one on lap four, but then, he stabilized his position in fourth for the next four laps and then moved back up to third place on lap eight. Mathew staunchly held onto the final podium position all the way to the finish line.
Mathew Scholtz on the podium at Brainerd International Raceway. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
“It’s awesome to be back up on the podium,” Mathew said. “We went out there today with different gearing, but we weren’t really sure if it would help. For the first three or four laps, Jake (Gagne) and PJ (Jacobsen) had a little bit of pace on me, but from lap five onwards, I kind of pulled them back slightly. Then, from the halfway point till the end of the race, the bike started losing grip as I would open the throttle. So, the last couple laps were just survival. In Laguna, I had a massive crash. Hadn’t been able to really train coming up to this and I’ve been sitting on the couch. Maybe did two or three cycles just to try to keep my fitness, but I definitely noticed that it hurt me today. My arms were pumping up. Overall, these guys are riding well. Just to finish in the top five now is something special. There’re crazy-fast guys. There’s Beemers, Ducatis, Yamahas, Suzukis are now up there, too. So, just to be up there makes me feel good, considering how bad things have been. I hope we can just build on from here. Pittsburgh has been one of my favorite tracks. I’ve been strong there previously, so I’m really thinking we can challenge for the win there and carry on pushing forward.”
The Westby Racing team will be back in action on August 18 through 20 at Pittsburgh International Raceway in Wampum, Pennsylvania, for round seven of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle Racing:
PJ victorious as Cameron and Corey suffer double DNF at Brainerd
PJ Jacobsen kept the Tytlers Cycle Racing team on the top step of the podium in the latest round of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at Brainerd International Raceway, the #99 BMW M1000 RR rider converting his front row of the grid starting position to a superb second place finish on Saturday afternoon before romping to his maiden SBK win on Sunday.
On the pace from free practice PJ was the one to watch, putting together his strongest weekend of the year so far. The results move him into fourth overall in the points standings.
Cameron Beaubier, already a multiple winner this year, was also on the pace, the former champion putting his #6 machine in Pole Position for the weekend’s two races. A strong start in Saturday’s opener saw a dramatic first lap, with Cameron tagging the back of Jake Gagne. Contact between PJ Jacobsen and Mathew Scholtz brough out the red flag meaning a race restart. When the lights went out again Beaubier was once again looking good before a scary look crash saw him high side out of contention. With a medical examination revealing a concussion, Cameron withdrew from all track activity on Sunday.
The team’s third rider, Corey Alexander, also had an eventful weekend. The #23 destroyed a bike after a fast crash on Friday but thanks to the great work of the team was able to make it out for qualifying. P12 on the gird, Corey dug deep but unfortunately failed to finish either race, despite running inside the top six on Sunday.
The next round of the series takes place at fan favourite Pitt Race in the middle of August.
PJ Jacobsen: “Race one was pretty hectic with everything that happened at the start. There were a few crashes, and we had a restart. Unfortunately, Cam (Beaubier) went down but I was able to run a strong pace and run with Jake (Gagne) the rest of the race. I got P2 and the closest we have been to a win which was good for me, and the team and I was looking forward to seeing what we could do on Sunday. Race two was pretty awesome. I got my first superbike win in MotoAmerica. It was a really hard race and I just focused on not making mistakes. I made the pass, but I knew I couldn’t relax. Jake (Gagne) kept the pressure up, but we were able to hold on and get the win that has eluded me for so long. It’s a pretty cool feeling and I can’t wait for Pittsburgh. I want to thank the whole team, see you at the next one!”
Cameron Beaubier: “We had good pace Friday and Saturday morning that I was happy about but had a big crash at the beginning of race one that put us out for the weekend. I am bummed but I will get healthy and move on. It was good to see PJ win on Sunday so well done to him. I am looking forward to Pittsburgh so see you there.”
Corey Alexander (23). Photo courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
Corey Alexander: “I felt great right off the bat with our bike and our pace was strong. Unfortunately, I had a big crash on one of the fastest turns of the track in Q1 that destroyed the bike. The guys built a new one, but we spent most of Saturday sorting out the bugs of a new bike and it cost us a finish in the opening race. Race two was back to normal with the bike, and I felt strong in the middle of the race and was pushing hard. Unfortunately, I lost the front with a few laps ago. It has been a weekend to forget but I am happy with what we have learned yet again and my pace overall. Thanks, team, for everything”
More, from a press release issued by Fairium NGRT – Gray Area KTM:
FANTASTIC WEEKEND FOR ROSSI MOOR IN BRAINERD, EVEN GREAT DEBUT OF THE NEW SPONSOR.
Rossi Moor (34). Photo by Ramon Jones, courtesy Fairium NGRT – Gray Area KTM.
Rossi Moor (15 years old) arrived at the fourth round of the Junior Cup in MotoAmerica with the aim of recovering as many points as possible in the general classification over his rivals. Over the entire race weekend Rossi once again proved to be very fast as he took first place both in Friday’s free practice and in QP2 securing the second Pole Position in a row.
Race 1: A practically storyless race, Rossi starts very well and although his KTM is not as fast as the Kawasaki, in turn 5 he is already in the lead, with a fast and determined ride he detaches all his rivals and crosses the finish line with 7.6 seconds ahead. Amazing victory!!
Race 2: It starts very well and Rossi is in the lead at the end of the first lap but unfortunately in the 4th lap the third gear breaks and he is forced to fight with a very big handicap, but his great determination and skill despite the big problem sees him second on the finish line. Rossi is currently in 4th position in the overall 34 points behind first place with two rounds and four races to go.
Another great source of pride for Rossi is that from this Brainerd race weekend he will be displaying the logo of a new partner, Polyglass, a leading Florida-based manufacturer of modified bituminous membranes and roofing coatings for low- and steep-slope applications, on the overalls and on the bike. An agreement reached by Rossi’s manager Stefano Favaro who unites him through an old and strong friendship with the CEO of Polyglass USA Inc, Natalino Zanchetta.
About Polyglass
Polyglass® USA Inc., is an ISO 9001:2015 certified, leading manufacturer of modified bitumen membranes and roof coatings for low- and steep-slope applications. Utilizing the industry’s most technologically advanced manufacturing process, Polyglass operates six state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities — five in North America and one in Italy that serves all of Europe. Since 2008, Polyglass has been a part of the Mapei® Group, a multi-billion dollar manufacturer in the building industry with over 32 research centers and more than 86 production facilities in 57 countries.
Polyglass is committed to adding value by producing cutting-edge products that meet or exceed the needs of our customers. Our goal is to provide a professional experience, focusing on durable roofing and waterproofing products, as well as efficient service, all while meeting the objectives of our shareholders and employees.
More, from a press release issued by Kreece Elliott Racing:
Kreece Elliott was back on track at Brainerd International Raceway this past weekend in the latest round of the MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship.
A strong opening practice session on Friday boosted the Colorado teenager’s confidence before an afternoon rain shower saw him sit out his first opportunity to qualify – the #47 not feeling the need to risk a crash given the weather forecast for the remainder of the weekend.
A top ten qualifying position saw Elliott fighting hard at the head of the second group in race one on Saturday, he crossed the line tenth. A penalty for a jump start on Sunday put paid to what would have been a top eight finish, but he was still classified eleventh after a spirited ride throughout race two.
The results, Kreece’s fourth- and fifth-point scoring finishes of the season elevate him to fifteenth overall in the championship standings ahead of the next round at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex in mid-August.
Kreece Elliott: “Race one didn’t go to plan. I was in the lead group for a lap but then a couple of riders tangled and crashed, and I was pretty much a sitting duck for the rest of the race. I got passed and I had to fight hard to stay in the group, but we had gone the wrong way with the gearing, and I couldn’t pass where I needed. I was in the fight for P7 but crossed the line tenth. Race two was better but I was given a penalty for a jump start which we will go and speak to race direction about as I don’t think I moved. We could have been inside the top seven and so I am a little disappointed as the time penalty puts me out of the top ten. The gearing was still a little off, but I rode my best and that is all I can do. I am happy to have made another double point finish and I can’t wait to ride at Pittsburgh.”
Dainese Group Hires Bobby Fong as Events Coordinator and Racer Support
COSTA MESA, CA – Dainese (www.dainese.com), the world leader in protective wear for dynamic sports, is proud to announce the hiring of Bobby Fong as its new Events Coordinator and Racer Support. With over 12 years of experience in the motorcycle racing industry, Fong brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Dainese team.
As a professional motorcycle racer, Fong has an intimate understanding of the needs of riders and the importance of safety gear. He has competed at the highest level of the sport and knows firsthand the importance of high-quality protective wear. With this experience, Fong will help guide Dainese’s Events & Racer Support and ensure that the brand is well-represented at motorcycle events and races in the USA.
In his new role, Fong will be responsible for planning and executing Dainese’s event and sports marketing initiatives, working closely with the company’s marketing and sales teams to ensure the brand is servicing the unique racing needs that exist in the USA. He will also serve as a brand ambassador, representing Dainese at motorcycle events and promoting the company’s commitment to safety and performance.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Dainese team,” said Fong. “I was lucky enough to have worn Dainese for a good part of my racing career, even before this opportunity to work with Dainese arose, I knew first hand Dainese’s commitment to quality and protection was second to none. When the opportunity to not only wear the products but be part of the Dainese Family was offered to me, I jumped at it. Joining Dainese has been an eye-opening experience. Now that I am on the inside, I have a whole new understanding and respect for the level of commitment Dainese has to protecting riders. I’m stoked to be here and I look forward to helping Dainese grow its presence at events across the USA.”
The pinnacle of safety in motorcycle protective garments is Dainese D-air®. Due to extensive and ongoing research and the analysis of hundreds of thousands of activations, D-air® systems algorithm is designed to only deploy in case of a collision or fall and only covers areas of the body that actually need protection. The D-air airbag utilizes internal microfilaments, that when activated, control air displacement and create a hard-like shield. A process that takes a fraction of the time, less than it takes to blink an eye. D-air® is the only airbag-compliant certification for chest and back protection and without the restrictions of traditional hard shells.
“We are delighted to welcome Bobby Fong to the Dainese team,” said Louis Ortega of Dainese USA. “We have always had a great relationship with Bobby, and when this position became available he was one of the first names we thought of. His experience as a racer and long-standing commitment to rider safety make him the ideal candidate for this role. We are confident that he will help us increase our exposure at in-person events and races, and promote our products as the leader in protective apparel for all riders.”
For more information about Dainese and its range of protective gear, please visit www.dainese.com.
The Yamaha rider takes the Superpole Race but Race 2 goes to the Ducati rider; historic victory in WorldSSP for Mackenzie with Honda
The FIM World Superbike Championship Sunday race day that just came to an end on the Most circuit in the Czech Republic brought one win each for Toprak Razgatlioğlu (Yamaha) and Álvaro Bautista (Ducati) after the Race 1 victory yesterday for Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki).
The Turkish Yamaha rider dominated the Superpole Race, whereas the Spanish Ducati rider won Race 2. Six-time world champion Rea, after winning Race 1, took home second and third place.
In both races held today, the riders used slicks. For the Superpole Race, the most used rear was the SC0, whereas in Race 2, the most popular was the new SC1 C0567 development solution.
The WorldSSP race was also a thriller, with British rider Tarran Mackenzie staying on track in the rain gambling on slicks and giving Honda a win which they hadn’t achieved in WorldSSP since 2016.
The winner of the 300 class race, delayed due to heavy rainfall which made the track unusable, was the Yamaha’s Indonesian rider Aldi Satya Mahendra.
Giorgio Barbier, Motorcycle Racing Director
Heated battles and races influenced by the weather
“First of all, just a brief comment to clarify an issue that generated a bit of confusion for the fans yesterday. The intermediate tyres, like the rain tyres or slicks, are available to all riders and teams in the same quantity. In Race 1, by their own choice, some teams had not asked to have them mounted on rims or they simply had them mounted in the garage and did not take them out to the grid and this is why they did not use them, not because Pirelli had not made them available. The unstable weather once again influenced the races today, particularly the WorldSSP race. The riders who finished on the podium were the ones who decided to stay out on the track with slicks when it began to rain, risking a bit. In WorldSBK Race 2, with the new C0567 rear specification, we recorded three cases of blistering: Rea, Gardner and Razgatlioğlu. For the first two, the blisters were extremely small and had no effect on the performance and race result, whereas in Razgatlioğlu’s case, the tyre had two more evident blisters and the telemetry data shows sudden deflation of the tyre. Even if the Yamaha rider’s race pace was extremely high and none of the other riders’ tyres show any signs of stress or wear, these types of episode clearly must not occur, so we will conduct an in-depth laboratory analysis of the three tyres with blistering to figure out what may have caused it.”
In the Superpole Race, most of the riders were on the grid with the standard SC1 front and the standard SC0 rear, which were the softest solutions available to them. The only riders who mounted the standard SC2 at the front were Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) and Roberto Tamburini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team), whereas at the rear, the new SC1 C0567 development tyre was chosen by 7 riders: Yamaha riders Remy Gardner, Dominique Aegerter and Lorenzo Baldassarri, Kawasaki riders Tito Rabat and Oliver Konig, as well as Iker Lecuona (Honda) and Phillip Oettl (Ducati). Toprak Razgatlioğlu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) won the race after starting from pole position. Finishing behind him were Race 1 winner, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), and current championship leader Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), managing to snatch the bottom step of the podium from Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), fourth. All 5 of the top finishers used SC0 rear tyres and SC1 front tyres.
In Race 2, the majority of riders opted for the combination of the standard SC1 front and the new SC1 C0567 development at the rear. Just like in the Superpole Race, at the front, only Lorenzo Baldassarri and Roberto Tamburini mounted the standard SC2, whereas for the rear, Kawasaki factory riders Rea and Lowes went with the SC1 A1126 development solution, already successfully used for the Phillip Island race in 2022 and this year. Toprak Razgatlioğlu and Álvaro Bautista engaged in a fantastic duel on the track, with the Turkish rider managing to fend off the Spaniard’s attacks until crashing out six laps from the end. At that point, Álvaro Bautista had nothing but open road ahead, going on to win the race all by himself at the front. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) performed brilliantly, overtaking Jonathan Rea on the final turn to take the second step of the podium, with the Kawasaki rider forced to settle for third.
On the starting grid for Race 2, the riders confirmed their tyre choices from Race 1. At the rear, practically all of them started with the standard SC0, whereas at the front, almost everyone opted for the standard SC1 in the conventional 120/70 size, with the exception of Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) and Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) who had already opted for the SC1 in the larger 125/70 size – the same one used by the WorldSBK riders.
Compared with Race 1, held entirely on a dry track, the fate of Race 2 was highly influenced by the weather. Rain began to fall just before the mid-race point and race direction activated the flag-to-flag procedure, allowing the riders to pit and switch to rain tyres. At that point, many made the switch, whereas a few decided to stay out on slicks, a decision which proved to be the winning one because the rain stopped a few laps later and the track gradually dried off. Winning the race, gambling on the slicks, was British rider Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) who finished first ahead of two other riders who elected not to make a pit stop, Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), second, and Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), third.
Here we go! Who will strike first as MotoGP™ returns at Silverstone?
Fast. Flowing. Fierce. Hold on to your hats as the second half of the season kicks off with the British GP
Monday, 31 July 2023
Silverstone. One of the longest venues on the calendar, one of the fastest, and one that’s created some true modern classics. This year, we also move back to the international paddock in the shadow of the glorious Silverstone Wing, adding an extra dash of adrenaline and new challenge to the mix. All in all, it’s a perfect place to get back on track after summer break, with everything to race for as the second half of the season gears up to deliver more of the world’s most exciting motorsport. And on the way in, there’s plenty to talk about!
Picking up where they left off?
The first part of the Championship has seen some ups and downs for reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), but in the last few race weekends the kinks have really been ironed out: two GP wins, a Tissot Sprint win and not off the podium when he didn’t take victory, it’s some form Pecco found before the summer break… so can he keep that rolling as we get back underway? He won here last year, so the omens are good for the #1.
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) is another who put together a serious charge heading into summer, slightly further back in Assen but still taking some big points and hanging on to that second overall. He’s just a single point ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) though as the number 72 got right back in the fight at the front last time out.
Interestingly too, Bagnaia extended that gap thanks to that glorious win at Assen, but since Le Mans he’s not actually the high scorer after taking 107 points from the French GP to the Dutch GP. Martin has banked 111 – gains he’d need to accelerate to overtake the reigning Champion but a formidable charge as he, Bagnaia, and Bezzecchi have shared all the top steps since Jerez.
Recharged & reloaded
Since Jerez means Brad Binder’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team) stunning Sprint win at the Spanish GP, and the South African is the first in the standings looking to hit back as we get back in business. He has a score to settle after missing out on those podiums after track limits infringements in Assen too, so can he get back on the rostrum?
That painful take two on Sunday at the Dutch TT, meanwhile, saw Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) move up and take to the podium for the first time this season. And it clearly meant a lot. It’s been a harder start to the season than many expected for both Espargaro and Aprilia, but if there’s a venue with good memories to head back to after that uptick, it’s Silverstone: the venue that staged the Noale factory’s first podium in the MotoGP™ era in 2021. Yes, only in 2021!
Targets acquired
That’s also true of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), with Assen falling flat but Silverstone another venue the number 12 has previously taken by the horns. He took his first win there in 2016, and last year he almost made MotoGP™ history by winning with a third different bike as his Aprilia crossed the line just half a second off Bagnaia. That remains on the table as history to be made, and Top Gun will want to shoot from the hip after a tough start to 2023.
Assen was a downturn in momentum for a few, including the other rider in the running for that win with a third machine: Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). He took no points at Assen and neither did Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), who arrived at the Dutch TT on a roll of three MotoGP™ podiums in a row for the first time ever. Can they bounce back and find some more luck?
More to come?
It wasn’t a bad weekend for the likes of Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) at Assen, but it wasn’t the heights they’ve already raced at earlier in the season. Marini’s consistency is paying off as he sits 11 points off Zarco, however, whereas AM73 will want to bank some more as he sits 10th despite also already taking a podium.
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), meanwhile, had a Dutch TT of two halves. Saturday was a stunner as he took his first Sprint podium, setting up some expectation for Sunday, but the GP race saw him crash out with Zarco and head into summer break apologising to his compatriot and with a broken toe to heal. He should be back up to full power at Silverstone and will want, as ever, to qualify well to try and replicate and extend that Saturday prowess from Assen.
Quartararo’s teammate Franco Morbidelli is also looking for more, and in his case from the middle of a “silly season” maelstrom as rumours abound regarding who’s going where in 2024. That’s also the case for Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), with both looking to start the second half of the season on a high.
Reset & rebuild
One of the headline quotes to come out of MotoGP™’s visit to Goodwood, meanwhile, was Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) confirming he expects to be at 100% from Silverstone. And he’ll be expecting to challenge at the front. There’s been a little more time for Miguel Oliveira (CryptoData RNF MotoGP™ Team) to recover some strength too, and teammate Raul Fernandez (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team). As ever, however, much of the spotlight will be squarely back on Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)…
The number 93 is expected back on track, and after a glorious start to 2023 with pole and a Sprint podium gave way to more injury struggles, the next story was then all about the bike. So can Honda make their way back to the truly impressive form we’ve seen over much of the past two decades? And the biggest question doing the rounds, with rumours ranging from the plausible to the fantastical: will Marquez be along for that ride? Before we likely get any real answers, Silverstone awaits, and it’s a venue MM93 has reigned.
We also expect the return of Repsol Honda teammate Joan Mir after he was sidelined through injury, and the return of their two World Champions will surely be a boost for the team and factory. We won’t see Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) back just yet though, with Iker Lecuona on duty from Most WorldSBK to Silverstone to replace his compatriot. Finally at Honda though, Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) keeps quietly bagging those points and retains that one singular DNF in a GP race this year, which is no mean feat in itself. Can that continue as we head into the second part of the season?
Another rider back on track will be Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3). After a first taste up The Hill at Goodwood, the Spaniard will be fully reunited with his whole team this time round as he takes his place back in the GASGAS garage to go racing again. It’s been a long few months of recovery, but he’ll be beaming to rejoin rookie teammate Augusto Fernandez. And Fernandez has been busy in the interim, taking a best GP finish of fourth so far and taking consistent points as one of only two riders, along with Morbidelli, to score in every Grand Prix race so far. He also loves Silverstone, so could prove a dark horse.
Bagnaia just extended that gap thanks to that glorious win at Assen, but Martin and Bezzecchi remain close enough for everything to change in a weekend. Check out the times for the racing action below to see how chapter nine unfolds at the fierce and fabulous Silverstone circuit, and see if we make a little history with a ninth different winner in nine races at the track!
SHOWTIME: CHANGES AT THE BRITISH GP
The Monster Energy British Grand Prix sees the introduction of the new entry system for Q2. The first session for MotoGP™ is now FREE Practice 1 and doesn’t count towards Q2, with only the re-named Friday afternoon session, called Practice, deciding who goes through.
The British GP also sees a change to the running order on Sunday. The Tissot Sprint is set for lights out at 15:00 on Saturday as ever, but the Grand Prix gets going at 13:00 (GMT+1) – BEFORE the Moto2™ race.
Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:00 (GMT +1)
Grand Prix Race: Sunday 13:00 (GMT +1)
Moto2™: expect a showstopper!
Tony Arbolino’s (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) advantage is now just eight points as the Jaws music of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) continues to close in, but the Italian’s worst finish is still only that seventh place at Assen as Acosta rues that DNF in France and tough race at the Argentina GP. The pressure of Acosta’s momentum since then is quite something, however, so can Arbolino hold fast at the top and find a step back forward to the electric pace of earlier in the season?
The headlines, however, have to be shared at the British GP. And not even because Jake Dixon (Tensite GASGAS Aspar Team) is racing on home turf, but because he won his first Grand Prix last time out in some style. No pressure? Some of that has already gone now he has that first winner’s trophy and he’s already been on the podium at home though, so can he do it again or challenge for it? And can compatriot Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) find some of that Jerez form?
Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), meanwhile, was back on form at Assen and only just off the podium last year at Silverstone… and Alonso Lopez (CAG SpeedUp) was very much on the rostrum. It was his first visit, as a rookie, and after he led much of the race, ultimately only losing out to eventual Champion Augusto Fernandez by less than a tenth…
Tune in for what is shaping up to be a true thriller in the intermediate class this weekend as we return from summer break, with lights out at the later time of 14:30 (GMT +1)!
Can Holgado hit back at Silverstone?
Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) had just about the worst end to the first part of the season possible at Assen as he qualified last, crashed early and failed to score. Now the question is, can he reset from that and come back out swinging?
He’ll certainly have some tough competition from Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), winner last time out and now on a consistent roll within 16 points of the top, and Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) as the Japanese rider hasn’t been off the podium since France. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) can be expected to shine again too, now a Grand Prix winner after that Sachsenring stunner and back on the podium at Assen to back it up.
Will it be all change again at Silverstone? Can Holgado pick up where he left off? Or are the trio of Masia, Sasaki and Öncü set to march on? We’ll find out with more Moto3™ on Sunday at the slightly different time of 11:15 (GMT+1)!
Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Trevor Brunner (Yam), 20 laps
2. Tom Drane (Yam), -0.230 second
3. Kody Kopp (KTM), -0.553
4. Max Whale (KTM), -1.402 seconds
5. Dalton Gauthier (KTM), -1.531
6. Chase Saathoff (Hon), -2.347
7. Trent Lowe (Hon), -2.480
8. Chad Cose (Hus), -3.264
9. Morgen Mischler (Hon), -3.400
10. Jared Lowe (Hon), -3.593
11. Aidan RoosEvans (Hon), -4.042
12. Travis Petton (KTM), -4.660
13. Justin Jones (Hus), -5.570
14. Olin Kissler (KTM), -5.898
15. Cole Zabala (Hon), -5.966
16. James Ott (Hus), -6.578
17. Blake Steinwagner (Hon), -6.964
18. Declan Bender (KTM), -4 laps, DNF
19. Ferran Cardus (Hon), -11 laps, DNF
Provisional Mission SuperTwins Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. JD Beach (Yam), 27 laps
2. Briar Bauman (KTM), -0.679 second
3. Jared Mees (Ind), -1.904 seconds
4. Jarod Vanderkooi (Ind), -2.506
5. Dallas Daniels (Yam), -3.083
6. Henry Wiles (Ind), -6.142
7. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -1 lap
8. Davis Fisher (Ind), -1 lap, 5.503 seconds
9. Ben Lowe (Ind), -1 lap, 6.409
10. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -1 lap, 7.255
11. Bronson Bauman (KTM), -1 lap, 7.296
12. Kolby Carlile (Yam), -1 lap, 7.830
13. Ryan Wells (Roy), -3 laps
14. Billy Ross (Kaw), -7 laps, DNF
15. Kasey Sciscoe (Har), -22 laps, DNF
More, from a press release issued by American Flat Track:
Beach, Championship Chaos Reign in 76th Peoria TT
JD Beach (95) won the 76th Peoria TT. Photo courtesy AFT.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 30, 2023) – JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) strengthened his claim as one of the greatest TT riders in the long history of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing on Sunday afternoon. The Estenson Racing hero was his spectacular self in the 76th running of the World Famous SC2 Peoria TT presented by Country Saloon, once again dominating at the Peoria Motorcycle Club in Peoria, Illinois.
While obvious in hindsight, that end result wasn’t quite so easy to predict while the day unfolded. Reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle king Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) was fastest in practice, Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) took control during qualifying, and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) won the four-lap Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, but come the Main Event it was all Beach.
Beach then seemingly robbed the race of all drama from the start, slotting into the lead off the line and clearing off at the front.
Even the race behind Beach settled into a seemingly processional affair – emphasis on “seemingly” – as Daniels held down second, followed by Bauman and Mees. But with Beach several seconds out in front and just one lap and one corner to go, the championship chase was thrown with a wicked curveball.
Positioned to stretch out his points lead, Daniels lost the front and crashed from the race, bringing out a very late red flag. However, when presented with the threat of a title-sinking disaster, his crew rose to the occasion, repairing the #32 bike’s broken shifter with just seconds to spare before the restart.
Having lapped all the way up to sixth, Daniels was gifted a most fortunate position on the staggered restart grid. Once back underway, race-long leader Beach survived the three-lap shootout to secure his eighth TT win in his last nine attempts, with Bauman collecting second and Mees taking third.
Beach said, “I’ve just got to thank my crew. This day was hard. I felt good all day but my times were only okay. I was sitting third or fourth pretty much all day. In the Main, I was just like, ‘I’ve got to do my work.’ I got a great start and I just kept doing my laps. I messed up once over the jump and I messed up once in Turn 3. I could hear my bike so I thought it was Dallas right on me. It’s a bummer for him and the team for him to go down with two laps to go, but it was a great race.”
Bummer, yes, but ultimately, Daniels didn’t just salvage enough points to stay alive, he came home with a solid fifth-place result behind Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750). Despite losing his title lead and seeing his season-long 13-race podium streak come to an end, the championship hopeful walked away from Peoria facing just a one-point deficit to Mees (296-295) even after the near catastrophe.
Peoria TT legend Henry Wiles (No. 17 BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) was the final rider remaining on the lead lap in sixth, while Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) rounded out the top ten, respectively.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) scored his first victory of ‘23 in a surprising conclusion to a topsy-turvy Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Main Event.
Prior to a mid-race red flag, teammates Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) and Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) had put themselves in first and second.
Kopp took the lead after successive overtakes of Estenson Racing teammates Brunner and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), while, Whale had a bigger job for himself after slipping back to sixth early despite starting from the front row.
By the time Whale stormed around the outside of Drane to move into second, Kopp had opened up nearly a one-second-plus lead at the front. Whale’s uphill climb was made substantially less steep due to the red flag, which resulted in a staggered restart with just over three minutes remaining on the clock.
With all of the focus on the reset Red Bull KTM brawl for the win, red-hot Drane had another idea. The up-and-coming Aussie jumped out into the lead and displayed renewed strength, actually pulling away from Kopp, Brunner, and Whale with relative ease.
But Drane’s cruise to the checkered flag was interrupted, due to the appearance of a second red flag, which resulted in one final restart with just three laps to determine the winner.
This proved to be Brunner’s golden opportunity, after previously looking to be out of victory contention. The Indiana native blasted off the line and won out in the opening-corner melee, seizing the lead ahead of Drane and Kopp.
He then held on in the brief showdown to claim the win before his rivals had a chance to mount an effective counter. Drane picked up his seventh podium in his last eight outings by finishing 0.230 seconds behind in second position while Kopp solidified his championship advantage in third.
“This is awesome,” Brunner said. “We were pulling starts really well today, but we were having trouble getting out of the ‘flat track’ corners. We were kind of struggling with traction getting out of there, so each restart really benefited me a lot because I was able to come back. The last one, I got a great start and really pulled it out.”
Two-time Peoria TT winner Whale came home fourth a little over a second off the win with Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) nipping at his rear wheel in fifth.
Meanwhile, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) finished sixth with Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450), Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Jared Lowe (No. 63 Mission Foods/Helmet House Honda CRF450R) completed the top ten.
Kopp still leads by a healthy 40 points over Brunner (273-233) as Drane continued his climb up the order, now ranked third at 228.
Next Up:
Progressive AFT will now play a starring role in the 83rd Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with The City of Sturgis Black Hills Half-Mile presented by Black Hills Harley-Davidson at Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, South Dakota, on Sunday, August 6. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/black-hills-half-mile-73564 to reserve your seats today.
For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://www.fanschoice.tv.
FOX Sports coverage of the World Famous SC2 Peoria TT presented by Country Saloon, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, August 6, at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT).
More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:
DEFENDING AFT SINGLES CHAMPION KODY KOPP RETURNS TO PODIUM AT PEORIA TT
Round 14 – American Flat Track Championship
PEORIA, Ill. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Kody Kopp returned to the podium in Round 14 of the 2023 American Flat Track Championship at the Peoria TT, where he secured a third-place finish in the AFT Singles Main Event, and teammate Max Whale took the checkered flag in fourth position.
The morning’s qualifying sessions were marked by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing domination as both Kopp and Whale ranked 1-2 across both sessions, achieving comfort on the 450 SX-Fs from the moment their wheels were in motion.
After finishing second in the opening Heat of the weekend, Kopp earned his way into the Dash-for-Cash, where he would again notch a second-place result. For the 20-lap Main Event, Kopp raced to a hard-fought P3 finish, posting the fastest lap time of the race in the process.
Following his Peoria TT ride, Kopp sits 40 points clear on the AFT Singles Championship tally with four rounds remaining.
Kody Kopp (1). Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Kody Kopp: “The day started off really well with qualifying first, sat on pole for the Heat race, but just got a bad start there. I rode my way up to second for a front row start in the Main Event, and didn’t get off to a great jump there, but moved my way up into the lead, then the red flag came out. We had a couple of those today, and they just didn’t work out for me, but we salvaged a third place and are off to the next one!”
Australian charger Whale scored second in his Heat race following his strong showing in the qualifying sessions, and would race to victory in Dash-for-Cash. A consistent outing in the Main Event saw Whale cross the line in fourth place, climbing to P5 in the 2023 standings.
Max Whale (18). Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Max Whale: “This was a tough one for me! Felt really good early in the day, practice and qualifying went really well – qualified second to Kody by a tiny margin. Heat race, I finished second which was good, then won the Dash-for-Cash after I rode consistent in that and got the job done. Then in the Main Event, got off to an average start, but charged my way back into second place, then the red flag came out and that really disrupted my rhythm. My line was super dry by that point, which was tough to ride, and I think I over-rode the track a bit, but managed a fourth place. Excited for the next one and huge thanks to the team!”
Next Race: Black Hills Half-Mile – Rapid City, SD – August 6, 2023
Bobby Fong won MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Race Two Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway, in Brainerd, Minnesota. Fong took the lead on the first lap and inched away to win the eight-lap sprint by 1.509 seconds on his Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands Design Indian Challenger. It was his second full-length race win of the season.
Hayden Gillim finished second on his Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson Road Glide, which was enough for him to take over the Championship point lead.
Defending Champion Tyler O’Hara used a late-race pass on Gillim’s teammate James Rispoli to score third place on his Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian.
Rispoli came home fourth, and Kyle Wyman rounded out the top five finishers on his Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson.
PJ Jacobsen broke through to take his career-first MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike race win in Race Two Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway, in Brainerd, Minnesota.
Jacobsen passed two-time and defending Champion Jake Gagne on lap nine of 18 and held on to win by 0.322 second on his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR.
Gagne said he pushed his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1 hard all the way to the end but the best he could do was second, which was enough to add to his Championship point lead significantly.
After a string of bad luck in 2023 that continued with a DNF in Race One, Mathew Scholtz was happy to bring his Westby Racing Yamaha home in third.
Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha’s Bobby Fong was running Scholtz down at a rapid pace in the closing laps but came up 0.1 second short of passing him before the finish. After the race, Fong received a 1.3-second penalty for cutting the chicane, but it didn’t affect his finishing position – fourth.
Brandon Paasch turned a great start into an impressive fifth-place finish on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R.
Championship contenders Josh Herrin and Cameron Beaubier did not score any points in Race Two. Herrin retired from Race Two with technical problems on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati, and Beaubier did not start the race due to a concussion he suffered in a crash during Race One.
Jacobsen Wins The First MotoAmerica Superbike Race Of His Career At Brainerd
PJ Jacobsen Nabs His First Superbike Victory In A Straight Fight Over Jake Gagne In Minnesota
PJ Jacobsen (99) defeated Jake Gagne (1) to win his career-first MotoAmerica Superbike race. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
BRAINERD, MN (July 30, 2023) – With a near-perfect performance on Sunday afternoon at Brainerd International Raceway, PJ Jacobsen is no longer the fastest rider in the MotoAmerica paddock to not win a Medallia Superbike race after he added his name to the list of men who have won the premier class in the championship.
With three second-place finishes so far this season and a runner-up finish once in 2022, Jacobsen’s win turned him from bridesmaid to bride and he did it the right way, by besting two-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne in a straight fight. The win also allowed him to step out of the shadow of his five-time Superbike Champion teammate, Cameron Beaubier – the winner of five races thus far in his first season with the Tytlers Cycle Racing team.
After trailing Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha’s Jake Gagne for all of race one on Saturday, Jacobsen was again behind the championship points leader in race two. Until there were nine laps to go. At that point, Jacobsen made his move on Gagne in turn three, got the job done and even put a bit of a cushion between himself and Gagne. Although Gagne put in a late-race charge, Jacobsen was able to withstand the pressure to take that elusive first win by .322 of a second.
Behind those two, Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz was also feeling pressure from behind as Bobby Fong was having the ride of his year on the Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha YZF-R1 and was giving the South African all he could handle in the final laps. Scholtz crossed the line in third with Fong giving up the chase in the final few turns.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Brandon Paasch continues to impress in just his second weekend on the GSX-R1000R with another fifth-place finish. Sixth place went to Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim by a tick over Paasch’s Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teammate Richie Escalante, who struggled with front-tire woes.
Josh Hayes was up to fourth when an off-track excursion knocked him back to 11th. The four-time AMA Superbike Champion, riding the injured Cameron Petersen’s Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing YZF-R1, charged back through to end up eighth.
Aftercare Scheibe Racing’s Ashton Yates was ninth with Thrashed Bike Racing’s Max Flinders rounding out the top 10.
With Beaubier being ruled out of racing on Sunday due to the concussion he suffered in Saturday’s crash, and Josh Herrin’s Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R suffering a mechanical problem that knocked him out of third place, Gagne’s lead in the championship swelled to 68 points over Herrin, 262-194. Beaubier drops to third, 79 points behind Gagne. With his 2-1 weekend tally, Jacobsen jumps past Escalante and into fourth in the title chase, 100 points behind the championship leader.
Superbike Race 2
PJ Jacobsen (BMW)
Jake Gagne (Yamaha)
Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha)
Bobby Fong (Yamaha)
Brandon Paasch (Suzuki)
Hayden Gillim (Suzuki)
Richie Escalante (Suzuki)
Josh Hayes (Yamaha)
Ashton Yates (BMW)
Max Flinders (Yamaha)
Superbike Quotes
PJ Jacobsen – Winner
“It’s just been hard work. Last year being able to even be on the podium was awesome and getting there. Then building steps this year and stuff, and with Cam (Beaubier) coming on as my teammate it was obviously a huge push because he’s a five-time AMA Superbike Champion. When he’s out there winning every weekend, first or second, it’s hard to have that as a teammate. I think just building and building and then learning some stuff from him as well in the data and everything. I knew I would eventually get there. I think I’ve always just been close in the wet races. I don’t really consider that a win, for me anyway. It’s good to finally get a dry win and actually get the job done. It feels pretty good. It was a big moment for me out there. I’ve wanted to do this. When you’re a kid coming up racing, and you’re in the paddock running around there, watching all these guys and then you want to be up here eventually with a win, like Hayes, Zemke, Duhamel, all those guys. So, it’s cool to be up here and to finally get a win in MotoAmerica.”
Jake Gagne – Second Place
“I was just on the edge. I was really pushing, trying to keep with PJ (Jacobsen). Right when he passed me that first lap, two laps, he was just putting tenths on me. I kind of calmed down and figured out a couple little things where he was quicker and tried to ride the bike a little different, be a little smoother, keep it from spinning up quite as much. Then that last lap, we came up on that lapper and I was wondering if I was going to get lucky and see what happened. But it was really fun racing with PJ. The guy has got so much talent. It’s good for him to get his first win. I enjoy being on that side, chasing him down for the win. It was kind of the opposite yesterday where he kind of just got back to my rear tire at the end there and I kind of did the same thing today. It was good. It really sucked to see (Cameron) Beaubier go out with that crash yesterday. I think something happened to (Josh) Herrin today. Good day for points, but more importantly just some good racing today with PJ. Good, clean racing. I didn’t know who was behind me, but we were just kind of inching away there. Everybody was really close this weekend. It was just those first couple laps, like always. I was able to push the pace a little bit. I knew PJ would be there the whole time. Just tried to be smart. Good day. Fun racing with PJ and watching him sideways around the whole track.”
Mathew Scholtz – Third Place
“This season has been pretty sh*t so far, to be honest. So, this is awesome to be back up on the podium here. Yesterday obviously passed PJ in the third corner early on. Ruined the bike. Didn’t get out from that. So, during practice, we didn’t put more than six or seven laps on the tire. So, we went out there today changing gearing settings without really knowing what was going to happen. The first three or four laps I think Jake (Gagne) and PJ (Jacobsen) had a little bit of pace, but maybe it was from lap five onwards I kind of pulled them back slightly. Then I think from the halfway point, the bike just started backing in like crazy. I started losing grip as I would crack the gas. So, the last couple laps was just surviving for me, really. Obviously, in Laguna I had a massive crash. Hadn’t been able to really train coming up to this and I’ve been sitting on the couch. Maybe did two or three cycles just to try to keep my fitness, but I definitely noticed that it hurt me today. My arms were pumping up. Overall, these guys are riding well. Just to kind of finish in the top five now is something special. There’re crazy fast guys. There’s Beemers, Ducatis, Yamahas, Suzukis are now up there too. So just to be up there makes me feel good, considering how bad things have been. So, I think if we can just build on from here. Pittsburgh has been one of my favorite tracks. I’ve been strong there previously, so I’m really thinking we can challenge for the win there. The bike is working better than it has been. We made a couple changes. I think today’s race we can really look at data and carry on pushing forward.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati:
Ducati’s Josh Herrin and Xavi Forés Remain Strong in Point Standings
Sunnyvale, Calif., July 30, 2023 — The Warhorse HSBK Ducati NYC duo of Josh Herrin and Xavi Forés had a few setbacks during round six of the 2023 MotoAmerica Championship at Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) in Minnesota. Herrin achieved another Superbike podium during race one Saturday but suffered a DNF in Sunday’s race two due to mechanical issues. As for Forés, he settled for seventh in race one of the Supersport Championship and fourth in race two.
Herrin aboard the Panigale V4 R during Friday’s qualifying hoped to earn a front-row start for race one. He settled for a seventh-place qualifying position but was able to get up front quickly and continue his podium streak. Herrin finished Saturday’s race one in third, 3.49 seconds behind Yamaha’s Jake Gagne.
During Race 2 Sunday, Herrin started strongly, running at a pace consistent with the leaders. He was in third until he suffered a mechanic issue on lap 8 of 18, forcing a DNF. Although he didn’t finish, he remains second in the championship points race with 194 points, 68 behind Gagne.
After an eight-race winning streak in the Supersport class, the Spaniard Forés struggled at BIR—a track he had never ridden before this weekend. After qualifying fifth aboard his Panigale V2, Forés kept his focus strong among the quicker bikes, finishing seventh, 21.730 seconds behind winner Josh Hayes (Yamaha).
In race two, which was shortened to five laps due to a restart after a horrific crash between Andrew Forsythe (Yamaha) and Justen Behmer (Suzuki), Forés quickly got into third. But he ran wide on the penultimate lap when attempting to pass Kawasaki’s Stefano Mesa. Forés finished fourth, 5.381 seconds behind winner Tyler Scott (Suzuki). With three rounds remaining, Forés continues to lead the Supersport Championship with 272 points, 84 ahead of BIR race-one winner Joshua Hayes (Yamaha).
2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Standings After Round Six
P1 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 262
P2 – Josh Herrin (Ducati) 194
P3 – Cameron Beaubier (BMW) 183
P4 – PJ Jacobsen (BMW) 162
P5 – Richie Escalante (Suzuki) 147
2023 MotoAmerica Supersport Standings After Round Four
P1 – Xavi Forés (Ducati) 272
P2 – Josh Hayes (Yamaha) 188
P3 – Tyler Scott (Suzuki) 185
P3 – Stefano Mesa (Kawasaki) 172
P5 – Teagg Hobbs (Suzuki) 118
Josh Herrin (2). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – #2)
“Obviously I’m bummed with today’s result (race 2). I felt that we had the bike to win for sure. We were able to catch up to the leaders, and I had all the confidence in the world to pass them at the end of the race and get a win. But we suffered an unfortunate mechanic issue that made it impossible to finish the race. I took a big blow in the championship points but won’t give up. I have a test coming up at COTA (Circuit of the Americas), and I’ll do some further training between these rounds and show up ready for Pittsburg next month.”
Xavi Fores (12). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Xavi Forés (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – #12)
“ It was a challenging weekend for me. We had a lot of work to do on the bike, and the results don’t exactly show how much work was put into the V2. At least on today’s race, I minimized the damages and got a good P4. It is hard to deal with when you have to ride against much faster bikes than yours. But no complaints here, and much was learned. We now look forward to Pittsburgh, hoping to return to our winning way.”
The 2023 MotoAmerica Championship now heads to Pennsylvania’s Pittsburgh International Race Complex for round seven of nine August 18-20.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Gagne Doubles Down with Runner-Up Finish at Brainerd
Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne takes a runner-up finish in Race 2 to double his points lead in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship
Jake Gagne (1). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
MARIETTA, Ga. – July 30, 2023 – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne completed a successful weekend at the Brainerd International Raceway with a runner-up finish in today’s MotoAmerica Superbike Race 2. The return to the podium after yesterday’s victory has the defending champion leaving the sixth round of the championship with an additional 34 points, doubling his lead in the premier-class title fight. Fill-in rider Josh Hayes showed podium pace but ultimately salvaged an eighth-place finish in the tricky conditions.
Once again, riders were met with greasy track conditions at the 2.5-mile track in Brainerd, Minnesota, making for a challenging 18-lap race. Gagne got another great start from the front row and grabbed the holeshot. He threw down some fast times and was holding down the lead but was passed around the halfway mark. The reigning champ continued to ride a smart race and kept the leader in sight in the tricky conditions. He closed the gap and, on the final lap, made an attempt to pass but ultimately came .322 of a second shy of the win. His eighth-consecutive podium and 12th this season helped bolster his title defense, giving him a 68-point lead with seven races remaining.
After battling for the win in the 16-lap Supersport race, Hayes went from the podium to the Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing tent for his second race with the team as a fill-in rider for the injured Cameron Petersen. He had another solid start from the third row of the grid in eighth and advanced to fifth on Lap 4 but went off track and rejoined in 11th. Undeterred, the four-time superbike champ put his head down and threw down some consistently fast times to make his way back to sixth. In the final laps, he unfortunately went off track again in the challenging conditions and crossed the line eighth.
The Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing team returns to action in a few weeks for Round 7 of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex (PIRC) in Wampum, Pennsylvania, on August 18-20.
Richard Stanboli – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“The weekend went almost as planned, and we came up just shy of a double win. Overall it was a success. Jake extended his championship lead and now has a pretty comfortable cushion. It was also good to have Josh back on board. His feedback, great speed, and professionalism were a plus for the team. We thank him for his efforts and wish him success at PIRC with his Supersport effort. We look forward to our COTA test and then the next round at PIRC, which is a track that is typically good for our Yamaha R1s.”
Jake Gagne – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing
“Race 2 was another good start, and I got to lead the first half of the race. PJ (Jacobsen) passed me, and I was able to stay there with him, but I couldn’t make a pass back. All in all, it was a great weekend and great for the points!”
Josh Hayes – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing
“I really had a fun and successful weekend, I feel, even though the Superbike results didn’t showcase our potential. I did my very best to represent the team and Yamaha at my highest level, showed great speed, and hopefully passed along valuable feedback for the team’s future. Thanks to all of them for making me feel like family, and to Squid Hunter Racing for letting me take on another challenge!”
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana)
Tyler Scott won restarted MotoAmerica Supersport Race Two Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway, in Brainerd, Minnesota. It was Scott’s first win of 2023.
Scott, riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750, got the holeshot in the five-lap restart and led all the way to the checkered flag.
Josh Hayes led the seven-lap original start but was second behind Scott for most of the restart. Hayes tried to make a move on Scott in Turn 12 on the last lap, but he ran wide and had to settle for the runner-up spot on his Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha. The finish also elevated Hayes into second in the Championship point standings.
Rocco Landers got gifted third on the final lap when Xavi Fores tried to pass Stefano Mesa in Turn 12 and both Fores and Mesa ran wide, opening the door for Landers and his Landers Racing Yamaha to come through.
Gillim’s Big Weekend At Brainerd Puts Him In Title Contention
Hayden Gillim Wins Both Stock 1000 Races And Goes One-Two In Mission King Of The Baggers
BRAINERD, MN (July 30, 2023) – Hayden Gillim wore a path in the grass from the podium to the media center this weekend at Brainerd International Raceway with the Kentuckian making the trip four times in two days. First came the celebrations on the podium with his young son, Stone, on his shoulders, then the walk to the media center for interviews.
He didn’t mind the walks.
With two wins in the Steel Commander Stock 1000 class and a first and a second in Mission King Of The Baggers, Gillim had the most successful weekend of his career in Minnesota. Oh, and he also finished seventh and sixth in the two Medallia Superbike races.
Mission King Of The Baggers – Fong Untouchable
Bobby Fong (50) dominated Sunday’s Mission King Of The Baggers race at Brainerd International Raceway. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
There’s something about Brainerd International Raceway that suits Bobby Fong. Mere minutes after he rode to a fighting fourth-place finish in the Medallia Superbike race on Sunday, Fong was out front of the Mission King Of The Baggers race.
And he was there to stay, riding his Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands/Indian to a 1.5-second victory over Saturday’s race winner Hayden Gillim on the Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson.
A day after a mechanical failure knocked him out of race one, Indian Motorcycle/Progressive/Mission Foods’ Tyler O’Hara caught and passed Gillim’s teammate James Rispoli in the closing laps to take the final podium spot. Rispoli and H-D Screamin’ Eagle’s Kyle Wyman completed what for him was a lackluster weekend in fifth place.
With his win and runner-up finish in the two races, Gillim takes over the championship lead from Wyman and Rispoli, 175-173, with those two tied for second. Fong moves to fourth in the title chase, 45 points behind Gillim.
“No, trust me. I’d rather not do a back-to-back deal like that again,” Fong said. “It was definitely tough. But it was a good weekend for us. All of us got some wins this weekend. Tyler (O’Hara) got the win in the dash. I rate these two guys (O’Hara and Hayden Gillim) really high in my book. Like Tyler said earlier, the competition is stacked. We’ve all been working hard. These guys are smart. Racing with these guys, they think a lot and I can tell riding with these guys. They’re always thinking. They’re always trying different things. Like I said, the competition is stacked. We’ve just got to keep working and see what we can do at COTA in a month or two. I’m happy to be up here. Good pay day for us, as well. Looking forward to spending at the wedding in a year or so.”
Steel Commander Stock 1000 – Gillim Goes Hunting
Hayden Gillim (69) wasted little time in getting to the front of the Steel Commander Stock 1000 race and he went on to victory, his second in two days at Brainerd International Raceway. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim was asked on Sunday afternoon if this weekend was the best racing weekend of his career. Gillim pondered the question briefly before saying, “Yes.”
Gillim won his second Steel Commander Stock 1000 race of the weekend on Sunday at BIR, the Kentuckian not only winning the race but moving to within eight points of championship points leader Ezra Beaubier after scoring a perfect 50 points in the two races.
Gillim’s effort on Sunday was a carbon copy of his race on Saturday. He jumped off the line and led by the time the pack got to turn three. From there he never looked back and ultimately won by 8.9 seconds over Orange Cat Racing’s Kaleb De Keyrel with the Minnesota native finishing second for the second straight day.
Benjamin Smith Racing’s Benjamin Smith was third in his first weekend in the class and his first weekend on his Yamaha YZF-R1. Tom Wood Powersports’ Nolan Lamkin was fourth with Travis Wyman Racing’s Travis Wyman rounding out the top five.
Ezra Beaubier was sixth on his Orange Cat Racing BMW, despite getting a five-second penalty for jumping the start.
“Honestly, before this weekend I was ready to kind of call it quits on the Stock 1000 class for myself,” Gillim said. “So, this has definitely rejuvenated me a little bit and given me some more confidence going into COTA (the final round of the Steel Commander Stock 1000 series). That’s the only bad thing. That first weekend at Road Atlanta really had me down and out, and I was down a lot. With only five rounds this year for Stock 1000, I was a little nervous because I knew Road America was going to be tough. I expected Road Atlanta to be a little bit better than it was. I don’t know about COTA. We’ll see. I ran pretty quick there last year, so we’ll see. It will be interesting. I know these guys will be running for it. It’s a tight race at the top right now, so it’s coming down to the wire. unfortunately, I’ve been in a lot of these situations where it’s come down to the wire and almost every time, I’ve come out the loser. I’m hoping to do a little bit better than last year (when I) tied for the championship at the end of it but getting second place because he (Corey Alexander) had more race wins. So, trying to get those race wins right now just in case. But this was a really good weekend to do it. I knew coming in that this one and Barber I knew for sure were going to be the ones where I had to do the job and get it done.”
Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. – Moore Again
Mikayla Moore (78) again dominated the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. class at BIR. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
The ladies of the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. program had one featured race at Brainerd International Raceway, and after their Sunday morning final qualifying session, it looked like the outcome of the afternoon’s race might be different than the previous four races this season had been. Instead of Mikayla Moore starting from the pole as she’d done in all four races thus far, it was Sonya Lloyd who got the start from the pole with Moore right next to her on the front row of the starting grid.
The difference hardly mattered because Moore promptly went to the head of the pack on the opening lap, and she maintained that position all the way to the checkered flag. Lloyd only gave up the one position to Moore, and she maintained second place throughout the eight-lap race. Crystal Martinez finished third after overtaking Aubrey Credaroli on the opening lap.
“With the big gap (in the schedule)—Ridge Motorsports Park was last month – I spent time training on a (Kawasaki) ZX-6 and a Ninja 400,” Moore said. “But I knew going into this weekend it was going to be a new track for me and based off of P1 time, I knew I had a lot to figure out and to adjust. Going into race one I felt a lot better with the adjustments that Megan helped me with, with Öhlins and some gearing changes that I made.”
Junior Cup – Badie Has A Goodie
Levi Badie (71) celebrates his Junior Cup win over Rossi Moor (34) on Sunday at BIR. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
As is always the case with the MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship’s races, Sunday’s race two at BIR came right down to the final lap and the final run to the checkered flag before the contest was decided. Belgian-based rider Levi Badie got the victory aboard his Badie Racing Kawasaki after coming from back in the field and then prevailing in a skirmish with pole sitter Rossi Moor, who was the winner of Saturday’s race one.
Moor led seven of the 11 laps in the race, including the penultimate lap, but Badie and his Kawasaki overtook Moor and his KTM, the final lap, but Moor was unable to strike back before the finish line. Jayden Fernandez had a battle of his own going on, but he would not be deterred from getting his first MotoAmerica podium in his rookie season, and he finished third.
“I came from eighth, so it was a little struggle to get back (to the front),” Badie said. “I was there the whole time, just struggling to pass a lot of guys because it’s a difficult track to pass. The competitors are very strong. Once I came in first, I kind of missed my braking mark a little bit. Then going into the corner, I was like in dirt, like flat tracking. I kept it open. I came out and I saw that they weren’t too far away, so just head down and tried to catch them because they were fighting. So, I knew when they’re fighting, they’re not going their top speed, so I just did everything I could, and I caught them. That was like two laps more. I was like, just go for it and try to pass every corner, try to pass someone. It worked. Last lap I just took the chance, tried to pass Rossi and it worked and just go. I’m very happy for first place.”
Supersport – Scott Gets It Done
The Supersport race on Sunday at BIR featured 17-year-old Tyler Scott (70) vs. 48-year-old Josh Hayes (4). And this time youth prevailed. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Prior to today, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott had finished on the podium four times this season, but he hadn’t won a race since Road America last year. Well, that all changed with Sunday’s Supersport race two at Brainerd when he came away with the victory in the red-flag-shortened event. The 17-year-old was hounded throughout the race by Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha’s 48-year-old Josh Hayes, who was looking for his 88th all-time race win to extend the new record he set on Saturday by one more victory. Scott took the checkered flag by a little more than one-and-half seconds over Hayes. Third place went to Landers Racing Yamaha’s Rocco Landers, who passed both Xavi Forés and Stefano Mesa on the final lap to notch his second podium of the weekend.
“I got a good start in this race,” Scott said. “I led for the first lap a little bit. He got in front of me, and the goal was just kind of to stay behind him and learn a little bit from him. I struggled all weekend in sector one. When we came in for the red flag, I looked at my sector one times, and they were right on par with Rocco and Teagg (Hobbs), so that was a good improvement. But the race was just kind of pacing myself, getting a little closer to Hayes, then making a small mistake. Kind of playing with whatever gap was there, a second or half a second. Then the red flag came out and we came into the box. We changed our engine braking strategy a little bit to pull us closer to the apex in some corners. I was running wide, making some mistakes. But I felt great on the restart. Got the holeshot and never looked back. I made one mistake in turn four that kind of scared me. I ran decently wide, but I was able to pull it back on the racing line and get the win in the end.”
Levi Badie won MotoAmerica Junior Cup Race Two Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway, in Brainerd, Minnesota. Riding his Badie Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400, the Belgian rider came back from an off-track excursion and made a last-lap pass to claim the victory.
Rossi Moor also ran off the track during the race, but he was able to regain the lead and hold it until the final lap. That’s when downshifting issues that Moor had been experiencing throughout the race opened the door for Badie to make his move into the chicane. Moor ended up coming home second, 0.087 second behind Badie, on his Fairium NGRT – Gray Area KTM RC 390 R.
Jayden Fernandez finished third on his Fernandez Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400, earning his first podium finish in the class.
Motorcycle and aviation enthusiasts gather with a Typhoon of the Italian Air Force's 37th Stormo and Elena Bagnasco (center), President of the Giorgio Parodi Association and granddaughter of Moto Guzzi Founder Giorgio Parodi. Photo courtesy Giorgio Parodi Association.
A new stop for the GP Tour, a journey through Italy to discover Giorgio Parodi, the Genoese founder of the most iconic and loved motorcycle in Italy and abroad, this time the beautiful Trapani area hosted the event, thanks to the collaboration of the Giorgio Parodi Association with the 37th Stormo and the Sartarelli Vintage Car and Motorcycle Club of Trapani.
The Parodi’s eagle is back in Trapani with three days rich of events that brought the numerous lovers of the well-known motorcycle brand in the footsteps of the family, traces of the ties with the Sicilian territory date back as far as 1913, when the “Società Anonima Angelo Parodi fu Bartolomeo” was officially founded.
The event, with the patronage of the Municipality of Trapani and Misiliscemi, linked two wheels and flying lovers, the two great passions of Giorgio Parodi, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Italian Air Force. We started with a visit to the base of the 37th Stormo, where the story of the great entrepreneur and his family was told, they ruled the fate of the Tonnare of Favignana for a long time. Followed by a static display of historic aircraft and vehicles with some flights of vintage airplanes.
Moto Guzzi motorcycles parked with a Typhoon of the Italian Air Force’s 37th Stormo. Photo courtesy Giorgio Parodi Association.
The tour continued on Saturday with a visit to the island of Favignana and its tuna traps, which in 1937 passed definitively from the Florio family to the Parodi, to end on Sunday 23rd with a motorcycle meeting in Erice.
A long fly of the Eagle, so Giorgio Parodi would imagine himself, through years of great international successes both in the motorbike competitions and in air races that bond permanently the Italian pilot and entrepreneur to the fascinating history of the Italian Air Force in the year of her 100 Jubilee.
Vintage Moto Guzzi motorcycles on display at the GPA event in Italy. Photo courtesy Giorgio Parodi Association.
“The eagle with spread wings is the universal symbol of all civil and military pilots, as well as being that of Italian Air Force,” explains Elena Bagnasco, president of the Giorgio Parodi Association and granddaughter of Giorgio as well. “Giorgio wanted it on the tanks of his motorcycles in memory of two friends, Stefano Baglietto and Giovanni Ravelli, pilots like he was, who both died in flights accidents and with whom he began to develop a new and innovative motorcycle project.”
“We must also remember,” concludes Elena, “that the eagle was already in the family feelings with ‘Angelo Parodi fu Bartolomeo,’ which officially chose it as its brand in 1911, and with the capital of which Moto Guzzi was founded in 1921.”
Colonel Daniele Donati, Commander of the 37th Stormo, expressed full satisfaction with the organization of the visit, which is part of the events scheduled to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Armed Force and provided a further opportunity to “open the doors” of the Department to the splendid community that hosts him, underlining that “Giorgio Parodi, famous and multi-medal aviator, fully represents the ethical values, passion, dedication and ingenuity that have belonged to all men and women of the Italian Air Force since its inception.”
Salvatore Ingardia, motorcycle enthusiast, founder of Sicily motorcycle Tour, Francesco Sartarelli, member of the Technical National Board of the 150th Club linked to ASI (Historical Italian Car/Moto Association), and the President Alberto Santoro was proud to support a great initiative which paired the passion in the air with the one on the road by bikers; an iconic tour of the locations which the Parodi’s family made to flourish and become Landmark for Western Sicily, to be visited every year by thousands of enthusiasts from all over the world.
PJ Jacobsen (99) leads Jake Gagne (1) and Mathew Scholtz (11) in Superbike Race Two at Brainerd. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz Returns To The Podium On Sunday At Brainerd
Brainerd, MN – Mathew Scholtz and the Westby Racing team overcame a stroke of bad luck in Saturday’s MotoAmerica Superbike race one at Brainerd International Raceway and wrapped up the weekend with a solid, third-place finish in Sunday’s race two.
After not being able to finish Saturday’s race due to a mechanical issue caused by an incident that wasn’t his fault, Mathew’s experienced crew was able to repair the #11 Yamaha YZF-R1 for Sunday’s race.
Getting a great jump off the line in the 18-lap race, Mathew was in second-place for the first couple of laps. He lost a position on lap three, and then another one on lap four, but then, he stabilized his position in fourth for the next four laps and then moved back up to third place on lap eight. Mathew staunchly held onto the final podium position all the way to the finish line.
Mathew Scholtz on the podium at Brainerd International Raceway. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
“It’s awesome to be back up on the podium,” Mathew said. “We went out there today with different gearing, but we weren’t really sure if it would help. For the first three or four laps, Jake (Gagne) and PJ (Jacobsen) had a little bit of pace on me, but from lap five onwards, I kind of pulled them back slightly. Then, from the halfway point till the end of the race, the bike started losing grip as I would open the throttle. So, the last couple laps were just survival. In Laguna, I had a massive crash. Hadn’t been able to really train coming up to this and I’ve been sitting on the couch. Maybe did two or three cycles just to try to keep my fitness, but I definitely noticed that it hurt me today. My arms were pumping up. Overall, these guys are riding well. Just to finish in the top five now is something special. There’re crazy-fast guys. There’s Beemers, Ducatis, Yamahas, Suzukis are now up there, too. So, just to be up there makes me feel good, considering how bad things have been. I hope we can just build on from here. Pittsburgh has been one of my favorite tracks. I’ve been strong there previously, so I’m really thinking we can challenge for the win there and carry on pushing forward.”
The Westby Racing team will be back in action on August 18 through 20 at Pittsburgh International Raceway in Wampum, Pennsylvania, for round seven of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle Racing:
PJ victorious as Cameron and Corey suffer double DNF at Brainerd
PJ Jacobsen kept the Tytlers Cycle Racing team on the top step of the podium in the latest round of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at Brainerd International Raceway, the #99 BMW M1000 RR rider converting his front row of the grid starting position to a superb second place finish on Saturday afternoon before romping to his maiden SBK win on Sunday.
On the pace from free practice PJ was the one to watch, putting together his strongest weekend of the year so far. The results move him into fourth overall in the points standings.
Cameron Beaubier, already a multiple winner this year, was also on the pace, the former champion putting his #6 machine in Pole Position for the weekend’s two races. A strong start in Saturday’s opener saw a dramatic first lap, with Cameron tagging the back of Jake Gagne. Contact between PJ Jacobsen and Mathew Scholtz brough out the red flag meaning a race restart. When the lights went out again Beaubier was once again looking good before a scary look crash saw him high side out of contention. With a medical examination revealing a concussion, Cameron withdrew from all track activity on Sunday.
The team’s third rider, Corey Alexander, also had an eventful weekend. The #23 destroyed a bike after a fast crash on Friday but thanks to the great work of the team was able to make it out for qualifying. P12 on the gird, Corey dug deep but unfortunately failed to finish either race, despite running inside the top six on Sunday.
The next round of the series takes place at fan favourite Pitt Race in the middle of August.
PJ Jacobsen: “Race one was pretty hectic with everything that happened at the start. There were a few crashes, and we had a restart. Unfortunately, Cam (Beaubier) went down but I was able to run a strong pace and run with Jake (Gagne) the rest of the race. I got P2 and the closest we have been to a win which was good for me, and the team and I was looking forward to seeing what we could do on Sunday. Race two was pretty awesome. I got my first superbike win in MotoAmerica. It was a really hard race and I just focused on not making mistakes. I made the pass, but I knew I couldn’t relax. Jake (Gagne) kept the pressure up, but we were able to hold on and get the win that has eluded me for so long. It’s a pretty cool feeling and I can’t wait for Pittsburgh. I want to thank the whole team, see you at the next one!”
Cameron Beaubier: “We had good pace Friday and Saturday morning that I was happy about but had a big crash at the beginning of race one that put us out for the weekend. I am bummed but I will get healthy and move on. It was good to see PJ win on Sunday so well done to him. I am looking forward to Pittsburgh so see you there.”
Corey Alexander (23). Photo courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
Corey Alexander: “I felt great right off the bat with our bike and our pace was strong. Unfortunately, I had a big crash on one of the fastest turns of the track in Q1 that destroyed the bike. The guys built a new one, but we spent most of Saturday sorting out the bugs of a new bike and it cost us a finish in the opening race. Race two was back to normal with the bike, and I felt strong in the middle of the race and was pushing hard. Unfortunately, I lost the front with a few laps ago. It has been a weekend to forget but I am happy with what we have learned yet again and my pace overall. Thanks, team, for everything”
More, from a press release issued by Fairium NGRT – Gray Area KTM:
FANTASTIC WEEKEND FOR ROSSI MOOR IN BRAINERD, EVEN GREAT DEBUT OF THE NEW SPONSOR.
Rossi Moor (34). Photo by Ramon Jones, courtesy Fairium NGRT – Gray Area KTM.
Rossi Moor (15 years old) arrived at the fourth round of the Junior Cup in MotoAmerica with the aim of recovering as many points as possible in the general classification over his rivals. Over the entire race weekend Rossi once again proved to be very fast as he took first place both in Friday’s free practice and in QP2 securing the second Pole Position in a row.
Race 1: A practically storyless race, Rossi starts very well and although his KTM is not as fast as the Kawasaki, in turn 5 he is already in the lead, with a fast and determined ride he detaches all his rivals and crosses the finish line with 7.6 seconds ahead. Amazing victory!!
Race 2: It starts very well and Rossi is in the lead at the end of the first lap but unfortunately in the 4th lap the third gear breaks and he is forced to fight with a very big handicap, but his great determination and skill despite the big problem sees him second on the finish line. Rossi is currently in 4th position in the overall 34 points behind first place with two rounds and four races to go.
Another great source of pride for Rossi is that from this Brainerd race weekend he will be displaying the logo of a new partner, Polyglass, a leading Florida-based manufacturer of modified bituminous membranes and roofing coatings for low- and steep-slope applications, on the overalls and on the bike. An agreement reached by Rossi’s manager Stefano Favaro who unites him through an old and strong friendship with the CEO of Polyglass USA Inc, Natalino Zanchetta.
About Polyglass
Polyglass® USA Inc., is an ISO 9001:2015 certified, leading manufacturer of modified bitumen membranes and roof coatings for low- and steep-slope applications. Utilizing the industry’s most technologically advanced manufacturing process, Polyglass operates six state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities — five in North America and one in Italy that serves all of Europe. Since 2008, Polyglass has been a part of the Mapei® Group, a multi-billion dollar manufacturer in the building industry with over 32 research centers and more than 86 production facilities in 57 countries.
Polyglass is committed to adding value by producing cutting-edge products that meet or exceed the needs of our customers. Our goal is to provide a professional experience, focusing on durable roofing and waterproofing products, as well as efficient service, all while meeting the objectives of our shareholders and employees.
More, from a press release issued by Kreece Elliott Racing:
Kreece Elliott was back on track at Brainerd International Raceway this past weekend in the latest round of the MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship.
A strong opening practice session on Friday boosted the Colorado teenager’s confidence before an afternoon rain shower saw him sit out his first opportunity to qualify – the #47 not feeling the need to risk a crash given the weather forecast for the remainder of the weekend.
A top ten qualifying position saw Elliott fighting hard at the head of the second group in race one on Saturday, he crossed the line tenth. A penalty for a jump start on Sunday put paid to what would have been a top eight finish, but he was still classified eleventh after a spirited ride throughout race two.
The results, Kreece’s fourth- and fifth-point scoring finishes of the season elevate him to fifteenth overall in the championship standings ahead of the next round at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex in mid-August.
Kreece Elliott: “Race one didn’t go to plan. I was in the lead group for a lap but then a couple of riders tangled and crashed, and I was pretty much a sitting duck for the rest of the race. I got passed and I had to fight hard to stay in the group, but we had gone the wrong way with the gearing, and I couldn’t pass where I needed. I was in the fight for P7 but crossed the line tenth. Race two was better but I was given a penalty for a jump start which we will go and speak to race direction about as I don’t think I moved. We could have been inside the top seven and so I am a little disappointed as the time penalty puts me out of the top ten. The gearing was still a little off, but I rode my best and that is all I can do. I am happy to have made another double point finish and I can’t wait to ride at Pittsburgh.”
Dainese Group Hires Bobby Fong as Events Coordinator and Racer Support
COSTA MESA, CA – Dainese (www.dainese.com), the world leader in protective wear for dynamic sports, is proud to announce the hiring of Bobby Fong as its new Events Coordinator and Racer Support. With over 12 years of experience in the motorcycle racing industry, Fong brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Dainese team.
As a professional motorcycle racer, Fong has an intimate understanding of the needs of riders and the importance of safety gear. He has competed at the highest level of the sport and knows firsthand the importance of high-quality protective wear. With this experience, Fong will help guide Dainese’s Events & Racer Support and ensure that the brand is well-represented at motorcycle events and races in the USA.
In his new role, Fong will be responsible for planning and executing Dainese’s event and sports marketing initiatives, working closely with the company’s marketing and sales teams to ensure the brand is servicing the unique racing needs that exist in the USA. He will also serve as a brand ambassador, representing Dainese at motorcycle events and promoting the company’s commitment to safety and performance.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Dainese team,” said Fong. “I was lucky enough to have worn Dainese for a good part of my racing career, even before this opportunity to work with Dainese arose, I knew first hand Dainese’s commitment to quality and protection was second to none. When the opportunity to not only wear the products but be part of the Dainese Family was offered to me, I jumped at it. Joining Dainese has been an eye-opening experience. Now that I am on the inside, I have a whole new understanding and respect for the level of commitment Dainese has to protecting riders. I’m stoked to be here and I look forward to helping Dainese grow its presence at events across the USA.”
The pinnacle of safety in motorcycle protective garments is Dainese D-air®. Due to extensive and ongoing research and the analysis of hundreds of thousands of activations, D-air® systems algorithm is designed to only deploy in case of a collision or fall and only covers areas of the body that actually need protection. The D-air airbag utilizes internal microfilaments, that when activated, control air displacement and create a hard-like shield. A process that takes a fraction of the time, less than it takes to blink an eye. D-air® is the only airbag-compliant certification for chest and back protection and without the restrictions of traditional hard shells.
“We are delighted to welcome Bobby Fong to the Dainese team,” said Louis Ortega of Dainese USA. “We have always had a great relationship with Bobby, and when this position became available he was one of the first names we thought of. His experience as a racer and long-standing commitment to rider safety make him the ideal candidate for this role. We are confident that he will help us increase our exposure at in-person events and races, and promote our products as the leader in protective apparel for all riders.”
For more information about Dainese and its range of protective gear, please visit www.dainese.com.
Toprak Razgatlioglu's rear tire blistered and suffered sudden deflation prior to his crash in World Superbike Race Two at Autodrom Most. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Razgatlioğlu-Bautista: 1 all on Sunday in Most
The Yamaha rider takes the Superpole Race but Race 2 goes to the Ducati rider; historic victory in WorldSSP for Mackenzie with Honda
The FIM World Superbike Championship Sunday race day that just came to an end on the Most circuit in the Czech Republic brought one win each for Toprak Razgatlioğlu (Yamaha) and Álvaro Bautista (Ducati) after the Race 1 victory yesterday for Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki).
The Turkish Yamaha rider dominated the Superpole Race, whereas the Spanish Ducati rider won Race 2. Six-time world champion Rea, after winning Race 1, took home second and third place.
In both races held today, the riders used slicks. For the Superpole Race, the most used rear was the SC0, whereas in Race 2, the most popular was the new SC1 C0567 development solution.
The WorldSSP race was also a thriller, with British rider Tarran Mackenzie staying on track in the rain gambling on slicks and giving Honda a win which they hadn’t achieved in WorldSSP since 2016.
The winner of the 300 class race, delayed due to heavy rainfall which made the track unusable, was the Yamaha’s Indonesian rider Aldi Satya Mahendra.
Giorgio Barbier, Motorcycle Racing Director
Heated battles and races influenced by the weather
“First of all, just a brief comment to clarify an issue that generated a bit of confusion for the fans yesterday. The intermediate tyres, like the rain tyres or slicks, are available to all riders and teams in the same quantity. In Race 1, by their own choice, some teams had not asked to have them mounted on rims or they simply had them mounted in the garage and did not take them out to the grid and this is why they did not use them, not because Pirelli had not made them available. The unstable weather once again influenced the races today, particularly the WorldSSP race. The riders who finished on the podium were the ones who decided to stay out on the track with slicks when it began to rain, risking a bit. In WorldSBK Race 2, with the new C0567 rear specification, we recorded three cases of blistering: Rea, Gardner and Razgatlioğlu. For the first two, the blisters were extremely small and had no effect on the performance and race result, whereas in Razgatlioğlu’s case, the tyre had two more evident blisters and the telemetry data shows sudden deflation of the tyre. Even if the Yamaha rider’s race pace was extremely high and none of the other riders’ tyres show any signs of stress or wear, these types of episode clearly must not occur, so we will conduct an in-depth laboratory analysis of the three tyres with blistering to figure out what may have caused it.”
In the Superpole Race, most of the riders were on the grid with the standard SC1 front and the standard SC0 rear, which were the softest solutions available to them. The only riders who mounted the standard SC2 at the front were Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) and Roberto Tamburini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team), whereas at the rear, the new SC1 C0567 development tyre was chosen by 7 riders: Yamaha riders Remy Gardner, Dominique Aegerter and Lorenzo Baldassarri, Kawasaki riders Tito Rabat and Oliver Konig, as well as Iker Lecuona (Honda) and Phillip Oettl (Ducati). Toprak Razgatlioğlu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) won the race after starting from pole position. Finishing behind him were Race 1 winner, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), and current championship leader Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), managing to snatch the bottom step of the podium from Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), fourth. All 5 of the top finishers used SC0 rear tyres and SC1 front tyres.
In Race 2, the majority of riders opted for the combination of the standard SC1 front and the new SC1 C0567 development at the rear. Just like in the Superpole Race, at the front, only Lorenzo Baldassarri and Roberto Tamburini mounted the standard SC2, whereas for the rear, Kawasaki factory riders Rea and Lowes went with the SC1 A1126 development solution, already successfully used for the Phillip Island race in 2022 and this year. Toprak Razgatlioğlu and Álvaro Bautista engaged in a fantastic duel on the track, with the Turkish rider managing to fend off the Spaniard’s attacks until crashing out six laps from the end. At that point, Álvaro Bautista had nothing but open road ahead, going on to win the race all by himself at the front. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) performed brilliantly, overtaking Jonathan Rea on the final turn to take the second step of the podium, with the Kawasaki rider forced to settle for third.
On the starting grid for Race 2, the riders confirmed their tyre choices from Race 1. At the rear, practically all of them started with the standard SC0, whereas at the front, almost everyone opted for the standard SC1 in the conventional 120/70 size, with the exception of Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) and Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) who had already opted for the SC1 in the larger 125/70 size – the same one used by the WorldSBK riders.
Compared with Race 1, held entirely on a dry track, the fate of Race 2 was highly influenced by the weather. Rain began to fall just before the mid-race point and race direction activated the flag-to-flag procedure, allowing the riders to pit and switch to rain tyres. At that point, many made the switch, whereas a few decided to stay out on slicks, a decision which proved to be the winning one because the rain stopped a few laps later and the track gradually dried off. Winning the race, gambling on the slicks, was British rider Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) who finished first ahead of two other riders who elected not to make a pit stop, Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), second, and Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), third.
The grid prior to the start of the MotoGP race at Silverstone in 2022. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Here we go! Who will strike first as MotoGP™ returns at Silverstone?
Fast. Flowing. Fierce. Hold on to your hats as the second half of the season kicks off with the British GP
Monday, 31 July 2023
Silverstone. One of the longest venues on the calendar, one of the fastest, and one that’s created some true modern classics. This year, we also move back to the international paddock in the shadow of the glorious Silverstone Wing, adding an extra dash of adrenaline and new challenge to the mix. All in all, it’s a perfect place to get back on track after summer break, with everything to race for as the second half of the season gears up to deliver more of the world’s most exciting motorsport. And on the way in, there’s plenty to talk about!
Picking up where they left off?
The first part of the Championship has seen some ups and downs for reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), but in the last few race weekends the kinks have really been ironed out: two GP wins, a Tissot Sprint win and not off the podium when he didn’t take victory, it’s some form Pecco found before the summer break… so can he keep that rolling as we get back underway? He won here last year, so the omens are good for the #1.
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) is another who put together a serious charge heading into summer, slightly further back in Assen but still taking some big points and hanging on to that second overall. He’s just a single point ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) though as the number 72 got right back in the fight at the front last time out.
Interestingly too, Bagnaia extended that gap thanks to that glorious win at Assen, but since Le Mans he’s not actually the high scorer after taking 107 points from the French GP to the Dutch GP. Martin has banked 111 – gains he’d need to accelerate to overtake the reigning Champion but a formidable charge as he, Bagnaia, and Bezzecchi have shared all the top steps since Jerez.
Recharged & reloaded
Since Jerez means Brad Binder’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team) stunning Sprint win at the Spanish GP, and the South African is the first in the standings looking to hit back as we get back in business. He has a score to settle after missing out on those podiums after track limits infringements in Assen too, so can he get back on the rostrum?
That painful take two on Sunday at the Dutch TT, meanwhile, saw Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) move up and take to the podium for the first time this season. And it clearly meant a lot. It’s been a harder start to the season than many expected for both Espargaro and Aprilia, but if there’s a venue with good memories to head back to after that uptick, it’s Silverstone: the venue that staged the Noale factory’s first podium in the MotoGP™ era in 2021. Yes, only in 2021!
Targets acquired
That’s also true of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), with Assen falling flat but Silverstone another venue the number 12 has previously taken by the horns. He took his first win there in 2016, and last year he almost made MotoGP™ history by winning with a third different bike as his Aprilia crossed the line just half a second off Bagnaia. That remains on the table as history to be made, and Top Gun will want to shoot from the hip after a tough start to 2023.
Assen was a downturn in momentum for a few, including the other rider in the running for that win with a third machine: Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). He took no points at Assen and neither did Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), who arrived at the Dutch TT on a roll of three MotoGP™ podiums in a row for the first time ever. Can they bounce back and find some more luck?
More to come?
It wasn’t a bad weekend for the likes of Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) at Assen, but it wasn’t the heights they’ve already raced at earlier in the season. Marini’s consistency is paying off as he sits 11 points off Zarco, however, whereas AM73 will want to bank some more as he sits 10th despite also already taking a podium.
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), meanwhile, had a Dutch TT of two halves. Saturday was a stunner as he took his first Sprint podium, setting up some expectation for Sunday, but the GP race saw him crash out with Zarco and head into summer break apologising to his compatriot and with a broken toe to heal. He should be back up to full power at Silverstone and will want, as ever, to qualify well to try and replicate and extend that Saturday prowess from Assen.
Quartararo’s teammate Franco Morbidelli is also looking for more, and in his case from the middle of a “silly season” maelstrom as rumours abound regarding who’s going where in 2024. That’s also the case for Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), with both looking to start the second half of the season on a high.
Reset & rebuild
One of the headline quotes to come out of MotoGP™’s visit to Goodwood, meanwhile, was Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) confirming he expects to be at 100% from Silverstone. And he’ll be expecting to challenge at the front. There’s been a little more time for Miguel Oliveira (CryptoData RNF MotoGP™ Team) to recover some strength too, and teammate Raul Fernandez (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team). As ever, however, much of the spotlight will be squarely back on Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)…
The number 93 is expected back on track, and after a glorious start to 2023 with pole and a Sprint podium gave way to more injury struggles, the next story was then all about the bike. So can Honda make their way back to the truly impressive form we’ve seen over much of the past two decades? And the biggest question doing the rounds, with rumours ranging from the plausible to the fantastical: will Marquez be along for that ride? Before we likely get any real answers, Silverstone awaits, and it’s a venue MM93 has reigned.
We also expect the return of Repsol Honda teammate Joan Mir after he was sidelined through injury, and the return of their two World Champions will surely be a boost for the team and factory. We won’t see Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) back just yet though, with Iker Lecuona on duty from Most WorldSBK to Silverstone to replace his compatriot. Finally at Honda though, Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) keeps quietly bagging those points and retains that one singular DNF in a GP race this year, which is no mean feat in itself. Can that continue as we head into the second part of the season?
Another rider back on track will be Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3). After a first taste up The Hill at Goodwood, the Spaniard will be fully reunited with his whole team this time round as he takes his place back in the GASGAS garage to go racing again. It’s been a long few months of recovery, but he’ll be beaming to rejoin rookie teammate Augusto Fernandez. And Fernandez has been busy in the interim, taking a best GP finish of fourth so far and taking consistent points as one of only two riders, along with Morbidelli, to score in every Grand Prix race so far. He also loves Silverstone, so could prove a dark horse.
Bagnaia just extended that gap thanks to that glorious win at Assen, but Martin and Bezzecchi remain close enough for everything to change in a weekend. Check out the times for the racing action below to see how chapter nine unfolds at the fierce and fabulous Silverstone circuit, and see if we make a little history with a ninth different winner in nine races at the track!
SHOWTIME: CHANGES AT THE BRITISH GP
The Monster Energy British Grand Prix sees the introduction of the new entry system for Q2. The first session for MotoGP™ is now FREE Practice 1 and doesn’t count towards Q2, with only the re-named Friday afternoon session, called Practice, deciding who goes through.
The British GP also sees a change to the running order on Sunday. The Tissot Sprint is set for lights out at 15:00 on Saturday as ever, but the Grand Prix gets going at 13:00 (GMT+1) – BEFORE the Moto2™ race.
Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:00 (GMT +1)
Grand Prix Race: Sunday 13:00 (GMT +1)
Moto2™: expect a showstopper!
Tony Arbolino’s (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) advantage is now just eight points as the Jaws music of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) continues to close in, but the Italian’s worst finish is still only that seventh place at Assen as Acosta rues that DNF in France and tough race at the Argentina GP. The pressure of Acosta’s momentum since then is quite something, however, so can Arbolino hold fast at the top and find a step back forward to the electric pace of earlier in the season?
The headlines, however, have to be shared at the British GP. And not even because Jake Dixon (Tensite GASGAS Aspar Team) is racing on home turf, but because he won his first Grand Prix last time out in some style. No pressure? Some of that has already gone now he has that first winner’s trophy and he’s already been on the podium at home though, so can he do it again or challenge for it? And can compatriot Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) find some of that Jerez form?
Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), meanwhile, was back on form at Assen and only just off the podium last year at Silverstone… and Alonso Lopez (CAG SpeedUp) was very much on the rostrum. It was his first visit, as a rookie, and after he led much of the race, ultimately only losing out to eventual Champion Augusto Fernandez by less than a tenth…
Tune in for what is shaping up to be a true thriller in the intermediate class this weekend as we return from summer break, with lights out at the later time of 14:30 (GMT +1)!
Can Holgado hit back at Silverstone?
Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) had just about the worst end to the first part of the season possible at Assen as he qualified last, crashed early and failed to score. Now the question is, can he reset from that and come back out swinging?
He’ll certainly have some tough competition from Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), winner last time out and now on a consistent roll within 16 points of the top, and Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) as the Japanese rider hasn’t been off the podium since France. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) can be expected to shine again too, now a Grand Prix winner after that Sachsenring stunner and back on the podium at Assen to back it up.
Will it be all change again at Silverstone? Can Holgado pick up where he left off? Or are the trio of Masia, Sasaki and Öncü set to march on? We’ll find out with more Moto3™ on Sunday at the slightly different time of 11:15 (GMT+1)!
Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Trevor Brunner (Yam), 20 laps
2. Tom Drane (Yam), -0.230 second
3. Kody Kopp (KTM), -0.553
4. Max Whale (KTM), -1.402 seconds
5. Dalton Gauthier (KTM), -1.531
6. Chase Saathoff (Hon), -2.347
7. Trent Lowe (Hon), -2.480
8. Chad Cose (Hus), -3.264
9. Morgen Mischler (Hon), -3.400
10. Jared Lowe (Hon), -3.593
11. Aidan RoosEvans (Hon), -4.042
12. Travis Petton (KTM), -4.660
13. Justin Jones (Hus), -5.570
14. Olin Kissler (KTM), -5.898
15. Cole Zabala (Hon), -5.966
16. James Ott (Hus), -6.578
17. Blake Steinwagner (Hon), -6.964
18. Declan Bender (KTM), -4 laps, DNF
19. Ferran Cardus (Hon), -11 laps, DNF
Provisional Mission SuperTwins Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. JD Beach (Yam), 27 laps
2. Briar Bauman (KTM), -0.679 second
3. Jared Mees (Ind), -1.904 seconds
4. Jarod Vanderkooi (Ind), -2.506
5. Dallas Daniels (Yam), -3.083
6. Henry Wiles (Ind), -6.142
7. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -1 lap
8. Davis Fisher (Ind), -1 lap, 5.503 seconds
9. Ben Lowe (Ind), -1 lap, 6.409
10. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -1 lap, 7.255
11. Bronson Bauman (KTM), -1 lap, 7.296
12. Kolby Carlile (Yam), -1 lap, 7.830
13. Ryan Wells (Roy), -3 laps
14. Billy Ross (Kaw), -7 laps, DNF
15. Kasey Sciscoe (Har), -22 laps, DNF
More, from a press release issued by American Flat Track:
Beach, Championship Chaos Reign in 76th Peoria TT
JD Beach (95) won the 76th Peoria TT. Photo courtesy AFT.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 30, 2023) – JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) strengthened his claim as one of the greatest TT riders in the long history of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing on Sunday afternoon. The Estenson Racing hero was his spectacular self in the 76th running of the World Famous SC2 Peoria TT presented by Country Saloon, once again dominating at the Peoria Motorcycle Club in Peoria, Illinois.
While obvious in hindsight, that end result wasn’t quite so easy to predict while the day unfolded. Reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle king Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) was fastest in practice, Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) took control during qualifying, and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) won the four-lap Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, but come the Main Event it was all Beach.
Beach then seemingly robbed the race of all drama from the start, slotting into the lead off the line and clearing off at the front.
Even the race behind Beach settled into a seemingly processional affair – emphasis on “seemingly” – as Daniels held down second, followed by Bauman and Mees. But with Beach several seconds out in front and just one lap and one corner to go, the championship chase was thrown with a wicked curveball.
Positioned to stretch out his points lead, Daniels lost the front and crashed from the race, bringing out a very late red flag. However, when presented with the threat of a title-sinking disaster, his crew rose to the occasion, repairing the #32 bike’s broken shifter with just seconds to spare before the restart.
Having lapped all the way up to sixth, Daniels was gifted a most fortunate position on the staggered restart grid. Once back underway, race-long leader Beach survived the three-lap shootout to secure his eighth TT win in his last nine attempts, with Bauman collecting second and Mees taking third.
Beach said, “I’ve just got to thank my crew. This day was hard. I felt good all day but my times were only okay. I was sitting third or fourth pretty much all day. In the Main, I was just like, ‘I’ve got to do my work.’ I got a great start and I just kept doing my laps. I messed up once over the jump and I messed up once in Turn 3. I could hear my bike so I thought it was Dallas right on me. It’s a bummer for him and the team for him to go down with two laps to go, but it was a great race.”
Bummer, yes, but ultimately, Daniels didn’t just salvage enough points to stay alive, he came home with a solid fifth-place result behind Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750). Despite losing his title lead and seeing his season-long 13-race podium streak come to an end, the championship hopeful walked away from Peoria facing just a one-point deficit to Mees (296-295) even after the near catastrophe.
Peoria TT legend Henry Wiles (No. 17 BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) was the final rider remaining on the lead lap in sixth, while Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) rounded out the top ten, respectively.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) scored his first victory of ‘23 in a surprising conclusion to a topsy-turvy Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Main Event.
Prior to a mid-race red flag, teammates Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) and Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) had put themselves in first and second.
Kopp took the lead after successive overtakes of Estenson Racing teammates Brunner and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), while, Whale had a bigger job for himself after slipping back to sixth early despite starting from the front row.
By the time Whale stormed around the outside of Drane to move into second, Kopp had opened up nearly a one-second-plus lead at the front. Whale’s uphill climb was made substantially less steep due to the red flag, which resulted in a staggered restart with just over three minutes remaining on the clock.
With all of the focus on the reset Red Bull KTM brawl for the win, red-hot Drane had another idea. The up-and-coming Aussie jumped out into the lead and displayed renewed strength, actually pulling away from Kopp, Brunner, and Whale with relative ease.
But Drane’s cruise to the checkered flag was interrupted, due to the appearance of a second red flag, which resulted in one final restart with just three laps to determine the winner.
This proved to be Brunner’s golden opportunity, after previously looking to be out of victory contention. The Indiana native blasted off the line and won out in the opening-corner melee, seizing the lead ahead of Drane and Kopp.
He then held on in the brief showdown to claim the win before his rivals had a chance to mount an effective counter. Drane picked up his seventh podium in his last eight outings by finishing 0.230 seconds behind in second position while Kopp solidified his championship advantage in third.
“This is awesome,” Brunner said. “We were pulling starts really well today, but we were having trouble getting out of the ‘flat track’ corners. We were kind of struggling with traction getting out of there, so each restart really benefited me a lot because I was able to come back. The last one, I got a great start and really pulled it out.”
Two-time Peoria TT winner Whale came home fourth a little over a second off the win with Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) nipping at his rear wheel in fifth.
Meanwhile, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) finished sixth with Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450), Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Jared Lowe (No. 63 Mission Foods/Helmet House Honda CRF450R) completed the top ten.
Kopp still leads by a healthy 40 points over Brunner (273-233) as Drane continued his climb up the order, now ranked third at 228.
Next Up:
Progressive AFT will now play a starring role in the 83rd Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with The City of Sturgis Black Hills Half-Mile presented by Black Hills Harley-Davidson at Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, South Dakota, on Sunday, August 6. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/black-hills-half-mile-73564 to reserve your seats today.
For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://www.fanschoice.tv.
FOX Sports coverage of the World Famous SC2 Peoria TT presented by Country Saloon, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, August 6, at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT).
More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:
DEFENDING AFT SINGLES CHAMPION KODY KOPP RETURNS TO PODIUM AT PEORIA TT
Round 14 – American Flat Track Championship
PEORIA, Ill. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Kody Kopp returned to the podium in Round 14 of the 2023 American Flat Track Championship at the Peoria TT, where he secured a third-place finish in the AFT Singles Main Event, and teammate Max Whale took the checkered flag in fourth position.
The morning’s qualifying sessions were marked by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing domination as both Kopp and Whale ranked 1-2 across both sessions, achieving comfort on the 450 SX-Fs from the moment their wheels were in motion.
After finishing second in the opening Heat of the weekend, Kopp earned his way into the Dash-for-Cash, where he would again notch a second-place result. For the 20-lap Main Event, Kopp raced to a hard-fought P3 finish, posting the fastest lap time of the race in the process.
Following his Peoria TT ride, Kopp sits 40 points clear on the AFT Singles Championship tally with four rounds remaining.
Kody Kopp (1). Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Kody Kopp: “The day started off really well with qualifying first, sat on pole for the Heat race, but just got a bad start there. I rode my way up to second for a front row start in the Main Event, and didn’t get off to a great jump there, but moved my way up into the lead, then the red flag came out. We had a couple of those today, and they just didn’t work out for me, but we salvaged a third place and are off to the next one!”
Australian charger Whale scored second in his Heat race following his strong showing in the qualifying sessions, and would race to victory in Dash-for-Cash. A consistent outing in the Main Event saw Whale cross the line in fourth place, climbing to P5 in the 2023 standings.
Max Whale (18). Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Max Whale: “This was a tough one for me! Felt really good early in the day, practice and qualifying went really well – qualified second to Kody by a tiny margin. Heat race, I finished second which was good, then won the Dash-for-Cash after I rode consistent in that and got the job done. Then in the Main Event, got off to an average start, but charged my way back into second place, then the red flag came out and that really disrupted my rhythm. My line was super dry by that point, which was tough to ride, and I think I over-rode the track a bit, but managed a fourth place. Excited for the next one and huge thanks to the team!”
Next Race: Black Hills Half-Mile – Rapid City, SD – August 6, 2023
Brainerd International Raceway. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.
Bobby Fong won MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Race Two Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway, in Brainerd, Minnesota. Fong took the lead on the first lap and inched away to win the eight-lap sprint by 1.509 seconds on his Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands Design Indian Challenger. It was his second full-length race win of the season.
Hayden Gillim finished second on his Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson Road Glide, which was enough for him to take over the Championship point lead.
Defending Champion Tyler O’Hara used a late-race pass on Gillim’s teammate James Rispoli to score third place on his Progressive Insurance/Mission Foods Indian.
Rispoli came home fourth, and Kyle Wyman rounded out the top five finishers on his Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson.
Brainerd International Raceway. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.
PJ Jacobsen broke through to take his career-first MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike race win in Race Two Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway, in Brainerd, Minnesota.
Jacobsen passed two-time and defending Champion Jake Gagne on lap nine of 18 and held on to win by 0.322 second on his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR.
Gagne said he pushed his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1 hard all the way to the end but the best he could do was second, which was enough to add to his Championship point lead significantly.
After a string of bad luck in 2023 that continued with a DNF in Race One, Mathew Scholtz was happy to bring his Westby Racing Yamaha home in third.
Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha’s Bobby Fong was running Scholtz down at a rapid pace in the closing laps but came up 0.1 second short of passing him before the finish. After the race, Fong received a 1.3-second penalty for cutting the chicane, but it didn’t affect his finishing position – fourth.
Brandon Paasch turned a great start into an impressive fifth-place finish on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R.
Championship contenders Josh Herrin and Cameron Beaubier did not score any points in Race Two. Herrin retired from Race Two with technical problems on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati, and Beaubier did not start the race due to a concussion he suffered in a crash during Race One.
Jacobsen Wins The First MotoAmerica Superbike Race Of His Career At Brainerd
PJ Jacobsen Nabs His First Superbike Victory In A Straight Fight Over Jake Gagne In Minnesota
PJ Jacobsen (99) defeated Jake Gagne (1) to win his career-first MotoAmerica Superbike race. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
BRAINERD, MN (July 30, 2023) – With a near-perfect performance on Sunday afternoon at Brainerd International Raceway, PJ Jacobsen is no longer the fastest rider in the MotoAmerica paddock to not win a Medallia Superbike race after he added his name to the list of men who have won the premier class in the championship.
With three second-place finishes so far this season and a runner-up finish once in 2022, Jacobsen’s win turned him from bridesmaid to bride and he did it the right way, by besting two-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne in a straight fight. The win also allowed him to step out of the shadow of his five-time Superbike Champion teammate, Cameron Beaubier – the winner of five races thus far in his first season with the Tytlers Cycle Racing team.
After trailing Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha’s Jake Gagne for all of race one on Saturday, Jacobsen was again behind the championship points leader in race two. Until there were nine laps to go. At that point, Jacobsen made his move on Gagne in turn three, got the job done and even put a bit of a cushion between himself and Gagne. Although Gagne put in a late-race charge, Jacobsen was able to withstand the pressure to take that elusive first win by .322 of a second.
Behind those two, Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz was also feeling pressure from behind as Bobby Fong was having the ride of his year on the Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha YZF-R1 and was giving the South African all he could handle in the final laps. Scholtz crossed the line in third with Fong giving up the chase in the final few turns.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Brandon Paasch continues to impress in just his second weekend on the GSX-R1000R with another fifth-place finish. Sixth place went to Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim by a tick over Paasch’s Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teammate Richie Escalante, who struggled with front-tire woes.
Josh Hayes was up to fourth when an off-track excursion knocked him back to 11th. The four-time AMA Superbike Champion, riding the injured Cameron Petersen’s Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing YZF-R1, charged back through to end up eighth.
Aftercare Scheibe Racing’s Ashton Yates was ninth with Thrashed Bike Racing’s Max Flinders rounding out the top 10.
With Beaubier being ruled out of racing on Sunday due to the concussion he suffered in Saturday’s crash, and Josh Herrin’s Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R suffering a mechanical problem that knocked him out of third place, Gagne’s lead in the championship swelled to 68 points over Herrin, 262-194. Beaubier drops to third, 79 points behind Gagne. With his 2-1 weekend tally, Jacobsen jumps past Escalante and into fourth in the title chase, 100 points behind the championship leader.
Superbike Race 2
PJ Jacobsen (BMW)
Jake Gagne (Yamaha)
Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha)
Bobby Fong (Yamaha)
Brandon Paasch (Suzuki)
Hayden Gillim (Suzuki)
Richie Escalante (Suzuki)
Josh Hayes (Yamaha)
Ashton Yates (BMW)
Max Flinders (Yamaha)
Superbike Quotes
PJ Jacobsen – Winner
“It’s just been hard work. Last year being able to even be on the podium was awesome and getting there. Then building steps this year and stuff, and with Cam (Beaubier) coming on as my teammate it was obviously a huge push because he’s a five-time AMA Superbike Champion. When he’s out there winning every weekend, first or second, it’s hard to have that as a teammate. I think just building and building and then learning some stuff from him as well in the data and everything. I knew I would eventually get there. I think I’ve always just been close in the wet races. I don’t really consider that a win, for me anyway. It’s good to finally get a dry win and actually get the job done. It feels pretty good. It was a big moment for me out there. I’ve wanted to do this. When you’re a kid coming up racing, and you’re in the paddock running around there, watching all these guys and then you want to be up here eventually with a win, like Hayes, Zemke, Duhamel, all those guys. So, it’s cool to be up here and to finally get a win in MotoAmerica.”
Jake Gagne – Second Place
“I was just on the edge. I was really pushing, trying to keep with PJ (Jacobsen). Right when he passed me that first lap, two laps, he was just putting tenths on me. I kind of calmed down and figured out a couple little things where he was quicker and tried to ride the bike a little different, be a little smoother, keep it from spinning up quite as much. Then that last lap, we came up on that lapper and I was wondering if I was going to get lucky and see what happened. But it was really fun racing with PJ. The guy has got so much talent. It’s good for him to get his first win. I enjoy being on that side, chasing him down for the win. It was kind of the opposite yesterday where he kind of just got back to my rear tire at the end there and I kind of did the same thing today. It was good. It really sucked to see (Cameron) Beaubier go out with that crash yesterday. I think something happened to (Josh) Herrin today. Good day for points, but more importantly just some good racing today with PJ. Good, clean racing. I didn’t know who was behind me, but we were just kind of inching away there. Everybody was really close this weekend. It was just those first couple laps, like always. I was able to push the pace a little bit. I knew PJ would be there the whole time. Just tried to be smart. Good day. Fun racing with PJ and watching him sideways around the whole track.”
Mathew Scholtz – Third Place
“This season has been pretty sh*t so far, to be honest. So, this is awesome to be back up on the podium here. Yesterday obviously passed PJ in the third corner early on. Ruined the bike. Didn’t get out from that. So, during practice, we didn’t put more than six or seven laps on the tire. So, we went out there today changing gearing settings without really knowing what was going to happen. The first three or four laps I think Jake (Gagne) and PJ (Jacobsen) had a little bit of pace, but maybe it was from lap five onwards I kind of pulled them back slightly. Then I think from the halfway point, the bike just started backing in like crazy. I started losing grip as I would crack the gas. So, the last couple laps was just surviving for me, really. Obviously, in Laguna I had a massive crash. Hadn’t been able to really train coming up to this and I’ve been sitting on the couch. Maybe did two or three cycles just to try to keep my fitness, but I definitely noticed that it hurt me today. My arms were pumping up. Overall, these guys are riding well. Just to kind of finish in the top five now is something special. There’re crazy fast guys. There’s Beemers, Ducatis, Yamahas, Suzukis are now up there too. So just to be up there makes me feel good, considering how bad things have been. So, I think if we can just build on from here. Pittsburgh has been one of my favorite tracks. I’ve been strong there previously, so I’m really thinking we can challenge for the win there. The bike is working better than it has been. We made a couple changes. I think today’s race we can really look at data and carry on pushing forward.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati:
Ducati’s Josh Herrin and Xavi Forés Remain Strong in Point Standings
Sunnyvale, Calif., July 30, 2023 — The Warhorse HSBK Ducati NYC duo of Josh Herrin and Xavi Forés had a few setbacks during round six of the 2023 MotoAmerica Championship at Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) in Minnesota. Herrin achieved another Superbike podium during race one Saturday but suffered a DNF in Sunday’s race two due to mechanical issues. As for Forés, he settled for seventh in race one of the Supersport Championship and fourth in race two.
Herrin aboard the Panigale V4 R during Friday’s qualifying hoped to earn a front-row start for race one. He settled for a seventh-place qualifying position but was able to get up front quickly and continue his podium streak. Herrin finished Saturday’s race one in third, 3.49 seconds behind Yamaha’s Jake Gagne.
During Race 2 Sunday, Herrin started strongly, running at a pace consistent with the leaders. He was in third until he suffered a mechanic issue on lap 8 of 18, forcing a DNF. Although he didn’t finish, he remains second in the championship points race with 194 points, 68 behind Gagne.
After an eight-race winning streak in the Supersport class, the Spaniard Forés struggled at BIR—a track he had never ridden before this weekend. After qualifying fifth aboard his Panigale V2, Forés kept his focus strong among the quicker bikes, finishing seventh, 21.730 seconds behind winner Josh Hayes (Yamaha).
In race two, which was shortened to five laps due to a restart after a horrific crash between Andrew Forsythe (Yamaha) and Justen Behmer (Suzuki), Forés quickly got into third. But he ran wide on the penultimate lap when attempting to pass Kawasaki’s Stefano Mesa. Forés finished fourth, 5.381 seconds behind winner Tyler Scott (Suzuki). With three rounds remaining, Forés continues to lead the Supersport Championship with 272 points, 84 ahead of BIR race-one winner Joshua Hayes (Yamaha).
2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Standings After Round Six
P1 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 262
P2 – Josh Herrin (Ducati) 194
P3 – Cameron Beaubier (BMW) 183
P4 – PJ Jacobsen (BMW) 162
P5 – Richie Escalante (Suzuki) 147
2023 MotoAmerica Supersport Standings After Round Four
P1 – Xavi Forés (Ducati) 272
P2 – Josh Hayes (Yamaha) 188
P3 – Tyler Scott (Suzuki) 185
P3 – Stefano Mesa (Kawasaki) 172
P5 – Teagg Hobbs (Suzuki) 118
Josh Herrin (2). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – #2)
“Obviously I’m bummed with today’s result (race 2). I felt that we had the bike to win for sure. We were able to catch up to the leaders, and I had all the confidence in the world to pass them at the end of the race and get a win. But we suffered an unfortunate mechanic issue that made it impossible to finish the race. I took a big blow in the championship points but won’t give up. I have a test coming up at COTA (Circuit of the Americas), and I’ll do some further training between these rounds and show up ready for Pittsburg next month.”
Xavi Fores (12). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Xavi Forés (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – #12)
“ It was a challenging weekend for me. We had a lot of work to do on the bike, and the results don’t exactly show how much work was put into the V2. At least on today’s race, I minimized the damages and got a good P4. It is hard to deal with when you have to ride against much faster bikes than yours. But no complaints here, and much was learned. We now look forward to Pittsburgh, hoping to return to our winning way.”
The 2023 MotoAmerica Championship now heads to Pennsylvania’s Pittsburgh International Race Complex for round seven of nine August 18-20.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Gagne Doubles Down with Runner-Up Finish at Brainerd
Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne takes a runner-up finish in Race 2 to double his points lead in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship
Jake Gagne (1). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
MARIETTA, Ga. – July 30, 2023 – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne completed a successful weekend at the Brainerd International Raceway with a runner-up finish in today’s MotoAmerica Superbike Race 2. The return to the podium after yesterday’s victory has the defending champion leaving the sixth round of the championship with an additional 34 points, doubling his lead in the premier-class title fight. Fill-in rider Josh Hayes showed podium pace but ultimately salvaged an eighth-place finish in the tricky conditions.
Once again, riders were met with greasy track conditions at the 2.5-mile track in Brainerd, Minnesota, making for a challenging 18-lap race. Gagne got another great start from the front row and grabbed the holeshot. He threw down some fast times and was holding down the lead but was passed around the halfway mark. The reigning champ continued to ride a smart race and kept the leader in sight in the tricky conditions. He closed the gap and, on the final lap, made an attempt to pass but ultimately came .322 of a second shy of the win. His eighth-consecutive podium and 12th this season helped bolster his title defense, giving him a 68-point lead with seven races remaining.
After battling for the win in the 16-lap Supersport race, Hayes went from the podium to the Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing tent for his second race with the team as a fill-in rider for the injured Cameron Petersen. He had another solid start from the third row of the grid in eighth and advanced to fifth on Lap 4 but went off track and rejoined in 11th. Undeterred, the four-time superbike champ put his head down and threw down some consistently fast times to make his way back to sixth. In the final laps, he unfortunately went off track again in the challenging conditions and crossed the line eighth.
The Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing team returns to action in a few weeks for Round 7 of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex (PIRC) in Wampum, Pennsylvania, on August 18-20.
Richard Stanboli – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“The weekend went almost as planned, and we came up just shy of a double win. Overall it was a success. Jake extended his championship lead and now has a pretty comfortable cushion. It was also good to have Josh back on board. His feedback, great speed, and professionalism were a plus for the team. We thank him for his efforts and wish him success at PIRC with his Supersport effort. We look forward to our COTA test and then the next round at PIRC, which is a track that is typically good for our Yamaha R1s.”
Jake Gagne – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing
“Race 2 was another good start, and I got to lead the first half of the race. PJ (Jacobsen) passed me, and I was able to stay there with him, but I couldn’t make a pass back. All in all, it was a great weekend and great for the points!”
Josh Hayes – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing
“I really had a fun and successful weekend, I feel, even though the Superbike results didn’t showcase our potential. I did my very best to represent the team and Yamaha at my highest level, showed great speed, and hopefully passed along valuable feedback for the team’s future. Thanks to all of them for making me feel like family, and to Squid Hunter Racing for letting me take on another challenge!”
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana)
Brainerd International Raceway. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.
Tyler Scott won restarted MotoAmerica Supersport Race Two Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway, in Brainerd, Minnesota. It was Scott’s first win of 2023.
Scott, riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750, got the holeshot in the five-lap restart and led all the way to the checkered flag.
Josh Hayes led the seven-lap original start but was second behind Scott for most of the restart. Hayes tried to make a move on Scott in Turn 12 on the last lap, but he ran wide and had to settle for the runner-up spot on his Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha. The finish also elevated Hayes into second in the Championship point standings.
Rocco Landers got gifted third on the final lap when Xavi Fores tried to pass Stefano Mesa in Turn 12 and both Fores and Mesa ran wide, opening the door for Landers and his Landers Racing Yamaha to come through.
Gillim’s Big Weekend At Brainerd Puts Him In Title Contention
Hayden Gillim Wins Both Stock 1000 Races And Goes One-Two In Mission King Of The Baggers
BRAINERD, MN (July 30, 2023) – Hayden Gillim wore a path in the grass from the podium to the media center this weekend at Brainerd International Raceway with the Kentuckian making the trip four times in two days. First came the celebrations on the podium with his young son, Stone, on his shoulders, then the walk to the media center for interviews.
He didn’t mind the walks.
With two wins in the Steel Commander Stock 1000 class and a first and a second in Mission King Of The Baggers, Gillim had the most successful weekend of his career in Minnesota. Oh, and he also finished seventh and sixth in the two Medallia Superbike races.
Mission King Of The Baggers – Fong Untouchable
Bobby Fong (50) dominated Sunday’s Mission King Of The Baggers race at Brainerd International Raceway. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
There’s something about Brainerd International Raceway that suits Bobby Fong. Mere minutes after he rode to a fighting fourth-place finish in the Medallia Superbike race on Sunday, Fong was out front of the Mission King Of The Baggers race.
And he was there to stay, riding his Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands/Indian to a 1.5-second victory over Saturday’s race winner Hayden Gillim on the Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson.
A day after a mechanical failure knocked him out of race one, Indian Motorcycle/Progressive/Mission Foods’ Tyler O’Hara caught and passed Gillim’s teammate James Rispoli in the closing laps to take the final podium spot. Rispoli and H-D Screamin’ Eagle’s Kyle Wyman completed what for him was a lackluster weekend in fifth place.
With his win and runner-up finish in the two races, Gillim takes over the championship lead from Wyman and Rispoli, 175-173, with those two tied for second. Fong moves to fourth in the title chase, 45 points behind Gillim.
“No, trust me. I’d rather not do a back-to-back deal like that again,” Fong said. “It was definitely tough. But it was a good weekend for us. All of us got some wins this weekend. Tyler (O’Hara) got the win in the dash. I rate these two guys (O’Hara and Hayden Gillim) really high in my book. Like Tyler said earlier, the competition is stacked. We’ve all been working hard. These guys are smart. Racing with these guys, they think a lot and I can tell riding with these guys. They’re always thinking. They’re always trying different things. Like I said, the competition is stacked. We’ve just got to keep working and see what we can do at COTA in a month or two. I’m happy to be up here. Good pay day for us, as well. Looking forward to spending at the wedding in a year or so.”
Steel Commander Stock 1000 – Gillim Goes Hunting
Hayden Gillim (69) wasted little time in getting to the front of the Steel Commander Stock 1000 race and he went on to victory, his second in two days at Brainerd International Raceway. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim was asked on Sunday afternoon if this weekend was the best racing weekend of his career. Gillim pondered the question briefly before saying, “Yes.”
Gillim won his second Steel Commander Stock 1000 race of the weekend on Sunday at BIR, the Kentuckian not only winning the race but moving to within eight points of championship points leader Ezra Beaubier after scoring a perfect 50 points in the two races.
Gillim’s effort on Sunday was a carbon copy of his race on Saturday. He jumped off the line and led by the time the pack got to turn three. From there he never looked back and ultimately won by 8.9 seconds over Orange Cat Racing’s Kaleb De Keyrel with the Minnesota native finishing second for the second straight day.
Benjamin Smith Racing’s Benjamin Smith was third in his first weekend in the class and his first weekend on his Yamaha YZF-R1. Tom Wood Powersports’ Nolan Lamkin was fourth with Travis Wyman Racing’s Travis Wyman rounding out the top five.
Ezra Beaubier was sixth on his Orange Cat Racing BMW, despite getting a five-second penalty for jumping the start.
“Honestly, before this weekend I was ready to kind of call it quits on the Stock 1000 class for myself,” Gillim said. “So, this has definitely rejuvenated me a little bit and given me some more confidence going into COTA (the final round of the Steel Commander Stock 1000 series). That’s the only bad thing. That first weekend at Road Atlanta really had me down and out, and I was down a lot. With only five rounds this year for Stock 1000, I was a little nervous because I knew Road America was going to be tough. I expected Road Atlanta to be a little bit better than it was. I don’t know about COTA. We’ll see. I ran pretty quick there last year, so we’ll see. It will be interesting. I know these guys will be running for it. It’s a tight race at the top right now, so it’s coming down to the wire. unfortunately, I’ve been in a lot of these situations where it’s come down to the wire and almost every time, I’ve come out the loser. I’m hoping to do a little bit better than last year (when I) tied for the championship at the end of it but getting second place because he (Corey Alexander) had more race wins. So, trying to get those race wins right now just in case. But this was a really good weekend to do it. I knew coming in that this one and Barber I knew for sure were going to be the ones where I had to do the job and get it done.”
Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. – Moore Again
Mikayla Moore (78) again dominated the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. class at BIR. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
The ladies of the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. program had one featured race at Brainerd International Raceway, and after their Sunday morning final qualifying session, it looked like the outcome of the afternoon’s race might be different than the previous four races this season had been. Instead of Mikayla Moore starting from the pole as she’d done in all four races thus far, it was Sonya Lloyd who got the start from the pole with Moore right next to her on the front row of the starting grid.
The difference hardly mattered because Moore promptly went to the head of the pack on the opening lap, and she maintained that position all the way to the checkered flag. Lloyd only gave up the one position to Moore, and she maintained second place throughout the eight-lap race. Crystal Martinez finished third after overtaking Aubrey Credaroli on the opening lap.
“With the big gap (in the schedule)—Ridge Motorsports Park was last month – I spent time training on a (Kawasaki) ZX-6 and a Ninja 400,” Moore said. “But I knew going into this weekend it was going to be a new track for me and based off of P1 time, I knew I had a lot to figure out and to adjust. Going into race one I felt a lot better with the adjustments that Megan helped me with, with Öhlins and some gearing changes that I made.”
Junior Cup – Badie Has A Goodie
Levi Badie (71) celebrates his Junior Cup win over Rossi Moor (34) on Sunday at BIR. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
As is always the case with the MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship’s races, Sunday’s race two at BIR came right down to the final lap and the final run to the checkered flag before the contest was decided. Belgian-based rider Levi Badie got the victory aboard his Badie Racing Kawasaki after coming from back in the field and then prevailing in a skirmish with pole sitter Rossi Moor, who was the winner of Saturday’s race one.
Moor led seven of the 11 laps in the race, including the penultimate lap, but Badie and his Kawasaki overtook Moor and his KTM, the final lap, but Moor was unable to strike back before the finish line. Jayden Fernandez had a battle of his own going on, but he would not be deterred from getting his first MotoAmerica podium in his rookie season, and he finished third.
“I came from eighth, so it was a little struggle to get back (to the front),” Badie said. “I was there the whole time, just struggling to pass a lot of guys because it’s a difficult track to pass. The competitors are very strong. Once I came in first, I kind of missed my braking mark a little bit. Then going into the corner, I was like in dirt, like flat tracking. I kept it open. I came out and I saw that they weren’t too far away, so just head down and tried to catch them because they were fighting. So, I knew when they’re fighting, they’re not going their top speed, so I just did everything I could, and I caught them. That was like two laps more. I was like, just go for it and try to pass every corner, try to pass someone. It worked. Last lap I just took the chance, tried to pass Rossi and it worked and just go. I’m very happy for first place.”
Supersport – Scott Gets It Done
The Supersport race on Sunday at BIR featured 17-year-old Tyler Scott (70) vs. 48-year-old Josh Hayes (4). And this time youth prevailed. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Prior to today, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott had finished on the podium four times this season, but he hadn’t won a race since Road America last year. Well, that all changed with Sunday’s Supersport race two at Brainerd when he came away with the victory in the red-flag-shortened event. The 17-year-old was hounded throughout the race by Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha’s 48-year-old Josh Hayes, who was looking for his 88th all-time race win to extend the new record he set on Saturday by one more victory. Scott took the checkered flag by a little more than one-and-half seconds over Hayes. Third place went to Landers Racing Yamaha’s Rocco Landers, who passed both Xavi Forés and Stefano Mesa on the final lap to notch his second podium of the weekend.
“I got a good start in this race,” Scott said. “I led for the first lap a little bit. He got in front of me, and the goal was just kind of to stay behind him and learn a little bit from him. I struggled all weekend in sector one. When we came in for the red flag, I looked at my sector one times, and they were right on par with Rocco and Teagg (Hobbs), so that was a good improvement. But the race was just kind of pacing myself, getting a little closer to Hayes, then making a small mistake. Kind of playing with whatever gap was there, a second or half a second. Then the red flag came out and we came into the box. We changed our engine braking strategy a little bit to pull us closer to the apex in some corners. I was running wide, making some mistakes. But I felt great on the restart. Got the holeshot and never looked back. I made one mistake in turn four that kind of scared me. I ran decently wide, but I was able to pull it back on the racing line and get the win in the end.”
Brainerd International Raceway. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.
Levi Badie won MotoAmerica Junior Cup Race Two Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway, in Brainerd, Minnesota. Riding his Badie Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400, the Belgian rider came back from an off-track excursion and made a last-lap pass to claim the victory.
Rossi Moor also ran off the track during the race, but he was able to regain the lead and hold it until the final lap. That’s when downshifting issues that Moor had been experiencing throughout the race opened the door for Badie to make his move into the chicane. Moor ended up coming home second, 0.087 second behind Badie, on his Fairium NGRT – Gray Area KTM RC 390 R.
Jayden Fernandez finished third on his Fernandez Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400, earning his first podium finish in the class.
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These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
