Suzuki Dealers Now Taking Reservations on 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa
Brea, CA (July 17, 2023) – Suzuki Motor USA has opened reservations for the 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa through authorized Suzuki dealers starting July 17th, 2023. Reserving one will ensure priority delivery of the commemorative Hayabusa.
The 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa MSRP is $19,599 and will be available beginning in September.
Special 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa features include:
Unique 25th Anniversary emblem and raised SUZUKI logos are featured on the fuel tank.
Elegant 25th Anniversary logos are etched on each muffler.
Distinctive gloss black cowling trim.
The brake rotor carriers and drive chain adjusters are gold-anodized.
The Hayabusa Kanji logo is applied to the drive chain plates.
The single-seat cowling is included as standard equipment.
The 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa arrives in a striking and special Glass Blaze Orange & Glass Sparkle Black color combination, reminiscent of one of the most popular Gen II model’s color palettes set off with special red accents. This stunning appearance is enhanced with a range of features unique to this special 25th Anniversary Edition. For more information on the 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa, please click here.
“The Gen 3 Hayabusa has been a tremendous sales success for our dealers and extremely well received by fans of this legendary model,” said Kerry Graeber, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Suzuki. “This beautiful anniversary version, drawing its inspiration from one of the Hayabusa’s most memorable color combinations – yet updated for modern tastes – will appeal to the next generation of Hayabusa fans. We encourage anybody that wants one to see their dealer immediately to ensure they’re on the reservation list.”
NorthEast Motorcycle Road Racing (NEMRR) Executive Director John Grush does a video interview with 388 Racing and talks about the 100th Loudon Classic, which happened June 17 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, New Hampshire.
Grush talks about the trials and tribulations of running the big event and NEMRR in general, price changes to several NEMRR fees to ensure the viability of the organization, his personal future with the organization, and if the anonymous sponsor that put up the $250,000 purse for the 100th Loudon Classic will do it again in 2024.
Inclement Weather Forces Postponement Of Mini Cup Round At NJMP
New Jersey Motorsports Park Will Again Host The Rescheduled Round On September 2
IRVINE, CA (July 18, 2023) – Threats of lightning on Saturday and heavy rains on Sunday at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, July 15-16, forced MotoAmerica to reschedule what would have been the fourth round of the Mission Mini Cup By Motul series to what will now be the fifth round of the championship at NJMP on September 2.
The September 2 make-up round at New Jersey Motorsports Park will be open to all riders who were signed up to compete in the rained-out July 15-16 round.
“Unfortunately, we encountered the worst weather possible over the weekend with MotoAmerica Mini Cup,” said MotoAmerica Mini Cup series manager Cory Texter. “We did the best we could to get the program in, but Mother Nature wasn’t having it. It’s essential we get this round complete for the riders, so I’m thankful we could come up with a make-up date for those who attended over the weekend. As for the schedule, we will run a practice in the morning, followed by four races.”
There are three rounds remaining in the 2023 Mission Mini Cup By Motul Series: August 18-19 at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania; September 2 at New Jersey Motorsports Park; and the series finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park, September 22-23.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
Byers, CO – The fourth race of the 2023 MRA Championship Series took place at High Plains Raceway over the weekend of July 15-16th on their 2.55-mile Full Course configuration. This was a special weekend as the MRA conducted their 14th Annual 4-hour endurance race on Saturday. The event saw many out-of-town racers drive hundreds of miles to try and steal victories and capture the prize money that was up for grabs. The 4-hour endurance race was unfortunately cut short by 50 minutes as a storm brought lightning and hail into the area. Team Racing for Ray Ray took the victory in the Pony Express category (multiple riders, multiple bikes) with 99 laps completed, team Mother Lovers won the True Endurance category (multiple riders, one bike) with 96 laps, and team Legion’s Lance won the Titanium Butt category (one rider, one bike) with 86 laps.
The Race of the Rockies (RoR) Qualifying on Sunday was conducted under excellent conditions as temperatures were around 75 degrees for most of the morning. Ray Thornton claimed pole position with a best time of (1:47.58) followed by Anthony Norton (1:47.792) and Mike Applegate (1:48.428).
The start of RoR saw Applegate get the holeshot going into Turn One, followed by Brad Hendry and Norton. Applegate was looking strong as he got an excellent drive down the backstraight, however somewhere between Turns Five and 10 he made a mistake and dropped back to sixth position. Hendry led the pack after lap two and was followed closely by Norton and Thornton. By lap six Hendry had opened a three-second lead on the trailing pair, and it looked as if he had the pace to break away. By lap 11 Thornton had passed Norton and was slowly chipping away at Hendry’s lead, dropping the gap to less than half a second. Thornton was hot on Hendry’s tail by lap 13 and was piling on the pressure. With only a few corners left in the race, Hendry made a mistake and unfortunately crashed out of the lead giving Thornton his fourth consecutive RoR win of the season. Rounding out the podium was Norton in second and Applegate in third.
In Race of the Rockies GTU, Jeremiah Downing took the lead from the start and never looked back as he consistently clicked off 1:49’s on his 600. For the entirety of the race he was followed by John Borst, who was running some impressive lap times but couldn’t quite match the blistering pace of Downing. Justin Behmer carved his way through the pack and ended up in third place. Behmer had the pace to secure a second-place victory but ran out of laps before he got the chance to put a move on Borst.
Next up, the MRA heads to Pueblo Motorsports Park in Pueblo, CO for Round 5 on July 29-30 for a full weekend of racing including the SuperStreet event on Saturday afternoon. SuperStreet gives street riders the opportunity to experience motorcycle road racing with minimal cost and preparation. See https://www.mra-racing.org/superstreet/superstreet-information for details.
The MRA welcomes racers from other clubs across the nation. If you’re a currently licensed racer, we have several reciprocity agreements in place along with very competitive pricing on license & entries to our 20 classes. Click here for MRA membership & entry information.
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is dedicated to promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding area. For more information go to http://www.mra-racing.org/.
In July 2022, Iván Cervantes secured victory in the Baja Aragón, one of the most demanding races on two wheels. To celebrate this stand-out performance, Triumph has launched the MY24 Tiger 900 Rally Aragón Edition and the Tiger 900 GT Aragón Edition motorcycles. Available for one year only, these special editions each feature unique liveries and specification.
Riding a Tiger 900 Rally Pro, Cervantes dominated the 280-mile (450km) race and crossed the finish line an impressive 1 hour and 6 minutes ahead of his rivals, demonstrating the Tiger’s ability to endure some of the harshest terrain at an elite level of competition.
Both Tiger 900 Aragón editions deliver all the specification, technology, and capability that the market-leading Tiger 900 GT Pro and Rally Pro are known for. Their advanced performance, accompanied by two fresh new looks, preserves the ultimate feel of aggression and attitude, while also adding that race-ready edge.
The Tiger 900 Rally Aragón dons a triple color of Matte Phantom Black, Matte Graphite, and Crystal White, featuring distinct Racing Yellow accents paired seamlessly with Triumph Tiger and Aragón Edition detailing, as well as a new and unique twin color seat design.
The GT Aragón follows suit with Triumph Tiger and Aragón Edition detailing, in addition to a refreshing twin color seat design, but instead features a triple color scheme of Diablo Red, Matte Phantom Black, and Crystal White to echo a bold and elegant feel.
Both models continue to boast an impressive 64 LBFT (87 Nm) of peak torque at 7,250 rpm, as well as a slip and assist clutch, to deliver a rich triple performance. Maintaining a lightweight modular frame and high specification suspension, these new additions to the Tiger family are tailored to optimize both road and off-road potential with the ultimate agile and dynamic handling experience.
Further maximizing handling, the GT Aragón Edition carries fully adjustable 1.8” (45mm) USD Marzocchi cartridge forks with electronically adjustable RSU, whereas the Rally Aragón Edition features Showa forks tuned for even greater off-road performance.
Engine protection bars are fitted as standard to both Aragón Editions, while the Rally Aragón Edition also has fuel tank protection bars as standard to top off the ultimate competitive aesthetic. A collection of over 65 dedicated accessory options is available for both models, allowing you to tailor your machine to suit your own adventure.
Both models are competitively priced at and will be available in dealers by the end of July.
Spectacular BMW R 18 custom bikes from all over the world battle it out for victory.
Munich. For years, the BMW R 18 has been inspiring motorcycle fans all over the world to create fascinating customizing creations. The upcoming BMW Motorrad Customizing Championship is now intended to give due recognition to outstanding creativity and artistic craft relating to the BMW R 18.
Initiative by 150 BMW Motorrad dealers from 18 countries.
Four R 18 models as a starting point.
The BMW Motorrad Customizing Championship will take place from 11 April to 29 September 2023. This exciting competition is an initiative of the BMW Motorrad global dealer network, with 150 dealers from 18 countries having already confirmed participation. They will bring together motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world to showcase creativity and skill in customizing BMW R 18 motorcycles.
Four models of the BMW Motorrad R 18 series can be used by customizers – the R 18, R 18 Classic, R 18 B, and R 18 Transcontinental. The BMW R 18 showcases clear, contemporary technology and a sleek, streamlined design that is sure to turn heads. Striking a perfect balance between form and function, the BMW R 18 is a true masterpiece of engineering and design. All the R 18 family members offer a very conversion-friendly architecture for easy customizing and optimal individualization: this was the focus when the basic design of the R 18 series was originally conceived.
“We are thrilled to launch the first-ever BMW Motorrad Customizing Championship,” says Stephan Reiff, Head of Customer, Brand, Sales BMW Motorrad. “This competition is a celebration of the passion and creativity of the BMW Motorrad dealer network and motorcycle enthusiasts, and we can’t wait to see what new members of the R 18 family the participants will come up with.” The winners of the BMW Motorrad Customizing Championship 2023 will receive a range of exciting prizes, including the opportunity to showcase their custom motorcycles at major motorcycle events around the world.
Grand world finale at the opening of BMW Motorrad Welt in Berlin.
The Customizing Championship is a way for dealers and enthusiasts to show creativity in a freestyle format. Participants will have the opportunity to customise their motorcycles using their own unique designs and ideas, as well as the extensive range of high-quality parts and accessories offered by BMW Motorrad. The two best custom motorcycles from each participating country will be selected at the National Contests, which will be eligible to participate in the international semi-finals. In this semi-final, six motorcycles will finally be selected by the jury of experts and one by means of a public vote for the grand world final. This will take place on the occasion of the opening of BMW Motorrad Welt in Berlin on 29 September 2023.
BMW Motorrad dealers from the following countries are confirmed for the Customizing Championship 2023: Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the USA.
Registration for the Customizing Championship has already closed, and participants have signed up on the official BMW Motorrad website.
The main details of the Customizing Championship:
National Championships: 15 May – 16 July 2023
International semi-final and vote for the best bikes:
31 July – 14 August 2023
World final in Berlin: 29 September 2023
Jury of international experts.
The competition will be judged by a panel of experts, including renowned customizers who are highly regarded within the motorcycle community such as Thor Drake, Michael Lichter and Roland Sands. The jury members are as follows:
Thor Drake is a motorcycle builder and entrepreneur. He is the founder of See See Motorcycles, a custom motorcycle shop and coffeehouse based in Portland, Oregon. Drake was born in Montana in 1977 and grew up with a passion for motorcycles, eventually turning his hobby into a career.
Michael Lichter is a photographer and curator who is best known for his work in the motorcycle industry. He was born in 1951 in Boulder, Colorado, and began his career as a photographer in the 1970s. Lichter has since become one of the best-known and respected photographers in the motorcycle community.
Roland Sands is a motorcycle racer and designer. He was born in Long Beach, California, in 1974 and grew up in the motorcycle industry, with his father being a champion racer and aftermarket parts manufacturer. Sands began his own racing career in the 1990s, competing in events such as the AMA 250GP and the MotoGP World Championship.
J. Shia is an internationally recognised and award-winning motorcycle builder and designer. She is the founder of Madhouse Motors, a custom motorcycle shop based in Boston, Massachusetts. Shia was born in California in 1977 and grew up with a passion for motorcycles, eventually turning her hobby into a career.
Giuseppe Roncen, editor and author of Italy’s car culture and motorcycle magazine Lowride. He was born in 1964. His passion for motorcycles began in Italy where he made his first custom bike after working as in the filming industry before. Since 1994 he has been working as a journalist and ever since writes about café racers, cruisers and many more motorcycle topics, besides others.
Yuichi Yoshizawa is a well-known custom builder from Japan who is creating bikes in multiple styles. He is one of the owners of the Custom Works Zon, a famous workshop that has won many international awards and created the “Departed” among others.
The vehicles shown may be modified and fitted with third-party accessories and/or proprietary parts that are not manufactured, distributed or tested by BMW. BMW accepts no liability for the modifications (including the fitting, characteristics and use of the accessories shown). NOTE: Modification of series production vehicles (including the fitting and use of third-party and self-made parts) can impair riding characteristics! Riding our vehicles in modified condition is at your own risk.
Ducati keeps growing and registers its best first half-year sales figures ever
A record of 34,976 motorcycles were delivered globally in the first half of 2023, 5 percent more than in the same period of 2022
The top three markets for Ducati have grown compared to last year: Italy +10 percent, United States +11 percent and Germany +13 percent
The Multistrada V4 is the top-seller of the Ducati range with 6,382 motorcycles delivered so far in 2023
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 17 July 2023 – Following on from a positive first quarter, Ducati closes the first six months of 2023 reporting growing delivery figures.
The Bologna-based manufacturer delivered a record of 34,976 motorcycles over the course of the semester, thus accomplishing a 5 percent growth compared to the same period of 2022.
Francesco Milicia, Ducati VP Global Sales and After Sales: “This first half-year was Ducati’s best ever in terms of deliveries. We reached a record 34,976 bikes delivered, proving that our passionate clients continue to appreciate our product range, which is now wider than ever. The supply bottlenecks experienced last year are now over but the global competition in the market is more intense in the post Covid-era also because of better product availability. Our commitment to reinforce the satisfaction of our Ducatisti is stronger than ever and their continuous trust gives all people in Borgo Panigale an extra motivation.”
At the end of the second quarter of 2023, Italy remains in the leading position among Ducati’s markets with 6,639 motorcycles delivered and a growth of 10 percent compared to last year’s period. The United States represents the second largest market for the Company with 4,505 bikes that result in an 11 percent growth over 2022. Germany is in third position, also gaining a 13 percent growth with 4,217 motorcycles delivered.
The most appreciated motorcycle in the ever-wider Ducati range is the Multistrada V4 in all its versions with 6,382 units delivered globally between January and June 2023. The Ducati’s naked sports bike par excellence, the Monster, is in second position with 4,299 delivered motorcycles in the world, while in third place there is the Scrambler Ducati 800 family with 3,581 bikes.
For 2024 Ducati has already unveiled five new colour schemes for its motorcycles. Enthusiasts can choose their SuperSport 950 S in the Stripe Livery that alternates white, grey and red colours, accentuating the sporty elegance of the bike. The Monster is now even more stylish thanks to the new Iceberg White colour, while the Hypermotard 950 RVE has a new Graffiti Livery Evo inspired by street art that makes the Ducati’s fun bike per excellence even trendier. Boldness meets performance on the Panigale V2 with the new Black on Black Livery, and the pleasure of travelling every day finds a new sporty attitude on the Multistrada V2 S with the Thrilling Black & Street Grey colour scheme.
Dumas leads CSBK east as championship leader eyes redemption at AMP
Toronto, ON – The Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship has already delivered plenty of twists and turns to begin the 2023 campaign, so there’s nowhere more fitting for the season to go next than Atlantic Motorsport Park this weekend, July 20-23, presented by Pro Cycle and Kawasaki.
The uniquely demanding circuit, known affectionately as “the rollercoaster,” will be the site of round three of the GP Bikes Pro Superbike class, but there’s no need to remind championship leader Alex Dumas of the challenge that lies ahead near Halifax, Nova Scotia.
It was just one year ago that the battle for the 2022 Canada Cup was blown wide open at AMP, with Dumas crashing out of the lead amidst an intense battle with Ben Young, who would go on to win his second feature championship in large part thanks to Dumas’ costly error.
Jump ahead to 2023, and there are so far no errors to be found for Dumas.
The Purple Skull Brewing/Liqui Moly Suzuki rider has been sensational, winning three of four races in dominant fashion and taking a commanding 36-point lead over Young to put one finger on the Canada Cup already.
Granted, there has been plenty of misfortune for the reigning champion that has helped expand Dumas’ gap atop the standings, but all three of his victories have demonstrated a new, more determined version of himself than the one we have seen so far in his short career.
It also won’t take much improvement in outright pace for Dumas to close his gap to Young, as there memorably wasn’t any gap at all a year ago – the duo infamously tying in qualifying and needing a coin toss to decide the polesitter – with his race mistakes making it seem as though Young’s advantage was bigger than it is.
With that, it’s hard not anoint Dumas the favourite even with his forgettable east-coast debut last season, as he will know Young has to throw everything at him across the final five races in hopes of rallying back in the championship.
However, the Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW rider will have his own claim to being the weekend favourite. After all, Young swept both races in 2022 and has won three of the last four on the east coast, including his spectacular comeback from tenth to first in 2019.
The circuit has traditionally favoured Young, perhaps owed in part to his experience on narrow, twisty tracks in the British Superbike Championship, and that comeback win four years ago is still considered the best of his career.
However, that victory will also remind Young that AMP is no stranger to chaotic results, likely a bigger concern for Dumas than himself as the title leader aims to avoid any drama, and it may be a closer group of challengers this weekend than the duo has grown accustomed to.
Riding the biggest wave of momentum will be Trevor Daley, who is fresh off a historic charge of his own in Grand Bend where he snatched fourth after crashing out of a battle for the lead on lap two.
Daley has rarely had luck on his side, but round two proved once again he has the race-winning pace to overcome it, and there may not be anywhere better for the OneSpeed Suzuki rider to finally end his quest for a debut victory than at the same place where he came painstakingly close in 2019.
The true X-factor may be tied to Daley regardless, as the biggest question mark of the weekend will be the home favourite aboard his old machine, 17-year-old rookie John Fraser.
Riding the rebranded RLS Contracting Suzuki, Fraser has quietly put together a strong debut campaign already with top-eight finishes in three of four races, but he could more than double that output with a pair of podium challenges this weekend.
That may seem like a tall ask for the first-year rider just out of high school, but Fraser has already approached pole position times in his regional stints at AMP, and even for his young age will bring more track knowledge than majority of the Superbike field.
Rookie pro John Fraser (8) is looking to continue his strong debut CSBK Superbike season as the series heads to Atlantic Motorsport Park, the 17-year-old’s home track. Photo Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.
One rider he certainly won’t have more experience than, however, is 14-time AMP winner (and coincidentally 14-time champion) Jordan Szoke, who will be first in line to pick up the pieces if any of the three Suzuki’s falter.
The banged-up veteran will likely be in for his toughest test yet since his inspiring return, with a pair of 22-lap races on the schedule around a physically grueling circuit, but Szoke and his LDS Consultants Kawasaki will have more expertise to draw from than many of his competitors combined, having tasted victory so many times in Nova Scotia.
That knowledge will be especially valuable to his teammate, LDS Consultants Kawasaki rookie Trevor Dion, as he tries to navigate a Superbike around the Shubenacadie track for the first time. Dion won at AMP a year ago during his Sport Bike championship campaign, but it’s a far different ask around a 210-horsepower feature bike as he looks to build upon his race two podium from Grand Bend.
A difficult challenger to predict will be usual frontrunner Sam Guerin, who has looked like a legitimate race-winning threat on numerous occasions in 2023 but was ordinary in his 2022 Atlantic debut, finishing a distant fourth and fifth aboard his EFC Group BMW.
AMP is no stranger to wet weather, though, and Guerin has begun to gain a reputation as a rain expert, meaning he could be quick to climb the leaderboard if the skies open up at any point over the weekend.
Another wet-track expert worth mentioning is Parts Canada Yamaha rider Tomas Casas, who famously scored his first career Superbike podium in the rain at AMP in 2019.
Casas has dealt with his own physical challenges this season after an injury-shortened 2022 campaign, and this track is hardly one to ease himself back into after four years away, but fond memories may give his team the boost they need in round three.
The midway point of the season will also prove to be crucial in the Constructors Championship fight, where Young’s adversity has left BMW a comfortable 28 points adrift of leaders Suzuki.
The trio of Dumas, Daley, and Fraser don’t appear likely to ease that gap anytime soon, either, but Young and Guerin will be equally in the mix up front for BMW.
Friday’s qualifying sessions could also go a long way in deciding the BS Battery Pole Position award, where Young currently leads Dumas by six points after taking pole in both rounds thus far, with a three-way tie for third another six points back.
The full schedule for the feature GP Bikes class, as well as the six support classes, can be found on the series’ official website at CSBK.ca.
Royal Enfield’s Project Origin To Make U.S. Debut At 2023 Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Tens of thousands of vintage motorcycling enthusiasts at 2023 Permco Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Royal Enfield will get a glimpse of history during this year’s event, which runs July 21-23 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
Presenting sponsor Royal Enfield is bringing its one-of-a-kind Project Origin to 2023 Permco Vintage Motorcycle Days, marking the project’s first trip across the pond since its construction in 2021. Project Origin is an authentic, working replica of Royal Enfield’s very first motor-bicycle, which was originally constructed in 1901, and was painstakingly rebuilt using old photographs and promotional ads from the turn of the century.
“Building an authentic working replica of our very first ‘motor-bicycle’ was a thrill for the entire Royal Enfield company, and now bringing this amazingly hand-crafted machine to ride at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is extremely special,” said Nathan Kolbe, Head of Marketing — Americas Region. “We’re incredibly proud to showcase the foundation upon which Royal Enfield has built its enduring legacy of ‘Pure Motorcycling’ here at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.”
Not only will Project Origin be on display for those in attendance but Royal Enfield historian Gordon May — who is one of the only people on the planet who can operate the motorbike — will ride the track at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, marking Project Origin’s inaugural ride on North American soil.
“Project Origin is unlike anything we’ve seen at VMD in a long time,” said AMA Editorial Director Mitch Boehm, “and I can’t wait to see it in operation at Mid-Ohio. This particular Royal Enfield will surely resonate with the thousands of savvy vintage motorcycling fans that flock to our event each year, and we’re grateful Royal Enfield decided to bring this 1901 piece of history along.”
The chance to view Project Origin in action is one of many exciting opportunities available for enthusiasts at 2023 Permco Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Royal Enfield, with the AMA Hall of Fame Bike Show and the annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days swap meet, among other exhilarating events, also available to attendees.
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Steve Wise will serve as the Grand Marshal for 2023 Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Royal Enfield and will be available to sign autographs, speak with fans at the AMA Soundstage and lead the Lap For History event each day.
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
A 2024-model 25th Anniversary Edition Suzuki Hayabusa. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Suzuki Dealers Now Taking Reservations on 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa
Brea, CA (July 17, 2023) – Suzuki Motor USA has opened reservations for the 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa through authorized Suzuki dealers starting July 17th, 2023. Reserving one will ensure priority delivery of the commemorative Hayabusa.
The 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa MSRP is $19,599 and will be available beginning in September.
Special 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa features include:
Unique 25th Anniversary emblem and raised SUZUKI logos are featured on the fuel tank.
Elegant 25th Anniversary logos are etched on each muffler.
Distinctive gloss black cowling trim.
The brake rotor carriers and drive chain adjusters are gold-anodized.
The Hayabusa Kanji logo is applied to the drive chain plates.
The single-seat cowling is included as standard equipment.
The 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa arrives in a striking and special Glass Blaze Orange & Glass Sparkle Black color combination, reminiscent of one of the most popular Gen II model’s color palettes set off with special red accents. This stunning appearance is enhanced with a range of features unique to this special 25th Anniversary Edition. For more information on the 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa, please click here.
“The Gen 3 Hayabusa has been a tremendous sales success for our dealers and extremely well received by fans of this legendary model,” said Kerry Graeber, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Suzuki. “This beautiful anniversary version, drawing its inspiration from one of the Hayabusa’s most memorable color combinations – yet updated for modern tastes – will appeal to the next generation of Hayabusa fans. We encourage anybody that wants one to see their dealer immediately to ensure they’re on the reservation list.”
NEMRR Executive Director John Grush (left) with Series Director Noelle Doucette (right). Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR.
NorthEast Motorcycle Road Racing (NEMRR) Executive Director John Grush does a video interview with 388 Racing and talks about the 100th Loudon Classic, which happened June 17 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, New Hampshire.
Grush talks about the trials and tribulations of running the big event and NEMRR in general, price changes to several NEMRR fees to ensure the viability of the organization, his personal future with the organization, and if the anonymous sponsor that put up the $250,000 purse for the 100th Loudon Classic will do it again in 2024.
Joshua Raymond (91) in action before the rain and lightning arrived at NJMP. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.
Inclement Weather Forces Postponement Of Mini Cup Round At NJMP
New Jersey Motorsports Park Will Again Host The Rescheduled Round On September 2
IRVINE, CA (July 18, 2023) – Threats of lightning on Saturday and heavy rains on Sunday at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, July 15-16, forced MotoAmerica to reschedule what would have been the fourth round of the Mission Mini Cup By Motul series to what will now be the fifth round of the championship at NJMP on September 2.
The September 2 make-up round at New Jersey Motorsports Park will be open to all riders who were signed up to compete in the rained-out July 15-16 round.
“Unfortunately, we encountered the worst weather possible over the weekend with MotoAmerica Mini Cup,” said MotoAmerica Mini Cup series manager Cory Texter. “We did the best we could to get the program in, but Mother Nature wasn’t having it. It’s essential we get this round complete for the riders, so I’m thankful we could come up with a make-up date for those who attended over the weekend. As for the schedule, we will run a practice in the morning, followed by four races.”
There are three rounds remaining in the 2023 Mission Mini Cup By Motul Series: August 18-19 at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania; September 2 at New Jersey Motorsports Park; and the series finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park, September 22-23.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
Ray Thornton (717). Photo by Kelly Vernell, courtesy MRA.
Byers, CO – The fourth race of the 2023 MRA Championship Series took place at High Plains Raceway over the weekend of July 15-16th on their 2.55-mile Full Course configuration. This was a special weekend as the MRA conducted their 14th Annual 4-hour endurance race on Saturday. The event saw many out-of-town racers drive hundreds of miles to try and steal victories and capture the prize money that was up for grabs. The 4-hour endurance race was unfortunately cut short by 50 minutes as a storm brought lightning and hail into the area. Team Racing for Ray Ray took the victory in the Pony Express category (multiple riders, multiple bikes) with 99 laps completed, team Mother Lovers won the True Endurance category (multiple riders, one bike) with 96 laps, and team Legion’s Lance won the Titanium Butt category (one rider, one bike) with 86 laps.
The Race of the Rockies (RoR) Qualifying on Sunday was conducted under excellent conditions as temperatures were around 75 degrees for most of the morning. Ray Thornton claimed pole position with a best time of (1:47.58) followed by Anthony Norton (1:47.792) and Mike Applegate (1:48.428).
The start of RoR saw Applegate get the holeshot going into Turn One, followed by Brad Hendry and Norton. Applegate was looking strong as he got an excellent drive down the backstraight, however somewhere between Turns Five and 10 he made a mistake and dropped back to sixth position. Hendry led the pack after lap two and was followed closely by Norton and Thornton. By lap six Hendry had opened a three-second lead on the trailing pair, and it looked as if he had the pace to break away. By lap 11 Thornton had passed Norton and was slowly chipping away at Hendry’s lead, dropping the gap to less than half a second. Thornton was hot on Hendry’s tail by lap 13 and was piling on the pressure. With only a few corners left in the race, Hendry made a mistake and unfortunately crashed out of the lead giving Thornton his fourth consecutive RoR win of the season. Rounding out the podium was Norton in second and Applegate in third.
In Race of the Rockies GTU, Jeremiah Downing took the lead from the start and never looked back as he consistently clicked off 1:49’s on his 600. For the entirety of the race he was followed by John Borst, who was running some impressive lap times but couldn’t quite match the blistering pace of Downing. Justin Behmer carved his way through the pack and ended up in third place. Behmer had the pace to secure a second-place victory but ran out of laps before he got the chance to put a move on Borst.
Next up, the MRA heads to Pueblo Motorsports Park in Pueblo, CO for Round 5 on July 29-30 for a full weekend of racing including the SuperStreet event on Saturday afternoon. SuperStreet gives street riders the opportunity to experience motorcycle road racing with minimal cost and preparation. See https://www.mra-racing.org/superstreet/superstreet-information for details.
The MRA welcomes racers from other clubs across the nation. If you’re a currently licensed racer, we have several reciprocity agreements in place along with very competitive pricing on license & entries to our 20 classes. Click here for MRA membership & entry information.
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is dedicated to promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding area. For more information go to http://www.mra-racing.org/.
In July 2022, Iván Cervantes secured victory in the Baja Aragón, one of the most demanding races on two wheels. To celebrate this stand-out performance, Triumph has launched the MY24 Tiger 900 Rally Aragón Edition and the Tiger 900 GT Aragón Edition motorcycles. Available for one year only, these special editions each feature unique liveries and specification.
Riding a Tiger 900 Rally Pro, Cervantes dominated the 280-mile (450km) race and crossed the finish line an impressive 1 hour and 6 minutes ahead of his rivals, demonstrating the Tiger’s ability to endure some of the harshest terrain at an elite level of competition.
Both Tiger 900 Aragón editions deliver all the specification, technology, and capability that the market-leading Tiger 900 GT Pro and Rally Pro are known for. Their advanced performance, accompanied by two fresh new looks, preserves the ultimate feel of aggression and attitude, while also adding that race-ready edge.
The Tiger 900 Rally Aragón dons a triple color of Matte Phantom Black, Matte Graphite, and Crystal White, featuring distinct Racing Yellow accents paired seamlessly with Triumph Tiger and Aragón Edition detailing, as well as a new and unique twin color seat design.
The GT Aragón follows suit with Triumph Tiger and Aragón Edition detailing, in addition to a refreshing twin color seat design, but instead features a triple color scheme of Diablo Red, Matte Phantom Black, and Crystal White to echo a bold and elegant feel.
Both models continue to boast an impressive 64 LBFT (87 Nm) of peak torque at 7,250 rpm, as well as a slip and assist clutch, to deliver a rich triple performance. Maintaining a lightweight modular frame and high specification suspension, these new additions to the Tiger family are tailored to optimize both road and off-road potential with the ultimate agile and dynamic handling experience.
Further maximizing handling, the GT Aragón Edition carries fully adjustable 1.8” (45mm) USD Marzocchi cartridge forks with electronically adjustable RSU, whereas the Rally Aragón Edition features Showa forks tuned for even greater off-road performance.
Engine protection bars are fitted as standard to both Aragón Editions, while the Rally Aragón Edition also has fuel tank protection bars as standard to top off the ultimate competitive aesthetic. A collection of over 65 dedicated accessory options is available for both models, allowing you to tailor your machine to suit your own adventure.
Both models are competitively priced at and will be available in dealers by the end of July.
The R 18 "Iron Annie" Custom Bike from Switzerland. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad.
BMW Motorrad presents Customizing Championship.
Spectacular BMW R 18 custom bikes from all over the world battle it out for victory.
Munich. For years, the BMW R 18 has been inspiring motorcycle fans all over the world to create fascinating customizing creations. The upcoming BMW Motorrad Customizing Championship is now intended to give due recognition to outstanding creativity and artistic craft relating to the BMW R 18.
Initiative by 150 BMW Motorrad dealers from 18 countries.
Four R 18 models as a starting point.
The BMW Motorrad Customizing Championship will take place from 11 April to 29 September 2023. This exciting competition is an initiative of the BMW Motorrad global dealer network, with 150 dealers from 18 countries having already confirmed participation. They will bring together motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world to showcase creativity and skill in customizing BMW R 18 motorcycles.
Four models of the BMW Motorrad R 18 series can be used by customizers – the R 18, R 18 Classic, R 18 B, and R 18 Transcontinental. The BMW R 18 showcases clear, contemporary technology and a sleek, streamlined design that is sure to turn heads. Striking a perfect balance between form and function, the BMW R 18 is a true masterpiece of engineering and design. All the R 18 family members offer a very conversion-friendly architecture for easy customizing and optimal individualization: this was the focus when the basic design of the R 18 series was originally conceived.
“We are thrilled to launch the first-ever BMW Motorrad Customizing Championship,” says Stephan Reiff, Head of Customer, Brand, Sales BMW Motorrad. “This competition is a celebration of the passion and creativity of the BMW Motorrad dealer network and motorcycle enthusiasts, and we can’t wait to see what new members of the R 18 family the participants will come up with.” The winners of the BMW Motorrad Customizing Championship 2023 will receive a range of exciting prizes, including the opportunity to showcase their custom motorcycles at major motorcycle events around the world.
Grand world finale at the opening of BMW Motorrad Welt in Berlin.
The Customizing Championship is a way for dealers and enthusiasts to show creativity in a freestyle format. Participants will have the opportunity to customise their motorcycles using their own unique designs and ideas, as well as the extensive range of high-quality parts and accessories offered by BMW Motorrad. The two best custom motorcycles from each participating country will be selected at the National Contests, which will be eligible to participate in the international semi-finals. In this semi-final, six motorcycles will finally be selected by the jury of experts and one by means of a public vote for the grand world final. This will take place on the occasion of the opening of BMW Motorrad Welt in Berlin on 29 September 2023.
BMW Motorrad dealers from the following countries are confirmed for the Customizing Championship 2023: Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the USA.
Registration for the Customizing Championship has already closed, and participants have signed up on the official BMW Motorrad website.
The main details of the Customizing Championship:
National Championships: 15 May – 16 July 2023
International semi-final and vote for the best bikes:
31 July – 14 August 2023
World final in Berlin: 29 September 2023
Jury of international experts.
The competition will be judged by a panel of experts, including renowned customizers who are highly regarded within the motorcycle community such as Thor Drake, Michael Lichter and Roland Sands. The jury members are as follows:
Thor Drake is a motorcycle builder and entrepreneur. He is the founder of See See Motorcycles, a custom motorcycle shop and coffeehouse based in Portland, Oregon. Drake was born in Montana in 1977 and grew up with a passion for motorcycles, eventually turning his hobby into a career.
Michael Lichter is a photographer and curator who is best known for his work in the motorcycle industry. He was born in 1951 in Boulder, Colorado, and began his career as a photographer in the 1970s. Lichter has since become one of the best-known and respected photographers in the motorcycle community.
Roland Sands is a motorcycle racer and designer. He was born in Long Beach, California, in 1974 and grew up in the motorcycle industry, with his father being a champion racer and aftermarket parts manufacturer. Sands began his own racing career in the 1990s, competing in events such as the AMA 250GP and the MotoGP World Championship.
J. Shia is an internationally recognised and award-winning motorcycle builder and designer. She is the founder of Madhouse Motors, a custom motorcycle shop based in Boston, Massachusetts. Shia was born in California in 1977 and grew up with a passion for motorcycles, eventually turning her hobby into a career.
Giuseppe Roncen, editor and author of Italy’s car culture and motorcycle magazine Lowride. He was born in 1964. His passion for motorcycles began in Italy where he made his first custom bike after working as in the filming industry before. Since 1994 he has been working as a journalist and ever since writes about café racers, cruisers and many more motorcycle topics, besides others.
Yuichi Yoshizawa is a well-known custom builder from Japan who is creating bikes in multiple styles. He is one of the owners of the Custom Works Zon, a famous workshop that has won many international awards and created the “Departed” among others.
The vehicles shown may be modified and fitted with third-party accessories and/or proprietary parts that are not manufactured, distributed or tested by BMW. BMW accepts no liability for the modifications (including the fitting, characteristics and use of the accessories shown). NOTE: Modification of series production vehicles (including the fitting and use of third-party and self-made parts) can impair riding characteristics! Riding our vehicles in modified condition is at your own risk.
A 2023 Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally fitted with optional equipment. The Multistrada V4 is Ducati's best-selling model. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Ducati keeps growing and registers its best first half-year sales figures ever
A record of 34,976 motorcycles were delivered globally in the first half of 2023, 5 percent more than in the same period of 2022
The top three markets for Ducati have grown compared to last year: Italy +10 percent, United States +11 percent and Germany +13 percent
The Multistrada V4 is the top-seller of the Ducati range with 6,382 motorcycles delivered so far in 2023
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 17 July 2023 – Following on from a positive first quarter, Ducati closes the first six months of 2023 reporting growing delivery figures.
The Bologna-based manufacturer delivered a record of 34,976 motorcycles over the course of the semester, thus accomplishing a 5 percent growth compared to the same period of 2022.
Francesco Milicia, Ducati VP Global Sales and After Sales: “This first half-year was Ducati’s best ever in terms of deliveries. We reached a record 34,976 bikes delivered, proving that our passionate clients continue to appreciate our product range, which is now wider than ever. The supply bottlenecks experienced last year are now over but the global competition in the market is more intense in the post Covid-era also because of better product availability. Our commitment to reinforce the satisfaction of our Ducatisti is stronger than ever and their continuous trust gives all people in Borgo Panigale an extra motivation.”
At the end of the second quarter of 2023, Italy remains in the leading position among Ducati’s markets with 6,639 motorcycles delivered and a growth of 10 percent compared to last year’s period. The United States represents the second largest market for the Company with 4,505 bikes that result in an 11 percent growth over 2022. Germany is in third position, also gaining a 13 percent growth with 4,217 motorcycles delivered.
The most appreciated motorcycle in the ever-wider Ducati range is the Multistrada V4 in all its versions with 6,382 units delivered globally between January and June 2023. The Ducati’s naked sports bike par excellence, the Monster, is in second position with 4,299 delivered motorcycles in the world, while in third place there is the Scrambler Ducati 800 family with 3,581 bikes.
For 2024 Ducati has already unveiled five new colour schemes for its motorcycles. Enthusiasts can choose their SuperSport 950 S in the Stripe Livery that alternates white, grey and red colours, accentuating the sporty elegance of the bike. The Monster is now even more stylish thanks to the new Iceberg White colour, while the Hypermotard 950 RVE has a new Graffiti Livery Evo inspired by street art that makes the Ducati’s fun bike per excellence even trendier. Boldness meets performance on the Panigale V2 with the new Black on Black Livery, and the pleasure of travelling every day finds a new sporty attitude on the Multistrada V2 S with the Thrilling Black & Street Grey colour scheme.
Alex Dumas (23), as seen at Grand Bend Motorplex earlier this season. Photo by Rob O'Brien, courtesy CSBK.
Dumas leads CSBK east as championship leader eyes redemption at AMP
Toronto, ON – The Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship has already delivered plenty of twists and turns to begin the 2023 campaign, so there’s nowhere more fitting for the season to go next than Atlantic Motorsport Park this weekend, July 20-23, presented by Pro Cycle and Kawasaki.
The uniquely demanding circuit, known affectionately as “the rollercoaster,” will be the site of round three of the GP Bikes Pro Superbike class, but there’s no need to remind championship leader Alex Dumas of the challenge that lies ahead near Halifax, Nova Scotia.
It was just one year ago that the battle for the 2022 Canada Cup was blown wide open at AMP, with Dumas crashing out of the lead amidst an intense battle with Ben Young, who would go on to win his second feature championship in large part thanks to Dumas’ costly error.
Jump ahead to 2023, and there are so far no errors to be found for Dumas.
The Purple Skull Brewing/Liqui Moly Suzuki rider has been sensational, winning three of four races in dominant fashion and taking a commanding 36-point lead over Young to put one finger on the Canada Cup already.
Granted, there has been plenty of misfortune for the reigning champion that has helped expand Dumas’ gap atop the standings, but all three of his victories have demonstrated a new, more determined version of himself than the one we have seen so far in his short career.
It also won’t take much improvement in outright pace for Dumas to close his gap to Young, as there memorably wasn’t any gap at all a year ago – the duo infamously tying in qualifying and needing a coin toss to decide the polesitter – with his race mistakes making it seem as though Young’s advantage was bigger than it is.
With that, it’s hard not anoint Dumas the favourite even with his forgettable east-coast debut last season, as he will know Young has to throw everything at him across the final five races in hopes of rallying back in the championship.
However, the Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW rider will have his own claim to being the weekend favourite. After all, Young swept both races in 2022 and has won three of the last four on the east coast, including his spectacular comeback from tenth to first in 2019.
The circuit has traditionally favoured Young, perhaps owed in part to his experience on narrow, twisty tracks in the British Superbike Championship, and that comeback win four years ago is still considered the best of his career.
However, that victory will also remind Young that AMP is no stranger to chaotic results, likely a bigger concern for Dumas than himself as the title leader aims to avoid any drama, and it may be a closer group of challengers this weekend than the duo has grown accustomed to.
Riding the biggest wave of momentum will be Trevor Daley, who is fresh off a historic charge of his own in Grand Bend where he snatched fourth after crashing out of a battle for the lead on lap two.
Daley has rarely had luck on his side, but round two proved once again he has the race-winning pace to overcome it, and there may not be anywhere better for the OneSpeed Suzuki rider to finally end his quest for a debut victory than at the same place where he came painstakingly close in 2019.
The true X-factor may be tied to Daley regardless, as the biggest question mark of the weekend will be the home favourite aboard his old machine, 17-year-old rookie John Fraser.
Riding the rebranded RLS Contracting Suzuki, Fraser has quietly put together a strong debut campaign already with top-eight finishes in three of four races, but he could more than double that output with a pair of podium challenges this weekend.
That may seem like a tall ask for the first-year rider just out of high school, but Fraser has already approached pole position times in his regional stints at AMP, and even for his young age will bring more track knowledge than majority of the Superbike field.
Rookie pro John Fraser (8) is looking to continue his strong debut CSBK Superbike season as the series heads to Atlantic Motorsport Park, the 17-year-old’s home track. Photo Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.
One rider he certainly won’t have more experience than, however, is 14-time AMP winner (and coincidentally 14-time champion) Jordan Szoke, who will be first in line to pick up the pieces if any of the three Suzuki’s falter.
The banged-up veteran will likely be in for his toughest test yet since his inspiring return, with a pair of 22-lap races on the schedule around a physically grueling circuit, but Szoke and his LDS Consultants Kawasaki will have more expertise to draw from than many of his competitors combined, having tasted victory so many times in Nova Scotia.
That knowledge will be especially valuable to his teammate, LDS Consultants Kawasaki rookie Trevor Dion, as he tries to navigate a Superbike around the Shubenacadie track for the first time. Dion won at AMP a year ago during his Sport Bike championship campaign, but it’s a far different ask around a 210-horsepower feature bike as he looks to build upon his race two podium from Grand Bend.
A difficult challenger to predict will be usual frontrunner Sam Guerin, who has looked like a legitimate race-winning threat on numerous occasions in 2023 but was ordinary in his 2022 Atlantic debut, finishing a distant fourth and fifth aboard his EFC Group BMW.
AMP is no stranger to wet weather, though, and Guerin has begun to gain a reputation as a rain expert, meaning he could be quick to climb the leaderboard if the skies open up at any point over the weekend.
Another wet-track expert worth mentioning is Parts Canada Yamaha rider Tomas Casas, who famously scored his first career Superbike podium in the rain at AMP in 2019.
Casas has dealt with his own physical challenges this season after an injury-shortened 2022 campaign, and this track is hardly one to ease himself back into after four years away, but fond memories may give his team the boost they need in round three.
The midway point of the season will also prove to be crucial in the Constructors Championship fight, where Young’s adversity has left BMW a comfortable 28 points adrift of leaders Suzuki.
The trio of Dumas, Daley, and Fraser don’t appear likely to ease that gap anytime soon, either, but Young and Guerin will be equally in the mix up front for BMW.
Friday’s qualifying sessions could also go a long way in deciding the BS Battery Pole Position award, where Young currently leads Dumas by six points after taking pole in both rounds thus far, with a three-way tie for third another six points back.
The full schedule for the feature GP Bikes class, as well as the six support classes, can be found on the series’ official website at CSBK.ca.
The Royal Enfield Project One replica. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield and AMA.
Royal Enfield’s Project Origin To Make U.S. Debut At 2023 Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Tens of thousands of vintage motorcycling enthusiasts at 2023 Permco Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Royal Enfield will get a glimpse of history during this year’s event, which runs July 21-23 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
Presenting sponsor Royal Enfield is bringing its one-of-a-kind Project Origin to 2023 Permco Vintage Motorcycle Days, marking the project’s first trip across the pond since its construction in 2021. Project Origin is an authentic, working replica of Royal Enfield’s very first motor-bicycle, which was originally constructed in 1901, and was painstakingly rebuilt using old photographs and promotional ads from the turn of the century.
“Building an authentic working replica of our very first ‘motor-bicycle’ was a thrill for the entire Royal Enfield company, and now bringing this amazingly hand-crafted machine to ride at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is extremely special,” said Nathan Kolbe, Head of Marketing — Americas Region. “We’re incredibly proud to showcase the foundation upon which Royal Enfield has built its enduring legacy of ‘Pure Motorcycling’ here at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.”
Not only will Project Origin be on display for those in attendance but Royal Enfield historian Gordon May — who is one of the only people on the planet who can operate the motorbike — will ride the track at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, marking Project Origin’s inaugural ride on North American soil.
“Project Origin is unlike anything we’ve seen at VMD in a long time,” said AMA Editorial Director Mitch Boehm, “and I can’t wait to see it in operation at Mid-Ohio. This particular Royal Enfield will surely resonate with the thousands of savvy vintage motorcycling fans that flock to our event each year, and we’re grateful Royal Enfield decided to bring this 1901 piece of history along.”
The chance to view Project Origin in action is one of many exciting opportunities available for enthusiasts at 2023 Permco Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Royal Enfield, with the AMA Hall of Fame Bike Show and the annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days swap meet, among other exhilarating events, also available to attendees.
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Steve Wise will serve as the Grand Marshal for 2023 Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Royal Enfield and will be available to sign autographs, speak with fans at the AMA Soundstage and lead the Lap For History event each day.
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
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