MotoAmerica: Over 140 Riders Entered Across Three Support Classes At Daytona

David Swarts

-

February 23, 2024

MotoAmerica: Over 140 Riders Entered Across Three Support Classes At Daytona

Over 140 Entries Set To Battle During MotoAmerica’s Daytona Weekend

Mission King Of The Baggers, BellissiMoto Twins Cup And Mission Super Hooligan National Championship Classes Join The Daytona 200

IRVINE, CA – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, has announced a total of 143 entries for the three classes that kick off the 2024 MotoAmerica Championship at Daytona International Speedway, March 7-9.

The 82nd running of the Daytona 200 will feature 67 riders with 28 of those from outside the United States. The race can also boast of three past Daytona 200 winners (Josh Herrin, Brandon Paasch and Danny Eslick) on the 2024 entry list.

But the Daytona 200 isn’t the only race happening at the Speedway as the Mission King Of The Baggers, BellissiMoto Twins Cup and Mission Super Hooligan National Championship will also be in action on the high banks at the “World Center Of Racing” for what will be the start of their championship seasons.

The entry list for Mission King Of The Baggers is 16-riders strong, and it features defending class champion Hayden Gillim aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson as he battles against rivals Kyle Wyman and James Rispoli who represent Harley-Davidson Factory Racing.

The other American Big Twin motorcycle company, Indian Motorcycle, are represented by Tyler O’Hara, who is teamed up this year with fellow S&S/Indian Challenger rider Troy Herfoss, a three-time Australian Superbike Champion who will be making his Daytona debut.

And speaking of riders from other countries, the pride of Andorra, a MotoGP podium finisher, as well as a World Supersport and World Superbike multi-time race winner, Rubén Xaus is all-in on his Feuling Parts Harley-Davidson.

He’ll have to face Bobby Fong, who is back aboard his SDI/Roland Sands Racing/Indian Challenger. Then there’s the three-rider Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson team with Cory West, Jake Lewis, and Travis Wyman.

And let us not leave out the surprise signing of the off-season with Hayden Gillim’s teammate Rocco Landers also aboard a RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.

Mad Monkey Motorsports’ Max Flinders is hopeful of duplicating or improving on his podium result from the last KOTB race in New Jersey in 2023 and Trask Performance is fielding Shane Narbonne.

Indian insider (he’s an engineer) Kyle Ohnsorg is back aboard a Challenger after a podium-reaching performance at COTA last year. Flat tracker Jesse Janisch is bringing his sideways-sliding style to the Suburban Motors H-D/Slyfox/Trask Performance team. And they will all be joined by Danny Eslick, the four-time Daytona 200 winner who will be aboard his Nowaskey Extreme Performance Harley.

Meanwhile, 25riders have entered the BellissiMoto Twins Cup series opener with two races around the 3.51-mile, 12-turn Daytona road course.

Defending Twins Cup Champion Blake Davis will start the season as the favorite on his Yamaha YZF-R7, but he will face a considerable challenge from both Aprilia and Suzuki-mounted riders.

The Suzuki attack is led by Team Hammer’s Rossi Moor on the new Suzuki GSX-8R with Vance & Hines also fielding Rocco Landers on a GSX-8R.

Aprilia, meanwhile, will be well represented by Robem Engineering’s Gus Rodio, who will be teamed up with Italian Alessandro Di Mario and wild-card New Hampshirite Ben Gloddy, who is returning to the team for at least one round (and maybe more?). And, speaking of Italy, new team TopPro Racing has brought in Romeo Chiavini to pilot an Aprilia. Those four will be joined by eight more Ape-riders ready to go “660” on the field of 25.

Along with Davis in the Yamaha YZF-R7 camp are former class champion Kaleb DeKeyrel, South African Dominic Doyle, and his Giaccmoto Racing Yamaha teammate Sonya Lloyd, who raced in last year’s Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. program, and British-racer-living-in-Canada Jack Roach returns to MotoAmerica after a hiatus of a couple of years.

Thirty-five riders have entered the series opener for the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship with that class featuring 12 different manufacturers doing battle.

Making its debut at Daytona is the Yamaha MT-09 SP, a three-cylinder motorcycle that will be piloted by three different riders, including Italian-born, Switzerland-residing FIM Endurance World Championship-winning rider Niccolò Canepa.

Defending class champion Tyler O’Hara is back aboard his S&S/Indian FTR1200, Andy DiBrino returns aboard his Competition Werkes/Gray Area/KTM 890 DUKE R, and Stefano Mesa will once again be aboard his Tytlers Cycle Energica Eva Ribelle RS electric bike. Plus, there are seven Harley-Davidson Pan Americas, a couple of BMW R nineTs, two Ducatis, a pair of Suzuki SV1000s, an Aprilia Tuono, a Buell XB12XT, and even a Victory Vegas in the mix.

Daytona BellissiMoto Twins Cup Entry List can be found HERE

Daytona Mission Super Hooligan National Championship Entry List can be found HERE

Daytona Mission King Of The Baggers Entry List can be found HERE

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.

WorldSBK: Alex Lowes Quickest In FP2 At Phillip Island

David Swarts

-

February 23, 2024

0

WorldSBK: Alex Lowes Quickest In FP2 At Phillip Island

Alex Lowes was the quickest rider during World Superbike Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, in Australia. Riding his Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) Ninja ZX-10RR on the recently resurfaced 2.7-mile (4.4 km) track, the Brit recorded a 1:29.042, which eclipsed the All-Time Lap Record of 1:29.197 set earlier in the day by Andrea Locatelli.

Rookie sensation Nicolo Bulega was the best of the rest with a lap time of 1:29.101 on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, while veteran Danilo Petrucci posted the third-quickest time in the session, a 1:29.237 on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati.

American Garrett Gerloff struggled again in FP2 and ended up 19th with a best time of 1:31.231 on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.

WSBK FP2

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Lowes leads the charge as Bulega impresses, while WorldSBK triumvirate face challenges

Alex Lowes showed an impressive pace, setting a new lap record, and topping the timesheets on Friday.

Rookie Nicolo Bulega demonstrated immediate competitiveness in the Championship by securing second place overall, impressing with his performance.

Multiple-time Champions Alvaro Bautista and Jonathan Rea had a difficult Friday.

Friday’s WorldSBK action at Phillip Island saw Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) dominate proceedings, setting a new lap record and finishing atop the timesheets. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) secured second place overall, while Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha), in third, showcased strong potential with a new lap record in FP1.

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) led the Independent contenders, securing fourth place overall, followed closely by Rookie Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in sixth. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had a quiet start finishing tenth overall and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) took seventh place.

However, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), the Reigning Champion, finished 12th overall, while perennial contender Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) ended up in 16th place in the combined results.

Australian Superbike: Halliday Quickest In Practice Friday At Phillip Island

David Swarts

-

February 23, 2024

0

Australian Superbike: Halliday Quickest In Practice Friday At Phillip Island

Cru Halliday sets Phillip Island alight in ASBK practice

Yamaha Racing Team’s Cru Halliday has burst out of the blocks in practice for round one of the 2024 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at Phillip Island today.

Halliday, 35, was fastest in both 30-minute practice sessions, with Josh Waters (On Ya Bike Adventures Ducati) making it a quinella on his Panigale V4 R as the duo laid down early pacesetting markers ahead of qualifying and three 12-lap races.

The mi-bike insurance Australian Superbike competitors were also joined on track today by their Michelin Supersport and Race and Road Supersport 300 compatriots as the ASBK season opener is held in conjunction with the 2024 FIM Motul Superbike World Championship.

Results for all the ASBK Championship classes are here.

To purchase tickets for Phillip Island, click here.

mi-bike insurance Australian Superbike

A combination of cool and overcast conditions with the addition of a new surface was always going to be a recipe for spectacular practice times, and that’s how it panned out as Halliday and Waters both dipped under the current lap record (1m31.075s) as times tumbled in the afternoon session.

Halliday’s new circuit best lap of 1:30.840 on the YZF-R1M was pure class, setting him up for his first pole position in the Australian Superbike class since round two at Sydney Motorsport Park in 2023.

“I was a bit nervous coming into this round because everyone has been going well over the pre-season – but you virtually reset every time you come here,” said Halliday. “As soon as I completed my first practice session, I knew I had a lot of speed because I was one 10th of a second off my fastest ever race time here.

“In the second session, we tried a different tyre and the laps were actually quite fast. We haven’t changed the Yamaha for the last two years at Phillip Island, as we believe we have a really good set-up. We came here knowing what we want and it works.”

Waters, who’s won five of the last eight races at Phillip Island, will be trying his best to deny Halliday the one extra championship point for pole position – but, of course, the battle runs much deeper than just a two-way affair.

Behind Waters (1:33.033), two-time Australian Superbike champion Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1, 1:31.349) was third overall on combined practice times, ahead of Troy Herfoss (DesmoSport Ducati Panigale V4 R, 1:31.365), teenage sensation Harrison Voight (McMartin Racing Panigale V4 R, 1:31.393), Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati Panigale V4 R, 1:31.642), Anthony West (Addicted to Track YZF-R1M, 1:31.848) and Max Stauffer (Penrite Racing YZF-R1, 1:32.005).

Herfoss, in particular, is methodically working himself into his new home at Ducati, putting the field on notice that he’s primed for a huge weekend.

Plenty of other stars are also looking to pounce in qualifying, including former Australian Superbike champions Bryan Staring (MotoGo YZF-R1), Glenn Allerton (GT Racing BMW M 1000 RR), Arthur Sissis (Unitech Racing YZF-R1) and Michelin Supersport-winning graduate Cameron Dunker (Penrite Racing YZF-R1).

The opening 12-lap race will be held at midday tomorrow, followed by the final two battles on Sunday.

Michelin Supersport

The Michelin Supersport class is a hotbed of excitement and anticipation in 2024, and qualifying for round one was a case-in-point.

After 20 hectic minutes, Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha YZF-R6) powered to his first pole position in Supersport with a 1:35.258 on his final flying lap.

That was enough to edge out fellow Yamaha riders Tom Bramich (1:35.518) and Olly Simpson (1:35.741), with the trio to start from the front row of the grid for the three 10-lap races.

“I just put my head down and managed to do everything right on my hot lap,” said 17-year-old Nahlous, who missed the corresponding round in 2023 because of injury. “It didn’t feel extraordinarily fast, but I’ll take it!

“And the important thing is that I believe I can go even faster.”

Twenty-six riders qualified, with row two to be filled by Mark Chiodo (Honda CBR600RR), Jack Mahaffy (YZF-R6) and 16-year-old Hayden Nelson (Kawasaki ZX-6R).

Honda and Kawasaki are making welcome returns to the Michelin Supersport cauldron in 2024 to take on the dominant YZF-R6.

Two Superport races will be held on Saturday, at 9:25am and 1:35pm respectively, featuring a heady mix of incumbents, returning stars and riders moving up from Supersport 300.

Race and Road Supersport 300

Czech visitor Petr Svoboda produced the perfect conversion in the opening Race and Road eight-lap Supersport 300 race, easily winning from pole position.

Josh Newman managed to hang tough with the FIM WorldSSP300 No. 6 in the first half of the race before the ruthless Svoboda cleared off, winning by 6.709 seconds – an incongruous margin in a class where victories are normally measured in milliseconds.

Victorian Varis Fleming, in a final Aussie ride before he heads off for a Spanish campaign, made it a Kawasaki trifecta on the podium in a lonely third place, while the battle for fourth became a massive arm wrestle and eventually fell the way of Harrison Watts (Kawasaki) ahead of Ryan Larkin (Yamaha), Jordy Simpson (Yamaha), Mitch Simpson (Yamaha) and Tara Morrison (Kawasaki).

Ryder Gilbert (Yamaha) set the fastest lap of the race with a 1:49.021.

Races two and three will be held across Saturday and Sunday.

WorldSBK: Locatelli Leads Rain-Affected FP1 At Phillip Island

David Swarts

-

February 23, 2024

0

WorldSBK: Locatelli Leads Rain-Affected FP1 At Phillip Island

Andrea Locatelli led rain-affected World Superbike Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, in Australia. Riding his Pata Yamaha by Prometeon YZF-R1 on the newly repaved 2.762-mile (4.445 km) road course, the Italian turned a 1:29.197, which broke the All-Time Lap Record of 1:29.230 set by Tom Sykes in 2020.

Kawasaki’s Alex Lowes was second-best with a time of 1:29.303 on his factory Ninja ZX-10RR, and Lowes’ twin brother Sam Lowes was third-quickest with a lap of 1:29.717 on his Elf Marc VDS Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R.

American Garrett Gerloff finished FP1 in 18th with a best time of 1:31.437 on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.

WSBK FP1

MotoGP: More From The Pre-Season Test At Qatar

Michael Gougis

-

February 22, 2024

0

MotoGP: More From The Pre-Season Test At Qatar

Earlier this week, MotoGP teams and riders spent two nights at Qatar dialing in the final configurations of their racebikes ahead of the season-opening race, scheduled for two weeks at the same Lusail International Circuit.

There were more new pieces on display as the manufacturers continued to look for gains in aerodynamics, specifically with the aim of finding more grip under braking and in the turn-in and mid-corner phase.

At the end of the test, defending and two-time Champion Francesco Bagnaia looked relaxed as he talked to the media, saying that his blazing record-setting lap came with the very first soft tire the team tried during time attacks. The time was quick enough that the team didn’t go for another run on a second soft, choosing instead to use it for a long-distance run.

Aprilia continued with its “Batwing” tail section, designed to extract air from the area above the rear tire. Aerodynamically, that region is incredibly turbulent, so cleaning the airflow through there reduces drag, and that frees up power that can be used to push other aerodynamic devices through the air.

Aprilia batwing — The “batwing” tail section on Aprilia’s RS-GP. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Aprilia also experimented with cleaning up the airflow around the rear tire with a cutaway rear fender and continuing with its wraparound front fender. A CFD analysis of a road racing motorcycle reveals a surprising amount of turbulence from the front axle nuts, so Aprilia’s fender shrouds that hardware completely.

Trackhouse front fender — Front fender on Aprilia RS-GP completely encloses axle nuts. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Trackhouse rear fender — Rear fender on Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP. Photo by Michael Gougis.

KTM continued working on the central part of the main fairing, all the way back to the rider. That region also presents challenges to the engineers as they try to keep the airflow attached to the bodywork, which reduces turbulence and therefore drag.

Miller Qatar Test — Jack Miller (43) trials extended side aero elements on the factory KTM RC16. Note the silver tape that can be used to cover cutaway sections, allowing the team to test different configurations without creating different parts. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Binder Qatar test — Brad Binder (33) experimented with yet another configuration of KTM’s extended side airflow management device. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Ducati’s new GP2024 fairing tries to manage the chaotic airflow between the front wheel and the bottom of the fairing, which it has done with ducting in the past, and still take advantage of the venturi effect with a carefully shaped fairing lower mid-section. Compare the GP24 and GP23 shots below, and it is easy to see that Ducati has bulged the fairing outward significantly. The slits in the horizontal part of the fairing suggest that Ducati is also carefully managing airflow inside of the fairing, but it is not clear whether that is for downforce, drag reduction or cooling.

Ducati GP23 Qatar — Ducati GP23 fairing configuration on one of Jorge Martin’s machines at Qatar. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Ducati GP24 fairing — Note the wider center section and louvers in the Ducati Desmosedici GP24 fairing. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Honda’s riders complained about rear grip at corner exit, so the company responded with one of the most complex wing systems seen on a MotoGP machine to date. All of the RC213V machines tested the device, which features six vertical elements and two wings.

Honda rear wing at Qatar — Honda tried an elaborate wing setup to try to find grip at the rear, particularly at corner exits. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Yamaha tried a new exhaust system, a new tail section and various forms of aerodynamic aids at the front of the fairing. When mechanics would warm up the bikes, the fairings actually were free of ducting there, suggesting that the company was bolting on several different ducts during testing. Yamaha is the only company that does not appear to be looking for mid-corner downforce via the venturi effect created by the “fat” fairing design.

Fabio Q Qatar test — Fabio Quartararo (20) tested a variety of exhausts and aerodynamic devices, but came away from the Qatar test dissatisfied. “With my riding style, I know my limit, and I am on the limit,” Quartararo told journalists. Fourteenth-fastest was not where the 2021 MotoGP World Champion wanted to be. Photo by Michael Gougis.

U.S. Distributors Of Ohvale Motorcycles Changing

David Swarts

-

February 22, 2024

0

U.S. Distributors Of Ohvale Motorcycles Changing

Rise Moto Announces Transition in Ohvale USA Distributorship: A New Chapter in Youth Road Racing

YORK, PA; February 22, 2024 – After six successful years as the exclusive distributor for Ohvale in the United States, Rise Moto announces the next chapter in youth road racing as distribution rights for the United States transfers to new owners, soon to be announced.

Since 2018, Rise Moto has achieved significant milestones, contributing to the growth and development of young racing talents in the sport.

Rise Moto, with its vision to increase youth road racing and develop American talent, established the Ohvale Talent Cup in 2018, which was then adopted by MotoAmerica as the MiniCup series—the premier youth road racing series in the United States. After continuing to support the MiniCup series, Rise Moto, in partnership with FIM North America and Dorna, formed the North America Talent Cup, a Road to MotoGP™ program. These initiatives were designed to identify, nurture, and promote young talents in youth road racing, providing them with a structured platform to showcase their skills on the track.

Through Rise Moto’s dedication to the sport and the racing community, the Ohvale GP-0 and GP-2 have become a household name in the road racing industry. Ohvale is now an integral component of the youth road racing scene in the USA, offering promising riders a proven tool to further their careers in the sport.

It has been an absolute honor to represent Ohvale here in the USA these past 6 years. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Ohvale team, our partners, and the entire youth road racing community for their support throughout this incredible journey. Rise Moto looks forward to the future with enthusiasm and optimism as we embark on new endeavors within the world of motorsports.

As we transition from our role as the Ohvale distributor, Rise Moto remains dedicated to the growth and advancement of youth road racing. We will continue to explore new opportunities and collaborations that contribute to the overall development of young talents in the sport.

We ask that our customers be patient during this transition. The new owners will pick up where we left off and be able to support all inquiries and product requests at www.ohvaleusa.com.

About Rise Moto:

Rise Moto LLC is a racer owned and operated company based out of Pennsylvania. Rise. Moto was founded for the original purpose of introducing Ohvale to the United States market. They have since expanded to become the official USA distributor for KYT helmets where they continue to support the sport and industry from a different angle, but the same goal remains. Rise Moto is especially committed to the development and growth of roadracing in the United States which starts with supporting the riders at the youth level.

WorldSBK: Races To Be Televised In The U.S. On MAVTV Select

David Swarts

-

February 22, 2024

0

WorldSBK: Races To Be Televised In The U.S. On MAVTV Select

Editorial Note: MAVTV Select is a FAST channel – a Free Advertising-supported Streaming Television channel (as opposed to a subscription-based ad-supported streaming service like Netflix or Hulu or Sling TV). FAST channels are usually built into the operating system of smart TVs and are also available through Roku, Pluto TV, Xumo, etc. For a complete list of MAVTV Select providers, go HERE. Scroll down to see the broadcast times for the World Superbike and Supersport races this coming weekend at Phillip Island.

2024 WorldSBK Broadcasters announced

Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) is thrilled to unveil the lineup of broadcasters set to bring the excitement of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship to fans worldwide for the 2024 season. With new partnerships and renewed agreements, the Championship is poised to captivate audiences across the globe. Additionally, the debut of the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship in June promises to further enhance the racing experience for fans.

NEW BROADCASTERS AND PARTNERSHIPS

USA: MAVTV joins as the new broadcaster for the USA for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Turkey: RedBull TV enters as the new broadcaster, focusing on live coverage and collaboration to enhance the Championship’s awareness in the territory. The contract initially spans the 2024 season, with a strong emphasis on promoting national riders.

Renewed Partnerships: Servus TV (Austria, Germany) and Arena4 (Hungary) have renewed their commitments, while ITV (UK) has extended the highlights package for two more seasons.

EUROPE

Eurosport remains a cornerstone broadcaster for the Championship, delivering WorldSBK action to enthusiasts several countries in Europe via Eurosport 1, Eurosport 2, and the Eurosport Player. Notably, Eurosport UK will provide comprehensive coverage of all rounds, including the UK Round in July, supplemented by a 46-minute highlights package on the ITV network. Italian fans can catch the thrilling races on Sky Sport, with free-to-air coverage on TV8. Spanish viewers can follow the action on DAZN and RTVE, while Portuguese fans can tune in to Sport TV. GIB Telecom remains WorldSBK’s broadcast partner in Gibraltar.

Servus TV has renewed its partnership for three years, ensuring continued coverage for fans in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with Servus also offering on-site coverage at European Rounds. Arena4, having renewed its commitment for two more seasons, will continue to cater to fans in Hungary. Ziggo Sport will broadcast highlights for Dutch fans, while Nova Sports and Pop TV are set to continue providing coverage for fans in Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia, respectively. Belgian fans can tune in to RTBF to catch every thrilling moment of the Championship race, while RTL will maintain its coverage of WorldSBK for viewers in Luxembourg. Auto1 will be airing WorldSBK action in Ukraine through a 46-minute highlights package.

Additionally, a new partnership with RedBull TV in Turkey will focus on live coverage and collaboration to enhance the championship’s awareness in the territory.

NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA

Exciting developments await fans in North America with the introduction of MAVTV as the new exclusive broadcaster for the USA for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Canadian fans can continue to enjoy coverage on REV TV. Brazilian broadcaster Bandsports TV will continue to show WorldSBK in Brazil. In Latin America, Fox Sports Mexico will air all classes, while ESPN will cover all other LATAM territories.

ASIA

J-Sports will continue to bring WorldSBK to Japanese fans, while Trans7, maintaining its broadcast rights, will continue to air WorldSBK in Indonesia. SpoTV will offer coverage across Pan-Asian territories, including Korea, Hong-Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam. Chinese fans will have the opportunity to follow the series on the Douyin platform.

MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, CENTRAL ASIA AND OCEANIA

Exciting developments continue in these regions with SMC (Saudi Motorsports Company) securing the rights for MENA territories, including free-to-air coverage on MBC channels and SSC’s TV channels and OTT platform (Shahid) for the next 5 years.

Supersport will provide coverage across multiple Pan-African territories. Eurosport will broadcast in various Central Asian countries, with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan all enjoying coverage.

Fans in Australia can catch all the action on Fox Sports, while SBS will provide highlights. In New Zealand, Sky Sport will continue to broadcast all three classes.

WorldSBK VideoPass

In 2024, fans from all across the globe will once again have the opportunity to enjoy every exhilarating moment of the WorldSBK season with the WorldSBK VideoPass. Providing live and uninterrupted coverage of every session and every class, along with a vast archive of historical action, the VideoPass ensures that viewers never miss a beat. Additionally, fans can enjoy races OnDemand, giving them the flexibility to watch the action whenever and wherever they are.

With these broadcasters and partnerships, the 2024 WorldSBK season promises to deliver unparalleled excitement and coverage to fans around the world.

MAVTV Select Race Broadcast Schedule (as provided by MAVTV):

FRIDAY 2/23 – FIM WORLD SUPERSUPER RACE ONE 10:30 p.m. ET FREE on MAVTV SELECT

SATURDAY 2/24 – FIM WORLD SUPERBIKE RACE ONE 12:00 a.m. ET FREE on MAVTV SELECT

SATURDAY 2/24 – FIM WORLD SUPERSPORT RACE TWO 10:30 p.m. ET FREE on MAVTV SELECT

SUNDAY 2/25 – FIM WORLD SUPERBIKE RACE TWO 12:00 a.m. ET FREE on MAVTV SELECT

American Flat Track: Thom Duma Fine Jewelers Renews Series Sponsorship

David Swarts

-

February 22, 2024

0

American Flat Track: Thom Duma Fine Jewelers Renews Series Sponsorship

Thom Duma Fine Jewelers Named Official Jeweler of Progressive AFT For 11th Consecutive Season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 22, 2024) – Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is pleased to confirm that Thom Duma Fine Jewelers (TDFJ) is back as the series’ Official Jeweler for an eleventh consecutive season in 2024.

TDJF’s ties to the sport reach much farther back than even that impressive run, with owner Tom Duma Jr. a long-time veteran of the paddock. Duma stood as a Progressive AFT racer from 1976 to 1981, before learning the family business from his father, Tom Duma, Sr., and ultimately taking over TDFJ himself.

Thom Duma Fine Jewelers enjoys a storied history, tracing its origins back to the 1800s before being acquired by the Dumas almost three-quarters of a century ago. Since partnering with Progressive AFT in an official capacity, Tom Duma, Jr., has seamlessly connected his two passions, establishing the now-cherished tradition of awarding each season’s champions with a one-of-a-kind and fully customized handcrafted ring to properly commemorate their incredible achievement.

“Having campaigned full time in the series back in the 70s & 80s I know how much effort it takes to put together a championship season, and what better way to commemorate that effort than with a customized championship ring,” said Duma. “I’m honored to be able to work with the Champions to make a ring worthy of the title!”

Thom Duma Fine Jewelers’ unique ties that connect racing and jewelry are not reserved for Progressive AFT champions alone. For fans, TDFJ offers a full line of top jewelry designers in fashion and bridal. Diamonds sourced from around the world and fine Swiss timepieces. TDFJ offers the “Racer Series,” a line of race-inspired jewelry, including hot shoe pendants in precious metal, customized racing number pendants that match the racers font, and much more.

The complete line is available for purchase online at www.TDFJ.com, and you can contact Duma personally via email at [email protected].

Reigning champions Jared Mees and Kody Kopp will be awarded their championship rings in a special ceremony when the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season opens with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA on Thursday, March 7 and Friday, March 8.

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/daytona-short-track-i-and-ii-86845 to take advantage of the Multi-Day Discount and save $10 by purchasing tickets for both rounds at once.

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

Progressive AFT series merchandise is available via the official merchandise store at https://aftmerch.com.

About Progressive American Flat Track

Progressive American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. Progressive American Flat Track is televised on FOX Sports and streams live via FloRacing. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on X, and check us out on Instagram.

WorldSBK: PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team Launched At Phillip Island

David Swarts

-

February 22, 2024

0

WorldSBK: PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team Launched At Phillip Island

PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team officially launched on Phillip Island

Just ahead of the opening WorldSBK and WorldSSP rounds at Phillip Island circuit in Australia, the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team has released a special launch video that showcases the new-look CBR1000RR-R and CBR600RR machines with which it will compete during the 2024 season.

Relaunching a two-pronged attack in the production-derived series, the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team will fight in World Superbike, with Malaysian Adam Norrodin and British rider Tarran Mackenzie – both of whom move up from WorldSSP – and in World Supersport, where it will field Malaysian rider Khairul Idham Bin Pawi and Japanese rider Kaito Toba.

Young, hungry, and talented, all four riders are rookies in their respective category and express both their enthusiasm and gratitude to Team Principal Midori Moriwaki and title sponsor PETRONAS for their ongoing support. Moriwaki and PETRONAS share the mission to facilitate the growth path of young Asian riders on the world stage, and so it is no coincidence that the team’s riders represent both Malaysia and Japan, as well as the UK.

The 2024 livery is front and centre in the launch video released today, as the team gears up for the opening round of the production-derived championship. This year, the stunning PETRONAS green colour scheme incorporates a distinctive gold line to mark the company’s 50th anniversary. The MIE Racing mission aligns with the spirit of Petronas’ remarkable 50-year journey, for a partnership that transcends the world of racing and is dedicated to making a difference.

Keen to build on last season’s performance, the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team is eager to embark on this latest challenge and will kickstart its 2024 campaign this very weekend, when the opening round of the WorldSBK and WorldSSP championships is staged at the Phillip Island Circuit in Australia.

Midori Moriwaki – PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team Owner

“I am happy and proud to present the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team SBK and the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team SSP, along with the four incredibly strong riders who will represent them. Adam and Tarran have demonstrated their significant talent and competitive spirit by scoring points at every opportunity and securing the team’s first victory in the SSP category before moving to SBK this year. Khairul and Kaito need no introduction, both with prestigious international racing experience, including the MotoGP World Championship where they have both reached the podium and won races in the Moto3 category. I am confident they will represent the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team colors admirably. In addition to our immediate racing endeavours, we plan to expand our focus towards comprehensive, enduring projects. Central to this commitment is the establishment of an innovative academy program. This program signifies a collaborative effort between partners to leverage WorldSBK and WorldSSP as pivotal platforms, catalysing a Malaysian talent development initiative. The primary objective is to foster and elevate the skills of emerging riders.”

Tarran Mackenzie – WorldSBK Rider #95

“Last year was my first season in the WorldSBK paddock. Not an easy season and it brought ups and downs but there were obvious highs, like victory at Most of course, a first win for both me and the team. After a tough start, that was a fantastic achievement. And now I’m excited to get going this season. Although I have a little SBK experience, I’m essentially a category rookie this season, and Adam too, so we know we’re in for a challenge. I basically just want to get riding, as we haven’t had a lot of test time with the 2024 machine. I don’t have any particular expectations right now; the main aim is to settle into it and keep progressing round by round, closing the gap to the front. We need to get comfortable and find a solid base setting that we can exploit at different tracks. As for Phillip Island, I’ve competed there twice before but never with a Superbike, so the pre-race test was useful. It’s a fun track, fast and flowing, though you never know what the weather’s going to bring. Australia’s one of my favourite countries too, so I’m looking forward to it. It’s great to be wearing PETRONAS colours and representing such an iconic global brand. The bike livery and my leathers look cool, and I can’t wait to get the kit on and try our best for everyone involved.”

Adam Norrodin – WorldSBK Rider #27

“Firstly, I want to thank the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team for giving me the opportunity to compete in WorldSBK. The 2023 Supersport season was tough at times, but we scored some solid results, particularly a top five at Most, and the team always did its best, fighting hard throughout the year. This year I jump up to the 1000cc bike, which marks the start of a new chapter for me. It’s an exciting challenge and I will work very hard to learn and progress, round by round. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, as this is my rookie season in what is a very high-level category. There will be many things to understand, not least the bike itself, but I know the team will do a great job and, if I can improve weekend by weekend, then I’ll be happy. As for Phillip Island, I really like the track layout and we were able to score points last year. The weather is an unknown, but we’ll take what comes – I don’t mind rain actually! Lastly, I want to thank PETRONAS for its valuable support. It’s an honour to be part of this family for another season, and especially in what is PETRONAS’ 50th anniversary year. We will do our very best to represent on track.”

Khairul Idham Bin Pawi – WorldSSP Rider #89

“I’m really looking forward to getting out on track at Phillip Island for the first of the season’s Supersport races. Our tests at Almeria and also here have gone well and have allowed me to get to know the new bike and team. It’s all been quite positive so far, and we’ve already improved a little in terms of top speed, though we still have a lot to do of course. We will continue to work step by step to improve both the bike and the riding. I’m very happy to be part of the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team and thank everybody involved for their hard work and support. I’m excited to really get started this weekend!”

Kaito Toba – WorldSSP Rider #27

“There is some nervous anticipation as we prepare for the first races at Phillip Island. I know the circuit well and hope that we can continue to build on the progress made during the recent tests. We’ve already identified some positives with the 2024 bike, but we need to keep working so that we can be competitive and fight in the races. I’m happy with the way the team is working, and I want to thank everybody for all their help so far. I hope to be able to repay the efforts of the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team with my performance on track. For now, we turn our attention to the first Phillip Island round.”

WorldSBK: Dodge Challenger SRT Is New Official Safety Car

David Swarts

-

February 22, 2024

0

WorldSBK: Dodge Challenger SRT Is New Official Safety Car

Dodge and WorldSBK team up to unleash their muscle for 2024

Dorna WSBK Organization proudly welcomes Dodge as the Official Car and Official Safety Car for the 2024 season. The iconic American automotive brand is set to join an exclusive roster of partners, adding a new dimension of power and style to the world’s leading production motorcycle racing series.

Dodge will take centre stage as the 2024 WorldSBK Official Car & Official Safety Car. The partnership showcases the perfect fusion of character and speed, with Dodge muscle cars serving as the ultimate 4-wheel counterparts to WorldSBK machinery.

Dodge’s rich history of power and performance, both on the track and the drag strip, will resonate with WorldSBK fans as the thrilling roar of the new Official Safety Car is unleashed.

Two Dodge Challenger SRTs, equipped with the iconic 6.2L HEMI V8 engine producing 717 Hp, will patrol the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship rounds, providing a perfect match to the racing Superbikes. This level of performance not only allows for precise assessment of track conditions but also ensures officials can always intervene swiftly.

Completing the Dodge WorldSBK fleet are Durango SUVs, serving as the Race Direction and FIM Safety Officer official cars. The Durango combines high efficiency with practicality, making it an ideal workhorse for the championship. Two specs will be deployed on track: a Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat with a 6.2L V8 engine delivering over 710 Hp and Dodge Durango SRT featuring a 6.4L Hemi V8 producing 475 Hp.

The pinnacle of victory will be marked by the presence of the Dodge brand on the top step of the podium during the prize-giving ceremonies, symbolizing the rider’s triumph – a distinctive moment of unparalleled excitement and pure motorsport essence. A third Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye powered by the 807 Hp 6.2L Hemi V8 will also be on display next to the podium.

The Dodge Official WorldSBK fleet is poised to make its debut at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, marking the first European round of the 2024 season. As the engines rev and the partnership unfolds, Dodge and WorldSBK are set to redefine the standards of speed, power, and performance on and off the track.

Domenico Gostoli, Head of RAM & Dodge Brands Enlarged Europe

“As Dodge Europe, we have worked hard on this Project and we are proud to start this exciting new cooperation, the first for Dodge Brand in EU: the partnership with WorldSBK is built on a common “performance and race” spirit and fits perfectly with a fan world and an audience of enthusiasts for our Brand. At Dodge we always aim to exceed our limits and reach new heights, putting daily a winning attitude, grit and determination into our work.”

Francesco Valentino, Head of WorldSBK Commercial & Marketing Department

“Built to take on the road in style, Dodge muscle cars deliver on the promise of their looks with power and acceleration under the hood to match. We are proud and thrilled to welcome Dodge and bring it together with WorldSBK. As a production-based motorcycling series, we identify with Dodge’s tradition of high-performance cars, and the alignment of our values makes for an exciting brand association.”

MotoAmerica: Over 140 Riders Entered Across Three Support Classes At Daytona

February 23, 2024

The opening round of the 2024 Mission King Of The Baggers Championship will headline the support races for this year's 82nd running of the Daytona 200. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.