Daniels and Co. Attempt to Slow Mees’ Roll at Lima Half-Mile
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Following three straight Miles, Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, now shifts its gears to race four consecutive Half-Miles starting with this weekend’s Mission Lima Half-Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle and Drag Specialties at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio, on Saturday, June 24.
Reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) comes in with all the momentum after sweeping the aforementioned Miles. He’s also fully at home at the venue with its trademark pea-gravel cushion, considering he’s not just a five-time winner of the race but also its promoter with wife Nichole.
Even with all that considered, Mees isn’t necessarily the overwhelming favorite to win this weekend; several others have a legitimate claim as well.
Even as a rookie, Mission SuperTwins points leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) looked like the rider to beat pretty much all day here a year ago. In the Main Event, he fought his way up from a bad start to battle for the lead before coming home in second place.
And the rider who ultimately beat Daniels was not Mees, but rather Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750). Robinson, who comes in fresh off an ultra-close runner-up result at the DuQuoin Mile, is a two-time winner of the Lima Half-Mile and driven to score his first victory of ‘23.
That’s also the case for Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke), another two-time winner of the prestigious event. Bauman was as strong as he’s been all season this past weekend and is now primed to capitalize as the season shifts to some tracks well aligned with his strengths.
JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750) have all had their moments this season and look to add some more this weekend as the trio headline an extended list of additional podium contenders.
Another rider to keep tabs on is the returning Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), who won the Mission Production Twins race aboard the Royal Enfield here in 2021.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
The hard-won points advantage of defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champ Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) took something of a battering during the recent run of Miles. This didn’t come entirely unexpectedly, and despite the dip, he still managed to weather the storm and continues to stand atop the championship standings.
Now he’s poised to strike back. A year ago, the foundations of Kopp’s championship campaign were built on his Half-Mile prowess, reeling in five HM victories in eight attempts. Included in that list of wins was a blowout performance at the Lima Half-Mile, in which he shook free from the pack on the race’s opening lap and never looked back.
The riders who joined him on the podium that night will look to make it more of a contest this time around, as both come into the weekend considerably more experienced and in stellar form.
Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) is just nine points behind Kopp on the strength of five consecutive podiums, four of which runner-ups. And he’s the opposite of satisfied by that impressive stat considering he’s still seeking his first Progressive AFT victory after multiple near-misses.
Even with Kopp’s one-sided victory, the rider who turned the most heads at Lima a year ago was arguably Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), who finished in second while making his series’ debut. The Aussie is a class full-timer now and quickly making his presence felt, notching up a pair of race wins already in ‘23.
The rest of the usual suspects should factor up front again this weekend, including the likes of Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R).
While a bit quiet at the last two rounds, 1st Impressions Husqvarna teammates Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) might just make more noise this weekend. Cose managed to win a Mission Production Twins race and podium in Parts Unlimited AFT Singles at Lima on a single evening back in ‘19, while Ott finished inside the top five here just last year.
And don’t rule out a huge night for Shayna Texter-Bauman (No. 52 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 450 SX-F), who was victorious at Lima in both 2018 and 2019.
There will be plenty to keep fans entertained at the track on Saturday as well, including numerous vendors, expansive food and beverage options, and extensive motorcycle parking.
Don’t miss your last chance to save $10 per ticket before the sale ends and prices return to normal on Wednesday, June 21. Act fast to get General Admission Bleacher tickets for just $30 (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult GA ticket). Upgraded options include Reserved Grandstand and Premier Reserved Grandstand tickets along with VIP ticket add-ons.
Pit Pass Upgrades are also available for purchase, which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.
Gates will open for fans at 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 6:40 p.m. ET (3:40 p.m. PT).
For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://www.fanschoice.tv.
FOX Sports coverage of the Mission Lima Half-Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle and Drag Specialties, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, July 2, at 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 p.m. PT).
Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, 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. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram and catch all the Progressive American Flat Track racing action on FOX Sports.
ALPINESTARS REVEALS THE ALL-NEW SUPERTECH R10 ROAD RACING HELMET LAUNCH EDITION
Asolo, Italy and Los Angeles, CA – Alpinestars is pleased to present the all-new Supertech R10 Road Racing Helmet Launch Edition. The result of over 10 years of intensive study, development, and testing, the goal of the Supertech family of helmets is to create the most advanced, protective, and performance-enhancing helmets possible for racers and riders worldwide.
Three views of Alpinestars’ new Supertech R10 Launch Edition full-face road race helmet. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
After years of research, development, and testing of the S-R10 with Alpinestars’ Helmet Product Development Department and alongside MotoGP LEGEND Andrea Dovizioso and MotoGP riders Jorge Martin, and Jack Miller, Alpinestars is launching an exclusive numbered series of S-R10 Launch Edition Road Racing Helmets. With the S-R10, the focus of the design was to ensure the highest level of performance, especially when it comes to protection and providing a new level of safety. The S-R10 Helmet has been engineered to provide the perfect blend of excellent ventilation, unsurpassed comfort, and the lightest weight possible, without compromising on any other front. Another crucial element unique to the S-R10’s design and development is the helmet’s advanced aerodynamics, with countless sessions in the wind tunnel focused on reducing drag and providing optimal aerodynamic stability.
The S-R10 Helmet Launch Edition comes in dark candy red sublimated by vibrant red accents, and a carbon glossy colorway, where dark candy red ink has been incorporated in the clear coating and manually sprayed on the carbon helmet to create a unique grading effect. The Alpinestars’ branding on the helmet is subtle, providing intense contrasting energy to the helmet, where a glossy layer has been applied to give it a unique shiny look. The internal helmet lining is handcrafted in Italy.
The S-R10 Helmet Launch Edition in the Red Carbon Glossy colorway will be available for purchase on alpinestars.com starting at 6 pm CET / 9 am PST on July 10th, with a limited numbered series of 200 units. Accessories provided with the S-R10 Helmet Launch Edition include two separate race and standard spoilers, clear and dark smoke visors, tear-offs set, Pinlock lens, the chin curtain, wind, and breath deflectors, and all can be stored comfortably in the paddock helmet bag provided.
MotoGP racer Jack Miller wearing his custom-painted Alpinestars Supertech R10 helmet. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
“I could not be more pleased with the new S-R10 helmet. From the get-go, I have been very, very comfortable with the helmet. The amount of visibility is unrivalled and the aerodynamics of the S-R10 helmet combined with the leather suit are amazing in terms of speed and comfortability. It’s incredible how light the helmet is and truly amazing that with the carbon fiber, they’ve been able to reduce the weight without compromising safety. It is a true honor to be able to wear the S-R10 helmet.” – JACK MILLER, MotoGP
“Starting with the new S-R10 helmet this season with Alpinestars, has been an amazing journey. Working on the development of the S-R10 together with Alpinestars, we’ve done a great job, an amazing job – the helmet feels great, it’s super comfortable, and it fits my head perfectly. I feel like it’s the best comfort I’ve ever had in a helmet in my entire career. Ventilation is also great especially in the hot races, when it’s extremely hot, I feel great. The helmet is also very lightweight. I don’t get tired while using it, and when I’m doing long distances in the races, I feel super good. In addition, the field of vision is great which is important when going 360 km/h into the corner where I can see well, and I feel especially good.” – Jorge Martin, MotoGP
“Alpinestars’ new S-R10 MotoGP-derived helmet is very aerodynamic, and at high speeds it feels ultra-lightweight and stable; and that is reassuring. The field of vision is incredible. The view the S-R10 offers feels super ‘widescreen’ and you can see a huge amount in all directions. That is a massive positive and is probably its most important feature. The S-R10 has an advanced design and I think it is a really good helmet to wear. Not only is it very comfortable, but it’s also super ventilated.” – Andrea Dovizioso, MotoGP
SUPERTECH R10 HELMET TECHNICAL FEATURES
A cutaway view of the outer shell construction on the Alpinestars Supertech R10 helmet. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
OUTER SHELL
CARBON SHELL CONSTRUCTION MULTI-LAYER COMPOSITE DISPERSES ENERGY IN IMPACTS
Homologated to ECE 22.06, DOT, and FIM standards, the Supertech R10’s shell construction utilizes a highly advanced molding technology with a multi-composite combination featuring a 3K high-density carbon outer layer, a uni-directional carbon composite layer, an aramid fiber layer, and a fiberglass layer.
The 3K high-density carbon outer layer provides excellent strength and efficiency of energy dissipation over the shell. The uni-directional (UD) carbon composite layer provides significantly greater radial strength around the shell, preventing compression, but allowing controlled deflection for reducing transmitted impact energy, while the aramid fiber plus fiberglass layers provide critical penetration protection.
This layered composite combination created by bonding everything together with an advanced epoxy resin already applied on the pre-preg fiber, perfectly controls the ideal proportion of resin versus fiber to maximize strength, mechanical performance, and lightweight. The combination of material layers provides improved energy management, as well as limited outer shell deflection, making the energy spread wider and better absorbed by the EPS liner.
The S-R10’s unique shell construction results in extremely effective impact protection. With a fully equipped in-house helmet testing facility within Alpinestars’ state-of-the-art Research and Development center, the company has carried out an exhaustive impact research program, where research and development efforts have shown the S-R10 helmet returning linear and oblique impact performance results which far exceed current ECE 22.06 helmet regulation standard limits. For direct linear impacts, which are impacts at a 90-degree angle between the helmet and an object, the S-R10 surpasses the standard by an average magnitude of 37%. And for rotational acceleration and oblique impact performance, where impact energy comes from an angle other than a linear 90-degree, or right-angle straight impact, the S-R10 exceeds the standard by 65%.
The “inner shell” of the Alpinestars Supertech R10 helmet. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
INNER SHELL
THE S-R10’S INNER SHELL IS MADE FROM EPS IN DIFFERENT DENSITIES
The S-R10 Helmet has four inner shells just like the outer shell, and is available in four anatomical sizes. The S-R10’s construction is optimized to ensure riders have the correct fit, which not only improves comfort and reduces overall weight but most importantly, improves the effectiveness of the helmet in an impact. Underneath the helmet’s outer shell is an eight-piece multi-density EPS liner, with six specific densities that are strategically positioned in different zones to ensure excellent energy absorption from impact forces dissipated over the outer shell, as well as a close and comfortable fit. The EPS liner, just like the outer shell, has its own unique dimension for each helmet size, further tailoring the helmet’s performance and fit when it comes to protection and comfort.
LINEAR AND OBLIQUE FORCE MANAGEMENT
The EPS inner surface is smooth, creating an optimized, low-friction area, for superior oblique impact management. When it comes to other types of helmet testing, the best helmets are those that provide protection against rotational, as well as oblique and linear impact forces.
To help fight and mitigate those rotational, oblique, and linear impact forces, Alpinestars has designed a low-friction surface on the inner surface of the EPS liner. The inner surface is polished to be incredibly smooth, and then specially coated to reduce friction even further, allowing the comfort liner to move against the EPS. The result is increased rotational and oblique and linear force management, allowing the rider’s head to move independently inside of the helmet, or vice-versa, which can significantly reduce the amount of force transmitted to the head, neck, brain, and spine from an oblique impact, while simultaneously reducing the possibility of a concussion. To recap, specific rotational impact protection is provided by the combination of the internal shape and the specific coating of the EPS liner, coupled with the specially developed surface in the comfort liner. This patented technology reduces rotational acceleration transmitted to the rider’s head.
Alpinestars’ patented A-Head fitment system allows custom fitment of the Supertech R10. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
A-HEAD FITMENT SYSTEM
Adding to the personalization and custom, tailor-made fit of the S-R10, is the helmet’s unique and patented A-Head Fitment System. The A-Head System allows the helmet to be tuned exactly to the rider’s preference by having the ability to adjust both the height and angle at which the helmet sits on the head. The EPS is fitted with the A-Head Fitment System that allows for an ultra-specific setup that can be adapted to how deep the rider’s head sits in the helmet, as well as how far forward or backward the helmet is tilted.
The Supertech R10 was shaped by aerodynamics. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
AERODYNAMICS
DEVELOPED WITH CFD SIMULATIONS, VALIDATED IN THE WIND TUNNEL AND ON TRACK, THE S-R10 HELMET IS OPTIMIZED FOR LOW DRAG PERFORMANCE AND MAXIMUM AERODYNAMIC STABILITY
The S-R10 has been developed in the full-scale wind tunnel since the beginning of its development. Aerodynamic targets for the coefficient of drag in different head positions, as well as stability at different angles were a primary goal in the helmet shape development, first extensively developed with Computational Fluid Dynamics, then validated in the full-scale wind tunnel, and finally on track. The result is a helmet that achieves the lowest level of drag, and the highest level of aerodynamic stability at high speed compared to any other race helmet that we have tested in the wind gallery. This has made the S-R10 already the helmet of choice by factory MotoGP teams for its top aero performance. Road riders will likely benefit from this too, with reduced strain on their necks at high speed and low levels of wind noise.
The S-R10 Helmet comes with two separate aerodynamic spoilers – a standard, and longer race version – and they’re both fitted with an Alpinestars patented release system, with elastic joints that help the spoiler detach from the helmet shell if it is subjected to a significant impact, no matter the angle, to reduce potential rotational energy.
The helmet also comes with lateral winglets to further support the S-R10’s stability and improve aerodynamic drag. In addition, the helmet visor has turbulators to improve aero-acoustic performance. As a result, compared to the aerodynamic performance of the helmet fitted with the standard road spoiler, the S-R10 itself is already the top-performing, aerodynamic helmet we have tested, and with the configuration of the race spoiler and the aero winglets together, we have achieved a reduction in drag by an additional 4.54%.
The Supertech R10 has 11 ventilation points. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
VENTILATION
THE SUPERTECH R10 HELMET CONTAINS ELEVEN VENTILATION POINTS
When it comes to ventilation and breathability, there are 11 ventilation ports, not including the eyeport, with 7 intakes including 3 in the chinguard and 4 on the top of the helmet, plus 4 exhausts, with 2 lateral ports on the chin bar, and 2 on the top rear of the helmet. These ventilation ports integrate directly with the helmet’s shell with a series of air ducts through the inner EPS liner. With the S-R10, airflow comes in through the ports, as well as actively circulates over and around the rider’s head through a series of channels, and then gets extracted out the back of the helmet.
The top vent features a large central slider that channels air down to the top of the head for better comfort, which when open, has vents for hot air extraction from the rider’s forehead. Under the rear spoiler, there are two extractor vents for effective hot air exhausting. The chin vents are formed by two openings located at the front of the helmet at the sides of the shield lock mechanism, where each flap has a tab in the corner, which is used to open or close the vent. Air entering from this point is channeled towards the inner side of the shields, creating a laminated flow of air that effectively prevents fogging and misting. In addition, the chin bar vents are used to extract humid air to the outside of the helmet.
SHIELD FEATURES
THE SHIELD MECHANISM IS FITTED WITH METAL LOCK COMPONENTS TO PREVENT UNWANTED SHIELD DETACHMENT DURING IMPACTS, LOCKED IN THE CLOSED POSITION BY A FRONT METAL LOCK
The visor has two unique features including a metal locking mechanism lever to prevent unwanted shield detachment during impacts and/or crashes, plus a lowered side line for a maximized field of view, coming on top of an already outstanding wide eyeport providing 220-degrees of lateral and 57-degrees of vertical visibility for great riding comfort. The shield attaches to the shell via side cams mechanisms, allowing the shield to rotate and to move, in order to seal it completely against the helmet’s rubber window trim.
Additionally, the visor itself can be easily changed or removed thanks to its secure and tool-less quick-release system. The S-R10 is fitted with an Optical Class 1 shield, 3mm in thickness, and coated with an anti-scratch and anti-fog treatment. The shield is equipped with internal pins to accommodate a PINLOCK 120XLT – 100 % MAX VISION lens and external pins to accommodate tear-offs.
REMOVABLE LINING
LININGS ARE REMOVABLE AND WASHABLE, AND FEATURE FABRICS WITH ANTI-MICROBIAL TREATMENTS
Crown Pad: The crown pad and the neck pad are elastically connected, for enhanced oblique impact management, with a construction based on four panels (front, sides, rear), for an optimized fit with the proper foam thickness.
Top Pad: The top pad is removable and height adjustable via the A-Head Fitment System.
Cheek Pads: The cheek pads are fitted with premium foam and fabrics, offering comfort and breathability. The cheek pads also feature an emergency extraction system, allowing the side cheek padding to be easily removed by trackside support and medical staff, and they also have a channel for the installation of a hydration system.
CHIN BAR PROFILE
Another outer shell design protection feature is the chin bar’s profile, where the base area has been specifically sculpted to give a relief section. The bottom profile is raised to clear the collarbone, and instead of the hard carbon shell coming into potential contact with the collarbone, the S-R10 has a softer EPP (expanded Polypropilene) liner which extends beyond the helmet shell itself, and is covered by a more flexible rubber compound. This chin bar design provides a reduced chance of any sort of collarbone injury, one of the more common injuries in motorcycling.
WEIGHT
And finally, when it comes to weight, the ECE / DOT / FIM certified Supertech R10 helmet tips the scales at an impressive 1,540 grams for a size medium, or 3.4 pounds, providing the S-R10 with an extremely high performance to protection to weight ratio.
ABOUT ALPINESTARS
Alpinestars was established in 1963 and is the world-leading manufacturer of professional racing products, motorcycling airbag protection, high-performance apparel, and technical footwear. Alpinestars understands that the best design and research are achieved under extreme conditions. The company’s involvement in Formula 1, NASCAR, AMA, World Motocross, and MotoGP has led to the creation of the most advanced technical equipment for the racing world’s top athletes. ALPINESTARS PROTECTS.
The following is an Instagram post from Toni Elias:
I had a dream.
And without knowing it, and running after it, I achieved much more than I ever imagined.
As I write this, I don’t even know where to start.
Giant waves of images, vivid memories, emotions and sensations that are difficult to define. Intensity, yes, a lot of intensity.
How nice to be able to live this moment in which, no matter how hard you try, words don’t come out, feelings invade you that you didn’t even know you were hiding.
It’s nice to be able to thank everyone and everyone who, together with me, is causing endless overtaking and sensations that are impossible to define right now.
Describing them is not easy. Not is it for me, writing the words that an athlete never wants to write.
But the time has come.
As a child, I wanted to be a professional rider and I became a world champion, competing with the best riders, with the best teams, and achieving victories in each category along with unforgettable victories in front of our home fans, our great fans.
Thanks to everyone who has made me a better version of myself, to everyone who has made my dream come true and to everyone who has always been there in difficult times. Without them, my dream would not have existed and I would not be the person that I am.
To all of you who are, have been, teams, sponsors, Promotors, doctors, friends, media, fans…
To all of you who have never doubted me and despite the difficulties have been by my side.
To my family, my parents, my sister who have sacrificed everything for me, enjoyed and suffered so much…we made it…how beautiful!!
To my wife for accompanying me on this last stretch and giving me the best gift of our wonderful children.
It has been a dream come true.
A dream that is reality.
Andy DiBrino Set for MotoAmerica Supersport Debut on MV Agusta F3 RR
Andy DiBrino will be racing this weekend at Ridge Motorsports Park on his Competition Werkes-backed MV Agusta F3RR built by EDR Performance. This past weekend DiBrino put the bike on the track for the first time and had a great showing at the OMRRA/ WMRRA club races at “The Ridge,” scoring a fourth-, third-, and second-place finish against other MotoAmerica talent getting ready for the upcoming round.
Here is what DiBrino had to say about his first weekend testing the bike: “I fell in love with the MV this weekend! It has been a massive undertaking to get this bike going, and all the time and energy put into it really felt worthwhile the moment I took Turn One for the first time on the bike. Thanks to EDR Performance, we made great strides setting up the required electronics. We still have a ways to go, but for the little amount of track time we got, I feel that we are in a good spot and that we will be competitive against the other Next-Gen Supersport bikes. I anticipate we will continue to develop the bike throughout the race weekend and that MotoAmerica will be pulling our data to see if any further balancing is required. Thank you MV Agusta USA and Competition Werkes for believing in me, as well as EDR Performance for the know-how to build such an incredible race bike, and to Bellissimoto for providing me with some specialty parts needed to complete it.”
Andy would like to thank all of his other sponsors who played a role in the build: ASV Inventions, Superlite Sprockets, Orient Express Racing, K-Tech Suspension, OC Motorcycles, JLC Concrete, CrossBeam Builders, Ever True Tattoo, Precision Iron Works, Woodcraft Technologies, Oregon Motorcycle Attorney, Motul USA, MotoSport Hillsboro, MotoMaster Brakes, The Ridge Motorsports Park, See See Motor Coffee Co, ODI Grips, KP12 Graphix, Samco Sport, and Drew Paints.
Marquez returns for Assen as Lecuona substitutes Mir
The Repsol Honda Team arrive in the Netherlands for the last round before the summer break, Marc Marquez back after missing the Grand Prix in Germany with Iker Lecuona alongside him as Joan Mir continues his recovery.
After a bruising weekend in Germany, Marc Marquez will return to the Repsol Honda Team RC213V to compete at round eight. The Dutch round is known for intense battles around 4.54-kilometer-long circuit, the fast and flowing nature of the track often keeping multiple riders battling together. Marquez has twice won the race in Assen in the premier class and has only once finished off the podium – in 2021. He and the team arrive with realistic expectations and know that it will be another weekend focusing on improvements and the future.
The other side of the Repsol Honda Team box will see Iker Lecuona make his second appearance of the year. Joan Mir will continue to recover at home with the aim of returning to action at the British GP fully fit after a challenging start to the year. Lecuona made his Repsol Honda Team debut at the Spanish round earlier in the year, putting together a consistent weekend and finishing both the Sprint race and the Grand Prix. In 2022, the 23-year-old claimed his debut WorldSBK podium at the Dutch circuit.
Marc Marquez
“I arrive in Assen looking to put the hard weekend in Germany behind me. We have one more race before the summer break and the objective is to gather a lot of good data for the engineers so they can work over these next weeks. This is the focus for the weekend, we need to remain calm and approach the weekend with a clear plan.”
Iker Lecuona (27). Photo courtesy Repsol Honda.
Iker Lecuona
“First of all I want to wish Joan all the best in his recovery. I am excited to join the team again, it’s a true honour. Assen is a circuit I like, I got my first WorldSBK podium there so hopefully we can have another good weekend like in Jerez. I am still recovering a bit after the crash in Misano, so this will be a good physical test too. Let’s ride!”
TAYLOR KNAPP TO RACE FOR TEAM HAMMER AND SUZUKI AT RIDGE MOTORSPORTS PARK
Team Hammer is pleased to announce that Taylor Knapp will compete for the team aboard a Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R at Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, on June 23-25.
Knapp will serve as a single-round guest rider aboard the factory Superbike that was unexpectedly in need of a capable pilot following the surprise retirement of former class champion Toni Elias following the Road America round.
Knapp is well suited to the role. He is one of the most experienced and versatile riders in the paddock, boasting a racing resume that spans disciplines, classes, nations, and manufacturers.
The 35-year-old Lapeer, Michigan native began racing flat track and motocross at the age of five and established himself as one of the nation’s leading amateur riders. He transitioned to pavement at 13 and turned pro at 16.
Over the past two decades, Knapp has enjoyed a decorated and varied road racing career, running up front as both a privateer and factory Superbike pilot. In addition to his premier class duties, Knapp has raced in Daytona SportBike, Stock 1000, and the King Of The Baggers over the years, while also competing overseas in the British Superbike series.
Additionally, he’s racked up numerous other racing accomplishments and accolades, including victorious performances at the Barber Pro Cup Challenge and WERA F1 National Championship.
Since 2017, Knapp has served as a Motorcycle Test Engineer for Dunlop Motorcycle Tires. He has continued to compete since accepting the position, and currently ranks sixth in the 2023 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 championship standings with a podium result at Road Atlanta.
“I am super excited to get on the Suzuki GSX-R1000R again. I’ve raced Suzukis in the past and always liked them and have had good success with them,” said Knapp. “It’s an honor to race for Team Hammer and Suzuki, so I am pumped. As Dunlop’s test rider, we have a couple of Suzuki 1000s that serve as our workhorses, so I ride them often. The weekend should be fun!”
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2023 season marks Team Hammer’s 43rd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 129 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 347 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
ABOUT SUZUKI
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
Brandon Paasch Finishes 4th in the 100th Loudon Classic
Loudon, NH. – Competing in his first professional road race since sustaining a compression fracture of his L3 vertebrae in a training accident on March 30, 2023, Brandon Paasch placed fourth in a crash-riddled 100th Loudon Classic presented by NEMMR. The race was restarted multiple times in wet conditions then eventually called complete after the ninth restart. Paasch was awarded the position he was running in on lap 19 of the race.
Riding a Yamaha YZF-R6 on Pirelli tires prepared by Rodio Racing, Brandon placed 21st fastest in the Friday morning practice on a dry track about four seconds behind the fastest time. In the first qualifying session on Friday afternoon he was able to advance to 11th place with a time of 1:11.736, 1.062 seconds off the top qualifier. After overnight rain, in final qualifying on Saturday Paasch recorded the ninth-fastest time on a wet track, placing him 11th on the grid for the race among the final 32 qualifiers.
Saturday afternoon’s race started in wet conditions with occasional light rain with the race interrupted multiple times by red flags due to crashes. On each restart Brandon was able to advance through the field, even leading the race by a comfortable margin at one point. Although the race was scheduled to finish only on a checkered flag it was finally called before the 10th restart was made.
Brandon Paasch: “Well… I won’t be able to sit down for the next month! P4 in the end, not bad for our first outing since breaking my back three months ago. Loads of people to thank for this last minute effort. Cheers for all the support!!!”
Brandon took home $17,000 of the $250,000 purse for his efforts.
Rodio Racing thanks Pirelli for the fantastic tires, Skip Dowling and Rob Silva at K-Tech USA for suspension support, Anthony Corbo of Bauce Racing for the tune, and Phillip Bailey and Ryne Snooks for their massive help putting this effort together.
ASRA racing at Summit Point Motorsports Park was once again a great event for the 8th Round of 2023. The weather was great. In the Heavyweight Superbike race, Will Gawler, riding his Suzuki GSXR-1000, managed to stay ahead of Brian Grasso and his Yamaha YZF-R1. Chyler Weatherford was a close third.
The racing went very smoothly thanks to the talented racers that kept it up and the MARRC crew for keeping the safe and speedy decisions flowing. With 30 races over two days at Summit Point Raceway, everyone managed to get it all done by 3:30 PM on Sunday!
Two duels decide the two races in Scotland as Brinton takes a first victory in the Cup
Monday, 19 June 2023
In classic R&G British Talent Cup style, Race 1 at Knockhill was decided at the final corner and on the final lap as Amanuel Brinton (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) and Evan Belford (City Lifting/RS Racing) duelled it out for supremacy in Scotland. Brinton trailed Cup leader Belford throughout the 12-lap restarted race but was able to time his move to perfection to claim a first ever win in the Cup, right back in the mix at the front as he returned to the fold. And at a venue he’s never raced before!
As the race got underway, it was Belford who took the lead with the top four quickly breaking away from the chasing pack, although four soon became three when Rhys Stephenson (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) highsided at the final corner on Lap 3. It allowed Belford, Brinton and Sullivan Mounsey (Wilson Racing / Maddison Media) to scrap it out. On Lap 8, the red flags were shown after a crash for Daniel Goodman (VisionTrack Racing Team).
The race was restarted over a 12-lap distance, but the story was the same when the lights went out again. Belford, Brinton and Mounsey broke away in the opening laps, but the fight for victory turned into Belford against Brinton with Mounsey just behind. Brinton was pushing hard and had a huge moment into Turn 2 on Lap 10 which cost him time, before Belford had his own moments on Lap 12. Brinton used this to close the gap, and he made the race-winning overtake at the final corner on the last lap when he went up the inside of Belford. The pair were separated by just 0.029s at the line with Mounsey securing third place, almost 1.8 seconds down on Brinton.
There was another twist in the title fight too as Harrison Dessoy (Microlise Cresswell Racing / Eastern Garage Racing), who had been in the top three in the standings ahead of the visit to Knockhill, crashed on the opening lap of the restarted race.
There was a fierce fight for fourth as Ryan Frost (Talentum Motorsport By Azure Notions) fended off Julian Correa (Microlise Cresswell Racing) by just a tenth after 12 laps, while Harley McCabe (McCabe Racing) was just another tenth back in seventh place in a hotly contested battle for the top positions. The trio finished around seven seconds down on eventual winner Brinton, but they had a big gap to the riders behind who completed the top ten.
Eighth place went to Scott McPhee (SMP Racing) while Ronnie Harris (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) finished three seconds down on McPhee in ninth. Two riders squabbled over tenth place with Lucas Brown (Amphibian Scaffolding / SP125 Racing) and Alfie Davidson (Banks Racing) battling it out. Brown finished just ahead of Davidson with only 0.016s separating the pair across the line.
After a duel in Race 1, Evan Belford (City Lifting/RS Racing) and Amanuel Brinton (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) once again went toe-to-toe in the second R&G British Talent Cup showdown of the day, and on take two it was Belford who hit back for another 25-point haul as the race was red flagged with a few laps to go. Despite losing the chance for a late attack, Brinton takes another impressive podium in second, with Sullivan Mounsey (Wilson Racing / Maddison Media) taking third and his own second visit to the rostrum on Sunday after pipping Harley McCabe (McCabe Racing).
As the lights went out it was Belford who grabbed the holeshot from Brinton, with Mounsey close in third and McCabe in fourth as the quartet started to break away early. They remained line astern for the first half of the race, but by half distance Belford and Brinton had got the hammer down.
As the duo pulled away, it became a tale of two duels to decide the podium finishers. At the front, Brinton stayed tucked in behind Belford as the laps ticked down, but the fight was hotting up between Mounsey and McCabe as they began trading places.
With only a handful of laps still to go, however, the battle was cut short as the red flags came out – meaning there would be no chance of a late attack for Brinton. Belford took the win after leading the way since the lights went out, with Brinton forced to settle for second.
In the duel for the podium behind it wasn’t as clear cut, but Mounsey took it and another rostrum finish, having been ahead of McCabe in their showdown when the race was stopped.
After another close battle, in Race 2 it was Julian Correa (Microlise Cresswell Racing) who was two tenths ahead of Ryan Frost (Talentum Motorsport By Azure Notions) when the result was declared, with Ollie Walker (VisionTrack Racing Team) taking seventh after just fading off the back of that duel.
Filip Surowiak (FS75 Racing / FAB Racing) was eighth, with Scott McPhee (SMP Racing) and Alexander Rowan (Mortimer Racing Victoria House Academy) completing the top ten.
After another shuffle in Scotland, Belford now has some margin at the top of the standings – but it’s Brinton back on the chase in second. Mounsey is now third after a solid weekend, and McCabe fourth as the two both leapfrog Harrison Dessoy. The number 55 will want to bounce back at Snetterton after following up a crash in Race 1 with another in Race 2, leaving Scotland with nil points. Still, there’s plenty of the season still to go! Who will reign at Round 4? We’ll find out from the 7th to the 9th of July!
American Racing Team narrowly misses out on the points in Germany as Sean Dylan Kelly takes 17th whilst replacement rider Carlos Tatay finishes in 19th.
At a track he enjoyed last year, Sean’s weekend started positively as the American finished first practice 13th on the timings. With the weather taking a turn for the worst in the afternoon, no one was able to improve, and he ended the day in 13th despite a late crash after he touched a wet patch whilst entering the pits.
Focusing on race simulation for FP3, Sean braved the return of the wet weather, ending the morning in 12th. Due to the conditions, there were no further timing improvements and Sean secured his first direct Q2 spot.
With the sun shining and the track heating up for Q2, Sean set his best time of 1:25.519 to take 18th place for Sunday’s GermanGP.
Race day offered the best weather of the weekend as track temperatures reached 43°C. Sean’s race got off to a hectic start with a multi-rider crash ahead of him, luckily he was able to avoid any contact and make his way into 16th before quickly passing Marcos Ramirez for 15th.
Sean was able to hold onto the final points-scoring positions until lap seven when he was caught by Ai Ogura.
With the hot temperatures and lack of dry running time, Sean struggled to maintain the pace, dropping back into 17th where he ended the race.
Making his Moto2 World Championship debut, Carlos’ had a mixed first session. After rocketing into the top 10, the Spaniard took a tumble at Turn 11 and ended his session with 15 minutes remaining. The tricky conditions of FP2 made the team take a more conservative approach to Carlos’ session, opting to put in 15 laps to finish Friday in 27th.
Prioritising long runs for the final practice session, Carlos ended the wet running in 15th spot. Thankfully, the weather dramatically improved for Q1 and the Spaniard was able to get some dry track time for his first World Championship Qualifying session – ending the afternoon 12th to line up 26th on the grid.
It was a difficult start to his maiden World Championship race for Carlos. Despite avoiding a crash on lap one, the Spaniard lost ground and dropped back into 25th early on.
Fighting his way back through, he made his way into 19th spot, only half a second behind Zonta Van Den Goorbergh as he took the chequered flag, setting some of his best lap times right at the end of the race.
Sean Dylan Kelly (4) put a lot of riders behind him but came up just short of scoring points at Sachsenring. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
Sean Dylan Kelly #4
I think it was a strong weekend. My first time directly into Q2, I think is a huge positive for me that I need to take and it’s something I’ve been working hard for so I’m really happy about that. We were competitive in the rain, fighting for that top 10 and finishing 12th in FP3 but today they were the hottest conditions that we’ve had all year so far – I felt strong in the race and I’m honestly happy with my performance and consistency. The grip was really difficult to manage but I was happy with how I was doing.
Unfortunately, I just missed out on the points in 17th – I think it was my closest gap to first and I had the group just ahead of me – I gave it my all but it just wasn’t enough for points today. I’m definitely disappointed about that but I’m looking at the positives and looking forward to next week.
Fill-in rider Carlos Tatay (99) finished 19th. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
Carlos Tatay #99
It was a great weekend. My first FP1 was going really well but I crashed with just 10 laps in the session because of a cold tyre. I was feeling really good in the wet too but at the end, I did about 10 laps and then it was directly to Q1. It was quite difficult, but I had a good race with a good pace. In the beginning, I was finding my pace, and everything was quite new for me so I was coming little by little but in the end, I could do good lap times with good rhythm for the first time.
I’m not completely happy but I can say it was a good weekend for me as I keep learning and achieving little by little. Now, let’s go to Assen!
Jared Mees (1) at the DuQuoin Mile. Photo by Tim Lester, courtesy AFT.
Daniels and Co. Attempt to Slow Mees’ Roll at Lima Half-Mile
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Following three straight Miles, Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, now shifts its gears to race four consecutive Half-Miles starting with this weekend’s Mission Lima Half-Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle and Drag Specialties at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio, on Saturday, June 24.
Reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) comes in with all the momentum after sweeping the aforementioned Miles. He’s also fully at home at the venue with its trademark pea-gravel cushion, considering he’s not just a five-time winner of the race but also its promoter with wife Nichole.
Even with all that considered, Mees isn’t necessarily the overwhelming favorite to win this weekend; several others have a legitimate claim as well.
Even as a rookie, Mission SuperTwins points leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) looked like the rider to beat pretty much all day here a year ago. In the Main Event, he fought his way up from a bad start to battle for the lead before coming home in second place.
And the rider who ultimately beat Daniels was not Mees, but rather Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750). Robinson, who comes in fresh off an ultra-close runner-up result at the DuQuoin Mile, is a two-time winner of the Lima Half-Mile and driven to score his first victory of ‘23.
That’s also the case for Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke), another two-time winner of the prestigious event. Bauman was as strong as he’s been all season this past weekend and is now primed to capitalize as the season shifts to some tracks well aligned with his strengths.
JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750) have all had their moments this season and look to add some more this weekend as the trio headline an extended list of additional podium contenders.
Another rider to keep tabs on is the returning Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), who won the Mission Production Twins race aboard the Royal Enfield here in 2021.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
The hard-won points advantage of defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champ Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) took something of a battering during the recent run of Miles. This didn’t come entirely unexpectedly, and despite the dip, he still managed to weather the storm and continues to stand atop the championship standings.
Now he’s poised to strike back. A year ago, the foundations of Kopp’s championship campaign were built on his Half-Mile prowess, reeling in five HM victories in eight attempts. Included in that list of wins was a blowout performance at the Lima Half-Mile, in which he shook free from the pack on the race’s opening lap and never looked back.
The riders who joined him on the podium that night will look to make it more of a contest this time around, as both come into the weekend considerably more experienced and in stellar form.
Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) is just nine points behind Kopp on the strength of five consecutive podiums, four of which runner-ups. And he’s the opposite of satisfied by that impressive stat considering he’s still seeking his first Progressive AFT victory after multiple near-misses.
Even with Kopp’s one-sided victory, the rider who turned the most heads at Lima a year ago was arguably Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), who finished in second while making his series’ debut. The Aussie is a class full-timer now and quickly making his presence felt, notching up a pair of race wins already in ‘23.
The rest of the usual suspects should factor up front again this weekend, including the likes of Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R).
While a bit quiet at the last two rounds, 1st Impressions Husqvarna teammates Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) might just make more noise this weekend. Cose managed to win a Mission Production Twins race and podium in Parts Unlimited AFT Singles at Lima on a single evening back in ‘19, while Ott finished inside the top five here just last year.
And don’t rule out a huge night for Shayna Texter-Bauman (No. 52 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 450 SX-F), who was victorious at Lima in both 2018 and 2019.
There will be plenty to keep fans entertained at the track on Saturday as well, including numerous vendors, expansive food and beverage options, and extensive motorcycle parking.
Don’t miss your last chance to save $10 per ticket before the sale ends and prices return to normal on Wednesday, June 21. Act fast to get General Admission Bleacher tickets for just $30 (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult GA ticket). Upgraded options include Reserved Grandstand and Premier Reserved Grandstand tickets along with VIP ticket add-ons.
Pit Pass Upgrades are also available for purchase, which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.
Gates will open for fans at 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 6:40 p.m. ET (3:40 p.m. PT).
For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://www.fanschoice.tv.
FOX Sports coverage of the Mission Lima Half-Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle and Drag Specialties, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, July 2, at 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 p.m. PT).
Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, 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. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram and catch all the Progressive American Flat Track racing action on FOX Sports.
A test rider wearing Alpinestars' new Supertech R10 full-face road race helmet. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
ALPINESTARS REVEALS THE ALL-NEW SUPERTECH R10 ROAD RACING HELMET LAUNCH EDITION
Asolo, Italy and Los Angeles, CA – Alpinestars is pleased to present the all-new Supertech R10 Road Racing Helmet Launch Edition. The result of over 10 years of intensive study, development, and testing, the goal of the Supertech family of helmets is to create the most advanced, protective, and performance-enhancing helmets possible for racers and riders worldwide.
Three views of Alpinestars’ new Supertech R10 Launch Edition full-face road race helmet. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
After years of research, development, and testing of the S-R10 with Alpinestars’ Helmet Product Development Department and alongside MotoGP LEGEND Andrea Dovizioso and MotoGP riders Jorge Martin, and Jack Miller, Alpinestars is launching an exclusive numbered series of S-R10 Launch Edition Road Racing Helmets. With the S-R10, the focus of the design was to ensure the highest level of performance, especially when it comes to protection and providing a new level of safety. The S-R10 Helmet has been engineered to provide the perfect blend of excellent ventilation, unsurpassed comfort, and the lightest weight possible, without compromising on any other front. Another crucial element unique to the S-R10’s design and development is the helmet’s advanced aerodynamics, with countless sessions in the wind tunnel focused on reducing drag and providing optimal aerodynamic stability.
The S-R10 Helmet Launch Edition comes in dark candy red sublimated by vibrant red accents, and a carbon glossy colorway, where dark candy red ink has been incorporated in the clear coating and manually sprayed on the carbon helmet to create a unique grading effect. The Alpinestars’ branding on the helmet is subtle, providing intense contrasting energy to the helmet, where a glossy layer has been applied to give it a unique shiny look. The internal helmet lining is handcrafted in Italy.
The S-R10 Helmet Launch Edition in the Red Carbon Glossy colorway will be available for purchase on alpinestars.com starting at 6 pm CET / 9 am PST on July 10th, with a limited numbered series of 200 units. Accessories provided with the S-R10 Helmet Launch Edition include two separate race and standard spoilers, clear and dark smoke visors, tear-offs set, Pinlock lens, the chin curtain, wind, and breath deflectors, and all can be stored comfortably in the paddock helmet bag provided.
MotoGP racer Jack Miller wearing his custom-painted Alpinestars Supertech R10 helmet. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
“I could not be more pleased with the new S-R10 helmet. From the get-go, I have been very, very comfortable with the helmet. The amount of visibility is unrivalled and the aerodynamics of the S-R10 helmet combined with the leather suit are amazing in terms of speed and comfortability. It’s incredible how light the helmet is and truly amazing that with the carbon fiber, they’ve been able to reduce the weight without compromising safety. It is a true honor to be able to wear the S-R10 helmet.” – JACK MILLER, MotoGP
“Starting with the new S-R10 helmet this season with Alpinestars, has been an amazing journey. Working on the development of the S-R10 together with Alpinestars, we’ve done a great job, an amazing job – the helmet feels great, it’s super comfortable, and it fits my head perfectly. I feel like it’s the best comfort I’ve ever had in a helmet in my entire career. Ventilation is also great especially in the hot races, when it’s extremely hot, I feel great. The helmet is also very lightweight. I don’t get tired while using it, and when I’m doing long distances in the races, I feel super good. In addition, the field of vision is great which is important when going 360 km/h into the corner where I can see well, and I feel especially good.” – Jorge Martin, MotoGP
“Alpinestars’ new S-R10 MotoGP-derived helmet is very aerodynamic, and at high speeds it feels ultra-lightweight and stable; and that is reassuring. The field of vision is incredible. The view the S-R10 offers feels super ‘widescreen’ and you can see a huge amount in all directions. That is a massive positive and is probably its most important feature. The S-R10 has an advanced design and I think it is a really good helmet to wear. Not only is it very comfortable, but it’s also super ventilated.” – Andrea Dovizioso, MotoGP
SUPERTECH R10 HELMET TECHNICAL FEATURES
A cutaway view of the outer shell construction on the Alpinestars Supertech R10 helmet. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
OUTER SHELL
CARBON SHELL CONSTRUCTION MULTI-LAYER COMPOSITE DISPERSES ENERGY IN IMPACTS
Homologated to ECE 22.06, DOT, and FIM standards, the Supertech R10’s shell construction utilizes a highly advanced molding technology with a multi-composite combination featuring a 3K high-density carbon outer layer, a uni-directional carbon composite layer, an aramid fiber layer, and a fiberglass layer.
The 3K high-density carbon outer layer provides excellent strength and efficiency of energy dissipation over the shell. The uni-directional (UD) carbon composite layer provides significantly greater radial strength around the shell, preventing compression, but allowing controlled deflection for reducing transmitted impact energy, while the aramid fiber plus fiberglass layers provide critical penetration protection.
This layered composite combination created by bonding everything together with an advanced epoxy resin already applied on the pre-preg fiber, perfectly controls the ideal proportion of resin versus fiber to maximize strength, mechanical performance, and lightweight. The combination of material layers provides improved energy management, as well as limited outer shell deflection, making the energy spread wider and better absorbed by the EPS liner.
The S-R10’s unique shell construction results in extremely effective impact protection. With a fully equipped in-house helmet testing facility within Alpinestars’ state-of-the-art Research and Development center, the company has carried out an exhaustive impact research program, where research and development efforts have shown the S-R10 helmet returning linear and oblique impact performance results which far exceed current ECE 22.06 helmet regulation standard limits. For direct linear impacts, which are impacts at a 90-degree angle between the helmet and an object, the S-R10 surpasses the standard by an average magnitude of 37%. And for rotational acceleration and oblique impact performance, where impact energy comes from an angle other than a linear 90-degree, or right-angle straight impact, the S-R10 exceeds the standard by 65%.
The “inner shell” of the Alpinestars Supertech R10 helmet. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
INNER SHELL
THE S-R10’S INNER SHELL IS MADE FROM EPS IN DIFFERENT DENSITIES
The S-R10 Helmet has four inner shells just like the outer shell, and is available in four anatomical sizes. The S-R10’s construction is optimized to ensure riders have the correct fit, which not only improves comfort and reduces overall weight but most importantly, improves the effectiveness of the helmet in an impact. Underneath the helmet’s outer shell is an eight-piece multi-density EPS liner, with six specific densities that are strategically positioned in different zones to ensure excellent energy absorption from impact forces dissipated over the outer shell, as well as a close and comfortable fit. The EPS liner, just like the outer shell, has its own unique dimension for each helmet size, further tailoring the helmet’s performance and fit when it comes to protection and comfort.
LINEAR AND OBLIQUE FORCE MANAGEMENT
The EPS inner surface is smooth, creating an optimized, low-friction area, for superior oblique impact management. When it comes to other types of helmet testing, the best helmets are those that provide protection against rotational, as well as oblique and linear impact forces.
To help fight and mitigate those rotational, oblique, and linear impact forces, Alpinestars has designed a low-friction surface on the inner surface of the EPS liner. The inner surface is polished to be incredibly smooth, and then specially coated to reduce friction even further, allowing the comfort liner to move against the EPS. The result is increased rotational and oblique and linear force management, allowing the rider’s head to move independently inside of the helmet, or vice-versa, which can significantly reduce the amount of force transmitted to the head, neck, brain, and spine from an oblique impact, while simultaneously reducing the possibility of a concussion. To recap, specific rotational impact protection is provided by the combination of the internal shape and the specific coating of the EPS liner, coupled with the specially developed surface in the comfort liner. This patented technology reduces rotational acceleration transmitted to the rider’s head.
Alpinestars’ patented A-Head fitment system allows custom fitment of the Supertech R10. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
A-HEAD FITMENT SYSTEM
Adding to the personalization and custom, tailor-made fit of the S-R10, is the helmet’s unique and patented A-Head Fitment System. The A-Head System allows the helmet to be tuned exactly to the rider’s preference by having the ability to adjust both the height and angle at which the helmet sits on the head. The EPS is fitted with the A-Head Fitment System that allows for an ultra-specific setup that can be adapted to how deep the rider’s head sits in the helmet, as well as how far forward or backward the helmet is tilted.
The Supertech R10 was shaped by aerodynamics. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
AERODYNAMICS
DEVELOPED WITH CFD SIMULATIONS, VALIDATED IN THE WIND TUNNEL AND ON TRACK, THE S-R10 HELMET IS OPTIMIZED FOR LOW DRAG PERFORMANCE AND MAXIMUM AERODYNAMIC STABILITY
The S-R10 has been developed in the full-scale wind tunnel since the beginning of its development. Aerodynamic targets for the coefficient of drag in different head positions, as well as stability at different angles were a primary goal in the helmet shape development, first extensively developed with Computational Fluid Dynamics, then validated in the full-scale wind tunnel, and finally on track. The result is a helmet that achieves the lowest level of drag, and the highest level of aerodynamic stability at high speed compared to any other race helmet that we have tested in the wind gallery. This has made the S-R10 already the helmet of choice by factory MotoGP teams for its top aero performance. Road riders will likely benefit from this too, with reduced strain on their necks at high speed and low levels of wind noise.
The S-R10 Helmet comes with two separate aerodynamic spoilers – a standard, and longer race version – and they’re both fitted with an Alpinestars patented release system, with elastic joints that help the spoiler detach from the helmet shell if it is subjected to a significant impact, no matter the angle, to reduce potential rotational energy.
The helmet also comes with lateral winglets to further support the S-R10’s stability and improve aerodynamic drag. In addition, the helmet visor has turbulators to improve aero-acoustic performance. As a result, compared to the aerodynamic performance of the helmet fitted with the standard road spoiler, the S-R10 itself is already the top-performing, aerodynamic helmet we have tested, and with the configuration of the race spoiler and the aero winglets together, we have achieved a reduction in drag by an additional 4.54%.
The Supertech R10 has 11 ventilation points. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
VENTILATION
THE SUPERTECH R10 HELMET CONTAINS ELEVEN VENTILATION POINTS
When it comes to ventilation and breathability, there are 11 ventilation ports, not including the eyeport, with 7 intakes including 3 in the chinguard and 4 on the top of the helmet, plus 4 exhausts, with 2 lateral ports on the chin bar, and 2 on the top rear of the helmet. These ventilation ports integrate directly with the helmet’s shell with a series of air ducts through the inner EPS liner. With the S-R10, airflow comes in through the ports, as well as actively circulates over and around the rider’s head through a series of channels, and then gets extracted out the back of the helmet.
The top vent features a large central slider that channels air down to the top of the head for better comfort, which when open, has vents for hot air extraction from the rider’s forehead. Under the rear spoiler, there are two extractor vents for effective hot air exhausting. The chin vents are formed by two openings located at the front of the helmet at the sides of the shield lock mechanism, where each flap has a tab in the corner, which is used to open or close the vent. Air entering from this point is channeled towards the inner side of the shields, creating a laminated flow of air that effectively prevents fogging and misting. In addition, the chin bar vents are used to extract humid air to the outside of the helmet.
SHIELD FEATURES
THE SHIELD MECHANISM IS FITTED WITH METAL LOCK COMPONENTS TO PREVENT UNWANTED SHIELD DETACHMENT DURING IMPACTS, LOCKED IN THE CLOSED POSITION BY A FRONT METAL LOCK
The visor has two unique features including a metal locking mechanism lever to prevent unwanted shield detachment during impacts and/or crashes, plus a lowered side line for a maximized field of view, coming on top of an already outstanding wide eyeport providing 220-degrees of lateral and 57-degrees of vertical visibility for great riding comfort. The shield attaches to the shell via side cams mechanisms, allowing the shield to rotate and to move, in order to seal it completely against the helmet’s rubber window trim.
Additionally, the visor itself can be easily changed or removed thanks to its secure and tool-less quick-release system. The S-R10 is fitted with an Optical Class 1 shield, 3mm in thickness, and coated with an anti-scratch and anti-fog treatment. The shield is equipped with internal pins to accommodate a PINLOCK 120XLT – 100 % MAX VISION lens and external pins to accommodate tear-offs.
REMOVABLE LINING
LININGS ARE REMOVABLE AND WASHABLE, AND FEATURE FABRICS WITH ANTI-MICROBIAL TREATMENTS
Crown Pad: The crown pad and the neck pad are elastically connected, for enhanced oblique impact management, with a construction based on four panels (front, sides, rear), for an optimized fit with the proper foam thickness.
Top Pad: The top pad is removable and height adjustable via the A-Head Fitment System.
Cheek Pads: The cheek pads are fitted with premium foam and fabrics, offering comfort and breathability. The cheek pads also feature an emergency extraction system, allowing the side cheek padding to be easily removed by trackside support and medical staff, and they also have a channel for the installation of a hydration system.
CHIN BAR PROFILE
Another outer shell design protection feature is the chin bar’s profile, where the base area has been specifically sculpted to give a relief section. The bottom profile is raised to clear the collarbone, and instead of the hard carbon shell coming into potential contact with the collarbone, the S-R10 has a softer EPP (expanded Polypropilene) liner which extends beyond the helmet shell itself, and is covered by a more flexible rubber compound. This chin bar design provides a reduced chance of any sort of collarbone injury, one of the more common injuries in motorcycling.
WEIGHT
And finally, when it comes to weight, the ECE / DOT / FIM certified Supertech R10 helmet tips the scales at an impressive 1,540 grams for a size medium, or 3.4 pounds, providing the S-R10 with an extremely high performance to protection to weight ratio.
ABOUT ALPINESTARS
Alpinestars was established in 1963 and is the world-leading manufacturer of professional racing products, motorcycling airbag protection, high-performance apparel, and technical footwear. Alpinestars understands that the best design and research are achieved under extreme conditions. The company’s involvement in Formula 1, NASCAR, AMA, World Motocross, and MotoGP has led to the creation of the most advanced technical equipment for the racing world’s top athletes. ALPINESTARS PROTECTS.
Toni Elias (center) celebrating his 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship with teammate Roger Hayden (left) and Don Sakakura from Yoshimura (right). Photo courtesy Suzuki.
The following is an Instagram post from Toni Elias:
I had a dream.
And without knowing it, and running after it, I achieved much more than I ever imagined.
As I write this, I don’t even know where to start.
Giant waves of images, vivid memories, emotions and sensations that are difficult to define. Intensity, yes, a lot of intensity.
How nice to be able to live this moment in which, no matter how hard you try, words don’t come out, feelings invade you that you didn’t even know you were hiding.
It’s nice to be able to thank everyone and everyone who, together with me, is causing endless overtaking and sensations that are impossible to define right now.
Describing them is not easy. Not is it for me, writing the words that an athlete never wants to write.
But the time has come.
As a child, I wanted to be a professional rider and I became a world champion, competing with the best riders, with the best teams, and achieving victories in each category along with unforgettable victories in front of our home fans, our great fans.
Thanks to everyone who has made me a better version of myself, to everyone who has made my dream come true and to everyone who has always been there in difficult times. Without them, my dream would not have existed and I would not be the person that I am.
To all of you who are, have been, teams, sponsors, Promotors, doctors, friends, media, fans…
To all of you who have never doubted me and despite the difficulties have been by my side.
To my family, my parents, my sister who have sacrificed everything for me, enjoyed and suffered so much…we made it…how beautiful!!
To my wife for accompanying me on this last stretch and giving me the best gift of our wonderful children.
It has been a dream come true.
A dream that is reality.
Andi DiBrino (63) and his new MV Agusta F3 RR testing at Ridge Motorsports Park. Photo by Stevenson Foto, courtesy Andy DiBrino Racing.
Andy DiBrino Set for MotoAmerica Supersport Debut on MV Agusta F3 RR
Andy DiBrino will be racing this weekend at Ridge Motorsports Park on his Competition Werkes-backed MV Agusta F3RR built by EDR Performance. This past weekend DiBrino put the bike on the track for the first time and had a great showing at the OMRRA/ WMRRA club races at “The Ridge,” scoring a fourth-, third-, and second-place finish against other MotoAmerica talent getting ready for the upcoming round.
Here is what DiBrino had to say about his first weekend testing the bike: “I fell in love with the MV this weekend! It has been a massive undertaking to get this bike going, and all the time and energy put into it really felt worthwhile the moment I took Turn One for the first time on the bike. Thanks to EDR Performance, we made great strides setting up the required electronics. We still have a ways to go, but for the little amount of track time we got, I feel that we are in a good spot and that we will be competitive against the other Next-Gen Supersport bikes. I anticipate we will continue to develop the bike throughout the race weekend and that MotoAmerica will be pulling our data to see if any further balancing is required. Thank you MV Agusta USA and Competition Werkes for believing in me, as well as EDR Performance for the know-how to build such an incredible race bike, and to Bellissimoto for providing me with some specialty parts needed to complete it.”
Andy would like to thank all of his other sponsors who played a role in the build: ASV Inventions, Superlite Sprockets, Orient Express Racing, K-Tech Suspension, OC Motorcycles, JLC Concrete, CrossBeam Builders, Ever True Tattoo, Precision Iron Works, Woodcraft Technologies, Oregon Motorcycle Attorney, Motul USA, MotoSport Hillsboro, MotoMaster Brakes, The Ridge Motorsports Park, See See Motor Coffee Co, ODI Grips, KP12 Graphix, Samco Sport, and Drew Paints.
Marc Marquez (93) wants to put the weekend at Sachsenring behind him. Photo courtesy Repsol Honda.
Marquez returns for Assen as Lecuona substitutes Mir
The Repsol Honda Team arrive in the Netherlands for the last round before the summer break, Marc Marquez back after missing the Grand Prix in Germany with Iker Lecuona alongside him as Joan Mir continues his recovery.
After a bruising weekend in Germany, Marc Marquez will return to the Repsol Honda Team RC213V to compete at round eight. The Dutch round is known for intense battles around 4.54-kilometer-long circuit, the fast and flowing nature of the track often keeping multiple riders battling together. Marquez has twice won the race in Assen in the premier class and has only once finished off the podium – in 2021. He and the team arrive with realistic expectations and know that it will be another weekend focusing on improvements and the future.
The other side of the Repsol Honda Team box will see Iker Lecuona make his second appearance of the year. Joan Mir will continue to recover at home with the aim of returning to action at the British GP fully fit after a challenging start to the year. Lecuona made his Repsol Honda Team debut at the Spanish round earlier in the year, putting together a consistent weekend and finishing both the Sprint race and the Grand Prix. In 2022, the 23-year-old claimed his debut WorldSBK podium at the Dutch circuit.
Marc Marquez
“I arrive in Assen looking to put the hard weekend in Germany behind me. We have one more race before the summer break and the objective is to gather a lot of good data for the engineers so they can work over these next weeks. This is the focus for the weekend, we need to remain calm and approach the weekend with a clear plan.”
Iker Lecuona (27). Photo courtesy Repsol Honda.
Iker Lecuona
“First of all I want to wish Joan all the best in his recovery. I am excited to join the team again, it’s a true honour. Assen is a circuit I like, I got my first WorldSBK podium there so hopefully we can have another good weekend like in Jerez. I am still recovering a bit after the crash in Misano, so this will be a good physical test too. Let’s ride!”
TAYLOR KNAPP TO RACE FOR TEAM HAMMER AND SUZUKI AT RIDGE MOTORSPORTS PARK
Team Hammer is pleased to announce that Taylor Knapp will compete for the team aboard a Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R at Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, on June 23-25.
Knapp will serve as a single-round guest rider aboard the factory Superbike that was unexpectedly in need of a capable pilot following the surprise retirement of former class champion Toni Elias following the Road America round.
Knapp is well suited to the role. He is one of the most experienced and versatile riders in the paddock, boasting a racing resume that spans disciplines, classes, nations, and manufacturers.
The 35-year-old Lapeer, Michigan native began racing flat track and motocross at the age of five and established himself as one of the nation’s leading amateur riders. He transitioned to pavement at 13 and turned pro at 16.
Over the past two decades, Knapp has enjoyed a decorated and varied road racing career, running up front as both a privateer and factory Superbike pilot. In addition to his premier class duties, Knapp has raced in Daytona SportBike, Stock 1000, and the King Of The Baggers over the years, while also competing overseas in the British Superbike series.
Additionally, he’s racked up numerous other racing accomplishments and accolades, including victorious performances at the Barber Pro Cup Challenge and WERA F1 National Championship.
Since 2017, Knapp has served as a Motorcycle Test Engineer for Dunlop Motorcycle Tires. He has continued to compete since accepting the position, and currently ranks sixth in the 2023 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 championship standings with a podium result at Road Atlanta.
“I am super excited to get on the Suzuki GSX-R1000R again. I’ve raced Suzukis in the past and always liked them and have had good success with them,” said Knapp. “It’s an honor to race for Team Hammer and Suzuki, so I am pumped. As Dunlop’s test rider, we have a couple of Suzuki 1000s that serve as our workhorses, so I ride them often. The weekend should be fun!”
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2023 season marks Team Hammer’s 43rd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 129 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 347 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
ABOUT SUZUKI
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
Brandon Paasch on pit lane at New Hampshire Motor Speedway waiting for a restart of the 100th Loudon Classic. Photo by Frank Angel, courtesy Rodio Racing.
Brandon Paasch Finishes 4th in the 100th Loudon Classic
Loudon, NH. – Competing in his first professional road race since sustaining a compression fracture of his L3 vertebrae in a training accident on March 30, 2023, Brandon Paasch placed fourth in a crash-riddled 100th Loudon Classic presented by NEMMR. The race was restarted multiple times in wet conditions then eventually called complete after the ninth restart. Paasch was awarded the position he was running in on lap 19 of the race.
Riding a Yamaha YZF-R6 on Pirelli tires prepared by Rodio Racing, Brandon placed 21st fastest in the Friday morning practice on a dry track about four seconds behind the fastest time. In the first qualifying session on Friday afternoon he was able to advance to 11th place with a time of 1:11.736, 1.062 seconds off the top qualifier. After overnight rain, in final qualifying on Saturday Paasch recorded the ninth-fastest time on a wet track, placing him 11th on the grid for the race among the final 32 qualifiers.
Saturday afternoon’s race started in wet conditions with occasional light rain with the race interrupted multiple times by red flags due to crashes. On each restart Brandon was able to advance through the field, even leading the race by a comfortable margin at one point. Although the race was scheduled to finish only on a checkered flag it was finally called before the 10th restart was made.
Brandon Paasch: “Well… I won’t be able to sit down for the next month! P4 in the end, not bad for our first outing since breaking my back three months ago. Loads of people to thank for this last minute effort. Cheers for all the support!!!”
Brandon took home $17,000 of the $250,000 purse for his efforts.
Rodio Racing thanks Pirelli for the fantastic tires, Skip Dowling and Rob Silva at K-Tech USA for suspension support, Anthony Corbo of Bauce Racing for the tune, and Phillip Bailey and Ryne Snooks for their massive help putting this effort together.
Will Gawler (213) in action at Summit Point. Photo by www.formerinstants.com, courtesy ASRA.
ASRA racing at Summit Point Motorsports Park was once again a great event for the 8th Round of 2023. The weather was great. In the Heavyweight Superbike race, Will Gawler, riding his Suzuki GSXR-1000, managed to stay ahead of Brian Grasso and his Yamaha YZF-R1. Chyler Weatherford was a close third.
The racing went very smoothly thanks to the talented racers that kept it up and the MARRC crew for keeping the safe and speedy decisions flowing. With 30 races over two days at Summit Point Raceway, everyone managed to get it all done by 3:30 PM on Sunday!
Evan Belford (52) leads Amanuel Brinton (43) while American Julian Correa (40) runs fifth in a British Talent Cup race at Knockhill. Photo courtesy British Talent Cup.
Brinton vs Belford: the tale of Knockhill!
Two duels decide the two races in Scotland as Brinton takes a first victory in the Cup
Monday, 19 June 2023
In classic R&G British Talent Cup style, Race 1 at Knockhill was decided at the final corner and on the final lap as Amanuel Brinton (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) and Evan Belford (City Lifting/RS Racing) duelled it out for supremacy in Scotland. Brinton trailed Cup leader Belford throughout the 12-lap restarted race but was able to time his move to perfection to claim a first ever win in the Cup, right back in the mix at the front as he returned to the fold. And at a venue he’s never raced before!
As the race got underway, it was Belford who took the lead with the top four quickly breaking away from the chasing pack, although four soon became three when Rhys Stephenson (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) highsided at the final corner on Lap 3. It allowed Belford, Brinton and Sullivan Mounsey (Wilson Racing / Maddison Media) to scrap it out. On Lap 8, the red flags were shown after a crash for Daniel Goodman (VisionTrack Racing Team).
The race was restarted over a 12-lap distance, but the story was the same when the lights went out again. Belford, Brinton and Mounsey broke away in the opening laps, but the fight for victory turned into Belford against Brinton with Mounsey just behind. Brinton was pushing hard and had a huge moment into Turn 2 on Lap 10 which cost him time, before Belford had his own moments on Lap 12. Brinton used this to close the gap, and he made the race-winning overtake at the final corner on the last lap when he went up the inside of Belford. The pair were separated by just 0.029s at the line with Mounsey securing third place, almost 1.8 seconds down on Brinton.
There was another twist in the title fight too as Harrison Dessoy (Microlise Cresswell Racing / Eastern Garage Racing), who had been in the top three in the standings ahead of the visit to Knockhill, crashed on the opening lap of the restarted race.
There was a fierce fight for fourth as Ryan Frost (Talentum Motorsport By Azure Notions) fended off Julian Correa (Microlise Cresswell Racing) by just a tenth after 12 laps, while Harley McCabe (McCabe Racing) was just another tenth back in seventh place in a hotly contested battle for the top positions. The trio finished around seven seconds down on eventual winner Brinton, but they had a big gap to the riders behind who completed the top ten.
Eighth place went to Scott McPhee (SMP Racing) while Ronnie Harris (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) finished three seconds down on McPhee in ninth. Two riders squabbled over tenth place with Lucas Brown (Amphibian Scaffolding / SP125 Racing) and Alfie Davidson (Banks Racing) battling it out. Brown finished just ahead of Davidson with only 0.016s separating the pair across the line.
After a duel in Race 1, Evan Belford (City Lifting/RS Racing) and Amanuel Brinton (Kovara Projects / RS Racing) once again went toe-to-toe in the second R&G British Talent Cup showdown of the day, and on take two it was Belford who hit back for another 25-point haul as the race was red flagged with a few laps to go. Despite losing the chance for a late attack, Brinton takes another impressive podium in second, with Sullivan Mounsey (Wilson Racing / Maddison Media) taking third and his own second visit to the rostrum on Sunday after pipping Harley McCabe (McCabe Racing).
As the lights went out it was Belford who grabbed the holeshot from Brinton, with Mounsey close in third and McCabe in fourth as the quartet started to break away early. They remained line astern for the first half of the race, but by half distance Belford and Brinton had got the hammer down.
As the duo pulled away, it became a tale of two duels to decide the podium finishers. At the front, Brinton stayed tucked in behind Belford as the laps ticked down, but the fight was hotting up between Mounsey and McCabe as they began trading places.
With only a handful of laps still to go, however, the battle was cut short as the red flags came out – meaning there would be no chance of a late attack for Brinton. Belford took the win after leading the way since the lights went out, with Brinton forced to settle for second.
In the duel for the podium behind it wasn’t as clear cut, but Mounsey took it and another rostrum finish, having been ahead of McCabe in their showdown when the race was stopped.
After another close battle, in Race 2 it was Julian Correa (Microlise Cresswell Racing) who was two tenths ahead of Ryan Frost (Talentum Motorsport By Azure Notions) when the result was declared, with Ollie Walker (VisionTrack Racing Team) taking seventh after just fading off the back of that duel.
Filip Surowiak (FS75 Racing / FAB Racing) was eighth, with Scott McPhee (SMP Racing) and Alexander Rowan (Mortimer Racing Victoria House Academy) completing the top ten.
After another shuffle in Scotland, Belford now has some margin at the top of the standings – but it’s Brinton back on the chase in second. Mounsey is now third after a solid weekend, and McCabe fourth as the two both leapfrog Harrison Dessoy. The number 55 will want to bounce back at Snetterton after following up a crash in Race 1 with another in Race 2, leaving Scotland with nil points. Still, there’s plenty of the season still to go! Who will reign at Round 4? We’ll find out from the 7th to the 9th of July!
Sean Dylan Kelly (4). Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
American Racing Team narrowly misses out on the points in Germany as Sean Dylan Kelly takes 17th whilst replacement rider Carlos Tatay finishes in 19th.
At a track he enjoyed last year, Sean’s weekend started positively as the American finished first practice 13th on the timings. With the weather taking a turn for the worst in the afternoon, no one was able to improve, and he ended the day in 13th despite a late crash after he touched a wet patch whilst entering the pits.
Focusing on race simulation for FP3, Sean braved the return of the wet weather, ending the morning in 12th. Due to the conditions, there were no further timing improvements and Sean secured his first direct Q2 spot.
With the sun shining and the track heating up for Q2, Sean set his best time of 1:25.519 to take 18th place for Sunday’s GermanGP.
Race day offered the best weather of the weekend as track temperatures reached 43°C. Sean’s race got off to a hectic start with a multi-rider crash ahead of him, luckily he was able to avoid any contact and make his way into 16th before quickly passing Marcos Ramirez for 15th.
Sean was able to hold onto the final points-scoring positions until lap seven when he was caught by Ai Ogura.
With the hot temperatures and lack of dry running time, Sean struggled to maintain the pace, dropping back into 17th where he ended the race.
Making his Moto2 World Championship debut, Carlos’ had a mixed first session. After rocketing into the top 10, the Spaniard took a tumble at Turn 11 and ended his session with 15 minutes remaining. The tricky conditions of FP2 made the team take a more conservative approach to Carlos’ session, opting to put in 15 laps to finish Friday in 27th.
Prioritising long runs for the final practice session, Carlos ended the wet running in 15th spot. Thankfully, the weather dramatically improved for Q1 and the Spaniard was able to get some dry track time for his first World Championship Qualifying session – ending the afternoon 12th to line up 26th on the grid.
It was a difficult start to his maiden World Championship race for Carlos. Despite avoiding a crash on lap one, the Spaniard lost ground and dropped back into 25th early on.
Fighting his way back through, he made his way into 19th spot, only half a second behind Zonta Van Den Goorbergh as he took the chequered flag, setting some of his best lap times right at the end of the race.
Sean Dylan Kelly (4) put a lot of riders behind him but came up just short of scoring points at Sachsenring. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
Sean Dylan Kelly #4
I think it was a strong weekend. My first time directly into Q2, I think is a huge positive for me that I need to take and it’s something I’ve been working hard for so I’m really happy about that. We were competitive in the rain, fighting for that top 10 and finishing 12th in FP3 but today they were the hottest conditions that we’ve had all year so far – I felt strong in the race and I’m honestly happy with my performance and consistency. The grip was really difficult to manage but I was happy with how I was doing.
Unfortunately, I just missed out on the points in 17th – I think it was my closest gap to first and I had the group just ahead of me – I gave it my all but it just wasn’t enough for points today. I’m definitely disappointed about that but I’m looking at the positives and looking forward to next week.
Fill-in rider Carlos Tatay (99) finished 19th. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
Carlos Tatay #99
It was a great weekend. My first FP1 was going really well but I crashed with just 10 laps in the session because of a cold tyre. I was feeling really good in the wet too but at the end, I did about 10 laps and then it was directly to Q1. It was quite difficult, but I had a good race with a good pace. In the beginning, I was finding my pace, and everything was quite new for me so I was coming little by little but in the end, I could do good lap times with good rhythm for the first time.
I’m not completely happy but I can say it was a good weekend for me as I keep learning and achieving little by little. Now, let’s go to Assen!
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
April 14, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
