MotoAmerica: More From Road America

David Swarts

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June 5, 2023

FACTORY HARLEY-DAVIDSON RIDER KYLE WYMAN FINISHES 1-3 AND EXTENDS KING OF THE BAGGERS POINTS LEAD AT ROAD AMERICA

Vance & Hines Racer James Rispoli Goes 3-2 for 2nd in Points

MILWAUKEE (June 5, 2023) – Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory rider Kyle Wyman extended his MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers points lead with a win on Saturday and a third-place finish on Sunday at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. Racing in front of a Harley-Davidson home-town crowd, Wyman rode the team’s race-prepared Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® motorcycle to his fourth consecutive race victory on Saturday, and battled his way to the podium on Sunday, further extending his King of the Baggers series points lead by 13 points.

Kyle Wyman (33) won King Of The Baggers Race One at Road America. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.

“This was another strong weekend for the Factory Harley team,” said Wyman. “It was great to get the win yesterday in front of all the Harley fans here so close to headquarters in Milwaukee, and especially fun to have Willie G. Davidson here to see it. On Sunday, we had a real fight going on out there. That was some really exciting racing. I thought we all might crash on that last lap. Great to get on the podium and bank some more points. Next up Laguna Seca where we have done really well in the past.”

Wyman slotted into fifth position on Friday in qualifying on the recently re-paved 4.048-mile Road America course, with his factory teammate Travis Wyman qualifying seventh on the second Screamin’ Eagle Factory Team Road Glide motorcycle.

In the five-lap Saturday race, Wyman sifted through the field on the first lap and locked onto the rear wheel of the race leader, Factory Indian rider Tyler O’Hara. O’Hara and Wyman pulled away from the field, with O’Hara’s lead never more than 0.16 second. On the last lap, Wyman out-braked O’Hara into Turn 8 in a perfectly calculated move. As O’Hara ran wide through the turn, Wyman passed for the lead and opened a big enough gap to prevent O’Hara making a draft pass on the long uphill front straight to the finish. Wyman crossed the line 0.567 seconds clear of O’Hara. James Rispoli finished third on the Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson Road Glide. Travis Wyman finished sixth on the Factory Harley-Davidson Road Glide.

On Sunday pole sitter Bobby Fong got a great start on his Sacramento Mile/Roland Sands Indian and pulled away from the field. Behind him Kyle Wyman, Factory Indian rider Jeremy McWilliams, and Rispoli and Hayden Gillim on the Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson Road Glide bikes battled for the entire five-lap race. McWilliams crashed out on the last lap. Wyman drafted past Gillim on the front straight run to the finish but could not quite catch Rispoli, who crossed the line just 0.01 seconds ahead to take second place. Gillim finished fourth followed by Travis Wyman.

After six of 14 rounds in the 2023 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series, Kyle Wyman leads the championship with 116 points, followed by Rispoli with 103 points and Gillim with 89 points. O’Hara sits in fourth place with 81 points. Travis Wyman is in 10th place with 40 points.

The Mission King of the Baggers series features race-prepared American V-Twin touring motorcycles. Harley-Davidson® Factory Team Road Glide® motorcycles are powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engines. The team bikes also feature upgraded suspension components, including Screamin’ Eagle/Öhlins Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks, plus competition exhaust, race tires and lightweight bodywork.

The Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory team returns to action July 7-9 in the MotoAmerica Superbikes at Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in California.

MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race Results – Road America Race 1

Kyle Wyman (H-D) Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
Tyler O’Hara (Ind) Progressive/Mission Foods
James Rispoli (H-D) Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson
Jeremy McWilliams (Ind) Progressive/Mission Foods
Hayden Gillim (H-D) Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson
Travis Wyman (H-D) Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
Bobby Fong (Ind) Sacramento Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands Design
Kyle Ohnsorg (Ind) Roland Sands Design
Cory West (H-D) Team Saddlemen
Jake Lewis (H-D) Team Saddlemen
Frankie Garcia (H-D) Team Saddlemen
Danny Eslick (H-D) Team Nowaskey Performance
Kole King (H-D) King Performance
Patricia Fernandez (H-D) Team Saddlemen
Robert Johnson (H-D) Johnson Engine Technology

MotoAmerica King of the Baggers Race Results – Road America Race 2

Bobby Fong (Ind) Sacramento Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands
James Rispoli (H-D) Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson
Kyle Wyman (H-D) Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
Hayden Gillim (H-D) Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson
Travis Wyman (H-D) Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
Cory West (H-D) Team Saddlemen
Kyle Ohnsorg (Ind) Roland Sands Design
Max Flinders (Ind) M3/Revolution Performance
Jake Lewis (H-D) Team Saddlemen
Frankie Garcia (H-D) Team Saddlemen
Patricia Fernandez (H-D) Team Saddlemen
Kole King (H-D) King Performance
Robert Johnson (H-D) Johnson Engine Technology

Harley-Davidson invites you to enhance the 2023 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers season with some adrenaline pumping action. Check out, ‘Push the Limit,’ a film that shares the story of defending 2021 champion Kyle Wyman, teammate Travis Wyman and the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle race team’s 2022 championship pursuit. Watch it now on Harley-Davidson’s YouTube channel.

Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure and freedom for the soul. Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of 2023 Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring, Sport, Adventure Touring, Cruiser and Trike motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Certified™ pre-owned motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories, Harley-Davidson MotorClothes and gear, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.

More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle Racing:

Beaubier wins Race 1 at Road America as PJ doubles up on the box and Corey races to solid seventh places on the BMW M1000 RR

It was all smiles at Road America on Saturday for Tytlers Cycle Racing as the raced to a superb 1-2 finish in the opening MotoAmerica Superbike race of the weekend.

Lapping significantly faster than the previous lap record Cameron Beaubier, who had started from P2 on the grid, once again found himself in the fight our front, eventually crossing the line with a winning margin of 2.7s after an exciting twelve lap race. With it he reclaimed the championship lead. PJ Jacobsen on the team’s second BMW M1000 RR was also on fine form. Setting off from third on the grid the #66 secured his first podium finish of the season after a great race long battle. Corey Alexander finished seventh to secure his fifth consecutive point scoring finish, adding another nine points to his championship tally.

There was further success combined with disappointment for the team on Sunday on a day that really summed up the saying ‘what a difference a day can make’.

PJ Jacobsen was on the podium in P2 for the second consecutive day. He finished a mere two seconds from the win whilst Corey Alexander once again dug deep throughout the second twelve lap encounter. His efforts rewarded with another well-earned seventh position. For Cameron Beaubier there was to be no double celebration after a retirement from the lead saw him pull to the side of the track, relinquishing his slender championship points advantage as he did so.

The series now heads west for round four to Ridge Motorsports Park with the entire team buoyed by the continued success and front running performance by its riders.

Cameron Beaubier (6). Photo courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.

Cameron Beaubier: I felt good on the bike in Race 1. I almost went off track in turn two on the first lap that put me backwards, but I put my head down and was happy with my pace. Road America really lets us use that BMW power and it felt good to get another win and to have two Tytlers bikes on the podium. Race two was a bummer with an unlucky mechanical but that’s racing. We have a couple of days at Brainerd this week which will be good because I haven’t ridden there before. I am enjoying the season and looking forward to the rest of the season.

PJ Jacobsen (99). Photo courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.

PJ Jacobsen: “The first race went well. I would have liked a better start but overall, it was a good race. I was bit upset as I couldn’t find a way past Josh (Herrin) on the brakes after lap three and I felt he was holding me up. The team did an awesome job, and the plan was to even better on Sunday. Race two was pretty good. I got off to a decent start and focused on staying in touch with Josh (Herrin) and Cam (Beaubier). Unfortunately, Cam retired otherwise I am sure he too would have been right there. I gave it everything but, in the end, had to settle for second. I want to the whole Tytlers Cycle Racing team for their excellent work this weekend. Coming out of Road America with two second place finishes is really good for us, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can do at The Ridge!”

Corey Alexander (23). Photo courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.

Corey Alexander: “We have made some positive steps forward with the bike and our qualifying was much closer to where we want to be. Unfortunately, we got caught out with the wrong tyre choice for Race 1 which prevented us from the result we were hoping for. I was still happy with another top eight but wanted more. Race two was another positive step forward for us. We were able to continually drop pace through the race with our best time of the weekend coming on the last lap. I am excited to take what we learned and continue onward to The Ridge. Thanks to the whole team and my guys for working so hard to make me comfortable and being patient with our progress.”

More, from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA, LLC:

SCOTT AND THE SUZUKI GSX-R750 RETURN TO THE PODIUM AT ROAD AMERICA

Elias Finishes Career with a Top-Five Result

BREA, CA – June 5, 2023 – Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer closed the book on an eventful weekend at MotoAmerica with a podium finish while saying a surprise farewell to one of the most accomplished riders in the series’ history.

Race Highlights:

Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
- Supersport
  - Tyler Scott was rewarded for his efforts with a hard-earned podium finish.
  - Teagg Hobbs’s chase of his maiden podium was cut short due to an electronics issue suffered before the start.
- Superbike
  - Toni Elias returned to the top five in what turned out to be his swan-song Superbike performance.
  - Richie Escalante suffered grip issues at mid-distance and still managed to post his fastest lap on the race’s final lap.

Tyler Scott (70) caps off his weekend with a hard-fought podium. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.

Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott issued a reminder of his more typical form on Sunday, collecting a trophy after what had been a challenging weekend for the talented Supersport rider and his crew. After making substantial changes to the set-up of his GSX-R750 overnight, Scott was significantly more competitive in today’s race. Scott shot out to the lead off the line. Even after dropping back to fourth place before the opening lap was complete – Scott continued to hang with the lead group deep into the contest. Scott made a successful push to take over third place with five laps remaining and then went about solidifying his podium position over the remaining laps.

“I have to give a big thank you to the whole Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team,” Scott said. “Usually when we come to a track, we’re a little bit closer to the front. But this weekend we were challenged all weekend, up until this morning. We made key changes to the setup, and today we had the pace to race at the front. It felt great to be battling with the leaders and put the GSX-R750 on the box.”

Teagg Hobbs (79) is looking forward to the next round at the Ridge to continue to improve his speed. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.

Scott likely would have been in a fight for the podium with teammate Teagg Hobbs if not for misfortune on Hobbs’ part. Unfortunately, Saturday’s fourth-place finisher didn’t have a chance to improve upon that result due to an electronics issue that ended Hobbs’ race before it began.

2017 MotoAmerica Superbike champion Toni Elias looked like his vintage self on Sunday, throwing his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R sideways, scrapping for position, and executing a last-lap pass to secure a top-five result. Afterward, Elias made a surprise announcement during his broadcast interview, explaining that rather than a promising sign of things to come, the race would serve as his farewell, as he steps back into retirement effective immediately.

Toni Elias (24) ends his career with a top-five finish in Race 2. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.

Elias said, “Today was my last race. I want to thank John Ulrich, Chris Ulrich, Team Hammer, and everybody who helped and supported me during this period. The return has not been what I was expecting, but I had fun in this last one. I pushed hard, trying to hold on to the position today. It’s been a big effort, and it’s nice to finish like this.”

Richie Escalante was one of the riders who mixed it up with Elias as part of a three-rider battle for fifth. Escalante took over the spot a few laps into the contest, but it became evident he was suffering from grip issues, losing two positions on lap five, and later as he circulated the Road America circuit a few seconds off his earlier pace. Rather than give up, Escalante adapted and managed to make his final lap his fastest of the race, while collecting valuable points with an eighth-place finish.

With another top-ten finish, Richie Escalante (54) gains valuablepoints for the championship. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. — With another top-ten finish, Richie Escalante (54) gains valuable
points for the championship. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.

“The most important thing is the feeling with the team and bike, and we are stronger and faster,” Escalante said. “We made some changes in the warm-up after finishing fourth yesterday. We were fast but then I had a strange situation in the race. I didn’t have a good feeling with the rear of the motorcycle, and I had a few moments early in the race. I lost some positions and didn’t run the pace I wanted. In the end, I had my best lap but the feel wasn’t there. We will analyze the data and figure out what happened, but we are making good progress. I really like the next two tracks we will race at, and I look forward to competing there.”

Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki will next head to Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, on June 23-25 for the next round of the 2023 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing season.

For more racing news, results, and special team content please visit https://suzukicycles.com/racing/road-racing.

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.

ABOUT TEAM HAMMER

The 2023 season marks Team Hammer’s 43rd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Race bikes 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.

MotoGP: Tripleheader Starts June 9-11 At Mugello

David Swarts

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June 5, 2023

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MotoGP: Tripleheader Starts June 9-11 At Mugello

Two Italians. Two Ducatis. One point. Who can challenge them at Mugello?

Bagnaia and Bezzecchi aim for more home turf glory, with a cast of fast, fast faces looking to get in their way

Monday, 05 June 2023

So, where were we? After a stellar array of action at Le Mans, it’s going to come thick and fast in the next three weekends as the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley kicks off the triple header. There’s just one point in it at the top between reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and pretender to the throne Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), both have form at Mugello… and it’s home turf. Here are the headlines as we head in…

THE DUEL AT THE TOP

One single point ain’t much, especially with two chances to score in every Grand Prix weekend. The lead will be on the line in the Tissot Sprint at Mugello, and plenty more besides. Winning at this venue is something special for anyone, and even more so for the likes of Bagnaia and Bezzecchi. Last year, they were also both very fast… so could we see the first real duel between the two 12 months on?

IN THE RED CORNER

The Ducati is a mighty machine at Mugello. And there are a fair few of them. Bagnaia and Bezzecchi lead the charge, but fellow home hero Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) will be desperate to get back in the podium fight now he’s known that rostrum-finish feeling. And Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), arriving from a Sprint win and a podium, will want to ruin the home hero party. As will his teammate Johann Zarco, who was back on the box in France but is still seeking that maiden MotoGP™ win…

Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), meanwhile, is looking for a little bit of luck having found a fair bit of speed in 2023, and teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio knows good vibes at Mugello, having taken a stunning pole position last year in a headline-grabbing qualifying.

THE BEAST IS… BACK?

We’re also expecting Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) to be back in action. It’s now been a little longer to recover and he’s been back out training in the meantime, so we can hope to see the Beast complete the weekend. How much of a threat will he pose? He’s playing catch up on fitness and, crucially, time on the GP23 to really get dialled in, but he’ll be one to watch.

There’s also a dark horse in play as Michele Pirro returns as a Ducati wildcard. He’s had some solid results at Mugello especially, and could well complicate, at the very least, the battle to get into Q2 on Friday. Does anyone know Mugello better than Pirro?

EVEN MORE HOME HEROES

Ducati may be intent on stealing some Mugello limelight, but the Italian GP is also a home race for Aprilia. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) has already been on the podium this season and was on a charge in France before that dramatic coming together with Bagnaia, and both he and teammate Aleix Espargaro will be expecting much – likely to fight for the podium as a minimum.

Meanwhile, their fellow Noale machinery of CryptoData RNF MotoGP™ Team’s Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez are on a fitness test. Oliveira has been sidelined for a couple of rounds now and still reported some issues on the bike at the Aprilia All Stars Day, whereas Fernandez will be hoping more time to recover from his arm surgery will see him able to get back on track.

Aprilia, like Ducati, also field a wildcard for their test rider, in Noale’s case Lorenzo Savadori. After a tougher first part of the season than pre-season seemed to promise, the extra information will be welcome.

IN THE ORANGE CORNER

A little bad luck returned for KTM in France, but the Austrian factory will be reloaded as the paddock returns to Mugello. Despite that bad luck too, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is now third in the Championship… and only 13 points off the top. The South African was known as a Sunday rider in the best way before 2023, and now he’s also won two of the five Sprints. It’s far from difficult to imagine Binder leading the way after Mugello and spoiling the home hero party. KTM have rostrum form here too.

For teammate Jack Miller, meanwhile, the speed was very much there in France, but the Australian didn’t manage to convert it into points. We know he can though, so he can be expected in that fight near the front once again – elbows out, just like Binder, as the two are truly always ready to race.

At GASGAS Factory Racing Tech 3, so another red corner, really, there was a lot to celebrate in France as rookie Augusto Fernandez made a stunning charge up to fourth. It all clicked and he’ll want to keep that ball rolling at Mugello – with the added good news of having scored in every single Grand Prix race so far, which is no mean feat by itself. On the other side of the garage we also now know it’ll be Jonas Folger back out as Pol Espargaro continues his recovery, but the Spaniard is close to making his return, according to the team.

FAST. FLOWING.

It’s not been the easiest start of the season for Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), but the 2021 Champion has already been on the podium, and has scored consistently in every Grand Prix race, one of only three riders to do so. The Frenchman likely has a bit less drama and a bit more luck in the Sprint on order, and some tougher qualifyings haven’t made life easier either. Can that change at Mugello? The track traditionally suits the Yamaha more, so will that remain true in 2023?

Teammate Franco Morbidelli, meanwhile, is looking for that Argentina magic after some tougher races again thereafter. Can home turf bring another boost? He also, along with Quartararo and Augusto Fernandez, has scored in every GP race so far.

595 DAYS LATER?

The two pole positions Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has contested so far have seen him take the first and miss out on the second by just 0.058. In Sprints he has a podium and a fifth… and he was only a few more kilometers away from a first Grand Prix podium of the season at Le Mans. All that says the number 93 cannot be counted out, as if anyone would truly dare. So what about Mugello?

It’s not a venue where Marquez has a huge roll call of wins – at Mugello it’s old rivals Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo who top the count. But he has, of course, reigned it. Given the work that continues to get Honda back to the very top though, it’s likely more fighting at the front that’s the goal this weekend… more track time, more information, more battles. Just in time for the Sachsenring? Whether that’s being acknowledged inside the box or not, it’s definitely a weekend everyone else will be eyeing as a Marquez special. Still, the count goes on. On race day at Mugello, 595 days will have gone by since he won in Emilia Romagna 2021. Germany will be 602. But counting the days also speaks to the fact that most expect that count to come to an end… so there’s seemingly a consensus that it’s when, not if.

On the other side of the Repsol Honda box, Joan Mir will want a lot more at Mugello. It’s been an exceptionally tough run so far, and the number 36 wants some points and progress. Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) is also on a tough although shorter run, having failed to score in Jerez or at Le Mans after topping the table at COTA with 34 points all in. And then, for Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), it’s a gentle opposite as the Japanese rider has now finished in the top ten in the last two GP races. Can he keep that trajectory going?

Two Italians, two Ducatis, one single point… it’s tight at the top as Mugello arrives on the horizon. And it’s very unlikely to be a two-horse race as even more than our 22-strong cast of permanent entries line up in Tuscany. Check out the schedule below and join us for the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley!

SHOWTIME

Friday’s practice sessions decide the automatic entrants to Q2, before the MotoGP™ grid qualify on Saturday morning. The Tissot Sprint is set for lights out at 15:00 on Saturday as ever, and the Grand Prix gets going at 14:00 CEST!

Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:00 (GMT +2)

Grand Prix Race: Sunday 14:00 (GMT +2)

MotoGP: Pol Espargaro “Very Close” To Returning

David Swarts

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June 5, 2023

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MotoGP: Pol Espargaro “Very Close” To Returning

POL ESPARGARO VERY CLOSE TO MOTOGP™ RETURN

GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 are anxious to welcome back Pol Espargaro to the MotoGP™ fray, but the crew will have to wait a little longer as the 31-year-old is still ‘on-hold’ to climb aboard the RC16 for this weekend’s Gran Premio d’Italia.

Pol has been rehabbing since his fall during the practice and quali program for the 2023 season-opener at the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal in March. The Spaniard needed to recover principally from a back injury but has been full gas to return to shape. The initial target was to re-join the team and the MotoGP™ grid at Mugello for round six this weekend but Pol still has a small edema issue around his vertebrae that needs treatment.

Both the rider, the team and the GASGAS factory are hopeful that the #44 will appear from a Grand Prix pitlane in the coming weeks as the date in Italy is immediately followed by a journey to Sachsenring for the Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland and then the TT Circuit Assen for the Dutch Grand Prix for a MotoGP™ ‘triple header’ before a sustained summer break in the schedule.

In the meantime, Pol’s teammate and star rookie Augusto Fernandez will be accompanied in Italy by Jonas Folger once more. The German rolled out for MotoGP™ action in the USA, Spain and France and will make his fourth appearance ‘in red’ this season around the fast and scenic curves of Mugello.

Pol Espargaro

“I was really looking forward to getting back on my bike but, as I said from the beginning, the final decision would be made for me by the doctors and they asked me to wait a few more days. My original plan was to return for one of these next three races before the summer break and this continues to be the idea. The most important thing is to be physically ready, and this call means I have a few more days to keep working at home and arrive in the best form possible and as soon as possible. I’m feeling really good and I’m really motivated. I hope to see the team and everyone in the sport, and for sure the fans, as soon as I can.”

FIM JuniorGP: Race Report And Results From Jerez

David Swarts

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June 4, 2023

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FIM JuniorGP: Race Report And Results From Jerez

Editorial Notes: Canadian Torin Collins, riding his AGR Team KTM, finished 19th in JuniorGP Race One and DNF Race Two. American Max Toth, riding his MMR Kalex, DNF the sole Moto2 race. American Kristian Daniel Jr., riding his MRE Talent Honda, did not qualify for the European Talent Cup races.

Championship battles tighten after Jerez twists!

New winners and incredible last-lap deciders made for a modern classic in the 2023 Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship

The iconic Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto played host to Round 3 of the 2023 Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship. Six fantastic races, across four classes, every race was as memorable as the other. Angel Piqueras (Team Estrella Galica 0,0) made it a triple victory on the bounce in Race 1 before, David Almansa (Finetwork MIR Racing Team) got off the board with a stunning last-lap win. Carlos Tatay (Pertamina Mandalika SAG team) converted great speed into victory in the Moto2™ European Championship, while championship rivals Max Quiles (Aspar Junior Team) and Brian Uriarte (Team Estrella Galica 0,0) took the spoils in both European Talent Cup races. While in the Stock European Championship Eric Fernandez (FAU55 TEY Racing) pulled out a stunning last-lap pass for the win.

Kicking off proceedings in Jerez was JuniorGP™ and the premier class started as the racing was meant to go on with elbow-to-elbow action and eye-watering overtakes throughout. Alvaro Carpe (STV Laglisse Racing), looked as though he would become the 100th JuniorGP™ winner since 1998 with only a few corners remaining. However, Angel Piqueras had other ideas. Bridging a 4 tenths gap at the start of the final lap, the championship leader made an audacious pass on Carpe at the fast Turn 12 before holding on to record a hat-trick of victories from Carpe and Adrian Cruces (Finetwork MIR Racing Team). Luca Lunetta (AC Racing Team) picked up hard-fought 4th after being caught up in a crash with Eddie O’Shea at Lorenzo Corner on the penultimate lap.

Race 2 was much the same but turned up to 11. Fifteen riders featured in the front group in the opening stages but it would be the usual suspects that would contest the victory, which would drop to 9 at the start of the last lap. Alvaro Carpe, once again found himself in the lead on the last lap for a potential victory until David Almansa, on the back of four non-scores, put himself in prime position and, as Piqueras did in Race 1, launched himself up the inside at Turn 12. He would hold off a train of riders into the final corner to take his first win and first points of the season in an emotional victory, ahead of Carpe who was denied another win, but took another well-earned podium. Angel Piques rounded out the podium taking 3 riders on the last corner, denying Cormac Buchanan (AGR Team) a maiden podium but still a career-best for the Kiwi.

For the first time in 2023 Moto2™ European Championship, Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact Junior Team) wasn’t the favourite entering the race, that honour went to Carlos Tatay. Topping every session, the Moto2™ rookie started from a career first pole position, he lost out at the start to Yeray Ruiz (FAU55 TEY Racing) and the fast-starting Senna Agius but it wasn’t long before the #99 found his way to the front. Once the Spaniard hit the front he cleared off into the sunset, leaving Agius and Ruiz to content the rest of the podium positions. The Australian had attempts at passing the #72 but when he did, Ruiz would strike right back, eventually holding off the championship leader for 2nd and a career-first podium. However, no one could stop Carlos Tatay as the Spaniard romped to a maiden win and he’ll be hoping to do the same in Portimao in four weeks’ time.

ETC Race 2 saw one of the greatest final laps in the class’ history. The race started with a group of around 12 at the front but that was soon whittled down to just five at the front heading into the final lap. Hakim Danish (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) made a brave move down the inside at Turn 6 but just couldn’t hang on and unfortunately crashed out. What followed was quite possibly two of the greatest moves ever seen in the ETC by Uriarte. Into Turn 8 he picked off both Quiles and Boggio before then going around the outside of Pini at the final corner and holding him off to the line by just 0.021 of a second. Quiles completed the podium just over half a tenth behind and still leads the championship but now just by one point from Uriarte.

In the Stock ECh race the tale of the race was expected for most of its length. Daniel Muñoz (SP57 Racing Team) has been the dominant force in Stock ECh in 2023 and from the off he was leading here in Jerez. Fernandez, who has shown great potential so far was close behind. Impressively, Fernandez was able to go with and keep the pressure on Muñoz in the closing laps when Muñoz started to up the pace. That persistent pressure was rewarded as Muñoz made a mistake through Turn 7 on the final lap. Fernandez pounced at the next corner but Muñoz but back heading into the final turn. Fernandez saw it coming and cut back underneath for his first victory of the 2023 season. Further behind, Dino Iozzo (IUM Motorsports) had a quiet but rewarding race as he picked up his second podium on the bounce. Muñoz remains the championship leader, but new winner Fernandez now lurks 25 points behind.

You can also find all the results, videos, photos and information regarding the championship on the official website: www.fimjuniorgp.com

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Canadian Sport Bike: Suzuki GSX-R750 Approved For Middleweight Classes

David Swarts

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June 4, 2023

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Canadian Sport Bike: Suzuki GSX-R750 Approved For Middleweight Classes

Suzuki GSX-R750 Approved for CSBK for September 2023

Toronto, ON – Following in the footsteps of the Second-Generation middleweight rules update started by the World Sanctioning group FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme) in 2022, Bridgestone CSBK National Championship organizers Professional Motor Sports Productions Inc. have confirmed further technical revisions for the Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike and Scorpion EXO Amateur Sport Bike middleweight categories.

Starting in September of 2023, the Suzuki GSX-R750 will be added to the approved equipment list, allowing the famed “Gixxer” to participate in both the Pro and Amateur Sport Bike categories. During the off season of 2022-2023, CSBK had adjusted the Sport Bike rules to include Ducati’s 955 V2 model, as well as the 903cc Yamaha family of triples.

“Various racing organizations have been busy updating their rules for one of the world’s staple classes,” explains CSBK Technical Manager Fred Benjamin. “With Suzuki’s GSX-R750 permitted in updated form in other countries, it made sense to head in that direction with CSBK.”

At the U.S. season-opening MotoAmerica Daytona 200 last March, Suzuki’s GSX-R750 contested for the win in an event won by the Ducati Desmo Panigale twin. Following that outcome, Suzuki Canada asked if their most famous sportster, launched in 1985, could be considered for the Sport Bike category in Canada.

Initial Dynojet Dyno testing with a current model Suzuki was organized at official tech supplier Brooklin Cycle Racing in Pickering, ON, confirming that the GSX-R750 could fit into the current rules structure. BCR also operate the Official Series Dynojet rear-wheel dyno used at each event in the CSBK tour to tune and confirm performance of bikes competing in the National Championships in all seven classes.

The GSX-R750 will be required to meet the existing standards for the Sport Bike category, with spec fuel and run on the Official scales and Dynojet Dyno immediate post session and race: 125 horsepower and 350 pounds.

Traditional in-line four-cylinder middleweight Japanese entries won at the opening Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike National at Shannonville Motorsport Park, May 20-21: Connor Campbell for Kawasaki in the rain on Saturday and Brad Macrae in the dry on Sunday aboard a Yamaha.

The sole Scorpion EXO Amateur Sport Bike race at S.M.P. went to Triumph triple equipped teen-ager Maverick Cyr. Macrae set the fastest dry race lap for Pro Sport Bike at 1:08.1, white quickest Amateur lap went to Andrew Cooney at 1:08.4 on a Honda CBR600RR.

The reason for the September homologation of the Suzuki GSX-R750 is to offer the chance for the series to gain data during the final round of 2023 at Shannonville Motorsport Park, September 14-17. As mentioned in the winter approval announcements of other middleweights, CSBK reserve the right to adjust the standards once each newly approved machine begins to participate in the Sport Bike category.

MotoAmerica: Elias Announces Immediate Retirement From Racing

David Swarts

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June 4, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Elias Announces Immediate Retirement From Racing

Spaniard Toni Elias, the 2010 Moto2 World Champion and the 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion, today announced his immediate retirement from racing on the live TV broadcast of MotoAmerica Superbike Race Two at Road America.

In Sunday’s Race Two, Elias drafted past Mathew Scholtz on the run to the checkered flag to finish fifth, which was his best race finish so far this season on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R.

Then in a live TV interview after the race, Elias, age 40, said, “It’s nice to finish like this. Today was my last race.”

In a follow-up interview Sunday evening, Elias told Roadracingworld.com, “This was the last one. When you have these thoughts it’s difficult, but the moment arrived. I’m super grateful and thankful to John [Ulrich, Team Hammer Co-Founder] and Chris [Ulrich, Team Hammer Vice-President of Operations] and the entire team to support me, to work hard, to have patience. It’s been nice. It’s been three rounds, but I was suffering myself. I didn’t feel comfortable at any time, and it’s time to stop.

“It’s not about the bike or not. It’s about how you feel, your brain, your heart, your thoughts, the way you push, how you brake, how you open the throttle, how aggressive you are. I’m not there anymore.

“Until the last moment I work hard, I push hard, but it’s in the back of my mind. I think some days ago, and I cannot continue. It’s time. It’s time to let some young riders take the place and push.”

Team Hammer Vice-President of Operations Chris Ulrich (left) working with Toni Elias (right) in the pits at Road America. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Chris Ulrich said Elias’ announcement came as a big surprise.

“I know he hinted about it last week and we had a discussion on Friday,” said Ulrich, “but he was very frustrated in the conversation. But I could also see he wasn’t set on ‘Kill.’

“I know from my own experience, and I was never at his level, but the day my brain shut off from racing was my last day of being a racer. And I was done. So, if he has that doubt, then fine.

“It’s a bummer he’s not going to complete the project. It’s disappointing the results weren’t magic, but on the other hand I identified some things at Road Atlanta and I stepped in at Barber to help just with the interface with Toni and to manage the program a little bit.

“We made changes quickly. We accommodated requests. We improved the engine performance of the motorcycle and overall, which helped Richie [Escalante], too. We’ve been pushing hard, and this weekend we saw the push.

“It is what it is. Riders do rider things. I don’t regret signing him up for the project. I don’t regret any of it. I wish Toni the best in all of his future endeavors.”

Ulrich then confirmed that Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki will have two Superbikes on track at the next MotoAmerica round June 23-25 at Ridge Motorsports Park.

MotoAmerica: Mission King Of The Baggers Race Two Results From Road America

David Swarts

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June 4, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Mission King Of The Baggers Race Two Results From Road America

Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands Design Indian’s Bobby Fong overcame the challenge of the air bag going off inside his leathers on the starting grid and went on to take a flag-to-flag victory in MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Race Two at Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Vance & Hines/Mission Harley-Davidson’s James Rispoli used the draft to win the battle for second just 0.010 second over Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson’s Kyle Wyman. Wyman came away with third place and the Championship point lead.

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MotoAmerica: Medallia Superbike Race Two Results From Road America (Updated)

David Swarts

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June 4, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Medallia Superbike Race Two Results From Road America (Updated)

Josh Herrin rode the race of his life to win MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Race Two Sunday at Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

With PJ Jacobsen breathing down his neck throughout most of the race, Herrin went faster and faster until he broke the All-Time Lap Record on the final lap of the race on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Panigale V4 R and secured the victory by 2.014 seconds.

Jacobsen was less than a second behind Herrin for most of the race but came up a little bit short in second place on his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR.

Two-time and defending Champion Jake Gagne finished a challenging weekend by taking third just 0.051 second ahead of his teammate Cameron Petersen, who was fourth.

Toni Elias passed Westby Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz on the run from the final corner to the checkered flag to score fifth on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R.

Cameron Beaubier was fighting Herrin for the lead on lap four when Beaubier’s BMW suffered a technical problem, forcing him to retire.

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More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Herrin And Ducati Win Medallia Race Two At Road America

Josh Herrin Wins His Ninth Career Superbike Race And His First With Ducati

Josh Herrin (2) held off PJ Jacobsen (99) to win Race Two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

ELKHART LAKE, WI (June 4, 2023) – Going into the second of two MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike races at Road America on Sunday, Josh Herrin had won AMA Superbike races on two different makes of motorcycles – Yamaha and Suzuki. As of Sunday afternoon you can add Ducati to that list as the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati rider rode his Panigale V4 R to his first victory of the season and the ninth Superbike win of his career.

Herrin led from the start and then tussled with Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier in the early laps until Beaubier’s BMW M 1000 RR suffered a mechanical failure that put him out of the race. From there Herrin withstood the constant pressure from a second Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW ridden by PJ Jacobsen.

But Herrin was fast, consistent, and mostly mistake-free en route to a 2.01-second win over Jacobsen after 12 laps of the four-mile Road America circuit. The win came in front of a record three-day crowd of 41,000 spectators at “America’s National Park of Speed.”

Jacobsen finished second for the second straight day after crossing the finish line some eight seconds ahead of Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne.

For Gagne the third-place finish was a reprieve from a weekend he and the team would like to forget. Mechanical problems plagued the team for the first two days of the Road America weekend and Gagne failed to finish yesterday’s race, which cost him his championship points lead.

However, with Beaubier’s non-finish combined with Gagne’s third-place finish, Gagne was back atop the championship point standings by 12 points over Beaubier, 111-99. Herrin, meanwhile, jumped to third in the standings with 90 points.

Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Cameron Petersen was the ultimate wingman to his teammate Gagne and ended up a shadow fourth despite racing with his injured right wrist.

Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Toni Elias was fifth in what was the Spaniard’s final race as he announced his retirement on TV immediately after the race. Elias drafted past Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz at the stripe, beating the South African by just .161 of a second. Those two were well clear of Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Corey Alexander, who bested Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante by half a second.

Aftercare Scheibe Racing’s Ashton Yates and Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim rounded out the top 10 finishers.

Superbike Race Two

Josh Herrin (Ducati)
PJ Jacobsen (BMW)
Jake Gagne (Yamaha)
Cameron Petersen (Yamaha)
Toni Elias (Suzuki)
Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha)
Corey Alexander (BMW)
Richie Escalante (Suzuki)
Ashton Yates (BMW)
Hayden Gillim (Suzuki)

Josh Herrin – Winner

“It was just for the haters, man. It just felt good. It felt right. But it was all in good fun. That felt really good. Like I said on the podium, I think this just motivates me to do more. I know that this is for sure one of our strongest tracks, but we’ve got to figure out how to make tracks like Barber not be such a weakness for us. I think just getting more time on the bike and a little bit more confidence will for sure help with that. I’m so happy that I’m a part of this team. It’s been really like a family these last two years. It’s a bummer that the DeNaples couldn’t be here for this one, because I know that they wish they could. It just feels good. It feels good to be 33 years old winning Superbike races on a bike like I’m riding right now and just having fun. This track has always been one of my favorite tracks, but today it really felt like… I’ve been racing here since 2006. This is my 18th season racing at this track. It felt like ’06 with the crowds that we had today. It was just really special going around the track afterwards and seeing everybody cheering on the fence. It’s really motivating as a racer to be out there and see a crowd like that. So, thank you to everybody for showing up. Thank you to the whole team for everything that they do for me. I’m ready to keep going.”

PJ Jacobsen – Second Place

“Josh (Herrin) rode really, really well today. My starts just suck, and they’ve been sucking all year. So, that’s one thing that I need to figure out how to get off the line better. In the race, I feel like we were doing pretty consistent lap times, into the nines and stuff like that. I caught up to him and Cam (Beaubier), and then Cam had the problem. Then I felt like I was catching Josh a little, and then it stayed like that. Then the last few laps it felt like we were going pretty fast. I think I did 2:09.2 with two laps to go. Then there was pretty decent gap. I don’t know if it was a gap enough to go and try to challenge for the win. After turn three or whatever, we were ripping and I was like, I don’t know if I should really throw this thing away trying to go faster than that lap time we just did, because it was fast enough. I was trying really hard. Josh rode a really good race. So, it was a bummer. I felt really good in morning warmup and breaking the track record this morning. It was kind of a bummer not to get the win today, but I felt like I rode pretty good, and my team did a great job all weekend. The bikes were super, super fast all weekend. So, it was really good. I’m pretty happy with the whole weekend.”

Jake Gagne – Third Place

“That was about all I could expect, I think, coming from the last couple days. Josh (Herrin) and PJ (Jacobsen) and Cam (Beaubier), those guys were really flying. They had pace. I know what it feels like now. They had pace that I just couldn’t run, no matter what. They took off right away. I wanted to get a good start and at least try to clear some of the other guys. My teammate, Cam (Petersen), was on me the whole race long. I could hear him breathing down on me. Again, the team went through a lot of crap this weekend and had some real bad luck. It was just one of those weekends. So, I’m happy that we at least put it up on the box today. With Beaubier having a DNF, I got some luck on my side too, which isn’t how you want it, but we’re up here and I’m ready to get out of this state.”

More, from a press release issued by Ducati:

Ducati’s Josh Herrin and Xavi Forés Hold Nothing Back at Road America MotoAmerica

Josh Herrin takes pole position and dominates race two for his debut win of the season Forés retains perfect season with another double win

Sunnyvale, Calif., June 4, 2023 — The Warhorse HSBK Ducati NYC duo of Josh Herrin and Xavi Forés held nothing back during round three of the 2023 MotoAmerica Championship at Wisconsin’s Road America. Herrin settled for third in the opening Superbike race at the newly paved Road America but dominated race two for his debut win of the season. As for Forés, he doubled once again, achieving a perfect season so far in the Supersport Championship.

Herrin piloted his Panigale V4 R to the pole position Saturday before settling for third in that day’s race one. He led until lap six when BMW’s Cameron Beaubier passed him. Herrin then lost another position on lap eight to Beaubier’s teammate PJ Jacobsen, who stuffed him in the chicane, forcing Herrin to go wide.

But it was a much different story for Sunday’s race two. The 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Herrin led the entire 12-lap race from the pole, even breaking the lap record on the final lap with a 2:09.025. Herrin finished 2.014 seconds ahead of Jacobsen and his performance bumped him from fifth to third in points; he is now 21 points behind the leader Gagne.

In the Supersport class, the Spaniard Forés was again untouchable aboard his Panigale V2. In race one Saturday, he was constantly challenged by Kawasaki rider Stefano Mesa and Yamaha’s Joshua Hayes, but was able to hold them off to secure his fourth win of the season.

Forés continued his dominance in Sunday’s race two, again holding off a charging Mesa. But he was able to keep the focus until securing his fifth win of the season and retaining a perfect record so far in the 2023 Supersport class.

2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Standings After Round Three

P1 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 111

P2 – Cameron Beaubier (BMW) 99

P3 – Josh Herrin (Ducati) 90

P4 – Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 81

P5 – PJ Jacobsen (BMW) 72

2023 MotoAmerica Supersport Standings After Round Three

P1 – Xavi Forés (Ducati) 150

P2 – Stefano Mesa (Kawasaki) 113

P3 – Josh Hayes (Yamaha) 83

P4 – Tyler Scott (Suzuki) 79

P5 – Michael Gilbert (Suzuki) 70

Josh Herrin (2). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.

Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – #2)

“Sunday’s win felt very special. The team was working really hard this weekend. We were bummed Saturday during race one because we thought we’d have the win. But we chose the wrong front tire and had some issues. But Sunday was awesome. That was one of my favorite wins ever. I’m so happy for the team, and that they gave me a chance to be part of this program. Now I’m looking forward to the next round at The Ridge and riding the V4 R some more.”

Xavi Forés (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – #12)

“Five victories in a row is much better than I was expecting at the beginning of the season. I felt strong all weekend and on pace and had a great time riding the Panigale V2 on the newly paved Road America. On Sunday, I was pushing very hard all the race to make some gap, and it worked just enough to hold off Mesa. I’m happy with the job done this weekend and look forward to the next round at The Ridge. Thanks to the Warhorse HSBK Ducati NYC Team for such a great job!”

Round Four of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike and Supersport Championship will take place at Ridge Motorsports Park in Washington June 23-25.

More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Gagne Reclaims Superbike Points Lead with Road America Podium Finish

Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne returned to the podium with a third-place finish to reclaim the championship lead in Race 2 at Road America

Yamaha's Jake Gagne (1) and Cameron Petersen (45) racing for third at Road America. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha. — Yamaha’s Jake Gagne (1) and Cameron Petersen (45) racing for third at Road America. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Yamaha.

MARIETTA, Ga. – June 4, 2023 – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne returned to the podium and reclaimed the points lead with a third-place finish in today’s MotoAmerica Superbike Race 2 at Road America. It was a positive conclusion to a roller coaster weekend for the reigning champ and his team, with Cameron Petersen also improving his result to fourth on the second day of racing at the third round of the championship in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Although he did not repeat yesterday’s impressive start from the second row of the grid, Gagne was a force to be reckoned with on the opening lap. In sixth after the start, he quickly made his way to fourth and then went from fourth to the runner-up spot shortly after. The defending champ tried to hold onto the position but ultimately was shuffled back to fourth a few laps later. Undeterred, he ran his own race with his teammate on his heels and ultimately advanced to third after his championship rival had to withdraw from the race. Gagne rode on to take the final podium spot, reclaiming the number-one spot with a 12-point lead.

Petersen made improvements on the final day of racing at the 4.05-mile track, getting a great start from the fifth spot on the grid to third. After being passed by Gagne on the opening lap, he was shuffled to fifth. He continued to run a strong pace on the heels of his teammate despite still not feeling 100% with his wrist injury and crossed the line fourth.

The Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing Team returns to action on June 24-26 for Round 4 of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at Ridge Motorsports Park, in Shelton, Washington.

Richard Stanboli – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager

“We made a good step today with both riders. We were just behind all weekend, but the riders and the team stayed positive and pushed until the end. Jake goes away with a championship lead, and Cam rode well to finish on his heels despite the wrist pain. We are happy to leave with decent points and move on to more technical tracks that we know will suit our Yamaha R1s. We are looking forward to seeing our fans at The Ridge in Washington.”

Jake Gagne – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing

“It was a good to finish the weekend with some points. We overcame a lot of adversity this weekend, so it feels great to be back on the podium. I was surprised to come out with the points lead, but that’s racing. I’m ready to head to The Ridge, which has always been good for the Yamaha.”

Cameron Petersen – Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing

“It was a positive end to the weekend. I had a fun race with Jake, and I’m happy to bring the bike home in fourth. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season and heading to The Ridge in a couple of weeks; the Yamahas are going to be good!”

About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.

YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana).

More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:

Mathew Scholtz And Westby Racing Endure A Difficult Weekend At Road America

Mathew Scholtz (11) leads Toni Elias (24) and Richie Escalante (54) during Race Two at Road America. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.

Elkhart Lake, WI – June 4, 2023 – Round three of the 2023 Medallia Superbike Championship took place at Road America, and “America’s National Park of Speed” had been repaved during the off-season. Record-setting laps and top speeds were expected, so Mathew Scholtz and his Westby Racing team knew they had their work cut out for them since their Yamaha YZF-R1 is built for razor-sharp handling more than eyeball-flattening speed.

After qualifying fourth on the starting grid for the weekend’s two races, Mathew struggled with a lack of grip in Saturday’s race one. He ended up in sixth place when he crossed the finish line, but he was penalized two positions after officials ruled that he passed riders when the yellow flag was waving. So, that moved him back to eighth in the results.

Mathew and the team regrouped overnight. Then, in Sunday morning’s warm up session, air temperatures were cooler and even though he was seventh-fastest, Mathew felt more comfortable with the setup. The track heated up in the afternoon, however, which caused him to struggle again with grip, and he ultimately finished sixth.

“We obviously knew coming into the Road America track that it was going to be one of the more difficult weekends, just because the Yamaha is a little bit down on horsepower compared with the BMWs and the Ducatis,” Mathew said. “But, leaving Barber, we were pretty confident that we had a really good setup, and that we could challenge up front, or at least near the front. Since the circuit is newly repaved, we had to use the harder-compound Dunlop tires because the track is so abrasive, and it just seemed like we were really far away on the setup. From the first practice session on Friday, I was struggling with the rear coming around on the entry of the corners. We were just kind of chasing that all weekend long. We did make it better and better after each session, and we finally got it the best for Sunday warmup, which at least gave me confidence that we were managing to sort things out.

“It was one of the most difficult weekends of my career, to be honest. Finishing eighth, granted, I did finish sixth and got docked two positions for passing on a yellow flag. But an eighth and a sixth place are, by far, the worst two races I’ve had since stepping up to the Superbike class. However, I do feel like this is the strongest package we’ve had, so, it was just kind of a hard pill to swallow. Road America is, by far, the toughest track for our bike. Now, we’ll be going towards tighter, twistier tracks that suit the Yamaha, and we can use the advantage of the flowing Yamaha frame with the softer regular tires that we’re used to running and that we’ve actually set up the bike for.”

The Westby Racing team will be back in action on June 23 through 25 at Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, for round four of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.

MotoAmerica Superbike Standings

1. Jake Gagne – Yamaha – 111

2. Cameron Beaubier – BMW – 99

3. Josh Herrin – Ducati – 90

4. Mathew Scholtz – Yamaha – 81

5. PJ Jacobsen – BMW – 72

For more updates about Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit http://www.WestbyRacing.com

Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.

MotoAmerica: Supersport Race Two Results From Road America (Updated)

David Swarts

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June 4, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Supersport Race Two Results From Road America (Updated)

Xavi Fores continued his perfect performance so far in MotoAmerica by winning Supersport Race Two Sunday at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Fores, riding his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2, led most of the race but was pressured by Stefano Mesa all the way to the checkered flag. At the finish, it was Fores winning his fifth race in five starts by 0.399 second over Mesa and his Tytlers Cycle Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R.

After finishing sixth in Race One, Tyler Scott stepped up in Race Two to score third on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750.

Josh Hayes was a close fourth on his Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha YZF-R6, and Michael Gilbert rounded out the top five finishers on his Michael Gilbert Racing Suzuki GSX-R750.

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More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Fong, Fores, Wyman, Moor And Much Moore At Road America On Day Two

Bobby Fong, Xavi Fores, Rossi More, Mikala Moore And Travis Wyman Win Big On Sunday In Wisconsin

ELKHART LAKE, WI (June 4, 2023) – With a record three-day crowd of 41,000 spectators on hand at Road America on Sunday, the five support classes of the MotoAmerica Championship were on center stage and they didn’t disappoint.

Mission King Of The Baggers – The Fonger!

The last thing anybody thought would happen in the Mission King Of The Bagger race at Road America was that one rider would simply ride off in the distance and leave the rest to fight for second place. But that’s what happened on Sunday as Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands/Indian’s Bobby Fong annihilated the rest of the Mission King Of The Baggers field, winning by an unheard of 5.7 seconds.

Bobby Fong (50) completely dominated the Mission King Of The Baggers race at Road America on Sunday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

The race didn’t start well for Fong as he somehow made the airbag in his leathers activate after the warm-up lap and he started the race looking like Bibendum. It didn’t slow him down, however, as he got a great start and simply pulled away.

In Fong’s wake was a full-on war with James Rispoli, Kyle Wyman, Hayden Gillim and Jeremy McWilliams brawling over the remaining podium spots. The runner-up spot ended up going to Vance & Hines/Mission Harley-Davidson’s Rispoli over H-D Screamin’ Eagle’s Wyman by just .010 of a second. Gillim was right behind them in fourth with Travis Wyman fifth on the second H-D Screamin’ Eagle Harley. McWilliams, meanwhile, crashed out of the race on the last lap two turns from the finish.

“It’s been a rollercoaster of a year, but we’ve shown some glimpses of hope here and there and had some bad luck, but that’s part of racing,” Fong said. “I’ve dealt with worse in the past. I’m just thankful to be up here today. Before the race, I was just doing my little warmup, pump me up, little pump my chest and the damn airbag popped off, but it gave me a little adrenaline rush right before the race. The main thing, my goal was just to get away from the chaos behind me. I knew it was going to be a mess back there. I got the initial jump and then I started slipping my clutch. I’m like, ‘damn, they’re all going to blow by me,’ and nobody got by me. Yesterday Tyler (O’Hara) and Jeremy (McWilliams) had a hell of a start, so I was just waiting for them to blow by me. But I just put my head down the first lap. I’m like, ‘okay, I feel good.’ The pace was pretty smooth. I felt pretty good doing it, but I can’t get too used to this. These guys are going pretty good. Laguna (Seca) they go real well also. I’m going to have my hands full for the rest of the year, and we’ll just keep our head down and keep pushing.”

Supersport – Fores Still Perfect

When Xavi Fores inked his deal to come to America to ride a Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2 in the MotoAmerica Supersport Series, he figured he’d win races and challenge for the title. Little did he know he’d win the first five races of his MotoAmerica career, but that’s exactly what he’s done as he won his fifth in a row at Road America on Sunday.

Tyler Scott (70) leads eventual winner Xavi Fores (12) and the rest of the Supersport pack at Road America on Sunday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

Forest battled throughout the race with Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Stefano Mesa with the Floridian coming up just .399 of a second short after the run up the hill to the finish line.

Third place went to Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott with the youngster topping Squid Hunter Racing’s Josh Hayes by a tick over a second. Michael Gilbert Racing’s Michael Gilbert rounded out the top five.

“I realized already this morning in warmup I was not able to pass him on the draft,” Fores said. “He is lighter than me and the bike is fast, but I wanted to see how was his pace. I ran wide in the chicane. I lost the front a little bit, so I said, okay. I looked back and no one was coming close to us. I said, “okay, I’m going to let him pass and try to understand his pace.’ So after that, on the first split, I was a little bit faster than him and I was solid braking into turn five, so I passed again. I was quite okay doing 16 on my pace. I was pushing so hard. I was looking back all the time and he was there. The bike was working quite well, despite some issues I still have on the front. I never felt the front on my side from the first race of this year. But we are working a little bit. We are improving the bike a little bit, but it is still not enough. I lose the front sometimes when I am deep on the brakes. But I’m enjoying my riding. I’m enjoying fighting with them, discovering new tracks. If it’s winning races like that, it’s always welcome.”

Junior Cup – Rossi Wants More

It was a big day for Fairium NGRT- Gray Area Racing KTM rider Rossi Moor. The fifteen-year-old former Mini Cup rider, who podiumed in Saturday’s Junior Cup race one, notched his first career MotoAmerica race on Sunday at Road America in Junior Cup race two. It was another “pack mentality” race for MotoAmerica’s entry-level riders where you didn’t know who’d win till they actually took the checkered flag. Moor prevailed over SportbikeTrackGear.com Kawasaki rider Max Van, who came from back in the pack to take the runner-up position over third-place rider Avery Dreher aboard his Bad Boys Racing Kawasaki.

Rossi Moor (34) won his first career MotoAmerica Junior Cup race on Sunday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

“Yesterday, I wanted to try and stay in second place and try to not lead the race because I remember when Avery was saying that on this track you really don’t want to lead, especially on the last laps since the draft is so important here,” Moor said. “But I was analyzing the race yesterday and I thought that I had the pace to be able to break away. I just have to put my head down and sometimes you need a little bit of luck, like somebody making a mistake, to have that little breakaway. So, it was a really good race for me, after the bad luck I’ve had this season with two DNF’s. But finally, I got the win and I’m super excited.”

Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. – One Moore

The 12 ladies of the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. program kicked off Sunday’s racing at Road America with their second feature event of the weekend. Mikayla Moore, who won Saturday’s race one by more than 17 seconds, was victorious again on Sunday. But, this time, Kayleigh Buyck, who suffered a mechanical in race one and was unable to finish, came back on Sunday to finish second and a little under 12 seconds behind Moore. Completing the podium was Aubrey Credaroli, who was another 9 seconds behind Buyck.

Mikayla Moore (78) won the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. race for the second straight day. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

The BTR series will race again at MotoAmerica’s next round, which is Ridge Motorsports Park, June 24-26.

“I have a lap-timer on my bike, and surprisingly, my fastest time all weekend was in qualifying 2. I did a 2:53.8,” Moore said. “This time I think I was a second off. I’m still finding a little bit of bike setup during the race, but other than that, I just kept consistent. Made sure I hit all my lines, hit all my marks, and I’m glad these ladies are up here with me. Not going to lie, going onto the straightaway I could see the big screen, and I was watching. I was like, ‘Oh, there’s a battle going on back there.’”

Stock 1000 – Wyman Does It

According to Travis Wyman, he struggled with the setup of his Travis Wyman Racing BMW throughout most of the Road America weekend. This was despite the fact that he qualified in the pole position for the weekend’s two Steel Commander Stock 1000 races and finished second in Saturday’s race two.

Travis Wyman (10) won the Steel Commander Stock 1000 race on Sunday at Road America. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

On Sunday, Wyman won the race over Orange Cat Racing’s Kaleb De Keyrel, who was also aboard a BMW and just a little over two seconds behind Wyman. Third place went to Disrupt Racing Suzuki rider Hayden Gillim, the Kentucky rider happy to get a podium result at a track where he felt he would struggle due to the power and speed of the BMWs. Gillim was some 16 seconds behind De Keyrel at the checkered flag, and he was also able to take advantage of the fact that points leader Ezra Beaubier ran off the track and finished fourth.

“It’s definitely where I wanted to be yesterday,” Wyman said, “But I think we were still missing a little bit of something. So, the guys put a great package underneath me today. I think just the little bit cooler temperatures gave me more confidence to just get out and push, because in Q2 yesterday morning it was about similar temperatures, a little overcast, and the bike felt its best. Yesterday in the race when the sun was beating down, I didn’t have the confidence in the grip level. I knew if I got a holeshot, I could put my head down and go to work. I saw the gap getting bigger and bigger, and then all of a sudden it was back down to the plus zero again. Honestly, I thought it was Ezra behind me the entire time, and I just kept my head down for a couple more laps and I looked up and I saw on the monitor going into three and it was Kaleb. Kaleb has been strong at the end of the races, so I had to keep going. Just really never looked back. The bike was phenomenal. It was a huge step up from yesterday. It felt like it did in Q2. I got to give it all to my team. It’s been a long time coming. It’s been since Laguna 2021 when I won a Stock 1000 race.”

Isle Of Man TT: Superbike TT Race One Report

David Swarts

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June 4, 2023

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Isle Of Man TT: Superbike TT Race One Report

DUNLOP CLAIMS HIS 23RD TT WIN IN THE RST SUPERBIKE RACE

Michael Dunlop’s grip of the 2023 Isle of Man TT Races continued on Sunday afternoon as he broke the race record by almost a minute to win the RST Superbike race, his 23rd victory in total which saw him draw level with John McGuinness as the second most successful TT rider ever.

Michael Dunlop (6) won Sunday's Superbike TT. Photo courtesy Isle of Man TT Press Office. — Michael Dunlop (6) won Sunday’s Superbike TT. Photo courtesy Isle of Man TT Press Office.

Dunlop led from start to finish on the Hawk Racing Honda to win by 8.2 seconds as Peter Hickman (Monster Energy by FHO Racing BMW) narrowly missed out on a new outright lap record with a speed of 135.445mph on his final lap. Dean Harrison (DAO Racing Kawasaki) was again third.

Dunlop grabbed the lead on the first run to Glen Helen, his lead over Harrison a miniscule 0.145 seconds and it was Davey Todd (Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles Honda) in third, 1.2 seconds further back. Hickman, experiencing quickshifter issues, slotted into fourth, 0.866 seconds behind Todd and 2.3 seconds behind Dunlop. James Hillier (OMG Racing Yamaha) and John McGuinness MBE (Honda Racing) ran in fifth and sixth just ahead of Jamie Coward (KTS Racing powered by Steadplan Honda) and Josh Brookes (Monster Energy by FHO Racing BMW).

Dunlop still led at Ballaugh but his lead over Harrison had increased to 3.1 seconds with the running order behind the same although Hickman was now only 0.3 seconds adrift of Todd. By Ramsey, Dunlop’s lead had stretched again and was now 4.5 seconds but Hickman had overhauled Todd for third with Coward doing the same to McGuinness for sixth.

Up and down Snaefell for the first time and with an opening lap of 134.519mph, Dunlop led Harrison by 6.2s. The Kawasaki man was 4.9s clear of Hickman who, in turn, held a slender half second advantage over Todd. Hillier still ran in fifth after also lapping at more than 132mph, which made him the fastest Yamaha rider ever around the Mountain Course, with the top ten completed by Coward, McGuinness, Brookes, Dominic Herbertson and Shaun Anderson.

Mike Browne was an early caller into the pits at the end of lap one before continuing but back at the head of the field and Dunlop added another second to his lead by the time he swept through Glen Helen for the second time. Indeed, the Ulsterman was increasing the gap at every timing point as he appeared on course to set a new outright lap record.

Through Ramsey, the gap was 10.1seconds with Harrison 8.3 seconds ahead of Hickman who had pulled clear of Todd who was now coming under pressure from Hillier, the gap between the two hovering around two seconds. Coward was still in a good sixth with both him and Hillier having overtaken seventh placed McGuinness on the road.

A second lap speed of 135.046mph meant Dunlop fell just short of the outright lap record but, more importantly, his lead over Harrison had gone out to 14.6s as he came into the pits for his first stop. Hickman was now 6s behind Harrison but 19s clear of Todd who had stretched out the gap to Hillier to 7.5 seconds. Coward remained in sixth with McGuinness, Brookes, Herbertson and Anderson the running order behind.

In a repeat of Saturday’s Supersport race, Dunlop was controlling the race from the front with Hickman slowly reeling Harrison in as they battled for second whilst Hillier was now up to fourth having pulled four seconds clear of Todd halfway round lap three.

At half race distance, Dunlop’s lead had gone up to 18.8s but there was disappointment for Todd whose race was over as he pulled into the pits to retire. That elevated Hillier up to fourth with Coward and McGuinness now up to fifth and sixth respectively and, further back, Rob Hodson moved into the top ten.

A fourth lap speed of 134.192mph meant Dunlop’s lead went over 20 seconds for the first time with Harrison still keeping Hickman at bay. The fab three were more than a minute clear of the rest of the field with Hillier, Coward and McGuinness still running in fourth to sixth after more 130mph+ laps. Brookes, Herbertson, Hodson and Michael Rutter filled the rest of the top ten positions.

The second and final pit stop at the end of the fourth lap saw the gaps change slightly with Dunlop’s lead back down to 19 seconds but, crucially, now just 3.6 seconds between Harrison and Hickman. Coward had also closed to within seven seconds of Hillier.

Dunlop was able to control the race over the final two laps, despite Hickman’s late charge and came home for his second win of the week with Harrison completing the podium in third.

Hillier and Coward were rewarded for their fine rides with fourth and fifth as McGuinness, Brookes, Herbertson, Rutter and Anderson completed the top ten.

MotoAmerica: More From Road America

June 5, 2023

Kyle Wyman (33), Hayden Gillim (79), Travis Wyman (10), and the rest of the MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers field heads into Turn Five at Road America. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson. — Kyle Wyman (33), Hayden Gillim (79), Travis Wyman (10), and the rest of the MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers field heads into Turn Five at Road America earlier this season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Harley-Davidson.