MONSTER ENERGY BECOMES TITLE SPONSOR FOR FHO RACING BMW AT THE ISLE OF MAN TT RACES
FHO Racing is excited to announce that Monster Energy will be the team’s title sponsor at this year’s Isle of Man TT Races, with Peter Hickman and Josh Brookes tackling the 37.73-mile Mountain Course, aboard the BMW M 1000 RR.
The new partnership will see Monster Energy’s logo adorn the M 1000 RR machines at the iconic event, as well as branding present on the rider leathers, garage boarding, team clothing and the official FHO merchandise.
Arriving at this year’s races, the Monster Energy by FHO Racing BMW team are hot favourites and leading the teams’ charge is nine-time TT winner and outright lap record holder Hickman, who at last year’s event scored a hat-trick of wins in the Superbike, Superstock and blue-riband Senior TT.
Teammate Brookes is also no stranger to the TT course. Making his debut in 2013 he took the accolade of fastest newcomer (127.726mph) and went to finish 10th in his first-ever Superbike race. Heading back to the event in 2014 and 2017, it was in 2018 where he scored his highest place result in the Senior TT finishing fifth.
The Monster Energy by FHO Racing BMW team will be in action on Monday 29 May with the first practice sessions of 2023 taking place. Practice week continues through to Friday 2 June, and with an all-new schedule for this year, the six-lap RST Superbike Race is scheduled to take place on Sunday 4 June. The first RL360 Superstock race will be held on Tuesday 6 June, with the second Superstock race on Thursday 4 June and the grand finale, the Milwaukee Senior TT will be on Saturday 10 June. For the full schedule click here.
Peter Hickman:
“I’m super excited to get back to the TT this year, everyone keeps telling me the sun will be shining so fingers crossed that is the case. The BMW looks unbelievable with the Monster Energy sponsorship, and I can’t wait to ride it around the course – it’s going to be epic. Everything about the team is good, the bike is fast, we’re all working well together and having Josh as a teammate is exciting, I think he’s going to surprise a few people. The TT is the biggest event on the calendar for us and it’s constantly changing, improving and they’re working to make it as safe as possible, but to be honest as a rider we’re not too focused on that we just want to go there and ride!”
Josh Brookes:
“To be honest until now I’ve not given much attention to the TT, mainly as BSB has been the primary focus, but now with Donington behind us I can focus on the TT. I think it goes without saying that everyone on the entry list is going to be excited to get there and get going. I think it’s probably the best circuit we go to, in a different way than BSB obviously, but for the thrill, the excitement and the buzz, it’s got all the peak ingredients and a huge draw to get there and get going. I do feel like I’ve got a little bit of anxiety; I know what I’m about to go and do and that it’s a big deal. I also want to do well and represent the team, all the supporters – everybody. So, I’ve got that expectation and pressure to perform as that’s what I want to do, but having five years away adds a little more pressure. I know I can do a job and I know I can ride well, that I can learn the track and all that will happen. I’m looking forward to first practice and getting a few laps in on the BMW.”
Faye Ho – Team Principal:
“The TT is one of my favourite events on the racing calendar and I’m always so excited to get there, but this year with Monster Energy as our title sponsor it’s just got even more exciting! Monster Energy have such a presence in motorsport and to have them as a title sponsor for my team at the TT is just incredible. It’s a credit to the team and the riders for all the hard work that goes in, on and off track, being recognised by such a high-profile corporation like Monster Energy wanting to get involved and support us.
We’ve got a really strong team this year with Pete and Josh, and with Pete’s achievements last year we’re going in strong. I’d like to wish all the riders and teams’ good luck for this year’s event, here’s to a safe and fast TT 2023!”
SuperMotocross World Championship Hits Midway Point of Inaugural Season as Pro Motocross Begins this Saturday in Pala, California
Supercross Caps Banner Season with Key Milestones
Peacock and SuperMotocross Video Pass to Showcase Pro Motocross Championship with Uninterrupted Race Coverage
ELLENTON, Fla./MORGANTOWN W.Va., (May 25, 2023) – The inaugural 31-event series of the SuperMotocross World Championship hits the midway point as the focus now turns toward the outdoor Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. Round 1 of the 11-round summer season of racing (Round 18 of the SMX World Championship) gets underway this Saturday, May 27, in Pala, Calif. with the Fox Raceway National.
The indoor-stadium season of Supercross concluded recently in Salt Lake City with Chase Sexton capping off a spectacular season with six wins and the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, giving Team Honda HRC its first 450 premier class title in 20 years. Sexton enters the Pro Motocross season currently seeded number one in the SuperMotocross World Championship points standings with 372 points.
Chase Sexton celebrating with Team Honda HRC after winning his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports.
Adding to the list of accolades for Team Honda HRC, Australian brothers Jett and Hunter Lawrence both won their respective 250SX Class championships, with Jett winning the Western Regional title and Hunter winning the Eastern Regional title. Despite his success in Supercross, Jett will begin the summer at a significant disadvantage in the SMX World Championship standings as he makes the move up to the 450 Class and will start with zero points. As a result of Jett’s graduation, Hunter becomes the top-seeded 250cc racer in the SMX World Championship with 224 points and will continue in the 250 Class for Pro Motocross, where he will be in search of his first AMA National Championship.
Jett and Hunter Lawrence speaking to the media at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. Jett won the Western Regional 250SX Class title and Hunter won the Eastern Regional 250SX Class title. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports.
The 17-round Supercross season witnessed record attendance across the board as more than 850K fans made their way through the turnstiles for the races and over 343K came early for pre-race FanFest across the 16 different markets. The season featured four sellout races (Anaheim Opener, Anaheim 2, San Diego, Salt Lake City) and record high attendance in five other markets, including Glendale, Ariz., Indianapolis, Ind., and Arlington, Texas. Overall, live event attendance increased by 5% YOY, and combined with FanFest, it saw a 15% increase YOY.
Television and streaming viewership also showed strong signs of growth across NBC, Peacock, and USA Network. NBC Sports’ multi-year rights extension with Feld Motor Sports laid the groundwork for Peacock to serve as the home of Supercross, Pro Motocross and the SuperMotocross World Championship this year and into the coming years. Peacock exclusively streamed 12 Supercross races this season, with consumption up nearly 100% vs. 2022. The five rounds that aired on NBC and USA Network reached more than 5 million total viewers.
The SuperMotocross Video Pass, allows international streaming of every round of the SMX World Championship, including the Pro Motocross Championship for the first time. Over the past five years, the streaming service has seen 30% growth globally and in 2023, a new partnership with Endeavor Streaming gives international fans premium access with expanded service and even greater service reliability. The full season package is now available to all countries and territories outside the United States, making SuperMotocross one of the most accessible sports on the planet.
The top 10 countries for international streaming include Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, New Zealand, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, and Mexico, all of which have their best talent competing in the series leading to international intrigue, tune-in, and global audience interest.
As the SuperMotocross World Championship continues with the Pro Motocross Championship, fans from across the globe can continue to tune in via Peacock and the SuperMotocross Video Pass as the entirety of the 11-round championship will be streamed live, with four and a half hours of live racing with uninterrupted coverage of all four combined 450 Class and 250 Class motos.
In addition to the most extensive streaming coverage to date for Pro Motocross, network broadcast coverage will bring the action into millions of homes during select rounds of the season. NBC will air live network showcases of the opening motos from the Crestview Construction Southwick National, on July 8, and the second motos from the Honda Unadilla National, on August 12, while USA Network will broadcast Sunday re-airs of the final motos from the FXR Spring Creek National, on July 16, and the Yamaha Racing Budds Creek National, on August 20. Encore presentations of the second motos from all 11 rounds will also air on CNBC every Monday following a National.
Bringing the action to the passionate Pro Motocross audience will be host and lead commentator Jason Weigandt, the longtime voice of American motocross, alongside the Hall of Fame tandem of multi-time AMA Champions Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart. These former on-track rivals have become two of the most knowledgeable and savvy color analysts in motorsports, each boasting a racing résumé that made them icons of the sport. Trackside insights will once again feature former racer Jason Thomas in addition to longtime reporter Will Christien during the NBC broadcasts.
2023 Pro Motocross Broadcast and Streaming Schedule:
Kicking off each National over the course of the summer season will be the addition of Race Day Live, presented by MotoSport.com, the official pre-race show of both Monster Energy AMA Supercross and now the Pro Motocross Championship. This one-hour preview will live-stream the final timed qualifying sessions of the 450 Class and 250 Class, which will set the stage for the afternoon battle for victory each weekend.
Storylines abound for the SuperMotocross World Championship as the series heads into the Pro Motocross season as Sexton, Lawrence, and Adam Cianciarulo all look to keep the momentum going into the summer. Additionally, several key athletes will make their return from injuries as the season unfolds – Cooper Webb, Justin Barcia, Jason Anderson, Dylan Ferrandis, Christian Craig, Malcolm Stewart, Michael Mosiman, Pierce Brown, Jalek Swoll, and others.
For the first time in the sport’s 50-plus year history, athletes have an additional incentive to keep racing as they accumulate points towards the SMX World Championship. The top 20 athletes in combined Supercross and Pro Motocross points (both classes) will be automatically seeded into the SMX Playoffs and World Championship Final. In addition to racing for the sport’s ultimate title, the best athletes in the world will also be competing for the sport’s biggest prize – $5.5M spread across the final three races ($10M spread across the SMX series).
All roads lead towards the SuperMotocross World Championship as Playoff 1 will take place on Saturday, September 9 at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C. and Playoff 2 is set for Saturday, September 16 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., followed by the SuperMotocross World Championship Final on Saturday, September 23 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif.
SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs and Final Schedule:
SuperMotocross Playoff 1 – zMAX Dragway – September 9, 2023
SuperMotocross Playoff 2 – Chicagoland Speedway – September 16, 2023
SuperMotocross World Championship Final – LA Memorial Coliseum – September 23, 2023
Domestically, Peacock continues to be the exclusive streaming home for all SuperMotocross World Championship action, including 11 rounds of Pro Motocross, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, two SuperMotocross playoff races and then the SuperMotocross World Championship Final.
Internationally, the SuperMotocross Video Pass (Supermotocross.tv) is the go-to platform for all 31 events across the SMX World Championship. With it being the midway point in the series fans can take advantage of a current price reduction.
Mere days remain until the roar of 40-rider gates greet the most enthusiastic fans in motorsports for another memorable summer of the Pro Motocross Championship. The 11-round season will travel to 10 different states, with visits to the hallowed grounds of Fox Raceway, Hangtown, Thunder Valley Motocross Park, High Point Raceway, RedBud MX, The Wick 338, Spring Creek MX Park, Washougal MX Park, Unadilla MX, Budds Creek Motocross Park, and Ironman Raceway.
For more information about the 2023 SuperMotocross World Championship series, the Pro Motocross Championship, tickets, and streaming options, visit Peacock and supermotocross.com.
A memorial to honor longtime President and owner of Championship Cup Series (CCS) and American Sportbike Racing Association (ASRA) Kevin Elliott, Sr. is planned to take place at lunchtime on Sunday, May 28 during the ASRA/CCS event this coming weekend May 27-29 at Summit Point Motorsports Park, in West Virginia.
Elliott died from liver failure January 29, 2023, at the age of 64.
And remember, ASRA/CCS races Saturday through Memorial Day Monday at Summit Point.
A little over a week before the start of round five of the Superbike World Championship, set to take place at the Misano World Circuit, and Kawasaki Puccetti Racing has announced it will field Tito Rabat aboard the team’s Ninja ZX-10RR for the remainder of the 2023 season.
Having concluded its collaboration with Tom Sykes, the responsibility now falls on the 2014 Moto2 World Champion for what will be a welcome return for the team’s home round at Misano. Tito Rabat has in fact already raced with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, competing in three rounds in 2021 (Portimao, San Juan Villicum and Mandalika) and one in 2022, at the same Misano World Circuit.
Tito Rabat was born in Barcelona on 25 May 1989 and began to race in the CEV 125 in 2004 before moving up to the world championship, in the same category, in 2006. During the 2011 season, he competed in Moto2, amassing twelve wins and thirty-three podiums over the five years he spent in the intermediate class. He was crowned world champion in 2014. 2016 saw him move to MotoGP, where he remained until 2021. He then decided to switch to WorldSBK, a championship in which he has contested 35 races to date, scoring a total of 53 points. This season he is competing in both the MotoE World Championship and the Spanish ESBK 1000, in which he finished as champion in 2022.
Manuel Puccetti
“I’m pleased to announce the return of Tito Rabat to our team. In both 2021 and 2022, the Spaniard was tasked with standing in for an injured rider, which is never easy, and he raced without having chance to test, so without knowing our bike. Despite that, Tito always proved to be the consummate professional, with significant experience under his belt in both the Moto2 and MotoGP championship. It will be a pleasure for us to have him back on the team for this home round of Misano, where our goal will be to continue developing the bike and try to improve on the results scored thus far.”
Tito Rabat
“I’m pleased to return to Team Puccetti and Kawasaki. This is a great opportunity for me to return to WorldSBK but also keep up the race pace, because this year I’m competing in MotoE where there are not so many races. I’ll try to make the most of this opportunity and help Manuel Puccetti’s team as they continue to develop their bike. I have had some great times with this team and there is much respect both ways, so I think this is a good time to rejoin them and achieve more success. I want to have fun of course, and give it my all, but also complete all the races in order to collect as much data as possible. See you all at Misano!”.
BrownTown Racing, based in Lincolnton, North Carolina, is the 2022 N2/WERA Lightweight Endurance Championship winners. They are looking to defend the title this weekend at the opening round at Road Atlanta.
Don’t let their small amount of endurance experience trick you, the riders on this family team have a combined 30+ years of racing experience.
Father/Owner of BrownTown Racing David Brown has raced motorcycles on the track for over 28 years. He has won many national championships and races including the WERA 750 Superbike Expert national race, 2016 WERA Triple Crown aboard his Suzuki 750, then getting second place in the 2017 WERA Triple Crown aboard his Yamaha R1 and select 2013 AMA Superstock 600 races.
Oldest son Reese Brown is back from injury and ready to race this weekend aboard the Suzuki SV650. Reese Brown has won multiple WERA 2021 regional and national Novice championships aboard a similarly built SV650. He has also tested his Suzuki against the Pros at select East Coast MotoAmerica races.
Youngest son Chase Brown is the youngest in the family but he does not lack the skill and experience to be a top runner in the championship. Chase has plenty of experience on a road racing bike. He has been ranked highly in many regional and national expert races aboard a Suzuki SV650 and Yamaha R6. He placed second in the AMA Superbike 1000 race. He has also been racing the MotoAmerica Twins cup series aboard his Aprilla RS 660, with a top finish of 11th at Barber Motorsports park.
BrownTown Racing is a team to look out for at the opening round in Atlanta. BrownTown racing says they are confident going into Atlanta because they know Brandon Cole with PowerSport Supply and Michael Copoulos have their Suzuki dialed in.
N2 Trackdays has a practice/trackday event on Thursday May 25th before the first 4-hour race of the N2/WERA National Endurance series kicks off at 1:00pm Eastern Time on Friday May 26th. The weather forecast could not be better and BrownTown Racing expects to defend their national championship.
Aprilia Set For MotoAmerica Sponsorship As It Sets Its Sights On 2023 Twins Cup Title
Italian Marque Has Won Five Of The First Six Races Of The Season In The 2023 REV’IT! Twins Cup Championship
IRVINE, CA (May 24, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is proud to announce that Aprilia will again be an official partner of the 2023 MotoAmerica Championship with its RS 660 also a major player in the REV’IT Twins Cup title chase.
Aprilia and its RS 660 won the 2021 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship, and the Italian marque is hoping to re-gain the title in 2023 with nine riders signed up to compete in the REV’IT! Twins Cup title chase on RS 660s. So far so good for the brand as Aprilia RS 660-mounted racers have won five of the first six races of the season with victories at Daytona International Speedway, Road Atlanta and Barber Motorsports Park to start the season.
Aprilia, which is headquartered in Noale, Italy, has been a major player in international racing, winning 54 World titles (38 in Grand Prix, seven in World Superbike, and nine in off-road disciplines). Aprilia produces four sportbike models (RS 660, Tuono 660, RSV4, Tuono V4) and an adventure bike (Tuareg 660). The company also produces the RS-GP, a MotoGP race winner, and World Championship contender.
“Aprilia’s history in motorcycle road racing speaks for itself,” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “They are a true racing company, and it shows in their products. The RS 660 had a big impact on our REV’IT! Twins Cup class and was a winner right out of the box. This year’s series promises to be a fight to the very end and Aprilia is definitely in that fight. We look forward to some exciting racing this season and are very appreciative of Aprilia’s continued support of the MotoAmerica series.”
“We are pleased to continue our participation in MotoAmerica with Aprilia, and the REV’IT! Twins Cup Championship with the RS 660,” said Marco d’Acunzo, President and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas. “The series provides the perfect platform to showcase the abilities of the RS 660, which offers competitors a winning combination of performance and precision. The capability of the RS 660 is inherent from the race history of Aprilia, which has a heritage of producing championship bikes and riders, and with MotoAmerica Aprilia has the ability to support a new age of racers who can grow through the brand here in the U.S.”
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
Editorial Note: To listen to or download the podcast go here and to watch the video of the podcast scroll down.
Episode 7: Garrett Gerloff
More To Life Than Racing
May 24th, 2023 – Desert Center, California
MotoAmerica/American Flat Track Racers Corey Alexander and James Rispoli are pleased to release Episode 7 of their Pipe Dreams Podcast featuring two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and current World Superbike Racer for Bonovo Action BMW, Garrett Gerloff.
If you’re a fan of motorcycle road racing then it’s likely you’ve heard of the 27-year-old Texan by the name of Garrett Gerloff but it’s also likely you don’t really know him. Having left the USA at the end of 2019 with a goal to make it to the top of the sport, Garrett recently made a switch from Yamaha to BMW for the 2023 season which begins a new chapter for him after facing some very high & low points over the course of his first two seasons – ranging from WSBK podiums to MotoGP wildcards, and even his share of international drama.
You can follow Garrett on social media via @garrettgerloff and we highly suggest you check out his YouTube series which as been great thus far. You can also of course catch Garrett Racing live during any of the WSBK events in 2023.
Available on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, the seventh full episode with Garrett launches today. Video of the episode can be viewed on Spotify and YouTube.
About Pipe Dreams Podcast:
Pipe Dreams Podcast launched in 2023 by MotoAmerica and American Flat Track riders Corey Alexander and James Rispoli in an effort to share the stories of fellow racers and motorsport professionals around the world. The podcast releases twice per month for streaming on all major platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube. Production and editing is curated by videographer Sam Thurman. Follow @pipedreams_pod on social media or visit https://anchor.fm/pipe-dreams to listen now.
MotoGP™ touches down at Goodwood! Festival of Speed set for spectacular celebration of motorcycle Grand Prix racing
Champions past and present will descend on the legendary event in 2023, including much of the current MotoGP™ grid
Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Ladies and gentlemen, SAVE THE DATE! The Goodwood Festival of Speed will welcome its biggest ever celebration of MotoGP™ from the 13th to the 16th of July, with much of the current grid set to debut on the fabled hillclimb. They’ll be joined by an array of MotoGP™ Legends too, including the likes of Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Kevin Schwantz and Casey Stoner – with more riders and teams still set to be confirmed.
The first ever Festival of Speed began with The Duke of Richmond heading up the Hill on a Ducati, and the 30th anniversary is the perfect occasion to put two wheels centre stage once again. Grand Prix riders and machinery will comprise the entirety of the motorbike contingent in 2023, with one almighty line-up ready to head up the Hill.
The teams from the current grid already confirmed at the event include Ducati Lenovo Team, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, LCR Honda and GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, as well as GASGAS Aspar Moto2™ with British rider Jake Dixon.
They’ll be joined by an incredible line-up of famous faces, with Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Jorge Lorenzo, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Gardner, Kenny Roberts Jr, Alex Crivillé and Randy Mamola already confirmed – between them holding an incredible 35 World Championships.
The MotoGP™ contingent will be located in the Ballroom Paddock, a stone’s throw from the Drivers’ Club – the perfect showcase to allow fans an awesome overview of the teams prepping the machines.
The Festival of Speed has always been the place to see motorsport megastars. In 2022, Giacomo Agostini celebrated his 80th birthday at the event, and last year the Festival celebrated a different landmark moment as Wayne Rainey rode his 1992-championship-winning Yamaha YZR500 for the first time since his career-ending accident in 1993, joined on the Hill by Kenny Roberts, Kevin Schwantz and Mick Doohan.
Motorcycles have always been an integral part of the Festival of Speed. Fittingly, the motorcycle entry at the very first Festival was organised by a legend who himself bridges two worlds: John Surtees, the only person to be crowned World Champion in two- and four-wheeled Grand Prix racing.
The Duke of Richmond: “I am absolutely thrilled that the Festival of Speed will host its biggest-ever MotoGP celebration this year. My thanks to Dorna Sports, the teams and riders for including us in their busy schedules – it means so much to everyone at Goodwood and all our fans that they will be here to celebrate with us.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “We’re very proud to announce this celebration of MotoGP at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’s an honour for us to play a key role in the 30th anniversary and be invited to showcase the best of our sport, sharing the stage with our fellow icons of speed. It will be something truly unique, and I want to thank our teams, riders and legends for showing such enthusiasm in attending. We hope we will be able to put on an incredible show for the fans – and for The Duke of Richmond! We are always honoured by his unwavering passion for our sport. Thank you for the invitation!
“We have recently celebrated the 1000th FIM Grand Prix, and next season will mark the 75th year since motorcycle racing became the first motorsport World Championship in 1949. At the same time, 2023 is a different kind of landmark year, with more MotoGP than ever as the Tissot Sprint debuts across the calendar. At this intersection of history and innovation, the 2023 Festival of Speed is the perfect opportunity to celebrate both the rich heritage of the sport and the heroes of the incredible spectacle we’re enjoying every weekend in this modern era.”
Former Pro racer Gary Fisher died at his home in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania on May 17 – his 73rd birthday.
Fisher, who was originally from Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, won the 1972 Loudon Classic at Bryar Motorsport Park on a Yamaha TR3 he had never ridden before the event. He also won the AMA National that same weekend in New Hampshire, beating Yvon Duhamel and King Kenny Roberts, among others.
Gary Fisher, circa 1976. Photo by John Ulrich. Copyright 2008, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Fisher was the son of Pro racer and motorcycle dealer Ed Fisher, who was also a Laconia Classic/Loudon Classic race winner. Ed and Gary Fisher remain the only father-and-son duo to have both won America’s oldest motorcycle road race.
Gary Fisher is survived by daughters Kimberly Anne Fisher, Heidi Lee Walls, and Elizabeth Lee Fisher; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father Ed, who passed away August 4, 2022, at the age of 97.
According to Kimberly Fisher, a “remembrance gathering” to honor her father will be held later in 2023.
LEGION MOTO TRACKDAYS ANNOUNCES CROWDSOURCE FOR SOFT BARRIER SAFETY FUND
Legion Moto Trackdays is opening additional sponsorship options as well as a crowd sourcing fund to assist in subsidizing the level and quality of safety equipment that road racers in America have come to expect. Equipment such as soft barrier from safety equipment provider, Norseman Inc. These barriers will help to mitigate risk to the riders and help the series to provide the safest motorsport experience that it possibly can.
Norseman, an industrial leader in custom safety solutions and based in Calgary, Canada has a focus on delivering an advanced and customizable industrial solution soft foam core barrier that meets and exceeds current standards for puncture and flame resistances, as well as reliability, and modularity. These proprietary designs are already being used in Canada.
Legion Moto Trackdays has set the modest goal of acquiring three new sections for the first year, and additional sections needed each year after. The first of the barriers will be used at tracks such as Pueblo Motorsports Park as well as Pikes Peak International Raceway in Colorado as these new events kick off for the first time.
If you would like to know more about the Legion Superbike Series coming in 2024, or information on how to participate in the sponsorships and safety barrier fund crowd source opportunities, please follow the provided links.
Please also note that all proposed race classes are fully updated with spec and hardware requirements. The 2024 rules book is also posted and can be quoted or shared with confidence as one looks to prepare for the new series!
Monster Energy FHO Racing BMW’s Peter Hickman (left) and Josh Brookes (right). Photo courtesy of FHO Racing.
MONSTER ENERGY BECOMES TITLE SPONSOR FOR FHO RACING BMW AT THE ISLE OF MAN TT RACES
FHO Racing is excited to announce that Monster Energy will be the team’s title sponsor at this year’s Isle of Man TT Races, with Peter Hickman and Josh Brookes tackling the 37.73-mile Mountain Course, aboard the BMW M 1000 RR.
The new partnership will see Monster Energy’s logo adorn the M 1000 RR machines at the iconic event, as well as branding present on the rider leathers, garage boarding, team clothing and the official FHO merchandise.
Arriving at this year’s races, the Monster Energy by FHO Racing BMW team are hot favourites and leading the teams’ charge is nine-time TT winner and outright lap record holder Hickman, who at last year’s event scored a hat-trick of wins in the Superbike, Superstock and blue-riband Senior TT.
Teammate Brookes is also no stranger to the TT course. Making his debut in 2013 he took the accolade of fastest newcomer (127.726mph) and went to finish 10th in his first-ever Superbike race. Heading back to the event in 2014 and 2017, it was in 2018 where he scored his highest place result in the Senior TT finishing fifth.
The Monster Energy by FHO Racing BMW team will be in action on Monday 29 May with the first practice sessions of 2023 taking place. Practice week continues through to Friday 2 June, and with an all-new schedule for this year, the six-lap RST Superbike Race is scheduled to take place on Sunday 4 June. The first RL360 Superstock race will be held on Tuesday 6 June, with the second Superstock race on Thursday 4 June and the grand finale, the Milwaukee Senior TT will be on Saturday 10 June. For the full schedule click here.
Peter Hickman:
“I’m super excited to get back to the TT this year, everyone keeps telling me the sun will be shining so fingers crossed that is the case. The BMW looks unbelievable with the Monster Energy sponsorship, and I can’t wait to ride it around the course – it’s going to be epic. Everything about the team is good, the bike is fast, we’re all working well together and having Josh as a teammate is exciting, I think he’s going to surprise a few people. The TT is the biggest event on the calendar for us and it’s constantly changing, improving and they’re working to make it as safe as possible, but to be honest as a rider we’re not too focused on that we just want to go there and ride!”
Josh Brookes:
“To be honest until now I’ve not given much attention to the TT, mainly as BSB has been the primary focus, but now with Donington behind us I can focus on the TT. I think it goes without saying that everyone on the entry list is going to be excited to get there and get going. I think it’s probably the best circuit we go to, in a different way than BSB obviously, but for the thrill, the excitement and the buzz, it’s got all the peak ingredients and a huge draw to get there and get going. I do feel like I’ve got a little bit of anxiety; I know what I’m about to go and do and that it’s a big deal. I also want to do well and represent the team, all the supporters – everybody. So, I’ve got that expectation and pressure to perform as that’s what I want to do, but having five years away adds a little more pressure. I know I can do a job and I know I can ride well, that I can learn the track and all that will happen. I’m looking forward to first practice and getting a few laps in on the BMW.”
Faye Ho – Team Principal:
“The TT is one of my favourite events on the racing calendar and I’m always so excited to get there, but this year with Monster Energy as our title sponsor it’s just got even more exciting! Monster Energy have such a presence in motorsport and to have them as a title sponsor for my team at the TT is just incredible. It’s a credit to the team and the riders for all the hard work that goes in, on and off track, being recognised by such a high-profile corporation like Monster Energy wanting to get involved and support us.
We’ve got a really strong team this year with Pete and Josh, and with Pete’s achievements last year we’re going in strong. I’d like to wish all the riders and teams’ good luck for this year’s event, here’s to a safe and fast TT 2023!”
The SuperMotocross World Championship moves outdoors starting May 27 in Pala, California. This is a photo from the Supercross round at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
SuperMotocross World Championship Hits Midway Point of Inaugural Season as Pro Motocross Begins this Saturday in Pala, California
Supercross Caps Banner Season with Key Milestones
Peacock and SuperMotocross Video Pass to Showcase Pro Motocross Championship with Uninterrupted Race Coverage
ELLENTON, Fla./MORGANTOWN W.Va., (May 25, 2023) – The inaugural 31-event series of the SuperMotocross World Championship hits the midway point as the focus now turns toward the outdoor Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. Round 1 of the 11-round summer season of racing (Round 18 of the SMX World Championship) gets underway this Saturday, May 27, in Pala, Calif. with the Fox Raceway National.
The indoor-stadium season of Supercross concluded recently in Salt Lake City with Chase Sexton capping off a spectacular season with six wins and the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, giving Team Honda HRC its first 450 premier class title in 20 years. Sexton enters the Pro Motocross season currently seeded number one in the SuperMotocross World Championship points standings with 372 points.
Chase Sexton celebrating with Team Honda HRC after winning his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports.
Adding to the list of accolades for Team Honda HRC, Australian brothers Jett and Hunter Lawrence both won their respective 250SX Class championships, with Jett winning the Western Regional title and Hunter winning the Eastern Regional title. Despite his success in Supercross, Jett will begin the summer at a significant disadvantage in the SMX World Championship standings as he makes the move up to the 450 Class and will start with zero points. As a result of Jett’s graduation, Hunter becomes the top-seeded 250cc racer in the SMX World Championship with 224 points and will continue in the 250 Class for Pro Motocross, where he will be in search of his first AMA National Championship.
Jett and Hunter Lawrence speaking to the media at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. Jett won the Western Regional 250SX Class title and Hunter won the Eastern Regional 250SX Class title. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports.
The 17-round Supercross season witnessed record attendance across the board as more than 850K fans made their way through the turnstiles for the races and over 343K came early for pre-race FanFest across the 16 different markets. The season featured four sellout races (Anaheim Opener, Anaheim 2, San Diego, Salt Lake City) and record high attendance in five other markets, including Glendale, Ariz., Indianapolis, Ind., and Arlington, Texas. Overall, live event attendance increased by 5% YOY, and combined with FanFest, it saw a 15% increase YOY.
Television and streaming viewership also showed strong signs of growth across NBC, Peacock, and USA Network. NBC Sports’ multi-year rights extension with Feld Motor Sports laid the groundwork for Peacock to serve as the home of Supercross, Pro Motocross and the SuperMotocross World Championship this year and into the coming years. Peacock exclusively streamed 12 Supercross races this season, with consumption up nearly 100% vs. 2022. The five rounds that aired on NBC and USA Network reached more than 5 million total viewers.
The SuperMotocross Video Pass, allows international streaming of every round of the SMX World Championship, including the Pro Motocross Championship for the first time. Over the past five years, the streaming service has seen 30% growth globally and in 2023, a new partnership with Endeavor Streaming gives international fans premium access with expanded service and even greater service reliability. The full season package is now available to all countries and territories outside the United States, making SuperMotocross one of the most accessible sports on the planet.
The top 10 countries for international streaming include Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, New Zealand, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, and Mexico, all of which have their best talent competing in the series leading to international intrigue, tune-in, and global audience interest.
As the SuperMotocross World Championship continues with the Pro Motocross Championship, fans from across the globe can continue to tune in via Peacock and the SuperMotocross Video Pass as the entirety of the 11-round championship will be streamed live, with four and a half hours of live racing with uninterrupted coverage of all four combined 450 Class and 250 Class motos.
In addition to the most extensive streaming coverage to date for Pro Motocross, network broadcast coverage will bring the action into millions of homes during select rounds of the season. NBC will air live network showcases of the opening motos from the Crestview Construction Southwick National, on July 8, and the second motos from the Honda Unadilla National, on August 12, while USA Network will broadcast Sunday re-airs of the final motos from the FXR Spring Creek National, on July 16, and the Yamaha Racing Budds Creek National, on August 20. Encore presentations of the second motos from all 11 rounds will also air on CNBC every Monday following a National.
Bringing the action to the passionate Pro Motocross audience will be host and lead commentator Jason Weigandt, the longtime voice of American motocross, alongside the Hall of Fame tandem of multi-time AMA Champions Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart. These former on-track rivals have become two of the most knowledgeable and savvy color analysts in motorsports, each boasting a racing résumé that made them icons of the sport. Trackside insights will once again feature former racer Jason Thomas in addition to longtime reporter Will Christien during the NBC broadcasts.
2023 Pro Motocross Broadcast and Streaming Schedule:
Kicking off each National over the course of the summer season will be the addition of Race Day Live, presented by MotoSport.com, the official pre-race show of both Monster Energy AMA Supercross and now the Pro Motocross Championship. This one-hour preview will live-stream the final timed qualifying sessions of the 450 Class and 250 Class, which will set the stage for the afternoon battle for victory each weekend.
Storylines abound for the SuperMotocross World Championship as the series heads into the Pro Motocross season as Sexton, Lawrence, and Adam Cianciarulo all look to keep the momentum going into the summer. Additionally, several key athletes will make their return from injuries as the season unfolds – Cooper Webb, Justin Barcia, Jason Anderson, Dylan Ferrandis, Christian Craig, Malcolm Stewart, Michael Mosiman, Pierce Brown, Jalek Swoll, and others.
For the first time in the sport’s 50-plus year history, athletes have an additional incentive to keep racing as they accumulate points towards the SMX World Championship. The top 20 athletes in combined Supercross and Pro Motocross points (both classes) will be automatically seeded into the SMX Playoffs and World Championship Final. In addition to racing for the sport’s ultimate title, the best athletes in the world will also be competing for the sport’s biggest prize – $5.5M spread across the final three races ($10M spread across the SMX series).
All roads lead towards the SuperMotocross World Championship as Playoff 1 will take place on Saturday, September 9 at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C. and Playoff 2 is set for Saturday, September 16 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., followed by the SuperMotocross World Championship Final on Saturday, September 23 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif.
SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs and Final Schedule:
SuperMotocross Playoff 1 – zMAX Dragway – September 9, 2023
SuperMotocross Playoff 2 – Chicagoland Speedway – September 16, 2023
SuperMotocross World Championship Final – LA Memorial Coliseum – September 23, 2023
Domestically, Peacock continues to be the exclusive streaming home for all SuperMotocross World Championship action, including 11 rounds of Pro Motocross, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, two SuperMotocross playoff races and then the SuperMotocross World Championship Final.
Internationally, the SuperMotocross Video Pass (Supermotocross.tv) is the go-to platform for all 31 events across the SMX World Championship. With it being the midway point in the series fans can take advantage of a current price reduction.
Mere days remain until the roar of 40-rider gates greet the most enthusiastic fans in motorsports for another memorable summer of the Pro Motocross Championship. The 11-round season will travel to 10 different states, with visits to the hallowed grounds of Fox Raceway, Hangtown, Thunder Valley Motocross Park, High Point Raceway, RedBud MX, The Wick 338, Spring Creek MX Park, Washougal MX Park, Unadilla MX, Budds Creek Motocross Park, and Ironman Raceway.
For more information about the 2023 SuperMotocross World Championship series, the Pro Motocross Championship, tickets, and streaming options, visit Peacock and supermotocross.com.
A memorial to honor longtime President and owner of Championship Cup Series (CCS) and American Sportbike Racing Association (ASRA) Kevin Elliott, Sr. is planned to take place at lunchtime on Sunday, May 28 during the ASRA/CCS event this coming weekend May 27-29 at Summit Point Motorsports Park, in West Virginia.
Elliott died from liver failure January 29, 2023, at the age of 64.
And remember, ASRA/CCS races Saturday through Memorial Day Monday at Summit Point.
A little over a week before the start of round five of the Superbike World Championship, set to take place at the Misano World Circuit, and Kawasaki Puccetti Racing has announced it will field Tito Rabat aboard the team’s Ninja ZX-10RR for the remainder of the 2023 season.
Having concluded its collaboration with Tom Sykes, the responsibility now falls on the 2014 Moto2 World Champion for what will be a welcome return for the team’s home round at Misano. Tito Rabat has in fact already raced with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, competing in three rounds in 2021 (Portimao, San Juan Villicum and Mandalika) and one in 2022, at the same Misano World Circuit.
Tito Rabat was born in Barcelona on 25 May 1989 and began to race in the CEV 125 in 2004 before moving up to the world championship, in the same category, in 2006. During the 2011 season, he competed in Moto2, amassing twelve wins and thirty-three podiums over the five years he spent in the intermediate class. He was crowned world champion in 2014. 2016 saw him move to MotoGP, where he remained until 2021. He then decided to switch to WorldSBK, a championship in which he has contested 35 races to date, scoring a total of 53 points. This season he is competing in both the MotoE World Championship and the Spanish ESBK 1000, in which he finished as champion in 2022.
Manuel Puccetti
“I’m pleased to announce the return of Tito Rabat to our team. In both 2021 and 2022, the Spaniard was tasked with standing in for an injured rider, which is never easy, and he raced without having chance to test, so without knowing our bike. Despite that, Tito always proved to be the consummate professional, with significant experience under his belt in both the Moto2 and MotoGP championship. It will be a pleasure for us to have him back on the team for this home round of Misano, where our goal will be to continue developing the bike and try to improve on the results scored thus far.”
Tito Rabat
“I’m pleased to return to Team Puccetti and Kawasaki. This is a great opportunity for me to return to WorldSBK but also keep up the race pace, because this year I’m competing in MotoE where there are not so many races. I’ll try to make the most of this opportunity and help Manuel Puccetti’s team as they continue to develop their bike. I have had some great times with this team and there is much respect both ways, so I think this is a good time to rejoin them and achieve more success. I want to have fun of course, and give it my all, but also complete all the races in order to collect as much data as possible. See you all at Misano!”.
Chase Brown (110) at speed on the BrownTown Racing Suzuki SV650. Photo courtesy BrownTown Racing.
BrownTown Racing, based in Lincolnton, North Carolina, is the 2022 N2/WERA Lightweight Endurance Championship winners. They are looking to defend the title this weekend at the opening round at Road Atlanta.
Don’t let their small amount of endurance experience trick you, the riders on this family team have a combined 30+ years of racing experience.
Father/Owner of BrownTown Racing David Brown has raced motorcycles on the track for over 28 years. He has won many national championships and races including the WERA 750 Superbike Expert national race, 2016 WERA Triple Crown aboard his Suzuki 750, then getting second place in the 2017 WERA Triple Crown aboard his Yamaha R1 and select 2013 AMA Superstock 600 races.
Oldest son Reese Brown is back from injury and ready to race this weekend aboard the Suzuki SV650. Reese Brown has won multiple WERA 2021 regional and national Novice championships aboard a similarly built SV650. He has also tested his Suzuki against the Pros at select East Coast MotoAmerica races.
Youngest son Chase Brown is the youngest in the family but he does not lack the skill and experience to be a top runner in the championship. Chase has plenty of experience on a road racing bike. He has been ranked highly in many regional and national expert races aboard a Suzuki SV650 and Yamaha R6. He placed second in the AMA Superbike 1000 race. He has also been racing the MotoAmerica Twins cup series aboard his Aprilla RS 660, with a top finish of 11th at Barber Motorsports park.
BrownTown Racing is a team to look out for at the opening round in Atlanta. BrownTown racing says they are confident going into Atlanta because they know Brandon Cole with PowerSport Supply and Michael Copoulos have their Suzuki dialed in.
N2 Trackdays has a practice/trackday event on Thursday May 25th before the first 4-hour race of the N2/WERA National Endurance series kicks off at 1:00pm Eastern Time on Friday May 26th. The weather forecast could not be better and BrownTown Racing expects to defend their national championship.
Rocco Landers (97) and Gus Rodio (96) on their Aprilia RS 660s at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Aprilia Set For MotoAmerica Sponsorship As It Sets Its Sights On 2023 Twins Cup Title
Italian Marque Has Won Five Of The First Six Races Of The Season In The 2023 REV’IT! Twins Cup Championship
IRVINE, CA (May 24, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is proud to announce that Aprilia will again be an official partner of the 2023 MotoAmerica Championship with its RS 660 also a major player in the REV’IT Twins Cup title chase.
Aprilia and its RS 660 won the 2021 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship, and the Italian marque is hoping to re-gain the title in 2023 with nine riders signed up to compete in the REV’IT! Twins Cup title chase on RS 660s. So far so good for the brand as Aprilia RS 660-mounted racers have won five of the first six races of the season with victories at Daytona International Speedway, Road Atlanta and Barber Motorsports Park to start the season.
Aprilia, which is headquartered in Noale, Italy, has been a major player in international racing, winning 54 World titles (38 in Grand Prix, seven in World Superbike, and nine in off-road disciplines). Aprilia produces four sportbike models (RS 660, Tuono 660, RSV4, Tuono V4) and an adventure bike (Tuareg 660). The company also produces the RS-GP, a MotoGP race winner, and World Championship contender.
“Aprilia’s history in motorcycle road racing speaks for itself,” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “They are a true racing company, and it shows in their products. The RS 660 had a big impact on our REV’IT! Twins Cup class and was a winner right out of the box. This year’s series promises to be a fight to the very end and Aprilia is definitely in that fight. We look forward to some exciting racing this season and are very appreciative of Aprilia’s continued support of the MotoAmerica series.”
“We are pleased to continue our participation in MotoAmerica with Aprilia, and the REV’IT! Twins Cup Championship with the RS 660,” said Marco d’Acunzo, President and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas. “The series provides the perfect platform to showcase the abilities of the RS 660, which offers competitors a winning combination of performance and precision. The capability of the RS 660 is inherent from the race history of Aprilia, which has a heritage of producing championship bikes and riders, and with MotoAmerica Aprilia has the ability to support a new age of racers who can grow through the brand here in the U.S.”
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
Garrett Gerloff (31) in action in Indonesia. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
Editorial Note: To listen to or download the podcast go here and to watch the video of the podcast scroll down.
Episode 7: Garrett Gerloff
More To Life Than Racing
May 24th, 2023 – Desert Center, California
MotoAmerica/American Flat Track Racers Corey Alexander and James Rispoli are pleased to release Episode 7 of their Pipe Dreams Podcast featuring two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and current World Superbike Racer for Bonovo Action BMW, Garrett Gerloff.
If you’re a fan of motorcycle road racing then it’s likely you’ve heard of the 27-year-old Texan by the name of Garrett Gerloff but it’s also likely you don’t really know him. Having left the USA at the end of 2019 with a goal to make it to the top of the sport, Garrett recently made a switch from Yamaha to BMW for the 2023 season which begins a new chapter for him after facing some very high & low points over the course of his first two seasons – ranging from WSBK podiums to MotoGP wildcards, and even his share of international drama.
You can follow Garrett on social media via @garrettgerloff and we highly suggest you check out his YouTube series which as been great thus far. You can also of course catch Garrett Racing live during any of the WSBK events in 2023.
Available on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, the seventh full episode with Garrett launches today. Video of the episode can be viewed on Spotify and YouTube.
About Pipe Dreams Podcast:
Pipe Dreams Podcast launched in 2023 by MotoAmerica and American Flat Track riders Corey Alexander and James Rispoli in an effort to share the stories of fellow racers and motorsport professionals around the world. The podcast releases twice per month for streaming on all major platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube. Production and editing is curated by videographer Sam Thurman. Follow @pipedreams_pod on social media or visit https://anchor.fm/pipe-dreams to listen now.
The start of the MotoGP Sprint race Saturday in Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
MotoGP™ touches down at Goodwood! Festival of Speed set for spectacular celebration of motorcycle Grand Prix racing
Champions past and present will descend on the legendary event in 2023, including much of the current MotoGP™ grid
Wednesday, 24 May 2023
Ladies and gentlemen, SAVE THE DATE! The Goodwood Festival of Speed will welcome its biggest ever celebration of MotoGP™ from the 13th to the 16th of July, with much of the current grid set to debut on the fabled hillclimb. They’ll be joined by an array of MotoGP™ Legends too, including the likes of Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Kevin Schwantz and Casey Stoner – with more riders and teams still set to be confirmed.
The first ever Festival of Speed began with The Duke of Richmond heading up the Hill on a Ducati, and the 30th anniversary is the perfect occasion to put two wheels centre stage once again. Grand Prix riders and machinery will comprise the entirety of the motorbike contingent in 2023, with one almighty line-up ready to head up the Hill.
The teams from the current grid already confirmed at the event include Ducati Lenovo Team, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, LCR Honda and GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, as well as GASGAS Aspar Moto2™ with British rider Jake Dixon.
They’ll be joined by an incredible line-up of famous faces, with Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Jorge Lorenzo, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Gardner, Kenny Roberts Jr, Alex Crivillé and Randy Mamola already confirmed – between them holding an incredible 35 World Championships.
The MotoGP™ contingent will be located in the Ballroom Paddock, a stone’s throw from the Drivers’ Club – the perfect showcase to allow fans an awesome overview of the teams prepping the machines.
The Festival of Speed has always been the place to see motorsport megastars. In 2022, Giacomo Agostini celebrated his 80th birthday at the event, and last year the Festival celebrated a different landmark moment as Wayne Rainey rode his 1992-championship-winning Yamaha YZR500 for the first time since his career-ending accident in 1993, joined on the Hill by Kenny Roberts, Kevin Schwantz and Mick Doohan.
Motorcycles have always been an integral part of the Festival of Speed. Fittingly, the motorcycle entry at the very first Festival was organised by a legend who himself bridges two worlds: John Surtees, the only person to be crowned World Champion in two- and four-wheeled Grand Prix racing.
The Duke of Richmond: “I am absolutely thrilled that the Festival of Speed will host its biggest-ever MotoGP celebration this year. My thanks to Dorna Sports, the teams and riders for including us in their busy schedules – it means so much to everyone at Goodwood and all our fans that they will be here to celebrate with us.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “We’re very proud to announce this celebration of MotoGP at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’s an honour for us to play a key role in the 30th anniversary and be invited to showcase the best of our sport, sharing the stage with our fellow icons of speed. It will be something truly unique, and I want to thank our teams, riders and legends for showing such enthusiasm in attending. We hope we will be able to put on an incredible show for the fans – and for The Duke of Richmond! We are always honoured by his unwavering passion for our sport. Thank you for the invitation!
“We have recently celebrated the 1000th FIM Grand Prix, and next season will mark the 75th year since motorcycle racing became the first motorsport World Championship in 1949. At the same time, 2023 is a different kind of landmark year, with more MotoGP than ever as the Tissot Sprint debuts across the calendar. At this intersection of history and innovation, the 2023 Festival of Speed is the perfect opportunity to celebrate both the rich heritage of the sport and the heroes of the incredible spectacle we’re enjoying every weekend in this modern era.”
Gary Fisher (10) on the Honda CB750 he raced before switching to a Yamaha TR3 for the Loudon Classic. Photo courtesy Kimberly Fisher.
Former Pro racer Gary Fisher died at his home in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania on May 17 – his 73rd birthday.
Fisher, who was originally from Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, won the 1972 Loudon Classic at Bryar Motorsport Park on a Yamaha TR3 he had never ridden before the event. He also won the AMA National that same weekend in New Hampshire, beating Yvon Duhamel and King Kenny Roberts, among others.
Gary Fisher, circa 1976. Photo by John Ulrich. Copyright 2008, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Fisher was the son of Pro racer and motorcycle dealer Ed Fisher, who was also a Laconia Classic/Loudon Classic race winner. Ed and Gary Fisher remain the only father-and-son duo to have both won America’s oldest motorcycle road race.
Gary Fisher is survived by daughters Kimberly Anne Fisher, Heidi Lee Walls, and Elizabeth Lee Fisher; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father Ed, who passed away August 4, 2022, at the age of 97.
According to Kimberly Fisher, a “remembrance gathering” to honor her father will be held later in 2023.
Action from a Legion Moto track day at Pikes Peak International Raceway earlier this year. Photo by Kelly Vernell, courtesy Legion Moto Trackdays.
LEGION MOTO TRACKDAYS ANNOUNCES CROWDSOURCE FOR SOFT BARRIER SAFETY FUND
Legion Moto Trackdays is opening additional sponsorship options as well as a crowd sourcing fund to assist in subsidizing the level and quality of safety equipment that road racers in America have come to expect. Equipment such as soft barrier from safety equipment provider, Norseman Inc. These barriers will help to mitigate risk to the riders and help the series to provide the safest motorsport experience that it possibly can.
Norseman, an industrial leader in custom safety solutions and based in Calgary, Canada has a focus on delivering an advanced and customizable industrial solution soft foam core barrier that meets and exceeds current standards for puncture and flame resistances, as well as reliability, and modularity. These proprietary designs are already being used in Canada.
Legion Moto Trackdays has set the modest goal of acquiring three new sections for the first year, and additional sections needed each year after. The first of the barriers will be used at tracks such as Pueblo Motorsports Park as well as Pikes Peak International Raceway in Colorado as these new events kick off for the first time.
If you would like to know more about the Legion Superbike Series coming in 2024, or information on how to participate in the sponsorships and safety barrier fund crowd source opportunities, please follow the provided links.
Please also note that all proposed race classes are fully updated with spec and hardware requirements. The 2024 rules book is also posted and can be quoted or shared with confidence as one looks to prepare for the new series!
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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
