Rocco Landers is filling in for injured Ben Gloddy on the Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660 in MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup this weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Gloddy fell in a chain-reaction crash with Dominic Doyle during Twins Cup Race One at Daytona International Speedway in March and suffered lacerations in his groin area that required surgery.
The 17-year-old from New Hampshire rode recently in his role as a flat track instructor with American Supercamp, but discomfort during that school led Gloddy to withdraw from this weekend’s event, according to a member of his team.
Gloddy did not respond to attempts by Roadracingworld.com to contact him prior to post time, but on April 19 he posted the following to social media:
“It’s been an up and down ride since Daytona and after experiencing some setbacks I will not be at Atlanta this weekend. I have no doubts that Robem Rodio Racing will be on the box for both races and I will be cheering all my buddies on from NH. What took place at and after Daytona was a little more traumatic physically and mentally than I initially thought and I will be taking this time to work on myself to be stronger than ever. I am sorry to let everyone down and I cannot thank my team, sponsors, friends, family and fans enough for all the support.”
To replace Gloddy, Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering has enlisted the services of 18-year-old Landers. In addition to finishing as the runner-up in the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship, Landers won the MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship in 2020 and back-to-back MotoAmerica Junior Cup titles in 2019 and 2020.
Stefano Manzi, riding his Ten Kate Racing Yamaha YZF-R6, topped World Supersport Free Practice One with a 1:38.316 Friday morning at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands.
The top 15 riders were separated by only 1.3 seconds.
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed North America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 27th consecutive year of showcasing what is actually an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 12 MotoAmerica/AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (12 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more — and younger — racers with higher levels of accomplishments are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2023 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
First road race: 2016, Braselton, Georgia, WERA, Formula Three, 1st place.
Current racebike: Suzuki GSX-R750.
Current tuners/mechanics: Dustin Cyr.
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Supersport.
Top sponsors: Vision Wheel, M4 Performance Exhausts, ECSTAR, Suzuki, Mission Foods, Arai, RST, R&G, Shorai, Hotbodies Racing, Vortex, EK Chains, TechSpec, Cordona, SportbikeTrackGear.com, Venhill, 1-833-CJ-KNOWS Accident and Injury Law, Roadracingworld.com, Team Hammer, Alpinestars, Roof Systems, Evolve GT.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2022 season, placed 3rd in MotoAmerica Supersport Championship (1 win, 9 total podiums); 2021 season, won MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (11 wins and 15 total podiums in 18 races); 2020 season, raced in FIM CEV European Talent Cup (Best race finish was 16th at Valencia), win 2 CCS Atlantic Regional Championships (Thunderbike, Lightweight Superbike), won 26 CCS races; 2019 season, finished 23rd in Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup (best race finish was 11th at Assen), competed in European Talent Cup; 2018 season, selected to join the 2019 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, finished 3rd in ASRA Moto3 and Thunderbike National Championships (6 wins, 8 podium finishes from 8 starts), won 5 CCS Regional Championships (34 race wins), won 3 WERA races; 2017 season, won AMA Moto3 Grand Championship, won WERA Formula Three National Challenge Championship, won 2 WERA Sportsman Regional Class Championships (16 wins, 24 podiums with WERA), won 3 AMA Flat Track Grand National Championships, named AMA Flat Track Youth Rider of the Year; 2016 season, won 3 AMA Flat Track Grand Championships, named AMA Flat Track Youth Rider of the Year.
2023 racing goal: Win the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
Racing career goals: Race against Marc Marquez, win MotoGP World Championship.
Racing hero: Nicky Hayden.
Favorite track: Mugello.
Favorite hobby: Riding mountain bikes.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Competing in bicycle races or enduro races.
Some of the riders who have graduated from Roadracing World Young Guns and gone on to racing success in National or International series include:
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion Jason Aguilar (R.I.P.);
2013 AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Corey Alexander;
AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race winner Tommy Aquino (R.I.P.);
2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and AFT SuperTwins race winner J.D. Beach;
MotoAmerica Twins Cup race winner Jackson Blackmon;
former Canadian Sport Bike Champion Tomas Casas;
three-time Canadian Sport Bike Champion and 2014 Canadian Superbike Champion Jodi Christie;
former AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 race winner Josh Day;
2011 Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Championship runner-up and current MotoAmerica team owner Dustin Dominguez;
2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, and 2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas;
four-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race winner and former motorcycle track record holder Carlin Dunne (R.I.P.);
Canadian Superbike race winner Bodhi Edie;
two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, two-time AMA Pro XR1200/Harley-Davidson Champion and four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick;
2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Bobby Fong;
2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Superstock 1000 Champion, and two-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne;
two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and World Superbike podium finisher Garrett Gerloff;
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship runner-up Michael Gilbert;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Champion, 2018 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship runner-up Hayden Gillim;
2002 AMA Superbike Champion and 2006 FIM MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden (R.I.P.);
2007 AMA Pro 600cc Supersport Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up, and 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship runner-up Roger Hayden;
eight-time AMA Pro Superbike race winner and two-time AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden;
2013 AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin;
MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Teagg Hobbs;
AMA Pro Superstock race winner Jake Holden;
2011 British Superbike Championship runner-up and former MotoGP and World Superbike regular John Hopkins;
2015 Supersport World Championship runner-up, 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Superbike podium finisher Patrick “P.J.” Jacobsen;
2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and current Moto2 World Championship competitor Sean Dylan Kelly;
Canadian Superbike race winner Kevin Lacombe;
two-time MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Andrew Lee;
2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Champion Jake Lewis;
MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Sam Lochoff;
MotoAmerica Superstock 600 race winner Nick McFadden;
AMA Pro SuperSport race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Stefano Mesa;
Elena Myers, the first and only woman to win AMA Pro Supersport races;
AMA Pro XR1200 race winner, multi-time Loudon Classic winner, and two-time BRL Champion Shane Narbonne;
2012 Canadian Superbike Championship runner-up Andrew Nelson;
2016 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Champion, 2019 British Motostar (Moto3) Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch;
2012 Daytona 200 winner and 2010 AMA Pro Supersport West Champion Joey Pascarella;
2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and current powersports dealership owner Bryce Prince;
AMA Pro and Canadian National race winner and multi-time N2/WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Peris;
two-time AMA Pro SuperSport National Champion, British Supersport podium finisher, 2020 AFT Production Twins Champion, and MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers race winner James Rispoli;
2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport race winner, and Moto2 World Championship race winner Joe Roberts;
former Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Champion and former FIM Moto2 European Championship competitor Benny Solis, Jr.;
three-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2009 Superbike World Champion, MotoGP race winner, and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ben Spies;
multi-time AMA Pro race winner and four-time overall WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Ulrich;
MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher and former World Superbike competitor Jayson Uribe;
2017 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship runner-up, 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory Ventura;
Canadian Superbike race winner Alex Welsh;
former AMA Pro Superbike Rookie of the Year, Chinese Superbike Championship race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory West;
MotoAmerica Junior Cup and Superbike Cup race winner Ashton Yates;
and two-time AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up Blake Young.
Defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista, riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, topped World Superbike Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at TT Circuit Assen with a lap time of 1:34.592.
Six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea was second on his factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR, while Remy Gardner was both the top Independent Team rider and top Yamaha rider in third on his GYTR GRT Yamaha YZF-R1.
American Garrett Gerloff finished the session seventh overall and the second-best BMW rider on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.
The 2023 season has just started but even at the first European round of the year, 2024 is coming onto the radar
The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is BACK in action and the Pirelli Dutch Round at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands is shaping up to be a belter. There’s plenty of hype coming into this round; it’s our first chance to catch-up with one rider who has been testing MotoGP™ machinery, an opportunity to speak to a home-hero, the Championship leader and Assen’s most successful rider. This week’s outspoken certainly touches all bases as we look ahead to racing.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK): “It’s all young riders’ dream to ride a MotoGP™ bike”
“For the MotoGP™ test, I can say I enjoyed it and finally, I rode in good weather, as last year I only did 28 laps due to the weather. Thanks to Yamaha for the opportunity. It’s still a dream but we will see in the future. This is just testing, for me to understand the bike and for Yamaha to see the potential. It’s all young riders’ dream to one day, ride a MotoGP™ bike. I’ve done it, enjoyed it but now I come back and do my job again, because for me, WorldSBK is important this season, to fight again for the Championship. This break was a lot, I was really bored and now I am fighting again. For me, the last two years at Assen, it hasn’t been a good race weekend, especially Race 2. This year, I was thinking not to ride in Race 2, because I always end up crashing! I’ll try again for this year, for the podium or the win. Jonny is always very strong at this track. Every year, this race weekend is different and I’ll try to do my best.”
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “Toprak’s an incredible talent, he could do a great job”
“I’m excited about Assen. I have a pretty good track record here, it’s a track I enjoy. I rode for a team based just up the road for many years of my career. I don’t know why I work so well here, it’s also a combination with the bike. I know Kawasaki is very strong here as well. While one eye’s on performance, you have to keep an eye on what the weather’s doing. Tough’s a great word. Although we have to try and start from zero and reset, and the results have been pretty poor, we can also draw positives from some of the races we’ve had; steps forward we’ve made with the bike. We haven’t put it all together. We’ve had two tests at Aragon and Barcelona to try a different direction with the bike and to focus on our weaknesses. This season, it’s been overstressing the front and the front tyre especially in the latter stages of races. We showed some good speed in Australia and Indonesia. The speed’s not in doubt, it’s about the longevity in the race. I think here at Assen should suit us especially with cooler conditions. It’s a hard situation to be in. All I know is that Toprak’s an incredible talent and given the right opportunity to go to MotoGP™, with the right people around him, he could do a great job.”
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “I don’t have a clear of idea about my future… in the case I don’t want to stay, they have to know”
“I look forward to this weekend as I started the year so well. The feeling at the Barcelona test was incredible, I’m very happy. I have good memories at this track as I won with Ducati three times and last year, we were competitive, fighting with Toprak and Jonathan. I haven’t thought about my future because right now, we have only had two races; maybe after this round, I start to think about what I want to do. I am not old, but I have a lot of experience in motorcycle racing. At the moment, it’s not my first worry, I just want to be focused on this weekend. I don’t have a clear of idea about my future. I will decide very soon, not just for me but for my team. In the case I don’t want to stay, they have to know as soon as possible and also for my side. We’ll see, but at the moment, I don’t have an idea. About Toprak, for sure he wants to go to MotoGP™, at least what I heard. It’s a different Championship, different bikes, different tyres… I know he’s doing some tests with the Yamaha, but he has to understand if he has the potential to go there and do well. Otherwise, he has a big name in WorldSBK and he’s an important rider here, so he has to choose, but it’s not an easy decision. Every rider wants to try MotoGP™ at least once, but it’s not easy, now that the category is so close with a gap at almost nothing between first and last. He has to understand if he can also be fast there.”
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK): “It’ll be something special if I can get the first win here”
“We are at Assen, it’s a special track for me as I have good memories from the first year in WorldSBK in 2021, so we’ll see what happens this weekend. We hope for good weather, but we’re ready to fight. It’ll be something special if I can get the first win here at Assen; it’ll be hard but for sure, we’ll try. Why not? We’re here after a really good start to the Championship; we’ll try to be fast and fight for the podium. For me, it’s difficult to say about Toprak because I don’t know but maybe for him, it’s interesting to go to MotoGP™ for the future. In my opinion, it doesn’t change anything; we’ll continue to work on my side, together, to be fast and to finish this season in a good way.”
Iker Lecuona (Team HRC): “I think we can fight for top positions”
“I started training and I don’t have any pain; I’ve been training with the practice bike and I don’t feel pain, so this is positive. I am here, ready to fight again. Honestly, I am very happy with the direction; I think we did a very good step with race distance, this is the area we’ve improved a lot because last year, we struggled with the tyre performance as it was dropping a lot in the last laps. Almost every race, we lost this potential to fight for the podium or good results. I am really happy, also the team and Japan have done a very good step so then, the reality is that if the tyre life makes it to the end with a good performance or not, but we are happy. I spoke with my crew chief Pete this morning and we said that I’m very excited, so I need to be calmer; last year, I went fast with the old bike but and got a podium. So, if you put this into 2023 when in Australia, with the improved tyre performance, we overtook Jonny in the last two laps, and the fact it’s a new season, testing went well and I’m excited, I know the package was amazing, so we need to see day by day. I think I am ready; I think we can fight for top positions.”
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I want to stay with BMW”
“I’m really happy to be back racing again, especially at Assen. I’m always looking forward to here. Unfortunately, it’s only once a year but it’s nice to be back here at Assen! It was nice to ride again at the test after Indonesia. We had a lot of things to test and, for us, it was to see what direction we have to go for the future. Nothing really decided about what to use here but we had some swingarms. It was all to confirm the direction for the future. I want to stay with BMW for sure. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the results yet like we wanted for different reasons. One reason was my injury which cost us a whole year. I want to improve this project, to start winning with this project, hopefully we can stay together.”
LIVEWIRE CONFIRMS U.S. S2 DEL MAR PRICING AND EUROPEAN LAUNCH EDITION DETAILS
S2 Del Mar is priced at $15,499 USD for the U.S. and Europe receives a Launch Edition of 100 limited edition bikes on sale April 27.
LiveWire, the leading electric motorcycle manufacturer, is excited to confirm its MSRP for S2 Del Mar in the U.S along with projected delivery dates. The Company is also pleased to announce an exclusive colorway for the S2 Del Mar Launch Edition in Europe limited to 100 bikes across the four markets.
US: In the U.S., LiveWire has been hard at work finalizing production, pricing, and projected delivery schedules. The S2 Del Mar is confirmed to launch with an MSRP of $15,499. Reservations are open for the production version in 3 colorways, targeting delivery this July. Performance highlights and complete product specifications will be published in June, along with a full calendar of demo opportunities and events.
Europe: For European LiveWire consumers, reservations for the S2 Del Mar Launch Edition will open at 4 p.m. CET on April 27, and will require a €100 fee. Only 100 examples of the S2 Del Mar European Launch Edition models will be made, featuring an exclusive finish and wheel design. The graphics and paint—in a unique Himalaya White finish—are applied by hand using a process that takes five days to complete. The Launch Edition of S2 Del Mar is planned for delivery in Europe this September.
S2 Del Mar European Launch Edition incl. VAT
• France €20,190
• Germany €19,990
• Netherlands €20,390
• U.K. £18,990
LiveWire will be hosting a series of viewing events of the S2 Del Mar European Launch Edition at the following locations. For further information and to RSVP, please visit livewire.com.
• London April 26 @ The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club
• Paris April 27 @ Roadstar 92
• Amsterdam April 28 @ H-D Amsterdam
• Berlin April 29 @ Deus Ex Machina
About LiveWire
LiveWire has a dedicated focus on the electric motorcycle sector. LiveWire’s majority shareholder is Harley-Davidson, Inc. LiveWire comes from the lineage of Harley-Davidson and is capitalizing on a decade of its learnings in the EV sector. LiveWire plans to develop the technology of the future and invest in the capabilities needed to lead the transformation of motorcycling.
OCEANSIDE, CA (April 20, 2023) – Melissa Paris and MP13 Racing are pleased to announce a new title sponsor for the 2023 season: The WagBar. As a result, the team will be known as The WagBar MP13 Racing Team for the 2023 MotoAmerica racing season.
What is The WagBar, you ask? The WagBar is the only high-protein snack made with 100% American Wagyu beef from cows treated the way we treat the world: with kindness. Every WagBar you buy helps us deliver shelf-stable protein to people experiencing homelessness in our city and around the globe.
Team Principal Paris has this to say about securing a key non-industry related brand for her team, “I am really proud about our new partnership with The Wag Bar. It’s always exciting when a nonendemic brand sees value in our team and motorcycle racing in general. Beyond that… all of us at The WagBar MP13 Racing Team appreciate having a handy, healthy, and, most importantly, delicious snack at the ready.”
The great news about The WagBar at the races, samples will be available in limited quantities at select MotoAmerica races. Additionally, beginning at the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta round, The WagBar will be in the MotoAmerica vendor area selling their delicious and nutritious products.
The WagBar MP13 Team is fielding Kayla Yaakov and Aiden Sneed this season. When asked about the decision to support a MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup and Junior Cup team for 2023, CEO Ron Woosley had this to say, “Being involved in MotoAmerica and with Melissa Paris is exciting. The WagBar is a relatively new product that’s now available at 560 Love’s Travel Stops around the country. With adding exposure the MotoAmerica series can provide, we are looking forward to seeing the impact of what the team, Kayla, and Aiden can have on the growth of The WagBar. Myself and business partner John will be at some of the races meeting with race fans and selling The WagBar. We like to say that it’s Beef with purpose. The product is delicious and full of protein, and the message is one of giving back. I am looking forward to seeing the team and everyone at Road Atlanta in a couple of weeks.”
If you want to get your hands on some WagBar now, the team has a discount code all setup. Head on over to www.thewagbar.com, and on checkout, enter the code MP13 for 13% off your purchase. We look forward to seeing you at the race track.
BS Battery continuing partnership with Bridgestone CSBK for 2023
Toronto, ON – French motorsport battery giant BS Battery and its Canadian distributor Importations Thibault are proud to announce their continued support of the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike championship for 2023, returning as the title sponsor of the BS Battery Pole Position Award in the feature Pro Superbike class.
The BS Battery Pole Position Award is a highly coveted prize amongst the racing community, and is awarded to the rider with the fastest qualifying lap time during each round of the championship. This year promises to be more exciting than ever before, with some of the best racers in the country competing for top honours.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Importations Thibault and support the Bridgestone CSBK series” said Benjamin Sebban, General Manager of BS Battery. “This collaboration allows us to showcase our products to a wider audience and connect with the racing community. We are confident that this season will be a great success, and we look forward to seeing who will come out on top.”
Dave Oakley, Director of Business Development for Importations Thibault, also expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership. “We are excited to be working with BS Battery for another year and are proud to be a part of this fantastic racing series. Our commitment to supporting the powersports community and providing top-quality products is at the core of everything we do. We believe that this partnership will continue to enhance the racing experience for fans and participants alike,” he said.
Last year’s battle for the BS Battery Pole Position Awards frequently came down to the wire, with rookie Trevor Dion capturing the mantle for round one in Grand Bend before rivals Ben Young and Alex Dumas traded honours there afterwards – even sharing the award in round three after an exact tie in qualifying.
Young would go on to win the overall BS Battery Pole Position Championship by four points over Dumas, qualifying inside the top-two at every race, as well as conquering the overall feature Pro Superbike championship.
The BS Battery Pole Position Award is just one example of the ways in which both Importations Thibault and BS Battery are committed to supporting the sport of motorcycle racing in Canada. With the Bridgestone CSBK series set to kick off in just over a month, fans and racers alike can look forward to another thrilling season of high-speed competition.
2023 AMA Land Speed Grand Championship at the Bonneville Salt Flats Set for Aug. 27-31
Event hopes to make strong return after 2022 cancelation
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — After inclement weather robbed the motorcycling community of racing on one of the most unique settings in all of sports in 2022, the AMA Land Speed Grand Championship at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah, is back Aug. 27-31, and the year off has done nothing to extinguish the blazing speeds that dominate the annual event.
AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming event, stating, “We are thrilled to announce the return to the salt for one of the most highly anticipated weeks in the world of motorcycling. After a year-long hiatus, we anticipate an exhilarating showcase of speed and skill, with the potential for new land speed records to be set.”
The AMA Land Speed Grand Championship — also referred to as the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials — is the premier motorcycle land-speed racing event in the world. Competitors of all backgrounds and investment converge on the other-worldly and pristine Bonneville Salt Flats with one goal in mind: go fast.
With Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme recognition, the AMA-sanctioned event allows racers to set AMA national records and FIM Land Speed World Records on machines that range from 50cc mini-bikes to 3,000cc streamliners.
“We are looking forward to welcoming our land-speed racers back to the Bonneville Salt Flats, especially after the rain-out event last year,” said event director/owner Delvene Reber of Deliciate Promotions LLC. “The racers are excited to get back out there and continue to make history as they achieve their land speed records.”
“We will once again be offering AMA national records alongside FIM inscribed World Records,” Delvene added. “Of course, there is also a chance to just test your bike and collect a timing slip with the Run Watcha Brung class.”
Event classes are determined by engine displacement, modification levels and various degrees of streamlining. Competitors range from weekend enthusiasts to professional race teams fielding million-dollar engineering masterworks.
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
Mathew Scholtz And Westby Racing Are Ready For Their 2023 Season Debut This Weekend At Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
Tulsa, OK – The opening round of the 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship starts this Friday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, and rider Mathew Scholtz, along with the entire Westby Racing team, are poised to reap the rewards of their productive preseason testing program.
Several new upgrades were made to the team’s #11 Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike over the past few months—including electronics, engine, suspension, and chassis—and Mathew and the team are excited the see how they stack up against the stiff competition in MotoAmerica, which is one of the world’s premier national motorcycle road racing organizations.
“I can’t wait to get this season started,” Mathew said. “We had a very productive off-season with the new software package, as well as all the other upgrades to the bike. Road Atlanta is one of my favorite tracks. I’ve got neighbors and friends coming out to watch me race, so it’s always special there. The weather looks like it’s going to be pretty good, so I’m excited to get out there and mix it up with the boys and see how everyone fares up. And we’ll take the season from there. I’m very confident that we’ll be battling up at the sharp end of the field.”
Superbike final qualifying is on Saturday morning at 10:25 a.m. ET, Superbike race one will go green on Saturday afternoon at 3:10 p.m. ET, and Superbike race two is on Sunday afternoon also at 3:10 p.m. ET. Both races will be broadcast live on MotoAmerica’s YouTube Channel.
For all the action from Road Atlanta, as it happens, subscribe to MotoAmerica Live+, which is MotoAmerica’s live streaming and on-demand service.
Meet Mathew, Get An Autographed Poster, And More
Mathew will be available for autographs during the Dunlop Hot Pit Walk & Autograph Session, scheduled for 11 to 11:40 a.m. Sunday on pit lane at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. He and the team will be handing out free posters and T-shirts, so don’t miss it.
Check Out The Westby Racing Sponsor Showcase
Superbike Unlimited and Suter Racing Products are the featured team sponsors on display in the Westby Racing paddock area this race weekend, so be sure to stop by to say hello and learn about some of the companies that support the team.
For more updates about Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit www.WestbyRacing.com
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Ducati:
A new era dawns with Josh Herrin and Xavi Fores lining up for Ducati as MotoAmerica 2023 kicks off at Road Atlanta this weekend
Sunnyvale, Calif. — The preseason talking stops this weekend as a new era dawns for the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC team with riders Josh Herrin and Xavi Fores.
2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Herrin will debut in red in the premier MotoAmerica Superbike Championship as he begins an attempt at taking a second American Superbike Championship crown to go with his first triumph in 2013.
The Georgian will be on home ground this weekend at Road Atlanta, a track he knows like the back of his hand and one that should suit the ultra-fast nature of the factory-prepared Ducati Panigale V4 R, and he’ll be looking to continue the trend he started one month ago when he took a famous victory in the 2023 Daytona 200.
For international racing veteran Xavi Fores, he will make his long-awaited debut in the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship this weekend when he takes to the grid on the championship-winning Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Ducati Panigale V2.
Spaniard Fores, who can count on his experience in almost every major international road racing championship on his resume including MotoGP, WorldSBK, MotoE and EWC, has only victory on his mind and despite being a rookie in the series, will surely go in as one of the hot favorites for the 2023 MotoAmerica Supersport title.
Josh Herrin (1) riding a Ducati Panigale V2 Supersport bike at Daytona. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Ducati Panigale V4 R – Ducati #2)
“Everybody on the team is really excited to get going at Road Atlanta this weekend,” Herrin said. “I think we’re going into it with a lot of confidence after taking the Supersport championship last year on the Panigale V2, we got the Daytona 200 win recently, and we just completed a really productive test at Jersey Motorsports Park last week, so things are looking really positive. I’m not going to put a ton of pressure on myself—I know I’ve been putting in all the work possible in the off-season and I’m ready for it.”
Xavi Fores (12). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
“Yes, I’m really excited to start the season properly,” Fores said from the hospital while clutching his newborn. “The excitement of seeing my new baby will help a lot with the adrenaline! I’ve been to Road Atlanta, but it was a really long time ago in 2004, so at least I know the layout and it won’t be too strange to be back there. This is the start of a huge year for me, my new family and the team and we’re ready to fight for some big results.”
Round one of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship will be held at Road Atlanta on April 21-23, 2023.
Rocco Landers (97) at speed on his Suzuki SV650 en route to the 2020 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Rocco Landers is filling in for injured Ben Gloddy on the Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660 in MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup this weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Gloddy fell in a chain-reaction crash with Dominic Doyle during Twins Cup Race One at Daytona International Speedway in March and suffered lacerations in his groin area that required surgery.
The 17-year-old from New Hampshire rode recently in his role as a flat track instructor with American Supercamp, but discomfort during that school led Gloddy to withdraw from this weekend’s event, according to a member of his team.
Gloddy did not respond to attempts by Roadracingworld.com to contact him prior to post time, but on April 19 he posted the following to social media:
“It’s been an up and down ride since Daytona and after experiencing some setbacks I will not be at Atlanta this weekend. I have no doubts that Robem Rodio Racing will be on the box for both races and I will be cheering all my buddies on from NH. What took place at and after Daytona was a little more traumatic physically and mentally than I initially thought and I will be taking this time to work on myself to be stronger than ever. I am sorry to let everyone down and I cannot thank my team, sponsors, friends, family and fans enough for all the support.”
To replace Gloddy, Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering has enlisted the services of 18-year-old Landers. In addition to finishing as the runner-up in the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship, Landers won the MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship in 2020 and back-to-back MotoAmerica Junior Cup titles in 2019 and 2020.
Stefano Manzi (62). Photo courtesy Ten Kate Racing.
Stefano Manzi, riding his Ten Kate Racing Yamaha YZF-R6, topped World Supersport Free Practice One with a 1:38.316 Friday morning at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands.
The top 15 riders were separated by only 1.3 seconds.
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed North America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 27th consecutive year of showcasing what is actually an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 12 MotoAmerica/AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (12 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more — and younger — racers with higher levels of accomplishments are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2023 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
First road race: 2016, Braselton, Georgia, WERA, Formula Three, 1st place.
Current racebike: Suzuki GSX-R750.
Current tuners/mechanics: Dustin Cyr.
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Supersport.
Top sponsors: Vision Wheel, M4 Performance Exhausts, ECSTAR, Suzuki, Mission Foods, Arai, RST, R&G, Shorai, Hotbodies Racing, Vortex, EK Chains, TechSpec, Cordona, SportbikeTrackGear.com, Venhill, 1-833-CJ-KNOWS Accident and Injury Law, Roadracingworld.com, Team Hammer, Alpinestars, Roof Systems, Evolve GT.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2022 season, placed 3rd in MotoAmerica Supersport Championship (1 win, 9 total podiums); 2021 season, won MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (11 wins and 15 total podiums in 18 races); 2020 season, raced in FIM CEV European Talent Cup (Best race finish was 16th at Valencia), win 2 CCS Atlantic Regional Championships (Thunderbike, Lightweight Superbike), won 26 CCS races; 2019 season, finished 23rd in Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup (best race finish was 11th at Assen), competed in European Talent Cup; 2018 season, selected to join the 2019 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, finished 3rd in ASRA Moto3 and Thunderbike National Championships (6 wins, 8 podium finishes from 8 starts), won 5 CCS Regional Championships (34 race wins), won 3 WERA races; 2017 season, won AMA Moto3 Grand Championship, won WERA Formula Three National Challenge Championship, won 2 WERA Sportsman Regional Class Championships (16 wins, 24 podiums with WERA), won 3 AMA Flat Track Grand National Championships, named AMA Flat Track Youth Rider of the Year; 2016 season, won 3 AMA Flat Track Grand Championships, named AMA Flat Track Youth Rider of the Year.
2023 racing goal: Win the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
Racing career goals: Race against Marc Marquez, win MotoGP World Championship.
Racing hero: Nicky Hayden.
Favorite track: Mugello.
Favorite hobby: Riding mountain bikes.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Competing in bicycle races or enduro races.
Some of the riders who have graduated from Roadracing World Young Guns and gone on to racing success in National or International series include:
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion Jason Aguilar (R.I.P.);
2013 AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Corey Alexander;
AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race winner Tommy Aquino (R.I.P.);
2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and AFT SuperTwins race winner J.D. Beach;
MotoAmerica Twins Cup race winner Jackson Blackmon;
former Canadian Sport Bike Champion Tomas Casas;
three-time Canadian Sport Bike Champion and 2014 Canadian Superbike Champion Jodi Christie;
former AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 race winner Josh Day;
2011 Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Championship runner-up and current MotoAmerica team owner Dustin Dominguez;
2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, and 2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas;
four-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race winner and former motorcycle track record holder Carlin Dunne (R.I.P.);
Canadian Superbike race winner Bodhi Edie;
two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, two-time AMA Pro XR1200/Harley-Davidson Champion and four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick;
2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Bobby Fong;
2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Superstock 1000 Champion, and two-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne;
two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and World Superbike podium finisher Garrett Gerloff;
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship runner-up Michael Gilbert;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Champion, 2018 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship runner-up Hayden Gillim;
2002 AMA Superbike Champion and 2006 FIM MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden (R.I.P.);
2007 AMA Pro 600cc Supersport Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up, and 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship runner-up Roger Hayden;
eight-time AMA Pro Superbike race winner and two-time AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden;
2013 AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin;
MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Teagg Hobbs;
AMA Pro Superstock race winner Jake Holden;
2011 British Superbike Championship runner-up and former MotoGP and World Superbike regular John Hopkins;
2015 Supersport World Championship runner-up, 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Superbike podium finisher Patrick “P.J.” Jacobsen;
2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and current Moto2 World Championship competitor Sean Dylan Kelly;
Canadian Superbike race winner Kevin Lacombe;
two-time MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Andrew Lee;
2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Champion Jake Lewis;
MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Sam Lochoff;
MotoAmerica Superstock 600 race winner Nick McFadden;
AMA Pro SuperSport race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Stefano Mesa;
Elena Myers, the first and only woman to win AMA Pro Supersport races;
AMA Pro XR1200 race winner, multi-time Loudon Classic winner, and two-time BRL Champion Shane Narbonne;
2012 Canadian Superbike Championship runner-up Andrew Nelson;
2016 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Champion, 2019 British Motostar (Moto3) Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch;
2012 Daytona 200 winner and 2010 AMA Pro Supersport West Champion Joey Pascarella;
2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and current powersports dealership owner Bryce Prince;
AMA Pro and Canadian National race winner and multi-time N2/WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Peris;
two-time AMA Pro SuperSport National Champion, British Supersport podium finisher, 2020 AFT Production Twins Champion, and MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers race winner James Rispoli;
2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport race winner, and Moto2 World Championship race winner Joe Roberts;
former Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Champion and former FIM Moto2 European Championship competitor Benny Solis, Jr.;
three-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2009 Superbike World Champion, MotoGP race winner, and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ben Spies;
multi-time AMA Pro race winner and four-time overall WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Ulrich;
MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher and former World Superbike competitor Jayson Uribe;
2017 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship runner-up, 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory Ventura;
Canadian Superbike race winner Alex Welsh;
former AMA Pro Superbike Rookie of the Year, Chinese Superbike Championship race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory West;
MotoAmerica Junior Cup and Superbike Cup race winner Ashton Yates;
and two-time AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up Blake Young.
Defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista, riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, topped World Superbike Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at TT Circuit Assen with a lap time of 1:34.592.
Six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea was second on his factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR, while Remy Gardner was both the top Independent Team rider and top Yamaha rider in third on his GYTR GRT Yamaha YZF-R1.
American Garrett Gerloff finished the session seventh overall and the second-best BMW rider on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.
The 2023 season has just started but even at the first European round of the year, 2024 is coming onto the radar
The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is BACK in action and the Pirelli Dutch Round at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands is shaping up to be a belter. There’s plenty of hype coming into this round; it’s our first chance to catch-up with one rider who has been testing MotoGP™ machinery, an opportunity to speak to a home-hero, the Championship leader and Assen’s most successful rider. This week’s outspoken certainly touches all bases as we look ahead to racing.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK): “It’s all young riders’ dream to ride a MotoGP™ bike”
“For the MotoGP™ test, I can say I enjoyed it and finally, I rode in good weather, as last year I only did 28 laps due to the weather. Thanks to Yamaha for the opportunity. It’s still a dream but we will see in the future. This is just testing, for me to understand the bike and for Yamaha to see the potential. It’s all young riders’ dream to one day, ride a MotoGP™ bike. I’ve done it, enjoyed it but now I come back and do my job again, because for me, WorldSBK is important this season, to fight again for the Championship. This break was a lot, I was really bored and now I am fighting again. For me, the last two years at Assen, it hasn’t been a good race weekend, especially Race 2. This year, I was thinking not to ride in Race 2, because I always end up crashing! I’ll try again for this year, for the podium or the win. Jonny is always very strong at this track. Every year, this race weekend is different and I’ll try to do my best.”
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “Toprak’s an incredible talent, he could do a great job”
“I’m excited about Assen. I have a pretty good track record here, it’s a track I enjoy. I rode for a team based just up the road for many years of my career. I don’t know why I work so well here, it’s also a combination with the bike. I know Kawasaki is very strong here as well. While one eye’s on performance, you have to keep an eye on what the weather’s doing. Tough’s a great word. Although we have to try and start from zero and reset, and the results have been pretty poor, we can also draw positives from some of the races we’ve had; steps forward we’ve made with the bike. We haven’t put it all together. We’ve had two tests at Aragon and Barcelona to try a different direction with the bike and to focus on our weaknesses. This season, it’s been overstressing the front and the front tyre especially in the latter stages of races. We showed some good speed in Australia and Indonesia. The speed’s not in doubt, it’s about the longevity in the race. I think here at Assen should suit us especially with cooler conditions. It’s a hard situation to be in. All I know is that Toprak’s an incredible talent and given the right opportunity to go to MotoGP™, with the right people around him, he could do a great job.”
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “I don’t have a clear of idea about my future… in the case I don’t want to stay, they have to know”
“I look forward to this weekend as I started the year so well. The feeling at the Barcelona test was incredible, I’m very happy. I have good memories at this track as I won with Ducati three times and last year, we were competitive, fighting with Toprak and Jonathan. I haven’t thought about my future because right now, we have only had two races; maybe after this round, I start to think about what I want to do. I am not old, but I have a lot of experience in motorcycle racing. At the moment, it’s not my first worry, I just want to be focused on this weekend. I don’t have a clear of idea about my future. I will decide very soon, not just for me but for my team. In the case I don’t want to stay, they have to know as soon as possible and also for my side. We’ll see, but at the moment, I don’t have an idea. About Toprak, for sure he wants to go to MotoGP™, at least what I heard. It’s a different Championship, different bikes, different tyres… I know he’s doing some tests with the Yamaha, but he has to understand if he has the potential to go there and do well. Otherwise, he has a big name in WorldSBK and he’s an important rider here, so he has to choose, but it’s not an easy decision. Every rider wants to try MotoGP™ at least once, but it’s not easy, now that the category is so close with a gap at almost nothing between first and last. He has to understand if he can also be fast there.”
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK): “It’ll be something special if I can get the first win here”
“We are at Assen, it’s a special track for me as I have good memories from the first year in WorldSBK in 2021, so we’ll see what happens this weekend. We hope for good weather, but we’re ready to fight. It’ll be something special if I can get the first win here at Assen; it’ll be hard but for sure, we’ll try. Why not? We’re here after a really good start to the Championship; we’ll try to be fast and fight for the podium. For me, it’s difficult to say about Toprak because I don’t know but maybe for him, it’s interesting to go to MotoGP™ for the future. In my opinion, it doesn’t change anything; we’ll continue to work on my side, together, to be fast and to finish this season in a good way.”
Iker Lecuona (Team HRC): “I think we can fight for top positions”
“I started training and I don’t have any pain; I’ve been training with the practice bike and I don’t feel pain, so this is positive. I am here, ready to fight again. Honestly, I am very happy with the direction; I think we did a very good step with race distance, this is the area we’ve improved a lot because last year, we struggled with the tyre performance as it was dropping a lot in the last laps. Almost every race, we lost this potential to fight for the podium or good results. I am really happy, also the team and Japan have done a very good step so then, the reality is that if the tyre life makes it to the end with a good performance or not, but we are happy. I spoke with my crew chief Pete this morning and we said that I’m very excited, so I need to be calmer; last year, I went fast with the old bike but and got a podium. So, if you put this into 2023 when in Australia, with the improved tyre performance, we overtook Jonny in the last two laps, and the fact it’s a new season, testing went well and I’m excited, I know the package was amazing, so we need to see day by day. I think I am ready; I think we can fight for top positions.”
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I want to stay with BMW”
“I’m really happy to be back racing again, especially at Assen. I’m always looking forward to here. Unfortunately, it’s only once a year but it’s nice to be back here at Assen! It was nice to ride again at the test after Indonesia. We had a lot of things to test and, for us, it was to see what direction we have to go for the future. Nothing really decided about what to use here but we had some swingarms. It was all to confirm the direction for the future. I want to stay with BMW for sure. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the results yet like we wanted for different reasons. One reason was my injury which cost us a whole year. I want to improve this project, to start winning with this project, hopefully we can stay together.”
A LiveWire S2 Del Mar electric motorcycle. Photo courtesy LiveWire.
LIVEWIRE CONFIRMS U.S. S2 DEL MAR PRICING AND EUROPEAN LAUNCH EDITION DETAILS
S2 Del Mar is priced at $15,499 USD for the U.S. and Europe receives a Launch Edition of 100 limited edition bikes on sale April 27.
LiveWire, the leading electric motorcycle manufacturer, is excited to confirm its MSRP for S2 Del Mar in the U.S along with projected delivery dates. The Company is also pleased to announce an exclusive colorway for the S2 Del Mar Launch Edition in Europe limited to 100 bikes across the four markets.
US: In the U.S., LiveWire has been hard at work finalizing production, pricing, and projected delivery schedules. The S2 Del Mar is confirmed to launch with an MSRP of $15,499. Reservations are open for the production version in 3 colorways, targeting delivery this July. Performance highlights and complete product specifications will be published in June, along with a full calendar of demo opportunities and events.
Europe: For European LiveWire consumers, reservations for the S2 Del Mar Launch Edition will open at 4 p.m. CET on April 27, and will require a €100 fee. Only 100 examples of the S2 Del Mar European Launch Edition models will be made, featuring an exclusive finish and wheel design. The graphics and paint—in a unique Himalaya White finish—are applied by hand using a process that takes five days to complete. The Launch Edition of S2 Del Mar is planned for delivery in Europe this September.
S2 Del Mar European Launch Edition incl. VAT
• France €20,190
• Germany €19,990
• Netherlands €20,390
• U.K. £18,990
LiveWire will be hosting a series of viewing events of the S2 Del Mar European Launch Edition at the following locations. For further information and to RSVP, please visit livewire.com.
• London April 26 @ The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club
• Paris April 27 @ Roadstar 92
• Amsterdam April 28 @ H-D Amsterdam
• Berlin April 29 @ Deus Ex Machina
About LiveWire
LiveWire has a dedicated focus on the electric motorcycle sector. LiveWire’s majority shareholder is Harley-Davidson, Inc. LiveWire comes from the lineage of Harley-Davidson and is capitalizing on a decade of its learnings in the EV sector. LiveWire plans to develop the technology of the future and invest in the capabilities needed to lead the transformation of motorcycling.
Twins Cup racer Kayla Yaakov sporting her new The WagBar MP13 Racing Team uniform. Photo courtesy The WagBar MP13 Racing Team.
OCEANSIDE, CA (April 20, 2023) – Melissa Paris and MP13 Racing are pleased to announce a new title sponsor for the 2023 season: The WagBar. As a result, the team will be known as The WagBar MP13 Racing Team for the 2023 MotoAmerica racing season.
What is The WagBar, you ask? The WagBar is the only high-protein snack made with 100% American Wagyu beef from cows treated the way we treat the world: with kindness. Every WagBar you buy helps us deliver shelf-stable protein to people experiencing homelessness in our city and around the globe.
Team Principal Paris has this to say about securing a key non-industry related brand for her team, “I am really proud about our new partnership with The Wag Bar. It’s always exciting when a nonendemic brand sees value in our team and motorcycle racing in general. Beyond that… all of us at The WagBar MP13 Racing Team appreciate having a handy, healthy, and, most importantly, delicious snack at the ready.”
The great news about The WagBar at the races, samples will be available in limited quantities at select MotoAmerica races. Additionally, beginning at the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta round, The WagBar will be in the MotoAmerica vendor area selling their delicious and nutritious products.
The WagBar MP13 Team is fielding Kayla Yaakov and Aiden Sneed this season. When asked about the decision to support a MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup and Junior Cup team for 2023, CEO Ron Woosley had this to say, “Being involved in MotoAmerica and with Melissa Paris is exciting. The WagBar is a relatively new product that’s now available at 560 Love’s Travel Stops around the country. With adding exposure the MotoAmerica series can provide, we are looking forward to seeing the impact of what the team, Kayla, and Aiden can have on the growth of The WagBar. Myself and business partner John will be at some of the races meeting with race fans and selling The WagBar. We like to say that it’s Beef with purpose. The product is delicious and full of protein, and the message is one of giving back. I am looking forward to seeing the team and everyone at Road Atlanta in a couple of weeks.”
If you want to get your hands on some WagBar now, the team has a discount code all setup. Head on over to www.thewagbar.com, and on checkout, enter the code MP13 for 13% off your purchase. We look forward to seeing you at the race track.
At the final CSBK round of 2022 at CTMP, BS Battery Pole winner and overall Pole Champion Ben Young (center) celebrates on Friday’s Qualifying Podium with Suzuki’s Alex Dumas (left) and Kawasaki’s Sebastien Tremblay (right). Photo by Colin Fraser, courtesy CSBK.
BS Battery continuing partnership with Bridgestone CSBK for 2023
Toronto, ON – French motorsport battery giant BS Battery and its Canadian distributor Importations Thibault are proud to announce their continued support of the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike championship for 2023, returning as the title sponsor of the BS Battery Pole Position Award in the feature Pro Superbike class.
The BS Battery Pole Position Award is a highly coveted prize amongst the racing community, and is awarded to the rider with the fastest qualifying lap time during each round of the championship. This year promises to be more exciting than ever before, with some of the best racers in the country competing for top honours.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Importations Thibault and support the Bridgestone CSBK series” said Benjamin Sebban, General Manager of BS Battery. “This collaboration allows us to showcase our products to a wider audience and connect with the racing community. We are confident that this season will be a great success, and we look forward to seeing who will come out on top.”
Dave Oakley, Director of Business Development for Importations Thibault, also expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership. “We are excited to be working with BS Battery for another year and are proud to be a part of this fantastic racing series. Our commitment to supporting the powersports community and providing top-quality products is at the core of everything we do. We believe that this partnership will continue to enhance the racing experience for fans and participants alike,” he said.
Last year’s battle for the BS Battery Pole Position Awards frequently came down to the wire, with rookie Trevor Dion capturing the mantle for round one in Grand Bend before rivals Ben Young and Alex Dumas traded honours there afterwards – even sharing the award in round three after an exact tie in qualifying.
Young would go on to win the overall BS Battery Pole Position Championship by four points over Dumas, qualifying inside the top-two at every race, as well as conquering the overall feature Pro Superbike championship.
The BS Battery Pole Position Award is just one example of the ways in which both Importations Thibault and BS Battery are committed to supporting the sport of motorcycle racing in Canada. With the Bridgestone CSBK series set to kick off in just over a month, fans and racers alike can look forward to another thrilling season of high-speed competition.
A photo from a previous AMA Land Speed Grand Championship at the Bonneville Sale Flats, in Utah. Photo by Scooter Grubb, courtesy AMA.
2023 AMA Land Speed Grand Championship at the Bonneville Salt Flats Set for Aug. 27-31
Event hopes to make strong return after 2022 cancelation
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — After inclement weather robbed the motorcycling community of racing on one of the most unique settings in all of sports in 2022, the AMA Land Speed Grand Championship at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah, is back Aug. 27-31, and the year off has done nothing to extinguish the blazing speeds that dominate the annual event.
AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming event, stating, “We are thrilled to announce the return to the salt for one of the most highly anticipated weeks in the world of motorcycling. After a year-long hiatus, we anticipate an exhilarating showcase of speed and skill, with the potential for new land speed records to be set.”
The AMA Land Speed Grand Championship — also referred to as the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials — is the premier motorcycle land-speed racing event in the world. Competitors of all backgrounds and investment converge on the other-worldly and pristine Bonneville Salt Flats with one goal in mind: go fast.
With Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme recognition, the AMA-sanctioned event allows racers to set AMA national records and FIM Land Speed World Records on machines that range from 50cc mini-bikes to 3,000cc streamliners.
“We are looking forward to welcoming our land-speed racers back to the Bonneville Salt Flats, especially after the rain-out event last year,” said event director/owner Delvene Reber of Deliciate Promotions LLC. “The racers are excited to get back out there and continue to make history as they achieve their land speed records.”
“We will once again be offering AMA national records alongside FIM inscribed World Records,” Delvene added. “Of course, there is also a chance to just test your bike and collect a timing slip with the Run Watcha Brung class.”
Event classes are determined by engine displacement, modification levels and various degrees of streamlining. Competitors range from weekend enthusiasts to professional race teams fielding million-dollar engineering masterworks.
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
Mathew Scholtz (11). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Mathew Scholtz And Westby Racing Are Ready For Their 2023 Season Debut This Weekend At Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
Tulsa, OK – The opening round of the 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship starts this Friday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, and rider Mathew Scholtz, along with the entire Westby Racing team, are poised to reap the rewards of their productive preseason testing program.
Several new upgrades were made to the team’s #11 Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike over the past few months—including electronics, engine, suspension, and chassis—and Mathew and the team are excited the see how they stack up against the stiff competition in MotoAmerica, which is one of the world’s premier national motorcycle road racing organizations.
“I can’t wait to get this season started,” Mathew said. “We had a very productive off-season with the new software package, as well as all the other upgrades to the bike. Road Atlanta is one of my favorite tracks. I’ve got neighbors and friends coming out to watch me race, so it’s always special there. The weather looks like it’s going to be pretty good, so I’m excited to get out there and mix it up with the boys and see how everyone fares up. And we’ll take the season from there. I’m very confident that we’ll be battling up at the sharp end of the field.”
Superbike final qualifying is on Saturday morning at 10:25 a.m. ET, Superbike race one will go green on Saturday afternoon at 3:10 p.m. ET, and Superbike race two is on Sunday afternoon also at 3:10 p.m. ET. Both races will be broadcast live on MotoAmerica’s YouTube Channel.
For all the action from Road Atlanta, as it happens, subscribe to MotoAmerica Live+, which is MotoAmerica’s live streaming and on-demand service.
Meet Mathew, Get An Autographed Poster, And More
Mathew will be available for autographs during the Dunlop Hot Pit Walk & Autograph Session, scheduled for 11 to 11:40 a.m. Sunday on pit lane at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. He and the team will be handing out free posters and T-shirts, so don’t miss it.
Check Out The Westby Racing Sponsor Showcase
Superbike Unlimited and Suter Racing Products are the featured team sponsors on display in the Westby Racing paddock area this race weekend, so be sure to stop by to say hello and learn about some of the companies that support the team.
For more updates about Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit www.WestbyRacing.com
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
More, from a press release issued by Ducati:
A new era dawns with Josh Herrin and Xavi Fores lining up for Ducati as MotoAmerica 2023 kicks off at Road Atlanta this weekend
Sunnyvale, Calif. — The preseason talking stops this weekend as a new era dawns for the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC team with riders Josh Herrin and Xavi Fores.
2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Herrin will debut in red in the premier MotoAmerica Superbike Championship as he begins an attempt at taking a second American Superbike Championship crown to go with his first triumph in 2013.
The Georgian will be on home ground this weekend at Road Atlanta, a track he knows like the back of his hand and one that should suit the ultra-fast nature of the factory-prepared Ducati Panigale V4 R, and he’ll be looking to continue the trend he started one month ago when he took a famous victory in the 2023 Daytona 200.
For international racing veteran Xavi Fores, he will make his long-awaited debut in the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship this weekend when he takes to the grid on the championship-winning Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Ducati Panigale V2.
Spaniard Fores, who can count on his experience in almost every major international road racing championship on his resume including MotoGP, WorldSBK, MotoE and EWC, has only victory on his mind and despite being a rookie in the series, will surely go in as one of the hot favorites for the 2023 MotoAmerica Supersport title.
Josh Herrin (1) riding a Ducati Panigale V2 Supersport bike at Daytona. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Ducati Panigale V4 R – Ducati #2)
“Everybody on the team is really excited to get going at Road Atlanta this weekend,” Herrin said. “I think we’re going into it with a lot of confidence after taking the Supersport championship last year on the Panigale V2, we got the Daytona 200 win recently, and we just completed a really productive test at Jersey Motorsports Park last week, so things are looking really positive. I’m not going to put a ton of pressure on myself—I know I’ve been putting in all the work possible in the off-season and I’m ready for it.”
Xavi Fores (12). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
“Yes, I’m really excited to start the season properly,” Fores said from the hospital while clutching his newborn. “The excitement of seeing my new baby will help a lot with the adrenaline! I’ve been to Road Atlanta, but it was a really long time ago in 2004, so at least I know the layout and it won’t be too strange to be back there. This is the start of a huge year for me, my new family and the team and we’re ready to fight for some big results.”
Round one of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship will be held at Road Atlanta on April 21-23, 2023.
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