MotoGP: World Championship Heading To The Red Bull Ring

David Swarts

-

August 14, 2023

MotoGP: World Championship Heading To The Red Bull Ring

The stage is set! Who will run the show at the Red Bull Ring?

Happy hunting grounds for some, home turf for others. Austria welcomes MotoGP™ back for what could prove a pivotal weekend

Monday, 14 August 2023

After an adrenaline-fuelled Silverstone that saw Aprilia get back on the top step at one of their emblematic venues, it’s time to head for Austria and the Red Bull Ring – more common hunting grounds for Ducati and KTM. In fact, since the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix, the last five races at the venue have proven a pattern of Ducati – KTM – Ducati – KTM – Ducati in terms of wins. Those early Borgo Panigale days of glory on MotoGP™’s return to the Red Bull Ring aren’t necessarily over, but they certainly have serious competition. So does that hold some clues as to what awaits us in Styria this season?

In the red corner

Last year, reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) took the glory in Austria, and after a performance under serious pressure at Silverstone when he arguably had the luxury of not pushing to the edge, but very much still did, he must arrive as a favourite this year too. Now with a good advantage in hand after a tougher Tissot Sprint in the UK became a big opportunity to gain on key rivals on Sunday, there’s even less of that pressure now as well. Pecco must surely be the rider in the crosshairs.

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), however, took his first premier class win at the Red Bull Ring in 2021 – in fact, he started both races at the Red Bull Ring from pole in his rookie season, won the first and took a podium in the second. Now an even better rider and on quite a run of form come 2023, he’s the closest on the chase behind Bagnaia after the British GP shuffle. After getting battered back down the order on Sunday at Silverstone as well, it wasn’t a lack of speed that saw the number 89 lose out on valuable points, or really his own mistake. But the cookie crumbled that way and after losing 10 points to Bagnaia in the Grand Prix race at Silverstone, surely he arrives into Austria thinking it’s a good opportunity to gain some back… on Saturday AND Sunday.

The stakes are high

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) will likely have something to say about that. The South African took KTM’s second and most recent home win at the venue in 2021, rolling the dice for one of the most edge-of-your-seat victories ever – and arguably one of the best. He’ll be absolutely elbows out to grab some more home glory for the Austrian factory, and teammate Jack Miller will be the same. They’ve had serious speed in 2023 too, wet or dry or sketchy, and already made a good few visits to parc ferme. If there’s one place both riders will be razor-sharp focused on some more trophies, it’s here.

That home glory on offer also extends to GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3’s Augusto Fernandez and Pol Espargaro, with both in the points at Silverstone too. The former hasn’t finished outside them all year, and the latter put together an impressive weekend on his long-awaited return from injury. What have they got in the locker?

There’s also not home glory, but title sponsor glory on the line for CrytoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team… and right after Miguel Oliveira took his best result of the season so far, fourth, thanks to a truly impressive charge up from 16th on the grid. He only just missed out on the podium at Silverstone and will be aiming high, having also won at the Red Bull Ring in 2020 when riding with KTM. Teammate Raul Fernandez took a top ten at the British GP too, but he’ll be looking to keep moving forward.

That’s something Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) did in style at Silverstone. After qualifying 12th and storming to the win, he became the first rider to win from P12 or lower on the grid since the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix. And he did it beating the reigning Champion on the last lap. If that isn’t a confidence boost heading into the next round, such a thing probably doesn’t exist. Teammate Maverick Viñales was also strong at Silverstone and in that fight at the front, and both will want to show it’s not just the venue that suits them, but what they’re really capable of everywhere. Starting with another storming start, as both riders made good progress off the line last time out– and Aleix Espargaro said Aprilia’s work in the area was most definitely paying off. They’ll also have wildcard Lorenzo Savadori on track with them too, as that work very much continues.

Looking to hit back

Then there’s Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). Saturday was a good one as he took pole and then second in the Sprint as Bagnaia failed to score. But on Sunday, a first mistake in some time saw the Italian slide out when chasing Bagnaia, ultimately costing him 20 points to the Championship leader. He’s also been passed in the standings by Martin once again… but Austria is a chance to fight back. History says it will require quite a push to overhaul Bagnaia and Martin here, but Bezzecchi’s form this season has cared less for track records and more for unabating speed whatever the venue. Can he make a statement?

Another looking to do so, but on the flip side after a technical issue last time out, is Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™). The number 73 took his first Tissot Sprint win on Saturday, escaping and holding off Bezzecchi, and was right in the podium fight on Sunday before that issue caused him to need to pull in. With a new contract in his back pocket to boot, Alex Marquez will be arriving with expectations, in the best way. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) is another arriving after a tougher Sunday. He pulled in after getting rear ended and will want the chance to show his steps forward as he gets back to full fitness and back in the groove. Can he upset the apple cart at the front?

Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) and Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), meanwhile, will want a lot more. Zarco had a good Sprint in fourth but then a middling Sunday, and Marini didn’t manage to fully challenge at the front at Silverstone. Can they turn that around in Austria? And can Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) home in on his fellow Ducatis?

Full factory reset

Silverstone was a tough one for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ pairing Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli. For Quartararo, the wet qualifying in which he crashed out left him last on the grid, and it didn’t get much better in the Sprint. Come race day though, the Frenchman was on a real charge up the order, so there were some positives until a clash with Marini saw him lose and then run over his own fairing. Only a year ago Quartararo was fighting for the win in Austria too, something to remember as the Misano Test approaches and the 2021 Champion’s vocal expectations of some real progress keep hitting the headlines. Meanwhile, we now know Morbidelli is leaving the factory, which adds an extra arc of storyline. What can Yamaha find in Austria?

Finally, at Honda, the vibe seems to have changed. We know that Alex Rins is leaving the factory to replace the aforementioned Morbidelli – and we await confirmation of when Rins will be back this season alongside Takaaki Nakagami at LCR Honda, with Iker Lecuona subbing this weekend – but for the rest it’s all hands on deck at Honda.

In the Sprint at Silverstone, Marc Marquez rode behind Repsol Honda teammate Joan Mir to get a look at their bike in action. On Sunday the number 93 crashed out but had some positives to find from the weekend. The maelstrom of noise and rumours about the future, stretching all the way back to the German GP, now seems to have gone quieter, and in its place it seems there’s an eight-time World Champion rolling his sleeves up and accepting not defeat, but what’s needed in the here and now to get back to glory. Information. Kilometers. Direction. Is that the reality on the inside? We can’t know for now, so we’ll just have to watch this space…

SHOWTIME IN STYRIA

The CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich sees us return to usual order, with MotoGP™ last on the menu.

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

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

Moto2™: Acosta arrives ahead on KTM home turf

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) couldn’t really have taken the Championship lead with better timing. With a podium at Silverstone he arrives into KTM’s home race with two points in hand, and he’ll want to leave the Red Bull Ring with even more. His form since that DNF in France would likely convince few to bet against him. So what has he got in the locker for Austria? And could the stage be set for some silly season pieces of the puzzle to fall into place?

Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), meanwhile, will want to hit back after that difficult race at Silverstone, but he’ll need to find that few tenths he was missing. And Jake Dixon (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) wants to find some luck as well after a crash in qualifying sent him mid-pack on the grid and then a tangle in the race sent him off into the gravel. Can they strike back?

New winner Fermin Aldeguer (SpeedUp) could prove one to watch once more though. We’ve often seen a first Grand Prix win open the floodgates and the injection of confidence, for a rider who’s already shown great speed, could get very interesting as the season rolls on.

Join us for more Moto2™ this weekend!

Moto3™: home glory on the line in Austria

At the Red Bull Ring in 2022, Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) overcame a double Long Lap to take a truly impressive win, and as the paddock arrives back in Austria the Japanese rider is on a run of podium finishes – and he’s up to second in the standings. He’ll be looking to take that elusive first win of the season on a stage he’s ruled before.

Speaking of first wins though, David Alonso (GASGAS Aspar Team) got the job done last time out, and in some style. From the back of the grid the rookie made history as the first Colombian Grand Prix winner, and he made it look easy. Can he keep the roll going?

Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), meanwhile, was back on the podium at Silverstone and still has quite an advantage, and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) only just lost out on a rostrum finish at Silverstone after that last lap shuffle. There’s something serious at stake for all too: home glory at KTM’s home track, as all fly the flag for brands racing under the Austrian factory’s umbrella.

The rider looking to truly bounce back is Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), who crashed out the lead at Silverstone, but he continues to lead the Honda resistance. Can he spoil the party? Styria could stage another classic so tune in this weekend for more Moto3™ action!

Video: Yamaha Racing Heritage Club Goes Back To The Future At Mugello

David Swarts

-

August 14, 2023

0

Yamaha Racing Heritage Club Goes Back to the Future at Mugello

The Yamaha Racing Heritage Club enjoyed a spectacular two days at Mugello on the 21st-22nd of July as part of the Yamaha Racing Experience, uniting legendary riders and their modern-day contemporaries on some historic two-stroke machinery.

Do you own a Yamaha race bike, whether on or off-road? Find out if you are eligible to become a member of the YRHC and start the registration process by clicking here.

Now in its second year, in 2023, the Yamaha Racing Heritage Club (YRHC) is honouring the 50th anniversary of the revolutionary two-cylinder liquid-cooled TZ350 production racer that was brought out in 1973, based on the factory YZ634 ridden by Jaarno Saarinen to second in the 1972 FIM 350cc World Championship.

Plus, 2023 also marks the 25th anniversary of the ground-breaking R1 superbike, which has achieved numerous successes over the years since its introduction in 1998, including two FIM Superbike World Championships (2009 & 2021) and four consecutive Suzuka 8 Hours victories (2015-2018).

The Yamaha Racing Experience (YRE) at the magical Mugello Circuit in Italy provided the perfect opportunity for stars of the past and present to come together to celebrate both of these iconic machines in what proved to be a truly memorable occasion. The YRE is usually an exclusive event only open to owners of Yamaha’s flagship R1M, but for the first time, it was expanded to include invited members of the YRHC to allow them to join in the fun.

Over the two days, the YRHC members got to take part in several dedicated track sessions alongside two legendary Venezuelan riders whose names are synonymous with the TZ, 1975 FIM 350cc World Champion and 1978 FIM Formula 750 World Champion Johnny Cecotto and double FIM 250cc World Champion (1983 & 1986) Carlos Lavado.

To complete the connection from the past to the present, they were joined by Yamaha’s current crop of riding superstars from the FIM Superbike World Championship and the Endurance World Championship, who all race the R1.

These included Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Official Team’s 2021 Superbike World Champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and 2020 Supersport World Champion Andrea Locatelli, GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team’s double Supersport World Champion (2021 & 2022) Dominique Aegerter and 2020 Moto2 World Champion Remy Gardner, GMT94 WorldSBK Team’s 2022 Supersport World Championship runner-up Lorenzo Baldassari, Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team’s 2022 British Superbike Champion Bradley Ray, plus Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team’s 2017 Endurance World Champion Niccolò Canepa.

Toprak Razgatlioglu enjoying the smell of the exhaust from an ex-Eddie Lawson Yamaha YZR500. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

During the event, the modern-day Yamaha riders got to fulfil their childhood dreams by trying out some seminal two-stroke machines, including Eddie Lawson’s 1986 FIM 500cc World Championship-winning YZR500 0W81, Freddie Spencer’s 1993 ROC Yamaha YZR500, Christian Sarron’s 1978 TZ750, plus replicas of the YZR750 0W31s that Steve Baker and Cecotto rode to the FIM Formula 750 World Championship in 1977 and 1978 respectively.

Toprak Razgatioglu (32) sampling a replica of Steve Baker's 1977 FIM Formula 750 World Championship-winning Yamaha YZR750 0W31. Photo courtesy Yamaha. — Toprak Razgatioglu (32) sampling a replica of Steve Baker’s 1977 FIM Formula 750 World Championship-winning Yamaha YZR750 0W31. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

Having been given a taste of what it was like to race on a classic two-stroke, the WorldSBK and EWC riders returned the favour by giving Cecotto and Lavado a chance to take to the track on something more akin to what they ride competitively, a pair of the latest-spec R1Ms. Both sets of riders embraced the opportunity in a joyous celebration of all things Yamaha, showcasing how racing is truly a part of the manufacturer’s DNA.

To complete its second year, the YRHC will honour Yamaha’s long history of success in off-road racing and commemorate the 50th anniversary of the YZ series of bikes at the Veterans MX of Nations at Foxhills in England on the 24th-28th of August. The event will feature three-time 125cc MX World Champion Alessio Chiodi, former Yamaha factory motocross team manager Michele Rinaldi, and several historic YZ machines from throughout its fifty years of racing.

As you can see, the YRHC was set up to safeguard and recognise Yamaha’s rich racing legacy by allowing owners of classic race bikes to become members, register their bikes on the official database, receive advanced technical support, and participate in some very special events.

Would you like to join the YRHC? If you own a Yamaha race bike, whether on or off-road, find out if you are eligible to become a member and start the registration process by clicking here.

Paolo Pavesio

Director Marketing & Motorsport – Yamaha Motor Europe

“What an event! It is the first time we have invited members of the YRHC to the YRE, and it turned out to be a truly memorable moment. I have rarely seen so many smiling faces, and to see the YRHC members get to ride on track alongside Johnny and Carlos, as well as our today stars from WorldSBK and EWC. It was incredible to see the younger riders try out our legendary two-stroke bikes and, for Carlos and Johnny to get the chance to ride the R1M. It was a wonderful event that brought together the past and present of Yamaha to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the TZ alongside the 25th anniversary of the R1, and I think it was something extraordinary for the YRHC members to experience. Technology may have moved on a lot, but racers share a similar passion no matter the era they are from, and it was great to see that shared with the YRE customers and YRHC members over the two unforgettable days in Mugello.”

Turn 14 Distribution Acquiring Tucker Powersports

David Swarts

-

August 14, 2023

0

Turn 14 Distribution Acquiring Tucker Powersports

Tucker Powersports To Be Acquired by Turn 14 Distribution

Fort Worth, TX – August 14, 2023 – Tucker Powersports announced today that its business will be acquired by Turn 14 Distribution, one of the largest automotive aftermarket distributors in the United States. The purchase includes certain assets of Tucker and all of its private label brands, which include well-known brands such as Kuryakyn, Answer Racing, Pro Taper, and QuadBoss.

“The change in ownership will provide a huge injection of resources to better serve Tucker dealers around the country,” said Marc McAllister, President and CEO of Tucker Powersports. “I am confident that Turn 14 will have a significant impact on the powersports industry with its approach to inventory and its high-quality customer service.”

Turn 14 Distribution is noted for its customer-first approach, proprietary technology, and logistics efficiency in the automotive industry. Turn 14 Distribution is a sixteen-year-old, national, B2B only distributor based outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It operates facilities in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, and Nevada, and has over five hundred employees across three distribution centers and two office locations. The company, named after the 14th turn in the legendary Road America racecourse, was awarded SEMA’s Warehouse Distributor of the Year in 2016, 2018, and 2021. In 2022 it was awarded SEMA Channel Partner of the Year, previously the Warehouse Distributor of the Year award, for excellence in distribution. It will apply to the powersports industry many of the principles the company was founded upon and is known for, including building favorable relationships with partners and employees and leveraging the company’s strengths in operations, technology, and customer service.

“We understand the importance of the dealer in the motorcycle and UTV owner experience,” said Jon Pulli, CEO of Turn 14 Distribution. “We are confident that powersports dealers will benefit from working with us, and we are excited to continue the legacy of Ed Tucker and others who have played an important role in this company’s history.”

Piper Sandler & Company is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Tucker.

N2/WERA National Endurance: Army Of Darkness Wins Again, At PittRace (Updated)

David Swarts

-

August 14, 2023

0

N2/WERA National Endurance: Army Of Darkness Wins Again, At PittRace (Updated)

Army Of Darkness Wins Overall And Heavyweight Class at the N2/WERA National Endurance Race by Dunlop at Pittsburgh International Race Complex

Army of Darkness’ (AOD) Josh Hayes, Chris Peris, Ben Walters, and Cody Wyman took the Heavyweight class and overall victories at Round Four of the N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop six-hour race at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, in Wampum, Pennsylvania.

“It was the first time in 30 years that we loaded the racebike into the trailer heading to the track which was not capable of turning a lap,” said AOD Crew Chief Tim Gooding. “We had a leaking countershaft seal at our test on Monday and fortunately Josh Hayes was testing with Attack Performance, so he hand carried the part for us on his flight to Pitt and we pressed the seal into place on Friday morning at the start of practice. That was a first for me.”

With the “retaining oil” problem resolved, the race was not without incident.

“We had the strongest rider line up we’ve ever had for a race with Josh Hayes, Cody Wyman, Ben Walters, and the long-awaited return of Chris Peris,” said Chief Mechanic Melissa Berkoff. “We knew that our lap times were going to be competitive and relentless as each rider was going to be fast, so we were really keeping one eye on the weather and the other on the fickle and capricious nature of the endurance racing goddess.”

Starting from pole position, Hayes took the lead of the race from lap one and AOD never relinquished it, ultimately finishing two laps ahead of the second-place team.

“We got a little bit of a break because the first rain storm came exactly when we needed to pit for fuel and tires anyway,” said Wyman. “The crew were watching the minute to minute weather and left me out a few extra laps dipping into the reserve fuel to put rains on just when we needed fuel. The Dunlop slicks worked surprisingly well on a wet track!”

“There is always something to learn on a road race bike and endurance racing gives a lot of opportunities for those lessons,” said Hayes. “The weight bias on the bike, the hard compound tires, having to mix up the lines to move through traffic, and the changing conditions. My least favorite time on a race bike is being out on a dry track on deteriorating rains, so guess what they made me do!”

Chris Peris (99) preserving the front Dunlop on the Army of Darkness Yamaha YZF-R1. Photo by Contact Patch Photography, courtesy Army of Darkness.

“I was going around the outside of a rider in six when he lost the front, straightened up and T-boned me at about 120 mph,” said Chris Peris. “The impact deployed the air bag on my suit and bent my right clip-on down like a vintage board track racer and pushed me off into the rain soaked grass at about 100 mph. The whole time I am thinking “DO NOT DROP THE BIKE OUT OF P1!” I got back onto pavement and got back down to pace but with my airbag deployed I couldn’t really see or move. And the bent clip-on was barely usable. I did about ten laps like that before the lightning warning red flagged the race. Welcome back to endurance racing!”

AOD is sponsored by: Army of Darkness, Dunlop, Yamaha Champions Riding School, Yamaha, Industry 13, Woodcraft, Hindle, Supersprox, Thermosman, N2, WERA, Roadracing World.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyVVPKiHYQ52FqkoPkI-vEQ?sub_confirmation=1

More, from a press release issued by N2 Racing:

Army of Darkness wins the largest Ever N2/WERA National Endurance Event at Pitt Race.

Army of Darkness (99). Photo by Contact Patch Photography, courtesy N2 Racing.

Media, PA (August 2023) – Army of Darkness won the N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop 6-Hour race at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. The event, held on Saturday August 12th, was the largest N2 motorcycle endurance event ever held with more than 87 teams competing for a lucrative cash purse and championship bonuses.

The 6-hour race started under beautiful Pennsylvania blue skies with Josh Hayes starting from pole on the Dunlop equipped Army of Darkness YZF-R1. Hayes led into Turn One and the Army of Darkness team never relinquished the lead for almost four and half hours until the race was stopped for lightning in the area. The paddock waited patiently for the weather to clear, and a little after the five hour and thirty-five-minute mark the track gave the ok to resume race. Race officials looked at the time required to get corner workers and safety personnel back in position and at three additional storms cells approaching. It was concluded that there simply was not enough time to get the race restarted safely before the 6-hour mark and the decision was made to call the race at the time of the weather-related red flag.

Army of Darkness extended their overall championship points lead and Heavyweight class points lead with the victory in both classes. Riders Josh Hayes, Cody Wyman, Chris Peris and Ben Walters have been fast and consistent all year on their Dunlop-quipped Yamaha YZF-R1 with very few mistakes. Roll Tide Racing came all the way from Colorado to finish second in the Heavyweight class on a BMW S 1000 RR. Team Keep it on the Pipe finished third on a Kawasaki ZX-10R with riders Alex Irzyk, Patrick Plowman, and Eric Vowels.

Alpha Omega (38). Photo by Contact Patch Photography, courtesy N2 Racing.

The Alpha Omega Endurance Team won the Middleweight class race on a Dunlop-shod Yamaha YZF-R6 with riders Anthony Mazziotto, Blake Davis, Eziah Davis, and Emerson Amaya. Alpha Omega ran the fastest lap times in middleweight by a large margin and completed fast pitstops for a dominant win. LaRoche Racing finished second on a Dunlop-equipped Yamaha YZF-R6 with riders CJ LaRoche, Chris Murphy, and Craig Frantz. Mi Scusi finished in third with riders John Hvizdak, Sloan West, Thomas McQuigg and Tim Wilson also on a Yamaha YZF-R6.

The Lightweight Class was won by endurance veterans RBoM Racing led by the legendary Russell Masecar. Russell used brilliant pit strategy and a bit of luck to secure victory on a Suzuki SV650 with riders Giacomo Manera and Ryan Wolfe. Robem Engineering finished in second place with riders Gus Rodio, Toby Khamsouk, and Alessandro DiMario on an Aprilia RS 660 and 419 Racing finished third with riders Jerry Reeves and Jon Crawford.

The Ultra Lightweight 2-Hour Endurance was an incident-free affair with 46 teams competing on a variety of motorcycles. SportbikeTrackGear.com’s Max Van rode the entire event solo to a victory of more than 45 seconds over Ready to Ride’s Ryne Snooks. Team ECB/Bartcon Racing finished third. All of the top three teams used Kawasaki Ninja 400s.

Max Van (48) on the SportbikeTrackGear.com Kawasaki Ninja 400. Photo by Contact Patch Photography, courtesy N2 Racing.

The Relay Class is a unique exhibition class intended to get teams into endurance racing without building a dedicated endurance program. Each rider on the team can use their own bike and switch transponders with their teammates instead of performing complete pit stops. Nature Power Superbike dominated the relay class and turned the fastest lap time of the event with riders Jason Waters and Dan Kruger. We R1 Endurance Race Team finished in second and Team Half Send finished third.

About N2: N2 – Ride, Learn, Race.

Founded in 2014, N2’s mission is to build a sustainable motorcycle community through safe, structured motorcycle track days, advanced rider training programs based on Yamaha Champions Riding School teaching methods, with a strong affinity for motorcycle road racing. N2 successfully resurrected Motorcycle Endurance Racing in America partnering with WERA Roadracing and creating the N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop. N2 is a premier participant in the MotoAmerica Pro Racing Series with a multi-rider team competing in several classes. N2 is also a major contributor to the Roadracing World Action Fund through fundraising efforts and support from its large member base.

The N2 National Endurance Series is proudly sponsored by: Dunlop Motorcycle Tire, Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, Dainese, Woodcraft Technologies, BobbleHeadMoto, WERA Road Racing, KYT Helmets America, R.E.B Graphics, Millennium Technologies, Wiseco Pistons, JE Pistons, Rise Moto, Ghetto Customs, Pit-Lane Moto and Yamaha Champions Riding School.

For more information: www.n2td.org

Roadracing World Action Fund: Donations Large And Small Make A Difference!

David Swarts

-

August 14, 2023

0

Roadracing World Action Fund: Donations Large And Small Make A Difference!

This year’s “Rainey’s Ride to the Races” event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca brought enthusiastic race fans and road racing stars together to have fun and raise money for the Roadracing World Action Fund. All of the 40 spots available for the ride were sold out plus several spots made available at the last minute, and each $500 ticket purchased included a three-day admission ticket for the MotoAmerica race weekend. Twenty tickets were purchased by the (Terry) Vance Family Foundation.

Others donating at the event were noted Roadracing World Action Fund contributor Leslie Stretch, who, with his donation of $25,000, tops the individual contributor list with an all-time total of $175,000 in donations; The Talbott Family Foundation, donating $10,000 ($50,000 total); and Mark Mitchell, donating $8,000 ($14,000 total). Other cash donations brought the total raised to nearly $100,000.

Road racing and track day organizations: N2 Trackday’s most recent fundraiser totaled $33,553; PRE (Performance Riding Experience) Track Days raised $23,004; and OMRRA, $10,000. The California Roadracing Association (CRA), Yamaha Champions Riding School, and the Bagger Racing League each donated $5,000.

Many have donated this year to help replace Airfence sections lost in a fire which was caused by a crash at Road Atlanta; and RideSmart Motorcycle School in Texas is fundraising to cover deployment of much needed soft barriers at its school and track day events.

In Memory of…

NEMRR raised $21,461 in memory of Scott Briody, killed in MotoAmerica competition at Brainerd International Raceway in 2022.

The family of racer Jason Aguilar, who died in a bicycle accident, raised $966 on Facebook and donated it to the fund in his memory.

About the Roadracing World Action Fund

The Roadracing World Action Fund – a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization – began back in 2001 as a grassroots movement to improve racetrack safety for motorcycle racers and riders. At the time, haybales or stacks of tires were sometimes placed in front of concrete walls for rider protection in case of a crash. A far better solution for rider safety existed – FIM-homologated inflatable soft barriers which absorb the energy of a crash. Soft barriers–made by Airfence or Alpina and purchased the Roadracing World Action Fund using donations and fund raisers–help improve the chances that racers can walk away from a crash which in the past might have caused catastrophic injury, or even death.

The Roadracing World Action Fund gained the support of the motorcycle community, as racers, riders, family and friends, motorcycle businesses, racing organizations and racetracks helped make use of soft barriers the standard, rather than the exception, for motorcycle races and track days across the nation. Now, from Laguna Seca to Daytona, Motorsports Ranch to VIR, Road Atlanta to Road America, and many more, soft barriers are deployed more frequently and in greater quantities than ever before, as the Roadracing World Action Fund continues its mission of helping prevent racetrack injuries through motorcycle road racing safety education, and by organizing donations and funding to purchase and deploy FIM-homologated soft barriers.

Video: Garrett Gerloff: “Road Trip To Misano – Italy”

David Swarts

-

August 14, 2023

0

Video: Garrett Gerloff: “Road Trip To Misano – Italy”

#worldsbk #europe #roadtrip

Hard to explain how much fun it is having familiar faces around! Been loving having my friends and family come over for the race weekends, I hope they keep coming!

MotoCalifornia Luxury Motorcycle Tours: 👉🏽 https://bit.ly/MotoCalifornia

Watch all the World SuperBike action LIVE here! 👉🏽 https://bit.ly/WorldSBK31

Defy All Odds apparel 10% off with discount code: GG31 👉🏽 https://bit.ly/DefyAllOdds31

Helmet: https://www.hjchelmets.us/product/rph...

Leathers: https://www.alpinestars.com/products/...

Gloves: https://www.alpinestars.com/products/...

Boots: https://www.alpinestars.com/products/...

Shot & edited by Brad Schwartzrock (@bradschwartzrock)

#roadtrip #europe #worldsbk

00:00 Intro

00:19 Airport 🇪🇸

00:58 Andorra 🇦🇩

02:21 Monaco 🇲🇨

03:19 Misano 🇮🇹

03:36 MotoCalifornia Promo

04:23 Michele Sporco Prank

05:52 Sunday Montage

06:46 Wise Words

British Superbike: Race Two And Race Three Results From Thruxton (Updated)

David Swarts

-

August 13, 2023

0

British Superbike: Race Two And Race Three Results From Thruxton (Updated)

Jason O’Halloran won Bennetts British Superbike Race Two Sunday at Thruxton Circuit, in England. Riding his McAMS Yamaha YZF-R1, the Australian won the 20-lap race by 1.176 seconds.

Lee Jackson was the runner-up on his Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR, and Charlie Nesbitt got third on his MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.

O’Halloran then completed a sweep of the weekend by winning 20-lap Race Three by a scant 0.213 second. Jackson was the best of he rest again, and Nesbitt claimed third again.

BeerMaster Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell holds the Championship point lead after 21 of 33 races.

Americans Eli Banish and Julian Correa finished seventh and 11th, respectively, in R&G British Talent Cup Race Two Sunday at Thruxton.

BSB R2
BSB R3
BSB Points after R3

More, from a press release issued by MSVR:

Thunder from down under: Aussie rules to make history in another Thruxton thriller

Jason O'Halloran. Photo courtesy MSVR. — Jason O’Halloran. Photo courtesy MSVR.

Jason O’Halloran has eclipsed triple champion Niall Mackenzie to become Yamaha’s most successful race winner in Bennetts British Superbike Championship history, celebrating a treble race win in another Thruxton thriller to take his race-winning tally to 25 for the manufacturer.

Thruxton was a successful weekend for the Australian contenders as the O’Show was unstoppable in Bennetts BSB, whilst Ben Currie completed a double in the Quattro Group British Supersport Championship.

After victory in the BikeSocial Sprint Race yesterday, O’Halloran was hungry to repeat the feat and maintain his impressive win rate at Thruxton, which he did in impressive style to claim eight of the last nine races at the circuit.

However, he was made to work for it in both races as Yamaha, Honda and Kawasaki all celebrated podium success and for Team Green, their first top three finish in 2023 as Lee Jackson became the eleventh different podium finisher of the season.

In the second race of the weekend O’Halloran carved his way through the pack to claim victory, coming from tenth at the end of lap one to snatch the lead in the closing stages to hold off Jackson who took both his and the Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki team’s first podium of 2023.

O’Halloran had started seventh on the grid, but at the end of the opening lap, he was down to tenth and then had to work his way back through the pack. It wasn’t until the final five laps when he had moved into fourth and then he was battling for the lead with Jackson with three laps to go.

After trading positions, the Australian was able to make a break on the final two laps to maintain his impressive winning form at Thruxton, celebrating his 25th race win in Bennetts BSB.

Jackson meanwhile had pushed through to second after an intense battle that featured no less than eight riders throughout the 20-lap contest. The Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki rider had the edge over the fight for third, but it was disappointment for his teammate, rookie Max Cook, who had been mixing it with the more established contenders all weekend.

The local contender was embroiled in the tussle in the front group, but on lap 14 it got congested into the Chicane and he ended up on the kerb and consequently crashed out unhurt.

The pack continued to shuffle with positions constantly changing and it was a traditional Thruxton dogfight until the finish, with nothing separating the top eight contenders.

Rookie Nesbitt continued his impressive performance this weekend to return to the podium holding off Ryan Vickers on the leading LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha who had been one of six different riders to lead the pack during the race.

In the final race of the weekend, again O’Halloran had to fight his way through to the front; ending the opening lap in tenth place, losing a place from his ninth place grid position. The O’Show once again though delivered a calculated performance to work his way through the pack, keeping his calm to move up the order. At mid-race distance, he was seventh and it wasn’t until the closing laps that he made his final charge.

O’Halloran moved from fourth to second on lap 18 of 20 with a decisive move to pass both Nesbitt and Jackson. The Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki rider though fought back to regain the lead, but on the penultimate lap, the McAMS Yamaha emerged ahead and then held off the counter challenge to take the triple win.

The treble victory has launched O’Halloran from sixth in the standings before round seven, up to third ahead of Cadwell Park on the August Bank Holiday.

Jackson and rookie Nesbitt returned to the podium for the second time today as Cook celebrated equaling his strongest result in his first Bennetts BSB season with another fourth place. Nesbitt celebrated at the end of his home round, giving the MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing team a treble podium in only his seventh round in the Superbike class.

Vickers was the leading LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha in fifth place ahead of Leon Haslam on the leading BMW.

Championship leader Tommy Bridewell finished in 14th and 15th place today, in his worst finish of the season. The BeerMonster Ducati rider still maintains his advantage at the top of the standings, but it has been reduced to 26.5 points over teammate Glenn Irwin.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, Race 2 result:

Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha)
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +1.176s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing) +2.185s
Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +2.773s
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Yamaha Racing) +2.807s
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +5.090s
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) +7.259s
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +7.407s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +7.728s
Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) +8.021s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, Race 3 result:

Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha)
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +0.213s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing) +0.334s
Max Cook (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +0.929s
Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +1.145s
eon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) +3.014s
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +3.927s
Storm Stacey (Starline Racing Kawasaki) +4.142s
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +5.927s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +8.002s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:

Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 263
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 236.5
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 212.5
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 208
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) 201
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 185.5
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 178
Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 175
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 159
Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) 115

For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Jason O’Halloran

McAMS Yamaha

“That’s the best weekend of my career, coming off the back of a couple of average rounds to bounce back like this is exactly what we needed.

“We’ve clawed a lot of points back this weekend with pole position and three race wins which is incredible. I’m now Yamaha’s most successful rider in terms of race wins and have 26 BSB wins which is just incredible.

“And I’ve won eight of the last nine races at Thruxton which is another amazing stat!

“This is exactly what the team needed and I think we can carry this momentum forward now to Cadwell Park which is my favourite race of the year.”

Video: Garrett Gerloff: “Best Results Of The Year So Far – Catalunya”

David Swarts

-

August 13, 2023

0

Video: Garrett Gerloff: “Best Results Of The Year So Far – Catalunya”

CIRCUIT DE BARCELONA-CATALUNYA

We’re finally making some progress! Three top 10 finishes in Catalunya 💪🏽 It hasn’t been easy but loving the process, especially with my team! What was even more awesome is my family coming to see the races! I miss them tons being over here so much, so it was cool to show them some of what my life is like in Europe 🫶🏽 Enjoy the video! Please subscribe and give the vid a thumbs up if you liked it! Much love!

Ci vediamo a Italia per la prossima gara 🇮🇹👊🏽

Watch all the World SuperBike action LIVE here! 👉🏽 https://bit.ly/WorldSBK31

Like, comment, and subscribe – more videos coming soon 👀

Defy All Odds apparel 10% off with discount code: GG31

Link: https://bit.ly/DefyAllOdds31

Helmet: https://www.hjchelmets.us/product/rph...

Leathers: https://www.alpinestars.com/products/...

Gloves: https://www.alpinestars.com/products/...

Boots: https://www.alpinestars.com/products/...

Shot & edited by Brad Schwartzrock (@bradschwartzrock)

#bmwm1000rr #catalunya #worldsbk

00:00:00 – Meet the fam!

01:12 – Friday Practice

02:46 – Press duties

03:16 – Bet and Loris being Loris

04:02 – SuperPole Race

05:22 – Intervention

06:33 – The hair bet clarified

06:45 – Eugene’s Shamrock Express Story

07:20 – End of Weekend Recap

09:00 – “He did good this weekend…”

09:24 – Lil chat with the fam

09:53 – Did y’all have fun or what?

11:37 – “I’m gonna snap soon”

11:51 – Motorcycles everywhere!

12:33 – Do you guys get nervous?

13:14 – I live so far away

14:36 – Support Group

15:12 – Hair Woes

15:44 – Wrap it up already

American Flat Track: Race Results From The Castle Rock TT

David Swarts

-

August 12, 2023

0

American Flat Track: Race Results From The Castle Rock TT

Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) Castle Rock TT

Castle Rock Race Park

Castle Rock, Washington

August 12, 2023

Provisional Mission SuperTwins Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Dallas Daniels (Yam), 28 laps

2. Jared Mees (Ind), -2.685 second

3. JD Beach (Yam), -3.184

4. Henry Wiles (Ind), -11.113

5. Davis Fisher (Ind), -16.091

6. Sammy Halbert (Yam), -17.670

7. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -17.977

8. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -23.267

9. Ben Lowe (Ind), -23.440

10. Scooter Vernon (KTM), -23.945

11. Kolby Carlile (Yam), -1 lap

12. Jarod Vanderkooi (Ind), -1 lap, 1.268 seconds

13. Shelby Miller (KTM), -1 lap, 19.475

14. Ryan Wells (Roy), -2 laps

15. Kasey Sciscoe (Har), -3 laps

16. Bronson Bauman (KTM), -6 laps, DNF

17. Michael Hill (Yam), -14 laps, DNF

18. Briar Bauman (KTM), -23 laps, DNF

Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Trevor Brunner (Yam), 23 laps

2. Dalton Gauthier (KTM), -0.202 second

3. Tanner Dean (Hon), -0.350

4. Max Whale (KTM), -0.502

5. Tom Drane (Yam), -0.704

6. Chase Saathoff (Hon), -1.348 seconds

7. James Ott (Hus), -5.835

8. Chad Cose (Hus), -6.198

9. Aidan RoosEvans (Hon), -6.368

10. Kody Kopp (KTM), -6.599

11. Morgen Mischler (Hon), -8.023

12. Tarren Santero (Hon), -8.237

13. Trent Lowe (Hon), -10.301

14. Dominic Cameron (Yam), -11.737

15. Cole Frederickson (Hon), -11.983

16. Olin Kissler (KTM), -12.620

17. Cole Zabala (Hon), -13.193

18. Declan Bender (KTM), -13.296

19. Hunter Bauer (Hon), -17.785

More, from a press release issued by American Flat Track:

Daniels Wins Wild Castle Rock TT

Dallas Daniels (32). Photo courtesy AFT.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 12, 2023) – Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) closed the 2023 Grand National Championship battle to a single point with a clutch victory in Saturday’s CertainTeed Castle Rock TT presented by Law Tigers as Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, put on a show before another massive crowd at Castle Rock Race Park in Castle Rock, Washington.

Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle title hopeful Daniels needed a win in the worst way and he got it the unexpected way. His Estenson Racing teammate, JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) – winner of eight of the series’ previous nine TTs – took the holeshot and immediately checked out at the front. Daniels, meanwhile, was briefly shuffled back to fourth, running alongside Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) and, more crucially, reigning champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750).

Daniels dove in front of Bauman almost immediately and then set his sights on Mees as Beach continued to disappear. The rising star didn’t wait long to make his move, pouncing on his title rival with more than eight minutes remaining on the clock to take control of second position.

Moments later, Bauman crashed while disputing fourth. That shock twist was merely a teaser for the race-shaking drama set to come, however, as race leader Beach lost the front entering the switchback section approximately 30 seconds later.

Daniels inherited the lead and went about building his own insurmountable advantage at the front. The focus of the contest then shifted to Beach’s comeback after picking up his fallen machine. Beach stormed around the outside of Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) with little delay to elevate himself back into a podium position. He then looked to reel in Mees, who was nearly four seconds in front of him.

The TT titan finally arrived on the rear wheel of Mees’ factory Indian with just a minute remaining. However, what felt like an inevitable pass became an impossible one after Beach made a minor slip just as the clocks hit 0:00. That small miscue provided the defending champ with just enough breathing space to survive the final two laps and retain second to the stripe.

Mees’ effort to hold on was every bit as critical as Daniels’ to win – and arguably as critical as any of his eight wins this season. As a result, Mees goes into the Springfield doubleheader finale holding both a one-point lead (342-341) and the tiebreaker, shifting the lion’s share of the pressure to his young adversary.

The victory saw Daniels complete the elusive Grand Slam in just his second premier-class season, adding a TT win to his prior Mile, Half-Mile, and Short Track triumphs. Afterward, he said, “As a little kid, I dreamed of being in this position. Just having a chance going into these last two (races) is amazing. I’m not like super excited because I didn’t want to win my first TT that way; obviously I know you’ve got to get to the finish line first. If I was going to beat JD, I wanted to do it straight up. I was so bummed to see him go down just because I don’t want to win that way.

“But I’m so pumped to get that win. It was a crazy Main Event… I was so nervous. I was looking back a whole lot. I know Earl Hayden is up there, reaming me right now. If he could call me after this, he’d be yelling at me. But it was good. The Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha was working great. We knew what we had to do coming in here and we wanted to win.”

The sport’s all-time TT master, Henry Wiles (No. 17 BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), charged his way up to fourth with Oregonian Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) coming home in fifth.

Three-time Castle Rock TT winner Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Martin Trucking/Castrol Yamaha MT-07) took sixth, followed by Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), Lewis, and Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750), while local hero Scooter Vernon (No. 274 Hovey Racing/Stace Richmand KTM 790 Duke) rounded out the top ten.

Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER

Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) earned his second win of the 2023 Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER season in a tense ride that saw him on the defensive from green light to checkered flag.

Brunner got the launch off the line to grab the lead entering the opening corner and then spent the next eight minutes and two laps doing everything possible to hold onto that position despite the application of relentless pressure from last year’s Castle Rock TT winner, Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F).

But their duel was not theirs alone. At half-distance, what had been a four-rider stack at the front that also included Tanner Dean (No. 38 Walrath Racing/Hovey Racing Honda CRF450R) and Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) became a five-rider affair with the addition of Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F). And then with a minute remaining, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) arrived to transform it to a tight six-rider fight for the victory.

With less than 30 seconds to go, Brunner finally made the mistake Gauthier was desperately attempting to force. But rather than pounce, he responded by nearly losing the front himself and was instead displaced to third by Dean.

However, Gauthier somehow willed a path right back past into second and did so in time to line up a last-corner overtaking attempt on Brunner – a bid that came up 0.202 seconds short.

Brunner, who also won the Peoria TT, said, “We just trusted the process. The lines we were doing all day were working really well. I heard (Gauthier) the entire race, just breathing down my neck. But I just remained consistent and held my lines. I had one bobble going into the tight left and just about lost it. But I gathered it back up real quick and put in some more smooth laps and got it done. It feels so good. This is probably my favorite track on the circuit so it really feels good to get a win here.”

Home state hero Dean held on in third to go from retirement to the podium, while Whale, Drane, and Saathoff followed close behind in fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively.

1st Impressions Husqvarna teammates James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) and Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) finished in seventh and eighth in that order, followed by Aiden RoosEvans (No. 26 A1R Racing/FRA Trust Honda CRF450R).

Meanwhile, defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) finished an uncharacteristic tenth in front of his home fans. While he came in with visions of locking up the championship, it was a fitting end to a difficult day that saw Kopp advance to the Main Event through the LCQ and then spend the bulk of the Main running just outside the top ten.

But despite matching his worst finish of the season, Kopp continues to dominate the points standings, now 35 points up on second-ranked Brunner (308-273) with just 50 points left in play.

Next Up:

The 2023 Progressive American Flat Track season will conclude with an epic Labor Day weekend double finale, the Mission Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, on September 2-3. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/springfield-mile-i-61209 and https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/springfield-mile-ii-61313 to reserve your tickets today.

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://www.fanschoice.tv.

FOX Sports coverage of CertainTeed Castle Rock TT presented by Law Tigers, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, August 20, at 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT).

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

More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:

FOURTH-PLACE FINISH FOR RED BULL KTM’S MAX WHALE AT CASTLE ROCK TT

Round 16 – American Flat Track Championship

CASTLE ROCK, Wash. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Max Whale has raced to a fourth-place finish in Round 16 of the 2023 American Flat Track Championship at the Castle Rock TT, with teammate and current AFT Singles points-leader Kody Kopp riding to 10th position.

After piloting his 450 SX-F to the fourth-fastest qualifying time, Whale charged his way to finish third place in the second Heat of the round, earning a second row starting position for the Main Event. Engaged in a battle for the front-running positions all race long, Whale fought hard to P4, crossing the line a marginal 0.5s from the leader. He sits fifth in the standings.

Max Whale (18). Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.

Max Whale: “Castle Rock TT, didn’t feel overly special today, although as the day progressed I became increasingly comfortable on the track. Qualified in fourth, then finished up with third place in my Heat race, which put me on the second row for the Main Event. I got a good jump, moved my way into fourth, and that’s where I stayed for the remainder as I was right on the front guys all race. This was a really difficult circuit to make passes on, but we’ll shift our focus now to Springfield and finsh this championship out strong.”

Defending champion Kopp experienced a difficult day in Castle Rock, as the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider struggled to achieve comfort on the Washington circuit. After qualifying in ninth place, Kopp raced to seventh in the second Heat race, before posting a quiet run in the Main Event to take P10.

With seven wins to date this season, Kopp continues to lead the 2023 AFT Singles Championship with a 35-point margin as just two rounds remain. He will have another opportunity to potentially clinch back-to-back crowns next time out.

Kody Kopp (1). Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.

Kody Kopp: “The result from this round stings. We came into the day looking to wrap up the championship, although have now pushed it into Springfield. We came out of here healthy, at least, and that’s a blessing in itself as this place can be chaotic. I notched the fastest lap-time in the Main Event, which was a positive, though the pressure mounted here today and we didn’t execute. Huge shoutout to the team, we’re off to Sprinfield now to chase down this championship!”

Next Race: Springfield Mile I – Springfield, IL – September 2, 2023

Round 16 Results

AFT Singles Main Event

1. Trevor Brunner, Yamaha

2. Dalton Gauthier, KTM

3. Tanner Dean, Honda

4. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

OTHER KTM

10. Kody Kopp, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

16. Olin Kissler, KTM

18. Declan Bender, KTM

2023 AFT Singles Point Standings

1. Kody Kopp, 308 points

2. Trevor Brunner, 273

3. Tom Drane, 264

OTHER KTM

5. Max Whale, 244

6. Dalton Gauthier, 235

11. Travis Petton IV, 97

16. Shayna Texter-Bauman, 69

19. Logan Eisenhard, 43

20. Declan Bender, 38

22. Tanner Dean, 27

25. Landen Smith, 15

27. Hayden Gillim, 14

28. Olin Kissler, 14

30. Clarke Morian V, 12

British Superbike: Race One Results From Thruxton

David Swarts

-

August 12, 2023

0

British Superbike: Race One Results From Thruxton

Editorial Note: Americans Julian Correa and Eli Banish finished 11th and 12th, respectively, in R&G British Talent Cup Race One Saturday at Thruxton Circuit.

BSB R1
BSB Points after R1

More, from a press release issued by MSVR:

O’Halloran wins as Nesbitt claims first Bennetts BSB podium finish

Jason O’Halloran celebrated his second victory in the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship in the BikeSocial Sprint Race at Thruxton with the McAMS Yamaha rider delivering a winning performance as rookie Charlie Nesbitt celebrated a debut podium finish for MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing.

O’Halloran had started from the Omologato Pole Position and he hit the front of the pack, but Lee Jackson briefly took the lead on lap five, but the ‘O’Show’ retaliated to regain the position a lap later.

O’Halloran was then at the head of the pack but it wasn’t until the closing laps when he was able to break away from the freight train of riders lining up in the podium battle at the Hampshire circuit.

The pack in the battle for the final podium positions comprised four riders as the rookies were embroiled in the tussle with Charlie Nesbitt and Max Cook taking on Ryan Vickers and Lee Jackson.

On the final lap, Vickers and Jackson were trading blows into the Chicane for the final time, but the pair gave Nesbitt the opportunity he needed and he outdragged them to the chequered flag to take a first Bennetts BSB podium finish, becoming the tenth rider this season to celebrate a top three result. The first of the season for the MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing as they held off Vickers to the line by 0.111s.

Vickers only narrowly claimed third though; 0.013s ahead of Cook on the Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki with Jackson completing the top five in an intense opening race at Thruxton.

Leon Haslam worked his way through to finish sixth for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team as he held off Danny Kent and Kyle Ryde, who had earlier been involved in the battle for the podium on the second LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha.

Glenn Irwin was the leading Ducati in ninth ahead of Peter Hickman who completed the top ten, but it was the worst result of the season so far for championship leader Tommy Bridewell who ended 14th but still holds the advantage in the standings ahead of tomorrow’s two races.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, BikeSocial Sprint Race result:

Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha)
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing) +1.591s
Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +1.702s
Max Cook (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +1.715s
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +1.751s
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) +5.132s
Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) +5.200s
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +5.377s
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) +5.517s
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +5.819s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:

Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 260
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 230.5
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 189
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) 182
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 178
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 176.5
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 153.5
Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 152
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 146
Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) 109

For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Jason O’Halloran

McAMS Yamaha

“We knew from yesterday we had good pace, we spent a lot of time doing long runs and I was pretty confident ahead of the race that I knew what pace I wanted to do.

“I ended up at the front early on and controlled the pace, in the middle part of the race there wasn’t much of a gap behind me so I let Lee go to the front so I could see what he could do, I figured out pretty much straight away that I wanted to be back in front so I overtook him and controlled it over the last few laps and managed to built a bit of a gap.

“It’s been the first weekend we’ve had a really smooth weekend, when you start your weekend on the front foot you can build your momentum and focus on strategy for the races.

“I think the whole team needed that today, we didn’t have a bad Brands Hatch with a top five but we want to win races. We’ve done a lot of work between the two rounds and come here with a better package and I feel like we all deserve that.”

MotoGP: World Championship Heading To The Red Bull Ring

August 14, 2023

The Red Bull Ring, in Austria. Photo courtesy Michelin.

The stage is set! Who will run the show at the Red Bull Ring?

Happy hunting grounds for some, home turf for others. Austria welcomes MotoGP™ back for what could prove a pivotal weekend

Monday, 14 August 2023

After an adrenaline-fuelled Silverstone that saw Aprilia get back on the top step at one of their emblematic venues, it’s time to head for Austria and the Red Bull Ring – more common hunting grounds for Ducati and KTM. In fact, since the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix, the last five races at the venue have proven a pattern of Ducati – KTM – Ducati – KTM – Ducati in terms of wins. Those early Borgo Panigale days of glory on MotoGP™’s return to the Red Bull Ring aren’t necessarily over, but they certainly have serious competition. So does that hold some clues as to what awaits us in Styria this season?

In the red corner

Last year, reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) took the glory in Austria, and after a performance under serious pressure at Silverstone when he arguably had the luxury of not pushing to the edge, but very much still did, he must arrive as a favourite this year too. Now with a good advantage in hand after a tougher Tissot Sprint in the UK became a big opportunity to gain on key rivals on Sunday, there’s even less of that pressure now as well. Pecco must surely be the rider in the crosshairs.

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), however, took his first premier class win at the Red Bull Ring in 2021 – in fact, he started both races at the Red Bull Ring from pole in his rookie season, won the first and took a podium in the second. Now an even better rider and on quite a run of form come 2023, he’s the closest on the chase behind Bagnaia after the British GP shuffle. After getting battered back down the order on Sunday at Silverstone as well, it wasn’t a lack of speed that saw the number 89 lose out on valuable points, or really his own mistake. But the cookie crumbled that way and after losing 10 points to Bagnaia in the Grand Prix race at Silverstone, surely he arrives into Austria thinking it’s a good opportunity to gain some back… on Saturday AND Sunday.

The stakes are high

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) will likely have something to say about that. The South African took KTM’s second and most recent home win at the venue in 2021, rolling the dice for one of the most edge-of-your-seat victories ever – and arguably one of the best. He’ll be absolutely elbows out to grab some more home glory for the Austrian factory, and teammate Jack Miller will be the same. They’ve had serious speed in 2023 too, wet or dry or sketchy, and already made a good few visits to parc ferme. If there’s one place both riders will be razor-sharp focused on some more trophies, it’s here.

That home glory on offer also extends to GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3’s Augusto Fernandez and Pol Espargaro, with both in the points at Silverstone too. The former hasn’t finished outside them all year, and the latter put together an impressive weekend on his long-awaited return from injury. What have they got in the locker?

There’s also not home glory, but title sponsor glory on the line for CrytoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team… and right after Miguel Oliveira took his best result of the season so far, fourth, thanks to a truly impressive charge up from 16th on the grid. He only just missed out on the podium at Silverstone and will be aiming high, having also won at the Red Bull Ring in 2020 when riding with KTM. Teammate Raul Fernandez took a top ten at the British GP too, but he’ll be looking to keep moving forward.

That’s something Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) did in style at Silverstone. After qualifying 12th and storming to the win, he became the first rider to win from P12 or lower on the grid since the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix. And he did it beating the reigning Champion on the last lap. If that isn’t a confidence boost heading into the next round, such a thing probably doesn’t exist. Teammate Maverick Viñales was also strong at Silverstone and in that fight at the front, and both will want to show it’s not just the venue that suits them, but what they’re really capable of everywhere. Starting with another storming start, as both riders made good progress off the line last time out– and Aleix Espargaro said Aprilia’s work in the area was most definitely paying off. They’ll also have wildcard Lorenzo Savadori on track with them too, as that work very much continues.

Looking to hit back

Then there’s Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). Saturday was a good one as he took pole and then second in the Sprint as Bagnaia failed to score. But on Sunday, a first mistake in some time saw the Italian slide out when chasing Bagnaia, ultimately costing him 20 points to the Championship leader. He’s also been passed in the standings by Martin once again… but Austria is a chance to fight back. History says it will require quite a push to overhaul Bagnaia and Martin here, but Bezzecchi’s form this season has cared less for track records and more for unabating speed whatever the venue. Can he make a statement?

Another looking to do so, but on the flip side after a technical issue last time out, is Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™). The number 73 took his first Tissot Sprint win on Saturday, escaping and holding off Bezzecchi, and was right in the podium fight on Sunday before that issue caused him to need to pull in. With a new contract in his back pocket to boot, Alex Marquez will be arriving with expectations, in the best way. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) is another arriving after a tougher Sunday. He pulled in after getting rear ended and will want the chance to show his steps forward as he gets back to full fitness and back in the groove. Can he upset the apple cart at the front?

Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) and Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), meanwhile, will want a lot more. Zarco had a good Sprint in fourth but then a middling Sunday, and Marini didn’t manage to fully challenge at the front at Silverstone. Can they turn that around in Austria? And can Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) home in on his fellow Ducatis?

Full factory reset

Silverstone was a tough one for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ pairing Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli. For Quartararo, the wet qualifying in which he crashed out left him last on the grid, and it didn’t get much better in the Sprint. Come race day though, the Frenchman was on a real charge up the order, so there were some positives until a clash with Marini saw him lose and then run over his own fairing. Only a year ago Quartararo was fighting for the win in Austria too, something to remember as the Misano Test approaches and the 2021 Champion’s vocal expectations of some real progress keep hitting the headlines. Meanwhile, we now know Morbidelli is leaving the factory, which adds an extra arc of storyline. What can Yamaha find in Austria?

Finally, at Honda, the vibe seems to have changed. We know that Alex Rins is leaving the factory to replace the aforementioned Morbidelli – and we await confirmation of when Rins will be back this season alongside Takaaki Nakagami at LCR Honda, with Iker Lecuona subbing this weekend – but for the rest it’s all hands on deck at Honda.

In the Sprint at Silverstone, Marc Marquez rode behind Repsol Honda teammate Joan Mir to get a look at their bike in action. On Sunday the number 93 crashed out but had some positives to find from the weekend. The maelstrom of noise and rumours about the future, stretching all the way back to the German GP, now seems to have gone quieter, and in its place it seems there’s an eight-time World Champion rolling his sleeves up and accepting not defeat, but what’s needed in the here and now to get back to glory. Information. Kilometers. Direction. Is that the reality on the inside? We can’t know for now, so we’ll just have to watch this space…

SHOWTIME IN STYRIA

The CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich sees us return to usual order, with MotoGP™ last on the menu.

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

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

Moto2™: Acosta arrives ahead on KTM home turf

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) couldn’t really have taken the Championship lead with better timing. With a podium at Silverstone he arrives into KTM’s home race with two points in hand, and he’ll want to leave the Red Bull Ring with even more. His form since that DNF in France would likely convince few to bet against him. So what has he got in the locker for Austria? And could the stage be set for some silly season pieces of the puzzle to fall into place?

Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), meanwhile, will want to hit back after that difficult race at Silverstone, but he’ll need to find that few tenths he was missing. And Jake Dixon (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) wants to find some luck as well after a crash in qualifying sent him mid-pack on the grid and then a tangle in the race sent him off into the gravel. Can they strike back?

New winner Fermin Aldeguer (SpeedUp) could prove one to watch once more though. We’ve often seen a first Grand Prix win open the floodgates and the injection of confidence, for a rider who’s already shown great speed, could get very interesting as the season rolls on.

Join us for more Moto2™ this weekend!

Moto3™: home glory on the line in Austria

At the Red Bull Ring in 2022, Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) overcame a double Long Lap to take a truly impressive win, and as the paddock arrives back in Austria the Japanese rider is on a run of podium finishes – and he’s up to second in the standings. He’ll be looking to take that elusive first win of the season on a stage he’s ruled before.

Speaking of first wins though, David Alonso (GASGAS Aspar Team) got the job done last time out, and in some style. From the back of the grid the rookie made history as the first Colombian Grand Prix winner, and he made it look easy. Can he keep the roll going?

Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), meanwhile, was back on the podium at Silverstone and still has quite an advantage, and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) only just lost out on a rostrum finish at Silverstone after that last lap shuffle. There’s something serious at stake for all too: home glory at KTM’s home track, as all fly the flag for brands racing under the Austrian factory’s umbrella.

The rider looking to truly bounce back is Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), who crashed out the lead at Silverstone, but he continues to lead the Honda resistance. Can he spoil the party? Styria could stage another classic so tune in this weekend for more Moto3™ action!

Video: Yamaha Racing Heritage Club Goes Back To The Future At Mugello

August 14, 2023

Toprak Razgatlioglu (1), Carlos Lavado (32), Johnny Cecotto (4), Andrea Locatelli (8), and others on vintage Yamaha racebikes at Mugello. Photo courtesy Yamaha.