Italian Marco Bezzecchi, riding his Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici, posted a best lap time of 2:00.295 in MotoGP Practice One Friday at Silverstone.
Bezzecchi led a fleet of Ducatis filling the top four spots in the session.
MotoGP P1
Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex rider Pedro Acosta was quickest in Moto3 Practice One Friday morning at Silverstone with a lap time of 2:05.399.
American Joe Roberts was ninth in the session with a 2:06.027 on his Italtrans Racing Kalex.
Just one second covered the top 12 riders in the session.
American Joe Roberts is not riding this weekend at Silverstone while he continues to recover from surgery on his right forearm.
Moto2 P1
Spainerd Ivan Ortola topped Moto3 Practice One Friday morning at Silverstone with a lap time of 2:12.817 on his Angeluss MTA Team KTM.
Moto3 P1
Hector Garzo, riding his Dynavolt Intact GP electrified Ducati, led MotoE Practice One Friday at Silverstone with a lap time of 2:12.229.
MotoE P1
Tickets To 2023 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Now On Sale
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Tickets for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which takes place Sept. 15 at the Violet Township Event Center in Pickerington, Ohio, during AMA Hall of Fame Days, are now available to the public.
Tickets to the induction ceremony, which include entry to the cocktail reception at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame following the event, can be purchased at https://americanmotorcyclist.com/hof-induction-ceremony.
General admission tickets are $110 while AMA Life Member tickets are priced at $90. Youth tickets (5-12 years old) are also available for $50. Tickets to the annual AMA Hall of Fame Supporter Brunch, which takes place on Sept. 16, are also available for purchase at https://americanmotorcyclist.com/hof-induction-ceremony and cost $30.
The American Motorcyclist Association will welcome a star-studded class to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, with Rita Coombs, Ryan Dungey, Barry Hawk, Grant Langston and Travis Pastrana all to be inducted at the induction ceremony in September.
For the first time in the history of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the induction celebration will span across four days with AMA Hall of Fame Days running from Sept. 14-17 at the AMA Campus in Pickerington, Ohio. AMA Hall of Fame Days will include an adventure ride, bike night, AMA member meeting and more.
“There will be something for everyone at AMA Hall of Fame Days this September,” AMA Marketing and Communications Director Joy Burgess said, “and we can’t wait to welcome AMA members to our campus to celebrate this incredible class of Hall of Famers during the four-day event.”
For more information regarding AMA Hall of Fame Days, visit https://americanmotorcyclist.com/hof-induction-ceremony.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact AMA Business Development Manager Michael Kula at (949) 466-7833 or [email protected], or Sales Associate Alex Boehm at (310) 662-1724 or [email protected].
About the American Motorcyclist Association
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.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
AHRMA Announces New Leadership
(August 3, 2023, Knoxville, TN) An interim Executive Director and Special Committee Chairman have been appointed to lead the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA)
Daniel May will serve as interim Executive Director and will focus on AHRMA’s Road Racing and Dirt Track programs.
May, who collects, builds, and races vintage motorcycles has been an AHRMA member since 2011. He currently serves as the AHRMA Road Race points keeper and had served on the AHRMA Road Race Planning Committee. He was honored as the 2022 AHRMA Volunteer of the year. May is a retired entrepreneur who held executive-level positions in the computer software financial services industries.
May takes over the AHRMA helm from Craig Grantham who served as Executive Director since December 2021.
Ed Roman, a long-time AHRMA member (member number 425) and competitor who has also served as AHRMA’s Northeast Region Coordinator and event organizer, was appointed as Special Committee Chairman and will focus on AHRMA’s Vintage Motocross, Post Vintage MX, Next Gen MX Observed Trials, and Cross Country programs.
The AHRMA Board of Trustees appointed May and Roman during a special meeting held August 2.
“Both Dan and Ed bring years of successful business acumen and a thorough understanding of the AHRMA culture. Appointing two, experienced volunteer leaders to these key positions will significantly reduce our organizational overhead and position us for sustainability into the future,” said Carl Anderson, Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees. “Daniel and Ed will work collaboratively to increase AHRMA membership and event participation in all of our racing and disciplines.”
Anderson said these leadership changes should not result in any changes to AHRMA’s remaining events during 2023 unless there are factors beyond AHRMA’s control.
“We also want to thank Craig Grantham for the long hours spent putting our accounting systems, policies and operating procedures in order,” Anderson said. “Thanks to his efforts, AHRMA has a solid foundation and a competent staff on which to build for the future.”
Anderson said the AHRMA Board of Trustees is looking forward to working with May and Roman, to provide AHRMA members with the best national vintage motorcycle competition experience possible in the current economically challenging environment.
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage machines along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
POL GETS THE GREEN LIGHT FOR MOTOGP™ BRITISH GRAND PRIX RETURN!
2023 MotoGP news
GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 will at last welcome back their ‘captain’ as former world champ and multiple MotoGP podium finisher, Pol Espargaro, passed a compulsory fitness test today at Silverstone and will take part in the British Grand Prix – round nine of the series – this weekend.
The MotoGP star is feeling fit and strong and is ready to return to the saddle of the GASGAS RC16 for the first time in competition since the season-opening round in Portugal during March. Pol made decent progress in his recovery from a back injury and is now eager to re-join the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 pitbox and his crew. #44 easily sailed through the medical checks at the historic British circuit that is one of the longest and fastest on the calendar and is pumped to tackle his first MotoGP Sprint on Saturday and Grand Prix dispute ‘in red’ on Sunday.
Pol’s presence and his competitive experience is sure to spread to rookie teammate Augusto Fernandez who has been learning and impressing at the ‘deep end’ of MotoGP racing so far. GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 will field their original rider roster for just the second time this year when Free Practice gets underway on Friday morning.
Pol Espargaro #44: “Finally! I’m really happy the day has arrived when I can get back in the paddock, see my team and get back on the bike. I’ve missed this part of my life a lot. I know it will not be easy this weekend, in fact, it will be like starting the pre-season again. I will have to listen to my body, understand the new bike and also get familiar with the format this year. I really want to thank everyone at the Pierer Mobility Group and all those who have been behind me and supporting me.”
Complete race results from the Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series event held July 29-30 at Gingerman Raceway, in South Haven, Michigan.
07 RRW 2023 Gingerman Raceway - Weekend Results (1)
American Kensei Matsudaira Makes Racing Debut in Thailand with Top 5 Finish
Japanese-American Kensei Matsudaira represented the US as a wildcard rider in the most recent Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Cup championship race held at Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand. He was joined as a wildcard in the race by four Yamaha R3 racers from Japan.
Switching from the GP bikes he has been racing in Spain, Kensei rode the Yamaha R3 production bike for the first time in the sole free practice session of the weekend before qualifying in ninth place, 2.2 seconds behind pole position. Despite the change in riding style required for production bikes, Kensei got up to speed quickly and felt confident for the races.
In Race One, Kensei got a great launch off the line and was up to P4 by the first corner, and from there he fought his way up to the top of the leading group and raced in the first or second position for the majority of the race, setting the fastest lap of the race along the way. He was leading the race going into the final corner but was taken out by contact from the inside by another rider who was later penalized for the move. Kensei was still able to pick up the bike and finish in seventh place.
Unfortunately, Kensei injured his hand in the crash and was taken to the medical center. After an x-ray confirmed no broken bones, he was cleared to race again on Sunday.
Race Two unfolded in a similar way with Kensei racing in the top group, fighting for position with the top three Japanese riders despite being unable to push as hard as he would have like due to the injury on his right hand. Kensei finished the race in 4th, just 0.2 second being the race winner.
“I felt pretty good in Race One, I was struggling with the suspension being too stiff for me but I felt confident to win or at least get on the podium, so I was really disappointed to get taken out like I did. Luckily, I didn’t break anything so I could try again the next day,” Kensei said after the races. “In Race Two the pace was good but my injured hand meant I couldn’t brake as hard and the suspension chatter I struggled with all weekend prevented me from pushing harder. In the end I was quite happy to have been able to fight at the very front, which was mostly with the Japanese riders. I learned a lot with this bike, you definitely have to ride it differently than the GP style bikes, but at the end it’s a bike so what you need to go fast is pretty similar.”
Kensei and his family would like to thank Yamaha Thailand, TJ Corse, and Bilmola USA for this special opportunity to race in Thailand.
Kensei will resume his regular road racing schedule with Round 5 of the RFME ESBK championship will be held at Circuito de Navarra in Los Arcos, Spain on September 16-17, 2023.
Kensei and the Evike.com Nox#27 Racing Team would like to thank all of Kensei’s sponsors for their support this year:
Evike.com, Evike Europe, HJC Helmets, Dave Designs, Almassera El Teular, Orange Cat Racing, Iconic Motorbikes, Bison Track, Moto Tecnica, Karen E. Ott Photography, BSP Racing, American Racing Team & Academy, The Starting Grid, TJ Corse, VNM Sport, NLAB Studio, California Superbike School, MadLabs Minimoto, Hans King, 73 Moto Parts, D.I.D Chain, Galfer USA, Bickle Racing, Yoshimura R&D, Vortex Racing, Suspension Matters, Moto Survival School, Live 100 Moto, TechSpec, Landers Racing, Boyko Racing, Mini Moto Alliance
Results - Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Thailand Round 3
Round 13 of the 2023 ASRA racing series was held July 30-31 at NCBIKE, located in Garysburg, North Carolina, where ambient temperatures hovered around 100 degrees F each day.
Former World Superbike racer Mark Heckles, riding his Yamaha YZF-R1, won the nine-lap ASRA Superstock race by more than 11 seconds with a best lap time of 1:24.375.
Stephen Townsend rode his Yamaha R6 to victory in the 10-lap ASRA Sportbike race, topping the seven-rider field by 3.7 seconds and turning a best lap time of 1:28.486.
Arnold Hastings used a 2023-model KTM Duke 790 shod in Triumph race bodywork to take first place in the nine-lap ASRA Thunderbike sprint, recording a best lap time of 1:29.686 and winning by more than 10 seconds.
Italian Marco Bezzecchi, riding his Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici, posted a best lap time of 2:00.295 in MotoGP Practice One Friday at Silverstone.
Bezzecchi led a fleet of Ducatis filling the top four spots in the session.
MotoGP P1
Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex rider Pedro Acosta was quickest in Moto3 Practice One Friday morning at Silverstone with a lap time of 2:05.399.
American Joe Roberts was ninth in the session with a 2:06.027 on his Italtrans Racing Kalex.
Just one second covered the top 12 riders in the session.
American Joe Roberts is not riding this weekend at Silverstone while he continues to recover from surgery on his right forearm.
Moto2 P1
Spainerd Ivan Ortola topped Moto3 Practice One Friday morning at Silverstone with a lap time of 2:12.817 on his Angeluss MTA Team KTM.
Moto3 P1
Hector Garzo, riding his Dynavolt Intact GP electrified Ducati, led MotoE Practice One Friday at Silverstone with a lap time of 2:12.229.
MotoE P1
Tickets To 2023 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Now On Sale
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Tickets for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which takes place Sept. 15 at the Violet Township Event Center in Pickerington, Ohio, during AMA Hall of Fame Days, are now available to the public.
Tickets to the induction ceremony, which include entry to the cocktail reception at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame following the event, can be purchased at https://americanmotorcyclist.com/hof-induction-ceremony.
General admission tickets are $110 while AMA Life Member tickets are priced at $90. Youth tickets (5-12 years old) are also available for $50. Tickets to the annual AMA Hall of Fame Supporter Brunch, which takes place on Sept. 16, are also available for purchase at https://americanmotorcyclist.com/hof-induction-ceremony and cost $30.
The American Motorcyclist Association will welcome a star-studded class to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, with Rita Coombs, Ryan Dungey, Barry Hawk, Grant Langston and Travis Pastrana all to be inducted at the induction ceremony in September.
For the first time in the history of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the induction celebration will span across four days with AMA Hall of Fame Days running from Sept. 14-17 at the AMA Campus in Pickerington, Ohio. AMA Hall of Fame Days will include an adventure ride, bike night, AMA member meeting and more.
“There will be something for everyone at AMA Hall of Fame Days this September,” AMA Marketing and Communications Director Joy Burgess said, “and we can’t wait to welcome AMA members to our campus to celebrate this incredible class of Hall of Famers during the four-day event.”
For more information regarding AMA Hall of Fame Days, visit https://americanmotorcyclist.com/hof-induction-ceremony.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact AMA Business Development Manager Michael Kula at (949) 466-7833 or [email protected], or Sales Associate Alex Boehm at (310) 662-1724 or [email protected].
About the American Motorcyclist Association
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.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
AHRMA Announces New Leadership
(August 3, 2023, Knoxville, TN) An interim Executive Director and Special Committee Chairman have been appointed to lead the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA)
Daniel May will serve as interim Executive Director and will focus on AHRMA’s Road Racing and Dirt Track programs.
May, who collects, builds, and races vintage motorcycles has been an AHRMA member since 2011. He currently serves as the AHRMA Road Race points keeper and had served on the AHRMA Road Race Planning Committee. He was honored as the 2022 AHRMA Volunteer of the year. May is a retired entrepreneur who held executive-level positions in the computer software financial services industries.
May takes over the AHRMA helm from Craig Grantham who served as Executive Director since December 2021.
Ed Roman, a long-time AHRMA member (member number 425) and competitor who has also served as AHRMA’s Northeast Region Coordinator and event organizer, was appointed as Special Committee Chairman and will focus on AHRMA’s Vintage Motocross, Post Vintage MX, Next Gen MX Observed Trials, and Cross Country programs.
The AHRMA Board of Trustees appointed May and Roman during a special meeting held August 2.
“Both Dan and Ed bring years of successful business acumen and a thorough understanding of the AHRMA culture. Appointing two, experienced volunteer leaders to these key positions will significantly reduce our organizational overhead and position us for sustainability into the future,” said Carl Anderson, Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees. “Daniel and Ed will work collaboratively to increase AHRMA membership and event participation in all of our racing and disciplines.”
Anderson said these leadership changes should not result in any changes to AHRMA’s remaining events during 2023 unless there are factors beyond AHRMA’s control.
“We also want to thank Craig Grantham for the long hours spent putting our accounting systems, policies and operating procedures in order,” Anderson said. “Thanks to his efforts, AHRMA has a solid foundation and a competent staff on which to build for the future.”
Anderson said the AHRMA Board of Trustees is looking forward to working with May and Roman, to provide AHRMA members with the best national vintage motorcycle competition experience possible in the current economically challenging environment.
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage machines along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
POL GETS THE GREEN LIGHT FOR MOTOGP™ BRITISH GRAND PRIX RETURN!
2023 MotoGP news
GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 will at last welcome back their ‘captain’ as former world champ and multiple MotoGP podium finisher, Pol Espargaro, passed a compulsory fitness test today at Silverstone and will take part in the British Grand Prix – round nine of the series – this weekend.
The MotoGP star is feeling fit and strong and is ready to return to the saddle of the GASGAS RC16 for the first time in competition since the season-opening round in Portugal during March. Pol made decent progress in his recovery from a back injury and is now eager to re-join the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 pitbox and his crew. #44 easily sailed through the medical checks at the historic British circuit that is one of the longest and fastest on the calendar and is pumped to tackle his first MotoGP Sprint on Saturday and Grand Prix dispute ‘in red’ on Sunday.
Pol’s presence and his competitive experience is sure to spread to rookie teammate Augusto Fernandez who has been learning and impressing at the ‘deep end’ of MotoGP racing so far. GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 will field their original rider roster for just the second time this year when Free Practice gets underway on Friday morning.
Pol Espargaro #44: “Finally! I’m really happy the day has arrived when I can get back in the paddock, see my team and get back on the bike. I’ve missed this part of my life a lot. I know it will not be easy this weekend, in fact, it will be like starting the pre-season again. I will have to listen to my body, understand the new bike and also get familiar with the format this year. I really want to thank everyone at the Pierer Mobility Group and all those who have been behind me and supporting me.”
Complete race results from the Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series event held July 29-30 at Gingerman Raceway, in South Haven, Michigan.
07 RRW 2023 Gingerman Raceway - Weekend Results (1)
American Kensei Matsudaira Makes Racing Debut in Thailand with Top 5 Finish
Japanese-American Kensei Matsudaira represented the US as a wildcard rider in the most recent Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Cup championship race held at Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand. He was joined as a wildcard in the race by four Yamaha R3 racers from Japan.
Switching from the GP bikes he has been racing in Spain, Kensei rode the Yamaha R3 production bike for the first time in the sole free practice session of the weekend before qualifying in ninth place, 2.2 seconds behind pole position. Despite the change in riding style required for production bikes, Kensei got up to speed quickly and felt confident for the races.
In Race One, Kensei got a great launch off the line and was up to P4 by the first corner, and from there he fought his way up to the top of the leading group and raced in the first or second position for the majority of the race, setting the fastest lap of the race along the way. He was leading the race going into the final corner but was taken out by contact from the inside by another rider who was later penalized for the move. Kensei was still able to pick up the bike and finish in seventh place.
Unfortunately, Kensei injured his hand in the crash and was taken to the medical center. After an x-ray confirmed no broken bones, he was cleared to race again on Sunday.
Race Two unfolded in a similar way with Kensei racing in the top group, fighting for position with the top three Japanese riders despite being unable to push as hard as he would have like due to the injury on his right hand. Kensei finished the race in 4th, just 0.2 second being the race winner.
“I felt pretty good in Race One, I was struggling with the suspension being too stiff for me but I felt confident to win or at least get on the podium, so I was really disappointed to get taken out like I did. Luckily, I didn’t break anything so I could try again the next day,” Kensei said after the races. “In Race Two the pace was good but my injured hand meant I couldn’t brake as hard and the suspension chatter I struggled with all weekend prevented me from pushing harder. In the end I was quite happy to have been able to fight at the very front, which was mostly with the Japanese riders. I learned a lot with this bike, you definitely have to ride it differently than the GP style bikes, but at the end it’s a bike so what you need to go fast is pretty similar.”
Kensei and his family would like to thank Yamaha Thailand, TJ Corse, and Bilmola USA for this special opportunity to race in Thailand.
Kensei will resume his regular road racing schedule with Round 5 of the RFME ESBK championship will be held at Circuito de Navarra in Los Arcos, Spain on September 16-17, 2023.
Kensei and the Evike.com Nox#27 Racing Team would like to thank all of Kensei’s sponsors for their support this year:
Evike.com, Evike Europe, HJC Helmets, Dave Designs, Almassera El Teular, Orange Cat Racing, Iconic Motorbikes, Bison Track, Moto Tecnica, Karen E. Ott Photography, BSP Racing, American Racing Team & Academy, The Starting Grid, TJ Corse, VNM Sport, NLAB Studio, California Superbike School, MadLabs Minimoto, Hans King, 73 Moto Parts, D.I.D Chain, Galfer USA, Bickle Racing, Yoshimura R&D, Vortex Racing, Suspension Matters, Moto Survival School, Live 100 Moto, TechSpec, Landers Racing, Boyko Racing, Mini Moto Alliance
Results - Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Thailand Round 3
Round 13 of the 2023 ASRA racing series was held July 30-31 at NCBIKE, located in Garysburg, North Carolina, where ambient temperatures hovered around 100 degrees F each day.
Former World Superbike racer Mark Heckles, riding his Yamaha YZF-R1, won the nine-lap ASRA Superstock race by more than 11 seconds with a best lap time of 1:24.375.
Stephen Townsend rode his Yamaha R6 to victory in the 10-lap ASRA Sportbike race, topping the seven-rider field by 3.7 seconds and turning a best lap time of 1:28.486.
Arnold Hastings used a 2023-model KTM Duke 790 shod in Triumph race bodywork to take first place in the nine-lap ASRA Thunderbike sprint, recording a best lap time of 1:29.686 and winning by more than 10 seconds.
