Noted Italian Distributor of Performance Motorcycle and Bicycle Suspension Products Opens US Distribution Arm
Hendersonville, NC – Andreani, known throughout Europe as the premier distributor of motorcycle and bicycle suspension products, announced today the opening of their first US office and distribution center, located in Hendersonville, NC. The facility is building a stock of products from their own lines as well as well-known brands that will be distributed to US bicycle shops and motorcycle dealerships.
The Andreani USA facility is a 10,000 square foot distribution center and houses the offices for Andreani USA. The company currently employs four people in the US and expects that number to increase as business grows. Andreani USA currently distributes products from SKF, Intek, Kayaba, Showa, and Ohlins, as well as its own Andreani line of suspensions for motorcycles and bicycles.
“The Andreani Group is thrilled to open our operations in the United States. The US market is a tremendous opportunity for our company. We believe that our approach to high performance two-wheelers, which is to provide great products and help technicians by offering comprehensive training, will have a significant impact on bicycle and motorcycle riders in the USA,” said President of Andreani USA Luciano Ubaldini.
Andreani USA President Luciano Ubaldini. Photo courtesy Andreani USA.
Andreani Group International was founded in Pesaro, Italy in 1987 by Giuseppe Andreani, a former motorcycle racing champion. Initially focused on supporting the performance needs of motorcycle riders and racers, Andreani quickly realized that the science of vehicle suspension was not well understood by riders and technicians in the motorcycle world. Andreani worked with industry experts and built a training program, which became the premier resource for technicians and tuners in Europe to get the most out of their motorcycles.
Andreani founder Giuseppe Andreani back in the day. Photo courtesy Andreani USA.
Andreani USA will begin offering this type of training in the United States later this year and will encourage technicians from their customers’ dealerships to attend, along with tuners from some of the top road racing and motocross teams in the industry. The company will also offer training for mountain bike racing teams and technicians, leveraging the company’s deep roots in all types of performance two-wheelers.
The company expects the staff in Hendersonville to grow to 10-15 employees by the end of 2023 and will expand to offer more products and more top brands of motorcycle and bicycle suspension products.
Royal Enfield BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. Now Accepting Applications for 2023
Freddie Spencer to join Royal Enfield’s innovative BTR program
Milwaukee, WI (Tuesday, February 14, 2023) – Royal Enfield is proud to announce the return of its signature BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. (BTR) program to both American Flat Track and MotoAmerica national championships. This groundbreaking program continues to welcome aspiring women into the racing community and provides the opportunity to travel the country and race within a national championship. Royal Enfield is currently accepting applications from women riders (new and experienced) looking to take part in both BTR Road Racing and BTR Flat Track programs for 2023.
Royal Enfield is thrilled to announce Motorsports Hall of Famer Freddie Spencer as part of the MotoAmerica BTR team. The three-time Grand Prix world champion will serve as a mentor and riding coach to the BTR Road Racing paddock, bringing his legendary expertise to the women of the 2023 program.
Three-time World Champion Freddie Spencer will serve as a mentor and riding coach for the 2023 Royal Enfield BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. road race program. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield North America.
“It’s exciting for me to return to the MotoAmerica paddock, especially at a grassroots level like this,” said Freddie Spencer. “Royal Enfield’s Build. Train. Race. program is unique in that it brings racing back to the basics: technique, talent and most importantly, passion. That’s the true soul of racing, and I’m looking forward to fostering that with the BTR women, and hopefully we can continue to encourage people everywhere to get out on the track and give racing a try, and most importantly, just experience the enjoyment of what motorcycling gives you.”
Royal Enfield’s BTR program guides aspiring racers through the process of building a race bike from a stock Royal Enfield motorcycle—INT650 in BTR Flat Track and Continental GT 650 in BTR Road Racing—learning technique and race craft on the track, and finally racing within a national championship. The 2023 season will consist of two separate programs: a four-round series within American Flat Track, and a four-round series within MotoAmerica. Racing begins with BTR Flat Track on April 22, and BTR Road Racing on May 20.
Twelve-rider grids in each series will consist of both returning members and new riders. Applications are currently being accepted, and will close Sunday, February 26. Apply now, or let your lady rider friends know about this unique opportunity to come racing with Royal Enfield in 2023! For more on Royal Enfield BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. and details on how to apply, visit BuildTrainRace.com.
“BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. has become a hallmark of Royal Enfield’s global culture, and we are very proud to usher BTR into its fourth year with American Flat Track, and third year with MotoAmerica,” said Adrian Sellers, Royal Enfield Head – Custom & Motorsport. “The inclusion and encouragement of the BTR program is truly inspiring, and the opportunity to welcome new and returning racers, the support of our sponsors, and now with the legendary Freddie Spencer is an honor. We look forward to another season of exciting racing.”
Royal Enfield’s BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. flat track race program is returning for a fourth year with American Flat Track (AFT). Photo courtesy Royal Enfield North America.
BTR Flat Track Racing Schedule
April 22 (Rnd 1) Dallas Half-Mile, Mesquite, TX
May 6 (Rnd 2) Ventura Short Track, Ventura, CA
July 1 (Rnd 3) West Virginia Half-Mile, Mineral Wells, WV
July 22 (Rnd 4) Bridgeport Half-Mile, Swedesboro, NJ
BTR Road Racing Schedule
June 2-4 (Rnd 1) Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI
June 23-24 (Rnd 2) Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA
July 28-30 (Rnd 3) Brainerd Int’l Raceway, Brainerd, MN
August 18-20 (Rnd 4) Pittsburgh Int’l Race Complex, Wampum, PA
Think you have what it takes? Apply now for Royal Enfield BTR 2023!
The BTR program guides women of all experience levels through the process of building, training and racing a Royal Enfield 650 motorcycle.
About Royal Enfield
The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the midsize motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market.
Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 150 dealers in North America, including the contiguous U.S. and Canada. RENA currently offers the all-new Scram 411, Classic 350, Meteor 350, Himalayan and the 650 Twins (INT650 and Continental GT 650) motorcycles, along with a range of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories and apparel.
For more information on Royal Enfield North America, visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.
Disrupt Racing to field Geoff May along side of Hayden Gillim for 2023 Daytona 200.
“We are happy to announce that Geoff May will be joining our Daytona 200 campaign for this year along side of Hayden. Geoff is a capable contender to win the 200 and has loads of experience around that track. Things just sort of aligned up perfectly to put this combination together so we are all excited to have him on board our Suzuki GSX-R” said Disrupt Racing’s team owner Jesse Hwilka.
“I’m really excited to be racing the Daytona 200 with Disrupt Racing. This is a unique opportunity to blend my crew of Michael Godin, Will Gawler, and Fred Turner with the successful team of Disrupt Racing. I’m looking forward to being teammates with Hayden Gillim and believe we will work well together, to take our Suzuki GSX-R’s to the front. I’d like to personally thank Jesse of Disrupt for this opportunity,” said Geoff May.
“I have a lot of love for Geoff and his guys. We’ve worked together in the past and have had a great relationship, so we all are looking forward to this. Geoff has done a lot for our sport and our series. I have a ton of respect for him as a rider and as an individual, and he still has what it takes to run up front, especially at Daytona. As an added bonus, Hayden and Geoff also have a good relationship, so they are going to be a strong duo to compete against and have the potential to both be on the box after 200 miles. Either way it’s going to be a lot of fun and we’re looking forward to it!” said Jesse Hwilka.
Yamaha To Post Contingency For Mission Mini Cup By Motul Series
$15,300 Up For Grabs In Stock 50, Stock 110 And Stock 125 Classes For 2023 Season
IRVINE, CA (February 14, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is pleased to announce that Yamaha Motor USA is offering a contingency program for the 2023 Mission Mini Cup By Motul series.
Yamaha is offering a contingency program for the 2023 Mission Mini Cup By Motul.
Yamaha will post a total of $15,300 for the series that features MotoAmerica’s youngest racers, aged six to 14, with a payout of $425 per event in the newest classes in the championship – Stock 50, Stock 110 and Stock 125.
A top-three finish in any of those three classes will pay $250 to the winner, $125 to second place and $50 to third.
“It’s really cool to have contingency involvement for these young racers in our Mission Mini Cup By Motul series for 2023,” said Cory Texter, Mission Mini Cup By Motul Series Manager. “Yamaha is a top manufacturer in our series on the big bikes and with this contingency program, I think we will see a lot of blue bikes at the front in our Stock classes for Mission Mini Cup By Motul as well. It’s going to be a really fun year.”
Yamaha’s contingency program for the Mission Mini Cup By Motul series is a first for the championship by a manufacturer.
The Mission Mini Cup By Motul series will kick off its season with a round at the Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina, on May 5-6, and will conclude with the MotoAmerica season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, September 23-24.
In between will be rounds with MotoAmerica at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama (May 19-20), Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (June 2-3) and Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania (August 18-19) with a second standalone Mini Cup round at New Jersey Motorsports Park (July 15-16).
2023 MotoAmerica Mini Cup Presented By Motul Schedule
May 5-6 Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC
May 19-20 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL*
June 2-3 Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI*
July 15-16 New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ
August 18-19 Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA*
Sept. 22-23 New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ*
*In conjunction with MotoAmerica
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
Editorial Note: Scroll down to see the official launch video. The actual video doesn’t start until about the 10:00 mark.
Team HRC outlines its plans and expectations for the 2023 WorldSBK season
The factory Team HRC has virtually opened the doors to its pit garages, the sacred space in which the team and HRC track engineers focus their efforts during every test and race weekend so as to provide riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge with the best possible CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE with which to battle against the fierce World Superbike field.
And while the 2023 livery of the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE welcomes PT Astra Honda Motor to the line-up of official sponsors, the team has concentrated on what lies beneath the fairings in the limited time it has had between the end of the 2022 season and the imminent 2023 season-opener in Australia.
Team Manager Leon Camier and riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge have spoken about what they learned last season and what they aspire to now, aware that the level of competition in 2023 will be higher than ever.
In addition to the virtual presentation, Honda and WorldSBK fans will be able to visit Team HRC’s paddock home on wsbk.hondaracingcorporation.com at any time throughout the year. This area will be constantly updated with new content and information about the team and rider activities, and will remain available to all the passionate fans around the world.
Iker Lecuona’s CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP racebike. Photo courtesy Team HRC.
Iker Lecuona 7
“We learned a lot last year and achieved some strong results, like pole position in Barcelona and a podium at Assen, which we weren’t really expecting as that was only the second race. Definitely a very positive year overall, and it helped me get to grips with a lot of things, like how to manage the situation in every race and at every track, also with the Pirelli tyres that were very difficult to understand at first. I plan to harness all that I learned in 2022 in the year to come. Over the winter, the team and everyone back in the Honda factory have worked really hard to provide us with a better bike. We still have two days of testing in Australia before the first race, so we have time to understand the new material and find the best setup in order to exploit it as best we can. We start with the two rounds that I wasn’t able to compete in last season, but I like both tracks, feel good, and am ready to give it my all.”
Xavi Vierge’s CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP racebike. Photo courtesy Team HRC.
Xavi Vierge 97
“This is my second year in WorldSBK and so we’ll benefit from not having to start from scratch. We now know many of the tracks and understand how the tyres and electronics work, while it was all a big challenge for me last year. 2022 wasn’t an easy season but we scored some good results and demonstrated our potential. They’ve been working hard in Japan and so we’ve had a lot of work to do and elements to test over the winter. I am really pleased with how that all’s gone and now we just need to identify our base setup for the season. Testing is great but it doesn’t compare to racing. Luckily, this year we start early and there’s no better places than Australia and Indonesia. I love those tracks, especially Phillip Island. It’s the first time I’m heading there in February, which is summertime, so I’m looking forward to getting there and beginning what should be an amazing season.”
Leon Camier
Team Manager, Team HRC
“The 2022 World Superbike season was a good foundation year for our two young rookies. Throughout the season, we were able to see what they are both capable of and were impressed by the way in which they were able to quickly adapt to new circuits and different situations. Now that we’ve done a lot of the learning, we can aim to focus on race performance right from FP1. We’ve worked hard in a lot of areas and improved in many aspects. 2023 starts now, and we’re ready to go. The goal is to improve globally, both with the bike on the team’s side, and working to take another step more generally speaking. Our top speed has always been really good with the Fireblade, but we must keep working to improve in every area. When you bring a new spec of a given component to improve in one area, you sometimes find this sets you back in another area. This is something that Honda have been working very hard on in Japan and we are confident that this year we will make another step in the right direction. To expect to go from where we were last season to aiming for a title win will be very difficult, but this is essentially our goal, and one that we will keep working towards until we achieve it.”
ENERGICA EVA RIBELLE BRINGS ELECTRIC TO THE SUPER HOOLIGAN SERIES
An Energica Eva Ribelle streetfighter will be racing in the 2023 edition of the RSD Super Hooligan National Championship with MotoAmerica. It will be entered by Tytlers Cycle Racing and ridden by Colombia’s Stefano Mesa #137.
The Modena-based manufacturer, coming off a four-year stint as the single manufacturer in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, will be making history once again as the first electric motorcycle brand to have a bike compete full time in a motorcycle racing series against more conventional, internal-combustion-engine counterparts.
The racing season will begin on March 9-11 at the iconic Daytona International Speedway, a racetrack that is famed for its long and high banking, which will be a new challenge for an electric motorcycle to overcome.
The series will consist of four rounds and eight individual races – running as part of the famed MotoAmerica Championship – with the other three events to be held at Ridge Motorsports Park (June 23-25), Laguna Seca (July 7-9) and COTA (September 8-10).
Based in Wisconsin, Tytlers Cycle Racing is one of the up-and-coming teams in the MotoAmerica series, having claimed the STK1000 title in their debut season last year as well as multiple podium finishes in the Superbike class.
Energica electric motorcycles have been made in the famous Motor Valley of Italy since 2014 and are available for sale at 135 dealers and importers worldwide. Since April 2022, Energica Motor Company has been part of Ideanomics, a global group that aims at accelerating the commercial adoption of electric vehicles.
ABOUT ENERGICA MOTOR COMPANY S.p.A
Energica Motor Company, leading company of high-performing electric motorcycle and system integration for EVs. Energica Motorcycles are on sale worldwide.
Vance & Hines Rolls into 2023 KOTB Season with Veteran Talent and Championship Credentials
Santa Fe Springs CA – February 13, 2023 – Vance & Hines continues its run at the championship of MotoAmerica’s King Of The Bagger series in 2023 with experienced riders and a crew coming off a championship in flat track racing. Both team riders, James Rispoli and Hayden Gillim, have previously ridden for the Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson Team.
James Rispoli returns to the team after a strong 2022 season aboard the Harley-Davidson Road Glide. Rispoli earned a second place and a third-place finish in the six-race season, where he frequently diced with factory teams from Harley-Davidson and Indian.
James Rispoli. Photo courtesy Vance & Hines.
Rispoli has a formidable racing resume in both flat track and road racing. After winning back-to-back AMA Pro SuperSport championships in the US, Rispoli raced for five years in the prestigious British Superbike championships, then returned to flat track, winning the 2020 AFT Production Twins title in dominant fashion with seven wins aboard a Vance & Hines-built Harley-Davidson XG750R. Rispoli will pilot a Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Road Glide bearing his signature #43 in 2023.
Gillim returns to the Vance & Hines King Of The Baggers team after focusing exclusively on Superbike racing in 2022. While rejoining his former team, he’ll have a dramatically improved motorcycle to ride. The switch from Street Glide to Road Glide, along with the competition-driven development on the engine and chassis will give him a better handling and more powerful bike than his previous KOTB ride.
Hayden Gillim. Photo courtesy Vance & Hines.
Gillim has racing experience in MotoAmerica, MotoGP, WERA and American Flat Track and has wins or championships in almost every class he’s ever raced. He has a winning pedigree as well. He’s a cousin of Nicky, Roger and Tommy Hayden and hails from racing hotspot, Owensboro, Kentucky.
Vance & Hines puts its top technical team on the KOTB program in 2023. Crew chief Steve Polk has the same tech team that helped Jesse Janisch win the AFT Production Twins championship in 2022. With team manager Craig Koontz and technicians Josh Sutter and Ricky Castro, there’s no doubt that this team knows how to create winning race bikes. Gene Burcham provides suspension expertise at each event on the circuit as well.
The team is sponsored by Mission Foods and uses specialized racing parts from Harley-Davidson.
MotoAmerica, seeing the popularity of the KOTB class increase each year, has expanded the race schedule in 2023 to seven of their 10 race weekends. Each of those seven weekends will feature a KOTB double-header, making it a 14-race season for the Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson team.
“We’re really happy to see interest in the class grow and the increase in the number of races this year,” said Team Manager Craig Koontz. “James, with his strong technical feedback and great riding, was a real asset to the team this past season. Having James and Hayden on the track together is going to be exciting to watch. We’re eager to get to Daytona to see how we stack up against the rest of the field.”
The King Of The Bagger series is a racing class showcasing touring-style motorcycles with fairings and saddlebags. KOTB races take place at tracks around the country with the first of the bagger races slated for March 10 at the Daytona International Speedway.
ABOUT VANCE & HINES
The Vance & Hines brand has always been about enhancing the exhilaration of the motorcycle ride. It started over 40 years ago, when Terry Vance and Byron Hines were two young enthusiasts in the fledgling Southern California motorcycle drag race scene. Terry always wanted to go faster, and Byron knew how to make that happen. In short order, their on-track success and innovation drew the attention of other racers, riders and motorcycle manufacturers, which ultimately translated to commercial demand for their products and services. Today, the Company’s mission and activity is the same; make bikes go faster on the racetrack and take those learnings to make impactful products for riders around the world. Since the Company’s inception in 1979, it has run factory race programs in partnership with Suzuki, Yamaha, Ducati and Harley-Davidson in drag racing, road racing and flat track. Vance & Hines is based in Santa Fe Springs CA and has its Racing Development Center in Brownsburg IN. Learn more about the company’s history and products at www.vanceandhines.com.
Agreement includes all business activities and blending and storage operations in Brookfield CT
Acquisition effective February 20, 2023
SPECTRO enjoys an excellent reputation in the aftermarket for motorcycle accessories in the USA and worldwide
MOTOREX USA INC, the US-affiliate of Swiss-based MOTOREX GROUP, has agreed with Intercontinental Lubricants Corporation from Brookfield CT to acquire the SPECTRO PERFORMANCE OILS business. The deal includes all national and international activities as well as the blending and storage facility in Brookfield CT and will be effective by February 20, 2023.
ALEX JOSEFSON, PRESIDENT OF SPECTRO IS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE PROJECT
“We’ve long had a great relationship with MOTOREX, so when this deal was first discussed it felt like a natural next step for our business. MOTOREX has a great respect, appreciation, and understanding of the SPECTRO brand and its goals for the future. With their planned investments and upgrades to our manufacturing facility in Brookfield, and with the support of their impressive R&D laboratory in Langenthal, the future is bright for SPECTRO and MOTOREX, both in the US, and worldwide.”
EDI FISCHER, CEO of the MOTOREX GROUP
“This is a carefully considered and important step for our long-term oriented family-owned company. We are proud to strengthen the group’s portfolio with a traditional and well-established US brand. SPECTRO and MOTOREX are both strong and complementary brands within the Powersport market.”
“Moreover, the company hub in Brookfield will also support our business activities in other sectors such as industrial fluids or biodegradable hydraulic oil. This will also allow us to produce more goods made in the US, ensure closer support to our distributors, and improve supply and customer service.”
The company Intercontinental Lubricants Corporation is based in Brookfield Connecticut and is widely known under its brand name SPECTRO PERFORMANCE OILS. The company was founded in 1966 by Robert H. Wehman, an engineer with decades of experience in the specialized field of two-cycle automotive lubricants. Soon after, Spectro entered the motorcycle market, becoming a brand with a rich heritage and an excellent reputation in the aftermarket motorcycle sector in the US and worldwide. Spectro has been family owned and operated for 57 years over 3 generations, currently under the leadership of the founder’s grandson, Alex Josefson.
MOTOREX USA INC is the US-affiliate of the Swiss-based MOTOREX-BUCHER GROUP AG. The company was founded in 1917 and is still owned by the founding Bucher family. Today, MOTOREX is a globally active manufacturer of lubricants, clean and care products with 400 employees and more than 2,500 formulations. The MOTOREX field of activities includes the motorcycle and bicycle industry, metalworking fluids, lubricants for heavy-duty applications, and specifically the field of environmentally acceptable lubricants (EAL). MOTOREX has been present in the US market for more than 25 years. The company has production facilities in Switzerland, USA, France, and Poland.
For general information, please consult www.motorex.com or for information about metalworking fluids and bicycle products, please consult www.eurolineusa.com.
Seen at the racetrack…MotoAmerica Twins Cup racer Kayla Yaakov.
Kayla Yaakov (left) and her MP13 Racing Yamaha teammate Aiden Sneed (right) talk in the pits after finished 0.047 second apart in CRA’s 400 GT Expert race February 11 at Buttonwillow Raceway Park. Sneed and Yaakov both rode Yamaha YZF-R3 motorcycles. According to Team Owner Melissa Paris, Sneed’s bike had an engine with a 2mm overbore kit, and Yaakov’s bike was fitted with the GYTR engine race kit – both of which are MotoAmerica Junior Cup-legal. Sneed took the victory. Photo by Ron Melton.
Suzuki Motor USA at AIMExpo with Renewed Focus, New Thinking & Momentum
Connecting with Dealers and Staging for Success in an Evolving Market are Key Priorities
BREA, CA – Suzuki Motor USA comes to AIMExpo in 2023 with a renewed focus, exciting new product momentum, and a revitalized commitment to success in the changing powersports landscape. Connecting with dealers and the industry are key elements for Suzuki at AIMExpo 2023.
“We’re looking forward to seeing every dealer and media representative attending AIMExpo and everyone is invited to visit our display to see some of our key new models,” said Kerry Graeber, Suzuki’s Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing. “2023 looks to be a positive time for Suzuki, and we are excited about our business momentum. It began with the incredible new Gen 3 Hayabusa, amplified with our class-leading sport-tourer GSX-S1000GT+, and continues with the dynamic new GSX-8S naked sportbike and all-new V-STROM 800DE adventure tourer, both of which will be on display.”
Graeber will also be interviewing keynote speaker Angelle Sampey on-stage. Sampey, is a three-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Drag Racing Champion and the all-time winningest female athlete in NHRA history.
“The face of motorcycling is changing, and I can’t think of anyone who better represents this transition than Angelle Sampey.” added Graeber, “Having a legendary racer and motorcyclist like Angelle share her story of how she defied expectations and broke down stereotypes on her way to success promises to be very interesting and will definitely help us see motorcyclists in a different light.”
Suzuki’s newest models, the Suzuki GSX-8S and V-STROM 800DE are examples of a new approach Suzuki is undertaking regarding the middleweight bike segment. The GSX-8S and V-STROM 800DE will be displayed at AIMExpo for the first time to the U.S. powersports industry.
Suzuki is at Booth 7030 and will be presenting its latest models at AIMExpo’s New Product Central stage on Wednesday, February 15, at 12:00 PM. Angelle Sampey’s keynote address is Wednesday evening at 5:00 PM on the AIMExpo main stage. Those interested in meeting with Suzuki staff are invited to come by and see the powerful new thinking Suzuki is bringing to powersports for 2023 throughout AIMExpo.
For a complete list of AIMExpo exhibitors, dealer education schedule, and to see the floorplan, go to www.AIMExpoUSA.com.
The Andreani USA distribution and suspension service training center in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Photo courtesy Andreani USA.
Noted Italian Distributor of Performance Motorcycle and Bicycle Suspension Products Opens US Distribution Arm
Hendersonville, NC – Andreani, known throughout Europe as the premier distributor of motorcycle and bicycle suspension products, announced today the opening of their first US office and distribution center, located in Hendersonville, NC. The facility is building a stock of products from their own lines as well as well-known brands that will be distributed to US bicycle shops and motorcycle dealerships.
The Andreani USA facility is a 10,000 square foot distribution center and houses the offices for Andreani USA. The company currently employs four people in the US and expects that number to increase as business grows. Andreani USA currently distributes products from SKF, Intek, Kayaba, Showa, and Ohlins, as well as its own Andreani line of suspensions for motorcycles and bicycles.
“The Andreani Group is thrilled to open our operations in the United States. The US market is a tremendous opportunity for our company. We believe that our approach to high performance two-wheelers, which is to provide great products and help technicians by offering comprehensive training, will have a significant impact on bicycle and motorcycle riders in the USA,” said President of Andreani USA Luciano Ubaldini.
Andreani USA President Luciano Ubaldini. Photo courtesy Andreani USA.
Andreani Group International was founded in Pesaro, Italy in 1987 by Giuseppe Andreani, a former motorcycle racing champion. Initially focused on supporting the performance needs of motorcycle riders and racers, Andreani quickly realized that the science of vehicle suspension was not well understood by riders and technicians in the motorcycle world. Andreani worked with industry experts and built a training program, which became the premier resource for technicians and tuners in Europe to get the most out of their motorcycles.
Andreani founder Giuseppe Andreani back in the day. Photo courtesy Andreani USA.
Andreani USA will begin offering this type of training in the United States later this year and will encourage technicians from their customers’ dealerships to attend, along with tuners from some of the top road racing and motocross teams in the industry. The company will also offer training for mountain bike racing teams and technicians, leveraging the company’s deep roots in all types of performance two-wheelers.
The company expects the staff in Hendersonville to grow to 10-15 employees by the end of 2023 and will expand to offer more products and more top brands of motorcycle and bicycle suspension products.
The Royal Enfield BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. road race grid at VIR in 2022. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield North America.
Royal Enfield BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. Now Accepting Applications for 2023
Freddie Spencer to join Royal Enfield’s innovative BTR program
Milwaukee, WI (Tuesday, February 14, 2023) – Royal Enfield is proud to announce the return of its signature BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. (BTR) program to both American Flat Track and MotoAmerica national championships. This groundbreaking program continues to welcome aspiring women into the racing community and provides the opportunity to travel the country and race within a national championship. Royal Enfield is currently accepting applications from women riders (new and experienced) looking to take part in both BTR Road Racing and BTR Flat Track programs for 2023.
Royal Enfield is thrilled to announce Motorsports Hall of Famer Freddie Spencer as part of the MotoAmerica BTR team. The three-time Grand Prix world champion will serve as a mentor and riding coach to the BTR Road Racing paddock, bringing his legendary expertise to the women of the 2023 program.
Three-time World Champion Freddie Spencer will serve as a mentor and riding coach for the 2023 Royal Enfield BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. road race program. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield North America.
“It’s exciting for me to return to the MotoAmerica paddock, especially at a grassroots level like this,” said Freddie Spencer. “Royal Enfield’s Build. Train. Race. program is unique in that it brings racing back to the basics: technique, talent and most importantly, passion. That’s the true soul of racing, and I’m looking forward to fostering that with the BTR women, and hopefully we can continue to encourage people everywhere to get out on the track and give racing a try, and most importantly, just experience the enjoyment of what motorcycling gives you.”
Royal Enfield’s BTR program guides aspiring racers through the process of building a race bike from a stock Royal Enfield motorcycle—INT650 in BTR Flat Track and Continental GT 650 in BTR Road Racing—learning technique and race craft on the track, and finally racing within a national championship. The 2023 season will consist of two separate programs: a four-round series within American Flat Track, and a four-round series within MotoAmerica. Racing begins with BTR Flat Track on April 22, and BTR Road Racing on May 20.
Twelve-rider grids in each series will consist of both returning members and new riders. Applications are currently being accepted, and will close Sunday, February 26. Apply now, or let your lady rider friends know about this unique opportunity to come racing with Royal Enfield in 2023! For more on Royal Enfield BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. and details on how to apply, visit BuildTrainRace.com.
“BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. has become a hallmark of Royal Enfield’s global culture, and we are very proud to usher BTR into its fourth year with American Flat Track, and third year with MotoAmerica,” said Adrian Sellers, Royal Enfield Head – Custom & Motorsport. “The inclusion and encouragement of the BTR program is truly inspiring, and the opportunity to welcome new and returning racers, the support of our sponsors, and now with the legendary Freddie Spencer is an honor. We look forward to another season of exciting racing.”
Royal Enfield’s BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. flat track race program is returning for a fourth year with American Flat Track (AFT). Photo courtesy Royal Enfield North America.
BTR Flat Track Racing Schedule
April 22 (Rnd 1) Dallas Half-Mile, Mesquite, TX
May 6 (Rnd 2) Ventura Short Track, Ventura, CA
July 1 (Rnd 3) West Virginia Half-Mile, Mineral Wells, WV
July 22 (Rnd 4) Bridgeport Half-Mile, Swedesboro, NJ
BTR Road Racing Schedule
June 2-4 (Rnd 1) Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI
June 23-24 (Rnd 2) Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA
July 28-30 (Rnd 3) Brainerd Int’l Raceway, Brainerd, MN
August 18-20 (Rnd 4) Pittsburgh Int’l Race Complex, Wampum, PA
Think you have what it takes? Apply now for Royal Enfield BTR 2023!
The BTR program guides women of all experience levels through the process of building, training and racing a Royal Enfield 650 motorcycle.
About Royal Enfield
The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the midsize motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market.
Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 150 dealers in North America, including the contiguous U.S. and Canada. RENA currently offers the all-new Scram 411, Classic 350, Meteor 350, Himalayan and the 650 Twins (INT650 and Continental GT 650) motorcycles, along with a range of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories and apparel.
For more information on Royal Enfield North America, visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.
Geoff May (99) in action during the 2022 Daytona 200. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Disrupt Racing to field Geoff May along side of Hayden Gillim for 2023 Daytona 200.
“We are happy to announce that Geoff May will be joining our Daytona 200 campaign for this year along side of Hayden. Geoff is a capable contender to win the 200 and has loads of experience around that track. Things just sort of aligned up perfectly to put this combination together so we are all excited to have him on board our Suzuki GSX-R” said Disrupt Racing’s team owner Jesse Hwilka.
“I’m really excited to be racing the Daytona 200 with Disrupt Racing. This is a unique opportunity to blend my crew of Michael Godin, Will Gawler, and Fred Turner with the successful team of Disrupt Racing. I’m looking forward to being teammates with Hayden Gillim and believe we will work well together, to take our Suzuki GSX-R’s to the front. I’d like to personally thank Jesse of Disrupt for this opportunity,” said Geoff May.
“I have a lot of love for Geoff and his guys. We’ve worked together in the past and have had a great relationship, so we all are looking forward to this. Geoff has done a lot for our sport and our series. I have a ton of respect for him as a rider and as an individual, and he still has what it takes to run up front, especially at Daytona. As an added bonus, Hayden and Geoff also have a good relationship, so they are going to be a strong duo to compete against and have the potential to both be on the box after 200 miles. Either way it’s going to be a lot of fun and we’re looking forward to it!” said Jesse Hwilka.
Yamaha is offering a contingency program for the 2023 MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup By Motul. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.
Yamaha To Post Contingency For Mission Mini Cup By Motul Series
$15,300 Up For Grabs In Stock 50, Stock 110 And Stock 125 Classes For 2023 Season
IRVINE, CA (February 14, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is pleased to announce that Yamaha Motor USA is offering a contingency program for the 2023 Mission Mini Cup By Motul series.
Yamaha is offering a contingency program for the 2023 Mission Mini Cup By Motul.
Yamaha will post a total of $15,300 for the series that features MotoAmerica’s youngest racers, aged six to 14, with a payout of $425 per event in the newest classes in the championship – Stock 50, Stock 110 and Stock 125.
A top-three finish in any of those three classes will pay $250 to the winner, $125 to second place and $50 to third.
“It’s really cool to have contingency involvement for these young racers in our Mission Mini Cup By Motul series for 2023,” said Cory Texter, Mission Mini Cup By Motul Series Manager. “Yamaha is a top manufacturer in our series on the big bikes and with this contingency program, I think we will see a lot of blue bikes at the front in our Stock classes for Mission Mini Cup By Motul as well. It’s going to be a really fun year.”
Yamaha’s contingency program for the Mission Mini Cup By Motul series is a first for the championship by a manufacturer.
The Mission Mini Cup By Motul series will kick off its season with a round at the Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina, on May 5-6, and will conclude with the MotoAmerica season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, September 23-24.
In between will be rounds with MotoAmerica at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama (May 19-20), Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (June 2-3) and Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania (August 18-19) with a second standalone Mini Cup round at New Jersey Motorsports Park (July 15-16).
2023 MotoAmerica Mini Cup Presented By Motul Schedule
May 5-6 Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC
May 19-20 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL*
June 2-3 Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI*
July 15-16 New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ
August 18-19 Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA*
Sept. 22-23 New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ*
*In conjunction with MotoAmerica
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
Team HRC Honda riders Xavi Vierge (left) and Iker Lecuona (right) with Team Manager Leon Camier. Photo courtesy Team HRC.
Editorial Note: Scroll down to see the official launch video. The actual video doesn’t start until about the 10:00 mark.
Team HRC outlines its plans and expectations for the 2023 WorldSBK season
The factory Team HRC has virtually opened the doors to its pit garages, the sacred space in which the team and HRC track engineers focus their efforts during every test and race weekend so as to provide riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge with the best possible CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE with which to battle against the fierce World Superbike field.
And while the 2023 livery of the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE welcomes PT Astra Honda Motor to the line-up of official sponsors, the team has concentrated on what lies beneath the fairings in the limited time it has had between the end of the 2022 season and the imminent 2023 season-opener in Australia.
Team Manager Leon Camier and riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge have spoken about what they learned last season and what they aspire to now, aware that the level of competition in 2023 will be higher than ever.
In addition to the virtual presentation, Honda and WorldSBK fans will be able to visit Team HRC’s paddock home on wsbk.hondaracingcorporation.com at any time throughout the year. This area will be constantly updated with new content and information about the team and rider activities, and will remain available to all the passionate fans around the world.
Iker Lecuona’s CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP racebike. Photo courtesy Team HRC.
Iker Lecuona 7
“We learned a lot last year and achieved some strong results, like pole position in Barcelona and a podium at Assen, which we weren’t really expecting as that was only the second race. Definitely a very positive year overall, and it helped me get to grips with a lot of things, like how to manage the situation in every race and at every track, also with the Pirelli tyres that were very difficult to understand at first. I plan to harness all that I learned in 2022 in the year to come. Over the winter, the team and everyone back in the Honda factory have worked really hard to provide us with a better bike. We still have two days of testing in Australia before the first race, so we have time to understand the new material and find the best setup in order to exploit it as best we can. We start with the two rounds that I wasn’t able to compete in last season, but I like both tracks, feel good, and am ready to give it my all.”
Xavi Vierge’s CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP racebike. Photo courtesy Team HRC.
Xavi Vierge 97
“This is my second year in WorldSBK and so we’ll benefit from not having to start from scratch. We now know many of the tracks and understand how the tyres and electronics work, while it was all a big challenge for me last year. 2022 wasn’t an easy season but we scored some good results and demonstrated our potential. They’ve been working hard in Japan and so we’ve had a lot of work to do and elements to test over the winter. I am really pleased with how that all’s gone and now we just need to identify our base setup for the season. Testing is great but it doesn’t compare to racing. Luckily, this year we start early and there’s no better places than Australia and Indonesia. I love those tracks, especially Phillip Island. It’s the first time I’m heading there in February, which is summertime, so I’m looking forward to getting there and beginning what should be an amazing season.”
Leon Camier
Team Manager, Team HRC
“The 2022 World Superbike season was a good foundation year for our two young rookies. Throughout the season, we were able to see what they are both capable of and were impressed by the way in which they were able to quickly adapt to new circuits and different situations. Now that we’ve done a lot of the learning, we can aim to focus on race performance right from FP1. We’ve worked hard in a lot of areas and improved in many aspects. 2023 starts now, and we’re ready to go. The goal is to improve globally, both with the bike on the team’s side, and working to take another step more generally speaking. Our top speed has always been really good with the Fireblade, but we must keep working to improve in every area. When you bring a new spec of a given component to improve in one area, you sometimes find this sets you back in another area. This is something that Honda have been working very hard on in Japan and we are confident that this year we will make another step in the right direction. To expect to go from where we were last season to aiming for a title win will be very difficult, but this is essentially our goal, and one that we will keep working towards until we achieve it.”
Stefano Mesa (137) at speed on his Tytlers Cycle Racing Energica at Laguna Seca in 2022. Photo courtesy Energica.
ENERGICA EVA RIBELLE BRINGS ELECTRIC TO THE SUPER HOOLIGAN SERIES
An Energica Eva Ribelle streetfighter will be racing in the 2023 edition of the RSD Super Hooligan National Championship with MotoAmerica. It will be entered by Tytlers Cycle Racing and ridden by Colombia’s Stefano Mesa #137.
The Modena-based manufacturer, coming off a four-year stint as the single manufacturer in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, will be making history once again as the first electric motorcycle brand to have a bike compete full time in a motorcycle racing series against more conventional, internal-combustion-engine counterparts.
The racing season will begin on March 9-11 at the iconic Daytona International Speedway, a racetrack that is famed for its long and high banking, which will be a new challenge for an electric motorcycle to overcome.
The series will consist of four rounds and eight individual races – running as part of the famed MotoAmerica Championship – with the other three events to be held at Ridge Motorsports Park (June 23-25), Laguna Seca (July 7-9) and COTA (September 8-10).
Based in Wisconsin, Tytlers Cycle Racing is one of the up-and-coming teams in the MotoAmerica series, having claimed the STK1000 title in their debut season last year as well as multiple podium finishes in the Superbike class.
Energica electric motorcycles have been made in the famous Motor Valley of Italy since 2014 and are available for sale at 135 dealers and importers worldwide. Since April 2022, Energica Motor Company has been part of Ideanomics, a global group that aims at accelerating the commercial adoption of electric vehicles.
ABOUT ENERGICA MOTOR COMPANY S.p.A
Energica Motor Company, leading company of high-performing electric motorcycle and system integration for EVs. Energica Motorcycles are on sale worldwide.
James Rispoli (43) on a Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. Photo courtesy Vance & Hines.
Vance & Hines Rolls into 2023 KOTB Season with Veteran Talent and Championship Credentials
Santa Fe Springs CA – February 13, 2023 – Vance & Hines continues its run at the championship of MotoAmerica’s King Of The Bagger series in 2023 with experienced riders and a crew coming off a championship in flat track racing. Both team riders, James Rispoli and Hayden Gillim, have previously ridden for the Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson Team.
James Rispoli returns to the team after a strong 2022 season aboard the Harley-Davidson Road Glide. Rispoli earned a second place and a third-place finish in the six-race season, where he frequently diced with factory teams from Harley-Davidson and Indian.
James Rispoli. Photo courtesy Vance & Hines.
Rispoli has a formidable racing resume in both flat track and road racing. After winning back-to-back AMA Pro SuperSport championships in the US, Rispoli raced for five years in the prestigious British Superbike championships, then returned to flat track, winning the 2020 AFT Production Twins title in dominant fashion with seven wins aboard a Vance & Hines-built Harley-Davidson XG750R. Rispoli will pilot a Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Road Glide bearing his signature #43 in 2023.
Gillim returns to the Vance & Hines King Of The Baggers team after focusing exclusively on Superbike racing in 2022. While rejoining his former team, he’ll have a dramatically improved motorcycle to ride. The switch from Street Glide to Road Glide, along with the competition-driven development on the engine and chassis will give him a better handling and more powerful bike than his previous KOTB ride.
Hayden Gillim. Photo courtesy Vance & Hines.
Gillim has racing experience in MotoAmerica, MotoGP, WERA and American Flat Track and has wins or championships in almost every class he’s ever raced. He has a winning pedigree as well. He’s a cousin of Nicky, Roger and Tommy Hayden and hails from racing hotspot, Owensboro, Kentucky.
Vance & Hines puts its top technical team on the KOTB program in 2023. Crew chief Steve Polk has the same tech team that helped Jesse Janisch win the AFT Production Twins championship in 2022. With team manager Craig Koontz and technicians Josh Sutter and Ricky Castro, there’s no doubt that this team knows how to create winning race bikes. Gene Burcham provides suspension expertise at each event on the circuit as well.
The team is sponsored by Mission Foods and uses specialized racing parts from Harley-Davidson.
MotoAmerica, seeing the popularity of the KOTB class increase each year, has expanded the race schedule in 2023 to seven of their 10 race weekends. Each of those seven weekends will feature a KOTB double-header, making it a 14-race season for the Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson team.
“We’re really happy to see interest in the class grow and the increase in the number of races this year,” said Team Manager Craig Koontz. “James, with his strong technical feedback and great riding, was a real asset to the team this past season. Having James and Hayden on the track together is going to be exciting to watch. We’re eager to get to Daytona to see how we stack up against the rest of the field.”
The King Of The Bagger series is a racing class showcasing touring-style motorcycles with fairings and saddlebags. KOTB races take place at tracks around the country with the first of the bagger races slated for March 10 at the Daytona International Speedway.
ABOUT VANCE & HINES
The Vance & Hines brand has always been about enhancing the exhilaration of the motorcycle ride. It started over 40 years ago, when Terry Vance and Byron Hines were two young enthusiasts in the fledgling Southern California motorcycle drag race scene. Terry always wanted to go faster, and Byron knew how to make that happen. In short order, their on-track success and innovation drew the attention of other racers, riders and motorcycle manufacturers, which ultimately translated to commercial demand for their products and services. Today, the Company’s mission and activity is the same; make bikes go faster on the racetrack and take those learnings to make impactful products for riders around the world. Since the Company’s inception in 1979, it has run factory race programs in partnership with Suzuki, Yamaha, Ducati and Harley-Davidson in drag racing, road racing and flat track. Vance & Hines is based in Santa Fe Springs CA and has its Racing Development Center in Brownsburg IN. Learn more about the company’s history and products at www.vanceandhines.com.
MOTOREX USA Inc. has acquired Spectro Performance Oils. Photo courtesy MOTOREX USA Inc.
MOTOREX USA INC ACQUIRES SPECTRO PERFORMANCE OILS
Agreement includes all business activities and blending and storage operations in Brookfield CT
Acquisition effective February 20, 2023
SPECTRO enjoys an excellent reputation in the aftermarket for motorcycle accessories in the USA and worldwide
MOTOREX USA INC, the US-affiliate of Swiss-based MOTOREX GROUP, has agreed with Intercontinental Lubricants Corporation from Brookfield CT to acquire the SPECTRO PERFORMANCE OILS business. The deal includes all national and international activities as well as the blending and storage facility in Brookfield CT and will be effective by February 20, 2023.
ALEX JOSEFSON, PRESIDENT OF SPECTRO IS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE PROJECT
“We’ve long had a great relationship with MOTOREX, so when this deal was first discussed it felt like a natural next step for our business. MOTOREX has a great respect, appreciation, and understanding of the SPECTRO brand and its goals for the future. With their planned investments and upgrades to our manufacturing facility in Brookfield, and with the support of their impressive R&D laboratory in Langenthal, the future is bright for SPECTRO and MOTOREX, both in the US, and worldwide.”
EDI FISCHER, CEO of the MOTOREX GROUP
“This is a carefully considered and important step for our long-term oriented family-owned company. We are proud to strengthen the group’s portfolio with a traditional and well-established US brand. SPECTRO and MOTOREX are both strong and complementary brands within the Powersport market.”
“Moreover, the company hub in Brookfield will also support our business activities in other sectors such as industrial fluids or biodegradable hydraulic oil. This will also allow us to produce more goods made in the US, ensure closer support to our distributors, and improve supply and customer service.”
The company Intercontinental Lubricants Corporation is based in Brookfield Connecticut and is widely known under its brand name SPECTRO PERFORMANCE OILS. The company was founded in 1966 by Robert H. Wehman, an engineer with decades of experience in the specialized field of two-cycle automotive lubricants. Soon after, Spectro entered the motorcycle market, becoming a brand with a rich heritage and an excellent reputation in the aftermarket motorcycle sector in the US and worldwide. Spectro has been family owned and operated for 57 years over 3 generations, currently under the leadership of the founder’s grandson, Alex Josefson.
MOTOREX USA INC is the US-affiliate of the Swiss-based MOTOREX-BUCHER GROUP AG. The company was founded in 1917 and is still owned by the founding Bucher family. Today, MOTOREX is a globally active manufacturer of lubricants, clean and care products with 400 employees and more than 2,500 formulations. The MOTOREX field of activities includes the motorcycle and bicycle industry, metalworking fluids, lubricants for heavy-duty applications, and specifically the field of environmentally acceptable lubricants (EAL). MOTOREX has been present in the US market for more than 25 years. The company has production facilities in Switzerland, USA, France, and Poland.
For general information, please consult www.motorex.com or for information about metalworking fluids and bicycle products, please consult www.eurolineusa.com.
Four-time AMA Superbike Champion, all-time AMA/MotoAmerica race win co-leader, and rider coach Josh Hayes (left) works with MP13 Racing Yamaha MotoAmerica Twins Cup racer Kayla Yaakov during a test February 8 at Buttonwillow Raceway Park. Photo by David Swarts.
Seen at the racetrack…MotoAmerica Twins Cup racer Kayla Yaakov.
Kayla Yaakov (left) and her MP13 Racing Yamaha teammate Aiden Sneed (right) talk in the pits after finished 0.047 second apart in CRA’s 400 GT Expert race February 11 at Buttonwillow Raceway Park. Sneed and Yaakov both rode Yamaha YZF-R3 motorcycles. According to Team Owner Melissa Paris, Sneed’s bike had an engine with a 2mm overbore kit, and Yaakov’s bike was fitted with the GYTR engine race kit – both of which are MotoAmerica Junior Cup-legal. Sneed took the victory. Photo by Ron Melton.
A pair of Suzuki's new 2023 GSX-8S naked sportbikes. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Suzuki Motor USA at AIMExpo with Renewed Focus, New Thinking & Momentum
Connecting with Dealers and Staging for Success in an Evolving Market are Key Priorities
BREA, CA – Suzuki Motor USA comes to AIMExpo in 2023 with a renewed focus, exciting new product momentum, and a revitalized commitment to success in the changing powersports landscape. Connecting with dealers and the industry are key elements for Suzuki at AIMExpo 2023.
“We’re looking forward to seeing every dealer and media representative attending AIMExpo and everyone is invited to visit our display to see some of our key new models,” said Kerry Graeber, Suzuki’s Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing. “2023 looks to be a positive time for Suzuki, and we are excited about our business momentum. It began with the incredible new Gen 3 Hayabusa, amplified with our class-leading sport-tourer GSX-S1000GT+, and continues with the dynamic new GSX-8S naked sportbike and all-new V-STROM 800DE adventure tourer, both of which will be on display.”
Graeber will also be interviewing keynote speaker Angelle Sampey on-stage. Sampey, is a three-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Drag Racing Champion and the all-time winningest female athlete in NHRA history.
“The face of motorcycling is changing, and I can’t think of anyone who better represents this transition than Angelle Sampey.” added Graeber, “Having a legendary racer and motorcyclist like Angelle share her story of how she defied expectations and broke down stereotypes on her way to success promises to be very interesting and will definitely help us see motorcyclists in a different light.”
Suzuki’s newest models, the Suzuki GSX-8S and V-STROM 800DE are examples of a new approach Suzuki is undertaking regarding the middleweight bike segment. The GSX-8S and V-STROM 800DE will be displayed at AIMExpo for the first time to the U.S. powersports industry.
Suzuki is at Booth 7030 and will be presenting its latest models at AIMExpo’s New Product Central stage on Wednesday, February 15, at 12:00 PM. Angelle Sampey’s keynote address is Wednesday evening at 5:00 PM on the AIMExpo main stage. Those interested in meeting with Suzuki staff are invited to come by and see the powerful new thinking Suzuki is bringing to powersports for 2023 throughout AIMExpo.
For a complete list of AIMExpo exhibitors, dealer education schedule, and to see the floorplan, go to www.AIMExpoUSA.com.
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Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
