Home Blog Page 772

MIR Racing Finetwork Cup: More On Texan Sanchez’s Win In Spain

Mikey Lou Sanchez competed in the MIR Racing Finetwork Cup Promo3 series this past weekend, July 15-16, at Circuito de Navarra.

The MIR Racing Cup is a series that is designed to show talent and level the playing field, meaning all the riders will be on equal equipment. All Yamaha WR250 motors are given to each rider on Friday to install with a carburetor that is to remain 100% original. All the chassis are the same and the suspension has two cost-effective options to choose from. Each rider is also only allowed one set of tires to complete the entire weekend, two qualifying sessions and two races. Once the races are finished the motors are returned to the MIR Racing staff immediately. During the weekend there is plenty of supervision to control the rules and regulations as well as assistance with technical details.

This series consists on five race weekends. Although Mikey missed the first round, we decided to go ahead and race this series.

In Saturday morning Q1, Mikey was able to set the fastest time of both qualifying sessions and earned pole position.

In Race One, Mikey had a great start and lead for most of the eight-lap race. He was able to pull a gap from the other riders and finish P1 with a 2.4 second gap.

In Race Two, Mikey again had a great start and led the race, but he ended up getting shuffled back to third mid-race. On the last lap, Mikey took the lead with two turns to go. Coming out of the last turn on the last lap another rider was in position to draft Mikey, and Mikey swerved to the right to break the draft and crossed the finish line first place. Later in Parc Ferme, Race Control penalized Mikey one position for swerving rapidly to the right.

 

Mikey Lou Sanchez on the podium in Spain after finishing second in Race Two. Photo by @artpicsjona, courtesy Sanchez Racing.
Mikey Lou Sanchez on the podium in Spain after finishing second in Race Two. Photo by @artpicsjona, courtesy Sanchez Racing.

 

“At first, I was sad because they took my win, but then I realized this was a learning experience and that’s what this is all about,” said Mikey.

The next race for this series is September 23-24 at Circuito Albacete.

Mikey Lou Sanchez would like to thank all my sponsors: Roadway Traffic Control, HJC Helmets, Williams Custom Painting, 212 Decals, San Marcos Iron Doors, Corsawerks, Texas Motorcycle Academy, Harris Hill Flattrackers, Moto Liberty, Shawn Knoche, Paul Stamper, Mark Niemi, Ben Fondu, Stacy Pawelek, and Theo Bick.

AHRMA: Turpin Dominates Vintage Cup Races At Laguna Seca

Turpin dominates AHRMA Vintage Cup at Laguna Seca

(July 19, 2023, Knoxville, TN)  Shane Turpin’s twin wins at Laguna Seca on July 15 and 16, 2023, added to Ducati’s success at the historic venue.

These victories had their own historic flair.  Turpin was competing in the eleventh and twelfth rounds of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) 2023 Vintage Cup held in conjunction with the Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Roadracing series at the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey in California at Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Sponsored by Hagerty Insurance, Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), AHRMA’s 2023 Vintage Cup features the Formula 750 (F750) class which includes 750cc two and four-stroke powered machines built up to 1972.

Turpin dominated both rounds aboard a 1972 750cc Ducati Imola winning decisively Saturday and Sunday.

“The early 70’s Imola bikes were Ducati’s re-entry into road racing, and they are still potent machines in historic racing,” said Carl Anderson, AHRMA’s 2023 Chairman of the Board. “I hadn’t seen Shane race in some time, but clearly his skills are still sharp, and he and the Ducati put on a spectacular performance around the renowned Laguna Seca circuit.”

Turpin’s competition included almost a dozen motorcycles from different manufacturers and designs. His air-cooled, four-stroke, “L” twin was joined on the grid by Walt Fulton on a “V” twin-powered Harley-Davidson, Jason Lindquist on a Rob North-framed Triumph triple-powered race bike and racers on parallel-twin four-stroke and two-stroke Yamaha motorcycles, among others.

On Saturday, Christopher Spargo, aboard a highly-developed Yamaha RD400 took the holeshot. Two laps later, the race was stopped after Colton Roberts experienced a dramatic high-side aboard his RD400.  Spargo nabbed the holeshot on the restart but was unable to hold off the hard-charging Turpin who muscled his way from the third row of the grid to take and hold the lead.  Spargo would finish second while Brian Filo, aboard a custom-framed Yamaha XS650-powered motorcycle reeled in Kevin Dinsmoor, who was on an equally exotic Seeley replica Honda-powered bike, to take third.

Spargo repeated his holeshot on Sunday and, Turpin, again, made his way to the front and left the pack behind.  Spargo, again, found himself in second for the rest of the race.  Meanwhile, Filo spent five laps working us way up to Colton Roberts, and then passed him to take third.  Off the podium, Dan Sokolich, on an RD400, won a last-lap drag race with Joseph Wright, on a 750cc Ducati, to take sixth.

“This isn’t the first time a Ducati has won at Laguna Seca, though it may have been one of the more impressive wins,” said Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton. “Some may say that bikes like a Ducati Imola belong in a museum because of their value and beauty.  Thank goodness AHRMA is highlighting the early 70s era of motorcycle racing with the 2023 Vintage Cup so we can get these kinds of bikes back in their natural habitat, which is the racetrack.”

The annual Vintage Cup spotlights one of AHRMA’s road racing classes with extra attention on competitors in the selected class during each race event. Enhanced awards for the Vintage Cup competitors are presented separately from other class trophies during the Saturday awards ceremony at each AHRMA National Road Race event.

Highlights from each Formula 750 race will be reported in RoadracingWorld.com’s online edition. At the conclusion of each season, the perpetual Vintage Cup trophy will be engraved with the national champion winner’s name and presented to the winner at the National Awards Banquet to keep for one year.

2023 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series, Formula 750 – Vintage Cup Results

Saturday, July 15, 2023

  1. Shane Turpin, 1972 Ducati Imola, Scottsdale, AZ
  2. Christopher Spargo, 1976 Yamaha RD400, Hopkins, MN
  3. Brian Filo, 19972 Yamaha XS650, Livermore, CA
  4. Kevin Dinsmoor, 1967 CMR Seeley CB550, Colchester, CT
  5. Dan Sokolich, Yamaha RD400, Washington, MO
  6. Jason Lindquist, BSA Rocket III, Chula Vista, CA

Sunday, July 16, 2023

  1. Shane Turpin, 1972 Ducati Imola, Scottsdale, AZ
  2. Christopher Spargo, 1976 Yamaha RD400, Hopkins, MN
  3. Brian Filo, 19972 Yamaha XS650, Livermore, CA
  4. Colton Roberts, 1976 Yamaha RD400, Pawnee, IL
  5. Kevin Dinsmoor, 1967 CMR Seeley CB550, Colchester, CT
  6. Dan Sokolich, Yamaha RD400, Washington, MO
  7. Joseph Wright, 1973 Ducati 750, Bellevue, WA
  8. Jason Lindquist, BSA Rocket III, Chula Vista, CA
  9. Joseph Wright, 1973 Ducati 750, Bellevue, WA

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.

American Flat Track: Bridgeport Speedway Hosting Bikes For First Time Ever

Progressive AFT Breaks New Ground at Bridgeport Half-Mile

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, completes its run of four consecutive Half-Miles with this weekend’s inaugural Drag Specialties Bridgeport Half-Mile in Swedesboro, New Jersey, on Saturday, July 22.

The event will not just be Progressive AFT’s debut visit to Bridgeport Speedway, it’ll mark the very first time in the track’s half-century-plus history that motorcycles have raced at the venue. And the series is primed to impress with multiple riders performing at historic levels.

Reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle champion and new points leader Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) headlines that group. Mees, who recently became the winningest Half-Miler in the storied history of the Grand National Championship, is riding as well as he ever has during his record-smashing career. The factory Indian pilot comes into New Jersey having already earned seven victories on the season, including five in his last six attempts.

And yet, Mees only leads the points chase by two points. That’s primarily because his impressive eight-race podium streak is still four fewer than the perfect 12-for-12 podium mark posted by Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). While rising star has been remarkably consistent all year long, he now finds himself somewhere other atop the points standings for the first time in ‘23. As a result, Daniels is eager to strike back with a return to the top step on the podium.

That task has become that much more more daunting as of late now that two-time premier-class champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) and his Rick Ware Racing KTM have established themselves as the third rider/manufacturer combo capable of contending for checkered flags week-in and week-out.

The collective greatness of Mees, Daniels, and now Bauman has raised the level necessary to compete for victory. That said, the likes of JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750), Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 790 Duke), and Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) have shown to be up to that challenge in the past and will look to do so again this weekend.

Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER

Defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champ Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) has made good on the predictions that he would distance himself from his pursuers during the season’s run of Half-Miles. He comes into Bridgeport Speedway boasting a three-race win streak and a 47-point advantage with designs of further extending both marks.

As a result, the intrigue has shifted to the close fight for the positions behind first, where a single tough outing can see a rider drop from second in the title hunt to seventh, as was the case with Kopp’s teammate, Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), last time out.

Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) has taken control of the runner-up position. That’s a spot he’s grown all too familiar with as he’s reeled in five second-place finishes already this season while in search of his maiden Progressive AFT victory.

Third-ranked Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) is also looking for his first win of the year. Meanwhile, the riders now positioned fourth-through-seventh – Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), and Whale – have combined the earn six wins, together matching the number Kopp has taken by himself.

Any number of others could join that list of ‘23 winners, including big names Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450), and Shayna Texter-Bauman (No. 52 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 450 SX-F).

There will be plenty to keep fans entertained at the track on Saturday as well, including numerous vendors, expansive food and beverage options, dedicated motorcycle parking, and a playground for kids. Whisky Grin, one of New Jersey’s hottest rock bands, will perform high-octane music including both originals and classic covers. And finally, the Seaboard Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America will put 20 classic motorcycles and five noteworthy racebikes on display.

General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $40 (kids 12 and under $5), with Reserved Grandstand tickets just $10 more. Additionally, Multi-Day Reserved Camping Passes can be purchased for $125.

Pit Pass Upgrades are also available for purchase, which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/bridgeport-half-mile-60826 to reserve your seats today.

Gates will open for fans at 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT).

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 the Drag Specialties Bridgeport Half-Mile, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, July 30, at 1:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. PT).

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

About Progressive American Flat Track

Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram and catch all the Progressive American Flat Track racing action on FOX Sports.

Harley-Davidson Reports Record Attendance For Homecoming Festival

RECORD ATTENDANCE AT THE 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON HOMECOMING FESTIVAL CELEBRATING 120 YEARS OF MOTO CULTURE

Headline Performances by Green Day and Foo Fighters and Events Across the Milwaukee Area July 13-16

MILWAUKEE (July 2023) – The Harley-Davidson® Homecoming™ Festival, the biggest music-and-moto event to hit Milwaukee this summer, took place from July 13-16 at venues across the Milwaukee area. Moto enthusiasts from all over the world enjoyed the festivities celebrating the rich, 120-year history of the world’s most-desirable motorcycle brand, Harley-Davidson. The Company also announced next year’s Harley-Davidson Homecoming will be July 25-28, 2024.

Some key highlights of the 2023 Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival included:

Veterans Park on the Milwaukee Lakefront – Performances by Green Day and Foo Fighters

On Friday and Saturday night at Veterans Park, music headliners Green Day (July 14) and Foo Fighters (July 15) performed to massive crowds on the Milwaukee lakefront. The shows gathered more than 80,000 moto and music enthusiasts throughout the weekend. Leading up to the headlining acts at the Veterans Park venue, key performances on July 14 included Abby Jeanne, KennyHoopla, Phantogram, and The Cult. On July 15, performances included Ghost Hounds, White Reaper, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and Cody Jinks. In addition, Nitro Circus, the most explosive crew in action sports, provided an action-packed freestyle motocross show, plus the exhilarating stunts of the Ives Brothers Wall of Death & Ball of Steel, food and beverage vendors, and special merchandise added to the family-friendly entertainment. Matty Matheson hosted a Burger Build Off, where legendary chef, actor, author, and restauranteur Matty Matheson created the ultimate, show-stopping burger in a head-to-head cookoff.

 

Two nights of rock concerts were a big part of the Harley-Davidson Homecoming. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.
Two days of rock concerts were a big part of the Harley-Davidson Homecoming. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.

 

Harley-Davidson Museum – Milwaukee

Activities kicked off at the Harley-Davidson Museum grounds on Thursday with Bike Night and continued through the weekend. 73,000 bikes lined the museum grounds and Sixth Street over the four days. 130,000 attendees enjoyed food trucks, Flat Out Friday Boonie Bike races, motorcycle displays and demo ride opportunities with LiveWire®, and Stacyc®  electric vehicles, the Division BMX Stunt Show, custom and vintage motorcycle shows, and evening musical entertainment. The music line-up included headliners Hairball, The Jimmys and The Now Band, Rust Bucket Road Trip, and The Toys and Rebel Grace.

Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations – Menomonee Falls

The Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations in Milwaukee suburb, Menomonee Falls, hosted demos of 2023 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, factory tours, and Police Skills Riding Demonstrations.

Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary Motorcycle Parade – Downtown Milwaukee

The 2023 Homecoming event concluded on Sunday with the Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary Parade, winding through Wisconsin Avenue to the heart of downtown Milwaukee, ending at Veterans Park on the lakefront. 7,000 motorcycles participated in the parade to the cheers and waves from crowds gathered along the route.

 

A 7,000-motorcycle parade through downtown Milwaukee was part of the Harley-Davidson Homecoming. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.
A 7,000-motorcycle parade through downtown Milwaukee was part of the Harley-Davidson Homecoming. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.

 

Ride In Routes

All roads led to Milwaukee as Harley-Davidson plotted six exciting Ride In routes, each starting from the furthest reaches of North America and leading to Milwaukee, to arrive for Homecoming festivities. This provided an opportunity for riders to join at any point and ride at their own pace while mingling with fellow H-D riders. Each daily Ride In segment began and ended at an authorized Harley-Davidson dealership, with a mid-day stop also at a H-D dealership, to meet other riders, chat with local staff, eat at local food trucks, and conduct bike maintenance, as needed.

New 2023 Custom Vehicle Operations™ (CVO™) Motorcycles

Homecoming weekend was also the official consumer debut of the new 2023 CVO™ Street Glide® and CVO™ Road Glide® models showcasing advanced technology, enhanced rider comfort, and dynamic performance propelled by the powerful new Milwaukee-Eight® VVT 121 engine, with a technical display in the Harley-Davidson Museum Garage area and demos at the Company’s Powertrain Operations facility.

Harley-Davidson Dealership Events

Six Milwaukee-area Harley-Davidson dealerships hosted events and entertainment. Dealerships that participated included House of Harley-Davidson (Greenfield), Milwaukee Harley-Davidson (Milwaukee), Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson (Thiensville), Uke’s Harley-Davidson (Kenosha), West Bend Harley-Davidson (West Bend), and Wisconsin Harley-Davidson (Oconomowoc).

Suzuki Dealers Now Taking Reservations For 25th Anniversary Hayabusas

Suzuki Dealers Now Taking Reservations on 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa

Brea, CA (July 17, 2023) – Suzuki Motor USA has opened reservations for the 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa through authorized Suzuki dealers starting July 17th, 2023. Reserving one will ensure priority delivery of the commemorative Hayabusa.

The 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa  MSRP is $19,599 and will be available beginning in September.

Special 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa features include:

  • Unique 25th Anniversary emblem and raised SUZUKI logos are featured on the fuel tank.
  • Elegant 25th Anniversary logos are etched on each muffler.
  • Distinctive gloss black cowling trim.
  • The brake rotor carriers and drive chain adjusters are gold-anodized.
  • The Hayabusa Kanji logo is applied to the drive chain plates.
  • The single-seat cowling is included as standard equipment.

The 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa arrives in a striking and special Glass Blaze Orange & Glass Sparkle Black color combination, reminiscent of one of the most popular Gen II model’s color palettes set off with special red accents. This stunning appearance is enhanced with a range of features unique to this special 25th Anniversary Edition.  For more information on the 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa, please click here.

“The Gen 3 Hayabusa has been a tremendous sales success for our dealers and extremely well received by fans of this legendary model,” said Kerry Graeber, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Suzuki. “This beautiful anniversary version, drawing its inspiration from one of the Hayabusa’s most memorable color combinations – yet updated for modern tastes – will appeal to the next generation of Hayabusa fans.  We encourage anybody that wants one to see their dealer immediately to ensure they’re on the reservation list.”

Video: 100th Loudon Classic Post-Race Chat With NEMRR’s John Grush

NorthEast Motorcycle Road Racing (NEMRR) Executive Director John Grush does a video interview with 388 Racing and talks about the 100th Loudon Classic, which happened June 17 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, New Hampshire.

Grush talks about the trials and tribulations of running the big event and NEMRR in general, price changes to several NEMRR fees to ensure the viability of the organization, his personal future with the organization, and if the anonymous sponsor that put up the $250,000 purse for the 100th Loudon Classic will do it again in 2024.

 

MotoAmerica: Mini Cup Event At NJMP Postponed Due To Inclement Weather

Inclement Weather Forces Postponement Of Mini Cup Round At NJMP

New Jersey Motorsports Park Will Again Host The Rescheduled Round On September 2

IRVINE, CA (July 18, 2023) – Threats of lightning on Saturday and heavy rains on Sunday at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, July 15-16, forced MotoAmerica to reschedule what would have been the fourth round of the Mission Mini Cup By Motul series to what will now be the fifth round of the championship at NJMP on September 2.

The September 2 make-up round at New Jersey Motorsports Park will be open to all riders who were signed up to compete in the rained-out July 15-16 round.

“Unfortunately, we encountered the worst weather possible over the weekend with MotoAmerica Mini Cup,” said MotoAmerica Mini Cup series manager Cory Texter. “We did the best we could to get the program in, but Mother Nature wasn’t having it. It’s essential we get this round complete for the riders, so I’m thankful we could come up with a make-up date for those who attended over the weekend. As for the schedule, we will run a practice in the morning, followed by four races.”

There are three rounds remaining in the 2023 Mission Mini Cup By Motul Series: August 18-19 at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania; September 2 at New Jersey Motorsports Park; and the series finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park, September 22-23.

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.

MRA: Thornton, Downing Wins Premier Classes At Round Four (Updated)

Byers, CO – The fourth race of the 2023 MRA Championship Series took place at High Plains Raceway over the weekend of July 15-16th on their 2.55-mile Full Course configuration. This was a special weekend as the MRA conducted their 14th Annual 4-hour endurance race on Saturday. The event saw many out-of-town racers drive hundreds of miles to try and steal victories and capture the prize money that was up for grabs. The 4-hour endurance race was unfortunately cut short by 50 minutes as a storm brought lightning and hail into the area. Team Racing for Ray Ray took the victory in the Pony Express category (multiple riders, multiple bikes) with 99 laps completed, team Mother Lovers won the True Endurance category (multiple riders, one bike) with 96 laps, and team Legion’s Lance won the Titanium Butt category (one rider, one bike) with 86 laps.

The Race of the Rockies (RoR) Qualifying on Sunday was conducted under excellent conditions as temperatures were around 75 degrees for most of the morning. Ray Thornton claimed pole position with a best time of (1:47.58) followed by Anthony Norton (1:47.792) and Mike Applegate (1:48.428).

The start of RoR saw Applegate get the holeshot going into Turn One, followed by Brad Hendry and Norton. Applegate was looking strong as he got an excellent drive down the backstraight, however somewhere between Turns Five and 10 he made a mistake and dropped back to sixth position. Hendry led the pack after lap two and was followed closely by Norton and Thornton. By lap six Hendry had opened a three-second lead on the trailing pair, and it looked as if he had the pace to break away. By lap 11 Thornton had passed Norton and was slowly chipping away at Hendry’s lead, dropping the gap to less than half a second. Thornton was hot on Hendry’s tail by lap 13 and was piling on the pressure. With only a few corners left in the race, Hendry made a mistake and unfortunately crashed out of the lead giving Thornton his fourth consecutive RoR win of the season. Rounding out the podium was Norton in second and Applegate in third.

In Race of the Rockies GTU, Jeremiah Downing took the lead from the start and never looked back as he consistently clicked off 1:49’s on his 600. For the entirety of the race he was followed by John Borst, who was running some impressive lap times but couldn’t quite match the blistering pace of Downing. Justin Behmer carved his way through the pack and ended up in third place. Behmer had the pace to secure a second-place victory but ran out of laps before he got the chance to put a move on Borst.

Next up, the MRA heads to Pueblo Motorsports Park in Pueblo, CO for Round 5 on July 29-30 for a full weekend of racing including the SuperStreet event on Saturday afternoon. SuperStreet gives street riders the opportunity to experience motorcycle road racing with minimal cost and preparation. See https://www.mra-racing.org/superstreet/superstreet-information for details.

The MRA welcomes racers from other clubs across the nation. If you’re a currently licensed racer, we have several reciprocity agreements in place along with very competitive pricing on license & entries to our 20 classes. Click here for MRA membership & entry information.

The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is dedicated to promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding area. For more information go to http://www.mra-racing.org/.

 

RRW 2023 MRA Final Results Round 4

Triumph Announces 2024 Tiger 900 Aragon Editions

NEW TRIUMPH TIGER 900 ARAGÓN EDITION MOTORCYCLES

In July 2022, Iván Cervantes secured victory in the Baja Aragón, one of the most demanding races on two wheels. To celebrate this stand-out performance, Triumph has launched the MY24 Tiger 900 Rally Aragón Edition and the Tiger 900 GT Aragón Edition motorcycles. Available for one year only, these special editions each feature unique liveries and specification.

Riding a Tiger 900 Rally Pro, Cervantes dominated the 280-mile (450km) race and crossed the finish line an impressive 1 hour and 6 minutes ahead of his rivals, demonstrating the Tiger’s ability to endure some of the harshest terrain at an elite level of competition.

Both Tiger 900 Aragón editions deliver all the specification, technology, and capability that the market-leading Tiger 900 GT Pro and Rally Pro are known for. Their advanced performance, accompanied by two fresh new looks, preserves the ultimate feel of aggression and attitude, while also adding that race-ready edge.

The Tiger 900 Rally Aragón dons a triple color of Matte Phantom Black, Matte Graphite, and Crystal White, featuring distinct Racing Yellow accents paired seamlessly with Triumph Tiger and Aragón Edition detailing, as well as a new and unique twin color seat design.

The GT Aragón follows suit with Triumph Tiger and Aragón Edition detailing, in addition to a refreshing twin color seat design, but instead features a triple color scheme of Diablo Red, Matte Phantom Black, and Crystal White to echo a bold and elegant feel.

Both models continue to boast an impressive 64 LBFT (87 Nm) of peak torque at 7,250 rpm, as well as a slip and assist clutch, to deliver a rich triple performance. Maintaining a lightweight modular frame and high specification suspension, these new additions to the Tiger family are tailored to optimize both road and off-road potential with the ultimate agile and dynamic handling experience.

 

A 2024-model Tiger 900 Rally Aragón Edition. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
A 2024-model Tiger 900 GT Aragón Edition. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.

 

Further maximizing handling, the GT Aragón Edition carries fully adjustable 1.8” (45mm) USD Marzocchi cartridge forks with electronically adjustable RSU, whereas the Rally Aragón Edition features Showa forks tuned for even greater off-road performance.

 

A 2024-model Tiger 900 Rally Aragón Edition. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
A 2024-model Tiger 900 Rally Aragón Edition. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.

 

Engine protection bars are fitted as standard to both Aragón Editions, while the Rally Aragón Edition also has fuel tank protection bars as standard to top off the ultimate competitive aesthetic. A collection of over 65 dedicated accessory options is available for both models, allowing you to tailor your machine to suit your own adventure.

Both models are competitively priced at and will be available in dealers by the end of July.

 

Pricing

MY24 Tiger 900 Aragón Edition                      $16,995 USD  |  $19,795 CAD

MY24 Tiger 900 GT Aragón Edition                 $16,495 USD  |  $18,895 CAD

 

MIR Racing Finetwork Cup: More On Texan Sanchez’s Win In Spain

Texan Mikey Lou Sanchez (55) on pole position at Circuito de Navarra, in Spain. Photo by @artpicsjona, courtesy Sanchez Racing.
Texan Mikey Lou Sanchez (55) on pole position at Circuito de Navarra, in Spain. Photo by @artpicsjona, courtesy Sanchez Racing.

Mikey Lou Sanchez competed in the MIR Racing Finetwork Cup Promo3 series this past weekend, July 15-16, at Circuito de Navarra.

The MIR Racing Cup is a series that is designed to show talent and level the playing field, meaning all the riders will be on equal equipment. All Yamaha WR250 motors are given to each rider on Friday to install with a carburetor that is to remain 100% original. All the chassis are the same and the suspension has two cost-effective options to choose from. Each rider is also only allowed one set of tires to complete the entire weekend, two qualifying sessions and two races. Once the races are finished the motors are returned to the MIR Racing staff immediately. During the weekend there is plenty of supervision to control the rules and regulations as well as assistance with technical details.

This series consists on five race weekends. Although Mikey missed the first round, we decided to go ahead and race this series.

In Saturday morning Q1, Mikey was able to set the fastest time of both qualifying sessions and earned pole position.

In Race One, Mikey had a great start and lead for most of the eight-lap race. He was able to pull a gap from the other riders and finish P1 with a 2.4 second gap.

In Race Two, Mikey again had a great start and led the race, but he ended up getting shuffled back to third mid-race. On the last lap, Mikey took the lead with two turns to go. Coming out of the last turn on the last lap another rider was in position to draft Mikey, and Mikey swerved to the right to break the draft and crossed the finish line first place. Later in Parc Ferme, Race Control penalized Mikey one position for swerving rapidly to the right.

 

Mikey Lou Sanchez on the podium in Spain after finishing second in Race Two. Photo by @artpicsjona, courtesy Sanchez Racing.
Mikey Lou Sanchez on the podium in Spain after finishing second in Race Two. Photo by @artpicsjona, courtesy Sanchez Racing.

 

“At first, I was sad because they took my win, but then I realized this was a learning experience and that’s what this is all about,” said Mikey.

The next race for this series is September 23-24 at Circuito Albacete.

Mikey Lou Sanchez would like to thank all my sponsors: Roadway Traffic Control, HJC Helmets, Williams Custom Painting, 212 Decals, San Marcos Iron Doors, Corsawerks, Texas Motorcycle Academy, Harris Hill Flattrackers, Moto Liberty, Shawn Knoche, Paul Stamper, Mark Niemi, Ben Fondu, Stacy Pawelek, and Theo Bick.

AHRMA: Turpin Dominates Vintage Cup Races At Laguna Seca

Shane Turpin (14) leads Christopher Spargo (19) at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Photo by etechphoto.com, courtesy AHRMA.
Shane Turpin (14) leads Christopher Spargo (19) at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Photo by etechphoto.com, courtesy AHRMA.

Turpin dominates AHRMA Vintage Cup at Laguna Seca

(July 19, 2023, Knoxville, TN)  Shane Turpin’s twin wins at Laguna Seca on July 15 and 16, 2023, added to Ducati’s success at the historic venue.

These victories had their own historic flair.  Turpin was competing in the eleventh and twelfth rounds of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) 2023 Vintage Cup held in conjunction with the Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Roadracing series at the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey in California at Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Sponsored by Hagerty Insurance, Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), AHRMA’s 2023 Vintage Cup features the Formula 750 (F750) class which includes 750cc two and four-stroke powered machines built up to 1972.

Turpin dominated both rounds aboard a 1972 750cc Ducati Imola winning decisively Saturday and Sunday.

“The early 70’s Imola bikes were Ducati’s re-entry into road racing, and they are still potent machines in historic racing,” said Carl Anderson, AHRMA’s 2023 Chairman of the Board. “I hadn’t seen Shane race in some time, but clearly his skills are still sharp, and he and the Ducati put on a spectacular performance around the renowned Laguna Seca circuit.”

Turpin’s competition included almost a dozen motorcycles from different manufacturers and designs. His air-cooled, four-stroke, “L” twin was joined on the grid by Walt Fulton on a “V” twin-powered Harley-Davidson, Jason Lindquist on a Rob North-framed Triumph triple-powered race bike and racers on parallel-twin four-stroke and two-stroke Yamaha motorcycles, among others.

On Saturday, Christopher Spargo, aboard a highly-developed Yamaha RD400 took the holeshot. Two laps later, the race was stopped after Colton Roberts experienced a dramatic high-side aboard his RD400.  Spargo nabbed the holeshot on the restart but was unable to hold off the hard-charging Turpin who muscled his way from the third row of the grid to take and hold the lead.  Spargo would finish second while Brian Filo, aboard a custom-framed Yamaha XS650-powered motorcycle reeled in Kevin Dinsmoor, who was on an equally exotic Seeley replica Honda-powered bike, to take third.

Spargo repeated his holeshot on Sunday and, Turpin, again, made his way to the front and left the pack behind.  Spargo, again, found himself in second for the rest of the race.  Meanwhile, Filo spent five laps working us way up to Colton Roberts, and then passed him to take third.  Off the podium, Dan Sokolich, on an RD400, won a last-lap drag race with Joseph Wright, on a 750cc Ducati, to take sixth.

“This isn’t the first time a Ducati has won at Laguna Seca, though it may have been one of the more impressive wins,” said Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton. “Some may say that bikes like a Ducati Imola belong in a museum because of their value and beauty.  Thank goodness AHRMA is highlighting the early 70s era of motorcycle racing with the 2023 Vintage Cup so we can get these kinds of bikes back in their natural habitat, which is the racetrack.”

The annual Vintage Cup spotlights one of AHRMA’s road racing classes with extra attention on competitors in the selected class during each race event. Enhanced awards for the Vintage Cup competitors are presented separately from other class trophies during the Saturday awards ceremony at each AHRMA National Road Race event.

Highlights from each Formula 750 race will be reported in RoadracingWorld.com’s online edition. At the conclusion of each season, the perpetual Vintage Cup trophy will be engraved with the national champion winner’s name and presented to the winner at the National Awards Banquet to keep for one year.

2023 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA Roadracing Series, Formula 750 – Vintage Cup Results

Saturday, July 15, 2023

  1. Shane Turpin, 1972 Ducati Imola, Scottsdale, AZ
  2. Christopher Spargo, 1976 Yamaha RD400, Hopkins, MN
  3. Brian Filo, 19972 Yamaha XS650, Livermore, CA
  4. Kevin Dinsmoor, 1967 CMR Seeley CB550, Colchester, CT
  5. Dan Sokolich, Yamaha RD400, Washington, MO
  6. Jason Lindquist, BSA Rocket III, Chula Vista, CA

Sunday, July 16, 2023

  1. Shane Turpin, 1972 Ducati Imola, Scottsdale, AZ
  2. Christopher Spargo, 1976 Yamaha RD400, Hopkins, MN
  3. Brian Filo, 19972 Yamaha XS650, Livermore, CA
  4. Colton Roberts, 1976 Yamaha RD400, Pawnee, IL
  5. Kevin Dinsmoor, 1967 CMR Seeley CB550, Colchester, CT
  6. Dan Sokolich, Yamaha RD400, Washington, MO
  7. Joseph Wright, 1973 Ducati 750, Bellevue, WA
  8. Jason Lindquist, BSA Rocket III, Chula Vista, CA
  9. Joseph Wright, 1973 Ducati 750, Bellevue, WA

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.

American Flat Track: Bridgeport Speedway Hosting Bikes For First Time Ever

Bridgeport Speedway, in Swedesboro, New Jersey, will host motorcycle racing for the first time ever with the Drag Specialties Bridgeport Half-Mile. Photo by Scott Hunter courtesy AFT.
Bridgeport Speedway, in Swedesboro, New Jersey, will host motorcycle racing for the first time ever with the Drag Specialties Bridgeport Half-Mile. Photo by Scott Hunter courtesy AFT.

Progressive AFT Breaks New Ground at Bridgeport Half-Mile

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, completes its run of four consecutive Half-Miles with this weekend’s inaugural Drag Specialties Bridgeport Half-Mile in Swedesboro, New Jersey, on Saturday, July 22.

The event will not just be Progressive AFT’s debut visit to Bridgeport Speedway, it’ll mark the very first time in the track’s half-century-plus history that motorcycles have raced at the venue. And the series is primed to impress with multiple riders performing at historic levels.

Reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle champion and new points leader Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) headlines that group. Mees, who recently became the winningest Half-Miler in the storied history of the Grand National Championship, is riding as well as he ever has during his record-smashing career. The factory Indian pilot comes into New Jersey having already earned seven victories on the season, including five in his last six attempts.

And yet, Mees only leads the points chase by two points. That’s primarily because his impressive eight-race podium streak is still four fewer than the perfect 12-for-12 podium mark posted by Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). While rising star has been remarkably consistent all year long, he now finds himself somewhere other atop the points standings for the first time in ‘23. As a result, Daniels is eager to strike back with a return to the top step on the podium.

That task has become that much more more daunting as of late now that two-time premier-class champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) and his Rick Ware Racing KTM have established themselves as the third rider/manufacturer combo capable of contending for checkered flags week-in and week-out.

The collective greatness of Mees, Daniels, and now Bauman has raised the level necessary to compete for victory. That said, the likes of JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750), Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 790 Duke), and Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) have shown to be up to that challenge in the past and will look to do so again this weekend.

Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER

Defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champ Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) has made good on the predictions that he would distance himself from his pursuers during the season’s run of Half-Miles. He comes into Bridgeport Speedway boasting a three-race win streak and a 47-point advantage with designs of further extending both marks.

As a result, the intrigue has shifted to the close fight for the positions behind first, where a single tough outing can see a rider drop from second in the title hunt to seventh, as was the case with Kopp’s teammate, Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), last time out.

Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) has taken control of the runner-up position. That’s a spot he’s grown all too familiar with as he’s reeled in five second-place finishes already this season while in search of his maiden Progressive AFT victory.

Third-ranked Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) is also looking for his first win of the year. Meanwhile, the riders now positioned fourth-through-seventh – Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), and Whale – have combined the earn six wins, together matching the number Kopp has taken by himself.

Any number of others could join that list of ‘23 winners, including big names Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450), and Shayna Texter-Bauman (No. 52 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 450 SX-F).

There will be plenty to keep fans entertained at the track on Saturday as well, including numerous vendors, expansive food and beverage options, dedicated motorcycle parking, and a playground for kids. Whisky Grin, one of New Jersey’s hottest rock bands, will perform high-octane music including both originals and classic covers. And finally, the Seaboard Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America will put 20 classic motorcycles and five noteworthy racebikes on display.

General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $40 (kids 12 and under $5), with Reserved Grandstand tickets just $10 more. Additionally, Multi-Day Reserved Camping Passes can be purchased for $125.

Pit Pass Upgrades are also available for purchase, which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/bridgeport-half-mile-60826 to reserve your seats today.

Gates will open for fans at 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT).

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 the Drag Specialties Bridgeport Half-Mile, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, July 30, at 1:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. PT).

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

About Progressive American Flat Track

Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram and catch all the Progressive American Flat Track racing action on FOX Sports.

Harley-Davidson Reports Record Attendance For Homecoming Festival

Harley-Davidson reports that 73,000 motorcycles turned up for events at the Harley-Davidson Museum, one of the venues in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, used for the Harley-Davidson Homecoming. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.
Harley-Davidson reports that 73,000 motorcycles turned up for events at the Harley-Davidson Museum, just one of the venues in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, used for the Harley-Davidson Homecoming. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.

RECORD ATTENDANCE AT THE 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON HOMECOMING FESTIVAL CELEBRATING 120 YEARS OF MOTO CULTURE

Headline Performances by Green Day and Foo Fighters and Events Across the Milwaukee Area July 13-16

MILWAUKEE (July 2023) – The Harley-Davidson® Homecoming™ Festival, the biggest music-and-moto event to hit Milwaukee this summer, took place from July 13-16 at venues across the Milwaukee area. Moto enthusiasts from all over the world enjoyed the festivities celebrating the rich, 120-year history of the world’s most-desirable motorcycle brand, Harley-Davidson. The Company also announced next year’s Harley-Davidson Homecoming will be July 25-28, 2024.

Some key highlights of the 2023 Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival included:

Veterans Park on the Milwaukee Lakefront – Performances by Green Day and Foo Fighters

On Friday and Saturday night at Veterans Park, music headliners Green Day (July 14) and Foo Fighters (July 15) performed to massive crowds on the Milwaukee lakefront. The shows gathered more than 80,000 moto and music enthusiasts throughout the weekend. Leading up to the headlining acts at the Veterans Park venue, key performances on July 14 included Abby Jeanne, KennyHoopla, Phantogram, and The Cult. On July 15, performances included Ghost Hounds, White Reaper, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and Cody Jinks. In addition, Nitro Circus, the most explosive crew in action sports, provided an action-packed freestyle motocross show, plus the exhilarating stunts of the Ives Brothers Wall of Death & Ball of Steel, food and beverage vendors, and special merchandise added to the family-friendly entertainment. Matty Matheson hosted a Burger Build Off, where legendary chef, actor, author, and restauranteur Matty Matheson created the ultimate, show-stopping burger in a head-to-head cookoff.

 

Two nights of rock concerts were a big part of the Harley-Davidson Homecoming. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.
Two days of rock concerts were a big part of the Harley-Davidson Homecoming. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.

 

Harley-Davidson Museum – Milwaukee

Activities kicked off at the Harley-Davidson Museum grounds on Thursday with Bike Night and continued through the weekend. 73,000 bikes lined the museum grounds and Sixth Street over the four days. 130,000 attendees enjoyed food trucks, Flat Out Friday Boonie Bike races, motorcycle displays and demo ride opportunities with LiveWire®, and Stacyc®  electric vehicles, the Division BMX Stunt Show, custom and vintage motorcycle shows, and evening musical entertainment. The music line-up included headliners Hairball, The Jimmys and The Now Band, Rust Bucket Road Trip, and The Toys and Rebel Grace.

Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations – Menomonee Falls

The Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations in Milwaukee suburb, Menomonee Falls, hosted demos of 2023 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, factory tours, and Police Skills Riding Demonstrations.

Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary Motorcycle Parade – Downtown Milwaukee

The 2023 Homecoming event concluded on Sunday with the Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary Parade, winding through Wisconsin Avenue to the heart of downtown Milwaukee, ending at Veterans Park on the lakefront. 7,000 motorcycles participated in the parade to the cheers and waves from crowds gathered along the route.

 

A 7,000-motorcycle parade through downtown Milwaukee was part of the Harley-Davidson Homecoming. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.
A 7,000-motorcycle parade through downtown Milwaukee was part of the Harley-Davidson Homecoming. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.

 

Ride In Routes

All roads led to Milwaukee as Harley-Davidson plotted six exciting Ride In routes, each starting from the furthest reaches of North America and leading to Milwaukee, to arrive for Homecoming festivities. This provided an opportunity for riders to join at any point and ride at their own pace while mingling with fellow H-D riders. Each daily Ride In segment began and ended at an authorized Harley-Davidson dealership, with a mid-day stop also at a H-D dealership, to meet other riders, chat with local staff, eat at local food trucks, and conduct bike maintenance, as needed.

New 2023 Custom Vehicle Operations™ (CVO™) Motorcycles

Homecoming weekend was also the official consumer debut of the new 2023 CVO™ Street Glide® and CVO™ Road Glide® models showcasing advanced technology, enhanced rider comfort, and dynamic performance propelled by the powerful new Milwaukee-Eight® VVT 121 engine, with a technical display in the Harley-Davidson Museum Garage area and demos at the Company’s Powertrain Operations facility.

Harley-Davidson Dealership Events

Six Milwaukee-area Harley-Davidson dealerships hosted events and entertainment. Dealerships that participated included House of Harley-Davidson (Greenfield), Milwaukee Harley-Davidson (Milwaukee), Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson (Thiensville), Uke’s Harley-Davidson (Kenosha), West Bend Harley-Davidson (West Bend), and Wisconsin Harley-Davidson (Oconomowoc).

Suzuki Dealers Now Taking Reservations For 25th Anniversary Hayabusas

A 2024-model 25th Anniversary Edition Suzuki Hayabusa. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
A 2024-model 25th Anniversary Edition Suzuki Hayabusa. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.

Suzuki Dealers Now Taking Reservations on 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa

Brea, CA (July 17, 2023) – Suzuki Motor USA has opened reservations for the 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa through authorized Suzuki dealers starting July 17th, 2023. Reserving one will ensure priority delivery of the commemorative Hayabusa.

The 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa  MSRP is $19,599 and will be available beginning in September.

Special 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa features include:

  • Unique 25th Anniversary emblem and raised SUZUKI logos are featured on the fuel tank.
  • Elegant 25th Anniversary logos are etched on each muffler.
  • Distinctive gloss black cowling trim.
  • The brake rotor carriers and drive chain adjusters are gold-anodized.
  • The Hayabusa Kanji logo is applied to the drive chain plates.
  • The single-seat cowling is included as standard equipment.

The 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa arrives in a striking and special Glass Blaze Orange & Glass Sparkle Black color combination, reminiscent of one of the most popular Gen II model’s color palettes set off with special red accents. This stunning appearance is enhanced with a range of features unique to this special 25th Anniversary Edition.  For more information on the 25th Anniversary Edition Hayabusa, please click here.

“The Gen 3 Hayabusa has been a tremendous sales success for our dealers and extremely well received by fans of this legendary model,” said Kerry Graeber, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Suzuki. “This beautiful anniversary version, drawing its inspiration from one of the Hayabusa’s most memorable color combinations – yet updated for modern tastes – will appeal to the next generation of Hayabusa fans.  We encourage anybody that wants one to see their dealer immediately to ensure they’re on the reservation list.”

Video: 100th Loudon Classic Post-Race Chat With NEMRR’s John Grush

NEMRR Executive Director John Grush (left) with Series Director Noelle Doucette (right). Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR.
NEMRR Executive Director John Grush (left) with Series Director Noelle Doucette (right). Photo by Sam Draiss, courtesy NEMRR.

NorthEast Motorcycle Road Racing (NEMRR) Executive Director John Grush does a video interview with 388 Racing and talks about the 100th Loudon Classic, which happened June 17 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in Loudon, New Hampshire.

Grush talks about the trials and tribulations of running the big event and NEMRR in general, price changes to several NEMRR fees to ensure the viability of the organization, his personal future with the organization, and if the anonymous sponsor that put up the $250,000 purse for the 100th Loudon Classic will do it again in 2024.

 

AHRMA: Race Results From WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

Stefano Mesa (37x) riding his 2023 Kramer GP2 890-R in the AHRMA Sound of Thunder 1 race at Laguna Seca. Photo by etechphoto.com, courtesy AHRMA.
Stefano Mesa (37x) riding a 2023 Kramer GP2 890-R in the AHRMA Sound of Thunder 1 race at Laguna Seca. Photo by etechphoto.com, courtesy AHRMA.
06 RRW 2023 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca- Weekend Results

MotoAmerica: Mini Cup Event At NJMP Postponed Due To Inclement Weather

Joshua Raymond (91) in action before the rain and lightning arrived at NJMP. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.
Joshua Raymond (91) in action before the rain and lightning arrived at NJMP. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.

Inclement Weather Forces Postponement Of Mini Cup Round At NJMP

New Jersey Motorsports Park Will Again Host The Rescheduled Round On September 2

IRVINE, CA (July 18, 2023) – Threats of lightning on Saturday and heavy rains on Sunday at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, July 15-16, forced MotoAmerica to reschedule what would have been the fourth round of the Mission Mini Cup By Motul series to what will now be the fifth round of the championship at NJMP on September 2.

The September 2 make-up round at New Jersey Motorsports Park will be open to all riders who were signed up to compete in the rained-out July 15-16 round.

“Unfortunately, we encountered the worst weather possible over the weekend with MotoAmerica Mini Cup,” said MotoAmerica Mini Cup series manager Cory Texter. “We did the best we could to get the program in, but Mother Nature wasn’t having it. It’s essential we get this round complete for the riders, so I’m thankful we could come up with a make-up date for those who attended over the weekend. As for the schedule, we will run a practice in the morning, followed by four races.”

There are three rounds remaining in the 2023 Mission Mini Cup By Motul Series: August 18-19 at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania; September 2 at New Jersey Motorsports Park; and the series finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park, September 22-23.

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.

MRA: Thornton, Downing Wins Premier Classes At Round Four (Updated)

Ray Thornton (717). Photo by Kelly Vernell, courtesy MRA.
Ray Thornton (717). Photo by Kelly Vernell, courtesy MRA.

Byers, CO – The fourth race of the 2023 MRA Championship Series took place at High Plains Raceway over the weekend of July 15-16th on their 2.55-mile Full Course configuration. This was a special weekend as the MRA conducted their 14th Annual 4-hour endurance race on Saturday. The event saw many out-of-town racers drive hundreds of miles to try and steal victories and capture the prize money that was up for grabs. The 4-hour endurance race was unfortunately cut short by 50 minutes as a storm brought lightning and hail into the area. Team Racing for Ray Ray took the victory in the Pony Express category (multiple riders, multiple bikes) with 99 laps completed, team Mother Lovers won the True Endurance category (multiple riders, one bike) with 96 laps, and team Legion’s Lance won the Titanium Butt category (one rider, one bike) with 86 laps.

The Race of the Rockies (RoR) Qualifying on Sunday was conducted under excellent conditions as temperatures were around 75 degrees for most of the morning. Ray Thornton claimed pole position with a best time of (1:47.58) followed by Anthony Norton (1:47.792) and Mike Applegate (1:48.428).

The start of RoR saw Applegate get the holeshot going into Turn One, followed by Brad Hendry and Norton. Applegate was looking strong as he got an excellent drive down the backstraight, however somewhere between Turns Five and 10 he made a mistake and dropped back to sixth position. Hendry led the pack after lap two and was followed closely by Norton and Thornton. By lap six Hendry had opened a three-second lead on the trailing pair, and it looked as if he had the pace to break away. By lap 11 Thornton had passed Norton and was slowly chipping away at Hendry’s lead, dropping the gap to less than half a second. Thornton was hot on Hendry’s tail by lap 13 and was piling on the pressure. With only a few corners left in the race, Hendry made a mistake and unfortunately crashed out of the lead giving Thornton his fourth consecutive RoR win of the season. Rounding out the podium was Norton in second and Applegate in third.

In Race of the Rockies GTU, Jeremiah Downing took the lead from the start and never looked back as he consistently clicked off 1:49’s on his 600. For the entirety of the race he was followed by John Borst, who was running some impressive lap times but couldn’t quite match the blistering pace of Downing. Justin Behmer carved his way through the pack and ended up in third place. Behmer had the pace to secure a second-place victory but ran out of laps before he got the chance to put a move on Borst.

Next up, the MRA heads to Pueblo Motorsports Park in Pueblo, CO for Round 5 on July 29-30 for a full weekend of racing including the SuperStreet event on Saturday afternoon. SuperStreet gives street riders the opportunity to experience motorcycle road racing with minimal cost and preparation. See https://www.mra-racing.org/superstreet/superstreet-information for details.

The MRA welcomes racers from other clubs across the nation. If you’re a currently licensed racer, we have several reciprocity agreements in place along with very competitive pricing on license & entries to our 20 classes. Click here for MRA membership & entry information.

The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is dedicated to promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding area. For more information go to http://www.mra-racing.org/.

 

RRW 2023 MRA Final Results Round 4

Triumph Announces 2024 Tiger 900 Aragon Editions

Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
2024-model Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Aragón Edition and Triumph Tiger 900 GT Aragón Edition motorcycles. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.

NEW TRIUMPH TIGER 900 ARAGÓN EDITION MOTORCYCLES

In July 2022, Iván Cervantes secured victory in the Baja Aragón, one of the most demanding races on two wheels. To celebrate this stand-out performance, Triumph has launched the MY24 Tiger 900 Rally Aragón Edition and the Tiger 900 GT Aragón Edition motorcycles. Available for one year only, these special editions each feature unique liveries and specification.

Riding a Tiger 900 Rally Pro, Cervantes dominated the 280-mile (450km) race and crossed the finish line an impressive 1 hour and 6 minutes ahead of his rivals, demonstrating the Tiger’s ability to endure some of the harshest terrain at an elite level of competition.

Both Tiger 900 Aragón editions deliver all the specification, technology, and capability that the market-leading Tiger 900 GT Pro and Rally Pro are known for. Their advanced performance, accompanied by two fresh new looks, preserves the ultimate feel of aggression and attitude, while also adding that race-ready edge.

The Tiger 900 Rally Aragón dons a triple color of Matte Phantom Black, Matte Graphite, and Crystal White, featuring distinct Racing Yellow accents paired seamlessly with Triumph Tiger and Aragón Edition detailing, as well as a new and unique twin color seat design.

The GT Aragón follows suit with Triumph Tiger and Aragón Edition detailing, in addition to a refreshing twin color seat design, but instead features a triple color scheme of Diablo Red, Matte Phantom Black, and Crystal White to echo a bold and elegant feel.

Both models continue to boast an impressive 64 LBFT (87 Nm) of peak torque at 7,250 rpm, as well as a slip and assist clutch, to deliver a rich triple performance. Maintaining a lightweight modular frame and high specification suspension, these new additions to the Tiger family are tailored to optimize both road and off-road potential with the ultimate agile and dynamic handling experience.

 

A 2024-model Tiger 900 Rally Aragón Edition. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
A 2024-model Tiger 900 GT Aragón Edition. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.

 

Further maximizing handling, the GT Aragón Edition carries fully adjustable 1.8” (45mm) USD Marzocchi cartridge forks with electronically adjustable RSU, whereas the Rally Aragón Edition features Showa forks tuned for even greater off-road performance.

 

A 2024-model Tiger 900 Rally Aragón Edition. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.
A 2024-model Tiger 900 Rally Aragón Edition. Photo courtesy Triumph Motorcycles.

 

Engine protection bars are fitted as standard to both Aragón Editions, while the Rally Aragón Edition also has fuel tank protection bars as standard to top off the ultimate competitive aesthetic. A collection of over 65 dedicated accessory options is available for both models, allowing you to tailor your machine to suit your own adventure.

Both models are competitively priced at and will be available in dealers by the end of July.

 

Pricing

MY24 Tiger 900 Aragón Edition                      $16,995 USD  |  $19,795 CAD

MY24 Tiger 900 GT Aragón Edition                 $16,495 USD  |  $18,895 CAD