Four-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion Josh Hayes was fastest during MotoAmerica Supersport Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at recently repaved WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Riding a Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 not equipped the newly legalized cylinder head modifications, the 48-year-old lapped the undulating 2.2-mile course in 1:28.752.
Anthony Mazziotto was second-best with a 1:29.770 on his North East Cycle Outlet Racing Yamaha, and current Championship point leader Xavi Fores was third-quickest with a 1:29.968 on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2.
Newcomer Filippo Rovelli was fastest in MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup Free Practice One (FP1), his first session ever riding at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. On board his Team Iso Yamaha YZF-R7, the 22-year-old Italian lapped the 2.2-mile course in 1:35.891 to lead the field of 32.
Hayden Schultz was best of the rest with a 1:36.811 on his Cycle Tech Yamaha YZF-R7, and former class Champion Chris Parrish, age 46, was third with a lap of 1:39.092 on his Ghetto Customs Yamaha.
The racing surface at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca was recently repaved and this morning it was extra tricky due to overnight rain and moisture in the air from low-hanging clouds.
Christian Iddon led Bennetts British Superbike Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Snetterton Circuit, in England. Riding his Oxford Products Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, Iddon lapped the 3.0-mile course in 1:49.027.
In British Talent Cup FP1, Americans Julian Correa and Eli Banish were third and 22nd, respectively.
Team HRC conducts long run test in race-hot conditions on the final day of test at Suzuka
On July 6, Day 2 of joint tests for the 44th edition of the Endurance World Championship (EWC) “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race 44th Tournament (Suzuka 8 Hours) concluded a two-day session at the Suzuka Circuit.
On day one (July 5) Team HRC Tetsuta Nagashima, back from injury, set the fastest lap time out of the four sessions held over the day.
On day 2 the participating bikes were again divided into groups A and B. A 70-minute Session 5 for each group was held in the morning, followed by a similar 70-minute Session 6 in the afternoon.
Unlike the previous day, conditions were hot in the morning with strong sunshine and soaring temperatures. 33℃ highs were forecast, but at Suzuka Circuit, heat reflected from the track surface and generated from the engines added to the scorching environment. Track temperature reached 55°C in the morning, and rose to 60°C in the afternoon, creating test conditions similar to the race itself.
In Session 5, Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing (Kosuke Sakumoto / Ryo Mizuno / Kazuma Watanabe) was third-fastest with 2 min 7.958s, F.C.C. TSR Honda France (Josh Hook / Mike Di Meglio / Alan Techer) was fourth with 2 min 7.891s, and Team HRC (Takumi Takahashi / Iker Lecuona / Xavi Vierge / Tetsuta Nagashima) was fifth-fastest with 2 min 7.791s. SDG Honda Racing (Teppei Nagoe / Naomichi Uramoto / Yuki Kunii) was sixth with 2 min 7.940s. Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA (Md Zaqhwan Bin Zaidi / Andi Farid Izdihar / Nakarin Atiratphuvapat) was eleventh-fastest with 2 min 8.499s.
In Session 6, Team HRC’s Nagashima led the way with a 2 min 6.077s lap (fastest time in the two-day combined classification), followed by Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing with 2 min 6.638s, and F.C.C. TSR Honda France with 2 min 6.811s. SDG Honda Racing was fourth-fastest with 2 min 7.254s, Honda Dream RT SAKURAI Honda (Kazuki Ito / Daijiro Hiura / Kota Arakawa) was seventh with 2 min 7.895s, and Team ATJ (Satoru Iwata / Yuki Takahashi / Tomoyoshi Koyama) was tenth with 2 min 8.271s. Honda had six teams in the top 10 for the session.
Team HRC focused on long run tests, giving its riders a good feel for the bike. With ambient and track temperatures rising, the test was held in conditions similar to the actual race, allowing the team to accumulate valuable data. The team also performed race-condition pit work, preparing the crew for the race.
Honda aims for back-to-back wins in the Suzuka 8 Hours following last year, and if successful, Takahashi will tie Toru Ukawa’s five Suzuka 8 Hours victories.
Takumi Takahashi 33
I rode in the previous session, so the other three riders went on long runs. I didn’t have as much time on track as I thought I would, so I wanted more for today’s sessions as the conditions were closer to the race, but the other team riders did a great job, so I am positive for the race. I get many questions about winning my fifth Suzuka 8 Hours this year, but for me, I would rather concentrate on winning each and every race rather than focusing on my record. I will give it all I have so we can win again this year.
Iker Lecuona 33
I did a long run in the morning, but my feeling wasn’t as good compared to last year, and I could not reach the average time I wanted. Compared to yesterday, today we are close to where we were last year, so I am not that worried. I will make adjustments for the race weekend and make sure I reach my target times. I still remember the thrill of last year’s victory, and I will do my best to experience that joy once again.
Xavi Vierge 33
I had the impression that the bike was a bit difficult to ride because the seat position was different from the previous test. I could not reach my target time and could not keep my average at a consistent level. The large number of bikes on track and the heat did not help, but I think that the experience of this run was important for the race. I was not a rider in last year’s race but supported everyone in the pits, so I have a strong desire to race. This year, I want to celebrate winning with everyone, and I am proud to be on a team that can do that. I look forward to the race and I’ll be back.
Tetsuta Nagashima 33
For me, the main purpose of the test was to check my physical condition. I think today was fulfilling as I was able to do long runs and record the fastest time. I think I was able to do all the things a rider is expected to do. There is about a month between now and the race, so I will keep focused and continue to improve my physical condition. This Suzuka 8 Hours is the only race I have a chance to compete in this year, so I want to do whatever it takes to race. I did my best to get selected by the team. I hope to make solid contributions to the team like last year and win the race.
More, from a press release issued by FIM EWC:
HONDA BRINGS IN VIERGE AS PUSH FOR SUZUKA 8 HOURS EWC GLORY INTENSIFIES
For immediate release (7 July 2023): Honda is going all out to claim victory in Japan’s round of the FIM Endurance World Championship for a second year running next month (4-6 August).
It has listed 10 supported teams as it pushes to win the 44th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race with Xavi Vierge a notable new recruit for 2023.
Vierge has been called up to race for Team HRC in round three of the 2023 EWC season onboard a CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP fitted with Bridgestone tyres. He will join forces with Japan’s Takumi Takahashi and fellow Spaniard Iker Lecuona for the ever-spectacular and ever-challenging EWC contest.
Along with Tetsuta Nagashima, Takahashi and Lecuona scored Honda’s first Suzuka 8 Hours victory when they triumphed for Team HRC last August. But with Nagashima in the process of regaining full fitness following a foot injury, Vierge will bring experience from the FIM Superbike World Championship to the EWC.
“This will be the first time for me to ride in the Suzuka 8 Hours,” said 26-year-old Vierge. “I am very happy to be able to ride as a rider in the same stage where so many riders have created legends. Iker Lecuona is my team-mate in WSBK and Takumi Takahashi is a great rider who has won many 8 Hours races in the past. I believe that we can win this race by working hard three riders together.”
Like Vierge, Lecuona races in WSBK, while Takahashi is competing in the MFJ All-Japan Road Race Championship ST1000 division this season. A fifth Suzuka 8 Hours victory next month would put him joint top on the list of winners of the Suzuka 8 Hours.
F.C.C. TSR Honda France, which won the 2022 FIM Endurance World Championship, will continue its title defence in the Suzuka 8 Hours with riders Mike Di Meglio (France), Josh Hook (Australia) and Alan Techer (France). Meanwhile, Honda Viltaïs Racing, the winner of the 2022 EWC season-deciding Bol d’Or, will count on the skills of Florian Alt (Germany), Leandro Mercado (Argentina) and Steven Odendaal (South Africa).
“Suzuka is one of my favourites,” said Hook, 30. “Home of TSR and Honda it’s a track that I really like and our bike generally performs quite well. The team has been doing a good job this year so far and the mechanics have been amazing. I’m really looking forward to coming to Suzuka, seeing all the Japanese fans and racing there again.”
The 44th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race is due to start at 11h30 local time on Sunday 6 August.
About Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe
Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe represents WBD’s portfolio of sports brands, channels and platforms in Europe. It collectively reaches 130 million people every month, engaging fans and broad audiences in more than 200 markets and in over 20 languages across all platforms where consumers are spending time, free-to-air TV, pay-TV, streaming, online and social. Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe includes the much-loved consumer brands Eurosport, Global Cycling Network (GCN), Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) and Golf Digest, as well sports programming and content on discovery+ and Warner Bros. Discovery’s free-to-air TV networks. They connect audiences with the greatest sporting events in the world. This includes being the Home of the Olympics Games in Europe; tennis’ Grand Slams; cycling’s Grand Tours, more than 600 cycling broadcasts per year, the UCI Track Champions League, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup from 2023 with ESO Sports; the PGA TOUR year-round; The Ocean Race from 2023; the Snooker World Tour; the best electric racing series with ABB FIA Formula E World Championship; the FIM Speedway GP, Speedway of Nations and Speedway World Cup; and every major winter sports World Championship and World Cup event. Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe completes a full 360° offer with its events management and promotion division, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Events, which oversees 30+ events across five continents each year.
Follow MP13 Racing, Team Owner Melissa Paris, and young riders Aiden Sneed and Kayla Yaakov as they take on the 2023 MotoAmerica motorcycle racing season.
In Episode Five, MP13 Racing’s Kayla Yaakov revisits the site of her first MotoAmerica race win – Ridge Motorsports Park, near Olympia, Washington, but Aiden Sneed has to play a supporting role as Junior Cup is not on the program.
Current Supersport Championship point leader Xavi Fores posted the fastest lap time during a special MotoAmerica Supersport session Thursday afternoon at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca intended to help prepare the newly repaved track and teams ahead of this weekend’s race event.
Riding his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2, Fores circulated the historic 2.2-mile road course in 1:29.072, which is a little over two seconds slower than the fastest Supersport race lap time at Laguna Seca in 2022, Tyler Scott’s 1:26.985. Josh Herrin won both Supersport races last year at Laguna Seca on a Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2 and did a best lap time of 1:27.442.
Two-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne was quickest during a special Superbike session held Thursday afternoon at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to help prepare the newly repaved racing surface and the teams ahead of this weekend’s race event.
Riding his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1, Gagne lapped the 2.2-mile, 11-turn course in 1:24.846, which was slightly quicker than he went (1:24.920) during a similar last-minute test session Tuesday morning but still about 1.5 seconds short of his fastest race lap from 2022 (1:23.443).
Gagne used the R5 front compound and the R7 rear compound Dunlop Sportmax Slicks, which are the middle and softer choices, respectively, of the Superbike tire allotments for this weekend’s three Superbike races.
Tire wear continues to be accelerated on the abrasive new surface, but nothing unexpected, according to Dunlop Tire Technician Tony Romo.
The 50-minute Superbike session was cut short when Bobby Fong’s Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha YZF-R1 blew its engine and put fluid on the track.
Mission King Of The Baggers, Extended Supersport Race And More Highlight MotoAmerica At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Four Support Class Races To Accompany Three Medallia Superbike Races At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
IRVINE, CA (July 6, 2023) – The fireworks expected from the four support classes to the three Medallia Superbike races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca should rival any from the Fourth Of July as Mission King Of The Baggers, an “extended” Supersport race with its mandatory pit stop, REV’IT! Twins Cup and Mission Super Hooligan National Championship will highlight a race weekend that will feature 10 races on the iconic racetrack located a few miles east of Monterey, California, July 7-9.
Mission King Of The Baggers – Back To The Birthplace
The inaugural Mission King Of The Baggers race was held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as an invitational event in October of 2020 and it was a rousing success. Now, three years later, the fourth round of a six-round (12 races) championship will kick off the second half of the season for the popular Baggers.
H-D Screamin’ Eagle’s Kyle Wyman, the 2021 Mission King Of The Baggers Champion, leads the championship point standings after a one-month hiatus and following the third round of the series in Wisconsin. Wyman and his four victories on his Harley-Davidson Road Glide gives him a 13-point lead over Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson’s James Rispoli, who in turn is just one point ahead of his teammate Hayden Gillim.
Defending Mission King Of The Baggers Champion Tyler O’Hara has yet to win a race this year, but has three runner-up finishes in 2023 as he attempts to defend his title. O’Hara is currently fourth and 35 points behind Wyman.
Three riders have won races in 2023 and Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands/Indian’s Bobby Fong was the latest to join that list (Kyle Wyman and James Rispoli) with a victory in race two at Road America. Fong is 53 points behind Wyman and 18 points behind O’Hara.
Supersport – Extended Again
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Xavi Fores is a perfect seven-for-seven in the 2023 Supersport Championship, including his victory in the first-ever “Extended” Supersport race at Barber Motorsports Park back in May. Five of those seven races were won on racetracks that Fores had never seen before., but that won’t be the case at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
With the second “Extended” Supersport race scheduled for WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca this weekend, there’s no reason to expect anything less than victory from Fores and his team in the race that will feature a mandatory pit stop. After all, Fores has not only raced at Laguna before in the World Superbike Championship, but he also likes it. And that might be double trouble for those trying to thwart his perfect season.
Fores, who is hoping to be able to throw his leg over a second Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R if he clinches the title early, has a 76-point lead going into this weekend’s extended 38-lap race that will pay double points.
Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Stefano Mesa has been the best of the rest so far in 2023 with four runner-up finishes behind Fores. Mesa is 76 points behind the Spaniard and 12 clear of Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott with the youngster standing on the podium three times this season.
Nine points behind Scott is Squid Hunter Racing’s Josh Herrin, the veteran crashing out of the last race at Ridge Motorsports Park to mar his perfect record of point-scoring races in the first seven races. Hayes has four podiums on his scorecard.
Scott’s teammate Teagg Hobbs had his best weekend of the season at Ridge with two third-place finishes. He sits fifth in the title chase but is a whopping 117 points behind Fores.
REV’IT Twins Cup – Tight At The Top
Five riders – Blake Davis, Rocco Landers, Stefano Mesa, Gus Rodio and Dominic Doyle – have won REV’IT Twins Cup races in 2023 and that parity has led to the top five being separated by just 40 points after eight races.
Defending REV’IT! Twins Cup Champion Blake Davis is atop the championship point standings on his N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto-backed Yamaha YZF-R7, but he’s just 11 points clear of the fast-closing Rocco Landers and his Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660.
Landers has won four of the past five races in his return to the class he dominated in 2021. Landers is just two points ahead of his pseudo teammate Gus Rodio, who has one victory and four other podiums on his scorecard.
Cycle Tech’s Hayden Schultz and Trackday Winner/Blackmon Racing’s Jackson Blackmon round out the top five as the series heads to California.
Mission Super Hooligan National Championship – Still O’Hara
Despite being DQ’d from the most recent round of the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship round after crossing the finish line one-two at Ridge Motorsports Park, defending champion Tyler O’Hara and Jeremy McWilliams still occupy the top two spots in the championship as the series readies for round three in Monterey.
With his three wins to McWilliams’s two, O’Hara holds down a 19-point lead over his Indian Motorcycle/Progressive/Mission Foods teammate with McWilliams and his Indian FTR1200 just four two points ahead of Andy DiBrino Racing’s Andy DiBrino, who inherited the race-two victory at Ridge Motorsports Park when the two Indian FTR1200s of McWilliams and O’Hara were DQ’d with the technical infraction.
DiBrino and his KTM 890 Duke R, meanwhile, are only seven points ahead of Roland Sands Design/Indian Motorcycle’s Bobby Fong, who in turn is just one point ahead of fifth-placed Cory West and his Team Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Pan America.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Pre-Race Support Class Notes…
Josh Herrin was perfect last year at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with his two Supersport class victories on the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2. The podium was identical in both races with Tyler Scott and Rocco Landers finishing second and third in both races. Herrin has moved up to the Medallia Superbike Championship for 2023.
Kyle Wyman won the Mission King Of The Baggers race at Laguna last year with the Screamin’ Eagle Harley rider besting his brother Travis and Vance & Hines Harley’s James Rispoli.
Last year’s REV’IT! Twins Cup race was won by Cory Ventura over eventual class champion Blake Davis and then-defending champion Kaleb De Keyrel. Ventura won’t be racing at WeatherTech Raceway this year as he recovers at home from a badly broken leg suffered at Barber Motorsports Park.
Garrett Gerloff, who currently races in the World Supersport Championship, is still the lap record holder at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in the Supersport class with his 1:25.406 dating back to 2017. With the racetrack being completely repaved for this year’s event, that long-standing record might finally be in danger of being broken.
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.
More, from a press release issued by Ducati:
Ducati’s Dynamic Duo Heads to the Happy Hunting Ground of Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca
Sunnyvale, Calif. — There are many famous racing venues in the United States but few hold the aura of Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Nestled in the Salinas hillside, the iconic 2.23 mile circuit that’s home to one of the most famous corners in racing—The Corkscrew—will once again hear the sound of America’s fastest road racers as MotoAmerica heads to its only Californian stop on its national tour.
If the first four rounds are anything to go by, round five of the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship will be a feast for Xavi Forés (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Ducati – Panigale V2). Laguna Seca is one of the few tracks on the 2023 calendar Forés has competed at, the Spaniard carding a pair of sixth-place finishes the last time WorldSBK took to the venue in 2018.
Undefeated in 2023 so far, Forés knows this weekend will throw up a unique challenge with the second of the year’s long-distance races, the first of which he dominated at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama back in May.
For Herrin, the Georgian native will look forward to his first race on the Panigale V4 R at a track he knows and loves. The current MotoAmerica Supersport Champion is still the Superbike lap record holder at 1:22.908, set in Superpole in 2018.
Third in the MotoAmerica Superbike series points, Herrin knows Laguna Seca represents one of his best opportunities to close the points gap to leader Jake Gagne and will be putting it all on the line in front of the many Ducatisti expected to show up and cheer the factory team on.
Xavi Fores (12). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
“This race is the one I have been waiting for!” Forés enthused. “I know the track well and I really like it. I have always had good races there in WSBK, so I’m really looking forward to start the weekend. The long distance race again this weekend will be good fun and important with double points. The plan is to keep the winning momentum even if it gets harder and harder every time. I’m the rider everyone wants to beat, but I will do my best to ensure that doesn’t happen!”
Josh Herrin (2). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – Ducati Panigale V4 R – Ducati #2):
“I’m really excited about this weekend,” Herrin said. “We gained a lot of confidence on the V4 R at The Ridge and although it was a bummer that we crashed on Saturday, we could still salvage some really good finishes in both races. I’m a lot more comfortable on the motorcycle now. Going to Laguna Seca, which is the track I hold the lap record at, I think we’ll continue to have some good success. I’m really looking forward to spending time with my team. It’s a home race for us, it’s the 4th of July weekend, so I think it’s going to be a good one.”
On track action for the fifth round of the MotoAmerica Superbike and Supersport Championship will begin at 9:15 am PST on Friday, July 7. Forés will be the first of the Warhorse crew to hit the track at 10:05 am in Supersport with Herrin’s first ride at 10:45 am.
More, from a press release issued by Team Iso:
Filippo Rovelli Joins Team Iso For WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Round
Filippo Rovelli (27) on his R7 Cup racebike in Europe. Photo courtesy Team Iso.
Monterey, CA – July 7, 2023 – Team Iso has brought in Italian rider Filippo Rovelli for this weekend’s MotoAmerica round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Rovelli joins incumbent rider Dominic Doyle on the team, and both riders will race Giaccmoto LLC-prepared Yamaha YZF-R7s in this weekend’s two REV’IT! Twins Cup races. The announcement was made by Nobi Iso, owner of Team Iso.
Rovelli, who is from Gallarate, Italy, has previously raced a Yamaha YZF-R3 in the FIM World Supersport300 Championship, and last year, he competed in Italy’s Yamaha R7 Cup and earned an opportunity to race in the Yamaha R7 SuperFinale this past September at Circuit de Barcelona in Catalunya. Rovelli qualified on the front row for that weekend’s two races.
In race one, Rovelli scored a dramatic last-to-first victory. He was moved to the back of the grid after a penalty. Starting from 27th, he was inside the top six after the opening lap. By lap two, he had already made his way into the lead, but the pack behind continued to hound the Italian. As the top four pulled clear, Rovelli timed his run perfectly and moved out front on the final lap to take the win.
“The main purpose of this program with Team Iso is to provide activation for the awesome Yamaha YZF-R7,” commented Giaccmoto principal Chuck Giacchetto. “When we were asked to host the wildcard entry with Filippo, we proudly accepted the offer, especially since he is a part of the Yamaha global family. Huge thanks to Nobi Iso for hosting Filippo and also congratulations to him and all of Team Iso for the great work they’re already doing with Dominic Doyle.”
Team Iso’s riders Doyle and Rovelli will practice on Friday morning at 9:15 PT, followed by provisional qualifying at 3:55 PT in the afternoon. Final qualifying is Saturday morning at 9:15 PT and race one is Saturday afternoon at 2:10 PT. Race two starts on Sunday at 2:10 PT.
Along with Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., and Giaccmoto LLC, Team Iso is supported by Westby Racing, SE Composites, Attack Performance, Superbike Unlimited, Bitubo Italy, Vesrah, Galespeed, aRacer USA, Core Moto USA, RK Excel America, Suter Racing Products, Spears Enterprises, Yoshimura R&D of America, 5zero4 Designs, and Arai Helmet, Inc.
One month after adjusting the balancing regulations in its Next-Generation Supersport class, MotoAmerica has made another adjustment to the technical rules governing the class just ahead of this weekend’s event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Prior to the round at Road America in June, MotoAmerica FIM/AMA North America adjusted the rules for the Ducati Panigale V2 and the Suzuki GSX-R750, detuning both slightly with new required mapping in their spec Engine Control Units (ECUs).
Now on the Thursday prior to a race event, MotoAmerica FIM/AMA North America has decided to allow the Yamaha YZF-R6 to have ported and polished cylinder heads, including the combustion chamber, and the announcement is effective immediately.
Below is the Technical Bulletin issued by MotoAmerica FIM/AMA North America today, July 6.
Round five of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads east to Norfolk this coming weekend when championship leaders BeerMonster Ducati hope to increase their advantage at Snetterton.
Wiltshire-based Tommy Bridewell leads the standings following the opening four rounds which has seen him take seven podiums and a single victory to emerge with an eight-point advantage over Yamaha’s Kyle Ryde. Bridewell is riding as well as he has done in recent years and is making a habit of racking up solid points at each round.
In third place just three points down on Ryde is Northern Ireland’s Glenn Irwin who has won four races for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team so far this season. Irwin has backed his victories up with four more podiums and would have been on top of the table had it not been for a crash at Knockhill when leading the second race of the weekend.
Both riders arrive at Snetterton with good records in the recent past, with Irwin’s victory in 2020 backed up by two podiums whereas Bridewell has an incredible nine podium finishes to his name, including being on the podium for the past four years, but is still in search of a first victory at the track.
Tommy Bridewell: “I’m looking forward to Snetterton as it’s a track that really suits my style, unlike the last round at Knockhill. That said, for me to come away with two podiums and an increased lead from one of our weaker tracks isn’t too shabby but the focus is now on this weekend. I have a great record of podiums around Snetterton so it’s about time I won a race round there, so that’s the aim this weekend. The team and the bike are working brilliantly for me, so there’s no reason why we can’t look to increase that lead at the head of the table.”
Glenn Irwin: “I’ve enjoyed a holiday with my family since Knockhill so I’m feeling refreshed and ready to continue the battle at Snetterton. It’s been a good journey with the team so far and we have a great set-up with a fantastic work ethic. Those efforts mean I’m excited and hopefully, we will have some upgrades to try this weekend also. I enjoy racing at Snetterton, it’s traditionally a strong track for Ducati and I’ve had some good results there too. Let’s continue the hard work and hopefully get some more wins as I’m fully focused on this championship.”
For further information on BeerMonster please visit https://beermonster.com and the new PBM website, www.pbmuk.net. For all details on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, please visit www.britishsuperbike.com.
Four-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion Josh Hayes was fastest during MotoAmerica Supersport Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at recently repaved WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Riding a Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 not equipped the newly legalized cylinder head modifications, the 48-year-old lapped the undulating 2.2-mile course in 1:28.752.
Anthony Mazziotto was second-best with a 1:29.770 on his North East Cycle Outlet Racing Yamaha, and current Championship point leader Xavi Fores was third-quickest with a 1:29.968 on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2.
Newcomer Filippo Rovelli was fastest in MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup Free Practice One (FP1), his first session ever riding at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. On board his Team Iso Yamaha YZF-R7, the 22-year-old Italian lapped the 2.2-mile course in 1:35.891 to lead the field of 32.
Hayden Schultz was best of the rest with a 1:36.811 on his Cycle Tech Yamaha YZF-R7, and former class Champion Chris Parrish, age 46, was third with a lap of 1:39.092 on his Ghetto Customs Yamaha.
The racing surface at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca was recently repaved and this morning it was extra tricky due to overnight rain and moisture in the air from low-hanging clouds.
Christian Iddon (21). Photo courtesy Oxford Products Racing Ducati.
Christian Iddon led Bennetts British Superbike Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Snetterton Circuit, in England. Riding his Oxford Products Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, Iddon lapped the 3.0-mile course in 1:49.027.
In British Talent Cup FP1, Americans Julian Correa and Eli Banish were third and 22nd, respectively.
Tetsuta Nagashima (33) testing the Team HRC Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP at Suzuka Circuit, in Japan. Photo courtesy HRC.
Team HRC conducts long run test in race-hot conditions on the final day of test at Suzuka
On July 6, Day 2 of joint tests for the 44th edition of the Endurance World Championship (EWC) “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race 44th Tournament (Suzuka 8 Hours) concluded a two-day session at the Suzuka Circuit.
On day one (July 5) Team HRC Tetsuta Nagashima, back from injury, set the fastest lap time out of the four sessions held over the day.
On day 2 the participating bikes were again divided into groups A and B. A 70-minute Session 5 for each group was held in the morning, followed by a similar 70-minute Session 6 in the afternoon.
Unlike the previous day, conditions were hot in the morning with strong sunshine and soaring temperatures. 33℃ highs were forecast, but at Suzuka Circuit, heat reflected from the track surface and generated from the engines added to the scorching environment. Track temperature reached 55°C in the morning, and rose to 60°C in the afternoon, creating test conditions similar to the race itself.
In Session 5, Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing (Kosuke Sakumoto / Ryo Mizuno / Kazuma Watanabe) was third-fastest with 2 min 7.958s, F.C.C. TSR Honda France (Josh Hook / Mike Di Meglio / Alan Techer) was fourth with 2 min 7.891s, and Team HRC (Takumi Takahashi / Iker Lecuona / Xavi Vierge / Tetsuta Nagashima) was fifth-fastest with 2 min 7.791s. SDG Honda Racing (Teppei Nagoe / Naomichi Uramoto / Yuki Kunii) was sixth with 2 min 7.940s. Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA (Md Zaqhwan Bin Zaidi / Andi Farid Izdihar / Nakarin Atiratphuvapat) was eleventh-fastest with 2 min 8.499s.
In Session 6, Team HRC’s Nagashima led the way with a 2 min 6.077s lap (fastest time in the two-day combined classification), followed by Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing with 2 min 6.638s, and F.C.C. TSR Honda France with 2 min 6.811s. SDG Honda Racing was fourth-fastest with 2 min 7.254s, Honda Dream RT SAKURAI Honda (Kazuki Ito / Daijiro Hiura / Kota Arakawa) was seventh with 2 min 7.895s, and Team ATJ (Satoru Iwata / Yuki Takahashi / Tomoyoshi Koyama) was tenth with 2 min 8.271s. Honda had six teams in the top 10 for the session.
Team HRC focused on long run tests, giving its riders a good feel for the bike. With ambient and track temperatures rising, the test was held in conditions similar to the actual race, allowing the team to accumulate valuable data. The team also performed race-condition pit work, preparing the crew for the race.
Honda aims for back-to-back wins in the Suzuka 8 Hours following last year, and if successful, Takahashi will tie Toru Ukawa’s five Suzuka 8 Hours victories.
Takumi Takahashi 33
I rode in the previous session, so the other three riders went on long runs. I didn’t have as much time on track as I thought I would, so I wanted more for today’s sessions as the conditions were closer to the race, but the other team riders did a great job, so I am positive for the race. I get many questions about winning my fifth Suzuka 8 Hours this year, but for me, I would rather concentrate on winning each and every race rather than focusing on my record. I will give it all I have so we can win again this year.
Iker Lecuona 33
I did a long run in the morning, but my feeling wasn’t as good compared to last year, and I could not reach the average time I wanted. Compared to yesterday, today we are close to where we were last year, so I am not that worried. I will make adjustments for the race weekend and make sure I reach my target times. I still remember the thrill of last year’s victory, and I will do my best to experience that joy once again.
Xavi Vierge 33
I had the impression that the bike was a bit difficult to ride because the seat position was different from the previous test. I could not reach my target time and could not keep my average at a consistent level. The large number of bikes on track and the heat did not help, but I think that the experience of this run was important for the race. I was not a rider in last year’s race but supported everyone in the pits, so I have a strong desire to race. This year, I want to celebrate winning with everyone, and I am proud to be on a team that can do that. I look forward to the race and I’ll be back.
Tetsuta Nagashima 33
For me, the main purpose of the test was to check my physical condition. I think today was fulfilling as I was able to do long runs and record the fastest time. I think I was able to do all the things a rider is expected to do. There is about a month between now and the race, so I will keep focused and continue to improve my physical condition. This Suzuka 8 Hours is the only race I have a chance to compete in this year, so I want to do whatever it takes to race. I did my best to get selected by the team. I hope to make solid contributions to the team like last year and win the race.
More, from a press release issued by FIM EWC:
HONDA BRINGS IN VIERGE AS PUSH FOR SUZUKA 8 HOURS EWC GLORY INTENSIFIES
For immediate release (7 July 2023): Honda is going all out to claim victory in Japan’s round of the FIM Endurance World Championship for a second year running next month (4-6 August).
It has listed 10 supported teams as it pushes to win the 44th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race with Xavi Vierge a notable new recruit for 2023.
Vierge has been called up to race for Team HRC in round three of the 2023 EWC season onboard a CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP fitted with Bridgestone tyres. He will join forces with Japan’s Takumi Takahashi and fellow Spaniard Iker Lecuona for the ever-spectacular and ever-challenging EWC contest.
Along with Tetsuta Nagashima, Takahashi and Lecuona scored Honda’s first Suzuka 8 Hours victory when they triumphed for Team HRC last August. But with Nagashima in the process of regaining full fitness following a foot injury, Vierge will bring experience from the FIM Superbike World Championship to the EWC.
“This will be the first time for me to ride in the Suzuka 8 Hours,” said 26-year-old Vierge. “I am very happy to be able to ride as a rider in the same stage where so many riders have created legends. Iker Lecuona is my team-mate in WSBK and Takumi Takahashi is a great rider who has won many 8 Hours races in the past. I believe that we can win this race by working hard three riders together.”
Like Vierge, Lecuona races in WSBK, while Takahashi is competing in the MFJ All-Japan Road Race Championship ST1000 division this season. A fifth Suzuka 8 Hours victory next month would put him joint top on the list of winners of the Suzuka 8 Hours.
F.C.C. TSR Honda France, which won the 2022 FIM Endurance World Championship, will continue its title defence in the Suzuka 8 Hours with riders Mike Di Meglio (France), Josh Hook (Australia) and Alan Techer (France). Meanwhile, Honda Viltaïs Racing, the winner of the 2022 EWC season-deciding Bol d’Or, will count on the skills of Florian Alt (Germany), Leandro Mercado (Argentina) and Steven Odendaal (South Africa).
“Suzuka is one of my favourites,” said Hook, 30. “Home of TSR and Honda it’s a track that I really like and our bike generally performs quite well. The team has been doing a good job this year so far and the mechanics have been amazing. I’m really looking forward to coming to Suzuka, seeing all the Japanese fans and racing there again.”
The 44th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race is due to start at 11h30 local time on Sunday 6 August.
About Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe
Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe represents WBD’s portfolio of sports brands, channels and platforms in Europe. It collectively reaches 130 million people every month, engaging fans and broad audiences in more than 200 markets and in over 20 languages across all platforms where consumers are spending time, free-to-air TV, pay-TV, streaming, online and social. Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe includes the much-loved consumer brands Eurosport, Global Cycling Network (GCN), Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) and Golf Digest, as well sports programming and content on discovery+ and Warner Bros. Discovery’s free-to-air TV networks. They connect audiences with the greatest sporting events in the world. This includes being the Home of the Olympics Games in Europe; tennis’ Grand Slams; cycling’s Grand Tours, more than 600 cycling broadcasts per year, the UCI Track Champions League, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup from 2023 with ESO Sports; the PGA TOUR year-round; The Ocean Race from 2023; the Snooker World Tour; the best electric racing series with ABB FIA Formula E World Championship; the FIM Speedway GP, Speedway of Nations and Speedway World Cup; and every major winter sports World Championship and World Cup event. Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe completes a full 360° offer with its events management and promotion division, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Events, which oversees 30+ events across five continents each year.
Kayla Yaakov (131) at speed on her The WagBar MP13 Racing Yamaha YZF-R7. Photo courtesy The WagBar MP13 Racing.
Follow MP13 Racing, Team Owner Melissa Paris, and young riders Aiden Sneed and Kayla Yaakov as they take on the 2023 MotoAmerica motorcycle racing season.
In Episode Five, MP13 Racing’s Kayla Yaakov revisits the site of her first MotoAmerica race win – Ridge Motorsports Park, near Olympia, Washington, but Aiden Sneed has to play a supporting role as Junior Cup is not on the program.
Current Supersport Championship point leader Xavi Fores posted the fastest lap time during a special MotoAmerica Supersport session Thursday afternoon at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca intended to help prepare the newly repaved track and teams ahead of this weekend’s race event.
Riding his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2, Fores circulated the historic 2.2-mile road course in 1:29.072, which is a little over two seconds slower than the fastest Supersport race lap time at Laguna Seca in 2022, Tyler Scott’s 1:26.985. Josh Herrin won both Supersport races last year at Laguna Seca on a Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2 and did a best lap time of 1:27.442.
Two-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne was quickest during a special Superbike session held Thursday afternoon at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to help prepare the newly repaved racing surface and the teams ahead of this weekend’s race event.
Riding his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1, Gagne lapped the 2.2-mile, 11-turn course in 1:24.846, which was slightly quicker than he went (1:24.920) during a similar last-minute test session Tuesday morning but still about 1.5 seconds short of his fastest race lap from 2022 (1:23.443).
Gagne used the R5 front compound and the R7 rear compound Dunlop Sportmax Slicks, which are the middle and softer choices, respectively, of the Superbike tire allotments for this weekend’s three Superbike races.
Tire wear continues to be accelerated on the abrasive new surface, but nothing unexpected, according to Dunlop Tire Technician Tony Romo.
The 50-minute Superbike session was cut short when Bobby Fong’s Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha YZF-R1 blew its engine and put fluid on the track.
Mission King Of The Baggers, Extended Supersport Race And More Highlight MotoAmerica At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Four Support Class Races To Accompany Three Medallia Superbike Races At WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
IRVINE, CA (July 6, 2023) – The fireworks expected from the four support classes to the three Medallia Superbike races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca should rival any from the Fourth Of July as Mission King Of The Baggers, an “extended” Supersport race with its mandatory pit stop, REV’IT! Twins Cup and Mission Super Hooligan National Championship will highlight a race weekend that will feature 10 races on the iconic racetrack located a few miles east of Monterey, California, July 7-9.
Mission King Of The Baggers – Back To The Birthplace
The inaugural Mission King Of The Baggers race was held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as an invitational event in October of 2020 and it was a rousing success. Now, three years later, the fourth round of a six-round (12 races) championship will kick off the second half of the season for the popular Baggers.
H-D Screamin’ Eagle’s Kyle Wyman, the 2021 Mission King Of The Baggers Champion, leads the championship point standings after a one-month hiatus and following the third round of the series in Wisconsin. Wyman and his four victories on his Harley-Davidson Road Glide gives him a 13-point lead over Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson’s James Rispoli, who in turn is just one point ahead of his teammate Hayden Gillim.
Defending Mission King Of The Baggers Champion Tyler O’Hara has yet to win a race this year, but has three runner-up finishes in 2023 as he attempts to defend his title. O’Hara is currently fourth and 35 points behind Wyman.
Three riders have won races in 2023 and Sac Mile/SDI Racing/Roland Sands/Indian’s Bobby Fong was the latest to join that list (Kyle Wyman and James Rispoli) with a victory in race two at Road America. Fong is 53 points behind Wyman and 18 points behind O’Hara.
Supersport – Extended Again
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Xavi Fores is a perfect seven-for-seven in the 2023 Supersport Championship, including his victory in the first-ever “Extended” Supersport race at Barber Motorsports Park back in May. Five of those seven races were won on racetracks that Fores had never seen before., but that won’t be the case at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
With the second “Extended” Supersport race scheduled for WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca this weekend, there’s no reason to expect anything less than victory from Fores and his team in the race that will feature a mandatory pit stop. After all, Fores has not only raced at Laguna before in the World Superbike Championship, but he also likes it. And that might be double trouble for those trying to thwart his perfect season.
Fores, who is hoping to be able to throw his leg over a second Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R if he clinches the title early, has a 76-point lead going into this weekend’s extended 38-lap race that will pay double points.
Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Stefano Mesa has been the best of the rest so far in 2023 with four runner-up finishes behind Fores. Mesa is 76 points behind the Spaniard and 12 clear of Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott with the youngster standing on the podium three times this season.
Nine points behind Scott is Squid Hunter Racing’s Josh Herrin, the veteran crashing out of the last race at Ridge Motorsports Park to mar his perfect record of point-scoring races in the first seven races. Hayes has four podiums on his scorecard.
Scott’s teammate Teagg Hobbs had his best weekend of the season at Ridge with two third-place finishes. He sits fifth in the title chase but is a whopping 117 points behind Fores.
REV’IT Twins Cup – Tight At The Top
Five riders – Blake Davis, Rocco Landers, Stefano Mesa, Gus Rodio and Dominic Doyle – have won REV’IT Twins Cup races in 2023 and that parity has led to the top five being separated by just 40 points after eight races.
Defending REV’IT! Twins Cup Champion Blake Davis is atop the championship point standings on his N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto-backed Yamaha YZF-R7, but he’s just 11 points clear of the fast-closing Rocco Landers and his Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660.
Landers has won four of the past five races in his return to the class he dominated in 2021. Landers is just two points ahead of his pseudo teammate Gus Rodio, who has one victory and four other podiums on his scorecard.
Cycle Tech’s Hayden Schultz and Trackday Winner/Blackmon Racing’s Jackson Blackmon round out the top five as the series heads to California.
Mission Super Hooligan National Championship – Still O’Hara
Despite being DQ’d from the most recent round of the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship round after crossing the finish line one-two at Ridge Motorsports Park, defending champion Tyler O’Hara and Jeremy McWilliams still occupy the top two spots in the championship as the series readies for round three in Monterey.
With his three wins to McWilliams’s two, O’Hara holds down a 19-point lead over his Indian Motorcycle/Progressive/Mission Foods teammate with McWilliams and his Indian FTR1200 just four two points ahead of Andy DiBrino Racing’s Andy DiBrino, who inherited the race-two victory at Ridge Motorsports Park when the two Indian FTR1200s of McWilliams and O’Hara were DQ’d with the technical infraction.
DiBrino and his KTM 890 Duke R, meanwhile, are only seven points ahead of Roland Sands Design/Indian Motorcycle’s Bobby Fong, who in turn is just one point ahead of fifth-placed Cory West and his Team Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Pan America.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Pre-Race Support Class Notes…
Josh Herrin was perfect last year at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with his two Supersport class victories on the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V2. The podium was identical in both races with Tyler Scott and Rocco Landers finishing second and third in both races. Herrin has moved up to the Medallia Superbike Championship for 2023.
Kyle Wyman won the Mission King Of The Baggers race at Laguna last year with the Screamin’ Eagle Harley rider besting his brother Travis and Vance & Hines Harley’s James Rispoli.
Last year’s REV’IT! Twins Cup race was won by Cory Ventura over eventual class champion Blake Davis and then-defending champion Kaleb De Keyrel. Ventura won’t be racing at WeatherTech Raceway this year as he recovers at home from a badly broken leg suffered at Barber Motorsports Park.
Garrett Gerloff, who currently races in the World Supersport Championship, is still the lap record holder at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in the Supersport class with his 1:25.406 dating back to 2017. With the racetrack being completely repaved for this year’s event, that long-standing record might finally be in danger of being broken.
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.
More, from a press release issued by Ducati:
Ducati’s Dynamic Duo Heads to the Happy Hunting Ground of Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca
Sunnyvale, Calif. — There are many famous racing venues in the United States but few hold the aura of Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Nestled in the Salinas hillside, the iconic 2.23 mile circuit that’s home to one of the most famous corners in racing—The Corkscrew—will once again hear the sound of America’s fastest road racers as MotoAmerica heads to its only Californian stop on its national tour.
If the first four rounds are anything to go by, round five of the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship will be a feast for Xavi Forés (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Ducati – Panigale V2). Laguna Seca is one of the few tracks on the 2023 calendar Forés has competed at, the Spaniard carding a pair of sixth-place finishes the last time WorldSBK took to the venue in 2018.
Undefeated in 2023 so far, Forés knows this weekend will throw up a unique challenge with the second of the year’s long-distance races, the first of which he dominated at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama back in May.
For Herrin, the Georgian native will look forward to his first race on the Panigale V4 R at a track he knows and loves. The current MotoAmerica Supersport Champion is still the Superbike lap record holder at 1:22.908, set in Superpole in 2018.
Third in the MotoAmerica Superbike series points, Herrin knows Laguna Seca represents one of his best opportunities to close the points gap to leader Jake Gagne and will be putting it all on the line in front of the many Ducatisti expected to show up and cheer the factory team on.
Xavi Fores (12). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
“This race is the one I have been waiting for!” Forés enthused. “I know the track well and I really like it. I have always had good races there in WSBK, so I’m really looking forward to start the weekend. The long distance race again this weekend will be good fun and important with double points. The plan is to keep the winning momentum even if it gets harder and harder every time. I’m the rider everyone wants to beat, but I will do my best to ensure that doesn’t happen!”
Josh Herrin (2). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – Ducati Panigale V4 R – Ducati #2):
“I’m really excited about this weekend,” Herrin said. “We gained a lot of confidence on the V4 R at The Ridge and although it was a bummer that we crashed on Saturday, we could still salvage some really good finishes in both races. I’m a lot more comfortable on the motorcycle now. Going to Laguna Seca, which is the track I hold the lap record at, I think we’ll continue to have some good success. I’m really looking forward to spending time with my team. It’s a home race for us, it’s the 4th of July weekend, so I think it’s going to be a good one.”
On track action for the fifth round of the MotoAmerica Superbike and Supersport Championship will begin at 9:15 am PST on Friday, July 7. Forés will be the first of the Warhorse crew to hit the track at 10:05 am in Supersport with Herrin’s first ride at 10:45 am.
More, from a press release issued by Team Iso:
Filippo Rovelli Joins Team Iso For WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Round
Filippo Rovelli (27) on his R7 Cup racebike in Europe. Photo courtesy Team Iso.
Monterey, CA – July 7, 2023 – Team Iso has brought in Italian rider Filippo Rovelli for this weekend’s MotoAmerica round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Rovelli joins incumbent rider Dominic Doyle on the team, and both riders will race Giaccmoto LLC-prepared Yamaha YZF-R7s in this weekend’s two REV’IT! Twins Cup races. The announcement was made by Nobi Iso, owner of Team Iso.
Rovelli, who is from Gallarate, Italy, has previously raced a Yamaha YZF-R3 in the FIM World Supersport300 Championship, and last year, he competed in Italy’s Yamaha R7 Cup and earned an opportunity to race in the Yamaha R7 SuperFinale this past September at Circuit de Barcelona in Catalunya. Rovelli qualified on the front row for that weekend’s two races.
In race one, Rovelli scored a dramatic last-to-first victory. He was moved to the back of the grid after a penalty. Starting from 27th, he was inside the top six after the opening lap. By lap two, he had already made his way into the lead, but the pack behind continued to hound the Italian. As the top four pulled clear, Rovelli timed his run perfectly and moved out front on the final lap to take the win.
“The main purpose of this program with Team Iso is to provide activation for the awesome Yamaha YZF-R7,” commented Giaccmoto principal Chuck Giacchetto. “When we were asked to host the wildcard entry with Filippo, we proudly accepted the offer, especially since he is a part of the Yamaha global family. Huge thanks to Nobi Iso for hosting Filippo and also congratulations to him and all of Team Iso for the great work they’re already doing with Dominic Doyle.”
Team Iso’s riders Doyle and Rovelli will practice on Friday morning at 9:15 PT, followed by provisional qualifying at 3:55 PT in the afternoon. Final qualifying is Saturday morning at 9:15 PT and race one is Saturday afternoon at 2:10 PT. Race two starts on Sunday at 2:10 PT.
Along with Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., and Giaccmoto LLC, Team Iso is supported by Westby Racing, SE Composites, Attack Performance, Superbike Unlimited, Bitubo Italy, Vesrah, Galespeed, aRacer USA, Core Moto USA, RK Excel America, Suter Racing Products, Spears Enterprises, Yoshimura R&D of America, 5zero4 Designs, and Arai Helmet, Inc.
One month after adjusting the balancing regulations in its Next-Generation Supersport class, MotoAmerica has made another adjustment to the technical rules governing the class just ahead of this weekend’s event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Prior to the round at Road America in June, MotoAmerica FIM/AMA North America adjusted the rules for the Ducati Panigale V2 and the Suzuki GSX-R750, detuning both slightly with new required mapping in their spec Engine Control Units (ECUs).
Now on the Thursday prior to a race event, MotoAmerica FIM/AMA North America has decided to allow the Yamaha YZF-R6 to have ported and polished cylinder heads, including the combustion chamber, and the announcement is effective immediately.
Below is the Technical Bulletin issued by MotoAmerica FIM/AMA North America today, July 6.
Round five of the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads east to Norfolk this coming weekend when championship leaders BeerMonster Ducati hope to increase their advantage at Snetterton.
Wiltshire-based Tommy Bridewell leads the standings following the opening four rounds which has seen him take seven podiums and a single victory to emerge with an eight-point advantage over Yamaha’s Kyle Ryde. Bridewell is riding as well as he has done in recent years and is making a habit of racking up solid points at each round.
In third place just three points down on Ryde is Northern Ireland’s Glenn Irwin who has won four races for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team so far this season. Irwin has backed his victories up with four more podiums and would have been on top of the table had it not been for a crash at Knockhill when leading the second race of the weekend.
Both riders arrive at Snetterton with good records in the recent past, with Irwin’s victory in 2020 backed up by two podiums whereas Bridewell has an incredible nine podium finishes to his name, including being on the podium for the past four years, but is still in search of a first victory at the track.
Tommy Bridewell: “I’m looking forward to Snetterton as it’s a track that really suits my style, unlike the last round at Knockhill. That said, for me to come away with two podiums and an increased lead from one of our weaker tracks isn’t too shabby but the focus is now on this weekend. I have a great record of podiums around Snetterton so it’s about time I won a race round there, so that’s the aim this weekend. The team and the bike are working brilliantly for me, so there’s no reason why we can’t look to increase that lead at the head of the table.”
Glenn Irwin: “I’ve enjoyed a holiday with my family since Knockhill so I’m feeling refreshed and ready to continue the battle at Snetterton. It’s been a good journey with the team so far and we have a great set-up with a fantastic work ethic. Those efforts mean I’m excited and hopefully, we will have some upgrades to try this weekend also. I enjoy racing at Snetterton, it’s traditionally a strong track for Ducati and I’ve had some good results there too. Let’s continue the hard work and hopefully get some more wins as I’m fully focused on this championship.”
For further information on BeerMonster please visit https://beermonster.com and the new PBM website, www.pbmuk.net. For all details on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, please visit www.britishsuperbike.com.
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode 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
Improves website's visuals
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
Helps to focus on specific content
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
Reduces distractions and improve focus
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
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
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.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
November 12, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
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
