TPR Team Pedercini and Vinales Racing join forces for exciting new WorldSBK project
TPR Team Pedercini is excited to announce that they have reached an agreement with the Viñales Racing Team, the two joining forces for the 2023 season.
The collaboration, lasting a minimum of two years, will see the new look TPR by Viñales Racing squad compete solely in FIM Superbike World Championship. The team will race with Kawasaki machinery and a rider announcement will be made in due course.
Lucio Pedercini: “I am delighted to have reached an agreement with Angel and the Viñales Racing Team that will see TPR remain in the FIM Superbike World Championship moving forward with a structure that will allow us to make a big step in terms of performance and see us return to being the competitive team that we know we can be. 2022 was a difficult year in many ways and after discussing with Angel, who is respected and brings a lot of experience, like me from many years in the World Championship, it was an easy decision to make for us to join forces. The project is for a minimum of two years and our target is to become the top independent team within the World Superbike paddock. I still have a lot of passion and although we did the maximum, we could this year I am a competitor and I want to be at the front.”
Angel Viñales: “I didn’t have to think long when I contacted Lucio to join forces in this SBK project. I have always felt extremely comfortable helping riders in the large displacement categories, in the end it is with the bikes that I have the most experience. I’ve spent more than 10 years in MotoGP and with the experience gained over these past two years with my own team, I think we can do a great job together and meet all the goals we can set for ourselves. I am looking forward to getting going to start giving it the change that we both believe the team needs and become a benchmark in the championship.”
MIE Racing Honda Team completes a two-day test at Jerez with Eric Granado
The MIE Racing Honda team was at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 December for a test session with its new rider Eric Granado. Team-mate Hafizh Syahrin did not take part in this week’s sessions as the main aim was to offer rookie Granado a first taste of the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE with which he will compete during the 2023 Superbike World Championship season.
The test was unfortunately conditioned by persistent rain and so the track remained wet throughout the two days, the team having zero opportunity to test any dry set-ups. Granado nevertheless worked hard during his first outing with his new squad and focused on getting to grips with what is a new bike for him, complete with new electronics. Eric was also able to get to know his new team-mates and so the test was also useful in this respect, despite the squad having hoped for some dry track time.
Eric Granado. Photo courtesy MIE Honda Racing Team
Eric Granado
“The aim of this test was mainly to get to know the team and start to understand the bike and see how the electronics work, which is all very different from what I am used to. This all went very well and that’s a positive of course. Unfortunately, though, it more or less rained from start to finish and so we couldn’t test in the dry. That was unlucky, because I would have liked to ride in the dry but at least I completed a few laps over the two days we had available. I was also able to get to know the team and some of the riders I will be racing with next year and I learned a few things in the process. I would like to thank Midori (Moriwaki) and Honda once again, and everybody who has made it possible for me to compete in WorldSBK. Now I will go back to Brazil for a few weeks to enjoy some warm weather and spend some time with the family. I spend most of the year in Europe so I will take the opportunity to recharge my batteries and come back reenergized and ready to start the season.”
Bologna and Piazza Maggiore turn red to celebrate Ducati’s perfect season: Bagnaia and Bautista “Campioni in Piazza²”
Many fans in Piazza Maggiore in Bologna for “Campioni in Piazza²”, the event with which Ducati celebrated its unforgettable racing season and the conquest of all the World Titles in both MotoGP and WorldSBK
The city of Bologna, the Motor Valley and all of Italy celebrate the successes of Ducati, a company strongly rooted in the territory and at the same time an expression of “Made in Italy” that wins in the world
Two limited edition Panigale V4 were presented, paying homage to the triumphs of Francesco Bagnaia and Álvaro Bautista with livery inspired by the bikes of the World Champions and dedicated components
Bologna, 16 December 2022 – The streets of Bologna and its central square, Piazza Maggiore, were coloured in Ducati Red for the celebrations of an unforgettable 2022 racing year, which saw the Ducati Corse heroes conquer the Riders’, Constructors’ and Teams titles in the same season in both major motorcycle world championships: MotoGP and WorldSBK. An unprecedented triumph for the Borgo Panigale motorcycle manufacturer, which in this way wished to share this incredible joy with the Ducatisti and with the territory in which the company has always had its roots.
Francesco Bagnaia and Álvaro Bautista were obviously the stars of the evening. From the stage in Piazza Maggiore, the World Champions received a tidal wave of affection from Ducatisti enthusiasts from all over the world, who could not fail to miss this historic moment of celebration, despite the rain and the cold temperatures. The city of Bologna, the Emilia-Romagna region and all of Italy celebrated together with Ducati the successes of a company that draws strength every day from its history, well rooted in Borgo Panigale, and at the same time is honoured to be ambassador of “Made in Italy” all over the world.
2022 MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia is introduced to the fans. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The celebratory event got underway at around 8.00 pm CET on Thursday 15 December with a DJ-set by Fresco, a DJ and record producer known for his collaborations with Italian singer Jovanotti, interspersed with the irresistible comedy of Giuseppe Giacobazzi from Romagna, entertaining fans of all ages who had flocked to Piazza Maggiore.
The key part of the evening started to the sound of Federico Poggipollini’s guitar and the off-screen voice of the most famous Italian voice actor Luca Ward, who during the event became the protagonist of one of the most exciting passages, reciting a text in which the fundamental stages of the history of the Bologna-based manufacturer in the world of racing competition were retraced.
The presentation of “Campioni in Piazza²” was entrusted to the journalist and great motorsport enthusiast Barbara Pedrotti, who began a round of interviews by inviting the Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali and the representatives of the territorial institutions, the President of the Emilia-Romagna Region Stefano Bonaccini and the Mayor of Bologna Matteo Lepore, onto the stage. Both figures underlined the importance of an event like this for the city and the added value offered by the collaboration with Ducati with a view to synergy with the entire Emilia-Romagna Motor Valley.
2022 Superbike World Champion Alvaro Bautista is introduced to the fans. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The Ducati event continued with a speech by Ducati Corse General Manager Luigi Dall’Igna, who retraced the decisive moments of the season. From the stage, the audience was also greeted by all the other faces who best represent the successes of the Bologna-based manufacturer and who enthusiasts have now learned to recognize in the footage from the pits of circuits: Ducati Corse Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti, Ducati Corse Technical Director Davide Barana, MotoGP Team Manager Davide Tardozzi, Team Principal Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Stefano Cecconi and WorldSBK Team Manager Serafino Foti.
The climax of the evening came when the voice of MotoGP on Italian TV Guido Meda called the two most awaited names on stage: the 2022 WorldSBK World Champion Álvaro Bautista and the 2022 MotoGP World Champion Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia , who were welcomed with great enthusiasm by the public in Piazza Maggiore. The celebration of the successes of Bagnaia and Bautista was shared with the other Ducati riders present at the event: Axel Bassani, Enea Bastianini, Marco Bezzecchi, Chaz Davies, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Luca Marini, Michele Pirro and Michael Ruben Rinaldi.
On stage, to celebrate the shared passion for sport and to pay their respects to the Ducati Champions, were also representatives of local and national sporting realities Lorenzo De Silvestri (Bologna Calcio football player), Pietro Aradori (Fortitudo Pallacanestro Bologna player) and Sabrina Cinili (captain of the Virtus Bologna women’s basketball team), together with the coach of the Italian national cycling team Daniele Bennati.
During the “Campioni in Piazza²” event, a big surprise was also unveiled for all the most passionate Ducatisti. To pay homage to the world titles of Bagnaia and Bautista, Ducati has in fact created two special series of Panigale V4 in limited and numbered editions, with liveries inspired respectively by the Desmosedici GP22 and the Panigale V4 R of the World Champions and with dedicated components.
These collector’s bikes are characterized by having the liveries of Pecco Bagnaia #63 and Álvaro Bautista #19 and each bike is made unique by having the original signature of the rider on the fuel tank, protected with a layer of transparent varnish. In their production numbers, the two bikes celebrate the year Ducati was founded, 1926. Each series will in fact consist of only 260 units.
Panigale V4 Bagnaia 2022 World Champion Replica and Panigale V4 Bautista 2022 World Champion Replica were displayed to the public in Piazza del Nettuno, flanked by the Desmosedici GP22 and the Panigale V4 R World Champion bikes and a Lamborghini Huracán STO, specially created for the occasion in Ducati Corse colours.
During the press conference that preceded the event, the documentary “Nuvola Rossa: Bagnaia & Ducati’s Perfect Comb1nation” was also presented, a short film that illustrates the most significant and exciting moments of the last three races of the MotoGP championship. The 20-minute documentary will be published on Ducati’s official YouTube channel and on Ducati.com on 16 December at 12.00 PM CET.
The press conference was also an opportunity to officially announce the dates for the presentation of the two official Ducati teams in MotoGP and WorldSBK for the 2023 season. “Campioni in Pista” (Champions on the Ski Track) will be held from 22nd to 24th January 2023 in the exceptional location of Madonna di Campiglio; during this event, organized in collaboration with Trentino Marketing and Madonna di Campiglio Tourist Board, Ducati will present the Ducati Lenovo Team and the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team together for the first time.
Yoshimura Suzuki Endurance Racing Team Motul will contest the FIM Endurance World Championship in 2023.
The Franco-Japanese squad is preparing to enter a Suzuki GSX-R1000R in the four-event ultimate test of rider and machine as it bids to reclaim the EWC title it won in 2021.
Yoshimura SERT Motul will announce its riders in due course but has confirmed it will run under the #12 and carry its familiar red and blue colour scheme.
Yohei Kato, Team Director, said: “I am very delighted to say that Yoshimura SERT Motul will participate in the FIM Endurance World Championship in 2023. The statement from Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) ending its factory participation in MotoGP and EWC at the end of 2022 was of course very difficult to digest. However, we accepted the situation and set our mind in putting [in place] new plans for the EWC 2023 season.
“Thanks to SMC’s understanding and decision for the new team’s support, we will continue to represent Suzuki at the highest level. We are fully committed to reclaim the EWC title in 2023.
“Taking this opportunity, we thank all of our sponsors including Motul and Denso, partner companies and fans for supporting us for many years. Voices not only from them but also from our team members themselves longing for the EWC participation made it possible.
“In the 2022 season, we were leading the championship until the last race of the season, but unexpected problems prevented us from defending our title. We will continue to move forward with the excellent Yoshimura SERT Motul riders and team members. Our goal is to win all races in 2023, and particularly look forward to the challenge of winning the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans for the third consecutive year.”
Damien Saulnier, Team Manager, said: “It is with great pleasure that, together with Yohei, we can confirm that the Yoshimura SERT Motul partnership is renewed for 2023. We will be running our Suzuki GSX-R1000R in red and blue livery to symbolise our association with both Yoshimura and Suzuki for the third year. We’ll also run with the traditional number 12 plate when we return to the track next April.
“Despite the withdrawal of Suzuki from the official competition, we are still getting significant support from them as we continue to represent the brand in this important world championship. We will do our best to reward such confidence and return the Japanese manufacturer to the top step of the EWC podium in 2023.
“We are also very grateful to our longstanding partners, as well as new ones, for standing by us and backing us for the new season. With their help, we can concentrate on the job in hand, power on and be ready to reconquer the title. We look forward to welcoming our many fans and supporters to the opening round of EWC at Le Mans next April.”
The 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans opens the new EWC season from 13-16 April.
Yamaha honors champions at the 2022 Wall of Champions induction ceremony
MARIETTA, Ga. – December 16, 2022 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, honored its 2022 Yamaha bLU cRU champions last week at the annual Yamaha Wall of Champions induction ceremony. Held this year at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, nine racers were recognized for their crowning achievements in their respective professional championships.
Eli Tomac was recognized for his landmark season aboard the YZ450F, winning premier class titles in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross Championships, as well as being a Motocross of Nations Champion with Team USA. Also honored for his achievements in supercross was 2022 250SX West Champion Christian Craig, who carried on the YZ250F’s title-winning tradition.
2022 AMA Supercross and 2022 AMA Pro Motocross Champion Eli Tomac (left) with Yamaha Racing Department Manager Jim Roach (right). Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
In road racing, Jake Gagne was inducted for his second-consecutive MotoAmerica Superbike Championship aboard the YZF-R1. The young Blake Davis earned his first Wall of Champions plaque for winning the MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship with the YZF-R7.
Yamaha racers also reaped success off-road on both two- and four-wheels. Rachael Archer earned her first title in the Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC), winning the 2022 GNCC WXC Motorcycle Championship aboard the YZ250FX. Taking top honors on the YFZ450R was Brycen Neal in the GNCC XC1 Pro ATV Championship and Joel Hetrick in the AMA Pro ATV Motocross Championship. Yamaha racers also swept the Championship Off-Road Tour Side-by-Side (SxS) classes in the pure sport YXZ1000R, with Brock Heger winning the Pro Stock SxS title and Hamish Kelsey winning the Pro Turbo SxS title.
2022 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion Blake Davis (left) with Yamaha Racing Department Manager Jim Roach (right). Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
“It was another exciting year for the Yamaha bLU cRU. Securing multiple championships and race wins in 2022, we continue to add to Yamaha’s rich legacy in racing at the highest level,” said Steve Nessl, YMUS Motorsports Marketing Manager. “We are thrilled to honor these racers at this year’s induction ceremony. The Yamaha Wall of Champions not only celebrates the success of these talented riders and drivers but also showcases our commitment to racing and producing world-class products. From all of us at Yamaha, congratulations to the 2022 Wall of Champions inductees.”
The inductees received copies of their honorary plaques that will be added to the Wall of Champions at Yamaha Motorsports headquarters in Marietta, Georgia. Established to honor Yamaha bLU cRU champions with a lasting memory of their accomplishments, the first induction ceremony for the Wall of Champions was held on November 16, 2012. Since then, over 100 racers have been inducted for their achievements.
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana).
Estrella Galicia 0,0 ambassadors in MotoGP and Formula 1 racing talk about their aspirations for next season in a mutual interview at MEGA, the Galician brewery’s museum.
No interviewer can understand better his interviewee than an elite car racing driver talking to a rider at the same level in motorcycle racing. Despite both kinds of machinery may look different, the pulse of competition at the highest level, the insatiable need to chase success day and night, the satisfaction of beating the best riders in the world and, above all, the amazing feeling of control at speeds over 300 km/h, make both racing activities do actually have a lot in common.
Join Estrella Galicia 0,0 riders Marc Marquez and Carlos Sainz in an interesting conversation in the relaxed atmosphere of MEGA, the museum of Estrella Galicia 0,0 as personal sponsor of the two most prominent Spanish riders on the MotoGP and Formula 1 grids.
BMW M TEAM WRT MAKES FIRST DRIVER LINE-UPS ANNOUNCEMENTS
16 December, 2022
Team WRT, or more exactly, the entire WRT family is reunited tonight in Stavelot, near the Spa-Francorchamps track, for the yearly Christmas celebration, which joyfully gathers the entire WRT staff, most of its drivers, sponsors, partners, and friends for the end-of-season celebration, under the motto ‘We aRe a Team’. It will be also an opportunity to see and touch the BMW M4 GT3 that will be the new racer of the squad next year and to unveil another bit of the 2023 GT3 racing programme.
Fanatec GTWCE powered by AWS
Today, BMW M Team WRT announced the line-ups of two of its BMW M4 GT3 that will contest the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS in 2023.
In car #32, Team WRT’s home boys’ Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts, recently announced as BMW M Motorsport works drivers, will defend the Sprint Cup crown conquered for three years in a row. In the Endurance Cup, they will be joined by South African Sheldon van der Linde, a long-time BMW driver. While taking the helm from his brother Kelvin, Sheldon is not new to Team WRT, for which he raced in the then Blancpain GT Series in 2018.
In car #46, whose livery is sported by the BMW M4 GT3 on display at tonight’s event, after an excellent first season at the highest level, Valentino Rossi will continue his GT3 career and will be associated with Maxime Martin. A well-established star in GT racing, with wins at the 24 Hours of Spa and the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Belgian will be making his debut with Team WRT and a come-back to BMW M Motorsport. In the Endurance Cup, the duo will be joined by another great name, Brazilian Augusto Farfus Jr.
Dubai 24 Hours
Team WRT will race for the first time with the BMW M4 GT3 on 13-15 January at the Dubai 24 Hours, a race the Belgian squad has won twice, in 2016 and this year, where it signed a one-two. Car #7 will be entrusted to Mohammed Al Saud and Dries Vanthoor, already part of the winning crew in 2022, and Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer. The other two drivers will be announced in due course.
In car #46, Valentino Rossi will be accompanied by Maxime Martin, Sean Gelael, who races for Team WRT in LMP2, and recruit Tim Whale from Britain, who joins from the GT4 scene. A fifth driver will be named in due course.
Bathurst 12 Hours
The first outing of the BMW M4 GT3 of the Belgian squad under the BMW M Team WRT banner is scheduled on 4-5 February at the Bathurst 12 Hours, which will serve as the first round of the 2023 Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli.
In Australia, where Team WRT won in 2018, two cars will be entered, #32 for Dries Vanthoor-Charles Weerts-Sheldon van der Linde and #46 for Valentino Rossi-Maxime Martin-Augusto Farfus Jr.
Team WRT Principal Vincent Vosse commented: “It’s a very busy and exciting period for us, as we advance in the new partnership with BMW and prepare for the 2023 season. The end-of-the-year break will be very short, but today is the time for our yearly party, a tradition we cherish and allows the entire WRT family to get together around a good dinner. It’s a perfect time to show our people the BMW M4 GT3 in full race gear and announce some more elements of our 2023 race programmes. We are extremely happy to retain and welcome heavy names such as the ones you have read above. Our first race in Dubai is basically around the corner, shortly followed by our debut as BMW M Team WRT at Bathurst. We are terribly excited at what is ahead of us and can’t wait to be hitting the track!”
The Dunlop Sportmax Q5 is designed to increase the depth of the Sportmax family lineup to accommodate track-day-level riding like no other Dunlop DOT street tire has before, with even greater overall performance and grip than the Q4.
ADDITIONAL TIRE FEATURES
Made in Dunlop’s Buffalo, New York, plant on the same proprietary equipment as Dunlop racing products.
Sharply defined new tread pattern with lower groove density puts more rubber on the ground at all lean angles.
New taller profile with improved corner entry and high-speed stability at full lean.
Both front and rear tires utilize Dunlop’s proprietary Racing Type Fine Carbon Technology in the tread compound.
Performs better in the wet, warms up quicker, does not require tire warmers, and is engineered to run on the track at close to street pressures.
Dunlop has also expanded the size range of the Q5 to include five additional sizes for increased bike fitments: 110/70ZR17, 140/70ZR17, 150/60ZR17, 160/60ZR17, and 200/60ZR17.
The Sportmax Q5 is DOT-approved for street-legal use.
Having enhanced constructions, profiles, compounds, and tread patterns, the Dunlop Q5S provides nimbler handling and improved dry and wet grip to make it even more user friendly all while maintaining class-leading durability.
ADDITIONAL TIRE FEATURES
The front tire profile and construction were changed to allow for a 7mm shorter tire. This shorter profile created a lighter steering feel and quicker turn-in rate to allow for a nimble handling tire.
Intuitive Response Profile™ (IRP) technology allows for a taller tire profile along with sides that taper in more aggressively for remarkable turn-in response and feel.
MT Multi-Tread™ technology in the Q5S rear tire uses a silica-infused, long-wearing compound in the center of the tread for longer tread life, and special lateral grip compounds on the left and right shoulders for outstanding grip.
Improved compound to enhance both the dry and wet grip by adjusting the polymer, changing to a softer shoulder compound, increased the amount of carbon black content by utilizing Carbon R technology and increased oil content.
Optimized tread pattern design to aid in quicker warm-up times and improved wear characteristics.
The Sportmax Q5S is DOT-approved for street-legal use.
We highly recommend WINNERS SINNERS GRINNERS, the third collection of Roadracing World MotoGP Editor Mat Oxley’s stories about motorcycle racing, following The Fast Stuff (2007) and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Racing (2017). The hardback book measures 240mm x 170mm (about 9.4 inches by 6.7 inches) and is full of Mat’s best magazine features, interviews, and blogs from the last half-dozen years.
There are 80 stories on 214 pages, plus 16 glossy color photo pages. It’s all there, from MotoGP to the Isle of Man TT, World Superbike and beyond, talking to riders and engineers about anything and everything to do with the greatest sport on this planet. And like always, Mat tries to dig deep into these people, to get to the heart and the soul of what they do, how they do it, and why.
WINNERS SINNERS GRINNERS contains 80 stories involving the biggest names in motorcycle road racing. Photo courtesy Mat Oxley.
The list of riders whose hallowed words fill the book’s pages includes Ana Carrasco, Cal Crutchlow, Mick Doohan, Aleix Espargaró, Wayne Gardner, Peter Hickman, John McGuinness, Marc Márquez, Joan Mir, Franco Morbidelli, Miguel Oliveira, Danilo Petrucci, Alberto Puig, Fabio Quartararo, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, Jonathan Rea, ‘King’ Kenny Roberts, Kevin Schwantz, Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and more.
Then there are the engineers, including Fujio Yoshimura, Ducati’s Gigi Dall’Igna, plus Soichiro Irimajiri, who created Honda’s legendary six-cylinder 250cc GP racebike and CBX1000 road bike.
WINNERS SINNERS GRINNERS also features 16 glossy color pages of photos. Photo courtesy Mat Oxley.
Delivered to the U.S. via airmail, the book sells for £51 (British Pounds) (About $63 U.S.) or via economy delivery £39 (about $48 U.S.). Airmail delivery takes about 2-3 weeks and economy delivery takes about 6-7 weeks. Order from https://matoxley.bigcartel.com/.
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Rider Lineup of Josh Herrin and Xavi Forés to Compete in 2023 MotoAmerica Championship
Herrin, the reigning MotoAmerica Supersport champion, reunites with the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York team to campaign the 2023 Ducati Panigale V4 R in the top class of America’s premier road racing series
Forés will make his American racing debut, bringing world championship pedigree to the MotoAmerica paddock
Sunnyvale, Calif., December 15, 2022 — Ducati North America is pleased to announce that Josh Herrin and Xavi Forés will compete in the 2023 MotoAmerica Championship for the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York team. Herrin, the reigning MotoAmerica Supersport champion, will contest the 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship aboard the Panigale V4 R superbike, and Forés will make his American racing debut, riding the Panigale V2 in MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
Last season, Herrin dominated the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship aboard the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Panigale V2, earning 9 wins and 16 total podiums on the way to giving Ducati its first MotoAmerica Supersport title. Ducati Corse Sporting Director Paulo Ciabatti says that promoting from within the family and rewarding Herrin with a ride on the Panigale V4 R superbike is logical given his success and experience with Dunlop’s MotoAmerica spec tires.
Herrin brings a wealth of experience to the championship and his familiarity with the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York team will no doubt prove an asset as he seeks to capture the most coveted prize in American road racing. The 32-year-old Georgia native is the 2013 MotoAmerica Superbike champion, the 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock champion, and the winner of the 2010 Daytona 200. Herrin and the Panigale V4 R, a motorcycle that earned 16 podiums from 20 starts in 2022, could prove a formidable pairing.
Xavi Fores, circa 2021. Photo courtesy FHO Racing BMW.
Repeating Herrin’s success on the Panigale V2 is no mean feat, but there’s no doubt that Xavi Forés has the experience required to meet the challenge. A busy 2022 saw the 37-year-old Spaniard compete in several championships, including the FIM Enel MotoE World Championship for Pramac Racing. He also competed in the Endurance World Championship (EWC) for Team ERC Endurance Ducati, and in the final three rounds of the WorldSBK Championship with the Barni Spark Racing Team aboard a Panigale V4 R superbike. He previously raced with Barni Racing Team Ducati in WorldSBK from 2016–2018, achieving six podiums. Over his career, Forés has raced a wide variety of machinery in multiple classes, which should be an advantage as he gets acquainted with Dunlop rubber and the unique challenges of American road racing circuits.
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York – Ducati #2)
“I’m excited to return to the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship and be reunited with the team with whom I enjoyed so much success last year. The MotoAmerica Superbike class is really competitive, but I’m confident that my team can deliver a motorcycle capable of winning. I’m really looking forward to swinging a leg over the factory-prepped Panigale V4 R superbike and wearing Ducati red for another year.”
Xavi Forés (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York)
“Competing in MotoAmerica, especially as part of a strong team like Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York, has been a goal of mine for some time. At this point in my racing career, I’d like to score wins and podiums in the most competitive domestic championships. I’m also looking forward to continuing my long relationship with Ducati, a union that has given me many happy memories over the years. It will be a big challenge: everything—the tracks and the tires, especially—will be unfamiliar, but I think I’m equal to the task. The Panigale V2 won the title last year with Josh Herrin, so I’m excited to be in the same box with him and see if we can replicate some of his success.”
Bobby Shek (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Team Principal)
“Once again, Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York is proud to partner with Ducati Corse and Ducati North America to contest the 2023 MotoAmerica Mediallia Superbike and Supersport championships. We’re excited to have Josh Herrin back for another year and to welcome Xavi Forés to the team. After Josh’s incredible success in Supersport in 2022, we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do on the new Panigale V4 R superbike. We’re sure he’ll put on another show for us all this year! We’re also excited to welcome Xavi to the team. Xavi has been a fixture in world championship racing for many years and he’s ridden for some of the top teams. His desire to race here shows that the quality of competition in MotoAmerica hasn’t gone unnoticed. That also means we’ll have our work cut out, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Jason Chinnock (CEO, Ducati North America)
“We welcome the world-class rider Xavi Florés to the HSBK Racing Ducati New York team,“ said Chinnock. “Xavi’s experience will help him quickly adapt to the U.S. tracks and tires and we are confident that he will continue the momentum that Josh championed last season. Josh earned his seat for this year’s Superbike program after debuting the dominance of the Panigale V2 in MotoAmerica’s Supersport Championship. We are elated to have him aboard the 2023 Panigale V4 R challenging the most competitive field in U.S. national road racing and putting on a show for our Ducatisti and road racing fans alike,” said Chinnock. “We thank Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York and our colleagues at Ducati Corse as we anticipate another thrilling season.
2023 MotoAmerica Calendar
March 9-11 Daytona Beach International Speedway Daytona Beach, Fla.
April 21-23 Road Atlanta Braselton, GA
May 19-21 Barber Motorsports Park Birmingham, Ala.
June 2-4 Road America Elkhart Lake, Wis.
June 23-25 Ridge Motorsports Park Shelton, Wash.
July 7-9 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, Calif.
July 28-30 Brainerd International Raceway Brainerd, Minn.
August 18-20 Pittsburgh Intern ational Race Complex Wampum, Pa.
Sept. 8-10 Circuit of The Americas Austin, Texas
Sept. 22-24 New Jersey Motorsports Park Millville, N.J.
About Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York
Founded in 2011, HSBK Racing partnered with Pennsylvanian dealership North American Warhorse/Ducati New York in 2020 to bring Ducati back to the forefront of professional Superbike competition in North America.N
About MotoAmerica
For 2023, MotoAmerica enters its ninth season as North America’s premier road racing championship.
MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership between three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer, Wayne Rainey; former Vice President of Motorsports Operations at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA), and former Managing Director of Team Roberts in MotoGP, Chuck Aksland; Executive Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum, Terry Karges; and energy sector investor and businessman, Richard Varner.
TPR Team Pedercini's Lucio Pedercini (left) and Vinales Racing's Angel Vinales (right). Photo courtesy TPR by Vinales Racing.
TPR Team Pedercini and Vinales Racing join forces for exciting new WorldSBK project
TPR Team Pedercini is excited to announce that they have reached an agreement with the Viñales Racing Team, the two joining forces for the 2023 season.
The collaboration, lasting a minimum of two years, will see the new look TPR by Viñales Racing squad compete solely in FIM Superbike World Championship. The team will race with Kawasaki machinery and a rider announcement will be made in due course.
Lucio Pedercini: “I am delighted to have reached an agreement with Angel and the Viñales Racing Team that will see TPR remain in the FIM Superbike World Championship moving forward with a structure that will allow us to make a big step in terms of performance and see us return to being the competitive team that we know we can be. 2022 was a difficult year in many ways and after discussing with Angel, who is respected and brings a lot of experience, like me from many years in the World Championship, it was an easy decision to make for us to join forces. The project is for a minimum of two years and our target is to become the top independent team within the World Superbike paddock. I still have a lot of passion and although we did the maximum, we could this year I am a competitor and I want to be at the front.”
Angel Viñales: “I didn’t have to think long when I contacted Lucio to join forces in this SBK project. I have always felt extremely comfortable helping riders in the large displacement categories, in the end it is with the bikes that I have the most experience. I’ve spent more than 10 years in MotoGP and with the experience gained over these past two years with my own team, I think we can do a great job together and meet all the goals we can set for ourselves. I am looking forward to getting going to start giving it the change that we both believe the team needs and become a benchmark in the championship.”
Eric Granado. Photo courtesy MIE Honda Racing Team.
MIE Racing Honda Team completes a two-day test at Jerez with Eric Granado
The MIE Racing Honda team was at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 December for a test session with its new rider Eric Granado. Team-mate Hafizh Syahrin did not take part in this week’s sessions as the main aim was to offer rookie Granado a first taste of the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE with which he will compete during the 2023 Superbike World Championship season.
The test was unfortunately conditioned by persistent rain and so the track remained wet throughout the two days, the team having zero opportunity to test any dry set-ups. Granado nevertheless worked hard during his first outing with his new squad and focused on getting to grips with what is a new bike for him, complete with new electronics. Eric was also able to get to know his new team-mates and so the test was also useful in this respect, despite the squad having hoped for some dry track time.
Eric Granado. Photo courtesy MIE Honda Racing Team
Eric Granado
“The aim of this test was mainly to get to know the team and start to understand the bike and see how the electronics work, which is all very different from what I am used to. This all went very well and that’s a positive of course. Unfortunately, though, it more or less rained from start to finish and so we couldn’t test in the dry. That was unlucky, because I would have liked to ride in the dry but at least I completed a few laps over the two days we had available. I was also able to get to know the team and some of the riders I will be racing with next year and I learned a few things in the process. I would like to thank Midori (Moriwaki) and Honda once again, and everybody who has made it possible for me to compete in WorldSBK. Now I will go back to Brazil for a few weeks to enjoy some warm weather and spend some time with the family. I spend most of the year in Europe so I will take the opportunity to recharge my batteries and come back reenergized and ready to start the season.”
Fans gathered on a cold and sometimes rainy evening Dec. 15 in the Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, Italy, to celebrate Ducati's two World Championships in 2022. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Bologna and Piazza Maggiore turn red to celebrate Ducati’s perfect season: Bagnaia and Bautista “Campioni in Piazza²”
Many fans in Piazza Maggiore in Bologna for “Campioni in Piazza²”, the event with which Ducati celebrated its unforgettable racing season and the conquest of all the World Titles in both MotoGP and WorldSBK
The city of Bologna, the Motor Valley and all of Italy celebrate the successes of Ducati, a company strongly rooted in the territory and at the same time an expression of “Made in Italy” that wins in the world
Two limited edition Panigale V4 were presented, paying homage to the triumphs of Francesco Bagnaia and Álvaro Bautista with livery inspired by the bikes of the World Champions and dedicated components
Bologna, 16 December 2022 – The streets of Bologna and its central square, Piazza Maggiore, were coloured in Ducati Red for the celebrations of an unforgettable 2022 racing year, which saw the Ducati Corse heroes conquer the Riders’, Constructors’ and Teams titles in the same season in both major motorcycle world championships: MotoGP and WorldSBK. An unprecedented triumph for the Borgo Panigale motorcycle manufacturer, which in this way wished to share this incredible joy with the Ducatisti and with the territory in which the company has always had its roots.
Francesco Bagnaia and Álvaro Bautista were obviously the stars of the evening. From the stage in Piazza Maggiore, the World Champions received a tidal wave of affection from Ducatisti enthusiasts from all over the world, who could not fail to miss this historic moment of celebration, despite the rain and the cold temperatures. The city of Bologna, the Emilia-Romagna region and all of Italy celebrated together with Ducati the successes of a company that draws strength every day from its history, well rooted in Borgo Panigale, and at the same time is honoured to be ambassador of “Made in Italy” all over the world.
2022 MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia is introduced to the fans. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The celebratory event got underway at around 8.00 pm CET on Thursday 15 December with a DJ-set by Fresco, a DJ and record producer known for his collaborations with Italian singer Jovanotti, interspersed with the irresistible comedy of Giuseppe Giacobazzi from Romagna, entertaining fans of all ages who had flocked to Piazza Maggiore.
The key part of the evening started to the sound of Federico Poggipollini’s guitar and the off-screen voice of the most famous Italian voice actor Luca Ward, who during the event became the protagonist of one of the most exciting passages, reciting a text in which the fundamental stages of the history of the Bologna-based manufacturer in the world of racing competition were retraced.
The presentation of “Campioni in Piazza²” was entrusted to the journalist and great motorsport enthusiast Barbara Pedrotti, who began a round of interviews by inviting the Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali and the representatives of the territorial institutions, the President of the Emilia-Romagna Region Stefano Bonaccini and the Mayor of Bologna Matteo Lepore, onto the stage. Both figures underlined the importance of an event like this for the city and the added value offered by the collaboration with Ducati with a view to synergy with the entire Emilia-Romagna Motor Valley.
2022 Superbike World Champion Alvaro Bautista is introduced to the fans. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The Ducati event continued with a speech by Ducati Corse General Manager Luigi Dall’Igna, who retraced the decisive moments of the season. From the stage, the audience was also greeted by all the other faces who best represent the successes of the Bologna-based manufacturer and who enthusiasts have now learned to recognize in the footage from the pits of circuits: Ducati Corse Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti, Ducati Corse Technical Director Davide Barana, MotoGP Team Manager Davide Tardozzi, Team Principal Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Stefano Cecconi and WorldSBK Team Manager Serafino Foti.
The climax of the evening came when the voice of MotoGP on Italian TV Guido Meda called the two most awaited names on stage: the 2022 WorldSBK World Champion Álvaro Bautista and the 2022 MotoGP World Champion Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia , who were welcomed with great enthusiasm by the public in Piazza Maggiore. The celebration of the successes of Bagnaia and Bautista was shared with the other Ducati riders present at the event: Axel Bassani, Enea Bastianini, Marco Bezzecchi, Chaz Davies, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Luca Marini, Michele Pirro and Michael Ruben Rinaldi.
On stage, to celebrate the shared passion for sport and to pay their respects to the Ducati Champions, were also representatives of local and national sporting realities Lorenzo De Silvestri (Bologna Calcio football player), Pietro Aradori (Fortitudo Pallacanestro Bologna player) and Sabrina Cinili (captain of the Virtus Bologna women’s basketball team), together with the coach of the Italian national cycling team Daniele Bennati.
During the “Campioni in Piazza²” event, a big surprise was also unveiled for all the most passionate Ducatisti. To pay homage to the world titles of Bagnaia and Bautista, Ducati has in fact created two special series of Panigale V4 in limited and numbered editions, with liveries inspired respectively by the Desmosedici GP22 and the Panigale V4 R of the World Champions and with dedicated components.
These collector’s bikes are characterized by having the liveries of Pecco Bagnaia #63 and Álvaro Bautista #19 and each bike is made unique by having the original signature of the rider on the fuel tank, protected with a layer of transparent varnish. In their production numbers, the two bikes celebrate the year Ducati was founded, 1926. Each series will in fact consist of only 260 units.
Panigale V4 Bagnaia 2022 World Champion Replica and Panigale V4 Bautista 2022 World Champion Replica were displayed to the public in Piazza del Nettuno, flanked by the Desmosedici GP22 and the Panigale V4 R World Champion bikes and a Lamborghini Huracán STO, specially created for the occasion in Ducati Corse colours.
During the press conference that preceded the event, the documentary “Nuvola Rossa: Bagnaia & Ducati’s Perfect Comb1nation” was also presented, a short film that illustrates the most significant and exciting moments of the last three races of the MotoGP championship. The 20-minute documentary will be published on Ducati’s official YouTube channel and on Ducati.com on 16 December at 12.00 PM CET.
The press conference was also an opportunity to officially announce the dates for the presentation of the two official Ducati teams in MotoGP and WorldSBK for the 2023 season. “Campioni in Pista” (Champions on the Ski Track) will be held from 22nd to 24th January 2023 in the exceptional location of Madonna di Campiglio; during this event, organized in collaboration with Trentino Marketing and Madonna di Campiglio Tourist Board, Ducati will present the Ducati Lenovo Team and the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team together for the first time.
Xavier Simeon (1) at speed on the Yoshimura SERT Motul Suzuki GSX-R1000 in 2022. Photo courtesy Team Suzuki Press Office.
Yoshimura SERT Motul all set for 2023 EWC action
Yoshimura Suzuki Endurance Racing Team Motul will contest the FIM Endurance World Championship in 2023.
The Franco-Japanese squad is preparing to enter a Suzuki GSX-R1000R in the four-event ultimate test of rider and machine as it bids to reclaim the EWC title it won in 2021.
Yoshimura SERT Motul will announce its riders in due course but has confirmed it will run under the #12 and carry its familiar red and blue colour scheme.
Yohei Kato, Team Director, said: “I am very delighted to say that Yoshimura SERT Motul will participate in the FIM Endurance World Championship in 2023. The statement from Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) ending its factory participation in MotoGP and EWC at the end of 2022 was of course very difficult to digest. However, we accepted the situation and set our mind in putting [in place] new plans for the EWC 2023 season.
“Thanks to SMC’s understanding and decision for the new team’s support, we will continue to represent Suzuki at the highest level. We are fully committed to reclaim the EWC title in 2023.
“Taking this opportunity, we thank all of our sponsors including Motul and Denso, partner companies and fans for supporting us for many years. Voices not only from them but also from our team members themselves longing for the EWC participation made it possible.
“In the 2022 season, we were leading the championship until the last race of the season, but unexpected problems prevented us from defending our title. We will continue to move forward with the excellent Yoshimura SERT Motul riders and team members. Our goal is to win all races in 2023, and particularly look forward to the challenge of winning the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans for the third consecutive year.”
Damien Saulnier, Team Manager, said: “It is with great pleasure that, together with Yohei, we can confirm that the Yoshimura SERT Motul partnership is renewed for 2023. We will be running our Suzuki GSX-R1000R in red and blue livery to symbolise our association with both Yoshimura and Suzuki for the third year. We’ll also run with the traditional number 12 plate when we return to the track next April.
“Despite the withdrawal of Suzuki from the official competition, we are still getting significant support from them as we continue to represent the brand in this important world championship. We will do our best to reward such confidence and return the Japanese manufacturer to the top step of the EWC podium in 2023.
“We are also very grateful to our longstanding partners, as well as new ones, for standing by us and backing us for the new season. With their help, we can concentrate on the job in hand, power on and be ready to reconquer the title. We look forward to welcoming our many fans and supporters to the opening round of EWC at Le Mans next April.”
The 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans opens the new EWC season from 13-16 April.
2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne (left) with Yamaha Racing Department Manager Jim Roach (right). Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
Yamaha Celebrates 2022 Champions
Yamaha honors champions at the 2022 Wall of Champions induction ceremony
MARIETTA, Ga. – December 16, 2022 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, honored its 2022 Yamaha bLU cRU champions last week at the annual Yamaha Wall of Champions induction ceremony. Held this year at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, nine racers were recognized for their crowning achievements in their respective professional championships.
Eli Tomac was recognized for his landmark season aboard the YZ450F, winning premier class titles in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross Championships, as well as being a Motocross of Nations Champion with Team USA. Also honored for his achievements in supercross was 2022 250SX West Champion Christian Craig, who carried on the YZ250F’s title-winning tradition.
2022 AMA Supercross and 2022 AMA Pro Motocross Champion Eli Tomac (left) with Yamaha Racing Department Manager Jim Roach (right). Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
In road racing, Jake Gagne was inducted for his second-consecutive MotoAmerica Superbike Championship aboard the YZF-R1. The young Blake Davis earned his first Wall of Champions plaque for winning the MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship with the YZF-R7.
Yamaha racers also reaped success off-road on both two- and four-wheels. Rachael Archer earned her first title in the Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC), winning the 2022 GNCC WXC Motorcycle Championship aboard the YZ250FX. Taking top honors on the YFZ450R was Brycen Neal in the GNCC XC1 Pro ATV Championship and Joel Hetrick in the AMA Pro ATV Motocross Championship. Yamaha racers also swept the Championship Off-Road Tour Side-by-Side (SxS) classes in the pure sport YXZ1000R, with Brock Heger winning the Pro Stock SxS title and Hamish Kelsey winning the Pro Turbo SxS title.
2022 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion Blake Davis (left) with Yamaha Racing Department Manager Jim Roach (right). Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
“It was another exciting year for the Yamaha bLU cRU. Securing multiple championships and race wins in 2022, we continue to add to Yamaha’s rich legacy in racing at the highest level,” said Steve Nessl, YMUS Motorsports Marketing Manager. “We are thrilled to honor these racers at this year’s induction ceremony. The Yamaha Wall of Champions not only celebrates the success of these talented riders and drivers but also showcases our commitment to racing and producing world-class products. From all of us at Yamaha, congratulations to the 2022 Wall of Champions inductees.”
The inductees received copies of their honorary plaques that will be added to the Wall of Champions at Yamaha Motorsports headquarters in Marietta, Georgia. Established to honor Yamaha bLU cRU champions with a lasting memory of their accomplishments, the first induction ceremony for the Wall of Champions was held on November 16, 2012. Since then, over 100 racers have been inducted for their achievements.
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana).
Formula One driver Carlos Sainz (left) and six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez (right) at MEGA, the museum of Estrella Galicia 0,0. Photo courtesy Estrella Galicia 0,0.
Marc Marquez and Carlos Sainz one on one at MEGA
Estrella Galicia 0,0 ambassadors in MotoGP and Formula 1 racing talk about their aspirations for next season in a mutual interview at MEGA, the Galician brewery’s museum.
No interviewer can understand better his interviewee than an elite car racing driver talking to a rider at the same level in motorcycle racing. Despite both kinds of machinery may look different, the pulse of competition at the highest level, the insatiable need to chase success day and night, the satisfaction of beating the best riders in the world and, above all, the amazing feeling of control at speeds over 300 km/h, make both racing activities do actually have a lot in common.
Join Estrella Galicia 0,0 riders Marc Marquez and Carlos Sainz in an interesting conversation in the relaxed atmosphere of MEGA, the museum of Estrella Galicia 0,0 as personal sponsor of the two most prominent Spanish riders on the MotoGP and Formula 1 grids.
The #46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 that will be driven by Valentino Rossi and his teammates. Photo courtesy Team WRT.
BMW M TEAM WRT MAKES FIRST DRIVER LINE-UPS ANNOUNCEMENTS
16 December, 2022
Team WRT, or more exactly, the entire WRT family is reunited tonight in Stavelot, near the Spa-Francorchamps track, for the yearly Christmas celebration, which joyfully gathers the entire WRT staff, most of its drivers, sponsors, partners, and friends for the end-of-season celebration, under the motto ‘We aRe a Team’. It will be also an opportunity to see and touch the BMW M4 GT3 that will be the new racer of the squad next year and to unveil another bit of the 2023 GT3 racing programme.
Fanatec GTWCE powered by AWS
Today, BMW M Team WRT announced the line-ups of two of its BMW M4 GT3 that will contest the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS in 2023.
In car #32, Team WRT’s home boys’ Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts, recently announced as BMW M Motorsport works drivers, will defend the Sprint Cup crown conquered for three years in a row. In the Endurance Cup, they will be joined by South African Sheldon van der Linde, a long-time BMW driver. While taking the helm from his brother Kelvin, Sheldon is not new to Team WRT, for which he raced in the then Blancpain GT Series in 2018.
In car #46, whose livery is sported by the BMW M4 GT3 on display at tonight’s event, after an excellent first season at the highest level, Valentino Rossi will continue his GT3 career and will be associated with Maxime Martin. A well-established star in GT racing, with wins at the 24 Hours of Spa and the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Belgian will be making his debut with Team WRT and a come-back to BMW M Motorsport. In the Endurance Cup, the duo will be joined by another great name, Brazilian Augusto Farfus Jr.
Dubai 24 Hours
Team WRT will race for the first time with the BMW M4 GT3 on 13-15 January at the Dubai 24 Hours, a race the Belgian squad has won twice, in 2016 and this year, where it signed a one-two. Car #7 will be entrusted to Mohammed Al Saud and Dries Vanthoor, already part of the winning crew in 2022, and Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer. The other two drivers will be announced in due course.
In car #46, Valentino Rossi will be accompanied by Maxime Martin, Sean Gelael, who races for Team WRT in LMP2, and recruit Tim Whale from Britain, who joins from the GT4 scene. A fifth driver will be named in due course.
Bathurst 12 Hours
The first outing of the BMW M4 GT3 of the Belgian squad under the BMW M Team WRT banner is scheduled on 4-5 February at the Bathurst 12 Hours, which will serve as the first round of the 2023 Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli.
In Australia, where Team WRT won in 2018, two cars will be entered, #32 for Dries Vanthoor-Charles Weerts-Sheldon van der Linde and #46 for Valentino Rossi-Maxime Martin-Augusto Farfus Jr.
Team WRT Principal Vincent Vosse commented: “It’s a very busy and exciting period for us, as we advance in the new partnership with BMW and prepare for the 2023 season. The end-of-the-year break will be very short, but today is the time for our yearly party, a tradition we cherish and allows the entire WRT family to get together around a good dinner. It’s a perfect time to show our people the BMW M4 GT3 in full race gear and announce some more elements of our 2023 race programmes. We are extremely happy to retain and welcome heavy names such as the ones you have read above. Our first race in Dubai is basically around the corner, shortly followed by our debut as BMW M Team WRT at Bathurst. We are terribly excited at what is ahead of us and can’t wait to be hitting the track!”
The Dunlop Sportmax Q5 is designed to increase the depth of the Sportmax family lineup to accommodate track-day-level riding like no other Dunlop DOT street tire has before, with even greater overall performance and grip than the Q4.
ADDITIONAL TIRE FEATURES
Made in Dunlop’s Buffalo, New York, plant on the same proprietary equipment as Dunlop racing products.
Sharply defined new tread pattern with lower groove density puts more rubber on the ground at all lean angles.
New taller profile with improved corner entry and high-speed stability at full lean.
Both front and rear tires utilize Dunlop’s proprietary Racing Type Fine Carbon Technology in the tread compound.
Performs better in the wet, warms up quicker, does not require tire warmers, and is engineered to run on the track at close to street pressures.
Dunlop has also expanded the size range of the Q5 to include five additional sizes for increased bike fitments: 110/70ZR17, 140/70ZR17, 150/60ZR17, 160/60ZR17, and 200/60ZR17.
The Sportmax Q5 is DOT-approved for street-legal use.
Having enhanced constructions, profiles, compounds, and tread patterns, the Dunlop Q5S provides nimbler handling and improved dry and wet grip to make it even more user friendly all while maintaining class-leading durability.
ADDITIONAL TIRE FEATURES
The front tire profile and construction were changed to allow for a 7mm shorter tire. This shorter profile created a lighter steering feel and quicker turn-in rate to allow for a nimble handling tire.
Intuitive Response Profile™ (IRP) technology allows for a taller tire profile along with sides that taper in more aggressively for remarkable turn-in response and feel.
MT Multi-Tread™ technology in the Q5S rear tire uses a silica-infused, long-wearing compound in the center of the tread for longer tread life, and special lateral grip compounds on the left and right shoulders for outstanding grip.
Improved compound to enhance both the dry and wet grip by adjusting the polymer, changing to a softer shoulder compound, increased the amount of carbon black content by utilizing Carbon R technology and increased oil content.
Optimized tread pattern design to aid in quicker warm-up times and improved wear characteristics.
The Sportmax Q5S is DOT-approved for street-legal use.
Roadracing World MotoGP Editor Mat Oxley's new book WINNERS SINNERS GRINNERS is now available. Photo courtesy Mat Oxley.
We highly recommend WINNERS SINNERS GRINNERS, the third collection of Roadracing World MotoGP Editor Mat Oxley’s stories about motorcycle racing, following The Fast Stuff (2007) and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Racing (2017). The hardback book measures 240mm x 170mm (about 9.4 inches by 6.7 inches) and is full of Mat’s best magazine features, interviews, and blogs from the last half-dozen years.
There are 80 stories on 214 pages, plus 16 glossy color photo pages. It’s all there, from MotoGP to the Isle of Man TT, World Superbike and beyond, talking to riders and engineers about anything and everything to do with the greatest sport on this planet. And like always, Mat tries to dig deep into these people, to get to the heart and the soul of what they do, how they do it, and why.
WINNERS SINNERS GRINNERS contains 80 stories involving the biggest names in motorcycle road racing. Photo courtesy Mat Oxley.
The list of riders whose hallowed words fill the book’s pages includes Ana Carrasco, Cal Crutchlow, Mick Doohan, Aleix Espargaró, Wayne Gardner, Peter Hickman, John McGuinness, Marc Márquez, Joan Mir, Franco Morbidelli, Miguel Oliveira, Danilo Petrucci, Alberto Puig, Fabio Quartararo, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, Jonathan Rea, ‘King’ Kenny Roberts, Kevin Schwantz, Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and more.
Then there are the engineers, including Fujio Yoshimura, Ducati’s Gigi Dall’Igna, plus Soichiro Irimajiri, who created Honda’s legendary six-cylinder 250cc GP racebike and CBX1000 road bike.
WINNERS SINNERS GRINNERS also features 16 glossy color pages of photos. Photo courtesy Mat Oxley.
Delivered to the U.S. via airmail, the book sells for £51 (British Pounds) (About $63 U.S.) or via economy delivery £39 (about $48 U.S.). Airmail delivery takes about 2-3 weeks and economy delivery takes about 6-7 weeks. Order from https://matoxley.bigcartel.com/.
Josh Herrin (2) on his Ducati Panigale V2 during the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati North America.
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Rider Lineup of Josh Herrin and Xavi Forés to Compete in 2023 MotoAmerica Championship
Herrin, the reigning MotoAmerica Supersport champion, reunites with the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York team to campaign the 2023 Ducati Panigale V4 R in the top class of America’s premier road racing series
Forés will make his American racing debut, bringing world championship pedigree to the MotoAmerica paddock
Sunnyvale, Calif., December 15, 2022 — Ducati North America is pleased to announce that Josh Herrin and Xavi Forés will compete in the 2023 MotoAmerica Championship for the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York team. Herrin, the reigning MotoAmerica Supersport champion, will contest the 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship aboard the Panigale V4 R superbike, and Forés will make his American racing debut, riding the Panigale V2 in MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
Last season, Herrin dominated the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship aboard the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Panigale V2, earning 9 wins and 16 total podiums on the way to giving Ducati its first MotoAmerica Supersport title. Ducati Corse Sporting Director Paulo Ciabatti says that promoting from within the family and rewarding Herrin with a ride on the Panigale V4 R superbike is logical given his success and experience with Dunlop’s MotoAmerica spec tires.
Herrin brings a wealth of experience to the championship and his familiarity with the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York team will no doubt prove an asset as he seeks to capture the most coveted prize in American road racing. The 32-year-old Georgia native is the 2013 MotoAmerica Superbike champion, the 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock champion, and the winner of the 2010 Daytona 200. Herrin and the Panigale V4 R, a motorcycle that earned 16 podiums from 20 starts in 2022, could prove a formidable pairing.
Xavi Fores, circa 2021. Photo courtesy FHO Racing BMW.
Repeating Herrin’s success on the Panigale V2 is no mean feat, but there’s no doubt that Xavi Forés has the experience required to meet the challenge. A busy 2022 saw the 37-year-old Spaniard compete in several championships, including the FIM Enel MotoE World Championship for Pramac Racing. He also competed in the Endurance World Championship (EWC) for Team ERC Endurance Ducati, and in the final three rounds of the WorldSBK Championship with the Barni Spark Racing Team aboard a Panigale V4 R superbike. He previously raced with Barni Racing Team Ducati in WorldSBK from 2016–2018, achieving six podiums. Over his career, Forés has raced a wide variety of machinery in multiple classes, which should be an advantage as he gets acquainted with Dunlop rubber and the unique challenges of American road racing circuits.
Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York – Ducati #2)
“I’m excited to return to the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship and be reunited with the team with whom I enjoyed so much success last year. The MotoAmerica Superbike class is really competitive, but I’m confident that my team can deliver a motorcycle capable of winning. I’m really looking forward to swinging a leg over the factory-prepped Panigale V4 R superbike and wearing Ducati red for another year.”
Xavi Forés (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York)
“Competing in MotoAmerica, especially as part of a strong team like Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York, has been a goal of mine for some time. At this point in my racing career, I’d like to score wins and podiums in the most competitive domestic championships. I’m also looking forward to continuing my long relationship with Ducati, a union that has given me many happy memories over the years. It will be a big challenge: everything—the tracks and the tires, especially—will be unfamiliar, but I think I’m equal to the task. The Panigale V2 won the title last year with Josh Herrin, so I’m excited to be in the same box with him and see if we can replicate some of his success.”
Bobby Shek (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York Team Principal)
“Once again, Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York is proud to partner with Ducati Corse and Ducati North America to contest the 2023 MotoAmerica Mediallia Superbike and Supersport championships. We’re excited to have Josh Herrin back for another year and to welcome Xavi Forés to the team. After Josh’s incredible success in Supersport in 2022, we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do on the new Panigale V4 R superbike. We’re sure he’ll put on another show for us all this year! We’re also excited to welcome Xavi to the team. Xavi has been a fixture in world championship racing for many years and he’s ridden for some of the top teams. His desire to race here shows that the quality of competition in MotoAmerica hasn’t gone unnoticed. That also means we’ll have our work cut out, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Jason Chinnock (CEO, Ducati North America)
“We welcome the world-class rider Xavi Florés to the HSBK Racing Ducati New York team,“ said Chinnock. “Xavi’s experience will help him quickly adapt to the U.S. tracks and tires and we are confident that he will continue the momentum that Josh championed last season. Josh earned his seat for this year’s Superbike program after debuting the dominance of the Panigale V2 in MotoAmerica’s Supersport Championship. We are elated to have him aboard the 2023 Panigale V4 R challenging the most competitive field in U.S. national road racing and putting on a show for our Ducatisti and road racing fans alike,” said Chinnock. “We thank Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York and our colleagues at Ducati Corse as we anticipate another thrilling season.
2023 MotoAmerica Calendar
March 9-11 Daytona Beach International Speedway Daytona Beach, Fla.
April 21-23 Road Atlanta Braselton, GA
May 19-21 Barber Motorsports Park Birmingham, Ala.
June 2-4 Road America Elkhart Lake, Wis.
June 23-25 Ridge Motorsports Park Shelton, Wash.
July 7-9 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, Calif.
July 28-30 Brainerd International Raceway Brainerd, Minn.
August 18-20 Pittsburgh Intern ational Race Complex Wampum, Pa.
Sept. 8-10 Circuit of The Americas Austin, Texas
Sept. 22-24 New Jersey Motorsports Park Millville, N.J.
About Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York
Founded in 2011, HSBK Racing partnered with Pennsylvanian dealership North American Warhorse/Ducati New York in 2020 to bring Ducati back to the forefront of professional Superbike competition in North America.N
About MotoAmerica
For 2023, MotoAmerica enters its ninth season as North America’s premier road racing championship.
MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership between three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer, Wayne Rainey; former Vice President of Motorsports Operations at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA), and former Managing Director of Team Roberts in MotoGP, Chuck Aksland; Executive Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum, Terry Karges; and energy sector investor and businessman, Richard Varner.
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www.roadracingworld.com
May 13, 2026
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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.
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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
