CVMA: Anthony Wins Stock 1000 Shootout

David Swarts

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December 7, 2022

CVMA Racing Round 3 2022/2023 Winter Series

December 3/4 2022

Chuckwalla Valley Raceway

Round 3 of the CVMA 2022/2023 Winter Series kicked off under overcast skies, cool weather and a fast race track. On Friday, a group of five riders graduated from the new racer school and received their CVMA licenses. CVMA changed the schedule for this round. Saturday morning featured two qualifying sessions instead of one practice session and one qualifying session. This gave riders a second shot to set their gird position with a fast lap. The change had the added benefit of saving some time in a busy Saturday race schedule — important during the short winter daylight hours.

On Friday, a group of five riders graduated from the new racer school and received their CVMA license.

During qualifying on Saturday, Owen Williams was the fastest on an Ultra Lightweight bike, turning a 1:54.436 lap time. Justin Bordonaro went quickest on a Lightweight class bike with a 1:52.536. Torin Collins set the Middleweight bike benchmark with a 1:48.738. And, fastest of all, was Corey Alexander with a 1:44.785 lap time on an Open class bike.

Saturday

Quinn Swift broke the lap record in the Formula 40 Ultra Lightweight class with a 1:56.524. Other standouts on Saturday included Williams winning three races riding both Middleweight and Ultra Lightweight bikes. Bordonaro, David “Aussie Dave” Anthony, and Nayden Balladares all won two races each.

Sunday

On Sunday, the premier race of the day started under sunny skies and exceptionally warm weather. In the Stock 1000 Shootout, Anthony got the holeshot followed by Alexander and “The Prince” Bryce Prince. At the start of lap three, Alexander was able to out drive Anthony coming out of the last turn and make a pass for the lead at the end of the front straight entering the first corner. Anthony retook the lead on lap five. The two ran nose-to-tail for the remainder of the race but Alexander was never able to challenge for the lead again. The final result was Anthony for the win, Alexander in second, and Prince in third.

In the Formula Lightweight Twins Shootout, Cody Wyman was first into Turn 17 followed by Bordonaro and Jonathan “Crafty” Glaefke. Unfortunately, the race was red-flagged on the first lap. At the restart, Glaefke got the holeshot but was quickly passed by Wyman. Bordonaro slotted into second. The running order at the end of the first lap was Wyman, Bordonaro, and Glaefke. Bordonaro passed Wyman onto the front straight to make a pass for the lead on lap four. Unfortunately, Bordonaro crashed in Turn 9, a.k.a. “Crash Corner,” a short time later, handing it back to Wyman. The final result was Wyman first followed by Glaefke and then Gio Alvarez. As a consolation, Bordonaro set a new lap record for the class turning a 1:50.662 lap time.

The Formula Ultra Lightweight Shootout started with Quinn Swift getting the holeshot. By the end of the first lap, Kreece Elliott had taken the lead with Williams and Swift following. Williams took the lead on lap two and proceeded to check out. Swift made the pass for second on lap four and that set the finishing order. Williams took the win with Swift in second and Elliott rounding out the podium.

In the Supersport Middleweight Shootout, David Kohlstaedt took the lead at the beginning and was never challenged. Collins, returning to race with CVMA after a long absence, ran a lonely second place the entire race. Behind Collins, a battle for the final spot on the podium raged between Jeff “The Tiger” Tigert and Williams. Tigert ran the first five laps in front of Williams. Toward the end of the fifth lap, Williams made a brave pass for third position entering Turn Three on the brakes. Williams and Tigert ran nose-to-tail for the remainder of the race, but Tigert was unable to find a way past Williams. The final result was Kohlstaedt for the win, Collins second, and Williams third.

Full race results can be found on MYLAPS: https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/2078895

The next round will be the weekend of January 21-22, 2023.

CVMA offers two full days of racing every race weekend and also includes Saturday qualifying for grid position in all classes, amateur and expert, as well as a wide variety of classes to choose from.

CVMA offers free reciprocity as a means of encouraging racers from other clubs to come out and compete. CVMA also offers a New Racers School for those starting out in racing on the Friday prior to each race weekend. Log on to www.cvmaracing.com to sign up or for more information.

CVMA. Built for racers by racers and offering the best racing experience around!

Series Sponsors: SoCal Track Days, Apex Assassins, Ryder Gear, and CaliPhotography

NRS Sponsors: Alpinestars, 6D Helmets, Racer Gloves, and Racer’s Edge

*Note: when running the course counter-clockwise the corner numbers are referred to as they are when running clockwise.

More From MotoGP Testing In Spain

David Swarts

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December 7, 2022

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By Michael Gougis

Luca Marini set the fastest time at the traditional post-season MotoGP test at Circuito Ricardo Tormo, clicking off a 1:30.032 lap toward the end of a day that saw most of the MotoGP teams trying out new equipment for 2023 in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the Ducati dominance of 2022.

On his Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati GP21, Marini went fastest on the 70th of the 76 laps he turned around the 2.5-mile circuit in Cheste near Valencia, and he was faster than he had gone in qualifying for the race. It was not a complete shock, as the track was well rubbered-in from three days of racing and a full morning of testing, and Marini had no new components to evaluate. The team simply focused on optimizing its racebikes from the previous weekend and gave Marini seat time.

Miguel Oliveira (88) was the fastest of the riders who jumped on a different machine at the Valencia test, finishing the day fourth-fastest on his satellite RNF MotoGP Team Aprilia RS-GP. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Marini was 0.225-second quicker than Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales, who edged Marini’s teammate Marco Bezzecchi by another 0.005-second. Fourth-quickest was Miguel Oliveira, the fastest of those riders who had switched manufacturers for 2023, who put on a soft rear tire and blazed to a 1:30.367 right at the end of his track time.

2020 World Champion Joan Mir (36) and new Moto2 World Champion Augusto Fernandez (37) acclimated to their new machines, the factory Repsol Honda RC213V and the Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing bike. The GASGAS is a rebranded KTM RC16. Photo by Michael Gougis.

The regulations for MotoGP are essentially unchanged for 2023. The biggest change is that front “shape-shifting” hydraulics are banned, although launch-control devices remain legal. And that means little in the way of revolutionary ideas, at least in the machines shown at Valencia. Instead, teams, factories, and riders are refining existing components and configurations, looking for the smallest of improvements.

There were lots of refined components in evidence, as the aero wars continued unabated among all of the factories. Honda, KTM, and Yamaha also were evaluating entirely new and major components in an attempt to address their shortcomings. What they found, however, was not entirely what they were looking for, leaving engineers lots of work to do before the next test in Sepang.

Jorge Martin (89) tested a new fairing lower design (the camouflaged section) for Ducati. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Ducati tested new aero components, including a narrower fairing upper and a smooth, bulged fairing lower that did away with the radical ducting that removes air from the forward lower section of the fairing and displaces it into the centerline of the vehicle below the belly pan. The fairing lower, an interpretation of a design introduced by Aprilia mid-season, was seen first on Johann Zarco’s Prima Pramac satellite machine, but was also tested by 2022 MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia.

With the stunning performance of the GP22 and updated GP21 machines throughout the season, Ducati brought out little else for the first test. But aero has become utterly critical in contemporary MotoGP, and the right design affects not just overall performance but the rider’s ability to operate the machine. Over the race weekend prior to the test, Jorge Martin was asked what had contributed to his recent uptick in form–Martin had just earned his third pole position in a row–and he gave credit to a revised fairing that made the bike easier to turn.

Alex Marquez (73) was only 15th and 0.680 second off the pace on his first day on the Gresini Ducati. But after a season of being battered by Honda's troubled RC213V, Marquez was all smiles after 73 laps on the Desmosedici. Photo by Michael Gougis. — Alex Marquez (73) was only 15th and 0.680 second off the pace on his first day on the Gresini Ducati. But after a season of being battered by Honda’s troubled RC213V, Marquez was all smiles after 73 laps on the Desmosedici. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Ducati absolutely ruled the top speed category during the test. Bagnaia was fastest, his bike reaching 335.4 kph (208.407 mph) in the speed traps at the end of the straight. That’s impressive, given that the turn leading onto the straight is a tight left-hander. Five other Ducati riders–Marini, Bezzecchi, Enea Bastianini, Zarco and Alex Marquez–were tied for second fastest at 332.1 kph (206.357 mph), matched only by Marc Marquez on his Honda RC213V.

Honda had high hopes for a revised chassis, but at the end of the day Repsol Honda Team Manager Alberto Puig and Marquez were less than impressed. Honda had started 2022 with a new chassis aimed at increasing rear grip and acceleration, but it had come at the expense of front-end feel, especially under braking. Despite the new, latest chassis he tried, Marquez said he was still looking for more feel at the end of the braking zone–the exact same thing he said at the post-season test in Valencia in 2019. “We expected a bigger step,” Puig said.

Marc Marquez tested new aero packages and swingarms on his Repsol Honda RC213V. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Honda engineers threw a wide range of aero components onto the brand’s racebikes, with rear stabilization fins, lower aero ducting and revised front wings in an array of configurations for Marquez, new recruits Joan Mir and Valencia race winner Alex Rins and Takaaki Nakagami, retained by LCR Honda for 2023.

Honda immediately put new recruit Alex Rins (42) to work, having him test new aero pieces aboard his LCR Honda RC213V. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Marquez finished the test with a best lap at 1:30.676, 13th-quickest, and he turned 50 laps, fewer than any other rider except for Ducati test rider Michele Pirro. And when Marquez was done, he told reporters gathered in the media center that the package that he had ridden was not good enough to him to fight for the title in 2023.

Yamaha’s top-speed woes had convinced the factory to bring in a Formula One engine expert to overhaul its Inline-4, which will be the only engine with that configuration on the grid in 2023. While early tests had proven promising, 2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo was deeply unhappy to find that the development engine delivered no more top speed than his race engine from 2022 had produced.

Fabio Quartararo had hoped for more top speed from his new Yamaha YZR-M1 at Valencia. Photo by Michael Gougis. — The Yamaha prototype, complete with new-spec engine, failed to perform to expectations, leaving 2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo frustrated. Photo by Michael Gougis.

During his post-test media interview, Quartararo kept staring over the heads of journalists at a monitor hanging from the ceiling that showed top speeds from the day on the track, pointing out that his Yamaha was only 12th-fastest down the straight, and that teammate Franco Morbidelli’s machine was even slower. It was not a huge gap to the front of the pack — the difference was only 8 kph to Bagnaia — but in MotoGP today, differences in qualifying and final positions are measured in fractions of a second, and the lack of speed and acceleration has made it very difficult for the Yamaha riders to overtake or protect their positions from other riders, especially those on the rapid Ducatis. Quartararo was fastest of the Yamaha riders in ninth, his fastest lap a 1:30.578, 0.546-second off the top spot.

Yamaha also brought out a new chassis for Quartararo and Morbidelli, as well as a range of new side fairing elements and rear stabilization fins. While Morbidelli liked the new chassis, Quartararo said it felt different but made no real impact on lap times, which was his assessment of the new aero components as well.

KTM introduced its module concept of testing — an attempt to allow engineers to change individual components without impacting the way other elements of the bike behaved. It makes sense: One of the first rules of testing is to change only one thing at a time. But it was clear that KTM’s chassis development, a little like that of Honda, seemed to be stuck in a zero-sum equation.

New KTM factory rider Jack Miller (43) leads new LCR Honda rider Alex Rins (42) as they adapted to their new machines in Valencia. Miller finished the day 17th, Rins 20th. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Brad Binder said over the weekend that he had been asking all season for a chassis that gave him more rear grip, and his racebike on Sunday gave him exactly that. But that improvement came at the expense of front-end stability, and he had to wait until the fuel load went down before he could start charging toward the front — a charge that came up just short of a win. Binder tried a new chassis on Tuesday, praised the feel at the front again and said the grip at the rear was lacking again.

Pol Espargaro at speed on a GASGAS-branded KTM MotoGP prototype. Photo by Michael Gougis. — Pol Espargaro at speed on a GASGAS/KTM MotoGP prototype. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Binder was the quickest on a KTM, with a 1:30.496 slotting him into seventh place, with new factory teammate Jack Miller 17th with a 1:30.787. Pol Espargaro and Moto2 World Champion Augusto Fernandez took their new GASGAS Tech3 machines — rebranded KTM RC16s — to 16th and 22nd, respectively.

Aprilia’s main focus was on its new signing — the RNF MotoGP team — which wheeled its Yamaha YZR-M1s out of the garage on Sunday and rolled in a pair of the new Aprilia RS-GP racebikes that it will use for 2023. The team, which will field Raul Fernandez alongside Oliveira, will start with the same machinery spec that factory riders Aleix Espargaro and Vinales used at the end of 2022.

Not only was Oliveira quick and comfortable, but Vinales was second and Espargaro fifth — encouraging speed for a manufacturer that, after running at the front of the field for most of 2022, absolutely imploded over the last five races of the season.

WorldSBK: MIE Racing Honda Signs Granado And Syahrin

David Swarts

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December 7, 2022

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WorldSBK: MIE Racing Honda Signs Granado And Syahrin

MIE Racing Honda Team announces Eric Granado for the 2023 WorldSBK season

The MIE Racing Honda Team is pleased to announce that it has signed Eric Granado as its rider for the 2023 Superbike World Championship aboard the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE.

26-year old Granado has recently concluded his best ever season in the MotoE World Championship, finishing as series runner-up after amassing five wins and fighting for the title until the last race in San Marino. To date, his remarkable racing achievements include four titles in the Brazilian SBK Championship as well as world championship seasons in Moto2 (2012), Moto3 (2013, 2014) and the FIM CEV Repsol series, where he won the Moto2 European Championship title in 2017.

Next year the talented Brazilian will fight on two fronts, taking part in both the MotoE World Championship and the Superbike World Championship.

The MIE Honda Racing Team bids farewell to Leandro “Tati” Mercado, thanking him for all his efforts and wishing him the best for his future endeavors.

Midori Moriwaki

“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Eric to the MIE Racing Honda Team. We had the chance to work with Eric when he joined the team for the final round of the 2020 WorldSBK championship season in Estoril. He finished top 15 in race 1 and close to the points zone in race 2 which was really impressive. His talent, speed, professionalism, and not least his sunny attitude are key values for me, and I think he will be a perfect fit for the MIE Racing Honda Team structure. A structure that will also be strengthened in terms of its technical and managerial staff in order to ensure continual growth and improvement. I also want to heartily thank Tati for two amazing years together, for his hard work and total commitment to the team. We wish him all the best for his future.”

Eric Granado

“I am very happy to take on my first WorldSBK season in 2023. Firstly, I would like to thank Midori, Honda and all the sponsors for giving me this opportunity. It has long been my goal to make it to World Superbike. I have won four Brazilian Superbike championships and raced in the Spanish SBK Championship over the last two seasons. It’s a category I know, although the world championship operates at a much higher level obviously. I competed with the MIE Racing Honda Team in 2020, at the Portuguese round, and I really enjoyed it. I liked seeing how everyone worked and Midori made me feel really welcome in the team. We talked about trying to work together and now we will do just that. I think it’s a great opportunity for me and my career, and I’m very confident that we will have a competitive bike and can work together with Honda to improve the machine. It will be a real challenge, battling with fast, world-level riders but I will try to learn a lot from them and do my best to achieve solid results each weekend so that I can arrive at the end of the season knowing I have done a good job. I hope the Brazilian fans will support me; it has been so many years since a Brazilian rider raced in the world championship and I hope to represent my country at its best. I want to thank everyone for their support, and now I can’t wait to get on my Honda and start working.”

More, from another press release issued by MIE Racing Honda Team:

The MIE Racing Honda Team reconfirms Hafizh Syahrin to complete its 2023 line-up

Hafizh Syahrin (left) with MIE Racing Honda Team owner Midori Moriwaki (right). Photo courtesy MIE Racing Honda Team.

After announcing the signing of Brazilian rider Eric Granado, the MIE Racing Honda Team is pleased to confirm that it has extended its agreement with Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin.

The 2022 season saw Syahrin debut with the team, and in the WorldSBK category. The 28-year old finished in the points in four races and ended the season on the up in terms of both his performance and consistency.

The MIE Racing Honda Team thus completes its line-up for the 2023 Superbike World Championship season with two talented and fast riders who are both more than ready for action when the season kicks off in Australia on February 24-26.

“I am extremely pleased to announce the contract extension with Hafizh who made his debut with us in World Superbike and has grown steadily throughout the season”, said team owner Midori Moriwaki. “I think that he and Eric (Granado) will form a strong and competitive pairing and will help us to both develop our project with Honda in the category and promote the WorldSBK Championship and motorcycling in South America and Asia, two extremely strategic regions for our sport.”

“I’m very happy to stay with the MIE Racing Honda Team again next season”, Hafizh Syahrin added. “I know that Midori (Moriwaki) is putting together a stronger package for 2023 while I will focus on giving all that I can, building on last year’s experience and aiming to finish in the points at every race. My primary target is to be more competitive and I’m ready to work hard to achieve that.”

ASRA/CCS: Arango Is The Big Winner At Homestead

David Swarts

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December 6, 2022

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ASRA/CCS: Arango Is The Big Winner At Homestead

ASRA/CCS Season Finale Kicks off New Ownership

ASRA/CCS Florida Region

Homestead-Miami Speedway

December 3-4, 2022

by Lisa Theobald

The ASRA/CCS 2022 Season Finale event took place at Homestead-Miami Speedway as the premier race event for the organization’s new owners. Much of the existing schedule remained intact with a few adjustments, including the addition of “Dash For Cash” races paying down to fifth place. New to the series, an online registration process was implemented for the final round and included paperless tech and contingency forms. Live, online grid, timing, and results features were added to the www.asra.com website and an app for mobile devices is expected to be in place for the start of the 2023 season.

The weekend schedule started with perfect weather and three practice groups on track Saturday morning until lunch break, with three 25-minute GT races kicking off the afternoon schedule of racing, followed by five seven-lap sprint races. The Sunday schedule also included several rounds of practice until the lunch break with the remaining thirteen seven-lap sprint races with the cash-paying GP classes concluding the action-packed weekend.

Alex Arango was the winningest racer of the weekend with six first-place finishes, which included wins in both the Unlimited GP and 300 GP Dash for Cash classes. Arango was an early leader in all of his races during the event and the hotly contested Unlimited GP was no exception. Arango led the first lap of the race with Eric Wood and Gabriel DaSilva in hot pursuit. The top three each held down the front spot as they continued to battle for the checkered flag for all seven laps of the race. DaSilva’s lead was thwarted by a false neutral and Arango was able to reclaim the front spot to take the final victory of the day with the top three finishing the race in the same order as lap one.

The event brought all three of the Silva brothers together to compete and even finish the GTU with all three on the podium. Lucas Silva finished first with Fernando Silva second, and Bruno Silva in third. Lucas Silva took home the cash for this class, and Edward Sulliva was the fourth Dash for Cash winner with his first-place finish in the Lightweight GP race.

The newly reformed ASRA/CCS will move forward with additional changes being implemented off season to include new classes that reflect FIM class structures, fully digital race registration, mobile check-in and contingency reporting, social media support for real-time access to grids, results, and other information. The first race of the 2023 season is scheduled to take place at Carolina Motorsports Park April 15-16th, 2023 for the Atlantic, Florida, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions, and will include the AMA Sanctioned ASRA Team Challenge Series Presented by Michelin Tires.

Full race results are available online at: https://www.asraracing.com/results/. Additional information about the series including the 2023 season schedule, press releases, series updates, and rider profiles will be available on the new website at: www.asraracing.com.

American Flat Track: Estenson Racing And Yamaha Announce 2023 Lineup

David Swarts

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December 5, 2022

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American Flat Track: Estenson Racing And Yamaha Announce 2023 Lineup

Estenson Racing Announces 2023 American Flat Track Program

Young up-and-comer Tom Drane joins JD Beach, Dallas Daniels, and Trevor Brunner to contend for top honors in the Progressive American Flat Track series

MARIETTA, Ga. – December 5, 2022 – Estenson Racing is happy to announce their continued partnership with Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS) and a talented four-rider lineup for the 2023 Progressive American Flat Track season. Multi-time road race champion JD Beach and two-time AFT Singles Champion Dallas Daniels return to fight for the title in the Mission SuperTwins Championship. Also returning with the team next year is Trevor Brunner who will be joined by new signee Tom Drane for a two-pronged threat in the AFT Singles class.

Beach enters his fifth season with Estenson Racing and looks to build on their breakthrough 2022 season with the Yamaha MT-07. The Owensboro rider was a championship contender, taking home four wins and a total of eight podiums. Unfortunately, he was injured in the final race of the season but still managed a fourth-place finish in the points standings. Beach also continued to be a force to be reckoned with on the TT tracks, sweeping both TTs this year to bring his career total to six TT wins since his first premier class victory during his debut season with the team in 2019.

On the heels of a stellar rookie season in the premier class, Daniels looks to build on his standout performance in 2022. The 2020 and 2021 AFT Singles Champion hit the ground running and was also a title contender in the competitive Mission SuperTwins Championship. He scored a pair of wins on the Mile tracks and stood on the podium seven times to finish third in the points standings. With a year under his belt, the 18-year-old looks to come out swinging in what will also be his fifth year with the Estenson Racing team.

Brunner returns in 2023 and looks to build on his debut season with the team and the YZ450F. The Indiana rider made progress throughout the year and hit his stride in the second half of the season, scoring a pair of wins and six podiums to earn fourth in the highly competitive AFT Singles Championship.

Drane joins the team next year for his first full season in American Flat Track. The 16-year-old Australian is one of the sport’s top up-and-coming riders, making an impressive AFT Singles debut last year at the Lima Half-Mile with a win in the dash for cash and a runner-up finish in the Main Event. He also won the dash at the Springfield Mile before the rest of the event’s program was rained out, and has multiple amateur dirt track titles to his resume in both the U.S. and Australia.

In addition to Yamaha Racing, the team would also like to thank its continued support from Monster Energy, WPS, FLY, Yamalube, ZO CBD, VortexEX, Motion Pro, and Hinson.

Jim Roach – Yamaha Racing Department Manager for YMUS

“Yamaha Racing is excited to continue our support of Estenson Racing in both the American Flat Track SuperTwins and AFT Singles classes. Estenson Racing has won multiple titles in the Singles class, and 2022 was filled with race wins and podiums in the SuperTwins class. Through the continued hard work and development by Estenson Racing, they have transformed their team into a championship contender in both the SuperTwins and Singles classes. We look forward to the start of the racing season.”

Tommy Hayden – Estenson Racing Team Manager

“I am really excited to announce our renewal with Yamaha and would like to thank them for their continued support, belief in our program, and stepping up for us for in 2023. I am very proud of our riders and the entire crew for the progress we made this year but we know there are many areas we are capable of improving in and that is what we are pushing towards this off-season.

“It is also very exciting for us to be adding Tom to our team for 2023 and to be able to watch his progress as a full-time AFT rider. To have JD, Dallas and Trevor all returning and the addition of Tom, I am confident that we have all the talent we need to reach our goals next season.”

JD Beach – Estenson Racing Mission SuperTwins

“After the season we had in 2022, I’m really excited to be back with the team. Going into next season we will be on the same bike and I’ll have the same crew. This will be the first time since I joined the team that we will have the same combo going into the next season. The progress we made this year was what we’ve been working so hard for, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do next season with some groundwork already made. I’ve got some big goals for this new season. Ending last year with a broken ankle wasn’t ideal so I’m looking forward to putting in the work this winter and coming out in March stronger than ever.”

Dallas Daniels (center). Photo courtesy Yamaha.

Dallas Daniels – Estenson Racing Mission SuperTwins

“I’m very excited for the 2023 season. My rookie year in the SuperTwins class was awesome. I was able to learn so much about the bikes, the tracks, and the competition, so I’m going to carry that knowledge into 2023 and do the best I can. I’m just extremely grateful for this opportunity that Tim, Tommy, and the whole Estenson Racing team have given me to race at the premier level of American Flat Track.”

Trevor Brunner – Estenson Racing AFT Singles

“I’m really looking forward to the 2023 season with Estenson Racing. It was a tough year for me, but we were able to come together as a team by the end of this season and I’m confident that we can keep building and carrying that momentum through the new year. It’s also going to be awesome to have another teammate on the 450 side of the team to bounce ideas off of throughout the day.”

Tom Drane – Estenson Racing AFT Singles

“I am so excited to be joining the Estenson Yamaha racing team in 2023. It has been a dream of mine to be able to race professionally since starting my career and I am so grateful to be given such an opportunity at 16 years old. I feel like I can be competitive with such a high-level team behind me and I’m looking forward to what the year brings.“

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).

World Supersport: Harry Truelove Signs With Dynavolt Triumph

David Swarts

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December 5, 2022

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World Supersport: Harry Truelove Signs With Dynavolt Triumph

DYNAVOLT TRIUMPH WELCOME HARRY TRUELOVE FOR WORLD SUPERSPORT 2023

Dynavolt Triumph are pleased to confirm that Harry Truelove will join the team for the 2023 FIM Supersport World Championship.

The 26-year-old British rider makes the step up to the world stage after a successful career in British Supersport where he ended the 2022 season on a high with third overall in the championship, securing ten podiums including a win across the season with Appleyard Macadam. Lincolnshire based Truelove made his WSS debut the same year as a wild-card at Donington Park and now joins the enormously experienced Dynavolt Triumph for a full-time campaign in the world championship.

Harry Truelove: “I am thrilled to be joining the Dynavolt Triumph team. Competing in the World Supersport championship has always been my dream and I am excited to make this dream a reality with Triumph. I want to thank Simon for trusting in me and giving me this incredible opportunity and all of my family for always cheering me on and supporting me all the way. I’m looking forward to this new challenge as I channel my efforts to prepare for the season ahead. I have full faith in myself and the team that we can achieve some great results together over the coming season.”

Dynavolt Triumph Team Manager Simon Buckmaster: “We’d like to welcome Harry to the team. I’ve watched him for a couple of years and last year of course we competed against him in the British championship. We had discussions last year with Harry and his family about riding for us and this year we spoke again. It’s good for us as a British team, with a British bike to have a British rider. Also, to bring this rider up from BSS I see as a good thing for British motorcycle sport that young riders see the progression from national championship to world championship. It’s good in a patriotic way for Britain. We have discussed it, we know it’s a big step up and there’s some hard work in front of him but we have some good guys around us, we’re a close-knit team, there’s almost a family atmosphere and we will create that environment for Harry to grow and be successful in World Supersport. Looking forward to testing and the start of the season.”

FIM Honors Champions At Gala In Rimini

David Swarts

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December 4, 2022

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FIM Awards: 2022 World Champions rewarded in Rimini

The gala returns to toast the biggest winners on two wheels in 2022

Sunday, 04 December 2022

The FIM Awards took place at the Palacongressi Rimini – IEG Expo in 2022, gathering Champions from across different motorcycle disciplines to celebrate their achievements this season.

2022 FIM MotoGP™ World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) celebrated his first premier class title as he took to the stage, receiving his FIM medal after an incredible season.

Bagnaia was joined by 2022 Moto2™ World Champion Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as he ends the year on a high note ahead of a new adventure in MotoGP™ next season, and 2022 Moto3™ World Champion Izan Guevara (GASGAS Aspar Team) similarly signed off from the season in style before he moves into the intermediate class.

(From left) Moto2 World Champion Augusto Fernandez, MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia, and Moto3 World Champion Izan Guevara. Photo by Goodshoot, courtesy Dorna.

Others present included 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Champion Alvaro Bautista as he celebrated his WorldSBK title and represented another Ducati success, as well as 2022 Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ Champion Jose Antonio Rueda. Rueda made history as the first rider to take that crown and win the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2022, and he’ll move into the Moto3™ World Championship next year.

The gala brings the curtain down on the final event on the calendar, with winter break underway and the countdown to the Shakedown Test very much on. MotoGP™ will be back in action in early February, so save the pre-season dates and get ready to enjoy another incredible season of competition. Who will return to the gala in 2022? We’ll start to find out soon!

More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:

2022 Champions Bautista, Aegerter and Díaz take the stage in Rimini for the FIM Awards

2022 Superbike World Champion Alvaro Bautista. Photo by Goodshoot, courtesy Dorna.

Just a couple of weeks after the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship curtain closer in Australia, the newly crowned riders of all three classes were reunited in Rimini, Italy, for the FIM Awards ceremony.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed Ducati’s first Riders’ Championship since 2011, Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) took his second consecutive title in WorldSSP and Alvaro Diaz (Arco Motor University Team) became the sixth different rider to take the WorldSSP300 title after a record-breaking campaign.

All three gathered on Saturday night at the Palacongressi Rimini – IEG Expo in Rimini, where the newly re-elected FIM President Jorge Viegas acknowledged their achievements in 2022 alongside the other FIM World Champions.

MRA Celebrates Its 2022 Champions

David Swarts

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December 4, 2022

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MRA Celebrates Class Champions and 2022 Top-10 at Annual Awards Banquet

Denver, CO – The Motorcycle Roadracing Association held its 2022 Annual Awards Banquet at the Field House Event Venue, in Denver, on Saturday, November 19th, where the club’s competitors and staff were honored and recognized for their achievements and hard work throughout the season. The Field House Event Venue overlooks the Denver Broncos football stadium, and offers a scenic view of the downtown Denver skyline.

For this event, the MRA hosted a full house of racers, staff, family and friends to enjoy a catered dinner with festivities starting at 6:30pm. The MRA is a friends and family oriented organization, which meant the evening was consisted of speeches, laughs, digs, and heartfelt congratulations all around. The banquet was kicked off by a heartfelt speech by MRA President Chris Nami, followed by a video review of the 2022 season created by MRA Rider Representative Erik Maxwell (the video can be seen at: https://youtu.be/K3E1G3yQVoE).

The banquet culminated with the awards for MRA’s premier class, Race of the Rockies, recognizing the top-10 plate holders for 2023, and a new champion in Mike Applegate, of Littleton, Colorado. After winning numerous class championships in his almost 30 years racing with the MRA, Mike finally clinched the top spot. Congratulations, Mike, for becoming the #1 plate holder for 2023!

The annual awards banquet not only recognizes the top racers in each race class – the MRA also uses this opportunity to appreciate everyone who contributes to the making of a successful race season, including: the safety team (corner workers, mobile response, timing and score-keeping); ambulance crew; office staff; race school and SuperStreet instructors, and; other people critical to running a successful race organization. The MRA recognized the following Safety Team members who worked 4 or more rounds this season: Evan Baker; Kaitlynn Wilkerson; Donald Watts; Heather Colton; Irelynn Terranami; Richard Bickhard III; Gordon Bailey; Darrin McDaniel, and; Jane Bruegger. And the following outgoing board members were recognized for their contributions: Tiffany Maestas (Treasurer); Jeff Brown (New Rider Director); Jared Dear (VP Rules & Tech); Nate Bell (Rider Representative).

The MRA also presented the following special awards for extraordinary contribution and service: Jim Wilson received the Bob Heaton Distinguished Service Award for his 10+ years serving on the MRA board; Sportsman of the Year went to Joe Maher; Dustin Pfeiffer received the Rookie of the Year award, and the Katherine Burke Memorial Cornerstone Award was presented to Michael Applehans. The Carl Sorensen Memorial Award, which is given to the winner of the Thunderbike class, was presented this year to Colton Wulf. Congratulations to Jim, Joe, Dustin, and Michael, and Colton!

A surprise contribution of 2 custom-made, carbon fiber motorcycle ramps, was made by former MRA President, Mark Folsom. Mark wasn’t able to attend the Awards Banquet, but he requested the ramps be presented to: 1) the Rookie of the Year (Dustin Pfeiffer), and; 2) the winner of the Formula Colorado class, which, this year, was Stephen Husbands.

The MRA board is recognized for preparing and hosting the evening, with a little extra thanks to President Chris Nami, Rider Reps Blair Harness, Erik Maxwell, and Dennis Stowers, and all the rest behind and in front of the scenes, that made it all happen!

The MRA is looking forward to 2023, and celebrating its 50th championship season, starting with its New Racer School in April. The full season schedule can be found at https://www.mra-racing.org/schedule/season-schedule/.

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

Race of the Rockies Championship MRA Top 10

1. Mike Applegate

2. James Wilkerson

3. Jared Dear

4. Ken Yee

5. Kevin Madden

6. Ray Thornton

7. Cameron Lee

8. Daniel Spurlock

9. Travis Froehlich

10. Justen Behmer

Fay Myers Motorcycle World – Race of the Rockies GTO

1. Mike Applegate

2. James Wilkerson

3. Kevin Madden

4. Daniel Spurlock

5. Ray Thornton

6. John Borst

7. Joseph Resta

8. David Lambert

9. Chris Nami

10. Jeremiah Walker

Apex Auto Glass – Race of the Rockies GTU

1. Jared Dear

2. Ken Yee

3. Cameron Lee

4. Travis Froehlich

5. Justen Behmer

6. Dennis Stowers

7. Salvatore Rizzo

8. Phillip Takahashi

9. Randy Hopper

10. Jeremiah Downing

64 Degree Racing – MRA Clubman Championship

1. Jared Dear

2. Tyrel Diekmann

3. Ken Yee

4. Mike Applegate

5. Kevin Madden

Ultra Lightweight Endurance

1. Tom Dixon

2. Matthew Coladonato

3. Paul Bosonetto

4. Chris Joffrion

5. Craig Gomulka

Rocky View Family Dental – Lightweight Endurance

1. Mathew Muldoon

2. Stephen Husbands

3. Joseph Maher

4. Codey Chewning

5. Aston Reynolds

Wyeth Homes – Middleweight Endurance

1. Jared Dear

2. Jeremiah Downing

3. Travis Froehlich

4. Jesse Kurk

5. Justen Behmer

High Plains Raceway – Open Endurance

1. James Wilkerson

2. Michael Applehans

3. Kevin Madden

4. Ray Thornton

5. Jared Dear

Law Tigers – Novice GTU

1. Ben Reichenberger

2. William Guzenski

3. Steven Racz

4. Jesse Kurk

5. Ryan Gajewski

Aces Motorcycles – Novice GTO

1. Steven Bartholomew

2. Dustin Pfeiffer

3. Randy Thomas

4. Jesse Kurk

5. Justin Bohling

Rocky View Family Dental – Premier Amateur

1. Tyrel Diekmann

2. Raymond Kelly

3. Gage Mollman

4. Jose Rios De Vincenzo

5. Colton Wulf

XL3 Rigging – Amateur GTU

1. Jesse Kurk

2. Evan Weidner

3. Steven Racz

4. Jeremiah Downing

5. Raymond Kelly

REagency Realty – Amateur GTO

1. Jeremy Ross

2. Dustin Pfeiffer

3. Drake DiNero

4. Jesse Kurk

5. Gage Mollman

Night Owl Sports Bar & Grill – Modern Vintage GTU

1. Tyrel Diekmann

2. Navid Poran

3. Codey Chewning

4. Timothy David

5. Shawn Reddan

Mozart Properties – Modern Vintage GTO

1. Kevin Madden

2. Tyrel Diekmann

3. Bob Hasenhundl

4. Timothy David

5. Santiago Shirtz

Vickery Motorsports – 350 Supersport

1. Tom Dixon

2. Trevor Chavez

3. Joseph Maher

4. Jared Dear

5. Sami Parker

500 Supersport

1. Paul Bosonetto

2. Justen Behmer

3. Jeremiah Baker

4. Matthew Coladonato

5. Craig Gomulka

350 Superbike

1. Tom Dixon

2. Trevor Chavez

3. Joseph Maher

4. Jared Dear

5. Scott Nelson

IES Technologies – 500 Superbike

1. Justen Behmer

2. Jeremiah Baker

3. Paul Bosonetto

4. Matthew Coladonato

5. Craig Gomulka

MobarMafia Vinyl Wraps – SuperTwins GTU

1. Charles Greenwood

2. Mathew Muldoon

3. Stephen Husbands

4. Codey Chewning

5. Joseph Maher

Performance Cycle – SuperTwins GTO

1. Bobby Mills

2. Mark Weidner

3. Colton Wulf

4. Matthew Meyer

5. Santiago Shirtz

Spencer Russell Youth Racing – Lightweight Grand Prix

1. Charles Greenwood

2. Michael Applehans

3. Mathew Muldoon

4. Stephen Husbands

5. Mike Kionka

Woody’s Wheel Works – Formula Colorado

1. Stephen Husbands

2. Mike Kionka

3. Joseph Maher

4. Chris Joffrion

5. Tom Dixon

SuperMoto

1. Mike Morrison

2. Joe LoGalbo

3. Bruce Sass

4. Travis Froehlich

5. Geoff Cesmat

Conrad Oliver at Blue Raven Solar – Thunderbike

1. Colton Wulf

2. Evan Weidner

3. Ryan Gajewski

4. Charles Greenwood

5. Conrad Oliver

Reagency Realty – Formula 40 GTU

1. Ken Yee

2. Travis Froehlich

3. Erik Maxwell

4. Dave Stiefvater

5. Nathan Bell

Moto Garage – Formula 40 GTO

1. James Wilkerson

2. Mike Applegate

3. Ray Thornton

4. Jeremy Ross

5. Kevin Madden

IES Technologies – Middleweight Supersport

1. Ken Yee

2. Cameron Lee

3. Jeremiah Downing

4. Jared Dear

5. Tyrel Diekmann

Green Tech Auto Body – Middleweight Superbike

1. Jared Dear

2. Ken Yee

3. Cameron Lee

4. Tyrel Diekmann

5. Jeremiah Downing

Colorado Springs Powersports – Open Supersport

1. Mike Applegate

2. Ken Yee

3. Ray Thornton

4. Kevin Madden

5. Jeremy Ross

Moto Station – Open Superbike

1. Mike Applegate

2. James Wilkerson

3. Daniel Spurlock

4. Ray Thornton

5. Jeremy Ross

WorldSBK: Kawasaki Completes Shortened Test At Jerez

David Swarts

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December 3, 2022

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WorldSBK: Kawasaki Completes Shortened Test At Jerez

Brief But Positive KRT Test

Kawasaki Racing Team riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes took to the track with their Ninja ZX-10RR machines on Friday 2 December to start important preparations for the 2023 FIM Superbike World Championship.

The planned two-day test at the 4.423km long Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto was reduced to half a day, on Friday afternoon, due to earlier periods of wet weather. On an almost dry*- track both Lowes and Rea worked through various test items, just a few days after the end of the 2022 racing season.

In the final analysis, each rider had enough track time to form opinions about the new items, with Rea finishing as the fastest rider with a 1’39.911, set on lap 39 of 50.

Alex went out on track first, on a damp but drying track surface. He would also set 50 laps in a single busy afternoon session, swapping between two bikes in the team’s new winter tests colours.

Lowes was third fastest overall, with a 1’40.342 best lap time despite the not quite perfect track conditions.

The next test for the KRT riders will be in late January 2023, once again at Jerez.

Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

Jonathan Rea, stated: “It has been a very worthwhile test because we had to make decisions on some ‘hard’ parts for the off season, so that we can start in a good way next year. We just had three or four of these important items to say yes or no on. Riding the 2023 bike is good. There are some areas we need to improve, because we are still doing the early work, especially from the electronics side. But step-by-step we will put the package together. The track was never in perfect shape as there were still some damp patches out there but we were able to make some decisions. I am happy to go into the off season healthy and happy. I look forward to a few weeks holiday now.”

Alex Lowes (22). Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

Alex Lowes, stated: “I felt good on the bike even if the weather was a little bit against us at this test, meaning we just got the last afternoon on track. When I started the track was still quite damp but we used this time to try some things that were not about overall performance. We had some new ideas for 2023 so I spent the next couple of hours ‘back-to-back’ testing some new parts, with some positives and some negatives on the rear of the bike. The good point was that we got a lot of laps in, so we have a lot of information to try to piece everything together to give us a good step for the test at the end of January.”

Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “The test went OK, because we did just four hours in the end. The weather has been not nice; raining all day on Thursday and it took a long time to dry today which means we got those four hours. We had a couple of things that we had to test and get the feedback from the riders about, because it has to be developed during the winter time. Finally, we could collect the information. Johnny was going fast and we were only using an SC0 tyre, a hard option, in the rear. It was quite consistent in the lap times and we collected all the info that we wanted. Now we are just looking forward to next year.”

Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “During the day we had a couple of main items that we tried, to improve for next year. After this half day test we have a clear opinion about most of the items, which allows us to continue to improve for the January test. Having done this in just a few hours we are very satisfied. We did not touch the set-up from Phillip Island, not one click, and Alex was immediately fast and even more consistent. We are very pleased with these test results. We can all enter the holiday period with a big smile on our faces.”

Tom Sykes (66). Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

Tom Sykes, the 2013 WorldSBK champion with Kawasaki, returned to the series with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing at this test, after a season spent racing in BSB. He also only rode during the final dry afternoon session, but set a best lap time of 1’40.949 – just over one second from the fastest rider.

Video: GASGAS Unveils Two Factory Edition Motocross Models

David Swarts

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December 2, 2022

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Video: GASGAS Unveils Two Factory Edition Motocross Models

GASGAS GOES BIG WITH TWO FACTORY EDITION MOTOCROSS MODELS FOR 2023!

GET ON THE GAS WITH THE ALL-NEW GASGAS MC 450F AND MC 250F DIRT BIKES

One year on from launching our first-ever race team replica dirt bike and we’re back with more! And not just one, but two factory edition motocross models. Built for maximum on-track performance, the all-new GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition and MC 250F Factory Edition bikes have been designed and developed together with GASGAS Factory Racing, so you know they’re going to be good! Both feature brand-new motors, new frames, and are packed full of the latest technology, with pretty much everything else being improved over the outgoing generation. So, if you’re a racer focused on winning, you’re going to need one. It’s as simple as that!

GASGAS unveils two awesome TLD Race Team replica motocross bikes

New models developed with GASGAS Factory Racing for maximum performance

Watch Justin Barcia and Pierce Brown ride the new bikes below

The MC 450F Factory Edition benefits from a new cylinder head and CP piston – a potent combination that gives a boost to overall performance and amplifies the on-track experience for all riders. With the motor now lighter than ever, as well as being repositioned within the all-new frame to improve mass centralization, the bike’s already agile handling characteristics are taken to the next level.

As the newest and freshest model added to the GASGAS line-up, the MC 250F Factory Edition is pretty much an all-new dirt bike. Headlining this awesome bike is the powerful, high-revving, motor that’s super compact to save weight. Together with the new frame it makes carving through corners so, so easy. The brand-new motor features a new cylinder, cylinder head and piston, crankcases, and gearbox, which all work as one to make the MC 250F Factory Edition quite possibly the very best 250cc 4-stroke motocrosser out there.

Rewarding riders who really push the pace, the WP Suspension fitted on the Factory Edition models is set up firmer to favor aggressive riding. Up front, the WP XACT front forks feature a new hydrostop for improved bottoming resistance while the slightly slower rebound setting takes the sting out of heavy landings. At the rear, the WP XACT shock is all-new, better performing, and easily adjustable by hand for quick and easy trackside changes.

A 2023-model GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition. Photo courtesy GASGAS.

Shared updates across both GASGAS Factory Edition models.

New generation frame – Hydroformed, laser cut, and robot welded, the new frame is as strong and as flexible as it gets. Super-stable at high speed without compromising things in the corners, the frame is finished with a tough, electronic red powder coating.

New aluminum subframe – Strong and light. Contributing to the overall handling of the Factory Edition bikes, the aluminum subframe is super reliable.

New die-cast swingarm – An improved casting process knocks off 190 grams when compared to the old swingarm. Still strong and designed to work with the flex of the new frame, the swingarm is complete with a new chain guide designed to prevent mud build-up and help maintain forward momentum in deeply rutted turns.

New bodywork and graphics – Fresh new plastics and the latest Red Bull/Troy Lee Designs/ GASGAS Factory Racing graphics sure look the business. But there’s a lot more to the updated bodywork as the contact areas for your knees are now larger, which allows riders to grip the bike more when getting on the gas.

Bigger fuel tank – If you’re competing in the pro ranks then you’ll enjoy the larger fuel tank as you can go the full distance with no fear of running out.

New footrest design – Mounted further inwards on the frame to help prevent them from catching on deep ruts or take offs when scrubbing, the new footrests feature a larger surface area to improve control in all conditions.

Updated suspension settings – With the WP forks set-up to maintain forward momentum after heavy landings and the all-new WP shock as good as rear suspension gets, attacking the track has never felt so good. Plus, both the forks and shock are adjustable by hand, for quick and easy set-up changes.

State-of-the-art electronics with Traction Control and Quickshifter – Helping to get the power down in slick conditions, Traction Control is essential for all hardpack tracks while the Quickshifter ensures super-smooth gear changes – even when wide open!

New map selector switch to engage mappings, launch control, traction control and quickshift – Easy to operate, even when riding, the handlebar-mounted Map Select Switch houses all the buttons to activate Launch Control, Traction Control, and the Quickshifter.

Lighter motors and new engine position – Low in weight and positioned to play a vital role in handling, the Factory Edition motors aren’t just fast, but they help each bike handle perfectly.

Redesigned 250 motor – All-new and designed for pro level racing, the 250cc 4-stroke motor may well be the best out there!

Updated 450 motor – Refined to be lower in weight and still produce copious amounts of power, the 450 motor is designed to centralize mass for perfect handling.

A 2023-model GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition. Photo courtesy GASGAS.

Beyond the super-cool Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing graphics, the very best race-tested components have been fitted to both factory edition models. Every single part is designed to improve performance and durability while the latest in electronic wizardry allows riders to customize the power to suit their style.

Take a look at the full list of what’s included on both the GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition and MC 250F Factory Edition motocross bikes, it’s seriously impressive…

Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing replica graphics from the 2023 season

Ribbed Factory Seat Cover

Factory Racing Triple Clamps (anodized red)

Factory Wheels (anodized black)

Dunlop tires

Black rear sprocket

Gold x-ring chain

Factory Start Device

Semi-Floating Front Brake Disc

Factory Racing Brake Disc Guard

2K Carbon Composite Skid Plate

Frame Protection Kit (red)

Hour meter with FI status LED and low fuel warning

Map Select Switch to control Launch Control, Traction Control, and Quickshift

Akrapovic “Slip-On Line” titanium exhaust system

Billet Hinson Outer Clutch Cover

Black Neken Fatbar with GASGAS bar pad

Softer ODI Lock-On Grips

Firmer suspension settings

Unlocking even more power from the new, more compact, and easier to work on motors is a lightweight Akrapovič Slip-On Line titanium exhaust system. Giving a significant boost to both torque and top speed, it’s the very latest offering from Akrapovič, which as well as improving performance, looks the absolute business.

Not only super-fast, but these new Factory Edition bikes also handle like a dream. Firmer settings on the WP XACT suspension encourage riders to attack the track and big jumps with full confidence, safe in the knowledge that heavy landings will be soaked up with no loss of forward momentum. Up front, red anodized Factory Racing Triple Clamps allow riders to customize the ergonomics, while soft ODI Lock-On grips improve comfort. A grippy, ribbed seat cover keeps riders where they want to be when getting on the gas.

Dunlop Geomax MX33 tires hook up in all conditions, and are fitted to our black Factory Wheels, which are rock solid and add to the real race bike flavor. We’ve bolted on a Semi-Floating Front Brake Disc, so you’ll never miss your line in the corners and protected it with a Factory Racing Brake Disc Guard for when things get wild in the first turn!

Finishing off both bikes in style is a long list of parts taken straight from our Technical Accessories range. From front to back, there’s a Factory Start Device, Neken handlebars, a 2K Carbon Composite Skid Plate, Hinson Clutch Cover, a red Frame Protection Kit, a black Rear Sprocket, and a gold x-ring chain. Finally, to make sure riders stay on top of servicing their bike, we’ve installed an Hour Meter to ensure no one ever loses track of just how many hours they’ve spent on this awesome bike.

For more information and to check out the full spec of both factory edition motocross bikes, head to GASGAS.com.

The MC 450F Factory Edition and MC 250F Factory Edition models will be available in all US based GASGAS dealerships in January 2023. European and all non-US customers will be able to get their hands on the MC 450F Factory Edition a couple of months later, in March. For full pricing details and more information, please visit your local GASGAS dealer.

CVMA: Anthony Wins Stock 1000 Shootout

December 7, 2022

David Anthony (25) leads Corey Alexander (23) and Bryce Prince (74) during the CVMA Stock 1000 Shootout at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. Photo by CaliPhotography.com, courtesy CVMA.

CVMA Racing Round 3 2022/2023 Winter Series

December 3/4 2022

Chuckwalla Valley Raceway

Round 3 of the CVMA 2022/2023 Winter Series kicked off under overcast skies, cool weather and a fast race track. On Friday, a group of five riders graduated from the new racer school and received their CVMA licenses. CVMA changed the schedule for this round. Saturday morning featured two qualifying sessions instead of one practice session and one qualifying session. This gave riders a second shot to set their gird position with a fast lap. The change had the added benefit of saving some time in a busy Saturday race schedule — important during the short winter daylight hours.

On Friday, a group of five riders graduated from the new racer school and received their CVMA license.

During qualifying on Saturday, Owen Williams was the fastest on an Ultra Lightweight bike, turning a 1:54.436 lap time. Justin Bordonaro went quickest on a Lightweight class bike with a 1:52.536. Torin Collins set the Middleweight bike benchmark with a 1:48.738. And, fastest of all, was Corey Alexander with a 1:44.785 lap time on an Open class bike.

Saturday

Quinn Swift broke the lap record in the Formula 40 Ultra Lightweight class with a 1:56.524. Other standouts on Saturday included Williams winning three races riding both Middleweight and Ultra Lightweight bikes. Bordonaro, David “Aussie Dave” Anthony, and Nayden Balladares all won two races each.

Sunday

On Sunday, the premier race of the day started under sunny skies and exceptionally warm weather. In the Stock 1000 Shootout, Anthony got the holeshot followed by Alexander and “The Prince” Bryce Prince. At the start of lap three, Alexander was able to out drive Anthony coming out of the last turn and make a pass for the lead at the end of the front straight entering the first corner. Anthony retook the lead on lap five. The two ran nose-to-tail for the remainder of the race but Alexander was never able to challenge for the lead again. The final result was Anthony for the win, Alexander in second, and Prince in third.

In the Formula Lightweight Twins Shootout, Cody Wyman was first into Turn 17 followed by Bordonaro and Jonathan “Crafty” Glaefke. Unfortunately, the race was red-flagged on the first lap. At the restart, Glaefke got the holeshot but was quickly passed by Wyman. Bordonaro slotted into second. The running order at the end of the first lap was Wyman, Bordonaro, and Glaefke. Bordonaro passed Wyman onto the front straight to make a pass for the lead on lap four. Unfortunately, Bordonaro crashed in Turn 9, a.k.a. “Crash Corner,” a short time later, handing it back to Wyman. The final result was Wyman first followed by Glaefke and then Gio Alvarez. As a consolation, Bordonaro set a new lap record for the class turning a 1:50.662 lap time.

The Formula Ultra Lightweight Shootout started with Quinn Swift getting the holeshot. By the end of the first lap, Kreece Elliott had taken the lead with Williams and Swift following. Williams took the lead on lap two and proceeded to check out. Swift made the pass for second on lap four and that set the finishing order. Williams took the win with Swift in second and Elliott rounding out the podium.

In the Supersport Middleweight Shootout, David Kohlstaedt took the lead at the beginning and was never challenged. Collins, returning to race with CVMA after a long absence, ran a lonely second place the entire race. Behind Collins, a battle for the final spot on the podium raged between Jeff “The Tiger” Tigert and Williams. Tigert ran the first five laps in front of Williams. Toward the end of the fifth lap, Williams made a brave pass for third position entering Turn Three on the brakes. Williams and Tigert ran nose-to-tail for the remainder of the race, but Tigert was unable to find a way past Williams. The final result was Kohlstaedt for the win, Collins second, and Williams third.

Full race results can be found on MYLAPS: https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/2078895

The next round will be the weekend of January 21-22, 2023.

CVMA offers two full days of racing every race weekend and also includes Saturday qualifying for grid position in all classes, amateur and expert, as well as a wide variety of classes to choose from.

CVMA offers free reciprocity as a means of encouraging racers from other clubs to come out and compete. CVMA also offers a New Racers School for those starting out in racing on the Friday prior to each race weekend. Log on to www.cvmaracing.com to sign up or for more information.

CVMA. Built for racers by racers and offering the best racing experience around!

Series Sponsors: SoCal Track Days, Apex Assassins, Ryder Gear, and CaliPhotography

NRS Sponsors: Alpinestars, 6D Helmets, Racer Gloves, and Racer’s Edge

*Note: when running the course counter-clockwise the corner numbers are referred to as they are when running clockwise.

More From MotoGP Testing In Spain

December 7, 2022

Luca Marini (10) had no new components to test, but got down to the business of getting the most from his existing Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati and turned the fastest lap of the day. Photo by Michael Gougis.