Canadian Superbike: Young Starting Title Defense At Shannonville (Includes Video)

David Swarts

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May 16, 2023

Canadian Superbike: Young Starting Title Defense At Shannonville (Includes Video)

Young defends title for first time as wide-open series returns to SMP this weekend

Toronto, ON – After months of speculation surrounding a vastly different and unpredictable 2023 Bridgestone Canadian Superbike season, our first answer will finally be delivered this weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park, May 18-21.

Much has changed since the last time we saw the feature GP Bikes Pro Superbike championship at CTMP in August 2022, and that different feeling will be on full display at historic SMP – a venue not seen on the CSBK calendar since 2019.

With the new era of Bridgestone tires fully underway, a return to a historic circuit for the first time in four years, and an influx of both purse money and new talent into the feature class, it will likely be a season full of unfamiliarity.

One thing that will feel familiar, however, is Ben Young being the man to beat.

Watch the exclusive round one video preview here:

The reigning national champion for the second time in his career, Young will be sporting the #1 plate for the first time after sitting out the 2020 season (winning in 2019), but it almost seems fitting as the 2022 version of Young was unlike anything we saw before.

Winning five of nine races and finishing inside the top-two in every single one of them, Young took home 225 of a possible 250 points to defeat rival and then-champion Alex Dumas by 29.5 points (the last race awarding half-points due to a red flag).

More impressively, Young completely obliterated the notion from earlier in his career that he was “too safe,” winning races six and seven in aggressive and dramatic fashion over Dumas to seal the Canada Cup for the Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW program.

Combine all of this with the memory that Young is the most recent victor at SMP – winning round one in 2019 en route to his first championship – and it would be fair to assume that no one will touch him this weekend.

That couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Dumas will have plenty to say about being the “underdog” entering 2023, having won eight times in 16 races since moving north to his home country and missing the podium only once – his infamous crash out of the lead in race five at AMP a year ago.

The Purple Skull Brewing/Liqui Moly Suzuki rider also won’t have the narrative of track inexperience against him this time around, after losing 44 points to Young across the two tracks he visited for the first time in 2022 (Grand Bend and AMP).

While he’s yet to race nationally at SMP, the 20-year-old is an instructor at the FAST School located right within the venue, and he showcased that track knowledge by topping the Super Series regional opener this weekend, just 1.8 seconds off the outright lap record.

Alex Dumas (23) will be sporting a new Purple Skull Brewing Suzuki when he kicks off his title challenge this weekend at SMP. Photo by Rob O'Brien, courtesy CSBK. — Alex Dumas (23) will be sporting a new Purple Skull Brewing Suzuki when he kicks off his title challenge this weekend at SMP. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.

When it comes to track knowledge, however, no one will have more around practically any venue in Canada than 14-time champion Jordan Szoke, who is aiming to make his long-awaited return to the Bridgestone CSBK paddock at the same place where he captured his first Superbike crown in 1998.

Szoke’s recovery from a brutal crash last offseason appeared to be behind him, topping the Winter Test in his first appearance back on board the LDS Consultants Kawasaki, but another recent health scare has put that in jeopardy – though he will surely be a threat to win should he manage to turn up.

He won’t be the only threat in the LDS Consultants Kawasaki garage, however, as his new rookie teammate, Trevor Dion, proved one year ago. Making his first and thus far only Superbike appearance, Dion came out of nowhere to steal pole position and a third-place finish in last year’s Grand Bend opener, before choosing to focus on his eventual Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike championship-winning season.

Now fully focused on his Superbike career, Dion will lead off the group of riders that are next in line for their first career victories, finishing second to Dumas at the Super Series regional, but he’ll have another Trevor to deal with in the form of OneSpeed Suzuki’s Trevor Daley.

A podium challenger everywhere he goes, Daley struggled in his last appearance at SMP in 2019 but finished fourth the year prior, and will hope a fresh start at the venue can help him finally capture his elusive first career feature victory.

Also worth mentioning in the podium mix will be a pair of fan favourites in Sam Guerin and Tomas Casas, the former making his first ever national appearance at historic Shannonville. The EFC Group BMW rider went just marginally slower than Dion in his recent regional action, adjusting quickly to a number of new variables as he also broke in a new machine at the circuit.

As for Casas, an injury-riddled 2022 season prevented the Parts Canada Yamaha rider from taking the next step in the feature category, but the former two-time Sport Bike champion reminded everyone of his potential by finishing fourth at CTMP a year ago.

Ben Young (86) is the most recent Superbike race winner at Shannonville, narrowly fending off Kenny Riedmann (42), Jordan Szoke (1), Tomas Casas (18), and Jeff Williams (7) in 2019. Photo by Rob O'Brien, courtesy CSBK. — Ben Young (86) is the most recent Superbike race winner at Shannonville, narrowly fending off Kenny Riedmann (42), Jordan Szoke (1), Tomas Casas (18), and Jeff Williams (7) in 2019. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.

Outside of the individual rider battles on-track, there will also be a pair of other key awards to watch out for at SMP in the Constructors Championship and the Brooklin Cycle Racing Pro Rookie of the Year fight.

BMW will enter as the defending Constructors winners after stealing the trophy from inaugural champs Suzuki, thanks in large part to the efforts of Young and Guerin, but the one-on-one rivalry may be broken up in 2023 by the revamped effort of Kawasaki and the steady progress of Ducati and Yamaha, amongst others.

As for the Rookie of the Year battle, it’s anyone’s guess who will be the closest challenger to Dion in a deep and wide-open freshman class, though Pierre Simard likely snatched the honour after his breakout performance at the Winter Test.

The D1C Suzuki rider went fourth-fastest in Florida to only Szoke, Young, and Dumas, as he prepares to take a second crack at his rookie season, retaining his status after an early injury derailed his 2022 campaign.

However, the top duo will have fellow Suzuki teenager John Fraser and reigning AIM Insurance Amateur Superbike champion Julien Lafortune (Kawasaki) to contend with, amongst many other talented rookies.

The full schedule for the opening round of the feature GP Bikes Pro Superbike class, as well as the other six support classes, can be found on the series’ official website.

Moto2: American SDK Makes More Progress At Le Mans

David Swarts

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May 16, 2023

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Moto2: American SDK Makes More Progress At Le Mans

A tough end to the French Grand Prix for the American Racing Team as Sean Dylan Kelly narrowly missed out on his first points of the season whilst Rory Skinner crashed out from 20th.

It was a mixed start to Sean’s weekend as he climbed into the top 10 early in FP1 before a crash at Turn Three 15 minutes into the session. The American was able to re-join for the final 10 minutes but a second crash at Turn Seven prematurely ended his morning in 25th. Sean significantly improved in the afternoon session, cutting 1.3s off his best time from practice one and narrowly missing out on a direct spot in Q2 by a mere 0.19s.

Overnight rain left the circuit soaked as Sean hit the track for the final practice session. As the track conditions continued to evolve, Sean boosted himself into third on the timings in the final few minutes but was unable to improve on his combined timings position.

With a dry track and the sun shining for Qualifying, Sean quickly took himself into P1 with an impressive early lap before being pushed down to the fringes of the top four. Despite putting in his fastest time of the weekend, he narrowly missed out on a Q2 spot by the tiniest margin, 0.028 of a second.

Lining up from 19th position, Sean dropped three positions in the opening lap. A multi-rider crash three laps into the race brought out the red flag, sending all the riders back into the pits.

Once the track was cleared, race distance was reduced to 14 laps with a quick restart procedure implemented.

As the lights went out for a second time, Sean began his fight towards the points positions as he battled with Senna Agius before moving into 15th spot.

Sean maintained the final points place for the majority of the race but was caught by the hard-charging Sam Lowes on the final lap, snatching his first points finish of the season from him as he crossed the finish line in 16th.

Rory’s first visit to the Le Mans circuit in six years got off to an equally tricky start to his teammate as the Scot took an early tumble at Turn Three. Heading back out for the last 10 minutes, Rory suffered his second crash of the session at Turn 13, ending his FP1 in 28th. Rory continued to reacquaint himself with the French circuit in practice two, improving by 1.4s despite suffering from suspected flu to end Friday in 28th place.

Still nursing an illness, Rory joined the damp practice three session to collect some valuable lap time. As the track rapidly dried, the Scot continued to improve, ending the final practice in 15th place ahead of Qualifying.

In the much-improved conditions in Q1, Rory left it until the final moments to put in his best lap time of the weekend to take 26th position.

On race day, Rory maintained his 26th position for the initial three-lap dash before the red flag spotted all action.

Taking to the track for the second time, he made great progress on lap one as he made his way into 20th place and had his sights set on another top-20 finish.

Unfortunately, a highside at Turn Six on lap five ended Rory’s impressive run prematurely.

Sean Dylan Kelly #4

I was just off the points in the race. I’m a little bit disappointed because I was P15 until the very last lap – I just felt like I lacked a little bit of something to be more competitive with the group in front of me, P12 was right ahead, and I was trying really hard, and I was able to keep right behind them, but I didn’t have enough to make some passes. It was a little bit disappointing to not have that extra juice at the end but, looking at the positives, we were in that fight for the points until the very last lap and yesterday we were just off Q2 which is the objective.

Compared to last year when this was one of my absolute worst weekends, I was really far off and I had a really tough time, I think I was able to make a good turnaround to one year later and, even compared to practice one, I was feeling strong but I had two pretty big crashes so the fact I was able to make that step after those was really important for me

Overall, it was an important weekend. I think we made some important steps, and we were fighting in the battle – now it’s time to look at the positives and build on everything else. We have three weeks now before the triple-header so I’m really looking forward to this mini-break and I’m ready to come back stronger.

Rory Skinner #33

The weekend has been very up and down. Obviously starting off the weekend with two crashes wasn’t ideal and I’ve felt quite under the weather for a large majority of the weekend but that is what it is, so I just had to get on with that.

It was good after Qualifying, we made some good steps in it on my own and I felt quite good going into the race in both starts, the original and the restart – I got a good launch off the line in both and got into a good group and was settling in for the race but the crash in the restart wasn’t great as it was a fairly sizeable highside straight to my face – I’ll be feeling that one for a few days – also my wrist is a little sore as I’ve aggravated an old injury.

I’m happy with the progress we’re making, it is coming – I know I’ve said that every weekend, but it is and we’re making steps in the right direction, it’s just taking a little longer than I originally anticipated.

American Flat Track: Tickets On Sale Now For Du Quoin Mile

David Swarts

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May 16, 2023

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American Flat Track: Tickets On Sale Now For Du Quoin Mile

Tickets Now on Sale for Du Quoin Mile

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is pleased to announce that tickets are officially on sale for the series’ epic return to the Du Quoin Mile at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds on June 17 in Du Quoin, Illinois.

The event, promoted by Track Enterprises, is destined to be one of the genuine highlights of the season as the world’s greatest motorcycle dirt trackers will share the spotlight with the future stars of the sport with the 2023 Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship, sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association, determining this year’s amateur national champions at the venue from June 14-20.

The “Magic Mile” has lived up to its moniker time and time again, playing witness to some of the most memorable races in the history of the Grand National Championship. That was certainly true the last time the heroes of the Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle did battle in a Main Event at the famously fast venue. On that day in 2015, three of the best-ever Milers went bar-to-bar to the checkered flag, with “Mile Master” Bryan Smith getting the nod in a 0.000-second photo finish ahead of current champion Jared Mees with AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Kenny Coolbeth just 0.013 seconds back.

This year’s edition promises similar excitement and star power with the next generation of Progressive AFT heroes in attendance and taking notes.

“I can’t imagine a better way to spend Father’s Day weekend,” said Bob Sargent, President of Track Enterprises. “The Du Quoin Mile is an amazing spectacle, and one that can be enjoyed in a family-friendly environment. This ranks as among the series’ most celebrated races with a history that stretches all the way back to 1955. It’s our pleasure to bring the eyes of the motorsports’ world back to the Magic Mile.”

General Admission tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult GA ticket) if purchased in advance, $40 on the day of the race. Reserved Grandstand tickets, which provide spacious seating accommodations on the top two sections of the covered grandstands, are $40 if purchased in advance, $45 on race day.

Pit Pass Upgrades are also available for purchase for $40 ($20 for kids 12 and under), which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/trackenterprises/events/duquoin-mile-70363 to reserve your seats today.

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://www.fanschoice.tv.

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

About Progressive American Flat Track

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

Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: Le Mans 2023 – Bringing A Spoon To A Knife Fight

David Swarts

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May 16, 2023

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Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: Le Mans 2023 – Bringing A Spoon To A Knife Fight

Roadracing World MotoGP Editor and Isle of Man TT winner Mat Oxley and two-time World Championship-winning Crew Chief Peter Bom have started “The Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast,” which will be focused on the FIM MotoGP World Championship.

In Episode Two: “It’s a wild weekend at the MotoGP in Le Mans, France, as Mat and Peter talk crashes, close calls and some good old fashioned chaos. Cheers!”

The original podcast can be found on BuzzSprout.com or listened to via other places you get podcasts.

KTM’s 450 SMR Gets New Color Scheme

David Swarts

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May 16, 2023

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STILL UNBEATABLE, STILL UNDENIABLE: RULE THE TRACK WITH THE 2024 KTM 450 SMR

The KTM 450 SMR is the bar of reference for Supermoto. For riders seeking an escape from the limits of the road, for dirt bikers that want to feel an exhilarating drift (but on the asphalt), for those that want the ideal training tool or Supermoto racers craving to lead the pack, it is the only choice.

Austria’s own Lukas Höllbacher took his KTM 450 SMR to the 2022 AMA Supermoto title and fought until the last moments for the FIM World Championship. Höllbacher’s track feats and feedback rolled into the serial production version of KTM’s latest and best Supermoto racer. In 2023, he will again be on the attack with the 2024 KTM 450 SMR, and riders can now get their hands on the same model. The 2024 incarnation has a fresh new splash of color using in-mold technology for the bodywork. KTM orange, white, and black create an attractive blur at speed, but there is also the distinctive streak of purple, inspired by 1990 KTM bikes barreling around international racetracks.

A 2024 KTM 450 SMR at rest. Photo by Fotografie Mitterbauer, courtesy KTM.

Surge forward with the 450 cc SOHC engine that fires out massive power with long service intervals. At less than 59.5 lb (27 kg), the powerplant is a masterpiece of power-to-weight engineering. A 44 mm Keihin throttle body brings in the fun and gauges the right response, while the SUTER slipper clutch adds another important way to modulate lap-time speed.

Ultimate handling comes thanks to centralization of the motor and chassis within the hydro-formed, laser-cut and robot-welded frame. The compact construction has just the right amount of longitudinal rigidity and flex to provide superb feedback, energy absorption and straight-line stability. The reinforced aluminum subframe was generated from computational dynamic studies: sensitivity, robustness and reliability were the parameters. The hollow, die-cast aluminum swingarm is another remarkable contributor to the 2024 KTM 450 SMR’s performance, along with a NEKEN aluminum handlebar and CNC machined triple clamps (rubber damped for less vibration) to put every single vital meter of the racetrack right into the rider’s hands.

Pivot on a dime with dependable suspension. 48 mm WP XACT split front forks have AER technology for progressive and consistent damping, especially in the last 40 mm of travel. Count on quick access click adjusters for compression and rebound. The WP XACT shock is small, light, and fixed with the frame geometry for better ground clearance of the linkage system. The XACT unit is one of the most advanced pieces of hardware to emerge from the WP Suspension factory lines. Like the fork, the shock’s compression and rebound can be configured without the need for tools.

The left-front view of a 2024 KTM 450 SMR. Photo by Fotografie Mitterbauer, courtesy KTM.

Easy life for the racer, thanks to specialist features such as the electric start, the tool-less air filter for simple replacement, a performance-designed airbox, a flat and high seat (with a high-grip cover) to accommodate control at any angle and a large polythene 1.9-gallon (7.2-liter) fuel tank, meaning more miles at speed. Carefully engineered footpegs with a larger surface area – but revised integration into the frame – are optimized for tarmac and the varying conditions of the terrain.

Run to the limit of the corners with heavy-duty Brembo brakes. The 4-piston radial caliper will clamp the 310 mm front disc at the merest stroke of the lever, while a single piston unit grabs the 220 mm rear disc to set off those time-saving drifts.

Own the track with a raft of special race-orientated details such as two selectable engine maps, launch control, traction control and the Quickshifter, all administered by a Keihin engine management system. An LED hour meter, Fuel Injection status and a Roll Over Sensor are included. The ROS detects the position of the bike in the event of a crash and automatically kills the engine in a nod towards improved safety.

Tire tech that won’t let you down. Metzeler Racetec SM K1 Supermoto rubber heats up quickly and boasts a large performance scale in terms of temperature range and different states of asphalt. The tires are fitted to high strength but light ALPINA alloy rims with CNC machined hubs.

2024 KTM 450 SMR Technical Highlights

// Purposeful orange, black, white and purple race trim livery with black coated frame and menacing black wheels

// SOHC engine package weighing less than 59.9 lb (27 kg) and prioritizing centralization thanks to altered positioning in the frame. Easily serviceable

// Two engine map options, launch control, traction control and Quickshifter as well as SUTER slipper clutch for maximum control

// Compact, light and innovative chassis for the best feeling, traction and handling

// First class WP XACT fork with AER technology and XACT shock: small, condensed and fully adjustable hardware to quickly refine track set-up

// High-quality Brembo brakes with 4-piston radially mounted caliper and 310 mm front and 220 mm rear discs for potent stopping power

// READY TO RACE details for a pure track-based machine: 16.5/17” wheels, Metzeler tires, ODI lock-on grips, tool-less air filter access, light and optimized footpegs

// Unbeatable ergonomics that place all the stability and poise of the 2024 KTM 450 SMR at the rider’s fingertips for both front-end grip and rear-end confidence

The 2024 KTM 450 SMR will be sliding through Authorized KTM dealer showrooms from May 2023 onward.

MotoAmerica: Steel Commander Is New Title Sponsor Of Stock 1000

David Swarts

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May 16, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Steel Commander Is New Title Sponsor Of Stock 1000

Steel Commander Corp Is Now The Title Sponsor Of The MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship

Steel-Building Manufacturer Set For Title Sponsorship of Steel Commander Stock 1000 Class Beginning At Barber Motorsports Park Round

IRVINE, CA (May 16, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier road racing racing series, is pleased to announce that Steel Commander Corp will be the title sponsor of the 2023 MotoAmerica Steel Commander Stock 1000 Championship, beginning with the May 19-21 second round of the series at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

Steel Commander Corp, with its corporate headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida, is an all-American Steel Building manufacturer shipping factory-direct to all U.S. territories offering a combination of expertise, innovation, and dedication to quality and customer satisfaction. Steel Commander Corp offers a comprehensive range of solutions for the commercial, industrial, residential, garage, storage, and other industries with a combined experience of over 60 years.

In addition to being the title sponsor of the Steel Commander Stock 1000 class, the steel-building manufacturer recently announced that it will field a team in the series with former MotoAmerica Supersport class winner Gabriel Da Silva. Da Silva will compete in both the Steel Commander Stock 1000 class and the Superbike Cup division of the MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike series. Da Silva and the team will also be making their debut at Barber Motorsports Park, May 19-21.

“We are pumped to have Steel Commander Corp on board as the Stock 1000 title sponsor for 2023,” said Lance Bryson, MotoAmerica’s Director of Sponsorship. “They are true fans of the sport and are excited to be joining our series with both a team and a title sponsor. We are equally as excited to have them onboard and to have our fans learn about Steel Commander’s products. The Stock 1000 class got started at Road Atlanta a few weeks ago with two exciting races and we’re expecting more of that at every round, including Steel Commander’s first race as a sponsor at Barber.”

“We are excited to announce this new partnership between Steel Commander Corp and MotoAmerica.” said Shawn Fisher, President and CEO of Steel Commander Corp. “This is a great opportunity for the two companies to promote the 2023 MotoAmerica Championship and to showcase the incredible talent and dedication of exceptional riders like Gabriel Da Silva. We are eagerly awaiting Gabriel’s first race this weekend (May 19-21) in Alabama.”

About MotoAmerica

MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.

2023 Trackday Directory

Magazine Issue

Trudy Ulrich

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May 15, 2023

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On the Front Cover: The KTM RC 8 C is a limited-edition, purpose-built, light-weight track bike with a twin-cylinder engine from the Duke 890 and a custom frame. It is fast, it handles well, and riding it is big fun.

To purchase just this issue, click here.

The Roadracing World 2023 Trackday Directory Special Issue is included with your subscription to Roadracing World magazine.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Or call (909) 654-4779, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday to start your subscription.

Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats. Log in HERE to access your digital subscription.

2023 Trackday Directory Special Issue

In This Issue:

INTRODUCTION: Making Racetrack Memories

FEATURES

Getting On The Track:

Falling In Love With The Sport

Why Do A Track Day?

Overcoming Excuses

Prepping Your Bike

Your First Track Day

Transportation 101: Haulers & Trailers

Trasnportation 102: Loading And Unloading Your Bike

A Well-Organized Trailer

What To Bring To The Track

Track Days For Women Only: Having Fun And Doing Good

Taking It To The (Kart) Track

Racetrack Upgrades:

AT THE TRACK

Adding Performance By Changing Tires

Making It Better With Performance Parts

Performance Priorities: Step By Step

PROTECTIVE GEAR

Armor: Head To Toe

Airbag Protection For All

Boots & Gloves

More Head To Toe

Track Day Tips:

Do This, Don’t Do That

Packing Checklist

Stay Hydrated

Warning Flags

Airfence: Keeping Riders Safer

Last Words: Don’t Go Crazy

Exotic Track Days:

Vacationing At MotoGP Tracks

Becoming A Better Rider:

The Ultimate In Overcoming Excuses: Everything Included

Braking Like Superbike Champion/Rider Coach Josh Hayes

Yamaha Champions Riding School (AKA ChampSchool)

ChampSchool’s World Champion Connection

ChampU Online: Remote Learning For Riders

AHRMA’s In-House Racing School

California Superbike School: Learning Never Ends

Learning From 2010 Moto2 World Champion Toni Elias

Seen At The Track:

Scenes From The Racetrack With AHRMA

WHO, WHEN, & WHERE

Track Day Organization & Racing School Calendar

Road Racing Organizations

Mini Road Racing Organizations

Track Day Locator By State/Province

Map Of Racetrack Locations

High-Performance Parts & Services Directory

NEMRR: Narbonne Wins In Preparation For 100th Loudon Classic

David Swarts

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May 15, 2023

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NEMRR: Narbonne Wins In Preparation For 100th Loudon Classic

Round 2 of the 2023 Northeast Motorcycle Road Racing (NEMRR) had a palpable
excitement in the air over the entire weekend. In preparation for the
100th running of the Loudon Classic in June, the paddock had a number of
top riders in attendance and everyone was excited to see how they would
fare. The list of “non regular” riders riding New Hampshire Motor
Speedway (NHMS) included the likes of Tyler Scott, Blake Davis, Joe Limandri
and JC Camacho. In addition, top NEMRR home town riders who are often
traveling at national events like Teagg Hobbs, Shane Narbonne and Jacob
Crossman were all in attendance as well. Although he wasn’t competing
this weekend, even AMA Superbike legend Josh Hayes was in attendance on
Sunday afternoon.

Brett Guyer started off the weekend with a dominating victory in the 25
minute GTL class on his Seacoast Sport Cycle Aprilia RS 660. Racing with
fellow NEMRR veteran Rick Doucette and his son Adam, Brett scored the
holeshot and was challenged by Doucette for the first five laps. A mistake
by Doucette on lap six gave Guyer a sizable cushion that he then extended
throughout the remainder of race. This race set the tone for an
extremely successful weekend for Guyer where he went on to win six of the
seven races that he entered. The only rider to get the best of Guyer all
weekend was fellow RS 660 rider Jacob Crossman, a rider who started at
NEMRR and is now riding the MotoAmerica Twins Cup Series with 3D
Racing. Crossman won the LW Grand Prix class by just over two seconds
from Guyer, and in the process ran a 1.15.00 lap time, the fastest trip
around NHMS on a LW motorcycle for the weekend!

Brett Guyer (11) won six of his seven races. Photo by Martin Hanlon, courtesy NEMRR.

The Pros from out of town were picking the track up quickly as many of
them were contending with series regulars for podium positions during
the weekend. The Gen-2 Moto America bikes of Tyler Scott and Teagg
Hobbs have not yet been incorporated into the Middleweight Grand Prix
rules on regular NEMRR weekends, so those riders competed in the
Heavyweight and Unlimited classes in their quest to get up to speed.
Those bikes will be legal for the Loudon Classic, and there is the
potential that NEMRR tech officials will get the training needed to
incorporate those machines into the Middleweight GP classes after the
June event. Hobbs and Scott battled at the front in all of their races.

The feature race of NEMRR weekend was the Michelin/MotoRace dash for
cash. The large 38-bike field was set via qualifying times from the
morning practice session, and the front two rows were stacked with
talent. As the field came around for the first lap, the race was led by
series regular Eli Block, followed closely by Dash for Cash rookies
Blake Davis and Joe Limandri. Recovering from sub-par starts were
contenders Shane Narbonne and Tyler Sweeney in fourth and fifth place.
Narbonne and Sweeney clearly had their heads down, but the young riders
in front of them were showing why they have had the success at the
national level. Narbonne, the all-time leader in Loudon Classic wins,
moved steadily forward as he passed Limandri on lap two and Davis on lap
three. By the time he got to second place, Block had opened up nearly a two-second lead. Meanwhile, Sweeney was close behind and moved past
Limandri on lap three and Davis on lap six. Once in third place, Sweeney was
the fastest rider on the track for several laps as he caught the lead
duo. On lap nine Narbonne used his signature braking move into the Turn Six
bowl and moved into the lead. As he inched away from his rivals,
Sweeney pressured Block and took advantage of a big slide that Block
saved while driving up the Turn Four hill to make his move into the second
spot. Davis and Limandri hung on to round out the top five.

After the races were all over, Dunlop held a tire test and that included
Blake Davis, Teagg Hobbs, Tyler Scott, Tyler Sweeney and Josh Hayes, who
last rode the track in 2001. With a fully open track and a weekend of
racing behind them the groundwork was there to churn out some impressive
times. Josh Hayes, riding a borrowed bike and seeing the track for the
first time in over two decades, got down to competitive times in a mere eight
laps! Tyler Scott was the fastest rider at the test, beating the best
race times of the entire race weekend on a consistent basis. These
riders are a sign of what is to come in next month’s classic, as these
top professionals adapt to new tracks quickly. The competition should
be intense!

The historic running of the Loudon Classic will be June 16-18. Friday
will consist of both NEMRR racing and Loudon Classic Qualifying, and
Saturday will be a dedicated Pro Day with practice, qualifying and
finals for the three pro classes. Enthusiasts looking for tickets to the
Loudon Classic June 16-18 can find a link directly on the www.nemrr.com
home page!

Valentino Rossi On Fanatec GT Podium At Brands Hatch

David Swarts

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May 15, 2023

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Valentino Rossi On Fanatec GT Podium At Brands Hatch

THREE PODIUMS AND GOLD CUP WIN FOR TEAM WRT AT BRANDS HATCH

It was a successful start of the 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup season for Team WRT at Brands Hatch, as the squad took three overall podiums and one Gold Cup win. It will be a memorable weekend also because Valentino Rossi signed his first Fanatec GT podium by finishing second together with Maxime Martin in race two, while reigning champions Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts netted two third finishes. Niklas Kruetten and Calan Williams scored their maiden win in the Gold Cup in race two, finishing at an impressive seventh position overall.

Team WRT Principal Vincent Vosse was very happy at the end of the weekend: “There are podium finishes that taste as sweet as victories, and the ones taken here are of that kind. This was our first sprint race with the new BMW M4 GT3 and we had a very positive outcome. Everybody did a great job; the drivers were fantastic and the pit stops, perfect. Obviously, Vale was very happy with his first podium, and I feel very proud that he conquered it with us and in a sprint race. I also want to stress the great weekend of our young guys in the Gold Cup, who won race two taking a great seventh overall. On the whole, we lacked top-speed pace with respect to some of our competitors, and we will have to focus on improving in that area.”

It was not an easy start to the weekend for the BMW M4 GT3s, as they were struggling with pace and remained in the second third of the time sheets of the two free practice sessions. In qualifying for race one, things got better for car #32, with Charles Weerts qualifying fifth, while Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer (#31), Valentino Rossi (#46) and Calan Williams (#30) took 18th, 20th and 21st on the grid, respectively.

Race one, with no major incidents and no yellow periods, was a typical Brands Hatch race, with almost no possibility to overtake. Weerts stabilized in sixth position after the start, while Simmenauer was able to climb to 17th and Williams was running 21st, fourth in the Gold Cup. The four cars maintained those positions up to the pit stop, with Weerts and Rossi pitting in lap 19, one lap earlier than their teammates. Timely and perfect pit stops allowed Vanthoor to be third at the beginning of the second stint, with Neubauer 14th right ahead of Martin and Kruetten. The Belgian reduced significantly the gap with the two leaders but positions did not change for any of the Team WRT cars.

After post-race one decisions, Maxime Martin got promoted from fifth to third on the grid of race two, while Kruetten also gained a position up to eighth, with Vanthoor 13th and Neubauer 21st.

At the start of race two, Martin managed to fight for the lead but couldn’t materialise, and kept very close to the leaders in the first part of the race, while Vanthoor climbed up to ninth after swapping positions with Kruetten, and Neubauer was 15th. In lap 14, shortly before the opening of the pit stop window, the safety car had to intervene to allow the recovery of a car from the gravel trap. At the restart, Neubauer managed to gain one position.

Vanthoor and Neubauer dived into the pits as soon as the window opened, followed later by Martin and Kruetten. Another perfect pit stop allowed Rossi and Weerts to be in second and third at the beginning of the second stint, while Williams was seventh and leading the Gold Cup and Simmenauer dropped to 18th after suffering a spin. The closing laps remained uneventful for Rossi and Williams, while Weerts had to fight to retain his third position, and Simmenauer finished 15th despite being sent off-track by a rival.

Valentino Rossi (#46): “I am so happy about this second position and first podium! We got close some times last year and in Monza at the start of the season, and finally, it came. We all did a good job, the team, myself and Maxime, who put a mega lap time in qualifying. The pit stops were perfect, and the result is this podium, which is even more rewarding, as Sprint Cup races are more difficult.”

Maxime Martin (#46): “To finish second is of course a very good result. I had a clean start [to race two] and could stay in third position. The pace was good and improved after the safety car. We had a very good pit stop and Vale did a fantastic stint, bringing the car home safely. It’s the first podium for Vale and the first in Sprint for me, so we are very happy and I think we can aim at more good results during the season.”

Dries Vanthoor (#32): “A double podium is a very good result, and, honestly, more than what we expected after qualifying, when we were hoping to be in the top five. In race two, I had a good start and later the safety car helped a bit, but it’s really a team effort, with the boys doing great pit stops in both races. Looking at the whole season, the Sprint Cup will be a good challenge for us, but this weekend proves that if we fight hard, prepare well, and don’t give up, we can do well.”

Charles Weerts (#32): “I am very happy with the result. Honestly, I did not think we could take two podiums today, but we did a great job and could extract the maximum out of both races. I want to thank the mechanics because they did a super job in the two pit stops. We are now second in the standings, not far from the top, and that is great news.”

Calan Williams (#30): “It’s a great way to start the season in the Sprint Cup, with a win. I’m really happy with that, the team did a great job all weekend and the car was great. We showed we have the pace on track and in the pit stops, and that allowed us to have these great results.”

Nicklas Kruetten (#30): “We didn’t know what to expect since neither Calan nor I had raced here before, but I felt comfortable with the car since free practice one and we only had to do some set-up adjustments. In the high-speed corners, the car was really very good. For race two, I qualified strong, we managed to have a clean race, the team made a perfect pit stop and called us in at the right moment. That’s how we won the race and I think that if we keep going like this, we will have more opportunities this year to win races and hopefully the title.”

Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup – Round 1
Brands Hatch, United Kingdom, 14 May 2023

Race 1 results:

1. Marciello-Boguslavskiy (Mercedes AMG GT3) 42 laps

2. Drudi-Feller (Audi R8 LMS) + 0s616

3. Vanthoor-Weerts (BMW M4 GT3) +3s683

4. Légeret-Haase (Audi R8 LMS) +27s432

5. Lappalainen-Altoè (Ferrari 296 GT3) +28s251

14. Neubauer-Simmenauer (BMW M4 GT3) +58s883

15. Martin-Rossi (BMW M4 GT3) +59s241

16. Kruetten-Williams (BMW M4 GT3) +59s703 (4th in Gold)

Race 2 results:

1. Drudi-Feller (Audi R8 LMS GT3) 41 laps

2. Martin-Rossi (BMW M4 GT3) +3s769

3. Vanthoor-Weerts (BMW M4 GT3) +4s659

4. Goethe-Kjaergaard (McLaren 720S GT3) +5s317

5. Légeret-Haase (Audi R8 LMS GT3) +7s692

7. Kruetten-Williams (BMW M4 GT3) +15s108 (1st in Gold)

15. Neubauer-Simmenauer (BMW M4 GT3) +45s259

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup: Race Two Results From Le Mans

David Swarts

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May 14, 2023

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Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup: Race Two Results From Le Mans

Angel Piqueras wins stunning Rookies Le Mans Race 2

Too much drama in Race 2 of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup at Le Mans but it didn’t prevent Angel Piqueras taking his 5th win of the season and the 16-year-old Spaniard brilliantly held off Italian 15-year-old Guido Pini.

Spaniard Alberto Ferrández took 3rd from Argentina’s Marco Morelli as the 15-year-olds battled to the line for the final podium spot.

Piqueras did it again

“I really didn’t have a plan for the race today, I knew that the track would be different to yesterday and it was, it was a bit cold and without the same grip.”

“In the early laps and all the way through the race, it was a big battle at the front, all the riders were pushing very hard but on the last two laps I decided to push and to see what I could do.”

“It worked and am very happy to win again, of course, this is very good for the championship and it has been a great weekend. Two wins, it might not have been like that but it was.”

Pini improved last lap effort

“I am very happy with that, it’s my first podium in Rookies Cup. It was a very hard race, a lot of fighting at the front. We had to be a bit careful in the beginning because the track was cold but that was OK.

“I was confident going into the race today as I was yesterday. Yesterday I made mistakes on the last lap and that cost me the podium but not today. I battled with Piqueras for the win but I couldn’t do it this time.”

“I am enjoying the bike and really looking forward to my home race in Mugello.”

Ferrández gave it all

“I am very happy with that, I pushed all the way, from the first lap to the last I was always on the limit.”

“Finally on the last lap, so many riders crashed and finally I could overtake Morelli in the last corners and got on the podium. I have practised a lot, worked very hard for this but that is normal and I will try and do it again in Mugello.”

Morelli makes better use of Pole

“I am happy with the result, better than yesterday but very lucky because some riders crashed. I am happy though because today I could stay in the front group, I didn’t do that yesterday.”

“I still need to improve I need to be able to overtake more. I have scored some points which is good for the championship but that is not so important this year.”

“I tried for the podium, I overtook Ferrández but he overtook me, I was close to the podium and try again in Mugello.”

Cormac Buchanan 5th

“Well, very lucky, I was P11 going into the second to last lap and finished P5 so it is the first top 5. Lucky but then to finish first, first you have to finish so I’ll take it,” explained the 16-year-old New Zealander referring to the 5 riders who fell off at the end of the race.

“The starts this weekend have been really good, I am finally getting back to the way I felt at the end of last year so I’m really pleased with that but I just need to work on staying a bit more calm because when I get in that front group it gets a bit hectic and I kind of make a lot of mistakes. Then start losing the group.”

“There is still plenty to work on and I am going to train hard for Mugello and get P5 with more merit shall we say.”

Màximo Quiles falls on the final lap

“At the beginning of the race I was quite strong, I pushed and caught the front and we battled all the race, I could lead for some laps. But then towards the end, I dropped back a bit to get recharged so that I could push again for the finish.”

“Then on the last lap I was P4 and preparing the overtake and in the 2nd corner I braked straight and I crashed, I think I crashed with 2 more and I am very sorry for them. I hope Hakim (Danish) is OK.”

Hakim Danish brought down

“I was feeling good with the bike,” explained the 15-year-old Malaysian.” I was in the front group, I did a better job than yesterday, today I didn’t make the same mistakes as yesterday.”

I had a good start and managed to get quickly into the front group, then run in the top 5 and I could get up to 2nd. In the last lap, two riders crashed and hit me hard, I could do nothing about that. I am OK and let’s see the next race.”

Álvaro Carpe taken out

“I’m not so happy because I was in 3rd on the last lap and a rider hit me and I crashed.” stated the 15-year-old Spaniard. “I went to the bike but the engine had stopped and I could not restart it to get any points.”

“Yesterday I was 6th but it is not so good for the championship, I think I am still second but Piqueras has such a big lead.”

“We have to wait for Mugello and see what we can do there. I will do my best.”

Rico Salmela falls on last lap

“I’m OK after the crash. It was quite a good race before the crash. I was top 3 most of the race. Then close to the end I made a small mistake, I got neutral and I dropped to the back of the group. Then I pushed to catch up, I gained some positions and on the last lap I was P3 and I thought I could try to catch the riders in front. And then I had a small accident, I tried to save it but it was too much.

We’ll see what we can do in Mugello if we can still beat Piqueras.”

Ruche Moodley misses matching Race 1

“In the first laps I took it a bit carefully, just to check the track, because in Portimão I didn’t do that,” said the 16-year-old South African referring to his early race crash on a cold track in Portugal. “Then I felt confident, even though I was 13th at one stage, that I could catch the group.”

“The track was good and got better, on the 2nd to last lap I tried to get in a better position so that I could attack on the last lap and I just tucked the front.”

Session for FRA RookiesCup RAC2

Canadian Superbike: Young Starting Title Defense At Shannonville (Includes Video)

May 16, 2023

Defending Canadian Superbike Champion Ben Young (1). Photo by Rob O'Brien, courtesy CSBK. — 2022 Canadian Superbike Champion Ben Young (1) on his Bridgestone-shod BMW. Photo by Rob O'Brien, courtesy CSBK.