Harley-Davidson Adds Electra Glide Highway King To Icons Collection

David Swarts

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May 2, 2023

HARLEY-DAVIDSON LAUNCHES A NEW ICON WITH ELECTRA GLIDE HIGHWAY KING

Icons Motorcycle Collection Takes a Ride Back to the Swingin’ 60s

MILWAUKEE (May 2, 2023) – The Electra Glide® Highway King model, the third installment in the Harley-Davidson Icons Motorcycle Collection program, is an exercise in unabashed nostalgia. Laced wheels, wide-whitewall tires, a two-tone windshield, solo suspension seat and carefully curated colors are all inspired by a true Harley-Davidson icon – the 1968 FLH Electra Glide® model, a motorcycle that ruled the road in an era of paper maps and 15-cent burgers. The limited edition Electra Glide® Highway King model combines the flair of the Swingin’ 60s with the comfort and technology of a modern Harley-Davidson® Grand American Touring motorcycle.

The Icons Motorcycle Collection is an annual program for the limited release of a new model that offers a fresh interpretation of an iconic Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. A limited collection, each model is individually numbered and produced only once. Global production of the Electra Glide® Highway King model will not exceed 1,750 examples.

The Icon

In 1968 the Electra Glide® model topped the Harley-Davidson® motorcycle line. Riders who wanted a little extra touring comfort and convenience could order theirs with the King of the Highway accessories group, which added fiberglass saddlebags, a windshield, a luggage rack over the rear fender, and engine guards.

“In its day this was a really deluxe motorcycle,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson Vice President of Design and Creative Director. “The colors we’ve selected for the Highway King model are reminiscent of the original color options offered in 1968. We carefully matched each color in the lower section of the windshield. In 1968, the accessory fiberglass saddlebags were only offered in white, so we’ve done the same in 2023. The result is a thoroughly modern motorcycle that looks unapologetically old school.”

The Highway King model will be offered in two color options: Hi-Fi Orange (limited to 1,000 produced) and Hi-Fi Magenta (limited to 750 produced). Hard-shell saddlebags are finished in Birch White, and a Black Denim panel on the fuel tank is separated from the primary color with a Birch White accent stripe. The tank badge is very similar to the one used in 1968. An Icons Motorcycle Collection graphic and serialization badge is laser-etched into the console insert.

The detachable windshield features a tinted lower section color-matched to the paint color. A solo saddle with a black-and-white cover and a chrome rail, mounted over an adjustable coil spring and shock absorber, is another nod to the style of Harley-Davidson® FL models from the 1960s. Chrome steel laced wheels and wide whitewall tires add to the nostalgic look, as do the brilliant chrome front fender rails and saddlebag rails, front fender skirt, and Ventilator air cleaner cover. An Electra Glide script is placed on each side of the front fender.

The foundation of the Electra Glide® Highway King model is the single-spar Harley-Davidson® Touring frame with a rigid backbone design. The entire chassis is designed for the long haul. A single knob hydraulically adjusts the pre-load of emulsion-technology rear shock absorbers for optimal ride and control based on bike load. The 49mm forks with dual bending valve suspension technology deliver linear damping characteristics for a smooth ride.

A Milwaukee-Eight® 114 V-Twin engine delivers power with authority. For the rider focused on performance this engine accepts all applicable Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® Stage Upgrade kits. Standard electronic cruise control holds a steady speed for comfort on long rides. Halogen headlamp and auxiliary lamps provide outstanding illumination while maintaining the nostalgic styling. Reflex™ linked Brembo® brakes offer stopping power. A full suite of Rider Safety Enhancements by Harley-Davidson is standard, including Cornering Enhanced Anti-Lock Brake System, Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking, Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System, Cornering Drag-torque Slip Control System and Vehicle Hold Control.

Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure and freedom for the soul. Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of 2023 Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring, Sport, Adventure Touring, Cruiser and Trike motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Certified™ pre-owned motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories, Harley-Davidson MotorClothes and gear, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.

MotoGP: New Rider Radio Communication Systems Tested At Jerez

David Swarts

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May 2, 2023

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MotoGP: New Rider Radio Communication Systems Tested At Jerez

MotoGP™ tests new radio communication systems at Jerez

The project begins a new phase, with two systems tested out at the one-day Official Test following the Spanish GP

Tuesday, 02 May 2023

MotoGP™ is no stranger to innovation, and as the riders, teams and factories headed out with their own testing to work on at Jerez, the sport also debuted the next phase of a long-term project aiming to establish radio communication with riders whilst they’re out on track.

A first version was previously tested at Misano in 2020, and now two new systems are under evaluation this season. One goes around the earplugs riders use and the other directly into the ear. Comfort, noise, viability and fallibility are of utmost importance, and a number of different riders tested them out in order to provide their feedback.

At this stage, the project is focused on further improving communication between race control and the riders out on track, using pre-recorded messages sent via a one-way system to riders. Gaining more information more quickly regarding any potential hazards or changes in conditions will facilitate another step forward in rider safety.

Carlos Ezpeleta, Chief Sporting Officer, Dorna Sports: “We work very closely with the riders and the teams, and communication with the riders from race control has been a priority over the last few years. In 2020, the riders were complaining about the visibility of the flags, them knowing what’s happening on track and being warned about flags, rain or incidents, so we did a radio test at Misano in 2020. But the riders weren’t very happy with the first system, they felt uncomfortable with it and the level of noise. So we decided to go down the route of LED panels and imposing them as a must for all circuits from last year, which has been very successful. The riders are very happy and I think we’ve made strong progress and development in terms of yellow flags, and flags in general, and getting information to the riders during races and sessions. So we’re very happy with the LED panels, which are now throughout the whole calendar.

“Still, it was important for us to continue helping and communicating with the riders when they’re on the bikes and the next phase for us was to re-engage with the project of the radio and audio communication. It’s a challenging one for us because as opposed to cars, the helmets for motorbikes are tight, especially in the face, and bikes are much noisier. There’s much more movement – riders need to be free to move on the bike, so it’s much more challenging. There also has to be communication with the rider themselves, not the bike, from race control. So there are things we have to work on but we’re very happy.

“We’re testing two systems. As everyone knows, riders wear earplugs for the noise so the system fits round there. Some riders have tried it already and feel comfortable, so during the test we sent pre-recorded radio messages. The idea is for the system in future to be GPS marked, so if you’re approaching an area with a yellow flag, rain or a slippery surface, that you warn the riders before – on the straight leading into that sector. It should be quite advanced in terms of information and when to communicate information to the riders. The other system is directly into the ear but we think the other system is better.

“For the time being, it’s safety related messages, only pre-recorded messages from race control to the riders, but I think there’s a lot of development that can go into it over the following years. It’s a one-way system at the moment, and all the riders agree it’s positive in principle. At a later stage if the teams agree, and once they’re more comfortable with the system, in terms of two-way communication via radio from riders to race control or teams to riders as well, I think it’s something that will probably happen in the future. The riders already have a lot of work on the bikes with ride height devices and so on, so let’s see what happens with the technical regulations! But definitely, a lot of innovation is coming in the following seasons.

“It’s also very interesting for us to study crash dynamics and have GPS systems on the riders, to see how they slide, where they end up, to further work to improve safety. So yes that’s why we’re starting off with safety in terms of the audio communication project. Its full introduction depends on different factors and it won’t be before the start of 2024 in Qatar, but it’s also when the riders agree it’s safe to listen to radio messages. There’s a lot of development on the software side, so if they only want to only receive messages in pre-determined places, that will be more challenging for us to prepare those messages and sectors.”

MotoAmerica: Indian Motorcycle Named Official Partner

David Swarts

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May 2, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Indian Motorcycle Named Official Partner

Indian Motorcycle To Serve As Official Partner Of Mission King Of The Baggers Series

Indian Motorcycle To Defend Its King Of The Baggers Title In Expanded 2023 Championship

IRVINE, CA (May 2, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is proud to announce that Indian Motorcycle, “America’s First Motorcycle Company,” is again an official partner of the Mission King Of The Baggers series in the 2023 MotoAmerica Championship.

Indian Motorcycle is defending its 2022 Mission King Of The Baggers Championship with Tyler O’Hara and Jeremy McWilliam spearheading the team’s efforts in the seven-round, 14-race series. O’Hara won the title last year on his Mission Foods S&S Indian Challenger.

“The Mission King Of The Baggers series and its ever-growing fanbase has been a huge success and Indian Motorcycles has been a big part of that success,” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “Last season saw the championship go down to the wire at the final event in New Jersey after seven races. The 2023 season, with its seven rounds and 14 races, promises to be the best yet and we’ve already seen that at the season opener at Daytona International Speedway and Road Atlanta. It’s really exciting to see how much work and passion that Indian puts into this series. It’s going to be a 14-race war and we know that Indian will be a big part of that battle. It’s going to be a lot of fun to watch.”

“Founded by racers who developed America’s first motorized bicycles, Indian Motorcycle has been racing, and winning, in a variety of forms of motorcycle racing for 122 years,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “MotoAmerica’s Mission King Of The Baggers series has changed road racing, as the class has reached entirely new heights. With bikes improving, speeds increasing, and the competition at an all-time high, we couldn’t be more excited to defend our King of the Baggers crown.”

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.

WorldSBK: Championship Heading To Catalunya This Coming Weekend

David Swarts

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May 2, 2023

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WorldSBK: Championship Heading To Catalunya This Coming Weekend

WorldSBK heads to Barcelona for Round 4

Making its debut on the WorldSBK calendar in 2020, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya became the sixth Spanish track in the Championship history. A permanent fixture on the MotoGP™ calendar since 1992, the fast and flowing venue has witnessed classic races across all forms of motorcycle racing.

DID YOU KNOW?

There have been six different winners out of nine races run at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona. In 2022, Alvaro Bautista went from no wins to the track record of three. He is followed by Jonathan Rea on two victories in Barcelona.

BARCELONA’S HOT SPOTS WITH XAVI VIERGE

T1/ “The main straight is quite long and finally from mid-way until the end it is always going downhill, so you can reach a high speed.”

T5/ “If it is a little bit cold you have to take care on T5. Then you have a big corner at T6, which is also nice because the kerb is a little bit higher in the inside.”

T10/ “You can have very hard braking into T10 but T12 is like a transition corner, to arrive at the last few corners, which are very difficult.”

WorldSBK | KEY STAT

250 – Currently standing at 248 podiums, Jonathan Rea can be the first rider to reach 250.

What to look out for in Barcelona

After a hat-trick of victories in the Netherlands, reigning WorldSBK Champion Alvaro Bautista will be aiming to extend his lead in the standings. He holds the record of wins at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona with three victories claimed in 2022 and was close to the all-time lap record pace during the private test at the track in March.

Second in the Championship standings, Toprak Razgatlioglu will be chasing his first victory at the Catalan circuit where his best result so far is a second place claimed in 2021.

Andrea Locatelli has had a strong start to his 2023 season, sitting in third place in the standings with 104 points after nine races, 20 more than the same stage last year. He will aim to continue his fine form, with four podium places claimed so far in 2023, matching his 2021 total of podiums after just three rounds this season.

It will be the home round for the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK as their rider, Jonathan Rea, will look to bounce back after his Assen Race 2 crash. He will benefit from a test at the Catalan track before Assen hoping to close the gap to the top three in the standings.

Team HRC’s Xavi Vierge and Iker Lecuona will look forward to bouncing back at their home round after a difficult Dutch Round as they believe the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona can work better for them. Iker Lecuona will head from Barcelona directly from Jerez where he replaced Marc Marquez in the factory Repsol Honda.

More on worldsbk.com

WorldSSP returns to Barcelona for more surprises at the Catalunya Round

What to look out for in Barcelona

Pole position, lap record and two wins out of two, Nicolo Bulega claimed it all in Assen and arrives with confidence in Barcelona. The Ducati rider tested at the Catalan circuit a few weeks ago and declared back then: “I have a good feeling. I think we have a good package here for the round in Barcelona.”

Bulega currently leads the Championship standings, followed by Stefano Manzi (90 points), Marcel Schroetter (79 points) and Federico Caricasulo (77 points). It will be Manzi’s first time at Barcelona with Yamaha, and Schroetter’s first time there in WorldSSP.

Turkish rider Can Oncu was collected by Yari Montella in Race 2 and was diagnosed with multiple fractures to his left arm. The Kawasaki rider’s participation to the Prosecco DOC Catalunya Round is still uncertain.

More on worldsbk.com

WorldSSP300 hits Catalunya for Round 2 of the 2023 season

What to look out for in Barcelona

Czech rider Petr Svoboda, who took his first WorldSSP300 win and his first double win at Assen, will be one rider to look out for at Catalunya. Reacting after his Race 1 victory, he said: “I think it will be good to stay in the top ten or top five positions every race.”

Having both scored 30 points during the opening round, Humberto Maier and Samuel Di Sora will look to a solid weekend with the objective to recover points to Svoboda.

More on worldsbk.com

MotoGP: Oliveira Broke, Dislocated Left Humerus In Crash At Jerez

David Swarts

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May 1, 2023

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MotoGP: Oliveira Broke, Dislocated Left Humerus In Crash At Jerez

On the original start of the MotoGP race Sunday at Jerez, Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo crashed going into Turn Two and took down CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team rider Miguel Oliveira.

Initially, Oliveira’s team reported he had dislocated his left humerus (upper arm bone) at the shoulder and that it was put back in place by medical staff at the track. The team also stated scans revealed no fractures, but Oliveira was being transported to a local hospital for further examination.

Today, the team announced that Oliveira has suffered a fracture in his left humerus and it will provide more updates on his condition in the coming days.

Lorenzo Savadori, the official Aprilia test rider, rode Oliveira’s Aprilia RS-GP in his place during the IRTA test Monday at Jerez.

British Superbike: Race Two & Race Three Results From Oulton Park

David Swarts

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May 1, 2023

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British Superbike: Race Two & Race Three Results From Oulton Park

BSB R2
BSB R3
BSB points after R3

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:

Oulton Park produces three different race winners as Bridewell claims first victory in 2023

Tommy Bridewell became the fourth different race winner in the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship in the second race of the weekend at Oulton Park. However, it was his BeerMonster Ducati teammate Glenn Irwin, who was victorious in race three in the closest finish of the season so far.

The second round produced three different race winners as five different title contenders featured on the podium after the three races in Cheshire.

Bridewell maintained his strong record at Oulton Park by winning the second race of the weekend to take his first victory with the BeerMonster Ducati team, withstanding the pressure from his rivals.

Leon Haslam was moving up the order and soon he was just behind Bridewell and ready to try to fight for the win ahead of brothers Andrew and Glenn Irwin.

Haslam was trying to attack Bridewell and defend against Andrew Irwin at the same time, a moment for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad rider at Lodge gave his Honda Racing UK rival the chance to move ahead. However, Haslam was instantly on the attack and regained the position.

Bridewell was holding the advantage and the leading group became a pack of five with Bridewell, Haslam, Andrew and Glenn Irwin plus Ryde who later lost ground in the closing stages.

Bridewell made a break over the final three laps to score his first win for BeerMonster Ducati this season, but behind Glenn Irwin had charged into second to make it a 1-2 for Paul Bird’s team, the first since 2020.

The fight for third went down to the wire and Andrew Irwin made a move down the inside at Lodge for the final time, but Haslam wasn’t giving up the podium and he managed to regain the advantage on the run over Deer Leap to the chequered flag.

Andrew Irwin had to settle for fourth place, his best result of the season so far for Honda Racing UK, ahead of Ryde and yesterday’s race winner Josh Brookes.

In the final race of the weekend, Glenn Irwin denied Haslam his first race win of the season by celebrating his second victory of the season. The BeerMonster Ducati rider now take the standings lead by four points ahead of the next event at Donington Park (May 19/20/21).

Andrew Irwin was the rider with the best launch off the line to lead his brother Glenn and previous champions Brookes and Haslam with race two winner Bridewell and Kyle Ryde close behind.

Glenn Irwin made a move on his brother for the lead on lap three, and then Haslam was next to have the Honda Racing UK rider in his sights. The ‘Pocket Rocket’ made a pass of his own on the sixth lap to move into second.

A lap later, Haslam had a huge moment on the ROKiT BMW Motorrad into Old Hall and that meant he lost ground on Glenn Irwin ahead of him that he needed to claw back as he got back into his race rhythm.

Bridewell was then on the move and launched himself into third place to relegate Andrew Irwin back a further position, as Haslam split the BeerMonster Ducati teammates on lap ten.

Glenn Irwin was fending off the challenge but Haslam was typically determined, making a brave move into Old Hall on lap 12. The BeerMonster rider was unsettled, giving his teammate Bridewell the opportunity to move into second place.

Glenn Irwin was back into second at Lodge later on the same lap though with a decisive move on his teammate. He recaptured the lead on the next lap when he passed Haslam on the brakes into Hizzys.

The leading pack were inseparable but Glenn Irwin had enough to hold the advantage to the finish on the final lap by just 0.062s, with Haslam in second. Behind however, Ryde had been carving his way through and was into third after a dive down the inside on Bridewell at Hizzys with three laps to go.

Ryde held off Bridewell to the finish to become the fifth different rider for the fourth different team to score a podium finish in Cheshire, with Brookes claiming a top five finish for the FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race 2 result:

Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) +1.571s
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) +2.686s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +2.809s
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +7.511s
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +9.739s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +10.777s
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +15.465s
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Racing Yamaha) +23.418s
Dean Harrison (DAO Racing Kawasaki) +25.871s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race 3 result:

Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) +0.062s
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.357s
Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) +1.053s
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +2.665s
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +6.628s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +8.191s
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +8.332s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +11.580s
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +22.438s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:

Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 91
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 87
Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 87
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) 76
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 73
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) 44
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 41
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Racing Yamaha) 40
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 37
Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) 32

For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Tommy Bridewell – Race 2 winner

BeerMonster Ducati

“It’s been a slightly mixed day as whilst I’m delighted with the race win, I’m disappointed with fourth in the second race. We made a slight change to the chassis, but it wasn’t enough to have made the difference it did, and the bike felt very different in the two races.

“I’m obviously chuffed with race two. It sounds bad to say but it’s a lot easier when you’re following because you’re just watching another rider. The hard part is leading a race – you get a lot more satisfaction when you win and you lead from start to finish because they’ve had the whole race whoever’s behind me to understand where I’m strong and where I’m weak.

“I lost a bit of focus because I knew I could win the race, I knew I’d done the hard work so I was overthinking a little bit, but I regrouped and set a very realistic pace and brought it home to the victory.

“I am really, really ecstatic as much as I’m not climbing off the walls I am really ecstatic. The first one-two for BeerMonster Ducati is brilliant. Everyone thinks I’m invincible at Oulton Park. I’ve won a lot of races here and yes my pace is good and I understand the track.

“I am on the limit every lap but I’m no more superior at Oulton Park than anyone else. I just put myself in the right place at the right time and got the win.”

Glenn Irwin – Race 3 winner

BeerMonster Ducati

“It’s been a brilliant day for both myself and the whole BeerMonster Ducati team and you can see the passion within the garage with everyone working really hard.

“I really struggled at the beginning of race two and lost a position when Peter Hickman crashed in front of me, so I had to work hard to get going. I was really happy to come through to second and give PBM a 1-2 and fair play to Tommy, he rode faultlessly.

“We made some changes for the final race which helped in some areas, but I nearly lost the front at Shell whilst I also made a mistake when Leon came by. I got back in front to take victory so let’s keep this run going.”

ASRA: Heckles Wins Superstock Race At Rainy New Jersey Motorsport Park

David Swarts

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May 1, 2023

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ASRA: Heckles Wins Superstock Race At Rainy New Jersey Motorsport Park

Mark Heckles went three-for-three with three podium finishes during the ASRA/CCS event April 29-30 at New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey. Riding his 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1, Heckles entered CCS Unlimited Grand Prix, CCS Unlimited Superbike, and ASRA Superstock.

ASRA experienced unfortunate weather all weekend with Sunday being the worst. Races were shortened due to torrential rain for most of Sunday.

Heckles was excited about the new team at ASRA saying, “The updates you have made are a huge step in the right direction.”

MotoGP: Bezzecchi Best In Post-Race Testing At Jerez

David Swarts

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May 1, 2023

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MotoGP: Bezzecchi Best In Post-Race Testing At Jerez

Mooney VR46 Racing Team’s Marco Bezzecchi turned the best lap time during a post-race IRTA test day Monday at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, in Spain.

Riding his Ducati Desmosedici, Bezzecchi turned a 1:36.574, which was significantly faster than the quickest lap from Sunday’s race, a 1:37.989 by Francesco Bagnaia and was quicker than Bagnaia’s 2022 Race Lap Record of 1:37.669.

In the pre-race press conference, Bezzecchi’s teammate Luca Marini said they had nothing to test today, which means Bezzecchi was likely free to optimize the setup he developed during the weekend and focus on his riding. But it’s worthy to note that Bezzecchi did his best test lap time on lap 56 of 64, which means it likely came in the afternoon and in the same conditions as during the race on Sunday.

Marini was second-best Monday with a 1:36.678, just ahead of Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo, who did a 1:36.725 on lap 60 of 88.

Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales was fifth on Monday with a 1:36.964, but he had the honor of completing the most laps, 94.

The top 19 riders’ best lap times Monday were within 1.2 seconds of each other.

2023_JEREZ_MOTOGP_OFFICIAL_TEST_classification_1

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Jerez Test: Novelties aplenty & Bezzecchi back on top!

There were some interesting developments in pitlane as the premier class got back on track in Jerez

Marco Bezzecchi (72). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Monday, 01 May 2023

Did you miss us? We know, we know, it’s barely been a day. But when the action is as good as it was at the Spanish GP, withdrawal symptoms are natural. Luckily, we have a few tidbits to share from the official one-day test that saw the MotoGP™ riders head back out on Monday, with plenty of novelties up and down pitlane… and a familiar name back on top: Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team).

Mooney VR46, Gresini, Ducati Lenovo & Prima Pramac

As can be expected, there wasn’t anything new for the 2022 Ducatis but that didn’t stop Mooney VR46 Racing Team from making it a 1-2. Luca Marini was just a tenth off Bezzecchi, who in turn was about four tenths off the all-time lap record from last season.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had a good day on the timesheets in fourth, with reigning Champion and Spanish GP winner Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) in sixth. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) was ninth, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) tenth and Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) 13th.

The sole novelty at Ducati, the home of novelty – a moniker now seemingly under threat from KTM – was a new belly pan on Zarco’s Prima Pramac, with a small inlet on the bottom.

Monster Energy Yamaha

At Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™, there were two different chassis for Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli. Pitlane reporter Simon Crafar was confident he’s seen the “different” one before, as it gets tested, tested again and then shelved. Quartararo also rode the weekend with the newer swingarm – and has that at the test on both machines – having previously gone back to a previous version.

Fabio Quartararo (20) tested a new swingarm and exhaust system. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Some interesting wings also sprouted on Morbidelli’s machine, and the sidepods were bigger. Meanwhile, Quartararo tested the new exhaust in the afternoon, taking it out on a couple of runs. El Diablo was third overall and top until the latter stages, with Morbidelli down in P16.

Aprilia & CryptoData RNF

At Aprilia Racing, it looked like the focus was more on fine-tuning what they have and working with setup. It also looked like both sides of the garage were more than a little preoccupied with practice starts. Maverick Viñales especially was taking every chance to try a launch, and teammate Aleix Espargaro put in a fair few after he also lost out at Turn 1 four times in a row this weekend. Viñales was fifth, and Espargaro seventh.

Maverick Vinales (12) did some setup fine tuning and a lot of practice starts Monday. Photo courtesy Dorna.

At CryptoData RNF MotoGP™ Team, Lorenzo Savadori stepped in for the sidelined Miguel Oliveira, and was unfortunately one of the few crashers on the day. Still, he put in nearly half a century of laps for some more information. Raul Fernandez, meanwhile, did over 70, and ended the day in P11.

Red Bull KTM & GASGAS Tech3

Headlines during the race weekend weren’t enough for the Austrian factory, so they thought they’d make a few more on Monday. Some of the new aero first seen in the hands of Dani Pedrosa (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) over the weekend was put through its paces by Brad Binder and Jack Miller, and our reporters spotted a sidepod that’s more an extra, vertical panel all the way to the bottom of the fairing.

Jack Miller tested some new aerodynamic features. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Our eagle eyes also saw a new chassis for Pedrosa. Oh, and someone from Red Bull Advanced Technologies was spotted in the box…

Dani Pedrosa tested a new frame for KTM. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Binder ended the day in eighth, Miller in P14 and Pedrosa near the back of the order, slacking off on the time attack heroics he very much proved he was still capable of during the weekend.

GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3’s Augusto Fernandez took the opportunity to put in 69 laps as he continues to adapt to MotoGP™, and he had the new aero, without the side addition, that was raced by Pedrosa. His temporary teammate – test rider Jonas Folger – did 63.

Repsol Honda & LCR Honda Castrol/Idemitsu

Our eyebrows were raised at Honda, as pitlane reporters Simon Crafar and Jack Gorst spotted the long-awaited Kalex chassis in the hands of HRC test rider Stefan Bradl. Repsol Honda Team Manager Alberto Puig said initial signs were good.

Honda tried a new Kalex frame on Monday. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Bad luck hit when Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) was attempting to head out on it though, with a technical problem seeing the 2020 World Champion manage only five corners of his out lap. Mir also crashed earlier in the session before that, rider ok, but completed 67 laps for P15.

The number 36 had two of his normal chassis this morning but then had one of the chassis teammate Marc Marquez had been using. Mir also tried the small aero update that Bradl had throughout the race weekend, as well as new downwash ducts.

Repsol Honda's Joan Mir tried a new chassis and some new aero ducting. Photo courtesy Dorna. — Repsol Honda’s Joan Mir tried a new chassis and some new aero ducting. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) was seen with a chassis used previously by Mir, as well as the downwash ducts. Honda also had a new “winglet” on the swingarm. Rins did 82 laps and was P17, suffering a crash at the end but rider ok. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Castrol) was top Honda in P12 after 70 laps.

Now it’s time to pack up the paddock for the premier class in Jerez, although we’ll see the Moto2™ and Moto3™ fields back out on Tuesday. For MotoGP™ it’s next stop: #GP1000 at Le Mans, with more history waiting to be made just around the corner!

MotoGP: Former Racer Oxley & Former Crew Chief Bom Have A New Podcast

David Swarts

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May 1, 2023

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MotoGP: Former Racer Oxley & Former Crew Chief Bom Have A New Podcast

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.

Here is Episode One. The original podcast can be found on SoundCloud or other places you get podcasts.

User 743822485 · The Oxley Bom MotoGP podcast

MotoAmerica: All-Star Lineup Set For “Rainey’s Ride To The Races”

David Swarts

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May 1, 2023

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MotoAmerica: All-Star Lineup Set For “Rainey’s Ride To The Races”

Third Annual “Rainey’s Ride To The Races” Set For MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest At Laguna Seca

Ride With The Legends On The Monterey Peninsula, Stay For The Race

IRVINE, CA (May 1, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is excited to announce that “Rainey’s Ride To The Races” will again be held in conjunction with the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest At Laguna Seca with this year’s ride boasting even more legends than in years past.

This year’s ride includes the following legends:

– Three-time World Champion Kenny Roberts

– Four-time World Champion Eddie Lawson

– Three-time AMA Grand National Champion Bubba Shobert

– 1993 World Champion Kevin Schwantz

– Seven-time Supercross and Motocross National Champion Rick Johnson

– 2011 World Superbike Champion Carlos Checa

– Three-time AMA Superbike Champion Doug Chandler

Rainey’s Ride To The Races will be held on Friday, July 7, opening day of the fifth round of the MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship, and will again benefit the Roadracing World Action Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes motorcycle racing safety with the facilitation of soft air barrier systems at racing events.

The 100-mile ride will begin at the Moto Talbott Motorcycle Museum at 4 E Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley, California, and will tour the best parts of the Monterey Peninsula, including in and around the Santa Lucia Mountain ranges, the Salinas Valley foothills, local wineries, and the stunning Steinbeck country. The ride will conclude at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with two laps around the racetrack, lunch and a Q&A session with legends Rainey, Roberts, Lawson, Shobert, Schwantz, Johnson, Chandler and Checa.

The ride will be limited to 40 riders who purchase the special $500 Premium Rainey’s Ride To The Races ticket. Last year’s ride raised nearly $75,000 for the Roadracing World Action Fund.

“Last year’s ride was sold out and better than the first and this year promises to be better than the second,” said MotoAmerica President and three-time World Champion Wayne Rainey. “I’m excited we’ve added Kevin (Schwantz), Doug (Chandler), Ricky (Johnson) and Carlos (Checa) to the ride so it will give our participants even more time with the legends. The ride was a lot of fun for both the champions and our fans, and the best part is that we raised nearly $75,000 for the Roadracing World Action Fund. We have a goal of raising more this July.”

Rainey’s Ride To The Races will be conducted at a relaxed, easy pace and no one will be left behind. Gordon McCall, a local motorcycle enthusiast and good friend of MotoAmerica, will be leading the ride. The ride will take approximately two to two and a half hours from start to completion.

“I appreciate your support and hope to see you there,” said Rainey.

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.

Harley-Davidson Adds Electra Glide Highway King To Icons Collection

May 2, 2023

HARLEY-DAVIDSON LAUNCHES A NEW ICON WITH ELECTRA GLIDE HIGHWAY KING

Icons Motorcycle Collection Takes a Ride Back to the Swingin’ 60s

MILWAUKEE (May 2, 2023) – The Electra Glide® Highway King model, the third installment in the Harley-Davidson Icons Motorcycle Collection program, is an exercise in unabashed nostalgia. Laced wheels, wide-whitewall tires, a two-tone windshield, solo suspension seat and carefully curated colors are all inspired by a true Harley-Davidson icon – the 1968 FLH Electra Glide® model, a motorcycle that ruled the road in an era of paper maps and 15-cent burgers. The limited edition Electra Glide® Highway King model combines the flair of the Swingin’ 60s with the comfort and technology of a modern Harley-Davidson® Grand American Touring motorcycle.

The Icons Motorcycle Collection is an annual program for the limited release of a new model that offers a fresh interpretation of an iconic Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. A limited collection, each model is individually numbered and produced only once. Global production of the Electra Glide® Highway King model will not exceed 1,750 examples.

The Icon

In 1968 the Electra Glide® model topped the Harley-Davidson® motorcycle line. Riders who wanted a little extra touring comfort and convenience could order theirs with the King of the Highway accessories group, which added fiberglass saddlebags, a windshield, a luggage rack over the rear fender, and engine guards.

“In its day this was a really deluxe motorcycle,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson Vice President of Design and Creative Director. “The colors we’ve selected for the Highway King model are reminiscent of the original color options offered in 1968. We carefully matched each color in the lower section of the windshield. In 1968, the accessory fiberglass saddlebags were only offered in white, so we’ve done the same in 2023. The result is a thoroughly modern motorcycle that looks unapologetically old school.”

The Highway King model will be offered in two color options: Hi-Fi Orange (limited to 1,000 produced) and Hi-Fi Magenta (limited to 750 produced). Hard-shell saddlebags are finished in Birch White, and a Black Denim panel on the fuel tank is separated from the primary color with a Birch White accent stripe. The tank badge is very similar to the one used in 1968. An Icons Motorcycle Collection graphic and serialization badge is laser-etched into the console insert.

The detachable windshield features a tinted lower section color-matched to the paint color. A solo saddle with a black-and-white cover and a chrome rail, mounted over an adjustable coil spring and shock absorber, is another nod to the style of Harley-Davidson® FL models from the 1960s. Chrome steel laced wheels and wide whitewall tires add to the nostalgic look, as do the brilliant chrome front fender rails and saddlebag rails, front fender skirt, and Ventilator air cleaner cover. An Electra Glide script is placed on each side of the front fender.

The foundation of the Electra Glide® Highway King model is the single-spar Harley-Davidson® Touring frame with a rigid backbone design. The entire chassis is designed for the long haul. A single knob hydraulically adjusts the pre-load of emulsion-technology rear shock absorbers for optimal ride and control based on bike load. The 49mm forks with dual bending valve suspension technology deliver linear damping characteristics for a smooth ride.

A Milwaukee-Eight® 114 V-Twin engine delivers power with authority. For the rider focused on performance this engine accepts all applicable Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® Stage Upgrade kits. Standard electronic cruise control holds a steady speed for comfort on long rides. Halogen headlamp and auxiliary lamps provide outstanding illumination while maintaining the nostalgic styling. Reflex™ linked Brembo® brakes offer stopping power. A full suite of Rider Safety Enhancements by Harley-Davidson is standard, including Cornering Enhanced Anti-Lock Brake System, Cornering Enhanced Electronic Linked Braking, Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System, Cornering Drag-torque Slip Control System and Vehicle Hold Control.

Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure and freedom for the soul. Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of 2023 Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring, Sport, Adventure Touring, Cruiser and Trike motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Certified™ pre-owned motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories, Harley-Davidson MotorClothes and gear, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.

MotoGP: New Rider Radio Communication Systems Tested At Jerez

May 2, 2023

Jack Miller (43) testing Monday at Jerez. Photo by Rob Gray/Polarity Photo, courtesy KTM Factory Racing. — Jack Miller (43). Photo by Rob Gray/Polarity Photo, courtesy KTM Factory Racing.