Max Van Joins Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki

John Ulrich

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February 25, 2025

MAX VAN JOINS VISION WHEEL M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI FOR 2025

Suzuki is Pleased to Announce Promising Young Talent, Max VanDenBrouck to Compete in MotoAmerica Supersport on the Suzuki GSX-R750

Suzuki Motor USA, LLC, in partnership with Team Hammer, Inc. is pleased to announce it has signed Max VanDenBrouck to compete in MotoAmerica Supersport aboard a Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 for the 2025 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing season.

More commonly known as “Max Van,” the 19-year-old competitor has shown himself to be one of the more promising young riders to hit the tour in recent seasons.

Hailing from Shelby, Michigan, Van was one of the leading figures in Junior Cup action during a three-year stint from ‘22-’24. Improving his championship ranking each year – climbing from seventh to fourth to third – Van graduated from the Junior category following the ‘24 season with three wins and nine podiums to his name.

He stepped up to the hotly contested Supersport class last season aboard a Team Hammer-built and supported GSX-R750. There he made an impressive transition to middleweight machinery, again demonstrating steady improvement as he became increasingly acclimated to his new equipment and rivals. By the end of his rookie Supersport campaign, Van boasted five top-ten results – including four in the season’s final five races – en route to a 13th-place championship debut. Van, who has developed under the guidance of series legend Josh Hayes, will expect to take another big step forward in 2025 as he joins Tyler Scott in the factory-backed Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki outfit.

“I’m very excited for this opportunity,” said Van. “To be associated with Suzuki and to race for a team that has been competing for 45 years is something huge. My family’s business, Sportbiketrackgear.com, has sponsored racing and being around the track helped me decide racing is what I wanted to do. My first year in AMA Pro Supersport was a success and I learned a lot. I picked up the pace against a stacked field in the second half and it got me noticed. I’m looking forward to continuing to improve this season.”

Chris Ulrich, Team Hammer Vice President of Operations, said, “Max showed steady progress during his first MotoAmerica Supersport season. He steadily improved and was fighting well within the top-10 by the end of the season. He’s another young American talent we have helped develop and look forward to seeing what he can do in his sophomore season.”

About Team Hammer
The 2025 season marks Team Hammer’s 45th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 134 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 373 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol and won four F-USA Championships.

About Suzuki
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.

KTM Restructuring Plan Approved, Production To Resume Mid-March

Michael Gougis

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February 25, 2025

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KTM Restructuring Plan Approved, Production To Resume Mid-March

KTM AG’s restructuring plan accepted by creditors!

With a calculated break-up rate of 14.9%, the restructuring administrator considered the restructuring plan to be economically appropriate, since there was also no realistic alternative scenario to the restructuring plan offer.

The creditors are to receive a 30% cash quota, which must be paid to the restructuring administrator by May 23, 2025.

However, the confirmation will also be dependent on the continuation costs expected to arise up to 23 May 2025 in the amount of approximately EUR 150 million being deposited or secured.

The first tranche of this continuation guarantee, namely EUR 50 million, was already received yesterday in a trust account of the restructuring administrator.

Production is scheduled to resume in mid-March 2025.

Approximately EUR 750 million must be deposited or secured by May 23, 2025, namely EUR 600 million for the 30% quota and EUR 150 million for the continuation.

The name of the financing investor is still unknown!

As is known, on November 29, 2024, restructuring proceedings with self-administration were opened for the assets of KTM AG and its two subsidiaries KTM Forschungs & Entwicklungs GmbH and KTM Components GmbH.

In order to fully satisfy their claims, regardless of whether they are outstanding book or bill claims, the insolvency creditors will receive a 30% quota, payable within 14 days after the restructuring plan has been legally confirmed. The prerequisite for confirmation is that the 30% cash quota and the procedural costs are paid to the restructuring administrator by May 23, 2025 at the latest.

This means that judicial confirmation of the restructuring plan will only take place after the 30% cash quota has been paid and after the estate claims (continuation costs until May 23, 2025) have been secured.

The restructuring plans will only be confirmed if they can be considered feasible. The continuation costs incurred up to May 23, 2025 will therefore also have to be deposited. In this regard, a liquidity requirement of around EUR 150 million is expected.

Therefore, approximately EUR 750 million will have to be deposited or secured with the restructuring administrator by May 23, 2025 at the latest.

In any case , the fulfilment of this high restructuring plan requirement of approximately EUR 750 million requires considerable financial contributions from an investor .

The restructuring administrator has considered the restructuring plans to be economically appropriate , especially since a liquidation rate of 14.9% is calculated before possible claims for damages and rescission as well as possible claims for the return of deposits. The restructuring administrator assesses the probability of such claims being enforced and collected in such a way that they would not lead to a result that would be more favorable than the 30% restructuring plan rate offered. In his opinion, there is therefore no realistic alternative scenario to the restructuring plan offer.

R.I.P.: Motorcycle Designer, Racer, Author, Ad Man Mick Ofield

John Ulrich

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February 25, 2025

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R.I.P.: Motorcycle Designer, Racer, Author, Ad Man Mick Ofield

Retired motorcycle racer, designer, and Roadracing World contributor and illustrator Mick Ofield died Sunday, February 23rd at home in McMinnville, Tennessee.

He raced in the U.K. and on the Isle of Man and did motorcycle design work for Norton before legally immigrating from the U.K. to the United States. After arriving in California, he club raced, worked designing leathers, and later ran his own advertising and design agency before retiring in 2007 and moving to Tennessee with his wife Peggy.

He produced the Historic Racebike Illustrations feature in Roadracing World for decades and turned in his latest installment in the series shortly before his sudden death from cancer. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Mick and Peggy Ofield in February, 2024. Photo courtesy Peggy Ofield. — Mick and Peggy Ofield at a Valentine’s Day party in February, 2024. Photo courtesy Peggy Ofield.

See Mick Ofield’s official obituary here:

https://www.mcminnvillefuneralhome.com/obituary/michael-mick-ofield

May he rest in peace.

The 1955 NSU Sportmax, seen above, as illustrated by Mick Ofield

A design sketch author Mick Ofield did of the P86 street version of the Challenge engine when he worked for Norton. A large SU carburetor that met EPA regulations replaced the usual two Amal carburetors.

1949 Norton Manx 30M, seen above, as illustrated by Mick Ofield. — 1949 Norton Manx 30M, seen above, as illustrated by former Norton designer and racer Mick Ofield.

This just in, from Editor At Large Michael Gougis:

I met Mick Ofield when I started road racing motorcycles in 1995 with the Willow Springs Motorcycle Club (WSMC). He’d race in the Vintage class, where I got started. It was a good place to start, as most of the competitors were very experienced and just racing for the joy of the sport, and they were safe on the track and willing to share their experience with the new guy in the paddock.

I watched Ofield pull into the pits on the final lap of a race once, so I had finished ahead of him. I went to find him in the pits and asked if his bike had suffered a mechanical. He said, “No, I’m on slicks, and those tires are completely illegal for the class, so I pulled off before the finish.”

His commitment to sportsmanship and fair play made an impression on me, and I hope that I’ve conducted myself in the same manner throughout my racing career.

Godspeed, Mick.

World Superbike: Starting Over From Scratch

Michael Gougis

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February 25, 2025

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World Superbike: Starting Over From Scratch

First Person/Opinion

By Michael Gougis

The outcry probably started before the last bike crossed the finish line at Phillip Island this last weekend. Never mind that Phillip Island is always an outlier, an aberration compared to the results over the rest of the Superbike (and Grand Prix, for that matter) World Championship season. Never mind that last year’s Superbike Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu was injured for much of the off-season and is still not entirely 100%. Never mind that rain washed away much of the off-season testing time, that multi-time Champion Jonathan Rea is out with injury, that BMW has lost its “super concessions” chassis. Never mind that many highly talented riders have migrated to Ducati, which will sell a podium-capable Superbike to anyone who can demonstrate they know how to run a World Championship-level race program. Never mind that Ducati has more machines than almost anyone else in the field to gather and share data.

The complaint is one that is all too familiar: The rules favor Ducati. Razgatlioglu even threatened to quit if the series continues to be, as he put it, “a Ducati Cup.”

At first glance, it’s a legit concern. After three races, eight of the nine podium places were taken by Ducati riders. Razagtlioglu’s second place in Race One in Australia made him the only non-Ducati rider in the top five of any of the three races. Ducati had six bikes in Race Two and locked out the top six.

Even with the mitigating factors mentioned above, the series organizers have left their new 2025 regulations open to criticism, even if they have factored in the ability to quickly respond to domination by one manufacturer. Explanations aside, it just looks bad!

The big change this season is the elimination of rev limits. For the past several years, the series has attempted to balance the performance of different machines by putting different rev ceilings on different bikes. Last year, ballast was added to bikes if the rider/bike combination was below a certain mark.

The ballast regulations remain, but the rev limits are gone. Instead, the series has adopted a fuel flow limit of 47 kilograms of fuel per hour. Phillip Island was the first place the new restrictions were in place.

A look at trap speeds tell part of the story. Last season, Xavi Vierge on the Honda CBR 1000 RR-R was by far the quickest down the straight at Phillip Island, clocked at 335.4 kph (208.4 mph). This year, the fastest machine was Danilo Petrucci’s Barni Spark Racing satellite Panigale V4 R, which tripped the radar gun at 332.9 kph (206.8 mph). Not a lot of change. Last year, looking at the overall weekend of the riders who finished in the top 15 in Sunday’s full-length race, the gap between the fastest and slowest machines was 9.1 kph (5.65 mph); this year, the gap was 12.8 kph (7.95 mph). And the abnormally slow top speed of Remy Gardner’s YZF-R1 makes that gap look bigger than it really was. Gardner was not just 6.2 kph slower than last year, but 7.7 kph slower than the only other Yamaha in the top 15, the factory bike ridden by Andrea Locatelli. Lose Gardner’s mark and the next-slowest machine was Sam Lowes’ satellite Ducati, clocked at 324.9 kph, and the gap comes down to 8 kph (4.97 mph).

Obviously, top speeds don’t tell the whole story. But it’s clear that the fuel restrictions aren’t very, well, restrictive. The fastest Ducatis last year tripped the beam at 331.3 kph, so the trade-off between restricted fuel flow and unlimited revs meant a change of 1.6 kph (0.99 mph) on the top end.

Compared to MotoGP, the Superbikes are allowed to burn a bit more fuel per hour. MotoGP bikes are limited to 22 liters of fuel, and their races run about 40 minutes, so they are burning roughly 33 liters per hour. At 47 kg per hour, Superbikes are burning 35.25 liters per hour. So the restrictions are not particularly limiting – yet. The rules allow for reductions of 0.5 kg/hour every other round.

Another new regulation went quietly under the radar over the weekend. The bimota by Kawasaki KB998 has been homologated with moveable wings, although it is not clear whether the team has tried them yet.

Cameron Beaubier (6) on a MotoAmerica-spec BMW M 1000 RR. Photo by Michael Gougis.

At the official Dunlop pre-season MotoAmerica test at The Podium Club this weekend, it was clear that the gap in the spec between the World Superbikes and the machines raced in the U.S. was growing. No one at the Arizona test was in favor of ditching rev limits and instituting fuel flow restrictions in MotoAmerica competition. Cost was cited as the key factor, as well as difficulties in enforcement. With four race-winning or podium-scoring Superbike rides from last season apparently disappearing for 2025, there was little enthusiasm for increasing the cost of competing in the class.

And the idea of moveable aerodynamics also was not one that finds a lot of support in the MotoAmerica paddock. One team principal described it as a gimmick. Another crew chief pointed out that static aero devices like wings have increased costs in unexpected ways–a simple lowside can damage not just the aero, but all of the fairing bits that the wings are attached to.

Maybe it’s OK if World Superbike and MotoAmerica go separate paths. Clearly the economics for each series is different. Maybe it makes a lot of sense for each to adopt regulations that fit their individual needs and to help build healthy, full and competitive grids. If rev limits and restricted aero are what is best for MotoAmerica, it doesn’t make sense to change that system for something that is still, based on Phillip Island, a work in progress. So far, there’s no sign that MotoAmerica is going to switch to fuel flow restrictions. Here’s hoping it stays that way…

Canadian Superbike: Dumas Signs With BMW Motorrad Canada

John Ulrich

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February 24, 2025

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Canadian Superbike: Dumas Signs With BMW Motorrad Canada

BMW Motorrad Canada unveils teams and riders for 2025 Canadian Superbike Championship

Alex Dumas to ride a BMW M 1000 RR in the 2025 Canadian Superbike Championship.

Dumas joins Sam Guerin as the top BMW riders in the Pro Superbike class.

Season to begin on May 16 at Shannonville Motorsport Park.

BMW Motorrad Canada is thrilled to announce its participation in the Pro Superbike Class of the 2025 Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK), partnering with a famed team and rider alongside the return of fan-favorite Sam Guerin. This season promises to be an exciting chapter for BMW Motorrad as it continues to build on its legacy of excellence in Canadian two-wheeled motorsport.

Introducing Alex Dumas and Fast Company

Joining the ranks of BMW Motorrad Canada is the talented Alex Dumas, who will be riding the #23 M 1000 RR. Dumas is no stranger to success, having clinched the 2021 Canadian Superbike Championship. With his impressive track record and competitive spirit, Dumas is poised to make a significant impact this season.

Alex Dumas at a 2024 CSBK event. Photo by Colin Fraser.

Dumas will be racing under the banner of Economy Lube + Tire / Fast Company / BMW Motorrad, and will be expertly managed by Scott Miller. Himself a multi-time Canadian Superbike Championship winning Builder and Tuner of the Year, Miller’s expertise will be instrumental in guiding Dumas to success on the track.

Round 6 BS Battery Pole Position Award podium from Shannonville Motorsport Park (from left): Ben Young, Alex Dumas, and Sam Guerin. Photo by Rob O'Brien, courtesy CSBK. — The CSBK Pole Position Award podium from Shannonville Motorsport Park last August (from left): Ben Young, Alex Dumas, and Sam Guerin. Photo by Rob O’Brien, courtesy CSBK.

Welcoming Back Sam Guerin

In addition to Dumas, BMW Motorrad Canada is excited to welcome back Sam Guerin, who will be riding the #2 M 1000 RR for the EFC Group BMW Motorrad team. In 2024, Guerin closed out the championship in a strong second place on his BMW M 1000 RR. Guerin’s return adds depth and familiarity to the BMW Motorrad lineup, and fans can expect to see him compete fiercely throughout the championship.

2025 Championship Schedule

The 2025 Canadian Superbike Championship will kick off with an action-packed schedule, featuring four rounds at some of the most prestigious tracks in Canada:

Round 1: May 16-18 – Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON
Round 2: June 6-8 – Atlantic Motorsport Park, Shubenacadie, NS
Round 3: July 4-6 – RAD Torque Raceway, Edmonton, AB
Round 4: August 7-10 – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, ON

A Legacy of Excellence

BMW Motorrad Canada aims to continue building on its winning legacy, with the departure of Ben Young, Champion since 2022. BMW Motorrad also holds the title of reigning Canadian Superbike Constructors Champion since 2022, a testament to its commitment to performance and innovation in the world of motorsport.

“The M 1000 RR has proven to be an extremely competitive motorcycle with which we’ve seen a lot of success over the past few years,” said Alex Welsh, Marketing Manager with BMW Motorrad Canada. “Paired with Dumas and Guerin’s clear talents on track, we’re hoping to see continued success in 2025.”

As the 2025 season approaches, BMW Motorrad Canada is excited to support its teams and riders in their push for victory. Fans can follow the journey of Alex Dumas, Sam Guerin and other BMW riders as they compete for the championship and represent the BMW Motorrad brand with pride.

For more information, please visit www.csbk.ca.

BMW Group in Canada

BMW Group Canada, based in Richmond Hill, Ontario, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW AG and is responsible for the distribution of BMW luxury performance automobiles, Sports Activity Vehicles, Motorcycles, and MINI. BMW Group Financial Services Canada is a division of BMW Group Canada and offers retail financing and leasing programs and protection products on new and pre-owned BMW and MINI automobiles, as well as retail financing for new and pre-owned BMW Motorcycles. A total network of 51 BMW automobile retail centres, 26 BMW motorcycle retailers, and 31 MINI retailers represents the BMW Group across the country.

MotoGP: Martin Injured Again, Out Of Thailand Race (Updated Again)

Michael Gougis

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February 24, 2025

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MotoGP: Martin Injured Again, Out Of Thailand Race (Updated Again)

Defending MotoGP World Champion Jorge Martin has injured his hand and will miss the season opening races in Thailand, according to multiple media reports from Europe.

“Jorge Martin suffered a complex fracture of the radius, some carpal bones on the left side and an ipsilateral calcaneal fracture during a training session,” according to a statement issued by Aprilia to Crash.net, the website reported. Several other outlets have reported that Martin was injured and will be replaced in Thailand this weekend by Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori.

Martin suffered fractures to his right hand and left foot on the first day of testing in Sepang, but the team had hoped for him to be able to race at the season’s first event at Chang International Circuit.

Martin won the 2024 title on the Primac Racing Ducati machine, then signed for Aprilia when Ducati chose Marc Marquez to partner Francesco Bagnaia on the factory Ducati squad for 2025.

From a news release issued by MotoGP:

Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) is confirmed to miss the PT Grand Prix of Thailand after suffering fractures in his left hand in a training crash ahead of the season opener.

The #1 was preparing for the Thai GP after being sidelined from most of pre-season testing following his crash on Day 1 of the Sepang Test.

He will undergo surgery on his left hand – not the one he broke in Malaysia – on Tuesday in Barcelona, with recovery times to be determined after surgery is complete.

Aprilia have confirmed that Lorenzo Savadori will sub for the reigning World Champion at Round 1.

From a news release issued by Aprilia Racing:

Jorge Martin suffered a complex fracture of the radius, some carpal bones on the left side and an ipsilateral calcaneal fracture during a training session.

After a surgical consultation, it was decided to proceed with surgery, which will take place tomorrow at the Dexeus Clinic in Barcelona to stabilize the fractures of the radius and the left scaphoid.

Martin will miss the Thailand Grand Prix and recovery times will be determined after the surgery.

Lorenzo Savadori will replace Martin in Thailand.

MotoAmerica: Beaubier Tops Final Day At Podium Club

Michael Gougis

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February 24, 2025

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MotoAmerica: Beaubier Tops Final Day At Podium Club

It wasn’t a matter of if Cameron Beaubier was going to get down to business at the two-day MotoAmerica/Dunlop Preseason test, it was just a matter of when.

In his first day on the 2.32-mile Podium Club road course on Saturday, Beaubier and his Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR ended up third fastest, behind the two Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing teamsters, Bobby Fong and Jake Gagne.

On Sunday, Beaubier became the first rider to lead a session other than Fong when he ripped off a 1:27.224 in session five, besting Fong and Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly. In session six, Beaubier went even quicker with his 1:27.048.

Although Fong turned the tables back in his favor in session seven by breaking his lap record for the second time in two days with his 1:26.461, Beaubier had the final punch.

Actually, two punches.

Beaubier ripped off a lap-record-breaking 1:26.390 with 24 minutes to go in the eighth and final session. Oddly, shortly thereafter, both Beaubier and Fong crashed in separate incidents in the same corner – turn one.

Beaubier, however, got back on track and went quicker still, lowering the lap record to 1:26.385. It was a time that wasn’t bettered.

Fong’s 1:26.461 from session seven put him second overall with Gagne’s 1:26.972 putting him third and just a tick over half a second from Beaubier’s best.

When all was said and done, Kelly was fourth-quickest with his best coming in session six.

Jayson Uribe was the fastest of the Stock 1000 riders and the best of the two OrangeCat Racing BMWs with Andrew Lee less than half a second off his teammate’s best.

Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin did two sessions on Sunday with his best lap coming in session six – a 1:30.404. Herrin was riding the Panigale V2 in preparation for a run at his fourth Daytona 200 victory in a few weeks.

Herrin’s teammate Cameron Petersen didn’t take part on the second day of the test after aggravating a knee injury in his Saturday afternoon tipover.

MP13 Racing’s Aiden Sneed topped Group B on his MV Agusta, ending up a tick quicker than Celtic/Economy Lube+Tire/Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Wristin Grigg. TAB Performance’s Kyle Ohnsorg was the only Mission King Of The Baggers testers on Sunday and he ended up third fastest overall.

Koch Racing teammates Sean Ungvarsky and Romeo Chiavini were fourth and fifth, respectively.

MotoAmerica/Dunlop Day 2

Cameron Beaubier (BMW) 1:26.385

Bobby Fong (Yamaha) 1:26.461

Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 1:26.972

Sean Dylan Kelly (Suzuki) 1:27.320

Jayson Uribe (BMW) 1:28.506

Andrew Lee (BMW) 1:28.888

Josh Herrin (Ducati) 1:30.404

World Superbike: Fernandez Substituting For Rea At Yamaha

Michael Gougis

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February 24, 2025

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World Superbike: Fernandez Substituting For Rea At Yamaha

Augusto Fernandez will replace Jonathan Rea in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship when the series visits Portugal in March. The Spanish star will take the place of Rea as the Ulsterman recovers from injuries sustained during the Official Test in Australia, with the #65 subsequently ruled out of action for both the Australian and Portuguese Rounds. Fernandez will make his WorldSBK debut at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, although will be on track in a test at March at the same venue.

Augusto Fernandez. Photo courtesy WorldSBK.com.

Rea crashed towards the end of Day 1 action at the Official Test leading up to the season-opening round and was diagnosed with multiple fractures to his left foot when his Yamaha R1 bike landed on his foot. He highsided at Turn 2 which caused the injuries before returning home where he underwent surgery. Despite this being a success, the #65 will be forced to miss both testing at the rollercoaster Portimao venue on March 14th-15th and the Pirelli Portuguese Round which takes place two weeks later.

Spanish star Fernandez will replace the Ulsterman to make his WorldSBK debut, although he’s raced within the paddock before. He started out in the European Junior Cup and finished second in 2013 before winning the 2014 title. He raced in STK600 in 2015, claiming one win on his way to fourth in the standings. In 2017, Moto2™ was his calling as he made his debut and he raced there until the 2022 season, claiming seven wins and 20 podiums in his six seasons which concluded with the title that year.

A move to MotoGP™ beckoned for 2023 with Red Bull GasGas Tech3 squad where he remained for two seasons. His best result was fourth at Le Mans in just his fifth race as he started his rookie season superbly, though his second campaign was trickier. He scored just one top-ten finish for the season, in the penultimate Grand Prix of the season, though he finished seventh in the Sprint at Jerez earlier on in the campaign. Following the end of the 2024 season, he was signed by Yamaha as a MotoGP™ rider and will now make his WorldSBK debut.

Discussing the news that he’d replace Rea, 27-year-old Fernandez said: “First of all I would like to send my best wishes for a speedy recovery to Jonathan Rea and to thank Yamaha for this opportunity. This will be my first experience of racing with the R1 but also of racing in WorldSBK. I can’t wait to get to the Portimão test to spend some time on the bike and to see how it feels.”

Road Racing Sporting Manager at Yamaha Motor Europe, Niccolo Canepa, added: “Jonathan has been sorely missed here in Phillip Island, but we are happy that the surgery on his injuries was successful and that he has now started the recovery process. We hope to see him fully fit and back on the bike as soon as possible. In the meantime, we spoke with Augusto and Yamaha Motor Racing about the possibility he could stand in for Jonathan in Portimao and he was keen to do so. He is familiar with the circuit, and with the test scheduled ahead of the race we can give him track time with the R1 WorldSBK ahead of the event. We must thank Yamaha Motor Racing and the MotoGP™ team for their support, and we are looking forward to welcoming Augusto to the team and to the WorldSBK paddock.”

World Superbike: More From Race Two At Phillip Island

Michael Gougis

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February 23, 2025

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World Superbike: More From Race Two At Phillip Island

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was untouchable in Oz as he completed his first ever hat-trick. He won with a very comfortable 2.6s margin, cruising past the checkered flag. While Bulega was running away with P1, not all the grid enjoyed such a carefree race, 2024 Riders’ Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) appeared to struggle on the track from lights out, being applied a penalty for irresponsible driving from an aggressive overtake on Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team).

Nicolo Bulega was metronomic in his efficiency down under in the Australian Round, testing earlier in the week told a story that he would be a strong contender, however no one on the grid could handle the speeds he would bring to the season-opening races. He claimed his career-first hat trick with a Race 2 P1, and speeds like these have to be a concern for the grid’s other riders as they strive to keep up. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had a very strong showing in Race 2, fighting his way back from a P11 start position after a poor result in the Tissot Superpole Race after running off track. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) joined the Ducati Factory riders in the rostrum, having started second on the grid, he weathered the storm of other independent riders hot on his tail to land his second podium of the weekend.

Scott Redding (MGM Bonovo Racing) had another day of near-constant action, fighting tooth and nail with a swarm of other riders, however particularly with Danilo Petrucci. The 2024 Top Independent rider and Redding battled throughout the second half of the race after the Pit Intervention, exchanging overtakes. In the end, Petrucci came in in P5 behind Redding, however this battle of the Independent Riders will be one to watch this season. Matching his career best-ever result, Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) continued his strong form with a P6 result after notching his career-best P5 in the Tissot Superpole Race. He nearly doubled up on the career result, as he was only 0.088s behind P5.

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) had another strong appearance at Phillip Island, duplicating his P7 result from Race 1. Less than a second behind, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) brought up the front of the Bimota pairing in P8, narrowly beating out P9 finisher Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) by a mere 0.022s. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) finished the race only two places behind teammate Alex Lowes, continuing the trend of both Bimotas finishing with similar times.

Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) continues to score points as the top Honda rider as Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) heals up from his broken foot. His P11 finish provides much-needed points to his team as replacement rider Tetsuta Nagashima (Honda HRC) finishes P18. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team finished P12, just 0.035 seconds behind Vierge. The grid’s only Kawasaki rider, Garett Gerloff (Kawasaki Racing Team) finished P13, a finish to improve upon, however a welcome step up from the DNF he scored after a crash with Nagashima ended his Race 1 early. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Racing Team) narrowly missed out on P13 by only 0.038s, taking home P14 instead. Having briefly led the race during other riders’ pit time, Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) was the final point-scoring rider to finish the race in P15. Fellow rookie, Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was the next to finish in P16, just shy of two seconds ahead of his teammate, Spanish rider Tito Rabat in P17. Rounding out the riders who finished the race, Tetsuta Nagashima finished in 18th place for team Honda HRC.

Toprak Razgatlioglu was pushing hard to try to get the most out of his new M 1000 RR, at times this weekend he seemed frustrated with his platform’s performance. When he ran wide trying to enter a corner in Lap 12, he made his second trip to the pits in what would be his final moments on the bike of the race as the team decided to retire from there. Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) was the first rider to retire after a crash in Turn 6. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) unfortunately crashed with only four laps to go exiting the Gardner Straight, named after his father Wayne Gardner.

The top six from the WorldSBK Race 2:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)

2. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.603s

3. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) +3.980s

4. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) +8.043s

5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +10.009s

6. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +10.097s

Championship Standings:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 62 points

2. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 36

3. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) 35

4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 31

5. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) 30

6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) 22

WorldSBK: Race Two Results From Phillip Island

Mathilde Gasnier

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February 22, 2025

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WorldSBK: Race Two Results From Phillip Island

Again, Nicolò Bulega won FIM Superbike World Championship Race Two Sunday at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, in Australia. Riding his Pirelli-equipped Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R, the Italian won the 20-lap race by 2.603 seconds, giving him a clean sweep of all three race wins on the weekend.

Alvaro Bautista, Bulega’s teammate, was the runner-up.

Andrea Iannone finished third on his Team Pata Go Eleven Ducati Panigale V4R.

Danilo Petrucci crossed the finish line fifth on his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R.

American Garrett Gerloff finished 13th on his Kawasaki WorldSBK Team ZX-10RR.

Two-time and defending World Champion, Toprak Razgatlioglu, didn’t cross the finish line due to a mechanical problem on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR.

For the championship, Bautista is 26 points behind his teammate Bulega who has 62 points. Iannone is third with 35 points.

WSBK RACE 2 Results

WSBKChampionshipStandings

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

AUSTRALIAN MASTERCLASS: Bulega takes first WorldSBK hat-trick, Bautista fights back to P2 as Razgatlioglu retires.

Bulega goes three for three down under, back-to-back podiums for Iannone, Toprak goes pointless as he was forced to retire early.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was untouchable in Oz as he completed his first ever hat-trick. He won with a very comfortable 2.6s margin, cruising past the checkered flag. While Bulega was running away with P1, not all the grid enjoyed such a carefree race, 2024 Riders’ Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) appeared to struggle on the track from lights out, being applied a penalty for irresponsible driving from an aggressive overtake on Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team).

BULEGA BURNS COMPETITION: Comfortable P1 for Bulega, P2 for Bautista and P3 for Iannone

Nicolo Bulega was metronomic in his efficiency down under in the Australian Round, testing earlier in the week told a story that he would be a strong contender, however no one on the grid could handle the speeds he would bring to the season-opening races. He claimed his career-first hat trick with a Race 2 P1, and speeds like these have to be a concern for the grid’s other riders as they strive to keep up. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had a very strong showing in Race 2, fighting his way back from a P11 start position after a poor result in the Tissot Superpole Race after running off track. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) joined the Ducati Factory riders in the rostrum, having started second on the grid, he weathered the storm of other independent riders hot on his tail to land his second podium of the weekend.

INDEPENDENT DOGFIGHT: Redding, Petrucci, Sam Lowes battle for P4

Scott Redding (MGM Bonovo Racing) had another day of near-constant action, fighting tooth and nail with a swarm of other riders, however particularly with Danilo Petrucci. The 2024 Top Independent rider and Redding battled throughout the second half of the race after the Pit Intervention, exchanging overtakes. In the end, Petrucci came in in P5 behind Redding, however this battle of the Independent Riders will be one to watch this season. Matching his career best-ever result, Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) continued his strong form with a P6 result after notching his career-best P5 in the Tissot Superpole Race. He nearly doubled up on the career result, as he was only 0.088s behind P5.

LOKA TOP YAMAHA: Both Bimota’s top 10, Montella top rookie

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) had another strong appearance at Phillip Island, duplicating his P7 result from Race 1. Less than a second behind, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) brought up the front of the Bimota pairing in P8, narrowly beating out P9 finisher Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) by a mere 0.022s. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) finished the race only two places behind teammate Alex Lowes, continuing the trend of both Bimotas finishing with similar times.

VIERGE P11, AEGERTER CLOSE BEHIND: Gerloff, van der Mark, Vickers all take home points

Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) continues to score points as the top Honda rider as Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) heals up from his broken foot. His P11 finish provides much-needed points to his team as replacement rider Tetsuta Nagashima (Honda HRC) finishes P18. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team finished P12, just 0.035 seconds behind Vierge. The grid’s only Kawasaki rider, Garett Gerloff (Kawasaki Racing Team) finished P13, a finish to improve upon, however a welcome step up from the DNF he scored after a crash with Nagashima ended his Race 1 early. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Racing Team) narrowly missed out on P13 by only 0.038s, taking home P14 instead. Having briefly led the race during other riders’ pit time, Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) was the final point-scoring rider to finish the race in P15. Fellow rookie, Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was the next to finish in P16, just shy of two seconds ahead of his teammate, Spanish rider Tito Rabat in P17. Rounding out the riders who finished the race, Tetsuta Nagashima finished in 18^th place for team Honda HRC.

TOPRAK ENDS EARLY: A mechanical issue forces defending champion to retire

Toprak Razgatlioglu was pushing hard to try to get the most out of his new M 1000 RR, at times this weekend he seemed frustrated with his platform’s performance. When he ran wide trying to enter a corner in Lap 12, he made his second trip to the pits in what would be his final moments on the bike of the race as the team decided to retire from there. Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) was the first rider to retire after a crash in Turn 6. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) unfortunately crashed with only four laps to go exiting the Gardner Straight, named after his father Wayne Gardner.

The top six from the WorldSBK Race 2: Full results here!

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)

2. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.603s

3. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) +3.980s

4. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) +8.043s

5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +10.009s

6. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +10.097s

Championship Standings:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 62 points

2. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 36

3. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) 35

4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 31

5. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) 30

6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) 22

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