Can Öncü, riding his Puccetti Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R, led World Supersport Free Practice Two (FP2) with a lap time of 1:37.591 (which was quicker than the current Race Lap Record of 1:37.688) Friday afternoon at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands.
WSS FP2
Progressive Fresh N Lean Yamaha’s Jake Gagne, the two-time and defending MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Champion, topped Free Practice One with a time of 1:24.501 Friday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia.
Cameron Beaubier, riding his new Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR, was second-best with a lap time of 1:24.520.
Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen was a close third with a 1:24.678.
It’s important to note, however, that Gagne did his best time on lap four, while Beaubier did his best time on his 16th and final lap of the session.
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Tyler Scott, riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750, topped MotoAmerica Supersport Free Practice One (FP1) with a time of 1:30.181 Friday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia.
Four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes was best of the rest on his Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha. Stefano Mesa was third-quickest on his Tytlers Cycle Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R.
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Hayden Bicknese, riding his Bicknese Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400, led MotoAmerica Junior Cup Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia.
SportbikeTrackGear.com’s Max Van was second-best, and Altus Motorsports Alessandro Di Mario was third in the session.
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Rocco Landers, riding the Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660 in place of injured Ben Gloddy, led MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
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Rocco Landers is filling in for injured Ben Gloddy on the Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660 in MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup this weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Gloddy fell in a chain-reaction crash with Dominic Doyle during Twins Cup Race One at Daytona International Speedway in March and suffered lacerations in his groin area that required surgery.
The 17-year-old from New Hampshire rode recently in his role as a flat track instructor with American Supercamp, but discomfort during that school led Gloddy to withdraw from this weekend’s event, according to a member of his team.
Gloddy did not respond to attempts by Roadracingworld.com to contact him prior to post time, but on April 19 he posted the following to social media:
“It’s been an up and down ride since Daytona and after experiencing some setbacks I will not be at Atlanta this weekend. I have no doubts that Robem Rodio Racing will be on the box for both races and I will be cheering all my buddies on from NH. What took place at and after Daytona was a little more traumatic physically and mentally than I initially thought and I will be taking this time to work on myself to be stronger than ever. I am sorry to let everyone down and I cannot thank my team, sponsors, friends, family and fans enough for all the support.”
To replace Gloddy, Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering has enlisted the services of 18-year-old Landers. In addition to finishing as the runner-up in the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship, Landers won the MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship in 2020 and back-to-back MotoAmerica Junior Cup titles in 2019 and 2020.
Stefano Manzi, riding his Ten Kate Racing Yamaha YZF-R6, topped World Supersport Free Practice One with a 1:38.316 Friday morning at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands.
The top 15 riders were separated by only 1.3 seconds.
WSS FP1
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed North America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 27th consecutive year of showcasing what is actually an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 12 MotoAmerica/AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (12 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more — and younger — racers with higher levels of accomplishments are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2023 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
The entire Roadracing World Young Guns, Class of 2023 is featured in the April 2023 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.
Tyler Scott
Age: 17.
Current home: Emmaus, Pennsylvania.
Current height/weight: 5’8”/140 pounds.
Current school grade level: 11th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2016, Braselton, Georgia, WERA, Formula Three, 1st place.
Current racebike: Suzuki GSX-R750.
Current tuners/mechanics: Dustin Cyr.
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Supersport.
Top sponsors: Vision Wheel, M4 Performance Exhausts, ECSTAR, Suzuki, Mission Foods, Arai, RST, R&G, Shorai, Hotbodies Racing, Vortex, EK Chains, TechSpec, Cordona, SportbikeTrackGear.com, Venhill, 1-833-CJ-KNOWS Accident and Injury Law, Roadracingworld.com, Team Hammer, Alpinestars, Roof Systems, Evolve GT.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2022 season, placed 3rd in MotoAmerica Supersport Championship (1 win, 9 total podiums); 2021 season, won MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (11 wins and 15 total podiums in 18 races); 2020 season, raced in FIM CEV European Talent Cup (Best race finish was 16th at Valencia), win 2 CCS Atlantic Regional Championships (Thunderbike, Lightweight Superbike), won 26 CCS races; 2019 season, finished 23rd in Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup (best race finish was 11th at Assen), competed in European Talent Cup; 2018 season, selected to join the 2019 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, finished 3rd in ASRA Moto3 and Thunderbike National Championships (6 wins, 8 podium finishes from 8 starts), won 5 CCS Regional Championships (34 race wins), won 3 WERA races; 2017 season, won AMA Moto3 Grand Championship, won WERA Formula Three National Challenge Championship, won 2 WERA Sportsman Regional Class Championships (16 wins, 24 podiums with WERA), won 3 AMA Flat Track Grand National Championships, named AMA Flat Track Youth Rider of the Year; 2016 season, won 3 AMA Flat Track Grand Championships, named AMA Flat Track Youth Rider of the Year.
2023 racing goal: Win the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
Racing career goals: Race against Marc Marquez, win MotoGP World Championship.
Racing hero: Nicky Hayden.
Favorite track: Mugello.
Favorite hobby: Riding mountain bikes.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Competing in bicycle races or enduro races.
Some of the riders who have graduated from Roadracing World Young Guns and gone on to racing success in National or International series include:
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion Jason Aguilar (R.I.P.);
2013 AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Corey Alexander;
AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race winner Tommy Aquino (R.I.P.);
2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and AFT SuperTwins race winner J.D. Beach;
five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier;
MotoAmerica Twins Cup race winner Jackson Blackmon;
former Canadian Sport Bike Champion Tomas Casas;
three-time Canadian Sport Bike Champion and 2014 Canadian Superbike Champion Jodi Christie;
former AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 race winner Josh Day;
2011 Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Championship runner-up and current MotoAmerica team owner Dustin Dominguez;
2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, and 2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas;
four-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race winner and former motorcycle track record holder Carlin Dunne (R.I.P.);
Canadian Superbike race winner Bodhi Edie;
two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, two-time AMA Pro XR1200/Harley-Davidson Champion and four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick;
2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Bobby Fong;
2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Superstock 1000 Champion, and two-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne;
two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and World Superbike podium finisher Garrett Gerloff;
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship runner-up Michael Gilbert;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Champion, 2018 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship runner-up Hayden Gillim;
2002 AMA Superbike Champion and 2006 FIM MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden (R.I.P.);
2007 AMA Pro 600cc Supersport Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up, and 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship runner-up Roger Hayden;
eight-time AMA Pro Superbike race winner and two-time AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden;
2013 AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin;
MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Teagg Hobbs;
AMA Pro Superstock race winner Jake Holden;
2011 British Superbike Championship runner-up and former MotoGP and World Superbike regular John Hopkins;
2015 Supersport World Championship runner-up, 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Superbike podium finisher Patrick “P.J.” Jacobsen;
2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and current Moto2 World Championship competitor Sean Dylan Kelly;
Canadian Superbike race winner Kevin Lacombe;
two-time MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Andrew Lee;
2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Champion Jake Lewis;
MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Sam Lochoff;
MotoAmerica Superstock 600 race winner Nick McFadden;
AMA Pro SuperSport race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Stefano Mesa;
Elena Myers, the first and only woman to win AMA Pro Supersport races;
AMA Pro XR1200 race winner, multi-time Loudon Classic winner, and two-time BRL Champion Shane Narbonne;
2012 Canadian Superbike Championship runner-up Andrew Nelson;
2016 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Champion, 2019 British Motostar (Moto3) Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch;
2012 Daytona 200 winner and 2010 AMA Pro Supersport West Champion Joey Pascarella;
2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and current powersports dealership owner Bryce Prince;
AMA Pro and Canadian National race winner and multi-time N2/WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Peris;
two-time AMA Pro SuperSport National Champion, British Supersport podium finisher, 2020 AFT Production Twins Champion, and MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers race winner James Rispoli;
2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport race winner, and Moto2 World Championship race winner Joe Roberts;
former Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Champion and former FIM Moto2 European Championship competitor Benny Solis, Jr.;
three-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2009 Superbike World Champion, MotoGP race winner, and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ben Spies;
multi-time AMA Pro race winner and four-time overall WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Ulrich;
MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher and former World Superbike competitor Jayson Uribe;
2017 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship runner-up, 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory Ventura;
Canadian Superbike race winner Alex Welsh;
former AMA Pro Superbike Rookie of the Year, Chinese Superbike Championship race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory West;
MotoAmerica Junior Cup and Superbike Cup race winner Ashton Yates;
and two-time AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up Blake Young.
Defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista, riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, topped World Superbike Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at TT Circuit Assen with a lap time of 1:34.592.
Six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea was second on his factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR, while Remy Gardner was both the top Independent Team rider and top Yamaha rider in third on his GYTR GRT Yamaha YZF-R1.
American Garrett Gerloff finished the session seventh overall and the second-best BMW rider on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.
WSBK FP1
Outspoken ahead of Assen
The 2023 season has just started but even at the first European round of the year, 2024 is coming onto the radar
The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is BACK in action and the Pirelli Dutch Round at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands is shaping up to be a belter. There’s plenty of hype coming into this round; it’s our first chance to catch-up with one rider who has been testing MotoGP™ machinery, an opportunity to speak to a home-hero, the Championship leader and Assen’s most successful rider. This week’s outspoken certainly touches all bases as we look ahead to racing.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK): “It’s all young riders’ dream to ride a MotoGP™ bike”
“For the MotoGP™ test, I can say I enjoyed it and finally, I rode in good weather, as last year I only did 28 laps due to the weather. Thanks to Yamaha for the opportunity. It’s still a dream but we will see in the future. This is just testing, for me to understand the bike and for Yamaha to see the potential. It’s all young riders’ dream to one day, ride a MotoGP™ bike. I’ve done it, enjoyed it but now I come back and do my job again, because for me, WorldSBK is important this season, to fight again for the Championship. This break was a lot, I was really bored and now I am fighting again. For me, the last two years at Assen, it hasn’t been a good race weekend, especially Race 2. This year, I was thinking not to ride in Race 2, because I always end up crashing! I’ll try again for this year, for the podium or the win. Jonny is always very strong at this track. Every year, this race weekend is different and I’ll try to do my best.”
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “Toprak’s an incredible talent, he could do a great job”
“I’m excited about Assen. I have a pretty good track record here, it’s a track I enjoy. I rode for a team based just up the road for many years of my career. I don’t know why I work so well here, it’s also a combination with the bike. I know Kawasaki is very strong here as well. While one eye’s on performance, you have to keep an eye on what the weather’s doing. Tough’s a great word. Although we have to try and start from zero and reset, and the results have been pretty poor, we can also draw positives from some of the races we’ve had; steps forward we’ve made with the bike. We haven’t put it all together. We’ve had two tests at Aragon and Barcelona to try a different direction with the bike and to focus on our weaknesses. This season, it’s been overstressing the front and the front tyre especially in the latter stages of races. We showed some good speed in Australia and Indonesia. The speed’s not in doubt, it’s about the longevity in the race. I think here at Assen should suit us especially with cooler conditions. It’s a hard situation to be in. All I know is that Toprak’s an incredible talent and given the right opportunity to go to MotoGP™, with the right people around him, he could do a great job.”
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “I don’t have a clear of idea about my future… in the case I don’t want to stay, they have to know”
“I look forward to this weekend as I started the year so well. The feeling at the Barcelona test was incredible, I’m very happy. I have good memories at this track as I won with Ducati three times and last year, we were competitive, fighting with Toprak and Jonathan. I haven’t thought about my future because right now, we have only had two races; maybe after this round, I start to think about what I want to do. I am not old, but I have a lot of experience in motorcycle racing. At the moment, it’s not my first worry, I just want to be focused on this weekend. I don’t have a clear of idea about my future. I will decide very soon, not just for me but for my team. In the case I don’t want to stay, they have to know as soon as possible and also for my side. We’ll see, but at the moment, I don’t have an idea. About Toprak, for sure he wants to go to MotoGP™, at least what I heard. It’s a different Championship, different bikes, different tyres… I know he’s doing some tests with the Yamaha, but he has to understand if he has the potential to go there and do well. Otherwise, he has a big name in WorldSBK and he’s an important rider here, so he has to choose, but it’s not an easy decision. Every rider wants to try MotoGP™ at least once, but it’s not easy, now that the category is so close with a gap at almost nothing between first and last. He has to understand if he can also be fast there.”
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK): “It’ll be something special if I can get the first win here”
“We are at Assen, it’s a special track for me as I have good memories from the first year in WorldSBK in 2021, so we’ll see what happens this weekend. We hope for good weather, but we’re ready to fight. It’ll be something special if I can get the first win here at Assen; it’ll be hard but for sure, we’ll try. Why not? We’re here after a really good start to the Championship; we’ll try to be fast and fight for the podium. For me, it’s difficult to say about Toprak because I don’t know but maybe for him, it’s interesting to go to MotoGP™ for the future. In my opinion, it doesn’t change anything; we’ll continue to work on my side, together, to be fast and to finish this season in a good way.”
Iker Lecuona (Team HRC): “I think we can fight for top positions”
“I started training and I don’t have any pain; I’ve been training with the practice bike and I don’t feel pain, so this is positive. I am here, ready to fight again. Honestly, I am very happy with the direction; I think we did a very good step with race distance, this is the area we’ve improved a lot because last year, we struggled with the tyre performance as it was dropping a lot in the last laps. Almost every race, we lost this potential to fight for the podium or good results. I am really happy, also the team and Japan have done a very good step so then, the reality is that if the tyre life makes it to the end with a good performance or not, but we are happy. I spoke with my crew chief Pete this morning and we said that I’m very excited, so I need to be calmer; last year, I went fast with the old bike but and got a podium. So, if you put this into 2023 when in Australia, with the improved tyre performance, we overtook Jonny in the last two laps, and the fact it’s a new season, testing went well and I’m excited, I know the package was amazing, so we need to see day by day. I think I am ready; I think we can fight for top positions.”
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I want to stay with BMW”
“I’m really happy to be back racing again, especially at Assen. I’m always looking forward to here. Unfortunately, it’s only once a year but it’s nice to be back here at Assen! It was nice to ride again at the test after Indonesia. We had a lot of things to test and, for us, it was to see what direction we have to go for the future. Nothing really decided about what to use here but we had some swingarms. It was all to confirm the direction for the future. I want to stay with BMW for sure. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the results yet like we wanted for different reasons. One reason was my injury which cost us a whole year. I want to improve this project, to start winning with this project, hopefully we can stay together.”
Can Öncü, riding his Puccetti Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R, led World Supersport Free Practice Two (FP2) with a lap time of 1:37.591 (which was quicker than the current Race Lap Record of 1:37.688) Friday afternoon at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands.
WSS FP2
Progressive Fresh N Lean Yamaha’s Jake Gagne, the two-time and defending MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Champion, topped Free Practice One with a time of 1:24.501 Friday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia.
Cameron Beaubier, riding his new Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR, was second-best with a lap time of 1:24.520.
Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen was a close third with a 1:24.678.
It’s important to note, however, that Gagne did his best time on lap four, while Beaubier did his best time on his 16th and final lap of the session.
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Tyler Scott, riding his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750, topped MotoAmerica Supersport Free Practice One (FP1) with a time of 1:30.181 Friday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia.
Four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes was best of the rest on his Squid Hunter Racing Yamaha. Stefano Mesa was third-quickest on his Tytlers Cycle Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R.
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Hayden Bicknese, riding his Bicknese Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400, led MotoAmerica Junior Cup Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia.
SportbikeTrackGear.com’s Max Van was second-best, and Altus Motorsports Alessandro Di Mario was third in the session.
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Rocco Landers, riding the Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660 in place of injured Ben Gloddy, led MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
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Rocco Landers is filling in for injured Ben Gloddy on the Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660 in MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twins Cup this weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Gloddy fell in a chain-reaction crash with Dominic Doyle during Twins Cup Race One at Daytona International Speedway in March and suffered lacerations in his groin area that required surgery.
The 17-year-old from New Hampshire rode recently in his role as a flat track instructor with American Supercamp, but discomfort during that school led Gloddy to withdraw from this weekend’s event, according to a member of his team.
Gloddy did not respond to attempts by Roadracingworld.com to contact him prior to post time, but on April 19 he posted the following to social media:
“It’s been an up and down ride since Daytona and after experiencing some setbacks I will not be at Atlanta this weekend. I have no doubts that Robem Rodio Racing will be on the box for both races and I will be cheering all my buddies on from NH. What took place at and after Daytona was a little more traumatic physically and mentally than I initially thought and I will be taking this time to work on myself to be stronger than ever. I am sorry to let everyone down and I cannot thank my team, sponsors, friends, family and fans enough for all the support.”
To replace Gloddy, Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering has enlisted the services of 18-year-old Landers. In addition to finishing as the runner-up in the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship, Landers won the MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship in 2020 and back-to-back MotoAmerica Junior Cup titles in 2019 and 2020.
Stefano Manzi, riding his Ten Kate Racing Yamaha YZF-R6, topped World Supersport Free Practice One with a 1:38.316 Friday morning at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands.
The top 15 riders were separated by only 1.3 seconds.
WSS FP1
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed North America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 27th consecutive year of showcasing what is actually an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 12 MotoAmerica/AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (12 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more — and younger — racers with higher levels of accomplishments are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2023 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
The entire Roadracing World Young Guns, Class of 2023 is featured in the April 2023 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.
Tyler Scott
Age: 17.
Current home: Emmaus, Pennsylvania.
Current height/weight: 5’8”/140 pounds.
Current school grade level: 11th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2016, Braselton, Georgia, WERA, Formula Three, 1st place.
Current racebike: Suzuki GSX-R750.
Current tuners/mechanics: Dustin Cyr.
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Supersport.
Top sponsors: Vision Wheel, M4 Performance Exhausts, ECSTAR, Suzuki, Mission Foods, Arai, RST, R&G, Shorai, Hotbodies Racing, Vortex, EK Chains, TechSpec, Cordona, SportbikeTrackGear.com, Venhill, 1-833-CJ-KNOWS Accident and Injury Law, Roadracingworld.com, Team Hammer, Alpinestars, Roof Systems, Evolve GT.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2022 season, placed 3rd in MotoAmerica Supersport Championship (1 win, 9 total podiums); 2021 season, won MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (11 wins and 15 total podiums in 18 races); 2020 season, raced in FIM CEV European Talent Cup (Best race finish was 16th at Valencia), win 2 CCS Atlantic Regional Championships (Thunderbike, Lightweight Superbike), won 26 CCS races; 2019 season, finished 23rd in Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup (best race finish was 11th at Assen), competed in European Talent Cup; 2018 season, selected to join the 2019 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, finished 3rd in ASRA Moto3 and Thunderbike National Championships (6 wins, 8 podium finishes from 8 starts), won 5 CCS Regional Championships (34 race wins), won 3 WERA races; 2017 season, won AMA Moto3 Grand Championship, won WERA Formula Three National Challenge Championship, won 2 WERA Sportsman Regional Class Championships (16 wins, 24 podiums with WERA), won 3 AMA Flat Track Grand National Championships, named AMA Flat Track Youth Rider of the Year; 2016 season, won 3 AMA Flat Track Grand Championships, named AMA Flat Track Youth Rider of the Year.
2023 racing goal: Win the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
Racing career goals: Race against Marc Marquez, win MotoGP World Championship.
Racing hero: Nicky Hayden.
Favorite track: Mugello.
Favorite hobby: Riding mountain bikes.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Competing in bicycle races or enduro races.
Some of the riders who have graduated from Roadracing World Young Guns and gone on to racing success in National or International series include:
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion Jason Aguilar (R.I.P.);
2013 AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Corey Alexander;
AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race winner Tommy Aquino (R.I.P.);
2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and AFT SuperTwins race winner J.D. Beach;
five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier;
MotoAmerica Twins Cup race winner Jackson Blackmon;
former Canadian Sport Bike Champion Tomas Casas;
three-time Canadian Sport Bike Champion and 2014 Canadian Superbike Champion Jodi Christie;
former AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 race winner Josh Day;
2011 Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Championship runner-up and current MotoAmerica team owner Dustin Dominguez;
2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, and 2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas;
four-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race winner and former motorcycle track record holder Carlin Dunne (R.I.P.);
Canadian Superbike race winner Bodhi Edie;
two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, two-time AMA Pro XR1200/Harley-Davidson Champion and four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick;
2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Bobby Fong;
2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Superstock 1000 Champion, and two-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne;
two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and World Superbike podium finisher Garrett Gerloff;
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship runner-up Michael Gilbert;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Champion, 2018 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship runner-up Hayden Gillim;
2002 AMA Superbike Champion and 2006 FIM MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden (R.I.P.);
2007 AMA Pro 600cc Supersport Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up, and 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship runner-up Roger Hayden;
eight-time AMA Pro Superbike race winner and two-time AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden;
2013 AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin;
MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Teagg Hobbs;
AMA Pro Superstock race winner Jake Holden;
2011 British Superbike Championship runner-up and former MotoGP and World Superbike regular John Hopkins;
2015 Supersport World Championship runner-up, 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Superbike podium finisher Patrick “P.J.” Jacobsen;
2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and current Moto2 World Championship competitor Sean Dylan Kelly;
Canadian Superbike race winner Kevin Lacombe;
two-time MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Andrew Lee;
2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Champion Jake Lewis;
MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Sam Lochoff;
MotoAmerica Superstock 600 race winner Nick McFadden;
AMA Pro SuperSport race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Stefano Mesa;
Elena Myers, the first and only woman to win AMA Pro Supersport races;
AMA Pro XR1200 race winner, multi-time Loudon Classic winner, and two-time BRL Champion Shane Narbonne;
2012 Canadian Superbike Championship runner-up Andrew Nelson;
2016 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Champion, 2019 British Motostar (Moto3) Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch;
2012 Daytona 200 winner and 2010 AMA Pro Supersport West Champion Joey Pascarella;
2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and current powersports dealership owner Bryce Prince;
AMA Pro and Canadian National race winner and multi-time N2/WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Peris;
two-time AMA Pro SuperSport National Champion, British Supersport podium finisher, 2020 AFT Production Twins Champion, and MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers race winner James Rispoli;
2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport race winner, and Moto2 World Championship race winner Joe Roberts;
former Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Champion and former FIM Moto2 European Championship competitor Benny Solis, Jr.;
three-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2009 Superbike World Champion, MotoGP race winner, and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ben Spies;
multi-time AMA Pro race winner and four-time overall WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Ulrich;
MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher and former World Superbike competitor Jayson Uribe;
2017 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship runner-up, 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory Ventura;
Canadian Superbike race winner Alex Welsh;
former AMA Pro Superbike Rookie of the Year, Chinese Superbike Championship race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory West;
MotoAmerica Junior Cup and Superbike Cup race winner Ashton Yates;
and two-time AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up Blake Young.
Defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista, riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, topped World Superbike Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at TT Circuit Assen with a lap time of 1:34.592.
Six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea was second on his factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR, while Remy Gardner was both the top Independent Team rider and top Yamaha rider in third on his GYTR GRT Yamaha YZF-R1.
American Garrett Gerloff finished the session seventh overall and the second-best BMW rider on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.
WSBK FP1
Outspoken ahead of Assen
The 2023 season has just started but even at the first European round of the year, 2024 is coming onto the radar
The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is BACK in action and the Pirelli Dutch Round at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands is shaping up to be a belter. There’s plenty of hype coming into this round; it’s our first chance to catch-up with one rider who has been testing MotoGP™ machinery, an opportunity to speak to a home-hero, the Championship leader and Assen’s most successful rider. This week’s outspoken certainly touches all bases as we look ahead to racing.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK): “It’s all young riders’ dream to ride a MotoGP™ bike”
“For the MotoGP™ test, I can say I enjoyed it and finally, I rode in good weather, as last year I only did 28 laps due to the weather. Thanks to Yamaha for the opportunity. It’s still a dream but we will see in the future. This is just testing, for me to understand the bike and for Yamaha to see the potential. It’s all young riders’ dream to one day, ride a MotoGP™ bike. I’ve done it, enjoyed it but now I come back and do my job again, because for me, WorldSBK is important this season, to fight again for the Championship. This break was a lot, I was really bored and now I am fighting again. For me, the last two years at Assen, it hasn’t been a good race weekend, especially Race 2. This year, I was thinking not to ride in Race 2, because I always end up crashing! I’ll try again for this year, for the podium or the win. Jonny is always very strong at this track. Every year, this race weekend is different and I’ll try to do my best.”
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “Toprak’s an incredible talent, he could do a great job”
“I’m excited about Assen. I have a pretty good track record here, it’s a track I enjoy. I rode for a team based just up the road for many years of my career. I don’t know why I work so well here, it’s also a combination with the bike. I know Kawasaki is very strong here as well. While one eye’s on performance, you have to keep an eye on what the weather’s doing. Tough’s a great word. Although we have to try and start from zero and reset, and the results have been pretty poor, we can also draw positives from some of the races we’ve had; steps forward we’ve made with the bike. We haven’t put it all together. We’ve had two tests at Aragon and Barcelona to try a different direction with the bike and to focus on our weaknesses. This season, it’s been overstressing the front and the front tyre especially in the latter stages of races. We showed some good speed in Australia and Indonesia. The speed’s not in doubt, it’s about the longevity in the race. I think here at Assen should suit us especially with cooler conditions. It’s a hard situation to be in. All I know is that Toprak’s an incredible talent and given the right opportunity to go to MotoGP™, with the right people around him, he could do a great job.”
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “I don’t have a clear of idea about my future… in the case I don’t want to stay, they have to know”
“I look forward to this weekend as I started the year so well. The feeling at the Barcelona test was incredible, I’m very happy. I have good memories at this track as I won with Ducati three times and last year, we were competitive, fighting with Toprak and Jonathan. I haven’t thought about my future because right now, we have only had two races; maybe after this round, I start to think about what I want to do. I am not old, but I have a lot of experience in motorcycle racing. At the moment, it’s not my first worry, I just want to be focused on this weekend. I don’t have a clear of idea about my future. I will decide very soon, not just for me but for my team. In the case I don’t want to stay, they have to know as soon as possible and also for my side. We’ll see, but at the moment, I don’t have an idea. About Toprak, for sure he wants to go to MotoGP™, at least what I heard. It’s a different Championship, different bikes, different tyres… I know he’s doing some tests with the Yamaha, but he has to understand if he has the potential to go there and do well. Otherwise, he has a big name in WorldSBK and he’s an important rider here, so he has to choose, but it’s not an easy decision. Every rider wants to try MotoGP™ at least once, but it’s not easy, now that the category is so close with a gap at almost nothing between first and last. He has to understand if he can also be fast there.”
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK): “It’ll be something special if I can get the first win here”
“We are at Assen, it’s a special track for me as I have good memories from the first year in WorldSBK in 2021, so we’ll see what happens this weekend. We hope for good weather, but we’re ready to fight. It’ll be something special if I can get the first win here at Assen; it’ll be hard but for sure, we’ll try. Why not? We’re here after a really good start to the Championship; we’ll try to be fast and fight for the podium. For me, it’s difficult to say about Toprak because I don’t know but maybe for him, it’s interesting to go to MotoGP™ for the future. In my opinion, it doesn’t change anything; we’ll continue to work on my side, together, to be fast and to finish this season in a good way.”
Iker Lecuona (Team HRC): “I think we can fight for top positions”
“I started training and I don’t have any pain; I’ve been training with the practice bike and I don’t feel pain, so this is positive. I am here, ready to fight again. Honestly, I am very happy with the direction; I think we did a very good step with race distance, this is the area we’ve improved a lot because last year, we struggled with the tyre performance as it was dropping a lot in the last laps. Almost every race, we lost this potential to fight for the podium or good results. I am really happy, also the team and Japan have done a very good step so then, the reality is that if the tyre life makes it to the end with a good performance or not, but we are happy. I spoke with my crew chief Pete this morning and we said that I’m very excited, so I need to be calmer; last year, I went fast with the old bike but and got a podium. So, if you put this into 2023 when in Australia, with the improved tyre performance, we overtook Jonny in the last two laps, and the fact it’s a new season, testing went well and I’m excited, I know the package was amazing, so we need to see day by day. I think I am ready; I think we can fight for top positions.”
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “I want to stay with BMW”
“I’m really happy to be back racing again, especially at Assen. I’m always looking forward to here. Unfortunately, it’s only once a year but it’s nice to be back here at Assen! It was nice to ride again at the test after Indonesia. We had a lot of things to test and, for us, it was to see what direction we have to go for the future. Nothing really decided about what to use here but we had some swingarms. It was all to confirm the direction for the future. I want to stay with BMW for sure. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the results yet like we wanted for different reasons. One reason was my injury which cost us a whole year. I want to improve this project, to start winning with this project, hopefully we can stay together.”
