Moto2 World Championship racer Diogo Moreira and multi-time Supermoto World Champion Thomas Chareyre won the annual 100km of Champions at the VR46 ranch in Tavullia, Italy.
Valentino Rossi and Luca Marini took second, ahead of Elia Bartolini and Lorenzo Baldassari.
Americans Sammy Halbert and J.D. Beach finished eighth.
100km results
Jacopo Cerutti and Team Aprilia Tuareg Racing write another memorable page of Africa Eco Race history. With an extraordinary win in the eleventh stage, Cerutti took the 2025 Africa Eco Race title, giving Team Aprilia Tuareg Racing their second consecutive title in this iconic rally raid.
The eleventh stage took the riders into Senegal, from Nouakchott to Mpal, for the timed section in the Sahelian Savannah through a mixture of sandy trails and complex navigation. The final standings were announced at the Mpal bivouac, since the eleventh stage is the last one valid for the rankings ahead of the triumphant procession on Sunday with the legendary Lac Rose as the destination.
After closing the gap behind the overall leader to just nine seconds with his extraordinary victory in the tenth stage, Jacopo Cerutti started first, blazing the trail, with the goal of overturning the results of the rally in the final decisive timed section for the standings. With a fast pace, Cerutti won the stage with a 35’’ advantage, also taking the title of 2025 Africa Eco Race Champion for the second year in a row. With this result, the Aprilia Tuareg Rally confirms its status as the bike to beat and Cerutti as the rider to beat, despite the physical difficulties he faced in the final stages with extraordinary resilience.
Francesco Montanari finished the eleventh stage fourth overall, +4’03’’ behind the leader, and he is now forty-first in the overall standings, partly because of a DNF in the tenth stage. Marco Menichini, on the other hand, finished eighth overall, +8’04’’ behind the winner, consolidating his sixth place in the overall standings and also taking the win for the Under 25 category. Both riders confirmed increasingly higher performance throughout the 2025 Africa Eco Race, further reinforcing the competitiveness of Team Aprilia Tuareg Racing.
This second consecutive title and the positive results achieved by all the Aprilia Tuareg Racing riders confirm the versatile features and reliability of the Tuareg Rally in an environment with extreme conditions, such as those experienced in the 2025 edition of the Africa Eco Race.
JACOPO CERUTTI
“This win has a special flavour. Today I started really well and I knew I would have to give one hundred percent to close the gap. It was a hard race, full of unexpected surprises, but the team and I knew how to react in every situation. I wish to dedicate this win to the team and their tireless efforts. Winning the Africa Eco Race for the second consecutive year is a dream.”
MASSIMO RIVOLA
“We must celebrate Jacopo and the Aprilia Tuareg Rally who proved to be highly competitive. We should point out Jacopo’s ability to tackle challenges, in spite of the numerous misadventures such as the issues with the mousse in his rear tyre, the organisation’s navigation instrument which didn’t work, and the gastrointestinal virus. He did something truly special, keeping us all on the edge of our seats until the end – not only Aprilia fans, but all motorsport enthusiasts. This win is even more valuable when you consider that he started this stage from behind in the overall standings. Congratulations to Jacopo and Team Guareschi, who never gave up all the way to the end.”
The reigning champion claimed his first stage win of the race, marking his eleventh Dakar stage victory. Starting sixth this morning, over 29 minutes behind, the HRC rider moved up to fourth place in the provisional standings, surpassing his teammate Skyler Howes and closing in on the podium, now just 23’18” behind top man Daniel Sanders.
“Yeah, the first day on the second week is a long day. They like to make you get a little bit of rest and then put you right back into it.
“It’s been a tough day. I saw (Branch) Ross on the ground, pushed the rescue button, saw the helicopter just up ahead landing on the ground. So I figured for me it was quicker just to get out of there and go to the helicopter directly rather than try to phone some rescue. But before I even got to Ross, there was police already with them and he was conscious. So yeah, once I did that, kept going on my way.
“You know, the stage was pretty varied, with multiple conditions of terrain. And yeah, the last little bit in the dunes was tricky because all the local traffic to watch the race was crazy. There’s people going everywhere. But yeah, all is good. Six more days, so we’ll keep fighting.”
Editors Note: Americans Mason Klein, Skyler Howes and Jacob Argubright finished the stage seventh, eighth and 23rd. Daniel Sanders retained the overall lead, with Brabec in fourth.
Top 10 from stage six of the Dakar rally:
SMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES BEGINS WITH MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS SEASON OPENER THIS SATURDAY IN ANAHEIM LIVE AT 8:00 P.M. EST ON USA NETWORK AND PEACOCK
Telemundo YouTube and Facebook to Feature the Spanish Language Broadcast Live for all 2025 Races
Reigning Supercross and SMX World Champion Jett Lawrence Headlines Field
Leigh Diffey, 15-Time AMA Champion Ricky Carmichael, and Seven-Time AMA Champion James Stewart to Call Race
Peacock to Stream All Races, Qualifying and Heats Live Across the 2025 Supercross Season, Including 16 Exclusive Live Races
The 2025 SMX World Championship series and Monster Energy AMA Supercross season begins this Saturday, January 11, from Angel Stadium of Anaheim in California, starting live at 7:30 p.m. ET with exclusive pre-race coverage on Peacock followed by the race at 8:00 p.m. EST on USA Network and Peacock.
Saturday’s season opener is headlined by reigning Supercross and SMX World Champion Jett Lawrence, competing in his sophomore season in the premier class. Lawrence’s older brother, Hunter, who finished second overall in the SMX Playoffs, also looks to build on the momentum from 2024. Two-time Supercross Champions Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb, as well as reigning two-time Pro Motocross Champion Chase Sexton are all expected to compete on Saturday and begin an action-packed 2025 season. The Western Regional 250SX Championship kicks off as well with reigning two-time 250 SMX World Champion Haiden Deegan headlining the field.
2025 marks the third year of the SMX World Championship, which unifies Supercross and Pro Motocross and presents the season-ending SMX World Championship Playoffs, with the top racers in the world competing for the sport’s ultimate title in a style of racing that features the best that both indoor stadium Supercross and outdoor Pro Motocross seasons have to offer.
Leigh Diffey will serve as play-by-play with 15-time AMA champion Ricky Carmichael and seven-time AMA champion James Stewart serving as analysts. Will Christien and Jason Thomas will serve as reporters.
Race Day Live qualifying coverage on Saturday from Anaheim gets underway at 2:30 p.m. EST exclusively on Peacock, hosted by former racers Justin Brayton and Adam Cianciarulo. The pre-race show at 7:30 p.m. EST will be hosted by Jason Weigandt, Brayton, and Cianciarulo. All Supercross live coverage, including races, heats, and qualifying, plus on-demand replays, will be available on Peacock.
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide live streaming coverage of Saturday’s race. An encore presentation of the race will air Sunday, January 12 at 2:00 p.m. EST on NBC.
28 regular season races plus the postseason playoffs across the series, including exclusive live coverage of Main Event races, qualifiers, and heats, will be presented across NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital platforms in 2025, culminating with two SMX World Championship Playoff rounds and the SMX World Championship Final. Additionally, Telemundo Deportes will live stream the Spanish-language broadcast of every race this season on the Telemundo Facebook and YouTube channels.
Throughout the season, all 31 SMX World Championship rounds will be presented on NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85.
Broadcast Team
Play by Play: Leigh Diffey
Analyst: Ricky Carmichael / James Stewart
Reporters: Will Christien / Jason Thomas
Pre-Race: Justin Brayton / Adam Cianciarulo / Jason Weigandt
How To Watch (all times EST)
TV – USA Network, NBC
Streaming – Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, Telemundo Facebook/YouTube
How To Listen (all times ET)
Satellite Radio – NBC Sports Audio – Sirius XM Channel 85
Jayden Fernandez, a 17-year-old rider from Erie, Colorado who previously raced in the 2024 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship and achieved 2 podiums, a pole position, and finished sixth in the final standings, will race in the 2025 CIV Italian Road Racing Championship!
For 2025, Jayden has decided to take a big step, signing an annual contract with Massimiliano Morlacchi’s Team MMR to participate in the 2025 Italian Championship (CIV) in the Aprilia Trefeo Cup, racing a brand new RS660 Extrema.
Team MMR has included the option for Jayden to eventually move up and race with the SBK World Championship in 2026, in the new category that will soon replace the current SSP300. A Sportbike category, which is said to be very similar to the MotoAmerica Twins Cup. In fact, Team MMR will be supported in this project directly by Factory Aprilia Racing.
Jayden Fernandez:
“After several years of racing in America I have accomplished many things, especially my last year in MotoAmerica. I have now been given the opportunity to fulfill one of my life-long dreams, to live and race in Europe, more specifically in Spain and Italy. Which is why I’ve been guided with the help of Stefano Favaro, to move there and proudly have him as my manager.
“I would like to thank my whole family (my dad, mom and sister) for the great opportunities they support me with and the trust they have in me. I would also like to thank team owner Massimiliano Morlacchi, for enlightening me with this great opportunity. I’m eager to see what the next year brings me. I would like to thank Rossi and Steve Moor. Rossi is not only a great rider, but a close friend who is always helping me improve. And Steve for all the helpful advice he gives me at every training to help me grow. Last but not least, I would like to thank all my personal sponsors and people who have helped me throughout my years of racing in America, I truly couldn’t have done it without you.”
Massimiliano Morlacchi (Team MMR Owner:
“I am truly happy and enthusiastic to confirm the commitment of our structure for another year in the Aprilia Rs660 Trophy. We are ready to offer Jayden the maximum commitment in the Noale single-brand series that has seen us as protagonists for a few years now. In this way we strengthen our dual commitment both towards Aprilia and in the MotoAmerica channel from which we seek the best talents! Jayden has all the credentials, starting from his young age, to do well and build the foundations of his career in Italy. In the Aprilia Trophy we will try to realize the goodness of our work, achieving the best possible results for the rider and team. See you on the circuit!”
From a news release issued by Dakar.com:
After 2,559 kilometres of specials covered by the bikes and 2,579 by the cars and trucks, 299 vehicles have reached the rest day in Ha’il in the heart of Saudi Arabia. 118 bikes (including 100 Rally 2), 58 Ultimate cars, 2 Stock, 45 Challenger cars, 33 SSV and 43 trucks will resume racing on Saturday for the seven stages remaining before the final finishing line in Shubaytah, in the Empty Quarter. 81 vehicles have been able to use a joker to remain in the race, while 36 have been forced into premature exits (i.e., 10.75%).
At the midway point, the rankings are dominated by Daniel Sanders in the Rally GP class; Edgar Canet in the Rally 2 class; Henk Lategan in the Ultimate class; Nicolas Cavigliasso in the Challenger class; Brock Heger in the SSV category; and Martin Macik in the truck race, all of whom are under the age of 36 years. The rejuvenation of the discipline is underlined by the records for youthful promise beaten by Seth Quintero and then Saood Variawa, respectively aged 22 and 19 years and both stage winners, as well as the early departures from the rally by Carlos Sainz and Sébastien Loeb.
Daniel Sanders put himself in a favourable situation from the outset. Thanks to victory on the prologue, the Australian started behind his rivals for stage 1, which he won, enabling him to achieve the same feat the next day, taking advantage of the reverse order start for the 48 HR Chrono stage. ‘Chucky’ also limited the damage when opening the way, on stages 3 and 5. This strategic approach put him in the lead in the general rankings from the very first day of the rally.
Honda is leading the resistance with 4 riders in the top 6, including Tosha Schareina (in 2nd place, 15’02’’ behind), Adrien Van Beveren (3rd, 24’31’’ back), Skyler Howes (5th, 27’59’’ down) and Ricky Brabec (6th, 29’01’’ behind). Hero rider Ross Branch (4th, 25’48’’ behind) is also keeping the pace. Luciano Benavides on his KTM completes a top 7 all within a 32’15’’ time bracket.
Edgar Canet could hardly have dreamed of a better debut. The youngest official rider in history (at the age of 19 years) won half of the Rally 2 specials on offer and leads the rankings in addition to occupying 10th place in the overall bike category. The Spaniard boasts a lead of 16’39’’ over his Austrian rival, Tobias Ebster. Michael Docherty (31’07’’ behind) completes a 100% KTM provisional podium ahead of the Hondas ridden by Romain Dumontier (49’47’’ back) and Jacob Arbugright (51’34’’ down).
KTM has left its mark on the first half of the competition, winning 5 specials out of 6 in the Rally GP class (4 for Sanders and one for L. Benavides) and 6 out of 6 in the Rally 2 class (3 for Canet, 2 for Ebster and one for Docherty). Sherco (avec Lorenzo Santolino) and Honda (with AVB) have taken the other two victories. After being dethroned in both classes last year, the Austrian firm is in the process of setting the record straight.
Emanuel Gyenes and Benjamin Melot, both specialists in the unassisted bikers’ race, finished first and second in 2020. Five years later, the duel has recommenced. Both men have dominated the Original by Motul class, with the advantage for the Romanian by 13’16’’ ahead of the Frenchman. The last step on the provisional podium is also hotly contested, between Jérôme Martiny (58’03’’ behind the current leader), Jaromir Romancik (1:03’29’’ back) and Mike Wiedemann (1:04’28’’ down), who are all within a 6-minute bracket.
The young brands that have recently arrived on the Dakar are performing well while obtaining experience. Chinese manufacturer Kove is in the Top 20 for the first time in its history with Neels Theric, who is 18th overall and 6th in the Rally 2 class. Italian brand Fantic is battling to achieve its first top 30 finish with Jeremy Miroir (in 28th place), while the three Hoto bikes, also from China, which are making their debut this year, are all still in the race, in the top 50.
Superbike-Coach Corp has announced its 2025 class schedule. The popular riding school has upped the stakes to include new benefits and offers to their street and track day rider students. Superbike-Coach Corp provides sport photography at all classes and events. And, the track fee is included at their Cornering School program. They also offer free snacks, coffee and drinks throughout the day. The riding school offers these unique classes and renowned 1-on-1 programs for both track and street riders. Our programs are:
Cornering School Days 1-3 – For all street and track riders on a small race track, no track fees
Track Day & Class – For all riders and bike categories at Thunderhill Raceway
Track Rookie Class at Thunderhill Raceway– For all riders who want to start out track days
Body Position & Knee Down Class – For all Sportbike street riders and track riders, no track fees
Track Academy – For track riders of mid levels and up
Road Skill 1-on-1 coaching – For all street riders of all ages, levels, and categories
Wheelie Course – For all street riders, track riders, and racers of all ages
Track Drill 1-on-1 coaching – For all sport and track riders and racers of all ages and levels at your track day
Supermotard 1-on-1 – For street and track riders, and racers of all ages
Supermoto Class & Race – For street and track riders, and racers of all ages, no track fees
Basic Rider 1-on-1 – For absolute beginners, to prepare for the M1 drivers license test
Suspension Workshop & Track Time – For all street and track riders on a small race track, no extra track fees
Group Events – Individual classes for all motorcycle clubs, group members, companies, dealerships, corporate
The 2025 season class event schedule is as follows:
26 Jan Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
1 Feb Sat, Track Drill 1on4, Buttonwillow Raceway $390
2 Feb Sat, Track Drill 1on4, Buttonwillow Raceway $390
9 Feb Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
23 Feb Sun, Cornering School Day 2, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
9 Mar Sun, Cornering School Day 3, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
21 Mar Fri, Track Drill 1on4, Buttonwillow Raceway $390
22 Mar Fri, Track Drill 1on4, Buttonwillow Raceway $390
23 Mar Fri, Track Drill 1on4, Buttonwillow Raceway $390
30 Mar Sun, Supermoto Race Class, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $249
13 Apr Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
26 Apr Sat, Body Position & Knee Down Class, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
27 Apr Sun, Wheelie Course, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $199
4 May Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
18 May Sun, Cornering School Day 2, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
8 Jun Sun, Cornering School Day 3, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
22 Jun Sun, Track Day, Thunderhill Raceway West $179
22 Jun Sun, Track Rookie class, Thunderhill Raceway West $259
13 Jul Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
27 Jul Sun, Suspension Workshop & Track Time, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $149
10 Aug Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
24 Aug Sun, Cornering School Day 2, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
29 Aug Fri, Track Drill 1on4, Laguna Seca Raceway $390
30 Aug Fri, Track Drill 1on4, Laguna Seca Raceway $390
7 Sep Sun, Cornering School Day 3, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
20 Sep Sat, Body Position & Knee Down Class, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
21 Sep Sun, Wheelie Course, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $199
5 Oct Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
19 Oct Sun, Track Day, Thunderhill Raceway West $179
19 Oct Sun, Track Rookie class, Thunderhill Raceway West $259
2 Nov Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
16 Nov Sun, Cornering School Day 2, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
7 Dec Sun, Cornering School Day 3, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
14 Dec Sun, Track Academy, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
For more information, please visit www.superbike-coach.com or contact them via email at [email protected]
Motobilia named the National Title Series Sponsor of the AHRMA Roadracing, Off-road and Dirt Track racing series for 2025 to 2027
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) proudly announces a new, long-term, multi-discipline title sponsorship.
Motobilia.com will be the title sponsor for the 2025 through 2027 AHRMA Road Race, Off-Road (including Motocross and Cross Country), and Dirt Track competition seasons.
Motobilia is renowned for its dedication to preserving motorcycle history through its extensive collection of motorcycles, memorabilia, and parts, and the new partnership with Motobilia.com aligns perfectly with AHRMA’s mission to Keep the Past Fast.
This multi-year sponsorship marks a significant milestone for AHRMA as it continues to celebrate the vibrancy and legacy of historic motorcycle racing.
The AHRMA Road Racing Series Presented by Motobilia.com will take place at some of the finest road racing venues in the United States starting each year in February and finishing each October at the Barber Vintage Festival in Birmingham, Alabama. Racers from across the country will compete in a broad range of classes on a wide range of vintage and modern road race motorcycles.
The AHRMA National Motocross and Cross Country Series Presented by Motobilia.com run across nine regions nationwide in three different categories: Vintage, Post Vintage, and Next Gen for both MX and Cross Country. The total number of races far surpasses 100.
The AHRMA Dirt Track Series presented by Motobilia.com will partner with several high-profile venues/sanctioning bodies which will add significant excitement to the 2025 AHRMA Dirt Track National Championship Series.
“Having a near 40-year history with AHRMA was certainly key to exploring this association, but it was not the deciding factor,” said Rick Doughty, Motobilia Executive Director, “Instead, it is the newfound philosophy within the organization from Dan May, his team, and the board of trustees, of an open-minded approach to the world of ‘vintage’ motorcycles.”
Doughty continued, “AHRMA recognizes the undeniable truth that new motorcycles one day become vintage and vintage motorcycles one day become antique. Navigating that ever-changing landscape will take considerable thought and planning to keep the sport vital. AHRMA is well positioned and structured to accomplish that goal. We are very much looking forward to the synergistic benefits that this joint effort represents. Not just for our organizations, but for the entire motorcycling community.”
“We are proud to have Motobilia as our Title Sponsor across the AHRMA racing disciplines.” said Daniel May, AHRMA Executive Director. “We look forward to the partnership as both AHRMA and Motobilia continue to expand the public awareness of vintage motorcycle racing and the rich history that comes along with it.”
“We are excited to support AHRMA over these three significant years,” said Doughty. “Our brand is all about celebrating the stories behind the machines, and sponsoring these disciplines allows us to bring that narrative to life in a very tangible way for the racing community.”
About Motobilia
Motobilia.com is the premier online destination for motorcycle enthusiasts, offering a curated collection of high end bikes of all eras. With a passion for the culture and history of motorcycling, we connect collectors and riders with rare, authentic motobilia from around the globe. We have quickly morphed into a magazine-style site that shines a light on the most interesting people, places and things in the world of motorcycling. Racing, riding, restoring and ruminating are all well represented.
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With about 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
KTM will start building its 2025 MotoGP racebikes on Monday and will ship them off for the pre-season tests and the first four rounds of the new season, the company’s MotoGP technical director says.
In a report published at speedweek.com, Wolfgang Felber, who took over development of the RC16 in the wake of Fabio Sterlacchini’s move to Aprilia, says the built will be complete by the third week of January, as normal.
The machines will be evolutionary and an update of the 2024 models, and they will be based on the configuration seen in the post-season test at Barcelona, he says.
“As far as preparations for the new season are concerned, everything is currently going as normal. In recent years, we have trimmed all processes so that we build the new machines in the third week of the year. It will be the same in 2025 – next Monday we will start rebuilding all the motorcycles,” Felber told speedweek.com.
“Everything is timed so that at the end of week 3 we pack the boxes for the big test in Sepang. From then on the bikes are on the road for a long time. The vehicles will only arrive in Munderfing again for the European season opener in Jerez.”
The report says that eight racebikes will be built and shipped to Malaysia for the shakedown in Sepang, then will be used for the remaining tests and the Grand Prix events in Thailand, Argentina, Texas and Qatar.
“We are clearly talking about an evolutionary model in 2025. A radical new approach was out of the question. We already had our actual shakedown during the last tests in 2024. The 2025 version worked as hoped and the basis has been defined. The plan now is to build all machines accordingly with new parts,” Felber says.
Reports from the insolvency proceedings in Austria have indicated that KTM plans to pull out of Grand Prix racing, but not before 2026. KTM has said it plans to race in 2025, although with a trimmed-down effort that reduces the amount of money spent in the past. Felber says the racing department remains committed to the 2025 effort.
“We are in racing. We have our brains, our computers and our motivation. The very last thing we think about is giving up,” he says.
MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is thrilled to announce that Motovation, an industry leader in motorcycle customization for over 20 years, is now the title sponsor of the 2025 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
Texas-based Motovation imports unique, high-quality motorcycle accessories from around the world for racers, mechanics and motorcycle enthusiasts – all with a focus on elite quality and style.
The 18-race 2025 MotoAmerica Motovation Championship begins April 4-6 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, and concludes September 26-28 at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey.
Last year’s Supersport series was a battle from start to finish between Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz and Warhorse HSBK Ducati Racing’s PJ Jacobsen, with Scholtz ultimately taking the crown.
“Our involvement with MotoAmerica racing began many years ago with a grassroots approach to the sport,” said Nate Seyer, owner and CEO of Motovation. “We started out supporting riders who needed help getting their bikes ready for such a high level of competition. Over the years, we have been fortunate enough to involve ourselves with a wide spectrum of teams and riders competing across the different MotoAmerica classes. We are proud to have the opportunity to make an even bigger difference to a sport we all love.”
“We’re thrilled to announce Motovation as the title sponsor for the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship,” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “Motovation has been a valuable supporter of teams and riders over the years, and we’re excited to see them step into this prominent role. The Supersport class is one of the most competitive and prestigious in our series, with up to six manufacturers battling for victories. Last season’s title chase came down to the wire, and we’re expecting another thrilling year of competition.”
Moto2 World Championship racer Diogo Moreira and multi-time Supermoto World Champion Thomas Chareyre won the annual 100km of Champions at the VR46 ranch in Tavullia, Italy.
Valentino Rossi and Luca Marini took second, ahead of Elia Bartolini and Lorenzo Baldassari.
Americans Sammy Halbert and J.D. Beach finished eighth.
100km results
Jacopo Cerutti and Team Aprilia Tuareg Racing write another memorable page of Africa Eco Race history. With an extraordinary win in the eleventh stage, Cerutti took the 2025 Africa Eco Race title, giving Team Aprilia Tuareg Racing their second consecutive title in this iconic rally raid.
The eleventh stage took the riders into Senegal, from Nouakchott to Mpal, for the timed section in the Sahelian Savannah through a mixture of sandy trails and complex navigation. The final standings were announced at the Mpal bivouac, since the eleventh stage is the last one valid for the rankings ahead of the triumphant procession on Sunday with the legendary Lac Rose as the destination.
After closing the gap behind the overall leader to just nine seconds with his extraordinary victory in the tenth stage, Jacopo Cerutti started first, blazing the trail, with the goal of overturning the results of the rally in the final decisive timed section for the standings. With a fast pace, Cerutti won the stage with a 35’’ advantage, also taking the title of 2025 Africa Eco Race Champion for the second year in a row. With this result, the Aprilia Tuareg Rally confirms its status as the bike to beat and Cerutti as the rider to beat, despite the physical difficulties he faced in the final stages with extraordinary resilience.
Francesco Montanari finished the eleventh stage fourth overall, +4’03’’ behind the leader, and he is now forty-first in the overall standings, partly because of a DNF in the tenth stage. Marco Menichini, on the other hand, finished eighth overall, +8’04’’ behind the winner, consolidating his sixth place in the overall standings and also taking the win for the Under 25 category. Both riders confirmed increasingly higher performance throughout the 2025 Africa Eco Race, further reinforcing the competitiveness of Team Aprilia Tuareg Racing.
This second consecutive title and the positive results achieved by all the Aprilia Tuareg Racing riders confirm the versatile features and reliability of the Tuareg Rally in an environment with extreme conditions, such as those experienced in the 2025 edition of the Africa Eco Race.
JACOPO CERUTTI
“This win has a special flavour. Today I started really well and I knew I would have to give one hundred percent to close the gap. It was a hard race, full of unexpected surprises, but the team and I knew how to react in every situation. I wish to dedicate this win to the team and their tireless efforts. Winning the Africa Eco Race for the second consecutive year is a dream.”
MASSIMO RIVOLA
“We must celebrate Jacopo and the Aprilia Tuareg Rally who proved to be highly competitive. We should point out Jacopo’s ability to tackle challenges, in spite of the numerous misadventures such as the issues with the mousse in his rear tyre, the organisation’s navigation instrument which didn’t work, and the gastrointestinal virus. He did something truly special, keeping us all on the edge of our seats until the end – not only Aprilia fans, but all motorsport enthusiasts. This win is even more valuable when you consider that he started this stage from behind in the overall standings. Congratulations to Jacopo and Team Guareschi, who never gave up all the way to the end.”
The reigning champion claimed his first stage win of the race, marking his eleventh Dakar stage victory. Starting sixth this morning, over 29 minutes behind, the HRC rider moved up to fourth place in the provisional standings, surpassing his teammate Skyler Howes and closing in on the podium, now just 23’18” behind top man Daniel Sanders.
“Yeah, the first day on the second week is a long day. They like to make you get a little bit of rest and then put you right back into it.
“It’s been a tough day. I saw (Branch) Ross on the ground, pushed the rescue button, saw the helicopter just up ahead landing on the ground. So I figured for me it was quicker just to get out of there and go to the helicopter directly rather than try to phone some rescue. But before I even got to Ross, there was police already with them and he was conscious. So yeah, once I did that, kept going on my way.
“You know, the stage was pretty varied, with multiple conditions of terrain. And yeah, the last little bit in the dunes was tricky because all the local traffic to watch the race was crazy. There’s people going everywhere. But yeah, all is good. Six more days, so we’ll keep fighting.”
Editors Note: Americans Mason Klein, Skyler Howes and Jacob Argubright finished the stage seventh, eighth and 23rd. Daniel Sanders retained the overall lead, with Brabec in fourth.
Top 10 from stage six of the Dakar rally:
SMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES BEGINS WITH MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS SEASON OPENER THIS SATURDAY IN ANAHEIM LIVE AT 8:00 P.M. EST ON USA NETWORK AND PEACOCK
Telemundo YouTube and Facebook to Feature the Spanish Language Broadcast Live for all 2025 Races
Reigning Supercross and SMX World Champion Jett Lawrence Headlines Field
Leigh Diffey, 15-Time AMA Champion Ricky Carmichael, and Seven-Time AMA Champion James Stewart to Call Race
Peacock to Stream All Races, Qualifying and Heats Live Across the 2025 Supercross Season, Including 16 Exclusive Live Races
The 2025 SMX World Championship series and Monster Energy AMA Supercross season begins this Saturday, January 11, from Angel Stadium of Anaheim in California, starting live at 7:30 p.m. ET with exclusive pre-race coverage on Peacock followed by the race at 8:00 p.m. EST on USA Network and Peacock.
Saturday’s season opener is headlined by reigning Supercross and SMX World Champion Jett Lawrence, competing in his sophomore season in the premier class. Lawrence’s older brother, Hunter, who finished second overall in the SMX Playoffs, also looks to build on the momentum from 2024. Two-time Supercross Champions Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb, as well as reigning two-time Pro Motocross Champion Chase Sexton are all expected to compete on Saturday and begin an action-packed 2025 season. The Western Regional 250SX Championship kicks off as well with reigning two-time 250 SMX World Champion Haiden Deegan headlining the field.
2025 marks the third year of the SMX World Championship, which unifies Supercross and Pro Motocross and presents the season-ending SMX World Championship Playoffs, with the top racers in the world competing for the sport’s ultimate title in a style of racing that features the best that both indoor stadium Supercross and outdoor Pro Motocross seasons have to offer.
Leigh Diffey will serve as play-by-play with 15-time AMA champion Ricky Carmichael and seven-time AMA champion James Stewart serving as analysts. Will Christien and Jason Thomas will serve as reporters.
Race Day Live qualifying coverage on Saturday from Anaheim gets underway at 2:30 p.m. EST exclusively on Peacock, hosted by former racers Justin Brayton and Adam Cianciarulo. The pre-race show at 7:30 p.m. EST will be hosted by Jason Weigandt, Brayton, and Cianciarulo. All Supercross live coverage, including races, heats, and qualifying, plus on-demand replays, will be available on Peacock.
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide live streaming coverage of Saturday’s race. An encore presentation of the race will air Sunday, January 12 at 2:00 p.m. EST on NBC.
28 regular season races plus the postseason playoffs across the series, including exclusive live coverage of Main Event races, qualifiers, and heats, will be presented across NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital platforms in 2025, culminating with two SMX World Championship Playoff rounds and the SMX World Championship Final. Additionally, Telemundo Deportes will live stream the Spanish-language broadcast of every race this season on the Telemundo Facebook and YouTube channels.
Throughout the season, all 31 SMX World Championship rounds will be presented on NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85.
Broadcast Team
Play by Play: Leigh Diffey
Analyst: Ricky Carmichael / James Stewart
Reporters: Will Christien / Jason Thomas
Pre-Race: Justin Brayton / Adam Cianciarulo / Jason Weigandt
How To Watch (all times EST)
TV – USA Network, NBC
Streaming – Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, Telemundo Facebook/YouTube
How To Listen (all times ET)
Satellite Radio – NBC Sports Audio – Sirius XM Channel 85
Jayden Fernandez, a 17-year-old rider from Erie, Colorado who previously raced in the 2024 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship and achieved 2 podiums, a pole position, and finished sixth in the final standings, will race in the 2025 CIV Italian Road Racing Championship!
For 2025, Jayden has decided to take a big step, signing an annual contract with Massimiliano Morlacchi’s Team MMR to participate in the 2025 Italian Championship (CIV) in the Aprilia Trefeo Cup, racing a brand new RS660 Extrema.
Team MMR has included the option for Jayden to eventually move up and race with the SBK World Championship in 2026, in the new category that will soon replace the current SSP300. A Sportbike category, which is said to be very similar to the MotoAmerica Twins Cup. In fact, Team MMR will be supported in this project directly by Factory Aprilia Racing.
Jayden Fernandez:
“After several years of racing in America I have accomplished many things, especially my last year in MotoAmerica. I have now been given the opportunity to fulfill one of my life-long dreams, to live and race in Europe, more specifically in Spain and Italy. Which is why I’ve been guided with the help of Stefano Favaro, to move there and proudly have him as my manager.
“I would like to thank my whole family (my dad, mom and sister) for the great opportunities they support me with and the trust they have in me. I would also like to thank team owner Massimiliano Morlacchi, for enlightening me with this great opportunity. I’m eager to see what the next year brings me. I would like to thank Rossi and Steve Moor. Rossi is not only a great rider, but a close friend who is always helping me improve. And Steve for all the helpful advice he gives me at every training to help me grow. Last but not least, I would like to thank all my personal sponsors and people who have helped me throughout my years of racing in America, I truly couldn’t have done it without you.”
Massimiliano Morlacchi (Team MMR Owner:
“I am truly happy and enthusiastic to confirm the commitment of our structure for another year in the Aprilia Rs660 Trophy. We are ready to offer Jayden the maximum commitment in the Noale single-brand series that has seen us as protagonists for a few years now. In this way we strengthen our dual commitment both towards Aprilia and in the MotoAmerica channel from which we seek the best talents! Jayden has all the credentials, starting from his young age, to do well and build the foundations of his career in Italy. In the Aprilia Trophy we will try to realize the goodness of our work, achieving the best possible results for the rider and team. See you on the circuit!”
From a news release issued by Dakar.com:
After 2,559 kilometres of specials covered by the bikes and 2,579 by the cars and trucks, 299 vehicles have reached the rest day in Ha’il in the heart of Saudi Arabia. 118 bikes (including 100 Rally 2), 58 Ultimate cars, 2 Stock, 45 Challenger cars, 33 SSV and 43 trucks will resume racing on Saturday for the seven stages remaining before the final finishing line in Shubaytah, in the Empty Quarter. 81 vehicles have been able to use a joker to remain in the race, while 36 have been forced into premature exits (i.e., 10.75%).
At the midway point, the rankings are dominated by Daniel Sanders in the Rally GP class; Edgar Canet in the Rally 2 class; Henk Lategan in the Ultimate class; Nicolas Cavigliasso in the Challenger class; Brock Heger in the SSV category; and Martin Macik in the truck race, all of whom are under the age of 36 years. The rejuvenation of the discipline is underlined by the records for youthful promise beaten by Seth Quintero and then Saood Variawa, respectively aged 22 and 19 years and both stage winners, as well as the early departures from the rally by Carlos Sainz and Sébastien Loeb.
Daniel Sanders put himself in a favourable situation from the outset. Thanks to victory on the prologue, the Australian started behind his rivals for stage 1, which he won, enabling him to achieve the same feat the next day, taking advantage of the reverse order start for the 48 HR Chrono stage. ‘Chucky’ also limited the damage when opening the way, on stages 3 and 5. This strategic approach put him in the lead in the general rankings from the very first day of the rally.
Honda is leading the resistance with 4 riders in the top 6, including Tosha Schareina (in 2nd place, 15’02’’ behind), Adrien Van Beveren (3rd, 24’31’’ back), Skyler Howes (5th, 27’59’’ down) and Ricky Brabec (6th, 29’01’’ behind). Hero rider Ross Branch (4th, 25’48’’ behind) is also keeping the pace. Luciano Benavides on his KTM completes a top 7 all within a 32’15’’ time bracket.
Edgar Canet could hardly have dreamed of a better debut. The youngest official rider in history (at the age of 19 years) won half of the Rally 2 specials on offer and leads the rankings in addition to occupying 10th place in the overall bike category. The Spaniard boasts a lead of 16’39’’ over his Austrian rival, Tobias Ebster. Michael Docherty (31’07’’ behind) completes a 100% KTM provisional podium ahead of the Hondas ridden by Romain Dumontier (49’47’’ back) and Jacob Arbugright (51’34’’ down).
KTM has left its mark on the first half of the competition, winning 5 specials out of 6 in the Rally GP class (4 for Sanders and one for L. Benavides) and 6 out of 6 in the Rally 2 class (3 for Canet, 2 for Ebster and one for Docherty). Sherco (avec Lorenzo Santolino) and Honda (with AVB) have taken the other two victories. After being dethroned in both classes last year, the Austrian firm is in the process of setting the record straight.
Emanuel Gyenes and Benjamin Melot, both specialists in the unassisted bikers’ race, finished first and second in 2020. Five years later, the duel has recommenced. Both men have dominated the Original by Motul class, with the advantage for the Romanian by 13’16’’ ahead of the Frenchman. The last step on the provisional podium is also hotly contested, between Jérôme Martiny (58’03’’ behind the current leader), Jaromir Romancik (1:03’29’’ back) and Mike Wiedemann (1:04’28’’ down), who are all within a 6-minute bracket.
The young brands that have recently arrived on the Dakar are performing well while obtaining experience. Chinese manufacturer Kove is in the Top 20 for the first time in its history with Neels Theric, who is 18th overall and 6th in the Rally 2 class. Italian brand Fantic is battling to achieve its first top 30 finish with Jeremy Miroir (in 28th place), while the three Hoto bikes, also from China, which are making their debut this year, are all still in the race, in the top 50.
Superbike-Coach Corp has announced its 2025 class schedule. The popular riding school has upped the stakes to include new benefits and offers to their street and track day rider students. Superbike-Coach Corp provides sport photography at all classes and events. And, the track fee is included at their Cornering School program. They also offer free snacks, coffee and drinks throughout the day. The riding school offers these unique classes and renowned 1-on-1 programs for both track and street riders. Our programs are:
Cornering School Days 1-3 – For all street and track riders on a small race track, no track fees
Track Day & Class – For all riders and bike categories at Thunderhill Raceway
Track Rookie Class at Thunderhill Raceway– For all riders who want to start out track days
Body Position & Knee Down Class – For all Sportbike street riders and track riders, no track fees
Track Academy – For track riders of mid levels and up
Road Skill 1-on-1 coaching – For all street riders of all ages, levels, and categories
Wheelie Course – For all street riders, track riders, and racers of all ages
Track Drill 1-on-1 coaching – For all sport and track riders and racers of all ages and levels at your track day
Supermotard 1-on-1 – For street and track riders, and racers of all ages
Supermoto Class & Race – For street and track riders, and racers of all ages, no track fees
Basic Rider 1-on-1 – For absolute beginners, to prepare for the M1 drivers license test
Suspension Workshop & Track Time – For all street and track riders on a small race track, no extra track fees
Group Events – Individual classes for all motorcycle clubs, group members, companies, dealerships, corporate
The 2025 season class event schedule is as follows:
26 Jan Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
1 Feb Sat, Track Drill 1on4, Buttonwillow Raceway $390
2 Feb Sat, Track Drill 1on4, Buttonwillow Raceway $390
9 Feb Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
23 Feb Sun, Cornering School Day 2, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
9 Mar Sun, Cornering School Day 3, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
21 Mar Fri, Track Drill 1on4, Buttonwillow Raceway $390
22 Mar Fri, Track Drill 1on4, Buttonwillow Raceway $390
23 Mar Fri, Track Drill 1on4, Buttonwillow Raceway $390
30 Mar Sun, Supermoto Race Class, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $249
13 Apr Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
26 Apr Sat, Body Position & Knee Down Class, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
27 Apr Sun, Wheelie Course, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $199
4 May Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
18 May Sun, Cornering School Day 2, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
8 Jun Sun, Cornering School Day 3, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
22 Jun Sun, Track Day, Thunderhill Raceway West $179
22 Jun Sun, Track Rookie class, Thunderhill Raceway West $259
13 Jul Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
27 Jul Sun, Suspension Workshop & Track Time, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $149
10 Aug Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
24 Aug Sun, Cornering School Day 2, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
29 Aug Fri, Track Drill 1on4, Laguna Seca Raceway $390
30 Aug Fri, Track Drill 1on4, Laguna Seca Raceway $390
7 Sep Sun, Cornering School Day 3, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
20 Sep Sat, Body Position & Knee Down Class, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
21 Sep Sun, Wheelie Course, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $199
5 Oct Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
19 Oct Sun, Track Day, Thunderhill Raceway West $179
19 Oct Sun, Track Rookie class, Thunderhill Raceway West $259
2 Nov Sun, Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
16 Nov Sun, Cornering School Day 2, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
7 Dec Sun, Cornering School Day 3, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
14 Dec Sun, Track Academy, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton $195
For more information, please visit www.superbike-coach.com or contact them via email at [email protected]
Motobilia named the National Title Series Sponsor of the AHRMA Roadracing, Off-road and Dirt Track racing series for 2025 to 2027
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) proudly announces a new, long-term, multi-discipline title sponsorship.
Motobilia.com will be the title sponsor for the 2025 through 2027 AHRMA Road Race, Off-Road (including Motocross and Cross Country), and Dirt Track competition seasons.
Motobilia is renowned for its dedication to preserving motorcycle history through its extensive collection of motorcycles, memorabilia, and parts, and the new partnership with Motobilia.com aligns perfectly with AHRMA’s mission to Keep the Past Fast.
This multi-year sponsorship marks a significant milestone for AHRMA as it continues to celebrate the vibrancy and legacy of historic motorcycle racing.
The AHRMA Road Racing Series Presented by Motobilia.com will take place at some of the finest road racing venues in the United States starting each year in February and finishing each October at the Barber Vintage Festival in Birmingham, Alabama. Racers from across the country will compete in a broad range of classes on a wide range of vintage and modern road race motorcycles.
The AHRMA National Motocross and Cross Country Series Presented by Motobilia.com run across nine regions nationwide in three different categories: Vintage, Post Vintage, and Next Gen for both MX and Cross Country. The total number of races far surpasses 100.
The AHRMA Dirt Track Series presented by Motobilia.com will partner with several high-profile venues/sanctioning bodies which will add significant excitement to the 2025 AHRMA Dirt Track National Championship Series.
“Having a near 40-year history with AHRMA was certainly key to exploring this association, but it was not the deciding factor,” said Rick Doughty, Motobilia Executive Director, “Instead, it is the newfound philosophy within the organization from Dan May, his team, and the board of trustees, of an open-minded approach to the world of ‘vintage’ motorcycles.”
Doughty continued, “AHRMA recognizes the undeniable truth that new motorcycles one day become vintage and vintage motorcycles one day become antique. Navigating that ever-changing landscape will take considerable thought and planning to keep the sport vital. AHRMA is well positioned and structured to accomplish that goal. We are very much looking forward to the synergistic benefits that this joint effort represents. Not just for our organizations, but for the entire motorcycling community.”
“We are proud to have Motobilia as our Title Sponsor across the AHRMA racing disciplines.” said Daniel May, AHRMA Executive Director. “We look forward to the partnership as both AHRMA and Motobilia continue to expand the public awareness of vintage motorcycle racing and the rich history that comes along with it.”
“We are excited to support AHRMA over these three significant years,” said Doughty. “Our brand is all about celebrating the stories behind the machines, and sponsoring these disciplines allows us to bring that narrative to life in a very tangible way for the racing community.”
About Motobilia
Motobilia.com is the premier online destination for motorcycle enthusiasts, offering a curated collection of high end bikes of all eras. With a passion for the culture and history of motorcycling, we connect collectors and riders with rare, authentic motobilia from around the globe. We have quickly morphed into a magazine-style site that shines a light on the most interesting people, places and things in the world of motorcycling. Racing, riding, restoring and ruminating are all well represented.
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With about 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
KTM will start building its 2025 MotoGP racebikes on Monday and will ship them off for the pre-season tests and the first four rounds of the new season, the company’s MotoGP technical director says.
In a report published at speedweek.com, Wolfgang Felber, who took over development of the RC16 in the wake of Fabio Sterlacchini’s move to Aprilia, says the built will be complete by the third week of January, as normal.
The machines will be evolutionary and an update of the 2024 models, and they will be based on the configuration seen in the post-season test at Barcelona, he says.
“As far as preparations for the new season are concerned, everything is currently going as normal. In recent years, we have trimmed all processes so that we build the new machines in the third week of the year. It will be the same in 2025 – next Monday we will start rebuilding all the motorcycles,” Felber told speedweek.com.
“Everything is timed so that at the end of week 3 we pack the boxes for the big test in Sepang. From then on the bikes are on the road for a long time. The vehicles will only arrive in Munderfing again for the European season opener in Jerez.”
The report says that eight racebikes will be built and shipped to Malaysia for the shakedown in Sepang, then will be used for the remaining tests and the Grand Prix events in Thailand, Argentina, Texas and Qatar.
“We are clearly talking about an evolutionary model in 2025. A radical new approach was out of the question. We already had our actual shakedown during the last tests in 2024. The 2025 version worked as hoped and the basis has been defined. The plan now is to build all machines accordingly with new parts,” Felber says.
Reports from the insolvency proceedings in Austria have indicated that KTM plans to pull out of Grand Prix racing, but not before 2026. KTM has said it plans to race in 2025, although with a trimmed-down effort that reduces the amount of money spent in the past. Felber says the racing department remains committed to the 2025 effort.
“We are in racing. We have our brains, our computers and our motivation. The very last thing we think about is giving up,” he says.
MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is thrilled to announce that Motovation, an industry leader in motorcycle customization for over 20 years, is now the title sponsor of the 2025 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
Texas-based Motovation imports unique, high-quality motorcycle accessories from around the world for racers, mechanics and motorcycle enthusiasts – all with a focus on elite quality and style.
The 18-race 2025 MotoAmerica Motovation Championship begins April 4-6 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, and concludes September 26-28 at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey.
Last year’s Supersport series was a battle from start to finish between Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz and Warhorse HSBK Ducati Racing’s PJ Jacobsen, with Scholtz ultimately taking the crown.
“Our involvement with MotoAmerica racing began many years ago with a grassroots approach to the sport,” said Nate Seyer, owner and CEO of Motovation. “We started out supporting riders who needed help getting their bikes ready for such a high level of competition. Over the years, we have been fortunate enough to involve ourselves with a wide spectrum of teams and riders competing across the different MotoAmerica classes. We are proud to have the opportunity to make an even bigger difference to a sport we all love.”
“We’re thrilled to announce Motovation as the title sponsor for the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship,” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “Motovation has been a valuable supporter of teams and riders over the years, and we’re excited to see them step into this prominent role. The Supersport class is one of the most competitive and prestigious in our series, with up to six manufacturers battling for victories. Last season’s title chase came down to the wire, and we’re expecting another thrilling year of competition.”
