John Ulrich talks about how and why he started the non-profit Roadracing World Action Fund, Inc. (RWAF) two decades ago, raising money to deploy Airfence and Alpina soft barriers. The effort changed the culture of motorcycle road racing in the U.S. for the better, by making attention to rider safety accepted and expected. If you see soft barriers at a racetrack in America, the chances are good that the 501(c)(3) Roadracing World Action Fund raised the money needed to pay for it.
Also, thanks to MotoUp for running a fund-raiser for RWAF this weekend at COTA.
3, 2, 1… RODEO! MotoGP™ saddles up to take on Texas
The Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas is ready to rock & roll in Austin
Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Argentina was another showdown overflowing with headlines and this time, the field have had a weekend off to get suited, booted, and ready to go. Now we saddle up for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas as the paddock heads for Austin, TX, with both a new Championship leader and MotoGP™ winner in the field: Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). Another Tissot Sprint and another surefire show await us at the horsepower rodeo!
MOONEY VR46 RACING TEAM
What to say about Marco Bezzecchi? The number 72 was on another level on Sunday last time out, and that’s earned him both the points lead and his maiden win. The question now is, can he follow it up? With his track record it seems likely the answer is yes, but when and where remains to be seen as yet. Teammate Luca Marini, meanwhile, also arrives from a first after taking a podium in the Tissot Sprint, and he’ll be more motivated than ever looking over to the other side of the garage…
DUCATI LENOVO TEAM
It started perfectly for Francesco Bagnaia in Portugal, but it continued with a couple of bumps in the road in Argentina. On Saturday it was a safe sixth in the Sprint, and then on Sunday it looked like a well-controlled podium… until it slid away. Resetting now will tell us much about what the reigning Champion has in the locker for 2022. For last year’s COTA winner Enea Bastianini, meanwhile, it’s sadly another event on the sidelines as he waits for his shoulder to heal, with test rider Michele Pirro stepping in.
PRIMA PRAMAC RACING
It was a somewhat anonymous Sprint for both Johann Zarco and Jorge Martin in Argentina, but Zarco certainly hit back on Sunday with that late race charge for the podium. He’ll want more as his search for that maiden win continues, and Martin will want to take a big step back to the front after a tougher weekend in Termas. His goal this year isn’t a win, it’s wins plural. Can Texas get the mission back on track with a little more time to heal up, too?
GRESINI RACING MotoGP™
After a slightly scrappy Portimao, it came good for Alex Marquez in Argentina as the number 73 took his first premier class pole position and turned it into a first podium with Ducati on Sunday. Can he keep or improve on that pace once again in Austin? He’s aiming to become a perennial presence in the fight for the rostrum. On the other side of the box, teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio will want a lot more as he watches the likes of Bezzecchi win races, but the number 49 also took a step in Termas. Can he keep it rolling to the flag this time round?
APRILIA RACING
Friday in Argentina made for ominous reading for the rest of the field as Aprilia Racing ended the day first and second, but it just didn’t quite come together in the end. A year after the same venue staged his first win, Aleix Espargaro left Termas this time around with only 12 points in total, and he’ll be absolutely focused on gaining some more in Austin. Maverick Viñales, meanwhile, has a pretty good haul of 32 but won’t want to stay AWOL from that front group. The stars seem to threaten to align and then change their mind as he aims for that first win with Aprilia, so will it be a lucky visit to the Lone Star State or another wait?
RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
‘Sunday rider’ was always a compliment to Brad Binder, but it just isn’t true anymore after that stunning Saturday in Argentina. From 15th to 1st, the South African was simply not going to be stopped and put in a serious statement ride. Sunday saw bad luck hit early and makes COTA the follow up performance… so can we expect an encore? For Jack Miller, meanwhile, Argentina was another solid round. He’s adapting, the project is putting those pieces together and some solid consistency – as well as flashes of serious speed – put him sixth overall as it stands. Will COTA be another step forward as he continues to impress and enjoy proving his doubters wrong?
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MotoGP™
Franco Morbidelli had a fantastic return to form in Argentina, and eyes will be on the number 21 to see if he can repeat the feat at another venue. Impressive in qualifying, the Sprint, and on Sunday, it was a weekend he’s needed and one he’ll be keen to back up. Teammate Fabio Quartararo was no slouch though. Despite yet more bad luck, Sunday especially saw the Frenchman prove his quality once again as he sliced through from well down the order after a little close attention earlier in the race. COTA has never been the best venue for Yamaha, but in 2023 anything can and has been happening… with both riders on form, what will the Iwata marque deliver in Austin?
LCR HONDA
As we head into a venue he’s ruled before, it’s Alex Rins holding the honour of top Honda after two pretty solid first rounds in his new home. With more and more track time we can likely expect more and more from the proven frontrunner, and COTA has some good memories from that previous win, his very first. What can Rins do this time out? Teammate Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will be hoping to cut the gap and get back on terms too.
REPSOL HONDA TEAM
The huge news ahead of the weekend was the withdrawal of Marc Marquez as his broken hand continues to recover. He’ll be replaced by test rider Stefan Bradl, and despite Honda having a tougher pre-season than some and Marquez having been injured in Portimao, his absence may seem a reprieve for some, such is the pure quality of his record at the track.
On the other side of the garage, Joan Mir, after that crash on Saturday in Argentina, will be hoping to get back into the learning curve and make more progress. Said progress was going pretty well in Portimao so we can be sure there’s much more to come from the 2020 World Champion.
GASGAS FACTORY RACING Tech3
There will be a new face on the grid for GASGAS in Austin, or more a new face for 2023. Jonas Folger joins the fold as the replacement for the recovering Pol Espargaro, and he’ll be an interesting addition after some time on the sidelines. He did test in pre-season, however. Rookie Augusto Fernandez, meanwhile, has already scored some points and diced it up in the mix with much more experienced riders, so COTA is another chance to double down on his progress.
CRYPTODATA RNF MotoGP™ TEAM
It was a tough Round 2 for the RNF squad and Raul Fernandez certainly will be eager to get more from the Americas GP. He arrives with only a couple of points so far but some good flashes of speed shown, so can he start to turn it around in Texas? On the other side of the garage, Miguel Oliveira is heading to Austin hoping he passes a medical test on Thursday at the circuit. If that happens, the Portuguese rider will be back in action after such bad luck in the season opener, looking to pick up where he left off in terms of pace.
SHOWTIME
Friday’s two practice sessions decide entrants to Q2, before the MotoGP™ grid qualify on Saturday morning. The Tissot Sprint then gets in gear at 15:00 on Saturday, before we rodeo on Sunday at 14:00. Don’t miss it!
Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:00 (GMT -5)
Grand Prix Race: Sunday 14:00 (GMT -5)
See you there!
Can Arbolino keep the lead in Austin?
On the road to Austin, it’s now Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) who leads the way in the intermediate class… and guess who won at COTA last year? He was also joined on the podium by another rostrum finisher in Argentina, Jake Dixon (Asterius GASGAS Aspar), so the two have form. Meanwhile Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools Speed Up) hasn’t even ridden the track in Moto2™, but that’s not stopped him taking podiums and wins last year as a rookie either.
Speaking of last year’s rookies, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had a tougher time of it in the rain last time out and will want to reassert his speed, and Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) will very much want to stop him. Despite a jump start and two Long Laps at Termas, the number 40 still took a top finish and will want more at COTA. Join us for another chapter of Moto2™at 12:15 (GMT -5) on Sunday!
Moto3™ tee up to take on COTA
He just missed out on the podium in Argentina, but Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) is still the Championship leader heading into Round 3… by just two points. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) remains the rider on the chase though, and after two podiums to start the year he’ll be looking for another as a minimum as he seeks that first win.
Meanwhile, Argentina winner Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) will be aiming to stay in the game, and teammate Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), last year’s Americas GP winner, wants that first visit to the rostrum this season. Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) haven’t really got off the mark yet either, whereas Andrea Migno (CIP Green Power) already has a podium as a replacement rider… and was on the box last year at COTA. It’s an intriguing mix already, so get ready for more Moto3™ at 11:00 (GMT -5) on Sunday!
Mir focused on Austin return as Bradl substitutes Marquez
Joan Mir will be joined by Stefan Bradl for the Repsol Honda Team as the MotoGP World Championship arrives at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas.
The Repsol Honda Team, with Joan Mir and Stefan Bradl, head for the Circuit of the Americas looking for redemption and to capture past form. The 5.51-kilometer-long circuit has previously been happy hunting ground for the RC213V with Marc Marquez guiding it to victory on seven occasions, undefeated from 2013 to 2018.
Joan Mir has spent the week between races recovering from the impact of his heavy crash during the first lap of the Sprint race in Argentina. The #36 is determined to put together an issue free weekend to continue his adaptation to the Honda RC213V, racing mileage the key to further improvements. 2022 saw Mir achieve his equal best finish of the year when he was fourth at the Americas GP.
Marc Marquez continues to focus on the recovery of his injured right hand and will miss the Americas GP as a result. Honda HRC Test Rider Stefan Bradl will ride in his place. Bradl’s last race in Austin was in 2016 and his appearances in 2013 and 2014 aboard the LCR Honda yielded two top-five finishes. In 2014 he started from the front row, behind Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa as the RC213V locked out the top three. Joan Mir
“I am ready to get back on the bike in America, I have been able to spend this week at home recovering fully after the fall on Saturday and getting back to training. Last year I had a strong race in Austin and Honda also has a very strong record there, so the objective is to have a consistent weekend and avoid problems. If we can get a complete race weekend under our belts, I think we will be able to learn a lot and make another step because in the two races are where you are learning the most about the Honda.”
Stefan Bradl
“First of all I want to wish Marc all the best in his recovery, as Honda we need him back on track. I arrive in Austin after a few days testing in Jerez where we were able to try a few things with the bike. It will be interesting to ride COTA again, I was last there racing in 2016 and will give me a chance to try the 2023 RC213V on a very different kind of track compared to what I have ridden so far this year. Let’s have a productive weekend and see what’s possible.”
MRA welcomes 20 new racers out of the 32 New Racer School graduates
Byers, CO – Colorado’s Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) held the Pre-Season Race School of its 50th anniversary season on April 7-8, with collaboration from class sponsor Fay Myers Motorcycle World and High Plains Raceway. On Friday evening, MRA New Rider Director Dan Spurlock led the students through a classroom session hosted by Fay Myers Motorcycle World in Greenwood Village. The classroom session included topics like physical & mental preparation, race equipment, racing techniques, race day procedures, and most importantly, track safety.
The MRA is very grateful to Fay Myers Motorcycle World for providing facilities for the classroom portion of the race school, which ran well into the evening. Fay Myers is the class sponsor of the MRA’s premier class, Race of the Rockies GTO.
Saturday morning at High Plains Raceway, Spurlock paired students up with their instructors and prepared them for a full day of coaching. The instructors were comprised of experienced MRA racers who volunteered their time to help grow the sport. Students ranged from street riders to Novice racers, and their instructors tailored the coaching to each student, covering everything from basic race lines and apexes to trail-braking and body position. Once instructor-led coaching was done, students practiced launch drills, then participated in a series of student-only races on HPR’s full course. The day culminated with a certificate ceremony, and a lot of satisfied graduates.
In the end, 32 students received their MRA New Racer School certificate, and 20 of the students already committed to getting their MRA Novice license. The MRA is looking forward to seeing them on the Novice and Amateur class grids in the coming months!
The MRA is excited to be celebrating its 50th anniversary season this year, and is looking forward to round 1, May 6-7, on the full course at High Plains Raceway.
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is dedicated to promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding area. For more information go to http://www.mra-racing.org/.
Drew Smith is an 18-time ISDE finisher with seven gold medals to his name. He was also an R&D rider and developer for most of the big names in off-road.
Drew started Works Enduro Rider (WER) https://werproducts.net/ to build custom suspension for riders and racers of all abilities.
Sam Fleming had the opportunity to spend a morning with Drew looking at the design of the KYB SSS sealed chamber 48mm fork, how the factories set it up, and how he modifies it for Sam’s racing/riding endeavors. If you have ever wondered what the whole “fork revalve” thing looks like on the inside, this series is for you.
AFTER THE GREAT CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS, MOTO GUZZI OPEN HOUSE RETURNS, AT MANDELLO DEL LARIO FROM 7 TO 10 SEPTEMBER 2023
MOTO GUZZI INAUGURATES ITS NEW CENTURY BY RALLYING THOUSANDS OF LOVERS OF THESE LEGENDARY MOTORCYCLES, WHICH ARE COMING HOME TO CELEBRATE A NEW CHAPTER IN THE STORY OF A GREAT SHARED PASSION TOGETHER
THERE WILL BE FOUR DAYS OF CELEBRATION, MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, ENGINES AND FUN, WITH THE MUSEUM AND DOORS OF MOTO GUZZI OPEN TO VISITORS
Mandello del Lario (Lecco) – Moto Guzzi’s days of celebration are back in September. The 2023 edition of Moto Guzzi Open House will be held in Mandello del Lario from 7 to 10 September.
After the great centenary celebrations in September last year, Moto Guzzi is rallying all its enthusiasts to begin a new, captivating century of history.
In the second weekend of September, the Mandello del Lario factory, a real Mecca for every motorcycle enthusiast, will open its doors to welcome and entertain thousands of motorcyclists, arriving from all over the world in keeping with tradition. Many families and tourists will join them, for the chance to experience a great party in the extraordinary setting of the eastern branch of Lake Como at the end of summer.
Custom Moto Guzzi motorcycles on display at a previous event. Photo courtesy Moto Guzzi.
As always, the schedule for the days will be packed with characteristic events and initiatives, the village in the factory will be the traditional focal point for the celebrations, and the Moto Guzzi museum, recently renovated and with its entire magnificent motorcycle collection completely restored, will be a must for thousands of visitors.
As always, the Moto Guzzi celebration will involve the whole Mandello del Lario community: the Municipality and public are ready to make the weekend of celebration unforgettable, with venues and shops open to offer every guest at the 2023 Open House the warmest of welcomes.
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.
Nathan Gouker with his two MotoAmerica Mini Cup #1 plates at the end of the 2022 season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Nathan Gouker
Age: 11.
Current home: Lexington, North Carolina.
Current height/weight: 4’7”/78 pounds.
Current school grade level: 5th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2018, Alton, VA, SFLminiGP, Spec 50, 3rd place.
Current racebikes: Ohvale 110, Ohvale 160, Moriwaki 250, Honda NSF250R.
Current tuners/mechanics: Dale Quarterley, Phillip Gouker (father).
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Mini Cup, ASRA/CCS, WERA.
Top sponsors: CP Motorsports, Stadler America LLC, 1/4ley Racing, KYT Americas, VO2 Leathers, Cornerspin, Ohvale USA, Fast Glass Media, Motul USA, 35 Motorsports, 64 Degree Racing, Elite Garageworkz, Carolina Supermoto, Daniels Tire, Ride Supermoto.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2022 season, won MotoAmerica Mini Cup 110 and 160 National Championships, finished 12th overall in FIM MiniGP World Finals at Valencia, won 10 WERA Sportsman Regional Novice Championships (won 29 races from 32 starts with WERA).
2023 racing goals: Win MotoAmerica Mini Cup 160 Championship again, win more WERA Championships.
Racing career goal: To make a living racing at the highest level I can.
Racing hero: Jack Miller.
Favorite track: Road Atlanta.
Favorite hobby: Riding my One Wheel.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Racing my One Wheel.
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;
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.
Range and charge time–those are the biggest concerns for riders who are considering electric motorcycles. Lightning Motorcycles says that its newest vehicles have slashed the charge time for an electric bike, with less than 10 minutes required to pour enough power into the bike to go 135 miles.
Lightning Motorcycles CEO and founder Richard Hatfield said in a video call this week that the latest technology batteries from Enevate Corp. for the Lightning Strike sportbike hold more energy, but more importantly, allow dramatically quicker charge times. This makes the Strike more useful for day-to-day use, and makes longer rides more practical.
Lightning Motorcycles CEO and founder Richard Hatfield. Photos courtesy Lightning Motorcycles.
The breakthrough, Hatfield says, is due to a change in the battery construction. The Enevate battery uses a silicon anode cell that holds 15 to 20% more energy than current battery constructions, and can accept the charge more rapidly. Re-engineering all of the components involved in the charging process allowed the company to take advantage of the rapid charging rate, he says.
“The cells will hold more energy than most of the cells that are available right now, and they allow us to push in a lot more energy more quickly. We can use the same Level Three chargers that the cars use and charge three, four, five times faster than the cars,” Hatfield says. “When we achieved the point where we could push that kind of power into the battery, then we had to look at all the components in that chain and ensure that they were capable of doing that on a continuous basis.
“Once we had the cells, then we had to consider the thermal management of the cells and all of the components between the Level Three fast charger and the cells–the interconnections of the cells, the cabling from the cells, the contacts, the connectors, the fuses.”
Just having better batteries isn’t enough. The rest of the vehicle has to be re-engineered to take advantage of the additional capabilities, Hatfield says.
“If you think about this as a racebike, if you have more power in the engine, then it creates a lot of other issues in the chassis, and in using that power. Each time you push it forward, you find new bottlenecks that have to be addressed,” he says.
One of the biggest challenges in trying to recharge batteries more quickly is heat management. Hatfield says the company relies on airflow management and advanced software to tailor the flow of energy during recharging to keep the cells below 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
“You have to remove that heat or components start to fail. Also the algorithms as far as how we charge, how we taper the charge, all of that’s important to optimize the charge feed,” Hatfield says.
Because the cells are in limited production currently, they are approximately 20% more expensive than existing batteries, Hatfield says. But in full production, they are expected to be cheaper than current batteries.
And the rapid recharge rate makes it possible to look at different market segments for electic vehicles. Hatfield says his company already has modeled the performance of an electric motorcycle with the size and performance of a big tourer–and estimates that one could be built with a 300-mile range between charges!
After completing a few laps at Misano with the Panigale V4S, the Ducati Lenovo Team rider underwent a further check-up in Forlì at Dr Porcellini’s clinic, who confirmed that Bastianini will still need a few more weeks to fully recover from the right shoulder injury sustained in the Portuguese GP.
Enea will therefore continue his rehabilitation with the aim of returning to the track in Jerez and will be replaced in Texas by Michele Pirro.
CW Moto Racing announces step up to Superbike with Benjamin Smith; welcomes Track Day Winner as sponsor
April 11, 2023
Benjamin Smith #78 joins CW Moto Racing Yamaha R1 for MotoAmerica Superbike for 2023; CW also supporting Mallory Dobbs Racing
Seattle, WA – CW Moto Racing is pleased to announce that Benjamin Smith will pilot the team’s Yamaha R1 Superbike for the 2023 season. The team is also excited to welcome Track Day Winner as a sponsor for the early season of our Superbike program.
Team owner and crew chief Chris Lobkovich made the call to step up to Superbike when this season’s schedule and location changes for Stock 1000 were published. After a lengthy search for rider talent, which yielded strong potential collaboration possibilities the team is excited about for the future, CW Moto selected Smith for this year’s rider talent.
“Ben’s such a great athlete and talented rider,” said Lobkovich. “We noticed and admire his work ethic and what he was able to accomplish last season with the North East Cycle Outlet Team in Supersport. We had an opportunity to spend some time with Ben in Chuckwalla this off-season and were able to get him comfortable on the CW Moto Yamaha R1 quickly. He actually got up to speed on the bike really quickly, and worked well both with us and our extended team. Ben has a lot of support in the paddock, and we’re really excited to work with him this season.”
“Rising through the ranks, I’ve been able to steadily improve my knowledge and skills, collecting a national championship and numerous podiums along the way,” Smith added. “I’m ready to make the jump to the Superbike class in 2023, which is something I have been working towards since the beginning of my career. Having CW Moto supporting me is an honor, and I know they will put a great program together for me. I think we have an opportunity to open some eyes this season!”
Lobkovich and the team made the call to step up from Stock 1000 to Superbike when the 2023 event calendar was released.
“We totally understand why MotoAmerica made the changes to the schedule they did,”said Lobkovich. “We looked at the schedule and after much deliberation, decided that as a team and business based on the West Coast, with the support of the incredible racing community and our sponsors out here, we had to choose a class operating at the Ridge and Laguna Seca. We’re excited about the challenge: it’s always been our goal to end up in Superbike. We’re always learning, and we might as well compete with and learn from the best in the country.”
CW Moto is also thrilled to welcome Track Day Winner and owner John Cook as a round sponsor for this season’s events at Atlanta, Barber, and COTA. Started almost as a “dare” in 2011, Track Day Winner now has over 4,000 members and operates mostly in the eastern/southeastern USA. TDW works hard to provide a safe and memorable track day experience for everyone, always serving up a great meal every Saturday night to encourage our members to interact off the track and build the “family” atmosphere that the organization promotes.
“Track Day Winner has been working with and sponsoring numerous talented clubman level and professional level riders for many years now,” according to John Cook, founder and owner of Track Day Winner. “Being a part of his efforts for the past few years, Benjamin Smith has always shown himself to be a very dedicated and super skilled rider, so it was a natural step for TDW to continue helping him live his dream. He’s always had his eye on Superbike, and we believe that this incredible opportunity with CW Moto will be a perfect match for both rider and team!”
“We’re incredibly excited to partner with someone who’s been a part of and supporter of the sport as long as John and TDW have. We couldn’t make the move into Superbike happen without this kind of support. John and TDW have been long-time supporters of Ben, and we’re really grateful John and Track Day Winner are able to support this collaboration,” Lobkovich added.
In addition, CW Moto is very proud to be providing technical support for Mallory Dobbs Racing, in support of Mallory’s two-class program in MotoAmerica this season. Mallory is riding the Ducati Richmond Hypermotard (built by CW Moto) in the Super Hooligans class, and is privateering her own SuperSport program this season.
Mallory Dobbs (36) . Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy CW Moto Racing.
“We got to know Mallory in the WMRRA (Washington Motorcycle Road Racing) paddock last season, and saw her grit, talent, and potential,” said CW Moto Co-Owner, Sara Lobkovich. “It’s been rewarding to watch Mallory put in so much effort over the off-season both on her riding and carving out her role as a professional in the sport. She surprised me with her season opener at Daytona, and I’m really looking forward to seeing her turn some heads this season.”
Last, the team would like to thank RayJen Motorsports for providing transportation for our MotoAmerica program this season. RayJen is based in Washington State and handling transportation for the full season and between rounds by arrangement (including a possible spot for an East Coast team who needs a one-bike transport to and from the West Coast for the Ridge Motorsports Park and Laguna Seca rounds). For more information, contact [email protected].
About Benjamin Smith
Benjamin Smith, 22, of Glenmoore Pennsylvania is an accomplished road racer with seven seasons of MotoAmerica competition under his belt. Smith finished 4th overall in the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship, and is a multi-time regional championship club racer, 2017 KTM RC Cup Champion, and a KTM RC Cup world finale competitor. He balances his racing career with attending Penn State University, where he will complete his degree in strategic communications in May.
About Track Day Winner
Track Day Winner is a rider-focused track day organization operating in the eastern/southeastern USA. We provide excellent coaching and host some of the safest and FUN track day events for every skill level. Visit our website at www.trackdaywinner.com or like and follow us on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/trackdaywinner/
About Mallory Dobbs Racing
Mallory Dobbs, 29, is an Olympia Washington native who rode her first motorcycle in 2016 and started her road racing career in 2017 with an impressive resume for such a short amount of time. This will be her first full season with MotoAmerica, with two top 15 finishes in Supersport at her debut at The Ridge Motorsports Park in 2022. She finished 6th overall for the WMRRA season in 2022 with multiple class wins and has continued to hone her skills this winter racing at the Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association (CVMA) where she is currently leading the Supersport Middleweight championship. For the 2023 season, she owns and will be managing her personal racing team while maintaining her day job as a civil engineer. Connect with Mallory via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maldobbs126/ or Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/MalloryDobbsRacing .
About CW Moto Racing
CW Moto Racing is a Seattle, Washington-based race team and race shop focused on excellence and innovation: we build fast bikes for serious riders. In addition to the CW Moto Racing program, the team provides race prep and track-oriented services for committed riders who need trusted help achieving their motorsports goals, and support for heritage race and street bikes, and collection restoration. Again this year, our individual supporters have access to a growing exclusive behind-the-scenes community that’s as close to the paddock as you can get from home. For more information, visit http://cwmoto.com or follow us on Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter at @cw_moto.
Corey Alexander (23) benefitted from soft barriers supplied by the Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF) during the 2022 MotoAmerica season. Photo courtesy Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing.
John Ulrich talks about how and why he started the non-profit Roadracing World Action Fund, Inc. (RWAF) two decades ago, raising money to deploy Airfence and Alpina soft barriers. The effort changed the culture of motorcycle road racing in the U.S. for the better, by making attention to rider safety accepted and expected. If you see soft barriers at a racetrack in America, the chances are good that the 501(c)(3) Roadracing World Action Fund raised the money needed to pay for it.
Also, thanks to MotoUp for running a fund-raiser for RWAF this weekend at COTA.
Circuit of The Americas. Photo courtesy Circuit of The Americas.
3, 2, 1… RODEO! MotoGP™ saddles up to take on Texas
The Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas is ready to rock & roll in Austin
Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Argentina was another showdown overflowing with headlines and this time, the field have had a weekend off to get suited, booted, and ready to go. Now we saddle up for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas as the paddock heads for Austin, TX, with both a new Championship leader and MotoGP™ winner in the field: Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). Another Tissot Sprint and another surefire show await us at the horsepower rodeo!
MOONEY VR46 RACING TEAM
What to say about Marco Bezzecchi? The number 72 was on another level on Sunday last time out, and that’s earned him both the points lead and his maiden win. The question now is, can he follow it up? With his track record it seems likely the answer is yes, but when and where remains to be seen as yet. Teammate Luca Marini, meanwhile, also arrives from a first after taking a podium in the Tissot Sprint, and he’ll be more motivated than ever looking over to the other side of the garage…
DUCATI LENOVO TEAM
It started perfectly for Francesco Bagnaia in Portugal, but it continued with a couple of bumps in the road in Argentina. On Saturday it was a safe sixth in the Sprint, and then on Sunday it looked like a well-controlled podium… until it slid away. Resetting now will tell us much about what the reigning Champion has in the locker for 2022. For last year’s COTA winner Enea Bastianini, meanwhile, it’s sadly another event on the sidelines as he waits for his shoulder to heal, with test rider Michele Pirro stepping in.
PRIMA PRAMAC RACING
It was a somewhat anonymous Sprint for both Johann Zarco and Jorge Martin in Argentina, but Zarco certainly hit back on Sunday with that late race charge for the podium. He’ll want more as his search for that maiden win continues, and Martin will want to take a big step back to the front after a tougher weekend in Termas. His goal this year isn’t a win, it’s wins plural. Can Texas get the mission back on track with a little more time to heal up, too?
GRESINI RACING MotoGP™
After a slightly scrappy Portimao, it came good for Alex Marquez in Argentina as the number 73 took his first premier class pole position and turned it into a first podium with Ducati on Sunday. Can he keep or improve on that pace once again in Austin? He’s aiming to become a perennial presence in the fight for the rostrum. On the other side of the box, teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio will want a lot more as he watches the likes of Bezzecchi win races, but the number 49 also took a step in Termas. Can he keep it rolling to the flag this time round?
APRILIA RACING
Friday in Argentina made for ominous reading for the rest of the field as Aprilia Racing ended the day first and second, but it just didn’t quite come together in the end. A year after the same venue staged his first win, Aleix Espargaro left Termas this time around with only 12 points in total, and he’ll be absolutely focused on gaining some more in Austin. Maverick Viñales, meanwhile, has a pretty good haul of 32 but won’t want to stay AWOL from that front group. The stars seem to threaten to align and then change their mind as he aims for that first win with Aprilia, so will it be a lucky visit to the Lone Star State or another wait?
RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
‘Sunday rider’ was always a compliment to Brad Binder, but it just isn’t true anymore after that stunning Saturday in Argentina. From 15th to 1st, the South African was simply not going to be stopped and put in a serious statement ride. Sunday saw bad luck hit early and makes COTA the follow up performance… so can we expect an encore? For Jack Miller, meanwhile, Argentina was another solid round. He’s adapting, the project is putting those pieces together and some solid consistency – as well as flashes of serious speed – put him sixth overall as it stands. Will COTA be another step forward as he continues to impress and enjoy proving his doubters wrong?
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MotoGP™
Franco Morbidelli had a fantastic return to form in Argentina, and eyes will be on the number 21 to see if he can repeat the feat at another venue. Impressive in qualifying, the Sprint, and on Sunday, it was a weekend he’s needed and one he’ll be keen to back up. Teammate Fabio Quartararo was no slouch though. Despite yet more bad luck, Sunday especially saw the Frenchman prove his quality once again as he sliced through from well down the order after a little close attention earlier in the race. COTA has never been the best venue for Yamaha, but in 2023 anything can and has been happening… with both riders on form, what will the Iwata marque deliver in Austin?
LCR HONDA
As we head into a venue he’s ruled before, it’s Alex Rins holding the honour of top Honda after two pretty solid first rounds in his new home. With more and more track time we can likely expect more and more from the proven frontrunner, and COTA has some good memories from that previous win, his very first. What can Rins do this time out? Teammate Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will be hoping to cut the gap and get back on terms too.
REPSOL HONDA TEAM
The huge news ahead of the weekend was the withdrawal of Marc Marquez as his broken hand continues to recover. He’ll be replaced by test rider Stefan Bradl, and despite Honda having a tougher pre-season than some and Marquez having been injured in Portimao, his absence may seem a reprieve for some, such is the pure quality of his record at the track.
On the other side of the garage, Joan Mir, after that crash on Saturday in Argentina, will be hoping to get back into the learning curve and make more progress. Said progress was going pretty well in Portimao so we can be sure there’s much more to come from the 2020 World Champion.
GASGAS FACTORY RACING Tech3
There will be a new face on the grid for GASGAS in Austin, or more a new face for 2023. Jonas Folger joins the fold as the replacement for the recovering Pol Espargaro, and he’ll be an interesting addition after some time on the sidelines. He did test in pre-season, however. Rookie Augusto Fernandez, meanwhile, has already scored some points and diced it up in the mix with much more experienced riders, so COTA is another chance to double down on his progress.
CRYPTODATA RNF MotoGP™ TEAM
It was a tough Round 2 for the RNF squad and Raul Fernandez certainly will be eager to get more from the Americas GP. He arrives with only a couple of points so far but some good flashes of speed shown, so can he start to turn it around in Texas? On the other side of the garage, Miguel Oliveira is heading to Austin hoping he passes a medical test on Thursday at the circuit. If that happens, the Portuguese rider will be back in action after such bad luck in the season opener, looking to pick up where he left off in terms of pace.
SHOWTIME
Friday’s two practice sessions decide entrants to Q2, before the MotoGP™ grid qualify on Saturday morning. The Tissot Sprint then gets in gear at 15:00 on Saturday, before we rodeo on Sunday at 14:00. Don’t miss it!
Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:00 (GMT -5)
Grand Prix Race: Sunday 14:00 (GMT -5)
See you there!
Can Arbolino keep the lead in Austin?
On the road to Austin, it’s now Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) who leads the way in the intermediate class… and guess who won at COTA last year? He was also joined on the podium by another rostrum finisher in Argentina, Jake Dixon (Asterius GASGAS Aspar), so the two have form. Meanwhile Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools Speed Up) hasn’t even ridden the track in Moto2™, but that’s not stopped him taking podiums and wins last year as a rookie either.
Speaking of last year’s rookies, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had a tougher time of it in the rain last time out and will want to reassert his speed, and Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) will very much want to stop him. Despite a jump start and two Long Laps at Termas, the number 40 still took a top finish and will want more at COTA. Join us for another chapter of Moto2™at 12:15 (GMT -5) on Sunday!
Moto3™ tee up to take on COTA
He just missed out on the podium in Argentina, but Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) is still the Championship leader heading into Round 3… by just two points. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) remains the rider on the chase though, and after two podiums to start the year he’ll be looking for another as a minimum as he seeks that first win.
Meanwhile, Argentina winner Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) will be aiming to stay in the game, and teammate Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), last year’s Americas GP winner, wants that first visit to the rostrum this season. Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) haven’t really got off the mark yet either, whereas Andrea Migno (CIP Green Power) already has a podium as a replacement rider… and was on the box last year at COTA. It’s an intriguing mix already, so get ready for more Moto3™ at 11:00 (GMT -5) on Sunday!
Mir focused on Austin return as Bradl substitutes Marquez
Joan Mir will be joined by Stefan Bradl for the Repsol Honda Team as the MotoGP World Championship arrives at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas.
The Repsol Honda Team, with Joan Mir and Stefan Bradl, head for the Circuit of the Americas looking for redemption and to capture past form. The 5.51-kilometer-long circuit has previously been happy hunting ground for the RC213V with Marc Marquez guiding it to victory on seven occasions, undefeated from 2013 to 2018.
Joan Mir has spent the week between races recovering from the impact of his heavy crash during the first lap of the Sprint race in Argentina. The #36 is determined to put together an issue free weekend to continue his adaptation to the Honda RC213V, racing mileage the key to further improvements. 2022 saw Mir achieve his equal best finish of the year when he was fourth at the Americas GP.
Marc Marquez continues to focus on the recovery of his injured right hand and will miss the Americas GP as a result. Honda HRC Test Rider Stefan Bradl will ride in his place. Bradl’s last race in Austin was in 2016 and his appearances in 2013 and 2014 aboard the LCR Honda yielded two top-five finishes. In 2014 he started from the front row, behind Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa as the RC213V locked out the top three. Joan Mir
“I am ready to get back on the bike in America, I have been able to spend this week at home recovering fully after the fall on Saturday and getting back to training. Last year I had a strong race in Austin and Honda also has a very strong record there, so the objective is to have a consistent weekend and avoid problems. If we can get a complete race weekend under our belts, I think we will be able to learn a lot and make another step because in the two races are where you are learning the most about the Honda.”
Stefan Bradl
“First of all I want to wish Marc all the best in his recovery, as Honda we need him back on track. I arrive in Austin after a few days testing in Jerez where we were able to try a few things with the bike. It will be interesting to ride COTA again, I was last there racing in 2016 and will give me a chance to try the 2023 RC213V on a very different kind of track compared to what I have ridden so far this year. Let’s have a productive weekend and see what’s possible.”
Ready to start a mock race, MRA New Racer School students wait for the red lights to go out at High Plains Raceway. Photo by Noel Ross, courtesy MRA.
MRA welcomes 20 new racers out of the 32 New Racer School graduates
Byers, CO – Colorado’s Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) held the Pre-Season Race School of its 50th anniversary season on April 7-8, with collaboration from class sponsor Fay Myers Motorcycle World and High Plains Raceway. On Friday evening, MRA New Rider Director Dan Spurlock led the students through a classroom session hosted by Fay Myers Motorcycle World in Greenwood Village. The classroom session included topics like physical & mental preparation, race equipment, racing techniques, race day procedures, and most importantly, track safety.
The MRA is very grateful to Fay Myers Motorcycle World for providing facilities for the classroom portion of the race school, which ran well into the evening. Fay Myers is the class sponsor of the MRA’s premier class, Race of the Rockies GTO.
Saturday morning at High Plains Raceway, Spurlock paired students up with their instructors and prepared them for a full day of coaching. The instructors were comprised of experienced MRA racers who volunteered their time to help grow the sport. Students ranged from street riders to Novice racers, and their instructors tailored the coaching to each student, covering everything from basic race lines and apexes to trail-braking and body position. Once instructor-led coaching was done, students practiced launch drills, then participated in a series of student-only races on HPR’s full course. The day culminated with a certificate ceremony, and a lot of satisfied graduates.
In the end, 32 students received their MRA New Racer School certificate, and 20 of the students already committed to getting their MRA Novice license. The MRA is looking forward to seeing them on the Novice and Amateur class grids in the coming months!
The MRA is excited to be celebrating its 50th anniversary season this year, and is looking forward to round 1, May 6-7, on the full course at High Plains Raceway.
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is dedicated to promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding area. For more information go to http://www.mra-racing.org/.
Roadracing World's Sam Fleming on his new Beta 350 Racing Edition. Photo courtesy Army of Darkness.
Works Enduro Rider
Drew Smith is an 18-time ISDE finisher with seven gold medals to his name. He was also an R&D rider and developer for most of the big names in off-road.
Drew started Works Enduro Rider (WER) https://werproducts.net/ to build custom suspension for riders and racers of all abilities.
Sam Fleming had the opportunity to spend a morning with Drew looking at the design of the KYB SSS sealed chamber 48mm fork, how the factories set it up, and how he modifies it for Sam’s racing/riding endeavors. If you have ever wondered what the whole “fork revalve” thing looks like on the inside, this series is for you.
Moto Guzzi is hosting an open house September 7-10 in Mandello del Lario, Italy. Photo courtesy Moto Guzzi.
AFTER THE GREAT CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS, MOTO GUZZI OPEN HOUSE RETURNS, AT MANDELLO DEL LARIO FROM 7 TO 10 SEPTEMBER 2023
MOTO GUZZI INAUGURATES ITS NEW CENTURY BY RALLYING THOUSANDS OF LOVERS OF THESE LEGENDARY MOTORCYCLES, WHICH ARE COMING HOME TO CELEBRATE A NEW CHAPTER IN THE STORY OF A GREAT SHARED PASSION TOGETHER
THERE WILL BE FOUR DAYS OF CELEBRATION, MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, ENGINES AND FUN, WITH THE MUSEUM AND DOORS OF MOTO GUZZI OPEN TO VISITORS
Mandello del Lario (Lecco) – Moto Guzzi’s days of celebration are back in September. The 2023 edition of Moto Guzzi Open House will be held in Mandello del Lario from 7 to 10 September.
After the great centenary celebrations in September last year, Moto Guzzi is rallying all its enthusiasts to begin a new, captivating century of history.
In the second weekend of September, the Mandello del Lario factory, a real Mecca for every motorcycle enthusiast, will open its doors to welcome and entertain thousands of motorcyclists, arriving from all over the world in keeping with tradition. Many families and tourists will join them, for the chance to experience a great party in the extraordinary setting of the eastern branch of Lake Como at the end of summer.
Custom Moto Guzzi motorcycles on display at a previous event. Photo courtesy Moto Guzzi.
As always, the schedule for the days will be packed with characteristic events and initiatives, the village in the factory will be the traditional focal point for the celebrations, and the Moto Guzzi museum, recently renovated and with its entire magnificent motorcycle collection completely restored, will be a must for thousands of visitors.
As always, the Moto Guzzi celebration will involve the whole Mandello del Lario community: the Municipality and public are ready to make the weekend of celebration unforgettable, with venues and shops open to offer every guest at the 2023 Open House the warmest of welcomes.
Nathan Gouker (19). Photo by Fast Glass Media, courtesy Phillip Gouker.
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.
Nathan Gouker with his two MotoAmerica Mini Cup #1 plates at the end of the 2022 season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Nathan Gouker
Age: 11.
Current home: Lexington, North Carolina.
Current height/weight: 4’7”/78 pounds.
Current school grade level: 5th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2018, Alton, VA, SFLminiGP, Spec 50, 3rd place.
Current racebikes: Ohvale 110, Ohvale 160, Moriwaki 250, Honda NSF250R.
Current tuners/mechanics: Dale Quarterley, Phillip Gouker (father).
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Mini Cup, ASRA/CCS, WERA.
Top sponsors: CP Motorsports, Stadler America LLC, 1/4ley Racing, KYT Americas, VO2 Leathers, Cornerspin, Ohvale USA, Fast Glass Media, Motul USA, 35 Motorsports, 64 Degree Racing, Elite Garageworkz, Carolina Supermoto, Daniels Tire, Ride Supermoto.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2022 season, won MotoAmerica Mini Cup 110 and 160 National Championships, finished 12th overall in FIM MiniGP World Finals at Valencia, won 10 WERA Sportsman Regional Novice Championships (won 29 races from 32 starts with WERA).
2023 racing goals: Win MotoAmerica Mini Cup 160 Championship again, win more WERA Championships.
Racing career goal: To make a living racing at the highest level I can.
Racing hero: Jack Miller.
Favorite track: Road Atlanta.
Favorite hobby: Riding my One Wheel.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Racing my One Wheel.
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;
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.
The Lightning Strike electric sportbike. Photo courtesy Lightning Motorcycles.
By Michael Gougis
Range and charge time–those are the biggest concerns for riders who are considering electric motorcycles. Lightning Motorcycles says that its newest vehicles have slashed the charge time for an electric bike, with less than 10 minutes required to pour enough power into the bike to go 135 miles.
Lightning Motorcycles CEO and founder Richard Hatfield said in a video call this week that the latest technology batteries from Enevate Corp. for the Lightning Strike sportbike hold more energy, but more importantly, allow dramatically quicker charge times. This makes the Strike more useful for day-to-day use, and makes longer rides more practical.
Lightning Motorcycles CEO and founder Richard Hatfield. Photos courtesy Lightning Motorcycles.
The breakthrough, Hatfield says, is due to a change in the battery construction. The Enevate battery uses a silicon anode cell that holds 15 to 20% more energy than current battery constructions, and can accept the charge more rapidly. Re-engineering all of the components involved in the charging process allowed the company to take advantage of the rapid charging rate, he says.
“The cells will hold more energy than most of the cells that are available right now, and they allow us to push in a lot more energy more quickly. We can use the same Level Three chargers that the cars use and charge three, four, five times faster than the cars,” Hatfield says. “When we achieved the point where we could push that kind of power into the battery, then we had to look at all the components in that chain and ensure that they were capable of doing that on a continuous basis.
“Once we had the cells, then we had to consider the thermal management of the cells and all of the components between the Level Three fast charger and the cells–the interconnections of the cells, the cabling from the cells, the contacts, the connectors, the fuses.”
Just having better batteries isn’t enough. The rest of the vehicle has to be re-engineered to take advantage of the additional capabilities, Hatfield says.
“If you think about this as a racebike, if you have more power in the engine, then it creates a lot of other issues in the chassis, and in using that power. Each time you push it forward, you find new bottlenecks that have to be addressed,” he says.
One of the biggest challenges in trying to recharge batteries more quickly is heat management. Hatfield says the company relies on airflow management and advanced software to tailor the flow of energy during recharging to keep the cells below 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
“You have to remove that heat or components start to fail. Also the algorithms as far as how we charge, how we taper the charge, all of that’s important to optimize the charge feed,” Hatfield says.
Because the cells are in limited production currently, they are approximately 20% more expensive than existing batteries, Hatfield says. But in full production, they are expected to be cheaper than current batteries.
And the rapid recharge rate makes it possible to look at different market segments for electic vehicles. Hatfield says his company already has modeled the performance of an electric motorcycle with the size and performance of a big tourer–and estimates that one could be built with a 300-mile range between charges!
After completing a few laps at Misano with the Panigale V4S, the Ducati Lenovo Team rider underwent a further check-up in Forlì at Dr Porcellini’s clinic, who confirmed that Bastianini will still need a few more weeks to fully recover from the right shoulder injury sustained in the Portuguese GP.
Enea will therefore continue his rehabilitation with the aim of returning to the track in Jerez and will be replaced in Texas by Michele Pirro.
Benjamin Smith (52) in action at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. Photo by CaliPhotography, courtesy CW Moto Racing.
CW Moto Racing announces step up to Superbike with Benjamin Smith; welcomes Track Day Winner as sponsor
April 11, 2023
Benjamin Smith #78 joins CW Moto Racing Yamaha R1 for MotoAmerica Superbike for 2023; CW also supporting Mallory Dobbs Racing
Seattle, WA – CW Moto Racing is pleased to announce that Benjamin Smith will pilot the team’s Yamaha R1 Superbike for the 2023 season. The team is also excited to welcome Track Day Winner as a sponsor for the early season of our Superbike program.
Team owner and crew chief Chris Lobkovich made the call to step up to Superbike when this season’s schedule and location changes for Stock 1000 were published. After a lengthy search for rider talent, which yielded strong potential collaboration possibilities the team is excited about for the future, CW Moto selected Smith for this year’s rider talent.
“Ben’s such a great athlete and talented rider,” said Lobkovich. “We noticed and admire his work ethic and what he was able to accomplish last season with the North East Cycle Outlet Team in Supersport. We had an opportunity to spend some time with Ben in Chuckwalla this off-season and were able to get him comfortable on the CW Moto Yamaha R1 quickly. He actually got up to speed on the bike really quickly, and worked well both with us and our extended team. Ben has a lot of support in the paddock, and we’re really excited to work with him this season.”
“Rising through the ranks, I’ve been able to steadily improve my knowledge and skills, collecting a national championship and numerous podiums along the way,” Smith added. “I’m ready to make the jump to the Superbike class in 2023, which is something I have been working towards since the beginning of my career. Having CW Moto supporting me is an honor, and I know they will put a great program together for me. I think we have an opportunity to open some eyes this season!”
Lobkovich and the team made the call to step up from Stock 1000 to Superbike when the 2023 event calendar was released.
“We totally understand why MotoAmerica made the changes to the schedule they did,”said Lobkovich. “We looked at the schedule and after much deliberation, decided that as a team and business based on the West Coast, with the support of the incredible racing community and our sponsors out here, we had to choose a class operating at the Ridge and Laguna Seca. We’re excited about the challenge: it’s always been our goal to end up in Superbike. We’re always learning, and we might as well compete with and learn from the best in the country.”
CW Moto is also thrilled to welcome Track Day Winner and owner John Cook as a round sponsor for this season’s events at Atlanta, Barber, and COTA. Started almost as a “dare” in 2011, Track Day Winner now has over 4,000 members and operates mostly in the eastern/southeastern USA. TDW works hard to provide a safe and memorable track day experience for everyone, always serving up a great meal every Saturday night to encourage our members to interact off the track and build the “family” atmosphere that the organization promotes.
“Track Day Winner has been working with and sponsoring numerous talented clubman level and professional level riders for many years now,” according to John Cook, founder and owner of Track Day Winner. “Being a part of his efforts for the past few years, Benjamin Smith has always shown himself to be a very dedicated and super skilled rider, so it was a natural step for TDW to continue helping him live his dream. He’s always had his eye on Superbike, and we believe that this incredible opportunity with CW Moto will be a perfect match for both rider and team!”
“We’re incredibly excited to partner with someone who’s been a part of and supporter of the sport as long as John and TDW have. We couldn’t make the move into Superbike happen without this kind of support. John and TDW have been long-time supporters of Ben, and we’re really grateful John and Track Day Winner are able to support this collaboration,” Lobkovich added.
In addition, CW Moto is very proud to be providing technical support for Mallory Dobbs Racing, in support of Mallory’s two-class program in MotoAmerica this season. Mallory is riding the Ducati Richmond Hypermotard (built by CW Moto) in the Super Hooligans class, and is privateering her own SuperSport program this season.
Mallory Dobbs (36) . Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy CW Moto Racing.
“We got to know Mallory in the WMRRA (Washington Motorcycle Road Racing) paddock last season, and saw her grit, talent, and potential,” said CW Moto Co-Owner, Sara Lobkovich. “It’s been rewarding to watch Mallory put in so much effort over the off-season both on her riding and carving out her role as a professional in the sport. She surprised me with her season opener at Daytona, and I’m really looking forward to seeing her turn some heads this season.”
Last, the team would like to thank RayJen Motorsports for providing transportation for our MotoAmerica program this season. RayJen is based in Washington State and handling transportation for the full season and between rounds by arrangement (including a possible spot for an East Coast team who needs a one-bike transport to and from the West Coast for the Ridge Motorsports Park and Laguna Seca rounds). For more information, contact [email protected].
About Benjamin Smith
Benjamin Smith, 22, of Glenmoore Pennsylvania is an accomplished road racer with seven seasons of MotoAmerica competition under his belt. Smith finished 4th overall in the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship, and is a multi-time regional championship club racer, 2017 KTM RC Cup Champion, and a KTM RC Cup world finale competitor. He balances his racing career with attending Penn State University, where he will complete his degree in strategic communications in May.
About Track Day Winner
Track Day Winner is a rider-focused track day organization operating in the eastern/southeastern USA. We provide excellent coaching and host some of the safest and FUN track day events for every skill level. Visit our website at www.trackdaywinner.com or like and follow us on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/trackdaywinner/
About Mallory Dobbs Racing
Mallory Dobbs, 29, is an Olympia Washington native who rode her first motorcycle in 2016 and started her road racing career in 2017 with an impressive resume for such a short amount of time. This will be her first full season with MotoAmerica, with two top 15 finishes in Supersport at her debut at The Ridge Motorsports Park in 2022. She finished 6th overall for the WMRRA season in 2022 with multiple class wins and has continued to hone her skills this winter racing at the Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association (CVMA) where she is currently leading the Supersport Middleweight championship. For the 2023 season, she owns and will be managing her personal racing team while maintaining her day job as a civil engineer. Connect with Mallory via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maldobbs126/ or Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/MalloryDobbsRacing .
About CW Moto Racing
CW Moto Racing is a Seattle, Washington-based race team and race shop focused on excellence and innovation: we build fast bikes for serious riders. In addition to the CW Moto Racing program, the team provides race prep and track-oriented services for committed riders who need trusted help achieving their motorsports goals, and support for heritage race and street bikes, and collection restoration. Again this year, our individual supporters have access to a growing exclusive behind-the-scenes community that’s as close to the paddock as you can get from home. For more information, visit http://cwmoto.com or follow us on Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter at @cw_moto.
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