MotoGP: World Championship Resumes Next Weekend At Silverstone

David Swarts

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August 1, 2022

MotoGP: World Championship Resumes Next Weekend At Silverstone

Act Two begins: Silverstone kicks the season back into gear

MotoGP™ returns to the British behemoth for one of the fastest race weekends of the year

Monday, 01 August 2022

After some well-deserved R&R, MotoGP™ is ready to get back out on track and what a place to do it. Silverstone Circuit, one of the fastest venues of the season, has staged some true classics since MotoGP™ returned to the track in 2010, and there’s no reason not to expect another this year. Marquez vs Lorenzo. The Rossi wet weather masterclass. Viñales’ Suzuki history-maker. Rins vs Marquez. Are you ready for more?

Heading in, there remains a headline hanging overhead for the most successful manufacturer at the track: Yamaha. After his rare mistake at the TT Circuit Assen, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) has a Long Lap penalty to serve this weekend – but with his form, Yamaha’s record at the track and plenty more, will that prove a barrier to the reigning Champion’s hopes at victory?

Elsewhere at Yamaha, it will be a big challenge for rookie Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™) as he takes on the venue for the first time in the premier class, and teammate Andrea Dovizioso, a former winner at the track with different machinery, will want his record to give him a boost as the season gets back in gear. Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) likewise, as his difficult run continues. Can the second half of the season see his luck turn around?

Over at Aprilia, that turnaround is already well underway since our last visit to Silverstone. It’s been nothing short of incredible watching the Noale factory go from their first MotoGP™ era podium at the 2021 British GP to now fighting for the Championship, winning a race and having both riders on the podium. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) will be confident of a serious chance at the win this weekend, on a stunning run and after a truly stunning recovery at Assen, and with key rival Quartararo serving that Long Lap the number 41 will be the first looking to capitalise. And Maverick Viñales, now a podium finisher with three factories, turned his great record at Assen into serious speed with Aprilia – and he’s got a serious CV at Silverstone. Can the Noale factory put two bikes on the MotoGP™ podium for the first time?

For Ducati, and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Assen was the perfect sign off on the first half of the season as the Italians took the win. After a crash out in Germany it was exactly what was needed, and Bagnaia may still face quite a deficit in the title fight but an error-free number 63 is always a serious contender. Can he keep it rolling at Silverstone and gain back a few more points in the Championship? Teammate Jack Miller will also be eager to get back on the podium after losing out late in the Dutch TT, but there was another Ducati on that podium: Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team).

Bezzecchi has been the standout rookie in many races so far in 2022, but after his stunning rostrum finish at Assen he’s now well ahead in the Rookie of the Year standings and a serious rider to watch. Can he put in another challenge for big points in the British GP? Teammate Luca Marini has also been gaining some traction and form this year, with Silverstone another opportunity for him to challenge further forward too.

At Prima Pramac Racing, Johann Zarco remains in that Championship top five and can never be counted out of the fight for a trophy, and Jorge Martin will want to continue building on his return to form after overcoming injury earlier in the year. And Martin on form is always formidable. Then there’s Gresini Racing’s Enea Bastianini, still very much a presence in the upper echelons of the standings but looking for a little more consistency after his earlier glory in 2022. Can he challenge, and can rookie teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio turn his flashes of pace into more consistent points? In amongst those battles, the Martin vs Bastianini duel for a Ducati factory seat also rolls on…

Another factory no stranger to winning at Silverstone is Suzuki. It’s been a tougher year since the announcement the Hamamatsu outfit are to depart MotoGP™, but their record at Silverstone has been impressive. The aforementioned Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) vs Marc Marquez British GP showdown was a true spectacular, and the Suzuki rider was also on the podium at the track last year. Can he do it again? It’s not a stop-start track so it suits too, and Rins’ record more than does so. Teammate Joan Mir will also have eyes on the prize and will be keen to add to his podium count. Qualifying remains a hurdle for the Hamamatsu factory though, so what can they do at Silverstone?

At KTM, the goal will remain a clear one: keep making progress. There have been some solid signs of it since a tougher pre-season, and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) keeps his Sunday stunners coming – he was in the fight for fourth at Assen and is sixth in the Championship. Teammate Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has also made strides, and both KTMs went through from Q1 at the Dutch TT. Can they keep it rolling at the British GP?

Finally, for Honda there is progress on the cards too. After summer break to heal up, Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) will be back at something a lot closer to full power and aiming high, having made a breakthrough last year at the track with a stunning pole position, denying Bagnaia and Quartararo. Stefan Bradl will be back in for Marc Marquez as the test rider does double duty, and Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will want some results after a likewise tougher run. Can Silverstone start a turnaround? Last year we saw Yamaha, Suzuki, Aprilia, Ducati, Honda and KTM within the top six at Silverstone, which marked the first time there were six different manufacturers in the top six since 1972…

The timetable is a little different for the Monster Energy British Grand Prix, with MotoGP™ heading out before Moto2™. After seven different winners on the last seven visits, the race is on to see if there will be a magic number eight. Find out when the lights go out for the premier class at 13:00 (GMT +1) on Sunday!

MotoGP™ CHAMPIONSHIP: TOP 5

1 Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) – Yamaha – 172

2 Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) – Aprilia – 151

3 Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) – Ducati – 114

4 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – 106

5 Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) – Ducati – 105

Starting from zero: it couldn’t be closer in Moto2™

With Vietti and Fernandez equal on points and Ogura only trailing by one, it’s back to square one at Silverstone – in the best way

There was a runaway favourite at the start of the 2022 Moto2™ title fight as Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) pulled out some margin, but plenty has happened since then to give us an almost clean slate at the front of the Championship. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) has clawed his way back from a tougher start to equal Vietti on points, and Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) has become a Grand Prix winner and a serious contender as he’s only a further point in arrears. So what will Silverstone bring as the second half of the season gets in gear?

The three will surely be in the fight at the front once again, but Fernandez is likely the favourite as a former winner at the venue in Moto2™. They’re also unlikely to be in a three-horse race, with plenty of contenders aiming for the podium. Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) is the first looking to usurp all three as he’ll be back in action after a tumultuous rollercoaster of injury, incredible rides through the pain barrier and then more health struggles, and he’s also still looking for that maiden Moto2™ win after having come very, very close. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) will also likely be back from injury and has already taken that first win in the class, so it’ll be interesting to see where he slots back in…

Then there are the home heroes. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) has had an up and down season so far, but has a wealth of experience at Silverstone despite it not always rewarding him big. Jake Dixon (GASGAS Aspar Team), meanwhile, is arguably the Brit with the momentum after a podium at Assen – his second in Grand Prix racing – and will be all-out on home turf to at least take home the same. Can they get their elbows out at the front? There’s also a wildcard for Rory Skinner with American Racing as the BSB rider follows in those Dixon-treaded footsteps for the first time.

There have been some truly stunning races this season in Moto2™, and Silverstone could well promise another. Make sure to tune in as the second half begins, with the intermediate class out last at Silverstone at 14:30 (GMT +1).

Moto2™ CHAMPIONSHIP: TOP 3

1 Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – Kalex – 146

2 Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – Kalex – 146

3 Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) – Kalex – 145

Moto3™ remains marginal as Silverstone starts the second half

Guevara has the momentum, Garcia retains the lead – and Sasaki arrives as a winner

Silverstone is a different challenge for Moto3™, with the great expanse of circuit sometimes offering the opportunity for a rider to escape at the front. That could be music to the ears of Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), who has already managed that elsewhere in 2022 and had some impressive pace at the venue last season, when he was riding the venue for the first time. And if he can do that, he could take the Championship lead… but the rider who currently holds it, teammate Sergio Garcia, is never easy to beat and always up for a duel.

It’s just three points between the two at the top, and then a big, big buffer of points back to Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing). So the GASGAS duo can, in some ways, afford to duel. Foggia, however, is another who’s no stranger to a breakaway lightweight class win, and he’s also the only Silverstone podium finisher from last year back to defend that. Can he start to gain back some momentum and luck like his 2022 run at the crown?

Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max), meanwhile, arrives into an event as a Grand Prix winner for the first time. After his stunning victory at Assen, there’s a huge milestone ticked off and he’s homed in on Foggia in the standings, too. The Japanese rider hasn’t looked like he was riding under any pressure of taking that first win this season either, having been fast and consistent pretty much everywhere despite having to bounce back from yet more injury and bad luck. Can he make some more waves?

Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) has also been gaining some serious form of late and is squarely back in the podium postcode after a tougher start to the season, and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) is yet to take any trophies home in 2022 but he’s the only rider to score in every race – and some finishes have been incredibly close to the podium.

Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) needs the opposite and to find some consistency again after a run of stunning finishes earlier in the season, and John McPhee (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) will want to use his home Grand Prix as a springboard to get his second half of the season off to a better start than his injury-hit first half. The home hero moniker also sees Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) gunning for more points on home soil, and teammate Josh Whatley will want more too as he continues gaining experience.

The lightweight class head out to take on Silverstone at the different time of 11:20 (GMT +1), getting race day underway at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix!

Moto3™ CHAMPIONSHIP: TOP 3

1 Sergio Garcia (GASGAS Aspar Team) – GASGAS – 182

2 Izan Guevara (GASGAS Aspar Team) – GASGAS – 179

3 Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) – Honda – 115

WorldSBK: Eugene Laverty Taking On New Role With Bonovo Action BMW

David Swarts

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August 1, 2022

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WorldSBK: Eugene Laverty Taking On New Role With Bonovo Action BMW

Eugene Laverty to take over a new role in the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team from 2023 on.

After being a BMW Motorrad works rider for three years, Eugene Laverty will become co-owner and join the management of the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team in 2023.

Eugene Laverty: “It’s going to be a very interesting new challenge for me”.

Marc Bongers: “We want to say a big thank you for the great commitment and professionalism he is has been bringing into our project since he joined as a works rider in 2020”.

Munich. After racing as a BMW Motorrad works rider in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) for three years, Eugene Laverty (IRL) will take over a new role from 2023 on. The 36-year old Irishman will become co-owner and join the management of the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team from next year on. Apart from becoming part of the team management around team owner Jürgen Röder and team manager Michael Galinski, he will also bring in his vast experience as a rider coach for the team.

Laverty debuted in WorldSBK in 2011 and became second overall in the championship standings in 2013. In 2020, he joined BMW Motorrad Motorsport as a works rider, racing for the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and claiming pole position in Magny-Cours (FRA). At the beginning of the 2021 season, he was in action for the Italian RC Squadra Corse team and then lined up for the BMW Motorrad World SBK Team in the later part of the season. This year, the BMW Motorrad works rider competes for the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, the team he will take over a new role in after the 2022 season finale in November.

“Jürgen Röder and Michael Galinski made this proposal to me and I really appreciate that they believe I can fulfill this role”, Laverty said. “I wanted to finish in a strong way with some decent results, but obviously after the last rounds I had to change my thinking a little bit, as I’m having some difficulties. I really enjoy to be part of this team though, as it’s probably the best team I’ve ever ridden in during my career. And opportunities like this don’t come along very often. Jürgen has been looking for some fresh blood to entrust with the future of the team, but also someone with experience. This will be a completely different path of my career. It’s going to be a very interesting new challenge for me and I’ll have a lot to learn from Jürgen and Michael. At the same time I want to say thank you to BMW Motorrad Motorsport for their faith in the past three years. We will stay closely related through my new role also in the future.”

“It is great that Eugene will remain a part of the BMW WorldSBK family in his new role in the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team,” said BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers. “We want to say a big thank you for the great commitment and professionalism he is has been bringing into our project since he joined as a works rider in 2020. This is something very special, particularly as he kept his commitment also when times have been not so easy. We all will work hard in his remaining races as a BMW Motorrad works rider to finish the season well together.”

“There will be a number of changes at Bonovo action BMW Racing in 2023,” explains Jürgen Röder. “Eugene will also be entrusted with other tasks next year, he will stay with the team and join the ownership structure, will work as a riding coach, will acquire sponsors together with me and also create new structures with me in relation to sustainability, that we strive for. We are very pleased that Eugene has accepted the offer we made him as we believe he is perfectly qualified to perform precisely this role and even if Michael and I should retire due to age, he can continue to do so as required . So I am delighted that everything is working out like this.”

Where To Ride In August: Track Days, Schools, And Races

David Swarts

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August 1, 2022

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Where To Ride In August: Track Days, Schools, And Races

The following track days, riding schools, and racing events are scheduled by organizations based in the United States and Canada during August 2022.

Motorcycle track days, riding schools, and races are posted under the Event Calendar tab on the home page of this website, or you can access the Event Calendar for August 2022 directly by clicking HERE.

Once on the Event Calendar page, you can search for the event you are looking for by its date.

When you click on the event you want to attend you will find a link to the website and/or email address of the host organization, a link to the website of the host venue, the physical address of the host venue, a Google map to the host venue, and buttons to add the event and its information to your calendar application.

To have your motorcycle racing or riding event added to the Event Calendar on this website and published in the print edition of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine, submit your calendar and contact information via the contact page on this website or by clicking HERE.

Calendar listings are updated often.

8/1 N2 Track Days, VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, VA

8/1 The Mid-Ohio School’s Performance Track Riding School, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH

8/1 ZARS Advanced Riding Schools & Track Days, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, MN

8/1-2 California Superbike School, VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, VA

8/1-2 Fun Track Dayz, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA

8/1-2 Z² Track Days, Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA

8/3 Road America Motorplex Open Track Days, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI

8/3-4 California Superbike School, VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, VA

8/5 Apex Track Days, Utah Motorsports Campus, Grantsville, UT

8/5 Tactical Motorcycle Dynamics Track Days, Utah Motorsports Campus, Grantsville, UT

8/5-7 CMRA Series, Eagles Canyon Raceway, Decatur, TX

8/5-7 Evolve GT School and Track Days, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA

8/5-7 NJMiniGP Series (Minis) and Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ

8/5-7 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Gingerman Raceway, S. Haven, MI

8/5-7 VRRA Series (Vintage Canada), Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, ON

8/6 (Progressive) AMA Pro American Flat Track (AFT), Black Hills Half-Mile, Black Hills Speedway, Rapid City, SD

8/6 MRA Superstreet School/Racing Days, Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo, CO

8/6 SoCal Supermoto School, Adams Motorsport Park, Riverside, CA

8/6 UtahSBA New Racer Certification (NRC) and Advanced Rider Training (ART), Utah Motorsports Campus, Grantsville, UT

8/6 UtahSBA Series, Utah Motorsports Campus, Grantsville, UT

8/6-7 AFM Series, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA

8/6-7 ASM Motosport Advanced Riding Course And Trackdays (Canada), Sanair Super Speedway, St-Pie, QC

8/6-7 Alaska Motorcycle Road Racing Series and Track Days, Tanacross Race Course, Tok, AK

8/6-7 Cornerspin School: Roadracing In The Dirt (Dirt Track School), Cornerspin Facility, Spencer, NC

8/6-7 Evolve GT School and Track Days, NCM Motorsports Park, Bowling Green, KY

8/6-7 MiniSBK Canadian Mini Superbike Series (Minis Canada), Greg Moore Raceway, Chiliwack, BC

8/6-7 Moto Minnesota Track Days, Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL

8/6-7 Motogladiator Series, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA

8/6-7 Motorheads Track Attacks Track Days (Canada), Stratotech Park Int’l Raceway, Ft. Saskatchewan, AB

8/6-7 MRA Series, Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo, CO

8/6-7 N2 Track Days, Roebling Road Raceway, Bloomingdale, GA

8/6-7 Ohio Mini Roadrace League (Minis), Fremont Raceway Park, Fremont, OH

8/6-7 Roger Lyle’s Motorcycle Xcitement Track Days and Road Racing School, NCBIKE, Garysburg, NC

8/6-7 TrackDaz Track Days, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA

8/6-7 ZARS Advanced Riding Schools, Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount, MN

8/7 Florida Trackdays, Palm Beach International Raceway, Jupiter, FL

8/7 John Long’s Longevity Racing School, Palm Beach International Raceway, Jupiter, FL

8/7 Superbike-Coach Corp. (Schools), Little 99 Raceway, Stockton, CA

8/7 Team Pro-Motion Track Days & Schools, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, PA

8/7-8 N2 Track Days, Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV

8/7-8 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ

8/7-8 Track Day Winner Track Days, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

8/8 Aprilia Racers Days Track Day/Demo Program, Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, IL

8/8 Optimum Performance Rider Training Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

8/8-9 California Superbike School, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA

8/8-9 Fishtail Riding School, Club Motorsports, Tamworth, NH

8/8-10 Pro 6 Cycle Inc. Track Days (Canada), Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Bowmanville, ON

8/9-10 A Few Dollars More Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

8/10 Pineview Run Two Wheel Wednesday Track Days, Pineview Run Auto & Country Club, LaFayette, NY

8/10 Road America Motorplex Open Track Days, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI

8/10 Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club (WMRC) Track Days (Canada), Mission Raceway Park, Mission, BC

8/10-11 California Superbike School, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA

8/10-11 Yamaha Champions Riding School, Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, IL

8/11 Ruts to Racelines Track Days, New York Safety Track, Harpersfield, NY

8/11 WMRC Series (Canada), Mission Raceway Park, Mission, BC

8/12 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA

8/12 ARL Track Days (Canada), Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS

8/12 MARRC Racing School and Track Days, Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV

8/12 N2 Track Days, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA

8/12-14 Canadian Superbike Championship, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, ON

8/12-14 CRA (Central Roadracing Association) Series, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, MN

8/12-14 North America Talent Cup, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA

8/12-14 (Pirelli) WERA National Challenge Co-Sanctioned by AMA, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA

8/12-14 WERA Sportsman Series North Central Region, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA

8/13 (Progressive) AMA Pro American Flat Track (AFT), Castle Rock TT, Castle Rock Race Park, Castle Rock, WA

8/13 (Dunlop) N2/WERA Endurance Series, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA

8/13 Sandia Motorcycle Roadracing Inc. (SMRI) Schools And Track Days, Sandia Motorsports Park, Albuquerque, NM

8/13 Sandy Hook Mini Moto Road Race Series (Minis), Sandy Hook Speedway, Street, MD

8/13-14 2 Wheels Track Days, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA

8/13-14 Edmonton Motorcycle Roadracing Association (EMRA) Track Days (Canada), Stratotech Park Int’l Raceway, Ft. Saskatchewan, AB

8/13-14 CCS Atlantic/Mid-Atlantic Roadracing Championship Series, Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV

8/13-14 Central Illinois Mini Moto Series (Minis), Mid State Kart Club, Mechanicsburg, IL

8/13-14 EMRA Series (Canada), Stratotech Park Int’l Raceway, Ft. Saskatchewan, AB

8/13-14 Evolve GT School and Track Days, NCBIKE, Garysburg, NC

8/13-14 Evolve GT School and Track Days, Pineview Run Auto & Country Club, LaFayette, NY

8/13-14 HART Rider Training/Motorcycle Lapping Days, Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Hallett, OK

8/13-14 Pacific Track Time Track Days, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA

8/13-14 Performance Riding Experience (PRE) Track Days, Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC

8/13-14 RideSmart Motorcycle School, Circuit of The Americas, Austin, TX

8/13-14 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL

8/13-14 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Putnam Park Road Course, Mt. Meridian, IN

8/14 AMA Sanctioned ASRA Team Challenge Series Presented by Michelin Tire, Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV

8/14 SMRI Series, Sandia Motorsports Park, Albuquerque, NM

8/14-15 Tony’s Track Days, Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Thompson, CT

8/14-15 USCRA Road Racing Series (Vintage), Club Motorsports, Tamworth, NH

8/15 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ

8/15 Z² Track Days, Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA

8/15-16 California Superbike School, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ

8/15-16 Track Time Track Days With Ken Hill, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

8/15-16 Yamaha Champions Riding School, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA

8/17 Road America Motorplex Open Track Days, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI

8/17-18 California Superbike School, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ

8/18 HardNoX Track Dayz (Canada), Rocky Mountain Motorsports, Carstairs, AB

8/19 Evolve GT School and Track Days, Roebling Road Raceway, Bloomingdale, GA

8/19 Optimum Performance Rider Training Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

8/19 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, Munford, AL

8/19 Super Sonic Road Race School & Track Days (Minis Canada), Lombardy Raceway, Lombardy, ON

8/19 TrackDaz Track Days, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA

8/19-21 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Series, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA

8/19-21 MotoAmerica Mini Cup by Motul Series (Minis), Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA

8/19-21 OMRRA Series, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

8/19-21 WMRRA Series, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

8/20 2 Wheels Track Days, Streets of Willow, Rosamond, CA

8/20 (Progressive) AMA Pro American Flat Track (AFT), Sacramento Mile, Cal Expo Fair, Sacramento, CA

8/20 Learning Curves Racing/Riding School, Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, IL

8/20 SoCal Supermoto School, Adams Motorsport Park, Riverside, CA

8/20 Southeast Mini Moto Series (Minis), Lamar County Speedway, Barnesville, GA

8/20 TrackAddix/Ducati Omaha Racing Series, Motorsports Park Hastings, Hastings, NE

8/20 ZARS Advanced Riding Schools, Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount, MN

8/20-21 AMA Sanctioned ASRA Championship Series Presented by Pirelli Tire, Roebling Road Raceway, Bloomingdale, GA

8/20-21 CCS Florida/Mid-Atlantic/Southeast Roadracing Championship Series, Roebling Road Raceway, Bloomingdale, GA

8/20-21 CCS Mid-West Roadracing Championship Series, Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, IL

8/20-21 CRA (California Roadrace Association) Series, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA

8/20-21 CRA (Central Roadracing Association), Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, IL

8/20-21 MiniSBK Canadian Mini Superbike Series (Minis Canada), Lombardy Raceway, Lombardy, ON

8/20-21 MRA (Manitoba Racing Series) (Canada), Gimli Motorsports Park, Gimli, MB

8/20-21 Ohio Mini Roadrace League (Minis), Fremont Raceway Park, Fremont, OH

8/20-21 Texas Mini Grand Prix Series (Minis), North Texas Karters, Denton, TX

8/20-21 Track Day Winner Track Days, NCM Motorsports Park, Bowling Green, KY

8/20-21 TrackAddix/Ducati Omaha Track Days, Motorsports Park Hastings, Hastings, NE

8/20-21 WERA Sportsman Series Mid-Central/Southeast Region, Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, Munford, AL

8/20-21 Z² Track Days, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA

8/21 Florida Trackdays, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, FL

8/21 John Long’s Longevity Racing School, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, FL

8/21 Superbike-Coach Corp. (Schools), Little 99 Raceway, Stockton, CA

8/21-22 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ

8/22 California Superbike School, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL

8/22 Fishtail Riding School, Palmer Motorsports Park, Palmer, MA

8/22 Moto Minnesota Track Days, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, MN

8/22 Penguin Riding School, Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA

8/22 SoCal Supermoto School, Adams Motorsport Park, Riverside, CA

8/22-23 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

8/22-23 Motovid.com All Levels Motorcycle Track Days, Road America Elkhart Lake, WI

8/22-23 Pro 6 Cycle Inc. Track Days (Canada), Calabogie Motorsports Park, Calabogie, ON

8/24 Pineview Run Two Wheel Wednesday Track Days, Pineview Run Auto & Country Club, LaFayette, NY

8/24 Road America Motorplex Open Track Days, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI

8/25 AHRMA Track Days, Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL

8/25-26 California Superbike School, Circuit of The Americas, Austin, TX

8/26 3:16 Trackdays/America Superbike Camp, MotorSports Ranch, Cresson, TX

8/26 AHRMA Academy of Roadracing, Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL

8/26 ARL Track Days (Canada), Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS

8/26 Penguin Riding School, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH

8/26 Super Sonic Road Race School & Track Days (Minis Canada), Lombardy Raceway, Lombardy, ON

8/26-27 American Supercamp (Dirt Track School), Eaton, CO

8/26-28 AHRMA American Historic Racing Series (Vintage), Blackhawk Farms Raceway, South Beloit, IL

8/26-28 Fastrack Riders Academy & Apex Club Track Days & School, Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, CA

8/26-28 Fasttrax Motorcycle Performance Series and Track Days, Nelson Ledges Road Course, Garrettsville, OH

8/26-28 NorthWest Mini Moto & Endurance Challenge (Minis), Mac Track, McMinnville, OR

8/26-28 SOAR Series (Canada), Grand Bend Motorplex, Grand Bend, ON

8/27 MRA Superstreet School/Racing Days, High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, CO

8/27 NJMiniGP (Minis) Track Days, New York Race Complex, Morrisontown, NY

8/27 Sandy Hook Mini Moto Road Race Series (Minis), Sandy Hook Speedway, Street, MD

8/27 SoCal Supermoto School, Adams Motorsport Park, Riverside, CA

8/27-28 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Oregon Raceway Park, Grass Valley, OR

8/27-28 ARL Series (Canada), Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS

8/27-28 CMRA Series, MotorSport Ranch, Cresson, TX

8/27-28 Evolve GT School and Track Days, Palmer Motorsports Park, Palmer, MA

8/27-28 Evolve GT School and Track Days, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, PA

8/27-28 Legion Moto Trackdays, Heartland Motorsports Park, Topeka, KS

8/27-28 MiniSBK Canadian Mini Superbike Series (Minis Canada), Lombardy Raceway, Lombardy, ON

8/27-28 MRA Series, High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, CO

8/27-28 N2 Track Days, Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC

8/27-28 NEMRR Series, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH

8/27-28 NJMiniGP Series (Minis), New York Race Complex, Morrisontown, NY

8/27-28 RideSmart Motorcycle School, MSR Houston, Angleton, TX

8/27-28 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Grattan Raceway, Belding, MI

8/27-28 Team Pro-Motion Track Days & Schools, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, PA

8/27-28 ZARS Advanced Riding Schools & Track Days, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, MN

8/28 ASM Motosport Advanced Riding Course And Trackdays (Canada), Sanair Super Speedway, St-Pie, QC

8/28-29 American Supercamp (Dirt Track School), Eaton, CO

8/28-29 HardNoX Track Dayz (Canada), Rocky Mountain Motorsports, Carstairs, AB

8/28-29 Fun Track Dayz, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA

8/28-29 Roger Lyle’s Motorcycle Xcitement Track Days and Road Racing School, Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV

8/29 Optimum Performance Rider Training Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

8/29 Performance Riding Experience (PRE) Track Days, VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, VA

8/29 The Mid-Ohio School’s Performance Track Riding School, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH

8/29 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ

8/31 Road America Motorplex Open Track Days, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI

MotoAmerica: SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race Two Results From Brainerd

David Swarts

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July 31, 2022

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MotoAmerica: SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race Two Results From Brainerd

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MotoAmerica: Mission King Of The Baggers Race Results From Brainerd

David Swarts

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July 31, 2022

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MotoAmerica: Mission King Of The Baggers Race Results From Brainerd

Editorial Note: The original Mission King Of The Baggers nine-lap race was red-flagged due to fluid put on the surface by Kyle Wyman’s Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson Road Glide.

Due to the lengthy cleanup, the race restart was pushed to the end of the day, but Wyman was disqualified for oiling the track and was not allowed to participate in the restart.

The five-lap restart was stopped after three laps due to rain falling in the Turn 3-4 area of the track, according to MotoAmerica.

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MotoAmerica: Medallia Superbike Race Two Results From Brainerd (Updated)

David Swarts

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July 31, 2022

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MotoAmerica: Medallia Superbike Race Two Results From Brainerd (Updated)

Editorial Note: Mathew Scholtz did not start Race Two. He said that he, together with his Westby Racing team, decided that he should sit the race out so that his left wrist, injured in a crash on Saturday, could start to heal.

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More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Gagne Crashes, Petrucci Takes Over At Brainerd International Raceway

High Drama In MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Race Two In Minnesota

Danilo Petrucci (9) won his fourth MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike race of the year, taking over the championship points lead from Jake Gagne in the process at Brainerd International Raceway on Sunday. Gagne crashed out of the lead. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

BRAINERD, MN (July 31, 2022) – Just when everything was rolling along nicely for Jake Gagne and he looked to be on his way to a ninth MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike win of the year, his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing YZF-R1 was cartwheeling down the racetrack at Brainerd International Raceway, destroying itself more and more with every bounce. Fortunately, Gagne escaped uninjured, but his championship points lead took a hit.

Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Danilo Petrucci was the rider to pick up the pieces when Gagne crashed, and the Italian reaped the rewards for it. With his fourth win of the season, and his first since Road Atlanta in April, Petrucci moves back to the top of the championship point standings, 253-240, with three rounds and six races remaining.

Petrucci and Gagne’s teammate Cameron Petersen did a better job of putting in quick laps early to keep the pressure on Gagne and, despite a mistake when he was within two seconds, Petrucci was keeping that pressure on when the defending champion crashed. Ironically, Petrucci said after the race that he was about to throw in the towel on trying to keep the pace on the very same lap that Gagne crashed.

With Gagne down and out, Petrucci finished 7.1 seconds ahead of Petersen with the South African earning his 11th podium of the year and his seventh in a row.

PJ Jacobsen matched his best finish of the year with his second podium of the season on the Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR, the New Yorker finishing third some 10 seconds behind Petersen.

Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim was fifth on his Suzuki GSX-R1000. 3.6 seconds ahead of Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Hector Barbera. Aftercare Hayes Scheibe Racing’s Ashton Yates continued his quietly impressive season with sixth at Brainerd, eight seconds ahead of Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Jake Lewis.

Cycle World/Octane/Chuckwalla Racing’s Andrew Lee put in a solid ride as the replacement for the injured Michael Gilbert to finish eighth.

Altus Motorsports Brandon Paasch and Triple M’s Jeremy Coffey rounded out the top 10 finishers.

In addition to Gagne, Max Flinders and Ezra Beaubier also crashed out of the race. Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz, meanwhile, opted not to race with the wrist injury he suffered on Saturday morning.

Petrucci’s championship lead is now 13 points of Gagne, 253-240. Petersen is third with 215 points with Scholtz fourth on 183 points. Barbera remains fifth with 133 points.

Superbike Race 2

Danilo Petrucci (Ducati)
Cameron Petersen (Yamaha)
PJ Jacobsen (BMW)
Hayden Gillim (Suzuki)
Hector Barbera (BMW)
Ashton Yates (BMW)
Jake Lewis (Suzuki)
Andrew Lee (Suzuki)
Brandon Paasch (Suzuki)
Jeremy Coffey (Suzuki)

Danilo Petrucci – Winner

“Yesterday was a tough one. I tried the first lap to stay as close as I can to Jake (Gagne), but I almost crashed, like in the practice. I was able to hold the bike but with my feet. I couldn’t turn here, and I ran wide in the corner later, so also Cam (Petersen) came past me. Then I was able to pass him again. I tried to push, but same mistake as yesterday. Hit the neutral on the penultimate corner and then Jake made a gap. Then I start to push. I said, ‘I have nothing to lose. I’m behind him in the championship, behind him in this race. So, I need to try.’ The moment I said, ‘okay, he went away again.’ Unfortunately, he crashed. I’m sorry for him. I hope he is okay. That’s racing. The championship is definitely still open. I must be true. Jake in this moment is a bit faster than us, but on the pace, I think he was a bit of tenths faster. Then we made a massive change on the bike from yesterday, and we didn’t have the chance to try this morning. As I told you, I have nothing to lose at this point. I never look at the points. I know Jake is faster, but I need to stay in front of him because we cannot make any calculation with him. He’s always first, and you need to beat him. Congrats to these guys and thanks to my team.”

Cameron Petersen – Second Place

“Yeah, it was a tough one today. It was for sure better in those first couple laps. I felt like both mine and Danilo’s (Petrucci) pace was a little bit better those first few laps. But I just didn’t have the same feel. I think on average I was almost a second a lap slower. After the tires went off, I think I was on average close to a second a lap slower than what I was doing yesterday. So, just a big struggle today. I hit a couple false neutrals going into turn nine, which kind of hurt me. Then I just started riding tight and just wasn’t riding like I was yesterday. So, pretty upset with the way I rode today. It’s nothing that the team did, nothing with the bike. It was just pretty much all on me. Congrats to Danilo on another win. Bummer my teammate crashed out on that one. He obviously had the gap and kind of seemed like he had it in the bag, but that’s racing. Looking forward to Pittsburgh. It should be good.”

PJ Jacobsen – Third Place

“We did some electronics with the chassis last night, so we made some improvements from yesterday. This is my first time here racing. The bike was working a lot better during the beginning of the race. I was able to stay with them for a few laps. And then I saw Cam (Petersen), but he had a different pace. I just tried to stay there and then I got into my own rhythm, and I was trying to just maintain what I could. So, that’s really all I could do today with the BMW. Hopefully, we can just keep on improving and maybe get some more help and stuff like that to get a better direction to get more towards the front. Once the tire kind of goes off, the BMW is very aggressive. It seems like it doesn’t like it. The thing is a monster to ride around. Just try to calm it down a little bit. This race today, it felt like the bike was a bit calmer for me, so it was easier to ride. We still have to make a lot of steps to be able to go in the direction of these guys to even stay more laps before we fall off and just keep making steps like that. That’s really the best we could do. I think the team is doing a good job for their first year in the series.”

More, from a press release issued by Ducati North America:

Danilo Petrucci Regains Points Lead at Brainerd

Danilo Petrucci and Ducati lead the championship after Brainerd

Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati North America.

Sunnyvale, Calif., July 31, 2022 – Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win, and for Danilo Petrucci and the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC team, it was certainly a case of the latter at Brainerd International Raceway.

The 2.5-mile Minnesota venue saw Petrucci suffer a fast crash in qualifying, regrouping to take second in race one behind Yamaha’s then-championship leader, Jake Gage.

But it was all turned on its side in race two as Gagne, who had built up a potential race-winning lead only to drop the factory Yamaha for another DNF. Petrucci thus swept through for his fourth race win of the 2022 Medallia MotoAmerica Superbike Championship and moved back into the title lead.

It’s now all the play with 150 potential points on offer and three rounds remaining in the series, starting in Pittsburgh in two weeks’ time.

2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Standings

P1 – Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) 253

P2 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 240

P3 – Cameron Petersen (Yamaha) 215

P4 – Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 183

P5 – Hector Barbera (BMW) 133

Danilo Petrucci (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – #9): “It was a weekend of ups and downs,” said Petrucci. “Yesterday was one of the toughest days. We struggled a lot in the race because I crashed quite hard in qualifying and got a few injuries, but today, luck was on our side. Unfortunately, Jake (Gagne) crashed, and we could take the victory. We made a massive change yesterday on the front end, and the bike was working much better. Now we are leading the points, but we are not thinking about the championship. We must stay in front of Jake, or at least put as much pressure as possible on him. Thanks very much to my team.”

More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:

Westby Racing Withdraws From Sunday’s Superbike Race At Brainerd

Mathew Scholtz (11). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.

Brainerd, MN – July 31, 2022 – After Westby Racing’s Superbike rider Mathew Scholtz suffered injuries from two crashes at Brainerd International Raceway on Saturday and Sunday, the team made the difficult decision to withdraw from racing in Sunday’s Superbike race two.

Mathew crashed in Friday’s first practice session and bruised his shoulder. Undeterred, the team rebuilt the #11 Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike, and Mathew qualified fourth in the afternoon’s first qualifying session. On Saturday morning, however, he crashed again in final qualifying, and injured his wrist.

Mathew toughed it out in Saturday afternoon’s race one and was able to finish fourth, a solid effort given the circumstances. On Sunday, the team decided that they would withdraw from race two rather than risk Mathew exacerbating his injuries.

“It was a rough weekend for us,” Mathew said. “Definitely the worst race weekend I’ve had in my six years with the Westby team. The crashes and injuries definitely took a toll on me, and the team felt that it was time to call it a weekend and focus on the next round in Pittsburgh. I can’t deny that I still wanted to race, but I do understand the team’s decision. They always have my back.”

The Westby Racing team will regroup and be back in action for round eight of the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, which takes place at Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania, on August 19 through 21.

MotoAmerica Superbike Standings

1. Danilo Petrucci – Ducati – 253

2. Jake Gagne – Yamaha – 240

3. Cameron Petersen – Yamaha – 215

4. Mathew Scholtz – Yamaha – 183

5. Hector Barbera – BMW – 133

For more updates about Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit http://www.WestbyRacing.com

Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.

MotoAmerica: Supersport Race Two Results From Brainerd (Updated)

David Swarts

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July 31, 2022

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MotoAmerica: Supersport Race Two Results From Brainerd (Updated)

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More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:

Alexander Wins Stock 1000 Again At Brainerd International Raceway

Alexander, Landers, Fong And Van Excel At BIR

BRAINERD, MN (July 31, 2022) – Turns out the only time Corey Alexander doesn’t win is when he doesn’t start. There have eight Yuasa Stock 1000 races held in the MotoAmerica Championship and Alexander has won six of them. The other two, at VIRginia International Raceway, he missed because of a concussion. He most definitely didn’t miss Sunday’s race at Brainerd International Raceway. Thus, he won.

Yuasa Stock 1000 – Alexander Again!

Corey Alexander (23) won his sixth Yuasa Stock 1000 race of the season at Brainerd International Raceway on Sunday, topping Brandon Paasch (96) and Andrew Lee (14). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

The weekend’s only Stock 1000 race kicked off the final day at Brainerd International Raceway, and Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing Kawasaki rider Corey Alexander won his fifth race in a row and sixth out of eight races so far this season. The race was red-flagged and restarted with a five-lap sprint to the checkered flag, and Altus Motorsports Suzuki rider Brandon Paasch notched his first-career Stock 1000 podium with a runner-up result. It was an emotional accomplishment for Paasch, who drew inspiration from his girlfriend’s father Scott Briody. Also, a Stock 1000 competitor, Briody tragically passed away in an on-track incident on Friday.

Third place went to Cycle World/Octane/Chuckwalla Racing rider Andrew Lee, who is filling in for the injured Michael Gilbert.

“For me, I’m just happy to get through every session with no issues and every lap, for that matter,” Alexander said. “Not my favorite place to come to. Not my favorite place to ride. So, I’m happy to come out of here with some more points. It gives us a little bit more cushion because I know Hayden (Gillim) is going to continue to be really fast at these last few tracks. Jersey is our home round. We’ll see what happens there. Really thankful for my guys. It’s been really fun this year to work through things because we show up on a new bike and there’s a lot of new challenges. Last year, we weren’t able to get the bike figured out. This year, we’re able to really see big progress throughout the weekend, which is a fun thing to do when you come in and you can give feedback and the guys are able to turn that into progress, which is a really cool process. Enjoying that.”

Supersport – Landers x Two

Rocco Landers (97) wheelies his way to victory for the second straight day at BIR in the Supersport class. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

Landers Racing Yamaha rider Rocco Landers had a breakthrough weekend in Supersport. The former Twins Cup and two-time Junior Cup Champion followed up his race one Supersport win with another win in race two. In both races, Landers won by a significant margin, but his gap was gargantuan in race two. Finishing second and more than 13 second behind Landers was Josh Herrin aboard his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Panigale, the current championship leader never getting comfortable with the Minnesota race course. Third place went to N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto Yamaha’s Josh Hayes. All told, the Supersport podium in race two was exactly the same as the Supersport podium in race one.

“It was a surprise because I didn’t feel we made any crazy improvements from yesterday,” Landers said. “We made some small changes. The team worked really hard last night just to get every last percent that we could. Really thankful to have the Yamaha R6 and it’s amazing handling, carve these fast corners up. The race was really, really enjoyable for me because I’ve struggled a lot over the past two years. Yesterday felt really good. Today feels even better. I’m glad I’m able to do this to honor Scott Briody. It’s just a good day for me, really good. I feel really good with the team. Really looking forward to Pittsburgh. Can’t wait to work even harder to get ready for that.”

Mission King Of Baggers – Game On

Bobby Fong (50) beat Travis Wyman (10) and Tyler O'Hara (29) to win his first Mission King Of The Baggers race on Sunday at BIR. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica. — Bobby Fong (50) beat Travis Wyman (10) and Tyler O’Hara (29) to win his first Mission King Of The Baggers race on Sunday at BIR. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

In the penultimate Mission King Of The Baggers race of the season, which was red-flagged and moved from the second race of the day to the second-to-the-last race of the day, Roland Sands Design Indian rider Bobby Fong won his first Big Twin feature race of the year. And he did it by making an incredible inside pass on Mission Foods/S&S Cycle/Indian Challenger Team’s Tyler O’Hara, who was in the lead. After Fong threaded the needle – a very large needle – H-D Screamin’ Eagle’s Travis Wyman followed him through, also overtaking O’Hara, who was quickly shuffled from first to third, with Wyman ending up second.

Defending class champion Kyle Wyman was disqualified after a technical infraction, and his teammate and younger brother Travis now leads the championship by three points over O’Hara with only the race at New Jersey Motorsports park in September to decide it all.

“I’m just thankful to ride a motorcycle,” Fong said. “A few months ago, my career was over, so I’m just thankful that my boss lets me do this. It’s been fun this year. It’s definitely been up and down. But leaving the track today getting first, it’s definitely going to be a really good feeling. I definitely miss this. It’s good to be here. I’m looking forward to New Jersey. Just keep on riding this wave.”

SportbikeTrackGear.com – Van Ends Drought

Max Van (48) topped Kayla Yaakov (31) to win SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race Two at BIR. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

The MotoAmerica Superbikes at Minnesota weekend wrapped up with SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup race two, and as is customary in the class, the frontrunners raced in a large pack for most of the five-lap event. Max Van led four of the five laps, and most importantly, the final lap as he took the checkered flag aboard his SportbikeTrackGear.com Kawasaki. Race one winner Kayla Yaakov finished second aboard her Altus Motorsports Kawasaki, and Alpha Omega Kawasaki rider Cody Wyman rounded out the podium in third.

“These past few rounds have been a little rough,” Van said. “Some DNF’s, some real bad results. Just wasn’t riding my best. But yesterday, I was in a good position all race. Hats off to Kayla because going into 12 and even maybe trying to draft her to the line, before the incident, I didn’t think that was possible. So, hats off to her for the win. It feels great to be up here with Cody and Kayla both. But just a tragedy this weekend with Scott Briody and the whole family. I’m doing this for them.”

More, from a press release issued by Ducati North America:

Josh Herrin Goes 2-2 at Brainerd

Josh Herrin and Ducati leave Minnesota with a 76-point lead in the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship

Josh Herrin (2). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati North America.

Sunnyvale, Calif., July 31, 2022 – Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC) used all his years of racing skill at Brainerd for the sixth round of the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship, sealing a double podium finish behind debut winner, Rocco Landers (Yamaha).

Herrin and the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC team struggled to find the optimum set-up at the peculiar Brainerd venue on the Ducati Panigale V2 but didn’t let that speedbump get in the way of the ultimate goal of sealing the 2022 championship. Two second-place finishes mean Herrin leaves Minnesota with a 76-point lead in the standings with three rounds to go and 150 points to play for.

With a good performance and a little luck, Herrin could potentially wrap up the championship at the following round at Pittsburgh in two weeks’ time.

2022 MotoAmerica Supersport—Top 5

P1 – Josh Herrin (Ducati) 244

P2 – Rocco Landers (Yamaha) 163

P3 – Tyler Scott (Suzuki) 156

P4 – Kevin Olmedo (Yamaha) 114

P5 – Luke Power (Suzuki) 90

Josh Herrin’s (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC #2): “The weekend went well, although we struggled a little,” Herrin said. “But, in our most difficult weekend, we were able to walk away with two-second places and hold a 76-point lead in the championship. The team and I just need to go and debrief and see if the issues we faced at this racetrack will affect us in the tracks to come. I have a feeling it was just this track that gave us a few issues and I’m looking forward to getting back onto that top step at the next round at Pittsburgh.”

MotoAmerica: Yuasa Stock 1000 Race Results From Brainerd

David Swarts

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July 31, 2022

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MotoAmerica: Yuasa Stock 1000 Race Results From Brainerd

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Northern Talent Cup: American-Born Moor Comes Back To P2 In R2 At Most

David Swarts

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July 31, 2022

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Northern Talent Cup: American-Born Moor Comes Back To P2 In R2 At Most

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More, from a press release issued by Northern Talent Cup:

Farkas unbeatable in Race 2 at Most with an 8.5-second winning margin

Hungarian rider Farkas moved into the lead on Lap 3 and did not look back to claim victory at Most; Moor overcomes Race 2 penalty for second place

There was no stopping Kevin Farkas (Agria Racing Team) in Race 2 of the Northern Talent Cup at the Autodrom Most after the Hungarian rider claimed victory by more than eight seconds. Farkas was joined on the podium in the Czech Republic by Rossi Moor (Farium Next Generation Riders) and Loris Veneman (TeamNL Open Line) after a ten-rider fight for second place.

Farkas moved into the lead of the 14-lap race on Lap 3 as he swept from fifth to first through the Turn 1-2 chicane, and from there he was able to take advantage of the fighting behind him to open up a gap. At the end of the race, Farkas claimed victory by 8.504s over Moor in second place for this third victory with the gap between Farkas and Moor in the title fight standing at 31 points with two rounds left of the 2022 season.

Moor was one of ten riders fighting for second place in the race, while he also had to overcome a double Long Lap Penalty for work being carried out on his bike after the three-minute board had been shown on the grid. This dropped him to the back of the group fighting for second place, but with six laps to go had started his fightback. On Lap 10, he moved into fourth place at Turn 1 and, a lap later, had moved into second. Moor was third on the run to the line on the final lap but was able to slipstream his way past Veneman to claim second, with Veneman finishing in third place.

As the race approached the crucial final stages, riders were fighting hard for second position and a podium place with several riders, including Tibor Varga (Forty Racing) and Martin Vincze (Chrobak Motorsport Egyesület), making moves into Turn 1 to move into second place after utilising the slipstream down the start-finish straight.

Just half a second separated the riders from second place down to 11th place. Vincze finished in fourth place and missed out on a podium by just 0.029s, with Dustin Schneider (Goblin Racing) in fifth place. Lenoxx Phommara (Team Phommara) was sixth at the end of the race with Jurrien van Crugten (BB64 Academy) in seventh place; Crugten was only two tenths away from a podium place. Rocco Sessler (MCA Racing), Varga, who made a move for second place at Turn 1 at the start of the final lap, and Maxime Schmid (Team Schmid) completed the top ten. After finishing on the podium in Race 1, Valentino Herrlich (Busch und Wagner Racing Team) was the sole retirement in Race 2 after a crash at Turn 21.

The Northern Talent Cup field heads back to the TT Circuit Assen for Round 6 of the 2022 season from the 12th-14th August.

MotoAmerica: Escalante Will Not Ride In Superbike Race Two At Brainerd

David Swarts

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July 31, 2022

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MotoAmerica: Escalante Will Not Ride In Superbike Race Two At Brainerd

Richie Escalante will not ride his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R in MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Race Two on Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway.

“I came here to Brainerd with good expectations after two very good weekends at ‘The Ridge’ and Laguna Seca,” Escalante told Roadracingworld.com Sunday morning in the paddock. “I started the weekend very good. I feel good. Plus, my team make some progress on the bike. So, this weekend I feel I will be more close to [Jake] Gagne and for sure battle for the podium, I think.

“But in qualifying, first lap in Turn 12, I make a big mistake. I lose the rear. I tried to control the bike and then I had a big aggressive crash.”

The 27-year-old Mexican rider went for a long, painful tumble, hitting the asphalt hard with his head and being hit by his Suzuki Superbike.

“The weight of the bike push my leg, so right now I am very sore on my leg,” said Escalante, who missed Superbike Race One while he was being evaluated at a local hospital Saturday afternoon. “Nothing is broken, so I’m lucky about that. But I also have a concussion. I’m not focus very well right now for sure. It’s a very strange feeling.

“I’m a little bit sad because I feel very good on the bike, but I have three weeks until the race in Pittsburgh, so I hope I will be OK. The good thing is I know why I crashed. We looked at the data and I just use too much pressure on the brake lever. So, my confidence is not hurt from this crash. That is good.”

The former MotoAmerica Supersport Champion said this is the first concussion he has ever suffered in his lengthy racing career.

In other rider injury news, James Rispoli reported via Instagram that he did not suffer any broken bones in his crash during REV’IT! Twins Cup Q2 on Saturday. The two-time AMA Pro Supersport Champion did, however, suffer injuries to fingers on his right hand and will not ride in Twins Cup or King Of The Baggers on Sunday.

MotoGP: World Championship Resumes Next Weekend At Silverstone

August 1, 2022

The Silverstone Circuit in England. Photo courtesy Michelin.