Disrupt Racing to field Geoff May along side of Hayden Gillim for 2023 Daytona 200.
“We are happy to announce that Geoff May will be joining our Daytona 200 campaign for this year along side of Hayden. Geoff is a capable contender to win the 200 and has loads of experience around that track. Things just sort of aligned up perfectly to put this combination together so we are all excited to have him on board our Suzuki GSX-R” said Disrupt Racing’s team owner Jesse Hwilka.
“I’m really excited to be racing the Daytona 200 with Disrupt Racing. This is a unique opportunity to blend my crew of Michael Godin, Will Gawler, and Fred Turner with the successful team of Disrupt Racing. I’m looking forward to being teammates with Hayden Gillim and believe we will work well together, to take our Suzuki GSX-R’s to the front. I’d like to personally thank Jesse of Disrupt for this opportunity,” said Geoff May.
“I have a lot of love for Geoff and his guys. We’ve worked together in the past and have had a great relationship, so we all are looking forward to this. Geoff has done a lot for our sport and our series. I have a ton of respect for him as a rider and as an individual, and he still has what it takes to run up front, especially at Daytona. As an added bonus, Hayden and Geoff also have a good relationship, so they are going to be a strong duo to compete against and have the potential to both be on the box after 200 miles. Either way it’s going to be a lot of fun and we’re looking forward to it!” said Jesse Hwilka.
Yamaha To Post Contingency For Mission Mini Cup By Motul Series
$15,300 Up For Grabs In Stock 50, Stock 110 And Stock 125 Classes For 2023 Season
IRVINE, CA (February 14, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is pleased to announce that Yamaha Motor USA is offering a contingency program for the 2023 Mission Mini Cup By Motul series.
Yamaha is offering a contingency program for the 2023 Mission Mini Cup By Motul.
Yamaha will post a total of $15,300 for the series that features MotoAmerica’s youngest racers, aged six to 14, with a payout of $425 per event in the newest classes in the championship – Stock 50, Stock 110 and Stock 125.
A top-three finish in any of those three classes will pay $250 to the winner, $125 to second place and $50 to third.
“It’s really cool to have contingency involvement for these young racers in our Mission Mini Cup By Motul series for 2023,” said Cory Texter, Mission Mini Cup By Motul Series Manager. “Yamaha is a top manufacturer in our series on the big bikes and with this contingency program, I think we will see a lot of blue bikes at the front in our Stock classes for Mission Mini Cup By Motul as well. It’s going to be a really fun year.”
Yamaha’s contingency program for the Mission Mini Cup By Motul series is a first for the championship by a manufacturer.
The Mission Mini Cup By Motul series will kick off its season with a round at the Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina, on May 5-6, and will conclude with the MotoAmerica season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, September 23-24.
In between will be rounds with MotoAmerica at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama (May 19-20), Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (June 2-3) and Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania (August 18-19) with a second standalone Mini Cup round at New Jersey Motorsports Park (July 15-16).
2023 MotoAmerica Mini Cup Presented By Motul Schedule
May 5-6 Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC
May 19-20 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL*
June 2-3 Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI*
July 15-16 New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ
August 18-19 Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA*
Sept. 22-23 New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ*
*In conjunction with MotoAmerica
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
Editorial Note: Scroll down to see the official launch video. The actual video doesn’t start until about the 10:00 mark.
Team HRC outlines its plans and expectations for the 2023 WorldSBK season
The factory Team HRC has virtually opened the doors to its pit garages, the sacred space in which the team and HRC track engineers focus their efforts during every test and race weekend so as to provide riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge with the best possible CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE with which to battle against the fierce World Superbike field.
And while the 2023 livery of the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE welcomes PT Astra Honda Motor to the line-up of official sponsors, the team has concentrated on what lies beneath the fairings in the limited time it has had between the end of the 2022 season and the imminent 2023 season-opener in Australia.
Team Manager Leon Camier and riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge have spoken about what they learned last season and what they aspire to now, aware that the level of competition in 2023 will be higher than ever.
In addition to the virtual presentation, Honda and WorldSBK fans will be able to visit Team HRC’s paddock home on wsbk.hondaracingcorporation.com at any time throughout the year. This area will be constantly updated with new content and information about the team and rider activities, and will remain available to all the passionate fans around the world.
Iker Lecuona’s CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP racebike. Photo courtesy Team HRC.
Iker Lecuona 7
“We learned a lot last year and achieved some strong results, like pole position in Barcelona and a podium at Assen, which we weren’t really expecting as that was only the second race. Definitely a very positive year overall, and it helped me get to grips with a lot of things, like how to manage the situation in every race and at every track, also with the Pirelli tyres that were very difficult to understand at first. I plan to harness all that I learned in 2022 in the year to come. Over the winter, the team and everyone back in the Honda factory have worked really hard to provide us with a better bike. We still have two days of testing in Australia before the first race, so we have time to understand the new material and find the best setup in order to exploit it as best we can. We start with the two rounds that I wasn’t able to compete in last season, but I like both tracks, feel good, and am ready to give it my all.”
Xavi Vierge’s CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP racebike. Photo courtesy Team HRC.
Xavi Vierge 97
“This is my second year in WorldSBK and so we’ll benefit from not having to start from scratch. We now know many of the tracks and understand how the tyres and electronics work, while it was all a big challenge for me last year. 2022 wasn’t an easy season but we scored some good results and demonstrated our potential. They’ve been working hard in Japan and so we’ve had a lot of work to do and elements to test over the winter. I am really pleased with how that all’s gone and now we just need to identify our base setup for the season. Testing is great but it doesn’t compare to racing. Luckily, this year we start early and there’s no better places than Australia and Indonesia. I love those tracks, especially Phillip Island. It’s the first time I’m heading there in February, which is summertime, so I’m looking forward to getting there and beginning what should be an amazing season.”
Leon Camier
Team Manager, Team HRC
“The 2022 World Superbike season was a good foundation year for our two young rookies. Throughout the season, we were able to see what they are both capable of and were impressed by the way in which they were able to quickly adapt to new circuits and different situations. Now that we’ve done a lot of the learning, we can aim to focus on race performance right from FP1. We’ve worked hard in a lot of areas and improved in many aspects. 2023 starts now, and we’re ready to go. The goal is to improve globally, both with the bike on the team’s side, and working to take another step more generally speaking. Our top speed has always been really good with the Fireblade, but we must keep working to improve in every area. When you bring a new spec of a given component to improve in one area, you sometimes find this sets you back in another area. This is something that Honda have been working very hard on in Japan and we are confident that this year we will make another step in the right direction. To expect to go from where we were last season to aiming for a title win will be very difficult, but this is essentially our goal, and one that we will keep working towards until we achieve it.”
ENERGICA EVA RIBELLE BRINGS ELECTRIC TO THE SUPER HOOLIGAN SERIES
An Energica Eva Ribelle streetfighter will be racing in the 2023 edition of the RSD Super Hooligan National Championship with MotoAmerica. It will be entered by Tytlers Cycle Racing and ridden by Colombia’s Stefano Mesa #137.
The Modena-based manufacturer, coming off a four-year stint as the single manufacturer in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, will be making history once again as the first electric motorcycle brand to have a bike compete full time in a motorcycle racing series against more conventional, internal-combustion-engine counterparts.
The racing season will begin on March 9-11 at the iconic Daytona International Speedway, a racetrack that is famed for its long and high banking, which will be a new challenge for an electric motorcycle to overcome.
The series will consist of four rounds and eight individual races – running as part of the famed MotoAmerica Championship – with the other three events to be held at Ridge Motorsports Park (June 23-25), Laguna Seca (July 7-9) and COTA (September 8-10).
Based in Wisconsin, Tytlers Cycle Racing is one of the up-and-coming teams in the MotoAmerica series, having claimed the STK1000 title in their debut season last year as well as multiple podium finishes in the Superbike class.
Energica electric motorcycles have been made in the famous Motor Valley of Italy since 2014 and are available for sale at 135 dealers and importers worldwide. Since April 2022, Energica Motor Company has been part of Ideanomics, a global group that aims at accelerating the commercial adoption of electric vehicles.
ABOUT ENERGICA MOTOR COMPANY S.p.A
Energica Motor Company, leading company of high-performing electric motorcycle and system integration for EVs. Energica Motorcycles are on sale worldwide.
Vance & Hines Rolls into 2023 KOTB Season with Veteran Talent and Championship Credentials
Santa Fe Springs CA – February 13, 2023 – Vance & Hines continues its run at the championship of MotoAmerica’s King Of The Bagger series in 2023 with experienced riders and a crew coming off a championship in flat track racing. Both team riders, James Rispoli and Hayden Gillim, have previously ridden for the Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson Team.
James Rispoli returns to the team after a strong 2022 season aboard the Harley-Davidson Road Glide. Rispoli earned a second place and a third-place finish in the six-race season, where he frequently diced with factory teams from Harley-Davidson and Indian.
James Rispoli. Photo courtesy Vance & Hines.
Rispoli has a formidable racing resume in both flat track and road racing. After winning back-to-back AMA Pro SuperSport championships in the US, Rispoli raced for five years in the prestigious British Superbike championships, then returned to flat track, winning the 2020 AFT Production Twins title in dominant fashion with seven wins aboard a Vance & Hines-built Harley-Davidson XG750R. Rispoli will pilot a Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Road Glide bearing his signature #43 in 2023.
Gillim returns to the Vance & Hines King Of The Baggers team after focusing exclusively on Superbike racing in 2022. While rejoining his former team, he’ll have a dramatically improved motorcycle to ride. The switch from Street Glide to Road Glide, along with the competition-driven development on the engine and chassis will give him a better handling and more powerful bike than his previous KOTB ride.
Hayden Gillim. Photo courtesy Vance & Hines.
Gillim has racing experience in MotoAmerica, MotoGP, WERA and American Flat Track and has wins or championships in almost every class he’s ever raced. He has a winning pedigree as well. He’s a cousin of Nicky, Roger and Tommy Hayden and hails from racing hotspot, Owensboro, Kentucky.
Vance & Hines puts its top technical team on the KOTB program in 2023. Crew chief Steve Polk has the same tech team that helped Jesse Janisch win the AFT Production Twins championship in 2022. With team manager Craig Koontz and technicians Josh Sutter and Ricky Castro, there’s no doubt that this team knows how to create winning race bikes. Gene Burcham provides suspension expertise at each event on the circuit as well.
The team is sponsored by Mission Foods and uses specialized racing parts from Harley-Davidson.
MotoAmerica, seeing the popularity of the KOTB class increase each year, has expanded the race schedule in 2023 to seven of their 10 race weekends. Each of those seven weekends will feature a KOTB double-header, making it a 14-race season for the Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson team.
“We’re really happy to see interest in the class grow and the increase in the number of races this year,” said Team Manager Craig Koontz. “James, with his strong technical feedback and great riding, was a real asset to the team this past season. Having James and Hayden on the track together is going to be exciting to watch. We’re eager to get to Daytona to see how we stack up against the rest of the field.”
The King Of The Bagger series is a racing class showcasing touring-style motorcycles with fairings and saddlebags. KOTB races take place at tracks around the country with the first of the bagger races slated for March 10 at the Daytona International Speedway.
ABOUT VANCE & HINES
The Vance & Hines brand has always been about enhancing the exhilaration of the motorcycle ride. It started over 40 years ago, when Terry Vance and Byron Hines were two young enthusiasts in the fledgling Southern California motorcycle drag race scene. Terry always wanted to go faster, and Byron knew how to make that happen. In short order, their on-track success and innovation drew the attention of other racers, riders and motorcycle manufacturers, which ultimately translated to commercial demand for their products and services. Today, the Company’s mission and activity is the same; make bikes go faster on the racetrack and take those learnings to make impactful products for riders around the world. Since the Company’s inception in 1979, it has run factory race programs in partnership with Suzuki, Yamaha, Ducati and Harley-Davidson in drag racing, road racing and flat track. Vance & Hines is based in Santa Fe Springs CA and has its Racing Development Center in Brownsburg IN. Learn more about the company’s history and products at www.vanceandhines.com.
Agreement includes all business activities and blending and storage operations in Brookfield CT
Acquisition effective February 20, 2023
SPECTRO enjoys an excellent reputation in the aftermarket for motorcycle accessories in the USA and worldwide
MOTOREX USA INC, the US-affiliate of Swiss-based MOTOREX GROUP, has agreed with Intercontinental Lubricants Corporation from Brookfield CT to acquire the SPECTRO PERFORMANCE OILS business. The deal includes all national and international activities as well as the blending and storage facility in Brookfield CT and will be effective by February 20, 2023.
ALEX JOSEFSON, PRESIDENT OF SPECTRO IS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE PROJECT
“We’ve long had a great relationship with MOTOREX, so when this deal was first discussed it felt like a natural next step for our business. MOTOREX has a great respect, appreciation, and understanding of the SPECTRO brand and its goals for the future. With their planned investments and upgrades to our manufacturing facility in Brookfield, and with the support of their impressive R&D laboratory in Langenthal, the future is bright for SPECTRO and MOTOREX, both in the US, and worldwide.”
EDI FISCHER, CEO of the MOTOREX GROUP
“This is a carefully considered and important step for our long-term oriented family-owned company. We are proud to strengthen the group’s portfolio with a traditional and well-established US brand. SPECTRO and MOTOREX are both strong and complementary brands within the Powersport market.”
“Moreover, the company hub in Brookfield will also support our business activities in other sectors such as industrial fluids or biodegradable hydraulic oil. This will also allow us to produce more goods made in the US, ensure closer support to our distributors, and improve supply and customer service.”
The company Intercontinental Lubricants Corporation is based in Brookfield Connecticut and is widely known under its brand name SPECTRO PERFORMANCE OILS. The company was founded in 1966 by Robert H. Wehman, an engineer with decades of experience in the specialized field of two-cycle automotive lubricants. Soon after, Spectro entered the motorcycle market, becoming a brand with a rich heritage and an excellent reputation in the aftermarket motorcycle sector in the US and worldwide. Spectro has been family owned and operated for 57 years over 3 generations, currently under the leadership of the founder’s grandson, Alex Josefson.
MOTOREX USA INC is the US-affiliate of the Swiss-based MOTOREX-BUCHER GROUP AG. The company was founded in 1917 and is still owned by the founding Bucher family. Today, MOTOREX is a globally active manufacturer of lubricants, clean and care products with 400 employees and more than 2,500 formulations. The MOTOREX field of activities includes the motorcycle and bicycle industry, metalworking fluids, lubricants for heavy-duty applications, and specifically the field of environmentally acceptable lubricants (EAL). MOTOREX has been present in the US market for more than 25 years. The company has production facilities in Switzerland, USA, France, and Poland.
For general information, please consult www.motorex.com or for information about metalworking fluids and bicycle products, please consult www.eurolineusa.com.
Seen at the racetrack…MotoAmerica Twins Cup racer Kayla Yaakov.
Kayla Yaakov (left) and her MP13 Racing Yamaha teammate Aiden Sneed (right) talk in the pits after finished 0.047 second apart in CRA’s 400 GT Expert race February 11 at Buttonwillow Raceway Park. Sneed and Yaakov both rode Yamaha YZF-R3 motorcycles. According to Team Owner Melissa Paris, Sneed’s bike had an engine with a 2mm overbore kit, and Yaakov’s bike was fitted with the GYTR engine race kit – both of which are MotoAmerica Junior Cup-legal. Sneed took the victory. Photo by Ron Melton.
Suzuki Motor USA at AIMExpo with Renewed Focus, New Thinking & Momentum
Connecting with Dealers and Staging for Success in an Evolving Market are Key Priorities
BREA, CA – Suzuki Motor USA comes to AIMExpo in 2023 with a renewed focus, exciting new product momentum, and a revitalized commitment to success in the changing powersports landscape. Connecting with dealers and the industry are key elements for Suzuki at AIMExpo 2023.
“We’re looking forward to seeing every dealer and media representative attending AIMExpo and everyone is invited to visit our display to see some of our key new models,” said Kerry Graeber, Suzuki’s Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing. “2023 looks to be a positive time for Suzuki, and we are excited about our business momentum. It began with the incredible new Gen 3 Hayabusa, amplified with our class-leading sport-tourer GSX-S1000GT+, and continues with the dynamic new GSX-8S naked sportbike and all-new V-STROM 800DE adventure tourer, both of which will be on display.”
Graeber will also be interviewing keynote speaker Angelle Sampey on-stage. Sampey, is a three-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Drag Racing Champion and the all-time winningest female athlete in NHRA history.
“The face of motorcycling is changing, and I can’t think of anyone who better represents this transition than Angelle Sampey.” added Graeber, “Having a legendary racer and motorcyclist like Angelle share her story of how she defied expectations and broke down stereotypes on her way to success promises to be very interesting and will definitely help us see motorcyclists in a different light.”
Suzuki’s newest models, the Suzuki GSX-8S and V-STROM 800DE are examples of a new approach Suzuki is undertaking regarding the middleweight bike segment. The GSX-8S and V-STROM 800DE will be displayed at AIMExpo for the first time to the U.S. powersports industry.
Suzuki is at Booth 7030 and will be presenting its latest models at AIMExpo’s New Product Central stage on Wednesday, February 15, at 12:00 PM. Angelle Sampey’s keynote address is Wednesday evening at 5:00 PM on the AIMExpo main stage. Those interested in meeting with Suzuki staff are invited to come by and see the powerful new thinking Suzuki is bringing to powersports for 2023 throughout AIMExpo.
For a complete list of AIMExpo exhibitors, dealer education schedule, and to see the floorplan, go to www.AIMExpoUSA.com.
ASRA and CRA Partner for Co-Hosted Racing Events in 2023.
New Freedom, PA – ASRA, the leader in sportsman level road racing on the east coast, is proud to announce its partnership with the Central Roadracing Association (CRA) for two co-hosted events in 2023.
On June 9-11, ASRA will welcome CRA to join us at the iconic Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit, Illinois. The weekend will feature a variety of classes for riders of all skill levels and a chance for racers from both organizations to compete against each other.
In the spirit of cooperation, CRA has also welcomed ASRA to join them at their June 30-July 2 event at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota. The Brainerd round will feature a full schedule of races, including the popular CRA Superbike class, and provide a unique opportunity for ASRA riders to compete on a new circuit.
“We are thrilled to partner with CRA to bring these exciting events to road racers in the Midwest,” said Alex Spellman. “The opportunity to compete at two great tracks and against riders from both organizations will make these weekends truly memorable.”
For more information about the events and to register, visit the ASRA website at www.asraracing.com or the CRA website at www.cra-mn.com.
About – ASRA is the premier road racing organization on the East coast, promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for riders of all skill levels.
About CRA – Founded in 1977, CRA is a non-profit road racing organization dedicated to promoting motorcycle road racing in the Midwest. Their goal is to provide a safe and enjoyable racing experience for riders of all skill levels.
Cooper Webb Back to Winning Ways with Tampa Supercross Victory
Hunter Lawrence’s Incredible Effort Earns 250SX Class Win
Tampa, Fla., (February 12, 2023) – Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb put in an outstanding ride to earn his first win of the season at Round 6 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season in Tampa, Florida. The crowd inside Raymond James Stadium witnessed a battle of determination that saw Webb take over the lead late in the race from second place finisher Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton.
Nabbing third place was Webb’s teammate Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger, earning his first podium finish of 2023. The round paid points not only in the 17-round supercross series but also in the all-new, 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. In a nail-biter of a 250SX Class race, Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence took the race down to two dramatic contact passes in the final two corners to win his second consecutive race in as many rounds of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class series.
Cooper Webb (2) was fast, strategic, and strong in Tampa. His first win of the season proved he’s a contender for another Monster Energy Supercross title. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Sporadic rain throughout the day exacerbated the tough, changing track conditions but when the gate dropped on the 450SX Class Main Event the skies were clear. Cooper Webb was credited with the official Holeshot but Sexton’s momentum over the stripe put him directly into the lead with Webb, Plessinger, Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo in tow. Points leader and defending champion Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac was ninth out of the first corner.
Before one minute had run off the race clock Anderson collided with Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia. The riders tangled and dropped to the back of the pack. Three minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap Main Event Sexton had pulled a 1.7 second gap on the pack. Most fans were expecting to see Tomac battling forward, but the pace of the front runners was close and the only rider seeming to make headway was Webb.
Through the race Cooper Webb pulled within a second of Sexton on two occasions but seemed to be biding his time for a pass attempt. Meanwhile, Tomac seemed settled into fifth position, 8 seconds behind Roczen and 8 seconds ahead of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper.
Webb’s strategy of patience almost fell apart when, with less than three minutes on the race clock, he got wildly out of control in the whoops section. It was the longest whoops section of the year and was breaking down rapidly. Webb kept his feet on the pegs and the bike on the track and in short order made up the time he’d lost on Sexton. The next lap through Sexton made a nearly identical mistake; Sexton could not save it, and crashed.
Webb took over the lead and brought home the win, his first of the season. Sexton recovered quickly and took second place, and Plessinger took third without pressure for the podium spot. The win for Webb tightened the season standings so that only four points now separate the top three athletes.
Hunter Lawrence (96) put in a brilliant ride to pull out a win with a dramatic last-corner pass. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
The Eastern Regional 250SX Class provided all the drama the fans could ask for. Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin grabbed the Holeshot but Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher was right around him and instantly pulled a gap on the field. The track’s deep sand section claimed Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith on the opening lap, who was running in second place; that crash caught up Red Bull KTM’s Tom Vialle and he dropped back to mid pack with Smith.
Up front Thrasher looked untouchable. Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie held second place and rookie Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan looked like a seasoned pro in third ahead of one of the class’ true seasoned pros, Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Michael Mosiman. Behind all the action at the front, Lawrence was on the move slicing rapidly through the pack after a bad start. Less than six and a half minutes into the 15-minute plus one lap Main Event Lawrence cut under Mosiman, taking out his front wheel and dropping the GASGAS rider to the dirt. The move put Lawrence in third place and he quickly closed the distance to Anstie. With 5:47 on the race clock Lawrence took over the second place spot, but Thrasher was 5.9 seconds ahead.
Rain from earlier in the day was back, and as it intensified so did the excitement. As the front runners battled the changing conditions, Lawrence drew the lead down to 2.89 seconds as the race clock reached :00. When the white flag came out the gap was 2.4 seconds. Lawrence got to Thrasher’s rear wheel when the riders came to the sand section for the final time. Exiting the sand, Thrasher moved to the outside line and the two riders made hard contact. Neither hit the ground and Thrasher maintained the lead.
As they reached the final corner Lawrence pitched his Honda sideways on the slick dirt. He finessed his bike to the inside of the corner, drove across the turn’s exit ruts, and cut off Thrasher’s straight-shot to the checkered flag. The athletes both charged toward the checkered flag with Lawrence taking the win just .2 seconds ahead of Thrasher. The crowd went wild with the dramatic finish, which extended Lawrence’s points lead in the Eastern Regional 250SX Class series that is only two races into its season.
The next race takes place on February 18th inside RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland, California. The event is the re-scheduled Round 2 that was postponed due to regional flooding. The Oakland race brings back the Western Regional 250SX Class series for one race in what would have been a seven-week break. The round pays points to both the 450SX Class and the 250SX Class for both the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship as well as the inaugural SuperMotocross World Championship series.
An additional change with the re-scheduled round is an earlier race time. The Oakland Supercross, scored as Round 2 but finding its way on the calendar as the seventh race held in 2023, will start at 5:00PM Pacific Time, two-hours before the traditional race-time start.
Like all rounds of the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross and SuperMotocross World Championship series, the Oakland round will be streamed live on Peacock. Select rounds are also broadcast on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC, and the Oakland round will re-air on CNBC on February 19th at 10:00 AM Pacific Time. For video highlights, race results, ticket sales and more please visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
450SX Class podium (riders left to right) Chase Sexton, Cooper Webb, and Aaron Plessinger. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
450SX Class Results
1. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM
2. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
3. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM
4. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha
6. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki
7. Justin Cooper, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha
8. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS
9. Joey Savatgy, Clermont, Fla., Kawasaki
10. Christian Craig, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna
450SX Class Championship Standings
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (113)
2. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (111)
3. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (109)
4. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (93)
5. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki (92)
6. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (85)
7. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (80)
8. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (67)
9. Joey Savatgy, Clermont, Fla., Kawasaki (67)
10. Colt Nichols, Murrieta, Calif., Honda (61)
250SX Class podium (riders left to right) Nate Thrasher, Hunter Lawrence, and Max Anstie. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results
1. Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda
2. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha
3. Max Anstie, Cairo, Ga., Honda
4. Haiden Deegan, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha
5. Jeremy Martin, Rochester, Minn., Yamaha
6. Tom Vialle, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
7. Michael Mosiman, Minneaola, Fla., GASGAS
8. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda
9. Jace Owen, Mattoon, Ill., Honda
10. Hardy Munoz, Kissimmee, Fla., Husqvarna
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
Geoff May (99) in action during the 2022 Daytona 200. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Disrupt Racing to field Geoff May along side of Hayden Gillim for 2023 Daytona 200.
“We are happy to announce that Geoff May will be joining our Daytona 200 campaign for this year along side of Hayden. Geoff is a capable contender to win the 200 and has loads of experience around that track. Things just sort of aligned up perfectly to put this combination together so we are all excited to have him on board our Suzuki GSX-R” said Disrupt Racing’s team owner Jesse Hwilka.
“I’m really excited to be racing the Daytona 200 with Disrupt Racing. This is a unique opportunity to blend my crew of Michael Godin, Will Gawler, and Fred Turner with the successful team of Disrupt Racing. I’m looking forward to being teammates with Hayden Gillim and believe we will work well together, to take our Suzuki GSX-R’s to the front. I’d like to personally thank Jesse of Disrupt for this opportunity,” said Geoff May.
“I have a lot of love for Geoff and his guys. We’ve worked together in the past and have had a great relationship, so we all are looking forward to this. Geoff has done a lot for our sport and our series. I have a ton of respect for him as a rider and as an individual, and he still has what it takes to run up front, especially at Daytona. As an added bonus, Hayden and Geoff also have a good relationship, so they are going to be a strong duo to compete against and have the potential to both be on the box after 200 miles. Either way it’s going to be a lot of fun and we’re looking forward to it!” said Jesse Hwilka.
Yamaha is offering a contingency program for the 2023 MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup By Motul. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.
Yamaha To Post Contingency For Mission Mini Cup By Motul Series
$15,300 Up For Grabs In Stock 50, Stock 110 And Stock 125 Classes For 2023 Season
IRVINE, CA (February 14, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is pleased to announce that Yamaha Motor USA is offering a contingency program for the 2023 Mission Mini Cup By Motul series.
Yamaha is offering a contingency program for the 2023 Mission Mini Cup By Motul.
Yamaha will post a total of $15,300 for the series that features MotoAmerica’s youngest racers, aged six to 14, with a payout of $425 per event in the newest classes in the championship – Stock 50, Stock 110 and Stock 125.
A top-three finish in any of those three classes will pay $250 to the winner, $125 to second place and $50 to third.
“It’s really cool to have contingency involvement for these young racers in our Mission Mini Cup By Motul series for 2023,” said Cory Texter, Mission Mini Cup By Motul Series Manager. “Yamaha is a top manufacturer in our series on the big bikes and with this contingency program, I think we will see a lot of blue bikes at the front in our Stock classes for Mission Mini Cup By Motul as well. It’s going to be a really fun year.”
Yamaha’s contingency program for the Mission Mini Cup By Motul series is a first for the championship by a manufacturer.
The Mission Mini Cup By Motul series will kick off its season with a round at the Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina, on May 5-6, and will conclude with the MotoAmerica season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, September 23-24.
In between will be rounds with MotoAmerica at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama (May 19-20), Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (June 2-3) and Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania (August 18-19) with a second standalone Mini Cup round at New Jersey Motorsports Park (July 15-16).
2023 MotoAmerica Mini Cup Presented By Motul Schedule
May 5-6 Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw SC
May 19-20 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL*
June 2-3 Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI*
July 15-16 New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ
August 18-19 Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, PA*
Sept. 22-23 New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ*
*In conjunction with MotoAmerica
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
Team HRC Honda riders Xavi Vierge (left) and Iker Lecuona (right) with Team Manager Leon Camier. Photo courtesy Team HRC.
Editorial Note: Scroll down to see the official launch video. The actual video doesn’t start until about the 10:00 mark.
Team HRC outlines its plans and expectations for the 2023 WorldSBK season
The factory Team HRC has virtually opened the doors to its pit garages, the sacred space in which the team and HRC track engineers focus their efforts during every test and race weekend so as to provide riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge with the best possible CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE with which to battle against the fierce World Superbike field.
And while the 2023 livery of the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE welcomes PT Astra Honda Motor to the line-up of official sponsors, the team has concentrated on what lies beneath the fairings in the limited time it has had between the end of the 2022 season and the imminent 2023 season-opener in Australia.
Team Manager Leon Camier and riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge have spoken about what they learned last season and what they aspire to now, aware that the level of competition in 2023 will be higher than ever.
In addition to the virtual presentation, Honda and WorldSBK fans will be able to visit Team HRC’s paddock home on wsbk.hondaracingcorporation.com at any time throughout the year. This area will be constantly updated with new content and information about the team and rider activities, and will remain available to all the passionate fans around the world.
Iker Lecuona’s CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP racebike. Photo courtesy Team HRC.
Iker Lecuona 7
“We learned a lot last year and achieved some strong results, like pole position in Barcelona and a podium at Assen, which we weren’t really expecting as that was only the second race. Definitely a very positive year overall, and it helped me get to grips with a lot of things, like how to manage the situation in every race and at every track, also with the Pirelli tyres that were very difficult to understand at first. I plan to harness all that I learned in 2022 in the year to come. Over the winter, the team and everyone back in the Honda factory have worked really hard to provide us with a better bike. We still have two days of testing in Australia before the first race, so we have time to understand the new material and find the best setup in order to exploit it as best we can. We start with the two rounds that I wasn’t able to compete in last season, but I like both tracks, feel good, and am ready to give it my all.”
Xavi Vierge’s CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP racebike. Photo courtesy Team HRC.
Xavi Vierge 97
“This is my second year in WorldSBK and so we’ll benefit from not having to start from scratch. We now know many of the tracks and understand how the tyres and electronics work, while it was all a big challenge for me last year. 2022 wasn’t an easy season but we scored some good results and demonstrated our potential. They’ve been working hard in Japan and so we’ve had a lot of work to do and elements to test over the winter. I am really pleased with how that all’s gone and now we just need to identify our base setup for the season. Testing is great but it doesn’t compare to racing. Luckily, this year we start early and there’s no better places than Australia and Indonesia. I love those tracks, especially Phillip Island. It’s the first time I’m heading there in February, which is summertime, so I’m looking forward to getting there and beginning what should be an amazing season.”
Leon Camier
Team Manager, Team HRC
“The 2022 World Superbike season was a good foundation year for our two young rookies. Throughout the season, we were able to see what they are both capable of and were impressed by the way in which they were able to quickly adapt to new circuits and different situations. Now that we’ve done a lot of the learning, we can aim to focus on race performance right from FP1. We’ve worked hard in a lot of areas and improved in many aspects. 2023 starts now, and we’re ready to go. The goal is to improve globally, both with the bike on the team’s side, and working to take another step more generally speaking. Our top speed has always been really good with the Fireblade, but we must keep working to improve in every area. When you bring a new spec of a given component to improve in one area, you sometimes find this sets you back in another area. This is something that Honda have been working very hard on in Japan and we are confident that this year we will make another step in the right direction. To expect to go from where we were last season to aiming for a title win will be very difficult, but this is essentially our goal, and one that we will keep working towards until we achieve it.”
Stefano Mesa (137) at speed on his Tytlers Cycle Racing Energica at Laguna Seca in 2022. Photo courtesy Energica.
ENERGICA EVA RIBELLE BRINGS ELECTRIC TO THE SUPER HOOLIGAN SERIES
An Energica Eva Ribelle streetfighter will be racing in the 2023 edition of the RSD Super Hooligan National Championship with MotoAmerica. It will be entered by Tytlers Cycle Racing and ridden by Colombia’s Stefano Mesa #137.
The Modena-based manufacturer, coming off a four-year stint as the single manufacturer in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, will be making history once again as the first electric motorcycle brand to have a bike compete full time in a motorcycle racing series against more conventional, internal-combustion-engine counterparts.
The racing season will begin on March 9-11 at the iconic Daytona International Speedway, a racetrack that is famed for its long and high banking, which will be a new challenge for an electric motorcycle to overcome.
The series will consist of four rounds and eight individual races – running as part of the famed MotoAmerica Championship – with the other three events to be held at Ridge Motorsports Park (June 23-25), Laguna Seca (July 7-9) and COTA (September 8-10).
Based in Wisconsin, Tytlers Cycle Racing is one of the up-and-coming teams in the MotoAmerica series, having claimed the STK1000 title in their debut season last year as well as multiple podium finishes in the Superbike class.
Energica electric motorcycles have been made in the famous Motor Valley of Italy since 2014 and are available for sale at 135 dealers and importers worldwide. Since April 2022, Energica Motor Company has been part of Ideanomics, a global group that aims at accelerating the commercial adoption of electric vehicles.
ABOUT ENERGICA MOTOR COMPANY S.p.A
Energica Motor Company, leading company of high-performing electric motorcycle and system integration for EVs. Energica Motorcycles are on sale worldwide.
James Rispoli (43) on a Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson. Photo courtesy Vance & Hines.
Vance & Hines Rolls into 2023 KOTB Season with Veteran Talent and Championship Credentials
Santa Fe Springs CA – February 13, 2023 – Vance & Hines continues its run at the championship of MotoAmerica’s King Of The Bagger series in 2023 with experienced riders and a crew coming off a championship in flat track racing. Both team riders, James Rispoli and Hayden Gillim, have previously ridden for the Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson Team.
James Rispoli returns to the team after a strong 2022 season aboard the Harley-Davidson Road Glide. Rispoli earned a second place and a third-place finish in the six-race season, where he frequently diced with factory teams from Harley-Davidson and Indian.
James Rispoli. Photo courtesy Vance & Hines.
Rispoli has a formidable racing resume in both flat track and road racing. After winning back-to-back AMA Pro SuperSport championships in the US, Rispoli raced for five years in the prestigious British Superbike championships, then returned to flat track, winning the 2020 AFT Production Twins title in dominant fashion with seven wins aboard a Vance & Hines-built Harley-Davidson XG750R. Rispoli will pilot a Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Road Glide bearing his signature #43 in 2023.
Gillim returns to the Vance & Hines King Of The Baggers team after focusing exclusively on Superbike racing in 2022. While rejoining his former team, he’ll have a dramatically improved motorcycle to ride. The switch from Street Glide to Road Glide, along with the competition-driven development on the engine and chassis will give him a better handling and more powerful bike than his previous KOTB ride.
Hayden Gillim. Photo courtesy Vance & Hines.
Gillim has racing experience in MotoAmerica, MotoGP, WERA and American Flat Track and has wins or championships in almost every class he’s ever raced. He has a winning pedigree as well. He’s a cousin of Nicky, Roger and Tommy Hayden and hails from racing hotspot, Owensboro, Kentucky.
Vance & Hines puts its top technical team on the KOTB program in 2023. Crew chief Steve Polk has the same tech team that helped Jesse Janisch win the AFT Production Twins championship in 2022. With team manager Craig Koontz and technicians Josh Sutter and Ricky Castro, there’s no doubt that this team knows how to create winning race bikes. Gene Burcham provides suspension expertise at each event on the circuit as well.
The team is sponsored by Mission Foods and uses specialized racing parts from Harley-Davidson.
MotoAmerica, seeing the popularity of the KOTB class increase each year, has expanded the race schedule in 2023 to seven of their 10 race weekends. Each of those seven weekends will feature a KOTB double-header, making it a 14-race season for the Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson team.
“We’re really happy to see interest in the class grow and the increase in the number of races this year,” said Team Manager Craig Koontz. “James, with his strong technical feedback and great riding, was a real asset to the team this past season. Having James and Hayden on the track together is going to be exciting to watch. We’re eager to get to Daytona to see how we stack up against the rest of the field.”
The King Of The Bagger series is a racing class showcasing touring-style motorcycles with fairings and saddlebags. KOTB races take place at tracks around the country with the first of the bagger races slated for March 10 at the Daytona International Speedway.
ABOUT VANCE & HINES
The Vance & Hines brand has always been about enhancing the exhilaration of the motorcycle ride. It started over 40 years ago, when Terry Vance and Byron Hines were two young enthusiasts in the fledgling Southern California motorcycle drag race scene. Terry always wanted to go faster, and Byron knew how to make that happen. In short order, their on-track success and innovation drew the attention of other racers, riders and motorcycle manufacturers, which ultimately translated to commercial demand for their products and services. Today, the Company’s mission and activity is the same; make bikes go faster on the racetrack and take those learnings to make impactful products for riders around the world. Since the Company’s inception in 1979, it has run factory race programs in partnership with Suzuki, Yamaha, Ducati and Harley-Davidson in drag racing, road racing and flat track. Vance & Hines is based in Santa Fe Springs CA and has its Racing Development Center in Brownsburg IN. Learn more about the company’s history and products at www.vanceandhines.com.
MOTOREX USA Inc. has acquired Spectro Performance Oils. Photo courtesy MOTOREX USA Inc.
MOTOREX USA INC ACQUIRES SPECTRO PERFORMANCE OILS
Agreement includes all business activities and blending and storage operations in Brookfield CT
Acquisition effective February 20, 2023
SPECTRO enjoys an excellent reputation in the aftermarket for motorcycle accessories in the USA and worldwide
MOTOREX USA INC, the US-affiliate of Swiss-based MOTOREX GROUP, has agreed with Intercontinental Lubricants Corporation from Brookfield CT to acquire the SPECTRO PERFORMANCE OILS business. The deal includes all national and international activities as well as the blending and storage facility in Brookfield CT and will be effective by February 20, 2023.
ALEX JOSEFSON, PRESIDENT OF SPECTRO IS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE PROJECT
“We’ve long had a great relationship with MOTOREX, so when this deal was first discussed it felt like a natural next step for our business. MOTOREX has a great respect, appreciation, and understanding of the SPECTRO brand and its goals for the future. With their planned investments and upgrades to our manufacturing facility in Brookfield, and with the support of their impressive R&D laboratory in Langenthal, the future is bright for SPECTRO and MOTOREX, both in the US, and worldwide.”
EDI FISCHER, CEO of the MOTOREX GROUP
“This is a carefully considered and important step for our long-term oriented family-owned company. We are proud to strengthen the group’s portfolio with a traditional and well-established US brand. SPECTRO and MOTOREX are both strong and complementary brands within the Powersport market.”
“Moreover, the company hub in Brookfield will also support our business activities in other sectors such as industrial fluids or biodegradable hydraulic oil. This will also allow us to produce more goods made in the US, ensure closer support to our distributors, and improve supply and customer service.”
The company Intercontinental Lubricants Corporation is based in Brookfield Connecticut and is widely known under its brand name SPECTRO PERFORMANCE OILS. The company was founded in 1966 by Robert H. Wehman, an engineer with decades of experience in the specialized field of two-cycle automotive lubricants. Soon after, Spectro entered the motorcycle market, becoming a brand with a rich heritage and an excellent reputation in the aftermarket motorcycle sector in the US and worldwide. Spectro has been family owned and operated for 57 years over 3 generations, currently under the leadership of the founder’s grandson, Alex Josefson.
MOTOREX USA INC is the US-affiliate of the Swiss-based MOTOREX-BUCHER GROUP AG. The company was founded in 1917 and is still owned by the founding Bucher family. Today, MOTOREX is a globally active manufacturer of lubricants, clean and care products with 400 employees and more than 2,500 formulations. The MOTOREX field of activities includes the motorcycle and bicycle industry, metalworking fluids, lubricants for heavy-duty applications, and specifically the field of environmentally acceptable lubricants (EAL). MOTOREX has been present in the US market for more than 25 years. The company has production facilities in Switzerland, USA, France, and Poland.
For general information, please consult www.motorex.com or for information about metalworking fluids and bicycle products, please consult www.eurolineusa.com.
Four-time AMA Superbike Champion, all-time AMA/MotoAmerica race win co-leader, and rider coach Josh Hayes (left) works with MP13 Racing Yamaha MotoAmerica Twins Cup racer Kayla Yaakov during a test February 8 at Buttonwillow Raceway Park. Photo by David Swarts.
Seen at the racetrack…MotoAmerica Twins Cup racer Kayla Yaakov.
Kayla Yaakov (left) and her MP13 Racing Yamaha teammate Aiden Sneed (right) talk in the pits after finished 0.047 second apart in CRA’s 400 GT Expert race February 11 at Buttonwillow Raceway Park. Sneed and Yaakov both rode Yamaha YZF-R3 motorcycles. According to Team Owner Melissa Paris, Sneed’s bike had an engine with a 2mm overbore kit, and Yaakov’s bike was fitted with the GYTR engine race kit – both of which are MotoAmerica Junior Cup-legal. Sneed took the victory. Photo by Ron Melton.
A pair of Suzuki's new 2023 GSX-8S naked sportbikes. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Suzuki Motor USA at AIMExpo with Renewed Focus, New Thinking & Momentum
Connecting with Dealers and Staging for Success in an Evolving Market are Key Priorities
BREA, CA – Suzuki Motor USA comes to AIMExpo in 2023 with a renewed focus, exciting new product momentum, and a revitalized commitment to success in the changing powersports landscape. Connecting with dealers and the industry are key elements for Suzuki at AIMExpo 2023.
“We’re looking forward to seeing every dealer and media representative attending AIMExpo and everyone is invited to visit our display to see some of our key new models,” said Kerry Graeber, Suzuki’s Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing. “2023 looks to be a positive time for Suzuki, and we are excited about our business momentum. It began with the incredible new Gen 3 Hayabusa, amplified with our class-leading sport-tourer GSX-S1000GT+, and continues with the dynamic new GSX-8S naked sportbike and all-new V-STROM 800DE adventure tourer, both of which will be on display.”
Graeber will also be interviewing keynote speaker Angelle Sampey on-stage. Sampey, is a three-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Drag Racing Champion and the all-time winningest female athlete in NHRA history.
“The face of motorcycling is changing, and I can’t think of anyone who better represents this transition than Angelle Sampey.” added Graeber, “Having a legendary racer and motorcyclist like Angelle share her story of how she defied expectations and broke down stereotypes on her way to success promises to be very interesting and will definitely help us see motorcyclists in a different light.”
Suzuki’s newest models, the Suzuki GSX-8S and V-STROM 800DE are examples of a new approach Suzuki is undertaking regarding the middleweight bike segment. The GSX-8S and V-STROM 800DE will be displayed at AIMExpo for the first time to the U.S. powersports industry.
Suzuki is at Booth 7030 and will be presenting its latest models at AIMExpo’s New Product Central stage on Wednesday, February 15, at 12:00 PM. Angelle Sampey’s keynote address is Wednesday evening at 5:00 PM on the AIMExpo main stage. Those interested in meeting with Suzuki staff are invited to come by and see the powerful new thinking Suzuki is bringing to powersports for 2023 throughout AIMExpo.
For a complete list of AIMExpo exhibitors, dealer education schedule, and to see the floorplan, go to www.AIMExpoUSA.com.
ASRA/CCS racer DJ Birch (182) in action. Photo by Mark Lienhard, courtesy ASRA/CCS.
ASRA and CRA Partner for Co-Hosted Racing Events in 2023.
New Freedom, PA – ASRA, the leader in sportsman level road racing on the east coast, is proud to announce its partnership with the Central Roadracing Association (CRA) for two co-hosted events in 2023.
On June 9-11, ASRA will welcome CRA to join us at the iconic Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit, Illinois. The weekend will feature a variety of classes for riders of all skill levels and a chance for racers from both organizations to compete against each other.
In the spirit of cooperation, CRA has also welcomed ASRA to join them at their June 30-July 2 event at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota. The Brainerd round will feature a full schedule of races, including the popular CRA Superbike class, and provide a unique opportunity for ASRA riders to compete on a new circuit.
“We are thrilled to partner with CRA to bring these exciting events to road racers in the Midwest,” said Alex Spellman. “The opportunity to compete at two great tracks and against riders from both organizations will make these weekends truly memorable.”
For more information about the events and to register, visit the ASRA website at www.asraracing.com or the CRA website at www.cra-mn.com.
About – ASRA is the premier road racing organization on the East coast, promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for riders of all skill levels.
About CRA – Founded in 1977, CRA is a non-profit road racing organization dedicated to promoting motorcycle road racing in the Midwest. Their goal is to provide a safe and enjoyable racing experience for riders of all skill levels.
Raymond James Stadium hosted Tampa's 14th year of a Monster Energy AMA Supercross event and provided the season's traditional Military Appreciation Night. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Cooper Webb Back to Winning Ways with Tampa Supercross Victory
Hunter Lawrence’s Incredible Effort Earns 250SX Class Win
Tampa, Fla., (February 12, 2023) – Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb put in an outstanding ride to earn his first win of the season at Round 6 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season in Tampa, Florida. The crowd inside Raymond James Stadium witnessed a battle of determination that saw Webb take over the lead late in the race from second place finisher Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton.
Nabbing third place was Webb’s teammate Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger, earning his first podium finish of 2023. The round paid points not only in the 17-round supercross series but also in the all-new, 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. In a nail-biter of a 250SX Class race, Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence took the race down to two dramatic contact passes in the final two corners to win his second consecutive race in as many rounds of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class series.
Cooper Webb (2) was fast, strategic, and strong in Tampa. His first win of the season proved he’s a contender for another Monster Energy Supercross title. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Sporadic rain throughout the day exacerbated the tough, changing track conditions but when the gate dropped on the 450SX Class Main Event the skies were clear. Cooper Webb was credited with the official Holeshot but Sexton’s momentum over the stripe put him directly into the lead with Webb, Plessinger, Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo in tow. Points leader and defending champion Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac was ninth out of the first corner.
Before one minute had run off the race clock Anderson collided with Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia. The riders tangled and dropped to the back of the pack. Three minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap Main Event Sexton had pulled a 1.7 second gap on the pack. Most fans were expecting to see Tomac battling forward, but the pace of the front runners was close and the only rider seeming to make headway was Webb.
Through the race Cooper Webb pulled within a second of Sexton on two occasions but seemed to be biding his time for a pass attempt. Meanwhile, Tomac seemed settled into fifth position, 8 seconds behind Roczen and 8 seconds ahead of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper.
Webb’s strategy of patience almost fell apart when, with less than three minutes on the race clock, he got wildly out of control in the whoops section. It was the longest whoops section of the year and was breaking down rapidly. Webb kept his feet on the pegs and the bike on the track and in short order made up the time he’d lost on Sexton. The next lap through Sexton made a nearly identical mistake; Sexton could not save it, and crashed.
Webb took over the lead and brought home the win, his first of the season. Sexton recovered quickly and took second place, and Plessinger took third without pressure for the podium spot. The win for Webb tightened the season standings so that only four points now separate the top three athletes.
Hunter Lawrence (96) put in a brilliant ride to pull out a win with a dramatic last-corner pass. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
The Eastern Regional 250SX Class provided all the drama the fans could ask for. Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin grabbed the Holeshot but Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher was right around him and instantly pulled a gap on the field. The track’s deep sand section claimed Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith on the opening lap, who was running in second place; that crash caught up Red Bull KTM’s Tom Vialle and he dropped back to mid pack with Smith.
Up front Thrasher looked untouchable. Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie held second place and rookie Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan looked like a seasoned pro in third ahead of one of the class’ true seasoned pros, Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Michael Mosiman. Behind all the action at the front, Lawrence was on the move slicing rapidly through the pack after a bad start. Less than six and a half minutes into the 15-minute plus one lap Main Event Lawrence cut under Mosiman, taking out his front wheel and dropping the GASGAS rider to the dirt. The move put Lawrence in third place and he quickly closed the distance to Anstie. With 5:47 on the race clock Lawrence took over the second place spot, but Thrasher was 5.9 seconds ahead.
Rain from earlier in the day was back, and as it intensified so did the excitement. As the front runners battled the changing conditions, Lawrence drew the lead down to 2.89 seconds as the race clock reached :00. When the white flag came out the gap was 2.4 seconds. Lawrence got to Thrasher’s rear wheel when the riders came to the sand section for the final time. Exiting the sand, Thrasher moved to the outside line and the two riders made hard contact. Neither hit the ground and Thrasher maintained the lead.
As they reached the final corner Lawrence pitched his Honda sideways on the slick dirt. He finessed his bike to the inside of the corner, drove across the turn’s exit ruts, and cut off Thrasher’s straight-shot to the checkered flag. The athletes both charged toward the checkered flag with Lawrence taking the win just .2 seconds ahead of Thrasher. The crowd went wild with the dramatic finish, which extended Lawrence’s points lead in the Eastern Regional 250SX Class series that is only two races into its season.
The next race takes place on February 18th inside RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland, California. The event is the re-scheduled Round 2 that was postponed due to regional flooding. The Oakland race brings back the Western Regional 250SX Class series for one race in what would have been a seven-week break. The round pays points to both the 450SX Class and the 250SX Class for both the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship as well as the inaugural SuperMotocross World Championship series.
An additional change with the re-scheduled round is an earlier race time. The Oakland Supercross, scored as Round 2 but finding its way on the calendar as the seventh race held in 2023, will start at 5:00PM Pacific Time, two-hours before the traditional race-time start.
Like all rounds of the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross and SuperMotocross World Championship series, the Oakland round will be streamed live on Peacock. Select rounds are also broadcast on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC, and the Oakland round will re-air on CNBC on February 19th at 10:00 AM Pacific Time. For video highlights, race results, ticket sales and more please visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
450SX Class podium (riders left to right) Chase Sexton, Cooper Webb, and Aaron Plessinger. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
450SX Class Results
1. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM
2. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
3. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM
4. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha
6. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki
7. Justin Cooper, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha
8. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS
9. Joey Savatgy, Clermont, Fla., Kawasaki
10. Christian Craig, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna
450SX Class Championship Standings
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (113)
2. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (111)
3. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (109)
4. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (93)
5. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki (92)
6. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (85)
7. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (80)
8. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (67)
9. Joey Savatgy, Clermont, Fla., Kawasaki (67)
10. Colt Nichols, Murrieta, Calif., Honda (61)
250SX Class podium (riders left to right) Nate Thrasher, Hunter Lawrence, and Max Anstie. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results
1. Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda
2. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha
3. Max Anstie, Cairo, Ga., Honda
4. Haiden Deegan, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha
5. Jeremy Martin, Rochester, Minn., Yamaha
6. Tom Vialle, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
7. Michael Mosiman, Minneaola, Fla., GASGAS
8. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda
9. Jace Owen, Mattoon, Ill., Honda
10. Hardy Munoz, Kissimmee, Fla., Husqvarna
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
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A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
November 11, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
