TPR by Viñales Racing is pleased to announce that Isaac Viñales will ride for them in the 2023 FIM Superbike World Championship beginning at the first European event of the year at the iconic TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands.
Viñales, who raced for TPR Team Pedercini at several rounds in 2022 will contest all remaining races of WorldSBK 2023 aboard a Kawasaki ZX-10RR machine. In addition to the three World Superbike starts with the team in 2022, Isaac has contested 37 WorldSSP races, with a best result of third, which he has achieved on five occasions.
TPR by Viñales Racing will release further information about the season ahead in due course.
Lucio Pedercini – Team Principal: “I am happy to confirm Isaac will return to the team with us for the 2023 season. We already worked together in Estoril last year, so we know each other a little. We are working hard behind the scenes and I am confident that the new-look team will be able to perform well – in any case we will do our best. We will update with more information in the coming weeks regarding testing, but we will be ready for Assen!”
Isaac Viñales: “I am very happy to be able to race with TPR by Viñales Racing in 2023. I am happy to be back in the World Superbike paddock and I am working hard to give 100% and hope for the good results that will surely come. I want to thank Lucio, Angel and the sponsors for the trust placed in me.”
Yamaha Champions Riding School Announces Champ U: New Rider.
February 2023 – Yamaha Champions Riding School, the premier motorcycle riding school in North America, is proud to announce a new Champions University digital curriculum: New Rider.
Champ U: New Rider is over three hours of digital content with 35 lessons, 28 quizzes, and drills designed to prepare students for life as a motorcyclist. This interactive course follows the ChampSchool tradition of truly explaining the “why” of everything a new rider must know, from how a clutch engages to proper and safe emergency-braking practice.
“New-rider parking-lot schools are the gateway to our sport and they have done the job of getting hundreds of thousands of riders licensed to ride on the road,” said ChampSchool founder Nick Ienatsch. “Our goal with New Rider is two-fold:
One: Use the reach of the internet to deliver motorcycle riding’s best practicesto any person interested in becoming a life-long motorcycle rider, or any current rider intent on improvement. These best practices are data driven and focused on drastically reducing risk while greatly increasing riding enjoyment. Champ U: New Rider students can expect to become excellent riders very quickly.
Two: Bolster the current license-waiver classes with context and proven foundational truths to not just earn a license, but to be truly ready for the road. A license doesn’t make you a safe rider! Understanding how a motorcycle works best and what inputs bring those best results is vital; New Rider goes above and beyond toteach how to practice and refine these inputs for a lifetime of riding success.
Champ U: New Rider is designed for non-riders, new riders, and returning riders. This digital curriculum is accessible from anywhere in the world with connection to the internet and is affordable for almost any budget with an introductory price of $19.95. Champions University: https://ridelikeachampion.com/champ-u-courses-page/
Champ U: New Rider is part of the growing Champions University ecosystem of digital motorcycle training tools that include Champ U: Core Curriculum with more than 15,000 users and hundreds of five-star reviews. Champ U also has several rider education support tools like a members-only forum and new for 2023, Video Coaching: stay tuned for our Video Coaching program to be announced very soon.
“We know that riders who are properly educated and wear appropriate gear will have more fun, ride longer, and encourage more people to become involved in motorcycling,” said Nick Ienatsch. “Our mission is to make quality motorcycle education available to all riders and grow the sport of motorcycling. Champ U: New Rider will be a powerful tool in reaching our goal.”
About Yamaha Champions Riding School:
Yamaha Champions Riding School (ChampSchool) is the nation’s premier motorcycle training program. ChampSchool is the evolution of the Freddie Spencer High-Performance Riding School and is led by racer, author, and former right-hand man of Spencer, Nick Ienatsch. ChampSchool uses “Champions Habits” to teach all riders the skills and techniques used by the top riders in the world to go faster safer, while concentrating on the way in which modern motorcycles are designed to be ridden. ChampSchool is dedicated to making all motorcycle riders safer and more in control of their riding, no matter what type of riding they do.
Yamaha Champions Riding School is proudly sponsored by: Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, Dainese, Arai Helmets, YamaLube, GYTR, Chatterbox, GB Racing, ModOp, Chickenhawk Tire Warmers, Techspec, Payless Rental Cars, and N2 Track Days.
Rain affects play but Yamaha remain fastest on Day 2
Crutchlow takes back to the top late on and Aprilia debut an “innovative” front fairing on Monday
Monday, 06 February 2023
It was a rain-affected second day of Shakedown testing at Sepang International Circuit, and the factory test riders and Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) had to wait until the final hour to get some more dry track running under their belts. Here’s a rundown of what was seen on Monday in Malaysia, starting with Yamaha after Cal Crutchlow topped the timesheets as the track dried enough to get some slick tyre lap times in just before the chequered flag.
YAMAHA
Weather disrupting plans was the top story at Yamaha, as it was for many. Cal Crutchlow was again the only rider laying down the rubber for the Iwata factory, but the rain meant their 2022-2023 engine specification testing plan was “wasted”, according to Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team Manager Maio Meregalli, who was casting a watchful eye in the Yamaha box. We’ll have to wait for Tuesday to see a little more, hoping the rain stays away…
Cal Crutchlow (T3). Photo courtesy Dorna.
DUCATI
After having sported a new aerodynamics package on Sunday, Ducati’s Michele Pirro lapped with the standard aero setup on Monday. The Italian’s two bikes did have different versions of the tail exhaust – the large one and the short one – though, so the rain didn’t make it a fully wasted day at the office for the reigning World Champions.
Michele Pirro. Photo courtesy Dorna.
The tail section of a Ducati Desmosedici GP23 at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna.
KTM
Having worked on Jack Miller’s side of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing garage during the opening day of action, Dani Pedrosa completed Monday’s outing with Brad Binder’s crew as KTM’s main focal point for the Shakedown is comparing different engine specifications. Jonas Folger joined Pedrosa on track again for his second day of testing activity.
Speaking to motogp.com on the ground in Sepang, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager Francesco Guidotti lamented that the “plan was to test new aero packages at the end of the Shakedown”, but due to the rain, it looks like they’ll run out of time to do that before the Official Test kicks off on Friday…
Jonas Folger testing a KTM RC16. Photo courtesy Dorna.
GASGAS
GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3’s Fernandez continued to find his feet on a MotoGP™ bike and unlike most, the Spaniard won’t have been too upset to get a first dose of wet weather riding under his belt on the RC16. The reigning Moto2™ World Champion set a 2:12.255 in the tricky conditions, a time that saw him sit P2 before the track began to dry, before he eventually climbed to P3 when heading out on slicks.
MotoGP rookie Augusto Fernandez (37). Photo courtesy Dorna.
APRILIA
“We have something innovative on the front fairing” was the cryptic message from Aprilia Racing Team Manager Paolo Bonora. Speaking to motogp.com, Bonora also explained how the Noale factory’s aero has been “redesigned” after “taking advantage of the time in the wind tunnel over the winter.”
Including those belonging to Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez in the RNF MotoGP™ Team camp, Aprilia have 10 bikes in Sepang for the Shakedown and Official Test. Lorenzo Savadori’s task – according to Bonora – is to get everything ready for Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales, while also “trying small things.” Like every factory, testing 2023 engine specs are a high priority on the checklist for Aprilia.
Lorenzo Savadori (32). Photo courtesy Dorna.
HONDA
Test rider Stefan Bradl was spotted testing an updated chassis that the German was seen running at a private Jerez test recently. In addition, just as he was on Sunday, new HRC Technical Director Ken Kawauchi was inside the box getting to grips with his new surroundings.
Stefan Bradl (6). Photo courtesy Dorna.
That’s a wrap on a slightly damp squib Monday, but there’s so much still to come. Another day of Shakedown awaits on Tuesday, before the Official Test sees the whole grid out on track from the 10th to the 12th!
Come back for more Shakedown action tomorrow and keep up to date with all the goings on on motogp.com and across social media!
Tomac Shows Nerves of Steel in Houston Supercross Victory
Hunter Lawrence Wins Opening Round of Eastern Regional 250SX Class Racing
Houston, Texas, (February 5, 2023) Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac returned to his winning ways, holding firm through a dramatic Round 5 of the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross. Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton had the lead in his sights but had to settle for second inside NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson took the final podium position in the event that paid points to both the 17-round Supercross season as well as the inaugural 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. In the opening round of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence earned the win with a performance that should have his competition worried.
Eli Tomac (1) looked to be in trouble early in the Houston Main Event but found more speed to earn his third win of the 2023 season. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
When the gate dropped for the 450SX Class Main Event, defending champion Eli Tomac jumped out into the lead with Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger pressuring him from the start. But 3:25 into the 20-minute plus one lap race, a crashed rider necessitated a red flag and a temporary stop to the action. The rules called for a unique staggered re-start. The racers were lined up, one after the other according to their race order, then thrown back into battle with the wave of a green flag. The starting position order was Tomac, Plessinger, Anderson, Sexton, and Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb, but once back underway Anderson quickly took over second place. Sexton was around Plessinger shortly after and with 13:05 remaining on the race clock Sexton got into the second-place spot.
Premiere class athletes staged for the staggered start after a red flag stopped the race due to a downed racer. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
After Sexton had demonstrated his speed on the Houston track by qualifying first by over a full second, and also catching and beating Tomac in their Heat Race, it looked like the Texas crowd would see a fight for the lead. But Tomac found some extra speed; he put in laps fast enough to stave off Sexton’s early charge. The gap between the two was 1.6 seconds, but soon Sexton was putting in the fastest laps of any rider on the track. When the clock ticked past 6:30 remaining, Sexton had whittled the lead down to just half a second and appeared to be looking for a line around Tomac.
But Tomac held tough. The two-time and defending Supercross champion didn’t falter under the pressure. After about one lap with Sexton right on him, Tomac pulled back out enough breathing room to ride his own lines. Behind them, Anderson and Plessinger held steady while Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia found a way around Cooper Webb for fifth, yet Webb took the spot back before the checkered flag. Tomac scored his third win of 2023 and stretched out his points lead. Sexton nearly backed up his win from the previous round; he kept the bike on two wheels and earned second place points, securing second in the 17-round championship standings.
Hunter Lawrence (96), the favorite going into the opening Eastern Regional 250SX Class round, established himself as the racer to beat with a convincing win. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
In Eastern Regional 250SX Class racing Hunter Lawrence grabbed the Holeshot but within a few turns Frenchman Red Bull KTM’s Tom Vialle slid from third into the lead. Vialle, the two-time and reigning MXGP MX2 class Motocross World Champion, found himself leading not only his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross, but his first race ever in America. Hunter fought back on the opening lap but misjudged his launch off a triple jump and sent his Honda off the track. Lawrence made an incredible high-speed save through the track-lining Tuff Blox and rejoined the race only losing one position.
Team Honda HRC’s Chance Hymas found himself in second place. The Rookie put immediate pressure on Vialle. But before two minutes had run off the clock in the 15-minute plus one lap Main Event Lawrence had re-taken second from Hymas. Shortly after that pass Hymas had trouble and Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie took over the third place spot with Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith, and rookie Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan right behind. Deegan was in his first pro race after competing in the SX Futures class just one week prior.
Smith reeled in Anstie and pressured for the position until he crashed in the sand. With five minutes left on the race clock the top three seemed comfortably in their spots. It was an Australian, Brit, and a Frenchman looking to make the opening Eastern Regional race an international podium. But in the final laps Smith put on a charge, getting around Martin right before Vialle crashed in one of the track’s bowl turns. Martin then crashed on the final lap, and the opening round of the Eastern Regional Series ended with Lawrence crossing the finish line in first, Anstie in second, Smith earning a hard-fought third place, and Haiden Deegan grabbing fourth in his first professional race.
The racers face off again next weekend at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida for Round 6 of the 450SX Class and the second round of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class. The event pays points to each class for both the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season as well as towards the ultimate title, the 2023 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship series which combines Supercross, Pro Motocross, and two SMX Playoffs and Final for an all-new title with a $10 million-dollar total purse.
All 2023 Monster Energy Supercross and SuperMotocross World Championship series rounds are available to watch live on Peacock. Select races are also broadcast on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC. For highlight videos and more information on the racers, results, and tickets to upcoming rounds please visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
450SX Class podium (racers left to right) Chase Sexton, Eli Tomac, and Jason Anderson. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
450SX Class Results
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha
2. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
3. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki
4. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM
5. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM
6. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS
7. Justin Cooper, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha
8. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
9. Joey Savatgy, Clermont, Fla., Kawasaki
10. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki
450SX Class Championship Standings
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (95)
2. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (88)
3. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (83)
4. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (76)
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SuperMotocross World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.
About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship:
Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
About the SuperMotocross World Championship:
The SuperMotocross World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the SuperMotocross World Championship combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 31-event series that culminates in a season-ending two round playoff and SuperMotocross World Championship Final. Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.
About the American Motorcyclist Association:
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
Crutchlow tops the opening day in Malaysia as new parts surface from several factories
Sunday, 05 February 2023
MotoGP™ bikes are back on track! The 2023 campaign has resumed with test riders and our sole premier class rookie, Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3), completing a rain-affected opening day of the Sepang Shakedown test. Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow topped the timesheets with a 2:01.146, although it’s less about laptimes and more about track time in the first few days of action this year.
YAMAHA
Three-time Grand Prix winner Crutchlow had three YZR-M1s at his disposal – two 2023 spec bikes, one 2022 spec machine. The main focus was pinpointed on Yamaha’s new, more aggressive engine which was a hot topic of conversation back in Valencia. Glancing at the timesheets, it looks like the problem that arose at the end of last year, causing some puzzled looks after clear improvements had been proven at earlier tests, has been diagnosed.
Crutchlow clocked a 330km/h top speed according to the circuit’s live timing, just a couple of kms shy of the fastest. In addition, looking back at the 2022 Sepang Test, Yamaha’s fastest top speed was 327km/h – early indications that progress has been made. That’ll be music to the ears of Fabio Quartararo and his Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ teammate Franco Morbidelli ahead of the Official Sepang Test.
Cal Crutchlow (T3). Photo courtesy Dorna.
KTM
New KTM testing recruit Jonas Folger joined MotoGP™ Legend Dani Pedrosa on track for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing as the German got to grips with the RC16 for the first time. Pedrosa, meanwhile, was working with Jack Miller’s crew on the opening day.
Dani Pedrosa (26). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonas Folger walks to his KTM RC16. Photo courtesy Dorna.
GASGAS
Reigning Moto2™ World Champion Fernandez was back out with GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 and having had no plans for the Valencia Test apart from trying a MotoGP™ bike for the first time, these three days will be vital for the Spaniard to start making the bike his own. The number 37 finished second on the timesheets with a 2:01.331, just 0.185s from Crutchlow’s best effort.
Augusto Fernandez (37). Photo courtesy Dorna.
HONDA
Stefan Bradl was lapping for HRC and the German had two RC213Vs in the box. Bradl was out on a new-look Honda machine dressed in redesigned aero, a new exhaust and the 2023 engine. Bradl’s best time was a 2:01.605, placing him fourth on the timesheets.
Stefan Bradl (6). Photo courtesy Dorna.
APRILIA
Lorenzo Savadori was on hand to give the 2023 Aprilia RS-GPs a shakedown, and it was a busy day for the Italian who had six bikes to ride. Aprilia debuted some new aero – something we’ll be seeing plenty of from the factories during pre-season – as Savadori also suffered a technical issue towards the end of the day.
Lorenzo Savadori (32). Photo courtesy Dorna.
DUCATI
Ducati’s trusted Michele Pirro was again putting in the groundwork for the reigning World Champions, who head into the season looking to defend not one, not two, but three Championships.
The Borgo Panigale factory opened their 2023 account with a new fairing to show off, and Pirro worked with two GP23s. The Italian posted a 2:02.115 best lap time.
Michele Pirro (51). Photo courtesy Dorna.
With temperatures soaring in Malaysia, coupled with a dirty track surface following the winter and then rain coming later in the day, times were around three seconds slower than what we saw at the 2022 Malaysian GP. Expect the times to tumble the further we get into testing at Sepang!
Come back for more Shakedown on Monday and keep up to date with all the goings on on motogp.com and across social media!
Despite racing motorcycles since 1989, I never possessed my racebike. Sure, I owned a few of my TZ250s but they never lived at my house, always staying with my tuner Steve Biganski or at Zero Gravity. We’d meet at the track, race, and then go our separate ways. The other bikes I raced in Willow Springs, WERA and AMA Pro competition belonged to the shops that built them.
Lately I’ve raced Rusty Bigley’s Spondon TZ750, Chris Carr’s GPz550 built by Hypercycle’s Carry Andrew, Carry’s Z1, and most notably a trick Honda NSR250 built by Speedwerks’s Steve Long and crew.
I write “notably” because Steve Long and I have enjoyed amazingly similar motorcycle lives even though we live almost a continent apart; we grew up in motorcycling together but separately. Steve places “consistently fast lap times while looking pretty” as the top priority of his builds and loaned me his NSR250 for the AHRMA finals at Barber a few years ago; since he wasn’t there, I tuned and rode it. It was a blast.
On the phone from Barber I told Steve about my desire to “have my very own racebike” someday. “What would you want?” Steve asked.
Great question, so I made a list:
–Something I could maintain myself
–Something that started with the push of a button
–Something that fit into an AHRMA (ahrma.org) class
–Something on 17-inch wheels for good tire selection
–A balance of entry speed and exit horsepower
–Something I could afford…and afford to crash
–Something reliable so I could actually ride, not constantly repair
During discussions the choice became clear: A 1989-1993 Yamaha FZR600. I’d successfully raced one at Willow and in AMA Pro. They were tough, fairly well-balanced, affordable, are now AHRMA legal…and Speedwerks had “a pile of that crap sitting around,” according to Steve.
A shot from the way-back machine…Nick Ienatsch at Willow Springs in 1989 with FZR600 and FZR400 raecbikes built by Kerker’s Steve Johnson. These good times make the Speedwerks 600 more precious. Photo courtesy NI Collection.
A Plan
A simple plan was devised. Speedwerks would get me started on the FZR600 and I would finish it in my very own garage.
Steve had questions about what prep Speedwerks should do and what I could do.
“Can you assemble a stock engine?” he asked.
“No.”
“Can you do the transmission?”
“No.”
“Can you modify the stock forks?”
“No.”
“Can you install aftermarket bodywork.”
“Good Lord, no.”
Fairly quickly Steve realized the direction of the build and asked, “Well…what can you do?”
Another good question. Truthfully, there’s nothing I can do in my garage better than the Speedwerks crew. However, I can clean parts, paint with a spray can, safety-wire stuff despite constant drill-bit breaking, change tires and oil, adjust valves unless the cams need to come out, bleed brakes, unbolt and bolt stuff, install chains, lubricate and maintain pieces and parts. I had to admit that my main mechanical strong point is enthusiasm.
It was a pretty short answer. “Not much” is how Steve summed it up. We laughed. We laugh about a lot of things.
“OK,” Steve sighed. “We’ll get you started with something.”
“I Threw Together a Bunch of Crap”
Steve’s friend Josh Deery knew of a worn and inexpensive FZR600 racebike in Pennsylvania so Speedwerks’s shipper Simon Tack grabbed it. It was a great find, but the crew soon discovered the engine was “beyond tired.” Steve, with a few phone calls, found another FZR in North Carolina and that bike’s stock engine had good compression and the stock carbs and airbox were intact and functional. We decided not to mod anything, just run it stock for reliability.
The tired 1990 FZR600 that Speedwerks unearthed to get this project started. Photo courtesy Speedwerks.
Then Steve’s crew of son Seth and Super Dave Trotter pulled the tired parts off, bolting on brand-new Beasley Composites fiberglass http://beasleycomposites.com , an old Vance & Hines header pipe matched to an Scorpion muffler that “was hanging on the wall,” spliced together with extensive handywork by Super Dave.
The team swapped out the stock rear-suspension linkage dogbones for GSX-R SRAD aluminum pieces so an SV650 17-inch rear wheel would work with an Öhlins shock. Yes, an Öhlins! Gave a whole new meaning to the term “Öhlins shock” when I heard about it.
“Yeah,” Steve said, “it’s a GSX-R1000 shock we had here. Dave modified and resprung it to get it set-up with the right swingarm angle and ride height. What color wheels do you want? I’ve got about a dozen SV wheels in various colors.
“Do you care if we run some inexpensive Chinese rearsets and clip-ons?” Nick Ienatsch didn’t mind. Note the new #528 chain and Öhlins shock in the background. These footpegs were made for a SV650 but Super Dave Trotter grafted them onto the FZR. Photo courtesy Speedwerks.
“We’re using the stock forks due to budget, but Super Dave added Race Tech Emulators https://racetech.com and massaged the bottoms and rebound damping holes. We threw some 9.25 springs in.
“Had a set of early-R6 calipers out in the dumpster, so they’re on the FZR now. Seth dug around in another pile of trash and found some good pads.”
Those were the messages, delivered with Steve’s understated sarcasm, and each of them came with a picture or two of the bike in various states of disarray. My excitement was at a fever pitch.
Remember these Factory case covers? This is the type of stuff Steve Long has “getting kicked around the shop, in the way.” Photo courtesy Speedwerks.
If pressed, I couldn’t truthfully answer the question: “Are you more excited to work on it or ride it?” I prepared a parts list, maintenance log, and started studying videos on “how to paint bikes in your garage.” The bike was still in Delaware, but I was beyond ready in Colorado.
Steve Long’s Main Flaw
On a Tuesday morning I got a text from Speedwerks, “Got some pics, want to see?”
“Send them!”
Two minutes later Steve sent me a link to a photo portfolio labeled “Nick’s Racebike.” I literally couldn’t believe it. The FZR looked stunning! Done. Ready to race. Beyond anything I ever expected and far beyond anything I had imagined or hoped for. Remember, I raced these things back in the day and they never looked this good. I couldn’t stop smiling.
Steve Long dug around the Speedwerks shop and found “the last Graves Motorsports FZR fairing stay in existence” and brought it into the modern world with a Koso voltmeter matched to a Koso coolant-temp sensor mounted in the stock ignition-key location. A steering damper was added in an out-of-harm’s-way location. Photo courtesy Speedwerks.
I immediately called and after stammering over the appearance of the bike, my first question was, “What happened to our plan of you starting it and me finishing it?”
Painter Dave Arnold worked his magic on the Beasely bodywork, producing a show-bike finish on a 33-year-old bike. Arnold, like Steve Long, is an enthusiast and is producing a custom bike to raffle for a veterans’ program. Photo courtesy Speedwerks.
“Yeah,” Steve answered, “we just got rolling on it and Dave Arnold, our painter, sprayed it grey and then I got Jeff at Inline4Designs and Print https://www.inline4designs.xyz/ to do the graphics. You said you liked grey with a yellow highlight, so there it is.”
I was speechless. My “starter kit” had turned into one of the neatest racebikes I’d ever seen. In 20 years I could not have reached this level, not only in quality but the inventiveness of the paint and graphics, the correctness of the rear suspension geometry, the overall sanitary appearance of the bike. “Yeah,” said Steve with a laugh, “we can’t really turn out anything half-assed around here.”
Ryan Burke, a MotoAmerica racer and YCRS instructor, picked up the FZR from Steve Long at NJMP, took it with him to Barber and finally arrived in a small Colorado town with the Speedwerks 600 crouched in the back of his dually. After breakfast, Nick swapped it into his own truck for the ride home. Photo by Nick Ienatsch.
Nice to Meet You
The bike arrived in Colorado just as autumn began to turn cold. Like many of you, I have a habit of tearing down every “new-to-me” bike so the FZR came apart for the few things I could do…simple stuff but so very joyful.
Nick Ienatsch is enthusiastic about have “my own racebike in my own garage. Words can’t describe how much fun I’ve had with this FZR and the main reason is how wonderfully Speedwerks made it. It’s not a haggard 33-year-old vintage bike. It’s a shining jewel…at least in my 61-year-old eyes.” Photo by Nick Ienatsch.
Cleaning the rust off the rotors is the type of work Nick’s done since the bike arrived. Photo by Nick Ienatsch.
Yes, I’ve ridden it. Sans bodywork and on the ratty old slicks Speedwerks installed to roll it around the shop, I rode it down my gravel driveway, then two miles on a dirt road to the paved freeway frontage road for a few blasts up and down…and then up and down and up and down a few more times! It ran nicely despite the 5,000 feet of elevation. And when the Bridgestone slicks arrive and are installed, I’ll sneak in a winter track day at Pueblo Motorsports Park or Pikes Peak International Raceway.
Not sure when I’ll race it, but who cares? It’s a treat just to be able to work on.
Skipping the Hard Part
I’ve written this FZR saga because this “starter kit” idea may make sense for you, too. Rather than buy a stock bike and make it a racer or buy an old racer to refurbish, have a proven shop like Speedwerks get you started.
Why? Because there are basics and details that builders like Steve Long know in their sleep; their connections are deep and proven, their decisions forged in the unambiguous world of racing. In this case, Steve cut months if not years off my dream to have my own racer in my own garage.
I’ll get back to you after our first track day together…just me and my very own racebike, finally.
Nick Ienatsch: “I’ve had the pleasure to ride and report on a few of Steve Long’s (left) Speedwerks bikes before; this RGv250 with an RG500 engine was the highlight…so far.” TheSBimage.com photo courtesy Nick Ienatsch.
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame offers its condolences to the family and friends of Ronnie Rall, a top Midwest dirt-track racer in the ’60s and ’70s who passed away on Jan. 20 at the age of 84.
Rall, who was born in Sandusky, Ohio, about 100 miles north of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, began his professional racing career at 21 years old. Three years later he raced to his first of five AMA National wins.
A dedicated farmer, Rall never raced a full schedule of AMA Nationals except for the 1964 season, when he finished a career-best third in the championship.
Despite his limited opportunities, Rall found success, including a win in the 1969 season opener at the Houston Short Track. The race, which was held before a big crowd in the Houston Astrodome, was televised on ABC’s Wide World of Sports.
Finishing his national career in 1973 and his local racing career later in the 1970s, Rall retired from racing and continued farming. In retirement, Rall would occasionally participate in vintage events.
Rall was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2001.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
KTM FACTORY RACING MOTOGP™ TEST TEAM PRIMES THE THROTTLE FOR 2023 AS JONAS FOLGER JOINS THE FOLD
KTM will shortly ignite MotoGP engines for the 2023 season of racing and development as the official test team take to the track for Sepang ‘shakedown’ sessions in Malaysia. The factory will now be able to count on the expertise and input of a three-rider effort behind the scenes as Mika Kallio and Dani Pedrosa will be joined by 29-year-old ex-MotoGP star Jonas Folger for 2023.
The discoveries and progress of the test team filter into the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Grand Prix squad as Brad Binder and Jack Miller subsequently start to mold the 2023 iteration of the KTM RC16 in two official IRTA tests in Malaysia and Portugal during February and March. The test team trio, backed by dedicated engineering staff, will be adding to the workload to get READY TO RACE for the 21-round campaign and to already assess concepts with a view towards 2024.
The crew currently depend on stalwart Mika Kallio, who has led the evolution of the KTM RC16 since the middle of the last decade and who made KTM’s wildcard debut appearance at Valencia for the final round of the 2016 term. Kallio has also made important replacement race outings, most recently for two events in the 2020 campaign and will fulfill an increased role for rider performance coaching.
The Finn has worked alongside MotoGP Legend Dani Pedrosa since 2019. The Spaniard brought his own sensitivity and depth of feeling to the KTM RC16’s story. He came out of retirement to contest the 2021 Grand Prix of Styria at the Red Bull Ring where he claimed a top ten classification. The 37-year-old is confirmed to race once more with a wildcard at the 2023 Gran Premio de España at Jerez in April.
Jonas Folger. Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Jonas Folger brings further experience and adaptability to the cause. The German completed nine full world championship seasons between 2009 and 2017 and logged a total of 5 victories in 125cc, Moto3™ and Moto2™ categories and 24 visits to a rostrum. The German vaulted to the MotoGP division for 2017 where he impressed as a rookie with a podium finish at the Sachsenring and ended the year 10th in the standings.
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “As the MotoGP season comes closer then the schedule for our test team also comes to life. Not many people see the crucial work these guys are making towards our project but their contribution is essential. For that reason, we have chosen to add Jonas to the team alongside Mika and Dani; who have both already built-up so much knowledge of our race bike and the steps we have made. We know Jonas quite well and he’s briefly ridden our bike before. He knows what it takes to put a motorcycle at the front of a Grand Prix and he is still young and has a lot to contribute. Compared to Dani and Mika he has a different body-type and style and that will also help us with our development. The test team is a fantastic group and I cannot stress enough how much of a strong foundation it makes for our MotoGP racing.”
A Kawasaki bearing the famous #11 will continue to challenge for FIM Endurance World Championship glory in 2023 following confirmation of Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar’s participation in the upcoming EWC season.
Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar is the new name for Webike SRC Kawasaki France, which competed with considerable success in the EWC under Gilles Stafler’s guidance prior to the respected team owner taking the decision to retire at the completion of the 2022 season and put his operation up for sale.
Ryuji Tsuruta recently completed the takeover of Stafler’s SRC team in partnership with the Japanese River Crane (Webike) and Motohouse Co organizations.
With increased backing from Kawasaki Motors Japan, Tsuruta has entered the EWC under the Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar banner but has kept the familiar #11 as well as continuing to count on the services of Randy de Puniet, a member of the SRC rider squad in 2022.
Japan’s Kazuki Watanabe, previously part of the Yoshimura SERT Motul EWC line-up and a rider with recent MotoGP experience, will join de Puniet at Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar along with French rising talent Christophe Ponson.
Meanwhile, SRC Technical Manager Thomas Baudry transfers over to Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar in the same role and will work closely with Sub-Manager Keisuke Nakayama. Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar’s Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR will run on Bridgestone tyres.
Ryuji Tsuruta commented:
“As Team Manager, I will lead the team and participate fully in the FIM Endurance World Championship with the mission of winning the title, said Tsuruta. After Gilles made the decision to retire, we have received his full support and cooperation and that of his staff, while François Ribeiro, Head of Discovery Sports Events, the EWC promoter, Kawasaki France, Kawasaki Europe, Kawasaki Motors Japan and Webike, have supported us with this project.
“It has been 10 years since Trickstar Racing began challenging in the EWC, at Le Mans in 2013, with the aim of becoming the best in the world. We have grown stronger and I hope we continue to grow and become even stronger. We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to the EWC, Kawasaki, Webike and the other sponsors and related parties for giving us the opportunity to take on this challenge.”
AMA Athletes of the Year, AMA Organizers of the Year honored
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association congratulates the winners of its 2022 AMA Racing and Organizer Awards, given to the standout individuals and organizations from AMA-sanctioned competition and recreational endeavors.
AMA members participated in the selection process of certain racing categories while AMA staff selected recipients of the organizational awards.
“We are excited to recognize the recipients of the 2022 AMA Racing and Organizer Awards,” AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier said. “The winners earned their recognitions through impressive performances and profound impacts throughout 2022, and we are proud to honor each of them.”
The AMA Athlete of the Year awards went to Kyle Peters (National Championship Series), Trystan Hart (Grand Championship) and Brycen Neal (ATV).
The AMA Veteran/Senior Racer of the Year was Steve McSwain, who was the National Enduro 50+ Champion.
The AMA Youth Racer of the Year award was given to the members of the Junior Motocross World Championship team — Tace Morgan, Maddox Temmerman, Carson Wood, Seth Dennis, Landon Gibson, Casey Cochran and Collin Allen.
Rachael Archer, the Grand National Cross Country Series WXC Bike Class Champion, was named the AMA Female Racer of the Year.
Unlimited Sports MX Inc. (Motocross Organizer of the Year), National Hare and Hound Association (Off-Road Racing Organizer of the Year), Southeastern Short Trackers Ltd. (Track Racing Organizer of the Year) and Mid East Hare Scramble (ATV Organizer of the Year) won organizational awards.
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation was named the Recreational Road Riding Organizer of the Year, and Tri-County Sportsmen MC Inc. earned the Recreational Off-Road Organizer of the Year award.
The AMA Sportsman of the Year went to David Eller for his work rebuilding Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, the home for the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships, after it was devasted by flooding in August of 2021.
Aztalan Cycle Club Inc. (AMA Club of the Year) and Michael Antonovich (AMA Media Award) were also honored.
The full list of winners can be found below.
2022 AMA Racing Award Winners
AMA Athlete of the Year: National Championship Series
Kyle Peters — Arenacross National Championship Series Pro Sport Champion
Brycen Neal — Grand National Cross Country Series XC1 Pro – ATV Class Champion
AMA Veteran/Senior Racer of the Year
Steve McSwain — National Enduro, 50+ Champion
AMA Youth Racer of the Year
Junior Motocross World Champions — Tace Morgan, Maddox Temmerman, Carson Wood, Seth Dennis, Landon Gibson, Casey Cochran, Collin Allen
AMA Female Racer of the Year
Rachael Archer — Grand National Cross Country Series WXC Bike Class Champion
2022 AMA Organizer Award Winners
Motocross Organizer of the Year
Unlimited Sports MX Inc.
Off-Road Racing Organizer of the Year
National Hare and Hound Association
Track Racing Organizer of the Year
Southeastern Short Trackers Ltd.
ATV Organizer of the Year
Mid East Hare Scramble
Recreational Road Riding Organizer of the Year
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
Recreational Off-Road Organizer of the Year
Tri-County Sportsmen MC Inc.
AMA Club of the Year
Aztalan Cycle Club Inc.
AMA Media Award
Michael Antonovich
AMA Sportsman of the Year
David Eller
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: americanmotorcyclist.com.
Isaac Vinales (32) on a Team Pedercini Kawasaki at Estoril in 2022. Photo courtesy Team Pedercini Racing.
A familiar name joins the team for 2023
TPR by Viñales Racing is pleased to announce that Isaac Viñales will ride for them in the 2023 FIM Superbike World Championship beginning at the first European event of the year at the iconic TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands.
Viñales, who raced for TPR Team Pedercini at several rounds in 2022 will contest all remaining races of WorldSBK 2023 aboard a Kawasaki ZX-10RR machine. In addition to the three World Superbike starts with the team in 2022, Isaac has contested 37 WorldSSP races, with a best result of third, which he has achieved on five occasions.
TPR by Viñales Racing will release further information about the season ahead in due course.
Lucio Pedercini – Team Principal: “I am happy to confirm Isaac will return to the team with us for the 2023 season. We already worked together in Estoril last year, so we know each other a little. We are working hard behind the scenes and I am confident that the new-look team will be able to perform well – in any case we will do our best. We will update with more information in the coming weeks regarding testing, but we will be ready for Assen!”
Isaac Viñales: “I am very happy to be able to race with TPR by Viñales Racing in 2023. I am happy to be back in the World Superbike paddock and I am working hard to give 100% and hope for the good results that will surely come. I want to thank Lucio, Angel and the sponsors for the trust placed in me.”
Yamaha Champions Riding School Announces Champ U: New Rider.
February 2023 – Yamaha Champions Riding School, the premier motorcycle riding school in North America, is proud to announce a new Champions University digital curriculum: New Rider.
Champ U: New Rider is over three hours of digital content with 35 lessons, 28 quizzes, and drills designed to prepare students for life as a motorcyclist. This interactive course follows the ChampSchool tradition of truly explaining the “why” of everything a new rider must know, from how a clutch engages to proper and safe emergency-braking practice.
“New-rider parking-lot schools are the gateway to our sport and they have done the job of getting hundreds of thousands of riders licensed to ride on the road,” said ChampSchool founder Nick Ienatsch. “Our goal with New Rider is two-fold:
One: Use the reach of the internet to deliver motorcycle riding’s best practicesto any person interested in becoming a life-long motorcycle rider, or any current rider intent on improvement. These best practices are data driven and focused on drastically reducing risk while greatly increasing riding enjoyment. Champ U: New Rider students can expect to become excellent riders very quickly.
Two: Bolster the current license-waiver classes with context and proven foundational truths to not just earn a license, but to be truly ready for the road. A license doesn’t make you a safe rider! Understanding how a motorcycle works best and what inputs bring those best results is vital; New Rider goes above and beyond toteach how to practice and refine these inputs for a lifetime of riding success.
Champ U: New Rider is designed for non-riders, new riders, and returning riders. This digital curriculum is accessible from anywhere in the world with connection to the internet and is affordable for almost any budget with an introductory price of $19.95. Champions University: https://ridelikeachampion.com/champ-u-courses-page/
Champ U: New Rider is part of the growing Champions University ecosystem of digital motorcycle training tools that include Champ U: Core Curriculum with more than 15,000 users and hundreds of five-star reviews. Champ U also has several rider education support tools like a members-only forum and new for 2023, Video Coaching: stay tuned for our Video Coaching program to be announced very soon.
“We know that riders who are properly educated and wear appropriate gear will have more fun, ride longer, and encourage more people to become involved in motorcycling,” said Nick Ienatsch. “Our mission is to make quality motorcycle education available to all riders and grow the sport of motorcycling. Champ U: New Rider will be a powerful tool in reaching our goal.”
About Yamaha Champions Riding School:
Yamaha Champions Riding School (ChampSchool) is the nation’s premier motorcycle training program. ChampSchool is the evolution of the Freddie Spencer High-Performance Riding School and is led by racer, author, and former right-hand man of Spencer, Nick Ienatsch. ChampSchool uses “Champions Habits” to teach all riders the skills and techniques used by the top riders in the world to go faster safer, while concentrating on the way in which modern motorcycles are designed to be ridden. ChampSchool is dedicated to making all motorcycle riders safer and more in control of their riding, no matter what type of riding they do.
Yamaha Champions Riding School is proudly sponsored by: Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, Dainese, Arai Helmets, YamaLube, GYTR, Chatterbox, GB Racing, ModOp, Chickenhawk Tire Warmers, Techspec, Payless Rental Cars, and N2 Track Days.
Rain affects play but Yamaha remain fastest on Day 2
Crutchlow takes back to the top late on and Aprilia debut an “innovative” front fairing on Monday
Monday, 06 February 2023
It was a rain-affected second day of Shakedown testing at Sepang International Circuit, and the factory test riders and Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) had to wait until the final hour to get some more dry track running under their belts. Here’s a rundown of what was seen on Monday in Malaysia, starting with Yamaha after Cal Crutchlow topped the timesheets as the track dried enough to get some slick tyre lap times in just before the chequered flag.
YAMAHA
Weather disrupting plans was the top story at Yamaha, as it was for many. Cal Crutchlow was again the only rider laying down the rubber for the Iwata factory, but the rain meant their 2022-2023 engine specification testing plan was “wasted”, according to Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team Manager Maio Meregalli, who was casting a watchful eye in the Yamaha box. We’ll have to wait for Tuesday to see a little more, hoping the rain stays away…
Cal Crutchlow (T3). Photo courtesy Dorna.
DUCATI
After having sported a new aerodynamics package on Sunday, Ducati’s Michele Pirro lapped with the standard aero setup on Monday. The Italian’s two bikes did have different versions of the tail exhaust – the large one and the short one – though, so the rain didn’t make it a fully wasted day at the office for the reigning World Champions.
Michele Pirro. Photo courtesy Dorna.
The tail section of a Ducati Desmosedici GP23 at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna.
KTM
Having worked on Jack Miller’s side of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing garage during the opening day of action, Dani Pedrosa completed Monday’s outing with Brad Binder’s crew as KTM’s main focal point for the Shakedown is comparing different engine specifications. Jonas Folger joined Pedrosa on track again for his second day of testing activity.
Speaking to motogp.com on the ground in Sepang, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager Francesco Guidotti lamented that the “plan was to test new aero packages at the end of the Shakedown”, but due to the rain, it looks like they’ll run out of time to do that before the Official Test kicks off on Friday…
Jonas Folger testing a KTM RC16. Photo courtesy Dorna.
GASGAS
GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3’s Fernandez continued to find his feet on a MotoGP™ bike and unlike most, the Spaniard won’t have been too upset to get a first dose of wet weather riding under his belt on the RC16. The reigning Moto2™ World Champion set a 2:12.255 in the tricky conditions, a time that saw him sit P2 before the track began to dry, before he eventually climbed to P3 when heading out on slicks.
MotoGP rookie Augusto Fernandez (37). Photo courtesy Dorna.
APRILIA
“We have something innovative on the front fairing” was the cryptic message from Aprilia Racing Team Manager Paolo Bonora. Speaking to motogp.com, Bonora also explained how the Noale factory’s aero has been “redesigned” after “taking advantage of the time in the wind tunnel over the winter.”
Including those belonging to Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez in the RNF MotoGP™ Team camp, Aprilia have 10 bikes in Sepang for the Shakedown and Official Test. Lorenzo Savadori’s task – according to Bonora – is to get everything ready for Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales, while also “trying small things.” Like every factory, testing 2023 engine specs are a high priority on the checklist for Aprilia.
Lorenzo Savadori (32). Photo courtesy Dorna.
HONDA
Test rider Stefan Bradl was spotted testing an updated chassis that the German was seen running at a private Jerez test recently. In addition, just as he was on Sunday, new HRC Technical Director Ken Kawauchi was inside the box getting to grips with his new surroundings.
Stefan Bradl (6). Photo courtesy Dorna.
That’s a wrap on a slightly damp squib Monday, but there’s so much still to come. Another day of Shakedown awaits on Tuesday, before the Official Test sees the whole grid out on track from the 10th to the 12th!
Come back for more Shakedown action tomorrow and keep up to date with all the goings on on motogp.com and across social media!
Houston has hosted a round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series for 46 years. NRG Stadium lights up during opening ceremonies. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Tomac Shows Nerves of Steel in Houston Supercross Victory
Hunter Lawrence Wins Opening Round of Eastern Regional 250SX Class Racing
Houston, Texas, (February 5, 2023) Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac returned to his winning ways, holding firm through a dramatic Round 5 of the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross. Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton had the lead in his sights but had to settle for second inside NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson took the final podium position in the event that paid points to both the 17-round Supercross season as well as the inaugural 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. In the opening round of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence earned the win with a performance that should have his competition worried.
Eli Tomac (1) looked to be in trouble early in the Houston Main Event but found more speed to earn his third win of the 2023 season. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
When the gate dropped for the 450SX Class Main Event, defending champion Eli Tomac jumped out into the lead with Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger pressuring him from the start. But 3:25 into the 20-minute plus one lap race, a crashed rider necessitated a red flag and a temporary stop to the action. The rules called for a unique staggered re-start. The racers were lined up, one after the other according to their race order, then thrown back into battle with the wave of a green flag. The starting position order was Tomac, Plessinger, Anderson, Sexton, and Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb, but once back underway Anderson quickly took over second place. Sexton was around Plessinger shortly after and with 13:05 remaining on the race clock Sexton got into the second-place spot.
Premiere class athletes staged for the staggered start after a red flag stopped the race due to a downed racer. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
After Sexton had demonstrated his speed on the Houston track by qualifying first by over a full second, and also catching and beating Tomac in their Heat Race, it looked like the Texas crowd would see a fight for the lead. But Tomac found some extra speed; he put in laps fast enough to stave off Sexton’s early charge. The gap between the two was 1.6 seconds, but soon Sexton was putting in the fastest laps of any rider on the track. When the clock ticked past 6:30 remaining, Sexton had whittled the lead down to just half a second and appeared to be looking for a line around Tomac.
But Tomac held tough. The two-time and defending Supercross champion didn’t falter under the pressure. After about one lap with Sexton right on him, Tomac pulled back out enough breathing room to ride his own lines. Behind them, Anderson and Plessinger held steady while Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia found a way around Cooper Webb for fifth, yet Webb took the spot back before the checkered flag. Tomac scored his third win of 2023 and stretched out his points lead. Sexton nearly backed up his win from the previous round; he kept the bike on two wheels and earned second place points, securing second in the 17-round championship standings.
Hunter Lawrence (96), the favorite going into the opening Eastern Regional 250SX Class round, established himself as the racer to beat with a convincing win. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
In Eastern Regional 250SX Class racing Hunter Lawrence grabbed the Holeshot but within a few turns Frenchman Red Bull KTM’s Tom Vialle slid from third into the lead. Vialle, the two-time and reigning MXGP MX2 class Motocross World Champion, found himself leading not only his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross, but his first race ever in America. Hunter fought back on the opening lap but misjudged his launch off a triple jump and sent his Honda off the track. Lawrence made an incredible high-speed save through the track-lining Tuff Blox and rejoined the race only losing one position.
Team Honda HRC’s Chance Hymas found himself in second place. The Rookie put immediate pressure on Vialle. But before two minutes had run off the clock in the 15-minute plus one lap Main Event Lawrence had re-taken second from Hymas. Shortly after that pass Hymas had trouble and Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie took over the third place spot with Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith, and rookie Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan right behind. Deegan was in his first pro race after competing in the SX Futures class just one week prior.
Smith reeled in Anstie and pressured for the position until he crashed in the sand. With five minutes left on the race clock the top three seemed comfortably in their spots. It was an Australian, Brit, and a Frenchman looking to make the opening Eastern Regional race an international podium. But in the final laps Smith put on a charge, getting around Martin right before Vialle crashed in one of the track’s bowl turns. Martin then crashed on the final lap, and the opening round of the Eastern Regional Series ended with Lawrence crossing the finish line in first, Anstie in second, Smith earning a hard-fought third place, and Haiden Deegan grabbing fourth in his first professional race.
The racers face off again next weekend at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida for Round 6 of the 450SX Class and the second round of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class. The event pays points to each class for both the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season as well as towards the ultimate title, the 2023 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship series which combines Supercross, Pro Motocross, and two SMX Playoffs and Final for an all-new title with a $10 million-dollar total purse.
All 2023 Monster Energy Supercross and SuperMotocross World Championship series rounds are available to watch live on Peacock. Select races are also broadcast on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC. For highlight videos and more information on the racers, results, and tickets to upcoming rounds please visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
450SX Class podium (racers left to right) Chase Sexton, Eli Tomac, and Jason Anderson. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
450SX Class Results
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha
2. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
3. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki
4. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM
5. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM
6. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS
7. Justin Cooper, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha
8. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
9. Joey Savatgy, Clermont, Fla., Kawasaki
10. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki
450SX Class Championship Standings
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (95)
2. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (88)
3. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (83)
4. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (76)
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SuperMotocross World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.
About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship:
Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
About the SuperMotocross World Championship:
The SuperMotocross World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the SuperMotocross World Championship combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 31-event series that culminates in a season-ending two round playoff and SuperMotocross World Championship Final. Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.
About the American Motorcyclist Association:
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow (T2) was quickest on Day One of the MotoGP "Shakedown Test" at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Yamaha fastest as Sepang Shakedown kicks off 2023
Crutchlow tops the opening day in Malaysia as new parts surface from several factories
Sunday, 05 February 2023
MotoGP™ bikes are back on track! The 2023 campaign has resumed with test riders and our sole premier class rookie, Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3), completing a rain-affected opening day of the Sepang Shakedown test. Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow topped the timesheets with a 2:01.146, although it’s less about laptimes and more about track time in the first few days of action this year.
YAMAHA
Three-time Grand Prix winner Crutchlow had three YZR-M1s at his disposal – two 2023 spec bikes, one 2022 spec machine. The main focus was pinpointed on Yamaha’s new, more aggressive engine which was a hot topic of conversation back in Valencia. Glancing at the timesheets, it looks like the problem that arose at the end of last year, causing some puzzled looks after clear improvements had been proven at earlier tests, has been diagnosed.
Crutchlow clocked a 330km/h top speed according to the circuit’s live timing, just a couple of kms shy of the fastest. In addition, looking back at the 2022 Sepang Test, Yamaha’s fastest top speed was 327km/h – early indications that progress has been made. That’ll be music to the ears of Fabio Quartararo and his Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ teammate Franco Morbidelli ahead of the Official Sepang Test.
Cal Crutchlow (T3). Photo courtesy Dorna.
KTM
New KTM testing recruit Jonas Folger joined MotoGP™ Legend Dani Pedrosa on track for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing as the German got to grips with the RC16 for the first time. Pedrosa, meanwhile, was working with Jack Miller’s crew on the opening day.
Dani Pedrosa (26). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonas Folger walks to his KTM RC16. Photo courtesy Dorna.
GASGAS
Reigning Moto2™ World Champion Fernandez was back out with GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 and having had no plans for the Valencia Test apart from trying a MotoGP™ bike for the first time, these three days will be vital for the Spaniard to start making the bike his own. The number 37 finished second on the timesheets with a 2:01.331, just 0.185s from Crutchlow’s best effort.
Augusto Fernandez (37). Photo courtesy Dorna.
HONDA
Stefan Bradl was lapping for HRC and the German had two RC213Vs in the box. Bradl was out on a new-look Honda machine dressed in redesigned aero, a new exhaust and the 2023 engine. Bradl’s best time was a 2:01.605, placing him fourth on the timesheets.
Stefan Bradl (6). Photo courtesy Dorna.
APRILIA
Lorenzo Savadori was on hand to give the 2023 Aprilia RS-GPs a shakedown, and it was a busy day for the Italian who had six bikes to ride. Aprilia debuted some new aero – something we’ll be seeing plenty of from the factories during pre-season – as Savadori also suffered a technical issue towards the end of the day.
Lorenzo Savadori (32). Photo courtesy Dorna.
DUCATI
Ducati’s trusted Michele Pirro was again putting in the groundwork for the reigning World Champions, who head into the season looking to defend not one, not two, but three Championships.
The Borgo Panigale factory opened their 2023 account with a new fairing to show off, and Pirro worked with two GP23s. The Italian posted a 2:02.115 best lap time.
Michele Pirro (51). Photo courtesy Dorna.
With temperatures soaring in Malaysia, coupled with a dirty track surface following the winter and then rain coming later in the day, times were around three seconds slower than what we saw at the 2022 Malaysian GP. Expect the times to tumble the further we get into testing at Sepang!
Come back for more Shakedown on Monday and keep up to date with all the goings on on motogp.com and across social media!
Nick Ienatsch, talking about his Project Bike. "Yamaha FZR600…produced in 1990, remade 33 years later. I raced one then, and I own one now." Photo by Nick Ienatsch.
FIRST PERSON/OPINION:
By Nick Ienatsch
Despite racing motorcycles since 1989, I never possessed my racebike. Sure, I owned a few of my TZ250s but they never lived at my house, always staying with my tuner Steve Biganski or at Zero Gravity. We’d meet at the track, race, and then go our separate ways. The other bikes I raced in Willow Springs, WERA and AMA Pro competition belonged to the shops that built them.
Lately I’ve raced Rusty Bigley’s Spondon TZ750, Chris Carr’s GPz550 built by Hypercycle’s Carry Andrew, Carry’s Z1, and most notably a trick Honda NSR250 built by Speedwerks’s Steve Long and crew.
I write “notably” because Steve Long and I have enjoyed amazingly similar motorcycle lives even though we live almost a continent apart; we grew up in motorcycling together but separately. Steve places “consistently fast lap times while looking pretty” as the top priority of his builds and loaned me his NSR250 for the AHRMA finals at Barber a few years ago; since he wasn’t there, I tuned and rode it. It was a blast.
On the phone from Barber I told Steve about my desire to “have my very own racebike” someday. “What would you want?” Steve asked.
Great question, so I made a list:
–Something I could maintain myself
–Something that started with the push of a button
–Something that fit into an AHRMA (ahrma.org) class
–Something on 17-inch wheels for good tire selection
–A balance of entry speed and exit horsepower
–Something I could afford…and afford to crash
–Something reliable so I could actually ride, not constantly repair
During discussions the choice became clear: A 1989-1993 Yamaha FZR600. I’d successfully raced one at Willow and in AMA Pro. They were tough, fairly well-balanced, affordable, are now AHRMA legal…and Speedwerks had “a pile of that crap sitting around,” according to Steve.
A shot from the way-back machine…Nick Ienatsch at Willow Springs in 1989 with FZR600 and FZR400 raecbikes built by Kerker’s Steve Johnson. These good times make the Speedwerks 600 more precious. Photo courtesy NI Collection.
A Plan
A simple plan was devised. Speedwerks would get me started on the FZR600 and I would finish it in my very own garage.
Steve had questions about what prep Speedwerks should do and what I could do.
“Can you assemble a stock engine?” he asked.
“No.”
“Can you do the transmission?”
“No.”
“Can you modify the stock forks?”
“No.”
“Can you install aftermarket bodywork.”
“Good Lord, no.”
Fairly quickly Steve realized the direction of the build and asked, “Well…what can you do?”
Another good question. Truthfully, there’s nothing I can do in my garage better than the Speedwerks crew. However, I can clean parts, paint with a spray can, safety-wire stuff despite constant drill-bit breaking, change tires and oil, adjust valves unless the cams need to come out, bleed brakes, unbolt and bolt stuff, install chains, lubricate and maintain pieces and parts. I had to admit that my main mechanical strong point is enthusiasm.
It was a pretty short answer. “Not much” is how Steve summed it up. We laughed. We laugh about a lot of things.
“OK,” Steve sighed. “We’ll get you started with something.”
“I Threw Together a Bunch of Crap”
Steve’s friend Josh Deery knew of a worn and inexpensive FZR600 racebike in Pennsylvania so Speedwerks’s shipper Simon Tack grabbed it. It was a great find, but the crew soon discovered the engine was “beyond tired.” Steve, with a few phone calls, found another FZR in North Carolina and that bike’s stock engine had good compression and the stock carbs and airbox were intact and functional. We decided not to mod anything, just run it stock for reliability.
The tired 1990 FZR600 that Speedwerks unearthed to get this project started. Photo courtesy Speedwerks.
Then Steve’s crew of son Seth and Super Dave Trotter pulled the tired parts off, bolting on brand-new Beasley Composites fiberglass http://beasleycomposites.com , an old Vance & Hines header pipe matched to an Scorpion muffler that “was hanging on the wall,” spliced together with extensive handywork by Super Dave.
The team swapped out the stock rear-suspension linkage dogbones for GSX-R SRAD aluminum pieces so an SV650 17-inch rear wheel would work with an Öhlins shock. Yes, an Öhlins! Gave a whole new meaning to the term “Öhlins shock” when I heard about it.
“Yeah,” Steve said, “it’s a GSX-R1000 shock we had here. Dave modified and resprung it to get it set-up with the right swingarm angle and ride height. What color wheels do you want? I’ve got about a dozen SV wheels in various colors.
“Do you care if we run some inexpensive Chinese rearsets and clip-ons?” Nick Ienatsch didn’t mind. Note the new #528 chain and Öhlins shock in the background. These footpegs were made for a SV650 but Super Dave Trotter grafted them onto the FZR. Photo courtesy Speedwerks.
“We’re using the stock forks due to budget, but Super Dave added Race Tech Emulators https://racetech.com and massaged the bottoms and rebound damping holes. We threw some 9.25 springs in.
“Had a set of early-R6 calipers out in the dumpster, so they’re on the FZR now. Seth dug around in another pile of trash and found some good pads.”
Those were the messages, delivered with Steve’s understated sarcasm, and each of them came with a picture or two of the bike in various states of disarray. My excitement was at a fever pitch.
Remember these Factory case covers? This is the type of stuff Steve Long has “getting kicked around the shop, in the way.” Photo courtesy Speedwerks.
If pressed, I couldn’t truthfully answer the question: “Are you more excited to work on it or ride it?” I prepared a parts list, maintenance log, and started studying videos on “how to paint bikes in your garage.” The bike was still in Delaware, but I was beyond ready in Colorado.
Steve Long’s Main Flaw
On a Tuesday morning I got a text from Speedwerks, “Got some pics, want to see?”
“Send them!”
Two minutes later Steve sent me a link to a photo portfolio labeled “Nick’s Racebike.” I literally couldn’t believe it. The FZR looked stunning! Done. Ready to race. Beyond anything I ever expected and far beyond anything I had imagined or hoped for. Remember, I raced these things back in the day and they never looked this good. I couldn’t stop smiling.
Steve Long dug around the Speedwerks shop and found “the last Graves Motorsports FZR fairing stay in existence” and brought it into the modern world with a Koso voltmeter matched to a Koso coolant-temp sensor mounted in the stock ignition-key location. A steering damper was added in an out-of-harm’s-way location. Photo courtesy Speedwerks.
I immediately called and after stammering over the appearance of the bike, my first question was, “What happened to our plan of you starting it and me finishing it?”
Painter Dave Arnold worked his magic on the Beasely bodywork, producing a show-bike finish on a 33-year-old bike. Arnold, like Steve Long, is an enthusiast and is producing a custom bike to raffle for a veterans’ program. Photo courtesy Speedwerks.
“Yeah,” Steve answered, “we just got rolling on it and Dave Arnold, our painter, sprayed it grey and then I got Jeff at Inline4Designs and Print https://www.inline4designs.xyz/ to do the graphics. You said you liked grey with a yellow highlight, so there it is.”
I was speechless. My “starter kit” had turned into one of the neatest racebikes I’d ever seen. In 20 years I could not have reached this level, not only in quality but the inventiveness of the paint and graphics, the correctness of the rear suspension geometry, the overall sanitary appearance of the bike. “Yeah,” said Steve with a laugh, “we can’t really turn out anything half-assed around here.”
Ryan Burke, a MotoAmerica racer and YCRS instructor, picked up the FZR from Steve Long at NJMP, took it with him to Barber and finally arrived in a small Colorado town with the Speedwerks 600 crouched in the back of his dually. After breakfast, Nick swapped it into his own truck for the ride home. Photo by Nick Ienatsch.
Nice to Meet You
The bike arrived in Colorado just as autumn began to turn cold. Like many of you, I have a habit of tearing down every “new-to-me” bike so the FZR came apart for the few things I could do…simple stuff but so very joyful.
Nick Ienatsch is enthusiastic about have “my own racebike in my own garage. Words can’t describe how much fun I’ve had with this FZR and the main reason is how wonderfully Speedwerks made it. It’s not a haggard 33-year-old vintage bike. It’s a shining jewel…at least in my 61-year-old eyes.” Photo by Nick Ienatsch.
Cleaning the rust off the rotors is the type of work Nick’s done since the bike arrived. Photo by Nick Ienatsch.
Yes, I’ve ridden it. Sans bodywork and on the ratty old slicks Speedwerks installed to roll it around the shop, I rode it down my gravel driveway, then two miles on a dirt road to the paved freeway frontage road for a few blasts up and down…and then up and down and up and down a few more times! It ran nicely despite the 5,000 feet of elevation. And when the Bridgestone slicks arrive and are installed, I’ll sneak in a winter track day at Pueblo Motorsports Park or Pikes Peak International Raceway.
Not sure when I’ll race it, but who cares? It’s a treat just to be able to work on.
Skipping the Hard Part
I’ve written this FZR saga because this “starter kit” idea may make sense for you, too. Rather than buy a stock bike and make it a racer or buy an old racer to refurbish, have a proven shop like Speedwerks get you started.
Why? Because there are basics and details that builders like Steve Long know in their sleep; their connections are deep and proven, their decisions forged in the unambiguous world of racing. In this case, Steve cut months if not years off my dream to have my own racer in my own garage.
I’ll get back to you after our first track day together…just me and my very own racebike, finally.
Nick Ienatsch: “I’ve had the pleasure to ride and report on a few of Steve Long’s (left) Speedwerks bikes before; this RGv250 with an RG500 engine was the highlight…so far.” TheSBimage.com photo courtesy Nick Ienatsch.
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame offers its condolences to the family and friends of Ronnie Rall, a top Midwest dirt-track racer in the ’60s and ’70s who passed away on Jan. 20 at the age of 84.
Rall, who was born in Sandusky, Ohio, about 100 miles north of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, began his professional racing career at 21 years old. Three years later he raced to his first of five AMA National wins.
A dedicated farmer, Rall never raced a full schedule of AMA Nationals except for the 1964 season, when he finished a career-best third in the championship.
Despite his limited opportunities, Rall found success, including a win in the 1969 season opener at the Houston Short Track. The race, which was held before a big crowd in the Houston Astrodome, was televised on ABC’s Wide World of Sports.
Finishing his national career in 1973 and his local racing career later in the 1970s, Rall retired from racing and continued farming. In retirement, Rall would occasionally participate in vintage events.
Rall was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2001.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
A 2023 Red Bull KTM RC16 factory MotoGP racebike. Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
KTM FACTORY RACING MOTOGP™ TEST TEAM PRIMES THE THROTTLE FOR 2023 AS JONAS FOLGER JOINS THE FOLD
KTM will shortly ignite MotoGP engines for the 2023 season of racing and development as the official test team take to the track for Sepang ‘shakedown’ sessions in Malaysia. The factory will now be able to count on the expertise and input of a three-rider effort behind the scenes as Mika Kallio and Dani Pedrosa will be joined by 29-year-old ex-MotoGP star Jonas Folger for 2023.
The discoveries and progress of the test team filter into the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Grand Prix squad as Brad Binder and Jack Miller subsequently start to mold the 2023 iteration of the KTM RC16 in two official IRTA tests in Malaysia and Portugal during February and March. The test team trio, backed by dedicated engineering staff, will be adding to the workload to get READY TO RACE for the 21-round campaign and to already assess concepts with a view towards 2024.
The crew currently depend on stalwart Mika Kallio, who has led the evolution of the KTM RC16 since the middle of the last decade and who made KTM’s wildcard debut appearance at Valencia for the final round of the 2016 term. Kallio has also made important replacement race outings, most recently for two events in the 2020 campaign and will fulfill an increased role for rider performance coaching.
The Finn has worked alongside MotoGP Legend Dani Pedrosa since 2019. The Spaniard brought his own sensitivity and depth of feeling to the KTM RC16’s story. He came out of retirement to contest the 2021 Grand Prix of Styria at the Red Bull Ring where he claimed a top ten classification. The 37-year-old is confirmed to race once more with a wildcard at the 2023 Gran Premio de España at Jerez in April.
Jonas Folger. Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Jonas Folger brings further experience and adaptability to the cause. The German completed nine full world championship seasons between 2009 and 2017 and logged a total of 5 victories in 125cc, Moto3™ and Moto2™ categories and 24 visits to a rostrum. The German vaulted to the MotoGP division for 2017 where he impressed as a rookie with a podium finish at the Sachsenring and ended the year 10th in the standings.
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “As the MotoGP season comes closer then the schedule for our test team also comes to life. Not many people see the crucial work these guys are making towards our project but their contribution is essential. For that reason, we have chosen to add Jonas to the team alongside Mika and Dani; who have both already built-up so much knowledge of our race bike and the steps we have made. We know Jonas quite well and he’s briefly ridden our bike before. He knows what it takes to put a motorcycle at the front of a Grand Prix and he is still young and has a lot to contribute. Compared to Dani and Mika he has a different body-type and style and that will also help us with our development. The test team is a fantastic group and I cannot stress enough how much of a strong foundation it makes for our MotoGP racing.”
Webike SRC Kawasaki France (1) becomes Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar for 2023 with increased backing from Kawasaki and a talented three-rider team. Photo courtesy Kawasaki. Photo courtesy Webike SRC Kawasaki France.
Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar is Go for EWC 2023
A Kawasaki bearing the famous #11 will continue to challenge for FIM Endurance World Championship glory in 2023 following confirmation of Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar’s participation in the upcoming EWC season.
Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar is the new name for Webike SRC Kawasaki France, which competed with considerable success in the EWC under Gilles Stafler’s guidance prior to the respected team owner taking the decision to retire at the completion of the 2022 season and put his operation up for sale.
Ryuji Tsuruta recently completed the takeover of Stafler’s SRC team in partnership with the Japanese River Crane (Webike) and Motohouse Co organizations.
With increased backing from Kawasaki Motors Japan, Tsuruta has entered the EWC under the Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar banner but has kept the familiar #11 as well as continuing to count on the services of Randy de Puniet, a member of the SRC rider squad in 2022.
Japan’s Kazuki Watanabe, previously part of the Yoshimura SERT Motul EWC line-up and a rider with recent MotoGP experience, will join de Puniet at Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar along with French rising talent Christophe Ponson.
Meanwhile, SRC Technical Manager Thomas Baudry transfers over to Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar in the same role and will work closely with Sub-Manager Keisuke Nakayama. Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar’s Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR will run on Bridgestone tyres.
Ryuji Tsuruta commented:
“As Team Manager, I will lead the team and participate fully in the FIM Endurance World Championship with the mission of winning the title, said Tsuruta. After Gilles made the decision to retire, we have received his full support and cooperation and that of his staff, while François Ribeiro, Head of Discovery Sports Events, the EWC promoter, Kawasaki France, Kawasaki Europe, Kawasaki Motors Japan and Webike, have supported us with this project.
“It has been 10 years since Trickstar Racing began challenging in the EWC, at Le Mans in 2013, with the aim of becoming the best in the world. We have grown stronger and I hope we continue to grow and become even stronger. We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to the EWC, Kawasaki, Webike and the other sponsors and related parties for giving us the opportunity to take on this challenge.”
AMA Media Award winner Michael Antonovich (left) receiving his honor from AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier (right). Photo courtesy AMA.
2022 AMA Racing and Organizer Awards Announced
AMA Athletes of the Year, AMA Organizers of the Year honored
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association congratulates the winners of its 2022 AMA Racing and Organizer Awards, given to the standout individuals and organizations from AMA-sanctioned competition and recreational endeavors.
AMA members participated in the selection process of certain racing categories while AMA staff selected recipients of the organizational awards.
“We are excited to recognize the recipients of the 2022 AMA Racing and Organizer Awards,” AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier said. “The winners earned their recognitions through impressive performances and profound impacts throughout 2022, and we are proud to honor each of them.”
The AMA Athlete of the Year awards went to Kyle Peters (National Championship Series), Trystan Hart (Grand Championship) and Brycen Neal (ATV).
The AMA Veteran/Senior Racer of the Year was Steve McSwain, who was the National Enduro 50+ Champion.
The AMA Youth Racer of the Year award was given to the members of the Junior Motocross World Championship team — Tace Morgan, Maddox Temmerman, Carson Wood, Seth Dennis, Landon Gibson, Casey Cochran and Collin Allen.
Rachael Archer, the Grand National Cross Country Series WXC Bike Class Champion, was named the AMA Female Racer of the Year.
Unlimited Sports MX Inc. (Motocross Organizer of the Year), National Hare and Hound Association (Off-Road Racing Organizer of the Year), Southeastern Short Trackers Ltd. (Track Racing Organizer of the Year) and Mid East Hare Scramble (ATV Organizer of the Year) won organizational awards.
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation was named the Recreational Road Riding Organizer of the Year, and Tri-County Sportsmen MC Inc. earned the Recreational Off-Road Organizer of the Year award.
The AMA Sportsman of the Year went to David Eller for his work rebuilding Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, the home for the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships, after it was devasted by flooding in August of 2021.
Aztalan Cycle Club Inc. (AMA Club of the Year) and Michael Antonovich (AMA Media Award) were also honored.
The full list of winners can be found below.
2022 AMA Racing Award Winners
AMA Athlete of the Year: National Championship Series
Kyle Peters — Arenacross National Championship Series Pro Sport Champion
Brycen Neal — Grand National Cross Country Series XC1 Pro – ATV Class Champion
AMA Veteran/Senior Racer of the Year
Steve McSwain — National Enduro, 50+ Champion
AMA Youth Racer of the Year
Junior Motocross World Champions — Tace Morgan, Maddox Temmerman, Carson Wood, Seth Dennis, Landon Gibson, Casey Cochran, Collin Allen
AMA Female Racer of the Year
Rachael Archer — Grand National Cross Country Series WXC Bike Class Champion
2022 AMA Organizer Award Winners
Motocross Organizer of the Year
Unlimited Sports MX Inc.
Off-Road Racing Organizer of the Year
National Hare and Hound Association
Track Racing Organizer of the Year
Southeastern Short Trackers Ltd.
ATV Organizer of the Year
Mid East Hare Scramble
Recreational Road Riding Organizer of the Year
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
Recreational Off-Road Organizer of the Year
Tri-County Sportsmen MC Inc.
AMA Club of the Year
Aztalan Cycle Club Inc.
AMA Media Award
Michael Antonovich
AMA Sportsman of the Year
David Eller
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: americanmotorcyclist.com.
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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
