Wally Brown Racing Recruits Janisch for ’23 Progressive AFT Season
DAVIDSON, N.C. (February 2, 2023) – Wally Brown Racing has recruited 2022 Mission Production Twins Champion Jesse Janisch to compete in the 2023 Progressive American Flat Track series.
Wally Brown Racing will step up to the premier Mission SuperTwins category after developing the WBR KTM 890 Duke into a two-time Mission Production Twins race winner with James Rispoli at the controls a year ago.
This season, WBR and Janisch will run a limited schedule with continued support from KTM North America. The effort will utilize both the established WBR KTM 890 Duke and the all-new WBR KTM 790 Duke as KTM shifts its focus to the 790 platform to prepare for the 2024 rules package.
The versatile Janisch has an extensive motorsports history, including dirt track, roadracing, supermoto, motocross, hillclimb, grass drag racing, and off-road racing. The Wisconsin native started racing professionally in 2003 and first made his name in Progressive AFT as a TT extraordinaire. In 2022, Janisch demonstrated his complete mastery of the sport, scoring seven victories and 13 podiums en route to the Mission Production Twins title.
“I’ve been able to witness the triumphs of the WBR program at the expense of my own successes in 2022,” Janisch said, “As they say – if you can’t beat them, join them! I cannot wait to jump on the new 790 platform that they’ve been hard at work on this winter and see where we shake out at our first round. I was fortunate to compete in several Mission SuperTwins Main Events in 2022. I’m ready to improve upon my results and turn some heads in the class in 2023.”
Jesse Janisch. Photo courtesy Wally Brown Racing.
“Wally and the WBR team really did an amazing job in 2022 showcasing the Ready to Race potential of our KTM 890 Duke platform in the Mission Production Twins class,” said Chris Fillmore, Flat Track Manager for KTM. “It was good to hear they are excited and willing to also get an early start with the all-new KTM 790 Duke platform in anticipation of the displacement reduction the series will introduce in 2024. The bar has been raised with the series going to a single Twins class in 2023, but based on the team’s quick successes in the past, I know they are motivated and ready for the challenge. Jesse proved last season he has what it takes on a twin by winning the Mission Production Twins Championship. We are for sure looking forward to seeing how things develop.”
Team owner Wally Brown said, “Our team is looking forward to taking what we learned in 2022 and applying it to a new program this year. It will be challenging, but I feel certain we can make progress on developing a competitive package. The KTM Duke is a well-built machine and gives us a lot to work with.”
WBR plans to compete at the Senoia Short Track in Senoia, Georgia, the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, the Bridgeport Half Mile in Bridgeport, New Jersey, and the Springfield Mile in Springfield, Illinois.
2023 KTM STREET RANGE FLASHES WITH A FRESH SELECTION OF NEW COLORWAYS
MURRIETA, Calif. – KTM introduces new graphics and color updates across selected KTM 200 DUKE, KTM 390 DUKE and KTM RC 390 models to fill out the 2023 KTM STREET range, giving riders a chance to find a machine that matches their true READY TO RACE colors and spirit.
KTM roars into the new year with a fast-as-ever range of DUKE motorcycles, covering the full spectrum of road-going machines catering to all riders and riding types. At the starting point, KTM brings the small but mighty KTM 200 DUKE and KTM 390 DUKE Naked machines out to play. These lightweight, yet heavy-hitting, models include some new livery to set off their aggressive styling as they slide their way into the 2023 lineup, with the reintroduced KTM 790 DUKE, the bold KTM 890 DUKE R, and the range of BEASTS, namely the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R EVO and the street-eating KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE GT—all introduced in November of 2022.
These incredible Naked machines are flanked by the impressive new generation Supersport weapon, the KTM RC 390, returning for 2023 in two eye-catching guises, one in the new GP orange and the other in the beloved, carry-over orange and blue, with hues taking their inspiration from the vibrant Grand Prix teams.
A 2023 KTM 200 Duke in its new gray and orange color scheme. Photo courtesy KTM.
KTM 200 DUKE
Thanks to its ultralight and playful single-cylinder 199.5 cc engine and 31.6-in (805-mm) low seat height, and the ever-present BEAST-inspired DNA, the KTM 200 DUKE delivers nothing less than an exhilarating ride in an approachable package. The aggressive styling of the 2023 KTM 200 DUKE is enhanced by a new gray and orange colorway featuring a black subframe and orange tailpiece. The beloved orange and black model, of course, will return for 2023 as well. Both models stand out with striking orange wheels.
A 2023 KTM 200 Duke in its black and orange color scheme. Photo courtesy KTM.
KTM 390 DUKE
The KTM 390 DUKE dominates the middle-weight segment with a punchy, fun-loving 373.2 cc DOHC engine, sporty WP APEX front and rear suspension and a full READY TO RACE compliment of technology including a PASC slipper clutch, BYBRE brakes, BOSCH ABS with standard Supermoto ABS and TFT display. The corner rocket receives two new colorway updates, with a vibrant orange and blue/gray option, and a stealthy black and gray adding a darker, more sinister shadow to the streets.
A 2023 KTM 390 Duke in its new orange and blue/gray color scheme. Photo courtesy KTM.
A 2023 KTM 390 Duke in its new black and gray color scheme. Photo courtesy KTM.
KTM RC 390
There is no question that the latest generation of the KTM RC 390 takes READY TO RACE to heart with a full chromoly frame, bolt-on subframe, GP-derived ergonomics and electronic features not seen on many mid-sized Supersort models. Taking it to the top of the class and the podium, the compact yet powerful engine, adjustable WP APEX suspension and electronic wizardry including lean-angle sensitive (3D) Motorcycle Traction Control and BOSCH ABS with SUPERMOTO ABS deliver real-word racing credentials along with everyday ridability. This track-loving, commuting-ready model receives the KTM Orange treatment with the introduction of the GP Orange colorway, the eye-catching stablemate to the returning blue and orange machine.
A 2023 KTM RC 390 in its blue and orange color scheme. Photo courtesy KTM.
2023 KTM 200 DUKE, KTM 390 DUKE and KTM RC 390 models will begin shipping March 2023. For more news about the 2023 KTM model range, visit KTM.COM or your nearest authorized KTM dealer.
A celebration of life event for Kevin Elliott, Sr. has been scheduled at 11:00 a.m. local time Sunday, February 5 at the Loyal Order of Moose Lodges at 325 Pandora Ave., Fort Pierce, Florida.
“Come celebrate the life of Kevin ‘Skippy’ Elliott with a karaoke party per his last request. We will have some food and drinks available. Cash only for the drinks. Let’s celebrate his life with all his friends and family together for one last hoorah,” read the event notification on Facebook.
Elliott, the former owner and longtime President of ASRA and CCS, died of liver failure on January 29 in Florida. He was 64.
PROVISIONAL 2023 NORTH AMERICA TALENT CUP SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED & FINAL CALL FOR ENTRIES
The 2023 provisional calendar has been announced—including rounds with MotoGP™ and MotoAmerica™–with the upcoming February 6th deadline for applications just over the horizon.
SEATTLE, WA – The anticipated 2023 NATC provisional calendar has been announced. The season will consist of seven rounds across the continental United States, with the opening round taking place alongside MotoGP™ for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, April 14-16.
Similar to the 2022 season, each round will be run by a hosting organization. MotoAmerica™ will again be integrally involved in the series, with rounds currently scheduled to run during national events at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama, and Ridge Motorsports Park in Washington. The seventh and final round of the series is yet to be determined.
Prospective competitors who meet eligibility requirements can now apply to participate in the 2023 North America Talent Cup. Applicants will have until February 6th, 2023 to submit their candidacy. The NATC is an official Road to MotoGP™ project.
Riders from all nationalities can apply, but the NATC aims to discover talent from across North America. After only one season, NATC alumni have already gone on to be selected for the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup™, as well as for national race teams.
In its second season, the NATC grid will be limited to 22 entrants. Riders must be born between January 1st, 2006, and April 6th, 2009, to be a minimum age of 14 years old before the first round and a maximum age of 17 years old. Riders from different racing backgrounds can apply, with no road racing experience necessary as other disciplines can also translate into road racing success.
Individual riders can apply, but they must choose a team name and have a team manager. Riders must also have at least one mechanic and a legal guardian.
Any team application should specify a team manager, who will be the main contact with the organization, and can be comprised a rider and two mechanics. Mechanics can be family members or acquaintances.
About NATC The NATC is a one-make spec-series of teams and riders, using the successful Northern Talent Cup as a blueprint. The limit on entries is 22 riders between 14 and 16 years of age in 2023. The spec-motorcycle will be the Aprilia RS250 SP2; a machine developed by Aprilia in partnership with Ohvale and proven to offer a competitive platform for developing talent. The NATC is designed to create close competition in a cost-effective manner. The NATC will race throughout the continental U.S., with seven designated rounds taking place alongside MotoGP™, MotoAmerica™, and select clubs.
About the FIM North America FIM North America is one of six Continental Unions (CONUs) recognized as geographical subdivisions and accountable to the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). It was founded in 1998. The national federations who are members of FIM North America are, by virtue of their geographical area and their membership in the FIM, the American Motorcyclist Association and the Canadian Motorcycle Association. FIM North America establishes an annual calendar of Continental Championship events and other activities and declares champions in designated disciplines and classes. Its member federations issue CONU licenses to riders participating in FIM NA events as well as those who are participating in Continental Championship events organized in other CONUs. For more information, visit fim-northamerica.com.
Editorial Note: The current World Superbike All-Time Lap Record for Algarve International Circuit is 1:39.610, which was set by Jonathan Rea in 2022. The current World Superbike Race Lap Record was also set by Jonathan Rea in 2022 at 1:40.135.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
Lap record breaking quartet emerges in Portimao
Bautista edges out Rea by only 0.009s, while Rinaldi and Razgatlioglu also had a strong showing to conclude testing on the Portuguese rollercoaster
Despite a small crash in the morning, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) set the fastest lap on Day 2 of Portimao test as he lapped under the lap record.
Jonathan Rea. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Six-time WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was just 0.009s off Bautista’s fastest time, taking second place at the end of Day 2 with 68 laps completed.
Michael Rinaldi (21). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) took third place just 0.109s behind his teammate.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.
2021 WorldSBK Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon Team) concluded his two-day testing in fourth place with a best time of 1:39.441s.
Iker Lecuona. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Iker Lecuona (Team HRC), who had a crash in the final sector in the morning, posted a 1’39.803s to take sixth spot as Honda looked to work on setups for the CBR1000RR-R machine.
Remy Gardner (87). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was the fastest rookie on Day 2 at Portimao as he finished in 7th place, 1.167s off Bautista’s best time.
Bradley Ray (28). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team’s Bradley Ray and MIE Racing’s Eric Granado concluded their first WorldSBK test.
Eric Granado. Photo courtesy Dorna.
WorldSBK Day 2 Report
There was plenty of lap record pace on display in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve on Day 2 of the two-day test in Portugal, with riders on the verge of breaking into the 1’38s for the first time in WorldSBK. Reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) topped the times on day two by just 0.009s ahead of six-time Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK).
Bautista posted a 1’39.035s to obliterate Rea’s Superpole lap record from last year’s Portuguese Round. Bautista’s day, with the Spanish rider looking at bike stability, was disrupted by a crash at Turn 7 which brought out the red flag. His teammate was one of the four riders to go below the lap record with a 1’39.144s to take third place; backing up his top spot from Day 1. Rea, the lap record holder with a 1’39.610s from last year’s Tissot Superpole, took second spot and was only 0.009s slower than Bautista at the end of the day’s running with the six-time Champion testing some new items from Showa and looking at chassis balance. 2021 Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) was fourth fastest as he also went under Rea’s existing lap record, posting a 1’39.441s on his way to fourth spot. As at Jerez, there was a lot of focus on the rear of his Yamaha YZF R1 machine in order to improve grip exiting corners.
All riders and teams are now focused on the Official Test taking place ahead of the season opening round on Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st February at Phillip Island.
Read the full report from Day 2 in Portimao on worldsbk.com
More, from a press release issued by Team HRC:
Portimão the stage for another constructive Team HRC test before the squad travels to Australia
Team HRC and its factory Superbike riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge have completed a further two days testing at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal, following on from last week’s positive sessions at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
On track on both Tuesday 31 January and Wednesday 1 February, the team again benefitted from dry and sunny weather conditions, which enabled them to complete a range of different tests.
Vierge suffered a small crash mid-way through Tuesday’s session but was fortunately unhurt, his team working fast to repair his bike so that he could get straight back to work. The Team HRC duo completed close to 70 laps each on day one, with the work centring around bike set-up, electronics and geometries, much as it did last week at Jerez.
Day two saw the team continue with its work programme and successfully complete almost all of what it had planned for this week’s test. Lecuona was the victim of an innocuous crash during the morning but fortunately sustained no injuries. Lecuona and Vierge clocked up many more kilometres aboard the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE, which provided the technicians with a great deal of useful data.
Team HRC will now continue to make final preparations ahead of the official tests that will take place at Phillip Island, Australia on 20-21 February, immediately prior to the opening round of the 2023 Superbike World Championship, which will run at the same circuit over the weekend of 24-26 February.
Iker Lecuona 7
“I’m generally quite happy with these two days of testing, particularly today, more than I was with the Jerez sessions to be honest. It’s true that we started the day with a fast crash at corner thirteen. I just touched the front brake and lost the bike – perhaps I was a little over confident entering the corner. I was thankfully unhurt, but my bike came off worse so apologies to my team and a big than-you to them for fixing the bike perfectly and quickly – they did an amazing job. We’ve tested a lot of things but mainly focused on trying to feel good aboard the bike and on stopping and turning. At Jerez we basically tested everything, trying new items and a lot of different settings, and we ultimately struggled. Here I felt much better, especially on the second day. We’re still lacking something because there is still a gap to the top in terms of lap times but we’re there in terms of pace. We carried out a race simulation at the end of the day and I was able to be constant and fast until the end, something that I wasn’t able to do last year, so I can say we leave here happy. Now we’ll have to see where we are when we get to Australia.”
Xavi Vierge 97
“We already worked well at Jerez last week, but during those sessions we were testing many things and looking for a direction, while here we already started out with a clearer base. Lap after lap we’ve improved, both in terms of performance and feeling, and have better understood how to move forward. I’m sorry for the crash on day one but the team worked well, and we were then able to enjoy a trouble-free afternoon and second day. This test has been about putting everything together, and this has given me confidence. We still have work to do but I definitely think we’ve taken a step forward. Today was another really good day for us, especially in the morning when we worked with the hard tyre. Our race pace is really good, and it was just a pity that we weren’t able to exploit the soft tyre when the time came for a time attack, but we encountered some small issues that prevented us from completing a fast lap. Having said that, the important thing is that we had good feeling on the bike on the hard tyre, because we will race on that spec here at Portimão and we improved a lot compared to last year. We’ve enjoyed a good pre-season in Europe and now have a lot of data to analyze before we take a small break and then it’s next stop, Australia.”
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
A convincing two-days for Bautista (P1) and Rinaldi (P3) at Portimao Circuit (Portugal). Positive sessions also for Nicolò Bulega (P1 in WorldSSP)
The second session of winter testing has just concluded at the Portimao Circuit where the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team got on track for two intense days of work.
Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi proved to be in an excellent form, finding a convincing feeling with their respective Ducati Panigale V4R machines from the very first laps of Day-1
The Spaniard concluded the Portimao test with the fastest time (1’39.035) while Michael Rinaldi – after being the fastest on Day 1 – was able to lower his time by half a second today to close with a solid 1’39.144, just 109 thousandths of a second behind his team-mate.
The next stop for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team will be at the Phillip Island circuit (Australia) when the final winter tests will take place on 20 and 21 February, just three days before the first round of the 2023 season.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #1)
“We did a good job at both Jerez and Portimao tests. The time we set today is not very important. What gives us great confidence is the feeling with the bike, which is really positive. We did a great job with the team, trying to pay attention to even the smallest details. I can’t wait to be in Australia”.
Michael Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #21)
“We started these tests very well, closing the first day with the best time. I expected everyone to be faster today but we’ve also made important steps forward. I’m very satisfied, especially because with my team we managed to follow the program we had agreed, laying a solid foundation that will undoubtedly help us in the future”.
WorldSSP
Nicolò Bulega confirmed at Portimao the good sensations he felt aboard his Ducati Panigale V2 during the previous test at Jerez de la Frontera. After finishing Day 1 in first position in the Supersport classification, on Day 2 the Italian rider was able to lower his time by almost six tenths, confirming his first place among WorldSSP riders with a fastest lap of 1’42.636.
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WSSP #11)
“These were two very important tests. I immediately found a very good feeling with my bike also thanks to the excellent work done by my team. The sensations are positive and this will allow us to arrive in the best conditions in Australia. We are ready for an intense season in which we certainly cannot hide our ambitions”.
More, from a press release issued by MIE Racing Honda Team:
Two valuable days of testing at Portimão for the MIE Racing Honda Team
The MIE Racing Honda Team has been out at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal for some important test sessions this week as it continues to prepare for the 2023 Superbike World Championship. Riders Hafizh Syahrin and Eric Granado were both in attendance and rode half a day each on both Tuesday 31 January and Wednesday 1 February, alongside other Superbike teams including the factory Honda squad.
Weather conditions fortunately remained dry and sunny throughout, allowing the team to complete a wide variety of tests on many new items they had to test for the first time and giving rookie Granado the chance to build further confidence with the CBR1000RR-R. While the Brazilian completed a brief test at Jerez in December, these sessions marked Syahrin’s first opportunity to ride since the conclusion of the 2022 WorldSBK championship. The test was therefore very important, allowing both riders to get back into the riding ‘groove’ after a period away from the tracks.
The MIE Racing Honda Team is doing all it can to ensure its riders are comfortable aboard the bike and so the technicians have worked hard on bike set-up and geometry as they look for a base set-up for the CBR. Both team and riders are satisfied with what they have accomplished this week and will now continue the preparations back at base, so as to be ready for the final pre-season tests, set to take place on 20-21 February at Phillip Island, Australia, just a few days prior to the championship’s opening round at the same circuit.
Hafizh Syahrin
“Eric and I completed two half days of testing each here at Portimao. I rode yesterday afternoon and again this morning, so essentially one day in total. We’ve tested an updated version of the bike, a completely new package that includes a new swingarm, so it was not to easy to find a base set-up in such short time. I basically tried to complete as many laps as possible in order to understand as much as possible and to provide feedback to the team. It is very important to arrive in Australia with at least a base from which to start during the official test, where we will need to focus 100% on moving our package in the right direction. These two days have also allowed me to get used to the bike again and try to get the body back up to full power and speed after a two-month break. As I said, when we arrive in Australia we will approach the work differently and concentrate more on refining set-up. I know our times here were not very close to the top, but this was our first test while the others already had a session at Jerez. We nevertheless found good feeling on the bike and this is very important.”
Eric Granado
“It was a positive test because I was able to test the bike for the first time in the dry. This was very good because it meant I could start to understand how the bike works in dry conditions. This was also my first experience of riding at Portimão with the Superbike, so not easy of course because this track is very technical and difficult, and it took me a long time to find the lines. But I had fun, and we did a lot of work with the team to understand how everything works. We tried some new parts that Honda brought us, so this meant we spent a lot of time in the garage changing things, mainly electronics and set-up to make the bike work better with this new upgrade. So, unfortunately, this meant I didn’t complete as many laps as I would have liked but at least we lapped in the dry, without focusing on times and without putting in soft tyres to make a time attack, simply focusing on ourselves to understand how to work better together. Then during the tests in Australia and especially in the first race, we’ll give it our all to put in the best possible performance.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
European Tests Complete For KRT
Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes took part in two sunny days of testing at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve between 31 January and 1 February at what was the final European-based sessions before the 2023 FIM Superbike World Championship season begins in Australia at the end of the month.
The 4.592km long Portuguese circuit, located in the hills above many popular holiday resorts on the Algarve coast, is a very different challenge from the previous testing venue of Jerez, which the team tested at last week.
Both official KRT riders found that recent improvements in the base settings of their Ninja ZX-10RRs transferred well for ther most part to the undulating nature of the Portimao track. Each had their own programme of work to conclude before the team’s flight cases get loaded up in readiness for the long journey to Australia.
Rea was the second quickest rider of all at Portimao, even though he did not have a bike set-up to maximise his outright pace when he used the softer tyre options. He was a narrow 0.009 seconds from fastest rider Alvaro Bautista, with Rea setting a 1’39.044 personal best lap on the second day.
Lowes worked exclusively on race pace and preparations for the new season, after losing some available track time on the final morning at Portimao. Alex’s best lap of the tests was set on day one, with a 1.40.264, placing him 9th fastest overall on the aggregated times. He set 72 laps on day one and 56 on day two of the Portimao tests.
With the European element of the pre-season testing schedule complete, there will be two days of official testing at the legendary Phillip Island circuit, on 20-21 February, before the start of the 2023 season itself the following weekend.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “Our test was positive. Again, we were just step-by-step working with the new electronics guys, and the changes they made to my requests. So we have more of an understanding, a good understanding, already. Of course, it is still a work in progress. From the testing side today we had some development rear tyres from Pirelli to try. Last week in the Jerez test we had front tyres to test, this time it was two different options of SCX rears. The track was in strange shape because I was much better with harder compound tyres than softer tyres. Every time we put a softer tyre in, trying to make a time attack, the lap time wasn’t coming. From a chassis point of view we tried a couple of new items at this test that influenced the bike in a really positive direction, so I feel we have made a step. You never really know until the lights go out but I think that we have had a decent winter, albeit a short one. I am quite happy with our two days work at Portimao.”
Alex Lowes, stated: “I did all my work on the SC0 rear tyres today so until I look at the time sheets properly I won’t know what my final pace was like. I had a small crash at T5 today, on that bump on the way in, which was annoying. But, in general, I feel quite good on the bike. I tried to do a lot of work on used tyres, because in winter testing 1’39.0 laps times are sound, but they do not improve the bike set-up too much. We need to really work in race conditions so that we can fight in the races. I have been trying to do that here and hopefully the hard work will pay off in Australia and we can have good races there. We can improve the package a bit but I think there is a little bit more to go.”
Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “We are happy with the tests. We have some different items in some areas from last year to this year, and we tested them for the first time in Jerez. Here in Portimao what we did is confirm them and also try to build the starting point we will use in Australia. We reached all the expectations we had and honestly I am quite pleased with the job done by all the guys. The new electronics staff, Christophe and Sander, are working very well. We are understanding each other step-by-step. Johnny was very pleased and very happy, and at the same time he was going fast. At the end of the day, we are on the line that we expected to be on and we are ready to go to Australia.”
Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “We did most of our laps over half race distance each time we made a pit exit today, so we have prepared ourselves mainly for race conditions. Last year at the final test of the year, and at the race in Phillip Island, we were very competitive. We improved our performance. Here, we only used the hardest option rear tyre and we are now ready for the Phillip Island official tests and the first round of the new season.”
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was also out on track at Portimao, finishing up the tenth quickest rider over two days as he returns to WorldSBK from racing in the BSB championship in 2022.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Complete Positive Portimão Test
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Andrea Locatelli finished the final two days of winter testing in Europe at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve with Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK today, as the team nears the start of the 2023 FIM Superbike World Championship.
Picture-perfect Portuguese weather allowed the #54 and #55 riders to complete nearly 300 combined laps and test a variety of new development parts in order to assist Yamaha’s engineers in finalising the 2023 Yamaha R1 WorldSBK race package.
Razgatlıoğlu posted an impressive lap time on Pirelli’s X tyre with a 1’39.441, faster than the WorldSBK lap record, but was unable to test the softer qualifying tyre due to cooler track conditions than the compound’s optimum range. The 26-year-old finished the test in fourth position for outright lap pace and completed a total of 121 laps across the two days.
Teammate Locatelli also impressed in his work ethic to complete a massive 173 laps as well as his ability to take a step in performance, confidence and outright pace.
The season-opener in Australia at Phillip Island kicks off with a WorldSBK Official Test on 20-21 February before the race weekend starts on 24-26 February. For the team, the “long haul” starts even sooner, with the preparation of just over five tonnes of race equipment including its 2023 R1 WorldSBK race machines to depart from Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK’s UK home at Crescent Yamaha in Dorset.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu – 1’39.441
“Today we had a really good start and I felt good – I used the X race tyre and see very good lap time, 39.4 – I think is very good lap time but here the track condition changed a lot during the day. And after we work with the new parts and new swing arm, and end of today I use again the old one because we check which one is better. Finally, my feeling on the bike is much better with the whole package and I am confident. I don’t have a time for the Q tyre today, because you know, end of the day very cold. So I say, I don’t need Q tyre and also I did the very good lap time with X tyre. Maybe next time I am trying 1.38! I am ready for the season and ready for the fighting.”
Andrea Locatelli – 1’39.705
“It was another great day of testing today – okay, the second day was a bit difficult in the beginning because yesterday I rode a lot, 85 laps! With the long run yesterday in the afternoon, I was a little bit tired but today we were riding a lot also and in the end we found a really good set-up and I have a really good confidence with the bike. This is important to arrive in Phillip Island in a good way. To be honest, I am really happy – because we did not have any mistakes and we understand some parts of the bike really well. And, the weather was good! We will see what happens in Phillip Island, but we close this test in a really good way. I think we can start immediately with a really good feeling and try to push – I can’t wait to start and to fight in the first race.”
Paul Denning – Team Principal, Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK:
“We were blessed with stable and relatively warm conditions for the time of year here in Portimao – which enabled the Pata Yamaha Prometeon squad to get through a serious amount of work! For Loka, these two days were simply his best test since joining the team at the end of 2020. He covered a massive 173 laps and displayed fantastic pace both in terms of consistency and ultimate outright lap time. A great job by Andrea and all of his crew to get through the amount that they did! We hoped Loka would take a step this season, and the approach that he has taken in this test and the confidence that he’s displayed on the bike would indicate that we’ve started to move forward. Toprak, having been quickest on both days in Jerez, faced a few more challenges here in terms of evaluating new parts and – as is often the case with winter testing – suffered a few backwards steps before regaining positive momentum. In the end his test result in terms of long runs completed and ultimate lap times was maybe not exactly what we hoped for, but most importantly whenever his R1 package was to his liking, Toprak as always was immediately blisteringly fast. Phillip Island next is going to be a challenge – our competitors have taken a step forward, but we can’t wait for the season to start.”
More, from another press release issued by Yamaha:
Gardner and Aegerter Continued their Adaptation in Portimao Test
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK duo concluded a two-days of test in Portimao on 31st January-1st February, finding good lap times despite being not able to put together their best splits in a single lap to maximise the effort.
Remy Gardner and Dominique Aegerter kept working on their Yamaha R1 machines, trying many things improve the feeling on the bikes. On Day 1, the Australian completed 86 laps to find himself 9th (1’40.667), while his Swiss teammate finished with 88 in 16th (1’41.432).
Twenty-four hours later, the GRT duo focused on their qualifying performance in the final minutes: Gardner went 7th fastest (1.40.202, 90 laps), while Aegerter concluded in 15th (1.40.844, 83 laps). Both struggled on finding a clean one-shot lap; indeed, the #87 and the #77 rider have a better ideal time on their hands, which leave them confident for the beginning of the season.
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team will now move on to Australia on 20th-21st February for the Official Test in Phillip Island ahead of the beginning of the season which will take place at the same venue on 24th-26th February.
Remy Gardner: P11 – 1’40.202, 176 laps
“Two more days of testing, that was good. We improved even though we just struggled a little bit to find the correct way on day 2, but at the end we managed to improve the time. We got more experience before Phillip Island, I’m looking forward to that test to be ready for the beginning of the season.”
Dominique Aegerter: P21 – 1’40.844, 171 laps
“Riding in Portimao is always amazing, but really demanding as well. I still need to get used to the big bike, it has a lot of power and strong brakes. We tried many stuffs and I think we could not really take the full potential, but we got some good data to work on, over a basic setup that we can have for the season.”
More, from a press release issued by Team GoEleven:
LAST STOP PORTIMAO; NOW LET’S FLY TO AUSTRALIA!
Intense last week for the WorldSBK circus; after the two days in Jerez, the protagonists moved to Portimao, the splendid ups and downs of the Algarve, for an important practice session before flying to Australia, where the real 2023 debut will take place!
In Jerez, Philipp struggled to find the right feeling with the new Ducati Panigale V4-R; the riding position was the main problem to solve, in order to then concentrate the work on the set-up. Between the two tests, thanks to the work of the technicians, with the creation of special appendices on the tank, and to a lowered seat, the German rider immediately found good confidence. During the first day, Oettl was able to make a comparison between some components from last season and the new ones, so as to better adapt to the differences in behaviour. In the afternoon, then, he was able to make good use of the 2022 tyres supplied (some factory teams tested a new development of the softer compound), riding in 1.40.846 with the qualifying tyre. On the second day he immediately found an excellent feeling with the SC0, the harder compound, right from the morning. First, he stopped within four tenths of his personal best from the previous day, then he even managed to improve the time set on the qualifying tyre by a tenth. In the afternoon, which was slightly colder than yesterday the team tried to put on a couple of soft tyres, but perhaps the conditions weren’t optimal to try the time attack, thus maintaining the reference set in the late morning with “race” configuration. During day 2, the technicians had the opportunity to work on the rear shock absorber and on the electronics, trying to understand the feeling from the new swingarm and the bike in the 2023 configuration. Excellent data collected, so as to be able to analyse it, evaluate what can be improved, both in technical terms and speaking about riding style. The Go Eleven rider’s ideal time is really strong, faster than the time set, as he was unable to put together a proper fast lap.
Philipp still has to find something, he lacks a few tenths and a little confidence before he can be satisfied with the pre-season work; for this, the two pre-Australia days will be fundamental, where the official tests of WorldSBK 2023 will take place. A clear step forward, however, compared to Jerez, as we have seen, which gives Philipp a big boost in view of the (real) seasonal debut, when it will be essential to be fast and constant!
COMBINED RESULTS:
P 1 A. Bautista 1.39.035
P 2 J. Rea + 0.009
P 3 M. Rinaldi + 0.109
P 4 T. Razgatlioglu + 0.406
P 5 A. Locatelli + 0.670
…
P 13 P. Oettl + 1.754
Philipp Oettl (Rider):
“Another two interesting days of testing, I think these were much more productive compared to Jerez, especially cause we could compare both bikes, and I could adapt better to the new seat position. This was a really big step, now I feel comfortable on the new bike. Then we started working on the electronics and suspensions. I think we collected a lot of informations, from these two days, I think now it’s really important to put everything together for the Australian Round. There we will have two days of tests more, that’s quite a good luck for us, cause I still miss something and I don’t feel completely ready to race. In Portimao we found the right way to follow, and I am really optimistic for the first race! ”
Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager):
“Two very positive days here in Portimao, where we found the right ergonomics for the 2023 Ducati. Philipp found the correct feeling and was able to push, starting to work on the set-up and electronics. The objective of the test was done, but obviously it is only the starting point, we still have to find the optimal feeling he had last year in Australia. Now we will have to make the flight cases, time is very little and we still have a lot of work to do, we leave for Australia, the first round of the 2023 season. We are excited because the level of the riders and teams on track is as high as ever, but we know we have the potential to do well and get some satisfaction!”
Long Beach, CA (February 2023) – Saddlemen is excited to announce that it has joined forces with Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle and Mission Foods for MotoAmerica’s 2023 King Of The Baggers Class and Mission Foods Super Hooligans Series set for eight rounds this year in conjunction with MotoAmerica.
In 2023, veteran riders Cory West and Patricia Fernandez-West will continue to represent Team Saddlemen along with two newcomers, Frankie Garcia and Jake Lewis. We are excited to expand this year with Frankie and Jake joining the team to ride in the Mission King Of The Baggers class.
Cory West #13, Patricia Fernandez-West #87, Frankie Garcia #14, and Jake Lewis #85 will each ride a race-prepped 2023 Harley-Davidson Road Glide® Limited motorcycle wrapped in matching Saddlemen race carbon-fiber bodywork and powered by a Screamin’ Eagle Twin-Cooled™ 131ci Milwaukee-Eight powertrain in the Mission King of the Baggers class.
Cory and Patricia will also compete again this season in the Mission Foods Super Hooligan Series. New for 2023 each will be riding a stripped-down and highly modified Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 featuring Saddlemen’s latest carbon-fiber race bodywork.
Expanding our effort in 2023, Hoban Brothers Racing is joining Team Saddlemen and will facilitate the team’s racing effort on the track. All of our Road Glide® motorcycles will use the recently available factory-developed racing parts from Harley-Davidson and Screamin’ Eagle. We are confident it will be an exciting year with a larger team filled with extraordinarily talented and experienced riders, partners, and sponsors, including Harley-Davidson, Screamin’ Eagle, Mission Foods, Darkhorse Motor Company, Suicide Machine Company, Motul, NAMZ Custom Cycle Products, and 4SR.
Saddlemen is an American company based in Long Beach, California, specializing in motorcycle seats and luggage. Known as the “Gel Seat Experts” since 1987, our goal has been to improve comfort, control, and overall riding experience for millions of motorcyclists worldwide.
With over 200 employees, we are riders and builders who enjoy practically everything motorcycle. Over the last 35 years, the Saddlemen team has participated in everything from Flat Track to MotoGP. Now, we are excited to announce our participation in the 2023 season of MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers, and Mission Foods Super Hooligan National Championship by Roland Sands Design. As many people already know, racing is one of the best places to test new products, and at Saddlemen, every trip to the race track or smooth ride on the open road is an opportunity to refine the products we are proud to share with our customers.
Michael Gilbert Racing Returns to MotoAmerica Supersport in 2023
Michael Gilbert is set to return to MotoAmerica Supersport in 2023 aboard a Next Generation-spec Team Hammer-prepared Suzuki GSX-R750.
The step to Supersport follows a successful, several-year run in Stock 1000 and Superbike with numerous victories and podiums, and is a fresh start and opportunity to compete at the front of a premier MotoAmerica class after a tough year of injuries. The team’s infrastructure has also been rejuvenated and expanded, including the addition of paddock-veteran Poncho Rangel as Gilbert’s crew chief for 2023.
“Coming back to Supersport is like hitting the reset button,” says Gilbert. “There’s zero question that 2022 was the most difficult season of my career in more ways than one—namely two broken legs. That said, I couldn’t be more excited to get the season going! I’m feeling healthier and stronger by the day, and I’m extremely confident in the team we’ve assembled. Having already tested a Suzuki GSX-R750 at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, I have a great feeling about the upcoming season and the bike’s potential.”
Owen Williams will also transition to Supersport as teammate to Gilbert following two years in Junior Cup. It will be a steep learning curve, but the 15-year-old Californian is excited for the challenge and guidance from Gilbert.
“I’m so proud to be back with the team again for the 2023 season and even more so to be alongside Mikey in the Supersport class,” says Williams. “There’s so much to learn on the Suzuki GSX-R750, but I know that the team will give me the best opportunity to prove myself.”
#SprintingInto2023: new MotoGP™ time schedule revealed!
It’s the start of a new era and the time schedule for the Grand Prix classes can now be confirmed as MotoGP™ sprints into 2023
Wednesday, 01 February 2023
New year, new MotoGP™! The season ahead is going to be the biggest yet, with more Grands Prix in more countries reaching more fans than ever before. And that’s not all, as the MotoGP™ Sprint prepares to debut across the calendar and inject even more adrenaline into Saturday’s track action.
Here’s the rundown:
FRIDAY
Friday will remain practice day and will include two sessions for MotoGP™. The first is at 10:45 and lasts 45 minutes, and the second has been extended to 60 minutes. That starts at 15:00, with the combined times from P1 and P2 determining direct entrants to Q1 and Q2 qualifying for MotoGP™. They’re no longer called Free – because they aren’t!
Moto2™ has two 40-minute sessions on Friday, and Moto3™ two 35-minute sessions. Both count towards the combined timings, but for the lower classes Saturday morning’s P3 is also taken into account.
SATURDAY
Saturday is now an absolute blockbuster. MotoGP™ has a 30-minute free practice session, similar to the previous FP4, and then it’s time to qualify as Q1 starts at 10:50 before Q2 finalises the rest of the grid at 11:15. Once that’s concluded, our new post-qualifying show will take riders to a new stage for some live interviews in front of the fans. Then, it’s time to sprint!
The MotoGP™ Sprint will have its own identity. After a condensed 15-minute grid, the new event gets underway at 15:00 every Saturday and the podium will take place at a different location – changeable depending on the Grand Prix – to take the celebrations closer to the fans. Thereafter, a Sprint press conference will take place at 16:15, where we’ll be able to hear from the top three in the Sprint Race, the polesitter and the Championship leader.
Before the Sprint, Moto2™ and Moto3™, will each have a 30-minute P3 session on Saturday morning, with the combined times from P1-P2-P3 determining their direct entrants to Q1 and Q2. Moto3™ qualify first from 12:50, before Moto2™ from 13:45.
SUNDAY
There are no Warm Up sessions for Moto2™ and Moto3™, so the MotoGP™ class opens and closes the show on Grand Prix race day. 9:45 sees a 10-minute Warm Up session get action underway, before a MotoGP™ rider fan parade at 10am lets the packed stands see their heroes ahead of lights out. The riders will head around the track and make a couple of pitstops before landing back at the Hero Walk for more face-to-face fan time.
Racing begins at 11:00 for Moto3™ before the Moto2™ race at the slightly earlier time of 12:15.
The MotoGP™ Grand Prix race begins at 14:00, with the traditional Grand Prix podium set for 15:00. The structure of Moto3™ – Moto2™ – MotoGP™ is to be maintained throughout the season, and the MotoGP™ Grand Prix race will always be the final track action on Sunday. At many events the fans will be given the chance to flood to the podium and get to the heart of the celebrations.
Sound good? Download the 2023 schedule for the MotoGP™, Moto2™ and Moto3™ classes below!
Kawasaki Ninja H2® models are a testament to Kawasaki’s pursuit of innovation, performance, and passion for creating the world’s most advanced line of supercharged motorcycles. For 2023, the Ninja H2® SX SE motorcycle returns to Kawasaki’s hypersport lineup, blending performance and ultimate real-world handling with Kawasaki’s most advanced suite of rider assist technologies to date.
The Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE brings the latest in electronically controlled suspension, braking, and rider aid technologies to the supercharged hyperbike platform, making it the ultimate sport touring package. New for 2023 is the addition of Auto Hi-Beam (AHB), which automatically turns the high beam lights on and off as necessary depending on brightness ahead. The Ninja H2 SX SE is powered by an exhilarating, balanced supercharged 998cc inline four-cylinder engine, which utilizes Kawasaki’s knowledge of precision engine tuning to distribute power to where it is most useful, in the low to mid-range for both long distance touring and daily riding. With this powerful engine at its core, Kawasaki has created one of the most advanced and well-balanced motorcycles in performance, comfort, and efficiency, to expand your supercharged journey.
Developed with the ability to go above and beyond the daily applications of today’s sportbike rider, the Ninja H2 SX SE is Kawasaki’s most advanced sport tourer ever and utilizes a balanced supercharged engine that offers optimal output performance in the low to mid RPM range, all while achieving excellent fuel efficiency. This highly refined package offers an unrivaled level of performance and comfort, with agile handling akin to its superbike counterparts.
Kawasaki Intelligent Proximity Activation Start System (KIPASS)
AUTO HI-BEAM (AHS)
New for 2023, the Ninja H2® SX SE now has an AHB feature that utilizes a camera sensor to assess brightness of the lights of vehicles ahead, streetlights, and more. AHB automatically turns the bike’s high beams on or off as necessary based on brightness. For this feature to function, the dimmer/passing switch must be set to high beam, the bike must be traveling above 12.4mph, and it must be dark. Once the system has been engaged, the icon will be displayed in green on the instrument screen.
An illustration of the Auto Hi-Beam system on the 2023 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
ENGINE & CLUTCH
A balanced supercharged 998cc inline four-cylinder engine is designed to deliver both power and fuel efficiency on the 2023 Ninja H2® SX SE, focusing on low-mid range power delivery with exhilarating acceleration that prioritizes everyday usability in street-riding conditions. Cam timing contributes to the overall engine performance, while the resin silencer added to the secondary air inlet reduces mechanical (intake) noise and the straight-pipe style layout delivers excellent torque to benefit everyday ride ability.
A dog-ring transmission complements the powerful engine and facilitates smooth, quick shifting. A hydraulic assist and slipper clutch offers light lever operation and the volume of the hydraulic fluid routed to the clutch plates delivers a smooth clutch release. As a result, the shift load due to the plates dragging can be minimized, which is noticeable when stopped, and it’s easier to shift into neutral.
TFT COLOR INSTRUMENTATION WITH SMARTPHONE INTEGRATION (SPIN)
A large, easy-to-read 6.5” full-color TFT instrumentation screen adds a high-tech appearance to the cockpit. The TFT instrumentation is complemented by multiple display modes (black, white or automatic) and smartphone connectivity as well as compatibility with Kawasaki Smartphone Integration (SPIN) to offer riders a wide range of information. The home screen display is divided into three areas, upper, middle, and lower. Display functions in the upper area include integrated riding mode, gear position indicator, distance setting indicator, ACC indicator, tachometer, Kawasaki Quick Shift (KQS) indicator, Kawasaki Engine Brake Control (KEBC) indicator, and a multifunction gauge that visually shows the boost pressure plus the rider’s choice of throttle application, front brake pressure or G-force. The middle area display functions include a large digital speedometer, cornering light indicator, service indicator, Vehicle Hold Assist (VHA) indicator, and economical riding indicator. In the lower area, a multifunction display allows riders to scroll through functions such as odometer, dual trip meters, bank angle display and bank angle recording function, tire pressure, boost pressure, boost temperature, current and average fuel consumption, remaining range, average speed, total time, and battery voltage. Additional display functions that can also be accessed include fuel gauge, Kawasaki Electronically Controlled Suspension (KECS) preload mode, outside temperature, ice warning, connected device indicator, and clock and coolant temperature.
Kawasaki’s smartphone-based infotainment app (SPIN) enables various third party applications to be downloaded and mirrored on the cockpits TFT display. Basic functions available in the app include telephone, map display, music, calendar, and contacts. Additionally, riders can opt to download third party apps to add to their Kawasaki SPIN library to be able to interact with them on the TFT display. Available apps include Sygic (navigation), SENA (headset communication), and more.
Using Kawasaki SPIN provides riders access to several great functions, including:
Vehicle Info: information such as fuel gauge, odometer, maintenance schedule, which can all be viewed via the smartphone
Riding Log: GPS route information as well as vehicle running information can be logged and viewed via the smartphone
Telephone Notices: when a call or mail is received by the smartphone, this is indicated on the instrument display
The left profile view of a the 2023 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
ADVANCED RIDER ASSIST SYSTEM (ARAS)
The Ninja H2® SX SE motorcycle continues to boast the latest cutting-edge technology, which includes the Advanced Rider Assist System (ARAS) that features surround-sensing functions based on radar sensors that generates a more relaxed riding experience. Oftentimes, riding in heavy traffic and maintaining the correct distance to the vehicle in front takes a great deal of concentration and can become strenuous over longer periods. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) maintains the speed set by the rider but adjusts the vehicle speed to maintain a suitable following distance from the vehicle in front. When the system is operating, a signal is shown on the instrument panel, including the symbol showing green when following a vehicle ahead and grey when there is no vehicle ahead. Once operational speed gets to a certain point, which varies in each gear, the system will disengage, and the rider will need to operate the brakes manually. Pressing the cruise control button on the left side of the handlebar turns the system off. Operating the brakes or engaging the clutch for several seconds causes ACC to be temporarily disengaged and closing the throttle completely will also disengage the system. Accelerating (throttle override) or shifting gears (as long as the new gear’s minimum operation speed is met) does not disengage the system unless the maximum speed allowed is reached.
Bosch’s development of Forward Collision Warning (FCW) was designed to reduce the risk of a rear-end collision or to mitigate its consequences through front-facing radar sensor monitors. The system is active as soon as the vehicle starts, and it supports the rider in all relevant speed ranges. If the system detects that another vehicle is in too close of range, and the rider does not react to the situation, it warns the rider with a bright flashing red LED light above the instrument panel and a warning is also shown on the TFT display. Riders can set the alert timing according to preference with options including early, medium or late. FCW can also be turned off, which will be indicated on the TFT display.
The Blind Spot Detection (BSD) function helps keep a lookout in all directions to assist motorcyclists with lane changes. A rear-facing radar sensor serves as the blind spot detection’s eye, registering objects in hard-to-see areas on both the left- and right-hand sides. When an approaching vehicle is detected, an LED built into the rearview mirror will illuminate, a first on a Kawasaki motorcycle. If a rider indicates the intent to change lanes by switching on the turn signal while a vehicle is detected in the blind spot, the mirror LED will flash. BSD can be turned off and will be indicated on the TFT display when doing so.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) allows tire air pressure to continuously be monitored while riding, adding reassurance for the rider on long rides. Tire pressure sensors are used to alert the rider when tire pressure falls below 31.9 PSI through a low-pressure warning that is displayed on the TFT meter.
VEHICLE HOLD ASSIST (VHA)
Activated when the rider has stopped and firmly applies the brake(s), Vehicle Hold Assist (VHA) engages the rear brake to allow the rider to relax the hand brake. The ABS pump exerts pressure to engage the rear brake, and a light/signal is indicated on the TFT meter to let the rider know the brake hand can be relaxed and the bike will remain in place. The system disengages automatically when the rider turns the throttle to accelerate, when the side stand goes down, or 10-minutes after activation. The rider can also disengage the system by quickly squeezing and releasing the brake lever (within 1 second).
KAWASAKI INTELLIGENT PROXIMITY ACTIVATION START SYSTEM (KIPASS)
The Kawasaki Intelligent Proximity Activation Start System (KIPASS) master key system allows remote activation of the main switch and steering lock of the Ninja H2 SX SE motorcycle. The system offers increased convenience while acting as a deterrent to theft and vandalism. With the compact key fob in a pocket, the KIPASS sends out a signal that is picked up and recognized by the ECU. For added security, an immobilizer function is incorporated into the ignition system. As a flagship model, the key fob of the Ninja H2 SX SE is adorned with the Kawasaki River Mark.
BOSCH 10.3ME ABS IMU
The Ninja H2® SX SE is Kawasaki’s first model to integrate an FI-ECU with torque-demand capabilities and the new IMU measures in six degrees of freedom (DOF) with a compact, boost circuit-equipped ABS with high computational power. IMU enables inertia along 6 DOF to be monitored. With the new unit, acceleration along longitudinal transverse and vertical axes, plus roll rate, pitch rate and yaw rate are all measured. Feedback from the IMU is used to give clearer real-time picture of chassis orientation. With more sophisticated torque-demand capabilities, the FI-ECU is able to adjust torque in response to external direction, which enables it to work in concert with the ABS. This coordinated control of both the engine and brakes is essential for delivering smooth operation in systems like the new ACC. A boost circuit capable of increasing fluid pressure at the brake calipers enables the brakes to be activated independent of direct rider input, which is required for the new ACC and VHA systems.
The Ninja H2® SX SE features KECS with Skyhook technology which helps support the motorcycle’s sprung weight and modulates the suspension damping force to allow the wheels to track road dips and bumps while maintaining the motorcycle’s vertical position with minimal disturbance. The updated software incorporates Showa’s Skyhook EERA (Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment) technology to deliver an even more composed ride. Showa’s Skyhook software, carefully fine-tuned by Kawasaki engineers to ensure the sporty riding character of the Ninja H2 SX SE was preserved, delivers a smooth ride as it continually adapts to the road surface in real time. Combining high-level mechanical components with the latest electronic control technology, KECS offers both the suppleness to offer riding comfort in a wide range of riding situations, as well as the firm damping to facilitate sport riding. Handling the suspension duties is a sporty 43mm inverted Showa cartridge fork and a high-spec Showa Balance Free Rear Cushion (BFRC) lite rear shock – similar to the rear suspension used on the Ninja® ZX™-10R sportbike, except it also features electronically adjustable preload.
In the BFRC lite shock, damping force is generated in an external Damping Force Chamber, and compression and rebound damping are generated independently, allowing the whole surface of the main piston to act as a pump, pushing oil towards the valves. This configuration also helps to suppress pressure balance fluctuations as a result of shock compression and extension.
Compression and rebound damping for both the forks and shock are generated (and adjusted) electronically via the KECS system that is controlled by a solenoid valve with direct actuation and allows for extremely quick reaction time. Riders can choose from four modes: Sport, Road, Rain, and Manual. KECS then adjusts to the road surface environment in real time to provide the ideal damping, considering vehicle speed, stroke speed and deceleration. Riders can electronically control the rear shock preload settings as well. KECS offers three different preload settings: rider only, rider with luggage, and rider with passenger and luggage. Riders can fine-tune these settings with 10 levels of adjustment for each.
The forks and shock have built-in stroke sensors that provide real-time stroke speed and compression information. The sensor coils provide input to the KECS ECU every millisecond. This is complemented by information provided by the IMU (acceleration/deceleration) every 10 milliseconds and the FI ECU (vehicle speed) every 10 milliseconds. The KECS ECU then directs current to the solenoids to adjust damping as required by the situation.
STYLING
Sleek lines give the Ninja H2® SX SE a sharp, compact look, while maintaining its aggressive and seductive Ninja® image. The front face design points to its supercharged roots and instantly communicates that it’s more than the ordinary sport touring machine. The upper cowl features angular lines and a slim, compact impression even with the addition of the radar sensor, which is positioned below the headlight. The radar sensor sits behind a cover, specially designed to not interfere with the radar function. The Kawasaki River Mark emblem is proudly displayed on the upper cowl – a true reflection of the high-level performance, comfort, and quality that the Ninja H2 SX SE offers. Full fairing bodywork adds to the bike’s sporty image and helps to reduce heat that can be felt by the rider.
In order to match the upper cowl, simple surfaces have been added to the side cowl and contribute to the styling. The upper cowl is compact to accommodate the front radar sensor, and a LED headlight is positioned at the front of the upper cowl, contributing to the intense design. It features integrated position lamps that are crystal-like in appearance, adding a high-class touch. LED cornering lights are built into each side of the fairing in sets of three to help illuminate the road when cornering. Aerodynamically shaped mirrors offer a clear view of the rear, even when the Kawasaki Genuine Accessories 28L hard saddlebag set is fitted, and feature single-bulb LED-type turn signals. Rear-facing radar is built into the rear fender, and like the front radar, is cleverly hidden by a specially designed cover. LED turn signals contribute to the bike’s high-quality image and a handcrafted two-color “Supercharged” emblem is fitted to communicate the flagship status of the Ninja H2 SX SE.
ERGONOMICS
An ergonomically designed front seat provides comfort for spending long hours in the saddle as well as accommodates position changes for sportier riding. Both rider and passenger seats add to rider and passenger comfort. The wide rear seat features a flat surface at the front to help keep the passenger from sliding forward under braking. Under the rear seat, a USB-type power outlet offers a convenient source for powering accessories or personal items. The riding position of the Ninja H2® SX SE offers a relaxed bend that is comfortable for in-town riding and long touring and features grip heaters to add to the comfort on cold days. The grip heater wiring is routed inside of the handlebar for a clean design.
BRAKES & WHEELS
The Ninja H2® SX SE comes equipped with high-grade Brembo Stylema front calipers. The design of key sections allows stiffness to be maintained while enabling a direct connection to the piston area. The Stylema calipers quickly cool thanks to optimal airflow around the brake pads, space around the pistons, and an opening that allows air to exit from the central bridge. The dual radial mount opposed 4-piston Stylema front calipers grip a pair of semi-floating 320 mm discs, which complement the technical innovation and premium quality of the Ninja H2 SX SE. Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22 tires provide a good balance of sport and touring performance.
INTEGRATED RIDING MODES
All-inclusive modes that link KTRC, Power Mode and KECS allow riders to efficiently set traction control, power delivery, and suspension characteristics to suit a given riding situation. Riders can choose from four settings: Sport, Road, Rain or a Manual setting. In the manual rider mode, each of the systems can be set independently. The Sport setting enables riders to enjoy sporty handling riding. The Road setting provides comfortable riding characteristics over a wide range of situations, from city riding to highway cruising and rural roads. The Rain setting offers rider reassurance when riding on a low traction surface.
HIGHLY DURABLE PAINT
Kawasaki’s Highly Durable Paint features a special top coat that allows certain types of scratches to repair themselves, enabling the paint to maintain its high quality finish through normal wear and tear†. The self-healing is achieved through microscopic soft and hard segments within the top coat working like a chemical spring, creating a trampoline effect that absorbs many impacts.
† Notes:
1. Recovery can take a week or longer.
2. The paint will not recover in the case of scratches caused by a coin or key, or zip fasteners.
KAWASAKI GENUINE ACCESSORIES
For 2023, a variety of Kawasaki Genuine Accessories (KGA) are available for the Ninja H2® SX SE, including a high front seat, low front seat, color matched seat cowl, oil cap, helmet lock, and clear windshield that is 55mm lower. Additional accessories include frame sliders, a 28L hard saddlebag set, bag fitting kit, color panel kit, trim set, and one key system.
Ninja H2 SX SE
Color: Emerald Blazed Green / Metallic Diablo Black / Metallic Graphite Gray
MSRP: $28,000
Availability: Available Now
ABOUT KAWASAKI
Kawasaki started full-scale production of motorcycles over a half century ago. The first Kawasaki motorcycle engine was designed based on technical know-how garnered from the development and production of aircraft engines, and Kawasaki’s entry into the motorcycle industry was driven by the company’s constant effort to develop new technologies. Numerous new Kawasaki models introduced over the years have helped shape the market, and in the process have created enduring legends based on their unique engineering, power, design and riding pleasure. In the future, Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. is committed to maintaining and furthering these strengths which will surely give birth to new legends.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, side x sides, and JET SKI® watercraft through a network of approximately 1,100 independent retailers, with close to an additional 7,700 retailers specializing in general purpose engines. Kawasaki and its affiliates employ nearly 3,100 people in the United States, with approximately 260 of them located at Kawasaki’s Foothill Ranch, California headquarters.
Kawasaki’s tagline, “Let the good times roll.®”, is recognized worldwide. The Kawasaki brand is synonymous with powerful, stylish and category-leading vehicles. Information about Kawasaki’s complete line of powersports products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.com.
The KTM-powered Wally Brown Racing flat track racebike. Photo courtesy AFT.
Wally Brown Racing Recruits Janisch for ’23 Progressive AFT Season
DAVIDSON, N.C. (February 2, 2023) – Wally Brown Racing has recruited 2022 Mission Production Twins Champion Jesse Janisch to compete in the 2023 Progressive American Flat Track series.
Wally Brown Racing will step up to the premier Mission SuperTwins category after developing the WBR KTM 890 Duke into a two-time Mission Production Twins race winner with James Rispoli at the controls a year ago.
This season, WBR and Janisch will run a limited schedule with continued support from KTM North America. The effort will utilize both the established WBR KTM 890 Duke and the all-new WBR KTM 790 Duke as KTM shifts its focus to the 790 platform to prepare for the 2024 rules package.
The versatile Janisch has an extensive motorsports history, including dirt track, roadracing, supermoto, motocross, hillclimb, grass drag racing, and off-road racing. The Wisconsin native started racing professionally in 2003 and first made his name in Progressive AFT as a TT extraordinaire. In 2022, Janisch demonstrated his complete mastery of the sport, scoring seven victories and 13 podiums en route to the Mission Production Twins title.
“I’ve been able to witness the triumphs of the WBR program at the expense of my own successes in 2022,” Janisch said, “As they say – if you can’t beat them, join them! I cannot wait to jump on the new 790 platform that they’ve been hard at work on this winter and see where we shake out at our first round. I was fortunate to compete in several Mission SuperTwins Main Events in 2022. I’m ready to improve upon my results and turn some heads in the class in 2023.”
Jesse Janisch. Photo courtesy Wally Brown Racing.
“Wally and the WBR team really did an amazing job in 2022 showcasing the Ready to Race potential of our KTM 890 Duke platform in the Mission Production Twins class,” said Chris Fillmore, Flat Track Manager for KTM. “It was good to hear they are excited and willing to also get an early start with the all-new KTM 790 Duke platform in anticipation of the displacement reduction the series will introduce in 2024. The bar has been raised with the series going to a single Twins class in 2023, but based on the team’s quick successes in the past, I know they are motivated and ready for the challenge. Jesse proved last season he has what it takes on a twin by winning the Mission Production Twins Championship. We are for sure looking forward to seeing how things develop.”
Team owner Wally Brown said, “Our team is looking forward to taking what we learned in 2022 and applying it to a new program this year. It will be challenging, but I feel certain we can make progress on developing a competitive package. The KTM Duke is a well-built machine and gives us a lot to work with.”
WBR plans to compete at the Senoia Short Track in Senoia, Georgia, the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, the Bridgeport Half Mile in Bridgeport, New Jersey, and the Springfield Mile in Springfield, Illinois.
The 2023 KTM RC 390 is available in a new GP Orange color scheme. Photo courtesy KTM.
2023 KTM STREET RANGE FLASHES WITH A FRESH SELECTION OF NEW COLORWAYS
MURRIETA, Calif. – KTM introduces new graphics and color updates across selected KTM 200 DUKE, KTM 390 DUKE and KTM RC 390 models to fill out the 2023 KTM STREET range, giving riders a chance to find a machine that matches their true READY TO RACE colors and spirit.
KTM roars into the new year with a fast-as-ever range of DUKE motorcycles, covering the full spectrum of road-going machines catering to all riders and riding types. At the starting point, KTM brings the small but mighty KTM 200 DUKE and KTM 390 DUKE Naked machines out to play. These lightweight, yet heavy-hitting, models include some new livery to set off their aggressive styling as they slide their way into the 2023 lineup, with the reintroduced KTM 790 DUKE, the bold KTM 890 DUKE R, and the range of BEASTS, namely the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R EVO and the street-eating KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE GT—all introduced in November of 2022.
These incredible Naked machines are flanked by the impressive new generation Supersport weapon, the KTM RC 390, returning for 2023 in two eye-catching guises, one in the new GP orange and the other in the beloved, carry-over orange and blue, with hues taking their inspiration from the vibrant Grand Prix teams.
A 2023 KTM 200 Duke in its new gray and orange color scheme. Photo courtesy KTM.
KTM 200 DUKE
Thanks to its ultralight and playful single-cylinder 199.5 cc engine and 31.6-in (805-mm) low seat height, and the ever-present BEAST-inspired DNA, the KTM 200 DUKE delivers nothing less than an exhilarating ride in an approachable package. The aggressive styling of the 2023 KTM 200 DUKE is enhanced by a new gray and orange colorway featuring a black subframe and orange tailpiece. The beloved orange and black model, of course, will return for 2023 as well. Both models stand out with striking orange wheels.
A 2023 KTM 200 Duke in its black and orange color scheme. Photo courtesy KTM.
KTM 390 DUKE
The KTM 390 DUKE dominates the middle-weight segment with a punchy, fun-loving 373.2 cc DOHC engine, sporty WP APEX front and rear suspension and a full READY TO RACE compliment of technology including a PASC slipper clutch, BYBRE brakes, BOSCH ABS with standard Supermoto ABS and TFT display. The corner rocket receives two new colorway updates, with a vibrant orange and blue/gray option, and a stealthy black and gray adding a darker, more sinister shadow to the streets.
A 2023 KTM 390 Duke in its new orange and blue/gray color scheme. Photo courtesy KTM.
A 2023 KTM 390 Duke in its new black and gray color scheme. Photo courtesy KTM.
KTM RC 390
There is no question that the latest generation of the KTM RC 390 takes READY TO RACE to heart with a full chromoly frame, bolt-on subframe, GP-derived ergonomics and electronic features not seen on many mid-sized Supersort models. Taking it to the top of the class and the podium, the compact yet powerful engine, adjustable WP APEX suspension and electronic wizardry including lean-angle sensitive (3D) Motorcycle Traction Control and BOSCH ABS with SUPERMOTO ABS deliver real-word racing credentials along with everyday ridability. This track-loving, commuting-ready model receives the KTM Orange treatment with the introduction of the GP Orange colorway, the eye-catching stablemate to the returning blue and orange machine.
A 2023 KTM RC 390 in its blue and orange color scheme. Photo courtesy KTM.
2023 KTM 200 DUKE, KTM 390 DUKE and KTM RC 390 models will begin shipping March 2023. For more news about the 2023 KTM model range, visit KTM.COM or your nearest authorized KTM dealer.
A celebration of life event for Kevin Elliott, Sr. has been scheduled at 11:00 a.m. local time Sunday, February 5 at the Loyal Order of Moose Lodges at 325 Pandora Ave., Fort Pierce, Florida.
“Come celebrate the life of Kevin ‘Skippy’ Elliott with a karaoke party per his last request. We will have some food and drinks available. Cash only for the drinks. Let’s celebrate his life with all his friends and family together for one last hoorah,” read the event notification on Facebook.
Elliott, the former owner and longtime President of ASRA and CCS, died of liver failure on January 29 in Florida. He was 64.
The start of a North America Talent Cup race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in 2022. Photo by Fast Glass Media, courtesy NATC.
PROVISIONAL 2023 NORTH AMERICA TALENT CUP SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED & FINAL CALL FOR ENTRIES
The 2023 provisional calendar has been announced—including rounds with MotoGP™ and MotoAmerica™–with the upcoming February 6th deadline for applications just over the horizon.
SEATTLE, WA – The anticipated 2023 NATC provisional calendar has been announced. The season will consist of seven rounds across the continental United States, with the opening round taking place alongside MotoGP™ for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, April 14-16.
Similar to the 2022 season, each round will be run by a hosting organization. MotoAmerica™ will again be integrally involved in the series, with rounds currently scheduled to run during national events at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama, and Ridge Motorsports Park in Washington. The seventh and final round of the series is yet to be determined.
Prospective competitors who meet eligibility requirements can now apply to participate in the 2023 North America Talent Cup. Applicants will have until February 6th, 2023 to submit their candidacy. The NATC is an official Road to MotoGP™ project.
Riders from all nationalities can apply, but the NATC aims to discover talent from across North America. After only one season, NATC alumni have already gone on to be selected for the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup™, as well as for national race teams.
In its second season, the NATC grid will be limited to 22 entrants. Riders must be born between January 1st, 2006, and April 6th, 2009, to be a minimum age of 14 years old before the first round and a maximum age of 17 years old. Riders from different racing backgrounds can apply, with no road racing experience necessary as other disciplines can also translate into road racing success.
Individual riders can apply, but they must choose a team name and have a team manager. Riders must also have at least one mechanic and a legal guardian.
Any team application should specify a team manager, who will be the main contact with the organization, and can be comprised a rider and two mechanics. Mechanics can be family members or acquaintances.
About NATC The NATC is a one-make spec-series of teams and riders, using the successful Northern Talent Cup as a blueprint. The limit on entries is 22 riders between 14 and 16 years of age in 2023. The spec-motorcycle will be the Aprilia RS250 SP2; a machine developed by Aprilia in partnership with Ohvale and proven to offer a competitive platform for developing talent. The NATC is designed to create close competition in a cost-effective manner. The NATC will race throughout the continental U.S., with seven designated rounds taking place alongside MotoGP™, MotoAmerica™, and select clubs.
About the FIM North America FIM North America is one of six Continental Unions (CONUs) recognized as geographical subdivisions and accountable to the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). It was founded in 1998. The national federations who are members of FIM North America are, by virtue of their geographical area and their membership in the FIM, the American Motorcyclist Association and the Canadian Motorcycle Association. FIM North America establishes an annual calendar of Continental Championship events and other activities and declares champions in designated disciplines and classes. Its member federations issue CONU licenses to riders participating in FIM NA events as well as those who are participating in Continental Championship events organized in other CONUs. For more information, visit fim-northamerica.com.
Editorial Note: The current World Superbike All-Time Lap Record for Algarve International Circuit is 1:39.610, which was set by Jonathan Rea in 2022. The current World Superbike Race Lap Record was also set by Jonathan Rea in 2022 at 1:40.135.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
Lap record breaking quartet emerges in Portimao
Bautista edges out Rea by only 0.009s, while Rinaldi and Razgatlioglu also had a strong showing to conclude testing on the Portuguese rollercoaster
Despite a small crash in the morning, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) set the fastest lap on Day 2 of Portimao test as he lapped under the lap record.
Jonathan Rea. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Six-time WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was just 0.009s off Bautista’s fastest time, taking second place at the end of Day 2 with 68 laps completed.
Michael Rinaldi (21). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) took third place just 0.109s behind his teammate.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.
2021 WorldSBK Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon Team) concluded his two-day testing in fourth place with a best time of 1:39.441s.
Iker Lecuona. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Iker Lecuona (Team HRC), who had a crash in the final sector in the morning, posted a 1’39.803s to take sixth spot as Honda looked to work on setups for the CBR1000RR-R machine.
Remy Gardner (87). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was the fastest rookie on Day 2 at Portimao as he finished in 7th place, 1.167s off Bautista’s best time.
Bradley Ray (28). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team’s Bradley Ray and MIE Racing’s Eric Granado concluded their first WorldSBK test.
Eric Granado. Photo courtesy Dorna.
WorldSBK Day 2 Report
There was plenty of lap record pace on display in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve on Day 2 of the two-day test in Portugal, with riders on the verge of breaking into the 1’38s for the first time in WorldSBK. Reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) topped the times on day two by just 0.009s ahead of six-time Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK).
Bautista posted a 1’39.035s to obliterate Rea’s Superpole lap record from last year’s Portuguese Round. Bautista’s day, with the Spanish rider looking at bike stability, was disrupted by a crash at Turn 7 which brought out the red flag. His teammate was one of the four riders to go below the lap record with a 1’39.144s to take third place; backing up his top spot from Day 1. Rea, the lap record holder with a 1’39.610s from last year’s Tissot Superpole, took second spot and was only 0.009s slower than Bautista at the end of the day’s running with the six-time Champion testing some new items from Showa and looking at chassis balance. 2021 Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) was fourth fastest as he also went under Rea’s existing lap record, posting a 1’39.441s on his way to fourth spot. As at Jerez, there was a lot of focus on the rear of his Yamaha YZF R1 machine in order to improve grip exiting corners.
All riders and teams are now focused on the Official Test taking place ahead of the season opening round on Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st February at Phillip Island.
Read the full report from Day 2 in Portimao on worldsbk.com
More, from a press release issued by Team HRC:
Portimão the stage for another constructive Team HRC test before the squad travels to Australia
Team HRC and its factory Superbike riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge have completed a further two days testing at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal, following on from last week’s positive sessions at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
On track on both Tuesday 31 January and Wednesday 1 February, the team again benefitted from dry and sunny weather conditions, which enabled them to complete a range of different tests.
Vierge suffered a small crash mid-way through Tuesday’s session but was fortunately unhurt, his team working fast to repair his bike so that he could get straight back to work. The Team HRC duo completed close to 70 laps each on day one, with the work centring around bike set-up, electronics and geometries, much as it did last week at Jerez.
Day two saw the team continue with its work programme and successfully complete almost all of what it had planned for this week’s test. Lecuona was the victim of an innocuous crash during the morning but fortunately sustained no injuries. Lecuona and Vierge clocked up many more kilometres aboard the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE, which provided the technicians with a great deal of useful data.
Team HRC will now continue to make final preparations ahead of the official tests that will take place at Phillip Island, Australia on 20-21 February, immediately prior to the opening round of the 2023 Superbike World Championship, which will run at the same circuit over the weekend of 24-26 February.
Iker Lecuona 7
“I’m generally quite happy with these two days of testing, particularly today, more than I was with the Jerez sessions to be honest. It’s true that we started the day with a fast crash at corner thirteen. I just touched the front brake and lost the bike – perhaps I was a little over confident entering the corner. I was thankfully unhurt, but my bike came off worse so apologies to my team and a big than-you to them for fixing the bike perfectly and quickly – they did an amazing job. We’ve tested a lot of things but mainly focused on trying to feel good aboard the bike and on stopping and turning. At Jerez we basically tested everything, trying new items and a lot of different settings, and we ultimately struggled. Here I felt much better, especially on the second day. We’re still lacking something because there is still a gap to the top in terms of lap times but we’re there in terms of pace. We carried out a race simulation at the end of the day and I was able to be constant and fast until the end, something that I wasn’t able to do last year, so I can say we leave here happy. Now we’ll have to see where we are when we get to Australia.”
Xavi Vierge 97
“We already worked well at Jerez last week, but during those sessions we were testing many things and looking for a direction, while here we already started out with a clearer base. Lap after lap we’ve improved, both in terms of performance and feeling, and have better understood how to move forward. I’m sorry for the crash on day one but the team worked well, and we were then able to enjoy a trouble-free afternoon and second day. This test has been about putting everything together, and this has given me confidence. We still have work to do but I definitely think we’ve taken a step forward. Today was another really good day for us, especially in the morning when we worked with the hard tyre. Our race pace is really good, and it was just a pity that we weren’t able to exploit the soft tyre when the time came for a time attack, but we encountered some small issues that prevented us from completing a fast lap. Having said that, the important thing is that we had good feeling on the bike on the hard tyre, because we will race on that spec here at Portimão and we improved a lot compared to last year. We’ve enjoyed a good pre-season in Europe and now have a lot of data to analyze before we take a small break and then it’s next stop, Australia.”
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
A convincing two-days for Bautista (P1) and Rinaldi (P3) at Portimao Circuit (Portugal). Positive sessions also for Nicolò Bulega (P1 in WorldSSP)
The second session of winter testing has just concluded at the Portimao Circuit where the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team got on track for two intense days of work.
Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi proved to be in an excellent form, finding a convincing feeling with their respective Ducati Panigale V4R machines from the very first laps of Day-1
The Spaniard concluded the Portimao test with the fastest time (1’39.035) while Michael Rinaldi – after being the fastest on Day 1 – was able to lower his time by half a second today to close with a solid 1’39.144, just 109 thousandths of a second behind his team-mate.
The next stop for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team will be at the Phillip Island circuit (Australia) when the final winter tests will take place on 20 and 21 February, just three days before the first round of the 2023 season.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #1)
“We did a good job at both Jerez and Portimao tests. The time we set today is not very important. What gives us great confidence is the feeling with the bike, which is really positive. We did a great job with the team, trying to pay attention to even the smallest details. I can’t wait to be in Australia”.
Michael Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #21)
“We started these tests very well, closing the first day with the best time. I expected everyone to be faster today but we’ve also made important steps forward. I’m very satisfied, especially because with my team we managed to follow the program we had agreed, laying a solid foundation that will undoubtedly help us in the future”.
WorldSSP
Nicolò Bulega confirmed at Portimao the good sensations he felt aboard his Ducati Panigale V2 during the previous test at Jerez de la Frontera. After finishing Day 1 in first position in the Supersport classification, on Day 2 the Italian rider was able to lower his time by almost six tenths, confirming his first place among WorldSSP riders with a fastest lap of 1’42.636.
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WSSP #11)
“These were two very important tests. I immediately found a very good feeling with my bike also thanks to the excellent work done by my team. The sensations are positive and this will allow us to arrive in the best conditions in Australia. We are ready for an intense season in which we certainly cannot hide our ambitions”.
More, from a press release issued by MIE Racing Honda Team:
Two valuable days of testing at Portimão for the MIE Racing Honda Team
The MIE Racing Honda Team has been out at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal for some important test sessions this week as it continues to prepare for the 2023 Superbike World Championship. Riders Hafizh Syahrin and Eric Granado were both in attendance and rode half a day each on both Tuesday 31 January and Wednesday 1 February, alongside other Superbike teams including the factory Honda squad.
Weather conditions fortunately remained dry and sunny throughout, allowing the team to complete a wide variety of tests on many new items they had to test for the first time and giving rookie Granado the chance to build further confidence with the CBR1000RR-R. While the Brazilian completed a brief test at Jerez in December, these sessions marked Syahrin’s first opportunity to ride since the conclusion of the 2022 WorldSBK championship. The test was therefore very important, allowing both riders to get back into the riding ‘groove’ after a period away from the tracks.
The MIE Racing Honda Team is doing all it can to ensure its riders are comfortable aboard the bike and so the technicians have worked hard on bike set-up and geometry as they look for a base set-up for the CBR. Both team and riders are satisfied with what they have accomplished this week and will now continue the preparations back at base, so as to be ready for the final pre-season tests, set to take place on 20-21 February at Phillip Island, Australia, just a few days prior to the championship’s opening round at the same circuit.
Hafizh Syahrin
“Eric and I completed two half days of testing each here at Portimao. I rode yesterday afternoon and again this morning, so essentially one day in total. We’ve tested an updated version of the bike, a completely new package that includes a new swingarm, so it was not to easy to find a base set-up in such short time. I basically tried to complete as many laps as possible in order to understand as much as possible and to provide feedback to the team. It is very important to arrive in Australia with at least a base from which to start during the official test, where we will need to focus 100% on moving our package in the right direction. These two days have also allowed me to get used to the bike again and try to get the body back up to full power and speed after a two-month break. As I said, when we arrive in Australia we will approach the work differently and concentrate more on refining set-up. I know our times here were not very close to the top, but this was our first test while the others already had a session at Jerez. We nevertheless found good feeling on the bike and this is very important.”
Eric Granado
“It was a positive test because I was able to test the bike for the first time in the dry. This was very good because it meant I could start to understand how the bike works in dry conditions. This was also my first experience of riding at Portimão with the Superbike, so not easy of course because this track is very technical and difficult, and it took me a long time to find the lines. But I had fun, and we did a lot of work with the team to understand how everything works. We tried some new parts that Honda brought us, so this meant we spent a lot of time in the garage changing things, mainly electronics and set-up to make the bike work better with this new upgrade. So, unfortunately, this meant I didn’t complete as many laps as I would have liked but at least we lapped in the dry, without focusing on times and without putting in soft tyres to make a time attack, simply focusing on ourselves to understand how to work better together. Then during the tests in Australia and especially in the first race, we’ll give it our all to put in the best possible performance.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
European Tests Complete For KRT
Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes took part in two sunny days of testing at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve between 31 January and 1 February at what was the final European-based sessions before the 2023 FIM Superbike World Championship season begins in Australia at the end of the month.
The 4.592km long Portuguese circuit, located in the hills above many popular holiday resorts on the Algarve coast, is a very different challenge from the previous testing venue of Jerez, which the team tested at last week.
Both official KRT riders found that recent improvements in the base settings of their Ninja ZX-10RRs transferred well for ther most part to the undulating nature of the Portimao track. Each had their own programme of work to conclude before the team’s flight cases get loaded up in readiness for the long journey to Australia.
Rea was the second quickest rider of all at Portimao, even though he did not have a bike set-up to maximise his outright pace when he used the softer tyre options. He was a narrow 0.009 seconds from fastest rider Alvaro Bautista, with Rea setting a 1’39.044 personal best lap on the second day.
Lowes worked exclusively on race pace and preparations for the new season, after losing some available track time on the final morning at Portimao. Alex’s best lap of the tests was set on day one, with a 1.40.264, placing him 9th fastest overall on the aggregated times. He set 72 laps on day one and 56 on day two of the Portimao tests.
With the European element of the pre-season testing schedule complete, there will be two days of official testing at the legendary Phillip Island circuit, on 20-21 February, before the start of the 2023 season itself the following weekend.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “Our test was positive. Again, we were just step-by-step working with the new electronics guys, and the changes they made to my requests. So we have more of an understanding, a good understanding, already. Of course, it is still a work in progress. From the testing side today we had some development rear tyres from Pirelli to try. Last week in the Jerez test we had front tyres to test, this time it was two different options of SCX rears. The track was in strange shape because I was much better with harder compound tyres than softer tyres. Every time we put a softer tyre in, trying to make a time attack, the lap time wasn’t coming. From a chassis point of view we tried a couple of new items at this test that influenced the bike in a really positive direction, so I feel we have made a step. You never really know until the lights go out but I think that we have had a decent winter, albeit a short one. I am quite happy with our two days work at Portimao.”
Alex Lowes, stated: “I did all my work on the SC0 rear tyres today so until I look at the time sheets properly I won’t know what my final pace was like. I had a small crash at T5 today, on that bump on the way in, which was annoying. But, in general, I feel quite good on the bike. I tried to do a lot of work on used tyres, because in winter testing 1’39.0 laps times are sound, but they do not improve the bike set-up too much. We need to really work in race conditions so that we can fight in the races. I have been trying to do that here and hopefully the hard work will pay off in Australia and we can have good races there. We can improve the package a bit but I think there is a little bit more to go.”
Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “We are happy with the tests. We have some different items in some areas from last year to this year, and we tested them for the first time in Jerez. Here in Portimao what we did is confirm them and also try to build the starting point we will use in Australia. We reached all the expectations we had and honestly I am quite pleased with the job done by all the guys. The new electronics staff, Christophe and Sander, are working very well. We are understanding each other step-by-step. Johnny was very pleased and very happy, and at the same time he was going fast. At the end of the day, we are on the line that we expected to be on and we are ready to go to Australia.”
Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “We did most of our laps over half race distance each time we made a pit exit today, so we have prepared ourselves mainly for race conditions. Last year at the final test of the year, and at the race in Phillip Island, we were very competitive. We improved our performance. Here, we only used the hardest option rear tyre and we are now ready for the Phillip Island official tests and the first round of the new season.”
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was also out on track at Portimao, finishing up the tenth quickest rider over two days as he returns to WorldSBK from racing in the BSB championship in 2022.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Complete Positive Portimão Test
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Andrea Locatelli finished the final two days of winter testing in Europe at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve with Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK today, as the team nears the start of the 2023 FIM Superbike World Championship.
Picture-perfect Portuguese weather allowed the #54 and #55 riders to complete nearly 300 combined laps and test a variety of new development parts in order to assist Yamaha’s engineers in finalising the 2023 Yamaha R1 WorldSBK race package.
Razgatlıoğlu posted an impressive lap time on Pirelli’s X tyre with a 1’39.441, faster than the WorldSBK lap record, but was unable to test the softer qualifying tyre due to cooler track conditions than the compound’s optimum range. The 26-year-old finished the test in fourth position for outright lap pace and completed a total of 121 laps across the two days.
Teammate Locatelli also impressed in his work ethic to complete a massive 173 laps as well as his ability to take a step in performance, confidence and outright pace.
The season-opener in Australia at Phillip Island kicks off with a WorldSBK Official Test on 20-21 February before the race weekend starts on 24-26 February. For the team, the “long haul” starts even sooner, with the preparation of just over five tonnes of race equipment including its 2023 R1 WorldSBK race machines to depart from Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK’s UK home at Crescent Yamaha in Dorset.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu – 1’39.441
“Today we had a really good start and I felt good – I used the X race tyre and see very good lap time, 39.4 – I think is very good lap time but here the track condition changed a lot during the day. And after we work with the new parts and new swing arm, and end of today I use again the old one because we check which one is better. Finally, my feeling on the bike is much better with the whole package and I am confident. I don’t have a time for the Q tyre today, because you know, end of the day very cold. So I say, I don’t need Q tyre and also I did the very good lap time with X tyre. Maybe next time I am trying 1.38! I am ready for the season and ready for the fighting.”
Andrea Locatelli – 1’39.705
“It was another great day of testing today – okay, the second day was a bit difficult in the beginning because yesterday I rode a lot, 85 laps! With the long run yesterday in the afternoon, I was a little bit tired but today we were riding a lot also and in the end we found a really good set-up and I have a really good confidence with the bike. This is important to arrive in Phillip Island in a good way. To be honest, I am really happy – because we did not have any mistakes and we understand some parts of the bike really well. And, the weather was good! We will see what happens in Phillip Island, but we close this test in a really good way. I think we can start immediately with a really good feeling and try to push – I can’t wait to start and to fight in the first race.”
Paul Denning – Team Principal, Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK:
“We were blessed with stable and relatively warm conditions for the time of year here in Portimao – which enabled the Pata Yamaha Prometeon squad to get through a serious amount of work! For Loka, these two days were simply his best test since joining the team at the end of 2020. He covered a massive 173 laps and displayed fantastic pace both in terms of consistency and ultimate outright lap time. A great job by Andrea and all of his crew to get through the amount that they did! We hoped Loka would take a step this season, and the approach that he has taken in this test and the confidence that he’s displayed on the bike would indicate that we’ve started to move forward. Toprak, having been quickest on both days in Jerez, faced a few more challenges here in terms of evaluating new parts and – as is often the case with winter testing – suffered a few backwards steps before regaining positive momentum. In the end his test result in terms of long runs completed and ultimate lap times was maybe not exactly what we hoped for, but most importantly whenever his R1 package was to his liking, Toprak as always was immediately blisteringly fast. Phillip Island next is going to be a challenge – our competitors have taken a step forward, but we can’t wait for the season to start.”
More, from another press release issued by Yamaha:
Gardner and Aegerter Continued their Adaptation in Portimao Test
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK duo concluded a two-days of test in Portimao on 31st January-1st February, finding good lap times despite being not able to put together their best splits in a single lap to maximise the effort.
Remy Gardner and Dominique Aegerter kept working on their Yamaha R1 machines, trying many things improve the feeling on the bikes. On Day 1, the Australian completed 86 laps to find himself 9th (1’40.667), while his Swiss teammate finished with 88 in 16th (1’41.432).
Twenty-four hours later, the GRT duo focused on their qualifying performance in the final minutes: Gardner went 7th fastest (1.40.202, 90 laps), while Aegerter concluded in 15th (1.40.844, 83 laps). Both struggled on finding a clean one-shot lap; indeed, the #87 and the #77 rider have a better ideal time on their hands, which leave them confident for the beginning of the season.
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team will now move on to Australia on 20th-21st February for the Official Test in Phillip Island ahead of the beginning of the season which will take place at the same venue on 24th-26th February.
Remy Gardner: P11 – 1’40.202, 176 laps
“Two more days of testing, that was good. We improved even though we just struggled a little bit to find the correct way on day 2, but at the end we managed to improve the time. We got more experience before Phillip Island, I’m looking forward to that test to be ready for the beginning of the season.”
Dominique Aegerter: P21 – 1’40.844, 171 laps
“Riding in Portimao is always amazing, but really demanding as well. I still need to get used to the big bike, it has a lot of power and strong brakes. We tried many stuffs and I think we could not really take the full potential, but we got some good data to work on, over a basic setup that we can have for the season.”
More, from a press release issued by Team GoEleven:
LAST STOP PORTIMAO; NOW LET’S FLY TO AUSTRALIA!
Intense last week for the WorldSBK circus; after the two days in Jerez, the protagonists moved to Portimao, the splendid ups and downs of the Algarve, for an important practice session before flying to Australia, where the real 2023 debut will take place!
In Jerez, Philipp struggled to find the right feeling with the new Ducati Panigale V4-R; the riding position was the main problem to solve, in order to then concentrate the work on the set-up. Between the two tests, thanks to the work of the technicians, with the creation of special appendices on the tank, and to a lowered seat, the German rider immediately found good confidence. During the first day, Oettl was able to make a comparison between some components from last season and the new ones, so as to better adapt to the differences in behaviour. In the afternoon, then, he was able to make good use of the 2022 tyres supplied (some factory teams tested a new development of the softer compound), riding in 1.40.846 with the qualifying tyre. On the second day he immediately found an excellent feeling with the SC0, the harder compound, right from the morning. First, he stopped within four tenths of his personal best from the previous day, then he even managed to improve the time set on the qualifying tyre by a tenth. In the afternoon, which was slightly colder than yesterday the team tried to put on a couple of soft tyres, but perhaps the conditions weren’t optimal to try the time attack, thus maintaining the reference set in the late morning with “race” configuration. During day 2, the technicians had the opportunity to work on the rear shock absorber and on the electronics, trying to understand the feeling from the new swingarm and the bike in the 2023 configuration. Excellent data collected, so as to be able to analyse it, evaluate what can be improved, both in technical terms and speaking about riding style. The Go Eleven rider’s ideal time is really strong, faster than the time set, as he was unable to put together a proper fast lap.
Philipp still has to find something, he lacks a few tenths and a little confidence before he can be satisfied with the pre-season work; for this, the two pre-Australia days will be fundamental, where the official tests of WorldSBK 2023 will take place. A clear step forward, however, compared to Jerez, as we have seen, which gives Philipp a big boost in view of the (real) seasonal debut, when it will be essential to be fast and constant!
COMBINED RESULTS:
P 1 A. Bautista 1.39.035
P 2 J. Rea + 0.009
P 3 M. Rinaldi + 0.109
P 4 T. Razgatlioglu + 0.406
P 5 A. Locatelli + 0.670
…
P 13 P. Oettl + 1.754
Philipp Oettl (Rider):
“Another two interesting days of testing, I think these were much more productive compared to Jerez, especially cause we could compare both bikes, and I could adapt better to the new seat position. This was a really big step, now I feel comfortable on the new bike. Then we started working on the electronics and suspensions. I think we collected a lot of informations, from these two days, I think now it’s really important to put everything together for the Australian Round. There we will have two days of tests more, that’s quite a good luck for us, cause I still miss something and I don’t feel completely ready to race. In Portimao we found the right way to follow, and I am really optimistic for the first race! ”
Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager):
“Two very positive days here in Portimao, where we found the right ergonomics for the 2023 Ducati. Philipp found the correct feeling and was able to push, starting to work on the set-up and electronics. The objective of the test was done, but obviously it is only the starting point, we still have to find the optimal feeling he had last year in Australia. Now we will have to make the flight cases, time is very little and we still have a lot of work to do, we leave for Australia, the first round of the 2023 season. We are excited because the level of the riders and teams on track is as high as ever, but we know we have the potential to do well and get some satisfaction!”
Patricia Fernandez-West (left) and Cory West (right) will be joined by Frankie Garcia and Jake Lewis on Saddlemen's four-rider MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers team in 2023. Photo courtesy Bridgestone.
Long Beach, CA (February 2023) – Saddlemen is excited to announce that it has joined forces with Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle and Mission Foods for MotoAmerica’s 2023 King Of The Baggers Class and Mission Foods Super Hooligans Series set for eight rounds this year in conjunction with MotoAmerica.
In 2023, veteran riders Cory West and Patricia Fernandez-West will continue to represent Team Saddlemen along with two newcomers, Frankie Garcia and Jake Lewis. We are excited to expand this year with Frankie and Jake joining the team to ride in the Mission King Of The Baggers class.
Cory West #13, Patricia Fernandez-West #87, Frankie Garcia #14, and Jake Lewis #85 will each ride a race-prepped 2023 Harley-Davidson Road Glide® Limited motorcycle wrapped in matching Saddlemen race carbon-fiber bodywork and powered by a Screamin’ Eagle Twin-Cooled™ 131ci Milwaukee-Eight powertrain in the Mission King of the Baggers class.
Cory and Patricia will also compete again this season in the Mission Foods Super Hooligan Series. New for 2023 each will be riding a stripped-down and highly modified Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 featuring Saddlemen’s latest carbon-fiber race bodywork.
Expanding our effort in 2023, Hoban Brothers Racing is joining Team Saddlemen and will facilitate the team’s racing effort on the track. All of our Road Glide® motorcycles will use the recently available factory-developed racing parts from Harley-Davidson and Screamin’ Eagle. We are confident it will be an exciting year with a larger team filled with extraordinarily talented and experienced riders, partners, and sponsors, including Harley-Davidson, Screamin’ Eagle, Mission Foods, Darkhorse Motor Company, Suicide Machine Company, Motul, NAMZ Custom Cycle Products, and 4SR.
Saddlemen is an American company based in Long Beach, California, specializing in motorcycle seats and luggage. Known as the “Gel Seat Experts” since 1987, our goal has been to improve comfort, control, and overall riding experience for millions of motorcyclists worldwide.
With over 200 employees, we are riders and builders who enjoy practically everything motorcycle. Over the last 35 years, the Saddlemen team has participated in everything from Flat Track to MotoGP. Now, we are excited to announce our participation in the 2023 season of MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers, and Mission Foods Super Hooligan National Championship by Roland Sands Design. As many people already know, racing is one of the best places to test new products, and at Saddlemen, every trip to the race track or smooth ride on the open road is an opportunity to refine the products we are proud to share with our customers.
Michael Gilbert (55) in action before his season-ending injury in 2022. Photo by Karen E. Ott, courtesy Michael Gilbert Racing.
Michael Gilbert Racing Returns to MotoAmerica Supersport in 2023
Michael Gilbert is set to return to MotoAmerica Supersport in 2023 aboard a Next Generation-spec Team Hammer-prepared Suzuki GSX-R750.
The step to Supersport follows a successful, several-year run in Stock 1000 and Superbike with numerous victories and podiums, and is a fresh start and opportunity to compete at the front of a premier MotoAmerica class after a tough year of injuries. The team’s infrastructure has also been rejuvenated and expanded, including the addition of paddock-veteran Poncho Rangel as Gilbert’s crew chief for 2023.
“Coming back to Supersport is like hitting the reset button,” says Gilbert. “There’s zero question that 2022 was the most difficult season of my career in more ways than one—namely two broken legs. That said, I couldn’t be more excited to get the season going! I’m feeling healthier and stronger by the day, and I’m extremely confident in the team we’ve assembled. Having already tested a Suzuki GSX-R750 at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, I have a great feeling about the upcoming season and the bike’s potential.”
Owen Williams will also transition to Supersport as teammate to Gilbert following two years in Junior Cup. It will be a steep learning curve, but the 15-year-old Californian is excited for the challenge and guidance from Gilbert.
“I’m so proud to be back with the team again for the 2023 season and even more so to be alongside Mikey in the Supersport class,” says Williams. “There’s so much to learn on the Suzuki GSX-R750, but I know that the team will give me the best opportunity to prove myself.”
The new MotoGP sprint race will start at 3:00 p.m. local time each Saturday and the main MotoGP race will be the last thing on track each Sunday. MotoGP will race at Circuit of The Americas April 14-16, 2023. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
#SprintingInto2023: new MotoGP™ time schedule revealed!
It’s the start of a new era and the time schedule for the Grand Prix classes can now be confirmed as MotoGP™ sprints into 2023
Wednesday, 01 February 2023
New year, new MotoGP™! The season ahead is going to be the biggest yet, with more Grands Prix in more countries reaching more fans than ever before. And that’s not all, as the MotoGP™ Sprint prepares to debut across the calendar and inject even more adrenaline into Saturday’s track action.
Here’s the rundown:
FRIDAY
Friday will remain practice day and will include two sessions for MotoGP™. The first is at 10:45 and lasts 45 minutes, and the second has been extended to 60 minutes. That starts at 15:00, with the combined times from P1 and P2 determining direct entrants to Q1 and Q2 qualifying for MotoGP™. They’re no longer called Free – because they aren’t!
Moto2™ has two 40-minute sessions on Friday, and Moto3™ two 35-minute sessions. Both count towards the combined timings, but for the lower classes Saturday morning’s P3 is also taken into account.
SATURDAY
Saturday is now an absolute blockbuster. MotoGP™ has a 30-minute free practice session, similar to the previous FP4, and then it’s time to qualify as Q1 starts at 10:50 before Q2 finalises the rest of the grid at 11:15. Once that’s concluded, our new post-qualifying show will take riders to a new stage for some live interviews in front of the fans. Then, it’s time to sprint!
The MotoGP™ Sprint will have its own identity. After a condensed 15-minute grid, the new event gets underway at 15:00 every Saturday and the podium will take place at a different location – changeable depending on the Grand Prix – to take the celebrations closer to the fans. Thereafter, a Sprint press conference will take place at 16:15, where we’ll be able to hear from the top three in the Sprint Race, the polesitter and the Championship leader.
Before the Sprint, Moto2™ and Moto3™, will each have a 30-minute P3 session on Saturday morning, with the combined times from P1-P2-P3 determining their direct entrants to Q1 and Q2. Moto3™ qualify first from 12:50, before Moto2™ from 13:45.
SUNDAY
There are no Warm Up sessions for Moto2™ and Moto3™, so the MotoGP™ class opens and closes the show on Grand Prix race day. 9:45 sees a 10-minute Warm Up session get action underway, before a MotoGP™ rider fan parade at 10am lets the packed stands see their heroes ahead of lights out. The riders will head around the track and make a couple of pitstops before landing back at the Hero Walk for more face-to-face fan time.
Racing begins at 11:00 for Moto3™ before the Moto2™ race at the slightly earlier time of 12:15.
The MotoGP™ Grand Prix race begins at 14:00, with the traditional Grand Prix podium set for 15:00. The structure of Moto3™ – Moto2™ – MotoGP™ is to be maintained throughout the season, and the MotoGP™ Grand Prix race will always be the final track action on Sunday. At many events the fans will be given the chance to flood to the podium and get to the heart of the celebrations.
Sound good? Download the 2023 schedule for the MotoGP™, Moto2™ and Moto3™ classes below!
A 2023-model Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE sport tourer. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
2023 KAWASAKI NINJA H2® SX SE MOTORCYCLE
ENGINEERED TO BE FREE
Kawasaki Ninja H2® models are a testament to Kawasaki’s pursuit of innovation, performance, and passion for creating the world’s most advanced line of supercharged motorcycles. For 2023, the Ninja H2® SX SE motorcycle returns to Kawasaki’s hypersport lineup, blending performance and ultimate real-world handling with Kawasaki’s most advanced suite of rider assist technologies to date.
The Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE brings the latest in electronically controlled suspension, braking, and rider aid technologies to the supercharged hyperbike platform, making it the ultimate sport touring package. New for 2023 is the addition of Auto Hi-Beam (AHB), which automatically turns the high beam lights on and off as necessary depending on brightness ahead. The Ninja H2 SX SE is powered by an exhilarating, balanced supercharged 998cc inline four-cylinder engine, which utilizes Kawasaki’s knowledge of precision engine tuning to distribute power to where it is most useful, in the low to mid-range for both long distance touring and daily riding. With this powerful engine at its core, Kawasaki has created one of the most advanced and well-balanced motorcycles in performance, comfort, and efficiency, to expand your supercharged journey.
Developed with the ability to go above and beyond the daily applications of today’s sportbike rider, the Ninja H2 SX SE is Kawasaki’s most advanced sport tourer ever and utilizes a balanced supercharged engine that offers optimal output performance in the low to mid RPM range, all while achieving excellent fuel efficiency. This highly refined package offers an unrivaled level of performance and comfort, with agile handling akin to its superbike counterparts.
Kawasaki Intelligent Proximity Activation Start System (KIPASS)
AUTO HI-BEAM (AHS)
New for 2023, the Ninja H2® SX SE now has an AHB feature that utilizes a camera sensor to assess brightness of the lights of vehicles ahead, streetlights, and more. AHB automatically turns the bike’s high beams on or off as necessary based on brightness. For this feature to function, the dimmer/passing switch must be set to high beam, the bike must be traveling above 12.4mph, and it must be dark. Once the system has been engaged, the icon will be displayed in green on the instrument screen.
An illustration of the Auto Hi-Beam system on the 2023 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
ENGINE & CLUTCH
A balanced supercharged 998cc inline four-cylinder engine is designed to deliver both power and fuel efficiency on the 2023 Ninja H2® SX SE, focusing on low-mid range power delivery with exhilarating acceleration that prioritizes everyday usability in street-riding conditions. Cam timing contributes to the overall engine performance, while the resin silencer added to the secondary air inlet reduces mechanical (intake) noise and the straight-pipe style layout delivers excellent torque to benefit everyday ride ability.
A dog-ring transmission complements the powerful engine and facilitates smooth, quick shifting. A hydraulic assist and slipper clutch offers light lever operation and the volume of the hydraulic fluid routed to the clutch plates delivers a smooth clutch release. As a result, the shift load due to the plates dragging can be minimized, which is noticeable when stopped, and it’s easier to shift into neutral.
TFT COLOR INSTRUMENTATION WITH SMARTPHONE INTEGRATION (SPIN)
A large, easy-to-read 6.5” full-color TFT instrumentation screen adds a high-tech appearance to the cockpit. The TFT instrumentation is complemented by multiple display modes (black, white or automatic) and smartphone connectivity as well as compatibility with Kawasaki Smartphone Integration (SPIN) to offer riders a wide range of information. The home screen display is divided into three areas, upper, middle, and lower. Display functions in the upper area include integrated riding mode, gear position indicator, distance setting indicator, ACC indicator, tachometer, Kawasaki Quick Shift (KQS) indicator, Kawasaki Engine Brake Control (KEBC) indicator, and a multifunction gauge that visually shows the boost pressure plus the rider’s choice of throttle application, front brake pressure or G-force. The middle area display functions include a large digital speedometer, cornering light indicator, service indicator, Vehicle Hold Assist (VHA) indicator, and economical riding indicator. In the lower area, a multifunction display allows riders to scroll through functions such as odometer, dual trip meters, bank angle display and bank angle recording function, tire pressure, boost pressure, boost temperature, current and average fuel consumption, remaining range, average speed, total time, and battery voltage. Additional display functions that can also be accessed include fuel gauge, Kawasaki Electronically Controlled Suspension (KECS) preload mode, outside temperature, ice warning, connected device indicator, and clock and coolant temperature.
Kawasaki’s smartphone-based infotainment app (SPIN) enables various third party applications to be downloaded and mirrored on the cockpits TFT display. Basic functions available in the app include telephone, map display, music, calendar, and contacts. Additionally, riders can opt to download third party apps to add to their Kawasaki SPIN library to be able to interact with them on the TFT display. Available apps include Sygic (navigation), SENA (headset communication), and more.
Using Kawasaki SPIN provides riders access to several great functions, including:
Vehicle Info: information such as fuel gauge, odometer, maintenance schedule, which can all be viewed via the smartphone
Riding Log: GPS route information as well as vehicle running information can be logged and viewed via the smartphone
Telephone Notices: when a call or mail is received by the smartphone, this is indicated on the instrument display
The left profile view of a the 2023 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
ADVANCED RIDER ASSIST SYSTEM (ARAS)
The Ninja H2® SX SE motorcycle continues to boast the latest cutting-edge technology, which includes the Advanced Rider Assist System (ARAS) that features surround-sensing functions based on radar sensors that generates a more relaxed riding experience. Oftentimes, riding in heavy traffic and maintaining the correct distance to the vehicle in front takes a great deal of concentration and can become strenuous over longer periods. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) maintains the speed set by the rider but adjusts the vehicle speed to maintain a suitable following distance from the vehicle in front. When the system is operating, a signal is shown on the instrument panel, including the symbol showing green when following a vehicle ahead and grey when there is no vehicle ahead. Once operational speed gets to a certain point, which varies in each gear, the system will disengage, and the rider will need to operate the brakes manually. Pressing the cruise control button on the left side of the handlebar turns the system off. Operating the brakes or engaging the clutch for several seconds causes ACC to be temporarily disengaged and closing the throttle completely will also disengage the system. Accelerating (throttle override) or shifting gears (as long as the new gear’s minimum operation speed is met) does not disengage the system unless the maximum speed allowed is reached.
Bosch’s development of Forward Collision Warning (FCW) was designed to reduce the risk of a rear-end collision or to mitigate its consequences through front-facing radar sensor monitors. The system is active as soon as the vehicle starts, and it supports the rider in all relevant speed ranges. If the system detects that another vehicle is in too close of range, and the rider does not react to the situation, it warns the rider with a bright flashing red LED light above the instrument panel and a warning is also shown on the TFT display. Riders can set the alert timing according to preference with options including early, medium or late. FCW can also be turned off, which will be indicated on the TFT display.
The Blind Spot Detection (BSD) function helps keep a lookout in all directions to assist motorcyclists with lane changes. A rear-facing radar sensor serves as the blind spot detection’s eye, registering objects in hard-to-see areas on both the left- and right-hand sides. When an approaching vehicle is detected, an LED built into the rearview mirror will illuminate, a first on a Kawasaki motorcycle. If a rider indicates the intent to change lanes by switching on the turn signal while a vehicle is detected in the blind spot, the mirror LED will flash. BSD can be turned off and will be indicated on the TFT display when doing so.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) allows tire air pressure to continuously be monitored while riding, adding reassurance for the rider on long rides. Tire pressure sensors are used to alert the rider when tire pressure falls below 31.9 PSI through a low-pressure warning that is displayed on the TFT meter.
VEHICLE HOLD ASSIST (VHA)
Activated when the rider has stopped and firmly applies the brake(s), Vehicle Hold Assist (VHA) engages the rear brake to allow the rider to relax the hand brake. The ABS pump exerts pressure to engage the rear brake, and a light/signal is indicated on the TFT meter to let the rider know the brake hand can be relaxed and the bike will remain in place. The system disengages automatically when the rider turns the throttle to accelerate, when the side stand goes down, or 10-minutes after activation. The rider can also disengage the system by quickly squeezing and releasing the brake lever (within 1 second).
KAWASAKI INTELLIGENT PROXIMITY ACTIVATION START SYSTEM (KIPASS)
The Kawasaki Intelligent Proximity Activation Start System (KIPASS) master key system allows remote activation of the main switch and steering lock of the Ninja H2 SX SE motorcycle. The system offers increased convenience while acting as a deterrent to theft and vandalism. With the compact key fob in a pocket, the KIPASS sends out a signal that is picked up and recognized by the ECU. For added security, an immobilizer function is incorporated into the ignition system. As a flagship model, the key fob of the Ninja H2 SX SE is adorned with the Kawasaki River Mark.
BOSCH 10.3ME ABS IMU
The Ninja H2® SX SE is Kawasaki’s first model to integrate an FI-ECU with torque-demand capabilities and the new IMU measures in six degrees of freedom (DOF) with a compact, boost circuit-equipped ABS with high computational power. IMU enables inertia along 6 DOF to be monitored. With the new unit, acceleration along longitudinal transverse and vertical axes, plus roll rate, pitch rate and yaw rate are all measured. Feedback from the IMU is used to give clearer real-time picture of chassis orientation. With more sophisticated torque-demand capabilities, the FI-ECU is able to adjust torque in response to external direction, which enables it to work in concert with the ABS. This coordinated control of both the engine and brakes is essential for delivering smooth operation in systems like the new ACC. A boost circuit capable of increasing fluid pressure at the brake calipers enables the brakes to be activated independent of direct rider input, which is required for the new ACC and VHA systems.
The Ninja H2® SX SE features KECS with Skyhook technology which helps support the motorcycle’s sprung weight and modulates the suspension damping force to allow the wheels to track road dips and bumps while maintaining the motorcycle’s vertical position with minimal disturbance. The updated software incorporates Showa’s Skyhook EERA (Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment) technology to deliver an even more composed ride. Showa’s Skyhook software, carefully fine-tuned by Kawasaki engineers to ensure the sporty riding character of the Ninja H2 SX SE was preserved, delivers a smooth ride as it continually adapts to the road surface in real time. Combining high-level mechanical components with the latest electronic control technology, KECS offers both the suppleness to offer riding comfort in a wide range of riding situations, as well as the firm damping to facilitate sport riding. Handling the suspension duties is a sporty 43mm inverted Showa cartridge fork and a high-spec Showa Balance Free Rear Cushion (BFRC) lite rear shock – similar to the rear suspension used on the Ninja® ZX™-10R sportbike, except it also features electronically adjustable preload.
In the BFRC lite shock, damping force is generated in an external Damping Force Chamber, and compression and rebound damping are generated independently, allowing the whole surface of the main piston to act as a pump, pushing oil towards the valves. This configuration also helps to suppress pressure balance fluctuations as a result of shock compression and extension.
Compression and rebound damping for both the forks and shock are generated (and adjusted) electronically via the KECS system that is controlled by a solenoid valve with direct actuation and allows for extremely quick reaction time. Riders can choose from four modes: Sport, Road, Rain, and Manual. KECS then adjusts to the road surface environment in real time to provide the ideal damping, considering vehicle speed, stroke speed and deceleration. Riders can electronically control the rear shock preload settings as well. KECS offers three different preload settings: rider only, rider with luggage, and rider with passenger and luggage. Riders can fine-tune these settings with 10 levels of adjustment for each.
The forks and shock have built-in stroke sensors that provide real-time stroke speed and compression information. The sensor coils provide input to the KECS ECU every millisecond. This is complemented by information provided by the IMU (acceleration/deceleration) every 10 milliseconds and the FI ECU (vehicle speed) every 10 milliseconds. The KECS ECU then directs current to the solenoids to adjust damping as required by the situation.
STYLING
Sleek lines give the Ninja H2® SX SE a sharp, compact look, while maintaining its aggressive and seductive Ninja® image. The front face design points to its supercharged roots and instantly communicates that it’s more than the ordinary sport touring machine. The upper cowl features angular lines and a slim, compact impression even with the addition of the radar sensor, which is positioned below the headlight. The radar sensor sits behind a cover, specially designed to not interfere with the radar function. The Kawasaki River Mark emblem is proudly displayed on the upper cowl – a true reflection of the high-level performance, comfort, and quality that the Ninja H2 SX SE offers. Full fairing bodywork adds to the bike’s sporty image and helps to reduce heat that can be felt by the rider.
In order to match the upper cowl, simple surfaces have been added to the side cowl and contribute to the styling. The upper cowl is compact to accommodate the front radar sensor, and a LED headlight is positioned at the front of the upper cowl, contributing to the intense design. It features integrated position lamps that are crystal-like in appearance, adding a high-class touch. LED cornering lights are built into each side of the fairing in sets of three to help illuminate the road when cornering. Aerodynamically shaped mirrors offer a clear view of the rear, even when the Kawasaki Genuine Accessories 28L hard saddlebag set is fitted, and feature single-bulb LED-type turn signals. Rear-facing radar is built into the rear fender, and like the front radar, is cleverly hidden by a specially designed cover. LED turn signals contribute to the bike’s high-quality image and a handcrafted two-color “Supercharged” emblem is fitted to communicate the flagship status of the Ninja H2 SX SE.
ERGONOMICS
An ergonomically designed front seat provides comfort for spending long hours in the saddle as well as accommodates position changes for sportier riding. Both rider and passenger seats add to rider and passenger comfort. The wide rear seat features a flat surface at the front to help keep the passenger from sliding forward under braking. Under the rear seat, a USB-type power outlet offers a convenient source for powering accessories or personal items. The riding position of the Ninja H2® SX SE offers a relaxed bend that is comfortable for in-town riding and long touring and features grip heaters to add to the comfort on cold days. The grip heater wiring is routed inside of the handlebar for a clean design.
BRAKES & WHEELS
The Ninja H2® SX SE comes equipped with high-grade Brembo Stylema front calipers. The design of key sections allows stiffness to be maintained while enabling a direct connection to the piston area. The Stylema calipers quickly cool thanks to optimal airflow around the brake pads, space around the pistons, and an opening that allows air to exit from the central bridge. The dual radial mount opposed 4-piston Stylema front calipers grip a pair of semi-floating 320 mm discs, which complement the technical innovation and premium quality of the Ninja H2 SX SE. Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22 tires provide a good balance of sport and touring performance.
INTEGRATED RIDING MODES
All-inclusive modes that link KTRC, Power Mode and KECS allow riders to efficiently set traction control, power delivery, and suspension characteristics to suit a given riding situation. Riders can choose from four settings: Sport, Road, Rain or a Manual setting. In the manual rider mode, each of the systems can be set independently. The Sport setting enables riders to enjoy sporty handling riding. The Road setting provides comfortable riding characteristics over a wide range of situations, from city riding to highway cruising and rural roads. The Rain setting offers rider reassurance when riding on a low traction surface.
HIGHLY DURABLE PAINT
Kawasaki’s Highly Durable Paint features a special top coat that allows certain types of scratches to repair themselves, enabling the paint to maintain its high quality finish through normal wear and tear†. The self-healing is achieved through microscopic soft and hard segments within the top coat working like a chemical spring, creating a trampoline effect that absorbs many impacts.
† Notes:
1. Recovery can take a week or longer.
2. The paint will not recover in the case of scratches caused by a coin or key, or zip fasteners.
KAWASAKI GENUINE ACCESSORIES
For 2023, a variety of Kawasaki Genuine Accessories (KGA) are available for the Ninja H2® SX SE, including a high front seat, low front seat, color matched seat cowl, oil cap, helmet lock, and clear windshield that is 55mm lower. Additional accessories include frame sliders, a 28L hard saddlebag set, bag fitting kit, color panel kit, trim set, and one key system.
Ninja H2 SX SE
Color: Emerald Blazed Green / Metallic Diablo Black / Metallic Graphite Gray
MSRP: $28,000
Availability: Available Now
ABOUT KAWASAKI
Kawasaki started full-scale production of motorcycles over a half century ago. The first Kawasaki motorcycle engine was designed based on technical know-how garnered from the development and production of aircraft engines, and Kawasaki’s entry into the motorcycle industry was driven by the company’s constant effort to develop new technologies. Numerous new Kawasaki models introduced over the years have helped shape the market, and in the process have created enduring legends based on their unique engineering, power, design and riding pleasure. In the future, Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. is committed to maintaining and furthering these strengths which will surely give birth to new legends.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, side x sides, and JET SKI® watercraft through a network of approximately 1,100 independent retailers, with close to an additional 7,700 retailers specializing in general purpose engines. Kawasaki and its affiliates employ nearly 3,100 people in the United States, with approximately 260 of them located at Kawasaki’s Foothill Ranch, California headquarters.
Kawasaki’s tagline, “Let the good times roll.®”, is recognized worldwide. The Kawasaki brand is synonymous with powerful, stylish and category-leading vehicles. Information about Kawasaki’s complete line of powersports products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.com.
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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 13, 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
