On January 22, Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. hosted an event to celebrate the renewed partnership of Monster Energy and Yamaha Racing. The event coincided with the AMA Supercross round in San Diego and featured appearances by Yamaha Pro riders, including 2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo, who had just traveled in from the official Monster Energy Yamaha team introduction in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Quartararo arrived to the event early, stayed late, chatted freely with anyone who approached him, and indulged an exclusive interview request from Roadracingworld.com without hesitation.
Roadracingworld.com: In December, you announced on social media that you broke your left hand while riding motocross, but we never saw any details about the incident. Is it a big secret?
Fabio Quartararo: No, just embarrassing (laughs). I went over a jump and I was too long. So, I landed in the flat and went over the handlebars.
Fabio Quartararo with his freshly broken left hand. Photo courtesy Fabio Quartararo.
RW.com: And exactly which bones did you break?
FQ: I don’t know how you say in English, but it’s like pyramidal [triquetral] and semi-luniare [lunate], the one on top of the radius and [ulna]. It’s more in the hand than wrist.
RW.com: But not the scaphoid?
FQ: No, no, no. Not the scaphoid. I was scared that it was the scaphoid, but it was OK.
RW.com: How is it now?
FQ: It’s good. It’s five weeks, close to six weeks right now, and I will be back on a motocross [bike] on Tuesday [January 24]. I’m really looking forward to riding again.
RW.com: When you tried the new Yamaha YZR-M1 at the Misano test you were very happy. And then when you tried the new bike again at Valencia you were not so happy. Was the feeling that different?
FQ: Yes, I would say the feeling was pretty bad. At Misano and Barcelona (Catalunya), it was pretty good, so I’m really looking forward to the next test in Sepang.
Fabio Quartararo (20) testing the 2023 YZR-M1 at Valencia. Photo courtesy Dorna.
RW.com: Will you know it’s better on the first lap?
FQ: Yes, straightaway. In the first five laps, I will know if the bike is good not, especially on the top speed. For the chassis and everything you need to do more [laps], but on the engine I will know straightaway if it is better or not.
RW.com: This year we will have two races each MotoGP weekend. Will you change how you train to prepare for the races?
FQ: Yeah. It’s going to be different and you need to be able to adapt quite quickly on the new format. We will need to be super smart and the team will need to understand how fast we need to adapt race by race.
RW.com: I imagine with the shorter sprint race you can be full gas and not worry about the tire?
FQ: Exactly. No worries about the tire. The fuel, we will still have a [capacity] regulation, but let’s see. I don’t have much info about it, but it’s going to be great.
2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo and his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1 in its new, 2023 livery. Photo by David Swarts.
RW.com: We were writing something recently and we remembered that you are still the second-youngest rider in MotoGP (23 years old) even though you have been there four years. Crazy, yes?
FQ: Yeah, it’s pretty nice. It’s a nice feeling. I think it means that I was pretty young when I started and we are doing pretty well.
RW.com: Do you see yourself racing for a long time?
FQ: It depends on what’s a long time for you, but I wish to be 10 more years in MotoGP. It depends a lot on how it’s going with injuries. Hopefully, I will not get so many injuries, but of course I would like to ride until I’m 32 or 33.
RW.com: If I were to say there is something about you that reminds me of Valentino [Rossi], your personality or the way you show your emotions, would that be something you would agree with?
FQ: Of course, to have my personality is something great because some riders can be super fast but don’t have the personality. And I feel like OK, I have my own personality. It’s different to the other one, but it’s true that many people say the charisma I have is close to Valentino. This is a great thing.
RW.com: Thank you.
FQ: You are welcome.
Quartararo said he planned to stay and train in Southern California for the next two weeks, before traveling directly to the pre-season MotoGP tests at Sepang.
An overhead view of the factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23s. The bike in the middle has Bagnaia’s stickers on the windscreen. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The front and rear views of the factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23s. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The view from the seat of Enea Bastianini’s Ducati Desmosedici GP23. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The cockpit of Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati Desmosedici GP23. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The buttons on the left handlebar of a factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23 including lock/unlock buttons that are probably related to the holeshot device. Photo courtesy Ducati.
What looks like a fuel tank on a factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23 is actually a cover for most of the electronics, which receive all important cooling air from the ducts. The fuel tank starts at the filler cap and extends down and back under the rider’s seat. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The ram air intake on a Ducati Desmosedici GP23. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The upper aerodynamic winglets on Enea Bastianini’s Ducati Desmosedici GP23. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The mid-fairing aerodynamic winglets and lower aerodynamic ducts on a factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The tail of a factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23 fitted with vertical aerodynamic winglets and an electronic valve motor visible on top of the Akrapovic tailpipe. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Another view of the tail of a factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23. The square-shaped depression is where a GPS receiver usually goes, but the big deal here — as mechanics all over the world are cringing at — is the mismatched fasteners. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The front end of a factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23 with its carbon-fiber Öhlins forks and their carbon-fiber streamlining. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Another view of the front end of a factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23 with wiring leading to all sorts of sensors related to wheel speed, braking pressure, brake temperature, suspension travel, etc. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team unveils the liveries for the 2023 WorldSBK season in a spectacular joint presentation with the Ducati Lenovo Team MotoGP
The beautiful snow-covered Alps of Madonna di Campiglio (TN, Italy) provided the backdrop for the spectacular presentation of the two teams that won everything in last year’s two world motorbike championships.
On one side the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team that dominated in WorldSBK with Alvaro Bautista, on the other the Ducati Lenovo Team that triumphed in MotoGP with Francesco Bagnaia.
The 2023 season will bring exciting challenges also to the champions’ teammates, Michael Rinaldi with his Ducati Panigale V4R and Enea Bastianini with his Ducati Desmosedici GP.
During the unveiling of the four bikes held at Pala Campiglio, the packed audience of authorities, sponsors, and guests witnessed also the surprise of the number 1 on both bikes.
In fact, both the champions will ride in the next MotoGP and WorldSBK campaign with the number one on their Ducati.
Celebration time for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, however, is already over. Riders and staff will leave Madonna di Campiglio tomorrow morning to travel to Jerez della Frontera where the first tests of the 2023 season will get underway on Wednesday, followed by the Portimao sessions scheduled for 31 January and 1 February. The first race weekend (preceded by two more days of testing) is set for 24-26 February at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia.
Stefano Cecconi (Team Principal Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“We have worked hard over the last few years to achieve the result of last season. Winning the title, however, does not represent a point of arrival for us, but rather an extra stimulus to keep on developing and increasing our professionalism and commitment. Therefore, we will start again from the certainties of Alvaro, the desire of Michael, the performance of the Ducati Panigale V4 R and the inestimable human value of the entire team. It will be an unprecedented season for Aruba.it Racing – Ducati: we will probably be considered the team to beat. This means responsibility, concentration, determination but also pride, a sense of belonging and a desire to defend the position we have conquered without ever losing faith in our means, even when the results were not what we hoped for. We have represented Ducati in the Superbike World Championship since 2015 and we want to continue to do so in the best possible way in the 2023 season. That’s why I wish the riders and all the team members the best of luck.”
Claudio Domenicali (Amministratore Delegato Ducati Motor Holding)
“Today we live another remarkable moment for Ducati. For the first time in the Company’s history, we are launching together both MotoGP and WorldSBK official teams, the Ducati Lenovo Team and Aruba.it – Racing Ducati team. Resuming all together is a beautiful way to celebrate the value and skills of the best Ducati Corse squad ever, whose everyday work has taken us to the top of the world. After the incredible successes of the past racing season, the challenge of reconfirming ourselves fascinates us. I am happy that it starts from a location like Madonna di Campiglio, a perfect expression of the “Made in Italy” of which we are proud ambassadors. Ducati is a brand distinguished by style, performance and technology, where passion for racing is a central element. Working while having fun is part of our philosophy. It adds value to what we do and allows us to commit even more by managing fatigue better. The beauty and opportunities of the mountains that welcome us are the perfect opportunities to combine the commitments of the presentation event with moments of pure delight to give us the right energy for the start of the season.”
Luigi Dall’Igna (Direttore Generale di Ducati Corse)
“2022 has been an incredible year for us. Alvaro and the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team have won everything that could be achieved in the World Superbike Championship bringing back to Bologna the Manufacturers’, Riders’ and Teams’ World Titles that had been missing for so many years. These successes represent a source of motivation for us this year. The goal is not just trying to repeat ourselves but also trying to surpass ourselves. Obviously, it won’t be easy. The level of the production based World Championship increases season by season, as the incredible duels and heated battles from last year demonstrated and 2023 will not be any less! We are ready for another exciting challenge, knowing that we will be able to count once again on the winning combination of reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista and our Panigale V4 R machine, but also on Michael Ruben Rinaldi in his third season with the factory squad. We can’t wait to start the new season to defend the three World Titles”
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #19)
“We have a new challenge ahead of us. After a fantastic season in which we won with Ducati in both Superbike and MotoGP, 2023 will inevitably be a difficult year. Racing with the number 1, in fact, means that our objective can only be one: to win. We’ll have a lot of pressure but at the same time we’ll have to keep calm, try to work with high concentration but also with serenity. We’ll have a new bike and even if it won’t be extremely different from the 2022 one, the work that we’ll be able to do before the first race is crucial: we have to fix all the details that will allow us to get the best performance. I’d also like to address a thought to all the Ducatistas: I’m very proud of all our fans who followed us last season, and I hope that with the result we’ve achieved, in 2023 there will be even more of them supporting us at circuits all over the world. I am a Ducatista and I feel lucky to be able to defend the colours of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team”.
Michael Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #21)
“I start this new adventure with great enthusiasm. Together with my team we have always made progress in the last two years, managing to improve our results. As a team we won the three titles last season and this means that the package is very strong. During the winter, we have analyzed the points we have to focus on, in order to improve and to be competitive for the title race. I have worked a lot over the last few weeks and I will continue to do so with great dedication as I want to always be able to express my maximum potential. There will be a lot of new things, also on the bike, so I can’t wait to get started. I want to thank Aruba and Ducati for the opportunity to ride this beautiful Panigale V4 R and be part of such an ambitious team”.
Campioni in Pista: the Ducati Lenovo Team unveils 2023 livery at Madonna di Campiglio
Ducati unveils official MotoGP and WorldSBK teams’ liveries in Madonna di Campiglio during the “Campioni in Pista” event
The Ducati Lenovo Team is ready to defend the Riders’, Constructors’ and Teams’ World Titles secured in MotoGP in 2022 with reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia
Enea Bastianini, Bagnaia’s new teammate, makes his debut wearing the Ducati Lenovo Team colours
Bagnaia’s Desmosedici GP sports the World Champion’s number 1
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding: “Working while having fun is part of our philosophy. It adds value to what we do and allows us to commit even more by managing fatigue better”
Madonna di Campiglio (TN, Italy), 23rd January 2023 – At the Palacampiglio of Madonna di Campiglio, in the enchanting setting of the snow-capped Dolomites, the livery of the Desmosedici GP bikes with which the Ducati Lenovo Team will take part in the 2023 MotoGP World Championship has been unveiled. The official Ducati team, which this year celebrates 20 years since its debut in the premier class in 2003, is ready to defend the Constructors’, Teams’ and Riders’ World Titles clinched last year together with reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia in his third season with the Borgo Panigale based squad. Enea Bastianini, who finished third in the 2022 World Championship with the Desmosedici GP of the Gresini Racing team, will be alongside him wearing the official Ducati colours for the first time. Everything is set for another exciting season, with the first race out of 21 scheduled to take place in Portimão, Portugal, on 26th March. In addition to the traditional Sunday race, starting this year, a sprint race on Saturday at each Grands Prix will add more excitement to the 2023 MotoGP World Championship.
The presentation, held this morning in front of an affluent audience composed of Ducati’s partners and sponsors, local authorities, members of the national and international press, as well as other important guests, took place during the “Campioni in Pista” event, organized by Ducati in collaboration with the Azienda per il Turismo Madonna di Campiglio, Trentino Marketing and with the participation of partners Lenovo, Aruba.it, Monster Energy, Shell and Audi. As always, the unveiling of the Desmosedici GP 2023 has been the most exciting moment, with Bagnaia and Bastianini unveiling the new livery, which again this year maintains the classic Ducati red colour scheme, enhanced by some carbon details and in a lighter shade of red. Another novelty is that Bagnaia chose the World Champion’s number 1 to ride the entire 2023 season in MotoGP.
Bagnaia’s Desmosedici GP has not been the only Ducati to sport the number 1 on stage. The event was further enriched by the presence of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, the official Superbike team of the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer, which secured the Riders’, Teams’ and Manufacturers World Titles in the 2022 World Superbike Championship. Also, on the Panigale V4 R of Spanish champion Alvaro Bautista, in his second consecutive year with Ducati, the number 1 stands out. Michael Ruben Rinaldi will continue to ride alongside him for the third consecutive season as an official Ducati rider in WorldSBK.
Claudio Domenicali (CEO of Ducati Motor Holding)
“Today we live another remarkable moment for Ducati. For the first time in the Company’s history, we are launching together both MotoGP and WorldSBK official teams, the Ducati Lenovo Team and Aruba.it – Racing Ducati team. Resuming all together is a beautiful way to celebrate the value and skills of the best Ducati Corse squad ever, whose everyday work has taken us to the top of the world. After the incredible successes of the past racing season, the challenge of reconfirming ourselves fascinates us. I am happy that it starts from a location like Madonna di Campiglio, a perfect expression of the “Made in Italy” of which we are proud ambassadors. Ducati is a brand distinguished by style, performance and technology, where passion for racing is a central element. Working while having fun is part of our philosophy. It adds value to what we do and allows us to commit even more by managing fatigue better. The beauty and opportunities of the mountains that welcome us are the perfect opportunities to combine the commitments of the presentation event with moments of pure delight to give us the right energy for the start of the season.”
Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager)
“The start of a new season is always exciting, and this year, even more following a 2022 destined to remain in history. Replicating last year’s results will be challenging, but our goal is always to surpass ourselves and constantly improve. In MotoGP, in addition to World Champion Pecco Bagnaia, we will also be able to count on Enea Bastianini, third in the World Championship last year with Ducati team Gresini Racing. We are convinced that both our riders will be, again this year, among the protagonists of the Championship. For sure, the competition will be even higher. There are many strong riders on the grid, and the other manufacturers will certainly have worked hard during the winter. However, we have not been outdone, so we look forward to starting this new season and defending the three titles we won last year.”
Luca Rossi (President of Intelligent Devices Group at Lenovo)
“After an extremely successful year, we’re thrilled to kick off this new season together. We are proud of all that we’ve achieved over the past five years, since the beginning of our technology partnership with Ducati, and we are excited to continue working together to lead innovation and constantly improve on-track performance. Technology plays a crucial role in the challenging world of motorsports. From real-time data analysis, artificial intelligence, and simulations to smart collaboration and augmented reality, Lenovo is working closely with Ducati to unleash the value of digital transformation and achieve even better results. Building on our common values of speed, dedication, team spirit and a focus on results, we’ll continue moving forward toward a faster, safer, and more exciting sport.”
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Francesco Bagnaia (#1, Ducati Lenovo Team)
“My winter break was shorter than usual because of all the commitments after winning the World Championship, but now I am charged up and eager to start the season. I have missed the Desmosedici GP and my team, and I can’t wait to get back on track. I could not decide whether to continue using the number 63 or switch to the number 1, and in the end, I decided on the latter. Seeing it on the bike is beautiful, and now my goal will be to do everything to keep it. It won’t be easy because I expect even tougher competition than last year, with many rivals ready to fight for the title: however, I am aware that I have the best bike and team to aim high again in 2023. Thanks again to all of Ducati and my team! I am ready to resume our adventure together.”
Enea Bastianini. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Enea Bastianini (#23, Ducati Lenovo Team)
“Wearing the colours of the official team is a great emotion, and now it is up to me to prove that I deserve this opportunity. I am excited about the new season! Fortunately, I won’t have to wait long to be able to ride my red Desmosedici GP bike on track. In a couple of weeks, we will be in Sepang for the first test of the year, and it will be a crucial moment to get to know the guys in the team better and, above all, to start working on the bike. It’s going to be a very competitive year, and there will definitely be easy and more difficult moments to face, but I’m ready for anything! Thanks again to Claudio, Gigi, Paolo, Davide and the whole Ducati! I will give 100% as always.”
The Ducati Lenovo Team riders, together with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team duo, will be in Piazza Sissi, in the centre of Madonna di Campiglio, at 5:00pm to greet all their fans accompanied by the entertainment offered by Monster Energy, a new partner of Ducati Corse.
Tomorrow, Bagnaia and Bastianini will also experience the thrills on four wheels by participating in the Audi Driving Experience on the frozen lake in Madonna di Campiglio and enjoying a day of skiing on the spectacular slopes of the Pearl of the Dolomites.
Tomac Makes It Two-for-Two in Title Chase with San Diego Supercross Win
Lawrence Also Repeats with 250SX Class Win
San Diego, Calif., – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac grabbed his second victory of the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season in front of a sold-out crowd inside Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California. Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb also replicated his Round 1 finish and earned second place at Round 3, although the race was only the second time the riders have faced off in 2023. Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia held off pressure right until the checkers to take the final podium spot at the first Supercross event held inside the new stadium.
In Western Regional 250SX Class racing, Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence also repeated his opening round win with a nearly flawless ride. Tomac and Lawrence extended their points lead in the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season as well as toward the inaugural 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship of 2023.
Eli Tomac (1) earned his 46th 450SX Class victory at the first Supercross race held in the all-new Snapdragon Stadium. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Just as at the previous round, Team Honda HRC’s Colt Nichols got through the first corner ahead of 21 other racers to nab the 450SX Class Main Event Holeshot. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo was quickly into the lead for the opening laps of the 20-minute plus one lap race. The racers who share the past four championships, Webb and Tomac, battled each other as they closed on the leader. Webb took over the front spot two and a half minutes into the race; Tomac also got around Cianciarulo and four minutes after the gate had dropped Tomac made the pass on Webb for the lead. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson pushed forward into third place as a battle brewed between Barcia and Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen for fourth.
Just past the race’s halfway point Anderson crashed in a turn, turning the battle between Barcia and Roczen into a podium position fight. Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton was right behind and the three riders circled the track within a breath of each other. In the final laps Webb pulled close to Tomac’s rear fender, knocking the Yamaha rider’s lead down to just 1.4 seconds. Tomac held strong for the win, his second of the two races run so far this season.
Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence won the first two 250SX Class races of 2023 convincingly. There is already buzz about a possible perfect season which would put the Honda rider in a tie as the winningest all-time 125/250 SX rider. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
When the gate dropped for the Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event, Jett Lawrence darted to the lead ahead of Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Enzo Lopes, Smartop MotoConcepts Racing Honda’s Mitchell Oldenburg, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire. Contact in the tight opening lap pushed Hampshire back but he quickly worked his way back to sixth and started picking off the riders ahead of him. Teammates Lopes and Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Phil Nicoletti scrapped over second while McAdoo and Hampshire slowly pushed forward. Five minutes into the 15-minute plus one lap race McAdoo put his Kawasaki into second and matched lap times with Lawrence, just two seconds ahead. Two minutes later Hampshire reached third. From there Lawrence pulled out some breathing room. As the race clock neared :30 remaining Hampshire cut under McAdoo to match his Round 1 performance and earn second place points.
The series travels back up the California coast to Angel Stadium of Anaheim for a race that pays points to both the Monster Energy Supercross season and the SuperMotocross World Championship series. Monster Energy AMA Supercross Round 2 was postponed due to area flooding and has found its new place on the schedule; the racers will battle at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland, California on February 18th. The Oakland Supercross will go into the record books as Round 2 of the 2023 season but will sit just after Round 6 on the calendar.
2023 is already proving to be a thrilling season on the track as well as off with the formation of the SuperMotocross World Championship. The new World Championship League brings champions and contenders of both the technical Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, and the wide-open AMA Pro Motocross season together for two exciting Playoff races and one Final race in October to crown a single champion in each class. The 450 Class winner will pocket a one million dollar win bonus and the 250 Class champ will take home $500,000.
From January through October all 31 SuperMotocross World Championship rounds are available live on PeacockTV. Select rounds will be broadcast domestically on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC. SuperMotocross.tv provides international coverage of the events.
Nothing matches the thrill of seeing the action live. Tickets are on sale now for all remaining Monster Energy AMA Supercross events. For tickets, race results, feature stories, and airtimes on Peacock, NBC, USA Network, and CNBC please go to SupercrossLIVE.com.
450SX Class podium (riders left to right) Justin Barcia, Eli Tomac, and Cooper Webb. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
450SX Class Results
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha
2. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM
3. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS
4. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
5. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
6. Dylan Ferrandis, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha
7. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki
8. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki
For many, Arai defines the concept of premium helmet. Few brands can boast of the company’s reputation for fit, overall comfort, and safety. And while trends in helmets, as well as companies, have come and gone since Arai was founded nearly a century ago, Arai has pursued a course of steady improvement and incremental changes, always building on the progress it has made.
Arai’s new logo vent provides significantly more airflow at low speeds, and is designed to break away in a crash. Photo courtesy Arai.
Arai says that has made major breakthroughs in helmet safety more and more difficult to accomplish. In recent years, refinement rather than revolution has defined Arai’s approach to its newest models.
The Contour-X rear spoiler’s design is based on that of the company’s Corsair-X helmet, but reconfigured to meet the needs of the sport-touring rider. Like the logo vent, the spoiler is designed to break away in a crash. Photo courtesy Arai.
The new-for-2023 Arai Contour-X reflects that design philosophy. Instead of starting the conversation about its new helmet by talking about the lid’s new features–of which there are several, and they are useful improvements–the company emphasizes that the “Contour-X is built on the solid foundation and proven performance of the helmets that came before it.”
A new brushed nylon liner is designed to stay odor-free for longer. Photo courtesy Arai.
Unveiled in Los Angeles late in 2022, the Contour-X is aimed at the road rider and the sport-touring rider, particularly the rider who likes to cover long distances at high speed, who values comfort but wants the performance features of the company’s racing helmets. I swear, it’s like they read my mind…
The foundation of the new helmet is its shell, which features Arai’s Peripherally Belted Complex Laminate Construction. New matting and resin results in a significant weight reduction, the company says. The new shape has a 5mm flare at the bottom to ease pulling the helmet on and off. The Arai logo at the forehead is now a raised vent. And the left side of the lower shell has a flatter surface to make connecting communication devices easier and more secure. Arai says an extra layer of matting there and a redesigned ridge maintains rigidity in that area of the helmet.
The Arai Contour-X is available in Florescent Yellow. Photo courtesy Arai.
Ventilation on the helmet is provided by no fewer than 13 openings, seven of which draw air into the helmet and six that remove it. The new three-dimensional forehead logo vent, which feeds two 10mm intakes, is designed to be particularly effective at lower speeds. The company says that at 30 mph, the logo vent system flows an additional 40% of air, and at 70 mph it is still delivering an extra 7% percent. Besides the logo intake are two teardrop-shaped vents that were inspired by Arai’s Formula One car helmet. The chin vent can be configured in closed, half-open or completely open, has been redesigned to make it easier to use while wearing gloves and has a replaceable filter. The face shield has two eyebrow vents.
At the rear, a wing-shaped exhaust spoiler is designed to create stability and reduce turbulence, thus reducing rider fatigue. Arai says the spoiler is similar to the one on the Corsair-X but sits higher and more forward. While it is aimed at the sport-touring and road rider, Arai says its testers evaluated the design (and presumably approved its performance) at 180 mph at Suzuka Circuit.
The Arai Contour-X is available in a Snake Red multi-color scheme. Photo courtesy Arai.
A new brushed nylon liner material offers greater odor resistance performance, and the interior and cheek pads are easily removed for cleaning or adjustment, the company says. The liner also incorporates a pocket to hold additional wiring for the speakers and/or communication device. The Contour-X uses the same VAS shield system, which is Pinlock-insert compatible, as the other full-face helmets currently in the Arai lineup.
Much has been written lately about rotational forces and helmet features designed to reduce or minimize that force on the rider’s head in the event of a crash. Arai’s philosophy is to minimize the rotational forces by designing a smooth, rounded shell to prevent rotational forces from being generated in the first place. Arai’s rounded shells are designed to glance off of the ground or any other object without snagging or catching, thus minimizing the rotational forces created by that impact. And with only so much space that can be devoted to impact absorption materials, Arai says it “prioritizes the liner to absorb impact energy, and is unwilling to take away any of that limited material to address issues like trying to manage rotational energy or add features such as internal sunshades. Such designs diminish the helmets’ already limited capacity to absorb impact energy.”
The Arai Contour-X is available in a new Light Gray. Photo courtesy Arai.
Arai supplied us with sample helmets and led a pack of motojournalists, racers, and friends of Arai on a loop from downtown Los Angeles along Pacific Coast Highway into Malibu. As soon as we turned right and headed up into the Santa Monica Mountains, the rain, which had paused after dumping down for two days, resumed. So much debris washes onto those tight, narrow roads that local authorities employ snowplow-like vehicles to clear away the mud, branches and rocks, but with the rain actually falling, there was nothing to prevent the hazards from sliding back onto the pavement immediately after it had been cleared.
What I learned during that ride was that the new ventilation system offered a lot of flexibility in configuration, important for sketchy weather conditions. I was able to adjust the vents so that with a minimum of forward motion, the face shield did not fog, and I did not get wet or cold air rushing across my skull. And riding with the helmet while doing an on-track evaluation of a Kawasaki Ninja 650 showed that the helmet was stable and didn’t create buffeting at triple-digit speeds.
The shell for the Contour-X is revised for easier entry and exit, as well as making it more convenient for mounting communication devices. The shell is lighter thanks to new materials and resin. Photo courtesy Arai.
Big improvements may be harder and harder to come by in a technology as mature as modern motorcycle helmet design. But small improvements over time are equally welcome. Arai’s latest lid exceeds the company’s already high standard for comfort, is easier to use and is functional at speeds its intended user will experience for long periods of time.
Suggested retail starts at $739.95 for the base solid colors, and the multi-color models start at $889.95.
More, from a press release issued by Arai Helmet, Inc.:
The All-New Arai Contour-X: Designed for the Modern Motorcycle Rider
Arai Helmet is proud to introduce the all-new Arai Contour-X!
Representing the latest example of Arai’s dedication to rider protection, the Contour-X is built on the solid foundation and proven performance of the helmets that came before it. For more than seven decades, Arai has looked closely at helmet design, down to the smallest details, where room for even the slightest gains in protection can be found.
The Contour-X has the very familiar “Arai shape”, incorporating a Round, Smooth and Strong shell. This foundational shape provides the ability to glance off obstacles and slide across uneven ground and resist deformation during an impact, all of which help to minimize the potential for snagging or catching that might send energy into the helmet or cause excessive rotational forces.
To learn more about Arai from the Value of Arai video, click the image above.
It is important to note that as long as the helmet can slide, or avoid snagging on obstacles, the potential to resist rotational forces is virtually unlimited. This basic function has been incorporated into every Arai helmet shell since the very beginning—more than 70 years ago!
Arai’s ongoing philosophy is to avoid as much potential impact energy as possible from getting into the helmet. Keeping energy outside of the helmet means less energy gets into the helmet resulting in less energy for the interior liner to deal with. Knowing that the interior space for a liner is limited, Arai prioritizes the liner to absorb impact energy, and is unwilling to take away any of that limited material to address issues like trying to manage rotational energy or add features such as internal sunshades. Such designs diminish the helmets already limited capacity to absorb impact energy.
The All-New Arai Contour-X in Blue Frost
At Arai, we believe more performance can be found in avoiding, rather than attempting to manage, impact energy. This is the foundation behind Arai’s “Glancing Off” philosophy.
Owned and operated by the Arai family, who demand such dedicated efforts, with a focus on rider protection as their Number-1 priority: this is Arai.
The All-New Arai Contour-X in Snake Red
Built upon this incredible foundation, Arai Helmet, Inc. is thrilled to announce the launch of the all-new Contour-X. This new Arai helmet is designed for the modern motorcycle rider and aimed at a brand-new generation of riders who want dynamic and comfortable race-derived performance on the road.
Extensive work by the R&D team in the lab, on the road and out on the racetrack, with the ever-present goal of creating a full-featured, exceptional new Arai helmet, the Contour-X comes with unmatched performance, but with room for a stylish new look that provides a high level of comfort and protection over thousands of miles.
Face Fluorescent Yellow is another beautiful graphic on the All-New Arai Contour-X
Drawing on the ideas, design elements and principles, throughout the Arai range, from the popular Regent-X to the road racing-spec Corsair-X, the Contour-X also has fresh features all its own.
Positioned just below the Arai flagship Corsair-X model, the Contour-X marks a brand-new generation of sophisticated design from Arai that occupies fresh ground. Aimed at the passionate, sport-touring long-distance rider with its Odor Resistant Brushed Nylon interior, increased flexible ventilation, and stable aerodynamic performance offering high-speed comfort for the long haul.
Key Messages:
A brand-new generation of Arai helmet aimed at the sport-touring rider who wants dynamic, race-derived performance on the road.
New smooth, round, and strong Peripherally Belted Complex Laminate Construction (PB-cLc2) outer shell with VAS shield system and a 5-mm flare around the base for easier on/off and comfort.
Unmatched comfort and features suitable for long riding days.
New Odor Resistant, Brushed Nylon interior that keeps the Contour-X fresher longer with the soft supple feel of the Brushed Nylon.
New front Arai 3D logo vent, new XG chin vent, dual intake XGF top vents and one-piece rear XGR exhaust/spoiler deliver comprehensive and controllable cooling airflow.
Designed for straightforward and easy attachment of intercom systems.
Manufactured, by hand, using a Peripherally Belted Complex Laminate Construction (PB-cLc2) shell, the Contour-X’s outer shell maintains the core strength that Arai is known for, but with a substantial weight reduction, due to the thinner AR Mat and Z-Compound resin. A soft, multi-density EPS inner liner works with the outer shell to absorb impact energy. The smooth, round, and strong shape is another key Arai signature—and the Arai first principle from which the R&D engineers worked from. While aesthetically sleek and pleasing, the Contour-X shell is primarily designed to ‘glance-off’ and spread impact forces.
The new 3D Arai logo vent, aggressive XG chin vent, F1-based dual XGF top-vents and Corsair-X DF-X2 inspired one-piece rear XGR exhaust/spoiler were developed in the wind tunnel, in real-road riding conditions and at the Suzuka race circuit. Alongside the brow vents and flush-fit rear exhausts, the Contour-X’s ventilation gives a consistent, controllable flow of cooling air via a total of 13 ports in the shell—from low, around-town speeds.
All-day wearability is the other key factor running through the Contour-X’s DNA. It features a 5mm flare around the base for easy on/off access, and the VAS MAX vision visor is ready to accept the provided Pinlock insert. The new, premium odor resistant brushed nylon interior is removable and features Facial Contour System (FCS-2) cheek pads, speaker pockets and a neck roll wire pocket. The Contour-X has been designed from the outset for easy application of a communication system. It also features an Emergency Release System (ERS) cheek pad design.
Using the aerodynamic and protective abilities of Arai’s full-race helmets—with racer feedback from the highest level—the Contour-X slips through the air neatly and efficiently, wrapping its wearer in a cocoon of comfort. It offers a fresh choice for riders that want the very best performance from a helmet—in terms of protection, comfort and ease of wear, day-in-day out, with zero compromise.
Arai Contour-X MSRP:
Base Solid: $739.95
Premium Solid: $749.95
Standard Graphic: $889.95
Replica: $899.95
ARAI CONTOUR-X NEW FEATURES:
New Ventilation
Comprehensive and controllable ventilation is based around 13 ventilation ports: 7 intakes and 6 exhausts. The 3D Arai logo feeds cooling air into two central intake points and works well at low speed, alongside dual F1-derived tear-drop top intakes, twin brow vents and filtered chin vent. Hot air is efficiently extracted via the 3-way one-piece rear exhaust/spoiler, twin flush-fit side exhausts (with foam dams to reduce noise) and neck-roll exhaust.
New 3D Arai Logo Vent
Immediately noticeable, the new 3D Arai logo vent (made as thin as possible, just 3.5mm in depth) feeds two central 10mm intake ports. This is a first on an Arai, and entirely due to the PB-cLc2’s strength and the shell construction. It works very well at low speed and with an upright riding position. At just 30mph it’s channeling an extra 40% airflow; at 70mph an extra 7%. It can also be opened, or closed, easily with summer or winter gloves, via a lever placed at the top; if the lever is down, hidden behind the logo, the vent is open. The Arai logo vent is designed to breakaway in the event of an impact.
New Dual Tear-Drop Top XGF Intake Vents
Drawn initially from Arai’s F1 helmet, the XGF tear-drops maintain the airflow of the previous design with a compact, light and unobtrusive form that complements the round and smooth shell. Opened or closed by sliding to prevent water ingress.
New Air-scoop XG Chin Vent
Also new is the 3-position (open, midway, and closed) sliding air-scoop chin vent which flows a larger intake volume of air and has a replaceable filter. The actuating mechanism is thicker and easy to use with gloves.
New Rear XGR Exhaust/Spoiler
The one-piece rear exhaust/spoiler, operated by a 3-way switch, is inspired by the DF-X2 of the Corsair-X, but redesigned for everyday sport/touring use. However, it was tested up to 180 mph by top racers at the Suzuka Circuit. It sits a little more forward on the shell and is fed by 3 ports in the shell. As part of the Contour-X’s comprehensive ventilation system, it efficiently draws air but also smooths airflow over (and from the side) of the helmet, improving stability and reducing buffeting, especially while overtaking at highway speeds. The result is much less rider fatigue. Manufactured as thin and light as possible, it’s designed to crush or break away upon impact, therefore having no impact on protective performance.
Outer Shell
The PB-cLc2 outer shell features a stylish, organic shape and uses a Peripherally Belted Complex Laminate Construction for lightweight strength. The Peripherally Belted Complex Laminate Construction with latest generation Z-Compound resin and AR Mat is the accumulation of years of Arai’s experience in shell making, handmade with over 25 individual pieces bound by Arai’s new proprietary resin and reinforced by the Peripheral Belt.
An extra layer of Super Fiber belting—along with a re-shaped Hyper Ridge—maintains rigidity in a crucial area while offering flat sides for easy fitment of an intercom. Variable Axis System (VAS) lowers the visor mounting system and yields an average of an additional 24mm across both temple areas, for a smoother shell shape that increases the ability to glance-off energy as compared to the previous shield pivot system. Like the Regent-X, the Contour-X shell flares out 5mm around the base, for easier on/off access.
New Integrated wire pocket
Designed to work cleanly without affecting comfort or protection to store excess cable length in the neck roll.
New Interior
Using the interiors of both the Regent-X and the Corsair-X as benchmarks, the Contour-X’s interior was designed for maximum comfort, airflow (there are two pass-through holes in the forehead area) and lightweight. A new liner material created just for the Contour-X is a brushed nylon with odor resistance performance, keeping the interior liner components fresher, longer. The interior and cheek pads are easily removed for cleaning or adjustment.
Spaniard Isaac Vinales will join Sheridan Morais and Mathieu Gines onboard the Wójcik Racing Team’s no. 77 Yamaha R1 for the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship season.
The 29-year-old made his World Championship debut over a decade ago, taking four Moto3 Grand Prix and five World Supersport podiums before tasting endurance racing for the first time with an impressive performance during the 2018 Suzuka 8 Hours.
The Spaniard will join Sheridan Morais and Matheiu Gines onboard the no. 77 Yamaha R1 for the full FIM EWC campaign with the Polish Wójcik Racing Team also running a Superstock no. 777 entry with Kamil Krzemień, Kevin Manfredi, Danny Webb and Marek Szkopek.
“I’m really happy to be joining the Wójcik Racing Team – says Isaac Vinales. – It’s a very good team and we can achieve a lot together. I really like the family atmosphere here, which is very important in endurance racing. After our first two days together I can see that we have a good bike and we know how to make it even better. It’s difficult to talk about goals in endurance racing as everything can happen but we’ll give it our all and want to fight for top positions”.
“Isaac is another world-class rider joining the Wójcik Racing Team – adds Team Manager, Sławomir Kubzdyl. – We know him well, having watched him battle in the World Championships for years. He was one of the front runners in the World Supersport Championship when we made our debut there in 2020 and we’ve been thinking about joining forces in FIM EWC ever since. Once we started our talks, things went very smoothly and after inviting Isaac to try our bike and meet the team in Cartagena, we both decided to sign the 2023 contract at the track. We have the same goal and want to fight at the front in FIM EWC”.
H-D1 MARKETPLACE NOW ACCEPTING PRIVATE-PARTY LISTINGS
Private Parties Join Dealers on the Go-To Online Marketplace for Used H-D Bikes
MILWAUKEE – H-D1™ Marketplace, the largest online marketplace for pre-owned Harley-Davidson listings, is taking the exciting step to connect a wider range of riders to their next bikes by accepting private-party listings of pre-owned Harley-Davidson motorcycles. This will be the first time that individual customers will be able to list their motorcycle for sale on H-D1™ Marketplace. All motorcycles listed for sale may be viewed by the thousands of customers visiting the H-D1™ Marketplace website. Customers who are interested in purchasing a bike from the H-D1™ Marketplace can either contact the private party seller or the dealer directly through the site. Rider-to-Rider financing options are available to customers purchasing from a private party, in addition to in-dealership financing.
“H-D1 Marketplace has redefined online marketplace for pre-owned Harley-Davidson motorcycles,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, CEO and President, Harley-Davidson. “This new private-party feature will bring together even more buyers and sellers of Harley bikes. This is our next step in building the ultimate online home for the sale and purchase of pre-owned Harley-Davidson motorcycles.”
Private-party listings on H-D1™ Marketplace will be limited to Harley-Davidson models located in the United States. Each listing will include photos and details about the motorcycle. All bikes will also be validated by VIN and go through a review-and-approval process before the listing is launched.
About H-D1™ Marketplace
H-D1™ Marketplace was created in July 2021 to provide consumers with the most-comprehensive opportunity to search, experience, sell, customize and purchase used H-D® motorcycles from the inventories of participating authorized Harley-Davidson dealers. Today H-D1™ Marketplace offers the largest selection of dealer pre-owned H-D® motorcycles in the United States, with more than 34,000 listings by 540 participating U.S. Harley-Davidson® Dealers.
Currently focused on the USA, H-D1™ Marketplace showcases the entire selection of pre-owned Harley-Davidson motorcycles from participating dealers, and now also those offered by private parties. H-D1™ Marketplace is the only place to easily search for H-D Certified™ motorcycles, the ultimate in pre-owned Harley-Davidson® motorcycles. Through the “Sell My Bike” feature, customers are able to sell their motorcycles directly into the Harley-Davidson® dealer network. Supported by Harley-Davidson Financial Services, H-D1™ Marketplace customers have access to innovative, industry-leading financing solutions, to make purchasing even easier. For complete details on making a private-party listing, go to H-D1™ Marketplace.
Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of 2023 Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring, Sport, Adventure Touring, Cruiser and Trike motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Certified™ pre-owned motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories, Harley-Davidson MotorClothes and gear, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.
1000 and counting: Le Mans to host 1000th Grand Prix!
The 1000th Grand Prix in the more than 70-year history of the sport is set to take place at the classic circuit in Sarthe
The 2023 SHARK Grand Prix de France will have a special place in MotoGP™ history, with classic Le Mans set to host the 1000th Grand Prix! The incredible milestone will take place at a fittingly fabled venue for the motorsport faithful, and one that saw over 110,000 fans pack into the grandstands on MotoGP™ race day in 2022.
Le Mans has hosted 35 Grands Prix and was first used in 1969 before MotoGP™ returned to the track full time from 2000. The 1000th Grand Prix will be another milestone to remember at the classic venue, and the event will also mark another occasion as the 30th organised by local promoter PHA Claude Michy. After the French GP was also voted Best Grand Prix of 2022, the stage is set for a glorious return to Le Mans next season as MotoGP™ prepares to keep making history with the 1000th Grand Prix.
The very first Grand Prix took place in June 1949, the first of six events in the sport’s inaugural season. Since, MotoGP™ has grown into a truly global competition, with a 21-race calendar spanning five continents in 2023. Over MotoGP™’s more than 70-year history, 125 different World Champions have been crowned in the solo classes, representing a total of 20 different nations. The sport has competed in 29 countries, and 73 venues have hosted premier class races – with two more of each set to be added in 2023!
2022 is not an easy year to forget, and there is only one thing that can be done to further raise the bar – to methodically prepare the new season: 2023 starts today with the presentation of the renewed MotoGP team. The novelties are quite a few, starting from the 2022-spec Desmosedici machine with new colours: more of the iconic Ducati red with a modern touch combined with a glossy light blue (slightly pearly) to give even more power to an already beautiful and winning bike.
The arrival of Alex Marquéz is surely the biggest news. The Spanish rider will be aided by Donatello Giovanotti (track engineer) and Andrea Mattioli (data engineer) while inheriting the rest of the team that last year celebrated four wins alongside Bastianini.
On the other side of the pit-box, Fabio Di Giannantonio has one important piece of news as (former Suzuki) Frankie Carchedi joins in as crew chief. The feeling in the recent Valencia test was already quite interesting and it will only be a matter of time to see the whole team in action in February’s official test at Sepang, which will officially open the new season.
FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49
“We start 2023 with a pinch more of red, which stands for determination, passion, fire… I’m eager to continue growing and do well. We want to take this new season race by race, with the awareness that this is the right time: the top ten should be the regular occurrence, while top five a realistic goal. The team is charged up and I trained 300% hard for this year – we’re ready!”
ALEX MARQUEZ #73
“Today is a really special day: to see this team so tight together and ready is a thing that brings great emotions. To be here at this presentation is a very special thing. To see so much eagerness and excitement within the team and the people that came see us is something I really like. Now the work starts, for a preseason that hopefully will enable us to be 100% ready for the first race at Portimão. The goal is to have a great start to the season because it will set the pace for the rest of 2023. We have the tools and the will to do well; it won’t be easy, obviously, but the right approach helps a lot in these scenarios.”
NADIA PADOVANI – TEAM OWNER
“We’re very excited for this new adventure. 2022 was incredible in every way, but the idea is to continue to improve and surprise. We’re a young team with great ambition: Fabio will have the chance to showcase all his potential in his sophomore year and Alex is eager to take the stage back… we will do our best to make sure both can succeed. Today is almost a return to normal with such an important presentation and with the people joining us: a big thank you goes to the sponsors and the whole team who worked hard to be ready.”
Fabio Quartararo (20) at speed during the race weekend at Valencia. Photo by Kohei Hirota.
On January 22, Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. hosted an event to celebrate the renewed partnership of Monster Energy and Yamaha Racing. The event coincided with the AMA Supercross round in San Diego and featured appearances by Yamaha Pro riders, including 2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo, who had just traveled in from the official Monster Energy Yamaha team introduction in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Quartararo arrived to the event early, stayed late, chatted freely with anyone who approached him, and indulged an exclusive interview request from Roadracingworld.com without hesitation.
Roadracingworld.com: In December, you announced on social media that you broke your left hand while riding motocross, but we never saw any details about the incident. Is it a big secret?
Fabio Quartararo: No, just embarrassing (laughs). I went over a jump and I was too long. So, I landed in the flat and went over the handlebars.
Fabio Quartararo with his freshly broken left hand. Photo courtesy Fabio Quartararo.
RW.com: And exactly which bones did you break?
FQ: I don’t know how you say in English, but it’s like pyramidal [triquetral] and semi-luniare [lunate], the one on top of the radius and [ulna]. It’s more in the hand than wrist.
RW.com: But not the scaphoid?
FQ: No, no, no. Not the scaphoid. I was scared that it was the scaphoid, but it was OK.
RW.com: How is it now?
FQ: It’s good. It’s five weeks, close to six weeks right now, and I will be back on a motocross [bike] on Tuesday [January 24]. I’m really looking forward to riding again.
RW.com: When you tried the new Yamaha YZR-M1 at the Misano test you were very happy. And then when you tried the new bike again at Valencia you were not so happy. Was the feeling that different?
FQ: Yes, I would say the feeling was pretty bad. At Misano and Barcelona (Catalunya), it was pretty good, so I’m really looking forward to the next test in Sepang.
Fabio Quartararo (20) testing the 2023 YZR-M1 at Valencia. Photo courtesy Dorna.
RW.com: Will you know it’s better on the first lap?
FQ: Yes, straightaway. In the first five laps, I will know if the bike is good not, especially on the top speed. For the chassis and everything you need to do more [laps], but on the engine I will know straightaway if it is better or not.
RW.com: This year we will have two races each MotoGP weekend. Will you change how you train to prepare for the races?
FQ: Yeah. It’s going to be different and you need to be able to adapt quite quickly on the new format. We will need to be super smart and the team will need to understand how fast we need to adapt race by race.
RW.com: I imagine with the shorter sprint race you can be full gas and not worry about the tire?
FQ: Exactly. No worries about the tire. The fuel, we will still have a [capacity] regulation, but let’s see. I don’t have much info about it, but it’s going to be great.
2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo and his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1 in its new, 2023 livery. Photo by David Swarts.
RW.com: We were writing something recently and we remembered that you are still the second-youngest rider in MotoGP (23 years old) even though you have been there four years. Crazy, yes?
FQ: Yeah, it’s pretty nice. It’s a nice feeling. I think it means that I was pretty young when I started and we are doing pretty well.
RW.com: Do you see yourself racing for a long time?
FQ: It depends on what’s a long time for you, but I wish to be 10 more years in MotoGP. It depends a lot on how it’s going with injuries. Hopefully, I will not get so many injuries, but of course I would like to ride until I’m 32 or 33.
RW.com: If I were to say there is something about you that reminds me of Valentino [Rossi], your personality or the way you show your emotions, would that be something you would agree with?
FQ: Of course, to have my personality is something great because some riders can be super fast but don’t have the personality. And I feel like OK, I have my own personality. It’s different to the other one, but it’s true that many people say the charisma I have is close to Valentino. This is a great thing.
RW.com: Thank you.
FQ: You are welcome.
Quartararo said he planned to stay and train in Southern California for the next two weeks, before traveling directly to the pre-season MotoGP tests at Sepang.
The right profile view of Francesco Bagnaia's Ducati Desmosedici GP23. Photo courtesy Ducati.
An overhead view of the factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23s. The bike in the middle has Bagnaia’s stickers on the windscreen. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The front and rear views of the factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23s. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The view from the seat of Enea Bastianini’s Ducati Desmosedici GP23. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The cockpit of Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati Desmosedici GP23. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The buttons on the left handlebar of a factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23 including lock/unlock buttons that are probably related to the holeshot device. Photo courtesy Ducati.
What looks like a fuel tank on a factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23 is actually a cover for most of the electronics, which receive all important cooling air from the ducts. The fuel tank starts at the filler cap and extends down and back under the rider’s seat. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The ram air intake on a Ducati Desmosedici GP23. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The upper aerodynamic winglets on Enea Bastianini’s Ducati Desmosedici GP23. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The mid-fairing aerodynamic winglets and lower aerodynamic ducts on a factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The tail of a factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23 fitted with vertical aerodynamic winglets and an electronic valve motor visible on top of the Akrapovic tailpipe. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Another view of the tail of a factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23. The square-shaped depression is where a GPS receiver usually goes, but the big deal here — as mechanics all over the world are cringing at — is the mismatched fasteners. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The front end of a factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23 with its carbon-fiber Öhlins forks and their carbon-fiber streamlining. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Another view of the front end of a factory Ducati Desmosedici GP23 with wiring leading to all sorts of sensors related to wheel speed, braking pressure, brake temperature, suspension travel, etc. Photo courtesy Ducati.
2022 Superbike World Champion Alvaro Bautista (left) and teammate Michael Rinaldi (right) with their Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbikes. Photo courtesy Ducati.
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team unveils the liveries for the 2023 WorldSBK season in a spectacular joint presentation with the Ducati Lenovo Team MotoGP
The beautiful snow-covered Alps of Madonna di Campiglio (TN, Italy) provided the backdrop for the spectacular presentation of the two teams that won everything in last year’s two world motorbike championships.
On one side the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team that dominated in WorldSBK with Alvaro Bautista, on the other the Ducati Lenovo Team that triumphed in MotoGP with Francesco Bagnaia.
The 2023 season will bring exciting challenges also to the champions’ teammates, Michael Rinaldi with his Ducati Panigale V4R and Enea Bastianini with his Ducati Desmosedici GP.
During the unveiling of the four bikes held at Pala Campiglio, the packed audience of authorities, sponsors, and guests witnessed also the surprise of the number 1 on both bikes.
In fact, both the champions will ride in the next MotoGP and WorldSBK campaign with the number one on their Ducati.
Celebration time for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, however, is already over. Riders and staff will leave Madonna di Campiglio tomorrow morning to travel to Jerez della Frontera where the first tests of the 2023 season will get underway on Wednesday, followed by the Portimao sessions scheduled for 31 January and 1 February. The first race weekend (preceded by two more days of testing) is set for 24-26 February at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia.
Stefano Cecconi (Team Principal Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“We have worked hard over the last few years to achieve the result of last season. Winning the title, however, does not represent a point of arrival for us, but rather an extra stimulus to keep on developing and increasing our professionalism and commitment. Therefore, we will start again from the certainties of Alvaro, the desire of Michael, the performance of the Ducati Panigale V4 R and the inestimable human value of the entire team. It will be an unprecedented season for Aruba.it Racing – Ducati: we will probably be considered the team to beat. This means responsibility, concentration, determination but also pride, a sense of belonging and a desire to defend the position we have conquered without ever losing faith in our means, even when the results were not what we hoped for. We have represented Ducati in the Superbike World Championship since 2015 and we want to continue to do so in the best possible way in the 2023 season. That’s why I wish the riders and all the team members the best of luck.”
Claudio Domenicali (Amministratore Delegato Ducati Motor Holding)
“Today we live another remarkable moment for Ducati. For the first time in the Company’s history, we are launching together both MotoGP and WorldSBK official teams, the Ducati Lenovo Team and Aruba.it – Racing Ducati team. Resuming all together is a beautiful way to celebrate the value and skills of the best Ducati Corse squad ever, whose everyday work has taken us to the top of the world. After the incredible successes of the past racing season, the challenge of reconfirming ourselves fascinates us. I am happy that it starts from a location like Madonna di Campiglio, a perfect expression of the “Made in Italy” of which we are proud ambassadors. Ducati is a brand distinguished by style, performance and technology, where passion for racing is a central element. Working while having fun is part of our philosophy. It adds value to what we do and allows us to commit even more by managing fatigue better. The beauty and opportunities of the mountains that welcome us are the perfect opportunities to combine the commitments of the presentation event with moments of pure delight to give us the right energy for the start of the season.”
Luigi Dall’Igna (Direttore Generale di Ducati Corse)
“2022 has been an incredible year for us. Alvaro and the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team have won everything that could be achieved in the World Superbike Championship bringing back to Bologna the Manufacturers’, Riders’ and Teams’ World Titles that had been missing for so many years. These successes represent a source of motivation for us this year. The goal is not just trying to repeat ourselves but also trying to surpass ourselves. Obviously, it won’t be easy. The level of the production based World Championship increases season by season, as the incredible duels and heated battles from last year demonstrated and 2023 will not be any less! We are ready for another exciting challenge, knowing that we will be able to count once again on the winning combination of reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista and our Panigale V4 R machine, but also on Michael Ruben Rinaldi in his third season with the factory squad. We can’t wait to start the new season to defend the three World Titles”
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #19)
“We have a new challenge ahead of us. After a fantastic season in which we won with Ducati in both Superbike and MotoGP, 2023 will inevitably be a difficult year. Racing with the number 1, in fact, means that our objective can only be one: to win. We’ll have a lot of pressure but at the same time we’ll have to keep calm, try to work with high concentration but also with serenity. We’ll have a new bike and even if it won’t be extremely different from the 2022 one, the work that we’ll be able to do before the first race is crucial: we have to fix all the details that will allow us to get the best performance. I’d also like to address a thought to all the Ducatistas: I’m very proud of all our fans who followed us last season, and I hope that with the result we’ve achieved, in 2023 there will be even more of them supporting us at circuits all over the world. I am a Ducatista and I feel lucky to be able to defend the colours of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team”.
Michael Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #21)
“I start this new adventure with great enthusiasm. Together with my team we have always made progress in the last two years, managing to improve our results. As a team we won the three titles last season and this means that the package is very strong. During the winter, we have analyzed the points we have to focus on, in order to improve and to be competitive for the title race. I have worked a lot over the last few weeks and I will continue to do so with great dedication as I want to always be able to express my maximum potential. There will be a lot of new things, also on the bike, so I can’t wait to get started. I want to thank Aruba and Ducati for the opportunity to ride this beautiful Panigale V4 R and be part of such an ambitious team”.
2022 MotoGP World Champion Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia (left) and his new teammate Enea Bastianini (right). Photo courtesy Ducati.
Campioni in Pista: the Ducati Lenovo Team unveils 2023 livery at Madonna di Campiglio
Ducati unveils official MotoGP and WorldSBK teams’ liveries in Madonna di Campiglio during the “Campioni in Pista” event
The Ducati Lenovo Team is ready to defend the Riders’, Constructors’ and Teams’ World Titles secured in MotoGP in 2022 with reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia
Enea Bastianini, Bagnaia’s new teammate, makes his debut wearing the Ducati Lenovo Team colours
Bagnaia’s Desmosedici GP sports the World Champion’s number 1
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding: “Working while having fun is part of our philosophy. It adds value to what we do and allows us to commit even more by managing fatigue better”
Madonna di Campiglio (TN, Italy), 23rd January 2023 – At the Palacampiglio of Madonna di Campiglio, in the enchanting setting of the snow-capped Dolomites, the livery of the Desmosedici GP bikes with which the Ducati Lenovo Team will take part in the 2023 MotoGP World Championship has been unveiled. The official Ducati team, which this year celebrates 20 years since its debut in the premier class in 2003, is ready to defend the Constructors’, Teams’ and Riders’ World Titles clinched last year together with reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia in his third season with the Borgo Panigale based squad. Enea Bastianini, who finished third in the 2022 World Championship with the Desmosedici GP of the Gresini Racing team, will be alongside him wearing the official Ducati colours for the first time. Everything is set for another exciting season, with the first race out of 21 scheduled to take place in Portimão, Portugal, on 26th March. In addition to the traditional Sunday race, starting this year, a sprint race on Saturday at each Grands Prix will add more excitement to the 2023 MotoGP World Championship.
The presentation, held this morning in front of an affluent audience composed of Ducati’s partners and sponsors, local authorities, members of the national and international press, as well as other important guests, took place during the “Campioni in Pista” event, organized by Ducati in collaboration with the Azienda per il Turismo Madonna di Campiglio, Trentino Marketing and with the participation of partners Lenovo, Aruba.it, Monster Energy, Shell and Audi. As always, the unveiling of the Desmosedici GP 2023 has been the most exciting moment, with Bagnaia and Bastianini unveiling the new livery, which again this year maintains the classic Ducati red colour scheme, enhanced by some carbon details and in a lighter shade of red. Another novelty is that Bagnaia chose the World Champion’s number 1 to ride the entire 2023 season in MotoGP.
Bagnaia’s Desmosedici GP has not been the only Ducati to sport the number 1 on stage. The event was further enriched by the presence of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, the official Superbike team of the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer, which secured the Riders’, Teams’ and Manufacturers World Titles in the 2022 World Superbike Championship. Also, on the Panigale V4 R of Spanish champion Alvaro Bautista, in his second consecutive year with Ducati, the number 1 stands out. Michael Ruben Rinaldi will continue to ride alongside him for the third consecutive season as an official Ducati rider in WorldSBK.
Claudio Domenicali (CEO of Ducati Motor Holding)
“Today we live another remarkable moment for Ducati. For the first time in the Company’s history, we are launching together both MotoGP and WorldSBK official teams, the Ducati Lenovo Team and Aruba.it – Racing Ducati team. Resuming all together is a beautiful way to celebrate the value and skills of the best Ducati Corse squad ever, whose everyday work has taken us to the top of the world. After the incredible successes of the past racing season, the challenge of reconfirming ourselves fascinates us. I am happy that it starts from a location like Madonna di Campiglio, a perfect expression of the “Made in Italy” of which we are proud ambassadors. Ducati is a brand distinguished by style, performance and technology, where passion for racing is a central element. Working while having fun is part of our philosophy. It adds value to what we do and allows us to commit even more by managing fatigue better. The beauty and opportunities of the mountains that welcome us are the perfect opportunities to combine the commitments of the presentation event with moments of pure delight to give us the right energy for the start of the season.”
Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager)
“The start of a new season is always exciting, and this year, even more following a 2022 destined to remain in history. Replicating last year’s results will be challenging, but our goal is always to surpass ourselves and constantly improve. In MotoGP, in addition to World Champion Pecco Bagnaia, we will also be able to count on Enea Bastianini, third in the World Championship last year with Ducati team Gresini Racing. We are convinced that both our riders will be, again this year, among the protagonists of the Championship. For sure, the competition will be even higher. There are many strong riders on the grid, and the other manufacturers will certainly have worked hard during the winter. However, we have not been outdone, so we look forward to starting this new season and defending the three titles we won last year.”
Luca Rossi (President of Intelligent Devices Group at Lenovo)
“After an extremely successful year, we’re thrilled to kick off this new season together. We are proud of all that we’ve achieved over the past five years, since the beginning of our technology partnership with Ducati, and we are excited to continue working together to lead innovation and constantly improve on-track performance. Technology plays a crucial role in the challenging world of motorsports. From real-time data analysis, artificial intelligence, and simulations to smart collaboration and augmented reality, Lenovo is working closely with Ducati to unleash the value of digital transformation and achieve even better results. Building on our common values of speed, dedication, team spirit and a focus on results, we’ll continue moving forward toward a faster, safer, and more exciting sport.”
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Francesco Bagnaia (#1, Ducati Lenovo Team)
“My winter break was shorter than usual because of all the commitments after winning the World Championship, but now I am charged up and eager to start the season. I have missed the Desmosedici GP and my team, and I can’t wait to get back on track. I could not decide whether to continue using the number 63 or switch to the number 1, and in the end, I decided on the latter. Seeing it on the bike is beautiful, and now my goal will be to do everything to keep it. It won’t be easy because I expect even tougher competition than last year, with many rivals ready to fight for the title: however, I am aware that I have the best bike and team to aim high again in 2023. Thanks again to all of Ducati and my team! I am ready to resume our adventure together.”
Enea Bastianini. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Enea Bastianini (#23, Ducati Lenovo Team)
“Wearing the colours of the official team is a great emotion, and now it is up to me to prove that I deserve this opportunity. I am excited about the new season! Fortunately, I won’t have to wait long to be able to ride my red Desmosedici GP bike on track. In a couple of weeks, we will be in Sepang for the first test of the year, and it will be a crucial moment to get to know the guys in the team better and, above all, to start working on the bike. It’s going to be a very competitive year, and there will definitely be easy and more difficult moments to face, but I’m ready for anything! Thanks again to Claudio, Gigi, Paolo, Davide and the whole Ducati! I will give 100% as always.”
The Ducati Lenovo Team riders, together with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team duo, will be in Piazza Sissi, in the centre of Madonna di Campiglio, at 5:00pm to greet all their fans accompanied by the entertainment offered by Monster Energy, a new partner of Ducati Corse.
Tomorrow, Bagnaia and Bastianini will also experience the thrills on four wheels by participating in the Audi Driving Experience on the frozen lake in Madonna di Campiglio and enjoying a day of skiing on the spectacular slopes of the Pearl of the Dolomites.
Opening Ceremonies for the Inaugural Supercross at Snapdragon Stadium, Marking 40 Years of Racing in San Diego After Visiting Jack Murphy Stadium/Qualcomm Stadium and Petco Park. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Tomac Makes It Two-for-Two in Title Chase with San Diego Supercross Win
Lawrence Also Repeats with 250SX Class Win
San Diego, Calif., – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac grabbed his second victory of the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season in front of a sold-out crowd inside Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California. Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb also replicated his Round 1 finish and earned second place at Round 3, although the race was only the second time the riders have faced off in 2023. Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia held off pressure right until the checkers to take the final podium spot at the first Supercross event held inside the new stadium.
In Western Regional 250SX Class racing, Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence also repeated his opening round win with a nearly flawless ride. Tomac and Lawrence extended their points lead in the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season as well as toward the inaugural 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship of 2023.
Eli Tomac (1) earned his 46th 450SX Class victory at the first Supercross race held in the all-new Snapdragon Stadium. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Just as at the previous round, Team Honda HRC’s Colt Nichols got through the first corner ahead of 21 other racers to nab the 450SX Class Main Event Holeshot. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo was quickly into the lead for the opening laps of the 20-minute plus one lap race. The racers who share the past four championships, Webb and Tomac, battled each other as they closed on the leader. Webb took over the front spot two and a half minutes into the race; Tomac also got around Cianciarulo and four minutes after the gate had dropped Tomac made the pass on Webb for the lead. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson pushed forward into third place as a battle brewed between Barcia and Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen for fourth.
Just past the race’s halfway point Anderson crashed in a turn, turning the battle between Barcia and Roczen into a podium position fight. Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton was right behind and the three riders circled the track within a breath of each other. In the final laps Webb pulled close to Tomac’s rear fender, knocking the Yamaha rider’s lead down to just 1.4 seconds. Tomac held strong for the win, his second of the two races run so far this season.
Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence won the first two 250SX Class races of 2023 convincingly. There is already buzz about a possible perfect season which would put the Honda rider in a tie as the winningest all-time 125/250 SX rider. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
When the gate dropped for the Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event, Jett Lawrence darted to the lead ahead of Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Enzo Lopes, Smartop MotoConcepts Racing Honda’s Mitchell Oldenburg, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire. Contact in the tight opening lap pushed Hampshire back but he quickly worked his way back to sixth and started picking off the riders ahead of him. Teammates Lopes and Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Phil Nicoletti scrapped over second while McAdoo and Hampshire slowly pushed forward. Five minutes into the 15-minute plus one lap race McAdoo put his Kawasaki into second and matched lap times with Lawrence, just two seconds ahead. Two minutes later Hampshire reached third. From there Lawrence pulled out some breathing room. As the race clock neared :30 remaining Hampshire cut under McAdoo to match his Round 1 performance and earn second place points.
The series travels back up the California coast to Angel Stadium of Anaheim for a race that pays points to both the Monster Energy Supercross season and the SuperMotocross World Championship series. Monster Energy AMA Supercross Round 2 was postponed due to area flooding and has found its new place on the schedule; the racers will battle at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland, California on February 18th. The Oakland Supercross will go into the record books as Round 2 of the 2023 season but will sit just after Round 6 on the calendar.
2023 is already proving to be a thrilling season on the track as well as off with the formation of the SuperMotocross World Championship. The new World Championship League brings champions and contenders of both the technical Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, and the wide-open AMA Pro Motocross season together for two exciting Playoff races and one Final race in October to crown a single champion in each class. The 450 Class winner will pocket a one million dollar win bonus and the 250 Class champ will take home $500,000.
From January through October all 31 SuperMotocross World Championship rounds are available live on PeacockTV. Select rounds will be broadcast domestically on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC. SuperMotocross.tv provides international coverage of the events.
Nothing matches the thrill of seeing the action live. Tickets are on sale now for all remaining Monster Energy AMA Supercross events. For tickets, race results, feature stories, and airtimes on Peacock, NBC, USA Network, and CNBC please go to SupercrossLIVE.com.
450SX Class podium (riders left to right) Justin Barcia, Eli Tomac, and Cooper Webb. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
450SX Class Results
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha
2. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM
3. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS
4. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
5. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
6. Dylan Ferrandis, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha
7. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki
8. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki
Arai's new Contour-X helmet is aimed at the sport-touring and street rider, but has been tested by the company's evaluators at speeds up to 180 mph at Suzuka. Photo courtesy Caliphotography.com.
Copyright 2023, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By Michael Gougis
For many, Arai defines the concept of premium helmet. Few brands can boast of the company’s reputation for fit, overall comfort, and safety. And while trends in helmets, as well as companies, have come and gone since Arai was founded nearly a century ago, Arai has pursued a course of steady improvement and incremental changes, always building on the progress it has made.
Arai’s new logo vent provides significantly more airflow at low speeds, and is designed to break away in a crash. Photo courtesy Arai.
Arai says that has made major breakthroughs in helmet safety more and more difficult to accomplish. In recent years, refinement rather than revolution has defined Arai’s approach to its newest models.
The Contour-X rear spoiler’s design is based on that of the company’s Corsair-X helmet, but reconfigured to meet the needs of the sport-touring rider. Like the logo vent, the spoiler is designed to break away in a crash. Photo courtesy Arai.
The new-for-2023 Arai Contour-X reflects that design philosophy. Instead of starting the conversation about its new helmet by talking about the lid’s new features–of which there are several, and they are useful improvements–the company emphasizes that the “Contour-X is built on the solid foundation and proven performance of the helmets that came before it.”
A new brushed nylon liner is designed to stay odor-free for longer. Photo courtesy Arai.
Unveiled in Los Angeles late in 2022, the Contour-X is aimed at the road rider and the sport-touring rider, particularly the rider who likes to cover long distances at high speed, who values comfort but wants the performance features of the company’s racing helmets. I swear, it’s like they read my mind…
The foundation of the new helmet is its shell, which features Arai’s Peripherally Belted Complex Laminate Construction. New matting and resin results in a significant weight reduction, the company says. The new shape has a 5mm flare at the bottom to ease pulling the helmet on and off. The Arai logo at the forehead is now a raised vent. And the left side of the lower shell has a flatter surface to make connecting communication devices easier and more secure. Arai says an extra layer of matting there and a redesigned ridge maintains rigidity in that area of the helmet.
The Arai Contour-X is available in Florescent Yellow. Photo courtesy Arai.
Ventilation on the helmet is provided by no fewer than 13 openings, seven of which draw air into the helmet and six that remove it. The new three-dimensional forehead logo vent, which feeds two 10mm intakes, is designed to be particularly effective at lower speeds. The company says that at 30 mph, the logo vent system flows an additional 40% of air, and at 70 mph it is still delivering an extra 7% percent. Besides the logo intake are two teardrop-shaped vents that were inspired by Arai’s Formula One car helmet. The chin vent can be configured in closed, half-open or completely open, has been redesigned to make it easier to use while wearing gloves and has a replaceable filter. The face shield has two eyebrow vents.
At the rear, a wing-shaped exhaust spoiler is designed to create stability and reduce turbulence, thus reducing rider fatigue. Arai says the spoiler is similar to the one on the Corsair-X but sits higher and more forward. While it is aimed at the sport-touring and road rider, Arai says its testers evaluated the design (and presumably approved its performance) at 180 mph at Suzuka Circuit.
The Arai Contour-X is available in a Snake Red multi-color scheme. Photo courtesy Arai.
A new brushed nylon liner material offers greater odor resistance performance, and the interior and cheek pads are easily removed for cleaning or adjustment, the company says. The liner also incorporates a pocket to hold additional wiring for the speakers and/or communication device. The Contour-X uses the same VAS shield system, which is Pinlock-insert compatible, as the other full-face helmets currently in the Arai lineup.
Much has been written lately about rotational forces and helmet features designed to reduce or minimize that force on the rider’s head in the event of a crash. Arai’s philosophy is to minimize the rotational forces by designing a smooth, rounded shell to prevent rotational forces from being generated in the first place. Arai’s rounded shells are designed to glance off of the ground or any other object without snagging or catching, thus minimizing the rotational forces created by that impact. And with only so much space that can be devoted to impact absorption materials, Arai says it “prioritizes the liner to absorb impact energy, and is unwilling to take away any of that limited material to address issues like trying to manage rotational energy or add features such as internal sunshades. Such designs diminish the helmets’ already limited capacity to absorb impact energy.”
The Arai Contour-X is available in a new Light Gray. Photo courtesy Arai.
Arai supplied us with sample helmets and led a pack of motojournalists, racers, and friends of Arai on a loop from downtown Los Angeles along Pacific Coast Highway into Malibu. As soon as we turned right and headed up into the Santa Monica Mountains, the rain, which had paused after dumping down for two days, resumed. So much debris washes onto those tight, narrow roads that local authorities employ snowplow-like vehicles to clear away the mud, branches and rocks, but with the rain actually falling, there was nothing to prevent the hazards from sliding back onto the pavement immediately after it had been cleared.
What I learned during that ride was that the new ventilation system offered a lot of flexibility in configuration, important for sketchy weather conditions. I was able to adjust the vents so that with a minimum of forward motion, the face shield did not fog, and I did not get wet or cold air rushing across my skull. And riding with the helmet while doing an on-track evaluation of a Kawasaki Ninja 650 showed that the helmet was stable and didn’t create buffeting at triple-digit speeds.
The shell for the Contour-X is revised for easier entry and exit, as well as making it more convenient for mounting communication devices. The shell is lighter thanks to new materials and resin. Photo courtesy Arai.
Big improvements may be harder and harder to come by in a technology as mature as modern motorcycle helmet design. But small improvements over time are equally welcome. Arai’s latest lid exceeds the company’s already high standard for comfort, is easier to use and is functional at speeds its intended user will experience for long periods of time.
Suggested retail starts at $739.95 for the base solid colors, and the multi-color models start at $889.95.
More, from a press release issued by Arai Helmet, Inc.:
The All-New Arai Contour-X: Designed for the Modern Motorcycle Rider
Arai Helmet is proud to introduce the all-new Arai Contour-X!
Representing the latest example of Arai’s dedication to rider protection, the Contour-X is built on the solid foundation and proven performance of the helmets that came before it. For more than seven decades, Arai has looked closely at helmet design, down to the smallest details, where room for even the slightest gains in protection can be found.
The Contour-X has the very familiar “Arai shape”, incorporating a Round, Smooth and Strong shell. This foundational shape provides the ability to glance off obstacles and slide across uneven ground and resist deformation during an impact, all of which help to minimize the potential for snagging or catching that might send energy into the helmet or cause excessive rotational forces.
To learn more about Arai from the Value of Arai video, click the image above.
It is important to note that as long as the helmet can slide, or avoid snagging on obstacles, the potential to resist rotational forces is virtually unlimited. This basic function has been incorporated into every Arai helmet shell since the very beginning—more than 70 years ago!
Arai’s ongoing philosophy is to avoid as much potential impact energy as possible from getting into the helmet. Keeping energy outside of the helmet means less energy gets into the helmet resulting in less energy for the interior liner to deal with. Knowing that the interior space for a liner is limited, Arai prioritizes the liner to absorb impact energy, and is unwilling to take away any of that limited material to address issues like trying to manage rotational energy or add features such as internal sunshades. Such designs diminish the helmets already limited capacity to absorb impact energy.
The All-New Arai Contour-X in Blue Frost
At Arai, we believe more performance can be found in avoiding, rather than attempting to manage, impact energy. This is the foundation behind Arai’s “Glancing Off” philosophy.
Owned and operated by the Arai family, who demand such dedicated efforts, with a focus on rider protection as their Number-1 priority: this is Arai.
The All-New Arai Contour-X in Snake Red
Built upon this incredible foundation, Arai Helmet, Inc. is thrilled to announce the launch of the all-new Contour-X. This new Arai helmet is designed for the modern motorcycle rider and aimed at a brand-new generation of riders who want dynamic and comfortable race-derived performance on the road.
Extensive work by the R&D team in the lab, on the road and out on the racetrack, with the ever-present goal of creating a full-featured, exceptional new Arai helmet, the Contour-X comes with unmatched performance, but with room for a stylish new look that provides a high level of comfort and protection over thousands of miles.
Face Fluorescent Yellow is another beautiful graphic on the All-New Arai Contour-X
Drawing on the ideas, design elements and principles, throughout the Arai range, from the popular Regent-X to the road racing-spec Corsair-X, the Contour-X also has fresh features all its own.
Positioned just below the Arai flagship Corsair-X model, the Contour-X marks a brand-new generation of sophisticated design from Arai that occupies fresh ground. Aimed at the passionate, sport-touring long-distance rider with its Odor Resistant Brushed Nylon interior, increased flexible ventilation, and stable aerodynamic performance offering high-speed comfort for the long haul.
Key Messages:
A brand-new generation of Arai helmet aimed at the sport-touring rider who wants dynamic, race-derived performance on the road.
New smooth, round, and strong Peripherally Belted Complex Laminate Construction (PB-cLc2) outer shell with VAS shield system and a 5-mm flare around the base for easier on/off and comfort.
Unmatched comfort and features suitable for long riding days.
New Odor Resistant, Brushed Nylon interior that keeps the Contour-X fresher longer with the soft supple feel of the Brushed Nylon.
New front Arai 3D logo vent, new XG chin vent, dual intake XGF top vents and one-piece rear XGR exhaust/spoiler deliver comprehensive and controllable cooling airflow.
Designed for straightforward and easy attachment of intercom systems.
Manufactured, by hand, using a Peripherally Belted Complex Laminate Construction (PB-cLc2) shell, the Contour-X’s outer shell maintains the core strength that Arai is known for, but with a substantial weight reduction, due to the thinner AR Mat and Z-Compound resin. A soft, multi-density EPS inner liner works with the outer shell to absorb impact energy. The smooth, round, and strong shape is another key Arai signature—and the Arai first principle from which the R&D engineers worked from. While aesthetically sleek and pleasing, the Contour-X shell is primarily designed to ‘glance-off’ and spread impact forces.
The new 3D Arai logo vent, aggressive XG chin vent, F1-based dual XGF top-vents and Corsair-X DF-X2 inspired one-piece rear XGR exhaust/spoiler were developed in the wind tunnel, in real-road riding conditions and at the Suzuka race circuit. Alongside the brow vents and flush-fit rear exhausts, the Contour-X’s ventilation gives a consistent, controllable flow of cooling air via a total of 13 ports in the shell—from low, around-town speeds.
All-day wearability is the other key factor running through the Contour-X’s DNA. It features a 5mm flare around the base for easy on/off access, and the VAS MAX vision visor is ready to accept the provided Pinlock insert. The new, premium odor resistant brushed nylon interior is removable and features Facial Contour System (FCS-2) cheek pads, speaker pockets and a neck roll wire pocket. The Contour-X has been designed from the outset for easy application of a communication system. It also features an Emergency Release System (ERS) cheek pad design.
Using the aerodynamic and protective abilities of Arai’s full-race helmets—with racer feedback from the highest level—the Contour-X slips through the air neatly and efficiently, wrapping its wearer in a cocoon of comfort. It offers a fresh choice for riders that want the very best performance from a helmet—in terms of protection, comfort and ease of wear, day-in-day out, with zero compromise.
Arai Contour-X MSRP:
Base Solid: $739.95
Premium Solid: $749.95
Standard Graphic: $889.95
Replica: $899.95
ARAI CONTOUR-X NEW FEATURES:
New Ventilation
Comprehensive and controllable ventilation is based around 13 ventilation ports: 7 intakes and 6 exhausts. The 3D Arai logo feeds cooling air into two central intake points and works well at low speed, alongside dual F1-derived tear-drop top intakes, twin brow vents and filtered chin vent. Hot air is efficiently extracted via the 3-way one-piece rear exhaust/spoiler, twin flush-fit side exhausts (with foam dams to reduce noise) and neck-roll exhaust.
New 3D Arai Logo Vent
Immediately noticeable, the new 3D Arai logo vent (made as thin as possible, just 3.5mm in depth) feeds two central 10mm intake ports. This is a first on an Arai, and entirely due to the PB-cLc2’s strength and the shell construction. It works very well at low speed and with an upright riding position. At just 30mph it’s channeling an extra 40% airflow; at 70mph an extra 7%. It can also be opened, or closed, easily with summer or winter gloves, via a lever placed at the top; if the lever is down, hidden behind the logo, the vent is open. The Arai logo vent is designed to breakaway in the event of an impact.
New Dual Tear-Drop Top XGF Intake Vents
Drawn initially from Arai’s F1 helmet, the XGF tear-drops maintain the airflow of the previous design with a compact, light and unobtrusive form that complements the round and smooth shell. Opened or closed by sliding to prevent water ingress.
New Air-scoop XG Chin Vent
Also new is the 3-position (open, midway, and closed) sliding air-scoop chin vent which flows a larger intake volume of air and has a replaceable filter. The actuating mechanism is thicker and easy to use with gloves.
New Rear XGR Exhaust/Spoiler
The one-piece rear exhaust/spoiler, operated by a 3-way switch, is inspired by the DF-X2 of the Corsair-X, but redesigned for everyday sport/touring use. However, it was tested up to 180 mph by top racers at the Suzuka Circuit. It sits a little more forward on the shell and is fed by 3 ports in the shell. As part of the Contour-X’s comprehensive ventilation system, it efficiently draws air but also smooths airflow over (and from the side) of the helmet, improving stability and reducing buffeting, especially while overtaking at highway speeds. The result is much less rider fatigue. Manufactured as thin and light as possible, it’s designed to crush or break away upon impact, therefore having no impact on protective performance.
Outer Shell
The PB-cLc2 outer shell features a stylish, organic shape and uses a Peripherally Belted Complex Laminate Construction for lightweight strength. The Peripherally Belted Complex Laminate Construction with latest generation Z-Compound resin and AR Mat is the accumulation of years of Arai’s experience in shell making, handmade with over 25 individual pieces bound by Arai’s new proprietary resin and reinforced by the Peripheral Belt.
An extra layer of Super Fiber belting—along with a re-shaped Hyper Ridge—maintains rigidity in a crucial area while offering flat sides for easy fitment of an intercom. Variable Axis System (VAS) lowers the visor mounting system and yields an average of an additional 24mm across both temple areas, for a smoother shell shape that increases the ability to glance-off energy as compared to the previous shield pivot system. Like the Regent-X, the Contour-X shell flares out 5mm around the base, for easier on/off access.
New Integrated wire pocket
Designed to work cleanly without affecting comfort or protection to store excess cable length in the neck roll.
New Interior
Using the interiors of both the Regent-X and the Corsair-X as benchmarks, the Contour-X’s interior was designed for maximum comfort, airflow (there are two pass-through holes in the forehead area) and lightweight. A new liner material created just for the Contour-X is a brushed nylon with odor resistance performance, keeping the interior liner components fresher, longer. The interior and cheek pads are easily removed for cleaning or adjustment.
Spaniard Isaac Vinales will join Sheridan Morais and Mathieu Gines onboard the Wójcik Racing Team’s no. 77 Yamaha R1 for the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship season.
The 29-year-old made his World Championship debut over a decade ago, taking four Moto3 Grand Prix and five World Supersport podiums before tasting endurance racing for the first time with an impressive performance during the 2018 Suzuka 8 Hours.
The Spaniard will join Sheridan Morais and Matheiu Gines onboard the no. 77 Yamaha R1 for the full FIM EWC campaign with the Polish Wójcik Racing Team also running a Superstock no. 777 entry with Kamil Krzemień, Kevin Manfredi, Danny Webb and Marek Szkopek.
“I’m really happy to be joining the Wójcik Racing Team – says Isaac Vinales. – It’s a very good team and we can achieve a lot together. I really like the family atmosphere here, which is very important in endurance racing. After our first two days together I can see that we have a good bike and we know how to make it even better. It’s difficult to talk about goals in endurance racing as everything can happen but we’ll give it our all and want to fight for top positions”.
“Isaac is another world-class rider joining the Wójcik Racing Team – adds Team Manager, Sławomir Kubzdyl. – We know him well, having watched him battle in the World Championships for years. He was one of the front runners in the World Supersport Championship when we made our debut there in 2020 and we’ve been thinking about joining forces in FIM EWC ever since. Once we started our talks, things went very smoothly and after inviting Isaac to try our bike and meet the team in Cartagena, we both decided to sign the 2023 contract at the track. We have the same goal and want to fight at the front in FIM EWC”.
H-D1 Marketplace is now accepting listings from private parties wanting to sell their motorcycles. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.
H-D1 MARKETPLACE NOW ACCEPTING PRIVATE-PARTY LISTINGS
Private Parties Join Dealers on the Go-To Online Marketplace for Used H-D Bikes
MILWAUKEE – H-D1™ Marketplace, the largest online marketplace for pre-owned Harley-Davidson listings, is taking the exciting step to connect a wider range of riders to their next bikes by accepting private-party listings of pre-owned Harley-Davidson motorcycles. This will be the first time that individual customers will be able to list their motorcycle for sale on H-D1™ Marketplace. All motorcycles listed for sale may be viewed by the thousands of customers visiting the H-D1™ Marketplace website. Customers who are interested in purchasing a bike from the H-D1™ Marketplace can either contact the private party seller or the dealer directly through the site. Rider-to-Rider financing options are available to customers purchasing from a private party, in addition to in-dealership financing.
“H-D1 Marketplace has redefined online marketplace for pre-owned Harley-Davidson motorcycles,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, CEO and President, Harley-Davidson. “This new private-party feature will bring together even more buyers and sellers of Harley bikes. This is our next step in building the ultimate online home for the sale and purchase of pre-owned Harley-Davidson motorcycles.”
Private-party listings on H-D1™ Marketplace will be limited to Harley-Davidson models located in the United States. Each listing will include photos and details about the motorcycle. All bikes will also be validated by VIN and go through a review-and-approval process before the listing is launched.
About H-D1™ Marketplace
H-D1™ Marketplace was created in July 2021 to provide consumers with the most-comprehensive opportunity to search, experience, sell, customize and purchase used H-D® motorcycles from the inventories of participating authorized Harley-Davidson dealers. Today H-D1™ Marketplace offers the largest selection of dealer pre-owned H-D® motorcycles in the United States, with more than 34,000 listings by 540 participating U.S. Harley-Davidson® Dealers.
Currently focused on the USA, H-D1™ Marketplace showcases the entire selection of pre-owned Harley-Davidson motorcycles from participating dealers, and now also those offered by private parties. H-D1™ Marketplace is the only place to easily search for H-D Certified™ motorcycles, the ultimate in pre-owned Harley-Davidson® motorcycles. Through the “Sell My Bike” feature, customers are able to sell their motorcycles directly into the Harley-Davidson® dealer network. Supported by Harley-Davidson Financial Services, H-D1™ Marketplace customers have access to innovative, industry-leading financing solutions, to make purchasing even easier. For complete details on making a private-party listing, go to H-D1™ Marketplace.
Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of 2023 Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring, Sport, Adventure Touring, Cruiser and Trike motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Certified™ pre-owned motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories, Harley-Davidson MotorClothes and gear, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.
The start of the 2022 French Grand Prix in Le Mans, France. Photo courtesy Dorna.
1000 and counting: Le Mans to host 1000th Grand Prix!
The 1000th Grand Prix in the more than 70-year history of the sport is set to take place at the classic circuit in Sarthe
The 2023 SHARK Grand Prix de France will have a special place in MotoGP™ history, with classic Le Mans set to host the 1000th Grand Prix! The incredible milestone will take place at a fittingly fabled venue for the motorsport faithful, and one that saw over 110,000 fans pack into the grandstands on MotoGP™ race day in 2022.
Le Mans has hosted 35 Grands Prix and was first used in 1969 before MotoGP™ returned to the track full time from 2000. The 1000th Grand Prix will be another milestone to remember at the classic venue, and the event will also mark another occasion as the 30th organised by local promoter PHA Claude Michy. After the French GP was also voted Best Grand Prix of 2022, the stage is set for a glorious return to Le Mans next season as MotoGP™ prepares to keep making history with the 1000th Grand Prix.
The very first Grand Prix took place in June 1949, the first of six events in the sport’s inaugural season. Since, MotoGP™ has grown into a truly global competition, with a 21-race calendar spanning five continents in 2023. Over MotoGP™’s more than 70-year history, 125 different World Champions have been crowned in the solo classes, representing a total of 20 different nations. The sport has competed in 29 countries, and 73 venues have hosted premier class races – with two more of each set to be added in 2023!
Team Gresini Racing MotoGP owner Nadia Padovani (center) with riders Alex Marquez (left) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (right) and their Ducati Desmosedici GP22 racebikes. Photo courtesy Gresini Racing.
TEAM GRESINI MOTOGP, 2023 VERSION
2022 is not an easy year to forget, and there is only one thing that can be done to further raise the bar – to methodically prepare the new season: 2023 starts today with the presentation of the renewed MotoGP team. The novelties are quite a few, starting from the 2022-spec Desmosedici machine with new colours: more of the iconic Ducati red with a modern touch combined with a glossy light blue (slightly pearly) to give even more power to an already beautiful and winning bike.
The arrival of Alex Marquéz is surely the biggest news. The Spanish rider will be aided by Donatello Giovanotti (track engineer) and Andrea Mattioli (data engineer) while inheriting the rest of the team that last year celebrated four wins alongside Bastianini.
On the other side of the pit-box, Fabio Di Giannantonio has one important piece of news as (former Suzuki) Frankie Carchedi joins in as crew chief. The feeling in the recent Valencia test was already quite interesting and it will only be a matter of time to see the whole team in action in February’s official test at Sepang, which will officially open the new season.
FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49
“We start 2023 with a pinch more of red, which stands for determination, passion, fire… I’m eager to continue growing and do well. We want to take this new season race by race, with the awareness that this is the right time: the top ten should be the regular occurrence, while top five a realistic goal. The team is charged up and I trained 300% hard for this year – we’re ready!”
ALEX MARQUEZ #73
“Today is a really special day: to see this team so tight together and ready is a thing that brings great emotions. To be here at this presentation is a very special thing. To see so much eagerness and excitement within the team and the people that came see us is something I really like. Now the work starts, for a preseason that hopefully will enable us to be 100% ready for the first race at Portimão. The goal is to have a great start to the season because it will set the pace for the rest of 2023. We have the tools and the will to do well; it won’t be easy, obviously, but the right approach helps a lot in these scenarios.”
NADIA PADOVANI – TEAM OWNER
“We’re very excited for this new adventure. 2022 was incredible in every way, but the idea is to continue to improve and surprise. We’re a young team with great ambition: Fabio will have the chance to showcase all his potential in his sophomore year and Alex is eager to take the stage back… we will do our best to make sure both can succeed. Today is almost a return to normal with such an important presentation and with the people joining us: a big thank you goes to the sponsors and the whole team who worked hard to be ready.”
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