MotoAmerica: Results from VIR for the Altus Motorsports WPS FLY Racing Team

(Alton, VA) Hot and humid temperatures greeted the MotoAmerica racers when they arrived at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia. The weather made for greasy track conditions with everyone struggling for grip. The Altus team was no exception.

“The team had some challenges this weekend but we continue to see improvements from both Brandon and Jaret. It was great to see Justin and Kayla come back from big crashes and ride well,” said team owner George Nassaney.

Superbike Cup & Stock 1000

Brandon Paasch continues to learn on the Altus Motorsports GSX-R1000. He qualified in 9th for the Stock1000 races and finished the first race in 8th and the second race in 6th. In the Superbike races, he started both in 19th place. In the Saturday race, he crossed the finish line in 14th and was the top Superbike Cup competitor. On Sunday, he finished 16th and 3rd in the Superbike Cup.

“Not thrilled with the results or the lap times but I learned a lot. This weekend was the first time I’ve had a chance to put in a lot of laps on the 1000. I missed CoTA with injury and was still recovering and had the flu in Atlanta. You can’t tell from the results but this was a really good building weekend. I had a big step forward on Sunday. As a result, I am very positive about the rest of the season and I am looking forward to Road America,” said Brandon Paasch.

Supersport 

Jaret Nassaney made the move to the GSX-R750 for the VIR Round. He qualified for both Supersport races in 12th. In Race 1, the bike felt good. He spent the race moving through the pack. At the end of Lap 1, he was in 10th. By Lap 6 he was in 8th. On the 10th lap, he slotted into 6th place and ultimately finished in 5th—his best finish in the class. For Sunday, the team made some suspension changes, and, unfortunately, they were in the wrong direction. Nassaney struggled with the bike for the entire race until he suffered a crash on Lap 11 resulting in a DNF.

“VIR had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Raced my tail off to my personal best finish of a P5 in race one. Which I’m beyond stoked about. For race two we made a few changes to hopefully go faster but unfortunately, it didn’t work out. We went down in race two and weren’t able to rejoin. We live and we learn. Big thanks to my team for putting an awesome bike under me this weekend!! We are ready for battle again at Road America in just two weeks!” said Jaret Nassaney

Justin Jones struggled for grip in the hot, greasy conditions. In spite of a massive crash on Friday during the Q1 session, he qualified 17th. In the first Supersport race, he finished 19th. On Sunday, he improved and crossed the stripe in 10th place.

“It was a pretty frustrating weekend. I came to VIR confident. It’s a track I’ve gone fast at in the past and expected to be solidly in the top 10. Friday and Saturday we could not find a setup that worked. For the race on Sunday, we made some changes. It wasn’t where I wanted it but it was race-able. I managed to salvage a 10th place in the race,” said Justin Jones.

Junior Cup

Kayla Yaakov continues to impress. Kayla started the two Junior cup races from 9th. In the Saturday race, she went with the first group and had the pace to compete for the podium until a tank slapper caused her calipers to spread and she went into a corner with no brakes. She shot off the track and into the air fence. MotoAmerica deemed her ‘fit to ride’ for Sunday and she picked up where she left off. For the entire race, she fought in the top group and led the race several times. She crossed the line in 5th but was elevated to 4th when the winner was disqualified.

“This weekend is why I love to be at the track. Our team rocks! To watch my son Jaret get his first top 5 finish was so awesome. When two of our riders had big crashes, our team pulled together to get the bikes fixed and back on the grid. Lastly, it’s fantastic to see Brandon continually improve every time he got on the track. That motivates our team to come back with more fire!” said team owner George Nassaney.

The Altus Motorsports team is supported by our great family of sponsors: Altus Motorsports, FLY Racing WPS, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Moto-D Racing, Bonamici, Hot Bodies Racing, M4 Exhausts, Vortex EK, Motion Pro, Barnett, Maxima Racing Oils, SBS Brakes, Galfer USA, Ohlins, K-Tech, RS Taichi, Arai, Law Tigers Oklahoma, and Altus Factory Racing.

More, from a press release issued by Geoff May Racing and Team Vision Wheel/Discount Tire/Amsoil/KWS/Honda:

Virginia International Raceway, Round 3

After Road Atlanta, the Stock 1000 bike needed to be completely rebuilt from the ground up. Mike Godin was able to successfully put the CBR1000RR-SP back together, with support from American Honda. Going into the weekend the team had high hopes of a strong performance on familiar territory. Geoff was fast right out of the gate showing no ill effects from the Road Atlanta crash. The team set out to gain as much data and set up knowledge as possible with the time given. Qualifying second for the stock 1000 double header, the team knew this was a valuable opportunity to get back in the hunt for the championship. With High hopes and great racing, the team was able to come away with 2, second place finishes. Thus, putting Geoff in second in the Stock 1000 championship running.

Geoff commented “The competition has really stepped up this year. It is really tight at the front, with only tenths separating the top 5. I am extremely happy with the performance of the CBR1000RRR. I am happy to come here and finish on the podium in both races. I cannot wait for the next race! I cannot thank Vision Wheel, Discount Tire, KWS Motorsports, Amsoil, and Honda North America enough for this opportunity.

Geoff May Racing would also like to thank all our supporting and technical sponsors for their contributions and long-standing relationships as well. The Team is currently sponsored by SBS Brakes, Arata Exhaust, Evol Technologies, Ktech Suspension, Orient Express, Thermosman, Arai Helmets, Dainese, BikeSports Oldsmar, Flex Racing, T13, and Rob Pippins Design.

We are always looking for supporting and technical sponsors to partner with. Please send sponsorship inquiries to [email protected]

More, from a press release issued by Hayden Bicknese Racing:

Hayden Bicknese races to another top six finish in MotoAmerica Junior Cup

Hayden Bicknese added another double top ten finish to his 2022 MotoAmerica Junior Cup results sheet in the latest round of the series at Virginia International Raceway this past weekend.

Bicknese, who has been a front runner since this year’s championship got underway a few weeks ago, was once again in the mix throughout the event at the 2.25-mile circuit affectionately known as VIR.

Third in Free Practice on Friday, the talented teen qualified fifth before finishing a respectable ninth on Saturday, a mere second from the win. He crossed the line sixth Sunday.

The results mean Hayden heads to Road America in less than a fortnight tenth overall in the standings.

Hayden Bicknese: “I felt confident after finishing P3 in opening practice and I was excited for qualifying. I struggled in Q1 but a crazy lap at the end saved me. I ended up fifth after final qualifying and was looking forward to the races. Both races were rough and for some reason I couldn’t seem to find any pace compared to Friday. We were chasing set-up and I was a little frustrated as I couldn’t hold on to the group as I had hoped. VIR is not my favourite track so to come away with two solid results at the flag gives me confidence for Road America – a track I was pretty fast at last year.”

More, from a press release issued by 3D Motorsports:

3D Motorsports’ Power, Mariniello amass more top-10 finishes May 21-22 at MotoAmerica round at VIR

Australian duo now eighth, 12th in MotoAmerica Supersport, Junior Cup standings
 
ALTON, Va. — 3D Motorsports LLC riders Luke Power and Joe Mariniello had their work cut out for them this past weekend at the MotoAmerica Superbikes at Virginia round, but the Australian duo put in another good performance in their first time racing at VIRginia International Raceway.

Though the tight, twisty 2.25-mile North Course at VIR can be a challenge to learn, both riders scored at least one top-10 finish at the May 20-22 event. Despite a downer end to his weekend, Power is now eighth in the Supersport points standings. And Mariniello recovered from struggling during qualifying to finishing in the top 10 in both Junior Cup races.

Power and Mariniello had positive starts to the VIR round. Power finished Friday practice ninth-fastest and was 10th in the first of two qualifying sessions. Qualifying wrapped up Saturday morning with Power having secured ninth on the grid for the round’s two Supersport races. Mariniello struggled a little in Friday practice, finishing that session in 13th. He also was 13th when Qualifying 1 ended on Friday afternoon and had shaved about four seconds off his best lap time from practice. Mariniello was unable to set a better lap time in Saturday morning’s Qualifying 2 and had to settle for 14th on the Junior Cup starting grid.

Boyce struggled from the start of the weekend, though Shakespeare came close to qualifying for the event’s two Stock 1000 contests. Shakespeare and Boyce finished Friday practice 30th and 40th, respectively. Later Friday, Shakespeare wrapped up Qualifying 1 in 33rd and Boyce in 36th.  Neither of the pair took part in Saturday morning’s Qualifying 2 session and were unable to take part in the round’s racing action.

Power had an excellent outing in Saturday’s Supersport race despite almost not being allowed to start. As the 22-rider Supersport field was lining up for the start of the race, a technical problem with Power’s motorcycle delayed the start and the team was able to correct the issue in time for Power to take part in the second warm-up lap. When the lights went out, Power got off the line well and finished the first lap in eighth place. He spent most of the race in a battle with another rider for eighth , though he was able to move up to seventh in the running order with four laps to go. A late race crash by one of the frontrunners promoted Power to sixth place, which is where he finished the race.

Mariniello struggled a little at the start of the Junior Cup contest, but he made the most of a race stoppage. The Australian got a good start but was shuffled back to 15th place on the opening lap of the race, which is where he was running when the red flag came out. He took the restart from 12th on the grid and had advanced to 10th place by the end of Lap 1. Though he fell back to 11th on Lap 3 of the shortened five-lap race, Mariniello ground out a 10th-place finish – his second top-10 result of the season.

Sunday proved to be a challenge for Power but another bright spot for Mariniello. In the Sunday Supersport race, Power got an OK start but had lost one position by the end of the first lap. He ran as high in the running order as seventh on Laps 6-8 before an on-track incident forced him to retire from the race. Mariniello didn’t get the best start in the Sunday Junior Cup race and was running as low as 16th during the first few laps. As the contest went on, Mariniello gradually found his rhythm, and attrition farther up the running order helped him clinch a ninth-place finish.

The 3D Motorsports team now has a weekend off before the next MotoAmerica round, which is slated for June 3-5 at the historic Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Luke Power / No. 68

“It was a tough start to the weekend, as I was delayed in arriving from London until midnight on Friday. Saying I was tired would be a severe understatement. We made some improvements to our setup for Qualifying 2, but the field is really close this year and I ended up qualifying ninth. The bike felt really good in Race 1, and actually started feeling better as the tires started to fade. I was super happy to finish in sixth that race. For Race 2, we made another adjustment to the bike that felt brilliant during the race. I was feeling really comfortable and confident and was running in seventh when I had an off in Turn 1. All in all, I’m super happy with how the weekend went. Despite the DNF, we showed we have a lot of potential and I’m very excited to be racing at Road America next!”

Joe Mariniello / No. 88

“Overall, the weekend at VIR was an improvement from Atlanta. I’m starting to come to grips with American tracks and the Dunlop tires as I get more seat time. The 3D Motorsports team worked super hard all weekend to give me the best bike possible. We had some unlucky moments at crucial times, but that’s racing. I think we’re heading in the right direction, and I can’t thank the team enough for their efforts at VIR. Hopefully I’ll be able to repay them with some stronger results at Road America.”

3D Motorsports’ sponsors for the 2022 MotoAmerica season include Orient Express, K-Tech, BTEC Turbines, 4SR USA, Blud Lubricants, CG Law, Evol Technologies, AF1 Racing, Southern Adrenaline, M4 Exhaust, Valor Farms, Second Hand Motorsports, LS2, Motorcycle Dealer Services and DrippinWet.

MotoAmerica’s Statement On Petrucci Incident From VIR

IRVINE, CA (May 24, 2022) – MotoAmerica has issued the following statement regarding the single-bike incident at the completion of the MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike race on Sunday, May 22, at VIRginia International Raceway, round three of the MotoAmerica Championship.

On Sunday afternoon at VIR, there was an accident at the end of the Medallia Superbike race in which Danilo Petrucci crashed after crossing the finish line in third place. Unfortunately, the crash itself occurred off camera. Race Direction witnessed the end of the crash and immediately acted. As appropriate, a yellow caution flag was deployed. By this time, eighth-place finisher Ashton Yates had crossed the finish line, 27 seconds behind Petrucci. Roughly 17 seconds later, race direction could see that Petrucci was on his feet and appeared to be not seriously injured. Although Petrucci’s crash occurred in a fast section of the racetrack, it’s also an area with the most run-off of any track at which MotoAmerica rounds are held. A sliding Petrucci also struck a single lightweight sponsor sign that consequently gave way as it is designed to do. Petrucci was up and continued walking and stood trackside until he deemed it was safe to walk across the track. He was then met by MotoAmerica staff and escorted in a vehicle to the trackside Medical Center, which was some 200 yards from the site of the incident. At that point, roughly three minutes had passed, and Petrucci was treated for his injuries.

“Attention to detail is paramount when it comes to safety and the safety of our riders is our number-one priority,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “That’s where we start, and our process goes forward from there. In MotoAmerica’s eight years of racing, we have never neglected a rider who was injured. I have nothing but respect for Danilo (Petrucci) and his safety and the safety of all our riders is of the utmost importance. We will never minimize a rider’s injury nor their views of the incident that took place. We needed to get to Danilo more quickly and we will study the incident and will make changes where necessary. The situation was made even more difficult in that, although the crash was after the checkered flag, the track was still hot with riders still at speed and thus mobilizing workers becomes more difficult. Additionally, Race Direction places a lot of emphasis on what they witness of a rider’s actions following an incident. Petrucci was standing and walking under his own power and that quickly lessens the severity of the response. We hope Danilo’s injuries are healing and he’s feeling better. And we look forward to seeing him at Road America.”

About MotoAmerica

MotoAmerica is the new North American road racing series created in 2014. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com. Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

KAYLEIGH BUYCK FIRES FIRST AT ROYAL ENFIELD BTR OPENER

BUILD. TRAIN. RACE Road Race opening round heats up the already scorching MotoAmerica action at Virginia International Raceway

Milwaukee, WI – Nerves and emotions were high as the women of Royal Enfield’s groundbreaking Build. Train. Race. (BTR) Road Racing program took to the track at Virginia International Raceway, Sunday, May 22, for the first round of the 2022 season. For the first time, the full grid, each aboard a Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 of their own unique build, took the green lights at the MotoAmerica North American Road Race Championship. Through the intense Virginia heat and humidity, and the most competitive grid BTR has ever seen, it was 30-year-old Kayleigh Buyck of Sodus, New York who emerged victorious.

Buyck not only won the final race, but topped the charts in both practice and qualifying sessions. On paper it was a flawless performance, but was anything but a runaway victory for Buyck, who also had her share of drama when she crashed in Q2. Cora Tennyson passed Buyck for the lead in the early laps of Sunday’s main race, only to end her efforts with a spectacular high-side. From there, Buyck resumed the lead, with Crystal Martinez relentless in her pursuit. Martinez finished less than a second behind at the checkered flag. Not far off was Chloe Peterson, who rounded out the overall podium.

“I still haven’t found the words to describe the thousands of feelings from our first BTR race,” said Buyck. “Being able to hold pole position all weekend even after a bad crash, and then to pull a win is a feeling I cannot describe. Being on this team, racing with 14 other amazing women who empower each other is a dream come true. We are all each others’ biggest fans and having Breeann Poland, Melissa Paris and Anne Roberts there to make this all a possibility is something I will forever be grateful for!”

Even Tennyson, who didn’t get to run the full distance, and also incurred a jump-start penalty, had some good takeaways from the weekend. “Despite how it ended, I am very proud of what I was able to accomplish before my crash,” said Tennyson. “After a jump start and falling from second to seventh, I was able to battle back to the front. All of the ladies showed tremendous effort and resilience and I’m proud to ride with them.”

Alyssa Bridges was the top finisher among the returning BTR Road Racing women, and reflected on the change from the 2021 season to the far more competitive 2022 class of racers. “This year having more people to battle with is fun,” said Bridges. “I’ve improved a lot after being brand new to this sport last season and I’m happy I get to battle a few returning teammates, as well. The rivalries, race battles and crowded grid add even more fun, and it’s a pleasure to be around even more talented personalities to learn from.”

“This weekend went about as good as we could ask for,” said Breeann Poland, Marketing and Communications Lead – Royal Enfield Americas. “The racing was incredible. These ladies went at it and really put on a great show. Every single rider improved throughout the weekend. Spirits were high throughout with great teamwork, and all the participants helped each other both on and off the track. We’re pretty thrilled with how the opening round went.”

“We unfortunately had one low point this weekend; racer Patty Paul crashed in practice and suffered a broken collarbone. We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to having her rejoin the paddock this season.

“Thank you again to all the Build. Train. Race. sponsors. We couldn’t do it without their support. And the reception from fans and the MotoAmerica paddock was more than we could ask for. We’re in for an outstanding season and we’re already looking forward to Road America in two weeks.”

MotoAmerica results from BTR Road Race VIR

THE RIDERS

Find bios on all 15 BTR Road Race women at the Build. Train. Race. website.

2022 BTR Road Racing Roster

#52 – Kayla Theisler, 26, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

#27 – Michaela Trumbull, 29, Sheridan, Wyoming

#30 – Alyssa Bridges, 31, Orange County, California

#44 – Trisha Dahl, 31, Minneapolis, Minnesota

#21 – Bridgette LeBer, 29, Port Angeles, Washington

#31 – Ash Truxal, 31, Oakland, California

#55 – Chloe Peterson, 31, Steger, Illinois

#95 – Cora Tennyson, 36, Brandenburg, Kentucky

#25 – Crystal Martinez, 34, Thousand Oaks, California

#62 – Hannah Stockton, 23, Kansas City, Missouri

#19 – Jenny Chancellor, 46, Tumwater, Washington

#23 – Jessica Martin, 38, Savannah, Georgia

#16 – Kayleigh Buyck, 30, Sodus, New York

#11 – Nicole Pareso, 34, Carrolton, Ohio

#79 – Patty Paul, 57, Berrien Springs, Michigan

THE SCHEDULE
 
2022 Royal Enfield BTR Road Racing Schedule

Jun 3-5 (Rnd 2) Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI

Jul 29-31  (Rnd 3) Brainerd Int’l Raceway, Brainerd, MN

Aug 19-21 (Rnd 4) Pittsburgh Int’l Race Complex, Wampum, PA

Sep 9-11  (Rnd 5) New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ

Sep 23-25 (Rnd 6) Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL

More information 2022 MotoAmerica

BTR SPONSORS

The 2022 Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. programs (Road Race and Flat Track) are made possible by the participation of these generous sponsors. Our continued thanks to all our supporting companies behind BTR.

2022 Build. Train. Race. Sponsors

Parts Unlimited

Harris Performance

S&S Cycle

Dunlop

Maxima Racing Oils

BOXO USA

Öhlins USA Suspension

Arai Helmets

About Royal Enfield

The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the midsize motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market.

Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 150 dealers in North America, including the contiguous U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. RENA currently offers the all-new Classic 350, Meteor 350, Himalayan and the 650 Twins (INT650 and Continental GT 650) motorcycles, along with a range of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories and apparel.

For more information on Royal Enfield North America, visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.

DOUBLE-PODIUM WEEKEND FOR TYLER SCOTT  AND VISION WHEEL M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI IN VIRGINIA

New to Class Suzuki GSX-R750s Immediately Competitive in Supersport

BREA, Calif., May 23, 2022 — Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer enjoyed another trophy-winning performance as Round 3 of the 2022 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship concluded on Sunday at Virginia International Raceway.

For the second consecutive day, that podium was delivered by 16-year-old MotoAmerica Supersport rookie Tyler Scott. The fast-rising Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki star again battled for the win deep into the contest with a pair of premier-class champions before ultimately guiding his GSX-R750 to a third-place finish.

“The bike felt great all race,” Scott said. “We made some changes overnight and they helped, but the pace was faster today. Overall, it was a great weekend. The team has been amazing. The GSX-R750 was outstanding, and I’ll just keep working on my riding.”

Scott’s Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teammate, Sam Lochoff, rebounded from a chaotic Saturday to come home one spot further back in fourth. The South African did so despite suffering from a lower leg injury and the intense heat to keep his title hopes very much alive.

Lochoff said, “I’m extremely happy about the work my crew has put in on this GSX-R750. I think we’re nearly there, and we just need to do a bit of fine-tuning now. I’m sure we’re going to win some races on it this year.

“I was hurting from yesterday’s crash today, but we’re coming out swinging at Road America,” continued Lochoff.

While third Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Supersport pilot Liam Grant crashed out of contention early, Altus Motorsports Suzuki’s Justin Jones made sure three Team Hammer-built GSX-Rs finished inside the top ten with a tenth-place performance.

Meanwhile, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike teammates Richie Escalante and Jake Lewis spent the bulk of the contest embroiled in an intra-team fight for sixth position. Their battle nearly carried them to the top five, as together they, mounted on their Suzuki GSX-R1000R race bikes, drew in on the position late before running out of laps to challenge for the spot.

In the end, rookie Escalante finished in sixth with reigning Stock 1000 champion Jake Lewis close behind in seventh.

Escalante said, “Today was much better. I started both races very well, which is important to stay close with the front group. I didn’t have the pace to go for the podium, but I raced for fifth the whole race.

“I continue to work to adjust my riding style to help the bike work a little better, especially on corner exit. I’m really happy with the process. I’m getting closer over one lap and race distance. I’m pretty happy with that and I’ll keep working to find the next step.”

Team Hammer will be back in action at the high-speed Road America at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, on June 3-5.

Suzuki Motor USA would also like to recognize Hayden Gillim aboard his GSX-R1000R for taking double wins in the Stock 1000 class.

ABOUT TEAM HAMMER 

The 2022 season marks Team Hammer’s 42nd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 128 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 332 times, and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.

ABOUT VISION WHEEL

Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.

ABOUT SUZUKI

Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.

More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle Racing:

PJ Jacobsen, Hector Barbera and Travis Wyman bag multiple top ten finishes at VIR

Tytlers Cycle Racing raced to multiple top ten finishes in the latest round of the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike championship at Virginia International Raceway with riders PJ Jacobsen and Hector Barbera achieving a best of fifth and sixth respectively across the weekend.

Their BMW M1000 RR machines once again performed superbly allowing both riders to fight for the front running positions on Saturday and Sunday.

For Jacobsen, who missed Road Atlanta through sickness, it was a positive return to the track, the #66 coming out on top of a three-way fight for P5 in the opening race on Saturday before racing to seventh on Sunday.

Spain’s Hector Barbera maintained his point scoring record with sixth and ninth, adding seventeen points to his already impressive tally for the season. He remains fifth overall in the standings.

Travis Wyman, one of the team’s Stock1000 regulars was also in action in the Superbike category. He finished tenth in both races.

PJ Jacobsen: “The opening race was difficult. I suffered with rear grip, and it was hard to manage. I did what I could, and it was pretty uncomfortable by half race distance. We knew we could lap faster and so we regrouped overnight before Race 2. Sunday was better. We were able to fix a lot of things and I was happy to bag a P5 finish. I was not happy with what happened on Saturday, but the team did a great job, and we were able to show our potential. It’s a brand-new team and a brand-new bike so the data we gathered here will certainly help us in the coming races.”

Hector Barbera: “All weekend, because of the heat, I struggled to get the feeling I wanted with the front tyre and so the races were quite difficult. When we improved the front, it made the rear worse. In Race 1 I was spinning everywhere. I tried my best, passed a few riders and was able to finish sixth. Race 2 I had problems with the tyre, and I couldn’t fight for a better position. We will continue to test and continue to work hard, and I am sure we can arrive at the front soon.”

More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing:

Travis Wyman delivers another Stock1000 podium as Zac Schumacher makes progress and Corey Alexander avoids serious injury

Corey Alexander, Zac Schumacher, and Travis Wyman were back on track at VIR this past weekend for the Tytlers Cycle Racing powered by Ride HVMC squad in the latest round of the MotoAmerica Stock1000 championship with Wyman delivering another podium for the squad in Saturday’s opening race.

Qualifying fifth, Wyman ensured he was in the mix from the off taking a well-earned P3 at the end of the nine-lap encounter. He finished eleventh on Sunday.

Zac Schumacher was racing at another new circuit. He progressed well throughout the weekend finishing nineteenth and eighteenth respectively to ensure another double top twenty finish.

Round 1 winner Alexander had a nasty looking spill early in the weekend after running strongly in practice. Crashing hard he thankfully escaped serious injury but missed both races. He will be back on track at Road America.

Travis Wyman: “After missing most of practice and qualifying we ended P5 on the grid which I was super happy about. I made a great start in Race 1 and after a race long battle was able to bring it home in third for another podium. I was in the lead group off the start again in Race 2 but unfortunately with about four laps to go I crashed after making a pass for second place. I tucked the front but was able to get going again and finish eleventh, salvaging some points which may make all the difference at the end of the season. See you all at Road America.”

Zac Schumacher: “It was my first time at VIR. I crashed in FP1 and missed the entire session which meant I was still learning the track in qualifying. I qualified twenty-ninth and was able to finish P19. Race 2 was a little better. We a couple of changes overnight and found the feeling I had been searching for. I started twenty-seventh and was able to pass several riders, eventually finishing P18. I want to say a huge thanks to the Tytlers Cycle guys. Without them my weekend would have been over.”

Corey Alexander: “I am bummed to have missed both races this weekend but am very thankful to have walked away as well as I did. I’m just recovering with some road rash and a couple bruises as well as some fog from the concussion I suffered but otherwise my Arai Helmet, Alpinestars suit with Tech-Air bag and the Road Racing World Action Fund Air Fence surely saved my life. I am hopeful to return to Road America and pick up where we left off prior to the crash. Thanks to everyone for the messages and support.”

More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:

MOTOAMERICA TWINS CUP CHAMPIONSHIP CONCLUDES AT VIR WITH A PAIR OF LAST LAP WINS FOR JODY BARRY AND HIS VELOCE RACING APRILIA RS 660

BARRY EXTENDS HIS CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD LEAVING VIRGINIA AND BREAKS HIS OWN LAP RECORD SET AGAIN ON THE RS 660

ALTON, VA – 23 MAY 2022 – MotoAmerica Twins Cup arrived at Virginia International Raceway this weekend for the third round of the championship. 35 riders lined up to grid for race one, as the participation and competition of the Twins Cup class continues to grow in the series.

Leaving the second round in Atlanta, a single race weekend for the Twins Cup, the stakes were high upon arrival in Virginia for the teams, knowing there was a potential 50 points up for grab in the weekend’s two races. When Qualifying 2 had completed, the story was reminiscent of 2021, with Jody Barry, besting his best time and lap record set last year on his RS 660 of 1:30:823, with a pole position secured with a time of 1:30:082 on his Veloce Racing RS 660 on Saturday morning.

In race one of the weekend, after 13 complete laps, it came down to the line with a photo finish victory that showing Jody Barry across the line just inches ahead of the next rider.

Race 2 had an early red flag which forced a restart, but with a similar battle to Saturday’s race, Sunday proved to be another last lap dash to the line, where Jody Barry locked up his second win of the weekend, and third of season.

Jody Barry, Veloce Racing

“I’ve always loved this track. I had confidence coming out of Road Atlanta, and we started the weekend quick, getting the setup dialled in. By the end of both races, it was a chess game, working with grip, pushing the front end and working with track conditions.

I have a lot of confidence working with the Veloce team, which makes it easy for me to relax and focus on my riding. I feel comfortable with the RS 660 and finding any solutions with the team to keep it up front. I have to thank the whole Veloce team, and all the sponsors and partners that support putting a bike under me, including CycleTune, LiquiMoly, Vesrah, Arai, Bison, and Aprilia which help us compete and get these wins.

I am excited for Road America, my home track. Last year didn’t go how we wanted, with a flight to the hospital, but we won’t repeat that this year. My family will be there, the vibes will be cool, and we’re looking forward to it.”

MotoAmerica heads to Road America, June 3-5. Championship Schedule, Competitor information, and Class Rules can be found at https://motoamerica.com/

More, from a press release issued by Robem Engineering:

Robem Engineering Aprilia riders score three top-10 finishes at MotoAmerica round at VIR

Hobbs, Gloddy finish May 20-22 round second, eighth in Twins Cup points standings

ALTON, Va. — The 2022 MotoAmerica Superbikes at Virginia round turned out to be a struggle for Robem Engineering Aprilia riders Teagg Hobbs and Ben Gloddy. Yet, the duo limited the damage to their championship aspirations at the May 20-22 event by scoring a total of three top-10s in two Twins Cup races at VIRginia International Raceway.

Despite a challenging weekend on track, both remain in the hunt to claim Robem Engineering’s second Twins Cup title in two years. Hobbs did enough to hold onto second place in the standings with 63 points. Gloddy is in eighth place with 40 points.

The VIR round started well for both riders. Hobbs topped the time sheets and Gloddy was sixth in Friday practice. The first of two qualifying sessions took place Friday afternoon, and Hobbs and Gloddy finished that session third and eighth, respectively. Saturday’s Qualifying 2 session didn’t go as well, as both riders lost some pace to the other Twins Cup front runners and ended up qualifying eighth and 10th.

In Saturday’s Race 1, both Hobbs and Gloddy got good starts and had advanced one position in the running order by the end of Lap 1. Hobbs was running as high as sixth before he dropped to 12th on Lap 8, but continued to push hard to make up the positions he lost and finished the race in 10th. Gloddy’s pace improved relative to the riders around him as the race went on. Though he dropped as low as 11th on Laps 3-5, Gloddy steadily worked his way up the running order to secure a seventh-place finish.

Sunday’s Race 2 proved to be a struggle. The pair got off the line well, with Hobbs finishing the first lap in seventh and Gloddy in eighth. The race was stopped at the beginning of Lap 3 due to a crash at Turn 1, and Hobbs made an error while slowing down for the race stoppage and crashed at Turn 1. He was able to get his Aprilia RS 660 running again and had to slowly make his way around the 2.25-mile course to pit lane. Hobbs’ delayed arrival in the pits caused him to miss the sighting lap for the race restart, and he had to take the restart from the back of the grid.

When racing resumed, Gloddy tried to work his way up the running order quickly and was running in fifth place during the first lap. Hobbs did his best to make up track position on the opening lap and advanced past 13 riders on the first lap of the restarted race. Though Gloddy was pushing his RS 660 hard, he lost several positions as the nine-lap race went on and had to settle for a 10th-place finish. Hobbs’ charge up the running order slowed as the race progressed, though he managed to work his way up to 12th place aboard his damaged bike by the end of the race.

The Robem Engineering Aprilia team will be back in action at the next MotoAmerica round, which takes place June 3-5 at the Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Ben Gloddy / No. 72

“I had an amazing weekend overall and can’t thank the Robem Engineering team enough for everything they did to help me this weekend. We struggled a little bit on Friday and Saturday, but had a better race on Sunday. We just couldn’t quite hang with the leaders this round. We did get some things figured out with our Aprilia RS 660s, and I can’t wait to do it all again in a few weeks at Road America.”

Teagg Hobbs / No. 79

“This weekend had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. We led a few sessions and found a good setup for our Aprilia RS 660. Unfortunately, both races were pretty rough. All we can do is move on to the next round, and I can’t think Robem Engineering enough for working tirelessly through the whole weekend. Now it’s on to Wisconsin in a few weeks!”

Robem Engineering’s technical partners for 2022 include Aprilia Racing, Piaggio Group Americas, The Center for Plastic Surgery, Synchrony, Velocity Calibrations, Bitubo Suspension, Dunlop, Woodcraft Technologies, Dymag, Vesrah, Sprint Filter, DID, Magura USA, Sara Chappell Photos, NGK/NTK, Blud Lubricants, Millennium Technologies, Motovation USA and SC-Project.

More, from a press release issued by Pure Attitude Racing:

Chase Black delivers Junior Cup front row start and top six finish. Liam MacDonald bags Twins Cup points at VIR as Trevor Standish bounces back on Sunday

Virginia International Raceway was the setting for the latest round of the 2022

MotoAmerica Championship and Pure Attitude Racing was once again on the grid in both the Twins Cup and Junior Cup classes.

Teenager Chase Black, in only his second race weekend for the team performed superbly throughout the weekend. Running strongly on the opening day before qualifying on the front row of the grid in third in Junior Cup, for the first time in his career. He finished 8th in Saturday’s opening race before taking a brilliant fifth on Sunday.

Twins Cup continues to be one of the most competitive categories in MotoAmerica this year. Armed with the latest Yamaha R7 machines and Liam MacDonald and Trevor Standish were once again in the mix for points in both races. A DNF on Saturday for Trevor was a little disappointing, the #16 bouncing back on Sunday to finish seventeenth at the flag. Macdonald raced hard, understanding how to ride the Yamaha, which is a new challenge for him, with every lap completed. He added three more points to his championship tally with a thirteenth-place finish in the Race 1 before narrowly missing a second points scoring finish on Sunday. He crossed the line P16 after a race long battle with several riders including his team mate. With more data gathered the pair look forward to another strong showing next time out at Road America.

Chase Black: “I qualified on the front row for the first time in my MotoAmerica career after a great run in qualifying. I made a good start in Saturday’s first race but after a few laps I started to lose touch with the group and ended P8. Sunday’s second race was awesome, and I had so much fun. I was much closer to the front, and I was able to make some nice moves. I saved a possible high side and that cost me a shot at the podium but when I look back at the weekend, to leave with a front row and a top six in only my second race with the team is pretty good.”

Liam MacDonald: “It was great to ride at VIR this weekend and satisfying to come away with more points in Race 1. We made a few changes especially with the geometry of the bike and it gave me much more feel. I had a big moment early on, but I managed to stay on board and bring it home in thirteenth. Sunday was a bit more difficult but nevertheless I had a great race with Trevor and a couple of other guys and whilst I just missed out on other points finish it was a good race and to beat my team mate for the first time since I came to MotoAmerica is a nice little bonus.”

Trevor Standish: “We found an issue between Q2, and the first race related to the fueling, but we were able to resolve it. However, the problem came back on the warm up lap, and it turned out to be an issue with the clutch. I started at the back of the grid, but the problem got worse and that was the end of the race for me, so I decided to call it a day for safety reasons. On Sunday I was running well in the first start but then the red flag was thrown. In the restart I struggled with grip and fought hard with Liam and a couple of other guys, but I made a few mistakes and wasn’t able to stay with them. I closed the gap but just ran out of time. I am really bummed to leave VIR with no points, but we will go again at Road America where hopefully we will be able to further improve the bikes as we are still not at 100% yet.”

More, from a press release issued by Levi Badie Racing:

First MotoAmerica points for Levi as he makes history by becoming the Belgian to score points in the US national series

Levi Badie made history at VIR this past weekend by becoming the first Belgian rider to score points in the MotoAmerica series.

Racing for Bartcon Racing in a Kawasaki in Junior Cup, Levi qualified eleventh on his debut at the circuit. Learning the circuit with every lap the talented teen was in the mix throughout Saturday’s opening race, claiming seventh at the flag – a mere 0.9s from the win.

Sunday saw another spirited effort from the #31 but his race was cut short after he was unable to avoid a rider that fell in front of him.

Despite his third DNF of the season Levi continues to be one of the most talked about riders – bringing his European flair to the US national series.

Levi Badie: “It wasn’t a bad first race given the circumstances. I made a bad start, but I was able to close the gap to the leading group, I even set the fastest lap at one point. It was hot conditions, and the race was reduced to five laps after a red flag. I had been told by the team that there’s always crazy riding in VIR and people getting taken out and so I wanted to stay calm and get some decent points which I did. I was not so far from the podium – only 0.9s from the win. I made some steps in Sunday’s warm-up session and then I was running quite strong in Race 2 on Sunday until one of the other riders fell and I had nowhere to go. I need to work on my starts, but I have shown I am fast, and the team is working well so hopefully at Road America I can show our real potential. The circuit is the most dangerous I have ever raced – very different to Europe and so when I took to the grass, I was happy to not be hurt. I want to thank everyone who is supporting me and look forward to riding at Road America. It looks like an amazing track and one that I think I can be fast at.”