On the Front Cover: Yamaha Champions Riding School/ChampU Chief Instructor and CEO Nick Ienatsch uses a three-cylinder 2022 Yamaha MT900SP to lead instructors Chris Peris, Eziah Davis, Cody Wyman, and Michael Henao through Turn 5 at Inde Motorsports Ranch in Willcox, Arizona. Photo by Joe Salas/4theriders.com
APRILIA ALL STARS 2022 – THE SCHEDULE FOR THE BIG APRILIA CELEBRATION IS RELEASED
ON SATURDAY 7 MAY, THE MISANO WORLD CIRCUIT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, FREE OF CHARGE, FOR A DAY OF PASSION, SPORT AND ENDLESS FUN FOR EVERYONE
THE GATES WILL OPEN AT 9.30 AM, WITH EVENTS RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE DAY UNTIL 6.00 PM. THE STARS OF THE APRILIA MOTOGP TEAM WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE, ALONG WITH GREAT CHAMPIONS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE HISTORY OF MOTORCYCLING. VISITORS CAN ALSO ENJOY FREE TEST RIDES OF THE 2022 APRILIA RANGE.
BUT THE SHOW IS FOR EVERYONE, WITH MUSIC FROM RADIO DEEJAY AND M2O WITH VIC AND VITTORIA HYDE AND AN EXTRAORDINARY LIVE PERFORMANCE BY ALBERTINO.
AND ONE LUCKY APRILIA ALL STARS ATTENDEE WILL WIN A FANTASTIC APRILIA TUONO 660.
Milan – The countdown to Aprilia All Stars 2022 has begun, with thousands of fans expected to attend the big celebration of Aprilia bikes and champions set to take place on Saturday 7 May at the Misano World Circuit.
As the gates open at 9.30 am, the fans will find a party atmosphere in the paddock. The stars of Radio DeeJay and M2O, Albertino, Vic and Vittoria Hide will entertain with their music and performances on a day that will be punctuated by a continuous series of events.
Aprilia Racing riders Aleix Espargaró, Maverick Viñales and Lorenzo Savadori will take to the Radio DeeJay stage to meet the fans, sign autographs and answer the presenters’ questions, alternating with some of the great Aprilia champions of the past, not least multi-title winning rider Max Biaggi.
The same champions, past and present, will also take to the track with both the RS-GP, the 2022 Aprilia MotoGP bike, and the very powerful RSV4, the successor to the bike that dominated in Superbike.
Aprilia racebikes lined up at a previous Aprilia All Stars event. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
The Misano World Circuit will also stage exhibitions of the legendary Aprilia two-stroke race bikes that dominated in the 125 and 250 world championship classes. Bikes that will be taken on track to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the very first Aprilia world championship title, scored by Alex Gramigni in 1992. Bikes that have remained in the hearts of every fan and become legendary, like the all black RSV 250 with which “corsair” Biaggi ruled the world championship in the 90s, Loris Capirossi’s number 65 bike, the 125 with which Rossi won his first title and the 250 that saw Manuel Poggiali crowned world champion. Bikes that can be admired up close by the public in a line-up on pit lane.
Also set to take to the Italian track are bikes from the Aprilia Sport Production 250 Italian Championship and the exclusive Tuono X, the world’s lightest and most powerful production naked, ridden by Espargaró, Viñales and Savadori.
Test rides will be available from early morning until 5.00 pm. This means that everyone will have the chance to test the Aprilia RS 660, Tuono 660, Tuareg and Tuono V4, free of charge of course, during a ride on the roads around the circuit, led by professional riders.
But for the die-hard Aprilia enthusiasts, the highlight will come mid-afternoon when one lucky participant, selected from among those who enter the free raffle, will win a Aprilia Tuono 660, the bike with the best weight/power ratio in its category as well as the lightest and most technologically refined.
The big parade at 5.30 pm will bring all riders onto the track, as they invade the circuit aboard their own bikes for the spectacular procession that will round out Aprilia All Stars 2022.
Ducati Hypermotard 950 RVE Available in US Showrooms Only and Limited to 100 Units
Exclusive USA-only Hypermotard 950 RVE with “graffiti” livery that compares to an airbrushed look
Limited to 100 available with corresponding badging of each production unit
Takes design inspiration from social media sensation and Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este award-winning concept
Mountain View, Calif. – For 2022 the Hypermotard RVE will return to North America for a limited production second generation version, which is limited to 100 units and available only for presold orders.
What makes the 950 RVE stick out is its livery called “Graffiti” inspired by street art. The creation process is laborious, demanding highly skilled painters that work in phases and apply extremely thin decals. The results are comparable to airbrushed bodywork, something not found on many production motorcycles, which is why the bike is limited to 100 units.
The RVE takes styling from the original Hypermotard 950 concept bike that was unveiled during the 2019 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este classic automobile and motorcycle show held annually on the western shore of Italy’s Lake Como. Designed by Centro Stile Ducati, the concept won first place in the show’s ”Concept Bikes: New Design and Prototypes by Manufacturers and Independents” category and was widely shared across social media channels.
Ducati designers capitalized on the concept’s attention-grabbing livery and created a similar-styled model for the Hypermotard 950 lineup, unveiling the RVE in June 2020. The RVE offers a mid-range Hypermotard model between the base 950 and the top-range 950 SP.
The Hypermotard 950 is the ideal platform for this custom OEM look due to the bike’s aggressive supermotard look accented by twin exhausts under the seat and visible mechanical components, including the iconic trellis frame that translates into lightness and stability, the tapered flat seat that provides ease of movement, and the exposed L-twin engine that ensures Ducati reliability and hyper-fun power delivery.
Speaking of the engine, the twin-cylinder 937 cc Testastretta 11° creates 114 hp at 9,000 rpm and 71 lbs-ft of torque at 7,250 rpm. The torque is what makes this powerplant popular among motard fans—80 percent of the torque is available from 3,000 to 9,500 rpm. This linear power output maximizes rideability, performance, and, what matters most, fun, whether lapping the track, carving canyons, or riding urban daily.
The RVE arrives with the latest in Ducati technological advancements, including Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up and Down EVO, which is added to the components already present in the standard version, Bosch Cornering ABS with Slide by Brake function (in setting 1), Ducati Traction Control (DTC) EVO and Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO.
The RVE also features fully adjustable suspension so owners can easily change settings to their riding style and includes a 45mm Marzocchi fork and Sachs shock. Bringing the RVE to a stop is a set of Brembo M4.32 four-piston radial monoblock calipers up front that squeeze 320mm discs, and a two-piston Brembo caliper out back that grasps a 245mm disc.
The Hypermotard 950 RVE will begin to hit showroom floors across the USA late May and will be available for an MSRP of $15,695.
At the top of the Hypermotard 950 range is the Hypermotard 950 SP, upgraded for a performance-focus with racing graphics, Öhlins suspension with increased travel, and Marchesini forged rims.
Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana named best of 2021
The season finale, one of the first to welcome a packed house back to the track as restrictions eased, has been voted best of the year
Thursday, 28 April 2022
The Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana has been named the best Grand Prix of 2021. The award is voted for by IRTA and then ratified by the Grand Prix Commission, with the event at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo coming out on top. It’s the fourth time Valencia has won the award, with 2021 adding to successes in 2002, 2003 and 2005. The circuit also has two Best Grand Prix trophies from 2020 for the Europe and Valencia Grands Prix, with every track that hosted an event that year honoured for their collaboration and support during a challenging season for the sport.
The season finale always brings the year to a close in style, with the unique Circuit Ricardo Tormo creating an amphitheatre of grandstands and giving fans an unparalleled view of the action. In 2021, the event was also one of the first without strict limitations on attendance, with Covid-19 restrictions beginning to ease. Accordingly, nearly 150,000 fans flocked through the gates across the weekend and it was the best attended event of the season.
Vicent Marzà, Education, Culture and Sports Counsellor at the Generalitat Valenciana: “MotoGP is the most important event of the Circuit Ricardo Tormo calendar. Every season we prepare the Grand Prix with all possible care. We want to thank Dorna, IRTA and FIM for this award and we would like to share it with all fans who are the key piece to make the Grand Prix of the Valencian Community a great success for the last 23 years. See you on the 6th of November!”
Hervé Poncharal, President of IRTA: “It’s great to see Valencia gaining the award for best Grand Prix back! Valencia has always been a strong player in MotoGP, fulfilling all our requests and often hosting the final showdowns deciding our Champions – and the track is the perfect stage to allow the crowd to follow the fight corner by corner.
“It is always an intense weekend and the circuit puts on a great show. In 2021, it was a full house once again and as one of the only races with no restrictions, it was always going to be a tough act for the rest to compete with!”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “We’re very happy to see Valencia voted best Grand Prix. It’s always a great weekend for the sport when we return to the track, which feels like an arena and creates a phenomenal atmosphere. The promoter, staff and everyone at the circuit welcome us back with open arms at the end of each season, and last year was no different.
“It was fantastic to see so many fans return to fill the stands and Valencia made it an event to remember, for them and for everyone working in the paddock. It is one of our flagship events on the calendar, where we know that we can always expect a sold-out crowd. We would like to express our gratitude for an incredible Grand Prix, and extend our thanks to the Comunitat Valenciana for their continued passion and support for MotoGP.”
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 26th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 11 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (11 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2022 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
Kayla Yaakov on the MotoAmerica Junior Cup podium at Barber Motorsports Park in 2021. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Kayla Yaakov
Age: 14.
Current home: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Current height/weight: 5’3”/135 pounds.
Current school grade level: 9th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2017, Talladega, Alabama, WERA, 3 different classes, 1st place in all.
Current racebike: Kawasaki Ninja 400.
Current tuner/mechanic: Dave Yaakov (father).
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Junior Cup.
Top sponsors: American Racing Academy, Altus Motorsports, Dragonfly Coffee, TST Industries, John Glaefke, Dunlop, Dynojet, Spears Enterprises, Kramer Motorcycles, K-Tech Suspension, Orient Express, Beau Phillips, Vortex, HJC, Bison Leathers, Spectro Oil, Jennings GP, Sportbike Track Time, N2 Racing, Magura USA, M4 Exhausts.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2021 season, finished 8th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (started the season at round 4, 1 podium, 5 top-6 finishes in 12 races); 2020 season, finished 3rd in MotoAmerica Mini Cup 190 Championship (2 podium finishes in 3 races), won Lightweight Twins Superbike Expert AMA Grand Championship, won 3 WERA Sportsman National Championships, won 7 WERA Sportsman Regional Championships (won 31 WERA races); 2019 season, won Lightweight Twins Superbike Expert AMA Grand Championship, won 3 WERA Sportsman Series Regional Championships (won 38 WERA races); 2018 season, named AMA Novice Road Racer of the Year, won 2 AMA Road Race Grand National Championships, won 5 WERA Sportsman National Championships, won 4 WERA Sportsman Regional Championships, won ASRA Moto3 (Combined) National race, 41 WERA race wins; 2017 season, named AMA Youth Road Racer of the Year, won 3 WERA Sportsman National Championships, won 5 WERA Sportsman Regional Championships, 37 WERA race wins.
2022 racing goal: Progress and finish on the podium in MotoAmerica Junior Cup.
Racing career goals: Win at the MotoAmerica and World Championship levels.
Max Van nabbed his first win in MotoAmerica SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race Two at Road Atlanta this past weekend, April 22-24.
The win comes after the SportbikeTrackGear.com team had both Max Van and Joseph Limandri Jr. sharing the podium with second and third, respectively, in Race One. The strong performance gives Van the points lead and confidence going into the next round. Unfortunately, Limandri got tangled up in another rider’s crash in the last corner of the last lap of Race Two that also took two other riders out of contention.
“Max Van deserved this win. All these kids work hard, put their heart, soul and bodies on the line every weekend. The off-season training saw a 24-pound weight loss, and incredible focus. I’m not just proud of Max, but I’m proud of Joey and the whole SportbikeTrackGear.com team,” owner Brian Van said.
Addressing some controversy over a yellow flag incident in Race Two, Brian Van added, “MotoAmerica enforces the rules, not me or my team. Based on the fact Max led several laps during the weekend and had the fastest lap time in Race Two it is fair to say he does not need a freebie. He showed grace and humility despite the emotional roller coaster.”
While Limandri didn’t walk away with the points haul he wanted he proved his speed with the third in Race One and escaped merely battered and bruised after the crash that saw another rider run over his legs.
“We had the pace all weekend to run up front, and my Bauce Racing Ninja 400 is a weapon,” said LiMandri. “It’s good to know I can be there at the end where racecraft is the difference between first or fifth. We’re happy to escape with a podium and motivation for the next round.”
The next MotoAmerica round is at VIRginia International Raceway on May 20-22.
The SportbikeTrackGear.com team appreciates the support of: all the SportbikeTrackGear.com customers, Helmet House, Bauce Racing, Cybersafe Solutions, Racing for a Reason, Vortex Racing, M4 Exhaust, REB Graphics, Armour Bodies, Woodcraft Technologies, Motul, Alpinestars, Shoei Helmets, RST, Arai Helmets, SportbikeTrackTime, Evolve GT Track Days, N2 Track Days, Gazebo Contracting, UTR/Torres Racing, Brake Tech USA, Ferodo Racing, Scott Powersports, Spiegler USA, Hanshaw Racing Engines, Precision Auto Works and Driven Racing.
N2 Racing Scores Multiple Top Five Finishes at Road Atlanta!
Media, PA – April 2022 – N2 Racing’s Blake Davis and Kevin Olmedo each scored top-five finishes this weekend at Road Atlanta. Kevin Olmedo was able to score a sixth-place finish in Supersport Race One and a fourth-place finish in Supersport Race Two on his BobbleHeadMoto-prepared Yamaha YZF-R6. Blake Davis finished in fifth place in Twins Cup on his Westby Racing-built Yamaha YZF-R7.
Kevin Olmedo has worked with the N2 Racing team in the past at the Daytona 200, but this was the first weekend on the official N2 MotoAmerica team and the results were excellent considering the challenges. Olmedo suffered a broken toe in a SuperMoto training accident the week before the event was in considerable amount of pain throughout the weekend. Despite the pain, Kevin pushed hard in every session, developed a setup with the team to make him more comfortable and pulled off two great finishes. Kevin is currently fourth in the Championship standings.
Blake Davis arrived at Road Atlanta fresh off his Daytona Twins Cup win full of confidence. The team struggled a bit with setup in the first part of the weekend which resulted in a 10th-place qualifying position. The team worked hard and came up with a fantastic race setup. Starting from the fourth row is always difficult, but Blake methodically worked his way forward to finish fifth. Blake is third in the Twins Cup Championship.
N2 Racing’s Blake Davis (22) at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy N2 Racing.
Blake Davis – We struggled with getting the bike setup the way I wanted on Friday and Saturday, but the team worked together and got the bike feeling good for Sunday warm-up and the Race. I started P10 due to struggling in both qualifying sessions. I do wish that we had those few extra laps and that the race was not shortened due to the red flag as I was gaining on third and fourth position every lap but unfortunately didn’t have enough time and finished P5. I am looking forward to moving on to VIR.
Kevin Olmedo – I am happy with the start of the season with this new bike and a new team. They worked hard to have the bike setup and ready to go for this round but unfortunately, I injured my right foot in a crash while training in El Salvador and had a lot of pain while riding. We continued to just work on making me and the bike comfortable so that we could get some championship points even though I was injured. I am looking forward to VIR and being healthy to ride at 100 percent. I want to thank all the team because they did an amazing job this weekend.
N2 Racing Crew Chief Shiloh Salopek (left) with Kevin Olmedo (right) at Road Atlanta. Photo courtesy N2 Racing.
Shiloh Salopek (Crew Chief) – This weekend had its ups and downs, but we all learned a lot and were able to still secure some solid results for both Blake and Kevin. We are all still learning a lot every time we go out about the R7, but I am happy with our progress and know we will be ready for VIR. With Kevin being injured we knew that we couldn’t push too hard this weekend and that the most important thing was to get as many championship points as possible and to be ready and healthy for the next round at VIR. I think the team worked great together and overcame any obstacles that were thrown our way professionally.
About N2:
N2 – Ride, Race, Learn.
Founded in 2014, N2’s mission is to build a sustainable motorcycle community through safe, structured motorcycle track days, advanced rider training programs based on Yamaha Champions Riding School teaching methods, with a strong affinity for motorcycle road racing. N2 successfully resurrected Motorcycle Endurance Racing in America partnering with WERA Roadracing and creating the N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop. N2 is a premier participant in the MotoAmerica Pro Racing Series with a multi-rider team competing in several classes. N2 is also a major contributor to the Roadracing World Action Fund through fundraising efforts and support from its large member base.
N2 Racing is proudly sponsored by: Dunlop Motorcycle Tire, Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, Dainese, BobbleHeadMoto, Karnes Performance, Trading Paint, GB Racing, Westby Racing, Attack Performance, Robem Engineering, Puig, Eazi Grip, ProBolt, and Yamaha Champions Riding School.
More, from a press release issued by 3D Motorsports:
3D Motorsports riders Power, Mariniello score top-10 finishes in MotoAmerica Supersport, Junior Cup races
Shakespeare, Boyce endure challenging weekend at Road Atlanta
Luke Power (68). Photo courtesy 3D Motorsports.
BRASELTON, Ga. — For 3D Motorsports LLC riders Luke Power and Joe Mariniello, racing at Road Atlanta was an all-new experience. The Australian duo are new to the MotoAmerica paddock, yet both riders scored one or more top-10 finishes at the April 22-24 MotoAmerica Superbikes at Atlanta round.
The event marked Mariniello’s first time competing in a MotoAmerica race, while Power made his MotoAmerica debut in March at the 2022 Daytona 200. Both riders have experience racing in the support classes of the Australian Superbike Championship. 3D Motorsports LLC’s other two riders – Steven Shakespeare and Mike Boyce – endured setbacks that kept them from taking part in racing action on Road Atlanta’s 2.55-mile road course.
Power had a good showing on Friday in his first time competing at Road Atlanta. He finished Supersport Friday practice in 12th place and Qualifying 1 in 15th aboard his Suzuki GSX-R600 despite having his day cut short by an oil leak. When qualifying wrapped up on Saturday, Power had secured 11th place on the grid for the weekend’s two Supersport races. Mariniello struggled a little at the start of his MotoAmerica debut weekend. He placed 15th in Friday practice and 16th in Junior Cup Qualifying 1 on a Kawasaki Ninja 400 but improved his best lap time by more than three seconds during qualifying. Mariniello was the 12th fastest rider in Saturday’s Qualifying 2, which earned him the 13th spot on the starting grid.
Boyce struggled to find pace at the start of the weekend in Twins Cup, finishing Friday practice in 39th place. He improved his pace during Qualifying 1 but finished that session in 39th, and, on Saturday, was 40th in Qualifying 2. Boyce also took part in Stock 1000 practice and qualifying. He wrapped up Friday Stock 1000 practice 35th-fastest, Qualifying 1 in 30th and Qualifying 2 in 35th. Shakespeare unfortunately did not set a time in Friday Stock 1000 practice due to a transponder issue and engine woes. Later Friday, Shakepeare was unable to participate in Qualifying 1 due to a major mechanical issue with his Yamaha YZF-R1’s engine. He did participate in Saturday’s Qualifying 2 and finished that session in 28th place. Unfortunately, Boyce and Shakespeare were unable to participate in the weekend’s racing action.
Power made the most of a restart in Saturday’s Supersport race. He was running in 11th place when the race was stopped on Lap 2 and got a great start when racing resumed. He finished the first lap in eighth place and was able to maintain that position to the end of the race. Mariniello’s MotoAmerica debut didn’t go to plan, but he came out on top in a race-long battle with another rider to finish in 11th place.
With the experience they gained racing on Saturday, Power and Mariniello both posted even better results in Sunday’s contests. Power got another excellent start in Race 2 and was running in eighth place at the end of Lap 1. Power battled with several riders during the 18-lap race and ran as high as sixth in the running order. He finished the race in seventh place. Mariniello was running in 11th place for most of the 11-lap Sunday Junior Cup race before attrition farther up the running order allowed him to finish eighth.
3D Motorsports LLC will be back in action in three weeks time at the next round of the MotoAmerica season, which is slated for May 20-22 at VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, Va.
Luke Power / No. 68
“It was a very different weekend. The tracks here in America are very different from the ones I’ve been racing on in Australia. We were working hard to find a good setup for this track, and I was adjusting my riding style throughout the weekend. I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t feeling well this weekend and struggled a bit physically. The 3D Motorsports team worked overtime this weekend. My bike had an oil leak that caused us to lose some time during qualifying, but I had a great bike this weekend – especially for Race 2. My results exceeded my expectations for this round, and I’m looking forward to the next round.”
Joe Mariniello / No. 88
“To be honest, we struggled a lot Friday. It took me some time to wrap my head around this track – it’s very different from what I’m used to. The 3D Motorsports team worked super hard to give me a really competitive bike for Sunday, and we got some valuable championship points from this round. It’s a long season, and I think we’ll continue improving at VIR.”
Steven Shakespeare / No. 72
“We were still putting the finishing touches on my R1 when we had to start packing up for this round, and our primary engine started having issues early in the weekend. We were able to buy another engine here at the track, and the team worked quickly to get the engine swap done. We were able to get out for Qualifying 2 on Saturday, but the new engine began leaking oil and we couldn’t continue with qualifying. I think we just ran out of time to get me up to speed here at Road Atlanta. Hats off to the 3D Motorsports crew for doing the best they could with what we had to work with this weekend. ”
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, CG Law, RaceWorx and DrippinWet.
The end of MotoAmerica Junior Cup Race Two April 24 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta will likely be remembered for a long time. Unfortunately, it may not be remembered for good things.
It may not be remembered for 14-year-old Kayla Yaakov becoming the first woman to win a MotoAmerica race.
It may not be remembered for 17-year-old Max Van winning the first MotoAmerica race of his career.
It may not be remembered for MotoAmerica Race Control making a very tough but arguably correct call enforcing rules and regulations while knowing their ruling would not be a popular one.
But there were some positive takeaways that are worth remembering.
On the last lap of Junior Cup Race Two, Yaakov led Joseph LiMandri Jr., Gus Rodio, Cody Wyman, Van, Hayden Bicknese, and Levi Badie across the start/finish line. This was the fourth time Yaakov had led across the stripe thanks to the passes she had been making throughout the race under braking at Turn 10 and Turn 12.
Kayla Yaakov (31) leads Joseph LiMandri (62), Gus Rodio (96), Cody Wyman (34), Max Van (48), Hayden Bicknese (69), and Levi Badie (71) late in Junior Cup Race Two at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Van made a big braking move of his own going into Turn One, went from fifth to first, and led the seven-rider swarm around the track and down the back straightaway.
As the riders came down the hill toward Turn 10, they fanned out jockeying for position.
Yaakov went to the extreme rider’s left, braked late enough to pass Rodio, Wyman, and Van to take the lead, and still made the corner.
Yaakov then held her lead to the checkered flag, apparently taking the race victory ahead of Rodio, Wyman, and Van. Badie, meanwhile, lost control exiting the final corner, crashed, and caused LiMandri and Bicknese to crash in a chain-reaction. All three riders were seen walking away from the scene, which was one positive.
On the cool-down lap, emotions took over Yaakov, whose 24-year-old brother Dylan Quaid had died five months earlier and whom she had dedicated her 2022 racing season to. Yaakov constantly pointed to the “For Dylan” sticker on her helmet during the cool-down lap.
Kayla Yaakov in the podium area at Road Atlanta after Junior Cup Race Two. Yaakov is pointing to the “For Dylan” sticker on her helmet honoring her recently deceased brother Dylan Quaid. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Then after Yaakov got back to the podium and started receiving congratulations from her father, crew, and friends, all of the podium activities came to a halt. Radio communications from Race Control said to hold the podium ceremony because the finish was under review.
During this time, officials reviewed video replays of the last-lap action from Turn 10. It showed Yaakov on the far rider’s left of the track passing three riders to take the lead. Meanwhile, over on rider’s right and deep in the braking zone of the corner there was a cornerworker standing at ground level holding a yellow flag stationary while a crashed rider was being dealt with in the run-off area of Turn 10.
But it was a stationary yellow flag and you can pass under a stationary yellow flag, right? It’s only a waving yellow flag that outlaws passing, right?
That’s the way most racers in America are taught while coming up through the system.
But MotoAmerica runs under FIM rules, which do not allow any passing under any yellow flag, waving or not. Under FIM rules, a stationary yellow flag tells riders there is a dangerous situation near the track, and a waving yellow flag tells riders there is a dangerous situation on the track. So, riders are supposed to exercise caution in both situations and not pass each other.
It didn’t matter, however, because Yaakov said she never saw the single stationary flag, and who could blame her? She had three or four riders between her and the flag on one side of the track while she was on the other side of the track already at the limit of braking trying to pass for the lead.
Then Race Control informed officials in the podium area that Yaakov, Rodio, Wyman, and Badie had all been docked two finishing positions for passing under a yellow flag.
Once she was informed, Yaakov broke down in tears again, but these were different tears.
“It was such a horrible feeling,” Yaakov exclusively told Roadracingworld.com. “It was so indescribably bad. It’s crazy. I was so infuriated and sad at the same time. It was a horrible roller coaster of a weekend.”
Van, who said he saw the flag and was subsequently passed by three riders – Yaakov, Rodio, and Wyman – in Turn 10, was elevated to first place. But instead of being able to bask in the spotlight of his career-first victory and enjoy everything that comes with it, Van had to stand on the podium and listen to the gathered crowd boo. It’s not clear who the crowd’s boos were directed toward, but they had an effect on Van, who tried to make the best of a bad situation.
“Today, I don’t really feel like I deserve this win,” Van said in the post-race press conference broadcast on MotoAmerica Live+, Facebook, and elsewhere. “I’m really sorry to Kayla. She rode a great race and, honestly, I feel like she deserves this.”
Junior Cup Race Two winner Max Van (right) and runner-up Aden Thao (left) on the Junior Cup Race Two podium at Road Atlanta. Kayla Yaakov was too upset to take her third-place position on the podium. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
While it may seem like no one involved with Junior Cup Race Two left Road Atlanta feeling happy, I’m pretty sure there were two people who took away some positives – the fathers of Van and Yaakov, former racers Brian Van and David Yaakov.
Max Van, who trained hard during the off-season and lost 24 pounds to help his racing program, took everything negative that came his way and turned it into a positive by giving all due credit to Yaakov for the race she rode even though it came at the sacrifice of enjoying his own career-first win. And he didn’t do it because someone told him or coached him to do it. He did it on his own.
Max Van tried to make the best of a tough situation after Junior Cup Race Two at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Kayla Yaakov, meanwhile, took it all as another one of the many tough life lessons that racing comes with and she plans to use the experience as fuel going forward.
“It is what it is. I don’t make the calls,” Yaakov told Roadracingworld.com in a one-on-one interview shortly after the race. “I’m just really happy that we were able to win, and that’s the biggest thing, to see that progression. Jason Pridmore, out at Chuckwalla this winter, said, ‘You’re going to win a race this year.’ To have it happen was insane.
“We’ll see. We’ll go into VIR with our head up and try to take some of this anger and put it into the track and try to do it again. Maybe I’ll be the first rider to win my first MotoAmerica race twice.”
And to those people who are speculating that Max Van’s father Brian Van, the owner and founder of SportbikeTrackGear.com, used his position as the sponsor of the Junior Cup class to ask for the review of the race finish or to ask for any other special considerations, you’re wrong. Brian Van unequivocally told me he did not make any protest of the outcome of the race, and for anyone who knows him like I do, that scenario never even entered my mind for a second. That is not the way he operates, personally or professionally.
“There was absolutely no interference whatsoever from anybody on this call for the passing under a yellow,” MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey told Roadracingworld.com. “It all came 100% from Race Direction. They took the decision per the rule in the rulebook and the information that they had, and they made their call. Obviously, it was very unfortunate the timing of it and the knock-on effects that it’s had, but there was no influence from anybody, from a race team, from a sponsor, from a rider in how the decision was made. None whatsoever.”
More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:
MotoAmerica Explains Junior Cup Penalties From Road Atlanta
Passing Under Yellow Caution Flags At Road Atlanta Resulted In Penalties
IRVINE, CA (April 27, 2022) – Four riders from SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup race two at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on April 24 were penalized for passing under a yellow caution flag on the final lap, which has since caused controversy in the racing community. The riders penalized were Kayla Yaakov, Cody Wyman, Levi Badie and Gus Rodio. Following the penalties, Yaakov was demoted from first to third, Wyman from third to fifth and Rodio from second to fourth. Badie crashed in the final corner on the last lap, which neutralized his penalty as he failed to finish.
With Yaakov docked two positions, Max Van was declared the winner, his first-career victory in the MotoAmerica Championship. Aden Thao was second with Yaakov third, Rodio fourth, and Wyman fifth.
The decision to penalize was based on the following:
When a rider racing behind the lead pack crashed on the penultimate lap in Turn 10, yellow flags were immediately deployed in the appropriate locations both on the back straight leading to Turn 10 and directly adjacent to Turn 10. Stewards left their positions and went into the gravel trap to assist the downed rider. Per international rules, a standing yellow flag denotes hazards off the racing surface, while waving yellow flags denote hazards on the track surface itself. As the rider was not on the track, and since there was no debris on the track, a standing yellow flag was deployed, according to the rules. As the lead pack approached the yellow-flag zone, the downed rider was still in the gravel trap near his bike, and stewards were still present providing assistance. At the point when the leaders entered the yellow-flag zone, several riders continued to race through both yellow flags in Turn 10 and making passes before the finish.
Race control was immediately aware that an infraction may have occurred. Flagging stations radioed reports that passing under yellow flag had occurred, prompting a review of footage from numerous camera angles. Race control, which consists of the Race Director, AMA/FIM Safety Officer, and the Riders Representative, all reviewed the evidence and unanimously concluded that there was indeed passing under the yellow flag. This review was not instantaneous, and it took several minutes to ensure that the correct ruling was made.
“First of all, it’s unfortunate that all of this transpired as it impacted several riders, their teams, our sponsors and our fans.” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “It was heartbreaking for Kayla Yaakov, who lost what would have been her first-career victory in our series, and it wasn’t the way Max Van wanted to win his first race either. Unfortunately, these things happen in racing. However, yellow flags are there to protect fallen riders and the cornerworkers who are assisting those riders and they are of paramount importance and a key component of our safety procedures. The decision to penalize came as quickly as possible and was not the result of a protest, as some had originally thought. It was a decision made by race control, which is made up of three people and headed up by our Race Director. In the days since our race, class sponsor SportbikeTrackGear.com and race winner Max Van have been unfairly targeted by some. This was a MotoAmerica and AMA decision, and we stand by both the decision and the penalties that resulted from those decisions.”
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. 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.
On the Front Cover: Yamaha Champions Riding School/ChampU Chief Instructor and CEO Nick Ienatsch uses a three-cylinder 2022 Yamaha MT900SP to lead instructors Chris Peris, Eziah Davis, Cody Wyman, and Michael Henao through Turn 5 at Inde Motorsports Ranch in Willcox, Arizona. Photo by Joe Salas/4theriders.com
Aprilia All Stars put on a smoke show at a previous event. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
APRILIA ALL STARS 2022 – THE SCHEDULE FOR THE BIG APRILIA CELEBRATION IS RELEASED
ON SATURDAY 7 MAY, THE MISANO WORLD CIRCUIT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, FREE OF CHARGE, FOR A DAY OF PASSION, SPORT AND ENDLESS FUN FOR EVERYONE
THE GATES WILL OPEN AT 9.30 AM, WITH EVENTS RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE DAY UNTIL 6.00 PM. THE STARS OF THE APRILIA MOTOGP TEAM WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE, ALONG WITH GREAT CHAMPIONS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE HISTORY OF MOTORCYCLING. VISITORS CAN ALSO ENJOY FREE TEST RIDES OF THE 2022 APRILIA RANGE.
BUT THE SHOW IS FOR EVERYONE, WITH MUSIC FROM RADIO DEEJAY AND M2O WITH VIC AND VITTORIA HYDE AND AN EXTRAORDINARY LIVE PERFORMANCE BY ALBERTINO.
AND ONE LUCKY APRILIA ALL STARS ATTENDEE WILL WIN A FANTASTIC APRILIA TUONO 660.
Milan – The countdown to Aprilia All Stars 2022 has begun, with thousands of fans expected to attend the big celebration of Aprilia bikes and champions set to take place on Saturday 7 May at the Misano World Circuit.
As the gates open at 9.30 am, the fans will find a party atmosphere in the paddock. The stars of Radio DeeJay and M2O, Albertino, Vic and Vittoria Hide will entertain with their music and performances on a day that will be punctuated by a continuous series of events.
Aprilia Racing riders Aleix Espargaró, Maverick Viñales and Lorenzo Savadori will take to the Radio DeeJay stage to meet the fans, sign autographs and answer the presenters’ questions, alternating with some of the great Aprilia champions of the past, not least multi-title winning rider Max Biaggi.
The same champions, past and present, will also take to the track with both the RS-GP, the 2022 Aprilia MotoGP bike, and the very powerful RSV4, the successor to the bike that dominated in Superbike.
Aprilia racebikes lined up at a previous Aprilia All Stars event. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
The Misano World Circuit will also stage exhibitions of the legendary Aprilia two-stroke race bikes that dominated in the 125 and 250 world championship classes. Bikes that will be taken on track to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the very first Aprilia world championship title, scored by Alex Gramigni in 1992. Bikes that have remained in the hearts of every fan and become legendary, like the all black RSV 250 with which “corsair” Biaggi ruled the world championship in the 90s, Loris Capirossi’s number 65 bike, the 125 with which Rossi won his first title and the 250 that saw Manuel Poggiali crowned world champion. Bikes that can be admired up close by the public in a line-up on pit lane.
Also set to take to the Italian track are bikes from the Aprilia Sport Production 250 Italian Championship and the exclusive Tuono X, the world’s lightest and most powerful production naked, ridden by Espargaró, Viñales and Savadori.
Test rides will be available from early morning until 5.00 pm. This means that everyone will have the chance to test the Aprilia RS 660, Tuono 660, Tuareg and Tuono V4, free of charge of course, during a ride on the roads around the circuit, led by professional riders.
But for the die-hard Aprilia enthusiasts, the highlight will come mid-afternoon when one lucky participant, selected from among those who enter the free raffle, will win a Aprilia Tuono 660, the bike with the best weight/power ratio in its category as well as the lightest and most technologically refined.
The big parade at 5.30 pm will bring all riders onto the track, as they invade the circuit aboard their own bikes for the spectacular procession that will round out Aprilia All Stars 2022.
A Ducati Hypermotard 950 RVE. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Ducati Hypermotard 950 RVE Available in US Showrooms Only and Limited to 100 Units
Exclusive USA-only Hypermotard 950 RVE with “graffiti” livery that compares to an airbrushed look
Limited to 100 available with corresponding badging of each production unit
Takes design inspiration from social media sensation and Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este award-winning concept
Mountain View, Calif. – For 2022 the Hypermotard RVE will return to North America for a limited production second generation version, which is limited to 100 units and available only for presold orders.
What makes the 950 RVE stick out is its livery called “Graffiti” inspired by street art. The creation process is laborious, demanding highly skilled painters that work in phases and apply extremely thin decals. The results are comparable to airbrushed bodywork, something not found on many production motorcycles, which is why the bike is limited to 100 units.
The RVE takes styling from the original Hypermotard 950 concept bike that was unveiled during the 2019 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este classic automobile and motorcycle show held annually on the western shore of Italy’s Lake Como. Designed by Centro Stile Ducati, the concept won first place in the show’s ”Concept Bikes: New Design and Prototypes by Manufacturers and Independents” category and was widely shared across social media channels.
Ducati designers capitalized on the concept’s attention-grabbing livery and created a similar-styled model for the Hypermotard 950 lineup, unveiling the RVE in June 2020. The RVE offers a mid-range Hypermotard model between the base 950 and the top-range 950 SP.
The Hypermotard 950 is the ideal platform for this custom OEM look due to the bike’s aggressive supermotard look accented by twin exhausts under the seat and visible mechanical components, including the iconic trellis frame that translates into lightness and stability, the tapered flat seat that provides ease of movement, and the exposed L-twin engine that ensures Ducati reliability and hyper-fun power delivery.
Speaking of the engine, the twin-cylinder 937 cc Testastretta 11° creates 114 hp at 9,000 rpm and 71 lbs-ft of torque at 7,250 rpm. The torque is what makes this powerplant popular among motard fans—80 percent of the torque is available from 3,000 to 9,500 rpm. This linear power output maximizes rideability, performance, and, what matters most, fun, whether lapping the track, carving canyons, or riding urban daily.
The RVE arrives with the latest in Ducati technological advancements, including Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up and Down EVO, which is added to the components already present in the standard version, Bosch Cornering ABS with Slide by Brake function (in setting 1), Ducati Traction Control (DTC) EVO and Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO.
The RVE also features fully adjustable suspension so owners can easily change settings to their riding style and includes a 45mm Marzocchi fork and Sachs shock. Bringing the RVE to a stop is a set of Brembo M4.32 four-piston radial monoblock calipers up front that squeeze 320mm discs, and a two-piston Brembo caliper out back that grasps a 245mm disc.
The Hypermotard 950 RVE will begin to hit showroom floors across the USA late May and will be available for an MSRP of $15,695.
At the top of the Hypermotard 950 range is the Hypermotard 950 SP, upgraded for a performance-focus with racing graphics, Öhlins suspension with increased travel, and Marchesini forged rims.
Valentino Rossi says goodbye to his fans at Valencia at the end of the 2021 season. Photo courtesy PETRONAS Yamaha SRT.
Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana named best of 2021
The season finale, one of the first to welcome a packed house back to the track as restrictions eased, has been voted best of the year
Thursday, 28 April 2022
The Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana has been named the best Grand Prix of 2021. The award is voted for by IRTA and then ratified by the Grand Prix Commission, with the event at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo coming out on top. It’s the fourth time Valencia has won the award, with 2021 adding to successes in 2002, 2003 and 2005. The circuit also has two Best Grand Prix trophies from 2020 for the Europe and Valencia Grands Prix, with every track that hosted an event that year honoured for their collaboration and support during a challenging season for the sport.
The season finale always brings the year to a close in style, with the unique Circuit Ricardo Tormo creating an amphitheatre of grandstands and giving fans an unparalleled view of the action. In 2021, the event was also one of the first without strict limitations on attendance, with Covid-19 restrictions beginning to ease. Accordingly, nearly 150,000 fans flocked through the gates across the weekend and it was the best attended event of the season.
Vicent Marzà, Education, Culture and Sports Counsellor at the Generalitat Valenciana: “MotoGP is the most important event of the Circuit Ricardo Tormo calendar. Every season we prepare the Grand Prix with all possible care. We want to thank Dorna, IRTA and FIM for this award and we would like to share it with all fans who are the key piece to make the Grand Prix of the Valencian Community a great success for the last 23 years. See you on the 6th of November!”
Hervé Poncharal, President of IRTA: “It’s great to see Valencia gaining the award for best Grand Prix back! Valencia has always been a strong player in MotoGP, fulfilling all our requests and often hosting the final showdowns deciding our Champions – and the track is the perfect stage to allow the crowd to follow the fight corner by corner.
“It is always an intense weekend and the circuit puts on a great show. In 2021, it was a full house once again and as one of the only races with no restrictions, it was always going to be a tough act for the rest to compete with!”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “We’re very happy to see Valencia voted best Grand Prix. It’s always a great weekend for the sport when we return to the track, which feels like an arena and creates a phenomenal atmosphere. The promoter, staff and everyone at the circuit welcome us back with open arms at the end of each season, and last year was no different.
“It was fantastic to see so many fans return to fill the stands and Valencia made it an event to remember, for them and for everyone working in the paddock. It is one of our flagship events on the calendar, where we know that we can always expect a sold-out crowd. We would like to express our gratitude for an incredible Grand Prix, and extend our thanks to the Comunitat Valenciana for their continued passion and support for MotoGP.”
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 26th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 11 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (11 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2022 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
Kayla Yaakov on the MotoAmerica Junior Cup podium at Barber Motorsports Park in 2021. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Kayla Yaakov
Age: 14.
Current home: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Current height/weight: 5’3”/135 pounds.
Current school grade level: 9th grade.
Began riding at age: 4 years.
First road race: 2017, Talladega, Alabama, WERA, 3 different classes, 1st place in all.
Current racebike: Kawasaki Ninja 400.
Current tuner/mechanic: Dave Yaakov (father).
Primary race series: MotoAmerica Junior Cup.
Top sponsors: American Racing Academy, Altus Motorsports, Dragonfly Coffee, TST Industries, John Glaefke, Dunlop, Dynojet, Spears Enterprises, Kramer Motorcycles, K-Tech Suspension, Orient Express, Beau Phillips, Vortex, HJC, Bison Leathers, Spectro Oil, Jennings GP, Sportbike Track Time, N2 Racing, Magura USA, M4 Exhausts.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2021 season, finished 8th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (started the season at round 4, 1 podium, 5 top-6 finishes in 12 races); 2020 season, finished 3rd in MotoAmerica Mini Cup 190 Championship (2 podium finishes in 3 races), won Lightweight Twins Superbike Expert AMA Grand Championship, won 3 WERA Sportsman National Championships, won 7 WERA Sportsman Regional Championships (won 31 WERA races); 2019 season, won Lightweight Twins Superbike Expert AMA Grand Championship, won 3 WERA Sportsman Series Regional Championships (won 38 WERA races); 2018 season, named AMA Novice Road Racer of the Year, won 2 AMA Road Race Grand National Championships, won 5 WERA Sportsman National Championships, won 4 WERA Sportsman Regional Championships, won ASRA Moto3 (Combined) National race, 41 WERA race wins; 2017 season, named AMA Youth Road Racer of the Year, won 3 WERA Sportsman National Championships, won 5 WERA Sportsman Regional Championships, 37 WERA race wins.
2022 racing goal: Progress and finish on the podium in MotoAmerica Junior Cup.
Racing career goals: Win at the MotoAmerica and World Championship levels.
SportbikeTrackGear.com teammates Joseph LiMandri Jr. (right) and Max Van (left). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy SportbikeTrackGear.com.
Max Van Wins at Road Atlanta, Takes Points Lead
Max Van nabbed his first win in MotoAmerica SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Race Two at Road Atlanta this past weekend, April 22-24.
The win comes after the SportbikeTrackGear.com team had both Max Van and Joseph Limandri Jr. sharing the podium with second and third, respectively, in Race One. The strong performance gives Van the points lead and confidence going into the next round. Unfortunately, Limandri got tangled up in another rider’s crash in the last corner of the last lap of Race Two that also took two other riders out of contention.
“Max Van deserved this win. All these kids work hard, put their heart, soul and bodies on the line every weekend. The off-season training saw a 24-pound weight loss, and incredible focus. I’m not just proud of Max, but I’m proud of Joey and the whole SportbikeTrackGear.com team,” owner Brian Van said.
Addressing some controversy over a yellow flag incident in Race Two, Brian Van added, “MotoAmerica enforces the rules, not me or my team. Based on the fact Max led several laps during the weekend and had the fastest lap time in Race Two it is fair to say he does not need a freebie. He showed grace and humility despite the emotional roller coaster.”
While Limandri didn’t walk away with the points haul he wanted he proved his speed with the third in Race One and escaped merely battered and bruised after the crash that saw another rider run over his legs.
“We had the pace all weekend to run up front, and my Bauce Racing Ninja 400 is a weapon,” said LiMandri. “It’s good to know I can be there at the end where racecraft is the difference between first or fifth. We’re happy to escape with a podium and motivation for the next round.”
The next MotoAmerica round is at VIRginia International Raceway on May 20-22.
The SportbikeTrackGear.com team appreciates the support of: all the SportbikeTrackGear.com customers, Helmet House, Bauce Racing, Cybersafe Solutions, Racing for a Reason, Vortex Racing, M4 Exhaust, REB Graphics, Armour Bodies, Woodcraft Technologies, Motul, Alpinestars, Shoei Helmets, RST, Arai Helmets, SportbikeTrackTime, Evolve GT Track Days, N2 Track Days, Gazebo Contracting, UTR/Torres Racing, Brake Tech USA, Ferodo Racing, Scott Powersports, Spiegler USA, Hanshaw Racing Engines, Precision Auto Works and Driven Racing.
N2 Racing's Kevin Olmedo (16) at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy N2 Racing.
N2 Racing Scores Multiple Top Five Finishes at Road Atlanta!
Media, PA – April 2022 – N2 Racing’s Blake Davis and Kevin Olmedo each scored top-five finishes this weekend at Road Atlanta. Kevin Olmedo was able to score a sixth-place finish in Supersport Race One and a fourth-place finish in Supersport Race Two on his BobbleHeadMoto-prepared Yamaha YZF-R6. Blake Davis finished in fifth place in Twins Cup on his Westby Racing-built Yamaha YZF-R7.
Kevin Olmedo has worked with the N2 Racing team in the past at the Daytona 200, but this was the first weekend on the official N2 MotoAmerica team and the results were excellent considering the challenges. Olmedo suffered a broken toe in a SuperMoto training accident the week before the event was in considerable amount of pain throughout the weekend. Despite the pain, Kevin pushed hard in every session, developed a setup with the team to make him more comfortable and pulled off two great finishes. Kevin is currently fourth in the Championship standings.
Blake Davis arrived at Road Atlanta fresh off his Daytona Twins Cup win full of confidence. The team struggled a bit with setup in the first part of the weekend which resulted in a 10th-place qualifying position. The team worked hard and came up with a fantastic race setup. Starting from the fourth row is always difficult, but Blake methodically worked his way forward to finish fifth. Blake is third in the Twins Cup Championship.
N2 Racing’s Blake Davis (22) at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy N2 Racing.
Blake Davis – We struggled with getting the bike setup the way I wanted on Friday and Saturday, but the team worked together and got the bike feeling good for Sunday warm-up and the Race. I started P10 due to struggling in both qualifying sessions. I do wish that we had those few extra laps and that the race was not shortened due to the red flag as I was gaining on third and fourth position every lap but unfortunately didn’t have enough time and finished P5. I am looking forward to moving on to VIR.
Kevin Olmedo – I am happy with the start of the season with this new bike and a new team. They worked hard to have the bike setup and ready to go for this round but unfortunately, I injured my right foot in a crash while training in El Salvador and had a lot of pain while riding. We continued to just work on making me and the bike comfortable so that we could get some championship points even though I was injured. I am looking forward to VIR and being healthy to ride at 100 percent. I want to thank all the team because they did an amazing job this weekend.
N2 Racing Crew Chief Shiloh Salopek (left) with Kevin Olmedo (right) at Road Atlanta. Photo courtesy N2 Racing.
Shiloh Salopek (Crew Chief) – This weekend had its ups and downs, but we all learned a lot and were able to still secure some solid results for both Blake and Kevin. We are all still learning a lot every time we go out about the R7, but I am happy with our progress and know we will be ready for VIR. With Kevin being injured we knew that we couldn’t push too hard this weekend and that the most important thing was to get as many championship points as possible and to be ready and healthy for the next round at VIR. I think the team worked great together and overcame any obstacles that were thrown our way professionally.
About N2:
N2 – Ride, Race, Learn.
Founded in 2014, N2’s mission is to build a sustainable motorcycle community through safe, structured motorcycle track days, advanced rider training programs based on Yamaha Champions Riding School teaching methods, with a strong affinity for motorcycle road racing. N2 successfully resurrected Motorcycle Endurance Racing in America partnering with WERA Roadracing and creating the N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop. N2 is a premier participant in the MotoAmerica Pro Racing Series with a multi-rider team competing in several classes. N2 is also a major contributor to the Roadracing World Action Fund through fundraising efforts and support from its large member base.
N2 Racing is proudly sponsored by: Dunlop Motorcycle Tire, Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, Dainese, BobbleHeadMoto, Karnes Performance, Trading Paint, GB Racing, Westby Racing, Attack Performance, Robem Engineering, Puig, Eazi Grip, ProBolt, and Yamaha Champions Riding School.
More, from a press release issued by 3D Motorsports:
3D Motorsports riders Power, Mariniello score top-10 finishes in MotoAmerica Supersport, Junior Cup races
Shakespeare, Boyce endure challenging weekend at Road Atlanta
Luke Power (68). Photo courtesy 3D Motorsports.
BRASELTON, Ga. — For 3D Motorsports LLC riders Luke Power and Joe Mariniello, racing at Road Atlanta was an all-new experience. The Australian duo are new to the MotoAmerica paddock, yet both riders scored one or more top-10 finishes at the April 22-24 MotoAmerica Superbikes at Atlanta round.
The event marked Mariniello’s first time competing in a MotoAmerica race, while Power made his MotoAmerica debut in March at the 2022 Daytona 200. Both riders have experience racing in the support classes of the Australian Superbike Championship. 3D Motorsports LLC’s other two riders – Steven Shakespeare and Mike Boyce – endured setbacks that kept them from taking part in racing action on Road Atlanta’s 2.55-mile road course.
Power had a good showing on Friday in his first time competing at Road Atlanta. He finished Supersport Friday practice in 12th place and Qualifying 1 in 15th aboard his Suzuki GSX-R600 despite having his day cut short by an oil leak. When qualifying wrapped up on Saturday, Power had secured 11th place on the grid for the weekend’s two Supersport races. Mariniello struggled a little at the start of his MotoAmerica debut weekend. He placed 15th in Friday practice and 16th in Junior Cup Qualifying 1 on a Kawasaki Ninja 400 but improved his best lap time by more than three seconds during qualifying. Mariniello was the 12th fastest rider in Saturday’s Qualifying 2, which earned him the 13th spot on the starting grid.
Boyce struggled to find pace at the start of the weekend in Twins Cup, finishing Friday practice in 39th place. He improved his pace during Qualifying 1 but finished that session in 39th, and, on Saturday, was 40th in Qualifying 2. Boyce also took part in Stock 1000 practice and qualifying. He wrapped up Friday Stock 1000 practice 35th-fastest, Qualifying 1 in 30th and Qualifying 2 in 35th. Shakespeare unfortunately did not set a time in Friday Stock 1000 practice due to a transponder issue and engine woes. Later Friday, Shakepeare was unable to participate in Qualifying 1 due to a major mechanical issue with his Yamaha YZF-R1’s engine. He did participate in Saturday’s Qualifying 2 and finished that session in 28th place. Unfortunately, Boyce and Shakespeare were unable to participate in the weekend’s racing action.
Power made the most of a restart in Saturday’s Supersport race. He was running in 11th place when the race was stopped on Lap 2 and got a great start when racing resumed. He finished the first lap in eighth place and was able to maintain that position to the end of the race. Mariniello’s MotoAmerica debut didn’t go to plan, but he came out on top in a race-long battle with another rider to finish in 11th place.
With the experience they gained racing on Saturday, Power and Mariniello both posted even better results in Sunday’s contests. Power got another excellent start in Race 2 and was running in eighth place at the end of Lap 1. Power battled with several riders during the 18-lap race and ran as high as sixth in the running order. He finished the race in seventh place. Mariniello was running in 11th place for most of the 11-lap Sunday Junior Cup race before attrition farther up the running order allowed him to finish eighth.
3D Motorsports LLC will be back in action in three weeks time at the next round of the MotoAmerica season, which is slated for May 20-22 at VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, Va.
Luke Power / No. 68
“It was a very different weekend. The tracks here in America are very different from the ones I’ve been racing on in Australia. We were working hard to find a good setup for this track, and I was adjusting my riding style throughout the weekend. I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t feeling well this weekend and struggled a bit physically. The 3D Motorsports team worked overtime this weekend. My bike had an oil leak that caused us to lose some time during qualifying, but I had a great bike this weekend – especially for Race 2. My results exceeded my expectations for this round, and I’m looking forward to the next round.”
Joe Mariniello / No. 88
“To be honest, we struggled a lot Friday. It took me some time to wrap my head around this track – it’s very different from what I’m used to. The 3D Motorsports team worked super hard to give me a really competitive bike for Sunday, and we got some valuable championship points from this round. It’s a long season, and I think we’ll continue improving at VIR.”
Steven Shakespeare / No. 72
“We were still putting the finishing touches on my R1 when we had to start packing up for this round, and our primary engine started having issues early in the weekend. We were able to buy another engine here at the track, and the team worked quickly to get the engine swap done. We were able to get out for Qualifying 2 on Saturday, but the new engine began leaking oil and we couldn’t continue with qualifying. I think we just ran out of time to get me up to speed here at Road Atlanta. Hats off to the 3D Motorsports crew for doing the best they could with what we had to work with this weekend. ”
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, CG Law, RaceWorx and DrippinWet.
Max Van (48) leading Junior Cup Race Two at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
FIRST PERSON/OPINION:
By David Swarts
The end of MotoAmerica Junior Cup Race Two April 24 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta will likely be remembered for a long time. Unfortunately, it may not be remembered for good things.
It may not be remembered for 14-year-old Kayla Yaakov becoming the first woman to win a MotoAmerica race.
It may not be remembered for 17-year-old Max Van winning the first MotoAmerica race of his career.
It may not be remembered for MotoAmerica Race Control making a very tough but arguably correct call enforcing rules and regulations while knowing their ruling would not be a popular one.
But there were some positive takeaways that are worth remembering.
On the last lap of Junior Cup Race Two, Yaakov led Joseph LiMandri Jr., Gus Rodio, Cody Wyman, Van, Hayden Bicknese, and Levi Badie across the start/finish line. This was the fourth time Yaakov had led across the stripe thanks to the passes she had been making throughout the race under braking at Turn 10 and Turn 12.
Kayla Yaakov (31) leads Joseph LiMandri (62), Gus Rodio (96), Cody Wyman (34), Max Van (48), Hayden Bicknese (69), and Levi Badie (71) late in Junior Cup Race Two at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Van made a big braking move of his own going into Turn One, went from fifth to first, and led the seven-rider swarm around the track and down the back straightaway.
As the riders came down the hill toward Turn 10, they fanned out jockeying for position.
Yaakov went to the extreme rider’s left, braked late enough to pass Rodio, Wyman, and Van to take the lead, and still made the corner.
Yaakov then held her lead to the checkered flag, apparently taking the race victory ahead of Rodio, Wyman, and Van. Badie, meanwhile, lost control exiting the final corner, crashed, and caused LiMandri and Bicknese to crash in a chain-reaction. All three riders were seen walking away from the scene, which was one positive.
On the cool-down lap, emotions took over Yaakov, whose 24-year-old brother Dylan Quaid had died five months earlier and whom she had dedicated her 2022 racing season to. Yaakov constantly pointed to the “For Dylan” sticker on her helmet during the cool-down lap.
Kayla Yaakov in the podium area at Road Atlanta after Junior Cup Race Two. Yaakov is pointing to the “For Dylan” sticker on her helmet honoring her recently deceased brother Dylan Quaid. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Then after Yaakov got back to the podium and started receiving congratulations from her father, crew, and friends, all of the podium activities came to a halt. Radio communications from Race Control said to hold the podium ceremony because the finish was under review.
During this time, officials reviewed video replays of the last-lap action from Turn 10. It showed Yaakov on the far rider’s left of the track passing three riders to take the lead. Meanwhile, over on rider’s right and deep in the braking zone of the corner there was a cornerworker standing at ground level holding a yellow flag stationary while a crashed rider was being dealt with in the run-off area of Turn 10.
But it was a stationary yellow flag and you can pass under a stationary yellow flag, right? It’s only a waving yellow flag that outlaws passing, right?
That’s the way most racers in America are taught while coming up through the system.
But MotoAmerica runs under FIM rules, which do not allow any passing under any yellow flag, waving or not. Under FIM rules, a stationary yellow flag tells riders there is a dangerous situation near the track, and a waving yellow flag tells riders there is a dangerous situation on the track. So, riders are supposed to exercise caution in both situations and not pass each other.
It didn’t matter, however, because Yaakov said she never saw the single stationary flag, and who could blame her? She had three or four riders between her and the flag on one side of the track while she was on the other side of the track already at the limit of braking trying to pass for the lead.
Then Race Control informed officials in the podium area that Yaakov, Rodio, Wyman, and Badie had all been docked two finishing positions for passing under a yellow flag.
Once she was informed, Yaakov broke down in tears again, but these were different tears.
“It was such a horrible feeling,” Yaakov exclusively told Roadracingworld.com. “It was so indescribably bad. It’s crazy. I was so infuriated and sad at the same time. It was a horrible roller coaster of a weekend.”
Van, who said he saw the flag and was subsequently passed by three riders – Yaakov, Rodio, and Wyman – in Turn 10, was elevated to first place. But instead of being able to bask in the spotlight of his career-first victory and enjoy everything that comes with it, Van had to stand on the podium and listen to the gathered crowd boo. It’s not clear who the crowd’s boos were directed toward, but they had an effect on Van, who tried to make the best of a bad situation.
“Today, I don’t really feel like I deserve this win,” Van said in the post-race press conference broadcast on MotoAmerica Live+, Facebook, and elsewhere. “I’m really sorry to Kayla. She rode a great race and, honestly, I feel like she deserves this.”
Junior Cup Race Two winner Max Van (right) and runner-up Aden Thao (left) on the Junior Cup Race Two podium at Road Atlanta. Kayla Yaakov was too upset to take her third-place position on the podium. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
While it may seem like no one involved with Junior Cup Race Two left Road Atlanta feeling happy, I’m pretty sure there were two people who took away some positives – the fathers of Van and Yaakov, former racers Brian Van and David Yaakov.
Max Van, who trained hard during the off-season and lost 24 pounds to help his racing program, took everything negative that came his way and turned it into a positive by giving all due credit to Yaakov for the race she rode even though it came at the sacrifice of enjoying his own career-first win. And he didn’t do it because someone told him or coached him to do it. He did it on his own.
Max Van tried to make the best of a tough situation after Junior Cup Race Two at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Kayla Yaakov, meanwhile, took it all as another one of the many tough life lessons that racing comes with and she plans to use the experience as fuel going forward.
“It is what it is. I don’t make the calls,” Yaakov told Roadracingworld.com in a one-on-one interview shortly after the race. “I’m just really happy that we were able to win, and that’s the biggest thing, to see that progression. Jason Pridmore, out at Chuckwalla this winter, said, ‘You’re going to win a race this year.’ To have it happen was insane.
“We’ll see. We’ll go into VIR with our head up and try to take some of this anger and put it into the track and try to do it again. Maybe I’ll be the first rider to win my first MotoAmerica race twice.”
And to those people who are speculating that Max Van’s father Brian Van, the owner and founder of SportbikeTrackGear.com, used his position as the sponsor of the Junior Cup class to ask for the review of the race finish or to ask for any other special considerations, you’re wrong. Brian Van unequivocally told me he did not make any protest of the outcome of the race, and for anyone who knows him like I do, that scenario never even entered my mind for a second. That is not the way he operates, personally or professionally.
“There was absolutely no interference whatsoever from anybody on this call for the passing under a yellow,” MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey told Roadracingworld.com. “It all came 100% from Race Direction. They took the decision per the rule in the rulebook and the information that they had, and they made their call. Obviously, it was very unfortunate the timing of it and the knock-on effects that it’s had, but there was no influence from anybody, from a race team, from a sponsor, from a rider in how the decision was made. None whatsoever.”
More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:
MotoAmerica Explains Junior Cup Penalties From Road Atlanta
Passing Under Yellow Caution Flags At Road Atlanta Resulted In Penalties
IRVINE, CA (April 27, 2022) – Four riders from SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup race two at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on April 24 were penalized for passing under a yellow caution flag on the final lap, which has since caused controversy in the racing community. The riders penalized were Kayla Yaakov, Cody Wyman, Levi Badie and Gus Rodio. Following the penalties, Yaakov was demoted from first to third, Wyman from third to fifth and Rodio from second to fourth. Badie crashed in the final corner on the last lap, which neutralized his penalty as he failed to finish.
With Yaakov docked two positions, Max Van was declared the winner, his first-career victory in the MotoAmerica Championship. Aden Thao was second with Yaakov third, Rodio fourth, and Wyman fifth.
The decision to penalize was based on the following:
When a rider racing behind the lead pack crashed on the penultimate lap in Turn 10, yellow flags were immediately deployed in the appropriate locations both on the back straight leading to Turn 10 and directly adjacent to Turn 10. Stewards left their positions and went into the gravel trap to assist the downed rider. Per international rules, a standing yellow flag denotes hazards off the racing surface, while waving yellow flags denote hazards on the track surface itself. As the rider was not on the track, and since there was no debris on the track, a standing yellow flag was deployed, according to the rules. As the lead pack approached the yellow-flag zone, the downed rider was still in the gravel trap near his bike, and stewards were still present providing assistance. At the point when the leaders entered the yellow-flag zone, several riders continued to race through both yellow flags in Turn 10 and making passes before the finish.
Race control was immediately aware that an infraction may have occurred. Flagging stations radioed reports that passing under yellow flag had occurred, prompting a review of footage from numerous camera angles. Race control, which consists of the Race Director, AMA/FIM Safety Officer, and the Riders Representative, all reviewed the evidence and unanimously concluded that there was indeed passing under the yellow flag. This review was not instantaneous, and it took several minutes to ensure that the correct ruling was made.
“First of all, it’s unfortunate that all of this transpired as it impacted several riders, their teams, our sponsors and our fans.” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “It was heartbreaking for Kayla Yaakov, who lost what would have been her first-career victory in our series, and it wasn’t the way Max Van wanted to win his first race either. Unfortunately, these things happen in racing. However, yellow flags are there to protect fallen riders and the cornerworkers who are assisting those riders and they are of paramount importance and a key component of our safety procedures. The decision to penalize came as quickly as possible and was not the result of a protest, as some had originally thought. It was a decision made by race control, which is made up of three people and headed up by our Race Director. In the days since our race, class sponsor SportbikeTrackGear.com and race winner Max Van have been unfairly targeted by some. This was a MotoAmerica and AMA decision, and we stand by both the decision and the penalties that resulted from those decisions.”
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. 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.
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