CVMA: Norton Wins Open Shootout

David Swarts

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April 20, 2022

CVMA Racing Round 7 2021/2022 Winter Series

The final round of the CVMA 2021/2022 winter series started with perfect weather. Several class championship battles were to be decided on track with the final round being the last opportunity to score valuable points.

Saturday

Saturday morning greeted the racers with sunny skies and unseasonably cool weather but things heated up quickly when racing started. Later in the day strong winds blew across the track making for very challenging conditions.

During qualifying Owen Williams was fastest on an Ultra Lightweight class bike turning a 1:55.990 lap time. John Knowles was the fastest qualifier on a Lightweight class bike with a 1:51.664 lap time and Rennie Scaysbrook was the fastest Middleweight rider with a 1:48.875 lap time. Anthony Norton was fastest of all while riding his Open class bike turning a 1:46.943 lap time.

Saturday’s multi race winners included:

· Owen Williams – Winning 2 races on his Ultra Lightweight bike

· Justin Bordonaro – Winning 2 races on his Lightweight bike

· Igor Sokolov – Winning 3 races on his Open class bike

· Rennie Scaysbrook – Wining 2 races on his Middleweight bike

· Lucas Geboo – Winning 2 Races on his American Twins bike

Sunday

The Supersport Shootout was first up for the big money races on Sunday and Rennie Scaysbrook started from the pole position. Scaysbrook had some trouble at the start with a big wheelie and fell back to fourth position on the first lap. Tyler Olmstead was able to get a good start from the second position and lead the first few laps. Scaysbrook was able to work his way into second position on lap three and worked to chase Olmstead down. Joel Ohman was able to get a good start from the front row and worked his way into third position but was passed on the seventh lap by Brian Berdan. Scaysbrook was able to pass Olmstead on the inside entering turn four on lap seven and was able to gap Olmstead the remainder of the race. The final finishing order was Scaysbrook for the win, Olmstead second and Berdan rounding out the podium in third.

In the Ultra Lightweight Shootout Owen Williams started from the pole position but Quin Swift got the better start and lead the race into turn one. Willson was able to pass Swift on the inside entering turn four and lead the first lap with Swift in second. Luke Sanzone got a great start and slotted into third at the start of the race. On lap 3, Savannah Jaska was able to pass Sanzone on the entry to turn six to take over the final podium position. The race was stopped on lap five of eight which meant it would not be restarted. The final result Williams with the win, Swift second and Jaska third.

In the Open Shootout, Anthony Norton started from the pole position. At the start Jack Bakken got the hole shot and lead the first lap with Toby Khamsouk close behind. After a poor start Norton was able to work his way into third on the second lap. On lap three, Norton was able to pass Khamsouk early in the lap and then pass Bakken to take the lead after Bakken ran a little wide in the final corner. After taking the lead Norton was able to stretch his lead while Bakken and Khamsouk battled for the final spots on the podium. Bakken and Khamsouk traded positions a couple times on lap eight but in the end finished second and third respectively. Norton took the win by a wide margin for his first in the Open Shootout class.

The club would like to thank all of our racers for coming out in record numbers this past season. The club saw racers coming from all over the country including many riders from the Pacific Northwest, northern California, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and southern California. We wish all our members racing in other series over the summer the best of luck and look forward to seeing you all back at Chuckwalla in September for our first round of the 2022/2023 Winter Series.

CVMA offers two full days of racing every race weekend and also includes Saturday qualifying for grid position in all classes, amateur and expert, as well as a wide variety of classes to choose from.

Additionally, CVMA offers free reciprocity as a means of encouraging racers from other clubs to come out and compete. Log on to www.cvmaracing.com for more information.

The 2022/2023 Winter Series will start on 9/24/2022. Come on out for some of the most competitive racing with some of the fastest racers in the country!

CVMA. It’s club racing done right.

Editorial Note: Use the scroll and zoom tools in the bottom left corner of the PDF viewer to better see all of the results.

Round7Results

AHRMA Racing At New Jersey Motorsports Park June 16-19

David Swarts

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April 20, 2022

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AHRMA Racing At New Jersey Motorsports Park June 16-19

A Decade of AHRMA’s Vintage and Modern Bikes Continues at New Jersey Motorsports Park

ELORA, TN, April 2022 – The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is celebrating a decade of vintage and modern motorcycle racing at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP).

“We’re proud to be bringing our unique brand of road racing back to New Jersey for our tenth year,” said Brian Larrabure, 2022 Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees

Rounds 13 and 14 of the 2022 Bridgestone Tires AHRMA National Historic Cup Roadracing Series returns to the Millville, New Jersey venue June 16-19.

A wide range of classes for both Vintage and Modern motorcycles and road racing sidecars will compete on NJMP’s signature 12-turn, 2.25 mile Thunderbolt Raceway.

“One of the cool things about AHRMA is that we race on some of the same tracks as the pros,” Larrabure said. “Our NJMP event is an example of us being on a track that we’ve all seen on TV.”

AHRMA will host a track day as well as the Ed Bargy LLC Advanced Track Riding Technique Workshop, June 16.

“Ed Bargy’s workshop is a great opportunity for currently licensed racers, and non-racers, who want to improve their skills,” said Larrabure.

Whether you race or would like to enjoy a day of watching great racing, you won’t want to miss this event. The event will be a double header weekend with racing on both Saturday and Sunday. On Friday there will be an AHRMA Academy of Road Racing (AAR) school available for new racers. Students who pass the school on Friday will be eligible to race Saturday and Sunday.

AHRMA is the largest historic motorcycle racing organization in the United States. It promotes national events at iconic venues including Daytona International Speedway, Heartland Motorsports Park, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and Barber Motorsports Park. For the best racing at the best venues, AHRMA is the place to be.

More event details and registration information for competitors can be found at www.ahrma.org

New Jersey Motorsports Park: 8000 Dividing Creek Road, Millville, NJ 08332
856-327-8000 njmp.com

About AHRMA

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association is a member-owned nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the sport of historic motorcycle racing. Since 1989, AHRMA has provided an appropriate environment to showcase vintage and alternative modern racing motorcycles in the disciplines of roadracing, motocross, dirt track, trials, and cross country. With more than 3,300 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and is one of the world’s leading vintage motorcycle organizations.

Canadian Superbike: New Point Payout For 2022

David Swarts

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April 20, 2022

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Canadian Superbike: New Point Payout For 2022

CSBK introducing new points structure for 2022 season

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Superbike Championship will introduce a restructured point system for the 2022 season, adopting a new format that is mostly based upon the widely used “MotoGP style” points structure.

The new system will take immediate effect in 2022, and will be used across all six National championship classes and their respective awards battles.

The old system, in place for the majority of CSBK’s lifespan, featured larger points payouts and was awarded down to 20th place, with the max payout giving 50 points to the race winner. The system also featured a pair of “bonus points” incentives, with a max of four qualifying points being awarded for pole position, while an additional two points were given to the rider who led the most laps on race day.

The new system, used in most FIM series’ including MotoGP, World Superbike, and MotoAmerica amongst others, sees a max of just 25 points handed out to the race winner while points are given out to only 15th place. Unlike the standard MotoGP system, however, CSBK will notably still feature a pair of “bonus points” incentives, keeping the qualifying bonuses from the previous structure while also tweaking the laps led bonus to now award two points to every rider that leads a lap across the line.

The full breakdown of changes can be found below:

While the introduction of the new system will continue to bring the CSBK circuit closer to its counterparts in the United States and Europe, it is also expected to highlight more exciting championship storylines for fans and competitors. The smaller point payouts will have no direct influence on positioning, but will do a better job of promoting the battles in the championship, as evidenced by the close competition in MotoGP and their feeder series’.

For example, during the 2021 Pro Superbike season, Alex Dumas won the Canada Cup by 31 points over rival Ben Young and a whopping 74 points to Jordan Szoke, with a gap of 159 points covering the top five to Sebastian Tremblay. Under the new system, Dumas would have won the title by just 12 points over Young, with Szoke finishing 44 points back and just 91 points covering the same top five. Notably, none of the positions would have changed inside the top ten under the new structure.

The system would have had a similar effect throughout the six classes, will all five National champions from 2021 remaining the same albeit by finer margins. With bigger crowds and television audiences expected for the 2022 season, the new system is yet another step by CSBK officials to modernize the series and emphasize the thrilling racing Canada has produced in recent years.

The new structure will also coincide with the most anticipated Pro Superbike schedule in recent memory, with the feature class set to run nine races over their four-round slate, featuring doubleheaders in each of the first three weekends before a season-ending tripleheader at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

The CSBK riders will have their first opportunity to score a new handful of points when the series returns for round one to the Grand Bend Motorplex, scheduled for June 9-12.

MotoGP: Home Hero Oliveira Leads Fan Parade In Portugal

David Swarts

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April 20, 2022

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MotoGP: Home Hero Oliveira Leads Fan Parade In Portugal

Oliveira leads awe-inspiring parade from Portimão

The home hero rides his KTM from the town centre to the circuit, flanked by a veritable army of fans

Wednesday, 20 April 2022

A home hero, a KTM, and a parade like no other: ahead of the Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal, the Algarve proved the perfect back drop for a truly awe-inspiring pre-event as home hero Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) led a procession of hundreds of bikes from the centre of Portimão to the circuit.

The event began in the town by the waterfront, with fans gathering for a glimpse of their hero as Oliveira took to the stage, with Mayor of Portimão Isilda Gomes and circuit CEO Paulo Pinheiro also in attendance. After talking to the fans and revealing a special helmet design too, Oliveira then went down to the crowd, signed some autographs, and took more than a few selfies. Then it was time to get suited and booted for the ride to the track – for both rider and fans.

Riding his KTM RC16 MotoGP racebike, Miguel Oliveira (88) led a parade of fans from Portimao to the Algarve International Circuit. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Riding alongside and following a MotoGP™ rider – who is riding a MotoGP™ bike – is a truly unique opportunity, and an awe-inspiring number of bikers weren’t about to pass that up. Once Oliveira’s RC16 was warmed up and ready to go, the procession took off from the town and the hundreds of bikes slotted in behind as the parade snaked its way up towards the track. With the journey taking more than half an hour, there was more than enough time for the fans to soak in the experience… and the experience was still far from over.
This time, the track wasn’t simply a destination. It awaited with another unique opportunity: a lap of the venue, with a MotoGP™ rider on a MotoGP™ bike. Thundering through the gates and up towards the paddock, the parade headed from the road onto the circuit for a lap of the iconic rollercoaster, with Oliveira remaining front and centre.

Miguel Oliveira then led the parade of MotoGP fans on a lap of Algarve International Circuit. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Miguel Oliveira: “We had a good comparison last year with fans and without, and for sure this season we wanted to also to make something special, a pre-event and it had to involve the fans. It was a great opportunity, the last time I rode a MotoGP machine on the street was in August after my win in Spielberg, so now we got the chance to ride it again and it’s quite special – this time even more because they can follow me, and it’s really cool.

“I think everyone who loves motorcycles and riding… I mean, if I put myself in their shoes I wouldn’t miss this chance! It’s a huge opportunity to ride, see these bikes close up, which are amazing and quite unique. I wouldn’t want to miss it! It’s a great day.

“My expectations for the weekend is to enjoy the weekend and get a good result, haha. Being in Portugal gives me an extra boost and motivation that whatever happened before doesn’t really matter, it’s all about enjoying the weekend and doing the best we can.”

Miguel Oliveira (88) leading a parade of fans on a lap of Algarve International Circuit. Photo courtesy Dorna.

MotoGP™ is its own orchestra when the revs go up and the lights go out every Sunday, but the grid full of fans gave even the world’s fastest motorcycle racing Championship a run for its money on sheer energy and noise. If Portugal’s love of MotoGP™ and Miguel Oliveira needed an introduction, in 2022 it got one in serious style. And now it’s time for the rest of the grid to line up alongside the home hero and take on the former winner on familiar turf, so make sure to tune in for the 2022 Portuguese on Sunday at 13:00 (GMT +1).

More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:

OLIVEIRA SETS THE EARLY PACE IN PORTUGAL…WITH HUNDREDS OF FANS IN TOW!

Miguel Oliveira (88) leads a pre-race fan parade from Portimao to Algarve International Circuit, in Portugal. Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Miguel Oliveira felt the pressure of heading ‘the pack’ for the second time in just two years at the Algarve International Circuit. Instead of 23 other MotoGP™ riders, the 27-year-old was instead chased by hundreds of excited fans for a lap around the stunning Portuguese facility ahead of the Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal and the fifth round of the 2022 championship this weekend.

Oliveira, who won the very first MotoGP Grand Prix at the venue two hours south of Lisbon in November 2020, fronted a large posse of supporters with his KTM RC16 as the ‘ride-out’ started in Portimao and finished with a circulation of the dipping and fast 4.6km circuit.

For many it was the first and only time to get up-close with a full-race spec MotoGP fire-breather, for Oliveira it was the opportunity to stoke the fire of the passionate native fans even further ahead of the GP fixture where #88 is expected to be a main protagonist. It wasn’t all easy-going in the windy conditions however: the KTM RC16 is designed for the smooth asphalt of the racetrack, not the bumpy, speed limits of a normal road!

The convoy made it to the Algarve International Circuit in fine time. From there the cavalcade rode the crests of the undulating course to finish on the start grid in style with a photo opp.

Miguel Oliveira: “This has been amazing, a great pleasure. We always wanted to do something special here for the fans and this was very cool. If I would put myself in their position and had the chance to ride along with a MotoGP bike – which is quite a unique machine – and then onto the track then there is no way I would have missed it. I couldn’t believe the amount of bikes I saw. It’s a shame we couldn’t ride for longer. Having the RC16 on the road was super-strange. You can definitely see that these bikes were not made to go slow! I was only just keeping the engine on. When we got to the track then this was more our environment. I hope we can so something like this again because every time you take one of these bikes out of context then it is beautiful. It’s been a great day and now my expectation is to have a good weekend and make a strong result. Being in Portugal gives me this strong boost and motivation in a way that everything that happened before doesn’t matter.”

The Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal, the first European race this season, gets underway with Free Practice 1 on Friday at 10.55 CET.

Dunlop Named Title Sponsor Of California Roadrace Association (CRA)

David Swarts

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April 20, 2022

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Dunlop Named Title Sponsor Of California Roadrace Association (CRA)

The California Roadrace Association “CRA” is thrilled to announce Dunlop Motorcycle Tires as the Title Sponsor for the remainder of the 2022 race season.

“It is gratifying to see the motorcycle community get behind the vision of CRA, a rider-focused program, that promotes growing the racing paddock through encouraging up-and-coming talent with monetary payouts and education,” says CRA Co-Founder Daniel Mole.

The rider-focus agenda is always at the forefront of CRA’s program and will continue to find ways to give back.

“Dunlop and Racers Edge Performance are looking forward to this unique partnership where the fruit of the results will be evident for all involved in the industry,” said Dale Kieffer with Racers Edge Performance. “Growing the sport one small step at a time will ensure stability and longevity for years to come.”

Round 2 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is scheduled for June 25th – June 26th. CRA is planning an entertaining weekend of racing and festivities that will be one for the memory books!

To sign up for Round 2 or for more information on CRA, visit their website at www.race-cra.com. Get licensed and let’s go racing. #areyoucra #racecra #iamcra

CRA would like to thank their sponsors for their continued support:

Riderz Law, Feel Like a Pro, CTML Consultants, Motorsport Exotica, VnM Sport, Track Daz, Let’s Ride Track Days, Carters @ the Track, Fun Track Dayz, 61 DTC (Pirelli), Racers Edge Performance (Dunlop), Blood x Sweat x Tears Vodka, Fosters Freeze (Sanger, CA), Blud Lubricants, Bellissimoto, AZAD Wheels, Action Sports Canopies, Boxo USA, Captit Performance, ASV, KYT Helmets, Thermal Technology, Suspension Matters, #376 Design, Cinepixel Productions, The Heights Restaurant & Bar, ChaChaCha Motorsports, Maria Cid Insurance Agency, 844-MY-MOTOW.

MotoAmerica: Will Petrucci Be Stopped At Road Atlanta? (Updated)

David Swarts

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April 20, 2022

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MotoAmerica: Will Petrucci Be Stopped At Road Atlanta? (Updated)

Will Petrucci Be Stopped In MotoAmerica Medallia Superbikes At Road Atlanta?

Medallia Superbikes Headline A Packed Weekend Of Action In The
Auto Parts 4 Less MotoAmerica Championship

IRVINE, CA (April 20, 2022) – The headline 37-entry strong MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike class rolls into Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, April 22-24, with Italian superstar Danilo Petrucci white-hot as he comes in fresh off his doubleheader sweep at Circuit of The Americas two weeks ago in what was his MotoAmerica debut. Petrucci was everything he was hyped up to be in Texas – friendly and fast – and although the victories didn’t come easy, he arrives in the Peach State with two race wins and a perfect 50 championship points.

Naysayers will point out that Petrucci had previously raced at Circuit of The Americas, which is true. The Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC-backed two-time MotoGP race winner had done battle in MotoGP at COTA, but his MotoAmerica debut was his first time racing the team’s Ducati Panigale V4 R and it was his first race weekend on Dunlop tires.

Doubters will also point to the fact that defending MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Champion Jake Gagne had a miserable weekend with mechanical failures leaving him with a DNF in race one and a third-place finish in race two and just a total of 16 points garnered from the weekend. Again, they’d be right, but there’s no taking away from the fact that Petrucci’s MotoAmerica debut was impressive on all fronts as he matched Toni Elias’ debut MotoAmerica performance from 2016 with a perfect weekend.

Gagne, meanwhile, has spent the past two weeks champing at the bit to have another crack at Petrucci and he gets that chance this weekend at Road Atlanta. After a DNF in race one last year in Georgia, it must have felt like déjà vu to Gagne in Texas. And he’ll be hoping the déjà vu continues as last year he bounced back after the opening-race disaster to win race two and that kick-started a 16-race win streak that ultimately led to a 17-win season and the 2021 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship.

Although his results were slightly overshadowed by Petrucci’s first MotoAmerica round, Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz’s two second-place finishes at COTA were memorable as he was the only rider to seriously challenge Petrucci and he did so in both races. Scholtz left Texas with 40 points and a wry smile after his two second-place finishes at COTA. A year ago, at Road Atlanta, Scholtz was in the right place at the right time to take advantage of Gagne’s non-finish in race one to take victory, winning for the third time in his Superbike career.

The fact that South African Scholtz is now based in Georgia and thus considers Road Atlanta to be his home race is another reason for him to come through the Road Atlanta gates with a smile on his face.

Gagne’s new Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing teammate Cameron Petersen is third in the championship heading into Road Atlanta with the South African finishing third and fourth in the two COTA races. Petersen was fast throughout the weekend and battled to the bitter end of race two with his teammate to finish just .344 of a second from what would have been his second podium of his debut weekend with Yamaha.

Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teammates Richie Escalante and Jake Lewis are tied for fourth in the championship with Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Hector Barbera with 20 points apiece as the series heads to Road Atlanta

For Escalante, the two COTA races were his first on a Superbike and after a botched start made for a difficult ride to seventh in race one, he rebounded to finish an impressive fifth in his second race on the team’s GSX-R1000 in race two. Lewis, meanwhile, was consistent with two sixth-place finishes in his return to the Superbike class.

Barbera, meanwhile, led the way for the new Tytlers Cycle Racing team with fifth in race one and seventh in race two for the Spaniard.

Gagne sits in seventh in the title chase – a whopping 34 points behind Petrucci – and four points behind the tied trio ahead of him.

Two points in arears of Gagne is Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing’s Travis Wyman who opened his Medallia Superbike season with a pair of ninth-place finishes.

PJ Jacobsen’s return to racing after a two-year hiatus was a solid one. The New Yorker impressed with a fourth-place finish in race one, but a DNF in race two cost him in the championship. He sits in a tie for ninth with ADR Motorsports’ David Anthony with the Australian starting his 2022 campaign with an eighth-place finish in race one and a 10th in race two.

The MotoAmerica Medallia Superbikes will take to the track for the first time on Friday, April 22 at 10:20 a.m. The first of the two races will take place on Saturday at 3:10 p.m. with Sunday’s race two slated again for 3:10 p.m. Both races will be 19 laps/48.2 miles.

Road Atlanta Superbike Notes

Jake Gagne qualified on pole position for last year’s MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike races with a 1:23.746, which was a new lap record for the 12-turn, 2.54-mile Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The Superbike race record is still held by Cameron Beaubier with his 1:24.085 set in race one in 2020.

Last year’s two MotoAmerica Superbike races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta were won by Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz and Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne.

With his victory in race one at Circuit of The Americas, Danilo Petrucci became the 63rd rider to win an AMA Superbike race. When he won race two at COTA, Petrucci jumped all the way to a tie for 40th on the all-time Superbike-win list with countryman Alessandro Gramigni, Kurtis Roberts, Mike Hale, John Ashmead, Ron Pierce and Paul Ritter.

With his 17 career victories, Jake Gagne is tied for eighth on the all-time AMA Superbike win list with the late Nicky Hayden. Gagne needs three more victories to move up the list and into a tie for seventh with Fred Merkel.

The next highest active Superbike rider on the list is Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz, who is tied with Garrett Gerloff, Bubba Shobert, and Jamie James for 28th on the all-time list with four victories.

Six different manufacturers will be represented in the Medallia Superbike class at Road Atlanta. Yamaha leads the way with 13 entries, BMW is second with nine, Suzuki is next up with seven, Kawasaki has four of its ZX-10Rs and there are three Honda CBR1000RR-R SPs entered.

The good old days? The very first AMA Superbike race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta was held in 1980, and it was won by four-time 500cc World Champion Eddie Lawson. The first-ever AMA National motorcycle race at Road Atlanta was held in 1971 and was won by Kel Carruthers. Coincidentally, Carruthers was Lawson’s crew chief for three of his four 500cc World Championships.

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.

More, from a press release issued by Westby Racing:

Mathew Scholtz And Westby Racing Are Ready For Some “Home Cooking” This Weekend At Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta

Tulsa, OK – April 20, 2022 – Round two of the 2022 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship starts this Friday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. Rider Mathew Scholtz, along with the entire Westby Racing team, are extra-motivated for this round since it’s considered a home track.

South African-born Mathew now lives in nearby Acworth, Georgia, and Westby Racing team manager Chuck Giacchetto and crew chief Ed Sullivan also live in the Atlanta area. In addition, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. is headquartered in nearby Kennesaw.

And, if that’s not enough motivation, Mathew and the team are coming off two strong, second-place finishes at the Circuit of The Americas two weeks ago and are rolling into Road Atlanta where they won the first MotoAmerica Superbike race of the season last year, and then followed that up with a second-place finish in race two.

Last year’s start propelled Mathew and the team to a runner-up finish in the season championship, and they are on pace to hopefully improve that result by one in this year’s championship chase. After all, the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship is the ultimate goal.

“I’m really looking forward to the Road Atlanta round this weekend,” Mathew said. “It’s a home race for me and some of the team, and it’s always great to have that special motivation from having friends coming to watch me race. Also, it’s a track that I’ve done really, really well at in the past.

“Coming off two second-place finishes at COTA, we put up a pretty good fight at what I would consider to be a ‘Ducati’ track with all of the tighter corners onto longer straightaways there. I think, now that we’re headed to the more ‘American-based’ tracks, it’s going to help the Yamaha, and we’re going to be much more competitive. I’ve always had a good feeling about Road Atlanta.

“After COTA, we were looking at changing one or two things with the bike, and we have a pretty good direction that we want to follow with the setup. I’m just really excited to get to the track. The weather looks like it’s going to be ideal, so I can’t wait to get out there and see how we measure up on a track that suits me and the bike. I’m looking to have a really strong showing.”

Superbike final qualifying is on Saturday morning at 10:15 a.m. ET, Superbike race one will go green on Saturday afternoon at 3:10 p.m. ET, and Superbike Race 2 is on Sunday afternoon also at 3:10 p.m. ET. Both races will be broadcast on Fox Sports 2 (FS2) this weekend, with race one airing Saturday night at 10 p.m. ET and race two airing on Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. ET.

For all the action from Road Atlanta, as it happens, subscribe to MotoAmerica Live+, which is MotoAmerica’s live streaming and on-demand service. To find out more about how to watch MotoAmerica, click HERE
Pick Up A FREE T-Shirt And Autographed Poster

Westby Racing T-shirts, as well as posters autographed by Mathew, will be available at the team transporter in the paddock throughout the weekend, so swing by and say hello to Mathew and the team.

Check Out The Westby Racing Sponsor Showcase

iOneMoto-Sharkskinz, Superbike Unlimited, and Suter Racing Products are the featured team sponsors on display in the Westby Racing paddock area this race weekend, so be sure to stop by to say hello and learn about some of the companies that support the team.

For more updates about Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit https://www.WestbyRacing.com

Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.

More, from a press release issued by Ducati:

MotoAmerica Round 2 – Petrucci Ready to Rumble at Road Atlanta

Danilo Petrucci Heads to Road Atlanta as the Man to Beat in MotoAmerica Superbike

Sunnyvale, Calif., April 20, 2022 – The 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship sees America’s finest chasing a red-hot Italian heading into round two at Road Atlanta.

Danilo Petrucci and the gorgeous Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Panigale V4 SBK swept all before them at round one at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, earlier this month, taking both race wins to open a 10-point lead in the series over Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz.

This will be Petrucci’s first visit to the undulating 2.5-mile Road Atlanta venue nestled just north of Braselton, Georgia, and he knows he’ll be the rabbit the dogs are all trying to chase after his CoTA exploits.

Petrucci’s smiling style has already proven a massive hit with the American Ducatisti, who are expected to turn out in droves to lend their support to the two-time MotoGP race winner.

Danilo Petrucci (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – Ducati #9)

“We had the chance to make a few laps with the production Panigale V4 in Virginia since CoTA, but with the rain tires, it was freezing!” Petrucci laughs. “I’m feeling good. This weekend will be the first real test of the year because this is a new track for me. I will try to study the data and the videos as much as possible, but for sure, it will be more of a challenge than CoTA where I had a bit of an advantage because of my MotoGP experience. I know the three guys behind me in the series are fast, but I am determined to land on the top step of the podium once again.”

Round two of the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship will be held at Road Atlanta on April 22-24, 2022.

MotoGP: Lenovo Ducati Riders Pumped To Return To Portimao

David Swarts

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April 20, 2022

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MotoGP: Lenovo Ducati Riders Pumped To Return To Portimao

The Ducati Lenovo Team arrives in Portugal for the first European round of the 2022 MotoGP season

After the first four Grands Prix for the 2022 season held outside of Europe, the MotoGP World Championship arrives in Portugal, at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, near Portimão, for its first race of the year on the Old Continent.

The circuit, located in the Algarve region, was introduced to the calendar in 2020 and has already hosted the World Championship on three occasions. In the most recent, the Algarve GP last October, both Ducati Lenovo Team riders finished on the podium.

Francesco Bagnaia, who started from pole position after setting a new circuit record in qualifying, secured his third win of the season by also setting the fastest lap in the race. Jack Miller, who started second alongside his teammate, crossed the line third, bringing Ducati’s podiums to four at the Portuguese track.

After a good weekend in America, which saw him finish fifth and rediscover positive sensations on his Desmosedici GP bike, Pecco aims for an important result at Portimão. The Italian is currently 12th in the overall standings, 38 points behind leader Bastianini. Miller, seventh in the standings after securing his first podium of the season in Austin by finishing third in the race, wants to be among the frontrunners again at this weekend’s Grand Prix.

Jack Miller (#43 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 7th (31 points)

“I’m really excited to be back racing in Europe, where I think the world championship will come into its own. Being on the podium at the last American GP gives me the confidence to take on this crucial part of the championship. I can’t wait to get on track at Portimão, a track I like a lot! Last year I finished third in the last race here, and I think there are all the conditions to do well again this year”.

Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 12th (23 points)

“After the break of the past few days, I’m now charged up and ready to face the first European round of the season! In Argentina and America, we went back to work like we did last year, finally making progress and finding the sensations I was used to riding my Desmosedici GP. Unfortunately, in Austin, we couldn’t get beyond a fifth position because we lacked some speed in the race. This weekend we’ll be racing at Portimão, a circuit where we could do well in both races last year. That’s very positive because it will allow us to evaluate our work so far and understand where we still need to improve. I can’t wait to get on track!”

The Grand Prix of Portugal will start this Friday, 22nd April, from 9:50 am local time (CEST -1.00) with the first free practice session.

WorldSBK: TPR Team Pedercini And Rider Loris Cresson Split

David Swarts

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April 20, 2022

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WorldSBK: TPR Team Pedercini And Rider Loris Cresson Split

TPR Team Pedercini Announcement

TPR Team Pedercini wishes to inform that Loris Cresson will leave the team with immediate effect. A replacement for the upcoming Dutch Round at the TT Circuit Assen will be announced in due course.

TPR Team Pedercini wishes Loris all the best for the future.

Australian Superbike: A Preview Of The Next Round At Wakefield Park

David Swarts

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April 20, 2022

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Australian Superbike: A Preview Of The Next Round At Wakefield Park

So here we are, well into April 2022, with two rounds under our belt, a strong championship and next to no idea about who is going to take things by the scruff of the neck.

And when we speak of “Championship” we nominally talk about the Alpinestars Superbike Championship, but frankly, we could be talking about any, and all, of the championships racing under the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul banner…

So, with Australian schools having finished term one just ahead of Easter, we will offer a school report by way of an event preview…

Alpinestars Superbike

Mike continues to be a star student and despite moving schools over the summer, he seems to be able to get down to work and up to speed quickly. Outstanding work in Queensland has him at the top of the class and while there is plenty of racing to come, we see no reason he can’t continue to remain the potential dux of 2022 thanks to his work ethic and talent. 8.5/10

Bryan Staring

Phillip Island saw Bryan display that he can be the best in the class and that despite some unforced absences last few years, when he has all he needs, he can star. Round Two brought things heavily into focus, and perhaps showed that copying Wayne Maxwell’s work from Round One was less than ideal with a 16th and 2nd creating just a fraction of confusion and doubt about Bryan in 2022. 7.5/10

Josh Waters

Like former team-mate Bryan Staring, Josh had been somewhat absent in recent years, but thankfully never lost his desire to race and win. Landing a late enrolment at the Maxima Oils squad might have been his best option, but the timing has not proved an issue.

He has put his signature strong work ethic and positive energy towards making things work, and work they have. If someone said “Josh will be third in the championship after round two” we’d all agree that would be a fantastic outcome. 8/10

Wayne Maxwell

Always worth listening to in class, Wayne was typically expansive on why he’s in the class of ’22. “I like being challenged, if I’m not being challenged, I can’t really see the point”. The expression “be careful what you wish for” applies here.

You want a challenge? Yeah, you got one fella. A mathematical challenge. Twenty-two points down with a maximum of 250 odd points available for rest of the season. Plenty of work to do. 6/10

Glenn Allerton

The thing about bad luck is that it can’t last forever. As Douglas Adams said in The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy”- ‘Don’t Panic.’ Illness at Round One followed by an engine issue at Round Two has made Glenn’s results look worse than they ought. When he’s right to go, then he’ll be right up there again. Needs to respond with excellent results for the rest of the season. 6.5/10

Arthur Sissis

Earlier this year, we threw down the challenge to Arthur; go from a top ten adjacent student to a contender.

He might have taken that on board. Round two saw a 7th and 4th and now up to 6th in the championship. The understanding that effort is a talent multiplier is paying off.

Where results = (talent x effort)

So, after just two rounds, we get to ask again; can he take it up to the top 5… the top 3? Get busy young man. 7.5/10

Cru Halliday

At the start of the season, we had a feeling that “Cru could be the boy most likely” to challenge Wayne Maxwell for the dux of ‘22 and he just ground out the best result possible at Phillip Island when the #1 plated Ducati just seemed to have skipped a year ahead.

Very solid podium results at Round One went sideways at Queensland with 5th and a DNF. This was a disappointing low points haul, and he knew it. With his teammate atop the podium and taking the maximum 51 points, it burned a little.

Like Wayne Maxwell, he needs to knuckle down and work hard at the maths here; no more DNFs and any spot below third will be less than stellar. 6.5/10

Daniel Falzon

A solid start to the season at Round One was cruelled by absenteeism at the early part of Round Two and that has seen Daniel 8th in the title chase when it was all looking a lot more promising.

With the calendar shenanigans out of the way, a supportive and quality team around him, he’s still well in the hunt for podiums and a solid season result. 7/10

Troy Herfoss

You can’t keep a good man down forever, but apparently, you can for Round One and you can try to do it at Round Two.

Round One was one we’d all rather forget for the red bike with the #17. Just 18 points in the bank and more worryingly a sense of helplessness and confusion. The normally all-pro, all-the-time Penrite Honda outfit were ticking the wrong boxes on the multiple-choice questions. Commentators and pundits alike rightly talked Troy up, but there was plenty of evidence that a return to the top was not happening any time soon.

Round Two showed signs- positive ones. Sixth in race one was a solid pass mark. Seventh in Race Two was also a pass. Some of the famed Herfoss swagger was back. As he returns to his roots in Goulburn, there’s promise in the air. Let’s see. 5/10

Ant West

Our famed mature-age student has just been off on an excursion to Europe and as we head to Wakefield, one cannot say with any authority what we will get from the ludicrously talented lucky #13.

The blunt instrument that is Westy’s style was in full effect when asked about the team’s prospects. While they were working hard, they seemed to be working on all the wrong subjects and the bike went slower at every opportunity.

But we have faith. As Anthony Doerr says in All the Light We Cannot See, “A real diamond is never perfect.” Or- perhaps more prophetically- “A weed is but an unloved flower.” ― Ella Wilcox 5/10

Michelin Supersport

The number one thing in the Supersport class of 2022 has not been a rider; it’s confusion. From Round One winner Senna Agius promptly leaving the country for overseas learning in 2022 to the exclusion of nominal Round Two winner Tom Edwards- who is now also off to Europe for some WSSP experience, we’re left to ponder- what the…?

After Round One, Tom Bramich was the nominal series leader in the absence of Senna Agius. He took this news on board and promptly DNF’d race one but recovered with a fourth in race two.

Lytras, Nicholson, Lynch and Drane all showed signs that they were interested and capable of solid results, but it would be the baby-faced assassin Olly Simpson who would depart Queensland Raceway with the apparently heavy burden of Championship leadership.

?/10 we have no idea what’s going on there.

Dunlop Supersport 300

After some unruly machines were suspended from the class of ’22 at Round One, the pundits threw their papers and plans in the air like confetti.

It would be Henry Snell who would emerge from the smoking ashes with the Championship leadership. Round Two would be a challenge for him, with just fourth for the round, but enough to hang on to the lead.

Nelson, Dunker and Jacobs are all rightly regarded as likely contenders for the rest of the year, and the Wakefield circuit will be very interesting with the usual tight racing likely to happen – yet again. 8/10 for the whole field.

Yamaha Finance R3 Cup

Some familiar names from the 300 class reappear, though in a different order.

In this class, Glenn Nelson has been fast- and critically- consistently attending the podium. Dunker might have shaded him at Queensland Raceway, but Nelson leads the series by some 12 points.

Snell, Hayden Nelson, Russo, Aksu, Simpson et al can all contend for wins, but even a glance at the maths shows that they can’t afford to let Glenn Nelson just saunter off with the title without a fight. 7/10 see me after class for some remedial maths lessons.

Oceania Junior Cup

Predicting the OJC results is like predicting the landing site of an errant satellite- either way, it’s going to end in a mess.

Garry McCoy is the rider coach/teacher and has had his work cut out for him from the get-go as the red mist has descended upon this junior category from time to time and while you can’t always get passive kids to fire up, it’s also hard getting fired up kids to calm down.

But consistency of message and methodology will surely pay off and after some stern parent-teacher interviews, all looks good for the remainder of the season.

Harrison Watts leads at present by 12 points from Cameron Rende and Hudson Thompson.

Ahead of points and series leaders, what one really wants to see in the junior class is progression- and not just in terms of lap times.

For the class of ’22 to graduate to the next class, McCoy really wants to see progression in all things; maturity, attitude, understanding, listening and then see what results that brings track.

Garry McCoy 10/10, the class… a bit less. For now.

2022 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK)

Round 1 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC 25 – 27 February

Round 2 Queensland Raceway, Ipswich QLD 18 – 20 March

Round 3 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn NSW 22 – 24 April

Round 4 Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin NT 17 – 19 June
* With Supercars – SBK Only

Round 5 Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick QLD 5 – 7 August

Round 6 Symmons Plains Raceway – Launceston TAS 20 – 23 October

Round 7 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Cowes VIC  – 18-20 November

Round 8 The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend SA 2 – 4 December

ASBK Night of Champions Dinner – The Bend 4 December

Roadracing World Young Guns 2022: Gus Rodio

David Swarts

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April 20, 2022

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Roadracing World Young Guns 2022: Gus Rodio

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.

Gus Rodio

Age: 17.

Current home: Hammonton, New Jersey.

Current height/weight: 5’9”/130 pounds.

Current school grade level: 10th grade.

Began riding motorcycles at age: 3.5 years.

First road race: 2015, Millville, New Jersey, NJMiniGP, Spec 50, 8th Place.

Current racebikes: Kawasaki Ninja 400, Aprilia RS 660, Husqvarna FS 450.

Current tuners/mechanics: Kevin Rodio (father), Artie Meeker, Frank Angel, Mike Marthaler.

Primary race series: MotoAmerica Junior Cup & Twins Cup.

Top Sponsors: Rodio Racing, Evolve GT, N2, Spellcaster Productions, HJC Helmets, Moto-Liberty RS Taichi, Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, Kathedral, Spears Racing, K-Tech, Orient Express, VNM Sport, Red Mist Racing, MAR Contractors,

Recent racing accomplishments: 2021 season, finished 3^rd in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (1 win, 3 total podium finishes), won 4 CCS National Championships (ThunderBike, Lightweight SuperBike, Lightweight SuperSport, Lightweight Grand Prix), placed 2^nd in CCS Atlantic Overall Regional Championship; 2020 season, placed 11^th in MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship (5 top-five finished in the first 7 races); 2019 season, 3 top-10 finishes in MotoAmerica Junior Cup; won 9 CCS regional and track Championships, won NJMiniGP: Supermini Championship; 2018 season, 10 podium finishes with CCS, won 2 Motogladiator Championship (SS300, SB300), won 3 NJMiniGP Championships.

2022 racing goals: Win double MotoAmerica Championships in Junior Cup and Twins Cup.

Racing career goal: Win a World Championship.

Racing hero: Nicky Hayden.

Favorite track: Road America.

Favorite hobby: Supermoto.

If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Bored.

CVMA: Norton Wins Open Shootout

April 20, 2022

Anthony “Lug Nut” Norton (3) leads Jack Bakken (29) during the CVMA Open Shootout race at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. Photo by CaliPhotography.com, courtesy CVMA.

CVMA Racing Round 7 2021/2022 Winter Series

The final round of the CVMA 2021/2022 winter series started with perfect weather. Several class championship battles were to be decided on track with the final round being the last opportunity to score valuable points.

Saturday

Saturday morning greeted the racers with sunny skies and unseasonably cool weather but things heated up quickly when racing started. Later in the day strong winds blew across the track making for very challenging conditions.

During qualifying Owen Williams was fastest on an Ultra Lightweight class bike turning a 1:55.990 lap time. John Knowles was the fastest qualifier on a Lightweight class bike with a 1:51.664 lap time and Rennie Scaysbrook was the fastest Middleweight rider with a 1:48.875 lap time. Anthony Norton was fastest of all while riding his Open class bike turning a 1:46.943 lap time.

Saturday’s multi race winners included:

· Owen Williams – Winning 2 races on his Ultra Lightweight bike

· Justin Bordonaro – Winning 2 races on his Lightweight bike

· Igor Sokolov – Winning 3 races on his Open class bike

· Rennie Scaysbrook – Wining 2 races on his Middleweight bike

· Lucas Geboo – Winning 2 Races on his American Twins bike

Sunday

The Supersport Shootout was first up for the big money races on Sunday and Rennie Scaysbrook started from the pole position. Scaysbrook had some trouble at the start with a big wheelie and fell back to fourth position on the first lap. Tyler Olmstead was able to get a good start from the second position and lead the first few laps. Scaysbrook was able to work his way into second position on lap three and worked to chase Olmstead down. Joel Ohman was able to get a good start from the front row and worked his way into third position but was passed on the seventh lap by Brian Berdan. Scaysbrook was able to pass Olmstead on the inside entering turn four on lap seven and was able to gap Olmstead the remainder of the race. The final finishing order was Scaysbrook for the win, Olmstead second and Berdan rounding out the podium in third.

In the Ultra Lightweight Shootout Owen Williams started from the pole position but Quin Swift got the better start and lead the race into turn one. Willson was able to pass Swift on the inside entering turn four and lead the first lap with Swift in second. Luke Sanzone got a great start and slotted into third at the start of the race. On lap 3, Savannah Jaska was able to pass Sanzone on the entry to turn six to take over the final podium position. The race was stopped on lap five of eight which meant it would not be restarted. The final result Williams with the win, Swift second and Jaska third.

In the Open Shootout, Anthony Norton started from the pole position. At the start Jack Bakken got the hole shot and lead the first lap with Toby Khamsouk close behind. After a poor start Norton was able to work his way into third on the second lap. On lap three, Norton was able to pass Khamsouk early in the lap and then pass Bakken to take the lead after Bakken ran a little wide in the final corner. After taking the lead Norton was able to stretch his lead while Bakken and Khamsouk battled for the final spots on the podium. Bakken and Khamsouk traded positions a couple times on lap eight but in the end finished second and third respectively. Norton took the win by a wide margin for his first in the Open Shootout class.

The club would like to thank all of our racers for coming out in record numbers this past season. The club saw racers coming from all over the country including many riders from the Pacific Northwest, northern California, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and southern California. We wish all our members racing in other series over the summer the best of luck and look forward to seeing you all back at Chuckwalla in September for our first round of the 2022/2023 Winter Series.

CVMA offers two full days of racing every race weekend and also includes Saturday qualifying for grid position in all classes, amateur and expert, as well as a wide variety of classes to choose from.

Additionally, CVMA offers free reciprocity as a means of encouraging racers from other clubs to come out and compete. Log on to www.cvmaracing.com for more information.

The 2022/2023 Winter Series will start on 9/24/2022. Come on out for some of the most competitive racing with some of the fastest racers in the country!

CVMA. It’s club racing done right.

Editorial Note: Use the scroll and zoom tools in the bottom left corner of the PDF viewer to better see all of the results.

Round7Results

AHRMA Racing At New Jersey Motorsports Park June 16-19

April 20, 2022

AHRMA racers Alex McLean (122) and Dave Roper (7) in action at NJMP in 2018. Photo by etechphoto.com, courtesy AHRMA.