Campionato Italiano MX – Brilliant Podium Finish on Debut for the Ducati Desmo250 MX
•The brand-new bike from the Borgo Panigale company was put to the test on the treacherous sands of Ottobiano and immediately demonstrated great competitiveness and reliability.
•The Desmo250 MX passes the first test of the season, taking third place in the Italian Prestige MX2 Championship with a strong Alessandro Lupino.
It took just a few weeks for the Ducati Desmo250 MX, raced by Team Beddini Factory Racing, to conquer the first Italian podium of its very young career. Despite a painful and swollen wrist, the reigning Italian MX1 Champion managed to get on the podium at the first attempt, demonstrating all his fight and tenacity.
It had been 10 years since Alessandro Lupino had ridden a 250 4-stroke, and the first round of the Italian Prestige Motocross MX2 Championship was also the occasion for him to debut in a class he had never competed in before in the Italian series. The nine-time Italian Motocross Champion, with 44 podiums to his name in MX1, riding the Ducati Desmo250 MX for its debut, also achieved his first personal top three in the Prestige MX2 Championship.
First in his group at the end of official practice on Saturday, Alessandro also recorded the best time in the subsequent timed session, earning the second gate pick for the two motos on Sunday.
At the start of race one, the 34-year-old began just outside the top five, moving into fourth after one lap. By the next lap, he was in third, maintaining an excellent pace and quickly closing the gap to second, eventually taking the position. However, his rival’s response was clumsy, and after making contact, Lupino was sent to the ground with a sore wrist and the bike severely damaged. The Italian didn’t give up, though, and admirably gritted his teeth to cross the finish line in 10th.
Then, in the second moto, Alessandro was fifth out of the first corner and, after three laps, was in second, as he superbly found his flow. From there, nothing stood between the Desmo250 MX and the third step of the podium, which served as a fitting reward for a brilliant moto.
After the first round of the championship, Lupino is third in the standings with 290 points. The next round of the Italian Prestige Championship will be held at the Mantova circuit on March 29 and 30, a track where, a year ago, Alessandro rode the Desmo450 MX for its debut.
Alessandro Lupino: “I’m happy once again, we did a great job, and I have to congratulate the team at Ducati, who performed a miracle. The Desmo250 MX has only been running for three weeks, and today we came for a test day. However, if I hadn’t been taken out, we could have secured two second-place finishes. As a rider, I’m pleasantly surprised to have made it onto the podium and to already have such a competitive bike on our first outing.”
From a press release issued by Rodio Racing:
Gus Rodio Achieves Impressive 12th Place Finish in His First Daytona 200
In a remarkable debut at the iconic Daytona 200, Gus Rodio finished 12th, demonstrating exceptional skill and determination throughout the race. Competing for Rodio Racing, Gus qualified P7 in both qualifying sessions and secured P8 in the Time Attack, setting the stage for an exciting race day.
The Daytona 200, known for its challenging conditions and fierce competition, marked a significant milestone in Rodio’s racing career. His impressive qualifying times showcased his talent and preparation, positioning him well among seasoned competitors. Despite facing unexpected electronics issues during the race, Gus displayed resilience and focus, navigating through the challenges to achieve a commendable finish in his first Daytona 200.
“I’m thrilled to have competed in my first Daytona 200 and to finish 12th among such a talented field,” said Gus Rodio. “It was a learning experience, and while the electronics issues were frustrating, I believe we showed great potential. I’m grateful for the support from my team and can’t wait to build on this performance in future races.”
Team owner Kevin Rodio expressed pride in Gus’s debut and the team’s efforts. “This was a significant race for Gus, and he handled it with great poise. We faced some hurdles, but I am confident that with every race, we will grow stronger. Our focus now is on analyzing the race and ensuring we are better prepared for the next challenges ahead.”
Rodio Racing remains committed to excellence and continuous improvement as they head to Barber Motorsports Park with Motoamerica April 4-6, 2025
For more information about Gus Rodio and Rodio Racing, please visit www.rodioracing.com or follow us on social media.
Gus Rodio (113) at Daytona. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
From a press release issued by Dunlop:
Dunlop Riders Sweep the top Six at Daytona 200 with Josh Herrin on top once again!
Josh Herrin and Ducati once again triumphed at the 83rd edition of the Daytona 200, with five more competitors on Dunlop tires close behind!
This year’s Daytona 200 celebrated its 83rd anniversary, known for delivering unparalleled racing excitement. With an exceptional lineup of talent from all over the world, the 2025 race upheld this tradition. Josh Herrin, representing Celtic/Economy Lube+Tire/Warhorse HSBK Ducati, started from the first row, successfully building on his previous 2023 and 2024 victories aboard his Dunlop-supported Ducati Panigale V2. This win locks him in the record books as the first rider ever to win the Daytona 200 three years in a row and four in total, all on Dunlop tires.
Trailing Herrin by 5.33 seconds were fellow Dunlop riders Richie Escalante on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki, his teammate and pole-sitter Tyler Scott; Peter Hickman on his PHR Performance Triumph; and then the TOBC Racing teammates Brandon Paasch and Danny Eslick, all claiming the top six positions, each on Dunlop tires!
Thanks to the efforts of MotoAmerica, the Daytona 200 continues to thrive, drawing top competitors such as Pirelli and Bridgestone, all competing for victory at one of the most challenging and revered events of the year. Dunlop’s steadfast commitment to excellence and winning remains evident, making success a foreseeable outcome. While Dunlop supports tire control programs, Dunlop eagerly awaits the next chance to showcase Dunlop’s unrivaled quality. This year, Dunlop has again demonstrated that its technology and performance are second to none, especially with the continuation of the Sportmax Slick line of race slicks.
Dunlop’s deep passion for success, along with a firm dedication to technological advancement and thorough testing, has cemented its reputation in the industry. As the exclusive tire supplier for the MotoAmerica Championship, Dunlop has leveraged their extensive racing experience and engineering expertise to develop tires capable of securing championships.
About Dunlop Motorcycle Tires:
Dunlop is the number one selling and largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in North America. For more information, visit www.DunlopMotorcycleTires.com. Follow @ridedunlop on Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) for the latest Dunlop news. Use #RideDunlop and/or #RaceDunlop to share your Dunlop moments.
Twins Cup:
From a press release issued by Aprilia:
APRILIA RS 660 RIDER DI MARIO OPENS MOTOAMERICA TWINS CUP TITLE DEFENSE WITH A PAIR OF SECOND PLACE FINISHES AT DAYTONA
ROBEM ENGINEERING RIDER LEAVES MARCH 6-8 ROUND AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY SECOND IN TWINS CUP POINTS STANDINGS
Defending MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion and Aprilia rider Alessandro Di Mario picked up right where he left off in 2024 at the season-opening round at Daytona International Speedway. Di Mario and his Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660 were the bike-rider tandem that the rest of the field was chasing in practice and qualifying, and Di Mario wrapped up the opening round with two hard-fought second place results.
The Kentuckian — who won the 2024 Twins Cup title as a rookie in the class — was the top-finishing Aprilia rider in both races, narrowly missing out on winning Friday and Saturday’s races by a combined 0.106 seconds. Di Mario leaves the Daytona round sitting second in the points standings ahead of the Twins Cup’s next round at one of his favorite tracks.
Di Mario was by far the fastest rider in Thursday morning practice. His best lap time — a 1:58.619 — was more than 1.2 seconds faster than the next-fastest rider. Three other Aprilia riders finished in the top 10 in Thursday morning practice – Andrew Weyh of Weyh Racing was sixth-fastest, Celtic HSBK’s Mavrick Cyr was ninth-fastest and 2018 Twins Cup Champion Chris Parrish was tenth-fastest on his Ghetto Customs-sponsored RS 660.
The first of two qualifying sessions took place later Thursday and concluded with Di Mario on provisional pole. Di Mario improved his best lap time by more than a second, and Weyh and Speeddemon Racing’s Logan Cunnison finished that session in sixth place and ninth place, respectively. Qualifying wrapped up Friday morning with Di Mario having cemented his grasp on pole position for the weekend’s two Twins Cup races. Other Aprilia riders who qualified in the top 10 include Weyh in sixth, Cunnison in seventh and Cyr in tenth.
Later Saturday in Race 1, Di Mario ended up being one of four riders to break away from the rest of the field early in the race. Di Mario led the race several times as the pack of four continually drafted past each other on Daytona’s high banks for nine hard-fought laps. On the run to the finish line, Di Mario made a valiant effort to fight to the front and missed out on clinching his first win at Daytona by a mere 0.087 seconds. The other Aprilia rider who finished in the top 10 was Cunnision in seventh place.
Saturday morning’s Race 2 was very similar to Friday’s race, as Di Mario spent the whole of the race duking it out with a small group at the front. Though there was an additional rider in the front-running pack, each rider took turns leading the race until the last lap. Though Di Mario was running in fourth place as the front-runners navigated NASCAR Turns 3 and 4 for the last time, he nearly drafted his way to a victory. He ended up finishing 0.019 seconds behind the race winner but still secured his second runner-up finish of the round. Weyh finished Race 2 in sixth place and Cunnison in tenth.
Of the 35 riders signed up to race in the MotoAmerica Twin Cup races at Daytona International Speedway, 14 were registered to compete aboard Aprilia RS 660’s.
The MotoAmerica Twins Cup is back in action April 4-6 when the series makes its annual visit to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.
Alessandro Di Mario / No. 1
“The races were pretty good. The team did a perfect job by making sure the bike was at its best the whole weekend. I’m happy I was able to get as many points as possible here at Daytona, which is a track I struggle at. I am very excited for the next round at Barber, since it’s my favorite track.”
From a press release issued by Robem Engineering:
If Alessandro Di Mario is due for a sophomore slump in MotoAmerica Twins Cup, it wasn’t on display at the season-opening round at Daytona International Speedway. The teenage phenom who rode an Aprilia RS 660 to a Twins Cup title as a rookie last year was the fastest rider in practice and qualifying at the March 6-8 Daytona round – and came up slivers of a second short of winning each race.
Alessandro Di Mario (1). Photo by Sara Chappell.
After two races, the Lexington, Ky., resident Di Mario left Daytona Beach a close second place in the Twins Cup points standings.
Di Mario’s pace in practice and qualifying at the Daytona International Speedway round was simply blistering. He started the round by posting a best lap time in Thursday morning practice that was more than a second faster than the next-best time and was on provisional pole when Thursday afternoon’s Qualifying 1 session came to a close. When the Qualifying 2 session wrapped up on Friday morning, Di Mario had secured pole position for the rounds’ two Twins Cup races by a margin of 0.349 seconds.
In Friday afternoon’s Twins Cup Race 1, Di Mario got a decent start and was one of four riders who quickly established themselves as the front runners. Di Mario took the lead on several occasions during the nine-lap race as the pack of four riders used the draft to repeatedly slingshot past each other. On the run to the finish line, Di Mario did his best to be at the front and came up just 0.087 second short of winning the first race of the 2025 season.
Saturday morning’s Race 2 ended up being a near clone of Friday’s race, as a small group of riders made an early break from the rest of the field and spent almost all of the nine-lap race drafting and re-drafting each other for position. Though Di Mario was in a less-than-ideal fourth position as the frontrunning pack began its final run to the tri-oval, Di Mario craftly used the draft to nearly claim the win. He finished in second place again – a mere 0.019 seconds behind the race winner.
The Robem Engineering team will be back in action at the next MotoAmerica Twins Cup round, which is slated to take place April 4-6 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.
Robem Engineering’s technical partners for the 2025 season include Accossato, Aprilia Racing, Blud Lubricants, Bitubo Suspension, Essex Parts, Millennium Technologies, NGK, NTK, Piaggio North America, Sara Chappell Photos, SC Project and Sprint Filters.
From a press release issued by Karns TST Industries
The Daytona 200 weekend was great, mixed with some adversity. All of the Karns TST Industries riders were quick out of the gate. Isaac Woodworth and Levi Badie were solidly in the top 10, after making improvements to the team’s Suzuki GSX-8Rs all weekend. Isaac used the draft to his advantage in both races, nipping Levi at the line, and they are now sitting 6th and 7th in the championship points going into Barber. We have some work to do and a game plan for there.
The Karns Performance/TST Industries pit area at Daytona.
Elisa Gendron-Belen had a great weekend qualifying for the race and making some key moves and passes improving her lap times and finishing position significantly from 26th to 17th.
“I feel we had a very successful first weekend in the new class with some of the best riders in the class. There were definitely some ups and downs. We learned a bunch and are looking forward to Barber,” said Jason Karns, Team principal.
A HUGE thank you goes out to TST Industries, Meck’s Auto Body, Adrenaline Engineering, Andreani USA / Nitron Suspension, NG Brakes, Speigler Brake Lines, Blumanstock Machine, M4 Exhaust, Blud Lubricants, Woodcraft Technologies.
Mission King Of The Baggers and Mission Super Hooligan:
From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:
HARLEY-DAVIDSON® X DYNOJET FACTORY RACER KYLE WYMAN DOMINATES MISSION KING OF THE BAGGERS SEASON OPENER AT DAYTONA
Harley-Davidson Racers Sweep Super Hooligan National Championship Podiums Aboard Pan America STs
Kyle Wyman (right) won Mission King Of The Baggers Race One with Bradley Smith (left) finishing second. Brian J, Nelson photo.
Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team rider Kyle Wyman scored a perfect weekend of racing in the opening round of the 2025 Mission King of the Baggers road racing series at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Fla. Wyman rode a race-prepared Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® motorcycle to a new track lap record to top qualifying, won the Mission King of the Baggers Challenge sprint race, and won both Mission King of the Baggers feature races on Friday and Saturday. Wyman has won five consecutive Mission King of the Baggers races at Daytona dating back to 2023 and Saturday’s win gave him 20 total victories in the class. Wyman’s Road Glide carried the all-new team livery which debuted at Daytona earlier in the week with the all-new 2025 CVO™ Road Glide® RR.
“I love racing here at Daytona and there’s no better place to be than victory lane,” said Wyman after Saturday’s win. “It was such a game out there today. The Harley-Davidson Dynojet team put a really fast Road Glide under me and I had the power it took to win twice.”
Harley-Davidson® Pan America® 1250 ST riders took all six podium spots in the two opening races of the 2025 Mission Super Hooligan National Championship Presented By Roland Sands Designs and Powered by Harley-Davidson. Saddlemen Racing Performance riders Cory West, and Jake Lewis each scored a narrow race win, with their Saddlemen teammate Travis Wyman finishing second in both races by a combined total of .081-seconds. KWR rider James Rispoli finished third in race one.
Kyle Wyman Dominates
Wyman led all Mission King of the Baggers qualifiers with a new lap record time of 1:49.383 around the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway road course. In first action with the Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team, former MotoGP rider Bradley Smith qualified fourth, while teammate James Rispoli qualified fifth. Wyman won the two-lap Mission King of the Baggers Challenge race on Saturday, ahead of second-place Rispoli by 0.238 seconds.
Wyman led the 13-bike field at the start of the first eight-lap Mission King of the Baggers race on Friday. In the first turn, Rispoli and S&S/Indian Motorcycle rider Loris Baz touched wheels and both riders went off the course and did not return to the race. Wyman turned a blistering opening lap at 1:49.672 to open a gap on S&S/Indian Motorcycle rider Troy Herfoss and Smith. Herfoss left the track on lap 4 and was able to continue. Wyman crossed the finish line 2.602 seconds clear of second-place Smith. Cam Petersen was third on the SDI Racing Indian.
On Saturday, Wyman, Herfoss, Rispoli, and Baz paced the field at the start of the race, with Wyman and Herfoss trading the lead multiple times. Rispoli ran off track in the infield portion of the track on lap 5 and was unable to continue. Wyman and Herfoss raced wheel-to-wheel in the closing three laps. Wyman took the lead on the final lap as the riders entered the high-bank oval portion of the track and then used a great drive out of the backstraight chicane to open a gap on Herfoss with Wyman and his Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® crossing the finish line 0.056 seconds ahead of Herfoss. Baz finished third, 0.884 seconds behind Wyman.
After 2 of 14 rounds in the 2024 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series, Wyman leads in series points with 50, followed by Herfoss with 28 points, Smith with 26, S&S/Indian rider Tyler O’Hara with 23, TAB Performance Indian rider Kyle Ohnsorg with 22, RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Rocco Landers with 20, and Saddlemen Racing Performance rider Jake Lewis with 19 points.
The Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team returns to action May 2-4 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.
The Mission King of the Baggers series features race-prepared American V-Twin touring motorcycles competing in 14 races over seven doubleheader weekends held in conjunction with the MotoAmerica Superbike series. Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team Road Glide® motorcycles are powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engines. The team bikes also feature upgraded suspension components, including Screamin’ Eagle/Öhlins Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks, plus competition exhaust, race tires and lightweight bodywork.
The Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team is sponsored by Rockford Fosgate®, Mission® Foods, Brembo®, Öhlins®, Akrapovič, SYN3® lubricants, and Screamin’ Eagle® Performance Parts and Accessories.
MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers Race Results – Daytona Race 1
1. Kyle Wyman (H-D) Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team
2. Bradley Smith (H-D) Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team
10.Bradley Smith (H-D) Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team
Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson Riders Dominate Mission Super Hooligan Opener
Saddlemen Racing Performance riders Cory West and Jake Lewis won the opening rounds of the 2025 Mission Super Hooligan Championship aboard race-prepared Harley-Davidson® Pan America® 1250 ST motorcycles. West, the defending series champion, was the top qualifier for the double-header session with a time of 1:51.032 around the Daytona road course. On Friday, West opened his championship defense by leading all six race laps and holding off a last-lap charge by his Saddlemen Racing Performance teammate Travis Wyman to take the win by 0.042 seconds. James Risopli was third aboard the KWR Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 ST. The Saturday race was a classic Daytona drafting duel, with six riders exiting the backstretch chicane in a pack and charging elbow-to-elbow at 170+ mph for the finish. Lewis moved from sixth place to the lead, drafting past West, KWR Harley-Davidson riders Cody Wyman and, Rispoli, and Yamaha rider Dominic Doyle to catch Travis Wyman at the finish line and win by 0.039 seconds. West finished third, 0.286 second back, to complete a Saddlemen Racing Performance/Harley-Davidson lock on the podium.
After two of 10 races in the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship Presented By Roland Sands Designs and Powered by Harley-Davidson®, West leads with 41 points, followed by Travis Wyman with 40 points, Lewis with 32 points, Rispoli with 27 points and Cody Wyman with 26 points. The Mission Super Hooligan championship resumes May 2-4 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.
2. Travis Wyman (H-D) Saddlemen Racing Performance
3. Cory West (H-D) Saddlemen Racing Performance
4. Cody Wyman (H-D) KWR Harley-Davidson
5. James Rispoli (H-D) KWR Harley-Davidson
6. Dominic Doyle (Yam) Giaccmoto Yamaha Racing
7. Corey Alexander (Arc) ARCH Racing
8. Hayden Schultz (H-D) KWR Harley-Davidson
9. Andy DiBrino (Tri) Competition Werkes Racing
10. Hawk Mazzotta (Yam) Strack Racing
About Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get Harley-Davidson riders on the road. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com.
AHRMA Brings Pro Challenge to Barber Vintage Festival
Pro racers will once again add to the sights, sounds, and smells of the Barber Vintage Festival.
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is hosting the fourth annual Pro Challenge set for October 4, 2025, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. This event will occur during the 20th Annual Barber Vintage Festival as part of the 2025 AHRMA Roadracing Series presented by Motobilia.
The Pro Challenge will showcase a diverse lineup of today’s most dynamic racing motorcycles, piloted by pro racers and eligible AHRMA competitors. A cash purse, to be revealed soon, will also be part of the excitement.
“We are excited to feature one of AHRMA’s most popular modern race classes for the 2025 AHRMA Pro Challenge at the legendary Barber Vintage Festival. Last year, Sound of Thunder 2 had over 120 unique individual racers participate, with more than 400 race entries across the season.” said Leasha Overturf, AHRMA’s Road Race Director. “AHRMA’s unique class structure brings out a wide mix of machines from Ducati, Triumph, BMW, Aprilia, Kramer and others. I look forward to welcoming everyone running in the SOT2 Pro Challenge this year!”
To be eligible, a Pro Challenge racer must meet the following criteria:
Be a licensed AHRMA member/competitor.
2. Be in compliance with the AHRMA Barber Racer Eligibility Requirements (found at ahrma.org/schedules-results).
3. Take part in the Friday practice (Thursday optional).
4. Take part in a 20-minute timed qualifying session on Friday afternoon.
5. Be registered in the “Pro Challenge” race on Saturday.
6. Be capable of racing at a competitive pace within the Pro Challenge race (based on lap times during the Friday qualifying session).
Eligible machines include liquid-cooled twins to 900cc; unlimited air-cooled twins; triples up to 765cc; and two-strokes to 250cc. Please see the AHRMA Handbook for full details regarding the Sound of Thunder 2 class at ahrma.org/ahrma-handbook/
Select FIM professional licensed road racers may obtain a special waiver from AHRMA for the competition. Waivers must be submitted through the online AHRMA Barber Road Race Waiver Request Form no later than September 19th at 12pm CDT. https://www.ahrma.org/barber-vintage-festival-waiver-request-form/
In addition to FIM professional licensed road racers, any AHRMA member pre-qualified to race at the 2025 Barber event with AHRMA may register for the Pro Challenge but must participate in qualifying and meet the qualifying criteria.
The opening of race registration will be announced at a future date.
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage machines along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
Josh Herrin makes history with an incredible fourth Daytona 200 victory on the Panigale V2
Josh Herrin etched his and Ducati’s name in the history books by securing his fourth Daytona 200 victory and third consecutive win for Ducati, marking the first time in the race’s history that a rider and manufacturer have achieved this feat.
The 2025 Daytona 200 was disrupted by two red flags: one for rain just before the halfway point and another for a crash during the restart. However, regardless of the challenges faced by the red number 2 Ducati, Herrin rose to the occasion.
Herrin’s blistering speed through the infield remained a cornerstone of his attack as he consistently gapped his opponents before the first banking. At that point, the Celtic/Economy Lube & Tire by Warhorse HSBK Ducati Panigale V2 took over to keep him at the front of the pack.
The last quarter of the race saw Herrin at his best performance by setting a phenomenal new lap record of 1:47.879 on lap 51. He leveraged his experience to maneuver around lapped riders, breaking free from any potential slipstream created by the pursuing riders and securing a controlled 5.33-second victory over Escalante and Scott.
The 2025 victory puts Herrin tied for third with Danny Eslick on the all-time Daytona 200 win list with four triumphs, with only AMA legends Miguel Duhamel and Scott Russell ahead on five wins each.
2025 Daytona 200 Results
1. Josh Herrin (Ducati)
2. Richie Escalante +5.330
3. Tyler Scott +5.338
4. Peter Hickman +35.963
5. Brandon Paasch +44.906
Josh Herrin makes history with an incredible fourth Daytona 200 victory on the Panigale V2
“Man, what a crazy weekend,” Herrin said with enthusiasm. “It’s my fourth win and third with Ducati; it doesn’t get much better than this. I see this as the biggest race in the United States and one of the largest in the world. Being the only person to win three in a row and rank in the top four of all-time wins is incredibly special.
“It’s a very difficult race to win once, let alone four times, and we’ve had some problems here in the past so it shows you need a bit of luck on your side. The bike felt incredible all weekend and I have an amazing crew behind me, so I really need to thank the whole Warhorse HSBK racing Ducati team, Brew Watch Co., Economy Lube and Tire, Ducati USA, and Ducati in Italy. I am so happy to be on the Panigale V2, and hopefully, we’ll see a surge in 2025 Panigale V2 sales!”
More, From Suzuki Motor USA:
SUZUKI TAKES ON DAYTONA AS ESCALANTE, SCOTT, AND CHAPIN SHINE
Suzuki Enjoys Strong Season Opener with Pole Position, Podium Finishes, and Twins Cup Sweep
Suzuki Motor USA kicked off the 2025 MotoAmerica season in outstanding fashion, with the Suzuki GSX-R750 claiming pole position and two podium positions in the 83rd Daytona 200 and the Suzuki GSX-8R sweeping both Twins Cup victories.
Richie Escalante achieved a hard-fought second-place finish in the legendary Daytona 200. Photo by Brian J. Nelson/Suzuki
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Superbike regular Richie Escalante capped off a near-flawless weekend for the team by earning second-place in the iconic Daytona 200 aboard the team’s next-generation Suzuki GSX-R750 Supersport machine. Escalante was in the mix, at or near the front throughout despite a rain delay and second red flag stoppage due to a crash. The Mexican born racer was calm and fast, aided by his team’s pit stop acumen that earlier won the squad the Pitstop Challenge victory. He ultimately edged teammate Tyler Scott for the runner-up position by a scant 0.08-second margin at the checkered flag.
“Honestly, it was a difficult weekend for us,” Escalante admitted. “I didn’t have the best feeling during the weekend, especially during the Time Attack. I wasn’t confident this morning, so I said, ‘Okay, let’s go back to the setting from last year.’ And I was very strong in the race. I felt really good, and we battled with so many different riders.
“I’m happy to finish on the podium. Of course, I want to win, but that’s not always possible. I’m super happy. Big thanks to my entire Team Hammer Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki crew.”
Tyler Scott delivered another strong performance in the Daytona 200, battling at the front. Photo by Brian J. Nelson/Suzuki
Scott finished on the podium after earlier taking the Suzuki GSX-R750 to pole for the second consecutive season. He led at the start and at several other points along the way before crossing the stripe side-by-side with his teammate in third.
He said, “It was a difficult day for sure with the rain and everything, but the whole Vision Wheel M4 Suzuki team put in so much effort from the end of last season to today. A lot of hard work, so much training, and a lot of testing. The bike we have here today is a way better motorcycle than we had last year, and I’m more fit than last year.
“Overall, it was a very good race. The pit stops were perfect. I can’t give enough thanks to all my guys. I’m really excited because the bike feels amazing going into the first round of the MotoAmerica Supersport championship.”
Making an electrifying Twins Cup debut, Matthew Chapin claimed to back-to-back victories aboard the Suzuki GSX-8R. Photo by Brian J. Nelson/Suzuki
Reigning Junior Cup champion Matthew Chapin scored a pair of dramatic Twins Cup victories in his first race outing aboard the RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki GSX-8R. Chapin came out on top of a four-rider scrap to win on Friday by a narrow .087-second margin and then upped the stakes with a five-rider, 0.019-second triumph on Saturday.
Chapin said, “I think my whole plan was just to be patient until the last lap let those guys fight it out at the front. I didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks; I knew I had the bike underneath me to do it. So I just used the draft at the end and got it done.
“Huge thanks to everyone at RevZilla, Motul, and Vance & Hines for believing in me.”
About Team Hammer
The 2025 season marks Team Hammer’s 45th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 134 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 375 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol and won four F-USA Championships.
About Vision Wheel
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
About Suzuki
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
MARCH 9, 2025: Is there no stopping the Bay of Plenty-based Honda Team Rees juggernaut in this season’s New Zealand Superbike Championships?
When the third round of four in the annual motorcycle road-racing series wrapped up at the Hampton Downs circuit, just north of Hamilton, on Sunday afternoon, it was again 32-year-old Mitch Rees unbeaten and on the top step of the podium in the premier 1000cc Superbike class, with his 57-year-old father Tony Rees climbing up to join him, on the second step. Christchurch’s Alastair Hoogenboezem was forced to settle for the third podium spot on Sunday.
In terms of the series points, however, it is Mitch Rees comfortably in front, a massive 68 points ahead of Hoogenboezem, with Tony Rees in third overall, now just one point further adrift.
Every post was a winning one for Mitch Rees at the weekend, the man from Whakatane qualifying his Honda CBR1000 on pole – that achievement also worth one additional competition point – before he then went out and turned that incredible pace into a hat-trick of wins, the two-time former New Zealand champion also setting a new Hampton Downs lap record in the process.
Not unsurprisingly, Mitch Rees also claimed the Tourist Trophy (TT) title, an additional prize bestowed upon the various winners of the third and final race in each class at Hampton Downs.
In total, Mitch Rees has now won eight races from nine starts in this series and his only “failure” was his finishing runner-up to Christchurch’s Dale Finch in one of his three races at round two at Timaru last month.
Evergreen multi-time former New Zealand champion Tony Rees said he was thrilled to be able to again join his son on the podium and, depending on what transpires at the fourth and final round at Taupo next weekend, the championships may well end up a 1-2 finish for the family.
“It was a perfect weekend I suppose you could say,” said Mitch Rees afterwards. “I have a good points buffer now and can possibly wrap up the title with a solid result in the first of my three races at Taupo’s finale next weekend.
“I actually had an issue to deal with regarding the bike in race one at Hampton Downs. It had rained midway through the day, and so we changed tyres after practice. Somehow the wheel rim got a dent in it, and this affected the bike’s handling in race one. I managed to ride around the problem.
“Dad did magnificently to finish where he did at Hampton Downs too, especially considering he wasn’t feeling 100 percent. He just has so much experience that racing is second nature to him.
“It’s going to be a busy weekend at Taupo next week and the aim now is to make it a Rees family 1-2 for the championship. I like the Taupo track and hold the lap record there, so that’s a positive omen.”
Meanwhile, other national championship class and TT title winners at Hampton Downs at the weekend included Christchurch man Jake Lewis (Supersport 600 class and TT title); Auckland’s Cameron Leslie (Supersport 300 class and TT title); Taupiri’s Billee Fuller (Pro Twins 650 class and TT title); Hokitika’s Luke Ryder (Super Twins and TT title); Silverdale’s Tyler King (Superlites class); Taupo’s Karl Hooper (Superlites class TT title); Lower Hutt’s Nixon Frost (Supersport 150 class); Christchurch’s Hunter Charlett (Supersport 150 class TT title), Gisborne’s Phillip Law with Angus Ravenwood (sidecars class); Palmerston North’s Barry Smith with Auckland’s Stu Dawe (sidecars class TT title).
The series wraps up with round four at Taupo next weekend, on March 15-16.
DATES FOR 2025 NZ SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIPS SEASON:
Round 1, Feb 7-9, 2025, Teretonga Park, Invercargill (part of Burt Munro Challenge week);
Round 2, Feb 14-15 (Friday and Saturday), 2025, Levels International Motor Raceway, Timaru;
Round 3, March 8-9, 2025, Hampton Downs (MotoFest);
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb led all 25 laps of Round 9 of the Monster Energy Supercross series for his third win in the last four races and his sixth consecutive podium, all of which have been second or better. Webb built a solid lead in the first 12 laps and extended his advantage in the second half of the race after Chase Sexton tipped over in the sand while running second. Webb ultimately ended the race with an eight-second lead over teammate Justin Cooper.
The Indianapolis fans showed up once again for Supercross’ 18th visit to Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis Colts Cornerback and Captain, Kenny Moore II, acted as the Grand Marshal for the race.
First place 450SX Class, Cooper Webb
“I was pissed off. I made a lot of mistakes today. Man, that was an awesome main event for me, probably one of the easier ones of my career. Got a good lead and could ride the pace. Obviously when Chase went down it really opened up the cushion. … I executed my start, rode great laps in the beginning and then put it on cruise control and (had a) drama-free race.” – Cooper Webb
Second place 450SX Class, Justin Cooper
“I’ve been fighting demons. I’ve been top-five the last four weekends, three of them being fourths, so it’s been tough to go home, regroup and go after that podium again. I’ve been sticking to it, trusting the process and really been riding good each weekend, consistent. … It’s cool for the team. One-two is big. This has been long overdue for me and I feel like I’ve been fighting for this for a while now.” – Justin Cooper
Third place 450SX Class, Chase Sexton
“I had a good flow going for the first half of the race and when I hit that red cross flag (for Joey Savatgy’s crash) I started losing my flow and ended up going down. Tough track. Battled back toward the end. I had Justin (Barcia) close behind me, so I just tried to get on the podium, build a little bit of momentum going into this break. (I need to) get some rest, try and regroup and come out swinging for the last eight.” — Chase Sexton
250SX
The 250 division featured the first of three East / West Showdowns in the 2025 season. Seth Hammaker earned the holeshot and led every lap to become the eighth winner in nine rounds of 250 competition. This was the second career victory of his career. Hammaker had pressure from fellow East Coast contender Tom Vialle in the closing laps but kept his composure to stretch his advantage to five seconds at the checkers. Haiden Deegan survived a trip through the safety netting to round out the podium.
First place 250SX Class, Seth Hammaker
“Man, what an unreal feeling. My second win of my career and it’s been a while since I stood on the top of the podium, so that feels amazing. Got myself off to an excellent start. Tried to sprint away those first couple of laps. … When you’re out there in the lead and (have) a little bit of a gap, it was a little challenging to stay focused but I’m proud of myself, proud of the team, the group of people I have around me, my whole family.” – Seth Hammaker
Second place 250SX Class, Tom Vialle
“Slowly getting back in the rhythm and I felt great tonight. Like Daytona, I was again close to victory but Seth rode amazing. I’m pretty happy with second-place. The track was pretty tricky tonight, pretty easy to make a mistake.” – Tom Vialle
Third place 250SX Class, Haiden Deegan
“I was upset. Obviously I wanted the win. … I ended up airing out that quad, or whatever you call it, and I ended up busting up something in my engine when I landed super hard so those last few laps, I tried to be smart and ride it in. My gears were clanging a little bit. No excuses. Those boys rode great: Tom and Seth were better guys tonight.” – Haiden Deegan
The Indianapolis round also acted as the annual Love Moto Stop Cancer race, which kicks off a yearly auction that raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Love Moto Stop Cancer partnership between Supercross and St. Jude is in its ninth year. The Supercross fans and racing community have raised over 2 million dollars for the organization that fights childhood cancer and keeps families together during treatment. The teams and racers increase their support at the special round each year with bike graphics and gear designs inspired by and incorporating art from the young patients at St. Jude. The custom items, along with special items kindly donated by series’ partners will be available for auction starting on Monday, April 28. The auction will run through the final round in Salt Lake City, ending on Monday, May 13. For more information, please visit our St. Jude page on the SupercrossLIVE.com website at (https://www.supercrosslive.com/st-jude/). In the meantime, fans can also get involved in the racing community efforts by donating, just text SUPER to 785-833 to become a partner in hope with the Love Moto Stop Cancer text-to-donate campaign, or SUZUKI to 99126 for a chance to win Ken Roczen’s 2025 RM-Z Suzuki 450. St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats, and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Our mission is clear: Finding Cures. Saving Children.
The Indianapolis Supercross pays points toward both the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season as well as toward the SMX World Championship post-season, which seeds racers from Supercross and the AMA Pro Motocross championships into two Playoffs and the SMX World ChampionshipTM.
For fans awaiting the Supercross season to come to their city, live and on-demand viewing is available on Peacock. Select events are also broadcast or streamed on NBC, CNBC, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital platforms. Telemundo Deportes’ Facebook and YouTube channels provide Spanish-language coverage in the US, while live international coverage can be accessed through the SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv) with English, Spanish and French language broadcasts. Each round can also be heard live on NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85.
The series takes one week off before heading to Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama for the second trip to the market on March 22nd, 2025. The first gate drops at 7:00 p.m. ET next Saturday. The Birmingham Supercross round will feature the second Triple Crown format race of the season with a 450 race and the 250 East riders.For more information, race results, live timing, video highlights, and ticket sales to attend an event please visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
Knee-down on the electric LiveWire S2 Alpinista. Action photos by Geoffrey McCarthy/courtesy Alpinestars.
It’s like Alpinestars engineers sat down with a list of objections to wearing airbags and eliminated or minimized every one of them with the new Tech-Air 5 Plasma inflatable protection vest.
No more changing body armor based on the type of ride. The new system, which protects the back, chest and collarbones, features three different ride modes. Alpinestars incorporated triggering algorithms from its enduro-capable system into the Plasma, making the system capable of handling adventure riding. This is added to the street and track modes available on the earlier Tech-Air 5 system.
No more downloading an app onto your smartphone to change riding modes. Track, street or off-road modes are selected with a push of a button on a small panel on the lower right side of the vest. Hold the button down and toggle through the riding modes. The display panel also indicates battery charge level and system status and provides an easily accessible Type C USB charging port.
No more struggling to get a racing suit on over the vest. The computer, gyroscope, accelerometer and single gas canister now sit in a slimmer compartment, which is barely thicker than a quality passive back protector. The single-canister configuration helps reduce the weight by 25%, to 3.373 pounds. And a zip-up fabric cover makes it even easier to slip into and out of leathers or jackets while wearing the vest.
Front and back view of the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma vest, showing control panel, new coverage configuration for the front bladders, and high-airflow panels. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
No more sending the vest back for constant repacking. The Tech-Air 5 is fully serviceable by the user, and it takes about 30 seconds to replace a depleted canister. Replacement canisters cost $119.95, and the bladder system is good for six deployments before it has to go back to a service center. If the rider is unsure if the bladder has been compromised, a test valve allows the owner to inflate the bladder and check for leaks.
No more worrying about battery life. Out of the box, the system gets charged overnight. After that, four hours of charging provides 30 hours of riding functionality. And even if the system completely fails, the Plasma back protector incorporated into the unit meets CE Level One impact absorption standards.
Single canister can be replaced by the user. Bladders are good for six discharges before service. Orange material is viscoelastic thermoplastic composite and serves as a Level One impact absorption back protector. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
And … more breathability. The system has been designed with a chest/shoulder protector that looks like an “H,” covering the ribs but allowing air to flow over most of the chest and abdomen. More high-airflow panels are incorporated into the arms, the abdomen, the neck and the back.
The level of impact attenuation remains the same as before – in simple terms, the deployed airbag absorbs the same amount of force as nine stacked-up Level Two back protectors or 18 stacked-up Level One protectors. And all of this for the same price, $789.95, as the prior model.
Riding With The Tech-Air 5
Alpinestars brought journalists out to the Antelope Valley in Southern California to sample the new system. We did a brief off-road ride, approximately 100 miles on the street and an afternoon on the Streets of Willow course at Willow Springs International Raceway.
Put it on like any other vest, zip it shut, hit the button to turn it on. Check to see that it’s got charge and that it’s in the right ride mode. Zip up your jacket. That’s it. Couldn’t be more simple. It is just a little thicker than the passive chest/back protector I normally wear under racing leathers, and I’m still breaking in my newest suit, so it rode up a bit when I pulled the leathers on. But I reached around behind my neck, pushed it back down, zipped up my leathers and that was the last time I thought about the vest.
Track riding on any sunny day in the high deserts of SoCal gets hot, and the increased ventilation definitely paid off. The Tech-Air 10 full race unit has an FIM-mandated single bladder across the entire chest, and I definitely felt it blocking the air flow. The Tech-Air 5 feels lighter, cooler, and I didn’t find it restrictive in any way.
The technology of airbag systems continues to mature, and the Tech-Air 5 incorporates the advances in the art of inflatable armor. It addresses many of the concerns that have prevented or discouraged riders from using airbags. It is hard to beat the protection offered by an inflatable system, and Alpinestars has just lowered the barriers for using one.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. –Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, has unveiled the FOX Sports broadcast schedule for its upcoming 2025 season.
The series first joined forces with FOX Sports in a blockbuster deal ahead of the 2021 season, and the collaboration has resulted in years of record-breaking ratings for the series ever since. Last season saw Progressive AFT rack up a combined total viewership of greater than 3.6 million across all platforms.
FOX Sports’ televised broadcasts played an integral role in that success, which included the highest AFT single-race rating to date on FS1. Additionally, Progressive American Flat Track race broadcasts were featured in more than 100 linear television hours across FOX, FS1, and FS2.
This season, the successful formula of presenting each Progressive AFT round in a one-hour FS1 premiere telecast will continue. In most cases, these broadcasts will air the weekend following the event. Additionally, the series’ telecasts will maintain prime weekend time slots, often serving as a lead-in or follow-up to the network’s powerhouse motorsports programming. Looking ahead, Progressive AFT and FOX Sports continue to explore opportunities to further elevate the sport’s visibility, including the potential for additional broadcast window announcements in the future.
2025 Television Schedule for Progressive AFT (all premieres on FS1):
Saturday, March 15 – Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I – 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT)
Sunday, March 16 – Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II – 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT)
Sunday, April 6 – Senoia Short Track – 9:00 a.m. ET (6:00 a.m. PT)
Sunday, May 4 – Ventura Short Track – 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT)
Sunday, May 11 – Silver Dollar Short Track – 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT)
Sunday, June 15 – Short Track at Lucas Oil Speedway – 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT)
Saturday, July 5 – Lima Half-Mile I – 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. PT)
Saturday, July 12 – Lima Half-Mile II – 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)
Sunday, July 13 – DuQuoin Mile – 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT)
Saturday, August 16 – Jackpine Gypsies ST I – 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)
Sunday, August 17 – Jackpine Gypsies ST II – 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT)
Sunday, August 24 – Sturgis TT – 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT)
Sunday, August 30 – Peoria TT – 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)
Saturday, September 6 – Springfield Mile I – 8:00 a.m. ET (5:00 a.m. PT)
Saturday, September 13 – Springfield Mile II – 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)
Saturday, September 20 – Lake Ozark Short Track – 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)
The 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season launched with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7.
How to Watch:
FOX Sports and FloRacing are home to Progressive American Flat Track programming. For the 2025 season, all races will premiere in one-hour telecasts on FS1 during highly desirable weekend time slots. The complete schedule can be viewed at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. FloRacingprovides livestreaming coverage of every Progressive AFT round at https://flosports.link/aft.
Josh Herrin won his fourth Daytona 200 and his third in a row on the strength of his speed in the infield. Time after time during the event, Herrin on the Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse HSBK Ducati Panigale V2 would light up the timing screen with a red Sector One, setting the fastest time and building a gap back to the chasing pack. Herrin’s top measured speed of 176.0 mph through the speed traps was slower than the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750s of Richie Escalante and Tyler Scott, who were clocked at 181.4 mph and 179.4 mph. Several of the Triumph 765s in the field were measured at 181 mph or faster, with the TOBC machine of Danny Eslick fastest at 182.6 mph.
Herrin was sanguine about his team losing the Pit Stop Challenge the day prior to the 200. “Three years ago, we won it and ran out of fuel in the race,” Herrin said. “The last two years, we got disqualified and won. I’m hoping it keeps going that way.”
Harry Truelove (115) and Matt Truelove (123). Photo by Michael Gougis.
The Truelove brothers Matt and Harry came from the U.K. and finished seventh and eighth on their Truelove Brothers Racing Suzuki GSX-R750s.
Loris Baz (78) leads Rocco Landers (97). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Kyle Wyman on the Harley-Davidson/Dynojet factory Road Glide won his fifth straight win at Daytona, and said afterward that he was trying to manage his tires and rely on his experience at the unique circuit. “It’s how you get around the banking, how you place yourself, how you use the banking to your advantage to get a better run when the track flattens out,” Wyman said after winning the second Mission King of The Baggers race. “There’s a lot of things that I’ve learned over the course of 16 years coming here. It’s definitely my element.” On the other end of the experience spectrum, Baggers newcomer Loris Baz, who collided with James Rispoli and crashed out in the first race on Friday, finished third on the S&S Indian Challenger, 0.884 seconds back.
Matthew Chapin (95). Photo by Michael Gougis.
The Mission Super Hooligan and the SC-Project Twins Cup races on Saturday ended with dramatic drafting battles. Jake Lewis came from sixth leaving the final chicane to snatch the Hooligan victory on his Saddlemen Race Development Harley-Davidson Pan America ST. Three riders on naked bikes and tubular handlebars ran side-by-side in front of him, blasting a huge hole in the air, and his top speed on the final lap was more than eight miles an hour faster than anyone else in the pack of six fighting for the win. Matthew Chapin sat patiently and struck at exactly the right time to seize his second SC-Project Twins Cup win of the event. “I let those guys fight it out at the front. I didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks. I knew I had the bike,” Chapin said.
Jake Lewis (85). Photo by Michael Gougis.
The cool kids hung out at the Mobil station on Peninsula Drive and Main Street during the evenings at Bike Week. The customized cruiser de jour featured massively oversized front wheels, swoopy luggage at the rear that grazed the pavement and stereo systems that put out a decent amount of horsepower all on their own.
Customized big twin on Main Street. Photo by Michael Gougis.Mobil station at Peninsula Drive and Main Street. Photo by Michael Gougis.
(Part Of BMW North America’s 50th Anniversary History Series, from a press release issued by BMW North America)
BMW NA 50th Anniversary | 50 Stories for 50 Years Chapter 9: “A New Chapter for BMW Motorrad: BMW NA takes over from Butler & Smith”
Shortly after taking over U.S. sales of BMW automobiles from independent distributor Max Hoffman in 1975, BMW of North America initiated the process to do the same for the motorcycle side of the business.
BMW had been exporting motorcycles to the U.S. since 1950, less than two years after production had resumed in Munich following the destruction of World War II. At first, bikes were ordered directly by dealers whose relationship with BMW predated the war, like Oscar Liebmann, whose New Jersey-based AMOL Precision became the first official BMW motorcycle dealer in the U.S. in 1950. By the end of that year, however, the right to distribute BMW’s motorcycles in this market was assigned to the V. (for Victor) Harasty organization.
Four years later, that privilege was transferred to the Butler & Smith Trading Company. (Contrary to assumptions, the name of the firm referred not to its founders but to the intersection in Brooklyn where the company was located. Butler & Smith first imported NSU motorcycles from Germany, then Lambretta scooters from Italy.)
On February 19, 1954, Butler & Smith president Alfred Bondy wrote a letter to inform NSU and BMW motorcycle dealers that Butler & Smith was BMW’s official U.S. importer. Bondy expressed his desire that BMW dealers should continue with the new distributor, which would “combine Germany’s two most prominent brands which are world renowned for their workmanship and performance.” Bondy also stated that “The first BMW motorcycles will arrive in a few days. A large quantity of BMW parts is on order from the factory, and we hope that our reputation for fast and complete NSU parts service will soon apply to our BMW parts service.”
Initially, Butler & Smith would handle operations on the East Coast, with West Coast distribution delegated to the Flanders Company of Pasadena, California. In 1969, Butler & Smith took over distribution for the entire U.S., and in May 1970 established a new headquarters and import center in Norwood, New Jersey.
Even prior to that move, Butler & Smith had ensured that BMW built motorcycles suited to the needs and tastes of U.S. riders, most of whom used bikes like the R 50 and R 69 for long-distance touring. Their suitability for that purpose had been firmly established in 1958, when Ohio dealer John Penton rode his 600cc R 69 from New York to Los Angeles in 52 hours, 11 minutes, setting a new record and gaining great publicity for the reliability of BMW motorcycles. (Penton was an accomplished off-road rider, and he’d ride a factory-backed R 27 single in the 1962 International Six Days Trial, winning a silver medal despite a few bad crashes.) Thanks to Butler & Smith, BMW motorcycles could be ordered in the U.S. with options like dual seats, higher handlebars, and accessories like saddlebags, fairings, and the side stands preferred by Americans over the standard center stand. Later, Butler & Smith would offer aftermarket equipment including Krauser luggage, Luftmeister fairings, and Continental or Metzeler tires.
BMW built sporty models as well as touring bikes, of course, and Butler & Smith went racing to promote them. The firm became especially active on the racetrack following the move to New Jersey, which likely coincided with the ascension of Dr. Peter Adams to the leadership of the Butler & Smith firm. Adams was the son of Butler & Smith owner Irwin Adams, who may have founded or purchased it with Bondy in 1949 but who had in any case become its sole owner by 1970.
Adams formed a technologically sophisticated race team led by Udo Gietl and Todd Schuster, both of whom were innovative fabricators and technicians. The team got off to a fine start in 1971, campaigning a thoroughly exotic 750cc machine in the American Motorcycle Association’s Formula 750 class with riders Reg Pridmore and Gary Fisher. Five years later, the Butler & Smith team switched to the R 90 S, and its extensively modified bikes finished 1-2 in the very first AMA Superbike championship, with Reg Pridmore taking the crown over teammate Steve McLaughlin.
The elation of that championship would be short-lived, at least where Butler & Smith was concerned. Having taken over U.S. automobile sales and distribution from Max Hoffman in March 1975, BMW of North America was looking to do the same for its motorcycles. Dr. Adams resisted the takeover, and in 1978 filed suit to retain his distributorship. BMW of North America prevailed in September 1980, and that October saw the company take possession of the Butler & Smith operation at Walnut and Hudson streets in Norwood, New Jersey.
The new division was led by vice-president Jean-Pierre Bailby, who’d come to North America from BMW France. Joseph Salluzzo served as national sales manager, with Rolf Kettler as marketing manager. Below them, many of the motorcycle division’s employees were retained from Butler & Smith, at least temporarily.
“At that point, all of the employees in sales, parts, and service were Butler & Smith employees, wondering what happens next,” said Rob Mitchell. “Eventually, people from BMW NA started filling some positions. I came about six months later to head up advertising and promotion, taking over from Rolf Kettler, who’d been sent over temporarily from Germany. I’d been in sales training, and I got hired because I was the only person at NA who rode motorcycles. It was a real trial-by-fire.”
Mitchell worked out of an office in Norwood for the next two years, until the motorcycle division moved to BMW of North America’s headquarters in Montvale. In the interim, BMW NA began modernizing operations for sales and distribution, financing, and technical training. Imposing new standards allowed BMW to cut the number of U.S. dealers by half, from around 300 to 150. “Like Hoffman, Butler & Smith would sign you up as a dealer if you purchased $500 worth of parts and a [BMW] sign,” Mitchell said. “I visited one dealer in upstate New York that was in an extension of his house, and which had a dirt floor in the workshop. Once BMW NA put certain operating requirements for corporate signage, inventory, facilities, and technical training—all the normal dealership stuff—dealers like that, who weren’t willing to step up and make the investment, fell away.”
Replacing Butler & Smith with a modern, efficient sales subsidiary yielded tangible benefits, Mitchell said. “Back in the old days, you’d pick up the telephone and order a bike from Butler & Smith. Now you had a modern business culture for ordering bikes and parts, signing up for technical training, all of that. Some dealers were upset that they could no longer continue the way they had before, but those who stayed on found they could offer a lot more to customers. And the customers got way better support, too. It’s much better to go into a dealer and see dozens of new bikes rather than just one, plus accessories and people anxious to help you.”
BMW promoted its staid Opposed Twins by stressing their civility and reliability in an era when new Japanese models made more power and were much quicker. The stated target buyers were referred to in this ad as “cycle enthusiasts who appreciate a smooth, silent bike.” That image would start to change when BMW distributor Butler & Smith went AMA Superbike racing with Reg Pridmore and Steve McLaughlin on extensively modified R 90 S models in 1976 and won the Superbike race at Daytona. BMW photo.
As it had with the cars, BMW of North America was hoping to increase sales of BMW motorcycles in the U.S., and to take advantage of motorcycles’ burgeoning popularity in this country. (That phenomenon was due largely to the Japanese manufacturers, who marketed their lightweight motorcycles to young people as an alternative to cars, and as a “fun” alternative to heavyweight American machines.) Although hard data isn’t available for the years immediately before and after the transition, documents within the BMW Archive record declining export volumes to the U.S. in the mid 1970s: 10,553 units in 1974; 9,256 units in 1975; and 7,539 units in 1976. Presumably, imports declined further as the decade wore on. Mitchell doesn’t know the exact figures, but believes that Butler & Smith was selling perhaps 2,500 motorcycles per year by the time BMW of North America took over sales and distribution in 1980.
In 1985, the earliest year for which BMW NA data is available, the company sold 5,597 motorcycles in the U.S., followed by 6,078 in 1986. That number represented barely one percent of new motorcycles sold in the U.S. per annum, but it was a significant improvement nonetheless.
A 1970s Butler & Smith ad making the case for BMW’s shaft drive vs. the traditional chain drive used by other manufacturers. BMW photo.
A new ad campaign helped. After an agency review, BMW’s motorcycle account was moved to Ammirati & Puris, which had created “The Ultimate Driving Machine” tagline that resonated so strongly with car buyers. For the motorcycles, Ammirati & Puris came up with another memorable slogan, “The Legendary Motorcycles of Germany,” which emphasized the company’s heritage at a time when BMW’s performance was somewhat tepid compared to that of the Japanese and Italian marques. Ammirati & Puris placed ads in the Wall Street Journal and Esquire magazine, hoping to reach upscale customers. This didn’t always work, Mitchell said. “Motorcyclists are grass-roots people, and prestige isn’t the biggest thing. It’s a very different group than the car people.”
More important, Mitchell said, was ensuring that BMW NA maintained a press fleet of new motorcycles, and staged press launches to ensure that new models were reviewed in motorcycle magazines. Those new models would themselves help BMW NA succeed, especially after the R 80 G/S caught on with adventure-touring riders following its 1980 introduction. “What started as an oddity—an 800cc, 400-pound dirt bike—became the most important segment, but it took probably ten years to really take off.”
In late 1983, BMW would enter another crucial segment, supplementing its longstanding boxer twin lineup with all-new K bikes powered by water-cooled three- and four-cylinder engines. “Even longtime boxer owners seemed genuinely excited by the K bikes,” Mitchell said. “There was clearly room for both within BMW.”
A BMW K-Series ad for the K100 1000cc 4-cylinder with the engine running front to back, circa 1983. BMW photo.
Today, BMW Motorrad USA offers a full range of motorcycles, from the entry-level G 310 R and GS to the Superbike-spec M 1000 RR, with all manner of touring, heritage, urban, and adventure bikes in between. A wide variety of engines is available, from singles to inline sixes, plus inline fours, Boxer and parallel twins, and even battery-powered scooters.
BMW Motorrad’s factories in Berlin and elsewhere around the world are busier than ever, turning out 209,257 bikes in 2023. Of those, 24,176 went to customers in Germany and 21,668 to France, while 17,017 were delivered to customers in the U.S., BMW Motorrad’s third-largest motorcycle market worldwide. That number constitutes only a small fraction of the half-million-plus motorcycles sold in the U.S. last year, but volume isn’t everything. BMW riders have long been among the industry’s most enthusiastic riders, especially when it comes to putting serious mileage on their machines. Just like John Penton’s R 69 in 1959, BMW motorcycles continue to carry their riders quickly and reliably from coast to coast…and beyond.
The Ducati Desmo250 MX finishes third in an Italian Prestige MX2 Championship race, ridden by Alessandro Lupino.
Campionato Italiano MX – Brilliant Podium Finish on Debut for the Ducati Desmo250 MX
•The brand-new bike from the Borgo Panigale company was put to the test on the treacherous sands of Ottobiano and immediately demonstrated great competitiveness and reliability.
•The Desmo250 MX passes the first test of the season, taking third place in the Italian Prestige MX2 Championship with a strong Alessandro Lupino.
It took just a few weeks for the Ducati Desmo250 MX, raced by Team Beddini Factory Racing, to conquer the first Italian podium of its very young career. Despite a painful and swollen wrist, the reigning Italian MX1 Champion managed to get on the podium at the first attempt, demonstrating all his fight and tenacity.
It had been 10 years since Alessandro Lupino had ridden a 250 4-stroke, and the first round of the Italian Prestige Motocross MX2 Championship was also the occasion for him to debut in a class he had never competed in before in the Italian series. The nine-time Italian Motocross Champion, with 44 podiums to his name in MX1, riding the Ducati Desmo250 MX for its debut, also achieved his first personal top three in the Prestige MX2 Championship.
First in his group at the end of official practice on Saturday, Alessandro also recorded the best time in the subsequent timed session, earning the second gate pick for the two motos on Sunday.
At the start of race one, the 34-year-old began just outside the top five, moving into fourth after one lap. By the next lap, he was in third, maintaining an excellent pace and quickly closing the gap to second, eventually taking the position. However, his rival’s response was clumsy, and after making contact, Lupino was sent to the ground with a sore wrist and the bike severely damaged. The Italian didn’t give up, though, and admirably gritted his teeth to cross the finish line in 10th.
Then, in the second moto, Alessandro was fifth out of the first corner and, after three laps, was in second, as he superbly found his flow. From there, nothing stood between the Desmo250 MX and the third step of the podium, which served as a fitting reward for a brilliant moto.
After the first round of the championship, Lupino is third in the standings with 290 points. The next round of the Italian Prestige Championship will be held at the Mantova circuit on March 29 and 30, a track where, a year ago, Alessandro rode the Desmo450 MX for its debut.
Alessandro Lupino: “I’m happy once again, we did a great job, and I have to congratulate the team at Ducati, who performed a miracle. The Desmo250 MX has only been running for three weeks, and today we came for a test day. However, if I hadn’t been taken out, we could have secured two second-place finishes. As a rider, I’m pleasantly surprised to have made it onto the podium and to already have such a competitive bike on our first outing.”
Rodio Racing's Gus Rodio (#113). Photo by Brian J. Nelson
Daytona 200:
From a press release issued by Rodio Racing:
Gus Rodio Achieves Impressive 12th Place Finish in His First Daytona 200
In a remarkable debut at the iconic Daytona 200, Gus Rodio finished 12th, demonstrating exceptional skill and determination throughout the race. Competing for Rodio Racing, Gus qualified P7 in both qualifying sessions and secured P8 in the Time Attack, setting the stage for an exciting race day.
The Daytona 200, known for its challenging conditions and fierce competition, marked a significant milestone in Rodio’s racing career. His impressive qualifying times showcased his talent and preparation, positioning him well among seasoned competitors. Despite facing unexpected electronics issues during the race, Gus displayed resilience and focus, navigating through the challenges to achieve a commendable finish in his first Daytona 200.
“I’m thrilled to have competed in my first Daytona 200 and to finish 12th among such a talented field,” said Gus Rodio. “It was a learning experience, and while the electronics issues were frustrating, I believe we showed great potential. I’m grateful for the support from my team and can’t wait to build on this performance in future races.”
Team owner Kevin Rodio expressed pride in Gus’s debut and the team’s efforts. “This was a significant race for Gus, and he handled it with great poise. We faced some hurdles, but I am confident that with every race, we will grow stronger. Our focus now is on analyzing the race and ensuring we are better prepared for the next challenges ahead.”
Rodio Racing remains committed to excellence and continuous improvement as they head to Barber Motorsports Park with Motoamerica April 4-6, 2025
For more information about Gus Rodio and Rodio Racing, please visit www.rodioracing.com or follow us on social media.
Gus Rodio (113) at Daytona. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
From a press release issued by Dunlop:
Dunlop Riders Sweep the top Six at Daytona 200 with Josh Herrin on top once again!
Josh Herrin and Ducati once again triumphed at the 83rd edition of the Daytona 200, with five more competitors on Dunlop tires close behind!
This year’s Daytona 200 celebrated its 83rd anniversary, known for delivering unparalleled racing excitement. With an exceptional lineup of talent from all over the world, the 2025 race upheld this tradition. Josh Herrin, representing Celtic/Economy Lube+Tire/Warhorse HSBK Ducati, started from the first row, successfully building on his previous 2023 and 2024 victories aboard his Dunlop-supported Ducati Panigale V2. This win locks him in the record books as the first rider ever to win the Daytona 200 three years in a row and four in total, all on Dunlop tires.
Trailing Herrin by 5.33 seconds were fellow Dunlop riders Richie Escalante on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki, his teammate and pole-sitter Tyler Scott; Peter Hickman on his PHR Performance Triumph; and then the TOBC Racing teammates Brandon Paasch and Danny Eslick, all claiming the top six positions, each on Dunlop tires!
Thanks to the efforts of MotoAmerica, the Daytona 200 continues to thrive, drawing top competitors such as Pirelli and Bridgestone, all competing for victory at one of the most challenging and revered events of the year. Dunlop’s steadfast commitment to excellence and winning remains evident, making success a foreseeable outcome. While Dunlop supports tire control programs, Dunlop eagerly awaits the next chance to showcase Dunlop’s unrivaled quality. This year, Dunlop has again demonstrated that its technology and performance are second to none, especially with the continuation of the Sportmax Slick line of race slicks.
Dunlop’s deep passion for success, along with a firm dedication to technological advancement and thorough testing, has cemented its reputation in the industry. As the exclusive tire supplier for the MotoAmerica Championship, Dunlop has leveraged their extensive racing experience and engineering expertise to develop tires capable of securing championships.
About Dunlop Motorcycle Tires:
Dunlop is the number one selling and largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in North America. For more information, visit www.DunlopMotorcycleTires.com. Follow @ridedunlop on Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) for the latest Dunlop news. Use #RideDunlop and/or #RaceDunlop to share your Dunlop moments.
Twins Cup:
From a press release issued by Aprilia:
APRILIA RS 660 RIDER DI MARIO OPENS MOTOAMERICA TWINS CUP TITLE DEFENSE WITH A PAIR OF SECOND PLACE FINISHES AT DAYTONA
ROBEM ENGINEERING RIDER LEAVES MARCH 6-8 ROUND AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY SECOND IN TWINS CUP POINTS STANDINGS
Defending MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion and Aprilia rider Alessandro Di Mario picked up right where he left off in 2024 at the season-opening round at Daytona International Speedway. Di Mario and his Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660 were the bike-rider tandem that the rest of the field was chasing in practice and qualifying, and Di Mario wrapped up the opening round with two hard-fought second place results.
The Kentuckian — who won the 2024 Twins Cup title as a rookie in the class — was the top-finishing Aprilia rider in both races, narrowly missing out on winning Friday and Saturday’s races by a combined 0.106 seconds. Di Mario leaves the Daytona round sitting second in the points standings ahead of the Twins Cup’s next round at one of his favorite tracks.
Di Mario was by far the fastest rider in Thursday morning practice. His best lap time — a 1:58.619 — was more than 1.2 seconds faster than the next-fastest rider. Three other Aprilia riders finished in the top 10 in Thursday morning practice – Andrew Weyh of Weyh Racing was sixth-fastest, Celtic HSBK’s Mavrick Cyr was ninth-fastest and 2018 Twins Cup Champion Chris Parrish was tenth-fastest on his Ghetto Customs-sponsored RS 660.
The first of two qualifying sessions took place later Thursday and concluded with Di Mario on provisional pole. Di Mario improved his best lap time by more than a second, and Weyh and Speeddemon Racing’s Logan Cunnison finished that session in sixth place and ninth place, respectively. Qualifying wrapped up Friday morning with Di Mario having cemented his grasp on pole position for the weekend’s two Twins Cup races. Other Aprilia riders who qualified in the top 10 include Weyh in sixth, Cunnison in seventh and Cyr in tenth.
Later Saturday in Race 1, Di Mario ended up being one of four riders to break away from the rest of the field early in the race. Di Mario led the race several times as the pack of four continually drafted past each other on Daytona’s high banks for nine hard-fought laps. On the run to the finish line, Di Mario made a valiant effort to fight to the front and missed out on clinching his first win at Daytona by a mere 0.087 seconds. The other Aprilia rider who finished in the top 10 was Cunnision in seventh place.
Saturday morning’s Race 2 was very similar to Friday’s race, as Di Mario spent the whole of the race duking it out with a small group at the front. Though there was an additional rider in the front-running pack, each rider took turns leading the race until the last lap. Though Di Mario was running in fourth place as the front-runners navigated NASCAR Turns 3 and 4 for the last time, he nearly drafted his way to a victory. He ended up finishing 0.019 seconds behind the race winner but still secured his second runner-up finish of the round. Weyh finished Race 2 in sixth place and Cunnison in tenth.
Of the 35 riders signed up to race in the MotoAmerica Twin Cup races at Daytona International Speedway, 14 were registered to compete aboard Aprilia RS 660’s.
The MotoAmerica Twins Cup is back in action April 4-6 when the series makes its annual visit to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.
Alessandro Di Mario / No. 1
“The races were pretty good. The team did a perfect job by making sure the bike was at its best the whole weekend. I’m happy I was able to get as many points as possible here at Daytona, which is a track I struggle at. I am very excited for the next round at Barber, since it’s my favorite track.”
From a press release issued by Robem Engineering:
If Alessandro Di Mario is due for a sophomore slump in MotoAmerica Twins Cup, it wasn’t on display at the season-opening round at Daytona International Speedway. The teenage phenom who rode an Aprilia RS 660 to a Twins Cup title as a rookie last year was the fastest rider in practice and qualifying at the March 6-8 Daytona round – and came up slivers of a second short of winning each race.
Alessandro Di Mario (1). Photo by Sara Chappell.
After two races, the Lexington, Ky., resident Di Mario left Daytona Beach a close second place in the Twins Cup points standings.
Di Mario’s pace in practice and qualifying at the Daytona International Speedway round was simply blistering. He started the round by posting a best lap time in Thursday morning practice that was more than a second faster than the next-best time and was on provisional pole when Thursday afternoon’s Qualifying 1 session came to a close. When the Qualifying 2 session wrapped up on Friday morning, Di Mario had secured pole position for the rounds’ two Twins Cup races by a margin of 0.349 seconds.
In Friday afternoon’s Twins Cup Race 1, Di Mario got a decent start and was one of four riders who quickly established themselves as the front runners. Di Mario took the lead on several occasions during the nine-lap race as the pack of four riders used the draft to repeatedly slingshot past each other. On the run to the finish line, Di Mario did his best to be at the front and came up just 0.087 second short of winning the first race of the 2025 season.
Saturday morning’s Race 2 ended up being a near clone of Friday’s race, as a small group of riders made an early break from the rest of the field and spent almost all of the nine-lap race drafting and re-drafting each other for position. Though Di Mario was in a less-than-ideal fourth position as the frontrunning pack began its final run to the tri-oval, Di Mario craftly used the draft to nearly claim the win. He finished in second place again – a mere 0.019 seconds behind the race winner.
The Robem Engineering team will be back in action at the next MotoAmerica Twins Cup round, which is slated to take place April 4-6 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.
Robem Engineering’s technical partners for the 2025 season include Accossato, Aprilia Racing, Blud Lubricants, Bitubo Suspension, Essex Parts, Millennium Technologies, NGK, NTK, Piaggio North America, Sara Chappell Photos, SC Project and Sprint Filters.
From a press release issued by Karns TST Industries
The Daytona 200 weekend was great, mixed with some adversity. All of the Karns TST Industries riders were quick out of the gate. Isaac Woodworth and Levi Badie were solidly in the top 10, after making improvements to the team’s Suzuki GSX-8Rs all weekend. Isaac used the draft to his advantage in both races, nipping Levi at the line, and they are now sitting 6th and 7th in the championship points going into Barber. We have some work to do and a game plan for there.
The Karns Performance/TST Industries pit area at Daytona.
Elisa Gendron-Belen had a great weekend qualifying for the race and making some key moves and passes improving her lap times and finishing position significantly from 26th to 17th.
“I feel we had a very successful first weekend in the new class with some of the best riders in the class. There were definitely some ups and downs. We learned a bunch and are looking forward to Barber,” said Jason Karns, Team principal.
A HUGE thank you goes out to TST Industries, Meck’s Auto Body, Adrenaline Engineering, Andreani USA / Nitron Suspension, NG Brakes, Speigler Brake Lines, Blumanstock Machine, M4 Exhaust, Blud Lubricants, Woodcraft Technologies.
Mission King Of The Baggers and Mission Super Hooligan:
From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:
HARLEY-DAVIDSON® X DYNOJET FACTORY RACER KYLE WYMAN DOMINATES MISSION KING OF THE BAGGERS SEASON OPENER AT DAYTONA
Harley-Davidson Racers Sweep Super Hooligan National Championship Podiums Aboard Pan America STs
Kyle Wyman (right) won Mission King Of The Baggers Race One with Bradley Smith (left) finishing second. Brian J, Nelson photo.
Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team rider Kyle Wyman scored a perfect weekend of racing in the opening round of the 2025 Mission King of the Baggers road racing series at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Fla. Wyman rode a race-prepared Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® motorcycle to a new track lap record to top qualifying, won the Mission King of the Baggers Challenge sprint race, and won both Mission King of the Baggers feature races on Friday and Saturday. Wyman has won five consecutive Mission King of the Baggers races at Daytona dating back to 2023 and Saturday’s win gave him 20 total victories in the class. Wyman’s Road Glide carried the all-new team livery which debuted at Daytona earlier in the week with the all-new 2025 CVO™ Road Glide® RR.
“I love racing here at Daytona and there’s no better place to be than victory lane,” said Wyman after Saturday’s win. “It was such a game out there today. The Harley-Davidson Dynojet team put a really fast Road Glide under me and I had the power it took to win twice.”
Harley-Davidson® Pan America® 1250 ST riders took all six podium spots in the two opening races of the 2025 Mission Super Hooligan National Championship Presented By Roland Sands Designs and Powered by Harley-Davidson. Saddlemen Racing Performance riders Cory West, and Jake Lewis each scored a narrow race win, with their Saddlemen teammate Travis Wyman finishing second in both races by a combined total of .081-seconds. KWR rider James Rispoli finished third in race one.
Kyle Wyman Dominates
Wyman led all Mission King of the Baggers qualifiers with a new lap record time of 1:49.383 around the 3.56-mile, 12-turn Daytona International Speedway road course. In first action with the Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team, former MotoGP rider Bradley Smith qualified fourth, while teammate James Rispoli qualified fifth. Wyman won the two-lap Mission King of the Baggers Challenge race on Saturday, ahead of second-place Rispoli by 0.238 seconds.
Wyman led the 13-bike field at the start of the first eight-lap Mission King of the Baggers race on Friday. In the first turn, Rispoli and S&S/Indian Motorcycle rider Loris Baz touched wheels and both riders went off the course and did not return to the race. Wyman turned a blistering opening lap at 1:49.672 to open a gap on S&S/Indian Motorcycle rider Troy Herfoss and Smith. Herfoss left the track on lap 4 and was able to continue. Wyman crossed the finish line 2.602 seconds clear of second-place Smith. Cam Petersen was third on the SDI Racing Indian.
On Saturday, Wyman, Herfoss, Rispoli, and Baz paced the field at the start of the race, with Wyman and Herfoss trading the lead multiple times. Rispoli ran off track in the infield portion of the track on lap 5 and was unable to continue. Wyman and Herfoss raced wheel-to-wheel in the closing three laps. Wyman took the lead on the final lap as the riders entered the high-bank oval portion of the track and then used a great drive out of the backstraight chicane to open a gap on Herfoss with Wyman and his Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® crossing the finish line 0.056 seconds ahead of Herfoss. Baz finished third, 0.884 seconds behind Wyman.
After 2 of 14 rounds in the 2024 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers series, Wyman leads in series points with 50, followed by Herfoss with 28 points, Smith with 26, S&S/Indian rider Tyler O’Hara with 23, TAB Performance Indian rider Kyle Ohnsorg with 22, RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Rocco Landers with 20, and Saddlemen Racing Performance rider Jake Lewis with 19 points.
The Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team returns to action May 2-4 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.
The Mission King of the Baggers series features race-prepared American V-Twin touring motorcycles competing in 14 races over seven doubleheader weekends held in conjunction with the MotoAmerica Superbike series. Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team Road Glide® motorcycles are powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engines. The team bikes also feature upgraded suspension components, including Screamin’ Eagle/Öhlins Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks, plus competition exhaust, race tires and lightweight bodywork.
The Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team is sponsored by Rockford Fosgate®, Mission® Foods, Brembo®, Öhlins®, Akrapovič, SYN3® lubricants, and Screamin’ Eagle® Performance Parts and Accessories.
MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers Race Results – Daytona Race 1
1. Kyle Wyman (H-D) Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team
2. Bradley Smith (H-D) Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team
10.Bradley Smith (H-D) Harley-Davidson® x Dynojet Factory Race Team
Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson Riders Dominate Mission Super Hooligan Opener
Saddlemen Racing Performance riders Cory West and Jake Lewis won the opening rounds of the 2025 Mission Super Hooligan Championship aboard race-prepared Harley-Davidson® Pan America® 1250 ST motorcycles. West, the defending series champion, was the top qualifier for the double-header session with a time of 1:51.032 around the Daytona road course. On Friday, West opened his championship defense by leading all six race laps and holding off a last-lap charge by his Saddlemen Racing Performance teammate Travis Wyman to take the win by 0.042 seconds. James Risopli was third aboard the KWR Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 ST. The Saturday race was a classic Daytona drafting duel, with six riders exiting the backstretch chicane in a pack and charging elbow-to-elbow at 170+ mph for the finish. Lewis moved from sixth place to the lead, drafting past West, KWR Harley-Davidson riders Cody Wyman and, Rispoli, and Yamaha rider Dominic Doyle to catch Travis Wyman at the finish line and win by 0.039 seconds. West finished third, 0.286 second back, to complete a Saddlemen Racing Performance/Harley-Davidson lock on the podium.
After two of 10 races in the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship Presented By Roland Sands Designs and Powered by Harley-Davidson®, West leads with 41 points, followed by Travis Wyman with 40 points, Lewis with 32 points, Rispoli with 27 points and Cody Wyman with 26 points. The Mission Super Hooligan championship resumes May 2-4 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.
2. Travis Wyman (H-D) Saddlemen Racing Performance
3. Cory West (H-D) Saddlemen Racing Performance
4. Cody Wyman (H-D) KWR Harley-Davidson
5. James Rispoli (H-D) KWR Harley-Davidson
6. Dominic Doyle (Yam) Giaccmoto Yamaha Racing
7. Corey Alexander (Arc) ARCH Racing
8. Hayden Schultz (H-D) KWR Harley-Davidson
9. Andy DiBrino (Tri) Competition Werkes Racing
10. Hawk Mazzotta (Yam) Strack Racing
About Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get Harley-Davidson riders on the road. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com.
Seen in Sound of Thunder 2 during the 2024 Barber Vintage Festival are Paul Canale (9R), Conner Dylan (198), Maxon McLaughlin (713), Eric Burrell (6E), John Waverka (647), Nicolas de Sena (806), Brian Lowe (73), Landen Smith (786), Jim Barker (59), Shawn Velsz (901), and Peter Nicolosi (447). Photo by Etechphoto.com
AHRMA Brings Pro Challenge to Barber Vintage Festival
Pro racers will once again add to the sights, sounds, and smells of the Barber Vintage Festival.
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is hosting the fourth annual Pro Challenge set for October 4, 2025, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. This event will occur during the 20th Annual Barber Vintage Festival as part of the 2025 AHRMA Roadracing Series presented by Motobilia.
The Pro Challenge will showcase a diverse lineup of today’s most dynamic racing motorcycles, piloted by pro racers and eligible AHRMA competitors. A cash purse, to be revealed soon, will also be part of the excitement.
“We are excited to feature one of AHRMA’s most popular modern race classes for the 2025 AHRMA Pro Challenge at the legendary Barber Vintage Festival. Last year, Sound of Thunder 2 had over 120 unique individual racers participate, with more than 400 race entries across the season.” said Leasha Overturf, AHRMA’s Road Race Director. “AHRMA’s unique class structure brings out a wide mix of machines from Ducati, Triumph, BMW, Aprilia, Kramer and others. I look forward to welcoming everyone running in the SOT2 Pro Challenge this year!”
To be eligible, a Pro Challenge racer must meet the following criteria:
Be a licensed AHRMA member/competitor.
2. Be in compliance with the AHRMA Barber Racer Eligibility Requirements (found at ahrma.org/schedules-results).
3. Take part in the Friday practice (Thursday optional).
4. Take part in a 20-minute timed qualifying session on Friday afternoon.
5. Be registered in the “Pro Challenge” race on Saturday.
6. Be capable of racing at a competitive pace within the Pro Challenge race (based on lap times during the Friday qualifying session).
Eligible machines include liquid-cooled twins to 900cc; unlimited air-cooled twins; triples up to 765cc; and two-strokes to 250cc. Please see the AHRMA Handbook for full details regarding the Sound of Thunder 2 class at ahrma.org/ahrma-handbook/
Select FIM professional licensed road racers may obtain a special waiver from AHRMA for the competition. Waivers must be submitted through the online AHRMA Barber Road Race Waiver Request Form no later than September 19th at 12pm CDT. https://www.ahrma.org/barber-vintage-festival-waiver-request-form/
In addition to FIM professional licensed road racers, any AHRMA member pre-qualified to race at the 2025 Barber event with AHRMA may register for the Pro Challenge but must participate in qualifying and meet the qualifying criteria.
The opening of race registration will be announced at a future date.
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage machines along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
Josh Herrin and his family celebrate his 4th Daytona 200 win with fans and his team, Celtic/Economy Lube & Tire by Warhorse HSBK Ducati. Ducati photo.
Josh Herrin makes history with an incredible fourth Daytona 200 victory on the Panigale V2
Josh Herrin etched his and Ducati’s name in the history books by securing his fourth Daytona 200 victory and third consecutive win for Ducati, marking the first time in the race’s history that a rider and manufacturer have achieved this feat.
The 2025 Daytona 200 was disrupted by two red flags: one for rain just before the halfway point and another for a crash during the restart. However, regardless of the challenges faced by the red number 2 Ducati, Herrin rose to the occasion.
Herrin’s blistering speed through the infield remained a cornerstone of his attack as he consistently gapped his opponents before the first banking. At that point, the Celtic/Economy Lube & Tire by Warhorse HSBK Ducati Panigale V2 took over to keep him at the front of the pack.
The last quarter of the race saw Herrin at his best performance by setting a phenomenal new lap record of 1:47.879 on lap 51. He leveraged his experience to maneuver around lapped riders, breaking free from any potential slipstream created by the pursuing riders and securing a controlled 5.33-second victory over Escalante and Scott.
The 2025 victory puts Herrin tied for third with Danny Eslick on the all-time Daytona 200 win list with four triumphs, with only AMA legends Miguel Duhamel and Scott Russell ahead on five wins each.
2025 Daytona 200 Results
1. Josh Herrin (Ducati)
2. Richie Escalante +5.330
3. Tyler Scott +5.338
4. Peter Hickman +35.963
5. Brandon Paasch +44.906
Josh Herrin makes history with an incredible fourth Daytona 200 victory on the Panigale V2
“Man, what a crazy weekend,” Herrin said with enthusiasm. “It’s my fourth win and third with Ducati; it doesn’t get much better than this. I see this as the biggest race in the United States and one of the largest in the world. Being the only person to win three in a row and rank in the top four of all-time wins is incredibly special.
“It’s a very difficult race to win once, let alone four times, and we’ve had some problems here in the past so it shows you need a bit of luck on your side. The bike felt incredible all weekend and I have an amazing crew behind me, so I really need to thank the whole Warhorse HSBK racing Ducati team, Brew Watch Co., Economy Lube and Tire, Ducati USA, and Ducati in Italy. I am so happy to be on the Panigale V2, and hopefully, we’ll see a surge in 2025 Panigale V2 sales!”
More, From Suzuki Motor USA:
SUZUKI TAKES ON DAYTONA AS ESCALANTE, SCOTT, AND CHAPIN SHINE
Suzuki Enjoys Strong Season Opener with Pole Position, Podium Finishes, and Twins Cup Sweep
Suzuki Motor USA kicked off the 2025 MotoAmerica season in outstanding fashion, with the Suzuki GSX-R750 claiming pole position and two podium positions in the 83rd Daytona 200 and the Suzuki GSX-8R sweeping both Twins Cup victories.
Richie Escalante achieved a hard-fought second-place finish in the legendary Daytona 200. Photo by Brian J. Nelson/Suzuki
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Superbike regular Richie Escalante capped off a near-flawless weekend for the team by earning second-place in the iconic Daytona 200 aboard the team’s next-generation Suzuki GSX-R750 Supersport machine. Escalante was in the mix, at or near the front throughout despite a rain delay and second red flag stoppage due to a crash. The Mexican born racer was calm and fast, aided by his team’s pit stop acumen that earlier won the squad the Pitstop Challenge victory. He ultimately edged teammate Tyler Scott for the runner-up position by a scant 0.08-second margin at the checkered flag.
“Honestly, it was a difficult weekend for us,” Escalante admitted. “I didn’t have the best feeling during the weekend, especially during the Time Attack. I wasn’t confident this morning, so I said, ‘Okay, let’s go back to the setting from last year.’ And I was very strong in the race. I felt really good, and we battled with so many different riders.
“I’m happy to finish on the podium. Of course, I want to win, but that’s not always possible. I’m super happy. Big thanks to my entire Team Hammer Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki crew.”
Tyler Scott delivered another strong performance in the Daytona 200, battling at the front. Photo by Brian J. Nelson/Suzuki
Scott finished on the podium after earlier taking the Suzuki GSX-R750 to pole for the second consecutive season. He led at the start and at several other points along the way before crossing the stripe side-by-side with his teammate in third.
He said, “It was a difficult day for sure with the rain and everything, but the whole Vision Wheel M4 Suzuki team put in so much effort from the end of last season to today. A lot of hard work, so much training, and a lot of testing. The bike we have here today is a way better motorcycle than we had last year, and I’m more fit than last year.
“Overall, it was a very good race. The pit stops were perfect. I can’t give enough thanks to all my guys. I’m really excited because the bike feels amazing going into the first round of the MotoAmerica Supersport championship.”
Making an electrifying Twins Cup debut, Matthew Chapin claimed to back-to-back victories aboard the Suzuki GSX-8R. Photo by Brian J. Nelson/Suzuki
Reigning Junior Cup champion Matthew Chapin scored a pair of dramatic Twins Cup victories in his first race outing aboard the RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki GSX-8R. Chapin came out on top of a four-rider scrap to win on Friday by a narrow .087-second margin and then upped the stakes with a five-rider, 0.019-second triumph on Saturday.
Chapin said, “I think my whole plan was just to be patient until the last lap let those guys fight it out at the front. I didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks; I knew I had the bike underneath me to do it. So I just used the draft at the end and got it done.
“Huge thanks to everyone at RevZilla, Motul, and Vance & Hines for believing in me.”
About Team Hammer
The 2025 season marks Team Hammer’s 45th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 134 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 375 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol and won four F-USA Championships.
About Vision Wheel
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
About Suzuki
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
Mitch Rees (Team Rees Honda CBR1000), has dominated the premier class at all three rounds thus far in the 2025 New Zealand Superbike Championships, winning convincingly in Invercargill, Timaru and now Hampton Downs. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
HONDA SUPERBIKE FAMILY AFFAIR CONTINUES AT PACE
MARCH 9, 2025: Is there no stopping the Bay of Plenty-based Honda Team Rees juggernaut in this season’s New Zealand Superbike Championships?
When the third round of four in the annual motorcycle road-racing series wrapped up at the Hampton Downs circuit, just north of Hamilton, on Sunday afternoon, it was again 32-year-old Mitch Rees unbeaten and on the top step of the podium in the premier 1000cc Superbike class, with his 57-year-old father Tony Rees climbing up to join him, on the second step. Christchurch’s Alastair Hoogenboezem was forced to settle for the third podium spot on Sunday.
In terms of the series points, however, it is Mitch Rees comfortably in front, a massive 68 points ahead of Hoogenboezem, with Tony Rees in third overall, now just one point further adrift.
Every post was a winning one for Mitch Rees at the weekend, the man from Whakatane qualifying his Honda CBR1000 on pole – that achievement also worth one additional competition point – before he then went out and turned that incredible pace into a hat-trick of wins, the two-time former New Zealand champion also setting a new Hampton Downs lap record in the process.
Not unsurprisingly, Mitch Rees also claimed the Tourist Trophy (TT) title, an additional prize bestowed upon the various winners of the third and final race in each class at Hampton Downs.
In total, Mitch Rees has now won eight races from nine starts in this series and his only “failure” was his finishing runner-up to Christchurch’s Dale Finch in one of his three races at round two at Timaru last month.
Evergreen multi-time former New Zealand champion Tony Rees said he was thrilled to be able to again join his son on the podium and, depending on what transpires at the fourth and final round at Taupo next weekend, the championships may well end up a 1-2 finish for the family.
“It was a perfect weekend I suppose you could say,” said Mitch Rees afterwards. “I have a good points buffer now and can possibly wrap up the title with a solid result in the first of my three races at Taupo’s finale next weekend.
“I actually had an issue to deal with regarding the bike in race one at Hampton Downs. It had rained midway through the day, and so we changed tyres after practice. Somehow the wheel rim got a dent in it, and this affected the bike’s handling in race one. I managed to ride around the problem.
“Dad did magnificently to finish where he did at Hampton Downs too, especially considering he wasn’t feeling 100 percent. He just has so much experience that racing is second nature to him.
“It’s going to be a busy weekend at Taupo next week and the aim now is to make it a Rees family 1-2 for the championship. I like the Taupo track and hold the lap record there, so that’s a positive omen.”
Meanwhile, other national championship class and TT title winners at Hampton Downs at the weekend included Christchurch man Jake Lewis (Supersport 600 class and TT title); Auckland’s Cameron Leslie (Supersport 300 class and TT title); Taupiri’s Billee Fuller (Pro Twins 650 class and TT title); Hokitika’s Luke Ryder (Super Twins and TT title); Silverdale’s Tyler King (Superlites class); Taupo’s Karl Hooper (Superlites class TT title); Lower Hutt’s Nixon Frost (Supersport 150 class); Christchurch’s Hunter Charlett (Supersport 150 class TT title), Gisborne’s Phillip Law with Angus Ravenwood (sidecars class); Palmerston North’s Barry Smith with Auckland’s Stu Dawe (sidecars class TT title).
The series wraps up with round four at Taupo next weekend, on March 15-16.
DATES FOR 2025 NZ SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIPS SEASON:
Round 1, Feb 7-9, 2025, Teretonga Park, Invercargill (part of Burt Munro Challenge week);
Round 2, Feb 14-15 (Friday and Saturday), 2025, Levels International Motor Raceway, Timaru;
Round 3, March 8-9, 2025, Hampton Downs (MotoFest);
450SX Class podium (riders left to right) Justin Cooper, Cooper Webb, and Chase Sexton.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb led all 25 laps of Round 9 of the Monster Energy Supercross series for his third win in the last four races and his sixth consecutive podium, all of which have been second or better. Webb built a solid lead in the first 12 laps and extended his advantage in the second half of the race after Chase Sexton tipped over in the sand while running second. Webb ultimately ended the race with an eight-second lead over teammate Justin Cooper.
The Indianapolis fans showed up once again for Supercross’ 18th visit to Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis Colts Cornerback and Captain, Kenny Moore II, acted as the Grand Marshal for the race.
First place 450SX Class, Cooper Webb
“I was pissed off. I made a lot of mistakes today. Man, that was an awesome main event for me, probably one of the easier ones of my career. Got a good lead and could ride the pace. Obviously when Chase went down it really opened up the cushion. … I executed my start, rode great laps in the beginning and then put it on cruise control and (had a) drama-free race.” – Cooper Webb
Second place 450SX Class, Justin Cooper
“I’ve been fighting demons. I’ve been top-five the last four weekends, three of them being fourths, so it’s been tough to go home, regroup and go after that podium again. I’ve been sticking to it, trusting the process and really been riding good each weekend, consistent. … It’s cool for the team. One-two is big. This has been long overdue for me and I feel like I’ve been fighting for this for a while now.” – Justin Cooper
Third place 450SX Class, Chase Sexton
“I had a good flow going for the first half of the race and when I hit that red cross flag (for Joey Savatgy’s crash) I started losing my flow and ended up going down. Tough track. Battled back toward the end. I had Justin (Barcia) close behind me, so I just tried to get on the podium, build a little bit of momentum going into this break. (I need to) get some rest, try and regroup and come out swinging for the last eight.” — Chase Sexton
250SX
The 250 division featured the first of three East / West Showdowns in the 2025 season. Seth Hammaker earned the holeshot and led every lap to become the eighth winner in nine rounds of 250 competition. This was the second career victory of his career. Hammaker had pressure from fellow East Coast contender Tom Vialle in the closing laps but kept his composure to stretch his advantage to five seconds at the checkers. Haiden Deegan survived a trip through the safety netting to round out the podium.
First place 250SX Class, Seth Hammaker
“Man, what an unreal feeling. My second win of my career and it’s been a while since I stood on the top of the podium, so that feels amazing. Got myself off to an excellent start. Tried to sprint away those first couple of laps. … When you’re out there in the lead and (have) a little bit of a gap, it was a little challenging to stay focused but I’m proud of myself, proud of the team, the group of people I have around me, my whole family.” – Seth Hammaker
Second place 250SX Class, Tom Vialle
“Slowly getting back in the rhythm and I felt great tonight. Like Daytona, I was again close to victory but Seth rode amazing. I’m pretty happy with second-place. The track was pretty tricky tonight, pretty easy to make a mistake.” – Tom Vialle
Third place 250SX Class, Haiden Deegan
“I was upset. Obviously I wanted the win. … I ended up airing out that quad, or whatever you call it, and I ended up busting up something in my engine when I landed super hard so those last few laps, I tried to be smart and ride it in. My gears were clanging a little bit. No excuses. Those boys rode great: Tom and Seth were better guys tonight.” – Haiden Deegan
The Indianapolis round also acted as the annual Love Moto Stop Cancer race, which kicks off a yearly auction that raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Love Moto Stop Cancer partnership between Supercross and St. Jude is in its ninth year. The Supercross fans and racing community have raised over 2 million dollars for the organization that fights childhood cancer and keeps families together during treatment. The teams and racers increase their support at the special round each year with bike graphics and gear designs inspired by and incorporating art from the young patients at St. Jude. The custom items, along with special items kindly donated by series’ partners will be available for auction starting on Monday, April 28. The auction will run through the final round in Salt Lake City, ending on Monday, May 13. For more information, please visit our St. Jude page on the SupercrossLIVE.com website at (https://www.supercrosslive.com/st-jude/). In the meantime, fans can also get involved in the racing community efforts by donating, just text SUPER to 785-833 to become a partner in hope with the Love Moto Stop Cancer text-to-donate campaign, or SUZUKI to 99126 for a chance to win Ken Roczen’s 2025 RM-Z Suzuki 450. St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats, and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Our mission is clear: Finding Cures. Saving Children.
The Indianapolis Supercross pays points toward both the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season as well as toward the SMX World Championship post-season, which seeds racers from Supercross and the AMA Pro Motocross championships into two Playoffs and the SMX World ChampionshipTM.
For fans awaiting the Supercross season to come to their city, live and on-demand viewing is available on Peacock. Select events are also broadcast or streamed on NBC, CNBC, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital platforms. Telemundo Deportes’ Facebook and YouTube channels provide Spanish-language coverage in the US, while live international coverage can be accessed through the SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv) with English, Spanish and French language broadcasts. Each round can also be heard live on NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85.
The series takes one week off before heading to Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama for the second trip to the market on March 22nd, 2025. The first gate drops at 7:00 p.m. ET next Saturday. The Birmingham Supercross round will feature the second Triple Crown format race of the season with a 450 race and the 250 East riders.For more information, race results, live timing, video highlights, and ticket sales to attend an event please visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
Riding an Aprilia RS457 at Streets of Willow wearing the new Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma. Photo by Geoffrey McCarthy/courtesy Alpinestars.
Knee-down on the electric LiveWire S2 Alpinista. Action photos by Geoffrey McCarthy/courtesy Alpinestars.
It’s like Alpinestars engineers sat down with a list of objections to wearing airbags and eliminated or minimized every one of them with the new Tech-Air 5 Plasma inflatable protection vest.
No more changing body armor based on the type of ride. The new system, which protects the back, chest and collarbones, features three different ride modes. Alpinestars incorporated triggering algorithms from its enduro-capable system into the Plasma, making the system capable of handling adventure riding. This is added to the street and track modes available on the earlier Tech-Air 5 system.
No more downloading an app onto your smartphone to change riding modes. Track, street or off-road modes are selected with a push of a button on a small panel on the lower right side of the vest. Hold the button down and toggle through the riding modes. The display panel also indicates battery charge level and system status and provides an easily accessible Type C USB charging port.
No more struggling to get a racing suit on over the vest. The computer, gyroscope, accelerometer and single gas canister now sit in a slimmer compartment, which is barely thicker than a quality passive back protector. The single-canister configuration helps reduce the weight by 25%, to 3.373 pounds. And a zip-up fabric cover makes it even easier to slip into and out of leathers or jackets while wearing the vest.
Front and back view of the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma vest, showing control panel, new coverage configuration for the front bladders, and high-airflow panels. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
No more sending the vest back for constant repacking. The Tech-Air 5 is fully serviceable by the user, and it takes about 30 seconds to replace a depleted canister. Replacement canisters cost $119.95, and the bladder system is good for six deployments before it has to go back to a service center. If the rider is unsure if the bladder has been compromised, a test valve allows the owner to inflate the bladder and check for leaks.
No more worrying about battery life. Out of the box, the system gets charged overnight. After that, four hours of charging provides 30 hours of riding functionality. And even if the system completely fails, the Plasma back protector incorporated into the unit meets CE Level One impact absorption standards.
Single canister can be replaced by the user. Bladders are good for six discharges before service. Orange material is viscoelastic thermoplastic composite and serves as a Level One impact absorption back protector. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
And … more breathability. The system has been designed with a chest/shoulder protector that looks like an “H,” covering the ribs but allowing air to flow over most of the chest and abdomen. More high-airflow panels are incorporated into the arms, the abdomen, the neck and the back.
The level of impact attenuation remains the same as before – in simple terms, the deployed airbag absorbs the same amount of force as nine stacked-up Level Two back protectors or 18 stacked-up Level One protectors. And all of this for the same price, $789.95, as the prior model.
Riding With The Tech-Air 5
Alpinestars brought journalists out to the Antelope Valley in Southern California to sample the new system. We did a brief off-road ride, approximately 100 miles on the street and an afternoon on the Streets of Willow course at Willow Springs International Raceway.
Put it on like any other vest, zip it shut, hit the button to turn it on. Check to see that it’s got charge and that it’s in the right ride mode. Zip up your jacket. That’s it. Couldn’t be more simple. It is just a little thicker than the passive chest/back protector I normally wear under racing leathers, and I’m still breaking in my newest suit, so it rode up a bit when I pulled the leathers on. But I reached around behind my neck, pushed it back down, zipped up my leathers and that was the last time I thought about the vest.
Track riding on any sunny day in the high deserts of SoCal gets hot, and the increased ventilation definitely paid off. The Tech-Air 10 full race unit has an FIM-mandated single bladder across the entire chest, and I definitely felt it blocking the air flow. The Tech-Air 5 feels lighter, cooler, and I didn’t find it restrictive in any way.
The technology of airbag systems continues to mature, and the Tech-Air 5 incorporates the advances in the art of inflatable armor. It addresses many of the concerns that have prevented or discouraged riders from using airbags. It is hard to beat the protection offered by an inflatable system, and Alpinestars has just lowered the barriers for using one.
Progressive American Flat Track Announces 2025 Broadcast Schedule
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. –Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, has unveiled the FOX Sports broadcast schedule for its upcoming 2025 season.
The series first joined forces with FOX Sports in a blockbuster deal ahead of the 2021 season, and the collaboration has resulted in years of record-breaking ratings for the series ever since. Last season saw Progressive AFT rack up a combined total viewership of greater than 3.6 million across all platforms.
FOX Sports’ televised broadcasts played an integral role in that success, which included the highest AFT single-race rating to date on FS1. Additionally, Progressive American Flat Track race broadcasts were featured in more than 100 linear television hours across FOX, FS1, and FS2.
This season, the successful formula of presenting each Progressive AFT round in a one-hour FS1 premiere telecast will continue. In most cases, these broadcasts will air the weekend following the event. Additionally, the series’ telecasts will maintain prime weekend time slots, often serving as a lead-in or follow-up to the network’s powerhouse motorsports programming. Looking ahead, Progressive AFT and FOX Sports continue to explore opportunities to further elevate the sport’s visibility, including the potential for additional broadcast window announcements in the future.
2025 Television Schedule for Progressive AFT (all premieres on FS1):
Saturday, March 15 – Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I – 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT)
Sunday, March 16 – Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II – 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT)
Sunday, April 6 – Senoia Short Track – 9:00 a.m. ET (6:00 a.m. PT)
Sunday, May 4 – Ventura Short Track – 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT)
Sunday, May 11 – Silver Dollar Short Track – 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT)
Sunday, June 15 – Short Track at Lucas Oil Speedway – 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT)
Saturday, July 5 – Lima Half-Mile I – 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. PT)
Saturday, July 12 – Lima Half-Mile II – 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)
Sunday, July 13 – DuQuoin Mile – 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT)
Saturday, August 16 – Jackpine Gypsies ST I – 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)
Sunday, August 17 – Jackpine Gypsies ST II – 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT)
Sunday, August 24 – Sturgis TT – 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT)
Sunday, August 30 – Peoria TT – 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)
Saturday, September 6 – Springfield Mile I – 8:00 a.m. ET (5:00 a.m. PT)
Saturday, September 13 – Springfield Mile II – 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)
Saturday, September 20 – Lake Ozark Short Track – 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)
The 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season launched with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7.
How to Watch:
FOX Sports and FloRacing are home to Progressive American Flat Track programming. For the 2025 season, all races will premiere in one-hour telecasts on FS1 during highly desirable weekend time slots. The complete schedule can be viewed at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. FloRacingprovides livestreaming coverage of every Progressive AFT round at https://flosports.link/aft.
Josh Herrin won his fourth Daytona 200 and his third in a row on the strength of his speed in the infield. Time after time during the event, Herrin on the Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse HSBK Ducati Panigale V2 would light up the timing screen with a red Sector One, setting the fastest time and building a gap back to the chasing pack. Herrin’s top measured speed of 176.0 mph through the speed traps was slower than the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750s of Richie Escalante and Tyler Scott, who were clocked at 181.4 mph and 179.4 mph. Several of the Triumph 765s in the field were measured at 181 mph or faster, with the TOBC machine of Danny Eslick fastest at 182.6 mph.
Herrin was sanguine about his team losing the Pit Stop Challenge the day prior to the 200. “Three years ago, we won it and ran out of fuel in the race,” Herrin said. “The last two years, we got disqualified and won. I’m hoping it keeps going that way.”
Harry Truelove (115) and Matt Truelove (123). Photo by Michael Gougis.
The Truelove brothers Matt and Harry came from the U.K. and finished seventh and eighth on their Truelove Brothers Racing Suzuki GSX-R750s.
Loris Baz (78) leads Rocco Landers (97). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Kyle Wyman on the Harley-Davidson/Dynojet factory Road Glide won his fifth straight win at Daytona, and said afterward that he was trying to manage his tires and rely on his experience at the unique circuit. “It’s how you get around the banking, how you place yourself, how you use the banking to your advantage to get a better run when the track flattens out,” Wyman said after winning the second Mission King of The Baggers race. “There’s a lot of things that I’ve learned over the course of 16 years coming here. It’s definitely my element.” On the other end of the experience spectrum, Baggers newcomer Loris Baz, who collided with James Rispoli and crashed out in the first race on Friday, finished third on the S&S Indian Challenger, 0.884 seconds back.
Matthew Chapin (95). Photo by Michael Gougis.
The Mission Super Hooligan and the SC-Project Twins Cup races on Saturday ended with dramatic drafting battles. Jake Lewis came from sixth leaving the final chicane to snatch the Hooligan victory on his Saddlemen Race Development Harley-Davidson Pan America ST. Three riders on naked bikes and tubular handlebars ran side-by-side in front of him, blasting a huge hole in the air, and his top speed on the final lap was more than eight miles an hour faster than anyone else in the pack of six fighting for the win. Matthew Chapin sat patiently and struck at exactly the right time to seize his second SC-Project Twins Cup win of the event. “I let those guys fight it out at the front. I didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks. I knew I had the bike,” Chapin said.
Jake Lewis (85). Photo by Michael Gougis.
The cool kids hung out at the Mobil station on Peninsula Drive and Main Street during the evenings at Bike Week. The customized cruiser de jour featured massively oversized front wheels, swoopy luggage at the rear that grazed the pavement and stereo systems that put out a decent amount of horsepower all on their own.
Customized big twin on Main Street. Photo by Michael Gougis.Mobil station at Peninsula Drive and Main Street. Photo by Michael Gougis.
(Part Of BMW North America’s 50th Anniversary History Series, from a press release issued by BMW North America)
BMW NA 50th Anniversary | 50 Stories for 50 Years Chapter 9: “A New Chapter for BMW Motorrad: BMW NA takes over from Butler & Smith”
Shortly after taking over U.S. sales of BMW automobiles from independent distributor Max Hoffman in 1975, BMW of North America initiated the process to do the same for the motorcycle side of the business.
BMW had been exporting motorcycles to the U.S. since 1950, less than two years after production had resumed in Munich following the destruction of World War II. At first, bikes were ordered directly by dealers whose relationship with BMW predated the war, like Oscar Liebmann, whose New Jersey-based AMOL Precision became the first official BMW motorcycle dealer in the U.S. in 1950. By the end of that year, however, the right to distribute BMW’s motorcycles in this market was assigned to the V. (for Victor) Harasty organization.
Four years later, that privilege was transferred to the Butler & Smith Trading Company. (Contrary to assumptions, the name of the firm referred not to its founders but to the intersection in Brooklyn where the company was located. Butler & Smith first imported NSU motorcycles from Germany, then Lambretta scooters from Italy.)
On February 19, 1954, Butler & Smith president Alfred Bondy wrote a letter to inform NSU and BMW motorcycle dealers that Butler & Smith was BMW’s official U.S. importer. Bondy expressed his desire that BMW dealers should continue with the new distributor, which would “combine Germany’s two most prominent brands which are world renowned for their workmanship and performance.” Bondy also stated that “The first BMW motorcycles will arrive in a few days. A large quantity of BMW parts is on order from the factory, and we hope that our reputation for fast and complete NSU parts service will soon apply to our BMW parts service.”
Initially, Butler & Smith would handle operations on the East Coast, with West Coast distribution delegated to the Flanders Company of Pasadena, California. In 1969, Butler & Smith took over distribution for the entire U.S., and in May 1970 established a new headquarters and import center in Norwood, New Jersey.
Even prior to that move, Butler & Smith had ensured that BMW built motorcycles suited to the needs and tastes of U.S. riders, most of whom used bikes like the R 50 and R 69 for long-distance touring. Their suitability for that purpose had been firmly established in 1958, when Ohio dealer John Penton rode his 600cc R 69 from New York to Los Angeles in 52 hours, 11 minutes, setting a new record and gaining great publicity for the reliability of BMW motorcycles. (Penton was an accomplished off-road rider, and he’d ride a factory-backed R 27 single in the 1962 International Six Days Trial, winning a silver medal despite a few bad crashes.) Thanks to Butler & Smith, BMW motorcycles could be ordered in the U.S. with options like dual seats, higher handlebars, and accessories like saddlebags, fairings, and the side stands preferred by Americans over the standard center stand. Later, Butler & Smith would offer aftermarket equipment including Krauser luggage, Luftmeister fairings, and Continental or Metzeler tires.
BMW built sporty models as well as touring bikes, of course, and Butler & Smith went racing to promote them. The firm became especially active on the racetrack following the move to New Jersey, which likely coincided with the ascension of Dr. Peter Adams to the leadership of the Butler & Smith firm. Adams was the son of Butler & Smith owner Irwin Adams, who may have founded or purchased it with Bondy in 1949 but who had in any case become its sole owner by 1970.
Adams formed a technologically sophisticated race team led by Udo Gietl and Todd Schuster, both of whom were innovative fabricators and technicians. The team got off to a fine start in 1971, campaigning a thoroughly exotic 750cc machine in the American Motorcycle Association’s Formula 750 class with riders Reg Pridmore and Gary Fisher. Five years later, the Butler & Smith team switched to the R 90 S, and its extensively modified bikes finished 1-2 in the very first AMA Superbike championship, with Reg Pridmore taking the crown over teammate Steve McLaughlin.
The elation of that championship would be short-lived, at least where Butler & Smith was concerned. Having taken over U.S. automobile sales and distribution from Max Hoffman in March 1975, BMW of North America was looking to do the same for its motorcycles. Dr. Adams resisted the takeover, and in 1978 filed suit to retain his distributorship. BMW of North America prevailed in September 1980, and that October saw the company take possession of the Butler & Smith operation at Walnut and Hudson streets in Norwood, New Jersey.
The new division was led by vice-president Jean-Pierre Bailby, who’d come to North America from BMW France. Joseph Salluzzo served as national sales manager, with Rolf Kettler as marketing manager. Below them, many of the motorcycle division’s employees were retained from Butler & Smith, at least temporarily.
“At that point, all of the employees in sales, parts, and service were Butler & Smith employees, wondering what happens next,” said Rob Mitchell. “Eventually, people from BMW NA started filling some positions. I came about six months later to head up advertising and promotion, taking over from Rolf Kettler, who’d been sent over temporarily from Germany. I’d been in sales training, and I got hired because I was the only person at NA who rode motorcycles. It was a real trial-by-fire.”
Mitchell worked out of an office in Norwood for the next two years, until the motorcycle division moved to BMW of North America’s headquarters in Montvale. In the interim, BMW NA began modernizing operations for sales and distribution, financing, and technical training. Imposing new standards allowed BMW to cut the number of U.S. dealers by half, from around 300 to 150. “Like Hoffman, Butler & Smith would sign you up as a dealer if you purchased $500 worth of parts and a [BMW] sign,” Mitchell said. “I visited one dealer in upstate New York that was in an extension of his house, and which had a dirt floor in the workshop. Once BMW NA put certain operating requirements for corporate signage, inventory, facilities, and technical training—all the normal dealership stuff—dealers like that, who weren’t willing to step up and make the investment, fell away.”
Replacing Butler & Smith with a modern, efficient sales subsidiary yielded tangible benefits, Mitchell said. “Back in the old days, you’d pick up the telephone and order a bike from Butler & Smith. Now you had a modern business culture for ordering bikes and parts, signing up for technical training, all of that. Some dealers were upset that they could no longer continue the way they had before, but those who stayed on found they could offer a lot more to customers. And the customers got way better support, too. It’s much better to go into a dealer and see dozens of new bikes rather than just one, plus accessories and people anxious to help you.”
BMW promoted its staid Opposed Twins by stressing their civility and reliability in an era when new Japanese models made more power and were much quicker. The stated target buyers were referred to in this ad as “cycle enthusiasts who appreciate a smooth, silent bike.” That image would start to change when BMW distributor Butler & Smith went AMA Superbike racing with Reg Pridmore and Steve McLaughlin on extensively modified R 90 S models in 1976 and won the Superbike race at Daytona. BMW photo.
As it had with the cars, BMW of North America was hoping to increase sales of BMW motorcycles in the U.S., and to take advantage of motorcycles’ burgeoning popularity in this country. (That phenomenon was due largely to the Japanese manufacturers, who marketed their lightweight motorcycles to young people as an alternative to cars, and as a “fun” alternative to heavyweight American machines.) Although hard data isn’t available for the years immediately before and after the transition, documents within the BMW Archive record declining export volumes to the U.S. in the mid 1970s: 10,553 units in 1974; 9,256 units in 1975; and 7,539 units in 1976. Presumably, imports declined further as the decade wore on. Mitchell doesn’t know the exact figures, but believes that Butler & Smith was selling perhaps 2,500 motorcycles per year by the time BMW of North America took over sales and distribution in 1980.
In 1985, the earliest year for which BMW NA data is available, the company sold 5,597 motorcycles in the U.S., followed by 6,078 in 1986. That number represented barely one percent of new motorcycles sold in the U.S. per annum, but it was a significant improvement nonetheless.
A 1970s Butler & Smith ad making the case for BMW’s shaft drive vs. the traditional chain drive used by other manufacturers. BMW photo.
A new ad campaign helped. After an agency review, BMW’s motorcycle account was moved to Ammirati & Puris, which had created “The Ultimate Driving Machine” tagline that resonated so strongly with car buyers. For the motorcycles, Ammirati & Puris came up with another memorable slogan, “The Legendary Motorcycles of Germany,” which emphasized the company’s heritage at a time when BMW’s performance was somewhat tepid compared to that of the Japanese and Italian marques. Ammirati & Puris placed ads in the Wall Street Journal and Esquire magazine, hoping to reach upscale customers. This didn’t always work, Mitchell said. “Motorcyclists are grass-roots people, and prestige isn’t the biggest thing. It’s a very different group than the car people.”
More important, Mitchell said, was ensuring that BMW NA maintained a press fleet of new motorcycles, and staged press launches to ensure that new models were reviewed in motorcycle magazines. Those new models would themselves help BMW NA succeed, especially after the R 80 G/S caught on with adventure-touring riders following its 1980 introduction. “What started as an oddity—an 800cc, 400-pound dirt bike—became the most important segment, but it took probably ten years to really take off.”
In late 1983, BMW would enter another crucial segment, supplementing its longstanding boxer twin lineup with all-new K bikes powered by water-cooled three- and four-cylinder engines. “Even longtime boxer owners seemed genuinely excited by the K bikes,” Mitchell said. “There was clearly room for both within BMW.”
A BMW K-Series ad for the K100 1000cc 4-cylinder with the engine running front to back, circa 1983. BMW photo.
Today, BMW Motorrad USA offers a full range of motorcycles, from the entry-level G 310 R and GS to the Superbike-spec M 1000 RR, with all manner of touring, heritage, urban, and adventure bikes in between. A wide variety of engines is available, from singles to inline sixes, plus inline fours, Boxer and parallel twins, and even battery-powered scooters.
BMW Motorrad’s factories in Berlin and elsewhere around the world are busier than ever, turning out 209,257 bikes in 2023. Of those, 24,176 went to customers in Germany and 21,668 to France, while 17,017 were delivered to customers in the U.S., BMW Motorrad’s third-largest motorcycle market worldwide. That number constitutes only a small fraction of the half-million-plus motorcycles sold in the U.S. last year, but volume isn’t everything. BMW riders have long been among the industry’s most enthusiastic riders, especially when it comes to putting serious mileage on their machines. Just like John Penton’s R 69 in 1959, BMW motorcycles continue to carry their riders quickly and reliably from coast to coast…and beyond.
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
July 30, 2025
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
