Video: Army Of Darkness Visits Vanson Leathers

David Swarts

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May 12, 2022

Video: Army Of Darkness Visits Vanson Leathers

Army Of Darkness members Melissa Berkoff and Luci Schelbert go to Vanson Leathers in Fall River, Massachusetts. They’ll learn how Vanson Leathers keep motorcycle riders safe while also getting the opportunity to make handbags using Vanson’s equipment. Part one will take you into the Vanson showrooms, learn about leather quality, and learn about custom suit fabrication.

0:00 Introduction

3:45 Vanson Showrooms

5:00 Leather Quality

9:00 Leather Finishing

10:45 Movie Jackets

11:45 Airbags & Armor

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Subscribe to the print magazine at http://roadracingworld.com

See an archive of other Army Of Darkness articles at http://Armyofdarkness.com

R.I.P. Motorcycle Industry Veteran Tad Dobbs

David Swarts

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May 12, 2022

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R.I.P. Motorcycle Industry Veteran Tad Dobbs

Longtime Motorcycle Industry Insider Tad Dobbs Passes Away

Longtime motorcycle parts and accessories expert Tad Dobbs passed away May 3 in Asheville, N.C., after a battle with cancer. He was 68.

Tad was most notable during the 1980s and 1990s as the head of purchasing for Surefire Distributing and later as a warehouse manager for Parts Unlimited in North Carolina. He had a love for Blues music and spent several years as the harmonica player for the Asheville-based Blues band Cross Eyed Cat.

Northern Talent Cup: Rossi Moor Featured In Le Mans Preview

David Swarts

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May 12, 2022

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Northern Talent Cup: Rossi Moor Featured In Le Mans Preview

The Northern Talent Cup fires up in France

The third season of the NTC is about to begin, with MotoGP™ at Le Mans playing host

Thursday, 12 May 2022

The Northern Talent Cup is geared up and ready to race in 2022, with Round 1 now just around the corner. The season starts on the biggest stage of the year, alongside MotoGP™ at Le Mans, with the class of 2022 suited, booted and ready to race – and Rossi Moor (Fairium Next Generation Riders Team) arriving in the crosshairs.

The Hungarian is the highest finisher who returns to the Cup in 2022, having ended the season third overall last year – with a good number of wins and some very impressive pace in his rookie year. He also took pole at Le Mans last year, and although bad luck and the difficult weather kept him from quite starting the year as he would have wanted, the speed was there. Will it remain so in 2022? He was fast once again in pre-season testing, but did also suffer a big crash, rider ok.

It wasn’t Moor who topped the timesheets in testing though, it was Dustin Schneider (Goblin Racing) top of the pile on both days as the German threw down the gauntlet early in 2022. He also won the race simulation with some impressive pace, so he’ll be wanting to carry that into Round 1. Fellow veterans Tibor Varga (Forty Racing), Valentino Herrlich (Busch und Wagner Racing Team), Loris Veneman (TeamNL Open Line) and Lennoxx Phommara (Team Phommara) also had speed at the Oschersleben test, and will be wanting to open their 2022 podium accounts first time out. Kevin Farkas (Agria Racing Team) could be a threat too; already a race winner last year.

Rocco Sessler (MCA Racing), meanwhile, was the best-performing rookie overall at the test, which is no mean feat as half the 26-rider field comprises new faces in 2022. Levin Phommara (Phommara Team) is one rookie who will be missing as he recovers from a crash in testing though. Can Sessler keep that mantle into and after Round 1, or will the very different layout of Le Mans shake up the field?

We’re about to find out, with two races kicking the NTC into gear in 2022. Tune in for Race 1 at 17:25 (GMT +2) on Saturday, before Race 2 at 16:30 on Sunday – all live on the NTC YouTube channel and across MotoGP™’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Twitch!

MotoGP: Officials Addressing Allegations Of Tire Pressure Rule Violations

David Swarts

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May 12, 2022

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MotoGP: Officials Addressing Allegations Of Tire Pressure Rule Violations

Technical Director statement regarding MotoGP™ class tyre pressures

Thursday, 12 May 2022

Following recent allegations in the media asserting that some MotoGP™ teams have breached or have been breaching the regulations regarding tyre operating parameters, MotoGP™ Technical Director Danny Aldridge has made the following statement.

“In cooperation with the MSMA and following a request from the MSMA, the Technical Direction of the Championship is currently in the process of evaluating a new tyre pressure monitoring protocol. This procedure must include the introduction of a unified sensor and receiver system, because it is the only way to have reliable data for scrutineering. In addition, a detailed protocol of how the new regulations will be enforced has been discussed with the MSMA and it has been unanimously agreed that it will not be implemented before the start of the 2023 season.

“This protocol has preliminary been agreed within the MSMA on the condition that it would be evaluated by all manufacturers during the 2022 season. To aid in this evaluation, all manufacturers have unanimously agreed to freely share their riders’ tyre data after each event with all other manufacturers; as this data is supplied voluntarily and the sensors are calibrated individually by each sensor manufacturer, it cannot currently be verified for its accuracy.

“As agreed between Michelin, FIM, IRTA, MSMA and Dorna, the tyre regulations will continue to be enforced as they have been for many years, under the control of the Technical Director and Michelin, until such time that the proposed new procedure is ready to be introduced.”

MotoGP: Quartararo Visits PSG Team In Paris

David Swarts

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May 12, 2022

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MotoGP: Quartararo Visits PSG Team In Paris

Ici, c’est MotoGP™! Quartararo visits PSG

The reigning Champion visits Paris Saint-Germain at the iconic Parc des Princes

Thursday, 12 May 2022

Reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) started his home Grand Prix with quite a bang on Thursday, visiting the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. Home of French footballing icons PSG, the stadium welcomed Quartararo in style as he rode in on his Yamaha YZR-M1.

(From left) Keylor Navas, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Quartararo, Achraf Hakimi, Kylian Mbappé, and Gianluigi Donnarumma. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Quartararo’s visit wasn’t a simple pitstop either, with the MotoGP™ Championship leader able to watch from the stands as the team took part in a private training session. From Neymar to Messi and Mbappé, the roll call of names made for an iconic day.

(From left) Achraf Hakimi, Sergio Ramos, Kylian Mbappé, Fabio Quartararo, and Keylor Navas. Photo courtesy Dorna.

The behind-closed-doors encounter also saw the two giants of French sporting success share the pitch, with Quartararo enjoying a seriously high-powered coaching session. The Yamaha rider showed some skills on two feet to go with prowess on two wheels, acquitting himself well and surely ready to take on the rest of the MotoGP™ grid should another future event take the rivalries onto the pitch…

Fabio Quartararo showing his skills to the PSG players and coaches. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Now it’s time to suit and boot up back on more familiar turf as Le Mans hosts the SHARK Grand Prix de France, with Quartararo no stranger to pole position at the venue. He’ll have another shot at that home victory on Sunday at 14:00 (GMT +2) – so tune in!

Fabio Quartararo (left) and Kylian Mbappé (right). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Fabio Quartararo (left) and Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. (right). Photo courtesy Dorna.

North West 200: Glenn Irwin Breaks Lap Record, Takes Superbike Pole

David Swarts

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May 12, 2022

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North West 200: Glenn Irwin Breaks Lap Record, Takes Superbike Pole

Editorial Note: American Patricia Fernandez, riding her JMcC Roofing Kawasakis, was 56th, 47th, and 48th in Superbike, Superstock (1000cc), and Supersport (600cc) qualifying, respectively.

GLENN IRWIN TOPS SUPERBIKE QUALIFYING AT 2022 fonaCAB AND NICHOLL OILS NORTH WEST

Glenn Irwin is on pole for Saturday’s Superbike races at the 2022 fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200 after blitzing the 8.9-mile Triangle circuit on the Honda Racing Fireblade during Thursday’s final qualifying session.

Lapping at 124.102mph, Irwin was 1.8 seconds faster than Michael Dunlop’s official lap record.

Irwin, who was also fastest in the final Superstock qualifying session, said he would have been even faster on the final lap of the superbike session before his Honda began to run out of petrol at Metropole.

“We were on a special one,” the Carrickfergus racer laughed. “That would have been fillet steak with a prawn on top but in the end I had to settle for ribeye!”

Irwin switched to his BSB spec superbike for Thursday’s qualifying after being hit by a catalogue of electronic issues during Tuesday’s session.

Glenn Irwin (left) at the North West 200. Photo courtesy North West 200 Press Office.

“There was no throttle blipper, no quick shifter and we were stuck in gear but that was all sorted for today,” he explained. “Maybe there was also a bit too much adrenaline on Tuesday as well because this place means so much to me but after I had some of John McGuinness’s gin on Tuesday night and a relaxing day with my family and fans yesterday and got stuck in straight away today. I was riding a bike I ride week in, week out.”

The world’s fastest road racer, Peter Hickman was second-quickest on the FHO Racing BMW, two seconds slower than Irwin with 2019’s fastest newcomer, Richard Cooper, third on the Buildbase Suzuki, just over half a second further back.

“I am happy with the way qualifying went after being away from the roads for so long,” Hickman said. “It has taken a while to get into the groove again. We only had a couple of laps on Tuesday because of a technical issue so we are a bit behind in terms of set-up. To be on the first two rows here is important so I am happy with that.”

Roads will close at 5pm on Thursday evening for the opening three races; the Strain Engineering Supersport, Turkington Superstock and Milltown Service Station Supertwin events.

The action then moves to Saturday with roads closing at 9.15am for the Tides Restaurant Supersport, Anchor Bar Superbike, John M Paterson Supertwin, CP Hire Superstock and the feature Merrow Hotel and Spa North West 200 Superbike races.

MotoAmerica: Cody Wyman Racing In Junior Cup & Twins Cup At VIR

David Swarts

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May 12, 2022

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MotoAmerica: Cody Wyman Racing In Junior Cup & Twins Cup At VIR

Cody Wyman to Race Twins Cup and Junior Cup at VIR

Macedon, NY – Cody Wyman will be pulling double duty next MotoAmerica round racing his Alpha Omega Kawasaki in the SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup championship, along with the Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha in the Twins Cup. It will be Cody’s debut in the competitive lightweight-twin class, and he is looking forward to the opportunity.

“I had some potential deals for Twins Cup lining up over the off-season, and really wanted to race a Twin, but the right opportunity never really came up. From a privateer standpoint, the most cost-effective way to continue racing was to build on my Junior Cup program from last season. This is a brand new bike for me, but the goal is to keep learning and improve every session. I’ll always jump at the opportunity to ride anything, and I want to thank Jamin Mathis from Wrench and my buddy Ben Walters from ChampSchool. They will be maintaining the bike, and I can’t wait to ride it in Virginia.”

Wrench Motorcycles began as a local motorcycle repair shop serving the Los Angeles area since 2015. Recently, Wrench has put more focus into the racing department. In order to pursue their goals of providing custom aftermarket parts and services.

Suzuki Confirms It Is Leaving MotoGP

David Swarts

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May 12, 2022

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SUZUKI ANNOUNCEMENT
Team Suzuki Press Office – May 12.

Suzuki Motor Corporation is in discussions with Dorna regarding the possibility of ending its participation in MotoGP at the end of 2022.

Unfortunately, the current economical situation and the need to concentrate its effort on the big changes that the Automotive world is facing in these years, are forcing Suzuki to shift costs and human resources to develop new technologies.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our Suzuki Ecstar Team, to all those who have supported Suzuki’s motorcycle racing activities for many years and to all Suzuki fans who have given us their enthusiastic support.

MRA: Applegate, Grant Win Premier Races At High Plains Raceway

David Swarts

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May 11, 2022

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MRA: Applegate, Grant Win Premier Races At High Plains Raceway

The Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) was pleased to hold its opening round of the season this last weekend. In direct collaboration with the North American Talent Cup and Rise Moto, the racing out at High Plains Raceway, in Deer Trail, Colorado, was as crisp, clean and competitive as one could hope for though the gusty winds and variable conditions had their piece to say in the weekend’s events.

Specific to the MRA’s premier events of the weekend, Race of the Rockies GTO & GTU, the competition was as fierce as ever at the front. Despite battling some of the worst wind of the weekend, the Race of the Rockies competitors gridded up and faced off for first glory of the season on Sunday. Striking out for an early lead in the GTO class, James Wilkerson was eventually overtaken by the consistently blistering pace of Mike Applegate, who would go on to claim the checkered flag. The club’s reigning #1 plate from 2021, Ray Thornton, rounded out the top three places.

In the GTU class, Liam Grant was able to put a gap on Jared Deer and Ken Yee that neither was able to fully respond to. Respectively first, second and third, that trio of riders led one of the largest groups of racers and saw some of the most intense passing and duels of the entire event.

Dedicated to family-friendly and close, competitive racing the MRA thanks everyone involved for their support and patronage this last weekend, and hopes to see everyone again for Round Two coming June 4th & 5th at Pikes Peak International Raceway.

UtahSBA: Norton Wins King Of The Mountain GTO Race

David Swarts

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May 11, 2022

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UtahSBA: Norton Wins King Of The Mountain GTO Race

Utah Motorsports Campus played host to Round One of the Utah Motorcycle Law Masters of the Mountains Race Series on Saturday, May 7th on the West track configuration. Race day featured full grids with a mixture of seven-lap sprint races and a premier 14-lap King of the Mountain race.

The race day kicked off with a cold and blustery King of the Mountain Qualifying. Most of the King of the Mountains competitors appeared to be staying warm, sitting out Q1 while preparing for Q2. In Q2, Genaro Lopez set the early fast lap of 1:32.819 on his very first lap with defending King of the Mountain champ Jerry Hicks second-fastest at 1:33.562 in the same session. The running order would not last for long though as California import Anthony Norton would lower the fast lap time to 1:32.035 on his fourth lap and qualify on pole followed by Lopez and Hicks

The action would really heat up in the day’s fourth race, Moto United Open Superstock. Hicks secured the holeshot and led the race into Turn One but would be overtaken in Turn Six by Anthony Norton, who would break away from the chase pack and go on to the victory essentially unchallenged. Behind Norton, Hicks in second would struggle to maintain the gap to Lopez in third, with Lopez gaining contact on lap six and passing Hicks for second in Turn Five, the running order now Norton, Lopez, Hicks. Hicks would make a heroic last-turn pass attempt but was unable to secure the drive needed to pass Lopez for second place by the finish line.

After lunch, racing resumed with the premier Moto United/Moto Station King of the Mountain Combined race. As the red light went out the chief protagonists from the earlier Open Superstock race surged off the line with Norton and Hicks side-by-side and Lopez tailing them after a wild wheelie. By the exit of Turn One, Hicks and Norton were still side-by-side and stayed right together with Norton leading for the next few laps. By lap three Norton started to pull away, piloting his Apex Assassins Kawasaki ZX-10R to a lap time of 1:30.681, leaving Hicks and Lopez adrift. Behind the leaders, the race for fourth place was led by Bill Davis in the early laps, but he was overtaken on lap two by Ryan Richardson. Richardson would be able to gap the chasing Davis for laps four and five but by lap six Davis would be tip-to-tail with Richardson. A crash on lap six forced a red flag and re-start with the new grid order of Norton, Hicks, Lopez. Hicks led the pack on the restart but crashed in Turn Two nearly simultaneously with two riders who were tangled up in a separate incident in Turn One, again bringing out the red flag. On the second restart, Anthony Norton reasserted his control for the remaining four laps on his ZX-10R to the finish for the win ahead of Lopez and David Meyer in second and third, with Ryan Richardson holding off a surging Bill Davis for fourth.

The afternoon continued with the Edge Powersports Desert Dash race. As the bikes roared off the line Dave Meyer rode a wheelie into Turn One securing the holeshot. Meyer continued to lead through lap two despite being chased by Steven Marco. Marco would eventually be pressured from behind by Josh Fisher, allowing Meyer to slip away to a commanding lead where he would win the race followed by Fisher and Marco in second and third, respectively.

In the Harrison Eurosports Formula 40 race Bill Davis got a great start and took an early lead but Dave Meyer would eventually catch and pass Davis on lap two. Meyer would continue to lead Davis until lap five where Davis would again retake the lead. Davis continued to push hard to build his gap by pushing hard through Turns Eight and Nine and would run wide through Turn 10 to start the last lap. In the end, no one would catch Davis as he secured a hard fought victory.

As the race track went quiet riders gathered in the UtahSBA’s post-race barbecue to celebrate and discuss the day’s challenges and victories. As racers turned to loading up their bikes the excitement shifted to Round Two scheduled to take place on Utah Motorsports Campus’ West configuration May 28th. We look forward to seeing you all then and would like to thank all of our volunteers, racers, and of course our generous sponsors.

The Utah Sport Bike Association is a Utah Non-Profit dedicated to promoting education, safe riding, and competition in the Intermountain West. You can find more information about the USBA, upcoming events, and schools at www.utahsba.com or find us on Facebook.

Motostation/Moto United KOM Overall:

1. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX-10R)

2. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)

3. David Meyer (YAM R1)

4. Ryan Richardson (KAW ZX-10R)

5. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)

6. David Thomas (BMW S1000RR)

Motostation KOM GTO:

1. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX-10R)

2. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)

3. David Meyer (YAM R1)

4. Ryan Richardson (KAW ZX-10R)

5. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)

6. David Thomas (BMW S1000RR)

Moto United KOM GTU:

1. Kinzer Naylor (KAW ZX-6R)

2. Brian Childree (KAW ZX-6R)

AZ Riding Academy Combined GTO

1. Gilbert Gonzalaz (KAW ZX-10R)

2. John Tran (BMW S1000RR)

3. Joshua Snow (YAM R1)

4. Steven Marco (YAM R1)

5. Mike Bishop (APR RSV4)

6. Chris Mousley (YAM R1)

Off Highway Van Combined GTU

1. Lee McNutt (SUZ GSX-R600)

2. Joshua Fisher (TRI 675R)

3. Belisario Arango (KAW ZX-6R)

4. Chayce Lance (YAM R6)

5. Scott Christensen (YAM R6)

6. Brian Gerwe (HON CBR600RR)

The Edge Powersports Deseret Dash – Expert

1. David Meyer (YAM R1)

2. Joshua Fisher (YAM R1)

3. Steven Marco (YAM R1)

4. Joshua Snow (YAM R1)

5. Andrew Skov (HON CBR600RR)

6. Marshall Miller (BMW S1000RR)

The Edge Powersports Deseret Dash – Novice

1. Alban Bonilla (BMW S1000RR)

2. Mario Fernandez (YAM R6)

3. Landon Mattson (SUZ GSX-R600)

4. Dustin Lance (YAM R6)

5. Nolan Kiislila (KAW ZX-6R)

6. Brian Gerwe (HON CBR600RR)

Harrison Eurosports Formula 40 – GTO

1. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)

2. David Meyer (YAM R1)

3. John Tran (BMW S1000RR)

4. James Peterec (SUZ GSX-R1000)

5. Kevin Dolan (KAW ZX-10R)

6. Mike Bishop (APR)

Harrison Eurosports Formula 40 – GTU

1. Lee McNutt (YAM R6)

2. Kirk Doyle (KAW ZX-6R)

3. Daniel Egbert (APR RS 660)

4. Donald Rothfuss (DUC 848)

5. Phil O’Bryan (KAW ZX-6R)

6. Dustin Lance (YAM R6)

Velosio Lightweight Superbike

1. Daniel Egbert (APR RS 660)

2. Sean Groestein (HON NSF250R)

3. Mark Taylor (KAW NINJA 400)

4. Brad Moore (YAM R3)

The Weekend Garage Middleweight Superbike

1. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX-6R)

2. Kinzer Naylor (KAW ZX-6R)

3. Joshua Fisher (TRI 675R)

Toxic Moto Racing Middleweight Superstock

1. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX-6R)

2. Brian Childree (KAW ZX-6R)

3. Kinzer Naylor (KAW ZX-6R)

4. Joshua Fisher (TRI 675R)

5. Lee McNutt (YAM R6)

6. Belisario Arango (KAW ZX-6R)

The Mechanic Modern Vintage – GTO

1. Kevin Dolan (SUZ GSX-R1000)

2. Marshall Miller (BMW S1000RR)

3. Joshua Snow (YAM R1)

4. Richard Findlay (SUZ GSX-R1000)

5. David Meyer (YAM R1)

6. Robert Jojola (DUC 999)

The Mechanic Modern Vintage – GTU

1. Joshua Fisher (TRI 675R)

2. Braxton Young (HON CBR600RR)

3. Donald Rothfuss (DUC 848)

4. Daniel Bodon (KAW ZX-6)

5. Landon Mattson (SUZ GSX-R600)

6. Phil O’Bryan (KAW ZX-6R)

Karl Malone Powersports Moto 2

1. Brian Childree (KAW ZX-6R)

2. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX-6R)

3. Joshua Fisher (TRI 675R)

4. Kinzer Naylor (KAW ZX-6R)

5. Andrew Skov (HON CBR600RR)

6. Chayce Lance (YAM R6)

Redline Realty Moto 3

1. Mark Taylor (KAW NINJA 400)

2. Brian Gerwe (KAW NINJA 400)

3. Brad Moore (YAM R3)

4. Jordan Wolfgramm (KAW NINJA 300)

5. Ian Jenson (YAM R3)

6. Sean Groenstein (HON NSF250R)

Legion of Speed Novice GTO

1. Christopher Mousley (YAM R1)

2. Alban Bonilla (BMW S1000RR)

3. Eliu Heredia (YAM R6)

4. Jeff Taylor (YAM R1)

5. Damon Schuetze (BMW S1000RR)

6. Scott Christensen (YAM R6)

Trackstar Novice GTU

1. Kirk Doyle (KAW ZX-6R)

2. Brian Gerwe (HON CBR600RR)

3. Scott Christensen (YAM R6)

4. Mario Fernandez (YAM R6)

5. Nolan Kiiskila (KAW ZX-6R)

6. Daniel Bodon (KAW ZX-6R)

Vortex Open Superbike

1. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)

2. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)

3. Ryan Richardson (KAW ZX-10R)

4. David Meyer (YAM R1)

5. John Tran (BMW S1000RR)

6. Kevin Dolan (KAW ZX-10R)

MotoUnited Open Superstock

1. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX-10R)

2. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)

3. Jerry Hicks (KAW ZX-10R)

4. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)

5. Tyler Jones (YAM R1)

6. Ryan Richardson (KAW ZX-10R)

Karl Malone Powersports Open Twins

1. Ryan Smith (APR RS 660)

2. Joshua Fisher (TRI 675R)

3. Donald Rothfuss (DUC 848)

4. Daniel Egbert (APR RS 660)

5. Tim Weber (KTM 790 DUKE)

6. Robert Jojola (DUC 999)

TruSolace Production 500

1. Brian Childree (KAW NINJA 400)

2. Mark Taylor (KAW NINJA 400)

3. Brian Gerwe (KAW NINJA 400)

4. Brad Moore (YAM R3)

5. Jordan Wolfgramm (KAW NINJA 300)

6. Ian Jenson (YAM R3)

Monarch Powersports Sportsman

1. Daniel Bodon (SUZ GSXR-1000)

2. Tim Weber (KTM 790 DUKE)

3. Josh Carrion (YAM R6)

4. Jordan DeJarnett (YAM R6)

5. Robert Jojola (DUC 999)

Napa Auto Parts Tooele Stock 1000

1. Anthony Norton (KAW ZX-10R)

2. Genaro Lopez (BMW S1000RR)

3. Bill Davis (BMW S1000RR)

4. Ryan Richardson (KAW ZX-10R)

5. John Tran (BMW S1000RR)

6. Gilbert Gonzalez (KAW ZX-10R)

Carbonsmith Super Street Bike

1. Daniel Bodon (KAW ZX-6R)

2. Brian Gerwe (HON CBR1000RR)

Video: Army Of Darkness Visits Vanson Leathers

May 12, 2022

Army of Darkness (from left): Anthony Consorte, Chris Manfrin, Jen Vidad, YT Lechner, Tim Gooding, Melissa Berkoff, Chris Peris, Xavier Zayat, Ben Walters, Sam Fleming and “Gaijin” the Pirelli-shod Yamaha YZF-R1 endurance bike. Photo courtesy Army of Darkness.

Army Of Darkness members Melissa Berkoff and Luci Schelbert go to Vanson Leathers in Fall River, Massachusetts. They’ll learn how Vanson Leathers keep motorcycle riders safe while also getting the opportunity to make handbags using Vanson’s equipment. Part one will take you into the Vanson showrooms, learn about leather quality, and learn about custom suit fabrication.

0:00 Introduction

3:45 Vanson Showrooms

5:00 Leather Quality

9:00 Leather Finishing

10:45 Movie Jackets

11:45 Airbags & Armor

Sign up to our email list to be notified when more videos are released here: http://list.13x.com/cgi-bin/mailman/l…

Subscribe to the print magazine at http://roadracingworld.com

See an archive of other Army Of Darkness articles at http://Armyofdarkness.com

R.I.P. Motorcycle Industry Veteran Tad Dobbs

May 12, 2022

Tad Dobbs (right) with retired road racing photo journalist Randy Marrs. — Tad Dobbs (right) with retired road racing photojournalist Randy Marrs. Photo courtesy Bob Applegate.

Longtime Motorcycle Industry Insider Tad Dobbs Passes Away

Longtime motorcycle parts and accessories expert Tad Dobbs passed away May 3 in Asheville, N.C., after a battle with cancer. He was 68.

Tad was most notable during the 1980s and 1990s as the head of purchasing for Surefire Distributing and later as a warehouse manager for Parts Unlimited in North Carolina. He had a love for Blues music and spent several years as the harmonica player for the Asheville-based Blues band Cross Eyed Cat.

Northern Talent Cup: Rossi Moor Featured In Le Mans Preview

May 12, 2022

Hungarian-American Rossi Moor (92) in action at the Northern Talent Cup pre-season test at Oschersleben, before his crash. Photo courtesy Dorna. — Hungarian-American Rossi Moor (92) in action during the Northern Talent Cup pre-season test at Oschersleben. Photo courtesy Dorna.

The Northern Talent Cup fires up in France

The third season of the NTC is about to begin, with MotoGP™ at Le Mans playing host

Thursday, 12 May 2022

The Northern Talent Cup is geared up and ready to race in 2022, with Round 1 now just around the corner. The season starts on the biggest stage of the year, alongside MotoGP™ at Le Mans, with the class of 2022 suited, booted and ready to race – and Rossi Moor (Fairium Next Generation Riders Team) arriving in the crosshairs.

The Hungarian is the highest finisher who returns to the Cup in 2022, having ended the season third overall last year – with a good number of wins and some very impressive pace in his rookie year. He also took pole at Le Mans last year, and although bad luck and the difficult weather kept him from quite starting the year as he would have wanted, the speed was there. Will it remain so in 2022? He was fast once again in pre-season testing, but did also suffer a big crash, rider ok.

It wasn’t Moor who topped the timesheets in testing though, it was Dustin Schneider (Goblin Racing) top of the pile on both days as the German threw down the gauntlet early in 2022. He also won the race simulation with some impressive pace, so he’ll be wanting to carry that into Round 1. Fellow veterans Tibor Varga (Forty Racing), Valentino Herrlich (Busch und Wagner Racing Team), Loris Veneman (TeamNL Open Line) and Lennoxx Phommara (Team Phommara) also had speed at the Oschersleben test, and will be wanting to open their 2022 podium accounts first time out. Kevin Farkas (Agria Racing Team) could be a threat too; already a race winner last year.

Rocco Sessler (MCA Racing), meanwhile, was the best-performing rookie overall at the test, which is no mean feat as half the 26-rider field comprises new faces in 2022. Levin Phommara (Phommara Team) is one rookie who will be missing as he recovers from a crash in testing though. Can Sessler keep that mantle into and after Round 1, or will the very different layout of Le Mans shake up the field?

We’re about to find out, with two races kicking the NTC into gear in 2022. Tune in for Race 1 at 17:25 (GMT +2) on Saturday, before Race 2 at 16:30 on Sunday – all live on the NTC YouTube channel and across MotoGP™’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Twitch!

MotoGP: Officials Addressing Allegations Of Tire Pressure Rule Violations

May 12, 2022

Michelin’s new-construction rear Power Slick for the 2020 MotoGP World Championship. Photo courtesy of Michelin. — A rear Michelin Power Slick as used in the MotoGP World Championship. Photo courtesy of Michelin.

Technical Director statement regarding MotoGP™ class tyre pressures

Thursday, 12 May 2022

Following recent allegations in the media asserting that some MotoGP™ teams have breached or have been breaching the regulations regarding tyre operating parameters, MotoGP™ Technical Director Danny Aldridge has made the following statement.

“In cooperation with the MSMA and following a request from the MSMA, the Technical Direction of the Championship is currently in the process of evaluating a new tyre pressure monitoring protocol. This procedure must include the introduction of a unified sensor and receiver system, because it is the only way to have reliable data for scrutineering. In addition, a detailed protocol of how the new regulations will be enforced has been discussed with the MSMA and it has been unanimously agreed that it will not be implemented before the start of the 2023 season.

“This protocol has preliminary been agreed within the MSMA on the condition that it would be evaluated by all manufacturers during the 2022 season. To aid in this evaluation, all manufacturers have unanimously agreed to freely share their riders’ tyre data after each event with all other manufacturers; as this data is supplied voluntarily and the sensors are calibrated individually by each sensor manufacturer, it cannot currently be verified for its accuracy.

“As agreed between Michelin, FIM, IRTA, MSMA and Dorna, the tyre regulations will continue to be enforced as they have been for many years, under the control of the Technical Director and Michelin, until such time that the proposed new procedure is ready to be introduced.”

MotoGP: Quartararo Visits PSG Team In Paris

May 12, 2022

Fabio Quartararo at Parc des Princes, home of the Paris Saint-Germain professional soccer/football team. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Ici, c’est MotoGP™! Quartararo visits PSG

The reigning Champion visits Paris Saint-Germain at the iconic Parc des Princes

Thursday, 12 May 2022

Reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) started his home Grand Prix with quite a bang on Thursday, visiting the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. Home of French footballing icons PSG, the stadium welcomed Quartararo in style as he rode in on his Yamaha YZR-M1.

Quartararo’s visit wasn’t a simple pitstop either, with the MotoGP™ Championship leader able to watch from the stands as the team took part in a private training session. From Neymar to Messi and Mbappé, the roll call of names made for an iconic day.

The behind-closed-doors encounter also saw the two giants of French sporting success share the pitch, with Quartararo enjoying a seriously high-powered coaching session. The Yamaha rider showed some skills on two feet to go with prowess on two wheels, acquitting himself well and surely ready to take on the rest of the MotoGP™ grid should another future event take the rivalries onto the pitch…

Now it’s time to suit and boot up back on more familiar turf as Le Mans hosts the SHARK Grand Prix de France, with Quartararo no stranger to pole position at the venue. He’ll have another shot at that home victory on Sunday at 14:00 (GMT +2) – so tune in!

North West 200: Glenn Irwin Breaks Lap Record, Takes Superbike Pole

May 12, 2022

Glenn Irwin in action during qualifying Thursday at the North West 200. Photo courtesy North West 200 Press Office.