MotoAmerica: Will Hayes Make History At Barber?

David Swarts

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September 22, 2022

MotoAmerica: Will Hayes Make History At Barber?

Titles Are There For The Taking As MotoAmerica Concludes 2022 Season At Barber

Five Titles Up For Grabs And Josh Hayes Can Make History In Season Finale

IRVINE, CA (September 22, 2022) – In addition to the premier Medallia Superbike Championship, five support-class titles will go the wire at Barber Motorsports Park, September 23-25, with the outcome likely not decided until Sunday afternoon as the curtain goes down on the 2022 MotoAmerica Championship.

The titles up for grabs? REV’IT! Twins Cup, SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup, Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. and two of the three Mini Cup By Motul classes.

And if that’s not enough to whet the appetite, there’s also a good chance of watching history in the making if four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes can muster up another victory in the Supersport class. A win in either of the two Supersport races will give Hayes 87 victories across all classes of AMA racing, and that will move him to the top of the heap as the winningest rider in AMA road racing history.

REV’IT! Twins Cup – Davis, Mazziotto Or Barry?

N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto’s Blake Davis started the 2022 REV’IT! Twins Cup Championship with a bang with a victory on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway. Then he sort of disappeared with seven straight races without a podium finish. So how is the 16-year-old Virginian leading the championship? A late season tear is how.

When Davis finished second in July at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca round, his season suddenly took off and he won two of the next five races and finished second in the other three. That combined with Jody Barry’s and Anthony Mazziotto’s late-season woes sees Davis with a 15-point lead heading into the season finale.

Rodio Racing’s Mazziotto, with two wins and three additional podiums, trails Davis by 15 points while leading Barry by just two points. Barry was the man to beat early in the season when he ripped off four wins in a row, but it’s been a ride on the struggle bus ever since. Still, both Mazziotto and Barry are capable of having spectacular weekends when at the top of their games.

They will need to do just that if they strive to catch Davis with just one 14-lap race remaining on Sunday afternoon at 12:40 p.m.

SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup – Wyman On Top

Cody Wyman and his Alpha Omega Kawasaki Ninja 400 roll into Barber Motorsports Park with a 20-point lead in the championship with two races and 50 points up for grabs in Alabama.

Wyman’s road to the title could have been made much easier if not for a crash in Saturday’s race one at New Jersey Motorsports Park that allowed Rodio Racing’s Gus Rodio to pull back 25 points on Wyman with his victory. In Sunday’s race two, it was Altus Motorsports’ Kayla Yaakov who came away with a rain-sodden victory with Rodio second and Wyman third.

And just like that, things got a lot more interesting.

Still, it is Wyman in the catbird seat with six wins on the season and the points lead. Wyman has three additional podiums to his credit, but two non-finishes and a seventh-place finish in the Ridge Motorsports Park round have put him in the position of needing a strong finish to take the crown.

Rodio, meanwhile, has just two wins on the year, but he has seven additional podium finishes and just one non-finish on his scorecard.

The third rider to have a legitimate shot at the title should Wyman falter is three-time race winner Yaakov, who became the first female MotoAmerica race winner back in June at Ridge Motorsports Park. Yaakov has been both fast and consistent with six podium finishes in addition to her three victories.

Just another three points behind Yaakov is Bauce Racing/JL62 Team’s Joe LiMandri Jr., the New Yorker coming into the final round with two wins and seven additional podiums (six of which were second-place finishes) on his 2022 resume.

One of the four – Wyman, Rodio, Yaakov and LiMandri – will be crowned this weekend at Barber. The first of two SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup races will run on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. with race two on Sunday at 1:20 p.m.

Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. – Anybody’s Guess

Sixteen points separate the top three in the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. program with Kayleigh Buyck leading Crystal Martinez by 10 points and Chloe Peterson by 16.

On paper, Buyck would appear to have a hand on the trophy with wins in four of the five races (she was docked her championship points from her Road America win for ignoring a red flag). However, Jennifer Chancellor was beating Buyck at Pitt Race until crashing out on the final lap and it was Martinez who stopped Buyck’s winning streak with a victory two weeks ago at New Jersey Motorsports Park. NJMP also marked the first time that Buyck wasn’t on the podium as she finished fourth,

Thus, it is Martinez with her victory at NJMP and her two other podium finishes who is the closest to Buyck. Then comes Peterson, a further six points behind in third place.

The top three in the point standings all suffered the same penalty at Road America when all three failed to adhere to the red flag and were stripped of their championship points.

The Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. race will close the weekend of action at Barber Motorsports Park with a 4:10 p.m. start on Sunday afternoon.

Supersport – Can Hayes Do It?

With Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Josh Herrin wrapping up the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship at New Jersey Motorsports Park, the focus on the Barber finale will be on Josh Hayes.

With his double victory at NJMP a few weeks ago, Hayes moved into a tie with Miguel Duhamel at the top of the list for all-time AMA race winners across all classes with 86. Now Hayes has one last chance in 2022 to break the record and will do so with a victory in either of the two Supersport races at Barber on his Squid Hunter Yamaha YZF-R6.

The man most likely to stand in his way of doing just that is Herrin. With eight wins and 14 total podiums in 16 races, Herrin made the 2022 season his own. And he’d probably like to be the one that keeps his old nemesis Hayes from taking the wins record on his watch.

Meanwhile, the class is filled with hungry young “kids,” led by Landers Racing’s Rocco Landers, who is a comfortable second in the championship after a three-win, 11-podium season thus far. Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott, the class rookie also earned a victory in his debut season of Supersport racing. Scott also has eight podiums on the season and is in no danger of losing third in the championship.

North East Cycle Outlet Racing’s Benjamin Smith is in danger of losing fourth in the championship to Hayes, despite the fact that Hayes only competed in half of the 16 races. In those eight races, however, Hayes had three wins, a second and two thirds. His only “off” weekend saw him finish fifth and sixth at Pitt Race. Thus, Smith and his two podium finishes leads Hayes by just two points.

The two Supersport races will take place at 2:10 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

Yuasa Stock 1000 – All Wrapped Up

Although Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing’s Corey Alexander wrapped up the Yuasa Stock 1000 Championship at his home round in New Jersey a few weeks ago, the finale promises to be a thrill-fest. Why? Because they have been all year.

With his seven wins on the season, a relaxed and newly crowned Alexander will be trying to end his stellar season on a high at Barber, but he’s sure to find the going difficult as it has been all year. The man who gave Alexander the most to deal with in 2022 is Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim – the only rider other than Alexander to win a race in the class this season.

Gillim and his four wins is second in the title chase, an insurmountable 25 points behind Alexander, who owns the tie-breaker if Gillim were to win the finale while Alexander failed to score a point. Second place is still up for grabs as Gillim is 11 points ahead of Alexander’s teammate Travis Wyman.

The Yuasa Stock 1000 race is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. and it will be the first race of the weekend at Barber.

Mini Cup By Motul – Just. Nine. Points.

Just nine points separate first from second in two of the three Mini Cup by Motul class championships as MotoAmerica’s youngest riders are set to fight it out on Saturday afternoon beginning at 4:30 p.m.

In the 160 class, it’s Nathan Gouker Racing’s Nathan Gouker with the upper hand and a nine-point lead over Xtreme Autoglass Pros’ Ryder Davis heading into the season finale on the purpose-built mini track at Barber Motorsports Park. Both riders have won two races in 2022 with Gouker earning four total podiums while Davis has five podiums to his credit. The difference comes down to race two at Ridge Motorsports Park where Gouker won while Davis struggled to a seventh-place finish.

In the 110 class, it’s again Gouker at the top of the standings, but this time it’s Anthony Lupo Jr. Racing’s Anthony Lupo Jr. giving chase. Again, the points lead is nine with both riders being on the podium in each of the six races thus far in the season. Gouker, though, has three wins to Lupo’s two.

Macc Racing/Broward Motorsports Tequesta’s Mac MacClugage, meanwhile, is third in both the 160 and 190 championships with the youngster earning his career-first victories this year when he won race two of the 160 class at Road America and race one of the 110 class at Ridge Motorsports Park.

It will be difficult to dislodge American Racing Team’s Kensei Matsudaira from the top of the 190-class championship as he leads Jesse James Racing’s Jesse James Shedden by 21 points heading into the finale. Shedden has more wins than Matsudaira, but Matsudaira has been on the podium in every race while Shedden has a non-score to his credit from race one at Pitt Race.

Pre-Barber Support Class Notes…

Last year’s two Supersport races were won by Sean Dylan Kelly and Gabriel Da Silva. For Kelly, it was win number 12 of his championship-winning season; for Da Silva it was his first career MotoAmerica victory as he topped Kelly in a driving rainstorm.

Jake Lewis won last year’s lone Stock 1000 race over Michael Gilbert and Travis Wyman. It was Lewis’s sixth victory of the season with the Kentuckian earning the 2021 Stock 1000 Championship.

The finale Twins Cup race of the season at Barber last year was won by class champion Kaleb De Keyrel over Jody Barry and Hayden Schultz.

The SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup class featured two races and one winner in the finale with champion Tyler Scott taking a pair of victories, his 10th and 11th wins of the season.

About MotoAmerica

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

Video: Attack The World! Richard Stanboli On Going WorldSBK Racing

David Swarts

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September 22, 2022

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Video: Attack The World! Richard Stanboli On Going WorldSBK Racing

Attack Racing’s Richard Stanboli talks to Roadracing World Editor-at-Large Michael Gougis about what it takes to convert his MotoAmerica Championship-winning Superbikes to WorldSBK specifications and to ship their equipment to Portugal for a World Superbike wild card entry at Algarve International Circuit.

WorldSBK: Gerloff “Really Excited” About Opportunity With BMW

David Swarts

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September 22, 2022

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WorldSBK: Gerloff “Really Excited” About Opportunity With BMW

Outspoken in Barcelona

From a carry-over of Magny-Cours’ drama to differing outlooks on team orders and fighting hard ahead of Barcelona’s big weekend, juicy gossip was aplenty in the pre-round debriefs
The penultimate European round of the 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is on the horizon as the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with the paddock set for another monumental weekend of action. As usual, there was plenty of chatter amongst rivals in their pre-weekend interviews, with rivals continuing to be at odds, riders stating bold claims and discussing whether or not team orders will come into play if necessary.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “Not the best friends of the paddock, so the relationship will stay the same!”

“There’s no special relationship; he told me his point of view and I told him mine, but that’s all. Races are races and the past is the past. Jonathan and I were not the best friends of the paddock so the relationship will stay the same! Sincerely, the approach for the final part of the season doesn’t change for Toprak’s points gap; I know the last three rounds have been the most difficult tracks. I have to be focused, try and do my best and I think the next tracks will be nice for us. I’m quite calm and focussed on the bike and my work. For Michael staying, I’m so happy for him. He’s a very talented rider, he’s very young and improving a lot during this season. He had a difficult start but then began being more consistent and competitive; we have a similar riding style which is easier for the engineers, so I am happy for him, and I look forward to fighting in the next races and next year for victories with him.”

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “The atmosphere has soured…”

“I view Barcelona as a bit of a difficult circuit to be honest, but I have some incredible memories. When WorldSBK came here in 2020, I won the first ever race. I have the nice Barcelona trophy on display at home, so great memories from then. On the incident with Bautista, from my side, nothing will change because I have to fight so hard to be there in this incredible battle right now with two other strong rivals, but of course the atmosphere has soured a bit with a lot of things being said in the aftermath in the heat of the moment. There’s a point when you’re overtaking a rider and in this kind of instance, there’s a point of impact and you have to brace as the guy on the inside; this was the clear movement, not an intentional punt. He knows this. Right now, the Championship is so competitive with different manufacturers that we need to step up; the team know that and we’re working really hard to try and do that.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK): “The Championship is very strange this year… I’m very surprised!”

“This weekend is very important, and we need good points. I’ll focus on this race and then Portimao, because I think San Juan won’t be easy because the Ducati is very fast, especially in the straights with Alvaro. I watched the video of the incident between Alvaro and Jonny and Jonny makes a mistake, but this is racing. The Championship is strange this year; every weekend we are fighting and the points situation changes. I’m very surprised! The season is long, and we have many races.”

Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “If I need to follow team orders, I will”

“Well, we arrive to Barcelona which is a track I really like and after a podium at Magny-Cours, so a positive feeling and positive vibes. I’m happy about the new contract and for sure, it gives us a little bit of calm, and I want to stay with the hunger and positive pressure; when I’m under these circumstances, I perform better. I think Axel is doing a great job for an Independent team but I think the best choice for our team was to remain the same, so we can fight in the next races and so that we can try and bring the title once again to Bologna. Next year, I think Alvaro and I can fight for the podium. I will try to win races but the main goal this year is to win the Championship. If I was in his position in the future, I’d like that a younger teammate who is not fighting for the title can be smart. I will use my brain and if I need to make a team decision and follow team orders, I will do it as I really believe in that.”

Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing): “If I have the opportunity to pass Michael or Alvaro, I’ll do it”

“I hope it will be a good round and we’ll try to repeat the result of Magny-Cours. I like the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya a lot, also the city of Barcelona is cool, so I feel good, and I hope to repeat the best results. My goal continues to be to try and be in front of the factory guys, and that hasn’t changed. I hope to continue to try and beat Michael but also Bautista if it’s possible and then to try and have a factory seat for 2024. In the next weeks, I’ll tell the WorldSBK paddock about what happens for next year! I think when we’re on track, we have the possibility to do what we want. I don’t like team orders so when I attack, I put all of myself to try and win. I don’t want to make mistakes, to crash with others, but if I have the possibility to pass Michael or Alvaro, I will do it.”

Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW): “Never a doubt that I’d continue with the team and BMW”

“Super delighted to announce the plans for 2023; there was never a doubt that I’d continue with the team and with BMW. We started the project at the beginning of the year, bearing in mind we needed a long time and I wanted to stay for a long time, with the same team and the same guys. I have been changing around a lot. BMW are putting a lot of effort to achieve our goals; we are improving a lot this year and next year looks good. I know how fast Garrett is and he’s a nice guy, and I know how important that is for the team. Even if he’s having harder races lately, you don’t lose your talent. I’m already excited for 2023, even if we still have a lot of races this year!”

Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team): “It’s good to change things up… BMW are working hard behind the scenes”

“I’m really excited. BMW are working hard behind the scenes! They have the desire to keep pushing the bike to the front of the field and that’s where I want to be. Sometimes, it is good to change things up, for me specifically, and we will see how it goes. I really appreciated that they were excited to work with me and I really appreciate the opportunity. Remy Gardner joining the team in 2023 is something I didn’t expect to see and I’m glad he had the opportunity. I think he’s going to get along really well with the team, it’s a great group of people and that will be good for him. The R1 Yamaha is a great bike and Toprak’s been showing that in the last few years! It’ll be figuring out how to adapt to a different bike and the tyres will be interesting for him to get used to. Obviously, the bike and team are capable and if he can get it all sorted out, I hope to see him fighting close to the front.”

MotoGP: Bastianini Says There’s No Ducati Team Orders “At The Moment”

David Swarts

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September 22, 2022

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MotoGP: Bastianini Says There’s No Ducati Team Orders “At The Moment”

“I prefer to win on the track – not because someone let me pass”

The contenders and pretenders to the throne throw out some key talking points at Motegi

Thursday, 22 September 2022

Thursday of the Motul Grand Prix of Japan threw up plenty of talking points, with two Press Conferences. The first was the three riders split by just 17 points: Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), before the second saw MotorLand winner Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) joined by eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and home hero Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu).

MotoGP World Championship contenders Fabio Quartararo (center), Francesco Bagnaia (left), and Aleix Espargaro (right). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Here are some key quotes!

QUOTES

FABIO QUARTARARO

How are you feeling physically after your Aragon crash?

“Good. Today I had my first training, so it was okay. It’s just abrasions, so it’s a little bit painful but I think on the bike it’s not going to be a big issue. For sure, it’s going to be burning, especially in the first session, but I think it’s not going to be a problem riding the bike.”

Fabio Quartararo poses with some Japan MiniGP racers. Photo by Kohei Hirota.

Does being strong on tracks like Red Bull Ring and Aragon, despite past struggles there, give you confidence for Motegi?

“At the end, at every track, we are competitive. If you check also Red Bull Ring, also Aragon at the end, in the past, I’ve never been competitive there, and this time I had pretty strong pace. Unfortunately, my race ended quite soon, but I think, on the pace, there is no track that we are not fast at. But of course, then there are also some circumstances where we are struggling to overtake, so I think this track is quite good, because I’ve been super strong here in the past, and I’m looking forward to be back, because I have some really good memories here.”

Does the Mandalika race give you confidence in case it is wet?

“Yeah, especially also because I think in 2019, the grip level here was really high. I remember also I raced with Marc and Dovi, they were super fast. So, the more grip there is on the track, the better for us, and as you say, Mandalika was super good, so I think there is no reason now to have a kind of fear about having a wet race. Of course, I enjoy it more in the dry, but I think there is not a big issue if it’s rainy.”

How are you thinking about the Championship now that your lead is only 10 points?

“At the end, what can you do? I think right now, with 17 points around all three, I will not see it’s the beginning of the championship and everyone is pushing like hell, but I think all three, including Enea, want the Championship. But especially, having only 17 points between us three means that we will push ourselves to the maximum and in the end I think it’s nice.”

Did you decide on an artist name after the factory visit?

“Not yet, but I’m starting to make a few things… [Bagnaia: Diablo is already taken!!] I know! I have to try to find a new name, but actually, I had 12 hours on the plane so I was already playing with the computer and I liked it. It was really fun to visit, especially Yamaha music, because I never expected it was that big, and it was really fun.”

FRANCESCO BAGNAIA

Ready for Motegi?

“I’m happy to be here. It’s one of my favorite and best tracks. It means the start of the flyaway and it’s one of my favourite layouts. For sure the conditions and situation is completely different to 2019 when I was a rookie and I was struggling with my bike. So I think this year can be good, I really like the layout so it suits our bike very well. I really like braking so on the brakes we can be competitive.”

Francesco Bagnaia. Photo courtesy Dorna.

How strong is the Ducati?

“It looks like we are normally the bike to beat. Our bike is the most complete. This track for sure is great but we have seen in Austria that normally we are the fastest, but Fabio can stay with us. It is important to do the correct decision about the feeling of the bike and we have to consider the conditions cause it looks like it can rain.”

On the weather and the challenge:

“In this moment I’m not thinking too much on the Championship because five races is still a lot and everything can change still. I would like to do my work as always and try to be competitive. It’s true in the wet I’m not the fastest, and I struggle always. In Indonesia I finished 15th. It will be important to have more sessions on wets if the race is on wets to help understand the conditions.”

And what about team orders?

“Sincerely I don’t think I need help to be at the front. I prefer to win on the track and not because someone let me pass. In any case, I’m not part of this decision, it is something where I have already said my desire, which is let me do what I want to do. If they decide something different, it’s not something about me. I will be racing; I will try to be in front and I will try to win. Just like I did in Aragon and in Misano.”

ALEIX ESPARGARO

Was Aragon the perfect time to get back on the podium and restore confidence and momentum?

“Yeah, it has been good to be back on the podium. Especially, it has been an extra boost of confidence. I struggled in Misano and Austria and I was quite satisfied about my performance, to finish in sixth place in difficult circuits in MotoGP today is not that easy, so it was okay. But to finish on the podium, especially after a very difficult weekend with two crashes on Friday, being out of Q2… It was not an easy weekend for me but to manage and put the bike on the podium on Sunday was great.”

Will straight-line braking be a concern this weekend given it is a weakness of the Aprilia?

“I think, during the Misano test, we improved a little bit in that area, and it’s really related to the track grip. It also depends on which rear tyre we have. So, I’m not really worried. It’s a long time since we raced here in Motegi, but it’s a track that I like and anything can happen. It looks like the weather conditions will not be the best ones, so it’s going to really be about how you can adapt to these conditions as well as possible. The programme will be different because we will not have Free Practice 1 in the morning, so it’s going to be different, a tricky weekend.”

Does your extra MotoGP™ experience give you an advantage here?

“I don’t think it’s going to count so much. I mean, I was watching the ’19 race yesterday and Fabio did a super good race, always just one second from Marc in his rookie year, which is difficult to do, and Pecco also raced once. But we raced both in smaller classes, so we know the track, the bike has changed so much from ’19, we have a lot of new items on the bikes, we have a new carcass on the Michelin tyres, so I think it’s going to be quite new for everybody.”

Are you feeling the pressure of fighting for a Championship for the first time?

“I have to say at, let’s say, the middle of the season, when I started to finish on the podium in every race, I started to feel some pressure because I realised I had some chance to fight for this title until the end. But now, I’m a little bit more relaxed, I’m enjoying this year a lot – with my family when I’m not racing, also when I’m racing – every single minute of this year, I will not ever forget in my life, so this is why I feel relaxed. I know I will have my chances, so I’m just trying to do the same that I did from Qatar: make no mistakes, enjoy it as much as possible, and be relaxed.”

Did you expect any more chaos on minibikes this weekend?

“It will be nice, small chaos is more fun. The last pre-event here was a fun one, but yeah, MotoGP is MotoGP, everything can happen, we saw it with Fabio’s crash on the first lap in Aragon, for example. He was leading the Championship, always struggling in Aragon, and then he had super strong pace and then he crashed in the race. So, everything can happen, you have to be relaxed, try to handle everything in the most positive way possible, and let’s see how this weekend is because we have to deal with many new things and it’s been a long time since we raced in Japan, different schedule, strange weather conditions, so it’s going to be fun.”

ENEA BASTIANINI

Motegi seems to suit the Ducati…

“I’m very happy about last weekend in Aragon. It was one of the best weekends of my life, from Friday I was very fast and it was very important for us. Now it’s Motegi, a beautiful track with lots of hard braking, I like it, but it will be hard as I never tried the MotoGP at this track. I have to use FP1 to learn from riders with experience here, like Marc and Taka. I twill be important to be competitive in QP, like always, because it is the key now to MotoGP.”

You’re a “Motegi rookie” in the premier class. Does this weekend make it more of a level playing field?

“Yeah, I think, I don’t know if it is an advantage to have not tried a MotoGP bike here. From 2019 to now, MotoGP bikes are very different, its more aerodynamic, the rear device and this can change the cards on the table. I don’t remember a lot, from 2019 in Moto2, it was my first year also….this in my career. I’m prepared to start.”

Now you’re 48 points off Fabio, do you still have Championship hopes?

“I think my chances are really, really small. I haven’t lost it for the moment. We will see what happens in the future. It is important to do great races like Aragon and Misano and I think after the summer break I have made a good step. This is the most important for us. I try to do my best every week to arrive at the end of the Championship in a good position.”

And what about team orders?

“Also in Misano, I haven’t had any team orders from Ducati at the moment, and this is good because I also have a small chance at the Championship. I have to use this to do always 100% in the race. In the last part of the Championship, we will see if I have some team orders or not. I’m not stressed now!”

TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI

How is your hand?

“To be honest, my hand is not the best feeling of course. On Monday, I had surgery in Barcelona. Only a few days to recover 100%. After the race, I understood that my hand was pretty bad, so I was expecting it will be a really, really tough home race this weekend. Actually, at least I got the green light for FP1 but I have to check again and we will decide to continue or stop after that.”

Takaaki Nakagami shows the special helmet paint job he had done for his home race at Motegi. Photo by Kohei Hirota. — Takaaki Nakagami shows his special helmet paint job for his home race at Motegi. Photo by Kohei Hirota.

What about the Lap 1 Aragon drama?

“Well, it’s difficult, I tried to overtake Marc at Turn 7, and I lost the line slightly, and he tried to overtake again on the exit. He was clearly in front of me. It looks like when he activated the device the bike went to the left, in such a short time, I tried to elbow out to avoid contact but it was impossible. That moment I realized it wasn’t Marc’s fault, it was an unlucky racing accident. 0% I never got angry with him, it was unlucky, I got injured but this is life. It could have been worse, I hit him twice, but the first one I was already out of control. I cannot imagine the first one going to the right, I was trying to stay on the bike but it was full throttle, the second one I already crashed and was on the floor. Thank god all the riders behind avoided me. I was lucky. I will try to recover and let’s see how FP1 goes.”

Thoughts on the weather?

“Yeah, normally everyone hopes for sunshine for riders and fans. Looks an unstable weather forecast. A couple of days ago a big typhoon came and the weekend looks pretty bad. Physically, rain could be a help because of less force in the braking, but it will be better. I feel sorry for the fans, after 3 years, all the riders and fans have been waiting for this weekend. Apart from injury, hopefully good weather this weekend.”

Thoughts on the Kalex swingarm?

“As you say, I tested the aluminum swingarm at the Misano Test. It was pretty comfortable and I like it. Then Marc had it in Aragon and he had a positive feeling I believe. This weekend I will have the swingarm according to the plan. This hand and this performance, if it will be a help or not. First I. have to check the level of performance with my hand, and if I am able to continue, then we will try during the weekend.”

We’re back in Japan for the first time since 2019. How special is it?

“Really important. Today already I met a lot of fans and friends in the paddock so it’s an amazing feeling. The feeling is it is my home GP, I can talk Japanese in the paddock. This gives me a lot of positive energy. Of course, I prepared a special helmet for this weekend as always in Japan. Now is Autumn, so I tried to design it in a traditional Japanese Autumn design.”

MARC MARQUEZ

Do you expect Motegi to be a more demanding physical challenge than Aragon?

“Yeah, of course, Aragon was already really demanding for, especially because the Misano test is one thing but the intensity especially in a race weekend is different. Here in Motegi will be the first time that there is a big stress to the right arm, because there are many braking points – long braking points, hard braking points – and right corners, so I will need to manage the situation well, and my physical condition. In Aragon, I said that maybe Sunday will not be a problem; maybe here, yes; but I will understand straight away when I go out in FP1.”

Eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Is it frustrating that the Aragon crash and potentially rain at Motegi will make it difficult to test yourself and the bike?

“Yeah, of course, the target of the Aragon GP was to try to do some kilometres and try to finish the race, but unfortunately I just did one lap after an amazing start. I was disappointed, especially because I felt ready. On race pace, I was not bad, it was my strongest point, and I managed the tyres on that race track – I feel really good when the tyres drop – but anyway, it was like this. It was unlucky, but at the same time, lucky, because in both situations, we were lucky that nothing happened. Now it’s time to focus here in Motegi. It will be different, it will be damp conditions. It’s true that we have more races to try the things in Honda, but it’s an important weekend because it’s one of our test circuits and the test team is working a lot here, but we will continue our way and just try to work for 2023.”

How did you assess your Aragon performance and could you ride the bike in a more natural way?

“It’s true that in Aragon, I was struggling a lot in the morning practice, but then in the afternoon practice, I felt much better. I was struggling a lot in the natural position on the bike, but then in the afternoon, it was much better. Now, single laps, I can ride like I want, but the problem is that still I need more muscle to keep that riding style for more laps, and we are looking to arrive at that level in these next races.”

Have you met directly with senior management at HRC or will you meet them this weekend?

“Yeah, it’s important to be back in Japan because sometimes you have some emails, some phone calls, but face-to-face is completely different, and it was important to visit all HRC and check what they are doing, and especially motivate them. At the same time, you see the President and all the important people who are there. They know already where they are, they know where they want to arrive, and I’m here to help them to come back to the top.”

MotoAmerica: How To Watch All The Action From Barber Motorsports Park

David Swarts

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September 22, 2022

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MotoAmerica: How To Watch All The Action From Barber Motorsports Park

MotoAmerica: How To Watch the MotoAmerica Superbikes at Alabama

It’s All Here: How To Not Miss A Bit Of The Action

Everything you need to know to watch all the racing from Barber Motorsports Park!

WorldSBK: Baz Continuing With Bonovo Action BMW Team In 2023

David Swarts

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September 22, 2022

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WorldSBK: Baz Continuing With Bonovo Action BMW Team In 2023

Loris Baz to race for the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team as a BMW Motorrad WorldSBK factory rider also in 2023.

Loris Baz to contest his second season on the BMW M 1000 RR in 2023.

The Frenchman will start for the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, as he does this season.

Marc Bongers: “With his experience, ability and personality, Loris adds an awful lot to the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team and our whole WorldSBK project”.

Munich. Loris Baz (FRA) will remain part of the BMW Motorrad Motorsport family in 2023, and will start as a BMW Motorrad factory rider in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) again. Next year will be his second season with the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team. The collaboration has been extended accordingly. Baz’s new team-mate will be American Garrett Gerloff.

The 29-year-old Frenchman and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team have worked well together from the outset this season, their first together, and have enjoyed success. They have already achieved their goal of finishing in the top ten on multiple occasions. Baz was also in contention for a podium at his home round at Magny-Cours (FRA).

“Loris is an important part of our family of BMW factory riders, and we are thrilled that he will start for the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team again in 2023,” said BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers. “You could tell from the word go that the chemistry was good between him, the team and his fellow factory riders. With his experience, ability and personality, Loris adds an awful lot to the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team and our whole WorldSBK project. It is excellent news that this impressive collaboration will continue next season. We are confident that we will continue to move forward together.”

Jürgen Röder, owner of the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, said: “I am delighted that Loris is staying with us. We are very happy about that, and I believe that Loris Baz and his team-mate Garrett Gerloff will form an incredibly strong duo next year, when we can hopefully push hard with the BMW. From a riding potential, we have a great troop, and the team in the background will also remain the same for next year. As such, we will have a well-practiced team in 2023, which has done an outstanding job this year. Furthermore, we will have Loris, Garrett and Eugene Laverty, in the role of riding coach, by my side. Eugene gets on superbly with both riders, so I think the collaboration is going to be great in that regard too. That encourages me to be very positive looking ahead.”

“I am really happy that I will ride for BMW and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team again next year,” said Baz. “I never doubted that I would. When I joined the project, the intention was to be involved in the long term and to improve every year. I feel really good in the team, and BMW is working harder than anyone else to achieve the goal we all have. I am also delighted to have such a nice guy as Garrett as my team-mate. I also have a very good relationship with Eugene, and it is really important for the team that we feel like a family. I am sure that will also be the case with Garrett. The goal is now to end 2022 strongly and go into the 2023 season with a good basis. Thank you to everyone at BMW, Jürgen Röder and Michael Galinski for the faith they have put in me.”

MotoAmerica: Herrin Not Racing In Superbike At Barber

David Swarts

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September 22, 2022

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MotoAmerica: Herrin Not Racing In Superbike At Barber

Herrin’s Homecoming Set for Barber Motorsports Park

Josh Herrin rolling in as the champion and ready for some fun in the Heart of Dixie

Sunnyvale, Calif. — Josh Herrin’s Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Ducati Panigale V2 final hit-out for the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship is set for Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama this weekend.

Herrin clinched the championship with a measured and calm performance at New Jersey Motorsports Park two weeks ago, leaving the Northeast with an unassailable 93-point lead heading into this final Barber round with 50 points and two race wins still to play for.

After earlier stating intentions to race a second Ducati Panigale V4 SBK in the Superbike category as teammate to Danilo Petrucci at Barber, Herrin and the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC team has since decided against the plan and will instead concentrate on the Supersport class with the tantalizing prospect of finishing the championship with a massive 100-point buffer over second place.

Josh Herrin (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – #2) : “I’m excited to race Barber this weekend. It’s one of my favorite tracks on the schedule,” Herrin said. “I want to end the year with two more wins. It’s nice to go into the weekend with no stress on our shoulders, just race and do our best without the championship to worry about. I’m looking forward to it and can’t wait to see everyone out at Barber.”

The ninth and final round of the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship at Barber Motorsports Park will kick off with Free Practice 1 at 10:10 CDT on Friday, September 23. Race One is scheduled for Saturday, September 24 at 2:10 pm CDT with Race Two, the last race of 2022, to be held on September 25 at 2:10 pm CDT.

Intro: 2022 Yamaha MT-10, In The September Issue

Trudy Ulrich

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September 22, 2022

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Intro: 2022 Yamaha MT-10, In The September Issue

Featured In the September 2022 issue of Roadracing World:

“Ride-by-wire throttles are here to stay and, depending on how you feel about being in control, that can be a good or bad thing.

“On a racebike with unfettered access to the engine control unit (ECU), ride-by-wire is a powerful tool to be able to do neat tricks like taking the slack out of the chain before allowing more power to the rear wheel, or only delivering as much power as the tire or wheelie will allow regardless of what the rider is requesting with the twist grip. Impressive stuff…”

—2022 Yamaha MT-10 Intro, by Sam Q. Fleming

Knee-dragging performance? All-day comfort? They’re not mutually exclusive when it comes to Yamaha’s new MT-10. Sam Q. Fleming ripped the bike around North Carolina—read his impressions in the latest issue of Roadracing World!

PREVIEW the September 2022 Issue of Roadracing World!

Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.

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Yamaha Pledges $500,000, Urges All To Get Outdoors On Sept. 24

David Swarts

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September 21, 2022

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Yamaha Pledges $500,000, Urges All To Get Outdoors On Sept. 24

Yamaha Pledges $500K, Urges All to Get Outdoors on September 24

Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative Celebrates National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day

MARIETTA, Ga. – September 21, 2022 – Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, is encouraging people to get outside and enjoy the outdoors on Saturday, September 24, 2022, in honor of National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day). In recognition of these events, the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI) is renewing its annual pledge to commit $500,000 to organizations supporting access to land for outdoor recreation and encouraging applications for grants before the next quarterly deadline on September 30.

National Public Lands Day invites volunteers nationwide to help restore and preserve public lands – from national parks to local urban green spaces – directly aligning with Yamaha OAI’s goal of protecting public lands for outdoor recreation. To date, the Yamaha OAI program has contributed over $5 million in funding and equipment across more than 425 projects in the last 14 years to assist outdoor recreationists working to protect and improve access to public land and educate everyone on safe, sustainable recreational use. Yamaha OAI has proven to be the industry’s most reliable partner and a significant resource for those who depend on access to public land for work and play.

Additionally, on September 24, National Hunting and Fishing Day is celebrating its 50th anniversary. NHF Day events are organized each year by Wonders of Wildlife to spread awareness of the conservation and economic benefits, as well as traditions and values of hunting and fishing. Yamaha OAI is a founding partner of Wonders of Wildlife’s Live It! program and a supporter of its efforts to expand NHF Day events across the country. These events play a significant role in expanding awareness of the issues facing public access and outdoor recreation, and the Live It! program supports local conservation groups wanting to host or enhance NHF Day events, but are limited in their resources.

Since access to public land is best protected by visitors’ responsible and sustainable practices, Yamaha OAI partners with Recreate Responsibly Coalition (RRC) on a variety of activities, including signage for land managers to educate visitors on appropriate, responsible use of trails and riding areas. Those interested in applying for the signs can simply complete a form at the following link: Yamaha OAI / RRC Responsible Use Signage Request.

“Last year we made a commitment to grant half a million dollars to outdoor projects, and we’re proud to say we exceeded that goal,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s Motorsports marketing manager. “Our lives are rooted in the outdoors and Yamaha’s direct and significant financial support of Wonders of Wildlife, Recreate Responsibly, and so many other outdoor organizations help make recreation on public lands possible. In celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day and National Public Lands Day, we’re excited to renew our annual commitment to make a minimum of $500,000 available in 2022 to organizations who help create opportunities for outdoor recreation.”

The Yamaha OAI program encourages riding clubs, land stewardship associations, and public land managers to work together with Yamaha dealers to identify projects and apply for support. Yamaha OAI is a one-stop resource for outdoor organizations seeking support for their next project. Visit YamahaOAI.com for application details, or examples of some typical projects the program supports for inspiration.

The application deadline for consideration in the third quarter of the 2022 funding cycle is September 30, 2022. Submission guidelines and an application for a Yamaha OAI grant are available at YamahaOAI.com. Connect with Yamaha on social media via @YamahaOutdoors or search any of the following hashtags on all platforms: #Yamaha #YamahaOAI #REALizeYourAdventure #ProvenOffRoad #AssembledInUSA

About the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative

Since 2008, the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative has led the Powersports industry in supporting responsible access to our nation’s public lands for outdoor enthusiasts. With more than $5 million contributed to 425 projects across the country, Yamaha has directly and indirectly supported thousands of miles of motorized recreation trails, maintained and rehabilitated riding and hunting areas, improved staging areas, supplied agricultural organizations with essential OHV safety education, built bridges over fish-bearing streams, and partnered with local outdoor enthusiast communities across the country to improve access to public lands. Each quarter, Yamaha accepts applications from nonprofit or tax-exempt organizations including OHV riding clubs and associations, national, state, and local public land-use agencies, outdoor enthusiast associations, and land conservation groups with an interest in protecting, improving, expanding, and/or maintaining access for safe, responsible, and sustainable public use.

Updated guidelines, an application form, information, and news about the Outdoor Access Initiative are available at YamahaOAI.com. For specific questions about the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative, call the dedicated hotline at 1-877-OHV-TRAIL (877-648-8724), email [email protected], or write to:

Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative

Yamaha Motor Corp., USA

3065 Chastain Meadows Parkway, Bldg. 100

Marietta, GA 30066

About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.

YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana).

American Flat Track: Fan Appreciation Night Coming To Volusia Half-Mile II

David Swarts

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September 21, 2022

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American Flat Track: Fan Appreciation Night Coming To Volusia Half-Mile II

Mission Happy Hour to Highlight Fan Appreciation Night at Progressive AFT Season Finale

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 21, 2022) – Progressive American Flat Track will celebrate its fanbase with a special “Fan Appreciation Night” at the Mission Volusia Half-Mile Finale II presented by Daytona Dodge on the season’s final day, Saturday, October 15, at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Florida.

The centerpiece of Fan Appreciation Night will be the Mission Happy Hour. Gates will open an hour early to allow the Mission Happy Hour to run from 2:30 p.m. local time up until on-track action kicks off for the evening at 4:00 p.m.

During that time, fans will enjoy a rider meet and greet along with a special Q&A hosted by Ralph Sheehen featuring the sport’s greatest athletes. There will also be a variety of special attractions, music, games, prizes, and giveaways.

Every attendee will receive a raffle ticket upon entrance and be welcome to take part in the taco eating contest alongside VIPs and past Progressive AFT championships. There will also be yard games to enjoy, including Jenga, Cornhole, and Connect 4.

Fans will also have the opportunity to win various prizes, including free Paddock Pass Upgrades, event shirts, food and beverage vouchers, and the chance to eat dinner alongside the riders and crew inside the Mission Hospitality Tent, among other offerings. Additionally, 20 attendees will get the exclusive experience of getting their photo taken at the podium.

Progressive AFT fans will also be able to take advantage of a special 50% off discount for the Paddock Pass Upgrade during the session’s opening half hour and then enjoy $5 off all merchandise for the final hour.

Additionally, the Halifax Humane Society will be in attendance, complete with ambassador dogs. Fans are encouraged to bring donations, the most pressing items being pet food (wet and dry, dog, cat, and kitten), treats, peanut butter, and laundry detergent.

Visit https://store.americanflattrack.com/ebooking/ticket/view/id/3697 to secure your tickets for the Mission Volusia Finale I & II presented by Daytona Dodge today.

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com. To score the latest gear for the Progressive American Flat Track fan, visit our official merchandise store at https://store.americanflattrack.com.

How to Watch:

FOX Sports and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of Progressive American Flat Track. For the 2022 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. FansChoice.tv provides livestreaming coverage of every Progressive AFT round at http://www.FansChoice.tv.

MotoAmerica: Will Hayes Make History At Barber?

September 22, 2022

Will Josh Herrin win for the ninth time? Will Rocco Landers beat the veterans again? Will Josh Hayes make history? The answers to those questions will come this weekend in the MotoAmerica Supersport season finale at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.

Titles Are There For The Taking As MotoAmerica Concludes 2022 Season At Barber

Five Titles Up For Grabs And Josh Hayes Can Make History In Season Finale

IRVINE, CA (September 22, 2022) – In addition to the premier Medallia Superbike Championship, five support-class titles will go the wire at Barber Motorsports Park, September 23-25, with the outcome likely not decided until Sunday afternoon as the curtain goes down on the 2022 MotoAmerica Championship.

The titles up for grabs? REV’IT! Twins Cup, SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup, Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. and two of the three Mini Cup By Motul classes.

And if that’s not enough to whet the appetite, there’s also a good chance of watching history in the making if four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes can muster up another victory in the Supersport class. A win in either of the two Supersport races will give Hayes 87 victories across all classes of AMA racing, and that will move him to the top of the heap as the winningest rider in AMA road racing history.

REV’IT! Twins Cup – Davis, Mazziotto Or Barry?

N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto’s Blake Davis started the 2022 REV’IT! Twins Cup Championship with a bang with a victory on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway. Then he sort of disappeared with seven straight races without a podium finish. So how is the 16-year-old Virginian leading the championship? A late season tear is how.

When Davis finished second in July at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca round, his season suddenly took off and he won two of the next five races and finished second in the other three. That combined with Jody Barry’s and Anthony Mazziotto’s late-season woes sees Davis with a 15-point lead heading into the season finale.

Rodio Racing’s Mazziotto, with two wins and three additional podiums, trails Davis by 15 points while leading Barry by just two points. Barry was the man to beat early in the season when he ripped off four wins in a row, but it’s been a ride on the struggle bus ever since. Still, both Mazziotto and Barry are capable of having spectacular weekends when at the top of their games.

They will need to do just that if they strive to catch Davis with just one 14-lap race remaining on Sunday afternoon at 12:40 p.m.

SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup – Wyman On Top

Cody Wyman and his Alpha Omega Kawasaki Ninja 400 roll into Barber Motorsports Park with a 20-point lead in the championship with two races and 50 points up for grabs in Alabama.

Wyman’s road to the title could have been made much easier if not for a crash in Saturday’s race one at New Jersey Motorsports Park that allowed Rodio Racing’s Gus Rodio to pull back 25 points on Wyman with his victory. In Sunday’s race two, it was Altus Motorsports’ Kayla Yaakov who came away with a rain-sodden victory with Rodio second and Wyman third.

And just like that, things got a lot more interesting.

Still, it is Wyman in the catbird seat with six wins on the season and the points lead. Wyman has three additional podiums to his credit, but two non-finishes and a seventh-place finish in the Ridge Motorsports Park round have put him in the position of needing a strong finish to take the crown.

Rodio, meanwhile, has just two wins on the year, but he has seven additional podium finishes and just one non-finish on his scorecard.

The third rider to have a legitimate shot at the title should Wyman falter is three-time race winner Yaakov, who became the first female MotoAmerica race winner back in June at Ridge Motorsports Park. Yaakov has been both fast and consistent with six podium finishes in addition to her three victories.

Just another three points behind Yaakov is Bauce Racing/JL62 Team’s Joe LiMandri Jr., the New Yorker coming into the final round with two wins and seven additional podiums (six of which were second-place finishes) on his 2022 resume.

One of the four – Wyman, Rodio, Yaakov and LiMandri – will be crowned this weekend at Barber. The first of two SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup races will run on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. with race two on Sunday at 1:20 p.m.

Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. – Anybody’s Guess

Sixteen points separate the top three in the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. program with Kayleigh Buyck leading Crystal Martinez by 10 points and Chloe Peterson by 16.

On paper, Buyck would appear to have a hand on the trophy with wins in four of the five races (she was docked her championship points from her Road America win for ignoring a red flag). However, Jennifer Chancellor was beating Buyck at Pitt Race until crashing out on the final lap and it was Martinez who stopped Buyck’s winning streak with a victory two weeks ago at New Jersey Motorsports Park. NJMP also marked the first time that Buyck wasn’t on the podium as she finished fourth,

Thus, it is Martinez with her victory at NJMP and her two other podium finishes who is the closest to Buyck. Then comes Peterson, a further six points behind in third place.

The top three in the point standings all suffered the same penalty at Road America when all three failed to adhere to the red flag and were stripped of their championship points.

The Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. race will close the weekend of action at Barber Motorsports Park with a 4:10 p.m. start on Sunday afternoon.

Supersport – Can Hayes Do It?

With Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Josh Herrin wrapping up the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship at New Jersey Motorsports Park, the focus on the Barber finale will be on Josh Hayes.

With his double victory at NJMP a few weeks ago, Hayes moved into a tie with Miguel Duhamel at the top of the list for all-time AMA race winners across all classes with 86. Now Hayes has one last chance in 2022 to break the record and will do so with a victory in either of the two Supersport races at Barber on his Squid Hunter Yamaha YZF-R6.

The man most likely to stand in his way of doing just that is Herrin. With eight wins and 14 total podiums in 16 races, Herrin made the 2022 season his own. And he’d probably like to be the one that keeps his old nemesis Hayes from taking the wins record on his watch.

Meanwhile, the class is filled with hungry young “kids,” led by Landers Racing’s Rocco Landers, who is a comfortable second in the championship after a three-win, 11-podium season thus far. Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott, the class rookie also earned a victory in his debut season of Supersport racing. Scott also has eight podiums on the season and is in no danger of losing third in the championship.

North East Cycle Outlet Racing’s Benjamin Smith is in danger of losing fourth in the championship to Hayes, despite the fact that Hayes only competed in half of the 16 races. In those eight races, however, Hayes had three wins, a second and two thirds. His only “off” weekend saw him finish fifth and sixth at Pitt Race. Thus, Smith and his two podium finishes leads Hayes by just two points.

The two Supersport races will take place at 2:10 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

Yuasa Stock 1000 – All Wrapped Up

Although Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing’s Corey Alexander wrapped up the Yuasa Stock 1000 Championship at his home round in New Jersey a few weeks ago, the finale promises to be a thrill-fest. Why? Because they have been all year.

With his seven wins on the season, a relaxed and newly crowned Alexander will be trying to end his stellar season on a high at Barber, but he’s sure to find the going difficult as it has been all year. The man who gave Alexander the most to deal with in 2022 is Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim – the only rider other than Alexander to win a race in the class this season.

Gillim and his four wins is second in the title chase, an insurmountable 25 points behind Alexander, who owns the tie-breaker if Gillim were to win the finale while Alexander failed to score a point. Second place is still up for grabs as Gillim is 11 points ahead of Alexander’s teammate Travis Wyman.

The Yuasa Stock 1000 race is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. and it will be the first race of the weekend at Barber.

Mini Cup By Motul – Just. Nine. Points.

Just nine points separate first from second in two of the three Mini Cup by Motul class championships as MotoAmerica’s youngest riders are set to fight it out on Saturday afternoon beginning at 4:30 p.m.

In the 160 class, it’s Nathan Gouker Racing’s Nathan Gouker with the upper hand and a nine-point lead over Xtreme Autoglass Pros’ Ryder Davis heading into the season finale on the purpose-built mini track at Barber Motorsports Park. Both riders have won two races in 2022 with Gouker earning four total podiums while Davis has five podiums to his credit. The difference comes down to race two at Ridge Motorsports Park where Gouker won while Davis struggled to a seventh-place finish.

In the 110 class, it’s again Gouker at the top of the standings, but this time it’s Anthony Lupo Jr. Racing’s Anthony Lupo Jr. giving chase. Again, the points lead is nine with both riders being on the podium in each of the six races thus far in the season. Gouker, though, has three wins to Lupo’s two.

Macc Racing/Broward Motorsports Tequesta’s Mac MacClugage, meanwhile, is third in both the 160 and 190 championships with the youngster earning his career-first victories this year when he won race two of the 160 class at Road America and race one of the 110 class at Ridge Motorsports Park.

It will be difficult to dislodge American Racing Team’s Kensei Matsudaira from the top of the 190-class championship as he leads Jesse James Racing’s Jesse James Shedden by 21 points heading into the finale. Shedden has more wins than Matsudaira, but Matsudaira has been on the podium in every race while Shedden has a non-score to his credit from race one at Pitt Race.

Pre-Barber Support Class Notes…

Last year’s two Supersport races were won by Sean Dylan Kelly and Gabriel Da Silva. For Kelly, it was win number 12 of his championship-winning season; for Da Silva it was his first career MotoAmerica victory as he topped Kelly in a driving rainstorm.

Jake Lewis won last year’s lone Stock 1000 race over Michael Gilbert and Travis Wyman. It was Lewis’s sixth victory of the season with the Kentuckian earning the 2021 Stock 1000 Championship.

The finale Twins Cup race of the season at Barber last year was won by class champion Kaleb De Keyrel over Jody Barry and Hayden Schultz.

The SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup class featured two races and one winner in the finale with champion Tyler Scott taking a pair of victories, his 10th and 11th wins of the season.

About MotoAmerica

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

Video: Attack The World! Richard Stanboli On Going WorldSBK Racing

September 22, 2022

Richard Stanboli (second from left) with Cameron Peterson (far left), Jake Gagne (second from right) and Matthew Scholtz (far right) on the MotoAmerica Superbike podium after Race One at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Attack Racing’s Richard Stanboli talks to Roadracing World Editor-at-Large Michael Gougis about what it takes to convert his MotoAmerica Championship-winning Superbikes to WorldSBK specifications and to ship their equipment to Portugal for a World Superbike wild card entry at Algarve International Circuit.

WorldSBK: Gerloff “Really Excited” About Opportunity With BMW

September 22, 2022

Garrett Gerloff on the grid at Magny-Cours. Photo courtesy Yamaha.