For the first time since 2019, the Tokyo Motorcycle Show opened Friday at the Tokyo Big Sight in the bay area of Tokyo, Japan. Photographer Kohei Hirota attended the opening day and submitted the following photos.
2022 is go! Buchan leads the way on the opening day at Snetterton
Danny Buchan kick started his 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season by topping the opening day of Official Testing at Snetterton, optimising the open pitlane track time to set the benchmark, edging Bradley Ray by 0.091s at the top of the timesheets.
Buchan had consistently stayed at the top of the times, but as the afternoon session ticked down, Ray surged up the order into second place as he experienced the Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha for the first time, easing Peter Hickman into third.
Hickman held third place at the end of the opening day for the FHO Racing BMW team after running at the top of the times earlier in the session.
SYNETIQ BMW’s Buchan said: “The plan was to work through some components this afternoon and we stuck some new bits on the bike – some we liked, some we didn’t, we ended up with quite a good lap time so I was quite happy. It is only testing, but everybody is still out there and everybody is still trying so we will see what we can improve on tomorrow.”
Rory Skinner bounced back from a morning crash to finish fourth fastest for the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki team, just ahead of Jason O’Halloran on the leading McAMS Yamaha who completed the top five. Defending champion Tarran Mackenzie posted the 13th fastest time.
Leon Haslam had a strong start to his return to the Championship, positing the sixth fastest time as he made his debut with the VisionTrack Kawasaki team at their home circuit.
Danny Kent led the Buildbase Suzuki charge in seventh place, pipping Tommy Bridewell on the Oxford Products Racing Ducati.
Tom Sykes made his much-anticipated debut with the MCE Ducati team, getting his first taste of the BSB-spec Ducati as he recorded the ninth fastest time with Christian Iddon completing the top ten on the second Buildbase Suzuki.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, R&G Official Test, Snetterton, Friday combined result:
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
FIM Superbike World Championship
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Barcelona, Spain
March 25, 2022
Provisional Day One Best Lap Times (all on Pirelli tires):
WILBUR Watch Co. Named The Official Timing & Scoring Partner Of MotoAmerica
High-End Watch Company Will Also Present Watches With Its Fastest Qualifier Award
IRVINE, CA – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is thrilled to announce that the WILBUR Watch Co. is now the Official Timing & Scoring partner of the 2022 Auto Parts 4 Less MotoAmerica Championship.
Based in San Diego, California, WILBUR Watch Co. designs, builds, and sells unique high-end watches that combine art and science in timepieces that are fearless. The company is led by award-winning designer and company CEO Jason Wilbur with an eye towards creating emotionally and technically exciting pieces that translate into what WILBUR says are “watches that could be, not what the industry says a watch should be.”
With WILBUR a natural fit as the Official Timing & Scoring partner of MotoAmerica, the watchmaking company has taken it a step further and will present the WILBUR Fastest Qualifier Award to a select-rider who earns pole position at each round. The award will rotate through the six MotoAmerica classes, with the class to be announced the week prior to each event. The pole-sitter will earn an ultra-limited WILBUR Speed Shop (SS) Modified watch.
“It’s exciting that WILBUR has joined us as our Official Timing & Scoring partner,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “It’s also fitting that they will be presenting a special WILBUR SS model watch to the fastest qualifier at every round. The watches have a real techy look and feel to them, and you can tell that there’s a great deal of design and engineering that goes into each of the watches. The attention to detail shows in the final product and our riders are going to be pumped to try and win them and wear them.”
“The WILBUR brand grows around ‘shared passion,’” said WILBUR CEO Jason Wilbur. “We celebrate the risk-takers; those who push the limits and those who hustle in the name of the winning spirit. MotoAmerica nurtures and promotes that spirit and passion through its community of riders and teams. We are proud to support the MotoAmerica family through this new partnership.”
The first of the WILBUR Fastest Qualifier Awards will go to the MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike polesitter in the opening round of the 2022 championship at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, April 8-10.
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.
Kevin Schwantz Named Grand Marshal of 2022 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
30th Annual AMA VMD event will highlight Schwantz’s AMA Superbike and Grand Prix career with Suzuki, and much more
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer and 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz has been named Grand Marshal for the 2022 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days event July 22-24 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is the preeminent — and longest-running — vintage motorcycle event in the country, with over 40,000 attendees each year enjoying off-road and road racing, bike shows, AMA Hall of Fame exhibits, camping, Laps For History on the legendary Mid-Ohio circuit and, of course, the country’s largest motorcycle swap meet.
Schwantz, who was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999, began riding at a young age and soon became a club-racing phenom — which launched him into a factory ride with the Yoshimura-Suzuki team in 1985 at just 21 years of age.
Schwantz won three AMA Superbike nationals that year and would win many more in the coming three years before heading to Europe in 1989 to contest the 500cc Grand Prix wars. Schwantz won the 500cc championship in 1993, and retired just two years later, his legacy of 25 GP wins, 21 lap records, 29 pole positions — along with his daring and dynamic personality on and off the bike — cemented in motorsports history forever.
Schwantz went on to own and run the Kevin Schwantz Suzuki School, a highly successful riding school based at Road Atlanta and, in later years, at Barber Motorsports Park.
A special highlight of Schwantz’s Grand Marshal appearance — where he’ll sign autographs, speak to enthusiasts from the AMA Soundstage, participate in a Lap For History each day at noon (and lead event attendees around the legendary Mid-Ohio circuit), and more — will be an exclusive showing of his 1985 Yoshimura-Suzuki AMA Superbike, which launched his career and which Schwantz recently acquired for his collection.
“Having not attended the VMD event before,” Schwantz said, “I’m very much looking forward to July. I love vintage motorcycles and the whole classic-bike scene, and I’ve heard such good things about VMD over the years, so it’ll be fun — especially since we’re going to showcase my 1985 Yoshimura/Suzuki Superbike. I can’t wait!”
“Kevin Schwantz looms large in motorcycle and motorcycle-racing history,” said AMA Editorial and Communications Director Mitch Boehm, “and having him as Grand Marshal at Mid-Ohio this summer for the 30th Anniversary of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days — along with the AMA Superbike that launched his career — will be a treat for everyone involved. VMD has always been a peak summer experience for enthusiasts from all over the country, and we’re planning to make it extra special for Kevin, too.”
For more information visit https.vintagemotorcycledays.com, sign up for the AMA VMD newsletter or follow #AMAVMD on social media channels. To purchase tickets, visit midohio.com/tickets or AMA members can purchase discounted tickets through May 30.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: americanmotorcyclist.com.
Hudson Valley Motorcycles To Support Upcoming Local Racer Vito DiCarlo
OSSINING, NY – Hudson Valley Motorcycles is pleased to announce its support of upcoming local racer and soon to be MotoAmerica Stock 1000cc rookie Vito DiCarlo. HVMC will support DiCarlo throughout his 2022 season as he makes the jump up to the 1000cc level aboard a Kawasaki ZX-10R in both the CCS series and select wild card MotoAmerica events.
HVMC is known nationally for its deep professional road-racing roots but this will mark its first sponsorship of a local rider outside of the MotoAmerica paddock in some time. The 28 year old New Jersey based racer caught the eye of HVMC and the Alexander family throughout the 2021 season with great results on track but more importantly a professional presentation coupled with strong determination to excel at his craft.
Partner and General Manager of Hudson Valley Motorcycles Richie Alexander commented: “Vito is a great rider with a great personality which is very important to us at HVMC. His results over the course of his short riding career speak for themselves but when looking for a candidate to help represent our family locally, we know Vito will do a great job and we are all excited to support him on and off the track!”
HVMC will support DiCarlo through its Kawasaki Team Green program as well as offering dealership resources including riding gear, parts, and overall technical support. Vito also has access to the all new RideHVMC west coast facility based at California’s Chuckwalla Valley Raceway receiving instruction with our very own Corey Alexander and the JP43 Training team throughout the winter months.
Vito commented, “I’m beyond blessed for this opportunity. The Hudson Valley family is the epitome of what every motorcycle enthusiast seeks out at a dealership and more. They aren’t there to sell you a motorcycle, but more of an overall experience. They welcome all walks of riders with open arms and that is the reason why I won’t go anywhere else for my motorcycle needs.”
About Hudson Valley Motorcycles:
Hudson Valley Motorcycles (HVMC) is a family owned and operated motorcycle dealership that serves New York’s Hudson Valley and Westchester County as well as the Tri-State and New England regions. HVMC has offered Kawasaki, Ducati, Scrambler Ducati, Suzuki, Energica and ATV, motorcycle or UTV Sales, Parts, and Service for over 55 years. For more info visit hudsonvalleymotorcycles.com, call (914)-762-2722 or follow @hvmotorcycles on social media.
About RideHVMC:
RideHVMC is a premier track experience provider offering track events, bike rentals, rider training, transportation, and bike storage at its California based facility located at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. It is also a proud supporter of Hudson Valley Racing’s MotoAmerica racing program. Visit RideHVMC.com or follow @ridehvmc to learn more about its offerings.
Canadian Rider Fund at North American International Motorcycle Super Show
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Rider Fund will be hosting a display at the upcoming North American International Motorcycle Super Show, at Toronto’s International Centre, March 25-27. The CRF display will include examples of current at-track installation devices focused on rider protection, and show give aways including the new season poster for the 2022 CSBK National roadracing championship series.
On Sunday afternoon, March 27, former CSBK National Superbike Champ Ben Young of Collingwood, ON, will be in the CRF booth, signing the 2022 poster that features an image of the lead Feature class final race battle from Calabogie, ON, between Young and eventual 2021 overall National Champ Alex Dumas of Desmaures, QC.
Young competes aboard a Van Dolder’s Home Team/Parts Canada backed BMW, while the Dumas Suzuki effort is backed by the Liqui Moly, FAST Riding School and MPG. Their rivalry will resume at the opening round of the 2022 Nationals at Grand Bend Motorplex, with Qualifying on Friday June 10, and feature races on June 11 & 12.
The Super Show has been a staple of the motorcycle off-season for over forty years, and typically kicks off the winter event tour at the start of January. This year, the pandemic delayed the show until the end of March, and the Super Show, presented by NFP, will be the first indoor consumer motorcycle event to take place in Canada for more than two years.
Hours for the North American International Motorcycle Super Show, held at Mississauga’s International Centre near the Airport, are Friday 11 AM – 9 PM; Saturday 10 AM – 8 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM.
Founded in 2008, the Canadian Rider Fund (CRF) was formerly known at the Canadian Rider Safety Fund (CRSF). A registered non-profit, the CRF provides a range of installation solutions at a variety of venues, including Atlantic Motorsport Park in Nova Scotia, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Calabogie Motorsports Park, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Grand Bend Motorplex, and venues in Alberta.
The initial focus of the CRF was the development and installation of Bottle Bags at tracks across Canada, starting at A.M.P. on the east coast. The Bottle Bags are large, soft sided resin containers that are filled by empty plastic water bottles and other similar crushable containers, with their screw-on lids attached.
The CRF are currently seeking donations and support towards the expansion of the Bottle Bag program, and the purchase of the latest portable trackside soft barrier modules. Two of the new modules will be on display at the Show.
Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK Fired Up for 2022 WorldSBK Title Defence Campaign
Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK and its riders Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Andrea Locatelli revealed their official colours for the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship today, as the team prepares to defend the ‘Triple Crown’ with two further days of pre-season testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from 25-26 March.
The two official Yamaha riders line up for their second season together as a formidable pair aboard the R1 WorldSBK. For Razgatlıoğlu, it will be his third year in Yamaha blue after a sensational 2021 season which saw the Turkish ace win 13 races, collect 29 podiums, three pole positions and seven fastest lap awards on his way to the Riders’ Championship title. The 25-year-old will compete with the coveted #1 on his R1 WorldSBK, also revealed for its inaugural outing today.
It will be a tough act to follow one of the most thrilling WorldSBK seasons of the sport’s history, but Yamaha Motor Research & Development Europe and the Crescent team have left no stone unturned during the winter in order to provide the best chance to defend the Riders’, Manufacturers’ and Teams’ Championships. A raft of upgrades introduced across engine and chassis components, as well as key electronics developments, will bolster the R1 WorldSBK’s well-rounded race package. Launched in its new colours with accents to reflect the latest production-based Yamaha R1, the 2022 Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK machine gives its riders enhanced overall performance compared to the 2021 title-winning racer.
Playing a key part in the team’s future success is 2021 Rookie of the Year Locatelli, who out-performed seasoned stalwarts of the series to finish fourth overall in the Riders’ Championship with incredible consistency throughout his first year in the premier class. The 25-year-old Italian achieved four podiums in total last year and is eager to deliver more – including challenge for his first WorldSBK race victory in 2022.
Pata Snack, a name that has become synonymous with Yamaha since its return to WorldSBK competition in 2016, continues for a seventh consecutive year as title sponsor, joined by financial forecasting software company Brixx displayed in its striking red. Motorcycle accident management specialists, McAMS has also become a Primary Partner of the team to further strengthen its title defence campaign.
The team would also like to welcome back and thank BMP Tappi, Semakin di Depan, Yamalube, Akrapovic, Hel Performance, Corpay and Breeze Motor Group, and extend a warm welcome to new key partners Pro-Bolt, industry leaders in premium fasteners, and OUTDO high performance motorcycle batteries.
Finally, Yamaha fans will not need to wait much longer to see their favourite protagonists turn a wheel in anger, with the first round of the season just around the corner in two weeks’ time from 8-10 April at MotorLand Aragon, following the official pre-season test at the same venue on 4-5 April.
Paul Denning – Team Principal, Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK
“It is a pleasure to show off the new Yamaha WorldSBK colours for the 2022 season. Heading into this year’s racing has an extra special element as we line up as the defending WorldSBK Champions, but our goals remain the same – do our best, stay focused on what we can control and maximise our performance. Both Toprak and Loka have been working hard over the winter, Yamaha’s engineers have been completely committed, and the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldBSK team has been fully engaged to finalise our competitive package both on and off the track. The entire project is very grateful for the support from our loyal partners, including Pata Snack and Brixx, the expanded support levels from McAMS, Hel Performance and Corpay, new partnerships with Pro-Bolt and OUTDO, and returning support from BMP Tappi, Semakin di Depan, Yamalube, Akrapovic, Breeze Motor Group and our many technical partners and long-time suppliers. We could not be in this position without this support, and we will do all we can to represent our partners and the Yamaha brand with another title challenge in 2022.”
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu
“My team has done incredible work over the winter and I have enjoyed testing all the developments! The new R1 WorldSBK looks amazing and we are ready to start the new season. I always say, my approach is the same in this championship: to fight for race wins every time. I cannot wait to ride my bike this week in Barcelona, we will continue to work on the race package and try to improve after very good tests in Aragon and Portimão. It will also be good to see our competition for 2022, but our focus is inside the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK pit box for these final days before the first race.”
Andrea Locatelli
“I am really excited to start racing again! It’s my second season in WorldSBK and also with Yamaha, so for sure we have higher objectives. Even with more experience, the focus remains on trying to improve every session towards being able to fight for the podium every weekend. This is our objective and I hope we can start well, from the first race until the last one! I want to try and win with the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK team in 2022, because it is important for me and also for the team. We had such an amazing season last year, but I am ready to take the next step. The 2022 Yamaha R1 WorldSBK looks great, we have new colours on the bike but also some new developments and parts that we tried during testing this winter – now, we will finalise the package to use during the season. Yamaha has done a fantastic job around the bike to find improvements and we are almost ready to go!”
GRT GYTR YAMAHA WORLDSBK TEAM OFFICIALLY LAUNCH ITS 2022 YAMAHA R1 BIKES
The GRT GYTR Yamaha WorldSBK Team officially unveiled its 2022 colours for the upcoming FIM Superbike World Championship campaign, with the team and its riders Garrett Gerloff and Kohta Nozane set to run the new livery for the first time at the Barcelona test (25th-26th March).
After being crowned the Best Independent Team, the renewed GRT GYTR Yamaha WorldSBK Team aims for another successful season with Gerloff, who heads into 2022 having won the Best Independent Rider title. The American is targeting his first WorldSBK race victory and regular podium finishes in his third campaign with the team.
On the other side of the box, Nozane demonstrated promising potential in his rookie season, making significant progress and scoring strong results despite not knowing most of the tracks. The Japanese rider learned a lot in his debut year and is aiming to use the experience gained to challenge further up the order in 2022.
This year’s Yamaha R1 WorldSBK will feature significant Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing branding, with GYTR also included in the team’s name. The high-quality GYTR products are sure to help the team maximise its on-track performances every race weekend.
The colour scheme of the GRT GYTR Yamaha WorldSBK Team has also received an update for 2022, with accents reflecting the latest line of Yamaha R1 production bikes. Moreover, the team is delighted to introduce numerous new partners for this season, as well as welcoming back several key partners, who have been significant in the squad’s successes over the years.
Garrett Gerloff: “I’m so glad I only had to wait 24 hours between seeing the new bikes for the first time and them being shown to the public! I couldn’t have kept it a secret much longer than that! The colour scheme and the graphics are incredible, they’ve outdone themselves. I’m very excited to ride the new GRT GYTR Yamaha WorldSBK Team R1 on track here in Barcelona. We’re still going through our pre-season campaign in preparation for the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship, and test after test we’re gaining confidence to be ready for the first round in Aragòn. Just two weeks left until the lights go out and I cannot wait for a new beginning with my amazing team!”
Kohta Nozane: “I didn’t lie when I said that the new bikes and leathers were definitely something worth waiting for! We’re finally underway with the new GRT GYTR Yamaha WorldSBK Team and it couldn’t be much better than this. We’re getting ready for the beginning of the 2022 WorldSBK season and I want to prove what I’m capable of after my rookie campaign.”
Filippo Conti: “The bike and leather’s unveiling is always something special and we were thrilled to show off our new GRT GYTR Yamaha WorldSBK Team. Having GYTR is an important step for our growth and we’re sure it will help us to make another step forwards to reach our goals. As you can see, the livery looks a bit different from what we had in 2021 but we’re really pleased with how it looks and hope you are too. I would like to thank the new sponsors and partners which had faith in us, and I’m super delighted to confirm the continuation of our relationship with numerous Official Sponsors and Official Partners. Now we’ll keep working on track during the test days to be ready for the 2022 WorldSBK season.”
OFFICIAL SPONSORS
GYTR
OUTDO
PATA
Yamalube
Banqua
Ford Trucks
Tortellini Soverini
Heliopolis
Net Admin
Ret Group
OFFICIAL PARTNERS
Yamaha Motor R&D Europe
Akrapovic
2D
NGK Spark Plugs
HEL Performance
Bonamici Racing
BST Bolts
BMC AirFilter
Alkiria
GB Racing
Suter Clutches
Plastic Bike
Mikymotor
Domino Accessori
Regina Chain
Gandini Race
Beta Utensili
WRS
RaceSeats
Sharp
Micron Equipments
Hurly Parts
Prisma Electronics
Falc (W6YZ)
Saquella Caffè
American Mikey Lou Sanchez, age 11, will be racing for the Austin Racing VHC Team in Spain’s RFME ESBK Moto4 National Championship in 2022.
Sanchez will ride a Corse Factory motorcycle fitted with one of the series’ spec Honda CRF150R engines.
The RFME ESBK Moto4 Championship consists of seven double-header rounds with the races on Sundays streamed on the series’ YouTube channel.
“After a great 2021 season racing Moto5 with the Cuna de Campeones,” said Sanchez’s mother Trinity Richardson, “we decided Mikey was ready to go to the next level, Moto4, with this series being the most competitive for ages 11-14.”
The 2022 RFME ESBK Moto4 Championship starts April 2-3 at Jerez.
Sanchez is supported by: Shawn Knoche, Roadway Traffic Control, Williams Custom Painting, Fondu, San Marcos Iron Doors, Texas Motorcycle Academy, Harris Hill Flat Trackers, and Moto Liberty.
For the first time since 2019, the Tokyo Motorcycle Show opened Friday at the Tokyo Big Sight in the bay area of Tokyo, Japan. Photographer Kohei Hirota attended the opening day and submitted the following photos.
2022 is go! Buchan leads the way on the opening day at Snetterton
Danny Buchan kick started his 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season by topping the opening day of Official Testing at Snetterton, optimising the open pitlane track time to set the benchmark, edging Bradley Ray by 0.091s at the top of the timesheets.
Buchan had consistently stayed at the top of the times, but as the afternoon session ticked down, Ray surged up the order into second place as he experienced the Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha for the first time, easing Peter Hickman into third.
Hickman held third place at the end of the opening day for the FHO Racing BMW team after running at the top of the times earlier in the session.
SYNETIQ BMW’s Buchan said: “The plan was to work through some components this afternoon and we stuck some new bits on the bike – some we liked, some we didn’t, we ended up with quite a good lap time so I was quite happy. It is only testing, but everybody is still out there and everybody is still trying so we will see what we can improve on tomorrow.”
Rory Skinner bounced back from a morning crash to finish fourth fastest for the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki team, just ahead of Jason O’Halloran on the leading McAMS Yamaha who completed the top five. Defending champion Tarran Mackenzie posted the 13th fastest time.
Leon Haslam had a strong start to his return to the Championship, positing the sixth fastest time as he made his debut with the VisionTrack Kawasaki team at their home circuit.
Danny Kent led the Buildbase Suzuki charge in seventh place, pipping Tommy Bridewell on the Oxford Products Racing Ducati.
Tom Sykes made his much-anticipated debut with the MCE Ducati team, getting his first taste of the BSB-spec Ducati as he recorded the ninth fastest time with Christian Iddon completing the top ten on the second Buildbase Suzuki.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, R&G Official Test, Snetterton, Friday combined result:
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
FIM Superbike World Championship
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Barcelona, Spain
March 25, 2022
Provisional Day One Best Lap Times (all on Pirelli tires):
WILBUR Watch Co. Named The Official Timing & Scoring Partner Of MotoAmerica
High-End Watch Company Will Also Present Watches With Its Fastest Qualifier Award
IRVINE, CA – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is thrilled to announce that the WILBUR Watch Co. is now the Official Timing & Scoring partner of the 2022 Auto Parts 4 Less MotoAmerica Championship.
Based in San Diego, California, WILBUR Watch Co. designs, builds, and sells unique high-end watches that combine art and science in timepieces that are fearless. The company is led by award-winning designer and company CEO Jason Wilbur with an eye towards creating emotionally and technically exciting pieces that translate into what WILBUR says are “watches that could be, not what the industry says a watch should be.”
With WILBUR a natural fit as the Official Timing & Scoring partner of MotoAmerica, the watchmaking company has taken it a step further and will present the WILBUR Fastest Qualifier Award to a select-rider who earns pole position at each round. The award will rotate through the six MotoAmerica classes, with the class to be announced the week prior to each event. The pole-sitter will earn an ultra-limited WILBUR Speed Shop (SS) Modified watch.
“It’s exciting that WILBUR has joined us as our Official Timing & Scoring partner,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “It’s also fitting that they will be presenting a special WILBUR SS model watch to the fastest qualifier at every round. The watches have a real techy look and feel to them, and you can tell that there’s a great deal of design and engineering that goes into each of the watches. The attention to detail shows in the final product and our riders are going to be pumped to try and win them and wear them.”
“The WILBUR brand grows around ‘shared passion,’” said WILBUR CEO Jason Wilbur. “We celebrate the risk-takers; those who push the limits and those who hustle in the name of the winning spirit. MotoAmerica nurtures and promotes that spirit and passion through its community of riders and teams. We are proud to support the MotoAmerica family through this new partnership.”
The first of the WILBUR Fastest Qualifier Awards will go to the MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike polesitter in the opening round of the 2022 championship at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, April 8-10.
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.
Kevin Schwantz Named Grand Marshal of 2022 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
30th Annual AMA VMD event will highlight Schwantz’s AMA Superbike and Grand Prix career with Suzuki, and much more
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer and 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz has been named Grand Marshal for the 2022 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days event July 22-24 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is the preeminent — and longest-running — vintage motorcycle event in the country, with over 40,000 attendees each year enjoying off-road and road racing, bike shows, AMA Hall of Fame exhibits, camping, Laps For History on the legendary Mid-Ohio circuit and, of course, the country’s largest motorcycle swap meet.
Schwantz, who was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999, began riding at a young age and soon became a club-racing phenom — which launched him into a factory ride with the Yoshimura-Suzuki team in 1985 at just 21 years of age.
Schwantz won three AMA Superbike nationals that year and would win many more in the coming three years before heading to Europe in 1989 to contest the 500cc Grand Prix wars. Schwantz won the 500cc championship in 1993, and retired just two years later, his legacy of 25 GP wins, 21 lap records, 29 pole positions — along with his daring and dynamic personality on and off the bike — cemented in motorsports history forever.
Schwantz went on to own and run the Kevin Schwantz Suzuki School, a highly successful riding school based at Road Atlanta and, in later years, at Barber Motorsports Park.
A special highlight of Schwantz’s Grand Marshal appearance — where he’ll sign autographs, speak to enthusiasts from the AMA Soundstage, participate in a Lap For History each day at noon (and lead event attendees around the legendary Mid-Ohio circuit), and more — will be an exclusive showing of his 1985 Yoshimura-Suzuki AMA Superbike, which launched his career and which Schwantz recently acquired for his collection.
“Having not attended the VMD event before,” Schwantz said, “I’m very much looking forward to July. I love vintage motorcycles and the whole classic-bike scene, and I’ve heard such good things about VMD over the years, so it’ll be fun — especially since we’re going to showcase my 1985 Yoshimura/Suzuki Superbike. I can’t wait!”
“Kevin Schwantz looms large in motorcycle and motorcycle-racing history,” said AMA Editorial and Communications Director Mitch Boehm, “and having him as Grand Marshal at Mid-Ohio this summer for the 30th Anniversary of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days — along with the AMA Superbike that launched his career — will be a treat for everyone involved. VMD has always been a peak summer experience for enthusiasts from all over the country, and we’re planning to make it extra special for Kevin, too.”
For more information visit https.vintagemotorcycledays.com, sign up for the AMA VMD newsletter or follow #AMAVMD on social media channels. To purchase tickets, visit midohio.com/tickets or AMA members can purchase discounted tickets through May 30.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: americanmotorcyclist.com.
Hudson Valley Motorcycles To Support Upcoming Local Racer Vito DiCarlo
OSSINING, NY – Hudson Valley Motorcycles is pleased to announce its support of upcoming local racer and soon to be MotoAmerica Stock 1000cc rookie Vito DiCarlo. HVMC will support DiCarlo throughout his 2022 season as he makes the jump up to the 1000cc level aboard a Kawasaki ZX-10R in both the CCS series and select wild card MotoAmerica events.
HVMC is known nationally for its deep professional road-racing roots but this will mark its first sponsorship of a local rider outside of the MotoAmerica paddock in some time. The 28 year old New Jersey based racer caught the eye of HVMC and the Alexander family throughout the 2021 season with great results on track but more importantly a professional presentation coupled with strong determination to excel at his craft.
Partner and General Manager of Hudson Valley Motorcycles Richie Alexander commented: “Vito is a great rider with a great personality which is very important to us at HVMC. His results over the course of his short riding career speak for themselves but when looking for a candidate to help represent our family locally, we know Vito will do a great job and we are all excited to support him on and off the track!”
HVMC will support DiCarlo through its Kawasaki Team Green program as well as offering dealership resources including riding gear, parts, and overall technical support. Vito also has access to the all new RideHVMC west coast facility based at California’s Chuckwalla Valley Raceway receiving instruction with our very own Corey Alexander and the JP43 Training team throughout the winter months.
Vito commented, “I’m beyond blessed for this opportunity. The Hudson Valley family is the epitome of what every motorcycle enthusiast seeks out at a dealership and more. They aren’t there to sell you a motorcycle, but more of an overall experience. They welcome all walks of riders with open arms and that is the reason why I won’t go anywhere else for my motorcycle needs.”
About Hudson Valley Motorcycles:
Hudson Valley Motorcycles (HVMC) is a family owned and operated motorcycle dealership that serves New York’s Hudson Valley and Westchester County as well as the Tri-State and New England regions. HVMC has offered Kawasaki, Ducati, Scrambler Ducati, Suzuki, Energica and ATV, motorcycle or UTV Sales, Parts, and Service for over 55 years. For more info visit hudsonvalleymotorcycles.com, call (914)-762-2722 or follow @hvmotorcycles on social media.
About RideHVMC:
RideHVMC is a premier track experience provider offering track events, bike rentals, rider training, transportation, and bike storage at its California based facility located at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. It is also a proud supporter of Hudson Valley Racing’s MotoAmerica racing program. Visit RideHVMC.com or follow @ridehvmc to learn more about its offerings.
Canadian Rider Fund at North American International Motorcycle Super Show
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Rider Fund will be hosting a display at the upcoming North American International Motorcycle Super Show, at Toronto’s International Centre, March 25-27. The CRF display will include examples of current at-track installation devices focused on rider protection, and show give aways including the new season poster for the 2022 CSBK National roadracing championship series.
On Sunday afternoon, March 27, former CSBK National Superbike Champ Ben Young of Collingwood, ON, will be in the CRF booth, signing the 2022 poster that features an image of the lead Feature class final race battle from Calabogie, ON, between Young and eventual 2021 overall National Champ Alex Dumas of Desmaures, QC.
Young competes aboard a Van Dolder’s Home Team/Parts Canada backed BMW, while the Dumas Suzuki effort is backed by the Liqui Moly, FAST Riding School and MPG. Their rivalry will resume at the opening round of the 2022 Nationals at Grand Bend Motorplex, with Qualifying on Friday June 10, and feature races on June 11 & 12.
The Super Show has been a staple of the motorcycle off-season for over forty years, and typically kicks off the winter event tour at the start of January. This year, the pandemic delayed the show until the end of March, and the Super Show, presented by NFP, will be the first indoor consumer motorcycle event to take place in Canada for more than two years.
Hours for the North American International Motorcycle Super Show, held at Mississauga’s International Centre near the Airport, are Friday 11 AM – 9 PM; Saturday 10 AM – 8 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM.
Founded in 2008, the Canadian Rider Fund (CRF) was formerly known at the Canadian Rider Safety Fund (CRSF). A registered non-profit, the CRF provides a range of installation solutions at a variety of venues, including Atlantic Motorsport Park in Nova Scotia, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Calabogie Motorsports Park, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Grand Bend Motorplex, and venues in Alberta.
The initial focus of the CRF was the development and installation of Bottle Bags at tracks across Canada, starting at A.M.P. on the east coast. The Bottle Bags are large, soft sided resin containers that are filled by empty plastic water bottles and other similar crushable containers, with their screw-on lids attached.
The CRF are currently seeking donations and support towards the expansion of the Bottle Bag program, and the purchase of the latest portable trackside soft barrier modules. Two of the new modules will be on display at the Show.
Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK Fired Up for 2022 WorldSBK Title Defence Campaign
Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK and its riders Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Andrea Locatelli revealed their official colours for the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship today, as the team prepares to defend the ‘Triple Crown’ with two further days of pre-season testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from 25-26 March.
The two official Yamaha riders line up for their second season together as a formidable pair aboard the R1 WorldSBK. For Razgatlıoğlu, it will be his third year in Yamaha blue after a sensational 2021 season which saw the Turkish ace win 13 races, collect 29 podiums, three pole positions and seven fastest lap awards on his way to the Riders’ Championship title. The 25-year-old will compete with the coveted #1 on his R1 WorldSBK, also revealed for its inaugural outing today.
It will be a tough act to follow one of the most thrilling WorldSBK seasons of the sport’s history, but Yamaha Motor Research & Development Europe and the Crescent team have left no stone unturned during the winter in order to provide the best chance to defend the Riders’, Manufacturers’ and Teams’ Championships. A raft of upgrades introduced across engine and chassis components, as well as key electronics developments, will bolster the R1 WorldSBK’s well-rounded race package. Launched in its new colours with accents to reflect the latest production-based Yamaha R1, the 2022 Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK machine gives its riders enhanced overall performance compared to the 2021 title-winning racer.
Playing a key part in the team’s future success is 2021 Rookie of the Year Locatelli, who out-performed seasoned stalwarts of the series to finish fourth overall in the Riders’ Championship with incredible consistency throughout his first year in the premier class. The 25-year-old Italian achieved four podiums in total last year and is eager to deliver more – including challenge for his first WorldSBK race victory in 2022.
Pata Snack, a name that has become synonymous with Yamaha since its return to WorldSBK competition in 2016, continues for a seventh consecutive year as title sponsor, joined by financial forecasting software company Brixx displayed in its striking red. Motorcycle accident management specialists, McAMS has also become a Primary Partner of the team to further strengthen its title defence campaign.
The team would also like to welcome back and thank BMP Tappi, Semakin di Depan, Yamalube, Akrapovic, Hel Performance, Corpay and Breeze Motor Group, and extend a warm welcome to new key partners Pro-Bolt, industry leaders in premium fasteners, and OUTDO high performance motorcycle batteries.
Finally, Yamaha fans will not need to wait much longer to see their favourite protagonists turn a wheel in anger, with the first round of the season just around the corner in two weeks’ time from 8-10 April at MotorLand Aragon, following the official pre-season test at the same venue on 4-5 April.
Paul Denning – Team Principal, Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK
“It is a pleasure to show off the new Yamaha WorldSBK colours for the 2022 season. Heading into this year’s racing has an extra special element as we line up as the defending WorldSBK Champions, but our goals remain the same – do our best, stay focused on what we can control and maximise our performance. Both Toprak and Loka have been working hard over the winter, Yamaha’s engineers have been completely committed, and the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldBSK team has been fully engaged to finalise our competitive package both on and off the track. The entire project is very grateful for the support from our loyal partners, including Pata Snack and Brixx, the expanded support levels from McAMS, Hel Performance and Corpay, new partnerships with Pro-Bolt and OUTDO, and returning support from BMP Tappi, Semakin di Depan, Yamalube, Akrapovic, Breeze Motor Group and our many technical partners and long-time suppliers. We could not be in this position without this support, and we will do all we can to represent our partners and the Yamaha brand with another title challenge in 2022.”
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu
“My team has done incredible work over the winter and I have enjoyed testing all the developments! The new R1 WorldSBK looks amazing and we are ready to start the new season. I always say, my approach is the same in this championship: to fight for race wins every time. I cannot wait to ride my bike this week in Barcelona, we will continue to work on the race package and try to improve after very good tests in Aragon and Portimão. It will also be good to see our competition for 2022, but our focus is inside the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK pit box for these final days before the first race.”
Andrea Locatelli
“I am really excited to start racing again! It’s my second season in WorldSBK and also with Yamaha, so for sure we have higher objectives. Even with more experience, the focus remains on trying to improve every session towards being able to fight for the podium every weekend. This is our objective and I hope we can start well, from the first race until the last one! I want to try and win with the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK team in 2022, because it is important for me and also for the team. We had such an amazing season last year, but I am ready to take the next step. The 2022 Yamaha R1 WorldSBK looks great, we have new colours on the bike but also some new developments and parts that we tried during testing this winter – now, we will finalise the package to use during the season. Yamaha has done a fantastic job around the bike to find improvements and we are almost ready to go!”
GRT GYTR YAMAHA WORLDSBK TEAM OFFICIALLY LAUNCH ITS 2022 YAMAHA R1 BIKES
The GRT GYTR Yamaha WorldSBK Team officially unveiled its 2022 colours for the upcoming FIM Superbike World Championship campaign, with the team and its riders Garrett Gerloff and Kohta Nozane set to run the new livery for the first time at the Barcelona test (25th-26th March).
After being crowned the Best Independent Team, the renewed GRT GYTR Yamaha WorldSBK Team aims for another successful season with Gerloff, who heads into 2022 having won the Best Independent Rider title. The American is targeting his first WorldSBK race victory and regular podium finishes in his third campaign with the team.
On the other side of the box, Nozane demonstrated promising potential in his rookie season, making significant progress and scoring strong results despite not knowing most of the tracks. The Japanese rider learned a lot in his debut year and is aiming to use the experience gained to challenge further up the order in 2022.
This year’s Yamaha R1 WorldSBK will feature significant Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing branding, with GYTR also included in the team’s name. The high-quality GYTR products are sure to help the team maximise its on-track performances every race weekend.
The colour scheme of the GRT GYTR Yamaha WorldSBK Team has also received an update for 2022, with accents reflecting the latest line of Yamaha R1 production bikes. Moreover, the team is delighted to introduce numerous new partners for this season, as well as welcoming back several key partners, who have been significant in the squad’s successes over the years.
Garrett Gerloff: “I’m so glad I only had to wait 24 hours between seeing the new bikes for the first time and them being shown to the public! I couldn’t have kept it a secret much longer than that! The colour scheme and the graphics are incredible, they’ve outdone themselves. I’m very excited to ride the new GRT GYTR Yamaha WorldSBK Team R1 on track here in Barcelona. We’re still going through our pre-season campaign in preparation for the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship, and test after test we’re gaining confidence to be ready for the first round in Aragòn. Just two weeks left until the lights go out and I cannot wait for a new beginning with my amazing team!”
Kohta Nozane: “I didn’t lie when I said that the new bikes and leathers were definitely something worth waiting for! We’re finally underway with the new GRT GYTR Yamaha WorldSBK Team and it couldn’t be much better than this. We’re getting ready for the beginning of the 2022 WorldSBK season and I want to prove what I’m capable of after my rookie campaign.”
Filippo Conti: “The bike and leather’s unveiling is always something special and we were thrilled to show off our new GRT GYTR Yamaha WorldSBK Team. Having GYTR is an important step for our growth and we’re sure it will help us to make another step forwards to reach our goals. As you can see, the livery looks a bit different from what we had in 2021 but we’re really pleased with how it looks and hope you are too. I would like to thank the new sponsors and partners which had faith in us, and I’m super delighted to confirm the continuation of our relationship with numerous Official Sponsors and Official Partners. Now we’ll keep working on track during the test days to be ready for the 2022 WorldSBK season.”
OFFICIAL SPONSORS
GYTR
OUTDO
PATA
Yamalube
Banqua
Ford Trucks
Tortellini Soverini
Heliopolis
Net Admin
Ret Group
OFFICIAL PARTNERS
Yamaha Motor R&D Europe
Akrapovic
2D
NGK Spark Plugs
HEL Performance
Bonamici Racing
BST Bolts
BMC AirFilter
Alkiria
GB Racing
Suter Clutches
Plastic Bike
Mikymotor
Domino Accessori
Regina Chain
Gandini Race
Beta Utensili
WRS
RaceSeats
Sharp
Micron Equipments
Hurly Parts
Prisma Electronics
Falc (W6YZ)
Saquella Caffè
American Mikey Lou Sanchez, age 11, will be racing for the Austin Racing VHC Team in Spain’s RFME ESBK Moto4 National Championship in 2022.
Sanchez will ride a Corse Factory motorcycle fitted with one of the series’ spec Honda CRF150R engines.
The RFME ESBK Moto4 Championship consists of seven double-header rounds with the races on Sundays streamed on the series’ YouTube channel.
“After a great 2021 season racing Moto5 with the Cuna de Campeones,” said Sanchez’s mother Trinity Richardson, “we decided Mikey was ready to go to the next level, Moto4, with this series being the most competitive for ages 11-14.”
The 2022 RFME ESBK Moto4 Championship starts April 2-3 at Jerez.
Sanchez is supported by: Shawn Knoche, Roadway Traffic Control, Williams Custom Painting, Fondu, San Marcos Iron Doors, Texas Motorcycle Academy, Harris Hill Flat Trackers, and Moto Liberty.
