With the motorsport season fast approaching and Philip Island’s Australian round just a month away, Team Pata GoEleven have officially launched their 2025 campaign from the Italian Alps at an event held in Limone Piedmonte. The team unveiled a new livery, a reimagining of the team’s signature yellow and white colors, which will feature the same #29 of rider Andrea Iannone. Iannone made his debut with the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and the GoEleven Ducati alike last season, a transition which hardly seemed to slow him down. Atop his team’s independent Ducati Panigale V4 R, ‘The Maniac’ earned five podiums including a race win at the Tissot Aragon Round’s Race day 1. Iannone will look to maintain this pace and look to take another step forward in what has been a fruitful racing career so far.
Be sure to catch ‘The Maniac’ and his podium pursuit this season, see every moment with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
The start of the 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is getting closer, and testing has already started, with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team completing a one-day test at Jerez last year. At the team launch in Berlin this week, riders Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark spoke about their first impressions of the 2025 machine, which features revised aerodynamics, changes to the engine and more, while Team Principal Shaun Muir and BMW Motorrad Technical Director, Chris Gonschor, also explained what the riders had told them.
“IT’S A LITTLE BIT BETTER” – Razgatlioglu aiming to be fast out of the blocks
After claiming the 2024 title in stunning fashion, with 18 wins and 27 podiums despite missing two rounds, Razgatlioglu is aiming to defend his title with the #1 plate on his M 1000 RR. ‘El Turco’ was adapting to the BMW machine in the early phases of last year but, with a year of experience under his belt, is expecting to be fast from the start in 2025 despite changes to the bike and only one day of testing on it.
The Turkish star said: “We improved the grip a little bit, which is good as it’s what I need. We improved that a little bit and the electronics side. In general, I’m feeling very similar and there’s not a big difference. The fairing is a little bit different, and the bike feels more agile. This is a good step. In general, I know the bike. I’ve learnt it and I know the character. This is a big advantage for me for the new season. Last year, when we got to Phillip Island, I was still learning my bike. This year, I know it and I’ll start fast immediately. It’s a little bit better but we need to see with all riders; I rode alone at the test and only did one day. It looks not bad, but it was also very cold conditions. We need a hot conditions test. I’ll miss the first test at Jerez because my finger’s broken. Maybe I’ll go to Portimao but if not, we’ll see at the Phillip Island test. I’m excited to have the #1.”
“IT FELT GOOD STRAIGHT AWAY” – a good year for van der Mark in store?
Van der Mark had an injury-free year in 2024 and finished in the top six of the World Championship standings for the first time since 2021. He took a wet weather victory at a soaking Magny-Cours as he delivered a masterclass in the wet, while he also ended the year on the podium with his friend and teammate, Razgatlioglu. For 2025, van der Mark is aiming to start where he finished last year, and his first impressions of the new bike were also positive.
The Dutchman commented: “It was just one day but it was nice to get out on the bike. It was nice to get the first feeling with the new package. It felt good straight away. It’s always difficult, when you’re out on track alone, to compare with other bikes. The best thing for us is that the first impression and feeling for us was positive. Some small areas where we wanted to improve so we’ll see where we are in the first test at Jerez.”
“THEY HAD A SMILE ON THEIR FACE!” – work to do despite good first impression
Technical Director Gonschor was delighted with the initial feedback from the riders, but admitted there was still work to do to refine the package ahead of the season-opening Australian Round. He stated: “Luckily, they had a smile on their face! It was a very good first impression but, like always, the very first test with a new bike, new engine specification and a whole package gives you some homework and questions. Overall, they saw the potential of the bike and it has improved compared to last year. Nevertheless, you have to work hard to gain every improvement in every aspect and we need a bit more testing to be perfectly prepared for Phillip Island.”
“THEY FEEL GOOD AND HAPPY” – another strong year for BMW?
Gonschor’s thoughts were echoed by Muir, the Team Principal, who stated the feedback he received was that it was an improvement in the whole package and not one specific area. He said: “The M 1000 RR now has a 2025 upgrade. It’s got a complete new aerodynamic package complete with the bike. A lot of work has been done on this. The engine has been upgraded. It’s got a top-end cylinder head modification and other internals. Generally, that package is much more sophisticated for us. The test team have worked many kilometres on this bike. The first impression of Toprak and Michael was that no one specific area was an improvement; it’s the package felt stronger everywhere. We only did one day. The first impression from Toprak and Michael was that they feel good and happy.”
Cardo’s “Your Ride. Your Recharge.” initiative encourages the mental health benefits of riding, as well as supporting The Motorcycle Relief Project.
Riding motorcycles isn’t just about fun and freedom. It’s also a terrific way to cleanse a mind and improve mental health. It’s essentially meditative therapy with your knees in the breeze.
The therapeutic benefits of motorcycle riding are being promoted by Cardo Systems in a new campaign dubbed “Your Ride. Your Recharge.” This initiative encourages motorcyclists to boost their “happiness batteries” by riding.
Cardo, which sells cutting-edge Bluetooth communication devices, surveyed nearly 20,000 of its users, with 56% reporting that improving their mental well-being was a core benefit of riding, reaffirming that motorcycling is a vital part of their self-care.
“We all know how important it is to keep our Cardo devices charged to maximize battery life, but many of us forget to do the same for ourselves,” said Dan Emodi, Cardo’s chief marketing officer. “With this campaign, we hope to inspire riders to take a moment to check their own ‘happiness battery,’ find a boost through rides and conversations, and reach out for support if needed.”
As part of its commitment to the riding community, Cardo is supporting The Motorcycle Relief Project (MRP) with a $10,000 donation and 10 Packtalk Edge communication devices. The MRP helps veterans and first responders heal from PTSD trauma through therapeutic motorcycle adventures.
The organization’s mission is to honor and encourage military veterans and first responders by providing recreational motorcycling experiences that offer relief from life’s struggles and the challenges of reintegration. MRP creates a positive environment where participants can connect with peers who have had similar experiences, offering tools for stress management, overcoming trauma, and steering participants toward further treatment for their injuries.
“Motorcycle Relief Project relies on effective communication between our volunteers during Relief Rides, which is why we choose Cardo devices,” said Mike Bobbitt, president of MRP. “With Cardo, our lead rider, chase vehicle, and sweep can stay connected at all times, ensuring a seamless and safe experience for participants. This technology is vital for monitoring rider progress and adapting the day’s plan as needed. Thank you, Cardo, for supporting our mission.”
For more than 20 years, Cardo has pioneered wireless communication for motorcyclists, enabling seamless group communication through innovative Bluetooth and Dynamic Mesh Communication technologies.
Cardo’s Packtalk lineup and Freecom 4X devices feature premium “Sound by JBL” speakers, allowing users to enjoy high-quality audio experiences while riding. Cardo’s upcoming “Mesh Boost” advancements will elevate these capabilities even further, offering unlimited connectivity via Cellular Intercom, larger group sizes, and new options for remote grouping.
With the “Your Ride. Your Recharge” campaign, Cardo continues to champion the mental health benefits of riding, empowering motorcyclists to prioritize their well-being and stay connected on every journey.
For more information, visit Cardo’s website. To find out more about the work of The Motorcycle Relief Project, visit MotoRelief.org.
The S2 Alpinista borrows its bodywork from the Del Mar and its headlight from the S2 Mulholland.
LiveWire, the electric-motorcycle company founded by Harley-Davidson, has released details about the third bike in its S2 platform. The S2 Alpinista joins the S2 Del Mar and S2 Mulholland, with the LiveWire One remaining at the top end of the lineup.
LiveWire describes the Alpinista as the brand’s first sport standard, as it’s equipped with 17-inch wheels and tires rather than the pair of 19-inchers on the flat-track-inspired Del Mar or the 19/17 combo on the cruisery Mulholland. With an MSRP of $15,999, the Alpinista slots in $250 cheaper than the Del Mar and $500 less than the Mulholland.
From this angle, the Alpinista looks nearly identical to the Del Mar but with 17-inch wheels and tires.
LiveWire says the Alpinista is designed for personalization, practicality, and performance by combining the urban agility of a supermoto with the do-it-all nature of a standard motorbike. Its 17-inch wheels (shod with Dunlop Roadsmart IV tires) will make the Alpinista a bit more agile and also reduces the seat height by 1.1 inches compared to the Del Mar, at 31.2 inches.
Key specs include a 24.5-degree rake with 3.6 inches of trail, along with a 56.8-inch wheelbase. It scales in at 434 lb whether or not its “tank” is full. A sprint from 0 to 60 mph can be made in just 3.0 seconds thanks to the instant 84 hp on tap, with a top speed governed to 99 mph. LiveWire claims the Alpinista can exploit a 52-degree lean angle on the left side before scraping pegs, while the right side is limited to 44.2 degrees.
In addition to Glacier Silver, the Alpinista is available in Asphalt Black.
Equipped with a 10.5-kWh battery pack, the Alpinista is claimed to have a city range of up to 120 miles and 71 miles on the highway. Like its S2 siblings, the Alpinista uses standard Level 1 and Level 2 charging capabilities, but not high-speed Level 3 DCFC charging. Taking the battery from 20-80% requires 78 minutes on a Level 2 charger or 5.9 hours on a regular 120-volt household current.
The Alpinista is equipped with a 6-axis IMU from Bosch that provides lean-sensitive antilock braking and cornering-enhanced traction-control systems. Four preset ride modes and two custom modes allow riders to select the responses most suitable to their needs, from noobs to experts.
The new LiveWire Alpinista differentiates itself from its S2 siblings by using a pair of 17-inch wheels.
Bumps are damped by Showa suspension components, with a fully adjustable 43mm inverted fork and a linkage-equipped shock that’s adjustable for preload and rebound damping. Suspension travel is 4.7 inches at both ends. The front brake uses a Brembo M4.32 4-piston monoblock caliper biting on a 300mm disc.
The Alpinista can be fitted with a host of factory accessories, including a sport seat, windscreen, soft and hard bags, luggage racks, and cosmetic enhancements.
The S2 Alpinista is now available in your choice of Glacier Silver or Asphalt Black. Customers can purchase it at LiveWire retail partner locations or configure their preferred colors and accessories online and be connected directly to the nearest retail partner. Locate the LiveWire dealer nearest you here.
For more details about the S2 Alpinista, check out the LiveWire website.
Prior to Toprak Razgatlioglu’s arrival at the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, BMW had not won more than a single race in a season since 2013, when Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri won three apiece. The 2024 season shattered that drought however, and in his first season with the team, Razgatlioglu broke the previous record for most consecutive wins in a season, with 13 in a row, and would go on to win 18 in the season. BMW capped off the season of their meteoric rise with an emblematic podium at Jerez in Race 2, where Razgatlioglu and teammate Michael van der Mark shared the podium for the first time in the season. The 10-year WorldSBK rider gave his takes on the upcoming season at BMW’s team launch event.
Van der Mark is looking forward to his fifth season with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad World SBK team, fully healthy and with an improved M 1000 RR bike, the Dutch rider is confident of his team’s capabilities this season. “We want to start where we finished the season, on the podium,” said van der Mark. “We had a strong 2024, with a really good end to it. Now with the new M 1000 RR, we’ve improved it in a lot of areas so I think we should be fighting for the podium from round one.”
Van der Mark and his teammate have been friends off the track for a long time, starting from when they were teammates at the factory Yamaha team. This friendship has grown have the years have progressed, helping each other on track as well as off. On their friendship, van der Mark said: “I think last year we knew throughout the season that we would help each other, but I think we’ve grown that to another level. We help each other everywhere we can because the WorldSBK field is so strong, so as a team you want to be the best, and I’m lucky to have Toprak in the garage because he’s the most talented guy. I’m really happy to work with him, and we all want to work together, the whole team feels good, and this makes us strong.”
The Dutch rider is looking forward to what he hopes will be a breakout 2025 season, and if this ROKiT BMW team can pick up where they ended in 2024, they will be a tough tandem to beat. “My wish honestly is that we fight for the world title, and I want to be on the podium as much as possible,” said van der Mark. “I think the ultimate dream would be winning the Rider’s Championship and the Manufacturers’ Championship.”
Don’t miss a bit of the 2025 season’s high-octane racing with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
With BMW kicking off their 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship project in Berlin with riders Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and teammate Michael van der Mark, the German manufacturer are optimistic heading into a title-defending year. BMW are introducing a new M 1000 RR model for 2025 as they look to retain their Riders’ Championship crown that Razgatlioglu won in 2024, while aiming to add the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles to their collection too. BMW Motorrad Technical Director, Chris Gonschor, spoke about the goals for next season while providing insight into the changes to the bike as they look to go one step further.
2024 was an unforgettable campaign for the German brand, with Razgatlioglu smashing records for the manufacturer as well as the Championship. He took 18 wins in total, including 13 on the bounce to break the record for consecutive wins in WorldSBK, while van der Mark produced a wet-weather masterclass at a soaking wet Magny-Cours for his first win in three years. With all their success, the pressure will ramp up this year as rival manufacturers look to deny them more titles.
Discussing the goals for 2025, and how a second title is often harder to win than the first, Gonschor said: “It was our mission to win in 2024 or 2025, and we did it already in 2024. For this year is clear: when you won the title, you want to defend it and repeat it, but the second title will be even harder to achieve than the first one. We have to work hard but I’m pretty sure we’re prepared for next season.”
To help them try to retain the Riders’ title and add more trophies to their collection, BMW are introducing a new version of the M 1000 RR which includes engine and aerodynamic updates. Gonschor spoke about the new road bike which features heavily revised aerodynamics as one big visible difference, but there are also changes inside the bike to help Razgatlioglu and van der Mark achieve their goals in 2025.
Providing a tech overview of the new bike, Gonschor said: “Luckily, with the new M 1000 RR with the model year in 2025, we have a new road bike as a base for sports activities. This gave us the perfect platform to improve on last year’s package. The new M 1000 RR has an optimised engine: on the street bike, it’s six horsepower more. This means there are changes in the engine which improve and make room for improvement to gain more power, durability, and linearity. On the aerodynamic side, we have a new fairing. This will be an improvement. Electronics wise, the new bike has some new sensors on it so we gain some potential here and on the chassis side, we can always improve a bit.”
Can BMW continue their success from 2024 into 2025? Find out using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
Chris Peterman has been named Moto Morini’s VP of sales and dealer development.
Moto Morini has named Chris Peterman as the new VP of sales and dealer development. Peterman brings nearly 30 years of experience in the motorcycle industry and intends to expand Moto Morini’s U.S. dealer network.
The Calibro 700 is Moto Morini’s cruiser model, available with an MSRP of $5,999.
Moto Morini was founded in 1937 and has its European headquarters in Milan, Italy. The company’s U.S. headquarters are in Irvine, California. The brand currently offers eight models for the U.S. market, including the X-Cape adventure bikes, the STR nakeds, the SCR scramblers, and the Calibro cruisers.
The Moto Morini X-Cape 650 seen here is the Italian brand’s adventure model. Also available is the X-Cape SE, which is the fully accessorized version.
Chris Peterman has experience in the industry that includes management positions with Yamaha and CFMOTO, as well as serving as a general manager for a dealership.
“I believe Moto Morini is well positioned for major expansion in the US market,” said Peterman. “Moto Morini is an iconic Italian brand that offers a tremendous line of high-quality motorcycles and accessories. The tradition of the brand combined with the great Italian design, performance, and high quality makes Moto Morini a stand-out brand. I look forward to growing the family of Moto Morini dealers.”
“We are excited to have Chris Peterman on the Moto Morini team,” said Chris McGee, COO of Moto Morini. “Chris has a great deal of experience connecting with dealers to help strengthen their businesses. Chris will continue the Moto Morini mission of industry-leading dealer support and cultivating long-lasting partnerships.”
Toprak suffered a broken bone in his right index finger earlier this offseason, and while it appears not to be serious, his BMW team are making no rush for his return to the track.
“Toprak will not attend Jerez, and at the moment it’s 50/50 whether or not he will come to Portimao because of how short the time is between the two,” said Shaun Muir, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team Principal. “It’s such a critical part of his right index finger which is his primary braking hand, so we don’t want to rush this, worst case is Monday in Australia, best case is limited testing in Portimao.”
VAN DER MARK’S YEAR?: BMW’s faith in the Dutchman
Fully healthy, a new and improved bike and an outpouring of support from his team president Sven Blusch at the launch event may spell a breakout year for Michael van der Mark.
“I’m so proud of Mickey, what he did last year, especially at Magny-Cours and his momentum he built up over the last races, with having both him and Toprak on the podium at the last race, he did an amazing job,” said Blusch. “I expect Mickey will come strong into the first race and he will push strongly with Toprak for the manufacturer’s title. For sure I think Mickey is ready to go for race wins as well.”
TOPRAK 2026?: What is next for the Turkish superstar?
Already speculation is building surrounding the future of Razgatlioglu’s career and where he will race. Prior to making the change to BMW, Toprak and his mentor Kenan Sofuoglu considered a move to MotoGP™, however the BMW Motorrad director was tight lipped on the issue.
“It’s early in the season, but for sure we want to keep Toprak for as long as he wants to stay with us.” Said Blusch “I’m sure there will be lots of talks in the future, but right now, we’re focusing on the season’s start and keeping our minds on the next race.”
THE PRICE OF SUCCESS: BMW’s plans to deal with revoked superconcessions
While the 2025 M1000 RR will be getting an upgrade, concessions made to the 2024 package will be being revoked for this season, something that does not seem to bother BMW team principal Shaun Muir very much.
“We started a plan for this as late as September last year, we knew this was going to disappear.” Said Muir “The chassis was our only concession, and we had already been testing the bike in its full, complete 2025 package in December in Jerez, so I’d say we’re confident.”
See how BMW fares in this highly-anticipated 2025 season with full race uploads and inside-the-paddock content with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
The new 2025 KTM 390 SMC R supermoto is added to the lineup, using the LC4c engine found in the 390 Duke and a chassis built on the platform of the 390 Duke. The 390 SMC R slots under the larger 690 SMC R supermoto in KTM’s lineup.
The liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine used in the KTM 390 SMC R was revised in 2024 when it was seen in the updated 390 Duke. Displacement was increased from 373cc to 399cc, horsepower increased from 44 hp to 45, and torque increased from 27.3 lb-ft to 28.8. The engine gets a 6-speed gearbox and a slip/assist clutch. A quickshifter is available as an option.
The bike’s two-piece steel trellis frame is based on the 390 Duke but has a different steering-head angle, triple clamps, and subframe mounts. KTM says the frame changes were designed to allow greater clearance for the radiator package. The bike also has a bolt-on steel trellis subframe and a gravity die-cast aluminum swingarm, the latter of which is derived from the 390 Adventure. Its fuel tank holds 2.4 gallons.
Taking care of suspension duties up front is a 43mm WP Apex fork that offers 9.0 inches of travel and compression and rebound adjustability via hand-tunable clickers over five positions. In the rear is a WP Apex shock, also with 9.0 inches of travel, offering 20 clicks of rebound-damping and preload adjustability.
Brakes are provided by Bybre, with a single 320mm disc up front and a 240mm disc in the rear. The wheels are spoked and measure 17 inches front and rear, and they’re wrapped in Michelin Power 6 tires. The bike is also equipped with ABS. In Sport riding mode, the rider can choose from ABS modes Road, Supermoto, or Supermoto+.
In regard to ride modes, the KTM 390 SMC R offers Street and Sport modes, and its traction control can be disabled if a rider chooses. A new feature for 2025 is the ride mode memory, by which the motorcycle will remember which ride mode it was in when it was turned off and will remain in that mode once started again.
A 4.2-inch TFT display is made from bonded glass and features a polarization coating to reduce glare. The display allows Bluetooth connectivity through the KTM Connect App. Once connected, riders can view their music, incoming calls, and turn-by-turn navigation, all managed via a joystick on the switchcube with backlit switches. The bike also gets LED lighting.
KTM has not announced pricing or availability yet. Visit the KTM website for more information.
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