After an all-too-long halt due to unprecedented times, The Isle of Man TT is back – and we’re told that TT legend John McGuinness (second only to Dunlop himself when it comes to winning the dang thing) will be running with Honda for the 2022 season.
McGuiness already has a neat 23 wins under his belt – though they’re not all with Honda.
The report from AutoSport states that the legendary racer “was due to contest the previous two TTs with Bournemouth Kawasaki, having quit Norton following a woeful comeback in 2019 – in which he failed to finish both Superbike races through mechanical issues.”
The others – 16 wins – were for Honda, with 12 of those times on the absolutely bonkers CBR1000RR-R Fireblade.
Regardless, we’re ready to celebrate the gent. Set for his 100th TT start this year at the age of 50, the report states that “McGuinness will ride the all-new CBR1000RR-R Fireblade at the North West 200 in Northern Ireland and at the TT in 2022 in the Superbike and Superstock classes.”
“What can I say really, it’s like coming back home to the family,” McGuinness says in the report from AutoSport.
“I’ve been in talks for a while with Neil [Fletcher, Honda UK’s head of motorcycles] and Harv [Beltran, team manager] and it’s just something that feels right; it’s the 30th anniversary of the Fireblade, I’ll be 50 years old and also celebrating my 100th TT start, so it feels like it’s meant to be.”
“I’ve enjoyed a lot of success on the roads with the Honda and worked with Harv back in the day with HM Plant Honda, so I’m looking forward to getting back into the set-up and getting going.”
“I had a little go on the Fireblade earlier this year and was impressed with it on-track, so looking forward to getting on the roads and seeing how it goes.”
“It’s going to be a special year with everything going on and also just getting back to the North West 200 and the TT and everyone racing there again – I can’t wait to get stuck in!”
Standby for the start of the event on the 29th of May, scheduled to run until the 10th of June; in the meantime, be sure to check out other recent news from our archives, and as always – stay safe on the twisties.
Yamaha Europe has just partnered with Crescent Racing to reveal a Special Edition WorldSBK R1 replica – and the extremely exclusive batch of 21 units are all set for the lucky garage of whoever gets there first.
The report from VisorDown states that the bikes are all signed by (and created in commemoration of) Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, winner of the 2021 WorldSBK Championship for Yamaha.
If you’re thinking of getting your hands on one of these beauties, expect to place down a deposit of £500.00 – a reasonable sum, made the better by the following list of perks you’ll be getting with the bike itself:
A badge proving the ‘technician-signed build identification’ of your unit
A framed ‘limited edition certificate’, autographed by Razgatlıoğlu himself as well as the Team Principal Paul Denning – including the edition number alongside the usual VIN number and buyer details.
Two VIP hospitality passes to your choice of 2022 WorldSBK events, where you will be “a VIP guest of the team with pit-box visit and the opportunity to spend time with Razgatlıoğlu,” according to the report.
A superbike set up to your personal specifications, with an entire day devoted to one-on-one training with either Crescent Yamaha’s James Hillier OR Niall Mackenzie (“UK circuit only; overseas set up and training by arrangement”)
An autographed article of riding equipment that Razgatlıoğlu used when he won the 2021 WorldSBK Championship.
Be sure to visit the official website of Crescent Racing to toy with that measly £500.00…if we’re talking bang-for-buck, it’s worth it.
Triumph has just introduced their newly refreshed Tiger 1200 line – and they’re gunning for the big competition with their all-new 30-liter Explorers.
Let’s get into it.
Triumph hasn’t updated their Tiger 1200 in a hot minute – and with big fish like the Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro and the BMW R1250GSA sporting hosts of goods like advanced electronics, ergonomics, and a fantastic fuel capacity, it’s natural for Triumph to want to stir their toes in the pool with the rest of the ADV blokes.
To that effect, Triumph’s all-new Explorer variants carry a very nice 30-liter fuel capacity, with both machines featuring six Ride Modes: Ride Modes: Road, Rain, Sport, Rider-configurable, Off-Road, and Off-Road Pro.
When it comes to power, Triumph did the Tiger 1200 range a solid with the new ‘T-plane’ crank design, installed to improve drive pulse better. The inline triple itself also has, according to the press release, undergone a bit of a change, dropping in power from 1215cc to 1160cc; despite that, the 1200 range sports a lovely increase in power from 139bhp to 148bhp, and an increase also in torque from 90lb-ft to 95lb-ft.
How, do you ask?
A dedicated diet, mostly.
The bike’s overall weight, depending on the variant, now registers between 240kg and 261kg, which puts the weight of the beasties around 25kg lighter.
“Paired with the new engine is a redesigned shaft drive that’s 1.5kg lighter than the old unit,” comments an article from MCN.
“The big chunks [of weight difference] have come from the swingarm and frame, which total 5.4kg lighter, in part thanks to a bolt-on aluminum subframe, but generally they’ve just trimmed the fat by ditching items that weren’t in huge demand such as the electrically adjusted screen.”
The new split radiator also helps to balance everything out, pushing the engine further forward in the chassis for better maneuverability.
Here’s a list of further perks for the range, according to the press release:
New category-leading Brembo Stylema® monobloc brakes, plus optimized cornering ABS with IMU
New rider ergonomics “designed for a comfortable and stable ride
All-new Triumph Blind Spot Radar System, developed in partnership with Continental
All-new keyless system, including ignition, steering lock, and fuel cap
Optimized Cornering Traction Control with IMU
All-new 7” TFT instruments with integrated ‘My Triumph’ Connectivity System
All-new Showa semi-active suspension set-up for dynamic rider control (longer travel)
All-new LED lighting with DRL, plus Adaptive Cornering Lights (not available on GT)
Hill Hold (not available on GT)
New twin radiator design and a minimal new silencer
New rider ergonomics with tailored bar and peg positions
All-new bodywork
Premium detailing and finish
New color schemes and graphics for each family
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
The GT Explorer and Rally Explorer also come with a little list of extra (as stated by Triumph’s press release):
Six Ride Modes (Road, Rain, Sport, Rider-configurable, Off-Road, and Off-Road Pro)
The Cup will return to the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, Le Mans, the TT Circuit Assen, the Red Bull Ring and Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli next season, as well as visit two new tracks: the classic Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello and the KymiRing in Finland. With every event a double header, another electrifying season of competition is guaranteed!
“That’s why I was always quick in conditions straight away, I was able to adapt to things quickly, is because of my lack of pride on the bike. I was the first to admit back in the box when I’d made a mistake rather than to blame the bike for things, that allowed us to go further too. But yeah, rather than watching another bike or rider and going ‘the only reason they can do that is because of the bike’ or anything like that, it was never greener on the other side of the garage, it was like ‘right, what do we have to do to match them through that bit’. Not necessarily beat them, but at least match them in the points where I was weak. I was always willing to learn from others, and things like that. And that for me is pride. If you have too much pride then you’re not able to learn, able to adapt and I think you’ll find a bit of a roadblock.”
The award-winning Australian MotoCAP website has issued safety and comfort ratings including vital waterproof abilities for two jackets and eight pairs of pants as we head into a wet summer.
With a La Niña wet weather system dominating the Eastern states this summer, riders will be interested in assessing the waterproofing abilities of their gear.
MotoCAP provides those details on all their testing.
In the new round of testing they found the MotoDry Eco-Therm jacket provided good protection in wet weather, with a water protection score of 8 out of 10 and a protection rating of 2 stars out of five.
MotoDry Eco-Therm jacket
The two pair of pants — Draggin NextGen and Rev’It Lombard RF Products— had previously been tested and rated.
However, since they have been on the market for more than three years, they were reassessed to identify any potential changes in production that may affect their ratings.
The new ratings for jackets can be viewed here. The new ratings for pants can be viewed here.
This was based on evidence from crash injury research and the test protocols of the current industry standard.
Deakin Uni Institute for Frontier Materials Senior Research Fellow and Honda GB400 rider Chris Hurren said the changes were the result of “ongoing tweaking of the system based on new research conducted by Deakin University”.
MotoCAP testing
All gear tested and rated by MotoCAP is bought covertly.
In 2019, MotoCAP, has won a Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) road safety award.
MotoCAP is a partnership between Transport for NSW, State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), VicRoads, Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), Lifetime Support Authority (LSA), the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, Western Australian Police: Road Safety Commission, Department of State Growth, Insurance Australia Group (IAG), Australian Motorcycle Council and Accident Compensation Corporation in New Zealand.
Testing is carried out by the Deakin University Institute for Frontier Materials on behalf of the MotoCAP partners.
All gear rated so far has been obtained through a secretive buying system to guarantee integrity.
Australia’s first electric motorcycle company, Fonzarelli, has reached the modest milestone of selling 100 of its electric multi-purpose NKD electric motorbikes.
It’s nothing compared with the big motorcycle companies, but this boutique electric motorcycle company is certainly starting to make its name known after launching in late 2019.
FONZ Moto, as it is now called, is now available in all of Australia’s States and Territories.
Their NKD X and NKD S models are locally designed and produced after a move from their original Adelaide production plans back to Redfern in Sydney due to the pandemic.
Founder Michelle Nazzari says the decision to bring our production plans closer to home and ramp up their ‘urban micro factory’ meant they could make up to 20 motorbikes a month.
She says they are now “playing catch-up so we’re now looking to expand to a larger facility in 2022”.
There are two NKD models:
NKDs (100km/h top speed, 100km range) from $10,990;
NKDx (100km/h top speed, 200km range) from $16,990.
The NKD is powered by a mid-drive brushless motor producing 9.6kW of power and 56Nm of torque.
You can also buy optional fat knobby tyres so it can do some off-road work.
Fonzarelli NKD
The Panasonic Lithium-Ion 3.5kWh inbuilt battery can be charged via the onboard AC mains charger from flat to 100% in about five hours.
Michelle points out that NSW and the ACT have abolished stamp duty for electric motorcycles and electric scooters this year.
“While we know all states and territories operate slightly differently, it’s encouraging to see growing support for two-wheeled EVs,” she says.
FONZ sources as much as possible from local suppliers within a 200km of their premises to minimise the environmental footprint in the NKD manufacturing process.
“There’s a lot of greenwashing these days. It was important to us to source locally and get the certifications to show that it is possible to manufacture this type of product in Australia,” she says.
Locally-made also means that each bike is custom built to spec and the multi-award winning NKD series has been certified by the Australian Made campaign.
Michelle admits that NKD is not for everyone.
“There are many differing tastes out there but this plucky little beast is certainly turning heads wherever it goes,” she says.
“What’s particularly great is the endorsement we’re getting from people who truly know their stuff when it comes to performance.”
Michelle Nazzari and Adam Kaplan with the NKD S and X models
Former Australian racing car driver, Adam Kaplan, says his NKD is the perfect urban assault vehicle for his lifestyle in Noosa.
“The power delivery makes my pillion and I laugh every time we give it a squirt, and it’s sure footed and stable to ride and I love overtaking unsuspecting vehicles uphill with 2 up,” Adam says.
Kaplan rides the NKD X with a carbon fibre body kit. He wanted the ability to be able to carry his surfboard to the beach so FONZ designed an integrated surf rack system, which later became a popular option for other NKD owners.
Every group of riders has someone who is slower than the others which can be embarrassing if it’s you …l unless you have a good excuse!
When I ride with other motorcycle journos on a press launch for a new model, I’m usually the last in because I’m slower than most others.
It should be noted that many of them are ex-racers.
So when I roll into a scheduled stop several minutes after the others, I’m usually prepared with a good excuse for being slow.
My favoured excuse is: “I stopped to take a photo of the bike at that spectacular lookout about 5km back.”
The other journos often nod as if that’s a plausible reason. But it wears thin after a while, so I’ve come up with a few others over the years.
When I ride with my mates, I’m usually one of the fastest and it’s someone else coming up with excuses for being the last to then scheduled stop.
So I’ve given and heard my fair share of good and bad excuses for being the slow rider.
You may recognise some of the excuses in this list and you are welcome to use them:
I had to make a comfort stop.
That’s a plausible excuse, especially for men who can relieve themselves just about anywhere.
I thought I was supposed to be tail-end Charlie.
Dubious excuse unless the ride has been badly organised.
I had some sort of electrical fault and the engine kept cutting out.
The trouble with this one is that the backyard mechanics in your group will try to solve the problem or even worse, they will offer to ride your bike to sort it out. You can back it up with “It seems to have come good again.” However, you now have no excuses left.
I was enjoying the scenery so much, I had to slow down and absorb it.
Only a good excuse if the scenery really is spectacular.
Did any of you guys run into that mob of (insert wildlife or livestock here)?
This is a great excuse as the other riders will then launch into anecdotes about their own misadventures with stray livestock or wildlife and forget just how lame your excuse is.
Sorry guys, I copped a speeding fine last week and I’m down to one point, so I’m taking it easy for a while.
An acceptable and oft-used excuse, but it has its time limitations and eventually you will have to pick up the pace again.
Do you have any other excuses you’d like to share? Leave your comments below.
If you eventually run out of excuses, then it’s either time to get some rider training or find another group of riders!
It is fair to say it has been difficult going for the Yamaha Racing Team this season in the Australian Superbike Championship.
Cru Halliday finished second in the 2020 ASBK Championship on Pirelli rubber, but it is fair to say it was a struggle for him to secure third place in 2021.
Cru Halliday and YRT tested on Pirelli rubber at The Bend on Monday
The 33-year old Yamaha stalwart managed two podium finishes during season 2022 and that third place in the championship was a somewhat surprising result considering their general lack of speed in 2021.
Cru Halliday and YRT tested on Pirelli rubber at The Bend on Monday
Cru stayed on the bike in every single race to bag points and raced to a position generally higher than he had manage to qualify.
Some have put their performance deficit down to their Dunlop rubber in 2021, others cite deficiencies with their electronics package in comparison to the latest Ducati and Honda kit, or a comparative lack of power compared to the competition. YRT are still entirely positive towards Dunlop as a brand, and mentiond to MCNews.com.au that as the season progressed they certainly got on their game and took all feedback on board, but the decision has been made to run Pirelli in 2022.
Jamie Stauffer – Australian Superbike Champion – 2006 & 2007
Whatever the reason, it is now almost 15 years since Yamaha last won a #1 plate in Australian Superbike. Jamie Stauffer did the double across both the Superbike and Supersport categories in 2006, and then won the Superbike Championship again in 2007, but since then it has been relatively lean period for Yamaha in the Superbike category.
Jamie Stauffer leading brother Dan at Winton in 2007 – Both were present at The Bend on the weekend, Jamie with son Max racing Supersport 300, while Dan Stauffer was swinging a few spanners for DesmoSport Ducati
There is no doubt that the Ducati Panigale V4 R has dramatically moved the performance goal-posts, as has the latest SP Fireblade and ZX-10RR to some extent, however Yamaha has dominated elsehwere across the globe with the YZF-R1. The World Superbike, British Superbike and MotoAmerica Championships this year were all won by Yamaha riders.
In Australian Superbike our motorcycles are effectively more standard than most Superstock series around the world and it is fair to say that in standard trim the YZF-R1, while as evocative as ever, and despite some recent improvements, has not moved forward at the pace of the competition. The R1 has been nipped, tucked and tweaked, but essentially it is still a six-year-old platform.
Australian Superbike rules do open up to allow a MoTeC ECU in 2022, with some functionality restricted via a controlled firmware.
After Ducati runners have recently spent 25k per bike to kit each of their machines with the WorldSBK spec’ Marelli systems, and Penrite Honda also spent significant coin in obtaining the factory level electronics, it seems unlikely that either of them will switch to the MoTeC system in 2022, as they will be allowed to continue using their current package.
Likewise the BMW teams will most likely stick with their comparatively quite affordable factory electronics kit, as the MoTeC system does not have enough inputs to cater for the shift-cam system on the M 1000 RR.
The BCperformance Kawasaki squad had a nightmare trying to get their electronics package to offer any sort of consistency this season, and there is little doubt their poor showing off the back of those problems was a factor in Kawasaki withdrawing their support.
Cru Halliday getting a feel for the latest Pirelli rubber at The Bend on Monday – Image RbMotoLens
YRT have had nothing like that level of electronic problems, their bikes have been reliable, Halliday did finish every race after all, however it does seem as though their package is essentially outdated in comparison to what both the Ducati and Honda teams are currently running. Thus they are not only evaluating the switch from Dunlop back to Pirelli here at The Bend, but in the new year are also expected to test more with a MoTeC ECU, which they had already began doing some evaluation work with this season behind the scenes. When Superbike rules were more open in a previous era, the team did run MoTeC, so there is some knowledge about the system already within the team.
YRT boss John Redding told MCNews.com.au that they would continue to ride and develop motorcycles back to back between the current system and the MoTeC ECU, and that they would race which ever proved faster. He also remarked that whatever it took to give their riders the best equipment possible, it would be done.
Arthur Sissis was in fantastic form on his Unitech Racing YZF-R1 at The Bend – Image RbMotoLens
While local privateers Arthur Sissis and Daniel Falzon were almost 10 km/h down on top speed when not in the slipstream, compared to most of the field, they did show stunning qualifying pace on the weekend at The Bend and looked on course for potential podium results if not for both suffering misfortunes on Sunday. Both were on Pirelli rubber and both are expected to be on the grid in 2022. Although, Daniel did some significant injuries in a crash on the weekend that will likely put their preparations on hold for the foreseeable future.
Daniel Falzon (right) qualified on the front row at The Bend – Image RbMotoLens
Thus obviously the R1 can still be competitive, but it does seem as though there is just a little bit missing in order to complete the package and challenge for the Superbike title.
Cru Halliday getting a feel for the latest Pirelli rubber at The Bend on Monday – Image RbMotoLens
That said, Halliday did finish second in 2020 on Pirelli, and third in 2021 on Dunlop, so they can’t be that far off. However, I think Halliday has perhaps not received as much credit as he is due for those results.
Cru Halliday on the podium at Winton early this year – Image RbMotoLens
There will also be more Yamaha Superbikes on the grid next year. The Queensland based team Jed Metcher rode for this year is going next level in 2022. The team will be rebranded under a new 727 Moto banner and expand to two riders, as 2021 Australian Supersport Champion Broc Pearson makes the step up to Superbike with the team.
Broc Pearson was testing on Pirelli rubber at The Bend on Monday – Image RbMotoLens
The new 727 Moto Team have also recruited some top flight technical staff to the team for 2022 as Paul Free, Stewart Winton and Brent Stephens will all be working hard behind the scenes to try and ensure that both Jed and Broc have the most competitive mounts possible. Jed is a proven hard charger and will step his preparations up with the team in the new year. It is going to be a big budget effort the likes of which we probably haven’t seen from a privateer squad since the Trinder brothers shook things up with their Bio-Magnetic Therapy Team almost 20 years ago.
Supersport Champ Broc Pearson moves up to Superbike in 2022 and was testing a YZF-R1 with his new team on Monday at The Bend
Young Max Stauffer will also be on a YZF-R1 in 2022. After finishing third in the Australian Supersport Championship this season, Max will step up to Superbike in 2022 on a YZF-R1 prepared by his dad Jamie with the aid of Heath Griffin and Damian Cudlin.
Veteran Anthony West may also go around again on a better prepared YZF-R1 than he had this year and youngster Luke Jhonston will hopefully also continue to make progress.
And then of course we get to the question of who will be the second rider in the official Yamaha Racing Team alongside Cru Halliday in 2022?
Mike Jones was widely tipped to take that seat at YRT after the departure of Aiden Wagner, but Mike’s choice not to receive the COVID-19 vaccination saw him not able to compete at the Bend on the weekend with DesmoSport Ducati, and thus the two-time champ was also unable to test this week alongside Cru at The Bend.
Scuttlebutt in the pits across the weekend suggested that Mike has now perhaps reconsidered that decision in the light that it would essentially make him unemployable as a racer in 2022. At the moment it seems to be a case of ‘watch this space’, but Mike is expected to test with YRT at Morgan Park this weekend and at this stage is expected to join Cru Halliday at YRT for season 2022.
In a tragic turn of events Rene Hofer and two friends have lost their lives during an alpine skiing trip after being caught in an avalanche. The 19-year-old Austrian had a bright future ahead of him that was cut short too soon. Condolences go to his family and friends and the families of those who lost their lives in the avalanche.
RIP Rene Hofer
KTM released the following statement:
“The entire KTM family is deeply saddened by the terrible news that MX2 factory racer Rene Hofer, along with two of his friends, has passed away following a skiing incident in Austria.
KTM would like to send love and heartfelt condolences to Rene’s family, friends, his team, along with the entire motocross community during this incredibly difficult time. Rene, a multi-time junior champion and GP winner with a bright future in Grand Prix ahead of him, will be remembered not only for his talent on the track, but also for his approachable, fun-loving and friendly personality, along with his ever-present smile.
Rene will be greatly missed by everyone in the KTM family. Ride on peacefully Rene. You will be missed immeasurably. #711″
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WBR Yamaha Team to introduce new riders at AMX MX Open
Yamaha has thrown their weight behind the AMX MX Open in Wonthaggi on the 11-12 of December, a decision that was made following the cancelation of the Australian Supercross Championship. Yamaha’s Clout, Tanti, Mellross, Budd, Kingsford & Rogers will all be out to claim victory in their respective classes in the AMX MX Open.
Luke Clout
Yamaha’s participates all levels of competition and are encouraging clubs, organisers, and promoters to run viable and successful events as the country returns to some normalcy.
Yamaha are sending their Factory 450 team and Rhys Budd will represent the GYTR Yamaha Team, while the WBR Yamaha Team will use the MX OPEN to launch their new riders.
In their second year at the event the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team aims to claim victory as team owner Craig Dack explains the importance of racing.
Craig Dack – CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team Owner
“You can’t beat racing to prepare for racing. Back when I was competing, we would race 30 to 40 weekends a year. The age old saying that repetition only makes you stronger is true. Racing also provides you the best testing conditions. We will be using this event to promote our sponsors, our new rider line up and for testing.”
Yamaha Australia have also taken class sponsorship of the Junior A-grade 65cc class and Junior A-grade 125cc class. Yamaha support Junior Racing through their development programs and Yamaha’s Scott Bishop believes aligning juniors and seniors together at one event helps inspire the next generation of champions.
Scott Bishop
“There aren’t too many events where all junior classes compete on the same weekend as the factory riders. Having juniors and seniors at one event really helps inspire the next generation of champions and Yamaha are happy to be apart of making this happen.”
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Budd and Larwood to fly Yamalube Yamaha Racing flag in 2022
The Yamalube Yamaha Racing Team will continue to develop emerging motocross talent in 2022, with a line up featuring two of Australia’s best up and coming riders locked in and raring to go.
Rhys Budd – Image by RBMotoLens
and Alex Larwood will be mounted on the championship winning YZ250F machine next season. For Budd it’s his second year with the Yamalube Yamaha Team while Larwood makes the transition to the Queensland based team as part of Yamaha’s step-up program.
Rhys Budd proved the surprise package of 2021, when after a last-minute call up to the Yamalube team, made every post a winner since coming on board. He finished the Pro MX Championship in third place, beating plenty of more fancied rivals and established himself as a major player in the MX2 category.
Budd is a hard working and dedicated athlete who puts his heart and soul into racing. The support of the Yamalube Yamaha Team at the start of the 2021 season was just the leg up Budd needed and he is excited to be back with the team again for 2022.
Rhys Budd
“As soon as I got the call from the team at the start of the 2021 season, I put my head down and got to work. Now that the pressure of preparing bikes and arranging things was taken from me, I was able to dedicate more time to my riding and training and it paid off with some good results and a new deal for this year, which I’m stoked about. The team have been amazing for me and its good to know you have a bunch of people who believe in you and want to help you achieve your goals. We already have a great base to start from as well as some additional plans that will only see me improve. I was pumped to stay with the Yamalube team again for 2022 and I really want to reward them for taking me on this year when they didn’t have to and no one else would.”
Rhys Budd – Image by RBMotoLens
Partnering Budd and making for a very competitive environment within the team is Alex Larwood. The 18-year-old South Australian, is a product of the Yamaha Junior Racing program and stepped up to the professional ranks for the 2020 season. The 2020 season never got off the ground with Covid, but in just a handful of races contesting in 2021, Larwood showed he has what it takes at MX2 level.
He moves from the WBR Yamaha team to the Yamalube Yamaha Team, so his support continues to grow to match his results. Larwood charged to a podium finish at the opening round of the 2021 season, but injury slowed his progress at the remaining rounds.
Back to full health and fitness, Larwood is ready to continue his meteoric rise up the ranks in 2022.
Alex Larwood
“I have been with Yamaha for a long time now and for them to continue to support me through the years is important to me. They picked me up back in 2014 as a junior, moved to the WBR Yamaha Team when I turned 16 and now the support increases in 2022 via Yamalube Yamaha. No other manufacturer can offer support like that over a long period of time. In just the short time I have had to deal with them, I can see the professionalism in the team and how they go about their jobs. Their bikes always look amazing, and they have had plenty of success in the past. We have three months to be ready for round one and its time to get to work. The team have my back, racing is back to normal, and we are looking good for a full and exciting season next year. I can’t wait.”
Alex Larwood – Image by RBMotoLens
National racing gets under way in March with the return of the eight round Pro MX Championship starting in Wonthaggi, Victoria before finishing on the Sunshine Coast in August.
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Fire Power Honda Racing line-up for 2022 AMA SX breaks cover
Fire Power Honda Racing will shake things up for 2022, with a two-rider effort in the 250 East Coast Region of the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross Championship and Martin Davalos has signed on as Team Manager. A part of the American series since 2020, the team has achieved modest success at the highest levels and aims to improve its results in the season ahead.
Fire Power Honda Racing
Davalos is no stranger to the demands of the AMA. The Ecuadorian competed in America for 15 years with a can-do attitude that netted him five wins, 24 podiums, and 46 top-five finishes from 101 starts in the 250 Class. The determined racer stepped up to the 450 Class in 2021, and his one top-five finish and seven top-10 results earned him the Rookie of the Year award.
Davalos announced his retirement from full-time competition in America in 2021 and will now turn his attention to managing the Fire Power Parts Honda Racing Team from its new base of operations at the Millsaps Training Facility in Georgia.
Martin Davalos
“I am pumped for this new chapter with Fire Power Honda Racing. I was hoping an opportunity like this would come my way, as I know I have a lot to offer the team. I’m looking forward to managing the program from MTF in Georgia and to being involved in testing and development as well. The team has a championship-winning program in Australia, and I believe in its direction in America for next year. Relocating the team to MTF will be a huge advantage, as it will help get the most out of a program that wants to contend for championships. We have signed two riders and have a lot in place already.”
Yarrive Konsky, Factory Honda Australia’s Team Owner, shares the high hopes and is pleased to welcome Davalos for the coming season. And after experiencing the no-nonsense approach MTF has towards training and professionalism first-hand, Konsky believes moving from California to Georgia was a necessity.
Yarrive Konsky
“After travel restrictions made it difficult for me these past two seasons, I needed someone to help manage the program in America, so I am really happy Martin is on board. I believe he will have a big impact on the crew and the riders. He has certainly earned the respect of his peers for a reason. I’ve trained at MTF, and the professionalism and dedication they have for their athletes is what I wanted the team to experience. They support their athletes in all areas of racing, and their commitment is unwavering. We are fortunate they welcomed our program. The connection between MTF and Fire Power Honda Racing goes back years and has been an element in the team’s past success. I first met Gavin Faith at MTF, brought him to Australia, and we won championships together, so it’s fitting that our groups will work together in 2022.”
The team has signed riders Jordon Smith and Jarrett Frye to race the all-new 2022 Honda CRF250R during the nine-round 250 East Coast Region of Supercross.
Jordon Smith’s ride
Jordon Smith enters the seventh year of his career with an already- impressive resume. The 25-year-old from North Carolina turned pro in 2015 and has claimed three Main Event wins and 13 podiums in the 250 Class. A long-time resident of MTF, Smith will seamlessly transition to the team.
Jarrett Frye has shown plenty of potential over the past year and a half, and with three top-15 finishes to his credit, the 20-year-old from Maryland is ready to step up in 2022.
Jarrett and Jordon have been testing with the team for the past six weeks, and Konsky is proud of the group for believing that the program will help them race at their potential.
Jarrett Frye’s ride
Yarrive Konsky
“We all know injuries hinder a riders’ full potential, I have spoken to Jordon over the years and have always wanted to work with him. I believe in him because he applies the skills, desire, and commitment to racing. Jarrett was also at the top of our list. I studied his amateur career, pro results, and technique, and if he wants it bad enough, he is more than good enough. Finally, Martin’s experience and outlook are what we needed to give us the strength to be a winning program.Our focus is the East Coast Supercross region, but we haven’t ruled out racing two or three rounds of Pro Motocross and bringing the riders, including Davalos, to race in the Australian Supercross championship. Fire Power Parts were partners for this season, and we’re excited that they have stepped their support up for 2022. In addition, the team will announce several new sponsorships for next year in the coming weeks. I want to thank Muc-Off for their support this season, and though we have agreed to go in different directions for 2022, both of our groups are better for the time spent together.”
Fire Power Honda Racing Team Line-Up
Team Owner – Yarrive Konsky
Team Manager – Martin Davalos
Team Rider – Jordon Smith
Mechanic – Justin Hopson
Team Rider – Jarrett Frye
Mechanic – Mackenzie Engel
Engine – Jamie Ellis – Twisted Development
Suspension – Mike Haist -Factory Connection
Design – Rhys van Slooten
Truck Driver – TBC
Media – TBC
Trainers – Colleen Millsaps, Brian Johnson, and Jacob Pennisi.
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Tasmania to host 2022 AORC grand finale
Tasmania will crown the 2022 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship presented by MXstore Champions when it hosts the Grand Finale of the Championship at Wynyard on October 8-9 next year.
AORC 2022 will head to Tasmania
Motorcycling Australia have secured the final two rounds of the 12 round Championship in Tasmania, the first time in the AORC’s 15-year history, thanks to the support of Tasmanian State Government.
Many of the world’s best riders including former Australian International Six Day Enduro (ISDE) Champions and Australia’s best off-road riders, along with a flurry of local Tasmanian riders will battle it out in the Wynyard bush to be crowned the 2022 AORC Champion.
Motorcycling Australia CEO, Peter Doyle said the 2022 Yamaha AORC was shaping up to be spectacular.
Peter Doyle – Motorcycling Australia CEO
“We have a world class field lined up for competition in 2022 and after two interrupted previous seasons we know riders are excited and ready to hit the terrain next year and especially for the first time the Grand Finale in Tasmania. We are very pleased with the excitement and support the Tasmanian Government has shown in securing the final rounds of our World Champion producing Championship and are hopeful this partnership will deliver a long-lasting presence in the Apple-Isle. With new and exciting venues in the 2022 AORC to be announced soon, we have no doubt again we will see hundreds of riders at each and every round in 2022.”
Round entries and round format details will be released in the new year.
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Tim Gajser talks expectations for 2022 with Team HRC in MXGP
After one of the toughest and most intense seasons in motocross history, Team HRC’s Tim Gajser had little chance to really reflect on what had happened. Finishing the campaign with eight races in six weeks meant every moment was focused on racing, but now that the dust has settled on a championship where Gajser ended up third overall, the Slovenian rider has now been able to talk about last season and also what he expects from the upcoming 2022 MXGP calendar.
What are you up to now, and what have you done since the season finished?
Gajser: “I’m actually having a little break in Croatia, just to recharge the batteries a bit and let my body recover from what was a very tough end to the 2021 season. I also had a little bit of testing to do with some things for a few days after the last round so now I’m just trying to relax and spend a bit of time off the bike, so that when I do start training again for 2022, I’ll be fresh.”
Tim Gajser
How would you sum up your 2021 season?
Gajser: “The 2021 season was definitely a tough one, both mentally and physically. All the riders went through a lot and we were all pushing until the very end. Of course, I wasn’t able to become world champion, so I wasn’t able to achieve my goal but there were a lot of good moments. It was difficult to come so close and not make it happen but I will use that as motivation for next year and try to keep improving on those small details.”
Tim Gajser
What were your best memories of the year?
Gajser: “Obviously, it started really well in Russia, going one-one and then I had some really good motos after that. Winning on the last lap in Matterley Basin with a great battle and then there were some excellent races in Turkey. Probably the most important was in Germany, when I was able to come back after my injury and win the second race and the overall and just show everyone that I was ready to really fight for the championship. It was also great to share these moments with Team HRC as they have always believed in me, even when I was struggling. It was also good to have fans back at the races as we can see how much they add to the events. The races in France, Spain and then the last ones in Italy really showed how awesome a motocross race atmosphere can be so I hope that even more fans can come and support the riders next year.”
Tim Gajser
And what about things you wish you could change?
Gajser: “It was just a lot of really small things really. Of course, I wish I hadn’t have got hurt after Turkey as I was around 30 points clear in the championship and riding really well and controlling the series when it happened. The crash in Loket when the lever got stuck in the handguard was unlucky and that cost me a lot of points and just a few other things that didn’t go to plan. Nothing really too big but when the championship comes down to a small number of points, it is those little things that add up.”
Tim Gajser
What do you think of the calendar for 2022?
Gajser: “I haven’t focused too much on the calendar for next year. The last two years have taught us to prepare for changes so I won’t really get ready for any specific rounds. However, starting in late February doesn’t give us a lot of time off this winter, so I have to make sure I do what I need to do in order to be ready for that.”
Tim Gajser and team in Germany
Are there any events that stand out for you?
Gajser: “It is nice to see some overseas races back on the calendar again, and I hope they can happen. These rounds are always interesting to go to and it is important for it be a proper ‘world’ championship. They are also important for Honda and all their sponsors so I’m glad that we will go outside of Europe a few times. I am also excited for any new rounds we have on the calendar as it is nice to go to different places. Keeping things fresh is important and gives everyone a new start at a track that they haven’t seen before.”
Tim Gajser
There hasn’t been an announcement about whether we go back to two-day events, or stick with the one-day format, what is your opinion on this?
Gajser: “I think I have been quite clear that I wish that we can go back to the two-day format. I believe it is better for a world championship to be held over two days, rather than just a one-day format which is what I ride when I go to Slovenia for a national event. It gives us a bit more of a chance to get things right on the bike and to make things a bit safer as we can change things and see how they work and then still have chance to change them back before the races. I know a lot of riders want the one-day format, but then they are also using practice tracks or tracks in the area on the Saturday because they want to work on things and get things perfect for raceday. Maybe the qualifying race could be incentivised more, or we just do timed practice for the gate pick but I believe that the MXGPs should be a two-day event.”
Tim Gajser claiming the top spot in the 2021 MXGP of Germany
What are your hopes for 2022?
Gajser: “The aim every year is to become world champion. It is what every rider wishes and especially for me, having won some in the past and having come so close this year, it is what I will be focusing on for every gate drop. Of course, I know it won’t be easy as the class is getting more competitive every year and I believe a lot of riders will keep improving, so I need to keep improving as well but I am confident that I can come out on top, especially with the support of everyone at Team HRC who continues to work extremely hard making sure everything possible is done to get me to perform at my best. I am also looking forward to having Mitch Evans back alongside me, after he missed 2021 through injury. I got on well with him and he is fun to have around and I hope that he can show everyone his real speed in 2022.”
Mitch Evans will also return in 2022Moto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Estenson Racing reveal AFT line-up for 2022
Estenson Racing will run a powerhouse line-up for the 2022 Progressive American Flat Track season. Multi-time road race champion JD Beach and the reigning back-to-back AFT Singles Champion Dallas Daniels return, with the young rider making his premier class debut and joining the veteran for a two-pronged threat in the Mission SuperTwins Championship. Up-and-coming rider Trevor Brunner joins the team to spearhead the campaign in the AFT Singles class.
JD Beach
Beach enters his fourth season with the team and looks to build on their success with the Yamaha MT-07. Since his first premier class victory that debut season with the team in 2019, he has been the rider to beat on the TT tracks, winning four of the last five TT Main Events. Beach and the team have continued to make forward strides, ending the 2021 season with a pair of wins and a total of four podium finishes for a top-five finish in the point standings.
JD Beach – Estenson Racing Mission SuperTwins
“I’m excited to be back with the Estenson Racing team for the fourth season now. I’ll have the same crew as last year, and I think it’ll be good to build off that as well. I feel like every year, we are taking steps forward with the bike, sometimes not as big of steps as we would have liked, but we have never stopped working. With what we learned in 2021 and the people that we have around us, I think we could take our biggest step forward next season. I’m thankful to have the continued support from Tim (Estenson) and the whole team. I think ‘22 will be a big year for us, not only with having a strong team but also some really strong competition in the SuperTwins class. I hope that I can make this year the best one yet and add some wins on the oval tracks.”
JD Beach
Daniels steps up to the premier class after an impressive tenure in the AFT Singles Championship since he made his debut midseason in 2019 at the Lima Half-Mile. In addition to becoming the first back-to-back champion in the class, he rose to second on the support class’ all-time win list with 13 victories. While defending his AFT Singles title in 2021, Daniels also enjoyed a stellar debut aboard the Twin in the AFT Production Twins class, scoring three wins and a second-place finish in the four events he entered.
Dallas Daniels – Estenson Racing Mission SuperTwins
“I’m super excited to be returning with Estenson Racing. We’ve had a lot of success together during the two-and-a-half years that I’ve been there, taking home two championships in the AFT Singles class. So it just seems like the right time for us to make the move to the premier twins class, the Mission SuperTwins. It’s been my dream to even race in this class, let alone be given the opportunity to win and accomplish my goals. The team has been putting in an endless amount of work into the bikes and the program, and I think we have a really good package heading into the season opener. I can’t wait for the season to start!”
Dallas Daniels
The newest addition to Estenson Racing, Brunner is one of the sport’s rising stars. He capped off his amateur career with top honours and has followed a similar career trajectory as Daniels. The Indiana rider was named the 2019 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award Winner and the 2019 AMA Athlete of the Year from Grand Championship events.
He then went on to impress during his debut in the pro ranks, scoring a win at the Springfield Short Track in 2020. Brunner finished his sophomore year strong with a pair of wins at the Sacramento Mile doubleheader, securing a top-five finish in the points standings. The 19-year-old aims to put another number-one plate on the Yamaha YZ450F and bring the team its fourth title in its sixth year in the championship.
Tommy Hayden – Estenson Racing Team Manager
“Estenson Racing is really happy to announce our racing program for 2022. We could not be more excited about our riders that we have on the team for next year. In the SuperTwins class, I feel really good about our balance of strengths. With JD, we have experience and maturity, and with Dallas, we have raw talent and eagerness. Together I think this is a perfect match that will push us forward. In the AFT Singles class, we are really happy to have Trevor join our team. We have had a lot of success in the championship with three titles, including the recent back-to-back championships, and we believe Trevor is the guy to help us continue that success on the 450. He has already proven to be a race winner, and we look forward to helping him become a champion. We have increased our commitment to winning even more with our concentrated effort, and have added staff members and expanded in other areas to give us more resources to accelerate our development capabilities. We’re looking forward to lining up in Volusia next March.”
Trevor Brunner – Estenson Racing AFT Singles
“I’m ecstatic to be joining the Estenson Racing team. They have had a lot of success in American Flat Track and have been the pinnacle of the AFT Singles class the past few years. I have a lot of confidence in them, and they have a lot of confidence in me, so I’m looking to put it all out on the track aboard the Estenson Racing Yamahas. The team is all about winning races, and we’re going after the championship. It’s a big step for me in my career, and I can’t wait to get started.”
