The three-round Mission King Of The Baggers Championship wrapped up on Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, making up Round 5 of the MotoAmerica series where Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle’s rider Kyle Wyman left no doubt why he was the favourite. When the lights went out he took the lead, with a dominant performance that saw him clinch the title in the same fashion that he dominated the championship.
King Of The Baggers – 2021 MotoAmerica Round 5 Laguna Seca
Wyman started from the pole and was never headed in the eight-lap race. He gained more than a full second on second-place finisher and Mission Foods S&S Cycle Indian rider Tyler O’Hara on almost every lap of the race until he decided to slow his pace just a bit towards the end, with victory well within reach.
At the checkers, he took the win by just under four-and-a-half seconds over O’Hara. Third place went to DTF Performance/Hoban Brothers Performance Racing Harley-Davidson’s Michael Barnes, who added yet another podium finish in yet another motorcycle road race class on yet another brand of motorcycle to his record.
Wyman, who had broken his elbow in a crash last month at Road America, made a miraculous recovery from his injury, and he talked about it after the race.
Kyle Wyman
“Those guys are world-class doctors and surgeons, putting me back together, knowing exactly the timeline and how he needed to fix everything for me to be able to get what I needed to get done. Honestly, we didn’t make any changes to the bike ergonomically for me to ride it. It was just a matter of Friday it was like, okay, this is the lap time I can do without braking so hard that I’m screaming in my helmet. Then here’s a lap I can do when it really sucks. Then just decided from there how hard I wanted to push. I pushed pretty hard in the beginning of the race and saw the board grow pretty quickly, so I was pretty happy with that. I could kind of keep a steady rhythm from there and not have to brake too hard. That’s all it was. It was just more brake force and the more I have to hold my body weight, especially these downhill left-handers in 2 and 11 and stuff like that. Structurally it’s been good. It’s been a very fast recovery. If I was only racing Superbike this year, I probably would have ridden the Superbike, but both would have been a lot. I would have jeopardized both. So, my plan was just to focus on this. Pretty minimal laps for a race weekend. After doing double duty riding on the Harley only is like a vacation, so it was pretty awesome. Got it done.”
Kyle Wyman – 2021 MotoAmerica Round 5 Laguna Seca
Travis Wyman and Ben Bostrom completed the top five respectively, ahead of Hayden Gillim, Frankie Garcia, Patricia Fernandez, Zack Nation and Eric Stahl. Five of the top six on the day were Harley mounted, with three Indians in the top-ten.
Kyle Wyman’s title win was a dominant one, finishing the season on 70-points, to runner up Tyler O’Hara’s 45-points. Hayden Gillim was third on 39-points, ahead of Frankie Garcia (36) and Travis Wyman (33).
Kyle Wyman topped the podium from O’Hara and Barnes – 2021 MotoAmerica Round 5 Laguna Seca
Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha’s Jake Gagne won his eighth straight MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Saturday, but this one was different. This one was close.
Jake Gagne – 2021 MotoAmerica Round 5 Laguna Seca
How close? Just a tick over a second and that was the biggest lead of the race as Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York’s Loris Baz finished just 1.173 seconds behind Gagne after applying relentless pressure for the duration of the red-flag interrupted race. Baz was all smiles after having his best race of the season thus far.
Third place went to M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Cameron Petersen, 3.6 seconds behind Baz, and that meant the podium consisted of three different manufacturers (Yamaha, Ducati and Suzuki) and three different nationalities (American, French and South African).
Fourth went to another South African in the form of Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz, the Yamaha rider ending up 1.3 seconds adrift of his countryman Petersen and over 12 seconds ahead of Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha’s Josh Herrin.
Some four seconds behind Herrin came Scheibe Racing’s Hector Barbera, the Spaniard beating M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Bobby Fong. The returning Toni Elias ended up eighth on Kyle Wyman’s Panera Bread Ducati.
Altus Motorsports’ Jake Lewis finished ninth over Travis Wyman Racing’s Travis Wyman and won the Superbike Cup in the process.
Honos Superbike Race 2
Jake Gagne actually got passed at Laguna Seca in Race 2, but it only lasted two corners. Gagne ran off the track on the run from turn five to turn six on the opening lap and the mistake allowed Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York’s Loris Baz to pass him.
What followed was a frenzied 20 or so seconds as Gagne, Baz and Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz rubbed elbows and motorcycles through the Corkscrew and Rainey Curve. When the dust settled, Gagne was back in front.
And that was all she wrote. Despite constant pressure from Baz for the duration, Gagne was able to maintain his composure to beat the Frenchman by 1.789 seconds and win his ninth straight HONOS Superbike race. The win also increased his championship points lead to 65 points over Scholtz, 225-160.
Jake Gagne
“That turn five, when you get out there on a Superbike you start sliding,” Gagne explained when asked about his off-track excursion. “That curb comes back. If you get out on the curb, it’s almost tough to get back off it. I just slid out there a little too much. It was one of those things. I thought I was going to save it, and then the rear tire kind of hopped back off. Then all of a sudden, I was in the dirt. But I kind of dropped the throttle. The Yamaha still hooked up good in the dirt with the slicks on, so I just got back up on the curb. Loris (Baz) came by, then Mat (Scholtz) came by the Corkscrew. They both kind of ran wide in the Corkscrew, so I was able to just dive up tight on the Corkscrew and around the side of Rainey (Curve). I managed to kind of get that back and I knew I got to go. Obviously, I was keeping an eye on my pit board. I knew Loris was there. I knew Mat was there. They didn’t give me any issues to go. I saw a couple .2, .3, and then they’d pull a tenth back, they’d grab a 10th, they’d pull a couple tenths back… So, it was kind of back and forth.”
Jake Gagne – 2021 MotoAmerica Round 5 Laguna Seca
Gagne had been challenged all weekend by Baz and admitted that Sunday was the biggest challenge he’d faced all year. For Baz and his Ducati team it was a solid weekend where they made big improvements to the Panigale V4 R.
With Gagne beating Baz for the second straight day, it was Scholtz finishing third on Sunday. The South African ended up 7.8 seconds behind Baz after keeping the two in front of him in sight for most of the race.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Cameron Petersen was fourth on Sunday, a day after finishing third. He ended up some six seconds ahead of Gagne’s Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha’s teammate Josh Herrin, who in turn was seven seconds ahead of Petersen’s teammate Bobby Fong.
Loris Baz, Jake Gagne and Mathew Scholtz on the Superbike Sunday podium
Panera Bread Ducati’s Toni Elias got the better of Scheibe Racing BMW’s Hector Barbera after a race-long duel to finish seventh. Elias was riding the Ducati in place of the injured Kyle Wyman at Laguna Seca, but Wyman will return to the HONOS Superbike class in three weeks at Brainerd International Raceway.
Travis Wyman Racing’s Travis Wyman and BPR Tuning’s Bryce Prince rounded out the top 10 finishers while also finishing first and second in the Superbike Cup.
2021 British Superbike Championship Round Two – Knockhill
Images by David Yeoman
British Superbike
Christian Iddon kicked off the weekend at Knockhill with a Superbike win in Race 1, holding off Australian Jason O’Halloran and Danny Buchan to win the opening race.
Danny Buchan
Danny Buchan then celebrated victory for SYNETIQ BMW in the second Bennetts British Superbike Championship race at Knockhill, becoming the third different race winner of the season as Rory Skinner delivered an incredible second place finish in only his fifth race.
Buchan then followed it up with a double victory, making a crucial move on Rory Skinner just a lap before the final Bennetts British Superbike Championship race of the weekend was red flagged.
Christian Iddon now holds the Superbike lead on 111-points, six-points ahead of Jason O’Halloran, with Buchan third. Josh Brookes is currently 11th on 38-points.
Bradley Perie took the British Supersport wins, with Ben Currie second in Race 1 and finishing 11th in Race 2. Perie now leads the standings from Jack Kennedy and Lee Johnston, with Currie fourth overall.
Ben Currie
Taylor Mackenzie and Fraser Rogers shared the Pirelli National Superstock wins, with Billy McConnell second in both races. South Australia’s Billy McConnell leads the standings on 56-points, from Taylor Mackenzie (50) and Fraser Rogers (32).
In the British Talent Cup Evan Belford won both races, with New Zealand’s Cormac Buchanan racing to a 4-3 result. As a result Belford currently leads the standings from Johnny Garness and Casey O’Gorman, with Buchanan fifth.
2021 British Superbike Championship – Race 1
As Race 1 kicked off, O’Halloran launched off the pole position to grab the lead ahead of Iddon and Buchan, but the order shifted as the SYNETIQ BMW rider moved into second on the third lap with a decisive overtake.
Jason O’Halloran
Meanwhile Iddon had grasped the lead, but the VisionTrack Ducati rider soon was relegated to second as Buchan hit the front of the pack on lap six.
As Buchan tried to make a break on his chasing rivals he saved a huge moment, when he tucked the front at the hairpin, and his incredible reactions meant he may have lost the lead but he was able to regroup from fourth place.
Iddon had taken command at the front of the pack, but O’Halloran was stalking him all the way to the chequered flag as the pair continue their duel from Oulton Park.
Christian Iddon
Peter Hickman had taken advantage of Buchan’s mistake to move up a place into a potential podium position, but a problem on the final lap meant he was forced to retire the FHO Racing BMW, handing the final top three place back to his BMW rival.
Bradley Ray had a strong performance in fourth to score his best result of the season so far for the Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW ahead of rookie Rory Skinner, who delivered a stellar performance to claim fifth place in only his fourth Bennetts BSB race with FS-3 Kawasaki.
Josh Brookes
Tarran Mackenzie bounced back from a crash in qualifying to score sixth after a battle with Ryan Vickers on the RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki in the closing stages, as Tommy Bridewell, Lee Jackson and defending champion Josh Brookes completed the top ten.
2021 British Superbike Championship – Race 2
At the start of the race, Iddon had launched his VisionTrack Ducati into the lead on the opening lap ahead of Buchan, Peter Hickman and Skinner.
Danny Buchan
Hickman was fighting hard and within six laps, he had forced his way into second place with a move at the Hairpin, before Skinner also made the same pass a lap later on the SYNETIQ BMW.
It was a disastrous race for the championship leader Jason O’Halloran, who relinquished his position at the top of the standings when he crashed out unhurt on the eleventh lap.
Meanwhile in the leading pack, Iddon was holding off his rivals as Buchan had moved back into second position with Mackenzie and Skinner in close contention.
Christian Iddon
Buchan bided his time before executing a move at the Hairpin on the 17th lap to claim the lead and then despite initial early pressure, he was able to bridge a gap of just over a second to claim the first race win for the all-new BMW M 1000 RR.
The battle for second though took a turn on lap 20 as Skinner claimed the position by passing Iddon and he was able to hold off the pair behind him, scoring a superb second place for FS-3 Kawasaki.
On the final lap, the scrap continued for the final podium position as Mackenzie lunged ahead on the McAMS Yamaha to push Iddon back into fourth place at the chequered flag. The VisionTrack Ducati rider though moved ahead in the title standings.
Rory Skinner
Tommy Bridewell completed the top five, as he was able to gain positions after Hickman saved a huge off track moment after a promising start, which saw him in the podium fight for FHO Racing BMW, dropping him to seventh position.
2021 British Superbike Championship – Race 3
Mackenzie led the pack off the line at the start, but it wasn’t long before Skinner was on the attack and he instantly grabbed the lead at the Hairpin. The Scottish rider was heading the field as Iddon moved into second, pushing Makenzie into third by the end of the second lap.
Hickman was also getting stuck in, fighting for a podium position, firing the FHO Racing BMW ahead of Mackenzie on lap four.
Peter Hickman
Buchan was holding fourth position by lap ten, but ahead of him, Hickman had dived up the inside of Iddon at the Hairpin to claim second.
The VisionTrack Ducati rider was targeting his counterattack and as they reached the Hairpin the next time around, he dived up the inside ofs Hickman. Buchan also saw his opportunity when Hickman was forced to sit up, and he stuck the SYNETIQ BMW ahead, but the pair touched and they subsequently lost ground.
Buchan was determined to fight back for the podium and after hunting Mackenzie, he was able to edge ahead on lap 15, but the McAMS Yamaha rider instantly reclaimed the position. Buchan eventually made a move that stuck and he then had Skinner and Iddon ahead of him.
Rory Skinner
A lunge into the Hairpin put the SYNETIQ BMW rider back into second as Iddon was nudged back into third and then he was duelling with Skinner for the victory.
Skinner was fighting hard to hold the lead and as Buchan moved ahead the FS-3 Kawasaki rider was desperately trying to retaliate, but the race was red flagged when Glenn Irwin crashed a lap later, leaving his stricken Honda in the track.
Mackenzie held on to claim his second podium finish of the day for McAMS Yamaha with Iddon in fourth place to remain on top of the standings by six points ahead of the next round at Brands Hatch.
Bradley Ray was back in the top five for Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW ahead of O’Halloran, who bounced back from a race two crash to finish in sixth place.
Danny Buchan – 3-1-1
“To bring home wins for the SYNETIQ BMW team is fantastic – they’ve had a hard few years so to repay those guys on the new M 1000 RR is obviously a fantastic thing for everyone involved. It’s very early days in the project still and we’re still building on it, so I am over the moon. To get the double hasn’t quite sunk in just yet, but it’s fantastic. It was a hectic last race and there was a lot going on, and I sort of knew if I got in front I could pull a gap, so the plan was to get my head down and go and that’s what we started to do. I started to edge away and then the red flag came out, so I timed it right, lady luck was on my side there definitely, but credit to SYNETIQ BMW. To get two wins today is fantastic for them, so massive credit to the team, my sponsors and everyone involved.”
Danny Buchan topped the podium in races 2 and 3
Christian Iddon 1-4-4
“I’m delighted to get the win especially so early in the season. It’s been a bit of a strange day as I haven’t quite got the feeling with the bike I’m looking for although it’s doing what I want it to do. I have a lack of sensation at certain places on the track where I’ve been strong in the past, but the good thing is that our form is good and we’re improving all the time. I learned a bit more when Danny was ahead of me and have a small change to make for tomorrow which should help us further. The weather may have a part to play but we’re on the front row for the first race and whilst it’s very early days in the season, it’s definitely a case of so far, so good.”
Christian Iddon
Rory Skinner – 5-2-2
“I came into this weekend just hoping to build on the performance we had at Oulton Park – maybe get a top 10 or maybe be up there in the races for a while… I never expected to come home in P2! You know to be right up there with the best in the country in BSB in my second round on a superbike, I was blown away! I’m so, so happy with it and just have to say a massive thanks to FS-3 Kawasaki for giving me a home and giving me the best package possible. I had no plan; I was just going with the flow of things. I was watching my board and I just rode my heart out and to bring home podiums is amazing.”
Josh Brookes – 10-12-13
“It’s been a similar situation to Oulton in the sense that I’ve got no grip and it’s frustrating as a race winner and British champion to be rolling around in tenth. The bike’s not behaving badly or getting out of shape but for some reason the set-up is not there and in today’s race, I had three to four moments every lap. Christian’s settings and mine are as close as they’ve ever been but he’s won and I’m in tenth so it’s hard for us all to get our head around at the moment. All I can keep doing is relay the information to the team and hope something can be found. I’m sure our hard work and perseverance will see everything come good.”
Josh Brookes
Peter Hickman – DNF-7-8
“Disappointing weekend for us especially when we had the pace which was probably the most disappointing thing. We had the pace for the podium it just wasn’t meant to be this weekend. Everything that could go against us went against us. It looks like we could have a possible gearbox issue on the new motor, as in both races I missed a gear going into turn one and had to go straight on. Not ideal, not ideal in the slightest! But we have to take the positives and the positives are we’re fast, competitive and right at the front. So onwards and upwards, we will get things sorted for Brands Hatch in a couple of weeks time.”
2021 Pro Motocross Championship Round 5 – Southwick National
Images by Jeff Kardas
The fifth round of the 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship returned to “America’s Sandbox” at The Wick 338 for what many consider to be the most physically demanding round of the season. In the absence of last year’s Twisted Tea Southwick National, passionate Northeastern fans turned out in huge numbers to cheer on their favorite riders in an afternoon packed with bar-to-bar action.
Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis and Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence entered the championship’s only sand race of the season with possession of the red plates as the respective point leaders and both managed to keep them after a challenging day. For the fourth time in five races, Ferrandis captured the 450 Class victory, extending his championship lead in his rookie season in the premier class.
In the 250 Class, Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence swept both motos to capture his first career win. Jett Lawrence got caught up in the first moto but fought back to ninth and improved to third in the second Moto. Jett’s main championship rival, Justin Cooper, scored five more points than Jett to reduce the Australian’s Championship lead to three-points.
Southwick National AMA Pro Motocross Video Highlights
450 Moto 1
When the 40-rider field rounded the first turn for the opening 450 Class moto it was Ferrandis who prevailed with the Motosport.com Holeshot ahead of his teammate Aaron Plessinger and Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia. Ferrandis’ championship rival Ken Roczen was just outside of the top-five off of the start in sixth aboard his Team Honda HRC machine. Ferrandis would lead the field around on the opening lap, while Barcia would move into second, sliding Plessinger back to third.
Dylan Ferrandis
Out front, Ferrandis found himself under heavy pressure during the early stages of the moto, however, the charge from both Barcia and Plessinger proved to be short-lived as the Frenchman upped his pace to open a comfortable lead. The battle for second was wide open as Plessinger stalked Barcia for the majority of the 30-minute-plus-two-lap moto.
Aaron Plessinger
At the checkered flag, it was Ferrandis taking his third moto win of the season by 5.4 seconds. Barcia held on for second to give him his best finish of the season, just ahead of Plessinger in third.
450 Moto 1 Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Laps/Interval
1
Dylan Ferrandis
YAM YZ 450F
15 Laps
2
Justin Barcia
GAS MC450F
+05.443
3
Aaron Plessinger
YAM YZ 450F
+07.720
4
Ken Roczen
HON CRF450R WE
+14.827
5
Adam Cianciarulo
KAW KX450
+16.834
6
Cooper Webb
KTM 450 SX-F FE
+19.149
7
Chase Sexton
HON CRF450R WE
+21.692
8
Eli Tomac
KAW KX450
+26.935
9
Christian Craig
YAM YZ 450F
+45.098
10
Marvin Musquin
KTM 450 SX-F FE
+55.552
11
Joseph Savatgy
KTM 450 SX-F FE
+1:17.413
12
Dean Wilson
HQV FC450 RE
+1:59.827
13
Brandon Hartranft
SUZ RMZ 450
+2:03.545
14
Chris Canning
KTM 450 SX-F FE
+2:32.848
15
Justin Rodbell
KAW KX450
14 Laps
16
Tyler Stepek
KAW KX450
+07.661
17
Scott Meshey
HQV FC450 RE
+21.311
18
Justin Bogle
KTM 450 SX-F FE
+25.199
19
Kyle Chisholm
YAM YZ 450F
+30.030
20
Alex Ray
KAW KX450
+35.447
21
Ben LaMay
KTM 450 SX-F
+54.159
22
Nathan Augustin
KTM 450 SX-F
+1:03.113
23
Nicolas Rolando
KTM 450 SX-F FE
+1:05.626
24
Jacob Runkles
GAS MC450F
+1:07.320
25
Trevor Schmidt
KTM 450 SX-F FE
+1:14.455
26
Brian Borghesani
GAS MC450F
+1:15.634
27
Ryan Surratt
HQV FC450
+1:23.157
28
Joshua Prior
GAS MC450F
+1:27.956
29
Bryton Carroll
YAM YZ 450F
+1:36.706
30
Cory Carsten
SUZ RMZ 450
+1:38.024
31
Ricci Randanella
KAW KX450
+1:54.134
32
Travis Delnicki
YAM YZ 450F
+2:21.629
33
Cody Groves
YAM YZ 450F
13 Laps
34
Matthew Hubert
KAW KX450
+22.849
35
Rody Schroyer
HON CRF450R
+26.991
36
Bryce Hansen
KAW KX450
12 Laps
37
Max Anstie
SUZ RMZ 450
11 Laps
38
Coty Schock
HON CRF450R
7 Laps
39
Fredrik Noren
KTM 450 SX-F
DNS
40
Robert Piazza
YAM YZ 450F
DNS
450 Moto 2
The final and deciding 450 Class moto kicked off with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Cooper Webb launching out of the gate for the Motosport.com Holeshot ahead of Roczen and Plessinger. Exiting the first turn, Roczen used a handful of throttle to slingshot his way past Webb for the lead, while Plessinger would exit the racetrack with a mechanical issue. It was Roczen, Webb, and Cianciarulo inside the top three at the completion of the opening lap, while Ferrandis started in sixth.
Dylan Ferrandis
Roczen was on a tear at the front of the field, opening a commanding lead in the early laps, while Webb and Cianciarulo maintained second and third. With 20-minutes to go, Cianciarulo found his way by Webb for second, followed shortly after by Ferrandis who bumped Webb outside of podium contention. A mistake by Ferrandis saw him slide out and lose one position to Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac.
Ken Roczen
Three-time champion Tomac began to find his rhythm, making the move on his teammate Cianciarulo for second and clocking the fastest laps of the race as he set his sights on reducing the gap to Roczen. As the race entered the final 10-minutes of the moto, Tomac’s relentless pursuit to the front saw him hot on the heels of Roczen before charging his way past for the lead.
Eli Tomac
Tomac proved to be unstoppable as he recorded a dominating moto win with 16.4 seconds to spare on the second place Roczen. Ferrandis would finish third, followed by Barcia in fourth.
Eli Tomac
450 Moto 2 Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Laps/Interval
1
Eli Tomac
KAW KX450
15 Laps
2
Ken Roczen
HON CRF450R WE
+16.425
3
Dylan Ferrandis
YAM YZ 450F
+25.514
4
Justin Barcia
GAS MC450F
+46.423
5
Cooper Webb
KTM 450 SX-F FE
+51.170
6
Adam Cianciarulo
KAW KX450
+1:08.139
7
Marvin Musquin
KTM 450 SX-F FE
+1:28.090
8
Chase Sexton
HON CRF450R WE
+1:40.029
9
Dean Wilson
HQV FC450 RE
+1:42.305
10
Joseph Savatgy
KTM 450 SX-F FE
+1:44.150
11
Brandon Hartranft
SUZ RMZ 450
+1:45.738
12
Max Anstie
SUZ RMZ 450
+1:47.634
13
Christian Craig
YAM YZ 450F
+2:12.264
14
Chris Canning
KTM 450 SX-F FE
14 Laps
15
Justin Bogle
KTM 450 SX-F FE
+15.420
16
Justin Rodbell
KAW KX450
+20.325
17
Tyler Stepek
KAW KX450
+26.736
18
Cody Groves
YAM YZ 450F
+45.287
19
Jacob Runkles
GAS MC450F
+48.946
20
Ben LaMay
KTM 450 SX-F
+51.907
21
Kyle Chisholm
YAM YZ 450F
+1:04.780
22
Brian Borghesani
GAS MC450F
+1:17.065
23
Ricci Randanella
KAW KX450
+1:32.111
24
Bryce Hansen
KAW KX450
+1:41.241
25
Nathan Augustin
KTM 450 SX-F
+1:53.212
26
Joshua Prior
GAS MC450F
+1:56.022
27
Ryan Surratt
HQV FC450
+1:58.909
28
Nicolas Rolando
KTM 450 SX-F FE
+2:00.866
29
Scott Meshey
HQV FC450 RE
+2:03.990
30
Matthew Hubert
KAW KX450
+2:11.188
31
Cory Carsten
SUZ RMZ 450
+2:20.129
32
Travis Delnicki
YAM YZ 450F
13 Laps
33
Benjamin Brouillard
KAW KX450
+23.562
34
Fredrik Noren
KTM 450 SX-F
11 Laps
35
Rody Schroyer
HON CRF450R
+8:12.701
36
Trevor Schmidt
KTM 450 SX-F FE
10 Laps
37
Robert Piazza
YAM YZ 450F
9 Laps
38
Alex Ray
KAW KX450
8 Laps
39
Bryton Carroll
YAM YZ 450F
5 Laps
40
Aaron Plessinger
YAM YZ 450F
DNF
450 Overall
It was Ferrandis’ consistency that paid off for the overall victory (1-3). Roczen finished the day runner-up in second place (4-2) and Barcia earned his first podium of the season in third (2-4). Tomac just missed the overall podium in fourth (8-1).
Dylan Ferrandis
“It’s amazing to win another overall,” said Ferrandis. “The team showed me on the pit board to save my bike in moto 2. Eli [Tomac] was riding really well in that last moto and it made me just want to go faster and faster, but I had to be smart for the bike. I wanted to beat Ken [Roczen] so badly, but the team asked for me to save the bike. It was a great day overall, getting another win and picking up some more points on the day. As a rider I always want to win so I’m a little bit frustrated to not be able to push as hard as I would have liked at the end.”
Dylan Ferrandis
With the win Ferrandis was able to extend his lead in the championship standings to 19-points over Roczen. Plessinger’s second moto mechanical issue moved Tomac into third in the standings and slid Plessinger back to fourth.
450 Podium – Ferrandis P1 – Roczen P2 – Barcia P3
Justin Barcia
“The fans kept me on my toes today, it made that charge through the pack feel way better in the second moto. We’ve been working extremely hard and things have been a little bit tough, but today feels amazing! I can’t thank the crew enough, they’ve been awesome and the setting we have here will work good in Millville, so let’s keep the ball rolling!”
Justin Barcia
Cooper Webb
“I made a lot of progress this week so I came into today pretty happy with things and I felt like my riding was a lot better than it has been. Today was definitely a lot better of a day and I’m happy with the progress in a short amount of time, so hopefully we’ll continue to get better from here.”
Cooper Webb
Marvin Musquin
“Conditions were really tough today; it was definitely a tougher Southwick. My starts were good, I feel like I always have good starts here in the sand, and my bike was hooking up really good in both motos. I had decent speed at the beginning and then I started to get passed by a couple riders and lost rhythm and it was hard to keep up, so that was the biggest issue on the weekend.”
Marvin Musquin
Christian Craig
“It was a tough day for me. I had to come from the back in Moto 1 to finish ninth. In the second moto, I had a better start and was running towards the front, but unfortunately had a big crash towards the end and just had to ride it in from there.”
Christian Craig
Aaron Plessinger
“I had a really good day going and was feeling good up front but unfortunately had an issue that took me out of the second moto. The track was gnarly today with a hard base but super deep where It was really sandy. I’m happy with my starts and my riding. We’ll keep working and bring the heat next weekend at Spring Creek.”
Aaron Plessinger
450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)
Pos
Rider
M1
M2
Points
1
Dylan Ferrandis
1
3
45
2
Ken Roczen
4
2
40
3
Justin Barcia
2
4
40
4
Eli Tomac
8
1
38
5
Cooper Webb
6
5
31
6
Adam Cianciarulo
5
6
31
7
Chase Sexton
7
8
27
8
Marvin Musquin
10
7
25
9
Dean Wilson
12
9
21
10
Joseph Savatgy
11
10
21
11
Christian Craig
9
13
20
12
Aaron Plessinger
3
40
20
13
Brandon Hartranft
13
11
18
14
Chris Canning
14
14
14
15
Justin Rodbell
15
16
11
16
Max Anstie
37
12
9
17
Justin Bogle
18
15
9
18
Tyler Stepek
16
17
9
19
Scott Meshey
17
29
4
20
Cody Groves
33
18
3
21
Jacob Runkles
24
19
2
22
Kyle Chisholm
19
21
2
23
Ben LaMay
21
20
1
24
Alex Ray
20
38
1
25
Nathan Augustin
22
25
0
26
Brian Borghesani
26
22
0
27
Nicolas Rolando
23
28
0
28
Ricci Randanella
31
23
0
29
Joshua Prior
28
26
0
30
Ryan Surratt
27
27
0
31
Bryce Hansen
36
24
0
32
Cory Carsten
30
31
0
33
Trevor Schmidt
25
36
0
34
Matthew Hubert
34
30
0
35
Travis Delnicki
32
32
0
36
Bryton Carroll
29
39
0
37
Rody Schroyer
35
35
0
38
Fredrik Noren
39
34
0
39
Robert Piazza
40
37
0
40
Benjamin Brouillard
33
0
41
Coty Schock
38
0
450 Class Championship Standings (Round 5 of 12)
Pos
Rider
Points
1
Dylan Ferrandis
224
2
Ken Roczen
205
3
Eli Tomac
167
4
Aaron Plessinger
163
5
Justin Barcia
161
6
Chase Sexton
159
7
Adam Cianciarulo
147
8
Cooper Webb
133
9
Christian Craig
124
10
Marvin Musquin
115
11
Joseph Savatgy
97
12
Dean Wilson
60
13
Max Anstie
58
14
Justin Bogle
58
15
Brandon Hartranft
55
16
Coty Schock
47
17
Fredrik Noren
41
18
Zachary Osborne
33
19
Jason Anderson
29
20
Justin Rodbell
23
21
Chris Canning
22
22
Ryan Surratt
17
23
Tyler Stepek
10
24
Phillip Nicoletti
9
25
Alessandro Lupino
8
26
Scott Meshey
7
27
Tyler Medaglia
6
28
William Clason
5
29
Ben LaMay
4
30
Mitchell Falk
3
31
Robert Piazza
3
32
Cody Groves
3
33
Jeremy Hand
3
34
Kyle Chisholm
2
35
Jacob Runkles
2
36
Jacob Hayes
2
37
Alex Ray
1
38
Bryce Backaus
1
39
Cole Thompson
0
40
Bryce Hansen
0
41
Curren Thurman
0
42
Nathan Augustin
0
43
Brian Borghesani
0
44
Nicolas Rolando
0
45
Ricci Randanella
0
46
Trevor Schmidt
0
47
Joshua Prior
0
48
Cory Carsten
0
49
Hunter Schlosser
0
50
Connor Olson
0
51
Dylan Merriam
0
52
Jeremy Smith
0
53
Robert Fitch, Jr.
0
250 Moto 1
As the gate dropped for the first 250 Class moto of the day it was Jalek Swoll who emerged with the Motosport.com Holeshot ahead of his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate RJ Hampshire and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jo Shimoda who would quickly surrender his position to Troy Lee Design/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing’s Michael Mosiman. At the completion of the opening lap it was Swoll, Hampshire, and Mosiman leading the field around while championship point leader Jett Lawrence was 10th aboard his Team Honda HRC machine after an early fall and Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha Racing’s Justin Cooper way back in 22nd.
Jett Lawrence
Five minutes into the race, Hampshire would grab a handful of throttle to power past his teammate Swoll for the lead. Just moments later, Mosiman and Hunter Lawrence would make their moves on Swoll for second and third, respectively. Out front, Hampshire would quickly begin to set the pace and open a comfortable lead over the field behind him.
Hunter Lawrence
Despite the clear track out front, Hampshire would make a mistake with 20-minutes remaining in the moto that saw him crash out of the lead, allowing Mosiman to take over the number one position followed by Hunter Lawrence. Hampshire would remount in third. As the race passed the halfway point of the moto, Hunter Lawrence and Hampshire began to inch their way up to the rear wheel of Mosiman, eventually leading to a three way battle for the lead.
Hunter Lawrence
Mosiman would lose the front end and go down with eight minutes remaining and Hunter Lawrence would take over the number one spot followed by Hampshire and Shimoda. Hampshire’s effort to challenge for the win was cut short by a second crash that left him picking up his motorcycle. Hunter Lawrence held on to take his third career moto victory by 7.8 seconds over Hampshire who recovered for second. Shimoda crossed the finish line for a season-best third, while Cooper would come-from-behind for sixth and Jett Lawrence ninth after a pair of crashes.
Hunter Lawrence
250 Moto 1 Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Laps/Interval
1
Hunter Lawrence
HON CRF250R
15 Laps
2
RJ Hampshire
HQV FC250
+07.832
3
Jo Shimoda
KAW KX 250
+10.144
4
Colt Nichols
YAM YZ 250F
+13.899
5
Jalek Swoll
HQV FC250
+28.981
6
Justin Cooper
YAM YZ 250F
+34.095
7
Michael Mosiman
GAS MC250F
+34.948
8
Stilez Robertson
HQV FC250
+46.465
9
Jett Lawrence
HON CRF250R
+49.190
10
Maximus Vohland
KTM 250 SX-F FE
+57.207
11
Jeremy Martin
YAM YZ 250F
+59.791
12
Ty Masterpool
GAS MC250F
+1:18.710
13
Pierce Brown
GAS MC250F
+1:28.900
14
Austin Forkner
KAW KX 250
+1:29.717
15
Jarrett Frye
YAM YZ 250F
+1:42.589
16
Joshua Varize
KTM 250 SX-F
+1:51.148
17
Brandon Scharer
YAM YZ 250F
+1:55.911
18
James Harrington
YAM YZ 250F
+1:57.514
19
Jake Pinhancos
KTM 250 SX-F
+2:27.916
20
Jace Kessler
YAM YZ 250F
14 Laps
21
Joseph Tait
YAM YZ 250F
+02.145
22
Gared Steinke
KAW KX 250
+02.469
23
Luke Renzland
HQV TC125
+12.171
24
Kailub Russell
KTM 250 SX-F
+21.999
25
Noah Willbrandt
YAM YZ 250F
+29.486
26
Xylian Ramella
KTM 250 SX-F
+39.700
27
Vincent Luhovey
KTM 250 SX-F
+45.514
28
Christopher Prebula
KTM 250 SX-F
+49.865
29
Stephen Czarnota
KTM 250 SX-F
+1:07.730
30
Blake Ashley
YAM YZ 250F
+1:11.786
31
Jeffrey Walker
KTM 250 SX-F
+1:16.804
32
Jesse Flock
HQV FC250
+1:41.059
33
Lane Shaw
KTM 250 SX-F
13 Laps
34
Carson Mumford
HON CRF250R
12 Laps
35
Jerry Robin
GAS MC250F
9 Laps
36
Garrett Marchbanks
YAM YZ 250F
7 Laps
37
Nathanael Thrasher
YAM YZ 250F
+32.322
38
Hunter Calle
YAM YZ 250F
6 Laps
39
Gabe Gutierres
HON CRF250R
4 Laps
40
Dilan Schwartz
SUZ RMZ 250
3 Laps
250 Moto 2
The final 250 Class Moto of the afternoon saw Hampshire get out of the gate quickly to capture the Motosport.com Holeshot ahead of Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha Racing’s Jeremy Martin and Cooper. The opening moments of the race saw Cooper waste no time in making his way around Martin for second. As they crossed the line on the opening lap it was Hampshire, Cooper, Shimoda, Hunter Lawrence, and Jett Lawrence in sixth.
Jett Lawrence
Hampshire looked to have the race under control out front, but it was misfortune that struck the Husqvarna rider once again as he gave away the lead with 20-minutes remaining due to a crash. The mistake by Hampshire handed the lead over to Cooper who was being pursued by Shimoda and Hunter Lawrence who began to close in and made the pass stick on Shimoda for second. Hampshire, who remounted in fourth, had a second crash just a few laps later that would shuffle him further back in seventh.
Hunter Lawrence
With less than 10-minutes to go, Hunter Lawrence began to make his attack, pulling alongside Cooper several times before diving down the inside to take control of the lead. Cooper would attempt to strike back, but it was Hunter Lawrence who remained unphased to take his second moto win of the season by 4.5 seconds. Cooper was second, just ahead of championship rival Jett Lawrence in third. Shimoda and Hampshire finished fourth and sixth.
Hunter Lawrence
250 Moto 2 Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Laps/Interval
1
Hunter Lawrence
HON CRF250R
15 Laps
2
Justin Cooper
YAM YZ 250F
+04.525
3
Jett Lawrence
HON CRF250R
+06.689
4
Jo Shimoda
KAW KX 250
+24.437
5
Colt Nichols
YAM YZ 250F
+35.601
6
RJ Hampshire
HQV FC250
+52.660
7
Michael Mosiman
GAS MC250F
+54.383
8
Stilez Robertson
HQV FC250
+1:18.304
9
Garrett Marchbanks
YAM YZ 250F
+1:22.979
10
Pierce Brown
GAS MC250F
+1:24.573
11
Nathanael Thrasher
YAM YZ 250F
+1:32.025
12
Ty Masterpool
GAS MC250F
+1:34.897
13
Maximus Vohland
KTM 250 SX-F FE
+1:52.775
14
Jeremy Martin
YAM YZ 250F
+1:53.255
15
Jarrett Frye
YAM YZ 250F
+2:00.602
16
Kailub Russell
KTM 250 SX-F
+2:13.805
17
Jalek Swoll
HQV FC250
+2:27.368
18
Dilan Schwartz
SUZ RMZ 250
+2:37.365
19
James Harrington
YAM YZ 250F
14 Laps
20
Brandon Scharer
YAM YZ 250F
+32.568
21
Joseph Tait
YAM YZ 250F
+52.214
22
Jace Kessler
YAM YZ 250F
+55.507
23
Carson Mumford
HON CRF250R
+1:07.520
24
Xylian Ramella
KTM 250 SX-F
+1:15.983
25
Austin Forkner
KAW KX 250
+1:23.676
26
Gabe Gutierres
HON CRF250R
+1:46.635
27
Jake Pinhancos
KTM 250 SX-F
+1:55.327
28
Jeffrey Walker
KTM 250 SX-F
+2:02.226
29
Vincent Luhovey
KTM 250 SX-F
+2:09.988
30
Jesse Flock
HQV FC250
+2:28.082
31
Blake Ashley
YAM YZ 250F
+2:29.504
32
Lane Shaw
KTM 250 SX-F
+3:09.584
33
Stephen Czarnota
KTM 250 SX-F
13 Laps
34
Noah Willbrandt
YAM YZ 250F
+04.793
35
Jeremy Wahlstrom
KTM 250 SX-F FE
+48.364
36
Gared Steinke
KAW KX 250
11 Laps
37
Jerry Robin
GAS MC250F
+42.563
38
Joshua Varize
KTM 250 SX-F
10 Laps
39
Christopher Prebula
KTM 250 SX-F
8 Laps
40
Hunter Calle
YAM YZ 250F
+1:22.153
250 Overall
The 1-1 sweep for Hunter Lawrence gave the Australian the overall victory for the first time in his career since moving to America. Shimoda’s consistent 3-4 moto scores were good enough for a career-best second overall, while Cooper completed the podium in third (6-2). Jett Lawrence was sixth overall (9-3).
Hunter Lawrence
“Ah, man, this feels so good,” said Hunter Lawrence. “Huge shoutout to my entire team around me. None of this would be possible without them. This 1-1 feels so good and is such a great way to stamp the weekend here at Southwick. It’s a bit of an emotional win for me with everything that I’ve been through these past few years. I just want to keep building and take this momentum into the rest of the season.”
Hunter Lawrence
Jo Shimoda
“It’s great to put the team on the podium,” said Shimoda. “We’ve been working really hard on starts and it paid off today. Being up there battling rather than having to use all my energy moving forward was very helpful. With two more races before a break, I hope we can keep this ball rolling over the next couple rounds.”
Jo Shimoda
Jett Lawrence maintains his hold of the championship point lead by just three points over Cooper who picked up an additional five points on the day. Hunter Lawrence sits 26 points out of the lead in third.
Jett Lawrence
Jett Lawrence
“My starts really hurt me a lot, but I showed I have the speed to come through,” said Jett Lawrence. “Not the greatest weekend. I lost a lot of points, especially in that first moto, but we still have the red plate and I’m not backing down. I’m going to push forward and be there every race and make sure that I back that up. Whoever wants to have a go, come at me!”
Jett Lawrence250 Podium – Hunter Lawrence P1 – Jo Shimoda P2 – Justin Cooper P3
Justin Cooper
“Southwick was an up and down day for me. I found myself on the ground on the first lap of Moto 1 and then had to fight my way through the pack from last to salvage some points with sixth. In the second moto, I just didn’t have the energy to hold Hunter (Lawrence) back. I gave it all I had today and gained some points in the process. The bike was working well all day on a really rough track. I’m looking forward to going racing again next weekend!”
Justin Cooper
RJ Hampshire
“I had good speed again today and I was fastest in qualifying, which was a first with the team,” Hampshire said. “I felt awesome out there and my bike was really good, I just had a couple mistakes that cost me. It’s not a bad points day but I’m looking forward to Millville and going up from here.”
RJ Hampshire
Colt Nichols
“Southwick was a step in the right direction for me. The bike is feeling better, and the team has been working hard to get me comfortable, and we are getting there. This track is tough as usual, but I always enjoy racing ‘The Wick,’ and I’m happy to have two solid motos in the right direction.”
Colt Nichols
Jeremy Martin
“I got good starts in both motos but unfortunately went down on the first lap in both of them. I had to work really hard to get those 11-16 moto scores. It was a tough day, but we have some things to take away from it. I’m looking forward to my home race next Saturday.”
Evan Belford (City Lifting/RS Racing) made it double delight at Knockhill as he repeated his Race 1 disappearing act in the afternoon, taking another 25 points to consolidate his lead in the standings. Another close fight for second decided the rest of the podium, with Johnny Garness (City Lifting/RS Racing) taking it by a tenth. Cormac Buchanan (Microlise Cresswell Racing) took third for his first podium in the Honda British Talent Cup, just staying ahead of James Cook (Wilson Racing).
Belford got the holeshot from pole, with Garness soon up into second from the head of the second row. It wasn’t quite the immediate replay of Race 1, however, as Garness was able to make an attack not long after and the number 57 briefly took the lead. It didn’t last though, with Belford gathering it back up and slicing back through to begin pulling away once again.
That left a big squabble behind Belford, with Garness enjoying some close company from Harrison Crosby (Banks Racing), Buchanan and Cook as they fought it out and the number 52 got the hammer down in the lead.
Meanwhile in sixth, Bailey Stuart-Campbell (Team 151s) was holding off an incredible charge from Carter Brown (City Lifting/RS Racing). Down well outside the top 20 on the grid after not making the start of Race 1, the number 74 made up nearly 20 places in the early stages of the race. Stuart-Campbell then headed a little wide as well, allowing Brown to sweep past to try and hunt down Cook down the road in fifth.
After some shuffles through backmarkers and with five to go, it was still a close squabble but the outcome for Crosby was decided early as the Banks Racing rider slid out of the fight, leaving Garness holding off Buchanan and Cook. That fight went all the way to the wire, but the number 57 was again so quick in a straight line and that proved a decisive factor on the uphill drag to the line. Garness just took it by a tenth, with Buchanan nevertheless taking a first ever podium in third place. Cook, although close, was forced to settle for fourth although one better than his fifth place in Race 1.
Carter Brown came home in fifth after Crosby’s crash out of podium contention, the number 74 gaining an incredible 21 places. Ollie Walker (Moto Rapido / SP125 Racing) made his way through past Stuart-Campbell to take sixth, with Kiyano Veijer (Microlise Cresswell Racing) taking eighth. The Dutchman won another close duel in Race 2, this time against Ryan Hitchcock (Wilson Racing).
Jamie Lyons (C&M Motors Ltd/Tooltec Racing) completed the top ten a little further down the road.
That’s it from Round 2 at Knockhill, with Brands Hatch GP circuit playing host for Round 3 in a couple of weeks… make sure to tune in for more Honda British Talent Cup action!
Every so often a bike comes along that is completely unknown to me (and I would hazard, to most). The Moraco-Droulhole is one of those.
The Moraco-Droulhole 354 cc development racer
Frenchman Bernard Droulhole patented his monocoque chassis (although he referred to it as “polycoque”) around 1970 and it was soon used by the Maingret brothers to house a slightly enlarged (354 cc) Yamaha TZ350 motor as their entry into the 500 cc GP class.
In 1974 their riders were Patrick Pons and Christian Bourgeios. Pons placed fourth at Spa for the team’s best result. Bourgeios did finish third at the French GP in the 350 race – presumably not with the 354 cc motor fitted!
Moraco-Droulhole TZ350 based development racer
The chassis weighed just 7.35 kg with the bike’s dry weight being 103 kg, while power was 64 hp at 10,000 rpm.
This bike was only raced four times, being mainly used as a development machine. Four other bikes still exist of the six made in total.
Celebrating the dual personality of the CMX1100, the new big sibling to the CMX500, we showcase two radical builds by French custom house ‘FCR Original’.
The CMX ‘Sport’ and CMX ‘Bobber’ have been designed to appeal to different sensibilities, but both clearly show the custom potential of the CMX1100 Rebel that is hiding just under the skin.
CMX SPORT
Honda CMX1100 Custom Sport
FCR Original wanted to highlight the practical and playful side of the CMX1100, but make it more sporty, muscular and aggressive.
Honda CMX1100 Custom Sport
They were also inspired by the chiseled covers of the DCT.
Honda CMX1100 Custom Sport
After roughing out sketches of the finished bike, the team went to work.
Honda CMX1100 Custom Sport
A swingarm modification allowed fitment of a pair of black Öhlins rear shocks, as well as 17-inch CB500F rear wheel and Dunlop D212 190/55-ZR17 tyre.
Honda CMX1100 Custom Sport
The front mud-guard is scratch-built and 25mm lower; oversize handlebars add leverage while the speedo has been moved to the top yoke.
Honda CMX1100 Custom Sport
The bodywork is result of a complete 3D scan and consists of custom polyester-carbon fuel tank (with aluminium filler) and rear seat unit with LED lighting and Alcantara seat.
Honda CMX1100 Custom Sport
Hand-built footrests add a racing feel while the red/black paint and detailing pays subtle homage to classic Honda imagery. The engine is stock, but breathes through an FCR Original stainless steel exhaust.
CMX BOBBER
Honda CMX1100 Custom Bobber
Inspired by the ‘elemental’ design of the CMX1100 Rebel, this interpretation has a more custom feel, pushing it even further toward the bobber style.
Honda CMX1100 Custom Bobber
The swingarm and suspension are stock, but lowered 25 mm at the front while custom-built black-spoke wheels wear fat Bridgestone tyres.
Honda CMX1100 Custom Bobber
Building on the bobber vibe are aluminium handlebars, leather seat with perforated leather ribbing, simple aluminium front mudguard (with Mirrachrome finish) and painted headlight surround.
Honda CMX1100 Custom Bobber
Mini-Bates FCR Original LED indicators tuck neatly away and like the CMX Sport a 3D scan produced the custom polyester-carbon fuel tank – with Mirrachrome/blue satin finish – and aluminium filler.
Honda CMX1100 Custom Bobber
A ceramic-coated FCR Original exhaust is the finishing touch.
Kicking off in early 2022, the series will be a world first at this elite level and is set to continue the growing appetite for electric motorsport. Leaders in this sector, the FIM started competitions for electric powered motorcycles in circuit racing back in 2010 with the FIM E-Power International Championship – the forerunner to the current MotoE series – and in more recent years off-road competition with the FIM EBike Enduro World Cup, the FIM E-XBike World Cup and the FIM Trial-E World Cup.
Sanctioned by the FIM, the series will be run by CEO and Promoter Valentin Guyonnet, who has more than a decade of experience working as part of motorsports’ world governing body and will be joined by the highly regarded global sports marketing and events developer Carina Munte as CCO. In addition, the series is backed by Alejandro Agag, CEO of Extreme E and Chairman of Formula E and the E1 Series, plus Eric Peronnard, respected promoter and sporting advisor of ESPN X-Games and Red Bull Straight Rhythm.
Five races are set to take place during the first season in a mixture of urban and natural environments across the globe, with provisional locations ranging from the United States to Switzerland, all designed to encourage viewers to explore the outdoors whilst minimising any environmental impact.
A total of 10 teams will each compete with two riders; one male and one female and be made up of a mixture of leading OEMs and existing professional race teams. Competitors will race on two-wheel off-road motorcycles propelled by a single 100% electric motor with a maximum weight of 130kg. A review process will also be carried out this month to identify additional manufacturer needs, alongside a rigorous testing programme which is already underway.
Jorge Viegas, President of the FIM – “The FIM has long been a leader and a strong advocate of sustainability in sport, our FIM Environmental code is both extensive and seen by many others as the benchmark for delivering sustainable events, so our continued and growing commitment to integrating electric motorcycles into our existing championships has always been a natural path. However, the FIM E-Xplorer World Cup marks a significant moment on this important journey. The FIM is proud to be part of this exciting new project and will provide all the necessary support to ensure its success during its inaugural season and long into the future during which time electric power will become a dominant player in our sport.”
Alejandro Agag, regarded as one of the pioneers of sustainable motorsport and a supporter of the new series, said: “I have always had a vision that the future of motorsport should be electric, and that is now being realised. From where it all started with Formula E, to Extreme E, the E1 Series and now, and now E-Xplorer. The FIM, Eric Peronnard and the highly experienced team at E-Xplorer, have big plans and names to reveal over the coming weeks and months as they prepare for next year’s inaugural event and what I have no doubt will further promote the electric revolution on two-wheels.”
Renowned motorcycle promoter Eric Peronnard joins the project as a consultant and added: “We are long overdue a credible motorcycle series in the off-road segment and for me E-Xplorer is it. I’ve been a fan of electric bikes from the get-go – even creating the first electric motorcycle race in 2008 – and been riding them ever since they’ve been on the market; they’re quiet, better for the planet, better for racing and simply more fun! Having a platform like E-Xplorer presents the ideal opportunity for manufacturers to come onboard to showcase not only their technology but their support for the future of riding.”
Now you can ride your new Triumph with total confidence.
Begin press release:
Triumph introduces 2-year, unlimited mileage Roadside Assistance on all new MY21 and newer motorcycles. Part of Triumph’s Total Care commitment to delivering an overall excellent ownership experience, this added coverage is a free benefit for every new-model bike owner, and complements Triumph’s 2-year unlimited mileage warranty which comes standard on all new motorcycles.
Triumph Roadside Assistance has just completed a six-month pilot program, tested to ensure owners who use the benefit will experience the best customer service and roadside assistance if they ever find themselves in need. With the pilot program complete, customers who purchased any MY21 or newer Triumph motorcycle since January 1st, 2021 in the US or Canada, will automatically receive this benefit until June 30th, 2023. All customers who purchase a MY21 or newer motorcycle after July 1st, 2021 will automatically receive the complimentary Triumph Roadside Assistance for two full years from their purchase date.
“We are pleased to be able to provide this service to our customer. As motorcycle riders ourselves, we know all about unexpected mishaps on the road. This roadside assistance program will offer our customers peace of mind that when the unexpected happens, they’ll have support to help them get back on the road.” explained Rod Lopusnak, General Manager Triumph Motorcycles America.
Triumph Roadside Assistance is administered by CornerStone United, one of the oldest and most experienced warranty provides in the US and Canada. The benefits to the customer are the following 24/7 Roadside Services, with a value of up to $100 per occurrence, and include a dedicated toll-free customer support line exclusively for Triumph owners, with a dispatch network available in the United States and Canada:
Roadside Assistance is available 24/7
Roadside includes $100 per occurrence benefit for the following types of roadside emergencies:
Towing assistance
Flat tire assistance
Fluid delivery (fuel, oil, or water)
Lock-out assistance, including keys broken off in the ignition and lost keys
Battery service
Benefits are payable from the provider to the servicer
Coverage begins immediately (sign and drive) and includes a two year and unlimited mileage term
2021 Ducati SuperSport 950 S (Ducati Red) (Ducati/)
Ups
Updated electronics with Bosch six-axis IMU at the controls
New windshield and seat enhance comfort
A versatile and practical everyday machine with fantastic composure on the track
Downs
Lost a few horsepower due to the Euro 5 switch
It’s not as powerful, light, or racy as the Panigale V2, but rather is a practical daily ride (see note above), which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Verdict
The Ducati Supersport 950 proves that sportbikes don’t have to sacrifice comfort. With updates to the seat, windshield, bodywork, and electronics, this Ducati is a realistic daily and trackday machine.
2021 Ducati SuperSport 950 S (Arctic White Silk) (Ducati/)
Overview
Providing a nice blend of comfort and sportiness with its upright ergos, adjustable windshield, memory-foam-padded seat, and a 110 hp (claimed) Testastretta engine wrapped in aggressive, new bodywork, the latest Ducati SuperSport is designed to be an everyday racer.
Updates for 2021
The SuperSport gets a refresh for 2021. The revamped styling gives it a Panigale-like aggressiveness with a new front fairing and new side fairings. A new windshield offers two height adjustability and a new memory foam-padded seat are comfort-forward amenities.
The SuperSport’s 937cc engine receives minor internal updates to meet Euro 5 emission standards. The clutch is now hydraulically actuated as well. Finally, the SuperSport adopts a six-axis Bosch IMU that manages traction control, wheelie control, and ABS rider-aid functions, which can be accessed via a new 4.3-inch TFT dashboard.
Pricing and Variants
The SuperSport 950 starts at $13,495, with the S version coming in at $15,795 for Ducati Red and $16,195 for Arctic White Silk. The S model comes upgraded with a 48mm Öhlins fork and Öhlins shock, while the base model utilizes a 43mm Marzocchi fork and Sachs shock.
Powertrain: Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The 2021 Ducati SuperSport 950/S is powered by the 937cc Testastretta 11º L-twin. On both short straights or tight sections, the L-twin performed well. In his First Ride Review, Bruno dePrato reported: “The engine is strong; 120 mph was easily reached even with the relatively short straight at my disposal. The flexibility and density of low-rpm torque made it easy to fully exploit the bike on corner exits. Sport mode settings are perfect for everyday use on dry surfaces. For a final check on the flexibility of the 937cc Testastretta 11 engine I took a full lap, including some rather tight sections, using only sixth gear. Even when the engine was down to nearly 2,000 rpm, torque was adequate to move the bike along comfortably, with no shuddering or coughing.”
2021 Ducati SuperSport 950 S (Ducati Red) (Ducati/)
Handling
With load shifted forward over the clip-on handlebars for sporty riding, but a relatively long wheelbase, the SuperSport S “feel[s] stable rounding full-blast 100-mph corners, yet it remains agile in very tight maneuvers at walking speed. It’s like no other Ducati I can remember,” dePrato wrote.
Brakes
Braking is done by Brembo components on both model versions with two 320mm discs and four-piston Monoblock calipers (front) and 245mm disc and two-piston caliper (rear).
2021 Ducati SuperSport 950 S (Arctic White Silk) (Ducati/)
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Claimed fuel consumption for the SuperSports is 100 kilometers/5.6 liters (62 miles/1.5 gallons or 41.3 mpg).
Ergonomics: Comfort and Utility
Mr. dePrato commented on the ergos of the 950 S, writing: “The clip-ons are set at the right height for comfort, but also ensure a rational sport-riding posture with plenty of load bias to the front.” When a long trackday ends with no aches and pains, that is a testament to the friendly riding position. The new memory-foam seat also adds to the comfort factor.
2021 Ducati SuperSport 950 S (Arctic White Silk) (Ducati/)
Electronics
The Ducati’s Bosch IMU works with the rest of the electronics suite which includes cornering ABS, traction control, and wheelie control. A clutchless bidirectional (up and down) quickshifter also comes standard as do three ride modes (Sport, Touring, and Urban). Navigating through these settings can be done via the 4.3-inch TFT display and switches on the left handlebar.
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
A two-year, unlimited-mileage warranty is included for either the base or S models.
Quality
Practical, comfortable, versatile, and pure-bred Ducati. The SuperSport 950 and SuperSport 950 S are two models that have Panigale looks with a focus on everyday comforts.
2021 Ducati SuperSport 950 S (Ducati Red) (Ducati/)
