The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected Andrea Iannone’s appeal and imposed a four-year ban on the Italian athlete. The Court’s decision has left other rider’s questioning the severity of the ruling. 

Begin Press Release: 

THE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT (CAS) IMPOSES A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD OF INELIGIBILITY ON ANDREA IANNONE

Lausanne, 10 November 2020 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has announced its decision in the appeal arbitration procedures between the Italian MotoGP rider Andrea Iannone, the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Andrea Iannone and WADA filed separate appeals at CAS against the decision rendered by the FIM International Disciplinary Court dated 31 March 2020 in which Andrea Iannone was found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) (presence of Drostanolone, an anabolic steroid featured on the 2019 WADA Prohibited List) and an 18-month period of ineligibility was imposed on him.

The CAS Panel rejected the appeal filed by Andrea Iannone and upheld the appeal filed by WADA. As a consequence, the decision rendered by the FIM International Disciplinary Court has been set aside and replaced with the following new decision:

• Andrea Iannone is sanctioned with a period of ineligibility of four years commencing on 17 December 2019.
• All competitive results obtained by Andrea Iannone from and including 1 November 2019 through the commencement of his suspension are disqualified, with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.

The appeals were consolidated and referred to the same Panel of arbitrators: Dr. Hamid G. Gharavi, France/I.R. of Iran (President), Judge Franco Frattini, Italy, and The Hon. Michael J. Beloff Q.C., UK (Co-arbitrators). The hearing took place on 15 October 2020.

On 3 November 2019, on the occasion of the FIM World Championship MotoGP in Sepang/Malaysia, Mr. Iannone underwent an in-competition doping control which revealed the presence of Drostanolone. Further to an internal disciplinary procedure, the FIM International Disciplinary Court decided on 31 March 2020 that Mr. Iannone should be suspended from participating in any motorcycling competition or activity during 18 months as of 17 December 2019.

Andrea Iannone asserted that the source of the prohibited substance was contaminated meat that he had ingested in Malaysia prior to the 2019 Sepang FIM World Championship MotoGP and that accordingly, he should be fully acquitted and that the Challenged Decision should be annulled. WADA, on the other hand, sought the imposition of a four-year period of ineligibility on the grounds that Andrea Iannone had failed to establish to the requisite standard that the origin of the prohibited substance in his sample resulted from meat contamination and that as a consequence, the imposition of a four-year period of ineligibility was the appropriate sanction.

The CAS Panel found that Andrea Iannone had failed to establish neither the precise type of meat he had consumed nor the origin of said meat. Moreover, the Panel found that neither Andrea Iannone nor his experts were able to establish specifically that there was an issue of meat contamination by Drostanolone in Malaysia. The Panel considered therefore that an ADRV has been committed.

Andrea Iannone essentially left the Panel with protestations of innocence, his clean record and his alleged lack of incentive to dope. Factors which were insufficient to establish, on a balance of probability that Andrea Iannone’s ADRV was not intentional (in case of an unintentional ADRV, the applicable period of ineligibility would have been of two years maximum).

Since it is for an athlete to establish on the balance of probabilities that an ADRV is not intentional, his inability to do so means that he is deemed to have committed an intentional ADRV, pursuant to the applicable anti-doping rules. The Panel’s conclusion does not of itself rule out the possibility that Andrea Iannone’s ADRV may be the result of consumption of meat contaminated by Drostanolone but means that Andrea Iannone has not been able to provide any convincing evidence to establish that the ADRV he committed was unintentional.

Accordingly, the Panel found, contrary to the Appealed Decision, that the ADRV committed by Andrea Iannone was to be treated as intentional for purposes of the applicable anti-doping rules, and therefore upheld WADA’s Appeal. The CAS award sets aside the decision rendered by the FIM International Disciplinary Court dated 31 March 2020 and imposes a four-year period of ineligibility on Andrea Iannone.

The post Andrea Iannone’s Anti-Doping Appeal has been Rejected resulting in a Four Year Ban for the Italian Athlete appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

Congratulations to our friend Chris Fillmore for taking the 2020 AMA Supermoto Open Pro Championship onboard the KTM 450 SMR.

Begin Press Release: 

CHRIS FILLMORE RACES THE KTM 450 SMR TO THE CENTER OF THE BOX AS THE NEWLY-CROWNED 2020 AMA SUPERMOTO OPEN PRO CHAMPION

TUCSON, Ariz. – Returning to his Supermoto roots for the first time in over a decade, KTM North America’s very own Chris Fillmore clinched his first-career AMA Supermoto Open Pro Championship over the weekend with a noteworthy performance aboard his factory-prepped KTM 450 SMR. The newly-crowned champion led an all-KTM sweep in the overall standings as Jake Laforge and Dustin Hoffman earned second and third, respectively, aboard the KTM 450 SX-F.

Originally scheduled as a six-event series prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the AMA Supermoto National Championship was pared down to four rounds that all took place over the weekend in Tucson, Arizona. Alongside Fillmore’s resurgence in the Supermoto world came the welcomed prospect of KTM’s highly-anticipated new-generation SMR, which is set to arrive at Authorized KTM dealers as a 2021 model later this month.

On Saturday, Fillmore powered his KTM 450 SMR off the line to capture the race one holeshot as he led the field into the opening dirt section. However, he tucked the front-end coming out of the dirt section and crashed early in the race. He quickly re-mounted and charged through the pack to ultimately finish second in the opening round. With high winds and heavy rain starting to set in on Saturday, the second race got pushed into Sunday’s lineup to include the final three rounds of the series.

Day two was presented with much better conditions and the remaining races went off without a hitch. Fillmore got the holeshot in race two but he lost three positions on lap one, where he sat just outside the top-five early on. Settling into a groove, he began making forward progress up to second place but it wasn’t enough to make a strike on the leader and he finished second once again in race two. In the third race, Fillmore grabbed a third-place start and he quickly made his way into second coming through turn one. He put on a charge to catch the race leader and in a few laps was able to make a pass for the lead in turn one. Racing his way through a bad case of arm pump, Fillmore was able to hold on for the win. In the final race of the day, Fillmore shot off the line to secure the holeshot and he led every lap en route to a second-straight victory. At the end of the four rounds, the Michigan native sat tied at 94 points with fellow KTM rider, Jake Laforge, and the tie-breaker was awarded to Fillmore, who possessed the better score in the final race.

Chris Fillmore, #11: “Overall, I was just happy to turn up at the races and put my ‘competition face’ on as a racer again. The competition was really tough and it made for exciting racing. For me, KTM coming out with the new-generation SMR was a great opportunity to get back to my roots of Supermoto, which began in 2003. Mitch Hansen of HMC Racing came out with me and to wrap up a championship with somebody who has done so much for me and my racing career is pretty awesome. I have to give a big thanks to KTM for staying true to their commitment of producing the most ‘READY TO RACE’ motorcycles – which was clearly evident with a KTM sweep in the Pro class this year – and for allowing me to swing a leg over the bikes and have some fun, too.”

KTM-mounted rider, Jake Laforge, gave Fillmore a run for his money all weekend long as the two riders swapped race-wins to come away with the same amount of points at the end of four rounds. By virtue of a tie-breaker, Laforge ended up with second overall, while KTM-mounted rider Dustin Hoffman rounded out the top-three with 4-4-6-3 finishes on the weekend.

Open Pro Results (Rounds 1 – 4)
1. Chris Fillmore, KTM, 2-2-1-1
2. Jake Laforge, KTM, 1-1-2-2
3. Dustin Hoffman, KTM, 4-4-6-3

2020 Open Pro Championship Standings
1. Chris Fillmore, 94 points
2. Jake Laforge, 94 points
3. Dustin Hoffman, 71 points

The post Chris Fillmore Snags the 2020 AMA Supermoto Open Pro Championship with the KTM 450 SMR appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

The 2021 KTM 690 Enduro R and 2021 KTM 690 SMC R are back for next year. Updated graphics and availability are the headlines here as the machines themselves remain unchanged for 2021. 

Begin Press Release: 

UPDATED KTM 690 SMC R AND KTM 690 ENDURO R MODELS COMING TO NORTH AMERICA IN DECEMBER

November 10, 2020, MURRIETA, Calif. – KTM North America Inc. is pleased to announce that the updated 2021 KTM 690 SMC R and KTM 690 ENDURO R are set to arrive at Authorized KTM Dealers this December, with the hardest choice being which of these cutting-edge single-cylinder machines to take and where to point it.

With updated aesthetics for the new year, the corner-carving KTM 690 SMC R offers an addictive torque-filled punch with every turn of the throttle. New looks are also offered with the return of the KTM 690 ENDURO R machine, which is always ready to connect the tarmac with trails with its flexibility to perform excitably on and offroad.

Similar in many aspects but completely different in their execution, both models take full advantage of an intensive development program. The advanced LC4 single-cylinder engine is housed in a lightweight, dynamic frame dripping with top specification chassis components and the very latest electronic rider aids to give an exceptional riding experience.

Both bikes are armed with the most powerful production single-cylinder available – smooth and as sophisticated as they come. Efficient and brimming with engineering excellence, the compact LC4 is a totally modern interpretation of a big single-cylinder engine. Two balancer shafts aligned to a dual-spark cylinder head and Ride by Wire technology leave only good vibrations. The 690 cc engine offers a devastating punch with an incredibly wide delivery of performance at the ready with standard Quickshifter+ for clutchless up and down shifting.

Electronic rider aids include clever ride mode technology and lean angle sensitive ABS and traction control systems to get the most from these potent packages in all situations.

KTM 690 SMC R

All fun and no frown; the unique riding appeal of a Supermoto is something KTM has wildly celebrated over the years and leading the pack is the KTM 690 SMC R. Pure, extreme and high performance – this is a very focused motorcycle that embodies the READY TO RACE approach and takes advantage of refined and unrivaled LC4 drive with advanced electronics in a truly unique package.

The sharp bodywork with fresh graphics and colorway is not just for looks; next-level ergonomics deliver incredible feel and control between rider and machine to get the most from this Supermoto superhero. Adjustable APEX suspension from the experts at WP also helps deliver a charismatic machine capable of conquering the tightest curves and cutting through congested commutes.

Getting the most from the KTM 690 SMC R’s performance in all situations is a suite of rider assistance systems. Two ride modes – Street and Sport – cornering ABS, lean angle-sensitive Motorcycle Traction Control and Quickshifter+ are all standard, with the optional Supermoto ABS mode aiding rear slides with front-end confidence. The KTM 690 SMC R is fitted with Bridgestone S21 tires for maximum performance on the street and plenty of grip for race track usage.

KTM 690 ENDURO R

Making the impassable possible, the KTM 690 ENDURO R unites asphalt and trails. The unmatched KTM LC4 single-cylinder has two balancer shafts for reduced vibrations, Ride by Wire to allow changeable ride modes and traction control, more than enough power to pull clear of the steepest climbs and is still efficient and manageable for trails and daily use.

Sharp and slim, the bodywork with redesigned, eye-catching graphics, enhances aesthetics while the ergonomics provide small-bike feel with large-bike comfort. Underneath, a lightweight and agile chassis coupled with fully-adjustable damping control on the WP XPLOR suspension provide a competent package for experienced riders yet confidence-inspiring for those new to dirt. Better still, the KTM 690 ENDURO R remains sure-footed for street riding – increasing its versatility as a trust-worthy daily ride.

The electronic systems on the KTM 690 ENDURO R get the most from this dynamic machine in all situations. Two ride modes – Offroad and Street – produce different characteristics of the throttle response and Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC), while cornering sensitivity for the ABS with optional Offroad ABS harnesses this offroad weapon when necessary. The KTM 690 ENDURO R is fitted with Continental TKC80s for great performance both in the dirt and on the road.

Both bikes are available from official KTM dealers this December, backed up with a wide range of official KTM PowerParts to intensify them further. Discover more at www.ktm.com and locate a KTM dealer near you.

The post 2021 KTM 690 Enduro R and KTM 690 SMC R To Hit North American Dealers in December appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.