What you see here is possibly the only example of the 1938 Matchless 250cc G2MC still in existence. Correspondence from the UK’s AJS & Matchless Club revealed that there were no G2MCs listed on either their or the Vintage Motorcycle Club’s registers, with no other examples known of.
1938 Matchless 250cc G2MC
The MC or “Clubman Special” was the competition (trials) version of a range that was produced in 250, 350 & 500cc capacities and in Base, De Luxe & Clubman Special versions.
1938 Matchless 250cc G2MC
The brochure shows the added features of the MC over the De Luxe. The 250 sold for £55 whereas the 350 was £63 and the 500 £66.
Matchless ‘Clubman Special’ brochures
The ‘BL’ stamping on the gearbox indicates ‘Bottom Low’ competition gearing.
Spot the BL on the engine
Due to the rarity of the bike it was decided during restoration to paint the tank silver instead of risking replacing the original chrome finish.
The tank was painted due to the risks involved in re-chroming
One interesting feature is the detachable troubleshooting light, housed in the tank’s instrument panel. As this single-wire lamp required earthing to work, using it to check the fuel level possibly helps explain the rarity of this model!
2020 MotoGP Round 13 – Valencia Gran Premio de Europa
MotoGP heads into the final three-race stint with just a 14-point advantage for the Championship leader, eight different winners, 15 podium finishers and six riders in with a very real shot at the crown. And the man in the lead hasn’t even won yet!
As MotoGP arrives at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, the man seeking that first MotoGP win despite his seat at the head of the table is Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar). The Mayorcan has been the king of consistency in a chaotic year of changing fortunes, putting him 14-points clear – and he’s now focusing on the long game as well as bagging that very first premier class win. If he does it in the Gran Premio de Europa – and the track should suit Suzuki – he’ll make 2020 match the all-time record of different winners set in 2016. If he doesn’t he may well still increase his overall advantage, such is Mir’s metronomic ability to end up on the rostrum.
Morbidelli won last time out at Aragon but Mir extended his championship lead over Quartararo out to 14-points
The first man wanting to make sure Mir’s time at the top comes to an end is Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT). His time as the season’s only repeat winner came to an end last time out, but the Frenchman has won three and arrives back at a track that should suit Yamaha to a T. Can he turn around some tougher races and stamp some authority back on Sundays? 14-points doesn’t yet need everyone behind Mir to go out guns blazing, but a trip back to the top step would reignite Quartararo’s momentum – as it would for Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). Viñales gained points back on Quartararo in both races at MotorLand and remains well in the hunt, he just didn’t gain any on Mir.
Quartararo was put under plenty of pressure at Aragon
Speaking of momentum and gaining points, it’s time to talk about Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT). The Italian joined his teammate as a repeat winner this season in the Teruel GP, and he did it just as he did for his first win: with a masterclass in domination. That puts him fourth overall and within 25 points of the top, and he knows it. Full attack mode is engaged on Morbidelli’s side of the garage as he makes a late charge for the crown, not having needed to manage any real pressure… until now. Even then, it’s a little less than those who’ve been under the microscope for some time.
2020 Aragon II MotoGP podium 1 Franco Morbidelli – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – 41:47.652 2 Alex Rins -Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki +2.205 3 Joan Mir -Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki +5.376
That’s also true of Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar). His is a longer shot than Morbidelli at 32 points off the top, but stranger things have happened. The Spaniard put in a stunner of a performance in the Aragon GP to become the eighth different winner of the season, and he followed it up with another podium. Crucially, he also had the measure of team-mate Mir for the first time in some time, which he’ll need to keep if he’s to make an assault on the crown. Valencia should suit Suzuki which is good news for both, but will the number 36 turn the tables? Or is Rins’ ace card actually the fact that he has no choice but to attack?
Alex Rins
Ahead of Rins, however, remains Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team). It hasn’t been an easy run of late but the Italian keeps taking points, gaining in a few races until a more difficult second outing at MotorLand. Never having had the best run at Valencia, Dovi likely needs a few stars to align to start clawing back ground from the top step now, added to the fact that most of the Ducatis suffered at Aragon and the turnaround doesn’t yet seem imminent. But that time Dovizioso did win in the premier class at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo was not that long ago, and it was a signature stunner in the rain. Now that really could make things interesting… and it is November, after all.
Andrea Dovizioso
And then there are the – many – others who’ve made a habit of going fast lately. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will be first in line for a redemptive ride after taking an awesome pole position in the Teruel GP and then crashing out early, ensuring no rider has no scored in all races.
Takaaki Nakagami
Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) also crashed out to bring his recent roll to an end and will want to bounce back, although Rookie of the Year remains tied on 67 points apiece between the Spaniard and Brno winner Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) after the South African also crashed out in Teruel. He took Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) with him, who’ll want some much improved luck too… The Australian was on the podium here last year…
Jack Miller was stoked with his final round podium at Valencia in 2019 – Image AJRN
Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), meanwhile, put in another impressive weekend last time out and will want to replicate and more, and Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) wasn’t far off.
Hervé Poncharal – Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Manager
“Here comes Valencia, where we will have two races back to back at the same circuit. Valencia will be the first of the final triple of our 2020 MotoGP World Championship, that started almost yesterday. It went so quick, but since then a lot of things happened. I think we have to be happy and proud to be inside the top 10 of the provisional MotoGP ranking with Miguel and having done some exciting races with Iker as a rookie. Of course, we hope that these last three races will be as good as the last one in Teruel, Aragón, where we finally scored some nice results with Miguel in P6 and Iker in P9. Valencia is always a tough circuit with a MotoGP bike. We couldn’t race with Miguel there last year due to his shoulder injury. It was a very first premier class round for Iker though. So, we will be heading kind of into the unknown with the KTM in Valencia and if we see the progress we’ve done since last year, I think we should be a lot more competitive. The target is always to fight for the top 8, which is a reasonable target. I hope the weather will be on our side. We are entering November now, which bears a possibility of cold and even wet weather.”
Pol Espargaro had to work hard for his P4 at Aragon II
Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) saved some serious face after a tougher weekend for other Borgo Panigale machines at Aragon II, so he could at the very least complicate life at the front and be in the points.
Can Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) continue to fight through the pain barrier? What can Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) do and how will new team-mate Lorenzo Savadori settle in?
And will Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) be back on track after his Covid enduded lay-off?
Valencia Lap Records
Valencia All Time Lap Record – Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 1m29.401 (2016)
Valencia Race Lap Record – Marc Marquez (Honda) 1m31.116 (2019)
Valencia Qualifying Record – Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 1m29.401 (2016)
Valencia Top Speed Record – Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) 335.9 km/h (2015)
MotoGP World Championship Standings
Pos
Rider
Bike
Points
1
Joan MIR
Suzuki
137
2
Fabio QUARTARARO
Yamaha
123
3
Maverick VIÑALES
Yamaha
118
4
Franco MORBIDELLI
Yamaha
112
5
Andrea DOVIZIOSO
Ducati
109
6
Alex RINS
Suzuki
105
7
Takaaki NAKAGAMI
Honda
92
8
Pol ESPARGARO
KTM
90
9
Jack MILLER
Ducati
82
10
Miguel OLIVEIRA
KTM
79
11
Danilo PETRUCCI
Ducati
71
12
Brad BINDER
KTM
67
13
Alex MARQUEZ
Honda
67
14
Johann ZARCO
Ducati
64
15
Valentino ROSSI
Yamaha
58
16
Francesco BAGNAIA
Ducati
42
17
Iker LECUONA
KTM
27
18
Aleix ESPARGARO
Aprilia
27
19
Cal CRUTCHLOW
Honda
26
20
Stefan BRADL
Honda
12
21
Bradley SMITH
Aprilia
12
22
Tito RABAT
Ducati
10
23
Michele PIRRO
Ducati
4
The 2019 Valencia MotoGP Podium
Moto2
When he injured himself without even a single lap raced in anger in 2020, Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) likely wouldn’t have believed you if you’d told him he’d be leading the Moto2 Championship with three races to go. But he is, and he’s the most successful British rider in the class now – arriving into Valencia with a seven-point advantage and three wins on the bounce (the first Brit to do that in the intermediate class since 1971 no less).
2020 Aragon II Moto2 podium 1 Sam Lowes – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Kalex 39:27.645 2 Fabio Di Giannantonio – Lightech Speed Up – Speed Up +8.425 3 Enea Bastianini – Italtrans Racing Team – Kalex +10.871
So is it now Lowes’ to lose? In some ways, and the Brit has been on an incredible roll. But even more menacing for his rivals than his consistency is the calm, collected way he’s been winning – since bouncing back in style from a key error that gave him a pitlane start back in Misano. From then on, mistakes have been minor and committed when they didn’t put a dent in his Sunday…
For the man closest on the chase, Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team), it hasn’t been a bad run of late either though. The Italian made his big error of the season at the Red Bull Ring but since leaving Styria has taken a win, a few podiums and only suffered one bigger blip at Le Mans where he came home 11th. Crucially too, when he hasn’t had the pace to challenge Lowes and knew that, he took two podiums at Aragon to do some good damage limitation. That speaks to a rider unlikely to crumble when faced with a deficit of only seven points.
Behind the top two, it’s not over yet either. Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) is now third overall and must have felt like the season has been slipping through his fingers of late, but the Italian has already shown his class. His is a rebuild but the foundations he starts from are impressive, so 22 points is more than a molehill but far from a mountain. Can he come back stronger from the crash in Le Mans that seems to have upended the recent triple header for the number 10?
His teammate Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46), meanwhile, is also a man on a comeback mission. Quick at MotorLand but crashing out of contention, the Italian could find his chances at the title over at the Gran Premio de Europa. He’s 48-points off Lowes and needs to be within 50 at least heading into the final two rounds to keep his chances alive. Having said that, he’s now free of the big pressure nearer the top – and is pretty much guaranteed to be fast. Don’t count him out, at the very least as a serious complication for those ahead on points.
The tale of the final three races won’t boil down to a four-man fight though; it rarely does in motorcycle racing. Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in fifth will be itching to move up and take more podiums and wins, and whilst he’s the last man in mathematical contention as it stands, he also said he knows the title is gone – but he wants the top three. That makes him a man without any real pressure, as are some of the other key names who’ve been near the front.
Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) is back to full steam and has some speed, Fabio Di Giannantonio (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) is gaining momentum and rostrums, his teammate Jorge Navarro has shown flashes of serious pace. Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing) is a podium finisher in 2020… and Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) very nearly. What can they do in the fight near the front? And who else can join them to make life even harder for those playing risk vs reward?
Moto2 World Championship Standings
Pos
Rider
Bike
Points
1
Sam LOWES
Kalex
178
2
Enea BASTIANINI
Kalex
171
3
Luca MARINI
Kalex
155
4
Marco BEZZECCHI
Kalex
130
5
Jorge MARTIN
Kalex
105
6
Remy GARDNER
Kalex
85
7
Tetsuta NAGASHIMA
Kalex
81
8
Joe ROBERTS
Kalex
80
9
Thomas LUTHI
Kalex
72
10
Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO
Speed Up
65
11
Xavi VIERGE
Kalex
63
12
Augusto FERNANDEZ
Kalex
62
13
Marcel SCHROTTER
Kalex
61
14
Aron CANET
Speed Up
61
15
Jorge NAVARRO
Speed Up
52
16
Lorenzo BALDASSARRI
Kalex
47
17
Jake DIXON
Kalex
44
18
Hector GARZO
Kalex
34
19
Marcos RAMIREZ
Kalex
32
20
Hafizh SYAHRIN
Speed Up
21
21
Stefano MANZI
MV Agusta
20
22
Nicolò BULEGA
Kalex
17
23
Simone CORSI
MV Agusta
15
24
Somkiat CHANTRA
Kalex
10
25
Bo BENDSNEYDER
NTS
5
26
Edgar PONS
Kalex
5
27
Lorenzo DALLA PORTA
Kalex
5
28
Dominique AEGERTER
NTS
4
Moto3
A few races ago, Albert Arenas (Valresa Aspar Team Moto3) had lost the mantle of Moto3 Championship leader and it seemed like it was anyone’s game. But as we arrive into the final three races of 2020, the momentum is back with the early season superstar as the number 75 arrives 19-points clear. Can he keep that going as we home in on the season finale? The crown is almost in reach, but it won’t be easy.
2020 Aragon II Moto3 podium 1 Jaume Masia – Leopard Racing – Honda 37:44.602 2 Ayumu Sasaki – Red Bull KTM Tech 3 – KTM +0.051 3 Kaito Toba – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM +0.152
At MotorLand, the Moto3 races saw Arenas miss out on the podium, but he still increased his advantage. Was he playing it safe? Or are his competitors catching on to his tactics? The good news still continues for the number 75 either way because neither of his closest rivals beat him to the line. Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) took some solid points but his challenge for the crown needs an injection of podium form, and Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) lost ground too.
There’s a new challenger in town after Teruel though: Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing). The winner of both races and finishing well ahead of Arenas in each mean the number 5 is now fourth overall and just 24 points back. He’s on the attack and Valencia is his home turf too, creating a double incentive. Can Masia keep the pressure on and make a late charge for the top?
If he can, Arenas will need to respond and do so fairly quickly. But all the riders playing the points game also have the complication of those a little further back who have a lot less to lose. Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) is now fifth and 36 points off, John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) behind him, Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) continues making gains and Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power) is a consistent threat. Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) is more often at the front than not too. And what about the likes of Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and Kaito Toba (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as they arrive fresh from the injection of confidence provided by the podium? It was Sasaki’s first ever rostrum finish last time out to boot.
The number 75 leads the way into the fight for the final 75-points, but the lightweight always deliver some stunning battles. Who will come out on top in the first bout at Valencia?
WorldSBK Executive Director Gregorio Lavilla debriefs 2020
Gregorio Lavilla has given his thoughts on the unique 2020 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship season, with the ex-WorldSBK racer talking protocols, new formats, the title battle between Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati), as well as shedding some light on 2021’s goings on.
Jonathan Rea 2020 WorldSBK Champion
How do you think the season went?
Gregorio Lavilla: “Well, I think we are very happy considering that this hasn’t been a normal season. It was not easy to reach our goal and we had a lot of uncertainties through the year. We set our goal in June and by the end of July, we had made it. I think the racing was great and everything went as planned, with not many difficult situations. We are all happy with how the season went. A lot of people thanked us for putting a Championship in place and yes, we did that but, to keep going with the Championship, it was a responsibility of everyone in the paddock to follow the protocols. I thank everyone involved because without their cooperation, it really wouldn’t be possible.”
Michael van der Mark #60
What was the biggest challenge this season?
GL: “At the start, it was all about seeing which tracks were happy to host an event. The circumstances that we were proposing – and in fact were the same apart from Portimao and Magny-Cours – were behind closed doors. The first challenge was finding the circuits which could do this, as setting up for a World Championship isn’t easy when you don’t have the money that the fans bring in. Then, we had to set up a protocol that was feasible to achieve and thirdly, we had to get the mobility of our community and Championship; we had to sign letters of dispensation to authorize personnel coming from outside of the Schengen zone.
Redding, Bautista, Sykes
“However, we didn’t know if these special permissions would be enough as everything was changing daily and you always have that doubt. The weekend before Magny-Cours, there was a change in the restrictions that meant maybe we wouldn’t be able to run the event, even though teams were already travelling, which was a horrible situation to be in. I was relieved to get the season over, as it was very stressful!”
How about the double races in WorldSSP and WorldSSP300, how were they?
GL: “With a reduced number of events – I didn’t know how many we would do, maybe two, three, four etc – I felt that we should give more action to the other classes. In 2018, I think we had only eight races in WorldSSP300, so I thought that in the worst-case scenario, we would at least match that with our minimum number of races. In this way, we would at least be able to say that it is a ‘real’ World Championship. The second thing was to give more visibility to all the teams in the classes, to help defend their budgets and show their sponsors more, especially during these hard times. Overall, we and the teams were happy with the season.”
WorldSSP300 at Magny-Cours
What are your thoughts on the action and excitement on-track in 2020?
GL: “I think that even if the Championship went to its original 13-round planned calendar, we would still have the title fight until the end. Yes, people will say ‘well the same guy won at the end’ but racing is racing, and there was not such a clear advantage from anyone in any particular scenario. There were tracks where Kawasaki were strong, then on others Ducatis and on quite a few, Yamaha and also, Honda were in the mix. Looking at this and into the future, we should have a solid basis for better, more exciting races because as I say, the Championship has grown throughout the year. BMWs had ups and downs, but they’re working hard on the new model to be competitive. I am really looking forward and am very positive that in 2021, we should have more close racing.”
Tom Sykes and Eugene Laverty
How hard was it to get the season done?
GL: “I think we needed to establish two things: our own protocol and also the protocol in each country and region. The key was to adapt the guidelines of the country to the ones in the paddock – for example, in Portugal, it wasn’t obligatory to wear a mask in open spaces with more than two metres of social distancing but in the paddock, we made sure everyone wore a mask and it went very smoothly. We continued to monitor the compliance of our paddock, from teams and officials to catering and hospitality. It became a routine and that made this season possible.”
WorldSBK saw riders and teams follow COVID safety strategies – Estoril WorldSBK at Circuito Estoril – Race 2 Podium 1.) Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) 2.) Andrea Locatelli (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) +0.886s 3.) Raffaele de Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.888s
How do you think the Estoril Round went and what’s the future for the circuit?
GL: “It was a great surprise for sure, as it is a track that I’d never been to. The feedback from the paddock and some riders was that, for sure we need to do some work on the maintenance like we already do in the other circuits but overall, we got the green light that this event would be a good one to have for the future. We are in conversation about the possibilities and the future and these days, my job is to finalise the proposed calendar for 2021 and at the moment, Estoril is on the table and hopefully we can include it.”
Horse Country in Dutchess County Excellent riding not far from the Big Apple.
Caffeinating at The 9W Market is a pre-ride must.
The good news about riding out from New York City is that it takes surprisingly little time to get to some nice roads. (The bad news is, at some point, you have to get back into the city, and the less said about that, the better.) On a recent August morning, I opted for a run-up to Dutchess County, which is about 80 miles north of New York City and home to rolling hills, horse farms and some really excellent motorcycle roads. The longest way I know to get there starts with detouring west to New Jersey in order to start the ride off properly with coffee and maybe a pastry at The 9W Market.
As I crossed over the George Washington Bridge, a peek to the south revealed the City of Dreams draped in fog, so I pulled off at the Rockefeller Lookout to soak in the view. The 9W Market is a just a mile or so off Exit 4 of the Palisades Interstate Parkway (PIP) and is always worth a stop for good food, good coffee and often a chance encounter with good friends.
The 9W Market is great any day of the week and hosts Bikes & Breakfast on the first Sunday of every month.
From The 9W Market you have the option of continuing north on slower two-lane State Route 9W to SR 202, or backtrack to the PIP. Though it can get congested, and those of us who have ridden it a thousand times might take it for granted, the PIP is a pretty ride. It’s two lanes each direction, winding through woodland, with plenty of gentle curves and some old stone bridges that reverberate exhaust pipes quite nicely. The miles fly by and soon enough I hit the Bear Mountain Bridge (aka Purple Heart Veterans Memorial Bridge).
Built in 1924, the BMB predates the GWB by seven years. When it went up, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world…for just over a year and a half before a newer model took the title way.
In addition to having some of the most finicky EZ Pass readers in all of New York State, the Bear Mountain Bridge carries not just cars and motorcycles, but also the Appalachian Trail. Over the bridge, I made a left on State Route 9D, which rolls north through some lovely, historic towns along the Hudson River. If you can resist the temptation to keep going north up to Cold Spring or Beacon, hang a right on County Route 11, Snake Hill Road. If you’re lucky and there isn’t a car in front of you, you can enjoy a spirited ride through a golf course and up to U.S. Route 9, Albany Post Road. It’s a short stretch but it will put a smile on your face.
Canopus Lake in Clarence Fahnestock State Park.
Make a left on Albany Post Road and enjoy a more trafficked but still pretty ride — there are a couple of lazy S-curves that might have been designed by a rider — and drop down to the light at the intersection of State Route 301. Make a right there, fingers crossed you get to the turn before a car does. Route 301 is a rider’s road — lots of curves but nothing too technical so it’s an easy, fun ride, swinging around as you flash through a forested area and even parallel a pretty stream for a bit. 301 has two nice turns up a hill into Clarence Fahnestock State Park where the speed limit rises to 55 mph, and you may well be tempted to pull over alongside Canopus Lake just to enjoy the view.
The road roughens up for a mile after the lake, so put your weight down on the pegs, then you’ll hit the intersection of 301 and the Taconic State Parkway. Like the PIP, the Taconic is underappreciated. It’s two narrow lanes in each direction, with plenty of accidents but beautiful views and few straights, and if you ride smartly you can usually find a place in between clumps of cars where you can breathe a little easier.
The Millbrook Diner. Not sure what the ship’s figurehead is about but I’m digging it.
Just a few miles up the Taconic and you have your choice of roads that go east into Dutchess County—try State Routes 9, 82 or U.S Route 44. This day I opted for 82, which is a lovely little ride through farm country. Route 82 crosses SR 343 just outside of Millbrook, one corner taken up by an eerily decrepit cluster of buildings dating to 1890. Keep on 82 into Millbrook, one of the most affluent towns in the state, and grab lunch at one of the handful of restaurants that line the quaint main street. My favorite is the Millbrook Diner.
After lunch it’s time to do a loop. There are dozens of horse farms in the area and they make for extremely scenic riding. The roads are generally without a shoulder, and the combination of blind curves and the occasional slow-moving horse trailer (or actual horse) means its heads-up riding, which is to say absolutely terrific. Leaving Millbrook, I made a right on U.S Route 44, then a left on 83 at the Amenia Steakhouse. There are some jaw-dropping homes set back from the road and hundreds of acres of horse farms. There’s the occasional field of cows, of course, and if you’re lucky, you might see those sheep that look like cotton balls on sticks. Make a right on 44 into Amenia proper, then go right at the light to follow 44 up the hill to a lovely horseshoe curve and a scenic lookout.
There are plenty of roads to explore in the area, but if you’re ready to head home, 44 will take you back to the Taconic. Between the roads and the scenery, Millbrook is a compelling riding destination and, if you’re coming up from the city, you can make a nice 250-300 mile day of it — roughly the same number of smiles just about guaranteed.
Hard to imagine this view is just 80 (or 130) miles north of New York City.
Favorite Ride: Horse Country in Dutchess County Photo Gallery
According to a post today in NHK World-Japan News:
Leading Japanese machinery maker Kawasaki Heavy Industries says it will spin off its struggling motorcycle and engine businesses next year as part of a major restructuring.
The company announced on Monday that it plans to spin off its motorcycle manufacturing and sales division and Rolling Stock division, which manufactures both conventional and bullet trains.
Kawasaki says it hopes the move will speed up decision-making and improve its financial situation.
Motorcycle sales in Southeast Asia have dropped sharply due to the coronavirus pandemic. The company expects to see an operating loss of about 5 billion yen, or 47 million dollars, for the current business year.
Kawasaki says it is strengthening intra-industry cooperation to address compliance with environmental regulations and other issues.
Kawasaki President Hashimoto Yasuhiko said at a news conference that he hopes the motorcycle business will continue to build the strong Kawasaki brand and revitalize the market through collaboration with other companies.
Being spun off isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A parent company will spin off part of its business if it expects that it will be lucrative to do so. The spin off will have a separate management structure and a new name, but it will usually retain the same assets, intellectual property, and human resources. The parent company will continue to provide financial and technological support in most cases.
Kawasaki’s motorcycle business is a tiny part of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, one of Japan’s three major heavy industrial manufacturers. KHI also makes bullet trains, heavy equipment, aerospace equipment, industrial robots, gas turbines, boilers, ships….
MXGP rolled into Pietramurata over the weekend for the 2020 MXGP of Trentino, the first of the final three rounds to be held in Italy, with plenty of surprises in store, including a new race winner in the MXGP class.
Antonio Cairoli claimed his 92nd GP victory on home soil, while championship rival, Tim Gajser, was forced to settle for second, after taking a comfortable race win in the first heat but struggling to get a good start in the second race which made things tough. But it was Clement Desalle of Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team who was the man of the day, as he made his first podium appearance since the MXGP of the Netherlands in 2019. The Belgian took an incredible race win in the second race, to confirm his spot in third on the box.
Antonio Cairoli – P1
“I’m really happy to win the overall and to ride with Clement in the second moto; it was like a few years ago when we used to fight for the title! We were riding fast today. It’s always good to win in Italy but it’s not the same without any public so thanks to all those who were supporting from home. We’ll try to do our best for the rest of the championship. Tim is far ahead but we’ll try to enjoy the last two races and see what happens.”
Antonio Cairoli
Gajser (626) currently leads the MXGP standings from Cairoli (553) and Jeremy Seewer (535), with Romain Febvre fourth on 487, and Jorge Prado fifth on 476.
2020 MXGP of Trentino Overall
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
R1
R2
Total
1
Cairoli, Antonio
ITA
KTM
22
22
44
2
Gajser, Tim
SLO
HON
25
18
43
3
Desalle, Clement
BEL
KAW
15
25
40
4
Paulin, Gautier
FRA
YAM
18
20
38
5
Seewer, Jeremy
SUI
YAM
20
16
36
6
Lupino, Alessandro
ITA
YAM
14
14
28
7
Monticelli, Ivo
ITA
GAS
12
13
25
8
Tonus, Arnaud
SUI
YAM
16
8
24
9
Febvre, Romain
FRA
KAW
7
15
22
10
Tixier, Jordi
FRA
KTM
13
9
22
11
Bogers, Brian
NED
KTM
9
12
21
12
Van Horebeek, Jeremy
BEL
HON
8
10
18
13
Van doninck, Brent
BEL
YAM
5
11
16
14
Cervellin, Michele
ITA
YAM
10
6
16
15
Guillod, Valentin
SUI
HON
11
2
13
16
Petrov, Petar
BUL
KTM
6
4
10
17
Leok, Tanel
EST
HUS
4
5
9
18
Pichon, Zachary
FRA
HON
1
7
8
19
Sterry, Adam
GBR
KTM
0
3
3
20
Butron, Jose
ESP
KTM
2
1
3
21
Bernardini, Samuele
ITA
YAM
3
0
3
2020 MXGP Standings – Top 20
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Total
1
Gajser, Tim
SLO
HON
626
2
Cairoli, A.
ITA
KTM
553
3
Seewer, Jeremy
SUI
YAM
535
4
Febvre, Romain
FRA
KAW
487
5
Prado, Jorge
ESP
KTM
476
6
Paulin, G.
FRA
YAM
441
7
Desalle, C.
BEL
KAW
402
8
Coldenhoff, G.
NED
GAS
375
9
Van Horebeek, J.
BEL
HON
307
10
Herlings, J.
NED
KTM
263
11
Bogers, Brian
NED
KTM
254
12
Jasikonis, A.
LTU
HUS
248
13
Tixier, Jordi
FRA
KTM
234
14
Evans, M.
AUS
HON
228
15
Vlaanderen, C.
NED
YAM
206
16
Monticelli, I.
ITA
GAS
186
17
Tonus, Arnaud
SUI
YAM
146
18
Jacobi, Henry
GER
YAM
134
19
Lupino, A.
ITA
YAM
110
20
Cervellin, M.
ITA
YAM
100
MX2
In MX2, Jago Geerts made his return to the top step of the podium, following some tough races during his home rounds in Lommel. Geerts took a fourth in race one, and a race win in the second heat which gave him the advantage for the overall.
Jago Geerts
Jago Geerts – P1
“I’m really happy with how the day went. In the first heat I made a small mistake, but I still finished fourth and then in the second race I was feeling really good on the track. I think the championship is far away, but I don’t think about it, I just want to finish the season strong and we will see and focus on next year.”
Joining him was Thomas Kjer Olsen, who proved that he has the speed to win races in Pietramurata, as he claimed the victory in the opening heat and then a fourth in race two, for second overall on the day. The last rider to take to the podium was the championship leader, Tom Vialle who finished the races second and third, after a couple of small mistakes, including the crash in the second heat, which cost him the race win.
Thomas Kjer Olsen
Australian Beaton held strong to claim a solid third place in moto one after an impressive turn of speed during the early stages of the race. Coming together with another rider in the first turn resulted in a poor start for Beaton in race two, and he had to fight back into 10th by the end of lap two, before advancing to eighth by the halfway stage of the race. Unfortunate to lose a position in the closing stages of the moto, Jed’s ninth-place finish rewarded him with fourth overall.
Jed Beaton – P4
“It’s been a decent day for me. Overall, I feel really good on the bike, it was just a shame that I clipped someone at the start of race two. I felt great in race one, really comfortable and was on the pace, but third was the best that I could do in that one. I was looking forward to another good result in race two but it wasn’t to be. Two more rounds here though and I’m ready to get in the battle again.”
Jed Beaton
Fellow Australian Bailey Malkiewicz had a mixed weekend, with a strong Race 1 result, finishing in 12th for nine championship points, however 24th in Race 2 meant he had to settle for 18th overall.
Vialle now leads the MX2 standings on 693, with Geerts on 620 and Maxime Renaux third on 505. Thomas Kjer Olsen is fourth, a point ahead of teammate Jed Beaton, the duo on 489 and 488 respectively. Malkiewicz now holds 16th.
MX2 Overall Results
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
R1
R2
Total
1
Geerts, Jago
BEL
YAM
18
25
43
2
Olsen, Thomas Kjer
DEN
HUS
25
18
43
3
Vialle, Tom
FRA
KTM
22
20
42
4
Beaton, Jed
AUS
HUS
20
12
32
5
Renaux, Maxime
FRA
YAM
13
16
29
6
Benistant, Thibault
FRA
YAM
6
22
28
7
Gifting, Isak
SWE
GAS
14
14
28
8
Watson, Ben
GBR
YAM
11
15
26
9
Van De Moosdijk, Roan
NED
KAW
12
13
25
10
Fernandez, Ruben
ESP
YAM
16
9
25
11
Mewse, Conrad
GBR
KTM
15
5
20
12
Sandner, Michael
AUT
GAS
7
8
15
13
Horgmo, Kevin
NOR
KTM
3
11
14
14
Lesiardo, Morgan
ITA
HON
10
4
14
15
Vaessen, Bas
NED
KTM
2
10
12
16
Gilbert, Josh
GBR
HUS
5
6
11
17
Pancar, Jan
SLO
KTM
8
3
11
18
Malkiewicz, Bailey
AUS
HON
9
0
9
19
Rubini, Stephen
FRA
HON
0
7
7
20
Östlund, Alvin
SWE
HON
4
2
6
21
Polak, Petr
CZE
YAM
0
1
1
22
Sikyna, Richard
SVK
KTM
1
0
1
MX2 Standings
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Total
1
Vialle, Tom
FRA
KTM
693
2
Geerts, Jago
BEL
YAM
620
3
Renaux, Maxime
FRA
YAM
505
4
Olsen, T.
DEN
HUS
489
5
Beaton, Jed
AUS
HUS
488
6
Watson, Ben
GBR
YAM
466
7
Van De Moosdijk, R.
NED
KAW
442
8
Mewse, Conrad
GBR
KTM
327
9
Fernandez, R.
ESP
YAM
304
10
Rubini, S.
FRA
HON
235
11
Boisrame, M.
FRA
KAW
234
12
Östlund, Alvin
SWE
HON
221
13
Gifting, Isak
SWE
GAS
207
14
Forato, A.
ITA
HUS
156
15
Vaessen, Bas
NED
KTM
148
16
Malkiewicz, B.
AUS
HON
128
17
Haarup, Mikkel
DEN
KAW
118
18
Horgmo, Kevin
NOR
KTM
118
19
Lesiardo, M.
ITA
HON
104
20
Pancar, Jan
SLO
KTM
99
21
Gilbert, Josh
GBR
HUS
98
22
Renkens, N.
BEL
KTM
97
23
Crawford, N.
AUS
HON
91
Moto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
EMX Open
The EMX Open Championship made its much-awaited return in Italy for the round of Trentino, which is the fourth instalment of this year’s series. Action saw a brand-new winner in the category, as Frenchman, Jimmy Clochet took two strong race wins, on his wildcard appearance, to claim his first ever European podium as he placed first overall.
Joining him on the podium was Italian rider, Davide De Bortoli who had two solid second place finishes, ahead of Toms Macuks who made his third podium appearance of the year for third overall, following two fourths’ in the races.
Race 1
The opening race saw Dan Thornhill of Cab Screens Deos Group Honda take the holeshot, though Clochet wasted no time to get around the early leader, to move into the top spot. The Frenchman then checked out of the race, as he pulled a comfortable lead early on, which he maintained until the chequered flag.
EMX Open Start
Though in the early stages of the race Thornhill came under pressure from De Bortoli and eventually Macuks, with the pair getting around the Brit, before he dropped down a further few positions to finish 7th.
Clochet led every lap of the race, with De Bortoli behind him. Though it was the battle behind them that was heating up as Cornelius Toendel of JWR Racing pushed for his best result of the season, as he was eventually able to pass Macuks for third.
Championship leader, Karel Kutsar had a tough race, as he started down in and around 16th position, to eventually pull his way through to 9th, for vital championship points.
Race 2
The second race saw Clochet out in the lead once again, as he claimed the holeshot that time around. De Bortoli got another good start and so did Kutsar who was in third. In terms of the top three riders, there was no change in positions as the three maintained their spots and that’s how they would eventually finish.
Jimmy Clochet
Martin Michek, Mike Bolink and Macuks were having a close battle for 3rd, though by the third lap, Macuks was able to pass both riders to get himself into fourth, where he also finished the race.
Domantas Jazdauskas was also pushing for the top 5, as he challenged inside the top 10, though he made a mistake, which caused him to crash out of 8th and finish the race in 15th.
Meanwhile, Toendel was on a charge in race two after starting the race in the top 15. He fought to make some passes on Stefan Ekerold, Jazdauskas and Kim Savaste of 137 KTM Motorsport, along with others, to finish the race in 6th, with Michek finishing just ahead of him in 5th.
In terms of the championship, despite missing out on a podium spot, Kutsar still leads in the standings by 12 points, with Savaste second, finishing 6th overall today, and Macuks third, a further 21 points behind.
There are now two rounds remaining of the EMX Open championship, with still plenty of points up for grabs, which will make for some interesting races as we reach the closing stages of the opening year of the brand-new series.
Jimmy Clochet
“Today was a really good day for me, before, the last year I was riding in the EMX250 with Bud Racing team, this year I got this news challenge and I jump on the EMXOpen class. I was feeling really good with the track and with the bike and I got two really good starts, so I’m really happy about my day and I’m ready for the next round.”
Davide De Bortoli
“I’m really happy to be here and for my first podium in the European Championship. Today I was feeling really good with my bike. I wanted to race in Latvia, but I got injured just some days before. Today I did my best and now I’m looking forward the next races here in Pietramurata.”
Davide De Bortoli
Toms Mackus
“I’m happy about the podium but the race wasn’t the best and not what I was expecting because I did bad start and I crashed. I’m ready for the next races and I’m really looking forward to get a good result on the next one.”
Karel Kutsar
“The most important thing is the Championship. In the first race I was quite nervous, so I did two little mistakes in the first corners of the first lap and because of that I lost many positions. Anyway, I tried to do my best and I finished 9th. In the second race, I took a better start and I tried to ride good and safe, finally I got a good result. Now I’m ready for the next race.”
EMX Open Overall – Trentino
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
R1
R2
Total
1
Clochet, Jimmy
FRA
KAW
25
25
50
2
De Bortoli, Davide
ITA
HON
22
22
44
3
Macuks, Toms
LAT
KTM
18
18
36
4
Toendel, Cornelius
NOR
HON
20
15
35
5
Kutsar, Karel
EST
KTM
12
20
32
6
Savaste, Kim
FIN
KTM
16
13
29
7
Michek, Martin
CZE
KTM
10
16
26
8
Ekerold, Stefan
GER
SUZ
11
14
25
9
Gryning, Mathias
DEN
YAM
13
10
23
10
Thornhill , Dan
GBR
HON
14
9
23
11
Bolink, Mike
NED
KTM
6
11
17
12
Sjoholm, Mads
DEN
KTM
4
12
16
13
Bartos, Petr
CZE
KTM
8
7
15
14
Adamson, John
GBR
KTM
15
0
15
15
Rathousky, Petr
CZE
KTM
7
3
10
16
Windt, Rob
NED
KTM
9
0
9
17
Haberland, Paul
GER
HON
0
8
8
18
Michalec, Petr
CZE
HON
3
5
8
19
Ubach, Simeo
ESP
HUS
5
2
7
20
Jazdauskas, Domantas
LTU
HUS
0
6
6
21
Malin, Wiljam
FIN
HUS
2
4
6
22
Wedage, Damian
NED
KTM
0
1
1
23
Tornau, Fynn-Niklas
GER
KTM
1
0
1
24
Pletka, Libor
CZE
KTM
0
0
0
25
Rossi, Andrea
ITA
KTM
0
0
0
EMX Open Standings – Top 15
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Total
1
Kutsar, Karel
EST
KTM
163
2
Savaste, Kim
FIN
KTM
151
3
Macuks, Toms
LAT
KTM
130
4
Ekerold, S.
GER
SUZ
118
5
Sihvonen, Miro
FIN
HUS
101
6
Lusbo, Andero
EST
HUS
93
7
Matikainen, J.
FIN
HUS
83
8
Kalejs, Karlis
LAT
HUS
75
9
Toendel, C.
NOR
HON
73
10
Jazdauskas, D.
LTU
HUS
73
11
Smets, Greg
BEL
KTM
67
12
Ubach, Simeo
ESP
HUS
58
13
Dixon, Nathan
GBR
HUS
54
14
Clochet, Jimmy
FRA
KAW
50
15
De Bortoli, D.
ITA
HON
44
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WMX
New Zealander, Courtney Duncan of DRT Kawasaki has made history once again, as she claimed her second world title in the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship at the final here in Pietramurata, Italy.
Courtney Duncan
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling right now! I dreamt of these days when I was a kid; I’ve worked fifteen years of my life for moments like this. This year has been so full of uncertainties with Covid and our own challenges. Like the crash in Mantova when I got back to my bike and the bars were snapped; it felt as though the championship was gone in the blink-of-an-eye and I’m so proud how we fought back, stayed positive and confident to come out on top for a second year. Massive thanks to the entire team – you can’t do it alone – but we got it done.
Courtney Duncan
There was so much pressure on each of us coming to the final round with the points so close; it was a matter of winner-takes-all and you have to rise to the occasion. I actually got more excited by the situation. These are the moments that count; I stood up and rose today and that’s why I’m champion. I fell down at the start of the first race but thankfully some more went down at turn two; I just never gave up, put it behind me and concentated on pulling back as many places as I could. Potentially I got a few gifts, particularly when Larissa fell on the last lap, but I gotta thank my crew for keeping me posted; I’m proud of the way I stayed composed and I was just in my zone all race. Such a crazy race and it put me in the right position before race two. I knew the points so I didn’t need to take any risks. I stayed out of the chaos and tried to stay focused through the last laps but I don’t want to take it away from the girls in front who were riding so good; I let it play out in front of me and took the overall today and the championship. It was so close in the end. We were all put under-the-pump knowing it was tight coming to the final round but thankfully I got that moto win in race one and that made the difference. I just want to enjoy this one this evening but 100% sure I want to make it a three-piece with Kawasaki next year!“
Courtney Duncan
The WMX championship came down to the final race, as four riders were all in contention of grabbing the title. With just 10 points separating Nancy Van de Ven of Ghidinelli Racing, who led the championship coming into the round of Trentino, Duncan, MXFonta Syneco’s Kiara Fontanesi and Larissa Papenmeier of Yamaha Racing 423, the action today was next level, as each one of the riders gave it their all for the chance to take home the gold plate.
Race 1
And there was plenty of drama in the races, starting with the opening heat which saw Duncan, Van De Ven and Fontanesi go down in the start, while Papenmeier grabbed the holeshot and led the way comfortably.
Duncan though was not looking to waste any time, as she pushed hard throughout the race, making some very quick passes, which saw her move into the top three on the fourth lap of the race. Meanwhile, Van De Ven and Fontanesi were also making good progress and were pushing inside the top 10.
The top 4 ladies didn’t let off, as they each pushed for vital championship points, though the closing stages of the race saw more drama and this time it was for the race leader, Papenmeier, who had a nice 10 second gap to Duncan in second, but a small mistake which resulted in a crash, in the corner before the finish jump, allowed the Kiwi to close in on Papenmeier and eventually pass her for the win.
Courtney Duncan
Papenmeier held on to second, with JK Racing Yamaha’s Lynn Valk having a fantastic ride to finish third ahead of Shana Van der Vlist and Van de Ven having to settle for fifth.
Race 2
The second race was the last opportunity for Duncan, Van De Ven, Papenmeier and Fontanesi to do something about the outcome of this championship. And for Van De Ven it was a complete turnaround of the opening heat, as she took the holeshot and led every lap of the race from start to flag. While she led the way, the battle was heating up behind her, as Fontanesi, Van der Vlist, Duncan and Papenmeier battle it out for top scoring positions.
WMX Start
All eyes were focused on the nice battle between Fontanesi and Duncan which carried on for 6 laps, before the Italian was eventually able to find her way through on the DRT Kawasaki rider. The pair then pushed their way onto the back of the race leader, though Van De Ven was able to handle the pressure and take the race win, but it was not enough for her to secure the title this time around. Fontanesi crossed the line to finish the race second, while Duncan was third.
By the end of the race, both Van De Ven and Duncan were tied on 207 points, with the championship being decided on race wins and it was those 5 race wins, in Matterley Basin, Mantova and Trentino today, which helped Duncan secure the gold plate for the second year in a row. Van De Ven was forced to settle for a silver medal this season, as she finished the year with her second race win and a fourth podium finish. While Papenmeier secured bronze with two overall victories in Valkenswaard and Mantova and four podiums this season.
The podium today was exactly the same as the championship standings, with Duncan celebrating her title on the top step of the podium, with Van De Ven second and Papenmeier finishing third on the box.
Nancy Van De Ven, Courtney Duncan and Larissa Papenmeier
Nancy Van De Ven
“The crash in the first race and mistakes in the beginning of the year made it really hard for me and what can I say, what’s worse than getting second in the championship with the same points”.
Larissa Papenmeier
“It was really close, anyone of us four could be world champion, so you had to fight until the last minute. I had a good first heat, unfortunately I tipped over, but it was my own mistake and I finished second. Nothing was lost by then, but my second heat wasn’t that good. The others were better, Courtney for sure deserved it, I think if she stays on the bike, she’s fastest on the track so she deserved it for sure. Congratulations to her. Being third overall in the world championship is not bad, for sure I’m fighting for first but I’m not giving up yet.”
WMX Overall – Trentino 2020
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
R1
R2
Total
1
Duncan, Courtney
NZL
KAW
25
20
45
2
Van De Ven, Nancy
NED
YAM
16
25
41
3
Papenmeier, Larissa
GER
YAM
22
18
40
4
Fontanesi, Kiara
ITA
KTM
15
22
37
5
Valk, Lynn
NED
YAM
20
16
36
6
van der Vlist, Shana
NED
KTM
18
15
33
7
Andersen, Sara
DEN
KTM
14
14
28
8
Astudillo, Jamie
USA
KTM
13
13
26
9
Nocera, Francesca
ITA
YAM
11
12
23
10
Keller, Sandra
SUI
KTM
12
9
21
11
Jakobsen, Malou
DEN
KTM
8
11
19
12
Borchers, Anne
GER
SUZ
9
8
17
13
O’Hare, Tahlia Jade
AUS
KTM
6
10
16
14
Germond, Virginie
SUI
KTM
7
5
12
15
Kapsamer , Elena
AUT
KTM
10
0
10
16
Viaud, Camille
FRA
YAM
3
6
9
17
Irmgartz, Kim
GER
HON
5
4
9
18
Berry, Avrie
USA
KTM
0
7
7
19
Hoppe, Fiona
GER
HUS
4
1
5
20
Reitze, Alicia
GER
YAM
1
3
4
21
Lehmann, Janina
GER
YAM
0
2
2
22
Galvagno, Elisa
ITA
YAM
2
0
2
WMX Final Standings
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Total
1
Duncan, C.
NZL
KAW
207
2
Van De Ven, N.
NED
YAM
207
3
Papenmeier, L.
GER
YAM
200
4
Fontanesi, K.
ITA
KTM
193
5
Valk, Lynn
NED
YAM
164
6
van der Vlist, S.
NED
KTM
135
7
Andersen, Sara
DEN
KTM
121
8
Dam, Line
DEN
YAM
114
9
Borchers, Anne
GER
SUZ
94
10
O’Hare, T.
AUS
KTM
91
11
Astudillo, J.
USA
KTM
77
12
Jakobsen, M.
DEN
KTM
54
13
Nocera, F.
ITA
YAM
49
14
Verstappen, A.
BEL
KAW
46
15
Martinez, M.
FRA
KTM
39
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Lettenbichler wins 2020 Red Bull Romaniacs
Rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 17th edition of Red Bull Romaniacs included the added challenge of the changeable autumnal weather conditions in the Carpathian Mountains.
Manuel Lettenbichler
With the traditional Prologue event on the streets of host city Sibiu cancelled, riders first faced a relatively short, time trial qualification stage to determine the opening day’s start order. Manuel Lettenbichler, making his international race debut for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, finished fifth-fastest, granting him an advantageous start position for Offroad Day 1.
Dry conditions greeted riders early in the morning for the first full day of offroad racing, but it was obvious right from the off that the organizers had plenty in store for the Gold Class competitors. Named ‘Vertical Madness’ for 2020, the race lived up to its name, delivering technically demanding, steep climbs and with a no-help rule for this year, riders had to fight their way to the top unaided.
Manuel Lettenbichler
Second on day one, Lettenbichler finished 41 seconds behind the leader but enjoyed an advantage of over three minutes over the third-placed rider. The top two, Lettenbichler and experienced extreme racer Graham Jarvis, would battle this way for the three remaining days. Victory on day two went to the Red Bull KTM rider who gapped his main rival by close to three minutes, giving him a two-minute advantage going into the third stage.
With Lettenbichler taking his KTM 300 EXC TPI to second on Offroad Day 3, the top two went into the final day separated by just 25 seconds following over 16 hours of racing. With conditions worsening and the already slippery hills made more treacherous following light rain, riders found Offroad Day 4 to be one of the toughest.
Manuel Lettenbichler
Putting in a champion’s performance, Lettenbichler did exactly what he needed to do on the final day and kept Jarvis behind him. Successfully completing the last stage of the event as third-fastest, Lettenbichler secured the win by close to two-and-a-half minutes. The result gives the 2019 WESS Champion back-to-back victories at Red Bull Romaniacs and confirms the 22-year-old as one of the top riders of the sport.
Manuel Lettenbichler – P1
“I’m over the moon, it really is amazing. It’s been such a tough year for everyone and it’s cool to get another win here at Romaniacs. I started well but couldn’t believe how fast Graham was going – he was riding so good over the whole four days so congratulations to him. We were riding together a lot over the event and that really kept me motivated. I’m stoked to come away with another win. It was hard coming into the race to know how you would fair compared to the other guys as there has been so little racing this year and you don’t know how you are skill or fitness-wise. I’m super happy to take the win!”
Fighting all the way to the finish, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Graham Jarvis narrowly finished as runner-up at Romaniacs 2020. Joining him on the podium, teammate Alfredo Gomez charged ahead on the final day of racing to secure third overall.
Graham Jarvis – P2
“It’s been different to race here in October, but it’s worked good. I felt like I was riding really strong all week, but today Mani just had the edge. Starting out the week with a win was perfect and put me into a strong position. I knew the other guys would be pushing hard too, so I tried to play the long game and wait for another attack. I won the penultimate day but only by enough to give me a 25-second lead. With one crash early on, that advantage was quickly gone. Overall, I’ve a lot to be happy about, but I guess I’ll have to wait a little bit longer for a seventh win.”
Graham Jarvis
Alfredo Gomez – P3
“I’m delighted to come back strong for third. After a bad start to my week I rode each day never giving up. Experience has taught me that everything can happen in this race and the most important thing you can do is be patient. I stuck to that and chipped away. I had a great ride yesterday and knew it was all-or-nothing today. I gave it my best and got third. I’m happy with that.”
Alfredo Gomez
Top Australian was Shane Moss in the Silver category, racing to sixth in his class, with a total time of 23h27m37s, 4h11m11s behind silver winner Peter Weiss.
2020 Red Bull Romaniacs Gold Results
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Total
Gap
1
Manuel Lettenbichler
DEU
20h27m11s
+0s
2
Graham Jarvis
GBR
20h29m37s
+2m26s
3
Alfredo Gomez Cantero
ESP
20h41m20s
+14m9s
4
Wade Young
ZAF
20h41m33s
+14m22s
5
Billy Bolt
GBR
20h58m29s
+31m18s
6
Mario Roman
ESP
22h11m39s
+1h44m28s
7
Michael Walkner
AUT
23h15m1s
+2h47m50s
8
Teodor Kabakchiev
BGR
24h57m25s
+4h30m14s
9
Michele Bosi
ITA
26h39m11s
+6h12m
10
Sonny Goggia
ITA
27h14m24s
+6h47m13s
11
Rienk Tuinstra
NLD
28h48m32s
+8h21m21s
12
Suff Sella
ISR
32h19m2s
+11h51m51s
13
Sandra Gomez Cantero
ESP
52h21m7s
+31h53m56s
14
Vasiu Nicolae
ROU
52h29m36s
+32h2m25s
2020 Red Bull Romaniacs Silver Results
Pos
Rider
Nat
Time
Gap
1
Peter Weiss
DNK
19h16m26s
+0s
2
Poirot Fabien
FRA
19h30m29s
+14m3s
3
Joe Deakin
GBR
20h57m13s
+1h40m47s
4
Guillot Yoann
FRA
21h11m34s
+1h55m8s
5
Tim Apolle
DEU
22h1m9s
+2h44m43s
6
Shane Moss
AUS
23h27m37s
+4h11m11s
7
Alex Tara
ROU
23h34m37s
+4h18m11s
8
Victor Shpalov
RUS
27h5m34s
+7h49m8s
9
Bayram Uysal
TUR
28h15m49s
+8h59m23s
10
Oleksiy Dobychin
UKR
29h50m38s
+10h34m12s
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Steve Holcombe wins 2020 Italian Enduro Championship
Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe has won this year’s Italian Enduro Championship delivering a debut national title for the Italian manufacturer on their Beta RR Racing 4T 350.
Steve Holcombe – Image by Future7Media
Arriving to the final round of the Italian Enduro Championship in Arma di Taggia as series leader, Holcombe looked to clinch the title in what’s been a challenging pandemic hit year. Knowing he held a comfortable points gap over his nearest competitor Thomas Oldrati, Holcombe put his energy into racing for the championship, while remaining safe ahead of the EnduroGP double header.
Taking his time to adjust to the conditions on Saturday, Steve steadily worked his way up the leaderboard to finish a strong second behind teammate Brad Freeman. On day two, a small crash on the extreme test set him back. And with one less lap to ride than the previous day, he had to push hard to get back to sixth in order to seal the title. With the Italian Enduro Championship secured, Steve hands Beta Motorcycles their first national crown with their RR Racing 4T 350.
Steve Holcombe – Image by Future7Media
Steve now looks forward to defending his Enduro World Championship lead at the final two rounds in Portugal, beginning next weekend on November 7-8.
Steve Holcombe
“I’m made up to win the Italian Enduro Championship again. I know how much this means to Beta because it’s their national series and it’s become important to me on a personal and professional level, too. The focus for this weekend was to lock up the title as safely and cleanly as possible knowing that the final two rounds of EnduroGP are just days ahead. It can be hard to find that balance, instead of just racing to win, so there were a few mistakes this weekend. Thankfully, it all came good. I’m delighted to have won this championship back and doing it on the 350 four-stroke for the first time is the icing on the cake!”
Steve Holcombe – Image by Future7Media
2020 Italian Enduro Championship Standings
Pos
Rider
Man.
Points
1
Steve Holcombe
Beta
121
2
Thomas Oldrati
Honda
119
3
Brad Freeman
Honda
115
4
Andrea Verona
TM
95
5
Joe Wootton
Husqvarna
79
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Cheyne Boyd injury update
Cheyne Boyd has shared the following injury update on his Instagram page, after a life-threatening crash saw him rushed to hospital:
“So here is my progression update, 11 days ago I had a crash . I was rushed to emergency, life saving surgery to repair the artery I had ruptured next to my heart. I was internally bleeding to death, and needed 21 bags of blood. From there I was placed in an induced coma before another surgery on Saturday to fuse my spine after I fractured my thoracic and dislocated my lumbar spine. Thankfully both these surgeries were successful, and I am able to walk, talk and use my arms. I am beyond grateful for the ambulance and medical staff at The Royal Melbourne hospital that saved my life. I also have 17 broken ribs, and a fractured pelvis as well as collapsed lungs and fractured C4 and C5 vertebrae. Thankyou to everyone who has sent well wishes and thoughts and prayers, to myself and Caitlin and the kids. Thankyou to my friends, who have been such an amazing support system and really rallied around myself and my family when we needed them most. Thankyou to Caitlin, who I without a doubt, scared the most and is my biggest motivation, along with our kids, Brooklyn, Billie and Boston. I am busy making plans to reopen Park4MX so please sit tight and wait for further announcements. Thank you.”
Cheyne Boyd shared a picture of the aftermath of his surgery on Instagram
Motorcycling Australia welcome AMG Group
Motorcycling Australia (MA) have welcomed new industry body Australian Motocross Group (AMG) to the fold, with the two organisations to work closely and form part of the ProMX Management Team to help grow motocross in Australia.
AMG was recently launched by long time team owner and MA Motocross Commissioner Mark Luksich, Craig Dack MX legend and CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team owner, Gavin Eales from Serco Motorsport and Yarrive Konsky from Penrite Honda Racing. AMG will be a part of the seven member ProMX Management Team that will drive the strategic planning of ProMX for 2021 and beyond.
ProMX announced by Motorcycling Australia
MA CEO Peter Doyle said the inclusion of AMG into the ProMX Management Team was a key step in ensuring industry, professional and privateer riders and teams have a voice and are represented, giving all parties a channel of communication direct to the sport’s national controlling body.
Peter Doyle – MA CEO
“It’s great to have industry and teams represented as part of our management team to ensure we can collectively and collaboratively grow the sport of motocross in Australia, and with representation from AMG we have that wealth of knowledge and experience to draw upon. With the right support from industry, partners and sponsors we hope to be able to showcase the ProMX championship to a wider Australian and international audience through various media channels.”
Planning is well underway with a calendar set to be announced in November.
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Dubai International Baja cancelled
Despite the best efforts of all parties involved and due to ongoing health concerns and associated restrictions in light of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the FIM, the Emirates Motorsport Organisation (EMSO) and the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) have regretfully announced the cancellation of the Dubai International Baja that was rescheduled to take place on 26-28 November.
Dubai International Baja cancelled
The second and last event of the 2020 season will take place in Portalegre, Portugal on 05-07 November.
Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing sign Malcolm Stewart
Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing have announced the addition of Malcolm Stewart to their 450 team for the 2021 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. The 2016 250SX East Champion will line up alongside the 2018 250SX West Champion, Aaron Plessinger, and the back-to-back 250SX West Champion, Dylan Ferrandis, for a three-pronged threat in the highly competitive premier class.
Malcolm Stewart
Stewart is fresh off his best season in the 450 class. The Florida rider really started hitting his stride in the seven-race run in Salt Lake City, finishing fourth at the season finale to end the year seventh in the standings. Stewart looks to build on that momentum next season with the Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing team.
Malcolm Stewart – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing
“I’m really excited to join the team. I’ve known a lot of the guys before, when I was around the team back in 2011. Gareth Swanepoel is my trainer and he works with their guys, plus I have a few buddies there. So, it isn’t a big change for me. It just kind of adds another piece to the puzzle. I’m definitely happy. The team has had a lot of success and has dominated the 250 class. They have a phenomenal setup and to be a part of their first year in the 450 class, it makes it more exciting for all of us. I feel like we have some good heavy hitters. Myself, Dylan Ferrandis, and Aaron Plessinger, every single one of us has won a 250 title. It should be a really good year. It’s only Supercross right now, but hopefully it goes well, and we can turn it into something in the future.”
Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing 450 Team Manager
“Adding Malcolm to our already great line up excites me that much more for this upcoming season. He is an amazing rider, especially when it comes to the whoops. I can’t wait to see him on the track.”
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GasGas Factory Racing sign Pauls Jonas, Brian Bogers, Isak Gifting
Hard-charging former MX2 World Champion Pauls Jonass will team up with the highly-capable Brian Bogers to complete Standing Construct GasGas Factory Racing’s all-new MXGP rider line-up for 2020. Pauls will be the ideal match for the MC 450F as the Latvian looks forward to re-establishing himself as one of the world’s best. Delivering a strong run of results during 2020, Dutchman Bogers is also ready to mix it up with the heavy hitters of the MXGP class.
A proven MXGP racer, Jonass entered the grand prix scene in 2014, rapidly progressing to become MX2 World Champion just three years later. Placing as runner-up in 2018, the Latvian then moved to the MXGP class for the following season. In his debut 450cc campaign he was quick to find success, securing three overall podium visits and an impressive sixth place in the final standings.
2020 was set to be Jonass’ breakout year but an untimely training crash ended his season early. Following months of rehabilitation and with his desire for success stronger than ever, he’s now back to full fitness, ready to bang bars and fight for podiums when the gate drops for the start of the 2021 season.
Pauls Jonass
“I’m really excited for my future with GASGAS. I have to thank the Standing Construct team for believing in me while I have been injured but I will be back to 100% and then I can start testing with the team. It’s an exciting time for me and my rehabilitation is going very well. I’m looking forward to a great future together with GASGAS and I look forward to achieving some great results when the 2021 season starts.”
Pauls Jonass
Competing alongside Jonass, Brian Bogers also joins Standing Construct GASGAS Factory Racing for 2021. Currently ranked 12th in the 2020 MXGP World Championship, the Dutchman has been a constant threat for top-five results during recent GPs. Aiming for the top-10 in the final MXGP standings, Bogers, like his new teammate, will soon head into the off-season focused on testing and preparation ahead of the new MXGP season.
Brian Bogers
“It’s a great feeling to be on the Standing Construct GASGAS team for 2021. I’m really looking forward to next season as I know the team is very professional and the bike is great. They have had impressive results over recent years, so it gives me a lot of confidence. It’s an exciting opportunity. I’ve had a strong season in 2020 and I’m ready for the next step with GASGAS in 2021.”
Tim Mathys – Standing Construct GASGAS Factory Racing MXGP Team Manager
“We’re excited to have two very capable riders for 2021, that give us an exciting all-new line-up. As a former MX2 World Champion, Pauls Jonass has already achieved great results in MXGP and has proved to be a rider with top-three potential. I am convinced that with the approach we have already used in our team, we can get the very best out of him. He is hugely motivated, and I believe that we can push him to an even higher level, just like we have done with many riders in the past. Our second rider, Brian Bogers, has matured a lot during the past season. He has proven during the last races, with 10 top-10 finishes in a row, that he is ready to have a breakthrough in the MXGP class. He is physically and mentally stronger and ready to compete with the big boys. Both Pauls and Brian are still young, so we will have a young, robust team that we can work closely with. Together with GASGAS Factory Racing we are confident in their abilities, and as a team we look forward to great results from both riders next season.”
GasGas also welcomed Isak Gifting, with the young Swede to remain in red and take on his first full season of MX2 competition following his sensational performances as a stand-in rider during recent GPs. Joining the DIGA Procross GASGAS Factory Racing team for 2021, Isak will compete alongside the returning Simon Langenfelder with both racing on our proven MC 250F.
Isak Gifting
“It’s an amazing feeling to continue with the DIGA Procross GASGAS team in 2021 as a full factory rider. Riding Grands Prix has been a dream of mine since I was a little boy and now I’ve made it. Racing for a factory team, it’s just unbelievable. The bike is fantastic and having a solid team around me with a great manager, mechanics and a trainer gives me a lot of confidence. I have a great feeling going into 2021. I can’t wait to have a full winter of testing with the team and I’m sure that together we can achieve some great results.”
Isak Gifting
Simon Langenfelder will return to the team for 2021, his second term of MX2 World Championship action. Having shown flashes of speed throughout this season before an untimely leg injury, the young German is fully focused on his recovery and looking ahead to prepare for the new season.
Simon Langenfelder
“I’m really looking forward to 2021. I was just starting to put together decent results this season before my crash in Faenza. It was a disappointing way to end the season. Fortunately, I have a great team around me, and I’m almost fully recovered so we can begin our preparation for the new season really soon. I’m excited for the future. I know the bike is good so being able to continue with the DIGA Procross GASGAS team is a great feeling.”
Justin Amian – DIGA Procross GASGAS Factory Racing Team Manager
“We’re really excited for the 2021 season with Isak joining the team alongside Simon. Since Isak joined us as a fill-in rider he’s done nothing but impress me and the rest of the team. His results speak for themselves. Continual progression and he’s really made the best of the opportunity that we gave him. He is incredibly strong-minded, a real fighter on the track and his fitness is incredible so it was an easy decision to have him join our team. We believe in him and he believes in us. We also know that Simon can deliver great results, as he started to show this year. His injury was really unfortunate, but we know that he is fully focused on his preparations for 2021. We look forward to a great off-season of testing ahead of next year and we’re excited for the future with Isak and Simon.”
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GASGAS Factory Racing announce AMA SX & Pro Motocross line-up
GASGAS Motorcycles has announced the highly-anticipated Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing team line-up, as they prepare to compete in both the 250cc and 450cc divisions of the AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross Championships for the 2021 season and beyond.
Highlighting the team’s 450 effort is Justin Barcia, a seasoned front-runner who is looking to re-establish himself as a title contender in the premier class aboard the GASGAS MC 450F. In the 250 division, Pierce Brown will race aboard the MC 250F alongside teammate Michael Mosiman, who is eager to pick up where he left off last season as a 250 class front-runner.
Justin Barcia, Pierce Brown, Michael Mosiman
Barcia will lead GASGAS Motorcycles into their very first year of American racing. After claiming back-to-back 250SX titles in 2011-2012, Justin will celebrate his ninth season of 450cc racing in 2021. Claiming victory in his second ever 450SX race, he’s since gone on to enjoy multiple victories and podium finishes both indoors and out. With a new team and bike for 2021, Barcia’s busy preparing himself for what he believes can be his best season yet.
Taking to the start line in the 250 division, Pierce Brown and Michael Mosiman are young racers that each recorded strong 250SX results in 2020. Looking to unlock their full potential, they’ll be aiming for the podium when the gate drops for round one.
Roger De Coster – Director of Motorsports in North America
“Appointing Troy Lee Designs as the official GASGAS Factory Racing team for supercross and motocross not only further strengthens our longstanding partnership with Troy and his team, it also starts an important new chapter for TLD in the 450 class and for GASGAS in America, which is a hugely important step for GASGAS Motorcycles. As an energetic, new brand we’re excited to establish the MC 450F and MC 250F when we get back to racing and the start of the 2021 supercross series. We look forward to providing the technical support and guidance needed to allow Justin, Pierce and Michael to perform at their very best in 2021 and wish everyone at Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing all the best for the new season ahead.”
TLD Red Bull GasGas team makes Barcia signing official
Section: Competition
Brown and Mosiman to ride factory team’s MC 250Fs through 2021.
Image: Supplied.
Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas has officially confirmed the long-rumored signing of Justin Barcia, who will join 250 class riders Pierce Brown and Michael Mosiman in the new-look team.
Barcia will be GasGas’ lone premier class rider in the US on-board the factory MC 450F, committed to Monster Energy Supercross and Lucas Oil Pro Motocross.
“Appointing Troy Lee Designs as the official GasGas Factory Racing team for Supercross and motocross not only further strengthens our longstanding partnership with Troy [Lee] and his team, it also starts an important new chapter for TLD in the 450 class and for GASGAS in America,” stated Roger De Coster, director of motorsports in North America.
“[This] is a hugely important step for GasGas Motorcycles. As an energetic, new brand we’re excited to establish the MC 450F and MC 250F when we get back to racing and the start of the 2021 Supercross series.
“We look forward to providing the technical support and guidance needed to allow Justin, Pierce and Michael to perform at their very best in 2021 and wish everyone at Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing all the best for the new season ahead.”
Troy Lee added: “This is a dream come true. To be partnering with GasGas Motorcycles is an incredible opportunity for our team, running a factory 450 race effort is something I have always dreamed about. Troy Lee Designs and GasGas share a lot of the same values, it’s all about having fun, enjoying it all and turning up with energy and commitment!
“To be the official GASGAS supercross and motocross team in the States is very special, we’re really excited in playing our part in helping to establish the brand. We’re ecstatic to go racing with our world-class athletes, on what has become one of the most hyped new teams in some time.”
Barcia moves across from Monster Energy Yamaha to lead GasGas’ entry into US competition, while Brown was already part of the Troy Lee Designs team with KTM this season and Mosiman arrives from the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team.
If you’re an avid sim-racer or just picked up your new copy of ‘TT Isle of Man Ride on the Edge 2‘ you may be in the market for a Kawasaki H2 branded gaming chair to add a few more virtual horsepower to your gaming experience.
Who knows, perhaps you have your gaming set up located in your luxurious home garage next to your $55,000 USD H2 race bike. This probably isn’t the case, but if your heart bleeds green and your racing gear happens to match why not tickle your inner enthusiast with a green Ninja H2 gaming chair to satisfy your inner love for all things Kawi.
Kawasaki partnered up with esteemed Japanese luxury furniture maker, Contieaks, to bring consumers an H2 inspired gaming chair to satisfy your gaming room needs. Personally, I have a full sim-racing set up in my home office and if Ford offered a blue Ford Racing gaming chair, I’d be all over it. So I understand the allure for you Kawasaki fanboys that just added this chair to your Christmas list.
As with most gaming chairs, it features 75mm height adjustability, can recline 160°, and has 3d printed armrests to keep you comfortable during a sweaty virtual hot-lap around the Isle of Man.
The chair will be available in Japan at Kawasaki Plaza and they will be accepting orders beginning yesterday, November 1st, and will close sales November 30th, 2020 with deliveries coming in late February of 2021.
What’s cooler than a classic motorcycle modified in modern times to accommodate a race-oriented look and style? The same thing, but with the modifications actually being done during the period of the initial sale.
This bike was modified way back in the ’70s when it was new and was fully restored in 2001 by its current owner after buying it from a collection in 1991.
The engine is a 750cc parallel-twin that was taken from a ’69 TR6R and married to a five-speed gearbox. What makes this a racebike? The Trackmaster frame, racing fairings, and all the performance add-ons a 1970’s racer could dream of.
The engine has been modified with Mikuni carburetors, a full racing exhaust system, an alloy fuel tank for added weight reduction, clip-on handlebars and rear sets, original Grimeca triple-disc brakes, and a Ceriani fork with Works shock to top it all off.
You won’t be able to ride this motorcycle on public roadways in its current shape, as its been fully kitted for the racetrack and features a headlight, signal, and taillight delete to keep it track-spec.
The total mileage is unknown, but the bike comes with an Oregon bill of sale and I would assume it has a clean title otherwise it would be specified in the bringatrailer.com ad.
This may be one of the most beautiful period-correct replica racebikes I have ever seen, and it could be yours if you act fast and win the auction found on bringatrailer.com. I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that this motorcycle will fetch quite a pretty penny, as bids currently sit at $7000 USD with 4 days remaining on the auction as I type this article.
A Formal Partnership With Westlake Financial Services to Offer Dealer Financing Options
I’m just going to come out and say it… For me, Energica is close to being the MV Agusta of the EV motorcycle world. Their designs are insanely beautiful and also pretty darn expensive, but until EV motorcycle tech comes standard from most OEM manufacturers, it’s up to smaller companies like Zero and Energica to blaze the trail that leads these torque-monsters into our home garages.
How can Energica make it easier for someone like me – without $25,000 – to get an Ego into my garage? Dealer financing.
Not only is this going to make it easier for potential buyers to bring one home, but the deal also offers a break for dealerships which will help them brunt the burden of keeping current stock on hand during all of these troubling times with Covid-19 stunting many in-store sales at their current 11 US dealers.
It took the company the first 8 weeks of 2020 to match their 2019 sales, meaning the brand should be gearing up for trench-warfare level sales for 2021 if things go according to plan.
Energica is reportedly expecting major demand next year for these motorcycles projected by their successful pre-order numbers in January, but strong sales continued to solider onwards through February leading them to the impression of these motorcycles being a big deal in a (hopefully) post-COVID 2021.
