I visited the (then) newly opened US Kawasaki HQ in Orange County, California back in 2016 to photograph the KR500 that Eddie Lawson rode in 1982 (Kawasaki KR500 Grand Prix Motorcycles – A Short History – LINK). While I was there I also had the opportunity to shoot another rare green machine – the KZ1000 S1.
In 1982 Kawasaki built 30 (or possibly 29) race-only S1s for the KMC Racing Team plus US dealers who wanted to go Superbike racing. It was basically a copy of the bikes Eddie Lawson and Dave Aldana campaigned in ’81-’82.
Due to most of the company’s race resources being directed towards the European GPs it was decided that while KHI (Kawasaki Heavy Industries, the parent company) would develop the motor, long time Kawasaki mechanic Randy Hall (based in the US) would develop the chassis. The S1 featured an alloy swingarm of his design.
Kawasaki also released a slightly modified KZ1000 – the ‘Eddie Lawson replica’ for street use. The bike seen here is incorrectly fitted with the side cover badges from the street bike.
The dealer cost for the S1 was US$10,999 with no retail price supplied. An original S1 (with spares kit) sold for USD $107,000 in 2013.
WESS Promotion GmbH would like to announce changes to the upcoming WESS Championship with no overall title set for 2020.
Due to the tightening of entry regulations for Great Britain, including a mandatory 14-day quarantine, it has made participation in the proposed opening round – Hawkstone Park Cross-Country – practically impossible for the majority of riders, media representatives including TV production and the organising team.
WESS Promotion GmbH, the promoter of the WESS Championship, has therefore decided to remove the race in Hawkstone Park from the series calendar.
With the three remaining events confronted with increasingly restrictive travel restrictions, the basis for a fair championship is now no longer possible. As a result, the logical decision from WESS Promotion GmbH is to suspend this year’s championship.
However, this only has an indirect influence on the planned 2020 WESS events. Independently, all organisers are continuing to host their respective events, adapted to COVID-19 restrictions, but without WESS Championship status.
This also applies in particular to Hawkstone Park on September 19/20. Ultimately, the current official restrictions will determine the final decision of the respective organisers. The likelihood that these restrictions will tighten in the next few weeks is expected.
In order to support the organisers and subsequently WESS, the factory teams from KTM, Husqvarna and GASGAS are confirming their rider’s participation. In coordination with the respective national travel regulations, factory riders for whom participation is possible will be present. This course also applies to all national teams and private competitors. And in particular to the factory teams from other manufacturers who, with their participation and the achievements shown, have made a significant contribution to the rise of WESS as the world’s most recognised and popular enduro series.
The planning for the 2021 WESS Championship is already in full swing. With the optimistic assumption that general travel restrictions will be less dramatic, there are eight events on the preliminary calendar, including two overseas competitions.
AFT Springfield Mile 2020
Images by Scott Hunter
AFT SuperTwins – Springfield Mile I
Sammy Halbert provided an undeniable reminder of his immense talent with a commanding performance in Saturday’s AFT SuperTwins Main Event at the Springfield Mile I presented by Memphis Shades. “Slammin’ Sammy” has long been regarded as one of the elite riders on the American Flat Track scene, but his 14th career Grand National Championship race win came as his first in more than four years.
Over that span, he’d found himself on the wrong end of Indian Motorcycle’s recent series domination. Now that he’s got an FTR750 of his own, Halbert once again figures to be a significant factor in the ’20 AFT SuperTwins title fight.
That possibility seemed obvious in Saturday’s 14-minute plus two lap Main at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. Halbert and multi-time champ Jared Mees broke free from the pack as early as the race’s opening lap and settled in for what appeared likely to be a race-long shootout to the checkered flag.
After the two swapped the spot back and forth numerous times early, Mees seemed content to just sit on Halbert’s rear wheel and bide his time. However, with two minutes to go, Halbert proved that it was him, in fact, who was waiting to make his move.
At that point, Hablert threw down the fastest laps the track had seen all day. Mees had no answer and all he could do was watch Halbert sprint away to a near two-second margin of victory. Mees was able to cruise to second with a multi-rider fight for the final spot on the box more than ten seconds back of the win.
Springfield hero Jeffrey Carver Jr. took home third in the end, out-dueling fourth-placed Brandon Robinson and fifth-placed Davis Fisher. Reigning Grand National Champion Briar Bauman finished in seventh, 0.150 seconds behind Brandon Price.
Pos
Rider
Bike
Interval
1
Sammy Halbert
Indian FTR750
26 Laps
2
Jared Mees
Indian FTR750
+1.98
3
Jeffrey Carver Jr.
Indian FTR750
+10.449
4
Brandon Robinson
Indian FTR750
+10.49
5
Davis Fisher
Indian FTR750
+11.769
6
Brandon Price
Indian FTR750
+12.367
7
Briar Bauman
Indian FTR750
+12.517
8
Bronson Bauman
Indian FTR750
+13.58
9
Dalton Gauthier
Harley-Davidson XG750R
+13.639
10
Jarod Vanderkooi
Harley-Davidson XG750R
+15.13
AFT SuperTwins – Springfield Mile II
American Flat Track superstar Jared Mees added to his burgeoning Mile legend with a triumphant ride in Sunday’s thrilling Springfield Mile II presented by Memphis Shades at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois.
Almost from the start, the AFT SuperTwins Main Event took shape as a four-rider showdown emerged, one foreshadowed by the top fastest times clocked in the AFT SuperTwins SuperPole qualifying event. A battle featuring Mees, home-track hero Jeffrey Carver Jr., ‘13 Springfield double winner Brandon Robinson and reigning Grand National Champion Briar Bauman left fans breathless as the leaders diced it out throughout the race.
Robinson looked to be the first to drop from contention, drifting to more than a half second back when the high line stopped working for him with eight minutes to go. Rather than cruise to an easy fourth, however, he altered his strategy and made a dive-bombing low line work to his advantage. He officially rejoined the fray with five minutes left, just as Carver and Mees were throwing elbows at triple-digit speeds.
With two minutes to go, Bauman struggled to maintain the pace. He stayed close enough to take advantage should anything happen but didn’t appear to have what it took to go for the win. Carver, on the other hand, was in rare form; the Springfield crowd favorite was comfortable enough to blast around the high line while looking back over his shoulder at his rivals, sliding his FTR750 at full song. Unfortunately, his race ended in bitter disappointment when his machine broke while running a close second with less than two laps remaining.
That unfortunate turn of events for Carver left Mees and Robinson to decide the winner. Robinson attempted to square up Mees coming off of Turn 4 for the final time and nearly pulled it off, falling just 0.043 seconds short of victory. Bauman rounded out the podium just under two seconds back. Bronson Bauman won out over Davis Fisher and Bryan Smith in their battle for fourth.
Saturday’s winner, Sammy Halbert, was stuck in the second pack early before suffering a mechanical issue, which forced him out completely with eight minutes remaining on the clock, after another day of clocking very fast times in qualifying sessions and the AFT SuperTwins SuperPole.
As a result, Mees now boasts a relatively healthy title advantage over primary rival Bauman (132-119). Halbert remains in third with 95 points but lost most of his padding over Robinson (88) and the second Bauman (81) going into next weekend’s double header at Williams Grove Speedway.
Pos
Rider
Bike
Gap
1
Jared Mees
Indian FTR750
25 Laps
2
Brandon Robinson
Indian FTR750
+0.043
3
Briar Bauman
Indian FTR750
+1.991
4
Bronson Bauman
Indian FTR750
+7.749
5
Davis Fisher
Indian FTR750
+8.067
6
Bryan Smith
Harley-Davidson XG750R
+8.26
7
Dalton Gauthier
Harley-Davidson XG750R
+11.94
8
Jarod Vanderkooi
Harley-Davidson XG750R
+13.944
9
Ryan Varnes
Indian FTR750
+14.928
10
Dan Bromley
Indian FTR750
+14.935
AFT SuperTwins Standings
Pos
Rider
Points
1
Jared Mees
132
2
Briar Bauman
119
3
Sammy Halbert
95
4
Brandon Robinson
88
5
Bronson Bauman
81
6
Davis Fisher
71
7
Brandon Price
70
8
Jeffrey Carver Jr.
61
9
Bryan Smith
60
10
Dalton Gauthier
53
11
Jarod Vanderkooi
48
12
Dan Bromley
41
13
JD Beach
36
14
Robert Pearson
35
15
Kolby Carlile
25
16
Jay Maloney
24
17
Andrew Luker
22
18
Ryan Varnes
16
19
Larry Pegram
11
AFT Production Twins – Springfield Mile I
Ryan Varnes simply would not break despite being subjected to constant, intense pressure en route to his first-career Mile win in Saturday’s AFT Production Twins Main Event.
Following an eventful opening two laps in which Danny Eslick, Jeremiah Duffy, James Rispoli and Ben Lowe all took a turn at the lead, Varnes powered into first with eight minutes remaining on the clock. At that point it seemed likely to be just the next in a countless number of lead changes. However, as it turned out, the 2019 class runner-up wouldn’t relinquish the lead.
Varnes led a four-rider breakaway with Lowe, Rispoli, and Chad Cose close behind in his wake. Cose maneuvered into second and then spent the next six minutes plus two laps looking for any way past Varnes to no avail.
Thanks to an ideal combination of precision, patience, and power, Varnes held on to claim the checkered flag 0.116 seconds ahead of Cose. Lowe, in turn, tried his best to overhaul Cose in Turn 3 on the final lap, but came up just 0.027 seconds short in third.
Rispoli faded in the final minutes and reigning AFT Production Twins champ Cory Texter took full advantage. Texter dropped the ex-roadracing ace to fifth and clawed his way from some two seconds back to end up just over a half-second off the win in fourth.
Pos
Rider
Bike
Gap
1
Ryan Varnes
Kawasaki Ninja 650
19 Laps
2
Chad Cose
Harley-Davidson XG750R
+0.116
3
Ben Lowe
Yamaha MT-07
+0.143
4
Cory Texter
Yamaha MT-07
+0.511
5
James Rispoli
Harley-Davidson XG750R
+3.836
6
Danny Eslick
Kawasaki Ninja 650
+8.984
7
Ryan Wells
Kawasaki Ninja 650
+8.985
8
Jeremiah Duffy
Kawasaki Ninja 650
+10.095
9
Patrick Buchanan
Kawasaki Ninja 650
+10.684
10
Dylan Bell
Harley-Davidson XG750R
+11.198
AFT Production Twins – Springfield Mile II
It took James Rispoli more than ten years to return to the top of the dirt track podium but only two races to get back there again. The AFT Production Twins points leader extended his championship advantage on Sunday with a victorious ride in an absolute stunner at the Springfield Mile.
Reigning champion Cory Texter stole the holeshot but was quickly eclipsed by the twin XG750Rs of Rispoli and Chad Cose. During the opening few minutes of the race, those three were in control; Cose did the bulk of the leading over Rispoli, with Texter keeping the honest from close behind in third.
However, when Ben Lowe blasted around the outside to move into second and then Hayden Gillim went way low to drive under the entire pack and briefly move into the lead, all bets were off.
An astonishing final five minutes saw eight riders within a half-second of the lead, trading positions in a relentless, nearly un-trackable fashion. Virtually every line was in play and none of the eight seemed any more likely than another to get to the checkered flag first.
The wild Main Event took another twist with less than a minute remaining on the clock when Patrick Buchanan went down and brought out the red flag.
After a short stoppage, the melee picked up right where it left off. At the restart, Varnes seized control of what had become a four-lap sprint to the stripe. Saturday’s winner held the lead spot until the clock hit 0:00 – indicating that two laps remained – and Cose and Lowe stormed up alongside.
Rispoli re-entered the picture as the white flag waved, diving under Cose to take the lead on the final lap. A perfect launch off of T4 secured the win, while Lowe and Cose also overhauled Varnes to finish in second and third, respectively.
Gillim finished fifth with Texter, Danny Eslick, Nick Armstrong, Ryan Wells, and Kevin Stollings finishing 6-10, all within one second of the win.
Pos
Rider
Bike
Gap
1
James Rispoli
Harley-Davidson XG750R
17 Laps
2
Ben Lowe
Yamaha MT-07
+0.091
3
Chad Cose
Harley-Davidson XG750R
+0.125
4
Ryan Varnes
Kawasaki Ninja 650
+0.145
5
Hayden Gillim
Harley-Davidson XG750R
+0.326
6
Cory Texter
Yamaha MT-07
+0.588
7
Danny Eslick
Kawasaki Ninja 650
+0.613
8
Nick Armstrong
Yamaha MT-07
+0.672
9
Ryan Wells
Harley-Davidson XG750R
+0.909
10
Kevin Stollings
Kawasaki Ninja 650
+0.99
AFT Production Twins Standings
Pos
Rider
Points
1
James Rispoli
124
2
Ben Lowe
105
3
Cory Texter
104
4
Ryan Varnes
100
5
Danny Eslick
83
6
Chad Cose
69
7
Jeremiah Duffy
61
8
Nick Armstrong
52
9
Hayden Gillim
45
10
Cody Johncox
42
11
Patrick Buchanan
31
12
Dylan Bell
30
13
Morgen Mischler
26
14
Jacob Lehmann
25
15
Ryan Wells
22
16
Jimmy McAllister
20
17
Michael Inderbitzin
19
18
Mitch Harvat
19
19
Scott Barrett
17
20
Brock Schwarzenbacher
16
21
Garret Wilson
10
22
Kevin Stollings
9
23
Max Whale
9
24
Cameron Smith
6
2020 Springfield Short Track – Main Event 1
Perhaps the most anticipated showdown of the 2020 AFT Singles season in the pre-pandemic age was Henry Wiles versus Daniels at the Peoria TT. Even though COVID-19 made that an impossibility this year, American Flat Track fans were provided a most worthy alternative as the two waged an epic battle just an hour down the road in Springfield. However, for the bulk of the race, Mikey Rush seemed set to relegate their scrap to one for second place.
Expertly exploiting the ST skills that made him a winner in the discipline in both the premier class and at the AFT Singles level, Rush executed a couple quick moves to take control of the race in its opening stages. He then rode with teammate Daniels in formation behind him.
The two looked to power their way to an easy Estenson 1-2 before their getaway was cut short by a red flag with four minutes remaining on the clock. That development provided bonafide Short Track legend Wiles with another shot at the win. Wiles had raced forward all evening after starting his Semi from dead last, and the stoppage allowed him to reset from third, lining up just inches behind Rush and Daniels.
While Wiles took full advantage and pounced on Daniels immediately, Rush was simply too strong; the 2019 class runner-up more than had the measure of the field in terms of raw speed. He blasted off and ripped open a multi-second gap… at least until he lost that imposing advantage with just over one minute remaining on the clock.
Wiles inherited the lead following Rush’s mishap in Turn 2 and was well positioned to translate it into victory until Daniels pulled out a late strike. The second-year ace reeled in the veteran superstar and slid underneath him with just 12 seconds (+ two short laps) remaining to decide the race.
Once through, Daniels instantly opened up some breathing space and secured the checkered flag with 0.644 seconds to spare. Morgen Mischler held off Max Whale to claim the final spot on the box. Trent Lowe rounded out the top five. Rush remounted to finish in 13th.
Pos
Rider
Bike
Gap
1
Dallas Daniels
Yamaha YZ450F
27 Laps
2
Henry Wiles
Honda CRF450R
+0.644
3
Morgen Mischler
KTM 450 SX-F
+1.738
4
Max Whale
Kawasaki KX450F
+1.966
5
Trent Lowe
Honda CRF450R
+4.898
6
Michael Inderbitzin
Honda CRF450R
+4.933
7
Jacob Lehmann
Honda CRF450R
+5.539
8
Aidan RoosEvans
Yamaha YZ450F
+6.415
9
Cameron Smith
Honda CRF450R
+6.567
10
Trevor Brunner
Honda CRF450R
+6.986
2020 Springfield Short Track – Main Event 2
All eyes were on polesitter Rush with the expectation that he might just take out his frustrations on the field in Main Event 2. However, any plans he held to make quick work of the competition were foiled when he was beaten off the line by heralded rookie Trevor Brunner.
Rush hounded Brunner for the opening handful of laps, but then the race took an unexpected shape. Once he’d settled in, Brunner slowly started edging away from Rush at the front.
From that point forward, the 2019 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner performed like a battle-hardened ten-year pro. Despite a tricky racetrack and an increasingly opaque visor, Brunner cleared off to claim his maiden AFT Singles victory with 1.354 seconds in hand.
After the youngster had asserted himself at the front, things got a bit more interesting behind him. Race favorite Rush not only fell off the pace of the leader, he also fell into the clutches of Wiles and Whale.
Wiles slashed his way up from fifth early to ultimately finish in second and may have actually had the speed to challenge Brunner if he’d gotten away more cleanly. After losing out to Wiles with 30 seconds remaining on the clock, Rush was displaced off the podium altogether at the race end by Aussie Whale. Main Event 1 winner Daniels came home one position behind teammate Rush in fifth.
As a result of his double runner-up evening, Wiles now boasts a 20-point advantage in the title fight with 108 points to Daniels’ and Whale’s 88.
Pos
Rider
Bike
Gap
1
Trevor Brunner
Honda CRF450R
27 Laps
2
Henry Wiles
Honda CRF450R
+1.354
3
Max Whale
Kawasaki KX450F
+2.404
4
Michael Rush
Yamaha YZ450F
+2.712
5
Dallas Daniels
Yamaha YZ450F
+4.253
6
Andrew Luker
Yamaha YZ450F
+4.603
7
Jacob Lehmann
Honda CRF450R
+4.884
8
Trent Lowe
Honda CRF450R
+8.058
9
Cole Zabala
Honda CRF450R
+8.113
10
Brandon Kitchen
KTM 450 SX-F
+8.629
AFT Singles Standings
Pos
Rider
Points
1
Henry Wiles
108
2
Dallas Daniels
88
3
Max Whale
88
4
Brandon Kitchen
81
5
Michael Rush
74
6
Shayna Texter
61
7
Chad Cose
57
8
Trent Lowe
56
9
Trevor Brunner
50
10
Tanner Dean
47
11
Michael Inderbitzin
46
12
Morgen Mischler
43
13
Cole Zabala
42
14
Ryan Wells
41
15
Cameron Smith
40
16
Andrew Luker
32
17
James Ott
29
18
Kevin Stollings
28
19
Jacob Lehmann
24
20
Aidan RoosEvans
24
21
Jesse Janisch
21
22
Justin Jones
6
2020 MXGP of Italy
Racing concluded for round six of the FIM Motocross World Championship, with the MXGP of Italy the first of three events taking place at the Monte Coralli circuit in Faenza, where Jeffrey Herlings took the double MXGP win, with Jeremy Seewer adding two runner up positions to his tally and Tony Cairoli completing the podium across both races. Aussie Mitchell Evans went 9-7.
Herlings now leads the MXGP class by 60-points, from Cairoli and Gajser, with Mitchell Evans in 12th.
2020 MXGP of Italy Results
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Race 1
Race 2
Total
1
Herlings, Jeffrey
NED
KTM
25
25
50
2
Seewer, Jeremy
SUI
YAM
22
22
44
3
Cairoli, Antonio
ITA
KTM
20
20
40
4
Febvre, Romain
FRA
KAW
15
18
33
5
Prado, Jorge
ESP
KTM
18
15
33
6
Gajser, Tim
SLO
HON
13
16
29
7
Coldenhoff, Glenn
NED
GAS
14
13
27
8
Evans, Mitchell
AUS
HON
12
14
26
9
Paulin, Gautier
FRA
YAM
16
10
26
10
Jasikonis, Arminas
LTU
HUS
11
12
23
11
Tixier, Jordi
FRA
KTM
9
8
17
12
Desalle, Clement
BEL
KAW
10
5
15
13
Cervellin, Michele
ITA
YAM
8
6
14
14
Lupino, Alessandro
ITA
YAM
1
11
12
15
Van Horebeek, Jeremy
BEL
HON
0
9
9
16
Walsh, Dylan
GBR
HON
6
3
9
17
Vlaanderen, Calvin
NED
YAM
7
1
8
18
Jacobi, Henry
GER
YAM
0
7
7
19
Monticelli, Ivo
ITA
GAS
2
4
6
20
Rauchenecker, Pascal
AUT
KTM
3
2
5
2020 MXGP Standings
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Total
1
Herlings, J.
NED
KTM
263
2
Cairoli, A.
ITA
KTM
203
3
Gajser, Tim
SLO
HON
196
4
Jasikonis, A.
LTU
HUS
186
5
Seewer, Jeremy
SUI
YAM
178
6
Coldenhoff, G.
NED
GAS
173
7
Paulin, G.
FRA
YAM
155
8
Prado, Jorge
ESP
KTM
153
9
Desalle, C.
BEL
KAW
146
10
Febvre, Romain
FRA
KAW
137
11
Van Horebeek, J.
BEL
HON
104
12
Evans, M.
AUS
HON
92
13
Cervellin, M.
ITA
YAM
73
14
Tonus, Arnaud
SUI
YAM
69
15
Tixier, Jordi
FRA
KTM
66
16
Monticelli, I.
ITA
GAS
56
17
Vlaanderen, C.
NED
YAM
55
18
Bogers, Brian
NED
KTM
51
19
Jacobi, Henry
GER
YAM
48
20
Paturel, B.
FRA
HON
45
2020 MXGP of Italy – MX2
In MX2 it was Maxime Renaux who came out on top, thanks to a 2-1 result, with Jago Geerts claiming the first MX2 win of the weekend but having to settle for third in Race 2, for second overall. Tom Vialle took third with a 4-2, while Australian Jed Beaton was consistent with two sixth place finishes.
Vialle now holds the MX2 lead by a narrow three-points, from Jago Geerts, with Renaux a distant third on 196-points, 58-points off second. Jet Beaton sits fourth overall, now 18-points off Renaux.
2020 MXGP of Italy MX2 Results
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Race 1
Race 2
Total
1
Renaux, Maxime
FRA
YAM
22
25
47
2
Geerts, Jago
BEL
YAM
25
20
45
3
Vialle, Tom
FRA
KTM
18
22
40
4
Boisrame, Mathys
FRA
KAW
20
18
38
5
Beaton, Jed
AUS
HUS
15
15
30
6
Olsen, Thomas Kjer
DEN
HUS
12
14
26
7
Rubini, Stephen
FRA
HON
14
10
24
8
Pancar, Jan
SLO
KTM
13
9
22
9
Mewse, Conrad
GBR
KTM
16
4
20
10
Guadagnini, Mattia
ITA
HUS
6
13
19
11
Lesiardo, Morgan
ITA
KTM
11
8
19
12
Van De Moosdijk, Roan
NED
KAW
0
16
16
13
Laengenfelder, Simon
GER
GAS
9
5
14
14
Watson, Ben
GBR
YAM
0
12
12
15
Fernandez, Ruben
ESP
YAM
0
11
11
16
Sikyna, Richard
SVK
KTM
10
0
10
17
Cenerelli, Gianmarco
ITA
HUS
7
1
8
18
Horgmo, Kevin
NOR
KTM
8
0
8
19
Östlund, Alvin
SWE
HON
0
7
7
20
Malkiewicz, Bailey
AUS
HON
0
6
6
21
Renkens, Nathan
BEL
KTM
2
3
5
22
Crawford, Nathan
AUS
HON
5
0
5
2020 MX2 Standings
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Total
1
Vialle, Tom
FRA
KTM
257
2
Geerts, Jago
BEL
YAM
254
3
Renaux, Maxime
FRA
YAM
196
4
Beaton, Jed
AUS
HUS
178
5
Van De Moosdijk, R.
NED
KAW
169
6
Boisrame, M.
FRA
KAW
166
7
Watson, Ben
GBR
YAM
139
8
Mewse, Conrad
GBR
KTM
115
9
Olsen, T.
DEN
HUS
115
10
Haarup, Mikkel
DEN
KAW
105
11
Fernandez, R.
ESP
YAM
103
12
Östlund, Alvin
SWE
HON
84
13
Hofer, Rene
AUT
KTM
73
14
Forato, A.
ITA
HUS
66
15
Crawford, N.
AUS
HON
65
16
Rubini, S.
FRA
HON
62
17
Laengenfelder, S.
GER
GAS
59
18
Gilbert, Josh
GBR
HUS
43
19
Genot, Cyril
BEL
YAM
41
20
Sikyna, R.
SVK
KTM
36
21
Vaessen, Bas
NED
KTM
35
22
Sydow, Jeremy
GER
GAS
35
23
Guadagnini, M.
ITA
HUS
34
24
Pancar, Jan
SLO
KTM
33
25
Roosiorg, H.
EST
KTM
33
26
Malkiewicz, B.
AUS
HON
27
2020 TrialGP World Championship – Isola 2000
Repsol Honda Team rider Toni Bou comes away from France as leader of the World Championship after a Saturday victory and third place on Sunday, with this season to feature all trials as two-day events.
In the opening of the FIM TrialGP World Championship event, an error in the official timing of several sections led the race organisation to make the decision to cancel the first of the three laps. Thus, all scores were based on the times from the second and third laps.
Toni Bou produced a near-perfect trial, scoring a single penalty mark on the second lap and picking up just three on the third. The Repsol Honda Team rider was also penalised with two points for running short of time. The total tally of six points meant Toni Bou was the rider accruing the least number of points at the end of the first day of competition in France.
The second trial on Sunday, featured some modified sections and saw Toni Bou suffer throughout the event, with the current world champion experienced back pains which caused cramps in the rider’s right arm.
The Repsol Honda Team rider battled hard over the three-lap Isola 2000 course and was, in the end, able to salvage a result out of a tough day to finish on the third step of the podium. The weekend results mean that Toni is the TrialGP World Championship leader.
Next stop for the TrialGP World Championship will be in Pobladura de las Regueras, Spain, on September 12 and 13 with another two-day trial.
Toni Bou
“It was a very difficult day, continuing with yesterday’s physical discomfort and the pain in my back that caused cramp in my right arm. I was not happy for most of the day and it was quite hard. I think the balance of the weekend is positive considering the condition that I found myself in. It will be a very difficult championship for us as the trials are very close together. Even so, we will fight to be at our best for the next one.”
TrialGP of France Round 1 2020 Results
Pos
Rider
Nat
Team
Man.
Points
1
BOU Toni
SPA
Repsol Honda Team
Montesa
6
2
BUSTO Jaime
SPA
Vertigo Factory Team
Vertigo
11
3
FAJARDO Jeroni
SPA
Sherco Factory Team
Sherco
14
4
RAGA Adam
SPA
TRRS Factory Team
TRRS
20
5
CASALES Jorge
SPA
Gas Gas Factory Team
Gas Gas
25
6
FUJINAMI Takahisa
JPN
Repsol Honda Team
Montesa
29
7
BINCAZ Benoit
FRA
Beta Factory Racing
Beta
33
8
GELABERT Miquel
SPA
Gas Gas
Gas Gas
34
9
DABILL James
GBR
Beta Factory Racing
Beta
36
10
PRICE Jack
GBR
Vertigo Factory Team
Vertigo
52
11
PEACE Dan
GBR
Sherco Factory Team
Sherco
55
12
MARCELLI Gabriel
SPA
RG Team
Montesa
58
TrialGP of France Round 2 2020 Results
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Team
Points
1
RAGA Adam
SPA
TRRS Factory Team
33
2
BUSTO Jaime
SPA
Vertigo Factory Team
40
3
BOU Toni
SPA
Repsol Honda Team
41
4
FAJARDO Jeroni
SPA
Sherco Factory Team
46
5
CASALES Jorge
SPA
Gas Gas Factory Team
48
6
FUJINAMI Takahisa
JPN
Repsol Honda Team
53
7
GELABERT Miquel
SPA
Gas Gas
55
8
BINCAZ Benoit
FRA
Beta Factory Racing
59
9
PRICE Jack
GBR
Vertigo Factory Team
72
10
MARCELLI Gabriel
SPA
RG Team
74
11
DABILL James
GBR
Beta Factory Racing
76
12
PEACE Dan
GBR
Sherco Factory Team
102
2020 TrialGP Standings
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Man.
Points
1
BOU Toni
ESP
Montesa
35
2
BUSTO Jaime
ESP
Vertigo
34
3
RAGA SANS Adam
ESP
TRRS
33
4
FAJARDO Jeroni
ESP
Sherco
28
5
CASALES Jorge
ESP
Gas Gas
22
6
FUJINAMI Takahisa
JPN
Montesa
20
7
GELABERT ROURA Miquel
ESP
Gas Gas
17
8
BINCAZ Benoit
FRA
Beta
17
9
PRICE Jack
GBR
Vertigo
13
10
DABILL James
GBR
Beta
12
11
MARCELLI Gabriel
ESP
Montesa
10
12
PEACE Dan
GBR
Sherco
9
Brett Metcalfe dominates South Australian MX Championships
South Australia’s most decorated racer, Brett Metcalfe, went undefeated on his way to two South Australian Championships, culminating in overall victory over the August 29-30 weekend. While 2020 has been a strange year, Metcalfe has used this time to fully recover from years of injuries.
The Penrite Honda team have remained active throughout the year and continue to participate in as many races as possible, Metcalfe continued racing in Robe, South Australia over the weekend.
Brett Metcalfe
“Its been almost 20 years since I last competed in our state championship and to win 18 races from 18 starts and two championships this year in front of my kids is priceless, to share it with them has been really special. The last time I raced the championship I was just a kid so it’s really come full circle as my kids also raced the championship. Overall, it has been an amazing time for my family and I. I must admit this is the best I have felt in years. Most years, riders’ race with injuries and sometimes it hinders their results. I have used this year to fully recover from all of my injuries and I feel strong and fit. I love racing and my children both started racing this year. There is still a lot of state-based racing happening and I look forward to racing as often as I can. I still hope the nationals get up and going.”
Metcalfe’s presence has been well received and the graphics he raced with over the weekend to support the Children’s Hospital received rave reviews. Team owner, Yarrive Konsky appreciates everyone’s efforts and thanks the kids who took the time to draw the designs and Sam from SK Designs for donating his time and product, “This is something we will try and do every year, it was great to engage with our young fans” said Konsky.
SA Championships MX 1 Pro Final Standings
Pos
Rider
Points
1
Brett METCALFE
315
2
Mitchell NORRIS
284
3
Daniel BANKS
242
4
Matt CLARKE
227
5
Jayden PILGRIM
217
6
Joshua TILBROOK
216
7
Thomas LARWOOD
213
8
Tylor THOMPSON
198
9
Daniel ALLEN
191
10
Siegah WARD
162
11
Warren CARROLL
82
12
Dave HEASMAN
22
SA Championships Veterans A – Final Standings
Pos
Rider
Points
1
Brett METCALFE
315
2
Charlie HOLLIS
284
3
Anthony SLADE
246
4
Glynn HUMPHREYS
229
5
Shane CARPENTER
217
6
Paul MCLEAN
208
7
Andrew SWANSON
207
8
Daniel STRAMKOWSKI
141
9
Troy CRADDOCK
87
10
Luke SWEETMAN
73
11
Peter ROSSI
73
12
Dave HEASMAN
62
13
Scott BAKER
61
14
Warren CARROLL
32
15
Christopher Copley
0
Australian SX joins cancellation list for 2020
The continuing restrictions surrounding travel within Australia continue to play havoc with Motorcycling Australia’s attempts to successfully formulate a plan of action in regards to the running of the Australian Motocross and Supercross Championships.
While M.A. still retains the hope of running the Australian Motocross Championship, this afternoon they conceded defeat and officially cancelled the 2020 Australian Supercross Championship. Organisers of the Australian Supercross Championship have now shifted their focus towards a bigger and better series for next year.
AUS SX Holdings Co-Founder and Director Adam Bailey expressed disappointment in the inability to run a series for 2020, however expects season 2021 to be one of the best championships that supercross in Australia has ever seen.
Motorcycling Australia CEO, Peter Doyle, mirrored Bailey’s disappointment, however is confident the right decision was made and is equally committed to ’21.
The Australian Supercross Championship has grown exponentially over the past five years, with fans, riders and brands alike from all over the world, interested in what the Southern Hemisphere has to offer. Series 2021 promises to be bigger and generate more interest than ever before following this year’s layoff.
Earlier today M.A. had also announced the cancellation of the 2020 Australian Speedway Senior and Junior Sidecar Championships which were scheduled to be held at Olympic Park, on November 6 and 7, this year, and that the 2020 FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship which was due to run on October 31, at Gillman Speedway, South Australia, will now be delayed until 2021.
Mildura Motorcycle Club in consultation with Motorcycling Australia made the tough decision to cancel both the 2020 Australian Speedway Senior and Junior Sidecar Championships, with Mildura Motorcycle Club President, Neale Hancock saying, “While we understand that speedway fans, and competitors will be disappointed, the Mildura Motorcycle Club in consultation with MA had to make the tough decision to cancel the 2020 Championships. I would like to thank our members who have put significant work into preparing for this championship. I would also like to thank, the riders, passengers, event sponsors, and fans for their patience during this global pandemic, and rest assured that we will come back bigger, better and stronger in 2021.”
The 2021 Australian Senior and Junior Sidecar Championships will now be held at Olympic Park, Mildura, on Friday and Saturday, April 23 and 24, 2021. Qualifying along with the Australian Junior Championship will take place on Friday, April 23 with the Australian Senior Championship taking place on Saturday April 24.
FIM Oceania announced that the Speedway Riders Association of SA will host the 2021 FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship on April 17, at Gillman Speedway, a week prior to the 2021 Australian Speedway Sidecar Championships.
Speedway fans can also get excited when the 2021 FIM Oceania Speedway Championships for solo riders is set to be held on January 30, at Gillman Speedway, in what will be an exciting start to the 2021 racing year and will be another FIM Oceania event not to be missed.
Swiss & German NIGHT of the JUMPs postponed to 2021
The NIGHT of the JUMPs team has announced after trying everything with local partners in both Switzerland and Germany, that the revised 2020 World Tour Championship which was scheduled to begin in Basel on September 5th, will now have to be postponed until 2021.
The 2020 Basel round of NIGHT of the JUMPs would have been the rescheduled start of the official Freestyle Motocross World Tour Championship, creating the opportunity for Switzerland to host the opening round of the World Championship series for the first time ever in NIGHT of the JUMPs 20 years of hosting the series.
The event has been postponed to potentially a much safer time, in September 25, 2021 which allows for the world to try and breathe and hope that the Corona Virus has declined in infection rates, and to allow for safer protocols to allow for live events to return in Switzerland.
NIGHT of the JUMPs were then planning to host the next two rounds of competition on German soil, which now have also been officially postponed. The Freestyle of Nations event scheduled for Cologne on October 10 has now been postponed and the new date will be officially released in the coming weeks. Cologne is held every two years inside the Lanxess Arena, alongside the huge Intermot motorcycle expo.
The final German round of competition for 2020 was to be held in Munich on November 1st, however this event has now been postponed to the new date of March 13th, 2021. Which could potentially become the first round of NIGHT of the JUMPs competition in Season 2021.
Baja TT do Pinhal to host opening round of FIM Bajas World Cup
Portugal will mark the return of the 2020 FIM Cross-Country Bajas World Cup when it hosts Baja TT do Pinhal on Saturday, September 12-13.
After the usual scrutineering and administration checks, 51 motorcycles, 15 quads and 63 SSVs registered for the two-day event will tackle around 328 competitive kilometres along rural tracks in the district of Castelo Branco in central Portugal.
After many months of inactivity, riders are relishing the prospect of hitting the tracks and rediscovering the thrill of racing on their bikes and quads or behind the wheel of their SSVs.
Following the routine checks on Saturday morning at the municipal swimming pool in Vila Velha de Rodão, the eight motorcycle riders, three Quads and three SSVs registered for the FIM Cross-Country Bajas World Cup (provisional list) will tackle a course of 95 km. Two special stages totalling 232km will run on Sunday, September 13.
The nerve centre of the race is located in Vila Velha de Rodão, a small town on the banks of the Tagus River. Nearby is the famous “Portas de Rodão”, a rocky escarpment declared a Natural Monument of Portugal and the narrowest passage of the Tagus on its route through Portugal.
Polish rider Maciek Giemza (Husqvarna) is also entered in the Baja TT do Pinhal in the Junior category. His team-mate Adam Tomiczek (Husqvarna) – winner of the Hungarian Baja last year – will also face Sebastian Bühler (Hero), Mario Patrão (KTM), CS Santosh (Hero) and two female riders – Sara Garcia (Yamaha) and Rosa Romero Font (KTM).
Monster Energy Kawasaki rookie Adam Cianciarulo broke through for his first 450MX round win of his career at round five of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, at RedBud today.
Current championship points’ leader Zach Osborne (Rockstar Husqvarna Factory Racing) enjoyed a day near the front of the field in both races to extend his championship lead, while Rocky Mountain ATV MC KTM racer Blake Baggett took the field by storm to win the second moto.
In the opening 450 race, an ecstatic Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo held off a hard charge from his team-mate and three-time champion Eli Tomac to claim his first-ever 450cc moto win in the opening premier class race.
Cianciarulo led from wire to wire and managed a relatively comfortable 2-3 second lead for most of the race before Tomac piled on late pressure.
Cianciarulo remained composed to take a hard-fought win, while Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin, who rebounded well from a hard pass from Justin Barcia (Monster Energy Yamaha) earlier in the race, rounded out the podium.
Osborne spent most of his race in second position, before losing spots to a hard-charging Tomac and Musquin late in the moto.
Barcia finished fifth, while Baggett placed sixth, ahead of Joey Savatgy (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing), Broc Tickle (Monster Energy Yamaha), Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC), and Christian Craig (Team Honda HRC).
In the second moto, Cianciarulo again enjoyed a perfect jump out of the blocks and took off at the front of the pack, while behind him, Tomac, Barcia and Sexton were caught in a second-turn pile-up that left Tomac restarting from dead last.
Seperate errors in the same corner from Marvin Musquin and Joey Savagty saw Baggett jump from fifth to third behind Cianciarulo and Osborne and he took off after the frontrunners.
While enjoying a four-second lead at the midway point, Cianciaculo ran into the back lapped rider at the bottom of an off-camber turn and went down, allowing Osborne and Baggett both past.
Late in the race Baggett closed in on Osborne and made a clever pass for the lead, then checked out, leading by 13 seconds by the time he got to the checkered flag.
Behind him, Osborne took a content second, Cianciarulo third, Musquin fourth and Tickle fifth. Christian Craig, Tomac, Savatgy, Sexton, and Barca finished out the top 10 positions.
Image: Octopi Media
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire posted consistent 2-3 results to win his second overall of the year at an action-packed round five of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at RedBud, MI.
Despite a day of mixed fortunes that saw him finish fourth overall, championship leader Jeremy Martin (Geico Honda) has retained the championship lead heading into his home race at Millville.
Despite everything, Martin only gave up three points to his closest rival, Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha).
Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Shane McElrath won a drama-filled opening 250MX moto.
Teammates McElrath and Ty Masterpool spearheaded the pack through the first turn, while Martin and Ferrandis found themselves outside the top 10.
Ferrandis hunted down Martin, but at the midway mark both riders went down after Ferrandis tried to squeeze past entering the left-hander at the bottom of Larocco’s Leap.
The Frenchman remounted quickly, and, despite another high-side crash several laps later, would finish fifth. Martin however, failed to move forward and finished 11th.
Up front, Hampshire jumped to the lead after passing McElrath then capitalising on a mistake from leader Masterpool.
With two laps to go Hampshire also made a mistake and allowed McElrath back past for the lead and eventual win, while Australian teenager Jett Lawrence (Geico Honda) applied the pressure all the way to the checkered flag for a career-best third.
Masterpool and Ferrandis rounded out the top five, while Harrison, Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha), Alex Martin (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki), Stilez Robertson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) and Brandon Hartranft (TLD Red Bull KTM) completed the top 10 placings.
Australian Hunter Lawrence (Geico Honda) crossed the line in 12th.
In the second moto, Martin rebounded to claim the win by a comfortable eight seconds.
Off the gate it was again Ty Masterpool who secured his second holeshot of the day, with Martin in second and Hampshire in third.
Ferrandis experienced a horror mid-pack start and had to grind his way through the field on his way to second place and second overall for the day.
A desperate last-lap pass on RJ Hampshire saw him gain a handful of championship points over Martin, while Mitchell Harrison (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) finished fourth and Justin Cooper fifth.
Rounding out the top 10 was Jo Shimoda (Geico Honda), Cameron McAdoo (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), Jett Lawrence, Alex Martin and moto 1 winner Shane McElrath.
Hunter Lawrence crashed into Hartranft early in the race, and had to retreat to the pits so the team could straighten out a bent gear shifter. He eventually finished 26th.
The sixth round of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will be held at Millville MN on September 19.
The KTM Rallye skid plate allows riders to literally skid over hazards such as rocks, logs and other bumps on rough trails without doing any damage to the engine.
Unlike some other rigid skid plates that bolt straight into the engine casing and can transfer impact to the engine, this is made of 6.5kg aluminium that flexes and absorbs impacts without breaking.
That weight is kept low in the bike, so it doesn’t affect handling or balance.
It also has two parallel recesses to absorb impacts and allow the bike to skid along the object without jamming on it.
There are also no welds to snag on bushes and sticks.
One of the few changes for the 2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan adventure motorcycle is the ability to switch off the ABS.
It may not seem like a big deal, but it is to the adventure rider who wants to be able to lock the wheels under braking to dig into the gravel, dirt, loam or sand surface for extra braking effect.
It’s a shame there isn’t the facility to just switch off the rear.
However, they say they have tweaked the rear brake for better feel and effect.
The other changes are the addition of three new colours — Lake Blue, Rock Red, and Gravel Grey – making a total of six colour choices. The existing colours are Granite Black, Snow White and Sleet Grey.
The Himalayan also now comes with a redesigned side stand and the engine is Euro5 compliant although they don’t say whether this has affected output.
There is no word on when these will arrive in Australia, price or whether all colours will be available.
Levi’s project
Meanwhile, Royal Enfield has joined with iconic American jeans manufacturer Levi’s to launch a range of lifestyle and riding gear, available online and in Royal Enfield and Levi’s stores in India.
They say it is suitable for riding and daily wear and the Cordura denim includes some abrasion protection and pockets for armour inserts.
The lifestyle collection includes jeans, jackets and graphic t-shirts designed by rider and artist Toria James.
Since then, Yamaha and Kawasaki have patented battery swap ideas for electric motorcycles and scooters.
Now the four companies — Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha — are about to start testing these batteries.
The one-year “e-Yan OSAKA” tests will be carried out by staff and students at Osaka University who will use the batteries in supplied electric motorcycles.
Battery-swap stations will be installed on campus and at local stores.
Battery swap technology is not new. British company Battery Traction Ltd came up with the idea in 1938, but it was sidelined by World War II.
Better Place also suggested the idea in 2008 and went broke in 2013.
Car companies dabbled with the idea, but have largely canned it because their batteries are too big.
However, Tesla has patented a robot that can charge an electric car’s battery in 15 minutes and some small electric city cars can swap batteries in under a minute.
Electric motorcycles and scooters need smaller batteries than cars, so a quick battery swap system for two-wheelers makes a lot of sense and would solve the problem of hours-long recharging.
However, it requires all manufacturers to get on board with standard sized batteries.
Therefore, this move by the four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers is big news for the industry and the future of EVs.
But since battery technology is developing at a rapid pace, especially decreasing in size, a standardised battery size would become obsolete in just a few years.
Kymco uses multiple small batteries weighing about 5kg each to get around the battery size issue.
They are not the first scooter company to suggest battery swap technology.
San Francisco company Scoot has about 700 electric scooters for short-term hire.
Twitter Want news, fast? 2.7 million MotoGP™ fans head to Twitter. Breaking stories, polls, articles, video clips, updates on the comings and goings of race weekends… Twitter is the place. Gone are the days of simple written updates, with Twitter now offering an unrivalled platform for interactive discussion between Championship and fan, and a place for the audience to connect with the sport and each other.
“Misano is an unusual circuit and you never really know what to expect. It gave lots of grip in 2018 and we broke records and saw fast and consistent laps, but then last year the asphalt behaved as if there was hardly any traction at all, so it was good to have it resurfaced in readiness for this season and because of testing we conducted with various teams and riders, we have the data to choose this year’s compounds, we now have to see how the asphalt performs during a race weekend.
“Misano is an unusual circuit and you never really know what to expect. It gave lots of grip in 2018 and we broke records and saw fast and consistent laps, but then last year the asphalt behaved as if there was hardly any traction at all, so it was good to have it resurfaced in readiness for this season and because of testing we conducted with various teams and riders, we have the data to choose this year’s compounds, we now have to see how the asphalt performs during a race weekend.