On August 14th, 1977 Silverstone took over the World Championship status and hosted the British Grand Prix for the first time. It was a major chapter in the history of the sport which just had to happen. A purpose-built safer circuit replacing the legendary road circuit. Others were soon to follow suite. Rijeka in Yugoslavia, Brno in Czechoslovakia, the Nürburgring and the Sachsenring in Germany realised were the future lay. They built new circuits to ensure their futures as World Championship venues while never forgetting the exploits of the riders and teams that had established the very foundations of modern day MotoGP racing with their skill, bravery and in some cases their lives.
After the close racing that occurred in Saturday’s Supersport race one, the expectation was that there would be a repeat performance in Sunday’s race two. However, an incident going into the chicane on the opening lap took out Saturday’s winner Richie Escalante. The HONOS Kawasaki rider and current championship leader was unhurt but unable to rejoin the race. That left the battle for the lead to the other two frontrunners, Sean Dylan Kelly and Brandon Paasch. Then, inexplicably, Paasch appeared to fall off his Celtic HSBK Racing Yamaha, which ended his day.
With both of his fiercest rivals out of the race, that left Kelly with a gaping lead aboard his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki. At the checkers, he won by more than 18 seconds over his teammate Lucas Silva, who celebrated his first-ever podium finish. Third place went to a somewhat somber Aguilar Racing Yamaha rider Jason Aguilar, who appreciated the podium finish but wished that attrition hadn’t played a factor in his result.
“Definitely a crazy race,” Kelly said. “I’m glad I was first into the first corner to avoid everything that happened behind me. I honestly had no idea what was going on. I did hear something in the first corner. It didn’t sound too good, but of course at the end of the day we all hear things while we’re riding. So, I wasn’t too sure what was going on. Today, I really focused on myself. I feel like, yesterday, I was a bit too worried about the fight with everyone, and it obviously didn’t go my way. I mean, okay, P2. Good yesterday, but we’re here to win. Today I just went out with a different mentality and went out there to win, and it showed in the lap times. I just focused on myself. I did very consistent 44’s in the first five laps. I knew I had someone behind me. I wasn’t sure if it was Branden (Paasch) or Richie (Escalante), or even both of them. I really didn’t know. I just kept my head down and did my own thing. Five laps or six laps in, from one moment to the other I didn’t hear a bike. Then on my board I saw plus-12. That’s not very usual. I wasn’t expecting that at all. I kept on doing my laps and then looked back just to make sure if that was right, I didn’t see anyone very close. It felt eternal. But I’m very happy to get these 25 points. Of course, unfortunate that our main rivals went down. It’s racing. At the end of the day, we don’t want anyone going down. I would have liked to do a last-lap battle like my first victory in Atlanta. At the end of the day, my objective is to win the championship, so this is really good for us to get 25 (points) on our main rival. Just super grateful to be here in the first spot. Thank you to my whole M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team.”
Husqvarna Motorcycles have announce the availability of the MY20 Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 range – two Learner Approved street models that feature modern designs and a few new technical features and colours for 2020.
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401
Both models retail for a RRP of $6,195 with a suggested ride away price of $7,095 inclusive of on-road costs. Budget in some bar-end mirrors before you ride it home!
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401
With its fresh and simple approach to motorcycling, the Vitpilen 401 is stripped of all that is unnecessary to guarantee an exciting riding experience. The extremely lightweight chassis – 151 kg without fuel – is matched to the strong performance of the 44 hp single cylinder engine.
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401
The Svartpilen 401 is a progressive, rugged motorcycle with timeless appeal and is perfect for urban exploration. Single cylinder engine, streel trellis frame, low weight and high-performance WP APEX suspension.
Husqvarna Vitpilen 401
Ensuring improved pillion comfort for 2020, both the Vitpilen 401 and Svartpilen 401 feature extended, bolt-on subframes. A new, quality painted finish with subtle silver and bronze accents highlight the unique Vitpilen and Svartpilen designs.
Accompanying the Vitpilen and Svartpilen range is the Functional Clothing Street Collection – a selection of quality items that deliver the highest standards of protection, ideal for modern motorcyclists. Husqvarna Motorcycles also offer an extensive line-up of Accessories – high-quality items that add additional protection, durability and style. View the 2020 Husqvarna Motorcycles Street Gear Guide here.
It’s so great to see our suspension partner Showa stepping up their support in WorldSBK with their new Racing Service truck and increasing their support to customer teams!
Showa Corporation, the world-leading suspension company, has made one more step in racing service and R+D development. Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
The motorcycle industry’s annual week of two-wheeled commuting, Ride Your Motorcycle to Work Week 2020 will run from September 21 to 27 and will take a different approach in 2020.
The 2020 edition of Ride Your Motorcycle To Work Week will see ‘To Work’ temporarily crossed out of the event logo. Instead, the initiative will encourage two-wheeled enthusiasts to ‘Ride This Thing Out’, dust-off their bikes and scooters for good mental health and socially distanced recreation.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Motorcycle Manager Rhys Griffiths said the week was an opportunity to have some fun, whether commuting or recreating.
“There’s no doubt 2020 has been challenging, but together we can ride this thing out,” said Mr Griffiths. “The pandemic has hit everyone hard and the mental health benefits of riding are well documented. Riding makes you happy and right now, Australians need a break. The biggest smiles are always hidden behind a helmet.”
The event also aims to draw attention to two-wheeled transport as a potential solution in COVID-19 recovery.
“Riding has a real role to play in helping Australia get back to work, offering socially distanced transportation and alleviating congestion and parking issues. Our aim this year is primarily about reminding Aussies how much fun they can have on a bike, but our secondary goal is to capture the attention of policy makers who too often overlook riding in developing transportation infrastructure.”
All riders should adhere to any and all Government regulations at all times. The industry initiative offers a DIY guide to ensuring your motorcycle is ready for the road at http://www.ridetoworkweek.com.au/news/pre-ride-check
Russian ace Artem Laguta was elated to bring his Polish winning combination on to the world stage after claiming his first FIM Speedway Grand Prix victory in Wroclaw on Friday.
The Grudziadz rider has been in red-hot form since the PGE Ekstraliga season launched in Poland. And he was delighted to reproduce that scoring in the opening round of SGP 2020.
Artem Laguta, Maciej Janowski, Fredrik Lindgren
He topped the Betard FIM Speedway Grand Prix round one podium ahead of local hero Maciej Janowski, Swedish charger Fredrik Lindgren and Great Britain star Tai Woffinden.
Laguta has regularly piled up the points in Poland, but hasn’t always transferred his high scoring on to the SGP stage. Asked what made the difference in Wroclaw, he said: “There is no special secret. My form has been very good since the Polish league started. The bike is very, very fast. The guys in the workshop do fantastic work. My tuner, Ryszard Kowalski helps with fantastic engines. Everything has been set up for me. We also had the possibility to use Anlas tyres as well. We have been testing them in the last couple of matches and have gained a little bit more knowledge. They are slightly different. They don’t guarantee success, but they help to get success if you can set the bike up correctly. That’s what happened today. The bike was very fast from the start. I made very good starts. We are working hard in the team to make sure everything with the bikes is at the top.”
Laguta, who powered to 14 race points from a possible 15 in the heats, added: “It’s about the whole combination. The tyres helped and the engines from Kowalski Racing, which have been very good for a long time. The communication within the team and with the tuner is very important. That has all been a success. The tyre adds another couple of percent. Not everybody on the Anlas tyres won the races. But if you’re smart and you have a little more knowledge, you can get a benefit.”
Artem Laguta
Laguta admits working on his mental approach in the winter also boosted his bid to transfer Ekstraliga form into the SGP series.
He said: “We have been working very hard on that. I was quite close a few times to winning the Grand Prix, but we were always missing something. The work I did on my physical performance in the winter and also on the mental side of things meant I was really focused. I would like to say thanks to my family for their support and the whole team – everyone who has been working on the bikes. One of our mechanics wasn’t allowed to be in the pits, but he was part of the success as well. The engine tuners at Ryszard Kowalski Racing – the whole crew – have been great. We know the GPs have only just started. We have to stay focused and work hard to finish with a good result. Now we have won, and hopefully we can do it again.”
After racing to second place in round one on Friday night, Magic completed a dream weekend in extraordinary style as he won the round-two final ahead of Wroclaw team mate Tai Woffinden, world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik and Swedish star Fredrik Lindgren.
Maciej Janowski
The Olympic Stadium erupted to salute a rider who spent his youth on the terraces, before learning his craft on the famous track.
Janowski has spent all but two seasons of his career in Wroclaw colours and after watching his idols stand atop the Olympic Stadium podium, he lived that dream himself.
Maciej Janowski, Tai Woffinden, Bartosz Zmarzlik
After charging into a six-point lead at the World Championship’s summit, Janowski said: “That was an amazing night. Thank you to my team. They have done amazing work today. It’s really hard to race on your home track, but I felt I had so much focus and I was ready and prepared for some hard racing. Thank you to all the fans!”
Janowski had speed to burn as he topped the heat scorechart on 13 points, before winning his semi-final ahead of Lindgren, Niels-Kristian Iversen and Wroclaw rider Max Fricke.
He then triumphed in the final showdown, seeing off a strong early challenge from Great Britain hero Woffinden, who also impressed on the Olympic Stadium circuit he has called home since 2013.
Woffinden won a jaw-dropping battle with Zmarzlik in semi-final two, with round-one winner Artem Laguta forced to settle for third ahead of wild card Gleb Chugunov, whose progression in eighth place on the heat scorechart ensured all four Wroclaw riders in the 16-man field reached the semi-final stages.
Janowski leads the standings going into rounds three and four in Gorzow on September 11 and 12 on 38 points. Laguta and Woffinden are second and third respectively, tied on 32.
Swedish star Freddie Lindgren holds fourth place on 30, with Zmarzlik fifth on 27 points. Leading Australian in the standings is Max Fricke on 12-points while Jason Doyle has eight-points.
FIM Speedway Grand Prix Points Standings
Maciej Janowski 38
Artem Laguta 32
Tai Woffinden 32
Fredrik Lindgren 30
Bartosz Zmarzlik 27
Leon Madsen 18
Gleb Chugunov 16
Emil Sayfutdinov 15
Niels-Kristian Iversen 14
Patryk Dudek 13
Martin Vaculik 12
Matej Zagar 12
Max Fricke 12
Mikkel Michelsen 11
Jason Doyle 8
Antonio Lindback 2
Moto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
2020 Queensland Motocross Championship – Hervey Bay
After three rounds of the Sunshine State Series, Queenslanders turned their attention to the one and only round of the Queensland Motocross Championship which was held at the sandy and often challenging Hervey Bay track. It is one of the few sand based tracks on the east coast and always makes the riders work hard for their results.
Husqvarna’s Todd Waters rode both MX1 and MX2 categories and after narrowly missing out on taking the MX2 honours Waters did the business in MX1 and dominated all three motos to finish the day on top ahead of Lochie Latimer and Jai Walker.
MX1 Results
Pos
Rider
Total
R1
R2
R3
1
Todd WATERS
105
35
35
35
2
Lochie LATIMER
92
32
32
28
3
Jai WALKER
90
28
30
32
4
Joel EVANS
88
30
28
30
5
Kaleb BARHAM
78
26
26
26
6
Navrin GROTHUES
72
22
25
25
7
Ryan GAYLOR
71
25
22
24
8
Luke ZIELINSKI
69
23
24
22
9
Blake COBBIN
67
21
23
23
10
Cody O’LOAN
62
20
21
21
MX2
The Yamaha MX2 trio of Aaron Tanti, Jesse Dobson and Jay Wilson were up against Husqvarna’s Todd Waters as well as host of other up and coming hot shots. After the first two races, five points separated Tanti, Waters and Wilson – in that order. As the last race blasted off – the running order was Wilson, Waters and Tanti which would have seen a three way tie for the championship if they were to cross the finish line in that order. Just before the half way point, Tanti made a mistake and dropped to fourth place, leaving Wilson and Waters to fight it out with the gap around three to five seconds as they charged through lapped traffic. In the end, Wilson took the race win and with it the Queensland MX2 Championship over Waters by virtue of a better finish in the final race, despite both finishing on equal points. Tanti was third for the day but despite the fall in the last race, showed his sand riding skills have improved significantly. Dobson held down fourth while Japanese rider, Kota Toriyabe took sixth just behind Ricky Latimer.
Jay Wilson took the MX2 title by virtue of winning the final moto despite finishing on equal points with Todd Waters – Image Sam Phillips
MX2 Results
Pos
Competitor
Total
R1
R2
R3
1
Jay WILSON
97
30
32
35
2
Todd WATERS
97
35
30
32
3
Aaron TANTI
95
32
35
28
4
Jesse DOBSON
86
28
28
30
5
Ricky LATIMER
74
24
26
24
6
Kota TORIYABE
69
22
24
23
7
Jake KOWAL
68
23
23
22
8
Joel PHILLIPS
62
20
21
21
9
Luke REARDON
61
16
25
20
10
Zhane DUNLOP
61
21
22
18
2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Rnd 3
Images by Jeff Kardas
The third round of the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship featured the season’s most competitive afternoon of racing thus far, with compelling battles for victory across both the 450 Class and 250 Class. Indiana’s Ironman Raceway serves as one of the most dynamic tracks on the championship schedule and it was no surprise to see the best riders in the world put their talents of full display at the Guaranteed Rate Ironman National.
Reigning three-time 450 Class Champion Eli Tomac found himself in unfamiliar territory coming into Indiana, sitting seventh in the championship standings and facing a 40-point deficit to leader Zach Osborne. As a result, Tomac and his Monster Energy Kawasaki squad entered the Ironman National looking to turn their season around, and they did just that. The Colorado native captured the 45th victory of his career, emphasized by an impressive Moto 2 win.
Over in the 250 Class, the intrigue of the early season title fight between GEICO Honda’s Jeremy Martin and Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis took another turn when Ferrandis’ dominant Moto 1 win was nullified by a first-turn crash in Moto 2 that left the point leader at the tail end of the field. While Martin was able to take full advantage of the opportunity and earn his second straight victory, Ferrandis was stellar in his recovery effort, salvaging both a runner-up finish and his points lead.
Up next the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will celebrate Labor Day weekend with its first-ever doubleheader from Michigan’s legendary RedBud MX, which will host the fourth and fifth rounds of the 2020 season. The Circle K RedBud I National will begin the holiday festivities on Friday, September 4. The second half of the doubleheader will take place on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, for the Circle K RedBud II National.
450
The opening 450 Class moto saw a pair of familiar rivals out front early as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Marvin Musquin secured the MotoSport.com Holeshot just ahead of Tomac’s Kawasaki, with point leader Zach Osborne in third aboard his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing machine.
450 underway
The top three asserted themselves at the front of the pack, while the rookies of Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo and Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton gave pursuit to build a close fight amongst the top five. This group continued to trade momentum through the middle portion of the moto and at one point were collectively separated by just a handful of seconds. As the race wore on, the running order began to spread out, with Musquin and Tomac pulling away. Behind them, Osborne made a costly misjudgement trying to pass a lapped rider, resulting in contact that forced the point leader off his bike. That allowed both Cianciarulo and Sexton to get by, while Osborne continued in fifth. He then almost crashed again a short time later, which caused him to lose fifth to Rocky Mountain ATV/MC-KTM-WPS rider Blake Baggett.
Adam Cianciarulo
Musquin withstood one final push from Tomac to capture his first moto win since suffering a knee injury at this same track one year ago, taking the checkered flag by 2.2 seconds over the champ. Cianciarulo finished in third, just ahead of Sexton, while Baggett rounded out the top five. Osborne lost another position late to finish a season-worst seventh.
When the gate dropped on the second and deciding moto it was Osborne who prevailed to take the MotoSport.com Holeshot ahead of Cianciarulo, while Tomac and Musquin gave chase right behind them. Musquin and Tomac battled for third briefly, but Tomac got the upper hand to secure the position. With a clear track Osborne looked to pull away, but Cianciarulo responded to the torrid pace of the opening laps.
With Tomac closing in from third Cianciarulo put the pressure on Osborne for the lead and successfully made the pass stick, leaving Osborne to fight with the reigning champion. Meanwhile, Musquin lost additional ground after getting passed by Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia for fourth.
Zach Osborne
The top four maintained their positions throughout the middle of the moto, but with 10 minutes remaining this group had closed in on one another and were separated by just a couple seconds. As they encountered lapped traffic Osborne was slowed, which allowed both Tomac and Barcia to get around and drop the point leader off the podium. The lead trio still sat within less than two seconds of one another and Tomac went on the attack, successfully taking the lead away from his teammate. Barcia followed through into second, and then Osborne dropped Cianciarulo off the podium by moving up to third.
The closing stages of the moto turned into a compelling head-to-head battle between Tomac and Barcia, and while Barcia appeared to be faster in some areas of the track, Tomac excelled in different areas as well to keep the Yamaha at bay. In the end, Tomac charged to the finish line to take his first moto win of the season by 1.1 seconds over Barcia, while Osborne finished in a distant third.
Eli Tomac
By virtue of his 2-1 moto results Tomac was able to secure his 45th-career victory just one week after finishing a career-worst 16th overall. The win puts him in sole possession of fourth on the all-time wins list. Musquin finished in second (1-6), while Cianciarulo rounded out the overall podium in third (3-4). Osborne’s strong second moto helped him finish fifth overall (7-3).
“I just had a better feel . The track came to us all day. We had good starts in both motos and that pace was insane there in Moto 2,” explained Tomac. “I had pressure from Barcia for a while there and we were really pushing it at the end. He kept me honest, but I was able to keep it going and get us a win. We’ve got some good tracks for us coming up and hopefully we can keep putting work in to make up some ground in the championship.”
Eli Tomac
Osborne’s strong finish to the afternoon helped minimize the ground he lost in the championship standings. He now holds a 13-point lead over Musquin, while Barcia sits 26 points behind in third. Tomac vaulted from seventh to fourth, and now faces a 27-point deficit behind Osborne.
“The first moto was just really bad for me. I made some mistakes and it was just a mess, really,” said Osborne. “It was a disappointment, but we bounced back in the second moto. I didn’t have the pace to run up front with those guys, but still put in on the box and still have the red plate . We’ll look forward to RedBud.”
50 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish) Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (2-1) Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (1-6) Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki (3-4)
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Ironman Raceway – Crawfordsville, Indiana August 29, 2020 – 450 Class Overall Results
Pos
Rider
Motos
Bike
1
Eli Tomac
2 – 1
Kawasaki
2
Marvin Musquin
1 – 6
KTM
3
Adam Cianciarulo
3 – 4
Kawasaki
4
Justin Barcia
6 – 2
Yamaha
5
Zach Osborne
7 – 3
Husqvarna
6
Chase Sexton
4 – 5
Honda
7
Blake Baggett
5 – 7
KTM
8
Dean Wilson
8 – 8
Husqvarna
9
Broc Tickle
9 – 10
Yamaha
10
Christian Craig
11 – 12
Honda
11
Fredrik Noren
10 – 13
Suzuki
12
Henry Miller
12 – 14
KTM
13
John Short
13 – 16
Honda
14
Joey Savatgy
40 – 9
Suzuki
15
Benny Bloss
37 – 11
Husqvarna
16
Jake Masterpool
16 – 17
Husqvarna
17
Coty Schock
15 – 18
Honda
18
Max Anstie
14 – 37
Suzuki
19
Justin Bogle
34 – 15
KTM
20
Ben LaMay
17 – 38
KTM
21
Jeremy Smith
18 – 22
Honda
22
Tyler Bowers
38 – 19
Kawasaki
23
Grant Harlan
19 – 21
Honda
24
Justin Rodbell
21 – 20
Kawasaki
25
Jared Lesher
20 – 24
KTM
26
Tristan Lewis
26 – 23
Yamaha
27
Mcclellan Hile
22 – 28
KTM
28
Bryce Backaus
25 – 27
Yamaha
29
Scott Meshey
24 – 29
Husqvarna
30
Alex Ray
23 – 34
Kawasaki
31
Dalton Dyer
32 – 26
Kawasaki
32
Carson Tickle
27 – 31
Honda
33
Matthew Hubert
35 – 25
Honda
34
Adam Enticknap
33 – 30
Suzuki
35
Christopher Prebula
28 – 35
KTM
36
Tristan Lane
31 – 33
KTM
37
Luke Neese
30 – 36
Honda
38
Luke Renzland
39 – 39
Husqvarna
39
Chase Felong
29 – DNS
Husqvarna
40
Timothy Crosby
DNS – 32
Kawasaki
41
Jason Anderson
36 – DNS
Husqvarna
Moto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
450 Class Points Standings
Pos
Rider
Points
1
Zach Osborne
122
2
Marvin Musquin
109
3
Justin Barcia
96
4
Eli Tomac
95
5
Adam Cianciarulo
89
6
Blake Baggett
81
7
Chase Sexton
78
8
Broc Tickle
71
9
Christian Craig
59
10
Dean Wilson
58
11
Jason Anderson
58
12
Max Anstie
54
13
Joey Savatgy
48
14
Fredrik Noren
37
15
Henry Miller
37
16
Cooper Webb
29
17
Jake Masterpool
28
18
Coty Schock
23
19
Benny Bloss
21
20
Justin Bogle
21
21
Justin Rodbell
19
22
Jeremy Smith
16
23
John Short
13
24
Tyler Bowers
11
25
Luke Renzland
11
26
Matthew Hubert
9
27
Chase Felong
8
28
Justin Hoeft
7
29
Ben LaMay
6
30
Jeffrey Walker
4
31
Jared Lesher
3
32
Cory Carsten
3
33
Grant Harlan
2
250
The first 250 Class moto saw point leader Dylan Ferrandis grab the MotoSport.com Holeshot aboard his Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha Racing machine, just edging out Martin. With the clear track Ferrandis was able to sprint out to an early lead over his Honda counterpart, while the field jockeyed for position behind them. Ferrandis quickly built a multi-second advantage over Martin, who soon was forced to contend with Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Brandon Hartranft from third. Martin responded and soon asserted himself into the runner-up spot, while Hartranft solidified his hold of third.
AMA Pro Motocross 250 gets underway
Out front Ferrandis continued to add to his advantage and eventually opened up a margin of more than 20 seconds on the rest of the field. He went wire-to-wire to earn his third moto win of the season in dominant fashion, crossing the finish line 26 seconds over Martin, followed by Hartranft in third. GEICO Honda’s Jett Lawrence finished in fourth, while Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire completed the top five.
GEICO Honda’s Jett Lawrence finished in fourth in the opening 250 moto
As the field emerged from the first turn to start Moto 2 it was Martin who surged to the head of the pack to secure the MotoSport.com Holeshot ahead of Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha Racing’s Justin Cooper. Behind them Ferrandis was on the ground after an incident with his Star Yamaha teammate Shane McElrath, with the Frenchman finally returning to action in dead last.
Ferrandis had to come back through the pack
With Ferrandis forced to battle his way through the field of 40 riders the window of opportunity opened for Martin to take advantage. The Honda rider was able to put some space between he and Cooper early on and continued to build that lead into a multi-second advantage, with Hartranft once again asserting himself in third. As Martin continued to lead the way out front, Ferrandis was making an impressive climb up the running order. He needed just one lap to break into the top 20, and continued to charge his way into the top 10 before the halfway point of the moto. The Frenchman’s determined comeback didn’t end there. He continually picked off riders, one-by-one, and eventually fought his way back into podium position.
Hunter Lawrence
Martin went unchallenged en route to his second moto win of the season, taking the checkered flag 5.7 seconds over Cooper, while Ferrandis made the most of a moto that started with him in the worst possible position by finishing third.
Martin’s Moto 2 triumph gave him 2-1 finishes for the afternoon, which was enough to put him atop the overall standings for the second week in a row, and the 16th time in his career. Ferrandis’ impressive performance helped him secure the runner-up spot (1-3), while Hartranft earned the first overall podium finish of his career in third (3-4).
Jeremy Martin
“Last week was a special moment , but I didn’t win a moto. It made it more special to get a good start and ride my own race to get a moto win,” said Martin. “Dylan was on it today, but I knew I needed to get a good start and that would put me in a position to win. I know Dylan didn’t get the start he wanted , but my GEICO Honda was working really well in these conditions and I’m just happy to be back on top of the podium. It’s going to be a fun battle .”
Jeremy Martin
By virtue of his damage control in the final moto Ferrandis maintained his hold of the point lead, losing just two points to Martin. The top two are now separated by four points.
“I just ride as fast as I can and pass the most riders I can. I have nothing to lose,” said Ferrandis. “I wish there was more laps, but it is what it is. It’s a disappointment to lose out on the second moto, but this is racing and sometimes things like that happen. We’ll just keep fighting and try again next week.”
Ferrandis had to come back through the pack
Jett Lawrence took fifth overall for the round after carding 4-5 results while older brother Hunter was unhappy with his efforts after taking 16th overall on the back of a 15-14 scorecard.
Jett Lawrence took fifth overall for the round after carding 4-5 results
The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will celebrate Labor Day weekend with its first-ever doubleheader from Michigan’s legendary RedBud MX, which will host the fourth and fifth rounds of the 2020 season. The Circle K RedBud I National will begin the holiday festivities on Friday, September 4. The second half of the doubleheader will take place on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, for the Circle K RedBud II National.
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Ironman Raceway – Crawfordsville, Indiana August 29, 2020 – 250 Class Overall Results
After the success achieved by Aprilia RSV4 X, the special version of the supersport bike from Noale, Aprilia has now given the X factor to the Tuono V4.
Aprilia Tuono V4 X
The Aprilia Tuono V4 X is touted as an exclusive “super Tuono” produced in a numbered and limited edition, developed and assembled directly by Aprilia Racing.
Aprilia claim this excluse new Tuono V4 X is capable of lapping Imola in 1m50s with Aprilia rider Lorenzo Savadori, only a couple of seconds away from World Superbike pace around the Italian circuit.
Aleix Espargaró also put it through its paces on the Austrian Red Bull Ring circuit: “The Tuono V4 X is out of this world. I had never tested a high-handlebar bike on the track and I was surprised at the feeling of stability. The engine is insane, but the chassis architecture doesn’t struggle – to the contrary: the riding position and the electronics make it extremely fun. You can ride it cleanly, but you can also drift with it if you want to. It is a pure sportbike with a hooligan side!”
The experience that the Racing Department from Noale has in the top championships contributed to the development of the Aprilia Tuono V4 X with large aero wings in carbon added to the Tuono, clearly derived from the one fitted on the Aprilia RS-GP used in MotoGP. This choice contributes to increasing stability at high speeds and in the critical phases of braking and acceleration.
Aprilia Tuono V4 X
The goal of making this special Tuono a true high-handlebar racing bike exclusively for track use was achieved in full, thanks to a skilled job of general lightening, which reached the exceptional landmark of 166 kg dry weight on the scales.
All the fairings are in carbon, enhanced by the dedicated “Bol d’Or” graphic, inspired by the Aprilia RSV 1000 R Factory which participated in the 2006 edition of the legendary French endurance race. The fuel tank is the same shape as the original, but it is lighter, while the factory electrical system has been simplified.
Aprilia Tuono V4 X
Another obviously sports-derived element is the racing panel via which to adjust the main electronic controls of the Tuono V4 X. There are numerous billet aluminium parts that contribute to lowering the weight, such as the clutch lever, the brake lever guard, the engine crankcase guards, the adjustable footpegs and the fuel cap. The Marchesini wheel rims in forged magnesium, shod with racing slicks, provide the added value of handling that is out of reach even for fairing-covered supersport bikes.
The engine is derived from the unit that successfully equips the RSV4 1100 Factory. The Akrapovic exhaust system features titanium collectors and a carbon outlet, while the air filter is a Sprint Filter element, the same unit that Aprilia Racing uses in MotoGP.
Electronic fine-tuning is via a revamped ECU in terms of logic and functions, featuring engine control and vehicle dynamics maps developed by Aprilia Racing. The engine maps are all “full power” and optimised for the racing exhaust system. The engine brake, traction control and anti-wheelie levels are specifically designed for use on the track. It comes standard with two-way quick-shift and the colour TFT instrument cluster reprogrammed with lap time display using the built-in GPS sensor.
The maximum power of the V4 from Noale increases from the 217 HP of the factory unit to the value of 221 HP measured at the crank. Performance that can be fully exploited thanks to a race derived chassis with advanced semi-active Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 suspension system.
Aprilia Tuono V4 X
The Brembo braking system is also entirely racing, thanks to the use of refined and extremely effective GP4-MS billet aluminium calipers that grip a pair of steel discs with T-Drive technology and are controlled by a 19×16 radial master cylinder, also made in billet aluminium.
Each Aprilia Tuono V4 X unit, available at a price of €34,900 ($56,600 AUD), can already be reserved exclusively online by going to the Aprilia website. Buyers will be able to pick up their unit directly from Aprilia Racing, simultaneously with an exclusive tour of the racing department in Noale, and they will receive a dedicated KYT NX-Race helmet with a graphic inspired by the bike’s graphics.
Tuono V4 X is part of the Factory Works program launched by Aprilia Racing: it takes technology developed in competitive racing and makes it available to those planning to compete at high level in factory derivative championships or to those who want an RSV4 or a Tuono V4 with performance optimised for track use. That means, of course, that the Tuono V4 X will not be able to be used on public roads, legally.
BMW Motorrad has announced the M Endurance chain, which does not need to be lubricated like conventional motorcycle chains. The M Endurance chain uses a tetrahedrally amorphous carbon coating on the rollers that reduces friction and negates the need for lubricant. Currently, the BMW S 1000 RR and S 1000 XR are the only compatible models.
From Press Release:
For more than 90 years, the maintenance-free, environmentally friendly and comfortable shaft drive has been one of BMW Motorrad’s immovable technical cornerstones. With the M Endurance chain, BMW Motorrad now offers a maintenance-free chain with comparable characteristics for the first time.
Like previous X-ring chains, the M Endurance chain has a resident permanent lubricant filling between the rollers and pins, enclosed by X-rings. What is completely new, however, is that the previously necessary additional lubricant addition for the rollers and thus the familiar “chain lubrication” is no longer necessary, nor is any re-tensioning required from time to time due to the usual wear.
This enormous gain in comfort was made possible by using a new coating material for the rollers: tetrahedrally amorphous carbon (ta-C), also known as industrial diamond. This coating is characterized by extreme hardness and resistance and in this respect it is placed between the well-known DLC coating (Diamond Like Carbon) and pure diamond. In contrast to the metal surfaces used so far, the coating with the ta-C industrial diamond does not wear off. At the same time, this type of coating also offers a drastically reduced friction coefficient.
Thanks to excellent dry lubrication properties and the elimination of wear, the tetrahedral amorphous carbon coated rollers of the M Endurance chain offer maintenance comfort equivalent to that of a shaft drive motorcycle. This includes all the cleaning work that is unavoidable with a conventional chain due to splashed lubricant. Accordingly, the M Endurance chain also offers maximum environmental friendliness.
The M Endurance chain in 525 pitch is now available initially for the two 4-cylinder models BMW S 1000 RR and S 1000 XR. The M Endurance chain is available as accessory or directly from the factory as an option. Further BMW Motorrad models are being prepared for this feature.
Triumph Motorcycles Australia has issued a recall for 217 2019 and 2020 Street Scrambler and Street Twin models over a wiring issue.
The official notice issued through the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says: “Misrouted harness wiring may become damaged by the lower lug on main frame headstock when the handlebars are rotated. Damaged wiring harness may cause the engine to stall, and increase the risk of injury and death of the rider or other road users in an accident.”
Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted and asked to present their motorcycle to an authorised Triumph dealers to have recall work carried out free of charge. A new VIN label protector will be fitted to the motorcycle to prevent contact between the wiring and the headstock lug. Some motorcycles may also need a rework of the harness.
Even though manufacturers and importers usually contact owners when a recall is issued, the bike may have been sold privately to a rider unknown to the company.
Therefore, Motorbike Writer publishes all motorcycle and scooter recalls as a service to all riders.
If you believe there is an endemic problem with your bike that should be recalled, contact the ACCC on 1300 302 502.
To check whether your motorcycle has been recalled, click on these sites:
