Dual AMA Supercross champion finishes ninth at the Las Vegas event.
Image: Supplied.
Chad Reed says he’s encouraged by his showing at the weekend’s Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas, which saw him take on the event despite minimal bike time aboard a privateer Honda.
The two-time AMA Supercross champion, whose plans for 2020 are still uncertain, recorded a consistent 8-10-12 scorecard for ninth overall in the triple crown format.
The off-season race marked Reed’s first outing since suffering multiple injuries at the Seattle supercross in March, the New South Welshman making a last-minute decision to pilot Honda machinery after negotiations to continue with JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing fell flat in recent months.
“You obviously acknowledge and know that it’s going to be a tough weekend,” Reed stated in an interview with RacerX. “I think I finished 10th overall. The potential that I feel is there – that’s what you always want.
“Generally, though on paper it looks like we’re far off, I feel like with some time we can get there. I’m encouraged by the weekend. We had no issues – everything went smooth.”
Reed also indicated the CRF450R he used in Las Vegas will likely be shipped to New Zealand for the Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland next month, following by his annual homecoming at the AUS-X Open Melbourne.
Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
What happened this week
Cianciarulo & Lawrence star at 2019 Energy Monster Cup
Dean Wilson injured in Monster Energy Cup qualifying
Riders talk Australian Supercross Round 2 at Gillman Speedway
Middleton & McKinnon reign at 2019 Australian Trial Championships
Maxime Renaux claims 2019 French Beach Race opener victory
Nestaan-MX to run Husqvarna MX2 effort in 2020 with Jed Beaton
Cianciarulo & Lawrence star at 2019 Energy Monster Cup
The ninth annual Monster Energy Cup delivered the excitement promised by the biggest purse and most unique race format of any motorcycle race in the world. The event brought some new twists to Sam Boyd Stadium this year with the three Cup Class Main Events held on three different track variations, each requiring the racers one pass through a slower-route Joker Lane.
Adam Cianciarulo & Eli Tomac – Image by Hoppenworld
With a million dollars to any rider who could sweep the three Main Event format, it was Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo who edged out his teammate, two-time and defending Cup Champion Eli Tomac, for the event win and $100,000, proving this 450cc class rookie has the speed and the mental nerve to take on the competitive 450cc Supercross Class racers. All this on the weekend Cianciarulo celebrated his 23rd birthday.
2019 Monster Energy Cup – Image by Hoppenworld
From the first gate drop the excitement of 35,424 fans spiked as Adam Cianciarulo grabbed the holeshot in his class debut and looked fast enough to gap the two racers behind him, Jeremy Martin, and Malcom Stewart, who were both in their first appearances since big injuries in previous seasons.
Adam Cianciarulo – Image by Hoppenworld
Vince Friese, visiting three-time World Champion Tim Gajser, and defending Monster Energy Cup champion Eli Tomac, were right behind the top three. In the same stadium where a simple mistake cost him a Western Regional 250SX Class Supercross title just five months before, Cianciarulo made another small mistake; the Kawasaki rider washed out the front end in a corner and dropped back to fifth as Friese grabbed the lead.
Vince Friese – Image by Hoppenworld
Tomac reached second place but then lost his bearings on which track section he was on and drastically mis-timed a triple jump. Tomac recovered and on lap six got into the lead. The top riders waited until the final lap to make their pass through the Joker Lane, a slow section comprised of three steep wall jumps separated by deep, white sand.
Tomac took the win, separating himself as the only rider in the running for the million dollars. His new teammate Cianciarulo crossed the checkered flag close behind in second. On the podium Tomac said about his mid-race mistake saying, “Our normal line right now is double double, [but] I went double triple. I totally brainfarted. That’s the track getting me right now. Gotta get my head straight here, ‘cos that was scary.”
Eli Tomac – Image by Hoppenworld
Main Event #2 of the Cup Class proved that anything can happen in racing. Jeremy Martin jumped out with the holeshot with Friese close behind. Tomac was buried closer to tenth place than to first, and his teammate Cianciarulo was outside even the top ten. Tomac went to work fast, at times passing a different rider in two consecutive corners. By lap three he was up to second place, with Friese in sight right ahead.
Jeremy Martin – Image by Hoppenworld
But then Tomac lowsided while landing off the roller on the track’s high-speed sweeper. He jumped back onto the bike, but the crash put him into tenth place and over eight seconds from the leader. At the midpoint Malcom Stewart passed his teammate Friese to take the lead and bring home the win.
Vince Friese – Image by Hoppenworld
It marked Stewart’s first race in nine months after an injury ended his Supercross season. Stewart was a happy man on the podium, “We’ve got another race to go. Hopefully we’re on the top step, if not, man, we’re already making dreams come true. I’ve already marked things off my checklist. It was just to win a Main Event. I said, ‘Let’s go, now the goal is to win this overall’… …This is what Monster Energy Cup is all about. This is what they wanted, you guys want a… three race battle? Here you go! You got it!”
Malcom Stewart – Image by Hoppenworld
With Stewart taking the win, Cianciarulo finishing second, and Tomac working his way up to third, those three riders would go into Main Event #3 tied in points for a winner-take-all Vegas finale.
With $100,000 on the line Adam Cianciarulo, in his 450SX Class debut, in the stadium that ruined his Western Regional 250SX Class season just five months before, grabbed the holeshot with Tim Gajser and Eli Tomac close in tow. A few turns in, Cianciarulo got off balance on the edge of the track and had to roll the Finish Line jump, putting all three riders into a single turn at the same time.
Adam Cianciarulo – Image by Hoppenworld
No positions were changed then, but when Tomac got around Gajser one turn later, the two Kawasaki riders, competing for the first time and tied in points, started a nine-lap battle for a six-figure payday. Tomac got around at one point on lap six of the ten lap Main Event, but Cianciarulo slipped back into the lead within a few feet.
Tim Gajser – Image by Hoppenworld
Tomac turned up the pressure every lap and stayed right on Cianciarulo’s rear tire until lap nine, when he strategically took the Joker Lane in the hopes of turning a faster laptime and taking the lead when Cianciarulo was forced to take the Joker Lane on the final lap. On the final lap, the two riders took their respective lanes and in a nail-biter, Cianciarulo came out less than a bike length ahead. Tomac pressured for the remainder of the lap but Cianciarulo held strong and held on for the win and a $100,000 winner’s check.
Adam Cianciarulo & Eli Tomac – Image by Hoppenworld
Adam Cianciarulo
“My first thought was, ‘What I life I get to live!’ That whole race I knew he was behind me. We had a gap and I knew it was going to come down to the Joker Lane and – just the opportunity to race with Eli. He’s accomplished so much and just to be out there on the track with him. I’m stoked to be out there. Honestly, I always looked up to Eli and so just to be out there racing with him is unreal. And to come out on top of my first race is, I just can’t ask for anything better… It’s a little bit of redemption but to be honest with you I look at Vegas now – after winning the outdoor motocross championship – I look at Vegas as something that helped me get there. I really don’t look back on that race and think, ‘Oh, man.’ I think it’s really helped me grow. And what a better way, to get a Monster Cup win in 450. I always love coming here, even that night, it sucked, obviously, but I love Vegas and I’m just so grateful, can’t say that enough.”
Adam Cianciarulo – Image by Hoppenworld
Tomac was disappointed but not down with his second-place finish.
Eli Tomac
“Going into the Joker, I thought I just couldn’t really make the pass anywhere stick, so I was like, ‘Let me get into this thing a lap early and see if I can make the speed up on the track.’ …basically [I] ended up in the same exact spot there, like you said eating a lot of roost. Great battle with Adam there. Coming out in the losing spot is going to get at me a little bit, but overall [it was a] really fun weekend, great weekend for the team, and man, that was a battle.”
Eli Tomac – Image by Hoppenworld
Malcolm Stewart finished the Main Event #3, and in the overall standings, in third place. He was elated to be back competing up at the front.
Malcolm Stewart
“Just going out here and having fun and getting some gate drops just kinda sets a little barrier of where we’re going to be for the 2020 season. Just keep our heads down and keep moving forward… It’s been a long road for us. Nine months ago, we weren’t looking so hot, so the fact that I’m standing up here with a third overall means a lot to me. Like I said, getting up here, standing up here feels good and I just want to say congratulations to Adam, [for his] first win, that was awesome. For him to step into the 450SX Class and show us how it’s done that was pretty cool.”
The TT Zero events at the Isle of Man TT races have been an interesting sidenote at the event. The long 37.73 mile TT course poses great challenges for battery life and thus as improvements have been made over the years and performance levels increase, ultimately it is still a game of balance between battery conservation and outright performance. Despite technical advances a single lap race has still been the limit of endurance for the Zero bikes, in comparison to the six-lap Senior race for Superbikes.
Michael Rutter – 2018
After a successful ten year programme there will be a moratorium on the TT Zero class participation in the TT Race schedule in both 2020 and 2021.
Introduced in 2010, the TT Zero race has premiered all-electric prototype and production machines on the TT Course, with significant milestone successes from both mainstream developers of motorcycles and University entrants.
Front quarter view of the 2016 iteration of the Mugen Shinden
Highlights including the first 100mph lap of the Mountain Course by a clean emissions motorcycle – Motoczysz – in 2012, the exceptional performances by the Japanese Mugen team raising the lap records over a number of years which now stands at over 121mph and the remarkable performance by Nottingham University in posting their own 120mph lap.
Riding the Mugen Shinden, McGuinness was always in the lead and with a stunning new lap record of 117.366mph in 2014, he came home 23.3s clear of team-mate Bruce Anstey. Rob Barber, on the Ohio State University Buckeye machine, took third.
This year Michael Rutter clinched the race win with a new record lap from Bathams Mugen team-mate John McGuinness.
Michael Rutter – TT Zero – 2019
Celebrating its 10th year this year, the TT Zero Race lap record has gone from an average speed of 96.82mph set by Mark Miller in the inaugural TT Zero Race, to Rutter’s new time of 121.909mph, just under a second inside his old record set last year.
Michael Rutter receives his winner’s trophy from HRH Prince William in 2018
Over the ten year period many notable teams have participated in the event, although recent years have seen entries for this all-electric class reduce to the extent that the Department now needs to work with the industry to grow a modern zero emission class and encourage more teams, universities and manufacturers to participate
This will include looking at other technologies under development and to determine if these can be incorporated into the broader concept of zero emissions racing on the TT Course.
Rob Callister MHK – IOM Government
“As an island we remain committed to the principles and passion that continues to motivate everyone associated with the TT Zero class and the clean tech industry. Our intention is to have a moratorium on the event to allow the motorcycle industry as a whole to catch up on the leading edge developments that some manufacturers and individual race teams and universities have achieved to date.
“We remain incredibly proud of everything that has been achieved in clean emission racing at the TT and will work closely with the industry and with manufacturers without the pressure and focus of delivering a race format to build on the success to date.’This will include looking at other technologies under development and to determine if these can be incorporated into the broader concept of zero emissions racing on the TT Course.”
Bruce Anstey and Guy Martin flying the Mugden flag after their victory in 2017
Michelin to roll out 2020 tyre test during Phillip Island GP weekend
Section: Competition
Compulsory rear tyre test session scheduled for Friday.
Image: Supplied.
Michelin will roll out a 2020 tyre test during this weekend’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island, where all riders will need to complete a minimum of 11 laps in an additional one-off session.
The new specification rear tyre, as tested at Barcelona, Brno and Misano, will be evaluated at the Australian circuit to give Michelin the opportunity to assess the latest evolution of tyre – which has a new construction and is designed to improve performance – at a circuit that places high demands on the rear tyre.
Each rider will have one of the tyres available in either a soft or medium compound specification and will be required to test them in a separate 20-minute session on Friday.
The times recorded will not count towards qualification, and the tyres can only be used in this mandatory test session and will not be available for any other practice sessions, qualifying, warm-up or for the race.
The new specification is designed for the 2020 season and following evaluation of the data collected at Phillip Island, a decision will be made as to whether to add it to next year’s allocation.
This new tyre for the test will be asymmetric in design to match the demands of the circuit – the same as the tyres in the race allocation – with a harder left-hand side and will feature the compounds specifically designed to combat the huge stresses the tyres are placed under at Phillip Island.
Every rider will be requested to do a minimum of 11-laps and will be able to pair this test tyre with a front Michelin Power Slick from the specifications available to them at the Australian track, this extra front will not come from the riders’ allocation for the weekend and will be supplied separately to the usual allowance.
Rookie Evans earns career-best top five in South Australia
Section: Competition
Yamalube Yamaha Racing challenger experience breakout Port Adelaide ride.
Image: Foremost Media.
Premier class rookie Richie Evans experienced a breakout night in South Australia for round two of the Australian Supercross Championship, earning a career-best result of fifth in the main event.
The Yamalube Yamaha Racing rider, who’s still recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in the lead-up to the series, rode strongly all night on the challenging Port Adelaide circuit, qualifying sixth, finishing second in his heat and charging to fifth in the 20-lap main.
“I’m pretty happy with that,” Evans stated. “I know I’m not at the speed of the guys in front of me, but I wanted to get good track position early and then continue to do everything, every lap, and I was able to do that for the majority of the 20 laps.
“I could see Metty coming in the final but I didn’t want to do anything crazy, so I just kept my flow going and focused on what I was doing. If he got me, he got me! But, all up I’m really happy with fifth and now I’m fifth in the championship.”
Wollongong will host round three of the Australian Supercross Championship on 9 November in New South Wales.
GRT Yamaha signs Caricasulo and Gerloff for 2020 WorldSBK season
Section: Competition
All-new line-up for the Yamaha-supported operation.
Image: Supplied.
GRT Yamaha has signed Italian Federico Caricasulo and American Garrett Gerloff for the 2020 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).
Caricasulo is already familiar with the GRT Yamaha squad, having contested the WorldSSP category with them in 2017 and 2018, while he’s currently ranked second in the championship standings with one round remaining aboard the YZF-R6.
“For me this is a dream come true,” said Caricasulo. “To have the chance to step up to WorldSBK is already fantastic, but to be given the opportunity to do so with Yamaha and in a team that I know well is just incredible.
“I grew up as a racer as part of the GRT Yamaha team, realising my potential on the world stage with them, so I’m excited to go back and start this new adventure.
“But for now, I need to put this to one side and focus on the final race of the season in the Supersport class. I am second in the championship, just eight points off the lead, so it’s still all to play for at the final round.
“Nothing would make me happier than stepping up to WorldSBK as the reigning Supersport world champion, and that’s exactly what we’ll be aiming for in Qatar next week.”
24-year-old Gerloff was the MotoAmerica Supersport champion in 2016 and 2017 before joining the Yamaha Factory Superbike Team in 2018 and 2019, most recently finishing third in the championship standings.
“I want to start out by saying thank you to Yamaha Motor USA for everything that they’ve done for me, for signing me in the first place so many years ago and really having faith in me,” Gerloff explained. “I wouldn’t be where I am now in my career without their help.
“I’m really excited to say that I’ll be continuing in the Yamaha family for 2020, this time with the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team. I’m also really looking forward to representing America overseas. It’s something that I’ve always dreamed of doing and something that I’ve been preparing for, and I feel like I’m ready to do.
“I really appreciate Yamaha Europe giving me the opportunity to be that guy, to be one of the guys, to represent them and try to go get good results. I also want to say a big thanks to Ben Spies for really helping me out the past few months and getting my name out there and really pushing for me.
“I have a lot of goals that I really want to accomplish next year, and I know that with the team’s help and the Yamaha R1 that I’ll have a great opportunity of reaching them. I know this isn’t going to be easy, but I never give up. I’m ready to push myself and continue chasing my dream.”
Current GRT Yamaha rider Marco Melandri will retire at the conclusion of the season, while Sandro Cortese’s future remains uncertain.
Young Guns Caricasulo and Gerloff to Step up to WorldSBK in 2020
GRT Yamaha Supported WorldSBK Team will field a rookie new international rider line-up for the 2020 FIM Superbike World Championship season, with Italian Federico Caricasulo joining American Garrett Gerloff in the team for their second season in the premier production class. For the 2020 season the GRT Yamaha squad will be retitled as the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team.
Andrea Dosoli – Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager
“I’m happy to welcome Federico and Garrett to our WorldSBK program, as both earned this opportunity through their achievements aboard Yamaha machinery in two very different championships. Both are young, talented and determined to succeed in the premier production class and Yamaha is fully committed to helping them realise their true potential during the 2020 season. Federico and Garrett will both ride for the retitled GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team that, having benefitted from running the vastly experienced Marco Melandri this year, is ready to fulfil this strategic role within Yamaha’s rider development program under the direction of Team Manager, Filippo Conti. I wish both riders every success for the 2020 season, as they embark on their WorldSBK debut season.”
Federico Caricasulo with Andrea Dosoli
Caricasulo is already familiar with the GRT Yamaha squad, having contested the FIM Supersport World Championship with them in 2017 and 2018, taking his YZF-R6 to ten podium finishes and three race wins during his two seasons with the team.
The 23-year-old from Ravenna, Italy, is currently contesting the 2019 FIM Supersport World Championship on a YZF-R6 for a third consecutive season. He has already impressed with a total of nine podium finishes from twelve races, three of which were race wins, and is currently lying second in the championship standings, a slender eight points off the series leader with one round remaining.
Federico Caricasulo – Image by GeeBee
Federico Caricasulo
“For me this is a dream come true. To have the chance to step up to WorldSBK is already fantastic, but to be given the opportunity to do so with Yamaha and in a team that I know well is just incredible. I grew up as a racer as part of the GRT Yamaha team, realising my potential on the world stage with them, so I’m excited to go back and start this new adventure. But for now, I need to put this to one side and focus on the final race of the season in the Supersport class. I am second in the championship, just eight points off the lead, so it’s still all to play for at the final round. Nothing would make me happier than stepping up to WorldSBK as the reigning Supersport World Champion, and that’s exactly what we’ll be aiming for in Qatar next week.”
Federico Caricasulo
Gerloff also comes with a winning pedigree. The 24-year-old Texan was the MotoAmerica Supersport Champion in 2016 and 2017 before joining the Yamaha Factory Superbike Team in 2018, where he made a blazing MotoAmerica Superbike debut with an incredible podium finish. Four more podium finishes followed that year, with Gerloff ending his rookie season fifth in the championship standings.
Garrett Gerloff won the 2016 MotoAmerica Supersport title
After a year of experience on Yamaha’s cutting-edge YZF-R1 machine, Gerloff remained with Yamaha in 2019, securing four race wins and 15 podium finishes on his way to finishing third overall in his second full season of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Garrett Gerloff celebrating a Superbike win at 2019 MotoAmerica Round 6 – Laguna Seca
Garrett Gerloff
“I want to start out by saying thank you to Yamaha Motor USA for everything that they’ve done for me, for signing me in the first place so many years ago and really having faith in me. I wouldn’t be where I am now in my career without their help. I’m really excited to say that I’ll be continuing in the Yamaha family for 2020, this time with the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team. I’m also really looking forward to representing America overseas. It’s something that I’ve always dreamed of doing and something that I’ve been preparing for, and I feel like I’m ready to do. I really appreciate Yamaha Europe giving me the opportunity to be that guy, to be one of the guys, to represent them and try to go get good results. I also want to say a big thanks to Ben Spies for really helping me out the past few months and getting my name out there and really pushing for me. I have a lot of goals that I really want to accomplish next year, and I know that with the team’s help and the Yamaha R1 that I’ll have a great opportunity of reaching them. I know this isn’t going to be easy, but I never give up. I’m ready to push myself and continue chasing my dream!”
Garrett Gerloff
In a bid to further their already impressive racing careers, both Gerloff and Caricasulo are looking forward to the new challenge of competing in the world’s premier Superbike series with Yamaha’s race proven YZF-R1 machinery and the GRT Yamaha squad, which for the 2020 season will be retitled as the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team.
Port Adelaide main event valuable for injured Richardson
Section: Competition
Honda-mounted privateer earns top 10 result in South Australia.
Image: Foremost Media.
Piecing together a full main event in Port Adelaide’s second round of the Australian Supercross Championship has proved valuable for Jackson Richardson, despite the Honda-mounted privateer reaggravating a foot injury during his heat race.
It was important for Richardson to make it through the 20-lap encounter on Saturday night after a lack seat time in race conditions over the last year, the SX1 rookie running as high as sixth before crossing the line in P9.
“It’s definitely good to be back at the races and getting in that flow again, because it’s definitely different than being at the practice track,” Richardson explained to MotoOnline.com.au.
“At the practice track you can pound out laps all day long, and then you get to the race, and you’re like ‘geez, what the hell is this?’ I’m slowly adjusting to it, I just need to get healthy.
“Being nowhere near 100 percent, it’s good know the speed is there – I can definitely put it together, I just need to focus on getting back to 100 percent and getting everything back in line.
“I need to get everything back to how it was before having the big get-off at the start of the season – up until that point, I had an unscathed pre-season – everything was going to plan and nothing was out of wack. Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way, and we just have to keep moving forward.”
Richardson is ranked 15th in the championship standings as the series heads to Wollongong on 9 November.
Dainese opens its eighth retail store despite declining brick and mortar sales.
Begin Press Release:
Dainese Group Announces Grand Opening of Las Vegas Retail Location
Modern Retail Concept Creates an Experience with Racing Memorabilia and Full Lines of Protective Wear from Dainese and AGV Helmets
Dainese, the world leader of protective wear for dynamic sports, today announced the grand opening of its latest flagship retail location in Las Vegas.
Dainese Store Las Vegas features an innovative retail concept that creates a journey through moto history with memorabilia, including one of Valentino Rossi’s suits, all surrounded by the world’s most advanced protective apparel. The room-in-a-room concept, designed for Dainese by architect Renato Montagner, draws focus to special projects, history, and storytelling, and the retail environment immerses visitors in the rich heritage of the Dainese and AGV brands while profiling all riding styles including racing, touring, street, and urban.
The Las Vegas Store offers a wide selection of Dainese D-air® products featuring the world’s first and most advanced wearable airbag system for the ultimate in protection. In addition to D-air® racing suits and jackets for street and touring are on display at the new retail location.
Visitors to the Las Vegas store can experience Dainese’s Custom Works program and design the leathers of their dreams with full personalization, including colors, logos, special numbers, and more. A large, interactive touchscreen configurator serves as a guide in the process, and once design and measurements are finalized, Custom Works apparel is handmade by Dainese’s expert tailors. Dainese’s North American Custom Works Tour, with tailors and experts available on-site for consultations and measurements, will visit the Las Vegas location on October 25, 2019.
“The new Las Vegas store is a true experience for moto enthusiasts, and we’re very excited to be opening our doors in this dynamic city,” said Roberto Sadowsky, Executive Vice President, Dainese North America. “We’re most excited about the Las Vegas location becoming a rallying spot for group rides, events and a place for the community to gather and connect.”
Dainese Las Vegas is located at 6825 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite # 125, just a few miles down from “The Strip” and with easy access to major highways. The Dainese Las Vegas store will be hosting regular group rides and meetups.
The official opening party will be held at Dainese Las Vegas on October 24, 2019 from 5:30pm to 9:30pm, featuring a live DJ, food and drinks, raffle and prizes, free giveaways, and the opportunity to watch local artist Kurtis Katzmann paint a custom Dainese Vegas-themed helmet.
What we do see are dual disc brakes at the front, a thick set of telescoping forks, polished covers, gorgeous dual exhaust, a shaft drive, luggage options, a two-up seating arrangement, and in a few instances what appears to be the shape of a tall windscreen under the tarp. The main frame architecture looks to be similar to that used on the R18 as does the nostalgic teardrop tank.
