Premier class debut a learning experience for Currie
Factory Kawasaki rider lodges DNF-13 scorecard at British Superbike opener.
Image: Supplied.
Ben Currie has described his premier class debut at Silverstone’s opening round of the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship (BSB) as a learning experience.
The Australian contender, racing for the Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki outfit, qualified in P19 before crashing out of the opening encounter, which he believes came as a result of lacking patience in navigating through the field.
Rebounding in the race two, Currie displayed composure as he fought his way to 13th, notching up his first championship points of the season.
“I’ve learnt so much this weekend and my qualifying really set me back for both races,” Currie explained. “I think being on the grid so far back for race one caused me to crash as I was trying so hard to push forwards and probably put too much pressure on myself to try and get through the field.
“We started race two in 19th again, which made things difficult, but I paced myself and was a bit more patient this time and just dug deep and worked hard to get through the pack. I saved the tyre and we learnt so much, it was crucial to get that first race under our belt.
“I’m a little tired coming back from illness but I’ll be working hard on that over the next few weeks. I can’t thank my team enough for all their help and hard work this weekend. We have a good platform to build on and we know where we need to be and how to get there. Thank you to them all.”
Fellow Australians Jason O’Halloran (McAms Yamaha) and Josh Brookes (Be Wiser Ducati) experienced difficult weekends, both recording DNFs in the two outings.
The Circuit Ricardo Tormo test in Valencia which will take place from the 17-19 June, the same track at which MotoE will now celebrate its season finale with a double header alongside MotoGP.
Primarily, the Valenica test will pick up where Jerez left off, with riders and teams focused on gaining experience with the bike and setup. Sessions will start from the grid for everyone to get to grips with race starts and grid procedures.
Subject to weather, the last day will kick-off with an E-pole simulation as riders test out qualifying with just one single fast lap at a time. The day will finish with a full race simulation, where riders will get a chance to practice overtakes and race strategy, with Energica awarding the winner with their very own motorcycle Energica Eva – the streetfighter model available for sale.
Simulating qualifying and a full race is useful not only for the riders and teams, but also for the organisation of the Cup in order to fine tune procedures ahead of MotoE’s debut at the Sachsenring on 5-7 July. Josh Hook is the sole Australian in the newly-introduced category, fielded by Pramac Racing.
We often base our thoughts on visual first impressions and the details behind the facade are secondary, however it’s those small details that normally tell a different story, as I was about to find out….
2019 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100
The visual appearance of this tasty new Italian V4 from Aprilia was equally backed up by the specs of what’s hidden under the beautifully finished and dressed Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100. If it were not for the lights, mirrors, and oversized titanium Akrapovic exhaust hanging out the back, I could have been fooled into thinking I was walking up to the launch of theAprilia RS-GP MotoGP bike, rather than the all-new RSV4 Factory 1100.
The bike really is a work of art, with carbon-fibre fairing components along with the now almost obligatory carbon winglets seen in MotoGP, making the the RSV4 Factory a bike you can stare at for some time. There’s also a track day accessory kit that includes a carbon air duct for the front brake system, race shift linkage kit, carbon rear guard, and a lever set with more adjustment and a nicer feel under the hand.
The 2019 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100 features the MotoGP inspired winglets in true racer form… despite not being race legal
The media briefing information from Aprilia’s staff certainly kept me interested in what I was about to swing my leg over the following day on Australia’s most iconic race circuit – Phillip Island.
The specs and technology that make up the RSV4 Factory’s DNA are impressive, I mean super impressive! Lets start with the heart of the machine, a 1078 cc engine that produces a claimed 217 hp at 13,200rpm with 122 Nm of torque at 11,000 rpm.
The 2019 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100 also boasts 217hp at 13,200rpm with 122nm of torque
That’s 16 hp and 7 Nm up on the previous RSV4, and while yes it has grown some larger pistons to achieve that claimed figure – that’s not all that has helped produce that whopping number. The new pistons and cylinder heads are finished in the CNC machine, meaning a precise and perfect finish on every motor.
New cam profiles, join new gear box components and a revised oil lubrication system that is designed for efficiency and less friction. The gearbox is a perfect marriage to the power character of the motor, with the slightly higher fifth and sixth gear helping through the higher speed turns to keep the engine driving forward.
Engine refinements on the RSV4 Factory 1100 join the new larger pistons and increased capacity
The big question was also asked, as to why Aprilia would build an 1100 V4 that can’t be raced in WSBK or even national championships around the globe? The answer, “This is a special exclusive model that represents what the passionate Aprilia owners want in their bike, unrivaled performance and technology.”
They certainly ticked that box.If you want a legal race bike there is the 999.6cc RSV4 RR with 201hp and 115Nm, which is plenty good enough numbers to work with to win races. That’s if your skill set is up to the task?
The Aprilia Performance Ride Control (APRC) system returns on the RSV4 Factory 1100
The brains driving the system (no not the rider), is as impressive as the motor details. The fourth generation Aprilia Performance Ride Control (APRC) system features eight levels of Traction Control (ATC), Wheelie Control (AWC), Launch Control (ALC) which we weren’t able to try, Cruise Control (ACC), Speed Limiter (APT), and the ultra smooth Quick Shifter (AQS) for clutchless shifts up and down through the box with a sweet auto blipper.
All of the above works perfectly with the Bosch 9.1 ABS system with three ABS settings and RLM or rear lift mitigation. What does that mean? The system has the ability to be set to allow the rear wheel to lift off the ground and not interfere with front brake pressure, this also allows you to back the bike into turns such as Turn 4 and MG. It really is a neat feature that works very well.
The RSV4 Factory features Brembo’s Stylema calipers, alongside Ohlins NIX forks
Navigation on the APRC system is really simple too, you can use one of the preset modes or create your own personal settings. Adjusting ATC is very easily done on the fly with simple +/- buttons on the left bar which is necessary with 217hp around The Island on street tyres.
A neat feature for track use is the high beam flasher doubling as a lap timer button for when you’re solo at a track day and want to know what lap times you’re doing. Another impressive feature with the data collected is you can go back and view it all after a ride with the APRC dash – not just lap times either but max speeds, lean angle, G-force, and brake pressure are recorded.
The high beam ‘flasher’ control also doubles as a lap timer for the track day addicts, as part of the highly technological package
As you would expect on a bike of this level the gold suspension can only mean one thing, Ohlins and it’s of the highest level. The front end is taken care of by Ohlins NIX forks with 125mm of travel. They are fully adjustable for spring preload, compression via the left leg, and rebound via the right leg and the separation of the damping control means less interference of each system effecting the other.
The amount of fork coming through the triple clamps was a bit too much for track use and sub 1.40 laps around The Island, making the bike quite ‘loose’ and a few times giving me a ripping case of the ‘Marco Melandri’s’ at well over 280km/h heading into Turn 1 even with the claimed 8kg of downforce at 300kmh provided by the carbon-fibre winglets.
The Ohlins front end with Ohlins multi-adjustable steering damper offer a confidence inspiring corner entry
The action and feel of the forks is very confidence building for the rider on corner entry though and at no point did I have a moment where I was wondering what the front end was doing, it was sliding a few times but thanks to great feedback from the fork it was controllable, almost fun…
A grippier front tyre wouldn’t have been a bad option on the press bikes though, but as I was told it’s how the bike rolls off the showroom floor and in that guise its pretty impressive around a circuit. There’s a new swing arm which has the same geometry as the previous model, but to deal with the extra power it’s built with stronger reinforced alloy.
Standard fitment more road orientated tyres were fitted for the test, with the RSV4 also featuring a beefed up swingarm
The wheelbase/axle position offers excellent mechanical drive grip, but also offers maximum squat force. Speaking with Byron Draper from Ohlins he said the bike in race settings operated better with a longer wheelbase, which I can concur would have felt better around the Island.
For the first time the RSV4 is now fitted with an Ohlins TTX rear shock offering 120mm of rear axle travel – the staple on race bikes for well over a decade now. If you were wanting that better track performance out of your personal RSV4 Factory I’d strongly suggest going up in rear spring rate to help finish off the faster longer turns easier. Completing the Ohlins ensemble is the multi-adjustable steering damper which I’m glad the bike had – otherwise I may have been testing it as a dirt bike after Turn 1.
The RSV4 Factory 1100 also features a Ohlins TTX rear shock, with a Brembo two-pot rear caliper
The complete brake system is from Italian marque Brembo. The Brembo Stylema monobloc four-piston radial calipers bite, and bite hard, onto the huge 330mm rotors. The feel through the radial master brake lever is amazing. I pretty much only required a single finger to brake from the ridiculous speeds this bike gets too. The rear braking is taken care of by a two-piston Brembo caliper, however the rear brake is almost obsolete with the ATC, ABS, and AWC, but did help step the rear end out into the tighter turns.
Rider ergos are very spacious, for a smaller rider maybe a little too spacious. Especially when you twist the fly by wire throttle and the rear Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa hooks up sinking you into the back of the seat, stretching your arms a little. This RSV4 Factory is 5kg lighter than the previous edition and changes direction at high speed with little fuss.
The 2019 Aprilia RSV4 also offers generous ergonomics for a spacious feel
The colour APRC dash is very easy to see and note when you’ve made an adjustment to the settings, while shift lights are nice and bright so you can’t hurt the motor by forgetting to shift. But there’s not much you can do about them mid-Stoner Turn when its asking you to shift up a gear.
So what does all this power and performance feel like on the race track? Summed up in one word: amazing. I have ridden a lot of high performance sports bikes over many years of racing and most recently testing street bikes. This Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory is hands down the fastest thing I’ve ever swung my leg over and shifted into sixth gear on the stops.
“The Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory is hands down the fastest thing I’ve ever swung my leg over.”
Does it feel like it has 217hp? You bet it does and going back through the APRC data after one session showed the max speed at 300km/h along with a few other laps above 290km/h. It really is that fast.
Theres a few things that left me wanting more out of the bike, but to be fair that was the dormant racer left in me, not a rider that’s going to spend $36,190 on their dream bike and spend more time admiring it, than taking it to the track to try turn back the clock by racing it.
Is bigger better? That extra 3mm in bore size certainly would suggest so and I’m sure the Aprilia customers will agree once they have a new RSV4 Factory of their own.
Aprilia longitudinal 65° V-4 cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid, cooling system, double overhead camshafts (DOHC), four valves per cylinder
Bore and stroke
81 x 52.3 mm (78 x 52.3 mm)
Total engine capacity
1,078cc (999,6 cc)
Compression ratio
13.6:1
Maximum Power
217 HP (159.6 kW) at 13,200 rpm [201 HP (148 kW) at 13,000 rpm]
Maximum Torque
122 Nm at 11,000 rpm [115 Nm at 10,500 rpm]
Fuel system
Airbox with front dynamic air intakes. 4 Marelli 48-mm throttle bodies with 8 injectors and latest generation Ride-By-Wire engine management. Choice of three different engine maps selectable by the rider with bike in motion: Track, Sport, Race
Ignition
Magneti Marelli digital electronic ignition system integrated in engine control system, with one spark plug per cylinder and “stick-coil”-type coils
Starter
Electric
Exhaust
4 into 2 into 1 layout, two lambda probes, lateral single silencer with ECU-controlled bypass valve and integrated trivalent catalytic converter (Euro 4)
Alternator
Flywheel mounted 450 W alternator with rare earth magnets
Lubrication
Wet sump lubrication system with oil radiator and two oil pumps (lubrication and cooling)
Transmission
6-speed cassette type gearbox
1st: 39/15 (2.600)
2nd: 33/16 (2.063)
3rd: 34/20 (1.700)
4th: 31/21 (1.476)
5th: 34/26 (1.307) [31/23 (1.348)]
6th: 33/27 (1.222) [34/27 (1.259)]
Gear lever with Aprilia Quick Shift electronic system (AQS)
Clutch
Multi plate wet clutch with mechanical slipper system
APRC System (Aprilia Performance Ride Control), which includes Traction Control (ATC), Wheelie Control (AWC), Launch Control (ALC), cruise control (ACC) and speed limiter (APT), all of which can be configured and deactivated independently
Frame
Aluminium dual beam chassis with pressed and cast sheet elements Available adjustments:
Headstock position and rake
Engine height
Swingarm pin height
Öhlins adjustable steering damper [Sachs non-
Adjustable steering damper
Front suspension
Öhlins NIX fork with ∅ 43 mm stanchions and TIN surface treatment. [Sachs fork with ∅ 43 mm stanchions]; Aluminium radial calliper mounting bracket. Adjustable spring preload and hydraulic compression and rebound damping. 125 mm [120 mm] wheel travel
Öhlins TTX monoshock with piggy-back, fully adjustable in: spring preload, wheelbase and hydraulic compression and rebound damping. [Sachs monoshock adjustable in: hydraulic compression and rebound damping, spring preload and centre-to-centre distance]. 120 mm [130 mm ] wheel travel.
Brakes
Front: Dual 330-mm diameter floating stainless steel disc with lightweight stainless steel rotor and aluminium flange with 6 pins. Brembo Stylema [M50] monobloc radial callipers with 4∅ 30 mm opposing pistons. Sintered pads. Radial pump and metal braided brake hose
Rear: 220 mm diameter disc; Brembo calliper with two 32 mm separate pistons ∅. Sintered pads. Pump with integrated tank and metal braided hose
Bosch 9.1 MP ABS with cornering function, adjustable to 3 maps equipped with RLM (Rear wheel Lift-up Mitigation) [can be disabled].
Wheel rims
Forged aluminium alloy wheels, completely machined, with 5 split spoke design. [Aprilia in aluminium alloy wheels with 3 split spoke design].
Green and Gold MXoN ticket raising funds for Team Australia
Section: Competition
Fundraiser to assist the nation in travelling to Assen’s 2019 event.
Image: Supplied.
Motorcycling Australia (MA) is raising funds to assist Team Australia in making the journey to the 2019 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations (MXoN) at Assen in The Netherlands by raffling an exclusive Green and Gold ticket.
MA has introduced the fundraiser with a strictly limited 250 ticket release, with proceeds from all ticket purchases go towards covering team expenses and ensuring all selected riders receive the opportunity to represent Australia against the world’s best.
For the single price of $250, you can purchase a ticket that puts you into the running to claim the invaluable prize. Valued at over $10,000, the winner will receive two return airfares to Assen, five nights accommodation, airport and circuit transfers, two VIP Gold passes with Youthstream, and complimentary Team Australia uniforms and credentials.
The winner will be drawn at the final round of the 2019 Pirelli MX Nationals in Coolum, Queensland, on Sunday, 4 August. It’s also understood a selection coaching clinics will be introduced, hosted by the nation’s top riders in an effort to increase funding.
In 2018, Team Australia’s squad of Hunter Lawrence, Mitch Evans, and Kirk Gibbs finished just shy of the podium in fourth position. For more information on how you can purchase a raffle ticket or support Team Australia, visit www.mxonaustralia.com.au.
Murray Sayle Retiring from Kawasaki Motors Australia
Murray has a well-known passion for the Kawasaki brand. The green blood infiltrated Murray’s system in-full once he stepped on-board the H2R 750cc 3-cyclinder race bike for Ron Toombs in 1974.
Start of Unlimited Race at Amaroo Park, 1976. L to R; Warren Willing, Gregg Hansford, Murray Sayle, John Woodley, Greg Johnson.
“My proudest racing moment was winning the Australian Road Race Championship in 1978, but I still regret not winning the New Zealand Marlboro 250 series in 1977-78” – Murray Sayle
40 years since he raced fulltime on board the Kawasaki Ninja H2R, Australian racing identity and Kawasaki employee Murray Sayle again took to the track onboard the iconic model in 2014
Murray’s recent role at Kawasaki has been with the Marketing Department.
Murray Sayle
“It has been a fantastic journey here at Kawasaki over the past 32 years. I have worked with our great staff and dealers and made some life-long friends. I have been very lucky to have worked with our Japanese head office staff and visited Japan approximately 20 times. I have test ridden new products at the Auto Polis Race Course (Kyushu, Japan) the JARI Test track (Chiba, Japan) and the SPA Naoiri Race Track (Japan). I have taken Australian Journalists to world press launches, in Almeria, Spain, Auto Polis, Japan and Losail International Circuit, Doha, Qatar. Many good times and happy memories, thanks to Kawasaki.”
Murray Sayle – Kawasaki KR250 – Bathurst 1976
Across his Kawasaki career, Murray has made significant contributions to the in-house systems, enhanced the knowledge of co-workers and ensured the Kawasaki Dealers had support in place to grow the Kawasaki brand.
Murray Sayle – Barry Sheene Festival of Speed 2016 – Image by Mark Bracks
Murray brought his understanding of racing, brand belief and desire to win into Kawasaki every day, he officially retires on the 30th of June 2019 with his last day in the Kawasaki office on Wednesday 24th April 2019.
Shigemi Tanaka – Managing Director
“Kawasaki is built on people like Murray Sayle; people with passion, knowledge and integrity. On behalf of Kawasaki Motors Australia and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, I would like to express our deep appreciation for his great contribution to Kawasaki. I have always enjoyed talking with Murray about racing and hope we can continue to have these chats after his retirement.”
Murray Sayle – Hume Weir, 1976
The knowledge, history, stories and dry humour will be missed by Kawasaki Motors Australia. Despite his retirement from his official role at Kawasaki Australia, I am sure that his passion will not have changed and when ever Murray talks road racing his attitude that if they are not on a Kawasaki but still winning, well then they must be cheating, will not change… (LOL).
Brookes faces technical issues in Ducati debut at Silverstone
Australian challenger forced to accept dual non-finishes at round one.
Image: Supplied.
Josh Brookes faced technical issues in both outings at Silverstone’s opening round of the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship (BSB) last weekend, marking a difficult racing debut with the Be Wiser Ducati outfit.
Qualifying an uncharacteristic 18th, the former BSB champion fought through in each of the two encounters, making his way into the top 10, however an electrical fault saw his factory-backed Panigale V4 R come to a halt in race one, before a technical issue arose in race two, calling for a premature end to his weekend.
“There’s not a lot I can say about today other than it’s obviously disappointing to come away with no points,” Brookes commented. “But I wasn’t alone as Jason O’Halloran was another rider to have strong rides only to come away with two DNFs.
“That’s the nature of racing and you can have as many good weekends as bad ones so it’s a shame for the whole team that we didn’t finish either race. I think we showed the pace we have when everything’s going well, and we’re all motivated to do well as we know what potential we have but sometimes things happen that are out of our control.
“We’ve shown that we’re competitive against the other teams and know there’s plenty more to come so we’ll just forget about this weekend and look ahead to the next one.”
Josh Elliot (OMG Racing) and Tarran Mackenzie (McAms Yamaha) split race victories at Silverstone’s opener, the duo tied on points for the lead in the series rankings. The British Superbike Championship returns to action on 4-6 May at Oulton Park.
What was your first job? I was a truck driver for a construction company. Then I was working at a flooring store in Avon, Colorado, right down the road from where our offices are now. I was pretty bored.
So you quit and started making maps for motorcyclists? I was still working at the flooring store. I was moonlighting, taking off to ride these roads. I actually got fired from that job. I can’t blame the owner. But my heart just wasn’t in it. I was 30 years old, and I didn’t want to sell flooring. When I got fired, it was this moment: Now I’ve got to shit or get off the pot.
Sounds scary. We started in 2008, right as the economy was tanking. My wife owns a salon, and her income limped us along the first few years. When another business partner came in, Justin Bradshaw [who later launched the Rever app], we could afford to pay ourselves $1,000 a month. That was huge. I remember the first paycheck. We were so stoked! Because then it was more than a hobby. It became real.
And the product lets you get out and ride. Our patented rating system highlights the best roads in each state. We don’t fly roads; we don’t get in cars. We scout roads on motorcycles. In the beginning, I would [study] atlases, and if there was any undulation, I would highlight it, throw it in my tank bag and go. My dad helped start the company too. As a son, getting to drag my father around the country over hundreds of thousands of miles—that was a fantastic experience.
How much were you riding? Before we put out our first map, in 2010, we had ridden over 250,000 miles. I rode 55,000 miles the first year alone. Justin did 30,000 or 40,000. He was still painting houses at the time. It was a lot, managing our personal lives, our relationships with our wives, being gone all the time. That dance between not making any money and following a dream. People were like, “C’mon, are you serious? This is just an excuse to ride motorcycles around the country.”
There’s serious work involved. It’s not hard to be envious of this position. But [scouting] can be taxing. You’re focusing on trying to keep the motorcycle upright, but also collecting data, double-checking maps, communicating in the field. At the end of the day, you’re smoked. Like, “Wow, I never thought I could be this tired.”
Could you see yourself doing anything else now? No. I can’t. At this point, it’s less about the riding or revenue, and more about customers. Hearing people recount their experiences using our maps: “This is unbelievable. It’s changed our entire outlook on motorcycling.” That’s hugely rewarding, being able to say that our little map [helped] somebody on their motorcycle have an awesome time.
It’s like a Butler Map belongs to the motorcyclists. You just get to make the thing. Exactly. Early on, your output dictates the company singularly, because you are the company. Then, at some point, it stops being about you. It’s about this community. Within that community, the paradigm has shifted. The traditional motorcyclists in this country, they’re not as interested in working to ride anymore. They just want to go and have fun on a motorcycle.
Dr. Michele Zasa
Clinica Mobile is the official medical group of MotoGP and FIM World Superbike. At the races, emergency services like ambulances are provided by the local area. We have a facility that travels with the series in Europe, and we send equipment and personnel for overseas races. We are the trusted doctors and physical therapists of the riders. So, we bring continuity and consistency [to their care]. I was inspired to do emergency medicine by ER, the television show; after my residency, I decided that I didn’t want to work in a hospital full-time every day for my entire career. So, for me, the best part of this job is variety. [Outside of Italy], we are not in our country. We are not in our hospital. It can be challenging, and I get to look for those solutions. Finding them and hearing the gratitude from patients—the riders—is very rewarding. And since I’m working with all these local doctors from around the world, I see how they do their job, hear their tactics, and learn their secrets. It’s a job where you never stop learning, and you never get bored.
Janelle Kaz
Bridging the worlds of motorcycle travel and wildlife conservation is one of my all-time accomplishments. My background is in biology, and [my work] focuses on protecting ecosystems. Besides habitat destruction, the illegal wildlife trade is widespread. Animals are kidnapped from jungles, sold in markets, kept as pets, used as tourist attractions, or reduced to body parts for displays of status. These trafficking networks are closely connected to other illegal trades, like [unpermitted] logging and mining, arms, drugs, even human trafficking. Being alone and in far-off places is a compelling way to talk about conservation to those who otherwise might not listen. And living on a motorcycle is inexpensive and allows me the freedom and capability to reach far-flung sites and research stations. This is not just a job. No one pays me. I share stories and photos in exchange for money, which I then give back to the projects I visit. I have no children, no home, no dependents. I am a true motorcycle gypsy. This is my passion, my life. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Kerry Sano
I’m the only employee [at my shop], so I wear a lot of helmets. I’m the service writer, parts department, customer service, mechanic. It works because I really love everything about bikes—riding, touching, fixing, tuning. I get rewarded by taking something that wasn’t great and making it better. It’s pride, perhaps. And the learning is constant. At the end of the day, maintaining a strong reputation for quality work, reasonable turnaround time, and good value is crucial to success in the moto repair business. It’s also inextricably linked to staying healthy and happy. I push myself to be on top of my work, but also to [have a] balance with soul-fulfilling activities. I like being my own boss and being accountable. I like being able to take whatever jobs I want. I don’t know [if my job is] the best in the world, but it’s up there. Who doesn’t want to be a bad bitch? Mistress of my domain, and I ride motorcycles to boot!
Michael Lock
I’ve always seen racing as a great way of telling stories. You get the most interesting people in racing because it’s not a real job. You can’t fail to fall in love with it. I don’t care that I’m in a small office in Daytona Beach, because this is where the action happens. We have a small team, we never have enough time or enough money. But this is real, and that’s the coolest thing. We are building this sport. We’re building the careers of the riders, we’re delivering value for the teams and manufacturers. At some point, people will look back and say: “Wow, that was a golden era for flat-track racing.” And we did it. Plus, I get to go and work in places that are off the beaten path. I get to meet people who come from different backgrounds. That’s all part of the rich tapestry of life. I get up every morning and I’m plotting the future of a motorcycle sport. How cool is that?
Matt Brady
I grew up in the Monterey area, so the track has always been my backyard. I’ve been coming here since 1974. We’d watch Kenny Roberts, who was just incredible. Seeing him leading the race, almost pulling a wheelie around the whole track—it was really something. And as teenagers, we’d hang on the fence, just wishing we could just get on the track somehow. Now I’ve done more laps around Laguna Seca than anybody in history—because I drive the track sweeper! I’m out at 6 a.m. because the track goes hot at 9 a.m. We need to clear everything: trash, debris, rubber from the tires, rocks from the gravel beds, GoPro cameras. I’ve found pistons. I’ve found a jellyfish. Sure, our crew watches [each racing incident] like, “Great, there goes another gravel bag,” or “Now we’re going to have to fix that tomorrow.” But it comes with the territory. It’s what this place is all about. The racetrack itself is iconic worldwide. I feel really privileged to have worked here all this time. I just love this place.
Justin Maxwell
I handle product management. That means I get to develop new bikes and ride them all around the world, meeting like-minded and passionate people along the way. As a motorcycle fanatic, it doesn’t get much better. It gives me [connections to] R&D, design, marketing, sales, customer service, and our global network of subsidiaries and importers. It’s very gratifying working with teams all over the world to develop the next line of products. I travel quite extensively, averaging 30 or 40 flights per year, which take me all around Europe, North America, Australia, Asia, and the occasional visit back [home] to South Africa. I can honestly say I only get bored when I’m on vacation. For me, it’s all about the satisfaction when it all comes together, seeing and riding the final product after years of development. I get to do my fair share of testing on prototypes. Still, nothing beats getting on the final product as it comes off the production line.
Steve Kuhns
In Defense of Keeping it a Hobby
Earlier this year, Alfredo “Fred” Juarez won Indian’s Scout Bobber Build-Off, a national competition for amateur builders. The mainstream recognition (and $10,000 grand prize) offered him an opportunity to break into the custom-bike industry. But the 35-year-old Texan, who works as a test engineer at NASA, ultimately decided to keep his day job.
“When I get home, I can just do,” he says. “I don’t have to ask for permission.”
Not that the idea of going pro hadn’t crossed his mind. Juarez always loved working with his hands; as a kid, he dreamed of building custom cars and motorcycles for a living. But a series of mentors encouraged him to pursue mechanical engineering and a more academic future. The Bobber Build-Off, the winner of which was determined by online fan voting, offered insight into what life would be like had he remained on his original path.
“Normally when I build things, I just do exactly what I want. This Indian competition was a little different for me,” he admits. “Knowing it was going to be judged by other motorcyclists kind of got me. I started thinking: I wonder what [the voters] would like? It was always in the back of my mind. And I can imagine applying that to—had this been my career—always having that stress of pleasing other people.” The experience was an affirmation of his current profession, and a reminder that sometimes labors of love are best taken at face value.
“I’ve found my niche in engineering, and I’m doing really well,” Juarez says. “At this point, building motorcycles is just about pleasing myself.” —Seth Richards
The Wrench
Keinosuke Sasaki, 45
You were born and raised in Japan. What did your parents do? My mom was a typist, and my dad was a chef. He had this little room for crafts, like silver jewelry and woodworking. He tinkered with bicycles and always had a motorcycle. But I don’t remember them pushing me to get a certain job, or saying, “You have to be this or do that.”
How did moving to America change your perception of work? I came here alone. No family, no backup. As an immigrant, I had to work harder, do the stuff nobody else wanted, because that was my opportunity to prove myself. I was young, didn’t know much, wanted to get out of my hometown. I romanticized the idea. It sounds cliché, but [that’s the appeal] of the American dream.
You made inroads with some iconic builders. Even though [we had] different languages and cultural backgrounds, there was a common core, a passion. That makes it easier to connect. If you meet a fabricator or machinist, anybody who takes pride in making things—sometimes they don’t have to complete a sentence. You just understand. But mentorship isn’t school. They’re not getting paid to teach. If you don’t have their trust, they don’t share or show you anything. You earn the trust. My first job was to take the trash out. I was not told to do this, and I was hired as a mechanic, but there is no janitor at this shop. So, I’m going to sweep the floors and put tools away and organize parts. There is no such thing as wasting time on the job. Maybe in sweeping the floor, you find [a tool or part] that’s been missing. This makes another job easier to complete.
What did you learn starting a shop? I don’t like the idea of having employees. That’s another job right there—managing them, not only operationally but financially. I am the owner of this business, and I clean the bathrooms. I’m down on my knees scrubbing the toilet. So, it became more of a “job.” But it’s my little shop. This is where I come to have “me time,” and I get to have it every day. There are no easy jobs around here. But at least they’re mine.
Do you have a routine? I’m up at 6:30 a.m., here by 8:30 a.m., and stay until 6 or 7 p.m. It’s the same start and end, but the work in between is always different. [It can be] service and repair, which is satisfying to me, fixing things, making a bike run better. Or customizing and fabrication. I make from scratch, turn an idea from my head into reality. It’s tangible, touchable, and that’s satisfying. When customers see it and love it, that’s additional satisfaction, makes me smile. These tasks, working on a motorcycle, making things—they make me happy. I feel real happiness. So, I don’t need a vacation. People tell me, “I need to get away.” Going away gives me anxiety.
The Pro Rider
Debbie Evans, 61
You raced as a teenager, then became a full-time stuntwoman in 1980. Did you ever have a job that didn’t involve motorcycling? I worked as a cashier at Petco. I was a delivery driver for a dental laboratory. That was in high school. I was sponsored by Yamaha, and teaching riding school on the weekends. I signed up for junior college, to get my general education credits and try to figure out what I wanted to do. I couldn’t believe my good fortune when a stunt coordinator called.
Are you still excited about going to work each day? I remember when I first went to work [in Hollywood], they just had me riding motorcycles. Then someone handed me a sword. They said, “OK, now we want you to jump off of this embankment and swing the sword at this motorcycle, like you’re going to take the rider off the bike.” And I looked at them and said, “You’re going to pay me to play?” That’s how I feel. Sometimes I pinch myself. I love to go to work. I’ve stayed really young because I love what I do. Even now, I’ll see people from high school and think, Man, do they look old…
Talk about your worst day at the office. Working on the movie Yes Man [in 2007], I was on a motor scooter doubling Zooey Deschanel. There was a stunt car, which was supposed to slide, but I saw it was coming in way too hot and way too deep. I was laying this scooter over, trying to get out of the way, but the car slid into me. The ball of my hip punched through my pelvis. I got knocked out, broke my hand, burns on my leg from the exhaust pipe. I spent 19 days in the hospital.
Do those moments make you reconsider what you’re doing? No. It makes me reconsider what others are doing.
But you bounced back. My goal was always to get back to work. When I finally got on set, after about a year, I had somebody on the hood of a car. I had to slam the brakes and pitch them into a camera without going too far or stopping short. I did it twice, like it was nothing. And I went, “I can’t quit. I love it. I can’t quit.”
How much of your identity is informed by your profession? What is Debbie Evans without motorcycles? I do other things. I have kids and grandkids. But if you took away my stunt work, I think I would feel lost. I love the challenge. I get to look and say, “OK, how am I gonna make this work?” I just love that aspect of figuring it all out. It’s funny, driving the kids around in a Nissan Pathfinder, of course I would never even consider sliding a corner. But I’m thinking, if they gave me the same exact vehicle on set, I would flip the switch. I could make it work.
Do you have the best job in the world? I feel like I have the best job in the world for me. Because not everybody can do the things I do. So, for them, another job might be the best job in the world. But this is something I was made to do.
I was born, and then I was on a motorcycle. That’s how I remember it anyway. I used to build ejection seat components and put shim kits together for brake-caliper spacers in my dad’s shop. I wouldn’t say it was child abuse, but I was definitely missing my Saturday morning cartoons. After growing up in the business, there’s nothing cooler you could end up doing. So, I took what I loved—racing, design, culture, art—and made that work in two wheels. I have a rule: If you want to get something done, pick up the fucking phone and make it happen. It took me a long time to learn that, but it works. And I couldn’t do just one thing; I have to continue [looking at] what’s next on a daily basis. That keeps me focused and working hard. Well, that and my kids. One is 2 years old, the other is 3 and a half. I’m taking care of things close to home right now. I wouldn’t change that for anything. Family comes first. But thank God I have a challenging job that I enjoy.
The Dream Doesn’t Always Last Forever (and that’s OK)
I’d seen plenty of bike cops, but never a motorcycle paramedic. Then I moved to England, and there they were: EMTs on high-end touring bikes, decked out with rescue livery and blue strobes and ozone-scratch antennas, rolling through town.
In my village, the head medic was something of a celebrity. Everybody called him “Flymo,” but his real name is Mark Hayes. Mid-40s, shaved head, built like an oak tree. I followed him on Twitter, along with the 8,000 other citizens; his feed was a steady drip of rescue helicopter selfies, gnarly accident scenes, offbeat memes, and shots of his kitted-out service bike at various cafes. He also went fishing on the weekends. Clearly, this guy had it made.
Did he ever. Mark’s day at the office went like this: Ride into the city center at 6:45 a.m., post up at a coffee shop, wait for a call. “When it comes, woah, it’s this buzz,” he told me. During a 12-hour shift, he might respond to a dozen incidents. “I get there first, and I’m immensely proud of that. I thrive on the pressure of working alone.”
Being on a motorcycle broke down barriers. He was an authority figure, but somehow more approachable, more engaged. More human. He seemed to know everybody, from the businessmen to the homeless, all by name. Occasionally, Mark would see someone that he’d resuscitated walking around town. Just knowing they were alive always brought a lump to his throat.
Not that every incident was so dire. Once, he arrived on the scene to find a troubled caller locked inside their own home. (They slid the keys through the letterbox; Mark charitably set them free.) Another time, the caller claimed to be in crisis but just wanted help putting their socks on. (“Not really an appropriate use of the emergency line.”)
I moved back to America years ago but still keep tabs on my former village. Recently, I heard the motorcycle paramedic unit had been shuttered. I called Mark, who confirmed the news. After nearly two decades as a bike EMT, he’s moved into an operations role for the local ambulance service. “You’ve got to embrace change, and my new position brings different sorts of challenges,” he said. “Of course, I miss being out there on two wheels. It was a passion. It gets in your blood.”
He still has the bike and the bizarre social media cult. And he has nothing but fond memories from his time working the best job in the world: “On a glorious sunny day, riding around, looking after the people in my community—there’s absolutely no feeling like it.” —Max Prince
After calling for a boycott against H-D last year because of the Motor Co’s plan to move some production abroad to avoid tariffs, President Trump now says the US will reciprocate against the EU tariffs that H-D blames for causing it to post a Q1 profit down 26.8%. This aggression will not stand, man.
Read all about it over here at CNBC.com, where there’s also a fun 4-minute video about Harley’s previous run-ins with tariffs and the POTUS dating back to the 1980s.
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
The LATEST News
Kulas and Barr rip Hawkstone MX Nationals
Wageman wins World Two-Stroke Championships
Mees rebounds to win Texas Half Mile
Aussies abroad – weekly update
Ferris to Raceline KTM
Clement Desalle injury update
Dean Wilson joins the injured list
Supercross returns to Wollongong
Australian Motorcycle Festival also set for Wollongong
Smektala Scores Warsaw Wildcard
Paulo Goncalves joins Hero Motorsports
Dakar Rally moves to Saudi Arabia
Treloar crowned 11-time Australian Speedway Sidecar Champion
Kulas and Barr Rip Hawkstone MX Nationals
Hawkstone Park hosted the second round of the British MX Nationals and it was Harri Kulas who earned maximum points in the MX1 class while Martin Barr put in an identical performance in the MX2 class.
Hawkstone MX Nationals Podium – Image from MX Nationals UK FB page
Kulas won the opening MX1 moto from Gert Krestinov and Mel Pocock then Pocock and Lewis Tombs finished behind Kulas in the second moto so Kulas has opened up an 18-point lead over Pocock in the championship points.
MX1 – Hawkstone Round Top 10
Harri Kulas
Mel Pocock
Lewis Tombs
Gert Krestinov
Nathan Watson
Jake Shipton
Robbie Dowson
Ryan Houghton
Nathan Dixon
Stuart Edmonds
MX1 Points after Round 2
Harri Kulas – 100
Mel Pocock – 72
Gert Krestinov – 70
Ryan Houghton – 64
Lewis Tombs – 59
Barr comfortably won the opening MX2 moto from Josh Gilbert and Ashton Dickinson then backed that up with another win over Gilbert and Todd Kellet so after two rounds Barr has a six-point lead over Gilbert while the rest of the field are almost two motos in points behind.
MX12– Hawkestone Round Top 10
Martin Barr
Josh Gilbert
Todd Kellet
Ashton Dickinson
Glenn McCormick
Brad Anderson
Taylor Hammal
Liam Knight
Ben Franklin
Lewis Hall
MX2 Points after Round 2
Martin Barr – 97
Josh Gilbert – 91
Ben Franklin – 55
Glenn McCormick – 52
Carlton Husband – 49
Wageman Wins World Two-Stroke Championships
It is one of the most sought after ‘sub culture’ championships in the American motocross scene and this year is was second generation motocross rider and Glen Helen regular in Robbie Wageman who has taken out the premier Open Class at the annual World Two-Stroke Championships at Glen Helen Raceway.
Wageman overcame pre-race favourites and former champions in Mike Alessi, Zach Bell, Ryan Surrat, Carlen Gardner, Mike Brown and Tyler Bowers to take both moto wins
Open 2-Stroke Championship
Robbie Wageman 1-1
Carlen Gardner 3-1
Coty Schock 4-3
Mike Brown 5-5
Deegan Vonlossberg 7-8
Ryan Surratt 12-4
Josh Mosiman 6-12
Justin Hoeft 9-11
Dominic Desimone 11-10
Blayne Thompsom 16-6
RJ Wageman 10-14
Ricky Dietrich 20-7
Dennis Stapleton 17-13
Kai Aiello 15-15
Carson Carr 14-16
Tallon Lafountaine 22-9
Willy Simons 13-18
Keaton Ward 21-17
Tyler Bowers 2-DNF
Jakob Alvarez 23-DNF
125cc Pro Top 10
Justin Hoeft 1-1
Chis Plouffe 4-3
Colton Aeck 6-2
Alex Ray 7-4
Tyler Nicholson 8-5
Tim Weigand 9-6
Matt Cerami 10-8
Brian Begin 12-7
Ryan Wilson 13-10
Michael Blose 11-12
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Mees Rebounds to Win Texas Half Mile
Defending AFT Twins champion Jared Mees has bounced back from a difficult start to the 2019 season to deliver a vintage performance at the Texas Half-Mile at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, to score his first victory of the season.
Jared Mees
AFT Twins Report
Right from the start Mees found himself embroiled in a one-on-one shootout with his fellow Indian rider and championship leader Briar Bauman and the two immediately broke free from the pack and traded the lead back and forth multiple times with a series of slick overtaking moves.
#14 Briar Bauman leads the standings – #17 Henry Wiles is fourth
On lap 22 of 25 Mees pushed out just enough of a gap to breathe a bit easier over the race’s final circulations, claiming his 27th Half-Mile victory by 1.316-seconds over Bauman and Brandon Robinson to complete an all Indian podium while Sammy Halbert (HD) and Larry Pegram (Indian) rounded out the top five.
When asked if he expects Saturday’s win to reopen the floodgates Mees said:
“That would be the goal — that is the goal — and we’d love to do that, but this year is tougher. The guys are better, and they’ve got their machines figured out better. I’ve got to dig down deeper. Last year, I basically got a good start, went by Briar when he was on the Kawasaki, and took off. This time, I had to wear the boy out. He rode so good. He was better than me in Turns 3 and 4 early in the race. I saw what he was doing and moved down to his line, and that allowed me to maintain a little bit of a gap.”
AFT Twins Round 3 Podium
AFT Twins Points after 3 of 18 Rounds
Briar Bauman – 62
Brandon Robinson – 53
Jared Mees – 47
Henry Wiles – 46.
Jarod Vanderkooi – 43
Sammy Halbert – 34
Larry Pegram – 33
Robert Pearson – 32
Jake Johnson – 29
Jeffrey Carver Jr. – 29
AFT Singles Report
KTM’s Shayna Texter has the most wins in the history of the AFT Singles and she added to the tally in Texas with a hard fought ride to victory over Mikey Rush and 16-year-old phenom James Ott who was making his professional debut.
The battle at the front went right to the final lap where Ott made one final lunge to overtake Rush as Rush did the same to Texter on the race’s final corner but in the end, their positions remained unchanged with Texter winning by a scant 0.129 seconds over Rush with Ott another 0.125 seconds back in third.
Shayna Texter
“It’s awesome to get the first win behind us. To give Red Bull KTM its first win in American Flat Track is awesome. Hats off to my partners… To be able to win in Roof Systems’ backyard is incredible.”
Last year’s Texas Half-Mile winner, Morgen Mischler finished fourth, followed by championship leader Dalton Gauthier in fifth while Aussie Max Whale went down hard in the first corner but is fit and ready for next weekend’s Super TT in Arizona.
AFT Singles Points after 3 of 18 Rounds
Dalton Gauthier – 59
Mikey Rush – 48
Jesse Janisch – 47
Dan Bromley – 44
Morgen Mischler – 40
Shayna Texter – 35
Oliver Brindley – 30
Max Whale – 22
Tristan Avery – 22
Michael Inderbitzin – 21
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Weekly Up-Date on Our Aussies Abroad
Jed Beaton – Rockstar Husqvarna
Championship: World MX2 Motocross Championship Current Standing: 13th after Round 4 of 17 Notes: Thanks to some niggling injuries Jed sat out the opening round but has scored solid points in the next three rounds while still nursing a few aches and pains – the four week break from rounds 4 to 5 will do him no harm. The next round will be the MXGP of Lombardi in Italy on the 12th of May.
Mitch Evans – 114 Honda
Championship: World MX2 Motocross Championship Current Standing: 8th after Round 4 of 17 Notes: Mitch sensationally started the season with a podium finish but since then it has been a bit of a roller coaster with great speed let down by two mechanical DNFs. The next round will be the MXGP of Lombardi in Italy on the 12th of May.
Mitch Evans
Tayla Jones – Rockstar/Husqvarna/Moose Racing/Shaw Wines
Championship: GNCC Current Standing: 1st after Round 4 of 13 Notes: Tayla has only lost one round so far this year and is looking as good as ever. Next round will be the ‘X Factor Whitetails’ at Peru near Indianapolis on May 4 and 5
Caleb Grothues – SDM Corse Yamaha
Championship: EMX250 Current Standings: 16th after Round 2 of 8 Notes: The former Australian and World Junior Motocross Champion rode well at the opening round but was forced to sit out the second round due to injury but the West Aussie should be back for the next round in France on the 26th of May.
Hunter Lawrence – Geico Honda
Championship: AMA Motocross Championship Current Standings: TBA Notes: Hunter was looking sharp heading into the supercross championship before he crashed right before the opening round so he is now healed and by all accounts 100 per cent ready for the outdoors which kicks off at Hangtown on May 18.
Hunter Lawrence
Jett Lawrence – Geico Honda
Championship: TBA Current Standings: TBA Notes: Jett joined the Geico Honda amateur program for 2019 and to date he has raced a handful of events like the Mini-Os etc – as soon as he races and there are results it will be right here.
Tahlia ‘TJ’ O’Hare – KTM DIGA Racing Team
Championship: MXW World Motocross Championship Current Standings: 13th after Round 1 of 5 Notes: Tahlia’s initiation into the world motocross scene was at the toughest track on the circuit in Valkenswaard but she managed to get through with a solid 13th but look for TJ to move up the points standings at the second round in Portugal on May 19.
Chad Reed – JGR Suzuki
Championship: AMA Supercross Current Standing: 11th after Round 15 of 17 Notes: Chad was part of a multi bike crash at Seattle when he was sitting seventh in the championship and if a few things go his way Chad will be on the line at the final round of the championship at Vegas in two weekend’s time.
Chad Reed – Image by Hoppenworld
Wil Ruprecht – Johansson MPE Yamaha
Championship: EnduroGP – Junior Class Current Standing: 2nd after Round 1 of 7 Notes: Wil proved his worth at the opening round in Germany with a solid weekend on the only Yamaha in the field. The next round will be at Valpaços in Portugal on May 3-4.
Meghan Rutledge – Bud Racing Kawasaki
Championship: MXW World Motocross Championship Current Standings: 8th after Round 1 of 5 Notes: Meghan sat out the World Championships for four years and her first round was marred with some minor mistakes but there was no mistaking her speed so look for Meghan to have a much better round in Portugal on the 19th of May.
Championship: GNCC / AMA Enduro Current Standing: 6th after Round 4 of 13 Notes: New team for Josh and he is gaining confidence at every round – Josh sat in second place for the early part of round 4 before dropping to fifth overall. Next round will be the ‘X Factor Whitetails’ at Peru near Indianapolis on May 4 and 5
Mackenzie Tricker – KTM/MEPMX/Fly Racing
Championship: GNCC Current Standing: 3rd after Round 4 of 13 Notes: Mackenzie is not far off cracking a win at the GNCC level but the pace is red hot out front between Jones and Becca Sheets. Next round will be the ‘X Factor Whitetails’ at Peru near Indianapolis on May 4 and 5
Max Whale – Weirbach Racing Kawasaki
Championship: AFT Singles Current Standings: 8th after Round 3 of 18 Notes: Max scored 5th at the opening round before struggling to an 11th at round two but it got worse at the 3rd round with a crash in the first corner that could have ended with a season ending injury but the plucky Queenslander has already stated on Facebook that he made a mistake but will be back next weekend’s Super TT in Arizona.
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Ferris to Raceline KTM
Dean Ferris has signed to ride for Raceline KTM and will potentially line-up for the Murray Bridge double-header in two weekend’s time – this is what Dean wrote on his Facebook page:
‘Stoked to announce my partnership with RaceLine Performance and Recover8. Massive thanks to everyone involved in getting me hooked up, all Raceline partners included. If you are wondering what Recover8 is, it’s a sport supplement about to hit the Market. TOP STUFF! Looking forward to ripping on this KTM 450.’
Dean Ferris to Raceline KTM
As far as Dean’s aspirations to race in America go it appears that the Raceline KTM/Recovery8 relationship may play a part in achieving that goal – more news to come.
Clement Desalle Injury Up-Date
Just a few weeks after celebrating his first podium of the season at the Dutch GP, Kawasaki’s Clément Desalle is recovering well at home from a minor surgery on his right knee after barely surviving a tough GP of Trentino.
During his charge to second place in the opening moto at Valkenswaard the Belgian felt pain in his leg and after several examinations between the GPs of Valkenswaard and Pietramurata, Clément knew that the Italian race would be difficult as he was unable to train during the week and had some pain in his knee.
Clément Desalle
“The examinations revealed that the meniscus was affected, and that some little pieces of bones were broken so we scheduled surgery for Monday after the race. This round was really difficult due to the pain and the crash in the second race; immediately after I retired I left with my father for Dr Claes’ clinic where I had surgery early last Monday (April 9). As soon as my knee had deflated after surgery I could start this week to work on a daily basis with my physiotherapist, mainly in the swimming pool at the moment but I have also started some bicycle exercises. We expect to do even more later this week, and for sure I’m pretty lucky that there is a break in the championship at the moment. The plan is to spend a few hours on the bike before Mantova, and so far everything has gone as we could expect.”
Clement Desalle
One week after surgery, Clément has already started the recuperation process and has a further three weeks to recover before Mantova on May 11th and 12th.
Currently sixth in the MXGP standing after his DNF in the second race in Trentino, Clément will be back racing in Italy, while teammate Julien Lieber will enter a French championship round during this spring break of the FIM Motocross World Championship.
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Dean Wilson joins the injured list
Like many before him, Dean Wilson’s 2019 AMA Supercross Champion has ended prematurely after crashing out of the main event at Denver last weekend – here is what Dean wrote on Instagram:
Dean Wilson
“Such a massive gut punch on Saturday. Just as I was gaining good momentum riding well, feeling good and chasing my first win things turned in the blink of an eye. Started off Denver topping free practice then went on to qualify P1 in qualifier 1. Qualifier 2 didn’t get the cleanest laps but ended with a 4th. On to the main event I was running around 7th on lap 7 moving forward and as I came around for the rhythm section I tripled in and something freak happened causing the bike to nose dive after I tripled in and pile driving me into the ground. The tough part of this is I have been trying so hard this year to be back where I need to be trying to get a job for next year. It’s tough just hoping to have a ride each year. 2nd part is people saying, ‘Wilson’s hurt again, big surprise there’ when it was something that wasn’t my fault. It’s a tough pill to swallow. I injured my shoulder and got a contusion on my kidneys. Got MRI and good news is I dodged a bullet on my shoulder and I am just going to give it a few weeks of rest and therapy and see where we are at. Huge disappointment to end my SX season like this. Thanks to my whole team for everything and everybody checking in on me. I really appreciate it. I will be back.”
Dean Wilson
In just the 450-class alone Chad Reed, Justin Brayton, Malcolm Stewart, Justin Barcia, Aaron Plessinger, Vince Friese, Benny Bloss, AJ Catanzaro, Tyler Enticknap, Cole Martinez and Ronnie Stewart all missed rounds or were forced out of the series with crashes at the races while Justin Hill and Joey Savatgy are riding injured and hanging in there.
Supercross returns to Wollongong in 2019
Troy Bayliss Events have confirmed that the third round of the 2019 Australian Supercross Championship will be held at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium on Saturday the 9th of November giving fans the opportunity to see Australia’s best racers take on some international riders on a full-size track while racing the exciting Triple Crown Format in both SX1 and SX2 premiere classes.
Three-time Superbike World Champion and Event Organiser Troy Bayliss said the stadium layout will be unique with a section of the track heading up onto the iconic hill.
Troy Bayliss
“In 2018, Troy Bayliss Events took the big step to put Supercross back into a stadium in Australia with Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium round, now Troy Bayliss Events is thrilled to be taking the NSW event back to an outdoor stadium. WIN Stadium is the perfect size with the crowd so close to the action and the location is second to none. I am really excited about the track layout. This event will be like no other with the track winding up onto the iconic hill. We would like to thank Destination Wollongong, Wollongong City Council, WIN Stadium and Yamaha for the support to allow Supercross to take place In Wollongong and within WIN Stadium. The Illawarra is rich with motorcycle champions and fans and we can’t wait until the gates drop on November 9.”
Troy Bayliss
Yamaha Motor Australia will be a major sponsor to Round 3 of the 2019 Australian Supercross Championship. Wollongong’s WIN Stadium is the perfect venue to showcase our race teams as they battle for supremacy in the VictorYZone.
In addition, this round will host another YZ65 Cup event – the grassroots race series designed to give young guns their first taste of the big time by racing in front of their Supercross heroes and up to 20,000 fans.
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Australian Motorcycle Festival Also set for Wollongong
Troy Bayliss Events have also confirmed that the Australian Motorcycle Festival will take place right next door to WIN Stadium at Lang Park on the same weekend as the Australian Supercross Championship over the weekend of November 9 and 10.
Formally known as the Sydney Motorcycle Show, Australia’s largest Motorcycle Show is also set to expand with massive trade displays featuring motorcycles, scooters, ATV’s, SxS’s, trikes and jet skis as well as related products and services while visitors to the event will have the opportunity to test a huge range of motorcycles and jet-skis.
Mark Sleigh, General Manager, Destination Wollongong said the city is excited to host the Australian Supercross Championship and Motorcycle Festival in November.
Mark Sleigh – Destination Wollongong
“Wollongong makes for the perfect road trip with stunning coastline taking in Sea Cliff Bridge as well as the winding escarpment which will put all your motorcycle skills to the test. The combination of the Championship and the Motorcycle Festival make for the perfect weekend away so we encourage everyone to stay a little longer and enjoy the attractions, natural assets and cafes and bars on offer in Wollongong.”
Tickets will go on sale Monday 29th April via Ticketmaster with tickets starting from $30.00. A full line up of support classes and live entertainment will be released in the coming weeks.
Smektala Scores Warsaw Wildcard
FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion Bartosz Smektala is set to done the famous #16 race jacket for his full FIM Speedway Grand Prix debut after earning a wildcard for the opening round of the FIM Speedway World Championship at PGE Narodowy on May 18.
The 20-year-old was crowned World Under-21 champion last season after seeing off a huge challenge from 2017 champion Maksym Drabik before winning a second straight PGE Ekstraliga title with Leszno.
Bartosz Smektala
Smektala rode in his first SGP heat as a track reserve at the 2017 Nice Torun SGP of Poland, before serving as a stand-in rider again in Warsaw last year where he raced in heat 14 that night, finishing second to Chris Holder and beating eventual World Championship bronze medallist Fredrik Lindgren and Craig Cook.
The Srem-born racer represents Leszno once again in this year’s PGE Ekstraliga as well as Swedish Elitserien club Vastervik.
He’s joined in Warsaw by track reserves Dominik Kubera and Rafal Karczmarz, who line up at No.17 and No.18 respectively. Kubera races alongside Smektala with Leszno, while Karczmarz rides for Gorzow.
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Paulo Goncalves Joins Hero Motorsports
The Indian off-road team Hero Motorsports have confirmed that former Dakar runner up and 2015 FIM Cross-Country Champion Paulo Gonçalves will be joining the team as they continue their quest for Dakar glory.
Paulo Goncalves joins Hero Motorsports
Created in 2016, Hero Motorsport Rally Team has been gaining experience competing in some of the most demanding off-road races, especially the Dakar Rally where Hero Motorsports have finished inside the top-10 twice, and the best result came at the Merzouga Rally where they won.
Paulo Gonçalves has been racing for the factory Honda Dakar team but decided it was time to change and try new challenges.
Paulo Gonçalves
“From my side, I promise to give my everything to be ready and fit to be able to fight for the top positions for my team. Hero MotoSports has been doing a really good job in the last couple of seasons and this young team has shown, that it has the potential to win big. I would like to play my part in bringing these wins to the team. With lots of passion and emotions, my thanks again to the team and I am excited to begin.”
Paulo Goncalves
Wolfgang Fischer – Head of Hero MotoSports Team Rally
“We are very motivated by the entry of Paulo Gonçalves into our young set-up. To attract one of the most decorated and respected top rally athletes is a big boost for our team and an endorsement that we are being looked upon as one of the top teams in rally sport. His experience of numerous race victories and Dakar participation into our line-up will enable us to achieve the next level of competitiveness. We extend Paulo a very warm welcome and wish him a successful stint with Hero MotoSports Team Rally.”
The new Hero Motorsports Rally Team is now completed with Paulo Gonçalves joins his Portuguese compatriot Joaquim Rodrigues as well as CS Santosh and Oriol Mena.
The Hero Motorsports Rally Team is getting ready for the next race, the Silkway Rally, that will happen in July, covering some spectacular trails in Russia, Mongolia and China.
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Dakar Rally Moves to Saudi Arabia
After 11 years of being based in South America, Dakar Rally organizers ASO have confirmed that the event will take place in Saudi Arabia beginning in 2020 and beyond.
The event was held solely in Peru earlier this year after the ASO was forced to hastily assemble a route in 2019 after the late withdrawal of Bolivia and Chile.
Dakar Rally Director – David Castera
“Looking back at my first memories of the Dakar and my first experiences as a competitor, I’ve always considered that this rally like no other carried a concept of discovery, a voyage into the unknown. By going to Saudi Arabia, it is, of course, that aspect that fascinates me. I’m convinced that such a feeling will be shared by all the riders, drivers and co-pilots. As the director of the event, it’s a massive challenge to be faced with a blank page with limitless possibilities. I’m already inspired and delighted to have to design a course in such a monumental geography, made for the most audacious itineraries. We are spoilt for choice. Sports, navigation, a will to surpass oneself: all these aspects will naturally be glorified on this territory made for rally-raids.”
More details regarding the event will be announced at a press conference on April 25 in Al-Qiddiya, near the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
As a point of interest, the Arabian desert is an area of 2,330,000 square kilometres, the fifth largest desert in the world, and the largest in Asia. At its centre is Ar-Rub’al-Khali (The Empty Quarter), one of the largest continuous bodies of sand in the world – GULP!
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Treloar crowned 11-time Australian Speedway Sidecar Champion
Treloar Pioneer Park Speedway, Queensland played host to a momentous occasion in Australian Speedway Sidecar history, with spectators and riders alike witnessing Darrin Treloar’s 11th claim to the Australian Senior Speedway Sidecar Championship and the retirement of Andrew Buchanan.
Australian Speedway Sidecar
Featuring in the Final was Monson/Summerhayes, Plaisted/Pitt, Harrison/McGrath and Treloar/Cox. With consecutive wins in the FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship and FIM 1000cc Speedway Sidecar World Cup under their belt, the dynamic duo that is Monson and Summerhayes were locked and loaded to blaze a trail into first place. After four exhilarating laps though, it was Treloar and Cox who stole the win, marking Treloar’s 11th Australian Speedway Sidecar title!
Darrin Treloar
“2019 marks my 11th Australian Speedway Sidecar Championship and honestly it hasn’t sunk in yet. Nothing beats my first Championship win back in 1993 up in Darwin of course, but this win is definitely something else. Coming into this weekend I try and keep fit with 3-4 days spent in the gym, plus heaps of work in the garage developing the bike. As the Championship marks the end of the season, we as competitors were well into the swing of things [keeping fit and staying motivated] with most of us having already competed in 10-15 events prior. Andrew is a great bloke who is a fantastic addition to the sport. This weekend was emotional of course as he announced he was hanging up the boots, but as always Andrew was extremely competitive and didn’t give an inch. So you had to fight hard to push ahead of him.”
2019 Australian Speedway Sidecar Championship Podium
Running in conjunction with the Seniors at Pioneer Park across the Easter long weekend was the 2019 Australian Junior Speedway Sidecar Championship.
Arriving at the Final, fans had the privilege of witnessing the clear emergence of superb Australian Speedway Sidecar talent, as all three squads became demons behind the handlebars. Coming out on top to claim the 2019 Australian Junior Speedway Sidecar Championship was the Fewster team, ahead of Curran/Kerss and Milner/Niesche in second and third place, respectively.
Australian Junior Speedway Sidecar Championship Podium
Western Australia (WA) locals, Jack and Adam Fewster have taken out their second Australian Junior Speedway Sidecar Championship title. As they land back on WA soil, Jack explained that “The weekend’s racing was really great! The racing was super tough which really pushed us to try as hard as we could to win. The practice day prior to racing really helped us keep cool and collected.”
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Three-time Superbike world champion Troy Bayliss has delivered his initial impression on the all-new Ducati Panigale V4 R in race trim prepared by the DesmoSport outfit.
Bayliss, who suffered a hand injury at the opening round of the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) and has since signed Mike Jones to replace him for the remainder of the year, recently took to The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia aboard the highly-anticipated machine.
“We’ve had the V4 R for quite some time, and honestly, I did four or five laps on it at Morgan Park a month or two ago, but it was very early and the bike was still in road trim,” Bayliss explained to CycleOnline.com.au. “As good as it was then in road trim being a fantastic bike, it’s very close to being race ready now.
“I was a bit unsure at Morgan Park, but hopping off the bike at Tailem Bend, I had a smile from ear to ear. I’ve had a very good time on the V-twins over the years, and the 1299 FE that we’ve been riding – it’s a race bike, but it does’t rev.
“And now to go from that to the V4 R, which is built around a race bike, it feels racey and just a pleasure to ride. We’ve had just the one day of testing along with a lot of other people, but that was all about Jonesy getting set-up on the 1299.”
According to Bayliss, co-owner of the DesmoSport operation, the team’s V4 R is at an adequate level to be rolled out for competition at The Bend’s third round of ASBK this weekend, however a lack of spare parts, and the fact they only have one unit of the motorcycle, is the determining factor behind the Ducati lining up on the grid at a later date this season.
“We’re just waiting on a few bits and pieces, basically spares, because we at the moment only have one bike that’s basically ready to race,” he continued. “All I can say is, whether it be Morgan Park or the following round, it’s going to take a little bit whether I have a ride on it at some stage.
“Obviously all our eggs are in one basket to win the championship with Mike Jones after the way it’s panned out for me, but I’m pretty excited for the new bike.
“We could actually race it there, but we could shoot ourselves in the foot going between the V4 R and 1299 FE, so we’re holding off until we’re ready, maybe have another bike and do it properly.”
DesmoSport Ducati uncovered its sole V4 R in team colours at Phillip Island’s ASBK opener.
