Piaggio Group owns a whole lot of companies, and electrification is certainly on the horizon for many of them. Recently, Piaggio trademarked the name eSR1 and that has me thinking an electric Aprilia SR scooter could be coming soon.
According to Motorcycle.com, the European Union Intellectual Property Office published a trademark application today that showed the logo eSR1 in a stylized font. The publication did note that the owner of the application was not revealed, but that it’s sure it’s Piaggio.
The reason? The SR in the logo looks identical to the SR in the SR-GP Replica scooter that was released last year. There’s also the fact that the application was filed by Jacobacci & Partners S.P.A., which is an Italian law firm that handles Piaggio’s stuff regularly.
There are various SR scooter models from Aprilia at this point in various markets. Aprilia offers the scooter in displacements ranging from 50cc all the way up to 160cc. The speculation is that this new scooter would be a new SR based on the Vespa Elettrica platform.
That would make sense, but Piaggio Group might have something special up its sleeve and have this new scooter offer better range or performance than the Vespa. Time will tell.
“Il Toro is a team known around the world for its history steeped in performance, talent, passion and is loved for the tenacity with which it faces challenges. Suzuki shares the effort, the search for results and above all the competitive spirit with the Bull, showing every day the same determination to achieve the goals set, respecting the rules and the rivals.”
Mr Ezpeleta continues on the need to deliver the track and looking towards 2021: “The focus has to be on construction, homologation as well as testing, especially because it is a brand-new street circuit. As mentioned, it is a possibility that changes will happen to the Provisional Calendar and once we have a clearer picture, of course subject to construction and testing, we may start discussing a possible date for the Grand Prix in 2021.”
“The next race was coming very soon and I realised I have to change the style because with the 2019 bike, I had the surgery in the winter, physically I was not 100% so I have to change. So the only way was to see Marc’s data. He knows pretty well how to handle the bike… especially last season in 2019, he won many, many races, so why not? If I have a chance, I try to see his data how he manages this bike. Then, I can see many tricks in braking, mid-corner, exit, many things. It was the same bike but on the graphics it was completely different. First time I saw it, I thought “wow, how does he manage?” But then from HRC, Takeo explained very well with the Japanese, analysed the different ways of braking, especially on the braking it’s hugely different how he stops the bike. And then one moment I saw completely different how to stop the bike, I thought ‘OK, I have to do it this way’.
2020 mi-bike Australian Superbike Rounds 2-3 – Wakefield Park
Well MotoGP has been done and dusted, Australia is getting on top of the plague and Queensland are thinking about rejoining the rest of Australia so its time to go racing!
The venue for this coitus interruptus of an ASBK season to reconvene in earnest is Wakefield Park. Goulburn got the guernsey thanks due to it being in regional NSW, thus nearly everyone was allowed to travel there. Even Queenslanders could turn up while still being allowed to return home some time this decade, if they ask nicely… Western Australians though, are still not allowed out…
Wakefield is also relatively central and the hosts could massage their slate of bookings generously enough to accommodate us. Winning.
Sadly though ASBK Race Fans will be unable to attend the event in person due to COVID-19 restrictions. Instead, fans can catch all the action live via ASBK TV partners SBSHD, Fox Sports Australia and Fox Sports Asia on both Saturday and Sunday.
It is a busy four day schedule for this double-header round with practice Thursday, Qualifying for all classes on Friday along with a race for the YMI Supersport 300, bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup and YMF R3 Cup categories.Saturday then sees a full round two race schedule while on Sunday we, somewhat surprisingly, have another round of qualifying immediately prior to the round three race schedule. The full time-line can be seen further down the page, along with the TV schedule.
Superbike competitors have a possible maximum points earn of 102 from the weekend if they were to take both pole positions and all four race wins.
One small mistake might be all it takes to lose your chance at the chalice, and with a 50 per cent chain of 10-20 mm of rain on Saturday, it could be a fine line to tread between hero and zero… Conditions are expected to be fine on Sunday but forecast strong winds could cause problems and if that rain does not eventuate, potentially dust storms.
Wayne Maxwell dominated the season opener back in February at Phillip Island with a perfect haul of 76 points. It was not quite that clear cut or easy for Maxwell as the score-board looks though, Cru Halliday was nipping at his heels throughout the weekend and piled the pressure on.
Maxwell’s race records at Wakefield could be an ominous sign for his Championship rivals. Maxwell took race wins in 2018, 2017 and 2016 and has been a top three points scorer for the last four years at the NSW circuit. This year though he is on an all-new machine after switching to a Ducati V4 R, and he may be a little behind the eight-ball when it comes to set-up when proceedings get underway on Thursday.
Wayne Maxwell
“Wakefield has been good to me, I’ve won races there, I’ve finished on the podium and I enjoy Wakefield, the layout, the challenges it presents, and I can’t wait to get out there and take it on.
“It’s been a difficult year for everyone involved in ASBK, it’s been unprecedented. There has been a lot of hard work done in such a funny year. So many times you build yourself up to go racing and then we get shut down by things that are outside of ASBK’s control.
“For the Boost Mobile-K-Tech team, everyone has stood by us and been committed, hopefully we can bring the ultimate reward on the Sunday. It would mean the world to me and a great reward for my guys.”
In recent weeks Maxwell has managed to get some seat time on his Ducati at Winton Motor Raceway in preparation for the Grand Finale.
“Track time is definitely what I’ve needed. Being back on the Boost Mobile K-Tech bike and training on the Ohvale has put me in a really good position to take on the gruelling ASBK double header. To win It will take no mistakes, that’s the key for us to win the Championship. I’m confident, I have no reason not to be.”
Cru Halliday
Halliday was buoyed with confidence after his 2-2-2 results at Phillip Island and was oh so close to forcing Maxwell into a mistake. The 32-year-old is now only 16-points behind Championship leader Wayne Maxwell, and 11-points ahead of third placed Josh Waters.
“I’m ready. I’m feeling really good, my fitness is there and I’m confident going into Wakefield Park,” Halliday said after completing a test session on his firing Yamaha R1. “I’ve got the bike to where I really want it to be, I feel comfortable and we only have to make small adjustments when we get to a track.
“I think with the ASBK Championship on the line, everyone is going to be all out to win. With the competition this year, it is so fierce, and you have to go into it mentally prepared and that you are going to get the job done. It’s going to be pretty brutal. We have two 20 lap races on Saturday and Sunday, so we have to be physically and mentally fit, and I’m ready.”
Halliday’s recent record at Wakefield Park Raceway is strong. He scored two 2nd places in 2019 in the Superbike class and two victories in 2018 in the MotorsportsTV Supersport class, in which he went on to win the Championship.
“Everyone knows it’s Troy Herfoss’ backyard, and he and Wayne Maxwell are going to be the ones to beat. You can’t count out guys like Josh Waters, Bryan Staring, my team-mate Aiden Wagner who had a tough year earlier on with injury. But he’s back and on the ball firing. You can’t exclude people like Mike Jones, he has the number one plate for a reason, and there are guys outside the top ten who could cause an upset if everything goes belly up.
“I’ve had some good luck at Wakefield. When I saw Wakefield come up, I thought it’s a track that’s going to be good for me, so I can’t wait. I like the top section of the track, turns 4 and 5, Wakefield is technical and off camber, but I happen to go well at there. It just gels with me.”
After somewhat hastily cobbling together a self-run team at almost the last minute even Josh Waters himself was somewhat surprised, but delighted, at the 3-4-3 results he carded at round one. Waters has three Australian Superbike Championship Titles under his belt and is looking to become the first rider to capture four.
Josh Waters
“Being in the position we are in, doing it all ourselves and working on my own bike, it would be very special for everyone involved to win a fourth ASBK Championship. It will take four good results, and maybe a little bit of bad luck for others, not that I want that for them. All I can do is concentrate on what I can do on track.
“We’ve all been off the bike for a long time, and with the double header I’m going to try and play it smart. If you look at other Championships that have had breaks there has been a lot of stuff go on track, so I think ASBK could be the same.
“This is physical little circuit, and it will be the same for everyone so there is no point whinging. I will just worry about myself and get the best out of the small team and package we have.
“It’s been a tough year with COVID-19 but I’ve got some good people in my team. My brother is running the ship and he has been with me ever since I came back from Europe and a number of small businesses supporting me as well.”
Bryan Staring also figured strongly at the season opener, bagging 49-points, one more than amassed by Troy Herfoss.Previously an Australian 125 GP, Supersport and Superbike Champion, the Western Australian could well add another if Dunlop bring a secret weapon to Wakefield that might give him an edge.
Bryan Staring
“Obviously, the goal is always to win the Championship, that is the dream goal and objective. You can only expect to put your best performance in each time and where that puts us on the circuit we will see.
“I would anticipate there is going to be some mixed results and crazy racing from riders that haven’t been riding or competing as often as normal. Add to this the heightened pressure of what is a now shortened Championship and anything could happen.
“I’ve got a great bike and Dunlop tyres under me and I have every reason to be confident. I am certainly looking forward to getting back to racing again. Just to get the normality of life back in check and in tune.
“Kawasaki BCPerformance is certainly a place I feel at home and appreciated, and I can do my best work here. The package they have for us with the Dunlop tyre is a good one, and everyone puts their best foot forward.”
“We did a test earlier in the season pre-COVID and it was the most positive outcome we’ve had at Wakefield Park. Previous results we haven’t achieved what we’ve set out to do at that circuit, but I won’t let that affect me mentally or the target and objective for this weekend. I’m certainly looking forward to turn our fortunes around at Wakefield Park and we want to make it one of our circuits.
“I feel like everyone in the team is super motivated with a never give up attitude and that is what I enjoy, I couldn’t be happier.”
Troy Herfoss and the Penrite Honda squad have been putting in the hard yards readying the all-new CBR1000RR-R SP for the heat of ASBK competition and Herf’ is hot to trot on the turf that he has celebrated so much success over the years.
Normally more than half the crowd would be cheering him on as the home town favourite, but with restrictions leaving fans to watch on the TV from their lounge rooms it will be a very different atmosphere this year for Troy.
We suspect that Herf’ has been playing his cards a little close to his chest in the lead-up to the finale but he will come out swinging when the lights go out. A full interview with Troy will be published tomorrow on ASBK.com.au.
Troy Herfoss
“We are going to a track I enjoy, but also going there with a new bike I’ve never turned a lap on there. The bike 100 is per cent different, there is no part on that bike that is the same as the old one, so we are rolling out Thursday morning blind. But to be honest it hasn’t event crossed my mind that we won’t be competitive. It’s physically really hard and impossible to ride a Superbike around Wakefield at 100 per cent all the time, so you’ve got be fit.
“I just want to go there and do my best and win the Championship, and if I do it, it will be my third official Australian Superbike Championship and fourth time I’ve won an ASBK Championship.”
One top rider missing from the grid this weekend is YRT rider Daniel Falzon. The South Aussie has been a mainstay of the series for a long time and it will be strange for him not to be there. Matt Walters is another regular not attending this weekend.
Daniel Falzon
“To be honest, I have been a firm believer from earlier this year when the first few rounds were “postponed” that the championship should have been cancelled all together. Obviously working in the healthcare industry (Daniel is a Paramedic), I have been in the thick of Covid-19 and the rescheduling of each event made planning extremely difficult for us.
“I suppose the nail in the coffin for us was the recent SA outbreak and the cancellation of The Bend. The risk and reward of competing at Wakefield park was considered amongst our team and partners, and we have decided to not enter the round.
“We will look forward to redirecting our budget 2021.”
While Daniel Falzon will be staying home fellow South Aussie Arthur Sissis has entered the round. The ex-speedway star is the master of the hole-shot, something that is crucial heading into Wakefield Park’s tricky complex of right-handers.
Defending Champ Mike Jones had a disappointing opening to his title defence when a bike problem saw him unable to start the opening race. The DesmoSport Ducati rider though bounced back in the following two bouts to bag 35-points and is still right in the game.
Mike Jones
“I love racing, so I’m pretty excited to get on track again. It’s been a tough year for so many people here and around the world, so I really am grateful we get the opportunity to race at all. I’ve been able to keep training in the break, getting plenty of time in on the mountain bike especially, but also a few of the local races on the V4R here in Queensland and I feel ready. Obviously, with a double header format, we have a lot more time on track compared to a usual ASBK round and it will be a lot more psychically demanding, but my program is strong.”
Jed Metcher put in some solid rides at the Phillip Island opener and is capable of springing some surprises this weekend.
Jed Metcher
“I guess the run down on my end is that we have gone to 2020 R1’s with so great success so far for myself getting into the 55’s at Broadford and 21’s at Winton in our first outing. We will be using this race meeting as a bit of a test as on the new bikes so no pressure this round.”
Glenn Allerton, yet another three-time champion in the field (along with Waters), is champing at the bit to get out there after getting the latest S 1000 RR set-up to his liking. He might be 45-points behind and thus somewhat of a dark horse, but he is relishing his underdog status and reckons he can be fighting up front this weekend.
Glenn Allerton
“I’ve had a good re-set during this down time. Testing and sorting out the new BMW S 1000 RR. Shane (crew chief) and myself have made be steps forward with the setup of our bike and it has improved massively since round one where we showed great speed in qualifying but the race set-up needed work.
“I’ve never been more confident with my bike and I can’t wait to get out on track at Wakefield, a track that has been a really successful place for me over the years. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain this weekend so I’ll be going all out for race wins.”
Aiden Wagner had a difficult start to the year but is certain to be battling for podiums. If the cards fall his way, he is also a chance for the title.
Aiden Wagner
“Great to finally be going back racing with the team and ASBK paddock after the rough year everyone has had. It will be awesome to feel a bit of normality again. Going to be tough for me to get on the podium in the current championship standings but aiming so get up on the podium of the race days for sure. Been training a lot leading up to this round so I’m feeling super fit and can’t wait to turn the tyres on the Factory R1 and get racing!”
The likes of Linden Magee, Beau Beaton, Mark Chiodo and Glenn Scott could also surprise the regular front runners. International journeymen Lachlan Epis and Chandler Cooper will also be interesting to watch as they go up against the top crop of Australian Superbike regulars.
It is all on the line this weekend and in this strange plague affected season there are a dozen riders in with a red hot shot at glory this weekend. Tune in on Saturday and Sunday to watch it all unfold or follow our coverage right here on MCNews.com.au in what will be our 21st year covering the Australian Superbike Championship. And in all that time, Trev has only missed one round this century!
Who will be crowned king come Sunday afternoon…..?
2020 mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship Points
Pos
Name
Machine
Pole
R1
R2
R3
Total
1
Wayne MAXWELL
Ducati V4R
1
25
25
25
76
2
Cru HALLIDAY
Yamaha
20
20
20
60
3
Josh WATERS
Suzuki
18
15
18
51
4
Bryan STARING
Kawasaki
17
17
15
49
5
Troy HERFOSS
Honda
16
16
16
48
6
Daniel FALZON
Yamaha
14
14
13
41
7
Arthur SISSIS
Suzuki
15
10
12
37
8
Mike JONES
Ducati
18
17
35
9
Jed METCHER
Suzuki
12
11
10
33
10
Glenn ALLERTON
BMW
5
12
14
31
11
Linden MAGEE
BMW
10
6
9
25
12
Matt WALTERS
Kawasaki
13
11
24
13
Max CROKER
Suzuki
9
7
7
23
14
Aiden WAGNER
Yamaha
13
9
22
15
Sloan FROST
Suzuki
8
5
8
21
16
Beau BEATON
Ducati
7
4
6
17
17
Glenn SCOTT
Kawasaki
4
8
4
16
18
Brendan McINTYRE
Suzuki
6
3
5
14
19
Josh HAYES
Yamaha
11
11
20
Matthew TOOLEY
Yamaha
1
1
3
5
21
Giuseppe SCARCELLA
Ducati
3
2
5
22
Dean HASLER
BMW
2
2
4
23
Nathan SPITERI
Suzuki
1
1
2020 mi-bike Australian Superbike Rounds 2-3 – Wakefield Park Schedule
ASBK Official Schedule Round 2 & 3 – V.2
Wakefield Park Raceway
Thursday 3rd Dec
0745
Riders Briefing (OJC, R3Cup, SSP300)
Briefing 1
15 mins
0810
Riders Briefing (SSP, SBK)
Briefing 2
15 mins
1030
SBK
FP1
35 mins
1150
Lunch
30 mins
1325
SBK
FP1
35 mins
1555
SBK
FP1
35 mins
Round 2 Friday 4th Dec
1035
SBK
Timed Practice – Rd2
35 mins
1200
Lunch – ASBK Pillion Rides
30 mins
1410
SBK
Q2 R d2
15 mins
1440
SBK
Q2 Rn 2
15 mins
Round 2 Saturday 5th Dec
0940
SBK
WUP
10 mins
1105
SBK
R1 – Rd. 2
18 Laps
1205
Lunch
25 mins
1415
SBK
R2 – Rd. 2
18 Laps
ASBK Official Schedule Round 2 & 3 – V.2
Wakefield Park Raceway
Round 3 Sunday 6th Dec
0950
SBK
Q1 – Rd. 3
15 mins
1035
SBK
Q2 – Rd. 3
15 mins
1215
SBK
R1 – Rd. 3
18 Laps
1305
Lunch
25 mins
1450
SBK
R2 – Rd. 3
18 Laps
1630
ASBK Awards Ceremony
ASBK Podium
45 mins
Superbike Entry List
No
First Name
Surname
State
Model
1
Mike
Jones
QLD
V4-R
13
Jed
Metcher
VIC
YZF-R1
14
Glenn
Allerton
NSW
S1000RR
16
Luke
Jhonston
VIC
YZF-R1
17
Troy
Herfoss
QLD
CBR1000SP
21
Josh
Waters
VIC
GSX-R1000R
28
Aiden
Wagner
QLD
YZF-R1
30
Mark
Chiodo
VIC
YZF-R1
37
Michael
Edwards
QLD
YZF-R1
47
Wayne
Maxwell
VIC
V4-R
51
Chandler
Cooper
VIC
CBR1000
61
Arthur
Sissis
SA
GSX-R1000R
62
Brendan
Mcintyre
NSW
GSX-R1000R
65
Cru
Halliday
NSW
YZF-R1
67
Bryan
Staring
WA
ZX-10R
68
Glenn
Scott
NSW
ZX-10R
78
Nathan
Spiteri
VIC
GSX-R1000R
83
Lachlan
Epis
NSW
GSX-R1000R
88
Giuseppe
Scarcella
NSW
Panigale
98
Evan
Byles
SA
ZX-10R
ASBK Supersport
In Supersport Oli Bayliss goes into the finale six-points clear of Tom Toparis, the defending champion on home turf but Bayliss has been working hard in the down-time and will be on a quest to lift his first Supersport title.
Any trip up by either of those young men though will be punished harshly with the likes of Nic Liminton, Tom Edwards, Max Stauffer and Jack Hyde all less than a win away from the series lead.
Oli Bayliss
“It’s been a tough year to keep motivated without being able to race as much as we planned, but luckily for me, I’m surrounded by people that keep me on track. Ben at the workshop, my brother Mitch at the gym as well as Dad at home has meant my fitness levels are better than ever and I’m just as motivated to win this weekend as I was at Phillip Island in February. It’s going to be a big weekend on track, but I’m ready to get to work“.
ASBK Supersport Championship Points
Pos
Name
Bike
Total
1
Oli BAYLISS
Yamaha
71
2
Tom TOPARIS
Yamaha
65
3
Nic LIMINTON
Yamaha
50
4
Tom EDWARDS
Yamaha
49
5
Max STAUFFER
Yamaha
47
6
Jack HYDE
Yamaha
46
7
Broc PEARSON
Yamaha
37
8
Ted COLLINS
Suzuki
37
9
Jack PASSFIELD
Yamaha
34
10
Aidan HAYES
Yamaha
31
11
Dallas SKEER
Suzuki
29
12
Ty LYNCH
Yamaha
27
13
Rhys BELLING
Yamaha
26
14
Luke MITCHELL
Yamaha
22
15
Ryan TAYLOR
Yamaha
21
16
Chris QUINN
Yamaha
17
17
Brodie MALOUF
Yamaha
10
18
Darren McGRATH
Kawasaki
10
19
Mitch KUHNE
Yamaha
9
20
Andrew EDSER
Kawasaki
5
21
Patrick LI
Yamaha
4
22
Stephany KAPILAWI-JAMES
Yamaha
2
2020 Australian Supersport Rounds 2-3 – Wakefield Park Schedule
ASBK Official Schedule Round 2 & 3 – V.2
Wakefield Park Raceway
Thursday 3rd Dec
0745
Riders Briefing (OJC, R3Cup, SSP300)
Briefing 1
15 mins
0810
Riders Briefing (SSP, SBK)
Briefing 2
15 mins
0925
SSP
FP1
30 mins
1150
Lunch
30 mins
1220
SSP
FP1
30 mins
1450
SSP
FP1
30 mins
Round 2 Friday 4th Dec
0940
SSP
Q1 Rnd2
25 mins
1200
Lunch – ASBK Pillion Rides
30 mins
1255
SSP
Q2 Rnd2
25 mins
Round 2 Saturday 5th Dec
0920
SSP
WUP
5 mins
1035
SSP
R1 – Rd. 2
14 Laps
1205
Lunch
25 mins
1310
SSP
R2 – Rd. 2
14 Laps
ASBK Official Schedule Round 2 & 3 – V.2
Wakefield Park Raceway
Round 3 Sunday 6th Dec
0920
SSP
Q – Rd. 3
25 mins
1115
SSP
R1 – Rd. 3
14 Laps
1305
Lunch
25 mins
1350
SSP
R2 – Rd. 3
14 Laps
1630
ASBK Awards Ceremony
Supersport Entry List
Pos
Name
Surname
State
Model
1
Tom
Toparis
NSW
YZF-R6
17
Broc
Pearson
QLD
YZF-R6
24
Patrick
Li
VIC
YZF-R6
28
Jack
Hyde
NSW
YZF-R6
39
Scott
Nicholson
VIC
GSX-R600
42
Jack
Passfield
NSW
YZF-R6
46
Aidan
Hayes
NSW
YZF-R6
68
Oli
Bayliss
QLD
YZF-R6
71
Tom
Edwards
NSW
YZF-R6
85
Ty
Lynch
SA
YZF-R6
92
Noel
Mahon
VIC
YZF-R6
94
Joel
Taylor
NSW
YZF-R6
127
Max
Stauffer
NSW
YZF-R6
YMI Supersport 300
The YMI Supersport 300 Championship title is there for the taking for riders brave enough to put everything on the line for victory.
Just in the last few years we have seen the likes of Billy Van Eerde,Joel Kelso, Senna Agius, Jacob Roulstone, Harrison Voight, Max Gibbons and Carter Thompson, competing in major international championships such as the Red Bull Rookies Cup, FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 Junior World Championship, FIM European Talent Cup, and Asia Talent Cup.
With 45 points separating the top 10 riders and 127 points on offer over 5 gruelling races for rounds 2 and 3 – the Championship decider – picking a winner is near impossible. Competition in the Supersport 300 class is fierce as we saw at round 1 with 40 riders dicing, rubbing elbows and fairings for the win in front of the WorldSBK paddock. Harry Khouri though holds a significant 27-point advantage over Archie McDonald heading into the finale.
Supersport 300 Championship Points
Pos
Name
Bike
Total
1
Harry KHOURI
Kawasaki
76
2
Archie McDONALD
Yamaha
49
3
Luke POWER
Kawasaki
44
4
Caleb GILMORE
Yamaha
40
5
Luke JHONSTON
Kawasaki
38
6
Jacob HATCH
Yamaha
37
7
Reece OUGHTRED
Yamaha
37
8
Ben BAKER
Yamaha
34
9
John LYTRAS
Yamaha
33
10
Laura BROWN
Yamaha
31
11
Peter NERLICH
Kawasaki
29
12
Brandon DEMMERY
Yamaha
26
13
Filippo ROVELLI
Kawasaki
25
14
Angus GRENFELL
Yamaha
23
15
Zylas BUNTING
Kawasaki
21
16
Yannis SHAW
Kawasaki
20
17
Ryan SMITH
Yamaha
15
18
Olly SIMPSON
Yamaha
13
19
Matthew RINDEL
Yamaha
12
20
Kyle O’CONNELL
Yamaha
12
21
Jake SENIOR
Kawasaki
10
22
Jake FARNSWORTH
Yamaha
9
23
Mitchell SIMPSON
Yamaha
7
24
Joseph MARINIELLO
Kawasaki
5
25
Tom DRANE
Yamaha
1
26
Zachary JOHNSON
Yamaha
1
27
Luca DURNING
Yamaha
1
2020 Australian Supersport 300 Rounds 2-3 – Wakefield Park Schedule
ASBK Official Schedule Round 2 & 3 – V.2
Wakefield Park Raceway
Thursday 3rd Dec
0745
Riders Briefing (OJC, R3Cup, SSP300)
Briefing 1
15 mins
0810
Riders Briefing (SSP, SBK)
Briefing 2
15 mins
1000
SSP300
FP1
25 mins
1150
Lunch
30 mins
1255
SSP300
FP1
25 mins
1525
SSP300
FP1
25 mins
Round 2 Friday 4th Dec
0915
SSP300
Q1 Rnd2
20 mins
1140
SSP300
Q2 Rnd2
20 mins
1200
Lunch – ASBK Pillion Rides
30 mins
1345
SSP300
R1 -Rd1
10 Laps
1510
R3 Cup
R1 -Rd1
8 Laps
Round 2 Saturday 5th Dec
0930
SSP300
WUP
5 mins
1145
SSP300
R2 – Rd. 2
10 Laps
1205
Lunch
25 mins
1345
SSP300
R3 – Rd. 2
10 Laps
ASBK Official Schedule Round 2 & 3 – V.2
Wakefield Park Raceway
Round 3 Sunday 6th Dec
1010
SSP300
Q – Rd. 3
20 mins
1150
SSP300
R1 – Rd. 3
10 Laps
1305
Lunch
25 mins
1425
SSP300
R2 – Rd. 3
10 Laps
1630
ASBK Awards Ceremony
ASBK Podium
45 mins
Supersport 300 Entry List
No
Name
Surname
State
Bike
11
Brandon
Demmery
NSW
YZF-R3
16
James
Jacobs
NSW
Ninja 400
37
Patrick
Bognar
QLD
YZF-R3
39
Glenn
Nelson
QLD
YZF-R3
43
Harry
Khouri
NSW
Ninja 400
45
Jamie
Port
VIC
YZF-R3
47
Zylas
Bunting
NSW
Ninja 400
49
Jake
Farnsworth
NSW
Ninja 400
50
Carter
Thompson
NSW
YZF-R3
59
Tom
Drane
NSW
YZF-R3
63
Clay
Clegg
NSW
YZF-R3
68
Luke
Power
VIC
Ninja 400
69
Archie
McDonald
NSW
YZF-R3
71
Tony
Sims
NSW
Ninja 300
72
Ben
Baker
NSW
YZF-R3
88
Joseph
Mariniello
VIC
Ninja 400
95
Matthew
Rindel
VIC
YZF-R3
97
Peter
Nerlich
VIC
Ninja 400
99
Jacob
Hatch
NSW
YZF-R3
105
Cameron
Dunker
NSW
YZF-R3
110
Zakary
Pettendy
NSW
YZF-R3
121
Reece
Oughtred
VIC
YZF-R3
308
John
Lytras
QLD
YZF-R3
355
Laura
Brown
NSW
YZF-R3
Oceania Junior Cup Championship Points
Pos
Name
Total
1
Lucas QUINN
75
2
Marianos NIKOLIS
49
3
Cameron DUNKER
48
4
Tom DRANE
46
5
Hayden NELSON
45
6
Cameron SWAIN
45
7
Lincoln KNIGHT
41
8
Angus GRENFELL
39
9
Clay CLEGG
38
10
Henry SNELL
35
11
Varis FLEMING
35
12
Nate O’NEILL
33
13
Jai RUSSO
29
14
Casey MIDDLETON
20
15
Jamie PORT
18
16
Levi RUSSO
15
17
James WEAVER
12
18
Brodie GAWITH
10
19
Toby JAMES
10
2020 Australian Oceania Junior Cup Rounds 2-3 – Wakefield Park Schedule
ASBK Official Schedule Round 2 & 3 – V.2
Wakefield Park Raceway
Thursday 3rd Dec
0745
Riders Briefing (OJC, R3Cup, SSP300)
Briefing 1
15 mins
0810
Riders Briefing (SSP, SBK)
Briefing 2
15 mins
1110
OJC
FP1
15 mins
1150
Lunch
30 mins
1405
OJC
FP1
15 mins
1635
OJC
FP1
15 mins
Round 2 Friday 4th Dec
1120
OJC
Q1 Rnd2
15 mins
1200
Lunch – ASBK Pillion Rides
30 mins
1325
OJC
Q2 Rnd2
15 mins
1430
OJC
R1 – Rnd1
6 Laps
Round 2 Saturday 5th Dec
0910
OJC
WUP
5 mins
1015
OJC
R2 – Rd. 2
6 Laps
1205
Lunch
25 mins
1230
OJC
R3 – Rd. 2
6 Laps
1500
OJC
Q – Rd. 3
15 mins
ASBK Official Schedule Round 2 & 3 – V.2
Wakefield Park Raceway
Round 3 Sunday 6th Dec
0910
OJC
WUP
5 mins
1055
OJC
R1 – Rd. 3
6 Laps
1305
Lunch
25 mins
1330
OJC
R2 – Rd. 3
6 Laps
1630
ASBK Awards Ceremony
ASBK Podium
45 mins
Oceania Junior Cup Entry List
No
First
Surname
State
Model
15
Brodie
Gawith
VIC
YZF-R15
20
Casey
Middleton
QLD
YZF-R15
22
Lincoln
Knight
NSW
YZF-R15
24
Jamie
Port
VIC
YZF-R15
26
Cameron
Swain
QLD
YZF-R15
27
Toby
James
VIC
YZF-R15
29
Hayden
Nelson
NSW
YZF-R15
32
Jai
Russo
NSW
YZF-R15
36
Angus
Grenfell
VIC
YZF-R15
39
Glenn
Nelson
QLD
YZF-R15
43
Henry
Snell
QLD
YZF-R15
46
Marianos
Nikolis
NSW
YZF-R15
50
Cameron
Dunker
NSW
YZF-R15
55
Varis
Fleming
VIC
YZF-R15
58
Lucas
Quinn
QLD
YZF-R15
59
Tom
Drane
NSW
YZF-R15
63
Clay
Clegg
NSW
YZF-R15
65
Nate
O’Neill
QLD
YZF-R15
71
James
Weaver
NSW
YZF-R15
72
Levi
Russo
NSW
YZF-R15
2020 Australian R3 Cup Rounds 2-3 – Wakefield Park Schedule
“I’ve had some days now to try and realise everything that’s happened since winning the title, but in reality the action has been non-stop; so many kind messages to read from fans, so many interviews and events to attend, and it’s a great feeling to catch up with all the media and to try and express the emotions of the last few weeks. I wanted to take this chance to also try to put down in words some of my experiences and to share with you the moments that led up to the title, and the different feelings I went through.
“The day before the Valencia 2 race, I was particularly calm and quiet. The people closest to me noticed how I was very silent when I got up on race day morning, I didn’t really speak to anyone simply because I was so concentrated on the goal. I remember that I had fried eggs for breakfast to give myself plenty of energy. After that, I don’t remember much about the race; only that I felt nervous on the grid but calm during the actual race. But I recall with a lot of clarity the moment when I crossed the line – it was pure ecstasy. I just started to scream and shout, screaming at the top of my lungs! Then I got very emotional when I saw everybody around me starting to applaud, particularly my competitors! That cool-down lap was something incredible with all the other riders congratulating me and stopping to shake my hand.
“Then I arrived at Parc Ferme and I was so amazed to see all of my family there! They had stayed away all season because of the delicate situation with the (COVID-19) virus, so to see them there waiting to embrace me in Parc Ferme was overwhelmingly wonderful – the most beautiful and unforgettable thing in the world. The celebrations with my team in the moments after the race were also fantastic, but in the evening we didn’t have a big party like a lot of people expected; I just had a very small dinner together with my family – I wanted something intimate and relaxed, something safe in these difficult times. Over the next hours I started to realise that I had achieved my ultimate dream. It hit me in waves as I remembered what had happened! This whole season will be unforgettable, but those moments celebrating with my fellow riders, my team, and my family will stay fresh in my mind forever.
“This World Championship title has special significance for me and the team because I realise that we really made history with this victory. It came in the same year that Suzuki celebrates its 100th Anniversary and the 60th anniversary in racing. It’s also 20 years since the last title – all these stats are impressive, and to me it almost seems like ‘destiny’ that it all happened at once.
“To be honest, this is exactly what I was hoping for when I decided to sign with Suzuki in MotoGP. At that time I had some other options, and I thought about it a lot, evaluating and weighing-up the pros and cons. I was already very interested in Suzuki, then all in a sudden I thought: if I do go to Suzuki and manage to win the World Championship it will something amazing, memorable… historic! And here we are, celebrating a piece of history!
“I still remember my first experience with the GSX-RR: the speed was impressive, but the braking was something else! The stopping power really surprised me. And the bike itself is very long, much longer than a standard bike, to give better stability in fast corners, so you really have to make it turn, but this year we managed to find good traction, which helped a lot. The GSX-RR is a really complete and balanced bike, and it won the title with me thanks to this and its adaptability to all tracks and conditions. In such a strange year, consistency was going to be the key for success, and that’s what we managed to do.
“Another reason that this season’s success feels so incredible is not just the struggles of the year in general with the terrible Covid-19 crisis, but also the troubles I had last year. When I think back to the crash I had in Brno I still re-live that same feeling of my breath being taken away, it was so scary. The crash itself and the injury was a tough moment, but the recovery was also very long and hard. It feels strange to think that after the first races of this 2020 season I was well behind the top riders in the classification, and now we’re celebrating the title. The season was so relentless with so many rounds close together, so it really hasn’t sunk in yet.
“Austria this year was a real turning point: I was really putting pressure on myself to get a podium and when it finally happened it was a huge relief – I had been bottling-up the tension inside myself and all of that was finally released when I stood on that podium. Once I had proven what I was capable of, it gave me a more relaxed and balanced feeling on the bike. If you asked me to pinpoint the secret to my success, I would say this: I always set a target and then once I hit it my hunger just gets bigger and bigger and I just can’t get enough of chasing my objective.
“When I see the words ‘World Champion’ I feel so thankful for what all the people in Suzuki and in the racing team have done for me. There’s no way to truly express the thanks and gratitude I want to give to all the people who have supported me and helped me to get where I am now, on the top of the world!
“Seeing my face amongst all the historic Champions of Suzuki is something magical and it makes me feel very honoured and proud. All of us at Team Suzuki Ecstar are a part of history now, the history of an underdog company who came to MotoGP to challenge the biggest teams and finally…. WON!”
Initiative launched in support of grassroots motocross facilities
Section: General
Proceeds of AUS-X Apparel ‘We Are Moto’ range to be utilised.
Image: Supplied.
A new fundraising initiative has been launched by AUS-X Open and the Australian Supercross Championship organisers in a bid to support grassroots motocross facilities.
Led by co-founders Adam Bailey and Ryan Sanderson, the ‘We Are Moto’ movement has been announced in a bid to enhance safety, increase enjoyment and revamp venues Australia-wide.
“People are loving riding their dirt bikes this year more than ever,” explained Bailey. “It’s evident that, despite the COVID-19 crisis, motorcycle and accessory sales in 2020 have been incredibly strong. There is, however, in some areas a breakdown between recreational riding and competition at a local and state level. We need to focus on this area, to open the funnel for new families and competitors to get involved.
“Motocross is an incredibly fun and exciting sport for girls and boys, men and women of all ages. It creates lifelong friendships and brings families together like no other. By reducing some of the barriers to entry and making it a safer, more inviting and enjoyable environment for all, we hope to see more and more riders either getting back into it, or giving motocross racing a shot.
“This is the core of what makes our industry tick, so it absolutely deserves our focus. We’re very lucky now to have great relationships within our industry and we hope everyone will come aboard this journey with us! There isn’t a motocross or supercross champion in history, anywhere in the world, that didn’t start their competitive journey at the local track.
“The majority of our team have had motocross as a part of their lives in some way – it’s given us lifelong memories and friendships. It’s our collective job to give future generations the best possible chance at enjoying everything about this sport that makes it so amazing.”
The sport of motocross has continued to evolve in recent decades, however in this time, many of the tracks and facilities in Australia have not. This is not through the lack of passion and commitment of their clubs or members, but often a by-product of a lack of financial support and also a reliance on club volunteers with less and less spare time.
The purpose is simply to develop and improve the points of entry into motocross competition to encourage new participation of all ages to get involved and enjoy all that the sport of motocross is – a fantastic family sporting environment, that above all, is incredibly fun.
“We’re privileged to have so many incredibly passionate fans and industry partners that have supported our events since 2015,” commented Sanderson. “With a forced break in events for 2020, we see no better time to give back to the grass roots of motocross and supercross competition.
“Who knows, it may help us harbour the discovery of the next Chad Reed, Mitch Evans or Hunter/Jett Lawrence and, even better, get more people riding and racing their dirt bikes and having a great time doing so.”
AUS SX Holdings have already begun working on several initiatives that will be rolled out in the coming weeks and months, the first of those being the release of the ‘We Are Moto’ apparel range, where proceeds will go towards supporting local events and clubs in 2021.
‘Our first stop is track preparation,” Bailey added. “This is an incredibly arduous task, but so incredibly pivotal to riders’ experience on the day, no matter what the event. We have some big plans and some great businesses and people putting their hands up to help already – as they say, many hands make light work. Watch this space!’
The AUS-X Apparel ‘We Are Moto’ range will be available for purchase from www.ausxstore.com from Wednesday, 2 December, at 5:00pm AEST.
The details of the 43rd edition of the Dakar to be held in Saudi Arabia this coming January, 2021, have been announced, with a route of 7,646 km starting and finishing in Jeddah. Including 4,767 km of special stages, the route is designed to allow the competitors to battle among themselves and to explore the Saudi deserts.
Despite the difficulties associated to the health crisis, a strong field of competitors have answered the call, with 321 vehicles on the entry list. In addition to the 108 motorbikes, 21 quads, 124 cars and SSVs and 42 trucks expected at the start, 26 vehicles have been entered for a regularity competition in the new “Dakar Classic” category, open to cars and trucks built prior to 2000.
After an introduction to the Saudi deserts, the 2021 Dakar competitors will receive an even more in-depth lesson in geography. The characteristics of the route as well as the new regulations introduced aim to reduce average speed, further improve safety conditions and highlight the sporting qualities of the competitors.
Specifically, the fight for the various titles at stake should put the top competitors, who are used to battling it out at the sharp end of the standings, in competition with each other. In the motorcycle category, Ricky Brabec and Honda put an end to a series of 18 consecutive victories for the Austrian firm KTM, which will return with an all-star line-up of riders to try to begin another Dakar winning streak.
While the Dakar participants will head into action on January 2nd with a short prologue (11 km) to determine the starting position of each competitor for the opening stage, they will have to go through several intermediate steps before then. A majority of the vehicles will be summoned to Marseille, December 1-3 to be loaded on to a cargo ship, direction Jeddah. The meeting on the shores of the Red Sea with the owners will take place on December 30th and 31st, while the technical and administrative checks will be conducted on January 1-2 in accordance with health protection regulations.
The longest special stage will take in 511 kilometres on the penultimate stage, while the longest overall stage will feature a total of 813 kilometres on day four. The shakedown, the curtain-raising prologue, the race-start on January 2 and the final finish will all take place in Jeddah. The twelve stages, scheduled from January 3 to 15, 2021, with a rest day in Ha’il, will make a trek counter-clockwise through the Saudi Arabian landscapes.
The race will feature one marathon stage following the rest day, where riders will be unable to receive mechanical assistance and will have to take extra care of their machines. Riders can look forward to a wide variety of complex stages, always a common feature at the Dakar.
Among the novelties to be included in the 2021 Dakar, will be the roadbook given out twenty minutes prior to the start in each of the stages. This differs from last year’s edition where the roadbooks were distributed in this manner on only half of the stages. An important change is the limitation of only six rear tyres for the entire rally, which will force riders to be far more cautious. There will be also a limit to the number of piston changes, as well as a ban on carrying out any mechanical repairs during the refuelling. Finally, the use of jackets with airbags will be mandatory for all motorcycle riders.
2021 Dakar Schedule
Stage
Date
Start > Finish
Total
Special
P
Saturday, January 2, 2021
Jeddah > Jeddah
11 km
11 km
1
Sunday, January 3, 2021
Jeddah > Bisha
622 km
277 km
2
Monday, January 4, 2021
Bisha > Wadi Al Dawasir
685 km
457 km
3
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Wadi Al Dawasir > Wadi Al Dawasir
630 km
403 km
4
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Wadi Al Dawasir > Riyadh
813 km
337 km
5
Thursday, January 7, 2021
Riyadh > Buraydah
625 km
419 km
6
Friday, January 8, 2021
Buraydah > Ha’il
655 km
485 km
Rest
Saturday, January 9, 2021
Ha’il (Rest Day)
–
–
7
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Ha’il > Sakaka
737 km
471 km
8
Monday, January 11, 2021
Sakaka > Neom
709 km
375 km
9
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Neom > Neom
579 km
465 km
10
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Neom > Al-Ula
583 km
342 km
11
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Al-Ula > Yanbu
557 km
511 km
12
Friday, January 15, 2021
Yanbu > Jeddah
452 km
225 km
2021 Dakar Motorcycle Entry List
Num.
Rider
Nat.
Team
1
Brabec Ricky
USA
Honda Monster Energy Honda Team 2021
2
Quintanilla Pablo
CHL
Husqvarna Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
3
Price Toby
AUS
KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Team
4
Cornejo Florimo Jose Ignacio
CHL
Honda Monster Energy Honda Team 2021
5
Sunderland Sam
GBR
KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Team
6
Caimi FRAnco
ARG
Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
7
Short Andrew
USA
Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
9
Howes Skyler USA
KTM
Bas Dakar KTM Racing Team
11
Svitko Stefan
SVK
KTM Slovnaft Rally Team
12
De Soultrait Xavier
FRA
Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
15
Santolino Lorenzo
ESP
Sherco Tvs Sherco Tvs Rally Factory
17
Pedrero Garcia Juan
ESP
KTM Fn Speed – Rieju Team
18
Branch Ross
BWA
Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
19
Goncalves Dias
RUI
Jorge PRT Sherco Tvs Sherco Tvs Rally Factory
20
Tomiczek Adam
POL
Husqvarna Orlen Team
21
Sanders Daniel
AUS
KTM KTM Factory Team
22
Giemza Maciej
POL
Husqvarna Orlen Team
23
Jakes Ivan
SVK
KTM Jakes Dakar Team
24
Bühler Sebastian
DEU
Hero Hero Motosports Team Rally
25
Spierings Paul
NLD
Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
26
Engel Milan
CZE
KTM Moto Racing Group (Mrg)
27
Rodrigues Joaquim
PRT
Hero Hero Motosports Team Rally
29
Gyenes Emanuel
ROU
KTM Autonet Motorcycle Team
30
Gelazninkas Arunas
LTU
KTM Zigmas Dakar Team
31
Michek Martin
CZE
KTM Moto Racing Group (Mrg)
32
Schareina Tosha
ESP
KTM Fn Speed – KTM Team
33
Koitha Veettil Harith Noah
IND
Sherco Sherco Tvs Rally Factory
34
Patrao Mario
PRT
KTM Credit Agricola – Mario Patrao Motosport
35
Guillen Rivera Juan Pablo
MEX
KTM Nomadas Adventure
36
Brabec Jan
CZE
KTM Strojrent Racing
37
Pabiska David
CZE
KTM Jantar Team
39
Melot Benjamin
FRA
KTM Benjamin Melot
41
Yakp Zaker
CHN
KTM Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Dakar Rally Team
42
Van Beveren Adrien
FRA
Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
44
Sanz Laia
ESP
Gas Gas Gas Gas Factory Team
45
Min Zhang
CHN
KTM Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Dakar Rally Team
46
Marcic Simon
SVN
Husqvarna Marcic
47
Benavides Kevin
ARG
Honda Monster Energy Honda Team 2021
48
Doveze Mathieu
FRA
KTM Nomade Racing Assistance
50
C. S. Santosh
IND
Hero Hero Motosports Team Rally
51
Al-Lal Lahadil Rachid
ESP
KTM Melilla Sport Capital
52
Walkner Matthias
AUT
KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Team
53
Podmol Libor
CZE
Husqvarna Podmol Dakar Team
54
Chapeliere Camille
FRA
KTM Team Baines Rally
55
Hongyi Zhao
CHN
KTM Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Dakar Rally Team
56
Pacheco Giordano
COL
KTM Calidoso Racing Team
58
Iglesias Sanchez Eduardo
ESP
KTM Fn Speed – Team Monforte Rally
59
Interno Tiziano
ITA
Beta Rally Pov
60
Darques Stéphane
FRA
Yamaha M.O.R.Al
61
Dubois Norbert
FRA
KTM Aventure Moto 61
62
Houlihan Andrew Joseph
AUS
KTM Nomadas Adventure
63
Dabrowski Konrad
POL
KTM Duust Rally Team
65
Picco FRAnco
ITA
Husqvarna Team FRAnco Picco
66
Bouchet Pascal
FRA
KTM Team Baines Rally
67
Lhotsky Rudolf
CZE
Husqvarna Jantar Team
68
Mccanney Jamie
GBR
Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
69
Roelants Walter
BEL
Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
70
Alghuneim Mishal
SAU
KTM Mishal Alghuneim
71
Farhan Salman Mohamed Humood Farhan
BHR
Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
72
Rauber Pascal
FRA
KTM Team 2rm
73
Jaffar Mohammed
KWT
KTM Duust Rally Team
74
Betriu Jaume
ESP
KTM Fn Speed – KTM Team
76
Krejci Roman
CZE
KTM Bo!Beton Team
77
Benavides Luciano
ARG
Husqvarna Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
78
Zacchetti Cesare
ITA
KTM Cesare Zacchetti
79
Baratin Amaury
FRA
KTM Horizon Moto 95
80
Burgess Michael
AUS
KTM Bas Dakar KTM Racing Team
81
Vlcak Erik
SVK
Husqvarna Slovnaft Rally Team
82
Raorane Ashish
IND
KTM Ashish Raorane
83
Chavez David
PER
KTM Club Aventura Touareg
84
Hawker Neil
GBR
Husqvarna Neil Hawker
85
Azinhais Alexandre
PRT
KTM Club Aventura Touareg
86
Herbst Charlie
FRA
KTM Team Charlie Herbst
87
Mena Oriol
ESP
Rieju Fn Speed – Rieju Team
88
Barreda Bort Joan
ESP
Honda Monster Energy Honda Team 2021
89
Saghmeister Gabor
SRB
KTM Saghmeister Team
90
Catanese FRAncesco
ITA
Yamaha Tuttogru
92
Martinez Eric
FRA
Husqvarna Eric Martinez
93
Lorenzo Piolini
ITA
KTM Caravanserraglio Rally Racing Team
94
Susset Olivier
FRA
Husqvarna Xtreme Garage
95
Flick Xavier
FRA
Husqvarna Xtrem Racing
96
Albero Puig Daniel
ESP
KTM Team Un Diabetico En El Dakar
97
Benko Martin
SVK
KTM Norwit Racing
98
Garcia Sara
ESP
Yamaha Pont Grup Yamaha
99
Vega Puerta Javier
ESP
Yamaha Pont Grup Yamaha
100
Rossat Audrey
FRA
KTM Rossat Audrey
101
Knight David
GBR
Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
102
Jugla Sara
FRA
KTM Team Baines Rally
104
Altoaimi Fawaz
SAU
Yamaha Fawaz Racing
105
Dominguez Fernando
ESP
KTM Club Aventura Touareg
107
Stigliano Giovanni
ITA
Yamaha Team Jbrally
108
Calmet Marc
ESP
KTM Fn Speed – Rieju Team
110
Bartoszek Jacek
POL
KTM Duust Rally Team
111
Cherpin Pierre
FRA
Husqvarna Pierre Cherpin
112
Campdera Juan
ESP
KTM Juan Campdera
114
Carbonell Mendez Eladio
ESP
KTM Pikaeras Team
115
Harmsen Olaf
NLD
KTM Bas Dakar KTM Racing Team
116
Blandin Erick
FRA
KTM Team Baines Rally
117
Alexander James
BWA
Yamaha The Kalahari Madala
118
Bispo Alexandre
ESP
KTM Expresso Racing
120
Trejos Jhon
COL
KTM Jhon Trejos
121
Barthelemy Guillaume
FRA
KTM Team Rs Concept
123
Pedemonte Angelo
ITA
KTM Pedemonte Angelo
125
Barlerin Frédéric
FRA
KTM Rallye Fred
126
Llanos Diego Gamaliel
ESP
KTM Diego Gamaliel Llanos
127
Jobard Willy
FRA
Garnati Garnati Racing
133
Davide Cominardi
ITA
Honda Cominardi
142
Gerini Maurizio
ITA
Husqvarna Solarys Racing
Aussie Max Whale talks American Flat Track 2020
AmericanFlatTrack.com has done a great feature on young Queenslander Max Whale, who has been over in America this year competing the American Flat Track championship in the Singles class, finishing the season in second-place overall, as well as capturing nine-points in the Production class in Springfield. Here’s a look at what they had to say about the Aussie talent:
When the 2020 Progressive American Flat Track season finally revved into action on a mid-July evening at Volusia Speedway Park, months of anticipation and prediction were replaced by actual results. That opener provided an initial – if not entirely accurate – insight into how a handful of closely tracked storylines might actually play out.
The early returns suggested that the AFT Singles class’ ex-premier class invaders, Henry Wiles, Mikey Rush and Chad Cose, were indeed well positioned to upend a class more often thought of as a springboard for up and comers. And while all three were factors in ‘20, they failed to steamroll the competition as some had feared.
It also created some major worries that the much-hyped Dallas Daniels would take a step back after impressing so mightily in his abbreviated ‘19 rookie campaign (he most certainly did not). But the story of that opening evening was Max Whale, a perennial “star of the future,” who emphatically scrubbed away that “of the future” disclaimer with an all-day, out-and-out drubbing of his rivals en route to a maiden AFT victory.
As the season took its final shape, Daniels grabbed back the spotlight. He rebounded from his opening night disaster to ultimately reign over the class in a commanding, eight-win title fight blowout.
However, the continued rise of Whale was arguably the category’s B plot. His ascension since first arriving on the scene has been truly meteoric. The 19-year-old Australian turned a 14th-ranked 2018 rookie campaign into a ninth-ranked, one-podium 2019 sophomore season. He made an even bigger leap in 2020, securing championship runner-up status on the strength of five podiums highlighted by the aforementioned victory.
Max Whale
“This season was a dream come true. It went perfect, pretty much — I was consistent. Five podiums was my goal coming into the year, and I did it. I’m pumped on that. And to finish second in the championship was crazy. It was awesome. I am still lost for words… It’s hard to explain. Getting that first win on the opening night was incredible. It was honestly hard to believe. It took a couple days for it to sink in. The whole day was perfect. I think I qualified second, I won the Semi, and then won the Main. It was awesome. I just wish my parents were here to see it.”
That wish went deeper than simply wishing they could have shared in his breakthrough success. While the pandemic was (and very much remains) catastrophically disruptive for everyone, Whale was presented with even greater challenges than the average dirt track pro as a result.
The teenager was stripped of the support system he’d relied on his entire professional career when he was forced to live and travel and compete while effectively trapped on his own inside the United States with his father, Brett Whale, on the outside looking in from Australia.
Previously, the two had travelled the country together in a used RV and trailer that served as their living quarters and workshop. His absence robbed Max of both emotional support and very practical help.
Max Whale
“In past years, my dad was with me for the whole season. Leading in I knew it was going to be tough with him going back home due to COVID. And you know, I didn’t realize just how much he did – from prepping my bikes, driving and servicing the RV, cooking and cleaning – until he was gone. He went home in March and then DAYTONA got cancelled. I had to stay here by myself. It was a big reality check.”
Thrown into the deep end, Whale, appropriately enough, swam rather than sunk. He was taken under the wing of the larger Pennsylvania-based AFT community and, with their help, he thrived.
Max Whale
“You know, I wouldn’t change it. It turned out good. When my dad first left, I was in Pennsylvania for a couple of months. And then for the whole year, PA was kind of my base. I had some awesome people who helped me out — Briar (Bauman) and Shayna (Texter) helped me out a crazy amount. Everyone at Don’s Kawasaki and so many others too. There were just so many awesome people I could turn to. If I needed anything, I could always message them and they helped me out straight away. I’m so lucky to have that and I cannot thank those guys enough.”
It proved to be a relatively painless and seamless adaptation, considering the circumstances. But adapting has been the norm since Whale first turned pro. Dirt track racing is a considerably different beast in Australia compared with America, from types and sizes of tires to brake set-ups to track surfaces and layouts.
While three years of experience as an AFT Singles ace have Whale now feeling even more at home when racing in the States than he does when he returns to his Down Under roots, the 2017 Australian Junior Track Champion claims his meteoric year-on-year rise in Progressive AFT is more down to an improved mental game than any other factor.
Max Whale
“I feel like my improvement is mainly down to confidence. My bikes were better this year than they had been previously, but a lot of it was just confidence. After I got that win in Volusia, it really made me understand that I could do it. I found myself qualifying better every round — a lot better than I did last year. I just went in with a different mindset and it ended up paying off.”
Whale is not ready to confirm his exact 2021 plans just yet with an announcement likely coming early next year. He did admit, however, that he will be back in the AFT Singles class for a fourth attempt at the title. After going from 14th to 9th to runner-up, only one final landing spot will be considered a continuation of that upward trajectory. Some might say the bad news on that front is that he’ll have to go through Dallas Daniels to do it, as the dominant champion is set to defend his crown in ‘21.
Whale doesn’t see it that way, preferring to view Daniels as the ultimate measuring stick rather than an impenetrable wall blocking his path, sharing “That’s good news for me. I want to win with everything in it. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
2020 AFT Singles Overall Standings
Pos.
Rider
Overall Points
1
Dallas Daniels
283
2
Max Whale
215
3
Henry Wiles
208
4
Michael Rush
185
5
Trent Lowe
183
6
Morgen Mischler
178
7
Tanner Dean
160
8
Brandon Kitchen
154
9
Chad Cose
137
10
Michael Inderbitzin
124
11
Trevor Brunner
113
12
Shayna Texter
102
13
Cole Zabala
84
14
James Ott
79
15
Kevin Stollings
74
16
Andrew Luker
74
17
Cameron Smith
73
18
Aidan RoosEvans
61
19
Ryan Wells
58
20
Jacob Lehmann
56
21
Jesse Janisch
50
22
Dylan Bell
18
23
Wyatt Anderson
17
24
Tyler Raggio
14
25
Justin Jones
9
26
Blake Lomas
4
AMX takes naming rights to the MXOpen at Wonthaggi
The MXOpen will take place this side of Christmas thanks to AMX, the Dandenong Motocross Club and other leading industry partners and local businesses. Entries are available online at www.ridernet.com.au.
$15,000 in Prizemoney headlines the one-day motocross spectacular. Penrite Honda, Empire Kawasaki, SP Motorsports Suzuki riders will compete against the best riders in Victoria in a winner takes all one round open. Yarrive Konsky has been working with the Dandenong Motocross Club to facilitate the AMX MXOpen.
On December 13th an all star line up of riders and teams will take to the track in an effort to win prizemoney, prizes and bragging rights going into Christmas. The Dandenong Motocross Clubs president understands the need for racing and wanted to see competition happen this side of the New Year.
Yarrive Konsky
“We are starving for racing; it’s been 8 months without competition in Victoria and riders, sponsors, teams and clubs are hungry for competition. I wanted to see racing happening this side of Christmas and I appreciate the Dandenong Motocross Clubs enthusiasm towards making this possible. We have members we want to support, an industry we need to support, and we love racing that is why we are behind this event. Our club is made up of passionate people and we are excited to see racing resume.”
“We are getting behind this event. Yarrive, the DMCC and Motorcycling Victoria share the same passion for competition. We know that some of our members want to get back to racing and we have offered our full support to Yarrive and the DMCC.”
2020 MXOpen Details
Sunday 13th December
Wonthaggi Motocross Track – Dandenong Motorcycle Club
220 W Area Rd, Wonthaggi VIC 3995
Gates open 5:45am
Practice commences: 8:00am
MXOpen Classes
C-grade 450 4-stroke
SNR Womens
125cc and 128 – 150cc 2 Stroke 13 – Under 16
200 – 250cc 4 Stroke 13 – Under 16
Pro Lite 250cc 4-stroke (A and B classes scored separately)
65cc 9-U12
65cc – 7 -U11
85 2stk & 150cc 4stk Std & BW – 11-U15
Pro Open 450cc 4-stroke (A and B classes scored separately)
DIV 2 50cc
Vets 30 + 35+ 40+ 45+
C-grade 250
2-stroke pre 90, pre 2000 and open – (Classes scored separately)
2020 Heaven M/C Club VMX Final – Memorial Weekend
The Heaven Motorcycle Club, NSW’s primary Vintage Motocross Club, held the only actual NSW VMX Race meeting for 2020 at the Lakes motocross track at Awaba over the November 21-22 Memorial Weekend recently. With COVID wreaking havoc with a schedule originally slated for a seven round season, numerous cancellations and attempts to reschedule eventually yielded a single round championship, wrapped up with two races per class.
Peter Martin took part in the vintage motocross event, racing in two classes and sent us his version of events, which we’re happy to share with you here:
Thank you Heaven, one round, two races per class and big fields
With Peter Martin
The Heaven VMX Committee worked hard to make it possible to have a single round Championship. Thank you Heaven, one round, two races per class and big fields saw everyone welcome the opportunity to go racing.
The Lakes meeting was the Heaven VMX Championship for 2020, not a series, just two races in each class to decide who would take home the coveted Trophies. I was entered in the Pre-1990 class (all capacities) on the 1989 Honda CR250RK and the Evolution class (all capacities) on the 1979 Honda CR250RZ, I was also invited to race in the President’s Cup Invitational, a 15 minute +1 Lap Moto (all ages and capacities of bike).
With two four-lap class races and one moto length invitational each day I considered the racing physically doable, so Saturday I did two short practices on each bike and then headed out for the first Pre-1990 all in on the 1989 bike. A crowded and talented grid of 40 riders were keen to go racing. I when I glanced down the field there was #100 of Craig Anderson, five-times Australian Motocross Champion. Surely I am in the wrong place I thought, but it’s too late to pull out now.
I got a reasonable start to about mid field, then the talent started to work up their speed ahead and a few more got by me, then a few more. I settled down and started passing riders, while my position was helped by a few riders enthusiastically throwing themselves and their bikes over the top of berms and into tyre walls – it was carnage fuelled by wonderful enthusiasm.
I had two races to recover with just enough time to wipe my face, take a drink and get back up to the start line in time for the Evo all in race on the 1979 bike. I got a great start, running fourth into turn 2 and then slowed too early for the entry. Whoosh I dropped around five places, so it was head down and I started passing a few, working my way up through the field.
The Presidents Cup was to be the last race of the day and the decision was made to transfer the Presidents Cup to be the first and last race on Sunday. That would mean I had a 15 minute +1 Lap Moto and two 4 lap races back to back, then a long break to the last President’s Cup Moto at the end of the day.
Saturday night was Heaven’s AGM and Jo Gillan provided a glorious roast chicken meal, then it was off to sleep early. All night my leg muscles played tag on who would cramp next, which meant frequently getting up to stretch or walk off cramps, then back to bed so a squadron of mozzies could continue their attempts to terrorise me and drag me out the door. After a restless night Sunday dawned. It was overcast and a little cooler (at first), I did two laps to warm up and got ready for the first President’s Cup Moto.
It was another packed grid of 40 riders. I got off the start-line well to be about fifth heading into turn two and… ended up 12th heading out of turn two. So once again I picked up the pace and started passing riders – I just kept chasing and moving forward. After seven or eight laps the checkered flag saw me reasonably well placed around 10th.
I got back to my pit and thought, I can not go straight out to the second Pre-1990 race. I had prepared a bag of ice in a wet towel and poured cold water over my head to bring my temperature down, there was a short delay and repeated announcements of the start of the Pre-1990, so I put my helmet, gloves and goggles back on. By the time I got to the line I had given the field half a lap start, I just put my head down and raced, pushed, rode as best I could passing those I could to the finish.
I had two races to recover before the final Evo race on the 1979 bike. Again a great start and again giving up too many positions in turn two. I remember nothing of this race, what else happened and the results are a mystery, I just survived.
It was a long wait for the final President’s Cup Moto and it was very hot, I packed up what I could and attempted to keep my body moving and my temperature down. After an eternity, the call came and I lined up for the final race of the day. Again a great start was followed by giving up too many positions leaving turn two. I rode, pushing where I had an advantage and surviving where I was too weak to push.
There were a few riders inserting themselves into the scrub and tyre walls which made it possible to pick up more places. Basically it was survival of the most determined. On the last lap Mark Tompkin attempted a pass, I looked at it and thought I can stop you and then thought, but I won’t. The same for the next corner, I got inside him and thought I can stop you but I had no fight left and just rode to finish the race.
Final results saw me 12th overall in the Pre-1990 category, ninth in the Evolution and 10th overall in the President’s Cup Invitational. My results are far from what I am capable of yet better than I expected. I am in the process of changing my whole motocross riding style for better results on the Supercross type tracks Heaven go to, so being around the top 10 overall in all three classes considering the competition is actually a pretty good result.
I take away so much from this meeting however. My starts are consistently good and I slow too much and brake too early into the first real turn. My riding ‘style’ is evolving, yet there is a long way to go before I am competitive. Compared to before, I have improved my speed on some parts of the track and I am slower on other parts. The real victory is that my body is not as beaten and damaged as it was before. It is not that I am not hurting, I am hurting much less and my body is not taking as long to recover. I am even starting to enjoy riding again. For these reasons I consider this a victory.
A big thanks to the Heaven committee and all the Heaven members who make VMX Racing so much fun. A big thank you to the volunteers who make it possible for us to ride. Thank you to David Middleton (Excel Tint) who helped to revise and set up the suspension which has provided a significant improvement in comfort. Thank you to all the wonderful, patient people who support my racing. Race Images from Matty Baker Images, thank you for the great photos.
We’ve reached out to Heaven M/C Club and will add full results shortly.
Yamaha celebrate 2020 MX2 manufacturers title
Yamaha Motor Europe have celebrated the success of its 2020 racing strategy as the MX2 Manufacturer of the Year thanks to the YZ250F and the skill and determination of riders Jago Geerts, Ben Watson and Maxime Renaux, all three of whom visited the top step of the podium over the course of the season.
This achievement marks Yamaha’s third manufacturers crown since the class was reinvented as MX2 in 2004, with the first title coming in 2005 and the second following two years later in 2007.
Spearheaded by the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team, which was reintroduced in 2020 after a five-year hiatus, and strengthened by the addition of the SM Action M.C. Migliori Yamaha Supported Team, Yamaha celebrated 18 race wins, 23 podium finishes and nine Grand Prix wins on its way to the 2020 MX2 Manufacturers title.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2’s Jago Geerts led 156 laps, won 14 races and celebrated 12 podium finishes, of which six were Grand Prix wins to claim MX2’s silver medal with 679-points.
Simultaneously, SM Action M.C. Migliori Yamaha’s Maxime Renaux ended the season 98-points further adrift in third position after taking his very first race and Grand Prix win in Faenza, Italy. Renaux also led 30-laps and mounted the podium on no fewer than five occasions.
Bolstering Yamaha’s achievements in 2020, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2’s Ben Watson led 37-laps on his way to two race wins, which were followed by two Grand Prix victories. Watson claimed six podium finishes on his way to fifth overall in the final MX2 World Championship standings.
While Renaux’s achievements had already confirmed the competitiveness of the ‘non-Factory’ YZ250F, the strength of the world-beating motorcycle was further affirmed by Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250’s Thibault Benistant, who took his YZ250F to the top of the EMX250 Championship in just his second season in the class.
Just three days after he was crowned champion, Benistant signed on to race the next three MX2 Grands Prix. Racing his EMX250 Championship winning YZ250F, the 18-year-old debutant impressed with two top-three race finishes and a top-five overall finish in his third-ever Grand Prix.
Proving the dominance of the YZ250F across the board, Yamaha also won its fifth WMX Manufacturer’s title thanks to the combined efforts of Nancy van de Ven and Larissa Papenmeier. Throughout the five rounds of the WMX World Championship, van de Ven won three races and mounted the podium four times to finish as the 2020 series runner-up. Papenmeier joined her counterpart on the podium and collected the bronze medal with two Grand Prix wins, one race win and four podium finishes.
Reinforcing Yamaha’s strategy to develop the next generation of MXGP champions from within their own ranks, Watson, Renaux and Benistant will all progress up the Yamaha Racing pyramid in 2021. Watson will join highly experienced 450cc riders Jeremy Seewer and Glenn Coldenhoff under the awning of the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team to contest his first season aboard a works Yamaha YZ450F. Renaux and Benistant will join Geerts inside the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team, forming a potent line-up for Yamaha as it looks to defend the MX2 Manufacturers crown and challenge once again for the riders title in 2021.
2020 MX2 Manufacturer Standings
Pos
Manufacturer
Total
1
Yamaha
810
2
KTM
786
3
Husqvarna
655
4
Kawasaki
561
5
Honda
411
6
GASGAS
343
2020 MX2 Standings
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Total
1
Vialle, Tom
FRA
KTM
759
2
Geerts, Jago
BEL
YAM
679
3
Renaux, Maxime
FRA
YAM
581
4
Beaton, Jed
AUS
HUS
564
5
Watson, Ben
GBR
YAM
551
6
Olsen, T.
DEN
HUS
540
7
Van De Moosdijk, R.
NED
KAW
466
8
Mewse, Conrad
GBR
KTM
365
9
Fernandez, R.
ESP
YAM
343
10
Rubini, S.
FRA
HON
279
11
Östlund, Alvin
SWE
HON
263
12
Gifting, Isak
SWE
GAS
248
13
Boisrame, M.
FRA
KAW
234
14
Malkiewicz, B.
AUS
HON
164
15
Vaessen, Bas
NED
KTM
163
16
Forato, A.
ITA
HUS
156
17
Lesiardo, M.
ITA
HON
143
18
Horgmo, Kevin
NOR
KTM
137
19
Haarup, Mikkel
DEN
KAW
118
20
Pancar, Jan
SLO
KTM
115
21
Gilbert, Josh
GBR
HUS
112
22
Renkens, N.
BEL
KTM
103
23
Crawford, N.
AUS
HON
91
24
Benistant, T.
FRA
YAM
90
25
Genot, Cyril
BEL
YAM
85
26
Hofer, Rene
AUT
KTM
73
27
Sikyna, R.
SVK
KTM
72
28
Sandner, M.
AUT
GAS
67
29
Guadagnini, M.
ITA
HUS
62
30
Laengenfelder, S.
GER
GAS
59
31
Polak, Petr
CZE
YAM
45
32
Sydow, Jeremy
GER
GAS
35
33
Roosiorg, H.
EST
KTM
33
34
Harrison, M.
USA
KAW
22
35
Todd, Wilson
AUS
KAW
21
36
Cenerelli, G.
ITA
HUS
21
37
Toriani, Enzo
FRA
HUS
21
38
Nermann, J.
EST
HUS
17
39
Dickinson, A.
GBR
KTM
15
40
Meier, Glen
DEN
YAM
13
41
Teresak, Jakub
CZE
KTM
13
42
Zonta, Filippo
ITA
KTM
6
43
Edelbacher, R.
AUT
HUS
5
44
Furbetta, J.
ITA
KTM
3
45
Spies, M.
GER
HUS
2
46
Haavisto, Jere
FIN
YAM
2
Tom Pagès prepares for 2021 Enduropale du Touquet challenge
Tom Pagès will spend the next two months preparing for the world’s biggest beach race as the French freestyle motocross star takes on a daunting new endurance challenge at the Enduropale du Touquet event in January.
Pagès has gone from practising in his own back yard in France, to competing with the best riders in the world and progressing the sport through his series of never-been-done tricks. The 35-year-old has picked up numerous titles over the years with the multiple X-Games and Red Bull X-Fighters winner now eager to test himself further.
The Enduropale du Touquet covers over 13km of sand in northern France and is the inspiration for the famous Dakar Rally after wowing fans since the inaugural edition way back in 1975. The first event attracted 286 competitors with over 1,000 professional and amateur enduro riders are expected in 2021 to tackle waves, chicanes and velodrome-style turns with the final ranking established according to the most completed laps after three tough hours of racing.
Tom Pagès
“I have to catch up 15 years of experience on the most experienced riders. I need to get used to riding with a new type of neoprene gloves, which change my feelings on the throttle. Also a camel bag in my back because we need a lot of water throughout the race: hydration is key and, if you are thirsty, it’s already too late and you are in danger. Looking for new challenges is the key to longevity, even more in individual sports. I have learned from my mistakes in the past 14 years and I want to optimise my abilities to bring them into this new discipline. This new challenge also allows me to open my mind and to bring fresh air into my FMX career in which the mental workload is high. This short break in freestyle motocross already made me think of new tricks and new projects around FMX for the next two to three years. In the meantime, I focus on my next objectives: strengthen my physical preparation, be at the start of Enduropale 2021 and aim for the top of the board, even though I am aware of the difficulty. Winning is unimaginable but, maybe, not impossible!”
Jonny Walker and KTM part ways after eight seasons
KTM have thanked enduro racer Jonny Walker for his achievements with the brand over the past eight seasons as his contract concludes with the Austrian manufacturer. KTM confirmed the departure of Jonny Walker from the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team by mutual agreement. Due to re-structuring within the team, linked to changes that have been made to the enduro program over the past few seasons, KTM has been unable to retain Jonny’s services for 2021.
Jonny began his hard enduro campaign aboard KTM machinery in 2010 following a successful career in trials. As a then 19-year-old, he worked his way up the enduro ranks before signing his first official agreement with KTM in 2011. Soon after Walker graduated into the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, in 2012. Walker won the Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble title that year, which he went on to successfully defend in 2013.
In 2015 Jonny took his riding to the next level, cementing his place as one of extreme enduro’s best following winning riders at The Tough One, Red Bull Romaniacs, Red Bull Hare Scramble, Hell’s Gate and Red Bull 111 Megawatt. Despite a number of injuries, which resulted in time off a bike during the following few years, the likeable Brit went on to claim podium finishes in further extreme enduros and WESS Championship events.
KTM thanked Jonny for everything he has achieved together with KTM and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team over the years, including his extreme enduro and FIM SuperEnduro World Championship successes, wishing him all the best for his future.
Fabio Farioli – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager
“Firstly, we’d like to say a big thank you to Jonny for everything he has achieved with KTM Factory Racing. We had some good times over the years and some incredible results – including wins at some of the toughest events on the hard enduro calendar as well as in the SuperEnduro World Championship. He has been an important part of our team and has been integral to our ongoing success. Despite our best efforts we were unable to negotiate a deal to keep Jonny on the team. We wish him all the very best for the future.”
Arminas Jasikonis recovery update
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Arminas Jasikonis is very much on the mend after the Lithuanian rider crashed at the Mantova round of the FIM Motocross World Championship and suffered a serious head injury. Jasikonis has been making small steps forward and looking at coming back to racing in 2021.
Antti Pyrhonen – Team Manager Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory MXGP team
“AJ is basically recovering really well. It was a very serious accident, and he was in a severe condition after the crash in Mantova. He had heavy impact to the head, and he was due to that two and a half days in a medical coma. When he woke up on Tuesday afternoon, he did a very good recovery, an unbelievable recovery actually. He could leave the hospital after a week and then he could travel back to Lithuanian and he didn’t need to go back to hospital or any recovery centre. He moved back home and was living with his girlfriend and doing some physical training and he can now drive his car.”
As for Arminas himself, as he resides in his home with his girlfriend, he can see improvements and is being as patient as possible in letting his body improve slowly as his brain starts to remember things as he comes back to full recovery.
Arminas Jasikonis
“There are days when it’s worse. There are days when it’s better, but not bad at all compared to the first days after an incident. I still feel shoulder pain, but I’ve been working on that and since two weeks ago, I started driving a car. Everything happens gradually, I’m on my way forward, but you can’t overdo it. There’s a lot of desire for me, but I can’t do it all at once because I don’t know how the brain will accept it. I started running, the balance is good. In Finland, the medical profession will look at how far I have moved forward. The plan is to come back, it really is, but I can’t promise it. I’d like to be back in half a year. I just slept and woke up. I’m almost unscathed, just a little bit of a shoulder pain at the moment, but I’m working on it now.”
MA announce 2021 National Championships Calendar
Motorcycling Australia (MA) have released the 2021 National Championships Calendar of events across a variety of disciplines including Australian and International Championships.
Included in the 2021 National Calendar are all MA sanctioned disciplines including the Australian Superbike Championship, Australian Off-Road Championship, ProMX Championship, Australian Junior, Senior and Sidecar Speedway Championships, Australian Supercross Championships, Australian Junior Motocross Championships, Australian Four Day Enduro, Australian Junior and Senior Track Championships, Australian Trials and X-Trials Championships, Classic and Post Classic Dirt Track & Motocross Championships, Australian ATV MX Championships and much more.
The calendar also includes internationally recognised events such as the MotoGP, FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, Oceania Junior Cup, FIM Oceania Speedway and Sidecar Championships, Finke and Hattah Desert Races, as well as Australian Three Day Vintage Enduro (A3VE).
In NSW, the 43rd Newcastle Toy Run will collect gifts, but the ride is off, while the Motorcycle Riders’ Association 41st Toy Run in Tasmania will go ahead as a restricted, ticketed event with details sent to ticket holders soon.
Toy Run For the Father Bob Maguire Foundation organiser Cate Hughes says the “tough decision” was made not only because of COVID restrictions but also to protect Fr Bob “who is particularly vulnerable due to his rare illness and age”.
However, efforts to raise funds and gifts for the appeal are still going ahead.
Fr Bob or Foundation staff will be at Scotties Garage Toy Run After Partythis Sunday afternoon and there are some “mystery rides” still on which will collect funds and gifts for the appeal.
There are now three drop-off points:
Morgan & Wacker Harley-Davidson® Melbourne, formerly Northside Harley-Davidson®, 370 Cooper Street, Epping – Monday-Friday: 9:00am-5:30pm & Saturday: 9:00am-3:00pm
Bad Boy Bobbers & Customs, 97 Warrigal Road, Hughesdale, Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm & Saturday 9:00am-12:00pm
Scotties Garage, 71 Miles Grove, Seaford, Saturday 5th December 10:00am-5:00pm; Sunday 6th December 9:00am-7:00pm; and Tuesday 8th, Wednesday 9th & Thursday 10th December 9:00am-2:00pm
“Although very disappointing to have to cancel last minute, I’m quietly confident that the riders, and now members of the public, will show their generosity at our drop-off points, with the added bonus of being able to accept larger toys/items that riders cannot carry eg bicycles, step on scooters etc,” Cate says.