Plans still in place for brand new MotoE World Cup to commence in 2019.
Image: Supplied.
A devastating fire that hit the Spanish test at Jerez has resulted in a delay to the inaugural FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, the calendar to be revised due to the damaging impact of the blaze.
Following day one of testing this week, a fire in the newly-built E-paddock at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto destroyed the majority of material that was to be used throughout the 2019 campaign.
The damage from the fire was purely material and no injuries have been reported. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire, the results of which will be published as soon as it has concluded.
MotoE is a competition born from innovation, powered by 100 percent renewable energy, and this ambition to evolve and experiment with new technologies brings with it an associated risk. It can be confirmed, however, that no motorcycles were charging at the time of the incident in the box in which the fire started.
Dorna Sports and all of our partners in this new venture are committed to getting the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup back on track as soon as possible, with work already underway to begin rebuilding and replacing materials and motorcycles lost in the fire.
MotoE will race in 2019 and a revised calendar will be announced in due course. It has been confirmed that the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup will not race at Jerez as part of the Gran Premio Red Bull de Espana this season.
For the fourth year in a row, Indian Motorcycle and Jack Daniel’s have joined together to produce an extremely limited edition Indian that is unique enough to wear the Jack Daniel’s logo. MOron and whiskey aficionado, John Burns, wrote about the Klock Werks Jack Daniel’s First Responders Limited Edition Scout Bobber last year and had nice things to say about it. So, we expect more great things from this iteration. If the idea of combining the efforts of two companies known for their craftsmanship doesn’t whet your appetite, perhaps we can entice you with this video.
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INDIAN MOTORCYCLE, JACK DANIEL’S® & KLOCK WERKS KUSTOM CYCLES CELEBRATE AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP WITH LIMITED EDITION INDIAN SPRINGFIELD® DARK HORSE®
Sleek & Aggressively Styled, the Jack Daniel’s® Limited Edition Indian Springfield® Dark Horse® Flaunts Ultra-Premium Design Features Inspired by Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Tennessee Whiskey
MINNEAPOLIS (March 9, 2019) – Indian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company, and Jack Daniel’s, America’s first registered distillery, today introduced the Jack Daniel’s® Limited Edition Indian Springfield®Dark Horse®. For the fourth straight year, the two iconic American brands have joined forces with Klock Werks Kustom Cycles of Mitchell, SD to celebrate a shared commitment to quality, originality, and craftsmanship with an ultra-premium, limited-edition motorcycle. The latest bike features many new ultra-premium design features that give the bike an exclusive, aggressive look.
The Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian SpringfieldDark Horsedraws its design inspiration from Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select, the brand’s finely-crafted super-premium whiskey offering. Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel comes from select barrelhouses at the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, TN. Within those barrelhouses, Single Barrel Select barrels are only taken from the top floors where the natural annual temperatures vary the greatest year after year, which help develop the most robust flavor. Jack Daniel’s is the only major distillery in the world that produces its own oak barrels by hand by skilled craftsmen, and it is the oak from these barrels that gives Single Barrel Select its distinctive flavor and color. Similarly, each limited-edition Jack Daniel’s Indian Springfield Dark Horse is unique and original in its own way, as nearly the entire bike is hand-painted by specialized Indian Motorcycle craftsmen.
“The team at Jack Daniel’s relies immensely on their passionate and specialized craftsmen to control the Single Barrel Select process from beginning to end, as each of them pour their personal pride and loyalty into the product every day,” said Reid Wilson, Senior Director for Indian Motorcycle. “Our team at Indian Motorcycle shares that same passion for craftsmanship and developed this motorcycle as a tribute to all the craftsmen who value working with their hands and are committed to developing products of the finest quality.”
Maintaining the sleek, stripped-down styling of the Indian Springfield Dark Horse, this year’s Jack Daniel’s limited-edition motorcycle includes many custom-inspired, ultra-premium design features that truly make it an exclusive one-of-a-kind motorcycle, including:
Unique One-Of-A-Kind Styling
Inspired by the wood grain hues from the Single Barrel Select packaging and the oak aging barrels, the Indian Motorcycle design team crafted the two-tone Heavy Metal Crystal & Thunder Black Vivid Crystal custom paint scheme. Indian Motorcycle craftsmen then overlaid sleek Steel Gray graphics and custom Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel badging throughout the bike by hand. Additionally, Single Barrel Select wood grain finishes are found on the tank badge and saddlebag hinges completing the custom-inspired look.
In addition to the bike’s stripped-down, custom styling, the new Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian SpringfieldDark Horse will feature Indian Motorcycle’s first ever straight-from-the-factory 116 cubic-inch Thunder Stroke engine with an estimated 127 ft-lbs of torque delivering head-snapping power.
Premium Touches
Adding to the Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian SpringfieldDark Horse’s mean styling are premium features, including new 12-inch mid-rise ape-hanger handlebars, quick release tinted flare windscreen, custom precision machined wheels, end-to-end LED lighting, and premium gloss black finishes throughout. The bike also incorporates the more aggressive styling first introduced with the redesigned 2019 Chieftain lineup. The Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian SpringfieldDark Horse features the same slammed saddlebags, and tank badging. Additionally, a premium genuine leather gunfighter seat and tank strap bearing the Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select logo, Single Barrel Select engraved rider and passenger floorboards, and numbered Montana Silversmith badge designed specifically for this motorcycle further add to the bike’s uncompromising level of craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Limited Production
As a nod to Jack Daniel’s iconic “Old No. 7 Brand”, only 177 individually-numbered bikes will be produced globally, making this a truly limited edition custom motorcycle.
“There are no two brands that better represent American craftsmanship than Jack Daniel’s and Indian Motorcycle,” said Greg Luehrs, Director of Events and Sponsorships for Jack Daniel’s. “We greatly value our relationship with Indian, as we share the same high-quality values and attention-to-detail, and know that at the end of the day our products are only as good as the team of people behind them.”
Each Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian SpringfieldDark Horse will come with a commemorative, wooden Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel bottle display made from the same oak barrels used to mature Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select. The holder comes with two custom branded rocks glasses and a spot for a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, which is padded with the same genuine leather as the motorcycle’s seat. Each gift will be custom made and engraved with the owner’s name, motorcycle number (#001-#177) and VIN.
After previous Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition Indian Motorcycle models sold out in as little as 10 minutes, a new digital promotion will be used to select which consumers will be granted the opportunity to be proud owners of this year’s limited-edition motorcycle. Beginning at 7 p.m. EST on March 9 until 11:59 p.m. EST on March 17, interested customers can enter the promotion for a chance to purchase one of the 177 bikes at www.2019jackdanielsindianmotorcycle.com. Following the close of submissions, winners will be randomly selected and called upon by their preferred Indian Motorcycle dealer to inform them they are one of the lucky few who will be able to purchase one of these finely crafted motorcycles.
Furthermore, the #001 bike will be auctioned off at a Richie Bros. Auction Company in Arizona with 100-percent of the proceeds benefittingOperation Ride Home. Since 2011, Jack Daniel’s and Operation Ride Home have helped bring military families together for the holidays. Operation Ride Home provides financial assistance to eligible active duty junior-enlisted military members to travel from their duty station back home to spend time with their families.
Pricing for this ultra-premium motorcycle starts at $36,999 in the U.S. and $44,499 in Canada. Each bike also comes with a two-year unlimited mileage factory warranty and free membership in the Indian Motorcycle Riders Group for one year. Each bike will be built to order as a model year 2020 with delivery starting in September 2019.
Global Ducati sales in 2018 dropped 2.7% compared to 2017 (53,004 vs. 55,871).
Sales in the United States dropped by nearly 9%.
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The end of 2018 shows Ducati to have consolidated the growth trend of the past few years for the Italian motorcycle manufacturer. 53,004 (2017: 55,871) motorcycles were delivered to clients all over the world; a result which remains over the 50,000 level for the fourth consecutive year, despite a 2.7% decrease in the global market for motorcycles over 500 cc. Conditions proved to be especially challenging in the United States as Ducati’s number one market, declining by nearly 9%.
The end of 2018 revenue reached a figure of € 699 million (2017: € 736 million) and the operating profit was € 49 million (2017: € 51 million), with an operating margin of 7%, which is the same percentage registered in 2017. The Bologna-based company managed to compensate the reduction in the volume of sales, resulting from a decline in the market, thanks to the success of models with higher margins, such as the Panigale, which made it possible to maintain the operating profit at the same level as the previous year.
The financial data relating to the 2018 fiscal year for the Audi Group, for which Ducati represents the motorcycle segment, were communicated during the annual press conference held at the AUDI AG headquarters in Ingolstadt.
“2018 was challenging from many points of view, but we are satisfied with our financial performance throughout a difficult year” – declared Claudio Domenicali, CEO Ducati Motor Holding – “The company is generating the resources to continue funding the development of new products which is very positive for the future.”
Oliver Stein, CFO Ducati Motor Holding, added: “Financial stability is extremely important for the company in order to support the technological development programme which Ducati is currently involved in at full speed.”
Ducati Motor Holding currently has a total of 1,591 employees. The sales network of the Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer includes 720 dealers in over 90 countries.
The time is now. Effective immediately, MotoAmerica is taking preseason orders for its live streaming via MotoAmerica Live+, the service that will provide you with all 10 rounds of the MotoAmerica series – the practice sessions, the qualifying sessions, the races. In all five classes. Plus, features, interviews and more in a package that will provide fans with all the on-and off-track action they can handle.
And all of this will be live and on demand for six to eight hours daily during the 2019 season to anyone with a computer and/or smartphone and internet access.
The annual package will be available for purchase for a pre-sale price of $49.95 through March 31. After March 31, the season pass will be available for $69.95 with single-event (weekend) packages available for $9.95.
Former MotoGP analyst Dylan Gray will host the shows, keeping our fans entertained and informed at every round.
“We’re really excited to offer MotoAmerica Live+ to our fans,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “Along with ViewLift, we are proud to make MotoAmerica Live+ the perfect digital streaming destination for our fans who can’t make it the races. And we know the experience they get from watching the action on MotoAmerica Live+ will be the next best thing to actually being there.”
Subscribers to MotoAmerica Live+ will also get 20 percent off MotoAmerica merchandise and 50 percent off event tickets at selected events.
The 10-round MotoAmerica Series gets rolling at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, April 5-7, and concludes at Barber Motorsports Park, September 20-22.
The 2019 MotoAmerica Series schedule is as follows:
April 5-7 – Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia
April 12-14 – Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas
May 4-5 – VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia
May 31-June 2 – Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
June 15-16 – Utah Motorsports Campus, Grantsville, Utah
July 12-14 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California
August 10-11 – Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, California
August 23-25 – Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, Pennsylvania
September 7-8 – New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, New Jersey
September 20-22 – Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama
A massive fire at the Circuito de Jerez caused a major setback for the fledgling MotoE championship. According to reports, early in the morning of March 14, amid the second complete test of the new Energica Ego electric bikes, the paddock caught fire and quickly grew to a blaze which destroyed all 18 motorcycles in the series. Extensive asset loss above and beyond the bikes is also reported to have occurred.
Dorna released a statement indicating the cause of the fire remains under investigation, and that results will be published as soon as the inquiry is complete. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the incident.
The release from Dorna does specify that no bikes were charging at the time of the fire.
In a statement to MotoGP.com, Nicolas Goubert, executive director of the eBike class, offered these remarks:
“At the end of the day (of testing), the teams, the bikes came back to the paddock and the teams did the maintenance on the bikes… We left a small team of four people in charge of charging all the bikes to be ready for the following testing days.
“And just at the end of the charging process, they noticed that one of the boxes there was fumes coming out…and when they went there, they noticed that a prototype charging station was actually catching fire. They tried to extinguish that. Unfortunately, they couldn’t manage to extinguish it and the fire spread very rapidly to the entire tent where we had all the bikes, all the equipment for this year.”
Despite the destruction, Goubert confirmed that the MotoE championship will take place in 2019 with five events. The series was originally scheduled to start at Jerez this May, but plans have now changed and there will be no race at the circuit. A revised calendar will be released at a later date.
If you’ve been interested in trying a Yamaha, the Yamaha Champions Riding School will have demos available at Buttonwillow March 22, during the Let’s Ride Track Day.
Also, those who are Let’s Ride customers will receive a discount for future YCRS classes. Enroll in the ChampDay or ChampSchool at Streets of Willow Springs at Willow Springs International Raceway using promo code LRM and Recieve 10% OFF Enrollment!!
The Phillip Island WSBK season opener was a cracker, and Thailand might shake the established World Superbike pecking order up some more.
Chang International Circuit, Thailand, Buriram
This weekend marks World Superbike’s fifth trip to Thailand, where tropical heat, rapturous fans and stellar racing are on the menu this weekend, with yet another triple treat as three WorldSBK races take place around the 4.554 km track.
At least one man will land in Buriram, the ‘City of Happiness’, with a grin on his face. Álvaro Bautista’s hat-trick of triumphs Down Under raised as many new questions as it answered. The Spaniard was incredibly ruthless in Race 1 and Race 2, winning both full-length races by double figure gaps – as well as emerging victorious from a bruising Tissot Superpole Race battle with Jonathan Rea.
Álvaro Bautista
“Australia was a dream weekend and I couldn’t have asked for a better start in World Superbike. In Thailand I got a good result last season in MotoGP, so I’m feeling confident but Buriram is a track that has different characteristics to Phillip Island because there are more mixed sectors. For sure our rivals will be tough to beat, so we have to remain focussed and work really hard during the weekend. Anyway we will go to Thailand with the same mentality, I know the right feeling with the bike now so I will try and find it there as well. The Panigale V4 R is still a completely new bike, and the potential is high but we’ve got a lot of work to do to get it to 100%. I don’t know if Buriram is a Ducati track or not, we’ll just have to see what happens.”
Alvaro Bautista – Image by Geebee
No one expected such sheer domination, with the Ducati rider only really showing his hand once the lights went out. So, all bets are off in Buriram, a venue Bautista is nonetheless much less acquainted with than Phillip Island having only raced there once before. Can Bautista re-create that debut magic in Thailand?
After such a scorching performance, the Spaniard will have a target on his back – and Rea himself taking aim. These are uncharted waters for the reigning world champion, who was in damage limitation mode throughout the entire weekend in Australia. From that perspective, it was a fantastic round for Rea, with three runner-up spots keeping him only 13 points below the new championship leader (in 2018 he sat 19 behind after Round 1).
Jonathan Rea – Image by Rob Mott
But rest assured that the Northern Irishman will not be satisfied with remaining best of the rest for another round. Chang International Circuit is a happy hunting ground for the 31-year-old – his results there since 2015 read 1st-1st, 1st-2nd, 1st-1st, 1st-4th – and Rea will be out to make a statement of his own. There is perhaps no one more capable of rising to the challenge than the Champion.
Jonathan Rea
“Thailand is a great venue and one that always welcomes a lot of fans, especially Kawasaki support. The circuit is one of two halves; the first being fast stop-and-go sections and then the flowing final sectors, which play to the strength of the Ninja ZX-10RR setup. Friday will be important to nail that setup and understand our level. I’m excited to start. We have enjoyed some great success there in the past, so the goal is to build on our results from Phillip Island. I’ve spent a few days in Bangkok already with Kawasaki Thailand, visiting their factory and taking part in the Kawasaki Day, so the atmosphere is building nicely.”
Australia was a mixed bag for the other men in green and red. Leon Haslam showed anything but complacency in a phenomenal Race 2 duel with Rea, yet a tumble in the opening race left him with a bittersweet taste leaving Victoria. Haslam’s adaptation to the ZX-10RR has been nearly flawless and the Englishman will be eager to prove it again in Buriram, where he picked up two second-place finishes in 2015.
Leon Haslam – Image by Geebee
Chaz Davies meanwhile made significant gains in the last of the opening races, making it to seventh after a tough week on the timing sheets. The Welshman knows not to put too much weight in any Australian results – he no-scored in his 2011, WorldSSP title-winning campaign, then missed out both races in 2012 due to a broken wrist and has often struggled since. His season starts anew in Thailand, the scene of his penultimate win in WorldSBK.
Chaz Davies
“The next race is Thailand, where I think we’ve probably got a bigger bank of information now so that’s something to work on. As for me, from a comfort point of view and understanding the bike, I’m going into Thailand knowing it much better than what I did when I turned up at Phillip Island, which is positive. We had a win and a third place last year which were good results so it shows we’ve got pace there, it’s just a matter of getting the bike in the ballpark. I’m looking forward to Thailand and I think that we can do a lot better than what we did in Australia as long as we can put the information to good use.”
Chaz Davies – TBG Image
And what about Yamaha? At Phillip Island, four YZF-R1s lined up on the grid. Three finished inside the top six in every race; all four inside the top eight. The key to success is consistency and both Pata Yamaha and top independent team GRT Yamaha seem to have it in spades.
The latter can even boast the leading Yamaha in the championship standings, as Marco Melandri sits level with Alex Lowes and one point clear of Michael van der Mark. All three have scored podiums at Chang International Circuit in the past two seasons and are ready to tussle again – with rookie Sandro Cortese closing the gap after a hugely impressive WorldSBK debut.
Marco Melandri – GRT Yamaha Supported WorldSBK
“I’m really happy to head back to Thailand. It’s a track I like a lot, even if it’s not the most technical circuit on the calendar. On paper it’s possibly not the best track for us, as there are two long straights and we still miss a little in this area, but I think the high temperatures we are expecting this weekend could play in our favour. I’m feeling good and confident after the opening round in Australia and my feeling is getting better day by day with both the bike and the team, so let’s get started and see what happens. It will also be interesting how things go with no prior testing at the Chang International Circuit, to see if everyone is as fast as they were at Phillip Island. I’m excited to get the weekend started.”
Marco Melandri – TBG Image
BMW Motorrad meanwhile roll into South East Asia after an eye-catching return to WorldSBK. Sunday struggles in Australia for Tom Sykes might have slightly dampened the mood but the new S1000 RR’s potential – aided by the 2013 World Champion’s world-class talents – was on display all weekend. Controlling an already solid package, don’t be surprised if the swift Yorkshireman or Markus Reiterberger have saved some tricks up the sleeves of their white leathers.
Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director
“We have taken a lot of positive things from Australia, but we have also clearly seen in the races where we are still behind and which areas we need to focus on in terms of further development. Due to the short time between the two race weekends the fact that the equipment has not returned to the team headquarters between Australia and Thailand, we will only bring certain technical updates. These are aimed primarily at the reliability for the upcoming battle with the heat. We look forward to the next event where the atmosphere is always great, and we will be able to gather more important experience there on the way forward.”
Tom Sykes
Lessons will have also been learned inside the Moriwaki Althea Honda Team after an intriguing week on the Island. Leon Camier and Ryuichi Kiyonari started testing on the Monday without a reference point and finished Sunday inside the points, the former even breaking into the top 10. Further steps forward should be taken under the Thai sun.
Leon Camier
“Before heading to Buriram, we took part in a Honda event in Bangkok and were able to enjoy the great support of our fans, a real boost for us as we prepare for the next, challenging round. The Buriram track is actually a simple one, with just a few hard braking points and some tight turns but, at the same time, that makes it hard because every tenth can make a big difference. I remember that times were very close last year, so if you don’t get everything perfect you can find yourself struggling to make a good lap at this track. The temperature also makes things tough of course. Air temperatures of close to 40 degrees and a track temperature in the mid-fifties make it very challenging for us riders, both physically and mentally.”
The Destination of Speed awaits from 15th-17th March, as the second round of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship gets underway!
World Superbike Standings following Round 1, 2019
Alvaro Bautista Ducati 62
Jonathan Rea Kawasaki 49
Marco Melandri Yamaha 30
Alex Lowes Yamaha 30
Michael van der Mark Yamaha 29
Leon Haslam Kawasaki 24
Sandro Cortese Yamaha 19
Chaz Davies Ducati 15
Tom Sykes BMW 12
Eugene Laverty Ducati 12
Toprak Razgatlioglu Kawasaki 10
Michael Ruben Rinaldi Ducati 9
Leandro Mercado Kawasaki 7
Jordi Torres Kawasaki 7
Markus Reiterberger BMW 7
Leon Camier Honda 6
Ryuichi Kiyonari Honda 1
World Supersport
The FIM Supersport World Championship moves on with great pace into one of the most atmospheric rounds on the calendar – the Pirelli Thai Round.
Randy Krummenacher
In 2019, it is Randy Krummenacher who leads the way on his Yamaha YZF R6. The Swiss rider has a fantastic record at the Chang International Circuit, scoring points in every year he has raced there. Starting with fourth in 2016, he returned to WorldSSP last season and won onboard the same Yamaha he competes with now.
Should he win the WorldSSP race on Sunday, he will become the first Swiss rider in the history of the WorldSSP and WorldSBK paddocks to achieve back-to-back wins. Records hang in the balance for Krummenacher.
Jules Cluzel
Jules Cluzel has a mixed record at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram. The Frenchman has secured one win in 2016 but apart from that, has retired from all three other races in Thailand Cluzel has had two pole positions at the circuit and a fastest lap, so he could be a threat come race day, especially having led for 31 laps over the course of the four seasons in Thailand. The 30-year-old is scheduled to start his 71st WorldSSP race on Sunday.
Federico Caricasulo is a WorldSSP winner at the Chang International Circuit, after a phenomenal battle in 2017 with local hero, Decha Kraisart. On the podium last year with a second place, the Italian hopes to return to the podium for a third consecutive season in Thailand. Having been robbed of battling his championship-leading teammate at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Caricasulo will almost certainly want to take the battle to him around the 4.554km track. Can Caricasulo capture and overcome Krummenacher and Cluzel this time?
Federico Caricasulo
Hector Barbera made a solid start to his 2019 WorldSSP season, with a fourth place at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. However, the Spaniard knew that circuit well and now comes to a track which he has never competed at – one of just two circuits that he will experience for the first time with the WorldSSP championship. Barbera will hope to carry on his trend of improving race results in every WorldSSP race, and in doing so, achieve his first World Supersport podium. Is he a contender in Buriram?
Austrian Thomas Gradinger started his season with a fifth position in Australia, a better start than last year. Gradinger was 11th at the Chang International Circuit in 2018 so will look to improve on that this weekend. Gradinger is looking to become the first Austrian rider ever to finish five consecutive WorldSSP races inside the top five and, the first Austrian rider ever to mount the podium in a WorldSSP race.
Thomas Gradinger
Completing the top six is Japanese rider, Hikari Okubo, who had his joint best result of his WorldSSP career in Australia. With his only other sixth place coming at the Chang International Circuit in 2017, the Thai circuit looks sure to be a venue where Okubo will seek to achieve his best World Supersport finish to date. The last Japanese WorldSSP podium came in 2007 with Katsuaki Fujiwara at Silverstone (3rd). Will Thailand see the end of this long wait?
Other riders to keep an eye on include the 2017 WorldSSP Champion, Lucas Mahias, who achieved pole position and second place last season. Corentin Perolari will seek to continue his good start, whilst Peter Sebestyen, teammate Jules Danilo and Loris Cresson will all fight it out for the remaining top ten positions.
Ducati might be one of the hardest hit brands in regards to sales volume in Australia, but globally, Ducati has confirmed a significant 7 per cent operating margin for calendar year 2018.
53,004 (2017: 55,871) motorcycles were delivered globally; a result which remains over the 50,000 level for the fourth consecutive year, despite a 2.7 per cent decrease in the global market for motorcycles over 500 cc. Conditions proved to be challenging in the United States as Ducati’s number one market, declining by nearly 9 per cent, while here in Australia the Bologna brand was down a hefty 23.2 per cent.
The end of 2018 revenue reached a figure of € 699 million (2017: € 736 million) and the operating profit was € 49 million (2017: € 51 million), with an operating margin of 7%, which is the same percentage registered in 2017. The Bologna-based company managed to compensate the reduction in the volume of sales, resulting from a decline in the market, thanks to the success of models with higher margins, such as the Panigale, which made it possible to maintain the operating profit at the same level as the previous year.
2019 Ducati Diavel 1260 S
The financial data relating to the 2018 fiscal year for the Audi Group, for which Ducati represents the motorcycle segment, were communicated during the annual press conference held at the AUDI AG headquarters in Ingolstadt.
Claudio Domenicali, CEO Ducati Motor Holding
“2018 was challenging from many points of view, but we are satisfied with our financial performance throughout a difficult year. The company is generating the resources to continue funding the development of new products which is very positive for the future.”
Ducati Motor Holding currently has a total of 1,591 employees. The sales network of the Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer includes 720 dealers in over 90 countries.
Shayna Texter is part of the KTM factory-backed American Flat Track Singles team in 2019, alongside teammate and defending champion Dan Bromley. She’s a fierce competitor in the class, taking third in the championship in 2018, scoring three wins and five podiums along the way. Second or third best isn’t going to cut it for Texter in 2019 however, and she’s been hard at working getting her physical and mental training in order so she can to take the title this year.
Following graduation from California University in Pennsylvania, she and boyfriend Briar Bowman headed to Florida to get to work with legendary trainer Aldon Baker.
“I’ve been working with Aldon and just trying to get physically and mentally as prepared for the start of the season,” Texter explains. “Aldon’s trying to help me accomplish some of my goals and make sure that I’m as good as I can be going into the start of the season.
“Obviously I want to win the championship, and in order to do that you got to win races and podiums. It’s no stranger to anyone who follows the sport—I’ve been so close to winning the championship so many years.”
One big problem area in Texter’s arsenal has been TTs, and it’s something she’s working hard to remedy.
“So Aldon’s been working with me with the TTs and just trying to get comfortable. I don’t have to win the races, but you certainly got to be out there scoring points. So we’re trying to attack it as best as we can in baby steps, and hopefully we can get the job done this year.”
That hasn’t always been the case, but a few bumps along the road have impacted Texter and made TTs quite daunting.
“As an amateur I did pretty well and then I had a couple accidents on TTs and some pretty big crashes and just kind of mentally got worn out. When my dad passed away in 2010, I was just kind of like, dude, I’m not riding these anymore. I hate them. I took five years away from them. In 2017 I was leading the championship and it was like, holy cow, I got to go ride these TTs. So it was a little bit of a struggle, and now I’m trying to make up for that lost time. It’s a little bit of lost time and then it’s a little bit of the mental game as well, just being confident, riding loose, and not being terrified of the jump. So it’s just that whole little other side of racing that sometimes you have to face.
“TT racing is a lot different than ovals. They have right-hand corners. They have a front brake. They have a jump, if not more than one. So there’s a lot more variables. Then to add to that, we race a lot of other guys that just race TTs only that come from other forms of racing, whether it’s hare scrambles, motocross, supercross, off-road. They come in and just race our TTs only because they do so well at it. Then we’re faced with the challenge of racing with guys that we’re not necessarily used to racing with. That’s a whole other uncomfortable setting as well. I think it’s just that whole total package. I needed to go out there and attack a TT like I attack a short track, half mile or mile.”
Baker’s already been a big help in this regard, getting Texter’s training schedule on point and incorporating special flat-track training areas into his compound and boosting her moto skills.
“He actually built me a TT track around the supercross tracks for me to get some laps in. He actually is in the process of building a flat track, but with all the rain out there on the East Coast, and the West Coast included… It’s actually underwater right now. So he built me a temporary one around the supercross track so that I can still get my laps in.
“I’ve actually been doing quite a bit of motocross as well. One of my struggles is just being confident over the jump, so I’ve been kind of cross-training a little bit over there. Just trying to get that obstacle out of the way. So a lot of us do motocross. Then of course we do flat track when we can. It’s a lot harder for us to train flat track during the week because there’s not a whole lot of facilities around that just have open trackdays.”
Baker’s notoriously hard process hasn’t bothered Texter one bit so far, largely as a result of her desire to get that title in 2019.
“He’s no joke, and obviously he’s worked wonders on the supercross guys. Our sport’s a little bit different than supercross. It’s not as strenuous as it is in supercross. But he still has a fitness plan for me and a riding schedule throughout the week that he expects me to adhere to. He wants the best out of me and I of course want the best out myself. So if you want to win races and championships, you’re going to be self-motivated anyway. So it makes it easy.”
And that’s Texter’s plan for the coming season and beyond, to get more wins and finally score that title. The 27-year-old isn’t ruling out a possible move up to the Twins class in the future if the opportunity arises either.
Her drive has already served as a huge inspiration to many, especially as an example to women riders who face the pressure of contending in a hugely male-dominated industry. Never giving up is her mantra, and so far it’s served her well.
“If you have a dream or a goal, you need to go out there and attack it and push. The easier route is quitting, but the hard route is of course not giving up. For me, if I had given up 19 years ago or nine years ago or whatever, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. So you got to keep pushing when the times are hard and enjoy the moments when they’re good.”
Dan Bromley is the defendingAmerican Flat Track Singles champion this year, coming off a season with four race wins and nine podium finishes. It marked the first professional title for Bromley since he joined the pro ranks seven years ago. Now, the 23-year-old Pennsylvania native is back with even more support from KTM to defend his number one status in 2019, a position he remains humble to hold.
“It’s definitely an honor to be able to have this championship,” Bromley explains. “It’s definitely kind of mind-blowing to me. I never thought I’d be in this position. It’s great. I really want to be able to cherish it.”
You might imagine a defending champion spending the entire off-season with a focused training regimen, nutrition schedule, and curfew. That’s not Bromley. Rather, he got back to the 9-5, fitting in rides whenever possible.
“This off-season I worked full-time as a carpenter. We build houses from the concrete all the way up to the roof, all the way to the trim. Pretty much do that Monday through Friday. Then I try to get a lot of Fridays and Mondays to be able to travel and ride. Back home we got about an inch of snow still, so it’s kind of hard to ride with the snow on the ground and everything, but we make the best of it.
‘We do a lot of off-road riding, motocross, and cross-training. It helps out a lot. Today, you can see when the track gets a little sloppy or dry, you have to be able to think fast and react. It’s the same thing in the woods and on the moto track. You have to react because the track’s always changing. So I haven’t really had the chance to ride a lot of flat track this off-season, but had a lot of opportunities to ride motocross and off-road. Definitely been trying to take every opportunity I can to be on the bike.”
Motocross is especially helpful for Bromley during the off-season since it keeps his senses on the bike sharp.
“Moto helps a lot because the tracks are always changing and you always have to adapt to the tracks. The lines are changing. The ruts are changing. The faces are always different. Same thing on a flat track, just a little bit differently. Pretty much it’s always flat. So it’s not that that’s changing. Some parts get a little drier. Some parts get a little more slick, a little wetter. Sometimes you get a groove that forms that wasn’t there the lap before. You always have to be adapting and trying to make not only yourself work on the bike, but the bike work itself.”
Bromley has had plenty of training over the years, however. Flat Track is in his family’s blood, starting two generations ago.
“I got into flat-track racing because a long, long time ago my grandfather, he started doing it and then he opened up a motorcycle shop back home by me in Pennsylvania. Then he got my father and two uncles into it. They raced their whole lives. They didn’t have the opportunity to go professional, so when I had the opportunity they definitely supported it fully and really wanted me to take advantage of it.”
He joined the pro ranks when he was 16 years old, the year after winning the Horizon Award.
“I was 16 turning 17 when I turned professional because the years kind of overlapped. I wanted to start in Daytona. I didn’t want to start halfway through the season, so I wanted just to start fresh. I was able to win the first year I was professional in Springfield. Then in ’13 and ’14 I rode, and then in 2015 I finished second in the championship. Then in ’16 I moved up to the Twins class where I was able to earn my national number and many main events. Then in ’17 I rode half the season in the Twins, and in one of them finished fourth place just off the podium.
“Then I moved down to the Singles after. Kind of wasn’t feeling it anymore. Didn’t have the love for racing anymore. Kind of turned into a job almost, which is hard to see. It wasn’t enjoyable for me and I wanted to find my love for racing again. Being able to go to the racetrack in the back of my van, just do it myself, and just do it on my own terms. It definitely helped changed my mind and it helped me out a lot.
“Before I was on a strict schedule where I had to eat at certain times. I had to train at certain times. I had to do certain things at certain times, and it got a little out of hand for me. I don’t think at the time I was quite ready for it. Being able to go back and kind of relax and just do it how I wanted to do it, I feel now that I’m more prepared to be able to take this opportunity I with Red Bull KTM and Roof Systems. To be able to make it a benefit for me to be able to be more structured and to be able to use it to my advantage.”
Up to this point, Bromley’s been largely a privateer. There was some bike support earlier on, but nothing like what he has with KTM in 2019.
“Previous to this, I was on a Kawasaki-supported Twins program. It wasn’t a factory team. I got no money out of it, no nothing. But all the bikes were supplied and I just had to show up at the track. Where here, it’s a lot more easy for myself. I get a little bit more help getting to the tracks. Get a little bit more help being able to live my life and train and do all that. It definitely helps out a lot. It’s the first time ever having full-factory support where I have my own mechanic. I have any resource I need to be able to win. It’s pretty awesome.”
And as for the bike, he’s no stranger to the KTM 450 SX-F.
“I raced the first three rounds of the series on a 2018 KTM, and then KTM helped me out with a dealer demo. They were helping me out with purchasing a 2019—it was an ’18 and a half. 2019 frame, all-new frame and everything. They helped me out with that and I was able to race that for most of the season. Then toward the end of the season they helped me out with a second motorcycle, which had a little bit more parts in it that I didn’t have the resources to get. It definitely helped out a lot on the miles.”
Miles aren’t exactly where Bromley’s heart is. He’s more of a TT guy, which is understandable considering his off-season training approach.
“I love TTs. I won two out of the four last year. I’m not going to say I’m hoping to win all four this year, or all five, but I’m hoping to be in the top five and hopefully on the podium at all the rounds. I want to be able to be consistent. Last year I was on the podium 13 times. I missed the top five four times. So if I’m able to make top five every round this year, I’ll be really happy. I know that one way to win a championship is to be consistent, and hopefully I have a consistent 2019 season.”
That approach will pay dividends to his future plans if he’s able to pull it off.
“I hope to defend my championship this year. Then for 2020, I’m really looking forward to hopefully moving up to the Twins division. I would be really excited for KTM if they come out with their Twins program. As of right now it’s unclear. They are definitely working at it. I’m really excited to work with them and hopefully have them build their Twins program. For the 2020 season, I’d like to be on the Twin and hopefully be a top contender in the class.”
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for one year. Each bike will be built to order as a model year 2020 with delivery starting in September 2019.
