Celebrating Triumph’s rich racing history is the new 2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition, which features a race-inspired graphic scheme, Triumph Shift Assist, and a flyscreen.
The modern Triumph Trident 660 debuted for model year 2021 with a name brought back to commemorate Triumph’s first triple-cylinder motorcycle launched in 1968. A racing Trident called “Slippery Sam” claimed five consecutive Isle of Mann Production TT wins from 1971-1975, and this Tribute version for 2025 pays special homage to the Trident’s racing history.
“Since its launch in 2020, this middleweight roadster has reinvigorated this highly competitive category, selling more than 35,600 units worldwide,” said Paul Stroud, chief commercial officer for Triumph Motorcycles. “Its triple engine and premium detailing at a great price has been successful in bringing younger and new riders to Triumph, and just as ‘Slippery Sam’ once inspired a generation, we believe this special edition has the iconic style, extra technology, and dynamic performance to appeal to today’s Triumph fans.”
The Trident 660 is powered by a liquid-cooled 660cc Triple that makes a claimed 80 hp at 10,250 rpm and 47 lb-ft of torque at 6,250 rpm. It has a seat height of 31.7 inches and a weight of 416 lb. Throttle-by-wire allows two ride modes (Road and Rain), and it comes with ABS, switchable traction control, and a combined TFT and LCD display.
Suspension is supplied by Showa, with a 41mm inverted separate-function fork delivering 4.7 inches of travel and a preload-adjustable monoshock with 5.3 inches of travel. Nissin brake calipers grip 310mm discs in the front and a 255mm disc in the rear, and the bike rides on 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels wrapped in Michelin Road 5 tires.
The 2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition adds a white, blue, and red graphic scheme inspired by “Slippery Sam,” as well as a Number 67 race graphic, a flyscreen, and Triumph Shift Assist, which enables clutchless up and down gear changes with an autoblipper on downshifts for smoother changes.
The 2025 Triumph Trident 660 Tribute Special Edition will be available for one year only with an MSRP of $8,595. It will arrive in dealerships starting April 2024. Visit the Triumph website for more information.
Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO), rights holder and organiser of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, proudly announces that it has obtained the prestigious ISO 45001 certification by the IMQ (Istituto Italiano del Marchio di Qualità) certification body.
ISO 45001 is an international standard that sets forth requirements for an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system, providing organisations with a structured framework to manage risks and enhance OH&S performance.
This achievement emphasises DWO’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the health and safety of its workforce and paddock members during the organisation of its world-class events, which takes place in variable contexts and subject to different local regulations.
“At DWO, the safety and wellbeing of our workforce and paddock members are paramount priorities,” said Stefano Pacchioli, Chief Operating Officer of Dorna WSBK Organization. “Earning the ISO 45001 certification underscores our commitment to fostering a safe and healthy work environment throughout all facets of our event organisation, from planning and implementation to ongoing evaluation and improvement.”
Key elements of the ISO 45001 standard include leadership commitment, worker participation, hazard identification and risk assessment, legal and regulatory compliance, emergency planning, incident investigation, and continual improvement.
“The implementation of ISO 45001 helps to reduce the risks of workplace accidents and demonstrates to all stakeholders that the organisation is implementing internationally recognised best practices for health and safety at work,” commented Fulvio Giorgi, CEO of IMQ. “Dorna, by committing to obtaining a voluntary certification aimed at reducing such risks, has demonstrated an extremely high level of responsibility towards the market and all stakeholders in general”.
By adhering to these criteria, DWO aims to systematically manage health and safety risks, reduce workplace incidents, and enhance overall OH&S performance at each WorldSBK round but also at each stage of the Championship planning.
ISO 45001 certification is a significant milestone for Dorna, but it is only a starting point in its ongoing journey towards excellence in occupational safety.
Andrea Iannone’s (Team GoEleven) strong start to his rookie season continued at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya despite a crash in Race 2 which dropped him from podium contention, with ‘The Maniac’ claiming fourth in Race 1 and second in the stunning Tissot Superpole Race fight. Speaking after his second MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship round, Iannone discussed his weekend and being competitive so quickly which he admitted he wasn’t expecting just two rounds into his debut campaign.
Iannone was one of ten riders who went under the pole lap record in Saturday’s Tissot Superpole session to line up from second and fought at the front in the early stages in what turned into a strategic race. Eventually dropping into P4 behind Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati duo of Nicolo Bulega and Alvaro Bautista who completed the podium, it was a race where the #29 had to learn as he went given his lack of experience on Pirelli tyres at a track where managing them is crucial.
In the Superpole Race, the #29 took advantage of Razgatlioglu passing Bautista at the final corner to overtake the #1 on the run to the line as he moved into second, with Bautista finding himself demoted from first to third in a matter of seconds. P2 continued Iannone’s run of podium finishes, now counting one in Australia and one in Barcelona. In Race 2, he was running in third before a Turn 10 tumble took him out of the race but showing strong pace left him happy overall.
Reviewing his weekend, Iannone said: “I’m really happy about the weekend. We tried to find something more compared to Race 1 in the long race. We found something in the rear. We were in front, and I struggled a little bit more with the front tyres in Race 2. In any case, it’s always like this. This is the game. We take risks to improve. We didn’t improve like we wanted but we gained experience and information, and this race was difficult because I don’t have a lot of experience with these tyres. At the end of the weekend, I’ve learnt.”
The Superpole Race went down to the wire between Razgatlioglu, Iannone and Bautista, with the GoEleven Ducati rider finding a gap between the #54 and #1 to claim second place after running in third on the run into the right-hand corner of Turn 14. When asked about this fight, Iannone spoke about how fighting in the short race is different and how he’s ahead of his expectations in terms of where he thought he’d be fighting.
Iannone added: “The Superpole Race is like a boxing match. Every corner, everybody overtakes me. I overtook one more time… the short race is always like this. It’s a great fight, it’s really fun. I’m happy about the result. In the end, I’ve come back now, and I didn’t expect, in the second round, to be at this level. We need to continue to improve and work but when you are close, the last details are always difficult to achieve.”
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The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosted Round 2 in the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and it was sensational. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed his first two BMW victories with two different types of battles and, speaking after Sunday’s action, the #54’s Crew Chief, Phil Marron, gave his thoughts on the success during the Pirelli Catalunya Round.
THE FIRST VICTORY: “a little bit emotional, but it was fantastic…”
Race 1 was a strategic battle, with the 2021 Champion closing a four-second gap to Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) to claim victory on the last lap. On Race 1, Marron said: “I was a little bit emotional, but it was fantastic. Pole position and then he followed it up with a masterclass in the race. He didn’t react when he saw the other guys riding away, he stuck to his plan, managed his tyres and he brought it home. When he was hunting down Nico in the last laps, we were on the edge of our seats. Two laps to go, he lost the front at Turn 10, and I nearly had a heart attack! After that, he brought it home and did the business. Really special.
“We work together as a team. It was clear from all the information gathered that we couldn’t go into the 1’41s, had to try and stay in the 1’42s and, in the early laps, manage the tyres. Don’t be greedy, don’t try to get off the turns too much. We all play an important role but also Toprak’s matured a lot as well, and he understood how important it was around here. I didn’t think he believed the win was on the cards in Race 1 but now the belief is strong.”
FINAL CORNER MOVE: “Toprak didn’t have a chance at Turn 10, we didn’t have the tools there…”
While Race 1 was about strategy, the Tissot Superpole Race was a fantastic final-corner fight between Razgatlioglu, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven), with the #54 making an ambitious move on Bautista for P1. On the overtake, Marron said: “He never got a chance to see Alvaro, so he didn’t know where he was strong. On all upright braking, Alvaro was really strong. He didn’t have a chance at Turn 10, we didn’t have the tools there. We knew the last corner was the only chance, but it was still a long shot. I’m sure he’s told you already, he held it, went back to second gear, parked it on the corner and got an awesome exit. The racing instinct was incredible.”
A TITLE CHARGE IN 2024? “still got a lot of mileage to get before we understand how to react to every situation… never say never”
Two rounds in and with two wins secured on the M 1000 RR, Marron discussed the ceiling of the project. He said: “Toprak’s still improving. Every time he gets on the bike, he wants to extract the maximum of the package. We all know his talents, he’s incredible. BMW are pushing a lot with the project so the potential of the project with Toprak involved is extremely high. I honestly believe we’re still scratching the surface with the package. We’re into the races so we can’t do as much testing as we’d like. To do the development during a race weekend isn’t easy. I think we’ve still got a lot of mileage to get under our belts before we fully understand how to react to every situation we encounter. Never say never.”
TEAMWORK IMPORTANT AS EVER: “Great to see Mickey in P4… as happy for him as we were for Toprak!”
Catalunya was a strong weekend for BMW, with Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) taking a fourth place in the Superpole Race. Expanding on the atmosphere in the box, Marron said: “The group’s fantastic. Both sides of the garage are working together, Toprak and Mickey working together, and it was great to see Mickey in P4. We were as happy for him as we were for Toprak. He’s on the upward trend again. They’re both pushing the bike in the same direction, the atmosphere’s good and really nice.”
Can Razgatlioglu and BMW fight for victory next time out at Assen? Find out using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
The 2024 FIM Supersport World Championship had more twists and turns at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as two riders claimed their first victory of the season in style. In Race 1, the glory belonged to Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) after he went from pole to victory, while Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) made it three winners from four races this season to really kickstart his title challenge.
After taking pole in Australia, Huertas did so again on home soil as he posted a 1’44.197s and he was able to convert this into Race 1 victory on Saturday. He finished 1.2 seconds clear of Manzi in second after leading all 18 laps across the line, although he did face stiff competition from Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in the first few laps. He was unable to repeat it in Sunday’s Race 2 though, a crash at Turn 1 in the closing stages dropping him down to last and leaving the #99 unable to score points.
Discussing his first win on Saturday, Huertas said: “I’m really happy about this victory because Australia was quite difficult, and we saw in Barcelona that we’re one of the strongest and that we can fight for the Championship. I think we managed everything really well all race and it paid off. Now I know I can lead a race; this is useful for me because I hadn’t led a WorldSSP race. Now, I know what the feeling is. It’s important not just for this victory but the whole season.”
For Manzi, Barcelona was redemption after a difficult weekend in Australia where he crashed twice in Race 2 – at Turn 4 and then Turn 10. Second in Race 1 in Spain was followed by a hard-fought victory in a shortened Race 2. A six-lap dash to victory featured an incredible fight with four riders going for the win, until Huertas dropped out of contention. Manzi was able to overcome Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) by just 0.086s to claim his first win of 2024.
On returning to the top step, Manzi said: “I feel super, finally! After we worked all winter to go as fast as possible on track and then you come to a weekend like this and be on the podium in both races, the feeling is super. It was a strange Sunday because we didn’t do the Warm Up. We were waiting because I woke up at 6:30am and we raced at 3pm; it was a long wait! The race was super. In the first part, I was managing a bit because we saw a big drop in Race 1. When I saw the red flag, I thought we’d have a very short race and it’ll be a hard fight. Luckily, I had a new tyre for the second part, and we were able to win the race.”
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Four winners from six races, three manufacturers winning and a Championship top five covered by just 36 points, the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship was already in sixth gear but it went up a notch at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Two last lap showdowns, emotional first wins with a new team and more – this week’s hot headlines are ‘molt picant’ from Catalunya.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “It’s incredible to attack at the last corner like Valentino Rossi!”
In just his fourth race with BMW, Toprak Razgatlioglu spoke of his strategy to win in Race 1: “My plan was to ride calmer and after Bulega passed me, I was just going to follow him for some laps and check the tyre grip. I saw Nicolo pushing and then I pushed the limit more but I said ‘OK, I need to close the gas as the podium is good’ because I know Ducati are strong here and their tyres in the last five laps are always good. I’d never won here before, neither with BMW, so this is just a dream for me. Andrea Iannone passed me but after two laps, he dropped and I immediately got ahead of him. I was just riding to my pace, doing 1’42s and in the last five or six laps, Bulega started to drop and I pushed more because I needed to win! With two laps to go, I lost the front at Turn 10! I got ahead on the last lap at Turn 5 and I was just smiling! I got the chequered flag and I’ve always said we’re not far away and still, we’re not 100% but now everyone sees how good the BMW is. Everyone before was saying some bad words but now, everyone sees we’ve won in our second weekend.”
Talking about his Superpole Race final corner pass on Bautista, he was proud to emulate Valentino Rossi from MotoGP™ in 2009: “At Turn 13, I saw that I’m very close to him. I said, ‘now, it’s time to attack’ and at the last corner, I attacked. I used second gear for stopping and I stopped his good line. I had good acceleration in second gear. For me, it’s incredible to attack at the last corner like Valentino Rossi. I remember many years ago he fought with Jorge Lorenzo. It’s not similar, but the same attack.”
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “If I go on the inside kerb, he’ll go over the kerb!”
Starting with the Superpole Race battle before moving onto his Race 2 return to winning ways, reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista said: “I enjoyed that battle with all the guys a lot. I just missed the win in the last corner. I knew Toprak was going to try, which ever line I took! I tried to close it a little bit but not too much because I thought, ‘if I go on the inside kerb, he’ll go over the kerb’. In the end, I tried to manage but he entered to pass me rather than taking the corner. In any case, I was happy with the performance. When everyone is pushing, starting from further back was hard. I could take the lead on the last lap at Turn 1. In Race 2, I changed tyre choice on the grid. I did the sighting lap with the X tyre and the feeling was much better. It worked. In the first laps, I was very slow, but no one passed me! When I saw Nico pass me, I thought it was normal. I kept calm. When I caught him again, I thought it was possible to keep that pace until the end, so I took the lead. I could be very precise with my riding, concentrated all race, so I’m happy with the win and the way we won. Step by step, my confidence and feeling with the bike is coming.”
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “This is Toprak! He’ll try things where you think it’s not possible and makes it possible!”
A fine P4 from Michael van der Mark was his best finish in two and a half years but he praised teammate Toprak’s final lap corner Rossi-style pass in the Superpole Race: “I could see it, which is positive because it means I wasn’t that far away! I saw something happening and I was like, ‘nah nah nah’ and then he went and I thought he IS going to try it! Honestly, I almost missed the corner because I was enjoying it! Especially when I came out of the last corner, I saw what happened and it’s Toprak, you can never relax. He’s always trying, it’s the strongest point of his riding. He’ll try things where you think it’s not possible and makes it possible!”
Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven): “I saw nothing dirty”
Picking up the pieces from Turn 14’s last lap Superpole Race shuffle, Andrea Iannone spoke from his perspective: “The race is the race. Everyone wants to win and it’s normal when you have a chance, you try. In any case, I’m happy about today’s races. We fought and this is important. I know everything’s good but it’s not easy. We try to improve every race. I expected that Toprak would try, he was in the position to try, and he did. I saw nothing dirty; it was clean. On the TV, it’s like I’m closer to Toprak but I’m not close, I’m a bit far away. I tried to also overtake Toprak. When you are there at that point, you try to win but we need a little bit more in some areas.”
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “Until the last lap, I was doing an incredible job!”
So close, yet so far for Nicolo Bulega, who nearly bagged a second win of his rookie season in Race 1: “In the straight, I was like a chopper because the rear tyre was finished! I’m happy but not happy; first until the last lap… I didn’t have a lot of experience because this was my first long race, where I had to manage tyres. Until the last lap, I was doing an incredible job. I chose the new 900 rear tyre; the track temperature was high so maybe the SCX was a better choice but if the race finished one lap less, my choice would be the best. I didn’t know it was Toprak, I just knew someone was coming. With two laps to go, I knew I had to do something because I was in a bad situation and was struggling a lot. Then, on the last lap, I heard Toprak from behind and when he overtook me, it was like me but seven or eight laps before. I have to be happy for second in my first full race… I learnt something.”
Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha): “We have to trust the process”
After five races in Yamaha without points, a P8 was Jonathan Rea’s first points haul of 2024. He outlined his struggles so far: “I really love the bike and the character and the engine is amazing but to be really fast on the bike is hard. The rate of progression and development has been very slow, much slower than expected and than necessary to make progress. We have to trust the process and trust that we can make it better. It’d be much worse if I came here and said that I’m doing everything, the bike is perfect etc, no; we have a lot of margin to improve, both my understanding of the bike but also the crew’s help and support of making it my bike. That’s why I’m not super disappointed about where we are; I have to be patient. We’ve had a lot of strange things happen this year; maybe the first test was the smoothest!”
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John Alger rides the historic U.S. Route 66 from Chicago, Illinois, to Amarillo, Texas, on his kickstart-only 1978 Yamaha SR500.
Dubbed the “Mother Road” by John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath and known as “Main Street USA,” U.S. Route 66 will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. No other road in America had such an impact on growth, migration, transportation, and popular culture. During the Great Depression and the horrific Dust Bowl of the 1930s, Route 66 was a paved pathway to a better life, transporting tens of thousands of people from the heartland to the West.
Map of Route 66 courtesy of Encyclopedia Brytannica
Right after WWII, my Uncle Don traveled from California to his hometown of Springfield, Illinois, using much of Route 66 and riding a kickstart, air-cooled, single-cylinder AJS. As I pondered my own journey on the Mother Road, it seemed fitting to attempt it on my 1978 Yamaha SR500, which is also an air-cooled, kickstart Single. Over the years, I have owned several Yamahas, but the SR500 has been my preferred ride for its light weight, effortless cornering ability, competent disc brakes, and simple but elegant design. I like it so much, I own two.
The author’s 1978 Yamaha SR500 on Route 66 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
For my trip, I chose the one with 30,000 miles on the odometer. Except for upgraded brake hoses, it was bone stock. To get it ready for my Route 66 adventure, I gave it a complete engine and chassis overhaul, as well as a 535cc big bore kit, an oil cooler, and a SuperTrapp exhaust. I retained the stock air box and K&N air filter but re-jetted it as required. The new chain and sprockets were one tooth larger on the countershaft, which lowered cruising rpms and resulted in a mostly vibration-free ride.
The SR500 also has a no-frills CDI ignition system with a strong charging system, allowing me to keep my cellphone and Bluetooth full of juice, and a centerstand, a must-have for daily chain lubrication and fixing flat tires (I had one).
U.S. Route 66 begins in Chicago, Illinois, within sight of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower).
Since Route 66 starts in Chicago, I transported my bike from my hometown of Merritt Island, Florida, in my Chevy van. The first day of riding started in Chicago rush-hour traffic on the Kennedy Expressway, which was undergoing road construction, but after stop-and-go for two hours in record heat, I was rewarded with the U.S. 66 “Begin” sign at the corner of Adams Street and Michigan Avenue across from The Art Institute of Chicago. Just a few blocks away is the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), and a few blocks farther is the famous Lou Mitchell’s restaurant, which is over 100 years old and served a great breakfast to start my trip.
Lou Mitchell’s is a legendary eatery in downtown Chicago.
Aside from the sweltering temperatures and humidity of August, Chicago’s beautiful residential areas and parks made the short trip to the suburbs quite pleasant. The first 100 miles of Route 66 is known as the Heritage Corridor, which also includes towns along the Illinois & Michigan Canal, which connected Lake Michigan to the Illinois River, and Starved Rock State Park. In Cicero, I stopped to see one of Al Capone’s houses. In Berwyn, I checked out the world’s largest laundromat, which is over 13,000 square feet and even has a bird aviary, and I also passed by one of the oldest-operating White Castle restaurants.
Dick’s on 66 is located in Joliet, Illinois.
Traveling south, I found a neat roadside display in the town of Joliet called Dick’s on 66, an old towing shop decorated with several vintage vehicles and a patch of bricks purportedly from the original Route 66. Across the street is a restored gas pump and ice-cream shop. Joliet is also the home of the state prison and was featured in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers.
In Wilmington, Illinois, I cooled down with a sundae at the Route 66 Creamery and spotted the first of five “giants” I would see on my trip: a Sinclair dinosaur on the roof of G&D Tire Company.
Route 66 Creamery is in Wilmington, Illinois.
For this trip, I tried to take the oldest sections possible of Route 66, and Illinois had them clearly marked. Some sections of road looked more like abandoned driveways, with weeds growing through cracks in the concrete. My little SR500 was perfect for this kind of duty.
One of the few remaining Muffler Men is located in Wilmington, Illinois. The bright green Gemini Giant holds a silver rocket and was named in honor of the Gemini space program of the 1960s.
In Towanda is Dead Man’s Curve, a sharp curve that caught many drivers unaware and was the site of numerous accidents from the 1920s to the 1950s. There’s even a preserved series of Burma Shave signs that say: Around the curve / lickety-split / beautiful car / wasn’t it? I had a 25-plus mph headwind for most of that first day, and it felt as if I was riding into a blow drier. My first night was spent at the Ghost Hollow Lodge in Chandlerville, Illinois, where I fortified myself with a dinner of venison and fresh veggies.
On the second day, I stopped in Springfield to cool down with an iced tea at Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill, which also has a museum and gaming room. Just south of Springfield in Carlinville, my fun was interrupted by a flat tire. I had packed tools, tire irons, a portable compressor, and a tube patch kit, but my tube was too badly mangled by the nail. Scott McDaniels of S&S ATV came to the rescue by delivering a new tube (at no charge), a local resident across the street brought me ice water, and the local city hall allowed me to do the work on the north side of their office in the shade on the concrete. It just goes to show how kind strangers can be when you are in a bind.
The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is located in Granite City, Illinois.
The repair set me back almost four hours, and I had to bypass many of the Route 66 sights from Carlinville to St. Charles, Missouri, where I stayed with friends. The following day, I unloaded my luggage and backtracked to Granite City, Illinois, to see the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. The mile-long bridge was part of the original Route 66 from 1936 to 1965 and allowed motor vehicles to cross the Mississippi River from Illinois to Missouri. It features a 30-degree turn partway through. I had gone over this bridge in a car as a kid before it was decommissioned in 1968. It is now only open to foot traffic and bicycles.
The 630-foot Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, was completed in 1965.
While in St. Louis, I also went up into the 630-foot Gateway Arch, which was completed in 1965. It is now part of the National Park Service, and with recent remodeling and upgrades, it’s a not-to-miss experience. I also visited the National Museum of Transportation on the west side of St. Louis. This may be one of the best transportation museums in the country and has the only remaining GM Aerotrains. It also has a running Chrysler Turbine Car like the one at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.
A Chrysler Turbine Car at the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis.
After getting my luggage loaded back on the SR500, my next stop was Times Beach, Missouri. Route 66 used to cross the Meramec River there, and the remnants of the bridge are still there, along with a Route 66 State Park. I met some folks from Europe riding Route 66 on rented Harleys, and they were aghast that I was attempting to make the same trip on my antique bike with no GPS navigation and only an EZ66 guide in my tankbag.
Remnants of the Route 66 bridge in Times Beach, Missouri.
Times Beach was the site of the second largest EPA Superfund site due to a local contractor spraying dioxin on the dirt roads for dust control. All the buildings were bought by the EPA and leveled, and it’s currently considered a ghost town. West of Times Beach is the Meramec Caverns, where I ran into my new European friends again. My bike would do roughly 100 miles per tank of fuel, which coincided with my body’s need to stand up and stretch out a bit and suck down a cold beverage.
A group of Europeans riding Route 66 on rented Harleys stopped at the Route Route 66 State Park in Missouri.
I stayed at the KOA in Springfield, Missouri, that night and rented a cabin. I had planned on renting a primitive campsite, but for only about $40 more, I got an air-conditioned cabin, lights, electricity, a mattress, a table, and a TV. It was a bargain!
Along the way in Missouri are a few museums and stops such as a replica 1930s Sinclair station called Gary’s Gay Parita in Ash Grove, Missouri, where the sign reads “Gas Wars” and advertises fuel at 15 cents per gallon. Another sign reads “Kendal, your 2,000 mile oil!” We have certainly come a long way!
A replica 1930s Sinclair gas station called Gary’s Gay Parita in Ash Grove, Missouri.
Shortly after the Sinclair station on the Old Route 66 trail, I crossed an old truss bridge that crossed over Johnson Creek in Spencer, Missouri. Like the old sections of Route 66 in Illinois, this section looked like an abandoned road going into the backwoods. It was beautiful.
Only 13 miles of Route 66 pass through Kansas.
Kansas only has a very short 13-mile section of the Old Route 66 path, and if you take that, you are blessed with crossing one of the few remaining Marsh Arch bridges left in the country – and the only remaining one on Route 66, this one having been built in the early 1900s.
The Rainbow Curve Bridge was built in 1923. It’s the only remaining Marsh Arch bridge on Route 66.
Oklahoma likely has the most Route 66 sites of any state. After the road was decommissioned by the federal government for use as a federal highway, Oklahoma named it State Road 66. It’s easy to follow, although I did manage to miss a sign and ride maybe 50 miles off course. The best Route 66 Museum is in Clinton, Oklahoma. It covers the initial planning and construction of the route, along with different scenes of Americana, a video of the Dust Bowl, and more.
Buck Atom, a 21-foot-tall space cowboy in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is one of the iconic Muffler Men of Route 66.
There are more giant statues to be seen as you pass through Oklahoma, including Buck Atom, the 21-foot-tall space cowboy in Tulsa holding a rocket. Tulsa also has a cool park downtown called the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza that has three tall old neon motel signs relocated there from the early days of Route 66. Further south is a Route 66 village with an old train, a gas station, and an oil derrick.
Route 66 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The last section of Route 66 I rode in Oklahoma was a mostly abandoned concrete road that paralleled Interstate 40, but you could tell it was part of the original route. How many mostly abandoned four-lane concrete highways going into nowhere with no traffic do you see? At one point, I thought I was off-track, but then I saw the Texas state sign and the familiar white outlined Route 66 logo painted on the road.
In Texas, much of Route 66 is access highways on either side of the interstate, which worked just fine for my trusty mule since I could travel at more relaxed speeds in the intense heat. Along the way, you pass by the Leaning (water) Tower of Britten in Groom, Texas, and Amarillo gives you the Cadillac Ranch.
Cadillac Ranch is located in Amarillo, Texas.
After visiting the Cadillac Ranch, I stopped at a KOA, and when I tried to start my bike again, it didn’t fire up. It turned out to be an issue with the ignition system, and despite having the parts from my other SR500 shipped to me to attempt a repair, it didn’t take. I cut my trip short and loaded the bike in the back of a Penske truck and headed back east.
In spite of a flat tire, intense heat and humidity, and an ignition failure, this was the most fun I can recall in most of my life. In retrospect, I should have tried making this trip on a newer bike, but part of the fun was riding a kickstart antique.
If you are considering riding this road, I would suggest waiting until 2026 for the 100-year anniversary since I heard plans in various towns along the way for some centennial events, so it should be even better.
‘The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is going to be off the scale’ – that was the prediction and it’s what is happening. Racing harder than ever with more names and more bikes at the front, the next round at the TT Circuit Assen is an absolute MUST-VISIT. Below are 10 reasons why you have to be there, from stories, to atmosphere, activities and more. If the below reasons aren’t enough, enjoy the last lap of Barcelona’s Superpole Race and we’re sure to see you at the track!
FOUR WINNERS IN SIX RACES: WorldSBK’s new era is well-and-truly upon us
In a phenomenal start to 2024, we’ve had four winners in six races for three different manufacturers. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) won on his debut, then Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) made it a double in Australia. Toprak Razgatlioglu’s (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) sensational Barcelona double preluded Alvaro Bautista’s (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) Race 2 win – could it be Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven), Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) or Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) – or all three – at Assen?
A NEW MANUFACTURER IN CONTENTION: BMW’s rise to challenging
“We’re only just scratching the surface with this package” – ominous words from Phil Marron on Sunday after Barcelona. Toprak Razgatlioglu’s crew chief plays a pivotal part in the rider’s success and with two wins at what looked like their worst track, BMW are in the battle and there to stay.
LAST LAP BATTLES: WorldSBK’s theme continues
6 of the last 11 races in WorldSBK have been decided in final lap battles, an insane statistic as once again Toprak Razgatlioglu and Alvaro Bautista continue to knock spots off each other. With Alex Lowes, Andrea Iannone and more in the mix, Assen will be explosive at the final chicane, like many years before.
BACK IN THE GAME: “Alvaro Bautista is back”
A huge self-declaration on Sunday in Barcelona, Bautista is back in contention and looks here to stay after a shaky start to 2024. However, the reigning double Champion now heads to a track where he’s won the last four races, although as Barcelona and Phillip Island proved, this year could be different.
REA’S PREVIOUS FORM: the most successful we’ve ever seen
The most successful rider with 17 wins and a place where the Yamaha should be in form, Jonathan Rea will want to really get his season going on Dutch soil. First points of the year in Barcelona with P8, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Rea back towards the front at Assen and how welcome it’d be.
VAN DER MARK ON FORM HEADING HOME: can he sprinkle some more magic?
Michael van der Mark’s form coming into his home round is, for the first time since 2021, mega. 2023, he rode well but then got injured in a huge Race 2 crash whilst in 2022, he was injured with a broken leg but finished in P8. Is a podium possible like many times before with Honda and Yamaha?
UNPREDICTABILITY: WorldSBK is in good health
Pooling all those aspects together, we have one thing in WorldSBK: unpredictability. However, it’s the right kind; the narratives are strong and whilst it’s unpredictable, we have a large list of names that can throw the cat amongst the pigeons. At least Assen is used to having such big battles and drama!
CLASSICS BEFORE: will history repeat itself?
There have been countless final chicane thrillers in WorldSBK; whether it’s 1996 with Carl Fogarty vs Troy Corser and John Kocinski, two years later with ‘Foggy’ vs Frankie Chili, 2007’s Troy Bayliss vs James Toseland dash for the line of home-hero van der Mark beating Jonathan Rea to P2 in 2019. 2024, with the form the Championship is in, could well bring the biggest clash of titans yet.
ASSEN’S HISTORY: steeped in history, the ‘Cathedral of Speed’
It’s a classic venue that always brings a surprise. Whether it’s final showdowns at the chicane – who’d be against that this year? – a shock result or just hard, good racing with bold passes and big celebrations, Assen has it all. Never discount anyone in one of WorldSBK’s bucket-list venues.
PADDOCK SHOW: be immersed with access like no other
You can’t get closer access in any other World Championship with just a general admission ticket; the podium takes place at the Paddock Show, and you can get up close to the stars at Parc Ferme too. With activities everyday, commentary and plenty of prizes, the Paddock Show is exactly what the WorldSBK experience is all about.
EVERY SECOND LIVE: watch all the action from 2024 and beyond with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
Nicolo Bulega’s (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) strong start to his rookie campaign continued at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with two more rostrums and a fourth place, with the #11 leading the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship standings after two rounds. Although he didn’t claim victory during the Pirelli Catalunya Round, Bulega was left pleased after two podiums and learning lessons that could prove invaluable in the future.
The #11 was second in Saturday’s Tissot Superpole session, posting a 1’39.591s that would’ve been a lap record had Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) not pulled out a 1’39.489s out of the hat for pole. It left him in good stead for Race 1, but he lost ground at the start before fighting his way into the lead and opening a gap of around four seconds to the #54. It looked like ‘Bulegas’ would take another win, but Razgatlioglu had other ideas.
The 2021 Champion slowly started eating into Bulega’s lead and he took advantage of the #11’s pace dropping in the closing stages. On Lap 15, Razgatlioglu was half-a-second quicker, six tenths faster a lap later, eight tenths quicker on Laps 17 and 18 and a huge 1.5 seconds faster on Lap 19 as Bulega posted a 1’44.9s. It set up a last-lap battle with Razgatlioglu coming out on top despite the Ducati star’s best efforts.
In the Superpole Race, Bulega once again lost ground at the start before fighting his way to a P4 finish, giving him the best view of the incredible last-corner fight ahead. In Race 2, Bulega and teammate Alvaro Bautista were fighting for victory, with the double Champion able to fend off the rookie and claim his first win of 2024. Nevertheless, Bulega was in good spirits after Race 2.
Reviewing his weekend, and the lessons he could take forward, he said: “I’m more than happy than Saturday because maybe I made a mistake, pushed a little bit too much in the beginning and destroyed the tyres. I was fast but maybe too fast. On Sunday, the strategy was the opposite of Saturday. I decided to stay calm and try to follow the more experienced guys like Toprak, Alvaro, and some others. I’m happy because I learnt something from Alvaro, he was in front of me for a lot of laps and I saw how he doesn’t destroy the tyres with the throttle.”
Assen is next up and it’s a track Bulega knows very well from his time in Moto3™ and Moto2™ as well as WorldSSP recently. In the latter, he has three podiums from four races including a double in 2023. His best finish in Moto3™ there was seventh while he didn’t score points in the Netherlands in Moto2™. After learning lessons in Barcelona, will ‘Bulegas’ take the fight to his rivals once again at Assen?
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Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) took his best finish in two and a half years this weekend at the Pirelli Catalunya Round. The #60 had a solid Superpole which gave him the chance to fight inside the top six all weekend, culminating in a fine P4 in Race 2 on Sunday. A clear sign of BMW’s huge progress, his results will certainly warm his home fans up for the next round at Assen in the Netherlands.
STORY OF THE WEEKEND: van der Mark’s emphatic return to the front
The weekend started well for van der Mark, working together with teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu in Superpole to try and get himself in contention for a front row. Images of Toprak helping the #60 in the box were shown and when van der Mark followed his teammate, he went up into P4 for a best Superpole Result since Donington Park in 2022. In Race 1, he opted for the softer front tyre which gave initial pace but then dropped off in the second half of the race, leaving him ninth.
However, on Sunday, the 2014 World Supersport Champion held his own and battled to sixth place, right in contention throughout. This meant he kept his second row starting status for Race 2, even if he did drop to P6. For Race 2 itself, it was another strong start and he fought his way into P4. Up ahead of him was teammate Toprak, who was chasing Ducati pairing Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and teammate Nicolo Bulega. Whilst Bautista and Bulega led and were ahead of Toprak at the line, fourth for van der Mark is the first top four finish for the 31-year-old since Race 2 at Mandalika in 2021. That emphasises that not only is he back to full fitness but that the BMW M 1000 RR has developed into a strong package for both Toprak and him.
HIS OWN WORDS: “I’ve built a lot of confidence”
Talking after the race, van der Mark was elated with a return to form: “With Assen next, there was no better time to demonstrate that he’s a contender: “It was really nice and I had a good race. I got a good start, felt good but knew it was going to be a long race. At the beginning, I didn’t want to push too hard and tried to stay out of trouble. Some guys pushed really hard at the beginning and it is difficult to stay calm but I managed to get going, pass them again and I was in P5 for a long time. I tried to manage the tyres as in Race 1, I lost a lot of time. When Iannone crashed, I was up into P4 and I had a good gap to the others and get home there.
“Australia was already quite good but this whole weekend was quite good and I’ve built a lot of confidence and it’s nice to see the bike is working so good and also, working together with Toprak too. They said before the round that this is one of the worst tracks for us and look what we did: Toprak two wins and one other podium and for me, P9 in Race 1 but then P6 on Sunday morning but then P4, I’ve got a lot of confidence back. “
“WE KNOW HE’S A SPECIAL RIDER” – praise for his teammate, ‘Abi’
Speaking about Toprak bringing a special quality to the team, he agreed: “It’s very special and we know he’s a special rider but I think he showed straight away that the bike isn’t as bad as everyone thought the bike was. I’ve been unlucky in the last two years by not being fit but we always tried to work and get the right direction with this project and developing the bike. Even when the results weren’t as good as we wanted, this direction we went in seems to be the right one. The atmosphere in the team is really good and if we keep going like this, it can only get better.”
Looking ahead to his home round at Assen, the Dutchman has a clear target in sight as he looks to give the fans what they want: “It’d be really nice to get on the podium, it’s been a while! Honestly, we had a really strong weekend here and if we can do the same at Assen, with a little bit extra pressure, I hope to be on the podium there.”
LOOKING AHEAD: Assen calls as expectations rise
It’s been a strong weekend for van der Mark, with eighth in the Championship secured whilst he’s achieved five top ten finishes in the six races, form he’s not enjoyed since the last seven races of 2021 which were kickstarted with a win at Portimao in the Superpole Race. His best result at Assen with BMW is a fourth from 2021, so he’ll look to mount the podium for the first time at home with the German manufacturer.
EVERY SECOND LIVE: watch all the action from 2024 and beyond with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
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