Factory opportunity opens for 2024 season in the United States.
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Triple Australian Superbike champion Troy Herfoss has landed a surprise deal with Indian Motorcycle Racing in MotoAmerica’s King of the Baggers and Super Hooligan categories with the S&S Cycle-operated factory team.
“To have the opportunity to don Indian Motorcycle red leathers and compete on behalf of such a historic brand is a true honour,” Herfoss commented. “As a motorsports enthusiast in Australia, I’ve been envious of all the bagger racing taking place in the States, and I’m extremely grateful to have the opportunity to pilot an S&S Indian Challenger and ride for a factory team who has a championship to its name.”
Indian has signed Herfoss to join defending Super Hooligan champion Tyler O’Hara, the pair to be equipped with the Indian Challenger in the King of the Baggers and the Indian FTR in the Super Hooligan ranks.
Splits with ER Motorsport organisation after title-winning campaign.
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Honda has sensationally withdrawn from the Australian Superbike Championship after splitting with the ER Motorsport team that operated Penrite Honda, just months after clinching the 2023 crown with Troy Herfoss.
It was no secret at The Bend’s final round of last season that ER was yet to commit beyond that round following Herfoss’ decision to exit the team and Honda has now formally confirmed it’s quitting the series in terms of factory involvement.
“While the decision to step back from the Australian Superbike Championship in a factory capacity this year is a challenging one, it is essential for us to redirect our resources and energy towards initiatives that align more closely with the evolving needs of our customers,” explained Tony Hinton, general manager of powersports and products at Honda Australia.
“We are very grateful for the success we have shared with ER Motorsport over the last six years, they have represented the Honda brand with passion, seamlessly run the team with professionalism and have secured results we are very proud of. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to finish the partnership than as the reigning champions.”
The announcement went on to state that ‘importantly, Honda Australia wants to assure its fans and partners that this withdrawal does not signal a diminished commitment to motorsports. Honda will be actively supporting select privateer efforts during the 2024 ASBK season, affirming its dedication to nurturing talent and maintaining a positive presence in the racing community’.
Herfoss won two ASBK championships as part of the Penrite Honda team, firstly in 2018 upon debut with the team, before finally repeating again in 2023. He also won the title with Honda in 2016 when Paul Free managed the factory program.
It’s unclear if ER Motorsport – owned by former national level racer Deon Coote – will be involved in the sport next year, while the future of Herfoss also remains up in the air. He has constantly been linked to a deal in the US-based MotoAmerica series during recent weeks.
Triple ASBK champion Josh Waters will race-on with McMartin Racing in the 2024 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) for a second full season with the Ducati-equipped team.
Waters first won the title as a rookie in 2009, before he repeated in 2012 and 2017 – all onboard Suzuki machinery – and is now targeting a record fourth crown.
“It’s a great feeling to be continuing with McMartin Racing for another season,” 36-year-old Waters commented. “We had some great pace last year in what was really our learning year together, so with that, to come so close to an Australian title was a bitter pill to swallow.
“There is no hiding how gutted we were to come so close to the championship, but it just gives us something much bigger to work on as we head into our second season together. There is a wealth of knowledge within the McMartin Racing team and our results throughout the year certainly reflected the strong partnership we have.”
After Waters finished runner-up to fellow three-time champion Troy Herfoss last season, McMartin Racing owner Craig McMartin is determined to go one better. The team previously won the 2021 ASBK championship with Wayne Maxwell.
“We are very fortunate to have Josh continue with McMartin Racing in 2024,” McMartin said. “Last years’ season was one of the most competitive we have seen in recent years and to have the championship come down to the final race of the year was certainly one for the history books. We are looking forward to working with Josh for our second season together.”
Lawrence collects first Triple Crown win in Arizona
Tomac climbs to second all-time with 450SX triumph.
Image: Octopi Media.
The standout 250SX West rider in 2023, Jett Lawrence put his previous Triple Crown misfortune in the past with his first victory in the alternate format of racing during the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross visit to Glendale, Arizona while Eli Tomac ascended to second all-time with the 51st victory of his career.
Scores of 1-3-1 put Lawrence atop the class for the fifth of six races thus far in 2023.
Levi Kitchen of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s RJ Hampshire both had enough speed to pressure Lawrence during each of the three races, with Hampshire reaching the checkered flag first in Race 2.
Hampshire claimed second overall on the strength of his race win, while Kitchen took 3-2-2 results to the final podium step.
Pierce Brown was fast all day aboard his TLD Red Bull GasGas machine, finishing 4-4-5 for fourth overall on the night. Unfortunately, Brown fell in the first turn after the night’s first gate drop and hit the ground again after Race 1 was red-flagged and restarted.
Failing to fully capitalize on the absence of newly injured Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Cameron McAdoo, Enzo Lopes (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha) finished seventh, fifth, and fourth in Glendale for fifth overall.
Derek Kelley was competitive for the local team AEO Powersports throughout the event and finished sixth overall. Kelley led Mitchell Oldenburg (Smartop MotoConcepts Racing), Max Vohland (Red Bull KTM), Robbie Wageman (Bar-X Suzuki), and Carson Mumford (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) in completing the top 10.
Returning to competition after a violent crash last time out at Seattle, Stilez Robertson (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) crashed and was hit by three riders in the first race. The incident brought out the red flag and put Robertson and Luke Kalaitzian out for the night.
With six rounds down and three to go for the west region 250SX category, Lawrence leads Hampshire by 26 points, with Kitchen a further 26 back. The series will return to action for the year’s first 250SX East/West Showdown at East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium on April 22.
Image: Octopi Media.
Held in the midst of a fierce 450SX championship battle, the 2023 Triple Crown at Glendale will forever have a place in the sport’s history as the round at which Tomac moved past James Stewart for second on the all-time win list.
Race results of 1-2-1 for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider were more than enough to secure the overall victory inside this year’s Super Bowl-hosting State Farm Stadium.
Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) executed a wire-to-wire victory of the night’s second race for the premier class, getting past Tomac at one point but taking control right back with a remarkable pass through the whoops. Sexton’s night of 4-1-3 race scores culminated in second overall.
The following positions were closely contested throughout the night, with TLD Red Bull GasGas rider Justin Barcia collecting his first Triple Crown podium on the strength of 3-6-2 results in the trio of races.
Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) could do no better than fifth in Race 2, limiting his potential on the night as he turned 2-5-4 results into fourth overall. With Tomac more successful on the night, Webb forfeited his stake in the championship lead leaving the season’s 12th round.
Fast in qualifying and competitive during the evening program, Ken Roczen added his Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki to the overall top five with 5-3-5 race results.
Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki), Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM), the returning Colt Nichols (Team Honda HRC), Dean Wilson (Fire Power Honda), and Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) comprised the remainder of the top 10.
It’s the long-awaited first top-10 result of the 2023 Supercross season for Wilson, aided by misfortune for Anderson. A crash for the Kawasaki rider in the night’s final race ended his night early.
As the series heads east to visit MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Tomac will take to the track with a seven-point advantage over Webb in the 450SX standings. Sexton heads into the 13th round 25 points in arrears of Tomac.
Breakthrough Bezzecchi scores maiden MotoGP win in Argentina
Arbolino on top in Moto2, Suzuki reigns supreme at Termas in Moto3.
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It was a breakthrough MotoGP victory for Marco Bezzecchi in the wet conditions at Termas de Rio Hondo, as Tony Arbolino emerged on top in Moto2 and Honda-mounted Tatsuki Suzuki delivered a commanding performance in Moto3.
Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) took the lead in the first corner of the race and delivered a calculated and composed performance on his way to a career-first premier class win, ultimately crossing the line 4.085s ahead of Johann Zarco (Prima Primac Racing).
A spirited charge secured Zarco the runner-up position, showing strong pace as the race progressed to work his way forward from P8 and make a decisive move on Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing) in the closing stages to secure 20 points.
Third marked the first podium for Marquez with Ducati, the number 73 also securing pole position for the weekend to continue what has been an impressive start to his Desmosedici stint. He finished sixth-tenths behind Zarco come race-end.
Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) concluded an improved weekend with a P4 finish in Sunday’s GP, the Italian also finished fourth in Saturday’s sprint race amidst a positive uplift in form.
Completing the top five on Sunday was Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Ducati), ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jack Miller and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) who recovered from being pushed off the track by Takaaki Nakagami in the early stages.
Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing) finished P8, as Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP) completed the top 10.
Notably, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) charged from 15th to first to win the sprint race, but fell on the opening lap of Sunday’s GP and was classified P17. Reigning MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) crashed on lap 17 while running second, later crossing the line in 16th position.
Joan Mir didn’t contest Sunday’s GP following injuries sustained from a fall in Saturday’s sprint. The Repsol Honda rider suffered cranial and survival trauma in the incident.
In terms of the MotoGP World Championship standings, Bezzecchi – who finished second in Saturday’s sprint – leads on 50 points, with Bagnaia second on 41 and Zarco third with 35.
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The second round of the 2023 Moto2 World Championship saw Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) emerge on top, besting pole-sitter Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) by sixth-tenths of a second.
Jake Dixon (Solunion GasGas Aspar Team) also stood on the podium in third, as Aron Canet recovered from a double long-lap penalty for jumping the start to finish fourth ahead of Pons Wegow Los40 teammate Sergio Garcia.
Arbolino now leads the championship by eight points ahead of Canet, with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – who was P12 at Termas – third and a further four points back.
A commanding performance by Leopard Racing’s Suzuki saw the number 24 achieve a 4.57s second victory in Argentina, with Brazilian Diogo Moreira continuing his podium form in P2.
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CIP Green Power fill-in Andrea Migno completed the top three, just over a tenth from Moreira, as Portimao winner Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) featured in positions four and five.
Notably, pole-sitter Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) crashed out of the race with eight laps remaining.
Holgado remains atop of the Moto3 World Championship standings, two points clear of Moreira as Suzuki elevates to third, 11 points from the top spot.
Round four of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship takes place at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) between 14-16 April.
Dream start for Bagnaia with MotoGP success in Portugal
Teenage talent Acosta wins Moto2, breakthrough Moto3 victory for Holgado.
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Reigning MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia started his 2023 title defence with a maximum points haul from Portimao, concluding the weekend on top at the Portuguese Grand Prix as Pedro Acosta and Daniel Holgado stood tall in Moto2, Moto3 respectively.
Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) won the newly-introduced sprint race on Saturday and continued his winning form to take out Sunday afternoon’s GP, ahead of Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales who kept the pressure on to the flag to finish second, just 0.687s from the lead.
A solid ride from Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) saw him finish third, the Italian 2.726s from Bagnaia come race-end and over five-seconds clear of Johann Zarco (Prima Primac Racing) in P4.
Zarco emerged on top of a multi-rider battle for fourth, leading Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) who impressed in fifth to commence his stint onboard a Ducati.
In tow of the Spaniard, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing duo Brad Binder and Jack Miller were sixth and seventh respectively, as former world champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha), Aleix Esparagaro (Aprilia Racing) and new LCR Honda Castrol rider Alex Rins completed the top 10.
Notably, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) collided with home-hero Miguel Oliveira (CryptoData RNF MotoGP Team) in the early stages, bringing both riders down and forcing Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) – who was second in the sprint race – wide. Marquez has been given a double long-lap penalty to be served in Argentina.
In terms of the championship, thanks to his victories in both the sprint race and GP, Bagnaia leads on 37 points, ahead of Vinales (25) and Bezzecchi (16). Miller is fifth in the standings with 15 points.
Oliveira has been cleared to race next weekend after sustaining contusions to his leg, while Marquez suffered a possible broken hand in the fall. Both riders were fighting in the leading group at the time of the incident.
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Red Bull KTM Ajo talent Acosta reigned supreme in the intermediate class, keeping Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) at bay in what quickly became a two-rider breakaway at the front of the field.
Tony Arbolino (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) finished third, 4.460s from the lead, ahead of Filip Salac (QJMotor Gresini) and Manual Gonzalez (Correos Prepago (Yamaha VR46 Mastercamp) who completed the top five.
Notably after running inside the top three in the early stages, Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) finished 11th after serving a double-lap penalty that carried over from Valencia last year.
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Moto3 saw a breakthrough victory for Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), edging David Munoz (BOE Motorsports) and Brazilian Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets -MSI) in what was a multi-rider battle for the lead.
Australia’s Joel Kelso qualified a career-best P3 and lead throughout the race, ultimately taking the chequered flag in ninth and 1.268s from the leader.
Unfortunately, following the race, he collided with race-winner Holgado after the finish line, bringing the Australian down heavily, resulting in a broken ankle.
The Red Bull Rookies Cup also competed in Portugal, with Angel Piqueras taking both victories while Australia’s Jacob Roulstone went 13-9 and Carter Thompson debuted in the class with 20-15 finishes after qualifying 12th.
Mixed conditions mastered by Dunker for Supersport overall
Race one winner Condon crashes out of second encounter in Sydney.
Image: Foremost Media.
In just his second Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) round on a 600 Cameron Dunker secured the Supersport overall in Sydney thanks to a clinical race two victory in mixed conditions.
Yamaha-mounted Condon did exactly what he needed to get his championship back on track in race one, converting pole position to take the win in the overcast, but dry weather and track.
Despite getting shuffled back in the early stages of race one, Condon maintained his composure in the opening laps and took the lead from Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) through turn two on lap four.
The number 26 dropped the hammer to post a 1m32.9s and stretch his advantage out to nine-tenths. The gap remained around the one-second mark for the laps that followed, with Farnsworth riding to an unchallenged second position while keeping pressure on the lead.
A clean ride from the fast-starting Tom Bramich (Yamaha) saw him finish third, ahead of Olly Simpson in P4 who recovered from running wide at turn four on lap three, while battling for the lead. Dunker (Yamaha) emerged in fifth, in front of round one winner Ty Lynch (Yamaha) who overcame reigning champion John Lytras (Yamaha).
Just two-tenths from Lytras, Hayden Nelson (Yamaha) finished P8, as Tarbon Walker (Yamaha) and Jack Favelle (Honda) completed the top 10.
Dual Supersport 300 and R3 Cup champion Dunker mastered the tricky mixed conditions under lights to take his first victory onboard the 600 in national Supersport.
Drying track conditions left competitors torn on tyre choice, with Lynch, Simpson and Dunker all opting for wets and breaking away in the early stages.
Three soon became two as Simpson and Dunker cleared the number 85, the pair opening up a sizeable advantage in the laps that followed. Simpson led Dunker until two laps to go, when the GTR MotoStars rider capitalised on a mistake from the South Australian to take the lead and ride to a 1.040s victory.
Simpson finished a clear second, 18 seconds ahead of Scott Nicholson who charged to third on slicks. Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha) and Nelson were fourth and fifth respectively, ahead of Skeer, Passfield, Lynch – who suffered in the closing stages, Lytras and Luca Durning (Yamaha).
Notably, race one winner Sean Condon – who was riding on slicks – crashed at turn six with five laps to go, and Farnsworth was pulled off the grid prior to the race start.
Dunker’s race two victory elevated him to the round victory on 41 points, ahead of Simpson with 37 and Nelson on 29. In terms of the championship standings after round two, Lynch leads on 82 points, Simpson is second courtesy of 74 and Lytras is third with 72.
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A race three victory secured Brandon Demmery the overall in both the Supersport 300 class and R3 Cup, the race one winner drafting Cameron Swain – who stood tall in race two – to the line in the final bout. Swain was second overall for the round in both categories, as Brodie Gawith completed the top three.
After two rounds, Demmery leads the Supersport 300 Championship on 128 points, ahead of Swain with 114 and Russo in third on 109. Sydney marked the first round of the 2023 R3 Cup, with Demmery leading the series on 70 points, Swain P2 courtesy of 63 and Gawith third on 52.
In the Oceania Junior Cup (OJC), race one and two winner Haydn Fordyce prevailed when it came to the overall, and leads the series in its early stages on 64 points ahead of Valentino Knezovic (57) and Riley Nauta (50). Race-three winner Bodie Paige recovered from a fall in yesterday’s encounter to leave Sydney fifth in the standings.
Supersport qualifying topped by Condon who sat out Q2 altogether.
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Continuing his convincing form in Sydney, Cru Halliday has secured pole position in the second round of the 2023 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), with each of the riders on the front row covered by less than a tenth, while in Supersport Sean Condon set the qualifying benchmark.
A 1m28.970s secured the number 65 the best possible starting position for tomorrow, with Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) lining up second courtesy of a 1m29.019s and round one winner Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) third, just one thousandth from the reigning champion.
Each of the top three led at times throughout the session, as Penrite Honda Racing’s Troy Herfoss (1m29.710s) will line-up fourth, ahead of Bryan Staring (MotoGo Yamaha) P5.
Glenn Allerton (GT Racing Team BMW) just missed the 1m29s mark in sixth, while Arthur Sissis (Unitech Racing Yamaha), Max Stauffer (GTR MotoStars Yamaha), Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) and Ted Collins (Livson Racing BMW) completed the top 10.
Image: Foremost Media.
Condon continued his dominant form from practice to lead Superport qualifying, taking out pole position despite sitting out the second session under the lights altogether.
The R6 rider posted a 1m32.509s in QP1 this afternoon, with Jack Passfield setting the second fastest time in the form of a 1m33.253s, however, he notably suffered a sizeable high-side on the entry to turn nine in the second qualifying session.
Completing the front row is round one winner Ty Lynch (Yamaha), setting a 1m33.538s to finish ahead of Olly Simpson (Yamaha) who was the leading rider to improve their time tonight, ending just 0.016s from a front-row starting position.
A 1m33.722s from Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) was enough for P5, in front of Supersport rookie Hayden Nelson who was the final rider in the 1m33s bracket.
Lining up in P7 is Tom Bramich (Yamaha), as dual Supersport 300 and R3 Cup champion Cameron Dunker (Yamaha), Dallas Skeer and reigning Supersport champion John Lytras round out the top 10.
In the first Supersport 300/ R3 Cup bout, experienced contender Brandon Demmery converted pole position to victory, crossing the line ahead of round one winner Jai Russo and former Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) champion Cameron Swain – the top three separated by just 0.088s.
A thrilling Oceania Junior Cup race one saw Haydn Fordyce recover from a poor start to win the category’s first encounter of the season, leading Valentino Knezovic and Queensland’s Hunter Corney at race-end.
