PULSE
2021
ISSUE FIVE
HONOS SUPERBIKES RACE ONE AT
PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL
Take a ride around Pittsburgh International Race Complex with professional superbike racesr at speeds up to 190mph!
“Race on Sunday, sell on Monday”, has long been a regular saying in all of racing from the very beginning. It is no different today in the 21st century as it was for Mr. Harley and Mr. Davidson. The biggest difference is William and Arthur could not have even fathomed tools like the internet to be a battlefield for manufacturers to go toe to toe. Competition is closer than ever as manufacturers jockey for position. In this case, the position being market share and your dollars. So how does racing in the 21st century affect sales and growth for manufacturers like Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki and KTM? Is it simply he who wins on Sunday truly sells more on Monday? Or is there more to it than that? Hold that thought, we have racing to talk about!!!
Pittsburgh International Raceway was the battleground of choice for MotoAmerica August 13th, 14th and 15th. A great round of racing with all the thrills and chills you’ve come to expect from MotoAmerica racing!
Royal Enfield’s Build, Train Race program had its second round and did not disappoint. These young women have all built their machines and have been mentored by the likes of Melissa Paris and now they race to flex their newly acquired skills. CJ Lukacs brought home first place followed by Becky Goeble and Trisha Dahl clipped past Michaela Trunbull just before the line to take home 3rd. This program has its roots in Flat Track and has made the transition to road racing. I personally hope they can grow the program to at least 20 in the field, or give them their own series. The ONLY thing I don’t like about the program is the fact that it means that either Twins Cup, Stock 1000 or both have to give up one of their races on the weekend. It’s a bit of a bother that 7 racers can displace a grid of 20 plus racers. Don’t get me wrong here. I love this program. Our sport needs more women and our sport needs to build more enthusiasts. Kudos to Royal Enfield for stepping up to be the brand to make it happen. Unfortunately, the Continental GT doesn’t fit into the JR Cup or Twins Cup programs. I’m not sure what the fix is, but I think a lot of people would like to see less of a disruption to the regular classes. If Streaming and TV time are to be given to a class of racing, then give it to the kids in the Mini Cup program. Again, I love the program and congratulations to Royal Enfield for having the vision to put it together. Just please don’t displace the other series.
Speaking of Twins Cup what a great race. Anthony Mazziotto carving up the field to go to first place and stay there with Teag Hobbs hot on his heels. The new R7 of Hayden Schultz swapping places with Hobbs on the Suzuki and a hard charging Jody Barry just outside of the fight. At the line is was Mazziotto, Hobbs and for the first time ever, a Yamaha piloted by Hayden Schultz. End of race right??? NO! Teag Hobbs would be disqualified for improper equipment bumping Schultz to 2nd and handing the 3rd place trophy to Jody Barry making it an Aprilia, Yamaha, Aprilia podium. Great racing as always!
The Sportbike Track Gear Jr. Cup went the full 2 races this weekend and did not disappoint. Ben Gloddy and Ty Scott diced it up for 1st place all race long and looked to make a break for it early on. But a hard charging Joe Limandri Jr singlehandedly pulled a group of about four riders into the mix. Limandri would get into the fray and mix it up with Ty Scott. We saw Gus Rodio and David Kholstaedt all jockeying for the top spot. In the end, it was Ben Gloddy, Joe Limandri Jr and David Kohlstaedt taking the top 3 spots for race one. Day two was more of the same with the top 5 bobbing and weaving for position. Ty Scott hit on the appropriate gearing for race 2 and managed to hold on to 1st place with Gloddy in second and Joe Limandri Jr doing the double podium weekend! Great racing all around. I’m hoping I can rejoin the grid for the last two rounds at New Jersey and Barber.
Stock 1000 was not without some drama with a red flag caused by an off rider and a fire! Luckily there were no injuries except to the race budget for that rider and the delayed race was shortened to 10 laps and it was Jake “the Snake” Lewis who took the top step followed by Travis Wyman and a hard charging Hayden Gillim who didn’t even sit on his fill in ride until Saturday morning. Why the delay??? He has to work. Gillim was turning the fastest laps of the race and had the race gone the distance, who's to say that GIllim wouldn’t have been on the second if not the top step! I hope we see some more of Gillim.
MOTOAMERICA
Yamaha’s Jake Gagne continues his record-setting season of MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike racing as he made it an even dozen today at Pittsburgh International Race Complex with his 12th straight victory of the year. Source: MotoAmerica
Super Sport 600 racing was fantastic! Richie Escalante was in top form swapping 1st place with Sean Dylan Kelly on several occasions. SDK had championship on his mind and chose to live to fight another day and took his second place to Escalante. Rocco Landers rounded out the podium in 3rd and really showed us all that he is very close to figuring out the 600. Day 2 race 2 and SDK sorted things out from the day before to put the M4 Ecstar Suzuki in the first place spot followed by Escalante and out of nowhere, Rocco Landers secured 3rd. The racing was close and exciting. It’s great to see a mixed manufacturers podium with Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha all being represented.
Superbike was more of the same. The Jake Gagne show out front. Gagne seems to have such a command over the field. He did the double win and scored his 13th win in a row. It was the story behind him that brought the only excitement of the race. Tony Elias filling in for Josh Herrin took his first ride on a Yamaha all the way to the podium finishing second! Matthew Scholtz recovered from a lap one collision with Loris Baz to finish 3rd. Day two saw a bit more of a podium shake up. Sure, Gagne got the top spot, and Elias looked set to podium twice on the weekend, but it was Scholtz who pulled out the 2nd place and Bobby Fong bringing it home in 3rd. Fong really charged his way to that well earned podium. He’s been plagued with tons of little things all season long and it was really great to see the stars align for that podium spot.
So, does all this winning or podium positions really sell more motorcycles or products? Does “Win on Sunday sell on Monday” still apply? The short answer is YES. However, it’s a bit more nuanced than just simply being the number one bike or product in the race. In a world measured by likes and click throughs, there are probably a thousand or more ways to measure how winning on Sunday really plays out to a manufacturer. In the end however, it really still comes down to you the fan. Whether you drive in or point and click your way to purchasing, it is still your dollars that drive our sport. SO I would encourage you to not only buy the bike, or buy the helmet or buy the oil, but take a moment and shoot an email to the company and let them know that you saw your favorite rider take your favorite brand around the track. Let them know that you saw their brand on the die of a hauler traveling down the highway. Let them know that you saw the broadcast on a streaming service or Mav TV. By helping to simplify the data, you can actually help the manufactures to spend less. Less spending on their part equals savings for you the customer, or even more opportunities for young racers like myself. The manufacturers want to spend and they want to support racing. Let's all help them out by being proactive in letting them know how we see their efforts on the track and in other places. I personally took a photo of a Missions food display at my local grocery store and sent it to Mission Foods to let them know that I see their support on the track and make the connection to the store for purchase. I received a nice thank you and a coupon. That type of info is HUGE to a manufacturer. SO please, take a minute every now and then and support those who support our sport. Help them get that data. Don’t be afraid to name drop a rider. I know it feels a little futile, but I promise they love the input! Until next time!!! KB73
AHRMA NATIONAL NEXT GENERATION
MOTOCROSS SERIES WEATHERTECH RACEWAY
LAGUNA SECA
Charging up the hill...bend to the right then back to the left on the brakes to make the entry and back on the gas for a quick right left, back to the right and then left sweeper out of one of one of the biggest thrills in motorsports down the 3 story drop of the Laguna Seca CorkScrew! The elevation changes at Laguna Seca are legendary and something you have to see to appreciate.
Skill is only part of getting around a track like Laguna Seca. With technical twists and turns and a stomach in your throat drop like the Corkscrew, confidence is king! Confidence can come from hours of training and seat time, it can come from a great bike set up and even some words of encouragement from a mentor. But one of the most important confidence inspiring aspects of racing is great equipment!
I consider myself very fortunate to have some of the best gear in the game. LS2 Helmets keeps my head safe and Forma Boots keep my feet and ankles well protected. Everything in between is covered by my great friends at Bison Track Gear. Safety is paramount to the sport and all three of these companies make up my super suit that gives me the confidence to huck a motorcycle that weighs two and a quarter times as much as me off into a corner at insane lean angles and either full throttle or under heavy braking.
This article’s paddock pics come from the owner of Bison Track. A great guy by the name Robert Lackey. Robert and his wife Tosha rolled the dice two years ago and sold their home, a bulk of their belongings, quit their cubical farm gigs and bought an RV to live the American dream from the road. Since then, Bison Track has become a regular sight around not only the MotoAmerica Paddock, but at track days and club races all around the country! Rob and Tosha make it to every round of MotoAmerica offering trackside service to the Bison Track riders and in between MA rounds, you may even catch them at your local CCS or WERA race providing that excellent customer service that we as Pro riders enjoy! In a world of internet dominated shopping, it is great to have in person support and the firm handshake of folks like the Lackeys. The combination of LS2 Helmets, Bison Leathers and my Forma Boots have seen me through more than a few tangles with gravity and friction. That is what inspires confidence. Knowing you can push the limit and if you cross the limit, the great equipment is there to keep you safe and allow you to walk away to fight another day! So if you find yourself in the MotoAmerica paddock, make it a point to look for the big Bison flag atop of their RV and say hi. Then swing on through my pit to check out the latest in LS2 Helmets. We racers are always happy to share information on the great companies that support us and keep us safe.
While I had certainly hoped that I would be putting Bison Track on the podium this season, it just hasn’t worked out for me yet. However, Jody Barry, Teagg Hobbs have certainly been able to get it done! Jody Barry did it again at Laguna Seca. We’ll get to that in a bit. In the meantime, let's recap the races for round 5 at the historic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Super Bikes were super awesome this round. Sure sure, Jake Gagne got the double, but he didn’t get away like in weekends past. My LS2 teammate Loris Baz aboard the HSBK War Horse Ducati was right in the mix, keeping Gange honest and applying pressure on several occasions. A rare mistake by Gagne even saw Baz at the front for a time. It was great racing to be sure. Race one saw a great start by Gagne aboard his Fresh n’ Lean Attack Yamaha followed closely by Baz and Yamaha teammate Josh Herrin. That great start was immediately negated by a red flag. After a few minutes of track inspection and they grided up again to give it another go. Another great start by Gange but it was Cam Peterson aboard the M4 Suzuki that jumped into second place with Josh Herrin hot on his heels and Baz running fourth. One of the problems with a red flag is tire heat cycles. You put in 3 or 4 great laps on the tires and then come in and then go back out a few minutes later and even with tire warmers set to supernova heat, those tires cool off and just don’t quite come back to the same level of grip as if you had just been able to keep going in the first place. This seems to be what got Josh Herrin on the restart as he slipped back to 4th and then further beyond. It was Gagne, Peterson, and Baz running one-two-three until Baz went around Peterson and took aim at Gagne. In the end, it was Gagne, Baz, and Peterson 1st, 2nd, and 3rd atop the box! Race two was an even more intense start with about 5 riders duking it out for the point position. The start was Gagne out front and saw the regular upfront players in tow with Loris Baz in 2nd and Matthew Scholtz settling into 3rd. It was clear to see that the riders were settling in and working towards executing their respective race strategies. Then on lap two, Gagne made the aforementioned rare mistake just dropping off the track long enough for all those plans to temporarily go out the window, and there were four turns worth of lead swaps from Baz, Scholtz, and Josh Herrin. All three hoped to take advantage of the Gagne mistake, but none of them were able to seal the deal. Calm as ever, Gagne watched as they flip-flopped and overshot one another for the next 3 or 4 corners and then went around them all after Herrin ran extra wide and settled back into the point position at the front. In the end, it was Gagne, Baz, and then Matthew Scholtz doing the 1,2,3 with Cam Peterson charging to 4th place.
Supersport Race one was all the Sean Dylan Kelly and Richie Escalante show. The two duked it out with a few lead changes with SDK on the M4 Ecstar Suzuki coming out on top but with the Honos Kawasaki right there just .09 of a second behind. SDK took a victory lap and the opportunity to pay tribute to the late great Nicky Hayden! The big story of the Supersport Race 1 was definitely Cory Ventura. Ventura brought home 3rd in this first race of the MotoAmerica season. Ventura is no stranger to MA as he was part of the Junior Cup program in years past. A lack of funding has prevented the California native from coming east. Man can I relate to his struggles. I certainly hope his great performance helps him to find funding to come east to finish out the season. Even though it was a distant 3rd, it was third nonetheless!
Supersport Race 2 was a repeat of race one with the exception that SDK found a little something extra allowing him to pull a gap over second-place Escalante with Cory Ventura bringing home third for a second time.
Twins cup only had one race at Laguna Seca because of the Bagger series and the first running of the Hooligan series. It was the Aprilia show with our Bison track teammate Jody Barry bringing it home 3rd, Anthony Mazziotto in Second, and Kaleb DeKeyrel on top. Mazz got a second-round aboard the Veloce Racing Aprilia while Maxwell Toth was still healing from his injuries suffered after being run over at The Ridge round in his Junior Cup race. Mazziotto took full advantage of the seat time and mixed it up all race long.
Like the Twins, Super Stock 1000s only got the one race this weekend but boy did it deliver on the action! The top four riders finished all within less than a single second. Travis Wyman showing his new sponsor Motul why they put their faith in him to carry the Motul banner with a win aboard the BMW followed very closely by Corey Alexander on the Honos Hudson Valley Motorsports Racing Kawasaki and rounding out the podium was Jake Lewis on the Altus Motorsports Suzuki. Lewis, Alexander, and Wyman are locked in a great points battle with only 14 points separating the three of them. We will definitely have to keep an eye on this battle!
Tyler Scott and Ben Gloddy had Laguna Seca dialed all weekend. The KTM and Kawasaki riders checked out by just over 24 seconds over the third-place rider David Kohlstaedt. The two battled it out with Gloddy going to the lead shortly before Scott went back to the lead to win.
Race two Was more of the same right down to the podium lineup. There was just no stopping Scott and Gloddy. The two pulled a 22-second gap while battling one another all race long.
The Mission Foods King of the Baggers series came to its conclusion after 4 rounds. Harley Davidson factory Kyle Wyman emerged as the King of the baggers! The Harley rider was fighting off injury with an elbow held together by screws and a lot of hope. You would never be able to tell it, as he went on to win this round by almost four and a half seconds over second-place Tyler O’Hara aboard the Indian Challenger and Michael Barns on an HD as well. The bagger series has certainly helped to diversify the viewership of MotoAmerica. It proved to be a great series and I fully believe we will see more of it in 2022.
Stay tuned to this article space as I am about to head off to Adria International Raceway in Adria, Italy for a very special event. I will most definitely need to have my LS2 Helmet with me for this trip. I will be testing a very cool piece of kit in an entirely new genre of racing! Thanks as always for reading and we will see ya next time!!
2021 DUCATI
MONSTER
The design of the new Monster is exactly what you might expect from the sport naked par excellence, but in an even more cutting-edge and modern guise. Slinky yet aggressive curves. Classic details with a modern twist. A design that aims to offer pure Monster-style emotion.
A real concentration of style, sport and fun that will make you want to get rid of the superfluous and focus only on what counts, sheer riding pleasure. You can be sure to improve as a rider, experience intense emotions and enjoy yourself every time you climb on board.
2021 DUCATI MONSTER
LIGHTWEIGHT
The chassis is an aluminum front frame and contributes to maintaining the dry weight at just 166 kg. And lightness is key to achieving a bike that is easy to ride, handle, whilst being fast and above all fun.
COMPACT
Narrow sides and front frame that terminates in line with the vertical head. This makes it easier to put your feet on the ground with the motorcycle at a standstill. The muscular Monster bison-back, complete with its deep sculpted hollows for the knees, boasts bulkier ‘shoulders’ that now extend towards the front wheel and loom over the dynamic turn signals, integrated into the two lateral wings.
SLEEK DESIGN
A design featuring simple neat lines, an engine, a seat, a fuel tank, and a handlebar.
PERFORMANCE
The Monster is powered by the Testastretta 11° 937 cc twin cylinder L-shaped engine, with desmodromic distribution and Euro 5 homologation. Compared to the previous 821 it increases in displacement, power, torque, and decreases in weight (-2.4 kg) to contribute to the lightness of the bike and offer better rideability. It now delivers 111 hp at 9,250 rpm with maximum torque of 9,5 kgm (93 Nm) delivered at just 6,500 rpm, proving to be efficient and reactive in throttle response.
Source: Ducati
2021 DUCATI MONSTER
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
DISPLACEMENT
937 cc (57 cu in)
POWER
111 hp (82 kW) @ 9,250 rpm
TORQUE
9.5 kgm (93 Nm, 69 lb ft) @ 6,500 rpm
DRY WEIGHT
166 kg (366 lb)
SEAT HEIGHT
820 mm (32.3 in) | 800 mm (31.5 in) (accessory low seat)
775 mm (30.5 in) (accessory low seat + low suspension kit)
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
Ducati Quick Shift, Ducati Power Launch, 4.3" TFT color display, F
ull LED headlight, and lighting system, Dynamic turn indicators**,
USB power socket.
VALVE CLEARANCE CHECK
30,000 km (18,000 miles)
NEW JERSEY
MOTORSPORTS PARK
ROUND 7
Tremendous racing from NJMP during the penultimate round of MotoAmerica Superbikes! Some Championships were settled, lap records were broken and some battles were intensified and pushed off to the final round at Barber!
The weekend kicked off with the only Stock 1000 race of the weekend. It was Ashton Yates jumping out to the early lead and he looked to take the whole race until Jake Lewis made a last-lap pass to take the win and secure the overall points Championship for stock 1000. Yates was relegated to 2nd with local Mike Selpe rounding out the podium in 3rd. It’s unclear what Lewis’ plans are for 2022, but I would be shocked if he wasn’t snatched up for a superbike role.
Then it was on to Supersport 600 and unlike weekends previous, it wasn’t just the SDK and Escalante show, but the second M4 Ecstar Suzuki rider Sam Lockoff that was putting on the show. Going into the round, Lockoff had said he wanted to lead a couple of laps and would be happy. He went to the front and battled with Kelly and Escalante. Ultimately, it was SDK on the top step with Escalante 2nd and Lockoff 3rd. This was close enough to push the championship battle to Sunday.
Superbikes had an interesting weekend with not 2 but 3 races and race one was what we have come to expect with Jake Gagne taking the win with Matt Scholtz in second and Toni Elias bringing home 3rd in his first official weekend with Attack Yamaha. You would think with 16 wins Gagne would have wrapped up the championship at that point but he still needed one more win to pull that off. It would have to wait until race two on Sunday.
Jr Cup was not the draft party we have come to expect out of NJMP. Instead, it was Ty Scott who straight up checked out and charged to the lead, gapping the field by several seconds to take the win. He was flanked on the podium by Gus Rodio in 2nd and Joe Limandri Jr. in 3rd.
The Twins race delivered the action we love to see on track. It was newcomer to the U.S. Marcon on the Robem Engineering Aprilia who charged to the front followed by Mazziatto. Unfortunately , Marcon would crash out and Mazziatto would suffer a mechanical handing the lead over to newly signed teammate for Veloce Racing, Corey Ventura. Ventura would go on to win with Caleb DeKeyrel coming in second and Max Toth rounding out the podium in 3rd. The second place finish was enough for DeKeyrel to wrap up the overall points championship. Good thing too because DeKeyrel would sustain a mechanical DNF on Sunday.
Speaking of Sunday, what a day for racing. The day was kicked off by race 2 for the Honos Superbikes. Jake Gagne put it on the top step and secured his 18th win in a row AND the overall points Championship for the Superbike class. He was followed by Matt Scholtz in 2nd with new dad Josh Herrin bookending the podium for Attack Fresh and Lean Yamaha in 3rd. It was great to see Herrin back on the grid and podium. This was his first race back since contracting Covid and missing 2 full rounds of racing.
Super Sport 600 was a great race with Sam Lockoff getting his first win in a last turn lunge around teammate SDK who finished 2nd with Richie Escalante coming home in 3rd. The 2nd Place was enough to secure the overall points championship for SDK! SDK is rumored to head over the pond to race Moto 2 for 2022. But that’s just what we hear. We have to wait and see.
Jr. Cup was all the TY Scott show. He checked out again setting the outright track record beating Rocco Landers record set last season. He was followed by Gus ROdio who rode a fantastic race overcoming a 5 second Jump Start penalty to finish just 2 seconds off of Ty Scott. Ben Gloddy managed a hard fought 3rd place which pushes the championship to the final round at Barber next weekend! This one is sure to be the top story of racing for next weekend. Both Gloddy and Scott are great at Barber. It could come down to the very last race!
Super Bike race 3 was a repeat of the 2nd race. Gagne wins with Scholtz in 2nd and Herrin in 3rd. The big news from this race was Gagne with his 19th win tieing Wayne Rainy for all time Superbike wins. What a great accomplishment! Can he go even further? If the rest of the season is any indication, then all he has to do is keep it upright and he will likely set the new record.
Finally, the second Twin race saw the visiting Italian Marcon battling with Mazziatto and Corey Ventura. Marcon didn’t make the same mistake twice and kept the shiny side up to win in only his second attempt with Mazziatto coming in 2nd and Max Toth finding his way around Ventura to take 3rd!
There’s only one round left to decide all the champs for 2021. We head to Barber Motorsports park in Alabama for the final round. Superbikes will go 3 times again and it’s sure to be a dogfight in all the other classes. Everyone loves Barber and it’s smooth surface. The racing is definitely going to be awesome! Definitely be sure to check back with Pulse to get all the results from yours truly. KB73
MOTOAMERICA
Only one round left to decide all the champs for 2021 as we head to Barber Motorsports park in Alabama for the FINAL ROUND!
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
BARBER MOTORSPORTS
ROUND 8
What can be absolutely drenched but on fire all at the same time!? The final round of MotoAmerica racing during the Superbikes at Barber Motorsports Park! Only two championships were up for grabs going into the final round and both were decided on day 1. The rain played a HUGE role in every single race with crashes galore and crazy finishes. We even saw new names at the front thanks to the “Great Equalizer”........Rain!
Starting with the two championships yet to be determined heading into the final round. JR. Cup saw the small displacement bikes putting on a great show in the wet conditions. The talk of the round was Kayla Yaakov. With extensive knowledge of Barber in the wet, Kayla managed to put it on the box in second place for her first-ever podium in MotoAmerica. But it was Ty Scott who came out on top and with Ben Gloddy finishing 3rd, it was enough to make Tyler Scott the MotoAmerica Jr. Cup Champion for 2021!
Superstock 1000 only raced once this round being displaced by the Superbike Triple Header and the Royal Enfield Build, Train, Race program. It was Jake the Snake Lewis on the top step again with Michael Gilbert in a close 2nd and Travis Wyman in third. Lewis was also able to wrap up the Superbike Cup Title. The race is a race program that sees the fastest of the fast Superstock 1000s grinding up in Superbike rounds throughout the year.
Twins Cup was also held to just one race. With the championship already being decided, it was time to play in the puddles. The rain was relentless and so was Kaleb DeKeyrel. Proving why he’s the champ bringing it home in first after a restart red flag. A new face ran upfront only to fall (Literally) to the rain. John Knowels took an early lead but found the slick stuff to be too hard to handle going down and bringing out the red flag. He was able to regroup and rejoin the restart, but never mounted a second charge for the lead. It was Jody Barry in second and Hayden Shultz in 3rd to finish off the soggy podium.
SuperSport Race one was all about SDK who also announced his plans to head overseas for 2022 to race Moto 2! He brought it home in 1st place followed by Richie Escalante and Stefano Mesa. The rain had Alejandro Thermiotis running in the front group until the rain decided otherwise. I guess we can say the rain giveth and taketh away. Superbike race one was one for the ages with several lead changes. Cam
Peterson lead for a bit until he found gravity to be in full effect turning the lead over to Matthew Scholtz…..who also found the ground with one of the longest slides ever. So who would take over the lead but Cam Peterson who managed to recover and chargeback to the front? Loris Baz worked his way from the back to the front only to go down as well. SO….We have Cam Peterson in first after a crash, Matthew Scholtz in second after a crash, and Loris Baz in third……….after a crash. It was a crazy race. Where was Jake Gagne during all this? Well, the Champ also found himself on the losing end of the rain issue and ultimately a couple of laps down after needing to pit for a moment to regroup.
Superbike race 2 was less of a crash fest. However, the rain was still relentless and helped to mix up the norm. Mat Scholtz came out on top followed by Loris Baz and Jake Gagne and race 3 saw slightly better conditions with Gagne back on top, Scholtz in second, and Baz rounding out the podium in third. It was a great triple header!
Supersport race two was awesome with the rain really playing a factor. It proved to be a bit much for Richie Escalante who went down. It was a new kid on the blocking upfront with Gabrial DaSilva on top followed by Sean Dylan Kelly and Sam Locoff in third. The rain really was the star of the weekend.
Race two of Jr Cup was a bit tighter than day one with about 5 or 6 riders mixing it up. Ty Scott still showed he is cool under pressure and rain to win with Ben Gloddy in second and David Kohlstaedt in third.
What a tremendous season of racing! Congratulations to all of the champs. We are in the midst of Silly Season and it was unclear at the time of writing this story who was going where except SDK who has made it official that he is off to the American Racing Team Moto2 program. I myself have some great funding lined up for 2022 and am working hard to put together a full season. I’m always looking for great support like I get from LS2 Helmets. Feel free to follow my journey on Facebook at Keagan Brown Racing or on Instagram under the same @KeaganBrownRacing. I’m even on Linked In. I would encourage you to definitely take the time to follow your favorite racer and get to know those that support your favorite rider. Reach out to sponsors, shop with sponsors, and do your best to encourage others to do the same. It’s the growth and recognition that our sponsors receive that drives them to continue to support our riders. My season was turned upside down from losing just one sponsor for 2021. SO it is HUGELY important to support those that support the sport! It has been my honor and privilege to write for you and update you on this season. A huge thank you to LS2 Helmets for this amazing opportunity. I wish I could have done more and been trackside more often. However, everything happens for a reason and as I mentioned before, things are looking great for 2022 thanks to the effort I was able to pour into relationship building this season.
So until next season! Many thanks! Ride safe and have fun! - KB73
MOTOAMERICA
2021 YAMAHA
MT-10
ULTRA-MODERN
ENGINE
The MT-10 motor's engine design creates the ultimate high-performing street sportbike. Engine reliability is ensured with strong, lightweight forged pistons and carburized fracture-split connecting rods that move through an extremely rigid, closed-deck cylinder block. The engine’s cylinders are slightly offset to reduce friction losses, with plated bores for excellent heat dissipation and cylinder sealing. The rocker-arm valve actuation utilizes the lever ratio of each rocker arm to allow for larger valve lifts while using lower camshaft lobes and reduced spring pressure, further boosting power and efficiency.
Source: Yamaha
FEATURES
Compact Stacked Transmission
The 6-speed transmission "stacks" the crankshaft, input, and output shafts in a triangular layout to centralize mass and keep the engine shorter front-to-back, with optimal engine placement in the frame for outstanding handling.
Oversized Intake System
A large 12-liter airbox improves rideability, especially when transferring from acceleration to deceleration or vice versa. The 12-hole fuel injectors are angled to optimize combustion chamber filling for improved power and torque characteristics.
High-Capacity Cooling System
A large curved radiator keeps engine heat in check while a compact air-cooled oil cooler ensures stable oil temperatures in any condition. Simplified pipe and hose routing minimizes the need for additional parts and saves weight.
Lightweight Exhaust System
The MT-10‘s stainless steel and titanium exhaust system features a compact midship exhaust chamber for mass centralization and excellent handling. The exhaust flow is regulated by Yamaha’s Exhaust Ultimate Power valve (EXUP®) system to provide optimal exhaust back-pressure across the entire rpm range, further improving efficiency.
Deltabox® Aluminum Frame
The MT-10 uses an aluminum Deltabox frame derived from the YZF-R1 superbike to create a lightweight and responsive chassis that is built for agility with its ultra-compact 55.1-inch wheelbase. The frame uses a strength-rigidity balance that was developed specifically for the MT-10 and uses the engine as a stressed member of the frame for optimal cornering performance.
Fully-Adjustable KYB® Fork
The MT-10 features an inverted 43mm KYB® front fork which offers full adjustability and 4.7 inches of travel, for excellent front-end feel and road holding along with a tuning range ready for a wide range of street conditions.
Linkage-Type KYB® Shock
The four-way-adjustable KYB® piggyback-style shock uses a rear bottom link pivot position that is strategically placed for optimal handling and excellent transmission of engine torque to the asphalt. Like the front fork, the MT-10’s rear suspension offers a wide range of adjustment and a smooth, well-controlled 4.7 inches of wheel travel.
Powerful, Controllable Brakes with ABS
An advanced anti-lock braking system (ABS) is mated to high-specification braking components for excellent braking power and control. Radial-mount, 4-piston front calipers use sintered brake pads to grip a pair of large 320mm discs for exceptional braking power. With a 220mm rear disc brake in support, the compact ABS module provides rapid and accurate brake force modulation to prevent wheel lock-ups.
Lightweight Wheels and High-Performance Tires
The MT-10 rolls on lightweight 5-spoke aluminum wheels for nimble steering and suspension feel. Bridgestone® Hypersport™ S20 tires—a 120/70ZR17 front and a huge 190/55ZR17 at the rear—are engineered specifically for the MT-10 for chassis-matched handling and grip
High-Performance LED Lighting
In addition to LED turn signals, running lights and taillights, the MT- 10 features compact LED headlights for stunning illumination and state-of-the-art style. The mono-focus headlight elements draw very little power but produce a crisp, brilliant beam of light for confidence and visibility in low-light conditions.
Aggressive Styling
The MT-10 displays raw aggression from every angle with its muscular central core that highlights the machine’s power and unmistakable futuristic styling. With its belligerent design and unique elements—including the compact frame-mounted front mask and dynamically shouldered fuel tank—the MT-10 stands out as the king of the MT series.
Ready to Accessorize
The MT-10 arrives ready for personalization. The exposed hardware makes it ideal for mounting a range of Genuine Yamaha accessories, including windscreens, chassis protection, and other items. A standard 12V DC power outlet is ready to recharge your personal mobile devices or various electronic accessories.
Source: Yamaha
2021 YAMAHA MT-10
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Engine Type
998cc, liquid-cooled DOHC inline 4-cylinder; 16 valves
Bore x Stroke
79.0mm x 50.9mm
Compression Ratio
12.0:1
Fuel Delivery
Fuel injection with YCC-T
Transmission
6-speed; wet multiplate assist and slipper clutch
Final Drive
Chain
Suspension / Front
43mm KYB® inverted fork, fully adjustable; 4.7-in travel
Suspension / Rear
KYB® piggyback shock, fully adjustable; 4.7-in travel
Brakes / Front
Dual 320mm hydraulic disc; ABS
Brakes / Rear
220mm hydraulic disc; ABS
Tires / Front
120/70ZR17
Tires / Rear
190/55ZR17
L x W x H
82.5 in x 31.5 in x 43.7 in
Seat Height
32.5 in
Wheelbase
55.1 in
Rake (Caster Angle)
24.0°
Trail
4.0 in
Maximum Ground Clearance
5.1 in
Fuel Capacity
4.5 gal
Fuel Economy**
30 mpg
Wet Weight***
463 lb
