TrackDaz promoter Dustin Coyner worked with the track and the Roadracing World Action Fund to get Airfence soft barriers deployed in front of the wall for the first motorcycle event on the new track, held on February 15-16. Coyner then convinced track officials to remove the wall entirely.

The Airfence will be deployed in other areas of the new course.

Watch a video here:

The post Buttonwillow Raceway Demolishing Turn 1 Wall On New Course appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

An official two-day test for MotoAmerica Talent Cup riders at MotorSport Ranch in Cresson, Texas drew eight riders and their Kramer APX 350 MA racebikes. Chase Black was quickest at the end of the day, ahead of Kody Kopp, and Rossi Garcia. The lap time gap from Black to second-quickest Kopp was 0.150-second and the gap to Garcia was 0.394-second. Fourth-place Bodie Page was 0.781-second off fast time, and fifth place Sam Drane  was 0.948-second from first.

The top-five were all on the same second, and the test continues tomorrow.

Watch an original Roadracing World video look at the Talent Cup bike here:

RW Original Video: APX-350MA MotoAmerica Talent Cup Racebike

The post MotoAmerica Talent Cup: Day One Test Results From Texas appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Mick produced the Roadracing World Historic Racebike Illustrations feature for decades before his recent passing. He knew his subject matter, having worked on Norton designs and also having raced Norton motorcycles. May he rest in peace…

The post Barber Video: Mick Ofield & Brian Slark On 50 Years Of Norton Design appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

The post-race Daytona 200 and Mission King Of The Baggers press conferences:

History was made in the 83rd running of the Daytona 200, so check out the post-race press conference featuring the race winner, runner-up, and third-place finisher. Also watch and listen to the post-race comments from the podium finishers in the Daytona Bike Week-concluding Mission King Of The Baggers Race 2.

https://www.motoamerica.com/video-daytona-200-mission-king-of-the-baggers-race-two-press-conferences/

The post 2025 Daytona 200 Full Race Video (And Press Conference) appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Hopkins started riding at just four years old and quickly made a name for himself, winning the 2000 AMA 750cc Supersport Championship at 17 years old and becoming the AMA Formula Xtreme Champion the following year. His raw talent propelled him onto the MotoGP stage in 2002 with Red Bull Yamaha, where he rode 500cc machinery before switching to Suzuki’s four-stroke GSV-R in 2003.

Hopkins later raced for Kawasaki, battling through injuries before the manufacturer’s MotoGP exit in 2009. However, it wasn’t until 2011 that he truly showcased his talent again—this time in the British Superbike Championship, where he fought for the title all season, only to lose in a dramatic last-lap clash, finishing runner-up for the year.

Beyond the track, Hopkins opens up about the physical and mental toll of professional racing, his battles with injuries, and how they ultimately led to struggles with addiction. He shares his path to recovery, the lessons he’s learned, and the motivation behind writing his book, “Leathered,” where he tells his story in full.

Now focused on mentoring the next generation of racers, most notably American Moto2 rider Joe Roberts, Hopkins discusses his passion for guiding young riders through the sport with the support and mentorship he wished he had. Most recently, he has taken on a new challenge as co-owner of Apex Racing Center in Perris, California, working to revitalize the popular supermoto and karting track.

Available on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, the twenty-sixth full episode with Hopper is out now. Video of the episode can also be viewed on Spotify or YouTube (link below).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaTwkmFG-3c

Keep up with John on Instagram via @21jhopper.

The post Pipe Dreams Podcast: John Hopkins Tells All In 4-Hour (!) Epic appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Buttonwillow, CA – TrackDaz has been forced to reschedule the highly anticipated event at the brand-new race track at Buttonwillow Raceway Park to February 15th and 16th, 2025. Originally slated for February 1st and 2nd, the event faced a last-minute challenge when a vendor reneged on their commitment to supply the essential Airfence softbarrier rental, critical for rider safety. Thanks to the support of Buttonwillow Raceway Park and the aid of the non-profit 501(c)(3) Roadracing World Action Fund, the event is back on track. This will mark the first motorcycle event to be held at the new venue named “The Circuit.”

Dustin Coyner, owner of TrackDaz, expressed his gratitude and unwavering commitment to safety: “We’ve been working for months to ensure that motorcycle events at the new Buttonwillow Raceway Park track prioritize safety above all else. When our vendor unexpectedly backed out, we were on the verge of canceling the event. However, the track management worked with us to find a solution and move the event to mid-February. We’re also incredibly thankful to John Ulrich from the Roadracing World Action Fund for stepping in and helping us secure the Airfence we need to make the event happen.”

For participants who have already registered, no further action is needed if the new dates work for you. If you are unable to attend on February 15th and 16th, TrackDaz will gladly reschedule your entry to another event.

https://www.roadracingworld.com/actionfund/donate/

TrackDaz owner Dustin Coyner explains the situation in the video linked to below:

https://youtu.be/NvStOLRDvmw

The post TrackDaz Reschedules First Event on New Buttonwillow Track appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Stuman wrote to Roadracing World, “It is a ride and review of a 2007 Ducati 999s Team USA Edition. It is a pretty rare bike, 1 of 150 made and signed by the racers who were on the Parts Unlimited AMA Superbike team that year.”

https://youtu.be/LLTrzqzd15U

The post Video: First Ride On A 2007 Ducati 999s Team USA Limited Edition appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

KTM PLOTS A PATH TO THE FUTURE AND TO MORE VICTORY

A returning four-rider Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team will feature Chase Sexton and Aaron Plessinger in the 450 Class alongside 250 Class duo Tom Vialle and Julien Beaumer in the 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX), inclusive of the AMA Supercross, Pro Motocross and SMX Finals series.

Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, the 31-round marathon will see 25-year-old Sexton out to reclaim the 450SX title that he earned in 2023, before he aims to defend his 450MX championship outdoors, and then will target a first-career 450SMX crown in the post-season. With a full season with Red Bull KTM complete, the pair are in a strong position to build upon their success together into the new year.

Chase Sexton: “We’re getting close to the season now and I had a good off-season, took around five weeks off of the bike, so I feel refreshed and we’ve made a lot of progress – compared to last year I’m in a much better spot for 2025. The goal this season is to win more races than last year, so I feel good, and I’m ready to start the season.”

Alongside Sexton, Plessinger, 28, is entering his fourth term with Red Bull KTM and is coming off the strongest season of his career in winning a Supercross Main Event in San Diego. ‘The Cowboy’ finished third overall in Pro Motocross, before racing to P4 at the conclusion of the SMX season. Those results mean that Plessinger will enter Anaheim 1 with confidence on his side and with even larger targets to achieve.

Aaron Plessinger: “I’m super-stoked for the 2025 season! I’m ready to start where we left off in Supercross last year, where I won my first Main Event, and I only think we’re going to get better this year. The bike’s good, I’m feeling strong both physically and mentally, so I’m ready to show these guys that I’m here to stick around and that it ain’t no game. I’m ready to see the fans and have a good time doing it!”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s 250 line-up will once again be headlined by the exciting combination of 24-year-old Vialle – the reigning 250SX East Champion – and talented young American prospect Beaumer, each competing aboard the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION.

Already a two-time MX2 World Champion prior to his arrival in the United States, French standout Vialle will enter 2025 in search of a second 250SX title, while also firmly targeting his maiden American outdoor championship in 250MX. The Red Bull KTM rider placed runner-up in both Pro Motocross and SMX this year, showcasing his capabilities across the board during his second year being based in the U.S.

Tom Vialle: “Everything has been going good this off-season, I was able to win the Paris Supercross, and we have done a lot of testing with the team already. I’m really happy with the bike, the suspension, and also, we have some engine upgrades, so everything so far is working good together. I’m going into my third year of Supercross and was able to win the 250SX East Championship this year, and now I am working hard to try and defend it in 2025. I’m really happy to win my first title indoors and the goal is to win another one next season. It’s a little bit of extra pressure, but I wouldn’t say a lot.”

At 18 years of age, Beaumer is preparing to enter his second full season of professional competition after debuting with Red Bull KTM one year ago. He finished as Rookie of the Year in both 250SX and 250MX, before going on to capture a breakout 250SMX podium result during the SMX Playoffs. Added experience will be instrumental for ‘JuJu’ when the racing commences next season.

Julien Beaumer: “The off-season’s been going really good for me, I’m excited to get going, and the goal this year is to win. I’m in a spot right now where I’m confident that I have the fitness and speed to do that, because I’ve been feeling good on the bike and we’ve made a lot of progress. Last year I had speed, but I made quite a few rookie mistakes, so I have been learning to eliminate those and I’m confident that this upcoming season will be a lot better for me.”

Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “We’ve had a good off-season to prepare so far, and we are ready to start our second year with Chase, so hopefully we can expand on our success and get even better with him for 2025. Aaron had his best season ever this past year, and the plan is to improve on that too. Tom is the defending champion in 250SX East, it will be great to see the number 1 on our bike when the Eastern Region begins. Julien is going into his second season with us, so we are hoping that after a strong pre-season he will be in a position to really shine also. It’s always an exciting time leading up to Anaheim 1 and we are ready for the challenge ahead.”

Supercross will host its traditional opening round at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Saturday, January 11th, set to span 17 rounds. Teams will later turn their attention to the Pro Motocross Championship from Saturday, May 24th, at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, for an 11-round journey, before the three-round SMX Finals are due to take off in September.

 

More, from another  news release issued by KTM, on its 2025 Dakar RallyGP team:

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s three-man team of Kevin Benavides, Luciano Benavides, and Daniel Sanders are all set to take on the 2025 Dakar Rally in the RallyGP class. After a strong program of testing and training, the experienced trio are raring to go ahead of the world’s toughest rally-raid. Starting January 3, the event will commence with a short prologue, after which competitors will tackle 12 stages spanning nearly 8,000 km across Saudi Arabia.

Heading into the 2025 edition as a two-time Dakar champion, Kevin Benavides is fully focused on success. The Argentinian endured a difficult 2024 season, with injuries leaving him sidelined from competition for most of the year. However, after an intense program of training and recovery, Kevin aims to be as fit as possible for the upcoming Dakar as he hopes to claim a third win at the iconic event.

Kevin Benavides: “My preparation and training has been really positive, as I’ve spent a lot of time in the gym and cycling and I have prioritized recovery too. Combining that with time on my bike has worked well, and I’m feeling ready to go! Ahead of Dakar, I don’t have many expectations because I like to surprise myself every day, but the fight to win is now greater than ever, that’s for sure. I will give 100% every day and see where we go from there. Over the past two years I have learned the importance of keeping myself fit and riding smart to avoid injuries, because I want to keep doing what I love for as long as possible. I’m really excited to race with this amazing team and people, especially alongside Luciano, and I can’t wait to get going in January!”

Fresh off a solid third place result at the Rallye du Maroc, his first outing back riding the KTM 450 RALLY, Luciano Benavides is fired-up and ready to tackle the 2025 Dakar Rally. Despite suffering a leg injury in June, Luciano has worked hard to bounce back and prepare for Dakar as best as possible. As the 2023 FIM Rally-Raid World Champion and a multiple Dakar stage winner, the Argentinian has a wealth of experience to draw on to achieve his goal of finishing on the top step of the podium.

Luciano Benavides: “Testing went really well, and I’m feeling ready for the big one! I’ve been super busy preparing and training for Dakar with a lot of bike time in the desert in Argentina, Chile, and America, as well as a lot of cycling. My first goal for this Dakar is to arrive feeling 100%, because then I know I can perform at the top. It’s a long race, so we have to take it day by day, but I want to be competitive throughout. From my experience of previous Dakars, I know that you have to be able to bounce back from any bad days, stay focused and remember the ultimate goal, which is to win. Heading into the 2025 Dakar, I feel great and have put so much work in both mentally and physically to be up for it. It’s going to be a great race, and I can’t wait to get to Saudi and get started!”

Fired-up from his recent victory at the Rally du Maroc, Daniel Sanders is keen to carry his momentum into the 2025 Dakar Rally. As a stage winner at previous Dakars, the Australian is determined to push hard from the start. Having finished eighth in the last edition, Daniel is focused on building on his strong form and achieving a top result in Saudi Arabia in January.

Daniel Sanders: “We had some really great training as a team in America, with a lot of roadbook work over pretty demanding terrain to get us ready for Dakar. I feel even more comfortable on the bike since Morocco, and physically I’m feeling fit and strong too. The team have put in a lot of hard work to get the bike completely dialed in and I’ve spent a lot of hours on it testing and making sure it’s perfect. I think I have a really good chance of getting on the podium this year at Dakar, but of course you have to take it day by day. The first week looks tough and quite intense with both the chrono and marathon stages, but I am really looking forward to it. I’m more determined than ever to put KTM back on the top step, so my win in Morocco was a huge confidence boost in that sense. I can’t wait to get to Saudi and start the new year with a bang!”

For its 47th edition, this year’s Dakar Rally will be hosted in the Middle East for the sixth consecutive year. Setting off on January 3 from Bisha, riders will face a short, timed prologue, which will set the tone for the following 12 stages in the Saudi Arabian desert. Competitors will cover nearly 8,000 km, with 5,000 km raced against the clock in timed special stages. In an exciting twist for 2025, the race will feature the grueling 48-hour chrono stage on days two and three, followed almost instantly by the marathon stage, leaving competitors little time to catch their breath. A rest day in Ha’il on January 10 will be welcomed by all, with seven stages through the Empty Quarter then standing between the riders and the finish in Shubaytah on January 17.

Andreas Hölzl – Rally Team Manager: “Now we’re ready to race the 2025 Dakar! We have a really strong team, especially after Daniel’s win in Morocco, which proved that we have what it takes to be back on the podium. Daniel and Luciano have been training hard and are super motivated, and Kevin is a fighter so even though it will be tough, we have every faith that all three of them can perform. We can’t wait to get started!”

More, from another  news release issued by KTM, on its 2025 Dakar Rally2 entrys:

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has signed Edgar Canet to contest the 2025 Dakar Rally. The promising young talent will join the team to compete in the Rally2 class this coming January. Joining the experienced line-up of Kevin Benavides, Daniel Sanders, and Luciano Benavides, Canet will no doubt benefit from the trio’s expertise and advice throughout the event as he takes on Dakar for the first time.

Canet has had a busy year of competition, contesting the Rally Portugal, Rallye du Maroc, Desafio Ruta 40, Oasis Rally, and Baja Aragon in order to gain valuable experience and qualify for the 2025 Dakar Rally. Making his world championship debut at the age of 19 in the 2024 Rally Portugal, Edgar impressed by securing third place in his very first prologue stage. He went on to finish the event in 11th overall and claimed an impressive third place in the Rally2 category.

Set to compete in his first ever Dakar Rally, the young Spaniard is fully focused on getting to know the race and successfully reaching the finish line, while a strong result in the Rally2 category would be an incredible bonus. Drawing on his extensive roadbook and navigation work, as well as his time spent training with Luciano, Daniel, and Kevin in America, Edgar is eager to get underway at the iconic event in the new year.

Edgar Canet: “I’m really excited to have qualified for Dakar 2025 and to be supported by KTM for my debut in the world’s most demanding rally is a dream come true. I’ve been racing on a KTM since I was four years old, so to join the factory team now is amazing. I spent a few days riding in the USA with my new teammates Luciano, Kevin and Daniel, and they helped me so much. I have adapted really well to the KTM 450 RALLY, which I know is a winning bike, so I can’t wait to race it at the Dakar. My goal is to get to the finish line and learn as much about the race as possible, and I feel mentally and physically ready for what is to come. Thank you to KTM for the support, and I can’t wait to get underway in Saudi Arabia!”

Andreas Hölzl – Rally Team Manager: “We’re super happy to announce that Edgar Canet is joining us in Rally2 for Dakar! He has done a great job this season and is a very promising young talent. At only 19 years old, he is performing really well and we’re looking forward to supporting him through his first Dakar.”

The post KTM Says It’s Here To Stay, Despite Parent Company’s Woes (Updated) appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Watch Video #1 of OG rocking on her Strider here:
IMG_4525

Watch Video #2 of OG rocking on her Strider here:
IMG_4526

BABY ON A STRIDER, PART 3

By Anne Roberts Barnes

Wow! We’ve just celebrated one whole year with our girl, Olivia Grace Barnes,a.k.a. OG. She’s growing by leaps and bounds, impressing us every day! In the previous (Part 2) Strider story, Olivia had just begun to pull-to-stand, stand on her own for about 30 seconds, cruise around the house by holding onto furniture, and seemed to understand some cause-and-effect while playing with her Strider bike.

The change from a 10-month-old to our now 12-month-old has been drastic, to say the least. OG still considers her Strider bike (with rocking base) as one of her favorite toys. It’s an item that seems to grow with her as she passes through different stages of development, which is really neat, because we haven’t even taken it off the base yet! It’s truly a gift that keeps giving.

Olivia’s pull-to-stand has now become a thing of the past. These days, she just gets up from a crouching position with perfect balance, not needing to hold onto anything. Two months ago, she could stand by herself for a short time. Now, I can’t get her to sit down and stop moving if I try! The cruising she had just mastered in the last update has turned into full-on walking and running. Lastly, her realization of cause and effect while playing with her bike months ago is now very clear, as she keeps going back to the bike to bang, rock, push… over and over and over again.

Since the last update, she went through a funny phase of trying to eat or lick the bike, which had me scratching my head and chuckling a bit. Thankfully, this was a VERY short period of time and only lasted a few days. The neat textures that she was previously exploring with her hands apparently needed to be explored with her mouth. I watched her closely to monitor her safety and let her investigate and explore the bike however she felt she needed to. I’m glad that after a few licks and chomps, she completed her investigation and was back to having fun with the Strider normally again!

Without a doubt, Olivia knows she is supposed to get up onto the bike, just like mom and dad put her up onto the seat. She had started to lift her leg a few months ago in attempt to step up, but now, she will step up onto the rocking base or onto the swing arm. She can’t mount the bike on her own yet, but I’m thinking that will come in the next few months.

One big change is that OG can now “rock” the bike on her own while sitting on the seat. I put the word “rock” in quotes, because she isn’t truly rocking back and forth yet, but she knows that if she pushes, pulls, and jerks on the handlebars, the bike will wiggle around underneath her and she thinks that’s pretty funny. Sometimes, she looks like she’s imitating a dirt track rider, as she scoots way back on the seat, crouches down, and tucks in tight during her rocking.

Before becoming a parent, I told myself that I’d never be over-protective. Speaking of that…as covered in Part 2, we had put zip ties on the wheels to keep them from turning while the bike was on the rocker base. After a few months of watching OG play with the bike and while talking with some fellow Strider parents, I came to a realization: While we had good intentions when we zip-tied the wheels, it really wasn’t the best thing to do!

Just like the concept of training wheels, having the zip ties on the wheels sent a wrong message to Olivia, namely, that the wheels don’t turn. Someday, we are going to take the Strider off its rocking base and she will have to un-learn that concept, since the wheels actually DO turn. We put the zip-ties on the wheels because the wheels were slightly rotating when she grabbed them to stand up with. But, she eventually learned that the wheels weren’t a great place to hold onto anyways and she stopped using them to hold onto for stability.

I want OG to learn to be a problem-solver and I believe that children learn to be that way through trial and error in a lot of different circumstances. She is learning. And if she happens to plop down on her little bottom a few times while learning, that’s OK! This was a nice lesson for me as well. I saw that when I cut the zip-ties off, backed up, watched while she (safely) was permitted to make a few mistakes and stumble a few times, she did grasp the concept and found a better way to pull herself up or balance while holding the bike.

Parenting truly does get more and more fun each week as I see Olivia figuring out her world. I’m very proud of her. She’s a strong and active little girl and has such a sweet personality. I take her to the town park each week where a lot of local families go to play. She seems to be doing a lot of things the slightly older kids are doing, which makes me think that her time spent with her yellow Strider Bike has done her a ton of good and has propelled her ahead with what we call her “spidey-skills.” Her balance and perception seem incredible for such a young child.

As we enter into the Holiday Season, I’m not sure we can find a gift that would top how she feels about her bike (her ball popper toy is a close second). I hope many other kids will get Striders, too! We’re looking forward to getting out to the park on ours once she can scoot around on it when it’s off the rocker base. I’m excited to see the reactions of the other local kids and parents we’ve met!

Thanks for reading, Happy Holidays, and we’ll touch base again when the next cluster of milestones comes. Bye for now!

The post A Baby Having Fun On A Strider, Part 3 (With Video) appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Beyond the official announcements, the real stars of the show were the Grand Prix racers who took to the track on MotoAmerica King of The Baggers-spec Harley-Davidson Road Glide racebikes.

The motorcycles couldn’t have been more different than their professional racing machines – Marco Melandri grinned when it was suggested that the 250cc Aprilia GP bike he took to the World Championship would have fit in the saddlebags of the machine he was about to mount.

But they were all grinning after ripping (and sliding and wheelieing) around the circuit on the big, torquey machines.

Harley-Davidson put together a video of the event. See it below.

The post Video: Grand Prix Racers Flog Baggers In Barcelona appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.