The post KTM Introduces 390 SMC R Supermoto appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

For 2025, the supermoto segment receives two welcome additions in the shape of the KTM 125 SMC R and KTM 390 SMC R. These small-capacity SMC R models offer the accessibility and ease of use of a compact single-cylinder motorcycle while providing dynamic riding experiences with real-world usability – with true READY TO RACE attitude.

MODEL RANGE OVERVIEW

The KTM 125 SMC R and KTM 390 SMC R bring supermoto thrills to a wider audience. Boasting long travel suspension, 17” wheels, grippy tires, and a specifically curated selection of rider aids and tech, they provide real-world, sporty riding in an accessible, rider-friendly package.

BODYWORK AND GRAPHICS

The KTM 125 SMC R and KTM 390 SMC R boast a slim and compact body profile, thanks to a very compact 9L metal fuel tank and slimline fairings. These not only reduce overall width but also protect the tank in the event of a fall while optimizing rider ergonomics when standing on the pegs or getting low into a corner.

CTG AND GRAPHICS

The 2025 KTM 125 SMC R and KTM 390 SMC R models feature a completely new, off-road-inspired styling, with a clear and definitive KTM CTG design set in resilient in-mold graphics.

SUSPENSION AND CHASSIS

A new 2-piece steel trellis frame design is based on the Gen 3 platform shared with the smaller-capacity DUKE models but features a different steering head angle, triple clamps, subframe mounts, and rigidity profile, specifically engineered for use off-road, with improved handling, control and stability. The new frame is also designed for greater clearance for the radiator package, with the footpeg location being optimized to fit better the riding style and requirements for aggressive supermoto-style riding.

SUBFRAME

The new subframe sports a sleek, off-road-inspired bolt-on steel trellis design. This unique design contributes to a strong and sturdy build, and the subframe was specifically crafted to offer a one-piece seat while having a long-stroke suspension, as well as being stylish, functional, and thoughtfully designed for purpose.

SWINGARM

The new off-road-ready, gravity die-cast swingarm has been specifically developed to take the punch, the swingarm derives from the new generation smaller-capacity ADVENTURE range.

SUSPENSION

Both the KTM 125 SMC R and KTM 390 SMC R both feature a 43 mm WP APEX open cartridge front fork, offering 230 mm of travel. The KTM 390 SMC R stands out with its effortless compression and rebound adjustability, allowing for quick tuning in convenient 30-click increments—no tools required, while the KTM 125 SMC R features the same in a non-adjustable setup.

On the rear, both models feature an off-center WP APEX shock absorber with 230 mm of travel, with the KTM 390 SMC R boasting adjustable rebound properties with 20 clicks. The preload is adjustable with a tool. The KTM 125 SMC R rear shock is not adjustable for rebound, but preload can be adjusted with a tool.

WHEELS AND TIRES

Both the KTM 125 SMC R and the KTM 390 SMC R feature 17” wheels at each end in 110/70 R17 and 150/60 R17 dimensions respectively. The KTM 390 SMC R boasts spoked wheels wrapped in Michelin power 6 tires, while the KTM 125 SMC R is equipped with cast wheels.

BRAKES

The KTM 125 SMC R and the KTM 390 SMC R are equipped with powerful 320 mm radial brakes on the front and 240 mm single piston brakes on the back for proper supermoto stopping power.

ENGINE

Both SMC R models are powered by a new generation of lightweight, compact small single-cylinder engines and dubbed the LC4c – c for compact, which debuted in the recent KTM DUKE range. Building off the experience gained with the previous generation of small single-cylinder engines, these powerplants are completely redesigned, with newly optimized cylinder heads and gearboxes ready for EURO 5+ compliant. This new engine platform introduces updated service intervals, with the first service occurring at 1,000
km, followed by regular services every 10,000 km thereafter. Valve checks are performed every 20,000 km.

CYLINDER HEAD

This new LC4c powerplant features a larger valve cover with a smaller cylinder head, reducing the weight at the upper end of the engine. A new thermostat position – mounted directly into the cylinder head – improves thermal monitoring and provides more stable running temperatures under different riding conditions.

FUEL INJECTION

New injectors are now angled directly into the inlet valves to reduce build-up in the inlet channel. These new injectors also provide a finer fuel spray, making for more efficient combustion and less emissions.

NEW AIRBOX

A new airbox has been optimized to suit the SMC R packaging. This has been done to allow the engine to sit higher, increasing ground clearance and allowing a more focused rider triangle.

EXHAUST

A unique, stainless steel exhaust design means the system fitted to the KTM 125 SMC R and KTM 390 SMC R does not need an end muffler. This has resulted in a total weight saving of 2 kg. The new exhaust is equipped with a Double-Catalyzer to comply with Euro 5+ regulations and features active control whereby the ECU not only adjusts the fuel mixture for optimal detonation but also adjusts the mixture to ensure an optimal  temperature to reduce emissions. The active combustion system also works to detect any misfires, helping to diagnose the status of the catalytic converter and store
information for OBDII diagnosis. For riders looking for more, specially engineered and designed KTM PowerParts are available to add more style, clearance, or power to the overall package.

GEARBOX AND CLUTCH

Improved gear guidance reduces shift forces within the gearbox, and was achieved by replacing the previous 5mm guides with 6mm guides at the fork pins along with other small optimizations. The shift drum shape has been optimized for easier shifting between the 5th and 6th gears, making for smoother movements of the gears along the shafts. The shift lever travel has also been reduced resulting in quicker and responsive action. A Power Assisted Slipper Clutch is now installed on all models, with optimized gears on the clutch basket and flywheel reducing weight and making for easier clutch control, along with an optional Quickshifter+ system.

TECH

Setting the benchmark for the smaller displacement supermoto segment, the 2025 KTM 125 SMC R and KTM 390 SMC R boast real-world technological advancements that not only enhance the riding experience but also safety.

RIDE AND ABS MODES

The 2025 KTM 390 SMC R feature selectable Ride Modes. The default setting is STREET and for riders looking for more control, as well as SPORT Mode where Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC) can also be turned off completely. A new memory feature is added to the 2025 line-up. The motorcycle will remember your selected Ride Mode when the motorcycle is turned off and will retain this mode once started up. All SMC R models are fitted with dual channel ABS, this is thanks to the Bosch 10.3MB Modulator. If a rider selects SPORT Mode, he or she can choose between Road, Supermoto or Supermoto+ ABS. The KTM 125 SMC R has no selectable Ride Modes.

LED LIGHTS

All models in the 2025 lineup feature LED lights, providing excellent visibility during the day and illumination at night.

NEW DASHBOARD

The SMC R range comes with a new 4.2-inch TFT dashboard with a unique UI specially designed for the compact screen size. Made from bonded glass, the TFT also features a polarization coating to reduce glare and improve readability on bright days. This ensures riders can quickly and easily see all relevant information such as speed, fuel level, and gear indicator. All new generation SMC R models will also be equipped with connectivity functions, such as a music player via the KTM Connect App, the ability to answer incoming calls, and turn-by-turn navigation. The new dashboards are supported by completely redesigned switchcubes featuring a 4-way Joystick with optimized ergonomics and Illuminated switches. These allow riders to control various functions of the motorcycle, such as lights, indicators, and Ride Modes, and of course, interact with different connectivity
features. Lastly, a new connectivity unit connects the motorcycle to the rider’s smartphone via Bluetooth. It enables the rider to access features such as turn-by-turn navigation, music library directly from the dashboard, call in and out and Remote Control Mode, which allows the rider to control their phone via the switch cubes.

The post KTM Introduces 2025 390 SMC R Supermoto appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Julien Beaumer Earns Career-First Win in 250SX Class

San Diego, Calif., (January 18, 2025) In a race that took the battle down to the final lap, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac grabbed the win inside Snapdragon Stadium to earn his 53rd career Monster Energy AMA Supercross victory. Significantly for the crowd favorite, Tomac takes over the points lead for the first time since suffering what was potentially a career-ending injury in 2023.

Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence was on Tomac’s rear fender until the very end but never mounted an attack for the top spot; Jett’s second place finish marked a strong improvement from his 12th place finish at the Anaheim Opener. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb led early but was overtaken by Tomac and Lawrence nearly simultaneously at the race’s mid-point. Webb, under the weather, held off a late race charge from Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen to keep his podium spot. Last weekend’s winner, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton recovered from a first lap crash; he reached sixth place by the time the checkered flag flew. The Western Regional 250SX Class produced a new first-time winner when Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer earned his first Supercross win and took over the division’s points lead.

“It has been a long time since I’ve won one of these 20-minute Main Events. So it feels so good to rebound from last weekend; it was a heartbreak there in Anaheim… I had to work for this. I made a lot of passes and was able to keep it on two wheels. This feels so good.” – Eli Tomac.

“That [race with Eli] was awesome. He got me at the start and I was trying so hard just to get close enough to make a pass, but he was ripping… I’m just happy that I’m ten positions better than last weekend, for sure, so I’m happy to be on the box… We tested hard this week to try and get the bike to a better spot, and it was much better.” – Jett Lawrence

Cooper Webb was third and said “It was a good race. I was able to lead a lot of laps. I got a great start, much better than last week. We saw that those two guys [Tomac and Lawrence] were coming, and then they were [by me and] gone, just like that… I’ve been a bit under the weather so at about the halfway point that was all I had. I gave it my all, had a great battle with Kenny, and was able to hold him off and get a solid podium.”

Chase Sexton finished sixth, and said “On the first lap I almost got landed on and then in [about] the next turn I fell over. It was just me not being ready to go at the gate drop, honestly. That kind of lit a fire under me and after that I really feel like I rode the best that I’ve ridden in a long time… Some night’s aren’t your night so we’ll come back at A2 and try to get back on the top step.”

In 250SX Class racing, Red Bull KTM’s 18-year old Julien Beaumer followed up his career-first podium with his first career win. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies, in only his second pro race, led early with Beaumer making several moves for the lead before working his way past six and a half minutes into the race. Triumph Racing’s Jordon Smith was steady in third until taking over the second-place position at the race’s midpoint. Defending 250SMX World Champion Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan fought forward from a mid-pack start. With just under four minutes left on the clock Deegan reached third, capitalizing on a mistake in the rhythm section from Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco.

“It was an amazing main event. I got off to a good start and was just trying to be patient behind Davies. I tried to wear him down a little bit and then made my move. From there I just tried to ride my own race.” – Julien Beaumer

Jordon Smith was second in the 250cc race and said, “It was a good day. We were changing settings on the bike all day trying to make it better. We still have a lot of things that we can dial in a little bit just to get a little more comfortable, but overall [the bike’s] been really good… the track was gnarly tonight. There were a lot of rocks coming out, even in the faces of the jumps, so you had to be careful.”

Haiden Deegan was third in 250cc Supercross and said “Congrats to Juju, that was a good race on him. My race was just embarrassing, I’m sorry you had to watch that. I just got a little pumped up in the beginning and it just [got worse] from there. All I can do is work harder this week and come out swinging.”

The San Diego Supercross pays points for both the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season and the 31-round SMX World Championship. The SMX League adds points from each round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season with each round of the AMA Pro Motocross season. At the end of the summer the riders in each class are ranked, points are reset to the equivalent of one Supercross main event result, and riders enter the sport’s post-season. In September, two Playoffs, with increasing points payouts, funnel riders into the SMX World Championship Final on Saturday, September 20 at The Strip at The Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

To catch the Supercross action at home, Peacock streams every round live and on demand. Races can also be found on NBC, CNBC, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital platforms. There will be an encore presentation of each round on the Monday following the race at 1:00 a.m. ET on CNBC. Spanish-language coverage can be found on Telemundo Deportes’ Facebook and YouTube channels. For fans outside of the US, the SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv) provides English, Spanish and French language coverage, live, of each round. Live audio coverage can be heard all-season long on NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85. With the range and coverage of the broadcast and streaming packages, live coverage of Supercross is available to fans worldwide.

The race series returns to Angel Stadium for the Anaheim 2 Supercross on Saturday, January 25th with the racing starting at 8:30 p.m. ET. Tickets are available for Anaheim 2 and each remaining race as the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross World Championship travels across the United States from January to May. For results, video highlights, news, event information, and ticket sales please visit SupercrossLIVE.com.

Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoffs and Final will be available through pre-sale on Tuesday, January 28th, followed by the public on-sale date of Tuesday, February 4th. Information on SMX League events’ FanFest and camping options will be announced later in the season.

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The bike race witnessed a return to the top step of the podium for KTM, which enjoyed its 20th triumph on the race thanks to the unshakable Daniel Sanders who became the second Australian winner on the Dakar after having dominated the race from start to finish, as Marc Coma did in 2009.

The Dakar roll of honour welcomed a new name and a new nationality in the car category thanks to Yazeed Al Rajhi: the Saudi driver persevered until his 11th participation to enjoy his date with destiny, with the rare privilege of winning the rally on home soil, as was the case when Pierre Lartigue triumphed in 1994 on the Paris-Dakar-Paris!

With Nicolas Cavigliasso (who triumphed in the quad category in 2019) winning the title in the Challenger class and Brock Heger in the SSV race on his 25th birthday, two new drivers also triumphed. Only Martin Macik, who dominated proceedings in the truck category, victoriously defended the title he conquered last year.

The Dakar Classic race for consistency came to a close with 80 vehicles (as opposed to 95 starters). Spanish title holder Carlos Santaolalla triumphed to become the first double winner since the creation of the category in 2021.

The five vehicles enrolled in the Mission 1000 challenge completed their journey through Saudi Arabia, over a distance of 1,300 kilometres for this second edition. Progress was made since last year in terms of range and performance for the KH7 truck driven by Jordi Juvanteny, who already won in 2024, as for the hydrogen-powered HySe SSV. The three Segway electric bikes, which were newcomers to the challenge, also validated their technology on the terrains of the Dakar and can look forward with a whetted appetite to 2026.

Americans Ricky Brabec, Skyler Howes and Jacob Argubright finished the final stage in 10th, 11th and 15th, and finished fifth, sixth and 22nd overall.

The top 10 from Stage 12:

Top 10 finishers overall:

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Accurately predicting that the main contenders would keep their powder dry, Docherty went for broke today. The South African Rally 2 biker danced gracefully over the dunes to take his very first Dakar stage win by 1′20″ over Rui Gonçalves and 2′21″ over Tobias Ebster.

As expected, the title contenders kept their cards close to their chests in anticipation of the second stage in the Empty Quarter, which will take place tomorrow. Daniel Sanders remains perched at the top of the ranking with 16′31″ in hand over Tosha Schareina and 22′24″ over Adrien Van Beveren. The starting order, which will keep fans and pundits busy, will encourage the rivals of the man from Oz to try and stage a sensational comeback.

(Editors Note: Americans Skyler Howes, Ricky Brabec and Jason Argubright finished the stage sixth, 13th and 22nd.)

Top 10 from Stage 10 of the Dakar:

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The Argentinean beat Adrien Van Beveren by 1’54’’ over the route of the day’s special. It was also a good day for the Frenchman as he closed in on his Spanish team-mate Tosha Schareina, who was off the pace due to a fall at the beginning of the special. The battle for second place is occurring some way behind race leader Daniel Sanders, who will tackle the decisive stage 10 with a lead of 14’45’’ and from 3rd position in the starting order.

(Editors Note: Americans Ricky Brabec and Skyler Howes finished fourth and fifth.)

Top 10 in stage nine:

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Trackhouse Racing has, today, presented, a new livery for its NASCAR Cup Series and its MotoGP campaigns, together with the line-up of drivers and riders for both its teams. Incorporating vibrant blue and black base colors that have been a feature of the Trackhouse style since it first started racing in 2021 and adding accents in dayglo yellow, the covers came off one of its NASCAR Cup Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 cars and one of its Aprilia GP-RS MotoGP bikes at the team’s headquarters in Concord, North Carolina, revealing a distinctive and consistent design scheme for its 2025 season.

The Athlete line-up introduced the three Trackhouse NASCAR Cup drivers – #1 Ross Chastain, #99 Daniel Suarez and new for 2025, #88 Shane van Gisbergen, alongside its two MotoGP riders – #25 Raul Fernandez and rookie #79 Ai Ogura.

Trackhouse Racing NASCAR Cup line-up:

#1 Ross Chastain: Age 31 – Hometown: Alva, Florida

Ross Chastain became the driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2022. Wins at Talladega and the Circuit of Americas Road Course were highlights of the year eclipsed in the penultimate race of 2022 at Martinsville when Ross made the miracle move, subsequently named the “hail melon” to secure a spot in the Championship 4, capping off a remarkable inaugural year with Trackhouse Racing, finishing second overall. In the 2023 season he scored two Cup Series wins and in 2024 a further two victories brought his tally to five. For 2025, he continues in the #1 car for Trackhouse.

#99 Daniel Suárez: Age 32 – Hometown: Monterrey, Mexico

The only Spanish-speaking driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, Daniel made racing history in 2022 as the first Mexican-born and just fifth foreign-born driver to take the checkers, driving the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing. The 32-year-old driver from Monterrey, claimed this history-making victory at the Toyota Save Mart 350, at Sonoma Raceway adding the accolade to those of being the first international champion in the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series, as well as the 2017 and 2022 NASCAR All-Star Race Open Winner. In 2024, at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Suárez made history again winning in a three-wide finish with a 0.003 second lead, giving Daniel his second visit to Victory Lane. Now a dual US- Mexican citizen, he starts his 5th Cup season with Trackhouse in 2025.

#88 Shane van Gisbergen: Age 34 – Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand

Shane joined Trackhouse Racing for his first full season of NASCAR in 2024, running the full Xfinity Series schedule along with seven NASCAR Cup Series races. The New Zealander made an instant splash in 2023, winning the inaugural Chicago Street Race in his first NASCAR start. He became one of six foreign-born drivers to win a Cup Series race and the first driver since Johnny Rutherford in 1963 to win his first Cup Series start. Van Gisbergen is no stranger to success. He earned three Supercars Championships for Triple Eight Race Engineering in 2016, 2021 and 2022, plus 80 wins and 47 pole positions making him the fourth most successful driver in the Australian series. He’s also won the legendary Bathurst 1000 in 2020, 2022 and 2023.

Trackhouse’s unique Project 91 guest driver project propelled van Gisbergen onto the U.S. racing scene in 2023. The program is designed to expand the organization’s global reach by fielding a Cup Series entry for renowned international racing drivers. Formula One icon and 2007 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen first drove under the Project 91 flag at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International in 2022 and again at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on March 26. In 2025, Project 91 brings Indycar legend, Helio Castroneves, to the Daytona 500.

Trackhouse MotoGP Team line-up:

#25 Raúl Fernández: Age 24 – Hometown: Madrid – Spain

Raúl Fernández arrived in the Trackhouse Team at the beginning of the MotoGP project, as one of the youngest, most exciting, riders in the World Championship. Since the age of 11 years old, when he learnt his early racecraft on the tracks around Madrid, he has been ‘one to watch’. Rarely have rookies shaken up the intermediate Moto 2 class like Raul in 2021 when he blitzed the field with eight victories and only just missed out on the Championship crown, injury preventing him from securing vital points towards the end of the campaign. Having stepped up to the Premier class in ’22, his 2023 season, in MotoGP, ended strongly with a top 5 finish in the final race. In 2024, with Trackhouse, he led the Sprint race at the Catalunya Grand Prix and scored a top 6 finish in the Australian Sprint race. Heading into his 4th season in MotoGP, his third on the Aprilia RS-GP prototype making him the longest serving rider for the Noale marque, Raúl will pilot the #25 for Trackhouse.

#79 Ai Ogura: Age 23: Tokyo – Japan

Mid-year, in its first season, the Trackhouse MotoGP Team demonstrated its commitment to young developing talent and its ambitions for the future by signing Ai Ogura on a two-year deal. The brightest star to emerge from Japan in over a decade, Ai started on MotoGP’s first rung of the talent ladder as 14-year-old in the Asia Talent Cup and progressed up through Red Bull Rookies and Moto3 until, in 2024, he emphatically sealed the Moto2 World Championship crown. Ai calls Kiyose in Japan, home and will join the MotoGP grid at the age of 24, carrying the #79 on the front of his Trackhouse Racing RS-GP25

NASCAR v MotoGP:

The NASCAR Cup Series is the premier league of stockcar racing. The three Trackhouse Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 racecars weigh in dry at 3,200 lbs (1,451 kgs), push out up to 670 hp from their 5.86 liter (358 cubic inches) V8 engines and race wide-open on superspeedway oval tracks and shorter, tighter bowls, also visiting five road courses in the Cup Series schedule of 39 race weekends. Kick-off is on February 2nd, with the NASCAR CLASH, followed by the ‘big one’ at Daytona for the 500 – a race that this year will feature a fourth Trackhouse car, entered as Project 91 and piloted by the 4-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Helio Castroneves.

The MotoGP World Championship is the ultimate in two-wheel circuit racing. Trackhouse fields two Aprilia RS-GP25 prototypes, each of which weigh in at a minimum 346 lbs (157 Kilograms) and develop over 280 HP from their V4, 1000cc engine. The Championship in 2025 features 22 rounds, at road course tracks spread over 5 continents, each weekend including a Sprint race on Saturday and full distance Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Trackhouse MotoGP Team will start testing in Malaysia, initially with the Shakedown test for Ai Ogura, January 31 to February 2nd and then Raul will join him for the full test, starting on February 5th. The team will take part in the MotoGP 2025 Season Launch event in Bangkok on Sunday, February 9 and will unveil the final version of the Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP25 at Buriram ahead of Round 1 – the Grand Prix of Thailand – February 28 – March 2nd.

RAUL FERNANDEZ

“The new bike looks amazing. I’m really happy to go out with these colors and I’m sure we will be well seen on tv and from the grandstands. It’s quite different to the rest of the grid. Also, it’s nice to have a huge brand like Gulf on board now. We have a new challenge, it’s a new year and we have new goals. This year will hopefully be a really nice one. We are all working hard – I was working on myself a lot during the winter and I think it’s going to be a great season. Let’s go and enjoy it!”

AI OGURA

“First of all, I would like to say thanks to everybody at Trackhouse. I’m really happy that we can get the season started soon and I’m just excited about this year. It will be a big challenge for me, but I have my guys in the team, they are all motivated, the atmosphere inside the team is great. I can’t wait to start the first test in Sepang! Our design is absolutely fantastic! I can’t wait to ride this beautiful bike and I’m excited to see what we can do this season.”

DAVIDE BRIVIO – TEAM PRINCIPAL
“This is another important moment because we are introducing our second year as Trackhouse Team. The first one has been a learning year and we will try to use everything we learned before in this second season, where we have many new things coming up. Of course, a new design of the bike, which goes more towards the Trackhouse image direction and we have an in place agreement with Gulf which means another exciting design. It’s a real privilege to be involved in a team with such an iconic brand – a brand, which I personally always admired in the motorsport environment. We can’t wait to show our special livery, which I believe will be something great and unique in MotoGP.”

“Speaking about our riders, Raul remains with the target to be stronger and stronger and then we have the big change with Ai, our rookie in MotoGP. He is Moto2 World Champion, which is raising expectations. We start this season with ambitions to improve what we did last year and also the team and not just the riders are learning more and more. I’m confident that we will see Raul stronger, with more experience and it will be nice seeing Ai growing up, improving race by race, which is the target. We are really looking forward to it and are very excited. We are well prepared, from physical and technical point of view. Let’s see what we can expect from this season.”

JUSTIN MARKS – TEAM OWNER
“I am really excited. In that first year in a new championship there were a lot of learnings for me and for a number of people on the team. It’s like now we are starting to figure out how the MotoGP program fits into the big Trackhouse picture. Everybody is just so excited that we are competing in this championship. I’m excited for 2025. I think the Aprilia bikes are going to be fast, Raul continues to get better, super excited about Ai coming onboard. We’re ready to go testing and get the ball rolling on the season.”

“We are super excited to have Raul. There were times in 2024 where he showed incredible speed. He is taking a big step this off season in his preparation, in his mentally, kind of understanding where he needs to be on the race weekend in his mind. We are excited about that and I think there’s podiums in our future. If the bikes are there, the speed is there, certainly there’s a lot of talent, with mechanics and engineers. We showed already that we have the pieces and Raul’s got the talent to be able to compete at the front in MotoGP. So, certainly, we are looking for more of that.”

“On the other side, I love rookies. I love taking this undefined, raw talent, putting them in these new positions, putting the support in around them and be able to mature into top level professional athletes. When we signed Ai and announced that he was joining the team, I don’t think he was leading in Moto2. He was in this battle for the championship and as soon as it was public that he’s going to join our team, he just went on to tear it up and won the Moto2 World Championship. This really shows what he is made of. If you look at the crop of rookies, when you look at the new guys coming into MotoGP in 2025, what else can you want than the reigning Moto2 World Champion? We are super excited about his talent.”

“The greatest milestones for our company is aligning ourselves with some of the greatest brands of the world. We have done this for the Nascar side. Getting these iconic brands like Gulf to the Trackhouse journey, to invest in us and to grow with us, is hugely important to me. I was telling the Gulf executive going through this process, there’s these amazing moments in the history of motorsport and for a brand like that to be aligned with Trackhouse having the Gulf logos on the bike is humbling, amazing and we can’t wait to get that bike on the racetrack. It’s pretty special.”

Trackhouse MotoGP Team:

Trackhouse Entertainment Group owner Justin Marks announced, back in December 2023, that his organization will field a MotoGP World Championship team in 2024, a move expanding its reach across the global motorsports world and building on its success in the NASCAR series. Just six weeks later the Team pulled back the curtains on its season-opening design with two of its Aprilia MotoGP prototype bikes and introduced #88 Miguel Oliveira and #25 Raul Fernandez as its pilots. One week later, Trackhouse Racing MotoGP rolled out onto its pit-road debut at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia.

Entering its sophomore year in the premier league of two-wheel racing, the Trackhouse MotoGP Team continues with 24-year-old #25 Raul Fernandez who, from the age of 11 years old, learnt his early race-craft on the tracks around Madrid. As a rookie in the intermediate Moto 2 class Raul took eight victories and only just missed out on the 2021 Championship crown. Moving up to MotoGP in 2022, Raul signed for the Aprilia Factory in 2023 and joined the new Trackhouse team at its launch in 2024. After another learning year on the RS-GP Aprilia, Raul signed for two further years with Trackhouse and will be the only rider with previous racing experience of the bike as the 2025 season commences.

Mid-year of its first season, the Trackhouse MotoGP Team demonstrated its commitment to young developing talent and its ambitions for the future by signing Ai Ogura on a two-year deal. The brightest star to emerge from Japan in over a decade, Ai started on MotoGP’s first rung of the talent ladder as 14-year-old in the Asia Talent Cup and progressed up through Red Bull Rookies and Moto3 until, in 2024, he emphatically sealed the Moto2 World Championship crown. Ai calls Kiyose, Japan, home and will join the MotoGP grid at the age of 24, carrying the #79 on the front of his Trackhouse Racing RS-GP25

About Trackhouse Racing:

Trackhouse Entertainment Group, centered in Nashville, Tennessee, is the owner of Trackhouse Racing’s NASCAR team and MotoGP World Championship team based out of Concord, North Carolina. After a full-time driving career in sports cars and NASCAR, Justin Marks founded Trackhouse Racing in 2020 and fielded an entry for #99 Daniel Suárez in 2021. Having acquired the NASCAR assets of Chip Ganassi Racing, midway through the 2021 season, Trackhouse fielded a pair Chevrolet Cup cars in 2022 for #1 Ross Chastain and Suárez – continuing in the #99.

The new team has enjoyed success on track – Daniel Suárez became the first Mexican driver to win a Cup Series race when he visited victory lane in 2022 and American Ross Chastain posted two victories to finish second in the standings in 2022. The team has scored victories throughout its time in the Cup series and Marks made more headlines bringing 2007 Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen to NASCAR and Trackhouse Racing in 2022 and 2023 as part of the team’s PROJECT91 program. Created to give international stars a chance to compete in the sport, PROJECT91 led to New Zealander and three-time Supercar champion, Shane van Gisbergen’s dramatic rookie win at the first Chicago street race in 2023.

Off the track, Trackhouse Racing as a brand has proven itself as a progressive, marketing-minded team, reimagining how the sport is presented to its fans, media partners and sponsors. It has brought international entertainment superstar Pitbull to the organization as a team partner, increased digital presence and created live entertainment at racetracks and in 2024 announced the Avenue Sports Fund had acquired a significant minority stake in Trackhouse Entertainment Group. Trackhouse Racing acquired a third NASCAR charter and will run Van Gisbergen fulltime in the 2025 Cup series, joining Suárez and Chastain on the grid. The team also signed 18-year-old Connor Zilisch who will compete full-time in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports.

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General rankings leader Daniel Sanders, completed the stage in 7th 6’44’’ behind Benavides.

The top 10 from the eighth stage of the Dakar:

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The top 10 from stage seven of the Dakar:

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