All SBK Rounds include Superbike and 600cc Superstock except USA is Superbike only.
European rounds also Include 1000cc Superstock.
2015 MotoGP Season Preview
DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK Mar 29 - Qatar – Doha Losail Apr 12 - Americas, Austin TX Apr 19 - Argentina May 03 - Spain, Jerez Frontera May 17 - France, Le Mans May 31- Italy, Mugello June 14 - Catalunya,Catalunya June 27 - Netherlands,AssenTT
July 12 - Germany, Sach Ring
Aug 9 - USA, Indianapolis
Aug 16 - Czech Rep, Brno
Aug 30 - GB, Donnington
Sept 13 - San Marino, Misano
Sept 27 - Aragon Motorland
Oct 11 - Japan, Motegi
Oct 18 - Australia, Phillip Island
Oct 25 - Malaysia, Sepang
Nov 08 - Valencia, Ricardo
2015British Superbike Click Date for Race Report DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK
April 4-6 Donnington Park
April 17-19 Brands Hatch Indy
May 2-4 Olton Park
June19-21 Snetterton July 3-5 Knockhill
July 17-19 Brands Hatch GP
Aug 1-2 Thruxton
Aug 21-23 Cadwell Park
Sept 4-6 Oulton Park
Sept 18-20 Assen
Oct 2-4 Silverstone GP
Oct 16-18 Brands Hatch GP
2015 AMA Superbike DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK April 10-12 Circuit Am TX April18-19 Road Atalnta GA
May 15-17 VIR VA
May 29-31 Road America WI
June 12-14 Barber, AL
June 26-27 Miller UT
July 17-18 Laguna Seca CA
Aug 7-9 Indianapolis IN
Sept 11-13 New Jersey NJ
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Complete 2015
AMA Pro Flat Track
Schedule:
1. March 12, 2015 - DAYTONA Flat Track I - Daytona Beach, Fla.
2. March 13, 2015 - DAYTONA Flat Track II - Daytona Beach, Fla.
3. May 24, 2015 - Springfield Mile I - Springfield, Ill.
4. May 30, 2015 - Sacramento Mile - Sacramento, Calif.
5. June 20, 2015 - Hagerstown Half-Mile - Hagerstown, Md.
6. June 27, 2015 - Lima Half-Mile - Lima, Ohio
7. July 4, 2015 - Du Quoin Mile - Du Quoin, Ill.
8. July 11, 2015 - Indy Mile - Indianapolis, Ind.
9. August 1, 2015 - Castle Rock TT - Castle Rock, Wash.
10. August 4, 2015 - Black Hills Half-Mile - Rapid City, S.D.
11. August 16, 2015 - Peoria TT - Peoria, Ill.
12. August 29, 2015 - Don Tilley Memorial Charlotte Half-Mile - Charlotte, N.C.
13. September 6, 2015 - Springfield Mile II - Springfield, Ill.
14. September 19, 2015 - Roar on the Shore - Delmar, Del.
15. September 26, 2015 - Calistoga Half-Mile - Calistoga, Calif.
16. November 20, 2015 - AMA Pro Flat Track Finale - Las Vegas, Nev.
November 21, 2015 - Superprestigio of the Americas - Las Vegas, Nev
DUCATI LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE DEALERSHIP TOURS WITH 2015 MODEL LINEUP TO TEST-RIDE
Set for Summer 2015, the Ducati Experience Tour and Ducati Demo Days Give All Motorcyclists the Opportunity to Test-Ride New Ducati Models from the 2015 Lineup
Cupertino, Calif. (May 5, 2015) – As the most anticipated new Ducati models continue to arrive in showrooms across North America, Ducati is launching the cross-country Ducati Experience Tour in May to give customers and Ducati enthusiasts the ability to test ride 2015 models at participating dealerships, including the all-new Multistrada 1200, Monster 1200, Monster 821, 899 Panigale, Diavel, Hypermotard and Streetfighter.
Ducati Demo Days will also begin in May and will create an opportunity for attendees to test the majority of the 2015 lineup, hosted by local participating dealerships and supported by Ducati North America. In addition to offering test rides on some the brand’s most exciting models, dealerships participating in the Ducati Experience Tour and Ducati Demo Days will also feature a variety of activities over the three-day Ducati experience, including live music, BBQs, food trucks, MotoGP and World Superbike race viewing parties, and more.
The full calendar lineup of the Ducati Experience Tour and Ducati Demo Days can be found below:
Ducati Experience Tour
· The Motor CaféSunnyvale, CA | 5/8 - 5/10
· Southbay Motorsports | Chula Vista, CA | 5/15 - 5/17
· GO AZ Motorcycles | Scottsdale, AZ | 5/29 - 5/31
· Fay Myers Motorcycle World | Greenwood Village, CO | 6/5 - 6/7
· Advanced Motorsports Ducati Dallas | Dallas, TX | 6/12 - 6/14
· Mountain Motorsports Roswell | Roswell, GA | 6/19 - 6/21
· Ducati Miami | Miami, FL | 6/26 - 6/28
· Coleman PowerSports | Woodbridge, VA | 7/10 - 7/12
· Cross Country Ducati | Metuchen, NJ | 7/17 - 7/19
· Riverside Motorsports | Medford, MA | 7/24 - 7/26
· Fast By Ferracci | Willow Grove, PA | 7/31 - 8/2
· Mosites Motorsports | North Versailles, PA | 8/7 - 8/9
· Ducati Detroit | Birmingham, MI | 8/13 - 8/16
· MCC Motor Cycle Center | Villa Park, IL | 8/21 - 8/23
· MotoCorsa | Portland, OR | Seattle, WA | 8/28 - 8/30
· South Sound Motorcycles | Fife, WA | 9/3 - 9/4
· Ducati Seattle | Seattle, WA | 9/5 - 9/6
· Ducati Week LA | Los Angeles, CA | 9/10 - 9/14
Ducati Demo Days
· Moto Forza | Escondido, CA | 5/8 - 5/10
· Ducati New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | 5/15 - 5/17
· Big #1 Motorsports | Birmingham, AL | 5/29 - 5/31
· MelilliMoto | Ocala, FL | 6/5 - 6/7
· Ducati of Fort Myers | Fort Myers, FL | 6/12 - 6/14
· Bloodworth Motorcycles | Nashville, TN | 6/19 - 6/21
· Hudson Valley Motorcycles | Ossining, NY | 6/26 - 6/28
· Wagner Motorsports | Worcester, MA | 7/10 - 7/12
· Seacoast Sport Cycle | Derry, NH | 7/17 - 7/19
· Ducati Indianapolis |Zionsville, IN | 7/31 - 8/2
· Tytlers Cycle | De Pere, WI | 8/7 - 8/9
· Moon Motorsports | Monticello, MN | 8/14 - 8/16
· Northern Ohio Ducati | Akron, OH | 8/21 - 8/23
· Harrison Eurosports | Sandy, UT | 8/27 - 8/29
· Ducati Omaha | Omaha, NE | 8/28 - 8/30
· Ducati Week LA | Los Angeles, CA | 9/10 - 9/14
Additional information can be found at
http://www.ducatiusa.com
Calendar of the World Superbike Championship
Home of the Official SBK Fast Dates Calendar Kittens July 2015 Page 2 Laguna Seca SBK World and AMA Superbike
World Premier new 2016 FastDates.com Calendars!
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NEW! FAST 2015
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the Bikes, the Builders, the Riders, the Kittens,
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we take you around the world for the making of the
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The exciting new 2016 FastDates.com Calendars reveal a full 16 months beginning in September 2015 preceding the 2016 cover year. They are premium quality printed in full color on 15x15-inch dull coated heavy art board and wire spiral bound with a hang clip for easy wall display and page turning, sealed in a clear plastic envelope with cardboard stiffer for protection. Calendars are available at you favorite motorcycle dealer from leading parts distributors. Click on the above Calendar Covers for additional information and to Order Now.
2016 FAST DATES World Superbikes, Cafe Racers and Official SBK Umbrella Girls
World Champion Sylvian Guintol and Marco Melandri’s Aprilia RSV4, Chaz Davies’s Ducati 1199RS, Tom Sykes’ Kawasaki ZX10R, Jonathan Rea’s Ten Kate Honda CBR1000, Eugene Laverty’s Crescent Suzuki GSXR1000, Sylvian Barrier’s BMW 1000RR, Leon Camier’s MV Agusta F4, Aaron Yates’ Hero EBR, plus AMA Champion Josh Hayes’ Yamaha R1 and Martin Cardena’s Yoshimura Suzuki GSXR1000. Calendar Show winners Richard Pollock’s 650 Triumph and Imagine Vehicles Honda CBX1100. With beautiful SBK Calendar Kittens Jitka and Petra, Desiree Manly, Lindsay Hancock.
All three Editions of this new 2016 FastDates.com Calendars feature our official SBK Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar Kittens
Jitka Pralinka and Petra Ruzickova from the Czech Republic, who spent the summer in America with Calendar photographer Jim Gianatsis to shoot and work at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca USA World and AMA Superbike, and the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show.
FAST 2016, 2015, 2014 Digital Calendar Magazines
Go Behind the Scenes for the Making of the FastDates.com Calendars! Each year's FastDates.com Calendar Digital Yearbook features 120 pages of exciting hi-resolution digital photography that
takes you with us behind the scenes to our photo shoots at SBK World and AMA Superbike, the LA Calendar Motorcyle Show,
and in our photo studio. You'll meet the beautiful Calendar Kitttens in sexy biography pictorials, the top Factory Racers and Custom Bike Builders,and see detailed photo features on the top calendar and race bikes. Take a track day with World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss at Misano, take an Edelsweiss Ducati World Superbike tour of the Ducati Factory & Museum and across Italy, ride a Vespa scooter around Paris and party at the Crazy Horse and the Moulon Rouge. Hang with beautiful teen rock star Taylor Momsen of the Pretty Reckless. Did we forget anything?
Oh yes, and you'll see every page in the new Fast Dates, Garage Girls, Iron & Lace Calendars!
FastDates.com Calendar Kitten and offiical SBKPodium Girl Sara Horvath welcomes Ducati's Chaz Davies to the Podium for his second of two race wins for Ducati Arub.ait at Laguna Seca,
2015 Eni SBK World Superbike Championhip, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Geico Insurance USA Round 9 of 13
Chaz Davies Doubles for Ducati at Laguna Seca USA World Superbike Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, CA , July 17-19th 2015 - A perfect race day for Chaz Davies and the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati Superbike Team who triumphed in both of the Superbike races at the Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway! Davide Giugliano achieved a solid fourth place finish in race 1 but unfortunately crashed at the start of race 2; the Italian is unhurt.
Chaz Davies power slides the Ducai out of Turn 11 to Superpole victory. Photo by Kel Edge.
Chaz Davies Ends Friday Practice On Top
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team) will head into Saturday’s decisive FP3 as the fastest WorldSBK rider on combined times after the opening two 45-minute sessions at Laguna Seca on Friday.
With the sun blazing, the factory Ducati rider improved, as did most of the field, to head the standings by 0.156s with a lap time of 1’23.633. The Welshman then ran off-track at high speed into Turn 1, thankfully keeping his Panigale R on two wheels before continuing for the final five minutes.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) finished second, stringing together an impressive run of consistent times, with Davide Giugliano elevating himself to third before falling off his Ducati machine at Turn 3 . The Italian, like his team-mate, was able to rejoin the track. Fastest this morning, Jonathan Rea dropped to fourth place but remained close to the top time, with the leading nine riders covered by one second.
Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) was again solid in fifth, ahead of Leon Haslam who made a significant step forward with his Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils RSV4 RF, likewise team-mate Jordi Torres, who was seventh and followed by Voltcom Crescent Suzuki duo Randy de Puniet and Alex Lowes.
Reigning World Champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) rounded out the top ten with his final lap of the session. Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing Ducati) suffered a highside at Turn 3 in the opening minutes of FP2; the Argentinean rider was taken to the medical centre for precautionary checks and was diagnosed with a second toe proximal phalanx fracture in his left foot, a right hip contusion and sprained ankle.
The action resumes on Saturday at 9:45am local time (GMT -7) with Free Practice 3, which will determine which riders will take part in the afternoon’s two Tissot-Superpole sessions.
WorldSBK Laguna Seca - Combined times Free Practice 1 and 2
1 - Chaz Davies Aruba.it Racing - Ducati SuperbikeTeam 1'23.633
2 - Tom SykesKawasaki RacingTeam +0.156
3 - Davide Giugliano Aruba.it Racing - Ducati SuperbikeTeam +0.225
Calendar Kittens Helena and Sara award the Tissot-Superpol top 3 trophies to Davide Giugliano, Chaz Davies and Jordi Tores.
Davies Claims Career First Tissot-Superpol on Saturday
First one-two for Ducati on the grid since the 2012 US Round, maiden top 3 qualifying for Torres. The ninth Pole Position of the 2015 eni FIM Superbike World Championship season was claimed by Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) after two enthralling 15 minute Tissot-Superpole sessions. His lap time of 1.22.101s, the fastest of the weekend kept him 0.196s ahead of the rest of the field, the British rider notching up his maiden WorldSBK pole start and his first since 2011 when he raced in World Supersport.
Joining Davies on the front row for tomorrow’s 25-lap races - the GEICO US Round of the series - will be his team mate Davide Giugliano and Jordi Torres, who secured his first WorldSBK front row start on the Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils entry.
Row two will see Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) line up alongside team mate and championship leader Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils). Tomorrow will be the first WorldSBK race day since Donington 2014 with no KRT riders on the front row.
Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing), Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) and Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) will line up on row three.
With the California sunshine blazing, Superpole 1 saw Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) and Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) progress to join the already seeded riders, the pair posting their best laps of the weekend before eventually qualifying 12th and 10th on the grid respectively. David Salom (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) placed himself in between the two in eleventh, while positions 13th to 15th on the grid will see Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing), Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) and Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team).
Nicky Hayden presents Chaz with the Tissot Superpole watch.
Chaz Davies - “Superpole has never really been my specialty but today we did everything right. I honestly didn’t think I’d done enough as I made one small mistake, so to be here on pole is a fantastic result, especially at Laguna, a really special track. We’ve been working extremely well this weekend and I believe we’re in a position to really fight tomorrow. This morning we made good progress and then took another step forward in Superpole. I feel well prepared for the scrap we’re bound to see tomorrow, and I’m very much looking forward to racing.”
Chaz Davies (7) domonited both Superbike races from the Starts to the Finishes, never once challenged.
Chaz Davies leaves nothing to chance and wins Race One at Laguna
Sykes edges out Rea for second place as Giugliano and Torres complete top 5. Chaz Davies has won the opening race of the day at Laguna Seca after a lights-to-flag display that saw the British rider take the win by 1.798secs at the line.
After several days of sunshine on the Central Coast of California, raceday at Laguna Seca for the GEICO Motorcycle US Round, the ninth of the 2015 eni FIM Superbike World Championship season dawned with thunder and rain greeting the WorldSBK riders.
A wet warm-up saw the riders take to the track for the first time with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) fastest in the tricky conditions but thankfully by the time race 1 was scheduled to start the sun was shining again and the track had started to dry.
Davies made the perfect start, taking the hole shot before opening up a 1.6secs lead at the end of lap 5. Despite the Kawasaki pairing of Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea giving chase they were unable to reel in the Aruba.it Racing Ducati rider who romped to the victory, his sixth career-win and the second-ever for the Panigale R machine.
Chaz Davies was out front and untouchable, but the factory Kawasaki ridrs Sykes and Rea provided the fans the closest of racing as Rea (65) dogged and passed his team mate twice, but still had to settle for 3rd as they crossed the line just feet apart.
At the flag and after a tense, race-long duel second and third went to Sykes and Rea, respectively, the pair pushing each other to limit throughout the whole encounter. Rea’s third place is ironically his ‘worst’ result of the season.
Davide Giugiano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) finished a lonely fourth after regrouping from a poor start, the Italian who started on the front row eventually getting the better of Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) after spending a significant amount of laps trying to pass the Spaniard.
Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) inherited sixth after Leon Haslam fell off his Aprilia on lap 21, while reigning Champion Sylvain Guintoli powered the Pata Honda to seventh ahead of his team mate and reigning World Supersport champion Michael van der Mark. Leandro Mercado impressed in ninth aboard the Barni Racing Ducati, the Argentine rider recovering from a huge crash earlier in the weekend.
Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) rode to a solid tenth place finish, with Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) and Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven) completing the top 12. Leon Haslam scored three points after nursing the Aprilia to the finish ahead of youngest rider in the field Christophe Ponsson (Team Pedercini). Gianluca Vizziello (Grillini Racing) scored his first WorldSBK point with 15th. Althea Racing had a difficult race with both Niccolò Canepa and Matteo Baiocco suffering technical problems at the start.
WorldSBK Laguna Seca - Race 1
1 - Chaz DaviesAruba.it Racing - Ducati SuperbikeTeam
2 - Tom SykesKawasaki Racing Team +1.798
3 - Jonathan ReaKawasaki RacingTeam +2.107
Davies on the double in Race Two Laguna Seca
Carbon copy of race one podium with Sykes and Rea on the remaining steps. Chaz Davies made history at Laguna Seca by taking the first double win for the Panigale and with it, wins number 11 and 12 for the Italian manufacturer at Laguna Seca, California. For Davies it was an almost perfect weekend with him taking Pole Position, both race wins and the fastest lap in the day’s earlier race. This is Davies’ second WorldSBK double and the first one for Ducati since Imola 2012.
Once again leading from the start, the Welshman tried to pull away immeditaly but unlike race one he was closely followed in the early stages by the Kawasaki Racing Team pairing of Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea, with Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) running strongly in fourth.
Behind Davies at the flag were Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea, the podium in Race 2 being a carbon copy of the first encounter. Aprilia Racing riders Jordi Torres and Leon Haslam were fourth and fifth, respectively, after a long and enthralling duel. Both riders finished comfortably ahead of Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia), who had a lonely ride to sixth after failing to finish in the first encounter.
Above, thefirs half of the race saw Championhip leader Jonthan Rea (65) having to fight off Leon Haslma(91 for 3rd place.
Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) got the better of Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing) in their hectic on-track tussle for seventh with Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing) once again ninth ahead of Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse).
The remaining point scorers were Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven), Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing), Gianluca Vizziello (Grillini Racing) and Christophe Ponsson (Team Pedercini).
As the rain began to fall at the start of lap two Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) was caught off guard, and the Italian crashed heavily at Turn 6; he was taken to the Medical Centre for precautionary checks. The Italian rider escaped major injuries having been diagnosed with only right knee and heel contusions.
It was an unfortunate race for the reigning Champion Sylvain Guintoli, who was closely tailing Alex Lowes when the Briton decided to slow down to enter the pits in order to go for an early tyre change. A collision was almost inevitable and, despite returning to the track, Lowes had to retire shortly after, as the decision did not work in his favour.
Despite losing a handful of points from Tom Sykes, Jonathan Rea still holds a solid 125-point lead over his team mate Tom Sykes, while hero of the day Chaz Davies has consolidated the third place in the standings with four rounds remaining. WorldSBK action will resume in a fortnight’s time at Sepang.
Chaz Davies - “I’m really, really happy with these results, and we’ve definitely seen the fruits of our labour here. The track here perhaps limits our weak points and plays to our strengths, and we were able to put together two really good races that went almost exactly to plan. I didn’t think we’d be able to lap in 1.23s but I was able to make some really quick first laps in Race 1. We made a few small tweaks for race 2 and I think those changes were useful. I took a lot of risks with the rain but luckily it stopped and things went smoothly from there to the finish line. I thank my entire team, Ducati and our sponsors - it’s been a really solid weekend.”
Tom Sykes - “Jonathan and I had a great battle for the entire first race. I had plus zero on my pit board, so I just had to manage the situation. Overall I am happy with second position considering the circumstances. We made two small changes for race two and it was strange because at the beginning I felt I had a really good bike set-up but in the rain Chaz took a couple of more risks. It paid off because he made a big gap and I think that was probably the deciding factor in the race. We had a couple of warnings and I was just not able to stick with Chaz. Overall, I am fairly satisfied but we were just not close enough. Two second places are acceptable but another rider took the prizes this weekend.”
JonthanRea - “I tried a lot but there was nothing I could do to go through on Tom in race one. He also had a good pace but I am sure I had a higher pace. I just could not through him. He was riding quite smart. In the final corner I was a little bit behind and it was one of those where you had to be clever as well, because 16 points is a lot better than zero. We also had a good pace in race two but it was a little bit my fault because I made too many mistakes. Tom and I both lost a lot of time to Chaz when the rain was coming but we ended up with a really good pace together. Today we played the long game a little bit and third is where I could finish.”
WorldSBK Laguna Seca - Race 2
1 - Chaz DaviesAruba.it Racing - Ducati SuperbikeTeam
2 - Tom SykesKawasaki Racing Team +1.406
3 - Jonathan ReaKawasaki Racing Team +1.982
Two Riders Killed in Chaotic Crash in MotoAmerica Race Two Start
at World Superbike races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Laguna Seca Raceway, Sunday July 19th 2015 - Two motorcycle racers died following a massive crash involving multiple riders at Laguna Seca on Sunday evening. The crash took place just before 5pm, moments after the start of MotoAmerica Superbike/Superstock 1000 race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Up to five bikes collided collied coming off the starting line on the first lap, tossing riders into the dirt runoff to the right of the Start / Finish Line bridge. According to a press release from MotoAmerica, 35-year-old Bernat Martinez of Alberic, Valencia, Spain was transported from the raceway by ambulance to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula where he died from his injuries. Daniel Rivas Fernandez, 27, of Moana Galicia, Spain, was taken by helicopter to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas where he died.
As medical personnel arrived on scene, one rider tried to sit up on his own, but was screaming in pain. Medics held him down in order to administer help. A second injured rider tried to walk away from the scene, but began limping and was helped to the ground by medical personnel.
The race was the final one of the day and a support class for the larger World Superbike headlining race.
"I really don't have any words to describe what we all feel," said MotoAmerica president Wayne Rainey in a statement. "First and foremost, is the loss to the families and loved ones. Our sincere condolences goes out to each and every one of them as well as the MotoAmerica family. They are in our thoughts and prayers."
"We are deeply saddened to learn the news of the passing of Bernat Martinez and Daniel Rivas," added Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. "Our prayers and hearts go out to their families and teams."
Hayes, Beaubier Splits Wins in AMA Superbike, Leave Mazda Raceway Tied AMA Superbike, Laguna Seca, July 19th - Monster Energy/Graves Motorsports Yamaha's Josh Hayes and Cameron Beaubier drove out of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday night all even in the 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Superbike Championship, the pair having taken a win apiece in the two races on a day marred by tragedy.
Hayes won the first of the two races on Sunday morning, a race declared wet but run in mostly dry conditions with both Hayes and his junior teammate Beaubier making the right choice in running slick tires on their R1s. Hayes ended up winning the race with almost 19 seconds in hand with Beaubier finishing second, well clear of third-placed Roger Hayden on the Yoshimura Suzuki. Hayden's teammate Jake Lewis finished the race in fourth.
Race two went to Beaubier with a three-way battle between the two Yamaha men and Hayden going to the very end of the race. At the finish line it was Beaubier beating Hayden by just .084 of a second with Hayes a shadow third - just .398 of a second behind. Fourth place overall and first in the Superstock 1000 class went to Roadrace Factory's Jake Gagne over HSBK Aprilia's Sheridan Morais. Fourth in the Superbike race and eighth overall went to Lewis on the second Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Race two (the final race of the day after two World Superbike races, the first MotoAmerica Superbike race and MotoAmerica Supersport), however, was marred by a chain-reaction, multi-bike incident on the first lap that resulted in the death of Spanish racers Bernat Martinez, 35, and Dani Rivas, 27. The incident occurred just seconds after the start of the race and the red flag came out immediately to stop the race. The race was later restarted and ran for the scheduled 18 laps. For more information on the incident, Click Here
Cameron Beaubier (6) beat Roger Hayden (95) and Josh Hayes (1) to the line in race two of MotoAmerica Superbike action at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday. Photography by Brian J. Nelson.
After seven of nine rounds (14 races), the Yamaha men are tied on points with 286 apiece. The win early in the day was the eighth on the season for Hayes with Beaubier's victory in the afternoon his sixth of the year. Hayden, who came into the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca round trailing his teammate Lewis, shot past the class rookie and into third in the series standings. Hayden now has 205 points to Lewis' 197.
Gagne continues to lead the Superstock 1000 point standings over TOBC Racing's Taylor Knapp, but the gap is now 20 - 244-224. Knapp finished the day with a pair of thirds with Gagne sixth in race one and victorious in race two. Race one was won by Brit Mark Heckles, the first of the season for the Yamaha-mounted series rookie who is a solid third in the series standings. Morais was second in race two after struggling with a poor tire choice in race one.
"Yeah, it was a hard day," Hayes said at the end of race two. "It was a long day. There were such different halves of the day. This morning was so much different. This morning experience really paid off, being here for as long as I have paid off. I think that if I'd been lucky enough for that first start to go that would have worked more in my favor than the second start. I felt like I had gotten up to speed pretty quick. I was ready to go and just doing a race start kind of gets everybody up to speed. So I think these guys were a little better prepared on the second go around. But I rode the best race I could. I got to the front. I was going to fight for that position as long as I could. And as soon as Roger (Hayden) came by I wanted to go right back at him. I just didn't have the tools that I needed to go after him, so as the race was wearing on I knew Cam (Beaubier) was right behind me. I didn't know really where I was doing good against him and where I wasn't or what was going on. But when he finally made the move again I wanted to go right back at him, but I didn't have what I needed to do it. I got to be honest, with five laps to go, just seeing how everything was playing out, how I was feeling and knowing what my bike was like, I figured Cam's was probably very similar to mine. My money was on Roger. I thought he had it, but turns out this old turd's a pretty good racer and came up with some good ones there on the last couple laps."
Beaubier, who was beaten handily by Hayes in race one, was happy to be back on top in race two. "I'm glad I redeemed myself after race one," the 22-year-old said. "Pretty much got schooled by Josh out there. It wasn't too fun. Went back and I just struggled a little bit right at the beginning. Half wet, half dry conditions, that was tough on me. Second race, I knew I had to hang it out. At the beginning I was struggling quite a bit, just latching onto those guys. I was making mistakes running wide here and there and was kind of struggling with drive grip a little bit. Towards the end it seemed like maybe their tire dropped a little bit and mine stayed the same throughout the race. So I was able to make a last-lap push. It was tough. It's so hard to pass here."
The man of the moment in MotoAmerica racing is Supersport star JD Beach. The Yamalube/Y.E.S./Graves Motorsports Yamaha rider reeled off his sixth straight and eighth win of the season on Sunday, the man who now calls Owensboro, Kentucky home beating Wheels In Motion/Motosport.com/ Meen Motorsports' Josh Herrin by a tick over five seconds. Herrin was in turn almost two seconds ahead of M4 Suzuki/SportBikeTrackGear.com's David Anthony, the Australian taking advantage of Bobby Fong's crash with barely over a lap remaining to take third. Fong was able to remount to finish sixth, behind Beach's teammate Garrett Gerloff and Roadrace Factory's Tomas Puerta.
Beach now leads Herrin by 49 points with two rounds (three races) remaining in the series, 265-216. Gerloff is third with 199 points. "It feels amazing (to win six in a row) and especially to do it against these guys that are just riding so fast," Beach said. "Guys like Herrin that I've actually looked up to before I started racing in the AMA series. Really the only thing I can say, it's really just luck. We're all great riders and I've just been having things click this year for me."
SUPERBIKE RACE 1: Josh Hayes (Yamaha); 2. Cameron Beaubier (Yamaha); 3. Roger Hayden (Suzuki); 4. Jake Lewis (Suzuki); 5. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki); 6. Bernat Martinez (Yamaha); 7. Kevin Pinkstaff (Kawasaki); 8. Elena Myers (Suzuki); 9. Chris Fillmore (KTM).
SUPERBIKE RACE 2: 1. Cameron Baubier (Yamaha); 2. Roger Hayden (Suzuki); 3. Josh Hayes (Yamaha); 4. Jake Lewis (Suzuki); 5. Chris Ulrich (Suzuki); 6. Elena Myers (Suzuki).
SUPERSTOCK 1000 RACE 2: 1. Jake Gagne (Yamaha); 2. Sheridan Morais (Aprilia); 3. Taylor Knapp (Yamaha); 4. Josh Day (Yamaha); 5. Tyler O'Hara (Yamaha); 6. Mark Heckles (Yamaha); 7. Steve Rapp (BMW); 8. Cory Call (BMW); 9. Sebastiao Ferreira (Yamaha); 10. Barrett Long (Yamaha).
SUPERSPORT: 1. JD Beach (Yamaha); 2. Josh Herrin (Yamaha); 3. David Anthony (Suzuki); 4. Garrett Gerloff (Yamaha); 5. Tomas Puerta (Yamaha). 6. Bobby Fong (Triumph); 7. Kyle Wyman (Yamaha); 8. Corey Alexander (Yamaha); 9. Hayden Gillim (MV Agusta); 10. Ben Young (Yamaha).
Our SBK Fast Dates Calendar Kittens at 2015 Laguna Seca - Sara Horvath, Helene Milana and Alena Savostikoka with photographer and producer Jim Gianatsis
Calendar Kittens Sara Horvath and Helene Milana to be featured as the
Official SBK Grid and Podium Girls at World Superbike Laguna Seca, and
July 17-19th and as LA Calendar Show Host on Saturday July 25th
Los Angeles, April 3rd, 2015 - The FastDates.com Motorcycle PinUp Calendars are excited to announce Calendar Kittens Sara Horvath, Helene Milana and Alena Savostikova, represented by Umbrella Girls USA, will be serving as the official SBK World Superbike Umbrella Girls at the upcoming Laguna Seca World and AMA Superbike race weekend July 17-19th 2015 at Mazda Raceway, Laguna Seca, CA. Then all three Kittesn will be hosting at the annual LA Calendar Motorcycle Show on Saturday July 25th at the Sagebrush Cantina, Calabasas, CA.
The SBK Kittens will also be making fan appearances in front of the Laguna Seca Paddock Souvenir Store during the Lunch Breaks on Saturday and Sunday to introduce, autograph and sell the new 2017 Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar. Sara, Helena and Alena will also be working the race weekend with FastDates.com Calendar photographer and publisher Jim Gianatsis to shoot the next edition of the Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar with all the top factory race team bikes on Pit Lane during the race weekend.
The newest FastDates.com Calendar Kittens, Helene Milana, who is joining us at Laguna Seca World Superbike and the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show in July, recently moved to Los Angeles from Belarus in Eastern Europe. While Alena Savostikoa is of Russia desent, but was born and raised in Florida, moving to Los Angles to become a professional model Los Angeles. Both are a perfect match in looks and 5' 9" height to Sara.
Alena Savostikova
Helene Milana
"This year's SBK World Superbike round at Laguna Seca USA marks the 21st year that the FastDates.com Calendars have provided our beautiful Calendar Kittens to be the official SBK Umbrella and Podium models, going back to the first ever American World Superbike race at Laguna Seca in 1995", explained Jim Gianatsis. "The Fast Dates Supebike Calendar shares a rich history with both SBK World Superbike - the most exciting production based motorcycle roadracing series ever, all the top factory race teams and their riders over those many years, and with Mazda Raceway in the years that SBK has been here at one of America's most renown roadracing venues, and with our partner Umbrella Girls USA.
This past year's 2014 USA Superbike round at Laguna Seca featured our official SBK Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar Kittens Jitunka Pralinka and Petra Ruzickova from the Czech Republic, who spent the summer in America with Calendar photographer Jim Gianatsis to shoot and work at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca USA World and AMA Superbike, and the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show. Jitunka and Petra are featured in all three Editions of this new 2016 FastDates.com Calendars.
Highway One road trip! Heading up the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway to Laguna Seca World Superbike with Calendar Kittens Sara, Alena and Helena.
This year I am excited to welcome our newest Kitten Helena to working alongside Sara for SBK World Superbike and at this year's Fast Dates Calendar event and photo shoots."
Calendar Kitten Sara is also featured in the new 2016 FastDates.com Calendars - Fast Dates, Iron & Lace and Garage Girls, and in the new FAST2016 Digital Magazine found on the website. Race fans at Laguna Seca World Superbike can meet Sara and Helena at the Laguna Seca Paddock Souvenir Store on Saturday /Sunday during the track's Lunch Break. and in the SBK Paddock Show where they will be working as the SBK spokesmodels assisting with the awards presentations and rider interviews.
Then the following weekend, Sara, Helena and Alena will be hosting the 24th annual 2015 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show on Saturday July 25th at the Sagebrush Cantina, Calabasas, CA, which includes the Calendar Bike Building Championship with top celebrity custom bike builders from as far away as Japan and Europe premiering their latest custom builds. Included is the Calendar Girl Music Show featuring beautiful actress and singer songwriter Gwedolyn Edwards and her Band, and American Idol contender Alex Nester. And both Sara Horvath and Helena Milana will be premiering the new 2016 FastDates.com Calendars where Sara is again featured. For additional information on these two great California based Motorcycle Events and to purchase tickets, and for more about the Fast Dates Kittens and Calendars visit: http://www.FastDatess.com and http://www.MazdaRaceway.com
The 2015 Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle & Calendar Girl Music Show
moves to the Sagebrush Cantina, Calabasas on Saturday July 25th 2015
Los Angeles, CA, USA
March 1st 2015 - The 2015 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show continues its now 24- year tradition as the premier outdoor streetbike event in America as it rocks the legendary Los Angles bike hangout and party zone, the Sagebrush Cantina in beautiful downtown Calabasas, California. Featured are top Celebrity Custom Bike Builders, the Calendar Bike Building Championship & Concourse d' Elegance, selected Vendors and Exhibitors, and Calendar Girl Music live performances. The Calendar Motorcycle Show is also a benefit for the American Cancer Society with a portion of each Admission Ticket being donated to help those people who are fighting cancer, and to help find a cure.
The Calendar Motorcycle Show features many of the world's top Pro and Amateur custom street bike builders in attendance with their newest 2-wheeled creations of rolling art to compete in the Calendar Show Bike Building Championship for cash and awards including the coveted Best of Show Trophy. The Calendar Show provides a broad focus for all motorcycle enthusiasts including the growing Collector Bike Market with Exhibitors and Bike Show classes for classic European, British and Japanese motorcycles, along with American V-Twins and Customs. Show Entries will be placed in a Concourse display on the Cantina's large outdoor event patio. Bike Building Championship Registration Here
The annual Calendar Motorcycle Show always kicks off the world premier of next year's new 2016 FastDates.com Motorcycle PinUp Calendars featuring the world's top road race and custom motorcycles with the beautiful Calendar Kittens featured in the Calendars in attendance at the Show. Show Producer Jim Gianatsis will again be photographing the winning bikes to appear in the Motorcycle Magazines and the next FastDates.com Calendars.
Included with admission is the Calendar Girl Music Show is an incredible day of live music featuring beautiful actress and singer songwriter Gwendolyn Edwards and her Band, and former American Idol contender Alex Nester, each performing two sets of a spicy mix of hot cover tunes and their own original songs. Like many we know impacted by cancer, Alex is a survivor and we are excited the Calendar Show will be helping others with a portion of our ticket sales going to the American Cancer Society. To find our more about their important work fighting cancer go to www.Cancer.org
Legendary Builders featured in the popular FastDates.com Iron & Lace Custom Motorcycle PinUp Calendars and expected to attend include Russell Mitchell / Exile Cycles, Richard Pollock / Mule Motorcycles, Ron Simms / Ron Simms Customs, Jim Giuffra & Spokesmodels / AFT Customs, Chris Redpath / MotoGPwerks, Shinya Kimura / Chabott Engineering, and Adrian Packet / Canyon Motorcycles.
Together with the Calendar Motorcycle's Show's display of exciting new Custom and Classic bikes, Celebrity Builders, and select Manufacturers, there will live performances by a talent female singer songwriters. And VIP Admission includes the Sagebrush Cantina's excellent Taco Plate Buffet with soft drinks, where you can custom design your Mexican lunch plate with a large selection of meats, sides, salads, chips and toppings. Full Bar service is also available. Because the Show is now in gated patio venue, spectator capacity is limited and advance online ticket purchase is recommended to assure your entry to the longest running and most exciting streetbike event on the West Coast.
The 2015 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show takes place on Saturday July 25th 10am-3pm at the Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA 91302. Motorcycle Parking is Free at the main entrance, with on site paid Car Parking also available. For additional information and to purchase tickets go to: www.FastDates.com/BIKESHOW.HTM
Richard Pollock / Mule Motorcycles to Be Honored at The 2015 Show!
The 2015 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show on Saturday July 25th will pay special tribute this year to Richard Pollock / MuleMotorcycles.net as one of our favorite and most successful FastDates.com Calendar Bike Builders over the last 25 years. You'll certainly want to join us as we honor Richard and he premiers his newest Streetracker build!
This Month in the Calendar Bike Garage.., The World's Coolest Naked Ducati! Beauitful FastDates.com Calendar Kitten Sara takes us for a ride on the world's most exotic and expensive Ducati streetbike
ever - a $110,000 Vyrus NCR 983 Superleggera in the Calendar Bike Garage and in Members Corner. Order the Fast Dates Calendars
Calendar Bike Photo Features, Paddock Garage Tuning, Pictorials of our Calendar Kittens in Members Corner
FastDates.com Sets Up and Tests the New 2015 Ducati 1199R Superbike!
Rossi (46) moved up from 4th, pasing Pedrosa and Lorenzo, but despite posting the fastest race lap. couldn't stay with Marquez's (26) multiple quick laps to the checkered.
2015 MotoGP World Championhip, GoPro Motorad Grand prix Deutschland, Round 8 of 18
Rossi Extends His MotoGP Points Lead while....
Marquez Make It Six Years of Race Wins in a Row at Sachsenring Germany, Sunday July 12th 2105 - When Marquez came here a year ago, he was chasing his 9th consecutive win of the season. At this point in 2015 Marquez’s title hopes are weak but the Spaniard’s desire to win is anything but. Now that Marquez appears to be back on form, he’s showing no signs of making things easy for the Movistar Yamaha duo in the second half of the season. Marquez said: "From the beginning I felt good and when I had the gap I just tried to manage it. I'm happy because this weekend we’ve been always first and it has been a long time since I had that. It’s a good result to go on holidays with, but I want to keep getting better." Continued Coverage Here
1972 Kawasaki KZ1000 Superbike.
2015 Corsa Motoclassica at Willow Spring Raceway, California
Photos and Report by Jim Gianatsis Rosemond, CA -April 24-26th 2015 - The annual Corsa Motoclassica was first run 20 years ago at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosemond, California, just down the road from Edwards Air Force Test Base in the Mojave Dessert. It was the child of Yoshi Kosaka of Garage Company, a Los Anegles based motorcycle used bike and parts store and restoration shop specializing in classic street and race bikes. The Corsa Classic at Willow Springs gave Yoshi's customers a place to bench race and ride their beloved classic race bikes at speed, and could be called the West Coast's version of the Barber Motorsports Festival in near Montgomery, Alabama. Continued Here
Will NASCAR's France Family's Speedway Corp take over Laguna Seca Raceway?
June 25th,2015 h - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca could be set to change hands, as Monterey County officials have confirmed that they are in negotiations with the France family’s International Speedway Corporation (ISC) to takeover operations at the rack track. ISC should be a familiar name to NASCAR fans, as the corporation not only built Daytona International Speedway, but the company’s primary business is owning and operating NASCAR race tracks (roughly half of the NASCAR season takes place on an ISC-owned track).
Owning 13 tracks in all, ISC could add another if its deal with Monterey County goes forward, supplanting the nonprofit Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP), which has operated Laguna Seca since its inception in 1957.
According to a statement by Monterey County officials, the coastal Californian track “has been exploring options for the management of the raceway to ensure its long-term success.” ISC is therefore just one of several options on the table for the county, and its running of the historic racing venue.
Laguna Seca is a county public park, and thus publicly owned, any proposal would be subject to an open session where there would be an opportunity for public comment on ISC’s proposal to run Laguna Seca. It should go without saying that this news is a tectonic movement for Laguna Seca, which has struggled lately as a venue, partially because of the nature of its public ownership.
Laguna Seca, through SCRAMP, has struggled with locals that does not want major racing events taking place in their backyard, despite the millions of dollars the race track brings to the surrounding cities and towns. With Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca losing its MotoGP round, and its World Superbike round having meager attendance, there certainly has been pressure on SCRAMP to increase profitability, even when the county hamstrings the nonprofit organization’s efforts.
We will have to see what ISC proposes as its business plan to turnaround racing at Laguna Seca, and what the public commentary on their offer will be. In the road racing community, both two-wheels and four-wheels, ISC and the France family are not highly regarded entities. Yet, one cannot argue that they are also responsible for America’s most successful racing events.
For diehard Laguna Seca fans and long-time race goers, the move away from SCRAMP will certainly be not be welcomed, though with the track struggling, clearly something in the situation has to change…and that might just be SCRAMP itself. As always, time will tell.
The Daytona Motorsport Group has a history of NOT maintaining or improving their corporate owned road race course facilities. They also have a history of not bringing in expensive World Championship motorcycle or sports car events, not trying to find sponsors for such race events at their tracks, and not wanting to spend the money to maintain or improve their tracks to FIM / FIA standards. That's why Daytona Speedway no longer hosts FIA and FIM races, or even held an AMA National road race this year. If DMG takes over Laguna Seca there probably will never be another MotoGP, World Superbike or AMA National there, just like their other tracks. It will only be club, historic races and their Tudor Sports Car and NASCAR events. Sad.
Unfortunately, as well loved as Laguna Seca Raceway is, in today's world of live TV coverage, the expensive cost for fans to travel there for a race weekend, aging demographics, and being located so far away from a major population area, the track may no longer be a viable commercial product. We hope the city / county needs to consider running or lease the track at no cost to SCRAMP, supported by the revenue and taxes it brings to the community.
A Fast Dates Racebike Calendar classic photo by Jim Gianatsis
Now available for the first time ever for your wall! - Iconic pinup model Cincy Margolis at Laguna Seca Raceway with Jamie James' 1992 Vance & Hines Yamaha OW01 750cc AMA Superbike.
Order at - http://FastDates.SmugMug.com Calendar Bike Garage - Detailed MotoGP Bike Photos, Specs, Large Screen Savers
Calendar Photo Store - Calendar, MotoGP Bikes and Rider Photo Prints & Wall Displays
Honda Taking Orders on New RC213V-S Street Legal MotoGP Replica
by Turning RC213V Competing in MotoGP Races into a Model for Public Road Riding
June 11th 2105 - The RC213V is a machine exclusively for racing that has won consecutive championships in the MotoGP class of the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (hereinafter called “MotoGP”) in 2013 and 2014. Honda has made changes to some of the specifications of the RC213V, and will now introduce this as the RC213V-S. It is possible to ride the RC213V-S on public roads,
In 1954, Honda declared its intention of participating in the Isle of Man TT races, which were a part of the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix at the time. Honda developed its own racing vehicles and in 1959, five years after the declaration, started competing in the Isle of Man TT races. In 1961, Honda successfully won the TT race championships in the two classes it entered. The total number of cumulative racing victories for Honda reached an unprecedented 600 wins in 2005, which rose to a cumulative 695 victories as of June 11, 2015. Since the Isle of Man TT races, Honda has positioned its racing activities in a wide variety of races as its “laboratory on wheels,” and has incorporated the feedback from the wide-ranging technologies developed for competition in these races into its commercially available production models, relying on these technologies as a way to help maintain and evolve the excellent performance and reliability of Honda motorcycles. Continued HERE
Ducati Corse
World Superbikes
by Alan Cathcart
& Jim Gianatsis
The Official SBK
World Superbikes
1987-2012
25 Year History Book
The Official SBK
2014-2015 Yearbook
These SBK Yearbooks are the Best Books Ever about World Superbike. They feature awesome color photography of the riders, bike and racing action. The feature a detailed revue of the past season in pictures and statistics, with a detailed look at the bikes and riders.
Plus a technical look data all the bikes, a preview of the upcoming season's Championship!
We buy this every year ourselves and highly recommend it!
SBK World Superbike Video Game
Official Print Media Partner
Chaz Davies and Ducati Own Laguna Seca 2015
Monterey (USA), Sunday 19 July 2015 – A perfect race day for Chaz Davies and the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati Superbike Team who triumphed in both of the Superbike races at the Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway! Davide Giugliano achieved a solid fourth place finish in race 1 but unfortunately crashed at the start of race 2; the Italian is unhurt.
Race 1 – after the hot and sunny conditions seen up until today, this morning rain made an appearance but fortunately the track was totally dry for race one. Chaz got away extremely well from pole position, immediately taking control of the races. He set the fastest lap of the race on lap five (1’23.739), after which he continued to push and build on his advantage over the chasing pack. Putting together the perfect race, the Welshman knew how best to manage each phase of the race, riding his Ducati Panigale R to its second victory of the season and crossing the line almost two seconds ahead of second-placed Sykes.
Davide lost a few positions at the start and was lying fifth after lap one. In the first phase he unfortunately lost contact with the leading group while trying to pass Torres. Able to pass the Spaniard on lap thirteen to move into fourth place, Giugliano was unable to do any more due to the gap of more than 8 seconds that had opened up in the meantime between him and the trio up ahead. The Italian therefore finished the race in fourth position.
Race 2 – once again Davies made a very fast start to take the lead. Despite a rain shower during the early stages of the race, the Welsh rider did not slow his pace, again building up a considerable advantage over Sykes, lying second, just as in Race 1. In what was almost a replay of the first race, Chaz kept his head, maintaining both his advantage and his concentration right to the line, finishing first and achieving what is a first double win of the season for him and the team.
Giugliano, fifth through the first lap, was unfortunately the victim of what appeared to be a serious crash at Turn 6 on the very next lap. The Italian rider has contusions to the left heel and right knee but doctors confirm that he has sustained no serious injuries.
After nine championship rounds, and thanks to the results at Laguna Seca, Davies moves into third place in the overall standings, with 263 points, while Giugliano retains seventh, having earned 119 points. Ducati positions second in the manufacturer’s standings with 318 points.
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati Superbike Team #7) 1st, 1st
“I’m really, really happy with these results, and we’ve definitely seen the fruits of our labour here. The track here perhaps limits our weak points and plays to our strengths, and we were able to put together two really good races that went almost exactly to plan. I didn’t think we’d be able to lap in 1.23s but I was able to make some really quick first laps in Race 1, pushing hard for the first twelve or so and then it was all about gap management. We made a few small tweaks for race 2 and I think those changes were useful. I took a lot of risks with the rain, and was very worried about crashing but luckily the rain stopped and things went smoothly from there to the finish line. I thank my entire team, Ducati and our sponsors - it’s been a really solid weekend, and a lot better than last year’s outcome of course.”
Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati Superbike Team #34) – 4th, DNF
“It was not my day. In race one I lost a lot of time trying to get past Torres and then, once I’d done that, there was no chance to catch the three guys up ahead and so I had to be happy with fourth. We made some changes for race 2 but they were not needed in the end as I crashed almost immediately. To be honest, I was really scared as I thought I’d hurt my back again, but the doctors assure me that I am ok. I’m really sorry as we had a good chance to do well…”
Stefano Cecconi – Team Principal –
“It’s been a fantastic, emotional weekend, made possible by Chaz’s superb performance and incessant work by Ducati and all of the team members. This season is really rewarding us and this first double win will allow us to face the next races with extremely high morale.”
Ernesto Marinelli – Ducati SBK Project Director
“Today’s result is a very important one. To be on pole and then score a double win tops off a perfect weekend, that Chaz completed like a real artist, right from the first session, confirming his talent and the competitiveness of our Panigale. Huge thanks to him from everyone in Ducati for having given back the “double” that we’d been missing for some time. This result would not have been possible without the hard work of everybody, both at home in the factory and at the track, who contributes, day after day, to building a level of performance that allowed us to make the difference today. It was a real shame for Davide who could have done well in race 2, but having seen the crash we consider ourselves lucky that he has suffered no serious injury and so I’m sure he’ll be straight back to fighting as one of the frontrunners in Malaysia.”
DOUBLE PODIUMS FOR Kawasaki Racing Team DUO AT LAGUNA SECA July 19th 2015 - At the ninth round of the FIM Superbike World Championship season, held at Laguna Seca in the USA, KRT riders Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea battled with each other in both races, with Sykes scoring two second places and Rea taking two thirds. The KRT riders are still 1-2 in the championship itself, with Rea on 407 points and Sykes on 282.
In the first 25-lap race of the day Sykes set about trying to chase down eventual race winner Chaz Davies but ended up in a defensive battle with Rea as they vied for the 20 points available for second place. Sykes was to hold on to his runner-up position, with Rea scoring third, finishing right behind his team-mate.
In race two Sykes led Rea in the early laps, with an attempted pass from the championship leader being rebuffed by his team-mate in definite fashion. Light spots of rain on the track shortly after the start had caused some anxious moments for all the riders but the track conditions rapidly improved, allowing Sykes to take the fastest lap of race two, 1’23.842, on lap ten.
In finishing second twice today Sykes minimised his loss of points to double race winner Davies. Despite recording his two smallest points scores of the season Rea still holds a strong 125-point advantage over Sykes, with four rounds of the championship remaining. Rea has continued his remarkable run of finishing on the podium at every single race this year.
In the Manufacturers’ Championship standings, Kawasaki leads by 112 points.
The Sepang International Circuit will host the tenth round of the series, from Friday 30 July to Sunday 2 August.
TOM SYKES (Rider Kawasaki Racing Team):“Jonathan and I had a great battle for the entire first race. I had plus zero on my pit board, so I just had to manage the situation. I felt the rear tyre drop and had to compensate in some areas, trying to do some things slightly differently. It was not ideal but overall I am happy with second position considering the circumstances. We made two small changes for race two and it was strange because at the beginning I felt I had a really good bike set-up but in the rain Chaz took a couple of more risks. It paid off because he made a big gap and I think that was probably the deciding factor in the race. We had a couple of warnings and I was just not able to stick with Chaz. Overall, I am fairly satisfied but we were just not close enough. Two second places are acceptable but another rider took the prizes this weekend.”
JONATHAN REA (Rider Kawasaki Racing Team):“I tried a lot but there was nothing I could do to go through on Tom in race one. He also had a good pace but I am sure I had a higher pace. I just could not through him. I tried a few times and ran wide and it was very clear if I was to stick a pass it had to be an aggressive one and in the last laps I did not get an opportunity. He was riding quite smart. In the final corner I was a little bit behind and it was one of those where you had to be clever as well, because 16 points is a lot better than zero. We also had a good pace in race two but it was a little bit my fault because I made too many mistakes. Tom and I both lost a lot of time to Chaz when the rain was coming but we ended up with a really good pace together. Today we played the long game a little bit and third is where I could finish.”
THE AMERICAN SUPERBIKE WEEKEND FINISHED WITH A SPECTACULAR DUEL BETWEEN THE APRILIA RIDERS Laguna Seca, 21 June 2015 – Superbike race number 200 for Leon Haslam, Race 2 at Laguna, will long be remembered for the spectacular and clean battle between the English rider and his team mate, Jordi Torres. It was the Spanish rookie who succeeded under the chequered flag at his début on the difficult California track, bringing home an encouraging fourth place finish.
In Race 1 Leon, who started from the second row, didn't get off to the best start and was forced to fight to recover positions. Hindered by poor grip, the English rider took a slide which also damaged the gear shift lever on his RSV4. At that point Leon had to settle for a thirteenth place finish.
Leon Haslam:“Unfortunately in Race 1 we struggled. I had trouble maintaining the pace and after the crash the only thing on my mind was finishing the race, given the damage to my bike as well. We took a big step forward for Race 2. I rode much better, especially in the initial phases of the race. Then our pace dropped off a bit and I'm disappointed about that because I know that my bike had great potential. The biggest problem was consistency, in addition to a couple of turns where I was struggling. We'll evaluate some further changes now that we can make for Malaysia, which is a track where we can definitely be very competitive.”
After his best qualifying phase of the season (third best time), Jordi Torres had his sights set on two good races. In the start of the first race he stuck close to Giugliano until a lack of feeling forced him to maintain his own pace without being able to make a play for fourth place. That was a position he achieved in Race 2, however, at the end of a battle with his team mate which kept fans and the Team Aprilia Racing – Red Devils garage on the edge of their seats. After swapping out positions several times, Jordi and Leon finished the race in fourth and fifth place respectively.
Jordi Torres:“Today we did a great job. We knew we would be able to do well after our third place time in qualifying. Our pace wasn't the best, especially in Race 1 where I struggled with rear grip and wasn't able to keep up with Giugliano. In Race 2 things went much better. In the first few laps I struggled in the braking sections because of the new pads, but once they worked themselves out I was able to set my pace to overtake Leon. The changes we made between the two races allowed me to do the times we had expected. I'm also pleased because we identified one of the areas where we'll make some changes for the coming races which will make my RSV4 perform better in mid-turn.”
Mixed Results for Ten Kate Pata Honda at Laguna
Michael van der Mark took his Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP to eighth and seventh place finishes respectively in today’s two ninth-round World Superbike championship races at Laguna Seca in the USA.
Both 25-lap races were won by British rider Chaz Davies as van der Mark, 22, got two good starts from a lowly 15th place on the grid. Race one turned out to be a relatively lonely affair, the Dutch rider finishing in eighth place, nine seconds behind Pata Honda team-mate Sylvain Guintoli.
Guintoli himself enjoyed an impressive start in the first outing, running as high as fifth in the early stages after starting from ninth place on the grid. The reigning World Superbike champion eventually finished seventh.
Rain threatened the 3.61km Laguna circuit for race two and, indeed, spots began falling early in the race but they amounted to nothing. However, during the uncertainty and following a solid start, Guintoli was jostling for position towards the end of lap two when Alex Lowes entered pit lane, colliding with the 33-year-old Frenchman. Guintoli damaged his right thumb in the ensuing crash but was otherwise unhurt.
Van der Mark was left to fly the Pata Honda flag alone, bringing his CBR home in a creditable seventh place. He leaves California immediately to fly to Japan where he is targeting a third successive victory in the iconic Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race next Sunday.
Disapointed for Althea Ducati at Laguna Seca Team Althea returns home dissatisfied with the double DNF in race 1 due to technical issues. On the race grid, the two riders Matteo Baiocco and Niccolò Canepa suffered the same mechanical problem off the line. Both were forced to retire immediately due to the jamming of the clutch of both bikes. The team has never suffered such a problem before and so the technicians and enginee! rs are working to understand the cause.
In race 2 the team decided to change many of the bikes’ components and the two Team Althea riders took to the grid anxious to bring home a strong result. Canepa, having made a good start that saw him battle for fifth place, had to deal with the onset of rain which made an appearance in all sectors and which strongly affected his race. After scoring zero points in race 1, the Genoan rider preferred to play safe and bring home important points, closing in final eighth place.
Baiocco surely suffered as a result of his inexperience at this track and the lack of kilometres clocked up contributed to the race 1 stop. He found himself in a complicated situation when rain appeared unexpectedly and his only aim at that point was to complete the race as best he could. In the end he did not complete exactly the race that he and his Team had hoped for but that’s the way it went today. He crossed the line in thirteenth position. Baiocco and his bike still have eight more races in which to express their potential, having seen highs and lows during the season thus far.
Round ten will take place on 2 August 2015 at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.
Niccolò Canepa: “I’m so sorry I didn’t achieve the expected result, considering the positive times set during the practices. Unfortunately we had a technical problem in race 1 while in race 2 track conditions changes compared to yesterday and it wasn’t easy to adapt to running the opening laps in the rain, so we suffered there. We’ve worked well this weekend and we had the pace but unfortunately some things happened that we had little control over. Now we look ahead to the next race.”
Matteo Baiocco: “It’s really a pity that we couldn’t complete the warm-up in the dry and we didn’t need the technical stop in race 1 as it would have given us the chance to set a few things on the bike that I hadn’t previously had the opportunity to do. In race 2 we made some changes that I didn’t like and I really struggled. I finished the race though, trying to score some more championship points. Now we have to prepare well for Sepang so that we arrive there with clearer ideas.”
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Chaz Davies power slides the Ducai out of Turn 11 to Superpole victory. Photo by Kel Edge. 
Calendar Kittens Helena and Sara award the Tissot-Superpol top 3 trophies to Davide Giugliano, Chaz Davies and Jordi Tores.
Nicky Hayden presents Chaz with the Tissot Superpole watch.
