MOTORCYCLETIMES MARCH 2021

33 YEARS OF NEWS AND EVENTS

MARCH 2021

HARLEY’S NEW PAN AMERICA 150 HP 135 MPH 534 LBS WET SHARNI PINFOLD QUITS RACING OFFICIAL 2021 DAYTONA BIKE WEEK CALENDAR AND MUCH MORE!

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8 pages of the new Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 And Pan America 1250 Special

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MARCH 2021 CONTENTS GASGAS RACING NEWS

SHARNI PINFOLD QUITS RACING

HOW OFFICIAL DAYTONA BIKE WEEK CALENDAR WWW.MOTORCYCLETIMES.COM

HUSQVARNA RACING NEWS 4

SUZUKI RACING NEWS

ROYAL ENFIELD NEWS

THE 2022 INDIAN CHIEF

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

W DO YOU HANDLE CHANGE?

BUELL MOTORCYCLES NEWS

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MARCH READERS RIDES Submit your bike or story to mtreadersrides@gmail.com and include your name and town.

February 2021 Dear Editor: I thought you might like to hear this story....My grandma recently had the pleasure of helping another family of rider's story continue long after the actual ride was over. This is a story about Lance & Barbara Smith both 55 years old and ready to begin the ride of their lifetime together. Lance had just beaten throat cancer and so they both decided it was time tp retire and take their dream trip on their 2006 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic. They bought the Ultra Classic brand-new from a dealer in Farmington Hills, MI. The trip started in June 2010, leaving from Detroit, MI they set out to spend the next few years enjoying the open road and visiting as many states as possible within the USA on their HD. Barb and Lance rode every day and saw all the captivating sites the US has to offer from the comfort of their Ultra Classic.

They're both bikers to their very core and you would often hear Lance say "If it's not a Harley it's just a bike, real men own Harley's." Lance's first vehicle was a Harley, and he always owned one throughout his entire life. Barb, who adored Lance was just happy to see him living out his life-long dream of a USA HD bike trip.

Along the way, Barb always stopped to buy a Harley-Davidson T-shirt at every HD Dealer location they visited while on their bike trip.

Three years into the trip Lance's bad knees were struggling to hold the bike upright safely. In 2013 while making their way through Michigan again, they purchased a new 2013 Ultra Classic and had it modified into a trike so they could continue their journey together through the USA. They visited with their 2 children while the trike was being completed. Once the trike was finished, they set back out on the open road once again. They traveled through Maine into Canada then took the Trans-Canada Highway all the way to Alaska and through every state in the lower 48.

The trip was everything they hoped for and more. Some pictures and a lot of T-shirts is all they brought back home with them, besides the great memories. A few years

later sadly Lance & Barb both passed away of natural causes. Their Son (Mike Smith) decided to have his parent's T-shirts made into a quilt. A huge beautiful quilt that displayed their many stops along the way.

My 95-year old grandmother (Dora Zakrajsek) is the one who made the quilt for Mike. Mike is a tall brute, just like his dad, so the quilt is huge! Dora was not able to use event T-shirt in the quilt (no matter how big it was) there was just so many shirts. (2 huge contractor bags full) So Dora made Mike the quilt he imagined, large and HD proud with a black/white backing. Dora also made him a throw blanket using up more of the shirts and covering the back with a Harley-Davidson bright orange fleece. A warm cozy personal throw that will always remind him of his parent's ride of a lifetime. The ride ended up being the longest and best ride they ever took.

I've added small clips/pics of the quilt below, which as you can see, (Continued on page 58)

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AN INSPIRING YEAR: Powersports Sales Up 18-Plus Percent

New-model powersports sales increased 18.4 percent in 2020, with motorcycle and scooter sales rising 11.4 percent, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council Retail Sales Report.

“Overall, the industry had a good year under difficult circumstances,” said Erik Pritchard, MIC president and CEO. “The COVID-19 pandemic forced all of us to be nimble and to make the changes we needed to survive. In the end, many in the industry saw strong growth, and now our opportunity is to keep all of these new riders riding and to inspire even more people to join us on two, three, and four wheels.”

The MIC Retail Sales Reporting System gathers new motorcycle, scooter, and ATV retail sales data from 14 leading manufacturers and distributors in the U.S., providing a strong indicator of sales trends. Sales of on-highway motorcycles, which include scooters and dual-purpose bikes, were steady compared with 2019, while interest in offhighway motorcycles spiked, with sales up 46.5 percent year-over-year. Off-highway motorcycles include dirt bikes, trail bikes, competition motorcycles, and other motorized two-wheelers that cannot be used on public roads. Sales of ATVs also jumped, rising 33.8 percent over 2019. “We are happy to see that more people are getting the chance to enjoy the outdoors and find new adventures with motorcycles,” Pritchard said. “As many riders know, motorcycles and scooters are not only fun, efficient ways to commute, they open up many recreational opportunities.” “We encourage all new riders to continue with training and education whenever possible,” Pritchard said.

“The Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course and the MSF DirtBike School are great places to start if you are new to motorcycling. For more experienced riders, advanced courses are available. The ATV Safety Institute also offers safety training for adults and kids ages 6 and up.”

Subscribe to the Motorcycle Industry Council news letters HERE

RESERVE APRIL NOW 302-943-3590 7

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Change is eternal. Whether you notice it or not, your life changes every day in many small and often unnoticed ways.

I’m not even talking about things like tire wear or traffic patterns or gas prices or the cost of living.

These are all changes we know about and expect and have even accepted as inevitable. We actually plan them into our lives, with some of us being better at that than others. Some of us have the funding earmarked when a new thing is needed while others simply address the needs as they arise.

Either way, if you need a new phone or a new rear tire or a new pair of pants you have at least some research and shopping to do in order to be sure you got your best deal and the need is satisfied until the next time.

Furthermore, this is often not by choice but is forced by necessity. And necessity forces the change. It’s another of nature’s tidy but unforgiving circles of life.

No wonder it’s often said that humans hate change.

A man who was at the top of his industry once said to me that his business doesn't move like a speed boat on a smooth lake. He said it moves like an ocean going supertanker. They take miles to complete a simple turn of even a few degrees. The course is plotted many miles in advance. He said the reason is not only to protect the ship, but the cargo and crew too. This gradual swing allows time to keep keep focused on the destination (goal) and hopefully anticipate any potential problems well ahead of time. All this is done to make for smooth sailing.

But we have not necessarily experienced smooth sailing in the motorcycle business as of late, have we? Sure, sales were up in 2020 by double digits as reported by some firms. Yes, 2021 seems poised to continue on that trend.

This is in spite of the Pandemic which is always kept conveniently lurking in the background like a huge fire blanket ready and waiting to put out the flames of successful commerce not only nationwide but WWW.MOTORCYCLETIMES.COM

worldwide. Recent sales performance alone reinforces the idea of our resistance to change as a species. The desire for the comfort of routine; especially successful routine; is so strong that despite all the dire warnings and statistics the human species simply adapted and resumed successful operations whether buying or selling.

As I illustrated earlier, the thing about change is that it creates unpredictable results for some while others are ready and prepared to cope. Some are like the ocean going vessels and others are like speed boats jetting manically point to point simply hoping not to get beached or dashed upon the rocks, somehow managing to survive the tides.

There is no doubt the motorcycle manufacturers have long term vision and plans. Aftermarket suppliers perhaps require a simpler 2 or 5 year plan. To a suitable degree they are definitely looking and planning ahead for success.

Is your motorcycle business looking and planning ahead? Are you anticipating your participation in the spring market or are you waiting for it to happen to your business? Are you organizing a monthly ride day at your local track or park? A day where families can be introduced to the joy of motorcycles and atv’s in a responsible manner? Are you planting seeds for future generations of success?

How about weekly street rides? Not just a one hour ride around the block, but a ride leaving about an hour after opening, going for a couple hours with a lunch stop. Let them pick the place and pay their way. These rides don’t require you to host a lunch.

They were going to eat somewhere anyway.

Then another two to three hours to finish up back at the shop to hang out and discuss the day’s ride and receive a t shirt or bandanna or card punch. Ask them where they’d like to go next time. Plant the seeds. Plot the course of your supertanker on the ocean of sales success.

These may or may not be the seeds of instant and lasting sales success, but surely they are the seeds of zero success if they are never planted.

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Final Two Rounds Of MotoAmerica Superbike Series To Feature Three Races; King Of The Baggers Now Three Rounds Changes In The Schedule Set Up An Even More Exciting Finish To 2021 Season The third HONOS Superbike race at the Barber Motorsports Park round will replace the King of the Baggers race, which has been removed from the schedule due to a lack of sufficient track time.

Additionally, based on feedback about the close timing to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, MotoAmerica has decided to remove the King of the Baggers round at Pittsburgh International Race Complex from the schedule.

The new three-round King of the Baggers schedule is: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (April 30-May 2), Road America (June 11-13) and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (July 9-11).

May 21-23 Virginia International Raceway Danville, Virginia June 11-13 Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin June 25-27 Ridge Motorsports Park Shelton, Washington July 9-11 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, California July 30-August 1 Brainerd International Raceway Brainerd, Minnesota August 13-15 Pittsburgh Int’l Race Complex Wampum, Pennsylvania **September 10-12 New Jersey Motorsports Park Millville, New Jersey **September 17-19 Barber Motorsports Park Birmingham, Alabama *Dunlop Tire Test (all classes)

With COVID-19 also forcing a change in last year’s schedule, MotoAmerica held three HONOS Superbike races at the final two rounds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to ensure a 20-race Superbike Championship. The New Jersey Motorsports Park and Barber Motorsports Park rounds featuring three HONOS Superbike races there in 2021, will allow the season to consist of 20 races, a mainstay of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship since 2017.

King of the Baggers Race

“Adding the extra Superbike race to the final two rounds last year worked out well,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “It guarantees us a 20-race season, and with so many points on the table, adds even more excitement to an already wide-open championship. It was a tough decision to run three King of the Baggers rounds instead of five in 2021, but we took logistics at Barber into account with the third Superbike race.

Sturgis is also such a huge event for the Bagger aftermarket industry. It’s important for them to have a presence there and we didn’t want to complicate plans with a round at Pitt Race so close to the rally.”

About MotoAmerica:

2021 MotoAmerica Series Schedule *March 30-31 Circuit of The Americas Austin, Texas April 30-May 1 Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia

**Will Feature 3 Superbike Races

For the complete 2021 MotoAmerica Series schedule, click HERE To purchase tickets to any of the 2021 series rounds, click HERE For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica Series, click HERE

MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, twotime AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner.

For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com.

Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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TROY LEE DESIGNS/RED BULL/GASGAS FACTORY RACING DOUBLES UP ON PODIUM FINISHES IN INDY

It was an outstanding night for the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing team, who came away from round five with an inspiring pair of podium finishes from teammates Justin Barcia and Michael Mosiman, delivering GASGAS Factory Racing its first double-podium in the AMA Supercross Championship. In the 450SX division, Barcia was consistently fast and up front all night, returning his MC 450F to the premier class podium with a second-place finish. In 250SX East, Mosiman enjoyed seven laps in the spotlight out front, taking his MC 250F to a notable third-place finish in the class.

The Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing team came into Tuesday’s racing with optimism as they lined up just three days after the previous round in Indianapolis.

Barcia sorted out some settings earlier in the day, prepping himself for a positive run in the night’s racing program. He got off to a third-place start in the heat race and charged his way up to second early on. Clicking off laps with great intensity and speed, Barcia carried a second-place transfer into the Main Event.

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As the gate dropped for the Main Event, Barcia was first off the line to grab the holeshot, positioning himself in second on the first lap. He put on an early charge to keep the leader within his sights but he was later joined in battle by Eli Tomac, who applied great pressure in the fight for second-place.

The round-one winner didn’t stress as he held off the defending champion of Tomac, pulling a 2.9second gap in the final laps to secure second overall on the night. Five rounds in, Barcia has now moved up to fourth overall in the championship standings.

Barcia: “The last round was really tough but tonight we put ourselves in a much better position. I got a good start and Kenny rode an amazing race, I tried to give him a little battle in the beginning but that’s all I had tonight. I’m glad to be back up here on the podium, we’ve been searching a little bit with setup but we’re getting there and feeling good, ready to get back to winning.”

Five races into the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship and team rider Michael Mosiman continues to deliver solid results with a second-straight podium finish in the class. Mosiman qualified third earlier in the day, setting himself up for a promising heat race start. He jumped into second early on and put down nine solid laps to secure a second-place transfer into the Main Event.

Capitalizing on a good gate choice, Mosiman burst off the line to capture the Main Event holeshot as he led series points leader Colt Nichols into the first seven laps. With Mosiman at the helm, the leaders came into a bout of lapped traffic just before the mid-way point and Mosiman got the short end of the stick when another rider went down ahead of him, causing him to hit the brakes, swerve and come to a near stop in the rhythm section. He worked hard to gain his momentum back later in the race but it wasn’t enough to maintain second. With a respectable third-place finish, Mosiman has jumped two spots in the 250SX Eastern Championship standings where he now sits third overall with four rounds to go.

Mosiman: “That was an awesome start, I was ripping clean laps and I busted out the triplequad, I hadn’t done that all day, and I felt good in the whoops. A guy went down in front of me in the rhythm section and that was hectic, it spooked me a little bit. I hit him pretty good, lost a spot to Colt and lost my mojo a little bit mid-way. I had such good lines out of the gate and as the track was breaking down, I think I needed to move with it a little bit quicker but allin-all, it was a good day and a step in the right direction. I just have to thank my team, they’ve been behind me so much and this opportunity to race in front of a crowd is awesome, I love it!”

Results – 2021 AMA Supercross Championship, Round 5 450SX – Main Event; Ken Roczen (Honda) 26 laps; 2. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) +7.909; 3. Eli Tomac (Kawasaki) +10.798 250SX East – Main Event; Colt Nichols (Yamaha) 19 laps; 2. Christian Craig (Yamaha) +5.798; 3. Michael Mosiman (GASGAS) +10.646 Championship Standings – After Round 5; 450SX Ken Roczen (Honda) 112pts; 2. Cooper Webb (KTM) 99; 3. Eli Tomac (Kawasaki) 98; 4. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) 92 250SX East; Colt Nichols (Yamaha) 122pts; 2. Christian Craig (Yamaha) 111; 3. Michael Mosiman (GASGAS) 97 11

JASON ANDERSON RETURNS WITH SEASON BEST FINISH SIXTH IN INDY

ANDERSON: “My night went decent, I was just pumped to be able to do enough therapy on my finger to be able to race tonight, I had a better heat, which made myself feel a little bit better and we did some suspension work. In the main, I didn’t get that great of a start but I was able to get better and move through the pack. I’m slowly getting better but not where we want to be, so we’ll get there.”

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team wrapped up another jam-packed week of racing in Indianapolis with Round 6 of the 2021 AMA Supercross World Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium. Jason Anderson, who missed the last round due to a finger injury, returned to the 450SX lineup on Saturday where he claimed a season-best finish of sixth in the premier class.

With only four days off between rounds, Anderson immediately went to work on rehabbing his dislocated finger so he could join teammate Zach Osborne for the final round in Indy.

Anderson got off to a great start in 450SX Heat 2 and he battled for the lead early on lap WWW.MOTORCYCLETIMES.COM

one. He held onto second for the first three laps before ultimately securing a third-place transfer. In the Main Event, Anderson got a ninth-place start and he worked his way up to eighth just after the halfway point. The 2018 450SX Champion maintained a steady pace in the final laps to pick up two additional spots for a sixth-place finish.

OSBORNE: “It was a little bit of a tough night,” I didn’t get a start in the main and it wasn’t one of my best rides of the season. Back to the drawing board this week, I have a few things I would like to really work on and focus on to be better for next weekend in Orlando.”

Osborne had a strong start to the night in 450SX Heat 1, grabbing a third-place start and mixing it up with the front-runners. He rode a sturdy pace to maintain that position all the way through the checkers, carrying a third-place transfer into the Main Event. He didn’t get the best start in the main, battling around the top-10 throughout the entire 26-lap race. In the end, Osborne secured 10th for the night.

Team riders Dean Wilson and RJ Hampshire were absent from Round 6 as they continue to recover from injuries sustained early in the season.

Next Event (Round 7): Saturday, February 13 – Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Florida

Round 6 Results: Indianapolis SX 3 450SX Results 1. Ken Roczen (HON) 2. Cooper Webb (KTM) 3. Marvin Musquin (KTM)…6. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 10. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX Rider Point Standings 1. Ken Roczen – 138 points 2. Cooper Webb – 122 points 3. Eli Tomac – 114 points …9. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 87 points 12. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 67 points 16. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 35 points

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DANNY KENT & GINO REA HEAD BUILDBASE SUZUKI BSB TEAM

Team Suzuki Press Office – February 3.

Buildbase Suzuki has announced today that Danny Kent and Gino Rea will ride its GSX-R1000R Superbikes in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in 2021, while Tim Neave remains with the Mallory Park-based squad and will contest the National Superstock 1000 Championship.

With a Moto3 world championship under his belt Kent’s talent and ability are without question, and now with a season of Superstock 1000 racing behind him, helping him become acquainted with UK circuits and litre Sportbike machinery, the grand prix ace is looking to transfer that skill and experience to superbike racing.

Kent, the 2015 Moto3 World Champion said: “I’m really motivated and happy to be joining the Buildbase Suzuki team and I’m looking forward to riding the Superbike. I think a lot of people will know that my career has had both the highest highs and the lowest lows in recent years, with 2019 being a particularly low point, so I’m really grateful to Steve and Stuart [Hicken – Team Manager and owner] for this opportunity.”

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Kent continues: “Last year I was able to take a step back and I had a good season in Superstock 1000, where I could spend more time learning how to get the best out of a 1000cc machine and prove to people I could still race a bike, and obviously I won at the last round. Moving to a Superbike, I think my GP experience could mean I’ll manage quite well as I’m used to a stiffer chassis setup, racing swingarms, slicks, things like that, but I also know I still have a lot of learning to do; getting used to just the speed of the bikes, and some UK tracks I’ve either not been to or not raced at since 2007. But I also know I’m joining a team with a lot of experience and a proven record of winning races and championships. I’m setting expectations high: I’d like to be in the Showdown at the end of the year, so hopefully we can have a good winter and find a good direction with the bike setup, and I’m excited to get started.”

Kent joins a fellow world championship competitor at Buildbase Suzuki, with Rea remaining with the team after an impressive – albeit shortened – campaign in 2020. Joining the ranks after the first round had taken place and with no pre-season testing, Rea still managed to enjoy time leading races and took a best finish of fourth at Donington Park.

Rea said; of re-signing with the team for 2021: “I’m really excited to be staying with Buildbase Suzuki for 2021. Hawk Racing is one of the oldest and most experienced teams in BSB and I’ve had a lot of respect for everyone involved since stepping into the championship, so I’m very thankful to Steve and Stuart for the opportunity to race for them again. After joining them last year and seeing the progress we made, which resulted in leading my first BSB race with them, it’s the perfect scenario to continue together and build on our hard work from last season.

Steve and Stuart are so passionate about their racing which makes it nice and a refreshing environment to be in. I’m looking forward to getting my head down and working hard to build on our results from 2020 and give the team the results they deserve.”

Neave remains with the team after a successful year onboard GSX-R1000R machinery in 2020, which saw the youngster pick up his first win in the Superstock 1000 Championship at Silverstone.

The Lincolnshire rider, who is also a former UK Pro Flat Track champion and out-qualified Marc Marquez at the 2014 Superprestigio in Barcelona, said: “I’m over the moon to be staying with Buildbase Suzuki this year and I’m looking forward to another season on the GSX-R1000R. Remaining with the team fills me with confidence because I know we can build on a very successful 2020 that saw us take our first win together, and the goal this year is definitely to fight for the championship.”

Buildbase Suzuki Team Manager, Steve Hicken, said: “I think we’re going to have one of the most talented rider line-ups on the grid this season. As a World Champion at Grand Prix level, Danny’s ability is beyond question, and while he’s still relatively new to big capacity production bikes we saw him win in Superstock last year, and I think he’ll be able to adapt to the Superbike very quickly and will be very exciting to watch.”

“Gino’s credentials also speak for themselves as a European champion and podium finisher in Grand Prix, and I think some continuity in BSB after a couple of unsettled years will help him show his best. We started to see what he could do at the tail end of last year – leading and fighting for a podium – and hopefully we can pick up from where we left off and continue that form from the off this season.”

“We’re also really pleased to be continuing with Tim this season after a positive 2020. Tim’s got bags of natural ability on a bike and we saw him really start to shine last year with a win and a lap record to add to his CV. We’ve made the GSX-R a Superstock Championship-winner, and hopefully (Continued on page 44)

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Indian Motorcycle Unveils New Indian Chief

This was always the allure of the American motorcycle… no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connections, just a crystal-clear mind, the roar of a massive V-twin, a devil-may-care attitude and mile after mile of glory to be had.” “

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE OFFICIAL PRESS RELASE COMPLETE WITH ACCESSORIES AND SPECIFICATIONS WWW.MOTORCYCLETIMES.COM

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE RACING ANNOUNCES FACTORY TEAM & CONTINGENCY PROGRAM FOR 2021 PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN FLAT TRACK SEASON

Indian Wrecking Crew Returns with Briar Bauman & Jared Mees Bronson Bauman & Bryan Smith Join as Factory Backed Privateers Indian Motorcycle Racing Commits Over $266,000 in Privateer Contingency Includes $14,225 Per Race & $25,000 Championship Bonus MINNEAPOLIS (February 18, 2021) – Indian Motorcycle Racing, the reigning four-time Manufacturer’s Champion, today announced its 2021 Progressive American Flat Track race team and privateer contingency program. Reigning Mission SuperTwins Champion Briar Bauman, along with Progressive AFT Champion Jared Mees will return to the track and battle for yet another championship as the 2021 Indian Wrecking Crew. In addition, fellow Progressive AFT Champion Bryan Smith and Mission SuperTwins rider Bronson Bauman will join Indian Motorcycle Racing as factory-backed privateers. Indian Motorcycle Racing has also committed over $266,000 in privateer contingency for the 2021 Progressive AFT Mission SuperTwins season.

The two-man Wrecking Crew of Briar and Mees, which together combine for the last four championships, return in 2021 with its presenting sponsor, Progressive Motorcycle Insurance. The team will continue to be backed by S&S Cycle, Indian Motorcycle Oil, Parts Unlimited, Drag Specialties, Alpinestars and Bell Helmets. Briar will receive additional (Continued on page 52)

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MIQUEL GELABERT JOINS GASGAS FACTORY RACING! GASGAS FACTORY RACING CONFIRM TWO-RIDER LINE-UP FOR 2021 TRIALGP SEASON Expanding the GASGAS Factory Racing Trial team rider line-up, Miquel Gelabert has joined our squad to take on the 2021 FIM TrialGP World Championship. The Spanish trial ace will compete alongside Jorge Casales as part of our well-established and successful team, with both riding our proven GASGAS TXT GP 300 machinery.

GasGas Online Press Center Entering his debut TrialGP season in 2016, Miquel Gelabert delivered incredibly consistent results to place 10th overall in the final standings. Following his impressive start, the Spaniard then continued to maintain solid form during his second term, placing 11th overall in 2017.

2018 was the year Miquel made his first trip onto a TrialGP podium, while competing in the UK at the penultimate round of the series. The then 20-year-old claimed third overall on the day – a result that helped lift the youngster up to ninth in the final championship standings.

Consistent results continued in 2019 and 2020 with Miquel again impressing throughout each campaign, ending both seasons in eighth overall. Three times fifth overall during the 2020 series, Gelabert has formed a strong foundation for future successes with GASGAS Factory Racing.

Now, with the newly appointed Trial Team Manager Albert Cabestany in his corner, Miquel Gelabert is armed with the support and machinery needed to progress up the world rankings and earn his place as a regular contender for podium finishes.

Miquel Gelabert: “This is really a dream come true for me. I’m from Girona, just next to the GASGAS factory, and I’ve always wanted to be part of the GASGAS factory team. I’m over the moon to be able to race the bike I have always loved and to be in the factory team that I always wanted to be a part of. Last year I decided to race their bike under a private team, and it worked really well. I managed to get some good results and now I’m racing for the factory team! For 2021 I hope to achieve many podiums and be able to finish inside the top three overall. I know that it won’t be easy, but I believe I have the level to do it. Right now, I’m training as much as I can and once I’m feeling 100% confident with the bike I think we can accomplish my goals. Also, having Albert Cabestany as my team manager is great, I’ll be able to get really valuable feedback from him. He has been a top rider for many years so his experience will help me. I can’t wait to start competing for GASGAS Factory Racing.”

Albert Cabestany, GASGAS Factory Racing Trial Team Manager: “It’s a really exciting time with Miquel joining GASGAS Factory Racing. He’s a really skilled trial rider, with exceptional consistency, which is really important for success in trial. I believe that now he is on the factory team, with encouragement and guidance and the team’s support, we will really see what he is capable of in 2021.

We still have some time to fully-prepare for the season and I am really confident that we can achieve great results together. With Miquel joining the team alongside Jorge Casales, I’m excited to begin working with both riders and can’t wait for the season to start.”

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TOUGH NIGHT IN INDY FOR TROY LEE DESIGNS/RED BULL/GASGAS FACTORY RACING TEAM BARCIA’S PODIUM FINISH SLIPS AWAY AND MOSIMAN SIDELINED WITH HAND INJURY After enjoying an incredibly successful result in Indianapolis just three days ago, the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing team returned to Lucas Oil Stadium for the final time on Saturday but it was a mixed day this time around. Justin Barcia delivered top-notch results all day starting with a season-best fifth in qualifying, a heat race victory and a Main Event holeshot that led to a podium finish within grasp before losing it all when another rider collided into him mid-air leaving him to salvage 19th. Teammate Michael Mosiman was poised to have another great night as well, grabbing third in qualifying before suffering a broken hand in the final qualifying session of the day.

Coming into Saturday, the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing team made some changes to Barcia’s bike setup which seemingly paid off as he rode his MC 450F to a season-best fifth in qualifying.

In the heat, Barcia jumped into a top-three position off the start and it wasn’t long before he found second.

He kept a good pace behind the leader, Marvin Musquin, and he pounced on the chance to take over when Musquin made a mistake, leading the last six laps to claim the heat race win.

In the Main Event, Barcia proved he was hungry right off the start as he clawed his way across the line to the claim the holeshot. He diced up front early on before settling into a solid rhythm in second. He went back-and-forth with Cooper Webb, who finally got around him for second later in the race, only to then fend off defending champ, Eli Tomac, seconds later. Barcia shut down that attempt and staked his claim on third heading into the final laps. With a podium finish in sight, Barcia got tangled up with another rider mid-air and went down hard with only three laps to go. He was able to dust himself off and take the checkered flag in 19th, salvaging a few valuable points toward the overall championship.

Mosiman: “I made a stupid move at the end of the last practice and I seem to have broken my hand in three places. I qualified third was riding great, looking to get my first win here tonight but looks like it’s going to need surgery so we’re going to do the work necessary and be back out there to battle with the guys. I’m super bummed and disappointed. Thanks to everyone sticking behind me and supporting me, we will be back.”

Barcia: “The day was going good, I had my best qualifying position with fifth and I felt like we got the bike working really well and I felt really comfortable out there. The Main Event was going good, I was battling for the podium and unfortunately had a lapper come across on me and take me out and that’s pretty much how the night ended. It’s pretty disappointing but onto the next one.”

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GASGAS GO ENDUROGP RACING IN 2021!

ENDURO1 CHAMPION ANDREA VERONA TO COMPETE IN FIM ENDURO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ON GASGAS EC 250F Further expanding our global racing activities, we’re thrilled to be taking on the FIM Enduro World Championship in 2021, together with Andrea Verona!

Leading GASGAS Factory Racing into the EnduroGP series, the Italian has his sights set firmly on retaining his Enduro1 title on GASGAS EC 250F machinery while also challenging the established stars of the overall EnduroGP class.

Entering the FIM Enduro World Championship in 2021 is another important step forward for GASGAS Factory Racing. Together with Taddy Blazusiak, who will handle business in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, Verona will complete a formidable two-rider line-up.

Jumping into the world enduro scene back in 2017, Verona made an immediate impact by capturing the Youth 125cc Enduro World Championship crown in just his first full season of international racing. One year later, the youngster topped the 2018 FIM ISDE Junior World Trophy competition together with lifting the J1 Enduro World Cup title.

More recently, and following a rapid rise through the enduro ranks, Verona claimed the 2020 Enduro E1 World Championship title at just 21 years old!

Winning five of the eight days of racing that formed last year’s series, when he wasn’t victorious the Italian racer placed second each time out to deliver a 100% podium record throughout the season.

Furthermore, Andrea secured third overall in the EnduroGP category to impressively round off his truly memorable breakout season.

Originally set to compete for KTM Italy in the 2021 before getting the call-up from GASGAS Factory WWW.MOTORCYCLETIMES.COM

Racing, now armed with his GASGAS EC 250F, Andrea is focused on defending his Enduro1 World Championship title while also challenging for overall EnduroGP honors.

Andrea Verona: “It’s an amazing feeling to be a part of the GASGAS Factory Racing team in enduro. To be chosen as the rider to lead the team in EnduroGP is a really good feeling, and it makes me really proud. I’ve been able to spend a little bit of time on the bike, and with the team, and I have a good feeling with everything already, which is really positive this early in the year. My main goal for 2021 is to retain my Enduro1 title but this won’t be easy with so many good riders in the class. I’m also looking to challenge for the overall EnduroGP title as well. Last season was kind of like my rookie year in the EnduroGP class, so I now have a better understanding of what it takes to be successful in that class. I have some things to work on, to improve my riding and sharpen my skills, so that I’ll be ready and fully prepared for round one. This is a fantastic opportunity for me, I can’t wait to start racing for GASGAS.” Robert Jonas, VP Motorsports Offroad: “Together with our participation in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, this is a really important and exciting progression for GASGAS. Andrea is perfect fit for GASGAS and entering the FIM Enduro World Championship further expands the brand’s enduro racing activities. Despite being only 21 he has shown his talents by winning the Enduro1 title and progressing to the very top of the Enduro World Championship, in just a few years.

It’s clear that Andrea has a very bright future in the Enduro World Championship and with the full support of GASGAS Factory Racing we believe he can improve further and also challenge for overall EnduroGP class honors. We are really pleased to welcome Andrea to GASGAS and look forward to the start of the Enduro World Championship later this year.”

Fabio Farioli, GASGAS Factory Racing Enduro Team Manager: “2021 is going to be a really exciting season for both Andrea and GASGAS Factory Racing. Last year he really took a big step forwards and I believe that he can continue to improve at the highest level. With a little more time, I also believe he will consistently challenge for the EnduroGP podium, as well as the Enduro1 title. To be the official GASGAS rider in EnduroGP is a big honor for Andrea, I know that he is ready to give his all and has been training hard to be ready for the start of this season.

With EnduroGP, the Italian Enduro Championship and the ISDE being in Italy,

Andrea will have a busy and exciting season of racing. We all believe Andrea has a very bright future and look forward to watching him race in 2021.”

hitting ramps and expressing himself on a dirt bike with his unique style and skill set.

Always daring to be different, Petit is as comfortable launching from freestyle ramps as he is freeriding in the hills near to his home in Spain.

An avid content creator, the 23-year-old regularly shares his jaw-dropping jumps via his TikTok and Instagram channels.

Making a super-exciting addition to our growing list of brand ambassadors, Navas, who also hopes to take GASGAS to the X Games for the first time ever, will ride and compete onboard a GASGAS MC 450F.

GASGAS WELCOME NAVAS PETIT AS OFFICIAL BRAND AMBASSADOR

SUPER-TALENTED SPANIARD SET TO PUSH THE FREERIDE BOUNDRIES ON GASGAS MC 450F GASGAS are excited to announce the signing of their newest official brand ambassador, Navas Petit! The Spanish freerider is no stranger to getting on the gas, regularly found hanging from the side of his motorcycle while performing any one of his huge aerial tricks. Now, armed with the awesome GASGAS MC 450F and focused on pushing the freeride boundaries, the social media star is set to reach even dizzier heights in 2021.

Motorcycle riding and good times are what Navas lives for, just like GASGAS! The incredibly talented Spaniard, who’s formed a legion of over 415,000 followers on TikTok, loves nothing better than

Navas Petit – GASGAS Brand Ambassador: “It’s amazing! It’s really a dream come true to have the support from GASGAS and progress with my free riding career. Being an official brand ambassador for GASGAS is a really special feeling and it gives me a lot of confidence. It’s unbelievable and this opportunity hasn’t sunk in yet. Having the support of such a big brand will only allow me to ride more, create more – it’s a super-exciting time for me! The bike is so good in stock form, light and powerful and really easy to ride. Perfect for free riding!”

Valentini Federico – head of GASGAS Motorcycles Global Marketing: “It’s really exciting for GASGAS Motorcycles to be joining forces with Navas. He’s a really exciting rider and hugely talented. His philosophy is the same as ours – to ride bikes and to have fun! Support from GASGAS will allow him to further push the boundaries of what is possible on a dirt bike and we’re excited to see what he can do on our MC 450F. Welcome, Navas!”

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SHARNI PINFOLD QUITS RACING, ALLEGES DISCRIMINATION

“This post is to announce the decision I have made to step away from Motorsport. This decision hasn’t come lightly, although it is one that comes with my best interest at heart.”

EDITORS NOTE: This post is from Ms Pinfold’s Facebook Page, dated January 24 2021. We allowed time for the story to develop and responses to be made before publishing it. In keeping with our general policy Motorcycle Times is simply reporting the story and the responses; if any; we determine to hold the most credibility. We encourage you to investigate this story for yourself and form your own decision. As always we welcome thoughtful dialogue.

SHARNI PINFOLD’S FACEBOOK POST SHARNI PINFOLD RACING FACEBOOK JANUARY 24, 2021 https://www.facebook.com/sharnipinfold1/ “This post is to announce the decision I have made to step away from Motorsport.

This decision hasn’t come lightly, although it is one that comes with my best interest at heart.

From the very beginning of my career, I had made a decision to give it 100%, knowing that by the end of it, the only option is to rest assured that I did all that I could have. My Dad passed away just before I had started racing. This meant everything I have done I have solely been on my own with no guidance or support. Coming from a background of no financial or personal support meant that I made my career happen with pure determination and sacrifice, which left me at the dependence of other people. This approach meant many lessons by trial and error and as you can imagine, many lessons learnt the hard way trying to find the best direction to navigate myself in this sport.

My career took off as a full-time pursuit in 2017, where I first moved away from family to work for one of my sponsors in order to be able to continue racing. From this moment, I then took on the will to race as not just something I can do and enjoy on the weekend, but something that I lived every single moment of every single day for the next 3 years. Every WWW.MOTORCYCLETIMES.COM

action, every decision was made based in favour to race. From there, I sold everything I owned, bought a one-way ticket to the other side of the world and worked full-time for no wage to continue. I sacrificed many things, my happiness, my lifestyle, my family, my mental health and my physical health. I felt that racing was the only meaning I had to my life, so it felt like a small price to pay at the time.

Throughout my journey in motorsport, I have experienced and been exposed to many challenges, some that I struggle to even speak about. Most of the challenges I have faced, have been sourced from the lack of respect and derogatory treatment of women. Things that I know that I would have never had to experience or be exposed to if I was a male.

“There comes a point where enough is enough, and I feel like I have reached that point.”

I feel that I no longer want to continue to be exposed to this behaviour or to be treated this way. This deeply saddens me. It deeply saddens me to look at the challenges of my own journey, and to acknowledge the fact that women dedicating their lives to pursuing their dreams are being exposed to this and are being treated this way.

This has been the main contributing factor of my decision to step away. I can say that I have truly given everything I’ve had in order to become successful in this sport, and with this I have been able to witness what is truly possible when you set your vision on something and go after it 100%. After reaching my lowest point, this led me to focus my energy in to healing myself and understanding psychology of the human brain. With this, I have been able to understand the driving forces behind the things we do and the things we believe. I have found it truly astonishing to realise the power of our beliefs and the motives behind the paths we choose to take. There is always a deeper meaning to the things we do, and the things we believe. Until you become aware of these underlying factors it’s hard for us to be able to create and experience the life we truly want to live and fulfill our ultimate purpose we are here for. We all have limitations, but it is you that gets to decide whether you keep them or not.

My love for the sport continues and I am not sure what the future holds for me. I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved in this sport, and I feel it’s a shame I haven’t been able to realise my full potential yet. I want to say thank you to everybody that has supported me, provided me with opportunities and the friends I’ve met along the way. I hope that from my journey I am able to help and encourage others to know that they are worthy of everything they desire. My wish for others is to know that no-one has the right to make you feel unworthy or uncomfortable, or that you must dismiss anything that doesn’t sit right with you.

Your intuition is the most reliable guide we have and the answers we seek are all within us.

You are stronger than you think, and you are capable of more than you realise.”

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FIM Statement - Sharni Pinfold PRESS RELEASE MIES, 08/02/2021 FOR MORE INFORMATION: ISABELLE LARIVIÈRE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER isabelle.lariviere@fim.ch

FIM Statement - Sharni Pinfold The FIM is closely monitoring the situation following the statement made on social media by the Australian rider Sharni Pinfold, which aroused strong emotions within the motorcycling community. Gender equality is a core value for the FIM, which constantly strives to ensure the well-being of all riders and stakeholders. The FIM was upset to hear the news and takes the statement made by Ms. Pinfold very seriously. The FIM and the Australian Motorcycling Federation have maintained close contact with the young rider to understand the facts which led Sharni to such discouragement. We would like to stress that Sharni Pinfold can count on the unconditional support of the FIM to overcome this challenge.

The FIM recalls that the practice of motorcycling is open to all without discrimination and condemns any form of behavior contrary to these values. Any form of discrimination based on political, religious, sexual or racial grounds shall never be tolerated. Since 2006 the FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission (CFM) has been working hard to create equal opportunities and promote equal treatment for women involved in motorcycle-related activities.

“The FIM does not accept any kind of discrimination towards our riders, regardless of their gender. We are one motorcycling family, everyone is welcome. No inappropriate or disturbing comments or actions shall be tolerated. We aim at supporting all riders and enabling them to pursue their dreams and keep their motivation high. The FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission, together with the FIM and its stakeholders, continue to work hard to improve gender equality in our sport at all levels", concluded the CFM Director, Ms Nita Korhonen.

Ms Pinfold added: “From experiencing what I have in my own journey, my wish is that I am able to contribute to the awareness of disrespectful and misogynistic treatment towards females. I truly hope I am able to encourage the much needed improvement throughout the motorcycle industry and all industries where females are treated differently. This is not just me, there are many other women that have been treated poorly and as a result I hope to be able to empower others to know the importance and value of self-worth.

It would be easy for me to sit back and point fingers at the people responsible, but I feel that true strength is determined by how we respond. I am not here to be a victim, I am here to stand for what is right and extend that message outwardly for all women. I am grateful for the support and for the measures taken by the FIM, with the clear focus being equality for all. This is what we stand for.”

About the FIM (www.fim-live.com) The FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) founded in 1904, is the governing body for motorcycle sport and the global advocate for motorcycling.

To learn more please visit the web site.

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Royal Enfield to recall Continental GT, Interceptor bikes in the US

The two bikes would be recalled to address a potential brake corrosion which could lead to a crash.

Royal Enfield could recall a number of Continental GT and Interceptor motorcycles sold in the US in order to to inspect and possibly repair a potential brake issue with corrosion that could increase risk of a crash.

The brake caliper may become corroded and not operate as designed. The bikes in question were manufactured in 2018 through 2020 in India and exported to the US market. The specific number of affected vehicles has not been disclosed nor has a remedy for the situation or the timing of owner notification. By May of 2020, Royal Enfield had already recalled more than 15,000 Continental GT, Interceptor and Himalayan models to rectify a brake caliper corrosion-related issue in the UK, Europe and Korea, possibly indicating a widespread issue. However it’s important to note that some reports indicate the actual problems found remain in the single digit count. A message from the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in part “Corroded brake calipers may cause the brakes to drag or decrease braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash. Road salt may be the cause of corrosion on the brake calipers. Royal Enfield will notify owners.” “The remedy is currently under development. The manufacturer has not yet provided a schedule for recall notification.”

“The recall in the US is part of the announcement that was made in May 2020. The recall has been initiated in phases, thus being actioned in US currently”, Royal Enfield said in a statement. Click HERE to read the letter from the NHTSA. (Continued on page 54) 25

TOP-10 FINISH FOR ZACH OSBORNE AT INDIANAPOLIS SX #2

“I had a pretty rough day actually,” Osborne said.

“I blew my chin/tongue out on the bars in the first practice and that kind of set the tone for the day. I really was not that comfortable on the track and I kind of pressured myself out so looking for more moving forward. I’m riding well, just not putting myself in good positions. My starts need some work and I’ll be back on Saturday with a better game plan and we’ll be moving forward.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Zach Osborne rode to a top-10 finish on Tuesday at Round 5 of the 2021 AMA Supercross World Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium. Finishing seventh in the 450SX Main Event, Osborne put forth a hard-fought performance despite battling through some aches and pains throughout the night.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING TEAM LOOKS TO REBOUND THIS SATURDAY Osborne had a rocky start to the day as he busted his chin on the handlebars during a hard landing while attempting a big leap in the first practice. He was able to push through, qualifying ninth for the day. In 450SX Heat 2, Osborne got off to a top-five start and he battled his way to a top-five transfer into the main. In the Main Event, Osborne started off in 10th and he shuffled back for a few laps before climbing into ninth early on. He quickly moved into eighth and battled from there for most of the race. With five laps to go, Osborne made another move to overtake seventh and from there, he maintained a strong pace to secure seventh for the night.

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“I didn’t crash or anything, I just landed and my hand slipped and I dislocated my finger,” Anderson said. “I’m going to heal up and be back out there trying hard ASAP!” Coming off his best finish of the season last Saturday, Jason Anderson came into Tuesday’s racing with an optimistic attitude. However, Anderson sustained a dislocated finger during a hard landing in practice, which ultimately sidelined him for the remainder of the night.

Team riders Dean Wilson (450SX) and RJ Hampshire (250SX East) did not line up for Round 5 as they both continue to recover from injuries sustained early in the season.

Next Event (Round 6): Saturday, February 6 – Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, Indiana Round 5 Results: Indianapolis SX 2 450SX Results 1.

2.

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Ken Roczen (HON) Justin Barcia (GAS) Eli Tomac (KAW)…

Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX Rider Point Standings 1.

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Ken Roczen – 112 points Cooper Webb – 99 points Eli Tomac – 98 points…

Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 74 points 5. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 50 points 6. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 35 points

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING EXTEND CONTRACT WITH GRAHAM JARVIS THROUGH 2021

Graham Jarvis: “I’m often asked when I might stop racing, but as long as I can be competitive and my fitness allows it, I’m going to continue doing what I love. So, I’m thrilled to continue racing for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in 2021. In addition, starting my own race team gives me another opportunity to remain active in the sport I love and hopefully play a part in developing the champions of the future. This would give me a great sense of achievement, as much as anything I’ve done to date. Husqvarna Motorcycles has been incredibly supportive in this venture and we hope to repay that support with some great performances. Like everyone, I’m hoping that life, and racing, will return to normal very soon, and I look forward to getting back to competition.”

Continuing their successful partnership with hard enduro legend Graham Jarvis, Husqvarna Motorcycles is pleased to announce that Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing have agreed a one-year contract extension with the British star, which will see him compete in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship alongside teammates Alfredo Gomez and Billy Bolt.

In addition, Husqvarna Motorcycles will support Graham’s newly set-up five-rider Jarvis Husqvarna Racing team, as Jarvis fulfils a long-standing ambition of launching his own race team and developing talented future Hard Enduro champions.

As well as challenging for race wins and regular podium results himself, Jarvis is hoping the new eight round FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, together with the British Extreme Championship, will be the perfect series to showcase his new team and its roster of young stars. Passing his experience on to his team riders, Graham hopes to develop future world champions.

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Contract Extended - continued from previous page -

Jarvis Husqvarna Racing has secured some of the most exciting and promising young riders – Bulgaria’s Teodor Kabakchiev, English trio of Jono Richardson, Will Hoare and Sam Winterburn, and experienced Welsh rider Grant Churchward. All riders will compete aboard Husqvarna TE 300i machinery.

Andi Hölzl – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager: “Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing have enjoyed so much success together with Graham, continuing to support him for another year as a racer, and as he takes his first steps into team management, is something we’re more than pleased to do. Obviously, Graham’s situation is unique – there aren’t many motorcycle athletes able to consistently perform like he does at nearly 46 years of age – and that’s why Graham makes decisions regarding his career one year at a time. Knowing that he has the fitness and motivation to compete for at least one more season, we couldn’t be happier to have him race alongside Alfredo Gomez and Billy Bolt in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing.”

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ZACH OSBORNE CHARGES TO THE PODIUM AT ORLANDO SX Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Zach Osborne raced his way to a podium finish on Saturday with a tenacious performance at Round 7 of the 2021 AMA Supercross orld Championship in Orlando, Florida.

Osborne kept his eyes on the prize all day long, despite battling through some challenges during qualifying.

In 450SX Heat 2, Osborne got off to a seventh-place start and he battled between seventh and eighth throughout the race, ultimately securing seventh. In the Main Event, he completely changed the trajectory of his day as he shot off the line to capture the holeshot and early lead. While out front, Osborne made a mistake coming out of the whoops and he dropped back to fourth early on. He fought back into podium contention late in the race and put in a strong finish to claim his first podium of the season with third.

“It feels so good to get back on the podium and kind of find some mojo tonight,” Osborne said. “It felt good to get a start, that’s where I have really been struggling. It felt so good to get out there out front, getting in some clean air and breathe a little bit. I am super grateful to be up here.”

Anderson, the seventh-place qualifier, had a great start to the night as he put himself up front early in 450SX Heat 2. He rode most of the race in third but he made his move into second late in the race to earn a season-best heat-race finish of second. In the Main Event, Anderson got off to a mid-pack start and he battled his way up to sixth later in the race. With the top-five battle within reach, Anderson made a mistake and came together with another rider which dropped him back a few spots to finish eighth.

“It was an improvement all around for me today,” Anderson said. “My practices were better and my racing was quite a bit better, so If I could get a start it would help my results. In the Main Event, I got up there after a not-so-good start and got behind Tomac in sixth but I came together with someone, it was more my fault than anything, and dropped back but we’ll move on to next week and keep progressing.”

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- continued Dean Wilson lined up for Round 7 after missing the last three rounds due to a broken toe. Wilson found his speed early in the day with a season high qualifying position of eighth but he eased his way back into racing after being off the bike. In 450SX Heat 1, he started around 13th and he made a nice charge up to 10th but it wasn’t enough to secure a direct transfer into the Main Event. Wilson lined up for the LCQ where he grabbed a second-place start and quickly overtook the lead on lap two. With a steady ride, Wilson won the LCQ and secured a spot in the Main Event. He put together 25 solid laps in the main, fighting his way back from a rough start to ultimately finish just outside the top-10 with 12th.

“My night was very difficult but it feels really good to be back at the races,” Wilson said. “I think the hardest part for me was not being on the bike for almost three weeks, I felt like a fish out of water. I’m happy to get through the night, I know 12th isn’t really what we want but I could see ninth right there and with a good start, I think I’ll be pretty good.”

Next Event (Round 8): Saturday, February 20 – Camping World Stadium – Orlando, Florida Round 7 Results: Orlando SX 1 450SX Results 1. Cooper Webb (KTM) 2. Ken Roczen (HON) 3. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing …8. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 12.

Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX Rider Point Standings1. Ken Roczen – 161 points 2. Cooper Webb – 148 points 3. Eli Tomac – 132 points …8. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 108 points 12. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 82 points 15. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 46 points

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING’S JASON ANDERSON FINISHES IN TOP FIVE AT AMA SUPERCROSS RD 8 Jason Anderson: “My night was a lot better, I had a good practice and ended up P1, had a good battle in the heat race and got first in that. In the Main Event, I kind of had a bad start and worked my way up to fifth. I’m getting better and feeling better, so hopefully we’ll have an even better weekend in Daytona.”

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Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson made big strides on Saturday for Round 8 of the 2021 AMA Supercross World Championship, earning pole position, a heat-race win and a seasonbest fifth-place finish in the 450SX Main Event. Additionally, team rider Jalek Swoll secured an impressive fourth-place finish at the opening round of the 250SX Regional Championship in Orlando, Florida.

Anderson was strong all day, beginning with an impressive run in qualifying to top the highly talented 450SX division. He got off to a good start in Heat 2, assuming the second-place position early on. Working his way up to the lead battle, Anderson made his move on the final lap to overtake the lead and capture his first heat-race win of the season. In the Main Event, he started off in 13th and diligently worked his way through the field. Sitting in a solid sixth, Anderson came on strong in the final laps to secure a top-five finish at Round 8.

Coming off an impressive podium finish at the last round, Osborne had high hopes of keeping his momentum rolling in Orlando. However, he suffered a slight back injury during the final practice session of the day and he struggled with it throughout the night. In 450SX Heat 2, he got off to a sixth-place start and passed into the top-five early on. He kept a steady pace for the remaining laps to secure a fifth-place transfer into the Main Event. In the main, Osborne didn’t have the best start as he came through the opening lap in 11th place but he put his head down and charged up to eighth, where he finished for the night.

Zach Osborne: “It was a little bit of a tough night for me, I kind of tweaked my back in the last practice and I really struggled with it tonight. I had a mediocre start and an eighth-place finish, which is not really anything to write home about but I’ll get it sorted and be ready for Daytona.”

Team rider Dean Wilson continues to battle his way back from a toe injury this season. Wilson didn’t get the best start in 450SX Heat 1 as he rounded the opening lap in 14th. He fought his way up to 10th and put on a strong charge in the final laps but he missed the final transfer by only one spot. He redeemed himself in the LCQ, securing his second-straight LCQ win and a spot in the Main Event. He got shuffled back off the start in the main, where he was forced to come back from 18th on the opening lap. Making a valiant charge up to 11th late in the race, Wilson had a top-10 finish within grasp before it slipped away in the chaos of the final laps and he ultimately finished 12th.

Dean Wilson: “In the Main Event, I was all over 10th and I got a little bit traumatized from the blue flags and I thought the guy behind me was the leader so I let him by, which put me back to 12th,It’s disappointing but I’m looking forward to these next couple weeks to really heal up and get my body healthy.

It’s tough to try and race injured but we’ll be back at Daytona.”

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The 250SX Western Regional Championship got underway on Saturday with two fresh faces on the starting line. Jalek Swoll qualified ninth in the opening round, where he lined up alongside his teammate Stilez Robertson in 250SX Heat 2. Swoll settled into a top-five position early on before getting passed by a class front-runner and dropping back to sixth. He continued to battle in the mix for the rest of the race, ultimately finishing sixth in the heat. In the Main Event, Swoll began just outside the top-10 but the race was red flagged due to a pileup off the start. Upon the restart, Swoll shot off the line to capture a third-place start and he raced inside the top-three for the first seven laps before getting passed for fourth. From there, he kept a strong pace to ultimately earn a career-best fourth-place finish.

Jalek Swoll: “It was a pretty decent night, The heat race was a little hectic and I got shuffled back a bit and finished sixth. That didn’t set me up for a very good gate pick in the Main Event but I made the best of it. I felt like toward the end of the moto I started coming around but by that point it was kind of too late. I’m a little disappointed but we’ll be back next weekend.”

Rookie Stilez Robertson made his supercross debut on Saturday with a solid performance throughout the day. In 250SX Heat 2, Robertson got off to a fourth-place start and he maintained a steady pace to carry an impressive fourth-place transfer into his first-ever 250SX Main Event. In the main, Robertson got tangled up in a multi-rider pileup off the start and the race ultimately got red-flagged. Robertson, despite having a banged up bike and body, lined up for the restart but he didn’t fare so well as he came through the first lap in the last-place position. He did his best to move through the pack but it proved to be difficult following the carnage he sustained early on, ultimately finishing 18th in his debut.

Stilez Robertson: “We had a smooth start to the day with seventh in qualifying and fourth in the heat race, In the main, I got a decent start about 10th through the first jump but Jeremy Martin rolled and I thought he was going to jump and I ended up landing on him. I crashed and bent my bike up but I still gave it a go in the main and just tried to salvage what we could, so not too bad thanks to the team.”

Next Event (Round 9): Saturday, March 6 – Daytona International Speedway – Daytona, Florida Round 8 Results: Orlando SX 2 -

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450SX Results

450SX Rider Point Standings

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Cooper Webb (KTM) Marvin Musquin (KTM) Justin Barcia (GAS)…

Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 5. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 6. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

250SX West Results 1.

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Justin Cooper (YAM) Cameron Mcadoo (KAW) Garrett Marchbanks (YAM) Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing…

Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Ken Roczen – 180 points Cooper Webb – 174 points Eli Tomac – 149 points…

Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 123 points 5. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 100 points 6. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 57 points 250SX West Rider Point Standings 1.

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Justin Cooper – 26 points Cameron Mcadoo – 23 points Garrett Marchbanks – 21 points Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 19 points…

Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 5 points

Husqvarna Motorcycles.

Husqvarna Motorcycles is widely known for leading innovation and providing exceptional performance across its street and offroad products, as well as being present in all top-level racing disciplines. With the brand originally founded in Sweden in 1903, Husqvarna Motorcycles’ machines have been designed and manufactured in Mattighofen, Austria since 2013.

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AUSTIN WALTON FINISHES SIXTH OVERALL AT WORCS ROUND 2 “Today started off really good but I had some struggles out there. I was running second for the first two laps and made one mistake in the tire section and that kind of set the tone for my race. We’ve got some things to work on but allin-all it was a learning weekend and I know what I can do better for the next one.”

Austin Walton and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team made their way to Peoria, Arizona on Sunday for Round 2 of the 2021 World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) at Canyon MX. Walton raced his way to a sixth-place finish in the Pro 450 class after battling through a challenging day of racing. With a good jump off the start, Walton found himself up front early on as he battled in the second-place position. He made a mistake in the tire section early on and from there he struggled to carry momentum through the technical sections. He held on to fifth for a majority of the race, dropping back to sixth with three laps to go, where he ultimately finished for the day.

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STRONG SHOWING FOR ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING AT GNCC SERIES OPENER “I felt like I rode really good all day,” DuVall said. “I just put my head down and came from behind to get into the lead and once I did, we got into the lappers and I kind of got stuck. I knew Grant was coming so I just tried to ride my own race and he got around me. He was riding a little out of my comfort zone and I knew with it being the first race I didn’t want to be laying on the ground. I’m happy with second, I rode the best I could and I felt like I was strong all day.”

THAD DUVALL AND CRAIG DELONG CLAIM SECOND PLACE PODIUM FINISHES AT BIG BUCK GNCC The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team got off to a strong start in the 2021 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series on Sunday as teammates Thad DuVall and Craig DeLong each secured runner-up finishes in their respective classes at the Big Buck GNCC opener in Union, South Carolina.

With unseasonably cold temperatures and rain leading up to the race weekend, Sunday’s Big Buck course delivered optimal race conditions for the season opener. As the green flag waived for the start of the XC1 Open Pro race, DuVall found himself down in the first turn but he quickly charged into a top-five position by the end of lap one. He worked his way up to the lead group during the second lap and he made his move into the lead before the halfway point. With an 11-mile course and a large turnout of riders at Round 1, the leaders hit lapped traffic pretty early in the three-hour race and that’s when DuVall settled into the second-place spot. He upheld a strong pace through the second half of the race but keeping his sights on the bigger championship picture, DuVall reeled it in for a comfortable second-place finish at the opening round.

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In the XC2 250 Pro class, defending champion Craig DeLong put forth a great comeback charge after running into the back of another rider and going down off the start. Beginning his race in dead last, DeLong was able to make quick work of the field by lap two as he climbed into second before taking over the lead later in the lap. It wasn’t long before he was joined by a hard-charging group of riders up front and he ended up getting shuffled back to third around the midway point. He put on another charge with two laps to go, reclaiming the second-place spot and carrying it through the checkers for a solid start to his title defense.

“I’m happy with a second-place finish considering how I started,” DeLong said. “I went in a little too hot in the first turn and ran into the back of someone’s bike and down I went. I kind of played catch up the first two laps and then I made a big charge to get into the lead halfway through the second lap but they went back by me pretty quick and I settled into third for a while. I kind of struggled halfway through the race but I was able to capitalize on Johnny there at the end. All-in-all, second place, I’m happy.”

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING’S MXGP RIDERS PREPARE FOR 2021 SEASON Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s MXGP class competitors Thomas Kjer Olsen and Arminas Jasikonis have both enjoyed highly positive, but very different, winter preparations ahead of the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship. With Kjer Olsen quickly adapting to the FC 450 as he readies himself for his first season of MXGP racing, Jasikonis recently returned to the track following his recovery from injury.

THOMAS KJER OLSEN AND ARMINAS JASIKONIS LOOK AHEAD TO THE FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Arminas Jasikonis is set to take on his third term of MXGP competition with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, looking to continue his return to full fitness while focused on eventually getting back to challenging for regular podium results. Enjoying a positive start to the 2020 season with a third-place overall result at round two, when racing resumed following the coronavirus-forced break the Lithuanian charged to his maiden race victory at the fourth round of the championship.

Continuing his pro racing career with Husqvarna Motorcycles following four highly successful seasons in the MX2 World Championship, Thomas Kjer Olsen progresses to the ultra-competitive MXGP division for 2021, focused on making a solid first impression. Undoubtedly one of the best performing MX2 riders in recent years, the tall Dane, who placed third overall in both the 2017 and 2018 campaigns before going one better in 2019 as series runner-up, is relishing his opportunity to race

In finishing second overall at round five, Arminas remained a podium threat as the series continued until a heavy fall at round nine brought his year to a premature end. Now, having undergone a period of intensive rehabilitation, the 23-year-old recently began riding his FC 450 with the aim of returning to full fitness in readiness for round one of the 2021 season.

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HARLEY DAVIDSON 2021 PAN AMERICA “EXPLORE ENDLESS HORIZONS: NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON® PAN AMERICA™ 1250 AND PAN AMERICA™ 1250 SPECIAL MOTORCYCLES DEBUT Built to Endure, Designed to Explore, and Engineered for Adventure.”

(VAUGHAN, ON) February 22, 2021 – The Pan America™ motorcycle is Harley-Davidson’s explore-it-all machine for riders who see touring as detouring – on road and off. This rugged, powerful, technologically advanced multi-purpose vehicle is designed from the ground up to inspire rider confidence and fuel the spirit of adventure, wherever the road may take you.

Harley-Davidson has leveraged its cutting-edge design and engineering capabilities to create the Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special, all-new, adventure-touring motorcycles, each designed with premium features, outstanding performance and innovative technology.

“From its inception more than a century ago, when many roads were little more than dirt trails, HarleyDavidson has stood for adventure. So I’m very proud to present Pan America as the first adventure touring bike designed and built in America,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and CEO Harley-Davidson.

“The Pan America models exude that go-anywhere spirit, shared today by riders in the US and around the globe who want to experience the world on a motorcycle.” That same adventurous spirt is deeply shared by actor and brand ambassador, Jason Momoa, who is joining creative forces with the Company to bring Pan America’s passion for adventure to the world.

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Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special models are powered by the new 150hp Revolution® Max 1250 engine, a liquid-cooled 1,250cc-displacement V-Twin designed to offer a broad powerband that builds to a rush of high-RPM power. To minimize overall motorcycle weight (Pan America 1250 534lb. wet/ Pan America 1250 Special 559lb. wet), the Revolution Max engine is integrated into the vehicle as the central member of the chassis. (See separate Revolution Max 1250 release for full technical details) Pan America models are equipped with technologies designed to enhance the riding experience, including multiple electronically controlled ride modes plus Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements. This broad collection of technologies is designed to match motorcycle performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking. The Pan America 1250 Special model is equipped with electronically adjustable semi-active front and rear suspension. As an industry-first innovation, Pan America is equipped with Adaptive Ride Height (ARH), a revolutionary new suspension system which automatically transitions between a low stopped position and optimal ride height when the motorcycle is in motion.

Harley-Davidson design and engineering teams collaborated throughout the process of creating and refining the Pan America™ 1250 and Pan America™ 1250 Special models with a vision guided by utility.

Like a good multi-tool, function leads the form of these Harley-Davidson® models. From grab handles to integrated luggage mounts, to a horizontal headlamp configured to better illuminate an off-road trail, function defines style. Inspired by the spirit of rugged North American off-road versatility, the Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special models stand out visually in the adventure touring landscape, with design that reflects the capability of the motorcycles.

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Harley-Davidson® dealers will offer a complete line of accessories for the Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special models, including three durable luggage systems, and new technical riding gear for men and women developed in collaboration with respected European motorcycle apparel specialist, REV’IT!. (See separate releases for details accessories and gear) The Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special models will arrive at Harley-Davidson dealerships in Spring 2021.

Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special models are powered by the new 150hp Revolution® Max 1250 engine, a liquid-cooled 1,250cc-displacement V-Twin designed to offer a broad powerband that builds to a rush of high-RPM power. To minimize overall motorcycle weight (Pan America 1250 534lb. wet/ Pan America 1250 Special 559lb. wet), the Revolution Max engine is integrated into the vehicle as the central member of the chassis. (See separate Revolution Max 1250 release for full technical details)

Pan America models are equipped with technologies designed to enhance the riding experience, including multiple electronically controlled ride modes plus Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements. This broad collection of technologies is designed to match motorcycle performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking. The Pan America 1250 Special model is equipped with electronically adjustable semi-active front and rear suspension. As an industry-first innovation, Pan America is equipped with Adaptive Ride Height (ARH), a revolutionary new suspension system which automatically transitions between a low stopped position and optimal ride height when the motorcycle is in motion.

Harley-Davidson design and engineering teams collaborated throughout the process of creating and refining the Pan America™ 1250 and Pan America™ 1250 Special models with a vision guided by utility.

Like a good multi-tool, function leads the form of these Harley-Davidson® models. From grab handles to integrated luggage mounts, to a horizontal headlamp configured to better illuminate an off-road trail, function defines style. Inspired by the spirit of rugged North American off-road versatility, the Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special models stand out visually in the adventure touring landscape, with design that reflects the capability of the motorcycles.

Harley-Davidson® dealers will offer a complete line of accessories for the Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special models, including three durable luggage systems, and new technical riding gear for men and women developed in collaboration with respected European motorcycle apparel specialist, REV’IT!. (See separate releases for details accessories and gear)

The Pan America 1250 and Pan America 1250 Special models will arrive at Harley-Davidson dealerships in Spring 2021.

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The Harley-Davidson® Pan America 1250 model is a rugged, powerful, technologically advanced multi-purpose motorcycle designed for riders ready to embrace real-life adventure. The riding experience is capable and intuitive, on a motorcycle that stays composed and confident wherever your adventure takes you.

Optimized Chassis A focus on performance and minimizing weight drove both vehicle and engine architecture, material choices, and aggressive component design optimization, all with the goal of achieving a desirable power-to -weight ratio. The powertrain is a stressed member of the chassis, eliminating the traditional frame. Three distinct elements – the front frame, the mid frame and the tail section – bolt directly to the powertrain. This design reduces motorcycle weight and results in a stiff chassis that contributes to precise handling. The cast-aluminum swingarm minimizes unsprung weight. The chassis is designed with a 62.2-inch wheelbase, ideal for touring capability (especially with a passenger and loaded luggage) and agile handling required for off-road maneuverability.

Cast aluminum wheels (19-inch front and a 17-inch rear) are designed to be strong, yet light weight, intended for use on paved roads and un-paved surfaces, such as gravel roads and fire roads. HarleyDavidson and Michelin collaboratively designed a Scorcher Adventure tire for the Pan America models to meet the demands associated with adventure touring. Michelin Anakee Wild tires with an aggressive “knobby” tread pattern will be offered through Harley-Davidson® Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories for riders seeking maximum off-road traction and a bold style profile.

Brembo® Braking Harley-Davidson and Brembo collaborated on an all-new braking system for the Pan America™ models that is designed to provide the rider with outstanding braking feel and performance. A new radial monoblock four-piston (30 mm) caliper takes full advantage of the material characteristics to increase stiffness while reducing overall weight. Dual front brake rotors are 320mm in diameter; single rear-brake rotor is 280mm diameter. A new lightweight front brake master cylinder offers adjustable lever response.

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Adjustable Suspension The Pan America 1250 model features premium passive front and rear suspension that is fully adjustable for pre-load and compression/rebound damping. Suspension travel front and rear is 7.48 inches (190mm). Front suspension is provided by a SHOWA® 1 by 1 47mm inverted cartridge fork.

Rear suspension is a SHOWA® Piggyback reservoir shock with adjustable hydraulic preload.

The rear suspension incorporates a linkage system which provides a progressive feel through the stroke and maintains a comfortable, compliant ride on-road, while providing superior support for offroad conditions.

Touchscreen Display All instrumentation and infotainment functions are displayed on a tilting 6.8-inch TFT touchscreen (thin-film-transistor, a type of liquid-crystal display noted for high image quality and contrast). Its nonreflective glass cover makes it easier to view in most lighting conditions. The touchscreen function is disabled when the motorcycle is in motion, but the rider can use hand controls to manage many functions of the screen display when the motorcycle is moving. The display supports infotainment generated by the rider’s Bluetooth-equipped mobile device, including music and calls. Navigation is supplied by the free Harley-Davidson® App for iOS or Android. (See Pan America 1250/Special Tech release for complete details) Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements The Pan America 1250 model is equipped with Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements, a collection of technologies designed enhance rider confidence during unexpected situations or poor road conditions. The systems are electronic and utilize the latest chassis control, electronic brake control and powertrain technology. Cornering enhanced technology utilizes an inertial measurement unit, IMU, for optimal intervention when the motorcycle is leaned compared to when the motorcycle is upright. Elements of Cornering Rider Safety Enhancements for the Pan America 1250 model include: Cornering Enhanced Electronically Linked Braking, Cornering Enhanced Antilock Braking System, Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System, Cornering Enhanced Drag-Torque Slip Control System, and Hill Hold Control. (See Pan America 1250/Special Tech release for complete details) WWW.MOTORCYCLETIMES.COM

Ride Modes Selectable Ride Modes electronically control the performance characteristics of the motorcycle, and the level of technology intervention. Five modes are available on the base model (4 are preprogrammed and one can be customized). The Pan America™ 1250 Special model has two additional modes that can be customized by the owner. Preprogramed ride modes for the Pan America 1250 models include Road, Sport, Rain, Off-Road and Off-Road Plus. Each Ride Mode consists of a specific combination of power delivery, engine braking, Cornering Enhanced Antilock Braking System (C-ABS) and Cornering Enhanced Traction Control System (C-TCS) settings. The rider may use the MODE button on the right-hand controller to change the active ride mode while riding the motorcycle or when stopped, with some exceptions.

(See Pan America 1250/Special Tech release for complete details) Additional Pan America™ 1250 Model Features • The lightweight exhaust system is crafted from corrosion-resistant 304-series stainless steel and designed to meet global emissions (including Euro V) and sound regulations without compromising durability or the performance experienced by the rider. The catalyst is located as close to the engine as possible to minimize its size and weight and also keep heat away from the rider. A pair of mufflers – one below the engine and the second on the right side of the motorcycle – adds volume to the exhaust system, which allows effective sound muffling with minimal back pressure, which improves performance. The exhaust system is designed to create clearance under the motorcycle to limit potential impact damage during off-road riding, and to not compromise lean angle.

• The rider portion of the seat has a high and low position which allows the rider to achieve a better fit on the motorcycle. Seat height adjustment does not require tools. Unladen seat height is 34.2 inches in the low position and 35.2 inches in the high position.

• A four-position windscreen can be adjusted with one hand, using a lever adjacent to the display screen, through a range of 1.8 inches to best match rider stature, preference or changing environmental conditions.

• Cruise control is standard equipment.

• A lightweight aluminum fuel tank holds 21.2 liters (5.6 gallons) for extended riding range. The fuel filler is located forward on the top of the tank so it will not be covered by most tank bags, making it easier to fuel up with a bag in place. The fuel tank is shaped to optimize the capacity of the engine intake airbox, which is located below the tank.

• The Pan America™ 1250 model features all-LED lighting designed to deliver signature style and outstanding performance with and additional focus on rugged durability in the off-road environment.

The Daymaker® Signature LED headlamp has been designed using new photometric analysis technology to produce outstanding “punch” down the road with a very homogenous spread of light; eliminating distracting “hot spots.”

• The front turn signals are positioned to be protected by the brush guard during off-road riding.

• Paint Colors: Vivid Black, River Rock Gray with Medallion

PAN AMERICA 1250 SPECIAL

The Pan America 1250 Special model is a premium adventure touring motorcycle loaded with the following additional exclusive features:

• Semi-Active Front and Rear Suspension with Vehicle Load Control The Pan America™ 1250 Special model is equipped with electronically adjustable semiactive front and rear suspension. Utilizing data provided by sensors on the motorcycle, this suspension system automatically controls damping to suit the prevailing conditions and riding activity. These suspension components are provided by SHOWA, while the control software was developed by Harley-Davidson. The Vehicle Loading Control system senses the weight of the rider, a passenger and luggage to select optimal suspension sag by automatically adjusting rear preload. Unladen seat height is 33.4 inches in the low position and 34.4 inches in the high position. (See Pan America 1250/Special Tech release for complete details) • Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) 41

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Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) The TPMS displays current front and rear tire pressure on the on the color display screen and displays an indicator to alert the rider when tire pressure is low, and the pressure should be checked.

Maintaining proper tire air pressure is important both for vehicle performance and tire life.

• Center Stand The center stand supports the parked motorcycle in an upright position. With the center stand deployed the parked motorcycle takes up less space than it would leaning on its side stand, a benefit when garage space is tight. The stand also raises the rear wheel off the ground to facilitate maintenance and tire changes, at home or in the backcountry.

• Multi-Position Rear Brake Pedal Without using tools, the rear-brake foot pedal height can be changed between two positions to improve control and comfort when the rider is standing. Standing while riding through off-road terrain can improve control of the motorcycle and improve rider’s vision of the trail ahead.

• Brush Guard Tubular steel brush guards are designed to protect the radiator and help support the motorcycle in a tipover event.

• Aluminum Skid Plate This rugged skid plate is designed to protect the engine crankcase from impacts.

• Daymaker® Signature Adaptive Headlamp Advanced Daymaker® Adaptive Headlamp technology utilizes the ABS IMU to determine the lean angle of the motorcycle and automatically project additional light into corners to illuminate areas of the road that may be unlit by an LED headlamp without this technology.

This may give the rider more confidence on dark roads. o The system includes three LED elements per side, located just above the main Daymaker headlamp. o The adaptive lamps illuminate in sequence based on motorcycle lean angle, at 8 degrees, 15 degrees and 23 degrees. o Rather than just switching on and off, the current to the adaptive elements ramps up gradually so the additional lighting is progressive and appears almost seamless to the rider. o The system functions when the headlight is in either high-beam or low-beam mode.

• Heated Hand Grips and Hand Wind Deflectors Both provide added comfort when riding in cool weather. Heated grips have three temperature settings, selected with a button on the hand control.

• Steering Damper A steering damper enhances dynamic performance during aggressive off-road riding.

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• Factory Installed Option: Adaptive Ride Height Harley-Davidson is the first to offer this technology in the motorcycle industry, and Adaptive Ride Height (ARH) is an option for the Pan America™ 1250 Special model only. Adaptive Ride Height unlocks confidence you can feel in different scenarios by enabling a lower seat height when the motorcycle is at rest, without compromising ground clearance in motion. This revolutionary suspension system automatically transitions the motorcycle between a low stopped position and optimal ride height when the motorcycle is in motion. The system allows the rider to mount the Pan America 1250 Special model with ease, and facilitates placing feet down to the ground at a stop, by lowering the seat height 1 to 2 inches (depending on automatically selected rear pre-load, which determines ride height when the bike is moving). Unladen seat height is 32.7 inches in the low position and 33.7 inches in the high position. ARH retains all of the features of the semi-active front and rear suspension. o ARH does not compromise suspension travel – full travel is always maintained – and does not compromise lean angle, ground clearance or ride quality. o There are four selectable Adaptive Ride Height sub-modes: Auto Mode: The system determines how quickly to lower the suspension based on how aggressive the braking action is, (Continued on page 43)

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with the target of having the suspension fully lowered when the bike comes to a stop.

Short Delay and Long Delay Modes: In these modes the lowering function is delayed until the motorcycle comes to a stop, so that full ride height is maintained while the motorcycle is moving at low speeds, such as when negotiating a parking lot.

Locked Mode: The Adaptive Ride Height system will always maintain the normal ride height and does not lower at a stop. This mode might be selected by a tall rider who does not need Adaptive Ride Height to be flat footed at a stop, or for off-road riding when full ride height is desirable at low speeds.

• Factory Installed Option: Tubeless Laced Wheels The stainless-steel spokes are inserted through the aluminum wheel rim outside of the tire bead. These wheels offer the rider several advantages over the cast wheels in off-road conditions. o This design allows the use of a tubeless tire, which eliminates the weight of an inner tube. o The spokes are repairable in the field without removing the wheel from the motorcycle or removing the tire from the wheel. o The laced wheels look both rugged and high-tech.

• Paint Colors: Vivid Black; Gauntlet Gray Metallic; Deadwood Green (available in select international markets only); two-tone Baja Orange and Stone Washed White Pearl; all with Split Graphic Learn more about the Harley-Davidson® Pan America™ 1250 and Pan America™ 1250 Special models at www.harley-davidson.com/ca. Make sure to follow the dedicated Pan America social accounts on Facebook and Instagram.

About Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and HarleyDavidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure.

Freedom for the soul. Our ambition is to maintain our place as the most desirable motorcycle brand in the world. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture by delivering a motorcycle lifestyle with distinctive and customizable motorcycles, experiences, motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel.

Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get riders on the road. www.harley-davidson.com.

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we can put together another challenge this year.”

HARTRANFT MATCHES SEASON

BEST RESULT AT INDY SX

a little bit and I had to roll the finish line because I almost got pushed into the side of the finish line structure.

That dropped me back from around the top-10 to about 20th. That was a bummer, but I rode a lot better in the main, had consistent laps, and just never gave up. It was a much better day today and I’m already looking forward to Saturday.”

450 class veteran Enticknap spent a night scrapping for track position and giving more than he took, but one bad bump in the last chance qualifier ended his night far short of what his lap times set for his and his team’s expectations.

Team Suzuki Press Office – February 4.

Brandon Hartranft: RM-Z450 – 8th John Short: RM-Z250 – DNS Adam Enticknap: TM-Z450 – DNS Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports/ Suzuki’s Brandon Hartranft shined on his Suzuki RM-Z450, matching his season-best performance of 8th with only five races under his belt in the premier class.

Teammate Adam Enticknap had a night of hotlyfought battles on his Suzuki RM-Z450, and BarX/ Chaparral/ ECSTAR Suzuki racer John Short had a promising night that unfortunately ended early after a great ride on his Suzuki RM-Z250 in his heat race.

After his best qualifying position so far in his rookie season, Hartranft was clocking fast laps and looking comfortable. A track-edge tuff block played into several riders’ finishes and it caught Hartranft in his heat, but a steady ride and clean passes in the last chance qualifier put him into the main event. Some first turn chaos removed the advantage Hartranft’ s great ride down the start straight earned him, but he laid the power into the Indy soil and climbed forward until the finish.

Said Hartranft: “I felt way better today. I think I’m starting to come around and ride the 450 a lot better. I’m getting used to the pace and I’m liking the RM-Z a lot. In the heat race I got a strong start, made a few mistakes, and then caught a tuff block in a turn with my shifter and fell over. In the main event I actually went into the first turn first – I didn’t WWW.MOTORCYCLETIMES.COM come out first, but I went in first. I got shuffled back

“Coming into the races I was definitely coming off of a high from the last round,” Enticknap said. “In the LCQ, I had a good gate position and came around the first corner in around fifth or sixth. I made a couple of moves, but in the end I got in contact with the fifth place rider. We bumped right before the triple face and I landed on the tuff blocks which ended my night. We’ll go back, get some more good starts, start the day off right, and go into next week with a holeshot and a stronger finish.”

BarX/ Chaparral/ ECSTAR Suzuki’s John Short began his night’s charge from a mid-pack start in heat one of the 250 East class.

His passes got him quickly into a direct transfer position yet Short pushed on, nabbing three additional riders before the chequered flag flew.

With an 11th gate pick and strong riding behind him it looked like a good night, but locking bars entering the first corner meant Short wasn’t able to deliver on his promise of earlier in his heat.

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Short: “Tonight wasn’t the best night. I had some issues in practice and felt just off a little. I raced hard in the heat race and was very confident with my speed as I felt great in the closing laps. I was aiming to put my RM-Z up front early in the main, but unfortunately I put myself in a bad position off the start and went down hard, ending my night early.”

Added Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports/ Suzuki Team Manager Dustin Pipes: “We had an okay day. I think Adam needs to put himself in better positions because he’s definitely a main event guy.

I was very happy with Brandon; I think he rode well.

He has a few small things to work on, but I think it was a solid race to build on for round six. I’m pumped to see what the guys do this coming weekend.”

The series remains in Indianapolis until Saturday

ALEX RINS SUZUKI ECSTAR BLOG “Hey guys! I’m in Portimão at the moment doing some track time with the GSX-R and I’m doing well – I’m especially happy because I haven’t picked up the virus and I’m glad about that because it can be quite dangerous.”

“I’m staying safe and waiting for the first tests and races of the season. It was a pity that we couldn’t go to Malaysia to test, I was super excited to ride there because we missed it in 2020 and I really like Sepang circuit. The current situation just means it’s not possible. Last year we were very careful at all the races, and it’s sad not to have the fans in the grandstands pushing us and to have the paddock so quiet, but it looks like this is the only way to keep the risk level down.”

“We don’t know exactly how the season will be, and there will probably be cancellations and schedule changes to keep up with the changing situation around the world. But I’m really excited to get going, even if it will be another strange season, and I’ll give my all to get the best results. There’s always room to improve despite our bike and team being at a very high level after so much hard work, but our GSX-RR is very well balanced with a good package, so I’m feeling confident.

“It will feel a bit strange to arrive at the races and not see Davide, because he’s been the manager since I’ve been with Suzuki and also because I have a good relationship with him. It was a shock, but I understand his decision and I wish him luck! I WWW.MOTORCYCLETIMES.COM

look forward to hopefully seeing him at some races as a guest, we have had many fun times over the years and he always gave me good advice. Anyway, our team is very strong and we can have a very successful season I’m sure!

“From my side, I’m giving 100% in the gym, on the motocross track, doing cardio – a little bit of everything. The healing of my shoulder has been really good and that’s a relief, it’s been stable during my training this winter; before, it was a bit unbalanced but now I feel much better.

“I think this year there will be really close racing! My team-mate and my other rivals will be very strong, last year we saw a lot of different winners and everyone was quite tight on points until the end, so consistency will be as important as ever and I think it could be a very exciting season. Joan, of course, will be very competitive because he won the title last year. And if Marc Marquez is able to return early in the year, that will shake things up too. I’m looking to go up another level; my plan for 2021 is to build on the successes I had last year.

“I’ve been training a lot with the stock bike, with the motocross bike, even with a go-kart, to try to be ‘race ready’ and it’s been nice, but in the end nothing beats jumping on my MotoGP bike and going flat out at 330km/h! I can’t wait!

Hope to see you all soon!”

SUZUKI TEAMS READY FOR FLORIDA SUPERCROSS Team Suzuki Press Office – February 9.

With three back-to-back rounds of the Monster Energy AMA/ FIM World Supercross completed inside the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, Suzuki racers are ready to head south to a two-round event in Orlando, Florida.

Adam Enticknap on his Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports/ Suzuki RM-Z450 finished off the Indy rounds matching his best finish of 2021. Team mate Brandon Hartranft and his Suzuki RM-Z450 had the nail biter ride of the night, and after putting in some laps in qualifying, it was determined that John Short would not be able to compete with his BarX/ Chaparral/ ECSTAR Suzuki RM-Z250 due to an injury incurred at the previous round.

The tight and technical track layout at Indy 3 worked to Enticknap’s favour. After a mid-pack start in the last chance qualifier, he put his skills and his RM-Z’s handling to the test. In the short seven-lap race he passed five riders to secure a spot in the Main Event where he earned a tie to his best finish so far in 2021.

Said Enticknap: “In the heat race I got a decent start.

I worked my way through on the first lap, which was really good. In the LCQ, I was proud of myself. Last week, I was pretty frustrated because I tangled up with another rider and I told myself if I can just stay up and stay out of that chaos and ride my own lines I can make it into the main no matter what. Coming out of that first corner, I think I was marked in 11th, and I made my way all the way to fourth place. My race craft was awesome, I made great decisions, and I did what I was supposed to do. In the main event I improved a lot for the first 11 to 12 minutes, but I made some mistakes after that. We talked about it with the team, we got it all squared away, and I’m excited for what’s to come in Orlando.”

The track’s soil was dryer after more than a week inside the domed stadium. The ruts were shallower, but the top soil afforded less traction. Whereas rookie Hartranft managed the deep ruts so well, he met less success when the conditions presented a less-technical track surface.

“In my heat race I got a good start; I think I got pushed around and then I fell, so I had to go to the LCQ,” said Hartranft. “I didn’t get a good start in the LCQ. I was in the back, but I fought hard and almost got fourth on the last lap.

There are some positives to take away, but obviously I’m not too pumped on the night, so I guess we’ll have to go get ’em in Orlando.”

Short, in a class that’s already seen five other top racers miss at least one main event due to injury, made the tough call to determine he had not healed sufficiently from a bad fall in the first corner at the previous round’s main event. Short rode qualifying to earn a spot on the line but understood he would risk further aggravating his injury with a rush back to competition.

Said Short: “Unfortunately, I won’t be competing tonight. Tuesday’s main event crash left me a little (Continued on page 48)

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banged up.

I have a separated shoulder. It’s not a major injury, I rode practice this morning, but I decided that it would be best to let myself get back to 100% so I can compete at my full potential. It’s unfortunate, but I hope to get back out there at Orlando on my RM-Z250.”

“The race was okay, there were some things to build on,” was Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports/ Suzuki Team Manager Dustin Pipes’ overview. “I’m very happy with the way that Adam rode. His first 12 minutes or so he was catching riders that he normally doesn’t beat, so that was a big plus. His speed is improving and I think that will come through in the rounds to come. Brandon, we need to go back to the drawing board and see what we can come up with. We’re going to change some settings in the forks and shock and hopefully get him racing to his full potential next weekend in

SUZUKI RIDERS BATTLE HARD AT ORLANDO SX

The first of two Monster Energy AMA/ FIM World Supercross races at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida at the weekend featured a commemorative track design.

Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports/ Suzuki’s Brandon Hartranft put his Suzuki RM-Z450’s power to the Florida soil and his teammate, Adam Enticknap, was feeling comfortable on his Suzuki RM-Z450 race bike. But morning rains fell on the track that was a blueprint of the 2007 Orlando Supercross track, which marked the final Supercross race of retiring five-time champion Ricky Carmichael; a thrilling final supercross event on his Factory Suzuki RMTeam Suzuki Press Office – February 16.

JOAN MIR TO RACE WITH NUMBER 36 FOR 2021 SEASON “It really was a difficult decision to make, it took a lot of consideration and thought. There are benefits to both; on one hand it’s a great opportunity to use the number one on your bike because it’s something you’ve truly earned and also it can look really cool! But equally, number 36 has meant so much to me over the years. It’s almost a part of me, and that’s why I wanted to continue with it.”

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The 2021 event was the first return to Orlando since that event and Brandon Hartranft got shuffled to the back of the pack in his heat race despite his run of great starts this season. He advanced a position each lap for the first two laps, but a transfer position remained out of reach. He emerged from the first corner of the LCQ in a better position and battled one spot outside of qualifying for most of the race that gated factory and former factory riders.

He said: “Not the best day. I’m struggling with some things right now, but I’ll be better for the next weekend. The Orlando 1 track was hardpack compared to the last few weekends. There were not as many ruts so everyone was closer in speed.

My starts are good; I just need to put the pieces of the puzzle together and I’ll be right where I need to be.”

Enticknap had a rough night in Orlando following two outstanding rides at the two final events in Indianapolis. His night was cut short due to a racing incident early in the LCQ which dashed his

chances of showing the speed he’s been developing at the past rounds.

“As the day went on I felt better and better,” said Enticknap. “I lined up for the LCQ and felt great. I got a good start, I had gotten the track figured out, I was waiting to put a charge in and get those spots that I needed to make the Main Event when another rider and I clashed and drove me off the side of a jump. I ejected off the front of my bike over a double and I crashed pretty hard. I was pretty upset about it, but sometimes those things happen in racing, especially when you don’t get the holeshot. So the plan is to get some practice in this week, work on some more starts – not that they’re that bad – but I would like to get a holeshot and get out front and be away from those issues. I’m looking forward to Orlando 2 and I’m glad my bike’s working really well.”

Said Team Manager Dustin Pipes: “The team is working together well right now. All the team staff are gelling and working efficiently, which has made for a cohesive working environment. On the track, the results haven’t been what we expect. Brandon has been dealing with a lingering issue that is affecting his riding. As a team, we are staying in Florida to try and remedy it to come back swinging for round eight. Adam is riding better, but unfortunately he came together with another rider while racing himself into a transfer position.”

The second Orlando event on Saturday, February 20th will kick-off the 250 West Championship as the 250 East racers go into a 10-week break from their racing. BarX/ Chaparral/ ECSTAR Suzuki racers Sean Cantrell and Dilan Schwartz and their Suzuki RM-Z250 machinery are ready to take on the nineround series that ends in Salt Lake City with the lone 250 East/ West Showdown of 2021.

SUZUKI WEEKEND ACTION Team Suzuki Press Office – February 17.

The third weekend of February sees Suzuki riders remain at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida for Round 8 of the Monster Energy AMA/ FIM World Supercross Championship.

Following last weekend’s race, the second Orlando race kicks-off the 250 West Championship as the 250 East racers go into a two-month break. BarX/ Chaparral/ ECSTAR Suzuki racers Sean Cantrell and Dilan Schwartz and their Suzuki RM-Z250 machinery join the series alongside Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports Suzuki’s Brandon Hartranft and Adam Enticknap on their RM-Z450 machinery.

MAX ANSTIE MAKES SUPERCROSS DEBUT IN ORLANDO

“It was nice to be under the lights racing my first ever 450SX event. It was a dream to ride into the stadium with the best supercross riders in the world. I came into this race without much preparation time so to leave with some points on the board and laps under my belt was all I could ask for. The team and I will get to work and make progress and I’m looking forward to Daytona in two weeks!”

Brandon Hartranft scored a 450 class holeshot on his Suzuki RM-Z450 and the start of the 250 West class supercross series saw rookie Dilan Schwartz debut on his BarX/ Chaparral/ ECSTAR Suzuki RM -Z250 alongside returning racer and teammate Sean Cantrell. Anstie made his much-anticipated 450 Supercross debut and showed speed and track skills as if he’d grown up racing the discipline. The British rider hails from the World GP circuit and after GP victories, as well as winning the 2017 individual overall at the Motocross of Nations, is adapting to 450 Supercross racing. After missing the first seven rounds with a pre-season injury, Anstie topped both of his qualifying sessions as the fastest rider on the track. During the night racing, he battled up from outside the top 10 to a qualifying position in his heat race. Though his main event finish didn’t fulfil the promise displayed earlier in the night, Anstie showed incredible comfort and potential for a great season on his RM-Z450 race bike. Rookie Schwartz had an action-packed night from running inside the top three in his qualifying sessions, to an epic heat race battle where the young rider showed talent and heart, to maybe the greatest race-move of the night with a two-rider pass just before the flag to secure a spot in his first main event. A main event re-start worked against his track position, then a crash on lap two dropped him out of the fight to regain a top-five spot, (Continued on page 50)

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but the Suzuki racer rode well and improved his position throughout the race.

After that I made some pretty good passes and got into qualifying position. The white flag came out and then I made just the slightest mistake in the whoops and it bit me. I left Orlando with a broken collarbone, hopefully we will get it plated and make it to one of the Arlington rounds.”

Hartranft’ s day started with him running as high as fourth in his qualifying session. He took his great starts to the next level and pulled the holeshot in the LCQ. He ran up front for most of the first lap, but a slightly mistimed counterattack on the final lap kept him just out of striking distance for a final transfer to the main event, even on a night with strong progress from the 450 class rookie.

“Orlando definitely was a tough day,” was Schwartz’s take. “It didn’t really go the way we planned. I was making rookie mistakes all day, which cost me to miss out on qualifying straight from the heat so I had to go to the LCQ; that race was pretty hectic. In the main I was running in fifth place and unfortunately the race got red flagged. On the re-start, I didn’t get the greatest start and then ended up tangling with another rider and going down. I’m happy to come away healthy and I am looking forward to improving at the upcoming rounds.”

Marking a return to racing, BarX/ Chaparral/ ECSTAR’s Cantrell proved he still has blistering track speed. Running as high as second in his qualifiers showed he had the raw speed, and he put it to good use in his heat race. After a challenging start, Cantrell sliced his way forward to reach a transfer spot. Unfortunately, on the final lap’s whoop section – notorious for the past two rounds – grabbed Cantrell and ended his night early.

He said: “I went into round one not really knowing what to expect, but I just knew I was comfortable on the bike, which is the biggest thing. In the two qualifying sessions I felt good on the bike, I felt that the speed was there, I just had trouble putting together a whole lap. I was actually shaking the cobwebs off after not being in the stadium for about two years. Once I got behind the gate I knew I was back at home. I knew that I was meant to be there and all the work I put in was about to pay off. In the first corner of my heat I got pushed wide by another rider and a lot of guys snuck around the inside.

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“Orlando 2 was okay. The track was tough all day. I’m slowly getting back to where I was. In my heat race I didn’t ride well until halfway. In the LCQ I got the holeshot, which was great, but made a few mistakes on the first lap. I got right behind (Dean) Wilson and tried to follow him but made a mistake in the whoops and got passed out of the transfer spot. I’m going to take the positives from this weekend and go back to work for these next two weeks before Daytona.”

The toughest news of the night was Adam Enticknap’s crash in his second qualifying session while putting in blazingly-fast lap times. The popular rider was out for the event, off to get a full injury evaluation. “It was a bittersweet race for the team at Round 8 in Orlando,” said Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports/ Suzuki Team Manager Dustin Pipes.

“There were a lot of positives, but the injury to Adam was in the back of everyone’s mind.

Fortunately, he walked away from a nasty fall with only a broken right clavicle. Brandon continues to improve, but the class is very tough right now. I expect him to bounce back in Daytona. I am very proud of Max; he hit marks throughout the day and

(Continued from page 50)

there is a lot to build on after his first-ever 450 Supercross. With this only being his fourth time on the bike after injury, we treated this race as a warmup to Daytona – only taking the positives. He rode a complete race and mixed it up with many of the established racers. I look for Max to continue to grow throughout the remaining rounds.”

The racers have two weeks until round nine at the Daytona International Speedway infield. With the exciting returns of Anstie, a sand specialist who should excel at Daytona, and Cantrell, the 250 class rookie season start of Schwartz and the steady improvements of 450 class rookie Hartranft, the beginning of the second half of the 2021 Supercross racing season is looking to deliver more great racing.

INSIDE SUZUKI, THE CROWNING MOMENT TEASER VIDEO Team Suzuki Press Office – February 24.

Team Suzuki Ecstar has today put out a teaser video on their YouTube Channel about an upcoming documentary called ‘Inside Suzuki – The Crowning Moment.’

CLICK NOW TO RESERVE

The video due to be premiered by Dorna and MotoGP.com shortly is a behind-the-scenes production about Team Suzuki Ecstar and Joan Mir’s fight to win the 2020 MotoGP™ World Championship.

Click here to watch

Episode Two Episode Three

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support from J&P Cycles, while Mees will continue with support from Rogers Racing and additional sponsors. “2020 brought its breadth of challenges for everyone, but watching Briar and Jared stay on top of their game and compete race in and race out was really a testament of their work ethic, dedication and drive to be the greatest,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology & Service for Indian Motorcycle. “For 2021, we’re excited to get back on the track, support Bryan and Bronson as factory-backed privateers, while committing a season-long contingency for our privateers.” As former members of the Indian Wrecking Crew, both Smith and Bronson will compete in 2021 as factorybacked privateers. Smith will be riding for Crosley/Howerton Motorsports and will have his own unique chassis built around the Indian FTR750 motor. Bronson will pilot his same factory FTR750 race bike in partnership with Indian Motorcycle of Oklahoma City. In support of its privateers, Indian Motorcycle Racing has committed over $266,000 in contingency, including $14,225 per race and a $25,000 championship bonus. The 2021 contingency structure breaks down by the following: Championship – $25,000 1st – $7,500 2nd – $2,500 3rd – $1,500 4th – $1,000 5th – $750 6th – $350 7th – $250 8th – $150 9th – $125 10th – $100 To be eligible for contingency payouts, riders must run an Indian FTR750 at all races the team participates in for the 2021 WWW.MOTORCYCLETIMES.COM

Progressive AFT Mission SuperTwins season. The bike must maintain the original red, white and black paint scheme on the tank panels and include the full “Indian Scout” logo across both sides. Additional logos on the bike are acceptable but must be pre-approved by Indian Motorcycle Racing. Privateers must also wear three Indian Motorcycle patches, including one on the upper chest on either the left or right side, as well as one on both shoulders.

For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing and the Indian Wrecking Crew, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE®: Indian Motorcycle is America’s First Motorcycle Company®. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.

Buell is Back. Buell Motorcycles are back in production in America.

Grand Rapids, MI – Buell Motorcycles is back in production in America. The new Buell® Motorcycles will launch 10 performance models by the 2024 model year. The exciting models will be representative of the superbike performance and handling expected of the legendary Buell brand. Exciting times ahead for fans of American Motorcycles.

“Buell is back!” said Bill Melvin, CEO. “We are excited to bring Buell back with this awesome assortment of superbikes and performance motorcycles. We start with the fastest American production motorcycles, hand built in the USA, so that’s a nice start! We’re building out those platforms for more touring & adventure models, then we’re expanding our displacements to be competitive with other global brands. The passionate Buell Nation can grow and thrive again.”

Buell Motorcycle upcoming models will include variants for dirt, dual-sport, touring, and cruisers while expanding the line up to include medium and small displacement motors. Buell is also in the initial exploration phases for a high-performance Electric model and is open to collaboration ideas with other companies. The models currently in production are built by hand in Grand Rapids, Michigan and based on the high-performance 1190 platform, known for the innovation of Fuel in Frame, Perimeter Brake Rotor, exceptional handling, and high horsepower.

“Buell is known as the American brand for high performance, innovation, & adventure. Fast is fun again on a Buell. We will continue and expand on that,” said Melvin. “We have already launched a dirt bike with Cipala Racing that won an AMA Championship and Buell will be dominating at NHRA this year. Follow us Facebook and Instagram where we’ll showcase passionate fans, new developments, as well as racers and riders having fun on a Buell. The future will be fast and fun on a Buell.”

EBR Motorcycles acquired the Buell brand in early 2020 and began developments to bring Buell back.

Buell will be present at Daytona Bike Week 2021 at J&P Cycles Destination Daytona Mega Store. Visit the Buell booth for gear, to view current models, and learn about the developments of the fast and fun American Motorcycle brand. Buell is back and racing to the future!

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ÖHLINS USA SUPPORTS ROYAL ENFIELD BUILD TRAIN RACE PROGRAMS Öhlins will supply components for BTR flat track and road racing Milwaukee, Wis (February 4, 2021) – Öhlins USA announced its official involvement with the Royal Enfield BUILD TRAIN RACE (BTR) road racing and flat track programs for 2021. The suspension manufacturer will offer top-of-theline components to BTR participants for their Royal Enfield builds.

Royal Enfield launched the BTR program in 2019, challenging professional road racer Melissa Paris and three other women to build flat track motorcycles and compete in select exhibitions during American Flat Track races last year. Paris used Öhlins USA components on her Royal Enfield build with great results that earned her two-second place finishes and a win in the BTR exhibition races. “Öhlins USA is proud to be the official suspension of the BTR program,” said Mike Himmelsbach, motorsport market manager, Öhlins USA. “We’re excited to offer our latest technology for these women to further enhance their building and racing experience. This performance suspension upgrade delivers new levels of stability, precision and safety both on the racetrack and on the street.”

The BTR road racing program build phase will kick off in the coming weeks, as the participants receive their motorcycles and begin the customization process. Melissa Paris will provide guidance during the build process and will mentor the ladies during the training and racing portions of the program. For the road racing program, all participants will have the option to utilize Öhlins 43mm front forks and 36mm piggyback reservoir shocks for their Continental GT 650 motorcycles. Participants in the flat track program will be offered similar Öhlins components “When I started my build for the BTR flat track program, choosing Öhlins was a no-brainer,” said Ohlins USA-backed rider and BTR mentor Melissa Paris. “I’ve used Öhlins components for my entire road racing career, and it’s what I felt comfortable using. I always knew that Öhlins made the best product for road racing, so I wasn’t surprised when it worked perfectly on the flat track as well. Now that I’m mentoring the road race version of BTR, I’m excited to have the opportunity to equip the ladies on the best equipment possible.”

To learn more about the BTR program and to follow along as the ladies begin the build process, visit BUILDTRAINRACE.com or follow Royal Enfield North America on Facebook and Instagram.

About Royal Enfield The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the mid-size motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market.

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Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 125 dealers in North America, including the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. RENA currently offers the Himalayan and the all-new 650 Twins: INT 650 and Continental GT 650 motorcycles along with a range of genuine motorcycle accessories and apparel.

For more information on Royal Enfield North America, please visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/ en/, www.Instagram.com/ RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/ RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.

About Öhlins® Öhlins Racing has been an integrated part of the motorsport industry as well as the motorcycle and automotive industry for over 40 years. Our focus has always been on high-quality products, service and support, all the way from the MotoGP circuits to the local, national racing events in over 50 distributing countries.

Our philosophy has always been to supply the aftermarket, OEM partners and teams with highend suspension technology, and we are all dedicated to exceeding our customer’s expectations throughout the world.

Royal Enfield’s Build, Train, Race Program To Be Featured Women Who Race: Royal Enfield’s Build, Train, Race Program To Be Featured At Three MotoAmerica Superbike Championship Rounds In 2021 Women Racers And Their Race-Prepped Royal Enfield Continental GT 650s To Compete In Select Rounds Of 2021 MotoAmerica Series IRVINE, CA (February 9, 2021) – MotoAmerica, the premier motorcycle road racing series in North America, is pleased to announce that it will be the Race portion of Royal Enfield’s Build, Train, Race (BTR) program with a group of women selected by Royal Enfield to prepare and race its Continental GT 650 motorcycles in three rounds of the 10-round 2021 MotoAmerica series. Royal Enfield’s BTR program will be racing with the MotoAmerica series at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota (July 30-August 1), Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania (August 13-15), and Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama (September 17-19). Additionally, the BTR participants (and their Royal Enfields) will be

interacting with fans at the opening round of the MotoAmerica series at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, April 30-May 2.

“I think it’s great that we are working with Royal Enfield and its program to get more women involved in road racing,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “I know our fans are going to be stoked to see what these talented women racers come up with in their design and preparation of their motorcycles, and to see them battle on the racetrack will be the icing on the cake. We look forward to meeting them all at Road Atlanta and watching them race at Brainerd, Pitt Race and Barber later in the season.”

Professional road racer and current BTR Flat Track program participant Melissa Paris has agreed to mentor the women during every phase of the BTR Road Race program. She will work with each participant on creating a design for their builds, creating sponsorship decks, and training off and on the track. “MotoAmerica is the premier class of racing in the United States and we can’t begin to describe how honored we are to have the Build, Train, Race Road Race Program included in the series this year,” said Bree Poland, Royal Enfield’s Global Brand Manager, Continental GT Platform.

“The women who are participating in this program have never built a race bike or raced before. This is literally a dream come true and they are anxious to get training and get out there with the rest of the MotoAmerica paddock. The Continental GT 650 Twin is the perfect motorcycle for people looking to get into road racing and MotoAmerica and the BTR program is the perfect partnership to showcase that.” For more information on the Royal Enfield Build Train Race road racing program, click HERE For the complete 2021 MotoAmerica Series schedule, click HERE To purchase tickets to any of the 2021 series rounds, click HERE For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica Series click HERE About MotoAmerica: MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship.

MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com. Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

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OFFICIAL 2021 DAYTONA BIKE WEEK CALENDAR CLICK HERE TO VIEW OFFICIAL WEB PAGE OR SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LINKS AND DATES OF INDIVIDUAL EVENTS OFFICIAL BIKE WEEK CALENDAR OF EVENTS COURTESY OF

BOBBY FRISS IN CONCERT Jasmine Cain

March 05, 2021 to March 05, 2021

March 05, 2021 to March 05, 2021

Sugarlands Distilling

March 05, 2021 to March 05, 2021

51st Annual DAYTONA Supercross

March 06, 2021 to March 06, 2021

Full Throttle Bike Week Kick Off Bike Show

March 06, 2021 to March 06, 2021

Slingshot Owner's Ride March 06, 2021 to March 06, 2021 Crashrocket

March 07, 2021 to March 07, 2021

Leather and Lace MC Annual Bike Blessing TSB Rocks Bike Week at Boot Hill Main Street Full Throttle Motorcycle Show

March 07, 2021 to March 07, 2021

March 09, 2021 to March 09, 2021

Bike Week Free Outdoor Breakfast Revved Up Ride in Bike Show

March 07, 2021 to March 07, 2021

March 10, 2021 to March 10, 2021

March 10, 2021 to March 10, 2021

43rd Annual Trike and Sidecar Day

March 11, 2021 to March 11, 2021

Leather and Lace MC Annual Open House

Ruff Ride Poker Run Bike Week 2021

March 11, 2021 to March 11, 2021

March 11, 2021 to March 11, 2021

3rd Annual Daytona Bike Week BIKES N BASS

March 12, 2021 to March 12, 2021

43rd Annual British and European Bike Invasion Day Boardwalk Property Owner

March 12, 2021 to March 12, 2021

Fastlane Promotions presents 2021 Burning Bike Miss Burning Bike Contest

March 12, 2021 to March 12, 2021

March 12, 2021 to March 12, 2021

March 12, 2021 to March 12, 2021

The 32nd Annual Daytona Beach Boardwalk Bike Show! March 12, 2021 to March 12, 2021

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V8 Parade

March 12, 2021 to March 12, 2021

43rd Annual Giant Antique and Cafe Racer Motorcycle Day DAYTONA 200 presented by Cumoto Rat's Hole Bike Show Rock it Fly

March 13, 2021 to March 13, 2021

March 13, 2021 to March 13, 2021

March 13, 2021 to March 13, 2021

March 13, 2021 to March 13, 2021

Hayfire March 05, 2021 to March 06, 2021 BOBBY FRISS IRON HORSE CONCERTS

March 06, 2021 to March 07, 2021

GREYE March 06, 2021 to March 07, 2021 Diesel

March 08, 2021 to March 09, 2021

Diesel

March 08, 2021 to March 09, 2021

Strut

March 10, 2021 to March 11, 2021

Big Wheel Women

March 12, 2021 to March 13, 2021

Volusia Half-Mile I and II Doubleheader March 12, 2021 to March 13, 2021 Vintage Motorcycle Alliance Swap Meet and Bike Show March 05, 2021 to March 07, 2021 BOBBY FRISS BROKEN SPOKE CONCERTS Crashrocket

March 11, 2021 to March 13, 2021

CCS Florida Roadracing Championship Series 21 to Burn

March 12, 2021 to March 14, 2021

March 05, 2021 to March 08, 2021

Torn

March 09, 2021 to March 12, 2021

DV8

March 05, 2021 to March 11, 2021

Hard Drive

March 11, 2021 to March 13, 2021

March 06, 2021 to March 13, 2021

2021 Fastlane Motorcycle Swap Meet and Bike Show 2021 Jam-On Swap Meet 43rd Annual!

2021 Official Bike Week Welcome Center 2021 Tattoo Event

March 05, 2021 to March 14, 2021

March 05, 2021 to March 14, 2021 March 05, 2021 to March 14, 2021

March 05, 2021 to March 14, 2021

Cowboy's Wet T-Shirt Contests March 05, 2021 to March 14, 2021 Fastlane Campground

March 05, 2021 to March 14, 2021

Fastlane Motorcycle Swap Meet and Bike Shows March 05, 2021 to March 14, 2021 Indian Motorcycle Demo Rides March 05, 2021 to March 14, 2021 Polaris Slingshot Demo Rides March 05, 2021 to March 14, 2021

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we were standing on Mike's huge jacked up truck trying to hold that large quilt up and keep it off the ground. There is also a picture of Dora, at 95-years old she made that quilt by herself and still everyday (to the current day) she continues to quilt daily.

She's currently making a quilt for the church, a quilt for her brother, another for a sister-in-law, and finally just one more for her at-home quilt inventory. Which all are hand-made and many made custom. I hope you enjoyed this story, Lora

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MARCH 2021 BLAH BLAH MOTORCYCLE TIMES is published every month by: MJM Publishing, LLC 719 Tomahawk Lane Felton, De 19943 Publisher/Editor: Mark McGhee Director to the Publisher/Editor: Evelyn McGhee Phone: 302.943.3590 Email: mjmpublishing2017@gmail.com Website: www.motorcycletimes.com ● Facebook: motorcycletimesusa ● Twitter: @MotorcycleTime1 New issues come out on or about the first of each month.

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