MARQUEZHAS COTA COVERED

QUICK LINKS IN THE WIND 22 ARCHIVES 112
MOTOGP
MARQUEZ HAS
COTA COVERED
VOL. 53 ISSUE 14 APRIL 12, 2016
MOTOAMERICA
ELIAS, SUZUKI
STRIKE FIRST!
INDY SUPERCROSS
DUNGEY, ROCZEN
SHOWDOWN!
FIRST RIDE
TRIUMPH
BONNEVILLE T120
BIGGER BONNIE
PLUS…
AUSTIN HALF MILE
SUPERMOTO OPENER
SHASTA DAM GRAND PRIX
SALINAS ARENACROSS
Kickin’ Ass and Takin’ Mains
PHOTO SCOTT COX / RESMARKET.COM
Jared Mees wins the inaugural Harley-Davidson Lone Star Half-Mile GNC1 main event.
Congrats also to Sammy Halbert and Kolby Carlile for their GNC1 and GNC2 podiums.
See more @ridetcxboots.com
P10
CAPTURED
VOL. 53 ISSUE 14 APRIL 12, 2016
P11
Big Win In Texas
Jared Mees lassoed a big win in Texas
at the Austin Half Mile. The defending
champ grabbed the victory ahead of
Robert Pearson and Sammy Halbert.
He’s now the third different winner in
the three races held this season.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE HOENIG
P34
WIND
PHOTOGRAPHY BY FUTURE7MEDIA
IN
THE
WORLD ENDURO KICKS OFF
INheMOROCCO
FIM World Enduro Championship got started
T
with the GP of Agadir in Morocco, where the
rocky, dusty and demanding two-day event put
riders and machines to the test. New for the 2016
season, riders are vying for the newly created EnduroGP title, which pits the top riders of all classes
(E1, E2 and E3) together in a single championship.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Matthias Bellino took
the first EnduroGP class win of the season with the
victory on day one, but the next day factory Sherco
rider Matthew Phillips took control for the day-two
win and the overall GP victory.
After his win on day one, Bellino was looking to
follow it up with another win on day two. He started
the day strong, but his luck soon
Former E3
ran out. “I lost everything in the last
Champion Matt
enduro test with a few mistakes,”
Phillips is no
Bellino explained. “But I still finstranger to the
ished second outright so I’m happy
World Enduro
podium, but
with that. I was able to push hard
his EnduroGP
and it was great to win [on day
victory in
one] and show that I am ready to
Morocco was a
first for Sherco.
challenge for the EnduroGP title.”
Third overall went to TM rider Eero Remes.
Aboard a 250cc four-stroke Remes took the
E1-class win while also landing on the EnduroGP
podium.
E3 (Open class) competitor Steve Holcombe
of Great Britain piloted his Beta to the class win
and fourth overall while Alex Salvini (E2) rounded
out the top-five overall.
The World Enduro Championship picks up next
weekend in Gouveia, Portugal at the GP Polisport
of Portugal on April 16-17. CN
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Matthias Bellino started
off the weekend with the first EnduroGP class win of the
season, but ultimately had to settle for second overall.
P40
WIND
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE HOENIG
IN
THE
MEES DOMINATES LONE STAR HALF-MILE
A
MA Pro Racing came to
Austin, Texas, April 9, for
the first time with the HarleyDavidson Lone Star Half-Mile
running in conjunction with the
big “MotoGP Weekend” at the
Circuit of the Americas.
Defending AMA Pro Racing
Grand National Champion Jared
Mees withstood the challenges
of the “bull ring” half-mile oval
and an ultra competitive field in
the Harley-Davidson GNC 1 presented by Vance & Hines 25-lap
main event.
Despite an eighth-place
qualifying time and a third-place
finish in his heat, Las Vegas
Harley-Davidson/Rogers Racing-backed Mees roared quickly
to the front in the main. Mees
grabbed second on lap four and
set out after early leader Brad
Baker (Harley-Davidson Motor
Company/Vance & Hines). Suddenly on lap eight Baker’s race
was over as he coasted off the
track in turn two.
“I just got into second and
had passed Pearson and was
able to get into my rhythm,” said
Mees. “I was getting Brad going
into three and really in one and
two. I was thinking that I was
going to catch him and then I
saw him break. That was hugely
unfortunate for him, of course. It
happens, it really does.”
The day’s fast qualifier Rob
Pearson was flexing the muscles of his R&R Racing/Big
Dog/Country Saloon-backed
Harley-Davidson and settled
into second when Baker had his
misfortune.
“I felt good all day, the Harley
was working,” said Pearson. “At
the beginning of the main event I
got a good jump then Jared got
by me and showed me that I was
exiting turn two too high. I got
VOL. 52 ISSUE 14 APRL 12, 2016
Jared Mees (center) celebrates on
the podium with Rob Pearson and
Sammy Halbert.
that dialed.”
Also racing his way to the front
after a slow start was Sammy
Halbert on his BriggsAuto.com/
Martin Trucking-backed HarleyDavidson. “At the beginning
of the race I was kind of at the
back of the pack and guys were
going everywhere,” said Halbert.
“A few laps in I found a good line
going into one and two and was
managing the other end. It was
very different. You just had to
find a line that worked for you.”
After getting a good start,
Stevie Bonsey (CR Motorsports/
Alpinestars) was keeping pres-
sure on Halbert, but just couldn’t
finish a pass. “I got a good jump.
We even got the holeshot,” said
Bonsey. “I went a little wide
going into the turn. On the exit
I spun up a little bit and I lost
some ground there. I got kind
of freight-trained and stuck me
on the outside. In turn three I hit
those bumps every lap.
“It was sketchy. Everybody
tank slapped around each other.
I sat back and Sammy got by
me. I kind of settled in and
started making ground on him
and would hit that bump and
make a mistake again.”
Just when the race appeared
to be settled, Weirbach Racing’s
Briar Bauman crashed his Kawasaki in turn four, bringing out the
Mees leads the way on a hard-packed and dusty track.
P41
red flag. The race would now be
a five-lap dash.
Mees was able to get just
good enough of a restart to
hold his advantage down the
back straight. “The restart was
a huge concern on a track like
this, because turn three was so
rough going in,” said Mees. “I
was just worrying about not getting off turn two good and letting
somebody bonsai up the inside
of me. I made sure I got off turn
two extremely well off the restart
and I did.”
“The restart made me nervous,” said Pearson. “I thought
man, ‘Maybe I’ve got a shot to
win, but maybe I could lose out
on this second that I’ve been
holding on to for twenty laps.’
P42
IN
THE
WIND
Andrew Luker
won the Pro
When Jared went in
Singles main.
he really protected
the bottom. I didn’t
want to try to go
around him so I tried
to fall in line behind
him. I could see
wheels on both sides
of me. I ran it down
the back straightaway
and Sammy ran it up
under me. I kind of
did a bonsai and got
it back and collected
it. I thought to myself,
okay we’ve got five
laps, settle down.”
It appeared Halbert
might have been in the catbird
son had to jump on his backup
seat, restarting in the center
Harley-Davidson and ride a semi
of the track. “I thought I would
to earn his way into the main,
have a good shot at second
but certainly made the most of
with the restart,” said Halbert.
it. “From a DNF in the heat race
“I had made up some time on
to fifth in the main, I guess we’ll
Pearson during the race. On the
take it,” said Johnson.
restart I initially got into second
Dominic Colindres was the
but he really made a ballsy move
first non-Harley across the finish
around me going into turn three
line bringing his Babe DeMay
and pinched me down.
Racing/Memphis ShadesOn the last five laps I really
backed Yamaha home sixth.
felt I had something for PearTitle contender and defending
son. I had turn one and two
X Games gold medalist Bryan
really dialed and I could make up
Smith finished seventh on his
some time there. My entrance
Crosley Brands/T&T Construcinto turn three just wasn’t quite
tion/Howerton Motorsports’
good enough. I was hitting the
Kawasaki.
biggest part of the hole. I was
Andrew Luker (Justin Jones
kind of scared to change my line
Racing/Juliet & Fernando Aguibecause I just really didn’t know
lar) got the holeshot in the 16-lap
what was there. I just had to
GNC 2 main, then had to fend
kind of settle into third the last
off a variety of riders for the win.
couple laps.”
Luker was able to hold tight only
Zanotti Racing’s Jake John-
allowing Parksinson Brothers
Racing/Fat Guys Racing’s Ryan
Wells to lead lap nine.
“I wasn’t even coming to this
race last week, but Justin Jones
put me on his backup bike and it
was a rocket,” said Luker.
Kolby Carlile (K.C. Cycle/
Team 95) bounced around the
top-five the whole race before
capturing second on lap 14.
Kevin Stollings (Ben Evans Racing / Dave’s Cycles) made it a
Honda sweep after challenging
for the lead early on, dropping to
fifth, then fighting back to third.
Fast qualifier Dalton Gauthier
(DGR Motorsports/Lonesome
Losers) was the last-lap victim of
Stollings. Wells ended his night
in fifth.
Dave Hoenig
ROUND 3 / APRIL 10, 2016
CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS / AUSTIN, TEXAS
MOTOGP
P58
MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Alex Rins topped the Moto2 race.
Moto2 Race
and seven, but would never get
closer. Nor much further away,
Alex Rins had dominated pracuntil the 16th of 19 laps, when his
tice and qualifying, and the
challenge was clearly spent.
Paginas Amarillas Kalex rider
“I pushed hard at the start, but
did the same in the race. In both
the last four laps I had no grip from
cases, however, Gresini Kalex
rider Sam Lowes ran him close. the front,” he said. He was happy
enough that second gave him the
Often very close.
lead on points, if only narrowly.
It was defending champion
Rins’s worst moment was
Johann Zarco (Ajo Kalex) bewhen spots of rain fell on the last
tween the pair on the front row;
lap. Aside from that, “I was able
and Dominique Aegerter (CarXpert Kalex) who leaped from the to control the race.”
The battle for third was lively
second row to lead into the first
corner. By the second, however, until the closing stages. Aegerter had taken over from Zarco
both Rins and Zarco were past
as Thomas Luthi (Garage Plus
the Swiss charger.
Rins would never be headed, Kalex) moved past Jonas Folger
(Dynavolt Kalex) and an on-form
but a lively Lowes set a new lap
Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu
record the second time around
as he surged through from fourth Kalex) to challenge.
They shuffled around as Simto second, and rapidly halved
one Corsi (Speed Up) arrived in
a gap that had grown to more
than one second. He was within typically aggressive style, adding
just over three-tenths on laps six to the confusion as Luthi took
over third from laps nine to 14.
Now Zarco was feeling more
comfortable and ready to push,
and the time was right. He took
over, while just behind him, a
desperate Corsi knocked off Nakagami, who had just taken over
fourth, at the first corner.
This gave Zarco breathing
space, and he pushed on to
secure a podium to follow his
Argentina win.
Aegerter won the last-lap
scramble from Folger—a couple of
seconds behind them, Corsi took
sixth from Luthi on the last lap.
A third winner in three races
means the main rivals will go
to Europe neck and neck. Just
four points separate the top four.
Lowes has 47 points, Rins 46,
Zarco 45 and Luthi 43. Lowes is
the only one without a win so far.
Aegerter is fifth with 35 points.
ROUND 1 / CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS
AUSTIN, TEXAS / APRIL 10, 2016
ROAD RACE
P72
MOTOAMERICA AMA/FIM NORTH AMERICAN ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP
24 TONI ELIAS 1-1 SUPERBIKE
“I am happy, very satisfied. I
never had a great feeling on the
bike, but I tried to go away at the
front, but Roger, all the time, was
there. My rhythm was good, and
the tires were sliding a lot, all
the time. I did one mistake and
Roger was past me, but finally I
could do what I wanted and take
some gap but only in the last three laps. I am very happy.
Happy about this bike, the situation. Three weeks ago I
was at home and now this is amazing. For me, this win is
very important because it’s the first time in three years I
have really enjoyed racing a motorcycle.”
95 ROGER HAYDEN 2-2 SUPERBIKE
“Today was a really good
race,” Hayden said after
race two. “As soon as I got
the holeshot my lap time
was a low 10 and that’s what
I’ve been working hard on,
to try and get away. Toni
came by me and the whole
race was 9s, low 10s. His pace was incredible and the
last couple of laps I was just sliding around a lot and he
kinda got a little gap on me. I’m really happy for the team
and they’re working really hard to sweep the weekend
with qualifying first and second, first and second in both
races... they deserve that. We’ve been getting our butts
kicked pretty bad the last couple of years by Josh and
Cam and it kind of feels good as a team to finally give
them a little piece of the bad taste that we’ve been getting. We want to win just like those guys want to win, so
it feels good, but I don’t like getting second either and I
want to win one of these. I’m doing all the right things and
eventually it’s going to happen.”
1 CAMERON BEAUBIER DNF-4 SUPERBIKE
“It was pretty crappy. I haven’t
had a weekend like that in a long
time. It’s frustrating, really. [It was]
one thing after another. Yesterday I felt I had a great pace and
I could just go, and today I didn’t
have that feeling at all. I felt tight
on the bike, then I had a front
brake issue. I think I got a little air bubble in the line or
something. I just went straight. The brake came back to
the bar, and I went straight. But then I pumped them back
up and they were perfect the rest of the race, completely
fine. I haven’t had a problem like that before. Super
strange. I know how hard my guys work on the bikes and
how much time they put in, and to have little things go
wrong like that, it’s unlucky, really unlucky.”
32 JAKE GAGNE 4-9 SUPERBIKE
“It was the worst weekend I’d
had in a while. We struggled
big time with the bike. We are
just roasting the soft tire. I was
getting chatter everywhere,
and once we roasted the tire,
after like, four laps, it was really crap. I like Road Atlanta a
lot and I think that will suit us a bit better, plus we’ll have a
lot more practice time during the week, so hopefully this
coming weekend is better for us than this one.”
4 JOSH HAYES 3-3 SUPERBIKE
“I hate losing, but I simply didn’t have the speed. I’m on
the podium twice, so that’s a positive. I took a pretty good
beating by an outdated machine today! The boys were
just plain faster than me. I rode the best I could but I was
given a better bike than last year and I was not able to
do with it what I should have. [I need to] just go back to
the drawing board. I’m plenty motivated and I’m looking
forward to getting another shot at these boys.”
50 BOBBY FONG 1-1 SUPERSTOCK 1000
“[I was] pushing 110 percent and
I know by the end of the race I
couldn’t do those times,” Fong said.
“We tried and I knew that I had a
gap on the Superstock guys and I
kept on seeing plus one, plus two
on my board and then I heard an
R1 behind me. I thought it was Josh
Day or (Josh) Herrin trying to get by
me and it was Cameron (Beaubier). I wasn’t too worried
after that. I was pretty thankful it was Cameron and not
one of the Superstock guys.”
31 GARRETT GERLOFF 1ST SUPERSPORT
Garrett Gerloff followed up his poleearning performance on Friday to
win the opening round of the 2016
MotoAmerica Supersport Series,
the Texan taking victory at his home
race by 1.004 seconds over his
teammate JD Beach, the defending
series champion. The Y.E.S. Graves
pairing were locked together for the
entire race, but Beach could never
find a way around his teammate. “I’ve been putting a lot
of work in during the off-season and I don’t want to be
working my butt off for nothing, so I definitely wanted to
win,” Gerloff said. “It definitely made it special that it was
at my home track and I have the Texas flag on the back of
my helmet cause this is where I’m from and grew up. It’s
definitely really special.”
ROUND 13 / APRIL 9, 2016
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA / LUCAS OIL STADIUM
SUPERCROSS
P82
MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES, AN FIM WORLD
Blake Baggett is one of the many
stars of the series who has been
slowed by injuries. Baggett,
however, had his best race of the
year so far after finishing fifth in
the 450SX main. Before that, his
best was a 10th which came at the
previous round.
On The DL
Do you want to know how to tell
how deep the field is in AMA
Supercross? As of Indianapolis,
the list of riders who are sitting
out right now due to injury could
make up half of the main event at
any supercross anywhere in the
world. Here’s the list of guys who
are out as of Indianapolis: Red
Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin, Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart,
Honda’s Cole Seely, BTOSports
KTM’s Davi Millsaps, Monster
Energy Kawasaki’s Wil Hahn,
CycleTrader.com/Rock River
Yamaha’s Tommy Hahn, Red Bull
KTM’s Dean Wilson, BTOSports
KTM’s Andrew Short, Red Bull/
Troy Lee Designs KTM’s Justin
Hill, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit
Kawasaki’s Arnaud Tonus, Motorcycle Superstore Suzuki’s Jimmy
Albertson…
And that’s only the 450SX
class and the 250SX East.
The list doesn’t even touch the
250SX West. However, a couple
of racers returned in Indianapolis, as well. Rockstar Energy
Husqvarna’s Christophe Pourcel
returned to action, promptly
announcing his presence by setting the fastest qualifying time in
practice. He had a huge crash in
his heat race, but bounced right
back up before scoring his best
finish of the year in seventh.
RCH Suzuki’s Broc Tickle also
returned to action in Indianapolis, making the RCH Suzuki team
a three-rider affair for the first
time this season. Tickle made
the main and finished 14th.
And then there’s AutoTrader.
com/JGR Yamaha’s Justin
Barcia, who returned a week
earlier in Santa Clara. Barcia
has struggled since he came
back with 16th and a 15th-place
finishes. In Indy, he started near
the back of the field, then took
out Tickle’s RCH Suzuki teammate Jake Weimer for 14th in the
early laps before quickly falling
off the pace himself.
With just four rounds left to
run, it’s likely that we’ll see just a
few guys return to action during
supercross, as a lot more will be
likely to return to action when the
outdoor series starts in a little bit
over a month.