Rob Brooks

MotoGP Mapcap Final Round_Valencia

MotoGP Mapcap Final Round   The 2018 MotoGP championship drew to a close in dramatic fashion this past weekend at the Gran Prix of Valencia, Spain with shocking crashes, red flags & restarts, and season champions crowned, all amid soaking wet conditions. Wet practices and qualifying runs saw champion Marc Marquez and legend Valentino Rossi each go down hard, both walking away nursing shoulder injuries, yet both back in the saddle for Sunday's races.   And what race weekend it was. With wet conditions persisting, Andrea Dovizioso of Team Ducati claimed the final MotoGP victory of 2018, ahead of Alex…
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EICMA 2018 Unveilings

EICMA 2018 Unveilings The 76th EICMA motorcycle show was held in Milan, Italy this past weekend. The Esposizione Internazionale del Ciclo, Motociclo, Accessori (loose translation: International Expo of Cycles, Motorcycles, Accessories) is the world’s largest moto show, and every year witnesses the unveiling of many upcoming models and technologies from the various brands around the world. This year’s show was no different. This year’s show showcased horsepower. Three European marquees displayed 2019 models that all make over 200hp, a level of power for years only known to professional superbike racers. Aprilia announced their 217hp RSV4 1100 Factory before the show,…
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Milwaukee’s “Other” Motorcycle Company

Milwaukee’s “Other” Motorcycle Company   Harley-Davidson has a neighbor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it’s older than the iconic American brand. Royal Enfield established their U.S. headquarters there about three years ago and has been rapidly growing their dealer network across North America. With dealerships now in 34 states and Puerto Rico, the brand has come a long way (literally) since first arriving stateside in 2015, from zero to nearly 90 dealerships in America and Canada, and more opening and/or joining the brand monthly. Celebrating their 115th anniversary this year as a motorcycle company, Royal Enfield established itself in England in…
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Indian Debuts Flat Track-Inspired FTR 1200 for 2019

Indian Debuts Flat Track-Inspired FTR 1200 for 2019 Indian Motorcycle is shifting gears. Since reopening for business in 2013, the legendary brand has targeted the tourer, bagger and cruiser crowd with their array of Chief, Chieftain, and Scout models. But with the runaway success of their vaunted FTR 750 flat track championship-winning race machines, the motorcycle world has been begging for and anticipating a street legal version. The wait is over. Set for a 2019 release, Indian Motorcycle has introduced the flat-track inspired FTR 1200, a radical departure from their successful formula in recent years. The company had been hinting…
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Can-Am Unveils the Ryker

A Spyder for the Masses Can-Am debuted a new 2019 addition to their Spyder line this past week, a model targeted at younger, beginner, and women riders. Dubbed the Ryker, the new 3-wheeler is smaller, lighter, more affordable than ever before, and supremely approachable. Long perceived as a company building machines for older males with money to burn but who prefer the stability of a tripod stance, Can-Am takes a turn toward the younger generations with the Ryker. In two iterations, a 600cc twin and 900cc triple, plus an up-spec “Rally Edition” of the 900, all Rotax-powered, the Ryker models…
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Winning Battles, Losing the War

Winning Battles, Losing the War MotoAmerica Epic Season Ender at Barber The MotoAmerica motorcycle road racing season wrapped up at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama this past weekend, in two days marked by devastating crashes, fierce competition, the retiring of a legend, and the crowning of the 2018 champions. An epic weekend to end an epic season. With most class championships sewn up by the New Jersey round earlier in September, the MotoAmerica staff nonetheless predicted stiff competition across the two days of racing, with riders battling for the remaining points and podiums, and their drive to finish strong…
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Major Moto Moves

Major Moto Moves   This past week, two major motorcycle companies announced plans to relocate large portions of their operations, on opposite sides of the United States. Both moves came as a surprise to industry insiders, yet both companies see great prospects in their new locales. Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited_Touring     Harley-Davidson announced plans to locate an all-new R&D division in the Silicon Valley of California. The company is moving forward with plans for a complete line of “E-Bikes”, electric motorcycles, and sees the tech center of the world as the perfect location to assist development. As H-D seeks to…
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Beaubier Clinches MotoAmerica Crown

Beach, Dumas, & Lee claim titles as well Cameron Beaubier claimed his third MotoAmerica Superbike title at New Jersey’s Thunderbolt Raceway this past weekend, after two wet, treacherous days of racing. Beaubier led race 2 from the get-go, sewing up the championship with the Barber round still ahead. Beaubier’s Sunday win also marked his eighth of the season, and his 32nd career, placing him in third on the all-time most wins list in AMA/MotoAmerica Superbike. Roger Hayden took second in Sunday’s race, followed by 2017 champ Toni Elias. Hayden has announced his retirement the end of the season. JD Beach…
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Race Like a Girl

Jamie Astudillo in MotoAmerica Not many females currently run professionally in motorcycle road racing, but those who do, have definitely earned their place. Here in the States, in MotoAmerica, there are only three—Caroline Olsen in Supersport 600, Melissa Paris in Stock 1000, and Jamie Astudillo in Liqui Moly Junior Cup. And of these, only one has rewritten the record books—Jamie Astudillo. We pointed out in our May issue that Jamie etched her name in the MotoAmerica/AMA Road Racing archives as the first woman to ever podium in an American professional motorcycle road racing event when she took third place in…
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Three Amigos Ride Baja

An extended road trip across the deep Southwest has long been one of my bucket list items. In March, I fulfilled that dream in grand fashion. MotoQuest, one of America’s premier motorcycle tour companies, granted me the opportunity to ride along on one of their “Baja Adventure” tours, from Cabo San Lucas at the bottom of the peninsula, 1,500 miles north to Los Angeles. It simply doesn’t get any more “deep Southwest” than Baja. Accompanied by two childhood chums, Lyle and Jimmy, we flew into Cabo and met up with Darin, Lyle’s son and MotoQuest tour guide, and his bride…
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