RACE NEWS
KTM’s contingency offering for AFT Singles riders such as Dan Bromley, Sandriana Shipman and others totals $56,300 for 2018, and includes 2016-2018 KTM 450 SX-F models. An AFT Singles championship bonus of $5,000 is also included.
Japanese E-Bike manufacturer Mugen will race three Shinden Nana electric Superbikes at the Isle of Man TT Zero race as they go in search of a fifth straight and seventh overall win - with 2018 improvements said to include reduced mass and increased capacity as the performance of lithium-ion batteries gets ever better with less mass and greater capacity.
In addition to the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building, this year’s INTERMOT ‘Customized’ (Cologne, Germany, October 3-7) also features The Sultans of Sprint and ‘Essenza’ - “the essence of motorcycles” - sprint specials and race series
With fresh American Flat Track contingency offerings from Suzuki and KTM, AFT’s contingency pool is now approaching $3 million, by far the largest in series history. Suzuki’s contingency for AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines is massive, totaling just over $424,000, and includes the V-twin power plants from the popular SV/DL650 and SV/DL1000 models. In AFT Singles they are offering $171,500 in payouts, taking their total contingency pool to $595,500 - the largest combined OEM posting in series history.
TCX Boots USA has posted contingency support to AFT Singles competitors for the 2018 season. The Italian-based company produces a wide range of motorcycle boots and has been a long-time supporter of AFT racers, including Harley-Davidson factory rider Sammy Halbert and Indian-mounted privateer Kenny Coolbeth. TCX’s contingency offering totals $10,000.
Dainese has returned as AFT Official Motorcycle Safety and Race Apparel for 2018. Along with its 2007 acquired AGV helmets brand (whose heritage goes back to 1947), Dainese can list icons such as Giacomo Agostini, the late Barry Sheene, Kenny Roberts and Valentino Rossi among its past riders. The Italian firm is partnered with the Indian Motorcycle Wrecking Crew - Dainese-wearing riders were victorious in 14 of 18 races last season en route to securing the top three spots in the AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines championship. This season their involvement includes continued development of its breakthrough D-Air intelligent airbag-based protection systems.
Dillard Family Racing/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports are racing in the Indian and Harley dominated Twins class with three-time AFT race winner Stevie Bonsey aboard a liquid-cooled Ducati Testastretta 82. Having debuted in Round 2 at Atlanta, they will run in all eight of the mile races and the Lima half mile. Bonsey is racing again after serious injury in 2016. Lloyd Brothers “have game” with Ducati – they ended Harley’s near two-decade run of uninterrupted dominance at the series’ Miles with a victory at the Arizona Mile in 2010.