Tag Archives: champion

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CHASE SEXTON SIGNS WITH RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACE TEAM

Chase Sexton, the current 450SX Champion, has joined the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team for the upcoming 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) season.

Chase Sexton: “I’m thrilled to be a part of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing organization. The equipment is top-notch, and the team is driven to win. From the moment I joined, Roger [De Coster], Ian [Harrison], the team, and KTM have been incredibly welcoming. I believe we have a bright future together, and I can’t wait to start working.”

The 24-year-old will defend his 2023 AMA Supercross Championship title on a KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION bike starting in January at Anaheim 1. This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Sexton and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team.

Sexton has made a multi-year commitment to KTM, competing in the AMA Supercross Championship, AMA Pro Motocross Championship, and the prestigious SMX Finals Series. He will also sport the number four, a new single-digit career number, as he enters this phase of his professional career.

Before diving into his partnership with KTM, Sexton, who was raised in Illinois, will defend his 450SX title. He is already focused on preparing for the upcoming season at the highest level.

Sexton secured his first premier class Supercross Championship in May of this year with six Main Event victories. He also finished fourth in the final 450MX standings, despite missing several rounds in the first half of the outdoor season.

In the inaugural SMX post-season, he finished third overall, winning the hybrid-style Charlotte event and proving himself as a strong contender in each discipline.

Ian Harrison – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Our goal with Chase is to make him feel welcomed and at home with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team. We are working on developing a race package that will set the foundation for success. I believe we can provide the full factory support system he desires and deserves, and I have no doubt that Chase will elevate the team and our riders. We are excited for the 2024 season and grateful for his trust in us.”

Roger De Coster – Director of Motorsports, North America: “We have been following Chase’s progress closely, and he has impressed us. His determination and professionalism both on and off the track are admirable. Our entire U.S. team is thrilled to have the opportunity to work and grow with Chase over the coming years. Our values align with Chase’s, and we are excited to see what we can accomplish together in the future.”

Sexton and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team will make their competitive debut at Round 1 of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, which also serves as the SMX season opener in Anaheim, California, on Saturday, January 6.

News

Records broken as Ash Sutton secures his fourth BTCC title

Ash Sutton has become a record-equalling four-time British Touring Car Champion, clinching the title with two wins at the renowned Brands Hatch GP circuit last weekend.

The 29-year-old achieved an impressive feat of six pole positions and 12 race wins during the season, making him the first driver to claim the championship in both rear-wheel and front-wheel-drive vehicles.

Previously, the only driver to achieve six pole positions in a season was James Thompson in 2003, and the sole racer to secure 12 race wins was Alain Menu back in 1997. Sutton’s four titles now put him on par with Andy Rouse and Colin Turkington.

Sutton faced strong competition from the runner-up and outgoing champion, Tom Ingram, who finished second in the first two races. Ingram pursued Sutton throughout the season, but Sutton held onto his lead to secure the championship.

“It feels incredible, I’m lost for words,” said Sutton. “The car has been absolutely fantastic, and I’m immensely grateful to NAPA Racing UK and everyone involved. Becoming a four-time BTCC champion is an amazing achievement!”

Sutton further expressed his relief, acknowledging the pressure of maintaining his lead throughout the season. “Even though we had a significant points gap, Tom [Ingram] was right. It was ours to lose. A single bad race could have changed everything… People talk about breaking records, which is great. We always strive to push further. But what’s truly special is being the first driver to claim the title in both front-wheel and rear-wheel-drive vehicles. That’s what we were ultimately aiming for because I don’t plan to stop at four titles.”

The 2023 season concluded on a high note for BMW as Jake Hill won the final race for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport. However, BMW fell just short of securing their eighth consecutive manufacturers’ title. The NAPA Racing UK/Ford team claimed both the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ titles, while Josh Cook and his One Motorsport with Starline Racing squad took home the Independent Drivers’ and Teams’ accolades.

The Jack Sears Trophy, which saw a close competition throughout the year, was won by CarStore Power Maxed Racing’s rookie driver, Andrew Watson.

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will return in April, with the opening rounds of the 2024 season taking place at Donington Park.

Sutton seals the deal with race one success

NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton secured a lights-to-flag victory in the opening race, solidifying his lead in the championship battle.

It was a fitting win for Sutton, who was undoubtedly the star of the 2023 BTCC season. He was closely followed by his main rival for the championship, Tom Ingram of Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8.

Ingram kept the pressure on Sutton throughout the race and made a final attempt to snatch victory after a late safety car period. However, Sutton held his ground and crossed the finish line ahead of Ingram, sparking wild celebrations in the NAPA Racing UK garage.

Motorsport

Vettel Will Drive His F1 Cars at Goodwood FoS Using Sustainable Fuel

Sebastian Vettel, the four-time Formula One World Champion, will showcase the practicality of fossil-free synthetic fuel by driving a selection of his personal F1 cars at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Vettel will use P1 Fuels sustainable fuel to race Nigel Mansell’s 1992 title-winning Williams Renault and Ayrton Senna’s 1993 Monaco Grand Prix-winning McLaren Ford. The vehicles’ V10 and V8 engines require no modifications to run on this direct replacement fuel. Vettel will drive both cars up the festival’s famous hill course over the weekend.

This demonstration comes as more automakers and companies start to explore synthetic fuel’s potential. Last year, Porsche began producing synthetic fuel at a plant in Chile, using it in the first drops of the nearly carbon-neutral fuel in a 911. While production will increase through 2027, it is not enough to replace our daily consumption of fossil fuel.

In April, Stellantis announced that it was testing synthetic fuels in several of its engines. The company evaluated 28 gasoline and diesel engine families built between 2014 and 2029, examining emissions, power, reliability, and other engine parameters.

The European Union also showed support for synthetic fuels earlier this year by allowing the sale of new cars that run on them. However, automakers must meet certain requirements for implementing the technology and ensuring vehicles do not use regular gasoline or diesel fuel.

While synthetic e-fuels still require a significant amount of energy to create, limiting their ability to reduce CO2 emissions, advancements continue to be made. Toyota CEO Koji Sato believes the technology must overcome this hurdle before it can be widely adopted.

Porsche’s production facility in southern Chile takes advantage of the region’s wind conditions, which allow the plant’s wind turbines to operate optimally and power the energy-intensive production process. Critics, such as Volkswagen brand boss Thomas Schäfer, have labeled e-fuel technology as unnecessary noise.

Vettel’s F1 career began in 2007, and he achieved his first Grand Prix win for Toro Rosso at Monza in 2008. He went on to win his first World Championship for Red Bull in 2010 and subsequently claimed three more titles during his 16-year career before retiring in December of last year.

News

Toni Elias Retires From Racing—What’s subsequent?

Former MotoGP race winner and Moto2 champion, Toni Elias, made an announcement on reside TV, stating that he will probably be retiring from the game. The resolution got here after he secured a fifth-place end within the Road America Superbike race final Sunday, June  4, 2023.

Elias, who has a formidable file of 17 grand prix victories throughout numerous lessons together with 125cc, 250cc, Moto2, and Racing, is greatest remembered for his beautiful overcome Valentino Rossi within the 2006 Estoril race. This victory marked Elias’ first premier-class rostrum and was the final MotoGP win by a satellite tv for pc rider till Jack Miller’s triumph at Assen in 2016.

Although Elias achieved a number of podium finishes within the subsequent years, he struggled to safe additional wins throughout his time within the revised 800cc MotoGP class. He then transitioned to the newly fashioned Moto2 class in 2010 and clinched the championship title in its inaugural season whereas using for Gresini.

Following his Moto2 success, Elias returned to MotoGP with LCR Honda however did not make a big impression. He spent the following three seasons accepting momentary MotoGP rides in between his Moto2 commitments. However, the Spaniard skilled a exceptional resurgence in his racing profession when he moved to the United States in 2016. He made a victorious debut in MotoAmerica and went on to say the championship title within the following season.

Elias continued to compete in MotoAmerica, ending because the championship runner-up in 2018 and 2019 whereas using for Suzuki. His last full marketing campaign passed off in 2020. Subsequently, Elias made sporadic appearances in races earlier than signing with Team Hammer/Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki for the 2023 season.

Following his fifth-place end within the latest race, Elias made a reside tv announcement that it marked his “final dance.” Expressing his gratitude, he thanked Chris Ulrich, John Ulrich, Team Hammer, and all those that had supported and helped him all through his profession. Elias acknowledged that his return to racing didn’t meet his expectations and concluded by expressing his appreciation for the pleasurable moments in his last race.

“Today was my final dance, my final race,” acknowledged Elias in an interview. 

 

Toni Elias’ retirement marks the top of an illustrious profession that noticed him compete on the highest degree of motorbike racing and go away an enduring impression on the game. Fans and fellow riders alike will undoubtedly keep in mind his fierce battles on the observe and his important contributions to the MotoGP and Moto2 championships. 

Now the true query is, what’s subsequent for Elias? It’s probably that Elias may have time to dedicate to his faculty based mostly in California but in addition spend quite a lot of his free time along with his spouse and three children.