Valentino's suit for Estoril

Dainese made a special livery for Vale and Jorge's suits at Estoril, in line with the special new Fiat Punto colors of the Fiat Yamaha bikes.

AGV Dainese stars shine at WSBK Imola

What an incredible World Superbike weekend at Imola! Both races saw amazing racing throughout the field with strong battles for the podium spots.
This was a first for AGV Dainese's Marco Simoncelli who was replacing Nakano on the Aprilia RSV4. Marco showed that he's very much ready for the move to the big bikes of MotoGP. Marco came back from about 11th to 4th in Race 1 before he low-sided and crashed out of the race.

In Race 2, Supersic started around 10th, coming back on the leaders mid-race to battle with Dainese teammate Max Biaggi and Yamaha's Ben Spies for the 3rd, celebrating his first podium in WSBK, at "home" in Imola. Congrats Marco, bellissimo!!

The Roman Emperor wasn't on top form at Imola too. Max lead most of Race 1, racing Ducati's Haga and Fabrizio. Biaggi took 2nd in Race 1, passing Fabrizio in the last corner.

Great weekend for the two AGV Dainese boyz!

WSBK standings after round   of  :
Haga - 391 pts
Spies - 388
Fabrizio - 330
Rea - 263
Max Biaggi - 257

AMA Superbike at VIR, fist photos

First photos from AMA Superbike round in Virginia. Most pics from Dave Williams at OnTheThrottle.com

Aaron sporting his Dainese gloves during the kart race on Thursday.


First pics from Friday practice.

Geoff May's pits


Working on Blake Young's bike


Steve Rapp getting ready to hit the track for the Daytona Sportbike practice

Blake Young feature on SpeedTV.com

A very good in depth feature on Dainese's Blake Young.

Blake Young on SpeedTV.com

AGV Dainese's James Rispoli interview at Mid-Ohio

James Rispoli wins at Motorcycle mecca in Sturgis

Hi everyone;
So far what a trip its been.  Yep I left Attica NY with my left coast buddy Chad Cose to travel to Sturgis, the Mecca for motorcycles the first week of August each year. This was to be my first time heading there and I was going to chase several races leading up to both the AMA Hot Shoe and AMA GNC half mile in Rapid City South Dakota to earn a little money and test out a few new things on my bike.  It also was my first road trip as a 18 year old and both Chad and I intended to be on the road for two weeks until we made it back to Ohio for the AMA GNC mile event August 16th.  The initial trip had us traveling around 1,100 miles to the Black Hills but on the way we were stopping off for a short track and TT just over the boarder in South Dakota to earn a little cha-ching.  I was able to enter three classes, for the short track and TT running my Weirbach Racing/Bettencourt Suzuki.  I manage a 2nd, 5th and 8th place finish on a slick one line groove track.  I lost to some locals but still managed to make some cash to support my two week road trip as well as gain additional track time on the slick groove tracks that make up the South Dakota dirt track market in preparation for the AMA Pro races coming on the following Monday and Tuesday.  
After our racing there we loaded up and  headed out to make it to Sturgis for the AMA Hot Shoe event and stopped to sleep in the back of a Burger King parking lot.  We arrived at the track at around 11 AM, unloaded and started to work on the bike changing tires, prepping some gearing and making sure we were ready to rock when practice came out.  The track was a cool track and in the first practice I was like 5th fastest..  We made an adjustment to the gearing,  wire brushed the tire  to deglaze it a little and changed the air pressure and went out for the next timed qualifying runs.  In the heat race I had both Carver and Texter and I got a great start.  Carver and I did a little bump and grind in the first corner but I came out in front and led the entire  heat race.  There were two heats with identical overall times of 1:24.008 so in the final I was given first choice on the front row.  In the main event I got a smoking start and led pulling away while running the bottom groove. Unfortunately the groove down there was drying out and was getting really slippery. I was moving around to find some traction when Baker caught up to me.  I made a huge mistake coming out of turn two and drove it way too hard into turn three and four to make up time and ran it wide on the tenth lap  slipping the groove .  It was a drag race to the line but  Baker got me going into turn two when the red flag came out and ended the race.  I was given the race win when the reverted back the one lap and that was awesome. This was my first AMA National race in Sturgis and my first Hot Shoe this year and to take a win here was really special.  It was special because my good friend and fellow Coolskunk rider national #64 Aaron Creamer was killed in Sturgis at a race 5 years ago.  I thought of Aaron while I was out here and I know he rode on my shoulders taking in the great view from the front of the pack.  I dedicated that race win to him.
With the hot shoe under my belt I was hyped to race the AMA GNC half mile the following night.  I was going to change bikes and ride our Weirbach Racing Honda and I was pretty confident we would run up front again.  I met Dick Weirbach at the track the next day and we checked over the bike and had a spare bike with my number plates ready as a back up.   The track looked like it was going to be good and in practice I was like second fastest.  The gearing we choose was good but my rear tire was spinning really bad.  I discussed the situation with Dick, and even called my dad to see what he thought.  We made the adjustment and went out for the final qualifying where I was clearly in the hunt. We got ready for our heats but we were questioning our tire pressure the whole time.  I had dropped it significantly and while I was able to hole shot and run up front, we were a little afraid the rear tire would heat up too much and start the loose traction.  That's what happened.  I had the lead but was caught by Chebultz.  He went by me really hooked up late in the race when my tires were starting to fail me.  I learned a huge lesson in that race and was going to be much better prepared for the final.  But then the rain came!  It poured and the race was called.  We ended up qualifying but all of received (1) point so no one gained any advantage from this race.  It was too bad because I really felt we could have won that race too it it went the distance.
So we headed out of there with half our purse winnings and saddled up the next day with another half mile race that Del Shelsted was promoting. I only had my Suzuki and I knew it was going to be a challenge since the yellow bike is set up only for short track racing.  The engine is in the 50 HP range and that plus its lightning fast handling make it ideal for slippery or cushioned short tracks.  I knew on the half mile I would be giving up a lot of straight away speed.  And, that's exactly what happened.  I qualified 2nd but on the straights was getting pulled (2) bike lengths.  I made up all my time in the corners driving it in realllllllllllly deeeeeeep and was squeeeezzzzing the rear brake a lot to hold it on the groove.  It was working but I was really pissed how easy riders were going around me down the front and back straight.   After the race national #4 Chris Carr called my bike a "turd" like I needed to be reminded. I was  just glad this wasn't a national.  In the final 15 lap race I worked every angle on the track that I could and I ran it in as hard as I could as well.  On the last lap I came in really hot and got under like three riders and managed to jump off the corner to take the last podium position which was mad cool.  The position paid better a lot better than getting paid third at the national so it was a sweeeeeet race to play at.  I also remember why we never race the "yellow-one" on anything bigger than 16 second lap time!
With the Sturgis races gone it was time to make our way back home.  But we had a little twist.  Chad wanted to head to Lodi California because there was a race this weekend August 8th.  I was OK with going along since my bike and gear was already packed in his truck.  I called dad, let him know the change of plans and next thing I knew we were on our way.  We arrived at Chad's house on late Wednesday and on Friday we took a ride to see some sponsors, Motion Pro and A&A racing.  It was really cool to head over to the Motion Pro guys since they have been great sponsors for me for years.  I got to sign a life size poster I sent them of me on the Aprilia Twin on the Springfield Mile as a thank you gift at the end of last season that they have hanging up in their warehouse and that was so cool.  The Motion Pro folks are so cool and it is awesome to finally see their facility and they were so pumped I stopped in while I was making a pit stop on the West Coast.  It was equally cool to stop in to see Ray and Rochelle at A&A since they are now distributing the TOP ONE OIL we have been sponsored on for a couple of years.
Anyway, my trip is only half way over and Saturday night August 8th I race the famous Lodi Cycle bowl again.  From there Chad and I head back across the country where we will stop at my motor builder in Michigan and then off to the mile race in Ohio.

Till next time...do what I like to do GO FASTER...

James"the Rocket" Rispoli  

Dainese's Aaron Yates Gatorade Commercial

After having his picture on a limited edition Michael Jordan Gatorade bottle, Jordan Suzuki's #23 aaron Yates is featured on this national TV Gatorade ad. It's short, it's fast but it's good.

Better late than never: AMA Pro Mid-Ohio photos

Miscelanious photos from Mid-Ohio. You can click on the slideshow if you wish to watch the photos in bigger size.

Aaron Yates return to the podium, OTT Video

another great piece from the guys at onthethrottle.com with this post-Barber interview of Jordan Suzuki's Aaron Yates, a Dainese rider.

Great Racing Weekend ahead, MotoGP and AMA Superbike

Keep an eye on all AGV and Dainese riders this weekend with the boys of MotoGP battling it down at the Gran Premio de Espana inJerez, Spain and the AMA American Superbike down in the U.S. South at Barber.

For sure, some good racing for race fans.

#43 Sam Halbert's latest race report: Willow Spring, CA

AGV Dainese's man of dirt, Slammin' Sammy Halbert had another great racing weekend, at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond CA, and took the AGV and Dainese brands on the podium again. Congrats to Sammy! Here's his race report:

"I was super excited to be back racing another Eddie Mulder WCVDTS event and ready to put my fresh out of Jim Kelly’s race shop H-D XR 750 engine to the test. At the last event I rode here I led the first 19 of 20 laps in the final so I was very motivated to make sure I led the last lap this time around.
The day started off great, as we rolled into the track there was a dump truck dumping a load of dirt on the track and I knew that it was going to be a fun day of throwing a roost off the back of my H-D. I was in the second heat race and pulled a nice holeshot and never looked back. I rode hard for the first 5 or so laps and then backed it down a notch and still had the fastest heat of the day.

That set me on the pole for the $1,000 to win Dash for Cash. More...

A special thank you to everyone who has ever supported the Halbert Family Racing Team!"

Results:

Digger Open Pro:
1. 43 Sammy Halbert
2. 3 Joe Kopp
3. 37 Jimmy Wood
4. 54z Mikey Rush
5. 26 Brandan Bergen
6. 21 Jared Mees
7. 69 Jethro Halbert
8. 51 Steve Murray
9. 42e Kayl Kolkman
10. 28 Shaun Russell

Photo’s by Jamey and Janice Blunt