Published each week by Steve Aspland, and Greg Sarni.

This is the last update of 2023. We'll look back, as well as look ahead to 2024. The next update will be published on January 4th, with a preview of Dakar 2024, which has a confirmed new broadcast outlet in the US for the rally. Details follow in the Jay Geils Memorial TV Links.

The Grand Prix Commission met electronically throughout December and made their new decisions public this week. The changes affect classes in the FIM Grand Prix classes. Specifics are below.

Below we have some MotoGP test news and images, series announcements, and sponsor news. Thanks to our readership.

If you'd like to get the word out and advertise anything that you think our diverse readership would appreciate knowing about, check out our Patreon page.

Jay Geils Memorial TV Links:

Click on the blue links for info

Dakar 2024: Premiering January 5th, the biggest rally raid in the world comes to MAVTV for the first time. A new deal gives MAVTV same-day broadcast rights through 2026, next month the network will deliver one-hour daily highlight shows from January 5th to January 19th, airing at Noon ET/PT with an encore at 7:00 PM ET/PT.



If you missed last week's issue, CLICK HERE.

ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY BREAK!

For more on your favorite series, visit the homepage of SARNIMOTORSPORTS.

Looking for a last-minute Christmas Present?

Check out these two books!

Superbike: An Illustrated Early History

TEXT BY KEVIN CAMERON

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN OWENS

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“Superbike: An Illustrated Early History,” written by Kevin Cameron with photography by John Owens, grew in part from a black-and-white photo essay published 35 years ago in American Motorcycle Magazine Cycle.

Author Kevin Cameron

Kevin Cameron is a former tuner specializing in racing two-strokes and is widely recognized for his ability to reduce deeply technical subjects to their elemental form. Kevin has written for numerous publications, including Cycle and Cycle World magazines. He also has authored several books on engineering and performance.

Photographer John Owens

John Owens has photographed automotive and motorcycle competitions since 1975. A former amateur motorcycle racer, John has covered a range of events in the U.S., Europe, and Japan, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500, and Daytona 500, as well as the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races.

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Alboreto: Gasoline in the Veins 

The story about the man who grew up to realize his childhood dream of driving a Formula 1 car for Enzo Ferrari is now available once more in the United States.

Alboreto: Gasoline in the Veins is written by Michele Alboreto's brother Ermanno and details his early years and rise through the racing ranks.

It also tells about his character outside the car and that is the contribution that we are most proud to be associated with. It began with an interview during Michele's Indy car career and a request to use it in his life story. We also contributed interviews with his teammates and racing legends like Giacomo Agostini.

Listen to that interview HERE. 

For ordering information, simply reply to this update for details. There are a limited number of copies here in America, you will save international shipping prices by getting your copy right here.

There is also a Facebook page for the book HERE.

Arango and Kelly Team Up at TopPro

MOTOAMERICA - Late last week TopPro Racing announced that it will field a multi-rider team in the 2024 MotoAmerica Championship. Joining the team and moving up to the Superbike class is 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Sean Dylan Kelly. The team will campaign a pair of BMW M 1000 RRs, the second of which will be ridden by TopPro Racing team owner Alex Arango.

Kelly, who is tied for second on the all-time MotoAmerica Supersport win list with 19 victories, is coming off two seasons of competing in the Moto2 World Championship. Arango, meanwhile, finished in the top 20 in the 2023 Stock 1000 Championship in his first season in the series.

“We have worked tirelessly during the off-season to make this team a reality,” Arango said. “We interviewed numerous riders to find the best fit for our team which we believe will see us achieve our best results for the 2024 season. Securing Sean (Dylan Kelly) was a priority as we feel he can be very competitive with the BMW package we will be providing. He’s motivated and ready to stand on the box again in the MotoAmerica series.

“We are eager to get on track with the entire team as we have a lot of work still to do to prepare over the next few months. We are excited to get the riders on track to test with their new mechanics and aboard their new machines. We have set high expectations for our team going into the season, and believe we have a great group of pilots to achieve great results.”

“I’m excited to race in front of all the fans in the United States again,” said Kelly. “I’ve seen so much success in the MotoAmerica paddock, and I look forward to achieving that success again and connecting with friends I haven’t seen over the past two seasons. I can’t thank team owners Alex Arango and Agustin Sierra enough for this opportunity and I’m excited for the first test aboard my BMW M 1000 RR Superbike.”

The 2024 MotoAmerica season begins with the 82nd running of the Daytona 200, a non-points-paying Supersport race that will take place at Daytona International Speedway, March 7th - 9th.

If you are already a subscriber to the MotoAmerica Live+ package, this is a separate subscription package. For the live streaming main page visit MOTOAMERICA LIVE+.

2024 MOTOAMERICA CALENDAR

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ROADRACING WORLD ACTION FUND.

Holiday Specials at Vanson Through Saturday, Dec 23rd!

Maverick Viñales Was Flying at the Jerez Test

MOTOGP - On Tuesday, December 18th the Grand Prix Commission announced decisions regarding the fuel specification and testing parameters from 2024 and minimum age limit exceptions.

The first decision that was announced regards fuel specification for all classes effective for the 2024 season. The 2024 regulations require the use of fuels with a minimum of 40% non-fossil origin, rising to 100% non-fossil origin beginning in 2027. 

The detailed fuel specification and testing parameters for 2024 have now been agreed by the FIM, IRTA, Dorna, official testing laboratories, and the MSMA, including input from fuel suppliers. 

The second decision affects the minimum age requirements in the Moto3 Class. Minimum age increases implemented in recent seasons have interrupted the expected trajectory for some young riders who began their careers before age limits were increased, leaving some unable to move up to Grand Prix classes when anticipated.

Existing exceptions will therefore be widened in order to allow the top three overall finishers in both the FIM JuniorGP World Championship and the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup to compete in the FIM Moto3 World Championship from such time as they are mathematically guaranteed a top three position in JuniorGP or the Rookies Cup, even if they do not reach the minimum age of 18. However, an absolute minimum age of 17 applies. 

Before the paddock went their separate ways after the final GP of 2023, they previewed their 2024 machines in a one-day test in Valencia. Maverick Viñales was at the top of the time sheets, for what it's worth. Many riders were getting acclimated to new teams and new bikes and established rider and team pairings were busy testing new parts.

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Bulega Joins Bautista on the Factory Ducati Panigale V4R

WORLDSBK - On Monday, December 18th, the FIM and Dorna WSBK Organization released the 2024 provisional entry lists. In WorldSBK, there are 23 riders entered in the upcoming campaign, which features 12 rounds on the calendar. The season kicks off in Australia in February and concludes at Jerez in October.

Significant changes have reshaped the grid, with substantial changes occurring at both factory and Independent outfits. There are new riders, a new team, existing riders who have switched teams and in general, the 2024 grid will look a lot different than the 2023 version.

Sam Lowes joins his brother Alex in WorldSBK. He'll compete with the ELF Marc VDS Racing Team onboard a Ducati Panigale V4R. The team is run by Belgian owner Marc-Oswald van der Straten-Ponthoz, a descendant of the founder of the Stella Artois brewery. 

The big movers of course are Jonathan Rea, who takes Toprak Razgatlioglu's ride at Pata Yamaha with the Turk switching to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Factory BMW Team, where he partners with Dutch rider Michael van der Mark. Scott Redding moves over to the Independent team and out of the factory one, joining American rider Garrett Gerloff at Bonovo Action BMW.

Andrea Iannone (The Maniac) will make his return to World Championship action in 2024, joining the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship with Team GoEleven, aboard a Ducati Panigale V4 R.

After his 2023 WorldSSP Championship, Nicolo Bulega rides along reigning WorldSBK Champion Alvaro Bautista at Aruba Ducati. Former teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi lands at Team Motocorsa Racing.

We get a kick out of the fact that the entry list is termed "provisional" and "permanent" all at once. The entries, teams, and bikes are permanently listed below.

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