King of the Baggers, Super Hooligan and Flat Track: the American manufacturer enters the 2023 MotoAmerica season to defend its 2022 hat-trick. But in the Super Hooligan it will also have to contend with the Energetic Eva Ribelle
February 17, 2023
Let me tell you something: the writer is particularly attracted by MotoAmerica for the variety of races and for that undergrowth of undeniable passion that leads to racing in circuits that are perhaps distant from our way of understanding asphalt racing but irreparably fascinating.
Among other things, it must be said that only the Americans could invent an original category like the King of The Baggers and bring bikes born to trot down the straights to challenge each other at Laguna Seca or Daytona: short races, inserted in busy weekends where very different categories are faced on the same weekend. Last year Indian Motorcycle he triumphed in three of these: first in King of The Baggers, In the Flat Track SuperTwins and in the – the name says it all – Super Hooligantitles that he will defend with his newly presented teams.
King of The Baggers
The winning team of 2022 is totally reconfirmed in KOTB 2023 which will see, among other things, 14 races at the start: the reigning champion Tyler O’Hara will always be riding the Indian Official Challenger which allowed him to win the 2022 title thanks to five podium finishes and a victory at Daytona. Next to him we find Jeremy McWilliamsrider and test rider who will join O’Hara in both the King of The Baggers and the Super Hooligan for 2023: the Northern Irish MotoGP veteran (whom we interviewed for our MotoFestival) is approaching 59 but has fear and a throttle that last year led him to win – at the age of 58 – in his second race astride the Challenger and then close the season at fourth place.
Energetic Eva Ribelle on the track!
The category Super Hooligan this year will see a further reason of interest and curiosity: the participation of Energetic Eva Ribellethe Modenese streetfighter will be in the starting blocks in the saddle the Colombian Stefano Mesa in the team Tytlers Cycle Racing. It is a participation that comes after four years of Energica as sole Manufacturer in the MotoE world championship: it will be extremely interesting to see the Energica Eva Ribelle racing side by side with the Indian FTR, KTM 890, the Harley-Davidson Panamerica or the BMW boxer, given that the regulation is particularly open and allows the participation of motorcycles from 750 cc onwards, air or water cooled, 2 cylinders, with no more than 125 horsepower and a minimum weight of 180 kg; the frame must remain the standard one, clip-on handlebars are not permitted and fairings are strictly forbidden: to protect themselves from the wind, the riders can rely on the number plate… Obviously, series-production electric motorcycles are permitted with the sole exception of dual-sport and cross. There will be fun, that’s for sure, starting with first race March 9/11 at Daytona.
