Americans Kenny Noyes, Brad Baker, Jared Mees and Shayna Texter are all headed to the Superprestigio Dirt Track scheduled for this coming Saturday in Barcelona, Spain. Last year Baker beat Marc Marquez to win the event’s Super Final, which grids up the top four finishers from the finals for two 24-rider preliminary classes, one for professional road racers who have competed in World Championship events like 2013-2014 MotoGP World Champion Marquez and one for professional road racers who have not competed in World Championship events as well as off-road racers and dirt trackers like Baker, Mees and Texter. The only American being seeded through the World Championship road racing preliminary race is 2014 FIM CEV Superbike Champion Noyes, who started racing in dirt track before becoming a road racer, competed for a season in the Moto2 World Championship, finished third in the 2013 Superprestigio’s Super Final and who runs his own dirt track school in Spain. The road racing preliminary shares the event’s overall label–Superprestigio–and the off-road/dirt-track preliminary is labeled the Open race.
The Superprestigio class entry list includes these road racers:
Remy Gardner, Australia, Suzuki #2 (son of 1987 500cc GP World Champion Wayne Gardner)
Johann Zarco, France, Yamaha #5
Lorenzo Baldassarri, Italy, KTM #7
Kenny Noyes, USA, Kawasaki #9 (2014 FIM CEV Superbike Champion)
Albert Arenas, Spain, KTM #11
Alex Marquez, Spain, Honda #12 (2014 FIM Moto3 World Champion)
Dani Ribalta, Spain, KTM #15
Xavier Simeon, Belgium, Suzuki #19
Troy Bayliss, Australia, KTM #21 (Three-time Superbike World Champion)
Marcel Schrotter, Germany, KTM #23
Toni Elias, Spain, Honda #24 (2010 Moto2 World Champion)
Enea Bastianini, Italy, Honda #33
Mika Kallio, Finland, Suzuki #36
Bradley Smith, UK, Yamaha #38
Scott Redding, UK, Honda #45
Tito Rabat, Spain, Honda #53 (2014 Moto2 World Champion)
Julian Simon, Spain, Honda #60
Jordi Torres, Spain, Honda #81
Luca Marconi, Italy, Honda #87
Ricky Cardus, Spain, Yamaha #88
Gabriel Rodrigo, Spain, KTM #91
Marc Marquez, Spain, Honda #93 (2013-2014 MotoGP World Champion)
Jonas Folger, Germany, Honda #94
Christian Iddon, UK, Suzuki #99
The Open class entry list includes these racers:
Jared Mees, USA, Honda #1 (2014 AMA Pro Grand National Champion)
Jose Pedro Gomez, Spain, Yamaha #3
Thomas Chareyre, France, TM #4
Brad Baker, USA, Honda #6 (2013 AMA Pro Grand National Champion)
Guy Martin, UK, Honda #8
Francesco Cecchini, Italy, Honda #10
Jaume Gaya, Spain, Honda #13
Tim Neave, UK, Honda #14
Angel Grau, Spain, Suzuki #16
Gerard Bailo, Spain, Suzuki #17
Franc Serra, Spain, KTM #18
Jose Luis Martinez, Spain, Yamaha #20
Ivan Cervantes, Spain, KTM #25
Oliver Brindley, UK, Kawasaki #28
Alan Birtwistle, UK, Kawasaki #30
Shayna Texter, USA, Honda #50
Joel Lozano, Spain, Yamaha #66
Tom Neave, UK, Honda #68
Ferran Cardus, Spain, Pursang #77
Aidan Collins, UK, Honda #90
Raul Cardona, Spain, Kawasaki #95
Taddy Blazusiak, Poland, KTM #111
Fabrizio Vesprini, Italy, Honda #121
Joonas Kylmakorpi, Finland, Zaeta #610
More, from a press release issued by Superprestigio Dirt Track:
COUNTDOWN STARTS FOR SUPERPRESTIGIO DIRT TRACK EVENT
TEN WORLD CHAMPS ON TRACK…. And two new entries!
American AMA Pro Singles Main winner Shayna Texter and MotoGP rider Scott Redding to join this world-class Event.
December 9 – Countdown has started for the Superprestigio Dirt Track second edition to be held on December 13th in the Barcelona St Jordi Arena.
A unique Event gathering 10 world champ riders in different motorcycle categories.
Superprestigio class, reserved to road racing riders, presents an awesome entry, gathering six world champions, including the current road racing world champions, Marc Márquez (Moto GP), Tito Rabat (Moto 2) and Álex Márquez (Moto3), Toni Elías (Moto2 World Champion in 2010), Julio Simón (125cc world champion in 2009), and Troy Bayliss (three times Superbikes World Champ 2001, 2006, 2008).
The last entry comes from the UK, with the invitation of the MotoGP rider Scott Redding.
The Open class, also limited to 24 riders, and presenting multiple off road discipline aces, will feature four World champions: Ivan Cervantes (four-time Enduro World Champion 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009), Taddy Blazusiak, (five-time Superenduro World Champion 2010-2014), the French Thomas Chareyre (three times Supermoto world champion, 2010, 2012, 2014) and the Finish Joonas Kylmakorpi, three times FIM Long Track world consecutive champion (2010-2013).
The Open class will also feature the current AMA Grand National Flat Track Champion, American Jared Mees, and the first winner of the Superprestigio Dirt Track 1st edition, Brad Baker.
American female rider Shayna Texter will be the first woman to compete in this Event in the Open Class. Texter has been the first woman to win the AMA Pro Singles Main.
More, from a press release issued by DMG/AMA Pro Racing:
American invasion: AMA Pro Flat Track riders ready to challenge world-class field at Superprestigio
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 9, 2014) – Two Grand National Champions and one fast up-and-coming female sensation are preparing to represent AMA Pro Flat Track in the Superprestigio, a short track exhibition event scheduled to take place this Saturday, Dec. 13 in Barcelona, Spain.
Jared Mees, Brad Baker and Shayna Texter will grind it out against more than 40 international superstars, including two-time, defending MotoGP champion Marc Marquez. The entire event, including the star-studded final, will be broadcast live to audiences in the United States on FansChoice.tv as well as the websites of Cycle World, Motorcyclist and Sport Rider, thanks to a collaborative effort between AMA Pro Racing, Bonnier Corporation and RPM Racing, the promoters of the Superprestigio.
Baker carried America’s flag proud as he represented AMA Pro Flat Track in the Superprestigio event held in January of this year. Baker was coming off an amazing championship run in 2013 to secure the AMA Pro Flat Track National No. 1 plate. The Washington native didn’t disappoint either, as he was able to get the best of Spain’s hero, Marquez, to claim the Superprestigio victory in front of a packed house.
“It’s an honor,” Baker said. “It’s really cool just to be able to be recognized on that level, that playing field with riders such as Marc [Marquez] and the other GP riders at the event.”
Unlike Baker, Michigan’s Mees has never stepped foot on European soil. The reigning Grand National Champion reclaimed the title this season after earning nine podiums and two victories, and will surely be a threat to take the checkered flag when the lights go green this Saturday.
“I’m extremely excited for this race to happen,” said Mees. “I’ve never flown overseas before and I feel very fortunate for this opportunity and to get invited to such a prestigious event. I’m confident that Brad, Shayna and I will do a good job representing America and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun competing against Marc Marquez and the other Spanish riders.”
Texter is the third and final AMA Pro Flat Track rider competing in the Superprestigio. The 23-year-old Pennsylvanian is the first female rider to win an AMA Pro Flat Track main event, which she first did in 2011 when she took the GNC2 checkered flag at Knoxville.
“I’m thrilled to be able to represent America and compete against my fellow competitors here in the states as well as Marc Marquez and the rest of the competition on such a big stage,” said Texter. “I feel most comfortable on a 450cc motorcycle and fortunately that’s what I’ll be racing on this weekend. This is going to be a great event.”
Additional AMA Pro Flat Track flavor will come from flagger Kevin Clark, who will be participating in the Superprestigio for the second straight year.
Kenny Noyes, the reigning FIM CEV International Superbike champion, is also slated to compete in the event for the second time, bringing the total number of American riders entered in the event to four.
Commentary for the broadcast will be handled by English MotoGP announcer Gregory Haines and AMA Pro Flat Track legend Chris Carr. The expertise Carr brings to the booth includes seven Grand National Championships and 78 victories, second all-time in GNC competition.
“While it was great to watch the Superprestigio dirt track earlier this year, I am really excited to be a part of the Fanschioce.tv team calling the action in person,” Carr said. “I look forward to seeing our last two Grand National Champions, Jared Mees and Brad Baker, as well as everybody’s fan favorite, Shayna Texter, take on the various world and national champions from Europe and beyond. Let the ‘Battle of Barcelona,’ commence!”
The Superprestigio is set to begin at 12:00 noon ET (9:00 a.m. PT) on Saturday, Dec. 13 and all of the action will be broadcast live on www.FansChoice.tv, the official home for live streaming of all AMA Pro Flat Track events. In addition to FansChoice.tv, the Superprestigio will be available for live viewing at www.FansChoice.tv, www.motorcyclistonline.com, www.FansChoice.tv,
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.
More, from a press release issued by KTM Australia:
LEGEND BAYLISS RIDES KTM AT MARC MARQUEZ SUPERPRESTIGIO
Aussie road racing legend and three-time world Superbike champion Troy Bayliss will take his KTM into arguably its toughest environment yet, at this weekend’s Marc Marquez Superprestigio at Palau Sant Jordi Arena in Barcelona.
Held for the first time last year, the event has returned to include a broader range of two-wheeled talent from a host of disciplines, and from all over the world, among them the reigning Australian dirt track and supermotard champion from Taree.
Bayliss will ride his beloved 2012 SMR 450 in the Superprestigio class at the former Olympic Stadium, on an indoor oval track approximately 250 meters in length.Though he retired from world championship road racing in 2008, Bayliss is passionate about his dirt track roots at both an event promotion and a participation level – and as his domination of both the Aussie dirt track and supermotard championships suggests, he’s in a scalpel-sharp nick.
In Spain he’ll bang bars with the likes of event host Marc Marquez and fellow Moto GP racer Bradley Smith, as well as a heap of Moto 2 and Moto 3 competitors including the only other Aussie in the event, Remy Gardner, son of 1987 World 500cc champ Wayne.
The event’s Open class will also feature a litany of talent including world championship level riders from Enduro, Long track, Extreme Enduro, Isle of Man, Dirt Track and Supermotard including KTM heroes Ivan Cervantes and Taddy Blazusiak.
Aussie fans will be able to catch the event on Fox Sports live Sunday morning on channel 506 and then in replay in the afternoon at three o’clock, again on 506.
Troy Bayliss “Many of the top Moto GP riders are really getting into dirt track for their training, so it’s helping lift the profile of the sport, and that’s why I want to do this race. We do our event in Australia, but it just makes sense to go over there and give it a go with them guys. it’s going to be pretty cool, I haven’t done a lot of the short track stuff, but KTM Australia and KTM in Spain have helped organise getting my bike over there, so at least I’m in a pretty good way straight off the bat. I’ll be riding something that I know.
Jeff and KTM have been helping me out for a couple of years now with bikes for the flat track, and this year we managed to win the 250, the 450 and the Unlimited titles in the Australian dirt track championships, then the following weekend we won the 250 and 450 supermotard championship as well. But my main bike is one I bought a few years ago, because I like the KTMs, and its 2012 SMR450. Even though I say 2012, it’s far from old -it’s got more good bits on it than you can imagine! It’s a good thing.
I don’t know Mark very well, but I’ll get a ride on Thursday and Friday and it will be good to hang out with guys like Jared Mees, Brad Baker and Guy Martin. There are stacks of guys there it will just be nice to catch up with. Also my old bosses from Ducati are coming over to have a look – David Tardozzi and Paolo Ciabatti, as well as Byron my old suspension guy from Ohlins. Heaps of guys I used to work with are actually coming to give me a hand, so it’ll be pretty cool.”
Marc Marquez Superprestigio rider lineup:
1 Remy Gardner AUS Suzuki
2 Johann Zarco FRA Yamaha Moto 2
3 Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA KTM Moto 2
4 Kenny Noyes USA Kawasaki
5 Albert Arenas ESP KTM
6 Alex Marquez ESP Honda
7 Xavier Simeon BEL Suzuki
8 Troy Bayliss AUS KTM
9 Marcel Schrotter GER KTM Moto 2
10 Toni Elias ESP Honda
11 Enea Bastianini ITA Honda
12 Mika Kallio FIN Suzuki
13 Bradley Smith GBR Yamaha
14 Tito Rabat ESP Honda M2
15 Julian Simon ESP Honda
16 Luca Marconi ITA Honda
17 Ricky Cardus ESP Yamaha
18 Marc Marquez ESP Honda
19 Jonas FolGER GER Honda
20 Christian Iddon GBR Suzuki
Open
1 Jared Mees USA Honda
2 Jose Pedro Gomez ESP Yamaha
3 Thomas Chareyre FRA TM
4 Brad Baker USA Honda
5 Guy Martin GBR Honda
6 Francesco Cecchini ITA Honda
7 Jaume Gaya ESP Honda
8 Tim Neave GBR Honda
9 Dani Ribalta ESP KTM
10 Angel Grau ESP Suzuki
11 Gerard Bailo ESP Suzuki
12 Franc Serra ESP KTM
13 Jose Luis Martinez ESP Yamaha
14 Ivan Cervantes ESP KTM
15 Oliver Brindley GBR Kawasaki
16 Alan Birtwistle GBR Kawasaki
17 Joel Lozano ESP Yamaha
18 Tom Neave GBR Honda
19 Ferran Cardus ESP Pursang
20 Aidan Collins GBR Honda
21 Raul Cardona ESP Kawasaki
22 Taddy Blazusiak POL KTM
23 Fabrizio Vesprini ITA Honda
24 Joonas Kylmakorpi FIN Zaeta
For more information on KTM motorcycles visit www.KTM.com.au orwww.facebook.com.KTMAustralia .