Ilan Bental crashed in Turn Four, the esses section, at Road Atlanta during the 600ccc/C Superstock Expert race. Strong winds then turned a small fire on Bental’s crashed motorcycle into an inferno that burned up a huge section of tire wall, a chain link fence, and many sections of life-saving Airfence Bike soft barriers.

View a video of the scene shot by veteran racer Chuck Ivey here: https://www.facebook.com/1485493885/videos/253560307256536/

While the fire ended the remainder of the day’s activities, Bental was relatively uninjured according to Ivey, the fire was eventually extinguished, and enough repairs were made overnight that WERA was able to resume on-track action the following morning.

The Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to helping prevent or reduce the severity of racetrack injuries by advocating for and facilitating the use of soft barriers, immediately started a campaign to raise funds to replace the destroyed Airfence sections (which were originally supplied by previous RWAF fund-raisers).

Thanks to ongoing fundraising efforts by PRE Track Days and N2 Track Days, a donation of penalty fines from MotoAmerica, a special fundraiser organized by MotoAmerica Superbike racer Josh Herrin, and individual donations from road racing fans and supporters, the Roadracing World Action Fund has shipped 20 new sections of Airfence Bike worth approximately $56,000 to Road Atlanta, where they have been deployed.

To donate to the Roadracing World Action Fund and help deploy more soft barriers nationwide, please go to https://store.roadracingworld.com/products/donate-to-roadracing-world-action-fund

The post Roadracing World Action Fund Replaces Airfence Destroyed In Fire appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

The barriers were paid for by a generous donation to the Roadracing World Action Fund from friend of MotoAmerica Leslie Stretch, on behalf of Medallia, who is the title sponsor of the Medallia Superbike Championship.

Among the riders who participated were Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne (the two-time and defending Medallia Superbike Champion) and his teammate JD Beach; Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teammates Richie Escalante, Brandon Paasch, Tyler Scott, and Teagg Hobbs; Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier; Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz; and Thrashed Bike Racing’s Max Flinders. In addition, MotoAmerica Director of Operations Niccole Cox and Race Director Rick Hobbs pitched in and helped apply some of the Medallia logos, as well.

“Every racer in MotoAmerica, as well as our staff and officials, know the importance of the Roadracing World Action Fund in protecting our riders through the purchase and deployment of soft barriers,” MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey said. “I’m so grateful to Medallia and our good friend Leslie Stretch, for donating a significant sum for the purchase of new soft barriers, which are being used this weekend to protect our competitors during the MotoAmerica Superbikes at Pittsburgh event.”

The Roadracing World Action Fund is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that promotes motorcycle racing safety, and in particular, encourages and facilitates the use of soft barriers at motorcycle racing events, including all MotoAmerica races.

For more information about the Roadracing World Action Fund, including how to donate, click here.

The post MotoAmerica: Riders Show Appreciation For Roadracing World Action Fund And Medallia appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

By Michael Gougis

Leslie Stretch is the now-retired former CEO of Medallia (which sponsors the MotoAmerica Superbike series), who describes himself as “a huge motorcycle nut.” He’s putting his money where his mouth is, so to speak, to make the sport of racing motorcycles safer. He’s investing heavily in supporting the non-profit Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF) and its mission of putting soft barriers made by Airfence and Alpina between racers and hard objects at tracks across North America.

“Motorcycles have been bigger for me than cars,” Stretch says. “These are hugely courageous warriors, and the skill involved in what they do is off the chart. It’s different than racing a four-wheel vehicle.

“I think the key to the sport’s success is keeping these guys safe as they entertain us. I think the Airfence initiative was very important. I think they need every sponsor and every fan to be invested in the sport. That’s how I got involved.”

Stretch started helping increase the safety of the riders a couple of years back, and has participated in all three “Rainey’s Ride To The Races” fundraisers headed by three-time 500cc World Champion (and MotoAmerica President) Wayne Rainey, held preceding the 2021, 2022, and 2023 MotoAmerica rounds at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Stretch tops the individual donor contribution list from the three rides with a total of $175,000 in donations to the Roadracing World Action Fund. That’s almost enough to cover half of RWAF’s latest two orders totaling an additional 36 Alpina soft barriers for use at MotoAmerica events. The new sections are linked to air pumps powered by Honda generators, forming a system which automatically maintains the ideal internal pressure for maximum energy absorption.

Safety, Stretch says, is critical to expanding the attraction of racing beyond the existing dedicated fans. “It’s key to broadening the appeal and increasing the audience, both at the track and digitally. It’s critical for people to know every possible effort has been made to keep the riders safe. It changes the engagement of the fans, especially the casual fans–people don’t want to see the consequences of crashes,” he says.

“Motorcycling and racing motorcycles is rock n’ roll. That is what is exciting about it. It’s good for the brand, it’s good for racing, and we’re on the verge of a renaissance beyond the hard-core fan base.”

Nowadays, Stretch can be most often found on his Ducati Multistrada or his Triumph Rocket 3, which he loves. “I’ve ridden it around Laguna Seca; (it’s) way, way better than you’d expect,” he adds.

Stretch’s two-wheel journey started when he was 15, the son of a single mom, in a family where affording a car was out of the question. “I got a Vespa, a moped. It cost me 15 pounds. And then my first Honda, a 125 four-speed, was my first proper motorcycle.”

Stretch was hooked, and his next bike was exactly what he wanted–the oh-so-desirable Honda CB400F, a high-revving four-cylinder with a chromed 4-1 exhaust that to this day is an icon of mechanical art. “That was my dream ride of the day,” he says. “I remember riding it and I just felt–free.”

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Roadracing World Action Fund, go here.

The post Roadracing World Action Fund Donor Profile: Leslie Stretch appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

By Michael Gougis

Robb Talbott was sitting at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca about four years ago, right above Turn Three, when he saw it all go wrong for a racer.

“I got to see a rider in one of the literbike classes go off at full speed and across the gravel and straight into the Airfence right in front of me,” says Talbott, owner of one of the most celebrated vineyards in California’s Carmel Valley as well as the Moto Talbott Museum. “He went straight in! Dust flew up, and he landed on the Airfence. He jumped off the Airfence, got back on his bike, fired it up and rode back onto the track. I was blown away. And then I said, ‘This works. This Airfence really works.’”

Talbott has become a regular supporter of the Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded by Mr. Editor John Ulrich in 2001 to improve racer safety by buying and deploying soft barriers at events and tracks across the country. Over several years now, Talbott has donated enough for the RWAF to purchase five Alpina-brand soft-barrier sections deployed at MotoAmerica races.

Talbott got into motorcycling at the age of 14 on a borrowed bike, then went to a college where first-year students were not allowed to drive cars. The rules said nothing about motorcycles, so Talbott got his first motorcycle, a Honda. Watching his friends race motocross got him into motocrossing as well as hillclimbing, including competing at the storied Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

“By that point, I was hooked. It became part of my DNA,” Talbott says.

Talbott rode mostly on dirt, but developed an interest in street machines as well. The Art of the Motorcycle exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum inspired him to see motorcycles not just as transportation or sporting devices, but also as art. He started collecting and then displaying bikes in the tasting room of the his vineyard. Today, the Moto Talbott Museum houses more than 170 machines from 17 countries.

Inevitably, Talbott was drawn to riding track days. Focusing mostly on the tracks closest to his Northern California home, he settled on a 1998 Ducati Supersport for track duty at Laguna Seca as well as Sonoma Raceway. Riding mostly at Reg Pridmore’s C.L.A.S.S. events, he racked up hundreds of track miles–and had a crash along the way.

Talbott is convinced of the need for increasing rider safety, and says he is happy to write a check for sections of soft barriers each year. To date, the Talbott Foundation has donated $50,000 to the Action Fund.

“I don’t go to tracks to see injuries and death. I go to see racing. And this helps us all,” he says.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Roadracing World Action Fund, go here.

The post Roadracing World Action Fund Donor Profile: Robb Talbott appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

By Michael Gougis

Mark Mitchell got his start on two wheels doing moderately crazy things on a minibike. These days, he’s most often found on a Ducati Multistrada, and he’s giving back to those who are laying it all on the line for glory, fortune, and the entertainment of the fans.

“I was at Laguna Seca visiting one of the World Superbike events. I used to ride up there quite often from SoCal with friends,” says Mitchell, a wealth fund manager and contributor to the Roadracing World Action Fund. “I remember thinking that, being a motorcycle rider for so many years, I was aware of the risks that (racers) face while we enjoy the entertainment provided by these warriors who are competing on the race track.”

When given the opportunity to help make the sport safer by increasing the amount of inflatable barriers available for deployment at tracks around the nation, Mitchell says he thought, “Why wouldn’t you do that?”

Mitchell serves on the board of a nonprofit with Gordon McCall, who oversees The Quail Motorcycle Gathering, and through McCall found out about the annual “Rainey’s Ride To The Races” event. The ride, held prior to the MotoAmerica round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, offers participants a chance to help raise money for the Action Fund, in part by purchasing a section of Alpina inflatable barrier.

Mitchell attended, and he purchased.

“I thought, let’s kick this off, so I bought a section,” Mitchell says.

Mitchell has raced amateur motocross and the occasional desert race, competing once in the famous Barstow to Vegas event. He has ridden in events across the nation and in Europe, a long way from his start as a seven-year-old ripping around on the streets of Carson in Southern California in the late 1960s.

“My first ‘legit’ motorcycle was a Yamaha, a JT1, a 60cc mini-enduro,” Mitchell says. “But before that, I had a Taco minibike. The thing to do when you wanted to go faster was to reach under the gas tank and get your right hand on the governor and press down. You’d try to get it to move a millimeter or two to get a little more speed. So you’d be trying to go faster and then increase the risk factor by taking your hand off the bar. It made perfect sense back then!

“My mother knew I was hooked. I was so fascinated by the speed of these two-wheeled rockets. So she got me the JT1. She was so supportive. And I started riding with my friends, and it all went from there.”

Mitchell says tracks and race organizers shouldn’t be in a position where they are trying to prioritize which sections of the circuit gets soft barrier protection, so it is crucial for rider and racer safety to ensure that they have all that they need on hand.

“All too often, (crashes) happen where you don’t expect it to happen,” Mitchell says. “In a perfect world, there would be (soft barriers) everywhere it was needed, all around the track.”

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Roadracing World Action Fund, go here.

The post Roadracing World Action Fund Donor Profile: Mark Mitchell appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Others donating at the event were noted Roadracing World Action Fund contributor Leslie Stretch, who, with his donation of $25,000, tops the individual contributor list with an all-time total of $175,000 in donations; The Talbott Family Foundation, donating $10,000 ($50,000 total); and Mark Mitchell, donating $8,000 ($14,000 total). Other cash donations brought the total raised to nearly $100,000.

Road racing and track day organizations: N2 Trackday’s most recent fundraiser totaled $33,553; PRE (Performance Riding Experience) Track Days raised $23,004; and OMRRA, $10,000. The California Roadracing Association (CRA), Yamaha Champions Riding School, and the Bagger Racing League each donated $5,000.

Many have donated this year to help replace Airfence sections lost in a fire which was caused by a crash at Road Atlanta; and RideSmart Motorcycle School in Texas is fundraising to cover deployment of much needed soft barriers at its school and track day events.

In Memory of…

NEMRR raised $21,461 in memory of Scott Briody, killed in MotoAmerica competition at Brainerd International Raceway in 2022.

The family of racer Jason Aguilar, who died in a bicycle accident, raised $966 on Facebook and donated it to the fund in his memory.

About the Roadracing World Action Fund

      The Roadracing World Action Fund – a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization – began back in 2001 as a grassroots movement to improve racetrack safety for motorcycle racers and riders.  At the time, haybales or stacks of tires were sometimes placed in front of concrete walls for rider protection in case of a crash. A far better solution for rider safety existed – FIM-homologated inflatable soft barriers which absorb the energy of a crash. Soft barriers–made by Airfence or Alpina and purchased the Roadracing World Action Fund using donations and fund raisers–help improve the chances that racers can walk away from a crash which in the past might have caused catastrophic injury, or even death. 

     The Roadracing World Action Fund gained the support of the motorcycle community, as racers, riders, family and friends, motorcycle businesses, racing organizations and racetracks helped make use of soft barriers the standard, rather than the exception, for motorcycle races and track days across the nation. Now, from Laguna Seca to Daytona, Motorsports Ranch to VIR, Road Atlanta to Road America, and many more, soft barriers are deployed more frequently and in greater quantities than ever before, as the Roadracing World Action Fund continues its mission of helping prevent racetrack injuries through motorcycle road racing safety education, and by organizing donations and funding to purchase and deploy FIM-homologated soft barriers.

The post Roadracing World Action Fund: Donations Large And Small Make A Difference! appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Royal Enfield — one of the largest single-weekend events in all of motorcycling, including North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet — brought tens of thousands of motorcyclists from around the country and the world to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, July 21-23, for three jam-packed days of racing, riding and vintage-bike fun.

Organized and co-promoted by the American Motorcyclist Association, along with facility owner and co-promoter Green-Savoree Racing Promotions, the annual event raises funds for the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that helps fund the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame’s mission to promote and preserve the history and heritage of motorcycling in America.

“Each year the AMA takes great pride in organizing AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, which provides motorcyclists with a weekend of celebrating vintage bikes, spending time with friends, and the chance to enjoy the freedom offered by two wheels,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “This event wouldn’t be possible without a long list of partners, supporters and volunteers. We appreciate them all, and everyone who attended from the diverse motorcycling community, for enabling us to raise money for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.”

The Grand Marshal for the 31st running of the event was AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer and jack-of-all-trades motorcycle racer Steve Wise, who spent time greeting fans, participating in question-and-answer sessions and signing autographs. Each day, he also led the Lap of History aboard a Royal Enfield kindly provided to him by the presenting sponsor of the event — Royal Enfield North America.

“Having AMA Hall of Famer Steve Wise at Vintage Motorcycle Days was so cool and appropriate,” said Editorial Director Mitch Boehm. “What he did during his career — winning nationals in motocross, Supercross and road racing, and winning the annual Superbikers event twice — is amazing, and something that will never be done again. Being back at Mid-Ohio, where he won that AMA Superbike national in ’83, was really special for him, and the fans loved seeing and hearing from him. Good stuff.”

AMA Business Development Manager Michael Kula thanked the many companies who provided financial support for the event.

“A huge thank you to Permco, who was our Title Sponsor this year,” Kula said. “We also greatly appreciate Royal Enfield, who stepped up as the event’s Presenting Sponsor. Old Bike Barn, Biltwell, Federal Motorcycle Transport, ICON Motorsports, Kenda Tire, Total Energies, B’laster, Triumph, American Motor Drome Company, Bad Ass Gnomes, Classic British Motorcycle Club, Concerned Veterans of America, Glockner Oil, Iron Pony, Vapor Honing Technologies, Mimi & Moto, Moto Motion, Skidmark Garage, Smart Massage, SSR Motorsports, Motorcycles and Coffee, Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club and Vintage Rides all generously supported the event.

“Our friends at Royal Enfield and Triumph,” Kula continued, “also had demo bikes for attendees to test ride all weekend. We can’t thank them, and all of these companies enough, because all the proceeds help support the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.”

Kula added his appreciation for the hundreds of vendors who made up the country’s largest motorcycle swap meet. They not only provide financial support for the AMA Hall of Fame, but they bring a fun, distinct atmosphere to the event that motorcyclists won’t find anywhere else.

Along with being the Presenting Sponsor of the event, Royal Enfield also brought its one-of-a-kind Project Origin bike — an authentic, working replica of the company’s very first motor-bicycle originally constructed in 1901, which was painstakingly rebuilt using old photographs and promotional ads from the turn of the century — to the event. Project Origin was on display throughout the event, and on Saturday evening, Royal Enfield historian Gordon May — one of the only people on the planet who can operate the motorbike — rode the bike on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course track, which was its inaugural ride on North American soil. The motor-bicycle also closed out the final Lap for History on Sunday with another lap around the track for cheering fans.

“Project Origin has been a 30-year passion project of Royal Enfield historian Gordon May,” said AMA Director of Marketing and Communications Joy Burgess, “and we’re grateful that Royal Enfield brought this piece of motorcycle history along to the event. To see the 1901 replica get a push start and go around the 2.4-mile road racing track was a special moment, and it only seems appropriate that Royal Enfield history would be made at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.”

AMA Director of Membership Amanda Donchess expressed her appreciation of the AMA members who helped make the event a success.

“It’s always great to meet and hear from our members at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days,” Donchess said, “and they showed up in a huge way this year. We appreciate all the members who came out, and the new ones who joined.

“A record-breaking number of members joined over the weekend,” Donchess continued, “and we’re already looking forward to seeing them next year.”

In addition to AMA President & CEO Rob Dingman, several other AMA Board members were in attendance volunteering and supporting the event, including Directors Brad Baumert, Chris Cox, Mark Hosbach and Gary Pontius. They supported the event in racing, swap meet operations and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame collections management, among other activities.

Many AMA members, as well as AMA-chartered and partner organizations, showed up to the event as volunteers as well.

“Over 100 volunteers — including 84 AMA member volunteers, volunteers from our partner Motorcycle Ohio and from AMA-chartered organization the Christian Motorcyclist Association — came out to help with the event,” said AMA Volunteer Coordinator Bob Davis. “We can’t thank them enough for committing their time and effort to help make the weekend a success.”

Vintage racing at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days brings in thousands of race entries every year in vintage motocross, trials, hare scrambles, flat track and road racing.

“We enjoyed one of the most successful events in history,” said AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier, “and none of it could be accomplished without the support of our racing partners and volunteers. They provide the foundation needed to put on this great event every year, and we appreciate their efforts.

“The Roadracing World Action Fund is one of our most important racing partners,” Pelletier continued, “and we appreciate them providing us with soft barriers for the road-race course.”

Pelletier also thanked BAJA MX Inc. for motocross operations and racing registration, WERA for road race operations, Mandy Mastin for hare scrambles operations, announcer Kevin Kelly, Trials Inc. for the trials event, the Christian Motorcycle Association for flagging duties, motocross track builder Jeff Beerbower/Log Road MX, MX Referee Ray Bergeron, Race Line Ministries (Mark and Dawn Merical) and Rapid 2-Way, Brian Kozicki Events for AV assistance, Ryan Rutkowski and Connor Torrel for installation and maintenance of soft barriers, and the many race officials.

For flat track racing, special thanks to Ashland County Fairgrounds, Chris and Jamie Daronco for racing registration and scoring, and all the flaggers and race officials who made the evening a success.

AMA Chief Operating Officer James Holter expressed appreciation for the AMA’s most important operational partner for the event, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

“Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is one of the few facilities in the country that can accommodate all the activities that make AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days what it is: motorcycling’s most varied event,” said Holter. “That wouldn’t be possible without the experienced and professional team that runs the track. Led by Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course President Craig Rust, track personnel work behind the scenes to make sure fans, sponsors and AMA staff are safe, entertained and free to have fun and do their jobs.”

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is the country’s premier celebration of vintage motorcycles and one of the largest single-weekend motorcycle events each summer. To learn more about AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, read stories from the event and see photos, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Not a member? Join the AMA today: AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

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Almost $100,000 Raised For Roadracing World Action Fund From Monterey Ride:

Hello everyone,

Friday, July 7 was an amazing day for the Third Annual “Rainey’s Ride to the Races.” We had over 70 riders exploring the scenic Monterey Peninsula, taking two laps around the freshly paved WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca circuit, and enjoying a great catered lunch with the Legends. It was a ton of fun.

Following lunch, (Roadracing World Action Fund President) John Ulrich and (MotoAmerica’s) Dan Argano gave an informative presentation on how the soft-air barrier systems continue to protect our riders in the road racing community, and we were all entertained by the Q & A session with the seven world-class racers. It was certainly unique and having the riders sign the commemorative posters for everybody was icing on the cake.

All of this supports the Roadracing World Action Fund, which provides for the purchase of the Airfence and Alpina soft barriers. I think it’s amazing that because of your support, and others in our industry, we raised just shy of $100,000 from the ride.

I truly want to thank all the riders for taking part in this special event.

Additional thanks also go to our Legends for coming on the ride and for hanging out with all of us in the motorcycle community. I’d also like to thank the California Highway Patrol, Robb Talbott for his generous donation and for allowing us to stage at his museum, the Terry Vance Family Foundation, Les Stretch, and Gordon McCall for leading the ride, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Raceway and, of course, MotoAmerica and the MotoAmerica team that helped make this ride possible.

See you all next year!

Wayne Rainey

About MotoAmerica

MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.

The post MotoAmerica: Rainey’s Ride To The Races Raises Nearly $100,000 For RWAF appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

By Michael Gougis

“I’m probably alive because of you guys.”

That’s how Mark Fitzgerald opened the conversation when he called me back. He may not be exaggerating.

Fitzgerald, 44, of New Boston, New Hampshire, was racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in May when he crashed his Kawasaki ZX-10R into a concrete K-rail so hard that he knocked it over. Just to illustrate how big that hit was, a 10-foot section of K-rail weighs approximately two tons. It’s the type of concrete barrier that is craned into position on street car racing circuits like at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach to help keep cars from flying into the stands and the crowd.

What saved Fitzgerald was the fact that in front of that section of K-rail was an inflatable Alpina soft barrier, purchased by the Roadracing World Action Fund with donations from NEMRR, and deployed at New Hampshire Motor Speedway by NEMRR. (Alpina and Airfence are two separate companies that make similar inflatable soft barriers designed to absorb energy and homologated by the FIM.)

“The last thing I remember was being on the brakes and the bike wasn’t slowing down. The front wheel was still in the air when I got into the braking zone. I had the presence of mind to get off the brakes, but by that point I was well into the dirt. I went into the Airfence at well over 100 mph,” he said.

Fitzgerald’s Alpinestars airbag suit deployed and his Arai helmet hit the barrier so hard that the shell cracked as it absorbed energy, as designed. It was a huge, huge hit.

And 25 minutes later, Fitzgerald was conscious and arguing with the ambulance attendants who wanted to cut him out of his suit.

“I was in the ambulance and they were getting ready to bring me to Concord Hospital as a Class Two trauma. They wanted to cut off my boots and suit and I was pretty upset by that. Against their advice, I stood up in the ambulance and took my boots and my suit off,” he says.

His injuries included third-degree burns on his back and left ankle where the Kawasaki landed on top of him. A broken vertebra, two broken bones in his right ankle, 17 broken ribs, a Class Two (moderate) concussion, and ruptured blood vessels in his left eye.

Before the racing for the day was completed, Fitzgerald was back at the track, watching his friends race.

“I’m not sure I’d be here if it wasn’t for you guys and your Airfence. I haven’t ever had an accident like this before. It just happened so fast. I’m just fortunate that I’m here to talk about it. The fact that I was able to go to work at 6:30 on Monday morning is a testament to the engineering of the Airfence. I’m incredibly fortunate and thankful.”

About the Roadracing World Action Fund

      The Roadracing World Action Fund – a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization – began back in 2001 as a grassroots movement to improve racetrack safety for motorcycle racers and riders.  At the time, haybales or stacks of tires were sometimes placed in front of concrete walls for rider protection in case of a crash. A far better solution for rider safety existed – FIM-homologated inflatable soft barriers which absorb the energy of a crash. Soft barriers–made by Airfence or Alpina and purchased the Roadracing World Action Fund using donations and fund raisers–help improve the chances that racers can walk away from a crash which in the past might have caused catastrophic injury, or even death. 

     The Roadracing World Action Fund gained the support of the motorcycle community, as racers, riders, family and friends, motorcycle businesses, racing organizations and racetracks helped make use of soft barriers the standard, rather than the exception, for motorcycle races and track days across the nation. Now, from Laguna Seca to Daytona, Motorsports Ranch to VIR, Road Atlanta to Road America, and many more, soft barriers are deployed more frequently and in greater quantities than ever before, as the Roadracing World Action Fund continues its mission of helping prevent racetrack injuries through motorcycle road racing safety education, and by organizing donations and funding to purchase and deploy FIM-homologated soft barriers.

The post SAVED! Mark Fitzgerald Makes Good Use Of Soft Barriers appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Media, PA (June 2023) – N2 Track Days is proud to announce that the 2023 N2 Airfence fund-raiser event to benefit the Roadracing World Action Fund is LIVE online and will conclude at Road Atlanta on Saturday, July 1^st, 2023. The fundraiser will be held on Saturday evening during the two-day track day event both in-person as well as online starting today. N2 Track Days has been holding Airfence fund raiser events with the Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF) since 2014 and they have been wildly successful generating more than $131,000 to buy and deploy life-saving Airfence soft barriers. N2 is currently looking for partners, companies, sponsors, and individuals willing to donate products, memorabilia, and services for the auction.

The online auction can be found on BiddingOwl.com. Click on the link below to go to the N2 RRW auction site. You must create an account to place bids. When creating an account make sure to select the check box(es) to ‘receive notifications if out-bid’ or else you could miss out!

Bidding will close July 1st at 8pm EDT.

Auction Link: Bidding Owl – N2 RWAF Airfence fund raiser

If you or your company would like to donate items, services, or memorabilia to be auctioned for this amazing cause, please contact Chip Spalding at cspalding@n2td.org

Here is a partial list of some of the amazing companies who have donated to the auction.

MORE ITEMS WILL BE ADDED SO CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY.

Current Auction Donors

Alpha Omega
Autographed Collectables
Barnes Brothers
Chicken Hawk Racing
Carbon Smith
Dainese
Hey Chef Eats
Highside Photo/Raul Jerez
Inline4 Designs
Karns Motorsports
Kustom Cockpits
KYT America
KWS Motorsports
Millennium Technologies
N2 Trackday
NJ MiniGP
PIt Bull Products
Pittsburgh International Raceway
REB Graphics
Rise Moto
Tri-State Powdercoating
Wiseco
Woodcraft CFM
Yamaha Champions Riding School
Yamaha Motor USA

About N2:  N2 – Ride, Learn, Race.

Founded in 2014, N2’s mission is to build a sustainable motorcycle community through safe, structured motorcycle track days, advanced rider training programs based on Yamaha Champions Riding School teaching methods, with a strong affinity for motorcycle road racing. N2 successfully resurrected Motorcycle Endurance Racing in America partnering with WERA Roadracing and creating the N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop. N2 is a premier participant in the MotoAmerica Pro Racing Series with a multi-rider team competing in several classes. N2 is also a major contributor to the Roadracing World Action Fund through fundraising efforts and support from its large member base.

The N2 National Endurance Series is proudly sponsored by: Dunlop Motorcycle Tire, Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, Dainese, Woodcraft Technologies, BobbleHeadMoto, WERA Road Racing, KYT Helmets America, R.E.B Graphics, Millennium Technologies, Wiseco Pistons, JE Pistons, Rise Moto, Ghetto Customs, Pit-Lane Moto and Yamaha Champions Riding School.

For more information: www.n2td.org

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