Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1493192
Indian Announces Factory Racing Teams I ndian Motorcycle announced its 2023 MotoAmerica and American Flat Track Factory teams. Reigning champions Tyler O'Hara and Jared Mees return along with King of the Baggers and Super Hooligan factory rider Jeremy McWilliams. Additionally, the com - pany is also announcing more than $405,000 in combined privateer con- tingency in AFT, King of the Baggers and Super Hooligan classes. AFT SuperTwins Champion Jared Mees will rely on his team led by Crew Chief Kenny Tolbert, Assistant Me - chanic Bubba Bently and Suspension Technician Jimmy Wood. Mees will also receive support from Rogers Racing, SDI Racing, Drag Specialties, Twigg Cycles, Mission Foods, Monster Energy, Bell Helmets, Service Pro, Ohlins Suspension, Klotz Oil, Klock Werkssm, RK Chain, Corbin, Seats, Engine Ice, RMR Con - struction, Motion Pro, VP Racing, Vertex Pistons, Pro Plates and DBI Mo - torsports. "Racing and an over- riding spirit of competi- tion has been a driving force for Indian Motor- cycle for more than a century, and that com- petitive fire continues to drive us forward to this day," said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology and Service for Indian Motorcycle. "We're incredibly proud of the success we had in 2022 with three dif - ferent championships, but it's only going to get tougher in 2023, with our competition gunning for us more than ever. But that challenge is what motivates us and pushes us to get bet - ter every day, and we're chomping at the bit to go racing in 2023." CN Jared Mees will hold down the fort for the factory Indian racing team in the 2023 AFT SuperTwins Championship. Vance & Hines Announce KOTB Team J ames Rispoli and Hayden Gillim return with Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley- Davidson Team for MotoAmerica's King of the Baggers in 2023. Rispoli returns to the team after a strong 2022 season aboard the Harley-Davidson Road Glide. Rispoli earned second-place and third-place finishes in the six-race season. Rispoli will pilot a Vance & Hines Harley- Davidson Road Glide bearing his signature number-43 in 2023. Gillim returns to the Vance & Hines King of the Baggers team after focusing exclusively on Superbike racing in 2022. While rejoin - ing his former team, he'll have, according to Vance & Hines, a dramatically improved motorcycle to ride. The switch from Street Glide to Road Glide, along with the compe - tition-driven develop- ment on the engine and chassis, will give him a better handling and more powerful bike than his previous KOTB ride, says Vance & Hines. The team is spon - sored by Mission Foods and uses spe- cialized racing parts from Harley-Davidson. "We're really happy to see interest in the class grow and the increase in the number of races this year," said Team Manager Craig Koontz. "James, with his strong technical feedback and great riding, was a real asset to the team this past season. Having James and Hayden on the track together is going to be exciting to watch. We're eager to get to Daytona to see how we stack up against the rest of the field." CN James Rispoli and Hayden Gillim return with Vance & Hines/Mission/Harley-Davidson Team for MotoAmerica's King of the Baggers in 2023. VOLUME ISSUE FEBRUARY , P33