Bathurst, Australian V8 Supercars’ most iconic race, is this weekend

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The most iconic race in Australian V8 Supercars – perhaps the most iconic in all of Australia, and one that is known worldwide – occurs this weekend. October 10-13 sees the V8s tackle Mount Panorama for the 2013 running of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Holden has won the race each of the last four years, most recently with Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell a year ago. The 2012 race though saw the emergence of new talent David Reynolds, who co-drove a Rod Nash Racing-entered Ford Falcon to second with veteran Dean Canto.

Whincup and Dumbrell lead the 29-car field that, until this year, was comprised solely of Holdens and Fords. But a new wrinkle this year is the addition of Mercedes-Benz and Nissan to the field. There are two MB E63 AMGs along with four Nissan Altimas.

And there’s a handful of familiar names to U.S. fans in the field, even though most of the drivers are Australian. Ryan Briscoe continues his season-long world tour of driving different cars, co-driving with Australian legend Russell Ingall in the No. 66 Supercheap Auto Holden Commodore. American Le Mans Series regular Jeroen Bleekemolen co-drives with Shane van Gisbergen in the No. 97 VIP Petfoods Holden.

Ex-Audi factory driver Alexandre Premat is in the field as is current Porsche factory shoe Marc Lieb.

The V8s made a stateside appearance to Circuit of the Americas in May. As part of the lead-up to that event, NASCAR’s Kurt Busch sampled James Courtney’s V8 Holden.

More information can be found on the series’ official website. Newly announced Wednesday was that the commentary will be done by the excellent Radio Le Mans crew.

Beta Motorcycles joins SuperMotocross in 2024, Benny Bloss named first factory rider

Beta Motorcycles 2024 Bloss
Beta Motorcycles
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Benny Bloss will race for the factory Beta Motorcycles team in 2024 as that manufacturer joins SuperMotocross as the ninth brand to compete in the series. Beta Motorcycles will make their debut in the Monster Energy Supercross opener at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California in January.

Benny Bloss finished among the top 10 twice in Pro Motocross, in 2016 and 2018. – Beta Motorcycles

“The wait is over and we can finally share everything we have been working towards,” said Carlen Gardner, Race Team Manager in a press release. “It has been a great experience being a part of this development and seeing the progression. The only missing part was finding a rider that would mesh well with our Beta Family.

“After a one phone call with Benny, we knew it would be a good fit for him, and for us. We are happy to have him on board for the next two years and can’t wait to see everyone at Anaheim in January.”

Bloss debuted in the 450 class in 2015 with a 15th-place finish overall at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Bloss has a pair of top-10 rankings in the division with a sixth-place finish in the Pro Motocross Championship in 2016 and a seventh in 2018. His best Supercross season ended 15th in the standings in 2018.

“I’m extremely excited to join the Beta Factory Racing team,” Bloss said. “It’s cool to see a brand with such a rich history in off-road racing to come into the US Supercross and Motocross space. I know this team will be capable of great things as we build and go racing in 2024.”

Bloss is currently 22nd in the SuperMotocross rankings and has not raced in the first two rounds of the Motocross season.

Testing for Beta Motorcycles is scheduled to begin in August and the team expects to announce a second rider at that time.

The family-owned brand adds to the international flare of the sport. The company was founded in Florence, Italy in 1905 as Società Giuseppe Bianchi as they built handmade bicycles, The transition to motorcycle production in the late 1940s.

Beta Motorcycles competed and won in motocross competition in the late 1970s and early 1980s with Jim Pomeroy and other riders.

Beta will join Triumph Motorcycles as a second historic brand to join the sport in 2024. First established in 1902, Triumph has won in nearly every division they have competed in, dating back to their first victory in the 1908 Isle of Man TT. Triumph will debut in the 250 class in 2024 and plans to expand into 450s in 2025.