Montoya looks to continue incredible 500-mile record at MAVTV 500

4 Comments

Verizon IndyCar Series points leader Juan Pablo Montoya has six races to go in the 2015 season, including two 500-mile races, where the Colombian’s career record is simply ridiculous.

The Triple Crown hasn’t got much ink or play this year, but with the MAVTV 500 at Auto Club Speedway this weekend and the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway in August, Montoya has two good chances to add to his win in the 99th Indianapolis 500.

He enters what will be his 10th 500-mile race in IndyCar this weekend, and the stats, courtesy of Justice Brothers, Inc. and Shunck & Associates, are gaudy:

 Race Start Finish Laps Led
1999 U.S. 500 – Michigan International Speedway 3rd 2nd 250/250 28
1999 Marlboro 500 – Auto Club Speedway 3rd 4th 250/250 13
2000 Indianapolis 500 2nd WIN 200/200 167
2000 U.S. 500 – Michigan International Speedway 7th WIN 250/250 39
2000 Marlboro 500 – Auto Club Speedway 5th 10th (blown engine) 219/250 33
2014 Indianapolis 500 10th 5th 200/200 16
2014 Pocono 500 1st WIN 200/200 45
2014 MAVTV500 – Auto Club Speedway 2nd 4th 250/250 85
2015 Indianapolis 500 15th WIN 200/200 9
 Averages/Totals 5.33 3.22 2019/2050 435
In total:
 – Nine career “500” mile Indy car races.
 – Four WINS.
 – Two Indy 500 wins, 1 win at MIS and 1 win at Pocono.
 – LED in ALL nine “500” mile races.
 – Completed 98.48% of all “500” mile race laps – finished every race lap in 1999, 2014 and 2015.  In 2000 blew an engine in the Marlboro 500.
 – Has led 21.2% of all possible laps in “500” mile races he has run.

Montoya has never won at Auto Club Speedway before, but as you see above, he hasn’t exactly struggled with two fourths and a blown engine while in win contention in 2000.

He won his first IndyCar start at Pocono last year.

And he’s an early favorite to keep up this incredible run this weekend at Auto Club Speedway.

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

Beta Motorcycles 2024 Bloss
Beta Motorcycles
0 Comments

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.