Colin Braun joins Era Motorsport for three races

Era Motorsport
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Era Motorsport has signed Colin Braun for the remaining three rounds of the 2020 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup.

Braun, who recently helped DragonSpeed win their second-consecutive LMP2 victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona last month, will compete for the team in the 12 Hours of Sebring, Six Hours of The Glen and the Petit Le Mans.

The 31-year-old will share the No. 18 Oreca 07 Gibson with Dwight Merriman and Kyle Tilley.

“I’m looking forward to joining Era Motorsport for the remaining IMSA endurance races this year,” Braun said. “I can’t thank Kyle and Dwight enough for putting their trust in me as we look ahead.

“Era Motorsport had a great start to the year finishing on the podium at Daytona and I’m confident that as we continue to gain experience together as a team, we will contend for wins! This team is young and hungry and I can’t wait to join them at Sebring and help in any way I can to put the team on the top step of the podium.”

Last month’s Rolex 24 was the maiden IMSA race for Era Motorsport, with the team finishing third in the LMP2 class and eleventh overall.

“I’m so proud of all the hard work that has gone into this team to give us such a strong start to the season,” said team owner and driver Kyle Tilley. “We hope to carry that momentum into the next round, the Twelve Hours of Sebring. Colin is a very accomplished race car driver, and we’re looking forward to his contributions to keep our program competitive and in the championship battle.”

Braun will be the second member of his family to join the team in next month’s 12-hour endurance race. His father Jeff will call strategy from the pit box.

The 12 Hours of Sebring on takes place on March 21. Live coverage begins at 10:30 a.m. ET on CNBC.

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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.