Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner, and the late Marco Simoncelli are the main characters in Hitting The Apex, a new MotoGP feature film directed by Mark Neale and co-produced and narrated by Hollywood star Brad Pitt. The film follows the careers of these six well-known racers, featuring the battles, the triumphs and all the highs and lows of MotoGP via exclusive interviews and incredible insights. From the thrilling Rossi versus Lorenzo rivalry and the domination of Marquez to the tragic loss of Simoncelli, this film will fascinate more than just race fans. Pitt loves motorcycles. His garage hosts at least 12 bikes, included the gift he received from Angelina Jolie for his 44th birthday: a Harley-Davidson Shovelhead. Among his stable are an MV Agusta Brutale 910, a Ducati, a Confederate Hellcat F124, and an old Vespa. He is also a familiar face in the MotoGP paddock. From Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to the Mugello circuit, Pitt has been an avid MotoGP fan for years. He is a big Rossi fan, and has attended several races across the globe. Just ahead of Pitt’s visit to the British GP at Silvertone, where he was promoting the film, Pitt spoke to ShortList magazine about his love of MotoGP: “It’s just phenomenal. These guys are so poetic and beautiful, and yet they’re on the edge of complete and utter destruction. It’s incredible, incredible, incredible,” said the Oscar-winning actor. “When I first started, wherever I was, I had to find an outlet who was going to broadcast it and at what time, including in the middle of the night. Now you can just go to motogp.com to watch it live.” Continued Pitt: “I’ve always loved bikes. Over a car any day. These bikes are the ultimate—the space shuttles of the motorcycle world. I started watching a bit in the 1990s, the Mick Doohan years, the great Australian racer. But it wasn’t until Rossi’s time around 2001 that I became maniacal about it. I don’t think I’ve missed a race since”. Hitting the Apex was officially released on September 2nd and will be released on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD on September 7th.
Harley-Davidson Museum Press Release: We’ve been waiting all summer to throw the biggest party of the year. The Harley-Davidson Museum® is the place to be this coming Labor Day weekend, when it hosts its annual Custom Bike Show Weekend during the Milwaukee Rally. The Weekend kicks off at Bike Night on Thursday, Sept. 3, and runs through Sunday, Sept. 6. In addition to hosting two of the largest custom bike shows of the year, the Museum will be buzzing with activities, artisans and fans of rolling art. Some of the weekend highlights include: - The 2016 Harley-Davidson® motorcycle lineup will be on the Museum campus, offering eager fans of Harley-Davidson a first look at the new models. - The Project Livewire™ Experience Tour will offer the public an up-close look at the first Harley-Davidson electric motorcycle with test rides available on a limited basis. - Custom culture artisans, working in mediums as diverse as leather and sparkplugs, offer demonstrations of their craft and feature one-of-a-kind products available for purchase. - The winning Custom Kings Street motorcycle will be on display in the Pro Builder Tent. The Custom Kings contest asked dealers and builders from across the country to transform stock Harley-Davidson Street® motorcycles into works of rolling art. - Live outdoor music from crowd pleasers such as Hairball (Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m.) and Bella Cain (Sept. 6 at 12:30 p.m.), alongside great food and beverages. The Museum’s largest Bike Night of the season: Thursday, Sept. 3 - Starting at 5 p.m. All bikes unite at the Harley-Davidson Museum® to kick off the Milwaukee Rally. Riders and non-riders are invited to enjoy live music, food and drink specials inside and outside MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant, as well as extended Museum hours. Milwaukee Rally Women's Ride: Friday, Sept. 4 - 9 - 10:30 a.m. Women are encouraged to sign up for a scenic tour along the Lake Michigan shore, rolling west to the beautiful landscape of Holy Hill. Participants receive a commemorative Rally goodie bag, fabulous lunch and event program. This annual ride is limited to the first 112 riders. Staging begins at 9 a.m. at the Harley-Davidson Museum® with kickstands up at 10:30 a.m. Click HERE to register. Pro Invitational Custom Bike Show: Saturday, Sept. 5 and Sunday, Sept. 6 - 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. This show features custom motorcycles from top professional builders from around the country, being displayed in the Chrome special-event space. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public. H-D Museum Custom Bike Show: Sunday, Sept. 6 - 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Some of the most impressive works of art, using a motorcycle as the canvas, fill the Museum campus. Awards for best of show in several classes, including the coveted Willie G. Davidson Award, are presented at 4 p.m. Registration is now open. All interested entrants must submit their information online HERE. The winner of the Pro Show Freestyle category will go on to Orlando, Fla., to compete for an entry and expenses to represent the Americas in the 2016 AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building held in Cologne, Germany during the International Motorcycle Fair. Last chance to see the Museum’s special summer exhibit Willie G. Davidson: Artist, Designer, Leader, Legend On view through Sept. 7 The Harley-Davidson Museum’s summer exhibit honors the life, career and legacy of motorcycle icon Willie G. Davidson. Willie G. Davidson: Artist, Designer, Leader, Legend, celebrates the artistry, influence and impact of a man whose designs have defined American motorcycles for generations. The exhibit closes Monday, Sept. 7. Museum admission rates apply. For more information: www.h-dmuseum.com
Valentino Rossi: “I follow all kind of sports, but motorsport remains my favorite. In particular, I like rally. Whenever it was possible, I did some rally races. When I will have more time, I would like to do some more.”
Jorge Lorenzo: “I have always admired Michael Jordan and Ayrton Senna. They were Sportsmen with a capital S. They were the reference in their sports. They were known worldwide, they had a special talent and a strong personality. I also like football players like Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. I love football and these two guys raised the bar in their sport.” Andrea Dovizioso: “Alessandro Del Piero because he is a champion, but also a person who I like a lot and I’ve been lucky enough to know him. Del Piero was world champion with the Italian football team in 2006 and he played as a striker.” Nicky Hayden: “I like basketball quite a lot and Michael Jordan was my hero when I was growing up. I like him, but I also like cycling.” Marc Marquez: “Leo Messi. I think he is the best football player ever. He is a star and he also plays for my favorite team, Barcelona. With them, he won the Champions League four times. When I was a kid, I was also very good at playing football and a local team chose me. They wanted me to play for them. I had to choose about my future and I decided for the bikes. Like Messi, I was very small when I was a kid.” Scott Redding: “I don’t really follow sports outside of motorcycle racing, but I’ve read Mike Tyson’s autobiography and his single mindedness and dedication to achieving his goals impressed me.” Bradley Smith: “I admire Ricky Carmichael. He changed the dynamics of a motorcycle racer, especially in motocross. He was one of the first to hire a trainer, he took the preparation seriously, and he paid his trainer to be with him every day. He was the initiator, and I have a lot of respect for that. And I also I admire him so much because he really dominated the sport for a long period. Having such a strong determination every day when you have won so many titles really impresses me.” Pol Espargaro: “I have never been the kind of guy who has a favorite sports star. I love all kind of sports and I admire all the athletes. I have a lot of respect for the marathon runners, for all the effort that this discipline requires, but I also admire the concentration of a surfer before jumping on his board or a tennis player when he has to face a very demanding opponent. I love in particular surfing and kite surfing, and in this discipline the star is Gisela Pulido, who has dominated since she was a kid. The surfer I admire is Aritz Aranburu.
With a heavy heart, I write this letter of thanks, recognition of fond and unequaled memories, opportunities granted, and a great ride beyond my wildest dreams. As the tides shift, so has this journey for me. For the past seven years, I have been fortunate to work at the front and center of the greatest motorsports show on Earth and have not only been embraced and developed true lifelong friendships with its entire cast of performers but the greatest riders in the Grand Prix world, as well. I will miss all of you and your families dearly and wish the safest and most triumphant racing in your future. I would like to give a very special thank you to all of the riders and fans of the sport; without them, I would not be where I am today. I would also like to extend another big thank you to the management of AMA Pro Racing for all of the opportunities they had extended to me with a professional understanding of my plan to shift focus at this time. I am proud that I have embarked on a new level of commitment to the world of flat-track motorcycle racing. This new adventure now has me as a principal owner at Wachusett Valley Riders Club Raceway in Winchendon, Massachusetts—a true cushion short-track and the only currently functional dirt track in New England. I invite everyone to visit us at the track and view the club website at www.wvrclub.com. WVRC gives new and up-and-coming riders a place to have fun, develop, and sharpen their skills in the Northeast. Interestingly, my role every weekend is to keep the race program running as smooth and efficiently as possible. It seems fitting that this new investment and time commitment are a few reasons for my departure from the pro tour. I would like to close by saying I wish my very best to all of the riders and fans of the sport, AMA Pro management, the France family, Gary Kidd and Pete Giammalvo, and all of the AMA track personnel who put in the work week in and week out, past and present. Be well and have fun, my friends. If I am at a track near you in the future, don’t be shy to say hello. Thanks again, it’s been a great ride.
Pro Circuit Press Release: Pro Circuit is proud to roll out our new T-6 and Ti-6 Exhaust Systems for the 2016 Husqvarna FC 450 model. Every Pro Circuit exhaust system is proudly designed and manufactured in the USA and is the perfect choice for Husqvarna riders everywhere looking for an increase in performance. The Ti-6 Pro Titanium Exhaust System is designed to provide improved performance plus meet the sound requirements for AMA/FIM Pro level competition. Chosen by factory teams and privateers alike for AMA/FIM Supercross and National Motocross racing. The Ti-6 Titanium Exhaust System is designed for both closed-course and off-road racers. It's the ideal system for AMA Amateur events or any rider or racer looking for winning performance, legendary durability and a professional look. The Pro Circuit Ti-6 System is equipped with a removable USFS approved spark arrestor, making it easy to alternate between off-road and closed-course racing. The T-6 Stainless Steel Exhaust System is designed for both closed-course and off-road competition. Constructed from high strength stainless steel and aluminum, the T-6 offers the same improved performance as our Ti-6 System. The T-6 System is a great way for riders or racers looking for winning performance, legendary durability and a professional look but at a lower price. In addition, the T-6 System is equipped with a removable USFS approved spark arrestor making it easy to alternate between off-road and closed-course racing. The T-6 Stainless Steel Slip-On Silencer is for riders looking for an inexpensive, easy-to-install, durable performance silencer that can bolt right onto their stock head pipe. The T-6 Slip-On is constructed of stainless steel and high quality aluminum for increased durability. Just like the T-6 System, the T-6 Slip-On is AMA Amateur racing legal and is a great option for any rider looking for an increase in performance on a small budget. A removable USFS approved spark arrestor is included to make it easier to alternate between off-road and closed-course racing. Features:Ti-6 Series: - Improved performance - Titanium construction throughout head pipe, mid pipe, and canister - Carbon fiber end-cap - RC-4 Resonance Chamber to reduce noise output - Machined aluminum muffler configuration for increased packing volume - Machined mid pipe to head pipe joint for a better, leak free fit - Removable USFS approved spark arrestor (Ti-6 System only) - TIG precision welding - Made in the USA MSRP: - Full System: $999.95 T-6 Series: - Improved performance - Stainless steel end-cap - RC-4 Resonance Chamber to reduce noise output - Aluminum canister construction - Machined aluminum muffler brackets for added strength and durability - Asymmetrical muffler configuration for increased packing volume - Removable USFS approved spark arrestor - TIG precision welding - Made in the USA MSRP: - Slip-On: $464.95 - Full System: 779.95
Pitt loves motorcycles. His garage hosts at least 12 bikes, included the gift he received from Angelina Jolie for his 44th birthday: a Harley-Davidson Shovelhead. Among his stable are an MV Agusta Brutale 910, a Ducati, a Confederate Hellcat F124, and an old Vespa. He is also a familiar face in the MotoGP paddock. From Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to the Mugello circuit, Pitt has been an avid MotoGP fan for years. He is a big Rossi fan, and has attended several races across the globe. 
Just ahead of Pitt’s visit to the British GP at Silvertone, where he was promoting the film, Pitt spoke to ShortList magazine about his love of MotoGP: “It’s just phenomenal. These guys are so poetic and beautiful, and yet they’re on the edge of complete and utter destruction. It’s incredible, incredible, incredible,” said the Oscar-winning actor. “When I first started, wherever I was, I had to find an outlet who was going to broadcast it and at what time, including in the middle of the night. Now you can just go to motogp.com to watch it live.” Continued Pitt: “I’ve always loved bikes. Over a car any day. These bikes are the ultimate—the space shuttles of the motorcycle world. I started watching a bit in the 1990s, the Mick Doohan years, the great Australian racer. But it wasn’t until Rossi’s time around 2001 that I became maniacal about it. I don’t think I’ve missed a race since”. Hitting the Apex was officially released on September 2nd and will be released on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD on September 7th. 
