Benjamin Smith #78 joins CW Moto Racing to pilot the team’s Yamaha R1 for MotoAmerica Superbike class for 2023; CW also supporting Mallory Dobbs Racing.
This is a press release from CW Moto Racing…
Seattle, WA (April 11, 2023) – CW Moto Racing is pleased to announce that Benjamin Smith will pilot the team’s Yamaha R1 Superbike for the 2023 season. The team is also excited to welcome Track Day Winner as a sponsor for the early season of our Superbike program.
Team owner and crew chief Chris Lobkovich made the call to step up to Superbike when this season’s schedule and location changes for Stock 1000 were published. After a lengthy search for rider talent, which yielded strong potential collaboration possibilities the team is excited about for the future, CW Moto selected Smith for this year’s rider talent.
“Ben’s such a great athlete and talented rider. We noticed and admire his work ethic and what he was able to accomplish last season with the Northeast Cycle Outlet Team in Supersport. We had an opportunity to spend some time with Ben in Chuckwalla this off-season and were able to get him comfortable on the CW Moto Yamaha R1 quickly. He actually got up to speed on the bike really quickly, and worked well both with us and our extended team. Ben has a lot of support in the paddock, and we’re really excited to work with him this season.”
“Rising through the ranks, I’ve been able to steadily improve my knowledge and skills, collecting a national championship and numerous podiums along the way,” Smith added. “I’m ready to make the jump to the Superbike class in 2023, which is something I have been working towards since the beginning of my career. Having CW Moto supporting me is an honor, and I know they will put a great program together for me. I think we have an opportunity to open some eyes this season!”
Lobkovich and the team made the call to step up from Stock 1000 to Superbike when the 2023 event calendar was released.
“We totally understand why MotoAmerica made the changes to the schedule they did. We looked at the schedule and after much deliberation, decided that as a team and business based on the West Coast, with the support of the incredible racing community and our sponsors out here, we had to choose a class operating at the Ridge and Laguna Seca. We’re excited about the challenge: it’s always been our goal to end up in Superbike. We’re always learning, and we might as well compete with and learn from the best in the country.”
CW Moto is also thrilled to welcome Track Day Winner and owner John Cook as a round sponsor for this season’s events at Atlanta, Barber, and COTA. Started almost as a “dare” in 2011, Track Day Winner now has over 4000 members and operates mostly in the eastern/southeastern USA. TDW works hard to provide a safe and memorable track day experience for everyone, always serving up a great meal every Saturday night to encourage our members to interact off the track and build the “family” atmosphere that the organization promotes.
“Track Day Winner has been working with and sponsoring numerous talented clubman level and professional level riders for many years now,” according to John Cook, founder and owner of Track Day Winner. “Being a part of his efforts for the past few years, Benjamin Smith has always shown himself to be a very dedicated and super skilled rider, so it was a natural step for TDW to continue helping him live his dream. He’s always had his eye on Superbike, and we believe that this incredible opportunity with CW Moto will be a perfect match for both rider and team!”
“We’re incredibly excited to partner with someone who’s been a part of and supporter of the sport as long as John and TDW have. We couldn’t make the move into Superbike happen without this kind of support. John and TDW have been long-time supporters of Ben, and we’re really grateful John and Track Day Winner are able to support this collaboration,” Lobkovich added.
In addition, CW Moto is very proud to be providing technical support for Mallory Dobbs Racing, in support of Mallory’s two-class program in MotoAmerica this season. Mallory is riding the Ducati Richmond Hypermotard (built by CW Moto) in the Super Hooligans class, and is privateering her own SuperSport program this season.
“We got to know Mallory in the WMRRA (Washington Motorcycle Road Racing) paddock last season, and saw her grit, talent, and potential,” said CW Moto Co-Owner, Sara Lobkovich. “It’s been rewarding to watch Mallory put in so much effort over the off-season both on her riding and carving out her role as a professional in the sport. She surprised me with her season opener at Daytona, and I’m really looking forward to seeing her turn some heads this season.”
Last, the team would like to thank RayJen Motorsports for providing transportation for our MotoAmerica program this season. RayJen is based in Washington State and handling transportation for the full season and between rounds by arrangement (including a possible spot for an East Coast team who needs a one-bike transport to and from the West Coast for the Ridge Motorsports Park and Laguna Seca rounds).
About Benjamin Smith
Benjamin Smith, 22, of Glenmoore Pennsylvania is an accomplished road racer with seven seasons of MotoAmerica competition under his belt. Smith finished 4th overall in the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship, and is a multi-time regional championship club racer, 2017 KTM RC Cup Champion, and a KTM RC Cup world finale competitor. He balances his racing career with attending Penn State University, where he will complete his degree in strategic communications in May.
About Track Day Winner
Track Day Winner is a rider-focused track day organization operating in the eastern/southeastern USA.
CW Moto Racing is a Seattle, Washington-based race team and race shop.
For more information, visit http://cwmoto.com
