Speed Dating: July 20 - 26

July 20

Michael Beck (US) was born on this date in 1987. Last year, Beck served as a substitute for the injured David Checa in the WSBK championship at Monza, riding a GMT-94 Yamaha to a points-scoring finish. He also finished ninth in the AMA Supersport championship as a privateer. Riding as a privateer again this year on Yamaha equipment, Beck sits fifteenth in the AMA Daytona SportBike standings.

Veteran Isle of Man racer Tom Montano (US) was born on this date in 1972. Montano, the 2001 AMA Pro-Thunder champion, is one of the most experienced Americans on the TT course. In 2005, Montano rode an MV Agusta F4-1000 to thirteenth place in the Senior TT. This year, Montano rode the Mission Motors M1 to fourth place in the inaugural TTXGP, for electric motorcycles.

July 21

Stuart Easton (UK) was born on this date in 1983. The 2002 British Supersport champion, Easton is in his second year in the British Superbike championship, riding for the Hydrex Honda team. Easton is currently third in the standings after seven rounds. Easton is also strong on real-roads courses, having won the 2008 Macau Grand Prix.

July 22

Franco Battaini (IT) was born on this date in 1972. Battaini spent eleven seasons in the 250cc world championship, from 1996 until 2006. He never scored a race win, with his strongest seasons coming in 2002 and 2003, in which he finished sixth in the championship. The 2005 season was Battaini’s only year in the premier class, when he rode for Blata WCM. He finished the season twenty-second in the points, with a best race finish of eleventh in Japan.

The inaugural Ride to Work Day was held on this day in 1992. Seventeen years later, the annual event is still going strong, though the event is now held on the third Monday in June.

July 23

Happy birthday to John Haner (US), who was born on this date in 1977. Haner spent time with the Millennium/KWS Suzuki team in AMA competition, and also had some success competing in the Macau GP.

July 25

Kenny Roberts Jr. (US) was born on this date in 1973. Roberts won four races on his way the 2000 500cc Grand Prix title with Suzuki, making him and Kenny Sr. the only father/son combination to have both won the premier-class world championship. Roberts, who began his premier-class career with Yamaha Team Roberts in 1996, finished his GP career with Team Roberts in 2007.

July 26

Glen Schnabel (US) was born on this date in 1979. “JR” Schnabel is competing in his fourteenth AMA Grand National season. The Wisconsin native is eighth in the GNC Twins standings and second in GNC Singles. Schnabel rides for the Memphis Shades Racing team.

Ryan Elleby (US) was born on this date in 1983. Elleby rides for Team Hooters Suzuki in the AMA Pro American Superbike series and is eighteenth in points. Elleby scored a season-best finish of seventh in the first race of last weekend’s Mid-Ohio round.