Corey Alexander is a survivor. Born into a motorcycle-dealership-owning family and with an uncle who was an AMA professional road racer and 750 Supersport Champion, a team manager, and is still in the MotoAmerica paddock, Alexander has been involved in motorcycle road racing virtually his entire life. He’s withstood the slings and arrows of the sport, and he’s toughed it out through the hardscrabble existence of being a privateer.
He won the AMA Pro SuperSport East Championship in 2013 and progressed to MotoAmerica Supersport, then Superstock 1000, and finally Superbike before taking a brief hiatus and even trying his hand at American Flat Track racing. Returning to the MotoAmerica series in 2019, Alexander was immediately successful in the Stock 1000 Championship, notching 12 wins and 26 podiums in four years that culminated in him winning the 2022 Stock 1000 title.
Last year, Alexander raced exclusively in Superbike as the third member of Tytlers Cycle Racing where he capped off the season with podium results in the final two Superbike races of the 2023 MotoAmerica season, at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Yet, despite his success this past season, Alexander quickly realized that he was going to have to look for another option if he was going to keep racing in MotoAmerica. He and his Uncle Richie put their heads together as they’ve done throughout Alexander’s impressively long racing career, and their business relationships led to a Supersport ride with Rahal Ducati Moto.
I had a conversation with Corey Alexander last week about the new opportunity he put together for the upcoming 2024 MotoAmerica season, and here’s how it went:
Q:
We had some insight as to who might be Rahal Ducati Moto’s riders, but it never dawned on us that it was going to be a three-rider team. So, when you were announced, it was a huge surprise, especially when we talked to Graham about it. He gave us a little bit of the background on how it came about, but can you tell us from your perspective how the deal came together?
Alexander:
We didn’t have the opportunity to continue with Tytlers in the Superbike class going into this season. So, we made the realization that Superbike wasn’t really affordable for us to try to operate our own program. There’re obviously not very many seats. So, we had to give up on Superbike pretty early in the off-season. Supersport is really the only other option. From there, we started working—we being Richie and me—started working on some possibilities to do something. We’re a Ducati dealership here in New York. So, for me, from a marketing perspective and with our customer base, Ducati was the best option. So, we started exploring that route.
We were pretty committed to racing V2’s at least in the 200, and depending on how we could fundraise, we would look at doing more. Then, during that exploration process, Richie had already formed a relationship with the guys at Roller Die + Forming, and they offered to come on board and support me in whatever I did this year. In the meantime, they had also forged a partnership with Rahal. We had a mutual sponsor, so we had some conversations, and it made the most sense to partner up and make a big splash with the Roller Die brand. So, that’s why we have a different title sponsor than the other guys. Ultimately, Graham and Ben were gracious enough to make it a really, really good opportunity for me. Also, huge thanks to Ray and the guys at Roller Die because, without them, there wouldn’t have even been a conversation, more than likely. That’s probably also why it was such a surprise because I don’t think I was necessarily on the list of guys who might race in Supersport this year.
Q:
But you are always on the list of guys who are good racers because what you’ve done in MotoAmerica has been very impressive over the years.
The Roller Die thing, Graham talked to us about them, and I actually thought they were one of Rahal’s sponsors. I didn’t realize they are a sponsor that you brought in. Furthermore, he said that, in the past, because Graham is such a Ducati fan, he’s dealt with Hudson Valley Motorcycles before. He’s actually talked to Richie or your dad or maybe even you, about bikes in the past. So, Graham already had quite a bit of knowledge of Hudson Valley Motorcycles and of the Alexander family.
Alexander:
Ray is the owner of Roller Die. He did have a relationship with Graham independently. They had a smaller partnership going into the season regardless of me. My addition to the team expanded upon that. So, regardless of me or not, Roller Die was a part of the Rahal program. It’s just my addition was more prominent in regard to my relationship with them. But we’ve had a relationship with Graham for quite a long time now. Richie and Graham had a relationship, and Graham collects a lot of bikes. Richie deals in that circle, and it’s a small world. They definitely have had a relationship for quite a while now. Obviously, everyone knows the Rahal name in motorsports, so, it’s nice to have a relationship with them, and Richie and (Rahal Ducati Moto team manager) Ben (Spies) have had a relationship for a long time, as well. It was really just kind of putting all the pieces together and making sure it made sense for them to add a third bike to what’s already a new program, which is always stressful. But we kind of did the same thing with Tytlers. So, we’ve been a part of these new programs coming together. It’s nothing new for us, and we try to help in any way we can.
Q:
In a lot of ways, it makes sense for you to be back on a Ducati. You’ve raced them in the past. We’ve always understood why you raced Kawasakis, with you guys being the oldest Kawasaki dealer in the country, but you also sell Ducatis at Hudson Valley Motorcycles. The odd duck was BMW, which you guys don’t sell. At least new BMWs, right?
Alexander:
No, we’re not a BMW dealer, but racing is racing, and ultimately, you’ve got to ride whatever is available and whatever you’re most likely to win on. For sure, when we went that route, that was the reason behind it. Then, in this case, Graham has his own Ducati dealership, and that’s who I’ll be promoting and riding for this year. Like I said, it’s a small world, and we’re all trying to get to the track and keep this thing going. So, whatever it takes, ultimately. It’s cool that Graham was willing to have me be a part of it, knowing that my family owns a Ducati dealership. Not that we’re really competitors, though, because we’re halfway across the country from each other. But we’re in the same industry, so, it’s very cool of him to be willing to have me on board.
Q:
You’ll have Roller Die’s branding on the bike. Will you have Hudson Valley Motorcycles, as well, and also Rahal Ducati Moto on the bike? All three brands?
Alexander:
I don’t think we’ll have any of our dealership stuff on there. I always try to include HVMC in some capacity. The last couple years, I’ve really grown our Ride HVMC brand, which is actually kind of the business I’ve developed out in California with one-on-one coaching and all that kind of stuff. So, that’s Richie’s and my company together. So, that’s something I’ll definitely include as one of my personal sponsors. But, I’m not going to expect the team to, or Graham as the owner of the team, to want to promote another dealership on his bike. I understand the realities of it. We will be using our transporter, which is cool. So, we’ve got some skin in the game in terms of trying to help the team have as strong a presence as we can. That was one of the things that I was able to bring to the table. But, no, there probably won’t be any Hudson Valley branding on my bike.
Q:
Will it be similar to what you had with Tytlers? Are there going to be two transporters, and is your Uncle Richie going to be your crew chief or part of your crew?
Alexander:
No, we’re only going to have one transporter with Graham. We’ll all be using our truck, at least to start with. We came into this deal pretty late, and they already had a strong structure with the guys that were in place already. For sure, I’m hopeful at some point that there will be an opportunity for Richie to come on board. He’s got a ton of experience, and he’s really good at managing these things and operating teams. So, I’m hoping maybe eventually there will be a spot there for him, but at the moment it doesn’t seem like that will be the case, as far as a crew chief. Richie’s not really a crew chief for me. He never really was. He’s more of a team manager, team coordinator, or whatever you want to call it. He’s a “head-of-the-team” kind of guy. As far as working hands-on with my bike, he was never really in that role. We’re still trying to iron out exactly who my crew chief will be. Hopefully, it will be the same guy I had last year, but I’m not positive.
Q:
A while ago, I talked to Ben Spies about team structure a little bit, and Graham underscored as well that James Compton is part of the team. I know that Richie knows James. Do you know James Compton, too?
Alexander:
Yeah. He worked with Richie and everyone at Michael Jordan Motorsports when I was a kid. I haven’t seen James in probably a decade or two, but I do know him.
Q:
Yeah, I thought you’d known him from the past. When Graham talked to us, he made several references to Michael Jordan Motorsports, so there are a lot of synergies at work. The other thing with you, I know that the concept of Supersport racing has changed so much from the days when it was East and West regional championships with younger riders, and you won the championship in 2013, and then you raced a little bit in regular AMA SuperSport as well as MotoAmerica Supersport. But, obviously, you came back, and it sure is a good thing for everybody, including you, that you came back, because for you to win a Stock 1000 championship and everything you did in Stock 1000 was terrific. Even this past year, you were figuring the bike out, and you got on the podium at New Jersey Motorsports Park, which was fantastic.
So, one thing we knew—and I also know from talking to PJ—is that the three bikes at Tytlers Racing were not all the same spec of BMWs. In fact, your bike wasn’t even what PJ’s was. You had to deal with compromises all year, but despite that, you performed well.
This year, though, as I understand it, the three Ducati Panigale V2s on this team are going to be identically prepared, and you’re going to be on a level playing field with not only the other two riders on your team but also with anybody else who is going to be on a Ducati Panigale V2. So, you’re not going to be at a disadvantage with the bike, are you?
Alexander:
No, definitely not. That was, for sure, part of the conversation before we agreed to move forward with this was making sure that the team had the capacity to have three bikes and three crews and support it in a way that we would all be on the same page, same playing field. For sure, Graham has a tremendous background in motorsports. So, he’s been on that end of it, too. He’s been in situations where he’s driven for teams that maybe different guys have different stuff, so he knows what that does for a driver or rider and how that can work against you. So, he was adamant that that wouldn’t be the case.
With the Supersport class, in general, there are a lot of differences in the bikes from brand to brand, but you can’t do as much to a Supersport bike as you can to a Superbike. So, it’s a lot easier to have a more level playing field.
Q:
Have you ridden a Ducati Panigale V2?
Alexander:
I have. We own a couple of them that we use for our school program, our rental bike program. I’ve ridden one of our own bikes, but it’s just a stock motorcycle. I tried to race one a couple weeks ago out at Chuckwalla, but it didn’t end up working out too well for me. So, for the most part, I haven’t really ridden one to any great extent or in race trim.
Q:
I’ve never seen a Ducati Panigale V2 sitting right next to a Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike, but I actually thought they were pretty similar bikes in size. Josh Herrin says that the V2 is quite a bit smaller than the V4 R. So, being that it’s a smaller bike, do you see that as any kind of a challenge with the fact that you’re arguably the tallest guy in our paddock at 6’ 4” tall? Or maybe 6’ 5”? Is that bike going to be a challenge for you to kind of fold yourself into it?
Alexander:
It’s definitely not the same as the V4 R, but it is very similar to the 1199 that I rode in 2016. It’s virtually the same configuration, seating position-wise. The bodywork is virtually the same, and so on. So, I am familiar with it, for sure, coming from a Superbike and having a different-shaped tank and bodywork. It’s definitely smaller, but I don’t think I’ve been on a bike that I’ve been super-comfortable on in a long, long time since I was a kid. So, for me it’s not even a thing I really worry about at this point. The team is working on some things for me that will help to make me a little more comfortable. I kind of know now with so many years of experience that there’s things that I look to change and get custom-made that help. So, we’ll do some of those things. I think probably the biggest thing that I’m concerned about is just my weight and seeing how that affects me. With my height, I’m heavier than most of the guys in the class. So, Jake Lewis and I will be holding our own in Supersport for the big boys.
Q:
I was going to say, with Altus Motorsports announcing that Jake is going to be back in Supersport, too, it’s incredible. Supersport is going to be pretty amazing this year. It was last year, too, but now that they’ve got things dialed in with the disparity of bikes that are out there, it’s going to be interesting to see. I actually don’t know the answer to this, Corey, but I know they electronically limit the throttle on the Ducati Panigale V2. Would they maybe not limit the horsepower on your bike as much because you’re a bigger guy?
Alexander:
No, they don’t do it that way. I think there’s a minimum required weight that everyone has to meet. So, it’s a minimum combined rider and bike weight, as far as I understand it. I haven’t looked into it too much. I just know I don’t have any issues with meeting the minimum weight. I’m not exactly 100% sure. I don’t think we need to add any weight to my bike, though.
Q:
Whether it was Josh Herrin or Xavi Forés, they talked about the fact that, with the fly-by-wire throttle, MotoAmerica Technical Control dialed back the horsepower on the Ducati Panigale V2 because of the balancing measures required in Supersport. But comparing Kayla on the bike with you on the bike, or even PJ on the bike versus you on the bike, there’s quite a difference in weight.
Alexander:
Maybe you could put in a good word for me with MotoAmerica and see if they would give me a couple more percent of throttle.
Q:
So, there are three riders on the team. Two of you have a lot of Superbike experience and success, and then there is Kayla, who podiumed last year during her brief stint in Supersport, but she is still very new to the class and new to MotoAmerica, for that matter. Next year, she’s not going to be age-eligible to even move up to Superbike, but there’s an understanding with PJ that it’s one year in Supersport before moving back up to Superbike. I would think it could be the same situation with you. Is that how you understand it?
Alexander:
There haven’t been any formal discussions, for sure, about that. I know that’s Graham’s desire to have a team that can compete in the premier class, which is Superbike. I don’t know if it’s a short-term goal where that’s something that will happen quick enough. I’m sure, if all the pieces align, it’s possible. Like anything else, it all comes down to money. If we do a good job this year and we’re able to attract some big enough partnerships for the team to afford to be able to go Superbike racing, then I’m sure that’s something that’s on the radar for them.
For me, just being a part of the organization and knowing that they have the capability to go out and fundraise and hopefully build a platform that has opportunity, where I think right now in general the sport is struggling a bit to create opportunities for riders. That was a big part of the appeal was just being able to draw it out with them and kind of know that they’re working towards the common goal of trying to grow the sport and grow the team. If that turns into an opportunity in Superbike, great. I think PJ has first dibs on that. If there’s one bike, it’s going to be PJ on it. But I’m definitely looking to continue into next year and whatever opportunity that arises.
If I’m still in Supersport, then that’s all right. I think at the point where I’m at with my career, it’s really just longevity and trying to figure out how to stay on a bike that’s competitive and that I can do well on and continue growing my brand and myself. Last year was a personal “check-the-box” kind of thing with getting on a really good Superbike and trying to be as competitive as possible. I’d like another shot at it, for sure. I think I learned more than I’ve learned in a long time, all year last year. It would have been nice to have had the opportunity to go further with that. But, hopefully, like I said, if everything goes according to plan, we can win every race, and the team can bring in a bunch of money and we can go Superbike racing.
Q:
It’s amazing because, a couple years ago, I was writing some articles and we were all wondering what was going on with what we called “the 600 class,” which it’s certainly not that anymore. But now, with this Supersport Next Generation thing, it’s proven to be pretty competitive. There are maybe some who think that the bigger-displacement bikes are getting curtailed a little too much, but it seems like the racing is really competitive. To me, it didn’t fit in my head that a 955cc V-twin could work in a 600cc class, but now, I understand completely why it does. That’s why, for you to be on a bike that you said is kind of reminiscent of the 1199, that you had a couple years ago in Stock 1000, does it feel like you’re returning to Supersport? Does it feel like you’re kind of going back to your roots a little bit with the idea that when you were younger, you raced in all the various iterations of what Supersport was?
Alexander:
For me, that’s kind of a question mark. Like I said, I haven’t really gotten to ride the bike yet. I haven’t spent any time on a 600 in a long time. I’m definitely a little bit nervous about that. I’m eagerly waiting to get on the bike and start getting my head around it, because it is obviously a different riding style. For me, I took a bit of time off from when I rode the Ducati to coming back to MotoAmerica in 2019. I think when I came back, I came back as a big-bike rider. I think my style and just my size obviously fits better on a bigger bike. But I think where I’m at in terms of mental capacity to understand how to ride a bike and just process things, I’ve just got a lot more experience now. I know I can ride anything. But for sure, it doesn’t feel like I’m returning to my roots, by any means.
I think it’s the same for PJ, too. I think we are both in the same boat where, if we had the opportunity to ride a good Superbike again, that would be our preference. Like I said, racing is about money, and right now, it’s just not affordable to race Superbike. That’s really what it comes down to. I think it’s too hard for new teams to come in and do it. I think it’s hard for teams that are here to keep doing it, just in general. At the end of the day, we all just want to keep racing. So, I think if it came down to it, if we had to ride Ninja 400s in Junior Cup to be able to keep racing, we would all do it. As long as there was something to win and some money to be made.
Q:
PJ and Kayla are going to be on yellow bikes. Is your bike going to be yellow, as well?
Alexander:
It’s not. It’s going to be different. It’s going to look quite a bit different.
Q:
That’s nice. I’m glad to see that there’s a little different livery for you.
Alexander:
Yeah, it will be much different, which is cool. I think, in general, just having different flavors going on in the class, and in the paddock, in general, it just adds to the appeal. There’s more going on, more companies getting interested and invested and so on. I’m excited. It’s going to be based around Roller Die where Kayla and PJ are running the XPEL colors. We’ll still be running some XPEL branding, but for sure. the focus is around Roller Die. So, that will be the main focus on the bike. I don’t think they have anything to share just yet. I’m not sure when we’ll have official bikes ready to ride with the actual liveries. I’ve seen the renderings, though, and it looks cool.
Q:
Kayla and PJ both told me the same thing in that they will be doing a testing program. Are you participating in the same testing program as them?
Alexander:
Yes, everything we do will be as a team. Everything is the same for all of us. It was originally supposed to be in two weeks. I think, with the holiday and shipping and obviously everything is coming from Europe for the Ducatis, the joys of U.S. Customs and all that kind of stuff have made it a bit difficult. So, I’m not sure that we’re going to get to do that first test. I don’t know if they gave you an inclination of when we would be testing.
Q:
They didn’t. They just said January. That’s why I wasn’t even sure if I was going to be able to catch you, because it sounded like it might have been right after the first of the year. So, that’s why I’m glad I’m talking to you before you start testing.
Alexander:
It’s supposed to be in two weeks or so, but it sounds like we’re going to have to push back until February just to make sure they have some time to get everything dialed in. Definitely shipping and all that is very difficult when you’re having to get the stuff from Europe.
Q:
Is this year’s bike any different compared with the one from last year?
Alexander:
The OEM bike?
Q:
Yeah.
Alexander:
No.
Q:
Both you and PJ do a lot of instructing. You do it with your RideHVMC program. Kayla is still young and learning. PJ kind of felt like Ben Spies’ position on the team is going to be working a little bit more with Kayla than with him. You’re a seasoned veteran. PJ is a seasoned veteran. Do you foresee that you’ll be providing any kind of mentorship or teaching for Kayla?
Alexander:
I grew up with PJ and spent last year on the same team with PJ. He was always willing to share whatever he could with me as I was trying to get the Superbike figured out. I think that’ll be the case with Kayla, too. We definitely want to see her succeed. She’s a special girl. I’ve been lucky enough to talk to her more personally, and we’re all in her corner. If we can help her somehow, at least on my end, I’m willing to do whatever we can. I do know Ben is Ben. That name kind of speaks for itself. I know that’s a big part of why he’s part of the team, too. He’s kind of bringing the experience and insight into it. I think we’re all going to look for that because he hasn’t really spent much time in the MotoAmerica paddock. So, just to get some perspective from a guy who’s been at the levels he has been at is a special thing.
But, as for me mentoring or tutoring Kayla, I don’t think that’s necessarily in my job description. But, you know how it is when you’re at the track racing. Racing is racing, and it becomes pretty selfish, and you really only have time for whatever you’ve got on your plate at that moment. But, like I said, when the time comes and if she has questions or needs some help, or if there are things that PJ or I see out there that we can help her with, for sure, that’s kind of the case and I think partially what the team sees the structure as. PJ and I have some experience, and I think we’re expected to really perform. Obviously, everyone wants Kayla to do really well, but everyone knows she’s young, and she’s got some experience to gain and progression to have happen.
Q:
I was a little surprised that I’d be talking to you while you’re in New York. I know you spend a lot of time out at Chuckwalla and have been out there recently. I saw some video of you in a race out there with CVMA. I assume you went back home to New York for the holidays, and you’re probably heading back to Chuckwalla at some point here?
Alexander:
Yeah. We’ve developed the business out there. So, Richie and I own a garage at the track. We have ten guys who actually store their bikes with us throughout the winter. Most of them are East Coast guys. We also have one client from California who stores his bike with us, but they leave their bikes at the track in our garage, and they just come out there and ride on the track days, plus some of them race. So, that season for me is the exact opposite of the MotoAmerica season. Basically, from October 1st through April 1st. I’m out there for roughly 12 days each month at a minimum at the track, between the track days that I’ve got going on and the race weekends.
I definitely spend a lot of time at Chuckwalla, and luckily, our garage is pretty unique We’ve got it set up really well for our purposes. It’s kind of like my home away from home at this point. Everyone at the track, they’ve been a personal partner of mine at Chuckwalla for a few years now. Having the opportunity to spend as much time out there as I do has helped me from a skillset standpoint but also just business-wise. The instruction stuff is huge because of the fact that there is not a lot of money to be made in racing. I think I made like three grand or something for getting on the Superbike podium at New Jersey. So, not really enough money to survive. I didn’t have a salary last year, so I virtually made whatever I could put together on my own.
A lot of the relationships that I’ve been able to nurture are because of the relationships I’ve built through coaching and teaching and stuff. Super-fortunate to do that. I do spend a lot of time out there. I’m actually kind of homeless right now. I’ve been living in an RV since May. Kind of traveling around, bouncing around. I’m lucky to have a relationship with an RV brand called Alliance RV. They hooked me up with one to kind of tour around in. So, I’ve got a big toy hauler. Kind of coming to a close on that chapter and looking to get back into a permanent home, so we’ll see where that is. I spent last winter in California full-time, and this year, I’m kind of looking more at coming back to New York. My grandparents are getting older, and I want to spend time with them, and I’ve got a lot of siblings. My little sister is nine and my little brother is twelve. So, they’re at that age where every time I see them, they get bigger and bigger. I guess I’m getting old, because that stuff starts to matter a little bit more as you get older.
Q:
It does. The commitment that you guys have for racing, and especially looking at your career, you were in AFT for a little bit, but then, you were out of racing for a while and got back into it. We’re so glad you did because you’ve had a huge amount of success. But a lot of that success is owed to your work ethic and keeping yourself in the game. Some other riders maybe wouldn’t go to the lengths you have, like living in an RV, for example. So, that really speaks to your dedication and your desire to race. It’s quite a lesson for anybody getting involved in racing. Chuck Aksland always says, “How badly do you want it?” It seems like you want it pretty badly.
Alexander:
Yeah, for sure. It definitely helps to take advantage of the circumstances. Racing allows me to do other things to make enough money to survive and not have to be stuck at a desk or somewhere 9 to 5. I’m also at a stage of my life where I’m trying to take advantage of that as much as I can. It’s definitely by choice, but I’m fortunate enough to be able to take advantage of it and see the country. I just spent New Year’s Eve with Kyle Wyman up in Rochester, and we did Halloween at Jake Lewis’s house in Kentucky. We did Thanksgiving at our friend’s house in Temecula. So, we’ve been able to do a lot of cool stuff and spend time with a lot of people that I wouldn’t get to see otherwise if I was stuck in one place.
For sure, I’m definitely fortunate. Like you said, it is a different type of dedication to be willing to go to the lengths that we do, but for me personally, a lot of it just comes down to making the most out of the relationships that I’ve been able to form over the past five, six, seven years. That’s really the only reason I am still racing. Prime example: I built a relationship and Richie built a relationship with the guys at Roller Die, and that turned into an opportunity that otherwise I wouldn’t have. So, I’d say that’s 90% of it, of anything in life is just relationships and luck and taking advantage of what you have.
