World Champion Casey Stoner suffered a painful crash but finished third on the overall timesheets on day one at Indy, while his teammate Marco Melandri was down in fourteenth.
Ducati´s Casey Stoner was third on the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix Friday timesheets courtesy of his best effort in the morning run, a session at the end of which he was flicked off his Desmosedici GP8 and suffered bumps and bruises, including a knock to his already injured wrist.
Only one of the 19 MotoGP riders out on track was able to improve his times in the afternoon session as the rain worsened, Dani Pedrosa bettering his best effort at the bottom of the timesheet, whilst Stoner registered the eighth fastest time of FP2 as he sought to rebuild his confidence.
On the other side of the Ducati pit-box Marco Melandri was tenth fastest in the afternoon but fourteenth quickest overall - courtesy of a best lap recorded earlier in the day in the opening 90 minute free practice run.
Casey Stoner - third
`The track conditions vary drastically between the old surface and the new. Grip is good on the old stuff but there isn´t even minimum grip on the recently laid asphalt and the rain makes it much worse because it isn´t draining off. If it continues to rain like it did this afternoon then I´m not sure the conditions will be safe enough to race in. As far as the layout is concerned there are only a couple of critical areas - in particular turn five, where the run-off is very short. There´s not much we can do about that right now though - the best thing would be to stick an air-fence in. This morning I crashed on the section where the grip is poorest and that´s obviously not good for the wrist but thankfully it didn´t create any major problems.´
Marco Melandri - fourteenth
`I like the design of the circuit – it´s fun but unfortunately there are too many different types of asphalt and the new part is definitely the worst, especially with the rain. The bike tends to aquaplane and you can´t see anything because of the reflection off the water. Grip on the older part is good, although if it keeps raining it´s going to get really difficult. There are two or three dangerous corners: turns one, five and six, where the walls are too close. This morning we started out cautiously but we improved towards the end, whilst this afternoon we didn´t get chance to make too many improvements because the conditions were so bad.´
Ducati´s Casey Stoner was third on the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix Friday timesheets courtesy of his best effort in the morning run, a session at the end of which he was flicked off his Desmosedici GP8 and suffered bumps and bruises, including a knock to his already injured wrist.
Only one of the 19 MotoGP riders out on track was able to improve his times in the afternoon session as the rain worsened, Dani Pedrosa bettering his best effort at the bottom of the timesheet, whilst Stoner registered the eighth fastest time of FP2 as he sought to rebuild his confidence.
On the other side of the Ducati pit-box Marco Melandri was tenth fastest in the afternoon but fourteenth quickest overall - courtesy of a best lap recorded earlier in the day in the opening 90 minute free practice run.
Casey Stoner - third
`The track conditions vary drastically between the old surface and the new. Grip is good on the old stuff but there isn´t even minimum grip on the recently laid asphalt and the rain makes it much worse because it isn´t draining off. If it continues to rain like it did this afternoon then I´m not sure the conditions will be safe enough to race in. As far as the layout is concerned there are only a couple of critical areas - in particular turn five, where the run-off is very short. There´s not much we can do about that right now though - the best thing would be to stick an air-fence in. This morning I crashed on the section where the grip is poorest and that´s obviously not good for the wrist but thankfully it didn´t create any major problems.´
Marco Melandri - fourteenth
`I like the design of the circuit – it´s fun but unfortunately there are too many different types of asphalt and the new part is definitely the worst, especially with the rain. The bike tends to aquaplane and you can´t see anything because of the reflection off the water. Grip on the older part is good, although if it keeps raining it´s going to get really difficult. There are two or three dangerous corners: turns one, five and six, where the walls are too close. This morning we started out cautiously but we improved towards the end, whilst this afternoon we didn´t get chance to make too many improvements because the conditions were so bad.´
Frenchman Randy de Puniet was still suffering the after-effects of his Misano crash in the wet opening Indianapolis free practices, his wrist injury restricting him to twelfth.Randy de Puniet was the twelfth quickest participant in Friday´s two wet free practice outings as the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix got underway, the LCR Honda man riding in some discomfort due to the wrist injury he picked up at the last round at Misano.
De Puniet notched his best lap in the 90 minute morning session, as the rain intensified later in the day, going round the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway track just over two seconds slower than pace-setting Anthony West.
Randy de Puniet - twelfth
`Obviously it is really hard in these conditions. We hoped to get some dry track time to learn the circuit and to test our bike but it´s the same for everybody. We had a good selection of tyres and we just need to find the best choice for us. Our position is not related to our potential but I decided to use this first outing to learn the track. This afternoon, at the end of the session, the track was extremely slippery and I preferred to take it easy. The first part was a real disaster but after that I was able to ride as I would like. The right arm still aches a lot but I did not take any painkillers. If the things get worse I will take some tomorrow for the qualifying session.´
Ducati could announce their factory and satellite riders for 2009 as early as next week, with Nicky Hayden, Sete Gibernau and Niccolo Canepa not being ruled out for roles.
Rumours abound as to who will be accompanying Casey Stoner in riding the Ducati Desmosedici next year and, whilst those names put forward have yet to be either confirmed or denied, the Italian factory are expecting decisions and announcements to be made in the coming week.
The factory team could see two MotoGP World Champions sharing the garage, with Nicky Hayden hotly tipped to be the prime candidate for the seat vacated by the outgoing Marco Melandri. Ducati MotoGP Project Manager Livio Suppo would not rule out the `Kentucky Kid´, and conceded that he was one of the riders being looked at for 2009.
`Of course (we have been looking at Hayden), there are a lot of rumours about this, but we will see next week,´ said Suppo, who was tight lipped about naming names for the vacant spots in both the factory and satellite Ducati outfits.
`Next week I think will also be the time to know the riders lineup for the second team (currently Alice Team). We will definitely be keeping Paolo Campinoti in charge.´
Prolonged speculation has surrounded a return to competition for Sete Gibernau, the former MotoGP World Championship runner-up who this year swung his leg over the Desmosedici GP8 and GP9 in testing at Mugello. Links with MotoGP Legend Angel Nieto and son Gelete have placed Gibernau on a fifth Ducati machine, sponsored by the Onde 2000 project that debuted in the 125cc category this year.
`We´re talking with the Nietos to set up a one-bike team, but it´s unfortunately also a little to early to talk about that,´ said Suppo, acknowledging the link between the Ducati MotoGP plans and the Spanish veteran. `We like Sete, and he´s done some tests this season in which he has proved to be very fast, so why not?´
Suppo also confirmed that Niccolo Canepa, currently testing the Desmosedici as part of the test team in-between wildcard superbike appearances, could possibly play a part in the 2009 season in some capacity.
BMW's All-New Entry Level Model Makes its Debut with a Twin-Cylinder Engine
BMW today announced the 2009 F 650 GS, a revised version of the venerable but relatively slow-selling F 650 GS. This is an important release in BMW's recent fast-track strategy, and for their goal of attracting more new and younger riders to the BMW fold. BMW has been selling tons of Adventure Touring motorcycles; indeed, the R 1200 GS has been a worldwide hit, and is credited with both starting and continuing the Adventure Touring craze.
Dual purpose motorcycles in general have been one of the bright points in an otherwise somnambulant motorcycle market over the past year or so, and if BMW gets this right -- and if the F 800 GS also meets expectations, BMW may be able to pull into double-digit percentages of market share. We hope to have more details and specifications soon, and we're working on editing many more photos of the 2009 F 650 GS, so stay tuned.
Meanwhile, here's the enthusiastic 2009 F650 GS press release, edited by webBikeWorld staff: Tame the urban jungle or take the road less traveled! After much anticipation, BMW's sophisticated new addition to its entry level model lineup -- the 2009 BMW F 650 GS -- has arrived at U.S. BMW Motorcycle dealers. With its 71 hp, torquey twin-cylinder engine, the all-new 2009 F 650 GS offers more power and sophistication than its single-cylinder predecessor.
Ideal for on- or off-road riding, urban commuting and any rider looking for a fun, efficient and reliable motorcycle, the middleweight twin tackles anything the ambitious motorcyclist could throw at it. Its rigid steel tube trellis frame, double-sided swing arm and chain drive offer reliability. A low seat height and narrow design make navigation through the worst traffic a breeze. Cast aluminum wheels and telescopic forks keep the ride smooth and precise at all times.
The 2009 F 650 GS has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $8,255 (excluding freight). The Standard Package, offered at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $9,760, (excluding freight) includes heated hand grips, Anti-Lock Brakes, an on-board computer, and white turn signals. The 2009 F 650 GS is available in three colors -- Flame Red, Iceberg Silver Metallic, and Azure Blue Metallic. The F 650 GS is the newest addition to BMW's dual-sport line up.
It follows in the footsteps of the highly acclaimed R 1200 GS - which traces its roots back to the early 1980s when BMW won the grueling Paris-Dakar rally four times with its trailblazing dual-purpose R 80 GS. Since their debut in 2004, the versatile R 1200 GS and its rugged companion, the R 1200 GS Adventure, have earned praise from motorcycle enthusiasts and the press for their exceptional performance both on and off the road. The R 1200 GS has earned award after award, including Cycle World's Best Open Class Street Bike and the International Journalist's Panel "Best Bike in the World." The R 1200 GS Adventure was named "Best Adventure Bike" three years in a row by editors of Motorcyclist Magazine.
BMW today announced the 2009 F 650 GS, a revised version of the venerable but relatively slow-selling F 650 GS. This is an important release in BMW's recent fast-track strategy, and for their goal of attracting more new and younger riders to the BMW fold. BMW has been selling tons of Adventure Touring motorcycles; indeed, the R 1200 GS has been a worldwide hit, and is credited with both starting and continuing the Adventure Touring craze.
Dual purpose motorcycles in general have been one of the bright points in an otherwise somnambulant motorcycle market over the past year or so, and if BMW gets this right -- and if the F 800 GS also meets expectations, BMW may be able to pull into double-digit percentages of market share. We hope to have more details and specifications soon, and we're working on editing many more photos of the 2009 F 650 GS, so stay tuned.
Meanwhile, here's the enthusiastic 2009 F650 GS press release, edited by webBikeWorld staff: Tame the urban jungle or take the road less traveled! After much anticipation, BMW's sophisticated new addition to its entry level model lineup -- the 2009 BMW F 650 GS -- has arrived at U.S. BMW Motorcycle dealers. With its 71 hp, torquey twin-cylinder engine, the all-new 2009 F 650 GS offers more power and sophistication than its single-cylinder predecessor.
Ideal for on- or off-road riding, urban commuting and any rider looking for a fun, efficient and reliable motorcycle, the middleweight twin tackles anything the ambitious motorcyclist could throw at it. Its rigid steel tube trellis frame, double-sided swing arm and chain drive offer reliability. A low seat height and narrow design make navigation through the worst traffic a breeze. Cast aluminum wheels and telescopic forks keep the ride smooth and precise at all times.
The 2009 F 650 GS has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $8,255 (excluding freight). The Standard Package, offered at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $9,760, (excluding freight) includes heated hand grips, Anti-Lock Brakes, an on-board computer, and white turn signals. The 2009 F 650 GS is available in three colors -- Flame Red, Iceberg Silver Metallic, and Azure Blue Metallic. The F 650 GS is the newest addition to BMW's dual-sport line up.
It follows in the footsteps of the highly acclaimed R 1200 GS - which traces its roots back to the early 1980s when BMW won the grueling Paris-Dakar rally four times with its trailblazing dual-purpose R 80 GS. Since their debut in 2004, the versatile R 1200 GS and its rugged companion, the R 1200 GS Adventure, have earned praise from motorcycle enthusiasts and the press for their exceptional performance both on and off the road. The R 1200 GS has earned award after award, including Cycle World's Best Open Class Street Bike and the International Journalist's Panel "Best Bike in the World." The R 1200 GS Adventure was named "Best Adventure Bike" three years in a row by editors of Motorcyclist Magazine.
The Shark Evoline is a new helmetdesign that picks up where the ROOF Boxer left off. It's probably more
functional than a simple flip-up helmet, because the Evoline is designed to be
worn with the chin bar rotated all the way back, unlike most/all flip-up
helmets, which are not designed to be worn (and are not safe) with the rotating visor in the
raised position.
Lots of moving parts here though, and
the weight...well, we won't get into that now, will we?
Probably one of the most anticipated helmets of 2008, the Shark Evoline has finally arrived. And the good news is that it has passed both ECE and DOT testing schemes, so this is one exotic flip-up helmet that will be sold in North America and Europe. In fact, it's currently going through the distribution process in the U.S. and should be on dealer shelves very soon.
The Evoline was just released in Europe -- after many retailers were taking orders for months, knowing full well that they couldn't deliver. But that's another story...
So what is it? Probably not as radical as some would hope actually. Some motorcyclists may not know that the rotating chin bar concept was pioneered by the still-radical-looking ROOF Boxer, a helmet we reviewed back about 5 years ago.
The Shark Evoline (is it "Evo-line", or "Evo-leen"?) takes it one step further, with a slick but complex system to rotate the chin bar all the way back, where it stays out of the way, nice and snug and nearly flush with the helmet shell.
The design of the Evoline allows it to be worn this way whilst riding, unlike all of the "normal" flip-up helmets I'm familiar with, which are not designed to be worn with the rotating visor in the raised position, although many riders do indeed wear them that way -- a dangerous proposition.
Now why a motorcycle rider would want or need a motorcycle helmet with the functionality of the Evoline is a question we can't answer -- we'll leave that up to you to decide.
Suffice it to say that there must be a defined need, or we doubt very much that Shark would have spent so much time, money and energy into designing the Evoline -- not to mention the cost involved in getting it to a point where it passed both the ECE and DOT testing regimens, finding a distributor, getting it into the distribution process, parts and accessories and all the rest.
So let's take a look and see what this interesting new helmet is all about!
Paint, Graphics and Overall Quality
The Shark Evoline shown here was purchased in Europe, thus it is ECE 22.05 approved only and was sourced using the European color palette, which is rather subdued.
This one is the gloss silver color, which is actually more like a graphite. The metalflake paint is nicely applied on the polycarbonate Lexan shell, with no obvious flaws. There's not much you can say about gloss silver or graphite; it is what it is.
It's unclear at this point whether the Evoline helmets sold in North America will have a different color palette or will be offered with a variety of graphic designs, but for the most part, flip-up helmets seem to have much more...dare we say boring?...colors than their full-face counterparts. Perhaps flip-up owners are a conservative breed?
But overall, the finish is about as good as it gets. The finish does "feel" thick and the clearcoat also seems thick and protective.
This helmet was apparently one of the first off the assembly line, and there are some quality issues here and there that we hope are resolved by time the distribution channels are filled.
The gasket around the bottom of the helmet has a few gaps and some glue is showing; the metal latches on the helmet shell are pitted and look unpolished; there's a bit of polish residue or wet sanding residue here and there; you can see in some of the photos that the screw heads and other metal bits are showing (a design, not a quality issue) and the Phillips head screws that hold the eccentric cam on the sides that rotate the visor are crooked.
This is a complex helmet, with more moving parts than many other "normal" flip-ups, and obviously more than a typical full-face helmet. All the parts add up to a bit of a creaky feeling -- the helmet isn't as solid as we'd like to see...but what flip-up is?The liner looks more expensive and plush than what is usually found in flip-up helmets, and it's relatively comfortable, although not as comfy as the ultra-plush liner in the Shark RSX, for example.
The vents click open and shut with authority, but the clear visor feels flimsy and has some distortion at the top and bottom, which is surprising for Shark and probably due to the completely different visor design.
Score: Overall, give the Shark Evoline a "Very Good" rating for the paint and the finish, with a "Good" for the rest.
A vital win for Valentino Rossi and the resurgence of his Fiat Yamaha colleague Jorge Lorenzo put a smile on Lin Jarvis´ face at Misano.
Analysing the significance of Valentino Rossi´s win at the Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, which extended his standings lead to 75 points with five races remaining, Yamaha Factory Racing boss Lin Jarvis was in no doubt as to the importance of the round thirteen result for the Italian.
Analysing the significance of Valentino Rossi´s win at the Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, which extended his standings lead to 75 points with five races remaining, Yamaha Factory Racing boss Lin Jarvis was in no doubt as to the importance of the round thirteen result for the Italian. Cheered on by the majority of the crowd at a circuit which lies just a few kilometres from his hometown of Tavullia, Rossi took a highly popular victory, with Stoner unable to score points for the second round in succession as he crashed out on lap seven.
`The Doctor´ was followed across the finishing line by Jorge Lorenzo in second place as the double 250cc World Champion recaptured his early season form to register his first podium since Le Mans in May, making it a great day for the team.
Jarvis had also seen Yamaha satellite riders James Toseland and Colin Edwards finish in the top ten. He commented, `One-two for us as a team and as a manufacturer is fantastic. I mean it was a shame for Casey and for the spectators, but we will take it! It is a very, very important victory for the championship.´
When asked whether it was physical or mental well-being which had contributed most to Lorenzo´s return to form Jarvis replied, `A little bit of both. I am sure that a few races ago he was shaky but honestly in the last couple of races he has felt better about himself and he has said I feel fine mentally. I think this result is just super for him. He has been very good all weekend, and he has put it together on race day. It is great to see him back up there.´
Having overseen Rossi´s successful move onto Bridgestone tyres over the winter, but with three Yamaha riders still running Michelins, Jarvis has a unique insight on the current hot topic of tyres in MotoGP.
On the day of the announcement of Dani Pedrosa´s sensational Bridgestone switch, Jarvis stated, `As a company we maybe do not have a fixed opinion on it. There are opinions of engineers, opinions of sports management, different opinions. Personally I am quite inclined towards monobrand, for the sport, for the championship and for the equality of the competition, but it is not so simple. In principle we all believe in free competition in the championship and when things are equal the Michelin riders can be up there.´
Kawasaki´s John Hopkins was using the same tyre as the MotoGP frontrunners in testing at Misano.
Attempting to replicate the kind of success experienced by MotoGP World Championship top two Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner, John Hopkins was trying out a new Bridgestone front tyre run by the duo as part of his post-race testing workload in Misano.
The Kawasaki rider, like Rossi and Stoner, had plenty of work to do in adapting his machine to the new compound, and as such this aspect occupied much of his day. Hopkins will be hoping that such work pays off at future races, although a lack of testing time means that the immediate introduction of the tyre will not be made to his allocation.
`We had to alter the bike a lot, but we are now the only team using the old type of tyre, basically because we´ve not had any chance to test,´ commented Hopkins, who missed the Brno test and the first Misano practice with a rib injury.
`This new specification tyre is definitely the future for us, but unfortunately it can´t be in my allocation until we´re completely happy with the way the machine handles with it. I´m pleased with the results of today´s test, but still have a lot of catching up to do with the upgraded bike.´
Hopkins also worked on chassis changes to his Ninja ZX-RR, with front end stability a focus for improvement. It was an objective shared by teammate Anthony West, who has been struggling for confidence on corner entry.
`We have some more direction with how we can move forward with the front-end troubles and I felt a lot more confident going into the turns, which resulted in a quicker lap time than we managed in the race. We also tried a different swing-arm, but this didn´t really make any significant difference for us,´ said West.
Hopkins´ fastest time at the test was a 1´35.879, whilst West clocked a 1´36.101.
Attempting to replicate the kind of success experienced by MotoGP World Championship top two Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner, John Hopkins was trying out a new Bridgestone front tyre run by the duo as part of his post-race testing workload in Misano.The Kawasaki rider, like Rossi and Stoner, had plenty of work to do in adapting his machine to the new compound, and as such this aspect occupied much of his day. Hopkins will be hoping that such work pays off at future races, although a lack of testing time means that the immediate introduction of the tyre will not be made to his allocation.
`We had to alter the bike a lot, but we are now the only team using the old type of tyre, basically because we´ve not had any chance to test,´ commented Hopkins, who missed the Brno test and the first Misano practice with a rib injury.
`This new specification tyre is definitely the future for us, but unfortunately it can´t be in my allocation until we´re completely happy with the way the machine handles with it. I´m pleased with the results of today´s test, but still have a lot of catching up to do with the upgraded bike.´
Hopkins also worked on chassis changes to his Ninja ZX-RR, with front end stability a focus for improvement. It was an objective shared by teammate Anthony West, who has been struggling for confidence on corner entry.
`We have some more direction with how we can move forward with the front-end troubles and I felt a lot more confident going into the turns, which resulted in a quicker lap time than we managed in the race. We also tried a different swing-arm, but this didn´t really make any significant difference for us,´ said West.
Hopkins´ fastest time at the test was a 1´35.879, whilst West clocked a 1´36.101.
Young Englishman Bradley Smith was full of thanks for his Polaris World crew after securing his third podium of the season at Misano.
Former Red Bull MotoGP Academy rider Bradley Smith took a well-deserved second place at the Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini on Sunday, dedicating the result to his Polaris World mechanics after a hot, sweaty weekend at Misano.
Smith reflected on the 125cc contest saying, `It was an important race for me and the team after a couple of disappointing results and we have bounced back. They worked so hard and all I can say is, this is for them!´
Revealing the tactics he had used after he crossed the line five seconds behind 125cc World title holder and race winner Gabor Talmacsi, Smith explained, `I knew that I would have to push hard in the first ten laps to get a gap otherwise there would be a lot of fighting, so I just tried to stay behind Gabor and go with him. When he made the mistake I tried to push and to go for the victory but he had better pace than me and was keeping maybe 10% in his pocket. Obviously I am a little bit disappointed because I always want to win.´
Although Smith is still in search of his first career victory, having led races on several occasions this season, he was taking all the positives from another exciting single cylinder battle. He stated, `At the end of the day today I was fighting with the World Champion. He is the best in the world so I took a lot of experience from this race and I will use it at Indianapolis which is a new track for everybody.´
Having finished tenth in the championship last season with now the disbanded Repsol Honda 125cc team, his latest result puts him within five points of the top five - in seventh position in the standings - in a highly competitive category.
His Polaris World employers have set him what now appears to be a more than plausible target of finishing in the top six before making an announcement on his 2009 contract, though Smith himself appears to be content to stay put.
He commented, `I want to stay in 125cc next year because I think I still need more experience and I am trying to learn and understand all the time. We have to wait and see, hopefully in the near future we will be able to say something but at the moment we have to wait.´
Former Red Bull MotoGP Academy rider Bradley Smith took a well-deserved second place at the Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini on Sunday, dedicating the result to his Polaris World mechanics after a hot, sweaty weekend at Misano.
Smith reflected on the 125cc contest saying, `It was an important race for me and the team after a couple of disappointing results and we have bounced back. They worked so hard and all I can say is, this is for them!´
Revealing the tactics he had used after he crossed the line five seconds behind 125cc World title holder and race winner Gabor Talmacsi, Smith explained, `I knew that I would have to push hard in the first ten laps to get a gap otherwise there would be a lot of fighting, so I just tried to stay behind Gabor and go with him. When he made the mistake I tried to push and to go for the victory but he had better pace than me and was keeping maybe 10% in his pocket. Obviously I am a little bit disappointed because I always want to win.´
Although Smith is still in search of his first career victory, having led races on several occasions this season, he was taking all the positives from another exciting single cylinder battle. He stated, `At the end of the day today I was fighting with the World Champion. He is the best in the world so I took a lot of experience from this race and I will use it at Indianapolis which is a new track for everybody.´
Having finished tenth in the championship last season with now the disbanded Repsol Honda 125cc team, his latest result puts him within five points of the top five - in seventh position in the standings - in a highly competitive category.
His Polaris World employers have set him what now appears to be a more than plausible target of finishing in the top six before making an announcement on his 2009 contract, though Smith himself appears to be content to stay put.
He commented, `I want to stay in 125cc next year because I think I still need more experience and I am trying to learn and understand all the time. We have to wait and see, hopefully in the near future we will be able to say something but at the moment we have to wait.´
Jonas Folger claimed points for the Red Bull MotoGP Academy by opening his tally at Misano. 
Red Bull MotoGP Academy rider Jonas Folger took home his first World Championship points at Misano, in only his second race in the 125cc class.
The German made his debut at the previous round in Brno, and this
time out was able to finish a creditable fifteenth from the seventh row
on the grid. Folger´s cause was aided by a number of crashes in front
of him and a mature ride for the youngster, whose lap times got faster
as the race went on.
The 15 year-old will now continue his unique preparation project for
an eventual full-time arrival to the World Championship, with the
possibility of participation in some of the remaining five races of the
2008 season.
![[ap1.jpg]](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Mvhjidbvdzc/SLq8GCjanFI/AAAAAAAAHa8/NfESalmfq-E/s1600/ap1.jpg)
Forget the Falco, this is the bike Aprilia should have built...
While we never thought much of the Aprilia SL1000 Falco, this Falco-based café racer does look interesting. The fairing has been stripped away, revealing that 60-degree v-twin, and the stubby tail unit, custom-made exhaust and single, round headlamp all look butch and purposeful. If it were ours, we’d get it painted black. And then ride it downtown late in the night…
Very soon, Yamaha may run Öhlins fully electronic suspension on their WSBK R1s
In a development that could possibly be significant for future Yamaha street bikes, Yamaha Motor Italia riders Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser will run full electronic suspension on their R1s, during the Donington Park round of the World Superbike Championship this weekend.
Haga and Corser will run Öhlins electronic suspension units, with electronic damping control. These units have already been tested earlier at Vallelunga, where they are said to have performed very well. However, Donington Park is the first time this suspension will be used in an actual race.
‘We are expecting that we can do better with this suspension than the conventional set-up. It should assist Troy in particular, as he tested this system at Vallelunga and he was very happy with it. It should be good at some braking points at Donington, where we should really find an improvement with this type of system. We will run one bike for each rider on normal suspension and one with the new electronic system,’ says Yamaha Motor Italia team manager Massimo Meregalli.
‘Right now I am looking to Donington to get my first win for Yamaha – that's my aim this weekend. We will be using Öhlins electronic suspension and I think it will be most useful for bump absorption,’ says Corser.
Now we hope Corser and Haga do really well with the new electronic suspension, and that the team continues to use the super-trick Öhlins units for future races as well. And that’s because then this electronic suspension – or at least something that’s based on it – could possibly find its way to the road-going Yamaha R1s that we can buy. Öhlins electronic suspension on the 2010 Yamaha R1 SP?
In a development that could possibly be significant for future Yamaha street bikes, Yamaha Motor Italia riders Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser will run full electronic suspension on their R1s, during the Donington Park round of the World Superbike Championship this weekend.
Haga and Corser will run Öhlins electronic suspension units, with electronic damping control. These units have already been tested earlier at Vallelunga, where they are said to have performed very well. However, Donington Park is the first time this suspension will be used in an actual race.
‘We are expecting that we can do better with this suspension than the conventional set-up. It should assist Troy in particular, as he tested this system at Vallelunga and he was very happy with it. It should be good at some braking points at Donington, where we should really find an improvement with this type of system. We will run one bike for each rider on normal suspension and one with the new electronic system,’ says Yamaha Motor Italia team manager Massimo Meregalli.
‘Right now I am looking to Donington to get my first win for Yamaha – that's my aim this weekend. We will be using Öhlins electronic suspension and I think it will be most useful for bump absorption,’ says Corser.
Now we hope Corser and Haga do really well with the new electronic suspension, and that the team continues to use the super-trick Öhlins units for future races as well. And that’s because then this electronic suspension – or at least something that’s based on it – could possibly find its way to the road-going Yamaha R1s that we can buy. Öhlins electronic suspension on the 2010 Yamaha R1 SP?
Russell Holland (HANNspree Honda Althea) talks us through his mid-season switch
0 Comment Author Tristan time: 9:25 PM
Australian rider Russell Holland has proved to be fast and competitive since the start of his new experience in World Supersport, despite having to learn a new track every weekend in his rookie season. After three races and one test session in Vallelunga with the experienced HANNspree Honda Althea team, Russell Holland illustrates his season so far and what the future holds for this promising young Australian rider."This year is certainly an initiation for me... new tracks and a new lifestyle in living in Europe by myself on top of World Championship competition has been a real challenge but I'm trying to appreciate this experience as I know everyone here has had to go through it and in the future I'll be laughing about the challenges along the way".
Tell us about the latest round at Brands Hatch, England..
"Well, this was a weekend to forget in many ways. For our team it is incredible the bad luck we had. But the circuit was amazing and I can say I really enjoyed riding it although it's a track that takes some time to link the turns together and get a flow going. On Saturday afternoon we caught the worst of a small rain shower that interrupted qualifying. I was on my best lap when the rain came and then in the final 5 minutes when the track had dried we just couldn't find a gap in the traffic and couldn't improve. So on Sunday we were set to start from 15th but on the warm-up lap I had a clutch failure, just pure bad luck. This forced us to start from the spare bike and from the back of the grid in 37th place. We got a great start in the race but from the third lap it began to rain and got heavier in the next 5 laps. On the 8th lap the race leader Robbin Harms crashed then I crashed on the same turn whilst in 15th place... The race was red-flagged immediately after this, my bike was too badly damaged to return to the pits as the rule says you must. Because of this I could not restart even on my spare bike. A frustrating end really".
About the loss of Craig Jones
"After retiring from the race in Brands I witnessed Craig's crash and you cannot imagine a crash like that happening, it was very strange. I knew him reasonably well and he was one of the boys and a nice guy. It is sobering when something like this hits someone you know. My heart goes out for the family and close friends of Craig".
Back to business, how did the partnership with HANNspree Honda Althea come about?
"I started the year in the Superbike class and we achieved some promising results early on when we had a chance to test on the circuits. I'm proud that we finished in the top ten (9th) at the 2nd round, my home race in Australia. It was not so easy as the championship moved back to Europe but we did manage three more point scoring finishes before the mid-season (13th Valencia, 13th Monza, 15th Utah). I'm now really happy to be competing in the Supersport class with HANNspree Honda Althea. It was strange to change classes mid season but my superbike team's future was not clear and the Althea team needed a rider after Tommy Hill was injured. This change was a positive one for sure because I can continue with Honda and the Althea team has experience running at the front in Supersport".
What was your debut like? How did you feel about the new experience?
"I think the debut at Misano was a good lesson in Supersport. Launching straight into a race meet and learning a new bike is pretty exciting. I was riding with too much of a superbike style initially. We just kept chipping away and by the finish of qualifying we were 7th... ok for the first go. Unfortunately in the race I crashed out being too eager to catch the leaders after a bad start. I lost the front end on a turn we'd had trouble with all weekend. Had I been more patient we probably could have made a great result there as the race pace was not so fast".
What about the Vallelunga Test, how much did it help?
"Obviously every track this year is new to me and Vallelunga was a very challenging circuit so I'm glad we could test there. The first part of the track reminds me of Assen a little with fast change of directions. We achieved a lot there with me adjusting to the bike better and just general set-up too".
Let's talk about Brno, your best finish so far this season...
"This year has been full of 'frustrating Fridays' for me as I learn a new track every weekend whilst trying to give constructive feedback to the team. Brno was just like this so it was really good to finish the race and get a good result for the team and myself (7th place). I didn't really get a good feeling with the front there but we made a fairly smooth race and moved forward in the final laps, to finish 7th in the second race with HANNspree Honda Althea was fairly satisfying and I feel it has set us up to finish the year well".
What are your expectations for next year and the rest of this season?
"This year was always going to be a learning curve. The rest of the year will be no different but I believe I can continue to improve my performances and I will be working hard to get on the podium this year! I know I can make a strong championship next year whether in Supersport or Superbike. I have not made plans for next season yet. I have a great team right now and I'll do my best to use that to my advantage".
Ulsterman Eugene Laverty (22) will replace Fabien Foret in the Yamaha World Supersport Team for the Donington and Vallelunga rounds, as the French rider continues his recuperation at home in France.Third in the 2006 British Supersport series, Laverty has more recent experience of 250cc GP machinery, but is pumped at the prospect of running in top-level 600cc racing. ”I'm really excited at the chance to ride a competitive Supersport machine”, said Laverty. ”Two years of riding underpowered bikes has led to two difficult seasons for me. For Yamaha to pick me up and offer this opportunity is fantastic, I'm over the moon! I can't wait to get to Donington and start working with the team to set up and get out on track".
James Ellison still on track for Donington Park WSB appearance
0 Comment Author Tristan time: 8:52 PM
James Ellison is on course to appear at Donington Park as a wildcard entry in a fortnight’s time for round 11 of the World Superbike Championship, despite injuries to his right hand that put him out of the Cadwell Park BSB last weekend.Ellison had to sit out the two races on Bank Holiday Monday when an injury to his arm caused too severe during the F1-style qualifying session on Sunday.
Ellison picked up the injury riding on a Honda Enduro launch a week prior in Malaga alongside Cal Crutchlow and Leon Haslam.
Ellison said the ripped tendons in his lower right arm and hand were caused by the strain of riding and spent Monday in pit lane with a brace on his injured arm.
But Hydrex Bike Animal Team Owner Shaun Muir said the former Grand Prix and AMA star was still on course for a wildcard appearance at Donington Park for the up coming World Superbike round.
Muir told : “We are waiting on Friday night or Saturday morning to make our decision on James. That’s when the splinter is due to come off his arm, but he’s on a course of daily injections and there is no reason why the injury shouldn’t be sorted for Donington.
“As long as there are no repercussions of the injury, James will be fully fit for the World Superbike weekend.”
Garry McCoy is planning to make his return to motorcycle racing at the penultimate round of the World Supersport Championship at Magny Cours on 3rd to 5th October.Garry McCoy has been out of action for over a month after suffering a horrific crash during the Saturday Free Practice session at Brno, Czech Republic.
McCoy collided with Ten Kate rider Andrew Pitt and lost control of his SC Triumph Daytona 675 and hit the Armco barrier.
The Australian suffered severe injuries including a broken T6 vertebrae and three broken ribs which affected his internal organs.
After travelling from Andorra to attend Craig Jones’ funeral, McCoy said:
“I still can’t take a full breath because of the broken ribs. One of my ribs broke in three places which has caused a lot of pain. With the broken vertebrae I have to wear a body cast which doesn’t sound too bad but for the first six weeks I have to wear it day and night everyday.
"I’ve only taken it off to shower and when I sleep I have to wake up first before I turn over!”
“After the six weeks are up, I then need to wear it for another two weeks but only during the day. I’m already looking forward to getting on the bike again. In a way I feel ready now but I know I’ll have to wait.”
Jones, 23, was injured after an accident at Brands Hatch on August 3rd when he suffered severe head injuries, he died the next morning.
Jones’ coffin was decorated in the colours of the St George’s cross and marked with his racing number 18. His Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR was also brought to the church in Fotheringhay, Northants where speakers had to be set up outside the church due to the extensive crowds.
Riders who were there included Carl Fogarty, James Whitham, Troy Corser, Shane Byrne, Chris Walker, Broc Parkes and good friends Tommy Hill and Cal Crutchlow.
During the service tributes were paid by TV commentator and family friend Keith Huewen, Jones’ manager Steve Chick and a poem written by Jones’ younger sister Cassie was read out by Doris Valentine, wife of his former team boss Jack Valentine. Jones’ leaves long term partner Karen Atkins.
Valentino Rossi has warned Dani Pedrosa not to expect Bridgestone tyres to instantly transform his fortunes as the Yamaha star expressed his surprise at the Spaniard’s shock switch.Rossi needed three months of winter testing and the early part of the season to fine-tune his factory Yamaha YZR-M1 to Bridgestone tyres, and said Pedrosa shouldn’t be banking on the Japanese rubber to be a miracle cure.
Rossi, who also orchestrated his own switch to Bridgestone after a torrid 2007 campaign with Michelin, said: “I was in exactly the same position last year but sincerely I didn’t think to try the tyre during the season.
"The potential of Bridgestone is very high but it is not like you put a Bridgestone sticker on the bike and like magic you go faster. You have to work a lot and you have a lot of pressure because at he beginning my performance was not much faster than Michelin and people were questioning my decision.
"It is a risky move for Dani, and a move like this at this time is quite strange I think.”
British GP winner Scott Redding has been rewarded for a series of brilliant performances in his rookie campaign with Aprilia guaranteeing him a factory Aprilia 125 machine for 2009.Redding was told after meetings with Aprilia boss Gigi Dall’Igna in Misano last weekend, and he is likely to remain with the Blusens squad having secured the top level bike.
Redding has an offer to replace current world championship Mike di Meglio in the Ajo Motorsport Aprilia squad, and also been approached about a factory KTM ride in the 250GP series.
Redding though will stay in the 125 class and he told: “I’m not sure where I will be riding, but to get a factory bike is brilliant news. I’ve won a race this year on an old bike, so the latest spec factory bike hopefully will let me fight for the championship next season.”
Yes, it's true. Dani Pedrosa has made it be known that he doesn't want Michelins on his bike and the young Spaniard has got his way. In an astonishing 'mutual' decision which bodes ill for the rest of the season. And who would bet against a single-make tyre championship in 2009? And it looks like his decision was the right one (at Misano anyway) when on his first day of testing, he went almost a second a lap quicker on the Japanese brand than. Pedrosa did a total of 81 laps, working mainly on setting his Repsol Honda up for the Bridgestone's characteristics and went eight-tenths faster than his best race lap on Sunday.
Here's the wee man's quote from the press release:
Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda: 1m 34.652s – on lap 76 of 81.
“I'm happy starting this new challenge and I would like to thank Bridgestone. Today we also made an important step forward in developing the 2009 bike, but now my first priority is to be fully competitive again. Of course, there is a lot of work to do but I am determined to win again this year. Today we worked hard on bike set-up. The feeling with the new tyres on my RC212V is different, both for settings and for riding style, but I just tried to follow my feelings and adjust the set-up accordingly.
“Today was only my first day riding on Bridgestone tyres but I am happy. I also tested the pneumatic-valve engine. The engine character is different, the power delivery is a bit more aggressive, but the engine has some good points. I have no experience on this latest bike, so I had to test many new things today. This has been an important test. Now we will analyse all the data and we look forward to the next race at Indianapolis.”
Here's the earlier press release:
'For 24 years Michelin and Honda have worked together at the highest level of motorcycle racing. Together the two companies have won 14 premier-class World Championships.
The two companies fully understand the importance of the “feeling” between the rider and the equipment he has at his disposal, especially tyres.
Despite making an excellent start to the season and leading the World Championship going into the German GP, during the last few races Dani Pedrosa has made it know to both Michelin and Honda that he doesn't feel at ease with the tyres that Michelin have offered him.
Honda and Michelin believe that rider confidence needs to be at its maximum if the rider is to fully exploit the tactical potential of the tyres.
In these circumstances Michelin and Honda have therefore decided not to equip Pedrosa with Michelin tyres for the remainder of the 2008 season.
Pedrosa comments: “I thank Michelin and Honda for their mutual understanding and for agreeing to my personal demands. I am very conscious of the fact that I have made some excessively negative comments about Michelin tyres, even though Michelin helped me make an exceptional start to the season.”
Both Honda and Michelin hope that MotoGP World Championship will continue with a multi-tyre brand regulation in 2009, Michelin will equip one of the Repsol Honda's two riders for the remainder of the 2008 season.'
And what the hell is Nicky Hayden going to be doing, riding around on Michelins while his team mate creams him for the rest of the season? What a disaster for the French firm.
Heading in to the 11th round of the World Superbike Championship at Donington Park this weekend and there is still no further news on what riders will be racing in what teams in 2009.Historically all the major signings are completed by the Brands Hatch race at the beginning of August, but this season the whole WSB paddock remains in limbo one month on.
The main reason for the delay is over who will replace Troy Bayliss in the Xerox Ducati team when the Australian retires at the end of the season. To date there have been numerous names thrown in the hat ranging from Max Biaggi, Chris Vermeulen, Noriyuki Haga, Ben Spies and Briton Shane Byrne.
Ducati were expected to make the eagerly awaited announcement last week, but the decision has been delayed yet again and MCN understands that there is a whole series of meetings planned this weekend which could determine the final outcome.
With the factory Ducati ride still undecided it’s proving difficult for any of the other rides to be finalised. Currently there have been no confirmed signings at the Yamaha Italia team, Ten Kate Honda are yet to announce their three man rider line up and Alstare Suzuki have only one rider confirmed with Max Neukirchner already signed for 2009.
BMW is another big player with a ride available. The new to WSB manufacturer announced the signing of Ruben Xaus back in June, but are yet to confirm their second man.
WSB has also become a melting pot for young and old talent with BSB young guns and MotoGP veterans all fighting for a top ride alongside the established WSB regulars.
With Dani Pedrosa joining him on a Bridgestone-shod factory Honda RC212V on Monday Shinya Nakano was surprised but positive about the news from the Repsol Honda team.
Shinya Nakano was the second fastest participant in Monday afternoon´s post-Misano testing session, lapping 0.794s behind Dani Pedrosa as the factory Honda rider undertook his first laps with new tyre suppliers Bridgestone.
Although the Japanese rider was not 100% sure about what effect Pedrosa´s sensational change will have on him, in the short term, he remains optimistic about the current situation.
The two riders now have a similar factory Honda RC212V package, but whilst Nakano believes they can help each other he is insistent that he will dictate the set-up of his bike, while accepting guidance from HRC.
Having completed 53 test laps at Misano in preparation for Indianapolis and Motegi, Nakano declared, `Dani´s switch to Bridgestone is a big surprise for us because you don´t see people changing tyres in the middle of the season very often. I don´t know exactly what is happening but the good thing is we can share information. They are a factory team and they get much more help with the bike and the tyres and as I have a similar bike I think this is a good point. On the other hand we have to give over information so I don´t know yet if it is definitely good for us or not.´
As he continues developing 2009 satellite RC212V, a similar spec to Pedrosa´s current 2008 spring valve factory model, Nakano believes the development of his prototype machinery is firmly within his own control.
The 30 year-old Japanese competitor stated, `We have a factory bike but we adjust everything by ourselves. Of course we ask for advice from HRC but anyway we have to build the bike ourselves and of course it is up to me. We are a satellite team and they are a factory team so I don´t think it will affect things too much. Maybe in the near future if they find something very good (the factory team), like a frame or something, I would like to try it too.´
For the time being it is expected that Bridgestone technician Klaus Nohles, who has worked with Nakano throughout the 2008 campaign to date, will split his time between the Repsol Honda and San Carlo Honda Gresini boxes at the next round at Indianapolis, working with both riders on behalf of the Japanese suppliers – just as he did during Monday´s test session.
Shinya Nakano was the second fastest participant in Monday afternoon´s post-Misano testing session, lapping 0.794s behind Dani Pedrosa as the factory Honda rider undertook his first laps with new tyre suppliers Bridgestone.Although the Japanese rider was not 100% sure about what effect Pedrosa´s sensational change will have on him, in the short term, he remains optimistic about the current situation.
The two riders now have a similar factory Honda RC212V package, but whilst Nakano believes they can help each other he is insistent that he will dictate the set-up of his bike, while accepting guidance from HRC.
Having completed 53 test laps at Misano in preparation for Indianapolis and Motegi, Nakano declared, `Dani´s switch to Bridgestone is a big surprise for us because you don´t see people changing tyres in the middle of the season very often. I don´t know exactly what is happening but the good thing is we can share information. They are a factory team and they get much more help with the bike and the tyres and as I have a similar bike I think this is a good point. On the other hand we have to give over information so I don´t know yet if it is definitely good for us or not.´
As he continues developing 2009 satellite RC212V, a similar spec to Pedrosa´s current 2008 spring valve factory model, Nakano believes the development of his prototype machinery is firmly within his own control.
The 30 year-old Japanese competitor stated, `We have a factory bike but we adjust everything by ourselves. Of course we ask for advice from HRC but anyway we have to build the bike ourselves and of course it is up to me. We are a satellite team and they are a factory team so I don´t think it will affect things too much. Maybe in the near future if they find something very good (the factory team), like a frame or something, I would like to try it too.´
For the time being it is expected that Bridgestone technician Klaus Nohles, who has worked with Nakano throughout the 2008 campaign to date, will split his time between the Repsol Honda and San Carlo Honda Gresini boxes at the next round at Indianapolis, working with both riders on behalf of the Japanese suppliers – just as he did during Monday´s test session.
Alice Team boss Paolo Campinoti is hoping he can persuade Toni Elias to remain with the satellite Ducati outfit following the Spaniard´s two recent podium finishes.
Following a difficult start to the year Toni Elias is one of the form riders in the MotoGP World Championship at present, with his Brno and Misano rostrum runs making him hot property in the rider market.
The likeable Barcelona man initially struggled to settle with new employers Alice Team at the beginning of the year, as he – like fellow new arrivals at Ducati Marco Melandri and Sylvain Guintoli – failed to get to grips with the Desmosedici GP8 early in the season.
Disqualification in a difficult home GP at Barcelona was a low point for the former Honda Gresini man, but some long discussions with Ducati Corse boss Filippo Preziosi at the post-race Catalunya test and some subsequent machinery updates have turned Elias´ season around.
A good ride to seventh place at Laguna Seca has been followed up by two excellent showings at the last two rounds, moving Elias up to twelfth in the general standings with the top ten well within his grasp.
Alice Team boss Paolo Campinoti, who took over the reigns from Luis d´Antin earlier this season, is understandably delighted with the 25 year-old´s form.
The Italian manager commented, `Fortunately this good period we are having goes on and I hope we can continue this in the future. He is improving race by race and this was another good one. It was a good fight. It is very good for us to keep going in this way.´
On Elias´ upturn in form Campinoti added, `I think Toni is more confident on the bike and he has really improved. I think it is normal to have a few problems at the beginning so hopefully in the future he will continue like this.´
Elias has been linked with a possible move onto Kawasaki machinery in 2009 and himself joked, `I am free if somebody wants me´ after the race at Misano on Sunday, but Campinoti wants to retain his services if possible – whereas Sylvain Guintoli is unlikely to feature for the team next season.
Campinoti said of the situation, `It is not clear yet. I am doing my best to confirm Toni, but with the other rider it is too early to decide. It is not so probable that Sylvain will remain with us.´
Following a difficult start to the year Toni Elias is one of the form riders in the MotoGP World Championship at present, with his Brno and Misano rostrum runs making him hot property in the rider market.The likeable Barcelona man initially struggled to settle with new employers Alice Team at the beginning of the year, as he – like fellow new arrivals at Ducati Marco Melandri and Sylvain Guintoli – failed to get to grips with the Desmosedici GP8 early in the season.
Disqualification in a difficult home GP at Barcelona was a low point for the former Honda Gresini man, but some long discussions with Ducati Corse boss Filippo Preziosi at the post-race Catalunya test and some subsequent machinery updates have turned Elias´ season around.
A good ride to seventh place at Laguna Seca has been followed up by two excellent showings at the last two rounds, moving Elias up to twelfth in the general standings with the top ten well within his grasp.
Alice Team boss Paolo Campinoti, who took over the reigns from Luis d´Antin earlier this season, is understandably delighted with the 25 year-old´s form.
The Italian manager commented, `Fortunately this good period we are having goes on and I hope we can continue this in the future. He is improving race by race and this was another good one. It was a good fight. It is very good for us to keep going in this way.´
On Elias´ upturn in form Campinoti added, `I think Toni is more confident on the bike and he has really improved. I think it is normal to have a few problems at the beginning so hopefully in the future he will continue like this.´
Elias has been linked with a possible move onto Kawasaki machinery in 2009 and himself joked, `I am free if somebody wants me´ after the race at Misano on Sunday, but Campinoti wants to retain his services if possible – whereas Sylvain Guintoli is unlikely to feature for the team next season.
Campinoti said of the situation, `It is not clear yet. I am doing my best to confirm Toni, but with the other rider it is too early to decide. It is not so probable that Sylvain will remain with us.´
The good news for Ryuichi Kiyonari and his Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Team is that he will enter the Donington race on a wave of confidence after his double win last time out at Brands Hatch. The bad news for his rivals is that he actually thought he would stand more of a chance of his first World Superbike win at his most favoured UK racetrack, Donington Park!Said Kiyo, "I like Donington, although it is quite a difficult circuit, with a very fast part followed by the very tight area around the hairpin. Before the season, I thought that Donington would be my strongest circuit but, after winning at Brands Hatch, I will be trying extra hard for another victory".
His title chase hampered by a crash with teammate Hiroshi Aoyama at Misano, Mika Kallio is being courted by Red Bull KTM to continue in 250cc for another year.It´s the sight that every Team Manager dreads on raceday; nervous moments as teammates battle against each other, culminating in a DNF stamped alongside both riders´ names. That was the situation for Harald Bartol, head of Red Bull KTM, on Sunday afternoon in Misano.
Title challenger Mika Kallio and 2007 race runner-up Hiroshi Aoyama both fancied their chances at the San Marino circuit in the 250cc race, and were placed alongside each other over the course of the first two laps. Kallio collided with his Japanese teammate and brought both riders´ races to an early conclusion, leaving the title situation difficult for the Finnish star.
`We would have had a good chance today with our bike, but that´s the way it is,´ said a downbeat Bartol after the incident. `It appears that Hiro took a slightly different line, and that Mika was probably too close. The lucky thing was that Simoncelli only finished sixth.´
`We will be trying to get Mika back into the title fight, and we have some changes that we can probably bring to Indianapolis to try again,´ added the KTM boss, aiming to take a first title for the factory before Kallio´s possible departure at the end of the season.
`We are trying to keep him, but we have heard from Mika that he is looking for a MotoGP move. At the moment we have had no clear answer from him and, with so many of the top riders in 250cc already under contract, we will have to check our options,´ he concluded.
World Superbike resumes after summer break with Donington classic
0 Comment Author Tristan time: 9:10 PM
This coming weekend at Donington, the HANNspree Superbike World Championship takes up again where it left off exactly one month ago with a round on British soil, the eleventh appointment in this year's exciting championship and the first of the final four that will lead to the crowning of the 2008 champion. The first weekend in September is a new date for the East Midlands circuit, which will host a World Superbike round for the seventeenth time in its history, having been the venue for the first event of the production-based championship way back in April 1988.The question on everyone's minds as they line up for the final part of the season is whether or not anyone can prevent Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) from taking a third world title. There are four rounds and eight races left, with 200 points on the board, but an 82-point lead for the Australian, currently on 334 points, is now starting to look increasingly unassailable. Not even the memories of a nasty crash at Donington twelve months ago, which cost him the loss of a piece of finger, should prevent the incredibly tough Australian from administering his lead in the best possible way. And just to underline the current situation in the table, while Bayliss hammered home his advantage with a dominant double victory at Brno, his closest pursuers, Max Neukirchner, Troy Corser, Carlos Checa and Noriyuki Haga have only been able to put together one win between them in the last three races.
Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki) is in second place but the German's position is coming under fire from Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB), who has looked more and more competitive in this mid-part of the season, the Australian scoring eight top-5 finishes since the Miller event to move up the points table. His form has been inversely proportional to that of Spain's Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), who has failed to go any higher than fifth in the races since his double win at Miller. Checa, fourth on 233 points, has raced numerous times at Donington in MotoGP so the Nottinghamshire track will be no mystery for him, unlike many of the circuits this year.
Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB) is in fifth place just three points behind, but he was almost back to his best at Brands Hatch, challenging his fellow Japanese rider Kiyonari for the win, and is a three-times previous winner at Donington, including last year, so he could spring another surprise this time around. Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki Alstare) scored two fifth places at Brands Hatch, his best results for several races, but will now certainly have to watch out for the hard-charging trio of Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati), Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), separated by five points in seventh, eighth and ninth respectively, and all on a roll of positive results. Four podiums in the last five races for Biaggi have helped to boost confidence for the Italian as he looks to finish off the season in the best possible way, with one eye on his future.
Kiyonari scored a brilliant double win on British soil one month ago, so expect more of the same from the Japanese star on another circuit he knows well from his BSB days, while Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati), surprisingly scoreless since his Misano win, makes up the top 10 in the points table.
The Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse pairing of Makoto Tamada and Régis Laconi have both been out of the points for far longer, since Nurburgring to be exact, but new suspension geometry developments at Donington should help the team obtain more respectable results in this latter part of the season.
Boosting the strong WSBK permanent entry list will be a powerful contingent of successful BSB regulars, headed by Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki), who returns for another bite of the cherry after his excellent performance at Brands Hatch, while the official UK Honda team, champions HM Plant, will bring BSB race winners Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow to the world stage. For team manager Neil Tuxworth, it will also be a return to World Superbikes for the first time since the epic Edwards-Bayliss encounter at Imola in 2002, when he was in charge of the winning Castrol Honda squad....
Points (after 10 of 14 rounds): Riders - 1. Bayliss (Ducati) 334; 2. Neukirchner (Suzuki) 252; 3. Corser (Yamaha) 242; 4. Checa (Honda) 233; 5. Haga (Yamaha) 230; 6. Nieto (Suzuki) 183; 7. Biaggi (Ducati) 166; 8. Kiyonari (Honda) 165; 9. Fabrizio (Ducati) 161; 10. Xaus (Ducati) 148. Manufacturers - 1. Ducati 403; 2. Yamaha 345; 3. Suzuki 303; 4. Honda 297; 5. Kawasaki 64.
FIM Supersport World Championship
The Supersport regulars face up to their tenth event just a month after the loss of one of the championship's main protagonists and most popular figures, Craig Jones, who tragically lost his life following injuries received at Brands Hatch. With four rounds remaining, the championship increasingly looks to be turning into a battle between the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda pairing of Andrew Pitt and Jonathan Rea, who have won the last four rounds between them. The youngster from Northern Ireland has now leapt up into second place and is fully confirming the expectations placed in him in his debut season, while Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport) and Joshua Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda) are always in the leading group but have been unable to challenge for the wins. With Fabien Foret (Yamaha World Supersport) out of action due to injury until the final races, the next man up in the standings is the early-season surprise runner Joan Lascorz (Glanermotocard.com Honda), but he has failed to figure in the top positions for the past five rounds.
Points (after 9 of 13 rounds): 1. Pitt (Honda) 149; 2. Rea (Honda) 117; 3. Parkes (Yamaha) 113; 4. Brookes (Honda) 112; 5. Jones (Honda) 100; 6. Foret (Yamaha) 97; 7. Lascorz (Honda) 83; 8. Harms (Honda) 50; etc.
Superstock 1000 FIM World Cup
Maxime Berger (Hannspree IDS Ten Kate Honda) is the man to watch in the top Superstock category after taking the last two wins. The 19 year-old Frenchman made it a Ten Kate whitewash in the Brands Hatch races with his third win of the year to go level on points with Brendan Roberts (Ducati Xerox Junior Team), winner of two races this year. The battle for third is between Xavier Simeon (Alstare Suzuki), who had a disastrous weekend at Brands Hatch, and a fast-catching Alex Polita (Sterilgarda Ducati), who has scored useful points in the last three races. Another rider to watch this weekend could be South African Sheridan Morais (Pedercini Kawasaki), who finished runner-up at Brands on his Superstock 1000 debut.
Points (after 7 of 10 rounds) : 1. Berger (Honda) & Roberts (Ducati) 109; 3. Simeon (Suzuki) 95; 4. Polita (Ducati) 94; 5. Pirro (Yamaha) 83; 6. Antonelli (Honda) 57; 7. Giugliano (Suzuki) 55; 8. Smrz (Honda) 48.
European 600 Superstock Championship
With three rounds remaining for the junior Superstocks, the title is still up for grabs, although French youngster Loris Baz (Yamaha YZF Junior Team) overturned the standings when he won his third race of the season at Brands Hatch. The result, combined with an unexpected DNF finish for the previously unstoppable Patrick Vostarek (Intermoto Czech Honda), leaves Baz with a seven points advantage. Dan Linfoot (StoneBaker Yamaha), the only other rider to win a race this year, is holding on to third place from Italy's Marco Bussolati (Yamaha Motor Italia Junior Team) and his Stonebaker team-mate Gino Rea.
Points (after 7 of 10 rounds): 1. Baz (Yamaha) 142; 2. Vostarek (Honda) 110; 3. Bussolati (Yamaha) 81; 4. Rea (Yamaha) 77; 5. Linfoot (Yamaha) 74; 6. Petrucci (Yamaha) 67; 7. Beretta (Suzuki) 66; 8. Black (Yamaha) 45.
About Donington Park
The Donington Park circuit is situated near Castle Donington and is one of Britain's most famous and popular motor racing circuits. The original track was opened in 1931, and initially used for motorcycle races, but was then closed in 1939 due to World War 2. In the early 1970s the circuit was bought by Tom Wheatcroft, who funded the rebuilding of the circuit, which was re-opened in 1977. The Melbourne Loop was built in 1985 to increase the lap distance to 2.5 miles (4.02 km) and allow the track to host Grand Prix motorcycle races. In recent times Donington has held World Superbike, MotoGP, British Touring Car Championship and British Superbikes, as well as the 1993 F1 European Grand Prix.
Media Event
Donington Park is also home to the Grand Prix Exhibition museum, which has the largest collection of Grand Prix cars in the world, and it is here that the traditional pre-race media event and press conference will take place on Thursday morning. Riders summoned to meet the national and international media include Alstare Suzuki's Max Neukirchner, Ducati Xerox's Troy Bayliss, Ryuichi Kiyonari of Hannspree Ten Kate Honda, Régis Laconi (Kawasaki PSG-1 Corse), Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati), Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB), plus the strong British World Superbike contingent, Chris Walker (Ventaxia VK Honda), Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda), Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) and James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda).
Britain's James Ellison will be lining up as a wild-card ride at this weekend's Donington Park round of the HANNspree FIM Superbike World Championship despite still feeling the effects of a recent wrist injury that forced him to sit out the last round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park.The 27 year-old from Kendal had scored points in every round of the BSB championship on his Shaun Muir Racing 1000cc Honda Fireblade, but had to miss Cadwell, and is now looking forward to racing in World Superbike once again, after two years in MotoGP and a year in AMA Superbike.
"I'm so looking forward to racing at Donington, it's unreal!" declared Ellison. "I was so frustrated at Cadwell but my wrist is fine and I have no concerns about it at all now. All it needed was a little bit of rest and now I'm raring to go. We had a good run in the BSB races at Donington and I'm hopeful we can give a good account of ourselves once again. We know our bike is good, we have got the electronics working a lot better and I'm really up for this one. Top ten would be a great result, but I'm hoping for a top six if I'm being honest and despite it being probably the strongest field of the year what with all the British wild cards, I'm feeling very confident".
Ellison is familiar with the World Superbike paddock, having won the European Superstock Championship in 2000 and 2001, before embarking on a season in World Supersport in 2002. He scored his best WSB results in 2004, taking his Yamaha to fifth and sixth at Brands Hatch.
Randy de Puniet will undergo tests on his right arm to further establish the effects of his Misano crash.
The necessity of gathering tyre information meant that a bruised Randy de Puniet was required to return to action in post-race testing at Misano. The Frenchman was the sole Michelin rider on track for the Monday session, completing fifty laps despite a badly bruised arm.
The LCR Honda rider returns home to undergo extra examination on his right arm, contused in his first-lap crash in Sunday´s Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, but is not believed to be a doubt for the September 14th race in Indianapolis.
`It was not easy for me today because the right arm aches a lot,´said De Puniet after the painful run.
`In any case, I did fifty laps working mainly on tyre testing. We also made some adjustments to the braking system and we tired different regulations on the front fork to get some data for the upcoming overseas races.´
`This week I will do some extra exams, including an X-ray to check my arm in order to be in good form for the Indianapolis race,´ concluded the Honda satellite rider, fourth fastest in the post-race test with a time of 1´35.972.
The LCR Honda rider returns home to undergo extra examination on his right arm, contused in his first-lap crash in Sunday´s Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, but is not believed to be a doubt for the September 14th race in Indianapolis.
`It was not easy for me today because the right arm aches a lot,´said De Puniet after the painful run.
`In any case, I did fifty laps working mainly on tyre testing. We also made some adjustments to the braking system and we tired different regulations on the front fork to get some data for the upcoming overseas races.´
`This week I will do some extra exams, including an X-ray to check my arm in order to be in good form for the Indianapolis race,´ concluded the Honda satellite rider, fourth fastest in the post-race test with a time of 1´35.972.
Makoto Tamada and Regis Laconi have not had an easy time so far this season, but their PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse team has been hard at work behind the scenes in the summer break to breathe even more competitive life into the 2008 ZX-10R.New initiatives from official suspension suppliers Öhlins and a series of new geometry settings arrived at in house will be tried out by the team for the next round in Donington, all with the aim of providing better feel and feedback for the riders. Two or three new geometry settings are expected to be evaluated in England.
So far in this super-tough year the team's best finishes have been eighth places, the first for Laconi in Valencia, then a similar result for Tamada three weekends later, in Assen.
High-flying BSB team HM Plant Honda are set to
join the WSB weekend at Donington, fielding both their regular riders,
Cal Crutchlow and Leon Haslam.
Although the BSB technical rules
for engines are different from those used in World Superbike, the
official Honda UK team has great experience of WSB-spec motors, as
those are used for the team's real roads events.
Haslam in
particular will enter the race at his local circuit in confident mood,
having won the last three individual BSB races. He is third overall in
the British Championship standings, with his team-mate Crutchlow (a
two-time BSB race winner this year) fourth, only 16 points behind.
Temperatures are on the rise, and so are the number of motorcycle accidents.
Motorists aren't used to seeing motorcycles on the street and riders are out of practice after the winter months, which causes an increase in the number of motorcycle accidents, said Topeka Police Department Capt. Jerry Stanley.
Joshua Mulqueen, 22, was one of three motorcyclists who were involved in accidents within a 21/2-half hour span Tuesday. Mulqueen was injured at 5:35 p.m. at S.W. 17th and Stone Avenuein a two-vehicle accident, said police spokeswoman Kristi Pankratz.
Mulqueen, who wasn't wearing a helmet, was transported to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center with life-threatening injuries. He remained in critical condition Thursday.
City police have worked four motorcycle accidents so far this month.
"It's a seasonal thing," said Phil Gordon, 31, of Carbondale, who has been around motorcycles for 25 years and has ridden street bikes for 17 years.
Gordon rides at least once a month year-round, which keeps his skills honed, and performs maintenance on his motorcycles as needed. He also is a member of the Topeka Sports Riders club.
New riders should take part in a training program and wear helmets, Gordon and Stanley said.
"I've never seen a motorcycle accident that hasn't involved an injury, even if it's just a scrape," Stanley said. "I'd much rather have the helmet hit the ground than a head."
Only three motorcyclists among the 12 involved in accidents so far this year in Topeka were wearing helmets, Pankratz said. All three involved in Tuesday's accidents were riding without helmets.
In the majority of fatal motorcycle wrecks, the motorcyclists aren't wearing helmets, Stanley said.
"A $50 helmet can save a life," Gordon said. "I used to make fun of people who wore helmets. Now, I don't feel comfortable without it."
Many people who spend money purchasing a motorcycle don't have enough money left over to purchase the proper gear, he said, which is why the Topeka Sports Riders club would like to work with area motorcycle shops to offer discounts on helmets and other safety gear.
Stanley, who worked with the police motorcycle unit for 11 years, said officers on the unit know firsthand that helmets can save lives and prevent injuries because they have themselves been involved in accidents on duty and off duty.
An officer was injured Feb. 27 in the 2800 block of S.W. Fairlawn Road when his motorcycle struck the right rear door of a sport utility vehicle. The officer, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown off the motorcycle. The SUV driver was cited for failure to yield the right of way before turning left.
In the 12 accidents recorded this year, five motorcyclists were cited. The citations included no driver's license, reckless driving, inattentive driving and failure to yield the right of way, according to information provided by Pankratz.
In the 2008 accidents, citations were issued to two vehicle drivers. These included not yielding the right of way and unsafe lane change.
Motorists aren't used to seeing motorcycles on the street and riders are out of practice after the winter months, which causes an increase in the number of motorcycle accidents, said Topeka Police Department Capt. Jerry Stanley.
Joshua Mulqueen, 22, was one of three motorcyclists who were involved in accidents within a 21/2-half hour span Tuesday. Mulqueen was injured at 5:35 p.m. at S.W. 17th and Stone Avenuein a two-vehicle accident, said police spokeswoman Kristi Pankratz.
Mulqueen, who wasn't wearing a helmet, was transported to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center with life-threatening injuries. He remained in critical condition Thursday.
City police have worked four motorcycle accidents so far this month.
"It's a seasonal thing," said Phil Gordon, 31, of Carbondale, who has been around motorcycles for 25 years and has ridden street bikes for 17 years.
Gordon rides at least once a month year-round, which keeps his skills honed, and performs maintenance on his motorcycles as needed. He also is a member of the Topeka Sports Riders club.New riders should take part in a training program and wear helmets, Gordon and Stanley said.
"I've never seen a motorcycle accident that hasn't involved an injury, even if it's just a scrape," Stanley said. "I'd much rather have the helmet hit the ground than a head."
Only three motorcyclists among the 12 involved in accidents so far this year in Topeka were wearing helmets, Pankratz said. All three involved in Tuesday's accidents were riding without helmets.
In the majority of fatal motorcycle wrecks, the motorcyclists aren't wearing helmets, Stanley said.
"A $50 helmet can save a life," Gordon said. "I used to make fun of people who wore helmets. Now, I don't feel comfortable without it."
Many people who spend money purchasing a motorcycle don't have enough money left over to purchase the proper gear, he said, which is why the Topeka Sports Riders club would like to work with area motorcycle shops to offer discounts on helmets and other safety gear.
Stanley, who worked with the police motorcycle unit for 11 years, said officers on the unit know firsthand that helmets can save lives and prevent injuries because they have themselves been involved in accidents on duty and off duty.
In the 12 accidents recorded this year, five motorcyclists were cited. The citations included no driver's license, reckless driving, inattentive driving and failure to yield the right of way, according to information provided by Pankratz.
In the 2008 accidents, citations were issued to two vehicle drivers. These included not yielding the right of way and unsafe lane change.
The
Kawasaki Racing Team has taken delivery of a super-stylish John Hopkins
replica ZX-10R, kindly supplied by Motoradd Höly for display at each of
the remaining European Grand Prix races.
The road version of the extra special Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP
race machine features a custom paint job created by Lucas Designs and
has caused quite a stir around the paddock, where it is on display
outside of the team’s hospitality unit.
Motoradd Höly, one of Germany’s biggest Kawasaki dealerships, joined
forces with Lucas Designs to produce these special creations using many
of the road-going models in the Japanese manufacturer’s range. The
‘Hopper’ replica superbike features numerous upgraded parts along with
the Monster Energy race design in four different colours, including the
signature Kawasaki lime green.
Lucas Designs has supplied stickers and graphics for all of the
Kawasaki Racing Team’s vehicles for the past two years, which includes
the paddock scooters used by team members for getting around at each of
the European MotoGP rounds.
“The Ninja ZX-RR design looks really cool on a road bike,” said Hopkins. “There’s
been a lot of interest in it already and it looks exactly like my race
machine. The guys at Lucas Designs and Motoradd Höly have done a great
job in making these custom bikes,” concluded the Kawasaki MotoGP star.
Ronny Schnepf from Motoradd Höly also recently presented both of the
Kawasaki race pilots with a KX250F motocross machine, each complete
with customised graphics. Anthony West received his ‘trick’ off-road
bike at Sachsenring, and he was delighted with the ultra-cool design
based on his Ninja ZX-RR race machine.
If you're based in German then you can find out more about Motorrad
Höly’s range of Kawasaki road bikes, including the John Hopkins Ninja
ZX-RR replica, by logging on to their website at www.hoely.de.
At first, most people wouldn’t, probably, think of pitting the American-made Buell 1125R against the all-German BMW HP2 Sport. And yet, come to think of it, the two bikes are somewhat similar – at least on paper. Motociclismo recently did a shoot-out between the two bikes, and here are some excerpts from what they had to say:
The BMW is very stable, the Buell is more agile. At 20,200 euros, the HP2 Sport is expensive and and exclusive, the 1125R is more accessible at 12,995 euros. When it comes to riding, the German and the American bikes come from different worlds, starting with the riding position. The 1125R has wider handlebars, lower seat height and better wind protection. The BMW HP2 Sport’s riding position is racier, more committed.
The Buell v-twin makes about 14bhp more than the BMW boxer-twin, but it also vibrates significantly more. The BMW engine also vibrates, but not so much that it begins to get annoying. And yes, the Buell’s clutch requires more effort to operate than the BMW unit.
According to Motociclismo, the BMW is more stable, the Buell is more agile
On the track, the Buell’s single front brake disc doesn’t feel as powerful and responsive as the BMW’s twin-disc setup. The BMW’s front suspension also shows better composure under hard braking.
In terms of handling, the two bikes represent two different schools of thought on high-speed cornering. The Buell is more agile, while the BMW is more stable. We prefer the German bike for the feeling of security it offers, and the ease with which it allows the rider to corner at over 200km/h.
So there you are – the guys at Motociclismo seem to prefer the HP2 Sport over the 1125R. Which one would we take? Er… well, a ZZR1400 for touring, this ZX-10R for trackdays and an MV F4 CC for the weekend… :-)
Having made an instant name for himself in WSB circles at the recent Brands Hatch WSB round, Tom Sykes and his Rizla Suzuki BSB Squad will be back for more global action at Donington on September 7th.Since the Brands WSB round Sykes has scored a third BSB win and then a fourth place at Knockhill, and most recently two second places at Cadwell Park; results which put him second in the championship with three rounds remaining.Said his Team Manager, Jack Valentine, "It's off to World Championship duty for Tom and Rizla Suzuki in a fortnight and we want to be challenging for the podium if possible. The GSX-R1000 is right on the money and so is Tom - the fans really helped us at Brands earlier in the month and I hope they'll come and show their support again at Donington".
Suzuki has unveiled a new GSX-R1000 Team Rizla Suzuki Moto GP replica limited edition, with just 135 examples coming to UK dealers next week.Available in the famous 'Rizla dutch blue' colour scheme direct from the factory, the new model features the full 2008 Grand Prix livery (with a paint protection kit), as well as the sought-after Yoshimura Evo exhaust cans, with a limited edition certificate and both Chris Vermulen and Loris Capirossi rider graphics too.
Talking about the special model, Suzuki GB's George Cheeseman commented;
"We are delighted to secure this limited quantity replica. Although the Rizla colour scheme is no stranger to UK riders, this is the very first time an official model has been available in this paint scheme,available with full-factory aftersales support and through authorised UK dealers."
Coming with individually numbered top yoke plaques, the new model is available to order through all authorised dealers with immediate effect. More information on the Team Rizla Suzuki Moto GP GSX-R1000 Limited Edition can be found by visiting www.suzuki.co.uk
R&G Racing has released a full range of crash protection and styling parts for Honda’s new super naked CB1000R.
The recently launched street fighter’s combination of aggressive styling and strong performance abilities has quickly caught the attention of a varied discipline of riders. Despite its sporting credentials, the absence of a full fairing, and the protection that gives, exposes the CB1000R’s frame and Fireblade-derived engine, leaving it more vulnerable to damage in the event of an accident.
R&G Racing’s answer to this, without upsetting the styling, is with a six-strong offering of bolt-on protectors. Leading the way are heavy-duty Engine Case Sliders that bolt over the existing engine covers each side of the four-cylinder motor and sleek Aero Crash Protectors extending from the frame’s forward engine mounts.
The Aero Crash Protectors are made from high-density Polyethylene (HDPE) and are designed to wear and not shatter. R&G also utilise a particular grade of steel bolts that helps absorb an impact by bending, rather than snap or twist its mounting point on the bike.
Using this construction method, and furthering the defence theme, are the options of Bar End Sliders to help guard the fuel tank; Fork Protectors for the adjustable, upside down suspension and rear Spindle Sliders for the extravagant single-sided swingarm.
All of R&G’s crash protectors for the CB1000R are relatively simple to fit and do not require any specialist tools to do so, leaving very little excuse for not taking precaution.
Protection aside, R&G also offers liposuction for the CB1000R’s rear with a replacement Tail Tidy. Constructed from black anodised aluminium with an integral LED number plate light and retaining the original indicators (mini indicators can also be fitted), the lightweight unit substitutes the chunky standard hanger and allows the seat unit to appear pert as Honda’s designers intended.
R&G Racing Honda CB1000R Range
The recently launched street fighter’s combination of aggressive styling and strong performance abilities has quickly caught the attention of a varied discipline of riders. Despite its sporting credentials, the absence of a full fairing, and the protection that gives, exposes the CB1000R’s frame and Fireblade-derived engine, leaving it more vulnerable to damage in the event of an accident.
R&G Racing’s answer to this, without upsetting the styling, is with a six-strong offering of bolt-on protectors. Leading the way are heavy-duty Engine Case Sliders that bolt over the existing engine covers each side of the four-cylinder motor and sleek Aero Crash Protectors extending from the frame’s forward engine mounts.
The Aero Crash Protectors are made from high-density Polyethylene (HDPE) and are designed to wear and not shatter. R&G also utilise a particular grade of steel bolts that helps absorb an impact by bending, rather than snap or twist its mounting point on the bike.
Using this construction method, and furthering the defence theme, are the options of Bar End Sliders to help guard the fuel tank; Fork Protectors for the adjustable, upside down suspension and rear Spindle Sliders for the extravagant single-sided swingarm.
All of R&G’s crash protectors for the CB1000R are relatively simple to fit and do not require any specialist tools to do so, leaving very little excuse for not taking precaution.
Protection aside, R&G also offers liposuction for the CB1000R’s rear with a replacement Tail Tidy. Constructed from black anodised aluminium with an integral LED number plate light and retaining the original indicators (mini indicators can also be fitted), the lightweight unit substitutes the chunky standard hanger and allows the seat unit to appear pert as Honda’s designers intended.
R&G Racing Honda CB1000R Range
- Aero Crash protectors £59.00
- Bar End Sliders £24.99
- Engine Case Slider left £34.99
- Engine Case Slider right £34.99
- Fork Protectors £29.99
- Rear Spindle Sliders £29.99
- Tail Tidy £79.00
Craig Jones, aged twenty three from Northwich, Cheshire has died in
hospital as a result of a serious head injury sustained in an accident
during yesterday's FIM Supersport World Championship race at Brands
Hatch. It appeared that he lost control and fell from his Team
Parkalgar CBR600 Honda at Clark Curve and was immediately and
unavoidably struck by a following rider.
Immediate expert medical attention was provided and Craig was then
flown by the Kent Air Ambulance to the Royal London Hospital where
further assessment and treatment continued. Sadly, he succumbed to his
injuries in the early hours of this morning (Monday).
Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision said; "I am so
desperately sad that Craig died from the injuries he sustained at
Brands Hatch yesterday. He was a really super young guy and only on the
Saturday evening was I chatting to him in the paddock with him telling
me about his WSB ambitions for 2009. Craig was so determined and
professional, would always say hello and enthusiastically keep me in
touch with his progress."
"Britain has lost a wonderful rider whom I admired enormously and had
every chance of being a future World champion. It is fitting that the
abiding memory so many of us will have of Craig was him riding
brilliantly, battling for the lead of an incredible race, in front of
his home crowd. It seems barely believable that such a freak accident
claimed his life and I extend my deepest sympathies to his family and
friends."
Ryuichi Kiyonari fended off strong competition from fellow Japanese rider Noriyuki Haga to take his second win of the day in the HANNspree SBK Superbike World Championship at Brands Hatch today (Sunday).Once again championship frontrunner Troy Bayliss led the pack off the line into Paddock Hill Bend, but the Ducati Xerox rider rapidly came under pressure from Yamaha Motor Italia's Noriyuki Haga. The two bikes went side by side across the finishing line on lap seven, at which point Haga had the run into Paddock Hill Bend and took the lead.
Shortly afterwards Bayliss lost another place to Ryuichi Kiyonari, who
started third on the grid. From that point Kiyo demonstrated blistering
pace, quickly catching Haga. A tense battle ensued and the Japansese
riders changed places several times over the next few laps.
However, Kiyo managed to pull out a small lead over Haga in the final
laps of the race to double up by taking his second victory of the day.
Yamaha Motor Italia's Troy Corser claimed the final place on the podium
after a solid and consistent race.
A charging Max Neukirchner secured fourth position ahead of Ducati
Xerox's Michel Fabrizio. British wild-card Tom Sykes had been running
in fifth place for much of the race, but the Rizla Suzuki rider lost
two places in the final laps to cross the line in a respectable seventh
position.
After being passed by Haga and Kiyonari in the early part of the race,
Troy Bayliss continued to struggle and the championship leader dropped
back to tenth place in the final Brands Hatch race of his WSB career.
Plans by Harley-Davidson
After the purchase of the Motorcycle Company MV Agusta by Harley-Davidson the Americans published now further details to their purchase intentions and the future of the Italian high-end manifacturer. Harley Davidson boss Jim Ziemer expects that by the assumption of MV Agusta the presence and the image of the mark in Europe are increased and the product families are supplemented by Harley-Davidson and Buell. The past managing director of MV Agusta, Claudio Castiglioni, stresses the thing in common of both marks: “Our customers, the motorcyclists, do not want to be received when driving a high-quality and high performance motorcycle compromises. Since Harley-Davidson understands the emotional component of the motorcycle driving just as well as the business side, am I full confidence that Agusta group their customers will in the long term inspire the MVs.
Harley-Davidson holds Agusta to the main business seat of many years of mV in the Italian Varese. There a guidance team with new managing director is to be appointed and the production of the current models again to be taken up. Castiglioni, will be active further in a leading position. Also Design boss Massimo Tamburini, under whose responsibility models developed such as F4 and brutal one or Ducati 916, remains to the enterprise.
MV Agusta had 2007 substantial financial difficulties after scarcely 6000 sold motorcycles in the year and had production 2008 strongly to throttle. On 11 July this yearly took over Harley-Davidson group the MV Agusta group, and concomitantly the mark Cagiva, for a purchase price of 70 million euros. Castiglioni receives a contractually held special payment to 2016, vorrausgesetzt it fulfills the production goals given by Harley-Davidson.
After the purchase of the Motorcycle Company MV Agusta by Harley-Davidson the Americans published now further details to their purchase intentions and the future of the Italian high-end manifacturer. Harley Davidson boss Jim Ziemer expects that by the assumption of MV Agusta the presence and the image of the mark in Europe are increased and the product families are supplemented by Harley-Davidson and Buell. The past managing director of MV Agusta, Claudio Castiglioni, stresses the thing in common of both marks: “Our customers, the motorcyclists, do not want to be received when driving a high-quality and high performance motorcycle compromises. Since Harley-Davidson understands the emotional component of the motorcycle driving just as well as the business side, am I full confidence that Agusta group their customers will in the long term inspire the MVs.
Harley-Davidson holds Agusta to the main business seat of many years of mV in the Italian Varese. There a guidance team with new managing director is to be appointed and the production of the current models again to be taken up. Castiglioni, will be active further in a leading position. Also Design boss Massimo Tamburini, under whose responsibility models developed such as F4 and brutal one or Ducati 916, remains to the enterprise.
MV Agusta had 2007 substantial financial difficulties after scarcely 6000 sold motorcycles in the year and had production 2008 strongly to throttle. On 11 July this yearly took over Harley-Davidson group the MV Agusta group, and concomitantly the mark Cagiva, for a purchase price of 70 million euros. Castiglioni receives a contractually held special payment to 2016, vorrausgesetzt it fulfills the production goals given by Harley-Davidson.
Honda will also be releasing a range of aftermarket products for the DN-01, which will include heated grips, speakers, a bluetooth connection kit and a back rest. The DN-01 will be available in graphite black or pearl amethyst purple for a price of £9200.
I
n the eight months since BMW’s announcement that they wouldenter the Superbike World Championship in 2009, the project has
gathered pace and race fans everywhere have now been able to see the
tangible aspects of the project properly for the first time. The new
BMW S 1000 RR has been tested at various racetracks in Spain, but it
has now had its first test at a track used by the Superbike World
Championship - the Eurospeedway Lausitzring.
The German
circuit was on the WSBK calendar up to last season and the recent two
day test gave the team a chance to compare their lap times and
performance with last year’s race weekend. At the end of the
test, the team and the three test riders were all happy with the
progress of the bike and eager to work on analysing all the data before
moving on to the next stage in the bike’s development.
The three riders, Steve Martin, Kevin Curtain and Jeremy McWilliams, said;
“The
basics of the S 1000 RR are very good, the engine has good power, the
chassis and suspension are working well and the bike has the basis of a
Superbike racer already.”
This sentiment was echoed by BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s General Manager Berti Hauser, who added;
“I
am very happy with the professional way all three riders worked and the
amount of feedback they have given us. We are under no illusions of the
amount of work we have to do before the start of the season next year,
but we are ready and looking forward to facing this huge challenge. Up
to now, we have done very little work on the electronics and have
preferred to get the bike’s basics working well and I think we
have achieved that. If our project continues at this good pace, I think
we could surprise a few people next year.”
Whilst the main
focus of attention has been at the track, a lot of work has been going
on near Rosenheim, a small town about sixty or so kilometres south east
of BMW’s headquarters in Munich. It is here that BMW Motorrad and
their partners, Alpha Technik, will prepare the Superbike racebikes in
a brand new state of the art facility, incorporating 7,000 square
metres of workshops and offices. The main workshop area is split into
three parts and has two dynos - one for the whole bike and another
which can simulate any racetrack in the world. One of the three
buildings will house BMW Motorrad´s Off-Road and Enduro team,
whilst the other two will be for the Superbike project and for spares
and parts. The progress of the facility's construction has been rapid
and eight months ago there was nothing but grassland where there are
now workshops, offices, meeting rooms and a canteen for all the
employees.
The new facility marks just another step of BMW
Motorrad and Alpha Technik on their way towards the 2009 Superbike
World Championship season.
Moto Morini 1200 Sport now available UK
Moto Morini’s new Sport 1200 has arrived in the UK, their fifth new model in three years since the historic marquee returned to family-ownership. Designed by the Marabese studio to create the classic style of 1970’s machines, the 1200 Sport combines the CorsaCorta V-twin engine with top-flight components to deliver exceptional performance with timeless appeal.
Based upon the Moto Morini 9½ roadster, at the heart of the 1200 Sport is the Franco Lambertini designed 1187cc 87° V-twin engine, tuned to develop 117 hp at 8500 rpm with a high torque (102 Nm 6700 rpm) that is well-distributed over the entire rev range. The engine is carried in a Verlicchi-designed trellis frame, with 50mm Marzocchi forks at the front and adjustable Paioli rear shock for sure-footed road holding even at high speeds. Other technological features include a powerful and responsive 320mm Brembo semi floating braking system and double-sided swing arm that is produced by hydro forming, without the need for welding, making it lighter and stiffer than conventional items.
However it is the appearance of the 1200 Sport that has the most immediate effect. Its single round headlight with mini fairing and impressive 21-litre tank with generous indents for the knees give this bike an impressive presence. The double tapered exhaust pipe exudes power and creates a potent exhaust note. Meanwhile the narrow bars and single seat unit are designed to work with the footrests to incline the rider forward into a sportier riding position.
The Moto Morini 1200 Sport sells for £7,999 OTR, just £500 more than the entry level 9 ½ model, and is available in White/Blue/Red or British Racing Green/Yellow.
visit www.motomorini.com
Moto Morini’s new Sport 1200 has arrived in the UK, their fifth new model in three years since the historic marquee returned to family-ownership. Designed by the Marabese studio to create the classic style of 1970’s machines, the 1200 Sport combines the CorsaCorta V-twin engine with top-flight components to deliver exceptional performance with timeless appeal.Based upon the Moto Morini 9½ roadster, at the heart of the 1200 Sport is the Franco Lambertini designed 1187cc 87° V-twin engine, tuned to develop 117 hp at 8500 rpm with a high torque (102 Nm 6700 rpm) that is well-distributed over the entire rev range. The engine is carried in a Verlicchi-designed trellis frame, with 50mm Marzocchi forks at the front and adjustable Paioli rear shock for sure-footed road holding even at high speeds. Other technological features include a powerful and responsive 320mm Brembo semi floating braking system and double-sided swing arm that is produced by hydro forming, without the need for welding, making it lighter and stiffer than conventional items.
However it is the appearance of the 1200 Sport that has the most immediate effect. Its single round headlight with mini fairing and impressive 21-litre tank with generous indents for the knees give this bike an impressive presence. The double tapered exhaust pipe exudes power and creates a potent exhaust note. Meanwhile the narrow bars and single seat unit are designed to work with the footrests to incline the rider forward into a sportier riding position.
The Moto Morini 1200 Sport sells for £7,999 OTR, just £500 more than the entry level 9 ½ model, and is available in White/Blue/Red or British Racing Green/Yellow.
visit www.motomorini.com
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