Beaton ‘gutted’ by missed podium opportunity at Mantova
Section: Competition
MX2 World Championship contender endures heavy race two fall.
Image: Supplied.
Australian contender Jed Beaton says he’s ‘gutted’ by missing out on a podium opportunity at the weekend’s fifth round of the 2019 MX2 World Championship hosted in Mantova, Italy, where he crashed out of top three contention in the final encounter.
The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing talent, who has two career podiums to his name in the world championship, charged to an impressive moto one result of P3 in rain-soaked conditions.
His plans for a season-first appearance on the rostrum were derailed in race two, as the Tasmanian crashed heavily in a patch of mud while vying for position in the top three. He remounted to salvage a spirited P17 finish, granting the number 14 seventh overall.
“All I can say is I’m gutted about yesterday,” Beaton stated. “Third in the first moto and battling for a podium position in the second moto, hit a mud patch and went down hard. Waking up today feeling like I went two rounds with big Mike Tyson, but we good.”
The performance still marks the former Australian MX2 champion’s best result of the 2019 season after he missed the season-opening round in Argentina with multiple vertebrae fractures.
Compatriot Mitch Evans (Team Honda 114 Motorsports) wound up just shy of the podium in fourth overall, lodging an 8-6 scorecard in the demanding conditions. The win was ultimately taken out by reigning world champion Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).
The 2020 Suzuki Katana is a modern interpretation of the Hans Muth-designed 1981 GSX1100S Katana, an icon of late 20th century motorcycle aesthetics. The new version has edgier lines and is built on the GSX-S1000 naked sportbike platform. We traveled to Japan to ride the new Katana on Kyoto’s Arashiyama-Takao Parkway, and you can watch our video review below. Or click the link at the bottom to read our complete First Ride Review report.
However, the Coroner did not recommend VicRoads inspect roads with a motorcycle as Queensland’s Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has been doing for several years.
Queensland uses a specially equipped motorcycle to scan for specific road hazards such as the 15cm mid-lane bump that caused the double-fatal on the Great Alpine Rd, Ensay, in 2015.
“Road defects identified during regular inspections are recorded, prioritised and fixed under routine maintenance work programs,” a TMR spokesperson says.
“TMR uses an instrumented motorcycle for assessments of motorcycle routes and specific safety audits. These assessments are selected based on the history of motorcycle crashes as well as feedback from motorcyclists to identify opportunities to improve the road and roadside infrastructure.
“The motorcycle is equipped with sensors and gyroscopes to measure force, wheel speeds, and suspension movement. GPS is also used to track location, speed and time along the ride, so data sets can be synchronised.
“The motorcycle also includes two cameras (front and rear) and two microphones. Commentary from the rider is used to further determine any unsafe road characteristics.
“The rider is generally experienced and has local knowledge of the road. If weather permits, rides are undertaken in both dry and wet conditions.”
TMR road inspection motorcycle
Bike for loan
TMR says their instrumented motorcycle is available for use by other governments and road agencies to inspect roads.
It has previously been loaned and used for audits in New South Wales and South Australia.
However, VicRoads has not accepted the offer.
We asked whether they considered their own specialist motorcycle for the job of scanning for road hazards.
They replied:
VicRoads has recently worked with Victoria Police solo riders with instrumented motorcycles to collect data on popular motorcycle routes.Some of the surveillance officers being trained are motorcycle riders and VicRoads will consider how motorcycles can be used more during safety audits and inspections.The road hazard training program will focus on hazards for motorcyclists, such as small potholes and bumps, especially at tight bends.The training courses are expected to be completed mid-year.”
Transport for NSW tested TMR’s specialised motorcycle on roads in Northern NSW but has no plans to buy one of their own.
The NSW Centre for Road Safety conducted motorcyclist-specific road safety audits on four popular motorcyclist routes in 2018 — Gwydir Highway, Bruxner Highway, Waterfall Way and Grafton-Ebor Road — to develop a program of future works including 22km of underrun barriers in the next financial year.
Safety audits
Meanwhile, TMR is working with university researchers to better understand how motorcycle safety audits of roads can be improved.
“TMR will consider the findings from the Victorian Coroner in relation to the fatal crash that occurred in March 2015 at Great Alpine Road, Ensay,” the TMR spokesperson says.
He encouraged all road users, including motorcyclists, to report unsafe road conditions.
Report road hazards
Dangerous road conditions are no laughing matter for riders
You can report hazards on local roads to the relevant local council.
If the hazard is on a state road, report it to the state authorities:
If you believe the hazard is lifer threatening such as a washed-out bridge, you can ring 000.
Keen to get a piece of the action in the always popular liter-sized naked bike scene, Honda debuted an all-new entry in the class with its 2018 CB1000R ($12,999). The CB slots in Big Red’s newly coined Neo Sports segments, which infuses classic styling elements with modern proportions—exuding a true sport appeal.
You won’t hear us dispute the merits of this concept, as both the CB1000R and its affordable little brother, the CB300R are some of the most attractive streetbikes we’ve seen roll out from a Honda showroom. The CB1000R stands out with its liberal use of metal (as opposed to plastic with the 300R) and the exquisite level of fit and finish.
Loaded with all the bells and whistles, the ride-by-wire-equipped Honda employs traction control and adjustable engine power modes that are tweaked through a tasteful-looking digital display and logically designed switch gear. This allows riders to tune the 2006–2007-generation CBR1000RR inline-four engine making it more friendly to wield on the road.
In this week’s MC Commute review, we dive into the positioning of this model and discuss the features and overall riding dynamic of the 2018 CB1000R as we commute to the Motorcyclist magazine office in Southern California. Click the “play” button and see for yourself what it’s like to ride.
Sometimes it isn’t practical to take a week to ride across the country just to experience an iconic road or absorb the scenery of a particular region. Motorcycle rental companies solve the problem by having a ride for you when you get there, and now Yamaha is making the planning process easier. It has centralized information on its authorized rental locations with Destination Yamaha.
Destination Yamaha is a network of rental companies that provide access to numerous motorcycle models across the nation, in some of the best riding spots you can find. Many locations also offer preplanned routes or adventures.
There are also ATV, side-by-side, and snowmobile rentals available in many of the rental locations.
“Now more than ever people are seeking out new and exciting experiences, and Yamaha is stepping up with added options and ready-built adventures to offer them,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s motorsports marketing manager in a company press release. “Getting outdoors—especially interacting with friends and family—is key to making lifelong memories, and that’s exactly what Destination Yamaha is designed to do.
“Yamaha brings an increased level of confidence and superior reliability to motorsports rental operations, pairing the most dependable and proven machines with experienced and professional partners. Wherever you live, whether you’re a motorsports veteran or completely new to the sport, Destination Yamaha opens up a whole new world of opportunities and experiences.”
If you want to do some trail runs in Oklahoma on a TT-R230, get lost in Moab in a Wolverine X2 R or see the Alaskan wilderness first-hand from the seat of a Kodiak 450, Destination Yamaha has options for you.
Some of the most popular locations include the Black Hills of South Dakota; Appalachians of Tennessee; Las Vegas; and West Virginia. And the roster of rental partners continues to grow.
See more at DestinationYamahaUSA.com.
SBK: “I don’t expect beating Ducati to become the norm. There’s so much work to do. We are no longer a reference point. We must learn from this lesson.” Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), meanwhile, missed the podium at Jerez by mere tenths and saw himself slip down to third in the standings. Last year at Le Mans he crashed, but it was out the lead – and it’s a track that’s been kinder to the Italian than Jerez. A Ducati has never won there, but with the increasing all-round form of the Borgo Panigale factory, is now the time? As Rins surges towards the front and the likes of Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) take points off him, the Italian will be refocused to attack in France.
