The list of riders Pecco has joined is as follows: Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo, and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). 28 World Championship titles between them including Pecco’s 2018 Moto2™ crowning. And in addition to that, Pecco becomes the first rider since Stoner in 2008 to win three in a row – another accolade well worth shouting about.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
“Yeah, a lot. I tried everything. I moved the weight of the… I moved the engine quite a lot during the weekend. I tried everything. I made the bike longer, a lot lower. I tried everything. But this bike doesn’t like the apex. I braked like an animal all race, sincerely, I don’t know why I didn’t make any mistake,” explained Espargaro.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
MotoGP™, the world’s first motorsport Championship, is launching a new AR lens on Snapchat to give fans a new, immersive way to engage with the sport they love, while the 2022 Championship is in full swing. This new activation gives them a chance to show their creative flair, designing their own helmet.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
Do you remember the pure joy of your first motorcycle ride? If you started young, you probably have magical memories of ripping around your neighborhood on a Honda Mini Trail, a Rupp Dart Cycle, or some other minibike.
Or if you had trails or a track nearby, maybe you rode a little dirtbike like a Yamaha PW50 or Honda Z50R.
If you were lucky, you got a minibike for your birthday or Christmas. If you weren’t, you nagged your parents incessantly to buy one or befriended the kid down the street who had one.
Childhood isn’t as carefree as it used to be, and neighbors aren’t as forgiving of noise. Minibikes and peewee dirtbikes are still sold at local dealerships and outdoor retailers, but there are fewer places to ride them – and fewer parents willing to let their kids do so.
My buddy Paul Beck and I met on monthly adventure rides hosted by our local BMW dealership. His wife, Allison, became friends with my wife, Carrie, and in 2015, soon after Paul and Allison had their first child, August, they bought a house down the street from us.
Carrie and I don’t have kids of our own, and we enjoy being “aunt and uncle” to August and his younger brother, Wolfgang. When August was 18 months old, we got him a bright-red Strider balance bike and a matching stars-and-stripes helmet for Christmas.
Since he started so young, it took August a while to get the hang of the Strider. He mostly paddle-walked it, and he wasn’t a fan of the helmet. But before we knew it, he was zipping around with his feet up on the footrests, coasting and balancing on two wheels with an ear-to-ear grin on his face.
From the Strider he graduated to a BMX bike, which he picked up quickly.
When the Greenger x Honda CRF-E2 electric dirtbike was announced back in March, I knew it would be perfect for August.
Designed and manufactured by Greenger Powersports, the CRF-E2 is an officially licensed product of American Honda and only available through Honda powersports dealers (MSRP is $2,950). The electric equivalent of a 50cc dirtbike, it’s powered by a 48-volt brushless DC electric motor that produces up to 3.4 hp and 18.4 lb-ft of torque and has two power modes.
With a full charge, the CRF-E2’s lithium-ion battery lasts up to two hours. Using a 110V outlet, the battery can be fully charged in four hours – or 2.5 hours with the optional quick-charge system ($250). It also has a swappable battery, and a spare battery costs $1,000.
For American Honda to license something made by another company, the build quality and reliability had to meet exacting standards. The CRF-E2 has a twin-spar aluminum frame, a tapered aluminum handlebar, front and rear hydraulic disc brakes with petal-style rotors, adjustable aluminum brake hand levers, and 12-inch spoked aluminum rims with Kenda Millville K771 knobby tires.
Suspension is handled by a 33mm telescopic fork with 3.9 inches of travel and a rear monoshock with 3.8 inches of travel and adjustable preload and rebound. The shock’s top mounting bolt has two positions that alter the seat height from 24.8 to 25.5 inches. The CRF-E2 accommodates riders up to 99 lb.
To get August ready for his first ride, Fly Racing sent us a full set of youth dirtbike gear: a Formula Carbon Prime Rush helmet with Adaptive Impact System; Zone goggles; Kinetic Wave jersey, pants, and gloves; Maverik motocross boots; and a Barricade jersey and knee/shin guards. August said he felt like a superhero when he put everything on.
GEAR UP
Helmet: Fly Racing Youth Formula CP Rush
Goggles: Fly Racing Youth Zone
Jersey: Fly Racing Youth Kinetic Wave
Protection: Fly Racing Youth Barricade Long Sleeve Suit
Gloves: Fly Racing Youth F-16 Gloves
Pants: Fly Racing Youth Kinetic Wave Pants
Knee Guards: Fly Racing Youth Barricade Flex Knee Guards
Boots: Fly Racing Youth Maverik Boots
His first ride was on a Thursday afternoon in a little pocket park in the back of our neighborhood. With no transmission, the CRF-E2 has simple twist-and-go operation. His dad and I gave him pointers on how to gradually roll on the power, to squeeze rather than grab the brakes, and to give the nearby trees plenty of space.
August picked it up in no time. He turned lap after lap after lap, then he did figure-8s. He practiced stopping and starting. He tumbled a couple times when coming to a stop on uneven ground, but he got back up and kept going.
One of the most appealing aspects of the CRF-E2 is its nearly silent operation. Residents and dog walkers in our suburban neighborhood didn’t notice or didn’t care that a kid was having fun on a dirtbike within eyesight.
It was a family affair. Dad was coaching. Mom and Grandpa Rolf were watching. Little brother Wolfgang was jealous. Carrie and I clapped and cheered.
On one lap, August yelled to Wolfgang, “This is my favorite motorcycle ever!” Wolfgang yelled back, “It’s my favorite too!” (Wolfgang still needs more Strider practice.)
Two hours later, Carrie and I went home for dinner, and August was still riding. Paul said he would stay out there with his son until it got dark or the battery ran out.
After morning and afternoon practice sessions in the park, it was time to hit the dirt. Paul and I lifted the 106-lb CRF-E2 into the bed of his Ford F-150, ratchet-strapped it in place, and drove with August up to the Hungry Valley OHV area in Gorman, California.
August felt confident riding on the grass in our neighborhood park because it provided good traction, but he struggled with the loose sand and gravel of the OHV area’s parking area. With coaching help from photographer Kevin Wing, we worked our way up gradually, having August ride back and forth in straight lines from Paul to me, practicing smooth starts and stops.
After 20 minutes or so, we took a break in the shade. It was a hot day, and August wasn’t accustomed to the heat in full riding gear. A cold, wet towel, some iced-down Gatorade, and a bag of peanut M&Ms revived him.
Next, we moved to a mini track limited to bikes 90cc or smaller. Luckily, we had it to ourselves, and August started turning laps. He struggled with some of the bermed turns that had deep sand and rocks at the bottom. He fell down a lot, and each time Paul or I helped pick up the bike and provided some coaching and encouragement.
August no doubt felt the pressure of having three adults watching him, but he never gave up. Every time he toppled over, he’d jump up and say, “I’m okay!” and try again.
It was amazing to see how quickly August progressed. Intuitively, he started to learn throttle control, body position, and line selection, avoiding some of the larger rocks or tricky spots.
Best of all, he had fun. When he got tired and started making mistakes, we’d take a break in the shade. But he was always eager to go again. And Paul was a proud papa.
After a few hours of alternating between riding sessions and breaks, August’s enthusiasm outstripped his energy. He wanted to keep riding, but he kept dropping the bike because he was too exhausted.
Even after all that riding, the battery level had only dropped by one bar out of five. Most kids will run out of gas before the CRF-E2 runs out of charge.
August was bummed when we loaded the CRF back in the truck, but he was passed out asleep before we left the OHV park.
When we got home, Paul and I had a couple beers while we supervised August washing down the bike, cleaning his gear, and putting everything away so it would be ready for his next ride. Learning good habits is part of growing up.
Paul plans to buy the CRF-E2 so August can keep riding, and in a year or two, Wolfgang will inherit his brother’s gear and pick up the baton.
Welcome to the moto tribe, August. You have a lifetime of fun ahead of you.
For more information, visit GreengerPowersports.com.
The post 2022 Greenger x Honda CRF-E2 | First Ride Review first appeared on Rider Magazine.
Source: RiderMagazine.com
New to the press is a test from motorcycle magazine Motorrad, who has decided to pit cars against motorcycles to see if improved technology has closed the gap between the two.
The report from RideApart states that, for this fuel efficiency test, the following machines were placed into three categories for the upcoming shenanigans:
For the Sport category, the R1’s claimed 33mpg was under-exaggerated; Motorrad’s team were able to get 41mpgg out of the bike, while the Cayman under-performed, shrinking the auto’s claimed mpg from 27 to 24.
The Economy category was even more telling; between the NC 750’s claimed 80.5mpg shrinking to a wilting performance of 67mpg and the Ford Focus’s claimed 40 hitting the back of the neck at 31mph, numbers just weren’t adding up.
(Keep in mind, this particular test had everybody restricted to a fixed speed, so the rules may have slightly affected the potential of the results.)
As for the Utility category, numbers were more well-behaved; our favorite Bavarian R 1250 GS actually got the most bang for buck out of everybody, bumping up the claimed mpg from 50 to 52.
Audi underperformed by a measly three mpg (25 to 22) – nothing crazy, but enough to finalize the results of this test as being slotted firmly in the rider’s favor.
What do you think? Do you have any similar fuel efficiency tests you’ve undergone?
Be sure to drop us a comment, let us know below what you think, and as ever – stay safe on the twisties.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Joan Mir: “After undergoing several tests, the doctors have advised me to take 15 days’ rest and another evaluation after that period. Unfortunately, I will miss the Misano race, but I am confident I can return in Aragon. I want to thank Dainese and AGV for protecting me and avoiding a more serious injury after the hard crash I had on Sunday. It’s been a tough season, but I’m convinced that we’ll come back stronger to bring more good moments to my team and to all of you who support me”.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
KTM and Cardo Systems have joined forces for the special-edition KTM PackTalk Edge mobile communication and connectivity unit. The Bluetooth unit withstands water, dust, and mud and can be easily magnet-mounted to any helmet with the Cardo Air Mount.
Related Stories: See other KTM stories here
Up to 15 bikes can hook up to the same signal within a 5-mile range (1 mile rider to rider), and the PackTalk Edge connects with any other Bluetooth headset of any brand.
The 40mm high-definition speakers are from JBL, and the noise-canceling microphone is activated by voice command. The unit can stream and share your favorite music, includes a built-in FM radio, and offers volume control based on outside ambient noises.
The Cardo KTM PackTalk Edge fully charges in two hours for 13 hours of battery life, or use the quick-charge feature for two hours of talk time after 20 minutes of charging.
The special-edition unit comes in KTM orange with the company graphic and sells for $389.95.
The post New Gear: Cardo KTM PackTalk Edge Communication System first appeared on Rider Magazine.
Source: RiderMagazine.com
As the dust settles on another fantastic weekend of MotoGP™ action at the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, we’ve taken a look at some of the talking points from a busy and very important few days at the Red Bull Ring. Sprint races, a new layout, a new team entering MotoGP™ in 2023… Austria was by no mean quiet.
The breaking news on Saturday morning was the confirmation that Sprint races will be on the menu in 2023 at all Grands Prix. And it’s safe to say Miller was especially looking forward to trying out the new, exciting Saturday format.
“Yeah, definitely. For us as riders, myself personally, on my weekends off I go and race motorcycles. I love racing motorcycles, so another opportunity over the weekend. We have this big build-up of four days, five days here to race once. It’s been great, but I think change is good. Change is inevitable. It’s coming. The fact that the championship is working towards changing the program and willing to try a big step forward or a big step outside of what’s the regular, I take my hat off to them because it’s a gamble but I think it will be a positive gamble.
The new MotoGP™ Sprint Race format explained in detail
“Not only for us as riders, I think the exposure and the racing that’s going to come from a half-race distance, let’s say the points, win or lose, it’s not a massive gain or loss, so you can risk a little bit more. So, that alone is going to create fantastic racing. Like you said, the tire management sort of goes out the window. So, it will be soft. It will be fast. It’ll be definitely a spectacle. I look forward to being a part of it and a part of the history changing in MotoGP.”
Before his stellar race-winning performance on Sunday – as with every rider – Pecco was asked about his thoughts on the Sprint race news. Jokingly, the Italian suggested two races this year might be a good idea too to try and reel in Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) at a faster rate of knots.
“It’s something a bit strange in F1 but in WorldSBK it’s something cool. I have to try. Maybe this year we could have two races in one week, it could help us.”
The first big breaking news story of the weekend came on Friday when GASGAS announced they were entering MotoGP™ for the 2023 campaign, teaming up with Tech3 to form the GASGAS Factory Racing Team outfit. What’s more, Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) was announced as one of the riders, and Brad Binder spoke about how pleasing it was to welcome the Spaniard back to the KTM family.
“Yeah I really like Pol he’s one of my favourite people in the paddock. We had a lot of fun when he was my teammate in 2020 and it’ll be nice to have him back.”
Bagnaia revealed at the British GP that two-time MotoGP™ World Champion and MotoGP™ Legend, Casey Stoner, had been giving him some words of advice. And it looks like it’s helped as Pecco has become the first Ducati rider since Stoner in 2008 to win three races in a row. Speaking after the race on Sunday, Quartararo might give Stoner a quick ring to see if he’s offering his services to the Frenchman.
“At the end, you need to finish in front of your opponents. Clearly, I have two, Pecco and Aleix (Espargaro). Next week I will maybe call Casey. He has also one tip for me? Will be great.”
Another hot topic from the 2022 Austrian GP was the new Turn 2 chicane. Quartararo made a stunning pass on Miller there in the latter stages of the race to grab P2 off the Australian, and the Ducati star could do nothing but take his hat off to the World Championship leader.
Mark of a Champion: analysing Quartararo’s magic Miller move
“So, I was suffering quite a bit in the left-hand corners, which were my stronger point at the beginning of the race. Especially in that chicane, I wasn’t able to attack as aggressively as I would like. I was having to sort of be conservative and prepare and get the exit. Then Fabio came past me and made me look silly through there. Hats off to him.
“The chicane was fun. I think it threw in another aspect of the track. A lot of the corners were very similar. Now at least you’ve got another element there, some slow… It’s probably the fastest change of direction on the calendar. It’s got a lot of grip. You can really whack it coming out. It’s a lot of fun. I think as the race distance went on, I definitely started struggling there. I think it added another element to the track. When the tires get used, the thing sort of gets a bit squirrelly as you’re changing direction. I wouldn’t say it made it less physical. 28 laps around here or around anywhere on a MotoGP bike is always physical. Maybe not for Pecco. He’s Ice Man. But I was getting pretty tired of pulling my brake lever.”
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
Now in its sixth season of existence, the MotoGP™ eSport Championship is still riding a crest of a wave after a brilliant 2021. Throughout last year, the series continued to attract new fans from around the world. After a total of 27 Online Challenges, eight onsite events and seven virtual events since its inception in 2017, the series has been shown by 16 broadcasters, has amassed 103 million video views, 467 million web impressions and 13.2 million online engagements.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
The commentary boxes were so small you had to sit sideways at right angles to the track watching the action on the television monitor. You could see into all the other commentary boxes and there were some furrowed brows and counting on fingers going on. It had been a fantastic race to commentate on that summed up the quality and excitement of the 2004 season. Valentino Rossi, Makoto Tamada, Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi, Sete Gibernau, Marco Melandri and Nicky Hayden swapping podium positions and the leads, when the clouds started to role in over those Tuscan Hills. Then I started to worry. How many laps would the riders have to complete of the scheduled 23 before the race could be stopped with maximum points being awarded. If they stopped before the cut off how many laps would the new race be and would the times from both races be added together. I was lucky because my fellow commentators Gavin Emmett and Matt Roberts were on the ball. As always, they had done their homework and checked the rules, but others were not so lucky.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here