Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager: “Mugello is certainly one of the special tracks on the calendar, its magnificent location makes it stand out, but it is also one of the most demanding. The tyres really have to work hard through the whole weekend, and we have to have a selection that can cover lots of eventualities. It can be cold in the mornings, before the sun gets above the hills and warms the asphalt, and then when it does the track can get very hot, so we need a selection to cover that.
The lightweight class will begin Saturday’s proceedings at 09:00 local time, with MotoGP™ FP3 and Moto2™ FP3 following at the same time they do on Friday. 12:35 is the time to tune in for qualifying as the Moto3™ riders head out for Q1, with their Q2 going green at 13:00. MotoGP™ FP4 takes place at 13:30 ahead of qualifying, Q1 for the premier class fires into life at 14:10, with the battle for pole position at the Italian GP getting underway at 14:35. Moto2™ qualifying starts at 15:05.
Last year’s Mugello round of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup was a stunner. Aren’t they all? – You say. Well yes, but what a stage, what a race, what a finish! It was Yuki Kunii who took victory by 0.031 seconds from eventual Cup Champion Can Öncü and less than a full second covered the top eleven across the line.
And this is also one of the reasons why Mugello is on MotoGP™ fans’ bucket lists. Other reasons? Well, Tuscany hosts fascinating cities, stunning mountains and lakes, breathtaking coastline, great weather, excellent wine, amazing cuisine, thousands of years of history and classic architecture… What more could you want from a holiday destination?
The Australian Motorcycle Show is changing names and moving out of Sydney in 2019, and will now be known as the Australian Motorcycle Festival and held an hour out of Sydney at Wollongong’s Lang Park over November 8-10, 2019, running alongside the Australian Supercross Round 3.
Sydney Motorcycle Show 2017
Australian insurance provider Shannons Insurance seized the opportunity to partner with the event and will host a special display of classic and vintage bikes, as well as lead a unique group ride specifically designed for classics and vintage bikes.
The Australian Motorcycle Festival claims to be moving away from the traditional exhibition style show (previously known as Sydney Motorcycle Show) to provide greater interaction with over 20,000sqm of outdoor hosting displays and entertainment planned in 2019.
Sydney Motorcycle Show 2017
The new location provides an opportunity for expansion with the all-new festival incorporating test rides for young and old, motorcycle demonstrations including safety and stunt riding, PWC test rides and demonstrations on the water.
Friday 8 November is set aside for manufacturer test rides only. Test rides will continue on Saturday 9 November and Sunday 10 November along with the expo and live entertainment.
The Sydney Motorcycle Show now moves to Wollongong
People who are thinking about exploring the world of motorcycling are encouraged to attend the event for an introduction to motorcycling, with plenty to see and do, including demonstrations and major motorcycle manufacturers.
The Australian Motorcycle Festival will run side-by-side with Round 3 of the 2019 Australian Supercross Championship presented by Yamaha with America’s Justin Brayton the first international rider confirmed along with the newly announced Recover8 Australian Speed & Style Championships to create New South Wales’ largest weekend for motorcycle enthusiasts.
Renowned stuntman Robbie Maddison will return to his hometown for the event to perform a trifecta of sea, air and water stunts on Saturday 9 November at both the festival and Supercross.
Robbie Maddison on his KTM waterbike – Darling Harbour
Event Organiser Troy Bayliss said bringing the festival to the iconic Lang Park provides the perfect location to showcase the latest offerings from the motorcycle industry.
Troy Bayliss
“Motorcycling is a lifestyle and that’s what this festival is all about. Visitors to the festival will get to research, test, try, learn and be entertained all in the one place. This year we are going to see an increase in the number of electric motorcycle on offer as more manufacturers expand into the EV market. The main feature of the show is always the new release motorcycles but this year we are also shinning a spotlight on travel and adventure both here and overseas. We want to appeal to newcomers to the Industry without taking away anything for the current enthusiast. On site test rides as part of the festival will offer a much larger range with a diverse route that will take in Wollongong’s coastal scenery. Group rides are currently being organised and manufacturers who have not attended previous shows are also confirming to attend. This is just the start, it will be a huge event for the industry and consumers alike.”
Troy Bayliss right – TDJ Images
Visitors to the Australian Motorcycle Festival can expect to see the latest motorcycles, scooters, ATV’s UTV’s, trikes and jet-ski’s as well as related products and services. Tickets to the Australian Motorcycle Festival will be available at the gate, with no pricing details released.
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
The LATEST News
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Tomac and Cianciarulo Storm Pala AMA Motocross
California’s Pala Raceway hosted the second round of the AMA Motocross Championship last Saturday, and under perfect weather conditions it was the Kawasaki riders in Eli Tomac and Adam Cianciarulo who won the 450 and 250 classes respectively on a day where the racing was red hot!
Eli Tomac – AMA MX 2019 Round 2 – Fox Raceway
450 Report
The pace at Pala was hot at the pointy end of the 450 class and half way through the opening moto it looked like Roczen was going to repeat his Hangtown performance with a runaway opening moto win. But as Tomac started pressing forward from his fourth place he brought Marvin Musquin and Jason Anderson closer to the rear wheel of Roczen.
In the end there was no denying Tomac with the defending champion passing Anderson, Musquin then Roczen to take the lead and win ahead of Roczen. Roczen didn’t have much room back to Musquin, Anderson, Zach Osborne and Cooper Webb while Dean Ferris put in a solid tenth place ride, while the ride of the race has to go to Todd Waters who went from 37th to 16th.
Marvin Musquin – AMA MX 2019 Round 2 – Fox Raceway
Moto two saw Justin Bogle and Musquin out front ahead of Tomac, Anderson, Roczen and Osborne but it wasn’t long before Musquin and Tomac opened up a small gap over Anderson Roczen and Osborne while Ferris and Waters were well outside the top ten.
Tomac pushed hard around a quickly deteriorating track to finally get by Musquin for the lead just as Anderson lost two positions to Roczen and Osborne. That is how they finish with Webb coming home in sixth once again while Waters got the better of Ferris this time with the Aussies coming home 11th and 13th respectively.
Jason Anderson – AMA MX 2019 Round 2 – Fox Raceway
Tomac will take the red plate to Freestone next weekend with a 4-point break over Roczen who in turn has a 15-point gap back to Musquin while Ferris sits a credible eighth in the points and Waters is on 32 points, tied with Justin Hill and Frederik Noren for 12th.
Eli Tomac
“Marvin was laying down a really good pace in the second moto. We were just going but after the half way mark I was on a charge, put the pressure on, got on the outside of him and got some good momentum, I was really happy with my riding, once I got out front I kept riding loose, hit may marks and my lines, all up a solid day.”
Eli Tomac – AMA MX 2019 Round 2 – Fox Raceway
Marvin Musquin
“It’s good, I am glad that I am landing on the podium, we had a rough week (Note: Marv was sore after a big crash the week before at Hangtown and only rode once during the week), bit I feel I was back to myself, feeling pretty good with the bike, my turns were good so overall I am happy.”
Marvin Musquin – AMA MX 2019 Round 2 – Fox Raceway
Ken Roczen
“It’s all good, I’ll take a third place here, the track was brutal and I just really wanted to get out of here safe. The other guys rode really good but we fought hard all of the way to the end and I am glad we got on the podium, it’s a long season and I’m looking to better myself every weekend.”
Three-time Australian champion retains top 10 points ranking in Pro Motocross.
Image: Supplied.
Triple Australian champion Dean Ferris has indicated he’s progressing with the settings of his Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing YZ450F, experiencing a more comfortable feeling in the final moto at Fox Raceway’s second round of the 2019 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
The New South Welshman charged to 10th in the opening encounter, and while pushing towards the front in race two, a critical error saw him drop to 13th, granting him 11th overall for the weekend.
“I feel like I started the weekend solid, making improvements,” said Ferris. “First moto was pretty solid and had to dig pretty deep for that one. In the second moto, I got more comfortable with the settings and was pushing toward the front.
“I ended up having a crash but pushed as hard as I could. All in all we are making progress and will keep working toward improving.”
Team manager Jim Perry added: “Dean pushed hard in both motos and continues to make progress in the US racing scene, a tip-over in the second moto kept him from challenging for a top 10 finish. We look forward to heading to Thunder Valley next weekend, a track we feel that the YZ450F has an advantage at.”
Following the first two rounds of the series, Ferris is ranked eighth in the championship standings as racing resumes this weekend at Thunder Valley.
Ducati looks like it is planning a GP-inspired Hypermotard 950 and a naked “streetfighter” version of its V4 Panigale.
A Hypermotard 950, customised by the company’s styling shop, Centro Stile Ducati, has won first place in the Concept Bikes: New Design and Prototypes by Manufacturers and Independents category at the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este held at Cernobbio on Lake Como, Italy, at the weekend.
The concept features a compact full LED projector plus styling and technology inspired by the MotoGP bike.
The Hypermotard was introduced in 2005 and has been through many iterations.
Now it could have a GP-inspired version.
Let’s just hope it doesn’t have those ridiculous partially red tyres and rims!
Naked V4
There has been talk for some time of a naked version of its V4 Panigale for some time.
Now, Drop Dead Gorgeous magazine has released spy photos of a naked V4 being track tested.
Image: Drop Dead Gorgeous magazine
The blurry images show it has the V4 headlight, but only a lower fairing and bellypan like an Aprilia Tuono.
As a street fighter it gets MX-style bars rather than clip-ons.
Since the famous Pikes Peak Hillclimb in Colorado does not allow bikes with clip-ons, this could just be a prototype to run in the event which Ducati has won on several occasions.
The hillclimb is on June 24, so the track testing seems relevant.
But surely Ducati wouldn’t go to so much effort just for one race. We think a production version will not be far away.
Image: Drop Dead Gorgeous magazine
However, don’t expect the 1103cc engine to have the same 213 horsepower (158kW) as the V4.
No doubt they will tune it down for a street fighter version, probably just a little more than the Tuono’s 173hp (129kW).
Lingering soreness forces Beaton out of French MXGP
Section: Competition
Factory Husqvarna rider still feeling effects of Portugal crash.
Image: Supplied.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton has admitted lingering soreness from a heavy crash in Portugal is what prompted him to sit out the weekend’s MXGP of France at Saint Jean d’Angely.
The Australian was lucky to escape serious injury at the MXGP of Portugal when he was run over multiple times in a frightening crash, however he was still feeling the effects of the incident by the time France’s seventh stop of the series rolled around.
Winding up 20th in timed practice, the Australian lacked enough strength to take on a pair of gruelling motos, forcing him into the difficult decision of withdrawing from the event.
“Pretty devastated about this weekend, still feeling pretty sore from last weekend’s second moto crash in Portugal,” Beaton explained. “I tried riding warm-up and timed practice but my riding wasn’t anywhere near where I want it to be and had no strength, so we decided to sit out the races on Sunday.
“[I’m] trying to get back to 100 percent before Russia and get this season properly started. Thanks to the people that stick behind me.”
It’s been a challenging season so far for the Tasmanian, having missed the opening round of the series after fracturing multiple vertebrae, cancelling the momentum he built up throughout the pre-season.
Team Kawasaki Brasil rider Anthony West continues to lead the Brazilian Superbike Championship after three rounds. Sunday’s third place points put Ant at the top of the championship standings with 41-points, eight clear of second place.
Anthony West
“The good news is, we are still leading the championship. Unlike Barros and Granado who have hundreds of laps here, we are still making big changes to the bike trying to find a better setup for Interlagos. The team is working really hard and we are making progress, we just need to close the gap to the front.”
Anthony West celebrates another podium in Brazilian Superbikes, this time at Round 3
Once again the Interlagos track of Sao Paolo, Brazil delivered all four seasons in one weekend. The team and Ant had many things to test to try and close the setup advantage that the Brazil Superbike riders enjoy over the newcomer.
The weekend was also going to be challenging because the Interlagos circuit demolished all the pitboxes in order to rebuild new ones, necessitating the use of a new temporary pitlane. Thursday morning was raining and the first session was skipped.
Anthony West – Brazilian Superbike Championship Round 3
The second session was to find current track conditions using the previous race weekend’s setup. The third session saw the implementation of a new solution to try and increase edge grip. The team skipped the final session of the day as the temperature dropped significantly and the sun was going down quickly—days are getting shorter as Brazil enters the Autumn season.
Friday arrived and the team implemented another radical change to the setup of the bike. The team and Ant’s efforts were rewarded with a new personal best lap record of 1:36.4 around the 4.4 km circuit. The team continued to work on the power delivery of the awesome ZX-10R engine, trying to help Ant get as much grip as possible.
Anthony West – Brazilian Superbike Championship Round 3
Saturday the setup work continued and the lap times became more consistent and easier to maintain. Although a little down on one lap pace, the team was optimistic with Ant’s race pace. West qualified in the middle of the front row in second place.
Sunday morning’s 8:45am ten minute warm up was held under cool overcast conditions and West tried the new setup with a full fuel load to simulate the opening laps of the race.
Anthony West – Brazilian Superbike Championship Round 3
At the end of the session, Ant was in second place and looking forward to the race, however as the 1pm race time approached, the clouds gave way to bright blue skies and intense sun. The track temperature was 36 degrees, significantly warmer then it had been in any earlier session.
Anthony West – Brazilian Superbike Championship Round 3
Eric Granado demonstrated he had the one lap pace in qualifying, while West and team were hoping to close the gap over race distance on worn tires. When the lights went out, Ant rocketed off the line and made his way to the lead. Unfortunately, it was short lived.
Anthony West – Brazilian Superbike Championship Round 3
Granado made it past Ant and pulled a small gap. Alex Barros and Ant then fought the entire race distance over second place, allowing Granado to escape. Unlike the first round, Barros was able to beat Ant to the finish line to claim second, leaving Westy with third. Ant continues to lead the Brazilian Superbike Championship, and sits eight-points clear of second place.
Alex Barros – Brazilian Superbike Championship Round 3 – Image courtesy of BMW Group
Brasil Superbike Race – Round 3 – Result
Eric Granado 23:28.853
Alex Barros +5.855
Anthony West ” Gringo ” +6.063
Pedro Sampaio +9.344
Maximiliano Gerardo +9.363
Danilo Lewis +33.416
Rodrigo Dazzi +49.415
Mauriti Junior +49.417
Diego Viveiros +1:09.130
Davi Costa +1:12.220
Julio Fortunato +1:25.757
José Luiz Teixeira “Cachorrão” +1:40.78
Brazilian Superbike Standings
Anthony West – Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R – 41
Maximiliano Gerardô – Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R – 33
Alex Barros – BMW S1000RR – 29
Eric Granado – Honda CBR 1000RR – 27
Pedro Sampaio – Honda CBR 1000RR – 26
Danilo Lewis – BMW S1000RR – 24
Bruno Corano – BMW S1000RR – 17
Diego Pierluigi – Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R – 11
José Luiz “Cachorrão” – Honda CBR 1000RR – 8
Juninho Trudes – Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R – 0
Team Kawasaki Brasil is operated by JC Racing. Team Kawasaki Brasil is sponsored by: Steck, Castropil, Flip Racing Moto Parts. Ant West personal sponsors include FuSport, Accent Timber Flooring, Graeme Cavanagh, Arai, SC Exhaust, CHC Leathers
