Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Quartararo posted the fastest ever lap at the Motul TT Assen on Saturday to take back-to-back pole positions in MotoGP.
Quartararo’s flying 1m32.017s saw him end Q2 with a 0.140s advantage over Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) as the pattern of the two taking it in turns at the top continued.
In third was Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) as he blasted from Q1 to the front row. Rins held the advantage first as the Suzuki man started Q2 on provisional pole, but on the second runs Vinales had something to say about it.
The number 12 machine put in a stunning lap with a few minutes left on the clock to cut a few tenths off Rins’ best effort, and he was the man with the target on his back as Quartararo began his assault. But then, Quartararo began his assault.
Keeping it together to perfection and able to pull out nearly a tenth and a half by the time he crossed the line, the Frenchman made some more history and celebrated so hard that it made his airbag go off in his suit!
Reigning champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) starts fourth and misses out on the front row for the first time this season as, alongside him, rookie Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) put in an impressive effort to take a best-yet fifth, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) completing the second row.
Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) was the top Ducati in qualifying and heads up an incredibly tight third row, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) in P8 and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) locking it out in ninth. The three men are covered by just 0.032s.
Former Assen winner Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) completes the top 10 and he was also just hundredths adrift, with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) a few further tenths off the Australian in P11. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the final man in Q2 in P12, not far off the Italian ahead of him.
Before pole was decided, it was that Q1 that would prove crucial for one big name – Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). In that Q1, he eventually finished fourth and will, therefore, start from P14.
Australian Remy Gardner’s (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) 1m36.572s in Moto2 Q2 sees him join a very illustrious list of Aussie pole-setters as two late flying laps puts the Kalex rider 0.110s clear of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS).
It was Vierge who looked like he would be the man to beat in Q2 after the Spaniard was able to half a second clear of the pack with a storming time, but Binder hit back to continue the upturn for KTM. But then Gardner, the man who sat nearly six tenths clear of the rest in FP3, started to find his rhythm.
The Australian’s first attempt was 0.016s faster than the South African, but he managed to pull a bit more margin out on his second run to secure the first Australian intermediate class pole since Casey Stoner did it in the 250cc class at Phillip Island in 2005.
In Moto3, Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) brought the run of different pole-sitters in the opening rounds of the season to an end, with the Italian setting a new record of 1m41.232s to head the grid over Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) and Mugello winner Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers).
Integro Yamaha’s Jack Kennedy has collected his fifth pole position on the bounce in the 2019 Dickies British Supersport Championship at Knockhill, with Kyle Ryde and Brad Jones joining him on the front row.
It was Kennedy who started the session the strongest, leading the way at the top of the time sheets after posting a strong time early on.
The defending Champion continued to improve on his time, pulling a heathy gap over second place, making sure he secured his fifth pole position of the year.
Kyle Ryde will start from second on the grid after nicking it from Brad Jones in the dying moments of the session.
Row two will see Jamie Perrin start from fourth with local lad Rory Skinner fifth and Championship leader Seeley rounding out the second line in sixth.
Pos
Name
Entry
Time
1
Jack Kennedy
Yamaha – Integro Yamaha
49.024
2
Kyle Ryde
Kalex – Kovara projects by RS Racing
49.145
3
Brad Jones
Yamaha – Integro Yamaha
49.267
4
Jamie Perrin
Chassis Factory – Nova Racing Transmissions/Go Racing
49.413
5
Rory Skinner
Kawasaki – Watermans Team MSR
49.566
6
Alastair Seeley
Yamaha – EHA Yamaha
49.779
7
Lee Johnston
Yamaha – Ashcourt Racing
49.799
8
Richard Kerr
Triumph – Campbell Motorsport
50.011
9
Sam Wilford
Honda – IDWe Racing
50.073
10
Mason Law
ABM Triumph – ABM Quattro Racing
50.093
11
Ben Wilson
Kawasaki – Gearlink Kawasaki
50.147
12
Sam Munro
Kawasaki – Munro Racing
50.163
13
Kurt Wigley
Yamaha – Sorrymate.com Racing
50.184
14
Bradley Perie
Yamaha – Diamond H Racing
50.199
15
Jake Archer
Kalex – Kovara projects by RS Racing
50.206
16
Harry Truelove
Yamaha – Truelove Property & Construction
50.252
17
Charlie Nesbitt
Yamaha – Hisc/Rapid Fulfillment Racing
50.333
18
Ross Twyman
Kawasaki – Gearlink Kawasaki
50.409
19
Ross Patterson
Yamaha – RPMMoto.com / Mayfair Homes Ltd
50.633
20
Phil Wakefield
Yamaha – PWR
50.809
21
Thomas Strudwick
FTR Moto – Case FTR Moto / Spirit Motorcycles
50.819
22
James Mclaren
Suzuki – Fog Racing
50.829
23
Jorel Boerboom
Honda – JB50 Racing
50.870
24
Alan Naylor
Yamaha – Donkey Box Racing
53.610
British Superstock 1000
Buildbase Suzuki’s Richard Cooper notched up his eighth victory of the season, coming back from third, to extend his Championship lead over Taylor Mackenzie at Knockhill.
Just minutes before the start of the race drops of rain began to fall, but not enough for the riders to change tyres and set-ups on the grid.
Taylor Mackenzie leads Richard Cooper – Image Dave Yeomans
From the lights it was Cooper who grabbed the holeshot, but the end of the opening lap Mackenzie led from Rouse with the Championship leader Cooper in third.
By half-race distance Cooper had caught Mackenzie, who had cleared off at the front, in the process setting a new lap record. It only took ‘Coopes’ a lap to pass the Bathams Racing BMW man and he quickly cleared off.
The Nottinghamshire man controlled the lead until the flag, taking his eighth victory of the season, with Mackenzie and Rouse rounding out the podium.
British Superstock 1000 Podium – Knockhill 2019 – 1. Dan Cooper – 2. Taylor Mackenzie – 3. Chrissy Rouse – Image Dave Yeomans
Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) just won’t stop breaking records. At the Motul TT Assen the Frenchman put in the fastest ever lap of the track in qualifying to take his third pole position overall, and in doing that he also becomes the youngest ever rider to take back-to-back poles in the premier class, and he looked so smooth doing it….
Fabio Quartararo – P1
“There’s not much to say; it’s just incredible. Assen is one of the most legendary circuits in the World Championship, and taking pole position and breaking the track record is amazing. I’m very proud of what the team have done. I thought it would be very difficult to beat the time in the final part of the session, but I managed two very fast laps and was able to do it. The feeling we have at this circuit, especially on the last sector, is awesome. Both yesterday and today we worked on race pace, and I think we are good in that regard. It’s a tougher circuit than Barcelona, so my arm is suffering a bit more here, but I was able to get pole position. I’m very happy.”
Fabio Quartararo
0.140s is the young Frenchman’s advantage over Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) as the pattern of the two taking it in turns at the top continued. Where Quartararo’s fast laps looked precise and smooth, Vinales was visibly wringing the neck of his YZR-M1 to set his quick laps in a scintillating display of aggression and physicality.
“I’m really satisfied. We worked really hard throughout the whole weekend, especially in FP3, when we worked more for the race than focusing on one lap, so this means we have a good set-up. It’s important for tomorrow to have a ‘normal’ and clean race, so I can push from the first lap until the end. I have nothing to lose, so I’ll be pushing 110%. It’s also very important to be consistent and precise on the track, so you don’t miss any corners. I will try to be at my best level tomorrow and get out in front, because it’s important for me to ride my own lines. I’m going to start from the front row and fight hard.”
Maverick Viñales
Alex Rins had to fight his way through from the second batch of riders in the opening Q1 session but the Suzuki man showed his determination and topped that session by almost half-a-second before then holding out Marquez in Q2 to put the Suzuki GSX-RR on the front row.
Alex Rins
Alex Rins – P3
“Coming from Q1 was difficult, I had to give my absolute all to get into Q2. I feel quite strong, especially as I was using a used rear tyre and still set a fast lap. Tomorrow will be a tough race for sure, there will be a lot of riders close together I think, but I’m starting in a good position – on the front row. We’ve done a lot of good work so far this weekend and I’m ready to fight for a win.”
Alex Rins
Qualifying Report
Before pole was decided, it was that Q1 that would prove crucial for one big name: Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). The ‘Doctor”s difficult day at the office began earlier in FP3 as his lap that would have seen him move through to Q2 was cancelled for exceeding track limits, and that left him fighting it out in Q1. In that Q1, he eventually finished fourth and will therefore start from P14, with Rins and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) the two men moving through.
Alex Rins
Rins held the advantage first as the Suzuki man started Q2 on provisional pole, but on the second runs Viñales had something to say about it. The number 12 machine put in a stunning lap with a few minutes left on the clock to cut a few tenths off Rins’ best effort, and he was the man with the target on his back as Quartararo began his assault. But then, Quartararo began his assault.
Keeping it together to perfection and able to pull out nearly a tenth and a half by the time he crossed the line, the Frenchman made some more history – and celebrated so hard, it made the air-bag go off in his suit!
Behind that little slice of history, there’s one habitual front row starter missing from the top three: Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). The reigning Champion starts fourth and misses out on a place in the fastest trio for the first time this season, and he’ll be looking to slice through early off the line. This is the first time Marquez has failed to qualify on the front-row on the grid since Valencia last year.
Marc Marquez – P4
“I’m happy with the race pace and we knew before the Qualifying that it would be tough as there is more competition than normal. It looks like in the morning it is a little tricky but then in the afternoon when the conditions get warmer we are there. I think it’s going to be a very close race tomorrow and there are four or five of us with good pace. Normally it’s a circuit where we struggle, but in Mugello normally we struggle and we got second and in Montmelo we struggled and won.”
Marc Marquez
Alongside Marquez is rookie Joan Mir, the Suzuki rider put in an impressive effort to take a best-yet fifth, just into the 1m33s, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) completing the second row.
Joan Mir – P5
“I’m happy about today’s qualifying, the team and I have worked really well during the weekend and I’ve been getting faster and closer to the top guys. I made some mistakes today so I feel my lap time could have actually been better. This is my first time starting on the second row, so I’m really pleased about that; thanks to the team.”
Joan Mir
Cal Crutchlow – P6
“I qualified sixth, but I didn’t really have the pace for sixth, it was just lucky that nobody had the pace to get past me on the second run. We’re working hard, but the reality is we’re probably about the tenth quickest guy, but last year it was a ten-man battle at the front at one point so we’ll have to try and make some improvements in the morning. I didn’t feel much better on the bike today even though we tried more or less everything as always, from my point of view it’s clear where we’re losing time and we are working on it. We’re trying our best and I’m pleased to be on the second row”.
Cal Crutchlow
Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team), third on Friday, is the top Ducati in qualifying and heads up an incredibly tight third row, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) in P8 and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) locking it out in ninth. The three men are covered by just 0.032.
Danilo Petrucci – P7
“I tried to push as hard as I could, taking also some big risks, but the higher temperatures troubled us a bit, as both the grip and the overall stability diminished. Undoubtedly we expected to be able to do better. It’s a pity, because this morning in FP3 I felt so comfortable that I told the team I had the best bike I’ve ever ridden here at Assen, and I posted the provisional lap record. To be honest, it has also been a bit chaotic out there in Q2 because all riders were sort of guarding one another closely. Tomorrow it shouldn’t be as hot, or at least I hope so: we’ll analyze the data to make sure we can express our full potential during the race.”
Danilo Petrucci
Takaaki Nakagami – P8
“I’m quite happy, because it’s quite a big improvement from yesterday from FP2. Of course the track condition was better, there was more rubber on the track and so everybody was much faster than yesterday which helps. Our set-up of the bike was much easier to ride today, but we still have to improve for the race because it still takes a lot of energy to ride this bike. I’m a little disappointed because I think qualifying was there to attack and when I saw the chequered flag I was P6, but after that I checked the second screen and I was P8 which I didn’t understand. But we spoke with race direction to see where I cut the track limit and I understand maybe the last chicane, on the right. But I am really close to the second row and we are improving all the time. It’s a really long race tomorrow and hopefully we can make no mistakes and be very focused during the race.”
Franco Morbidelli – P9
“We’ve been able to improve a lot compared to yesterday, so that’s very positive. I was able to go faster both in terms of my pace and my flying lap. Even so, we’re still lacking something if we compare my time with the fastest riders. My pace in FP4 wasn’t bad and I think we can fight for the top five. We still have the warm-up tomorrow to come, where we will be able to see where we are. If the race has a large group, I think I can be up at the front.”
Franco Morbidelli
2016 Assen winner Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) completes the top ten with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) a few further tenths off the Australian in P11.
Jack Miller – P10
“I can’t be satisfied with the qualifying. To be honest, I thought I could do better. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any grip on the soft tyres. The race pace with the hard tyre, however, is very good. We can have a good race tomorrow.”
Jack Miller
Andrea Dovizioso – P11
“It’s been a bit of a strange day, with really high temperatures. After starting off on the right foot in free practice, unfortunately we couldn’t be as competitive during qualifying. It’s a shame because starting from fourth row complicates our plans a bit, but I wasn’t able to complete a ‘clean’ lap. We’re more competitive in terms of pace, we still have to improve but I believe we can ride a solid race. A lot will depend on what weather conditions we’ll find tomorrow. At any rate, we won’t give up and we’ll try to be fast in any condition.”
Andrea Dovizioso
Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the final man in Q2 in P12, not far off the Italian ahead of him.
Pol Espargaro – P12
“For sure I am not riding as I want or I wish but it is what I have right now. It is better than in Barcelona where I could not move two fingers or my wrist up or down. We expect the race tomorrow to be really hot and very tricky for everyone. The whole grid might slow the rhythm and I will feel a bit more comfortable. Let’s see what lap-time I can hold.”
Pol Espargaro
Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) starts just ahead of Rossi, with the number 46 facing down a few of his VR46 Riders Academy proteges in his mission to move forward on Sunday. He’s won ten times at Assen, and he is the Sunday miracle maker. Can he get in the fight at the front?
Valentino Rossi – P14
“It’s a great shame, because this morning I wasn’t so bad. I set a very good time on my last lap to get directly into Q2, which is always crucial. But unfortunately I touched the green exit on the last chicane and they cancelled the lap, so I had to go through Q1. I was still quite optimistic, because I was quite strong this morning, but with the higher temperatures I had more problems and less grip. Unfortunately, I was slower, so it was not enough to get into Q2.”
Valentino Rossi
MotoGP Combined Times
Pos
Rider
Bike
Q
Time
1
Fabio QUARTARARO
YAMAHA
Q2
1m32.017
2
Maverick VIÑALES
YAMAHA
Q2
1m32.157
3
Alex RINS
SUZUKI
Q2
1m32.458
4
Marc MARQUEZ
HONDA
Q2
1m32.731
5
Joan MIR
SUZUKI
Q2
1m33.085
6
Cal CRUTCHLOW
HONDA
Q2
1m33.228
7
Danilo PETRUCCI
DUCATI
Q2
1m33.282
8
Takaaki NAKAGAMI
HONDA
Q2
1m33.295
9
Franco MORBIDELLI
YAMAHA
Q2
1m33.314
10
Jack MILLER
DUCATI
Q2
1m33.323
11
Andrea DOVIZIOSO
DUCATI
Q2
1m33.692
12
Pol ESPARGARO
KTM
Q2
1m33.762
13
Francesco BAGNAIA
DUCATI
Q1
1m33.221
14
Valentino ROSSI
YAMAHA
Q1
1m33.466
15
Aleix ESPARGARO
APRILIA
Q1
1m33.547
16
Karel ABRAHAM
DUCATI
Q1
1m33.583
17
Miguel OLIVEIRA
KTM
Q1
1m33.706
18
Johann ZARCO
KTM
Q1
1m33.776
19
Hafizh SYAHRIN
KTM
Q1
1m33.869
20
Andrea IANNONE
APRILIA
Q1
1m33.960
21
Tito RABAT
DUCATI
Q1
1m34.580
Moto2
Remy Gardner’s (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) 1:36.572 in Moto2 Q2 at the Motul TT Assen sees him join a very illustrious list of Australian Grand Prix polesitters as two late flying laps puts the Kalex rider 0.110 clear of second place Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The KTM rider kept his Friday form to beat Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) to second by hundredths despite needing to put in a stunner of a save at Turn 5.
It was Vierge who looked like he would be the man to beat in Q2 after the Spaniard was able to half a second clear of the pack with a storming time, but Binder hit back to continue the upturn for KTM. But then Gardner, the man who sat nearly six tenths clear of the rest in FP3, started to find his rhythm.
The Australian’s first attempt was 0.016 faster than the South African, but he managed to pull a bit more margin out on his second run to secure the first Australian intermediate class pole since Casey Stoner did it in the 250cc class at Phillip Island in 2005.
Behind the top three, Championship leader Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) will start from P4 and he spearheads a second row that consists of Q1 graduate Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio (Beta Tools Speed Up). It’s Di Giannantonio’s second consecutive second row start after a P5 in Barcelona, and Marquez won from P6 in Catalunya…
Seventh is Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up), just behind his rookie teammate and looking to move forward, with second in the Championship Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) down in P8 and with a little more work to do than key rival Marquez. He has rookie Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) for company completing Row 3, another newcomer who bested his teammate as second Italtrans rider Andrea Locatelli starts tenth.
Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) will want more than P11 on race day, as will Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) just behind him. Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) is a similar story after the Barcelona polesitter took P13 ahead of Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo), but it’s more true of former Championship leader Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) than any as he faces a fight back from P16.
Moto2 Qualifying
Pos
Rider
Bike
Q
Time
1
Remy Gardner
KALEX
Q2
1m36.572
2
Brad Binder
KTM
Q2
1m36.682
3
Xavi Vierge
KALEX
Q2
1m36.716
4
Alex Marquez
KALEX
Q2
1m36.771
5
Sam Lowes
KALEX
Q2
1m36.855
6
Fabio Di Giannantoni
SPEED UP
Q2
1m36.979
7
Jorge Navarro
SPEED UP
Q2
1m37.076
8
Thomas Luthi
KALEX
Q2
1m37.078
9
Enea Bastianini
KALEX
Q2
1m37.084
10
Andrea Locatelli
KALEX
Q2
1m37.171
11
Luca Marini
KALEX
Q2
1m37.171
12
Marcel Schrotter
KALEX
Q2
1m37.233
13
Augusto Fernandez
KALEX
Q2
1m37.340
14
Jorge Martin
KTM
Q2
1m37.405
15
Tetsuta Nagashima
KALEX
Q2
1m37.413
16
Lorenzo Baldassarri
KALEX
Q2
1m37.456
17
Iker Lecuona
KTM
Q2
1m37.592
18
Nicolo Bulega
KALEX
Q2
1m37.604
19
Dominique Aegerter
MV AGUSTA
Q1
1m37.529
20
Somkiat Chantra
Kalex
Q1
1m37.626
21
Stefano Manzi
MV AGUSTA
Q1
1m37.789
22
Marco Bezzecchi
KTM
Q1
1m37.805
23
Jonas Folger
KALEX
Q1
1m38.063
24
Bo Bendsneyder
NTS
Q1
1m38.103
25
Jake Dixon
KTM
Q1
1m38.118
26
Simone Corsi
KALEX
Q1
1m38.121
27
Lukas Tulovic
KTM
Q1
1m38.462
28
Joe Roberts
KTM
Q1
1m38.510
29
Steven Odendaal
NTS
Q1
1m38.967
30
Xavi Cardelus
KTM
Q1
1m39.474
Moto3
Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) has brought the run of different polesitters in the opening rounds of the Moto3 season to an end, with the Italian setting a new record in qualifying at the Motul TT Assen to head the grid for Sunday’s race. He’ll be joined on the front row by Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) in second, with Mugello winner Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) taking third and just 0.013 in further arrears.
It was a frantic, manic Moto3 Q2 and Toba sat atop the timesheets before the final flyer came in from Antonelli, but it’s nevertheless a good start down the path to redemption for the Japanese rider after a heartbreaking crash on the final lap in Barcelona that saw him slide out the lead. And the last time he was on the front row, he won the race…and all three men on the front row have the best chance to become the first repeat winner of the year.
Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was fourth fastest and is one of the men best-placed to try and keep the record-breaking run of different winners going, joined on Row 2 by rookie duo Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia), both of whom are also looking for their first Grand Prix wins.
Friday’s fastest Jakub Kornfeil (Redox PrüstelGP) heads the third row, another to have not yet taken to the top step, but he’s in serious company as the men first and second in the standings line up alongside him. Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) is P8 after coming through Q1 and the man he’s chasing, Championship leader Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), was just 0.014 off him in ninth.
Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) was tenth quickest but has a six-place grid penalty to serve, so it’s Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) who starts in P10, with rookie Raul Fernandez (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) and Catalan GP winner – and Q1 graduate – Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) joining him on the fourth row.
It’s already a record-breaking run in the lightweight class with 12 different winners in a row. Antonelli is now a repeat polesitter, can he become the first repeat winner?
Tougher penalties for illegal use of mobile phones while driving will be discussed at a three-day Driver Distraction National Summit in Brisbane from Monday (1 July 2019).
If penalties are increased, there should be no complaints from motorcyclists.
Vulnerable motorcycle and scooter riders have long called for tougher penalties for distracted drivers.
They also have a unique perspective to see inside vehicle cabins where they have witnessed drivers not only talking on their phones, but updating their social media profiles and even taking selfies.
Summit crackdown
All state and territory governments will attend the summit which will also investigate a current NSW trial of roadside cameras that catch drivers on their phones.
Last September, NSW increased the penalty for illegally using a mobile phone while driving from four to five demerit points.
Now Queensland is believed to be considering increasing the penalty from $391 to $1000 and loss of licence for a second offence as in Canada.
“The growth of in-car displays is also a concern as they offer additional distraction to drivers in a road and traffic environment which is becoming busier and increasingly unforgiving,” he says.
Mobile phone penalties vary across the nation:
Fines around the world
Fines vary around the world from no fine in many Asian countries to thousands of dollars and licence suspensions in Canada.
New Zealand has an $80 fine which matches their low fines for speeding. Consequently 3.5% of Kiwi drivers use their phone while driving compared with about 1.5% in Australia.
Almost half (24) of American states have no hand-held phone ban. Some states only issue fines if the driver is in a school zone or committing some other traffic offence such as speeding. Arizona and Montana even allow drivers to text!
The toughest measures in the USA are in California. The state has a $US150 fine (about $A205) for the first offence and more than $US250 (about $A345) for a second violation and one point.
Canada has a distracted driving offence which attracts a $1000 fine and three demerit points. A second conviction could mean a fine of up to $2000 and a seven-day licence suspension. A third offence could mean a fine of up to $3000 and a 30-day suspension.
Fines in Europe vary from less than €50 (about $80) and one point in eastern Europe to €420 (about $A675) in the Netherlands and up to six points in the UK.
Famous seat manufacturer Corbin has introduced a new seat to soften the hard ride of the new Royal EnfieldInterceptor 650.
If the mark of a successful model is the number of aftermarket accessory companies that provide premium parts, Royal Enfield is on a winner with the new Interceptor and Continental GT 650.
Interceptor 650
Continental GT 650
Swedish premium suspension company Ohlins was the first with full suspension upgrades for the twins.
The FSK145 fork springs cost $A399 and the RE911 twin shocks are $A1129 or $A949 for the RE912.
They will be followed by full suspension for the 400cc Himalayan adventurer. Prices are expected to be $A399 for the FSK 144 forks and $A1395 for the RE 907 shocks.
American engine giant S&S Cycle has followed up with 750cc and 865cc big-bore kits, mufflers and various other parts for the twins. (See end of article for a full price list.)
Corbin seat
Now Corbin has joined the parts rush with a $US497Gunfighter & Lady seat.
It is made with Comfort Cell foam and accepts an adjustable removable passenger backrest ($US257).
A simple setscrew on the rear of the backrest sets the angle without removing it from the seat. Support hardware is built inside the seat to keep a clean look without external brackets.
There is also a small, plastic four-litre top box ($US393) available for the backrest to store wets, gloves, water, maps, etc.
S&S parts
Here is the full list of S&S performance parts for the new Royal twins.
1. Aged 20 years and 70 days, Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) takes the record of the youngest ever rider to have back-to-back pole positions in the premier class, beating the record from of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) who had consecutive poles in Silverstone and Misano back in 2013 at the age of 20 years and 210 days.
“I’m satisfied. We worked pretty hard during the whole weekend, especially FP3. We worked a bit more for the race, more than one lap, so it means we have quite a good setup. The important thing for tomorrow is to have a clean, normal race that I can push from the first lap until the end. I’m going to try my best, to be strong as always, let’s see what we can achieve.
However, that changed on Saturday afternoon under glorious clear blue skies in the Netherlands as the blue machines shone to secure P3 and P5 respectively. Rins has had to battle through from lowly grid slots at every race this season, with the only anomaly coming at the French GP with a P10 finish. At the other six rounds, Rins’ Sunday race craft has been nothing short of superb but now, starting from Row 1 after progressing from Q1, the Spaniard gives himself a fantastic chance to go one better than he did in Assen last season.
Binder and Vierge would hold onto a front row start, the South African earning his first front row start since Aragon last season. Championship leader Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) will start from P4 in Assen, he spearheads a second row that consists of Q1 graduate Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio (Beta Tools Speed Up) – P5 and P6 respectively for the Brit and Spaniard, this is Di Giannantonio’s second consecutive second row start after a P5 in Barcelona.
It started as a publicity stunt. In 2012, to promote Piaggio’s Ape Cross Country, the Italian scooter firm hatched a cheeky plan: Take its three-wheeled runabout, add a smattering of go-fast kit, and establish a new spec racing series. The Piaggio Ape Racing Championship was born.
