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So, to keep up with everything that is going on in Malaysia, why not tune in to our live After the Flag show? Starting at 09:30 GMT and finishing at 11:00 GMT, Matt Birt and Neil Morrison will offer their expert analysis, with Simon Crafar joining them live from the Sepang International Circuit.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
It’s almost time for the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup to get in gear for 2019 and the first port of call before competition begins is testing, with riders ready for two days of track action at Sepang International Circuit. That’s on the 9th and 10th of February as the returners come face to face with their 14 new rookie rivals, with reserve rider Shota Kiuchi and Malaysian Harith Zamri also in attendance. Danial Sharil, injured in a crash at the end of last season, won’t be back on track just yet, but the Malaysian is expected to return to the IATC mid-season.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
Teenage motorcycle racing star Tom Toparis has left no stone unturned in his preparation for the opening round of the 2019 Supersport World Championship at Phillip Island’s Yamaha Finance round from February 22-24.
After a “warm-up” wildcard in the 2018 Phillip Island WorldSSP round when he finished in 15th position, the 18-year-old from Goulburn (NSW) believes he now has all the key elements in place to “give it a red-hot go” in 2019.
“I didn’t really have a major goal ahead of the 2018 event,” said Toparis, who’s the current Aussie supersport No.2. “In 2019, armed with my new Yamaha, I am certainly aiming at scoring at least a point, or even points, and I want to get my lap times down into the 1:34 bracket.”
Toparis has switched from Kawasaki to Yamaha machinery in 2019 and, as well as the YZF-R6 he’ll be riding in the Aussie title, a bespoke machine is being prepared for his one-off ride in the 18-lap WorldSSP race on February 24.
“I’ll be racing with the Landbridge Transport team, and they are the same outfit that ran Aiden Wagner and Mitch Levy in WorldSSP,” said Toparis, who’s an apprentice builder.
“Sam Costanzo is putting together the R6, and I’m confident that with the work we’re putting in with the suspension, engine and data logging, we won’t be at too much of a disadvantage compared to the internationals.
“We’ve also got a great data technician, Adrian Monti, joining us so that’s going to be a great help. That all said, I also want some familiarity with the WorldSSP machine: I don’t want it to feel much different to my local bike, which I am already very comfortable on.”
Toparis will ride his WorldSSP Yamaha at the official two-day test at Phillip Island on February 18-19. There he’ll be joined by the championship top brass such as 2018 Phillip Island winner Lucas Mahias, Jules Cluzel, Randy Krummenacher, Federico Caricasulo and Raffaele de Rosa, as well as new faces such as Hector Barbera and Isaac Vinales.
“I really love the thrill and challenge of world championship competition,” continued Toparis, who also has Moto3 wildcards to his name. “It helps me to become more race-hardened, and Phillip Island is also one of my best circuits – so why not try and take advantage of that.”
Like fellow Goulburn native Troy Herfoss in WorldSBK, Toparis will be the only Aussie competing in WorldSSP – and he’ll also start his 2019 domestic supersport campaign at Phillip Island as well.
With 13 races across the race weekend including the Australian supports, the schedule launches a new and expanded WorldSBK formula: two 22-lap races at 3:00pm on Saturday and Sunday, and a 10-lap no-holds-barred sprint at midday on Sunday. World Supersport races Sunday in an 18-lap showdown, with Australian Superbike, Supersport and Production 300 completing the bill with races across Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets now on sale A three-day general admission pass with FREE Paddock access for World Superbikes is just $120*, secured in advance, or $230* when you add on-circuit camping to your purchase.
For all ticket and racing information, visit www.worldsbk.com.au or Ticketek.
Source: MCNews.com.au
Factory Ducati rider forms strong base on day one of testing.
Image: Supplied.
Andrea Dovizioso has praised Mission Winnow Ducati Team’s Michele Pirro for his assistance in developing the Desmosedici GP19 throughout the off-season, which saw the regular test pilot sample a number of new components.
The Italian put Pirro’s work to use yesterday on day one of Sepang’s official three-day MotoGP test, forming a strong base that shows signs of promise.
Dovizioso was eighth fastest in the mixed weather conditions, laying down a best-lap of 2m0.197s, positioning himself 0.576s off pace-setter and reigning world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).
“Today has been really positive because we found the track in good conditions already and the weather stayed dry,” said Dovizioso. “We made some comparisons but we haven’t found substantial differences yet so we need to make more evaluations in the following days.
“We have a really good base, and the work done by Michele Pirro is always helpful to this end, because he can try some components beforehand, saving us precious time. Also, I felt great physically, so I’m pretty happy overall.”
Testing resumes today at the Malaysian circuit, where the MotoGP World Championship contingent will continue to finalise its latest developments for the season ahead.
Source: CycleOnline.com.au
Victorian round to serve as qualifier for junior world championship team.
Image: Foremost Media.
Williams Event Management, the promoter of the Pirelli MX Nationals, will launch the bLU cRU 2-Stroke Amateur Nationals this weekend at Traralgon in Victoria.
The amateur series is set to play out over three rounds, consisting of junior and senior two-stroke categories designed to boost and showcase the next generation of Australian motocross racers.
Traralgon’s opener will also serve as a qualifier for Team Australia’s 2019 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship squad, attracting over 500 riders and crew for Sunday’s outing.
“It’s a great feeling to be heading back to the Latrobe Valley where 23 years ago we started our event management business,” said WEM director Kevin Williams.
“The Latrobe City Council has played a huge part in helping this significant sporting event come together smoothly, and we are also excited to be working with a great local club in the Traralgon Motorcycle Club. Their support and assistance in delivering this event has been tremendous.”
Round two will take place at the popular Coolum circuit in Queensland on 3 March before finishing up at Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory on 27 April.
Source: MotoOnline.com.au
Frenchman still progressing in transition to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Image: Supplied.
Johann Zarco has discovered a direction with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16 following the opening day of the MotoGP testing at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.
The Frenchman was able to put two days of private testing at the venue to do good use earlier this week, confirming the set-up that he wants to pursue in the next two days of the official grand prix test.
Zarco, still in the early stages of his transition to the Austrian manufacturer, completed the opening day 20th on the timesheets, mentioning his feeling on the RC16 had dramatically improved.
“This morning I had a nice feeling and things were coming easy because we’d had two days of private testing,” Zarco explained. “We confirmed things on the bike and confirmed feelings instead of making big changes.
“It is a ‘long’ work and that’s why there is not big improvements all the time but compared to November when I started I had much more control and I can give clearer information. I’m positive because I know where we want to go. I trust the bike more and more.”
The number five returns to the circuit today for day two of three in the Malaysian test. The opening day was topped by reigning world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), followed by Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP).
Source: CycleOnline.com.au
Australian contender 11th on the timesheets in Malaysia.
Image: Supplied.
Jack Miller has overcome a crash on the opening day of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship test at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.
The Pramac Racing rider wound up 11th on the timesheets aboard his Ducati Desmosedici GP19, completing 51 laps to finish seven tenths behind pace-setter Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).
While the crash was minor, it forced the Australian contender to switch motorcycles for the remainder of the day, although he’s relatively satisfied with the progress made.
“I trained a lot during the winter break but riding a MotoGP bike in conditions like the ones we found today is something else,” Miller explained. “The feeling is good and I think the first day of testing was positive. It’s a shame about the small crash – without any particular consequences – that forced me to change bike. All things considered, I’m satisfied.”
The Queenslander will return to the Malaysian circuit today for day two of the three-day test, where he’ll endeavour to climb up in the times while developing the GP19 machine.
Source: CycleOnline.com.au
Rins and Vinales complete the top three as Miller winds up 11th.
Image: Supplied.
Despite still suffering the effects of surgery on his left shoulder during the winter break, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has topped the timesheets on day one at the Sepang MotoGP test with a 1m59.621s time, 0.259s faster than Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in second and 0.316s quicker than third place Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP).
Marquez completed 29 laps on day one before stopping in the early afternoon to give his left shoulder a rest ahead of the next two days, with the reigning world champion heading for more physio in the afternoon.
Teammate Jorge Lorenzo sits out the test due to injury, but there were three Hondas in the top ten as Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), fastest in Jerez, took seventh and Stefan Bradl (Honda Test Team) ended day one in P9, just under six tenths off Marquez.
LCR Honda Castrol rider Cal Crutchlow, meanwhile, returned from his ankle injury sustained at Phillip Island with a solid 51 laps on Wednesday, ending his first time back on a bike in P14 with a 2m0.681s.
Alex Rins was one of the big headlines of the day, able to put in a substantial 61 laps on board his 2019 GSX-RR and was fastest for some time until deposed by Marquez. He remained second after his earlier fast lap, however, and was the lead Hamamatsu machine by quite a stretch. Rookie teammate Joan Mir ended the day in P23, just behind veteran French test rider Sylvain Guintoli.
There were positive signs from Yamaha on the timesheets. Maverick Vinales ended the day in P3 after 63 laps with a best of 1m59.937s, with teammate Valentino Rossi in P6 after 56 laps and just over a tenth off Vinales. The Iwata marque are focusing on final decisions for their 2019 engine, the electronics and some chassis elements – and say comparing their times to competitors’ is a key point of interest after an intense winter of work.
New team on the block Petronas Yamaha SRT, meanwhile, had Franco Morbidelli just outside the top ten in P12 after 60 laps – only eight tenths off the top – with rookie teammate Fabio Quartararo a further half a second in arrears in P18 on tight timesheets.
Just behind Vinales, meanwhile, was the first of the Borgo Panigale machines – but it was Reale Avintia Racing’s Tito Rabat who took that honour. Less than half a tenth off Vinales and the last man under the two-minute barrier, the Spaniard impressed on his first day back on a MotoGP machine at fuller strength, having missed much of the latter part of last season following his crash at Silverstone.
Just behind him came the first of the Mission Winnow Ducati machines in the form of new arrival Danilo Petrucci, with the Italian just 0.003s ahead of Rossi after 54 laps. 2017 and 2018 runner up Andrea Dovizioso, meanwhile, ended day one of 2019 in P8 with a 2m0.197s.
Jack Miller wasn’t far off the second factory machine despite a small crash either, with the Aussie taking P11 – three tenths off ‘DesmoDovi’ and lead Alma Pramac Racing machine. Rookie teammate Francesco Bagnaia – reigning Moto2 Champion – made for close company too, impressing in P15 as the fastest debutant.
Completing the top 10 was an impressive day’s work for Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who put in a fitting 44 laps with a best of 2m00.313s despite a crash at the end. The Spaniard took the honours of lead Austrian machine by sixth tenths, although the second KTM on the timesheets was an equally stunning performance: rookie Miguel Oliveira of Red Bull KTM Tech 3, despite a brief technical issue.
The Portuguese rider finished the day in P16 and only just off fastest newcomer Bagnaia, making a big impression on day one after more difficult tests at Valencia and Jerez. Experienced test rider Mika Kallio was in P19, just ahead of Espargaro’s new teammate Johann Zarco as the Frenchman continued his adaptation in P20.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was the fastest Noale machine in P13 and said the 2019 bike is a definite improvement, with the Spaniard putting in 55 laps to end the first day of the season just ahead of Crutchlow. New teammate Andrea Iannone was down in P21 and suffered a crash, ending the day 1.6 seconds off Marquez as he continues to get used to his new machinery.
Source: CycleOnline.com.au
One of the largest known collections of MV Agusta motorcycles will go up for auction on Saturday (February 9, 2019), including nearly every production model since 1945.
Almost 100 motorcycles and even scooters from an unnamed Italian family will go under the hammer at the Retromobile Show in Paris.
Retromobile says the bikes, which include production models, factory prototypes and racers, could sell for as little as €3000 (about $A4800) to much as €250,000 ($400,000).
Many of the bikes were built by MV legendary Agusta racing manager Arturo Magni.
The family collection was started by the current owner’s uncle.
He worked in the family’s MV Agusta garage and raced the bikes in the Giro d’Italia and the Milan-Tarento races.
He bought the bikes when they were worth very little and had to rent a disused factory near Monaco to store the collection.
Most of the bikes were restored by ex-MV Agusta mechanics with no thought to the cost.
All are in running condition and have certificates of conformity issued by the MV Agusta museum.
If you’re interested in something a little closer to home, check out this Shannons auction in March including several classic bikes with no reserve.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
(Sponsored tech post)
Every day, new technology is introduced to motorcycle gadgets to improve the riding experience and make it safer. More and more of the modern bikes have heated seats/grips, tire pressure monitors, rearview cameras, and more. Today, you can find some high tech accessories that will help you deal with discomfort, inconvenience, and weather. Even if you prefer the traditional route, there are several high tech gadgets that can elevate your experience. Below are some of the high-tech gadgets you can get to pimp up your ride.
1 Helmet Sound System
If you ride your bike regularly or for long distances, you’re likely to feel dull at times. Well, this can change with a helmet sound system which lets you listen to music and communicate. You can pick phone calls, connect with other riders via intercom, and follow GPS navigation using the helmet audio systems. When buying this gadget, look out for multi-device capability, sound quality, durability, battery life, and volume controls.
2 Motorcycle GPS Navigator
It’s never an option to use your smartphone for navigation while riding a bike unless you’re willing to stop and get off the road every time. That’s why you need a motorcycle GPS unit. A motorcycle GPS makes it easy for you to navigate while you focus on the road. In addition, the system offers extra features such as hands-free calling, streaming music, and alerts.
3 Rearview Camera
A rearview camera helps you to easily see what’s behind you, adding safety and convenience to your ride. Rearview cameras for motorcycles give you a rear vision that your rear mirrors can’t. The mini camera is usually placed on the bumper of your bike, giving you a perfect view of your rear. When buying a review camera, look out for key features like waterproof, night vision, and viewable angle.
4 Motorcycle Jacket Airbag
The motorcycle jacket airbag works in a more or less similar manner as the airbags in a car. When the system deploys the airbag, the air cushion inflates to protect the most vulnerable body parts such as shoulders, elbows, and the spine. You can use an airbag vest which can also serve as a reflective vest or get an airbag jacket. Modern airbags strike a balance between comfort, safety, and good looks.
5 Brake Free Helmet Light
The normal brake lights on your motorcycle work just fine. However, they are mounted low on your motorbike and are not easily noticeable in traffic. Brake Free Helmet Light mounts a smart brake light on the back of your helmet, making it easier for motorists to see you. It detects when you’re slowing down and responds accordingly to regular braking, engine braking, and emergency braking. It attaches to almost any helmet using a magnetic mount and uses LED lights that make it visible both day and night. It is a smart brake because it needs no wired installation or connected apps. The gadget is weather resistant and stays lit all the time, only becoming brighter when you brake.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com