Italian wheelmaker Marchesini has made some of the most amazing motorcycle wheels in the past. Roberto Marchesini, the founder of the company, has passed away. He died on September 30, 2020, after a long illness.
Marchesini was a renowned magnesium master, and he was seen as second to none. He got his start as a designer of Campagnolo wheels. Later he founded his own company as a magnesium and aluminum foundry. From there he designed high-performance motorcycle wheels. Brembo bought the company in 2000 and has owned it since then.
Marchesini was a man who truly loved what he did. He once drove all night to get a set of wheels to Max Biaggi in time for a race. GPOne has a great story about it.
He is survived by his wife and daughters, and he will be missed by so many different people in and out of the industry. His impact will be felt for years and years to come.
Segway keeps adding to its electric moped lineup. Now it has the C80 eMoped. The moped came after a successful IndieGoGo campaign. The campaign reached 2,120 percent of its fundraising goal.
The C80 will do 80 kilometers per charge, which means it will do 50 miles. The scooter will do 20 mph as a top speed, and that means it’s an urban commuting machine. The bike weighs just 121 pounds, so it will be easy to maneuver. The C80 also gets some smartphone connectivity. The bike also has some pedals in addition to the 24 Ah battery and the electric motor.
The scooter also has the RideyGo! intelligent system. This means the scooter will automatically lock when you leave it somewhere. It will lock after three seconds. This is a smart anti-theft system.
The pre-order reduced price for a single C80 is $1,899. You can buy more than one at once, too, and save even more money. There are also accessories you can add including a detachable front basket, detachable backrest, and a detachable child front seat. It also has smart seat detection, auto-lock mode, and auto cruise.
“Not just to separate (from the paddock) but because I like to live like that. Every rider came from that situation. Normally if you’re an Italian rider, you come from pocket bike racing and mini-cross and normally you live in a camping in a small van with all the other riders and family. This is the normal situation. After, when you come to the World Championship, everything changes, especially in MotoGP™. But I love to live in that way, it’s not about going home, *then* I want to be relaxed, living in a different way, it’s what I would like to do every day. I love amateur Motocross racing. Because of the way you prepare the track, the way you live during the two days, it’s completely different. I came from Motocross, it was my first sport. So I never forget that.”
Seventh in Mantova MX2 moto two a career-best for Malkiewicz
Section: Competition
Teenager shows signs of progress with Team Honda 114 Motorsports.
Image: Supplied.
A seventh-place finish in moto two at Mantova 2 came as a career-best for MX2 World Championship newcomer Bailey Malkiewicz, the Australian impressing as he climbs the results order in Europe.
The Team Honda 114 Motorsports rider was 19th in the opening moto after an early crash, but managed to deliver a top 10 result later that afternoon on his way to 13th position overall.
“My qualifying wasn’t really what we wanted,” 18-year-old Malkiewicz recalled after qualifying in 18th position. “I was feeling good on the bike, but I couldn’t find a good lap to give us a good gate pick for the race.
“In the first race I had an okay start, but collided with another rider on the first lap and went down so I had to charge from last to 19th at the finish. I had an awesome start in race two and it was really nice to be up the front for once with a clear track. Seventh in the second moto was really good and I’m super-happy about that.”
Honda Off-Road Racing manager Gordon Crockard was impressed with what he saw from Malkiewicz at the Italian venue: “The standout performance for young Bailey Malkiewicz was superb, being seventh in race two. This on the back of a ride through the pack in the first race to score a 19th.”
The weekend wasn’t such a fortunate one for teammate and countryman Nathan Crawford, exiting the opening moto with a badly swollen knee injury, however the 114 Motorsports team has indicated that he could return as soon as this Sunday with the final stop of the Mantova triple-header.
It was Garness who was starting from pole position as Saturday’s rain-soaked Race 1 got underway. Brown quickly took the lead on the first lap, determined to get ahead of his championship rival. But it was a charging Harrison Mackay who carved his way through the field, diving through on both Garness and Brown to take the lead lap 2. Mackay proceeded to break away at the front leaving an enthralling 6 rider battle for 2nd place between Brown, Garness, Clayton Edmunds, Mason Foster, Alfie Davidson, and Hollie Harris. Garness and Brown continued to swap positions at the front of the group, making lunges, banging bars, and showing how much each wanted the championship. The 6-rider battle then became 4 as Alfie Davidson crashed out, and Harris dropped off the back of the group. Mackay proceeded to win the race by 4 seconds, and it was Brown who extended his championship lead by 19 points taking 2nd place ahead of Garness, Foster, Edmunds, and Harris.
Optimism essential as Penrite Honda looks ahead to 2021
Section: Competition
Focus now on next year following motocross and supercross cancellations.
Image: Foremost Media.
Penrite Honda Racing team owner Yarrive Konsky is remaining optimistic that the sport can bounce back domestically in 2021 after this year’s Australian motocross and supercross championships were both cancelled due to the impact of coronavirus.
Ongoing restrictions including the closure of state borders has forced the cancellation of both national championships in 2020, severely compromising the business model of professional race teams in Australia that commercially rely on competing.
However, Konsky has been able to weather the storm from the team’s Victorian headquarters, mindful that a positive frame of mind will be important in a bid to reset and move forward once the series return in the new year. Both Brett Metcalfe and Luke Clout have been racing in their respective states during recent months.
“Some sports have been affected more than others,” Konsky stated. “The impacts on sport and active living have been transformative, complex and highly uneven. Motorcycle sport in Victoria has been negatively impacted and, as a result, the national championships have been affected, which is disappointing.
“I need to trust our governing bodies and respectively the decisions they are having to make as they keep up to date on the latest news surrounding COVID-19. It’s disheartening for motocross and supercross teams and competitors, but it’s no-ones fault.
“I am concerned about the physiological and psychological affects on sports people, young and old – I want to encourage everyone to use this time to better prepare for when we return. We have raced in every event possible in every state we have riders, our factory riders and Ride Red riders have not stopped competing and we won’t stop competing in permitted events.
“I’m optimistic about the sport’s future and return to national competition. State and federal government are supporting amateur and professional sports and the millions of dollars they are providing will be the foundation that spearheads our improved return to competition.”
With Motorcycling Australia taking control of the outdoors following Williams Event Management’s departure, Konsky is expecting progression to be evident: “Whilst it’s been a challenging season to navigate, I am confident and I remain positive that we will return to a higher level of competition with more exposure than ever before.”
In addition to operating the Australian factory Honda team, Konsky has also been feverishly preparing for a second season in the US-based Monster Energy Supercross championship, where it’s understood he is looking to expand from being a 250SX West operation to campaigning the full season in 450SX.
Return from injury for Gibbs in Rockhampton this weekend
Section: Competition
Broken wrist healed for CDR Yamaha Monster Energy contender.
Image: Foremost Media.
CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team’s Kirk Gibbs will return to competition in Rockhampton’s King of Capricorn event after breaking his wrist while training in July.
After winning the New Zealand championship with Altherm JCR Yamaha, Gibbs was injured in Queensland and spent an extended period off the bike, but is now fit to line-up this weekend.
“2020 has been a strange year for everyone and to think this will be my first race of the year when its usually the end of our season is odd,” Gibbs explained. “It was disappointing that the national season was delayed and then my injury prior to the state races starting just compounded my frustration.
“I have missed racing and am so keen to get back on track and get some racing in. It’s been hard work watching all the Queensland-based riders racing up here and not being a part of it, as we have been fortunate to keep racing when other states couldn’t.
“It’s great that Rockhampton have been able to organise this event and it’s given me something to work towards as I regain full speed and fitness. The $20K in prizemoney also means there is a bit on the line and things will be intense on the track, so I can’t wait.”
The King of Capricorn is taking place this weekend, 3-4 October, and includes a wide range of races catering for everyone from juniors through to professionals. The Six Mile circuit is a popular one with the riders and the local community, plus with $20,000 prize money on offer, it will also be one of the biggest events of the season domestically.
“We are happy to support Kirk at this event and will ensure he is in good hands,” said CDR Yamaha Monster Energy’s Craig Dack. “With the team based in Victoria, we are unable to attend due to the border restrictions, but we are desperate to do what we can to get our riders on track and races events like this where the state regulations allow.”
Renaux promoted into Yamaha Factory MX2 team with Geerts
Section: Competition
Exciting young prospects to remain on YZ250Fs through 2022 season.
Image: Supplied.
French talent Maxime Renaux has been promoted into the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team alongside Jago Geerts from next year, both signing through the 2022 season.
Renaux, 20, has long been a Yamaha rider, winning the 125cc Junior World Championship in 2015 and scoring multiple EMX125 victories in 2015.
His first full season in MX2 was last year, finishing seventh in the championship with a podium at Imola as part of the SM Action M.C. Migliori Yamaha organisation that he is currently riding for.
Following 10 rounds in 2020, Renaux sits third in the MX2 standings, capturing a breakout world championship race and overall round win at Faenza in Italy last month. He’s had four podiums overall.
“I’m really looking forward to moving up to the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory team for 2021 and 2022,” said Renaux, who replaces Ben Watson. “It will be a new beginning for me and I’m ready to fight for the title during those next years.
“The team looks really motivated and so am I. I am already really looking forward to starting our winter program and to start testing and training ahead of 2021.”
Geerts made his MX2 debut with the team back in 2018, the 20-year-old Belgian going on to finish third in the world championship in 2019.
This year Geerts won his first-career grand prix at the season-opening British GP, also going on to stand atop the podium at two of the Latvian rounds. He has a total of 13-career podiums.
“I’m really happy to sign with Yamaha for another two years,” commented Geerts. “The last three years were really nice and it’s really cool I have extended my contract.
“Everything works nicely within our team and we have had some really good races this year. I’m really happy with my bike, the Yamaha YZ250FM, so it’s good for me to stay with Yamaha for another two-years.”
A week ago we were surprised to learn Harley-Davidson was pulling out of India after more than a decade producing and selling its products there. Today, it’s interesting to learn that Triumph Motorcycles is expecting its sales to grow around 15 to 20 per cent this fiscal year in India, and is gearing up to roll out a pre-owned vehicle program in the country by next month. That’s according to a senior company official quoted here in the Hindustan Times online.
Triumph assembles most of its bikes in its UK and Thailand factories, but has also been producing the lion’s share of its models for the Indian market in a factory it brought online in Manesar in 2017.
In 1987 half of all Harley-Davidson riders were under the age of 35. By the year 2000, that number was closer to 15%. Today though? Oof… The average customer today is 48 years old and the brand no longer even bothers reporting the age demographics of buyers anymore. There has always been a disconnect between Harley-Davidson and the youth of today, and they have recently been scrambling to rebuild that bridge.
The LiveWire was styled to appeal much more to younger customers, but with a $30,000 price tag on a motorcycle that doesn’t even brap it’s no surprise younger people still arent getting onto them. Keep in mind, you can get a Tesla Model 3 for $35,000 (just $5000 more) and it comes with twice the wheels, batteries, features, and safety.
With buzzwords like “revival” and “reimagination” being associated with the brand as of late, it’s no surprise to me that this concept bike I’m about to share with you is called, quite literally, the “Harley-Davidson Revival”.
I appreciate what Harley has been doing as of late but it kind of reminds me of a stepdad sitting down to play games with me even though he has no idea what he’s doing and indirectly makes the experience worse for everyone.
Although this is just an exercise in design, I’m trying to relate it to the current situation of the H-D company as it would fit right in with their recent brand goals.
It’s a difficult predicament, as the more they pander to younger audiences, the less that the die-hard Harley boomers are going to be satisfied.
The bike itself looks beautiful though, very interesting and futuristic; definitely, something that will resonate with the younger crowd in my eyes (hi, yes, I’m younger crowd).
Tanner Van De Veer, a product designer and recent graduate from the University of Cincinnati College of DAAP cooked up this design and featured a business model that includes a subscription-based battery replacement program aimed at negating the need for charging.
Concepts come and go, but it’s a good start to get an idea of the vision of a brand and where they would like to head. I still give Tanner props as the design is very sleek and exotic. That headlight assembly is just beautiful and screams “New Harley-Davidson”.
