MotoGP riders reflect on opening day at Brno

2020 MotoGP Round Three – Brno

Monster Energy Grand Prix České Republiky


Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) remains the man to beat after Day 1 of the Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky, setting the timesheets alive in the afternoon to end Friday fastest. It was far from lonely at the top, however, as his teammate Franco Morbidelli was just 0.007 behind to go P2 overall.

The top three was completed by another Independent Team runner in the form of Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), the Portugese rider putting KTM within half a tenth of the top, with Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) the fastest Ducati to make it a 1-2-3-4 for Independent Teams – and all four were within a tenth.

Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) crashed in FP1 and has been declared unfit. The Italian headed to the medical centre and then Brno University hospital for check ups on his right knee and has been diagnosed with a fracture at the top of his tibia.


Fabio Quartararo – P1

“I had a really good feeling with the bike today, but we had an issue with tyre consistency, which we need to find a better setting for. We have the speed, so that is good for tomorrow and we just need to make sure that we choose well which tyre we use Sunday in the race. At the end of the second session I was trying to find a way to ride differently to improve how the tyre feels and it worked and we finished quickest. Now we need to think about how we can improve this further, check the data and make sure that we are as prepared as we can be for qualifying tomorrow and then also Sunday’s race.”

Fabio Quartararo
Franco Morbidelli – P2

“We had two great sessions today and I felt like we have carried on where we left off in Jerez, which is very positive. In FP2 we used the new soft tyre and put in a really good lap on it, which I’m really happy about. There are some things we need to understand, especially which tyre to use in the race, because with the changing track conditions it’s not clear what the best option is at the moment. I’m really happy with this first day here though and I’m looking to work with the team tonight to make sure we’re getting the best performance out of everything again tomorrow.”

Franco Morbidelli
Miguel Oliveira- P3

“Obviously, I feel comfortable. The last race in Jerez really gave us a clearer idea about the direction to take with the setting of the bike, the speed and just the time attack. This afternoon, we managed to do a great job. We had to go through all the tyres and see which one was working better. We had a decent pace and, in the end, everything worked out well. Being third overall of today feels truly good.”

Miguel Oliveira
Johann Zarco – P4

“Happy about Friday at Czech Republic. I know the bike can have a good advantage here with the power, but in the morning, I had to take references to ride well the bike and I finished good the practice with the new tyre. Then in afternoon I continued improving because the other riders were fast. It was hot and the constancy is not still my strongest point now but something much better than Jerez. I can do with a new tyre a good lap and this is a really good improvement to get the Q2 tomorrow and a good qualifying.”

Johann Zarco
Maverick Vinales – P5

“The feeling overall is good, I‘m quite satisfied. This morning I made a mistake, because I went a little bit wide and I hit the bumps, so I crashed. I hit my right shoulder, but it seems like everything is okay, so I‘m quite happy about that. The conditions here are totally different from what we had in Jerez, it‘s a different situation, so we have to think and try to understand where and how each tyre spec is working for our bike and adjust the set-up accordingly. I‘m optimistic for the race, I think we can do a really good job. The track is very slippery and bumpy but, though I didn‘t do the perfect lap today, the feeling is there, and I feel confident. I think we understand well where we can improve, so we‘re going to work very hard this evening to make another step for tomorrow.”

Joan Mir – P6

“I’m very happy about today. I felt good with the bike straight away and I was competitive from the beginning of the day. We’re working on set-up quite a bit because the track is very slippery and also bumpy, so we need to work on electronics to make things easier and we also need to understand how best to conserve the tyres. So, we’ll continue working, and I hope I can keep this strong pace tomorrow – good qualifying will be crucial.”

Joan Mir
Aleix Espargaro – P7

“Overall, it was a better start than in Jerez, thanks in part to the layout of this track. Acceleration from low speed, where we have some difficulties, is not as important here. We tried to move forward calmly, testing a different setting in the afternoon in an attempt to find better grip. Unfortunately, the asphalt conditions are critical. I like racing here in Brno and I find it to be one of the nicest tracks on the Championship calendar, but it could definitely do with a resurfacing.”

Aleix Espargaro
Takaaki Nakagami – P9

“Today we had a great start to the day and, as you know, we were on top in FP1 which was very positive for us, the team and myself. But in FP2, the afternoon session, it was a bit of a struggle. When the temperature increases a little, the track conditions become different. We tried to work on our race pace and also a different tyre, it was a struggle but also quite good for the first day as we are still in the top 10. Of course, the FP3 session tomorrow morning will be tough, everyone gets faster and faster, but we are improving and we understand where we are losing time. So we’re very positive for tomorrow and am pretty happy with the team’s job today.”

Takaaki Nakagami
Jack Miller – P10

“The grip was quite low and the track is very bumpy. We did some change on the bike and now we are in the right direction, the feeling is positive. Everybody is going very fast, but we just had to find the right set up, I’m very confident for tomorrow.”

Jack Miller
Valentino Rossi – P12

“It‘s a difficult situation and these are difficult conditions. The track‘s lay-out is fantastic, but the asphalt here has some bumps and the grip level is low. We especially suffer from rear tyre degradation, after some laps we lose a lot of performance. I think solving that will be key for a good result on Sunday. My pace is not so bad, but unfortunately during the lap with the soft tyre I wasn‘t strong enough to stay inside the top 10, so this is a problem. We need to use tomorrow morning‘s FP3 to get a place in the top 10 and get into Q2. In MotoGP everything changes from one practice session to the other. It‘s only Friday. As always there are a lot of riders and different bikes that are very strong, but my speed is not so bad either. We have to work in some areas to further improve, but we are quite good.”

Valentino Rossi
Alex Rins – P13

“This first day has gone well. I felt pretty good in both sessions, but in FP2 I started to feel a bit more pain from my shoulder. I didn’t want to stress it so I opted for shorter runs with good laps rather than trying to put together long runs or a race simulation, that way I could manage my strength and pain. Despite the shoulder, I’m feeling good with my bike and with the track. I didn’t find the grip too bad so let’s see what I can do tomorrow, I want to move directly into Q2 so I can do one less session and have a better chance of a good grid spot.”

Danilo Petrucci – P14

“I am quite satisfied with the work done on this first day here in Brno. Compared to the two Grand Prix in Jerez, my sensations are more positive, and I am also happy with my feeling with the bike. This morning we were able to find a good rhythm immediately, but we have to improve our performance in the afternoon. We need to work on the race pace and try to fix some aspects to limit the consumption of the tyres, as they tend to wear out a lot with the high temperatures. Tomorrow morning’s FP3 will be very important, also to be able to qualify in the top ten and enter Q2 directly”.

Danilo Petrucci
Andrea Dovizioso – P15

“It was a bit of a strange day because we had to deal with particular track conditions, where the performance of the tyres tends to drop a lot. I think we will all have to work differently than usual, to try to be as consistent as possible in the race. In general, my feeling with the bike is good, it is improving each session, and I have a good feeling on braking. Today I didn’t put the soft tyre, but at the moment the setup for the race is our top priority.”

Andrea Dovizioso
Alex Marquez – P16

“Nice to be back out on the bike and at a circuit I like a lot. It was a good first day aside from the small issue in Free Practice 2, but honestly it did not hurt us too much. The grip was not perfect and there were a lot of crashes, especially in the lower classes so hopefully this improves for tomorrow. I felt really good today, but I still need to work on my one lap pace, the feeling for tomorrow is good and we are building out rhythm. Let’s see what the circuit is like and what is possible.”

Alex Marquez
Cal Crutchlow – P17

“Today went quite well and I was pleased with the work we did. FP1 went quite well and I was satisfied with the work we did there as getting comfortable back on the bike was difficult after Jerez. I had an arm pump in my right arm and then we decided in the afternoon to change the handlebar position a little bit and that didn’t really work, but then we made another change – I went back to my normal handlebars – and it seemed to work better with me in a different position on the bike. I was able to control it quite well and I felt good over the FP2 session. We didn’t take advantage of a new tyre today as I thought it was better to continue to work than put on a tyre for the fast lap, but overall I was pleased with how the day went.”

Cal Crutchlow
Tito Rabat – P18

“It was a complicated day, especially because the track had not too much grip and was very bumpy. In the morning we were at 1.3 and in the afternoon 1.2. We have good telemetry to look at, points where we can improve and tomorrow morning we’ll go full speed ahead. Having our teammate in front is a good sign because it means we have a lot of room for improvement.”

Tito Rabat
Pecco Bagnaia – P19

“Tomorrow morning I will be back in Italy. Luckily the fracture did not affect the ligaments of the knee so the recovery time will be faster. I’m really sorry because this morning the feeling with the bike was really good. My goal is to be on track for the second race in Austria. I would like to thank all the medical staff, the Clinica Mobile, Pramac team, Ducati and the VR46RidersAcademy for their great support. See you on track soon.”

Pecco Bagnaia
Bradley Smith – P20

“Today we focused on gathering some information the engineers need in terms of setup ideas. Aleix tried a few solutions and I tried some others, so now we’ll need to analyse the results in detail. I didn’t attempt any flying laps with the soft tyres. We’ll concentrate on that during FP3 tomorrow morning. The grip conditions are rather critical, which is not surprising since the asphalt is 12 years old by now, and that is a situation that should be discussed in the Safety Commission. For the tyres, the situation is complex. None of the options are perfect, but we’ll have to find the best compromise in terms of grip and duration.”

Bradley Smith
Iker Lecuona – P21

“It was a really difficult day. This track is completely new for me with the MotoGP bike and to be honest, it was never one of my favourites. Now with the KTM RC16, I need to learn a lot in just a short time. I struggled quite a lot, although I could improve my lap time this afternoon. Still, the gap to the front is too big, so I need to continue to work hard together with my team, there are some decisions to take for tomorrow and then we hope to be faster on Saturday.”

Iker Lecuona
Stefan Bradl – P22

“Today was about getting the feeling again. No matter how long you have been riding for, when you come back to a MotoGP bike after a break and you accelerate down the straight, the power always seems surprising. It has been six months since I was on this bike, so it took some time to adjust the mind to these speeds and managing everything, this is quite normal. But we are going well, and we are making improvements with each lap. I’m ready for tomorrow and looking forward to it after a positive first day – so far so good.”

Stefan Bradl

Massimo Meregalli – Yamaha Team Director

“We‘re happy to be back into action, but it‘s clear from today‘s sessions that the Brno track conditions are very different from those in Jerez two weeks ago. The asphalt here is quite bumpy and there is a lack of edge grip, which forms a challenge for us, because high corner speed is usually our forte. That said, we are making good progress, and the track conditions will also improve as more and more rubber is laid down throughout the weekend. Maverick found a solid base to work from right from the start of FP1 and feels comfortable. There is still a lot of work to do, but the first signs for him are positive. Valentino has been focusing on fixing rear tyre degradation, because the 21-lap race on Sunday will be a challenge and there are many tyre options for us to consider. We will work hard tonight to further boost our performance for tomorrow so we can have both riders in Q2.”

Davide Brivio – Suzuki Team Manager

“We did a good job. Joan had consistent pace and was also able to set fast lap times as well, so we’ll keep working with him on the settings and hope to improve even more. Alex wanted to take care of his shoulder, so we kept things calm today, but we also managed to work on settings, and he has a good feeling with the bike. We’re ready to see what tomorrow brings.”


MotoGP Day One Summary

FP1

Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was on top for much of FP1, but the glory went the way of Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) at the end of the session after a late charge put him on top. Behind him was Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) as he impressed on his return Brno after his big crash in testing last year, ending FP1 only 0.011 off the top. Pol Espargaro was therefore shuffled down to complete the top three.

Zarco impressed in P4 in his first session at Brno on a Ducati, with Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) edging out key Championship rival Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) to complete the top five. That made it five manufacturers in the top five, with only half a second covering the top 16 in FP1.

Zarco impressed in P4 in his first session at Brno on a Ducati

Viñales was an early crasher in the session as he slid out at Turn 13 – rider ok – and both Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) subsequently ran off at the same corner, pulling solid saves out the hat to stay upright through the gravel. Miller’s teammate Bagnaia was the second rider to suffer a tumble in FP1, but he was unluckier as his spill ruled him out of the rest of the weekend and maybe the Austrian GP too.

FP2

Despite the hotter temperatures, the top 14 improved in the afternoon and Quartararo reversed his Friday trend from Jerez – where he finished both first days outside the top ten – as the end of the session became a hot lap shoot out and the Frenchman came out on top.

Mir was the man leading the way when Morbidelli struck and knocked a whopping 0.936 off the fastest lap of the day, kickstarting the FP2 gold rush as a flurry of red sectors started to appear from a good few riders. Oliveira got within a few hundredths, Viñales looked threatening, and Zarco and Mir were still up at the sharp end. But with 30 seconds left on the clock for Friday, Quartararo was the only man left to cross the line – and just pipped his teammate by 0.007.

That made it another Petronas Yamaha SRT 1-2, pushing Oliveira down to a nevertheless incredible P3. Zarco impressed in fourth once again, as in FP1, with Viñales completing the top five. The number 12 had punched in a stunning first sector on his last time attack, but the lap went away from him.

Mir was sixth in FP2 and overall following the shuffle, ahead of a big leap forward for Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro as he knocked seven tenths off his morning best to end the day in P7 – and just get the better of brother Pol Espargaro. Nakagami was ninth on the combined timesheets, ahead of Miller as the Australian rounded out the top ten overall.

That leaves Binder in P11, Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) just behind him and Andrea Dovizioso down in P15. They’ll certainly be looking for more in FP3, although the time attacks didn’t come from everyone on Friday, so the margin could well be there…

Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) had the sole incident in FP2, the Spanish rookie seemingly suffering a technical problem and pulling over early in the session before scootering back to the pits.


MotoGP Friday Combined Times

Pos Rider Bike TIme/Gap
1 F.Quartararo YAMAHA 1m56.502
2 F.Morbidelli YAMAHA +0.007
3 M.Oliveira KTM +0.048
4 J.Zarco DUCATI +0.081
5 M.Viñales YAMAHA +0.166
6 J.Mir SUZUKI +0.374
7 A.Espargaro APRILIA +0.539
8 P.Espargaro KTM +0.557
9 T.Nakagami HONDA +0.571
10 J.Miller DUCATI +0.607
11 B.Binder KTM +0.777
12 V.Rossi YAMAHA +0.788
13 A.Rins SUZUKI +0.852
14 D.Petrucci DUCATI +1.118
15 A.Dovizioso DUCATI +1.130
16 A.Marquez HONDA +1.186
17 C.Crutchlow HONDA +1.251
18 T.Rabat DUCATI +1.275
19 F.Bagnaia DUCATI +1.337
20 B.Smith APRILIA +1.659
21 I.Lecuona KTM +1.876
22 S.Bradl HONDA +1.922

Moto2

Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) heads the combined timesheets on Friday at the Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky, the Brit’s FP1 time keeping him ahead of the game despite an Italian invasion in FP2. In the afternoon, Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) and Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) moved up to complete the top three overall by way of P1 and P3 – split by Lowes.

FP1

Lowes went fastest in the morning, ultimately by over three tenths ahead of a resurgent Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing) in P2. The American had led the way heading into the latter part of FP1 before seeing himself pushed down to second. Championship leader Tetsuta Nagashima (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completed the top three, less than a tenth off Roberts’ best, ahead of Augusto Fernandez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) as he got back at the sharp end in P4. Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) rounded out the fastest five in the morning.

Kasma Daniel (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) was the only crasher in FP1, the Malaysian taking two tumbles but rider ok.

FP2

Jerez winner Bastianini got the better of Lowes in the afternoon, although the Brit ended FP2 second quickest overall. Marini leaped up the timesheets to third, ahead of a huge improvement from Jorge Navarro (MB Conveyors Speed Up) as he moved into fourth in the session. Meanwhile, Roberts was consistent – ending FP2 in fifth and with a similar laptime.

Simone Corsi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) was an early faller, and FP2 didn’t start well for Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as the Spaniard crashed at Turn 11 with 10 minutes gone. Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) later went down at Turn 10, and Nagashima was the next faller after a strong FP1, the Japanese rider crashing at Turn 13. Finally, Aron Canet (Openbank Aspar Team Moto2) took a tumble at Turn 5 after a tougher day for the Moto2 rookie in Czechia.

By the end of play though, it’s Lowes leading Bastianini and Marini, with Roberts holding onto fourth from his FP1 laptime. Navarro shuffles into fifth overall, ahead of Nagashima. Fabio Di Giannantonio (MB Conveyors Speed Up) showed some good speed to take seventh overall, ahead of Bezzecchi.

Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) was ninth, with Stefano Manzi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) completing the top ten.

Fernandez and Schrötter are P11 and P12 by way of their FP1 times, with Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) and Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) currently the last two set to move through.

Moto2 Friday Combined Times

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 S.Lowes KALEX 2m02.480
2 E.Bastianini KALEX +0.209
3 L.Marini KALEX +0.319
4 J.Roberts KALEX +0.336
5 J.Navarro SPEED UP +0.343
6 T.Nagashima KALEX +0.409
7 F.Di Giannanto  SPEED UP +0.450
8 M.Bezzecchi KALEX +0.530
9 R.Gardner KALEX +0.657
10 S.Manzi MV AGUSTA +0.659
11 A.Fernandez  KALEX +0.661
12 M.Schrotter  KALEX +0.705
13 L.Baldassarri KALEX +0.711
14 N.Bulega KALEX +0.753
15 J.Dixon KALEX +0.845
16 X.Vierge KALEX +0.958
17 B.Bendsneyder NTS +1.010
18 J.Martin KALEX +1.021
19 K.Daniel KALEX +1.102
20 T.Luthi KALEX +1.112
21 H.Syahrin SPEED UP +1.209
22 S.Corsi MV AGUSTA +1.220
23 A.Canet SPEED UP +1.236
24 E.Pons KALEX +1.284
25 D.Aegerter NTS +1.485
26 M.Ramirez KALEX +1.543
27 L.Dalla Porta KALEX +1.561
28 A.Izdihar KALEX +1.587
29 H.Garzo KALEX +1.647
30 S.Chantra KALEX +1.845

Moto3

Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) has topped the practice timesheets once again in the Moto3 World Championship, ending Friday at the Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky in P1 by virtue of his fastest laptime in FP1. Under the summer sun in Czechia, most of those currently set to go straight into Q2 set their quickest efforts in the morning, including Red Bull KTM Ajo duo Kaito Toba and Raul Fernandez as they completed the top three overall.

FP1

Rodrigo was quickest but left it late to topple Toba, with the Japanese rider having spent much of the session at the top. Ultimately Rodrigo rounded out the the session just over a tenth ahead after a late push, with the second Red Bull KTM Ajo of Toba’s teammate Raul Fernandez ending FP1 third fastest and a further 0.121 in arrears.

Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) had a good first session as he took P4, only 0.060 off Fernandez, before a big gap separated the fastest four from the rest. Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) was half a second off Foggia in fith, with the rest of the top ten split by almost nothing, including the likes of Albert Arenas (Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3) and key challenger John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing).

There were a number of crashes in FP1, all riders ok. Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) went down at Turn 13, before Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) had one crash at Turn 11 and then another at Turn 3. Jason Dupasquier (CarXpert PruestelGP) crashed at Turn 7, with Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) retiring at almost the same time and place after running out of fuel. Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) also some a little drama as he moved off the racing line on the main straight with an issue, pulling in at the end of pitlane.

FP2

As the temperatures rose, the laptimes slowed slightly but it was Fernandez back at the sharp end as he was fastest in FP2. The afternoon’s second quickest lap came courtesy of Masia after a sterling effort to bounce back from his two FP1 crashes, and his 2:09.364 makes him one of few to improve overall. The top five in FP2 was completed by Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), McPhee and Garcia.

Carlos Tatay (Reale Avintia Racing) was the first to crash in FP2 as he took a tumble at Turn 7, and he’s gone for a check up at local hospital. Ayumu Sasaki then went down at Turn 10, before the same corner also caught out his compatriot Kaito Toba a few minutes later, although the number 27 was able to get back on track. Alonso Lopez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) slid out at Turn 5, Vietti at Turn 4 and, finally, Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power) at Turn 13. All riders ok, Tatay pending his check up.

By the end of the day, Rodrigo leads the way ahead of Toba, Fernandez and Foggia as the fastest four come from FP1, with Masia completing the top five to shuffle Sasaki down to sixth. Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) is P7 ahead of Arenas, with McPhee taking ninth. Fenati completes the top ten for Husqvarna.

Riccardo Rossi (BOE Skull Rider Facile Energy) took an impressive P11 ahead of an equally impressive Dupasquier, with Sergio Garcia next up as the second rider – alongside Masia – to improve in FP2. Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) currently stands to be the last man moving through to Q2, but everything can get another shake up on Saturday ahead of qualifying.

Moto3 Friday Combined Times

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 G.Rodrigo HONDA 2m08.612
2 K.Toba KTM +0.106
3 R.Fernandez KTM +0.227
4 D.Foggia HONDA +0.511
5 J.Masia HONDA +0.752
6 A.Sasaki KTM +0.817
7 T.Arbolino HONDA +0.850
8 A.Arenas KTM +0.925
9 J.Mcphee HONDA +0.954
10 R.Fenati HUSQVARNA +0.963
11 R.Rossi KTM +0.974
12 J.Dupasquier KTM +1.025
13 S.Garcia HONDA +1.086
14 A.Ogura HONDA +1.135
15 A.Lopez HUSQVARNA +1.173
16 T.Suzuki HONDA +1.212
17 J.Alcoba HONDA +1.249
18 K.Pawi HONDA +1.272
19 A.Migno KTM +1.305
20 N.Antonelli HONDA +1.351
21 R.Yamanaka HONDA +1.395
22 D.Binder KTM +1.519
23 C.Vietti KTM +1.559
24 Y.Kunii HONDA +1.662
25 S.Nepa KTM +1.715
26 F.Salac HONDA +1.715
27 C.Tatay KTM +1.903
28 D.Öncü KTM +2.202
29 B.Baltus KTM +2.488
30 M.Kofler KTM +2.591
31 D.Pizzoli KTM +2.792

Monster Energy Grand Prix České Republiky Schedule

Source: MCNews.com.au

Rally fundraiser to aid Sturgis senior citizens

Riders are being asked to help raise $US8000 for Meals on Wheels to service senior citizens who will be advised to home quarantine after the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.

The world’s biggest motorcycle rally from, this weekend until next weekend (8-16 August 2020) will also be the biggest mass gathering since the pandemic was declared six months ago.

Robert Pandya, a motorcycle industry veteran and founder of the GiveAShift initiative that initiated the fund drive, says “motorcyclists are incredibly generous”.

The fund-raising project should go some of the way to dispelling the image of riders flouting social distancing and risking the spread of the coronavirus through the community and taking it back home when they return after the nine-day rally.

Organisers expect about 250,000 to attend the rally which is half the usual crowd.

Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen says they have increased cleaning schedules and cancelled many group activities. Following the rally, a mass Covid-19 testing program will be held.

Michael Osterholm, head of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, says the rally could cause a major virus spread.

“Come mid-August to late August, early September, Sturgis will have one hell of an imprint on this country,” he says.

Senior citizensUSA America Sturgis Rushmore South Dakota rally

Meanwhile, the Sturgis Meals on Wheels (SMoW) program has already been stretched thin by the pandemic increasing need and reducing resources, says manager Jamie Helms.

“With the uncertainty of the world right now, our seniors depend on us just so that they don’t have to worry about leaving their homes where they feel safe,” he says.

“With our ageing population taking the city advice to quarantine for a couple of weeks after the rally, we are a needed service now more than ever, but we will get it done as we always do.”

Cash donations will be accepted under the blue tent at 1230 Lazelle St between 2-5pm from today (8 August) until next Saturday.

Click here for the official GoFundMe page for those who chose not to attend the event.

“We respect any riders who choose not to come to the event due to Covid, but encourage them to ‘donate a tank’ to thank and help the local seniors who have seen the rally become the most famous of its kind in the world,” Robert says.

“Supporting the Sturgis Meals on Wheels program is a natural fit for any biker and will have a hugely positive impact for local senior citizens.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Pramac Racing’s Bagnaia injured in Czech Republic FP1

News 8 Aug 2020

Pramac Racing’s Bagnaia injured in Czech Republic FP1

Factory test rider Pirro called in alongside Miller for Red Bull Ring.

Image: Supplied.

Italian Francesco Bagnaia has been ruled out of the Brno round of MotoGP after fracturing his right tibia in Friday practice.

The Pramac Racing Ducati rider went down towards the end of FP1 in which he was 15th fastest, injuring his leg in the fall and potentially requiring surgery.

“Tomorrow morning I will be back in Italy,” Bagnaia said. “Luckily the fracture did not affect the ligaments of the knee, so the recovery time will be faster.

“I’m really sorry because this morning the feeling with the bike was really good. My goal is to be on track for the second race in Austria. I would like to thank all the medical staff, the Clinica Mobile, Pramac team, Ducati and the VR46 Riders Academy for their great support.”

Bagnaia – who has recently been linked to the second factory Ducati Team seat alongside Jack Miller in 2021 if Andrea Dovizioso cannot reach an agreement – will be replaced by official test rider Michele Pirro in Austria.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Day one of WorldSBK at Portimao led by Razgatlioglu

News 8 Aug 2020

Day one of WorldSBK at Portimao led by Razgatlioglu

Runaway World Supersport points-leader Locatelli quickest again.

Image: Supplied.

Friday practice in Portimao’s third round of the 2020 Motul Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) saw Toprak Razgatlioglu set the pace with his time set in FP1.

Razgatlioglu’s 1m42.103s was enough to prove quickest for the day as he topped the time-sheets ahead of Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha).

Baz was able to top FP2 as the top Independent rider, his time being four-tenths off Razgatlioglu’s time from the morning. Razgatlioglu’s teammate, Michael van der Mark, ended the day sixth fastest overall.

Third fastest was reigning champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) as he made it two manufacturers in the top three, while Kawasaki teammate Alex Lowes finished in eighth place overall.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi’s impressive form continued as he finished fourth for the day, ahead of points-leader Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) as the lead factory Ducati rider in fifth place, with his teammate Chaz Davies further back in 12th.

In seventh position was Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), followed by Lowes, Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) and Eugene Laverty (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who completed the top 10.

There was a familiar name on top of the time-sheets in World Supersport as Italian rookie Andrea Locatelli (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) went fastest at 1m45.598s, leading Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) and Isaac Vinales (Kallio Racing). Australia’s Lachlan Epis rode his Yamaha to P18.

World Supersport 300 was led by Scott Deroue (MTM Kawasaki Motoport) with a 1m57.400s set in the first free practice session as he struck first ahead of two races this weekend. Deroue led Mika Perez (Prodina Ircos Team WorldSSP300) by just 0.006s, as Ana Carrasco (Kawasaki Provec WorldSSP300) was third. Kawasaki-mounted Tom Edwards was 19th.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Friday WorldSBK wrap from Portugal

2020 WorldSBK

Round Three – Portimao

WorldSBK riders took on the challenges of Portimao overnight for their first two practice sessions ahead of this weekend’s third round of the championship.

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha) set the pace for the day; his time set in FP1 was good enough to top Friday proceedings ahead of Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha). Baz topped FP2 but his time of 1’42.522 was four-tenths off Razgatlioglu’s time from the morning. Razgatlioglu’s teammate, Michael van der Mark, ended the day sixth fastest overall.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu – P1

Fastest time on Friday is always a good start! I know in Jerez, for me it was a really bad start on Friday, and today I am feeling happy because the bike is incredible to ride here. We tried a different set-up and now we are ready for the race. Tyre choice will be important, because again we have hot conditions with the tyres sliding and so we will see tomorrow. Now I am feeling much better on the bike, so I will continue to ride like this, for the qualifying tyre we will change the set-up a little but the work we did today is very important for the race distance, which is my focus.”

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu
Michael van der Mark – P6

I’m quite happy with the bike now, and already from the start it felt quite good. We were struggling a little bit on corner entry and this morning we couldn’t really find the solution. In the afternoon, during the session we made a big change on the front of the bike and immediately I felt a lot better, I could stop the bike and this was what I was looking for from the R1. There are still some areas to improve, but to be honest my pace in the afternoon, after this morning, I was quite happy with it and the feeling of the bike means I can ride it easily and focus on the areas we have to improve.”

Michael van der Mark
Paul Denning – Pata Yamaha Team Principal

It’s been a really constructive Friday, probably the best one of this “strange” season so far! Given such a strong winter test performance for Toprak at this track, there was some doubt about going back to the winter test setting or continuing with some of the development settings we’ve used in Jerez. But finally, his R1 seems well balanced and he is able to produce good lap times on new tyres or old. We worked very hard to do a 14-lap race simulation in the heat of the afternoon. Certainly compared to last weekend in Jerez, Toprak and his crew are better prepared going into Saturday. Michael also had a very positive day with second position this morning. In the afternoon he chose not to use the softer tyre option and continued to work on bike balance, which allowed us to produce more rear grip and better corner entry with used tyres. We know here in Portimão that Michael is formidable and when he finds a consistent rhythm he can run with anybody! Let’s see what tomorrow brings, but right now, the Pata Yamaha team, the riders and the R1 are looking in good shape.

Third fastest was reigning Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) as he made it two manufacturers in the top three, Rea missing out on second place for the day by just 0.045s to French rider Baz. Rea’s Kawasaki team-mate, Alex Lowes, finished in eighth place overall.

Jonathan Rea – P3

Today has been interesting because there is a lot less grip on the track than there was last season when we were able to be super fast from the early laps. This race weekend it took a little bit of time for the track to get some rubber down and we were able to go faster in the afternoon, even with hotter temperatures. That means that the track is getting better and better. We have been understanding the tyre options that are available to us. I made a longer run in the second session to understand how the bike is behaving and to set-up the electronics a little bit better for the end of the race. We have our front tyre choice all set for tomorrow and there is still a question mark over which rear tyre to use. We have some more time in the morning to understand. But the bike is working well over race distance already and I am feeling a lot better than I did at Jerez. The bike is ‘talking’ to me a little bit more and I understand what is happening when the grip drops. It has been pretty positive.”

Jonathan Rea
Alex Lowes – P8

Our opening day was pretty good and I am quite happy with the bike, really. I want to improve a little bit in some of the longer, faster corners; I am just missing a little bit of position in the front with the bike set-up. But I felt quite good during my long run this afternoon and did a lot of laps at the same pace as my best lap. Obviously, it is my first time here with the Kawasaki. Because I have done so many laps here on other bikes it is quite a lot different in terms of how to ride my Ninja ZX-10RR to get the best from it, so it takes a bit of time to understand how to ride some parts of the track. I think almost all the other guys tested here in February. I found a good feeling this afternoon and I think I am quite a bit better than I was in Jerez, so that is quite positive.”

Alex Lowes

Michael Ruben Rinaldi’s impressive form continued as he finished fourth for the day, following on from his fourth-place finish at Jerez. The Italian rider was just 0.017s away from matching the time of five-time Champion Rea; Rinaldi continuing to show his rapid pace by being classified as the fastest Ducati rider.

Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) was fifth place while his team-mate Chaz Davies ended  the day in 12th.

Scott Redding – P5

It’s been a pretty good day. Maybe we struggled a bit in the FP1 where I couldn’t find my best rhythm. I was a bit worried about the gap at the end of the morning practice but in the afternoon – with the new tyre – things went much better. We still have some work to do ahead of Race 1 tomorrow but we are extremely confident“.

Scott Redding
Chaz Davies – P12

It’s a new challenge at a different circuit to Jerez. We have worked hard to figure out which tyres to use in tomorrow’s race. We probably didn’t go in the right direction in terms of set up this afternoon. They weren’t very productive FP2 but we will work a lot tonight to figure out how to fix some details and be ready for tomorrow“.

In seventh was Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) as he lapped around six-tenths slower than Razgatlioglu’s pace setting time. He was around four tenths quicker than Eugene Laverty (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) as the duo continue to battle it out for the one remaining BMW seat for 2021.

Tom Sykes – P7

I really feel as a team we are starting to get a good understanding now. Its quite clear to see we are having some little issues on track, we worked hard in Jerez in the hot conditions and got very little reward from it following two technical issues. We arrived here in Portimao with another plan and I have to say I am very happy with what we have achieved from the information gathered. This afternoon when we put more of a chassis package we wanted straight away in FP2 made a big improvement. We made 3 changes in the 3 exits we made in FP2 all in preparation for tomorrow so I am looking forward to tomorrows Superpole and Race 1.

Tom Sykes
Eugene Laverty – P10

We learned a lot today. We didn’t make any great performances but we are managing to figure out our woes from Jerez. At the Barcelona test the bike was working really good in long distance we just didn’t have that early pace on the fresh tyre in Jerez. Now we understand what we need to do, we made some changes today to chassis angle and looked at preserving the tyre for the end of the race. The first sector we are lacking, with the new tyre we are not so strong….and I think if I stayed out on the tyre longer and longer I would get faster, which is unusual and is something we are looking in to.”

Eugene Laverty

Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) was the lead Honda rider on Friday as he finished the day in ninth place, around one tenth ahead of teammate Leon Haslam. Bautista had a crash at Turn 5 during Free Practice 2 but he was able to remount his Honda and continue lapping the Portimao circuit as Free Practice 2 continued.

Alvaro Bautista – P9

Today has been a positive day I’d say. My feeling this morning was not the best but we made some small adjustments this afternoon and these gave me more confidence. I was lapping more consistently even on used tyres and despite a small crash in turn 5, I can say I’m happy with what we’ve done. Perhaps the lap times could be better, but the feeling with the bike is good and I think we can take another step tomorrow. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do.”

Alvaro Bautista
Leon Haslam – P11

I was happy with the morning’s work. We completed the whole session with one tyre and I was in the top three or four in terms of lap times, so it was all going well. Then this afternoon things were a little tougher, firstly physically, because I’ve been suffering from an abscess on a tooth which meant I had to visit the Clinica and get some medication from the doctors. And in addition, we tried a few things during the second session that perhaps took us in the wrong direction. So the aim for tomorrow is to reset; hopefully my tooth will be better too, and we can hit the ground running.”

Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team) was 13th overall for the day aboard his Yamaha YZF R1 with him and teammate Federico Caricasulo completing the most laps of anyone for the day – with American rider Gerloff completing 42 and Caricasulo 45. The pair were separated by Sandro Cortese (OUTDO Kawasaki TPR), Leandro ‘Tati’ Mercado (Motocorsa Racing) and Xavi Fores (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing).

Maximilian Scheib (ORELAC Racing VerdNatura) finished the day in 18th place onboard his Kawasaki ZX-10RR, finishing around 0.030s faster than Marco Melandri (Barni Racing Team) as the Italian continued his WorldSBK comeback. Sylvain Barrier (Brixx Performance) was 20th in the combined classification, ahead of Takumi Takahashi (MIE Racing Althea Honda Team), wildcard Christophe Ponsson (Nuova M2 Racing) and Lorenzo Gabellini (MIE Racing Althea Honda Team).

WorldSBK Friday Combined Times

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 T. Razgatlioglu Yamaha 1m42.103
2 L. Baz Yamaha +0.405
3 J. Rea Kawasaki +0.440
4 M. Rinaldi Ducati +0.457
5 S. Redding Ducati +0.550
6 M. Van Der Mark Yamaha +0.619
7 T. Sykes BMW +0.676
8 A. Lowes Kawasaki +1.100
9 A. Bautista Honda +1.106
10 E. Laverty BMW +1.256
11 L. Haslam Honda +1.259
12 C. Davies Ducati +1.446
13 G. Gerloff Yamaha +1.467
14 S. Cortese Kawasaki +1.764
15 L. Mercado Ducati +1.765
16 X. Fores Kawasaki +1.787
17 F. Caricasulo Yamaha +1.889
18 M. Scheib Kawasaki +2.208
19 M. Melandri Ducati +2.237
20 S. Barrier Ducati +2.354
21 T. Takahashi Honda +3.122
22 C. Ponsson Aprilia +3.661
23 L. Gabellini Honda +5.262

World Supersport

Andrea Locatelli bounced back from a crash to go quickest in the second practice session with a 1’45.598. He held off the challenge from Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) who finished the day in second place. Spanish rider Isaac Viñales (Kallio Racing) was third overall for the day, two-tenths away from Locatelli.

Andrea Locatelli

Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) finished the day in fourth place to show his pace towards the front of the field, fending off Raffaele de Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) by just one tenth. De Rosa finished ahead of Corentin Perolari (GMT94 Yamaha); the Frenchman rounding out the top six with a time of 1’46.260.

Manuel Gonzalez (Kawasaki ParkinGO Team) finished the day in seventh place; clinching a spot in the top 10 of the combined standings by just a tenth of a second with strong competition throughout the field. The gap between Gonzalez in seventh and Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing) in eighth was just 0.024s; showing just how competitive the WorldSSP field is. Steven Odendaal (EAB Ten Kate Racing) was in ninth with Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) completing the top 10 despite a technical issue in the latter stages of Free Practice 2.

Hungarian rider Peter Sebestyen (OXXO Yamaha Team Toth) was 11th with Kevin Mandredi (Altogoo Racing Team) in 12th, the highest placed WorldSSP Challenge rider, just ahead of Turkish sensation Can Öncü (Turkish Racing Team), Danny Webb (WRP Wepol Racing) and Axel Bassani (Soradis Yamaha Motoxracing).

Australian newcomer Lachlan Epis was 18th quickest, 2.861-seconds from the benchmark set by Locatelli.

Dynavolt Honda duo Patrick Hobelsberger and Maria Herrera, making her return to WorldSSP, were 21st and 24th respectively, with Indonesian rider Galang Hendra Pratama (bLU cRU WorldSSP by MS Racing) and teammate Andy Verdoïa in 22nd and 23rd respectively.

WorldSSP Friday Times

  1. Andrea Locatelli (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team)
  2. Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) +0.068
  3. Isaac Viñales (Kallio Racing) +0.202
  4. Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) +0.464
  5. Raffaele de Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.550
  6. Corentin Perolari (GMT94 Yamaha) +0.662
    18. Lachlan Epis (MPM Routz Yamaha) +2.861s
Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1 A. Locatelli Yamaha 1m45.598
2 J. Cluzel Yamaha +0.068
3 I.  Viñales Yamaha +0.202
4 L. Mahias Kawasaki  +0.464
5 R. De Rosa MV Agusta +0.550
6 C. Perolari Yamaha +0.662
7 M. Gonzalez Kawasaki +0.801
8 H. Soomer Yamaha +0.825
9 S. Odendaal Yamaha +0.907
10 P. Oettl Kawasaki +0.924
11 P. Sebestyen Yamaha +1.347
12 K. Manfredi Yamaha +1.578
13 C. Öncü Kawasaki +1.582
14 D. Webb Yamaha +1.727
15 A. Bassani Yamaha +2.110
16 M. Pons Yamaha +2.147
17 F. Fuligni MV Agusta +2.421
18 L. Epis Yamaha +2.861
19 L. Cresson Yamaha +2.865
20 A. Ruiz Carranza Yamaha +3.206
21 P. Hobelsberger Honda +3.231
22 G. Hendra Pratama Yamaha +3.268
23  A. Verdoïa Yamaha +3.302
24 M. Herrera Honda +3.386
25 L. Montella Yamaha +4.453

WorldSSP300

FIM Supersport World Championship’s season continued with the Championship heading to the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for Round 2 of the 2020 season, the Motul Portuguese Round. The times were topped by Scott Deroue (MTM Kawasaki MOTOPORT) with a time set in the first free practice session as he struck first ahead of two races this weekend.

The Dutchman’s time of 1’57.400 was enough to be fastest for the day as he denied Mika Perez (Prodina Ircos Team WorldSSP300) top by just 0.006s; showing just how competitive the WorldSSP300 field is throughout the grid. Deroue’s MTM Kawasaki MOTOPORT teammates, Jeffrey Buis, Koen Meuffels and Yuta Okaya finished 30th, eighth and 11th respectively.

Ana Carrasco (Kawasaki Provec WorldSSP300) finished the day in third place, just half-a-tenth behind Deroue, Thomas Brianti (Prodina Ircos Team WorldSSP300) was fourth fastest after the two practice sessions, finish about three tenths off the lead pace from Deroue; but still within range of Deroue’s pace with the competitive field. Samuel di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo) came home in fifth place with Ton Kawakami (Yamaha MS Racing) rounding out the top six. Everyone in the top six managed to improve their lap times in Free Practice 2, with just Deroue lapping slower compared to Free Practice 1.

Bahattin Sofuoglu (Biblion Motoxracing by Yamaha WorldSSP300) finished the day classified in seventh place, less than half a second off the pace, despite a crash in Free Practice 2, as the race winner from Jerez continued his front running pace. Meikon Kawakami (Team Brasil 78 AD) was classified ninth with Championship leader Tom Booth-Amos (RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) rounding out the top 10.

Bruno Ieraci (Kawasaki GP Project) finished the day in 12th place ahead of another winner from Jerez, Unai Orradre (Yamaha MS Racing). Oliver Konig (Freudenberg KTM Junior Team) was classified in 14th place after the day’s running with his teammate, Jan-Ole Jahing in 15th. The gap between Orradre and Jahing was just 0.002s; showing how close the field is in WorldSSP300.

Hugo de Cancellis (Team TRASIMENO), who had shown great pace in the two Jerez races, was classified down in 20th place but within a second of the leading pace. Christian Stagne (Freuedenberg KTM WorldSSP Team) finished the day in 21st place.

Australians Tom Edwards (Kawasaki ParkinGO) is in 32nd place after not setting a lap time in Free Practice 2 for some reason, while countryman Tom Bramich ranked 45th at the end of day one.

WorldSSP300 Group A and B Friday Times

  1. Scott Deroue (MTM Kawasaki MOTOPORT)
  2. Mika Perez (Prodina Ircos Team WorldSSP300) +0.006
  3. Ana Carrasco (Kawasaki Provec WorldSSP300) +0.053
  4. Thomas Brianti (Prodina Ircos Team WorldSSP300) +0.325
  5. Samuel di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo) +0.343
  6. Ton Kawakami (Yamaha MS Racing) +0.369
    32. Tom Edwards (Kawasaki ParkInGo) +1.458s
    45. Tom Bramich (CarlCox RT SKM Kawasaki) +2.198s

Portimao WorldSBK Schedule

Source: MCNews.com.au

Quartararo continues form in Friday MotoGP practice at Brno

News 8 Aug 2020

Quartararo continues form in Friday MotoGP practice at Brno

Pramac Racing’s Miller rounds out the top 10 following opening day.

Image: Supplied.

Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Quartararo was fastest in practice at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Czech Republic on Friday, leading teammate Franco Morbidelli in a 1-2 for the Independent team.

Quartararo posted a 1m56.502s at Brno, putting him just 0.007s ahead of Morbidelli, as Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech3) completed the top three.

There were no less than four satellite team bikes at the top of the charts, with Quartararo, Morbidelli, Oliveira and Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) were the top four, from top factory rider Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) in fifth position.

Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the man in charge for much of FP1, but the glory went the way of Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) at the end of the session after a late charge put him on top. Behind him was Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar).

In FP2, despite the hotter temperatures, the top 14 improved in the afternoon and Quartararo reversed his Friday trend from Jerez – where he finished both first days outside the top 10 – as the end of the session became a hot lap shootout and the Frenchman came out on top.

Mir was sixth in FP2 and overall following a late shuffle, ahead of a big leap forward for Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro as he knocked seven tenths off his morning best to end the day in P7 and just get the better of brother Pol Espargaro.

Nakagami was ninth on the combined time-sheets, ahead of Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) as the Australian rounded out the top 10 overall. That left Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) in 11th, Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) just behind him and Andrea Dovizioso down in P15.

Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) had the sole incident in FP2, the Spanish rookie seemingly suffering a technical problem and pulling over early in the session before scootering back to the pits.

Pramac Racing’s Francesco Bagnaia crashed in FP1 and has been declared unfit. The Italian headed to the medical centre and then Brno University hospital for check-ups on his right knee and has been diagnosed with a fracture at the top of his tibia.

In Moto2, Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) headed the combined times on Friday, the Brit’s FP1 time of 2m02.480s kept him ahead of Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) and Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46). Australia’s Remy Gardner (SAG Racing Team) ended day one in ninth overall.

The Moto3 field was led by Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) with a 2m08.612s in FP1, as most of those currently set to go straight into Q2 set their quickest efforts in the morning including Red Bull KTM Ajo duo Kaito Toba and Raul Fernandez as they completed the top three.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Bonhams motorcycle auction bonanza

If you ever wanted to buy a classic motorcycle or bike-related memorabilia at auction, the Bonhams three-day bike bonanza could be your best opportunity.

Their Summer Sale bonanza will be held at Bicester Heritage from 14 to 16 August, 2020, rather than at the International Classic MotorCycle Show at Stafford, due to government guidelines on COVID-19.

So, for the first time the sale will be held over three days, showcasing more than 100 years of design and manufacture.

Lots range from exotic racing grand prix machinery of the twice-delayed Morbidelli Motorcycle Museum Collection to motorcycle spares and memorabilia.

With estimates varying from £80 ($A145) to £400,000 ($A730,000), the sale will offer something for everyone. Seventy-five per cent of the lots are to be offered without reserve.

Email [email protected] to book a pre-sale viewing appointment or [email protected] to register to bid online, telephone or to leave an absentee bid.

Bike bonanza schedule

Day 1, Spares and Memorabilia, Friday 14 August 10am GMTBonhams bike bonanza

More than 200 lots of spares and memorabilia, to be offered entirely without reserve.

A treasure trove of early 20thCentury posters, beautifully designed enamel signs, vintage rider apparel and rare motorcycle spares (including frames and engines)will set the pace for one of the largest motorcycle sales to date.

Day 2, Motorcycles Saturday 15 August 10.00 BST (Lots 301 – 462)Bonhams bike bonanza

Lots offered will include several important machines from the early ‘Pioneer Period’ of motorcycling.

The 1909 Minerva 3½hp with Wicker Sidecar (£25,000 – 35,000) is well known within the motorcycle fraternity, having regularly taken part in the prestigious London to Brighton Pioneer Run and benefited from restoration work by J W Tennant-Eyles in the 1980s.

Bonhams are synonymous with the sale of golden-era V-Twins and the 1927 Matchless 982cc M3/S Sports Solo (£28,000 – 35,000) together with the 1928 Montgomery 680cc ‘Twin Five’ (£25,000 – 35,000) are both exceedingly rare Vintage examples, both eligible for the infamous VMCC Banbury Run, where the latter was a concours award-winner in 2004.

The 1935 Brough Superior 982cc SS80 (£65,000 – 80,000),‘The Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles’ needs no introduction and this matching-numbers example has been in enthusiast-ownership since 2000, having been restored by Dave Clark in the late 1990s

Following the demise of the British motorcycle industry in the late 1960’s a plethora of Italian and Japanese manufactures began producing incredibly well engineered multi-cylinder motorcycles, and Bonhams are proud to be offering several important landmark variants:

1974 MV Agusta 750S (£60,000 – 70,000), a shaft driven four-cylinder mechanical-marvel, developed alongside a long line of highly successful grand prix racers.

Honda’s outrageous six-cylinder 1979 Honda CBX1000 Super Sport  (£6000 – 10,000 NO RESERVE) which few bikes can match for charisma, visual appeal and, above all, sound.

One owner, 124 miles from new 1999 MV Agusta 750cc F4 ‘Serie Oro’ (£28,000 – 35,000) arguably one of the most beautifully designed motorcycles of modern times.

Day 3, The Morbidelli Collection, Sunday 16 August, 10.00 BST (Lots 501 – 704)

Bonhams bike bonanza

The highlight of The Summer Sale, with more than 200 motorcycles offered from the stable of the late Giancarlo Morbidelli, lifelong motorcycle enthusiast and the man behind the fabled Morbidelli MotoGP manufacturer.

The Morbidelli collection charts the development of over 65 different manufactures including scooters, some of the most exotic racing grand prix machinery extant and several important Moto Giro d’Italia entrants.

Highlights include:

In accordance with current government guidelines, The Summer Sale will be conducted ‘behind closed doors, with online, telephone and absentee bidding offered.

However, all lots will be on view in advance of the sale in person, strictly by appointment, in Hanger 113 at Bicester Heritage, with full social distancing measures in place.

Viewing Times: 

  • Wednesday 12 August 13.00 to 17.00
  • Thursday 13 August 09.00 to 17.00
  • Friday 14 August 09.00 to 17.00
  • Saturday 15 August 09.00 to 17.00 (Lots 501-704 only)

Click HERE to view the full online lot listing

Click HERE to view the printed catalogue

 

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

MotoCAP adds 12 gloves to ratings

If you’re in the market for a new set of motorcycle gloves, Australia’s internationally awarded MotoCAP now has safety ratings for 73 pairs.

The safety intitiative that rates motorcycle jackets, pants and gloves, launched in September 2018 and is the first of its type in the world.

It has now rated 223 items of clothing, including 105 jackets, 50 pairs of pants and 73 pairs of gloves.

In the latest round of testing, 12 gloves were rated for their safety.

The highest performing pair of the release was the Alpinestars SP-Z Drystar, which was awarded three out of five stars for safety.

Alpinestars SP-Z Drystar MotoCAP adds 12 gloves to ratings
Alpinestars SP-Z Drystar

Two stars were awarded to Harley-Davidson Women’s Gage Gauntlet, Five Gloves RFX2 Airflow, Draggin Vivid 2, Dainese Druid D1 Long, Rev’It Summit 3 H2O, DriRider Aero Mesh 2, Five Gloves Arizona, Five Gloves WFX Skin GTX, Triumph Raven GTX, BMW GS Dry, Five Gloves Stun Evo.

The new ratings can be viewed here.

No comfort ratings

MotoCAP rates gear for thermal comfort and waterproofing on jackets and pants, but not gloves.

That is despite some of the gloves tested having perforations for airflow.

Transport for NSW says that to measure for comfort a large square of fabric must be obtained.

“There is not enough material in a glove to obtain a sample for the thermal comfort measure,” they say.

However, they do test for waterproofing.

Canstar Blue customer satisfaction research last year found that Baby Boomers are more likely to choose comfortable motorcycle gloves while Millennial riders buy for style.

All gear rated so far has been obtained through a secretive buying system to guarantee integrity.

Click here to find out how products are selected for rating in secret.

International award

Last year, MotoCAP won a Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) road safety award.

MotoCAP is a partnership between Transport for NSW, State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), VicRoads, Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), Lifetime Support Authority (LSA), Western Australian Police: Road Safety Commission, Department of State Growth, Insurance Australia Group (IAG), Australian Motorcycle Council and Accident Compensation Corporation in New Zealand.

Testing is carried out by the Deakin University Institute for Frontier Materials on behalf of the MotoCAP partners.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Rea Third Fastest On Opening Day In Portugal

Today has been interesting because there is a lot less grip on the track than there was last season when we were able to be super fast from the early laps. This race weekend it took a little bit of time for the track to get some rubber down and we were able to go faster in the afternoon, even with hotter temperatures. That means that the track is getting better and better. We have been understanding the tyre options that are available to us. I made a longer run in the second session to understand how the bike is behaving and to set-up the electronics a little bit better for the end of the race. We have our front tyre choice all set for tomorrow and there is still a question mark over which rear tyre to use. We have some more time in the morning to understand. But the bike is working well over race distance already and I am feeling a lot better than I did at Jerez. The bike is ‘talking’ to me a little bit more and I understand what is happening when the grip drops. It has been pretty positive. http://jonathan-rea.com/news/rea-third-fastest-opening-day-portugal


Jonathan Rea ended his first day of practice at the Portuguese round of the FIM Superbike World Championship in third place, as the on-tr
Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook

Indian unveils fifth Jack Daniels model

While throttle and bottle don’t usually mix, Indian Motorcycle and Jack Daniels have formed a close relationship that has yielded five years of fast-selling, limited-edition models.Jack Daniels Indian Roadmaster Dark Horse Jack Daniels Indian Roadmaster Dark Horse

This year it’s a Roadmaster Dark Horse and if you have to ask the price, maybe you can’t afford it.

In the US, this model sells for $US38,999 which is $US900 more than the standard.

In Australia, the standard Roadmaster Dark Horse sells for $A41,995 ride away, so this edition should cost more than $A50,000.

But the limited-edition model comes with a host of extras and special cosmetic features.Jack Daniels Indian Roadmaster Dark Horse

Most obviously they include custom two-tone Whiskey Pearl paint and Oakwood ceramic engine finishes, Gentleman Jack engraved floorboards, custom Jack Daniel’s branding on the seat, tank and lowers, and Montana Silversmith badging.

It is the first model to come with the new ClimaCommand Rogue heated and cooled seat.Indian Motorcycle develops hot/cold seat

The seat has a proprietary thermoelectric module to pump heat away from the rider, a ducting system and graphene covering which is a highly conductive and flexible material that optimises the distribution of heating or cooling.

You can also buy the ClimaCommand seat as an aftermarket accessory for $A1995 ($US1199.99) for their 2014-2019 Thunderstroke-powered models and 2020 models without Ride Command.

You can manage the heating and cooling settings via the Ride Command infotainment system which also comes with Apple CarPlay tomorrow your phone screen and some apps.Apple CarPlay Indian motorcycle

It also has an upgraded 600-watt PowerBand audio system, heated hand grips, an adjustable flared Klock Werks windscreen, and remote-locking saddlebags and top box.

Each Jack Daniels Limited Edition Indian Roadmaster Dark Horse will come with a custom Montana Silversmith Belt Buckle in a display case. Each bike will be built to order as a model year 2021 with delivery starting late this year.

The Jack Daniels Limited Edition Indian Roadmaster Dark Horse is available to order through your local Indian Motorcycle dealership now.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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