Tag Archives: MotoGP

Rossi backed MotoGP and Moto2 Teams score new Title sponsor

Mooney takes up sponsorship of VR46 MotoGP Team

Mooney, the first Italian Proximity Banking & Payments company, will be the new title sponsor of the VR46 Racing Team, the motorcycle team created by Valentino Rossi and competing in the MotoGP and Moto2 World Championship.

Following the agreement, the new team naming will be Mooney VR46 Racing Team and will be used in all images of the Team (including bikes and rider suits) and in all official communications. Further information will be revealed in the new year.

VR46 Racing Team

The VR46 Racing Team was born in 2014 with the aim of supporting young Italian talents of the two wheels from Moto3 up to MotoGP. The arrival in the premier class took place in 2021 with Luca Marini but it will be in the upcoming 2022 that the VR46 Racing Team will officially become part of the top class. Since 2014, 10 Italian young riders have taken their first steps in this Team. Among these, Francesco Bagnaia, the first rider to win the World title with the Moto2 Team in 2018.

Mooney

Mooney is the first Proximity Banking & Payments company in Italy which has inherited the experience of two excellences in different, but complementary business sectors: SisalPay in the field of payments, and Banca 5 (Intesa Sanpaolo Group) in banking. Thanks to its extensive network of over 45.000 points of sale throughout Italy that are fully integrated with the digital ecosystem, Mooney plays an important social role in providing consumers with a simple, quick and easy access to a wide range of payment solutions, namely bills, prepaid cards, telephone recharge cards as well as facilities such as cash withdrawals, wire transfers and payment orders, formerly possible only through banks.

Source: MCNews.com.au

Mooney becomes the new title sponsor of VR46 Racing Team

Mooney is the first Proximity Banking & Payments company in Italy which has inherited the experience of two excellences in different, but complementary business sectors: SisalPay in the field of payments, and Banca 5 (Intesa Sanpaolo Group) in banking. Thanks to its extensive network of over 45.000 points of sale throughout Italy that are fully integrated with the digital ecosystem, Mooney plays an important social role in providing consumers with a simple, quick and easy access to a wide range of payment solutions, namely bills, prepaid cards, telephone recharge cards as well as facilities such as cash withdrawals, wire transfers and payment orders, formerly possible only through banks.
www.mooney.it

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Simply unmissable: Tales of Valentino

This exclusive nine-episode feature delves deeply into some of Rossi’s biggest career highlights. It’s not a ‘best of’, nor a biography of a World Champion, but an exercise in pulling back the curtain on some of Rossi’s most well-known moments, shedding light on the background and context behind them all, revealing little-known or so far untold vignettes from the career of a legend oft-imitated, but rarely bettered.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

2021 MotoGP™ recap: British Grand Prix

However, all was not lost for the Espargaro family as elder brother and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix occupied P3. History beckoned for the Noale factory, but they had to contend with some last lap fireworks, Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) doing everything in his power to deny them a maiden premier class podium. Despite the late attack, Espargaro held his nerve to power over the line in third, sparking wild celebrations as he delivered the goods for Aprilia.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Earl Hayden passes away after long battle with cancer

AFT Statement on passing of Earl Hayden

Progressive American Flat Track offers its condolences to the family and friends of Earl Hayden, patriarch of the fabled Hayden family, who passed away overnight following a long battle with cancer. He was 74 years old.

The news will be deeply felt across the two-wheeled racing community. Hayden was a universally beloved figure whose presence graced dirt track and roadracing paddocks across the globe for decades.

Earl Hayden on the grid with son Nicky in 2008 – Image AJRN

A dirt track racer for some twenty years, Hayden brandished the #69 himself before it became synonymous with his late son (and 2006 MotoGP World Champion) Nicky. The story of its origins (Earl claimed he had to choose a number that read the same whether he was upright or upside down) remains an eternal reminder of Earl’s legendary sense of humor.

As a father, Earl fostered an environment that produced three of the most successful and popular motorcycle racers of the past generation. Along with Nicky’s crowning achievement on the world stage, he and his brothers, Tommy and Roger, were each AMA national roadracing champions. Additionally, all three were top flight dirt trackers; Nicky and Tommy boasted premier class Grand National Champion race victories, and Roger joined them on the podium in a historic all-Hayden sweep of the podium at the 2002 Springfield TT.

Earl Hayden holds court here in 2009 – Image AJRN

There was a direct line connecting their combined success to the incredible support and many sacrifices of Earl and his wife, Rose, who together moved mountains with regularity to ensure their children had every possible opportunity to maximize their potential.

Rather than run dry, that well of generosity spilled out beyond just his immediate family, as Hayden served as a mentor and supporter of countless other aspiring racers, particularly those from the Owensboro, Kentucky area.

Earl Hayden (2009) – Image AJRN

He is survived by his wife Rose, sons Tommy and Roger, daughters Jenny and Kathleen, and his grandchildren. Nicky preceded him in death following a tragic bicycling accident in 2017.

Earl’s good nature, gravelly voice, and easy smile will be sorely missed.

Earl Hayden on the pit wall in 2006 – Image AJRN

Source: MCNews.com.au

2021 MotoGP™ recap: Austrian Grand Prix

With just five laps remaining, the specks of rain seen across the rolling Styrian mountains had turned into a full-blown shower, drenching the tarmac and allowing a chasing trio of Martin, Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) back into the victory fight. Two laps later, five frontrunners entered pitlane to switch bikes, while KTM’s Binder, incredibly, decided to stay out.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

MotoGP™ slang explained – Part 2

SATELLITE TEAM/RIDER:
Now known as Independent Teams or riders, these setups are one step below and full factory team. These teams lease the bikes from their respective factories for the season. The Independent Teams in MotoGP™ are: Pramac Racing, Gresini Racing MotoGP, VR46 Racing Team, WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team, LCR Honda Castrol/Idemitsu, and Tech3 KTM Factory Racing.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Calabresi will be the new Pramac Racing’s team manager

Claudio Calabresi will replace Francesco Guidotti as Team Manager for Pramac Racing. Claudio was chosen to lead the Team because of his top-notch managerial experience, earned throughout a career in global energy companies, lastly as Executive Vice President Commercial Director of Eni Refining and Marketing, and his great passion for motorcycling.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Yamaha TZ500 Grand Prix Racer | Yamaha’s reply to the RG500

Yamaha TZ500 GP Racer

With Phil Aynsley


Yamaha’s involvement in the 500cc Grand Prix class began in April 1973 at the opening round of the season at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. Jarno Saarinen won on the 0W20 from Phil Read on the MV Agusta with Saarinen’s team-mate Hideo Kanaya third. Things were off to a good start!

1982 Yamaha TZ500J

Yamaha stuck to the across the frame straight-four formula for eight models, until it tried a square-four design, the 0W54 for the 1981 season. Then V4s from 1982. The straight-four proved good enough for Agostini to claim the ’75 title, then in the hands of Kenny Roberts, to win three consecutive Rider’s Championships in ’78-’80.

Unlike arch rival Suzuki, who’s square-four RG500s dominated the grids during this period, Yamaha didn’t produce any customer versions of its 500cc bikes (in marked contrast to the number of 250 and 350s it sold), until the TZ500G was released in small numbers in 1980. It was a less than perfect copy of the 1978 factory 0W35, with many cost-cutting features compared to the 0W35, let alone the then current 1980 0W48!

1982 Yamaha TZ500J

1981 saw the TZ500H made available – 1981 Yamaha TZ500H ‘0W’ 500 Grand Prix ‘customer’ bike, then for 1982 the TZ500J became the final Yamaha straight-four customer machine. It was based on the 1980 0W48R and featured reversed outer cylinders that placed their two carburettors in the front of the motor.

This enabled the exhausts to have a much straighter run. Output was still about 10 hp down compared to the 0W48R however. The front discs were enlarged from 300 to 320 mm compared to the ‘H’ model.

1982 Yamaha TZ500J

By all accounts Yamaha’s three TZ500 models were a fairly disappointing effort that didn’t handle particularly well and were normally no match for Suzuki’s RG500s. This particular bike is ex-Japan and is in the colours of the bikes used in the movie “Dirty Hero” but it isn’t known if it appeared on screen. Power was 110+ hp, with a dry weight of 135 kg.

Source: MCNews.com.au

2021 MotoGP™ recap: Styrian Grand Prix

Having fully recovered from injuries sustained from a heavy crash in Portimao, rookie revelation Martin was back to his flying best on Saturday in Styria, securing his second MotoGP™ pole position with a blistering effort. That form carried over onto Sunday, as the Spaniard quickly dispatched the early challenges of Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) to take P1. It was a position he wouldn’t relinquish, though he showed nerves of steel to withstand intense pressure from then World Champion Mir on the final lap. 

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here