It’s a Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 1-2 at the start of the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia as Maverick Viñales leads the way with a 1:37.063, with teammate Valentino Rossi 0.142 off in second. Rookie Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) got his weekend off to a flyer, taking third in FP1 with a 1:37.370.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
Two tenths behind Fernandez and second on Friday morning was two-time poleman in 2020, Suzuki, with the Japanese rider then a tenth clear of Filip Salac (Rivacold Snipers Team) in third. Kömmerling Gresini Moto3’s Gabriel Rodrigo was fourth in FP1 after setting the fastest lap in last week’s opening session of the Spanish Grand Prix. The Argentinian was a fraction clear of Andrea Migno, with the SKY Racing Team VR46 rider completing the top five.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
A male rider in his 60s crashed his motorcycle into a ditch on a lonely country road north of Mebourne this afternoon and died at the scene.
Victorian Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal motorcycle crash which occurred in Hilldene about 12.25pm.
Investigators believe the motorcycle veered into a ditch at the corner of Seymour-Pyalong and Ash’s Bridge roads after the rider “lost control of the bike”.
Sadly, the rider died at the scene.
Our sincere condolences to the rider’s family and friends.
Anyone who may have seen an orange motorcycle in the area prior to the crash or who may have dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at .
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
With Phil Aynsley
Following on from the previous column I thought I’d round out the look at Bianchi with some of their post war bikes.
During the 1930s the company started producing trucks but the factory was destroyed by bombing during the war. To re-establish the company, the Aquilotto (Eaglet) clip-on motor was put into production. This 48 cc 2-stroke motor was designed to be attached to a bicycle in much the same way as Ducati’s Cucciolo motor, to provide basic transportation.
A full motorcycle, the 125 cc Bianchina 2T, appeared in 1947 and proved to be a success, also helping the company recover from the destruction of their Milanese factory and the death in 1946 of Edorado Bianchi, the founder of the company.
Lino Toni was employed in 1950, and together with Sandro Colombo, designed a 250 cc parallel twin 4-stroke for GP competition, this proved to be too heavy and was subsequently enlarged to a 350 cc then a 500 cc machine – in which guise it did show some promise.
Several were campaigned by privateers and the design formed the basis of the Paton 500 twin racer. The example seen here was photographed outside the Sammy Miller Museum during its restoration in 2015.
Back on the street a wide range of models were produced in the ‘50s and ‘60s. This Bernia is from around 1963 and had a 125 cc OHV 4-stroke motor. It and the 173 cc Tonale, also a 4-stroke single but with a chain-driven OHC, were two of the best known of the company’s later models.
The Falco moped used a licence built Puch 50 cc 2-stroke motor. An interesting fact is that many small capacity Bianchi two-stroke bikes were sold in the US as Montgomery Ward Riverside models.
The motorcycle part of the company ceased trading in 1967 leaving the original bicycle concern to keep the Bianchi name at the forefront of a different section of the two-wheeled world.
Source: MCNews.com.au
With Phil Aynsley
So, name a motorcycle manufacturer that started producing its trademark product in 1885 and is still producing it to this day?
Well that would be Bianchi! Of course the said products are bicycles but the company also turned out a range of highly advanced motorcycles from 1897 to 1967. During its long history trucks and cars were also made.
While Edoardo Bianchi’s first, 1897, design was a motorised bicycle, by 1903 leading link forks were fitted and in 1910 a 500 cc single really established the company in the motorcycle field. A variety of designs appeared over the following years including 600, 650 and 741 cc V-twins, side valve and OHV 350 singles and an OHV 175.
By 1925 Bianchi was (like almost every other Italian motorcycle manufacturer) racing. Except those other companies didn’t have Tazio Nuvolari as their rider! He won the 1925 350 cc European Championship (which was a single event at the time), won the Nations GP four years running from ’25-’28 and Circuit Lario five years running (’25-’29).
All on the 350 Bianchi. He famously won the very wet 1925 Nations GP after suffering a major crash while testing an Alfa Romeo only six days previously. Wearing a cushion strapped to his stomach he had to be lifted onto the bike by his mechanics for a push start!
The bike Bianchi used for competition was a DOHC 348 cc single designed by Albino Baldi. In the 1930s he followed the 350 up with an OHC 500 single, then in 1938 a 500 cc supercharged DOHC four (which was not fully developed before the war intervened).
The bike seen here is a 1936 250 cc Super Sport which featured the very advanced, for the time, plunger rear suspension.
Source: MCNews.com.au
Only two days after undergoing surgery on a fractured humerus, reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has been declared fit to ride at this weekend’s Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia after passing a medical check in Jerez.
Marquez broke his humerus in a crash during the Spanish GP and returned to Barcelona on Monday. He then underwent surgery on Tuesday, performed by MotoGP Traumatology specialist Dr Xavier Mir, and returned to the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto on Thursday morning.
The number 93 was passed fit to ride alongside fellow competitors Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who also sustained injuries during the Spanish GP race weekend. Crutchlow suffered a broken scaphoid and Rins a dislocated shoulder – as well as a small fracture – and all three have been given the go ahead to take part in the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia.
MotoGP Medical Director Dr Angel Charte
“As you all know, Marc Marquez had a crash where he suffered an injury, which was a diaphyseal fracture to the humerus. He underwent a surgical intervention where they plate it and 48 hours later, as is stated in the medical regulations, he has the right to request a medical evaluation to participate in the next race. Today he came to the medical examination unit, where they tried all of the movements that involve this kind of injury and it turns out he’s able to do them perfectly. There were no signs of pain or mechanical inability of his right arm, and therefore the exhaustive medical examination, although it seems strange to us, has been positive. It proves the rider is perfectly ready to race. At what percentage, that can’t be told, but he fulfils the rigorous medical protocol for this type of injury.
“Crutchlow had another crash and fractured his left scaphoid. A nail was placed in the fragment that was fractured and he has undergone the medical check-up which we do for this kind of injury, as each injury has its own protocol for examination. He’s okay and can race perfectly. In the case of Alex Rins, exactly the same. He had a scapolumeral subluxation of the left shoulder with a small fracture to part of the humerus’ head. This morning he underwent a nuclear magnetic resonance scan and the edema which was a result of the contusion has gone down ostensibly, and so we did the examination that have to do, and the rider is fit.”
Marquez is expected to be back on track on Saturday.
| Time | Class | Session |
| 1700 | Moto3 | FP1 |
| 1755 | MotoGP | FP1 |
| 1855 | Moto2 | FP1 |
| 1950 | MotoE | FP1 |
| 2115 | Moto3 | FP2 |
| 2210 | MotoGP | FP2 |
| 2310 | Moto2 | FP2 |
| 0005 (Sat) | MotoE | FP2 |
| Time | Class | Session |
| 1700 | Moto3 | FP3 |
| 1755 | MotoGP | FP3 |
| 1855 | Moto2 | FP3 |
| 1950 | MotoE | FP3 |
| 2035 | Moto3 | Q1 |
| 2100 | Moto3 | Q2 |
| 2130 | MotoGP | FP4 |
| 2210 | MotoGP | Q1 |
| 2235 | MotoGP | Q2 |
| 2310 | Moto2 | Q1 |
| 2335 | Moto2 | Q2 |
| 0005 (Sun) | MotoE | EPole |
| Time | Class | Session |
| 1620 | Moto3 | WUP |
| 1650 | Moto2 | WUP |
| 1720 | MotoGP | WUP |
| 1805 | MotoE | RACE |
| 1900 | Moto3 | RACE |
| 2020 | Moto2 | RACE |
| 2200 | MotoGP | RACE |
| Pos | Rider | Bike | Points |
| 1 | Fabio QUARTARARO | Yamaha | 25 |
| 2 | Maverick VIÑALES | Yamaha | 20 |
| 3 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | Ducati | 16 |
| 4 | Jack MILLER | Ducati | 13 |
| 5 | Franco MORBIDELLI | Yamaha | 11 |
| 6 | Pol ESPARGARO | KTM | 10 |
| 7 | Francesco BAGNAIA | Ducati | 9 |
| 8 | Miguel OLIVEIRA | KTM | 8 |
| 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Ducati | 7 |
| 10 | Takaaki NAKAGAMI | Honda | 6 |
| 11 | Johann ZARCO | Ducati | 5 |
| 12 | Alex MARQUEZ | Honda | 4 |
| 13 | Brad BINDER | KTM | 3 |
| 14 | Tito RABAT | Ducati | 2 |
| 15 | Bradley SMITH | Aprilia | 1 |
Source: MCNews.com.au
Ducati is adding an e-Scrambler urban electric bicycle to its small, but growing nascent range of e-bikes.
The e-Scrambler joins their first e-mountain bike, MIG-RR, which was launched in October 2018.
Ducati says the e-Scrambler is “urban ready” with an aluminium frame and high-end components.
It features a 250-Watt Shimano Steps E7000 motor with 504Wh battery, Pirelli Cycl-e GT tyres, Sram NX 11-speed gearbox and Sram 4-piston brakes.
Their press release says:
The low centre of gravity and the geometry of the frame allow the e-Scrambler to offer the same riding sensations as a traditional bike, making it in fact the ideal companion for the city or to enjoy the country roads. The supplied telescopic seat post also increases comfort, allowing the rider to get on and off the saddle easily and guaranteeing safe support during stops.
There is also a set of accessories including luggage racks, mudguards, stand and signal lights.
Ducati’s move into e-bikes is designed to plug into the booming market in Europe where sales have boomed from about 500,000 to almost 3m in the past decade.
BMW, Harley-Davidson and other motorcycle and car manufacturers now have e-bikes available in Europe and the USA.
Ducati Australia is yet to import the MIG-RR and has not yet commented on bringing in the new e-Scrambler.
However, the market for electric bicycles is growing rapidly, so it may not be a long wait.
More importantly, how long do we have to wait for an electric Ducati motorcycle?
In 2017, VW Group Chairman Matthias Mueller and Ducati Western Europe manager Edouard Lotthe said the company would have an electric motorcycle and scooter by 2020.
Well, that didn’t happen!
In 2017, Ducati licensed the Milano Scuola Politecnica di Design (Design Polytechnic School) to produce the Ducati Zero futuristic design concept.
And in 2015, an electric pedal-assisted moped was made under licence and painted in the Ducati Scrambler Urban Enduro colours.
Neither were real Ducatis.
Nor is the embarrassing Chinese-made, Ducati-branded, Aussie-imported electric Super Soco scooter!
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Just how much is your head worth? If it’s $A6250 then you’re in luck as that is also the price of the Berluti Veldt, the world’s most expensive helmet.
It even eclipses the carbon-fibre Arai Corsair-X RC at $A5600.
Veldt is made on the Isle of Man and the Berluti helmet is a collaboration with famed Italian shoe manufacturer Alessandro Berluti.
It features a carbon fibre shell and “patinated” (aged) Venezia leather on the peak and around the visor opening and the bottom of the helmet.
Fifty years ago a famous Bell Helmets ad campaign exclaimed “If you’ve got a $10 head, wear a $10 helmet!”
Since then riders have asked how much their head is worth when they go to buy a helmet.
Many riders pay more for a renowned brand of helmet simply because they believe their head is worth it.
However, that is not always true.
We researched the ratings and prices of helmets using data from two websites: the NSW Transport Accident Commission “Crash” ratings and the British SHARP helmet safety scheme ratings.
It showed that even expensive helmets can rate lower in safety than much cheaper helmets. Click here for our results.
But obviously helmets like the Veldt are more about fashion and exclusivity than just safety.
And you can’t put a price on fashion, can you?
Another example is this new limited-edition Hedon Wheels & Waves 2020 open-face Hedonist helmet worth $A711.
It is a little more than the usual Hedonist price of about $550-$700.
This model celebrates the famous motorcycle festival at the Biarritz lighthouse.
However, it’s not the most expensive open-face helmet in the world. In fact, the Hedonist ranges up to $882 for a metallic paint model.
The most expensive open-face helmet is also the Berluti Veldt helmet as it can be converted by unscrewing four allen bolts on the removable chin bar.
Click here to read our review of a Veldt helmet.
Any full-face helmet that is not a one-piece shell, such as modular or flip-up, must have compromised safety.
At least the Arai Corsair-X RC is race developed and a full one-piece shell.
Neither of the world’s two most expensive helmets has been tested by SHARP or CRASH as it would simply be too costly for them to destroy one for testing!
So if you value your head at this sort of price, are you putting your head in the hands of fashion designers rather than safety technicians?
Our advice on buying a helmet is to buy a moderately price helmet that rates four or five stars and replace it every four to five years.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Quick turnaround following injuries sustained last weekend.
Image: Supplied.
Injured MotoGP front-runners Alex Rins and Cal Crutchlow have been declared fit to start this weekend’s Andalucia GP at Jerez, joining world champion Marc Marquez in the list of riders who will return during practice.
Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Rins went down in Q2 to end his weekend at the Spanish GP early, dislocating his shoulder and sustaining a fractured humerus in the incident, but has passed medical checks conducted on Thursday.
“I’m so happy to be here,” Rins beamed. “Saturday was a really bad crash – it’s a crash you don’t want to have. I lost the front at turn 11 very early. To avoid Jack [Miller], I tried to save the front tyre and I entered so fast into the gravel, and as Cal said the gravel here is so deep.
“I lost the rear, I jumped from the bike and I touched the gravel with the shoulder and it immediately came out. I broke a small piece too. Anyway I tried to recover all I can with the physiotherapist at the track. We passed the exam, but let’s see tomorrow on the bike, I’m not at 100 percent and will feel pain, but this is racing. For sure, if I feel a lot of pain and I’m not secure to ride, I will stop.”
Crutchlow underwent surgery in Barcelona on Tuesday to have his scaphoid fracture screwed, now set to be back on the grid with LCR Honda Castrol after crashing out of the morning warm-up last Sunday morning.
“I flew back to Barcelona and Dr [Xavier] Mir performed the operation on Tuesday to put a screw in to the scaphoid, which I believes makes it the strongest now because I can ride with it,” Crutchlow commented. “It seems not too bad now. Let’s see how it is and if I can ride with it tomorrow.
“It won’t be easy to ride injured, but the professionals that we are, riding injured – with Alex and Marc – we all know the decision taken either by ourselves with the medical team if we’ll be able to cope riding the bike – you don’t know until you get on the bike. We’ve all passed the fitness test but riding these bikes is a different story. I’ll see how it goes and I look forward to getting on the bike in the morning.”
Source: CycleOnline.com.au
Repsol Honda rider declared fit just days after undergoing surgery.
Image: Supplied.
MotoGP champion Marc Marquez has planned a remarkable return in FP3 on Saturday morning after being declared fit to ride, less than one week after his spectacular exit from Jerez 1 and having the broken right humerus bone in his arm plated.
The 27-year-old Repsol Honda rider passed a medical check on Thursday upon return to Jerez, which will host the Red Bull Grand Prix of Andalucia this weekend in back-to-back events at the Spanish circuit.
“As you all know, Marc Marquez had a crash where he suffered an injury, which was a diaphyseal fracture to the humerus,” explained Dr Angel Charte, MotoGP medical director. “He underwent a surgical intervention where they plate it and, 48 hours later, as is stated in the medical regulations, he has the right to request a medical evaluation to participate in the next race.
“Today he came to the medical examination unit, where they tried all of the movements that involve this kind of injury and it turns out he’s able to do them perfectly. There were no signs of pain or mechanical inability of his right arm and, therefore the exhaustive medical examination – although it seems strange to us – has been positive. It proves the rider is perfectly ready to race. At what percentage, that can’t be told, but he fulfils the rigorous medical protocol for this type of injury.”
Marquez broke his humerus in a crash during the Spanish GP and returned to Barcelona on Monday. He then underwent surgery on Tuesday, performed by MotoGP traumatology specialist Dr Xavier Mir and returned to the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto on Thursday morning.
The number 93 was passed fit to ride alongside fellow competitors Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who also sustained injuries during the Spanish GP race weekend. Crutchlow suffered a broken scaphoid and Rins a dislocated shoulder – as well as a small fracture – and all three have been given the go ahead to take part.
Source: CycleOnline.com.au
