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Naoya Kaneko, formerly Chief Mechanic to Alex Marquez, takes up the position of Technical Director, whilst taking his place on the number 73 side of the garage will be David Garcia, telemetry engineer for Dani Pedrosa at Repsol Honda up until 2018. Vierge, meanwhile, will benefit from the experience of respected French crew chief Gilles Bigot, who stays with the team after a year spent leading the MotoGP™ project with Tom Luthi.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
German contender equal second in 450SX title fight.
Image: Supplied.
Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen has expressed a sense of relief to exit the initial west coast rounds of the 2019 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championships in full health.
The talented German suffered a horrific season-ending – and almost career-ending – crash at Anaheim 2 in 2017, while last year his supercross campaign was cut short at San Diego with a hand injury.
Saturday’s fifth stop of the current series at San Diego saw Roczen push through the muddy conditions to earn his third podium of the year, equalling him on points with Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in the championship standings.
“Today was a really weird day,” Roczen reflected. “We didn’t even get on the track until after 5pm and only had the one qualifying practice. I got 12th, which wasn’t great, but the conditions were absolutely brutal. I got off to a pretty good start in the heat race and ended up winning, which was great.
“Going into the main and being able to pick whatever gate I wanted was huge. I got off to such a good start, it was crazy, and actually almost went down in the first turn because it was so slippery but pulled it off; then I actually went down in the second turn, which I was really bummed about.
“In those conditions, you don’t want to be anywhere but in the front. Going back to fourth or so was not what I wanted and just made it harder on me. I thought I was third most of the time but I guess I was second, and then Marvin [Musquin] got by me with just a turn left so I was pretty bummed.
“There was so much craziness going on, you can lose 10 seconds in a lap – or gain it, for that matter. I’m glad to be on the podium and be getting out of here safe. It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten out of the West Coast healthy, so I’m happy about that and looking forward to the rest of the season.”
The AMA Supercross series heads to Minneapolis in Minnesota this Saturday for the first east coast round of the championship.
Source: MotoOnline.com.au
Yamaha pilot still coming to grips with increased speed of premier class contender.
Image: Russell Colvin.
A personal best lap-time of 1m33.211s at Phillip Island has offered Cru Hallidy a boost of motivation in his return to the premier class in 2019.
The Island’s official Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) test at the weekend presented Halliday with just his second opportunity to ride the larger Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1M since capturing the Supersport crown last year, having previously completed a one-day test at Morgan Park in January.
The New South Welshman displayed promising progress throughout each and every session, recording his fastest lap in the final outing of the weekend to position himself eighth in the times – less than one second off pace-setter Wayne Maxwell (Team Suzuki Ecstar).
“It was pretty good and I wasn’t really sure what to expect down there,” Halliday explained to CycleOnline.com.au. “I rode the bike once at Morgan Park before the official test, but that was mainly tyre testing rather than set-up. Phillip Island is a track I’ve struggled with in the past on a 1000cc, but I came to terms with it on the 600cc.
“So I had confidence coming into the test – I did a PB down there by two tenths, so I’m happy with it. Day one down there was trying to get adjusted to the speed and riding style of the bike – I think I still struggled with that going into day two, and halfway through I got to grips with it.
“The speed difference is 40kph down the first straight – it doesn’t sound like much, but when you’re tipping into turn one it’s a big difference. Every session I went out, I was about three tenths quicker. It’s just stepping stones. We were trying to take minute steps every session, which we did. Overall I’m happy and very confident.”
The opening round of the ASBK is scheduled for 21-24 February at Phillip Island, which will run in conjunction with round one of the FIM Motul Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).
Source: CycleOnline.com.au
Australian contender earns season-best result at round five.
Image: Supplied.
Two-time champion Chad Reed has indicated he had more to give in Saturday night’s fifth round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in San Diego.
The mud-filled encounter saw the JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing rider charge through the demanding conditions, winding up in an impressive fifth for his best result of the season.
Recognised for his heroic performances in muddy circumstances, the Australian believes it wasn’t his best outing, although he’s still satisfied to accept the result.
“San Diego is always a race I really enjoy,” Reed commented. “I had a great week in California leading up to the race. It was a rain schedule, which is always challenging. There was a lot of sitting around going on. The track was gnarly. My heat race start was okay, but I was splashed with mud and couldn’t get clear vision quickly enough.
“I had to stop, but I came back to seventh. The main event wasn’t my best mud performance, but I’m really happy to get up into the top five. I’m back in North Carolina this week and looking forward to continue working with the team to get up on that podium.”
The main event was taken out by newly-appointed red-plate holder Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki), followed by Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC).
Source: MotoOnline.com.au
The rapid rise in factory scrambler models and custom scramblers has led to a whole new category of tyre and Bridgestone has joined in with their new Battlax Adventurecross AX41S model.
Based on their Battlax Adventurecross AX41 adventure tyre, the “S” in AX41S stands for “scrambler”.
It sports a different block and tread from the AX41 and comes in wider tyre sizes.
The Japanese manufacturer says the tyre is the result of “hours behind the drawing table”.
So what is a scrambler tyre?
Basically it’s a cross between a road and dirt tyre, but with a low block, often wider dimensions and lower profiles than an adventure tyre.
It not only needs to have better dirt grip than normal road tyres, but also an attractive appearance on a road bike.
What it doesn’t need is the tough, puncture-resistant high profile of adventure tyres.
Scrambler riders often don’t head for the dirt, but also don’t turn back when the tarmac runs out.
Those scrambler riders who seek out the dirt will opt for adventure tyres and more dirt-oriented scramblers such as the Ducati’s Desert Sled and Triumph’s new Scrambler 1200 XE.
The AX41S scrambler tyre adopts a single sport-touring compound on the front and a sport-touring compound in “3LC configuration” on the rear.
Bridgestone says this ensures a balance of wet and dry grip levels.
They say it has been developed for the road and make no mention of how it will go on the dirt. Although the above official photo shows a dirt road!
It looks fairly similar to other scrambler tyres on the market with a low-profile block, so it should handle smooth dirt roads quite well.
They claim the low block avoids “heel and toe wear” that is common when riding higher-block adventure tyres on the bitumen.
The AX41S should not only suit factory and custom scramblers, but also cafe racers.
| SIZES/DESCRIPTION | PRICE | AVAILABLE |
| TYRE 120/70HR17 (58H) AX41S F Tbl | $199.95 | Now |
| TYRE 110/80HR18 (58H) AX41S F Tbl | $189.95 | Now |
| TYRE 120/70HR19 (60H) AX41S F Tbl | $199.95 | Now |
| TYRE 160/60HR17 (69H) AX41S R Tbl | $279.95 | Now |
| TYRE 170/60HR17 (72H) AX41S R Tbl | $289.95 | Now |
| TYRE 180/55HR17 (73H) AX41S R Tbl | $299.95 | Now |
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider eagerly awaiting Sepang test.
Image: Supplied.
Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has declared he’s determined as ever entering his 24th season of grand prix motorcycle racing.
Rossi, who turns 40 years of age this month, embarks on his 14th year with the Yamaha brand, which launched its new colours yesterday during a team presentation in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Following an enduring 2018 campaign, the Italian ace is eagerly awaiting this week’s test at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, which will offer his first opportunity to sample the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team’s off-season developments.
“I‘ve taken a bit of time to relax and train these last couple of months, but, like the fans, I‘ve mostly been looking forward to starting the new season,” Rossi explained. “The upcoming test in Sepang is very important, because it‘s the first opportunity for the team to get together to try everything Yamaha has been working on over the winter.
“Our performance improved towards the end of last season, but we want and need to make some more big steps, so we need to get to work. I‘m sincerely looking forward to the new season and to riding again, I want to get back aboard my M1.
“I feel as good and determined as ever, nothing changed in that area, and I believe that, with some hard work, we can improve upon last year and be back on top.”
Testing this week will commence on 6 February before concluding on 8 February. The opening round of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship is scheduled for 10 March at Losail International Circuit in Qatar.
Source: CycleOnline.com.au
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team has revealed their 2019 colour scheme in Jakarta, Indonesia, with a theme of ‘Beast Mode On’ celebrating a new title sponsorship deal between Yamaha and Monster Energy, with the Sepang test to kick off shortly.
Yamaha‘s newly named Factory Racing MotoGP team proudly presented its brand-new livery, that reflects Yamaha‘s long-term global alliance with the team‘s new title sponsor, Monster Energy Company.
The multiple year title sponsor agreement was signed last summer and Monster Energy sponsors multiple Yamaha teams (the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP team since 2013) and riders (including Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales) in various racing classes.
Monster Energy and Yamaha‘s mutual passion for racing was evident when the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team announced that they will be turning their “Beast Mode On” for the 2019 MotoGP World Championship challenge.
Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales soon joined the talk show. They made it clear that they can‘t wait to get back into action at the official 2019 IRTA MotoGP preseason test held in Sepang, Malaysia, in two days‘ time.
Valentino is famously Yamaha‘s most successful rider. This will be his 14th season with the manufacturer since he first joined the factory team in 2004, and there is no sign of him slowing down. The nine-time World Champion is as eager as ever to score GP victories, as he enters a seventh consecutive year with Yamaha since his return in 2013.
“The team presentation is always an event that I enjoy. It is the first time that we can show off our full package for the new season and, most importantly, this event signals that the start of the preseason is close! I‘ve taken a bit of time to relax and train these last couple of months, but, like the fans, I‘ve mostly been looking forward to starting the new season. The upcoming test in Sepang is very important, because it‘s the first opportunity for the team to get together to try everything Yamaha has been working on over the winter. Our performance improved towards the end of last season, but we want and need to make some more big steps, so we need to get to work. I‘m happy that Monster Energy is joining our team in a new role this year. They have been Yamaha‘s and my sponsor for a long time, so we know each other well and we share the same passion for racing, which is important. I‘m sincerely looking forward to the new season and to riding again, I want to get back aboard my M1! I feel as good and determined as ever, nothing changed in that area, and I believe that, with some hard work, we can improve upon last year and be back on top.”
Maverick joined the Factory Yamaha crew in 2017 after gaining two years of experience in the premier class and was quick to make a name for himself. He ultimately took third place in the rider standings in his first season with Yamaha.
Though the 2018 season proved to be tough, the Spaniard kept his motivation high and won the race at Phillip Island. He finished the season in fourth place overall, just five points behind his teammate in third position.
“We are here in Jakarta to start the new season. This year‘s team presentation was very special, because there are many changes compared to last year. The most noticeable of course are the new team colours and the bike livery. As soon as I saw it, I couldn‘t help but feel excited to start the new season. It will be a completely fresh start for all of us: new title sponsor, new team colours, and for me a new rider number. It all came together very nicely, so now all we have to do is get the preseason underway! The winter months were a good opportunity to prepare for 2019 season. I had some time to relax and reflect, but a good part was spent training, so I‘m ready to start riding my M1 again. We ended last year‘s season stronger than we started, so it will be important to keep that momentum going as we prepare for the first race in Qatar in April. Our first chance to see where we stand is at the Sepang Test in a few days‘ time. I‘m looking forward to it, because I have high expectations for this year. My motivation hasn‘t changed, and I plan on going all out this season – ’Beast Mode On‘!”
Valentino and Maverick were given the honour of presenting the new livery and they proudly presented the 2019 Yamaha YZR-M1. Its colour scheme has completely changed, with the team‘s M1 sporting a ’Monster Energy black‘-to-’Yamaha Factory Racing blue‘ gradient, including subtle blue stripes.
Besides the prominent Monster Energy branding, the team is also pleased to announce that throughout the 2019 racing season the bike will continue to feature the slogans of Yamaha Indonesia Motor Manufacturing, Yamaha Motor Vietnam Co., Ltd., Yamaha Motor Philippines, Inc., and Thai Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
“First of all, I would like to apologise for not being able to attend the team launch event today. I would have liked to be there as it is a significant milestone – the team start a new journey with Monster Energy. With the very important Sepang Test starting in just two days, I chose to be in Sepang working with Sumi-san and the YMC staff, as well as our team staff – several of which are new for 2019 – to be best prepared for the start of the new season. Like I said, we‘re starting afresh and there is always a sense of excitement that comes with new beginnings. I‘m sure the entire crew, as well as the riders, can‘t wait to get back into action. We already laid the foundation for the 2019 preparation during the tests in Valencia and Jerez at the end of last year. The upcoming week will be very important, because we will use the test in Sepang to confirm the choices we made. It will be a crucial first stepping stone to success in 2019.”
“This year the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP team‘s package is different from previous years, so it seemed only fitting to hold a special launch event to mark this fresh start. The team travelled to Indonesia this time. The country‘s market is very important for the Yamaha Motor Group, and the fans‘ and local media‘s great passion for MotoGP further adds to its appeal. Its central location in Asia and close vicinity to the first official test, held in Malaysia the day after tomorrow, made it a perfect location for the Team Launch. Yamaha and Monster Energy have been collaborating for many years. We are proud to have them as an official sponsor of the Yamaha Factory MotoGP Team since 2013, and now we will be working even closer together as we step up the global alliance between the two brands and they take on the title sponsor role. Monster Energy is known for giving its audience the full experience of whatever makes them passionate, which is also what we strive after at Yamaha. During the upcoming season we aim to leave a strong impression throughout the entire MotoGP season, and we very much look forward to sharing this next chapter with race fans, giving them a thoroughly enjoyable season. We‘ve revealed our new team logo and livery today. The new design, especially the black-toblue gradient on the bike, visualises the partnership between Monster Energy and Yamaha. Now the work really begins with the upcoming preseason test in Sepang. The entire team, the riders, and I‘m sure the fans are impatient to see some MotoGP action again.”
Source: MCNews.com.au
Bridgestone’s new Battlax Adventurecross AX41 tyres have arrived in Australia to get adventure riders dirtier, taking them further off the beaten track.
The problem with making an adventure tyre more aggressive is that it usually compromises on-road stability and shortens the life of the tyre.
The biggest destroyer of adventure tyres is the braking force that shaves the trailing edge of the block tread under hard braking on asphalt.
However, the new Battlax Adventurecross AX41 has a changed block profile and tread pattern to counter the deformation under braking, reducing wear.
That’s great news, especially for those riding heavy one-litre-plus adventure motorcycles that chew up expensive adventure tyres.
Bridgestone has also redesigned the tyre dimensions to increase the total amount of blocks on the tyre.
The Japanese manufacturer says the new tyre has a 30% increase in the cross section area compared with the previous Adventure A41.
They also claim this increases compound rigidity and strength over the A41 to “ensure the balance between durability and off-road performance”.
Bridgestone rates them as 40% on-road and 60% off-road.
| SIZES/DESCRIPTION | PRICE | AVAILABLE |
| TYRE 100/90Q19 (57Q) AX41F Tbl | $169.95 | Now |
| TYRE 110/80BQ19 (59Q) AX41F Tbl | $189.95 | Now |
| TYRE 120/70BQ19 (60Q) AX41F Tbl | $199.95 | February ’19 |
| TYRE 90/90Q21 (54Q) AX41F Tbl | $169.95 | March ’19 |
| TYRE 130/80BQ17 (65Q) AX41R Tbl | $249.95 | Now |
| TYRE 140/80BQ17 (69Q) AX41R Tbl | $259.95 | February ’19 |
| TYRE 150/70BQ17 (69Q) AX41R Tbl | $269.95 | Now |
| TYRE 170/60BQ17 (72Q) AX41R Tbl | $289.95 | Now |
| TYRE 150/70BQ18 (70Q) AX41R Tbl | $299.95 | March ’19 |
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
The 2019 Superbike World Championship Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team has officially unveiled the new Panigale V4R in team livery, as well as introducing Álvaro Bautista who joins Chaz Davies on the team, having competed the last nine years in MotoGP.
2019 is a particularly noteworthy year for Ducati, as the manufacturer introduces a four-cylinder Superbike for the very first time in the Panigale V4 R, having won 17 Manufacturers’ and 14 Riders’ titles since 1988.
The Panigale V4 R, developed on the basis of experience accumulated in MotoGP, features a number of evolutions from the previous model, not only from an engine point of view, but also in terms of chassis, electronics and aerodynamics.
With regard to the riders, the arrival of Álvaro Bautista is equally significant, the Spaniard highly motivated and ready to face a new professional challenge in Superbike after nine years spent racing in MotoGP.
The 34-year-old from Talavera de la Reina is a rider with considerable experience, having also raced in 250cc and in 125cc, the category in which he won the title in 2006, and he has rapidly adapted to the new technical scenario.
“I can’t wait to start this new adventure. The balance of the winter tests is really positive. The project is a new one and there’s still a lot of work to be done but lap after lap we found a good base to work on. I still have to adapt to this new technical situation, particularly the tyres, but the performance shown in just six days of testing is undoubtedly encouraging. Phillip Island is a spectacular track and I’ve always liked it, there couldn’t be a better place to begin this exciting new adventure and we’ll do our best to be ready.”
He will line up alongside the 31-year-old Welshman from Knighton, Chaz Davies, three-time championship runner-up in the last four seasons, who has put the past year’s bad injuries behind him and who will tackle his sixth successive season in Superbike aboard a factory Ducati.
“I’m very excited and motivated about the season that’s about to start. After five years and many great memories with the twin-cylinder bike, the time has come to begin a new challenge and I can’t wait to get back on track with the Panigale V4 R. My last tests were hampered a bit by the twinge I felt in my back, but my overall physical condition is much better than last year and in any case we managed to complete our test schedule. We’ve still got two more days of testing left and they will be fundamental to define the last details, and then finally we’ll be racing again. The start of the year is going to be even more exciting than ever, and having a new bike – as well as a new team-mate – is going to be extra motivation for me.”
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team will now set off for Australia, where the traditional pre-season tests will be taking place at Phillip Island on 18th and 19th February in view of the opening round of the 2019 Superbike World Championship held at the same track on the following weekend, from 22nd to 24th February.
“This year we will truly witness a historic turning-point. Racing is an inseparable part of Ducati, just think of the many examples in which the technology and know-how developed on the track have then been applied to production models. The Panigale V4 is a perfect example of this philosophy: it’s the first Ducati production bike to be fitted with a four-cylinder engine and equipped with technology coming from MotoGP. In just twelve months it has become the new benchmark for style, technology and performance, with more than 6,100 units delivered across the globe, and it has allowed us – for the first time ever in company history – to achieve a global sales record in the superbike market segment. Now we also want to take it to the top on the track, its natural habitat, by making it become the king of SBK in the 1000cc R version.”
Source: MCNews.com.au
Second DNF of 2019 demotes factory Yamaha rider to seventh in the points.
Image: Supplied.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia was forced to prematurely exit Saturday night’s main event in San Diego, as extremely treacherous conditions caused a technical malfunction with his YZ450F.
The DNF marks the second non-finish for Barcia in the first five rounds – the round one victor suffering a nasty fall at Anaheim 2’s third stop of the 17-round tour.
Admittedly frustrated with his recent turn of misfortune, the number 51 is targeting a podium return when the series heads to the first east coast stop of 2019 at Minneapolis in Minnesota.
“It was a crazy day, lots of rain so the track was super wet,” Barcia explained. “I got a bad start in the heat race and got some water under my goggles, so I had to ditch them in the first turn and ended up stalling as well. I came from about last to fourth, so, ultimately, I was super happy with that ride.
“In the main event, I had a much better start than I’ve had lately. I felt like I was riding well enough to contend for a podium, or battle for the win, but I had a technical issue, and it took us out of the race.
“I just have to move on from this weekend and stay positive and keep on doing the things I have been doing and return to the podium sooner rather than later. The goal is Minneapolis, to get right back there. It’s been a tough few weeks but we’ll keep charging and never give up.”
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac won the enduring encounter, granting him the championship lead over Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC), which also represented the top three in San Diego.
Source: MotoOnline.com.au