Simoncelli’s legend continues with Sic58’s first victory
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
11 and counting: Moto3™ musters up another different winner
New Gear: Nolan N-Com B901 Bluetooth Communication System
Get Bluetooth communication system integration with reduced aerodynamic impact with the N-Com B901 ($319.95) for Nolan helmets. The N-Com B901 features universal pairing to other Bluetooth communication systems, phones and MP3 players, VOX capability and many other features. Manage your device and download software updates from PCs or Macs, and use the N-Com Easyset app to easily adjust settings. Fits Nolan helmets with either rear or side N-Com installation.
See your dealer or visit nolan-usa.com.
Source: RiderMagazine.com
Pedrosa ready for two-day Brno test with KTM
The MotoGP™ Legend spun a few laps on the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine earlier this year at Mugello to test his physical condition after undergoing stem cell surgery on his right collarbone. And with those few laps being successful, as was confirmed in May, Pedrosa will begin testing the RC16 in June. More specifically, on the 5th and 6th June in Brno.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
Sheer speed fires the soul
Just how does it feel to be in charge (hopefully) of a motorcycle at that speed. It’s a sensation that the majority of us will never have the privilege of experiencing. The riders will tell you anything over 300 kph does not feel different although at Mugello, in particular, I don’t totally believe them. Having witnessed through the fingers covering my eyes Shinya Nakano and Marc Marquez walk away from separate frightening crashes coming over the Mugello rise between the safety walls you need no reminding just how fast they were travelling.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
Helmets FIM Racing Homologation Programme comes into force
From the outset, the aim of the programme was to improve riders’ head protection and to respond to the need for a more objective evaluation of the safety performance of protective helmet systems for racing. The FRHP has been established, with the collaboration of the helmet manufacturers, in order to define a new test standard that goes above and beyond existing ones (e.g. UN ECE 22.05, Snell M2015, JIS T8133).
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
Jerez Set To Restart Rea’s Campaign
I’m excited to go to Jerez and understand our potential there. After the race weekend in Imola and a positive test at Misano I feel ready for this next challenge. Jerez is a very nice circuit to ride, especially the fast flowing corners at the end of the lap. It will be important to make a lot of laps during practice to prepare for the races, as it’s the first time we have raced in Jerez during the summer. The temperatures will be much higher than we experienced during our winter tests. With this in mind, we will work hard and try to keep the momentum going. http://jonathan-rea.com/news/jerez-set-restart-rea’s-campaign
Jonathan Rea will get back into full FIM Superbike World Championship action this weekend at Circuito de Jerez Angel Nieto, located in th
Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
Marquez in defensive mindset during Mugello battle
Points leader accepts runner-up honours in Italy.
Image: Supplied.
Reigning world champion Marc Marquez says Sunday’s 23-lap outing at Mugello was ‘time to defend’ as he endeavoured to claim victory against competitive Mission Winnow Ducati duo Danilo Petrucci and Andrea Dovizioso.
The Repsol Honda contender managed to navigate his way into the lead by the final lap in an absolute thriller, however a slight error from himself and Dovizioso saw Petrucci snatch control of the race to eventually secure his maiden MotoGP World Championship victory.
Marquez attempted to fight back with Dovizioso in tow, but couldn’t work his way by Petrucci and was forced to accept runner-up honours.
“Today was time to defend,” Marquez declared. “And we did it in the best way we could because usually this is not one of our best circuits. I stayed calm and waited to try something in the last lap.
“I was able to try but I missed the apex on the first corner and then both Ducati overtook me. Petrucci rode very well at the front today, congratulations to him. My goal was to finish in front of Dovizioso and Rins and we did this so I’m happy.”
The Spaniard holds down a 12-point advantage over Dovizioso in the championship rankings as the series heads to Catalunya in Spain on 16 June.
Source: CycleOnline.com.au
Parkes heads Asia Superbikes despite Azlan’s Thai double
Asia Superbike 1000
It was hard to call ARRC’s new-for-2019 premier class in Thailand. It was the tenth time the series has made the trip to Buriram, but the first time any of Asia’s regular stars had raced a superbike there. On the other hand, Parkes and Staring had no track experience, but vastly more time aboard one-litre machinery. Adding to that, two rounds and four races had seen race wins from four different riders and four different manufacturers.
Daytime temperatures were in the early 30s, track temperatures in the early 40s and, while rain threatened on Friday and Saturday, there was nothing to disrupt proceedings.
The mercurial Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman, lying second to Parkes in the championship after Round 2, got his green liveried ONEXOX TKKR SAG BMW hooked up nicely in Friday’s free practice to finish the day top on combined times with a best lap of 1:35.518 in FP3.
That was 0.756 faster than Honda Asia Dream Racing’s Zaqhwan Zaidi, who missed the last session when he somersaulted his CBR1000RR SP on the out lap.
Apiwat Wongthananon, who showed plenty of speed at Tailem Bend, applied his track knowledge to good effect to record 1:36.416, 0.15s better than Broc, who brought his times down progressively in each session. Ahmad Yudhistira, Yuki Ito and Ratthapong Wilairot also recorded times in the 1:36s, while Bryan managed a best time of 1:37.004 to end the day eighth.
Qualifying on Saturday morning went much the same way. Azlan was unable to quite match his best free practice time, crashing in the closing moments, but still took pole with a time of 1:35.790, which edged Yamaha Thailand’s hard charging Apiwat to the middle of the front row by seven thousandths of a second.
Zaqhwan was third on 1:36.062, Parkes improved on his best practice time, recording 1:36.385, which was two hundredths better than team-mate Ito and about the same again in front of Victor Racing’s Ahmad Yudhistira.
Bryan got his times into the 1:36s and ended up sandwiched on the third row between Ratthapong and Access Plus Ducati’s TJ Alberto, who was promoted to ninth after Chaiwichit Nisakul crashed and broke his left wrist after recording 1:36.978 early in the session.
Asia Superbike Race 1
Rain clouds gathered overhead and spattered the grid for race one’s 13 laps on Saturday afternoon. The threat of rain faded on the warm-up lap and when the lights went out Apiwat got the best launch from the middle of the front row to lead poleman Azlan first time around, from Zaqhwan, who found himself holding off the three Yamahas of Ito, Yudhistira and Ratthapong and the Kawasaki of Bryan Staring. TJ Alberto, headed the rest of the field.
At mid distance Azlan and Apiwat had got around one second clear, only for Zaqhwan to close them back down, bringing Broc Parkes and Yuki Ito with him. There was little to choose between the Malaysian and the Thai at the front, until Apiwat ran wide at turn 12 at the end of lap nine, falling back to fifth, before mounting a recovery.
Zaqhwan made a bid to catch the green BMW, leaving Broc and Ito in a squabble with Apiwat, as the Thai rider fought his way back. At the end Azlan swept to his second win of the season six tenths clear of compatriot, Zaqhwan, while Apiwat got in front of Ito, then Broc, to take third.
Three-and-a-half seconds further back, Ratthapong came through to sixth, holding off Bryan and Yudhistira. TJ came through to ninth ahead of Farid Badrul on the second ONEXOX TKKR SAG BMW, Kazuma Tsuda and Jonathan Serrapica.
Asia Superbike Race 2
Lessons learned on Saturday produced a very different race on Sunday, which was run under clear skies and slightly hotter temperatures. Azlan got his BMW away well, from Broc Parkes, Zaqhwan Zaidi and Yuki Ito. Apiwat Wongthananon was slow off the line, but quickly fought his way through to third, as Zaqhwan dropped slightly off the pace.
Broc, then Apiwat got past Azlan. The Australian was unable to break clear, but his Thai and Malaysian challengers were also unable to get past as the race moved into its late stages. The game changed on the final lap as Azlan moved past Apiwat to take second and put Broc under pressure.
Apiwat fought back and the three approached Chang’s notorious turn 12 together. Azlan moved to the inside of Parkes, lost the front under braking, picked his BMW back up and scrambled to the line to complete the double a wheel in front of Broc, who was just four thousandths clear of Apiwat.
Zaqhwan held steady to take fourth, a second clear of Ahmad Yudhistira, who did another brilliant job for Victor Racing Team as the top privateer. Yuki Ito, who went back after a promising start, finished sixth ahead of Bryan for Kawasaki Thailand.
Parkes stays at the top of the standings after another solid weekend’s work, moving up to 105 points, while Azlan’s double brings him to 97 ahead of Zaqhwan on 84.
2019 ARRC Round 3 – Asia Superbike Results
Source: MCNews.com.au
Ride through South America – Top 3 Unbelievable Routes
South America travel article by: Ron Marshall
Adventure riding got you down? Anyone confined to the pristine roads and mild off-road riding in their homeland is often looking to push the boundaries of adventure and themselves. For those who want to step it up a notch, hose down your Husqvarna and fasten up your Fox boots, South America will take you for one hell of a ride.
Colombia – Mountain Curves & Coffee Country – Route 40
Not the cocaine economy and Escobar entitled narco-state it once was. Colombia has some of the most pristine riding, stunning landscapes, and inviting riding in South America. To top it all off, Colombians are motorcycle crazy.
All roads lead out of Bogotá, and you can easily make your way through to nearby Salento in the wax-palm-lined Cocora Valley. The ride is roughly 300-kilometers on route 40, with peg-dragging roads that pass some of the worlds most sought-after coffee beans.
From Salento, take your ride just up the road to the cobblestone streets and café-lined square in neighboring Filandia. Real adventure bikers will first explore the countryside, then spend the night at the infamous Steel Horse Filandia. The front yard at Filandia is a regular mix of international license plates where riders from across the world are welcome.
- To ride in Colombia, you can literally FedEx your motorcycle into Bogotá or hire from a company like Motolombia in Cali.
- Don’t believe what you heard about Colombia. Ask anyone who’s ridden a motorcycle there, the response will be considerably more positive than you’d imagined.
- Colombia is a vast mountainous region, make sure to check the season and altitude of where you plan to ride before assuming hot-hot-hot.
Brazil – Dirt Roads & Amazon Jungle – BR319
The most widely used adventure motorcycle in Brazil is the Honda Tornado, something similar to the Honda CRF250L, then the BMW GS line of bikes. Brazilians are equally as crazy about life on two wheels.
For a real adventure ride, make your way through the infamous BR319 road en route to Manaus in the Brazils Amazon region. The road runs through some of the most impressive stretches of the Amazon rainforest that can be accessed by motorists, with lurking Jaguars and lacking fuel stations. You’ll want to be well prepared for the 870-kilometer ride from Porto Velho up into the Amazons metropolitan hub.
The ride will offer up everything from dust in August, to complete road washouts in February and March. You can venture deeper into the rainforest depending on the season. The road is a bikers Pilgrimage for anyone with a longing sense of wilderness adventure.
- A one or two-day ride could be six or seven in the wrong season. As for fuel, food, and water, pack what you need.
- Flying or shipping a foreign motorcycle directly into Brazil is more red tape than you’ll want to deal with. Rent, or start in nearby Lima Peru, Montevideo Uruguay.
- On the way, ride into the Pantanal. The worlds largest wetland. Picture a 20-kmph, self-guided motorbike safari with optional river cruise for you & the bike, incredible!
Chile – Patagonia Mountain Range – Carretera Austral
With the far north of Chile holding the majestic Atacama Desert, and the center offering up wonderful wine regions and horse-riding landscapes. The real riding though, is through the world-renowned Patagonia.
For anyone who’s a moto-camping aficionado, you and your ADV bike will fall in love with Patagonia. You can ride right into the Torres Del Paine National Park for a few days of getting in touch with your inner hiker. Then later slip away unnoticed into the endless rivers and remote regions around Coyhaique for some trout fishing right off the backside of your saddlebags.
From here, crank up those heated grips and ride further into the Tierra del Fuego region of the very south. Anyone looking to ramp up their road trip can cross the border into the most Southerly city in the world, Ushuaia Argentina.
The #1 motorcycle related activity in Ushuaia you ask?! Buy a sticker for your panniers.
- A country that runs on longitude, the far north and far south are very different at any time of year. Pack cold weather & rain gear, any other riding will be a welcome bonus.
- Chile has arguably the best paved roads in South America. If you’re looking for off-track riding, download Wikiloc
- You can fly your motorcycle into Santiago or ship it to nearby Valparaiso pretty easily. For a short trip, look into someone like Compass Expeditions to hook you up.
Wherever you ride in whatever part of the planet, there has likely been thousands if not millions on that road before you. It’s easier, safer, and more memorable than even the best YouTube video or stories you’ve read. Stop dreaming, start riding, and for some of the best adventure motorcycle roads on the planet, South America has you covered.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Rutledge crowned Australian women’s motocross champion at Manjimup
News 4 Jun 2019
Rutledge crowned Australian women’s motocross champion at Manjimup
Section: Competition
Kawasaki contender earns second-consecutive Australian championship.
Image: Foremost Media.
Kawasaki-mounted Meghan Rutledge was crowned the 2019 Australian women’s motocross champion at the Manjimup 15,000 on Sunday in Western Australia following a highly-successful three-round campaign.
Rutledge, who dominated the opening two rounds at Murray Bridge, earned runner-up honours at the third and final stop, successfully defending here title to make it back-to-back Australian championships.
“I had a great first day on the Kawasaki KX250 at the Manjimup 15,000 for the third and final round in the women’s division of the Australian championship,” Rutledge explained. “I qualified in P1 and finished P1 in race one.
“There was an epic battle with Jess Moore for the lead and we both pushed each other to the limit of our skills and endurance. The extra training I have been putting in gave me the edge in this race to get ahead and to take the win.
“I had an unfortunate crash in moto two resulting in an injured thumb. However, I managed to keep on the throttle and hold on for the day. Taking P2 in all three motos [on Sunday] left me second overall for the weekend. This earned me enough [points] for me to claim back-to-back Australian MX championships.”
Jess Moore (KTM), who claimed victory at the season-finale, finished runner-up in the championship standings, while Yamaha’s Maddy Brown completed top three in both the round and series rankings.
Source: MotoOnline.com.au