Red Bull KTM
Ready To Race Qatar MotoGP season opener
More has changed than most for the France based Tech3 Racing Team as we head towards MotoGP season 2019.
After many years on Yamaha machinery and much success, twice coming third in the Team’s Championship, and Andrea Dovizioso finishing fourth in the 2012 MotoGP World Championship on a Tech3 Yamaha, Hervé Poncharal’s Tech3 squad have become the first satellite squad supported by KTM in the MotoGP World Championship.
KTM will have four entries in MotoGP for season 2019 as Tech3 runs a new satellite KTM effort
The transition to the Austrian machinery has no doubt raised many challenges for the entire team, but they are determined to meet those challenges head on, as Team Manager Hervé Poncharal explains.
Hervé Poncharal – Red Bull KTM Team Manager
“Finally, we are in Qatar and the 2019 MotoGP season is going to start. A new season beginning is always something very exciting, but clearly for the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team this year is even more thrilling than the previous because we are opening a new chapter, we will commence a new adventure, we have a new motorcycle manufacturer working with us with KTM, a new title sponsor with Red Bull and a new oil partner with Elf, so it seems we are almost starting from scratch. Of course, we were working really hard during off-season in Spain, Malaysia and Qatar, but we are also very eager and impatient to see what is going happen in first race. Clearly, we are not in a position at moment where we can challenge the top, but the mission this season is to reduce the gap to the fastest riders. I believe with Miguel Oliveira, we have an incredible rider with a huge potential and the strong desire to be part of this project and making it moving forward. Hafizh is in same spirit, he still has to forget a little bit about what he was doing on last years’ machine, but I think they get on very well together and they understand the importance of MotoGP for KTM, plus they can witness the level of commitment from the engineers in Austria, they can feel they are factory riders with a racing department behind them with evolution coming almost every test and this is what makes this new season very entertaining. Our target is to be as close as possible to the full factory KTM MotoGP riders and of course all together to race the level of performance of our KTM RC16 machine and the whole team is 100% dedicated to this mission. We can’t wait to start on Friday night in Losail!”
2019 Red Bull KTM RC16 MotoGP
The riders too have had to meet new challenges. Malaysia’s Hafizh Syahrin acquitted himself very well throughout his debut year on the Tech3 Yamaha machinery, however he has struggled to adapt to the KTM. The 24-year-old has been at the very back of the field in almost every test session, but hopes to turn that form around as the season progresses.
Hazifh Syahrin – 2019 MotoGP Qatar Test – Day 3
Hafizh Syahrin
“I’m looking forward to the first race very much! We had some tough pre-season tests, where we tried to adapt to the bike step by step. It was pretty good and I felt better and better with the bike, although we were still quite slow, but we believe that we can arrive at the top one day with this amazing group, so we keep on working hard, try to understand everything and keep the mind fresh to be ready for race day. Let’s see what we can do, I hope to be further up in the standings than during the preseason tests.”
Hafizh Syahrin – 2019 Red Bull KTM Team
After coming into the squad straight from Moto2, Miguel Oliveira has no other MotoGP machine as a reference point. Also 24, the Portuguese rider finished as runner-up to Francesco Bagnaia in the 2018 Moto2 Title chase, and seems to be adapating well to the powerful MotoGP bikes.
Miguel Oliveira – 2019 MotoGP Qatar Test – Day 3
Miguel Oliveira
“I think the approach for the first GP is always quite simple, it’s to do my best and try to do my job as always, plus making the team happy with my performance. I feel it’s important for me to finish the race, to get experience and to get to know where to improve my riding. The most important thing is to gather this experience in my first race in MotoGP, I don’t think about any result in specific. Of course, the outcome is always important, but as it’s the first race for me, I don’t focus on anything definite. My goal is to do a good job, give my maximum and to leave Qatar with a smile.”
Miguel Oliveira
2019 MotoGP Round One Schedule (AEDT)
East Coast Daylight Savings Time
Motocross champion outside the top five in round nine.
Image: Supplied.
Eli Tomac has attributed a lacklustre start to his sixth place finish in Saturday night’s main event for the ninth round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in Atlanta.
The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider, who stood atop the podium just one week earlier in Detroit, endured difficulty coming through the field at the challenging circuit, finishing up outside the top five while increasing the gap to the leaders in the championship classification.
“I was feeling great all day, especially with the fastest lap time in qualifying,” Tomac explained. “I made a few errors in my heat race but still felt confident heading into the main, I just wasn’t able to get out in front off the gate and it really cost me.
“I’m glad we were able to make up some positions and wrap up the first half of the season healthy. I’m really looking forward to Daytona next weekend, it’s definitely one of my favourite tracks and a great one to kick off the second half of the series.”
The two-time Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross 450MX champion has experience a mixed season in the first nine rounds, winding up on the podium four times with two wins to his name.
Factory Kawasaki talent just shy of the podium in Argentina.
Image: Supplied.
Clement Desalle has piloted the all-new 2019-spec Kawasaki KX450-SR to fourth overall in its maiden MXGP World Championship outing at Neuquen in Argentina over the weekend.
The Monster Energy Kawasaki Factory Racing prepared machine boasts a major overhaul and significant upgrades from its predecessor, already proving its worth on the world stage.
Desalle, a long-time Kawasaki contender, recorded a 4-6 scorecard, forced to come from last in the final encounter to finish just two points shy of the overall podium.
“It was a solid weekend and it was great to be back racing GPs as you can’t find these conditions when you train,” said Desalle. “We saw that we have a great new bike and Julien proved the performance at the starts. I scored a fourth position in the first moto – the rhythm was really high and I finished not so far from the top three.
“I’m just disappointed with the second start – I had a good jump off the gate but they ripped the ground in the first corner and I was surprised in a rut and touched handlebars with another rider.
“I was last but I came back to sixth, which is not so bad as my front brake lever was bent in the crash. It’s good to be going back home fourth in the series – we now have three weeks to work on small details we have learnt at this first GP.”
Nine-time world champion Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) took out top honours ahead of Tim Gajser (Honda HRC) and Jeremy van Horebeek (Honda SR Motoblouz). The next stop on the MXGP calendar is scheduled for 24 March at Matterley basin in Great Britain.
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Moto News Latest
Webb and Cianciarulo storm Atlanta AMA SX
Cairoli and Prado take first blood at Argentina MXGP
Evans creates history at Argentina
Barcia concussed – misses Atlanta
Holcombe kicks off 2019 with win in Italy
Price to be honoured at Aussie F1 GP
Dacka ready for season 2019
The stars of the AORC hit Toowoomba this Weekend
Mentoring role brings Matthew Phillips to AORC
Cosford wins Coolum 2-Stroke Cup
2020 Aussie Speedway Solo Champs calendar announced
2020 & 2021 Australian Junior and Senior Speedway Sidecar calendar
Webb and Cianciarulo storm Atlanta AMA SX
Atlanta, Georgia hosted the ninth round of the AMA Supercross Championships last weekend and it was an all KTM podium in the 450 class with championship leader Cooper Webb taking the win over Blake Baggett and Marvin Musquin while it was Adam Cianciarulo who won the first of the 250 East/West Shootouts ahead of Dylan Ferrandis and Austin Forkner.
2019 AMA SX Round 9 Atlanta – Image by Hoppenworld
Unfortunately, Chad stalled his Suzuki late in the race to drop back to a disappointing 13th place but the Aussie still sits seventh in the championship, two spots ahead of Justin Barcia who was forced to sit out the event thanks to suffering a concussion after crashing during the week.
Cooper Webb
“Yeh, it was tough, the track was changing a lot but I knew where I was good but there were also places where Marv would catch me, I knew where he was catching me but I didn’t know what line he was using, it is hard when you are leading so I just hit my marks and they weren’t working as good as I would have liked so I started changing things up, made a few mistakes in front of Blake who I knew would be good through the whoops but towards the end I found some lines so another win, that was sweet.”
Cooper Webb – 2019 AMA SX Round 9 Atlanta – Image by Hoppenworld
Blake Baggett
“It was really hard to pass, you could make a run on someone but to get by was another thing, Marv and Cooper were making runs at each other, I could see it going on in front of me then I got into second and could do the same but when they have that horseshoe sand section over the tunnel I will hands down voice my opinion that I am not for it, it is supercross with steep obstacles and no sand.”
Blake Baggett – 2019 AMA SX Round 9 Atlanta – Image by Hoppenworld
Marvin Musquin
“It was tough being the chaser tonight, you had to follow through the sand section and same with the whoops, I didn’t want to chance going to the right, it was a really tough track, I missed the main line in the sand and Blake got me and I would gain some ground then lose some ground, it was tough.”
Marvin Musquin – 2019 AMA SX Round 9 Atlanta – Image by Hoppenworld
450SX Main Event Results
Cooper Webb
Blake Baggett
Marvin Musquin
Ken Roczen
Aaron Plessinger
…13. Chad Reed
450SX Main Event Results
Cooper Webb
Blake Baggett
Marvin Musquin
450SX Points after 9 of 17 Rounds
Cooper Webb – 199
Ken Roczen – 186
Marvin Musquin – 182
Eli Tomac – 177
Blake Baggett – 142
Dean Wilson – 137
Chad Reed – 124
250 East-West Shootout Report
There was no catching Cianciarulo with the East Coast championship leader taking the win by four second over Ferrandis who dropped Forkner by seven seconds while Sexton, Cooper, McElrath, Nichols, Martin Davalos, Michael Mosiman and Brandon Hartraft rounded out the top ten.
Adam Cianciarulo
“After the start I stayed patient behind Chase, made the move to second behind Austin and obviously didn’t want to do anything stupid which came to mind but I had a good race, mistake free and learned a lot throughout the day.”
Adam Cianciarulo – 2019 AMA SX Round 9 Atlanta – Image by Hoppenworld
250SX East/West Shootout Results
Adam Cianciarulo
Dylan Ferrandis
Austin Forkner
Chase Sexton
Justin Cooper
Shane McElrath
Colt Nichols
Martin Davalos
Michael Mosiman
Brandon Hartranft
250 East Coast Report
For the current top three riders in the East Coast series the shootout did them no harm with Forkner’s third place earning him a handy 18-point margin back to Cooper, who in turn has a two-point buffer back to Sexton.
Austin Forkner – 2019 AMA SX Round 9 Atlanta – Image by Hoppenworld
250 East Coast Points after 4 of 9 Rounds
Austin Forkner – 99
Justin Cooper – 81
Chase Sexton – 79
Jordon Smith – 70
Alex Martin – 60
West Coast Report
The shootout couldn’t have gone better for Cianciarulo who now holds a 15-point lead over Ferrandis who moved into second in the championship by two points over McElrath, who in turn has a three-point lead over Nichols.
Dylan Ferrandis – 2019 AMA SX Round 9 Atlanta – Image by Hoppenworld
250 West Coast Points after 6 of 10 Rounds
Adam Cianciarulo – 140
Dylan Ferrandis – 125
Shane McElrath – 123
Colt Nichols – 120
RJ Hampshire – 86
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Cairoli and Prado take first blood at Argentina MXGP
The MXGP of Patagonia, Argentina hosted the opening round of the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship and it was the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing duo of Antonio Cairoli and Jorge Prado who earned double moto victories in the MXGP and MX2 classes respectively.
2019 MXGP Round 1 – Patagonia-Argentina
MXGP Race Report
The only thing Cairoli failed at all weekend was his starts but the Italian managed to use all of his veteran savvy to squeeze his way to the lead before the end of the opening lap in moto 1 but it took 6 laps in the second moto to move into the lead.
While defending champion Jeffrey Herlings is on the sidelines with injury Cairoli is under no illusion as to how important these points are and he was doggedly determined to walk away with maximum points in Argentina.
Antonio Cairoli
“I am happy overall today because after yesterday I wasn’t sure how I will do off the starts. The rhythm was high in the beginning but I was just trying to see where I could gain some time. I managed to have 2 good starts, both were in the top ten…I found some good lines and I had a good race taking the overall which makes me really happy. There are a lot of Argentinian fans who cheer for me all year on social media so it is nice to give them a win especially on this track which I have never had the chance to win at, I was close last year but it is always nice to race where people don’t see us often and make them happy.”
Antonio Cairoli – 2019 MXGP Round 1 – Patagonia-Argentina
Honda’s Tim Gajser took a hit after crashing on Saturday and was on the sore side on race day but he came through from a poor start in moto one to end the race in second, just 6 seconds back from a cruising Cairoli but in the second moto Tim was right there all race and was just 2 seconds back at the chequered flag – the former champ is showing form that will see him win races in 2019 – Herlings or no Herlings.
Tim Gajser
“It was good, I am really happy, yesterday I had a big crash and today I was a bit sore. In the first race I had a solid start inside the top ten and had to work hard to come through the pack but I finished 2nd which was good. In the second race I was a bit tight and didn’t relax, then Febvre and Tony passed me. I tried to stay with them to see where I was losing time then I passed Romain and with Tony we were about the same times, I tried to push but couldn’t get closer. It was a nice race and I’m looking forward to the next round already.”
Tim Gajser – 2019 MXGP Round 1 – Patagonia-Argentina
Romain Febvre scored third in the opening moto and was running a solid third in the second moto until a huge crash on lap 14 put the French Yamaha star out of the race and to rub salt into the wound former Yamaha rider Jeremy Van Horebeek put his Honda into third in the moto and third overall in his debut for his new team.
Jeremy Van Horebeek
“It is still unbelievable, until two weeks ago I didn’t know we would be here so it has been a crazy ride since last year. I am so thankful to this team for giving me the chance. I am thankful and I am going to keep on working to make this a great season.”
Jeremy Van Horebeek – 2019 MXGP Round 1 – Patagonia-Argentina
Veterans Clement Desalle and Gautier Paulin earned top five positions with Arminas Jasikonis, Tommy Searle. Shaun Simpson, Jeremy Seewer and Pauls Jonass rounding out the top ten while Romain Febvre ended up 12th, one position ahead of Max Anstie and several ahead of Glenn Coldenhoff who was on deck to score points while recovering from injury.
MXGP Round 1, 2019 – Race 1
Cairoli, Antonio ITA KTM 34:41.270
Gajser, Tim SLO Honda +0:06.253
Febvre, Romain FRA Yamaha +0:09.838
Desalle, Clement BEL Kawasaki +0:11.464
Paulin, Gautier FRA Yamaha +0:02.566
Van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL Honda +0:32.226
Lieber, Julien BEL Kawasaki +0:39.435
Jasikonis, Arminas LMSF Husqvarna +0:49.752
Jonass, Pauls LAT Husqvarna +0:50.285
Seewer, Jeremy SUI Yamaha +0:59.164
MXGP Round 1, 2019 – Race 2
Cairoli, Antonio ITA KTM 34:56.475
Gajser, Tim SLO Honda +0:02.386
Van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL Honda +0:37.829
Anstie, Max GBR KTM +0:42.332
Paulin, Gautier FRA Yamaha +0:43.070
Desalle, Clement BEL Kawasaki +0:47.509
Searle, Tommy GBR Kawasaki +0:49.602
Jasikonis, Arminas LTU Husqvarna +0:58.810
Simpson, Shaun GBR KTM +1:01.941
Tonus, Arnaud SUI Yamaha +1:03.513
2019 MXGP Round 1 – Argentina – 1) Tony Cairoli, 2) Tim Gajser, 3) Jeremy Van Horebeek
MXGP Round 1, 2019 – Standings
Cairoli, A. ITA KTM 50
Gajser, Tim SLO HON 44
Van Horebeek, J. BEL HON 35
Desalle, C. BEL KAW 33
Paulin, G. FRA YAM 32
Jasikonis, A. LTU HUS 26
Searle, Tommy GBR KAW 22
Simpson, Shaun GBR KTM 22
Seewer, Jeremy SUI YAM 21
Jonass, Pauls LAT HUS 21
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
MX2 Race Report
The defending champ Prado was expected to be the man to beat in Argentina but the Spaniard led every lap to win the opening moto from Thomas Kjer Olsen, Henry Jacobi, Calvin Vlaanderen and Mitchell Evans before handing down the same punishment in the second moto to take the win from Kjer Olsen, Evans, Vlaanderen and Jacobi.
Jorge Prado
“It was great to be back at the GPs, it is a long season but I have so much fun. Yesterday I had a good day but today I woke up and felt even better. I had 2 good starts which is very important because everyone is going fast and it is hard to make a difference. I am very happy with two firsts, for first overall, and points lead so it is a good start to the season.”
Kjer Olsen and his Husqvarna were working a treat all weekend but his starts on Sunday saw the Dane playing catch up all day.
Thomas Kjer Olsen
“The first race I did slide on the gate…I felt like a came through the pack pretty good but once I got to second Prado was already like 12 seconds ahead so I tried to save some energy for the second race. Again not the greatest of starts but we will go back and work on those for sure to be more consistent. Overall I feel my riding was good and I felt good on the bike so I’m happy about that and it is a great feeling at the start of the season.”
Thomas Kjer Olsen – 2019 MXGP Round 1 – Patagonia-Argentina
Mitch Evans sat in seventh place for most of the opening moto before passing Ben Watson and Tom Vialle late in the race to earn fifth place but in the second moto Evans was right on leader Prado’s rear wheel until Kjer Olsen dropped the Aussie to third on lap 5 but Mitch pushed hard to end the moto in third, only 12 seconds behind Prado after 18 laps – impressive!
Mitch Evans
“I couldn’t be any happier, I didn’t really know what to expect being my first GP. I enjoyed every moment of it, it was awesome being here, the fans were awesome so I really enjoyed it. I knew the work that we put in during the off season and the preseason races that we had if I got good starts I could run with these boys.”
Vlaanderen, Jacobi, Watson, Vialle, Jago Geerts, Adam Sterry and Davy Pootjes rounded out the top ten while New Zealand’s Dylan Walsh ended up in 15th overall, five spots ahead of Evans’ teammate Zach Pichon who would have been hoping for better than 20th overall.
Jed Beaton was unable to compete in Argentina thanks to picking up an injury just a week before the opening GP but the Aussie will definitely be at the second round in the UK in a few week’s time so two Aussies on the podium in the coming rounds is more than possible.
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Evans creates history at Argentina
Mitch Evans has sensationally created history by becoming the first Aussie to podium on his GP debut, bettering the likes of Robert Scott, Lyndon Heffernan, Jeff Leisk, Craig Dack, Andrew McFarlane, Chad Reed, Hunter Lawrence and Jed Beaton (to name a few) along the way.
After his solid performance in tough conditions at the 2018 Motocross of Nations in America, Evans was starting to get calls from teams in Europe and it wasn’t long before Hunter Lawrence’s old team Honda 114 came knocking and the rest is history.
Mitch Evans
“I am grateful for the opportunity that Honda 114 Motorsports has presented me. Racing in the FIM Motocross World Championship has been a goal of mine since I competed in the world junior championship in 2010. There is a lot for me to learn and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. I am excited to be racing with the best in the world.”
2019 MXGP Round 1 – Argentina – Mitch Evans – Image courtesy of Team 114 Motorsports Facebook Page
Evans will now head to the MXGP of Great Britain at Matterley Basin in three weekend’s time and there is nothing surer that the Aussie has learned a lot in Argentina and will hit the second round with a belly full of confidence.
Barcia concussed – misses Atlanta
Justin Barcia has been evaluated to see if he sustained a concussion and was forced to sit out last weekend’s Atlanta Supercross following a training crash at his riding facility in Florida. Barcia
Below is the Monster Energy Yamaha statement:
“Following a medical check at TOC in Tallahassee, Florida, Barcia is being evaluated for concussion and as a precautionary measure will not take part in this weekend’s Monster Energy Supercross round at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA.
Justin Barcia
“The news of Justin’s accident this morning is a real pity, but our main concern is Justin’s health and recovery. Following the Concussion Protocol, we hope that Justin will be back to 100% and cleared to participate soon.”
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Holcomba kicks off 2019 with win in Italy
In an effort to get some valuable race miles under his belt ahead of the Enduro World Championships in March, Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe has started his 2019 racing season with a confidence inspiring result at the opening two rounds of the Italian Enduro Championship in Gioia dei Marsi last weekend.
Steve Holcome – Image by Cristiano Morello
As the reigning Assoluti d’Italia champion, Holcombe was bettered by TM rider Loic Larrieu on the opening day but the World Champ rose to the occasion on day two to take the win from Larrieu and his teammate Daniel McCanney who scored third on both days.
Steve Holcombe
“It’s been a really strong start to the 2019 season for me. I had a good ride on Saturday to finish second and then with some improvements to our setup I was able to take the win on Sunday, which is a real boost. On day one we opted to use a hard compound rear tyre. But with overnight rain that choice didn’t work in our favour and I struggled to find grip on the first lap, especially in the enduro test. As conditions improved, so did my pace and I worked my way back into contention. Fastest on the final extreme test, I got close to topping the results but I wasn’t able to make it happen on the last cross test. However, with a strong end to the day I was able to carry that speed into Sunday. I won the first test to put myself into the lead, before going on to set the fastest time in three more tests and claim victory. I honestly didn’t expect to hold this sort of pace so soon in the year as this race is part of my training plan towards the Enduro World Championship. Overall, it’s been a great result for us as a team and one that will keep us pushing hard as we head towards round one of EnduroGP in Germany at the end of this month.”
Results – Italian Enduro Championship
Round 1
Loic Larrieu (TM) 48:18.93
Steve Holcombe (Beta) 48:25.39
Daniel McCanney (TM) 48:29.79
Round 2
Steve Holcombe (Beta) 47:46.11
Loic Larrieu (TM) 48:01.61
Daniel McCanney (TM) 48:01.98
Price to be honoured at Aussie F1 GP
In an unprecedented move and with global television coverage to boot, 2019 Dakar Rally Champion Toby Price is set to join the Formula One drivers’ parade for a lap of honour ahead of the season opening race of the FIA Formula One World Championship at 2.30pm on Sunday, March 17.
Toby Price – Image by Marcin Kin
Price will follow the convoy of Formula One drivers during the parade to salute fans while riding aboard the KTM machinery he rode to his second Dakar victory.
Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO, Andrew Westacott, acknowledged that the scheduled lap of honour is a fitting way to allow the fans to celebrate the popular two wheel and four wheel racer’s ackomplishments.
Andrew Westacott – Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO
“Toby Price is the only Australian to have ever conquered the gruelling Dakar Rally, and to have now won it for a second-time in defying circumstances is an incredible achievement. What better way to celebrate Toby’s accomplishment than allowing him to join 20 of his peers that are the best racing drivers in the world in a lap of honour on the world stage. We are thrilled to honour Toby at the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2019 and see him receive the global recognition he deserves, when the world’s eyes are on Melbourne for the opening round of the FIA Formula One World Championship.”
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Dack ready for season 2019
It is hard to believe that it was 27 years ago that Craig Dack Racing (CDR Yamaha) was formed but what is not hard to believe that Craig himself, a multiple Australian Motocross and Supercross Champion still has the competitive juices flowing and is pumped for the new season.
Craig Dack
“I love this time of year. All the hard work over the off season from both the riders and the teams comes to the surface now and it’s time to go racing. This is why we do the work – to see how it plays out on the weekends. Having Appin as the opening round this year should make for a great start to the season as the track always turns on great racing and its well supported by the fans. Our team has a good history at the venue and we hope for that to continue this year. Both Luke (Clout) and Kirk (Gibbs) have had a great pre-season, and both are showing good form. Kirk has raced in New Zealand and showed plenty of speed and quickly adapted to the YZ450F while Luke has done a couple of local races and been successful at those, so I feel we are well placed heading into round one.”
CDR Yamaha’s Craig Dack
“This is our second full season on the current generation YZ450F and it’s a sensational bike with a great chassis and powerful motor. Our time isn’t spent trying to develop the bike a great deal but rather personalise it for the individual rider as the production platform is so good. Brad, Aiden and Gary are able to get the most from it and the riders respect the fact we have such high quality technical staff at CDR. We value the long term partnerships we have with the best companies in the industry. It takes a lot of support to run a team like CDR and I’m proud of the relationships we have built over the years.”
Long term and loyal sponsors like Fox, Pro Circuit, Dunlop, NGK, DID as well as major partner Yamaha have been with CDR Yamaha since the early days and the continued building of relationships with companies like Monster Energy, Kincrome tools and Renthal keep the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team at the front of the pack.
Look for ‘Dacka’ as he is known, the big blue Yamaha rig and the rest of the team on March 17 at Appin Raceway, south west of Sydney.
The stars of the AORC hit Toowoomba this weekend
This coming weekend Toowoomba will host then opening two rounds of the AORC and all of the heavy hitters will be on hand to have a crack at drawing first blood on their competition – let’s see what is going down in the three main classes.
E1
Reigning 2018 E1 Champion Luke Styke (Active8 Yamaha Yamalube) has to go into the series as class favourite but the former motocross star will have to contend with four-time world champion Matthew Phillips (MX Store, KTM) in 2019.
Luke Styke
The trouble doesn’t end there for Styke, Fraser Higlett (Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team) will no doubt come into Rounds 1 and 2 with a point to prove as will Lyndon Snodgrass (KTM Enduro Racing Team) and Michael Driscoll (Active8 Yamaha Yamalube) make thids class the hottest in the series.
E2
2018 E3 Champion Daniel Milner (KTM Enduro Racing Team) will move across to the E2 class this season and the early money is on Jeremy Carpentier (Yamaha MX Store Ballards Off-Road Team), Joshua Green (Active8 Yamaha Yamalube) and Broc Grabham to be Milner’s biggest competition this season.
Daniel Milner
“The 500cc bike was awesome, no doubt, but for me as a rider I find I suit a smaller bike better. So switching to a 350cc E2 class bike has been a really enjoyable change. I’m finding I’m moving faster and achieving better results with the smaller bike.”
Daniel Milner – AORC heads to Toowoomba for 2019 opener
E3
After taking out the E2 crown in 2018, Daniel Sanders (Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team) has moved to the E3 class and by all accounts Andy Wilksch (Motul Pirelli Sherco Team), Beau Ralston and Western Australian Jesse Lawton will all look to keep Sanders on his toes throughout the series.
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Mentoring role brings Matthew Phillips to AORC
After a couple of tough years overseas and right in the midst of potentially retiring from the sport, four-time World Champion Matthew Phillips has committed to the 2019 AORC on KTM machinery and it is in the role of mentoring young Kyron Bacon who will be competing in the EJ class that will see Phillips riding for the ‘love for the sport’ once again.
Matthew Phillips
“My plan is to compete in all 11 rounds of the AORC 2019 season, beginning in Rounds 1 and 2 in the E1 class. As the season moves on I’ll change things up a bit by moving across the senior classes with different bikes. The main thinking is that I want to maintain the love for the sport and by changing things up each round will definitely help that! Kyron rode at my property already, and he explained his situation back in 2018. I then offered my support to help him grow and climb up the ranks. Since we became a team, Kyron has been putting in an enormous number of hours, working his bike hard to get faster and faster. I definitely see him as a title contender in the EJ class for 2019 and beyond!”
Matthew Phillips
Look for the KTM/MX Store team this weekend at the opening round of the 2019 AORC at Toowoomba.
Cosford wins Coolum 2-Stroke Cup
Young Jayce Cosford has overcome the weight of his three-digit race number to better some of the fastest riders in Australia to win the premier class at the second round of the 2019 2-Stroke Nationals held at Coolum raceway last weekend.
Cosford won all three motos of the YMI All Powers Cup to take the overall ahead of local shot-shot Jai Walker and round one winner Joel Milesevic while Andrew Shacklock (Hallman Retro Cup). Alex Larwood (125 Junior Cup), Hunter Collins (Yamaha 85cc Cup) and Ky Woods (Raceline 65cc Cup) all took out the support class wins.
YMI All Powers Cup
Jayce Cosford
Jai Walker
Joel Milesevic
Jesse Bishop
Ryan Kenney
Nicholas Kefford
Danny Ham
Wilson Greiner-Daish
Cale Harkin
Kobe Barton
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
2020 Aussie Speedway Solo Champs calendar announced
On the back of a highly successful 2019 championship, a completely revamped 2020 Australian Speedway Solo Championship calendar has been announced with five rounds running from 2-11 January, commencing first in Kurri Kurri, NSW and moving South through VIC and landing at the iconic Gillman Speedway in SA.
Reflecting on the new calendar, defending champion Max Fricke is wrapped with the new schedule.
Max Fricke
“The new tighter schedule is a really great change! It matches the European style and suits what we’re used to as we compete throughout the year. It’s also a great experience for riders and fans alike, with such a tight window to collect as many points as you can whilst maintaining your fitness and drive. Going up against such strong competition back in January, which seemed to include everyone bar Jason Doyle, and then taking out my first Australian Senior Solo Championship title was such a great feeling! As we prepare for the European season, I am finding myself increasingly comfortable competing against the likes of Tungate and Holder. It’s also great to come back home to Australia and compete against locals that you haven’t experienced before, who may have different tactics and styles. The growth in Australian Speedway talent that competes in the Senior Solo Championship is really impressive and continues to grow the sport” highlighted Fricke.
Max Fricke
2020 Australian Senior Solo Speedway Championship
2nd Jan – Qualifying Meeting (If Required) – Kurri Kurri, NSW
3rd Jan – Round One – Kurri Kurri, NSW
6th Jan – Round Two – Albury, VIC
7th Jan – Round Three – Undera, VIC
9th Jan – Round Four – Mildura, VIC
11th Jan – Round Five – Gillman, SA
Stay in the loop with all things Australian Speedway by checking out the Australian Speedway Championships website and Facebook!
2020 & 2021 Australian Junior and Senior Speedway Sidecar calendar
The 2020 and 2021 Australian Junior and Senior Speedway Sidecar Championship calendar has also been announced, and reflecting the ever-increasing Speedway Sidecar talent that resides within the Australia, the Championship will land in Mildura, Victoria for 2020 and then venture across the Nullarbor Plain to Pinjar, Western Australia (WA) in 2021!
The 2020 Championship will run from 27-28 April* (*TBA), following on from the festivities of the Easter long weekend. Across in WA for 2021, the Championship will run over the Easter long weekend from 20-21 April.
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Team Honda HRC talent fourth at round nine of supercross.
Image: Supplied.
German contender Ken Roczen has labelled Atlanta’s circuit for round nine of the 2019 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship as one of the toughest this season.
Offering up a soft and rutted surface, the Team Honda HRC rider explained the soil presented high risks in attempting new rhythms throughout the track, resulting in a more cautious outing from the number 94.
Roczen, who still maintains second in the championship classification, crossed the line in P4 at the conclusion of Saturday’s 26-lap main event.
“Going into Atlanta, I was feeling a lot better than I have the past two weeks from the flu,” Roczen commented. “We came into the race with a little different suspension setting, so I was excited to try that but the track was one of the toughest. It was really soft and rutted so it was risky trying something new in those conditions, when you don’t know 100 percent what the bike is going to do.
“In the heat race, I got an okay start but was fully pinched off in the first turn, so that messed me up a bit and I was only able to finish seventh. In the main event, I was on the far outside and grabbed a good start. I had to jump a different rhythm than most the other guys in the first lane and got passed, so I went straight back to sixth.
“I moved into fifth then got stuck behind [Aaron] Plessinger for a while. I spent way too much time trying to get around him, then when I did after he went down, I couldn’t really do anything from there so I just rode a solid race and got fourth. I’m really looking forward to Daytona. It’s obviously the first time I’ve raced there in a long time, so it should be good.”
The main was taken out by red-plate holder Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), joined on the podium by Blake Baggett (Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM) and Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).
Harley-Davidson has stripped $1500 off the price of the Street Glide and deleted the distracting music infotainment system to create the new dressed-down Electra Glide Standard dresser.
It arrives in “Vivid Black” at $34,495 ride-away ($NZ37,995) which compares with the Street Glide at $36,995.
Despite deleting the infotainment system, the Electra Glide Standard still has a lot of features such as electronic cruise control, hand-adjustable emulsion-technology rear shock absorbers, 49mm front forks with dual bending valve suspension, and Reflex Linked Brembo Brakes with optional ABS.
“The deletion of the infotainment system enhances the light touch and leaves the rider to focus on connecting with the road,” Harley says.
It is still powered by the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine.
Dressed-down dresser
Harley saying guru Brad Richards calls it a “dressed-down dresser”
“To express the stripped-back essence of the Electra Glide Standard, we focused on finishes that were simple, timeless, and fundamental to the Harley-Davidson’s touring line. Chrome was added to key components and complimented by polished and blacked out parts, for example,” he says.
“The rocker, cam, and derby covers are finished with chrome to emphasize the V-Twin shape of the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine. In addition, they add a dose of nostalgia that draws a through-line all the way back to the first Electra Glide.”
Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard tech specs
PRICING 5
VIVID BLACK$34,495 AUD / $37,995NZD
ENGINE
ENGINE 2Milwaukee-Eight® 107
BORE100 mm
STROKE111 mm
DISPLACEMENT1,745 cc
COMPRESSION RATIO10.0:1
FUEL SYSTEMElectronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
EXHAUSTChrome, 2-1-2 dual exhaust with tapered mufflers
DIMENSIONS
LENGTH2,400 mm
SEAT HEIGHT, UNLADEN680 mm
GROUND CLEARANCE120 mm
RAKE (STEERING HEAD) (DEG)26
TRAIL170 mm
WHEELBASE1,625 mm
TYRES, FRONT SPECIFICATIONBW 130/80B17 65H
TYRES, REAR SPECIFICATIONBW 180/65B16 81H
FUEL CAPACITY22.7 l
OIL CAPACITY (W/FILTER)4.9 l
WEIGHT, AS SHIPPED354 kg
WEIGHT, IN RUNNING ORDER372 kg
LUGGAGE CAPACITY -VOLUME0.064 m3
PERFORMANCE
ENGINE TORQUE TESTING METHODEC 134/2014
ENGINE TORQUE 3150 Nm
ENGINE TORQUE (RPM)3,250
LEAN ANGLE, RIGHT (DEG.)31
LEAN ANGLE, LEFT (DEG.)29
DRIVETRAIN
PRIMARY DRIVEChain, 34/46 ratio
GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 1ST9.593
GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 2ND6.65
GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 3RD4.938
GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 4TH4
GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 5TH3.407
GEAR RATIOS (OVERALL) 6TH2.875
CHASSIS
WHEELS, FRONT TYPE 7Impeller Cast Aluminum
WHEELS, REAR TYPEImpeller Cast Aluminum
BRAKES, CALIPER TYPE32 mm, 4-piston fixed front and rear
ELECTRIC
LIGHTS (AS PER COUNTRY REGULATION), INDICATOR LAMPS 6High beam, running lights, directional lights, low oil pressure, engine diagnostics, neutral, cruise control, accessory, battery, gear indication, security system, 6-speed, low fuel warning, ABS, miles to empty display, fog/aux lamp indicator
GAUGESGauges styled to complement each vehicle. Display features odometer, trip A, trip B, range to empty and gear indicator; and larger tell-tale indicators.
Read more at https://www.harley-davidson.com/au/en/motorcycles/2019/touring/electra-glide-standard/detailed-specs-and-pricing.html#iygWttyPP3pykAZl.99
Small-capacity motorcycle wholesale business Braaap Wholesale has gone into liquidation and two executives face penalties over breaching import regulations.
Braaap Wholesale is the wholesale arm of Braaap Motorcycles which is still operating.
It stems from the import of 82 motorcycles from China in 2016 which were fitted with plates and sold to a NSW company for about $1 million before they had complied with the Australian Standards.
An audit of Braaap’s Victorian and Tasmanian warehouses also found bikes fitted with parts not specified on the Identification Plate Approval, including having different head lamps, direction indicators, and back and rear break pads.
Braaap’s defence lawyer told court that although the equipment didn’t comply with the Identification Plate Approval (IPA), it complied with Australian Design Rules.
Magistrate Ken Stanton will hand down his sentence on March 19.
Toby says he would “prefer not to add personal comment while it’s still before the courts”.
“I can say though – Braaap has the upmost respect for DIRD (the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities) and the Motor Vehicles Act and have worked tirelessly with the department over the past few years to ensure compliance is met and exceeded,” he says.
“It’s also important for people to be aware that there was no risk to public safety with any of the issues identified.
“The issues before the court were issues that were identified prior to vehicles being released to market and once all relevant checks had been performed the vehicles and parts in question were found to be in accordance with the ADRs and passed.”
Braaap Wholesale
Braaap Moto 3
Toby points out that the entity tied to this issue is not Braaap Motorcycles, but Braaap Wholesale which has been a non-trading entity for some time and went into liquidation in August 2018.
“I’m still with Braaap and we are forging forward,” he says.
“Braaap Wholesale was the wholesale arm of the company that dealt with IPAs and dealers etc.
“Due to the past few years it’s paid its toll on this entity. We are working with the administrators though and plan to pull it back out of liquidation.
“Braaap is still trading and Braaap Frankston is still open, Braaap Vietnam has also been launched and they will have bikes shortly (just finishing off emissions testing).
Braaap history
Braaap ST-250 recalled
In 2005, at the age of 17, Brad sourced factories in China to make bikes to his specifications.
He was named 2008 Australian Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Tasmania’s Young Australian of the Year in 2010 while the company won the Australian Retailers Association’s Small Business of the Year four times.
In 2017, Braaap released a range of new models and in 2018 introduced the electric MotoE electric motorcycle.
Riders with spoked wheels on their bikes are frustrated at not being able to get some service station air hoses to fit their metal valve stems.
The owner of a Queensland service station says he suspects one rider became so frustrated he found a solution to the problem by bending their air hose nozzle.
“I’ve often seen riders struggling to get the nozzle on to the valve stem on motorcycles,” the servo owner says.
“I suppose this works better now because of the angle, but I’m surprised he didn’t break it as it’s only made of brass.”
Riders should be aware that service stations are not legally bound to provide the free air service. Some have chosen to withdraw the service because of vandalism and accidental breakage.
Air your grievance
Air hoses are made to suit cars with flexible valve stems. They don’t suit all types of motorcycle wheels.
Riders with mag wheels on their bikes can start laughing now …
However, it’s no laughing matter for some riders with spoked wheels on their bikes.
In fact, it can be downright infuriating. On several occasions I’ve ridden to several service stations in search of a hose that will fit.
The worst offenders are the old-style air hoses with the pressure indicator on the air hose. These have a long metal nozzle which is at the wrong angle to fit on the rigid metal valve stem of spoked wheels.
Modern flexible air hoses with the pressure indicated on a digital screen on a fixed post are better.
But even some of those are too stiff to bend enough to fit over the perpendicular valve stem.
Most spoked-wheeled bikes only have one disc brake on the left of the front wheel so you access the valve stem from the right. But even these can be difficult to get an old-style air hose to fit.
If your bike has dual front discs like the Ducati GT1000 I once owned or the Triumph Scrambler 1200 I tested recently, it is almost impossible to fit any type of air hose.
Some bikes with spoked wheels have large holes in the wheel hub so you can thread the air hose through the middle to access the valve stem in a straight line.
Otherwise, you have to thread the hose through the spokes wheels and even then it can be a difficult angle.
I’ve copped bloodied knuckles trying to get the right connection on the valve stem.
Meanwhile, as you try fitting it, the connector triggers the valve and lets out precious air pressure.
After struggling in vain, I’ve sometimes left servos with less pressure in my tyres!
L-shaped valves
Replacement L-shaped valve stem
Apart from the vandal’s less-than-ideal solution, you can fit L-shaped valve stems to your wheels for easy access by any style of air hose.
I swapped the very heavy spoked wheels of the Ducati for beautiful, lightweight Blackstone TEK carbon fibre wheels which came with convenient L-shaped valve stems.
90-degree valve stem on Blackstone TEK Black Diamond carbon fibre wheels for my Ducati GT1000
It’s surprising bikes with spoked wheels don’t come from the factory with these right-angle stems.
You can buy L-shaped stem replacements for a few dollars or about $25 fitted.
However, make sure the tyre fitter re-balances the wheel after they are fitted because the stems can have a slight affect on balance that could lead to handling problems.
Even a minor variation in rotating weight can lead to dangerous vibrations.
L-shaped valve stem adaptors
A cheaper option is to buy an L-shaped valve stem adaptor that screws on to your valve stem. They are small enough to fit in your pocket and only cost a few dollars.
If you are precious about your motorcycle tyre pressures, you should carry an accurate portable pressure gauge as many service station air hoses are damaged or inaccurate.
That’s because they are often abused by motorists.
Modern flexible air hoses with the digital pressure display on a separate fixed post are more accurate and less likely to be abused and damaged.
Service stations are not obliged to provide the free service and some have chosen to withdraw the service because of vandalism and accidental breakage.
An RACQ survey found almost 10% of servos had malfunctioning air hoses.
Since many don’t even bother to refill the paper dispensers at the pump or wash down diesel spills on the forecourt, it is a tough call to expect them to also fix broken air hoses.
I surveyed several service stations in my area and found the indicated tyre pressures on air hoses varied as much as 3psi/20kpa. That might not seem like a lot, but it can affect handling.
After inflating my tyres to the pressure indicated on the servo’s air hose, I usually check the reading against a simple pencil-style pressure gauge I received free as an RACQ member.
Kpa reasing
Psi reading
It has the pound-force per square inch (psi) reading on two sides of the stem that juts out and kilopascals (kpa) on the other two sides.
It’s not the most accurate gauge, but it’s often better than the servo air hoses.
They are cheap at just a few dollars and only the size of a pen, so you can carry one in your jacket pocket.
You can also buy small digital tyre pressure gauges, but remember you only get what you pay for. We’ve used some el-cheapo units which are useless.
Buy a well-known and trusted brand name, like Oxford, and be prepared to pay $30 or more.
Rocky Creek pressure gauge
The most accurate I have used is this Rocky Creek Designs gauge which is an analogue dial on a flexible hose. It’s easy to read and shows highly accurate and detailed readings, but it’s a bit bulky to carry around on a motorbike.
Compressors
If you don’t trust the service station pumps, you can buy an air compressor and do it yourself.
Air compressors that plug into your mains power supply are bulky, but handy for blowing up the kids’ jumping castle, air mattresses, etc.
Rocky Creek Designs 12V air compressor
If you want something small and portable to take with you on your next motorcycle adventure there are many 12V models available.
Hi-tech automated cars make drivers lazy and less likely to see motorcycles which could lead to an increase in Sorry Mate, I Didn’t See You (SMIDSY) crashes, a new study has found.
Rice University and Texas Tech University studied 60 drivers over a 40-minute drive in a “simulated partially automated vehicle” and found their hazard perception decreased.
Partially automated vehicles are those with sensors that detect hazards and apply drive aids such as steering and brake application to avoid a collision.
However, the study found that drivers in these vehicles depend on the tech and become complacent, losing attention to the road ahead and its various hazards.
The study found that “safe operation becomes less likely when the demands associated with monitoring automation increase and as a drive extends in duration”.
So the longer they drive, the worse their inattention and complacency becomes.
It’s not good news for motorcyclists who are already largely unseen by motorists.
And as more and more tech is included in cars, it could get worse, says study lead author Eric Greenlee, an assistant professor of psychological sciences at Texas Tech.
“The bottom line is, until automated driving systems are completely reliable and can respond in all situations, the driver must stay alert and be prepared to take over,” he says.
“These vehicles have a lot to offer, but we’re a long way from being able to detect everything going on,” the researchers say.
“Until that day comes, we hope this research will raise awareness about the limitations of automated cars and their operators.”
Death knell
However, a 2017 US report by a motorcycle industry panel, cleverly called Give a Shift, says automated vehicles could kill off motorcycling.
“There is a “very real risk of motorcycling being completely cut out of the conversation for future vehicle infrastructure systems,” the group concludes in its report.
“As this (autonomous vehicles) technology grows, contemporary motorcycles will be even further elevated into higher risk categories in the eyes of traffic systems technologies, insurance companies, city planners and autonomous vehicle manufacturers who currently own and direct the conversation.
“The panel feels strongly that the single biggest threat to motorcycling overall (particularly in urban and higher density environments) will be the incompatibility between autonomous vehicles and existing motorcycles.”
The group says the technology will push self-operated vehicles such as motorcycles “out of the transportation matrix”.
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Look for ‘Dacka’ as he is known, the big blue Yamaha rig and the rest of the team on March 17 at Appin Raceway, south west of Sydney.
