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Toparis tops ASBK Supersport Test | Form guide

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2019 ASBK Supersport Official Test Wrap

Images by Andrew Gosling – tbg sport

Eighteen riders started the ASBK Supersport test, with Oli Bayliss making the step up to the Supersport category this year, but no one could get near last year’s class runner-up, as Tom Toparis totally dominated all bar one of the eight sessions.

Toparis has left the Cube Racing Team where he’s been since he started road racing. After his years racing Kawasaki’s in both the 300 class and Supersports, Tom will be Yamaha mounted this year, basically doing it alone in a family run affair with a few sponsors like Landbridge Racing.

Tom Toparis

“It’s been a good weekend, for the first time at the Island on the Aussie Supersport bike. It’s good to get out and do some laps and learn. The bike’s really smooth and I think that’s the most important thing.”

ASBK Test Phillip Island Feb Tom Toparis
Tom Toparis – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test

The youngster from Goulburn (NSW) will also be doing a Wild Card in the Supersport World Championship at Phillip Island later this month on an up-specced Yamaha R6 which should give him a great opportunity to step up the leader board after his experience in the event last year, when he finished 14th in the race.

It was Tom’s first outing on the new bikes at the test and so there was a lot of setting up to be done to adapt to the characteristics of the Yamaha after his years on the Kawasaki.

Tom Toparis

“The new Yamaha R6 is just really smooth, straight out of the box. The chassis is a lot more… a bit more like a Moto3 bike. It feels a lot stiffer and a lot more race orientated and a lot more aggressive, the styling of it. The brakes are good, we can make the tyre last for a long time, which is really good. We just have to make a few decisions about what we’re going to run. We’re just messing around with a few little things, we went pretty fast this morning. We’ll see how we go and hopefully my little mate Oli won’t beat me anytime soon. We’ll be back in a couple of weeks to test the WorldSBK, I just rode it around today, no tyres or anything to get a bit of a feel for that too…”

ASBK TBG FebTest PI Tom Toparis TBG
Tom Toparis – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test

Second fastest was South Australian Nic Liminton, also Yamaha mounted. It’s a welcome return for Liminton as he was sidelined for most of last year as he battled – and overcame – testicular cancer. It’s a confronting moment for a teenager, as it would have been an extremely difficult time for the close knit Liminton family but thankfully he is back to full health, and keener than ever to get on track again racing.

ASBK TBG FebTest PI Nic Liminton TBG
Nic Liminton – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test

His times were slightly off his PB around the track as they are fine tuning their new Yamaha’s but understandably Nic is just over the moon to be back riding and racing in a few weeks, after his reality check of 2018.

Nic Liminton

“We had a lot to get through as we set up the new bikes back but I am so happy with where we are right now. I am just so happy to be back getting ready to race a full season. This is my first time ever on the new Yamaha R6. The suspension we’re still dealing with, hopefully we’ll get it all sorted by the race, but at the moment – the Ohlins – if we can get it dialed in, I reckon we can have a very good race. We had a base setting on the suspension at the start and we thought that was going to be amazing, but we changed a few things and we’ve got it to a pretty good point now. With a few more practice sessions we’ll be in a better place. Track time is definitely a bit of an issue, we don’t have much of it, compared to some of the other riders, so we’ll just try and learn as quick as possible and then hope the race is going to be good. Top three is where I want to be, I think Tom’s in a league of his own at the moment, but if we can slowly close the gap through each round to him, I want to be where he is by sometime this year. That’s the goal.”

ASBK TBG FebTest PI Nic Liminton TBG
Nic Liminton – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test

We know the kid can ride but it was still a bit of a surprise to see Oli Bayliss third fastest over the two days. Ok, he has had a few sessions at Morgan Park on the 600 to get a handle on it but coming to Phillip Island is an entirely different bunch of coconuts.

ASBK TBG FebTest PI Oli Bayliss TBG
Oli Bayliss – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test

The last time he rode there was on a 300 Proddie bike with massively different lap times, so it was a huge challenge but he took it in his stride and was only two-tenths off Liminton’s best time, with plenty of more experienced Supersport pilots behind him. Broc Pearson, also on a Yamaha, was less than a tenth of a second off, in fourth fastest, snapping at his heels.

Oli Bayliss

“We’re still getting used to the track, we’ve ridden the bike four times, but on this track zero, so the first day actually surprised me. I didn’t realise we were going to go this fast, but I’m absolutely loving it, and it’s a great track to ride, and so much fun. I didn’t think I was going to get going this fast so early on. I was here three months ago and we were doing 1:49s and now we’re doing 1:37s, so it’s like a 12 second, 13 seconds difference and it’s just different to get used to how much more power it has than the 300. The weekend was very good. Very, very, very, very good! It was really helpful and it’s given me a lot of confidence going into the race. Our times weren’t bad, we were third or fourth overall and we are getting there. Hopefully practice at the race meeting we can crack a 36, maybe even a 35. It’s going to be hard, but with a bit of help, with another rider being towed along and a few other changes to the bike – I’m losing a bit of top speed, so if we can get all of those problems sorted out, hopefully we can go a bit faster. I’ve three of my best mates out there, Tom [Toparis], Ty [Lynch] and Broc [Pearson], so it’s going to be weird racing them all, but also going to be really fun. Hopefully we can still be friends after the finish, if shit happens!”

ASBK TBG FebTest PI Oli Bayliss TBG
Oli Bayliss – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test

Pearson who was fourth fastest, was his usual rapid self but a big get off at Turn One towards the end of day one slowed things down a bit, as on day two he never quite got to the times of the previous day and on his own admission says that he always has trouble with the track.

ASBK TBG FebTest PI Broc Pearson TBG
Broc Pearson – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test
Broc Pearson

“We started off Day One really good, and I think I prepared well for this season, I’m a lot fitter and a lot more flexible. Yesterday morning started really well, I missed the first session due to some electrical issues, but we got out there in the second one. Instantly I was into good times, so I was really confident. Leading into the last session I was first on the times at about the middle mark of the session and went back out and had a new set of tyres and was pretty confident to go a bit faster. I ended up making a mistake in Turn 1 and had a bit of a fall, and then Day Two just hasn’t gelled so much. I sort of get over that kind of stuff and don’t get effected but I think I found a bit of a limit yesterday that was like hitting a wall today, getting to a speed that I couldn’t really pass. So I think I just need to work on a few things with my riding, I don’t think it’s mental or physical, it’s just time on the bike, which I don’t get much off. So hopefully we can get a bit of that between now and end of the month.”

ASBK TBG FebTest PI Broc Pearson TBG
Broc Pearson – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test

Another debutant in the class is the 2017 Australian Supersport 300cc Champion, Reid Battye, returning to the domestic title chase after a disastrous season in Europe last year. After winning the title Reid had high hopes of competing in the Supersport 300 World Championship that Tom Edwards competed in, but a botch up with registering for the over-subscribed grid saw the teenager left out in the cold and living in Italy.

ASBK TBG FebTest PI Reid Battye TBG
Reid Battye – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test

He returned to Australia half way through the year and so has not had much riding but was impressive in his first outing on the new Suzukis and was fifth. Like Bayliss, Battye will definitely be a threat once he gets more in tune with the bikes and he has the added bonus of Phil Tainton fettling his bikes between meetings. Expect him to give it a big shake

ASBK TBG FebTest PI Reid Battye TBG
Reid Battye – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test

Just adrift of Battye was Sam Lambert who has had an on-again off-again relationship with the class in recent years but in that time has proven to be one that is in the upper part of the field but has lacked the budget to complete a full season. Let’s hope the Northern Territorian can stick around for the entire season as the sound of the MV Agusta he is riding on full noise is just majestic, and he is not too far off the pace.

While Toparis may have had a distinct edge in lap times over the others the difference in times between second (Liminton) and seventh (Aiden Hayes) was just over a second, and the rest were close behind.

ASBK Test Phillip Island Feb Toparis
Tom Toparis lead the time sheets by a hefty margin- ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test

Add a few more that were not at the test and others that are rising through the ranks like Scott Nicholson (who is in his own team this year); Aiden Hayes who is hoping to contest the entire season; as well as Ty Lynch who is gaining advice from Jed Metcher to improve his performances; Rhys Belling; Jack Passfield; Dallas Skeer; and the ever competitive Chris Quinn, and the 2019 Supersport category will have plenty of spice to compliment the other classes.

Supersport Combined Practice Times – 2019 ASBK PI Test

  1. Tom TOPARIS (NSW) Yamaha YZF-R6 1:35.295
  2. Nicholas LIMINTON (SA) Yamaha YZF-R6 1:37.273
  3. Oli BAYLISS (QLD) Yamaha YZF-R6 1:37.492
  4. Broc PEARSON (QLD) Yamaha YZF-R6 1:37.588
  5. Reid BATTYE (NSW) Suzuki GSX-R 1:38.134
  6. Sam LAMBERT (NT) MV Agusta F3 1:38.142
  7. Aidan HAYES (NSW) Yamaha YZF-R6 1:38.496
  8. Scott NICHOLSON (VIC) Suzuki GSX-R 1:39.013
  9. Ty LYNCH (SA) Yamaha YZF-R6 1:39.136
  10. Ryan TAYLOR (VIC) Yamaha YZF-R6 1:39.182
  11. Rhys BELLING (VIC) Yamaha YZF-R6 1:39.591
  12. Jack PASSFIELD (NSW) Yamaha YZF-R6 1:39.657
  13. Luke MITCHELL (NSW) Yamaha YZF-R6 1:39.776
  14. Chris QUINN (NSW) Yamaha YZF-R6 1:39.782
  15. Luke SANDERS (VIC) Yamaha YZF-R6 1:40.723
  16. Andrew EDSER (NSW) Kawasaki ZX6R 1:40.831
  17. Dallas SKEER (SA) Suzuki GSX-R 1:41.012
  18. Daniel LEONARD (VIC) Yamaha YZF-R6 1:44.081

Source: MCNews.com.au

News

Are you leaving enough gap in front?

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Many riders are taught to leave a two or three-second gap between their bike and the vehicle they are a following as a safety buffer. But is it really enough? Is there such a thing as leaving too much space?

How to judge gap

We are taught to use a visible roadside reference to determine our following distance.

It works like this: As the vehicle in front passes a landmark (such as a light post, sign or tree), we start counting “1000, 2000, 3000” by which time our bike will pass the same roadside landmark.

That’s a three-second gap.

It’s much easier than trying to estimate distance and it’s easier, because the distance naturally increases the faster you are riding.

Gap variables

However, is a two-second or three-second gap enough?

The problem is there are several variables.

First is the vehicle in front. If it’s a late-model car, it will stop quite quickly.

Cars usually have better stopping power than motorcycles because of their increased contact with the ground. Click here for more on this subject. So maybe add a second or two.

Continental brake assist automated
Lane-change assist

Older cars, trucks, vans and laden utes cars will not be able to stop as quickly, so two seconds might be fine. However, be aware of any unsecured loads that could fall off a truck or ute.

Second is your motorcycle. How are its brakes?

There is a substantial difference between motorcycle stopping abilities, depending on many variables such as weight, tyres, suspension, brake discs, callipers, ABS, linked brakes and even the brake lines (hydraulic or cable).

(ABS may not make some riders stop any shorter, but it will allow the rider to steer out of harm’s way.)

And then there’s the skill of the rider. Have you been taught the correct way to use the brakes? Click here for MotoDNA emergency braking tips and go out and practise!

(Go to 30-second mark of the video)

Assessing space

To assess your bike’s braking abilities, find a quiet piece of road or carpark to practise your emergency stopping.

Take a friend and get them to measure how far it takes you to stop from various speeds.

Once you have the distance for each speed, compare it with how far you travel at that speed.

For example, at 100km/h you travel 28m a second, so your two-second gap leaves 56m to safely stop and three seconds leaves 84m.

Here is a list showing distance travelled at various speeds with stopping distances for 2- and 3-second gaps:

  • 40km/h  = 11m/second = 22m (2second gap) = 33m (3 seconds)
  • 50km/h  = 13.8m/s = 27.6m (2s) = 41.4m (3s)
  • 60km/h  = 16.6m/s = 33.2m (2s) = 49.8m (3s)
  • 70km/h  = 19.4m/s = 38.8m (2s) = 58.2m (3s)
  • 80km/h  = 22.2m/s = 44.4m (2s) = 66.6m (3s)
  • 90km/h  = 25.0m/s  = 50.0m (2s) = 75m (3s)
  • 100km/h = 27.7m/s = 58.4m (2s) = 83.1m (3s)
  • 110km/h = 30.5m/s = 61.0m (2s) = 91.5m (3s)
  • 120km/h = 33.3m/s = 66.6m (2s) = 99.9m (3s)
  • 130km/h = 36.1m/s = 72.4m (2s) = 108.3m (3s)

If your measured stopping distance at those speeds is more, then you may need to consider lengthening your gap.

Fingers wresting on the brake lever and around the throttle gap

Don’t overdo gap

However, don’t be too alarmed and add several seconds, because there are two more variables to consider.

The first is the fact that if you leave a big gap between you and the vehicle in front, another vehicle is likely to slot in which means you have to pull back even further.

If they jump in suddenly and then stomp on the brakes, it’s only creating more danger.

Also, the vehicle in front will not stop immediately when they apply their brakes. They also have stopping distances that vary with speed.

Then there’s the whole other problem of tailgaters and road ragers hitting us from behind! So don’t just concentrate on the road aead, but also check your mirrors.road rage tailgate tailgating rear-ender motorcycles BMW S 1000 RR lane filtering lane splitting gap

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

MIC Owner Survey Reveals Who Todays Motorcyclist Is

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Not much of a surprise: the median age of motorcyclists is trending up.

Begin press release:

We know that more motorcycle owners these days are women, and now we know increasing percentages of all owners are married and college graduates, and they’re generally older, according to the 2018 Motorcycle Industry Council Owner Survey.

“Demographics are changing for Americans across the country and it’s no different for motorcycle owners,” said MIC President and CEO Tim Buche. “For decades, the MIC Owner Survey has told us a lot about who we are, and we’re now learning how things have shifted since our last study was done in 2014. Some of the stats are encouraging, like the increasing number of women owners, while other data, such as the rising median age, show where we have more work to do.”

Gender, Age, Marital Status
Male Owners – 81 percent
Female Owners – 19 percent

Median Age
2018 – 50
2014 – 47
2012 – 45

Married
2018 – 68 percent
2014 – 61 percent
2012 – 63 percent

Education, Income and Work Status
College Graduate
2018 – 24 percent
2014 – 20 percent
2012 – 17 percent

Median Household Income
2018 – $62,500
2014 – $62,200
2012 – $64,100

Employed – 71 percent
Retired – 24 percent

The owner survey also uncovered trends among the emerging group of millennial motorcyclists. More than half have taken a training course and use their bikes frequently for commuting. Sixty-nine percent say they are interested in electric motorcycles, citing fuel and the environment as top drivers.

“For the past several years, manufacturers have offered more great entry-level motorcycles at affordable prices,” Buche said, “while at the same time focusing on increasing the industry’s outreach to millennials.”

The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. As a not-for-profit national industry association, the MIC seeks to support motorcyclists by representing manufacturers, distributors, dealers and retailers of motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, ROVs, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts, accessories and related goods and services, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies and consultants.

The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office in metropolitan Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Visit the MIC at mic.org.

The post MIC Owner Survey Reveals Who Today’s Motorcyclist Is appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, News

Sepang Test coverage on motogp.com

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A vital schedule is on the cards for the 11 teams with new evolutions discovered over the winter being put to the test, just over a month ahead of the first race under the lights in Qatar. Join us on February 6th, 7th and 8th for reports, reactions, interviews and highlights during and after each day, with the riders on track between 10:00 – 18:00 local time (GMT +8). In addition, starting at 17:30 local time, we will have live After the Flag episodes at the end of each day, giving you in-depth analysis of the days ongoings as well as live reactions from the riders. 

Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, News

Zarco and KTM: a step forward in Sepang?

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The double Moto2™ World Champion said “it was worse than expected” after the Valencia Test, which included two crashes. But, things were a little more positive in Jerez and both rider and team will have been working flat out during the winter in order to improve the feeling ahead of the Sepang Test.

Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here

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