Ponte un objetivo.
Set a goal.
https://bit.ly/2SZd2O8
Source: Marc Márquez on Facebook
Stayin’ Safe: A Pain in the Grass
I’ve got a grass-fed beef. And, based on recent conversations, so do a lot of riders. Homeowners mowing their lawns and throwing abundant grass clippings onto the roadway can create a special kind of threat to motorcyclists.
Dry grass will typically blow away as vehicles pass through or breezes sweep it off the roadway. But if grass is wet, it clings to the surface and can be like grease under motorcycle tires.
If possible, when confronted with grass-covered pavement, do all slowing on clear pavement leading up to the grassy area. Keep eyes up, looking well ahead to increase stability. To maximize traction, minimize steering, braking and throttle inputs and coast through the grass patches. If the equivalent of one of these Chia Pet patches of pavement appears in a corner, the rider should minimize lean angles and look to the exit, not down at the grass or toward the edge of the road.
Remember that grass will stay wet longer than pavement. So, after a rain shower or in the morning when dew blankets the landscape with moisture, the road surface may be dry, but grass clippings may still be wet and slippery.
The best way to avoid problems? Ride only as fast as you can see and anticipate the possibility before you encounter it. If you see homes with lawns–especially on the weekends when homeowners are most active doing yardwork–there’s a good chance someone will be mowing. Larger lawns, like those found in rural areas where we like to ride, are often maintained with lawn tractors that process large amounts of grass and throw it greater distances.
While discharging grass onto roadways is illegal in many areas, it remains a threat to riders. Anticipating the condition and riding smoothly and calmly through it will reduce the likelihood that grass on the road will clip you.
Source: RiderMagazine.com
Interrupted races: the rules evolve
The Grand Prix Commission has made changes to make the rules surrounding race interruptions clearer
The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Paul Duparc (FIM), Herve Poncharal (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), in an electronic meeting held on 18th. December 2018 made the following decision:
Sporting Regulations – Effective Immediately
Race Classification and Eligibility to Restart After an Interrupted Race
In order to avoid any misunderstandings by Teams, Riders, Broadcasters and other Media, the Grand Prix Commission has modified the regulations to further clarify existing rules.
Classification of an Interrupted Race – Additional Rules in Bold Text
If the Race Director decides to interrupt a race at any point from the start of the warm up lap onwards, then red flags will be displayed at the finish line and at all marshals’ posts and he will switch on the red lights around the circuit. Riders must immediately slow down and return to the pit lane.
The results will be the results taken at the last point where the leader and all other active riders on the same lap as the leader had completed a full lap without the red flag being displayed.
Exceptions:
i.) if the race is interrupted after the chequered flag, the following procedure will apply:
1. For all the riders to whom the chequered flag was shown before the interruption, a partial classification will be established at the end of the last lap of the race.
2. For all the riders to whom the chequered flag was not shown before the interruption, a partial classification will be established at the end of the penultimate lap of the race.
3. The complete classification will be established by combining both partial classifications as per the lap/time procedure.
ii) In an interrupted race, if the leader and all active riders on the same lap have completed a full lap before the red flag is displayed, and at that time there is a rider in pit lane which closes due to the red flag without the rider crossing a timekeeping point, the results will be taken from the last timekeeping point that the race leader and all other active riders on the same lap as the leader have crossed.
If there is a problem with a rider’s timekeeping transponder, the results will be taken from the previous finish line results.
At the time the red flag is displayed, riders who are not actively competing in the race will not be classified.
Within 5 minutes after the red flag has been displayed, riders who have not entered the pit lane crossing the designated pit lane entry timekeeping point riding on their motorcycle, will not be classified.
An exception may be granted in exceptional circumstances (e.g. post-race celebration in an interrupted race deemed to have been completed).
MotoGP Class Race – Interrupted Race Classifications.
The regulations currently allow for multiple restarts of interrupted MotoGP class races with the possibility of multiple restarted races. In a situation where it was not possible to restart any of these races it has been decided that a result will only be based on the results of a previous race if five or more laps had been completed.
Restarting a Race That Has Been interrupted – Additional Rules in Bold Text
The grid position will be based on the finishing order of the first race.
Riders who are classified 1 lap down will start the restarted race from Pit Lane.
Riders who are classified 2 laps down will not be eligible to restart.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
Nemo Galaxi Two-Person Tent Review
The right gear makes motorcycle camping easy
Tales of Peter Egan’s notorious tent Big Pink put you off motorcycle camping? The Nemo Galaxi tent will change your mind.
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com
Massimo Rivola to be Aprilia Racing CEO
Forty-seven years old with a business degree, a motorcycle and Aprilia brand enthusiast, Massimo Rivola has the experience of twenty-one seasons and more than 300 GP races in F1. Twelve years in pit lane with Minardi, Toro Rosso and, with seven seasons, he was the longest running Sports Director in the history of Ferrari. He has worked with great champions including Alonso and Vettel. For the last three years he has been the head of the Ferrari Driver Academy, taking a young Leclerc from an F3 car to the wheel of the F1 car from Maranello.
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
MotoGP™ remains on MTV Finland for three more years
“MotoGP is one of the most popular motorsports in the world, which is no surprise, since there’s so much happening on the track all the time,” says Markus Autero, MTV Head of Sports. “The races are broadcasted to over 200 countries, and we are very happy to be part of this with C More – and live shows on 38 days.”
Source: MotoGP.com – Read Full Article Here
2019 Husqvarna FC450 RockStar Edition in Oz from April
Source: MCNews.com.au
Rider leggings get poor safety ratings
The world’s first motorcycle clothing safety ratings program, MotoCAP, has given just half a star each to three sets of rider leggings and mixed reviews on gloves.
MotoCAP launched in September with ratings for 10 leather jackets and 10 pairs of rider jeans.
Last month they added ratings for 10 textile jackets which rated lower than the leather jackets on safety.
MotoCAP has set a target of testing 10% of available jackets, pants and gloves in its first year of operation.
Leggings tested
So far, no women’s jackets or pants had been tested, but now they have tested three pairs of women’s leggings.
The Bull-It, Draggin and Oxford leggings rate just half a star for safety out of five.
The Draggin Stealthz leggings also rated half a star for comfort, while the Oxford Super Leggings rated three and a full five stars for the Bull-It Fury SP120 Lite Jeggings.
Click here for the full ratings for all pants.
Gloves tested
Finally gloves have been tested with a mixed range of results.
Ducati Corse C3 gloves received maximum protection ratings, while Macna Catch Mesh and DriRider Air Ride scored just one star.
No ratings were given for comfort.
Four stars went to Harley-Davidson Circuit waterproof and Alpinestars SP-2, three to Ixon RS Rallye HP and Five Gloves Sportcity and two stars to Dainese Mig C2.
Testing target
In October, a Transport for NSW spokesman told us leather pants are also being tested.
When MotoCAP was launched, the motorcycle clothing industry was not invited to pay for testing to guarantee independence.
The gear was bought anonymously from stores and local online outlets.
However, MotoCAP has invited companies to submit products for ratings and pay a low fee to cover testing.
It is not yet known if these new items were randomly selected or provided by distributors.
Companies can voluntarily advertise their rating using the MotoCAP logo.
MotoCAP is a not-for-profit organisation in partnership with the following: from NSW – Transport for NSW, SIRA and the NRMA; from Victoria – VicRoads, TAC and RACV; from South Australia – DPTI, MAC and RAA; from Queensland – TMR and RACQ; from Western Australia – the Western Australian Road Safety Commission; plus the Australian Motorcycle Council and the New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation.
The Transport for NSW spokesperson says MotoCAP is designed to “reduce road trauma and injury severity for motorcyclists” by informing riders of their choices.
“It is hoped this will be achieved by raising consumer awareness of, and demand for, better protective clothing, and manufacturers and suppliers will respond to that demand,” he said.
“The MotoCAP rating system will be continually monitored and feedback will be considered to identify any improvements that can be made.”
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Riders warned on number plate scam
Police confirm that a number plate scam has landed some motorists with fines for speeding offences they did commit and unpaid toll notices they did not accrue.
They believe the offenders are using vehicle sales websites to find a vehicle matching the model of their owned or stolen vehicle.
Offenders then create a duplicate number plate on laminated paper and place it on their vehicle.
This plate scam has been around for a while but surfaced again recently in Brisbane when Moreton South Patrol Group received enquiries from motorists who received Traffic Infringement Notices in the mail for speeding offences.
Queensland Police say the motorists denied the speeding fine allegations and provided photographic evidence to prove the vehicle in the speeding offence photo was not theirs, even though it had their number plate.
“Further enquiries have revealed that many of these vehicles have been advertised on commercial car sale websites, exposing their registration details,” they say.
Recently police have also charged offenders with possessing false number plates that share the same number to similar vehicles owned by other people.
However, they have not said how many offenders have been apprehended nor how many speeding fines have been waived.
Plate scam not new
Police and transport departments in NSW and Victoria states the plate scam is not new, but are unable to supply statistics for speeding fines waived or offenders who can be charged with both criminal and traffic offences.
It is recommended that private sellers blur their number plates when they advertise their vehicle online.
In Victoria, Victoria Police, VicRoads, Department of Justice and Regulation, Fines Victoria, the Crime Statistics Agency and National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council are investigating the misuse and theft of number plates.
“If an individual suspects number plate misuse of any kind, they should immediately contact police,” VicRoads suggests.
South Australia Police say it has not affected motorists in their state. Tasmania and WA authorities did not reply to our inquiries.
Unpaid tolls
The scammers have also been using tollways with the video recognition fee going to the registered owners of the plate.
Kingaroy rider Paulette Devine copped a $10.78 fee for an unpaid $2.28 motorway toll when her Kawasaki Ninja 250 was parked in her garage more than 200km away.
She bought the Ninja in July 2017 through Gumtree.
We contacted Queensland tollway company Linkt who confirmed they had waived Paulette’s toll.
Linkt is owned by Transurban which also owns CityLink in Melbourne and six tollways in Sydney.
(Click here to find why tunnels are the top traps for speeding fines.)
In fact, they also waived a second unpaid toll after they found the same number plate had been used on a different bike.
They confirmed that “some people who complain regarding this are being investigated”.
Linkt would not reveal how many are being investigated.
Motorcycle riders are particularly vulnerable to this plate scam where tollways use video pate recognition for motorcycles instead of a transponder.
Riders should check their next toll statement to ensure that all toll fees are legitimate.
If you find an incorrect charge, email the Transurban customer resolution team at: [email protected]
Do not simply fail to pay the fee as the charges will rise even more.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Tesla Autopilot detects lane filtering riders
Electric car company Tesla is further developing its Autopilot software that detects lane-filtering riders as shown in this driver’s YouTube video.
One of the biggest issues about the rapid move toward autonomous vehicles is how they will detect small and vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.
In one incident in San Francisco last year a lane filtering rider was hit by a Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle being driven in autonomous mode.
And police had the hide to blame the rider!
The Australian Motorcycle Council and other motorcycle representative groups around the world have called on authorities to slow down the testing and introduction of autonomous vehicles.
A motorcycle industry group in the USA called Give a Shift went so far as to say 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”.
However, motorcycle, car and tech companies such as Bosch are continuing to work together to develop systems that better identify and communicate with each other.
So while we still have grave concerns, it appears technology is starting to find solutions that just might make us safer.
In fact, BMW Motorrad spokesman Karl Viktor Schaller declares they will make riding safer because autonomous vehicles (AVs) will be virtually crashproof.
Tesla Autopolit
Tesla has now launched its Version 9 software update to Autopilot 2.0+ hardware that has a more advanced “neural net” to detect smaller and faster-moving objects around the vehicle.
That includes lane-filtering motorcycles.
In the above video by Tesla Model 3 owner Scott Kubo, there are several examples of lane-splitting riders in LA travelling at much higher speeds than the 30km/h lane filtering maximum in Australia.
The system struggles at times to detect them both day and night.
In some cases it mistakes a bike for a car and in others the bike is in the next lane and passing right through cars!
Scott says drivers also use their ears to detect motorcycles and suggests an audio sensor to help the camera and radar sensors.
However, the bikes — including a couple of loud Harleys — are only audible for the last couple of seconds as they are coming from behind.
With the crackdown on exhaust noise and the coming wave of quiet electric motorcycles, an audio sensor would probably be pointless.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com