Downsized two-rider campaign for factory Husqvarna team.
Image: John Pearson.
Returning duo Daniel Sanders and Fraser Higlett will form the Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team for 2019 in the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) and Australian Four-Day Enduro (A4DE) events.
At 24 years of age, Sanders experienced an array of success throughout his first season with Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia this year, lifting the AORC E2 crown aboard a Husqvarna FE 450 and clinching a commanding maiden victory in the Hattah Desert Race riding a Husqvarna FE 501.
The versatile Victorian capped off the year by contributing to Team Australia’s incredible World Trophy victory at Chile’s International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), along with finishing third in the outright individual results and second in the E3 division. Next season could see Sanders step up to the Husqvarna FE 501 full-time off-road, that decision to be confirmed.
“I’m definitely excited to be back on-board with the Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team,” Sanders stated. “They were great to be a part of this season and I adapted really well to the four-stroke as well, so it’s shaping up to be a strong year in 2019.
“Now that we’ve learned so much together as a team, the plan is to go even better, be super-consistent and right there at the pointy-end. Winning is always the goal, that’s the objective of going racing and I’m confident that being part of Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia’s factory team with Fraser will provide a great platform to work from, that’s for sure.”
Higlett, 19, established himself as a rising star of the sport this season, earning runner-up honours in the AORC E1 title-fight after scoring an inspiring 10 podiums from 11 rounds. Impressing in his inaugural appearance at the ISDE, Higlett went on to assist the Australian Junior World Trophy to fifth position, while being ranked ninth in E1 standings.
“It’s a good feeling to be with the Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team for 2019, it’s just awesome to be a part of and I’m already keen to go racing next year,” said Higlett. “I was able to learn so much this season and picked up some good results along the way, so now we can take advantage of that experience and aim even higher in terms of results.
“To be alongside ‘Chucky’ as teammates is great for me, he’s a huge help and so is the entire team, so I’m really happy to be back for another season together.”
Team manager Christian Horwood commented: “We’re over the moon to sign both Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders and Fraser Higlett for 2019. As a team we achieved some fantastic results together in 2018 and it was a really good team dynamic that we worked within.
“Both riders have been outstanding since joining Husqvarna, they assist each other as much as they possibly can and we’re proud to welcome back our major sponsors for next year, so we are all set and are extremely excited to get things underway.”
The announcement confirms Husqvarna will downsize to a two-rider program in 2019, prompting the departure of Lachlan Stanford.
Hickman moves into contention with victory at Manfeild
The second of three rounds in this year’s Suzuki Series at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, in Feilding, on Sunday picked up when it had left off at round one in Taupo a week earlier, again bursting with edge-of-the-seat racing.
Visiting British rider Peter Hickman is one of the series’ draw-card riders, but the Isle of Man champion didn’t really feature at Taupo. The same could not be said after his stunning performance at Manfeild on Sunday.
Hickman won both of the day’s glamour Formula One superbike races and looked comfortable doing it, rocketing up from 11th overall after the Taupo opener to now be placed third in the series standings, just eight points behind defending Suzuki Series champion Scotty Moir, of Taupo.
Moir qualified fastest in this class and he then finished the day overall runner-up, his carding of 2-4 results in the two F1 races enough to give him a one-point edge over Wainuiomata’s Shane Richardson for the day’s tally, although Richardson still leads the series standings.
Richardson finished 4-2 in his two F1 outings on Sunday, equal to Moir’s race results, but Moir’s extra point for setting the fastest qualifying time gave him the welcome boost.
Richardson’s series lead has suffered only minimal damage – he has gone from four points in front of Moir to now have just a three-point advantage over Moir.
Hickman, on the other hand, made gigantic advances after his Kiwi debut at Taupo.
Peter Hickman
“It wasn’t all doom and gloom at Taupo, but I think this (Manfeild) circuit better suited the bike than the track at Taupo did,” Hickman said.
“The level of talent here in New Zealand is actually quite good. It definitely wasn’t easy to win today,” said the 31-year-old Lincolnshire man.
“It’s my first time in New Zealand, but it has all been good. We only got to the Taupo track the day before the racing there. I only landed Friday morning and I was racing there Saturday and Sunday, so I was sort of thrown in at the deep end, but I still really enjoyed it.
“I hadn’t seen the circuit before at Taupo, but I earned a front-row start position. Then race one at Taupo I was running third when I had a coming-together with another rider and we both ended up in the gravel. It wasn’t my fault, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes.
“In the second race at Taupo, the temperature was so hot that the track became very slippery. It didn’t help my cause in any way, but I was still in touch with the front boys and I managed to finish fifth in the end.
“I didn’t have any jet lag at Manfeild and had an extra day riding here, so I went better there,” he said matter-of-factly.
“On my way to Manfeild I stopped off in Whanganui and did a couple of laps (of the Cemetery Circuit) in the car. I knew it was a short circuit, but I didn’t think it was so wide,” said Hickman, unaware perhaps that the Cemetery Circuit has never before been described as or considered by most racers as ‘wide’.
“I think there are loads of passing opportunities, so I’m feeling confident for Boxing Day. Obviously, I’m not going to get a lot of time to practice on it, which makes things a little more tough, but we’ll have some fun there and do some wheelies and skids. That’s what it’s all about.”
Peter Hickman with his trophy for winning 2018 Senior TT – The Brit had a stellar 2018 and is looking to sign it off on a high note in NZ
There is only a little bit of respite before the series has its third at final round, the traditional public street race spectacular on Boxing Day (December 26), the bikes on that once-a-year occasion being raced around Whanganui’s iconic Cemetery Circuit.
Despite being a first-time visitor to New Zealand, Hickman is obviously a quick learner and the curbs, tight bends, railway crossings and slick painted road markings at Whanganui should present no problems for the 2018 Isle of Man winner.
There were ALSO changes near the top of several other classes also at Manfeild.
In the 600cc Formula Two class, Whakatane’s Damon Rees was again unbeatable, while his nearest challenger, Rangiora’s Avalon Biddle, dropped from the runner-up spot for the series after crashing while leading the day’s second of two F2 races on Sunday.
The new No.2 rider in this class now is Rogan Chandler, the Lower Hutt man finishing third and second inn the two F2 races on Sunday and moving from fourth to second for the series.
Rogan Chandler edged out Feilding’s Ashton Hughes, who himself moved up from fifth overall to capture third overall thanks to his 4-3 results at Manfeild.
Palmerston North’s Jacob Stroud continues to lead the Formula Three class; Auckland’s Scott Findlay still tops the Post Classics, Pre-89, Juniors class; Te Awamutu’s Gary Morgan remains in control of the Bears (non-Japanese bikes) and Formula Sport, Juniors class;
NZ Suzuki Series 2018 Series Points after Round Two
Formula One superbikes
Shane Richardson (Wainuiomata) 84 points
Scott Moir (Taupo) 81
Peter Hickman (UK) 73.
Formula Two 600
Damon Rees (Whakatane) 102 points
Rogan Chandler (Upper Hutt) 78
Ashton Hughes (Feilding) 71.
Formula three
Jacob Stroud (Palmerston North) 102 points
Leigh Tidman (Taumarunui) 84
Richard Markham-Barrett (Nikau Valley) 74
GIXXER Cup
Zak Fuller (Taupiri) 90 points
Jesse Stroud (Hamilton) 90 points
Clark Fountain (Greymouth) 88
Post Classics, Pre-89, Seniors
Peter Bogusz (Paraparaumu) 89 points
Gian Louie (Hastings) 87
Duncan Coutts (Whangarei) 74’
Post Classics, Pre-89, Juniors
Scott Findlay (Auckland) 98 points
Dean Bentley (Lower Hutt) 90
Chris Sales (Palmerston North) 62.
Bears (non-Japanese bikes) and Formula Sport, Seniors
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This week’s Moto News!
Brayton Wins Torino Supercross
Toby Price Injured
Jeremy Martin out for 2019
Luke Clout Joins Kirk Gibbs at CDR
Dylan Long Joins Empire Motorsports Kawasaki
Milner and Snodgrass Remain with KTM for 2019
Sanders and Higlett head Husky challenge
GYTR roll on for 2019
Watch 2019 Australian Senior Speedway Championship LIVE
2019 AORC Junior Coaching Days Announced
Coffs Harbour Kicks off Season 2019
2019 250 line-up for the JGR/Yoshimura Suzuki team
Christian Craig Injured
Gavin Faith Retires
Glen Coldenhoff Injured
FIM Enduro World Championship Calendar Announced
Changes to World Motocross Championship Opener
Brayton Wins Torino Supercross
American rider Justin Brayton has capped off a record-breaking off-season after winning the Torino Supercross in Italy ahead of fellow Honda rider Cole Seely and French rider Jimmy Clochet on a KTM.
The American won the Australian Supercross Championship for the third time before either being on the podium or winning every supercross event since. “It’s a great event, I love coming to Italy. Great to be crowned King of Torino,” Brayton said. “Had a great battle with Seely in that last one. Cole is a friend of mine, so that was nice. It’s good to get a win ahead of A1 in a couple of weeks.”
In the two finals, Seely on the first and Brayton the second, with Angelo Pellegrini also showing some good speed over the evening – see the results below.
Malcolm Stewart had a bad crash in practice when the motor in his Honda literally blew apart as Stewart was in the air leaving the American with little choice but to go over the bars and smash into the stadium floor.
Stewart was stretchered off and there were rumours that he had suffered a broken femur but his Smartop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts teammate Justin Brayton confirmed that Malcolm doesn’t have any major injuries and is just banged up.
Toby Price Injured
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Toby Price underwent surgery with Dr. Mir in Barcelona to fix a fracture in his right scaphoid sustained in a crash while training last week.
Toby is currently at home to Australia to recuperate and as you would expect the 31-year-old fully expects to be fit for the Dakar Rally in January – here is what he wrote on social media:
“Some more hardware for the collection, once again not the best preparation leading in Dakar, but I’ll be there on the line ready to give my best! Thanks to the doctors getting me patched up and ready for 5,000KM ahead. Thank you to everyone for the messages also, you guys are the ones keeping the fight alive!”
Toby Price gets some hardware in his wrist but still hopes to race Dakar
Jeremy Martin sidelined for 2019 season with back injury
Geico Honda’s Jeremy Martin has received the bad news that the back surgery required after his huge crash at the Tennessee Motocross National in June was not successful. A new surgery has been scheduled for January at the Steadman Clinic in Colorado, and Martin will have to begin the entire rehabilitation process anew. Due to this, he will miss the entire 2019 racing season, with hopes to be back on a motorcycle in the third quarter of the new year.
Martin’s GEICO Honda contract was set to expire at the end of the 2019 season, but the team has extended his deal through the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Martin, the winner of two supercross races in 2018, had five vertebrae fused to help heal a burst fracture in his lower back. Six months into his recovery, he had begun light training only to find out just 10 percent of the burst fracture had healed.
“The get this news was a complete kick in the gut,” said Martin. “Racing is all I know and to sit out the entire 2019 season is going to be one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced. To have [team owners] Jeff [Majkrzak] and Ziggy [Rick Zielfelder] commit to me long-term proves they believe in me, and that motivates me to come back and overcome adversity. That’s been the story of my career, though. Nothing has been given to me, I have worked and earned everything I’ve won. This will be no different.”
Martin will return to racing for the 2020 season, and the GEICO Honda team wished him the best during his surgery, rehabilitation and recovery.
With Martin on the sidelines, the 2019 GEICO Honda lineup will feature four riders. Christian Craig recently suffered a fracture in his thumb which moves him to the 250SX East Region of Monster Energy Supercross. Australian supercross rookie Hunter Lawrence will join him there, with RJ Hampshire and Chase Sexton kicking off the 2019 season for the team at the 250SX West Region opening round at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California on January 5th.
Hunter Lawrence on his hopes for Supercross 2019
Luke Clout Joins Gibbs at CDR
The CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team have confirmed their second rider for the 2019 season, with Luke Clout joining Kirk Gibbs on the teams’ championship winning YZ450Fs.
Clout is contracted to race the 2019 MX Nationals and the Australian Supercross Championship in the MX1 division where his familiar bold number four will be bolted firmly to his YZ450F machines.
Luke Clout
“It may have taken me an extra few years to get here, but I’m so happy and proud to be racing for CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team in 2019 and I can’t wait to get stuck into testing and the new season. It’s no fluke that CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team win as often as they do as they use the best products and have the best technical staff in Australia. My plan is to fully commit to their program and buy into the CDR Yamaha way as it has been so successful for so many riders over time. I took a couple of weeks off to recover and rest from the 2018 season and now I’m feeling good and excited about what the year will bring. It’s now its wide open into 2019 where I hope that I can get more championship success under my belt and represent the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team and brand well.”
Luke Clout joins CDR for 2019 alongside Kirk Gibbs
Clout won Australian MX2 Motocross Championship in 2014 when he raced for the Serco Yamaha team so he obviously jumped at the chance to be parked under the CDR awning for 2019 and feels he is ready to take the next step in his racing career.
Craig Dack – CRD Team Owner
“He wasn’t afraid to take to Justin Brayton or any other big-name rider and was the only Australian based rider to really want to get in there and get his hands dirty, so to speak. On top of that, he already has a strong Yamaha history and when discussing our arrangements for 2019, he asked the right questions and was certainly focussed on getting the best results possible. So his motivation is right. Luke will contest both motocross and supercross for us and I believe he is a genuine championship contender in both series as he rides both disciplines equally well. I think pairing Luke and with Kirk will make for a great team and the pair already have a good working relationship and having two new riders to the team keeps everything fresh and everyone on their toes. We look forward to working with both riders and assisting them to achieve their goals.”
Luke Clout will kick off his year on his new ride at the Coffs Harbour Stadium MX on January 12 while the first major commitment for the new CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team will be at the opening round of the MX Nationals at Appin in Sydney on March 16/17.
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Dylan Long Joins Empire Motorsports Kawasaki
Empire Motorsports will run the largest Kawasaki supported Motocross and Supercross effort in the 2019 MX Nationals and Australian Supercross Championship series with Dylan Long spearheading their MX1/SX1 class effort while Deakin Hellier will race aboard a KX250 in the MXD class in the MX Nationals.
Empire Motorsports Team Manager Tyson Cherry
“We are really looking forward to the upcoming season with Dylan Long (#7) competing on the Kawasaki KX450 in MX1 class and Deakin Hellier (#123) on board the Kawasaki KX250 in MXD class. Empire Motorsports are very excited to be teaming up with Kawasaki Australia for both motocross and supercross in 2019. Early testing on both bikes is going exceptionally well and both riders are really enjoying the experience. So exciting times ahead for both Empire Motorsports and Kawasaki Australia.”
Dylan Long and Deakin Hellier will race for Empire Motorsports Kawasaki
Milner and Snodgrass Remain with KTM for 2019
Daniel Milner will enter his third season with KTM Australia’s factory off-road squad and is coming off of his most successful campaign to date. The 27-year-old clinched the A4DE AORC E3 class crown, with a perfect win rate along with earning the elusive outright honours for the event.
The popular Victorian also played an instrumental role in assisting Team Australia to the World Trophy at the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Chile, where he ranked first in the individual standings aboard KTM 500 EXC-F machinery.
Daniel Milner – KTM 350 EXC-F
“It’s really good to be back with the KTM Enduro Racing Team and to be riding the KTM 350 EXC-F is honestly really exciting for me as a rider. Having the year that I had this year, hopefully we can carry that momentum into 2019 – that’s the goal! I’ve been on the new bike already and the agility of it, being so light, makes it so much fun to ride and my speed has been really competitive already. I almost rode the 350 when I first signed with KTM, but we went with the 450 back then and won on that, then won on the 500 this year and now I’m aiming to do the same on a different capacity bike again. It’s always good to change it up and I’m super-happy to be with KTM Australia for another year.”
Daniel Milner – Image by John Pearson Media
Fellow Victorian Snodgrass, 20, also embarks on his third season with the in-house KTM Enduro Racing Team, putting a stellar year behind him after securing 10 podiums on his way to runner-up in the AORC E2 series rankings. He was also alongside Milner as a member of the winning Australian ISDE World Trophy team.
Lyndon Snodgrass – KTM 250 EXC-F
“I’m pumped to be part of the KTM Enduro Racing Team again in 2019. We’ve had two good years together, so now to be part of the team for a third year is awesome – it’s a great environment to go racing in. Next year I will be on the KTM 250 EXC-F and aiming for that top step, so to be working with everybody from KTM Australia again is a real positive for my career and I’m looking forward to it!”
Lyndon Snodgrass
The opening stop of AORC is scheduled for 9-10 March at Gympie in Queensland, while the A4DE is set for 1-4 May at Moruya in New South Wales. Next season will see Milner step across to the KTM 350 EXC-F as he switches to the E2 ranks, while Snodgrass will compete in E1 aboard a KTM 250 EXC-F.
Glenn Kearney – Motorsport manager, KTM Australia
“We’re certainly excited to re-sign Daniel Milner and Lyndon Snodgrass for 2019, which will be the third year that they ride with the KTM Enduro Racing Team. Obviously Milner has been very impressive since joining KTM, topping the AORC outright two years in a row and he’s been very dominant along with his success at the ISDE. Young Lyndon as well, he’s improved every year and is our young guy coming through that we really enjoy working with. Together and with our major partners back on-board – Motorex, Troy Lee Designs, Dunlop and WP – it’s all looking good for the season ahead. To have Daniel on the KTM 350 EXC-F in E2 will be great to see, while Lyndon will be on the KTM 250 EXC-F in E1 and we’re really happy with that decision also.”
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Daniel Sanders and Fraser Higlett head Husky challenge
Returning duo Daniel Sanders and Fraser Higlett will form the Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team for 2019, competing within the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) and Australian Four-Day Enduro (A4DE) events.
At 24 years of age, Sanders experienced an array of success throughout his first season with Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia this year, lifting the AORC E2 crown aboard a Husqvarna FE 450 and clinching a commanding maiden victory in the Hattah Desert Race riding a Husqvarna FE 501.
The versatile Victorian capped off the year by contributing to Team Australia’s incredible World Trophy victory at Chile’s International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), along with finishing third in the outright individual results and second in the E3 division. Next season could see Sanders step up to the Husqvarna FE 501 full-time off-road, that decision to be confirmed.
Daniel Sanders
“I’m definitely excited to be back on-board with the Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team. They were great to be a part of this season and I adapted really well to the four-stroke as well, so it’s shaping up to be a strong year in 2019. Now that we’ve learned so much together as a team, the plan is to go even better, be super-consistent and right there at the pointy-end. Winning is always the goal, that’s the objective of going racing and I’m confident that being part of Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia’s factory team with Fraser will provide a great platform to work from, that’s for sure.”
Daniel Sanders at the ISDE
Factory team newcomer Higlett, 19, established himself as a rising star of the sport this season, earning runner-up honours in the AORC E1 title-fight after scoring an inspiring 10 podiums from 11 rounds. Impressing in his inaugural appearance at the ISDE, Higlett went on to assist the Australian Junior World Trophy to fifth position, while being ranked ninth in E1 standings.
Fraser Higlett
“It’s a good feeling to be with the Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team for 2019, it’s just awesome to be a part of and I’m already keen to go racing next year. I was able to learn so much this season and picked up some good results along the way, so now we can take advantage of that experience and aim even higher in terms of results. To be alongside ‘Chucky’ as teammates is great for me, he’s a huge help and so is the entire team, so I’m really happy to be back for another season together.”
Fraser Higlett – 2018 ISDE Day 1 – Chile – Image by John Pearson Media
Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team’s first national hit-out of the 2019 season will be at the opening round of the AORC series, scheduled for 9-10 March at Gympie in Queensland. Next year’s A4DE will be staged from 1-4 May at Moruya in New South Wales.
Christian Horwood – Team manager, Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team
“We’re over the moon to sign both Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders and Fraser Higlett for 2019. As a team we achieved some fantastic results together in 2018 and it was a really good team dynamic that we worked within. Both riders have been outstanding since joining Husqvarna, they assist each other as much as they possibly can and we’re proud to welcome back our major sponsors for next year, so we are all set and are extremely excited to get things underway.”
GYTR roll on for 2019
2018 proved to be a massive season for Yamaha in the junior ranks with a 14-rider GYTR YJR team taking multiple state and national championships as well as the introduction of the all new YZ65, an updated YZ85 and now there are no signs of slowing down in 2019. While others are scaling back, its pedal to the metal for the GYTR Yamaha Junior Teams again hitting a track new you with a national 14 rider line up, an updated pit presence and the momentum of the bLU cRU program behind them.
With a season of racing on the YZ65, some valuable seat time on the updated YZ85, the all new YZ250F and the world’s most under rated bike, the YZ125, the GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing riders are armed with the best fleet of bikes in junior racing.
New rider additions to the rider line up are Kipp Adams, Jay Jennings, Jake Rumens and Jobe Dunne who will team up with existing YJR riders to make for a massive show of force at junior events around the nationals.
2019 GYTR YJR Team
WA: Cody Chittick (YZ125 and YZ250F) / Jake Turner (YZ125 and YZ250F) / Jake Rumens (YZ65 and YZ85SW)
SA: Alex Larwood (YZ125 and YZ250F) / Wil Carpenter (YZ85SW)
VIC: Kipp Adams (YZ125 and YZ250F) / Jobe Dunne (YZ65 and YZ85SW)
TAS: Angus Pearce (YZ85LW) / Jay Jennings (YZ65 / YZ85SW)
NSW: Bayley Clancy (YZ125 and YZ250F) / Ryder Kingsford (YZ85LW and YZ125) / Kayd Kingsford (YZ65 and YZ85SW)
QLD: Levi Roger (YZ125 and YZ250F) / Jake Cannon (YZ65 and YZ85SW)
GYTR Jnr
And just when you think there is enough blue in the pits, add to that a proposed four round YZ65 Cup in conjunction with the MX Nationals, more YZ65 Cup action at supercross rounds, junior support classes at national events plus the Australian Junior Motocross Championship and it will make for a busy year for the Yamaha junior stars of tomorrow.
2019 marks the final year in the program for three riders who have been in the team since 2013. Alex Larwood, Bayley Clancy and Levi Rogers have all been at Yamaha Junior Racing since getting picked up when they were just nine years old. Between the trio now are countless national, state and regional championships over the years and a great working relationship within Yamaha.
Alex Larwood – GYTR Jnr
“This season will be the 14th year since the Yamaha Junior Racing program went national with a team in each state. In a time where teams come and go pretty quickly, it is a credit to Yamaha Australia and their passion to unearth and develop riders that YJR continues to be as strong and successful as it is,” explains Scott Bishop.
“We have tweaked the set up and structure of the teams a little over the time but the philosophy of Yamaha Junior Racing remains the same. We have a group of great people who are at the track and on hand to mentor these riders in each state and fast track their progress in racing. On top of that, we want them to be good sports and conduct themselves professionally off the track and we value that at Yamaha.
“2018 was such a big year for us with the introduction of the 65 and the reception of that bike and the Yamaha initiatives has been over whelming. But we aren’t prepared to rest on our laurels and the hard-working team at Yamaha Australia have plenty of things in the pipeline for 2019 and we now have representation in almost every junior category. Let’s go racing,” Bishop ends.
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2019 AORC Junior Coaching Days Announced
Motorcycling Australia (MA) has announced the 2019 AORC Junior Coaching Days to be held across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland and due to popular demand, the AORC Junior Coaching Days has expanded from three to four days, with two of the four days held in Victoria.
All AORC Junior Coaching Days are for juniors aged 12-16 years, with all proceeds going toward funding the 2019 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) team who head off to Portugal in November.
Josh Green
Spots are expected to fill quickly, so don’t hesitate to get your entry in with all of the information available on the AORC Facebook page and the good news is that any entered riders of the 2019 AORC Junior Coaching Days who compete in all 11 rounds of the 2019 AORC season are eligible for one entry fee back!
2019 AORC Junior Coaching Days
Saturday 19th January 2019, 9am – 3pm – Yarra Valley, VIC Coaches/Riders – Daniel Sanders, Andy Wilksch
Sunday 20th January 2019, 9am – 3pm – Lang Lang, VIC Coaches/Riders – Daniel Milner, Lyndon Snodgrass
Watch 2019 Australian Senior Speedway Championship LIVE
MA have partnered with NRGTV to produce the livestreaming for the final two rounds of the 2019 Australian Senior Speedway Championship with free access via the Australian Speedway Championships website and/or Facebook page.
Rohan Tungate 2018 Australian Senior Solo Speedway Champion – Image by Judy Mckay
Streaming will commence with a pre-event panel show airing from 5PM (AEDT) with the racing starting at 7:15PM (AEDT) at each of the two rounds and in an exciting change from 2018, fans will not have to pay for a subscription to watch the Albury-Wodonga (Jan 9) and Kirri Kurri (Jan 12) rounds.
With names such as Chris Holder, Max Fricke and Rohan Tungate in the mix of seeded riders, the 2019 Championship is set to be the biggest competition in years!
Kevin Williams NRGTV
“NGRTV have worked with MA to build a platform to grow the profile of the riders and the Australian Championship, by delivering the final two rounds to people all around Australia. We at NRGTV learnt a lot and developed a good relationship with the riders. We’re looking forward to delivering a strong program that includes a pre-race panel show to really give viewers a feel on where the riders are at in the lead to that evening’s race.”
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Coffs Harbour Kicks off Season 2019
The 10th annual Coffs Harbour Stadium Motocross will kick off the 2019 Australian motocross and supercross season on the 12th of January with some of the biggest names in the sport ready to rock the regional event.
CDR Yamaha will debut their new riders in Kirk Gibbs and Luke Clout in the 450 class at Coffs Harbour while last years winner Jay Wilson will be on hand to defend his 250 crown after hosting a coaching class leading up to the event.
The much-touted event boasts A, B, C, Junior, Women and Vets classes on a well laid out course inside the Coffs Harbour Showground at 123 Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales and entries are open and available on the nominate web site. – go to the Facebook page for more information.
2019 250 Line-Up for the JGR/Yoshimura Suzuki Team
The 2019 250 rider line-up for the JGR/Yoshimura Suzuki team has been announced with the adjoining news that Answer will be the team’s main gear sponsor.
The team will be competing in the Monster Energy Supercross series in both the East and West regions with riders Alex Martin, Jimmy Decotis, Kyle Peters and Enzo Lopes before turning their sights to the Lucas Oil Outdoor Motocross Series.
JGR/Yoshimura Suzuki Team Manager Jeremy Albrecht
“We’re beyond excited to partner with Answer Racing for 2019 and 2020. Answer has long been on the cutting edge of design and style trends. The JGRMX Suzuki 250 Factory Team riders rave about the performance and fit of the Answer Racing gear. It’s cool how our 250 athletes will have a cohesive look in the pits and out on the track. These are several reasons why the JGRMX/Answer Racing partnership is a win-win.”
The JGR/Yoshimura Suzuki 250 team will make their Answer Racing debut on January 5 at Anaheim stadium.
Gavin Faith Retires
Two-time Australian SX2 Supercross and Amsoil Arenacross Champion Gavin Faith has announced his retirement from professional racing after sustaining injuries to his vertebrae during this years Arenacross series.
The well liked 26-year-old Idaho native turned pro in 2012 and spent most of his early career as a privateer or with fill-in rides before eventually winning his four national championships.
Gavin Faith topped the podium at the Florence Amsoil Arenacross round early this year, ahead of Blose and Hayes – Image arenacross.com
Faith’s injury happened the second practice at the Nampa, Idaho, round of the Arenacross series after he sustained a fractured T-3, 4, and 5 vertebrae and two broken ribs which forced him to miss the remainder of the championship and handing the title to arch rival Jacob Hayes.
Faith wrote on Instagram that his back injury sustained earlier this year will keep him from racing professionally.
Gavin Faith
“It’s been one hell of a ride but all good things must come to an end. If you told me I would win four championships and make a living racing a dirt bike when I was little I probably wouldn’t believe you. It’s been a hell of a good time through the good times and even the bad times! Looking back I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I’ve met so many amazing people and made so many life long friends from all over the world. I was able to travel, have fun, and accomplish so many more things then I ever imagined. I unfortunately seriously injured my back in March which will prevent me from racing professionally. At the end of the day I need to take care of myself and do what’s best for me. Even though racing for a living is great there’s a lot more to life than racing. I want to thank everybody that supported me along the way whether you were family, friend, fan, or sponsor. Not sure what the future holds yet but I look forward to whatever life has in store for me!”
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Glenn Coldenhoff Injured
Standing Construct KTM rider Glenn Coldenhoff sailed over the handlebars and landed heavily when he crashed while testing at the famous Lommel sand track last weekend and despite a compressed vertebra and a cracked bone in his wrist his team is upbeat about his recovery. Check out the video of the crash.
“To avoid some speculation and dramatising…@hoff259 had a crash today in Lommel. How it looks now he has compressed vertebrae but has no further complications. He also has a fracture in his wrist which needs no surgery. He will be back soon at his MXON- speed #toughguy”
FIM Enduro World Championship Calendar Announced
The dates for the FIM Enduro World Championship were released back in September but the opening round has now been filled by an established enduro venue in Dahlen, Eastern Germany, on March 22-24.
That earlier date in Dahlen has meant a slight change to the running order from the previous provisional calendar, with the Portuguese round shifting weekends to May 3-5. That was a jump forward in the original calendar of two weeks and means Portugal has now leap-frogged the Spanish round – though they remain on consecutive weekends.
When the FIM and series promoters released provisional dates for 2019, we saw a return to back-to-back rounds ‘close’ to each other geographically: Portugal and Spain in May, then Corsica (making its debut in the series) followed by Italy in June. It makes life easier for teams and riders who can budget and plan around being away for the races, travelling between rounds in good time for the next weekend. The round in the Czech Republic is also a popular choice and will join Germany on the Eastern side of Europe where the fan-base is equally as strong as it is in France, Spain, Italy and Portugal.
2019 Enduro World Championship provisional dates
22-24 March – Dahlen, Germany
03-05 May – Valpaços, Portugal
10-12 May – Santiago de Compostela, Spain
14-16 June – Ajaccio, Corsica (no Enduro Youth class at this round)
21-23 June – Rovetta, Italy
13-15 September – Uhlirske Janovice, Czech Republic
27-29 September – Ambert, France
Changes to World Motocross Championship Opener
Youthstream have announced an update to the recently scheduled opening round of the season 2019, the MXGP of Patagonia Argentina, which will now take place on March the 2nd and 3rd thanks to a local government election which prohibits public events from coinciding with such elections.
MXGP 2019 kicks off in Argentina
Organisers claim that the new anticipated date will however better suit the interest of both riders and fans as the best athletes in the world return to MXGP racing following winter preparation and while the earlier start in Neuquen likely means warmer weather, as fall begins in Argentina, one constant remains with the event being unforgettable and full of not to be missed racing!
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop Geomax
Supercross champion locks in deal ahead of the new year.
Image: Supplied.
JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing has officially signed Chad Reed for the 2019 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, a welcomed last-minute deal that will see the Australian legend compete for at least one more season.
Reed initially started testing with the squad in August before competing in a number of events aboard the factory RM-Z450, including the Pro Motocross finale, Monster Energy Cup and the Monster Energy S-X Open Supercross FIM Oceania Champion that he won in New Zealand.
The two-time AMA Supecross and world champion remained committed to the outfit despite not having a deal place for extended period of time, the late announcement coming after an extensive search for funding with the team losing title sponsor Autotrader for 2019.
“Chad Reed is a consummate professional, and I see that he has that hunger to win,” said team manager Jeremy Albrecht. “I’m also eager to see Justin Hill race in the 450 class. The kid is an incredible talent.
“He has really ramped up his training program this off-season. I am looking forward to Weston Peick lining up to the gate when he’s healthy. Peick is a tough person and fierce competitor.”
Reed will join Justin Hill in the premier class as Weston Peick is set return once recovered from his injuries, while the team will continue to field a four-rider 250 squad consisting of Alex Martin, Jimmy Decotis, Kyle Peters and Enzo Lopes.
On the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 101, the Ducati makes me look better than in real life. In the background is the Quarry Overlook. This dolomite quarry was started in 1916–twenty years before the Parkway. Photos by the author.
Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains in autumn are a place of unique beauty not to be missed, especially from the open cockpit of a motorcycle. From my home in the northern tip of the state, the Virginia border runs diagonally southwest for more than 300 miles, parallel to the ridges and valleys of the mountains.
In the southwest corner are my two ride objectives: the Back of the Dragon, a 32-mile run of elbowing blacktop crossing three mountain ridges, and The Crooked Road, a collection of live music and historical venues along scenic motorcycle roads showcasing the regional specialty: bluegrass music. I also plan to make use of the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, but only when my ambitious schedule will let me travel at the Parkway’s reduced speed limit of 45 mph.
Cars first rambled through this stone tunnel on the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Montebello in the 1930s. I’m sure it didn’t take long for the first motorcycle to follow!
It takes a day to get to my start point of Wytheville, but not without a midday detour along the Blue Ridge Parkway from near Montebello to Buchanan. I share the view at numerous overlooks with other riders, then enjoy lunch on the shore of Abbott Lake beneath the Peaks of Otter. There’s no wondering why the Parkway consistently rates among the top five motorcycle roads in the United States. A rider’s dream, the curvy ridge-top road runs through stone-arched tunnels and next to lakes, campgrounds and lodges–all completely devoid of traffic lights, stop signs and large trucks. Free for public use, the Parkway is open all year except in icy conditions.
Next morning I wake up in Wytheville to a steady rain lingering longer than forecast and wind gusts flexing the glass of the hotel window. I decide to motor circuitously and enter the Back of the Dragon at the north point to allow time for the rain to move out. I take U.S. Route 52 and enjoy a satisfying and twisty climb to Big Walker Lookout, elevation 3,405 feet. Here I find the Big Walker General Store and take a short break to enjoy the terrific views under overcast skies.
A group of riders with camping gear rolls along the Blue Ridge Parkway north of the Peaks of Otter, no doubt heading to one of the Parkway’s many campgrounds.
From there U.S. 52 curves downhill, then runs over rolling terrain alongside Interstate 77 for 20 or so miles—then suddenly joins the interstate and punches through a mile of mountain rock at the East River Mountain Tunnel. I then head west on U.S. Route 460 to Tazewell and turn onto State Route 16–the Back’s north entry point. Thankfully, the rain has stopped and the road is mostly dry.
There are neat, steady curves across the first ridge before dropping more than a thousand feet for a two-mile cruise through a gorgeous, Shire-like valley. The road then winds up the face of the second ridge and slices behind towers of leafy kudzu. Then come mile upon mile of pleasing twists along the second ridge before switchbacking downhill into the second valley, a nice break before the final 1,500-foot climb.
My growling and nimble Ducati Multistrada eats up the twisty climb and we loop through bursting autumn colors that surround rocky crests. The road surface is mostly excellent, though I did encounter a little gravel in spots.
U.S. Route 52 north of Wytheville takes one last dip to the left before twisting its way to Big Walker Lookout. The excellent road surface seen here is what I encountered on every mountain road on my trip.
State Route 16 continues south through Marion and later connects with U.S. Route 58–I’m now officially on The Crooked Road. Designated by the state of Virginia in 2004, The Crooked Road uses U.S. 58 as a central conduit but includes connected roads leading to festivals, museums and live music sessions, all associated with the heritage of bluegrass and country music.
I’m committed to being at the Floyd Country Store for the Friday Nite Jamboree, so I shortcut there on U.S. Route 221. Time permitting, I recommend an alternate route using the Parkway to Floyd and stopping by the Blue Ridge Music Center near Galax for the live music each afternoon.
To get a seat at the Floyd Country Store’s Friday Nite Jamboree you have to get by Barb and Beverly at the ticket counter–I think the five spot is a bargain just for their smiles and friendly company.
The Floyd Country Store is a crown jewel of The Crooked Road. A modest cover charge of $5 gets me in the door. After an initial set of bluegrass gospel, folks are clearing away folding chairs and dancing to the fast-paced syncopation of Katie & The Bubbatones. Many “flatlanders” like myself are simply tapping our feet, but it’s clear that this lively music is still an important way for local folks to unwind after a busy week. On my way out I bag a pastry at the store’s bakery to have with next morning’s coffee.
The sun rises to a chilly but crystal clear morning as I depart Floyd’s cozy Pine Tavern Lodge, a clean and updated hideaway that has continuously served travelers since 1927. A peaceful winding ride on State Routes 8 and 40 takes me through elevated meadows and rolling farms, across small wooded creeks and finally to the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival in Ferrum. You’ll find such festivals along The Crooked Road almost any weekend from June through October.
At the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival, metal meets metal and sparks shoot forth when Billy Phelps brings the hammer down. Billy is a Master Blacksmith who has given live demonstrations at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.These experts fix the cap arm on a moonshine still. They taught me a lot–alcohol boils off at 172 degrees (a lower temperature than water) so the cap arm catches the alcohol steam for condensation into moonshine.An Amish group set up a donut operation that was nonstop busy. I ate the best donut that I have ever eaten–or will ever eat.
I decide I need a final cruise on the Parkway so I get there by U.S. 220. Once on the Parkway, two groups of motorcyclists are going my direction, and we leapfrog along the Parkway as we take turns stopping at different overlooks. I exit the Parkway for good on State Route 43 for the small town of Bedford, a place that possesses the tragic distinction of losing more residents per capita in the D-Day landings than any other American community. Bedford’s D-Day Memorial is a good, quiet place to reflect on how fortunate I am to be able to traverse through Virginia’s natural, cultural and historical sites before continuing on home–back to the flatlands.
Map of the route taken, by Bill Tipton/compartmaps.com.
Riding high above the Gorges de la Nesque in Provence on one of its many “balcony” roads carved into the rock canyon walls. Photos by the author and Genie Tuttle.
Would you travel halfway around the world for an 11-day motorcycle touring vacation that promises fantastic roads and scenery, delicious food and drink, interesting foreign culture, fun and camaraderie every day? Of course you would.
What if each day’s route was a secret, and you had no idea where the tour is going other than the arrival airport, not even the hotel names? Signing up seem a little nuts?
Well, it probably is, but that hasn’t stopped Edelweiss Bike Travel’s Mystery Tour from selling out both times it has run, partly because of the company’s solid reputation for delivering everything in the first sentence above and partly because of repeat customers, from both the original Mystery Tour (now called the Life is Beautiful—Alpine Wonderland tour) and other Edelweiss motorcycle tours.
The tiny village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, with its narrow streets and vaulted passageways, is considered to be one of the most beautiful in France.
When my wife Genie and I committed to the “MT” starting and ending in Nice, France, in June 2018, it felt like agreeing to do a trust fall with a stranger—you know he or she is probably going to catch you, but there’s always that tiny bit of doubt. We knew we’d be in good hands though, if not on good roads, since the MT is the one EBT tour led by Managing Director Rainer Buck and his wife Gaby, who may not know exactly where we’re going but have lots of company credit cards.
Rainer was assisted by guides Michael Goebel and Pablo Piferrer, who between them have nearly 20 years of experience guiding EBT tours around the world and made the 17 of us riders and co-pilots from the USA, Austria, Mexico and Switzerland feel like family.
Limestone cliffs form the walls of the Ardèche Gorges; their most famous feature is this 197-foot stone arch called the Pont d’Arc.
Canyons, Napoleon and Beautiful Villages
Once rescued from the row upon row of private jets and wall-to-wall resort high-rises surrounding Nice airport on the French Riviera, that afternoon we sipped prosecco in celebration of a rider’s birthday while “rookie” guide Rainer, or RR, gave the first tour briefing on the veranda of a lovely hotel in Vence, in the foothills of the Maritime Alps above Nice.
The Mystery Tour is different from other EBT tours in that—since only RR and the guides know each day’s route—the group stays together the entire time, with no riding off on your own. It’s also one of EBT’s Royal Tours, so all of the meals are included, even lunch on all but the rest day. Each of us also received a crossword puzzle, the six clues for which were printed on RR’s fresh T-shirt each day. Complete the puzzle correctly and you might go with RR on a special bonus ride on the penultimate day—more on this later.
With no clue from RR where we were headed except his daily dubious cry of “North!” we left Vence in the morning and instead headed west, over the 3,159-foot Col de Vence (Vence Pass) in the Maritime Alps. The endlessly winding road rising up through a green forest and imposing dolomite-type rocky mountains set the stage for the rest of the tour (rated a 4 out of 5 for difficulty among EBT tours), since we spent very little time on the center of our tires, or even in fifth or sixth gears.
The Sénanque Abbey was founded in 1148, and monks have always lived there since except for a few decades, growing lavender and tending honeybees.
Quite happy I had chosen an agile BMW R 1200 RT for Genie and me, as we explored an 11th-century church at the first of many coffee stops, I was also thankful for the mesh riding apparel we had brought for the warm temps in Southern France.
Picking up the Route Napoléon, which the emperor took on his return from exile in Elba in 1815, we zoomed around its smooth cambered corners through the diverse landscapes of Provence at a fun, brisk pace set by RR and most of the group riding BMW RTs, R 1200 and 800 GS models and Ducati Mutltistradas, with a guide in back sweeping up the slower riders.
Wildflowers were everywhere on the June tour.
Detouring onto snaky roads far above gorgeous valleys and down alongside turquoise-green rivers, lunch was at a 9th-century chateau perched high above the verdant scrubland. Our first of many deep gorges and the tunnels and arches along amazing “balcony roads” carved into the canyon walls high above were on the dessert menu as we rode along the spectacular Gorge du Verdon in the afternoon—at 15.5 miles long and up to 3,000 feet deep it’s aptly nicknamed the Grand Canyon of Europe.
Clinging to the cliffside in the Ardèche Gorges.
This part of France is also famous for its endless “blue gold” lavender fields, and the afternoon coffee-stop village of Moustiers, voted the prettiest in France—which is really saying something!
Briefly rejoining the Route Napoléon, it took us into Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban for the evening, the end of a 162-mile riding day that was about par for each riding day of the tour. The chase van driven by one of the guides and carrying our luggage and a spare bike was rarely more than an hour away from the group, yet somehow always managed to beat us to each night’s hotel.
Many of Europe’s highest passes are in the French Alps.
Hotels on the 2018 MT ranged from, as RR put it tongue firmly in cheek, “zero to five stars,” which really meant that the one lovely auberge or inn on a bucolic farm in the Côtes du Rhône (the famous wine region in the Rhône Valley), my favorite, simply didn’t have a Michelin rating. The rest of the accommodations were equally or more wonderful, whether it was a castle, modern hotel with a river view, in a historic city or the base hotel in Vence.
Sustenance on the Mystery Tour was delicious, varied and frequent, and the vin superb.
We dined like kings as well, sometimes on French specialties like pâté and veal but more often on meat entrees with truffle-infused sauces and farm-to-table vegetables and salads, sumptuous fresh baked bread and a wide variety of cheeses. RR is passionate about wine, too, so he made sure that a nice selection of local vin rouge and vin blanc was available each evening and treated us to a special tasting one night as well.
Southern France is also home to the Carthusian monks who create the intoxicating neon green liqueur Chartreuse, which some of us enjoyed one night with Cuban cigars to the smooth sounds of Michael’s folk guitar and vocals. One really can’t say enough about guides Pablo and Michael—their efforts and camaraderie helped make the tour magnifique.
The River Tarn formed 33 miles of spectacular Gorges du Tarn flanked by limestone cliffs as much as 1,640 feet high.
Gorgeous Gorges, Endless Passes
The food, hotels and culture stops, such as the Caverne du Pont-d’Arc in the Ardèche Valley with its 36,000-year-old cave paintings, sprawling 12-acre Bamboo Park in the Rhône Valley and historic villages and towns with their lovely old French architecture and genuinely friendly people all made for a deliciously rich experience during our regular stops, lunches and evenings. It’s truly amazing I didn’t gain more weight, or run out of camera memory cards. But the raison d’être of the Mystery Tour is the roads and riding, made all the more fun by not knowing exactly what was in store each day.
No wider than a walking path through its arches and tunnels in places, the magnificent Combe Laval is virtually suspended from the side of the canyon.
Southeastern France is laced with deep gorges carved over the centuries by impressive rivers like the Verdon, Nesque and Tarn, and the ride connected the many gorges with the beautiful valleys, mountains, plateaus and national parks of Provence, the Languedoc region and French Alps. We crossed one of the most extraordinary areas in France, the Cévennes, on the Corniche de Cévennes, a wide sweeping road originally built in the 1700s by the Huguenot army that this day was nearly deserted and like a racetrack through the forest flora.
The 2018 Mystery Tour group enjoys a “boot” beer (we’re done riding but still in our boots) in a hotel parking lot in the Côtes du Rhône.
Our rest day—yet another riding day for many in the group—was among the spires and massifs of the Gorges du Tarn on the Tarn River, where some of us hiked, swam and kayaked before ascending and circling the Causse Noir and Causse Méjean on the bikes, giant limestone plateaus of rich farmland surrounded by gorges and strung with more exciting balcony roads and tunnels. If there was a problem with the roads and scenery on this tour, it was not being able to look away from either….
Looking down from 8,688-foot Col du Galibier.
From the Parc des Grands Causses we made a giant U-turn back toward Nice and the Côte d’Azur, but some of the best riding was yet to come—the French Alps. Over the next several days we conquered a dozen passes lined with snow in places, including the 2nd- through 5th-highest in France, and briefly crossed into Italy over the 9,003-foot Col Agnel to have a refreshingly different lunch of pizza and pasta while the three crossword puzzle winners enjoyed a helicopter tour with RR of Mont Blanc, at 15,777 feet the highest in Europe.
Descending from yet another pass in the French Alps.
After returning to France, the finale was a twisting ascent up to La Madone d’Utelle for a tasty picnic lunch skillfully prepared by Pablo at this hilltop sanctuary with a 360-degree view over the French Riviera. How he got the big van up—and down—that crazy road I’ll never know. Just one of the wonderful mysteries of the Mystery Tour.
Picnic time at the sanctuary of La Madone d’Utelle, high atop a mountain with a view of the French Riviera.
The 2018 Edelweiss Bike Travel Mystery Tour is now called the Life is Beautiful—Magical France tour and will run next June 6-26, 2019. The arrival airport for the next Mystery Tour is Athens, Greece, May 3, 2020…but shhhh, it’s a secret! For more info visit edelweissbike.com.
Our best friend Shane Pacillo, who can’t get enough traveling, just dropped us a note that Piaggio Group and he are excited to be hitting the road to join The Motorcycle Shows Canada for 2019 in all markets: Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Quebec City, Toronto and Montreal. Several of the machines on the sled are being shown for the first time in Canada.
Piaggio Group Press Release:
PIAGGIO GROUP AMERICAS RETURNS TO CANADA’S THE MOTORCYCLE SHOWS DISPLAY TO FEATURE LATEST FROM APRILIA, MOTO GUZZI, VESPA AND PIAGGIO
NEW YORK, 17 DECEMBER 2019 – Piaggio Group Americas, the North American importer of iconic Italian scooter and motorcycle brands Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio and Vespa, returns to Canada’s premiere powersports event series, The Motorcycle Shows.
The Motorcycle Shows start the year off strong the first weekend of 2019 in Calgary, and continue to Edmonton, Vancouver, Quebec City, Toronto, and Montreal over the course of January and February.
EVENT DATES:
Calgary Motorcycle Show BMO Centre Calgary Stampede Jan 4, 2019 – Jan 6, 2019
Edmonton Motorcycle Show Edmonton Expo Centre Jan 11, 2019 – Jan 13, 2019
Vancouver Motorcycle Show Tradex Exhibition Centre, Abbottsford, BC Jan 18, 2019 – Jan 20, 2019
Quebec City Motorcycle Show Centre de Foires de Québec City Feb 1, 2019 – Feb 3, 2019
Toronto Motorcycle Show Enercare Centre Feb 15, 2019 – Feb 17, 2019
Montreal Motorcycle Show Palais des Congrès de Montréal Feb 22, 2019 – Feb 24, 2019
Piaggio Group is Europe’s leading two-wheeled manufacturer. With something for everyone, Piaggio Group America’s booth includes highlights of eco-sustainable transportation, category leading performance and electronics, and the ever-present style the Italian manufacturer has become known for.
THE MOTORCYCLE SHOWS WILL FEATURE THESE NEW 2019 MODELS AND MANY MORE:
Now with wings.
APRILIA Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1100: Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory – the latest step in this evolutionary line – boasts exceptional performance combined with a racing frame and suspension and an electronic controls package, each evolved even further than before. New for 2019, the RSV4 1100 Factory is the lightest, most powerful, and fastest RSV4 ever created, delivering 217-horsepower and race-championship pedigree, the RSV4 continues to be the superbike par-excellence, and category benchmark.
Aprilia Tuono Factory: The new Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory comes standard with the most advanced and efficient electronic suspension system currently available, the latest technological frontier offered by manufacturer Öhlins, developed in close contact with Aprilia engineers. With the upgraded electronic suspension, adjustable to suit any rider need, and along with the inherited RSV4-style tail section, the Tuono Factory is the model of choice for the performance-demanding rider that will not settle for less.
For complete Aprilia range details, visit: www.aprilia.com/ca_EN/
MOTO GUZZI Moto Guzzi V85 TT Adventure: The new V85 platform, built around an entirely new engine, reflects a construction philosophy in which simplicity, practicality and lightness make for an unfiltered relationship between motorcycle and rider. The TT acronym, meaning “tutto terreno”, or all-terrain, it identifies a motorcycle dedicated to travel in its purest and most original form. Moto Guzzi V85 TT combines style features reminiscent of the golden age of motorcycle adventures with the content and functionality of a modern touring enduro. Its configuration mirrors that of all Moto Guzzi bikes in production today: an air-cooled transverse 90° V twin with OHV distribution and two valves per cylinder.
Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber Sport: The V9 Bobber is the sport custom that breathed life into the medium engine capacity bobber segment. It is a bike with a unique personality, essential in its form and with aesthetics characterized by the black details and its oversize tires. The new model, adding “sport”, stands out for its single- seat lowered saddle which, combined with the usual low drag bar supported by shorter risers, leads the rider to assuming a more accentuated “low-ride” position, compact and sporty. Frame and suspension qualities, riding pleasure and easy handling are enhanced by the Öhlins shock absorbers, adjustable in spring preload and hydraulic rebound and compression, which ensure a greater capacity to dampen small bumps and at the same time provide greater control when riding at high speeds. The unmistakable sound of the Moto Guzzi 850 twin cylinder is emphasized by the street-legal slip-on exhaust painted matte black and with the bottom in aluminum and characterized in the terminal part by a sleek, oblique shape.
For complete Moto Guzzi range details, visit: www.motoguzzi.com/ca_EN/
VESPA Vespa Elettrica: It is not a new electric scooter, it is Vespa Elettrica; a work of art with a technological heart that is born as the symbol of our modern times and the years to come. Vespa Elettrica is the most modern icon of Italian technology, it is synonymous with advanced connectivity and quiet operation, customization and accessibility, respect for the environment and unique style. These are values that have always belonged to Vespa and which now, in Vespa Elettrica, have been fully accomplished, confirming Vespa as the brand that has always been ahead of its times with respect to its market.
Vespa GTS 300: Vespa GTS will go down in history as one of the world’s best loved two-wheelers, the successor to the legendary “Vespone”, the name given to those Vespas with a larger, strictly steel body. Vespas with which to move elegantly around town but that are also ready to travel, or even take on adventures thanks to their increasingly generous engines. The 2019 GTS comes with a new engine, the 300cc hpe (High Performance Engine), fruit of the latest Piaggio Group technology, which aims to create engines that are increasingly advanced and efficient in terms of limiting emissions and consumption. Able to deliver more than 23 HP, this is the most powerful engine ever adopted by a Vespa.
For complete Vespa range details, visit: www.vespa.com/ca_EN
PIAGGIO Piaggio MP3 500 HPE: With MP3 Piaggio has skillfully reinvented urban mobility. The world’s first three-wheel scooter in 2006, Piaggio MP3 has always stood out for its ability to innovate, remaining as the first three-wheeled scooter to produce hold a hybrid engine, come standard with ABS and traction control systems, and today, Piaggio MP3 also becomes the world’s first three-wheel scooter to have a reverse gear. The MP3 500 is a concrete response to the demand for an easy-to-handle vehicle that can conquer the city center as easy as it manages highway and winding road. The two front wheels and exclusive patented suspension system that connects them combine the safety of a car with the simplicity and practicality of a scooter and the fun of a dynamic motorcycle ride on your favorite road.
Piaggio Liberty: A milestone in two-wheeled mobility development. It is synonymous with independence and freedom. Introduced in its first version in 1997, Liberty is one of those rare products that, model after model, has managed to remain faithful to itself and its name, continuously modernizing and meeting the needs of new generations of customers. Piaggio Liberty has skillfully achieved great success, finding favor with the most advanced customers, because of its ability to meet the needs of mobility and freedom with a formula that combined style, light weight, an easy ride and safety. More than two decades later, the Liberty continues to renew itself but it stays in line with the values that inspired the original project and with the goal of meeting the demand – increasingly stronger – for a vehicle characterized by superior quality levels, lightweight and sturdy, easy to use but with impeccable performance and with high technological content at the service of safety, such as the ABS braking system that comes standard on the 150cc version.
For complete Piaggio range details, visit: www.piaggio.com/ca_EN/
The “La Moto Volante” (the Flying Motorcycle) is based on his Lazareth LM 847 with a 350kW, 4.7-litre Maserati V8 that was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2016.
The LM 847 actually worked as you can see in this video.
So while this new video teaser does not show it flying, we fully expect he will have a working model that actually flies.
Lazareth rises
La Moto Volante is planned for release on January 31.
It appears that the bike’s wheels rotate outwards when the bike is on its centre stand and then pivot so that they are horizontal.
Then German Jetcat turbines in each wheel fire directly downward to elevate the bike, like a Harrier Jump Jet or a manned drone.
As he says on his website: “With two, three or four wheels, we do not impose any limit for the realization of each new project.”
Quite frankly we much prefer some of his other more-conventional custom bikes such as this Triumph Bonneville Scrambler.
We ave to ask the question … why a flying motorcycle?
It’s not that this will be the first flying motorcycle nor the first commercially available.
The Russian Hoversurf Scorpion hover bikes are now available for sale at $US150,000 (about $A212,500), which is nearly twice the price of the MV Agusta limited-edition Claudio F4.
However, it seems the Lazareth La Moto Volante might be the first that also rides on the road.
With a Mazerati engine and four jet turbines it should weigh a tonne and probably cost a fortune!
On 30 November & 1 December 2019, more than 100 national motorcycling federations, fuelled by the same passion, will converge on Monaco to celebrate their shared values of courage, excellence and commitment, whilst enjoying a unique opportunity to network with the industry’s leaders and decision-makers.
The crowning moment of the weekend will be the FIM Awards, when the FIM World Champions from all six disciplines will be officially honoured for their title-winning achievements in 2019, standing shoulder-to-shoulder on stage with the individuals and organisations that protect and promote motorcycling activity around the world, and nurture the sporting heroes of the future.
The FIM family and the many thousands of motorcycling fans worldwide will be invited to immerse themselves in the experience of the FIM Awards through the FIM networks, whilst engaging with each other and with the riders on social media platforms.
This iconic backdrop for elite sporting events is easily accessible and regarded as one of the safest places in the world. With its eco-friendly mindset, hi-tech facilities and a diverse choice of hotels within a single resort, Monaco is synonymous with the values of prestige, refinement and service. It has proved in the past to be an ideal backdrop for the FIM General Assembly and FIM Awards.
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