Honda HRC rider building form in comeback from injury.
Image: Supplied.
Honda HRC’s Cole Seely believes his performance at Anaheim 2’s third round of the 2019 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship is a step in the right direction, finishing a season-best sixth on Saturday night.
Seely, who was sidelined for majority of 2018 with fractures to his sacrum and the left and right sides of his pelvis, lodged a 5-7-13 scorecard in the Triple Crown, allowing him to jump to 10th in the championship standings.
“Once again, there are a lot of positives to take away from tonight,” Seely explained. “My starts were much better in two out of the three races, and I was able to run more toward the front of the pack. Being up there and feeling the pace of the front group was huge.
“The Triple Crown format is definitely a challenge because the turnaround time is really short and you’re basically doing three sprint races, so you have to be on it. I’m getting back into the flow and am excited to go racing each weekend, so sixth is another step in the right direction.”
The overall win was ultimately taken out by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Cooper Webb, marking the first of his career, while the podium was closed out by Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki). Ken Roczen (Honda HRC) still retains the red-plate heading into Oakland this weekend.
Australian records top five performance in main event three.
Image: Supplied.
Chad Reed’s campaign at Anaheim 2’s third round of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship was hampered by a technical issue that denied him of starting the second main event of the Triple Crown format.
The JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing contender wound up 10th in the opening encounter, however the threads of an unobtainable clutch cover malfunctioned, causing oil to leak from his RM-Z450 on the starting line for race two
The problem was repaired, allowing the Australian to salvage what he could in the final of three mains, putting in a spirited performance to finish fifth for 13th overall.
“It was a good night of racing,” Reed admitted. “I felt race ready even though my qualifying times were not where I would have liked them to be – I was a little too kind about making my way forward in the first main. Unfortunately, we had a technical issue in the second race.
“In race three I felt like I needed to pull one of my customary Suzuki starts out of the old bag. From there I really felt like I rode my best all weekend. Moving forward I want to focus on believing in myself more and getting great starts more often.”
The two-time AMA Supercross champion now sits 13th in the standings as the series heads to Oakland this weekend for round three. Saturday’s overall win was credited to Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – the first of his career – while Ken Roczen (Honda HRC) still leads the points classification.
The Repsol Honda newcomer elected to have surgery on the injury, which saw a titanium screw inserted via a minimally invasive technique. He will remain in hospital for 24 hours for further observation. Four days rest will give the injury sufficient time to heal from the operation and physiotherapy can then begin.
The Spaniard aims to be fully fit for the Qatar test on 23-25 February at Losail International Circuit, the same venue that will host the MotoGP World Championship opener on 10 March.
Lorenzo will now head to Madrid in Spain for the 25th Anniversary Repsol Honda Team launch on 23 January, where he’ll join reigning world champion Marc Marquez.
The 2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT is now available for pre-orders for North American consumers. Prospective customers in the U.S. and Canada can register online at https://prebookingusav85tt.motoguzzi.com to reserve a V85 TT ahead of their arrival in dealerships in the spring.
Pre-orders will require a $2,000 deposit and will include a $250 credit towards accessories.
Moto Guzzi also confirms the colors and pricing for the 2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT and the geared-up Adventure version. The V85 TT Adventure will come in the Giallo Sahara color pictured above or a Rosso Kalahari red for $12,990 US ($14,990 in Canada). The base model V85 TT will be offered in the Grigio Atacama gray color for $11990 US ($13,990 in Canada).
Begin Press Release:
MOTO GUZZI LAUNCHES PRE-ORDER WEBSITE FOR V85 TT IN USA AND CANADA
BOOKING BEGINS FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED 2019 MODEL, WITH SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THOSE WHO PRECEDE DEALERSHIP ARRIVAL WITH DEPOSIT
THE NEW V85 TT IS THE ALL-TERRAIN MOTO GUZZI, FOR EVERY ROAD AND EVERY JOURNEY, PACKED WITH TECHNOLOGY, STYLE, AND EMOTION
After unveiling the 2019 Moto Guzzi V85TT Adventure at the IMS Show in Long Beach, California, and continued interest throughout winter tradeshows, Moto Guzzi has launched pre-order website, allowing reservations to be first among recipients upon dealer arrival later this year.
The 2019 V85 will be available in two versions, V85 TT, and V85 TT Adventure, with a selection of evocative colors and accessory options, that have kept future owners daydreaming since the machines were announced. To further support demand, and this sense of adventure, all pre-orders qualify for a $250 accessory credit.
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.
2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT Adventure
Colors: Rosso Kalahari, Giallo Sahara
Pricing: USA – $12,990 / Canada – $14,990
Availability: USA, May 2019 / Canada, June 2019
2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT
Colors: Grigio Atacama
Pricing: USA – $11,990 / Canada – $13,990
Availability: USA, May 2019 / Canada, June 2019
Most of us can only dream of owning a classic superbike and it’s difficult to imagine being able to get within touching distance of one of these high-tech feats of engineering. There are a plethora of rarer models which regularly change hands at auctions for eye-watering sums of money and enthusiasts are always on the look-out for an opportunity to add to their extensive collections. We take a look at some of the rarer models which are currently believed to be in single-figures and those one-off bikes which have never been replicated.
Cosmic Starship (Image source: Cycle Heart via Twitter)
Harley Davidson Cosmic Starship
Harley Davidson are one of the best-known motorcycle manufacturers in the world and the iconic brand have produced a number of rarities over the years but artist Jack Armstrong’s “Cosmic Starship” is a one-off and has fetched upwards of $1,000,000 at a recent auction. It was unveiled back in 2010 and featured the artist’s unique painting style. It was described as being “more American than ice cream” and Armstrong told the media that “Andy Warhol would have loved it”. It had its own launch event in Los Angeles back in 2010 and required over 37 coats of paint in order to achieve its unique and stylish finish.
Ferarri 900 CC
Back in 1990, David Kay, a British designer of some repute decided to team up with the Modena company after receiving official permission from the firm. He went on to handcraft the only Ferrari superbike in history, to date. The Italian giants have never attempted to replicate this one-off creation and it took around four years and 3,000 hours of hard graft to finish. The bike can boast a four-cylinder, 900cc engine, which produces 105bhp and has a five-speed gearbox.
The bike boasts Ferrari’s iconic red livery with the bodywork clearly referencing classic Italian design. The company decided against replicating the Ferrari 900 CC and are now probably best known for their success in Formula 1, with Sebastian Vettel flying the flag for them in recent years. The German driver finished behind Lewis Hamilton in the 2018 standings but will be determined to turn the tables on the Brit next year and as of November 26th 2018, he’s 3/1 to win the 2019 Drivers Championship with Betway. His fierce rival was signed-up to help design a one-off superbike last year, with MV Augusta announcing that the five-time champion and brand-ambassador will come on board to help them release another rarity.
Ferrari bike (Image source: Motociclismo via Twitter)
Lotus C-01
The Lotus C-01 is relatively common compared to the Ferrari 900 CC but only 100 of these eye-catching mean machines left the factory and only those who have a spare $130,000 lying around will be able to afford one of these beauties. It was inspired by the Lotus 49 Formula One car and is extremely light compared to the average superbike. It certainly stands out from the crowd and creates a bold statement. It has a 75 degree V-Twin engine, a titanium body and an incredibly unconventional wheel-base. The Lotus C-01 is still relatively new but despite only being released in 2014, it’s incredibly difficult and costly to get your hands on one of these fantastic machines.
Lotus C-01
Lamborghini Design 90
Another Italian company who dabbled in superbike production was Lamborghini, who decided to release the iconic Design 90 back in 1989. Only six of these models left the conveyor belt with the company acknowledging that their experiment had been a largely unsuccessful one. These prototypes were originally designed to resemble the V12 Supercar but the bike failed to capture the imagination of the public and future production plans were called off soon after its release. Fitted with a 100cc Kawasaki engine, this model is certainly unique but they are now largely kept in storage by their collectors. Earlier this year, one of the six Design 90s was sent to auction but it failed to meet the reserve price.
Image source: Classic Motor Hub via Twitter
Series C Vincent Black Lightning
It may be Jay Leno’s favourite, but the Vincent Black Lightning has become an incredibly prized possession over the last decade. A new world record price for a motorcycle was set in the US earlier this year when an ultra-rare Black Lightning sold for just shy of $1,000,000. The bike was a lightweight version of the Black Shadow and with just 33 of these built, their numbers are dwindling whilst their value is increasing. Around 19 of these atypical and irregular racing bikes, built by Tony MacAlpine and first manufactured back in 1948, are believed to still be circulation. The bike that recently sold at the auction was believed to be one of the later models, dating back to 1951, and these incredibly rare specimens are quite the sought-after commodity.
Vincent Black Lightning
Superbike fans could be forgiven for salivating at the thought of owning one of these rare and lesser-spotted stunners. There are many more examples of models which were quickly taken out of circulation or were produced as one-off prototypes, the likes of which are incredibly unlikely to ever be manufactured again.
Italian MotoGP contender counting increased experience.
Image: Supplied.
Andrea Dovizioso is anticipating greater improvements in his Ducati Desmosedici GP19 machine in the upcoming pre-season tests scheduled in February at Malaysia and Qatar.
“2018 was a very positive year for me,” Dovizioso explained. “We started with a victory and, even if we had some ups and downs, the difficulties pushed us to look in new directions and half-way through the season we made a big step forward.
“I’m very happy with the work done with the team, we fought for the win basically throughout the second half of the championship and I think we’ll make more improvements in the next tests to begin the season in the best possible way. The expectations are high, I have a great feeling with both the bike and my crew, and we can count on more experience.”
This year will see Dovizioso paired up with a new teammate in Danilo Petrucci, a partnership that has already produced a mutual respect between the competitive duo as they head into their first campaign alongside each other.
“I’m happy to have Danilo alongside me in the garage,” he continued. “We know each other well and I believe we can fight on track but also work together to develop the package.”
“I’m very happy to pair with Andrea,” Petrucci added. “Not only is he a phenomenal rider, but also a wonderful person. We’ve known each other for a long time, and we started to train together with one goal – to both have a really strong season.”
The first pre-season test will take place on 6 February at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, followed by a final test at Losail International Circuit in Qatar on 23 February- two weeks before the season-opener at the venue on 10 March.
Manufacturer maintains support for 14th consecutive season.
Image: John Pearson.
Yamaha Motor Australia will remain as the naming rights sponsor of the 2019 Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC), Motorcycling Australia (MA) has confirmed.
The strengthened partnership marks the 14th consecutive year Yamaha will back the ever-growing off-road series, which will host 11 rounds over six weekends this season.
“Yamaha Motor Australia are pleased to continue our substantial and positive relationships with the Australian Off-Road Championship,” said Yamaha motorsport manager Ray Howard. “2018 was a season full of impressive developments and clear progress, and we are seeing more initiatives in place for the 2019 season.
“We look forward to continue working closely with MA and the promoting clubs to further develop an already prestigious Championship that has proven to be a fertile ground for producing international standard riders that are successful on a world stage.”
Yamaha’s support in the last decade has assisted in the AORC’s growth and development, where it’s groomed the country’s top off-road talents into world class riders, such as International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) World Trophy winners Daniel Milner (KTM Enduro Racing Team), Daniel Sanders (Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team) and Lyndon Snodgrass (KTM Enduro Racing Team), along with a host of a other riders that have represented the country on the world stage, including six-time ISDE Women’s World Trophy victor Jessica Gardner (Yamaha).
A Brisbane rider whose BMW R 1200 R was rear-ended in 2016 is still waiting to find out if the irresponsible driver who hit him has been fined.
Matthew Craig, of Daisy Hill, was leaving the M1 at the Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd exit when he stopped at a give way sign in the left-hand slip lane to let a several vehicles pass by.
Seconds later, he was rear-ended by an impatient BMW X3 driver.
Since then, Matthew has not ridden and is still waiting for another bike as his was classified a repairable write off.
To rub salt into his wounds, police and the courts have refused to provide him or us information about the driver’s punishment.
Matthew Craig’s immaculate BMW R 1200 R before it was rear-ended
All he knows is that the woman was charged with driving without due care and attention and the matter was finalised at Holland Park Magistrates Court on January 25, 2017.
Search for justice
Matthew was not forewarned about the court appearance and his efforts over the past two years to find out what happened have failed.
He has been told it is a privacy issue.
However, the matter was heard in an open and public court. It is not his fault he was not present when the matter was heard as he was not warned of the date.
It is good that justice may have been done, but it is important that justice is also seen to be done and that the victims are satisfied with the verdict.
Matthew is now filing a Freedom of Information application.
We will update you if/when he gets a result.
How to avoid rear-ender
Meanwhile, it looks like there is little Matthew could have done to avoid this rear-ender.
The problem is impatience.
It happened to me at a stop sign when a fellow rider rammed me from behind. We were in a queue of riders going around the corner. While looking to the right for oncoming traffic he assumed I had dribbled through the stop sign instead of coming to a full stop.
I have also seen this happen to another rider and a friend in his car. Check out this rear-ended rider’s video.
The first vehicle moves to the front and stops to look for traffic and the next vehicle stops behind them.
On seeing that the road is clear, the second vehicle just proceeds without looking ahead, assuming the vehicle in front has also moved.
In this case, Matthew waited cautiously for the vehicle with the dashcam, even though there was a clear left lane.
Impatience leads to impact!
And the driver behind him doesn’t even appear to be ready to stop!
His cautiousness cost him a crash.
To avoid this sort of incident, riders can try several things:
Check behind to see if there is a vehicle following;
If possible, offset your bike to the following vehicle, either to the extreme left or right of the lane or trickle a little around the corner; and/or
Blow your horn or rev your bike to alert the following driver that you are still there.
Australian contender to pilot RSV4 RF this season.
Image: Supplied.
Levi Day will contest the Superstock 1000 (STK1000) category in the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship (BSB) after landing a deal with In Competition Aprilia.
The South Australian, who previously challenged the Ducati TriOptions Cup finishing fifth overall with a number of race wins to his name, will pilot a RSV4 RF alongside Scotsman Lewis Rollo.
“I am extremely excited to be given this opportunity to race in Superstock 1000 for In Competition in 2019,” Day explained. “The Aprilia RSV4RF is an amazing bike and I am confident we have a great package, of bike and team, to have a successful year.
“I want to go out, enjoy my riding and work hard, and I believe everything will work well. I want to thank In Competition for the opportunity, as well as AJN Steelstock, for making this step up in class and believing in me.”
Team manager Ian Newton commented: “I am excited to have Levi and Lewis on board. Having worked with three previous Australian riders I know that they have a sense of purpose to travel half way round the world to achieve their dream in life. With the support from AJN Steelstock again for 2019 Levi is determined to be an established front-runner.”
Day has been back in Australia during the off-season, sampling the Aprilia RSV4 RF in a selection of coaching days that he has hosted. The first stop of the BSB STK1000 series is scheduled for 19-21 April at Silverstone.
Youthful American earns maiden 450SX victory at the third round.
Image: Supplied.
Cooper Webb as indicated his thrilling battle with Ken Roczen (Honda HRC) in the opening main at A2’s Triple Crown is a sign of moving on the from their San Diego clash in 2018, which ultimately ruled Roczen out of the series.
The duo have long had a tension-filled rivalry that’s extended beyond the race track, however that was put behind them at the weekend when the duo engaged in a respectful battle that saw Webb emerge with a last lap pass to clinch his first ever race win since entering the premier class in 2017.
The Red Bull KTM Factory rider backed up the result with victory in race two followed by third in the finale, granting him his maiden overall victory while also becoming the second first time winner in as many rounds.
“It was cool, and whether you want to count it is a win or not, that was my first main event win,” Webb said speaking of his race one victory over Roczen. “To be behind him the whole race and be able to pass him on the last lap was cool, especially what unfortunately happened with us last year.
“It was good to battle with him and shake hands after and move on from everything. San Diego last year was bad for both of us, so for us to battle and it be my first win and come down to the last lap with two turns to go, I was just stoked.
“After the first two, the demons want to creep in, but I felt I did pretty good in keeping my composure. Eli got out front and was really hauling, but I knew where was I at and Marv got around me, so I just tried to latch onto him and treat it like a practice day. I was happy to still be consistent all night – two get two [wins] was amazing, but to finish it out strong was special.”
Webb’s victory promoted him to third in the standings, while Roczen’s fourth place finish allowed him to maintain the championship lead heading into Oakland’s fourth stop of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship this weekend.
Bringing you the Best Motorcycle News from Around the Web!
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
