Keep calm and carry this stuff to keep you and your bike moving
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com
Morocco testing a ‘morale booster’ for the Australian contender.
Image: Supplied.
Australian Rodney Faggotter is targeting a top 10 finish in the 2019 Dakar Rally, which set to take place from 6-17 January, boasting 5541 kilometres of riding.
The Yamalube Yamaha Rider wound up an impressive 16th at this year’s instalment, and with a week of testing now completed in Morocco, Faggotter believes his morale has been boosted heading into the prestigious off-road event.
“I’m looking forward to the 2019 Dakar,” said Faggotter. “I’ve been racing some Bajas and training hard back home in Australia these last few months. I feel strong physically and also mentally. In the beginning of December we’ve spent a full week testing and training with the team in Morocco and that was a good morale booster for me.
“We have a great spirit within the team and I want to be there for my teammates if they need me. I want to have a good clean run and do my own race. This Dakar might seem shorter, but we all know it’s still going to be a long and demanding race. If it all goes well, I’m confident I can improve my overall result from last year and fight for a spot inside the top 10.”
The Queenslander’s role within the factory Yamaha squad extends beyond being a rider, with his mechanical experience coming into play should a teammate require assistance throughout the almost two-week long affair.
Source: MotoOnline.com.au
Talented New South Welshman to join Gibbs next season.
Image: Supplied.
CDR Yamaha Monster Energy has confirmed the signing of Luke Clout for the 2019 Pirelli MX Nationals and Australian Supercross Championship, where he’ll join former KTM Motocross Racing teammate Kirk Gibbs in the new year.
Clout, a former MX2 champion, was highly-impressive throughout the year as he established himself as a future championship threat, collecting a number of podiums and a race win along the way.
“Being at Serco Yamaha a few years ago, I always looked at CDR Yamaha as the next step in my career but there wasn’t a spot available for me at the time, which I completely understand,” Clout stated. “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.”
The talented New South Welshman has been on the radar for a significant amount of time according to team owner Craig Dack, who believes the popular number four enters 2019 as title favourite across both disciplines.
“The fight Luke showed in the opening few rounds of supercross is what really stood out for me,” Dack stated. “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 focused 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.”
Clout was ranked third in MX Nationals MX1 standings, while he pushed through injury in supercross to wind up sixth. His first official outing aboard the 2019 Yamaha YZ450F will be at next month’s Coffs Harbour Stadium MX, scheduled for 12 January.
Outgoing riders Dean Ferris and Dylan Long have already established their intentions for 2019, with three-time champion Ferris heading to the US, while Long just signed a deal with the new-look Empire Motorsports Kawasaki team.
Source: MotoOnline.com.au
Five-year partnership comes to an end for the talented Superbike contender.
Image: Foremost Media.
Following yesterday’s 2019 team announcement from Kawasaki BCperformance, Kyle Buckley has confirmed he’s still shopping for a deal in next year’s Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK).
Buckley’s departure from BCperformance concludes a five-year partnership with the outfit, which saw him emerge through the Supersport 300, Supersport and Superbike categories with the New South Wales-based operation.
The number 83, who was ranked 12th in the 2018 ASBK championship standings, remains hopeful of landing an opportunity in the main game despite acknowledging there are a limited number of seats available.
“At the moment I don’t have anything solid, I’m just looking around – there’s a little bit happening, but I’m still just looking at this stage,” Buckley explained to CycleOnline.com.au. “It’s disappointing to leave the team, but it’s the way it is and I wish them the best for 2019.
“I’ve stepped back into 300s from 600s in the past, but it’s not something I want to do again. If nothing comes up, I suppose I’ll hang up the boots. I still think I’m fast enough to be in the game, but unfortunately it didn’t work out with BCperformance – there’s not much out there and it’s pretty cut-throat. I’m just sitting back and hoping an opportunity opens up.”
The 2019 ASBK field has taken shape over the last month, with Penrite Honda Racing, Yamaha Racing Team, Team Suzuki Ecstar and most recently Kawasaki BCperformance confirming their squads for the new year.
Source: CycleOnline.com.au
Date shifted one week prior due to local election.
Image: Supplied.
Confirmed as the opening round of the 2019 MXGP World Championship last week, Patagonia Argentina has now been rescheduled to take place one week earlier than initially planned on 2-3 March.
The previous schedule was selected before a local government election was announced causing the change, the change in schedule coming due to a local law which prohibits public events from coinciding with such elections.
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.
The 2019 MXGP World Championship will span over 20 rounds, starting in March before winding up in September at Imola in Italy.
Source: MotoOnline.com.au
Slowly but surely, motorcyclists are getting traction against being profiled.
Begin press release:
The American Motorcyclist Association expresses its deep appreciation to the U.S. Senate, which adopted a resolution Tuesday promoting awareness of motorcyclist profiling and encouraging collaboration and communication with the motorcycling community and law enforcement officials to prevent instances of profiling.
Senate Res. 154 also urges state law enforcement officials to condemn motorcyclist profiling in their policies and training materials.
Senate resolutions do not have the force of law.
“In 2015, Congress wisely acted to ban federal highway funding for motorcycle-only checkpoints, recognizing that federal funds are better spent on promoting highway safety for all vehicles and drivers,” said AMA Vice President of Government Relations Wayne Allard. “Now, the Senate has taken a big step further to help end the discriminatory and ineffective practice of profiling motorcyclists.”
The bipartisan resolution, sponsored by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), was cosponsored by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael D. Crapo (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Angus King (I-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska).
As adopted, the resolution recognizes the significant increase in motorcycle registrations during the past 20 years, and points out that half of motorcyclists surveyed believe they have been profiled by law enforcement at least once. The resolution also acknowledges that motorcyclist profiling occurs across the nation.
Profiling means the illegal use of the fact that a person rides a motorcycle or wears motorcycle-related apparel as a factor when law enforcement officers decide to stop and question, take enforcement action, arrest or search a person or vehicle with or without a legal basis.
In January 2017, the AMA Board of Directors adopted a formal position statement on motorcyclist profiling, see www.americanmotorcyclist.com/
The AMA continues to recommend law enforcement and highway officials focus their efforts on encouraging highway safety in ways that make America’s roads safer for everyone.
The post U.S. Senate Passes Motorcyclist Anti-Profiling Resolution By Unanimous Consent appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.
Australian anticipating to recover in time for 2019 Dakar Rally.
Image: Supplied.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price has successfully undergone surgery to repair a right fractured scaphoid sustained in a training incident this week.
The 2016 Dakar Rally winner and 2018 FIM Cross-Country Rallies world champion is understood to have completed the operation in Barcelona, Spain, and is currently travelling back to Australia for an immediate start to his recovery.
According to a statement released by the Austrian manufacturer, the 31-year-old expects to be adequately healthy for the 2019 Dakar Rally, scheduled to commence on 6 January 2019, before finishing up on 17 January 2019 following 5,541 kilometres of riding.
It’s an untimely blow for the popular Australian, who went into this year’s Dakar underprepared following a injury-riddled campaign in 2017, however still pulled through with a podium in the gruelling event.
Source: MotoOnline.com.au
The AGV AX-9 Helmet is the Italian company’s latest adventure helmet for riders who don’t stop when the pavement does.
Begin Press Release:
Lightweight, versatile helmet offers multiple configurations for on and off-road touring and adventuring riding
Together with the SPORTMODULAR helmet, the AX9 completes AGV’s touring range. The AX9 is designed for long trips, offering top-of-the-line comfort with its premium-quality interior and advanced ventilation system. With its lightweight fiber composite shell, built with Carbon + Aramid + Fiberglass, the AX9 weighs in at just 3.5 pounds (1,605 grams +\- 50g depending on shell size and accessories added), making it one of the lightest helmets in its segment while also meeting AGV’s highest safety standards.
Offering configurations with or without a super panoramic visor, with or without the adjustable peak – or a combination of visor and peak – the AX9 is designed to perform in any riding scenario and offer customization during a ride to meet specific needs.
The AX9 also reaches new standards in aerodynamics and ventilation, with new extractors and the adjustable chin guard port that directs internal air flow to where the rider desires. All AX9 vents are adjustable. Premium interior padding offers extreme comfort, with moisture-wicking cheek pads and top liner, and a water-resistant neckroll that prevents water from channeling inside the helmet.
“We’re extremely proud of how far innovation has come with the AX9’s interchangeable features, comfort and safety,” said Roberto Sadowsky, Executive Vice President, Dainese & AGV North America. “With the combination of the SPORTMODULAR and AX9, AGV now offers two flagship, game-changing helmets that meet different needs for touring and adventure enthusiasts.”
AX9 Technical Features:
The AX9 is available in seven different designs and starts at $499. The helmet is a perfect complement to Dainese’s new Explorer line of adventure touring gear, launched earlier this year, specifically the Antartica, designed for riding in extreme conditions and integrating research from Dainese’s work on a Biosuit for the Mission to Mars 2030.
The post AGV AX-9 Helmet Released for North America appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.
Ladies unite in the desert, riding sportbikes while raising money for charity
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com
Outline of structure revealed for Superbike World Championship.
Image: Supplied.
Additional details of the three-race format that will be introduced to the 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) have been released, outlining how the new structure will for the entire season.
WorldSBK will change from four to three free practice sessions, meaning Friday will revert back to two WorldSBK free practices. WorldSSP on track action will remain the same, while WorldSSP300 will be split into two groups with two free practice sessions for each group. The final times from Friday’s sessions won’t affect qualifying positions.
Saturday offers a big change in the format as the Tissot Superpole will now become one single qualifying session for all classes. The final results of the WorldSBK Tissot Superpole will decide the grid for WorldSBK race one and Sunday´s sprint race, now branded as the Tissot Superpole Race.
For the WorldSSP300, the riders not qualifying for their first race will also have a ‘last chance’ race to follow on from Qualifying. The top six finishers of this race will secure the final six places on Sunday’s grid. Four races will be the treat on offer on Sunday, with two WorldSBK races.
The first Superbike race of the day will be an all new sprint race format of 10 laps (throughout duration of the season) where points will be added to the overall championship standings and awarded in the Tissot Superpole Race as follows: 12, 9, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
There will be no change for race one and two where point system remains unchanged and awarded to the first fifteen riders as follows: 25, 20, 16, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The second race on Sunday for WorldSBK will be the traditional format. The grid for this race will be determined from the first nine positions in the Tissot Superpole Race, and the grid from 10th onwards will be the positions from Tissot Superpole.
Offering three races with different formats will give the teams opportunities to work on different strategies for each race throughout the weekend and will offer even more exciting races for fans and riders to enjoy. On top of this, the weekend will finish with the WorldSSP300 race, which is always a sensational fight to the finish line. The opening round of the WorldSBK is scheduled for 21-24 February at Phillip Island in Victoria.
Source: CycleOnline.com.au