Portimao venue confirmed to hold the 94th edition next year.
Image: Supplied.
Following a 10-year absence, the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) will return to Portugal in 2019 for the first time since 2009.
Situated in the south of the country, the beautiful Algarve city of Portimao and its world-renowned Autódromo Internacional do Algarve will host to the 94th running of ISDE.
With its large, purpose-built facility, the international motor racing circuit will act as the paddock and centre hub of activity for the race. Utilising the surrounding mountainsides, three unique routes will be laid out incorporating a wide range of terrain for riders to contest.
The opening two days will be predominantly sandy, while days three, four and five offer a contrasting character of forest and rocky terrain that will take riders into the country’s highest mountain range.
Daily routes are expected to be around 300 kilometres each in length, ensuring both riders and machines will be tested to their absolute limits, while also enjoying breath taking scenery. With the official date yet to be confirmed, the 2019 ISDE is expected to be held between late October and early November.
Both categories to align with MotoGP qualifying schedule.
Image: Supplied.
A restructure in the Moto2 and Moto3 qualifying format has been revealed for 2019, which will see the two classes brought into the line with the premier MotoGP category, where Q1 and Q2 sessions will be introduced.
The decision comes after discussion with teams and reviewing the current situation in Moto3, where many riders are waiting and riding slowly, plus also considering the experience of riders in Moto2.
It is expected that this system will also bring a more entertaining format for the fans as well as preparing the young riders for the same system of classification as the premier class. This will also make for a consistent qualifying format across all grand prix classes.
Riders in Moto2 and Moto3 will continue to have three free practice sessions, with the fastest 14 riders from the combined standings will qualify directly for Q2. The other riders will compete in Q1 and the four fastest riders will join the other 14 in Q2.
For both Moto2 and Moto3 the free practice sessions will last 40 minutes, and both qualifying sessions will have a duration of 15 minutes. The four riders that participate in both Q1 and Q2 will be allowed to use one extra rear soft tyre.
Western Australian set to remain in Europe with factory-supported outfit.
Image: Supplied.
Youthful talent Caleb Grothues has indicated he’ll remain with SDM Corse Yamaha Official EMX250 Team in 2019, announcing he’s signed on with the factory outfit for a full campaign next year, which will mark his third season in Europe.
The Western Australian joined the team in what was believed to be trial period beginning at the sixth round of the 2018 Motocross European Championship (EMX250) in France, ultimately remaining with the squad for the remainder of year while collecting a career-best finish of fifth overall at Assen’s finale.
“[I’m] happy to announce for the 2019 season I will be riding on board a factory Yamaha for SDM Corse Yamaha,” Grothues confirmed in a social media statement.
“I can’t express how grateful and excited I am about this and I’m more than ready for the season to start. A big thank you to everyone that has supported me from the beginning to now, and I’ll keep you all posted for more news to come.”
The former 65cc world champion is set to be joined at the David Philippaerts-managed operation by Gianluca Facchetti, Ruben Fernandez and Rick Elzinga – a line-up confirmed last month in October.
Timber bridges add authenticity to a rural ride, but they can be a particular danger to riders with longitudinal planks, rotting wood and exposed spikes.
The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) says one in five of these local timber bridges are in poor condition and there is an extensive backlog of bridges that need fixing.
They have called for permanency of the Federal Bridges Renewal Program to help fix or replace local timber bridges.
ALGA President Mayor David O’Loughlin says that despite increased investment to renew bridges and the continued effort of councils to extend the life of their ageing assets, the backlog of bridges in poor condition remain largely unchanged.
“Councils are doing their best to bring these bridges up to a reasonable condition but this report shows that the scale of the problem is beyond the current resources and revenue streams available to councils,” David says.
“The Bridges Renewal Program has proved to be a very successful and important partnership between the Commonwealth and councils to improve road safety and freight productivity; more than 205 local bridges have been fixed using around $120 million of Commonwealth funding.
“Councils are keen to continue this partnership to deliver this important work and are calling for the program to be made permanent.”
Timber bridges replaced
Old timber bridge
New concrete bridge
Earlier this year the famed Lions Rd crossing the NSW-Queensland border was reopened after 18 months of bridgework that required replacing timber bridges with concrete constructions.
Kyogle Council received $2 million through the Australian Government’s Bridge Renewal program to replace the timber bridges, five of which have load limits between 2 and 25 tonnes imposed on them.
However, the ALGA is calling fr an end to the uncertainty of the Bridges Renewal Program.
They say further budgetary pressure has been placed on them with Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs) declining steadily over the past 20 years.
It has fallen from 1% of Commonwealth Taxation Revenue in 1996 to just 0.55% today.
David says the short fall in FAGs funding has been “swept under the rug for too long and the impact has been most acutely felt in regional and remote councils throughout Australia”.
“The Bridges Renewal program helps tackle the backlog in fixing bridges, but a fairer share of Commonwealth taxes is vital to restoring sustainable levels of funding in the longer term, particularly for our regional and remote communities,” he says.
“That is why we are also calling for a restoration of the FAGs funding levels back to at least 1% of CTR to ensure our councils are adequately resourced to provide, maintain and renew the infrastructure and services our communities deserve.”
The widow of a rider killed when he hit wire rope barriers has urged riders to vote in this weekend’s Victorian election for the party that pledges to improve the state’s roads.
Jan White was speaking at the Bad Roads Rally in Bendigo at the weekend.
Jan says the most important issue to her is halting the rollout of wire rope barriers while a “proper safety review” is undertaken in consultation with motorcycle groups.
“This would have to include a review of our accident reporting systems in my strong view,” she says.
“I want to see the promise of action to make all roads safe for all vehicles on our roads, no matter if four wheels or two.”
MP Peter Walsh told the rally that if they attained government they would also restart the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into VIicRoads management of country roads.
On the same day as the rally, Victorian Police called for doctors to dob in old drivers and riders that they deemed unfit, lower speed limits and deploy more speed cameras.
Here is the full text of Jan’s speech:
Jan speaks at the rally
I speak today in memory of my husband Phil White and on behalf of our children, Madison, Molly, Raechel, Shane, Danielle and Chris, our family and friends. The pain of knowing how Phil died is indescribable.
On 5th November last year Phil was thrown from his motorbike and into the wire rope barriers where he died.
Make no mistake, he did not die from his bike hitting a dead kangaroo on the road. He died upon impacting the wire rope barriers.
He had no chance at all of surviving that day.The wire rope barriers hemmed him in and were directly in his path. It could have, and should have, been different. He should have come home to us that day.
None of us will ever be the same.I have read each and every witness statement of the events of that morning and there should be no confusion, there is no confusion of what took Phils life.And yet, there is no mention officially implicating the wire rope barriers in my husbands death.
Phil’s cause of death is officially listed as ” a result of multiple injuries caused from a mototcycle incident.”
We ask, where is the justice in this?Systems need to be changed.
How many other deaths have there been to the wire rope barriers where the true cause of death is lost or filtered amidst the trail of forms, reports and people?
There can no truth in the statistics we are fed. There is no truth in them.
Wire rope barriers
In our view — Phil White’s grieving family — the road authorities have much to answer for.
They created the only roadside hazard in that area; already known by Vic Roads to be potentially lethal to a motorcyclist. Yet there it was, the hazard that brutally stole the next 20– 30 years oflife from Phil and from us all. The years that he was looking forward to. Gone in an instant.
And so, we stand united today, in memory of the unjust death of our husband and father and on behalf of all road users , demanding a change to the wrongs of our governing road authorities and government.
We demand the respect and consideration that we deserve as voting road users
We demand the duty of care that is our right as voting road users
We demand the right to be safe when we travel our roads as voting road users
Not just for some, but for all.
We say to you: We will not forgive, we will not forget and we will not give up.
For our husband, father and friend,Phil White, and for all others already tragically lost to our bad roads.
CRP highlights some of the carbon-composite and aluminum structures it helped produce for the Energica Bolid-E, introduced at EICMA 2018.
Begin press release:
The mobility revolution on two wheels has begun. At EICMA 2018 Bolid-E has been introduced, a functional motorbike prototype conceived by Energica Motor Company S.p.A.
It is linked to Smart Ride, the cutting-edge project managed and developed in all its phases in Italy by Samsung Electronics Italia and Energica, which offers a new way of experiencing motorbikes.
Designed starting from the electric old-style Eva EsseEsse9 (the newly proclaimed Best Electric Bike of the Year 2018), Bolid-E is a speed machine which boosts the concept of speed. Bolid-E is a futuristic motorbike in which Samsung Electronics Italia technologies and Energica’s expertise came together successfully.
Bolid-E presents parts and applications manufactured by CRP Meccanica and CRP Technology, the leading companies -respectively- in the field of subtractive manufacturing (high precision CNC machining) and additive manufacturing technologies (professional 3D printing and Selective Laser Sintering with Windform® composites materials) lead by Livia and Franco Cevolini.
The strong relationship between CRP Meccanica, CRP Technology and Energica Motor Company is strengthened in Bolid-E. Franco Cevolini, CTO of CRP Meccanica and CRP Technology, and President of Energica Motor Company S.p.A., stated, “Energica was born in the Italian Motor Valley from an entrepreneurial vision of my family. From over 50 years CRP has been anticipating the technological demands of the most competitive and advanced sectors and customers, from F1 to key space industry leaders: CRP Meccanica and CRP Technology are the companies that first develop solutions that revolutionize the world”.
Parts manufactured by CRP: Professional 3D Printing used for headlights support
Many components and parts were manufactured by CRP Technology, such as front and back headlights/Tail light support. Headlights have strong impact: with their hollow profile, emphasize the sensation of speed and getting permeated by the wind. The headlights support is an application of great importance: it must guarantee resistance, safety and reliability, and had to be manufactured through state-of-the-art technology and using advanced materials that successfully withstand the design requirements set forth by its intended use.
For the construction of the Bolid-E front and back headlights support, Energica engineers and designers relied on Selective Laser Sintering technology and Windform XT 2.0 Carbon-composite material, both supplied by CRP Technology.
High precision CNC machining for structural support of the seat
Many parts of the Bolid-E motorbike functional prototype have been manufactured by CRP Meccanica via Subtractive Manufacturing and high precision CNC machining. Among these, the structural support of the seat. It is made of Aluminum alloy.
Ducati and Casey Stoner will not continue the collaboration agreement that has seen them work together since 2016.
The accord had been stipulated on a three-year basis (2016-2018) and in these three years, thanks also to Casey’s important contribution, Ducati has constantly improved the performance of the Desmosedici GP, which is now considered to be one of the most competitive bikes in the MotoGP World Championship.
The collaboration between Ducati and Stoner also contributed to the final development of the Panigale V4, as well as offering important suggestions for the development of other bikes currently in the Ducati range. In his role as Ducati ‘brand ambassador’, Casey was one of the undisputed stars of the last two editions of WDW (World Ducati Week) in 2016 and 2018, in which the Australian champion actively took part, and where he was greeted with incredible signs of affection by Ducatisti from all over the world.
“Casey is and will always remain in the hearts of Ducatisti and it is also on their behalf that we wish to thank him for the important collaboration he has offered us over the last three years,” commented Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. “His technical indications and suggestions, together with the work and the feedback of the factory riders and Michele Pirro, have helped to make the Desmosedici GP one of the most competitive bikes on the grid, and his advice for the development of our production bikes has been just as precious and useful. Ducati and its many fans wish to offer their sincere thanks and their best wishes to Casey and his family for a serene and happy future.”
“I want to thank Ducati for the great memories and especially the support and enthusiasm of the Ducati fans for our shared passion for racing and motorcycling, I’ll always remember this,“ added Casey Stoner. “Over the past three years I have really enjoyed doing my job with the test team, the engineers and technicians, as we worked towards improving the Desmosedici GP package and I sincerely want to wish the team all the very best for their future endeavours.”
I was always a fan of the F800, but this all-new 2019 BMW F850GS takes everything I liked about the original middleweight adventure bike and makes it even better. The F850GS is intended to bridge the gap between the low-tech 800GS and the high-tech R1200GS models by combining the technological advancements of the big bikes with a redesigned platform that is even more capable on the dirt and more comfortable on the street. The goal is to create an adventure bike that appeals to a wider cross section of motorcyclists including new and existing ADV riders.
Both the 2019 F750GS and this F850GS are built around the same frame and 853cc parallel-twin engine with a six-speed wide-ratio transmission that utilizes a slipper clutch that is light at the lever and looks great on the spec sheet. It also has a standard quickshifter that just adds to list of impressive hardware along with the electronic rider-assist technology that takes a page right out of the 1200GS playbook.
At the heart of the changes to the bigger engine is the 270-degree firing order and 90-degree offset crankpins that combine to create a sweet-sounding exhaust note from the single sporty exhaust. Note that the muffler is now on the right side so that you can maneuver the bike from the left side without burning your gear. Meanwhile the dual counterbalancers subdue the vibrations inherent from those changes and as a result it feels smooth when you’re droning out on the boring sections of the highway, yet peppy enough to get your blood pumping when you’re connecting the twisty sections.
With a claimed 90-hp and 60-plus pound-feet of torque on tap, the 850 has just enough motor to keep most of you gearheads entertained. The power comes on low in the rpm which gives it the necessary grunt to get you up steep hills at low speeds, and since the powerband is so linear it’s easy to modulate the power delivery when you’re in tricky off-road conditions like mud, gravel, and loose rocks. But it’s not perfect…
In the dirt the linear power and heavy weight (500 pounds) make it tough to unweight the front wheel. If you ride hard enough, you’ll come across situations where it would be nice to simply dab the clutch and blip the throttle so you can loft the front end over an obstacle, but that’s the price you have to pay for the otherwise comfortable riding experience. Fortunately, the 850 offers almost 10 inches of ground clearance so, if you can relax and ride it like a big adventure bike, you probably won’t run into this situation.
The problem is, the F850GS feels like a big dirt bike and it handles so well that it compels you to ride it harder than you should. Thankfully, it has a chassis that is up to the task. With its new steel bridge frame, 43mm inverted fork, cross-spoke wheels, and Continental TKC 80 dual-sport tires (21-inch front, 17-inch rear) you might be forgiven for forgetting it’s not an enduro. Still, we logged at least 100 miles off road through the canyons of Gateway, Colorado, skirting along the northern edge of the red rocks of Moab with a big-ass grin on my face.
Our test units were equipped with the optional Premium package ($3,450) with the Ride Mode Pro option and I cannot think of any reason why an F850GS wouldn’t be equipped like this. The Enduro Pro mode provides a long list of useful features that make the 850 riding experience awesome. Enduro Pro removes the ABS from the rear wheel, while reducing traction control and ABS to a predetermined algorithm that is intended to make the off-road capability that much better. There are so many configurations and packages available just go for the most expensive setup and call it good. Trust me. While I usually shy away from these electronic packages, I found this setup impressive.
You’ll notice most of the off-road photos that I’m riding in the standing position. The wide, tall bars and serrated pegs are tailored to the off-road rider. They make it easy to manhandle the bike in the rough stuff and make it comfortable when you are standing as well. It feels well balanced, and part of that can be attributed to the relocated fuel cell that’s now just a traditional 4-gallon gas tank rather than residing under the seat, which now creates a near-perfect 49/51 front-to-rear weight distribution.
You may also notice that I am short at only 5 feet, 8 inches, and the GS is quite tall with a seat height of 33.9 inches. There are optional lower seats as well as a suspension lowering kit if you can’t hack it, but the tall stock setup feels so good that even though it’s a balancing act to touch the ground, I’d be hard-pressed to change it.
By the time we sloshed through three dozen water crossings on the way out of the red-rock canyon and made our way to lunch, my feet were wet but I was more than impressed with how well the bike performs in the dirt. After a quick break we were hitting the pavement to see if the new GS is as good on the street.
Right away it was apparent BMW has hit this one out of the ballpark. The 850 handles great and with the optional drive modes and ESA at our disposal it was fun to fine-tune the bike for the road ahead. I found the brakes to be even better on the street too, with good power and decent feel as we gobbled up corners while climbing higher and higher into the mountains.
The F850 is quite comfy on the street thanks to its well-formed seat and relaxed riding position. Every component from the multifunction selector wheel on the left handlebar to the large, easy-to-read TFT dash and lever position all feel well thought out. The bars are tall and the distance to the pegs didn’t cramp my stubby legs, plus the windshield is just tall enough to break the oncoming wind and offer a decent protection to my upper body from the elements. It all helps make the ride easy and enjoyable so you can take time to either soak in the scenery or whip it through the turns. I was trying to do both.
At some point, it started to get chilly. I saw an indicated 40 degrees on the TFT dash but it was decreasing rapidly into the 30s. After that, raindrops dotted my visor as the dark clouds blowing in from the south began covering the summit we were heading toward. Moments later, we rode into a steady mix of rain and snow that, while it sucked, added an element of excitement to an already wild ride. Those heated grips and brush guards were a blessing.
I could whine about the weather but instead I decided to switch the bike in Rain mode and put those rider-assist technologies to the test. I rode just hard enough to get the ABS and TC to kick in, which in turn revealed that you have to be a numbskull to ride so aggressively in the wet. In a nutshell, the BMW ABS and TC systems are impressive. Riding a bike with any sort of safety net in these conditions is worth more than the $16,920 price tag of a fully loaded 2019 F850GS like this one.
By the time the snow gave way to a light rain, we had safely made our way from the mountains and back into the foothills. The rain subsided for the most part and all we had to contend with was the cold. Fortunately, the GS actually provides decent protection from the elements on every part of my body except for my lower legs and at this point we were on our way home.
The final 45-minute ride back to base solidified the new F850GS as a worthy replacement for the venerable F800GS. The new bike is more comfortable, it’s faster, and its engine has more character which in turn gives the bike more character. Plus it handles like a sport-touring bike even though it has knobby tires, so there is not much to complain about.
Overall I came away impressed with both the 750 and the 850, but it is the new F850GS that takes the cake. It’s a near perfect combination of dirtworthiness and on-road performance that is destined to make it one of the best adventure bikes on the market right now. Add into the mix the smooth and entertaining engine, incredible performance packages along with that badass GS look and you have a motorcycle that is ready to take you to the ends of the earth and back in style and comfort that is unique to the BMW brand. This is all a combination that’s hard to get from any motorcycle, so if you are looking for an excuse to get into the sport of adventure motorcycles or to replace your old one, then you owe it to yourself to check out the 2019 BMW F850GS.
Repsol Honda rider concludes career with treacherous conditions in Spain.
Image: Supplied.
Dani Pedrosa has farewelled his racing career with a fifth place finish at Valencia’s final round of the 2018 MotoGP World Championship in Spain yesterday.
Treacherous conditions and a red flag made for a dramatic outgoing, although the experienced Spaniard escaped the chaos to complete his last ever race in what was one of his stronger performances of the year, ultimately winding up 11th in the championship standings.
“For sure I had a particular feeling before today’s race, knowing that the moment of my final race had arrived,” Pedrosa explained. “Well, actually it turned out that I had two! Unfortunately the weather was really tricky. In both races, I struggled so much with the rear and couldn’t really get on the gas.
“I was actually expecting to have a better feeling in the second race, as there was less water on the track. But we changed the tyres and I had no grip, so I could only try and finish the race with no crashes. It’s a bit of a shame, but when I got back to the pits, I found everybody waiting for me—the team, my family, my people—and there was a very emotional atmosphere.
“I was pleased to see their emotion. It meant a lot to me. Now I’ll have several events to attend, but after that I’ll try and have some time to myself and relax a bit before next year.”
Australian contender to join youthful talent Mackenzie next season.
Image: Supplied.
McAms Yamaha has revealed the signing of Australian Jason O’Halloran for the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship (BSB), confirming the number 22 will depart Honda Racing after a number of years at the outfit.
Following a 2018 season marred with injury, O’Halloran essentially fulfils the position vacated by countryman Josh Brookes, who’s signed with Be Wiser Ducati, and will line-up alongside Tarran Mackenzie next year.
“It’s a new chapter and its really exciting to be joining a new team and manufacturer after a long time in the same place,” said O’Halloran. “I have big aims and know I’ve got loads more to prove, people haven’t seen the best of me yet. The bike is a proven race winner and the team has great pedigree, so I believe we have the ingredients to fight for wins.
“I’ve followed the R1 plenty and it seems like you need to be smooth and hold good corner speed, things I really think I can work with. Taz has some great experience on the bike now, so it will be good to be able to hook into information too.”
Team manager Grant Bunting expressed his excitement of signing the competitive duo, and his anticipating a strong start to 2019 after logging important data throughout this season.
“We had a strong year in BSB and learnt a lot about ourselves and the YZF-R1,” Bunting commented. “So we can hit the ground running this season, with two cracking signings! Tarran exceeded all our expectations this year and we were really keen to keep him.
“He has good experience now and we want to help him make the next step up to be able to regularly win races, which we passionately believe he can do. Jason is a really interesting signing for us and we will give him the tools to get the job done and remind people why he is a BSB winner, after a tough injury hit year.”
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