Don't miss the documentary David Beckham Into The Unknown, which chronicles global superstar athlete David Beckham and his friends' unforgettable journey deep into the heart of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil
vendredi 15 août 2014
MOTO GP : Márquez mène la première journée en République Tchèque / Marquez leads the way at Brno on day one
Le Champion du Monde en titre Marc Márquez a été le pilote le plus rapide vendredi à Brno, où la seconde séance d’essais a été perturbée par la pluie. Jorge Lorenzo et Dani Pedrosa complètent le Top 3.
Invaincu depuis le début de la saison, Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda) a signé le meilleur temps des essais libres de vendredi au Grand Prix bwin de République Tchèque. Le Champion du Monde en titre a réalisé sa performance le matin, avant que la pluie ne vienne perturber la seconde séance et figer le classement. Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) et Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) conservaient ainsi leurs positions dans le Top 3, à seulement 0.037s et 0.052s de Márquez.
Aleix Espargaró (NGM Forward Racing) a de son côté pris le dessus sur Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), cinquième à 0.262s du temps de référence. L’Italien se prépare à participer à son 245e Grand Prix en catégorie reine ce week-end et égalera ainsi Alex Barros, qui détient le record du nombre de participations en catégorie reine.
Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda MotoGP), Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Yonny Hernández (Energy T.I. Pramac Racing), Pol Espargaró (Monster Yamaha Tech3) et Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3) complétaient le Top 10 de la journée.
Andrea Iannone (Pramac Racing) et Héctor Barberá (Avintia Racing) ont terminé en tête de la seconde séance d’essais en ayant roulé sur piste sèche avant l’arrivée de la pluie. Barberá, qui courra son 200e Grand Prix ce week-end, a plus tard chuté sur piste mouillée.
Márquez, Pedrosa, Rossi, Cal Crutchlow (Ducati) et Lorenzo ont quant à eux été les plus rapides sur piste mouillée cet après-midi.
Alex de Angelis faisait pour sa part son retour en MotoGP™. Le pilote de Saint-Marin courra à la place de Colin Edwards chez NGM Forward Racing pour la fin de la saison 2014 et a commencé à apprivoiser la Forward-Yamaha avec une vingtaine de tours le matin puis une douzaine cet après-midi.
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MotoGP™ World Champion Marc Marquez was Friday’s quickest rider at the bwin Grand Prix České republiky with his best lap of 1’56.803 in FP1, ahead of Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa. The rain arrived later and the riders spent FP2 refining their wet set-ups.
Undefeated thus far in his title defence season, Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was quickest on the overall Friday timesheets, with all the riders setting their best laps in FP1 as the rain fell just as FP2 got underway. In the morning session Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) and Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) trailed Marquez by just 0.037s and 0.052s respectively.
Behind the front three, it was Aleix Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing) and Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) also in the top five. Rossi is set to make his 245th GP start in the premier class on Sunday, equalling Alex Barros who currently holds the record for most starts in the top class of Grand Prix racing.
Friday’s fastest top ten was completed by Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda MotoGP), Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Yonny Hernandez (Energy T.I. Pramac Racing), Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech3) and Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3).
In FP2 Andrea Iannone (Pramac Racing) topped the timesheet ahead of Hector Barbera (Avintia Racing) with 2’03.179 and 2’04.462 times, as they got laps in on dry set-ups before the rain fell. Barbera crashed just before the FP2 session concluded, as the Spaniard started his 200th GP weekend.
Marquez, Pedrosa, Rossi, Crutchlow and Lorenzo were the fastest five riders in the wet afternoon conditions.
Motorcycle Challenge: Skill Shot
Confederate Motorcycles X132 Hellcat Speedster
Written by Ian Lee.
In the beginning there was the Confederate X132 Hellcat. It was good and fast and broke speed records. But it needed something else. It needed the touch of Pierre Terblanche. The former Ducati designer was brought in to give the American hotrod a different style, something fresh and unique. And it takes a hell of a designer to take an already out there bike and make it even more… well… out there. Let us introduce you to (deep breath) theConfederate Motorcycles X132 Hellcat Speedster.
The bike is dominated by that big 132 inch V twin of Confederate’s own design. Putting out 140 torques, the fuel injected powerplant is the same one that propelled the Hellcat to a speed record at Bonneville a few years ago. With an ECU that is tuned for performance more than cruising capabilities, the power is sent through a five speed transmission fitted with drag racing ratios.
All that power means nothing without being able to put it into the ground. At the back end is a custom Race Tech centre mounted shock. The 29° front forks are 48mm, fitted up with a Beringer four pot dual caliper biting into Beringer ductile rotors. Both front and rear suspension are fully adjustable, for both rebound and compression. The rolling stock on the machine are 18 inch Blackstone Tek Carbon Fibre, shod in Metzeler Me880 rubber.
The fuel tank is a one piece seamless unit, designed in house at Confederate Motorcycles. Finished in clear coat over carbon fibre, it follows the curve of the 3 inch backbone beautifully. To give that American riding position, a leather bound tractor style seat was utilised, along with forward controls.
This Hellcat Speedster is being limited in production to only 65 bikes, ensuring that these already unique bikes maintain their ability to stand out in a crowd. From the CNC billet engine case, to the work of art exhaust system draped upon the engine block, the amount of work put into this bike shows. With a touch of Terblanche, this naked bike is just the beginning of a new styling direction for Confederate motorcycles, and the future is looking good.
via PIPEBURN
MARIA RIDING CO
Maria Motorcycles based out of Lisbon in Portugal first came to our attention with their beautiful, sea blue Ducati 750 Cafe in 2012. Back then their website was under construction and our information was limited but they had us hooked with their obvious talent and eye for the beautiful. Now that the gentlemen of Maria Riding Co. have fully established their brand and their website is a hive of beauty and information, we realise that the bike that began it all for them was actually this XS650. In an interview with Iron & Air, head mechanic and designer in chief Luis said of his original steed,“Your first love will always be remembered for life with a special feeling. Eva is that first tattoo on Maria Motorcycles’ arm.” It was one hell of a way to start.
In Portugal these old models are something of a rarity, so despite the extremely tired state in which Luis found this old girl, there was no question in his mind that she would be worth the effort. “The first part of the build was easy, removing all the dirty and rusty parts, we took care of all the damaged parts, and sourced new ones.” During the process of the restoration his ideas came together to create a “single and unique motorcycle.” But first he needed it to run.
Luis luckily had some friends with the required skill set so the engine was dispatched to his buddies and rebuilt from scratch, “this was a big motivation boost which let us believe that all the rest was going to be possible.” With the motor taken care of, he set abut the frame. The tail was shortened and a kicked loop added creating that recognisable, short Brat stance. Next came the task of fabricating some bespoke parts to team with those he had purchased or refurbished. These included the battery box, headlight and backlight supports along with a few other parts.
The original wheels were refinished in gloss black and chunky classic Firestone Deluxe tyres were chosen. Twin air filters replaced the air box whilst a gel battery was hidden beneath the seat in the aforementioned box along with all the wires and condensers. The simple, clean look was the order of the day.
“Getting the engine started was something tricky to solve. Hours and hours checking all details from the new electrical system.” But when it finally ran, it felt like a brand new bike, testament to the work carried out by Luis and his mates.
The seat proved problematic, “It was the best of 4 prototypes. We really knew what we wanted, but it was not simple to get there…!” When Luis was finally satisfied with the profile and fit it was covered in a pale brown leather that compliments the gold detailing on the tank and the headlight. Crisp white was chose for the tank and grips. “The design and the graphics just came out to be a very natural thing, since that’s our professional skills area.”
“We are very pleased with it! Riding it is even better! The sound and the feel is amazing. We have not so much comfort, but the fun is outstanding!” That fun is the essence of the Maria experience, they talk on their website in glowing terms of the fun we used to have and how they intend to reclaim it with their motorcycles,
“Everyone’s old days are usualy full of precious stories and adventures. The past is often the best. The more stories to remember, the more interesting moments to share.… and a good ride is usually a true and instant story maker.”
The experience Luis had and the skills he learned in the building of this bike are what went on to form the Maria Riding Co. of today. If this was “the first tattoo on the arm” then the sleeves are certainly coming along nicely with numerous projects completed since and plenty in the pipeline. See more of their work on the Maria Riding Co. Bikeshed page and expect it to receive more ink soon.
via The Bike Shed
Hungarian Baja: Overdrive BE with three Toyota Hilux and Nasser Al Attiyah
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Al-Attiyah returns to the team with whom he won the Saudi Arabian Ha’il Baja and will drive a car similar to the one he plans to drive at the 2015 Dakar Rally. The Qatari has experimented with several cars this season, but is relishing the prospect of adding to the 106 points he has already scored in this year’s FIA World Cup that have catapulted him into third place in the points’ standings behind Russian driver Vladimir Vasilyev (X-raid Mini) and Saudi Arabian rival Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Toyota Hilux). Al-Attiyah – winner of the Hungarian event in 2008 - will again be co-driven by the experienced Frenchman Matthieu Baumel.
Dabrowski and Malysz hold fourth and sixth in the FIA World Cup standings in the Team Orlen Toyotas and head to Hungary with their respective Polish co-drivers Jacek Czachor and Rafal Marton. The pair have achieved several consistent results this season with the V8-powered Hiluxes that are run by the Belgian Overdrive team in conjunction with Hallspeed of South Africa.
"We are delighted to welcome Nasser back to the team," said Overdrive Racing’s team director Jean-Marc Fortin. "He will be with Overdrive Racing and Toyota in Hungary and Poland, for sure. We have a strong three-car line-up and will be pushing hard for the win. Nasser needs to get back into contention for the championship and what better way to do that than to take a win in Hungary."
The Overdrive Racing team’s best result to date on the Hungarian Baja was third overall for the Venezuelan driver Nunzio Coffaro last year. Main rivals for the Overdrive trio this weekend include championship leader Vasilyev, Czech Miroslav Zapletal, Russian Boris Gadasin, Pole Krzysztof Holowczyc and the Argentinean Orlando Terranova.
Administration checks will take place at the Varasi Sportcsarnak on Thursday afternoon (August 14) and Friday (August 15) morning, before the ceremonial start and the first 55.5km stage take place on Friday evening.
Four timed selective sections of 73.5 km, 120.5 km, 73.5 km and 120.5 km are planned for Saturday (August 16), before the event reaches a conclusion with the prize giving ceremony at the Varasi Sportcsarnak in Pápa on Saturday evening.
FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies – positions after round 6
01. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS) I Mini All4 Racing I 171 pts
02. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (KSA) I Overdrive Toyota I 120 pts
03. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QT) I Overdrive Toyota I 106 pts
04. Marek Dabrowski (PL) I Overdrive Toyota I 83 pts
05. Miroslav Zapletal (CZ) I Hummer H3 Evo I 74 pts
06. Adam Malysz (PL) I Overdrive Toyota I 68 pts
07. Reinaldo Varela (BRA) I Overdrive Toyota I 56 pts
08. Erik van Loon (NL) I Mini All4 Racing I 48 pts
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