WSBK; De Puniet : « Ce n’est pas un jeu » / ‘This is not a game’

Le Français a pu se rendre compte de la haute compétitivité du plateau WorldSBK lors de ses débuts dans la catégorie en Australie.

Phillip Island a été une très difficile épreuve pour Randy de Puniet, qui faisait ses débuts en WorldSBK blessé après avoir subi l’une des plus grosses chutes de sa carrière lors du test de pré-saison qui avait eu lieu quelques jours avant la course. Le nouveau pilote du team Voltcom Crescent Suzuki a cependant serré les dents pour boucler ses deux premières courses en WorldSBK et marquer ses premiers points tout en s’adaptant à un nouvel environnement.

« C’est plus calme et l’ambiance est un peu plus familiale, » affirme De Puniet au sujet du paddock WorldSBK. « Je dois simplement trouver ma place ici mais je suis à l’aise avec le team et c’est le plus important. Tout est différent mais c’est un bon championnat, avec de bons pilotes. Ce n’est pas un jeu. »

De Puniet n’est pas le seul pilote à être passé du paddock MotoGP à celui du WorldSBK cette année puisque Nico Terol et Jordi Torres, qui couraient en Moto2 l’an dernier, ont eux aussi changé de championnat.

« Je n’avais jamais piloté une moto comme celle-ci auparavant et je pars donc de zéro. Le point positif est que je connais déjà pas mal de circuits. Le niveau est élevé et l’arrivée de pilotes du MotoGP ou du Moto2 est une bonne chose. J’espère réussir. J’ai besoin de temps pour m’adapter mais je suis prêt à me battre et c’est le plus important. »

De Puniet partage le garage de Voltcom Crescent Suzuki avec Alex Lowes, le Champion 2013 du British Superbike, qui en est à sa seconde saison en WorldSBK.

 Frenchman serious as he makes the switch to WorldSBK.

Phillip Island represented a character-building start to Randy de Puniet’s WorldSBK career, including one of the biggest crashes of his career in pre-race testing. Thankfully, the Voltcom Crescent Suzuki rider was able to race and went on to score his first World Championship points as he adapted to a completely new environment.

“It is quieter and more like a family,” de Puniet tells WorldSBK.com of his new paddock setting. “I just need to find my place here, but I am feeling good in the team and that is the most important thing. Everything is different but it is a strong championship and you have strong riders. It’s not a game.”

In 2015 de Puniet shares the grid with some fellow faces from the world of MotoGP, as the likes of Nico Terol and Jordi Torres have also switched paddocks.

“I have never ridden a bike like this before, so I’m starting from zero,” he continues. “The good thing is I know a lot of the tracks. The level is high, so if MotoGP or Moto2 riders come here it is good. I really hope to do well. I need time to adapt my style, but I’m ready to fight and that is the most important thing.”

De Puniet is joined in the Voltcom Crescent Suzuki garage by Alex Lowes, with the 2013 British Superbike champion now into his second season on the world scene.

Vidéo : les meilleurs moments du Rallye du Mexique / Highlights - 2015 WRC Rally Mexico

Le team MotoGP™ de Suzuki s’appellera Suzuki Ecstar / Suzuki MotoGP™ team to be known as Suzuki Ecstar

Scott Redding était présent Madrid pour la présentation officielle du team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS.

Pour sa seconde saison en MotoGP™, Scott Redding sera l’unique pilote du nouveau team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS et retrouvera une partie de l’équipe avec laquelle il avait brillamment lutté pour le titre Moto2™ en 2013. Lors de la présentation officielle du projet, le Britannique a dévoilé la nouvelle livrée de son Honda RC213V Factory, qu’il pilotera bientôt au Qatar pour le dernier test de la pré-saison.

Scott Redding :

« Je suis vraiment content d’être dans une équipe dont je suis l’unique pilote, c’est quelque chose dont j’ai toujours rêvé et tous les efforts vont pouvoir aller vers un seul et même objectif. Je suis ravi de retrouver Marc VDS. Je connais déjà l’équipe et ça nous aidera à obtenir de bons résultats cette année. Il nous reste encore un peu de temps pour travailler afin d’être plus proches des pilotes les plus rapides au Qatar et de pouvoir apprendre de l’expérience de ceux qui sont devant à chaque course. »

La marque japonaise vient d’annoncer que son team MotoGP™ prendrait le nom de Suzuki Ecstar pour son retour dans la catégorie reine.

Suzuki a annoncé son partenariat avec Ecstar, la marque de lubrifiants appartenant au constructeur de Hamamatsu, lors d’une présentation officielle qui a eu lieu vendredi matin et lors de laquelle Aleix Espargaró et Maverick Viñales ont dévoilé la livrée définitive de la nouvelle GSX-RR.

Eiji Mochizuki, Directeur exécutif de Suzuki :

« Suzuki est enfin de retour en MotoGP, dans la catégorie reine du motocyclisme. Grâce à notre engagement au plus haut niveau, nous pourrons affiner nos technologies et les transférer aux modèles de série afin que les clients de Suzuki du monde entier puissent en profiter. Suzuki souhaite satisfaire ses clients à travers le monde, tant en compétition qu’avec nos produits. Nous espérons que nos fans soutiendront le Team Suzuki Ecstar. »

Scott Redding, talking at the launch of Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Racing Team today,  says he is excited about the 2015 MotoGP™ season.

Scott Redding will be the only rider for the team in the premier class as he returns to work with the squad that brought him so close to claiming the Moto2™ title in 2013. The Brit was on hand at the unveiling of the new livery for his factory spec Honda RC213V, and seems to be looking forward to his second season in MotoGP™ especially as he will be the sole focus of his teams attention.

Scott Redding:
"I'm really happy to be on a team where I am the only rider, it’s something I had always dreamed of, as all of the teams efforts will be focused solely on me. I'm happy to be back with Marc VDS, as I already know the team and that can only help us achieve good results this season. We still have some work to do to close the gap to the leading teams before we get to the first race in Qatar, and must learn from the guys who are faster than us.”  

The factory racing team will officially be known as Suzuki Ecstar for their return to MotoGP™ when the season starts in Qatar.

Suzuki announced the partnership with Ecstar, the Japanese manufacturers own brand of  engine oil, at the official team launch this morning along with unveiling their new livery. Aleix Espargaro, who finished seventh overall in the premier class last year, will be joined by 2013 Moto3™ Champion Maverick Viñales onboard the newly developed GSX-RR as Suzuki make their return to the top tier of motorcycle racing.

Suzuki’s Executive General Manager Eiji Mochizuki:

“Finally, Suzuki will make a comeback to the MotoGP, the world’s top motorcycle racing series. Through high-level competition, we will sharpen up our technologies, and aggressively feed them back to our production models and interact with Suzuki customers all over the world. Suzuki will challenge to improve satisfaction of customers all over the world to a higher level, through racing and our products. We ask our fans to support the Team SUZUKI ECSTAR.”

Roland Sands | After Hours

Famed bike builder Roland Sands has been creating custom motorcycles for just about his entire life. Son of Perry Sands, founder of Performance Machine, Roland grew up in the shop, sweeping floors until eventually working his way up to lead designer and founding Roland Sands Designs in 2005. Today, the sprawling headquarters of RSD in Lakewood, California, is nothing short of impressive. And his passion for motorcycles is palpable when you enter the RSD headquarters, as an amazing showroom full of bikes apparel, and custom accessories greet you when you step in the door.

Simply put, his once small endeavor has grown into one of the largest motorcycle accessories and aftermarket parts businesses in the industry, offering everything from apparel to exhaust to seats to everything in between. We stopped by to kickback and get an up-close look at the facility that our good friend has built from the ground up.

Roland Sands | After Hours from Fasthouse on Vimeo.

Bellini Nautica, where vintage Rivas are reborn

Imagine cruising across an Italian lake in a Riva: the sound of the engine, the sun reflecting off the varnished wood. No wonder we jumped at the chance to visit Bellini Nautica on the Lago d’Iseo, one of the most respected workshops for restoring, servicing and trading in the classic wooden boats…

The golden era

Here we met Battista Bellini, the grandson of the workshop’s founder, who told us the story of his family’s business.

Mr. Bellini, when did it all start?

My grandfather started his activity about 50 years ago, building Bellini wooden boats. Wooden boats were fashionable at the time: everyone wanted to look like Brigitte Bardot in her own Riva in St Tropez. It was a golden era. The boats were handcrafted and therefore expensive, so were only for wealthy customers. But as the years went by, plastic and resin boats became more prevalent and wooden boats became just old boats. My grandfather died when my father was 17, but before he died, he told him: “Don’t build boats, it’s too difficult to survive doing that now.” And so my father decided to focus on the servicing, storage, buying, selling and restoration of these old wooden boats.

A passion for wooden boats

And when did it start for you?

I would say the day I was born, although I only really began to work in the company five years ago. I have a passion for wooden boats, but also a passion for humanity – and meeting people. I just love to meet people to share my passion with them.

Preserving Riva history

Who works for your company now?

We are about 40 people, within two companies, and we have all the necessary skills in engines, wood, upholstery, electrics – and we also have our own varnishing workshop. Some Rivas require around 20 coats of varnish! We do between 10 and 15 partial or full restorations a year, and we service and store another 70 or 80 Rivas. We also work very closely with the brand Riva, which is just on the other side of the lake.

You also have a very special treasure: your Riva collection. Can you tell us about it?

Yes, we have 17 Rivas in our collection. We have almost every model and every evolution of each model. We feel it’s important to preserve the history of this legendary brand and have some of the rarest models that even Riva doesn’t have in its own collection. In addition, we have boats such as the Sebino, the second built of a series of 13 boats, and the Lancetta, one of the very first models built by Riva and the only example remaining in the world. For sure, there are some boats missing from our collection, such as the Scoiattolo (Italian for squirrel) from the very early years. There are only two or three remaining in the world.

Open to the public by appointment

 

What's your favourite boat in the collection?

I would say it’s the Sebino, with its wonderful yellow upholstery and yellow line along the hull, and the Ariston 1st series with its green-painted hull and incredible shape.

You’re currently refurbishing the display of your collection, is that right?

Yes, we’re working with Riva to improve the staging of the collection, to really appeal to the public. Everything should be finished for next spring, and the collection is always open to the public by appointment. You just have to give us a call or send us an email.

Sharing the passion

Why do you want to open a private collection to the public?

We don’t want to keep our boats hidden, just for us. Our aim and our philosophy is to share our values, to share our passion with the public. Rivas always have the reputation of being very expensive. That’s true for the most prestigious models, such as the Aquarama Special, for example, but Riva Juniors or Olympics are genuinely affordable boats.

Do you ever use your boats?

Certainly, as much as we can! For example, at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d'Este, some of the Rivas used as shuttles for the VIPs are from our collection. That’s another way to share our passion.

Don’t be jealous...

How would you describe your company today?

We’re extremely proud of our history and our philosophy – and I think our motto best summarises the company: “Don’t be jealous if we love your Riva more than you do.”

Photos: Rémi Dargegen for Classic Driver © 2015

 

Visit bellininautica.it to find out more about the workshop, or click here to browse the collection. There are also numerous Rivas for sale in the Classic Driver Yacht Market.

 

10 of the Geneva Motor Show’s most unusual classic concepts

On the eve of the 85th Geneva Motor Show, we take a look back at the most unusual concept cars to have made their debuts at the Swiss spectacle, over the years…

1961 Aston Martin Jet by Bertone

Using the final DB4 GT chassis (not including the Sanction II/III Zagatos), a 22-year-old Giorgetto Giugiaro penned the Jet for the 1961 Geneva expo. After winning ‘Best in Show’ at Villa d’Este in 2001, the unique coupé was sold by Bonhams for £3.25m in 2013.

1963 Chevrolet Corvair Testudo by Bertone

With a view to selling the Corvair in Europe, GM sent a rolling chassis each to Pininfarina and Bertone. The latter’s effort, the Testudo, was again a Giugiaro design – but this was no primitive show-car. Nuccio Bertone famously drove the concept to the 1963 Geneva show from Turin, with Giugiaro the pilot for the return leg of the journey.

1968 Bertone Panther

By 1968, Giugiaro had moved to Ghia – but the services of Bertone were still in demand, and were enlisted by the Brescia Corse racing team to produce a prototype for the World Sportscar Championship. The most prominent feature of the resulting Panther was the spoiler that sat high above the cockpit, and which could be hydraulically controlled to vary its effect.

1970 BMW 2200 ti Garmisch

With the popularity of Mercedes-Benz’s W114 beginning to concern BMW, it too requested the services of Bertone. Penned by Marcelo Gandini, the 2200 ti Garmisch concept would later come to inspire Paul Bracq’s E12 5 Series – although the hexagonal kidney grilles and honeycombed rear screen weren’t carried over.

1970 Ferrari Modulo

We could have picked our top 10 solely with the debuts from the 1970 show – other highlights included the Mercedes-Benz C111-II, Volvo GTZ, Alfa Romeo Montreal, Citroën SM and originalRange Rover. But by far the most arresting was Pininfarina’s Ferrari Modulo, which remains a head-turner (and a trip hazard) to this day.

1975 Opel Geneve Concept

It must be said, the fruits of Opel rarely appear on our radar. But the 1975 Genève concept has won inclusion in our top 10 not because of its name, but rather its downright gorgeous styling. Originally, it was planned to host a Wankel engine and be named GT/W, but the project was canned just before the show – hence the unimaginative renaming.

1981 Wolfrace Sonic

First shown at the 1981 Geneva show, the Sonic was built as a promotional vehicle for Wolfrace to showcase its new pepperpot-style alloy wheels. With six wheels and two Rover V8s, it was soon vying for bedroom wall space with the Lamborghini Countach.

1987 Sbarro Monster G

Sbarro will be exhibiting its latest quirky creation at this year’s show – but it’ll have to go some way to out-weird the 1987 Monster G. It had an engine from a Mercedes G-Wagon, the styling of a bloated beach buggy, and wheels from a Boeing 747. Yes, really.

1991 Lamborghini Sogna

First appearing at the 1991 Geneva show, the Sogna was (thankfully) not an officially sanctioned Lamborghini, but rather the realisation of a 13-year-old’s dream supercar. Apparently, the founder of Japanese company Art & Tech built this curio as a result of a childhood premonition, and sacrificed a Countach in view of a potential production run. Which didn’t happen. Obviously.

1993 Lagonda Vignale

Aston Martin has just announced that the Lagona Taraf saloon will now be available in Europe – but it’s not the first time the company has attempted to continue the lineage of the 1980s wedge. In 1993, Aston arrived at the Geneva show with the Ghia-styled Lagonda Vignale, which bore a remarkable resemblance to Italdesign’s Bugatti saloon concept debuting at the same show.

MARIA RIDING CO. SPITFIRE

Living close to the sea is good for the soul, it reminds us that as humans we are fairly insignificant and vulnerable in the grand scheme of things. Perhaps this has an impact on the ability to rationalise first world problems and leads sea going folk to a more chilled existence. When you land on the Maria Riding Co. website you’re greeted with two options, “Road Riders Go Here or Wave Riders Go Here” and a reminder that “Because you used to have fun, remember”.  Flicking through the fluro surf boards and previous bike builds list it’s clear to see that the guys from Lisbon aren’t afraid of a splash of colour. Some of their bikes have featured here in the ‘Shed and more recent designs have stood up against the ratty, pipe wrapped trend, instead choosing vibrant and matching powder coatings on rims and cam covers.

This latest build, Spitfire, was commissioned by a customer that wanted a military theme, but without the whole matt Nato green thing.

Hinckley Triumphs are Maria Riding Co.’s usual canvas of choice and this donor is a 2005 Bonneville T100. The co-saviour of Europe in World War Two, the RAF Supermarine Spitfire fighter plane supplied most of the inspiration for the colour scheme whilst the remainder of the project followed founder and head mechanic Luis Correia’s tried and tested formula.

Wheels have been rebuilt with stainless spokes and dark green powdered rims whilst Continental’s venerable TKC80s bring the flying theme back down to earth. The stock motor required only a service, and a carb tune to cope with the thundering  Arrow 2-into-1 stainless exhaust system.

To make the most of a smaller headlight and neater dash set-up an LSL ignition relocation switch kit has been installed, keeping wiring and dangly bits out of sight. Whilst filling their virtual basket at the German purveyors of properly engineered trick parts, a pair of LSL bars and sprocket cover were ordered. Vintage style grips are by Posh.

These days chrome plating is seen as an unsightly hanger-on at the custom party, luckily it hides more precious metals beneath. Buff through the chrome, then the nickel and you’ll hit copper; which is exactly what the guys have done to the stock fuel cap. Far more stiff upper lipped RAF than glitzy chrome, wot wot. Whilst on the subject of plating, all fasteners were removed and yellow pasivated – a form of zinc galvanising. Not only does this look better than stock but should keep effects of the salty breeze at bay.

The subframe has had the usual chopping treatment to cater for the new seat, which is of course handmade and rises to meet the tank, covering the void neatly. The rear fender is aluminium, under the gloss black. The side panels are of the same material and hide the boring bits nicely. A black powdered bash plate should keep the sump safe in the event of a scramble, both types. Chocks away!

The customer is delighted with his new urban weapon and glad he chose Luis and the guys from Maria Riding Co. to bring his ideas to reality. If you get jealous easily and aren’t happy with your landlocked, beach-free lifestyle perhaps avoid the company’s website and Facebook page. But if you can grit your teeth through the envy and like pictures of sun, surf, bikes and fun take a look at their previous work and what’s in the pipeline this summer.

via The Bike  shed

Royal Enfield Tailgunner Interceptor