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    vendredi 27 mars 2015

    Supermoto : Jerez ouvre la saison 2015 / Jerez gets the ball rolling


    Le coup d’envoi de la saison 2015 du Championnat du monde FIM Supermoto sera donné ce week-end à Jerez en Espagne.
    Plus habitué à recevoir des courses de vitesse, Jerez accueille ce week-end la première épreuve du Championnat du monde FIM SuperMoto.
    Champion du monde 2014, Thomas Chareyre (TM-Michelin) aura à cœur de défendre son troisième titre mondial acquis à l’issue d’une intense saison où il a dû batailler dur avec Mauno Hermunen (SHR – TM). Le  pilote finlandais, champion du monde en 2013, a laissé échapper le titre pour seulement quatre points.
    Troisième du classement général en 2014, Ivan Lazzarini (L30 Racing – Honda) sera également un candidat sérieux à la victoire et au titre.
    A noter l’absence d’Adrien Chareyre, quadruple champion du monde de la discipline (2011 (S1) – 2009 (S2) – 2008 (S2) – 2007 (S1)), qui a terminé quatrième au général la saison passée.
    Michelin est de nouveau partenaire du Championnat du monde FIM SuperMoto cette année avec comme objectif d’ajouter une nouvelle couronne mondiale à son palmarès. Le manufacturier français équipe, entre autre, Thomas Chareyre, Christian Ravaglia (Assomotor – Honda), Jevon Vermeulen (MTR Team – KTM), Asseri Kingelin (Gazza Racing – Honda).
    Outre l’objectif sportif, Michelin poursuit également son travail de développement comme le rappelle Piero Taramasso, responsable 2 roues Michelin Motorsport « Nous allons continuer de travailler sur le pneumatique avant désormais disponible en 16 pouces depuis 2014. Des nouvelles solutions seront également proposées au niveau des mélanges afin d’améliorer le grip et le comportement des pneus. »
    Très peu de changements au niveau du règlement cette année. La Superpole (Super Chronos) va désormais réunir les six meilleurs pilotes à l’issue des qualifications au lieu de huit la saison précédente.
    The 2015 FIM Supermoto World Championship kicks off this weekend at Jerez, Spain.
    Although famed as a home of conventional circuit racing, Jerez is hosting the opening round of the 2015 FIM Supermoto World Championship this weekend.
    Last year’s champ Thomas Chareyre (TM-Michelin) will be out to defend the third title he collected in 2014 after a thrilling fight that saw him finish just four points clear of Finland’s Mauno Hermunen (SHR-TM), the 2013 champion.
    Ivan Lazzarini (L30 Racing-Honda), who took bronze in 2014, is another chief title contender this season.
    The four-time SuperMoto world champion Adrien Chareyre (2011/S1, 2009/S2, 2008/S2, 2007/S1) will not be competing in this year’s series after coming fourth in 2014.
    Michelin is once again a partner of the championship and is hoping to add another title to its record. Riders competing on its tyres include Thomas Chareyre, Christian Ravaglia (Assomotor-Honda), Jevon Vermeulen (MTR Team-KTM) and Asseri Kingelin (Gazza Racing-Honda).
    In addition to its sporting goals, Michelin also plans to pursue its development work in the series. “We will carry on working on the 16-inch front tyre we introduced in 2014,” notes Piero Taramasso, the manager of Michelin Motorsport’s two-wheel programmes. “We will also have new compounds in order to deliver improved grip and handling.”
    Among the few changes that have been made to the regulations since last year, the Superpole (Super Chronos) will now feature the six fastest riders from qualifying instead of eight in 2014.

    Programme :
    Samedi 28 mars :
    11H30 : Essais libres 
    13H00 : Essais libres 
    15H45 : Essais chronométrés         
    16H20 : super chronos (6 premiers)       
    Dimanche 29 mars :
    11H00 : warm-up        
    13H45 : course 1 
    16H30 : Course 2

    WRC ; Testing time for the teams


    After a few days’ rest, the WRC teams got back to work to prepare for the upcoming WRC clashes. M-Sport, Michelin and Hyundai Motorsport notably ran important development tests.
    After its dramatic adventures in Mexico, M-Sport was in Wales last week to test the new evolutions it plans to introduce in Portugal (engine, transmission, hydraulics). Ott Tanak and Elfyn Evans took turns in the Ford Fiesta RS WRC to sign off the solutions proposed by the team’s engineers.
    Meanwhile, the Fiesta RS WRC which sank in Mexico has been entirely stripped at M-Sport’s workshops to be rebuilt for Argentina. Tanak was classified in Leon, so the team will have to keep the same engine and mechanical assemblies (transmission, sub frames, etc.) for the South American event. Other parts off the N°6 Fiesta were auctioned…
    Hyundai Motorsport has also been busy working on the new i20 WRC which is expected to make its debut this summer. Kevin Abbring put it through its pace on (snowy) asphalt roads near Almeria, Spain.
    Michelin did some development testing last week, too, in association with recent retiree Mikko Hirvonen who tried the new asphalt tyres the French firm plans to introduce later this season.
    This week, Citroën Racing is in the Algarve, Portugal, to prepare for Argentina with Mads Ostberg and Kris Meeke. Volkswagen Motorsport’s three drivers, freshly back from holiday, have been doing similar work in Spain.

    Moto GP ; Márquez conclut la troisième séance en tête au Qatar


    Le Champion du Monde en titre a cependant beaucoup moins d’avance sur ses concurrents qu’à l’issue de la seconde séance.
    Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda) a été le pilote MotoGP™ le plus rapide à chacune des trois séances d’essais au Grand Prix Commercial Bank du Qatar et a amélioré le temps de référence de tout juste six millièmes de seconde vendredi soir lors de la troisième séance.
    S’il comptait plus de quatre dixièmes de seconde d’avance sur la concurrence à l’issue de la deuxième séance, le double Champion du Monde MotoGP™ a vu son avantage fondre en fin de soirée puisqu’il terminait en tête d’un Top 8 qui se tenait en moins de trois dixièmes de seconde.
    Cal Crutchlow (CWM LCR Honda) a fini deuxième, à moins d’un dixième de Márquez, devant Andrea Iannone (Ducati), Aleix Espargaró (Ecstar Suzuki) et Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda), qui complétaient le Top 5 du classement combiné.
    Se trouvaient derrière eux Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati), Yonny Hernández (Pramac Racing) puis Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), huitième mais à seulement 0.286s du temps de référence. 
    Son coéquipier Valentino Rossi et Pol Espargaró (Monster Yamaha Tech3) figuraient eux aussi dans le Top 10 et sont par conséquent les deux derniers pilotes pré-sélectionnés pour la séance de qualifications Q2.
    Cliquez ici pour accéder aux résultats.


    Marc Marquez finished on top of the combined timesheets after a frantic end to FP3, with Cal Crutchlow claiming a sensational 2nd place.
    With the combined times from all three Free Practice sessions deciding who would qualify automatically for Q2, with the top ten riders all making it through, it was once again Repsol Honda’s Marquez who ending on top of the timesheets in Qatar.
    The satellite CWM LCR Honda of Cal Crutchlow (+0.096s) put in a sensational lap to end the three sessions in 2nd. Andrea Iannone (+0.170s) finished third, after losing the front at turn 2 ended any chance he had of improving on his time set early on in FP3.
    Aleix Espargaro (+0.172s) put the Team Suzuki Ecstar GSX-RR into 4th, with the Movistar Yamaha’s of Lorenzo (+0.286s)  and Rossi (+0.370s) just making it through to Q2 in 8th and 9th respectively.
    Hector Barbera (+0.574s) was the leading Open class rider in 11th, with Scott Redding (12th +0.625s), Maverick Viñales (13th +0.854s) and Bradley Smith (16th +0.919s) on the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha some of the big names who will have to battle it out in Q1.
    Loris Baz also crashed at turn 2, and was taken to the Medical Centre for an x-ray on a suspected broken finger.
    MotoGP™ Q1 will take place at 20:35 local time on Saturday in Qatar, with Q2 at 21:00.
    Click here for the combined results from free practice .

    Mama Tried Motorcycle Show 2015

    We decided to check out the Mama Tried Motorcycle Show in Milwaukee, WI this year. What a show! So many awesome people and amazing custom motorcycles. Everything from classic Harley-Davidson motorcycles to custom one of a kind choppers, bobbers, trackers, and cafe motorcycles. We will definitely be back next year!

    Mama Tried Motorcycle Show 2015 - Milwaukee, WI from Jamie Gellings Media on Vimeo.


    1962 Chevrolet Corvette Gulf Oil Race Car Heads to Auction


    1962 Chevrolet Corvette Gulf Oil Race Car
    Images thanks to RM Sotheby’s by Darin Schnabel
    This gorgeous 1962 Chevrolet Corvette Gulf Oil Race Car is part of the iconic Andrews Collection and will head to auction at RM Sotheby’s’ Andrews Collection sale this May with no reserve set.
    Bought with a 327/360 fuel-injected motor, 37 gallon tank and RPO 687 package, this car came from the factory ready to race. Its various upgrades gave it heavy-duty brakes and air-scoops to feed them cool air, special rear shocks and a quicker steering ratio. It was purchased by Grady Davis’ Gulf Oil racing team, and they got to work preparing it for competition in the 1962 SCAA A-Production series.
    When the red lights went out on its racing career, it got well and truly stuck into things. Its first race was the Daytona National in January of 1962. Dick Thompson took it straight to a second-place finish, which would be its lowest spot on the podium in 1962.
    1962 Chevrolet Corvette Gulf Oil Race Car
    A few weeks later it was back at Daytona for the Continental 3-Hour race, where it won its class. It won its class again in the 12 Hours of Sebring with Duncan Black and M.J.R. Wylie piloting.
    Dick Thompson was back in the driver’s seat for the remaining fourteen races that year, and would win twelve times.
    1962 Chevrolet Corvette Gulf Oil Race Car
    The car would then head back to Yenko Chevrolet and be sold to Tony Denman, who continued racing it. He would place sixth in the Daytona 250-mile race, and 22nd in the 3-Hour.
    Sadly, this would mark the end of the car’s racing career. At the end of the 1963 season it was converted to street specifications and sold.
    1962 Chevrolet Corvette Gulf Oil Race Car
    It spent two decades as a street car, passing between four owners before being rediscovered by Mike Ernst.
    Ernst tracked down missing racing components, reuniting the car with its original block, cylinder heads, exhaust manifold, Yenko heavy-duty suspension, Stewart Warner gauges and roll bar and restoring it to racing glory. The final touch was its original Gulf Oil livery, which it received again in 1987.
    1962 Chevrolet Corvette Gulf Oil Race Car
    It returned to the track for the first time in more than thirty years at the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, where it was driven once again by Tony Denman. During this time it received the NCRS’ first-ever American Heritage Award, amongst other recognitions of its history and condition.
    Eventually Ernst sold the car to Vic Preisler, who restored it again and continued showing it both on and off the track. The car featured heavily in the 50th anniversary of the Corvette during 2003, displayed at the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, the Corvette 50th Anniversary celebration in Nashville, the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Petersen Automotive Museum and the Sebring Race Corvette display. It was then inducted into the Bloomington Gold Hall of Fame.
    1962 Chevrolet Corvette Gulf Oil Race Car
    The car saw its most recent restoration in 2007 and was purchased by the Andrews in 2008. It’s sold with a comprehensive history file, and is ready to continue its historic racing career in beautiful condition.
    It’ll head to auction at RM Auctions’ Andrews Collection sale on Saturday the 2nd of May, 2015 at no reserve. For more information, head to RM Auctions website here.
    Images thanks to RM Sotheby’s by Darin Schnabel
    1962 Chevrolet Corvette Gulf Oil Race Car
    1962 Chevrolet Corvette Gulf Oil Race Car
    1962 Chevrolet Corvette Gulf Oil Race Car
    While you’re here, take a look at what’s on offer through our newly released premium content delivery service, Motorsport Retro Premium;

    IDP MOTO – GINETTA CB500K


    IDP_Ginetta1
    Bop-on back to ’50s Britain, the era of the original café racer, and you’d have found the roads and racetracks teeming with British sports cars. Evocative names like Jensen, MG, Lotus, and Triumph produced iconic 2-seater steers, renowned for their lightweight simplicity and character. Sadly, as with so many of the original British bike builders of that period, the car manufacturers followed suit. Gradually disappearing from the showrooms, becoming nothing more than an unwanted letterhead, sold-off at auction.
    Back to the modern day and there are but a few fragments left. But showing how it’s done, with ambition and gusto, is Ginetta. Not only the 3rd largest manufacturer of racing cars in the world, their G40R carries the flag onto the roads, blending classic curves with modern drive-train and suspension technology.
    IDP_Ginetta2
    Bought by businessman, racer and engineer Lawrence Tomlinson in 2005, he’s successfully hauled Ginetta back from obscurity, adding relevance to the company once again. Their purpose made factory outside Leeds has no whiff of man-in-a-brown-coat-wit’-‘ammer so associated with the days of old, and the race and road machines are assembled with clinical precision.
    But alongside the cars, Lawrence has always had a passion for bikes: vividly remembering the buzz his 10 year old self got twisting the throttle for the first time on a Suzuki trail bike. He progressed through myriad trials bikes, onto full fat sports machinery (inducing full throttle runs to Le Mans) before trying to slow himself down by way of some classic British iron. But when the 4-Leading-Shoe front brake on his Trition just sighed and gave up after a long ride, it was time to embrace modern technology once again, but without forgoing classic looks.
    IDP_Ginetta3
    It was at a race meet that Lawrence first happened upon a tasty Honda CB550 parked up in the paddock. Conspicuous by it’s lack of gaudy paint and sponsor stickers, it’s retro form stood out amongst the pure functionality of it’s surroundings. That bike was Superbike supremo Johnny Rea’s, freshly finished build, put together by experienced outfit IDP Moto.
    The Silverstone based workshop are making quite the name for themselves with the racing fraternity. Having already completed builds for Fogerty, Rea, Mcwilliams and Pata Honda, Lawrence knew he was in safe hands; and of course, it gave the opportunity for a progress check with the added benefit of track time.
    IDP_Ginetta4
    The idea of something a little more road focused and with old school charm rightly appealed, no need to chase tenths on the highways any longer. A quick meeting and the brief was locked down; IDP got to work sourcing a 1972 CB500K in decent condition. But decent isn’t good enough, so the bike was stripped down to the bare frame, and the engine taken to pieces for inspection.
    With an eye firmly on quality, nothing went back on the bike until it had been completely refurbished or replaced. As with previous IDP bikes it’s the details like fresh zinc plating on all the fasteners that set the build off.
    IDP_Ginetta5
    Suspension and brakes were completely overhauled, new seals, pads, lines and fluids ensure the rolling chassis is factory fresh. Of course, the telltale zig-zag of the Firestone rubber may raise an eyebrow among those who have ridden them in the wet, but the iconic style looks perfect around the rebuilt wheels. Plus, the rider knows a thing or two about rubber compounds…
    The rebuilt 4-cylinder middleweight ticks over with characteristic clockwork thanks to a thorough going over. A blend of silver paint and polished aluminium means it looks better than new and contrasts the black powder and paint on much of the bike.
    IDP_Ginetta6
    The CB retains it’s distinctive headlight up front, but carries a Bates style unit above the mildy kicked up frame loop out back. Meanwhile the speedo has been swapped out for a simpler, smaller item to keep the top yoke free from clutter. Forgoing the ‘hole in the middle’ trend in lieu of a more traditional look, some beautiful spun aluminium velocity stacks now sit in place of the airbox. It all adds up to a bike that retains it’s classic good looks, the nips and tucks enhancing what was there to begin with.
    IDP_Ginetta7
    The paint was an obvious choice really. Retina-searing Ginetta Orange ensures the CB stands out in the paddock but the black paneling and detail pin striping give the effect of an original factory colourway. Colour matched detailing on the fluted seat carries along the length of the bike and is stitch-perfect.
    Fueling is very crisp, IDP Moto having refurbished and rejetted the carbs to suit it’s new breathing apparatus. Waiting for the winter salt to clear from the Yorkshire roads, Lawrence is happy to zip around the factory floor on the CB, the rasping 4-cylinder lump has a surprisingly throaty burble through the 4-into-2 stainless GP-style system.
    IDP_Ginetta8The British motorcycle industry has experienced something of a renaissance in recent years, we’ve seen Norton, Matchless, Ariel, Brough, Francis Barnett and of course Triumph come back from obscurity. With Ginetta having prospered under Lawrence’s guidance, could we perhaps see another classic British motorcycle manufacture appear in the not-too-distant future? We can but dream…
    Follow IDP Moto on Facebook page for more info on their upcoming builds and keep an eye on the Dales for an orange flash in your rear view mirror.
    via The Bike Shed

    Who’s driving what at the Goodwood 73rd Members’ Meeting


    The drivers competing and parading at Goodwood for the Members’ Meeting this weekend include a host of famous racing drivers from both past and present, plus the usual range of celebrities, including a TV chef...

    Gerry Marshall Trophy

    Among the famous names in the Gerry Marshall Trophy (for Group 1 production saloons of 1970-82), former British Touring Car Champion Andrew Jordan will share a 1979-spec Patrick Motorsport-liveried Mini 1275 GT. Keep an eye open, too, for Tiff Needell in a Rover SD1, and former F1 star and five-times Le Mans winner Emanuele Pirro aboard the UFO Jeans-liveried 1977 BMW 530i. These are three of the stars among the huge number of famous names confirmed for the event – including Steve Soper, Rob Huff, Jochen Mass, Anthony Reid, Nicolas Minassian,  Rob Austin, Chris Harris and Patrick Watts. 

    Graham Hill Trophy

    The exquisite line-up of machines in the Graham Hill Trophy races include the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB ‘Breadvan’ of Martin Halusa and a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray driven by British Touring Car ace, Jason Plato.

    Sopwith Cup

    Chef and TV presenter James Martin will once again be back at Goodwood this weekend behind the wheel of his own 1957 Ford Prefect 107E in the Sopwith Cup. Among many others, he’ll be up against Desmond Smail in a surprisingly competitive Auston A40, while Chris Rea will no doubt be pushing on in his 1959 Morris Minor.

    John Aldington Trophy

    When you have drivers of the calibre of ex-Le Mans winner Richard Attwood in this all-Porsche event, you can expect very evenly matched cars and extremely close racing.

    Salvadori Cup

    Showcasing sports racing cars from the mid-to-late 1950s, the Salvadori Cup contains an entry list full of experienced racers including Goodwood Members’ Meeting House Captain Jochen Mass, who’ll be driving the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SLS ‘Porter Special’. Experienced endurance racer Marino Franchitti will be pedalling the 2.9-litre inline-four cylinder 1959 Maserato Tipo 61 ‘Birdcage’. Keep a watchful eye on James Cottingham too, his DK Engineering-entered 1959 Tojeiro Jaguar is a potent and streamlined contender.

    Hawthorn Trophy

    Experienced driving instructor and racer Mark Hales won’t be hanging around in Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason’s 1957 Maserati 250F. A total of six of these glorious Grand Prix cars will be battling it out among a field of various Connaughts, BRMS and Cooper-Bristols.

    McLaren F1 GTR demonstration

    Nick Mason will also drive his own McLaren F1 GTR in a parade that markes 20 years this summer since McLaren won Le Mans at its first attempt.

    Group C demonstration

    Meanwhile, the endurance racers from the 80s and 90s will feature former F1 ace and current Nissan sportscar racer, Max Chilton, driving the 1990 Nissan R90CK that Mark Blundell placed on pole position at Le Mans in 1990.
    Photos: Goodwood / Amy Shore / Classic Driver

    Land Rover & fashion designer Paul Smith unveil a one-off Defender


    Land Rover and fashion designer Sir Paul Smith have teamed up to create a one-off Defender.
    Paul Smith Land Rover DefenderPaul Smith Land Rover Defender
    Created with the assistance of Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations design team, the one-off models has 27 different exterior colors as well as satin accents on the mirrors, door handles and wheels.  There's also a hand-painted bee on the roof which is a "tongue-in-cheek reference to the countryside and the heritage of the car."
    Paul Smith Land Rover DefenderPaul Smith Land Rover Defender
    The unique styling continues in the cabin as there's leather and fabric seats with blue contrast stitching.  The model also has a leather-wrapped dashboard and a revised clock with a Paul Smith fascia.
    According to Smith, "The Defender is a British icon, which is something I'm exceptionally proud of.   I keep a Defender at my home in Italy which is in the middle of the countryside, so it's the perfect vehicle to cope with the rugged terrain."
    Paul Smith Land Rover DefenderPaul Smith Land Rover Defender
    Source: Land Rover

    Andorra 500

    Andorra 500 from Cyril DESPRES on Vimeo.

    combinaison .