samedi 20 juin 2015
Moto GP : Baz à trois points de Héctor Barberá au classement Open
Le rookie français a fini treizième au Grand Prix Monster Energy de Catalogne.
Après sa victoire en catégorie Open au Mugello, Loris Baz a connu quelques problèmes de dribble sur le circuit de Catalogne le week-end dernier « La première journée s'est pourtant bien passée. Nous avons été tout de suite dans le rythme, un peu comme à Jerez. », déclare le Français, « Nous avons reçu un nouveau basculeur que Stefan utilise depuis le Mugello et qui devait m'aider. Cette pièce a apporté beaucoup de points positifs sur la moto, mais il y avait aussi beaucoup de dribble. Nous avons souffert de ce problème durant tout le week-end pour finir par tomber samedi matin. »
En course, Baz a décidé de retirer ce nouveau basculeur pour repartir sur la même base qu'au Mugello, « J'ai donc du reprendre mes marques en début de course. J'ai perdu un peu de temps. J'ai mis aussi du temps à doubler Mike. En fin de course, j'avais un bon rythme en revenant sur Laverty et Miller et Bautista. Ce n'était pas assez pour gagner la course Open. Néanmoins, je marque trois points alors que le matin même, je ne pensais pas terminer la course. Il ne fallait pas grand-chose, mais compte tenu des problèmes que nous avions ce week-end, c'est très bien. Le plus important, je suis désormais à trois points de Barberá au classement Open. »
Contrairement à son coéquipier qui a pu trouver la solution et remporter la course Open dimanche, Loris Baz doit encore travailler, « Stefan a souffert des mêmes problèmes, mais il a réussi à les régler. Il a fait un grand pas en avant dès la FP4 samedi. Aujourd'hui, pour le test, nous allons essayer de trouver des solutions pour nous sentir encore mieux sur la piste. Une fois résolus, nous pourrons travailler sur mon rythme pour préparer au mieux la course à Assen. »
La semaine prochaine, il retrouvera le circuit d'Assen qu'il connaît déjà, « C'est une piste que j'apprécie et qui me convient, je pense, beaucoup mieux qu'ici. Je devrais vite retrouver mon niveau du Mugello. »
Enduro : cinquième épreuve en Italie / round five in Italy
Les pilotes du Championnat du monde FIM Enduro (EWC) ont rendez-vous ce week-end en Italie pour disputer la cinquième épreuve de la saison.
En Enduro 1, Eero Remes (TM)a prouvé en Grèce qu’il postulait sérieusement pour le titre et qu’il pouvait clairement rivaliser avec Christophe Nambotin (KTM). Le Français, toujours en délicatesse avec son genou, n’a pu rouler à 100% en Grèce, et cherchera à refaire son avance en Italie.
Mais Remes, en pleine confiance, mettra la pression sur Nambotinet pourrait prendre le leadership au terme de ce Grand Prix. Derrière eux, Marc Bourgeois (Yamaha - Michelin) voudra s’intercaler tout comme Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco - Michelin), de plus en plus à l’aise sur sa Sherco, ou Danny McCanney (Husqvarna - Michelin), qui pointe en troisième position au provisoire et compte bien défendre sa place.
Après avoir signé un doublé en E2,Pierre-Alexandre Renet (Husqvarna- Michelin) cherchera à confirmer cette belle prestation ainsi qu’à réduire l’écart sur le leader du provisoire, Antoine Meo (KTM). En difficulté en Grèce, l’officiel KTM devra réagir sous peine de voir Renet se rapprocher dangereusement à deux Grand Prix de la fin.
Le pilote à suivre ce week-end sera Alex Salvini (Honda) ! Local de l’étape, il avait signé deux belles victoires l’an passé lors de son Grand Prix national et cherchera à en offrir deux de plus à ses nombreux supporters.
Derrière ce trio, on retrouve Loïc Larrieu (Sherco - Michelin) et Jaume Betriu (Husqvarna - Michelin) devraient se battre pour une place dans le Top 5. Johnny Aubert (Beta - Michelin) pourrait s’intercaler dans le trio de tête s’il s’est complétement remis de sa blessure contractée au GP d’Espagne.
En catégorie E3, le GP d’Italie sera déjà décisif pour Matthew Phillips (KTM) et Matti Seistola (Sherco - Michelin). En effet, après le doublé de Mathias Bellino (Husqvarna - Michelin) en Grèce, ils se trouvent à plus de 20 points du leader français et sont dans l’obligation de lui reprendre du terrain sous peine de voir leurs espoirs de titre s’envoler un peu plus.
Enfin, en Junior, Jamie McCannay (Husqvarna - Michelin) tentera de creuser l’écart sur l’Italien Giacomo Redondi (Beta - Michelin). Steve Holcombe (Beta), devrait continuer d’impressionner et tentera de reprendre encore des points aux deux premiers tandis qu’Alessandro Battig (Honda)essaiera de rééditer l’exploit du Chili en montant sur la plus haute marche du podium devant les tifosis.
The FIM Enduro World Championship circus moves on to Italy this weekend for the fifth round of the year.
In Enduro 1, Eero Remes (TM) showed in Greece that he a serious candidate for the 2015 title and a match for Christophe Nambotin (KTM). The latter is still suffering from knee trouble and wasn’t entirely fit in Greece but will seek to bounce back in Italy.
That’s said, Remes is feeling very confident and could even pass Nambotin in the standings this weekend. Also in the hunt are likely to be Marc Bourgeois (Yamaha-Michelin), Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco-Michelin), who is looking increasingly competitive on his Sherco, and Danny McCanney (Husqvarna-Michelin) who is provisionally third in the championship order.
After his recent double-whammy in E2, Pierre-Alexandre Renet (Husqvarna-Michelin) will be hoping to continue on his momentum and bridge the gap to the class’s current leader Antoine Meo (KTM). The factory KTM rider wasn’t in his element in Greece and will need to respond if he doesn’t want Renet to get too close ahead of the season’s last two grands prix.
Another rider who shouldn’t be overlooked in Italy is local star Alex Salvini (Honda) who won both his home races in 2014 and who would love to do the same this time round.
Other challengers promise to be Loïc Larrieu (Sherco-Michelin) and Jaume Betriu (Husqvarna-Michelin), as well as Johnny Aubert (Beta-Michelin) if he has completely recovered from the injury he picked up at the Spanish GP.
In the E3 class, the trip to Italy will be important for Matthew Phillips (KTM) and Matti Seistola (Sherco-Michelin) who are more than 20 points adrift of Mathias Bellino (Husqvarna-Michelin) following the latter’s two wins in Greece. A strong result will be needed this weekend to restore their championship chances.
Finally, Junior Jamie McCannay (Husqvarna-Michelin) will be out to increase his lead over Italy’s Giacomo Redondi (Beta-Michelin), while Steve Holcombe (Beta) will be looking to extend his impressive run and challenge the class’s two front-runners. Alessandro Battig (Honda) would love to follow up his success in Chile with another victory in front of the tifosi.
SON OF A GUN: BMW R69S ‘THOMPSON’
The Thompson submachine gun is a legend in artillery and gangster circles. In the 1920s, the ‘Chicago Typewriter’ cost half as much as a new Ford car, thanks to the intricate machining of its metal and wooden parts.
It’s also the inspiration behind this new build from Slovenia’s ER Motorcycles. “Criminals endorsed the Thompson because of its compactness, reliability and ergonomics,” says main man Blaž Šuštaršič. “They’re features you’ll also find in this BMW R69S.”
The bike is a commission from a German doctor, who wanted his own version of ER’s acclaimed ‘Mobster‘ build. The first four letters of the doctor’s name are ‘Thom,’ and so the train of thought was set in motion.
The first job for Blaž and his crew was to figure out how to go one better than Mobster. “Our challenge was to use it for our inspiration, but we had to surpass it in many ways. We wanted to build something that speaks of history and craftsmanship, but also modern technology.”
They decided to use warmer, natural materials as a counterweight to the metal details and the blue of the classic BMW Schorsch Meier fuel tank. There’s more leather this time, and even wood—the seat is cut and shaped from a slab of teak.
Mechanically, the bike is a veritable smörgåsbord of vintage BMW components, although the R69S frame remains. The engine and transmission, thoroughly overhauled, are from an R100. An R80 supplied the swingarm and upper triple tree.
The rear wheel is from an R50/5, while the front is a Borrani with Inox spokes (and a Menani drum brake). Both rims are 18 inches.
Virtually everything else is custom, from the fenders to the saddlebags to the exhaust headers, which are finished with Spark MotoGP mufflers.
The bars are Renthal, and the new wiring loom is hooked up to a full complement of Motogadget parts—a digital control unit, an RFID ignition system, a Motoscope Classic speedo and miniature push-button switchgear.
Right at the front is a Roland Sands Design Vintage Black Ops headlight. It’s all very classy, in a dramatic way.
Further (unscheduled) drama arrived during the photo shoot. “We chose a dark tunnel in Italy, to paint the mood and atmosphere,” Blaž says. “Then the undercover carabinieri[Italian criminal police] arrived and gave us a hard time asking what we were doing there. And worse, we didn’t have the bike’s papers with us.
“But after we explained the situation, they started taking pictures of the bike and forgot about everything. Words can’t describe how relieved we all were!”
ER Motorcycles | Facebook | Instagram | ER Motorcycles’ previous BMW ‘Voltron‘ is now for sale. Enquire via the website.
“LE CAFFAGE”: DUCATI 848 BY APOGEE MOTORWORKS
There’s a definite formula when it comes to customizing motorcycles. After all, there are only so many ways you can change the look of a bike without resorting to extreme (and expensive) fabrication.
But there are a few builders who throw the rulebook out of the window, freely experimenting with new shapes and styles. In Europe, Fred Krugger and El Solitario spring to mind; in the US, Revival Cycles and Max Hazan frequently push the limits.
Gustavo Pena of Apogee Motoworks is another one of those pioneers. The LA-based cinematographer builds extraordinary Ducatis that look like nothing else on earth. This is his latest creation, “Le Caffage”—a 2009-spec Ducati 848 worthy of a starring role inTron.
Gustavo set out to design a bike that looks futuristic, but has elements of neo-classic style too. “As if Ducati produced a bike in 2050 paying homage to a bike from 2030,” he says.
The design elements are very deliberate, dominated by an oversized gas tank with vintage café proportions. Gustavo has also modified the trellis frame to edge it closer to traditional lines, flowing into an minimalist but comfortable saddle.
The twin exhausts—handcrafted in stainless steel—mirror the voluptuous curves of the upper bodywork. But the most attention-grabbing aspect is the headlight, an aggressively lidded design that also houses the speedo and adds an air of menace to the machine.
“A normal round drum headlight from eBay would just not cut it!” says Gustavo. Guided by the volume and silhouette of the fuel tank, he’s shaped the carbon fiber headlight to accentuate the 848’s predatory stance—”Like that of a lion, a bull, or a shark.”
Gustavo also found inspiration from his Russian girlfriend: her cheekbones suggested the delicate lines and chiseled side profile of the headlight. Eagle-eyed petrolheads will spot that the LED light unit itself is lifted from a BMW i8.
The 848 engine has been heavily upgraded with NCR parts, including titanium valves, a slipper clutch, and a full set of titanium bolts and fasteners. The pistons are from Ferracci and the titanium connecting rods are from Pankl.
Rather than hide the typical superbike radiator, Gustavo has designed carbon fiber structural intakes with the help of a composite specialist from F1. They neatly blend with the 848’s immense radiator and the imposing gas tank.
South of the radiator is more carbon fiber, this time a belly pan that shrouds the oil cooler and lower part of the engine.
Then the entire front and rear suspension was disassembled. Every single aluminum part has been polished to a jewel-quality finish, and then sprayed with a 3M sealant to keep it maintenance free.
Many other parts have been powder coated and then treated to a ceramic coating on top—including the entire trellis frame, the swingarm, rear sets and the forged Marchesini racing wheels. Both wheels are shrouded with custom carbon huggers.
And the name “Le Caffage”? It’s a neologism, a made-up word alluding to the café style, and came out of a conversation between Gustavo and a French friend.
If your appetite is whetted, you’ll be glad to know that a limited run of Apogee Ducatis has just started. The donor bikes are not only the Ducati 848, but also 1098s and Streetfighters. And each will have its own distinctive characteristics.
To put a true original in your garage, drop Gustavo a line via his website.
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