FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP Austin : Alpine de retour aux Etats-Unis 51 ans après la M63

Plus de cinquante ans après le premier engagement officiel d’Alpine aux États-Unis, la Marque fait son retour outre-Atlantique. Dès 1964, Mauro Bianchi et José Rosinski furent alignés aux 12 Heures de Sebring avec l’Alpine M63.

En 2015, c’est dans le cadre du Championnat du Monde d’Endurance (FIA WEC) que l’Alpine A450b va poser ses roues sur le Circuit des Amériques, installé à Austin et inauguré il y a trois ans. De quoi raviver la flamme des nombreux amateurs d’Alpine aux États-Unis qui ont, durant des années, engagé en compétition les voitures produites à Dieppe.

Pour Signatech-Alpine, la découverte de ce tracé de 5,513 kilomètres, avec plus de 40 mètres de dénivellation, sera l’occasion de marquer des points dans le Trophée Endurance FIA des équipes LM P2.

Sur le Circuit des Amériques, 31 équipages seront au départ, dont huit dans la catégorie LM P2. Signatech-Alpine sera, à nouveau, la seule équipe 100 % française du plateau.

Philippe Sinault (Team Principal Signatech-Alpine) : « Ce déplacement au Texas constitue une grande première pour Signatech-Alpine. C’est la première fois que notre Alpine A450b sort d’Europe, il y a une grande motivation et de l’enthousiasme. Pour les pilotes, le circuit d’Austin promet beaucoup. Sa réputation en fait déjà un monument, ce qui est très rare pour les tracés récents. Pour nous, ce sera une vraie découverte face à des rivaux qui y ont couru l’an passé. Nous attendons avec impatience les premiers essais libres pour confirmer le travail effectué sur notre simulateur Ellip6. Nous savons que le podium est un objectif élevé, mais c’est notre ambition ! »

Nelson Panciatici : « Je suis heureux de découvrir un nouveau circuit. Sur le simulateur, le tracé est vraiment prometteur. Nous avons bon espoir après notre belle qualification et notre belle course sur le Nürburgring. La chaleur et l’utilisation des pneus seront peut-être des atouts pour l’Alpine A450b. Pour toute l’équipe qui travaille très dur, un podium serait une vraie récompense. Sur le plan personnel, j’ai envie de briller aux États-Unis, un pays que j’adore. »

Paul-Loup Chatin : « J’ai vraiment hâte d’y être. Cette première étape hors d’Europe ouvre un nouveau chapitre dans la saison du Championnat du Monde. Austin est aussi l’un des plus beaux circuits récemment construits. Je pense que nous aurons une carte à jouer. Le tracé permet des dépassements avec de grandes courbes et de gros freinages. Nous sommes bien préparés et nous avons l’objectif de décrocher un podium pour toute l’équipe ! »

Vincent Capillaire : « Le contexte rend cette épreuve très excitante ! Nous quittons l’Europe pour rouler aux États-Unis. Là-bas, la course automobile est très populaire. Il y a une culture du show et du spectacle. Cette ferveur est dans l’esprit du projet Alpine. Toute l’équipe a beaucoup travaillé et nous avons mesuré nos progrès sur le Nürburgring. La gestion des pneumatiques sera encore la clé du résultat. Si une opportunité se présente, nous devrions être en position de jouer un podium. »

Rossi n’aura pas de meilleure opportunité pour un 10e titre / Rossi: No better chance for 10th title

Matthew Birt revient sur le Grand Prix TIM de Saint-Marin et de la Riviera di Rimini.

             

Présent dans le paddock MotoGP™ depuis près de vingt ans en tant que reporter pour Motorcycle News, Matthew Birt rejoint l’équipe de motogp.com pour la saison 2015 afin de vous proposer une opinion venant du coeur du paddock.

À Misano, nous avons vécu tous les rebondissements d’une seule saison en 50 minutes et ma principale conclusion de tout ce chaos est que Valentino Rossi n’aura jamais une meilleure opportunité de remporter un 10e titre mondial.

Durant les deux premières journées de Silverstone et de Misano, Rossi avait inquiété tellement il était loin de Lorenzo et devait très certainement se demander comment il allait pouvoir riposter face à l’impressionnante vitesse de l’Espagnol.

Mais le meilleur dans les courses, et c’est probablement pour ça qu'elles génèrent autant de passion, c’est qu’elles restent imprévisibles et que tout peut arriver.

Nicky Hayden l’avait parfaitement résumé il y a quelques années lorsqu’il semblait déjà avoir perdu le samedi après-midi.

Il avait dit : « On ne sait jamais ce qui va se passer et c’est pour ça que nous sommes tous sur la grille le dimanche. »

Et 24 heures plus tard, il savourait le cava sur le podium.

C’est un propos que l’Américain a souvent tenu par le passé mais qui s’avère on ne peut plus juste pour Silverstone et Misano.

Qui aurait pu anticiper le scénario de la course de dimanche dernier ?

Rossi a manqué le podium pour la première fois en près d’un an et Lorenzo est tombé pour la première fois depuis la première manche de 2014 au Qatar.

Et comme si ça ne suffisait pas, deux Britanniques finissaient sur le podium de la catégorie pour la première fois en 36 ans ! Et Scott Redding montait sur le podium après une chute et deux arrêts aux stands.

Facile à prédire, non ?

Quelle que soit la stratégie qu’ils allaient choisir dans des conditions qui changeaient rapidement, Rossi et Lorenzo étaient forcés de prendre des risques.

Les deux couraient l’un contre l’autre plutôt que contre les conditions, à tel point qu’ils sont tous les deux restés en piste sur des pneus pluie détériorés bien trop longtemps pour finir sur le podium.

L’erreur de Lorenzo a été d’avoir été trop prudent une fois de retour sur slicks. Surpris par la vitesse de Redding lorsque le Britannique l’a doublé (les slicks de Redding étaient déjà à température), Lorenzo a perdu son habituel sang-froid. Il a paniqué et a attaqué trop tôt, sur un pneu pas encore suffisamment chaud à l’arrière, et a violemment chuté dans le virage 15.

Il s’en est heureusement sorti indemne. Je ne suis ni pour Rossi ni pour Lorenzo mais le Championnat mérite d’être décidé sur la piste et non au centre médical. 

Lorenzo était encore en train de traverser le bac à graviers que l’on avait déjà compris que cette erreur non-provoquée, ce qu’il commet très rarement, était un tournant de la saison.

Et c’est pourquoi Rossi a de nouveau l’ascendant avec 23 points d’avance et plus que cinq courses avant un titre qui ferait de lui, à mon humble avis, le plus grand pilote de tous les temps, indiscutablement.

Mais la bataille est loin d’être terminée.

Lorenzo pouvait facilement s’attendre à marquer 50 points à Silverstone et Misano, et donc à prendre le contrôle du Championnat du Monde. 

Beaucoup de gens voyaient les choses aller dans ce sens, moi y compris.

Mais maintenant il a dû retard à rattraper, une fois de plus.

Lorenzo avait repris 28 points en l’espace de quatre courses grâce à une série de victoires inédites entre Jerez et Catalunya plus tôt dans la saison.

S’il réussissait à nouveau, il arriverait à Valence pour la dernière course en tête et avec un maigre avantage.

Et je vais laisser mon côté patriotique s’exprimer un instant pour dire qu’il était fantastique de voir deux pilotes britanniques sur le podium de la catégorie reine pour la première fois depuis 1979.

J’ai vu Bradley Smith et Redding grandir et j'ai suivi leurs parcours depuis leur adolescence et les premiers podiums en 125cc et Moto2™.

Les deux ont reçu leurs lots de critiques depuis leur arrivée en MotoGP™ mais ils ont continué de croire en eux et quand l’opportunité s’est présentée, ils ont su la saisir, comme Danilo Petrucci à Silverstone.

Oui, ils avaient besoin de chance. Mais il y avait aussi du talent et du courage. 

Le prochain rendez-vous sera le MotorLand Aragón. Qui peut prédire ce qui se passera là-bas ? Je vais me contenter d’attendre le dimanche et de voir ce qui adviendra.

                     

So, have you all caught your breath yet after what was a manic and memorable Misano MotoGP race?

With nineteen years of experience reporting on MotoGP™ for Motorcycle News, MotoGP™ Commentator Matthew Birt knows the Championship inside-out. For the 2015 season he joins the motogp.com team to bring you exclusive news and opinion from inside the paddock.

We had a season’s worth of drama in less than 50 minutes, and to write a summary to do all the action justice, this column would be of War and Peace proportions.

My main conclusion from all the mayhem is that Valentino Rossi is never going to get a better chance to capture a 10th world title.

For the first two days at Silverstone and Misano, Rossi was worryingly outpaced by Jorge Lorenzo, and woke on race day morning at both wondering how the hell he was going to live with the Spaniard’s blistering speed.

The great thing about racing, and a reason why we all love it so much, is that it is brilliantly unpredictable and anything can happen.

It was Nicky Hayden that once summarised it perfectly a few years back when he seemed out of contention on Saturday afternoon.

“You never know what’s going to happen and that’s why we line-up on Sunday, “ said Hayden.

And 24 hours later he was guzzling cava on the podium.

That’s a quote I’ve heard the American roll out frequently in the past and it certainly rings true for Silverstone and Misano.

Who could have foreseen the scenario that played out last Sunday?

Rossi missed the podium for the first time in nearly a year. And Lorenzo crashed out for the first time since the opening round of 2014 in Qatar.

Adding to the craziness, two British riders finished on a premier class podium for the first time in 36 years! And Scott Redding did so after a crash and two pit stops.

Yeah, that was all really easy to predict.

Whatever Rossi and Lorenzo did in the rapidly changing conditions was a high-risk strategy.

Both were racing each other, more than the conditions, to such an extent that they both stayed out too long on deteriorating rain tyres to finish on the podium.

Lorenzo’s biggest downfall was being too cautious when back out on slicks. Freaked out by Redding’s speed when the Briton passed him, (Redding’s slicks were already up to working temperature) Lorenzo lost his normal ice cool clarity. He panicked and pushed too soon with insufficient heat in the rear tyre and fell heavily at turn 15.

Thankfully he was unhurt. I have no allegiance to Rossi or Lorenzo, but this Championship deserves to be decided on track and not in a medical centre.

Lorenzo was still rolling through the gravel when you immediately understood that his rare unforced error was a monumental turning point.

And that is why Rossi is now back in the ascendancy by 23-points, with just five races now between the Italian and a title success that in my humble opinion will earn him the undisputed right to be known as the greatest of all time.

This battle though is far from over.

Lorenzo could easily have expected to take 50-points at Silverstone and Misano and put himself well in control of the World Championship.

That was how some thought the script was going, including me.

Now he’s playing catch up again.

Lorenzo clawed back 28-points on Rossi in just four races with a career best winning streak between Jerez and Catalunya earlier in the season.

Should he repeat that then he would arrive for the final race in Valencia with a slender points lead.

I’ll quickly let my patriotic side take over and say it was an incredible feeling to see two British riders on a premier class podium for the first time since 1979.

I’ve seen Bradley Smith and Redding go from boys to men and tracked their journey from aspiring teen hopefuls to the top step of the podium in 125s and Moto2™.

Both have taken their fair share of criticism since moving to MotoGP™, yet their belief in themselves has never waned and you will not meet two more dedicated and committed young men in the paddock.

And when an opportunity for a podium presented itself, they grasped the opportunity, as Danilo Petrucci did at Silverstone.

Yes, they needed some luck. But it was earned more through skill, talent and bravery.

Next up is Motorland Aragon. Who can predict what is going to happen there? I’ll just let them line-up on Sunday and see what happens.

                 

World Supersport : Trois, le chiffre magique / Three is the magic number

Trois pilotes, trois constructeurs et plus que trois courses…

Le trois est le chiffre magique de la fin de saison du Championnat du Monde FIM Supersport. Avant la première des trois dernières courses, qui aura lieu à Jerez ce week-end, trois pilotes de trois nationalités différentes et courant pour trois marques distinctes sont encore en lice pour le titre mondial. Aucun des trois pilotes ne pourra remporter le titre ce week-end en Espagne mais l’épreuve de Jerez pourrait cependant être un tournant décisif de la saison.

Champion du Monde Supersport en 2007, 2010 et 2012, le Turc Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) a pour l’instant l’avantage avec treize points de plus que le Français Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) et 28 de plus que l’Américain PJ Jacobsen (CORE’’ Motorsport Thailand).

Sofuoglu a jusqu’ici obtenu six podiums dont quatre victoires en neuf courses mais a fini les deux dernières hors du Top 3, avec des résultats qui ont permis à Cluzel et Jacobsen de rattraper une grande partie de leur retard. 

Malchanceux en début de saison et contraint à l’abandon sur problèmes techniques en Thaïlande ainsi qu’en Aragón, Cluzel cumule sept podiums dont trois victoires et est celui qui a été le plus performant en qualifications, remportant six pole positions en neuf courses.

La saison de Jacobsen a quant à elle été bouleversée par un changement de team survenu après Donington Park et qui a particulièrement bien réussi à l'Américain. Le New-Yorkais a réussi à décrocher sa première victoire à Sepang, lors de la dernière épreuve, en étant parti de la pole position, et compte au total cinq podiums, dont trois sur les trois dernières courses.

À 55 poins de Sofuoglu, Lorenzo Zanetti (Cluzel’s MV team-mate) est lui aussi mathématiquement encore en lice pour le titre mais aurait besoin que le sort s’acharne sur ses adversaires pour rattraper autant de retard en seulement trois courses.

Bien que le team MV Agusta Reparto Corse ait marqué 57 points de plus que le team Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, la marque n’a qu’un point d’avance sur le géant japonais dans le classement constructeurs. À vingt points de l’usine italienne, Honda est encore dans la course pour le titre mais a, comme Kawasaki, déjà porté cette couronne à plusieurs reprises alors que MV Agusta court après un premier titre.

En dehors des pilotes de la grille WSS permanente, neuf pilotes inscrits en wildcard ou en participation unique viendront tenter leur chance sur la piste de Jerez, dont l’Italien Nicola Morrentino, qui court habituellement en STK600 ou encore Lucas Mahias, l’ancien coéquipier de Jacobsen, qui fera son retour dans la catégorie après le départ de son ancien team. Niklas Ajo, qui a récemment quitté le Championnat du Monde Moto3, fera ses débuts dans le paddock WorldSBK, à l’instar de Sarunas Pladas, qui entrera dans l’histoire en tant que premier Lituanien à participer à une épreuve de Championnat du Monde en course sur routes. Seront également présents l’Espagnol Christian Palomares Vilar, le Russe Alexey Ivanov, le Tchèque Miroslav Popov et les Hongrois David Juhasz et Jonas Chrobak.

Palomares portera le nombre d’Espagnols sur la grille de Jerez à trois en rejoignant Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing Team – Honda) et Marcos Ramirez (Team Lorini – Honda), qui vient de remporter l’épreuve STK600 du FIM CEV Repsol à Albacete.

La première séance d’essais de la catégorie World Supersport aura lieu vendredi à 10h15. Les qualifications et la course seront à suivre en direct sur WorldSBK.com.

Three riders, three different bikes and three races to go…

Three is the magic number in the FIM Supersport World Championship as the Pirelli Spanish Round approaches. With three rounds remaining, a triangular shootout is on the cards between three very different riders of three different nationalities, each representing their own team and manufacturer. The title cannot be won in Spain this weekend, but there is certainly potential to lose it. The situation is on a knife-edge.

It’s crunch time in World Supersport for 2015. Last year in Spain, Dutchman Michael van der Mark did the honours by clinching the title as he won the race. 12 months on and the younger brother of World Superbike looks likely to be the only category in the WorldSBK roster to see this year’s championship fight go all the way to the final round in Qatar, which itself follows the French fixture at Magny-Cours. But will the battle still be alive by Losail? Jerez will play a massive part in deciding its legacy.

The contenders involved couldn’t be much more diverse, representing three fine marques in Kawasaki, MV Agusta and Honda: Kenan Sofuoglu of Turkey (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Jules Cluzel of France (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and PJ Jacobsen of the USA (CORE’’ Motorsport Thailand).

Sofuoglu is the three-time World Supersport Champion of 2007, 2010 and 2012. From the first nine races of the season he has achieved four wins and six podium finishes, but has been outside the top three at the last two events.

Cluzel’s poor luck came early on. He may have won at Phillip Island, but was denied by engine failures in both Thailand and Aragon; as things stand, he has won a total of three races and claimed seven podium finishes, including the last six races in a row. Like Sofuoglu, Cluzel has started on the front row at every single race, but the Frenchman has been the best qualifier with a superb six pole positions from nine.

Jacobsen’s year has taken very different shape, switching team after Donington Park; he has five front rows to his credit, both his maiden pole position and victory last time out at Sepang and a total of five podium places (three of them in the last three races).

Sofuoglu’s lead is 13 points over Cluzel and 28 over Jacobsen, with a maximum of 75 points on offer from the last trio of encounters. It should also be noted that Lorenzo Zanetti (Cluzel’s MV team-mate) could still claim the title as the fourth and final rider still in with a shot, although the Italian sits 27 points in arrears of Jacobsen and a significant 55 behind the championship leader. Best of the rest is Gino Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda), but 80 points behind Sofuoglu is a bridge too far.

Although the MV Agusta Reparto Corse team has scored 57 more points than Kawasaki Puccetti Racing thus far this season, it is not that comfortable in the Manufacturers’ Championship. In a truly nail-biting contest, Italian brand MV Agusta lies just a single point in front of Japanese rival Kawasaki. The latter’s compatriot, Honda, is also still in the mix, just a further 20 points behind. Kawasaki and Honda have been the Champions of the last two years (with Honda having also won a further nine titles in the past), but a crown for MV Agusta would be a celebrated first.

Thickening the plot even further, nine riders will compete at Jerez as either Wild Card or One Event entries. These include Italy’s Nicola Morrentino Jr. (who takes time out from the Superstock 600 class) and Jacobsen’s ex team-mate Lucas Mahias, as the Frenchman makes a welcome return after his previous team pulled out of the championship. Moto3 World Championship outcast Niklas Ajo of Finland ventures into the WorldSBK paddock for the first time, as Sarunas Pladas makes history by becoming the first Lithuanian to take part in a World Championship road racing competition. Also in action will be Spain’s own Christian Palomares Vilar, Russia’s Alexey Ivanov and the Czech Republic’s Miroslav Popov, plus Hungarian duo David Juhasz and Janos Chrobak.

The presence of the aforementioned Palomares (Autos Arroyos Pastrana Racing Team - Yamaha) takes the Spanish contingent on the grid up to three, as he joins 2015 regulars Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing Team – Honda) and Marcos Ramirez (Team Lorini – Honda). Incidentally, Ramirez travels to Jerez fresh from his latest victory at Albacete (aboard a Yamaha) in the Superstock 600 tier of the FIM CEV Repsol.

The first Jerez practice session for the World Supersport Championship will be staged from 10:15am local time (GMT +2) on Friday. Across the weekend, all of the qualifying and race action can be followed live on WorldSBK.com.

Salt of the Earth || Icon 1000 x British Customs

WSBK ; Jerez se prépare au sacre d’un nouveau Champion du Monde / Jerez poised to crown a new World Champion

Jonathan Rea n’aura besoin que de six points pour s’emparer du titre WorldSBK 2015 ce week-end en Espagne.

Suite à une exceptionnelle première saison avec le Kawasaki Racing Team, Jonathan Rea arrive à Jerez avec de très fortes chances de s’emparer du titre de Champion du Monde eni FIM Superbike 2015 puisque le numéro 65 n’aura besoin que de six points, soit un Top 10, sur l’ensemble des deux courses espagnoles pour remporter la récompense suprême. 

La palmarès annuel du Nord-Irlandais parle de lui-même : 20 courses, 20 podiums et 12 victoires. Cette année, Rea est devenu le premier pilote de l’histoire à obtenir 20 podiums en autant de courses depuis le début d’une saison et pourrait battre Colin Edwards pour le record de podiums consécutifs s’il poursuivait sa série jusqu’à la première des deux courses qui clôtureront la saison au Qatar.

Étant donnés ses résultats, Rea ne devrait avoir aucun mal à finir dans le Top 10 de la première course à Jerez et, s’il y parvient, devrait devenir le 17e Champion du Monde Superbike de l’histoire, le cinquième pilote à s’emparer du titre sur les cinq dernières années. Avant lui, Fogarty, Hodgson, Toseland et Sykes avaient tous rapporté le titre en Grande-Bretagne mais Rea sera le premier Nord-Irlandais à être sacré en WorldSBK.

Vainqueur à quatre reprises cette année, Chaz Davies est le seul pilote encore mathématiquement capable d’empêcher le sacre de Rea. Le pilote de l’Aruba.it Racing-Ducati SBK Team a fini sur le podium huit fois sur les dix dernières courses mais avait concédé beaucoup de points à Rea suite à un mauvais week-end en Thaïlande et un double abandon à Imola. Avec 144 points de retard, le Gallois ne se fait guère d’illusion quant à ses chances de s’imposer face à Rea et parlait déjà de ce dernier comme du Champion WorldSBK 2015 au mois de juillet à Laguna Seca. En l’absence de son coéquipier Davide Giugliano, blessé et forfait pour le reste de la saison, Davies fera équipe avec Michele Pirro ce week-end à Jerez.

S’il ne peut plus viser le titre de Champion du Monde, Davies devra par contre défendre sa seconde place pour être vice-Champion et ne compte que treize points d’avance sur Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), Champion en 2013 et vice-Champion en titre, tandis que Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team - Red Devils) est à 49 points de la seconde place. Suite au forfait de Giugliano, Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team - Red Devils) devrait pouvoir assurer sa place dans le Top 5 du classement général mais devra se méfier du Champion en titre Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team).

Quant au circuit, celui de Jerez de la Frontera accueille le WorldSBK pour la troisième année consécutive mais le championnat s’était déjà rendu en Andalousie en 1990 et le Français Raymond Roche avait alors remporté les deux épreuves avant de s’emparer du titre mondial.

Trois Espagnols seront présents sur la grille WorldSBK ce week-end : Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils), David Salom (Team Pedercini) et Roman Ramos (Team Go Eleven). Un chiffre égal au nombre d’Espagnols à s’être imposés en WorldSBK : Carlos Checa (24 victoires), Ruben Xaus (11) et Fonsi Nieto (1).

Du côté des constructeurs, Kawasaki pourrait remporter le titre dès la première course, notamment en cas de victoire si la première Ducati ne fait pas mieux que cinquième. Bien que la marque japonaise ait remporté plusieurs titres Pilote, avec Scott Russell en 1993 et avec Tom Sykes vingt ans plus tard, elle n’a jamais décroché le titre Constructeur, que seuls Ducati, Honda, Aprilia, Suzuki et Yamaha comptent à leurs palmarès.

La première séance d’essais de la catégorie WorldSBK à Jerez aura lieu vendredi à 11h15. La Tissot-Superpole de samedi après-midi et les deux courses de dimanche seront à suivre en direct sur WorldSBK.com.

A top ten finish would be enough for Jonathan Rea…

Jonathan Rea is just six points away from the ultimate goal in WorldSBK: the eni FIM Superbike World Championship title of 2015.

Thanks to a truly dominant campaign on the Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R, number 65 requires only a single top ten finish to cement the achievement in the opening World Superbike race of the Pirelli Spanish Round this weekend.

The list of superlatives describing Rea’s 2015 campaign is becoming exhausted. The facts speak for themselves: 20 races, 20 podium finishes and 12 race wins. He has already become the first rider in history to have clinched 20 top three finishes in as many races from the start of a season and, should the rostrum run continue, he will beat Colin Edwards’ record of consecutive podium finishes in the first Qatar race.

Should Rea finish tenth or higher in Race 1 at Jerez (a highly likely possibility, considering the season so far) he will become the 17th different World Superbike Champion and the fifth different title winner in as many years. Fogarty, Hodgson, Toseland and Sykes may have gone before him as British World Champions, but all of them hailed from England; thus, Rea would be the first Northern Irish title winner.

Four-time 2015 race winner Chaz Davies is the only man who can prevent Rea from winning the title. Despite the Aruba.it Racing-Ducati SBK Team rider having finished on the podium in eight of the last ten races, collecting fourth place finishes in the other two, he continues to feel the affects of his costly low placings in Thailand and his double retirement of Imola. A colossal deficit of 144 points to Rea (with 150 on offer from the final three rounds in Spain, France and Qatar) means the only way Davies can prevent Rea from winning the title is by winning five of the remaining six races and finishing at least second in the other – and, all the while, hoping Rea fails to score each time. In fact, in the Sunday Paddock Show at Laguna Seca in July, Davies was already hailing Rea as the 2015 World Champion. This weekend Welshman Davies is partnered by Michele Pirro, who covers for the injured Davide Giugliano.

The fight for runner-up spot is far less clear-cut. Tom Sykes has finished in the top two of the World Championship for the last three years (including his title, which he won at Jerez in 2013) and he wants to make it four. Rea’s team-mate currently sits 13 points behind second-placed Davies, while Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils’ Leon Haslam may have suffered of late but remains in the fight for second, 36 points behind Sykes and 49 in arrears of target man Davies. Further back, Aprilia’s Jordi Torres will feel more confident of retaining a top five spot now that Giugliano is out of action, but must be wary of a potential late-season charge from soon-to-be outgoing World Champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team).

What of this weekend’s venue? This is the third consecutive year that Jerez de la Frontera is a permanent fixture on the modern-day calendar. However, this is the fourth time that WorldSBK visits the sunbaked southern Spanish destination, which debuted on the calendar in 1990; Frenchman Raymond Roche celebrated both of the race wins prior to clinching the title that season.

Away from motor racing, Andalucia is known for its vineyards (indeed, it was dubbed Wine Capital of the World in 2013), sherry production and popular ‘Feria de Jerez’ horse fair, while Moorish fortress the Alcazar de Jerez and the Cathedral of San Salvador are just two must-see items on the list for sight-seeing visitors. There is also flamenco dancing, although this may be less evident in the WorldSBK paddock…

Spain itself is the fourth largest country in Europe, with Andalucia being its most southerly region on the mainland. Three Spanish riders line up on the grid this weekend: Jordi Torres from Rubí, Catalunya (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils), David Salom from Palma de Mallorca (Team Pedercini) and Roman Ramos from Santa María de Cayón in northern Cantabria (Team Go Eleven). This quantity of representatives matches the number of Spanish riders to have won World Superbike races: Carlos Checa (24 race wins), Ruben Xaus (11) and Fonsi Nieto (1). How sweet would it be to make it four at home this weekend?

Watch out also for Manufacturer joy. Kawasaki could clinch the title in Race 1, with the easiest method being to win the race with the top Ducati finishing fifth or lower. This would mark an historic first for the Japanese company; although Kawasaki has won Riders’ titles in the past (Scott Russell in 1993 and the aforementioned Sykes two decades later), it is yet to claim the Manufacturers’ crown. Should it do so, it would become the sixth different marque to wrap up a World Superbike Manufacturers’ title after Ducati, Honda, Aprilia, Suzuki and Yamaha.

Opening World Superbike practice for the Pirelli Spanish Round begins on Friday at 11:15am local time (GMT +2). Live Tissot Superpole and all of the racing action can be watched with full commentary on WorldSBK.com across Saturday and Sunday.

SIMON’S XV750 BY DOWN & OUT CAFE RACERS

Words by Ross Sharp · 

Childhood memories are a recurring theme amongst Bike Shed features. From a repressed dream, unleashed and realised to a driving force behind engineering endeavours, it’s those early flashes of excitement that are so ingrained in our grownup lives.

Simon Krajnyak grew up on the Lincolnshire coast in Mablethorpe, a small town famous for hosting beach racing, which continues to this day. Aged 7, leaning on the handlebars of his twinshock Puch, Simon decided that bikes were going to be his thing. If that wasn’t enough motivation, a few miles down the road was the HQ of the Honda WSBK team, back when the RC30 and 45s were the weapon of choice. Aaron Slight, Colin Edwards and Carl Fogarty with ice creams in hand used to watch the sand racing from the promenade, further fuelling Simon’s passion for two-wheels. A 125 wasn’t going to cut it so he saved for 10 months straight, a tall order working for £104 a week as an apprentice for British Gas, and bought a nearly new RGV250.

A few months later and a 17th birthday afforded legal riding of the stroker, which was curtailed two days later by a trip to A&E and the Suzuki arriving home in pieces. Undeterred, a lifetime of sports bikes followed but as is often the case with age, the realisation of mortality sets in. Having seen an XV750 on the American T.V. series Return of The Cafe Racers built by Docs Chops, Simon’s mind was once again made up and he turned the custom corner.

Having decided that the big brother in Yamaha’s cruiser range was the way to go Simon sourced a decent Virago donor, content that he’d be one of the only guys in the U.K. to café one. With limited spare time available the initial strip down was followed by lengthy periods of sourcing parts and research. A 2005 R1 front end was a relatively simple conversion which greatly improves the stance and of course performance. Trick billet yokes look the business and the dash has been eliminated by machining a recess for the Motogadget digital speedo.

Clipons with ISR levers and switchgear are not only super clean but chunky too, fitting in well with the beefy yokes and muscular proportions of the rest of the bike.

With the air-cooled 750cc twin taking up all the visual space and being a stressed member cafe racer style subframes need to be a fabricate and bolt-on affair. Simon made one to suit a MotoLanna seat unit, and the result is very neat. The stock tank has been raised slightly to achieve a purposeful bone line, which also revealed a small void beneath, just  spacious enough to bury the lithium battery. Just in shot is the one-off Öhlins shock, put together by Russell at Mick Gardner Racing. Friends in high places, always useful.

The fitting of the Tarozzi rearsets offered a more sporting riding position but brought with them a challenge, the exhaust positioning. Simon envisioned two stubby mufflers sitting no higher than the burly swing arm, but being a novice with the TiG welder meant a large custom zorst bill loomed over the horizon. The project stagnated and a layer of dust formed on the sleek tank.

By chance Simon was driving past the local MOT centre and noticed a very familiar silhouette being wheeled out of a van, surely not, another XV, in the same town? He couldnt believe his eyes and pulled over to interrogate the copycats. Well, maybe chat would be a better phrase as the van belonged to Carl & Shaun of Down & Out Cafe Racers, they aren’t the sort of guys one interrogates. Besides, there’s was a TR1, just different enough.

After an exchange of pleasantries Simon had persuaded Shaun & Carl that a barter of skills would be a good idea for all concerned. D&O would receive a shiny new website and proper bike photography and Simon would get help finishing his project. On a joint outing to Bike Shed Event II the relationship was cemented and now Simon takes care of all imagery for Down & Out. The show also provided a networking goldmine and the chance for a hobby to become paid employment, it appears Simon has come full circle and is as enthusiastic as he was back in his Puch riding days on the beach.

True to their word Shaun and Carl finished the XV and there can be little argument over the result. The bike was on display at Bike Shed London 2015, along with the D&O T100 poster bike, and certainly set tongues wagging. D&O are renowned for their finishing, no surprise really coming from a chopper background where neatness is everything, and have subsequently grown at a rapid rate over the last couple of years. With customers from all over the world placing orders, Simon’s shutter finger gets a fair old workout and now he’s branched out into video too. Check out the XV here.

A lifetime in the brewing and three years in the making and Simon finally has a finished bike that goes every bit as well as it looks. But unfortunately he’s caught the custom bug and there’s no cure, other than to medicate with another project. So the XV750 is for sale to release funds to feed the habit. Let’s hope the next one doesn’t take quite as long.

via The Bike Shed

Harley 883 – Chappell Customs

Chris and Rob Chappell of Chappell Customs are two brothers that have been building a variety of streetable custom motorcycles for a long time now. With Rob in Ontario and Chris in Los Angeles, they don’t build many bikes together the way they used to. But for Chris, this Harley Davidson project took on a challenge much harder than just pure geographical separation. This 1997 HD 883 was owned by L.A. based Chappell Customs worker Chris Hensley, who tinkered on the bike when he had a little spare time. Along the way head honcho Chris Chappell bought the 883 but just two days before it was completed Hensley was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident on the way to work. Following his passing the bike sat once more until Chappell did what he does best and finished the bike in a fitting tribute to his friend.

When Chappell purchased the bike from Hensley the paint scheme was a very different one, but Chappell found a way to preserve the old and create his own look. The Hensley paint scheme was Root Beer coloured metallic paint with some subtle black airbrushing to make the tank really stand out. Not wanting to destroy a perfectly good paint job Chris used Orange Plasti Dip and Black trim paint to create the street racer look you now see before you. Don’t like the paint as it is and want the Root Beer metallic look? Just peel off the Plasti Dip and instantly transform the bike’s appearance.

Over the past months a growing number of feature builds have been sporting Tuffside.com seats and this 883 is no different. Not surprising because TUFFSIDE is actually a division of Chappell Customs and this bike was the test mule for a new seat design. A new mould was created in a style that suited the look Chris was after and works well with the overall 883 design. The base was then fully upholstered by Chris with black tweed on the edges and perfectly stitched orange diamonds over black in the centre. As the frame had already been trimmed a new hidden support has been added to support the new seat with a small LED tail light taking care of the functionality.

One thing that is true of all Harley builds is that the engine will always be at the heart, it’s how you integrate the thumping 45° V-Twin into the design that dictates how strong a part that heart plays. Rather than black out the 833cc of Milwaukee muscle Chris has left the low mile engine in raw metal and allowed the bolt-ons to simple accentuate what is already there. The exhaust is a Road Rage 2 into 1 setup from Bassani in black with the stock carby rejetted to suit. Speaking of the carb it now breathes through a Figure Machine intake that has had the stock clear cover swapped out for a custom engraved orange piece with the Chappell Customs logo.

It’s hard to think of a Harley that is more fun to ride than the little sportster and Chris has made sure it is even better in the twisty stuff. The rear end has been dramatically improved with the fitment of 15inch Works Performance piggy-back shocks, while the front end features SM preload adjusters for fine tuning. With the front fender removed any fork flex is eliminated with the fitment of an RSD fork brace that looks the business too. To finish things out Chris ditched the standard belt drive and performed a chain drive conversion.

With the 883 now handling far better than stock it makes no sense to skimp on rubber, so Chris picked up the increasingly popular Metzler product that is Guy Martin’s contact connection of choice. Bringing the whole show to a halt is improved braking thanks to a Performance Machine 4 piston front caliper fitted to the now blacked out front end. Steering duties now place the rider’s hands on RSD clip-ons with standard switches that gives the bike a tougher, lower look. To further accentuate that feel the headlight has been replaced and slightly lowered and the speedo brought down below the top line of the tank.

With just 5000 original miles on the clock this would make a perfect shop bike for years to come, as Chappell says “We would love to keep this bike forever and hang it on the wall to remind us of our friend Chris” but that wasn’t ever the plan, so this Chappell Customs machine is looking for a new home and an owner who will ride it with all the passion and enthusiasm Chris Hensley would have wanted. This build has taken on more than a little extra meaning, but as always Chappell Customs delivered a bike that goes as well as it looks, leaving no area of form or function left wanting. It’s a fitting tribute to a much-loved man.

via PIPEBURN

Ferrari 250 GT ‘TdF’ leads the way at the RM Sotheby’s London sale

While the Marrone Colorado Ferrari Daytona Spider failed to meet its reserve on the night, the other star lot of the RM Sotheby’s London sale, the Ferrari 250 GT ‘Tour de France’, was hammered away at a below-estimate but nevertheless strong £4.25m…

A mixed bag

On a night where a significant percentage of the 55 lots sold went below their low estimates, there were few ‘highlights’ to speak of. On the contrary, we’re sure many successful bidders will have been suitably pleased. The Ronald McDonald-spec Bugatti EB110 SS we recently featured sold for £560,000 (hammer, excl. premium), £40,000 below its low estimate, the silver Aston Martin DB5 sold at its £700,000 lower estimate and, after a lengthy bidding war, the one-owner Ferrari F40 sold to a phone bidder for £755,000, a job well done on auctioneer Max Girardo’s part.

We were sad to see the black Bizzarrini GT 5300 Strada fail to sell, although, given its lack of really substantial history, the £495,000-700,000 estimate was admittedly quite optimistic. It joined several other significant non-sellers, including the tin-top Maserati Mistral (the ex-Diana Dors Spyder sold just below estimate at £470,000) and the Mercedes 300 SL Roadster. 

Photos: Luke Gilbertson for Classic Driver © 2015