Moto GP : Coup d’envoi imminent au Twin Ring Motegi / Riders in good spirits approaching Motegi round

Marc Márquez, Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Aleix Espargaró, Hiroshi Aoyama et Maverick Viñales se sont retrouvés en conférence de presse jeudi au Motegi avant l’ouverture du Grand Prix Motul du Japon.

Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda) aura sa première opportunité de remporter le Championnat du Monde MotoGP™ 2014 ce week-end au Japon et s’est montré calme et confiant au moment de revenir sur sa chute au MotorLand Aragón.

« En regardant la course d’Aragón à la télé, je semble stupide d’être resté sur slicks mais quand j’étais en piste, je me disais qu’il ne restait plus que trois tours, » a commenté Márquez. « Les pneus se sont cependant refroidis et je suis tombé. C’est une question d’expérience. »

« Ce week-end nous avons notre première opportunité de remporter le championnat. J’en suis content parce qu’il reste encore quatre courses et c’est donc positif pour moi. Nous allons aborder cette course comme n’importe quelle autre course et essayer de lutter pour les premières places. C’est bien d’avoir cette opportunité chez Honda mais je ne suis pas nerveux. Mon objectif est de remporter le championnat et peu importe où je le ferai. »

Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) était lui aussi tombé au MotorLand Aragón mais avait dû passer la nuit en observation après une courte perte de connaissance. L’Italien a depuis récupéré à 100% et a déclaré :

« C’était une mauvaise chute mais j’allais déjà mieux le lundi suivant la course à Aragón et je vais bien. J’ai fait de bonnes courses à Motegi par le passé et j’avais remporté le championnat ici en 2008. L’an dernier j’espérais faire mieux mais j’avais fait une erreur au départ et je n’avais pas pu finir dans le Top 3. Nous devons progresser cette année. C’est une période de la saison qui est importante et tout le monde va donner le maximum. »

Vainqueur en Aragón, Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) tentera de s’imposer une seconde fois de suite ce dimanche, sur un circuit où il avait gagné l’an dernier mais aussi en 2009.

« Ça fait quelque temps que nous sommes en bonne forme et que nous avons de bons résultats. Je suis le pilote qui a marqué le plus de points sur la seconde partie de la saison, » a affirmé Lorenzo. « C’était fantastique de gagner en Aragón parce que je m’attendais à être derrière les pilotes Honda. Je me rapproche de la seconde place au championnat. Il est impossible de rattraper Marc mais mon objectif pour les dernières courses sera de toujours finir à l'une des deux premières places. »

Annoncé chez Suzuki pour la saison 2015 et présent sur le podium pour la première fois en Aragón, Aleix Espargaró (NGM Forward Racing) traverse une bonne période et a déclaré : « Ces dernières semaines ont été parmi les meilleures de toute ma vie, surtout cette course en Aragón. »

« Finir deuxième derrière Jorge était comme un rêve. Nous avons aussi un projet très excitant avec Suzuki. Ce ne sera pas facile parce que nous avons beaucoup de travail à faire sur la moto mais je sens que je suis dans le meilleur moment de ma carrière. »

Hiroshi Aoyama (Drive M7 Aspar) retrouvera ses fans japonais à domicile ce week-end et a déclaré : « Je suis monté sur le podium quatre fois ici et c’est une bonne piste pour moi. L’an dernier j’avais fini dix-septième mais cette fois-ci j’ai une nouvelle moto, un nouveau team et je sais que je pourrai faire quelque chose. Tous mes amis et ma famille seront ici. »

Maverick Viñales (Paginas Amarillas HP 40), qui court en Moto2™ et fera ses débuts en MotoGP™ chez Suzuki, aux côtés d’Aleix Espargaró, l’an prochain, arrive au Japon après une superbe victoire en Aragón. 

« Je suis très heureux, j’ai eu l’un des meilleurs week-ends de ma carrière en Aragón, » a affirmé Viñales. « J’ai remporté la course puis il y a eu l’annonce de mon arrivée en MotoGP avec Suzuki. Je suis très fier de faire partie de ce projet. »

Les essais libres de la catégorie MotoGP™ au Grand Prix Motul du Japon, commencent vendredi matin à 9h55, heure locale (GMT +9), soit 2h55, heure de Paris.

In the pre-event press conference ahead of the Motul Grand Prix of Japan on Thursday Marc Marquez, Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Aleix Espargaro, Hiroshi Aoyama and Maverick Viñales addressed the media as they prepare to embark on the first of the flyaway triple-header of races this weekend.

Repsol Honda’s young World Champion Marquez gets his first shot at retaining the title on Sunday. He was in a typically relaxed and confident mood as he reflected on a difficult race at Aragon last time out and contemplated the challenge ahead in Japan.

Marquez commented, “When you look back at the Aragon race on TV it looks like I was stupid to stay out on slicks, but when I was on track I was thinking there are only three laps to go. But the tyres cooled down and I crashed. It’s all about experience.”

“This weekend is the first chance to win the championship and I’m happy because there are still four races to go so that’s good for me. We will try to approach it like a normal race and push to be in the first positions. It is nice to have the chance at the home round for Honda, but I’m not nervous because my target is to win the championship and it doesn’t matter when.”

Like for Marquez, there was also a crash for Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) at Aragon, though in the case of the Italian the accident ended his race in Spain and saw him taken to hospital for scans after he was briefly knocked unconscious. The nine-time World Champion confirmed that he has recovered 100% and is ready for the Motegi battle.

He said, “It was a bad crash but I was already ok on the Monday after the race at Aragon, so I’m fine. In the past I have had good races in Motegi and I won the championship here in 2008. Last year I expected more here, but I made a mistake after a good start and I couldn't stay with the top three. So we have to improve this year. This is an important part of the season and everyone is at their maximum.”

Aragon race-winner Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) will attempt to make it two victories in succession on Sunday, having triumphed for the first time this season in Spain last time out. Lorenzo won the MotoGP race at Motegi last year and was also victorious there in 2009.

He spoke of his current form, saying, “For quite a while now we have been in good shape, with good results. In the second half of the season I have more points than anyone else so far. Aragon was fantastic because I expected to be behind the Honda guys, but finally we won the race. Now I’m getting close to the second place in the championship. It is impossible to catch Marc now but my target is to finish in the top two places in every race.”

Following the recent announcement that he will become a Suzuki factory rider in 2015 as the manufacturer returns to MotoGP and on the back of his first premier class podium at Aragon, Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing) stated enthusiastically, “The last weeks have been amongst the best in my life, especially with the race at Aragon.”

“Finishing in second place behind Jorge was like a dream. It is really exciting with this new project with Suzuki. It is not going to be easy because we have to do a lot of work with the bike, but I feel like I’m at the best moment in my career.”

Home rider Aoyama (Drive M7 Aspar) spoke of his pride at representing Japan in the premier class at Motegi this weekend, saying, “I have been on the podium four times here so it’s a good track for me. Last year I finished 17^th but this year I have a new bike and a new team and I know I can enjoy it. All my friends and family will be here.”

Like Espargaro reigning Moto3™ World Champion and current Moto2™ participant Viñales (Paginas Amarillas HP 40) will ride with Suzuki in MotoGP™ in 2015. He arrives in Japan on the back of a superb Moto2 win at Aragon.

Viñales stated, “I’m really happy, I had the best weekend of my life at Aragon. I won the race and then the announcement was made that I will move into MotoGP with Suzuki. I’m really proud to be involved with the project.”

On Friday morning the action commences on track at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan with FP1 for Moto3™ getting underway at 9am local time and MotoGP™ following at 9.55am, before Moto2™ at 10.55am (GMT +9).

maitresse ?

Moto GP : Rossi revient sur sa chute au MotorLand Aragón / Rossi reflects on security after Aragon crash

Valentino Rossi s'est confié à l'émission 'Paddock Pass Show' de Sky Sport jeudi après-midi à Motegi après la conférence de presse du Grand Prix Motul du Japon.

As-tu bien récupéré de ta chute en Aragón ?

« Oui, je vais bien. C'était une grosse chute mais j'allais bien deux heures plus tard, il n'y a pas eu de problème. Je me souviens de tout. Disons que j'ai eu une petite commotion mais tout va bien. Je suis le même qu'avant. Mais je ne suis pas meilleur qu'avant, ça aurait pu être une bonne opportunité ! »

Ta moto t'a-t-elle touché dans la chute ?

« Oui, j'ai pris un gros coup. C'était la roue arrière de la moto, je m'en souviens bien. Mais la roue m'a ensuite touché par derrière, sur la droite, et c'est le coup qui m'a mis K.O. »

As-tu perdu connaissance ?

« Oui, pendant une minute peut-être. J'ai fait une petite sieste… »

Mais tu es à 100% maintenant ?

« Oui. Je suis resté chez moi, calme, au repos. Mais je me suis aussi cassé un doigt dans la chute et c'est un problème. Ça ne me pose pas de problème dans la vie de tous les jours mais pour piloter si. J'ai essayé de rouler mardi dernier et c'était douloureux. C'est une petite fracture et j'espère que ça ne me gênera pas trop. C'est l'index de la main droite, c'est un doigt très important pour freiner. »

Que penses-tu de la sécurité sur les courses, notamment après l'accident de Jules Bianchi en Formule 1 ?

« Je sais qu'il y a des pilotes qui se plaignent des courses à drapeau blanc et nous en parlerons demain à la Commission de Sécurité. C'est clairement un peu dangereux, surtout quand on reste sur slicks alors que la piste est mouillée. Mais le drapeau blanc est une solution à un problème et elle permet de ne pas arrêter la course quand il se met à pleuvoir. Ce serait moins dangereux si la course était arrêtée mais nous en parlerons demain. »

« En ce qui concerne Jules, je suis vraiment désolé, je l'avais rencontré à Madonna di Campiglio. C'est un quelqu'un de bien, avec beaucoup de talent, et c'est très triste. Il a été très malchanceux parce que la grue n'aurait jamais dû être à cet endroit. C'était problablement une erreur parce qu'une course doit être arrêtée ou au moins contrôlée par le safety car si une grue entre sur une zone de dégagement. »

Following Thursday’s Motul Grand Prix of Japan press conference Valentino Rossi provided an interview to the Italian Sky Sport MotoGP HD programme ‘Paddock Pass Show’.

Have you recovered from your crash at Aragon?

“Yes, I'm fine. It was a big crash, but two hours later I was fine, no problems, I remember everything. Let’s say I had a little concussion, but everything is fine. I’m the same as before. In any case I’m not better than I was before, perhaps it could have been a good opportunity!”

Did the bike hit you during the crash?

“Yes, I think the bike gave me a big knock. It was the rear tyre of the bike because as I fell I took a hit, but I remember it well. But then, I think, the wheel hit me from behind on the right and that was the blow that knocked me out.”

So, you lost consciousness?

“Yeah, maybe for one minute. I took a little nap!”

But now you're 100% ok?

“Yes, of course, I’ve been at home, calm and relaxed. But also in the crash I broke a finger, and this is a problem because it does not bother me in normal life but it might to ride. On Tuesday I tried it with a street bike, but it hurt a lot. It is a small fracture and I hope it doesn’t bother me too much as it’s the index finger of the right hand, which is important for braking.”

What are your thoughts on safety in racing, especially after what happened in F1 with the Jules Bianchi accident?

“I’ve heard that there are riders who have complained about ‘flag-to-flag’ races, and tomorrow we'll talk about that at the Safety Commission meeting. Certainly it is a bit dangerous, especially because often you stay on track with slick tyres on wet asphalt, which is a dangerous situation with our bikes. But let's say ‘flag-to-flag’ is a solution to a problem, not having to stop the race because of rain. If the race was stopped it would be less dangerous, but as I say we'll talk about it tomorrow.”

“With respect to Bianchi, I’m so sorry, because I met him once at Maddona di Campiglio. He is a very nice, young guy with great talent and it is a real shame. He has had very bad luck, because the truck should not have been in the run-off area. It was probably a mistake, because if a crane is working on a run-off area they should stop the race or at least bring out the safety car.”

FLY AND DRIVE: ICELAND

by Christophe Noelby Christophe Noel

I’m not going to lie, I was properly nervous. My wife, sitting next to me with her hands over her eyes, was clearly more than a tad anxious. I engaged the low range, felt the revs build slowly, let out the clutch, and rolled forward––not too quickly, just fast enough to make the crossing. The wheels splashed into the water and vanished with alarming speed. The water lapped over the wheel arches, the bow wave perfectly matched to the size of the vehicle, which was admittedly, not all that big. We were in the backcountry of Iceland in a rented Suzuki Jimny and as we crossed another wild river, one of dozens on our route, we whooped and shouted, celebrating the thwarted purchase of a flooded Suzuki.

For many overlanders, certainly those with tens of thousands of dollars invested in their much-loved vehicles, the thought of traveling without it is heartbreaking. For me, it’s all about the adventure and given that Iceland is roughly 4,373 miles from my front door, and more to the point, a tiny island in the North Atlantic, renting a vehicle seemed like the thing to do.

The world is full of exotic overlanding destinations, Iceland certainly one of the best. With only one primary road encircling the perimeter of the country, the entire interior is untamed, rugged, and webbed with narrow, bumpy, potholed, and unsealed roads. It is one of the most striking landscapes in the world with glaciers capping active volcanoes, black sand beaches, and basalt cliffs specced with white sea birds. Verdant farmlands along the coast give way to rolling hills of green moss and jagged lava fields as you drive towards the center of the island. Waterfalls abound, many seemingly ripped from the pages of fairy tales. The extremes of the island even include Europe’s largest desert complete with dust storms and what at first glimpse seems like lifeless voids. Villages are few and far between with the large majority of the country’s populous living in and around the capital city. Design your route carefully, and you can find profound solitude.

Visiting this otherworldly destination is actually rather easy. Flights into the main airport in Keflavik, just 45 minutes south of the capital city of Reykjavik, are becoming more frequent and surprisingly affordable. For our fly-and-drive journey into Iceland, we rented our Jimny from Blue Car Rental, their office conveniently located just a short walk from the arrivals gate at the airport.

A quick search of the internet reveals an unusually large number of rental agencies for a small country of just a few hundred thousand inhabitants. Deeper searches reveal an unnerving number of horrible reviews, some detailing poor service, unreliable vehicles, or lengthy battles disputing unauthorized credit card charges. The other aspect of Icelandic car rental worth noting is the potential to spend a fortune. Some agencies renting higher dollar vehicles, or even rather ordinary options, can fetch north of $200 for a single day’s use. All of this weighed heavy on my mind as I decided which company to contact.

Drawing on recommendations from an Icelandic friend who works in the hospitality and travel industry in Reykjavik, I took her recommendation and contacted Magnus at Blue Car Rental. Not to make this sound like an overwhelming plug for their agency, our experience was nothing but positive.

As we ventured beyond the suburbs and slipped into the backcountry, our choice of the Jimny seemed perfect. A small island with tiny roads, the diminutive Suzuki seemed like the only way to go. Driving through the lava fields and rural farmlands of the southern coast, we ventured past the town of Vik and then started to work our way north on the Fjallabak route towards Landmannalauger. Crossing countless rivers, we trundled down the bumpy roads that twisted through massive piles of volcanic ash and over huge hills offering amazing vistas. We felt a certain pity for those travelers, of whom there are thousands, who visit Iceland and never venture off the paved Ring Road that incircles the island.

With an extensive network of campgrounds, small inns, and guest houses, traveling by way of rented 4×4, even a tiny one like a Jimny, was easy to facilitate and immensely rewarding. Over the span of 12 days, we went on to visit the beauty of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, the fjords of the northern shore, and vast stretches of the interior, our wheels taking dirt whenever possible.

Although it is possible to rent vehicles of any size, including Blue Car Rental’s luxurious and capable 200 Series Land Cruisers, our little Jimny did great. Fuel efficient and surprisingly comfortable, it also did far better off-road than many people would care to admit. Sipping fuel and the least expensive 4×4 to rent on the island, we couldn’t have made a better choice. If you’re up for a big adventure, don’t mind leaving your beloved truck behind, a fly-and-drive adventure in Iceland should be on your short list.

www.bluecarrental.is

Author’s Note: Because Expedition Portal members are frequently curious about the cost of travel to such exotic locations, I thought it necessary to detail some of the modest expenses of this trip. Airfare on Delta Airlines, from as far away as Phoenix Sky Harbor, was as little as $1075. Car rental through Blue Car Rentalwas quite reasonable at only $125.00 per day. Knowing that meals and hotel accommodations can be expensive, we reduced our cost of travel by camping most nights. Campground fees seldom tipped $25 for two people. Fuel was expensive, pushing well beyond twice our normal price here in the states, but the high efficiency of the Jimny greatly reduced that outlay of cash. All in all, it wasn’t any more expensive than any similar trip we would have taken within our home borders.

via http://expeditionportal.com