Guy Martin claims cool treble at the 2013 Ulster GP

Just a few hours after the renewal of his contract with the Tyco Suzuki team for another year, Briton Guy Martin clinched a sensational hat-trick at the 2013 Ulster Grand Prix, historically one of the most important events in the Road Racing. Martin won both Superbike Races and Race-1 of the Supersport class to become the undisputed hero of the day, while brothers Michael and William Dunlop got themselves one win each.

On the 7.401 mile Dundrod (approximately 12 km) of the mighty Dundrod Circuit, near Belfast, the 31 year old Lincolnshire rider begun his day winnign Race-1 of the Supersport class ahead of Bruce Anstey of New Zealand (HM Plant Honda by Padgetts) and Brit Lee Johnston (Honda East Coast Racing). The first race of the Superbike class instead was a close one, with Martin winning it by just 39 thousandths of a second over Michael Dunlop (Honda TT Legends), with the latter’s brother, William (Milwaukee Yamaha), completing the podum in third place and a gap of more than 10 seconds. In the second Superbike race, a technical problem immediately put Michael Dunlop out of action, thus paving the way for the third win for Martin. The Suzuki man in fact did not miss out on the chance, winning the race with a 4-second margin on very regular Bruce Anstey and almost 8 seconds on Conor Cummins (Milwaukee Yamaha), who jumped on the last step of the podium.

The Superstock race was won by Michael Dunlop, who took advantage of Martin’s technical issues - he was force to retire when he was in the lead - to win with a good margin on Gary Johnson (Kawasaki Lincs Lifting Ltd) and - again - Anstey, while Race-2 of the Supersport class saw the triumph of William Dunlop, who got the best of Anstey by just 73 thousandths of a second, and was joined on the podium by teammate Conor Cummins, third once gain 11 seconds behind the winner. See what the man of the day had to say about his treble right after the jump.

Here’s how Guy Martin commented his three wins at the 2012 Ulster Grand Prix:

“I’m over the moon with that today. What a way to seal the deal for next year with the Tyco Suzuki boys and well deserved for everyone involved. The Superbike was quick in the Ulster Grand Prix race but just started moving about a little towards the end, so we made a few changes and yeah… it was peachy, just peachy. The little 600 was flying and we again proved how good a little bike she is and those Metzeler tyres, top job boy, top job. Great racing and well done to the organisers for getting it off well, and I’m pleased to win the Darran Lindsay Man of the Meeting Award. Now it’s time for the boat home!”

from TWOWHEELSBLOG

Moto GP 2013 Indianapolis: Marc Marquez also leads warm-up practice

Marc Marquez has made a clean sweep at Indianapolis so far, topping the charts in all the practice sessions and in qualifying. The Repsol Honda rookie during this morning’s warm-up practice stopped the clock in 1:38.776, and was the only rider to break into the 1.38s.

Second fastest was Cal Crutchlow who was a little more than three tenths adrift, giving Hiroshi Aoyama hell for being in his way and then heading up the banking to try to avoid any anything dripping from Blake Young’s smoking APR. Dani Pedrosa dropped into third with his last flying lap after lingering down in 7th and 8th, while Jorge Lorenzo was fourth.

As soon as the Yamaha factory rider returned to the pit after the 20 minute session and doing a long run, a Bridgestone tire tech was called in to look at the left side of his rear tire that was severely worn, but it isn’t known just how many laps that particular tire had already been through

Stefan Bradl kept his cool this morning - trying to avoid another crash - as he finished fifth. Valentino Rossi seems to have partially solved his issues as he was sixth, but he was still almost one second adrift from Marquez. Alvaro Bautista concluded in seventh ahead of an excellent Bradley Smith and the Ducati duo, Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizio who seemed to be forever linked together.

Bad luck hit wildcard rider Blake Young again during the warm-up session. While at Laguna Seca he crashed out in session, here at Indianapolis his Attack Performance CRT machine began sending out smoke signals, which forced him to pull over and walk back to his garage.

2013 MotoGP Indianapolis Warm-up results:

01- Marc Marquez – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – 1’38.776
02- Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.309
03- Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – + 0.406
04- Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.433
05- Stefan Bradl – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC213V – + 0.847
06- Valentino Rossi – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.993
07- Alvaro Bautista – GO&FUN Honda Gresini – Honda RC213V – + 1.083
08- Bradley Smith – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.194
09- Nicky Hayden – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP13 – + 1.421
10- Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP13 – + 1.447

from TWOWHEELSBLOG

Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance: Concours in motion

The joy of admiring rare classics arrayed on a golf course right next to the Pacific Ocean is, by itself, worth a trip to Pebble Beach. But to meet moving works of art on the road is priceless. Photographer Cathy Dubuisson has captured this moment in pictures...

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is without doubt the most important automotive beauty contest on the American continent. Every year, on the Thursday before the Concours, there is a very special parade on the roads – the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance. Here you have the opportunity to experience some of the priceless Concours classics as they should be… in motion.

The field of cars is comparable to a journey through the upper echelons of the history of the automobile – with all its peculiarities. Where else, for example, you would find a 1914 American Underslung ​​642 Roadster next to a Bugatti Type 46 Baby Royale Faux Cabriolet, or a Tatra 187 Limousine behind a Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale?

The route of the classic motorcade takes in sections of 17-Mile Drive and Highway 1, as well as the picturesque town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. For the first time since 2003, the Tour participants have also been invited to drive a lap of honour round the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, scene of the Rolex Historic Races. A rare privilege for both the drivers, and the spectators who watch them.

For instant updates, follow J. Philip Rathgen on Twitter

via Classic Driver

A SIDE PROJECT: MIURA’S DATSUN 510

You might have spotted this Datsun 510 sitting outside the TRA Kyoto workshop during the tour I posted earlier today. Despite having visited Miura’s shop countless times, I had actually never seen his Bluebird before – and there is a good reason why. The car has been away receiving some TLC to its exterior in preparation for the fresh set of over-fenders and deep-dish steel wheels that have just been fitted.

Miura has a true love for all things classic and has been wanting to do something with this car for years. While we were outside he decided to fire the car up and move it out onto the street so I could grab a few shots.

Apart from a set of upgraded carbs the engine is still very much stock. But despite warming it up a little, it still only seemed to be running on half of its cylinders.

That’s nothing a quick tune up won’t fix, though. With three cars to finish for this year’s SEMA show, the Datsun is very much a side project for Miura.

And with a whole bunch more cars needed to be completed in time for the 2014 Tokyo Auto Salon in January, the little 510 four-door might have to wait just a little bit longer!

What would you like to see Miura do to this car? Wilder fenders? Maybe his signature ducktail trunk spoiler? Regardless of how this particular car ends up turning out, I really hope to see more vintage rides like this getting the TRA Kyoto treatment!

Dino Dalle Carbonare