MOTO GP: Yamaha confirme Jorge Lorenzo pour deux ans de plus / Yamaha and Lorenzo confirm new two-year agreement

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd et Jorge Lorenzo, pilote du team Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, ont le plaisir d'annoncer la signature d'un nouvel accord de deux ans grâce auquel le Majorquin courra pour Movistar Yamaha ces deux prochaines années.

Grâce à cet accord, Jorge Lorenzo réalise son souhait de continuer sa carrière dans la catégorie reine avec Yamaha, avec un partenariat qui passe de sept à neuf ans. Yamaha et Lorenzo espèrent tous les deux que leur collaboration mènera à un troisième titre mondial et continueront à travailler ensemble pour atteindre cet objectif.

Lin Jarvis, Managing Directeur de Yamaha Motor Racing Srl :

« Je suis très heureux que nous ayons trouvé un accord pour que Jorge continue en tant que pilote de Movistar Yamaha MotoGP. Ce nouvel accord prolonge les sept années de partenariat de Jorge avec Yamaha. Il avait commencé avec nous en 2008 et ensemble nous avons obtenu beaucoup d'excellents résultats, 31 victoires et deux titres de Pilote Champion du Monde MotoGP™ en 2010 et 2012. La saison 2014 a été difficile pour lui jusqu'ici mais j'espère que cette annonce va lui fournir la sérénité nécessaire pour qu'il puisse concentrer 100% de son énergie sur les prochaines courses. L'an dernier nous avions pu voir de quoi il était capable dans des situations difficiles, il avait réussi à contre-attaquer après ses blessures de mi-saison et nous espérons donc qu'il fasse une bonne deuxième moitié de saison en 2014. Pour 2015, nous savons que Jorge sera un bon candidat au titre et nous ferons de notre mieux pour lui founir le matériel et le soutien dont il aura besoin pour atteindre nos objectifs communs. »

Jorge Lorenzo, Pilote de Movistar Yamaha MotoGP :

« Je suis très content d'enfin pouvoir faire cette annonce. C'est un soulagement parce que je peux maintenant complètement me concentrer sur le reste de la saison 2014, en sachant que notre partenariat continuera pour les deux prochaines saisons. Mon souhait a toujours été de poursuivre ma carrière avec Yamaha et je crois fermement que nous pouvons nous battre pour un troisième titre. Cette saison a été très difficile après un départ compliqué mais nous allons continuer à avancer course par course et à nous donner à 100% jusqu'à Valence. Je tiens à remercier Yamaha pour leur confiance et tous les fans de Yamaha à travers le monde pour leur soutien continu. Après la trêve estivale, je suis impatient de retrouver mon team à Indy et pleinement concentré sur la tâche qui m'attend. »

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd and Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo are delighted to announce that they have signed a new two-year agreement that sees the Mallorcan complete the Movistar Yamaha line up for the next two seasons.

The agreement realises Lorenzo’s wish to continue his premier class career with Yamaha, extending the relationship from seven to nine years. Both Yamaha and Lorenzo are confident that the partnership has the potential to deliver a third title and will continue to work towards this goal.

 

Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing Srl

"I am very happy we have reached an agreement for Jorge to continue as a Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider. The new agreement extends Jorge’s seven-year partnership with Yamaha. He started with us as a rookie back in 2008 and together we achieved many great results including 31 GP victories and two MotoGP Rider World Champion titles in 2010 and 2012. The 2014 season has been a tough one for Jorge so far but I am hoping that the confirmation of this new agreement will give him the peace of mind to be able to focus 100% of his energy on the remaining races. Last year we saw what he was able to do when the going was tough and he was fighting back from mid-season injuries so we know that the potential is there for a strong second half to the 2014 season. For 2015 and beyond we have no doubt that Jorge will be a strong title contender and we will do our very best to provide him with the materials and the support he needs to be able to realize our shared ambitions."

 

Jorge Lorenzo, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Rider

"I am very happy to finally be able to make this announcement. It is a relief to be able to now completely focus on the remainder of the 2014 season in the knowledge that our relationship will continue for the next two seasons. It has always been my wish to continue my career with Yamaha; I strongly believe we can fight for a third title together. This season has been very challenging after a difficult start, however we will continue to take it race by race, giving 100% until Valencia. I want to thank Yamaha for their continued belief in me and all the Yamaha fans around the world who continue to support me. After the summer break I’m excited to be back at Indy with my team and focused again on riding."

Pin Up

1975 Corolla. V8 + Supercharger. The Smoking Tire

A homebuilt 1975 Toyota Corolla packing Lexus V8 muscle and a supercharger.

Mark Still’s 1975 Toyota Corolla epitomises the ‘built not bought’ philosophy of car culture. It’s even more impressive as Mark, despite being a practical sort of chap with fabrication skills aplenty, didn’t really have much experience as a car builder. What he did have was a love of old Corollas and so he started there, with a 1975 example, and ended up here, with a wide arched supercharged V8.

Homebuilt cars, as a form of automotive self-expression, tend to bring out the lovers and haters in equal measure. It really shouldn’t matter what side of that flipped coin you’re on if you can truly appreciate the dedication and skill required to see a project through from inception to completion. This is the Corolla that Mark Still’s built. Himself. That earns our respect every time.

Source – TheSmokingTire

Bikes, beards and bikinis at the 2014 Wheels & Waves Festival

Every year, the European motorcycle scene gathers at the Wheels & Waves Festival on the French Atlantic coast. Hermann Kopf took not only his bike, but his trusty Leica to Biarritz, too…

Mediterranean weather, curious bikes, long beards and illegal racing

Anticipation for the third running of this event was huge, thanks to the flood of media images released in the preceding few months. Mediterranean weather, curious bikes, long beards and (apparently) dirt track racing more than surpassed expectations. This is no marketing event, it’s an honest four-day festival run by the Southsiders Men, mixing art, music, surfing and custom motorcyles. 

Contemporary motorcycle culture in an old industrial building

On day one, surfing friends came together at the nearby beach for the amateur surf contest, before riding into town that evening for the ‘Art Ride’ exhibition, housed in an old industrial hall. The artists themselves were present, their works reflecting the spirit of this ‘scene’. They came from around the world, travelling here to share their interpretations and exchange ideas with like-minded people. Contemporary motorcycle culture was brought to the fore. 

Sprint race in the Basque Country

The following day we travelled to the Spanish side of the Basque Country for a sprint race. Thirty-two riders on old machines took to a picturesque 800-metre mountain route on the Jaizkibel. Although this year the race was properly organised, with compulsory leathers and safety areas, the ‘spirit’ was not diminished in the slightest. 

Surfing, mountain riding and a stunning sunset

On Saturday, the Southsiders invited us on a tour of the Basque mountains. About 80 riders were in attendance, and that evening both the best surfers and the best bikes were chosen. Brian Bent and his band were on hand to play some appropriate music to accompany the fine sunset. 

Threatening success?

We wonder whether the Southsiders will throw a fourth edition in Toulouse next year, or has the surging popularity of the event tainted their vision of what the festival was originally meant to be? We'll just have to wait and see…

Photos: Hermann Köpf

You can find numerous classic motorcycles in the Classic Driver Market.