‘94 Suzuki DR650 – Blitz Motorcycles

Struggling to find a donor motorcycle for your next build? Asking prices for ratty old SR400’s making your shake your head? Refuse to spend all your time and money on a glorified old Honda commuter? Thankfully there are better starting points for your next project. Big bore trailbikes. They’re reliable, they’ve got a bit of poke and they’re still very affordable. So here’s a guide on how to turn an old chook-chaser into a blacked-out side street carver like this 1994 DR650 ‘Arsenale’, put together by French company Blitz, makers of some of the nicest switchgear you’ll ever mash your thumbs against.

Step 1. Ditch the old surf swirl graphics that keep the DR looking like it’s wearing an 80’s leisure suit. Gut the air box and break out the grinder, cutting off all unnecessary tabs and mounts hanging off the frame. And while you’re there cut down the rear subframe and weld in a loop, with dedicated holes to sneak in some LED brake and indicator lights. While the TIG welder is out and sparking make up a battery case under the seat to cradle a lithium-ion battery.

Step 2. If you haven’t already, form a relationship with your local powdercoater. They’re an odd bunch no matter where in the world you are. Try taking them a small present like meat, alcohol or an unwanted child. Then tear the rest of the bike apart and get everything blasted and powder coated gloss black. And I mean everything. The fork legs, engine covers, swing arm, side stand, hubs, foot pegs and triple clamps.

Step 3. While everything is off getting electrified, sprayed and baked, turn your attention to the key part of a good DR tracker build. Replace the huge 21” front wheel that makes DR650 cornering so lazy for something smaller. On this bike, Blitz are running 17-inch wheels on the front and back. It’ll make it turn in quicker and will offer a much better selection of rubber.

Step 4. Freshen up the engine. Cross yourself, look skywards and thank the flying spaghetti monster that you’ve decided to dedicate your attention to a single cylinder engine. One piston, one set of rings, some rockers and one bespoke stainless steel system is all it takes to get a DR drumming along nicely. At this stage, I’d recommend visiting a friend lavishing attention on an old Honda four watch them eat pot noodles for a month to afford the same set of parts.

Step 5. By now you should have gotten everything back from the powdercoater. Bolt it all up and admire the progress you’ve made. Swap the tank for something a little lighter, more beautiful and significantly less ‘dirtbikey’ than standard. An old Suzuki GT125 tank worked just fine for the guys at Blitz.

Step 6. Bolt everything back into the frame. Affix a small speedo keeping the front end looking nice and light. Find an old auxiliary headlight from a ‘70’s rally car to mount up and strip the loom back to its bare essentials. Install some lightweight, slim French-built controls from Blitz on a pair of old Triumph handlebars you have lying around. Step back and admire.

Step 7. (Optional) Lend your newly created pride and joy to one of the world’s most famous motorcycle racers when he’s in town and looking for a set of wheels. Someone like, say, Roland Sands. Then, at 20km/h and in first gear, let the man crash it on some light gravel right before its first public debut at the screening of a motorcycle film.

And there you have it. You’ve got an affordable head-turner that’s quick, exotic and still manages to bark into life every time you thumb the starter. And if you do piece together a bike as cool as Blitz’s ‘Arsenale’ and can’t track down a former US #1 plate holder to drop it, I know of a semi-employed motorcycle journalist who would be happy to help.

[Photos: Gary Jézégabel]

via PIPEBURN

Oliveira triomphe au Motul TT Assen devant Quartararo / Oliveira takes incredible Moto3™ victory

Le Portugais s’est imposé juste devant Fabio Quartararo et Danny Kent samedi aux Pays-Bas.

Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) a remporté la seconde victoire de sa carrière en Grand Prix samedi au Motul TT Assen en sortant vainqueur d’un groupe de sept pilotes. 

Devancé par Fabio Quartararo (Estrella Galicia 0,0) au milieu du dernier tour, le Portugais a finalement eu le dernier mot et s’imposait avec 0.066s d’avance sur le rookie français, qui montait sur le podium pour la deuxième fois. 

Danny Kent (Leopard Racing) a pris la troisième place devant Jorge Navarro (Estrella Galicia 0,0), Romano Fenati (SKY Racing Team VR46), Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing Team Moto2) et Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo). 

À vingt secondes du groupe de tête, Karel Hanika (Red Bull KTM Ajo) a fini huitième devant Niccolò Antonelli (Ongetta-Rivacold) et John McPhee (SaxoPrint-RTG), dont le coéquipier Alexis Masbou a été contraint à l’abandon. Jules Danilo (Ongetta-Rivacold) a de son côté manqué le point de la quinzième de seulement 0.070s.

Cliquez ici pour accéder aux résultats.

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Miguel Oliveira takes his second Moto3™ victory in a simply sensational race at the Motul TT Assen.

The packed grandstands at the legendary TT Circuit Assen bore witness to a incredible seven way battle for victory in an epic and dramatic Moto3™ race in which Miguel Oliveira claimed his second victory of the season by just 0.066s.

The sun came out to play and track temperatures rose to 26°C before the start of what would turn out to be an incredibly dramatic race. A leading group of seven riders broke away from the rest of the field in the early stages to provide drama and excitement in equal measure as they fought tooth and nail for the victory.

The lead swapped hands at almost every corner, as the riders in the leading group put move after move on each other, but it was Oliveira who timed his charge to perfection to snatch the lead just before the final chicane and held on across the line to take KTM’s 3rd win of the season ahead of 16-year-old Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and championship leader Danny Kent (Leopard Racing +0.117s).

Jorge Navarro (+0.179s) had to settle for fourth ahead of the hard charging Romano Fenati (+0.252s) on the Sky Racing Team VR46 KTM, while the man who started form pole, 17-year-old Italian Enea Bastianini (+0.526s), crossed the line in sixth.

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was the last man in the leading group in seventh, with his teammate Karel Hanika wining the battle for eighth in the chasing pack (+21.406s) ahead of Niccolo Antonelli (Ongetta-Rivacold) and John McPhee (SAXOPRINT RTG), who completed the top ten.

RBA Racing’s Niklas Ajo crossed the line in 17th in remarkable fashion having lost control at the final corner in the battle for 8th and managing to hold on while hanging completely off the side of his bike to finish the race, eventually crossing the line on his knees.

Maria Herrera looked on course for her first top-ten finish before Antonelli took her out after losing control under braking while she was leading the chasing group in 8th. Her teammate Isaac Viñales also crashed out after contact from Juanfran Guevara, while Efren Vazquez, Andrea Locatelli, Zulfhami Khairuddin, Alexis Masbou and Tatsuki Suzuki all failed to finish, with the latter suffering from a technical fault on the first lap.

Kent managed to extend his lead in the championship standings once more, and is now 57-points clear of Bastianini, with Oliveira another 6-points back in third.

Check out the full Moto3™ Race results, and the latest championship standings.

Rossi remporte son duel face à Márquez à Assen / Rossi takes dramatic win after epic duel with Marquez

L’Italien s’est imposé sur le tenant du titre après un contact dans la dernière chicane.

Qualifié en pole position pour la première fois de l’année, Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) a très solidement mené la course du Motul TT Assen jusqu’à ce que Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda) ne parvienne à revenir sur lui et à passer en tête pour se lancer dans un fantastique duel avec le nonuple Champion du Monde.

Repassé devant l’Espagnol à deux tours et demi de l’arrivée, Rossi avait l’avantage en arrivant dans la dernière chicane mais a dû couper le dernier virage en passant par les graviers après avoir été poussé par Márquez. L’Italien remportait ainsi sa troisième victoire de la saison et repartait d’Assen avec dix points d’avance sur son coéquipier Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP). 

Passé de la huitième position sur la grille à la troisième place en l’espace d’un tour, le Majorquin n’a pas pu prendre la roue des deux leaders et s’est contenté d’une troisième place en solitaire, loin devant Andrea Iannone (Ducati), Pol Espargaró (Monster Yamaha Tech3), Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3), Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) et les deux pilotes du Team Suzuki Ecstar, Aleix Espargaró et Maverick Viñales.

Loris Baz (Athinà Forward Racing) a décroché sa seconde victoire en catégorie Open en finissant quinzième, sa position de départ.

Cliquez ici pour accéder aux résultats.

Zarco s’impose à nouveau devant Rabat à Assen / Zarco wins showdown with Rabat in Moto2™

Le Français a doublé le Champion en titre à deux tours de l’arrivée pour s’offrir une seconde victoire consécutive, sa troisième de l’année.

Suite à un bien mauvais départ, Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) a de nouveau réalisé une superbe fin de course pour aller chercher la victoire devant Tito Rabat (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) au Motul TT Assen, dans une course réduite à seize tours suite à un drapeau rouge. 

Devancé par Jonas Folger (AGR Team) et Rabat au départ, le Français est patiemment revenu sur ses concurrents et s’est emparé de la première place devant Rabat à deux tours de l’arrivée pour immédiatement faire le break et prendre une troisième victoire et cinq points de plus que le Champion en titre, qu’il devance désormais de 45 points.

En tête durant toute la première moitié de la course, Folger a perdu en rythme sur la suite et a fini septième tandis que Sam Lowes (Speed Up Racing) s’emparait de la troisième place devant Álex Rins (Páginas Amarillas HP 40), Tom Lüthi (Derendinger Racing Interwetten) et Xavier Siméon (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2).

Cliquez ici pour accéder aux résultats.

Moto2™ World Championship leader Johann Zarco came out on top in duel with rival Tito Rabat in a re-started race at the Motul TT Assen.

Ajo Motorsport’s Zarco took victory in front of the passionate Dutch fans that had flocked in to see his showdown with title rival Tito Rabat at the TT Circuit Assen in conditions that improved as the race went on, with the sun coming out and track tempereatures rising to 28°C. The re-started race was reduced to 16 laps because of a red flag on the very first lap during the original race, after an incident between Marcel Schrotter, Anthony West and Luis Salom that saw the latter crash out and his bike catch fire, leading to oil on the track.

During the re-start Zarco got bogged down off the line while AGR Team’s Jonas Folger led into the first corner, and built up a lead of almost a second over Tito Rabat in second. Zarco picked his way through the field and attempted to make a move on Rabat for second on lap 4, with the two rivals making contact and Zarco running wide.

It didn’t take long for Rabat to close down Folger and take the lead on lap 8, with Zarco also passing the German shortly afterwards. Rabat the built a 0.5s gap at the front, before Zarco started to hunt him down. Zarco timed it to perfection as he took the lead with three laps to go, giving Rabat a ‘nudge’ in the process, and went on to win his third race of the season by 0.757s. Rabat had no answer to Zarco’s pace, and had to settle for second, with Speed Up Racing’s Sam Lowes (+2.080s) crossing the line in third after an excellent ride for his 3rd podium of the season.

Paginas Amarillas HP40’s Alex Rins (+03.738s) crossed the line in fourth ahead of Thomas Luthi (+4.530s) on the Derendinger Racing Interwetten Kalex and Federal Oil Gresini Moto2’s Xavier Simeon (+5.045s) in sixth.

Folger faded after his excellent start to the race, eventually finishing in seventh, with Mika Kallio (Italtrans Racing Team) in eighth and rookie Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) equalling his career best Moto2™ finish in ninth.

Athina Forward Racing’s Simone Corsi completed the top ten as his teammate Lorenzo Baldassari crashed out of the race in an incident with Anthony West. Louis Rossi, Ricky Cardus and Florian Alt also recorded DNF’s, with Luis Salom not able to take his place on the grid for the re-started race due to the damage to his bike from the red flag incident.

Zarco (159pts) has now extended his Moto2™ World Championship lead over Rabat (114pts) to 45 points, with Sam Lowes (96pts) consolidating third a further 18 points back.

Check out the full race results and the latest Moto2™ World Championship standings.

A Guide to the ’60s Style of Grand Prix

When John Frankenheimer’s ’66 film Grand Prix debuted in theaters, the film wowed audiences and critics alike with its front-seat cinematography and dramatic portrayal of global sports stardom. In the real world, Formula 1 was entering its prime, an unprecedented spectacle of glamor, prestige and danger. Frankenheimer, who would later direct Ronin, famously shot Grand Prix with Super Panavision 70 in an effort to capture the visceral spirit of the sport, going on to win three Academy Awards in the categories of sound and editing. Considered one of the greatest car movies of all time, it also happens to be a menswear reference guide for cosmopolitan cool, when racers matched their sweaters to Ferraris and kicked back with the likes of Françoise Hardy. Formula 1 has never looked so good.

                                              

Buck Mason Natural Crew Pima Tee ($28) | Hedon Hedonist Empress (~$471) | Hermes Clous de Selle ($810)

                                    

Quixotic The July Pocketsquare ($45) | Apolis Washed Linen Civilian Blazer ($298) | Baracuta G9 Jacket ($390)

                                             

Warehouse Lot 4601 Pocket T-Shirt ($58) | Levi’s 501 CT Slim-Fit Jeans ($80) | Schott Lightweight Cafe Racer Leather Motorcycle Jacket ($750)

                                            

J. Press Lightweight V-Neck Cotton Sweater ($109) | J. Crew Bowery Classic Pant in Wool ($128)

                                                  

Wood&Faulk D-Ring Belt ($98) | Gant Yale Pinpoint Gingham Regular Button Down ($115) | Unis Gio ($198) | Rancourt & Co. Shell Cordovan Pinch Penny Loafers “Caramel” ($650)

Honda ‘Mad Dax’ – Ed Turner Motorcycles

Being the Japan-o-philes that we are, we’re usually the first ones to put up our hands when the eccentric Japanese bikes are wheeled out of a builder’s shop. Whether it be the Motocompo, the Monkey, or the Dax – if it looks manga, we’re usually gaga. So imagine our reaction when we first laid eyes the very latest build from tré cool builder Karl “Ed” Renoult and his ‘Ed Turner’ Motorcycles. A Honda XLS 500 that’s been customised to look like a Dax? I’d be lying if I told you that we put on giant robot costumes and danced crazily to J-Pop, but I really wished we had.

Play nice – it’s Karl’s sister on the bike

The story starts as many labours of love often do. The unloved ‘79 Honda XLS 500 in the back of the shop that Karl just couldn’t figure out what to do with. Then it hit him; the power of a big single matched with a tough but playful aesthetic would kill it. Sure, the chassis would require a lot of attention and those ridiculously skinny wheels do really sting the eyes, but still. “I had zero time, and zero budget,” says Karl. “So naturally I started immediately.”

“Once the frame was naked, I was surprised to find some rather attractive curves. For once, the rear part of the bike’s frame will be kept, although i’ll admit to modding it just a little.” But the major frame work came from a rather unexpected source –  Karl’s first ‘front loop’. The idea was simple. Channel the spirit of the original Dax, but up the ante with an adult-sized machine.

So while E.T.’s trainee Alexis was working hard to resuscitate the engine, Karl bent and assembled the bike’s first new tubes. A few hours of welding later, the engine was on and the bike has been shod with solid and polished HD wheels. “It already looked good and won all the votes in the workshop.” Next up, the forks. “Rummaging around, we finally decided on a set of BMW R65 tubes in Yamaha XV750 sheaths, with home-made fork bridges and a Ténéré caliper. It worked, and it cost exactly nothing.”

The light, supplied by Karl’s buddy Joe, was free-of-charge. And the rear light? “It was offered by the prison administration and mounted on a skate truck that was wrestled from a kid on my street last season,” And no, we have no idea what he means by ‘prison administration’ means, either. Those crazy French!

Potato sack, minus the potatoes

“The engine received all the necessary care before a coat of Ford V8 blue. Then we added a few parts for a ‘drag’ feel: a hand-made exhaust pipe, some aluminium controls, a sprocket cover with a flame cut and a bike’s pedal as a kick starter.”

Then, after making the hidden fuel tank (see the last pic), Karl whipped up the Dax-like poly half-shell fairings that are directly inspired by the helmet gifted to the shop by hip Brit helmet makers Hedon. A few Googles revealed that the material Hedon used was prohibitively expensive and very difficult to obtain. The obvious alternative? A potato sack. “It was much more in tune with my finances. So the model, mold and poly were again made by Joe. The guy knows resins very well, but he’d never tried using burlap – until now.”

Please tell us they took it down the slide

“We purchased the stuff in a much more feminine store than we were used to. We had a good laugh when the saleswoman yelled ‘MIREIIILLLE! DO YOU STILL HAVE SOME BURLAP FOR THESE TWO YOUNG MEN?’ across the store.”

The final touches were simple – some black satin epoxy on the chassis and assorted parts, two beautiful Avon tyres and a few small handles to complete the overall vintage look. And what a look it is. Now if anyone wants us, we’ll be taking this to the beach and reenacting our favourite bike scenes from Fury Road.

[Photos by Pierre Le Targat]

via PIPEBURN

LOTOS 72nd Rally Poland Teaser

Side car ..........

Les héros Français du WTCC prêts à briller à domicile / Home WTCC heroes ready to take centre stage

Cinq pilotes français partent en quête du succès ce week-end alors que le Championnat du Monde FIA des Voitures de Tourisme fait escale au Castellet.

Emmenée par le quadruple champion WTCC Yvan Muller et par Sébastien Loeb, qui poursuit sa carrière dans le championnat après avoir décroché neuf titres dans le championnat du monde des Rallyes, la délégation tricolore est également composée de Grégoire Demoustier, John Filippi et Hugo Valente.

Muller l’Alsacien est l’homme fort du moment après avoir enregistré sa quatrième victoire dans la première des deux manches slovaques le week-end. Cette performance lui permet de ne compter désormais plus que 30 points de retard sur le leader, son équipier José María López. Les prévisions annonçant des températures pouvant atteindre jusqu’à 35°C sur le plateau varois, la lutte promet d’être intense sur cette piste qui accueillit le Grand Prix de France jusqu’en 1990. »C’est sûr qu’il va faire chaud, mais c’est aussi une certitude que ce sera un bel évènement, promet Muller. C’est un beau circuit, court, mais qui offre plusieurs opportunités de dépasser. L’an passé les courses avaient été excitantes et je m’attends à ce que celles-ci soient encore plus disputées. C’est toujours une bonne chose de gagner, et quand c’est à domicile le sentiment est encore meilleur. En tout cas nous ferons tout notre possible. »

L’autre alsacien de la grille, Loeb, également victorieux sur le Slovakia Ring, mit fin à une série frustrante de résultats ne correspondant pas à ses attentes. Il est d’autant plus motivé qu’il retrouve le Paul Ricard, piste sur laquelle il disputa sa toute première course en peloton en 1997. Il a acquis une énorme expérience des lieux, depuis, ayant notamment testé F1, protos et motos, et se dit en pleine confiance.

« S’imposer de nouveau fut une très bonne chose, témoigne « seb ».  Je n’avais pas un bon feeling avec la voiture lors des précédentes épreuves et mes équipiers étaient très rapides. A voiture égale, difficile de dépasser. Je n’ai pas vraiment modifié mon style de pilotage, mais je me sens mieux au volant. La Slovaquie fut un meeting parfait. »

Valente, lui, évolue au volant d’une Chevrolet privée dans le Trophée Yokohama, mais donna du fil à retordre aux meilleurs. Il débute ainsi sa « home race » dans la foulée d’un double succès  et surtout d’une constance qui lui avait jusqu’alors fait défaut.

« J’étais assez rapide au Castellet l’année dernière et nous n’embarquerons que 20 kilos de poids de compensation, confie le pilote Campos de 23 ans. Je suis à domicile, mais c’est aussi le cas pour mes compatriotes et ils seront tout aussi soutenus que moi. J’espère pouvoir me mesurer à Loeb et Muller et monter sur le podium en course 1 avant de marquer de nouveau de gros points dans la suivante. »

Samedi, les qualifications débuteront à 15h00. Les deux courses de 16 tours, 13e et 14e manches de la saison, débuteront elles à 12h45 et 14h00, dimanche.

Five French drivers will be in the thick of the battle when the FIA World Touring Car Championship stops off at Le Castellet in France this weekend.

Led by four-time WTCC champion Yvan Muller and Sébastien Loeb, who switched to the WTCC after landing his ninth World Rally Championship crown, the quintet of home racers also includes emerging stars Grégoire Demoustier, John Filippi and Hugo Valente.

Muller, from Alsace, is the man of the moment after he notched up his fourth win of the campaign in the first of two races in Slovakia last weekend to close to within 30 points of championship leader and Citroën team-mate José María López. With ambient temperatures expected to top 35 degrees centigrade, the battle for top spot at Circuit Paul Ricard, the home of the French Grand Prix until 1990, will be extremely intense.

“For sure it will be warm and for sure it will be a good event,” said Muller, 45. “It’s a good circuit, quite short but with some overtaking possibility. We had some exciting races last year but this year I expect the battle to be even tighter. To win is always a very good thing and when it’s at home it’s even better. We will do our best.”

Fellow Alsatian Loeb was also victorious in Slovakia, claiming the second race laurels to end a frustrating run of results. Paul Ricard was the scene of Loeb’s first car race in 1997. He has accumulated considerable knowledge of the track since then in various test sessions in Formula One, sportscars and motorbikes and is full of confidence following his second WTCC win of the 2015.

“To win again was really, really nice,” said Loeb. “I did not have such a good feeling with the car in the last few races and my team-mates are in the same car as me and are very strong so it makes it difficult to overtake. I have not changed so much my driving but I just feel better in the car. Slovakia was the perfect race for me.”

Valente drives a privately-entered Chevrolet in the Yokohama Drivers’ Trophy but has spent much of 2015 punching above his weight by outpacing better funded and more established rivals. He starts his home round of the WTCC on the back of his most consistent performance of the season where he finished fifth in both races and was a double class winner.

“I was quite fast in Le Castellet last year and we will carry only 20 kilograms of weight penalty,” said the 23-year-old. “For sure it’s my home race but it’s also the home race for the others and they will have support just like me. In the south of France on the last weekend of June is a good place to be. I’m hoping to catch Loeb and Muller and score a podium in race one if possible and hopefully get a good result as well in race two.”

Qualifying for Sunday’s races begins at 15h00 on Saturday. The two 16-laps races, which count as rounds 13 and 14 of the 2015 WTCC season, are scheduled for 12h45 and 14h00.

How To Build An Everyday Outlaw

words 

Mike Garrett

 

images

 

Larry Chen

The last time I wrote a feature about a Porsche 911, I waxed lyrical about the things that make air-cooled 911s so great. To sum it up, my thoughts were that these iconic Porsches are great in stock form, but not so great, or so exotic, that you are afraid to tinker with one, or make it you own. You could once have considered them to be the working man’s dream car, but unfortunately the rising popularity and prices of older 911s have put them out of the reach of many.

It turns out, however, that the words ‘Porsche 911′ and ‘affordable’ don’t have to be mutually exclusive. And as evidence we present this 1978 911 SC built by none other than the Urban Outlaw himself, Mr. Magnus Walker.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Magnus has an incredible garage full of badass Porsches, which is not something many of us can realistically aspire to. So, what does this guy know about doing a 911 on a budget? As it turns out, quite a lot.

At first glance, the 911s that make up Magnus’s collection might look fairly similar to each other. But as you talk to him, you begin to learn that each car has a different story, a different vibe and a different purpose. The purpose of this particular car is to show that you can have a very rewarding Porsche ownership experience, without breaking the bank.

Zarco s’assure une nouvelle pole à Assen : Dominant Zarco claims 3rd pole of the season in Moto2™

Le leader de la catégorie Moto2™ a été le plus rapide en qualifications aux Pays-Bas.

Devancé par Tito Rabat (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) vendredi matin à Assen, Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) a repris l’avantage en qualifications pour s’assurer la pole position, la deuxième d’affilée et sa troisième cette saison, en battant le Champion en titre de près de trois dixièmes de seconde.

Sam Lowes (Speed Up Racing) complètera la première ligne après avoir fini devant Simone Corsi (Athinà Forward Racing), Jonas Folger (AGR Team) et Xavier Siméon (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2).

Álex Rins (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), Tom Lüthi (Derendinger Racing Interwetten) et Lorenzo Baldassarri (Athinà Forward Racing) seront pour leur part en troisième ligne.

Cliquez ici pour accéder aux résultats.

Johann Zarco took his third pole position of the season after annihilating the Moto2™ lap record at the TT circuit Assen.

The Moto2™ paddock enjoyed ideal conditions with track temperatures reaching 36 °C as the sun came out for Qualifying. Current championship leader Zarco smashed Marc Marquez’s 2012 pole record (1’37.133) on the way to claiming his fourth career Moto2™ pole position, setting the fastest ever lap by a Moto2™ bike around the 4.5km TT Circuit Assen in the process.

EG 0,0 Marc VDS’s Tito Rabat (+0.287s), the reigning Moto2™ World Champion, will start from second with Sam Lowes (+0.532s) on the Speed Up Racing bike completing the front row.

Athina Forward Racing’s Simone Corsi (+1.047s) recovered from an early crash to start from the front of the second row, ahead of Jonas Folger (+1.088s) on the AGR Team Kalex in fifth and Federal Oil Gresini Racing Moto2’s Xavier Simeon (+1.163s) in sixth.

Alex Rins (Paginas Amarillas HP40), Thomas Luthi (Derendinger Racing Interwetten), Lorenzo Baldassari (Athina Forward Racing) and Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) complete the top ten.

There were crashes for EG 0,0 Marc VDS’s Alex Marquez (13th) and Ratthapark Wilairot (27th) also crashed during the session, with both riders unhurt.

Check out the full Moto2™ Qualifying results; the 24-lap race starts on Saturday at 12:20 local time.

MotoGP : Rossi en pole position à Assen / Rossi on pole at Assen

Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), leader du classement général, a signé le meilleur temps des essais qualificatifs du Grand Prix des Pays-Bas à Assen, huitième épreuve de la saison. Aleix Espargaro (Team Suzuki Ecstar) et Marc Marquez (Honda Repsol) complètent la première ligne. Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), vainqueur des quatre dernières courses, s’élancera de la huitième place.

Valentino Rossi décroche sa première pole de la saison en établissant un nouveau record de la piste en 1.32.627. L’Italien ne s’était pas élancé de la position de pointe depuis le Grand Prix de Valence en novembre 2014. Il signe ainsi la 61^ème pole de sa carrière, la 51^ème en catégorie reine.

Il devance de 0.231 seconde Aleix Espargaro, meilleur temps de la première session qualificative, qui a été le premier à franchir la barre des 1.33. Marc Marquez est troisième en 1.32.886.

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda), Pol Espargaró (Monster Yamaha Tech3) et Andrea Iannone (Ducati) ont assuré leurs places en deuxième ligne.

Position décevante pour Jorge Lorenzo qui reste sur quatre victoires consécutives. Le Majorquin doit se contenter de la huitième place (1.33.042), intercalé entre Cal Crutchlow (CWM LCR Honda) et Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar).

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati), Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing), également repêché en Q1 et Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3) occuperont la quatrième.

Si les pilotes ont bénéficié de conditions optimales en début d’après-midi avec une piste sèche et une température de 23°C, la pluie est attendue pour demain.

The 2015 championship leader Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was fastest in qualifying today for the Netherlands Grand Prix at Assen, round eight of the season. Aleix Espargaro (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Marc Marquez (Honda Repsol) will join him on Saturday’s front row. Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), winner of the last four races, will start from eighth on the grid.

Rossi picked up his first pole position of 2015 with a new track lap record of 1m32.627s. it’s the Italian’s first qualifying win since Valencia in November 2014. It’s also the 61^st pole of his career, and his 51^st at the highest level.

His lap was 0.231s quicker than that of Espargaro who was the first to squeeze beneath the 1m33s threshold in Q1. Marquez ensured third place with a 1m32.886s.

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda), Pol Espargaró (Monster Yamaha Tech3) and Andrea Iannone (Ducati) will all start from Row 2.

It was a disappointing day for Lorenzo who is hunting a fifth straight victory tomorrow. The Majorcan (1m33.042s) had to settle for eighth on the grid, tucked between Cal Crutchlow (CWM LCR Honda) and Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar).

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati), Q1-escapee Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Racing) and Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3) will line up on the fourth row.

The riders benefited from dry conditions and a temperature of 23°C but rain is predicted for tomorrow.

The Race of Gentlemen - Malle London

Malle London went down to the "Wildwood" for The Race of Gentleman (2014). Two days of vintage racing on the beach, with racers trying to avoid the ever increasing tide. The only rule of the race; the older the machine the better. 



Founded by the Oilers Car Club (Est. 1947), to learn more about the race: www.theraceofgentlemen.com 

Bonhams to sell James May's Porsche 911 Carrera at Goodwood

At its Goodwood Festival of Speed sale later this month, Bonhams will offer this 1984 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera, formerly owned by the ex-Top Gear presenter James May…

This isn’t the first vehicle belonging to a Top Gear presenter we’ve seen for sale in the wake of the Clarkson fracas-gate – Richard Hammond had a similar idea, selling his ‘Big Foot’ Land Rover Defender a while back. 

Fair-weather leisure 

A well-known advocate of the Porsche 911, May is said to have bought the ‘Guards Red’ 3.2 Carreraon the spot, after borrowing it for the Radio 4 documentary ‘Speed, Greed and the M25’. Used sparingly over the last eight years, it shows 55,000 miles on the odometer and is reportedly in excellent condition. Considering he paid a mere £15,250 for the car back in 2007, we can’t imagine he’ll be too disappointed with its pre-sale estimate of £28,000-34,000. And we’re not, either – for an air-cooled 911, we don’t think that’s at all unreasonable… 

Photos: Bonhams

Bonhams' Goodwood Festival of Speed sale will take place on 26 June 2015 near Chichester. You can find the full catalogue listed in the Classic Driver Market.