CAFÉ RACER 76

Randy de Puniet bets on Marc Marquez winning season opener

MotoGP rider Randy de Puniet and everyone’s favourite model/brolly girl Lauren Vickerswere married on Sunday in Australia (congratulations the newlyweds!), however during the FIM Gala earlier this month at Monte Carlo the French rider gave a long and very interesting and exclusive audio interview to French website Mototribu.com.

De Puniet touched several bases including what it means riding a CRT machine, the development of his ART, if he is going to be Suzuki’s future test rider and more, but he also gave his personal opinion on new MotoGP rookie and Repsol Honda rider Marc Marquez, who he thinks can win the first race of 2013 season at Losail, Qatar.

“I think he’s going to be fearsome from the Qatar GP and I’ve bet that he’ll win at his MotoGP debut at Losail. It’s possible, Biaggi did it in the 500cc class, but Rossi, Pedrosa and Lorenzo didn’t. I believe he can do it and I think he has this on his mind. He’s tough and a fighter and I think he’ll suprise a lot of people. I believe he’s a combination of all the positive features of Rossi, Stoner, Pedrosa and Lorenzo. His only defect is that he’s impatient which we saw during the season that made him commit errors. For the rest there’s nothing else to say, he knows how to start well, overtake, ride fast and how to manage a race. He’s young and has his feet firmly on the ground and at his age it’s something you rarely see! Everyone wants to beat him. Pedrosa because he is his team mate and also Lorenzo because of their nationality.”

Source | mototribu.com via gp-inside.com

Norton to field two bikes at the 2013 Tourist Trophy

from TWOWHEELSBLOG

British manufacturer Norton has confirmed its participation to the 2013 Tourist Trophy, but this time around they will go to the Isle of Man with two SG1 bikes: one for the confirmed Ian ‘Mackers’ Mackman and the other for new signing Dan Hegarty, who will have the task to revive the past glories of the legendary British manufacturer in the event that more than any other has contributed to its fame.

Hegarty, 25, made his TT debut in 2010 and has a personal best on the Mountain Course of 121.731 mph (18′35.80) set last year in first race of of Superbike class: “It’s great to get a factory ride and have the opportunity to be in at the beginning of the development programme for Norton - Hegarty said - I also look forward to working alongside ‘Mackers’ who I have raced alongside before and have a great relationship with.”

“Norton’s continued investment in developing bikes and its team shows their total confidence in the most prestigious and inspirational motorcycle racing in the world - added Norton CEO Stuart Garner - We have followed Dan’s progress at the TT and have been very impressed with his ability and commitment to the sport. Along with these qualities he also brings a very competitive edge to the team, which makes him a great rider to work with.”

Jorge Lorenzo takes to the streets of Bangkok

While F1 driver Romain Grosjean won the 2012 RoC ‘Champion of Champions’ title at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, five-time 500cc champion Mick Doohan defeated reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo in their race heat, but both were unable to beat the four wheel specialists, that included the likes of Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher and Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen.

Since Lorenzo was in Thailand he also did some promo activity for Yamaha by taking to the streets of Bangkok leading a procession of Thai Yamaha riders by riding a YZF-R1 and a Yamaha Mio 125i suprising local commuters.

He was also the guest of honour at a special Yamaha Thailand event, cracking open the champagne with not just Yamaha Thailand’s top management team but also Takaaki Kimura, Senior Managing Executive Officer of Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd.

Jorge Lorenzo said, “It’s been a fantastic experience to be here in Thailand again. The people are so friendly and warm; it is always a pleasure to be here. I have really enjoyed the Race of Champions; the drivers are so talented and it’s a real challenge to try to keep up with them. I would like to come back next time and maybe bring some motorbikes for them to try! I want to thank all my friends at Yamaha Thailand for making me feel so welcomed, I hope to come back and see them again next year.”

from TWOWHEELSBLOG

Shelby American Cobra CSX7078

As it’s now 50 years since the first Shelby Cobra turned a wheel, 2012 has seen a raft of events to celebrate the immortal Anglo-American hybrid. Shame the price of 1960s cars has gone through the roof. But wait, Classic Driver dealer ‘Gentleman Car’, from Belgium, is offering ‘CSX7078’ for 180,000 euros...

The black car, with its characteristic ‘Shelby’ yellow stripe, carries a genuine CSX chassis number as it is one of a series of cars produced by Shelby American Inc., a division of Carroll Shelby International, Inc., the company founded by Carroll Shelby.

This version has a glassfibre bodyshell faithful to the lines of the ‘FIA’ Shelby Cobra racing cars and comes complete with a Ford Racing Boss 302, ‘Stroker 347’ V8.

Options fitted include door map pockets and a full leather interior, just like the earlier cars. It also has original-style pedals, catches, fittings, gear- and hand-brake levers. And, for that authentic ‘Targa Florio 1964’ look, it also comes with a single rollover hoop, diagonally braced to the passenger footwell.