ICON MOTORSPORT: The Raiden Files, Stage 5: High Desert

A nitrous infused blast across the scorched desert floor.

Gigi Soldano films Valentino Rossi at Monza Rally

You’ve already seen several videos and dozens of photos of Valentino Rossi at the 2012 Monza Rally Show that was held last November, which he won with co-driver Carlo Cassina.

However very few are as top notch as this 13 minute video filmed by Monster Energy but with a exceptional cameraman Gigi Soldano - who is better known as being one of MotoGP’s renowned photographers.

Enjoy the video.

from TWOWHEELSBLOG

Dakar2013 – Leg 3: victory for Lopez, but Despres takes the lead

Chile’s Chaleco Lopez collected his second stage win of the week today by beating Portuguese rival Paulo Gonçalves (Husqvarna). Cyril Despres (KTM) has taken over at the top of the leaderboard, while the overnight leader Joan Barreda Bort broke his rear wheel.

Leg 3: Pisco-Nazca (343km)

The first bikers to show up at the ad hoc interview zone after the stage agreed that today’s run from Pisco to Nazca was particularly impressive. “The view over the dunes and the Pacific from the top of the long downhill section at Km225 was superb,” related fifth-placed David Casteu. “It was so stunning that I stopped for a short moment to admire it!”

This morning, the Yamaha/Michelin rider lost no time catching the five competitors who started ahead of him and he soon found himself first on the road. “Running at the very front of the field is great fun,” he smiled.

Rival Cyril Despres had little to add… “I’ve got nothing special to report today,” commented the Frenchman. “I’m in the lead now, though; that’s the main thing.” Despres covered the stage in the company of his backup team-mate Ruben Faria.

Chaleco Lopez (KTM/Michelin) claimed his second stage victory of the event and has moved to second overall, ahead of Pal Ullevalseter who rounds off an all-KTM/Michelin provisional podium. “Today’s stage was very different,” noted the Chilean. “The first part was fast, but then we hit fesh-fesh sand which was tough for me because I was running so far back.”

Lopez deprived Husqvarna/Michelin’s Paulo Gonçalves of the stage win he believed he had pocketed when we spoke to him in the interview zone. “I knew a good result was possible today, so I made the most of it,” he told us. “Tomorrow is going to be very hard.”

After coming so close to the stage win, Husqvarna-Speedbrain suffered further disappointment when this morning’s leader and SS2 winner Joan Barreda Bort broke his rear wheel. On top of that, the Spaniard ran out of fuel before the finish and had to be helped by team-mate Matt Fish who dropped a big chunk of time.

Other expected front-runners to run out of fuel were Portugal’s Helder Rodriguez (Honda) and David Frétigné (Yamaha).

Stage 3 classification:

1, Lopez (KTM), 2h37m54s. 2, Gonçalves (Husqvarna), +1m8s. 3, Despres (KTM), +4m8s. 4, Botturi (Husqvarna), +5m5s. 5, Przygonski (KTM), +5m20s. Etc.

Provisional standings after Leg 3:

1, Despres (KTM), 6h15m3s. 2, Lopez (KTM), +2m51s. 3, Ullevalseter (KTM), +4m59s. 4, Pain (Yamaha), +6m3s. 5, Casteu (Yamaha), +6m8s. Etc.

MOONEYES 1964 TRIUMPH

Since the 1950s, Mooneyes has been at the heart of Californian custom culture. It’s now an international brand, with a huge presence in Japan and a reputation to live up to. So when owner Shige Suganuma decided to commission a bike for himself, he turned to one of the best: Master fabricator Lucas Joyner, founder of The Factory Metal Works.

Joyner turned Suganuma’s concept into reality. Nicknamed the ‘MQQN Machine,’ the bike is constructed around a 1964 Triumph 650 unit motor. Mooneyes makes some of the classiest components around, so Joyner started by raiding their catalog for parts.

The frame is a work of art: the front section is a custom-fabbed loop, hooked up to a stretched Mooneyes hardtail. That vertical oil tank is a modified Mooneyes item, and so are the bars.

The stock Triumph gas tank has been narrowed and ribbed, and sits ahead of a TFMW vintage-style solo seat. The wheels are especially beautiful: at the front, a 1961 Triumph Tiger Cub brake hub is laced to a 21” rim shod. At the back, a pre-1970 Triumph hub is laced to a 19” rim.

The tires are vintage Avon Speedmasters, 2.75” at the front and 3.50” at the back, and the exquisite paint is by legendary pinstriper Bill Carter.

The result is one of the coolest vintage Triumphs we’ve seen for a long time. A class act from two men at the top of their respective professions.

Images by Fran Kuhn.

from BIKEEXIF