Randy de Puniet to test Suzuki GP bike in Japan

from Twowheelsblog

Randy de Puniet’s DNF during his home race at Le Mans left a bitter taste in the French rider’s mouth, but he’ll soon put that behind him as he officially confirmed with theMotoGP.com website that he’ll be testing Suzuki’s new MotoGP machine at Motegi this week.

“Yeah we leave tomorrow to Japan to test with Suzuki in Motegi, and it’s good for me because I will forget very quickly the race from today and I think it will be good for Mugello. I will be ready to be fast immediately. That is a good experience for me how to do a great job and I really hope to come back to Mugello for a good race,” said de Puniet.

Speculation over the last few months have tied the French rider to Suzuki’s comeback and this is the first time that it has been officially confirmed that he’ll be testing the new machine (with the permission of Aspar Martinez).

Suzuki’s new prototype has completely new engine and chassis that was confirmed by Nobuatsu Aoki and partially confirmed by Cycle World’s photos.

The Japanese manufacturer will almost certainly make their European debut at Barcelona on June 17th, when they’ll confront their machine against the current MotoGP prototypes during Monday’s post-race test at the Spanish track and under the scrutiny of very curious journalists, and apparently they will also test the day after before moving on to Aragon for more shakedown testing.

Nobuatsu Aoki will be one of the two test riders but it is unkown if de Puniet will be the second during the June tests or if it will another Suzuki ride Takuya Tsuda.

By that time we should also know if the rumors that Davide Brivio will be running the team are true as it seems that he has already resigned from his current position with Valentino Rossi’s VR/46 company to take on this new challenge.

DUCATI 750 SUPER SPORT

There’s nothing like a barn find to get the motorcycling juices flowing, and this Ducati 750 Super Sport is one of the best. The bike was discovered in Belgium in 2009, after sitting in a shed for 15 years. It’s now been resurrected by Harné Heuvelman of the Dutch specialist Back To Classics, and it’s as close to vintage perfection as you can get.

Even better, it’s one of the first 750 Super Sports built in 1976. Production started with frame number 912, and this is 918. Fixed to the frame was a small copper plate with the emblem of Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers. “This suggests the bike was delivered to a southern European catholic nation,” says Heuvelman. “Maybe Italy, where it was probably blessed by the local priest.”

On getting the Ducati into the workshop, Heuvelman discovered that the engine timing was awry. “A good reason why it’d failed to start for all those years.” The bike was in original but bad condition. So the Dutch workshop dismantled it down to the last nut and bolt, and set to work on the engine and transmission. The gearbox was in a bad way, and was replaced. The motor was treated to new first-oversize pistons, new valves, and a fresh set of seals, gaskets and bearings.

Heuvelman’s goal was to return this 750 Super Sport to original showroom condition—to make it look like a New Old Stock bike. “We took a lot of care, down to the finest details. All the nuts and bolts have been restored and re-used. The crankcase has been sandblasted at low pressure, so it resembles an original unused crankcase. And we found and used original decals over the clear coat for the bodywork.”

This particular machine was sold with a “sport-pack” offered for the 1976/77 model year: a Conti exhaust, 40mm Dell’Ortos, and minus any indicators. It’s full of top-shelf original componentry: Borrani 4777 rims, ‘shaved’ early Brembo callipers, and Smiths instruments. The dashboard, switches and Marzocchi forks are all original. Even minor items like the KLG spark plug caps and Alpina spokes are true to type.

There are some discreet upgrades, however. The Ducati is now fitted with Australian-made Ikon shocks, although the original Marzocchi shocks have been refurbished and retained. The bike had a non-standard Lucas ignition system fitted when it was found, and Heuvelman has replaced it with a modern electronic system for improved performance.

Head over to the Back To Classics website for a photo gallery of the restoration. For more wonderful images of the finished bike, check out the website of photographer Ernst Klip.

from BIKEEXIF

GARB: BLUE & BLUE

Things are looking up with this sky-like wardrobe.

Rogue Territory The Willard Field Jacket ($253). Native Youth Indigo Crew ($90). SLVDR Lyndale Shirt ($78). Epokhe Ostra Sunglasses ($119). Need Supply Co. Human Being Journal Issue 2 ($10). Wings + Horns Westpoint Twill Chino Pant ($198). Quoddy Toasted Coconut Fringe Loafer ($300). Miansai Silver Anchor Bracelet ($60). Miansai Silver Anchor Bracelet ($60). JLK White Knotted Shackle ($30). Daniel Wellington Classic Glasgow Watch ($195). Baxter of California Deodorant ($18). Industry of All Nations Ioan Faja S. Belt ($19). Herschel Supply Co. Heavy Canvas Novel Bag ($120).

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