GARB: GREY AREA

These days, grey can go a long way.

Ugmonk T-Shirt ($26). Gucci Slim Corduroy ($550). Mucu Large Blank Notebook ($18).Vans Authentic Sneakers ($80). Leica M9 18MP Digital Range Finder Camera ($6,995).Huf Volley Cap ($45). Warby Parker Winston Sunglasses ($95). Nixon The Corporal Watch ($200).

2013 WSBK Imola: Tom Sykes on pole postion again

Mr Superpole did it again and for the sixth consecutive this season and take home another Tissot watch.

Tom Sykes will start in pole position for the seventh round of the 2013 championship at the circuit of Imola with a stunning lap of 1’45″981 breaking the lap record that he had set last year.

Not even a red flag caused by his own Kawasaki team mate Loris Baz during SP3, could stop Sykes who headed the timesheets during the first two stints.

Sykes was already on his way of taking a record braking lap, only for SP3 to be red flagged because Baz at the Rivazza had a spectacular crash. The Frenchman walked away unharmed, but his Kawasaki was literally destroyed and leaving fluids on the track, that necessitated a 15 minute clean-up.

When the pit lane re-opened Sykes was back out and went even faster than before and take his 17th WSBK pole position of his career. Not even Jonathan Rea who is having an excellent weekend so far had an answer for Kawasaki rider and he would end up more almost sixt tenths adrift, but the Pata Honda rider scored a second place start and his best qualifying session this season.

Taking off on the front row with the two and in third will be Althea’s Davide Giugliano, who is also is performing very well, as he out qualified standing’s leader and factory Aprilia rider Sylvain Guintoli who will open the second row with his team mate Eugene Laverty alongside. Leon Camier with his Suzuki GSX-R 1000 took 6th but unable to break the 1.46 barrier but he was ahead of Marco Melandri who suffered a crash in the earlier FP2.

Ayrton Badovini took his 1199 Panigale R to 8th afte Baz’ crash dropped him down to 9th. Chaz Davies closed out the top ten with Leon Haslam in 11th and Michel Fabrizio will have to start in 12th after suffering technical issues, while Carlos Checa had two crashes, one in FP1 and a second during SP1 at the Variante Tamburello that left him down in 13th.

2013 WSBK Imola SP3 results:

01- Tom Sykes – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 1’45.981
02- Jonathan Rea – Pata Honda World Superbike Team – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 0.575
03- Davide Giugliano – Althea Racing – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 0.732
04- Sylvain Guintoli – Aprilia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 0.876
05- Eugene Laverty – Aprilia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 0.950
06- Leon Camier – FIXI Crescent Suzuki – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – + 1.184
07- Marco Melandri – BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team – BMW S1000RR – + 1.240
08- Ayrton Badovini – Team Ducati Alstare – Ducati 1199 Panigale R – + 1.415
09- Loris Baz – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R – senza tempo

2013 WSBK Imola Starting Grid:

01- Tom Sykes – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R
02- Jonathan Rea – Pata Honda World Superbike Team – Honda CBR 1000RR
03- Davide Giugliano – Althea Racing – Aprilia RSV4 Factory
04- Sylvain Guintoli – Aprilia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory
05- Eugene Laverty – Aprilia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory
06- Leon Camier – FIXI Crescent Suzuki – Suzuki GSX-R 1000
07- Marco Melandri – BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team – BMW S1000RR
08- Ayrton Badovini – Team Ducati Alstare – Ducati 1199 Panigale R
09- Loris Baz – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R
10- Chaz Davies – BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team – BMW S1000RR

from Twowheelsblog

MotoGP : Valentino Rossi back on top at last ; Valentino Rossi renoue enfin avec la victoire

Two-and-a-half years after his last victory, Valentino Rossi (Yamaha Factory) won the seventh round of the 2013 MotoGP world championship today at Assen, Netherlands. The Italian finished clear of Marc Marquez (Honda HRC) and Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech3). Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory) heroically raced with a broken collarbone and claimed a superb fifth place.

Deux ans et demi après son dernier succès, Valentino Rossi (Yamaha Factory) a remporté le Grand Prix des Pays-Bas à Assen, septième manche du championnat du monde MotoGP. L’italien devance Marc Marquez (Honda HRC) et Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech3). Héroïque, Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory), clavicule cassée, termine à une superbe cinquième place.

The last time Rossi won a MotoGP race was in Malaysia in October 2010, but he returned to his winning ways today to notch up the 80^th victory of his career in motorcycle racing’s premier series.

The seven-time champion qualified in fourth place and got away to an aggressive start. He passed Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda) on Lap 1 and tucked in behind Marquez and Pedrosa, who had leapt from fifth on the grid. On Lap 5, the Italian eased into second spot before going ahead next time round. He then focused on pulling out a gap to cross the line two seconds clear of his chasers.

Pedrosa was unable to match Rossi’s pace and was eventually passed by Marquez on Lap 17, then by the on-form Crutchlow (pole winner) with six laps remaining. The latter’s attempts to claim second place were thwarted, however, when he nudged the Spanish rookie’s rear tyre on the last lap.

Lorenzo suffered a broken collarbone on Thursday and underwent surgery the following night. That didn’t prevent him from lining up for the start in spite of the pain. The world champion started from 12^th on the grid and climbed six places in the course of the opening lap! He even passed Crutchlow into fourth spot on Lap 5. However, the effort had exhausted him and he was passed again by the British rider and heroically decided to settle for fifth which brought him valuable championship points, only two less than archival Pedrosa.

Bradl, Álvaro Bautista (GO&FUN Honda Gresini), Aleix Espargaró (Power Electronics Aspar), Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) rounded off the top 10, ahead of Nicky Hayden (Ducati) and Randy de Puniet (Power Electronics).

Pedrosa (137 points) still tops the championship, followed by Lorenzo (128) and Marquez (113).

Il n’était plus monté sur la plus haute marche du podium depuis le GP de Malaisie en octobre 2010. Valentino Rossi met ainsi un terme à deux ans et demi de disette en accrochant une 80^èmevictoire à son palmarès dans la catégorie reine MotoGP.

Quatrième sur la grille, le septuple Champion du monde s’est montré très agressif dès le départ. Il double Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda) dès le premier tour pour rester au contact de Marquez et Pedrosa, très bien parti depuis sa cinquième place. L’Italien se hisse en deuxième position au cinquième tour avant de s’emparer de la tête au tour suivant. Rapide, le « doctor » creuse rapidement l’écart sur ses poursuivants et rallie l’arrivée avec une avance confortable de deux secondes.

Incapable de suivre le rythme imposé par Rossi, Pedrosa cède, dans un premier temps, à Marc Marquez lors du 17^ème tour avant de s’incliner face à un superbe Cal Crutchlow à six tours de l’arrivée. Auteur de la pole, Crutchlow a manqué l’opportunité de s’emparer de la seconde place en touchant le pneu arrière du rookie espagnol dans le dernier tour.

Victime d'une fracture de la clavicule jeudi, opéré la nuit suivante, Jorge Lorenzo a pris la décision de courir malgré une épaule convalescente et douloureuse. Parti de la 12^ème place, le Champion du monde en titre a réussi à gagner six positions à l’issue du premier tour.  Il se hisse à la quatrième place lors du cinquième tour aux dépens de Crutchlow. Epuisé en fin de course, le Majorquin cède finalement à la pression du Britannique mais termine à une cinquième place héroïque et cruciale pour le Championnat. Ainsi, il ne concède que deux points à son rival Pedrosa et conserve sa deuxième place à neuf points du leader.

Bradl se classe sixième. Álvaro Bautista (GO&FUN Honda Gresini), Aleix Espargaró (Power Electronics Aspar), Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3) et Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) complètent le Top 10 devant Nicky Hayden (Ducati) et Randy de Puniet (Power Electronics).

Pedrosa reste aux commandes du classement général avec 137 points suivi de Lorenzo à neuf points. Marquez est troisième avec 113 points.

2013 MotoGP Assen results:

01- Valentino Rossi – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – 26 laps in 41’25.202
02- Marc Marquez – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – + 2.170
03- Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 4.073
04- Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – + 7.832
05- Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 15.510
06- Stefan Bradl – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC213V – + 27.519
07- Alvaro Bautista – GO&FUN Honda Gresini – Honda RC213V – + 31.598
08- Aleix Espargaro – Power Electronics Aspar – ART GP13 – + 32.405
09- Bradley Smith – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 33.751
10- Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP13 – + 33.801
11- Nicky Hayden – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP13 – + 34.371
12- Randy De Puniet – Power Electronics Aspar – ART GP13 – + 57.674

Fantastic ‘Historics’! ; L’Historic, c’est fantastique !

This weekend’s action in Ypres includes two events for Historic cars: a round of the FIA European Historic Rally Championship (32 starters), and a round of the Belgian Historic Rally Championship (58 starters).

Le Rallye d’Ypres, c’est aussi deux épreuves réservées aux véhicules historiques : une manche du Championnat d’Europe Historic FIA (32 partants) et une manche du Championnat belge des véhicules historiques (58 partants).

There was a big crowd in Boezinge for Wednesday evening’s ‘Historic’ shakedown, and the official figure of 8,000 spectators underlines the continuing appeal of these cars of yesteryear.

Their itinerary is a little different from the official ERC route but many of the stages are shared by all three events. To give an idea of the relative performance of the different generations of cars, the best ‘Historic’ competitor would be about 10^th in the Geko Ypres Rally’s overall standings!

The prestigious entry for the European series includes four-time Ypres winners and former European champions Patrick Snijers (Porsche 911 Carrera) and Robert Droogmans (Ford Escort), plus Belgium’s Paul Lieater (Ford Escort), the multiple French Historic Rally Champion Frédéric Chambon (Porsche 911 Turbo) and two Lancia 037s, one of which is in the hands of the championship’s leader ‘Pedro’, from Italy.

After Friday evening’s rainy SS2 (‘Mesen’), the agile Ford Escorts appeared to be in control, with Paul Lieater in front. However, the situation has since changed (or the results were wrong!) because two Porsche 911s are now in front after SS8: the 911S of Italy’s Zampaglione and the 911 RSR of the 2012 European champion Myrsell, from Sweden. Snijers took a penalty for early arrival at a time control early in the rally before suffering an engine problem.

The Belgian Championship event is currently led by Ford Escort driver Piet Declercq who is comfortably clear of Briton Chris Browne. Jimmy McRae is listed as sixth overall in an Opel Ascona.

Il y avait un monde fou à Boezinge, mercredi soir, pour le Shakedown des Historiques, plus de 8000 personnes d’après des sources officielles. C’est dire l’engouement du public pour les « anciennes ». Leur parcours est sensiblement différent de celui des « modernes », mais beaucoup de spéciales sont communes. A titre de comparaison, le meilleur chrono des Historiques correspond à peu près au 10^e meilleur temps des « modernes »…

Le plateau de la 5^e manche européenne est prestigieux avec les quadruples vainqueurs du Rallye d’Ypres et champions d’Europe Patrick Snijers (Porsche 911 Carrera) et Robert Droogmans (Ford Escort), le Belge Paul Lieater (Ford Escort), le multiple Champion de France Historique Frédéric Chambon (Porsche 911 Turbo), deux Lancia 037 dont une pilotée par l’Italien « Pedro », leader du championnat…

Vendredi soir, à l’arrivée de Mesen (ES2), sous une pluie battante, les agiles Ford Escort dominaient la situation, Paul Lieater en tête. Mais depuis, les choses ont évolué (ou les classements sont erronés !). Après l’ES8, deux Porsche 911 seraient leaders. L’Italien Zampaglione (911 S) devancerait le Suédois Myrsell (911 RSR, Champion d’Europe 2012). Patrick Snijers a pointé deux minutes en avance en début de rallye avant un problème moteur.

Ce sont des Ford Escort qui mènent la manche du championnat belge. Piet Declercq devance largement le Britannique Chris Browne. Jimmy McRae serait 6^e au volant d’une Opel Ascona.