MOTO GUZZI “SUZUKA 8 HOURS” RACER

The custom scene is awash with concepts and Photoshop renders and imagined bikes. But designer Davide Caforio, who flits between Milan and Rome, has turned an inspired idea into reality.

Caforio is an accomplished Moto Guzzi builder, and well known within his native Italy. He’s now created a tribute to the endurance machines that fought at the Suzuka 8 Hours in the 80s, racing through the night with headlights blazing.

Caforio describes his Le Mans Mk IV as having a “false history.” It’s a motorcycle from a parallel universe, one that pitched the Mandello Del Lario factory against the Suzukis of Wes Cooley and Graeme Crosby, or Wayne Gardner’s Honda.

It’s not a cosmetic job. The engine is heavily modified, bored out to 1150 cc with twin spark heads, big valves and uprated cams. Everything is balanced and the flywheel has been lightened to sharpen response. Fuelling comes from Dell’Orto-PHM carburetors.

The frame has been modified and lightened, and the aluminum swingarm is hooked up to a race-spec WP monoshock. Up front are a set of new Marzocchi 41.7mm forks, with steering aided by a Bitubo damper. The wheels are race-spec too, 18” at the back and 16” at the front, shod with Avon tires. The brakes are Brembo Serie Oro.

Caforio has nailed the look of the typical 1980s endurance racer with his custom fiberglass bodywork, which is loosely modeled on the Yamaha TZ750 two-stroke. The aluminum tank houses a vintage Bimota filler cap and the rearsets are replicas of classic Bimota items. The paint is unapologetically patriotic, using the colors of the Italian flag, with a sprinkling of decals for authenticity.

It’s not elegant, and there’s little delicacy to be found in the lines. But there’s an appealing brutality about this machine that gets me thinking, “What if?”

Head over to Davide Caforio’s website Ruote Fiere for more Moto Guzzi goodness.

from BIKEEXIF

Toni Elias shines in World Superbike debut at Istanbul

Toni Elias jumped into the deep end of things when he debuted in World Superbikes this weekend at Istanbul replacing axed rider Michel Fabrizio in the Red Devils Roma team.

With no prior experience on the Aprilia RSV4 nor with the Pirelli tires and with no Superpole experience and missing two sessions due to rain, the former 2010 Moto2 World champion and MotoGP rider definitely held his own in both races finishing sixth - after a contact on the final corner with fellow Aprilia rider Davide Giuliano in race 1 and taking fifth in race 2.

Elias also proved his worth against former Gresini team mate Marco Melandri keeping him a bay for a long period of time in race 2 with his hard braking skills and he also managed to pip other BMW rider Chaz Davies on the final lap.

Elias’ has high hopes after his first outing with the team and wants to continue in World Superbikes in 2014 and talking about his debut said, “I am really happy with my first week end in Superbike. With such little experience I could not ask for more, even if now I’m thinking about improving my results. In race one I had a soft approach but I managed to recover at the end and then I fought until the finish line.”

Race two went differently. I found my old determination back and I made an aggressive start. Lap after lap I’m now knowing how to manage my bike and, I must say, even other riders’ approach.

“Starting from Laguna Seca I hope to show something more. I thank again all my team and Andrea Petricca for the possibility they have offered me. I’ll promise to prove that I’ve deserved it.”

Elias will have a certain advantage at the Mazda Speedway has he knows the track having raced at Laguna Seca while he was in MotoGP, and his best result was a 6th place in 2009.

from TWOWHEELSBLOG

WSBK ; Double victory at Istanbul bolsters Eugene Laverty's title chances - hints that he will not be in Aprilia in 2014

Eugene Laverty’s double victory at Istanbul Park yesterday was a big shot in the arm regarding his title chances as he has now moved to third place in the standings, just 26 points from the leader Tom Sykes.

The Irishman has already won six races this season, five more than his team mate Sylvain Guintoli, and his number of victories so far equals that of Sykes, but Laverty may be out of job at the end of the season after he hinted rather broadly in a post-race tweet:

DOUBLE VICTORY!! So pleased to win both races here in Istanbul to put us back into the title fight. Strange feeling though to win both races and to be on the lookout for a new job. Anyone out there need a fast employee for 2014?”

Marco Melandri has been tipped to replace Laverty in Aprilia, even if the contract rumor mill hinted that the Irishman needed to finish in third place in the final standings in order to keep his place in the squad.

Regarding the double header at Istanbul, Laverty said, “My last double win was at Monza in 2011. This two wins today feel particularly good because I wasn’t really expecting them. I’m really pleased, in both races our bike was set up perfectly, especially toward the end of the race when the tyres were starting to deteriorate and that is what let me win with such a big gap. My team was even able to improve after Race1, so despite a similar pace I was able to ride much more easily. I’m back in the running for the championship, but above all I’ve regained confidence and that makes me hopeful for the coming rounds”.

If there was any really disappointed with his results at the Turkish round, that would have to be Sylvain Guintoli. The Frenchman shone all weekend long and just missed out on taking the pole position by 0.022s against Mr. Superpole, Tom Sykes.

Unfortunately for Guintoli the two races didn’t pan out on how he planned it, finishing fourth in race 1 and taking a third place podium in race 2.

The Aprilia rider is still suffering lingering shoulder pain after training crash just before the Moscow round and needs to undergo surgery, but postponing it until the end of the season as he is still in the fight for the title, just eight points from the Kawasaki rider.

“Two strong races, but I’m still missing something. I’m not sure if it’s speed or my physical condition. To be honest, I expected more from this weekend after the good practice sessions and the front row start. It wasn’t a complete disaster thought since we’re still close to Sykes and I got back onto the podium. Unforunately my shoulder injury isn’t a simple thing to overcome. On a track like this one with fast turns and cross wind , it hurt quite a bit. The next round will be at Laguna Seca which is a track I like and where I hope to make another step forward”, said Guintoli.

from TWOWHEELSBLOG

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