Espargaro sets the pace as action commences / Aleix Espargaró annonce la couleur à Losail

Aleix Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing) set the pace in the opening FP1 session of the year for the premier class in Qatar, with Alvaro Baustista (GO&FUN Honda Gresini) and Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3) second and third respectively.

In the first Grand Prix practice session of the new ‘Open’ class era it was Espargaro in P1 with his Open entry Forward Yamaha with a 1’55.201 best lap, with Bautista 0.466s behind him. Espargaro’s pace was over 0.3s slower than he went in testing here two weeks ago.

At the start of his second season in MotoGP Smith was third by a 0.6s margin, with Andrea Iannone (Pramac Racing) and rookie Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech3) also in top five as the riders who tested in Qatar occupying the top end of the timesheet. The younger Espargaro brother appears to be riding smoothly despite his collarbone injury sustained ten days ago at this track.

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) and Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) were the quickest Factory riders in sixth and seventh, whilst the top ten was completed by Colin Edwards (NGM Forward Racing), Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) and Nicky Hayden (Drive M7 Aspar).

World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was 11th as he tested his fitness after breaking his right leg in preseason, whilst Yonny Hernandez (Energy T.I. Pramac Racing) finished 15^th and went for a scan after walking away from a turn 16 crash which caused a brief red crash due to track debris.

Après être longtemps resté installé au sommet de la feuille de temps, Aleix Espargaró a repris la première position en alignant deux tours rapides au dernier moment jeudi soir à Losail, pour distancer Álvaro Bautista et Bradley Smith de près d’une demi-seconde.

Phénomène de la pré-saison MotoGP™ 2014 sur son FTR-Yamaha « Open », Aleix Espargaró (NGM Forward Racing) tient pour l’instant ses promesses et a largement dominé la première séance d’essais jeudi soir au Qatar, sous les projecteurs du Circuit International de Losail. 

Le Catalan s’était rapidement installé en première position mais a plus tard été devancé par Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech3) puis Álvaro Bautista (GO&FUN Honda Gresini), avant de reprendre l’avantage en 1’55.633 puis de distancer les deux pilotes Factory avec un dernier tour bouclé en 1’55.201.

Derrière Bautista et Smith, qui finissaient respectivement à 0.466s et 0.615s d’Espargaró, Andrea Iannone (Pramac Racing) et Pol Espargaró (Monster Yamaha Tech3), frère cadet d’Aleix, complétaient le Top 5 à près de huit dixièmes du temps de référence. 

Les cinq pilotes avaient déjà roulé à Losail début mars au cours d’un Test Officiel de trois jours, contrairement aux pilotes des teams Repsol Honda, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP et Ducati, qui avaient de leur côté réalisé leurs derniers essais de pré-saison à Phillip Island.

Sixième et septième, Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) et Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) roulaient donc à Losail pour la première fois de l’année et ont fini à plus d’une seconde d’Aleix Espargaró, dont le coéquipier Colin Edwards (NGM Forward Racing) a signé le huitième temps, devant Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP). Ce dernier, vainqueur à Losail ces deux dernières années, était, comme lors du Test de Sepang, visiblement mécontent du rendement de ses pneumatiques et commence le premier week-end de course de l’année à une seconde et demie du leader.

Derrière Nicky Hayden (Drive M7 Aspar), Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda) s’est classé en onzième position. Le Champion du Monde en titre a, comme Hayden, terminé à un cheveu de Lorenzo mais a souffert de sa fracture du péroné de la jambe droite, qui lui avait fait manquer les deux derniers tests de pré-saison. Márquez roulait sans anti-douleur ce soir mais devra recevoir un traitement avant de reprendre la piste pour les deux séances d'essais de vendredi.

Cal Crutchlow (Ducati) et Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) sont quant à eux treizième et quatorzième tandis que Mike di Meglio (Avintia Blusens) est vingtième, non loin derrière son coéquipier Héctor Barberá et Scott Redding (GO&FUN Honda Gresini).

La séance avait été interrompue par drapeau rouge au bout du premier quart d’heure suite à la chute de Yonny Hernández (Energy T.I. Pramac Racing). Pendant que les commissaires de piste procédaient au retrait des nombreux cailloux projetés sur le virage n°16 par la chute du Colombien, ce dernier se rendait à la Clinica Mobile afin de faire examiner son épaule gauche. 

For full results click here. / Cliquez ici pour accéder aux résultats complets de la séance MotoGP™ FP1.

Belstaff Presents: For The Open Road

Belstaff presents For The Open Road featuring David Beckham, a documentation of five British bikers on a journey from the Goodwood estate in West Sussex to New Bond Street in the heart of London. http://www.belstaff.com

For The Open Road captures a thrilling journey through the passionate eyes of Belstaff's Modern Legends: dynamic riders with a daring sense of adventure. They explore the historic Goodwood Estate, ride through the countryside, and join 50 others to blaze down New Bond Street in a motorbike parade. 

A nod to Belstaff's roots in motorsport, speed meets style as we explore the spirit of the open road and the camaraderie it forges.

VDBMOTOS TRIUMPH SCRAMBLER

After several years of no fixed abode, and therefore no motorcycle (the horror!), Derick finally settled down in New York where he was at long last able to rekindle his love of bikes by getting an American driving license and a British scrambler.  The mods that he carried out on his Triumph attracted so many compliments, that it persuaded him to turn a hobby into a full time passion.  This Scrambler, the T2, is what Derick considers to be his first ‘proper build’.

Derick grew up near Florence in Italy.   As a result, he spent his formative years hooning around on dirt bikes in the Tuscan hills – the lucky bugger.  When he was legally allowed onto the road he did so on an XR600R, a bike as famous for its ankle breaking kick starter as its grin inducing single cylinder.  And the dual purpose bike is where Derick takes his inspiration from.  The freedom to go anywhere you want, but with road manners that make the city commute a doddle.

One of the most striking features of this build is the tank. It was stripped down to bare metal and the rust process was speeded up with the help of a vinegar/salt solution to create a real patina that would normally have taken years to appear.  The headers were shortened, wrapped and fitted with two mini GP style mufflers, leaving the original bracket as a support for the ammunition box – a genuine surviving piece of military hardware from the Vietnam war.  Derick says it’s perfect for carrying a picnic and a 6 pack.

The paint used for the new fenders and several parts of the bike is a bedliner protective coating, giving an added rugged texture and durability.  The original instruments have been replaced by a mini led speedo which has been fitted to the left side of the engine with the ignition key relocation, leaving space for the Renthal ultra low handlebars.  The low profile seat covers the tubular frame just up to the end, where LED indicators have been fitted and wired inside the frame for a super clean look.  An LED Bates style light sits at the back, and up front is a yellow headlight filter protected by a black grille for that proper rugged, go anywhere look.

Suspension has been upgraded with adjustable Hagon shocks at the rear and progressive springs at the front. The oversized Continental TKC80′s offer a higher centre of gravity, which helps make an already great city bike even better.   And with the added power of the new exhaust, K&N filter and shorter gear ratios, it must be an absolute riot to blast around NY’s crazy streets on.

Right now VDBMotos is a one man operation, but judging by the quality of ‘proper build’ number 1,  and the fact that there are plans afoot for a pop-up shop, clothing, accessories and events, its going to require a lot more than one man very soon.  Keep us posted Derick.

See more from VDBMotos on their Website, Instagram & Facebook.

GARB: KODIAK MOMENT

When you find yourself on an Alaskan adventure, make sure to capture it in the right way.

Poler Prospector Parka ($162). Poler Reversible Vest ($62). Poler Excursion Pack($140). Poler Wy'East Glove ($89). Poler x Smith and Smith IO Goggles ($175). DJI Phantom 2 ($680). Nike Lunarterra Arktos Shoes ($190). Genuine US Navy Watch Cap ($7). Pelican 1500 Water Tight Protective Case ($100). Gerber Bear Grylls Canteen ($25). GoPole Evo ($40). 76 LED Headlamp ($47). Ricoh GR Digital Camera($637).

This edition of Garb is presented by our friends at Poler.