MOTO GP ; A. Espargaró : « L’arrivée de Suzuki va ouvrir de nouvelles portes »

Aleix Espargaró vise une place dans le Top 6 du Championnat du Monde MotoGP™ 2014, en espérant obtenir un guidon Factory pour l’an prochain.

Suite au premier tiers de la saison 2014, le pilote du team NGM Forward Racing est septième du classement général, à cinq points de la sixième, qui est occupée par son frère cadet Pol Espargaró (Monster Yamaha Tech3). Parti du team Aspar fin 2013, l’aîné des frères Espargaró est convaincu d’avoir pris la bonne décision en rejoignant Forward Racing.

« Aller chez Forward était la bonne décision parce que c’était ce que je voulais, ce que je me voyais faire, » a expliqué Espargaró. « Au moment de prendre la décision, personne ne savait comment irait la Honda RCV1000R (Aspar) ou la Forward-Yamaha et j’ai eu de la chance. Mais je sentais à l’époque que c’était la bonne décision et ça s’est avéré être la meilleure option. »

Espargaró a admis qu’il avait toujours une option de retourner chez Aspar l’an prochain, grâce à son excellente relation avec Jorge Martínez « Aspar », mais attendra d’étudier toutes les options, en espérant que l’une d’entre elles soit un guidon Factory chez Suzuki, qui revient en MotoGP™ en 2015.

« Je sais que l’arrivée de Suzuki va ouvrir de nouvelles portes. Le plus de constructeurs il y aura sur la grille, le mieux ce sera, et nous devons être rapides parce qu’il est clair que lorsqu’un constructeur tel que Suzuki arrivera, ils voudront engager les meilleurs pilotes et regarderont le classement pour voir qui sont les mieux placés. Mon objectif est donc de finir dans le Top 6 du Championnat afin d’avoir mes options. »

Sur les six premières courses de la saison, Espargaró a pour moyennes la septième position en qualifications et la neuvième place en course. Il courra à domicile ce week-end au Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, où il avait fait sa première et pour l’instant unique apparition sur le podium, lorsqu’il avait fini derrière Stefan Bradl et Marc Márquez en Moto2™ en 2011.

Guide for the 24 Heures du Mans 2014

The guide features all 56 cars, team, chassis, engine and driver details along with a timetable, map and current WEC points standings and is the perfect tool for watching at the circuit or from home.Each car has been illustrated in detail, with the assistance of virtually every team.

OFFICINE ROSSOPURO PUROSANGUE

Purosangue means Thoroughbred, and this 1982 Guzzi SP 1000 from Filippo at Officine RossoPuro sure does look like one. The idea behind the build was one of usability, simplicity and elegance, something you can use, maintain and most importantly enjoy.

Much of this build has been hand crafted by Filippo and he informs us that the bike was born from his personal desire before a customer was found for her; so he was able to build the bike without having to comply with directives or external tastes, a rare thing for a pro build.

She looks low and long, the engine being the stand out feature, which has been highlighted with aluminium CNC supports. The simple clean lines of the bike are testament to Filippo’s keen eye, and from the right side of the bike she looks lighter and emptier as if she has a clear V in the frame.  Yet flip to the left side and you’ll spot the aluminium box to hide all the electrics in, and just ahead of that there looks to be the newly located ‘go’ button.

The equipment used on the build is to the highest possible standard, whether it be the modified Marzocchi front suspension, the adjustable Biturbo rear shocks, or the Brembo brake system with 320mm discs.

The 2 tone paint job is clean and classic, and described as ‘blood-red’.  It was done to further promote the passion that this build has been dedicated to. Can-less exhausts will give this thoroughbred a roar as she gallops from her stable.

Finishes on the bike vary, the rear caliper is mounted on an aluminium support produced by Officine RossoPuro and the wheels are spoked Borrani with lightweight aluminium hubs. The rearsets have an internal master cylinder and the lithium battery is hidden away within the engine.  The stop light is built into the rear fender, and the front headlamp is tucked nicely between the forks to keep the package looking together.

Continuing the clean theme, the handlebars are minimal, with the lights and ignition directly on the light housing. A single black faced speedo sits ahead of the fat crosser bars which themselves ensure a stable and comfortable riding position.

This isn’t Officine RossoPuro’s first build we’ve featured, and we certainly hope it won’t be the last, keep up the good work and keep sharing them with us.

via The Bike Shed

1975 Honda CB400F by Salty Speed Co.

Written by Ian Lee.

To ride a motorcycle, we have to forgo a few things. Weather protection. Crash protection. The ability to eat a burger with two hands while steering with your knees. In it’s place is the awesome sensation that is the reason we do ride. That real feeling of the ground passing inches below your feet and the way you feel at one with the machine as you lean into a corner. Today’s feature bike is owned by one such person, who has forgone luxury in order to be able to enjoy the sweet feeling of throttle roll. Micah, the owner of this 1975 Honda CB400F decided that even with unconstrained access to his Dad’s luxury rental car business, a motorcycle is the way to travel in Melbourne. While scouring the net, Micah happened upon Salty Speed Co’s #002 build on Pipeburn and fell in love. It had to be their workshop who modified his bike. And so it began.

A few weeks after deciding on the Wollongong bike builders, Micah purchased a “not so good looking” CB400F sight unseen. The machine was delivered to the Salty Speed Co’s workshop with one alliterative build brief: Build a black brat bike. The CB was stripped back to bare frame, detabbed and the factory seat hoop ditched. In it’s place sits a kicked rear hoop and battery, both fashioned inhouse at the SSP workshop. The original 1975 fender was cropped and remounted accordingly, while at the front end sits a Shorty aluminium fender from WM Japan. With the need for a new seat to suit the custom hoop, the SSP crew produced a neoprene cushion wrapped in leather. This was mounted on a steel seat pan, and mounted to the chassis using bracketry of their own making.

To ensure brat styling, Firestone Deluxe 4.00 tires have been utilised on the build. These tires have been mounted on powder coated stock rims, laced with stainless steel spokes. All brakes are running new componentry, with the front calliper being rebuilt, and a new Nissin master cylinder being fitted. The factory forks being deemed up to the task, they were rebuilt and the lower section powdercoated. The main modification to the front forks is the fitment of a Dime City Cycles triple tree, and a tapered bearing conversion for the steering head. A set of aluminium clip on bars round out the brat styling on the front end, along with a DCC speedo to replace the clutter that was the original dash cluster.

With bikes of the 70s having a reputation for electrical issues, the factory wiring loom has been surgically removed from the midsize Honda. A brand new Sparck Moto harness has been wired up, sleeved in black braid wrap. Sitting under the new hoop setup is a Rick’s Electrics rectifier combo, with the juice provided by an 8 Cell Anti gravity battery. The ignition switch has been relocated, the starter button mounted on the battery box and switch controls being Posh brand. The engine internals have been left stock for the build, the major performance mod being the fitment of a custom exhaust, and re-jetting of the carbs to suit the pod filter system.

From beaten up CB400F to ‘murdered out’ street machine, Micah’s bike has had the full Salty Speed Co’s treatment. Just the thing for cutting up the laneways of Melbourne. With a full garage of luxury cages at his disposal, we think Micah made the right decision swapping four wheels for two.

via PIPEBURN