WTCC ARGENTINE : LOPEZ survole les débats / Lopez triumphs on home soil

Course 1 : López prophète en son pays

« Pechito » López a fait ce pour quoi étaient vénus les milliers de spectateurs, massés dans les tribunes de Termas de Rio Hondo.

L’Argentin a remporté la victoire avec autorité en Course 1, menant du premier au dernier tour après avoir réalisé un envol parfait depuis la pole position. Un excellent départ de Michelisz et Monteiro a animé cette phase de l’épreuve, mais les Citroën de Loeb et Muller ont vite repris l’avantage sur les Honda. L’autre héros du jour fut Norbert Michelisz qui est parvenu à maintenir un rythme de tout premier ordre et à contenir avec maestria Muller, Loeb et Monteiro.

Tom Chilton termine 6^e et meilleur classé des pilotes de Chevrolet Cruze. L’autre fait marquant, ce fut également la présence dans les points de deux LADA. Rob Huff coupe la ligne à une excellente 7^eclasse grâce à une course solide devant Gabriele Tarquini et James Thompson. Le Britannique a en effet  délogé Tom Coronel dans le dernier virage.

Franz Engstler, enfin, a remporté le TC2 devant John Filippi.

Moments clés

Départ – Loeb et Muller ne sont pas très prompts à l’extinction des feux et cela permet à Michelisz et Monteiro de les passer. Lopez, lui, a pris un envol parfait.

Tour 1 – La lutte se siture entre Monteiro, qui que ne peut contenir Muller, et Loeb. Ils s’engagent dans une intense bagarre et le Français occupe la 4^e place. Valente passe par le gazon après un contact avec Kozlovskiy qui parvient à éviter le tête à queue.

Tour 2 – Lopez mène devant Michelisz, Muller, Loeb, Monteiro, Chilton, Huff et Tarquini.

Tour 4 – Belle bagarre entre Coronel et Borkovic pour le gain de la 10^eplace, avec deux pilotes qui ne cessent de s’échanger les positions. Mais c’est tout bénéfice pour Thompson et Morbidelli qui trouvent l’ouverture sur le Serbe.

Tour 5 – Valente rejoint son box car son auto souffre de dommages survenus au deuxième tour.

Tour 7 – Michelisz est sur un très bon rythme et ne concède que 2’’5 à Lopez, tandis que Monteiro et Chilton semblent se rapprocher de Loeb (4^e)

Tour 9 – Borković regagne son stand à cause d’une crevaison à l’arrière gauche. Echevarría s’y trouve également alors qu’il occupait la 3^e place du TC2T derrière Engstler et Filippi.

Tour 12 – Muller réduit l’écart sur Michelisz pour le gain de la 2^e place, mais il n’est jamais en réelle position d’attaquer.

Tour 13 – López s’impose confortablement Michelisz, Muller, Loeb et Monteiro, Chilton, Huff, Tarquini et Bennani, tandis que Thompson déloge Coronel de la 10^e position dans le dernier virage.

Course 2 : López récidive

José María López n’a laissé plane aucun doute sur qui était le héros, ce week-end, à Termas de Rio Hondo !

Le pilote argentin conclut un meeting en tous points parfaits en triomphant également dans la deuxième course sur ses terres. Il a cependant dû se battre pour s’extraire d’un groupe et prendre la tête aux dépends de Rob Huff dans le 9^e tour. Le Britannique fut l’autre grand bonhomme de cette journée en plaçant sa LADA aux commandes pendant huit boucles et en ne concédant qu’une seconde à Lopez sous le drapeau à damier. C’est la toute première fois dans l’histoire du WTCC qu’une voiture du constructeur russe emmène la meute et terme sur le podium. L’équipe conclut par ailleurs cette excellente journée avec le point de la 10^e place de James Thompson.

Comme en Course 1, Yvan Muller termine en 3^e position après avoir débordé les Honda de Tarquini et Monteiro, tandis que Franz Engstler et Camilo Echevarría ont réalisé le doublé en TCT pour le compte du Liqui Moly Team Engstler.

Moments clés Départ – Bel envol du poleman Huff qui précède Bennani, Tarquini, Monteiro et Valente.

Tour 1 – Belle bagarre dans le peloton, tandis que Muller et Loeb se touchent. Lopez croise le fer avec Coronel qui fini par mettre ses roues dans l’herbe. Morbidelli percute pour sa part Thompson qui sort large.

Tour 2 – López appatait comme le meilleur représentant Citroën mais commet une erreur et voit passer Chilton et Valente. Mais le jeune français ne peut résister à López, Loeb, Muller et Michelisz.

Tour 3 – Huff caracole toujours en tête devant Bennani, Tarquini, Monteiro, Chilton, López, Muller et Michelisz.

Tour 5 – Bennani vire large et il est dépassé par Tarquini, Monteiro et Chilton, puis quelques instants plus tard par Lópezqui prend également la mesure de Chilton.

Tour 6 – López passe Monteiro pour le gain de la 3^e place tandis que Huff imprime toujours un rythme élevé aux avant-postes. Il est talonné par Tarquini.

Tour 7 – López est 2^e après que Tarquini a commis une faute à l’épingle. Et à l’issue d’une âpre bataille, Muller déloge Chilton de la 5^eplace.

Tour 8 – López revient sur Huff, dont l’avance n’est plus que de 1’’1. Chilton et Loeb se touchent. Morbidelli reçoit drive through pour l’incident avec Thompson dans le premier tour.

Tour 9 – López déloge Huff du leadership au bout de la ligne droite.

Tour 10 – Chilton s’arrête en bord de piste. Une lutte s’est ouverte entre Muller et Monteiro, l’avantage revenant au Français.

Tour 12 – Muller déborde Tarquini et prend la troisième marche du podium.

Tour 13 – López s’impose devant Huff et Muller.

RACE 1 – LÓPEZ, PROPHET AT HOME

Pechito López delivered what the thousands of his fans standing under the sun at Termas expected from him.

The Argentine took an authoritative success in Race 1, leading from lights to flag after an impeccable start from the pole. An excellent start of Michelisz and Monteiro gave some emotion to the first phases, but soon the Citroën cars of the two Frenchmen repassed the Honda. The other hero of the day was Norbert Michelisz, who perfectly kept his second position showing consistent pace and managing to keep Muller, Loeb and Monteiro at bay.
Tom Chilton finished 6^th and best-placed of the Chevrolet RML cars, while another noticeable fact of the race was that two LADA cars finished in the points. Rob Huff took an excellent 7^th, after a consistent race, just ahead of Tarquini, and James Thompson stole tenth in the last corner from Tom Coronel. Franz Engstler won again in TC2 ahead of John Filippi.

Key moments Start – Loeb and Muller have a relatively poor start, which allows Michelisz and Monteiro to pass them, while López has a perfect kick-off.
Lap 1 – The fight is between Monteiro, who cannot keep at bay Muller and Loeb and starts nice fight with Séb for fourth. Valente goes wide on the grass after a contact with Kozlovskiy who hardly avoids spinning.
Lap 2 – It’s Lopez leading ahead of Michelisz, Muller, Loeb, Monteiro, Chilton, Huff and Tarquini.
Lap 4 – Nice fight between Coronel and Borković for tenth, with the two passing each other. It’s all good for Thompson and Morbidelli who both pass the Serbian.
Lap 5 – Valente stops in the pits with some issue following the incident on lap 2.
Lap 7 – Michelisz has very good pace and is only 2.5 seconds behind López, while Monteiro and Chilton seem to be closing on Loeb (4^th)
Lap 9 – Borković pits with a punctured left rear tire; Echevarría pits as well from third in TC2T class behind Engstler and Filippi.
Lap 12 – Muller is closing in on Michelisz for second, but is not in a real position to attack him.
Lap 13 – López wins comfortably ahead of Michelisz, Muller, Loeb and Monteiro, Chilton, Huff, Tarquini and Bennani, while Thompson pips Coronel for tenth in the last corner.

RACE 2 – LÓPEZ DOES IT AGAIN

José María López left no doubts about who the hero was at Termas de Río Hondo.

The Argentine rounded the weekend by winning also a very lively Race 2. He had to fight to extricate himself from the group and took the lead in lap 9 from Rob Huff, who was the other hero of the day. The Briton managed to have his LADA in the lead for eight laps and eventually was only second to López.
It is the first time that a car of the Russian maker leads a WTCC race and finishes on the podium. The team completed the excellent day with another points finish by Thompson (10^th).
Yvan Muller was third, just like in Race 1, overtaking the Honda cars of Tarquini and Monteiro, while Franz Engstler and Camilo Echevarría made it a 1-2 in the TC2T class for the Liqui Moly-livered BMW cars.

Key moments Start – Great start for poleman Huff who precedes Bennani, Tarquini, Monteiro and Valente.
Lap 1 – There is great fight in the group, with Muller and Loeb touching each other, López duels with Coronel who runs wide in the grass. Morbidelli touches Thompson who goes sideways at the hairpin.
Lap 2 – López emerges first of the Citroen cars but makes a mistake and is passed by Chilton and Valente. The young Frenchman though cannot resist to López, Loeb, Muller and Michelisz.
Lap 3 – Huff is still in the lead, ahead of Bennani, Tarquini, Monteiro, Chilton, López, Muller and Michelisz.
Lap 5 – Bennani slides down as he is passed by Tarquini, Monteiro and Chilton, and shortly afterwards by López, who passes Chilton too.
Lap 6 – López passes Monteiro for third, while Huff is still in the lead with excellent pace, followed by Tarquini.
Lap 7 – López is second after Tarquini makes a small mistake at the hairpin. Muller passes Chilton for fifth after a tough fight.
Lap 8 – López charges on Huff, whose lead is now 1.1 seconds. Chilton and Loeb make contact. Morbidelli is given a drive through for the incident with Thompson on the first lap.
Lap 9 – López passes Huff at the end of the back straight and takes the lead.
Lap 10 – Chilton stops on the side of the track. Big battle for fourth between Muller and Monteiro, with the French emerging.
Lap 12 – Muller takes third from Tarquini.
Lap 13 – López wins ahead of Huff and Muller.

Highlights - 2014 WRC Rally Finland

Enjoy the highlights from the Rally Finland which was won by Jari-Matti Latvala (Volkswagen - Michelin).

Indian Motorcycle: The Spirit of Munro

Between the years of 1926 and 1961, one man from a small town in New Zealand dreamed of setting a land speed record on a 1920 Indian Scout. In 1962 at the Bonneville salt flats that man's dream finally came true.

To honor the past and power the future, Indian Motorcycle built the Spirit of Munro, an all-metal tribute bike which would house the new Thunder Stroke 111™ engine. On May 5, 2013 the bike was run on a dry lake bed in California. A tribute to the great Burt Munro, and a celebration of the Indian Motorcycle that is yet to come.

ABOUT THE SPIRIT OF MUNRO:
Fully custom-built, the Spirit of Munro is an all-metal tribute to the racers and mechanics throughout history who have collectively built the legacy of record-breaking racing performance and strength that is Indian Motorcycle.

The motorcycle is named in honor of Burt Munro's "Munro Special," the historic 1920 Indian Scout that broke the under-1000cc land-speed record in 1967 at the Bonneville Salt Flats as famously portrayed in the motion picture "The World's Fastest Indian."

The Spirit of Munro was constructed by Jeb Scolman of Jeb's Metal and Speed in Long Beach, CA. It was designed from the ground up to house the new Thunder Stroke 111™ engine and showcase its awe-inspiring power and performance.

BSMC GEAR GUIDE #20

Black boots, metal flake lids, denim caps, chunky rubber, and  thick steel rings make for an eclectic read in this week’s Gear Guide.

CHIPPEWA 11″ BLACK ENGINEER BOOT

Original Chippewa is credited for inventing the Engineer style boot. An engineer boot is all-leather tall stovepipe shaft pull-on boot with buckled leather cinches at the ankle and knee. The Original Chippewa Engineer boot debuted in 1937 as a semi-dress type of boot engineers prefer for field work, or other outdoor workers, whose positions make a neat appearance necessary.

The 1937 “The Original” 17″ Engineer was manufactured with Horween W.P. Chromexcel leather, Goodyear Welt Construction with plain toe,  and an English riding boot style profile. The outsole was heavy vicolized (oiled) single leather with top grade leather insole and hand pegged steel shank.

The classic 11″ Engineer with Logger Heel and exterior counter was first introduced in 1940 and quickly became popular with bikers. The boots’ lace-less tall shaft adds maximum protection to foot and shin while on the road. Outlaw biker films of the 1950s made Chippewa Engineer boots a famous motorcycle icon.

The contemporary Chippewa engineer boot is made of black odessa leather, with a Goodyear leather welt. The lining is leather with a Texon insole. The shank triple ribbed steel, the sole being a rugged Vibram high performance rubber. They have Nickel Non Tarnishable Buckles. These are incredibly tough boots, and are fit for purpose. once worn in they’re incredibly comfortable, and if well looked after, will last alot longer than your bike!

For more than 110 years, the Chippewa Shoe Manufacturing Company has been manufacturing top-quality rugged boots and shoes for every purpose. Chippewa products use only premium raw materials and are hand crafted in USA.

To buy in the UK check out Surrey Speed Shop, in the US go to Chippewa’s website.

http://www.surreyspeedshop.com

http://www.chippewaboots.com

PRODUCT REVIEW BILTWELL BONANZA OPEN FACED LID

If there is one brand that has become synonymous with the new wave custom scene it is Biltwell. They make no nonsense products that shun the fussily designed and over engineered culture of the mainstream motorcycle industry, offering simple and classically styled products that are modestly priced.

The Bonanza helmet has become the benchmark for open faces. A straightforward design with a slim profile it unashamedly harks back to an era when motorcycling was all about good cheap fun and wind in your face.

The Bonanza is a comfortable lid with a hand-sewn brushed Lycra liner with contrasting diamond-stitched quilted open-cell foam padding lining, and the Injection-molded ABS outer shell with hand-painted finish conforms to DOT standards. It features moisture wicking brushed Lycra panels and open-cell foam padding for breathability and comfort.

It comes in a bewildering array of colours and designs with rubber or chrome accent edging, ranging from stealthy matt black to chunky metal flake green. Whether you’re on an old school bobber, a city brat, a green lane scrambler or a classic cafe racer, there’s one for you. It’s not an expensive lid either, so if you’re working to a tight budget it’s ideal.

I wore my wine red metal flake Bonaza to Wheels & Waves this year, and it was perfect for the long warm weather blasts through the mountains, and buzzing around the bustling streets of Biarittz.

Unlike many other open face lids, it doesn’t rise when traveling at speed and it’s particular shape makes it easier than others to wear glasses with. When not wearing shades I snapped on a red tinted Biltwell bubble visor which worked perfectly.

This a work-horse of a helmet, and a pretty filly at that.

biltwellinc.com

PRODUCT REVIEW BY THE BSMC’S VERY OWN ALI LATIMER – CONTINENTAL TKC80 TWINDURO TYRES

What Conti say:

“The Conti TKC80 Twinduro provides the de-riguer finish to the adventure style motorcycle.”
“The Conti TKC80 Twinduro delivers un rivalled on and off road performance, all season, all weather, in all terrain and every road condition, regardless of continent!”
“Conti TKC80 Twinduro  World Conquering Grip, dont go exploring without them.”

What I say:

One of the most important things on a motorcycle are the tyres, they need to do several jobs, they need to suit the bike aesthetically, allow the bike to travel the path chosen and most importantly, they must perform. Many things on the bikes we build and admire are a compromise for the aesthetic, tyres often are too, but I didn’t compromise, I have the TKC80’s on my 1983 Honda XL600R tracker, a fun trail bike that has been given the retro cool makeover, she wears these tyres so well, both on the road and off of it. In fact they impressed me so much that when I designed The Gambler, these tyres were a must and they’re one of very few that give you such an aggressive tread in ‘big bike’ sizes. The tracker wears 120/90/18 up front and 140/80/17 on the rear, but The Gambler ( A 1993 Honda VFR750 Scrambler) wears much bigger boots, 120/70/17 up front and 170/60/17 tearing up the earth behind you!

Now I was a little apprehensive when I first put them on the VFR, I thought they might struggle on the tarmac roads, but I can honestly say that I don’t feel any less confident with these than I do running a set of sport touring tyres, and when I give it a blat around the lanes I know they won’t let me down, I’ve even had the VFR banked over enough for knee down fun, albeit by hanging off the bike quite a bit, down on the farm they come into their own, the driveway and tractor paths are nothing to these boots and I’ve even gone across the fields on them with no drama!

Back to the XL600R though, the other week I ran it in the infamous Dirt Quake event, we experienced every condition, from a sodden circuit that was slippery as hell to a damp and sticky track and finally a dusty hard packed surface, the TKC’s didn’t fail me in any of the conditions, and they weren’t new, I’ve probably done about 1,500 road miles on them, so they’re well bedded in, they kept me upright, gave me amazing traction off the line and aided me to a 3rd place finish in the final show down, I feel the tyres had a big part to play, as I was only beaten by experienced racers!

I don’t expect to getting millions of miles from them like a touring tyre, the aggressive nobblies are a compromise if you looking for longevity, but what they will allow, is a 4,000 mile trip with no restrictions on where you ride, and that’s worth sacrificing an extra few thousand miles in my book!

Check out their sizes, they have quite a range and they must be the most imposing tyres for any street and dirt scrambler build:

http://www.conti-bike.co.uk/default.asp?spid=12

PRODUCT REVIEW – IRON AND RESIN DENIM TRUCKERS CAP

The trucker cap is also sometimes known as a “gimme cap” or a “feed cap” because this style of hat originated as a promotional give-away from feed or farming supply companies to farmers and truck drivers. The original feed caps bore company logos on the front foam section of the cap, either printed or as a patch sewn on. These companies typically had a rural clientele, such as the local feed store or John Deer tractors.

Trucker caps are a useful piece of kit for bikers. They’re light, can be clipped to your belt when riding, and whipped off and onto your bonce to tame helmet hair or for the aging grumps among us to conceal the bald patch or receding hairline.

I personally love a truckers cap, they’re practical and look good. What I don’t like about some of them is the poor quality of materials used. Iron & Resin have manufactured a denim five panel cap that is a welcome alternative to the typical foam. It has the quintessential mesh back and snap back. The stitching is a contrasting yellow and it features the Iron & Resin Anchor Piston Flag patch. It’s well made and comfortable, and fits well. It’s worth the premium they charge for it.

Iron & Resin is the brainchild of several friends who, “…after decades of collective experience building successful clothing brands, decided to turn back the clock and start anew.” The result is a small, hand built collection of goods that draws heavily upon the founder’s own lifestyles and experiences riding bikes and surfing.

Forged in a blue collar beach town in California “… In a mass produced, disposable world, Iron & Resin is a product of “one-off” culture. Where men still build, by their own hands, the craft they ride.”

I take my cap off to them!

http://www.ironandresin.com/

PRODUCT REVIEW – PRAGMASIS PROTECTOR 19MM CHAIN

‘If only, if only….” the words that keep coming from my mouth this week. If only I had a decent chain then my lovely bike wouldn’t have got nicked. The toe-rags simply snipped through my 12mm Oxford chain with bolt cutters and legged it with my bike.

So I’ve learned my lesson, and I went in search of the toughest of tough chains. I discovered the Pragmasis Protector 19mm. These are off the scale, the bad-boys of all chains. These are made from high-grade European boron steel with specialist heat treatment and finishing in the UK to precise specifications.

The Protector 19mm chain is a long-link design with the following link dimensions : 138 x 63mm outside; 100 x 25mm inside, throughout its length (an elongated end link is not required). It is constructed from 19mm diameter bar and all but the end links are surrounded with a protective fabric sleeve (to protect your bike/other valuables; not to protect the chain!).

Normal stock lengths are 1.0m, 1.2m, 1.5m and 2.0m (with the option of custom-cut lengths from 0.7m up to 4.0m!). They weigh in at a whopping 6.2kg per meter, so are not practical to haul around with you, but ideal if it lives at home or work (where mine was half-inched).

The Protector 19mm has been awarded Sold Secure Motorcycle/Caravan/ATV/Motor Scooter/Bicycle/Commercial Vehicles/Car & Van Gold (July 2012-June 2013) Police Preferred Specification. Sold Secure is an independent British security testing and approvals organisation that awards Gold standard to the highest security products, with Silver and Bronze for lower grade products. Motorcycle Gold is a higher rating than Bicycle Gold; Caravan Gold is a higher rating than Motorcycle Gold.

The Protector 19mm won the RiDE Magazine Best Buy and Recommended awards RiDE Magazine March 2014, Locks & Chains Product Test. RiDE Magazine’s product test awarded a prestigious Best Buy for the Protector 19mm chain and Squire SS65CS-XLN lock for “its mix of usability and security”, saying “This is a lock set good enough to be issued to the Ministry of Defence.” “First stage attacks didn’t touch the chain or the lock. Our mechanical attacks did get through eventually but had to make a lot of noise for some time in order to do so.”

The protector 19mm under the Police Apco Secured-by-design scheme. These are the only chains that are genuinely Police-approved.

They’re sold separately or in packages with the Squire SS65CS-XLN lock, which is also a serious piece of kit. Hopefully they’ll do the business and deter the scumbags from trying to thieve my other bikes.

http://securityforbikes.com

 via the bike shed