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    mercredi 5 novembre 2014

    MOTO GP ; Lorenzo et Rossi engagés dans un duel pour le titre de vice-Champion / Lorenzo and Rossi to do battle for runner-up spot at season finale


    Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, MAL RACE
    La dernière manche de la saison 2014 aura plusieurs enjeux importants pour les pilotes du team Movistar Yamaha MotoGP.
    Séparés de seulement douze points, Valentino Rossi et Jorge Lorenzo se disputeront ce week-end le titre de vice-Champion du Monde MotoGP™ sur la piste du Circuit Ricardo Tormo de Valence. Les deux coéquipiers se battront pour un titre individuel mais joueront aussi le titre de Team Champion du Monde pour Movistar Yamaha MotoGP face à Repsol Honda.
    Après une tournée outre-mer réussie, Rossi arrive en Espagne avec l’ambition d’ajouter un autre podium à sa saison 2014 et a déclaré : 
    « Ce ne sera pas une course facile. Je suis deuxième au championnat et avoir douze points d’avance est positif mais l’écart n’est pas suffisamment important pour que je puisse me relâcher ce week-end. Jorge est dans une bonne période. Il a été très rapide sur la seconde partie de la saison et il voudra gagner en Espagne pour me prendre cette deuxième place. Nous devons nous concentrer pour viser la victoire. Mon team et moi-même allons faire de notre mieux, comme toujours. Valence ne figure pas parmi mes circuits préférés mais ce n’est pas un problème. Cette saison, nous avons été forts sur des circuits qui ne me réussissent pas. Les trois dernières courses se sont bien passées et je pense que nous pouvons faire une autre bonne course à Valence. Je suis confiant. »
    Vainqueur haut la main à Valence l’an dernier, Lorenzo espèrera profiter du soutien du public local pour terminer sa saison 2014 au sommet du podium. Le Majorquin s’est imposé à Valence en 2010 et 2013 et avait pris la troisième place en 2009.
    « Nous arrivons à la dernière course du championnat et c’est toujours excitant de rentrer en Espagne pour terminer la saison, » a commenté Lorenzo. « Nous avons déjà assuré la troisième place au championnat à Sepang et j’espère me battre pour la victoire à Valence. Je pense que c’est une meilleure piste pour la M1 que celle de Sepang. J’avais gagné là-bas l’an dernier et j’espère que nous pourrons tenter d’en faire autant cette année. »

    Movistar Yamaha MotoGP returns to Spain to wrap up the 2014 MotoGP™ season this weekend at the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana.
    With just 12 points separating Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo in their battle for second in the championship, the Ricardo Tormo Circuit sets the scene for an intense battle on Sunday. However, the teammates will not only be gunning for personal glory, as the Team’s Title is still up for grabs for Movistar Yamaha MotoGP.
    After three successful weekends overseas Rossi arrives in Spain with the intention to defend his second place in the championship by claiming another podium finish. The highly experienced nine-time World Champion has taken two premier class wins at Valencia in 2003 and 2004 and claimed multiple other podiums there, with a second place in 2002 and 2009 and third places in 2005, 2008 and 2010.
    Rossi commented, “It won’t be an easy race. I’m second in the championship and being 12 points ahead is good, but this gap is not sufficient enough to play a passive role this weekend. Jorge is in a good moment. During the second part of the season Jorge was very fast and he wants to win in Spain and try to take the second place from me. We must focus on finishing the season with a victory just like we aim to do at all races. My team and I will do our best, as usual. Valencia isn’t one of my favorite tracks, but that doesn’t bother me. In this season we were strong also in the tracks that aren’t favorable to me. The three races in a row went well, I won another race, and for this reason I think that we can do a good race in Valencia. I am confident.”
    Having won a phenomenal race at the Valencia track last year, Rossi’s teammate Lorenzo arrives in his home country with confidence. He looks forward to the support of the passionate Spanish crowd as he aims to finish the season with another thrilling battle for victory. So far Lorenzo has claimed two premier class victories at this circuit in 2010 and 2013 and a third place podium position in 2009.
    The Spanish rider stated, “Finally we face the last race of the championship and it’s always exciting to come back to Spain to close the season. We have already saved third position in the championship after the race in Sepang and I hope to fight for the win again in Valencia. I think this is a better track for our Yamaha M1 than Sepang. I won here last year and hopefully we get to try this again this year.”

    CLUTCH CUSTOMS’ SUBLIME KAWASAKI KZ650


    Here's the best-looking Kawasaki KZ650 we've seen for a long time, courtesy of the Paris-based workshop Clutch Customs.
    Kawasaki KZ650s don’t come across our desks too often. So we were intrigued to see this one from Monsieur Willie Knoll at Paris’ Clutch Custom Motorcycles.
    Willie has an obsession with lines and details, and a knack for nipping and tucking a bike until everything sits just right. Equally impressive is his eye for finishes—Clutch bikes are delightfully grungy, but never looked slapped together.
    Here's the best-looking Kawasaki KZ650 we've seen for a long time, courtesy of the Paris-based workshop Clutch Customs.
    It’s a style that the Kawasaki KZ650 wears well. For starters, Clutch have massaged its stance into place, by fitting an 18” wheel from a US-spec KZ1300 up front. They’ve also lowered the suspension eight centimeters at the front and four at the rear. The tires are Dunlop K180 in matching sizes: 18/5.00.
    Here's the best-looking Kawasaki KZ650 we've seen for a long time, courtesy of the Paris-based workshop Clutch Customs.
    Hooked up to the new front wheel are forks and brakes from a Triumph Speed Triple, connected via a custom-machined triple tree setup and front axle. Out back is a pair of shocks from Hagon—built specifically to match the swingarm, which Clutch shortened.
    Here's the best-looking Kawasaki KZ650 we've seen for a long time, courtesy of the Paris-based workshop Clutch Customs.
    As for the bodywork, the stock fuel tank is retained, but Willie’s redesigned the front and tunnelled it for a better fit. He’s edited the frame too—with a slight kick in the rear supporting a new hand-made seat.
    Other hand-made items include the fenders, gas cap, battery box and foot pegs—for both rider and passenger. More discreet lighting components have been fitted too.
    Here's the best-looking Kawasaki KZ650 we've seen for a long time, courtesy of the Paris-based workshop Clutch Customs.
    Clutch treated the 1981-spec engine to a full rebuild, installing a set of K&N air filters and a pair of Spark mufflers. They also rewired the bike using Motogadget components, including a new speedo and switches. Along with a set of clip-ons and Brooks leather-wrapped grips, it makes for a super-neat cockpit.
    Here's the best-looking Kawasaki KZ650 we've seen for a long time, courtesy of the Paris-based workshop Clutch Customs.
    In typical Clutch fashion, the finishes are a subdued mix of raw and glossy textures and colors. The result is sublime: a Kawasaki KZ650 that looks perfectly at home in the style capital of the world.
    Here's the best-looking Kawasaki KZ650 we've seen for a long time, courtesy of the Paris-based workshop Clutch Customs.
    via BIKEexif

    train......

    mardi 4 novembre 2014

    WRC ; Sordo reste chez Hyundai / Sordo to stay at Hyundai

    L’Espagnol Dani Sordo reste dans l’équipe Hyundai Motorsport en 2015 et 2016 où il aura pour équipier Thierry Neuville. Il disputera au moins dix rallyes la saison prochaine avant de mener une campagne complète en 2016.
    Après Volkswagen Motorsport qui a reconduit ses trois pilotes – Ogier, Latvala, Mikkelsen - pour la saison prochaine à l’occasion du dernier RallyRACC, Hyundai Motorsport a annoncé aujourd’hui ses deux pilotes pour 2015 et 2016.
    Comme Thierry Neuville, l’Espagnol Dani Sordo va poursuivre l’aventure avec le constructeur sud-coréen. A 31 ans, Dani a disputé 116 rallyes WRC, signé 37 podiums et remporté sa seule et unique victoire en 2013 au Rallye d’Allemagne. Champion du monde Junior en 2005, il a ensuite été pilote officiel Citroën, Mini, Ford et Hyundai cette saison, pour le retour de la marque en WRC.
    Dani a disputé six rallyes au volant de la Hyundai i20 WRC/Michelin. Il était 3e du Rallye Monte-Carlo avant son abandon. Il a offert le premier temps scratch à cette nouvelle voiture au Rallye du Portugal où il avait pris la tête à l’issue de l’ES3. Dani a terminé deuxième et assuré un doublé historique pour Hyundai au Rallye d’Allemagne.
    « Dani a fait preuve d’une grande régularité cette saison sur différents types de terrain », a résumé le boss Michel Nandan. « Nous sommes heureux de poursuivre notre collaboration avec lui en 2015 et 2016. L’an prochain, il participera à au moins dix rallyes au côté de Thierry, avant une saison complète en 2016. »
    Hyundai Motorsport n’a pour l’heure pas communiqué sur l’engagement d’une troisième voiture en 2015. Rappelons que l’équipe coréenne va homologuer une nouvelle i20 WRC la saison prochaine.
     
     
    Spaniard Dani Sordo will remain with Hyundai Motorsport until the end of 2016 alongside Thierry Neuville. He will contest at least 10 rallies in 2015 ahead of a full campaign the following year.
    Following Volkswagen Motorsport’s recent confirmation that it will keep Ogier, Latvala and Mikkelsen for 2015, Hyundai Motorsport has announced its two drivers for 2015 and 2016...
    Like Neuville, Sordo is to stay with the South Korean carmaker.
    The 31-year old has taken part in 116 WRC events and finished 37 times on the podium. He secured his only win date in Germany in 2013.
    After claiming the 2005 Junior world title, he became a factory driver for Citroën, Mini and Ford before being recruited by Hyundai for its WRC comeback season this year.
    Dani has taken part in six events in the Hyundai i20 WRC/Michelin and was running third overall on the Rallye Monte-Carlo before retiring. He earned the new car’s first stage victory in Portugal where he emerged in front after SS3. He later came second on the Rallye Deutschland to contribute to the make’s resounding one-two triumph in Germany in August.
    “Dani has demonstrated impressive consistency this season on different types of terrain,” says team boss Michel Nandan. “We are pleased to continue our collaboration with him into 2015 and 2016. Next season, he will take part in at least 10 WRC events, alongside Thierry, before a full season in 2016.”
    Hyundai Motorsport still hasn’t committed to a third car for 2015 when it is expected to homologate a new i20 WRC.