Le titre de vice-Champion demeure en jeu avant Magny-Cours / All focus shifts to battle for second in France

       

Suite au sacre de Jonathan Rea à Jerez, la grille WorldSBK 2015 arrive en France avec d’autres enjeux.

Situé dans le centre de la France, à près de 250 km de Paris, le Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours accueille cette semaine l’avant-dernière manche du Championnat du Monde eni FIM Superbike 2015 et demeure connu pour avoir accueilli pas moins de 15 éditions du Bol d’Or mais aussi des Grands Prix de Formule 1 jusqu’à 2008.

Lors de l’épreuve précédente, en Espagne, Jonathan Rea était devenu le cinquième pilote britannique de l’histoire à devenir Champion du Monde Superbike, un titre qu’il est le seul Nord-Irlandais à avoir à son palmarès. Le pilote du Kawasaki Racing Team avait été sacré dès la fin de la première des deux épreuves de la journée, à cinq courses de la fin de la saison. La couronne ayant trouvé preneur, le principal enjeu des prochaines courses sera naturellement le titre de vice-Champion, que se disputeront Chaz Davies et Tom Sykes.

Davies (Aruba.it Racing-Ducati SBK Team) arrive en France avec 22 points d’avance sur Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) et en sachant que 100 points demeurent en jeu sur l’ensemble des deux courses de Magny-Cours et de celles de Losail, où se terminera la saison 2015. En plus de mener aux points, Davies est l’homme en forme de la catégorie WorldSBK et a marqué un total de 140 points sur un maximum possible de 150 sur la série Laguna Seca-Sepang-Jerez. Sykes a quant à lui fini premier (2013) ou deuxième (2012, 2014) du WorldSBK ces trois dernières années.

En dehors du titre de Rea, le Kawasaki Racing Team avait aussi fêté à Jerez le tout premier titre Constructeur WorldSBK de la marque japonaise. La seconde place du classement Constructeurs devrait vraisemblablement revenir à Ducati, qui dispose de 78 points d’avance sur Aprilia avant les deux dernières manches de la saison. Quoi qu’il arrive, les trois marques ne manqueront pas de préoccupations cet hiver suite à ce que Yamaha ait annoncé son retour officiel dans la catégorie pour la saison 2016.

 

L’un des points d’interrogation de la semaine concernera la deuxième Ducati Aruba.it. Michele Pirro avait remplacé Davide Giugliano à Jerez mais personne n’a encore été confirmé aux côtés de Davies pour la manche française. Crescent et Suzuki se prépareront pour l’avant-dernière manche de leur partenariat tandis que Markus Reiterberger sera de retour sur la grille en inscription exceptionnelle pour courir sur la BMW du team VanZon Remeha. Les pilotes permanents accueilleront aussi en piste le Polonais Pawel Szkopek, qui courra sur la nouvelle Yamaha YZF R1 avec Szkopek POLand POSITION. À 40 ans, Szkopek a déjà participé à six épreuves WorldSBK, quatre en 2004 et deux en 2006. Le Polonais avait décroché son meilleur résultat il y a onze ans, à Magny-Cours, en finissant treizième de la seconde course, sur une Suzuki.

Suite aux essais libres et à la Tissot-Superpole de samedi après-mdi, la première des deux courses de Magny-Cours commencera dimanche matin à 10h30 et sera à suivre en direct sur WorldSBK.com.

 

With Rea already crowned World Champion, WorldSBK heads to Magny-Cours.

Situated close to the towns of Magny-Cours and Nevers, the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours (to give it its full title) is found in the centre of France and some 250 kilometres from capital city Paris. On no less than 15 occasions has it hosted the historic Bol d’Or motorcycle race and was also a home of Formula 1 car racing until 2008.

Last time out in Spain, Jonathan Rea became Great Britain’s fifth World Superbike Champion and the first from Northern Ireland, wrapping up the title in Race 1 at Jerez with five races still remaining in the 2015 season. Naturally, the attention now turns to the season-long struggle for runner-up spot between Chaz Davies and Tom Sykes.

There are just 22 points behind Davies (Aruba.it Racing-Ducati SBK Team) and Rea’s team-mate Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team). With 25 points available for race victory and a maximum of 100 still in play between now and the end of the season in Qatar, the pendulum could swing in either direction. Davies is the man with the momentum, having scored a highly impressive 140 of the last 150 points on offer from Laguna Seca, Sepang and Jerez, while Sykes has finished no lower than second in the championship for the past three years.

Things have settled down in the Manufactures’ race, too. Kawasaki needed to finish in the top eight in Jerez’s second race and it did, sealing the title for the all-green marque for the first time. What of the fight for second? One looks to Ducati, as its advantage of 78 points over last year’s Champions Aprilia is vast with only two rounds to go. Perhaps all will be looking over their shoulders for Yamaha, which will rejoin the paddock in 2016.

A notable question mark on the Magny-Cours line-up lingers over the second Aruba Ducati bike. Michele Pirro substituted for Davide Giugliano in Jerez, but Davies’ team-mate for the Fassi French Round is yet to be named. Elsewhere, Crescent and Suzuki head into their penultimate round of partnership as Markus Reiterberger returns as a One Event rider on the VanZon Remeha BMW. Also on the grid will be Polish representative Pawel Szkopek, notably riding the new Yamaha YZF R1 for the Szkopek POLand POSITION squad. Incidentally, this will not be 40-year-old Szkopek’s debut in World Superbike, as he rode four races in 2004 plus a further two in 2006; curiously, his best result to date came at Magny-Cours, where 11 years ago he rode a Suzuki to 13^th position in Race 2.

After Free Practice and Tissot-Superpole across Friday and Saturday, Magny-Cours’ opening World Superbike race begins on Sunday at 10:30 local time (GMT +2). As ever, all of the coverage can be followed on WorldSBK.com with live streaming and timing.

A 2-stroke Flattracking Story

2-stoke dirt racing usually takes a certain state of mind. 

When that state of mind is made up by four riders with a collective sense of fun, rivalry and lack of seriousness, the racing can only get better.

This is the story of the Jerkyls and their classic '79 Yamaha YZ250s and '73 Bultaco Pursangs. 

WRC, Corse : D’une île à l’autre.../ Corsica (WRC): from one island to another…

Après l’Australie, le Championnat du monde des Rallyes FIA accoste en Corse pour la 11e manche de la saison. Seulement neuf spéciales sont au programme des trois jours de course, mais avec une longueur de moyenne de 37 kilomètres, ce sont autant de défis qui attendent les meilleurs pilotes du monde.

La Corse n’avait plus accueilli de rallye mondial depuis 2008 et pour le retour du WRC sur l’Ile de Beauté, c’est un parcours inédit qui est proposé aux quelque 140 engagés, un record en WRC depuis près de 15 ans.

Le parcours 2015 renoue avec les traditions et emmènera les concurrents d’Ajaccio à Corte, de Bastia à Porto Vecchio, du Golfe de Sagone au Golfe de Propriano, à travers neuf longues spéciales et les paysages époustouflants de Kallisté.

Sébastien Ogier et Julien Ingrassia seront de retour en Corse où ils avaient décroché leur première récompense mondiale, chez les Juniors, en 2008. Sept ans plus tard, les voilà désormais coiffés d’une 3^e couronne mondiale. Même s’ils n’ont pu tester la Polo R WRC sur les routes insulaires, ils viseront une 32^e victoire mondiale et, pourquoi pas, tenteront d’égaler le grand chelem de Darniche et Loeb en Corse.

Comme Andreas Mikkelsen, ils ont été privés des tests corses après la sortie de route de Jari-Matti Latvala lundi dernier en essais. Surpris par le comportement de sa voiture équipée d’un nouveau différentiel, le Finlandais a sous-viré et terminé sa course dans les châtaigniers. Volkswagen Motorsport a dû annuler la suite de la session.

Les autres teams ont effectué leurs roulages sans encombre. Les pilotes Hyundai Motorsport, puis M-Sport et Citroën Racing ont tout à tour évolué sur des bases d’essais tracées près de Corte pour mettre au point les véhicules sur les asphaltes corses si variés.

Avec Dani Sordo et Thierry Neuville, Hyundai compte dans ses rangs deux anciens vainqueurs et compte bien sur ce duo pour défendre sa 2^e position au Championnat Constructeurs. Kris Meeke (Citroën), re-papa depuis jeudi dernier, a déjà disputé trois fois le Tour de Corse (deux en course, un en voiture 0). Son équipier Mads Ostberg prendra bien le départ après son accident en recos en Australien.

Stéphane Lefebvre (DS3 WRC) est de retour sur l’île où il a décroché le titre européen Juniors l’an passé. Sur ce Tour de Corse 2014, Kevin Abbring (Hyundai) avait quant à lui terminé à la 3^eplace du général. Le Néerlandais avait aussi participé à l’édition 2008.

Les pilotes M-Sport Ott Tanak et Elfyn Evans n’ont jamais mis les pieds en Corse, tout comme Hayden Paddon (Hyundai), mais ils pourront peut-être compter sur l’expérience de Bryan Bouffier (vainqueur en 2013) qui disposera d’une Fiesta version 2014. Vainqueur l’an passé, Stéphane Sarrazin sera lui aussi au volant d’une Ford Fiesta RS WRC, de même que Bertelli, Prokop et Robert Kubica qui a testé en Corse il y a deux semaines.

En WRC-2, Skoda Motorsport est de retour avec Lappi et Tidemand sur les Fabia R5/Michelin officielles. On attend beaucoup d’Eric Camilli (Fiesta R5), Craig Breen (Peugeot 208 T16) ou de Julien Maurin (Fiesta R5) face au Corse Jean-Matthieu Léandri (Peugeot 208 T16), vainqueur du récent Rallye de Corte.

On devrait également assister à de belles bagarres dans les rangs du Championnat de France, ainsi qu’en Championnat du monde Juniors et en European Clio R3T Trophy.

Shakedown jeudi matin vers Corte, puis cérémonie de départ à Ajaccio en soirée. Départ du 58^eTour de Corse vendredi 2 octobre à 8h00 précises pour le Champion du monde.

After the WRC’s recent visit to Australia, the 2015 FIA World Rally Championship moves on to Corsica this week for the season’s 11th round. Only nine stages figure on the menu, but their average length of 37km will make the three-day event a particularly tough challenge for the sport’s elite.

To mark world class rallying’s return to Corsica for the first time since 2008, the organisers have concocted a new-look format that has attracted some 140 entries, the highest figure for a WRC round for almost 15 years.

The route visits much of the Mediterranean island’s spectacular landscapes, with the service park in Corte and stopovers in Ajaccio, Bastia and Porto Vecchio.

Just weeks after collecting their third world crown, Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia will return to the place where they clinched their first title – the JWRC – in 2008. Despite being unable to test their Polo R WRC on the island’s twisty roads, they will be targeting a 32^nd world class win and, perhaps, a stage-victory grand slam to equal the feats of Darniche and Loeb before them in Corsica.

Like Andreas Mikkelsen, they were deprived of a chance to test when Jari-Matti Latvala crashed last Monday. The Finn was caught out by a new differential and understeer forced him into the nearby chestnut trees to conclude Volkswagen Motorsport’s session.

The other teams’ testing passed off without a problem, with Hyundai Motorsport, M-Sport and Citroën Racing visiting sample stages near Corte to set up their respective cars for the island’s broad variety of asphalt types.

In the persons of Dani Sordo and Thierry Neuville, Hyundai has two previous Tour de Corse winners in its line-up and will be counting on their experience to defend its second place in the Manufacturers’ standings. Kris Meeke (Citroën), whose wife had a second child on Thursday, has previously contested the event three times (including once in the zero car) and will be joined by team-mate Mads Ostberg who has recovered from his recce accident in Australia.

Stéphane Lefebvre (DS3 WRC) returns to the place where he sewed up last year’s Junior ERC. The 2014 Tour de Corse also saw Kevin Abbring (Hyundai) claim third overall. The Dutch driver took part in the 2008 event.

Like Hyundai rival Hayden Paddon, M-Sport’s Ott Tanak and Elfyn Evans have never previously set foot on the island but they will perhaps benefit from the experience of 2013 Tour de Corse winner Bryan Bouffier who returns in a 2014-spec Fiesta. Last year’s victor Stéphane Sarrazin will also have a Ford Fiesta RS WRC, as will Bertelli, Prokop and Robert Kubica who tested in Corsica two weeks ago.

In WRC2, Skoda Motorsport will be represented by Lappi and Tidemand in factory Michelin-equipped Fabia R5s, while much will be expected of Eric Camilli (Fiesta R5), Craig Breen (Peugeot 208 T16), Julien Maurin (Fiesta R5) and Corsican Jean-Matthieu Léandri (Peugeot 208 T16), winner of the recent Rallye de Corte.

There should also be some interesting fights among the French Championship, JWRC and European Clio R3T Trophy contenders.

Thursday morning’s shakedown near Corte will be followed by a start ceremony in Ajaccio in the evening. The 58^th Tour de Corse will start on Friday, October 2, at 8am.

Snapshot, 1977: Who’s it going to be, Princess Caroline?

Relaxing in the pit lane during practice for the 1977 Monaco Grand Prix, James Hunt shares a joke with a young Princess Caroline of Monaco, who is sporting a Jackie Stewart T-shirt that we’re sure would have drawn a typically droll comment from the British World Champion…

Sadly for James, that’s where the laughs would end that weekend, as engine failure put an end to his race – one of eight retirements in a season that would prove lacklustre in comparison with his whirlwind (and now legendary) championship victory the previous year. The 1977 season would also prove expensive for Hunt, who received hefty fines for a number of ‘offences’, including assaulting a marshal following an on-track contretemps, walking the track in an ‘unsafe manner’, and simply not bothering to attend the podium ceremony for his comfortable win at the season finale in Japan. Well, he was never one to bow to the establishment, was he? 

Photo: Sipa Press/Rex Shuttershock

5 classic car specialists to follow on Instagram

While social media are a great way for companies to interact with the public or advertise their wares, they are also great at providing users with a behind-the-scenes look at the business. And when the companies in question are historic car specialists, what could be more fascinating?

JD Classics

Operating from seven (yes, seven) showrooms, JD Classics’ stocklist is as varied as it is extensive. While the company is unrivalled when it comes to the restoration, maintenance and preparation of Jaguars, in recent years it has broadened its interests to include Ferraris, Aston Martins and many more. 

Duncan Hamilton & Co

Founded by 1940/50s racing hero Duncan Hamilton, his eponymous, Hampshire-based company has been trading some of the world’s finest road and racing classics for over 65 years. It was also the company responsible for curating the famous ROFGO collection, the largest collection of Gulf-sponsored racing cars in the world. 

DK Engineering

Arguably the premier historic Ferrari specialist in the UK, if not Europe, DK Engineering has been selling, maintaining, racing and restoring the most significant examples of the Prancing Horse since the late 1970s. Very much a family affair, the company’s impressive premises are littered with exotic classic and supercars…

Pendine Historics

Named after Pendine Sands, where many land speed records tumbled during the 1920s, Pendine Historics recently entered the ring, headed by founder James Mitchell. Based in the particularly cool Bicester Heritage site in Oxfordshire, it aims to help both aspiring and established collectors. 

Paul Stephens

Specialising in air-cooled classic Porsche 911s (as well as more modern GT and RS models), Paul Stephens is a leading independent UK Porsche specialist. The company offers a variety of services, including restoration and bespoke projects such as the striking 911 Spyder. 

... and a wildcard: Auto Fabrica

As a treat, we thought we’d include a classic motorcycle specialist, too. Auto Fabrica’s edgy yet sophisticated designs are carefully thought out, with different models focusing on different stylistic themes or elements. Simplicity is key. 

You can find us on Instagram, too, posting the very best of our original photography. Follow@classicdriver. 

Moto Guzzi 1000SP – Blitz Motorcycles

Written by Martin Hodgson.

When Fred and Hugo from Blitz Motorcycles in Paris fielded a call from Jacques in Luxembourg asking them to breathe life into an old Moto Guzzi 1000SP they jumped at the chance to work on a marque they’d not before laid their hands on. But when the machine in question finally arrived they started to have second thoughts, rust had left the foot rests, master cylinder and other assorted pieces literally hanging on by a thread of steel. But with their love of creating industrial-styled flat trackers, a copy of Moto Guzzi’s service manual in their hands and the bike named in honour of a beautiful Italian visitor named Monica they started to craft the Guzzi in their own style, and it’s more than just a set of Firestones.

The metal cancer ridden Guzzi was stripped down to its barebones and the boys hoisted it onto the operating table for extensive surgery. The frame has been modified to accept the new gas tank, surely a first, with the fitting of a Suzuki GT 175 tank, dents and all, to the big Italian chassis. The back-end of the frame also came in for significant modification with a rear hoop added to support the new bespoke black tracker seat. Before these items were finally bolted on the frame and side stand were powder coated in a dark gloss blue. Blitz fabricated the short rear fender in-house and it along with the handlebars, fork legs and wheels are finished in black powder coat that will resist any chipping the street stones of Europe can throw at it.

The thumping 1000 Guzzi V-Twin is an engine like no other, it is unapologetic in being mechanical and will vibrate even at its low 900rpm idle, but it’s this very characteristic that makes it so addictive. This is an engine that leaves the rider totally in control with a level of feedback lost now to modern electronics and ‘refinement’; It has monstrous torque, it’ll rev to 8k and close the throttle and it engine brakes like a GP bike. But the version brought to the Blitz boys was dead, so a full rebuild including new pistons, rings and gaskets was undertaken finishing the heads and covers in black. The carbs are new PHB 36 Dell’Orto units breathing through custom aluminium filters and the twin stainless exhausts retain the industrial look in matte grey ceramic coating. Moto Guzzi didn’t exactly spend big on electrics using pre-war technology so the charging system has been replaced and spark is now vastly improved with an upgrade to CDI ignition.

If there is a theme to the Blitz builds it is that they like their tracker bars a little higher than most, enabling the rider to wrestle their beast from a riding position more like a Motocrosser. The Guzzi is no different and the stark white grips are a unique contrast to the dark palette of the remainder of the build. A vintage look, yellow lensed, headlight gives a totally different feel to the soft touring style of the factory item. The small bates taillight lets other motorists know just when the rider has grabbed a handful of brake courtesy of the new master cylinder and the brakes have been upgraded with new calipers front and rear. The vintage industrial theme continues with the engine breather attached to the frame with a leather strap from L’Anguille and fuel levels monitored by a sight tube.

Mean and lean

Of course some modern technology is used to bring the Guzzi into the 21st century with the only instrumentation needed coming in the form of the multifunction Motogadget speedo. While ensuring Jacques is never stranded is a new Lithium-Ion battery mounted in a hand fabricated box under the seat. This mix of old and new proved the perfect combination straight out of the box with the initial test ride by Jacques a 300km ride from Blitz Motorcycles to a meeting with his daughter in Brussels. And what better way to cover the diverse roads of Europe than on a Blitz tracker that is just as comfortable touring as it is ripping up old cobbled back streets. It’s deliberately unrefined in its refinement, it makes the most of the great Guzzi engine and another old wrecker has been given a new life thanks to a few months at Blitz motorcycles rehabilitation centre.

via PIPEBURN

Zarco : « Je n’étais pas assez relâché » / Zarco: “It's been a tough weekend”

Le Français a admis que la pression l’avait empêché d’être aussi relâché que d’habitude au MotorLand Aragón, où il a fini sixième.

           

Après des essais libres compliqués, Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) avait réussi à se qualifier en première ligne mais n’a pas pris de risque en course et a terminé sixième alors que son premier poursuivant, Tito Rabat, décrochait la victoire. S’il manquait le podium pour la première fois depuis la première course de l’année, Zarco repartait quand même du MotorLand Aragón avec encore 78 points d’avance sur le Champion du Monde en titre et aura une nouvelle opportunité de décrocher le titre mondial la semaine prochaine, au Japon.

À son retour au garage, le Français a admis avoir pour la première fois de l’année ressenti la pression mais aura au moins eu le bon goût de calmement jouer la sécurité et de ne pas craquer.

Johann Zarco :

« Le plus important ce week-end a été de marquer dix points qui nous rapprochent encore un peu plus du titre. Le week-end a été dur et je n’ai pas réussi à être à l’aise. Pour les deux départs, le premier avait été bon mais pas le deuxième. Je sais que j’aurais pu rouler avec ceux qui étaient devant mais je n’ai pas pu le faire parce que je n’étais pas assez relâché. Je ne m’y attendais pas mais c’est ce qui est arrivé. J’ai ressenti la pression. Le point positif est que j’ai appris quelque chose et ce sera très important pour les prochaines courses. Le résultat n’était pas mauvais et maintenant je suis impatient d’aller au Japon, où je voudrai me battre pour la victoire. »

Avant sa sixième place au MotorLand, Zarco n'avait manqué le podium qu'une fois cette année, au Qatar, lors de la première course, où il s'était retrouvé dans l'impossibilité de changer de rapports alors qu'il était seul en tête de la course.

                 

Johann Zarco was presented with his first chance at the Moto2™ World Championship title in Aragon, but was unable to capitalize.

It was a calm and measured ride from Ajo Motosport’s Johann Zarco on Sunday at the Gran Premio Movistar de Aragon, settling for points after a difficult weekend. Usually Zarco is up in the top five during practice, showing flashes of speed but hiding his true potential until race day, unfortunately in Aragon Zarco’s somewhat lacklustre Free Practice sessions showed that pressure was starting to mount on the French rider. Sunday’s race was reduced to 14 laps after a red flag on the opening lap brought all the riders back to the pits, the restart not going to plan for Zarco.

Zarco was unable to recreate his strong start during the second attempt, falling three places in the opening corner and becoming trapped in the second group as the leaders broke away. Unable to relax, Zarco was forced to settle for watching his title rival, Tito Rabat (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Racing), slip away and take victory. Zarco’s title chance now heads to Motegi, the sight of his very first World Championship win in 2011, where he will need to leave with a at least a 75 point lead over Rabat. The difference is currently 78 points.

Johann Zarco: “The most important thing this weekend was picking up these 10 important points that allow us to move even closer to the title. It's been a tough weekend, in which I have not been able to feel relaxed. In the race there were two starts: The first was pretty good, but the second was not. I know I could have ridden with those at the front, but I was unable to do so because I was not relaxed enough. I did not expect this, but it's what happened. I felt the pressure. The good thing is that I have learned from it and that is very important for the next few races. The final result is not bad, so I'm looking forward to Japan and fighting for victory."

                 

Bluebird 1925-2015

In 1925 Malcolm Campbell took an aero-engined Sunbeam to over 150mph at Pendine Sands. On acquiring the car in 1923 he had painted it in new colours and called it Bluebird (already the fourth version). After an extensive engine restoration by current custodians, The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Malcolm Campbell's grandson, Don Wales, piloted the car back at Pendine, exactly 90 years, to the day, after the original runs.
by Nick Clements

Bluebird 1925-2015 from Nick Clements on Vimeo.

Rétro......

Renault Sport Trophy : Capitanio et Fumanelli célèbrent leur titre avec style au Mans

Après avoir obtenu le titre en Endurance samedi, Dario Capitanio et David Fumanelli (Oregon Team) ont continué à porter haut les couleurs de l’Oregon Team lors des courses Sprint du Renault Sport Trophy. Comme un symbole, le premier s’est imposé chez les pilotes Prestige pour sceller son sacre dans la catégorie et s’offrir un baquet aux 24 Heures du Mans 2016 en LMP2. Son partenaire David Fumanelli s’est ensuite imposé en Sprint Élite face à Nicky Pastorelli (V8 Racing) et Pieter Schothorst (Equipe Verschuur). Quatrième, Andrea Pizzitola (ART Junior Team) s’empare de la tête du classement général avant la finale de Jerez.

Prestige : Deuxième titre en deux jours pour Capitanio

Le poleman Richard Gonda (ART Junior Team) était débordé par Dario Capitanio qui s’emparait des commandes au départ de la course Prestige. Derrière les deux hommes, Diederik Sijthoff (V8 Racing) bondissait du sixième rang pour devancer Max Braams (V8 Racing) et Max van Splunteren (Equipe Verschuur). Ce dernier tirait tout droit au deuxième tour alors que Max Braams dépassait Diederik Sijthoff.

Malgré la pression imposée par Richard Gonda, Dario Capitanio résistait jusqu’au bout pour s’imposer et obtenir le titre en Prestige. Max Braams prenait la troisième place et le meilleur tour en course devant Diederik Sijthoff, qui distançait dans les derniers tours le groupe composé de Niccolò Nalio (Oregon Team), Max van Splunteren et Jelle Beelen (V8 Racing). Antoine Boulay (Monlau Competicion) se classait huitième devant Andrés Mendez (Zele Racing) et Jeroen Schothorst (Equipe Verschuur), qui reprenait la dixième place à Adalberto Baptista (Oregon Team) dans le dernier tour.

Elite : Fumanelli parachève le triomphe d’Oregon

Au départ, David Fumanelli conservait la tête devant Nicky Pastorelli, qui prenait l’avantage sur Steijn Schothorst (Equipe Verschuur). Pieter Schothorst et Bas Schothorst (Zele Racing) suivaient le trio au terme d’un premier tour où la voiture de sécurité intervenait après l’accident de Roy Geerts (V8 Racing). Les positions restaient identiques et le peloton groupé à la relance.

David Fumanelli s’échappait progressivement et s’imposait devant Nicky Pastorelli et Pieter Schothorst, promu au troisième rang après le problème rencontré par Steijn Schothorst au onzième tour. Andrea Pizzitola (ART Junior Team) se montrait opportuniste pour prendre la quatrième face à Luciano Bacheta (Oregon Team) et Christian Klien (Zele Racing). Bas Schothorst, Alan Hellmeister (Oregon Team), Vincent Capillaire (Monlau Competicion) et Duncan Huisman (V8 Racing) complétaient le top dix.

Ils ont dit

Dario Capitanio : « Richard était vraiment rapide. Il a été un excellent adversaire, toujours propre, parfois plus rapide que moi, mais il a joué de malchance durant la saison. Hier, le titre est arrivé tard dans la soirée, mais David et moi étions heureux. Aujourd’hui, malgré les attaques de Richard, j’ai réussi à gérer ma course. Être sacré alors qu’il reste une course à disputer est génial. Je suis au septième ciel. Avec la victoire et le titre au Mans, je serais au départ des 24 Heures du Mans en juin prochain grâce à Renault ! »

David Fumanelli : « C’est un sentiment génial de l’emporter après notre titre hier avec Dario. Cela a été un week-end plein d’émotions et une journée parfaite pour l’équipe. Il a fallu travailler dur pour arriver à un tel résultat car je ne connaissais pas Le Mans avant ce week-end. La voiture était fantastique, et j’ai même eu un peu de chance puisque l’abandon de Steijn me permet de reprendre des points au général. Ce sera difficile, mais je vais tout donner. »

Classement général Endurance provisoire* : 1. Fumanelli/Capitanio – 97 points, 2. Pizzitola/Gonda – 70, 3. Bacheta/Nalio – 57, 4. Geerts/Braams – 49, 5. Dontje/Forné – 43…

Classement général Elite provisoire* : 1. A. Pizzitola – 107 points, 2. S. Schothorst – 105, 3. D. Fumanelli – 85, 4. I. Dontje – 56, 5. R. Geerts – 49…

Classement général Prestige provisoire* : 1. D. Capitanio – 137 points, 2. D. Sijthoff – 107, 3. R. Gonda – 105, 4. N. Nalio – 102, 5. M. Braams – 90…

*Sous réserve de l’officialisation des résultats à l’issue des vérifications techniques et sportives.

Le classement de la course Prestige est ici et Elite là

Wheels & Waves 2015 ; PART TWO: RIDE, LISTEN & ENJOY

Wheels & Waves is about people. Yes, those who make and ride beautiful motorcycles, those who surf and those who bring things to sell, but most of all it's about people who love life and attempt create acts whenever possible.
In this film we celebrate the musicians and their work as they play out the ride and the last day of rest and relaxation, when ideas are exchanged and the winter's ambitious projects decided. Wheels & Waves returns to Biarritz and Cité de L'Océan from the 8 to the 12 of June, 2016. 

Wheels & Waves Part 2 from Nick Clements on Vimeo.

Movistar Yamaha, Team Champion du Monde MotoGP™ 2015 / Movistar Yamaha claims first team title since 2010

Le team officiel de Yamaha a décroché au MotorLand Aragón son premier titre de Team Champion du Monde MotoGP™ depuis 2010.

              

Grâce à la 60e victoire de Jorge Lorenzo et au 209e podium de son coéquipier Valentino Rossi au Grand Prix Movistar d’Aragón, le team Movistar Yamaha MotoGP a remporté dimanche dernier le titre de Team Champion du Monde MotoGP™ 2015. Le team officiel de Yamaha s’impose cette année pour la première fois depuis 2010, après quatre saisons dominées par le team Repsol Honda.

Lorenzo a jusqu’ici remporté six victoires et Rossi quatre, soit un impressionnant total de 10 sur 14 courses pour la Yamaha M1.

Les deux pilotes Movistar Yamaha sont en tête du classement MotoGP™ 2015, que Rossi mène avec 14 points d’avance sur Lorenzo avant les quatre dernières courses de la saison.

             

Jorge Lorenzo : 

« Je suis très fier du team et très fier du travail que tout le monde a fait chez Yamaha au Japon. Ils ont travaillé sur tous les aspects et particulièrement sur l’entrée en virage. C’était l’une de nos principales faiblesses les années précédentes. Ce titre de Team Champion du Monde, que nous avons remporté à quatre courses de la fin de la saison, signifie beaucoup de choses pour nous. C’est une année incroyable en termes de résultats comme de performances de la part de notre moto et nous sommes très heureux. »

                

Valentino Rossi : 

« Le titre mondial du team est une belle réussite pour tout le monde parce que toute l’équipe et tous les ingénieurs ont pu améliorer la M1 et nous fournir une excellente moto. Nous avons fait un grand pas en avant par rapport à l’année dernière et surtout par rapport à Honda. C’est toujours important pour les pilotes parce que nous sommes toujours préoccupés par ces choses-là et cette année année Jorge et moi avons remporté beaucoup de points, en finissant très souvent devant. Tout le monde au sein du team est très content. »

                  

Massimo Meregalli :

« Le team a travaillé très dur toute la saison et ça a payé puisque Movistar Yamaha MotoGP est maintenant le Team Champion du Monde. Je souhaite dédier ce titre à tous les membres de l’équipe, qui se sont toujours efforcés de trouver des solutions pour atteindre un haut niveau de compétitivité. Je tiens aussi à dédier cette victoire à Movistar et nous n’aurions pas pu leur offrir un plus beau cadeau que le titre de Team Champion du Monde pour le Grand Prix dont ils sont le sponsor officiel. Je suis très heureux que nous ayons remporté ce titre devant M. Alierta, le président de Telefonica, qui nous a honoré de sa présence dans le garage durant la course. »

              

Movistar Yamaha’s eighth double podium of the season at Aragon meant they lifted the MotoGP™ Team World Championship title.

Jorge Lorenzo’s 60th GP victory and his teammate Valentino Rossi’s 209th premier class podium ensured that the Movistar Yamaha team got their hands on the Team World Championship with four races still to go. It was the first time that had lifted the title since 2010 and in the process they brought an end to the dominance of the Repsol Honda team who have won it for the last four seasons.

Lorenzo has six victories to his name while Rossi has four, meaning that the team have won 10 of the 14 races so far this season in a year that has seen the Yamaha M1 become a force to be reckoned with once more.

The two Movistar Yamaha riders sit on top of the MotoGP™ World Championship standings with Rossi leading Lorenzo by just 14 points after the Gran Premio Movistar de Aragón.

               

Jorge Lorenzo: “I‘m very proud of the team and very proud of the work that everyone from Yamaha did in Japan. They worked on all aspects but especially on corner entry. That was our main weakness over the previous years. This Team World Championship title, that we secured already four races before the end of the season, means a lot to us. It‘s been an unbelievable year from the results to the performance of the bike and we are very happy.”

                

Valentino Rossi: “The Team World Title is a great achievement for everybody, because all the team, all the engineers were able to improve the M1 and gave us a great bike. We did a great step compared to last year and compared to Honda also, especially. It is also a great achievement for the riders, because we always care about this and this year me and Jorge were able to win a lot of points and arrived in front a lot of the time. So everybody in the team is very happy.”

Massimo Meregalli: “It was a state of the art performance by Jorge, his level was unmatched and he managed the gap perfectly. He didn‘t make any mistakes and fully deserved his 60th Grand Prix win over all classes. Valentino did well to ride from sixth to third early on in the race and got caught up in a battle with Dani Pedrosa for the final two podium positions. The team has worked very hard all season long and it had paid off, as Movistar Yamaha MotoGP is now the World Champion Team. I want to dedicate this title to all team members, who always put a lot of effort in finding solutions to bring us to a highly competitive level. I also want to dedicate this victory to Movistar, as we could not have given them a better gift than the Team World Championship title at their own title sponsored Grand Prix. I‘m especially happy that we have won this title in front of Mr. Alierta, President of Telefonica, who honoured us with his presence in the garage during the race.”

               

THIS IS WHERE L.A.’S WHIZ KID BIKE BUILDER LIVES

“Son, once you get those training wheels off,” Mark said, “I’ll buy you your first motorcycle.” A day later, Haven could ride his first bicycle without training wheels. Soon, he was on a motorcycle…at three years old. “I just thought it was so cool that I could go so fast, and everything was a blur, and I got to do it myself,” Haven says. “I was really free, I think I always held on to that.” All of the signs present in a typical workshop are here: work benches, welding supplies, spare parts, but the warehouse Mark and Haven live in has been the focal point of their relationship and projects. Now a teenager, Haven has been turning heads with his first few custom motorcycles—that he’s made all by himself. Drive Tastefully®

The world’s best motorcycle, custom built for Classic Driver

As rare and fast as a Münch Mammut, and as futuristic as a science-fiction toy straight out of Hollywood, the new Lotus motorcycle is already considered the superbike of the new millennium. Classic Driver was one of the first customers to commission a Lotus C-01...

There’s great and then there’s...

Vincent Black Shadow, Brough Superior, Münch Mammut, Kawasaki Z1, Ducati 916. Plenty of great motorcycles have been built over the years, but really great ones don’t come along that often. Which is why the long-awaited arrival of the Lotus C-01 should be regarded as a biking landmark – because it truly is one of those rare ‘really great’ motorcycles.

Child of Tron

When the C-01 was first announced in January 2014, it attracted a degree of scepticism because it seemed so different, so futuristic and so implausible that many believed it would never actually enter production. But now it has, and the nay-sayers have been proved radically wrong.

Classic Driver recently took delivery of one of the first examples, custom-finished in our very own livery, and we remain in awe of this remarkable Lotus-badged machine built under licence by the German engineering firm Kodewa, celebrated for its success in everything from DTM to rallying and Formula 1.

Add to that the fact that the C-01 was designed by none other than Daniel Simon, whose past projects have included the Bugatti Veyron and the fantastically futuristic vehicles seen in movies such as Tron: Legacy, Prometheus and Oblivion, and the reasons why the bike is as good as it is begin to become apparent.

Kawasaki-killer

Combining a smooth, slippery, all-enveloping carbonfibre body, a frame made from titanium and aerospace-grade steel, and the same 1200cc, V-twin Rotax engine found in KTM’s RC8R superbike (but tweaked to produce 200bhp), the C-01 is every bit as radical as the far-out vehicles found in Simon's books, ‘Cosmic Machines’and ‘Timeless Racers’– except in this case, concept has turned to dramatic reality.

The Classic Driver C-01 became one of the first examples seen in action when we took it to theGlemseck 101 motorcycle festival in September, where it amazed onlookers by trouncing Kawasaki’s supercharged, 300 horsepower Ninja H2 in a series of sprints.

A masterpiece of German engineering

Before that could happen, however, the C-01 needed to clock up 1,000 kilometres for Corser to be able to use full power. And the enviable task of running it in went to Tobias Aichele, motorcycle fanatic and proprietor of Premium Motorrad, the sole distributor of the Lotus  bike in Europe.

“We are receiving more and more enquiries about the C-01 now that people realise it has actually entered production – and its performance at the Glemseck 101 amazed the spectators. No one could believe how fast it is.

“But it’s not only the performance. The finish is really impressive, and that goes for every detail, from the electrical system down to the fuel tank. To look at, it’s a masterpiece of German engineering, and to ride, it’s even better. Because it has such a long wheelbase, I wasn’t expecting it to handle especially well... but it’s beautiful. I don’t know how they’ve done it, but it takes curves like an all-out sports bike.

100 examples at 100,000 euros each

“I would say it’s an extremely fast motorcycle - not in terms of its top speed, but in the way it performs on the backroads. The handling is superb, and the power delivery is just effortless. The red line is at 6,000rpm, but you don’t need to go anywhere near that in order to ride the C-01 quickly, because it offers so much torque,” adds Aichele, who likens the bike to the legendary Münch Mammut in terms of its radical design and appearance.

A maximum of 100 examples of the €100,000 (plus local taxes) C-01 will be built, production of which will occur in batches of 20. For more information, see www.Lotus-Motorcycles.com

Photos by Rémi Dargegen for Classic Driver © 2015

You can find many classic and collectable motorcycles for sale in the Classic Driver Market.