Aegerter tests with Akira at Jerez

Courtesy of MotoGP

Moto2™ rider Dominique Aegerter has been riding an Akira MotoGP™ prototype with a Kawasaki engine at the Jerez circuit this week, alongside the World Superbikes teams who are testing at the Spanish circuit.

The Technomag Racing Interwetten man explained, “I tested last year in Barcelona with Avintia and some of the people from Akira were already there. They contacted us to test here again and for me it’s quite good to start riding a little bit sooner than in February.”

Running Michelin tyres and going without traction control or anti-wheelie control, Aegerter has been given a good physical workout on the machine and expanded, “It was pretty amazing the power in the morning, after two months of not riding during the winter break. We don’t really have the right tyre for the bike to get the right grip and make a lap time, but I am trying different lines to get the grip and we are working on it. The team are trying to adjust the geometry and we have then brought down the lap time a little bit, but we are quite slow compared to MotoGP times.”

Asked about Kawasaki’s involvement in the test, given that the Akira-built machine features an engine from the Japanese factory, Aegerter commented, “The project is more from Akira’s side. But for sure they are interested to come back (to MotoGP). If they were not interested they wouldn’t try to develop the bike. Up until now I have no more information, they’ve just asked me to do this test. I think they will test all through the year a little bit and I hope I can ride this bike again.”

[yasr_visitor_votes size=”medium”]

Poncharal previews season ahead for Tech 3 team

Courtesy of MotoGP

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team Manager Herve Poncharal features in the final episode of this winter’s Off-Season Show series.

Poncharal of course runs the Tech 3 outfit in the MotoGP™ and Moto2™ classes and he welcomed motogp.com to his team’s HQ in the south of France to preview another exciting season ahead in 2015.

Speaking to Dylan Gray for the Off-Season Show – Series 3 Episode 7 – Poncharal said of his two premier class riders Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro, “Bradley is fast, Pol is fast, we believe in them and Yamaha is behind them 100%. We have to help them to be psychologically stronger and to feel less pressure, although they need to have some pressure. You always have positive and negative pressure. It’s going to be a team result and I don’t want to blame a rider or a bike. Altogether we have a programme and a target and we need to be reaching that because we all know each other quite well and sometimes results can come from continuity.”

“The 2015 season is going to be an important one for many riders in the MotoGP class including our two guys.”

On Tech 3’s ongoing Moto2™ entry, which sees them again field Marcel Schrotter and Ricard Cardus in 2015 on a frame built in-house at the team’s French workshop, Poncharal commented, “This is our own project. We might be the last team to come racing with our own specific chassis, designed and manufactured here at Tech 3, competing against a big brand which is almost 90% of the field. This is our baby! This is our bike, designed here and it gives us a special feeling to go racing in the Moto2 class and see our two guys on it.”

On whether the team’s approach to Moto2 helps them in MotoGP, the Frenchman also stated, “I believe that if you only do what you have to do on Grands Prix weeks and then go home in between, that works and that’s what most of the teams do. But I think if you give your guys something to do in between races, especially when it is bike design and thinking about how to face the problems of a constructor, clearly you understand things and you improve your skill. Also when you face the situation of having to set up Brad or Pol’s bikes maybe what you have learned is going to help you to perform more and to find solutions more quickly.”

[yasr_visitor_votes size=”medium”]

MotoGP™ Legend Nieto inaugurates Jerez Walk of Fame

Courtesy of MotoGP

In an event to mark the commencement of Jerez’s celebrations as the World Motorcycling Capital, MotoGP™ Legend Angel Nieto was the first rider to be inducted into the southern Spanish city’s new Walk of Fame.

In an event attended by Mayor María José García-Pelayo and municipal government spokesman and event coordinator Antonio Saldaña the 12+1 time World Champion Nieto left hand prints – Hollywood style – on the Walk of Fame and signed a commemorative barrel of Jerez sherry.

Nieto also announced that his fellow MotoGP Legend, Giacomo Agostini, will be the next rider to be inducted into Jerez’s new Walk of Fame.

[yasr_visitor_votes size=”medium”]

Laverty enjoys Monte-Carlo rally action

Courtesy of MotoGP

It has been a quiet winter for Eugene Laverty up until yesterday when the 2015 FIA World Rally Championship kicked off in style with a star studded event in the heart of Monte-Carlo of which Eugene took part in.

Celebrities from the world of sport, film and music were invited to sample all that the championship has to offer with a very special passenger ride through the streets of the principality’s world-famous Formula One circuit.

Alongside the Drive M7 Aspar rider Eugene Laverty was Formula One race winner David Coulthard and Welsh songstress Elin Fflur who all turned co-driver for the afternoon as Elfyn Evans demonstrated the power and performance of his Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

Eugene Laverty: “That was even better than I expected. Watching Elfyn [Evans] driving – holding the steering wheel with his finger tips and braking and accelerating using the tips of his toes – was incredible. I was looking across at him as much as I was looking out of the front windscreen! I really enjoyed the experience and it’s certainly one that I’ll remember for a long time.”

Now Eugene flies to Ireland to attend the Adelaide Motorbike Awards in Belfast where he has been nominate for three awards.

[yasr_visitor_votes size=”medium”]

2015 FIM X-Trial World Championship – Sheffield – (GBR)

Courtesy of TV FIM

 

[yasr_visitor_votes size=”medium”]

MXGP – Team HRC pre-season video Sardinia test

Courtesy of Honda Racing Corporation

 

Pre-season testing MXGP 2015 After the reveal of the 2015 Team HRC MXGP livery earlier this week, the pre-season video is now available too.   The video comes as Team HRC finish their official pre-season test in Sardinia. Both Evgeny Bobryshev and new signing Gautier Paulin will be in action this weekend in Riola Sardo, Sardinia, for the first round of the Italian International Championship, the typical MXGP season warm-up contested by many of the Grand Prix riders. For more information, go to http://www.hondaracingcorporation.com or http://www.hondaproracing.com

Roger Harvey HRC General Manager – MXGP “The test here in Sardinia has gone very well and we successfully tested many new parts and with both riders validated the work that’s been done in the off-season between the team in Italy and HRC in Japan. Bobby is feeling very strong on the bike after a good winter of training, and will compete in every round of the Italian International Championship to make up for some of the race time he missed through injury last year. Gautier is settling in with the team and the bike very well, and to be honest it’s like he’s never been away from Honda. We’ve taken some very positive steps forward since the end of last season, and we need to wait until the GP of Qatar to really see where everyone stands, but we’re feeling confident and certainly ready for 2015.”

Evgeny Bobryshev 777 “I’m really looking forward to racing because I feel stronger and I would say I’m ready. Since the injuries last year I changed my programme. Since October I started really working again on my physical condition, so much earlier compared to other years. Normally in October you stop at the end of the season and have a little break, but now I was mad because of what happened last year so I focused this into training. Now, I feel much better and stronger at this point in the season than compared to other years. “We’ve developed a really good bike at the moment. It’s improved again since last year, especially with the engine and suspension, so I’m happy with the way it is now. It’s also good that we have one month of racing with the Italian championship coming so we can make some more steps with bike setting and to get the race condition better before Qatar. “The bike looks great too. For me always when I was a kid I was thinking the more stickers I have on the bike, the faster I would be! For sure it’s a lovely colour – it’s similar to my flag and I think that the blue, white and red just really fits with our gear so we’ll look really good this year. “The team has been doing the hardest job over the winter with the preparation and development and everyone now is really pushing their best so we’re now just waiting for the first race and waiting for the results. The way everybody works and the way I work, we’re only really thinking about one thing this season.”

Gautier Paulin 21 “I really like to ride this red bike. It’s a big change but as soon as I rode it at the end of last season I already had a good feeling which is important because at our level to change team and bike like this is a big step. Now I feel really good. The handling and stability of this 450 is really awesome. HRC have been working on the engine to give me what I want because last year it was ridden with a little bit different style. Everything is pretty much done already on the position and chassis, so now it’s just some small points to arrange, but we’ve passed a big step in a really short period so I’m pretty happy. “It feels really natural to be back in red again. I’m trying to give my new image to my fans as much as possible so they recognise me at the first GP! It’s fun too. Everyone who sees me on the track tells me that they’re surprised. For them they thought it was a big change but now finally they prefer me in red so it’s really cool to hear that the people really love it. “We know the start of the season is coming really quick, and it feels like today we are testing and tomorrow we will be behind the gate in Qatar. Everything is going really well though. I’m happy with the people around me and they are really fun and they work in the good direction and we all want the same thing. It’s a great atmosphere in the team. “Like every year at this period it’s a case of finding out where I am at with my speed, with my condition, with the bike, and asking myself those questions to put all the parts of the puzzle together to be ready. I enjoy racing so I really want to be behind the gate now. It’s all going in the right direction so I’m feeling pretty confident.”

[yasr_visitor_votes size=”medium”]

Special Offer: 15% OFF all official t-shirts & caps

Courtesy of MotoGP

RIDERS TEAMS CLOTHING ACCESSORIES DEALS SHOP BY RIDER:

Copyright © 2015 Dorna Sports, All rights reserved.

[yasr_visitor_votes size=”medium”]

X-Trial of Marseille: next mission for Toni Bou

Courtesy of Honda Racing Corporation

X-Trial of France X-Trial 2015  Round X2 The second date of the 2015 FIM X-Trial World Championship gets underway this weekend in Marseille, France with Toni Bou eager to strengthen his current overall leadership position. Toni Bou comes to Saturday night’s big challenge as the incumbent X-Trial champ, and aims to stay on course for another championship title, in this, the season’s second outing. The Repsol Honda Team ace arrives at a French venue, well-suited to his flamboyant riding style, one that has seen him victorious on a total of four previous occasions, grabbing top honours in the three most recent editions (2014, 2012, 2011). The qualifying round kicks off the event at 20,20 hrs on Saturday, January 31 at the Palais des Sports, Marseille, with eight participants hoping for a place in the final. Only four will make the cut, as the riders lock horns in a circuit of six challenging sections. In the X-Trial season’s opening test on January 3 in Sheffield, United Kingdom, Toni Bou showboated his way to an unprecedented twenty-seven consecutive wins in the saddle of the Montesa Cota 4RT. The Spaniard remains unbeaten since January 31, 2010.

Rider Standings Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team 1 BOU Toni 1 SPA 20 Repsol Honda Team 2 CABESTANY Albert 2 SPA 15 Sherco 3 RAGA Adam 3 SPA 12 Gas Gas 4 FAJARDO Jeroni 5 SPA 9 Beta 5 FERRER Alexandre 7 FRA 6 Sherco 6 DABILL James 4 GBR 4 Vertigo 7 BROWN Michael GBR 2 Gas Gas 8 KARLSSON Eddie 8 SWE 1 Montesa

[yasr_visitor_votes size=”medium”]