6 ❘ MOTOR CYCLE NEWS SEPTEMBER 3, 2008
NEWS
HOLLYWOOD STAR’S BIKE FETCHES £15K A CUSTOM bike, above, built for Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey has raised £15,000 at auction for charity. The 1340cc machine, built by Knockout Motorcycle Company, was given to the star of Dazed and Confused and The Wedding Planner, to mark the 2007 success of the Texas University football team.
Halhead rode to Kiev
FUCHS CHIEFS’ 4000-MILE RIDE THE top brass at Fuchs Lubricants swopped their Stoke-on-Trent office for the open road to raise money for UNICEF’s Kids in Kiev appeal. Richard Halhead and Norman Burgess covered 4000 miles in two weeks, visiting 13 countries, en-route to and from the area of Ukraine affected by the Chernobyl disaster. The duo are hoping to raise around £40,000.
Five-seater Hog is V-bonkers An American Harley dealer goes the whole hog creating a four-engine, five-seat bike laura.kennerley @motorcyclenews.com
H
E may be renowned for shaking up Harl e y - D a v i d s o n ’s staid design department, but even Willie G Davidson thought an eightseat Hog was crazy. Instead, the grandson of the founder of Harley-Davidson motorcycles gave his seal of approval to a “more sensible” five-seat bike with four Harley engines. Willie G gave the project the thumbs-up when Harley dealership owner Steve “Doc” Hopkins ran the idea past him earlier this year. Encouraged by Davidson’s support, Doc immediately set to work and after 17 days’ labour had created this monster custom, powered by four flathead 45 cubic inch 1950s
PETER OFF TO WILD COAST
‘The four engines’ single starter needs a powerful kick’
PETER BRANSON from Guilford is the winner of the MCN/Total Excellium Enduro Africa competition. His prize is a 12-day trip to South Africa’s remote Wild Coast organised by Enduro Africa. Peter, 35, who rides a Ducati Monster 600 said: “I am excited and completely shocked. It should be incredible.”
Harley engines. The frame consists largely of Harley components, many of which were found lying around his Wisconsin dealership or sourced at flee markets and auto jumbles. A kick-start fires up all four engines simultaneously. Doc, who has been in business since 1979 and is
DOC’S OTHER INVEN
renowned for his unusual inventions, said: “I told Willie G my idea, and he said, ‘That’s crazy, it will never make it around corners’. “So I revised my design, and the following morning I started building it. After just 17 days making it, the bike started on the third kick. “All the engines are genuinely started with just one kick start, as a result it sounds like one machine – it is like a harmony. “It’s not terribly loud, the engines are just 6:1 compres-
sion. It does take somebody powerful to jump on it and get it started though.” Each engine has its own oil tank, but shares the same 5.4 gallon fuel tank. The bike’s controls are mounted on the front handlebar as standard, so that the person in the front seat has sole responsibility for riding. The only problem Doc has encountered riding the bike, which weighs about 1200lb, has been his passengers. “They don’t lean as much
Car-like carrying capacity as I need them to,” he explained. “They all remain pretty upright which means I have to turn the bike more like a trike. That is making low speed manoeuvring tricky. Once you have some speed up it’s not too difficult to handle.” But if Doc were
to remake the bike he would only make one change to his design: he would lower it. Fearing its length would mean pavements or potholes would cause it to bottom out, he gave it a 30inch seat height which means he is always on his tiptoes.
The five-seaterHarley is the latest in the Doc’s long line of creations – from a lifesize 50ft pirate ship to a pogo stick made from Harley-Davidson parts. His showroom is home to a Harley with a 205 cubic inch exhaust with a coffee pot attachment which allows Doc to brew himself a drink as he rides. He has modified a trike to look like a moose, and produced several ‘sculptures’– including a 114lb cobra – all constructed from Harley parts. Doc has also created a unique ceiling fan using five Harley windscreens. The fan, which measures eight feet and weighs 400lb is
SEPTEMBER 3, 2008 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS ❘ 7
HOWARD BOYLAN
www.motorcyclenews.com
Four flathead 50s engines
Schwantz 500GP replica with Lucky Strike colour scheme
Suzuki dealership launches Schwantz replica GSX-R750
The parachute team are keen bikers – and rate the track more thrilling than their day job
“Doc” Hopkins with his monster creation
NTIONS powered by a five-speed Harley engine. Doc has been in business since 1979, and is renowned for his unusual attractions. The dealership, which stands in 58 acres, also has its own zoo. It boasts 104 animals and a museum featuring an eclectic mix of cars, bikes and unusual memorabilia.
Bizarre Moose trike Eclectic museum collection
NOT content with free falling into Silverstone at 120mph, the Red Devils Parachute display team jumped straight on track to complete a few flying laps. Seven of the 19-strong team were loaned Yamaha R6s at the latest Focused Events track day at the Northamptonshire circuit. The guys, all bikers, range in experience from track day regulars to a 23-year-old who passed his test two weeks ago. “Riding round the track actually feels much faster than being in the air,” Corporal Dan Schmidt said. “There is nothing to gauge the speed in the air, but on the ground hoardings and stands are all rushing by. You are much more aware of how easily you could get hurt.” And these are all men who are used to being in adrenalin-pumping situations. Before joining the Red Devils they all completed at least three years in the Parachute Regiment and at least one tour of duty in war-torn areas such as Sierra Leone, Kosovo or Afghanistan. As
STEVE CANDLISH
Red Devils’ flying laps
Red Devils’ dramatic entrance at the Silverstone track day
‘You’re much more aware of how easily you can get injured on the track’ Red Devils they now tour the UK and the world completing up to 100 aerial displays a year to raise the Army’s profile. Besides jumping out of planes for a living the team are all extreme sports enthusiasts, which probably
explains why they all enjoy riding too. Major Paul Blair, who rides a Triumph Daytona 675, said: “We do sometimes go out riding together. However, during the summer, we tend to work six or seven days a week, so finding the time is hard.” But they do try to hire Harleys when they are in California for a month’s training – that’s one of the reasons why Lance Corporal Daniel Kelly decided to take his test last month. “I haven’t ridden on the road yet and here I am riding at Silverstone,” he said.
STAMFORD Superbikes has introduced two race replica GSX-Rs based on the race bikes of Kevin Schwantz and Cameron Donald. The Schwantz replica, above, mirrors the Lucky Strike colour scheme which the American used in 1995 during his final 500GP season. The 1993 world champion is also remembered in the UK for his victory in 1986 in the Transatlantic Races at Donington. Riding a GSX-R750 at Donington, he saved a crash on the left-hander after the Old Hairpin in such spec-
tacular fashion that the corner was later renamed Schwantz curve! The Relentless replica, below, has been built to honour the success of Cameron Donald at the Isle of Man this year, where the Australian won the Superstock and Superbike races. Both bikes feature a Stamford Superbike plaque on the tank to show they are special editions and include two years’ warranty, oneyear breakdown cover and discounts on servicing and accessories. Details: 01733235213.
Relentless replica honours Donald’s Isle of Man victories
32 ❘ MOTOR CYCLE NEWS SEPTEMBER 3, 2008
ROAD TEST
TWINS OR FOURS? You want a superbike, but should you go for a Japanese four-cylinder or an exotic European V-twin? To find out, we got four very different riders to give us their opinion BIKE: KTM RC8 £10,695
KTM’s long-awaited superbike. Powered by a liquid-cooled 1148cc V-twin, it comes with futuristic styling, quality WP suspension and Brembo radial brakes.
THE SUPERBIKE NOVICE: ROB HULL
Rob (24) has held a full motorcycle licence for seven years. He’s had everything from an Aprilia RS250 to a GSX-R600 and now runs a KTM 690 Duke, but has never ridden a superbike.
michael.neeves @motorcyclenews.com
I
T’S not easy to decide which kind of superbike is best for you – an inline four-cylinder Japanese machine or a sexy European V-twin. So we’ve decided to help you with your decision. We took two V-twins, two inline fours and four very different riders you see below and asked the guys which bike they preferred (and why) over a varying series of tests. But first, here’s what their impressions were before they started riding... Dave: “I’ve got a Tuono, it’s fun and has loads of punch. On the open road it’s got perfect power characteristics, but it’s pretty hateful in traffic, like all V-twins. I had an original Mille R and a Suzuki Bandit 1200 before –
the Tuono is a sort of a halfway house. So, I had a fair idea of what the twins would be like, but I thought the fours would be bland and uninvolving.” Steve: “I’ve never ridden a twin, but I’ve had KTM dirt bikes, so I was really looking forward to the RC8 – it’s the bike I wanted to ride straight away. Going by what people say in racing, you’ve got to ride twins differently, use the grunt more than the revs. I had half an idea what to expect, but not fully.” Rob: “I did have differing expectations for the two engine categories. I knew the fours would be finely tuned race-ready bikes with lights, but wasn’t thinking they’d do much in terms of getting my blood pumping. However, being a bit of a fan of twins, I wanted the Aprilia
BIKE: APRILIA RSV1000R FACTORY £10,499
Virtually unchanged since 2004, the 997cc Aprilia is a tried and tested V-twin superbike. The ‘Factory’ version has Ohlins suspension, OZ wheels, Brembo brakes and a smattering of carbon fibre.
THE ROAD TESTER: MICHAEL NEEVES
Michael (38) has ridden every new bike in his six years at MCN. He also races an R1 in the Bemsee Powerbike series and in the R1 Cup BSB support series.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2008 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS ❘ 33
and KTM to give me that little extra passion.” Michael: “Twins tend to be more awkward to ride straight away than the more user-friendly four-cylinder Japanese machines. The latest generation of sports twins from the European factories, like the RSV and RC8, tend to be more cramped, stiffer and snatchier on the throttle than a four. They’re not as easy to muck about on, either, if antics like wheelies and skids are your thing. You get more of an impression of speed from a screaming four than a droning twin, too.”
USABILITY WITH a test route that took in town riding, motorways, dull A-roads, twisty B-roads and the handling circuit at Bruntingthorpe Proving
Ground near Leicester, our four riders had plenty of time to see how easy our twins and fours are to ride. Dave: “The Fireblade is the easiest to use everywhere – in town, open road and on the race track, it’s a piece of cake. I could keep up with Steve a little bit easier on the Blade than I could on the twins, too! I knew the twins would be horrid in traffic. You always need to be two gears lower than you really want to be, because they hunt and shunt otherwise. The KTM was especially bad – it has horrendous fuelling. The throttle is like a switch, so if you hit a bump it’s transmitted through the twistgrip and you lurch forward. Twins are more susceptible to this – even the Aprilia will do it to some extent, but the KTM is man-
BIKE: HONDA CBR1000RR FIREBLADE £9200
Styled to look like Honda’s RC212V MotoGP racer, the new Fireblade is maybe the best Japanese 1000cc sports bike ever made.
THE RACER: STEVE MERCER
Steve (26) races a ZX-10R in the National Superstock Championship with MSS Discovery Kawasaki. He stood in for Stuart Easton at Knockhill BSB and scored an 11th and 12th, despite never having ridden a full-blooded superbike before. He’s never ridden a twin, either.
ifestly worse than anything I’ve ever ridden before.” Steve: “I thought the twins would be different from the fours – and they were. I really liked the Aprilia – I didn’t have any dramas with it around town or on the open
‘The KTM has horrendous fuelling’ DAVE BROWN road. But the KTM was really snatchy at low revs, like it was hunting for fuel, but the faster you went, the better the fuelling was. It was the most uncomfortable bike here – it canes your arms, legs and wrists.” Rob: “My first experience
MYKEL NICOLAOU
www.motorcyclenews.com
riding through towns blurred my initial thoughts about the twins. The KTM’s snatchy throttle response was a pain in the neck and the RSV felt like a big lump at low speeds. But both fours could be ridden at low speeds in pure ease and comfort, despite the extreme riding positions. Out on the open road you could find yourself steadily bimbling along on the ’Blade or GSX-R, only to look down and see licence-losing figures. With the twins you always feel you have to put yourself out a bit more to try to keep up with the fours, and one misjudgement on gear selection, making the engine rev too high or labour, costs you dear.” Michael: “The Honda and Suzuki are instantly friendly and inviting. They have Continues over
BIKE: SUZUKI GSX-R1000 K8 £8849
The cheapest of all the Japanese 1000cc fours, the 182mph, 167bhp GSX-R1000 is likely to be replaced by a revamped K9 model next year. Although put in the shade by the sharper new ZX-10R and Blade this year, it’s still the hooligan’s choice.
THE PROFESSIONAL RIDER: DAVE BROWN
Dave (48) is a track and roadriding riding instructor for the highly acclaimed Rapid Training. He’s has a massive 32-years riding experience under his belt.
Above: the KTM was slated for its on/off throttle response and lurching demeanour around town
52 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS SEPTEMBER 3, 2008
SPORT
Ten moments of
DONINGTON PREVIEW 2008
R3 VALENCIA SPAIN
R1 LOSAIL, QATAR
michael.guy @motorcyclenews.com
CHECA WIPES OUT NEUKIRCHNER
BAYLISS AND BIAGGI CLASH
W
Home crowd hero Carlos Checa was the man to beat in Valencia. The 35-year-old had far and away the best pace in qualifying, but two poor starts with the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda gave him a lot of work to do. In the opening race Neukirchner used his smooth riding style to great effect and looked set for a comfortable win, but in the closing laps his pace dropped significantly whilst the
Biaggi and Bayliss went head to head in a round one thriller
charging Checa just got faster and faster. With two laps to go there seemed no way Checa could bridge the gap to the German. But no one told the Honda man that and by the final turn Checa lunged underneath Neukirchner only to take both riders out and break his rival’s collarbone in the process. Their crash gifted former factory Ducati rider Lorenzo Lanzi the win. EUROSPORT
SB 2008 has ushered in a new era of superbike racing. An all-new set of technical regulations pitching 1200cc twins against 1000cc fours has helped produce the best two-wheel action on the planet. And it’s coming to Donington this weekend. A packed grid of 30 riders range from young upstarts to WSB veterans. There’s also a healthy mix of former MotoGP stars and some top British wild card entries out to create an impression.
G&G
EUROSPORT
‘Young upstarts will battle it out with WSB veterans’ Ducati’s new flagship 1200cc 1098 F08 in the hands of racing legend Troy Bayliss will lead the title fight. But he is being pushed every step of the way by his four-cylinder rivals. It promises some explosive racing at Donington. Here we look at the defining moments that have shaped the season so far.
New regulations, new riders and one of the most
Biaggi ran wide on the final corner allowing Bayliss to win
Race fans didn’t have to wait long for the battle they all wanted to see when Troy Bayliss and Max Biaggi went head to head around the desert track in Qatar. With both men on 1098 Ducatis there was nothing to choose between Bayliss’ factory Xerox bike and Biaggi’s privateer Sterilgarda machine. Bayliss made a slow start from seventh on the grid, but soon began to charge.
R2 PHILLIP ISLAND AUSTRALIA
BIAGGI CRASHES, BAYLISS DOUBLES
Biaggi had taken over the lead from early leader Max Neukirchner but Bayliss was close behind and in a perfectly timed run, the Aussie took the lead on the final lap. Biaggi wasn’t finished, however. In the final corner the Italian charged up the inside of the Xerox bike, regained the lead for a split second before running wide and allowing Bayliss back past for the win.
Checa lunges under Neukirchner – and both riders are out
R4 MONZA, ITALY
HAGA WINS, KIYO SHOWS PACE In the closest finish of the 2008 season so far, Haga claimed his first win of the year with a dramatic final lap to win by 9/100ths of a second from Neukirchner. Slow starter Ryuichi Kiyonari finally got to grips with his Ten Kate Honda to go from ninth on the first lap to close down the battle for the
lead. As the fastest man on track, Kiyo caught and passed Biaggi, Xaus, Corser and Kagayama to fight his way up to third and then proceeded to close the 1.2 second gap to Haga and Neukirchner. As the three men entered the final lap it was anyone’s race with Kiyo making his
attack for the lead at the final corner – the Parabolica. With countless changes of position Kiyo looked set for his first ever WSB victory until Haga made him go the long way round. The result? Haga took victory by 9/1000ths of a second. Kiyonari in third was 51/1000ths off victory. Haga, left, with Kiyo , fighting his way up
Victory for Aussie Bayliss on his farewell home WSB race Just two points separated Bayliss and Biaggi going to round two. Bayliss, who was desperate to win at his last home WSB race in front of his adoring Aussie crowd put his Ducati on pole with Biaggi relegated to 16th on the grid. In the opening race Bayliss eased away at the front ahead of Haga, but Biaggi was up to fourth and charging hard. One lap later Biaggi
was second, 2.7 seconds off Bayliss and catching him every lap. But with a spectacular showdown in store, disaster struck. Under breaking for turn one, Biaggi got in too deep and braked so hard that the rear of his 1098 pitched off the ground. The Italian lost control in dramatic fashion at 170mph, badly breaking his left wrist in the process.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2008 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS ❘ 53
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drama that reignited WSB exciting seasons ever. Ten rounds in, we look at the defining moments of 2008 R5 MILLER MOTORSPORTS PARK, USA
CHECA TAKES THE SPOILS
Checa joins the elite riders who have won both GPs and WSB
At the long-awaited WSB round in America, Carlos Checa got his Ten Kate Honda dialled in perfectly for the new Miller Motorsports Park circuit to secure two emphatic race wins. In doing so Checa joined the elite club of riders who have won in both GPs and WSB, and moved him into second in the championship standings behind Bayliss. The title leader’s long trip to America was a painful one with a gear selector problem and painful high side ending his early season dominance of the championship.
R7 ASSEN, NETHERLANDS
BAYLISS DOUBLE
Bayliss holds off Haga’s challenge in race two at Assen to take one of WSB’s tightest ever wins
R6 BRANDS HATCH, UK
At one of his least favoured tracks Bayliss asserted his dominance of the championship with a sensational double win. In the opening race he had to contend with the everimproving Checa who claimed second spot two seconds behind the double world champion. The second race was a much closer affair with Bayliss embroiled in another epic battle with his old adversary Nori Haga. At the line Bayliss took his second victory of the day by just 8/100th of a second.
R8 NURBURGRING, GERMANY
KIYO DOUBLES
HAGA’S EPIC BATTLE WITH CORSER
Double BSB champion Ryuichi Kiyonari enjoyed a dream weekend back at Brands. Fresh from his Suzuka Eight Hour victory, Kiyo put his intricate knowledge of the British circuit to good use and was simply untouchable. Despite two slow starts Kiyo won an enthralling race one by less than 0.2 seconds from Bayliss and Biaggi. Then in race two his victory was more assured with a win over fellow countryman and rival, Noriyuki Haga.
After a bitterly disappointing start to the season, Haga hit form in dramatic fashion to secure the double win at the undulating Nurburgring circuit. In the opening race, Haga took a convincing victory ahead of Bayliss, but race two was a completely different story with team-
mate Troy Corser showing pace and aggression that has made the Aussie a double world champion. For the final seven laps of the race the two Yamaha men traded places with Corser looking poised for victory until rain brought out the red flags while Haga was in front.
Kiyo proved he was untouchable
R10 BRNO, CZECH REPUBLIC
FABRIZIO AND BIAGGI GET PERSONAL
‘Fabrizio and Biaggi were battling for ’09 team places’
While Bayliss was the man on the top step of the podium the battle for second between Biaggi and Michel Fabrizio was more significant. Fabrizio was desperate to maintain his ride in the factory Xerox Ducati squad in 2009. Biaggi was determined to beat him to earn his own place on the Xerox team. Despite Biaggi’s almost unrivalled form at Brno where he has beaten Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi, he couldn’t resist the relentless Fabrizio in either race.
Final seven laps were a dual between Haga and Corsa
R9 MISANO, ITALY
XAUS’S DREAM WEEKEND
Xaus rode with his trademark aggression to secure victory
Bayliss’ victory salute
Spaniard Ruben Xaus made it a weekend to remember by firstly announcing that he’d signed for the all new factory BMW WSB squad for 2009 and then going out to secure his first victory of the season
on his Sterilgarda Ducati 1098. A vintage performance by the 30-year-old saw him ride with all his trademark aggression to take arguably the most satisfying win of his career.
58 ❘ MOTOR CYCLE NEWS SEPTEMBER 3, 2008
SPORT GP
Misano, San Marino / August 31, 2008 ROUND 13/18 ° 48°C 29 35 C
MOTOGP Pos Rider
Race time
Top speed
Best lap
Grid
1
V Rossi, Italy (Yamaha)
44:41.884
169.595
1:34.904
2
2
J Lorenzo, Spain (Yamaha)
44:45.04
168.787
1:35.167 3
3
T Elias, Spain (Ducati)
44:53.589
170.588
1:35.221
4
D Pedrosa, Spain (Honda)
44:59.35
171.954
1:35.479 6
5
C Vermeulen, Australia (Suzuki)
45:05.293
166.055
1:35.741
6
J Toseland, GB (Yamaha)
45:08.09
167.732
1:35.972 9
7
L Capirossi, Italy (Suzuki)
45:08.708
168.787
1:35.832
8
A Dovizioso, Italy (Honda)
45:09.47
167.607
1:35.911 14
9
M Melandri, Italy (Ducati)
45:15.053
170.899
1:35.681
10
C Edwards, USA (Yamaha)
45:18.41
169.408
1:35.766 10
11
S Guintoli, France (Ducati)
45:23.965
172.203
1:36.175
12
S Nakano, Japan (Honda)
45:25.69
169.408
1:36.351 8
13
A West, Australia (Kawasaki)
45:36.758
167.545
1:36.862
14
J Hopkins, USA (Kawasaki)
45:37.03
165.248
1:36.710 17
DNF C Stoner, Australia (Ducati)
7 laps
170.837
1:34.988
DNF
1 lap
166.117
1:46.395 13
0 laps
166.800
A de Angelis, Italy (Honda)
DNF R de Puniet, France (Honda) DNS
5 7 11 15 12 18 1 4
N Hayden, USA (Honda)
16 ° 43°C 28 35 C
250 GRAND PRIX
Results (20 laps – 68.23 miles): 1 A Bautista, Spain (Aprilia) 43:15.831 – 94.627mph, 2 Y Takahashi, Japan (Honda), 3 H Barbera, Spain (Aprilia), 4 R Locatelli, Italy (Gilera), 5 J Simon, Spain (KTM), 6 M Simoncelli, Italy (Gilera), 7 T Luthi, Switzerland (Aprilia), 8 R Wilairot, Thailand (Honda), 9 L Pesek, Czech Republic (Aprilia), 10 K Abraham, Czech Republic (Aprilia), 11 F Lai, Italy (Gilera), 12 F Sandi, Italy (Aprilia), 13 M Hernandez, Spain (Aprilia), 14 T Wirsing, Germany (Honda), 15 S Grotzkyj Italy (Gilera), 16 D T Pradita, Indonesia (Yamaha). DNF: A Espargaro, Spain (Aprilia), E Laverty, Ireland (Aprilia), I Toth, Hungary (Aprilia), M Pasini, Italy (Aprilia), H Aoyama, Japan (KTM), M Kallio, Finland (KTM), H Faubel, Spain (Aprilia), A Debon, Spain (Aprilia), A Baldolini, Italy (Aprilia). Fastest lap: Simoncelli 1:38.993 – 95.437mph. Championship positions after 12 of 17 rounds: 1 Simoncelli 190pts, 2 Kallio 164, 3 Bautista 163, 4 Barbera 142, 5 Debon 139, 6 Pasini 117, 7 Takahashi 115, 8 Aoyama 101, 9 Luthi 95, 10 Simon 83. British: 20 Laverty 8.
125 GRAND PRIX
° 34°C 41 28 C
Results (23 laps – 60.36 miles): 1 G Talmacsi, Hungary (Aprilia) 40:03.679 – 90.40mph, 2 B Smith, GB (Aprilia), 3 S Corsi, Italy (Aprilia), 4 M Marquez, Spain (KTM), 5 N Terol, Spain (Aprilia), 6 A Iannone, Italy (Aprilia), 7 S Cortese, Germany (Aprilia), 8 D Aegerter, Switzerland (Derbi), 9 E Rabat, Spain (KTM), 10 S Gadea, Spain (Aprilia), 11 E Vazquez, Spain (Aprilia), 12 J Olive, Spain (Derbi), 13 M Ranseder, Austria (Aprilia), 14 D Webb, GB (Aprilia), 15 J Folger, Germany (KTM), 16 J Cluzel, Frrance (Loncin), 17 M Ravaioli, Italy (Aprilia), 18 T Koyama, Japan (KTM), 19 T Nakagami, Japan (Aprilia), 20 R Lasser, Germany (Aprilia), 21 G Ferro, Italy (Honda), 22 B Chesaux, Switzerland (Aprilia), 23 L Rossi, France (Honda), 24 H van den Berg, Holland (Aprilia), 25 L Vitali, Italy (Aprilia), 26 R Krummenache, Switzerland (KTM). DNF: M di Meglio, France (Derbi), S Bradl, Germany (Aprilia), L Zanetti, Italy (KTM), P Espargaro, Spain (Derbi), L Savadori, Italy (Aprilia), R de Rosa, Italy (KTM), A Masbou, France (Loncin), G Sabatino, Italy (Aprilia), P Nieto, Spain (KTM), S Bonsey, USA (Aprilia), S Redding, GB (Aprilia), A Martin, Spain (Aprilia), R Moretti, Italy (Honda). Fastest lap: Talmacsi 1:48.839 – 90.98mph. Championship positions after 12 of 17 rounds: 1 di Meglio 186pts, 2 Corsi 158, 3 Talmacsi 147, 4 Bradl 126, 5 Olive 114, 6 Terol 113, 7 Smith 109, 8 Cortese 86, 9 Espargaro 83, 10 Iannone 77. British: 12 Redding 70, 18 Webb 28. DRY RACE
DRY/WET RACE
WET RACE
GROUND TEMP
HUMIDITY
Rossi on a high He saves high-side on first lap to take 75-point lead after Stoner crashes out of the lead again matthew.birt @motorcyclenews.com
V
ALENTINO ROSSI rode his luck to survive a monumental first lap scare (see right) to equal Giacomo Agostini’s record tally of 68 MotoGP victories. Rossi nearly high-sided in his desperation to pass Dani Pedrosa and respond to Casey Stoner’s searing pace at the start of the race. Rossi said: “It was a massive moment. It was my mistake and I could have crashed, but that is the difference between success and failure. Casey also made a mistake, but he crashed out.” Stoner’s hopes of retaining the MotoGP crown all but disappeared as he crashed out of the lead for the second race in succession.
His blunder as he held nearly a three-second lead over Rossi leaves him a massive 75 points adrift of his Italian rival. The crash took his tally to three in the last three races (he remounted to take second in Laguna Seca) and he’s now gone two races without finishing after a run
‘When I’m riding like this, I can be like a spot on somebody’s ass!’ VALENTINO ROSSI of 29 successive finishes. Rossi, on the other hand, notched his third win on the bounce in Misano and believes it was his pressure
Rossi savours the moment on the top step of the Misano podium
AIR TEMP
‘It’s time to change. The Ducati has a lot of potential’ NICKY HAYDEN X Games on August 1, said: “It’s time to change, right now I’m going nowhere and I need to do something different. I can’t say too much, but I’m sure there’ll be an announcement soon.” He has become increas-
ingly disenchanted with his treatment by HRC, particularly since Spaniard Dani Pedrosa joined him in the factory team in 2006. The latest demoralising blow came when Honda secured a Bridgestone tyre deal for Pedrosa for the rest of 2008, without even bothering to ask on Hayden’s behalf (see page 56). Asked what appealed to him about a switch to Ducati, he added: “The bike has a lot of potential and obviously it’s hard to get that potential out of it, but Casey rides the
that forced Stoner to crack. He said: “In this race last year, when Chris Vermeulen was pushing him, he could go three tenths faster. But now I am there on the same tyres, three or four tenths is not enough. I’m quite sure if I hadn’t pushed so hard he wouldn’t have crashed. “Casey knows that, when we are at a high level, we can fight with him and he is not able to go much faster than me. And when we have been able to put a bit of pressure on him, he has crashed twice. “In Brno I was sure I would catch him. Here I wasn’t as confident. But I knew if I kept the pressure on something might happen.” But Stoner refuted such suggestions, saying: “I can win races, I am not a beginner at this. This has been
two mistakes, but every-body is looking at pressure and this sort of crap. That has nothing to with it. “This is not me pushing too hard at the beginning of a race. I was doing the same time over and over – I was taking a small advantage and it wasn’t a big risk. In Brno I was pushing a little bit when I crashed, but here not so much, so I’m disappointed that I lost the front.” But Stoner denied the cause of the crash was the same as in Brno last month, when he blundered as Rossi hunted him down. He added: “This wasn’t the same as Brno. In Brno, the front tyre was a little bit destroyed on the right side. In Misano we tried to do something clever in the
warm-up – our front tyre takes a couple of laps to scrub in, but we tried to do it in one lap in the warm-up so we had an advantage at the beginning. But for some reason we did something that is not correct on the righthand side of the tyre and I kept losing the front in a lot of corners.” Stoner was unable to remount after a handlebar on his Ducati snapped off. Rossi got another front row seat for Stoner’s exit and said: “Casey knew we were potentially going to be closing and he tried to push more in that corner. He
Another Honda snub pushes Hayden towards Ducati for ’09 NICKY HAYDEN dropped the biggest hint yet in Misano that he will join reigning world champion Casey Stoner in Ducati’s factory team in 2009. A Ducati announcement expected to confirm Hayden’s move was delayed until after Indianapolis – but the American is clearly on his way out at Honda. Hayden, who withdrew from Sunday’s race due to the worsening condition of the cracked right heel he suffered during practice for a supermoto appearance in the
Rossi just manages to hold on to his bucking Yamaha M1 to avoid a first-lap highside
wheels off it. He rides it hard and he gets rewarded for that. But I won’t say too much until I try it.” After three years of being in a team with Pedrosa, Hayden said: “I look forward to being team-mates again and working with a team and everybody sharing information amongst the garage. “I like being part of a team. I got no problem with Casey – I have a lot of respect for the way he just comes in and does his job. He just gets on with his business and let’s his results speak for him.”
GOLD AND GOOSE
RESULTS
Hayden’s exclusion from Pedrosa’s tyre deal could be the last straw for his Honda relationship
SEPTEMBER 3, 2008 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS ❘ 59
TITLE TABLE
GP
made a very tight line and I think he lost the front after braking too much. It was a mistake, but if I had crashed on the first lap it could have been a different story.” With healthy leads in the last two races, Stoner has tumbled out both times. Rossi said: “He knows that if he escapes, he can win. But two races in a row he has made a mistake and crashed, so maybe now he must change tactics. And when I am riding like this, I can be like a spot on somebody’s ass!” Stoner denied he would change his ‘early breakaway’ race tactics to duke it out
with Rossi, adding: “I won 10 races last year. Why is this any different? If I was in a battle I would have struggled because I don’t think I had the same braking capability as I normally do and I don’t think I had the same performance as normal. “If you have the opportunity to go, you go. I’ve won four races this year - and it should have been more, but for my mistakes.” Rossi has certainly taken the wind out of Stoner’s sails. He said: “When we arrived in Laguna Seca, Casey was in unbelievable form. At that time, when he won three
Rossi Stoner Pedrosa Lorenzo Dovizioso Vermeulen Edwards Nakano Capirossi Toseland
ITA AUS ESP ESP ITA AUS USA JPN ITA GB
262 187 185 140 118 110 108 87 86 85
DPPI
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Misano ROUND 13/18
Stoner’s third crash in three races left him down and out in Misano races, he was riding like he was from another planet. At the time I was very scared because he was really strong. But I kept thinking I had to fight and take my chances
when they came. That is what I have been able to do.” Stoner has the added worry of needing an operation in the winter on a left wrist injury that flared up again in
Misano. The scaphoid bone he first broke in 2003 is damaged again and he said: “After five years there has been no sign of healing in the bone at all.”
Elias to stay at Ducati after second podium TONI ELIAS gave Ducati a major headache as he claimed his second successive podium finish in Misano. The Spaniard was told that the Alice Ducati squad would not be exercising an option to keep him for 2009 before Sunday’s race, in which he claimed third place behind the Yamaha duo of Valentino Rossi and Elias’ compatriot Jorge Lorenzo. Elias, who has been linked with a ride on a third factory Kawasaki ZX-RR for 2009, said that he now expected to get a revised offer from Ducati, with Alice team boss Poalo Campinoti wanting to retain him.
“I was told the option on me would not be renewed, so I am free,” said Elias, who has also been in talks about a return to Fausto Gresini’s Honda squad. “I am open for anything, but now I think I will get an offer from my current team.” Factory team boss Livio Suppo, who also consults on rider selection for the satellite team, said Elias’s results had dramatically forced him back into the reckoning. Suppo said: “Campinoti talked with Toni and with his parents after the race and we would like to keep him. Now Toni wants to think about it. His results have changed the picture a little.”
THOMAS SEIDENGLANZ
www.motorcyclenews.com
MATTHEW BIRT
PIT PASS
The way Pedrosa kicked Michelin into touch to go to Bridgestone opens a political can of worms ARGUABLY two of the most boring subjects in MotoGP – tyres and Dani Pedrosa – stole the limelight from Valentino Rossi’s record-equalling achievement at Misano, devaluing the professionalism and credibility of MotoGP in the process. Pedrosa’s move to Bridgestone was not out of the blue – but the timing was. Why couldn’t he just put up and shut up for the final five races, bow out of Michelin gracefully and accept his Bridgestone contract for ’09? He’s out of the title hunt anyway – and he’ll be on Bridgestones anyway next season when the single tyre rule gets sneaked through on safety grounds. This is just another panic decision whereby Pedrosa has one bad race then carves up a contract Michelin has had with HRC for 24 years. Four races ago, he led the world championship and nobody had heard a murmur about quitting Michelin. He led in Germany only to crash out and couldn’t ride in Laguna – so did he base his entire decision to move to Bridgestone on Michelin’s boob at Brno? But lets cut the crap and see how Pedrosa matches up against Rossi and Stoner on the same tyres. We all got sick of hearing Rossi whinge like hell last season about tyres, but now he’s on Bridgestones he’s going to walk the championship – he’s backed himself to the hilt and delivered.
So let’s see if all the fuss and aggro will be worth it, because most people doubt whether Pedrosa will be any more of a title threat than he is on the Michelins he so despises. Some people will hope he does figure more prominently, because for someone so small in stature Pedrosa wields considerable clout in MotoGP. His unsavoury switch to Bridgestone is clear evidence Dorna, Repsol and Honda will go to any lengths to keep him sweet. For one rider to manipulate the commercial rights owners of the sport for his own benefit is
‘Contracts are not worth the paper they are written on any more’ frankly a shocking and dangerous prospect for MotoGP. Contracts are clearly not worth the paper they are written on any more and Honda’s reputation as an honourable and dignified leader of world motorcycling has been tarnished. Somebody must stand up to the riders who have got way too much power nowadays. If Pedrosa fails to win a race on Bridgestones in 2008, will HRC replace him? Of course not, with all the rider power nowadays, soon they’ll be hiring and firing themselves!
Pedrosa’s tyre switch has tarnished Honda’s reputation
Ducati are keen to keep Toni Elias (24) after he took third at Misano and second place at Brno
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