Akrapovič Magazine vol. 33

>> ISSUE 33

Prodrive Subaru P25 Pro Project ject

NOSTALGIA PURE M a r c e l

H i r s c h e r

A SECOND CAREER? RATHER NOT...

Two decades of Akrapovič in MotoGP

FROM

0 TO 363.6 KM/H

A column by Mat Oxley

Elan Family, Around the globe, 2022

elanskis.com

The world’s first highperformance carving ski that folds Voyager Whether by train, plane, or automobile, Voyager changes the rules of traveling with ski equipment.

.

Awarded by:

04

C ont e nt s

A K RAP OV I Č Akrapovič Lifestyle Magazine Issue 33, November 2022 Akrapovič d.d.

Malo Hudo 8a SI-1295 Ivančna Gorica Slovenia www.akrapovic.com Editor in Chief: Miran Ališič Publisher: Korpmedia d.o.o.

Tomšičeva 1, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia www.korpmedia.si Registration No.: 2272237000 VAT No.: SI14601737 Client Coordinator: Primož Jurman Photo Editor: Bor Dobrin Art Directors: Slavojka Akrapovič, Neja Engelsberger, Saša Kerkoš Cover design: Zdenko Bračevac Design: Zdenko Bračevac, Andrej Perčič, Bojan Perko, Jan Mohorič, Akrapovič Kreativa d.o.o.

Content Editor: Jasna Milinković Contributors: Alenka Birk, Tony Dodgins, Matevž Hribar, Matej Isak, Primož Jurman, Gaber Keržišnik, Mat Oxley, Matej Akrapović, Miran Ališič, Mitja Reven, Federico Tondelli, Tina Torelli, Jean Turner Contributing Photographers: Akrapovič, Alex Štokelj, BMW, Bor Dobrin, chili films, Cirrus, Ducati, Federico Tondelli, Gaber Keržišnik, Graeme Brown, Honda, Marc Robinot, Polarity Photo, Matej Povše, Matevž Hribar, Tidal Audio, Uroš Podlogar, Yamaha, Žan Rek Translation: Matjaž Horvat, Werner Schneider Proofreading: Tim Walpole Ad space marketing: www.yvision.ch Y.Vision GmbH, Poststrasse 9, 6300 Zug, Switzerland On the cover: Slip-On Line (SS) for the Ducati Scrambler Urban Motard / Nightshift / Icon / Icon Dark / Desert Sled

Contents

05 Letter

06 Akrapovič News

10 Ride With Us

12 Evolution

14 Evolution

18 Story

22 Visit With Us

30 Story

34 Interview

42 Evolution

46 Story

50 Travel With Us

58 Story

74 Original

78 High Gear

Photo: Alex Štokelj Printing: LUart, Lepovče 42, 1310 Ribnica, Slovenia

// Si NOTE All the longer articles in the Akrapovič magazine include a text that will be marked with the // Si sign and placed in a special frame. The Akrapovič company is based in Slovenia and this is why we decided to keep this part of the text in Slovenian as well.

Copyright notice This magazine and its entire textual and pictorial content are subject to copyright. Any reproduction thereof without prior written consent of the copyright holder is prohibited.

The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Akrapovič d.d., the publishers or the editors.

Not for sale. Printed in Slovenia in November in 6,000 copies.

General Warning Because of the world-wide distribution of Akrapovič d.d. products, neither Akrapovič d.d. nor any of its subsidiaries make any representation that the products comply with the air and/or noise emissions laws, or labeling laws, of any jurisdiction. The purchasers are entirely responsible for informing themselves of the applicable laws where the products are to be used and to comply with those laws. Warning / USA Various U.S. states and the U.S. federal government have individual laws regulating the use of aftermarket exhaust parts and systems, especially as those parts and systems modify, remove, or replace original equipment catalysts. Please consult the appropriate laws in your area before installing any aftermarket part or system on your vehicle to ensure compliance with all applicable laws. Neither Akrapovič d.d. nor any of their subsidiaries or the sellers of the parts or systems make any representation that any of their parts or systems comply with any such laws. Warning / California California laws prohibit the use of any aftermarket exhaust part or system that modifies, removes or replaces original equipment catalysts unless the California Air Resources Board has issued an Executive Order regarding such part or system or unless the part or system is exempted by being used only on racing vehicles on closed courses. Neither Akrapovič d.d. nor any of their subsidiaries make any representation that any of their parts or systems has received such an Executive Order or that any of their parts or systems conform with the racing vehicles exemption. The purchasers are entirely responsible for informing themselves of applicable California laws and to comply with those laws.

05

Letter

05

photography Bor Dobrin

04

Living in a VUCA world It is hard to believe that the acronym VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) was created all the way back in 1987 to describe a world that was becoming increasingly unpredictable and complex as the Cold War drew to a close. Although the changes back then were certainly unsettling for some, the sense of unpredictability at that time was, in my opinion, mainly due to numerous new opportunities that were rapidly appearing after the fall of the Iron Curtain and the simultaneous emergence of the Internet. Unlike that ‘golden’ era, we live in a VUCA world on steroids today, as risks to which we are exposed keep increasing.

Unwelcome news seems to be coming fast and thick recently: the Covid-19 virus, disruption of global supply chains, war on European soil, shortages and rising energy prices. A nightmare for all of us, and even more so for the financiers, who must evaluate these changes in monetary terms.

But after two years of quarantine, people are now craving to socialise and relax. We are overjoyed that, among other things, we can once again watch a race live and hang out with friends after far too long of a break. Akrapovič has, meanwhile, been ‘hanging out’ with our friends from MotoGP for 20 years; it was in 2002 that the company entered the premiere class of motorcycle racing.

Over the period, we have collaborated with many teams and racing legends and I am glad that MotoGP has retained its fans from all around the world even as new names appeared on the track. To find out more, the story of Akrapovič and MotoGP is detailed later in this issue.

I like to say that today's world is becoming increasingly like racing in the competitive motorsport classes that we love so much. Each turn presents a new challenge and an unpredictable situation from which only the best emerge as winners. But just who tomorrow’s winner will be in an unpredictable world depends on the ability to adapt to changes and the passion to pursue the goals. Akrapovič has been passionately working for you for the past 30 years and will continue to do so in the future.

However, to continue to be successful as a company, we must be able to adapt to the unpredictable and allow development to passionately work for a better tomorrow. Relying on a single technology proved risky during this energy crisis and, in the absence of alternatives, led to a return to old technologies that we had already given up on. From this point of view, the decision by the MotoGP and Formula 1 series to switch to synthetic fuels in the coming years is a step in the right direction, as it allows looking for alternative solutions in addressing the same issue, i.e., ensuring a cleaner environment for posterity.

Dear readers, it is good to have at least some constancy in today's unpredictable world. As the season for outdoor motorcycle ventures winds down, we want to keep you warm in the ever-colder days with a tried and tested mix of excellent interviews, interesting stories from the world of car and bike sports and a few bonuses from Akrapovič that herald the new season. I believe that reading ALM, already in its 33rd issue, is one of those pleasant habits that many will cherish today and many years from now, because the best things are timeless, even in today's VUCA world.

Matej Akrapović CFO at Akrapovič d.d.

A krapov ič Ne w s

FIRST TIME AT WORLD DUCATI WEEK

In July, Akrapovič, for the first time ever as an event partner, took part in World Ducati Week, a must-go-to event for all Ducati lovers that was held in Italy at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. During the three-day event, Akrapovič showcased its exhaust systems for Ducati motorcycles in a red-clad exhibition area under the slogan ‘Trusted Partnership for Challenging Conditions’ which served to confirm the close connection between the Slovenian company and Ducati which cooperate both in racing and commercial segments. It therefore came as no surprise that the Akrapovič stand was full of riders competing in various classes of motorcycle racing, such as MotoGP, WorldSBK, and WorldSSP. Area visitors were more than happy to get their autographs as well as a chance to get close and personal with Francesco Bagnaia’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) MotoGP racing motorcycle and a genuine part of the exhaust that Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac Racing) used when he broke the MotoGP speed record at Mugello in Italy, earlier this year with a speed of 363.6 km/h.

BMW MOTORRAD DAYS 2022 The 20 th annual festival for BMW Motorrad lovers took place in July in the German capital, Berlin, with Akrapovič presenting its latest collection of products for BMW motorcycles.

Visitors to the Messe Berlin Summer Garden could feast their eyes on the company’s renowned titanium exhaust systems for the entire range of BMW motorcycles – from the S 1000 RR to the R 1250 GS – as well as admire an innovative product, lightweight titanium protection bars for the renowned GS model. The Slovenian company exhibited at the BMW Motorrad Days for the 14th time and, the same as before, many racing riders showed up at its exhibition area. The high-profile visitors included the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team riders, who were mainly drawn to Peter Hickman’s (Gas Monkey Garage by FHO Racing) 2022 Isle of Man TT Senior racewinning BMW M 1000 RR, itself one of the main stars of the event.

06

06 / 09

Akrapovič News

PREMIERE AT ERZBERGRODEO It is almost impossible to envisage a better place to unveil a new generation of off-road exhaust systems than the famous Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, the world’s toughest Hard Enduro World Championship race. Apart from showcasing new products, inspired by the company’s extensive racing experience from the world’s hardest races, the Slovenian performance exhaust system specialist was once more an official partner of this four-day event, which, as usual, took place in the picturesque setting of the Erzberg iron mine in Styria, Austria. The race itself, filled with fast sections, countless turns, puddles, loose gravel, large sharp boulders, rocks, roots, and other obstacles, was won by Manuel Lettenbichler (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), whom, as well as other competitors, the spectators could admire at the Akrapovič Oneon-One Rider Presentation.

NEW TITLES 2022 already has and will bring even more world championship titles to riders on machines equipped with exhaust systems from Ivančna Gorica. Akrapovičs tally stood at 153 world championships by the end of the 2021 season, a number that has exceeded 160 by October 2022. This years counter was put into motion by Andrea Verona (GASGAS Factory Racing), who convincingly won the 2022 Enduro 1 and EnduroGP classes of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship, and Zach Pichon (Sherco CH Racing) who was crowned the FIM Junior Enduro World Champion during the same weekend. Another off-road title followed, courtesy of Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who won the MX2 class in the FIM Motocross World Championship.

The second weekend in October brought two more titles, with Alvaro Diaz (Arco Motor University Team) becoming the new king of the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship and Manuel Lettenbichler (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), also riding on an Akrapovič equipped motorcycle, winning the FIM Hard Enduro

07

World Championship. Sam Sunderland, who won this years Dakar, polished off a perfect season with a FIM World Rally-Raid Champion title. The group photo of the champions in the Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP classes again featured riders with Akrapovič-equipped racing machines: Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Moto3 Team) in the FIM Moto3 World Championship, Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in the FIM Moto2 World Championship and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) in the FIM MotoGP World Championship.

Photo: GASGAS Images / Future7Media

08

HAT-TRICK FOR HICKMAN Peter Hickman made history at this year’s Isle of Man TT with a grand total of three victories.

The Gas Monkey Garage by FHO Racing rider and his BMW M 1000 RR, equipped with a lightweight Akrapovič titanium exhaust system, won the Superbike and Superstock classes before completing the hat-trick by winning the prestigious Senior TT that closed the event. “Three victories at the Isle of Man TT are a great result for us as a manufacturer,” said BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers, who was undoubtedly pleased that the M 1000 RR won already at its first appearance at the Isle of Man TT.

LAP AHEAD OF THE REST Team HRC riders Tetsuta Nagashima, Takumi Takahashi and Iker Lecuona were the big winners of this year’s Suzuka 8 Hours. The riders on an Akrapovič-equipped CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP overtook the second-placed team by a full lap and brought Honda its 28th victory at this prestigious race.

06 / 09

Akrapovič News

6,157.5 METRES ABOVE THE SEA We have gotten used to Pol Tarrés doing things with a motorcycle that many earthlings could not imagine doing even in their wildest dreams. One of Pol’s adventures this year was a ride to Cerro Mercedario, one of the highest peaks of the Andes, which earned him a spot in the Guinness World Records book. Why? His Yamaha Ténéré 700, fitted with an Akrapovič exhaust system, reached the highest point ever recorded for a twin-cylinder bike at 6,157.5 metres above sea level.

FIFTEENTH TIME IN A ROW 11,479 readers of the printed and online edition of PS magazine chose Akrapovič as the best brand in the category of exhaust systems this year with 81.4% of the vote. This is the 15th consecutive Best Brand award bestowed by the prestigious German magazine upon Akrapovič.

LOEB WINS IN ANDALUCIA Sebastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin (Bahrain Raid Xtreme) competed in the Andalucia Rally with aplomb, driving to their first FIA World Rally Raid Championship victory. They are getting ever faster in their Prodrive Hunter as proven by a close second overall in the championship’s first season following four rallies.

09

Ride With Us

by Primož Jurman photography Ducati, chili films

Ride-along on a Ducati Desmosedici GP X2

ON A DIFFERENT PLANET

10 / 11 Ride With Us

Have you ever wondered what it's like to ride on the back of a MotoGP motorcycle, a prototype that represents the pinnacle of technology on two wheels? What awaits and what emotions arise in someone who gets the chance of a lifetime to sit behind a top-class racing rider and do a lap or two?

Ducati has been offering this truly fantastic experience to the lucky few for more than 20-years at the side-lines of MotoGP events, currently using the Desmosedici GP X2, a converted two-seater with safety grips on its fuel tank and featuring an Akrapovič exhaust system.

I was lucky to be able to sit behind Franco Battaini, a former 250cc and MotoGP racer, on the 1000cc machine with 184kW (250hp) at the Misano racetrack during the 11th World Ducati Week, which, following a four-year hiatus, attracted 80,000 enthusiastic Ducati fans from all over the world. Before we took off, he simply told me to follow his movements on the motorcycle with my body and keep my eyes on the exits from the turns.

Adrenaline surge The mechanics (two per motorcycle) started the machine.

The sharp Ducati MotoGP engine sound erupted from the Akrapovič exhaust and I’m sure that the roar caused some of the passengers’ knees to buckle. It’s for real now, there’s no turning back. My mouth dries up, my hands inside the gloves begin to sweat, a rush of adrenaline surges through my body. I’m both anxious and excited, but mainly really looking forward to the experience. I imagine riders liningup on the asphalt that reaches more than 40°C before the start of a race, which is, incidentally, 27 laps long in Misano – a hellish 27 laps! Motorcycles are brought to their positions, the ground shakes from the noise, spectators watching from the stands. Franco and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Teams’s MotoGP star) ride off with their first passengers in a precisely determined routine. Passengers are assisted by a team that checks whether they put on their gear correctly and I also keep checking whether my helmet and my gloves are safely fastened. Next! Number three. Hey, that’s me!

I climb on the saddle. It’s hot because the top part of the exhaust system is routed under the seat. I smell burnt rubber, gasoline, heat. I grab the grips on the fuel tank and Franco takes off. He checks whether I’m sat correctly and opens the throttle. The engine roars, the front wheel lifts and we cross the finish straight doing a wheelie. Before taking the ‘Variante del Parco’ set of turns, Franco slows down, brakes hard and leans to the right. Lower, then lower

still. The tyres grip the track tightly, Franco accelerates on the exit and we are doing a wheelie again. Then we speed through the fast ‘Rio’ set of turns and, try as I might to focus on the exits, I can only see parts of the track and the kerbs as my body movement follows Franco’s. Then we hit a short straight, which ends with braking for the ‘Quercia’ corner. I begin to feel my hands as I cling to the handles, my breathing is shallow, I fight forces that my body is not used to fighting. There’s no time to think. Before the back straight, we pass through ‘Tramonto’ a set of right turns, and gain on Francesco with his passenger in front of us. Accelerating out of the turns is brutal, the ‘Curvone’ straight where we reach up to 250 km/h ends in a righthander, and is the place where heroes are made during the race. The motorcycle feels stable, it roars, it feels like it’s bursting at the seams with power. Completely different from when I took to this track on a test bike two months ago. Hard braking before the ‘Curva del Carro,’ the lean angles are incredible and then it’s already time for the last Misano corner and another wheelie before we cross the finish line with a stoppie. A bit for the show, a bit for the adrenaline. I thank Franco by patting him on the back, jump off the motorcycle, go to the side of the track and… take a deep breath. Here I am, at the finish line, having had a unique experience that left me with trembling hands, a wide grin and an already awakened desire to repeat this unforgettable ride.

10

11

12 / 13 Evolution

Evolut ion

BMW BMW M M Hybrid Hybrid V8 V8

CHERRY ON TOP In September BMW unveiled its all-new BMW M Hybrid V8 racing car at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, USA. Painted for the first time in its racing colours, in which it will compete in the GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2023, the first prototype developed by BMW M Motorsport in 25 years also contains Slovenian know-how.

by Mitja Reven photography BMW

12

13

January 2023 will see Connor De Phillippi,

creating the exhaust system for this customer

which came with an Akrapovič exhaust system,

Philipp Eng, Augusto Farfus, Nick Yelloly,

racing car. When the colleagues from Munich

so participating in the LMDh programme was a

Colton Herta, Sheldon van der Linde and

asked us if we wanted to collaborate on

logical follow-up.

Marco Wittmann of BMW M Team RLL fight

the exhaust system for the BMW M Hybrid

for glory at the 24 Hours of Daytona with two

V8, the answer was a foregone conclusion.

The two drive components were connected

BMW M Hybrid V8 prototypes. Akrapovič

We love technical challenges and we are

in the car for the first time at the end of June

will meanwhile begin its 12 racing season

extremely motivated to be working with BMW

2022 and the BMW M Motorsport racing

as the official partner of BMW M Motorsport

M Motorsport on such an exciting project

car, with the chassis developed at Dallara,

and the partnership between the Slovenian

as an LMDh racing car,” Uroš Rosa, CEO of

has since then been undergoing accelerated

and German brands has never been stronger.

Akrapovič, said at the sidelines of the unveiling

testing, which began in Italy and Spain before

Following joint racing exhaust projects for the

of the new Bavarian racer.

moving to the USA, including the Sebring

th

racetrack, famous for its unforgiving surface.

legendary BMW M3 DTM, BMW M4 DTM, BMW M6 GT3, BMW M8 GTE and BMW M4

The sheer amount of motivation of being

The car has already been evaluated by many

GT3, the engineers at BMW M Motorsport

able to play a part in the project to create a

BMW works drivers in hot, dry, rainy and

and Akrapovič have now created an exhaust

racing car like the BMW M Hybrid V8 was

colder conditions to get as much information

system for the all-new BMW M Hybrid V8, the

also clearly felt in the words of Andreas Roos,

as possible about its handling. Test drivers

cherry on top of a very fruitful cooperation that

Head of BMW M Motorsport: “Being back in

who have already sat behind the wheel of the

resulted in DTM series titles, victories at 24-

the top class of motorsport and battling for

all-new BMW M Hybrid V8, include Akrapovič

hour races on legendary racetracks and many

overall victories at such legendary races as

brand ambassador Marco Wittmann.

other triumphs.

Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta in 2023

“It’s great to witness the speed of the new

is both a major challenge and huge motivation

Not only is the BMW M Hybrid V8 a technical

for everyone at BMW M Motorsport.”

masterpiece, but it is also work of art visually, packed to the brim with details that aim to

BMW M4 GT3 this season, where BMW M Motorsport and Akrapovič joined forces in

The BMW M Hybrid V8 is powered by the

contribute their share to its speed. Because

P66/3 eight-cylinder, four-litre turbo engine

of all these beautiful details, choosing where

with a supplementary electric drive. The

to sit at the 24 Hours of Daytona can pose a

combustion engine is based on the DTM unit

bit of a problem – would you rather see it in

used in the BMW M4 DTM in 2017 and 2018,

all its glory near the pit lane, where its speed will be the lowest, or would you rather be in the stands of the legendary oval and hear the amazing sound of the eight-cylinder coming from Akrapovič exhaust pipes as it whizzes by?

“When the colleagues from Munich asked us if we wanted to collaborate on the exhaust system for the BMW M Hybrid V8, the answer was a foregone conclusion.”

Uroš Rosa, CEO Akrapovič

Evolut ion

14 / 17 Evolution

WorldSBK vs WorldSSP

C O N T I N U O U S DEVELOPMENT & TESTING

World Superbike (WorldSBK) and World Supersport (WorldSSP) class racers ride on bikes derived from motorcycles available for sale to the general public, so they represent a welcome promotion for motorcycle brands and strengthen their brand awareness. The ‘Win on Sunday, buy on Monday’ mantra is also ingrained in the rules of both classes, though the more powerful WorldSBK class allows for a larger extent of modifications than WorldSSP. The WorldSBK Championship was launched in 1988. It

system development. The rules for both classes state that

uses racing bikes which are modified versions of models

exhaust system mufflers must remain on the same side

available for sale to customers – unlike the MotoGP

(left or right) as on the models available for sale to the

class where racers use prototype bikes. MotoGP is

general public, and that the number of mufflers also stays

the motorcycle world’s equivalent of Formula 1, while

the same. But rules for the two classes are not the same:

Superbike is more similar to sports car racing. WorldSSP

namely WorldSBK has more freedom for modification

began in 1997 and takes place within the WorldSBK

than WorldSSP. Akrapovič provides exhaust systems to

framework. This class only allows for minor modifications

both classes, so we inquired about the similarities and

to the original bikes, which is also reflected in exhaust

differences in exhaust development for the two.

14

15

by Primož Jurman

photography Graeme Brown

14 / 17 Evolution

Computers are essential

every two years, while adjustments of various

Miha Jeraj, Head of Project Office, Racing

components can happen between three and

R&D at Akrapovič, said: “Serially produced

ten times a year. This particular number is

motorcycles are becoming more and more

higher when a manufacturer starts using a

sophisticated. Racing departments are

new motorcycle model. One such example

keeping pace and increasingly focusing on

is the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP

computer simulation and planning, even before

where nine different versions of the exhaust,

the first test lap is taken on the track. Works

significantly different from one another, have

teams competing in WorldSBK receive strong

been used in its three years of racing. On

support from motorcycle manufacturers,

the other hand, Kawasaki has been using

who provide a dedicated team of engineers

a similar exhaust system with some minor

for the development of racing machines. In

adjustments for the last few years, since the

recent years, in the WorldSBK class, almost

underlying motorcycle has remained almost

all exhaust systems were first created in a 3D

the same since 2016. BMW meanwhile

environment, the backbone for manufacturing

introduced its new S 1000 RR in 2019 and

exhaust system prototypes. These are then

its exhaust remained practically the same in

tested on a dynamometer, whereupon a 3D

its first season as the one that a customer

version is produced which then undergoes

could buy in a shop. However, following further

additional modifications to become an exhaust

development of the motorcycle’s engine (in

system ready for race use. Since racing

2021 BMW launched the new M 1000 RR),

motorcycles are based on production models,

the exhaust also changed and is in its fourth

the basic design of the exhaust does not

iteration at the moment. It should be mentioned

change much during the season, though one

that each change to the motorcycle requires

development cycle is usually carried out every

tests on the dynamometer, with about 500

year to adapt the exhaust to, let’s say, a new

runs and between five and ten prototypes

rear swingarm, a new radiator or to increase its

per version! This is the expected number of

power.”

prototypes during the two to three months

Miha also says that Superbike exhausts

development cycle of an exhaust system for a

undergo a radical change approximately

WorldSBK bike.

AKRAPOVIČ EXHAUST SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN USED BY THE FOLLOWING TEAMS IN THE 2022 SEASON WorldSBK: Aruba.it Racing − Ducati Barni Spark Racing Team BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team Bonovo action BMW Racing Team B-Max Racing Team GIL Motorsport Yamaha GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team Kawasaki Racing Team Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK Team HRC Yamaha Motoxracing Worldsbk Team WorldSSP: Aruba.it Racing WSSP Barni Spark Racing Team GMT94 Yamaha Kallio Racing MTM Kawasaki MV Agusta Reparto Corse

Development of WorldSSP exhausts Let’s turn to the development of WorldSSP exhaust systems. How does that compare?

“WorldSSP class motorcycles change less often. This is the case for Yamaha R6, where the basis of the motorcycle has remained the same for many years, thus also requiring fewer changes to the exhaust. Here customers can purchase practically the same exhaust system as the one used by the racing teams.

Manufacturers get involved in WorldSSP to a lesser direct degree than in WorldSBK. When Ducati entered WorldSSP, the exhaust for the Panigale V2 was made specifically for the class and we devoted a lot of time to meet the regulations on loudness, which are quite restrictive for this category. In 2022, we produced three muffler versions to arrive at a favourable compromise between engine loudness and power. A special feature of this development was adjusting the power curve, as Ducati, due to the limitation of the model’s maximum power stipulated in the regulations in order to bring performance closer to other less powerful motorcycles, wanted a different torque curve to exploit the larger torque of this particular engine type. We managed to provide just that through extensive testing of prototypes on a dynamometer. In total we performed 400 dynamometer runs and produced five prototype exhausts.”

Miha also reveals that the share of racers using Akrapovič exhausts in WorldSSP rose from 20% in 2011 to 31% in 2022 season, while the share of WorldSBK racers grew in accordance with the motorcycle manufacturers’ increasing trust and confidence in Akrapovič’s ability to produce even the most demanding exhausts, growing from about 30% in 2010 to 50% in 2015 and over 75% in 2022.

16

17

18 / 21 Story

Story

TO N I M U LEC – R OAD TO DAKAR

by Primož Jurman photography Bor Dobrin, Rally Zone

OUT OF THE

SHADOWS When champions cross the finish line ahead of the pack, they receive the vast majority of media and public attention. They are the victorious heroes who have proven themselves in the fight against the competition and they and their machines have triumphed over the rest. But, often unknown and working far from the limelight, are the guys and girls who spend days and nights looking for technological solutions and co-operating with works motorcycle brands to find new ways to make their riders and motorcycles go even faster – solutions that the champions make full use of. One such quiet guy in the background is Toni Mulec from Slovenia.

18

19

20

21

The turning point in his enduro career came in 2021, when he finished second in the silver category at the world’s most technically demanding off-road race, the Red Bull Romaniacs.

18 / 21 Story

We caught up with Toni (whose surname means ‘The Kid’ in Slovenian) at a motocross track on a summer day in Semič in the south of Slovenia, where he was improving his skills on a KTM. Toni Mulec (born 1985) is a Slovenian motocross, enduro, crosscountry and rally rider as well as a test rider for the Austrian KTM brand and Akrapovič.

Off-roading has been his passion since childhood. He was just finishing primary school when he first sat on a motorcycle and started competing in the Slovenian Motocross Championship. He says he was a bit late to the party, but maybe that’s his advantage – he just can’t get enough of motorcycles.

In the following years, he was the Slovenian runner-up seven times and was selected for the national team competing in the Motocross of Nations, a kind of motocross Olympiad that gathers the best individuals and teams once a year. Enduro and cross-country followed in 2015, with Toni becoming the national champion in the latter four times so far. He was also part of the Slovenian team in classic enduro races, participating in the prestigious ‘Six Days’ race. His results were convincing enough to kickstart co-

“As a test rider, I already had the opportunity to ride a rally motorcycle in the desert, which gave me even more motivation and the desire to participate in the Dakar.

I’ve never experienced the kind of freedom you feel on a motorcycle surrounded by sand. These are indescribable feelings, a kind of paradise on earth.”

Toni Mulec

operation with KTM several years ago, while Akrapovič had set their sights on him even before that. Apart from being a staple at the Slovenian national cross-country races, he also competed with considerable success at the prestigious Le Touquet, Red Bull Romaniacs and Erzbergrodeo races, to name but a few. The turning point in his enduro career came in 2021, when he finished second in the silver category at the world’s most technically demanding off-road race, the Red Bull Romaniacs. He tried racing on sand for the first time in 2013 and his love for this

Rallye du Maroc 2022

particular surface soon blossomed. But ‘The

motorcycle in the desert, which gave me even

Kid’ has been dreaming of sand since he was

more motivation and the desire to participate

a child and falling asleep under a Dakar race

in the Dakar. I’ve never experienced the

poster on the wall of his teenage room. He

kind of freedom you feel on a motorcycle

finished 16th out of 1,300 competitors at the

surrounded by sand. These are indescribable

famous Le Touquet Enduropale race in 2019,

feelings, a kind of paradise on earth,” says

after having already won at the 2015 Lignano

Toni, who is also a staunch rock music fan.

and Bibione beach events.

But the road to Dakar is definitely not an easy one. Apart from the rider being in top physical

// New goal – Dakar Rally

and mental form and the machine itself being

Toni has been planning to finally fulfil his

flawless, a successful participant must have

youthful goal and appear at the world’s most

experience reading the roadbook, one of

famous endurance rally. Humble, persistent,

the most important elements of racing at the

ambitious and organised – in addition to

Dakar and something most competitors do not

testing and competing at home in Slovenj

master enough before the start. To improve

Gradec in the north of Slovenia, he also

this particular skill, Toni attended a navigation

runs a motocross school for the young and a

school with Jordi Viladoms, the runner-up

trucking company – the Kid is finally going to

at Dakar 2014. Before departing for Saudi

Dakar. “I am an off-road racer who combines

Arabia in December, he also plans to make

extremely difficult sand races with breakneck

several appearances at ‘roadbook’ races and

speeds at famous beach races, I’ve had some

take part in as many rally events as possible in

very good results at the most demanding

order to gain valuable experience. In October

off-road races, and now I intend to compete

he competed at the Rallye du Maroc 2022, a

in the longest, fastest and most difficult of all

qualifying race for Dakar 2023, finishing 9 th

of them - the Dakar Rally,” he says. “I want to

in the Rally 2 category (23 rd overall) thereby

take part, I want to cross the finish line and

classifying for the world’s most challenging

gain as much experience as possible, but, of

rally. Apart from enthusiastically training on

course, I also want a good result. The Dakar

off-road motorcycles, maintaining his mental

is a very specific race, so I have to be very

fitness and visiting potential sponsors to

careful with my predictions, but I feel that with

secure his trip to Saudi Arabia, he has been

the right support from sponsors and a bit of

getting invaluable advice from Miran ‘Desert

luck, I can ride a good race. As a test rider,

Fox’ Stanovnik, the first Slovenian to compete

I already had the opportunity to ride a rally

at The Dakar.

22 / 27 Visit With Us

Visit With Us

Prodrive Subaru P25 Project

NOSTALGIA

PURE

by Tony Dodgins photography Nick Dungan

So, who has half a million pounds plus for a Prodrive-built Subaru? At least 25 wealthy individuals apparently do!

But this is not just any Subaru. The P25 is a blend between a full-blown World Rally Championship (WRC) car and the limited edition Impreza 22B built in 1998 to capitalise on the company’s WRC success.

22

23

David Richards founded the Prodrive

Customers can specify the car as they like,

company, based in Oxfordshire, England

for example removing the back seats and

in 1984. Eleven years later, Colin McRae

any comfort items in favour of a roll cage and

became the first British World Rally Drivers

safety harness. Although some supercars are

champion driving the iconic blue and yellow

boasting 440-500kW, the P25 will weigh

Subaru Impreza. Prodrive claimed further

around 1200 kg, about the same as a genuine

world titles with Richard Burns in 2001 and

WRC car of the Subaru era. “The test car I’ve

Norwegian Petter Solberg in 2003. The

been driving comes in at around 1170 kg and

company’s technical director David Lapworth,

I don’t think anybody’s going to complain

one of the world’s most respected rally

about the performance,” Lapworth says.

engineers, has ultimate responsibility for the

“And the thing is, you can use it. Part of the

P25, although Peter Stevens, who did the

philosophy of a rally car is that you shouldn’t

original WRC Impreza, has been involved too.

need to think about it to drive fast. Without going into a whole rant about sports science,

Talking about the original Impreza 22B two-

the speed in rallying comes from being in the

door body with 4WD and 206kW (280hp),

right place on the road at the right speed.

brings a wry smile to Lapworth’s face. Subaru

You should be able to get in it and drive it fast

built just 400 in Japan, which sold out in 24

without worrying about whether it will snap

hours. The demand was such that they built 24

sideways or plough straight on at the next

more – three prototypes supplied to members

corner. It should go where you point it, go

of the rally team, five for Australia and sixteen

faster when you accelerate and slow down

for the UK. They sold for around £40,000

when you brake.” Which sounds simple but,

(€46,000) and one has just achieved almost

Lapworth says, people often get the wrong

£300,000 (€346,000) at an auction! “I sold

impression about rally cars, thinking stiff and

one for less than a tenth of that…,” Lapworth

harsh. “We’ve done some benchmarking at

rues, shaking his head. “Colin McRae, co-

the UK vehicle proving ground in Millbrook.

driver Nicky Grist and I all had one, with

The P25’s light weight is an important part of

chassis number 000 – they made three of

it. We did a comparison with a good supercar

them. I let it go. What an idiot…”

and it wasn’t a comparison… It was a joke.

You can drive around in the P25 like a rally

In the light of that, then maybe £552,000

car, with a smile on your face. Easy. It feels

(approximately €630,000) is justifiable for

nimble and responsive on a circuit, but with

a limited edition Prodrive-built car that is

the DNA of a tarmac rally car. It’s not set up

as near as you will get to a WRC car for

for Silverstone, it’s set up for Col de Turini.

the road. “It was genuinely a clean sheet

And the guy in the supercar is bouncing

of paper,” Lapworth explains, “For sure

around on the edge, with fingers crossed that

there’s a £5m (€5.766m) version in there

the traction control is good enough…”

somewhere - we’d love to do an Aston Martin

You won’t find a stick shift in a P25, but a

Valkyrie-type version of it - but we needed to be realistic. We approached this in a similar way to how we would create a world rally car. We identified the performance we were looking for and then thought about how we’d do it. We didn’t just go to the parts bin and look for as many standard parts as we could get.” Surprisingly perhaps, the P25 does not have a carbon shell. “It’s based on a real car,” Lapworth says. “The first challenge was finding the donor cars. They are like new shells. We haven’t compromised. We haven’t been filling the rust holes! Then the roof, bonnet and tailgate are all carbon.” The P25 comes with a 2.5-litre flat four power unit with new conrods, pistons and valve train, fitted with a rally spec Garrett turbocharger and a titanium/stainless steel Akrapovič exhaust. It is nothing like a production engine and will be almost twice as powerful as the 22B. “I don’t actually know what its performance ceiling would be,” Lapworth admits. “We might be able to do upgrades later. We can get near “500hp” quite easily on the dyno but we’ve got to consider drivability, durability, cooling systems, intercoolers and the different world climates and fuel availability.”

22 / 27 Visit With Us

“Colin McRae, co-driver Nicky Grist and I all had one, with chassis number 000 – they made three of them. I let it go.”

David Lapworth

24

25

You won’t find a stick shift in a P25, but a

hit the rev limiter in first and second gears and

always were. It needs to be compliant without

six-speed sequential racing gearbox complete

look like an idiot. But do a launch and you’re

reacting to the jumps and bumps. The target

with WRC-style paddle shift and launch

into third gear when it hands back over to you,

is that when you drive it, you go, ‘Wow, this

control. The sort of racing know-how that is

which is pretty much how we used to do it in

is the closest thing to a world rally car you

second nature to Prodrive, complete with 60

a world rally car.”

can get and drive on the road.’” Lapworth concludes: “I can’t divulge customer names,

millisecond gear shifts. The 19 inch gunmetal - not gold - wheels are fitted with AP Racing

So, who did Prodrive have in mind as its

but there are a few that you might expect. I

brakes with 380 mm vented discs at the front

target market? “I think we had a better

could name half a dozen with a motorsport

and 350 mm vented discs at the rear and the

idea of what the car would be than who the

connection. “So, if you happen to have the

car runs on Bilstein dampers and Prodrive’s

customers were,” Lapworth smiles. “But we’re

requisite half a million pounds burning a hole

specific suspension geometry.

also making sure it’s not just racing drivers or

in your pocket, can you have one? “There may

“The paddle shift really strikes you, it’s very

rally drivers. You might not choose it to do the

be ways if you have David Richard’s phone

nice,” Lapworth explains proudly. “With a

school run, but you could! It’s as drivable as

number,” Lapworth smiles again. “But pretty

manual ‘box you wouldn’t keep up with it. With

a Subaru would be. You don’t get a limousine

much they’re all gone.” A shame…

the launch control, by the time you’ve initiated

ride but it’s surprisingly civilised, as rally cars

it, it’s time to put it into second gear and then almost immediately into third. Manually, you’d

22 / 27 Visit With Us

26

27

28

Bike Stuff

Bike Stuff

by Mitja Reven

Akrapovič exhaust systems are designed for riders who demand maximum performance from their motorcycles. They feature exceptional production quality, hi-tech materials, increased engine performance and all come with amazing sound and appearance as standard. The change is also visual, as Akrapovič mufflers perfectly fit the exterior line of modern motorcycles and add a clean racing image.

28

Ducati Scrambler Nightshift + 1.6kW (+ 2.2hp) at 8,600rpm + 3.0Nm at 4,500rpm - 3.8kg (- 55.8%) Aprilia Tuareg 660 + 0.9kW (+ 1.2hp) at 4,800rpm + 2.1Nm at 4,800rpm - 1.9kg (- 36.5%)

Yamaha R3 / MT-03 + 0.9kW (+ 1.2hp) at 10,900rpm + 0.5Nm at 9,700rpm - 1.1kg (- 38.8%) Kawasaki Z650RS + 1.1kW (+ 1.5hp) at 5,300rpm + 1.9Nm at 5,300rpm - 1.7kg (- 29.2%)

Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 + 1.3kW (+ 1.7hp) at 2,300rpm + 5.6Nm at 2,700rpm - 0.5kg (- 11.6%)

Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX + 1.4kW (+ 1.9hp) at 10,100rpm + 1.8Nm at 5,500rpm - 2.2kg (- 28.9%)

Because of the world-wide distribution of Akrapovič d.d. products, we make no representation that the products shown comply with the air, noise or other emission laws of your jurisdiction. Hence, please make sure you have all the relevant information before you consider purchasing any of the products. You are welcome to contact our local partner in your country if you have any questions or turn to page 4 and our website at www.akrapovic.com for additional information.

29

Car Stuff

by Mitja Reven

Car Stuff

Check out the latest Akrapovič aftermarket exhaust systems for cars, where only the best materials and exclusive titanium alloys are used. These materials are combined with high technology and exquisite craftsmanship of Akrapovič welders to create a package that separates them from everything else on the market.

Audi RS 3 Sportback / Limousine (8Y) + 7.5kW (+ 10.2hp) at 5,450rpm, + 16.3Nm at 2,800rpm, - 10.1kg (- 44.1%), Titanium, Rear Carbon Fibre Diffuser - High Gloss

BMW M240i (G42) + 7.1kW (+ 9.7hp) at 2,450rpm, + 20.5Nm at 2,450rpm, - 4.0kg (- 22.8%), Titanium

Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S / GLE 63 S Coupé (C293) + 6.3kW (+ 8.6hp) at 2,800rpm, + 21.3Nm at 2,800rpm, - 9.2kg (- 34.2%), Titanium

29

BMW M3 (G80)/M4 (G82, G83) Rear Carbon Fibre Diffuser - High Gloss Black

30 / 33 Story

Story

by Jean Turner

TH E H U MAN E LE M E NT

photography BMW, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

30

31

Bobby Rahal portrait

“I consider myself so lucky,” were the first words from Bobby Rahal during our sit-down on a Beverly Hills rooftop café. “I grew up in that decade of the 1960’s where it was just a magical time, and cars and motorcycles were central to everything young people were interested in.” Sixty years later, it is still a magical time for Bobby Rahal, and from the way he exudes a timeless passion for cars, you’d think he was entering his first decade of car racing — not his fifth. “As I’ve told people over the years, even today I’m a fan first. And oh yeah, I happen to do it for a living, but it was being a fan that got me to where I could do it for a living.”

Bobby Rahal, together with TV showman David Letterman and businessman Mike Lanigan, owns a BMW RLL Racing Team. For 14 years they have successfully competed with five teams in INDYCAR and IMSA series in the USA.

If you ever want to watch the glow of the golden age of car racing come to life, just ask Bobby about going to Road America with his father, or his beloved 1972 BMW 2002 tii. “It’s easy for me to get excited about it, if you can’t tell. It’s in my soul. That’s where the passion for the sport came from.” It’s a tricky business, turning your passion into your livelihood. And trickier still to maintain that passion across five-decades in an ever-evolving sport, one that has seen him transition from driver to team owner, and seen the cars themselves evolve from analogue into computerised hybrids. “I don’t ever remember questioning my passion. I had that. That was easy. Because it was deep down. Certainly, there were times when I really asked myself, is this worth it? Am I chasing something real, or is it imagination? Do you think you can do it or not? Every time I asked that question, I said, ‘I think I can.’ I just never gave up. As I tell young people that have come to me over the years, there is no secret. It takes hard work, commitment, perseverance. You’re going to lose races more often than you’re going to win. So, what keeps you going? It’s that belief that you can do it. If you don’t have that belief, you need to find another job.”

“Listen to your ass” Key advice Bobby has given to younger drivers might come across as crude, but it’s the gospel truth, according to the 1986 Indy 500 winner: “Listen to your ass.” As I pose the question of this famous phrase, Bobby responds with a chuckle. “Yeah, I tell that to my drivers when we go to Indy, especially. But it really rings true anywhere. And that is because your ass won’t fool you. In racing, there are two things that kind of rule how you drive. One is your brain and one is your heart. And sometimes your heart writes cheques that your brain can’t cash. ‘I’m going to go through that turn flat out because I know I can.’ And you try to do it and bam, you crash.

Now, if you listen to your head, your head would have said ‘there’s no way we can do that.’ But even more importantly if you listen to your ass, you’ve heard the term pucker-factor? Well, if that’s happening, you better listen to it and follow it. Because that will save you.” It’s not always as simple as believing in yourself. A racer needs a team that also believes, and throughout the early

years of his career, and trying to navigate his

Where does a passionate guy like Bobby draw

way into the European racing scene in Formula1,

the line? “I do believe strongly in loyalty and

Rahal had his share of difficulties. After finding

I do believe nothing is ever without issues or

himself at a low point in 1981, things suddenly

without problems. But what I look for in people

became much easier when Jim Trueman came to

is their character. That’s who you want to be

him and said, if you’re smart, you’ll do everything

with. So, when I race, yes, I had those emotional

I say. “Having known Jim for five or six years at

commitments. But in the race car, I tried to be

that point, I was okay with that. He said, ‘I want

as calculated and cold and emotionless as

to go INDYCAR racing, I want you to drive the

possible, because it goes back to that heart/

car.’ We won races in our first year in INDYCAR

brain/ass combination. In the sense that you have

racing, got Rookie of the Year, second in the

to have your heart in it, but you have to control

championship. If there was somebody that

that. Somebody has to be the adult. If it’s not

believed in me, that was willing to put his money

here (points to head), it’s down here (points

behind that and help me build his team, that was

to ass). I’ve always had to drive that way. If I

the guy.” Along with radiating passion throughout

was emotional when racing, I felt I would make

his career, Bobby endured some heart-rending

mistakes. There’s no question I’ve made mistakes

extremes, from the high of winning Indy in 1986

times where I’ve tried too hard, or somebody

to the low of losing team owner Jim Trueman

passed me and I’m going to get him back, and

ten days later to cancer. “If you had written a

maybe end up… not. So that’s why I’ve always

movie about this situation at Indy where he barely

said I think emotions are really the enemy. It’s too

makes it to the race and dies ten days after,

easy for them to take over.”

everybody says, ‘That doesn’t happen in real life.’

Shierson at the time, and years later he said ‘the

More than 50 victories in more than 20 years

other 32 of us knew we didn’t have a chance

As the cars, computers and digital aspects of

that day. The good lord was going to make sure

racing have evolved, Bobby has also seen the

Jim Trueman won that race.’ Even today I get

evolution of the demands on the driver. The

emotional because it… really hits you.”

dynamics of data acquisition have changed the

But I’ll never forget there was a team owner Doug

game in many aspects, yet some things stay

A lot of emotions

the same. “When I started INDYCAR racing,

Passion, loyalty, conviction — racing summons

it was you, a mechanic and maybe one other

a lot of emotions for a sport that requires you to

guy and that was it. The amount of information

shut off the emotional aspect out on the track.

that you dealt with was far less than it is today.”

30 / 33 Story

BMW M4 GT3 cars of BMW M Team RLL team are all equipped with Akrapovič exhaust systems.

acquisition first started coming in, and ’83, ground effect. It became much more of an engineering experiment, to a large degree, and the driver became part of that engineering aspect. Now it’s much more sophisticated, much more data dependent. And that’s not getting less, that’s increasing. Because now you look at racing companies like ours, we’re hiring software writers. No one in racing even knew what that was 30 years ago. So, it’s becoming more and more sophisticated. It’s a different world.” With technology changing the analogue into a digital experience, what has this done to Bobby’s timehonoured passion rooted in the golden age of car racing? “In the end, it’s still man and machine against And what exactly is he doing now? He runs

man and machine. There’s still that human element.

RLL Racing in USA, competing with five teams

Big time. We haven’t gotten to the point where the

in INDYCAR and IMSA series. They achieved

human being is being replaced. We are actually

more than 50 victories in over 20 years of racing

asking more of the driver now and we’ve also added

altogether; with BMW M Team RLL they won

all these other areas of information that make that

the famous Daytona 24 hours race two times

human being even more effective, more successful

in succession in 2019/2020, so Bobby knows

than he might have been otherwise. Just like a fighter

what is he talking about racing once and today.

pilot. You look at a World War II fighter plane, you look

BMW M4 GT3 cars of BMW M Team RLL team

at a plane today… but ultimately there’s still a guy in

are all equipped with Akrapovič exhaust systems.

there flying it. And that makes the difference.”

Regardless of his success in his current role, Bobby Rahal with Jim Trueman

he prefers to compare it with his racing career: “Toward the end of my career is when data

32

33

Inte r v iew

34 / 39 Interview

by Miran Ališič

34

photography Bor Dobrin, Red Bull Content Pool, Future7Media / Husqvarna Motorcycles Images, Philip Platzer / KTM Images, Sebastian Höllwart

35

M a r c e l

H i r s c h e r

A SECOND CAREER? RATHER NOT...

He dominated Alpine skiing in the past decade, winning the overall World Cup eight times - in a row! Only Ingemar Stenmark has more victories in the men’s World Cup. Marcel Hirscher is a skiing icon. He retired unexpectedly in 2019 at just 30 years of age and is now pursuing many new goals.

He has his own ski brand and continues to live an adrenaline-filled life that includes mountaineering, freeriding and, above all, motorcycling. Everyone knows Hirscher’s love of skiing, but few know that he has been a gifted motorcyclist since his youth.

No longer a professional athlete, he mostly avoids journalists, media, and the public nowadays. He welcomed us at the tiny village of Annaberg in Salzburg’s Lammertal, an idyllic setting that he grew up in and decided to return to. He had just come back from his latest vacation - in Slovenia.

34 / 39 Interview

You seem to love all kinds of sports.

The latest Instagram photos show you rafting on River Soča in Slovenia.

My father was an amateur motocross rider and bikes parked in the garage were a part of my

But surely, it’s your legs and mind that make the difference in skiing in the end?

childhood.

No, not overwhelmingly. Let’s say fifty-fifty – half for the material, half for the skier. I will

It was great! I haven’t done that for a very

never win a World Championship motocross

about 16 or 17. Then my increasing obligations

Do you want to start a second career like Luc Alphand for example, or do you do motorcycle races mainly for fun?

pushed it to the background. But the other

I want to improve all the time. But a real

It’s rather different in skiing. If your equipment

day we decided to go there again. It has

second career, I don’t think so. I had a lot of

and set-up are poor, you crash out at the third

changed, the infrastructure, new roads, so

fun at the Erzbergrodeo, but I also realised that

gate, no matter how good you are.

many tourists, I could hardly believe it. I have

I was playing in a different league compared to

so many wonderful memories of this valley and

the best there.

long time. I used to go there very often with my friends as a child and teenager until I was

the untouched nature there. I know Soča valley

race, even with the best bike, while Antonio Cairoli can occasionally win with a poor bike.

Seems incredible that you can do it all!

Skiing, training, winning and still having a family and motocross as a hobby. A day only has 24 hours, but for you it should have at least 40!

Despite celebrating the second giant slalom World Cup victory of your career in Kranjska Gora in January 2010?

In skiing, you have to do all the work yourself to win and succeed, whereas in motorsport you have to rely on your machine. Without the best bike, you can’t win, even if you do have the best riding technique, right?

Yeah? Is that so?

(laughs) Hmm, quite wrong, actually. A ski may

not a machine, I’m just a human being, I’m

look like a very simple piece of equipment,

Marcel. It was already a very intense time, I

Are you interested in your career stats?

but it’s at least as important for winning as a

had to be extremely focused, there was only

No, not at all. In a chat I can tell a lot about my

motorcycle is in motorsports. When it comes

work. Especially during winter. The more my

career in general, but not about the individual

down to the hundredths of a second, it’s the

active career recedes into the past, the more I

races, wins or such. I always considered

material that ultimately decides. In skiing, too.

realise how intense it all was. If you’re a place

best in Slovenia, Kranjska Gora actually not that well. (laughs)

Not quite. I used to be proud when people told me I was like a machine. But now I’d like to distance myself from that. I’m glad I’m

statistics as quite unimportant. Statistics are always the past.

Let’s stay in the past, though. Even as a very young man you were already a keen motorcyclist. Quite unusual when growing up in such a beautiful remote valley, surrounded by nature and mountains, isn’t it?

Absolutely. My father ran a mountain pasture and I always helped. I had enough savings to either buy a horse or a motorcycle. A very difficult decision... Later I realised that I had made the right decision – a trial bike. I started doing trials when I was 11 or 12 and a few years later I switched to motocross. Then three years ago, after finishing my skiing career, I started with enduro.

Were you even allowed to ride all those motorcycle races? As a professional athlete, you have to sign contracts, don’t you? Your compatriot Gerhard Berger once told me that his Ferrari contract prohibited him from skiing.

Although he did it anyway...

Skiing is dangerous, too. But yes, you’re right. Several times they tried to ban me from motorcycles in a contract, but I always said, well, in this case it’s over with skiing.

Additionally, I must say that motocross was very important and valuable in terms of my fitness.

What fascinated you about motorcycle riding when you were a teenager?

When you start the engine, something gets moving. You feel something, it vibrates... You experience new moments, new boundaries with the bike, which you can’t reach on foot.

I’m only 33, but sometimes I feel very old.

The price for success was very, very high.

When you start the engine, something gets moving. You feel something, it vibrates... You experience new moments, new boundaries with the bike, which you can’t reach on foot.

skier, sometimes finishing fifth, then maybe

36

37

Were all these victories the goal for you or rather the path?

okay. But if you always have to be at the press

How aware were you of such facts during your career? Did you sometimes just want to quit?

conferences, constantly face anti-doping

Very! And very often! And then the next day

was that after winning, when you get the

controls, the ceremonies around the podium...

comes and you say to yourself, I’m in the

flowers and are attending the victory ceremony,

You never get to dinner before 10pm. And the

middle of my career now and with a little luck

in your mind you are already thinking about

next day it starts at 5:30am again. As long as

I can make the impossible possible. That was

tomorrow. You can’t enjoy it, because from the

you’re there, it’s a merry-go-round that never

always the key, the four overall wins I already

moment you cross the finish line, everything

stops. I’m only 33, but sometimes I feel very

had. If I had stopped or taken a year’s break,

is already over. That feeling is crazy. But if I

old. The price for success was very, very high.

then the fifth overall victory in a row wouldn’t

had been able to celebrate my victories in a

happen. That’s why I kept going.

different way, maybe I would never have won

on a podium, then fifth again, it may still be

(very long thought) I’d say both. The bad thing

34 / 39 Interview

In life, you should never be complacent, there is always someone better, more amazing, stronger...

MotoGP test with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in 2019

so many races. And another thing that’s always

tested at least a thousand pairs of skis, so the

at the back of your mind is that you’re always

know-how was there. And the best people

being chased.

from my skiing career were all there and

Even when one is as dominant as you over such a long period?

the most renowned test rider for a product without compromise. We are trying to create

not much else. On the other hand, you live in a small village where everyone knows everyone anyway. Why is it so important to you even now, after finishing your active career, to keep your family out of the public eye?

Yes, it happens so quickly. The day you think

a masterpiece with Van Deer and everyone on

(long pause) Everyone wants to separate

you are the best is the day you’ve lost. It always

the team is pulling in the same direction.

their private and public lives, don’t they? My

believed in this idea. So, right now I’m probably

goes on and on and on... Yes, today I won by

ex-wife Laura and I just wanted to be able to

Not only amateur skiers, Henrik Kristoffersen was immediately enthusiastic as well. Your biggest rival at the time now uses your equipment.

How is something like that possible?

have dinner, go shopping, go to the movies in

When Henrik called me, I thought he wanted

with the media, once I became known, that

to go motorcycling together. [Author’s note:

was over very quickly. I can always stand by

I was always aware that somewhere there is a

Kristoffersen is a passionate motocross and

the truth, but when people lie, it’s over. Then

faster skier than me. He may live somewhere

enduro rider.] But he asked me how things

the media won’t get anything more from me.

else, play football or work for Akrapovič and

were with Van Deer now. I thought he was

can ski better than I do. But he has never

joking, but he said he had tested the product

skied. After Hermann Maier, the question was

and was surprisingly pleased and happy

You have two little kids. Did your life change after becoming a father?

would there be another Austrian like him. Then

with how it held up on the snow. Besides,

(laughs) Definitely. The centre of life shifts to

I came and someone else will come after me.

practically my whole former team works for

the children. I was very deep into sports and

We already have a new star - the Swiss Marco

him, my father, my service guy. Now all of

now I often ask myself whether it really was

Odermatt. I really have a lot of confidence in

us, me included, are trying to make sure

all that important. Yes, it was at that moment,

him. He will also win everything. In life, you

Kristoffersen gets the best support. He’s

because it was about success, but now it’s

should never be complacent, there is always

certainly capable of winning the overall World

about other things. The health and well-being

someone better, more amazing, stronger...

Cup.

of my family and children have priority now. I

We are sitting next door to where Van Deer skis are manufactured. Where did the idea to produce your own brand come from?

It’s also an interesting role to cheer along as a team boss from way down in the finish area. How different is that to skiing?

athletes. I will support them if they decide to

Towards the end of my career, the desire to

No idea. After finishing my career, I’ve never

offer racing skis for everyone had already

attended a competition, except the one time

What’s your plan for the next 15 to 20 years?

matured in my head. Unfortunately, many

at Kitzbühel as a course-skier. I was not

To rest, to succeed in my projects, to

commercial products are very poor. It’s about

interested. The journalists, the media, the

experience joy and enjoy a good life.

the money, margins, quantity... Dominic

photographers...

three seconds, but tomorrow is a new day.

How does someone like Marcel Hirscher learn to lose in the first place? You were always at the top, always the best, and then you quit professional skiing at your zenith.

peace. I never accepted the fact that the media didn’t want to respect this boundary. That also has something to do with my upbringing, I think. Mutual trust must always be there, and

will not tell my children to become professional

Tritscher and I wanted to bring a cool, honest product to the market, which would make people say: “Wow, I’ve never felt anything like this, never skied like that before.” I wanted to bring such a feeling to ordinary skiers. I

You are known to place great importance on protecting your private life. We know that you have a daughter and a son and that you are divorced and

do so, but I don’t really want them to become professionals.

Or perhaps win the Dakar eight times in a row on an Enduro-bike? (laughs) No, that will definitely not happen!

38

39

//Si Marcel Hirscher: Druga kariera? Raje ne ...

Marcel Hirscher je smučarska ikona; kar osemkrat zapored je zmagal v skupnem seštevku svetovnega pokala v alpskem smučanju. Leta 2019 se je pri 30 letih presenetljivo upokojil in zdaj sledi številnim novim ciljem. Ima lastno blagovno znamko smuči Van Deer in še naprej živi adrenalinsko življenje, ki vključuje alpinizem, prosto smučanje in motošport. Čeprav se večinoma izogiba novinarjem, medijem in javnosti, nas je kmalu po vrnitvi z raftinga v dolini Soče v Sloveniji sprejel v domači vasi Annaberg v Lammertalu. Motokros je bil za njegove smučarske treninge zelo pomemben in dragocen. »Ko zaženeš motor, se nekaj premakne. Nekaj začutiš, zavibrira ... Na motorju doživiš nove trenutke, nove meje, ki jih peš ne dosežeš,« je med drugim dejal 33-letni Marcel. O novi karieri vendarle ne razmišlja: »Vedno sem si želel postati boljši. Ampak ne verjamem v pravo drugo kariero. Na Erzbergrodeu sem se zelo zabaval, vendar sem se tudi zavedal, da sem med najboljšimi motociklističnimi dirkači le drugoligaš.«

F A N T A S T I C

by Alenka Birk

PHAROS Love of design and cigars gave birth to a young Slovenian company and its first product - Pharos. This cigar rest, named after the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was created with the aim of proudly showcasing the cigars while the smokers fully immerse themselves in their special moment of the day and enjoy their leisure time to the utmost. Made of high-quality materials and with immaculate surface treatment, the cigar rest features an engraving of the Alestimo brand signature on the bottom, finished with a specially prepared shade of black inside the logo. Rounding up the exquisite nature of the experience and preventing damage to its bottom or the surface it is placed upon, Pharos comes in three versions, all equipped with an anti-slip rubber mat. The photo features Pharos King in 24k gold.

alestimo.com/pharos-page/

40

B E C R A Z Y FA S T Felt Bicycles’ IA 2.0 aims for the very top in triathlon racing. Hi-tech carbon, aerodynamic, speedy and trendy - no surprises there as company founder Jim Felt used to be an MX rider.

But triathlon racing is brutal. Imagine sweating and suffering in the heat and humidity across miles of twisting, undulating, and scorching roads. Your muscles contracting in anguish, your lungs screaming as they burn and stoke your inner fire of perseverance. IA 2.0 will make sure you overtake the rest of the pack in a blur of speed, without having to look back as well as knowing that they will never catch you. Cross the finish line, take the win and smash your personal best in front of a cheering crowd of racing fanatics. Revel in your exhaustion, experience the euphoria of your sacrifice, and relish the pride of having gone faster than you’ve ever dreamt possible. To exceed your goals in the unique crucible of triathlon, it is not enough just to be fast. You have to be crazy fast.

eu.feltbicycles.com

DIOR X GRAN TURISMO 7 French couture fashion house Dior has collaborated with the iconic racing car game Gran Turismo 7, producing a unique in-game experience that combines the thrill of racing with the pull of glamour. The starting point were the glamourous adverts of Dior perfumes between the ‘60s and the ‘80s. Yellow is iconic, the design team decided, and created a yellow racing suit with ‘Diorizon’ boots and gloves. The complete set includes the virtual version of a vintage car - a cream-coloured De Tomaso Mangusta.

playstation.com

40 / 41

Fantastic

LOUIS VUITTON X NIKE AIR FORCE 1 Meet the most stylish sneaker of the day, the Nike “Air Force 1” by Virgil Abloh. Creating this beautiful sports accessory required the collaboration of Louis Vuitton and Nike. Crafted in Maison’s atelier in Fiesso d’Artico, Italy (outside of a Nike factory for the first time), the Louis Vuitton “Air Force 1” fuses the sneaker’s original codes with the finest materials and insignia of the Maison. Originally designed by Nike in 1982, the two iconic brands have joined hands to create the most authentic high-end sneaker. There are 47 Air Force 1 editions.

eu.louisvuitton.com

ROLLING STONE Rolling Stones fan? We have something for you. V-MODA, the go-to audio brand for DJs, has partnered with The Rolling Stones to release a new line of headphones inspired by the band’s lyrics, logo artwork and albums.

Showcase the style and swagger of the band with three exclusive designs, titled ’Classic Licks,’ ’No Filter’ and ’Tattoo You.’ These custom V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless headphones are equally appropriate for both fans of the band and musicians looking to jam out. They are intended for pure analogue wired as well as wireless listening, and are becoming a favourite amongst professional musicians worldwide. Being able to pair with multiple devices simultaneously (such as your phone and laptop) they’re great for casual listening, too.

v-moda.com

41

U LT I M AT E T O Y S F O R M E N Ultimate Toys for Men (New Edition) by Michael Gormann is the definitive catalogue for any discerning gentleman. Richly illustrated and meticulously curated, the publication contains the best bespoke and luxury products and premium experiences around the globe, anchored in the belief that only top quality is true value for money. Whether a sports car or a mega yacht, a weekender bag or a boutique hotel, editor Michael Gormann selects the best the world can offer to the modern cosmopolitan man. Age is irrelevant; the boys’ toys just get bigger or more exclusive. The much-anticipated sequel to Ultimate Toys for Men, this updated edition includes a dazzling array of slick new gadgets for guys, handmade beauties, customisable accessories, and all manner of luxuries to rent, buy and experience.

Special features cover the ‘Best of Mallorca,’ ‘Best of London,’ and the finest collector’s items.

amazon.com

Evolut ion

0 363.6 FROM

TO

KM/H

363.6 km/h, the highest officially measured speed of a MotoGP motorcycle so far, was reached by Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac Racing) during this year’s Italian GP at Mugello in Italy, on a Ducati fitted with an Akrapovič exhaust system. This is just one of the milestones Akrapovič passed during its two decades of presence in the premiere class thanks to the Racing R&D team, led by Slavko Alojz Trstenjak.

42 / 45 Evolution

Two decades of Akrapovič in MotoGP

by Mitja Reven photography chili films, Polarity Photo, Yamaha, Bor Dobrin

42

43

The company’s 2002 entry into the MotoGP class

one was won by a motorcycle not fitted with an

champions in the MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3

made perfect sense, seeing that it happened

Akrapovič exhaust system. As far into the season

classes all sported Akrapovič exhaust systems on

when FIM regulations introduced four-stroke

as after the Australian Grand Prix, there were still

their motorcycles.

power units alongside two-stroke 500cc ones,

three riders with Akrapovič-equipped motorcycles

as the Slovenian performance specialist had a lot

among the top-four with theoretical chances of

Development partner

of experience with the former four-stroke power

becoming world champion in the premiere class

But success has never been taken for granted;

in the top flights of motorcycle racing, namely

this year. All-in-all, three riders have won the

each and every exhaust system, itself just one of

the Superbike class. The fact that all Japanese

overall world championship title in the premiere

the many components of a racing motorcycle,

and one Italian works team cooperated with

class of motorcycle road racing so far while using

requires a lot of effort and energy. For some

Akrapovič in the World Superbike Championship

Slovenian exhausts: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha

years now, exhaust systems for the teams

(WorldSBK) in 1999, speaks volumes about the

Factory Racing / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) in

have been prepared anew every year before

knowledge and experience the company from

2012 and 2015, Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar)

the start of the season, with at least one or

Ivančna Gorica already had with four-stroke

in 2020 and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy

two major updates alongside a bunch of minor

power units way back then. But, even before

Yamaha MotoGP) in 2021. After winning the first

changes – from 10 to 30 – over the course of

that, Akrapovič had been working with numerous

MotoGP World Champion title for Akrapovič,

their use. Akrapovič is not only a producer of

teams in the highly competitive German Pro

Lorenzo also gave the Slovenian exhaust maker

exhaust systems for MotoGP motorcycles, but

Superbike series. Akrapovič has racing in its

its 100th overall world championship title three

also a development partner of the teams that

DNA, as company founder and owner Igor

years later. The 2012 and last year’s season

cooperate with Akrapovič racing engineers, led

Akrapovič is a former racer himself. It is therefore

markedly stand out for another reason – world

by Slavko Alojz Trstenjak, to further improve their

2022 KTM RC16

not surprising that the company first focused on development and production of exhaust systems for racing motorcycles. If you looked at the company’s CV in 2002, it would have read ‘more than 10 years of experience with four-stroke power units’ and statistics at the end of the 2002 MotoGP season would record that Akrapovič exhaust systems were fitted to Aprilia and Kawasaki works teams’ motorcycles. But that’s just the beginning of the story.

Titles and triplets The company’s progress in MotoGP can be best appreciated by numbers: in 2010 Akrapovič exhaust systems were used by around 12% of MotoGP riders on the grid, in 2022 this number is 75 (wild card entries not included). Meanwhile, of the first eighteen races of this season, only

2022 MotoGP factory teams using Akrapovič exhausts: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Team Suzuki Ecstar, Ducati Lenovo Team and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP.

42 / 45 Evolution

44

MotoGP bikes with ever-better exhausts.

45

A great example of this cooperation is the ‘double’ Akrapovič exhaust system on the Suzuki GSX-RR, which helped Joan Mir become the 2020 MotoGP World Champion.

Akrapovič racing department, which five years ago developed a complete ready-to-race exhaust system for a MotoGP racing motorcycle that weighed in at under two kilograms, has been the go-to address for questions about MotoGP exhaust system development in the last twenty years. Whereas the first decade of the 21st century saw exhaust prototypes being constructed on bikes, with designs, in some cases, arriving by post from other continents, the middle of the second decade saw a dramatic shift in the approach to exhaust system development; exhausts are now designed exclusively by computer and building them by working on the

2022 Suzuki GSX-RR

bike is only possible in the prototyping phase for

protection of the components surrounding

and made continuous training of engineering

testing and specification requirements; the final

the exhaust system, the company has also

staff a crucial requirement.

product is always designed in a 3D environment.

developed a special type of insulation that

Akrapovič’s racing department has more

This shift came due to the requirements for work

prevents heat radiating from the scorching

than two decades of experience with various

optimisation, the use of space on the bikes and

exhaust tubes.

MotoGP power units, ranging from the Aprilia

precision craftsmanship.

Even occasional MotoGP race spectators will

3 cylinder, Kawasaki in-line 4, KTM V4,

Exhaust system development in MotoGP

probably have noticed that exhaust systems

Honda V5 to today’s V4 and in-line 4-cylinder

moreover made exhausts smaller and lighter

fitted onto MotoGP motorcycles have replaced

engines. Although the 2022 season is not

through the years, also due to increasingly

their mufflers with megaphones. Coming as

finished, company engineers have already

thinner tubes. Today, exhaust systems in the

a consequence of an increase in the allowed

begun thinking about the future. The sound

premiere class are active, i.e. equipped with

loudness from 120dB to 130dB at 5,500rpms,

coming from the Racing R&D department’s

built-in valves to control and regulate the effect

this change was just one of the turning points

dynamometer, where, behind carefully closed

of engine braking. However, the use of valves

in various areas of exhaust development at

doors, the visiting team’s engineers and

increased the temperatures inside the exhaust

Akrapovič. The changes in exhaust system

Akrapovič technicians will be testing exhaust

systems to such a degree that Akrapovič began

development, the new know-how, new

systems solutions for the upcoming season,

using special coatings to protect the titanium

equipment (including the in-house titanium

will thus soon resonate in my office again.

tubes from oxidation and further improve their

foundry where very complex parts are made) and

Then I’ll be able to turn off my radio.

temperature resistance. For additional heat

materials, also required fresh technical solutions

Story

46 / 49 Story

by Federico Tondelli photography Federico Tondelli, Rally Zone / Husqvarna Motorcycles Images, Marcelo Maragni / Red Bull Content Pool, Prodrive, X-raid

46

DAKAR RALLY - A TOUGH ADVENTURE FOR STRONG HEARTS

DRIVE, SHOOT, WRITE, EAT, REPEAT. Dakar Rally is a race not only for competitors, but also for the professionals that are there to narrate the epic adventures of those taking part.

Photographers and journalists live themselves a race, made by sleep deprivation, quick bites of food and a car as an office. A combination of factors that makes it a tough adventure for strong hearts, as well as a lifetime experience.

47

Assuming that after the day (or night) before, you made it to the bivouac, the alarm clock rings at 4:00am, you wrap the sleeping bag, deflate the mattress, fold the tent and make sure everything fits in a single suitcase, a Tetris that becomes harder (and heavier thanks to the sand you accumulate in the cracks of the luggage here and there) day after day. At the canteen you grab the bag with breakfast and get in the car, following the route reserved for assistance vehicles. There are from 500 to 800 km between one bivouac and the next and you have to arrive before the racers finish the stage, because that is the moment when the encampment comes to life and the word of mouth of stories and the odd curiosities begin.

With almost 450 crews taking part in the 2022 edition, the day becomes very short when you need to find as many stories as you can, chasing any romantic sides of the competition.

Logistics for the event is not easy either, the bivouac is sometimes more than two kilometres in length and walking back and forth under the mid-afternoon Saudi sun is already a pretty challenging adventure.

48

With almost 450 crews

Photographers, on the other hand, are

competing in the 2022 edition,

hunters, always on the trail. Their GPS points

the day becomes very short

they are on the race trail and are therefore

are communicated at the very end, because

when you need to find as

kept secret for as long as possible. They

many stories as you can,

what route they will take and they need to

arrive before the drivers, so they don’t know

chasing any romantic sides

be quick to read the trails, guess the routing

of the competition.

shot. Sometimes leaving early is not enough,

and find the most scenic spots for the best

46 / 49 Story

49

and therefore they do not pass at all by the

please their sponsors). But getting a perfect

more photographers. Secured to the cabin

bivouac, after the stage they go directly to the

shot for a photographer takes a lot more effort,

with a harness, their bodies leaning out of the

next day’s point. While one drives, the others

and astonishing landscapes help, but don’t

door and their long lenses (usually 500 mm

work on the photos, to send them as soon as

give anything for free: they have to guess

or 600 mm) looking more like a sniper, than a

possible. The breakfast that already works

the line, spot a potential place and get to it!

photographer at a sporting event, this is one of

as lunch, at the end becomes dinner as well,

They climb rocks until the top of the red hill

the most prized positions for any photographer

but the emotion of sleeping under a sky full

to get the trails, or crawl themselves into a

at the Dakar. The pilots are racers themselves,

of stars is priceless. Of course, it’s cold. “Go

small cave to get that scenery frame, or make

performing manoeuvres that strain the laws of

in the desert, you’ll feel that heat.” But no,

their way to the top of a sand dune to freeze

physics, making the helicopter dance above

not really. The first week of this year’s edition

the spin of a wheel. Sand is the nemesis

the car’s roof, which is only a few inches

temperatures never rose above 8 degrees

of equipment, and a good part of the night

beneath the skids.

during the day, let alone at night. Only in the

must be devoted to cleaning and dusting. Not

last stages, those closest to the Red Sea,

in the best conditions though: the night in the

Dakar Rally is the race of the races: 13

the thermometer reached milder centigrade,

desert is very dark and the only help comes

contests one after the other that build up

around 18/20 °C.

from a headlamp fixed on their forehead.

the whole competition. The first one is the

The terrain is so amazing that it’s not that

Some of the luckiest (or of the best) get a ticket

stage is already a victory itself. Then you have

difficult to frame a good shot from short

for a helicopter flight above the heads of the

the other 12 stages, which are a mixer: drive,

distance, with the riders frequently playing

competitors. The organisation has more than

shoot, write, eat, repeat. Not only the riders,

in front of their lenses in the search of that

a dozen choppers taking off every morning,

but journalists, photographers, technicians

perfect image that would allow them to

some of them are support or medical wings,

and workers as well. The Dakar is a race for

increase their followers on Instagram (and

but others are equipped to transport one or

everybody, racers and non-racers.

preparation, because getting to the starting

Travel With Us

50 / 55 Travel With Us

by Matevž Hribar photography Matej Povše, Matevž Hribar

NO VIGNETTES REQUIRED, JUST TIME!

50

BMW R 1250 GS ON THE MOST SCENIC ALPINE ROADS People are funny: in winter we flock en masse to the mountains to scurr y down the snow y slopes and in summer we take to the coast in airconditioned steel buckets .

But wouldn‘ t it be wiser to migrate like birds to warmer places in winter and retreat to the fresh embrace of the mountains in summer? Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to a spectacular corner of the eastern Alps, as experienced atop one of the best machines to tackle mountain roads .

51

I took the A10 autobahn, which snakes from

the GS couldn’t match the Hyperstrada and

when the sun’s rays are not strong enough to

Villach towards Salzburg at least twenty times,

the Monster. The Bavarian rides like a charm.

feed the fuel cell. You are probably wondering

either on the way to Mattighofen to pick up test

Select the ‘dynamic’ mode and its electronically

the same as me: is a house equipped in this

KTM bikes, to Teutschenthal for the Motocross

adjustable suspension keeps the motorcycle

way energy self-sufficient? “Not quite. Snow

World Championship races, to Munich, the

stable well beyond the limits of sport-touring

covers the solar cells in winter and remains

starting point of our motorcycle tours in the

riding.

there, as the maximum steepness of the roof is determined by law. And since guests also

Alps... But always on the motorway. Obviously, one cannot take the slow roads when towing

An idyllic Bavarian house that produces

expect a whirlpool and a sauna when renting

a trailer with eight motorcycles. But this time

and stores hydrogen

such a house, we have them too and they use,

round there was only one bike involved and,

With the majority of Southern Europe reeling

oof, a lot of power. But if we disconnect them,

crucially, beneath my derrière. A BMW R

under a prolonged drought at the time, the

we are very close to self-sufficiency as regards

1250 GS in the lavishly equipped Triple Black

dark green forests and meadows around

heating and electricity.”

version, with extra protection bars and a Slip-

here remain copiously watered. As I turn

On Line exhaust, both provided by Akrapovič. I

westwards towards Bischofshofen the next

dare say I was on one of the best machines for

day, I ponder about the abundance that has

the journey I planned to undertake. But more

been bestowed on those living here. The road

about that later on.

to Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer is fantastic;

Towards the heights I would have preferred to avoid Zell am See, especially if I had known that Steinerwirt Inn, where we were fed in such an exemplary

dynamic and flowing through the valley next to

fashion three years ago, would be closed on 1

Up the valley and across the ski slopes

a stream at first and extremely picturesque in

August. As it transpired, though, I paid the same

Not buying the motorway toll sticker paid off as

a wide valley surrounded by rocky peaks later

price for a ‘kinder’ portion of wiener schnitzel

soon as I joined Route 99 at Spittal an der Drau

on. I reach south Bavaria and the roads feel

as for an adult serving of beefsteak, just like

near Porcia Castle, one of the most important

just a bit wider and better, the houses even

the other tourists on that day. However, this

Renaissance castles in Austria. A 40-kilometre

more luxuriously decorated. Well, this one in

town by the lake was the best starting point

stretch of this pleasant road winds parallel to

Reit im Winkl where I visit Romolo Liebchen,

for what I had planned for the following day: a

the motorway which soars above the valley

definitely is. Last December, Romolo and his

little after seven in the morning I had already

on tall columns. Lovers of automobile history

wife Christine opened Chalet am Wetterkreuz,

paid the toll for the Grossglockner High Alpine

can stop at the first private Porsche museum,

a lavish dwelling with a strong emphasis on

Road, the highest paved mountain pass road

located in Gmünd, to where the company

local materials – wood, stone and iron. “The

in Austria. “You’re lucky, it was raining an hour

retreated to escape bombing during WWII. It

old house could not be renovated. But we

ago,” remarked a hunter, who was, binoculars in

was there that the legendary 356 was born,

used its wood for the log cabin where we store

hand, watching out for chamois near the highest

alongside other wonderful road, racing and

hydrogen and for some elements in the new

point of the road. His English was about as

military vehicles and even a Porsche tractor. At

house,” says Romolo as he takes me around

good as my German, so I only learnt that there

Mühlbach, where the highway disappears into

the idyllic Bavarian villa. Hydrogen?! Yes, the

are a lot of marmots and that his Lada Niva is

a tunnel, the 99 passes over the Katschberg

basement hides sophisticated technology. In

bad on asphalt, but good off-road. A Lada is

ski slopes and, a little later, Obertauern. Here

a nutshell, electricity from the rooftop solar

a proper rarity in Austria today! Welcome to

the road is wide, with long bends. Two Ducatis

cells is stored in a battery pack that powers

the 21st century, I guess, where even hunters

zoomed past, but I cared not; well actually,

a geothermal heat pump and an electrolysis

have gone soft and prefer SUVs over purer

that’s not true, I was itching to open the throttle,

process to produce hydrogen. The gas is then

off-roaders. Could this trend be observed in the

but decided not to, though not out of fear that

stored in cylinders in the outdoor log cabin for

world of motorcycles? Actually, yes. Although

50 / 55 Travel With Us

52 53

A BMW R 1250 GS in the lavishly equipped Triple Black version, with extra protection bars and a Slip-On Line exhaust, both provided by Akrapovič.

50 / 55 Travel With Us

Romolo Liebchen

the GS can do a lot in the hands of a skilled

entrance to the restaurant’s terrace. “Look, just

rider if clad in appropriate tires, it has become

one person per car.”

less and less ‘Gelände’ (terrain) and more and

You have to love Italy. One just becomes more

more ‘Strasse’ (road) over the years. And I get

alive here. Chic signorinas, grandfathers on

that: people mainly choose such a bike for road

bicycle specials with peaked caps instead of

trips, where it performs perfectly, letting you, for

helmets, a waiter who easily convinces you to

example, to stand up and give your posterior a

have something sweet, even if you’re already full.

bit of a rest. And just look at it: equipped with

But it is also true that I was blocked in by a flat-

optional tubular side guards it provides excellent

bed truck in the middle of a Cortina motorcycle

protection to valuable cylinder heads from

parking lot. Something like that didn’t happen in

damage.

Germany.

This scenic road was not built to connect

It’s August. No, definitely don’t go to the

two valleys like many other mountain passes.

Dolomites when Italians are on vacation, even

The idea of attracting petrol-based tourism

though the temperatures are perfect for a ride

was met with ridicule in 1924, but three years

then. And when planning your motorcycle tour

later, Austria, still reeling from the aftermath of

among the peaks, try to be somewhat nearby

WWI, decided to approve the project, which

your hotel towards the early afternoon, as storms

was expected to attract 120,000 visitors a

can and do occur even on a seemingly innocent,

year. The road was opened to traffic in 1935

sunny day. A rain coverall and an extra pair of

and three years later 375,000 people drove or

warm gloves are essential equipment. Years ago,

rode on it, with the number reaching around

I remember waking up to motorcycles covered in

900,000 in recent years. The 48-kilometre-

snow – at the end of August! One of the guests

long rollercoaster will set you back 28 euro for

from Brazil in his sixties saw snow for the first

a motorcycle and 38 euro for a car. Tip: sleep

time ever and was playing with it like a child. If

somewhere nearby and get on the mountain

his GS hadn’t come with heated handlebars, his

early, before the crowds do.

fingers would have probably gone numb.

Grand finale

Go where the wind takes you…

But I couldn’t avoid the rush hour in Lienz, which

By accident, I ended my Alpine trip via an

I was still happy to have seen. The road from

unplanned route. Inquiring about the way to

Lienz to Italy is nothing special in itself - quite

Tolmezzo, an employee at the gas station in

busy and fairly flat - but the pleasures that await

Auronzo helpfully explained: “Six kilometres,

are worth a bit of blandness. Ah, the Dolomites!

left.” I, however, turned left into the first available

Probably one of the most enjoyable locations

tunnel and found myself in the Piave river valley,

for motorcycle riding. The main reason has to

in somewhat less populated country. Still

be the extraordinary scenery with jagged peaks,

touristy, of course, but with an antique shop

glaciers and high mountain pastures. This

on the main street, something inconceivable

exquisite natural environment is criss-crossed

in Cortina or Corvara where boutique stores

by a network of excellent roads, twisted like

sell prestigious fashion brands. I had my last

pretzels. And then there are the restaurants

coffee in Rigolato, a place squeezed into a

which bring with them a touch of Italy. There’s

narrow gorge, where I would have gladly spent

nothing wrong with a fatty sausage in Munich,

the night if I wasn’t pressed for time. Don’t use

and a Vienna steak is quite all right, but Italian

a navigation system and don’t plan your trip to

cuisine is second to none. Light, simple,

perfection, trying to squeeze everything in it.

delicious. In Cortina d’Ampezzo, I entered the

Leave a day or two free and let yourself go with

tried-and-true Ristorante Ariston, and even

the wind.

before the waiter thrust the menu into my hands, I stopped him with “Do you still have ravioli with...” “With beetroot? We do. Anything else?”

“Busy, ha?” I ask him a moment later while dipping a warm bun in a bit of olive oil. “It’s terrible! We’ve had two great months, but August is crazy. Italians and their cars,” he

54

55

says shaking his head standing akimbo at the

// Si Z BMW-jem R 1250 GS po najlepših alpskih cestah Spoznajte vzhodne Alpe v družbi enega najboljših motociklov za boj z zavitimi alpskimi cestami. To je BMW R 1250 GS, opremljen z Akrapovičevimi lahkimi zaščitnimi cevmi in izpušnim sistemom iz titana.

Matevž Hribar je obiskal Katschberg, Obertauern, Bischofshofen, Reit im Winkl, Großglockner in – ene in edine – Dolomite.

by Alenka Birk

WINE TRAIN Wine AND train? Lovers of delectable wine and picturesque landscape can now enjoy a very special experience in the shape of a five-hour train ride through the Vipava valley in Slovenia, where grapevines were planted for the first time about 2000 years ago. This irresistibly charming wine country fascinates with its many unique attributes, top quality wines and old indigenous varieties such as Zelen and Pinela. As you embark on the Wine Train, you are greeted with a glass of local sparkling wine. This is just the first delicacy of the journey with stops along the way where you will personally meet local winemakers and taste the best that Vipava Valley has to offer. www.vinskivlak.si

BALI IN BERLIN An oasis of peace and tranquillity in the heart of Berlin, Vabali Spa resides in the centre of the bustling metropolis and offers a peaceful space to reunite body, mind and soul. This unique day spa will leave a lasting impression, as you are supposed to enter it in the nude.

Once inside, let yourself be awed by the stunning and extensive grounds, outstanding architecture and countless authentic Balinese elements which will help you truly experience and enjoy the charm and tranquillity of Bali. More than 20,000 square meters of relaxation await you, so take a look around and find your favourite spot in one of the many saunas containing soothing ceremonies, choose a heated waterbed in a multitude of relaxation rooms, cool off in the pool or enjoy a massage in one of the harmoniously designed treatment rooms. Take off your clothes and enjoy! www.vabali.de/en/berlin/

56 / 57

Crazy Stuff

SWINGERS GOLF No, it’s not what you think! Swingers is the name of a crazy golf venue located in London’s West End, dedicated to the sport’s kitschy past. It takes you back to the roots of mini golf on a course fully furnished with the now faded glamour of 1920s England. Its eye-catching obstacles including ornate Ferris Wheels, rose gardens and the obligatory windmill, make for a course which is both challenging and charming, especially when experienced alongside a well-stocked bar and street food offering. Need we say more? Go and book your 18 holes now. www.swingers.club/uk

56

57

THE FORGOTTEN SECRET OF IZOLA If you are a fan of puzzles, anagrams and love to actively explore places you are visiting, then Izola’s outdoor adventure - The Forgotten Secret of Izola - is perfectly suited for you! Explore the alleys and markets of this small Slovenian seaside town to reveal the secrets that might remain hidden on a daily stroll through its compact city centre. After a friendly welcome by the guide in Izolana, House of the Sea, you will soon be placed under the wing of a mysterious person who will, through an app, take you on a journey that will introduce you to the town’s centre and 11 challenges. The clues are fun and the ending is surprising!

www.visitizola.com/en/forgotten-secret/

58 / 63 Story

Story

byTina Torelli photography Red Bull Content Pool, Brazzo De Hiero

58

59

RIDING ON THE CLOUDS TOM PAGÈS

This is a story about the desire as old as humankind; a desire to face the unknown, to grow and - to fly. It’s a story about a hardworking freestyle rider who knows every stage of a hero’s journey, dark times included.

Great adventures require imagination, courage and a leap of faith. After an amazing career as an FMX (freestyle motocross) rider, competitor and inventor, it was only last October when Tom Pagès, 37, achieved what he never thought was possible. By answering the call to adventure, he went from master to apprentice, from struggle to surrender, from freestyle to rigid rules. The journey led him through the fire of initiation and the mighty storm of emotions. “At times, the level of stress was violent. The pressure was all the way insane, and after my second jump in Avoriaz I felt literally sick from the adrenaline.” The darkest night followed before the third Avoriaz jump set Tom free, but first things first.

The rush The first person to put loads of pressure on Tom was Charles, the “craziest” of the Pagès brothers. “Charles constantly kept pushing me to try new things. He is my older brother, so I would follow him. We watched way too much of Travis Pastrana”, remembers Tom. The Pagès brothers started with BMX and a little wooden ramp with a landing in the lake. It soon became second nature for them to perform tricks during regular MX races. In fact, Charles, who had a massive accident in 2010 which ended his career, gets a lot of credit for the trophies displayed in the old farmhouse near Gerona, Tom’s hideout.

60

61

At Tom’s place

X-Fighters and X Games, he saw his brother suffer and two best friends

There’s only one way to become an FMX legend – by always inventing new

die. The man shaped by these experiences can be seen in all his sincerity

tricks. It took him three years to find the right land to train in privacy. Tom

in ‘Flight Mode’ a documentary about his journey to Avoriaz.

certainly knows pressure, but he also knows patience; the old house was impossible to live in so for the first two years he slept in the courtyard in his van. There, in the middle of nowhere, day in day out, he was doing a lot of the same: eat, train, sleep. Those seemingly effortless tricks needed thousands of repetitions. “I used to practice seven days a week, every day, all year, I never stopped. There was me, my mechanic and my dogs. Now, the nature has started to crowd out the foam and the ramps need to be repainted. It’s actually a bit sad. Yeah, the ramps need maintenance, but I need new experiences.” A classic conflict of interest, one might say.

Time to imagine

No hard work, no fun Tom makes sure to point out that he is no pioneer in moto BASE jump. The location in the French Alps, Avoriaz, was chosen to honour Alain Prieur who jumped there in the ‘80s. It must also be acknowledged that Travis Pastrana paved the way for a whole generation of FMX riders, but… “Mine was not a stunt,” says Tom. “People always want to see something crazy, and they saw it, but at the end, for me that was a perfectly calculated operation. And most importantly, I gave my 80 percent to have some room to correct mistakes. I was fully committed to work hard and very serious about not risking my life.” Only after 300 skydives with his friend

After his last big win at X Games in Shanghai, the lockdown stopped

Vince Reffet and the Soul Flyers in Dubai, Tom flew to Réunion Island

time. With the competition calendar cleared, Tom could finally think about

to learn from Loïc Jean-Albert. And only after his first BASE jumps from

his life. In the emptiness and absence of stress, he felt it was time to

the chopper in the jungle, was he ready to jump from the world’s tallest

grow. To grow differently. And as all endeavours like this, his started at a

bridge, the Millau Viaduct, with Aurélien Chatard. He got some final tips

crossroads, too. One way ‘comfortably’ led back to the routine while the

from Valentin Delluc, and with Fred Fugen, who took over his overall

other way - with no brakes, but a parachute - led into the total unknown.

preparation after Vince tragically died in an accident, he had a top notch

From 2008, when he became the first rider ever to stick a double grab flip,

team of coaches. Not to even mention the technical team responsible for

he has tasted the glory many times, but also often ended with a broken

the parachute, or the giant ramp Tom needed to gain 20 meters in the air…

heart. Besides winning at the most prestigious competitions, Red Bull

“At the end, you see, I only jumped.”

58 / 63 Story

TOM’S JUMP INTO THE VOID...

IN NUMBERS Ramp height: 7 m, 10 m if scaffolding is included.

Cliff height: 130 m vertical at the exit.

Height reached in double flip: 155 m if we refer to the exit height, 15 m above the ramp, 170 m if we refer to the landing zone.

Jump duration: 3 seconds of trick, 2 seconds of fall, 25 seconds under canopy, 30 seconds in total.

Length cliff projection: 55 m.

Speed: 80 km/h in 4th gear just before the jump Fall speed without canopy: 150 km /h.

Fall speed of the motorcycle under canopy: 15 km/h with the parachute.

Mastering emotions He only jumped… three times into the thin air of the French Alps.

“Each jump came with a different stress. The first one was difficult because it was the first, but it went fine, and it set me on fire. The second one was a bit catastrophic - my speed was too high, and I ejected myself too late from the bike. Fred was there to calm me down, but I couldn’t imagine jumping again. That was a rough night, but in the morning the sun rose, and everything seemed less black.

My focus shifted from myself to all those people who were there with me - some from the very beginning. I owed a perfect jump to all of us.

In competition, it’s only me, so I’m the only one disappointed. Here, I learned a new level of responsibility. All in all, handling the emotional side was far the hardest challenge of all.”

Only the brave?

When we try to bring courage on the table, Tom says: “I’m more hardworking than fearless. If you work a lot, you will surely overcome crippling fear, but fear will never disappear. Fear is part of life - what do you feel when you start a new job? Fear! Sure, what I do, it might look reckless, but that’s only the appearance and not the truth because you don’t see all the steps. If I want to repeat that jump, I can’t. I have to follow the steps again. Every step in this journey was the scariest thing I’ve ever done. Then again, it’s so different from the motorbike. It’s

62

63

difficult to describe the mental state you need to jump from the cliff, but one thing is for sure: BASE jumpers are nowhere near as crazy as some motocross riders.”

Licence to fly… over the dunes?

Lately Tom has been racing a lot, and all sorts of machines and he reveals a ‘little’ detail of his next great adventure. “Before I had to be somewhere to win, now I know what it’s like to participate. I love speed, two- or four-wheels, I don’t really care. And the buggy is so much fun - I wouldn’t mind taking it to Dakar. I am French, I grew up with this race, so I absolutely need to go! In the meantime, I’m working on my pilot licence. Spending all this time with the Soul Flyers, who are such great dudes, I got a bug and that’s final. But I am not happy as a passenger, no, I want to become a pilot to understand every little thing about flying.

I just passed the PPL theory, so that’s checked. I am really not good at studying, so you can only imagine how badly I want it.”

Lesson from the edge “Lately I learned a lot about myself and life in general. Well, that was also the plan.” What have you learned? “I learned that I like adventure. That nothing in this world is really impossible. From doing the first lap when I was a kid, to go to the first competition, do the first jump and win the X Games - everything went smoothly and fast... But where does this train stop? It doesn’t. When you catch the flow, one thing leads to another. I’m starting to love this too much! This is the type of life I want to live.”

Now you know: Tom’s dreams just got larger wings, so his garage will soon be expanded into a hangar.

58 / 63 Story

//Si Na obisku pri Tomu Pagèsu Toma Pagèsa, francoskega motokrosista prostega sloga, smo obiskali v okolici Gerone, kjer živi obkrožen z dvajsetimi hektarji zemljišča in številnimi rampami. Ima že tako polno garažo, da se bo kmalu razširila v hangar. Tom je lani tudi uradno vstopil v klub najbolj drznih pustolovcev. V smučarskem središču Avoriaz je v skok z motorjem s pečine vključil dvojni front flip in dve padali. Neverjetna dogodivščina je hkrati zaznamovala konec njegove tekmovalne kariere in začetek novega življenja. »V zadnjem času sem se veliko naučil o sebi in življenju nasploh. No, to je bil tudi načrt. Naučil sem se, da imam rad pustolovščino. Da nič na tem svetu ni nemogoče. Od prvega kroga, ko sem bil otrok, do odhoda na prvo tekmovanje, prvega skoka in zmage na X Games – vse je šlo gladko in hitro ... Kje pa se ta vlak ustavi? Se ne more ustaviti. Ko ujameš tok, ena stvar vodi k drugi. To mi je postalo preveč všeč! Takšno življenje želim živeti,« je med drugim povedal 37-letni Tom.

64 / 67 Visit With Us

Visit With Us

by Miran Ališič, Gaber Keržišnik photography Bor Dobrin

Imotski and Herzegovina –

where stars reign

DON’T RETURN WITHOUT A MERCEDES “When you return next year, you’ll see a large monument. It will be carved from stone, well 18 large stones to be more exact, and will be in the shape of a full-sized Mercedes limousine. If it were carved out of a single piece, the risk that the monument to the best car of all time could crack would be too great. The stone would be way too massive,” explained Ivan Topić, known to everyone in Imotski as Nota. This beautifully preserved old town in the hinterland of Dalmatia in Croatia, receives media fame due to its love for Mercedes; it has a population of over 10,000 people and more than 8,000 registered Mercedes vehicles. “It’s a world record,” Topić stated confidently, leaning against the roof of his own silver 1972 Benz.

To get to Imotski, we used, what else, a

She introduced us to her son Marko Piplica:

Mercedes. A white W123 from 1980 with a

“We only drive Mercedes-Benzes. When I sell

non-turbocharged diesel engine, a 4-speed

one, I immediately buy another. It’s the best car

manual transmission, a large steering wheel

in the world, it never breaks down. Even though

without an airbag, a manual sunroof, no air

they have mainly been imported from abroad

conditioning, a broken radio and equipped with

in recent years and usually come with up to

seat covers made of natural sheepskin and

half-a-million kilometres or even more on their

installed god-knows-when by the owner.

odometers, they are still beautiful machines,”

A summer-like 36 degrees Celsius awaited us

the young Croatian army soldier explained

as our Mercedes, cruising at 110 km/h and with

succinctly.

rolled-down windows, confidently swept past the sign marking the town boundary. Imotski!

Greatest love for W123 and W124

There is virtually no street, parking lot, house or

Imotski truly is the land of Mercedes-Benzes.

family where at least someone does not own or

Older versions, though, mainly coming in the

drive a Mercedes. We also came across fami-

guise of W123 and W124 models. “These are

lies where all members owned one. “There are

two of the best and most durable cars of all

four of us and we all drive Mercedes-Benzes,”

time. The general opinion is also that these

a middle-aged lady who runs a convenience

are the last top-quality models. We all have

store told us as we stopped her on the street.

Mercedes-Benzes in our family and I wouldn’t

64

65

let anyone in my household buy a different

Mercedes, but rather MotoGP. Its owner is a

extremely popular because it is indestructible.

marque. Only a Mercedes can park in my

diehard motorcycle rider and amateur racer.

And its younger sibling, the W124, was also

courtyard,” Topić, also the president of the club

“It’s too hot. During the day, people stay at

a great car. If we find one in a poor condition,

of vintage car lovers, well Mercedes-Benzes,

home. They work the fields early in the morn-

we remove its seats and use it for work in the

tells us as we sit down for coffee on the main

ing, when the sun is not that potent yet. And

fields,” adds Pezuljić, as we sit in his shaded

street. But visitors are not the only ones who

they will go to work in their Mercedes-Benzes

garden sipping the hospitably served coffee

are scrutinised by Topić: “If a suitor came to

again in the afternoon, after five pm, when

and nibbling on juicy homegrown nectarines

ask for my daughter’s hand in marriage, I would

the heat subsides,” explains the owner of the

and grapes. The whole family has gathered

first ask him what kind of car he drives. If a

modestly decorated bar. We accept the expla-

around the table, explaining their passion for

Mercedes, then we can continue talking, but

nation and go for a čevapčiči (a grilled dish of

the brand, which mostly originates from the

if he drives anything else, the story ends right

minced meat) lunch. When we return, Vojnići

need for a reliable and high-quality car, which

there. I can’t give away my daughter’s hand

shows more signs of life. We run into Dejan

still represents a status symbol today, just like

in marriage to someone who sits in a Fiat or

Pezuljić, standing in front of the first house in

it did when the village was part of Yugoslavia.

a Japanese car,” Topić says dead-seriously

the village. His garage is full of Benzes too.

“When someone left for work abroad, usual-

while eyeing our Mercedes 240D with interest.

Old and slightly less old. Cars and transport

ly to Germany, it was shameful if they didn’t

It has been well maintained and its first owner

vehicles.

return home in a Mercedes,” is a story heard

only clocked up 180,000 kilometres. Soon

“We all own them. Even small lorries. We

many times while driving around these parts.

everyone in town knows who we are and where

used to buy new ones at the Autocommerce

And we heard some slightly taller tales as well

we come from. “It’s beautiful, really beautiful.

Mercedes dealership in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

from the locals: “We bought a new Mercedes

And so few kilometres. Is it for sale?” many

They were mainly blue, but some were orange.

every year. When the tires wore out after a year

townspeople inquire hopefully.

There were virtually no other colours. Ours

or two, selling the used truck and buying a new

still works well and we use it to transport the

one in Ljubljana was as easy or even easier

fruit and vegetables we grow. W123 remains

than changing the tires. Those were good

Kamo’s kingdom The cult of Mercedes is not worshiped solely in Imotski. The entire region favours the brand and since Imotski is located close to the border, we hop across to Herzegovina. A village called Ružići, to be exact. It looks the same, it is populated by the same people, just that they are living in a different country. And no surprise, we see old Mercedes-Benzes parked everywhere. There are one or two in front of, or behind, every house, usually in various states of disassembly and being used for spare parts. We spot a garage by the main road. Its yard is full of old MercedesBenzes and what used to be a car showroom now hosts a few well-preserved or restored examples. Owner and mechanic Kamilo Pralas, known locally as Kamo, slowly walks across the yard to greet us. Kamo could talk all day about the Stuttgart-based company, their most successful models, rare series, vintage models, repairs, positive and negative features. We get the feeling that he knows absolutely everything about older Benzes.

His yard is home to a never-ending line of vehicles and a large area behind the house is littered with spare parts. Doors, engines, wheels, windows, bare and stripped bodies, parts of the chassis... Kamo gives us a tour of his star-studded kingdom and shows us his pets. These are the models he restored or found himself and they are safely parked under the roof on the ceramic floor of his former car salon and bar. But he knows of a place in Herzegovina with even more Benzes: “If you want to see a Mercedes in front of every house, then drive to Vojnići.” We do!

Blue and orange lorries As we arrive in Vojnići at noon, the town looks dead. The courtyards are deserted, the roads empty. Fortunately, the local bar is open. Can you guess what it’s called? Nope, it’s not

There is virtually no street, parking lot, house or family in Imotski where at least someone does not own or drive a Mercedes. We also came across families where all members own one.

64 / 67 Visit With Us

Ivan Topić

times. We made a killing from two farmer’s markets only – the Croatian in Zagreb and the Slovenian in Ljubljana.”

Three medals Today’s reality is different. The area is still populated by hard-working and warm-hearted people, always smiling, positive and hospitable, but new and expensive Mercedes models have disappeared. Those still on the road were mainly bought before the breakup of Yugoslavia. We return to Imotski. Ivan Topić listens attentively to our impressions before pulling out three medals from his bag. “I can see you are good people. You like the same cars we do, Kamilo Pralas - Kamo

you drove here in a very nice W123.” He told us we deserved to be honoured by their oldtimer club and hung metal medals with a threecolor ribbon and a Mercedes sticker around our necks. Gaber placed his in his study, where it reminds him of Imotski, Ružići, Vojnići and all the good people he met there. The remaining two medals went to our children. God only knows if they will understand that they symbolise immeasurable love and respect for a car brand and time that is long gone. Time that can only be glimpsed in Imotski and Herzegovina, where you can only return to if you are driving a Mercedes.

66

67

Marko Piplica

Dejan Pezuljić (left) with a friend.

68 / 73 Visit With Us

Visit With Us

BACK IN Flying High with Cirrus Vision Jet

“What’s your favourite song?” asks our friendly airport host Nadia Haidar. Though somewhat surprised by the question, I manage to answer without much delay: “You can’t go wrong with a bit of AC/DC,” to which she replies: “Would you choose ‘Back in Black’? It would perfectly complement the colour of your new aeroplane.”

BLACK 68

69

by Gaber Keržišnik photography Cirrus Archive, Gaber Keržišnik

68 / 73 Visit With Us

A visit to Cirrus Aircraft, a company renowned

Cirrus Training Centre is not only a masterpiece

entry-level customers subsequently go on to

for its top-notch and highly advanced personal

in terms of both equipment and architecture,

order a Vision Jet,” says Haidar.

aircraft, has been on my mind for quite some

but also a facility bursting with state-of-the-art

The Vision Jet is your entry pass to the aviation

time, as I have long been tempted to take a

technology.

jet set and private jet ownership. The prices

peek inside its Vision Jet, one of the smallest

“Cirrus operates in different parts of the US,

range from two to three million dollars, which

jet aeroplanes to come off a production line,

in different states. The facility in Knoxville

makes it the next step up from a supercar,

and during my spring travels to the USA, I

was opened because we wanted a one-stop

where prices can be well over a million. We

finally got the opportunity to make a short

shop that serves as a place for training new

can’t imagine traveling more than 2 thousand

stopover in Tennessee to see the new training

pilots, and at the same time handing over new

km with best passenger cars with the whole

centre in Knoxville, where Cirrus has its

aircraft to its new owners,” says Haidar. So far,

family, perhaps up to seven people, from A to B

amazing new premises. On first glance at the

more than 600 pilots have been trained to fly

quickly and comfortably.

photos, I thought Vision Jet was a prototype

the Vision Jet. If you have a Cirrus turboprop

You might think it’s absurd to compare an

that might only be seen flying on the set of

licence, you’ll be able to upgrade to the jet

expensive car with an aeroplane, but I certainly

the latest James Bond film, but some quick

in as little as three weeks. In addition to the

don’t. “With larger jets, owners almost always

research online proved me wrong and revealed

flight simulator, the theory part of your training

hire or employ a pilot. This jet, however, is

that Cirrus had been successfully building

in Knoxville will be followed by hands-on

operated almost entirely independently by its

and selling it for years. To date, more than

instructor-supervised flight sessions. Once you

owner, who wants to fly it because it’s relatively

300 Vision Jets have been built and flown

get your licence, Cirrus keeps you up-to-date

easy, safe and fun,” comments Haidar.

successfully around the globe.

via a web app on your computer or phone.

Although the Vision Jet has two seats at the front with two sets of controls, it is designed

“This aeroplane is a best-seller. We build 86 of them every year, and ordering one today will

PRESTIGE FOR SELECT CUSTOMERS

and certified to be flown and operated by just

get you on a nearly three-year waiting list,” says

Many Vision Jet clients previously had, or still

one person. As it turns out, the front seats are

Nadia Haidar, who handles PR at Cirrus. During

have, one of the cheaper or simpler entry-level

the most thrilling spots to be during the flight,

the tour of the training centre we enter a room

models from the Cirrus SR series. “Some of our

although those at the back are not too bad

with a large simulator, where future pilots and

customers have two aircrafts, some have three

either. Rear passengers are seated in two rows

owners are trained to fly the plane. The new

or more. As many as 16% of our conventional

made up of two and three seats respectively.

The seats are fully adjustable and can even be removed, in fact a Vision Jet offers 28 possible seating configurations.

The pilot and the front passenger are very well accommodated. Full of Garmin instruments, vents and displays, the cockpit is designed with utmost precision, and, yet again, I can’t help but make the comparison with a car, as I have the feeling I’m riding in a Bugatti, Ferrari or Aston Martin. A combination of exposed carbon fibre, premium leather and beautifully crafted details – everything from the switches to the leather stitching – you won’t find any flaws in this jet.

The Vision Jet is a supercar that can fly! And yet it can do so much more.

FLYING SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY The Vision Jet offers the ultimate comfort on a journey of up to 2,360 km, depending on the total weight of the aircraft with its passengers.

The maximum speed is fixed at a respectable 556 km/h. Passengers in the back can either enjoy their choice of music or radio show in comfort with the Bose headphones, or listen to the gentle hum of the Williams International FJ33-5A engine positioned at the upper rear part of the aircraft, just forward of the two tail fins. At the push of a button a flat-screen TV

To date, more than three hundred Vision Jets have been

lowers from the ceiling, but if flicking through TV channels is not your thing, you could

built and flown successfully around the globe. “This

instead watch something on your favourite

aeroplane is a best-seller. We build 86 of them every year,

next business event or meeting, as the latest

and ordering one today will get you on a nearly three-year waiting list,” says Nadia Haidar, who handles PR at Cirrus.

YouTube channel, check emails or arrange your generation of Vision Jet has in-flight internet connectivity.

With Vision Jet, safety is the top priority. Built in its entirety as a single cell, the cabin is constructed of carbon fibre manufactured to the latest standards. The focus is on testing, safety

70 71

68 / 73 Visit With Us

and detail, as well as on the ongoing checks

operate the plane, any passenger can press the

and we drive in, our car is slowly engulfed

for the quality and suitability of the built-in

red emergency landing button. The autopilot will

in darkness. From inside the gloomy and

materials. It is precisely the construction and

then return the aircraft to the airport,” say the

seemingly empty building, a silhouette of a

materials that allow for such a spacious interior

Cirrus mechanics, who coincidentally also take

single parked aircraft becomes visible in the

and large panoramic windows.

great pride in the fact this new generation of

shadows – the unmistakable contours of the

The crew at the hangar inform me that, “the

aircraft only requires an extremely short runway.

Vision Jet, with its distinctive V-tail.

propulsion system is supplied by Williams

The Vision Jet can take off on an airstrip that’s

Once we step out of the car, the show starts.

International, with most of the parts being

shorter than a kilometre, which increases its

A spotlight comes on, illuminating nothing else

American-made,” before concluding with,

utility value and the number of airports it can

but the prestigious, black-lacquered bird. Music

“We fit our aircraft only with the world’s best

use. Yes, but what if the engine fails? Cirrus has

starts blaring from the huge speakers, and I

equipment. With the latest technology we can

an answer to that too: “This is where our CAPS

recognise the familiar tune of none other than

achieve the very highest safety standards,” all of

– Cirrus Airframe Parachute System – comes

AC/DC’s Back in Black! While the light show

which feels very reassuring.

in, which, much like in ultralights, triggers a

illuminates the aeroplane to the rhythm of the

parachute opening system. The parachute is

well-known rock hit, we walk the carpet laid out

I’m one of those people who doesn’t particularly

attached to the cabin section at multiple points,

towards the stairway to the aircraft, and then

like flying, and tends to feel much safer with

which allows the aircraft and its passengers to

we hear an announcement from the speakers:

their feet firmly on the ground. Perhaps that’s

descend safely to the ground, even without the

“Sir, madam, your new aircraft is ready. The

why I’m so impressed by the detail that I see

engine running.”

Cirrus Vision Jet.” The Cirrus team has gone the extra mile for

inside. Hey, a large red button on the cabin ceiling, accessible from any seat in the aircraft –

BACK IN BLACK

our first Vision Jet flight to give us the same

what on earth is this? “This is what we call ‘Safe

After lunch we are greeted with a surprise.

experience its customers get when they come

Return’ in case anything happens to one or even

We get into a black Audi SUV and drive to

to collect their new aeroplanes. “We wanted

both pilots. If there’s nobody on board left to

the neighbouring hangar. As the door opens

you to have the same feel and experience as

72 73

our buyers,” says Haidar proudly. “We keep the customer up-to-date with progress throughout the entire production process. We co-ordinate details with them and send photographs during production. The buyer has many options for the interior, the materials, the colour of leather upholstery, and even the exterior, which is lacquered in two colours. Blue, black, grey, burgundy, silver, red, yellow and more are available. Then, about three months before the announced collection date, we stop sending photos. We want to build up a little suspense and wow the client when they first set eyes on their new plane, making the experience all the more exciting and unforgettable. Discretely finding out the future owner’s favourite song or band ahead of time, we dim the facility and roll out the carpet,” explains Haidar.

Once we have climbed the stairs to board the aircraft, I take the first seat on the right next to the pilot. A large door opens from the other side of the hangar, leading onto the runway.

“Are we clear?” I ask excitedly. It takes one person to get the four of us in this 1.6-tonne flying machine out of the hangar using only a hand-operated trolley. Then the engine starts with its distinctive jet whistle, and off to the runway we go. By the afternoon, a cloudy and rainy morning has turned into a beautiful sunny day over Knoxville. We are greeted by just a handful of clouds as our Vision Jet leaves the ground and sways gently up into the sky, with the subsequent cruise being comfortable and surprisingly calm for an aircraft of this size.

Sitting at the front and looking out of the large windows over the fields, houses and lakes below makes for a first-class experience, not unlike that of standing in front of a chalet window with panoramic views. The cockpit view is something quite different from that offered by those small oval side windows in commercial passenger aircraft. While I do have an experienced pilot and instructor beside me, I cannot help but glance at the monitors in front of me, just in case, and attempt to check our altitude and direction. I realise I have no idea how to read the instruments, but I have the feeling I’m in safe hands, nonetheless. I flick the switch to select some soothing music on my headphones and immerse myself in daydreams.

In an hour or two I’ll be on the other side of America, ready for my next business meeting.

//Si V letalu Cirrus Vision Jet Obisk v podjetju Cirrus, ki slovi po visokokakovostnih in zelo naprednih letalih za osebno uporabo, sem imel v mislih že dlje časa. Med spomladanskim obiskom ZDA se mi je končno ponudila priložnost za kratek postanek v Tennesseeju – za ogled novega učnega centra v Knoxvillu, kjer ima svoje nove in prekrasno urejene prostore podjetje Cirrus. Že dolgo me je namreč mikalo pokukati v notranjost njihovega Vision Jeta, enega najmanjših reaktivnih letal serijske proizvodnje. Ko sem prvič videl fotografije tega letala, sem si mislil, da gre za prototip, ki bo letel le na snemanja najnovejšega filma o Jamesu Bondu, a kratek skok na splet je hitro pokazal, da Vision Jet ni prototip in da Cirrus svojega reaktivca uspešno izdeluje in prodaja že vrsto let. Do danes so izdelali že več kot 300 letal Vision Jet, ki uspešno letijo po vsem svetu.

Original

74 / 77 Original

Art of music and automobiles

ROYALE

FOR BUGATTI AND TIDAL

You probably know of Bugatti, maybe you’ve walked past some Tidal loudspeakers, but you’ve almost certainly never heard of Jörn Janczak. You won’t find him on Wikipedia, because the German entrepreneur lives a modest life, away from media and public. But those three subjects are somehow connected - Bugatti produces one

74

75

by Matej Isak photography Tidal Audio

of the most powerful and exclusive sports cars in the world, and on the other hand, Tidal belongs to the top-end of excellent audio components. But Jörn Janczak? He spent a summer some ten years ago in Sardinia, Italy, and had an idea for a very special loudspeaker. Just recently his idea of art, technology and design became reality.

74 / 77 Original

76

77

Tidal CEO Jörn Janczak and CMO Miriam Janczak

Jörn Janczak started with an idea and drawing of a speaker concept a year before his visit

Purity in Purpose

performance. This is part of the Tidal for Bugatti

Nowadays Bugatti produces models named

concept and it includes a bespoke process

to Porto Cervo in Sardinia. He remembers

Centodieci, Divo, Chiron and Mistral, but there

where the client is deeply involved. It will not be

wanting something very specific in every

is only one eternal Bugatti - Royale. Experts

a one-day-wonder as there are already plans for

way that it was designed, executed and

would know it as Type 41, built between 1926

a smaller and larger variant in 2023.

combined diametric challenges. “It was

and 1933 and it was the ultimate car of the

Janczak compares his products with

something I wanted to have for myself,” says

period. With an eight-cylinder engine, Royale

watchmakers A. Lange & Söhne or even more

the entrepreneur who started Tidal Audio

produced 224kW (300hp) and could reach

with Greubel Forsey (story published in our

back in 1999, as he explains the trigger for

200 km/h. Exclusiveness, technology, materials

Magazine Nr14) and he follows similar principles

Bugatti loudspeakers: “I was circling around

and price were exorbitant, so Bugatti produced

with Tidal. “Purity in Purpose is one of our major

two Bugatti Veyrons parked in the harbour of

only six of those extravagant cars. All six are

guidelines at Tidal. The only purpose is, and

Porto Cervo and I admire Bugatti as a brand.

now, 90 years later, still in use by private owners

always must be, the performance result from

The company is never afraid of bringing a bold

or belong to various museums. As Bugatti

itself. Yes, there are more aspects around it -

vision into reality, of doing something never

Royale once did, Tidal for Bugatti today means

but only as part of the big picture and vision

done before and this switched my idea into

pushing boundaries even further.

behind it. What we do together with Bugatti is

second gear.” The project, internally called

Tidal is producing luxury gear, and new

symbiotic authentic, and it must be.”

“the world’s first hyper-speaker”, captures the

products always develop things further, as

essence of why Janczak pulled the trigger to

Janczak speeds up his pace as he begins

start it.

The price should reflect the effort

to explain his new born audio gadget. “We

A German audio maker with headquarters near

Janczak, who grew up in Eastern Germany

offer almost a small universe of choices, like the

Cologne will surely find more than six owners

(formerly DDR - German Democratic

big diamond mid-woofers or the Duotone

for his Tidal for Bugatti line and as we ask about

Republic), could never imagine Bugatti was

cabinets finished with different combinations

price, he gets philosophical. “Luxury has never

at the same time shaping plans to offer its

of lacquers, polished veneers, carbon fibre

been something to do with a price tag. Take time

clients high end music systems and expanding

and leather. All metal parts are also offered

for example, to me time is the ultimate luxury.

its luxury lifestyle portfolio with audio. It took

in polished stainless steel as another choice.

Things of priceless value, things of priceless care

some time for both sides to be ready for the

Milling the stand-frame out of an 80 kg

and passion, produced without several kinds

next step, which happened at the High End

block of stainless steel and polishing it up

of boundaries around it. Like a fresh handmade

Show 2019 in Munich when Janczak met

to wrist-watch quality at the smallest facets

bread from a baker who loves his work and

with Bugatti. It clicked for both sides. Tidal

is breathtaking, more complicated than for

gives his best, ticks all the criteria for a luxury

produces various audio components, but

example working with aluminium.” Tidal would

product for me, a price just should reflect the

the Bugatti line is incomparable to anything

not force clients to take something they

effort. But too often a price reflects completely

else. Janczak admits he has been a huge car

would not love to have, so each pair can be

other things behind and luxury is a word that is

enthusiast for his whole life, so it is easy to

as individual as the owner is and wants it to

too often used for things that are not. Just placing

understand why the very special name for the

look like, or how far they want to go to push the

or rendering equipment into a posh environment

Bugatti line was chosen, Royale.

Tidal produces various audio components, but the Bugatti line is incomparable to anything else. Janczak admits, he has been a huge car enthusiast for his whole life, so it is easy to understand why the very special name for Bugatti line was chosen, Royale.

or beside a fancy car doesn’t rub off back onto

bored with the job, I realised that this kind

knows the reason for that: “Car people

the equipment to make it luxurious.” As most of

of creativity is the handle to grab, to make what

are car people, audiophiles are audiophiles.

us, readers included, will never have a Bugatti,

I always loved to do – bringing my own ideas

Other than bringing music into a car, there

we can take a risk to mention the price, too.

to life, and constantly evolving them at every

is little to combine or bring them together.

Tidal for Bugatti Royale starts at 310,000 € and

possible level, to make things constantly better.”

Just putting a famous logo onto a product

goes up to 470,000 € for clients with different

More strong opinions surface as Janczak

from another category does not make the

special wishes, including matching source

explains his views on today’s consumer society.

product any better or more desirable, nor does

controller MC-1. “To make it successful in the

“I don’t buy things that are not for real, as an

it rub back onto the product to give it a fancy

long run, there must be a backbone created

analogy and literally, so I only do it the way I

halo. Actually, this has the exact opposite

of authenticity, quality, and also demand, often

would expect to have it. Otherwise, I would not

effect on me and at least I would not want

more than supply. One cannot study or copy

enjoy the process of bringing it to life, I could

that either on my audio system, my watch or

such things as a pattern to use, it simply must

not enjoy the result and I would never buy it

my sunglasses.” Janczak wants to conclude the

drive a brand from its inner core in a native way

myself. And what would be the point of making

story personally and emotionally as he adds,

I think,” Janczak concludes the discussion

things only half-heartedly in life?” he adds. The

“Royale is the project with my most personal

about the value of his products. He reminds

same goes for his whole team, since without it,

fingerprint and passion following my visions

us of Vimberg, as he describes his brand of

his visions would exist only on paper or would

and inspirations for a perfect sonic transducer

affordable super speakers. “Not less authentic

be built only once. And so, with Bugatti, his

concept in every possible detail. Working

than Tidal, but with a different approach. I even

vision became true, Janczak doesn’t agree

together with Bugatti created something I

think given the engineering, materials and how

he and his company reached a crossroads

always defined as the holy grail of industrial

it is made there is no other brand out there in

with Bugatti: “It’s more of a milestone and

design; a perfectly round loop out of the only

this price range being built like Vimberg at the

development for us. With Tidal for Bugatti, I can

reason why it exists and answering it with the

moment.”

do things the way I wanted to do for a very long

only possible perfect execution for it.” You

time without changing Tidal and yet coming

might have known Bugatti for a long time, now

from there. It bases on all we do and yet is

you understand why Tidal is an example of

We mentioned Jörn Janczak grew up in the

different in terms of exclusivity and design and

perfection, but one thing is for sure - thanks to

former DDR, a country not exactly famous for

even more extreme in the details.”

Bugatti, Jörn Janczak is now known to an even

A milestone and development offering a colourful variety of technical things of

wider circle of fans of exclusive loudspeakers.

beauty. “I always had a passion for music and

Just a new start

all kind of technical things and was dreaming

It seems, Tidal for Bugatti is just a new start for

about things we could not get there. Using

Jörn Janczak and his passion for luxury and fast,

creativity to get or mimic them was both fun and

exclusive sports cars. Many audio companies

a necessity. After my education when I was in

cooperate with or support automotive industry

my early twenties and leading the production

on all levels, but it almost feels like they did not

management of a company and started to feel

make a real impact. The German entrepreneur

H ig h G e ar

78

High Gear

78

Sound is important

The music of motorcycles MotoGP journalist and author Mat Oxley has been in love with motorcycles for almost 50 years.

These are some of his favourite sounds.

Sound is important in motorcycling – not the quantity, necessarily, but the quality, because a highly tuned engine can make music, beautiful music.

That’s certainly what I thought when I was 17 or 18 and bought a straight-through twointo-one Piper Megaton pipe for the second motorcycle in my life, a Honda CB250K4. I thought the Piper sounded superb. Others disagreed, shaking their fists at me as I rode past. And then there was the policeman who heard me coming, stepped out into the road and lifted his hand to command me to stop, so he could tell me that I was a menace to society. I sailed past him, because the K4’s drum brakes were next to useless…

In those days – the late 1970s – racetracks were dominated by two-strokes: Yamaha TZ250s and 350s, Suzuki RG500s and Yamaha’s mighty TZ750, which ruled big-bike racing for years. A grid full of TZ750s heading towards you, as you gripped the guardrail at Turn One, sounded like Gates to Hell had been opened and you were about to be gobbled up by a horde of vicious monsters, which in fact wasn’t far from the truth. Some riders of that era called those big two-strokes “collarbone munchers,” because that’s what

they were. Which may be why my favourite sound of a TZ750 was a bit more subtle; standing in the paddock, gawping at one of these otherworldly machines being warmed up by a mechanic, blipping the throttle. The crackle of a well-jetted two-stroke and the rattle of a dry clutch is a beautiful thing and very rarely heard since Grand Prix racing went four-stroke.

Two-stroke 500s ruled the racing world for decades but the reality is that they mostly sounded like tricked-up scooters, whereas the earth moves every time a MotoGP fourstroke comes rumbling by.

Four-strokes are usually friendlier than twostrokes, but a full-prototype MotoGP engine can sound scarier than anything, which, of course, is exactly how a 300-“horsepower” motorcycle should sound.

I recall the early years of 990cc MotoGP, when Aprilia unleashed its RS Cube. I was wandering down pit lane during practice for the 2002 Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, while a senior Dorna official was giving a D-list celebrity a personal tour, the pair of them wandering past the various factory garages. As they walked past the Aprilia garage a few mechanics rolled out an RS Cube and fired up the engine. The D-list celeb seemed to rise half a metre off the ground, uttering a terrified shriek of surprise.

I chuckled to myself. Twenty years later the Cube is still rated by many fans and paddock people as the best-sounding Grand Prix

The article here does not necessarily correspond with the opinions of Akrapovič d.d., the publishers or the editors.

by Mat Oxley illustration Natan Esku bike of the 21st century. The three-cylinder, Cosworth-designed engine (basically three cylinders from a ten-cylinder three-litre Formula 1 engine) and its Akrapovič ‘silencer’ sounded wonderful, like a tumult of bellowing bassoons at the front of an ancient army, perhaps going into battle against that legion of two-stroke monsters from the Gates to Hell. British rider Jeremy McWilliams raced the Cube during 2004, the bike’s final year in the MotoGP World Championship.

“I remember the first time I tested the Cube,” he recalls. “I walked up to the bike to get acquainted with it and when I got close my chest started reverberating from the sound and vibration. And when you got on the bike the pulse and the sound went right through you!”

And that’s exactly what a great rock and roll band or hip-hop act feels like when you’re at a gig – the music goes right through you, becomes a part of you. And that’s one reason why I’ll never love electric motorcycle racing.

Mat Oxley, new columnist Mat Oxley has been a motorcycle journalist for more than four decades, covering MotoGP full-time since 1988. During his own racing career he won an Isle of Man TT and took third place in the Endurance World Championship, scoring secondplace finishes in the Le Mans and SpaFrancorchamps 24 hours. He is based in London, UK.

Follow @matoxley / Twitter and Instagram

WE HAVE ENJOYED WORKING AS ONE We will never forget the countless hours we spent together over all the years to push the boundaries of performance to even higher levels.

Our gratitude goes out to everyone at Team Suzuki Ecstar for the trust shown in Akrapovič throughout our partnership. We will always be honoured to have provided the exhaust for the 2020 MotoGP World Championship–winning Suzuki GSX-RR.

Product code: 802110

THE SOUND OF PASSION Achieve unrivalled performance, improve the design, and own the tarmac with a race-proven Akrapovič exhaust system. It is quality you can see, hear, and touch – all stemming from supreme workmanship, technological knowhow, and the finest materials.

Akrapovič d.d.

Malo Hudo 8a, 1295 Ivančna Gorica, Slovenia / www.akrapovic.com

GENERAL WARNING Because of the world-wide distribution of Akrapovič d.d. products, neither Akrapovič d.d. nor any of its subsidiaries make any representation that the products comply with the air and/ or noise emissions laws, or labeling laws, of any jurisdiction. The purchasers are entirely responsible for informing themselves of the applicable laws where the products are to be used and to comply with those laws. USA WARNING Various U.S. states and the U.S. federal government have individual laws regulating the use of aftermarket exhaust parts and systems, especially as those parts and systems modify, remove, or replace original equipment catalysts. Please consult the appropriate laws in your area before installing any aftermarket part or system on your vehicle to ensure compliance with all applicable laws. Neither Akrapovič d.d. nor any of their subsidiaries or the sellers of the parts or systems make any representation that any of their parts or systems comply with any such laws. CALIFORNIA WARNING California laws prohibit the use of any aftermarket exhaust part or system that modifies, removes or replaces original equipment catalysts unless the California Air Resources Board has issued an Executive Order regarding such part or system or unless the part or system is exempted by being used only on racing vehicles on closed courses. Neither Akrapovič d.d. nor any of their subsidiaries make any representation that any of their parts or systems has received such an Executive Order or that any of their parts or systems conform with the racing vehicles exemption. The purchasers are entirely responsible for informing themselves of applicable California laws and to comply with those laws.