F1 News - Formula 1: McLaren to return to Mercedes engines from 2021 season
https://ift.tt/2mobhPW McLaren are to switch to Mercedes engines from the 2021 season, BBC Sport has learned. McLaren, who have used Renault engines since last year, have secured a deal that will see them powered by Mercedes at least until the end of 2024. The decision has been made as McLaren seek to return to competitiveness after a dip in fortunes in recent years. It revives a partnership that previously ran from 2005 until the end of 2014. After the previous partnership finished, McLaren made an ill-fated switch to Honda which lasted for three years. McLaren, which will see out the final year of its Renault contract in 2020, has based its decision on two key factors - the Mercedes engine has been stronger than Renault's since turbo-hybrid engines were introduced in 2014; and a customer supply with the German company is cheaper. Mercedes have set the standard for engines in F1 in the hybrid era, and have been overtaken in performance only this year, by Ferrari. McLaren and Mercedes have informed governing body the FIA of the move, but it has not yet been officially announced. McLaren, Mercedes and Renault declined to comment. McLaren, whose drivers are Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris this season, split with Honda at the end of 2017 believing the Japanese engine was holding back their competitiveness. They approached Mercedes at the time, but the German company refused to supply them, leaving McLaren with the choice only of Renault. McLaren had a rude awakening in 2018 when, after dropping Honda, they realised their car was nowhere near as competitive as they expected it to be, and they ended the season sixth in the championship, and with the second-slowest car in the field in many races. But after a major internal restructuring, McLaren have made a significant step forward this season and are fourth in the championship with six races remaining, behind only Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. The Renault engine has proved a small step forward in performance over Honda, which has also improved since 2017, but the French company continues to struggle with reliability. McLaren's move to Mercedes in 2021 will leave Renault with only one team using its engines - its own factory team. Mercedes supplies its factory team as well as Racing Point and Williams - and now McLaren from 2021. Ferrari supplies Alfa Romeo and Haas in addition to its own works team. #F1 via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6 September 27, 2019 at 02:36PM
Motorcycle News - White Hot: Upcycle hot rods the Yamaha XS1100
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The unusually long air-cooled engine pumped out 95 hp, and although the handling was widely regarded as terrible, the XS1100 still made it into Cycle World magazine’s Ten Best Bikes of 1978 list.
Unlike most builders, Johnny builds bikes to suit his own taste, and then sells them. “None of my projects are client-based,” he reveals. “I just build what my heart wants—I like the freedom!”
The entire engine was then chemical washed and soda blasted, and Johnny replaced the rear cases with a tight mesh.
This machine is likely to have no problem matching the 136 mph (218 kph) top speed of the original factory bikes.
Clip-on bars are matched to Biltwell grips and CNC’d aluminum push button switches. Forward lighting comes from a 6500K LED ‘HaloMaker’ headlight, from HogWorkz, more commonly fitted to Harleys and Indians and installed here minus the bucket.
“The electronics are now all crammed under the tank, and the battery is an eight-cell Antigravity lithium battery in a custom-made box.”
Although this XS1100 looks like a heavily chopped bike, there’s actually very little grinder work. “The subframe was left alone,” says Johnny. “I just chopped the rear end off—and did weld on some risers for the seat.”
The seat was outsourced, though: upholstered in a gray suede with white stitching and piping, it’s the work of Costura Seats, a neighbor of Johnny’s in Orange County, CA.
Normally we’d beg to differ, but in this case, they suit the build perfectly. It’s a curious mix of the weird and the conventional, but Johnny has managed to pull it off. We’re betting it won’t be long before this Yammie finds an appreciative new owner. Facebook | Instagram | Images by Ryan D. Cheng Motorcycles via Bike EXIF https://ift.tt/2Mf9b0c September 27, 2019 at 12:25PM
F1 News - Coulthard appointed British Racing Drivers' Club president
https://ift.tt/2nThtQr David Coulthard has been elected as president of the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC). The 48-year-old Scot, winner of 13 grands prix and now a TV commentator, succeeds ex-rally driver Paddy Hopkirk. Previous recent holders of the office include 1996 Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill and ex-F1 drivers Martin Brundle and Derek Warwick. The BRDC owns Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix, and regards itself as guardian of British motorsport. Membership is by invitation only and requires "achievement at the highest levels of the sport or making a significant contribution to enable others to do so". BRDC chairman John Grant said: "In David, we have a president who is not only a greatly talented racing driver but also a successful businessman with an enviable network of contacts in the motorsport world which, together with his experience, should be of great benefit to the club." At the same time as Coulthard was elected president, Indycar legend Dario Franchitti was elected a vice-president. #F1 via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6 September 27, 2019 at 10:42AM
F1 News - Russian GP: Max Verstappen tops close practice
https://ift.tt/2lyOX5E Red Bull's Max Verstappen was a surprise pace-setter as he headed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in second practice at the Russian Grand Prix. The Dutchman, who has a five-place grid penalty, was 0.335 seconds ahead of Leclerc. Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas was third, 0.646secs off the pace. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton was 0.152secs slower than Bottas in fourth. Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was 0.704secs off team-mate Leclerc, after errors led to a series of aborted laps. More to follow #F1 via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6 September 27, 2019 at 08:48AM
F1 News - Leclerc fastest in Russian GP practice as Ricciardo crashes
https://ift.tt/2n6Zaa4 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the pace, just ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, in first practice at the Russian Grand Prix. Leclerc was 0.082 seconds ahead of the Dutchman, with Sebastian Vettel third in the second Ferrari, 0.543secs off the pace. Mercedes drivers Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton were fourth and fifth but used slower tyres to set their fastest laps. Red Bull's Alexander Albon was sixth, nearly a second slower than Verstappen, and ahead of Renault's Nico Hulkenberg. More to follow #F1 via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6 September 27, 2019 at 04:42AM
Motorcycle News - No Joke 2 Stroke – RD350 Boardtracker
https://ift.tt/2lsoarE What’s not to love about two-stroke motorcycles? The alluring smell, the exhilarating sound and the white-knuckled terror of an unpredictable powerband. Unfortunately, the fun police put an end to the era of mighty two-strokes such as Suzuki’s GT500 and Kawasaki’s H1 “Widowmaker”. Despite the lack of new models hitting the streets, there are still plenty of two-stroke motorcycle fans out there, but none perhaps as passionate as Mark Miller; aka ‘No Joke 2 Stroke’. Mark’s been turning out a custom two-stroke motorcycle every 12 months for the past few years. For his third act, he’s transformed a ’74 Yamaha RD350 into this Boardtracker inspired beauty. Motorcycles via Return of the Cafe Racers https://ift.tt/2M9riRb September 27, 2019 at 01:09AM 9/26/2019 'There isn't a short-term fix' - Hamilton says he's unlikely to win remaining races - F1 News
F1 News - 'There isn't a short-term fix' - Hamilton says he's unlikely to win remaining races
https://ift.tt/2nBBKdf Championship leader Lewis Hamilton says he will not be favourite for any of the six remaining races this season. The Mercedes driver has a comfortable lead in the championship. But Ferrari have won the last three races and Charles Leclerc has scored the most points in the last five GPs. Hamilton said: "It is not my job to worry but we are conscious of the position we are in. There isn't a short-term fix but there are other areas we can do better in." Hamilton's concerns are rooted in the straight-line speed advantage Ferrari have shown this season and which was the foundation for Leclerc's victories in the Belgian and Italian Grands Prix. Ferrari's one-two finish in Singapore last weekend, with Sebastian Vettel ahead of Leclerc, caught Mercedes by surprise because they had not expected the Italian team to be so competitive on a slow-speed circuit, on which they have struggled so far this season. "We know how fast Ferrari have been on the straights," five-time world champion Hamilton said. "The last three races we have been stuck behind and not able to get by. "There is no point worrying but I would say the last three races we haven't extracted 100% from the weekend and that is what we need to get back to. "I can squeeze more out of the car, more out of myself - I haven't done a perfect lap yet this season. Remaining as the leaders is not an easy task so it is understandable that we will have dips. "But I have 100% confidence in my guys. We are still the strongest team and while it has not been spectacular recently, we haven't been terrible. "Even if this weekend does not go as planned, and the long straights are likely to suit Ferrari, it is not going to change my opinion as to what we will achieve moving forwards. "I know we will make it difficult for every other team this year, next year, and potentially the years after. "So, we are not going to give up. It is not part of our DNA and we will keep pushing." Hamilton heads into the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi with a 65-point championship lead over team-mate Valtteri Bottas. Leclerc is 96 points behind Hamilton, tied with Red Bull's Max Verstappen, with Vettel a further six adrift. There is a maximum of 156 points available over the remaining races in Russia, Japan, Mexico, the USA, Brazil and Abu Dhabi. #F1 via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6 September 26, 2019 at 12:54PM
Motorcycle News - Impetus: A Moto Guzzi Griso from Officine Rossopuro
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It’s by no means ugly: in fact, it’s borderline elegant. And with 108 hp and 108 Nm from its 1,151 cc motor, it packs a wallop too. But take a step back, and it looks a little too lumpy to get the same attention as stable mates like the Le Mans or V7.
Smart move. Officine Rossopuro frontman Filippo Barbacane has customized all sorts of Moto Guzzis in all sorts of styles. In other words, he’s the guy to go to in Italy.
“The challenge was to create a bike that is very different from the Griso, but without making irreversible or radical changes to the frame,” he tells us. “So the major study was to make a bodywork more streamlined, simple and close to the frame.”
For the actual redesign, Filippo started with the Griso’s chunky tail section. “Despite the Griso having a very nice body, I wanted to make it look a lot more minimalist,” he explains. “Especially the saddle—which has always seemed too big for a bike that is, after all, sporty and naked.”
“I always try to keep the use of the bike practical,” he tells us, “as my customers use their bikes. They are not just ornaments to be observed.”
There’s an LED taillight embedded in the back panel, and a pair of skinny LED turn signals flanking it. Filippo moved the license plate to a new bracket lower down, mounted off the Griso’s single sided swing arm. He tells us the reasoning was twofold: keep the tail section clean, and show off more of that 180-section rear tire.
The rest of the project was a series of subtle tweaks—many of them as much to do with practicality as aesthetics. Filippo installed LSL handlebars, held in place by a set of custom risers. Further down, he installed a set of sleek heel guards from his own Officine Rossopuro catalog of Moto Guzzi parts.
We’re predicting a good many years before its owner considers selling it again…if ever. Officine Rossopuro | Facebook | Instagram Motorcycles via Bike EXIF https://ift.tt/2Mf9b0c September 26, 2019 at 12:19PM
MotoGP News - Podcast: Will Jorge Lorenzo retire after poor Honda MotoGP season?
https://ift.tt/2nx0Rxz One of the most mouth-watering prospects heading into this MotoGP season was Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo sharing the Honda garage and going head-to-head on equal machinery Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei September 26, 2019 at 11:59AM
F1 News - Russian Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc regrets Singapore outburst
https://ift.tt/2ls8DZ4 Charles Leclerc says he regrets what he believes was an over-reaction when he questioned Ferrari's team strategy at the Singapore Grand Prix. Leclerc had led but was passed by team-mate - and eventual winner - Sebastian Vettel during the pit-stop period when the team gave the German priority. At the time, the Monegasque said on the team radio: "What the hell?" "My reaction was well over what it should be and it shows I still have a lot to learn," he said on Thursday. Leclerc is in only his second season in F1 - and his first at Ferrari - but he has been emerging as the de facto team leader in the second part of the campaign. The 21-year-old has out-qualified Vettel for eight races in a row and had won the past two grands prix before Singapore, where he was on course for a third consecutive win before Ferrari's strategy intervened, and the German took the victory. In F1, it is very unusual for a team's second car to get ahead of their lead car during a pit-stop period because the lead car is usually given priority. Immediately after the race in Singapore, Leclerc said he "needed some explanations", adding: "I am pretty sure it was for the good of the team because you never undercut one car with the other in the same team; this never happens." After speaking to the team, he said later last Sunday in Singapore: "We have been surprised by how much the undercut was powerful. In the car, it was very frustrating; now I understand a lot more about the situation. I am extremely happy for the team and extremely happy for Seb, too. He deserves it." In Sochi on Thursday for this weekend's Russian Grand Prix, he went one step further, saying he would not behave in that way over the radio again. "In these situations, there was no need to be like this," Leclerc said. "The team has done the right thing. We finished first and second and we wouldn't have finished first and second with another strategy and that's what matters the most. "So on that I definitely have a lot to learn and a lot to improve but that won't happen again in the future." Ferrari's strategy was aimed at leapfrogging Vettel ahead of Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes. The Briton was running second, behind Leclerc and ahead of Vettel. The team said they were surprised by how much Vettel gained on his first lap out of the pits on fresh tyres, and that they had expected Leclerc to emerge from his stop on the next lap still in the lead. However, they also did not tell Leclerc that Vettel had pitted, which meant the Monegasque, who was controlling the pace at the front, did not push as hard as he might have done on the lap before he was brought into the pits next time around. Leclerc said he did not think the team had done anything wrong in this scenario. "I don't think anyone expected the tyre gap and Seb has done an amazing out-lap," he said. "I don't think anyone expected him to pass in front." Vettel said he had not been upset by Leclerc's reaction. "It is pretty normal," Vettel said. "He wanted to win. He was upset when he realised he was behind. I think if it was the other way around, I would have been equally upset. "It is part of the emotions that run through you when you are racing and if they weren't, it would mean you don't care." The four-time champion added: "I don't think you should interpret too much into these radio messages. "We are driving when we are opening the radio - and if you did the same exercise with any football player or even a golfer, you'd be surprised. There is no point trying to understand the reason behind everything people say when they are in the moment." Can Ferrari make it four in a row?Ferrari's victory in Singapore came as a surprise to the team. They did not expect to be so competitive at a tight and twisty track, as they have struggled at similar tracks so far this season. Ferrari have won the past three races but both drivers said they did not know whether they could maintain their strong form at Sochi this weekend, where Mercedes have won every race since the event's inception in 2014. Leclerc said: "We were very surprised by how quick we were in Singapore. Whether it will be the same story here or not. I don't know. "Definitely, if we hadn't had that Singapore weekend, we would not have arrived here thinking we would be favourites. "Mercedes have always been very quick here and have won every year so it is going to be very difficult to beat them. But seeing the performance in Singapore, we are a bit more confident." #F1 via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6 September 26, 2019 at 11:18AM |
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