Motorcycle News - BMW Reveals Definition CE 04 Electric Scooter Concept
https://ift.tt/3pkznqu BMW revealed a new electric scooter concept called the Definition CE 04. Debuting at #NEXTGen 2020, a BMW event showcasing the company’s ideas on the future of mobility, the Definition CE 04 offers a blend of electric drive and digital communication technologies. If any of this sounds familiar, it’s because BMW introduced a similar concept in 2017 called the Concept Link. So, what’s the difference? The CE 04 is close to being ready for production. BMW says the Definition CE 04 is the “near-series” version of the Concept Link, and all indications suggest BMW is intent on eventually putting it into production. The design of the Definition CE 04 stays fairly close to the original Concept Link, with a low and elongated body and layered body panels. The long, frame is to accommodate the flat shapes of the energy packs stored in the underfloor. The electric motor sits behind these batteries, further lengthening the wheelbase. This helps to keep the center of gravity low for better handling while also creating more space for underseat storage. “We have managed to transfer many innovative elements and details of the concept into the series. The technical realities of electric drive – such as the flat energy packs in the underfloor and the compact drive train – allow us to create a highly distinctive design which defines a new, urban aesthetic and which differentiates itself clearly from conventional styling,” says Alexander Buckan, Head of Vehicle Design BMW Motorrad. A design that follows the basic needs for simple functionality, clear aesthetics and the digital reality today’s users live in. The new architecture has led to a visual revolution and has produced many new design themes. Maybe it will polarise, but it will definitely stand out.” Viewed from the side, the front end adopts a familiar maxi-scooter silhouette, like the C Evolution, the electric scooter BMW previously produced. Look at it closer and you’ll notice the layered bodywork angled back and away from the front wheel. The fairing then concaves behind the BMW roundel logo creating a sense of depth. BMW doesn’t say anything about the CE 04’s aerodynamics, but we wonder how the fairing design affects wind buffeting around the rider. BMW also hasn’t offered specific specs about the battery or motor (it’s not THAT close to production yet), but Ralf Rodepeter, BMW Motorrad’s head of marketing and product management, says the range will be about 120-130 km (75-80 miles), enough for most urban commuters. “A scooter is not a ‘fun bike’ which is taken for ride in the mountains in fine weather, but a practical everyday vehicle for driving from home to the office or meeting friends in the evening – simply a vehicle for every day in the city,” says Buckan. “That’s why we dealt intensively with the design of the drive and energy storage system in order to make it meet the needs of the actual user: The urban target group mainly rides short distances of approx. 12 km per day. Long-distance comfort is therefore less important than variable ergonomics and easy accessibility.” The Definition CE 04 makes use of the new 10.25-inch TFT display, a Bosch-designed screen that debuted on the 2021 BMW R1250RT. The long screen dimensions allow for a split screen display, allowing for map navigation or smartphone connectivity at the same time as vehicle information like the speedometer or battery level. So far, BMW is the only manufacturer to make use of the 10.25″ screen, but we expect others will adopt it on future models. Though the Definition CE 04 still looks very much like a concept, serial production may begin sooner than one might expect. Rodepeter says it could arrive in showrooms in a matter of months. When BMW does eventually put this scooter into production, expect it to lose the “Definition” part of the name and go by just CE 04. The “C” is the model code BMW gives its scooters, and the “E” stands for electric and the “04” indicates the size of the bike. Rodepeter says there is room in the future for larger models beyond four and smaller ones below. On a related note, BMW filed a trademark application in Germany for “CE 04” in May, along with another filing for “CE 02”, indicating a smaller model is already being planned. BMW also filed a number of trademark applications for the names DC 01 through DC 09, with the name hinting at another electric concept, the DC Roadster motorcycle. The concept bike was mentioned briefly in the video embedded above, with Edgar Heinrich, BMW Motorrad’s head of design, not so subtly interjecting to say how much he loved the DC Roadster with a large grin on his face. I don’t know if Heinrich plays poker, but that looked like a tell to me. Heinrich later says they are “working on it,” so expect more to come about a line of electric DC motorcycles to come at some point. Become a Motorcycle.com insider. Get the latest motorcycle news first by subscribing to our newsletter here. The post BMW Reveals Definition CE 04 Electric Scooter Concept appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO November 11, 2020 at 07:20PM
Motorcycle News - 2021 Ducati Scrambler Nightshift
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Its retro Scrambler models have been very, very good to Ducati. Why stop now? For 2021, the new Nightshift replaces the Cafe Racer and Full Throttle, and is essentially a blend of the two. Elsewhere in the 803 cc Scrambler department, changes include the introduction of two new colors: sporty Ducati Red on the Scrambler Icon, and “Sparking Blue” livery enriched with red, and Iceberg White finishes for the Scrambler Desert Sled.
Ducati says the Nightshift, “whose name immediately evokes the atmosphere of the night, fits into the `Land of Joy’ as the ideal choice for all those looking for an essential and stylish bike at the same time, with a comfortable riding position, also in the company of a passenger and which allows its owner to experiment through customization.”Yours exclusively in Aviator Grey, the Nightshift gets a new flat seat in Cafè Racer style for two. A straight and narrow handlebar is added to the Cafè Racer mirrors, with number plates taken from the Full Throttle.
“The design of this version is characterized by the choice of a classic and authentic line, in which the sportier aspect is emphasized by the absence of the rear mudguard, a characteristic element inherited from the custom garage culture where all not necessarily essential elements are eliminated to ensure particularly clean and sporty lines.” The wheel sizes are those of the Scrambler Icon: 18 inches at the front and 17 inches at the rear, while the standard tires are the now iconic Pirelli MT60, excellent both for use on asphalt and for having fun on dirt roads. As comfortable as a Full Throttle and as fascinating as a Cafè Racer, the Nightshift is the perfect combination of the two versions that will no longer be available in 2021.
Become a Motorcycle.com insider. Get the latest motorcycle news first by subscribing to our newsletter here. The post 2021 Ducati Scrambler Nightshift appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO November 11, 2020 at 06:09PM 11/11/2020 Best Motorcycle Tires- Motorcycle News
Motorcycle News - Best Motorcycle Tires
https://ift.tt/2Ul3xf4 Once upon a time, many generations ago, motorcycle tires were in limited supply. You wanted them black, round, and capable of holding air. Well, the technology has changed to the point that there is no universal best motorcycle tire. Rather, the motorcycle tire industry developed the capability to create carcasses and tread compounds to handle very specific conditions. Hence, we have the fragmentation of the motorcycle tire market. Let’s take a look at the differing categories, but if you want to jump straight ahead to your type of motorcycle, click on the link at the top of each section. Cruisers are long, low, and heavy and need tires that can handle that weight. Naturally, cruising riders value stability and are not looking for lightning-quick turn in. Instead, they’re looking to harness the low-end torque off the line – frequently from a large, wide swath of rubber. Although cruising riders hate to get their shiny bikes dirty, wet road grip is extremely important. The look of the tread is extremely important to cruiser owners, too. It needs to look tough, wear like steel, and help out the often travel-limited rear suspension in absorbing bumps. Finally, no class of motorcycles has a wider variety of sizes. How does a 27-inch front wheel sound? Or how about pairing a 300-series rear tire with one of those huge fronts? Click here to find some of the best cruiser tires. Touring tires often have to handle big, heavy (well-packed) motorcycles over the long haul with two adults along for the ride. Then add in high speeds straight up and down on the interstate for hundreds of miles without stopping. Oh, and these riders typically don’t let rain slow them down, either. As if that weren’t enough, touring bikes like the Honda Gold Wing Tour and the BMW K1600GTL have pretty remarkable cornering abilities. Sounds like a challenging type of tire to us, but the tire manufacturers have delivered tires that resist wear while still providing tons of grip. Along the way, they don’t interact with rain grooves. Learn more about the best touring tires here. Sport-touring riders make tremendous demands from their tires. First, they want them to handle like a sport tire, with quick steering and high amounts of grip. Then they insist that the tires be capable of surviving long stints of interstate cruising without squaring off. Additionally, like touring tires, sport-touring tires need to provide exceptional rain handling. Because of their near-universal capabilities, sport-touring tires also make a great choice for daily riders who rack up the urban mileage but still like to get out of town on the weekends. Sport-touring tires are probably the most commonly bought tires by street bike riders. To make your decision easier, we’ve outlined a selection of the best sport-touring tires here. The current generation of sportbike tires brings cornering performance that would have been expected from racing rubber not too long ago. A sportbike tire needs to be able to handle the output of 200-hp hypersports while still warming up quickly to give street riders the cornering grip they crave. Additionally, quick steering is a hallmark of sport riding, and sportbike tires frequently get used on track days where riders expect grip at maximum lean while still providing stability under high-speed acceleration and deceleration. While they clearly favor grip over longevity, sportbike tires have made great strides in recent years as far as getting useful street mileage out of a set. If you live for the canyons and the track, these are the tires for you. Find what we think are the best sportbike tires here. Best Adventure Tire Buyer’s Guide With adventure bikes growing in popularity, adventure tires have been undergoing a bit of a renaissance in recent years. The jobs that owners of adventure bikes expect them to handle vary widely, and the types of tires, naturally, fall into two subcategories. Many adventure bikes never turn a wheel off of pavement – save for maybe the occasional trip down a dirt road to a campground. That’s okay, the tire manufacturers have these riders covered with tires which have compounds closely resembling their sport-touring counterparts but, in this case, they are mated to a blockier tread design for fire road use. Then there are the hardy souls who take their fully-loaded, 800-pound adventure bike out to the middle of nowhere, following single track. These bikes are supported by tires that look more like straight-up dirt tires than street tires, think the famed Continental TKC80. Click here to learn more about the best adventure motorcycle tires. Best Dirtbike Tires While we don’t have a specific buyer’s guide for dirtbike tires (yet), people who like to do it in the dirt know that off-road surfaces come in a variety of forms, from sand and rock, to loam and slop. Consequently, the tire manufacturers have created tires with characteristics designed to acquaint them to a specific kind of terra. Here you’ll find different carcass constructions, tire compounds, and knob configurations. While there are only a few wheel sizes for most full-sized dirtbikes, the differences in use and terrain make for a dizzying amount of options for those in the market. The post Best Motorcycle Tires appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO November 11, 2020 at 05:33PM
Motorcycle News - 2021 Ducati XDiavel Range Gets Euro 5 Updates, But Not in North America
https://ift.tt/36oPN8I Ducati has updated its XDiavel range to meet Euro 5, adding two new variants for 2021: XDiavel Dark and XDiavel Black Star (pictured above). The good news: the Euro 5 update adds 8 hp to the XDiavel’s claimed power figures. The bad news: only countries where the emission standard is in place will get the update, meaning countries like the U.S. will not see a performance increase. Further bad news: the XDiavel Black Star will not be offered in North America. The returning XDiavel S will be returning for all markets, while the Dark model will essentially replace the regular base line XDiavel model. For North America, that means the 2021 lineup will only include the XDiavel S and XDiavel Dark, both at last year’s performance levels. Getting the XDiavel to satisfy Euro 5 standards proved to be relatively easy, as Ducati simply replaced the silencer with a new design derived from the Diavel 1260’s exhaust. Ducati then recalibrated the engine, so the 2021 XDiavel line’s Testastretta DVT engine now claims 160 hp at 9500 rpm and 93.7 lb-ft. at 5000 rpm. For customers in North America and other non-Euro 5 markets, the XDiavel’s engine will remain at the 2020 model’s claimed 152 hp and 92.9 lb-ft. The XDiavel Dark adopts a matt black paint and a blacked-out engine and frame. It lacks the S model’s machined cast wheels and the Ducati Multimedia system, and makes do with M4.32 Brembo calipers instead of the S model’s M50 brakes. Ironically, with a claimed 545 pound curb weight, it’s 4 pounds lighter than the S model. In other markets, Ducati will offer the XDiavel Black Star with its sports car-inspired gray and matt black color with red highlights include red cylinder head covers. The Black Star also features a suede seat fabric, forged and machined light alloy wheels, and Brembo M50s. All versions of the XDiavel come with a Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), a Bosch-Brembo ABS 9.1 MP Cornering braking system, traction control, launch control, cruise control, LED lighting, and a 3.5″ TFT display. The Black Star and S models receive forks treated with a diamond-like coating and a Bluetooth-compatible infotainment system. In the U.S., the 2021 Ducati XDiavel Dark starts at $19,999, while the S model is priced at $24,695. Become a Motorcycle.com insider. Get the latest motorcycle news first by subscribing to our newsletter here. The post 2021 Ducati XDiavel Range Gets Euro 5 Updates, But Not in North America appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO November 11, 2020 at 03:46PM
Motorcycle News - Voxan and Max Biaggi Set 11 New Electric World Records
https://ift.tt/32Bhp9h French motorcycle manufacturer Voxan recently set no less than eleven world records with its electric land speed racer, the Wattman. The pilot? None other than multi-time world champion Max Biaggi. The world record attempt took place over the three days spanning October 30 – November 1 on the 2.17-mile airstrip at the Châteauroux airfield in France, not far from the team (and Biaggi’s) HQ in Monaco. The team originally aimed at making its run at the Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia, the largest in the world but, well, coronavirus. From the onset, the Voxan team had a primary goal it wanted to achieve: 330 km/h (204 mph). If Biaggi could manage to pilot the Wattman to this number, it would beat the previous “partially streamlined electric motorcycle over 300 kilos” class record, held by Ryuji Tsuruta and Mobitec EV-02A with their speed of 329 km/h (204 mph). Not only did Biaggi hit the target, he smashed it, recording an average speed of 366.94 km/h (228.05 mph), per the FIM rules, which state the vehicle has to record speeds in both directions, with the final speed being the average of both runs. Equally impressive, then, is the 408 km/h (254 mph) Biaggi and the Wattman were able to achieve during one of its runs in a single direction. So, what is the Voxan Wattman, and how did it go about getting 11 records? Read on for a little history lesson and tech dive. BackgroundAmericans may not be familiar with the Voxan name since its motorcycles were never sold stateside, but the boutique french motorcycle manufacturer was founded in 1995 and has pumped out some stylistically evocative and bold models over the years like the original Roadster, Café Racers, Scramblers, and the Black Magic – all powered by a 996cc, 72º V-Twin. (On a side note, on a trip to France several years ago, I got to ride a Voxan Black Magic very briefly. I don’t remember much from the ride, honestly, but I do remember the engine was sporty and athletic with decent power…) In late 2009, 14 years after it was founded, Voxan was forced into liquidation. Less than a year later Voxan was purchased by Gildo Pastor, President of the Venturi Group, known for its high-performance electric vehicles, including the car it campaigns in the all-electric Formula E car racing series. This would set the tone for the future of Voxan. Immediately, the new Voxan switched from internal combustion to electric propulsion. The first item on the list? Setting some world records. The BikeThe Voxan Wattman was a clean-sheet design built for a single purpose – straight-line speed. Because of this, there are some key differences between a land-speed racer and, say, a road race bike someone like Biaggi would be more familiar with, apart from the batteries obviously. As mentioned before, 330 km/h was the target. Aerodynamics would be essential, of course, but stability at speed would also be crucial. We’re all familiar with land speed racers; they’re long and low. With the Wattman, the streamlined bodywork went to the wind tunnel, of course, but much more time was spent running computer simulations and crunching different calculations. That’s all well and good, except those calculations only provided information at speeds up to about 240 km/h (150 mph). How the bodywork would react at nearly 70 mph faster was a bit of an unknown, but the team were able to make educated guesses based on their research and thousands of computer simulations. Underneath the streamlined bodywork, the steel frame sits low, with swingarms at both ends to achieve the nearly 73-inch wheelbase. The double-wishbone front suspension uses a single shock to absorb bumps and is steered via linkages not too dissimilar to the Bimota Tesi – not that there’s much steering going on when you’re traveling in a straight line. Voxan says it chose the double-wishbone front end design over a traditional telescopic fork because it keeps both sides of the wheel clearer, making wheel removal easier, but also because the round tubes of a telescopic fork add more aerodynamic turbulence. Obviously, when you’re chasing a land speed record, you take every step you can to slice through the air cleaner. There are no front brakes on the Wattman, either (and there’s no parachute). A front brake setup takes away from some of the aero efficiency, but with the low-grip surface of the salt flats, a dab of the front brake could cause the front to lock momentarily and/or otherwise lose traction – and you know what happens next. So, how does the Wattman slow down? Typically, there’s plenty of room on salt flats for the bike to scrub speed on its own, and the Wattman has a huge rear brake. With the combination of the rear brake and regenerative braking, the rider can trigger via a lever on the right bar, this seems to be enough to bring all the action to a stop. But since the run was made on a much smaller airstrip, this had to be taken into consideration – which makes the records they were able to achieve that much more impressive. Oddly, we’ve come this far and haven’t even talked about watts powering this thing (sorry). The battery is a completely proprietary design, made in collaboration with parent company Venturi’s North American subsidiary at Ohio State University. What these engineering students came up with was a 15.9 kWh lithium-ion battery comprised of 1,470 cells (weighing about 308 lbs) delivering 317 kW of nominal power. Electric motors are the Venturi Group’s specialty, having built the VBB-3, which holds the world record for the fastest electric car (549.43 km/h average (342 mph), 576 km/h (358 mph) peak), while also building the powertrains for the aforementioned Formula E car racing series. So, when it came to the Voxan project, Venturi developed a version of the permanent magnet motor, and the systems that control it, based on the Formula E design. Voxan rates power output at 270 kW (367 hp). The whole system is liquid-cooled, but instead of a traditional radiator, which would pose an aerodynamic disadvantage because of the cooling vents it would need to receive fresh air, the Wattman instead stores dry ice in a special compartment under the seat to cool the fluid before it’s pumped to the motor. Being French, it’s no surprise Voxan turned to Michelin to provide tires for its project. What is a surprise is the fact the Wattman uses completely standard tires you and I can buy off the shelf – the Michelin Pilot RS+, to be exact. They’re rated at 350 km/h (217 mph), but because safety is obviously most important, Michelin and Voxan jointly bench tested the rubber to verify it was able to withstand speeds 100 km/h faster (280 mph). Both parties agreed this was an acceptable buffer. The RecordsNeedless to say, Voxan wouldn’t have sent us a press release if it hadn’t achieved its goal. What’s interesting is that Biaggi and Wattman – in both streamline and non-streamline configurations – went faster than even they expected to, en route to setting a total of 11 world records. However, for what it’s worth, most of those records had no previous benchmark to beat. Still, here’s the total tally of records:
Motorcycles via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO November 11, 2020 at 12:13PM
Motorcycle News - CB XXX: A top-spec Honda CBX1000 from dB Customs
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It was also designed way before stubby tail sections were en vogue. Old CBXs look unbalanced by today’s standards—but to purists, they hark back to a time where function trumped form. If that’s your vibe, rejoice: this CBX1000 restomod from dB Customs still wears all of its original bodywork… and paint.
Based in Ottawa, Canada, Darren has a thing for old Japanese bikes that go fast. And he knows how to make them go even faster. His projects are mostly late 70s and 80s restomods and race bikes, always with modern upgrades. This 1979-model CBX came from a client in New York—its original owner—with less than 12,000 miles on the dial.
The CBX might have been in original condition, but that didn’t stop Darren from tearing it down and sending the frame off for a fresh coat of black. And the motor’s low mileage didn’t stop it from being rebuilt and bored out to 1,147 cc.
Darren’s a dealer for the Japanese company JB Power, so he used an oil cooler and a set of Keihin flat-slide carbs from them. And they supplied the stunning hand-bent six-into-one titanium exhaust system.
The wheels are lightweight carbon fiber 17” Dymag CA5s, shod with Avon Spirit ST tires. The brake setup is a mash-up that includes Brembo calipers and rotors, a custom rear brake mount and tie rod, and Speigler lines. There’s also a Brembo RCS front radial master cylinder and lever.
More JB Power parts finish off the build, like billet aluminum rear-sets and engine mounting braces. And naturally there’s a new chain and sprockets, a bunch of fresh fasteners, and safety wire in all the right places.
Our only wish is that we could be there when its owner turns the key, so that we can hear all six cylinders light up that titanium can. dB Customs | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Darren Begg Motorcycles via Bike EXIF https://ift.tt/2Mf9b0c November 11, 2020 at 11:29AM
MotoGP News - 2020 MotoGP Valencia Grand Prix session timings and preview
https://ift.tt/38FE0oW MotoGP is preparing for its penultimate round of the 2020 season, with the title potentially set to be decided at the Valencia Grand Prix. 2020 Valencian MotoGP session timingsMotoGP will run its traditional schedule of two free practice sessions lasting 45 minutes each on Friday, with another 45-minute practice session on Saturday morning. The top 10 on the combined FP1-2-3 timesheet will automatically enter into Q2 of qualifying. A final 30-minute FP4 session is held on Saturday afternoon ahead of qualifying. How can I watch the Valencian MotoGP?Channel: BT Sport 2 Can I stream the Valencian MotoGP?Viewers in the United Kingdom can also stream the Valencian GP by purchasing a video pass from MotoGP.com. A one-off video pass, which lasts until the first race of the 2021 season, costs £9.01p. Weather forecast for the Valencian MotoGPValencia is set for dry but cloudy conditions throughout the weekend, with a small chance of rain on Friday and Saturday before dry conditions on Sunday. Highs of 21 degrees Celsius are forecast on race day, making it the same conditions as the first Valencia race last weekend. Most Valencia MotoGP winners (premier class only)Dani Pedrosa: 4 wins (2007, 2009, 2012, 2017) Autosport has produced a standalone special magazine to celebrate our 70th birthday. All current print subscribers will receive a copy for free. To pre-order your copy of the 196-page Autosport 70th Anniversary issue, please go to: autosport.com/autosport70th Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei November 11, 2020 at 10:23AM
MotoGP News - Mir's sophomore MotoGP year "an example" for Marquez
https://ift.tt/3lmRzxi Honda rookie Alex Marquez says Joan Mir's sophomore MotoGP season in 2020 is a "really good example" for him to follow for his second year in 2021. Suzuki rider Mir can wrap up the 2020 MotoGP title this weekend in the Valencia Grand Prix after opening up a 37-point lead in the standings with his maiden victory in the European GP last week. In a season of irregular form for most of the grid, Mir has scored the most podiums of anyone with six on top if his win, and of the 10 races he finished he has missed out on finishing in the top five just once. Marquez struggled on the RC213V in the opening part of the season, but a breakthrough with his bike following the post-San Marino GP test sent him on the path to back-to-back podiums at Le Mans and Aragon. Team-mate to Mir in Moto2 at Marc VDS in 2018, Marquez praised the Suzuki rider for his 2020 form and admits it has acted as motivation for him for his second season in MotoGP. "Well, he did a really good step, also Suzuki," Marquez said last Sunday. "If you see the championship, it's clear that the Suzuki bike is so complete. "He [Mir] was smart to take that opportunity in this strange year, with less races, only European races, with the injury of Marc [Marquez]. "He takes the opportunity and [last Sunday] he did what a champion needed to do by putting everything on the table and saying, 'I want to win this championship'. "He took good points. So, for me it's a really good example to keep going, to keep motivated for the future because we are seeing everything is possible in MotoGP." Marquez crashed out of the European GP in the latter stages having just been passed by Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso on the run into the first corner. This allowed KTM's Brad Binder to steal a nine-point lead in the standings in their battle for rookie of the year honours. Though Marquez admits his goal is to finish as top rookie in 2020, the fact his European GP crash was his second-successive race tumble annoyed him more. "For me, it's worse because it's the second zero [points score] in a row and we lose a lot of opportunities to catch points in Aragon and also here," Marquez said. "So, I'm disappointed for that. "The objective is [to be] the rookie of the year, we lost a very good opportunity in Aragon, it escaped us here too. "It is true that Binder came very fast from behind, but he has not escaped so much in the [points] classification and it is still more than possible [to beat him]." Autosport has produced a standalone special magazine to celebrate our 70th birthday. All current print subscribers will receive a copy for free. To pre-order your copy of the 196-page Autosport 70th Anniversary issue, please go to: autosport.com/autosport70th Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei November 11, 2020 at 10:23AM
MotoGP News - Dovizioso: Binder's pace was "not nice to see" in European MotoGP
https://ift.tt/36jp39i Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso says it was "not nice" to see the pace Brad Binder had over him in the MotoGP European Grand Prix despite the KTM rider serving a penalty. Binder was forced to serve a long lap penalty early in the race as punishment for his first-lap collision with Jack Miller in the Teruel GP last month. Despite losing two seconds and dropping from 11th to 16th, Binder showed top-five pace on his charge through the pack and ended up overtaking Dovizioso on lap 23 of 27 for seventh. For those final laps, Dovizioso - who announced his MotoGP sabbatical for 2021 on Tuesday - was unable to better Binder's lap times and admits it was "difficult" get back on terms again. "At the end, the speed, especially in the last part of the race, was not too bad and this is what we have to try to bring for the next weekend because I was able to ride in a bit of a different way and I was a bit faster when the tyre dropped, and this is our target," Dovizioso said last Sunday. "I'm not fast with the new tyre, I'm not able to ride and brake in the way I have been. He added: "[Brad] was too fast, and if you see his pace with the long lap it shows his potential and it was a bit difficult because at that moment I was struggling with the tyre, Alex [Marquez] was struggling, [Johann] Zarco was struggling. "So, I was with them and Brad came and was much faster. So, in that situation it's not nice to see those things." Binder also lost time a few laps after his long lap penalty when Cal Crutchlow crashed at Turn 8, as the Briton's errant LCR Honda forced the KTM rider to run off track to avoid him. Despite that, Binder admits it "felt amazing" to be able to reel in the group ahead even with his early time losses. "I didn't want to really fight with the guys too much in the first couple of laps because I knew I had the long lap penalty coming," Binder said. "So, whether I was a couple of metres in front at the time wouldn't have really changed too much. "In the end I'm really happy, I think we did a good job. I ended up losing about two seconds when I did the long lap penalty. Unfortunately, a few laps later Cal crashed and I had a little run-off there because the bike slid in front of me. "So, I ended up losing close to a couple seconds there again. "I felt we had good pace toady and to be able to pull in again and catch the guys was amazing." Autosport has produced a standalone special magazine to celebrate our 70th birthday. All current print subscribers will receive a copy for free. To pre-order your copy of the 196-page Autosport 70th Anniversary issue, please go to: autosport.com/autosport70th Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei November 11, 2020 at 08:37AM 11/11/2020 Quartararo wants to use 2019 Yamaha for 2021 MotoGP season after inconsistent year - MotoGP News
MotoGP News - Quartararo wants to use 2019 Yamaha for 2021 MotoGP season after inconsistent year
https://ift.tt/2IoNN7W Fabio Quartararo wants to see if it will be possible for him to race the 2019 Yamaha MotoGP bike in 2021 after a tough year on the 2020 M1. Quartararo has won three grands prix in 2020, but has scored just one other top five from the 12 races run so far. That inconsistent form has cost him the championship lead he held for much of the year to Joan Mir at Aragon - having also briefly lost it after the San Marino Grand Prix to Andrea Dovizioso. This is in stark contrast to his form in his rookie campaign in 2019, in which he scored seven podiums across the campaign. With his title hopes all but over following a crash in the European GP, which cast him 37 points adrift of Suzuki's Mir, Quartararo admits "a lot" has to change at Yamaha for 2021. PLUS: Where it all went wrong for 2020's MotoGP title favourite Due to COVID-19 cost-saving measures, Yamaha won't be able to develop a new engine for 2021. Quartararo is "worried" about this, but hopes to be able to use his 2019 machine if the rules allow. "I'm worried but I'm hoping to see if we can use last year's bike, if that's possible or if we have to keep exactly the same one as this year," Quartararo said, when asked about the engine freeze. "But what is certain is that we have to change a lot of things in the way we work, not really in the team but in general with Yamaha." Factory Yamaha counterpart Valentino Rossi said last weekend the engine freeze is "not an excuse" for Yamaha not to improve its motor in 2021. Quartararo's Petronas SRT team-mate Franco Morbidelli currently rides what is essentially the 2019 M1, winning two races on it and scoring the most points of any Yamaha rider since the San Marino GP. Quartararo admitted last Sunday the 2020 M1 never felt like it was his bike from his very first laps on it in testing. "Actually, my first laps with the 2020 bike in really dry conditions - like I say the 2020 bike changed a lot from last year - I didn't really feel like the bike was mine," he said. "When the bike is directly good from FP1, we make small changes and everything is perfect. "But when you start and it's difficult, you are lost." Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei November 11, 2020 at 05:04AM |
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