Newly-signed BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team rider Michael van der Mark finally got his hands on the BMW M 1000 RR earlier this week as he completed his first few laps on the brand’s latest and most innovative superbike yet. (more…)
Newly-signed BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team rider Michael van der Mark finally got his hands on the BMW M 1000 RR earlier this week as he completed his first few laps on the brand’s latest and most innovative superbike yet. (more…)
The Yamaha Sepang Racing Team will start from pole position at the 8 Hours of Sepang inaugural FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) race. The team consists of riders Hafizh Syahrin, Franco Morbidelli and Michael Van Der Mark. Syahrin and Morbidelli are MotoGP riders, while van der Mark rides for the factory Yamaha WorldSBK outfit. The team’s #21 Yamaha YZF-R1 is prepared by YART and shod with Bridgestone tyres. They are competing in the premier Formula EWC class.
Such a great means the team is poised to gain victory in their “home” race. A win would make up for Morbidelli’s disappointment of finishing in 5th after qualifying second fastest in the Malaysian MotoGP. Besides that, it’ll be a great confidence boost for Hafizh Syahrin as well after being dropped by the Red Bull KTM Racing Tech 3 MotoGP team for 2020.
The second qualifying session started at 7pm yesterday. The FIM EWC uses combined qualifying times to determine the grid positions. The 10 fastest goes through to the Top 10 Trial shootout, which is like the Superpole format. The teams then put forth their fastest rider for a single flying lap to determine grid positions 1st through 10th.
Thailand’s Somkiat Chantra of Honda Asia Dream Racing set the gauntlet by posting an eye-popping time of 2m 05.440s. That took the team from 9th to 1st. One of Somkiat’s teammate is Malaysia rider Zaqhwan Zaidi who took part in the Suzuka 8 Hours in July.
But Morbidelli, the current MotoGP rider for the Yamaha Sepang Racing Team struck back with a 2m 04.647s lap. The Italian’s effort was a valiant fight given an early crash.
Qualifying third was the F.C.C. TSR Honda France team, who were previous champions in the series.
The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team did well again to qualify in 4th. Remember, this is only their first season in the FIM EWC since 2015.
By contrast, the championship leading Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) ended qualifying in 11th.
Read: Up close with the BMW S 1000 RR FIM EWC race bike
The Superstock class saw titanic battles for the starting grid up and down the field. In end, it was the Japanese team Tone RT Syncedge 4413 BMW who prevailed, just beating out French based Moto Ain. The former was team were the fastest at the Suzuka 8 Hour, while the latter was last season’s FIM Endurance World Cup winner.
The race starts at 1pm on Saturday. Be there!
Read: 10 Points about the FIM Endurance World Championship and 8 Hours of Sepang
MotoGP rider Franco Morbidelli will join the PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team squad for the FIM Endurance World Championship round in Sepang International Circuit.
Morbidelli’s draft ends months of speculation that he will be one of the riders for the Sepang stint. He will join two other riders namely Hafizh Syahrin and four-time Suzuka 8 Hour endurance winner Michael van der Mark.
The squad will be supported by the YART Yamaha EWC squad who were former winners of the EWC. As such, the three riders will play their parts in riding the Yamaha YZF-R1.
The 2020 EWC opens with the Bol D’or in France before heading to Sepang for the second round from 13th to 15th December 2019. However, the Sepang round has a large significance to the EWC as it will form the qualifying round for “irregular” EWC teams to qualify for the Suzuka 8 Hour race.
Additionally, the race also features an FIA World Touring Car Cup round back-to-back.
Morbidelli expressed his concerns about riding in an endurance race. “I’m curious to see how an endurance race format suits me, and am really looking forward to it.”
Team Principal Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali is confident about the team’s prospects given the two MotoGP riders in addition to a multiple Suzuka 8 Hour winner. “We have faith that Franco, Michael, Hafizh and YART will deliver and we’re targeting the very top step of the podium.”
Source: PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team
Lewis Hamilton crashed during his track outing. He later posted his about love for two wheels and a request to visit Valentino Rossi’s ranch.
The five-time and current Formula 1 champion rode during a special track day at Jerez. Hamilton was riding a specially-prepared all-black Yamaha YZF-R1 alongside World Superbike riders Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark. The event was organized by the Pata Yamaha World Superbike Championship squad and British track day company No Limits.
However, Hamilton had a small crash at Turn 5 but was lucky to walk away from it.
He posted a few messages on his Instagram account the next day, admitting his love for motorcycle racing. But he stressed that he had no plans to switch over to two wheels.
“Miss riding the superbike already. FYI I’ve always loved two wheels more than four. Always wanted a motorbike since I was a kid however I am super grateful my dad got me a kart. But current new love is out on track on my bike.”
“I have the highest regard and respect for these motorbike riders. It’s a much different discipline however [it] require[s] some of the same basics such as time, patience, fearlessness, focus, agility and risk taking – all of which make a sport exciting.”
“And yes, I’d love to race bikes. But these guys are on another level so I think I’ll just enjoy riding and testing the limits on track.”
Hamilton concluded his post with this message: “Valentino Rossi I need to come to the ranch asap,” he said.
The Briton is no stranger to the world of motorcycles. He is the ambassador for MV Agusta who created the F4 LH44 and Brutale 800RR LH44 special models in tribute to him. He spent two days lapping around a racetrack in California with Cal Crutchlow. He even said he will join MotoGP in 2018 but later admitting that it was an April Fool’s Day prank.
Sick couple of days in Jerez ???@alexlowes22 @mickeyvdmark @PataYamahaWSBK @MonsterEnergy pic.twitter.com/1uIwgmKx7r
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) December 2, 2018
The WorldSBK scene just got more interesting with the launch of the 2018 Yamaha YZF-R1 which is going to be used by the PATA Yamaha Official WorldSBK team. Together with coveted riders Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark, the duo is set to take the 2018 season by storm. (more…)
Our theories about motorcycle racers have been confirmed yet again, ladies and gentlemen. These folks are MENTAL. We found out that Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi will attempt to ride his competition Yamaha YZF-M1 at the 14th MotoGP round in Aragon, Spain this coming weekend. (more…)
After just 18 days since the unfortunate event that fell upon the MotoGP nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi, the Doctor is back again for some two-wheel action. As part of his recuperating schedule which his actually extraordinarily ahead of time, Rossi clocked in four laps in San Marino at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli on board of a Yamaha YZF-R1M used by the VR46 Academy. (more…)
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