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Johann Zarco: Exhausted from Fighting the Bike in Argentina MotoGP

Johann Zarco said he was exhausted from fighting his bike in the Argentina MotoGP.
He couldn’t ride the KTM RC16 the way he wanted to.
He finished 15^thand Hafizh Syahrin in 16^thin the race.

While we published Hafizh Syahrin’s struggle with the KTM RC16 MotoGP bike, we wondered what his ex-Yamaha Tech 3 teammate Johann Zarco went through.

The two-time Moto2 champion finished 15^thin Qatar and obtained the same result in Argentina. Even then, his final placing at Argentina was after Morbidelli took himself and Vinalez out of the race. By the end, Hafizh Syahrin was able to latch on Zarco’s back wheel and finished one spot behind.

On the other hand, long-time KTM MotoGP rider Pol Espargaro and new Red Bull KTM Tech 3 signing Miguel Oliveira took off to fight it out for 10^thand 11^th.

Zarco had been quite prior to this, but he recently shared his thoughts in an interview with Motorsports.com.

First, he was held up by Jorge Lorenzo who mistakenly his the pitlane speed limiter on the Repsol Honda. Zarco was in 21^stplace into Turn One. But his race also deteriorated as it went on.

“I almost struggle all the way, from the start. With Lorenzo I don’t know what happened and I had to brake a lot behind him, I was second to last,” he recalled.

“Beginning of the race, the first eight laps I was feeling quite good but not able to overtake my opponents because I cannot control well the bike at the moment.”

“Then more and more I was going in the race it was coming harder and harder to ride the bike. I spent a lot of energy.”

“Difficult to leave this kind of races when everything I would like to do, I can’t. This makes me fight with the bike, and then I am exhausted.”

At that point, the bike started to slide, difficult to brake and turn into corners. Zarco rides the traditional long-arc style, in other words, early braking to carry more mid-corner speed and smooth transitions. Hafizh Syahrin rides in this method, as well.

Is this the key to why both these ex-Yamaha riders are suffering?

However, he is adamant in keeping his riding style, as he believes that it allows KTM to improve. Staying on one style means you don’t have too many variables to work with, making it easier to concentrate on which areas that need improving.

The Austrian factory would surely (and sorely) be missing inputs from test riders Dani Pedrosa and Mika Kalio by now. Both are unfortunately recuperating from their injuries.

Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin to go 1100cc in 2020?

The Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin may get an engine displacement bump to 1100cc for 2020.
The increase prepares the bike for Euro 5 standards.
Also, middleweight adventurers produce the same power as the current Africa Twin.

Motor Cycle News Australia’s networks of spies found that the Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin may be upsized to 1100cc for 2020.

Their Japanese sources claim that the next generation of the Africa Twin will see a capacity upgrade from 998cc to 1080cc. There’s a gain of 5.4 hp along with the upsizing. It may not seem a lot but remember that 2020 is when Euro 5 regulations come into effect. The new emission standards will choke many bikes in terms of power.

The rumours also claimed that there’s minor upgrade to its styling. The Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT – please fix the low speed drivability, Honda). Its fuel capacity may increase to 20 liters, while the Adventure Sport edition may retain the 24.2 litre tank. We may also see a new TFT screen.

Yes, Honda wants to take the middle ground between the 1200/1300cc and 800cc adventure bikes, but the middleweights are now producing the same horsepower from smaller engines. That’s before mentioning that the middleweights are lighter and have lower seat heights, too.

Honda truly needs to upgrade the Africa Twin to stay in the fight. Its current 94 hp is on the low side when compared to open-class adventurers, and on par with the middleweight segment. For example, the Triumph Tiger 800 produces the same amount of horsepower, besides the new BMW F 850 GS and KTM 790 Adventure.

Let’s wait for the 2019 Tokyo Motorshow in October.

New More Stylish Honda GL1800 Gold Wing

A new cutdown version of the Honda GL1800 Gold Wing has been revealed.
It fits in the bagger sub-segment with no top case and has a lower windscreen.
All other functions and features are retained.

A new more stylish Honda GL1800 Gold Wing has been introduced, just a year after its launch.

There’s great demand for less “touring” and more stylish bagger style tourers and other manufacturers enjoy brisk sales for them. A “bagger” is a more stylized and cutdown touring motorcycle with panniers but without the top case.

This new Gold Wing hence harks back to the previous Gold Wing F6B. It features a low windscreen, no top case, and more blacked-out parts for a slimmer, custom look.

Deleting the top case also removes 50 litres of storage space, rear speakers and passenger backrest, but it saves 40 kg.

However, owners still get to enjoy the bike’s 1833cc flat-Six engine which produces 125 hp and 169.5 Nm of torque. Electronic niceties such as ride-by-wire throttle, riding modes, traction control, keyless ignition, electronic suspension, LED lighting and infotainment system which integrates Bluetooh connectivity, music, maps and Apple CarPlay are retained.

The new “standard” Gold Wing will on have a standard 6-speed transmission i.e. no Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).

Brazilian Patent for BMW F 850 RS Leaked

A Brazilian magazine dug up the patent submission of the new BMW F 850 RS.
It closely resembles the 9Cento concept, with some differences.
BMW needs to fill the middleweight sport-tourer gap.

Remember the 9Cento concept? Looks like it will be applied to the new BMW F 850 RS, as Brazilian patent revealed.

The 9Cento concept drew lots of interest and many were hoping that BMW Motorrad put it into production. But the factory kept mum about it until the prototype was spotted undergoing road tests in the UK. BMW needs a midrange sport-tourer and the new 853cc parallel-Twin provides the perfect platform.

Now it looks like a reality. Brazilian motorcycle magazine Motor1 Bugmanaged to dig up BMW’s patent filing to the National Institute of Industrial Property, dated 2 April 2019. The files not only showed a rendering of the new bike but also the name “F 850 RS.”

The computer rendering shows a design which closely matches the 9Cento, albeit more practical for everyday riding, including a longer seat. It ought to be a great commuter compared to the likes of the R 1250 GS/GS Adventure and S 1000 XR sport-tourer.

Will it be launched at Intermot? Or EICMA? We will have to wait and see.

Zero SR/F Streetfighter to Contest at Pikes Peak

The Zero SR/F streetfighter is set to compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this year.
The bike was launched in January.
Its motor produces 110 bhp and 189.8 Nm of torque.

The just-launched Zero SR/F streetfighter will be raced up Pikes Peak in June this year.

The 156-corner, 20-km Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) may not ring a bell with many motorcycle enthusiasts in Malaysia, but it is an important event where street bikes are pitted against the mountain and the clock.

Many well-known motorcycle models have tackled the course and earned the prestigious win including the electric Lightning LS-218, Ducati Multistrada, KTM 1290 Super Duke R. Ducati even went ahead to build the limited-edition Multistrada Pikes Peak.

However, sportbikes aren’t allowed on the course due to safety reasons after a number of riders were killed. So, the PPIHC sees close competition among sport-tourers and naked sportbikes.

Consequently, Zero Engineering feels that the event is the best place to show off the capabilities of the SR/F. American rider Cory West will ride the bike.

The Zero SR/F was launched earlier this year in Amsterdam. Although it looks like the mix between a Ducati and Benelli, it’s anything but, according to the company.

Specs include a motor which produces 110 hp and 189.8 Nm of torque. Torque is the most important aspect up Pikes Peak due to the snaking course, sharp corners and hairpins.

Besides that, owners can charge the battery to 95% in one hour and it weighs 226kg.

Ten Kate Back in WorldSBK with Yamaha and Loris Baz

Ten Kate is returning to WorldSBK with Yamaha and Loris Baz.
The team will be supported fully by Yamaha Europe and will have the same equipment as the factory team.
The team was dropped by HRC at the 11^thhour last year.

Ten Kate is returning to WorldSBK with Yamaha and Loris Baz this time.

Many were surprised when Honda dropped their long-time WorldSBK partner Ten Kate for the 2019 season. It was already 30^thOctober when Honda made the announcement, which meant that Ten Kate had prepared the race engines, materiel and signed two riders through 2019 and 2020.

HRC’s move forced Ten Kate to lay off their race team and declare bankruptcy.

But it proves that racing is in team principal Ronald ten Kate’s blood as he began talks with other manufacturers. He finally reached an agreement with Yamaha Europe just before Christmas, but the details were only fully confirmed in January.

He decided on Yamaha and Loris Baz as he will be supported fully by Yamaha Europe, hence receive the complete package. It means that he will receive the same factory equipment as the Crescent Yamaha and GYTR Yamaha teams.

However, he concedes that the team could only aim for as many podium finishes as possible since the championship is fully underway. The team will only begin at the Jerez round from 7^thto 9^thJune 2019.

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Latest News

Johann Zarco said he was exhausted from fighting his bike in the Argentina MotoGP.

He couldn’t ride the KTM RC16 the way he wanted to.

He finished 15th and Hafizh Syahrin in 16th in the race.

Is this the key to why both these ex-Yamaha riders are suffering?

The Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin may get an engine displacement bump to 1100cc for 2020.

The increase prepares the bike for Euro 5 standards.

Also, middleweight adventurers produce the same power as the current Africa Twin.

A new cutdown version of the Honda GL1800 Gold Wing has been revealed.

It fits in the bagger sub-segment with no top case and has a lower windscreen.

All other functions and features are retained.

A Brazilian magazine dug up the patent submission of the new BMW F 850 RS.

It closely resembles the 9Cento concept, with some differences.

BMW needs to fill the middleweight sport-tourer gap.

The Zero SR/F streetfighter is set to compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this year.

The bike was launched in January.

Its motor produces 110 bhp and 189.8 Nm of torque.

Ten Kate is returning to WorldSBK with Yamaha and Loris Baz.

The team will be supported fully by Yamaha Europe and will have the same equipment as the factory team.

The team was dropped by HRC at the 11th hour last year.

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He finished 15^thand Hafizh Syahrin in 16^thin the race.

The team was dropped by HRC at the 11^thhour last year.