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VIDEO: Watch as Johann Zarco was Whacked by Another Bike

Johann Zarco was known as “Mr. Backflip” when he was in Moto2.
He did the backflip again but not in a controlled fashion yesterday at the Valencia GP.
He is okay although in some pain.

Back when Johann Zarco was in Moto2, he was known as “Mr. Backflip” for pulling off backflip jumps when he won races. But we haven’t seen that since he moved to the MotoGP class in 2017.

But he did so yesterday at the Valencia Grand Prix, albeit not of his control and thankfully not morbid fashion.

Mission Winnow Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci had crashed at Turn 6 ahead of Zarco. Then Zarco also crashed a couple of seconds later at the same corner — lowsiding in the left-hander. Both rider and motorcycle slid harmlessly into the gravel pit.

Zarco remonstrated his fall, as he would later say that he was very disappointed to have wasted the last race that was given the chance to ride on an LCR Honda. He was seen cursing as he walked away from his crash.

Unbeknownst to him, rookie Iker Lecouna had also crashed in the same corner while in 15th place. The KTM RC16 slid right into Zarco’s legs and sent him into a backflip. He landed on his head and stayed down, visibly in pain.

Lecouna ran up to assist and apologise but Zarco had to be stretchered off the gravel pit. Fortunately, he was later seen debriefing the LCR Honda’s technicians in the pits.

He would also later say that there’s still pain in the ankles, possibly from ligament damage.

Alex Marquez Joining Repsol Honda in 2020 MotoGP Season?

Alex Marquez is now linked to being picked for the Repsol Honda squad for the 2020 MotoGP season.
If so, he will join his elder brother Marc Marquez as teammates.
The seat was left open after Jorge Lorenzo announced his retirement.

Alex Marquez is now linked to joining his brother, eight-time world champion Marc Marquez in the factory Repsol Honda squad for the 2020 MotoGP season.

The tears from Jorge Lorenzo’s emotional farewell press conference probably haven’t even dried yet and the rumours are already running rampant on who will replace him on the most coveted seat in the premier class.

It started between two riders, with one considered an outside chance. LCR Honda rookie Takaaki Nakagami was said to have the biggest chance to move up, while MotoGP refugee Johann Zarco replaces him in the team. Veteran LCR Honda and MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow was also said to have a small chance to move up, but there are also thoughts of him retiring soon. Crutchlow had said that his entire body hurts and he has to take massive amounts of painkillers, hence considers that the sunset is just beyond the hill for this career.

Suddenly, Alex Marquez’s name popped up over the weekend. Throwing more fuel into the fire, the 2019 Moto2 champion didn’t confirm nor deny whether he will actually team up with his brother next year.

The biggest question is of course whether Marc has any part should Alex be promoted to the Repsol Honda team. After all, he proclaimed that “Alex is ready for MotoGP” as soon as the younger Marquez sealed the Moto2 title in Malaysia.

But Marc had this to say, “I would be lying if I said that I don’t want my brother, but I insist that I have never forced the situation and I won’t do so now either.”

Team manager Alberto Puig added, “Of course, Alex is an option. You have to consider him on his own merits, not his last name.”

However, that wasn’t all. There was also talk of Jack Miller replacing Danilo Petrucci at the factory Mission Winnows Ducati and Zarco taking up the vacant Pramac Ducati seat. Zarco was quick to state his thoughts on that prospect, “I’d rather be in Moto2 than ride the Pramac Ducati. It would be the same mistake with KTM.”

We will know by Tuesday next week during the MotoGP post-season tests.

2020 Harley-Davidson Touring Models Unveiled

The 2020 Harley-Davidson Touring range has been introduced.
Almost all models feature the new Reflex Defensive Rider System.
Headlining the range is the new Street Glide Standard.

The 2020 Harley-Davidson Touring range has been introduced.

Harley’s tourers represent the sense of freedom on the open road while being accompanied by a big-cube, thumping engine. In fact, it was Harley who started the “bagger” and later on full-dress tourer tradition.

Model Year 2020 Asset Capture Photography. INTERNATIONAL ONLY

The 2020 Touring models are equipped with chassis/traction control which the Motor Company calls Reflex Defensive Rider System. It’s designed to match the bike’s performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking by utilising the latest chassis control, electronic brake control and powertrain technology. (Not available on the Electra Glide Standard and Road King.)

Heading the lineup is the new Electra Glide Standard which offers a “dressed down dresser” style for riders whose only wish is the raw, unbridled sensation of a motorcycle, unencumbered by other distractions. Available only in Vivid Black, it’s priced from RM 132,400.

Other models set to join it are the Road King, Road King Special, Street Glide Special, Road Glide Special and Electra Glide Ultra Limited.

“The passion for Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Malaysia is growing and the new 2020 line-up will surely please those looking to hit the road with an impressive new machine,” said Mr. Johan Kleinsteuber, Managing Director, Harley-Davidson Asia Emerging Markets. “We leverage our unmatched ability to blend style, performance and technology in products designed to elevate the motorcycling experience. With our prices that start from RM62,800, we make discovering freedom easier than ever”.

Find out more on: bit.ly/MY20-MYS

You may also visit Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya for more details.

Ducati Panigale 1299 S Hybrid — 300 bhp, 299.6 Nm

This Ducati Panigale 1299 S Hybrid packs 300 bhp and 299.6 Nm of torque.
Efesto S.a.r.l. installed an electric motor to the engine.
The motor can work together in tandem or separate from the engine.

Want power? 205 bhp isn’t enough? 250, no? Okay how about 300 bhp then? Because that’s what this Ducati Panigale 1299 S hybrid is packing.

The stock 1299 S already produces 205 bhp and 143.7 Nm of torque, which is more enough for road use and perhaps on the track too. But since so many are obsessed with horsepower figures, it seems piddly, doesn’t it? What more with the Panigale V4 S which does 213 bhp.

So, Efesto S.a.r.l., a French-Italian firm who are “active in the design and development of turn key electric and hybrid powertrains” turned the 1299 S into a hybrid. The company had worked on the Panigale 1299 S for some time and introduced the prototype last year and the project has reached fruition.

Efesto Managing Director Luca Morfino explained that electric bikes are still heavy and limited in range. (Certain countries are still dragging their feet in expanding charging infrastructure.) In this case, their 200Novantanove hybrid powertrain makes perfect sense. As the name suggests, a hybrid “engine” combines the good ol’ (but polluting) internal combustion engine and an electric motor (non-polluting but not powerful, either).

The rider can switch between the two systems or let them run in parallel. Using the electric motor in traffic saves fuel and avoids getting a burnt crotch, then use both for planet-moving acceleration before switching to full petrol mode for corner blasting.

The battery is charged by the electric motor or regenerative braking, so it isn’t a plug-and-play kit. The set up also brings the bike’s weight up to 194 kg, up from 179 kg.

Still, how to argue with 300 bhp and 299.6 Nm? And don’t forget that it’s environmentally-friendly, too.

Source: Moto.it

2019 KBS MiniGP Academy is Still Open for Registration

Registration to the 2019 KBS MiniGP Academy is still open.
40 participants will be selected to follow the programme.
Final selection is happening on 23rd November 2019, so register now.

Registration to the 2019 KBS MiniGP Academy is still open.

Did you know that Hafizh Shahrin began his racing career in miniGP? Look at where he is now.

In view of this, the 2019 KBS MiniGP Academy is an initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia (KBS – Kementerian Belia dan Sukan) to develop new talents in two-wheeled motorsports, with the objective of seeing them reaching the world stage.

The academy will be the starting point and stepping stone towards that goal for youths who are passionate about motorcycle racing.

The programme is open to all Malaysians aged 9 to 16 as of 2019. Final selection will be carried out in Tangkak, Johor on 23rd November. These 40 participants will then follow a one-month programme from end-November through December 2019.

Registration can be carried out online through www.kbsminigpacademy.com. The registrants will be contacted to attend the selection in Tangkak on 23rd November.

KBS MiniGP Academy CEO Dato’ Haniff Borhan said that the programme is a continuance since 2013, with the assistance of the KBS and Pitrides Motorsports. The academy has since given rise to a rider who is now racing in the FIM Spanish CEV Moto3 class.

So, don’t wait. Register now at www.kbsminigpacademy.com.

Revisiting the 2019 Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix

The 2019 Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix was the best one yet.
Instrumental to the greatness was Shell Malaysia’s involvement as title sponsor.
They were the title sponsor since 2009.

The 2019 motorycle grand prix season is coming to an end with this weekend’s race at Valencia. It only makes the memories at the 2019 Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix even more memorable since Malaysia is the last of the flyaway rounds and the penultimate race on the calendar.

While the race action on the track was the main highlight, it’s the overall atmosphere and events leading up to the race which added even greater emphasis on the greatest race on Malaysian soil.

For example, Shell Malaysia took the race to another level since being the title sponsor for 10 years since 2009. Back then, there was an enormous worry when tobacco companies were forced to withdraw their sponsorship from MotoGP. But it was Shell Malaysia who picked up the ball and ran with it. They certainly ran the entire marathon — look at the state of the Malaysian MotoGP now!

Let’s look at the activities Shell Malaysia organised this year alone.

It all began with meet and greet sessions at Shell petrol stations. The first was at the one near KLIA. The event also celebrated Ducati Corse’s (in MotoGP and WorldSBK) partnership with Shell since 1999.

Mission Winnows Ducati factory team riders Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci met Ducati owners and fans alike during the session, signing autographs on everything the fans brought, including on motorcycles.

Then Shell opened up the Shell Hillstand at the Sepang International Circuit.

Situated outside Turns 13 and 14, spectators witnessed just how fast and especially how low modern race machines could lean. Seeing it on TV was one thing, see it in real life was a different experience altogether.

The Hillstand also saw the first “Sunset at Hillstand” event where the fans met any MotoGP rider of their choice for photography (i.e. selfies) and autographs.

That’s not all. The Shell Hillstand area was a “mini MotoGP village” on its own with a Ducati booth at the entrance, two giant LED screens showing “live” footages of the race, food and beverage stands (including deli2go, Tea Live, Costa Coffee, food trucks, Monster Energy); plus a MotoGP PS4 Challenge, “Guess the Quantity” and “Super Sepak” games.

At the Welcome Centre, a mock up Ducati pit was set up complete with Ducatis and petrol pump islands.

Those who rode to the 2019 Shell Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix didn’t need to worry about parking as they are entitled to free parking with the purchase of Shell Advance lubricant at the Shell Advance Ride Thru Service. What’s more, the parking lot was guarded so there’s no worry about items getting stolen (some riders even left their helmets there).