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Shell Malaysia MotoGP 2018: Alex Rins and Suzuki Fastest on Friday

Alex Rins and Suzuki were the fastest after FP2 on Friday.
The great result came about despite Rins’s bike caught fire in the pitlane yesterday.
Both FP1 and FP2 were run in dry conditions.

Alex Rins’s Suzuki may have caught fire yesterday at the Shell Malaysia MotoGP 2018 but that was clearly not a hindrance.

Rins his bike to the fastest time after FP2 (Free Practice 2) by dipping under the 2:00.00 mark. He posted 1:59.608, a mere 0.089 second faster than Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati MotoGP Team and 0.093 second ahead of Marc Marquez of Repsol Honda Team.

The MotoGP field was lucky to escape a huge deluge in the latter part of the afternoon, allowing the riders to post good times in both FP1 and FP2. Indeed, Dovizioso has recorded his best lap in the first session.

The newly-crowned MotoGP World Champion Marquez had a mad day after saving his Honda many times from crashing.

Valentino Rossi rode his improved Yamaha YZR-M1 to fourth fastest, only 0.159 second from Rins. The Italian’s placing meant that there are four manufacturers in the top four spots. Rossi’s fastest 1’59.767 time was inherited from FP1 where he actually finished second fastest.

Behind Rossi, Jack Miller was the first rider to dip below the 2:00.00 mark. The Australian posted grabbed the fifth spot after putting in a 1’59.771 lap in FP2.

Finally, Rossi’s teammate, Maverick Vinalez improved on his FP1 time to set 1’59.802 for sixth.

The Top 6 covered by less than 1 second, as a result.

Hafizh Syahrin seemed to have a challenging day. He was in 17^th in FP1 and 20^th in FP2. The Malaysian is hoping to improve on his standings in the Rookie’s category.

FP3 tomorrow will provide the riders their last chance to improve on their times and the Top 10 will qualify automatically for Q2 (Qualifying 2). The remaining riders will start in Q1 and the top 2 from that session will be bumped up to Q2 to qualify for grid spots 1^st through 12^th.

So, yes, the Free Practice sessions are just important as final qualifying.

Paul Teutel Sr. of American Choppers is Back

Paul Teutel Sr. of Orange Country Choppers (OCC) will build bikes for retail sale.
The American Choppers star will team up with Bubba’s Exotic Motorsports.
The new range is called “Senior” which consists of two models.

Paul Teutel Sr., the Boss of Orange County Choppers (OCC) and reality TV programme American Choppers fame has a new business venture.

However, instead of getting his speech bleeped out or yelling to the stage of blowing his arteries or smashing chairs, Teutel Sr. will be building choppers for retail sale.

OCC is teaming up with Bubba’s Exotic Motorsports to launch these “production” bikes. Named “Senior” range, the bikes will be launched at the Exotics on Las Olas event in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday, 11^th November. Teutel Sr. himself will be present to launch his choppers, meet and greet fans, besides signing autographs.

Bubba’s Exotic Motorsports, on the other hand, will also display a number of custom vehicles such as a monster Jeep upgrade and an Audi R8 V10 built for the Miami Marlin’s second baseman, Derek Dietrich.

“The Senior is based on my original bike design that started it all, many years ago,” says Teutel. “I’m so proud to bring back that design with modern features and technology.”

There are two models to choose from. The first is a rigid-framed bike with no rear suspension. The other is a “soft tail” for non-masochistic riders who value their backs internal organs. Apart from that, both bikes share the same features such as “springer” front end, sprung seat, 21-inch front and 16-inch rear wheels. Disc brakes are on both ends.

The “Senior” will be powered by a modern Harley-Davidson-style “panhead” engine. It is fueled by an S&S E-Seires carburetor, EDL belt-driven primary, and chain final drive. The transmission is a 5-speed unit housed in a 4-speed frame for old-school looks.

OCC will only build 100 bikes in the first year of production. A percentage of the proceeds from the Exotics on Las Olas sale will be contributed to the Wounded Veterans’ Relief Fund, a non-profit organization. OCC will also display a few bikes from their personal collection.

Max Biaggi Witnesses Opening of New Aprilia 3S Centre in Malaysia

Didi Resources Sdn. Bhd. has launched the new Aprilia 3S Centre in Malaysia.
Aprilia’s International Ambassador and multiple World Champion, Max Biaggi witnessed the launching.
The 3S centre includes showroom, service and spare parts facilities.

Multiple World 250cc GP and World Superbike Champion, Max Biaggi, witnessed the grand opening of the new Aprilia 3S Centre in Malaysia by Didi Resources Sdn. Bhd. The new 3S centre is located at The Gasket Alley.

The brand’s owners and fans alike will definitely welcome the launch, as they now have a new place to call home.

“We are honoured to be given the trust and responsibility to manage Aprilia, a renowned brand under the Piaggio Group of Companies. The trust comes one year after we re-introduced Moto Guzzi in Malaysia,” said Mr. Rewi Hamid Bugo, Chairman of Didi Resources.

Mr. Rewi continued, “We will continue to invest in aftersales improvements and value-added services to the ownership experience like trackdays, racing support, rides and gatherings that is niche and unique to the brand’s owners.”

The grand launch also witnessed the signing of MOU’s between three dealers and Didi Resources. They are Welly World Cycle (Sungai Buloh), Sheng Fatt Superbike (Penang) and Soon Hin Co. (Kuantan).

Afterwards, Max Biaggi would then unveil the Aprilia brand box later, before he was given a tour of the facilities. Aprilia and Moto Guzzi Malaysia’s Head of Aftersales, Idon Pang guided Biaggi through the workshop and showroom.

Festivities continued with Biaggi autographing the showroom’s plaque before continuing on to autographing items of interest for fans.

Current Aprilia MotoGP riders Aleix Espargaro and Scott Redding joined the party later and continued the autograph session.

The new Aprilia 3S Centre is located at The Gasket Alley, Lot 15, 13, Jalan 13/6, Seksyen 13, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan.

PICTURE GALLERY

Alvaro Bautista and the Disparity Between Factory and Satellite Bikes

Alvaro Bautista rode to a fourth-placed finished at last weekend’s Australian GP.
The result showed the large gap between factory and satellite bikes.
Dorna ought to stop the “tiered” system to avoid talented riders languishing down the order.

Alvaro Bautista probably had no idea of where he’d finish in Australia when he sat in for the injured Jorge Lorenzo.

The Desmosedici GP18 threw Jorge Lorenzo off on the last three occasions. The last one in Australia injured his left arm. But instead of letting only Andrea Dovizioso ride in the race, the Ducati factory team drafted Bautista over from the Ducati satellite Angel Nieto Team.

It wasn’t easy for the affable Spaniard at first, crashing three times over the weekend. However, he found his rhythm in the race and challenged both Andrea Ianone and teammate Andrea Dovizioso for the podium positions.

He only acquiesced the position when, “I had a problem with the gearbox. It was different to what I was using. I didn’t engage the gear and I lost the distance with both Andreas.”

This is where it starts to get interesting.

Speaking about his switch to the factory Ducati World Superbike squad next year, “I’m so confident for next season. I like to race but I also like to win. If you don’t have a competitive bike you can’t win.”

On the differences between a factory and satellite bike, “For sure the bike is different. For me I’m very impressed of the engine, the character of the engine, the power of the engine. It’s incredible how different this bike is from the bike of last year that I’m using. The difference is quite big.”

It was the ex-125cc World Champion’s best result in MotoGP since April.

Bautista’s interview confirmed that there are tiers in MotoGP.

Compared to factory machines such as those ridden by Dovizioso, Lorenzo, Marquez, Pedrosa, Rossi and Vinalez, the bikes run by satellite teams are “customer” bikes. Race teams – the “customers” – rent the bikes from manufacturers. These bikes are usually those with the previous year’s specs. Even then, they are not 100% identical to the factory bikes.

As such, the title had always come down the fight among the factory boys while other riders play the role of grid fillers.

This isn’t a good thing as so many great talents find themselves languishing on uncompetitive bikes down the field. While this happening, attention and more importantly, screen time is given to the top runners. How many times have we seen Hafizh Syahrin in action this season? Unless he crashed, notwithstanding.

MotoGP: Hafizh Syahrin Scores Points in Thailand

The disparity between full-factory and satellite teams used to be very small in the 70’s and 80’s but it has grown larger ever since. It has closed somewhat in the last few seasons since the introduction of the spec-ECU and Michelin tyres in 2016. We witnessed Johann Zarco and Danilo Petrucci challenging for the lead on many occasions last year, but it was an all-out fight among the factory Honda, Ducati, Yamaha (and Suzuki to a lesser extent) again this season.

This is the exact reason why Herve Poncharal decided to move his Tech 3 camp to KTM next year. Being supplied sub-par bikes for past seasons had left him wishing for better results. But there’s no way out since Yamaha will not supply him the latest YZR-M1.

Tech 3 Parting with Yamaha in 2019

So, before some of you start spouting wild accusations like, “Mat Sallehs will only favour Mat Sallehs and push Hafizh Syahrin down because he’s Malay,” (oh yes, someone did post that in Facebook) remember Bautista’s result at Philip Island.

SIC organises ‘Teh Tarik Session’ with MotoGP riders!

Sepang International Circuit (SIC) organised a very special ‘Teh Tarik Session’ with a number of MotoGP riders.
The event was held at NZ Curry House with special appearances by Ayumu Sasaki, Adam Norrodin, Niki Tuuli, Khairul Idham Pawi, Hafizh Syahrin, and Danilo Petrucci.
SIC also unveiled the official trophies that will be presented to the race winners on Sunday.

It’s MotoGP week here in Malaysia and as we head towards the grand weekend of the 2018 Shell Malaysia MotoGP championship round, the good folks from SIC (Sepang International Circuit) organised a very special ‘Teh Tarik Session’ with the national MotoGP riders and a very special appearance from Alma Pramac Racing (and future Ducati factory rider), Danilo Petrucci. (more…)

Shell Malaysia brings Jorge Lorenzo to the fans!

Shell Malaysia organised a very special meet & greet session with Ducati MotoGP rider, Jorge Lorenzo.
Fans of the rider congregated at Pavillion KL.
The event was held in conjunction with the 2018 Malaysia MotoGP round happening this weekend (2-4 November 2018)

In conjunction with the upcoming 2018 MotoGP World Championship happening at the Sepang International Circuit this weekend, Shell Malaysia organised a very special meet and greet session between Ducati factory team rider, Jorge Lorenzo, and his die hard fans. The event was held at Fountain Cafe, Pavillion KL.

Fans of the motorsports as well as the five-time world champion were able to meet their hero alongside Ducsti Corse Sporting Director & MotoGP Project Director, Paolo Ciabatti. Proud members of the Desmo Owners Club Malaysia (DOCM) also made their way to the event for even more festivities.

Items were signed by Jorge Lorenzo as well as pictures snapped with his loyal followers here in Malaysia but more importantly, this love and support will ultimately assist him in obtaining more positive results this weekend for the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix round at Sepang after missing the past two rounds due to injuries.

In conjunction with the 2018 Malaysian MotoGP round, Shell Malaysia will also be organising yet another Shell Advance Ride Thru service campaign all weekend long. With every purchase of Shell Advance lubricants, fellow bikers will receive a complimentary oil change and free parking! They will also debut their first-ever Shell mobile fuel dispenser for visitors to fuel up with some awesome Shell V-Power Racing.

To know more, head over to www.shell.com.my/motorists/motorsports/motogp.html for more details.

Bikesrepublic

Latest News

Alex Rins and Suzuki were the fastest after FP2 on Friday.

The great result came about despite Rins’s bike caught fire in the pitlane yesterday.

Both FP1 and FP2 were run in dry conditions.

Paul Teutel Sr. of Orange Country Choppers (OCC) will build bikes for retail sale.

The American Choppers star will team up with Bubba’s Exotic Motorsports.

The new range is called “Senior” which consists of two models.

Didi Resources Sdn. Bhd. has launched the new Aprilia 3S Centre in Malaysia.

Aprilia’s International Ambassador and multiple World Champion, Max Biaggi witnessed the launching.

The 3S centre includes showroom, service and spare parts facilities.

PICTURE GALLERY

Alvaro Bautista rode to a fourth-placed finished at last weekend’s Australian GP.

The result showed the large gap between factory and satellite bikes.

Dorna ought to stop the “tiered” system to avoid talented riders languishing down the order.

Sepang International Circuit (SIC) organised a very special ‘Teh Tarik Session’ with a number of MotoGP riders.

The event was held at NZ Curry House with special appearances by Ayumu Sasaki, Adam Norrodin, Niki Tuuli, Khairul Idham Pawi, Hafizh Syahrin, and Danilo Petrucci.

SIC also unveiled the official trophies that will be presented to the race winners on Sunday.

Shell Malaysia organised a very special meet & greet session with Ducati MotoGP rider, Jorge Lorenzo.

Fans of the rider congregated at Pavillion KL.

The event was held in conjunction with the 2018 Malaysia MotoGP round happening this weekend (2-4 November 2018)

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