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Suter withdraws from Moto2

Famed Swiss-based race bike builder Suter Racing officially announced its withdrawal from the World Moto2 championship via its official Facebook page recently.

In its announcement, the firm confirmed that it would not be applying for a Moto2 constructor’s license for 2016.

For 2016, the firm did announce that all of its efforts would be concentrated on the development of the Mahindra Moto3 machine whilst supplying a range of parts for various outfits and factories in said junior class.

Suter’s withdrawal was a move many had expected after the firm declined to reveal as to how many bikes it would have supplied in the Moto2 class for 2016. This year saw just two bikes line up the Moto2 grid in the Qatar season-opener.

Suter has had several high points in the class starting with its three consecutive constructors’ titles won in 2010, 2011 and 2012, followed by one riders’ title claimed by Marc Mar quez in 2012. Despite this and several strong performances in 2014, the switch to Kalex bikes en masse by most teams was inevitable, leading to Suter’s decline and eventual resignation from the Moto2 class next year.

2016 will see just three constructors remain in Moto2, with the bulk of it comprised of Kalex bikes (26 entries in total) other alongside independent constructors Tech 3 and Speed Up.

Suter’s exit is in part down to its performance, however this is also a strong sign of the strong conservatism reigning within the paddock. It is more or less a clear case of most teams seeing other teams winning and trying to copy their success by acquiring the same, of not similar, equipment.

Another interesting thing to note here is how exactly will organisers and commercial rights holders Dorna intend to resolve the situation since the Moto2 class was conceived with the creation of a diverse environment in mind. A good reminder of that was back in 2010 when the class was held for the first time and saw up to 14 constructors that entered and scored points.

Sources: Suter Racing Facebook via Asphaltandrubber

The stage is set for SAATC 2016

The 2016 schedule for the third edition of the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup has been revealed, featuring 12 races.

Even though the cup is only two years old, it has already produced a world championship rider – Adam Norrodin.

2016 will once again see the championship contested over six rounds in five different countries each round hosting two races. Sepang will see the season kick off with two days of testing in February before the Cup heads to Thailand to race alongside the WSBK Championship.

Qatar will host races three and four from March, the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup racing alongside the MotoGP World Championship. Mid-May will see the Cup riders return to Sepang for their first races at the Malaysian circuit, once again alongside the WSBK Championship before heading to the Zhuhai circuit in China. This race will run with the highly popular Pan Delta event.

The final two rounds of the 2016 Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup season will see the youngsters follow the MotoGP riders to Motegi and Sepang in October for last four races. 12 races and ample practice time offer riders a chance to learn the tracks and continue to improve their race craft.

The riders who will be participating in the 2016 Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup are:

Tom Stewart William Edwards (Australia)
Ahamed Kadai Yaseen (India)
Irfan Aradiansyah (Indonesia)
Dwiki Hardhiana Suparta (Indonesia)
Faldhan Novayaser Mardani (Indonesia)
Alif Akbar Utama (Indonesia)
Basyiruddin Samhan Mashuri (Indonesia)
Riku Sugawara (Japan)
Yuki Kunii (Japan)
Shogo Kawasaki (Japan)
Muhammad Izam Ikmal (Malaysia)
Muhammad Khairul Ikhwan Bin Ajis (Malaysia)
Amirul Hakim Bin Mohd Rizal (Malaysia)

2016 SAATC Race Calendar:

Date	Event Type	Coinciding Event	Circuit	Country
9^th – 10^th February	Test	None	Sepang	Malaysia
11^th – 13^th March	Races 1&2	WSBK Thailand	Buriram	Thailand
17^th – 20^th March	Races 3&4	MotoGP Qatar	Losail	Qatar
13^th – 15^th May	Races 5&6	WSBK Malaysia	Sepang	Malaysia
16^th – 19^th September	Races 7&8	Pan Delta	Zhuhai	China
14^th – 16^th October	Races 9&10	MotoGP Japan	Motegi	Japan
28^th – 30^th October	Races 11&12	MotoGP Malaysia	Sepang	Malaysia

EICMA 2015 IN 70 PICTURES

We were at EICMA 2015, and this are our favourite moments from the biggest motorcycle on earth. We will be there again next year, we suggest you do too.

(more…)

McGuinness and Cummins to remain with Honda

23-time Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness and Manxman Conor Cummins announced yesterday that they will remain with the Honda Racing squad for the 2016 road-racing season.

Having won the Senior TT category this year, McGuinness said that he aims to maintain the form this year as well. Meanwhile, Cummins, who also had a strong year with the squad culminating in a pair of superbike second places at the Ulster Grand Prix, says that there’s still room for improvement.

Speaking at the Motorcycle Live event, the duo said that besides the Isle of Man TT, they will also be participating in the North West 200 and Macau Grand Prix. Cummins on the other hand, will also be racing at the Ulster Grand Prix.

“2015 was a mixed season for me, I didn’t really get the results I wanted at the North West or the TT, but it all came together at the Ulster and leaving with two second-places was great. The Fireblade is a great machine and I’m so happy to be back with Honda Racing again for now my third year,” said Cummins.

According to Honda Racing Team, the ‘Morecambe Missile’ and the ‘Ramsey Rocket’ will participate in the Superbike classes at the North West 200 and also the Superbike and Senior races at the Isle of Man TT aboard the proven Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP. Cummins will also take part in the 2016 Ulster GP and both riders are scheduled to race at Macau later in the year

Sights & Sounds from the 2015 Malaysia 2Wheels Festival

The Malaysia 2Wheels Festival returns for its third instalment this weekend.

Organised and launched by WSF Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd back in September, this year’s running set out with several missions at hand whilst tying itself up with the monthly KL Car-Free Morning initiative.

The event this year is supported by several key partners including government bodies such as Tourism Malaysia, the Ministry of Youth & Sports (KBS), the Department of Road Safety (JKJR), the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), as well as the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and its youth squad called the ‘Skuad Muda JPJ Malaysia’.

The event is split into two areas of its venue, which is the CIDB Convention Centre, with one part held outdoors and the other being indoors.

A tour of the indoor section reveals the presence of several manufacturers and their key dealer representatives. Amongst them include big names such as Moto Guzzi Malaysia,BMW Motorrad Malaysia, Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia via autohrised distributors Fast Bikes Sdn Bhd, the newly consolidated KTM Malaysia represented by dealer Kamalia Motoworld Sdn Bhd, as well as Kawasaki Motors Malaysia Sdn Bhd (KMMSB) represented by its super dealer Wilhin Motor (M) Sdn Bhd.

Also present here were several OEM brands and representatives. Leading this pack were the UK’s K-Tech suspension brand and its local distributor Kratos Motorsports. The specialist distributor is holding a special sale that sees all K-Tech products it carries enjoying a 10% discount throughout the festival’s duration, so for those in search for the optimum suspension setup for your bikes, this could be a good time indeed.

(Read more about K-Tech in our feature here)

Moving along outside, there were several smaller vendors present here alongside a vast line up of F&B stalls too. However, all eyes were on the event’s main draw for Saturday, that being its Malaysia Book of Records attempt at organising the largest gathering of Yamaha RX-Z motorcycles.

The move was meant to celebrate the model’s 30th anniversary in Malaysia, and the turn out was indeed impressive. Besides owners from the greater Klang Valley areas, much of the gathering saw the arrival many Yamaha RX-Z owners from out of state too.

Despite the rainy season getting the best of most, the gathering was indeed a success as it charted a record entry with a total of 2,277 Yamaha RX-Zs in the gathering, securing its spot in the record books in the process too.

For those wanting to attend, the 2015 Malaysia 2Wheels Festival is happening until Sunday (tomorrow). Directions to the CIDB Convention Centre can be obtained in the map we’ve attached below.

2015 Malaysia 2Wheels Festival (Saturday)

LVMH rumoured to acquire Deus Ex Machina

With its 10th anniversary fast approaching, the hip and cool custom motorcycle brand Deus Ex Machina has made a significant mark in the two-wheeled scene thanks to its visionary founder, Dare Jennings.

(Image source: Airows)

Today, the Deus Ex Machina brand’s works at building custom bikes and its line of bike-themed and surf-inspired fashion apparels are highly sought after worldwide, resulting in the opening of the brand’s destination stores in Sydney, Bali, Japan, Los Angeles, and Milan.

(Image source: Airows)

With that in mind, it is easy to understand why Europe’s largest luxury brand conglomerate, LVMH SE (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), has been rumoured to be in talks with Jennings in acquiring the chic and cool brand. Credible sources online are reporting that LVMH, via its private equity arm called L-Capital, are already in talks with Jennings to purchase the brand.

According to 65-year-old Jennings, Deus Ex Machina presently generates AUS$25 million annually in revenue, making worth roughly the same amount in the investors market.

(Image source: Airows)

It is widely presumed that whoever buys the Deux Ex Machina brand will likely expand its portfolio beyond its current chain of five stores with a focus on artisanal motorcycle enthusiasts. How this will actually pan out is something that only time will tell.

If this deal is successful, Deus Ex Machina will join a prestigious list of luxury brands owned by the LVMH consortium that includes Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Henessey, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, TAG Heur and Bvlgari.

Sources: Financial Review & AutoEvolution via Asphaltandrubber