Monday, October 31, 2011
Race - selected team & driver quotes
Wey Monster Cup Recap and 2012 Pro Taper Testing
Pro Taper Press Release
Please post the below video in the news section of your website. Further below you can also download an image or the Pro Taper logo to associate with this video.
YouTube Link
.mp4 Download
View on Pro Taper's website
To keep up on all things Pro Taper:
protaper.com
twitter.com/ProTaper
facebookcom/protaperfans
About Pro Taper:
Founded in 1991, Pro Taper revolutionized the motorcycle industry with the introduction of the 1 1/8" Taperwall handlebar. Since it's inception Pro Taper has set the standard in which all other motorcycle handlebars are measured against.
Pro Taper is constantly evolving and pushing innovation to the next level. Now offering a full line of quality product that includes everything from chains and sprockets to billet triple clamps and footpegs. Year after year Pro Taper continues to dominate the off-road motorcycle industry.
The confidence instilled by Factory Race Teams, such as Rockstar Makita Suzuki and AmPro Yamaha, bleeds all the way down to weekend warriors looking for the highest performing and longest lasting products on the market. Pro Taper stands for unsurpassed quality and a perpetual commitment to excellence.
Pro Taper
Take Control
Hamlin has successful knee surgery
AXO America is Now Accepting Resumes for Rider Support 2012 Season
AXO America understands what riders go through on a daily basis trying to balance school, work and their passion for riding. We know this is no easy task.
Santa Clarita, CA - October 27th 2012
AXO America is now accepting resumes for rider support 2012 season.
Photo Gallery: AXO America is Now Accepting Resumes for Rider Support 2012 Season - Sport Rider Magazine
Sunday, October 30, 2011
The Latest on Larry Pearson
Russian wins roulette
Regan Smith Wins the Southern 500
DTM steps into new era (and maybe America) as new racers debut at Hockenheim
Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Racing
DTM is one of Germany's best-kept secrets. The series features (ostensibly) production-based touring cars piloted by a mix of up-and-coming talents and retired Formula One drivers around some of Europe's finest racing circuits. But the series won't be a secret for long as a number of developments aim to up its profile.
First of all, with the 2011 season now complete, the German touring car championship is about to switch to a new formula that will see a new generation of racing coupes replace the older sedans. The new crop just made their track debut this weekend at Hockenheim for the DTM season finale, and we've put together a little gallery of high-res images for you to check out.
The 2012 field is also growing thanks to the arrival of BMW, which is joining the series as of next season to take on Audi and Mercedes-Benz, which have been dueling it out mano-a-mano for the past few seasons. Having only shown the new M3 DTM in matte black until now, BMW has finally showcased its new racer in full regalia, packing the marque's signature striped white livery.
BMW is eager to leverage its new DTM program beyond Germany's borders. This year's calendar included races in Austria, Holland, England and Spain, in addition to those within Germany, and has in recent years raced in such locations as Italy, France, Belgium, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Turkey and even China. However, a closing gap in regulations between DTM and Japan's Super GT series could soon see the two competing on common fields.
More intriguing, however, is a development BMW is keen to pursue that would see DTM come to the United States. Touring car racing - as distinct from stock cars - is not very popular in America, and the organizers of the German series have been working at filling that gap by pairing an American version of the series as support races for series like NASCAR, Grand-Am or IndyCar. Sources indicate the move could happen as soon as 2013 - in other words, the racing season after next. Follow the jump for press releases from Audi and BMW on the track debuts of their new racers.
Continue reading DTM steps into new era (and maybe America) as new racers debut at Hockenheim
DTM steps into new era (and maybe America) as new racers debut at Hockenheim originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSaturday, October 29, 2011
Grosjean to drive in practice at final rounds | 2011 F1 season
F1 Rocks? Metallica concert cancelled
�It is most regrettable that we were forced to take such measures,� said Metallica
Chevy recalls a century of motorsports excellence
Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Chevrolet
General Motors is celebrating the Chevrolet Centennial this year - and treating us to some nice historical footage, like this three-minute video celebrating the Bowtie brand's motorsports heritage. While Chevy's racing involvement in recent years has been mostly focused on NASCAR and its Corvette Le Mans program, the marque enjoys a wealth of history in almost every racing series.
Among the treats in this promotional piece are a few seconds of Bruce Larson's USA-1 Camaro Funny Car and Jim Hall's famous Chaparral 2 sports car, vintage NASCAR action from the era in which the term "stock car" still meant something, and there's a mention of Juan Manuel Fangio's stint as a Chevy driver in 1940. Of course, patron saint of Chevy Racing, Dale Earnhardt makes an appearance, as well.
Although the video teases us with some cool old footage, it also relies on still photography and the "Ken Burns effect" - a lot. It would be great to see some more racing clips and less static shots of cars like the 1978 Indianapolis 500 Corvette Pace Car. In fact, we'd love to see GM commission a longer documentary about Chevrolet's racing history, one without as much heavy handed promotion of the company's current products. Check it out after the jump and decide for yourself.
Continue reading Chevy recalls a century of motorsports excellence
Chevy recalls a century of motorsports excellence originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFelipe Massa leads second practice in India | 2011 Indian GP second practice
Friday, October 28, 2011
FIA Institute selects 30 young drivers for academy shootout
The shortlist is made up of young talent from 26 different countries, including competitors from Australia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Denmark, India, Ireland, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, South Africa, UAE, UK and USA. Amongst the 30 are a number of event winners from the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, Intercontinental Rally Challenge and Formula Three championships, as well as drivers with Formula One and World Rally testing experience.
NASCAR?s own ?crashgate? without a Piquet?
MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli dies in race accident [w/video]
Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Honda, Motorcycle
Bad news, it seems, does come in threes, as we're grieved to report the passing of Marco Simoncelli. The MotoGP rider succumbed to injuries sustained this weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix, his death coming barely a week after those of Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon and Baja racer Rick Huseman.
A promising Italian rider, Simoncelli advanced just last year to the top-tier MotoGP series after making a name for himself in the feeder classes. He was a force to be reckoned with in the Italian Minimoto Championship in the late 90s, won the European championship (as well as several World Championship races) in the 125cc class for Aprilia and took the 250cc World Championship for Gilera in 2008. He advanced to the MotoGP series last season, riding for the Gresini Honda team, for whom he took a second-place finish just last week in Australia.
Disaster struck, however, on the second lap of the Malaysian Grand Prix today where he lost control of his Honda racing bike and was hit by fellow riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi as he slid across the track. He laid there motionless, his helmet having come off in the incident, until an ambulance brought him to the trackside infirmary where he was subsequently pronounced dead. He was 24.
The tragedy marks the first death in MotoGP since the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix where Daijiro Kato, also of the Gresini team, was killed. However Shoya Tomizawa was killed a little over a year ago in the Moto2 race at San Marino.
Our hearts go out to Simoncelli's family, friends and colleagues. Follow the jump to watch the incident unfold.
Continue reading MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli dies in race accident [w/video]
MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli dies in race accident [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Oct 2011 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsPractice One - Hamilton leads the way in India
Many simulations had predicted an ultimate lap time of 1m 27s, but after local heroes Karun Chandhok and Narain Karthikeyan had opened the bidding with 1m 52.148s and 1m 45.906s respectively, the best lap time fell progressively as the ever-present dust got blown away by the passage of the cars and the track slowly began to rubber in and get rid of some of its surface oils.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Imperious Vettel beats Hamilton
Formula One fraternity pays tribute to Wheldon
Although Wheldon, 33, never made it to Formula One, he did race with many of its current stars as he made his way through the motorsport ranks, en route to his two Indianapolis 500 wins and his 2005 IndyCar title
Maserati claims title in Superstars Series with Quattroporte Evo
Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Europe, Maserati, Racing
We'll forgive you if you haven't heard of the Superstars Series. It's only been around since 2004 (the International category since 2007) and all of the races take place in Europe - in fact over half took place this season in Italy. But similar to other national touring car championships - Germany's DTM, Japan's Super GT and Australia's V8 Supercars come to mind - the Superstars Series packs some serious racing machinery.
Take the Maserati Quattroporte EVO, for example. If that sounds badass to you, just look at the thing, because it is. It's based, of course, on the Trident marque's four-door model, which is already desirable enough on its own, but has been race prepped with an extreme wide-body kit and all the trimmings. It's the car with which Andrea Bertolini - a long-time Ferrari and Maserati factory driver who took the FIA GT1 championship in the MC12 he helped develop - and his Swiss Team just clinched the championship.
It's the first time that a Maserati has won the series title, previous champions having raced cars based on the BMW M3, Audi RS4 and Jaguar S-Type R. The formula calls for V8 engines, no turbos, based on four-seaters with two doors or four, and the rest of the field is made up of everything from the Chevy Lumina (a rebadged Holden) and Cadillac CTS-V to the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and Porsche Panamera S. All in all, ten marques are represented, but this year Maserati was crowned champion of them all. Check out the machine with which they did it in the high-res image gallery and the press release after the jump.
Continue reading Maserati claims title in Superstars Series with Quattroporte Evo
Maserati claims title in Superstars Series with Quattroporte Evo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsLorenzo Underwhelmed By Yamaha Engine Updates
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Melandri's new world begins
With Italian�Marco Melandri riding for the official BMW Motorrad Motorsport squad in 2012 alongside Leon Haslam he was given an early opportunity to the ride the S1000RR, and in fact got to ride two. There was the 2011 version, which started out with settings from Leon Haslam on it (because it was one of Leon's own machines), and then a 2012-based machine.
Melandri's ambitions for his first ride on the 2011 were modest, with the championship runner-up stating of his first experience on Haslam's machine, "My target was to understand if the feeling on the bike would be the same as it feels from outside. For sure it was a reference for them but my comments are the same. For sure compared to me Leon is different, sure, but I think the riding style is the main difference. I have been working more on riding position."
Melandri was up to a reasonable speed after only a short period of time on the S1000RR machinery. "I have been quite happy with the lap time today but I was thinking about lap times, so to make it without trying to find a lap time was a good feeling. Now we have to work to grow up."
Marco felt at home on the bike in some regards, but needs further modifications in other regards. "Mainly for me the handlebar position has to change because I am pretty small and they did not have handlebars small enough! Just to bring me closer, to change the angle. I did not touch any traction control. For me it was more important to work on myself and the bike."
Rain delay at Martinsville-UPDATE
The Cup race at Martinsville has been postponed due to rain and will be run tomorrow at 12:00PM EDT.
—————————————————–
There is a rain delay at Martinsville and the forecast does not look good for the rest of the day as more rain is expected. Stay tuned…
New 2012 Triumph model info released
A sneak preview of the 2012 Speed Triple R, Tiger Explorer, and Bonneville Steve McQueen edition before their official launch at the Milan Motorcycle Show in November
Speed Triple R
Triumph first dipped its toe in the “R” model pool with the Street Triple R and subsequently followed it up with the Daytona 675R, two models that have proved a resounding success. Half of Street Triple sales worldwide are R models and the same is true for the Daytona, meaning it was only a matter of time until the Speed Triple R emerged—so here it is.
Following the same pattern as the Daytona 675R, the Speed Triple R uses Öhlins’ NIX30 43mm forks and TTX36 shock to upgrade its suspension. However the naked bike also gets lightweight PVF five-spoke forged aluminum wheels and Brembo monobloc calipers. According to Triumph the wheels alone shed 3.8 pounds from the overall weight and insiders say the difference between the R and stock Speed Triple is like comparing the 2010 Speed Triple with the updated 2011 version…in other words, watch out!
Photo Gallery: New 2012 Triumph model info released - Sport Rider Magazine
Photo Gallery: New 2012 Triumph model info released - Sport Rider Magazine
2012 Yamaha YZF-R1 First Ride Review
The addition of a sophisticated traction control system takes Yamaha’s flagship to the next level
Back in the October 2011 issue of Sport Rider, SR senior editor Andrew Trevitt wrote a superb technical article on the increasingly rapid progress of traction control on motorcycles —via the patent applications filed by various OEMs that were unearthed from the vast labyrinth of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office archives. One of those patents was filed by engineers at Yamaha, describing a sophisticated traction control system that uses complex mathematical equations to help it control wheel slip. The fact that a bike resembling an R1 was used in many of the diagrams was pretty significant evidence that it was only a matter of time before Yamaha’s sporting flagship would soon be employing traction control.
Well, apparently we let the cat out of the bag, because that time is already here. As everyone basically knows by now, the biggest change noted for the new model is the addition of traction control. The unique firing order of the crossplane crankshaft used in the latest generation R1 has already made a name for itself as providing superior traction feel under hard acceleration—so would the addition of traction control provide additional benefits? A day spent riding at Southern California’s newly constructed 2.7-mile, 17-turn Chuckwalla Valley Raceway (as well as a short street ride into the San Jacinto mountain range overlooking the Palm Springs valley) during Yamaha’s recent U.S. press launch for the 2012 YZF-R1 held in Indian Wells, California, would surely provide the answer.
Photo Gallery: 2012 Yamaha YZF-R1 First Ride Review- Sport Rider Magazine
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Ducati Adventure: La Carrera Panamericana 2011
Ducati are set to run two Ducati Multistrada motorcycles in the historic “La Carrera Panamericana” car race, further proving the Italian manufacturer’s 4-bikes-in-1, all-terrain technology, while providing a two-wheeled analysis for event organizers.
Cupertino, CA (18 October 2011) - Ducati are set to run two Ducati Multistrada motorcycles in the historic “La Carrera Panamericana” car race, further proving the Italian manufacturer’s 4-bikes-in-1, all-terrain technology, while providing a two-wheeled analysis for event organizers. With a history that dates back to the 1950’s, La Carrera Panamericana is arguably the most unique, most challenging road race in the world. The event, setup in a stage rally format, takes drivers through the colonial heart of Mexico. Beginning in the city of Huatulco and running 1600 miles north to Zacatecas over 7 days, the race has historically offered car racers, expert and novice, an opportunity to experience the thrills of the original Pan Am at speeds pushing the cars and the drivers to their limit.
Photo Gallery: Ducati Adventure: La Carrera Panamericana 2011 - Sport Rider Magazine
AMA Welcomes AMA Visa Card by Capital One as Title Sponsor AMA Legends & Champs
AMA Press Release
Oct. 20, 2011
High-resolution images from the 2010 AMA Legends & Champions Weekend can be downloaded from: http://gallery.americanmotorcyclist.com/Motorcycle-Hall-of-Fame
AMA welcomes AMA Visa Card by Capital One as title sponsor of AMA Legends & Champions Weekend
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is proud to announce that the AMA Visa(r) Card by Capital One(r) will be the title sponsor for the 2011 AMA Visa Card by Capital One Legends & Champions Weekend, Nov. 18-20, at the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, Nev.
"Earlier this year, Capital One joined with the AMA to offer our members exclusive access to various credit options and a rich rewards program," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "We're pleased that this valued partner has extended our relationship by joining us as the title sponsor for the AMA Visa Card Legends & Champions Weekend. Together, we'll shine the spotlight on the incredible people of motorcycling's past, present and future during this memorable three-day event."
The weekend kicks off on Friday, Nov. 18, with the AMA Visa Card by Capital One Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by KTM. The ceremony will officially welcome five legends to the Hall of Fame. The class of 2011 includes longtime motocross promoter Stu Peters, noted magazine editor Phil Schilling, industry leader Fred Fox, roadracing champion Doug Polen and motorcycling pioneer Norbert Schickel.
In addition to the class of 2011, the induction ceremony will honor the careers of two existing Hall of Fame Legends: world champion icons Roger DeCoster and Kenny Roberts.
"Motorcyclists are among the most passionate enthusiasts you'll find, and we're excited to extend our partnership with the AMA to include title sponsorship of the AMA Visa Card by Capital One Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony," said Dan Baker, Vice President of U.S. Card Affinities at Capital One.
Following the induction of the class of 2011 on Friday, Nov. 18, the AMA Visa Card by Capital One Legends & Champions Weekend will continue on Saturday, Nov. 19, with the 2011 Motorcycle Hall of Fame Dave Mungenast Memorial Concours d'Elegance bike show. The show will feature some of the country's finest original and restored classic motorcycles.
Then, on Sunday, Nov. 20, the AMA honors the best riders in amateur racing and tomorrow's future stars at the 2011 AMA Visa Card by Capital One Racing Championship Banquet.
A number of the weekend attendees are also expected to attend the season finale of the AMA GEICO EnduroCross Series on Saturday evening at the Orleans Arena. Ticket information is available at www.EnduroCross.com.
For a complete schedule of the AMA Visa Card by Capital One Legends & Champions Weekend, including information about tickets and room accommodations, visit www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com/Events/LegendsAndChampions.
For more information about the AMA Visa Card and to apply, see www.AMAVisa.com.
Teresa Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt Incorporated Martin Truex Jr.
John Hopkins Withdraws from the Malaysian GP
Hamlin will need clearance from doctor to compete
Hamlin injured his left knee Jan. 22 while playing basketball, and had hoped to put off the surgery until after [...]
Monday, October 24, 2011
MotyDesigns.com 8 Cell Lightweight Motorcycle Battery
8 cell batteries are best suited for most ATV and motorcycle applications. Available with either standard posts or quick disconnect terminal.
8 cell batteries are best suited for most ATV and motorcycle applications. Available with either standard posts or quick disconnect terminal.
$150.00
Photo Gallery: MotyDesigns.com 8 Cell Lightweight Motorcycle Battery - Sport Rider Magazine
Riley-D\\\\\\\'Hondt Motorsports KEVIN WINDHAM RYAN VILLIPOTO
F1 to see 'new' Hamilton in 2012
Joe Gibbs Racing Aric Almirola Riley-D\\\\\\\'Hondt Motorsports
Katsuyuki Nakasuga to Replace Jorge Lorenzo at Sepang
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Red Bull aim to get second for Webber | 2011 F1 season
Aerostich RoadcrafterLight One-Piece Suit | SR Tested
At a glance, Aerostich’s new RoadcrafterLight one-piece suit looks strikingly simi- lar to the original Roadcrafter suit made famous for its innovative design that allows riders to gear up in just seconds.
At a glance, Aerostich’s new RoadcrafterLight one-piece suit looks strikingly similar to the original Roadcrafter suit made famous for its innovative design that allows riders to gear up in just seconds. Constructed from 200D Gore-Tex high tenacity nylon, the company’s new suit is actually quite different though, and features a number of other improvements, including a new cut, completely waterproof zippers, a snap-down collar and adjustable impact pad positions.
Photo Gallery: Aerostich RoadcrafterLight One-Piece Suit - Sport Rider Magazine
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Yamaha YZF-R1 Crash Protection Parts, Full Spectrum Battery and Chassis Upgrades | Literbike Mods Part 3
“Now we just have to scrounge up some more modifications so we can keep this bike in the test fleet for a while,” remarked the ever-scheming Trevitt as he concluded part one of our Yamaha YZF-R1 literbike mods build (May ’11).
In our ongoing pursuit to extract as much performance out of our Yamaha YZF-R1 and ZX-10R test bikes as possible, we delve deep into our parts bin and find some impressive results. In this installment, we test K-Tech suspension components, GB Racing engine guards and a Full Spectrum battery on the R1, plus an ECUnleashed reflashed ECU, Attack Performance rearsets and an Akrapovic exhaust on the ZX-10R.
Photo Gallery: Yamaha YZF-R1 Crash Protection Parts, Full Spectrum Battery and Chassis Upgrades - Sport Rider Magazine
Photo Gallery: Yamaha YZF-R1 Crash Protection Parts, Full Spectrum Battery and Chassis Upgrades - Sport Rider Magazine
Rennsport Reunion IV: 350 Porsches take to the track
Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Porsche, Racing
Porsche has a longer history of racing - and winning - at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca than perhaps any other car company. At the legendary track's very first race in October of 1957, a Porsche 550 RS Spyder took the overall win of the SCCA National Laguna Seca Championship. Since then, dozens of Porsches have competed in and won races at the track, piloted by some of the most famous drivers in the world.
Porsche's racing history at Laguna Seca is perhaps why the fourth edition of the Rennsport Reunion is the best yet. The five historic racing classes are packed with legendary race cars and drivers. Watching a trio of 935s spiral through the corkscrew makes you feel like you've gone back in time to the 1970s, or watching a 962 blast down the front straight transports you directly to the 1980s.
There were plenty of examples of Porsche's modern race car on track at Rennsport, as well. Dozens of cars competed in the Cayman Interseries, 911 Invitational, 911 Cup and PCA races, and Porsche's recently retired racing prototype, the RS Spyder, was also on track. The RS Spyder has a history at Laguna Seca as well, winning the LMP2 class in its debut at the track in 2005.
Whether it's the vintage racers of the 1950s or '60s, the flamboyant 935s and prototypes of the 1970s and '80s, or the modern race cars, there was something for every Porsche fan at Rennsport IV. Click through our gallery above to see a sample of what was on track at Laguna Seca this past weekend.
Rennsport Reunion IV: 350 Porsches take to the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsCheca remains with Althea Racing for 2012
The Althea Racing Team is already looking to the future, with the announcement of its plans for the 2012 racing season. As was logical, after Carlos Checa's stunning season, which saw him take the 2011 Superbike title, the renewal with Team Althea Racing has been officially confirmed and will allow the Spanish Champion to stay with the team that has helped him reach the top step of the podium on 15 occasions this season. Team Althea Racing, managed by Genesio Bevilacqua, will continue to work with Checa in 2012 and, on board his Ducati 1198, he will defend his World Championship title.
Checa will also have a 'new' team-mate in the form of Davide Giugliano. This season Giugliano earned the title of Superstock 1000 Champion with Althea Racing. An extremely interesting opportunity that will see the two champions in the same box, as they both participate in the 2012 World Superbike Championship. Both the team and the riders are very pleased with the decision that has been reached and now attention turns to the organisation of the winter testing programme and planning for 2012.
Genesio Bevilacqua, General Manager of Althea Racing: 'We have finally reached an agreement with Ducati that was very important for the continuation of our long term plans. Things took a little longer than expected but fortunately we have resolved these problems in a very positive way, with the help of Ducati and the good sense of all involved. I hope this announcement clears up any doubts as I know some wrong information has come out in the press in recent days. Everything is now in place and to be able to announce this at the end of the final race of the 2011 season allowed us to conclude an extremely memorable season, for us, for Ducati and for Carlos in the best possible way. Now what we must do is continue to fight as we have this year, even more so as we will surely be penalized as far as weight on our bike is concerned. We are extremely confident: Carlos and Davide are very determined, the team is more united than ever before and we are sure we can provide the riders with all necessary support. Particular thanks goes to Claudio Domenicali, and to Ducati for deciding to support our team in a difficult period such as this. We will do our best to repay this trust, as we have done this season, as we strive to repeat the kind of success that sacrifice and passion have allowed us to achieve this year.'
Busch and Harvick Fined and Put on Probation
Friday, October 21, 2011
Rennsport Reunion IV: 350 Porsches take to the track
Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Porsche, Racing
Porsche has a longer history of racing - and winning - at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca than perhaps any other car company. At the legendary track's very first race in October of 1957, a Porsche 550 RS Spyder took the overall win of the SCCA National Laguna Seca Championship. Since then, dozens of Porsches have competed in and won races at the track, piloted by some of the most famous drivers in the world.
Porsche's racing history at Laguna Seca is perhaps why the fourth edition of the Rennsport Reunion is the best yet. The five historic racing classes are packed with legendary race cars and drivers. Watching a trio of 935s spiral through the corkscrew makes you feel like you've gone back in time to the 1970s, or watching a 962 blast down the front straight transports you directly to the 1980s.
There were plenty of examples of Porsche's modern race car on track at Rennsport, as well. Dozens of cars competed in the Cayman Interseries, 911 Invitational, 911 Cup and PCA races, and Porsche's recently retired racing prototype, the RS Spyder, was also on track. The RS Spyder has a history at Laguna Seca as well, winning the LMP2 class in its debut at the track in 2005.
Whether it's the vintage racers of the 1950s or '60s, the flamboyant 935s and prototypes of the 1970s and '80s, or the modern race cars, there was something for every Porsche fan at Rennsport IV. Click through our gallery above to see a sample of what was on track at Laguna Seca this past weekend.
Rennsport Reunion IV: 350 Porsches take to the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsLorenzo Underwhelmed By Yamaha Engine Updates
Korean Grand Prix as it happened
Jorge Lorenzo Has Successful Finger Surgery ? Will Miss Malaysian GP, Maybe Valencia
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Sauter gets in Hornaday?s face after Truck race
Sauter was angry because Hornaday had turned him with 27 laps remaining. After the race, Sauter did not return to his pit stall as [...]
Surfinsoljah leads Korean GP Predictions | Predictions Championship
Lotus aims to get 'em young with new karting program
Filed under: Motorsports, Lotus
Sports recruiting keeps starting at younger and younger ages. While professional-league scouts used to hit the college games, these days they're scoping out the high school fields. And not just for graduating seniors, either. That's certainly the case (minus the school teams) in professional motorsports, where the drivers are getting younger and younger, too.
These days, major teams are securing future talents at earlier stages than ever, with many F1 constructors - like Renault, Red Bull and Ferrari - operating their own (often extensive) young driver development programs. But while most look to feeder series like Formula BMW or GP2, Lotus has just staked its claim at an even earlier stage with its new karting program.
In partnership with Jefra Racing of Treviso, Italy, the Lotus Racing Karts program is the first factory-backed team in the CIK-FIA World Karting Championship - a common starting point for aspiring young racers. For the 2012 season it will field two karts - a Colin C30 and a Jimmy C32 - in the KF and KZ categories, and will come complete (as pictured above) with the trademark JPS-inspired black and gold livery as featured on the Lotus Renault GP cars and the latest special edition Evora.
The karting program is just the latest - and earliest - step in the rapidly expanding Lotus motorsport division that has already taken Hethel into such series as Formula One, GP2, GP3, IndyCar and various classes of GT racing. Details in the press release after the jump.
Continue reading Lotus aims to get 'em young with new karting program
Lotus aims to get 'em young with new karting program originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsLorenzo Underwhelmed By Yamaha Engine Updates
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
2011 World Superbike Portimao race report—Checa and Melandri split wins
Season finale also sees Troy Corser announcing retirement; dissolution of Yamaha WSBK team sees Melandri to BMW, Laverty to Aprilia for 2012
Althea Racing Ducati’s Carlos Checa and Yamaha World Superbike’s Marco Melandri split wins in the WSBK season finale at Portimao, Portugal. Checa surged past race leader Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing Ducati’s Sylvain Guintoli with three laps to go and quickly pulled away to easily win Race One with several seconds in hand. Race Two saw Yamaha’s Eugene Laverty lead for the majority of the race until being passed by teammate Melandri with four laps to go, the pair giving the Yamaha World Superbike team—which will now be disbanded, after last-ditch attempts to find a sponsor to keep it going failed—a one-two finish sendoff.
Overshadowing the racing action were the usual seat changes in the World Superbike grid. Melandri will be moving to the factory BMW squad next year, with Laverty announcing that he will be riding a factory Aprilia in 2012. Reports from Europe are signaling that Laverty will not be in the Alitalia squad with Max Biaggi, but most likely in the satellite Pata Racing Aprilia team with full factory support. Current San Carlo Honda Gresini MotoGP rider Hiroshi Aoyama will be moving to the Castrol Honda WSBK squad next year, and it seems likely that LCR Honda MotoGP rider Toni Elias will also find a seat somewhere in World Superbike after a dismal 2012 season. Michel Fabrizio is leaving the Alstare Suzuki squad (who will most likely be switching to another brand with Suzuki not offering any support for next year) to partner Ayrton Badovini in the BMW Italia team.
Former AMA and World Superbike champion Troy Corser announced his retirement on Sunday, after a 16-year career in WSBK (minus an aborted 500GP campaign in 1997).
Rumors were also rampant that newly crowned World Superbike champion Checa was on the verge of signing a lucrative contract with the satellite BMW Italia team for 2012, but Ducati has reportedly stepped in with a contract offer with Althea Racing. According to Italian racing website gpone.com, Checa noted in a pre-Portimao interview some concern that his manager had not heard from Ducati or Althea Racing about future plans after clinching the title at Magny-Cours, France. Upon hearing this, the BMW Italia team quickly dangled a very lucrative contract in front of the Spaniard, hoping to entice him to form a very formidable lineup with Melandri, Leon Haslam, and Ayrton Badovini. However, gpone.com is now reporting that Ducati racing boss Claudio Domenicali called Checa to inform him that a program with Althea Racing has been proposed, with only details to be firmed up, thus clearing the way for the aforementioned Fabrizio/BMW Italia move.
Photo Gallery: 2011 World Superbike Portimao race report—Checa and Melandri split wins - Sport Rider Magazine
Another Defence of Indy Fails To Make A Case
Vettel knows records are on the horizon, but he?s chill, man
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Justin Soule’ Finishes On the Box at Racetown 395
Monster Energy Kawasaki Press Release
Irvine, Calif. (October 17, 2011) – Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Justin Soule’ grabbed a spot on the podium at Round 9 of the World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS) in Adelanto, Calif., with a 4-4 moto result. Destry Abbott finished eighth overall with a 5-10 result. Taylor Robert was not feeling well enough to compete in Adelanto and spent the weekend under medical supervision. Kawasaki-privateer Bobby Garrison took the runner-up spot on the podium with a 2-2 moto finish. Kawasaki KX™450F rider Justin Seeds stole the win in the Pro 2 class to secure the championship one round early.
Consistent Finisher
On Saturday, Soule’ got a good start and maintained a consistent pace to finish fourth, despite getting tangled up with another rider in the first lap. In the second moto Soule’ rode smooth, kept it on two-wheels, and finished fourth. His consistent riding over the weekend resulted in a third-place finish.
“The Saturday moto was kind of rough,” said Soule’. “I got a good start and entered the off-road section of the course in third. I came into a really silty sand wash on the gas and Kurt (Caselli) went down right in front of me. I had about three-quarters throttle in my hand and didn’t see his bike until the last second because of the dust. I went over the bars and hit the ground pretty hard. Luckily my KX450F was still running so I got up really fast and got out of there quick so I didn’t get hit too. When you hit the ground like that and it really takes the wind out of your sails. I had a tough time fighting off the heat and fatigue after that, but managed to hold my ground to finish fourth. I felt much better on the bike Sunday even though my result was the same. I had my suspension set much softer and it worked out better than I expected. Overall, I’m happy to finish on the podium and I want to continue to build on this. I know I’m fast enough and confident that I can run the pace necessary to win.”
Back On the Horse
After grabbing a podium at the AMA National Hare & Hound in Johnson Valley, Calif., last weekend, Abbott came to Adelanto prepared to do battle. In the first moto, Abbott battled from a mid-pack start to finish fifth. On Sunday, he got a good start, but lost his position after a crash and finished 10th. Abbott’s performance over the weekend earned him eighth overall.
“My goal was to finish top-five,” said Abbott. “On Saturday, I got a decent start and left the motocross section in seventh. I made an aggressive pass on sixth which worked out. After Caselli went down I moved into fifth and continued to maintain a fast pace so no one would get around me. I ended up with fifth, so I was pretty happy with the result. It was extremely hot out there and I got a little dehydrated. I was super happy with the setup on my KX450F, the suspension was dialed-in perfect, which was especially important for this course. The course was very challenging and didn’t have anywhere to relax, you had to stand up and work the entire time. On Sunday, I got a good start and was fourth going into the off-road section. For the first three laps I kept a good pace and stayed in fifth, but I went down in a corner and by the time I got the bike restarted I lost a few spots. I finished 10th and was a little bummed on the result, especially after my top-five finish on Saturday. I’m really looking forward to the final round of the WORCS at Speedworld, which is only 20 minutes from my house.”
Impressive Performance
Kawasaki-privateer Garrison proved his mettle yet again in the WORCS, piloting his 2012 KX450F to second both days of the weekend. Garrison finished second overall and moved into third in the points.
Pro 2 Champion
Over the course of the season, Kawasaki rider Seeds has finished on the podium seven of nine rounds. At Racetown 395, Seeds clinched the Pro 2 championship after successfully passing the leader in the final lap of the race to take the checkers.
Nearing the Season’s End
Next weekend, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s off-road team heads to Boise, Idaho, for the penultimate round of the AMA EnduroCross series. Soule’ will be looking to grab another EnduroCross podium and move up the leaderboard. Robert is waiting for medical professionals to clear him so he can get back on the track. Abbott will head to Lucerne, Calif., for the final round of the AMA National Hare and Hound series.
Results
World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS)
Racetown 395 – Adelanto, Calif.
October 15-16, 2011
Pro Class Overall Results – Round 9
1. Mike Brown, KTM, (1-1)
2. BOBBY GARRISON, KAWASAKI, (2-2)
3. JUSTIN SOULE’, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, (4-4)
4. GARY SUTHERLIN, KAWASAKI, (3-6)
5. Kurt Caselli, KTM, (8-3)
6. ROBBY BELL, KAWASAKI, (6-5)
7. Ryan Abbatoye, KTM, (7-7)
8. DESTRY ABBOTT, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, (5-10)
9. Dustin Nelson, Yamaha, (9-8)
10. RYAN REINA, KAWASAKI, (12-11)
Pro Class Points Standings
1. Kurt Caselli, KTM, 387
2. Mike Brown, KTM, 346
3. BOBBY GARRISON, KAWASAKI, 334
4. TAYLOR ROBERT, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 326
5. JUSTIN SOULE’, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 296
6. ROBBY BELL, KAWASAKI, 252
7. GARY SUTHERLIN, KAWASAKI, 200
8. DESTRY ABBOTT, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 193
9. Ryan Abbatoye, KTM, 183
10. BOBBY BONDS, KAWASAKI, 161