DUCATI TEAM PREPARES FOR JAPANESE GP MOTEGI 2011

The Ducati Team is headed for the Japanese Grand Prix, which will take place on Sunday, 2 October, following a postponement due to the terrible earthquake that struck the country on March 11.

A stop-and-go track with a predominance of slow corners that are interspersed with medium-length straightaways, the Twin Ring Motegi has played host to four Ducati Team wins and one additional podium.

Valentino Rossi has posted six podium finishes at the track, including last year’s third place following a tight battle with Jorge Lorenzo, while Nicky Hayden doesn’t count the Japanese circuit among his favorites.

Starting on Friday morning, the two riders will work to refine the setup of the GP11.1, with hopes that the weather—the forecast for which is currently uncertain—allows them to take full advantage of the sessions.

VALENTINO ROSSI:

“I had a nice race last year at Motegi, despite having a painful shoulder. I had a nice duel with Lorenzo, and I finished on the podium. The Ducati won last year and has also gone well there in the past, so we’ll see if we can do any better than we have at the recent races. It’s true that we’re having to work very hard, but we always approach every Grand Prix with the goal of doing better. We’ll try hard this Sunday as well, working on the track with what we have available at this time, while also simultaneously focusing on the future.”

NICKY HAYDEN:

MOTEGI CIRCUIT RECORDS

“I’ve got a lot of fans in Japan, and there are a lot of people who love motorcycles. It would be nice to put on a good show for them, as they’ve certainly had a hard time this year. The radiation situation seems to be under control, so earthquakes are the only concern. Hopefully we can have a good race. Motegi has probably been my worst track since I’ve been with Ducati, as I’ve struggled to get turned in those hairpin corners and get out strong. I’m not expecting an easy weekend, but Ducati is really working hard to give us options and to find the best direction for the future. It’s great to see them putting in so much effort, and although we’re not seeing immediate results, we’re learning a lot and getting a bunch of data that’s going to be a big help in the long term.”(Ducati.com)

Circuit Record: Casey Stoner  (Ducati – 2008), 1:47.091 – 161.391  Km/h
Best Pole: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha – 2008), 1:45.543 – 163.758 Km/h
Circuit Length: 4.801 km2011 MotoGP Race: 24 laps (115.224 km)
2011 MotoGP Schedule: 3:00 p.m. Local Time
2010 PODIUM: 1st Casey Stoner, 2nd Andrea Dovizioso, 3rd Valentino Rossi
2010 POLE: Andrea Dovizioso (Honda – 2010 ), 1:47.001 – 161.527 km/h 

2012 MotoGP calendar released

A provisional calendar for the 2012 FIM MotoGP World Championship has been released by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme.

A provisional calendar for the 2012 FIM MotoGP World Championship has been released today, and the schedule is as follows:


Date, Grand Prix - Circuit
15 April, Qatar* - Doha/Losail
29 April, Spain (STC) - Jerez de la Frontera
6 May, Portugal (STC) - Estoril
20 May, France - Le Mans
3 June, Catalunya - Catalunya
17 June, Great Britain - Silverstone
30 June, Netherlands** - Assen
8 July, Germany (STC) - TBC
15 July, Italy - Mugello
29 July, United States*** - Laguna Seca
19 August, Indianapolis - Indianapolis
26 August, Czech Rep. - Brno
16 September, San Marino & Riviera di Rimini - Misano
30 September, Aragon - Motorland
14 October, Japan - Motegi
21 October, Malaysia - Sepang
28 October, Australia - Phillip Island
11 November, Valencia - Ricardo Tormo – Valencia


* Evening Race
** Saturday Race
*** Only MotoGP class
STC (Subject to the contract)
TBC (To be confirmed)

Supermoto: Portuguese GP

The Portuguese kart circuit of Portimão, which lies right at the side of the Superbike World Championship legendary venue, opened its gates to welcome the SuperMoto paddock for the fifth seasonal appointment: the Grand Prix of Portugal. Morale is really high among riders and Teams as this is the very first time they play in Portugal and their impression of the location is nothing but excellent.

In the S1 category Adrien Chareyre’s Aprilia machinery led the way during today’s qualifying so thanks to the time of 1:25.958 the Frenchman set a new SuperMoto circuit record. The first day of action at the International Circuit of Algarve also saw Thomas Chareyre, Ivan Lazzarini and Mauno Hermunen clinching respectively the 2nd, 3rd and 4th fastest times.

Pavel Kejmar came to the fore in the Open class courtesy of his best time of 1:27.350 but even Teo Monticelli, Petr Vorlicek and Thomas Gory were quicker enough to finish behind the Czech leader in the time sheets and completed the top four.

S1

The Portimão venue is a real thrilling circuit where the bikes’ set-up is very important but at the same time each racer can make the difference while facing its twisting layout featured by many right hand corners. Due to its technical stamp, the Portuguese circuit that lies in the beautiful Algarve Region, allows each rider to express his riding style at maximum.

Despite Superiders were on their first visit to the track they enjoyed the discovery of this new location and Fast Wheels ASD Adrien Chareyre stamped his authority in today’s qualifying session through the time of 1:25.958.  Another man to watch during the time practice was the reigning World Champ Thomas Chareyre member of the TM Factory Racing Team, who powered to a time of 1 minute 25.970 seconds and finished in 2nd in front of HM Honda Racing and 2011 SuperMoto Italian Champion Ivan Lazzarini as well as Husqvarna Factory Mauno Hermunen, author of the 4th best time. Tomorrow, Superpole will be contended among these four riders who seem to be the most competitive here in Portugal so far.

SHR Racing Matthew Winstanley was constant with his Honda and followed the top racers to finish with a promising 5th place; it was a bright day for Honda motorcycles as TDS Faor Uros Nastran as well as SBD Union Bike Racing Giovanni Bussei, both of them using Honda bikes, reached the 6th and 7th positions. Suzuki Valenti Lux Performance Christian Ravaglia crashed throughout the session but without getting injured so on Sunday he will pay more attention and will take advantage from today’s 8th fastest time. The 9th and 10th positions went to KTM 747 Motorsport Alexis Marie Luce and Racing Team Pergetti Elia Sammartin. The latter was pretty satisfied at the end of the day, as he finally entered in the top ten after slightly missing it at the past GPs.

Marie Luce’s team mate Davide Gozzini and PMR H2O Thierry Van Den Bosch could not test the new Portuguese circuit as they are both recovering from two surgeries but will do their best to be in for the final round of the 2011 campaign to take place in Cahors, France, on the October 23rd weekend.

The fifth seasonal Grand Prix is a great chance for local rider Nuno Miguel Lopes Pinto of Flor Do Campo Motodreams Team to join Superiders and despite his off-color performance he will push harder during the race to recover.

Tomorrow everything will depend of the race riders will be in, only those who will try to get the best out of it will be on the podium.

S1 Qualifying top ten: 1. Adrien Chareyre (FRA, Aprilia), 1:25.958; 2. Thomas Chareyre (FRA, TM), +0:00.012; 3. Ivan Lazzarini (ITA, Honda), +0:00.331; 4. Mauno Hermunen (FIN, Husqvarna), +0:00.473; 5. Matthew Winstanley (GBR, Honda), +0:00.970; 6. Uros Nastran (SLO, Honda), +0:01.051; 7. Giovanni Bussei (ITA, Honda), +0:01.093; 8. Christian Ravaglia (ITA, Suzuki), +0:01.380; 9. Alexis Marie Luce (FRA, KTM), +0:01.420; 10. Elia Sammartin (ITA, Suzuki), +0:01.625

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WSBK 2011 ITALIA Imola - Superpole qualifying times

1. Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati 1098R 1.47.196
2. Jonathan Rea GBR Castrol Honda CBR1000RR 1.47.274
3. Noriyuki Haga JPN PATA Aprilia RSV-4 1.47.442s
4. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1.47.468
5. Eugene Laverty IRL Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 1.47.929
6. Leon Haslam GBR BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1.48.081
7. Ayrton BadoviniITA BMW Italia S1000RR 1.48.234
8. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R 1.48.416

9. Marco Melandri ITA Yamaha WSBK YZF R1 1.47.781
10. Leon CamierGBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 1.47.858
11. Michel Fabrizio ITA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1.48.126
12. Maxime Berger FRA Supersonic Ducati 1098R 1.48.334

13. Jakub Smrz CZE Effenbert Liberty Ducati 1098R 1.48.741
14. Federico SandiITA Althea Ducati 1098R 1.48.812
15. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1.48.894
16. Alessandro PolitaITA Barni Ducati 1098R 1.49.091 

Will not progress to Superpole

17. Mark Aitchison AUS Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1.49.159
18. Joan Lascorz ESP Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1.49.185
19. Matteo BaioccoITA Barni Ducati 1098R 1.49.378 
20. Ruben Xaus ESP Castrol Honda CBR1000RR 1min 49.595s
21. Roberto Rolfo ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1.49.668
22. Javier Fores ESP BMW Italia S1000RR 1.50.888

Imola official WSBK lap records
Best lap: Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati 1098R 1.47.196(2011)
Race lap record: Leon Haslam GBR Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 1.48.966(2010) 

Castrol Honda Rea gets the nod on Checa for Friday top slot

Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) was the man to watch in Friday’s first qualifying session at Imola as the Northern Irish rider powered to a time of 1 minute 48.241 seconds, just a fraction away from the 2010 best lap set by Carlos Checa. On a hot day of qualifying, with temperatures almost reaching 30 degrees C, there wasn’t much in it at the very top, however, as Althea Racing Ducati man Checa (last year’s double winner and favourite for this year’s title) finished just a tenth away from Rea, and in second place. For the first time this season Rea was running a ride-by-wire throttle control system on his Honda machine, after a recent change to the technical rules in the Superbike class.

Third place on the provisional grid went to Britain’s Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport), who took his S1000RR close to the leading duo after looking competitive right throughout the hour. Leon was followed home in fourth by Michel Fabrizio (Suzuki Alstare), who also looked at ease on the newly resurfaced Imola track.

Fifth was the other title contender Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike), who got home ahead of Nürburgring winner and last year’s Imola poleman Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike). Frenchmen Sylvain Guintoli (Effenbert-Liberty Racing Ducati) and Maxime Berger (Supersonic Ducati) completed the provisional second row.

The virtual third row after the first qualifying session featured four riders who were all within a second of leader Rea, the first of them being Noriyuki Haga (Pata Racing Aprilia), followed by Guintoli’s team-mate, Jakub Smrz. Local wildcard Federico Sandi (Althea Racing Ducati) was an impressive 11th fastest, followed home by another local for the Barni Racing Ducati team, Alessandro Polita.

Lone works Aprilia Alitalia rider Leon Camier was 13th, but still only just over a second from Rea out front. BMW Motorrad Italia SBK’s replacement for the recently retired James Toseland, Javier Fores, was 22nd in his first ever WSBK ride.

Times: 1. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'48.241; 2. Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'48.400; 3. Haslam L. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 1'48.701; 4. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1'48.726; 5. Melandri M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'48.844; 6. Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'48.884; 7. Guintoli S. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'49.003; 8. Berger M. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'49.023; 9. Haga N. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'49.041; 10. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'49.072; 11. Sandi F. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'49.125; 12. Polita A. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'49.134; 13. Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'49.282; 14. Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1'49.394; 15. Aitchison M. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'49.665; 16. Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1'49.781; etc.

World Supersport

Luca Scassa (Yamaha ParkinGO) returned to the top of the timesheets at home at Imola with a time of 1 minute 52.375 seconds to head the overnight Supersport grid positions. The Italian was a fraction ahead of Broc Parkes (Kawasaki Motocard.com) and title favourite, team-mate Chaz Davies (Yamaha ParkinGO).

Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) ran top for some of the session but eventually finished fifth, while Sweden's Alex Lundh (Cresto Guide Honda) put in one of his best performances so far to take the next slot. Britain's Sam Lowes (Parkalgar Honda) was fastest at one point in the session but a crash dropped him down to tenth.

Times: 1. Scassa L. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'52.375; 2. Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'52.553; 3. Davies C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 1'52.736; 4. Foret F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'53.056; 5. Lundh A. (SWE) Honda CBR600RR 1'53.301; 6. Marino F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 1'53.329; 7. Tamburini R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 1'53.432; 8. Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1'53.471; etc.

Superstock 1000

All the main runners were up at the top in the Friday qualifying run, with newly-crowned Italian CIV Superstock 1000 champion Danilo Petrucci (Barni Racing Ducati) holding a slight edge over points leader Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Ducati) with a time of 1 minute 51.046 seconds.

The two Ducati men were followed by another of this year's race winners, Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia STK) just a fraction behind, while Niccolò Canepa (Lazio Motorsport Ducati) completed the provisional front row. Lorenzo Zanetti (BMW Motorrad Italia STK team) in fifth was followed by three more Italians, Lorenzo Baroni (Althea Racing Ducati), Andrea Antonelli (Lorini Honda) and Michele Magnoni (Baru Racing Team BMW).

Times: 1. Petrucci D. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'51.046; 2. Giugliano D. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'51.204; 3. Barrier S. (FRA) BMW S1000 RR 1'51.220; 4. Canepa N. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'51.674; 5. Zanetti L. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1'51.904; 6. Baroni L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'51.959; 7. Antonelli A. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1'52.511; 8. Magnoni M. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 1'52.702; etc.
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HRC Honda Racing Carbon special parts.

HRC Japan Limited Edition Carbon Briefcases.


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Feature

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handgrip and lock: reinforced plastic

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It is covered in bull leather inside mainly and an urethane material partly is to protect a computer or documents.
And there are some pockets and a pen holder.

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4) HRC Honda Japan limited with the serial number

Product
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Color : Black or Beige(Please choose a color you like)

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Condition of Item: 100% NEW

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It is in the store here !

HRC Repsol Honda celebrate 100 wins

With these 100 triumphs since 1995, the Repsol Honda Team confirms itself as the most successful team of the Motorcycling World Championship modern era

On March 26th, 1995, the Motorcycling World Championship started a season with the arrival of a new sponsor in the premiere category. The Repsol livery painted with an attractive design the official NSR 500 of the Honda Team. In his first race, Mick Doohan inaugurated in the best way the collaboration of the two big international companies, achieving the first of the 35 victories by one of the most solid and successful partners of the Motorsport world and especially of the Motorcycling World Championship.

Today, 16 years later, Casey Stoner achieved at the Aragón Grand Prix victory number 100 in the Motorcycling World Championship for the Repsol Honda Team. A success that confirms this long-lived pair of Repsol and Honda as one of the most important and successful teams of Motorcycling history. The Australian adds today's triumph to the list of successes achieved by great riders such as Mick Doohan, Valentino Rossi or Álex Crivillé, who got on the first step defending Honda's orange and blue colours so characteristics of the Motorcycling World Championship.

It has been 16 years in which the Spanish energy company and the Japanese motorcycling brand have built a relationship which translated into 8 World Championship titles in the premiere category, thus achieving international recognition which started with that first victory of Mick Doohan. That win was followed by another 34 for the Australian, a major player in this feat. It was a Spaniard, Álex Crivillé, who took over when Doohan retired. The noi de Seva wrote a golden page of the Spanish and International Motorcycling when he became 500cc World Champion in 1999. With his pass to MotoGP, Valentino Rossi showed again the strength of the Repsol Honda Team by achieving 20 wins and 2 World Championship titles, followed by the one achieved by Nicky Hayden en 2006.

The same year was also the debut of Dani Pedrosa who, currently together with Andrea Dovizioso and Casey Stoner, is part of the most powerful line-up of this year's World Championship and sets the reference of the Continental Circus. With today's victory, the Repsol Honda Team has won ten of the fourteen rounds already held this season, thus following the victorious path the Spanish company and the Japanese constructor started by mid 90's. This is the story of a solid and strong alliance that allowed the Repsol Honda Team to become the team with more victories in the World Championship, no less than 100.
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Ducati to race aluminium chassis in Aragon

Valentino Rossi has confirmed his factory Ducati machine will use an aluminium frame at this weekend’s Motorland Aragon race in Spain after a successful one-day test in Mugello last week.
The 32-year-old Italian confirmed he will run the new concept during the pre-event press conference today, where he also ended intense speculation about whether he will boycott the forthcoming Japanese Grand Prix.
After much deliberation, Rossi said he had opted to race in the Twin Ring Motegi, despite expressing major concerns about the safety of the Fukushima nuclear plant, which suffered severe damage in a massive earthquake that hit Japan back in March.
That was almost a side issue though with Rossi confirming he has ditched the carbon fibre chassis concept on his Desmosedici machine after a torrid debut season with Ducati.
The nine-times world champion goes into Sunday’s Motorland Aragon clash with just one podium in the opening 13 races.
But his bike will have a different look when he rolls out of pitlane tomorrow morning for the opening free practice session.
As was expected, Rossi will use the new aluminium chassis he tested in Mugello last week, which is understood to have been fabricated by British specialists FTR.
The chassis is not a conventional twin spar frame like the concept used by Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki, but it is an aluminium version of the current carbon fibre frame.
Rossi hopes the new parts will help improve a chronic understeer issue that has plagued him since he first rode for Ducati last November.
Rossi said: "I will try one of the aluminium bikes tomorrow in practice.  In Mugello the bike had better feeling and also the lap time was a little bit better, so we use this race as a test.  The aluminium is different in shape from the carbon frame. It is not a frame. The philosophy of the Ducati remains the same but the front part of the bike is a bit different.
"It is in aluminium and not in carbon like before. The material is a question of time because we have to work to try and understand the bike and with aluminium you need a lot less time compared to the carbon. It is just the first step and we keep working and we have to try and come back and fight for the front positions." 
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