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Post by truenorth on Oct 29, 2018 14:37:20 GMT -8
WorldSSP300 set for major expansion in 2019 Monday, 29 October 2018
Changes are on the horizon for the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship, as the FIM and Dorna WSBK Organization have announced the class will be split into two groups for 2019. Seeing the feeder class grow year on year, the new changes will welcome even more opportunities to shine for up and coming riders, as they make their debuts in the WorldSBK paddock.
With the WorldSSP300 entry list increasing for 2019, participants will be separated into two groups of riders for both Free Practice and Qualifying. At the end of Qualifying, the top 30 on the combined timesheets will make up Sunday’s grid.
For all riders who qualify outside of the top 30, they will be granted one final opportunity to line up on the grid. Saturday afternoon will welcome a ‘last chance’ race, and the top six over the line will compete in Sunday’s main race.
These changes will provide even closer racing than before, with only the fastest and toughest riders battling their way through the entire weekend. Offering an even greater opportunity to young riders, there will be even more chance to gain experience out on track.
On top of the changes, 2019 will see WorldSSP300 fly out to Qatar to compete around the Losail International Circuit in the final round of the season. Adding a third category to the Qatar Round, WorldSSP300 will make their international debut and will truly light up the end of the season.
Fabio Muner, FIM Sports Director added: “We consider WorldSSP300 a very successful springboard to the WorldSBK series for our young athletes. The 2019 changes will provide even closer races than before, with only the fastest and toughest riders battling their way through the entire weekend. Offering an even greater opportunity to young riders, increasing the racing experiences and adding new international locations, there will be even more chance to gain experience out on track and will make for exciting viewing for the fans.”
Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Sporting Director explains the updates: “We have been delighted by the success of the WorldSSP300 series since the inaugural season back in 2017, and we are always looking for ways to offer greater experience for riders out on track. By bringing in this new format, we are giving young riders more track time, more opportunities to impress, and plenty more chances to entertain the fans. WorldSSP300 will be racing outside of the European Rounds in 2019, which we feel is a natural step in the expansion. Our long term goal is to see young talents grow, and to make this a true feeder class into WorldSSP and ultimately, WorldSBK.”
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Post by truenorth on Oct 29, 2018 14:41:30 GMT -8
Northern Irishman could become the most successful rider in history
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) keeps on breaking records and etching his name even further in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship history books, but how far can he and his ZX-10RR go? Securing his fourth back to back world title this season was historical, but he now matches King Carl Fogarty in all time championships. Can he become the first man to get to five titles in WorldSBK? 2019 will reveal all….
The first season Rea swung his leg over the Ninja machine, he has been a force to be reckoned with and he just keeps on winning. Taking 14 wins and 23 podiums in his first season with Kawasaki, it was clear the Northern Irishman got on very well in green and would be a strong force in WorldSBK. Unaware of the records he would go onto break, Rea was crowned champion in 2015 after a sensational season. Taking back to back titles in 2016 – at Losail International Circuit - with 23 podiums again but this time only nine wins, he faced more competition but ultimately secured the goal of the world championship.
History began to be made in 2017, when he became the first ever rider to win three consecutive world championships as he took the crown with two remaining, in Magny-Cours. Sealing the title with the win, he took 24 podium finishes in a sensational season and was back into the double figures of victories with 16. Not even a reversed grid rule or regulation changes could slow Rea down, and 2018 welcomed his most successful season to date. Making history by over-taking Fogarty’s overall win record, Rea secured his 60th victory in the Czech Republic to make him the rider with the most victories ever in WorldSBK history.
And the records keep on coming; hoping to break his overall points scoring record set last season of 556 as well as take the most victories in one season, with the record currently standing at 17.
But what’s next for Rea? Will the unstoppable 31-year-old continue to be unstoppable? Will he make history to become the first ever five-time WorldSBK champion? With an addition of an extra race per weekend, a new team-mate, new bikes on the grid and a whole new set of challenges, it will be a big ask once again for Rea.
Recently interviewed by the BBC, Rea gave a look into his mind-set and it’s hard to see this changing into 2019: "I have the fear of losing. I'm at the top now so the only way is down. Unless I invest in myself moving forward I'm going to get beaten.
"I believe I train better and smarter than anyone. We have a human performance manager at Kawasaki, we are regularly blood tested and looked after, we try to be as healthy as possible and stay clear of illnesses.”
But with his smooth riding style, the way he adapts himself to the ZX-10RR and his sensational team behind him who always seem to be that one step ahead when the bikes take to the track on Friday morning, it’s hard to see him not being back at the front in 2019.
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Post by truenorth on Oct 29, 2018 19:19:07 GMT -8
Bautista: It’s incredible how different this bike is… Neil Morrison 29 Oct 2018 Alvaro Bautista produces one of the rides of the day while deputising for Jorge Lorenzo at Phillip Island; “now I’m more happy than before to go to World Superbike because I know the potential of Ducati’s factory.” ![](https://www.crash.net/sites/default//files/styles/large_article/public/image_importer/MotoGP/gg762901.jpg) Alvaro Bautista has said he is “happier than before” to be switching to the World Superbike championship after experiencing the strength of Ducati’s factory team first hand at Phillip Island, where he scored a sensational fourth place in Sunday’s MotoGP race. Deputising for the injured Jorge Lorenzo, the former 125cc world champion shrugged off three crashes over the weekend to excel in Sunday’s 27-lap race, challenging team-mate Andrea Dovizioso for a podium finish until the final lap. Slotting into Lorenzo’s team that includes crew chief Cristian Gabarrini – a world championship winner with Casey Stoner and Marc Marquez in the past – Bautista noted the added manpower available within the factory set-up, as well as the “power” and “character” of the GP18’s engine. The experience confirmed to the 33-year old that he will be in more than capable hands in Ducati’s World Superbike team in 2019, where they will take on the might of Kawasaki with the factory’s new Panigale V4 Superbike. “Things happen for a reason,” said Bautista when asked whether he considered this latest result a statement to the paddock he will depart in November. “For me to have a good bike to fight for victories – MotoGP or Superbike – is important. I know that here in MotoGP it was not possible to have a competitive bike for next season. “So now I’m more happy than before to go to World Superbike because I know the potential of Ducati’s factory. I know that they will make a really good bike to fight for the championship there. “I’m so confident for next season. I like to race, but also I like to win. If you don’t have a competitive bike you can’t win. I’m happy. There is no meaning where you’re racing. It’s important to enjoy it.” On the differences between Ducati’s factory team and the Angel Nieto squad, where he has spent the past 23 months, he said, “It’s a bit different from the satellite team because in the satellite team you have just a few people working for you. “But in the factory team you have the same people in the box but behind the box you have eight people more. And they help a lot. In this category the small details make the difference, and those small details are better in the factory team. “Also 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.” Bautista’s fourth place was his best result in the premier class since last April. Coming home 4.072s back of race winner Maverick Viñales, the performance was the closest he has finished to a MotoGP race winner since the French Grand Prix, back in 2014. He went on to say the possibility of securing his fourth podium finish in the premier class dispersed due to a mistake when changing gear on the penultimate lap. “Well, I had better results in the past but for sure it’s been good,” he said. “Just to arrive for one weekend with a different bike, a different team, a different way to work, and also in this track that I’ve struggled in the past… “Also with the three crashes I had in the whole weekend, and to recover the feeling and confidence for the race was really good. I was fighting for the podium position. “I missed for the fight for the podium at the end because I had a problem with the gearbox. When I switched to third – because the gearbox is a bit different to what I’m using – I didn’t engage the gear and I lost the distance with both Andreas. In any case I’m happy because I enjoyed the race fighting at the front.”
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Post by truenorth on Oct 30, 2018 8:56:41 GMT -8
HRC and WorldSBK: Confusion still reigns… 30.10.2018 BSN Edgar Jessopp
Leon Camier is about the only one person assured of participation in WorldSBK with Honda next season as he is contracted to the factory. Everyone else, it seems, is either part of a problem or a solution…
Rumours of a takeover of the operation by Moriwaki intensified in Qatar when an employee of the Japanese firm was seen in the Red Bull Honda garage. At the Portimao, Midori Moriwaki herself was in evidence.
Added to that, Althea boss Genesio Bevilacqua has thrown his hat into the mix, saying he is old mates with Ms Moriwaki and can provide the infrastructure she would need to make the team function as he is sick of BMW and a chat with Ducati didn’t move things forward.
Whether Bevilacqua’s involvement is as a replacement for Ten Kate as the team operator or as a second-string team with Honda backing is unclear.
There is, apparently, a meeting being held in Amsterdam, for sure, in the next couple of days which will sort the job out. It doesn’t look likely that Honda will be testing at Aragon in November, which gives them some breathing room to make a decision.
However, such is the confusion that even Ten Kate employees don’t know what is going on and Camier himself appears to be only marginally less in the dark.
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Post by truenorth on Oct 30, 2018 9:02:59 GMT -8
Chaz Davies, the debut on the Ducati V4 at Aragon: On the occasion of the tests of November 14-15 will be the first contact for the Welsh, on November 26 will also be with Alvaro Bautista
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Post by truenorth on Oct 31, 2018 13:55:50 GMT -8
WSBK a "ridiculous farce", says Team Go Eleven boss ![](https://cdn-1.motorsport.com/images/amp/6DBDM7w2/s6/wsbk-buriram-2018-roman-ramos-team-go-eleven-7981733.jpg) Team Go Eleven World Superbike boss Gianni Ramello has labelled the series a “ridiculous farce unworthy of being called a World Championship” in a scathing outburst on his Facebook page. WSBK has introduced a number of rule changes for this year in a bid to make the series more competitive, with adjustable rev limits, engine concessions and price caps on factory parts for independent teams all being put in place. After four races, three different riders have taken victories, while Yamaha, Kawasaki, Ducati and its customer Barni team have tallied up at least one podium finish. However, besides Barni rider Xavi Fores, the other privateers have failed to make an impact, with Puccetti Kawasaki's Toprak Razgatlioglu the only other independent rider to breach the top eight so far. Ramello believes the 2018 rules have made things worse for the independent teams, and he made his feelings clear on his Facebook page after his rider Roman Ramos finished a distant 14th and 13th in last weekend's Buriram races on his Kawasaki. "The great levelling that Dorna wanted in WSBK has arrived, and as I predicted four months ago we are still at the back," Ramello wrote in a scathing post that has since been deleted. "After two rounds, the first [Kawasaki] privateer [Razgatlioglu] is 51 points from the lead of the championship. The ridiculous and embarrassing result we suffered in Buriram was the same as in 2017. We have been squeezed and penalised financially to do badly. "It's disparaging for the riders who are risking their lives to not even be seen in the same shot all race as the works bikes. It's hell in every race, it was definitely better before." Ramello blamed his team's current woes on "absurd regulations", and said organisers Dorna and the FIM lacked "courage" to simplify the rules, especially surrounding the electronics. "This is the product of a general inability to manage the situation, trying to resolve it with 340 pages of unnecessary absurd regulations, thinking that with the engines at our disposal and some other components this would solve the gap," he continued. "They have made it worse. "We are in a lot of trouble as we depend on electronics to which we only have partial access and therefore do not help the bike. "It would have sufficed to have two well thought out rules that Dorna and the FIM didn't have the courage to write. They didn't do this, or take into account the requests and protests of the privateers." The disgruntled team boss also slammed WSBK's races this year as "fake", and says the series' satellite teams are now purely present to make up the numbers on the grid. "Don't believe in fairytales. The races in WSBK this year are clearly fake, constructed by rules so absurd that reading them makes you sick," Ramello added. "The role of the privateer is that of filler to keep the grid full – and we are destined to be the worst (if you think the works team is suffering, imagine how much we are suffering) – the customers of the winning brand and therefore guilty regardless of everything. "With a depressed rider, a team totally dependent on adjustments made by the parent brand and Magneti Marelli, the same or worse television coverage - non-existent for us - what great prospects a private team has!"
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Post by truenorth on Nov 2, 2018 8:37:09 GMT -8
Toprak54 injures collarbone and right foot during off-season. Surgery not required after Turkish rider suffers crash in Japan
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Post by truenorth on Nov 6, 2018 9:27:29 GMT -8
Sykes: "I've chosen BMW because they'll listen to my requests": Tom to swap the Kawasaki for the S 1000 RR: "the Ninja wasn't made for me, while the German manufacturer will develop the bike as I want". Reiterberger: "I'll learn a lot from Sykes" ![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DrVZfI9U8AAp8vB.jpg)
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Post by truenorth on Nov 6, 2018 9:37:00 GMT -8
Three-time British Superbike Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari will line-up alongside Leon Camier in the new HRC-backed, Moriwaki-run Honda WorldSBK team next year, it was announced at the Milan Show.
The Japanese rider, who last contested WorldSBK back in 2009 when he finished 11th, was preferred over current talent like Eugene Laverty, Marco Melandri and a host of other fast guys who are now in the wilderness.
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Post by truenorth on Nov 6, 2018 12:02:19 GMT -8
WorldSBK riders will not get their annual visit to California in 2019 as the Laguna Seca round is not on the calendar.
The circuit announced that no WorldSBK race will take place there next season but hopes the series will return in 2020.
“The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship series will not be racing in North America in 2019, but is anticipated to return to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 2020,” said a statement.
It is not clear which track will replace the American round but Sokol in Kazakhstan has been heavily tipped.
Sokol is a clockwise track designed by Hermann Tilke, boo, is nearly five kilometres long, 15m wide with five rights and eight lefts. It is situated close to the border with Kyrgyzstan, if that helps.
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Post by truenorth on Nov 7, 2018 6:28:46 GMT -8
HRC announce partnership with Althea and Moriwaki for 2019 6 November 2018
Big changes coming for the Japanese manufacturer in WorldSBK
It has been announced at EICMA this week that from 2019, Honda will participate in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as Honda Racing Coporation are set to collaborate with Althea and Moriwaki, with Leon Camier and Ryuichi Kiyonari preparing to do battle with the new team.
Aiming for a fresh start in the WorldSBK championship, the news this week sees HRC bring their full backing into the WorldSBK championship. The Japanese manufacturer is looking forward to starting a new relationship with Althea and Moriwaki, bringing the Fireblade CBR1000RR SP2 back on track.
Camier will be sticking with the machine for a second season in a row, and after a strong start to his season with the Fireblade before dealing with injury setbacks, the British rider is ready to tackle a new challenge with the same machine: “I am really excited, this is a massive opportunity and it’s massively exciting. For HRC to come back into World Superbike is incredible, and I’m really looking forward to getting started. The level of WorldSBK is really high, a lot higher than people realise. Rea has set the bar really high. Our plan is it improve and take it to Kawasaki at some point. We need to be competitive from the off. It’s a new team with new things coming together and a lot of things to work on. I feel the potential is there to be knocking on the podium.”
2019 will mark the return of a superbike legend, as Japanese Ryuichi Kiyonari will make his first WorldSBK start since 2009, when he was last on the grid with Honda. Bringing a host of experience with him, he explains: “First I am a bit surprised as are HRC coming back to Superbike, and I am surprised HRC called me. It’s been 10 years since I have ridden in SBK®. I am very happy to join this big project. I have two years of experience in WorldSBK - in 2008 and 2009 and it’s very competitive. It’s not easy to finish in the top six, but we have a good bike and a good team. If I can do a good job, I hope I can get good results.”
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Post by truenorth on Nov 7, 2018 7:27:39 GMT -8
Ten Kate in line for Suzuki deal in WorldSBK? 07.11.2018 BSN Edgar Jessopp ![](http://www.bikesportnews.com/uploads/news_images/2SNAP_00101558-010.jpg) Yesterday, it was announced that Ten Kate would no longer run the Honda WorldSBK operation ending a 16-year collaboration in the big class. The team will now be run by a Moriwaki/Althea effort backed by HRC themselves and it leaves Ten Kate in the wilderness. The most credible rumour floating around the Milan Show yesterday was that Ronald Ten Kate had already dismissed a move to Aprilia as it was simply too expensive for what you get and was in talks with Suzuki for a customer team. As yet, no-one has taken up the GSX-R1000 as Suzuki have offered no support for it - preferring to concentrate on the MotoGP effort - and it could mean Ten Kate will also cease to be a Honda dealer in Holland. That will have some impact as they sell probably more Hondas than the rest of the Dutch dealer network put together.
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Post by truenorth on Nov 9, 2018 7:58:10 GMT -8
GRT Yamaha confirm step up to WorldSBK with Melandri and Cortese Friday, 9 November 2018 ![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DrkEUSYX0AEE96u.jpg) ![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DrkEy0XX0AAWq_-.jpg) World Supersport team move up to the premier class with two premier riders. Announcements continue to keep coming from EICMA this week, and it has been confirmed GRT Yamaha will make the step up to the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship class in 2019, with the strong rider line-up of Marco Melandri and Sandro Cortese. Welcoming two world champions to the YZF-R1’s next season, the Italian based team will see four factory Yamaha bikes on the grid and will give fans the chance to see newly crowned WorldSSP champion Cortese make the step up. Cortese has only been in the WorldSBK paddock for one season, but made a massive impact as he took the title in his rookie year. The 28 year old German will be looking forward to the new challenge ahead of him: "To win the WorldSSP championship and then step up to WorldSBK with the GRT Yamaha Team is like a dream come true for me. I'm super happy to be a part of this new project and, although it's a big step, I am really looking forward to the challenge. I can't wait to jump on the Yamaha YZF-R1 for the first time in Jerez later this month to start the familiarisation process. It will be like Christmas for me; I've never ridden such a big bike before and I am like a small kid who can't wait to get his present! The bike will be more physically demanding to ride than the Yamaha YZF-R6 and, with three races every weekend instead of just one next year, I will definitely need to work on my fitness over the winter to ensure I'm ready." Whilst for Marco Melandri, the Italian is still hungry to win in the WorldSBK championship and will welcome a fresh move to the Japanese marque. Last riding a Yamaha in 2011, he took four wins and 15 podiums on the blue machine and will be hoping to relive this in this season. Filippo Conti, GRT team manager adds: "I am really delighted to be stepping up to the WorldSBK championship with Yamaha. It's like a dream come true. We started this project in WorldSSP and now we are moving up to WorldSBK, which is very important for the team but also for Yamaha's production racing program. It's a big step for us and we know we will be facing a steep learning curve in our debut season, but our two riders bring with them a wealth of experience. Riders don't come more experienced than Marco, who has been a front runner in WorldSBK since he came to the championship in 2011. And while 2019 will be Sandro's first season on a WorldSBK machine, he's the reigning WorldSSP champion and a former Moto3 World Champion, so I expect him to adapt quickly to our Yamaha YZF-R1. We need to learn a lot in this new category, but our target is clear; we want to be as competitive in WorldSBK as we have been in WorldSSP. Maybe this isn't possible in our debut season, but that's the goal for the future."
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Post by truenorth on Nov 9, 2018 8:42:40 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Nov 9, 2018 15:58:17 GMT -8
David Emmett : So I was listening to that there Front End Chatter podcast with @mufga and @simonhbikes, and they were talking about the BMW S1000RR, and how it uses the Shiftcam variable valve lift technology, and realized it will be programmable in WorldSBK. Camshafts may be altered in WorldSBK, and as the cam shift is triggered electronically (though it's a mechanical shift), it will be a bit like an old YPVS valve, with the cam shift trigger programmable based on lots of different variables.
Background
Port timing (intake, exhaust and scavenging) is a very important factor that determines the characteristics of a 2-stroke engine. In general, fast exhaust timing means that the engine will perform well in the high-speed, high-power range, while slow timing means the engine will have good low-end torque. However, a road racer or motocrosser which must perform well especially in the high power range will also encounter many other situations, such as coming out of a corner, when it will need high torque and good mid-range performance.
The YPVS answers both of these needs.
Operation
The YPVS employs a spiral shaped valve located on the top of the cylinder’s exhaust port. This valve is operated by means of a cable from a computerized mechanical control unit which detects the ignition frequency and determines the required turning angle of the valve. In this way the valve moves upward and downward out of the exhaust port. This means the exhaust timing is constantly adjusted in accordance with the rpm level, thus giving more effective timing over the entire speed range.
The TZ production racer employs a mechanical control system, but the factory racer YZR500, the first Yamaha machine to adopt the YPVS, features an electrical control system to adjust the exhaust timing by means of an ignition pulse, as do most current sports bikes.
The TZ production racers had a purely mechanical system, driven by the crankshaft, from 1980 onwards. In 1983 came the shift to electronics, with the GP factory racer YZR500 and also the production machines the RD250LC and RD350LC which now adopted the power valve system too, immediately in the electronic version. On the 350 cc the performance increased from 50 to 60 HP compared to the previous model by using this technology!
Results
More effective exhaust timing is given in the entire speed range’ thus bringing both high performance and good fuel economy together.
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Post by truenorth on Nov 13, 2018 10:58:40 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Nov 13, 2018 11:04:47 GMT -8
Aragon Test: Davies and the Ducati V4-R to the test of fire: Wednesday the expected debut of the Welsh and first confrontation with Rea, on track at the Motorland also the Yamaha of Alex Lowes and van der Mark
MotorLand Aragon prepares to host SBK bikes for the first winter test
There’s no time to rest throughout the winter, as MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship riders are preparing to take to the track for the first of two winter tests this week at MotorLand Aragon. Three weeks after the final race of the 2018 season, teams are already thinking ahead to the new season, and work begins this week. It will be the first time we will see Ducati’s all new Panigale V4 R take to the track, and it will be against the ZX-10RR.
Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK will be ready to do battle with their new recruit Leon Haslam, as the British rider joins reigning world champion Jonathan Rea in the Barcelona based team. Coming out fighting for the new season, Rea will continue to work on his ZX-10RR updates, whilst Haslam will begin to get acquainted with his new surroundings. Usually fast from the get-go in the winter testing, Rea will be planning to get some good mileage underneath him as he prepares for a big season ahead.
Whilst the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati squad will be without their new rider this week, as Alvaro Bautista continues to compete in MotoGP™, with the final round at Valencia this weekend. This means Chaz Davies will be only rider in red at MotorLand Aragon, as the British rider gets his first opportunity to try out the all new Ducati Panigale V4R. One of the most important tests this season, the 31 year old will be keen to get going and to understand what he can get out of the much anticipated new bike. It will be the first time the V4 will be out on track against Rea, and all eyes will be on the lap times.
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team will be out on track across the two days, as Michael van der Mark and Alex Lowes prepare to embark on a new season as race winners. Armed with their YZF-R1’s, they will be ready for the new battle in 2019, working on new parts to get their machines back into the race winning ones we’ve seen this year. The first of two tests in Spain in November, the hard work begins now for the Pata Yamaha squad.
Davies won't be the only rider trying out the all new V4 R however, as Michael Ruben Rinaldi preapres to begin his new adventure with BARNI Racing Team. Heading to MotorLand Aragon to begin his 2019 venture, the Italian will be able to try out the V4 R for the first time alongside Davies. Testing it out around the fast and sweeping MotorLand Aragon, it will be an important first two days for the youngster.
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Post by truenorth on Nov 13, 2018 12:09:00 GMT -8
Mamoru Moriwaki is a Japanese motorcycle tuner, race team owner and founder of Moriwaki Engineering, a Japanese specialty engineering company that designs, manufactures and sells high performance parts for motorcycles and cars. His motorcycle industry career is closely intertwined with that of Pops Yoshimura, another respected motorcycle tuner. Moriwaki began his career as a motorcycle racer for Hideo "Pops" Yoshimura, a respected motorcycle mechanic and tuner involved in Japanese motorcycle racing. Moriwaki received no formal training in engineering while working for Yoshimura. Instead, he became self-taught, learning about mechanical engineering from books borrowed from his local high school. Moriwaki married Namiko Yoshimura, Pops’ eldest daughter, while he was working for the company. While working for the Yoshimura racing team, Moriwaki also successfully competed in auto racing, driving a Yoshimura-prepared Honda S800 sports car to a class victory at the 6 Hours of Fuji endurance race on July 26, 1970, and the GTS1 Class at the 1971 Japan Grand Prix. In 1971, Yoshimura made the decision to move his company to the United States to take advantage of the burgeoning American motorcycle market. Moriwaki did not agree with Yoshimura and refused to leave his home in Japan. This created a rift between the two men however, within a year Yoshimura had returned to Japan and sought Moriwaki for help after he had been cheated out of all his money in a business transaction in America.[2] Moriwaki loaned Yoshimura money to re-establish himself. Yoshimura would go on to establish one of the premier manufacturers of motorcycle high performance parts in the United States and became closely associated with the Suzuki racing program. Moriwaki remained in Japan and in 1973 he founded Moriwaki Engineering in Suzuka City, Japan. ![](https://www.sportrider.com/g00/3_c-3ccc.yvux78zx78ojkx78.ius_/c-3SUXKVNKAY76x24nzzvyx3ax2fx2fccc.yvux78zx78ojkx78.iusx2fyozkyx2fyvux78zx78ojkx78.iusx2florkyx2fyzerkyx2f211_7d_x2fvahroix2fosvux78zx2fvgmk_krksktz_osgmkyx2f702-7765-67-fx258Hsux78ocgqo-ktmotkkx78otmx258Hluatjkx78.pvmx3fozuqx3dpnZQZ_Uex26o76i.sgx78qx3dosgmk_$/$/$/$/$/$/$/$/$/$) Company founder Mamoru Moriwaki ![](https://www.sportrider.com/g00/3_c-3ccc.yvux78zx78ojkx78.ius_/c-3SUXKVNKAY76x24nzzvyx3ax2fx2fccc.yvux78zx78ojkx78.iusx2fyozkyx2fyvux78zx78ojkx78.iusx2florkyx2fyzerkyx2f211_7d_x2fvahroix2fosvux78zx2fvgmk_krksktz_osgmkyx2f702-7765-68-fx258Hsux78ocgqo-ktmotkkx78otmx258Hsgtgmotm-jox78kizux78.pvmx3fozuqx3djyKOVqtRx26o76i.sgx78qx3dosgmk_$/$/$/$/$/$/$/$/$/$) Midori Moriwaki, Managing Director of Moriwaki Engineering and daughter of the company’s founder (makes me think of Claire in that other form of more stagnant motorsport) www.sportrider.com/sportbikes/moriwaki-engineering-company-nature-s-tuning-shop#page-11
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Post by truenorth on Nov 13, 2018 12:11:01 GMT -8
Midori Moriwaki explains her 2019 WorldSBK plans 13.11.2018 Bike Sport News Gordon Ritchie ![](http://www.bikesportnews.com/uploads/news_images/midori_moriwaki.jpg) Rumours linking Honda, Moriwaki and Althea scorched the WorldSBK paddock for weeks. When the Milan show came around and the reality dawned there would be a near full-on return from Honda in WorldSBK, with Moriwaki and Althea (the latter being 2011 World Superbike Champions with Carlos Checa and full factory Ducatis) it was clear something major was happening for 2019. After all, the world’s biggest manufacturer famously shunned the entire WorldSBK paddock in the early 2000s, and it has been Honda Europe that has given its direct support since then. But now there is a new partnership between Honda, Moriwaki and Althea, although still very much in the early stages. The driving force behind the new team is Midori Moriwaki, who has long harboured ambitions to come and race at the top in WorldSBK. A series of events have ensured that the Althea Moriwaki Honda setup will be a reality in 2019, with current Honda star Leon Camier and former WorldSBK and BSB champion Ryuichi Kiyonari as their official riders. The details are being worked out in earnest right now, and at some pace, with the season starting for real in late February. We spoke to Midori Moriwaki to find out more about yet another new element to join the WorldSBK party for real in 2019. BSN: How did this project come about? MM: In the All-Japan championship we have been using Pirelli tyres, starting from 2017, which was planned from 2016, when we participated in the Japanese Superbike class with Yuki Takahashi. In the first year I wanted to check what potential the CBR1000RR had. Moriwaki’s philosophy is that we are always challenging to the World Championship series. Like in the past in Moto2 or MotoGP or any of the BSB or AMA races, any kind of world championship series - we wanted to go back all the time. We have designed and manufactured original frame and chassis, complete bikes. When we went back to Superbikes (in Japan) I wanted to go to Pirelli tyres because they were the control tyres for World Superbike. Also they were the new challenge using the Pirelli tyres in the Japanese Superbike and the Eight-Hours race, because Bridgestone is so strong. Everybody told me, ‘yYou are crazy Midori!’ In the past everybody tried to use the Bridgestone tyres for racing, but I was looking at world level, so that is why. There was a plan to make a two-year structure to understand the Pirelli tyre and the combination with the CBR1000RR. Last year when I changed to the Pirelli tyres I needed a team-mate with Yuki Takahashi and I chose Ryuichi Kiyonari. At the beginning I explained to him, I said, “Kiyo, we want to go back to world level, and I need your help, and we need to get the Suzuka Eight-Hour race. If you want to go back to world level, do you want to challenge with me? He said, “Hell yes!” He wanted to be part of the project. Everybody was so surprised a few days ago with what we announced but this was planned two or three years ago. At that time HRC or Honda did not know about my project but I explained why I chose the Pirelli tyres for the race, for the world championship series, but I think people did not realise how serious I was two years ago talking about it. Then when I started preparing step-by-step. Then I got an opportunity, and of course I explained to Honda all the time what I am doing. Then maybe it was (from Honda side: ed) a good combination together with you, because we have had a very long relationship between Moriwaki and Honda.” I said, “Whoah! That is a very good opportunity, happy for me. I would like to take this opportunity.” Then it happened in a very short time. I think I am lucky. BSN: Why did you want to join WorldSBK specifically? MM: I always tell this story because everybody was laughing at me, saying, ‘You are joking.’ But when I said to them, “When I say I am going to do something do I always joke?” And they said ‘no, you do it each time.’ But it is going to be really hard for me to challenge the whole thing again. People ask how you can try so hard to keep going? Why? Because we have still not become world champions. In Moto2 Toni Elias got the World Champions title but the Manufacturers’ – constructors’ – title we were second. Lost by one point, or something.I understand that Motorsport is not easy at all but it is also key to move peoples’ hearts. If you do not give up then you will achieve it someday. If you make excuses you will never get it. But it is not easy, for many, many, many reasons but it is worth to try and do what we can do. World Superbike next year will be a very different season, I think because everyone is coming back, Ducati and BMW, Kawasaki is always very strong and Yamaha also come back. It is going to be a very different situation, which is good for the environment of motorcycle markets, because WorldSBK is production motorcycles. Hopefully the worldwide motorcycle environments, not just for racing, it is going to be a good shock for every country. I hope there will be more motorcycle fans everywhere, more like before.”
BSN: The final decision was taken in a short time, but when were you given the OK, and made the understanding with Althea? MM: HRC, or Honda themselves, Headquarter Honda, has not been involved in WorldSBK for a long time. So they said, as Moriwaki trusts this team (Althea) we trust. This is your responsibility anyway for you to handle well the future of World Superbike. Generally, I think it is a gentlemen’s agreement, like trusting, like Japanese trusting. I think - I hope - it is like that. I explained to them about Althea. In maybe 2007 or 2008 the Moriwaki Junior Cup had the MD250 – which was also in the UK in the past – they were the organiser and main sponsor of the Moriwaki Cup in the past, so I know Mr Genesio Bevilacqua. For me, it is very important that I know that person. The person I am working together with. It is more important than what level they are, it is more important the human level. If you do not have a good human connection you cannot achieve anything. Not only motorsport.”BSN: Just to clarify, you will be the official Honda team for WorldSBK? MM: At the Milan show I was surprised because this is my project but also a joint project with Honda. I do not know what they are called but it seems to be official team, I think. We work with both sides of Honda, Honda Motor and also HRC. I talk to both sides for different issues. HRC is obviously hard equipment and also all the technical engineering data. That belongs to HRC. Other than technical issues, it comes under Honda Motor. It is just different sections for things. BSN: Who will do what in the team? MM: Logistics and so on are controlled by Althea but I have been running a racing team for over 20 years now – gosh I am getting old! But I understand how to run a racing team, we are not just putting the name and everything, I am running all by my hand. I know the ones he is talking about. I think it will be fair enough both sides. There will be a mix of Althea and Moriwaki mechanics, but not Italian and Japanese, it will be an international team. It is going to be fun! For me this is normal, it is alright.” BSN: Will you be based in Rome also? MM: There will be a new company. From my experience in the past if everything is based in Japan it is really hard. We are not like Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki; those big companies. I am creating a company in Europe, based in Prague in the Czech Republic. I will be travelling a lot, but the address will be in the Czech Republic. BSN: We only have a short time until the start of the season, so what about your machines, will they be based on your current JSB spec bikes? MM: When we start in official tests and the race in February the bikes have to be WorldSBK specification. But we will try to do some private tests before we join the official tests. At that time we will be using bike based on JSB spec, as we have no time, as you can imagine. BSN: In Japan there is a kind of ‘free electronics’. More free than WorldSBK or the same? MM: Good question but I cannot answer now. This is kind of complicated because there have been many discussions between me and Honda, so we have not finalised yet but the direction is quite clear now, and now I try to put together everything, but sorry, I cannot give you any more information. BSN: What about suspension and brakes in WorldSBK because in JSB you use Kayaba suspension? MM: Yes, in Japan for Moriwaki racing but for WorldSBK, for Kiyo and Leon’s bikes, it will be Öhlins. For the factory bikes we will go with Nissin, in Japan the Superbike uses Brembo. BSN: Where will be on track, and when, for testing? MM: There are many rumours around. I was laughing because people are talking like “Jerez!” or “Aragon!” They tell me this. There are so many potential team directors out there. But we will try to do at least one test minimum, somewhere, but we have not decided yet. So I cannot give you the answer. But at least one test we will do definitely. If we can do this before the winter test ban and if we are lucky maybe two times, but I think realistically one. As you know there is no time for preparing the bikes. Then next year we will try to join the test together with everybody. I think Jerez in the end of January, so we will try to join it. We were trying to find a solution for everything and then we will see that we have to do and then collect all the information from Dorna and the FIM for the Superbike to try and fit everything. BSN: There will be a third bike for 2018 STK Althea rider Alessandro Delbianco? MM: Yes, it is true but we are still discussing, not confirmed yet. It is most likely and we are trying to put together. It is going to be a completely different bike and team. It is not the same and that is why he was not there at the Milan Show. Genesio likes him and supports this rider so much. From the beginning Genesio asked me and said, ‘Midori, this is the next generation rider here, could be,’ and he said that ‘Midori you are an expert at training young riders.’ I ran the Moriwaki Cup and also I trained all my club riders’ academy for the Hondas and many things. He said can you look after Delbianco with me, and I said of course because I love the young riders to become very strong riders in the future. And now Kiyonari is not riding for us in Japan next year then maybe this bike can fit together with Delbianco in WorldSBK. If everything is put together then Delbianco will ride the Moriwaki CBR1000RR bike.” BSN: Midori, thank you MM: No, no, thank you
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Post by truenorth on Nov 13, 2018 12:29:47 GMT -8
^ Best story of the year IMO
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