MotoGP, Vinales: “I’m not worried about the performances but about the short amount of time”

Maverick Vinales has no intention of throwing in the towel. When he left Yamaha and decided to get back into the game with the Aprilia he knew it would be tough, maybe it is proving to be tougher than he expected but the Spaniard is a stubborn guy and he is sure he can do it. For a rider in his situation, losing a day of practice, as is happening at Termas de Rio Hondo, is not good news, but that doesn’t knock him down either.

“Nothing changes for me, we will continue with our program – explained Maverick – I am continuing with my adaptation to the bike, I want to close the gap I have now and I know it will take time”.

At Mandalika, in the rain, he was unable to get into the points.

“It was certainly not the result I wanted, but in the warm-up, in the dry, only Quartararo had my pace. I’m curious if that setup will work here too,” Hey explained.

The problem is that Vinales has to somehow start from scratch on every track.

“When I arrive at a new circuit it is difficult for me to get used to it – he continued – At Sepang, after three days of testing I was doing well, the same in Indonesia, but in Qatar I had to adapt to different way of riding and feelings again. Changing is difficult, but I’m working on it”.

Above all, he is sure of succeeding.

“In the warm-up, in Mandalika, we made a change to the setting and I improved by a second – underlined Maverick – I’m not worried about my performance, but in the GP there is little time and you have to find the right pace already on Saturday not Sunday. However, we have only done two races, the season is long and I’m happy with my work. At this moment I cannot have too high expectations”.

RT @jmvasquez1974: Just got this drone. It is a recon game changer. It has the ability to fly over 4 kilometers away from take o...

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Tucker Powersports Named Exclusive Distributor Of FUELL E-Bikes

© 2022, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. From a press release issued By Tucker Powersports:

FUELL and Tucker Powersports Announce Ambitious Partnership in the US.

March 7th, 2022 – New York, Fort Worth – FUELL Inc. and Tucker Powersports are thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership that kicks off in March of 2022.

This powerful new collaboration will feature Tucker as the exclusive distributor of FUELL’s premium products to the powersports industry for the USA.

As part of this multi-year, renewable partnership, Tucker will distribute the complete line of FUELL’s premium Flluid e-Bikes as well as FUELL’s branded accessories and replacement parts.

Tucker Powersports is a world-class distributor with more than 50 years of experience serving thousands of dealers in the United States and Canada. With a support team of nearly 100 regional sales staff, 7,000 active dealers and strong marketing capabilities, Tucker is the ideal partner for FUELL to bring the brand to a wider audience and develop the brand, while adding a US premium brand to its portfolio of e-vehicles.

This is an exciting time for electric bikes as the worldwide electric bike industry has experienced tremendous growth and is expected to grow by over 50% to reach nearly $70 billion by 2027.

“This new partnership is a real success for both brands. Providing desirable products through an exceptional dealer network that provides outlets and service near every rider has been Tucker’s forte for a long time. FUELL’s strengths are in innovative product design and manufacture. In the exploding marketplace for electric mobility, this makes a dream pairing for enthusiasts who want cutting edge designs but need solid local support. Tucker’s leadership team has the breadth of knowledge and experience to go full bore into this emerging marketplace, and the leadership at FUELL is very excited for the future together” ~ Erik Buell – CTO at FUELL Inc.

“Our dealers have been tremendously receptive to having ePower products in their dealerships. They will absolutely love the addition of FUELL e-bicycles to our offering. The outstanding performance and stunning design of FUELL Flluid, along with the personal touch offered by Tucker dealers is a great combination to offer consumers looking for an electric bicycle”  ~ Jamie Kempinski – Director of Business Development at Tucker Powersports

Everyone at FUELL and Tucker Powersports are excited about this new partnership and looking forward to many years of success for both brands.

‘A-spec’ Yamaha not an advantage in MotoGP 2021

The Petronas SRT rider finished the 2020 season as top Yamaha rider in second in the standings with three wins, equal on victories with teammate Fabio Quartararo despite riding the older ‘A-spec’ M1 instead of the factory-spec 2020 bike.

Morbidelli was the most consistent Yamaha rider across the campaign, with the 2020 M1 riders only tallying up one further win courtesy of Maverick Vinales and three other podiums combined.

Despite this, Yamaha has once again elected against upgrading Morbidelli’s equipment having taken away the 2020 bike he was meant to ride this year before testing.

All three 2020 M1 riders were very critical of the bike, with Quartararo admitting last month he’d like to see if he could race the 2019 bike – which is essentially what Morbidelli is riding – next year.

Given the problems the factory riders have had this year, Morbidelli feels keeping his current package won’t offer him any greater benefit compared to his stablemates as it can’t be developed.

“No, because a new bike can develop,” he said when asked if keeping his ‘A-spec’ bike for 2021 would offer him better chances of top results compared to the current factory bike.

“You can work on it, you can develop it, you can make modifications, the factory is working on a direction of developing.

“My bike is that one, it’s that. I need to take out the maximum from it, from that package.

“Of course, there are some items that I can pick up from the factory and try to adapt to my bike

“But I always say that the latest bike is the best one because of this reason because you can and all the energies of the factory are on that package, are on that thing in order to make it grow and develop it.

“The newest and the latest bike is one with the most margin [to improve]my one is the one least margin.”

Read So:

When asked if he was happy to remain on the ‘A-spec’ bike next year, he replied: “Yeah, I am.”

Morbidelli will remain with SRT for at least the next two seasons, with mentor Valentino Rossi joining him as a factory-supported rider in 2021.

MotoGP, Marquez: “After what I’ve been through, I want to enjoy it”.

The new Honda impressed at Sepang and Mandalika, but as we know, tests are only tests and many times they have had very little to do with racing. The Tokyo-based company, however, is approaching the 2022 World Championship with a whole new lease of life compared to 2021, when it started the season without Marc Marquez. The Spanish champion, after two years of difficulties that began on that fateful July afternoon in Jerez and culminated with the fear of diplopia this winter, wants to finally return to the forefront. Last season he won three races with a half-service arm, so how will he approach the first race of the year in Qatar?

“Well, what can I say about the start of 2022? After what we have recently overcome my motivation to start the season is huge, we have come through something difficult and now it’s time to enjoy. But not just enjoying riding, enjoying competing and Enjoying fighting at the front again. This is my tenth year in the MotoGP class and now I am one of the most experienced in the class, there’s many new competitors but the goal is still the same: to fight for the World Championship. We arrive with a new bike, so we need to see how it behaves in Qatar, but we have built a good base and I am looking forward to the weekend and to racing again I’m ready. Let’s get the season started!”

Dall’altra parte del box Honda c’è Pol Espargarò che avrà poche gare a disposizione per provare a guadagnarsi un rinnovo di contratto che al momento sembra alquanto lontano con Mir e Quartararo alla finestra.

Coming from the good tests we had, of course I am excited to get started with a new season. I have been training to my maximum in the winter to be as physically prepared as possible. We arrive now in a very different situation to 12 months ago, I know Honda, I know my team and although this RC213V is new – I am understanding it more and more. Yes, we had a good pre-season but when you go racing everything is different. This weekend in Qatar is about making a base line and improving on it each week, I want to be fighting at the front of each weekend but it’s early. Let’s see what happens, who appears with what and how the slightly different race time will change the conditions. Overall, I’m just happy I get to ride again.”

News, Melandri like Djokovic? “Bad joke, I didn’t self-infect myself.”

After Djokovic, Marco Melandri. The former 250 World Champion from Ravenna caused a big stir yesterday with his joke during an anti-vax march he took part in.

“I got infected with Covid on purpose, to get a green pass,” Marco Melandri, former MotoGP commentator for Dazn, said. He was severely attacked on social media, but he defended his position.

“We’re facing an attack on our personal freedom. And this is not only wrong, but it doesn’t even make sense.” However, during a phone call regarding his comment on getting infected, Melandri retracted what he said.

“It was just an ironic joke, and maybe a bad one. I would never have done it on purpose. But it happened, and I tried to see the positive side of it.”

However, Undersecretary for the Interior Carlo Sibilia announced he will be verifying the fact.

“I thank Marco Melandri for having publicly reported this. The police want to verify what happened. Besides the criminal aspect, which the authorities will assess, his behavior and message are undoubtedly shameful and dangerous.” The comment was quoted by the Gazzetta dello Sport.

Melandri, who hath always said what he thought, even when he was still riding, continued.

“I’m not an anti-vaxxer. I’m a supporter of freedom. The system today requires you to get vaccinated or get Covid if you want to be a normal person. Those who believe they’re free are actually not, since that freedom can be revoked at any time. I think that a person gets vaccinated only for himself, to be protected. And, if he really is, he shouldn’t be afraid of those around him. I’m really worried because the Constitution says that everyone is free to choose how to cure themselves, and now this isn’t allowed. Working and studying have become benefits. I don’t see freedom.”

Then Marco better explained his ideas.

“I’ve never told anyone not to get vaccinated. I’m simply against the green pass, because it’s a tool that is useless. Other countries, such as England, are thinking of eliminating it, and the numbers prove them right. In Italy, the opposite is being done. And then let’s talk about sports being denied to kids. It changed my life. It taught me to relate with people, to get to know different cultures, while now they want to take away this right. In the meantime, they could be out and about and be getting involved with the wrong crowd.”

Melandri like Djoker?

“Djokovic was used as a scapegoat. They told him he could go and he did. He wasn’t the one who tried to change the rules. The choice of whether to get vaccinated or not is a delicate and personal one, and I respect the reasons of those who decide one way and the other. But I think we’re being blackmailed.”

Husqvarna Reports Record Motorcycle Sales For 2021

© 2022, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. From a press release issued By Husqvarna Motorcycles:

NEW LAUNCHES LEAD TO RECORD-BREAKING SALES FOR HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES

CONTINOUS STRONG GROWTH IN BUSINESS YEAR 2021

After becoming part of the PIERER Mobility AG in 2013, Husqvarna Motorcycles entered its most successful era in nearly 120 years of motorcycle production. An increased presence in diverse motorcycle segments and markets has seen the brand sell more than 300,000 units since the acquisition, setting another sales record of 60,801 units in 2021. Racing continues to play a key role in both machine development and market awareness. To date, Husqvarna Motorcycles has won 108 international competition titles, with the most recent being Billy Bolt’s crowning as 2022 FIM SuperEnduro World Champion.

A number of new machines contributed to Husqvarna Motorcycles’ latest sales successes.

The flagship launch of 2021 was the Norden 901 travel motorcycle, underlining Husqvarna Motorcycles’ resolve to strengthen its presence in the street segment. Inspired by the brand’s multi-terrain Rally machines, the Norden 901 is built to cover long distances across challenging, diverse landscapes, on-road and off.

The first quarter of 2021 also saw the arrival of the Svartpilen 125, extending the appeal of the intelligently designed and ruggedly styled single-cylinder street series to an even wider audience.

Along with the launch of these models, the brand set out its objectives in the world of e-mobility with the introduction of various e-concepts at the beginning of 2021. This commitment to emerging technology yielded immediate results, with Husqvarna Motorcycles winning the inaugural Junior E-Motocross series, that was introduced in cooperation with Infront Moto Racing in 2021. The ground-breaking series will continue in 2022 with five rounds within the MXGP World Championship.

Together, these launches and achievements show Husqvarna Motorcycles’ continued dedication to growth and expansion into new sectors, markets, and the brand anticipate another successful year.