It is no mystery that the Gresini MotoGP project was Fausto Gresini’s secret wish. A dream which, we’re absolutely sure, he would have carried out with his own hands. His early disappearance surely put Gresini Racing in front of a complex reality, a reality which his wife Nadia Padovani was able to shape after Fausto.
 
From here, the Gresini MotoGP project was born, a project which found in Ducati Corse the right ally and then in Di Giannantonio and Bastianini an all-Italian line-up, one which is romantically tied to the history of Fausto – and of Gresini as a company.

NADIA PADOVANI GRESINI – GRESINI RACING TEAM OWNER & TEAM PRINCIPAL 
“To continue in the sign of Fausto was and still is our mission and – to do so the best way possible – the return to MotoGP as an independent team was an obligatory step. The last months were really intense, loaded with work and emotions and together with the team with focused our efforts to create the best possible MotoGP project. Ducati Corse and Fausto were in talks already at the end of last season and I think choosing Borgo Panigale’s manufacturer was the right call, even though I’m not forgetting about the important partnership with Aprilia these past years.

Regarding the riders… what can I say? Talent, speed, ambition and their success are in front of everybody’s eyes, and I believe MotoGP will be their stage for many years to come. They are very young, and the fact that it was indeed Fausto who ‘discovered’ them and brought them on the world stage makes me think that it is a line-up he would have approved with full grades.”

FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO - MOTOGP RIDER
“Getting to the top doesn’t happen every day. Next year I will be racing in the most premier class in this sport, and this is an incredible dream. The first day it will be like getting into the big league: it will be a whole new, huge experience, doesn’t matter how it ends up. Going from Moto2 to MotoGP will be tough: 100 more horsepower, more people in the pit-box, more commitments, more buttons on the handlebars… It will be a huge change, but I feel I’m ready and I can’t wait.”

THREE RS 660 ON THE PODIUM IN MOTOAMERICA, DE KEYREL STRENGTHENS THE LEADERSHIP IN THE TWINS CUP

The famous American circuit of Laguna Seca hosted the Twins Cup of MotoAmerica last weekend. And it was a race to remember for Aprilia, which took three steps on the podium with three RS 660s.

Championship leader Kaleb De Keyrel (Robem Engineering team) got off to a good start from fifth place on the grid, gained during a very tight qualifying session. He quickly grabbed the first position, maintained the lead until the checkered flag and, at the halfway mark of the championship, strengthens his leadership in the category.

“We were trying to get comfortable most of the weekend, making progress each step, and when the race arrived, we had a good setup,” explains Kaleb De Keyrel, “I was able to make a few passes early on and get out front, and get into the lap times we needed to be keep a lead. When I can get out front, I like that best, as it allows me to set the pace, and focus. I felt comfortable, precise, and had a great ride on my RS 660.”

After his debut in the Veloce Racing Team last race, with little experience riding the RS 660, Anthony Mazziotto confirmed in California what he had already shown in Washington. After having just missed the pole position by 13 thousandths, he was 27 thousandths behind De Keyrel for a well deserved second place.

“Team Veloce put a really great bike underneath me, and I want to thank Spiros Gabrilis and the crew for the opportunity, we’re making it work,” said Anthony Mazziotto, “Kaleb had me working here, and I just couldn’t get around him today. The Aprilia surprised me, because at The Ridge, Jackson [Blackmon] was very fast on his FZ, and also being a technical track, I expected to see the same thing climbing up the hill, but the Aprilia definitely dominated here at Laguna Seca.”

Jody Barry arrived at Laguna Seca determined, showing speed right from practice and taking the Superpole. Despite the fastest lap of the weekend, he had to settle for the third step of the podium after 13 laps, 1.071 seconds behind the winner.

“Pace of the race was very fast, set by De Keyrel. The bike has been great, we had grip throughout the race, and were stable the whole time, it’s been amazing,” said Jody Barry of Righteous Racing team, “Toward the end, I was pushing and closing the gap, but unfortunately, we hit some traffic, and just couldn’t get it to work, but we’re happy with the result and can’t complain.”

After five rounds of the MotoAmerica Twins Cup championship, riders continue to arrive to the grid aboard Aprilia RS 660 machines, proving the ability of the motorcycles to compete in America’s premiere championship as frontrunners. MotoAmerica heads to Brainerd International Raceway, in Minnesota for Round 6, of the 9-round championship, July 30 – August 1.

NINETEEN times TT winner Michael Dunlop is set to take centre stage at the 2021 Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show on October 9-10.

Michael is the first rider to complete a lap of the most famous road racing course in the world in under 17 minutes, with an average speed of 134mph.

He is also the last member of the Dunlop quartet who have dominated the dangerous and thrilling scene of motorcycle road racing for more than 40 years. Despite losing his uncle Joey, father Robert and elder brother William through the love of the sport, Michael continues to race and is currently chasing his Uncle Joey’s world record of 26 Isle of Man TT wins.

One of Michael’s most famous wins - and probably one of the most remarkable chapters in the Dunlop story - came immediately after another family tragedy. Just hours after his father Robert’s death at the North West 200 in 2008, Michael and his brother William were out preparing their bikes for racing the next day. Despite protests from organisers, family and friends, Michael went out and won the North West 200 the following day. He suitably dedicated the win to his father and since then has firmly established himself as one of the greatest motorcycle road racers in the world.

Fans will be able to hear from the man himself as he chats to TT commentator and former champion Steve Plater throughout the weekend. Catch the pair live on stage and in the GP Paddock on both Saturday and Sunday, where there will be signing opportunities and Q&A sessions too.

Plans are in place for a full return of all the much-loved aspects of the show, including the multi-million-pound Bonhams Auction, wall of death, massive indoor and outdoor trade and autojumble and club stands. There’ll be bikes everywhere, live trials action and live music too. More details will follow and will be updated on our website: www.staffordclassicbikeshows.com

Tickets are on sale now at an early bird price of £13 until October 4. Visit www.staffordclassicbikeshows.com or call 01507 529529 to purchase.

... as voted for by members of THE BIKER GUIDE facebook group - Biker Friendly Places UK and Europe 

The Bikers Cove, are the winner, with 151 votes, 2nd  place is Doms Bike Stop with 94 and Pinewood Bar & Cafe are 3rd with 75.

The poll has shown the passion and loyalty cafes in the poll have from their customers, which comes from not just the food served, but also from the lovely owners/staff and the welcome they get!

See the full results below

1st - The Bikers Cove 151
2nd - Doms Bike Stop 94
3rd - Pinewood Bar & Cafe 75
4th - Owls Nest Tea Room Diner 55
5th - Butchers Hook Cafe 37
6th - Squires Bikers-cafe 30
7th - Nell's Cafe 29
8th - Ponderosa Cafe 24
9th - Route 59 Cafe 23
10th - Castle Cafe 17

Super Sausage Cafe 14
The Old Stores Motorbike Cafe 10
The Custom Cafe 9
Seaways 8
The Manor Farm Cafe 7
H's Kent Motorcycles 5
Hungry Hogs At Hillside Cafe 4
Route 1066 Cafe 4
The Nook Cafe 4
Yondermann Café 4

Chequered Flag SW 3
Devils Bridge 3
The Filling Station 3
Whistlestop Cafe, Whitby 3
Loomies 3
Union Road Moto Velo Cafe 3
Strawberry Fields Cafe 3
Choppers Cafe 3

Pitstop Diner, Leyland 2
Zoom Cafe Bar 2
H-Cafe Berinsfield 2
Whistlestop Cafe North Wales 2
Coast Riders Diner 2
Salt & Pepper Cafe, Newcastle 2
The Picnic Bar Tattershall 2

One vote

Billy's on the Road
Hot Tram Roll
Ace Cafe London
Jacks Hill Café
Two Hoots Tea Room
Chain & Sprocket Cafe
Amici Coffee
The Tea Set at The Quiet Woman
Cafe 33
The Pit Stop Diner Stockton
The Green Welly Stop
Blu-Belles Cafe
The Bike Shed
Mavericks Mostyn
Gilks Garage Café
Krazy Horse
Baffle Haus
Ann's Kitchen
The Glen Café
Henrys Cafe
Tan Hill Inn
Route 11 Kitchen
Ryka’s Cafe
Chapter 1
Sunshine Cafe
The Honey Cafe
Touchdown Inn Cafe
KOTI Autotalli
Green Hut Café
Iron Horse Ranch House
Seaside Cafe, New Brighton

Well done to all those Cafes who were voted for, whether that was one vote or 150, as we know that many of you are passionate and loyal to places that you frequent.

We hope that people happily accept this vote and not want to storm on THE BIKER GUIDE® HQ, now the results are in.

The poll ran from 19th May to 1st July 2021- 12 noon.

Voting took place on THE BIKER GUIDE facebook group - Biker Friendly Places UK and Europe, via the poll at the top of the page.

Since 2009 we have promoted Biker Friendly cafes, places and meets on THE BIKER GUIDE® website - See THE BIKER GUIDE® website for extensive listings of Biker Friendly Cafes -
www.thebikerguide.co.uk/bikerfriendlymeetingplaces.html

• Norton Motorcycles engineers have supported students at WMG, University of Warwick to develop a TT capable electric racing motorcycle, named ‘Frontier’
• This includes donating a high performance bike frame and data to students undertaking research into study of electric motorbikes at WMG, University of Warwick
• Students adapted the sports bike platform to run a specially developed electric powertrain rated with a power output of 160kW/201bhp and 400Nm torque
• Immersion-cooled 16kWh battery pack is the first of its kind for application on a motorcycle, with battery cases manufactured using advanced laser-welding technology to deliver structural integrity and maximise reliability and repeatability

The Norton Motorcycle Co Ltd. is proud to support students at the University of Warwick who are researching the future of electric racing motorcycles. The group of students undertaking the project are aided by the donation of a sports bike frame by Norton Motorcycles, which has been adapted by the student team to be fitted with an electric powertrain, with batteries and control systems designed in-house.

The group of 13 students at WMG, University of Warwick – made up of cross-functional team from first- to final-year degree students, with the support of some EngD students – are joined by a selection of leading academics, engineers and researchers representing WMG, at the University. On-campus research has been reinforced with input, support, mentoring and technical guidance from Norton’s own designers and engineers, further to the supply of the frame.

The research team supported by WMG Centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult have developed an electric motorcycle powertrain, using a high performance sports frame as a platform. The motorcycle developed using this frame has been called the Frontier. The electric powertrain designed to work in the Norton frame is rated with a power output of 160kW or 201bhp, and delivering 400Nm of torque from a standing start. The acceleration and speed characteristics of the electric bike in motion roughly translate into a combustion-engine equivalent of around 900cc to 1,000cc.

The electric motor draws power from an immersion-cooled battery pack that has been designed and tested by the students and is the first of its kind for application in an electric motorcycle. The battery with a capacity of 16 kWh is designed to last longer with the application of robust thermal management strategies, while also allowing for larger short term power peaks required by a racing motorcycle.

In addition, the cooling system will enable the team to operate at a more efficient temperature range by optimising the starting temperature of the dielectric fluid prior to a race or testing, based on the requirements of the track.

The battery can be recharged with the common CHAdeMO connector, facilitating fast charging where available and allowing for a full charge of the battery in around an hour (up to 80% from empty in just 32 minutes). These impressive figures have supported the testing and development of the electric bike prototype, with research teams able to maximise riding time on the track thanks to reduced charging times, allowing for further track-side development and optimisation with the help of a fully instrumented bike.

The battery case was manufactured using laser welding techniques developed at WMG, The University of Warwick, a manufacturing process that is easily repeatable for potential serial production, while also incorporating process-control to maximise reliability and strength of the joints.

Students have been able to craft a functioning electric motorcycle based on the Norton frame in just seven months. The project began in October 2020 with the donation of the frame and associated parts, with students working hard to realise their goal alongside studying for their degrees. The bike has undergone significant testing including much computer-based validation such as CFD of battery cooling, modelling around thermal management, along with physical testing of cells and modules – whilst constantly reviewing engineering decisions to minimise and mitigate the risk of failure.

Dr Robert Hentschel, CEO of Norton Motorcycles, said:
“We are thrilled to be able to support the engineers of the future, who are developing tomorrow’s technology today, on the basis of a Norton frame. Our support by means of donation of the frame is just the beginning. Norton’s team of designers and engineers have been very interested to observe how this project is taking shape, supporting the student team wherever possible with advice and guidance.”

Aman Surana, Chief Engineerf the Warwick Moto team, said:
“Ever since we started the Warwick Moto project, the overall goal has always been around learning and enhancing our engineering experience. We have gained practical experience in our research that is required to deliver a real-world project, along with balancing considerations such as tight budgets and deadlines, while learning logistics and everything around delivering an industry project. This has made us all the more proud with the way the Frontier looks.

“To have access to Norton’s engineering team, years of experience and data has been a great resource, integral to the design of the bike. Combining the motorcycling knowledge from Norton, with the leading research at WMG, University of Warwick has been a fantastic learning opportunity for all students involved. We’re very excited to see what this collaboration leads to.”