The 2021 MotoGP season kicks off on the asphalt at Losail Circuit in Qatar for the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini. Just hours before taking to the track for the first official tests, the complete Italian team unveiled the new weapon from Noale - a revamped RS-GP. With sincere and emotional thoughts for Fausto Gresini, who had been part of this project since its début in 2015.

Pulling the cover off the new V4 were Aleix Espargaró and Lorenzo Savadori, the pair of riders who will be tasked with racing the new prototype. A bike that represents the natural evolution of the 2020 project, a new beginning conditioned last year by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic which hampered the initial, fundamental phase of development.

But over the winter, engineers and technicians in the racing department had the chance to work hard, with the goal of maintaining the strong points that had come out last season, while implementing new and important innovations. Some of these are rather evident, like the redesigned and more efficient aerodynamics or the carbon swingarm. Others, as is routinely the case, are hidden "under the skin".

We are delighted to tell you that the KICKBACK Custom + Retro Bike Show will take place once again at the wonderful Town Hall in Cheltenham.

On Sunday 23rd May the beautiful regency Town Hall will be packed full of top drawer custom and retro bikes from all over the UK. This is a great opportunity for some of the UK's finest bike builders to show us what they have been building in their sheds over lockdown. It's also a fabulous chance for visitors to jump on their bikes and blast through the Cotswolds into Cheltenham for a great day out with their mates.

The whole show takes place inside and around the wonderful Town Hall and the stunning Imperial Gardens, there is a licensed bar and cafe inside the Hall and outside in the gardens!

Due to Covid protocols we can only have half capacity in the hall at any one time so we have introduced a morning session and an afternoon session. It's an all ticket event with limited numbers.

See here for tickets

Pleasant confirmations and new arrivals for Team Gresini MotoE, who from this season onwards will be investing on young and Italian riders, with the key support of new title sponsor Indonesian Racing, who after Moto3 and Moto2, they further reinforce a relationship with the World Championship and Gresini Racing. The first electric team waving the Indonesian flag is therefore born, and it will be named Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE.

The new ‘electric’ line-up of Team Gresini has been confirmed, as the Italian squad places their hopes once again on young Italian riders. The new season will resume from the confirmation of Matteo Ferrari: the 2019 World Champion and 2020 series runner-up will be at the starting blocks of the new season, with the goal to remain at the sharp end of the series and try to reclaim the MotoE crown.

Andrea Mantovani will be at Ferrari’s side. The 26-year-old from Ferrara lands in MotoE from the Italian Championship of Speed (CIV) – Superbike category – and he will test his skills for the first time with the Energica Ego Corsa machine. He will race with the number 9.

The first test of 2021 will take place in about one hour at the Angel Nieto Circuit of Jerez de la Frontera (which will host the season opener).

The last goodbye to Fausto Gresini will take place tomorrow at Imola, privately. He passed away last 23 February at 60 years of age.
 
Unfortunately, it will not be the type of send-off ceremony we all wished for our beloved Fausto, given the current restrictions caused by the ongoing pandemic.
 
As Gresini Racing, and after agreeing with the family, we decided however to stream live the ceremony, to allow everybody to take part in this last farewell. 
 
You can follow the live streaming at Facebook/GresiniRacing this Saturday from 10am. 

The Touratech Destino Touring 2 HDry technical motorcycle boot combines maximum touring comfort with field-tested robustness. Due to this concept, it is absolutely made for the versatile demands of adventure riders who like to spice up their tours with gravel stages. Thanks to the use of an advanced leather laminate, the latest generation has even better breathability.

Leather laminate instead of membrane

The most important innovation in the latest version of this all-rounder has to do with moisture protection. While its predecessor still relied on the classic construction with a liner, in which the membrane is incorporated as a loose layer between the outer material and the lining, the Destino Touring 2 HDry is made using the name-giving, particularly high-quality HDry leather laminate.
The advantages are obvious. Whereas the loose membrane in constructions with a liner is always subject to a certain amount of relative movement between the layers and the associated tensile and frictional forces, in the HDry leather laminate, the membrane and the outer material form an inseparable unity. No water can penetrate between the leather and the membrane, there are no seams prone to defects, and the stress on the membrane is distinctly lower. In addition to the significantly higher robustness, this leather laminate upgrades the Destino Touring 2 HDry, above all, through noticeably improved breathability.

Elaborate safety concept

In keeping with the motto "Never change a running system", the basic technical concept of the Destino Touring 2 HDry remains otherwise untouched. In other words: this boot features an elaborate safety concept, with a robust sole, protectors on the shin and ankle, a double layer of leather on the heel and forefoot, as well as heat protection on the inside of the leg. The triple fixation, using solidly screwed buckles, guarantees a secure fit. Certification according to the latest CE standard guarantees the safe-guarding effect of the protectors.

Practical solutions for maximum comfort

Although it is equipped with robust protectors, the Touring 2 HDry is extremely comfortable to wear. In addition to the waterproof and highly breathable HDry leather laminate, the Air-Pump insole contributes to a pleasant climate inside the boot by means of effective air circulation.
Being able to open the shaft wide makes pulling it on and off particularly easy. When closed, however, the Touring 2 HDry is extremely slim, so that wearing it under trousers works well. The shaft width can be adjusted individually by means of Velcro fasteners and adjustable locking buckles. Flex zones ensure good ankle mobility.

A flat-cut forefoot area enables a good feel for the gear lever, while generous reinforcement of the area impacted when shifting gears protects the boot from abrasion.
As a smart extra, the Touring 2 HDry, like all boots in the Destino family, has a pull out stainless steel cable to attach it securely to your motorcycle.

Wide range of sizes

The Destino Touring 2 HDry is available now in sizes 38 to 48.

Further information can be found at shop.touratech.com