PAIN STOPPED ANDREA WHO ATTEMPTED A STOIC RETURN TO THE SADDLE

It was an important day of testing today on the Spanish Jerez de la Frontera circuit, with all the MotoGP riders on the track. Two Aprilias were kept busy, Aleix Espargaró’s factory bike and the test team’s bike with Bradley Smith, whereas Andrea Iannone attempted to get back in the saddle but had to throw in the towel because of the pain.

Aleix was the first rider on the track from the first seconds of the tests and he carried out a plethora of tests during the 80 laps total that he turned. The tests involved engine torque management, weight distribution, various traction control configurations and a brand new rear suspension setup. The Spanish rider finished the session with a best lap of 1'37,758.

It was a highly intense schedule for Bradley Smith as well, turning 82 laps, the fastest of which in 1'38.077. The Aprilia test team’s operations focused on new components, different setups and the assessment of a few Michelin tyre solutions.

Still dealing with the after-effects of his crash in FP4 Saturday which prevented him from taking part in the race, Andrea Iannone was loath to give in and tried to get back in the saddle today after receiving the all-clear from the doctor. Unfortunately, the lack of strength caused by pain in his left foot kept him from shifting gears properly, so the rider and team decided to stop testing straight away to give the foot as much time as possible to heal. Comforted by the good sensations he had in FP4 and the great job done by teammate Aleix, Andrea stated that he is confident in anticipation of Le Mans.

ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"This day of testing was very important for us. In fact, I was the first one out on the track. We worked non-stop, both in anticipation of Le Mans and to continue development on the RS-GP. As always when testing, some solutions return better results than others. It will be essential to carefully analyse the data collected today to decide which line to follow in the upcoming rounds."

BRADLEY SMITH
"It was a rather busy day. We worked on three fronts: the hard front tyre, which we confirmed as the right choice for our bike on this track, weight distribution and some components we needed to evaluate in terms of performance and reliability. Since I got close to Andrea’s and Aleix’s performance, the feeling is that I can contribute to overcoming the limits that the factory riders are highlighting. It is not an easy process. It takes time, but we have a structure capable of doing it. I think that in the coming months we’ll be able to make some targeted changes in our weaker areas."

ANDREA IANNONE
"I tried, but I was lacking strength in my foot to shift gears. It’s a pity because I would have liked to use the day of testing to confirm the positive note on which we had begun to work in FP4 where, before the crash, I was doing rather well. We received some confirmation from Aleix in the race and that is definitely positive. From tomorrow I’ll begin my recovery, but I am sure that I’ll be able to be at 100% for the Le Mans weekend."

ANDREA IANNONE VICTIM OF A BAD CRASH

BRADLEY SMITH ON THE SEVENTH ROW

A tenth of a second kept Aleix Espargaró from gaining direct access in FP3 to the second qualifying session today, a tiny gap that bears witness once again to how competitive the MotoGP starting grid is on the Jerez de la Frontera circuit. The Spanish rider then went through Q1 boldly, finishing with a time of 1'37.625 that earns him the first spot on the sixth row.

His garage mate, Andrea Iannone, had a bad crash on turn 11 in the early stages of FP4. Although X-rays showed that there were no fractures, the rider was declared unfit to race due to severe pain to his left foot. The situation will be assessed and updated with a check-up tomorrow morning.

Bradley Smith will start from the seventh row tomorrow, doing his best time ever on the Jerez track while continuing his usual development work on the Aprilia RS-GP again today.


ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"This morning, we worked hard with the goal of going through to Q2, missing it by just one tenth of a second, after which I gave it my all in Q1 as well, but finishing in the top 12 just wasn’t in the cards. We cannot be satisfied with our starting position, but in compensation, during FP4 we found some good solutions for the race, both in terms of setup and in terms of tyres. Tomorrow I will try to start well and maintain a good pace all the way to the finish with the goal of getting into the top ten. We expect higher temperatures tomorrow, so I will probably put on the harder compound tyres which I feel better with."

BRADLEY SMITH
"Yesterday evening we did everything we could to relieve the pain and it was good to get back on the back feeling almost none. Having said that, we did not want to take too many risks today. In any case, my time in qualifying is the best I've ever done here at Jerez, so I am pleased even if I would have liked to have gotten below 1’38”, and we had the potential to do it. In the warm up session tomorrow we’ll try to use a mix of two different configurations we tested today in order to keep improving for the race, where we’ll be able to battle for points."

Sterling silver jewellery that shines like chrome looks great with leathers and makes a great conversation starter. Wearing a pendant like art tells people something not many people know about you. Or what are you most passionate about?

Amoreantos is an upcoming jewellery design duo called Abbi and Tim from the Midlands, UK. They think that their 925 sterling silver pendants will bring character to your purchase.

Amoreantos’ latest design called Exélixi meaning ‘evolution’ reminds us of how we learn that love is not always a place of safety and security. This pendant is currently available on Kickstarter, a crowdfunding platform for projects where a funding target needs to be raised to complete the project. Their campaign has already raised 100% funding in the first 8 days. Amoreantos is offering the pendant as a reward for backing the project at a fraction of the suggested retail price. Exélixi will then be available in their online shop which can be found on The Biker Guide.

Link here to the campaign for Exélixi on Kickstarter.

Abbi said, “Our sketches are perfected in Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, 3D printed and reproduced through the lost wax cast process in small casting runs in the famous Birmingham Jewellery Quarter (UK). Weighing over 7.78g, this pendant will be hallmarked by the London Assay Office. It’s all or nothing funding, and we have already reached our goal which we would like to maintain, so don’t miss your opportunity to get this awesome pendant.”

www.amoreantos.co.uk

Mountain biking is a great sport. It gets you riding like the wind, rolling over rocks, shooting up hills, descending near-vertical downhill sections, enjoying the enchanting outdoors all the while getting some fitness in. No matter what your mountain biking goals are, you have to get the basics. 

Here are some tips to start you off;  

BE FLEXIBLE, BALANCED AND WELL POSITIONED

It’s easy to stay on your saddle in a smooth flat trail but when riding a rough terrain especially descending, staying on the saddles can be a tall order. You should position your seat properly to help you get in the correct body position. Normally while descending, your weight should pivot around the bottom bracket to ensure you channel your weight through the back of the bike to counteract angle of a drop. You should be very flexible to be able to handle any unforeseen situation that may arise along the trail.

BRAKE TECHNIQUES

Braking seems quite simple; you squeeze the levers and the bike slows down. That is just the half of it. Braking should be consistent and controlled. Don’t slam the brakes when you want to stop but rather do it softly and proactively. Be specific in your breaking points. Braking over obstacles will send your bike sideways and result in an accident. Learn to break effectively and a good point to note is that most braking power comes from the front brakes.

INVEST IN A QUALITY BIKE

Find a bike that fits your style and the terrain you want to tread. Be sure that the bike is set up to fit your body structure. A bike that is too big or too small will be hard to control for the rider. Mountain bikes should be robust and with Bikester Mountain Bikes, no terrain will be hard to beat.  The bike should be well maintained and clean. Before every ride do a quick check to make sure everything is in working order. Test the brakes, gears and make sure the tires are inflated according to specifications.

ALWAYS LOOK AHEAD

Ride the trail with your eyes before you start cycling. Where you look significantly affects where you go. This is called target fixation. Scanning the trail properly will help you anticipate obstacles and changes in the trails. This will allow you to ride faster and more confidently while having fun at it. Always remember to remain calm and relaxed. Tensing up will make your bike rigid and uncontrollable leading to accidents.

SHIFTING GEARS

Mountain biking involves hills and slopes and it’s good to know how to shift gears properly. The gears on a mountain bike are intended to give the rider a smooth pedaling rhythm in unpredictable terrain. The gears might seem complex but once you learn how to shift gears on a mountain bike, it will be a less intimidation process. You should anticipate the trail ahead so that you can prepare to gradually change the gears beforehand instead of abruptly overcompensating which might cause the chain to slip from position.

TRAIL ETIQUETTE

Mountain biking is often done in forests, trails or roads shared with other riders, hikers or even animals. Therefore, only ride the trails open to mountain bike use. Always be courteous and responsible rider and be in control of your bike. Yield a right-of-way to cyclists travelling uphill and slow down when approaching hikers. Progression is key. It’s tempting to take a huge leap in a day but its paramount to move from a small slope to a big one gradually and you will be less likely to injure yourself. Learn the skills of using a mountain bike and slowly put them in practice each day.

TRY SOMETHING NEW

Once you have mastered your local trails, step out of your comfort zone venture forth into other regions. New trails and challenges make mountain biking more exciting and sharpens your skills. This is actually the main key to becoming a well-rounded biker.