#ArgentinaGP race. Team Gresini Racing MotoGP always tends to look at the bright side of things and today at Termas de Rio Hondo de best news comes from Fabio Di Giannantonio who got away with just a few bruises after the heavy crash at turn 11 with only two laps left in the third Grand Prix of the season.

The racing weekend was squeezed into a two-day event due to the ‘notorious’ MotoGP crates which prevented both Gresini standard bearers from finding the perfect feeling on what is known to be a challenging track to interpret.

It was not a GP to remember for Enea Bastianini either. Today’s top-ten finish left a bittersweet taste in the Italian rider’s mouth as he struggled to get up to speed on the Argentine track. The few points scored allow him to remain in the higher part of the standings: Bastianini will fly out to Texas in third place, 9 points away from the top of the standings.

10th - ENEA BASTIANINI (3rd in the championship standings)
“We’re not satisfied with how today went. We were not comfortable with the bike, and we lost the good feeling we had in the warm up this morning. We really didn’t understand this race well. I did have a decent pace, but I was too often at the limit. Maybe with a more ‘traditional’ weekend we may have had a few more options, but the goal was vey different. We had too many issues with the rear-end of the bike. We scored a few points, so let’s think positive and look forward to Texas.”

DNF - FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO
“It wasn’t a positive weekend. We had very little track-time and unfortunately, I ended up crashing out of the race with a few kms left to ride. It was a difficult moment, in a very fast corner. Fortunately, I got away with a few scratches and a hit in the abdominal area – without major consequences. Obviously, we were aiming at a different result and a more normal weekend, but we need to keep our heads down and keep working.”

The Argentine racing weekend has finally begun with an unusual Saturday, in which were squeezed both free practice sessions and qualifying. All the crates of Team Gresini only arrived during the night, which required an incredible amount of effort for mechanics and team staff who worked tirelessly from 4am in the morning until the end of the day.

Qualifying were not kind to Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio, even though the former – who currently leads the championship standings – was only 22 thousandths of a second away from getting into Q2 and will therefore start tomorrow’s race from thirteenth place.

Di Giannantonio did not manage to shine on the Argentine track and will line up on the twentieth spot of the grid for the Argentine Grand Prix. The Italian experienced a little step back from the same day in Indonesia two weeks ago, although his feeling with the bike is still improving.

Tomorrow’s race will indeed get underway at 15:00 local time (GMT -3), with a double warm up (40 minutes) in place to allow riders for a bit more of track time before the third race of the season.

13º - ENEA BASTIANINI (1'38.566)
“This was a difficult day. It was one of those days that start on the wrong foot and that are hard to change. We missed the access to Q2 just for a few thousandths of a second both in FP2 and Q1. We had a few issues that we maybe addressed a little too late, but these days happen, and we need to accept the outcome. What we can do is to keep working to be competitive tomorrow and try to put together a good comeback race. I felt the bike a bit more ‘mine’ in today’s final laps, and the direction we’ve taken is the right one.”

20º - FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO (1'39.126)
“It was a challenging day for us because we made a mistake this morning: we kind of ran around in circles as we focused more on my feelings than on the track conditions, which changed quite a lot during the day. We took a wrong direction with the set-up, but we went back to previous settings and we improved – which also doing some damage limitation in qualifying. It’s a pity because we lost some time, but these things can happen when you’re a rookie. Fortunately we’ll have 40 minutes of warm up tomorrow and we’ll try to make the most of them.”

Indian Motorcycle UK dealer awards congratulate achievements as the brand enjoys record growth.

UNITED KINGDOM – Indian Motorcycle dealers from across the region gathered at the brand’s first in-person business conference since 2019. Representatives from the UK’s 19 dealership locations were rewarded with first-class accommodation and hospitality while taking the opportunity to explore the all-new Kensington based Indian Motorcycle Brand Experience Centre, located within the imposing ground floor footprint of the Hilton London Olympia.

Despite the trading challenges of the previous two years, Indian Motorcycle UK has seen expansion of its dealer network sites and record sales growth across all key market sectors for the sixth year running; motorcycle unit sales have increased by +26% YOY 2021 vs 2020 and Parts, Garments & Accessories sales increased by +35% in the same trading period.

Andy Simpson, National Sales Manager, Indian Motorcycle: “We are happy to report buoyant growth in the Indian Motorcycle UK business, our committed dealer network continues to invest heavily in the FTR, Scout, Chief and our premium touring platforms to maximise the local market opportunity. Our loyal partners are capitalising on Indian Motorcycle’s market leading new product offering, assisted by robust sales and marketing support, and yet we are still to fulfil our full retail potential as our network continues to expand with carefully selected retailers – The future is bright for Indian Motorcycle dealers, and we enjoy celebrating that success with our network.”

Key to the networking event were the Indian Motorcycle 2021 Dealership Awards, presented by Andy Simpson, to celebrate the achievements and commitments to the Indian Motorcycle brand across all aspects of business delivery.

2021 Award Winners

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE CANTERBURY (ROBINSONS FOUNDRY)
IMR / IMRG Outstanding contribution, for support and development of their dealership rider community. Presented to Dave Martin.

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE POOLE (MOORESPEED RACING)
Outstanding customer care. Presented to Colin Moore

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE BURY ST EDMUNDS (KRAZY HORSE)
Outstanding destination dealer. Presented to Paul Beamish.

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE LONDON (KRAZY HORSE)
Outstanding contribution to the Indian MC brand. Presented to Rocco Micallef.

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE SOUTH WEST (THOR MOTORCYCLES)
Outstanding sales performance. Presented to Rebecca Hicks

LEVI TUSOON – INDIAN MOTORCYCLE EDINBURGH (SALTIRE MOTORCYCLES)

Outstanding dealership ambassador, awarded to an exceptional dealership employee or representative. Presented to Levi Tusoon.

For more information on Indian Motorcycle visit IndianMotorcycle.co.uk and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.

Published by award-winning filmmaker, Peter Starr, Taking it to the Limit offers readers an insight into how over 40 successful motorcycle racing films were made in a 20 year time period, including the award-winning film, Take It To The Limit.

Taking it to the Limit includes previously unpublished stories about some of the world’s greatest motorcycle stars, some of which include Kenny Roberts, Barry Sheene and the story of Mike Hailwood’s initial return to the Isle of Man in September 1977. The era covered by Taking it to the Limit is one of those that is generally lauded as a “Golden Age”. The stars, the films and now the book, collectively, is one of the most unique tomes to be offered on that era of motorcycle racing. 

The iconic film, Take it to the Limit, won premier awards at the Chicago International Film Festival and the Houston International Film Festival in 1980, the year of its release. Peter Starr, the producer of this film and author of Taking It To The Limit is an inductee of the American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Fame and has gathered a remarkable collection of stories in this book that will fill many of the gaps still left in the coverage of that era.

Taking it to the Limit is accompanied with a free DVD showing clips from many of Starr’s most popular films. The book, with 50 signed copies available, costs £45 and is available from www.mortonsbooks.co.uk

-------------------------------------------------ENDS-------------------------------------------------------

About the author

A former employee of Triumph Engineering in Meriden during the early 1960s, Starr emigrated to the USA in the mid-sixties, initially to continue his racing career but soon learned that his talents, and thick English accent, were better served as a radio rock ‘n’ roll disc jockey on various American Radio stations peddling the British Music Scene to an enthusiastic young audience. This was followed by a stint as a record producer in Hollywood where he worked with artists such as the Brit Spencer Davis.

This led to the opportunity to return to the motorcycle culture, and to make BAD ROCK the first of what turned out to be over 40 films on motorcycle sport. Starr’s motorcycle films have been honoured by 14 international film awards and, in addition to the AMA Hall of Fame, he has been inducted to the Trailblazers Hall of Fame and the HotShoe Hall of Fame. Currently Starr lives in Los Angeles where he produces documentaries and television commercials and serves as the medical research director of a Medical Foundation.

The KICKBACK Custom Bike + Stunt Show takes place this weekend and here's a quick reminder of what's happening.

Saturday 2nd April show opens from 11am - 6pm.

Showcasing the amazing customs and classic specials plus features such as 'Force of Nature' the amazing steam powered rocket bike on a static display where you can meet it's creator Graham Sykes.

The judging takes place throughout Saturday for the 2022 National Championships with the Awards on Sunday to be presented by Henry Cole.

Throughout both days the incredible 'Two Brothers Stunt Team' will be performing the most excellent stunts and tricks.

Enjoy a sit-down breakfast or lunch in the Stockman's Cafe and there'll also be coffee, tea and beers to keep you going through the day inside the main hall.

On Sunday KICKBACK opens at 10am with the Awards at 3pm. Again the stunt show will be performing three times throughout the day with the event closing at around 4.30pm.

For camping, tenting and motorhoming you can book at pitchup.com just search Three Counties Showground Worcestershire.

To get the discount ticket offer click here.

When you get to the Showground please enter via Brown Gate and park up near the Wye Hall for free.

If you are coming on your bike you can park up INSIDE the Main Show hall, if there's still space.

Showground post code is WR13 6NW.

There is a 'cash on the door' option.

Kickback | Facebook