A NICE SECOND BEST TIME FOR MELANDRI AND GUINTOLI LAGGING A BIT OPEN APRILIA'S 2014 WORLD SUPERBIKE SEASON.

FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE AT PHILLIP ISLAND WITH THE MORNING SESSION THWARTED BY BAD WEATHER AND A VERY HEATED AFTERNOON SESSION.

Phillip Island (Australia), 21 February 2014 – This is just the first day of practice in a World SBK championship that promises to be well balanced, long and exciting. But the Friday practice and qualifiers that were held on the magnificent Australian circuit at Phillip Island put the first rankings on the record.

The Aprilia Racing Team took to the track for the first time with the RSV4 in its new silver livery which has already gained popularity with fans and the team.

Melandri, in his first round with the Aprilia RSV4 reigning Manufacturer World Champion, put a nice second best time on the boards. After the first morning session that was basically abandoned due to the wet asphalt and changing weather conditions that hindered a decisive choice for bike setups, the games got underway in the afternoon session. Melandri lapped quite a bit (20 laps), working on various setups and trying several technical solutions in anticipation of Saturday's Superpole and – above all – the races on Sunday. It was only in the last few minutes that he went out on the track with his sights set on a fast time and he hit the bullseye with a 1’31.137, just 37 thousandths of a second behind Lowes and ahead of Giugliano, Sykes, Rea and Laverty.

Marco Melandri: “This was not an easy day because of the weather, but it was definitely positive. Even with only one session we managed to follow the scheduled testing programme with good results. There is still room for improvement in many areas, but we are able to lap fast easily and that is a good starting point for Sunday's races. Tomorrow I'll try to focus efforts on speed and on the fast lap for qualifying because with times as close as they are starting as far up front as possible will be important”.

The day didn't go quite as well for Sylvain Guintoli, winner on this track at the world championship's opening race last season. In the 16 laps he put in the best time the Frenchman put on the boards was 1,31.759 which relegates him to tenth place, although the gap is just 66 hundredths of a second from the leader. The French rider took advantage of the session to try out a few setup solutions on his RSV4, identifying the path he needs to follow in the weekend ahead. The small gaps (the top 11 are all within less than a second of one another) is indicative of just how well balanced this Superbike season is right from the start.

Sylvain Guintoli: “The first day went well. I was trying to confirm a few setups that we had to try before the race, so we used this session to check them. I wasn't looking for a top time. Besides, the strong wind bothered my riding quite a bit. Tomorrow we'll try to pick up the pace now that we know which direction to go. We need to prepare as best as possible for two long and difficult races”.

Argentina will be again the scenery for Desafío Ruta 40 (Road 40 Challenge), an international sport competition that has been propelled for 5 years from the National Ministry of Tourism. This race, which links the Patagonia and Cuyo, and it goes through a mythical itinerary in unique destinations with unique and beautiful landscapes, identity and culture.

Unlike the last two editions, the competition will go through the Road 40 from South to North and from San Carlos de Bariloche, then Zapala and Malargüe, and finally in San Juan.

Competitors will find new paths in complex and challenging roads in the most impressive landscapes of our country.

In this edition, driver will visit the provinces of Río Negro, Neuquén, Mendoza and San Juan.

Under the Dakar format, the Challenge gathers together the world’s top competitors of Cross Country Rally that will race 3508 kilometers in six days.

As it was the case in other sport events that we have supported, Desafío Ruta 40 – Dakar Series has turned into an efficient tool to get to know our tourists offers, which are incomparable in terms of quality services and friendliness of our staff.

The city of San Carlos de Bariloche with its traditions and snowed hills will be the chosen one to open this new edition of the Dakar Series in our country. After that, the competition will go to Zapala where the Laguna Blanca National Park is located and then it will visit the city of Malargüe. This city has the so-called culinary roads where the trout and the chivito (baby goat). After that stage, it will finish in San Juan, the land of the sun and the wine.

We are glad to host, once more, competitors, travelers, and organizers with the commitment of providing them an excellent stay and the certainty that they will come back to get to know our country better.

Carlos Enrique Meyer
National Ministry of Tourism
Republic Argentina

www.desafioruta40.com.ar

KTM is excited to announce that Dakar’s hottest future prospect Sam Sunderland has signed to race for the Red Bull KTM Factory Rally Team for the next three and a half years.  

Sunderland, a 24-year-old former motocrosser turned rally racer, is pleased to be joining the factory squad in a bid to unlock his Dakar potential with the ultra-competitive crew that has won the last 13 editions of the notorious rally.    

British-ace Sunderland has enjoyed both success and disaster following his Dakar debut in 2012 at just 22 years of age, with competitive results on the days he’s completed during the rally. Sunderland has also achieved success in the British youth championships, UAE MX2 & MX1 Championship titles, UAE National Baja Championship titles in 2010/2011, an Abu Dhabi Desert challenge podium in 2012, a Merzouga Rally win in 2013 plus a stage win in this year’s Dakar event before retiring from the race.    

With KTM’s Dakar know-how and Sunderland’s motivation it is hoped that he will develop into one of the future greats of the sport as he gains experience with the factory squad amongst more established riders. His main goal for year one will be to complete the rally in the top five with consistent results throughout the stages, and he’s particularly excited about working with Marc Coma, who enjoyed his fourth Dakar victory last month.

 Dubai-based Sunderland, who is the first British rider for 15-years to win a Dakar stage, will race the all-new 450 Factory rally machine that made its debut in 2014. The youngster will contest some rounds of the Cross-Country Rallies World Championship throughout this year as he builds his confidence and speed ahead of the 2015 Dakar race.  

Sam Sunderland: “I’m really excited for this new chapter in my career and very grateful for the opportunity from KTM. It’s going to be great to work with the huge experience of the team and I hope I can prove myself with good results to return the confidence they’ve put into me. The team has won for 13 years in a row and it’s a huge opportunity for me to race with a team with that much experience. When I met the team I had a great feeling, like friends straight away, which is a huge part of the whole deal, because in the Dakar it’s stressful and tiring, so the relationships are important to be able to work together in the toughest times. The bike is proven; I’ve not ridden it yet, but I’m really excited and looking forward to that. It looks great and with first and second this year it’s obviously great for the job. I am working really hard with my training right now and I can’t wait to get started.”  

Pit Beirer: KTM’s Head of Motorsports “It’s definitely a big pleasure that we are able to bring Sam over to KTM, thanks to the friendly relationship we have had with him through Kini and myself. We’ve been following his riding over the last few years and he’s a young, talented rider with great skills. I’m sure if we combine this with the strength of our team and the training opportunities with Marc, he will make our package stronger for the future. As Sam is still very young it’s now our job to keep him calm; it’s not that we expect results straight away, but we will give him time to learn the secrets of the desert. He’s a proven stage winner, he has the skill and speed, but I don’t want to put him under pressure. The key is to put him with our experienced riders and he will learn and help them. In my opinion he is already maybe podium contender, but for us it’s not about the results today or tomorrow, it’s about building a good, competitive long-term Dakar future.”   Sunderland will begin racing a KTM motocross machine today at a local event and is expected to make his rally race debut with KTM at round one of the Cross Country Rallies World Championship at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in April.

www.ktm.com

Ace Cafe London is delighted to be able to confirm attendance, with stand and display celebrating cafe racers and speed, at the forthcoming 14th annual Salon Du Deux Roues, Palais des Expositions, Limoges, France 29th -30th March.

The show, presented by www.ffmc87.com, this year "includes a specialfeature area showcasing English motorcycles". along with special guests to include Jim Redman, Phil Read, Soili Saarinen and George Beale with his Honda '6' RC 174 replica.

In addition to the bikes displayed, ranging from off-road, race and competition machines, dragsters, sidecars, trikes and Quads, stunt shows are a special feature of the event's Live Action!

 Along with bikes, the Ace presence and display will include an arrayof Ace Cafe, Rockers and StoMoCo items, together with the Ace 75th anniversary Bookazine and the recently published and critically acclaimed seminal book "Ace Times - Speed thrills and tea spills, a cafe and a culture" by author Mick Duckworth.

www.ffmc87.com  

Scotland’s biggest and best motorcycle show returns to Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre this March with all the latest models, major manufacturers, and breathe taking live action. The Carole Nash MCN Scottish Motorcycle Show, held on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th March, is a haven for anyone with a passion for motorcycles.

Major bike manufacturers will showcase their new models for 2014. Plus there will be exclusive offers from the dealers on new and 2013 motorbikes. Bag a bargain in the Bike Jumble and browse the Retail Village where a host of traders will be able to fit you out with new leathers, boots or helmet. If you want to improve your bike’s appearance there’s a wide array of suppliers to help make your bike stand out from the crowd.

Take a ride down memory lane in the Classic Bike magazine hall where you can find Scotland’s biggest collection of classic motorcycles spanning over 80 years. The Classic Bike team will be on hand throughout the weekend – pop along to their stand for a chat.

Centre stage in the Classic Bike hall will be a dedicated display celebrating the racing heritage of Joe Potts and Bob McIntyre. The Joe Potts Garage Collection will not only include various bikes but also trophies, photographs and full back catalogue of memorabilia.

For the first time ever Practical Sportsbikes magazine will also be exhibiting at the event and will be on hand for advice and tips on how to get the best out of your pride and joy.

The Knockhill Stage will be jam packed with entertainment all weekend including competitions, celebrity rider interviews and much more. VIP Guests include Fast Freddie Spencer, John McGuinness, Stuart Easton & Niall Mackenzie

There will be an impressive range of customised motorbikes from Clydebank-based House of Custom, specialists in customising Harley Davidson Sportsters. With their award-winning ‘hot rod’ styling, the bikes receive a great customised paint finish, slammed suspension, drag handlebars, upgraded lights, lots of stainless steel and custom seat which gives a lower riding position and improved handling.

Thrill seekers can enjoy stunt shows from Broke FMX as well as Scotland’s very own Kevin Carmichael.

Novices and experts alike can take advantage of Mick Extances’ Kawasaki Trials Experience whilst younger show visitors will be able to get their first taste of riding and experience just what it’s like to get on a Honda motorcycle with Honda’s unique ‘My First Licence’.

Show is open 9am until 5pm each day. Adult ticket prices start from just £12 when booked in advance or £16 on the door. Senior citizen tickets are £9 in advance or £12 on the door. Kids under 15 go free when accompanied by a paying adult. All tickets are subject to a service charge. Parking is £5 per car, motorcycles are free and secure helmet storage is available. To book tickets visit www.scottishmotorcycleshow.com where you can find all the latest updates.