F1 News - Lewis Hamilton named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people of 2020 list
https://ift.tt/2G09fyU Lewis Hamilton has been named in Time magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people this year. The Mercedes driver said he was "proud to be included" in the list, which also includes tennis star Naomi Osaka and athlete Allyson Felix. Time's profile of Hamilton is written by Bubba Wallace, the only black driver in the American Nascar stock-car series. Wallace described Hamilton as "an inspiration for everyone". Wallace said Hamilton's successful presence in F1 was a totem for black people: "He shows we're out there doing it." Wallace added: "His activism has also moved the world. Lewis has brought international attention to the Blackâ¯Lives Matter movementexternal-link, through his advocacy on social media and at F1 events. "Lewis' mental preparation, his aura, his ability to capitalise on every opportunity to use his platform to drive out racism are more than just a model for race-car drivers and other athletes. He's an inspiration for everyone." Hamilton was named in the Titans' categoryexternal-link, alongside the likes of NFL Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Briton has been at the centre of the demonstrations, as F1's most high-profile figure and its only black driver. Most recently, at the Tuscan Grand Prix, he wore a T-shirt highlighting police brutality. Hamilton, 35, is poised to equal and then break the all-time F1 win record held by Michael Schumacher. The world champion is on 90 victories, one short of the German's mark, and can equal it at this weekend's Russian Grand Prix in Sochi. Hamilton has won six of nine races this season and is on course to win his seventh world drivers' title, which would draw him level with Schumacher's other all-time record. #F1 via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6 September 23, 2020 at 09:57AM
MotoGP News - Quartararo: Difficult to win MotoGP races if Yamaha isn’t in front
https://ift.tt/3679aVj Petronas SRT's Fabio Quartararo admits it's "difficult to win a race" in MotoGP on the Yamaha if he is not leading, due to the bike's lack of power. The Yamaha has won four times this season in the hands of Quartararo at the Jerez double-header, his team-mate Franco Morbidelli in the San Marino Grand Prix, and Maverick Vinales in last weekend's Emilia Romagna GP. Despite its hit rate outstripping the other manufacturers in 2020, Yamaha has been affected by engine issues, which necessitated a reduction in revs for all four M1 riders and led to a tough Austria double-header in August for them. At the second Misano weekend, the fastest Yamaha was over 11km/h down on the fastest Ducati through the speed traps. As a result, Yamaha's riders are struggling to keep up with the bikes ahead on the straight and attempt to overtake on the brakes, while also unable to make the most of the M1's cornering strength. Quartararo got stuck behind the KTM of Pol Espargaro for much of the Emilia Romagna GP, but was unable to find a way past until lap 24 of 27 - by which time the Suzuki of Joan Mir had recovered from 11th to jump the pair of them into second. "We are struggling a lot to overtake people, and if you are not doing like Maverick [did and lead from the start] it's difficult to win a race," Quartararo said. "I won my two races like this, like Franco, like Maverick. "So, when you are behind someone who has much more engine than you, you can't really do better. "So, happy for Maverick because he deserves it. "Let's see for Barcelona, it's a track I love but it has a straight of 1km, so I don't know what to think about it. "But it's a track that I'm really looking forward to being at because I think it's a track where we can get something really good." Vinales, who led for the first six laps of last Sunday's Misano race and went on to win after long-time leader Francesco Bagnaia crashed on lap 21, agreed with Quartararo's views having experienced something similar in Sunday's warm-up session. "I quite agree, honestly," he replied when asked about Quartararo's comments. "This morning I exited behind a few riders and even if I was a bit faster I could not overtake and the only thing I was doing was warming up the brakes and it was difficult to control also the pressure of the tyres. "So, at the moment it's our weak point, but we need to find out how to fight back when we get overtaken. "I was a little bit upset [in warm-up] because if [Jack] Miller was in front of me, what can I do? "If I'm going a little faster I cannot overtake him on the rest of the lap. "So, my only target was to be first, and after I was first in the first lap, then I say 'ok, now I need to do my rhythm'. "But if you start first, then it's another race." Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei September 23, 2020 at 11:06AM
MotoGP News - Marquez "expected more" from Quartararo after MotoGP Jerez double win
https://ift.tt/301bitz Injured MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez admits he "expected much more" from erstwhile 2020 standings leader Fabio Quartararo after his double victory at Jerez in July. Marquez has been out since an aborted comeback attempt from a broken right arm suffered in a crash in the Spanish Grand Prix, and looks set to be sidelined until at least the end of October. Petronas SRT's Quartararo won the Spanish GP at Jerez and the following Andalusian GP to take the lead in the championship, but scored just 20 points between the Czech and San Marino races. This lost him the championship lead to Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso, with Quartararo now one point behind the Italian after a penalty in the Emilia Romagna GP dropped him to fourth from third. Dovizioso won the Austrian GP, but has largely struggled for form as he has found adapting to Michelin's new rear tyre construction difficult. Having pegged both Dovizioso and Quartararo as his favourites to take the 2020 title, Marquez in an interview published by Honda says he expected more from both. "It is true that in Austria I said Quartararo or Dovizioso were the favourites [to fight for the title]," Marquez said. "But, honestly, I expected more from them. "I especially expected much more from Quartararo, because he won the first two races riding at a great level, and now I don't know what is happening to him. "It is costing him a lot, even in one of his strengths: qualifying. "Dovizioso is consistent, but he needs more speed if he wants to win the title because we see that [Maverick] Vinales is there, just like [Joan] Mir. "We have eight or nine riders [covered by] 25 points, so it will be interesting to see what happens until the end of the season." Six riders - including four first-time victors - have won in the first seven races, with Dovizioso, Quartararo, Vinales and Mir covered by just four points after Sunday's Emilia Romagna GP. But consistency has been largely absent from the field and no clear title favourite has emerged, with Marquez admitting the situation is "difficult to understand". "It seems that nobody wants to win this world championship; no one wants to lead it," he added. "It is difficult to understand the situation, but if you are a rider you surely understand it a little better." Marquez has begun training again following a second surgery on his arm to replace the damaged titanium plate and says he is beginning to take "great steps forward" - but doesn't know when he will get back on his bike. "When a rider hears the doctors say that he will be out for three months, it is a shock," he said. "Now, after a first period in which everything was very slow and in which I did not notice improvements, I begin to feel that I am taking great steps forward. "At what point am I? I know I am closer to getting back on the bike, but I don't know if it will be in a month, in two weeks or in two months. "The body will tell." Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei September 23, 2020 at 06:07AM
MotoGP News - 2020 MotoGP Catalunya Grand Prix session timings and preview
https://ift.tt/302SNVH MotoGP completes its current triple-header at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with the Catalunya Grand Prix. With a sixth different winner from the opening seven races, as Maverick Vinales claimed victory at last weekend's Emilia Romagna GP, the most unpredictable season in MotoGP history has continued as the paddock heads to Barcelona for the rescheduled Catalunya GP. Vinales will be eager to build on win at a track which historically has suited Yamaha riders - but the Spaniard's best result at his home race in the premier class remains fourth place for Suzuki back in 2016. Yamaha's lack of top speed will be tested on the Montmelo circuit's long main straight, while the twisty second and third sectors should play to the M1's strengths, but the Iwata factory hasn't secured victory at this circuit since Valentino Rossi triumphed back in 2016. In recent years Honda and Ducati have dominated, but with most recent winners Marc Marquez in 2019 (injured) and Jorge Lorenzo in 2018 (retired) out of action, the race provides an opportunity to 2017 winner and current championship leader Andrea Dovizioso. The outgoing Ducati rider will be hoping to find a solution on adapting his braking style having struggled with the 2020 Michelin MotoGP rear tyres, as he looks to return to the rostrum for the first time since winning the Austrian GP. Despite being demoted to fourth place in last weekend's second Misano race for exceeding track limits, Fabio Quartararo was still able to close the gap to just a single point behind championship leader Dovizioso - while he is also equal on points with Vinales - with the Petronas SRT rider looking for his first rostrum since his double victory at Jerez at the start of the season. One rider who has become a regular podium presence is Suzuki's Joan Mir who is now fourth in the standings and just four points behind Dovizioso thanks to a pair of podiums at Misano. But in such an unconventional campaign, it is hard to predict who will fight at the front this weekend, having seen Francesco Bagnaia come to the fore at Misano for Pramac Ducati only to crash out while leading last weekend's race. 2020 Catalunya MotoGP session timingsMotoGP will run its traditional schedule of two free practice sessions lasting 45 minutes each on Friday, with another 45-minute practice session on Saturday morning. The top 10 on the combined FP1-2-3 timesheet will automatically enter into Q2 of qualifying. A final 30-minute FP4 session is held on Saturday afternoon ahead of qualifying. Q1 of qualifying sees all riders who did not finish in the top 10 of the combined practice times take part with the top two finishers progressing into Q2 alongside the top 10 who gained an automatic spot via their practice times. Q2 is the pole position shootout which decides the order of the front four rows, with the rest of the grid organised on Q1 times, for the 24-lap Catalunya GP on Sunday. Moto2 and Moto3 are also in action during the Catalunya GP. Friday 25th September 2020 How can I watch the Catalunya MotoGP?Channel: BT Sport 2 Can I stream the Catalunya MotoGP?Viewers in the United Kingdom can also stream the Catalunya GP by purchasing a video pass from MotoGP.com. A one-off video pass, which lasts until the first race of the 2021 season, costs £91.60p. Weather forecast for the Catalunya MotoGPMontmelo is set for mixed conditions with sunny spells throughout the Catalunya GP race weekend, with highs of 22 degrees Celsius on race day, cooler than last week's Emilia Romagna GP at Misano. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has also been hit by heavy rain storms in recent days. Most Catalunya MotoGP winners (premier class only)Valentino Rossi: 7 wins (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2016) Motogp Motorcycle Racing News via MotoGP news - Autosport https://ift.tt/2uOa9Ei September 23, 2020 at 04:07AM
Motorcycle News - 2021 BMW M1000RR First Look
https://ift.tt/3j8gaoB BMW officially announced its first two-wheeled M model with the new M1000RR. Based on the S1000RR, no slouch on its own, the M1000RR offers a higher level of performance, adding aerodynamic wings and bumping the power output up to a claimed 212 hp while reducing the claimed curb weight to 423 pounds. The styling takes after the S1000RR but with the addition of winglets made of clear-coat carbon fiber. The winglets help produce more downforce, counteracting wheelies while helping traction control and drive power work more efficiently. BMW employed WSBK riders Tom Sykes and Eugene Laverty and World Endurance racer Markus Reiterberger to test the new aerodynamics on the track. Riding the M1000RR, Reiterberger lapped just 2.101 seconds behind Sykes and 1.590 seconds behind Laverty who rode their WSBK racebikes. Like the S1000RR, the BMW M1000RR is powered by a 999cc liquid-cooled Inline-Four with the ShiftCam technology offering variable vale timing and lift. For the M model, BMW added new two-ring forged pistons from Mahle that were fortified with two additional crossbars in the box. The new pistons are also each 0.4 ounces lighter than the S1000RR’s pistons. BMW also swapped out the S1000RR’s tempered steel connecting rods with longer and lighter titanium con-rods from Pankl. This allowed BMW to increase the compression ratio to 13.5:1 from 13.3:1, while increasing the maximum engine speed to 15,100 rpm from 14,600 rpm. The ShiftCam system is similar to the S1000RR’s application, but the M1000RR makes use of a new exhaust valve spring assembly and slimmer, lighter rocker arms. The M1000RR also uses variable intake funnels with a servomotor adjusting the length of the funnels to optimize performance, especially at high engine speeds. The result, according to BMW, is a maximum output of 212 hp at 14,500 rpm. Peak torque remains at a claimed 83.3 lb-ft., but it arrives at 11,000 rpm, 500 rpm later than on the S1000RR. BMW claims a noticeable improvement in torque from 6,100 rpm to 9500 rpm. To compensate for the additional tensile forces affecting the rear wheel, the engine’s changes, BMW added a tooth to the chain sprocket, increasing it to 46. BMW also designed a new titanium exhaust system for the M1000RR that employs two three-way catalytic converters. BMW claims the exhaust system weighs 17.2 pounds, compared to the S1000RR’s 25.2-pound system. The M1000RR users a modified anti-hopping clutch for improved launch control. The new clutch lacks self-reinforcing, so BMW had increase the preload force on the clutch to compensate, resulting in a slightly harder lever pull. The M1000RR offers four standard modes (Rain, Road, Dynamic and Race) plus three configurable Race Pro modes. These modes coordinate the throttle response, ABS, traction control, engine braking level and wheelie control systems. Other electronic features include a pit lane limiter, Hill Start Control Pro and BMW’s Shift Assistant Pro which allows for clutchless up and down shifts. The M1000RR can also be converted from a conventional shift pattern to a first-gear-up reverse pattern for race use. BMW made a few changes to the chassis to optimize track performance. The steering head angle is slightly flatter than on the S1000RR, and the fork bridge offset was reduced by a few millimeters. The result is a 23.6° rake and 3.9 inches trail (compared to 23.1° rake and 3.7 inches on the S1000RR). The total wheelbase was also lengthened to 57.4 inches from 56.7 inches, thanks in part to a longer swingarm. The rear suspension uses a revised monoshock with a fine-tuned adjustment range and a new spring. Up front, the M1000RR uses a 45mm inverted fork similar to the S1000RR’s front suspension. For the M RR, the fork bridges are milled from solid aluminum and anodized black. The fork legs were also modified to hold BMW’s custom M-branded brake calipers. Developed from BMW’s WSBK program, the radial-mount M calipers are Nissin brakes modified for improved performance and lighter weight. The calipers are paired with dual 320mm rotors that are slightly thicker than the S1000RR’s discs. BMW offers two versions of brake pads: one for regular road use and another made from a more track-focused compound. The rear wheel uses a two-piston fixed caliper with a 220mm disc. The M1000RR comes standard with carbon fiber wheels to reduce rotational mass. BMW claims they weigh 3.7 pounds lighter than the S1000RR’s aluminum wheels. Overall, BMW claims the 423-pound weight is 11 pounds lighter than the S1000RR. Because it’s still a BMW, the M1000RR is available with a number of packages. The M competition package adds a GPS-powered laptrigger, silver anodized aluminum swingarm, “maintenance free” M endurance chain, and a passenger seating, pegs and seat cover. The M billet pack includes upgraded levers, footpegs, engine protectors and a brake lever guard. The M carbon package adds clear coated carbon wheels covers, chain guard and side tank covers. The 2021 BMW M1000RR comes in a Light White/M Motorsport paint scheme. Pricing remains to be determined, but expect a sizeable premium over the S1000RR’s $17,490 MSRP. The post 2021 BMW M1000RR First Look appeared first on Motorcycle.com. Motorcycles via Motorcycle.com https://ift.tt/2Std7JO September 22, 2020 at 07:24PM
Motorcycle News - GasGas Announces 2021 North American Line-up
https://ift.tt/3655fZ7 GasGas announced its 2021 model lineup, its first fully under the auspices of Pierer Mobility, with a range of 18 models for the North American market. That, of course, means a range of enduro, cross-country, motocross, and mini motocross bikes that will share much in common with its corporate cousins from KTM and Husqvarna. So, expect similar engines, frames and WP suspension through out the lineup. GasGas also announced it will compete in the 2021 AMA Motocross and Supercross championships, partnering with Troy Lee Designs in the 250 and 450 divisions. GasGas is best known for its trial bikes, and the Spanish brand will continue offer its trial lineup in three displacements. The non-trial models will be fairly similar, with red powder-coated chromium molydenum steel frames and aluminum subframes. Most models will be equipped with WP Xplor inverted forks and rear shocks with linkage, just tuned for their specific applications. 2021 GasGas Motocross ModelsThe 2021 GasGas motocross lineup consists of four-stroke MC450F and MC250F models plus a MC125 two-stroke. Unlike Husqvarna and KTM, however, GasGas is not offering a 350cc model, focusing on the two four-stroke models that will be competing in AMA Supercross and Motocross. 2021 GasGas MC450F – $9,3992021 GasGas MC250F – $8,4992021 GasGas MC125 – $6,7992021 GasGas Enduro ModelsFor North America, GasGas is offering just one enduro model, the two-stroke EC300, while other markets will get a two-stroke EC250 and four-stroke EC230F and EC350F models. The EC300 is powered by a 293.2cc Single with a six-speed transmission and a DDS wet, multi-plate clutch with Braktec hydraulics. The EC300 is electric start with a lithium-ion battery and a 2.24 gallon fuel tank. 2021 GasGas EC300 – $9,5992021 GasGas Cross Country ModelsThe cross country lineup consists of the four-stroke EX450F, EX350F and EX250F plus the two-stroke EX300. All EX cross country models carry 2.24-gallon fuel tanks 2021 GasGas EX450F – $10,0992021 GasGas EX350F – $9,9992021 GasGas EX250F – $9,0992021 GasGas EX300 – $9,5992021 GasGas Trial ModelsGasGas is offering its TXT Racing trial bike in 250, 280 and 300 forms in North America, while other markets will also get a TXT Racing 125. Eventually, GasGas may offer higher-spec TXT GP versions of the trial line, but no additional details are available yet. North American models will use Öhlins rear suspension while international models will use Reiger shocks which were formerly standard on TXT GP models. For 2021, the GasGas trial line receives lighter wheel axles and new forged aluminum handlebar clamps. 2021 GasGas TXT Racing 300 – $7,899
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