Dakar Update - Tuesday 4th January 2012

Crescent KTM’s Stan Watt flying through the ranks at 2012 Dakar

In his third Dakar to date, Irish and British 2012 hopeful Stan Watt has been barging his way through the field these first three days of the rally on his Crescent KTM 450 Factory Replica Rally machine.

Stan's going well now!

With a starting position back in 60th place, Watt had anticipated a difficult start from the beginning with a lot of riders to pass on what can be a very busy and dusty track. Stage 1 took the riders from the festive start at Mar del Plata through a short warm-up special stage along the dunes on the seafront, after which a long and fast liaison section guided them to Santa Rosa de la Pampa. Watt’s plan to reach the top 30 early on where however hampered by some minor top end speed issues, seeing him end Stage 1 in 87th place.

With his support team in tow, the issue was rapidly resolved before Stage 2, which saw the competitors head further in-land towards San Rafael. The first part was once again very quick with big, fast bends on firm ground, after which progress was slowed down significantly with a stage through the grey-coloured sand dunes of Nihuil. With no issues to contend with and his sights firmly set on a successful rally, Watt did not hang around and charged through the field into 56th.

Stage 3 proved the first of the very though tests for the riders, heading into the Andes Cordillera to San Juan. Its breathtaking landscapes may be easy on the eye, but are a real challenge for the riders - placing many rivers, holes and rocks in their way – as well as providing some incredibly steep climbs. Watt however, was once again in a valiant mood and passed yet another five riders to improve his overall ranking to 51st.

Despite being off his desired top 30, Watt remains positive and feels that he is now firmly settling into the rally.

Stan Watt says:

“It may not have been the start I had hoped for, but I am now really getting into it. The first day unfortunately saw me have some top end speed issues, which hampered my progress on the first stage. Yet there was not an awful lot of time separating the top 100.

“The Crescent KTM is working really well now and I am very much starting to settle in to the rally. There are some very hard days ahead for all riders, and I’m extremely confident that I’ll be making up yet more places. I’m now firmly looking to head into the top 30.”

With another 12 race days left to go, Watt currently holds an overall time of 9:21:07hrs with a variation of 1:49:25hrs.

Keep abreast with all the latest action from Stan and Crescent KTM’s Dakar adventure by following our official Twitter feed @crescentmoto and by checking out our website www.crescent-motorcycles.com. 

Stan Watt and Crescent KTM would like to thank: KTM UK / Motorex Lubricants / Voltcom Group / Michelin UK / Talon / Adventure Spec / Proseal / Arai / Mototech / Proprinting

For more information on Arai Helmets please visit www.whyarai.co.uk

ARAI’S NEW HELMETS HIT THE MARK AT MOTORCYCLE LIVE

Plus riders, interviews, signing sessions and an Arai Entertainment Zone that never stopped!

Arai launched two brand new helmets at Motorcycle Live – the Tour-X4 and Axces II – and both went down a storm with press and public alike.

New Tour-X 4

The Tour-X4 in particular proved extremely popular, thanks to the continued interest in the Adventure Sport segment. Featuring a completely new outer shell, plus re-designed ventilation system with high-flow ventilation ducts, chin vent, diffuser system and visor brow vents, the Tour-X4’s interior features the Facial Contour System (FCS), and to tailor the fit also has a removable 5mm surface foam layer on the cheek and temple pads. What really makes the Tour-X 4 stand out, and why it was such a hit at the show, is its versatility: it can be worn with or without the peak, with or without the visor or anyway which way you like!

New Axces II

The Axces II, Arai’s entry level helmet, also proved to be a winner – featuring as it does all the usual Arai hallmarks of premium quality and fit. Its new Super Fibre Construction (SFC) outer shell has been re-designed with an enlarged aperture and visor giving better peripheral vision, while its ventilation system has new-style front and rear diffuser vents and a chin vent with larger intake holes. Its new luxury fixed inner liner features removable cheekpads, available in several thicknesses to create a custom fit.

Arai racer Dani Pedrosa at Motorcycle Live

The Arai Entertainment Zone, as well as the Arai stand, was the place to find famous racing faces. Repsol Honda’s MotoGP contender Dani Pedrosa – even though delayed a day due to fog – delighted the crowds with his easy-going nature and insight into the life of a factory racer, as did home-grown MotoGP rookie of the year Tech 3 Yamaha rider Cal Crutchlow.

WSB stars Leon Haslam and Jonathan Rea put in regular appearances alongside BSB star Josh Brookes, and real-roads racers Michael Dunlop and Bruce Anstey rubbed shoulders with legends such as Steve Plater and Neil Hodgson.

On Sunday 20th November an incredible £4,000 was raised in just half an hour in the Riders for Health auction supported by Arai with fans bidding on helmets, pictures, caps, visors and other MotoGP memorabilia.  The money raised will help to get more health workers on the road reaching millions more people across Africa with regular health care.

Also very popular with the public was the trying-on feature of the Arai stand; every visitor could try the Arai of their choice – or all of them – and explore every possibility of fit and comfort prior to purchase, or just for future information. The Arai Race Service too was, as ever, working flat-out from the moment the show opened to the end of the final day fitting and servicing Arais.

For more information on the Arai range call 01782 569800, or visit www.whyarai.co.uk 

Auction Items for Motorcycle Live

Auction Items for Riders for Health Auction- Arai Entertainment Zone, Sunday 20th November, NEC Birmingham (Motorcycle Live Show)



Look at all these! All Arai items will come with a certificate to authenticate the signatures. There's some absolutely fabulous things here and all in aid of the Riders for Health Charity http://www.riders.org/


1. Yamaha R1 – ridden and signed by Jorge Lorenzo at the Isle of Man TT 2010 and ridden recently by MotoGP presenter Matt Roberts on the Viva Valencia! Trip. Fitted with Scottoiler, Yamaha Crash Protectors and Akrapovic carbon tail pipes and also a £500 insurance voucher courtesy of Carole Nash Insurance.




The Lorenzo R1- worth £12,000 without all bolt-ons, his signature and paint job!



2. Arai Astro Mick Doohan replica – signed at 2011 Isle of Man TT.

Doohan TT Replica- signed by the man himself

3. Arai Ian Hutchinson – one off picture of signed side pod from TT replica and photographs from his wins at 2010 Isle of Man TT.

Ian Hutchinson. The one-off side pod and pics - all signed

4. Silverstone Course Car Laps – bid to drive in the pace car at Silverstone Moto GP 2012 and experience the thrill of MotoGP action close up.


5. Behind the scenes day with Riders for Health – taking place at Silverstone Moto GP, working with the Riders for Health Charity and MotoGP stars at their Day of Champions event .


6. Arai Kevin Schwantz – one off pic with signed side pod and photograph.

You know you Schwantz it! Kevin Schwantz one-off pic n pod - signed

7. Signed canvas print of Cal Crutchlow taken at Misano MotoGP 2011 size 30” x 20” – original photograph taken by Peter Callister who has also very kindly donated the print.

MotoGP Print- signed by Cal Crutchlow

8. Arai Chaser Legend design signed by Leon Haslam, Cal Crutchlow, Jonathan Rea and Josh Brookes.


9. Racing Accessories – Noriyuki Haga and Jonathan Rea signed visors, actually used this year on track, Baseball cap signed by Hiroshi Aoyama and an Arai money box signed by Ian Hutchinson, Steve Plater, Steve Brogan, Leon Haslam, Jonathan Rea, Josh Brookes and Cal Crutchlow.

Fab selection of goodies

10. Ducati Cap Signed by Valentino Rossi

Just what The Doctor ordered. And signed.


Amazing amount of very collectable one-off gear. All for a brilliant cause too.

For more information on Arai Helmets please visit www.whyarai.co.uk

For more information on the NEC Motorcycle Live show please visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

OWN LORENZO’S BIKE!

MotoGP champion’s Yamaha R1 to be auctioned on Sunday 20th November. 

This YZF Yamaha R1 is the bike ridden by Jorge Lorenzo on his parade lap at the 2010 Isle of Man TT and features a one-off paint scheme and is signed by the former MotoGP World Champion. 

Jorge Lorenzo enhancing the paint-job with his signature

 

The bike was also ridden recently by BBC MotoGP presenter Matt Roberts on Viva Valencia!, the name given to the charity motorcycle ride undertaken by Danny John-Jules (Red Dwarf's The Cat), Matt and Steve Keys (owner of the first Yamaha dealership in the UK) in order to raise money for Riders for Health, the organisation that provides and maintains reliable motorcycles so that health workers can reach people in remote parts of Africa.

BBC MotoGP's Matt Roberts on the R1

This truly unique TT/ Viva Valencia! Lorenzo R1 will be the star lot at the Arai-supported Riders for Health auction taking place at Motorcycle Live on the Black Horse Stage in the Arai Entertainment Zone on Sunday 20th November, commencing at 12.00pm and all money raised will go to the Riders for Health charity.

Don't get too attached to it Matt!

2010 R1- and more!

Fitted are a Scottoiler, Yamaha Crash protectors and Akrapovic carbon tail pipes.

And it comes with a £500 Carole Nash insurance voucher.

For a full list of other items to be auctioned, pick up a leaflet from the main counter on the Arai stand. 

For more information on Arai in the UK please visit www.whyarai.co.uk

MOTOGP ROUND 18, VALENCIA, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 6

Cal Crutchlow claims his best ever finish and is Rookie of the Year, Dani Pedrosa looks to 2012…

DANI PEDROSA, REPSOL HONDA
Race Position: 5th                        Championship Position: 4th 

“I JUST WANT TO MOVE FORWARD...”
Before the last race of the 2011 MotoGP Championship all riders – across all classes in the racing community – paid their respects to Marco Simoncelli in a tribute lap led by MotoGP legend Kevin Schwantz, riding Marco's Gresini Honda '58' bike.

The race itself was tricky; the riders took to the grid with slick tyres and on the warm-up lap, some drops of rain began to fall. Casey Stoner pulled away from the start, distancing team-mates Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa, who were jostling for position until lap 23. Then on lap 24, a new race began when it started to rain more heavily; Spies overtook Pedrosa and Dovizioso, and with two laps remaining Stoner made a small mistake and Spies took the lead. 

Stoner tracked him closely and then, taking a slightly different line coming out of the last corner of the final lap, Stoner's Honda RC212V drove him to the finish line first, just 0.015 seconds ahead. Dovizioso and Pedrosa enjoyed a tough and clean fight, but in the final laps, Dani rolled off a little as the conditions worsened, with one eye already on the testing schedule and 2012 Championship. Dovizioso took third, while Pedrosa succumbed to a hard-charging Cal Crutchlow.

“It wasn't an easy race. I did my best, trying hard but I wasn’t feeling good on the bike. But especially in the end with more water on the track, I struggled a lot as in Australia, so this is something I will try to improve with my riding in the future. I had a good battle with Andrea and in the last laps, I lost a place to Cal Crutchlow, but I couldn’t do any more. Andrea and I were on a soft front tyre and we were maybe struggling a little more than Ben or Cal who were on a hard front, but it’s not an excuse. I just want to move forward and think about next year and the testing we have. It has been a tough year, but we will try to take the positives from here and be optimistic for 2012.”

CAL CRUTCHLOW, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3
Race Position: 4th                            Championship Position: 12th

“I AM OBVIOUSLY THRILLED!”
Cal Crutchlow ended the 2011 season in great fashion, claiming a career-best fourth position to win the coveted Rookie of the Year title. Starting from 11th, Crutchlow immediately found himself elevated into the top five when he avoided the collision at the first corner. 

He then found himself locked in an exciting battle with Karel Abraham, who was riding an inspired race to try and deny Crutchlow from claiming the title; just one point split the pair going into the race and they were barely a second apart for the whole race. They exchanged fifth place several times but the battle became even more nail-biting when rain started to fall. Crutchlow, however brilliantly judged where he could push close to the limit, and took fourth place from Dani Pedrosa with a clinical overtake on the final lap.

“That was a pretty dramatic way to finish the season and I am obviously thrilled to win the Rookie of the Year title. But I’m equally happy to have finished in fourth place because that was an incredibly difficult race. I’m not sure what happened at the first corner but I came out of it in sixth place and just pushed. It was a really intense battle with Karel right to the end and both of us were giving it everything we had. The track was so greasy it felt like you could crash so easily, and when the rain started getting heavier I just got my head down again and kept pushing. I started to catch Dani really fast and wasn’t sure if he had a problem or whether I was pushing too hard. I slowed down because of that and Karel caught me back up, so it came down to the last lap and he obviously made a small mistake – he hit me from behind but I managed to stay on! This year has been an incredible learning experience and we have a lot to work on for next season, but I feel confident I can make the step to the next level.”

COLIN EDWARDS, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3
Race Position: DNS                    Championship Position: 9th

Colin Edwards was due to make his final appearance for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, but is still recovering from cartilage damage sustained in the incident with Marco Simoncelli and Valentino Rossi at Sepang.

NICKY HAYDEN, MARLBORO DUCATI
Race Position: DNF                    Championship Position: 8th

“WE COULD HAVE PUT UP A DECENT FIGHT AND HAD SOME FUN…”
Nicky Hayden was involved in the four-bike pile-up in Turn 1 off the start, and had to sit out the race along with team-mate Valentino Rossi.

“I felt some riders coming up the inside really fast as we approached Turn 1. Then something happened and it was just the domino effect – race over in the first corner. I’m okay other than my hand being pretty sore. It’s unfortunate. One of our bike’s strengths is generating heat in the tyres, and that’s what you need on a cold, wet track like this. Already on the warm-up lap, the bike felt good. It’s easy to say now, but I honestly feel like we could have put up a decent fight and had some fun.”

Hiroshi Aoyama bought his San Carlo Honda Gresini home in 12th and finishes the year 10th overall; he heads for the World Superbike Championship in 2012 riding for Castrol Honda. Karel Abraham crashed his Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati in the closing stages, but remounted to finish 8th.  He remains 14th in the Championship.

For more information on Arai Helmets in the UK please visit www.whyarai.co.uk.

Don't forget to visit us at MotorcycleLive! www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

DANI PEDROSA HEADS ARAI LINE-UP AT MOTORCYCLE LIVE

 DANI PEDROSA HEADS ARAI LINE-UP AT MOTORCYCLE LIVE

Plus new helmets, racing heroes and great competitions...

Arai has a superb line-up of racing heroes, new helmets, top activities and great service at this year’s Motorcycle Live event, which takes place at Birmingham’s NEC from the 19th - 27th November, 2011.

Dani Pedrosa - at the NEC with Arai

Repsol Honda MotoGP superstar Dani Pedrosa will be in attendance on Monday 21st November and will be signing autographs and giving interviews on Arai’s stand B320, Hall 2. Opening the entire Motorcycle Live show will be Dani’s fellow MotoGP racer Cal Crutchlow, who’ll also be firing up his Yamaha M1 racebike on the main stage!

Cal will be spending time on the Arai stand, along with WSB racers Leon Haslam and Jonathan Rea, and all will be available for signing sessions and interviews at various times. The Arai Entertainment Zone, in Hall 3 will provide everybody with an interactive, live experience plus the opportunity for riders to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take part in the programme of activity.

On the Arai stand itself there will of course be the 2012 Arai range, including two new models. The Arai Axces II features a completely new shell and interior with a wider aperture and visor, giving better peripheral vision and provides a fantastic entry point into the Arai brand. Also on display will be the brand new Arai Tour X-4. The Tour-X has long been the benchmark helmet for adventure sports riding and the Tour X-4 is a superb evolution, featuring a re-designed, new shape shell with reinforced hyper ridge around the base. The revised, bigger chin vent gives better airflow and there are now brow vents added to the visor; the rear exhaust vents are also a sharper, more aggressive design. 

Arai Axces II - looking good!

Castrol Honda rider Jonathan Rea’s new RX-7 GP replica will also be making its UK debut, along with fresh designs and colour choices across the hugely popular Quantum and Chaser V ranges.

On Sunday 20th November, the Arai-supported Riders for Health auction offers up the chance to bag some great Arai items and associated lots, plus the opportunity to bid on the Yamaha R1 that Jorge Lorenzo rode on his parade lap at the 2010 Isle of Man TT. The bike is currently being ridden by BBC MotoGP presenter Matt Roberts to this weekend’s Valencia MotoGP on the Viva Valencia! road trip to raise money for Riders for Health – see www.motoventures.co.uk.  All three R1s used on the trip will be on display on the Arai stand, with the unique Lorenzo R1 making its way to auction on the first Sunday of the show.

As a special one-off for Motorcycle Live anyone buying a Chaser or Axces from an Arai Five Star dealer at the event can upgrade their new helmet’s visor to a Max Vision visor, with clear lens included, for just £10. Made by Pinlock®, Max Vision has a normal RRP of £79.99 and is an official replacement Arai clear visor, featuring a large recess in the shield designed to fit any of four different anti-fog lenses; clear, light smoke, dark smoke and yellow.

For the entire length of Motorcycle Live the Arai stand will be staffed by the same factory-trained technicians that service the Arai helmets in the BSB paddock; they’ll be ready to service, adjust and offer advice to all and any Arai customers at the show.

For more information on the Arai range call Phoenix on 01782 569800, or visit www.whyarai.co.uk 

Motorcycle Live runs from 19th-27th November 2011. Tickets are £16 in advance for adults, £10 for Senior and £6 for children aged 6-16.  Go to www.motorcyclelive.co.uk for details.

MOTOGP ROUND 16, PHILLIP ISLAND, SUNDAY OCTOBER 16

DANI PEDROSA, REPSOL HONDA
Race Position: 4th                 Championship Position: 4th 

“IT’S NOT BEEN A GOOD WEEKEND FOR ME.”
With a strong breeze blowing across the Phillip Island, and darkening skies, the MotoGP race commenced with a rearranged grid following the withdrawal of Yamaha Factory riders Jorge Lorenzo, after a high side in the morning warm up left him with a severely injured finger, and Ben Spies who was still mildly concussed after a crash in Saturday’s qualifying. Nicky Hayden and Marco Simoncelli followed pole-sitter Stoner into turn one, with the Italian making an early move on Hayden to take second. Simoncelli then spent the remainder of the race tussling with Andrea Dovizioso, beating his compatriot across the line for his best MotoGP finish of second. Dani Pedrosa didn’t make one of his usual brilliant starts, fought back into contention but suffered with tyre wear in the closing stages; he eventually finished ten seconds adrift of team-mate Dovizioso in fourth. With the absence of Lorenzo, Stoner only needed 10 points to win the 2011 MotoGP Championship; his win secured the title.

“It’s been very tough, I didn’t feel comfortable throughout the weekend and the race didn’t start in the best way either. I had a problem with the wind at the start, I almost lost balance and I had to put the left foot on the floor at the same time as the red light went out, so I had a bad start. The first few laps were not so good, then I recovered slightly, I overtook Andrea and fought with him but the front tyre was finished in the last laps. When I tried to pull away I was losing the front, so I couldn’t keep him behind and then the rain arrived. It’s not been a good weekend for me, but I want to say congratulations to Casey for his title, he’s been the strongest this season, always on the podium, with no mistakes, so he deserves it.”

CAL CRUTCHLOW, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3
Race Position: DNF             Championship Position: 13th

“IT WAS LIKE SYNCHRONISED CRASHING!”
Cal Crutchlow was unfortunately caught out by the tricky conditions in the final stages while he was preparing for a late attack on Hiroshi Aoyama. He’d fought well to keep Karel Abraham and Randy de Puniet at bay when he hit a wet patch of tarmac at Lukey Heights on lap 24; Aoyama crashed in identical circumstances right in front of Crutchlow but the 25-year-old was unable to rejoin the race and finish.

“I’m pretty disappointed because it has been a very difficult weekend, so to get a top 10 would have been a very positive way to sign off. I’d been having a really good battle with Abraham, Aoyama and de Puniet and was confident I was going to finish at least eighth. But I came into Lukey Heights and couldn’t even see any rain and the next thing I was down. The weird thing is Aoyama went down right in front of me on the same wet patch, so it was like synchronised crashing. I had no idea why I’d crashed and someone in the crowd told me it had rained really quickly and then stopped – it is a pity because that cost me a decent result but I’ll be looking to get back in the fight for the top 10 in Sepang next week.”

COLIN EDWARDS, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3
Race Position: 5th                 Championship Position: 9th

“THAT WAS ALL ABOUT SURVIVING…”  
Colin Edwards finished the first lap in eighth place as he tried to judge the unpredictable gusts of wind to maintain a fast and consistent pace as the race unfolded. He was seventh when the rain shower soaked the track in a small section with three laps remaining. Edwards opted to stay out on slicks, rather than switch to his YZR-M1 set-up for the rain with only a small part of the track affected by the cloudburst – his decision paid off and he claimed his third top six finish of the season.
     
 “That was all about surviving because the conditions might have looked great on TV with the sun shining but the wind was horrendous. We know the wind plays a big part here normally but it seemed particularly bad and it was impossible to judge when a gust was going to hit you from one lap to the next. I got into a pretty good rhythm and was happy to be running a consistent pace in eighth when all the late chaos happened. It is never a good feeling when you see rain spots on the visor with slick tyres on but there was only rain in a small part of the track. I knew it was a flag-to-flag situation but I never thought about pulling in for the rain bike. I was just riding as hard as I could, but as safe as I could, in the last couple of laps and fifth is a great result.”

NICKY HAYDEN, MARLBORO DUCATI
Race Position: 7th                 Championship Position: 8th

“I JUST ABOUT LOST IT!”
After a good start from the second row, Nicky Hayden was involved in a number of battles in the first part of the race, lapping at a competitive pace. When it began raining hard four laps from the end, making the conditions particularly tricky, Hayden changed motorcycles and went on to cross the finish line in seventh place.

“Conditions were really tough, with wind and rain off-and-on at different parts of the track. My start actually wasn’t amazing, but I think everybody else got away worse than I did. I was in a good position, but I really had no grip at the rear from the very beginning, and although I tried as hard as I could, I couldn’t defend much when guys started coming past. Eventually I blistered the rear tyre and was just trying to make it to the finish, and then when it started to rain harder, it felt really slick. I just about lost it, and when I saw Bautista go down, I decided to come in and change bikes rather than risk doing the same.”

Hiroshi Aoyama crashed his San Carlo Honda Gresini after the downpour at Lukey Heights, but remains 10th in the Championship. Karel Abraham finished 10th on his Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati, and is 14th in the Championship.

Round 17 of MotoGP is at Sepang, Sunday October 23.





For more information on Arai helmets please visit www.whyarai.co.uk