A lap with Ken Roczen on the new Mud video game. But what track?

They say the French GP but surely not.

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Moto

Ernesto Fonseca Lauris Freibergs Paul Friedrichs Steven Frossard Eric Geboers

22/12/2011
Tristan Palmer did a sterling job for the team in 2011

By BSB desk
Image by Double Red

GBmoto and rider Tristan Palmer have shelved plans to switch manufacturers for their first foray into British Superbikes next season and will remain as a Honda team working with local dealer P&H.

It is believed that team boss Mark Smith-Halvorsen had been in in talks with SMR to run a brace of Yamahas but that has now gone by the wayside. The squad now has all its parts and technical partners have been secured and the team will be looking to bench test their Superbikes mid-February, before heading to Spain for their first test on 1st of March at Cartagena.

?We considered many options in detail, before making the decision to use Hondas in BSB next year ? I think most are already aware of excellent balance of the chassis and the performance it can produce whilst complying with next year?s technical regulations. For us, it also allows us to make the most of our in house knowledge and experience, whilst retaining an independence; which I think is healthy in this sporting environment, said Smith-Halvorsen.

“Having said that, we will be relying heavily on our technical partners to help us put together and understand the performance parameters of the Superbikes and we look forward to achieving mutually beneficial returns in those areas. Our expanded team for next year is already excited and neck deep in preparation for the bikes and all sorts of new things to happen and arrive and our plans to be competitive next year are firmly underway. This is an exciting time.?

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Rui Goncalves Josh Grant Billy Grossi Davide Guarneri Thomas Hahn

The end of the year is the traditional time to be handing out awards (we at MotoMatters.com will be doling out a few of our own in the next week or so), and this year, MotoMatters.com has been extremely lucky to be on the receiving end of one. In the recent Silverstone Media Awards organized by the Northamptonshire race track, home to both MotoGP and Formula 1, MotoMatters.com was voted Best MotoGP Blogger.

The winners were chosen by popular vote, with over 5,000 fans voting for the awards. MotoMatters.com finds itself in some illustrious company, with the official MotoGP.com being awarded best MotoGP website, Britain’s weekly publication Motorcycle News (MCN) being voted best motorsport publication, and Eurosport MotoGP commentator being pronounced best MotoGP-related Tweeter.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted for MotoMatters.com, and to express our gratitude to our readers, our subscribers, our advertisers and our sponsors, all of whom make it possible to keep the site running. We really can’t thank you all enough.

Below is the press release from Silverstone announcing the circuit’s Media Awards:

Winners of Silverstone Media Awards announced – Over 5,000 fans vote for favourite F1? and MotoGP coverage in 2011

As the chequered flag comes down on an action packed season of motor sport, Silverstone is delighted to announce the winners of the first ever Silverstone Media Awards. More than 5,000 fans voted for their favourite media coverage from the 2011 F1? and MotoGP seasons, recognising the newspapers, magazines, websites, bloggers and tweeters that have kept fans up-to-date with all the latest news and gossip from their respective paddocks.

The winners of the inaugural Silverstone Media Awards, as voted by the fans, are:

Formula 1:

Best national newspaper for F1? coverage:
Winner: The Times / Sunday Times

Best motor sport publication for F1? coverage:
Winner: Autosport Magazine

Best website for F1? coverage:
Winner: BBC Sport – F1 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/default.stm)

Best F1? Blogger:
Winner: F1 Talks (http://www.f1talks.pl/)

Best F1? Tweeter:
Winner: Jake Humphrey (@jakehumphreyF1)

Best BBC F1? feature during the 2011 season:
Winner: British Grand Prix – BBC trio take a tandem ride to Silverstone: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/14098883.stm

MotoGP:

Best national newspaper for MotoGP coverage:
Winner: The Times / Sunday Times

Best bike publication for MotoGP coverage:
Winner: MCN

Best website for MotoGP coverage:
Winner: MotoGP official website (www.motogp.com)

Best MotoGP Blogger:
Winner: MotoMatters (http://motomatters.com)

Best MotoGP Tweeter:
Winner: Toby Moody (@TobyMoody)

All fans voting in the Silverstone Media Awards were entered into a prize draw to win two hospitality places at either the FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX (06 ? 08 July), or the MotoGP British Grand Prix (15 ? 17 June) at Silverstone in 2012. Ten runners-up will each receive a Silverstone Goody Bag.

Katie Tyler, Head of Communications for Silverstone Circuits Limited, commented, “Formula 1 and MotoGP fans are passionate about the sports they follow. The Silverstone Media Awards have provided those fans with a platform to acknowledge and show their appreciation for the media who keep them up-to-date with everything that’s going on, throughout the year.

“We have had a fantastic response to the first Silverstone Media Awards. An incredible 5,129 fans have cast their votes, so it has been a huge success. We hope it means just as much to the winners of each category, as they have been voted for and recognised by the fans. We look forward to presenting each winner with a trophy to acknowledge their contribution.”

For further information on 2012 events at Silverstone visit www.silverstone.co.uk, or call 0844 3728 270.

MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

Zach Osborne Trampas Parker Travis Pastrana Gautier Paulin David Philippaerts

TRG Announces Five Car Lineup for the 50th Running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona

Team owner Kevin Buckler celebrates 2011 Daytona24 GT victory

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

Petaluma, CA (December 24th, 2011) – The Racer’s Group, one of the most successful sports car teams in history, has announced that it will bring an armada of five Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars to the 50th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona in defense of its GT title from a year ago. TRG’s lineup of drivers will include defending champions, current veterans, Porsche Factory drivers and more. This is the strongest 5 car team we have ever fielded, according to team owner Kevin Buckler, whose off-season has been anything but.

“There isn’t much of an off-season for our group here at TRG,” said team owner Kevin Buckler. “We’ve all worked tirelessly to make this incredible feat happen and it started 2 months ago. The Rolex 24 has been our signature event for the last decade, and we’ve been successful because of our team’s dedication, and glued together by one thing… we like to win – especially here and we deliver.”

In early December, the team put five Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars through the tests on the high banks of the Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the Rolex 24. After leading nearly all sessions in the GT category, TRG eagerly awaits the upcoming Roar Before the 24, January 6-8th, and the Rolex 24, January 29-30th.

The GT category defending car, No. 67 Sargent & Lundy/TRG Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, will be driven by TRG regulars Spencer Pumpelly and Steven Bertheau alongside Porsche Factory Driver Wolf Henzler and prototype veteran Marc Goosens, who recently celebrated 4 wins in the 2011 Belgian GT Championship. The No. 67 was at the top of the charts at the December test and will certainly be in contention at the 24 with this driver lineup.

Pumpelly and Bertheau who each started 2011 with a Daytona 24 win, had career 2011 seasons. Pumpelly celebrated three ALMS victories (among seven podiums), two GRAND-AM wins and a trip to Le Mans for the 24 hour European race. Bertheau had a break-out GRAND-AM season with two wins in the GT Category.

TRG’s famed No. 66 Porsche will be driven by Viper Cup Champion Ben Keating, Dominik Farnbacher, Allan Simonson and Porsche Factory driver Patrick Pilet. Farnbacher comes from a famous Porsche racing family and is a young 997 veteran. Farnbacher and Keating shared the pole sitting GT car at Daytona last season, and anticipate another strong attack. Keating, who just announced plans to run the entire GRAND-AM Endurance Championship, has been extremely strong. He had earned a 2011 Dodge Viper Cup Championship and had an impressive drive at the 2011 Petit Le Mans with TRG.

Keating will run not one, but two entries in this year’s race, sharing the seat of the No. 68 911 with 2011 GT3 Challenge Series standouts Carlos Gomez and Chris Cumming, Kevin Estre, 2011 Rookie Champion of the Porsche Mobile 1 Supercup, and one of Ireland’s top international racing drivers, Damien Faulkner. The No. 68 also sat near the top of the time sheets at the December test days.

The TRG No. 65 will be driven by Ferrari Challenge standout Bob Doyle, who spent the early part of his professional career in two-wheel racing; Mike Hedlund, who recently earned his first GT3 Challenge win; Jack McCarthy, a PCA standout; and Jim Michaelian, sports car veteran and President of the Long Beach Grand Prix, who just competed in the 24 hours of Nurburgring finishing 36th of 160 teams. All of these drivers have been working extremely hard in the off season preparing for this years event.

Rounding out the group for TRG is the No. 64 car driven by Formula One veteran, Eliseo Salazar, who will be sharing driving duties with TRG regular and Venezuelan touring car champion, Emilio Di Guida and his Venezualean Co-driver Gaetano Ardagna. They will partner with Salazar’s fellow Chilean racer Eduardo Costabal, all making their Daytona 24 debut.

TRG’s full driver lineup:

Car 64: Gaetano Ardagna, Eduardo Costabal, Emilio Di Guida, Eliseo Salazar
Car 65: Bob Doyle, Mike Hedlund, Jack McCarthy, Jim Michaelian
Car 66: Dominik Farnbacher, Ben Keating, Patrick Pilet, Allan Simonson
Car 67: Steven Bertheau, Marc Goosens, Wolf Henzler, Spencer Pumpelly
Car 68: Chris Cumming, Kevin Estre, Damien Faulkner, Carlos Gomez, Ben Keating

“This year is sure to be a great addition to the TRG history books,” states Buckler. “We are so proud to be the home for so many fantastic drivers… the TRG talent pool runs deep!! Not to mention our Porsche factory guys. To have our manufacturer support us in such a way is absolutely invaluable. The team is working harder than ever to get these guys the top notch TRG equipment they need to get to the podium – we can’t wait to get back on track. This year is going to be really special for us in so many ways. Defending champs, lots of returning drivers, a superb team of mechanics and team members and this is the 50th anniversary.”

“Even better is these guys are all my friends and we are striking out on this huge mission together. I’ll be proudly on top of the pit box the entire time supporting them all. I also have to give huge credit to our Manufacturer of choice – Porsche. I just came back from the wonderful Porsche banquet in Germany and it really gives you the feeling and sense of how truly incredible this global brand is. We are so proud to be representing them.”

“And finally – our wonderful series Grand American. They have stayed the course and now have an incredible program for us all for 2012. We are not only extremely proud to be participating once again in Daytona with our 5 car squad, but to able to be partnered with them for the entire season. They are one incredible group of team members that comprise GRAND-AM and we are committed to them. It’s gonna be a great year!!!”

Motorsport.com – ALL – Stories

Andrew McFarlane Brett Metcalfe Heikki Mikkola Auguste Mingels Marty Moates

Bernie Ecclestone has acknowledged that finally cracking the US market will be difficult for Formula One.

The F1 chief executive plans to take his sport first to Texas next year and then to New York the season after, with the last US Grand Prix having been held at Indianapolis in 2007.

“We’ve been there, years ago, and it’s a little bit like the rest of America, they want to see a profit before they start something and it’s not easy to do that,” he told Al Jazeera.

Eddie Cheever

Photo by: Dave Dyer

“We’ve got maximum two races in America, and when you consider the country is as big as Europe and we’ve got (eight) races in Europe, it’s difficult.

“If we had a lot more races there and a lot more television, it would be ok,” added Ecclestone.

Arizona born Eddie Cheever, who raced in F1 in the 70s and 80s, thinks the key is to have some American drivers on the grid.

“There would be a lot more success with American drivers,” he is quoted by CNN.

“Just having one driver won’t do it,” Cheever said. “Maybe having one in F1 would galvanise F1 in America so more young drivers wanted (to race there).

“Almost all of the young drivers in America want to be in NASCAR and we need more to want to get to F1.”

Motorsport.com – ALL – Stories

John DeSoto Tony DiStefano Jamie Dobb Gert van Doorn John Dowd

MxLarge

Arthur Lampkin Steve Lamson Grant Langston Danny LaPorte Mike LaRocco

KTM?s 2012 690 Duke isn?t just an evolution of the hard core Duke – it?s a complete revolution: an all-new bike – 90% new in fact, with just 10% of its components shared with its predecessor.

The biggest surprise is in the looks department. Gone is the hard-edged supermotard appearance and in its place a more regular-looking naked bike albeit with KTM?s trademark aggressive styling and graphics.

The new design has been borne out of KTM?s desire to build a real world and useable bike. The new ergonomics have the rider sitting ?in? the bike on a relatively wide, comfortable seat instead of perched on top of a narrow one. The seat height is now 30mm lower which improves the overall ergonomics significantly, increases comfort and minimises buffeting.

On looks alone it would be easy to think that the new bike has been toned down but having ridden the bike for over six hours on a multitude of different roads I can assure you it hasn?t.

On the demanding and twisty mountain roads of Gran Canaria it?s an absolute blast to ride thanks to its perfect 50/50 weight distribution. It may not have the same aggressive looks as its predecessor, but don?t be fooled into thinking that it?s no less fun to ride.

KTM claim an impressive 70bhp for its 690cc single and combined with a refreshing light weight of 150kg results in a potent and engaging bike to ride. The new styling, comfort and ergonomics positions it in the same market place as the Kawasaki ER6 or Ducati Monster, but despite being a single in a world of twins it offers a superior or comparable power to weight ratio to its rivals.

Read the full test in this week?s issue of MCN (21 December), on sale now.

| Motorcycle News

Xavier Boog Damon Bradshaw Goat Breker Sven Breugelmans Larry Brooks

Gerhard Berger’s nephew is speeding down the road to follow his famous uncle into formula one.

Gerhard Berger

Photo by: xpb.cc

Two decades ago, ten-time winner Berger shared the McLaren garage with Ayrton Senna, whose own nephew Bruno went on to race in F1 with HRT and Lotus/Renault.

Now, 17-year-old Lucas Auer – the son of former BMW motor sport director and Toro Rosso co-owner Berger’s sister Claudia – is getting serious about his single seater racing.

This year, he raced in the JK Racing Asia Series and was recently crowned champion.

“It’s really important for my future,” he said of the title. “I had to win this season and now I can see what I will do in the future.”

Last week, according to motorline.cc, the young Austrian tested a F3 Euroseries car at Valencia, with 52-year-old Berger watching on.

Motorsport.com – ALL – Stories

Darrell Schultz Tommy Searle Gary Semics Andrew Short Shaun Simpson

I thought Brussels was an easy day?s ride from MCN?s Peterborough HQ, so was first to agree to join senior reporter Steve Farrell on his rabble-rousing EU protest ride last month.

In my brain, I foresaw a quick blat to Dover, a tootle down the E40 from Calais, chips and mayonnaise for lunch followed by some shouting at MEPs then a dash back to Blighty. What could be finer?

My over-confidence was partly the V-Strom?s fault. Such is its superb long distance ability that the distance and weather held no fears. A supremely comfy saddle, 250-mile tank range and decent weather protection meant the idea of not enjoying the ride didn?t cross my mind.

Unfortunately ? and not for the first time ? my brain had omitted a few facts. 

Firstly, Brussels and back is 600 fricking miles, not the 375 I had in my head. I?m sure the likes of Nick Sanders rattle off 600 before breakfast, but I don?t. I prefer to do zero miles before breakfast. Secondly, by necessity, there would be lots of faffing ? other people?s fuel stops, getting lost, the protest ride, getting lost again, missing chunnel trains, etc. This meant the day would be very, very long.

And so it transpired. I rode for 11 solid hours out of 14, and though delirious with tiredness on the final slog up the M11, was coherent enough to remember several things about the V-Strom:

1) On the middle setting, the screen creates an airflow that blows water droplets down and off my visor. In fog and rain, this means you don?t have to wipe your visor above 30mph. If a Suzuki aerodynamicist did this on purpose, I would like to nominate them for a Nobel Prize.

2) There are few faster ways of getting from Calais to Brussels and back to Calais than a V-Strom. Plenty of bikes will cruise at higher speeds, but not many can manage the distance of 250 miles without stopping for fuel. And when they do, the V-Strom will thrum past at 95mph, averaging 54mpg. This ability enabled me to catch an earlier chunnel train home than deputy editor Ped Baker after I lost him in Brussels?

3) After an hour at 80mph, slight tingles in the right bar give my thumb vibration-related ?white finger?, meaning it gets cold despite bar muffs. However, because I attached the bar muffs to the bar-end weights, I suspect the muffs might have caused the tingle in the first place. Fascinating muff-based experiments are in progress to determine the solution.

4) The V-Strom saddle gives me 90 minutes of uninterrupted riding before I start shuffling. Sliding back to the rear of the seat gives another 30 minutes. It?s one of the comfiest saddles I?ve ever used.

5) Watching the mpg display is addictive, and can alert you to all manner of mechanical problems. For example, I immediately knew something was wrong when my 80mph cruising mpg dropped from the usual 59 to 54. After careful examination I eventually deduced the bar muffs were blowing onto the brake lever at motorway speeds?

THE FACTS
2011 Suzuki V-Strom 650, £7028
Value now: £6200
Mileage: 2244
Fuel economy: 57.8mpg
Power (claimed): 68bhp
Torque (claimed): 44ftlb
Kerb weight: 214kg

VSTROM11 BLOG11

| Motorcycle News

Jaromir Cizek Guy Cooper Paul Cooper Josh Coppins Cody Copper

Go East young woman: Cyndie Allemann to race in the new i1 Super Series

Abu Dhabi, UAE, December 19, 2011 ? A busy 2012 winter for Cyndie Allemann: the racing star from Switzerland was selected as one of the drivers to take part in the inaugural i1 Super Series, starting with the media day and shakedown this week. She will have the opportunity to race wheel-to-wheel with established international stars such as 1997 F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, and current and past F1 drivers Vitantonio Liuzzi, Karun Chandhok, Giancarlo Fisichella, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jean Alesi, but also against talented young Indian drivers.

From the first race on January 22 in Sepang (Malaysia) to the season finale in Abu Dhabi (UAE) on March 10, Cyndie will have the chance to race the Radical SR3 prototype car on different world class circuits.

?To take part of a new international series is an exciting challenge for me. I?m super motivated because the cars are the same for everyone, and also, I will have the opportunity to race on famous international circuits. I?ve raced in Abu Dhabi before, but Sepang, Bahrain, Losail and Buddh International Circuit will all be new experiences to me. I?m very grateful that the promoter Machdar Motorsports has thought about me to race against this very selective group of drivers.?

Starting the new year by racing in the Radical SR3 prototype car is also an excellent learning experience for Cyndie, since she is currently planning her full racing program for the rest of the 2012 season.

?I?m eager to try and race the Radical SR3 prototype car: it?s a competitive car and ideal for this very unique format of two races on a single day. It?s also a fun car to drive and can?t wait to see what I can learn from the experience and how I will be able to use it, moving forward with my career. I?m really looking forward to have fun racing in this series.?

Not only Cyndie will race in a new series, but she also has an interesting perspective on racing in India, Asia and the Middle East:

Cyndie Allemann

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

?The racing part is exciting, but I?m also looking forward to be exposed to new cultures and new countries, as most of them will be totally new to me. It is important that I also take this experience as a way to evolve as a person. Also, the future development of motor racing should grow in emerging markets. Contributing to this growth and being among the first to support such a project for a country like India is important to me. Auto racing is still a new sport in India and I?m happy to play a role, even a small one, in the development of the sport in this wonderful country and helping young Indian drivers.?

About Cyndie Allemann:

Cyndie Allemann: a World class driver, top athlete and brand ambassador. Always a fan favorite, whether in Europe or in the USA, 25 years old Cyndie Allemann was literally born for speed.

Her 18-year racing career has seen her compete at the highest levels in many different series and tracks around the World: karting (winning the European junior title when she was only thirteen), open-wheel (EuroF3, Indy Lights, etc.), GT (FIA-GT1 World Championship) and endurance racing (GT1 podium at Spa in the Le Mans Series, 24 Hours of Le Mans, etc.)

She is training hard on and off the track while working on several new opportunities in different forms of racing for the 2012 season.

For more info on Cyndie or to follow her, visit her web site and her facebook fan page at:
www.cyndieallemann.ch
www.facebook.com/CyndieAllemannOfficialPage

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Christophe Pourcel Sebastien Pourcel Wyman Priddy Alessandro Puzar Gaston Rahier