Latest Bike News

The Madras Motor Sports Club track in Irungattukottai is being redesigned to make it a viable option to host a MotoGP race in the future, confirmed Amit Arora, the general manager of MMSC operations.

The track would be upgraded from its current Grade-4 status to a Grade-2 status which will make it the country’s second most advanced track once the F1 track at Noida opens up.

 

MMSC is already in talks with MotoGP promoters, Dorna and racing circuit designers Apex, from UK. The sports club is getting vital information to design a racetrack suited for MotoGP and Formula 2 races.

Racers have been asking for several improvements to be made to the 21 year old circuit for a long time and it seems they will now be getting more than they hoped for in a time as short as 3 years. MMSC will also be making efforts to make sure there is minimum interference with the day-to-day activities of the circuit during this time.

“The plan is to create a multi-use venue for motorsport, alongside an entertainment area. It will have shopping malls, hotels and restaurants. There will be new paddock buildings and garages. The length of the main straight will be increased and corners will be worked to improve speed.” Arora added.

Meanwhile, the construction of the Greater Noida Formula 1 racetrack is progressing at a reasonable pace and the track should be able to host its first Grand Prix at the end of this year. A second, smaller racetrack for Go-Kart racing is also being constructed alongside. With Indians Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok getting their hands on a F1 steering this year, looks like motor racing in India has finally come to life 🙂

Pirelli has been renewed as the Official Tyre Supplier to the FIM Superbike World Championship after a new contract was signed between Pirelli and Infront Motor Sports extending Pirelli’s domain till 2015.

Pirelli has been supplying racing tyres to WSBK since 2004 and through 2008 – 2010 has served up more than 2Lac tyres for these races.

 

Pirelli has also supplied tyres to Formula1 this season and will continue to do so till 2013. These tyres had come under a lot of international debate because of their high wear till the issue was cleared up by FIA who stated that they had asked the tyre manufacturer to make a tyre that will hit the cliff early. This move is to make Formula1 race strategy more interesting.

Tyre manufacturers often use the experience derived from racing to make better road tyres. Hope Pirelli continues down the same road.

Pirelli has been renewed as the Official Tyre Supplier to the FIM Superbike World Championship after a new contract was signed between Pirelli and Infront Motor Sports extending Pirelli’s domain till 2015.

Pirelli has been supplying racing tyres to WSBK since 2004 and through 2008 – 2010 has served up more than 2Lac tyres for these races.

 

Pirelli has also supplied tyres to Formula1 this season and will continue to do so till 2013. These tyres had come under a lot of international debate because of their high wear till the issue was cleared up by FIA who stated that they had asked the tyre manufacturer to make a tyre that will hit the cliff early. This move is to make Formula1 race strategy more interesting.

Tyre manufacturers often use the experience derived from racing to make better road tyres. Hope Pirelli continues down the same road.

Yamaha Motor Europe has decided to withdraw their official Yamaha World Superbike Team at the end of the current season from the FIM Superbike World Championship.

It seems that the decision has been made taking into account the changing market conditions in Europe. Yamaha says it wants to focus more on direct “consumer” activities. Currently Yamaha’s R1 and R6 models are not being preferred by riders due to their higher purchase price.

Yamaha also said they would be putting in all efforts till the end of the current season and will try and win the championship. Riders Marco Melandri and Eugene Laverty are currently respectively 3rd and 4th in the overall 2011 FIM Superbike World Championship standings for riders with 4 rounds to go. Both the riders will now need to look for new teams to race with.

Yamaha will continue the availability of road racing kit parts, known as YEC Racing kit parts, for its R1 and R6 production models for private teams entering at all racing levels.

Last season Ducati had announced their exit from WSB and now a private team, Althea is racing Ducati bikes with a lot of support and equipment from the factory itself. Looks like Yamaha still be out there next season unofficially supporting the private teams running Yamaha motorcycles, but we’ll have to wait and watch for that.

The reason the exit might be financial as Yamaha don’t have a title sponsor for this year, but they have not mentioned it.