Welcome to the new Blue2Bikes Blog…

Friday, November 14th, 2008  |  Posted by glynneblue2

Welcome to the new Blue2Bikes blog.

Over the winter period we will be updating and adding new news items of interests from whats happening in the world of Motorcycle Racing,from the Isle of Man TT through to the Macau Grand Prix, WSBK, British Superbikes, Moto GP and more…

During 2009 we will be adding up to the minute reports on all motorcycle racing with added reports from known motorcycle reporters and especially up to the minute photographs of all the action.

We hope you will join us and enjoy the new experience of what we can offer you the readers,please feel free to add your thoughts on what you would like to see here at B2B.

Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

Exclusive For Blue2bikes - New Yamaha RLR 450WR Racing Motorcycle Launch

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008  |  Posted by orbisks

In a world of economic changes and climate change, the world of racing motorcycles invariably changes, so much so that we are to see the demise of the 125cc and 250cc 2 stroke engine in the racing world.
So what are the options for those whom want to race motorcycles, especially the youngsters who have struggled throughout the years? To get the recognition they so rightly deserve and for those youngsters who want to make their careers in racing.
 
With the demise of the once all conquering 2 stroke machines there appears to be little option but to gain the required experience on 400cc 4 stroke machines, or alternatively compete on a 600cc 4 stroke machine.
 
The 400cc machines are in general hard to come by and are expensive to run, the option of a youngster climbing aboard a 600cc machine as their first machine is a very daunting one.
 
So what are the options open to those budding champions of the future?
 
A Business man and former Isle of Man TT Racer whom owns his own Motorcycle business in Cheshire and Rick from RLR Motorsports based in Church Stretton Shropshire have developed the ideal machine for budding racers, young or old.
 
RLR Motorsports have 16 years of success tuning and racing 400cc 4 stroke machines and along with their business acumen have put together a racing package unlike any other in the UK.
 
First conceived by Roland Sands and Gavin Trippe in the USA under the banner of Super 450 Singles, the Moto 450 was born, this came about whilst they were looking for an affordable racing class and they turned their attention to the 450cc single machine developed for Off Road Riding, or Dirt Biking as the Americans would say.
 
Almost by accident they tried a set of forks taken from a CBR 600 and set them onto a Kawasaki KX 450,not only were they an excellent fit but the geometry was almost identical to a Honda GP RS250 machine.
 
A bike was built in a matter of days and tested at Willow Springs, it handled beautifully with the stock chassis and swing arm along with minor adjustments to the suspension the 450 Moto was born.
 
In the USA they are currently planning on using the top four Japanese made machines, (with Europeans being a bit quirky in their ways) Thundersport GB and the ACU want to welcome as many different brands as possible into Moto 450, ThundersportGB have indeed tailored the rules to suit the UK Market, but acknowledge the great work done by Roland and Gavin in the States.

The donor machine started its life as the Yamaha WR450F Enduro Model; Bill Smiths Motorcycle Group and RLR Motorsports have created the Yamaha RLR 450WR.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

© Copyright 2008 - 20/20 Vision Photography

The finished machine has road race forks along with Dymag wheels and clothed in 250 race bodywork, everyone who has seen the machine agrees that they are surprised at how good these machines look and of course at a price that can’t be argued with.

 

 

 

 

 

 


© Copyright 2008 - 20/20 Vision Photography

The ACU Road Race Committee have agreed that these are indeed an excellent machine for young riders to move onto and have agreed a Starting age of 15 years old to compete on them.

They have also agreed to a rule change allowing the Moto 450 to be raced in the F400 Class using treaded tyres.

With such a short build time along with the added benefit of being able to use the machine for Off Road use during the closed season (Nothing is irreversibly changed during the machines Transformation) the value for money advantage cannot be argued with.

Technical regulations have capped the power at 60 BHP, and 100 Kg weight limit, realistically these machines will be competing with a good reliable 50-58 BHP and should produce top quality racing not only for the participants but racing fans alike.

The Yamaha RLR 450WR Machine can be viewed on the Thundersport Stand next week at the NEC Motorcycle Show in Birmingham; it will be displayed for the duration of the show.

For more immediate information, please contact me and i will give you more details. glyn@blue2bikes.co.uk

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: Yamaha RLR450WR

Engine Capacity: Single Cylinder OHC Yamaha 450 engine. 55bhp Capped, 100kgs in weight
This Type of Engine is currently produced by 12 Manufacturers all of whom produce a 450cc Single Cylinder which is adaptable to Race in the ‘ACU’ F400 Class

 

 

 

 

 

  


© Copyright 2008 - 20/20 Vision Photography

Any 450cc single cylinder machine eligible for off road competition with the FIM, UEM or ACU manufactured after 2000. The swing arm, frame and engine mounting points must remain standard. The engine may be tuned using standard parts only (exception Connecting Rod may be changed or shot-peened for safety) to an absolute maximum of 60bhp at the crank, nominally 55bhp at the wheel. Only 17 inch wheels are permitted. Racing slicks and full wets can be used.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
© Copyright 2008 - 20/20 Vision Photography

Colour of bodywork:- Kawasaki = Green, Honda = Red, Yamaha = Dark Blue, Suzuki = Yellow, Husqvarna = Red and White, KTM = Orange, Others = White. These are the base colours Competitors may add any colours and graphics to these base colours but it should remain clear which manufacturer the machine relates to. A series sponsor will be announced and it will be mandatory to carry the sticker above the front number board (all other graphics are free).

 

 

 

 
© Copyright 2008 - 20/20 Vision Photography

Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

Disappointment at Macau Grand Prix for Conor Cummins, Michael Rutter and elation for Stuart Easton

Saturday, November 15th, 2008  |  Posted by glynneblue2

Disappointment for Conor Cummins, Michael Rutter and elation for Stuart
Easton

 

The Macau grand Prix as always never disappoints for excellent racing and a twist of fate, Pole sitter and lap record holder Conor Cummins failed to finish after suffering mechanical problems on lap 8
whilst catching Stuart Easton and Michael Rutter.

 

Stuart Easton started in sixth position but quickly gained third, behind Michael Rutter and Cameron Donald.Cameron was looking more than comfortable but then on lap five suffered
mechanical problems allowing Stuart to take up the lead some 4 seconds ahead of Michael, Michael moved to within less than a second to Stuart with 6 laps remaining, Stuart kept his nerve and

increased his lead crossing the finish line by nearly 3 seconds ahead of Michael, followed by John Mac Guinness in third more than a half a minute adrift.

 

This is the first win at Macau for Stuart and yet another disappointment for
Michael who’s endeavours to gain that coveted seventh Win has eluded him yet
again.

 

Final Positions

 

1. Stuart Easton GBR Doosan Honda 15 laps

2. Michael Rutter GBR Discover Ireland NW200 Ducati +2.722secs

3. John McGuinness GBR Ventaxia VK Honda 31.711secs

4. Luis Carreira POR Benimoto Suzuki Yoshimura +39.962secs

5. Michael Barnes USA Ventaxia VK Honda 39.982secs

6. Stephen Thompson GBR Sloan Developments +45.910secs

7. Ian Hutchinson GBR Aviva Kawasaki +49.067secs

8. Jeremy Toye USA Corona Extra Honda Racing +1min 16.206secs

9. Marc Fissettee BEL Ixo-Churrascao Racing +1min 29.503secs

10. Rui Reigoto POR Vodafone Kawasaki KMS +1min 34.367secs

11. Keith Amor GBR AIM Racing +1min 39.608secs SSP

12. Steve Mercer GBR DMR Racing +2mins 04.529secs

13. Gerald Muteau FRA Halfen Team of Paris +2mins 04.846secs SSP

14. Fabrice Miguet FRA Halfen Team of Paris +2mins 21.831secs

15. Amaury Baratin FRA Halfen Team of Paris +1 lap

16. Scott Jensen USA Moto Garage Racing +1 lap

17. Joao Fernandes MAC Macau Racing Team +1 lap SSP

18. Cheung Wai On HKG Cheung Wai On +1 lap SSP

19. Sou Sio Hong MAC Sou Sio Hong +1 lap

20. Leong Iok Choi MAC Leong Iok Choi +2 laps

 

Did Not Finish

 

21. Gary Johnson GBR BTS Racing 11 laps completed

22. Michael Weynard BEL IGT-Bike Promotion Racing 10 laps completed

23. Mark Miller USA Corona Extra Honda Racing 8 laps completed

24. Conor Cummins IOM Team of Paris AIM Racing 7 laps completed

25. Steve Allan GBR Aviva Kawasaki 6 laps completed

26. Cameron Donald AUS Relentless Suzuki by TAS 4 laps completed

27. Pierre Chapuis FRA Halfen Team of Paris 4 laps completed

28. Jose Leite POR Suzuki Caepsa BPN 2 laps completed

29. Ric Penzkofer GER IGT-Yamaha Austria Racing Team 1 lap completed SSP

30. Bruce Anstey NZL Relentless Suzuki by TAS 0 laps completed

31. Dan Linfoot GBR Rob Mac Racing 0 laps completed SSP

32. Thomas Hinterreiter AUT Macau.com Yart 0 laps completed

 

Rating: 4.0/5 (1 vote cast)

Conor Cummins fights back at Macau Grand Prix

Friday, November 14th, 2008  |  Posted by glynneblue2

Conor Cummins fought of Michael Rutter during second qualyfying to register a time of 2.26.58 seconds,pushing Michael Rutter back to second place.

This timestamp sets a new lap record and puts Conor into pole position for the race,it was expected that Michael would take the lap record but the fighting Manxman on his 2nd visit to Macau had other ideas.

Its looking like Conor will be the man to beat and for Michael Conor will be the thorn in the side that Steve Plater had been in previous years,Denying Michael that record breaking seventh win.

2nd qualifying top 10 riders,

 1   Conor CUMMINS     2:26.580           
 2   Michael RUTTER      
 3   Cameron DONALD     
 4   John MCGUINNESS    
 5   Ian HUTCHINSON     
 6   Stuart EASTON      
 7   Jeremy TOYE      
 8   Mark MILLER     
 9   Luis CARREIRA     
 10  Stephen THOMPSON

Rating: 4.0/5 (1 vote cast)

New photographer for Blue2Bikes….

Thursday, November 13th, 2008  |  Posted by orbisks

Blue2Bikes are currently in negotiations with ‘Stiggy‘ (well known in motor sports), with a view to bringing them onboard as a photographer in the near future.

We hope to make an anouncement very soon, so watch this space!!

Rating: 2.0/5 (2 votes cast)

Michael Rutter takes provisional Pole at Macau

Thursday, November 13th, 2008  |  Posted by glynneblue2

Michael Rutter has taken provisional pole for the Macau Grand Prix,in his quest to take a record breaking Seventh title at Macau, Michael was in determined mood and set the pace at 2mins 28.156secs
Unfortunately Guy Martin aboard the Bike Animal Honda fell and was knocked unconcious ruling him out for the rest of the weekend due to FIM Rules Guy can not take any further action as he now cannot race for 7 days.This is an unfortunate end to Guy’s 2008 season where he has had to suffer one of his worst seasons to date.The second qualifying takes place this evening at 11.30 pm British Time.

Here are the top 10 riders,1st qualifying

1. Michael Rutter  2mins 28.156secs
2. John McGuinness
3. Steve Allan GBR
4. Cameron Donald
5. Stuart Easton
6. Luis Carreira
7. Conor Cummins
8. Thomas Hinterreiter
9. Ian Hutchinson
10. Jeremy Toye

Rating: 3.5/5 (1 vote cast)