Munchi’s team gets set for 2009 debut

The Munchi’s Ford World Rally team will make its 2009 WRC debut on the Cyprus Rally with a Ford Focus RS for Argentinean driver Federico Villagra.

The team has taken advantage of new FIA regulations which allow single car teams to register for this year’s manufacturers’ championship.

Villagra, and co-driver Jorge Perez Companc, will lead the team’s campaign on eight events, and may be joined by a second car on selected rallies.

Seven-time Argentine Rally Champion Villagra has tackled the Cyprus event once before, finishing 27th in 2005, but is hoping two days of testing in the UK will help him on the unique mixed surface event.

Villagra’s last taste of WRC competition came on Rally Japan last year. “It feels like it has been a long time since my last event,” said Villagra. “It is great to be taking part in eight rounds of the WRC this season and I'm very happy to be back racing with Jorge. We have had a really good test and I am looking forward to the rally.

“Cyprus is going to be very interesting. The stages are very long and it is going to be a new experience driving on different surfaces in the same rally. I think it is also going to be very hard on the brakes and it will be tough mentally and physically,” he added.

Source:
http://www.wrc.com
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Henning targets Saturday return

After his earlier altercation with a pick up truck forced his retirement from today’s competition, Henning Solberg says he hopes to restart the rally on Saturday.

Henning Solberg said: “We went to pass a vehicle which had stopped by the side of the road and it pulled straight out right in front of us. I didn’t have any chance to do anything. My car was bent at the side and at the front. Sometimes things like this can happen, but it’s very bad. We should be able to SuperRally tomorrow, but there’s no chance of a good result now - I can’t take five minutes out of everybody on every stage tomorrow....”

Also at service...

Mario Isola, Pirelli’s tyre manager, said: “Today has been a huge challenge but it seems the tyres are lasting well, so we’re quite happy. The forecast is for rain this afternoon - it will be interesting if it happens. The stages this afternoon are going to be dirtier and it’s likely there will be stones are rocks about too so punctures could be a problem.”

Petter Solberg’s co-driver Phil Mills said: “We’re understeering and oversteering like a pig and the car handles like a donkey with three legs. Yes the situation is the same for everybody but you have to ask what’s going on when we’re driving stages like this on gravel tyres. It’s ridiculous. You turn the wheel and nothing happens because the tyres are folding under the cars. Can you imagine Lewis Hamilton going out onto the circuit with knobbly tyres?”

Source:
http://www.wrc.com
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Pop star Rouvas takes a spin with Hirvonen

Mikko Hirvonen helped Greek pop music superstar Sakis Rouvas rev up for his sell-out concert in Limassol on Thursday night by taking the singer for a passenger ride in his Ford Focus RS WRC.

Hirvonen took the 37-year-old for a drive along the seafront road into Limassol, where Rouvas performed a special sell-out concert.

"Sakis wanted to know all about the switches and controls in the cockpit of the Focus and we joked about how both of us earn our living on a stage - him on the stage of concert venues and me in the special stages of the WRC," said Hirvonen. "The Eurovision Song Contest has a huge following in Finland so I promised to support him in May's competition - provided he doesn't beat my own country! When I saw the welcome he received from fans at the start I realised just what a huge star he is in this part of the world."

"That was a fantastic experience," said Rouvas, as he climbed out of the car. "Mikko told me all about the car and showed me some of its capabilities. I was amazed at the acceleration, there was a real kick in the back as the power came in, and the braking was equally impressive. It's the first time I have sat inside a World Rally Car. Mikko promised me that next time he will drive me through a stage so when Ford comes to the rally in Greece in June I will contact him to remind him of that!"

After his ride with Hirvonen, Sakis was lucky enough to get a second World Rally Car experience as he was driven over the start podium and onto stage of his Palais des Sports concert by World Champion Sebastien Loeb.

Source:
http://www.wrc.com
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Triumph Speedmaster 2009

Specifications
Performance
Horsepower (bhp): 61 bhp
Torque (Ft Lbs): 55 lbs
Redline RPM: N/A RPM
Exterior
Body Material: N/A
Frame: Steel
Hand Grip Material: Rubber
Transmission
Number Of Speeds: 5
Transmission Brands: N/A
Transmission Types: Manual
Instrumentation
Speedometer: Standard
Tachometer: Standard
Fuel Level Warning: Not Available
Wheels
Rear Wheel Diameter: 15
Front Wheel Width (in): 2.5
Rear Wheel Width (in): 3.5
Bags & Storage
Tank Bag: Not Available
Saddle Bag(s): N/A
Lockable Storage: Standard
Tires
Front Tire Speed Rating: N/A
Rear Tire Speed Rating: N/A
Tire Brand: N/A
Fuel Economy
US MPG (City): N/A
US MPG (Combined): N/A
US MPG (Hwy): N/A
Brakes
Front Caliper Pistons: 2
Rear Caliper Pistons: 2
Rear Brake Rotor Width (mm): N/A
Suspension & Steering
Front Suspension Brand: N/A
Front Suspension Type: Telescopic Fork
Rear Suspension Type: Twin Sided Swing Arm
Seats
Seat Height (mm): 718.8
Seat Material: Vinyl
Seat Type: One-Piece
Other Specs
Fuel Capacity (gal): 4.4
Number Of Speakers: N/A
Adjustable Handlebars: N/A

Source:
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com
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Kimi Raikkonen Q&A: I am ready to go racing

Returning to the pits with a problem on his Ferrari's KERS cooling system probably wasn’t the perfect end to Kimi Raikkonen's winter testing season, but after clocking Tuesday’s fastest time Raikkonen wasn’t too disappointed. Overall the Finn seems satisfied with the F60's development curve. However, as one of the grid’s most experienced runners, he knows better than most that he’ll have to wait until Melbourne to discover where he - and the rest of the field - truly stand…

Q: Kimi, how are you feeling two weeks before the start of the season?
Kimi Raikkonen: I feel okay and the car seems to be good. So let’s wait and see how we are doing at the first race.

Q: On your last day there was a problem with the car’s KERS…
KR: I don’t know exactly what the problem was - the engineers are checking it. I guess it was a small leakage in the cooling system, and I am sure they will fix it. Apart from that everything worked very well.

Q: Will reliability be the biggest concern this year for everybody?
KR: Well, the rules are new and with KERS there are always chances that something could go wrong, as we haven’t had so much testing with it. But I think we are on a pretty good level with it, so hopefully everything goes well.

Q: Last year you didn’t seem to have a car that you really enjoyed driving. Do you feel more comfortable in the F60?
KR: I am happy with how the car works now. But of course testing is something very different to racing and we are going to many different tracks, so we will have to wait and see. But as I said, for now I am pretty happy and the rest we will see in a few weeks.

Q: Are you happy with both the consistency over long runs and quick single laps?
KR: I mean it was okay as we haven’t really pushed for a special lap time. The car is handling well and that is the main thing, and if we don’t face anymore problems we should be okay. It is very difficult to say what everybody is doing so we better wait until the first race with any predictions.

Q: You are heavier than Felipe Massa. How big is the weight penalty for you when KERS is on board? Are you restricted in any way when setting the car up?
KR: That doesn’t seem to be a problem and we are more or less where we need to be with the weight - so it should be okay.

Q: So that won’t be a handicap for you for in Melbourne?
KR: If the car works as well as here, because we cannot move the weight distribution, there should be no issue.

Q: But obviously you have lost quite some weight. How many kilos?
KR: I don’t know. I haven’t got scales. I am happy as long as we are okay with the overall weight, that’s all that matters.

Q: Did you change your preparations over the winter?
KR: Not really. We have done different things with the cars but apart from that I have spent my winter just trying to get ready for the season.

Q: Does your driving style work well with the slick tyres?
KR: I don’t know how well the others are doing, but so far I’ve been pretty happy with how the car has been working. I am okay to start the season!

Q: The car is certainly different, but do you feel different to last year?
KR: I don’t know anything about a different feeling. It’s a new season, so it’s hard to know what to expect. Of course with the rule changes the handling changes a little bit and it can get tricky if it’s bad weather, but then that goes for everybody. I am ready to go racing, and then we will see how well we can do.

Q: Last season you started as the reigning world champion, now you are the hunter again. Which role do you like more?
KR: I don’t mind. Everybody starts from the same level so hopefully we can score good points in the first few races and go from there.

Q: You drove for McLaren for many years. This winter seems to have been a little troublesome for them. Does that mean hope for everybody else, or do you think they can come back?
KR: I don’t know if they have a problem or not, and what they are doing. Let’s wait a few weeks and we will know where they are in the first race. They haven’t probably been as quick as in the past winter but that doesn’t mean that they won’t be fast in the first race.

Q: What about Felipe? Is he still the same guy he was last year or has he changed a lot?
KR: I don’t know. You should ask him. I don’t know what he’s been doing, so if you want to know something about his life you should speak to him.

Q: Who do you see as your main competitors this year? The McLaren duo or is there somebody else?
KR: It could be all tight - but then again, it might not be. I don’t know more than anybody else - I just see the times. That’s it.

Q: Have you rediscovered the fun of Formula One racing?
KR: It’s always been fun, but definitely if you’re doing well it’s more fun. But we haven’t started the season yet!

Source:
http://www.formula1.com
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WSB season ready for kick off

A record 12 riders attended the Phillip Island pre season press conference today in preparation for the season kick-off tomorrow.

WSB organisers historically invite four or five riders on stage to talk about the weekend ahead and their title aspirations.

With so many fast riders in 2009, organisers were spoilt for choice on who to invite meaning the stage full.

Established WSB stars Noriyuki Haga, Max Biaggi, and Troy Corser were joined by WSB rookies Ben Spies, Shane Byrne and Jonathan Rea. Also in attendance were title contenders Max Neukirchner and Carlos Checa.

Such is the strength of the 2009 WSB rider line-up that there wasn’t enough room on stage for some of WSB’s fastest men.

Xerox Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio and three time WSB race winner Ryuichi Kiyonari weren’t invited to attend with factory Aprilia man Shinya Nakano and Britain’s Tom Sykes and Leon Haslam also absent.

First WSB practice starts at 10.30Xam local time (GMT +11) on Friday 27th March.

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KTM Super Duke 990 R

Specifications
Model Type Sport
BASE MSRP(US) $15,598.00
Engine:
Engine Type V Twin
Cylinders 2
Engine Stroke 4-Stroke
Cooling Liquid
Valves 8
Valves Per Cylinder 4
Valve Configuration DOHC
Compression Ratio 11.5:1
Starter Electric
Fuel Requirements Regular
Fuel Type Gas
Transmission:
Transmission Type Manual
Number Of Speeds 6
Primary Drive (Rear Wheel) Chain
Wheels & Tires:
Front Tire (Full Spec) 120/70 ZR17
Rear Tire (Full Spec) 180/55 ZR17
Brakes:
Front Brake Type Dual Hydraulic Disc
Rear Brake Type Hydraulic Disc
Technical Specifications:
Wheelbase (in/mm) 57.1 / 1450
Fuel Capacity (gal/l) 4.9 / 18.5

Photo:
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com

Source:
http://www.motorcycle.com
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