Bayliss gets to grips with V8 Supercars

Three times Superbike World Champion Troy Bayliss took the first major step in his new four-wheel racing career this week as he test drove Craig Lowndes' 2009 TeamVodafone V8 Supercar at Queensland Raceway in Australia.

he former Ducati Xerox man put in over 80 laps of the circuit, impressing team engineers with his precise control and split-second concentration in the 600hp plus V8 Ford Falcon machine.

fter a sighting lap with championship regular Lowndes in the passenger seat, Troy's natural competitive instinct took over and he eventually got down to within half a second of the mark set by his fellow Australian.

ayliss said the experience had been immensely rewarding and said that the world-class touring car category was a logical progression as he pursued a career on four wheels.

That was a dream come true," Bayliss admitted. "I have been a huge fan of V8 Supercars for a long time and to finally get some laps in one felt amazing. A lot of the on-track principals transfer between the bike and the car and once the excitement of the first few laps wore off I felt like I was back at the office trying to perfect my corners and reduce my lap times. I can honestly say I have the bug, I definitely want to do more laps and try and get out there in either the Development Series or the endurance races."

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com

Rally figures recognised by the British Monarchy

Ford's world rally team director Malcolm Wilson and a leading figure in Australian motor sport, Garry Connelly, have been named in The Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Wilson was admitted to the Order of the British Empire after being awarded an OBE (Officer of the British Empire) for his services to British motorsport.

The award recognises distinguished achievement in any field at national or regional level and will be presented to Wilson from Her Majesty The Queen at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London later this year.

Wilson joins other British motorsport greats including Sir Jackie Stewart (GBE), Colin McRae (MBE), John Surtees (OBE), Nigel Mansell (OBE) and Damon Hill (OBE) in being granted an Order of the British Empire.

"It's a great honour, and a huge surprise, to be recognised in this way by Her Majesty The Queen," said 53-year-old Wilson, managing director of Cumbrian-based M-Sport, the preparation business which runs Ford's world rally programme.

"Motorsport, and particularly rallying, has been my life. I feel so proud to have delivered two world championship titles for Ford, and equally as proud to have done so from M-Sport's base at my home town in Cockermouth, Cumbria. I feel very humble that our achievements have been recognised in this way.

"But this is not just an honour for me. It's also a reward for all the employees at M-Sport who work so hard to keep Ford at the forefront of the FIA World Rally Championship. They should also feel great pride at this award," said Wilson.

Brisbane’s Garry Connelly was awarded a member in the general division of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to motorsport.

Connelly, a former rally co-driver and driver, has played a leading role in Australian motorsport for more than 20 years, and was instrumental in establishing the Perth based round of the WRC.

He has been the Australian delegate to the FIA since 2006 and a major player in the rally’s move this year from the west coast to northern New South Wales.

Source: http://www.wrc.com

Kawasaki ER-6n (2009)

Technical Specifications
Engine
Engine type
Displacement
Max power
Max torque
Bore x Stroke
Compression ratio
Starting system
Ignition
Fuel system
Lubrication
Clutch
Transmission
Gear Ratios

Liquid cooled, 4-stroke, parallel twin, DOHC, 8 valves
649 cm3
53.0 kw (72.0 PS) @8,500 rpm
66.0 kw (6.7 kgf.m) @7,000 rpm
83 mm x 60 mm
11.3:1
Electric starter
Battery and coil (transistorized)
Fuel injection: ø38 x 2 mm (Keihin)
Forced lubrication (semi-dry sump)
Wet multi disc
6-speed, constant mesh, return shift
1st 2.438 (39/16)
2nd 1.714 (36.21)
3rd 1.333 (32/24)
4th 1.111 (30/27)
5th 0.966 (28/29)
6th 0.852 (23/27)
Dimensions
Overall length
Overall width
Overall height
Wheelbase
Ground clearance
Seat height
Curb mass
Fuel capacity
Frame type
Caster (rake)
Tyre Front)
Tyre (rear)
Suspension (front)
Suspension (rear)
Brake (front)
Brake (rear)

2,100 mm
760 mm
1,100 mm
1,405 mm
140 mm
785 mm
200 kg
15.5 litres
Tubular, Diamond
24.5º
120/70-ZR17M/C (58W) Tubeless
160/60-ZR17M/C (69W) Tubeless
Telescopic fork
Swingarm
Dual disc
Single disc

Image:
http://motorcyclespictures.blogspot.com

Source:
http://www.kawasaki.com.my

Sebastien Loeb’s crash in his own words

Sebastien Loeb has returned the Service Park in Loutraki and has spoken about the crash on SS7 that took him out of the rally.

Loeb said: “It was my fault. It happened after I went around a high-speed right-hand corner, I was bit too sideways then the hit a big stone with the left-hand front wheel and that sent the car into the air. The car rolled over five or six times.

“The car is destroyed. There’s no chance to return tomorrow - the race is over. We are okay, that’s the main thing.”

After two uncharacteristically disappointing rallies, Loeb said his hopes of a record sixth consecutive world title were still very much alive. “Yes we might have lost a lot of championship points but we are still leading - and that’s an important point,” he said.

“Maybe my lead will be less, and that will make it more exciting for some people. It’s bad for Citroen, but that’s the race. We’ll do better next time...” he added.

Source: http://www.wrc.com

Murray powers into Queen's final

British number one Andy Murray stormed into his first grass-court final with a 6-2 6-4 win over Juan Carlos Ferrero at the Aegon Championships at Queen's.

The top seed will face American James Blake on Sunday, after four-times champion Andy Roddick retired with an ankle injury early in their semi-final.

Murray will be full of confidence after an impressive display against Ferrero.

He swept through the first set and was solid when the Spaniard improved in the second, securing victory in 71 minutes.

The 22-year-old Scot's superb form this week after making the transition from clay has increased hopes he can clinch his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.

But Murray is keen to play down the hype, explaining that he is focused on beating Blake, the sixth seed, and nothing else.

"It's so easy based on a few matches to get ahead of yourself," said Murray.

"That's a problem I think that a lot of people have in this country - expecting huge things and thinking that it's just going to happen.

"I need to go out there and make it happen. Any Grand Slams are going to be incredibly tough.

"For me, it might sound boring, and all sports people say it all the time, but I'm not looking or thinking about winning Wimbledon.

"I'm thinking about my match on Sunday and then preparing for the championships the best that I can."

After cruising through the early stages against Ferrero, Murray found it more difficult to finish his opponent off, with the former world number one showing admirable battling qualities when he seemed on the brink of collapse.

Murray got a taste of what was to come when he saw a glorious opportunity to break Ferrero come and go in the opening game of the second set.

The Scot squandered all three break points after leading 40-0 as the world number 90 finally showed some of the form that had helped him into the semi-finals.

And Ferrero then put the Murray serve under pressure for the first time in the next game, taking the first two points, but the Scot hit back with two consecutive aces and his supreme serving throughout meant he never actually faced a break point.

Ferrero's serve was less effective but he clung on, saving two more break points before Murray finally made the breakthrough to lead 4-3.

There was no way back for Ferrero from there and, although he battled on, Murray was relatively untroubled as he served out for victory.

"It was a good match," Murray told BBC Sport afterwards.

"I served very well in the first set and I was happy to win it in two as it was hotter out there than on other days this week.

"I've not had the easiest draw, but I'm lucky I've played well from the start of the week. It's been a good week so far and I hope that will continue on Sunday."

Murray becomes the first British player to reach the final at Queen's since Tim Henman in 2002.

Henman made the final three times in four years, losing the first to America's Pete Sampras in 1999, before Australia's Lleyton Hewitt defeated him in 2001 and 2002.

No British player has won the title since Bunny Austin in 1938.

The world number three might have expected to face Roddick - a winner at Queen's in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007 - in the final but the American's hopes were ended by a freak injury in the third game of his match.

Roddick had unsuccessfully chased down a Blake lob and laughed after attempting to hit the ball between his legs but then slipped off the back of the court and was clearly in pain.

He had his right ankle strapped during a medical time-out and attempted to play on but threw in the towel with the score at 4-4.

The 26-year-old is a two-time runner-up at Wimbledon, losing to Roger Federer in the final in 2004 and 2005, but it is not clear whether his injury will stop him from taking part in this year's tournament, which starts on 22 June.

"I'm going to do everything I can to play at Wimbledon," Roddick said afterwards.

"I met with my trainer and with the doctors. They don't think anything is torn. Initial tests showed the stability was okay. Strength was okay.

"It was just range of motion was limited. So that's good. I'm not saying I'm going to be out six weeks or anything like that. We're looking at days, not weeks."

Blake, 29, last reached the final at Queen's when he lost to Hewitt in 2006 but feels he has a chance to end up a winner this time.

"Anyone that's in a final has the ability to play great tennis, and I'd like to think I do.

"If I'm playing well and putting pressure on him, you know, you take your chances, and a lot of times if you're playing well it's going to come down to a point or two here and there.

"You just take advantage of a break point here, a point in a tie-break there

or something and go after your shots, play aggressive and see what happens."

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk

Harrington misses cut in Memphis

Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia's US Open preparations suffered a blow as they missed the cut at the storm-delayed St Jude Classic in Memphis.

Ireland's Harrington ended his second round on Saturday but two bogeys in his last three holes took him to four over, while Spaniard Garcia was three over.

American Brian Gay hit a second-round 66 to take the clubhouse lead at 10 under and ensure the cut came at level.

Robert Allenby finished off with a 64 and starts round three one shot back.

Richard Johnson of Wales undid his opening 67 with a second-round 77 to also bow out, while Sweden's Henrik Stenson also crashed out after shooting a 75 to finish at eight over par for the week.

America's Phil Mickelson, playing in his first tournament since his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer, shot a level-par 70 but made the cut comfortably at two under par.

The second major of the year, the US Open, takes place at the notoriously tough Bethpage Black next week.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk

Teams agree to scrap Kers system

The Formula One Teams' Association has agreed to abandon the energy storage and recovery system (Kers) for the 2010 season, BBC Sport understands.

The optional Kinetic Energy Recovery System can give cars a power boost, but only Ferrari and McLaren are now still using it seven races into the season.

Fota will drop it because of its poor uptake - and pressure from motorsport's governing body, the FIA, to cut costs.

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali said it was a "logical decision".

When asked by BBC Sport F1 pundit Eddie Jordan ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday if Fota teams had agreed and signed by democratic decision to abandon Kers next season in an earlier meeting, Domenicali confirmed that was the case.

"That is our position jointly," he said. "Of course we are the ones that are using it now with McLaren.

"We have invested a lot of money in it and it's difficult for the public to understand how there are cars with Kers and cars with no Kers.

"I think in the view of helping new teams to get into F1, and in order to save money, that is a logical decision - even if we have invested a lot of money in that project."

Under the rules at the start of this season, Kers - which provides drivers with an extra boost of power for 6.7 seconds per lap - would also be in place at the start of 2010.

The power - 80bhp - was also due to be increased next year, meaning all teams would have had to have had it in order to remain competitive.

But that will no longer be the case.

BBC Sport understands that Ferrari are desperate to drop their system because it has been so unreliable for them, while McLaren's package developed by Mercedes has proved more successful.

Though McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is a fan of Kers, for a variety of reasons, he accepts that dropping it may be the only way forward.

"F1 has to demonstrate it has some green credentials," he told BBC Sport. "But, at the same time, in this economic climate everybody is looking to save costs.

"It has been a huge effort talking about new entrants and making sure these smaller teams stay in F1.

"McLaren's position is we would like to see Kers retained - but we also accept that we have to be responsible members of the F1 community and if the majority don't want to have Kers, or can't afford Kers at the moment, then we have to be realistic."

BMW Sauber and Renault both ran with Kers, which adds extra weight to the car, at the start of the season but both teams stopped experimenting with it after little success.

Championship pacesetters Brawn GP have no plans to introduce Kers to their cars.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk

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