INSPIRE July 2014

Page 1


“You can’t describe passion, you can only live it” Enzo Ferrari

www.inspire-lcr.com/enzoferrari

INSPIRE

INSPIRING HEROES





18

62

MotoGP RACE HIGHLIGHTS - Round 08

78

FASHION & STYLE

32

MotoGP RACE HIGHLIGHTS - Round 07

BIKE & PASSION

48

BIKES & DREAMS 6



eDITORIAL Unknown pleasure

Enrico Barbieri Editor-in-chief

Electromagnetic pulse. Heart pulse. Pulse under the skin. As usual, the MotoGP gives us this kind of excitement in high and heavy doses and Inspire is a volcano from which all this heavy metal of passion emerges. Its pages faithfully record these activities as a lifeline that brings to the light the rhythmic pulse of this underground world, as a graph that records the vital waves that pulsate through the bikes and everything that surrounds them! Even thousands of miles away, where you can arrive to with a motorcycle, as in the adventures of David Beckham in the heart of the Amazon rainforest or in the journey from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego of Alex Chacon. But of course distance does not mean only miles: MotoGP live experiences crossing Europe from Spain to Germany and Holland, while our time machine rediscovers the excitement of the first Honda Dream 50 and the legendary King of TT Joey Dunlop. The pulses are crossing at several points, intersecting, overlapping. We are here to catch them all!

8



P.

48

A NEW STAR IS BORN



B E L I E V E S

I N

A N D

C H A L L E N G E S

W I S H

T O

READ OUR FREE eMAGAZINE, ENJOY AND SHARE! MOTOGP RACE HIGHLIGHTS ART

|

PASSIONS

|

|

FASHION & STYLE

VINTAGE EMOTIONS

LIFE STORIES

|

|

|

MUSIC

CARS & DREAMS

|

MOVIES |

TRAVELS

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

w w w . i n s p i r e - l c r. c o m


EXPLORE. ENJOY.

TANKLOCK SYSTEM

L’INNOVAZIONE VIAGGIA CON TE Il sistema di aggancio rapido per borse da serbatoio brevettato da GIVI.

VELOCE

PRATICO

SICURO

ERGONOMICO

Bloccaggio della borsa facile e istantaneo.

Con un semplice gesto la tua borsa si sgancia all’istante.

Nessun graffio al serbatoio e cinghia supplementare per una sicurezza totale.

Con la regolazione longitudinale +/- 12 cm si adatta al tuo stile di guida.

3D603

3D604

XS306

XS307

XS308

givimoto.com Watch the video


THe WORLD OF ReDBULL

A

rūnas Gibieža is a stunt rider that holds a massive amount of achievements. Born on 25 October 1989 in Vilnius, Lithuania (eastern europe) Arūnas fell in love with motorcycles when he was 10 years old, after his grandfather bought him a Suzuki RG50. At this early age with his tiny bike, he started doing what all kids usually do: wheelies! That was the beginning, all of a sudden he became addicted to the two wheels and without knowing it yet, he had just begun his career as a stunt rider. In 2006 he started competitions and from day one he proved to be one of the best guys in town. In the following years he proved to be highly motivated and very talented placing first in several competitions. In 2012 and 2013 he has won all the major Championships in europe: Lithuanian Stunt riding Championship, Baltic states Stunt riding Championship, Motul M1 eastern european Stunt riding Championship and european Stunt riding Championship. “My goal is to become a stunt riding World Champion. No matter where and when, I am determined to win at all times” - Arūnas Gibieža Photographer: Tomas Adomavičius / Red Bull Content Pool

www.inspire-lcr.com/arunas




Zero Gravity

www.tombolini.it



www.inspire-lcr.com/beckham




Belstaff ’s most famous motorcycle jacket is without any doubt the ‘Trialmaster’. Loved by both fashion enthusiasts and motorcyclists of all kinds, the Trialmaster was worn as a trademark by many champions of the past like the glorious Sammy Miller with his record of more than 1300 victories in trials competitions and Phil Read, the Prince of Speed. While competing in Grand Prix races he was rarely seen without his Belstaff jacket. In January 1952, a then 23-year-old medical student from Argentina, on the saddle of his “La Poderosa” Norton 500cc motorcycle started a life-changing trip across South America. The journey eventually became the subject of a book and a movie both known as “The Motorcycle Diaries”. Together with his Trialmaster jacket, the yet to become a symbol of rebellion and legendary revolutionary was later known worldwide under the name of Che Guevara. Motorcycle racing is at the heart of the Belstaff heritage but the year 2000 set another turning point for the British born brand. The edgy look of their jackets started to catch the attention of more and more people in Hollywood. Though movie stars always loved these garments, blockbusters of all sorts started celebrating the glory of these jackets which were not only mere wearing apparel anymore, but in some cases, truly the co-star. Belstaff have been continually requested for the most popular films, such as ‘Batman Begins’, ‘Ocean’s Twelve’, ‘War of the Worlds’, ‘The Bourne Legacy’,‘Inglorious Bastards’ or ‘the Avengers’. In 2003 Miramax chose Belstaff for the costumes of the film: ‘The Aviator’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The movie gained five Oscars and one of them was for “Best Achievement in Costume Design” won by talented designer Sandy Powell who, together with Belstaff, did an amazing job. The list could go on forever: Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible III, Tom Hanks in The Da Vinci Code, Kevin Spacey in Superman Returns. Apparently no other brand in the World can make you look great, keep you dry, protect you, make you dream and win an Oscar like Belstaff does. Then came David Beckham and the decision to put together a fashion brand and a football player. Two british icons of style couldn’t but give birth to a brilliant collaboration. So it was and the results are stunning. “Deciding to work with Belstaff was the easiest decision to make, as I already have a few vintage Belstaff classic jackets in my wardrobe. That, coupled with the fact I’m a biker, made it a perfect fit,” Beckham said. “My moto capsule collection is a reflection of what I wear day to day when I’m biking or relaxing.” The amazing pictures in these pages are the result of their hard work. Belstaff and Beckham are two authentic British superstars.






The “Trialmaster� worn by Beckham is the most famous motorcycle jacket ever produced by Belstaff




Into The Unknown

A

fter 22 years of playing for the world’s greatest football teams, David Beckham has retired and he has the freedom to do whatever he wants. To mark the occasion he goes on an adventure together with three of his closest friends. This documentary chronicles an unforgettable journey deep into the heart of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. Travelling by motorbike and boat, and guided by locals, he visits far-flung communities and tribes that live in this remote landscape.

photo: Anthony Mandler


This picture was taken in the middle of the Amazon forest, Beckham is wearing Belstaff ’s trousers and boots

www.inspire-lcr.com/amazon


MotoGP RACE HIGHLIGHTS

CATALUNYA Grand Prix

text: Nelly Pluto-Prondzynska - photo: Milagro - Mirco Lazzari

ONe OF THe MOST BeAUTIFUL CITIeS IN THe WORLD, BARCeLONA IS THe HOMe NOT JUST OF ANTONI GAUDI, THe CAMP NOU OR SAGRADA FAMILIA BUT ALSO OF THe MONTMeLÓ CIRCUIT

B

uilding a race circuit near the main city of Catalunya has been one of the best ideas. It provides a possibility not just to enjoy racing in one of the best circuits in the world, known not only from MotoGP but also Formula 1 races, but also to spend the greatest holidays of your life. As June is one of the hottest months there, before or after the Grand Prix round, Barcelona is the best place to visit. In the city, which hosted the 1992 Summer Olympics, you can see as popular buildings as Sagrada Familia church, which has been under construction since 1882, the Park Guell or go on Montjuic hill to see the panorama of the city. If you are a soccer fan, you have to watch the FC Barcelona match at Camp Nou stadium. Visit the La Boqueria market to feel all tastes and smells of food from the neighborhoods and in the end take some relax on one of many Barcelona’s beaches.



MotoGP

RACE text: Nelly Pluto-Prondzynska - photo: Milagro - Mirco Lazzari

THE SECOND SPANISH ROUND OF THE YEAR TOOK PLACE AT THE CIRCUIT DE BARCELONACATALUNYA, ONE OF THE FAVORITE TRACKS AMONG RIDERS

T

he first unusual situation of this season took place during the Q2 session, as for the first time Marc Marquez has not been a winner of qualifying session. The young Spaniard crashed in the first corner of the closing stages of the Q2, leaving the doors open for his team-mate Dani Pedrosa to win the pole position. When the lights went off on Sunday, firstly Jorge Lorenzo took the lead, while few laps later it was Valentino Rossi who was riding in the first place. The Italian lost that position on the final laps, as firstly Marquez, and then Pedrosa overtook him. Dani was fighting like a lion to beat the reigning World Champion and in the one of the last corners Pedrosa even touched the rear of Marc’s bike. The rider number #26 almost crashed, which gave Rossi a possibility to finish in second place, right behind Marquez and ahead of Dani. For #93 it’s been the seventh win in a row, while the last year’s winner – Lorenzo – finished in fourth place.





stefan’s

RACe WeeK text: Nelly Pluto-Prondzynska - photo: Milagro - Mirco Lazzari

A POSITIVe RACe AND FINISH IN TOP5 FOR STeFAN BRADL IN CATALUNYA AFTeR AN UNLUCKY WeeKeND IN MUGeLLO

A

fter what happened in Mugello, where on Sunday the German rider had two crashes, in one being knocked down by the fallen bike of Cal Crutchlow, Stefan Bradl hoped for much better luck at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The former Moto2 Champion started with the second place in the Friday’s session with a hope of further improvements the next day. On Saturday Bradl again showed a good pace, scoring the fourth place in Q2 session and missing the front row start by less than one tenth of a second. After a good start, Stefan rode with the „Fantastic Four” on the opening laps of the race. Then he rode a smart and a calm race to finish in the fifth place. The fast and consistent pace gave him a position of the best satellite rider in the end. The day after, LCR’s rider took part in the post-race test session, where he has found further improvements to the settings of his Honda RC213V.



Stefan was quite satisfied with this 5th place finish: “We are quite happy because I am the best satellite rider just behind the factory Teams. First of all I want to thank my Team because, after the difficult weekend in Mugello, we did a great week end making a good job with the bike setting and the tyre choice. Today I was the only rider of the field on hard front tyre and I felt comfortable with that. But it’s tough for me to keep the pace of the top riders because it seems that they always have something more. The fifth place is the maximum we could do and it’s a positive result but, as a MotoGP rider, you always race for a podium finish and today I wanted to go for that but as I said it’s very difficult to beat the factory riders”.



Behind

THe SCeNeS text: elisa pavan - photo: Milagro - Mirco Lazzari

G

reat Victory for Alex Marquez (Moto3) in front of his home crowd: definitively following his bigger brother steps! – Before heading to his home GP in Misano, Rossi goes for his usual goodluck gesture – The current world championship leader Marc Marquez is also a good soccer player: even with the leather and the helmet on.

42


INSPIRE, JULY 2014 43


The summer is round the corner and some MotoGP riders enjoyed a beach-volley match before jumping back on their bikes. Iannone was not invited and he does not look very happy- let’s take a group photo with special Alpinestars boots realized to celebrate the beginning of the 2014 Soccer World Cup.

44


INSPIRE, JULY 2014 45







I

n 1992 Honda introduced the CBR 900RR, also known as the FireBlade, de facto rewriting the rulebook one more time. Former rider and engineer Tadao Baba was the main brain behind this massive project; the real spark that brought to the creation of the FireBlade. Talking about what inspired him to build this revolutionary machine he once recalled “In 1989 I was riding with a group of Honda engineers on some of the competitors’ machines. There was a Suzuki GSX-R1100, a Yamaha FZR1000 and our own Honda CBR1000F. I was thinking, how can these be called sports bikes when they are so big and heavy? They didn’t deserve the name”. Later Baba began developing a new concept in sports motorcycles under the title “Total Control,” based on the fundamentals of fun to ride and easy to control, building the blueprint for all future sportbikes to come. That’s how it all started. Honda introduced the CBR 1000RR in 2004 as the seventh-generation of the series of motorcycles that began with the CBR900RR. Through the years, the CBR 1000RR has developed into the most balanced machine available, combining handling and stunning performance. Every year, since 2012 Honda and LCR Team principal Lucio Cecchinello have unveiled a Special Edition bike with LCR’s team livery and Moto2 World Champion Stefan Bradl’s racing number. On June 29, 2014 the new CBR 1000RR FireBlade SP - LCR Edition was launched on the market and made its first ever public appearance in front of thousands of cheering fans at Sachsenring. The chassis wears circuit-ready front and rear fully adjustable Öhlins suspension plus Brembo four-piston radial mono block calipers on the front and Nissin single-piston ones on the back, aluminium perimeter frame and Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tyres. The engine size is 998cc four-stroke liquid-cooled 16v inline four with 178bhp and a top speed of 299 Km/h. With these specifications the SP is destined to be a faster-lapping and easy to handle track bike that looks flashy thanks to the superb Rizoma accessories and also sounds huge thanks to the rumbling Arrow exhaust. Back in 2004, before retiring, Tadao Baba used to sneak into the Honda factory, go to the production lines and write messages on the inside of the fairing to future FireBlade owners like: ‘ride safe’ and ‘enjoy’ in Japanese. There’s only one way to find out if he still has this habit, go buy the new CBR 1000RR FireBlade SP - LCR Edition.



Fast track, safe on the “Fukushima is on also happy!!”

road, the new CBR 1000RR FireBlade SP - LCR Edition mounts Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tyres


Stefan Bradl takes the new CBR 1000RR Fireblade SP - LCR Edition for a ride at Sachsenring



Track-focused CBR 1000RR FireBlade SP - LCR Edition has a single seat unit, LCR’s team livery and Stefan Bradl’s racing number

56




OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER

TISSOT T-RACE MotoGP TM LIMITED EDITION 2014. 316L STAINLESS ST E E L C AS E , W IT H S C R AT C H - R E S I STA N T SA P P H I R E C RYSTA L A N D A S I L K P R I N T E D G L AS S C AS E BAC K . I N N OVATO RS BY T R A D I T I O N .

TISSOT.CH


T

he new CBR 1000RR FireBlade SP - LCR edition with LCR’s team livery and Moto2 World Champion Stefan Bradl’s racing number, was launched on the market and made its first ever public appearance on 29 June 2014, in front of thousands of cheering fans at Sachsenring, Germany. In this picture Stefan Bradl tests the power of the bike and you can feel the excitement of the crowd while Bradl zips through the two sides of the audience. On the very same day and track Stefan also had the chance to test the glorious HB-Honda NSR 250 his father used to race with, during his career.



MotoGP RACE HIGHLIGHTS

NeTHeRLANDS Grand Prix

text: Nelly Pluto-Prondzynska - photo: Milagro - Mirco Lazzari

THe BeAUTIFUL NeTHeRLANDS IS KNOWN NOT ONLY FOR THe FAMOUS DUTCH TT ROUND OF MOTOGP BUT ALSO AS A COUNTRY OF BICYCLeS AND TULIPS

A

s the Dutch TT round is very popular for MotoGP fans, it is a good idea to come to the Netherlands not only for Grand Prix’s racing. As all action takes place till Saturday, a free Sunday offers a possibility to see the country. A famous Dutch National Railway Museum is located less than 200 km from the Circuit TT Assen, close to the Hoge Veluwe national park, which attraction is the underground museum dedicated to the subterranean life and also the museum with Van Gogh paintings. A must see is of course the Amsterdam city, where you can rent a bicycle and go for a tour – the most popular form of transport there – along canal banks with narrow-fronted buildings dating from the city’s heyday. In the main city of Holland you can visit also some of diamond traders, Madame Tussauds museum of waxworks figures or see some great works of art.




MotoGP

RACe text: Nelly Pluto-Prondzynska - photo: Milagro - Mirco Lazzari

eVeN IF THe WeATHeR AT THe FAMOUS ASSeN TT CIRCUIT PRODUCeD THe STRANGeST RACe OF THe YeAR, THe WINNeR HAS ReMAINeD THe SAMe

W

ithout any doubts, the eighth round of the season, which took place at the “Cathedral” circuit, was one of the weirdest in 2014 while the weather played a crucial role both on Friday and Saturday. Aleix Espargaro qualified for pole position – the first in his GP career –while the race was delayed due to rain. After the start it was Marc Marquez who took the lead and Valentino Rossi had to start from the pit-lane after making a late decision to start on the wet tyres. The first flag-to-flag race of the season saw Andrea Dovizioso taking the lead from Marquez, after he made a mistake in one corner shortly after changing the bike. In the end Marc recovered and re-took the first place, which gave him a win for the eighth time in succession. Crossing the finish line in “a fish style”, he beat “Dovi” by few seconds, while Dani Pedrosa stood on the podium after a long battle with Aleix espargaro, and Rossi completed the TOP5.




stefan’s

RACe WeeK text: Nelly Pluto-Prondzynska - photo: Milagro - Mirco Lazzari

STeFAN BRADL SCOReS ANOTHeR TOP10 FINISH DURING THe DUTCH TT IN THe WeIRDeST MOTOGP RACe OF THe 2014 SeASON

D

uring the first day of action at the famous Assen circuit, Stefan Bradl scored the ninth fastest time. even if he was hoping for much more after the positive test session and after the race in Barcelona, he had some unexpected problems with the settings of his Honda RC213V. The tricky conditions affected riders on day two in the Netherlands, both in free practices and qualifying session. In the Q2 session, many riders had just one or two fast laps to do before the track was becoming completely wet. Stefan set the eight fastest time as he decided to not take so much risk. The Sunday’s race was the strangest of the year and for Bradl it was another tough one. He escaped unhurt from the crash on the sighting lap and rejoined his rivals on the grid, while during the race he had to change the bike to the one with dry setup and tyres. In the end Stefan finished in the tenth place and scored more points to the championship classification.



„It was a disappointing weekend for us and a crazy race which I did not enjoy at all. I crashed during the sightseeing lap on my dry bike and I immediately thought that I was living a nightmare. I tried to jump back on my bike but it was very damaged so I climbed over the wall running back to my garage for taking the second bike. It was set-up for wet conditions and in that moment it was raining so we started the race like this but for me it was tough to find the right feeling in the wet. Unfortunately I was not fast enough and it took me too much time to find the speed. After some laps I entered the pits to swap the bike to go but it was probably too late.... maybe I should have entered the pits one lap earlier. But even in the dry we missed some speed to perform well. I am really looking forward to my home race now because I can count on the support of my crowd� – said Stefan after crossing the finish line.



Behind

THe SCeNeS text: Elisa Pavan - photo: Milagro - Mirco Lazzari

T

he typical rainy Dutch weather is the real protagonist of the Assen GP but Marc Marquez is not scared about the wet: he can “swim” to the podium – Before riding his CWMworld RCV, Bradl experiences a old bike ride with some colleagues. Funny hats guys!

72


INSPIRE, JULY 2014 73


The Marquez brothers dominate MotoGP and Moto3 races at The Cathedral: happy family portrait! - Pol espargaro has a new “mechanic” displaying his pitboard and she is not displaying only that – The Ducati Team is back on the podium thanks to Dovizioso second place: well done for the Italian Manufacturer.

74


INSPIRE, JULY 2014 75


PHOTOGrAPHEr Andrew Wheeler


THe RACING SPIRIT IN ONe SHOT

The picture was taken at the Iveco Australian Grand Prix on 16 October 2011. In front of his home fans at Phillip Island, Casey Stoner claims his second MotoGP World Championship title. Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark II Lens: 400mm f/6.3


BIKE & PASSION


NEVER ENDING DREAM text: Sayaka Miyazaki - photo: Davide Esposito

THe HONDA DReAM 50 WAS BUILT ON THe OCCASION OF THe 50TH ANNIVeRSARY OF THe eSTABLISHMeNT OF HONDA MOTOR COMPANY. MR. MOTOO OZAWA, THe eNGINeeR WHO WAS INVOLVeD IN THe DReAM 50 PROJeCT TeLLS US THe WHOLe STORY BeHIND THe PRODUCTION OF THIS LITTLe MASTeRPIeCe


T

he year of 1962 was a special year for Honda. Honda completed the superb circuit at Suzuka City in the Mie Prefecture with figure 8 Layout, which is loved by many popular drivers, riders and spectators alike even now. And Honda has announced its sensational debut of the Honda CR Cub Racing 110. The Honda CR110 was succeeding the racing DNA in the first 50cc Grand Prix motorcycle race. Honda was attracting the motorcycle fans attention with the splendid model featured DOHC engine and cam-driven geartrain back in those days. Honda’s CR110 avoided the trend at the time toward 2-stroke engines. In fact, the high-powered 50cc machine mounted DOHC 4-cylinder engine achieved solid results. In the same year, Honda participated in the Isle of Man TT with the CR110 and archived a glorious 9th position. Since then, Honda, from the small island nation of Japan, became one of the manufacturers in the history of the world’s top name in motorcycle throughout domestic and international races. After decades of the sensational debut of the CR110, the machine received the CR110’s gene with a pure racebike design. It was called “Dream 50”. The Dream 50 was built to commemorate the CR110. “The Dream 50 was made for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.”, says Mr.Motoo Ozawa, engineer who was involved in the Dream 50 project. “We started the project of the Dream 50 one year and half before the anniversary of the establishment.”


The Dream 50, which is reminiscent of the CR110, has showed up at the 31st Tokyo Motorcycle Show in 1995 for the first time ever. “During and after the Tokyo Motorcycle Show, we got a lot of positive feedback and requests from the customers to sell this machine. To tell the truth, the Dream 50, which was displayed at the event was empty. We decided the spec after the event. There are two versions, a production type

machine and a racer type machine, which is called “Dream50R” developed by HRC. In developing the Dream 50 machine, first, we decided a figure then designed a customer’s dream. We spent a time and strove day by day to realize the real Dream 50 to customer’s need. We considered questions in all its bearings: ”How we can recreate the CR110 with today’s technologies for today’s environment?”, “How we can please customers?” and “How can customers enjoy the Dream 50 on the road?”, because the CR110 is a motorcycle for racing on the track. For any sake, we focused on how to realize a “Dream” of customers.” A racing component kit gives the Dream 50 the maximum potential power. It’s a high revving engine, a feature of DOHC engine, the peak power is developed at 5.6PS/10,500rpm and 5-speed transmission. Smooth handling, controllable disk brakes and shapely styling gives customers the real CR110 feelings. “The primary keyword of the development of the Dream 50 was “Dream”. At that time, we faced a host of challenges such as noise regulation. In addition, any other manufacturer moved into action to build a sports type 50cc motorcycle. It was said that it was unable to build sports type motorcycles in the 50cc class. But we engineers were quite sure that we could make it with today’s technologies. We wanted to break down that situation. And this aim became our challenge and dream. On the other hand, having a motorcycle like the Dream 50 became a dream



The Dream 50 has showed up at the 31st Tokyo Motorcycle Show in 1995 for the ďŹ rst time ever



of our customers” - recalled Mr. Ozawa. The “Dream” machine clad in very contemporary parts. Main aspects of the Dream 50 are its slim and long special fuel tank with 60’s Honda vintage wing logo and perforated rubber belt. Solo seat with round seat stopper incorporated. The buff finished topbridge casted aluminium, short clip-on handlebars and the buff finished engine cover polished up its venerability. Under body all aluminium and the H-shaped 18 inches alumite wheels sharpen the style. The exhaust system extends chromed plating twin megaphone mufflers exhaust. The “Dream” machine was shined up in its form to the utmost limit. Furthermore, the custom made engine was developed carefully. The newly-design of the Dream 50 assembled with DOHC four-cylinder engine. Thanks to the new power unit, it’s brought to realization on persistent output at any rotation region. By the combination of a superior PC carburator and close-ratio, the Dream 50 was given wide range to ride both for the street and competition use. The cylinder head side cover is buff finished and clear painted using a dedicated chrome planting bolt. The floating structure increased its quietness. With highquality parts such as chrome planting head cover cap, painted left and right crankcase cover, chrome planting clutch lever and cable receiver keeps the Dream 50’s dignity. “The Dream 50 was developed by engineers who were involved in the CR110 project. The Dream 50 is a machine using the advanced technologies and know-how accumulated through a long period history. I strongly believe that nobody can do this job except Honda.” Why can’t other rivals create this kind of motorcycle? “Considering the domestic sales of the 50cc motorcycle, it’s difficult to invest a large sum of money. In fact, the Dream 50 has been offered for sale only in Japan. So this project is not for recovering a cost. I think Honda need the Dream 50 of our time for all sorts of reasons, not least, what we’ll leave to posterity.”


The Dream 50 was born in 1997 and closed its book in 2009. Why did Honda stop to produce the Dream 50? “The Dream 50 was sold 6,700 units overall. The sales stopped improving in the medium term as compared to the first sales in the market. To maintain the facilities and the mold costs money at the Kumamoto Factory. It got to the point where we couldn’t keep it the year of 2009. So Honda decided to stop its production.” The “Dream” brand came from the racing dream of Soichiro Honda. Just like the high performance, sports type series are given the name “Dream” brand. So what is the next “Dream” bike in the future? “Lucky for me, I’ve been involved in the development of epoch-making motorcycles in my entire career. If I could

develop “Dream” bike in the future, I would like to make an enjoyable bike for every-day lives. My dream bike, if possible, is where everyone from beginners and advanced riders can control 100% by themselves regardless their riding style and their experience with their bikes in the past. When I think back, I did my best but I never made a “Perfect” motorcycle. I mean, the Honda’s motorcycles are no doubt the top level in each epoch but the technology keeps on evolving and we also need to bring a machine closer to perfect each time. I think we never archive 100% pleased machines. The aim to make a perfect motorcycle is an ideal attitude of an engineer. Anyway, our mission is to make motorcycles being more freedom and more enjoyable. So the dream is pretty much unlimited.”


The Honda Dream 50 is a mono-cylinder bike with twin pipes exhaust


IDEAS NEVER STOP

Scan the QR Code and continue the journey. www.rizoma.com



MotoGP RACE HIGHLIGHTS

GeRMANY Grand Prix

text: Nelly Pluto-Prondzynska - photo: Milagro - Mirco Lazzari

GeRMANY IS A COUNTRY WHICH OCCUPIeS THe PRIMe POSITION IN THe HeART OF eUROPe, IS A HOMe OF OKTOBeRFeST, MANY RACING CIRCUITS AND HAS THe BeST SOCCeR TeAM IN THe WORLD

W

hile Germany is still misunderstood by many people, it is one of the most endlessly engaging countries in the continent, with a lot of travel destinations, beautiful cities and well-blended tradition with the modernism. In every place, just like Berlin or Dresden (the main city of Saxony) there is something interesting to do and worth of seeing. The fellow city was known as the Jewel Box, because of the baroque and rococo buildings in the city center. Left almost completely in ruin after the Second World War, then the restoration work helped to reconstruct the historic part of the city – including the most known places as the Katholische Hofkirche, the Dresdener Frauenkirche or the Semperoper just to name a few. Chemnitz, known as Karl-Marx-Stadt not so long time ago, is located close not only to Sachsenring, but also to the petrified forest (one of just the few in existence) or a famous cave Felsendome Rabensteinor.



MotoGP

RACE text: Nelly Pluto-Prondzynska - photo: Milagro - Mirco Lazzari

THE GERMAN GRAND PRIX CONCLUDED THE FIRST PART OF THE SEASON AND PROVIDED MUCH MORE UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS AND RESULTS THAN ANY OTHER RACE BEFORE

O

nce again the German GP took place at Sachsenring, now – after Laguna Seca not being in the calendar anymore – the shortest track of the season. And the same as in Assen, also on this circuit which is located near Chemnitz, the weather made a prank to riders, as it started to rain just before the start. After a warm-up lap, many of them decided to change their bikes and start from the pit-lane, which made a terrible gamble and some dangerous situation for them. It was Stefan Bradl who took the lead after starting from his original third spot on the grid. But quickly other riders closed the gap to him, while Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa took the leading positions. Even if the fellow Spaniard tried to fight, the reigning world champion opened a gap and came to the finish line as a winner – for the ninth time in succession! Jorge Lorenzo completed the podium behind Pedrosa and ahead of Valentino Rossi, while Andrea Iannone scored an impressive TOP5 finish.





stefan’s

RACe WeeK text: Nelly Pluto-Prondzynska - photo: Milagro - Mirco Lazzari

AN UNeXPeCTeDLY TOUGH RACe AT SACHSeNRING CIRCUIT FOR LOCAL HeRO STeFAN BRADL AFTeR A SOLID WeeKeND AND A FRONT ROW START

e

ven if Stefan Bradl didn’t have one of the best races in his career in Assen, he came to Germany with the aim for a much better result on his home soil, especially because in the past he finished twice on the podium at Sachsenring circuit. everything started in a good way, with the fourth place on Friday and then another strong ride on Saturday. After being fast in all free practices, in the Q2 session the German rider set the third fastest time which gave him – for the second time this year – a front row start. The weather produced a big mess on Sunday, but Stefan had not decided, as his rivals, to change the bike right before the beginning of the race and to start from the pit lane as a consequence. LCR Honda’s took the lead after the lights went off and was riding with the slick tyres but not fully a dry set-up bike. In that case he could not match the pace of his rivals and dropped to the 16th place.



“Just before the race it started to rain and after two sightseeing laps on wet rubber, we decided to change to slick tyres on the grid because I thought that the track would have dried up quickly. At the first moment it seemed that we had an advantage but on the grid we had some issues in changing the front fork to dry as the time was not enough. So I started the race with rain setting and slick tyres and it was a real gamble. When I saw the others starting from the pit, I could have done the same as my bike was ready and I am sorry for this mistake. I was 3 seconds slower in the lap because my setting was not correct. I am speechless right now because this is the worst way to end my home race but I want to thank my fans for their great support throughout this weekend� – said Stefan after the race.



Behind

THe SCeNeS text: Elisa Pavan - photo: Milagro - Mirco Lazzari

D

oubtless the German round is the most important for LCR racer Stefan Bradl: warm fans, home race track and the final of the 2014 Soccer World Championship: VIVA DeUTSCHLAND! – That’s the most racing stroller of the whole history: a little future Stefan growing up!

100


INSPIRE, JULY 2014 101


And before the summer break Marc Marquez gets his 9th seasonal victory at Sachsenring: time for the beach now - Bradl’s high expectations for his home race vanish in a tough race but the Bavarian can celebrate the victory of his national soccer Team at Brazil 2014.

102


INSPIRE, JULY 2014 103




I

n 2010, Alex Chacon had just graduated from the University of Texas, finishing his studies in BioMedical Sciences. Instead of continuing his doctoral studies he chose to take some time for himself and embark on an adventure that changed his life forever. From Texas to Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia, Argentina and then back up to Alaska, alone on his motorcycle. 82,459 miles, 22 countries and 503 days of riding, filming, taking pictures and sharing his life with more and more people online. “When I started this trip I had just graduated and I decided to sell all my belongings including all my clothes, my TV, my car, just to get as much as a I could. During my travel sometimes people were even housing me and giving me food. Some of the friendliest people live in the most remote parts of the world and they give you as much as they can. Some other times I would stop in a place and work in order to pay for my staying” said Chacon. “When I first left I really had no idea of what I was doing. It was more of a self discovery, but people started joining in online and it was really more about a trip for everybody because the way I was documenting it and sharing it people were living vicariously through my travels and I got a lot of support that way.” Things didn’t go always smooth and easy though Chacon never lost hope. “The scariest parts of this trip can be the time and places you are most unfamiliar with. I personally saw every moment bad or good as an experience and challenge to take. The moment you start getting scared is the moment your decisions and choices become emotional, uncertain and influenced. But there were more challenging moments than others, like having the engine blow up and being stranded for 4 days in the Patagonia with no help, being in the middle of nowhere in Peru and watching an operation on your friend where he could potentially die or facing someone with a knife.” As wierd as it might seems Chacon managed himself to assist the two surgical operations his friend David Wermuth had to go through while in Peru. David was forced to fly back to his home in Phoenix, Arizona and later eventually committed suicide. It was only after flying back to Texas months later that Alex found it out. While riding together through South America the two of them had talked about doing a trip to Alaska so Alex decided to embark in another solo adventure to commemorate his friend. By telling this story Alex wanted to show goodness in people and inspire them to do good things. Through his blog, pictures and videos, he has been able not only to document a life changing experience but also to show how beautiful and frightening but always glorious life can be. “On a journey like this you will go through every emotion you can imagine but it will also show you, your true colors in every respect” Alex Chacon.




Alex camped out for 11 days in sub-zero temperatures before he could see, on the day of his birthday, the Northern Lights


From Tierra del Fuego to Alaska, 503 days on a motorcycle



Mano de Desierto (Desert Hand) is a work of the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrรกzabal, built in the early 1980s in the Atacama Desert, Chile


Tested and approved by Valentino

When Bridgestone engineers set about creating a new Sport Touring tyre they knew it needed to provide great grip in wet and dry, stability at high speeds, superior ride quality, great wear and fast direction change. But to sign the T30 it took just one man - Valentino Rossi. See it at www.youtube.com/

Bridgestone Corporation For your nearest Bridgestone Authorised Dealer, visit our web site

www.bridgestone.eu


AROUND THe WORLD IN 360° DeGReeS

A

fter completing his first trip from Texas to Argentina and then to Alaska, Alex Chacon eventually gathered some attention online and thanks to the help of his supporters and sponsors he has kept on riding his motorcycle around the world since then. This epic video selfie shows three years in the adventurous life of the intrepid Chacon. Don’t miss it.

www.inspire-lcr.com/chacon


During the wet season, the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, is covered with a thin sheet of water that lets the photographer take surreal pictures like this one




K

iara Fontanesi was born March 10, 1994 in Parma, Italy, the same city that gave birth to Giuseppe Verdi the preeminent opera composer of the nineteenth century and Arturo Toscanini the conductor renowned for his intensity and perfectionism. As her illustrious fellow citizens, “Fonta” is known as well for the intensity but of her driving and without any doubt she is already one of the preeminent female riders of this century. In her very recent youth Kiara had to choose between gymnastics or her dirt bike and according to us she has made the right move. From bodysuit to body armour! Her father Massimo bought her a Yamaha PW50 when she was six years old “When I first saw it, I was so happy that I started to cry but jumped on it right away. After a short while I could control it. It’s almost hard to believe but it’s true, I could handle my motorcycle before I learned how to ride a bike without side wheels.” told us Kiara. She entered her first competition the same year and showed her talent since day one. Up until now she has taken part into 39 Grand Prix, climbing the podium 26 times and scoring twelve victories. These results are impressive considering the fact that Kiara is only twenty years old now and has just claimed her third straight FIM WMX crown. She is the youngest female rider that ever won a World title. Things like this don’t happen overnight, you don’t become a World Champion by chance, there’s a huge amount of hard work, endless sacrifices, training, pressure to be managed, and a mind to be kept focused, in order to succeed three times in a row like Kiara did during the past three years. Her first Grand Prix podium was celebrated when Kiara was still 16, in Lierop, Netherlands in one of the best Motocross venues of all Europe. It took her another two years to grow and become the sturdy athlete that completely smashed both the 2012 and 2013 FIM competition, delivering her first and second World Championship trophy. Then came 2014 “ It’s been a hard year, it started pretty bad” with a first crash in Qatar and some personal-related issues ”then went better and ended super good! No one can say now that I won the past two years cause some riders weren’t there racing. I rode with the best riders in the world all the season and won again the championship. I’m the happiest girl in the world!” stated “Fonta” right after the glorious victory in Czech Republic. At the current time there is no lady in the world faster on an off-road motorcycle than Kiara Fontanesi.




Kiara is the youngest female rider that ever won a World title


Kiara Fontanesi has just won her third consecutive World Championship




“Another one bites my dust” www.arrow.it


INSPIRE

Vintage Emotions PRESENTS

JOEY DUNLOP text: Nelly Pluto-Prondzynska

JOEY DUNLOP WAS A TRUE WORLD CHAMPION, KNOWN AS A “KING OF THE ROAD”. AND HE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST MOTORCYCLING LEGENDS OF ALL TIME

E

ven if his parents named him “William Joseph”, he disliked all of his nicknames except of “Joey”. Born in Ballymoney in Northern Ireland, as a son of a motorcycle mechanic, he fell in love with motorcycles as a teenager, when he had bought his first motorcycle. A few years before that, his dream was to start the military career, but his first motorcycle changed everything… To realize his passion, his hope of being a motorcycle racer one day, he needed money. But when 126

you are fascinated by something so much, money is not a big problem. And it was the same with Dunlop. To earn money for his dream, he could work as a lorry driver, roofer, diesel fitter or pub-owner. Nothing can stop you when you have a dream. It is just a matter of time when it could become a reality. Usually in Ireland motorcycle races take place on public roads, which is a huge contrast to the closed racetracks known for example from Grand Prix or Formula 1. Even if Joey completed on both types


www.inspire-lcr.com/joeydunlop



Joey Dunlop won a record of 26 races in total at TT


of circuits, he was much more successful in road racing, one of the most dangerous races in the world. Dunlop took part in his first race at closed roads in the year 1970, at Temple 100 held on the Saintfield circuit. It took few years for Ballymoney-born to become not only a winner, but also one of the greatest of all time in road racing. Every motorcycle fan knows The Isle of Man. The most famous place in road racing, a true “mecca” to visit at least once in a lifetime. Joey, in his whole career won a total of 26 races at “IoM”, an absolute record, as the next most regular winner is John McGuinness (still racing) with 21 triumphs. The two most prestigious Irish road races are the North-West 200 and Ulster GP, Dunlop won in these races 37 times. Through the course of his career, he had over 160 wins under his belt! But there was also a second face of Joey. A face not of a world champion, but also of a quiet, cheerful, family man. A man who didn’t show any interest in success or fame. He never took a first class flight or slept in a five star hotel. While going to racing events, he preferred to sleep in the back of his van, beside his motorcycles. If he just saw someone with children on the road, he always stopped and told them to buy something for the child. This is why he received numerous of awards and honours – he had been appointed with MBE and the OBE – not just for records in road racing, but also for all his humanitarian activities. Many times he packed into his large van all needed stuff, as clothes, food, nappies or wheelchairs, and traveled off to Eastern Europe. He visited, with his own mission, countries such as Romania, Albania or Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many times he even had not told to anyone where and for what he was going.

130

In the meantime, Joey was winning more trophies and more races. He was not superstitious, but there were some things, which he would never do, as for example walking under a ladder. Or something connected to his racing, as he was always wearing a red T-shirt below his leather or always putting on his left glove and boot first. These all-small details give riders the possibility to stay concentrated, to feel that everything is under control. To don’t stress so much before a race. To go for another race, to fight again… To give everything from yourself in the race, which could be your last one. The road racing is a special part of motorcycle racing, one of the most dangerous in the world. Dunlop had known about that, especially that he had few serious accidents. One serious crash took place at the Brands Hatch circuit, where after a collision with another rider, Joey suffered multiple injures, as broken ribs, a leg and a wrist. 9 years after that crash, he had a high-speed accident at the Tandragee 100 in 1998. As a result, he lost a tip of a finger in his left hand, but more over had a broken collarbone and bone in his right hand, and also cracked his pelvis. But Dunlop’s last race was in Estonia, on July 2nd, back in the year 2000. In Tallin he had already won two races and was leading in the third, rain-affected one. He lost the control of his bike, crashed and was killed instantly. It was a tragic death of a true world champion, called by many a “King of the Road”. A death, which has proved once again that racing is a dangerous sport. But Joey is remembered by many as a brilliant sportsman and by people from Northen Ireland, as a great ambassador of that country. But for motorcycle fans he would be remembered forever as a one of the greatest motorcycling legends, who was always wearing a yellow helmet. As Joey’s daughter Donna wrote in the poem about her dad: “the yellow helmet shining bright”.



King of the Road, this was and forever will be his nickname



DRIVE RESPONSIBLY

In collaboration with Lucio Cecchinello ONLINE INSURANCE

GREEN LIGHT WATCH OUT GUYS! TIPS FOR THE YOUNG DRIVERS. CRUSING AROUND IS AWESOME, BUT DOING IT IN SAFETY IS EVEN BETTER photo: Shutterstock

presents


C

ar accidents are the main cause of death for teWear your seatbelt enage drivers. The numbers related to this kind It’s a safety issue, but wearing your seatbelt is also the of accidents are bigger than those resulting from law in most states and it will dramatically reduce your alcohol, drugs and suicide combined. Per mile driven, chances of receiving a head injury or being thrown teen drivers aged 16 to 19 are three times more likely from your vehicle if you are involved in an accident. than drivers aged 20 and older to be involved in a faMake sure your passengers use the safety precaution of tal crash. Fortunately, teen motor vehicle crashes are buckling up too. Don’t let your car’s airbags give you preventable, and proven strategies can improve the saa false sense of security. Airbags are designed to work fety of young drivers on the road. In 2010, about 2,700 with seatbelts, not in place of seatbelts. If you won’t teens in the United States aged 16–19 were killed and wear a seat belt for your own safety, do it for the people almost 282,000 were treated and released from emerwho love and care about you. gency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehiDon’t drink or take drugs and drive cle crashes. Young When you drink, people ages 15-24 even a small represent only 14% amount of alcohol of the U.S. populacan affect you. tion. However, they When you drink Basic rules account for 30% and drive, you en($19 billion) of the danger yourself Check your vehicle: total costs of moand others. This 1. Tires, wipers, lights tor vehicle injuries danger also exists 2. Oil, transmission and washer fluid levels among males and when you take 3. State inspection (if applicable) 28% ($7 billion) of drugs and drive. the total costs of Avoid distractions Always be courteous: motor vehicle injuTeenage driving 1. Don’t blind other drivers with your car’s ries among females. safety includes not high beams. It’s a fact: teenage using a cell pho2. Be patient and considerate of others. drivers account for ne when the car is 3. Look before backing out of a parking more car accidents moving and never space or entering traffic. than any other age attempting to send group. And teens a text message or Know the traffic signs and the rules of the are at risk because an email while driroad to avoid traffic violations, including: they are inexperienving. You should • Speeding ced. Not only that: also avoid smoking, • Reckless driving teenage drivers are applying makeup, • Improper passing more likely to drive drinking or chan• “Hit-and-run” or leaving the scene of an aggressively, not to ging a CD or songs accident wear seatbelts and on an MP3 player • Drag racing on a public highway to underestimate while driving. • Driving while under the influence of alcohol the dangers associaLimit the number or drugs ted with hazardous of teen passengers driving situations. Studies on teenaTeenage drivers ge driving safety also have the hishow that a young ghest percentage drivers’ crash risk of crashes involving speeding, single-vehicle crashes, increases with each teenage passenger. Many state laws crashes with driver error and the highest vehicle occurestrict the number of passengers a teenager is allowed pancy or number of passengers in the vehicle. What’s to transport, so refer to your state laws, and remember the bottom line? By following these teenage driving fewer passengers is always safer. safety tips, you can help boost teenage driving safety.

INSPIRE, JULY 2014 135



Team LCR is extremely grateful to all the friends and brands involved in our projects. With your hard work, support and passion, you keep on making us bigger as a MotoGP team. Your efforts also helped us in giving birth to an amazing magazine, we’ll be forever thankful. Life is a race, let’s get inspired. We keep on running!


INSPIRE

CReDITS Editor-in-chief ENRICO BARBIERI enrico.barbieri@lcr.mc

Coordinator LUCIO CECCHINELLO cecchinello@lcr.mc

art Director Emanuele Vallorani graphic@lcr.mc

production Director Errico Gasperoni graphic@lcr.mc

Contributors massimo Visconti, Elisa pavan, Tanja haydn, Nelly pluto-prondzynska special Contributors sayaka miyazaki photography milagro, Gigi soldano, Tino martino, mirco lazzari, Tomas adomavičius/Red Bull Content pool, andrew Wheeler, Belstaff archive Fabio alberti, oscar haro, Davide Esposito, marian Chytka, anthony mandler, alex Chacón, alex Chailan & David piolé, shutterstock, Envato publisher steve Burgess

steve.burgess@clearsightpartners.com

published by Clearsightpartners Ltd 121 Longmead Drive Sidcup - Kent DA14 4NY © 2014 Clearsightpartners Ltd and LCR - x racing s.a.m. All rights reserved


PLAY


ONE MAN, ONE MACHINE. G.P.M.H. GRAND PRIX DE MONACO HISTORIQUE CHRONO

SPONSOR AND OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER OF THE GRAND PRIX DE MONACO HISTORIQUE


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.