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LCR Team Official 2007 Racing Programmes: MotoGP challenge and 250cc class Rookie Project In 2007 the LCR Team will take part in the Grand Prix World Championship in both MotoGP and the 250cc class. A double engagement, whose purpose is to consolidate its own position in the premier class and, at the same time, to carry on with its long-term policy of investing in the “rookies” growth. In the MotoGP class, the Spanish rider Carlos Checa will ride the Honda RC212V, tuned up by the LCR Team to race in the new 800cc category while the newly signed Irishman, Eugene Laverty, will make his debut in the quarter-litre class with the purpose to build up experience riding a Honda RS250 Kit. Both projects will be supported by a Title Sponsor pool, including Eurobet, TechnologyShop, Givi, which will alternate in the LCR Team’s Honda main space. Those sponsors will be complemented with the support of a group of co-sponsors and technical sponsors, whose majority has been faithfully close to the racing stable for years. Lucio Cecchinello (Team Manager) said: “ After having been Runner-Up in the World Championship in the 250cc class and having moved up to ride in the premier class thanks to the support of the Honda HRC, we are particularly proud, today, to carry on with our commitment to the MotoGP by welcoming such rider as Carlos Checa and by having been able, once again, to implement the “Rookie” programme with Eugene Laverty, as we did previously with De Angelis, De Puniet, Pasini and Stoner. As far as the MotoGP is concerned, we are sure we can always compete with the Top Teams of this category, while, in the 250cc class, the young Laverty, during his first year here, will have to be focused on getting familiar with the race tracks and get experience riding a standard 2-stroke motorbike, very different from the 600cc four-stroke ones, on which he has already showed he is a winner”.
EVENT TITLE SPONSOR PRESS RELEASE The LCR Team and Eurobet are pleased to announce that they have signed a partnership agreement for the beginning of this season’s MotoGP 2007. In fact Eurobet and the LCR Team have renewed a 7 year old ongoing partnership based on mutual respect. Eurobet was the first company to accept online bets in 1995 and today offers competitive odds on the main international sporting events (football, tennis, motor sports, basket and horseracing). Eurobet is part of the Gala Coral Group, Europe’s biggest online gaming company, worth 4 billion £ (6 billion €) with around 17,000 employees. The Gala Coral Group owns 1500 betting shops in the UK - 20% of the market - over 175 Bingo Clubs and 30 land based Casinos. Since April 2006 Eurobet has started operating the website Eurobet.it on the Italian market - having obtained a licence from CONI (n. 3325) in accordance with AAMS and the Ministry of Finance’s regulations. The website, operated since June 2006 by Brickagent (also part of the Gala Coral Group), offers odds on the main national and international sport events following the program proposed by AAMS. Having obtained 403 between sports and horseracing licences, Eurobet is about to open betting shops and corner shops throughout Italy. “The beginning of MotoGP 2007 is an important moment for both Eurobet, that is about to open a large number of betting shops throughout Italy, and the LCR Team, that has already achieved the first good results during the winter tests” said Domenico Giovando, Managing Director of Eurobet in Italy. The new partnership between Eurobet and the LCR Team was signed at an important time for MotoGP, that in the last few years has become increasingly popular, its popularity exceeding that of last year’s Serie A season.
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Lucio’s message
TOWARDS THE STARTING GATE DIRETTI VERSO IL CANCELLO DI PARTENZA
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ome time I ask to myself why the man is so motivated to compete , to challenge, to fight; and why I find again me too, year by year, in front a “starting gate”. Always there, ready to follow new dreams and new targets; on a motorbike or, more simply, “pushing” a bike! Sport offers to all of us a lot of huge opportunities that let we have a try of the emotions coming from competing and fighting and shows us al the secrets we need to face the hardest situations. Several times the sport incites us also to wish stand up and to get up again... even only “to push” a motorbike. It’s so for me but I feel also that a lot of people suffers an healthy and wonderful throbbing. A lot of people and more. All the people involved in our wonderful sport. With these few rows I would like to say sincerely thank you to all the people that give his contribution in pushing me again towards this starting gate in order to throw Carlos, Eugene and the Honda LCR Team towards new and ambitious goals.
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volte mi domando perchè l’uomo sia così motivato a competere, a sfidare, a battersi e perché io stesso mi ritrovi anno dopo anno davanti ad un “cancello di partenza” sempre lì ad inseguire nuovi sogni e nuovi traguardi o sopra una moto oppure anche più semplicemente... “spingendo” una moto! Lo sport offre a noi tutti enormi opportunità per provare le emozioni legate al confronto, alla competizione e al duello, ci insegna i segreti per affrontare le situazioni difficili ed in molti casi stimola la voglia di alzarsi e rialzarsi.... anche solo “spingere” una moto, oltre a me, credo che faccia venire un sano ed irrinunciabile batticuore a tanti, tanti altri coinvolti nel nostro splendido sport. Con queste poche righe vorrei esprimere il mio più sincero ringraziamento a tutti coloro i quali hanno contribuito alla preziosa “spinta verso questo nuovo cancello di partenza” per lanciare Carlos, Eugene ed il Team Honda LCR al raggiungimento di nuovi ed ambiziosi traguardi.
Lucio Cecchinello
On the left side Lucio in the year 1987 helping his friend Dario Marchetti just before going to the starting gate.
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Summary
10 The Riders: Carlos Checa Eugene Laverty
32 The Team: Factory set-up Winter Training Winter Tests
54 800cc machine: RC212V
56 250cc machine: RS250 Kit
59 LCR Highlights: 11 Years on two - wheels
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Carlos Checa
ANOTHER GREAT CHALLENGE
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Motogp class
250cc class
Eugene Laverty
MY GREAT CHANCE
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Carlos Checa
800cc Place of birth: Saint Fruitos (Barcelona) Date of birth: 15/10/1972 Age: 34 Nationality: Spain GP disputed: 202 WGP victories: 2 WGP podium: 24 Poles: 3
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Carlos Checa
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arlos:“I don’t know if it was a premonition or a coincidence but on the day of my birth my father had a motorcycle accident on the way to see me at the hospital for the first time. Ten years later, he turned up at school with a Mecatecno he had bought me and I was able to ride for the first time with him because my father would not allow me if he was not there. When I was thirteen he bought me an 80cc motocross bike and I began racing. With my friends and very few resources I contested my first
On the left picture Carlos debut on Honda RS 125. On the right Carlos during childhood.
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Carlos Checa
race on asphalt at a local circuit called Can Padró. I had a Honda NSR 80cc and then I moved on to a Rieju, winning the Catalunyan Championship and taking the first steps towards GP racing with fourth place in the Spanish Championship and eighth in the European. I rode with a Honda and did some races on a home made bike, which never grew beyond that stage because of a lack of funds. My first World Championship race was the European Grand Prix at Catalunya in 1993. I raced as a wildcard and I finished seventh and missed the second race at Welkom. It knocked my confidence pretty badly but I made the podium three times in 1996. In 1997 I got the podium three times on Honda and in 1998 I had my best final result ever qualifying 4th overall. In 1999 I started racing for Yamaha but in 2002 I felt much more comfortable with
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On the left picture Carlos Checa on track in varius highlights with Honda motorbikes during his great career.
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Carlos Checa
STATISTICS
the arrival of the four-strokes and I was constantly in the top three. I took four podiums but went backwards in the final few races of the season. The 2003 season did not turn out too positively, even tough the winter tests went quite well. The 2004 was my last as a Yamaha rider but was not as positive as it could have been and I finished 7th overall. Then the year after the challenge went by the name of Ducati with the Bridgestone tyres. I got the podium twice in Phillip Island and Sepang. Last year I raced for Yamaha Tech 3 Team with Dunlop tyres finishing in 15th position.
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Carlos Checa 20 20
Without time to rest after the end of the 2006 season, I started the work for the next MotoGP World Championship. From November 15 at Sepang Circuit I began my new challenge as a rider of the maximum category of the world road races with LCR Team and I was very excited about this. I got into the RC212V Honda with Michelin tyres trying to adapt my riding style to the requirements of the new 800cc bike. I’m also excited about the fact of work together with Ramon Forcada. We are a very good friends and being in the box with him is very important for the daily work at the circuits. Lucio Cecchinello is also a great friend and competing with his team gives me a high motivation for the 2007 season. For all this reasons I believe that we have good reasons to think about an encouraging future�.
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Carlos Checa
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Eugene Laverty
250cc Place of birth: Ballymena (N.Ireland) Date of birth: 03/06/1986 Age: 20 Nationality: Irish GP disputed: WGP victories: WGP podium: Poles: -
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Eugene Laverty
I have such supportive parents and also two older brothers racing before me. Before I began road racing I was fit to learn a lot from the sidelines and so it gave me a headstart. My debut British Supersport victory at Thruxton is a great memory for me because of the circumstances.. I had a comfortable 2second lead when I came into major tyre woes and was pushed back to 3rd within a couple of laps.That should have been my race over but I capitalised on a mistake from the leader to get back in front and rode the last
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ugene: “Well there were always bikes around the house when I was a kid so it was only natural for me to give it a go.. not so natural though was the fact that at the age of three I rode a motorcycle before I rode a bicycle without stabilisers! If it wasn’t for my father and mother there is no way I would be where I am now. I am very fortunate that few laps of my life to hang on for the win! My worst moment in racing and also in my life so far was losing my teammate Chris Jones after he was fatally injured in a startline crash. He was only 14 years old and we were quite close. It was very hard to come back from that but now I always have motivation to succeed for Chris. Actually my first season in road racing I ran with the number 91.. My brother Michael was
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Eugene Laverty
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Eugene Laverty
STATISTICS
PROFILE D.O.B. – 03.06.86 Hometown – Toomebridge, Northern Ireland Place of Birth – Ballymena Height – 173 cm Weight – 59 kg Marital Status – Single Hair - Black Eyes – Blue/green
Hobbies – Cycling, skiing Likes – Sleeping Dislikes – Crashing Favourite Circuit – Jerez, Spain First Race – Nutts Corner, March 2001 First Win – Mondello Park, 2001 Ambition – MotoGP World Champion Favorite Rider – Valentino Rossi
ving at home with my family. Our home is always full of people and so it’s rarely quiet here apart from very late at night. I’m definitely a night owl, I like the peacefulness of the early hours and for this reason my days begin later than most! I enjoy going to the cinema with friends and spending time with my girlfriend. I love road cycling, it’s become a big passion of mine over the past few years. I really enjoy being out alone on my bike, listening to my iPod and clocking up the miles! This year I have a fantastic opportunity with a well established
using 19 so it meant I just nick his numbers rather than buy my own! Number 50 came about the following season and again it was the convenience factor! I had been signed up by TSR to race in Britain whereas my teammate Andrea Ballerini would be in GPs running the number 50 so I thought I might as well too! I enjoy a fairly easy going life liteam and I aim to make the most of it. Lucio has put a lot of faith in me and I want to repay him with a World Championship title in a few years time. This year is a learning year for me but in 2008 I plan to make an impact on the 250cc World Championship. In the future I believe MotoGP beckons for me and with my 250 experience as well as my 4 stroke experience I feel I will be ready for the challenge!”.
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The Team LCR
BEFORE THE “KICK
LCR Tech division
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n the Fonteville district, few steps away from the stadium at the Worlds Trade Center of Monte Carlo, there are the LCR headquarters. Here, all the projects related, administrative, commercial and legal activities are coordinated under the supervision of the Team manager Lucio Cecchinello, helped by a staff of collaborators and benefiting from highly competitive structures supporting the management
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of athletes and racing stables. The LCR headquarters coordinate, moreover, all the activities developed by the LCR Tech Division (San Marino Republic), which is in charge of technical servicing, graphic works and logistics: 1.700 sq m divided into reception-show room, technical office, workshop, garage, tools and equipment room, storeroom, catering warehouse, graphic work planning office, graphic work production office, secretariat, ad-
ministrative and director’s office and meeting room.A comprehensive and highly specialized organization so much so that it is the only one on the scene of the MotoGP to work complying with the ISO 9001 Quality Standard. In special way, the acquisition of an ISO 9001 certified working system allows the LCR team to organize in the best way all the working areas, realizing special processes for all the daily activities and, all in all, keeping
SEASON’ OFF” LCR Headquarter
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The team LCR
under full control every problem and the following actions to rectify them. Every year, between November and February, the Team refurbish every transportation case, all the working tools of the technical area and of the hospitality department, and the containers used for the overseas races. The team refurbish also every show-bike available during the year for exhibitions and marketing events and, during the winter, plan and build new tools and facilities in order to improve the technical’s and rider’s job on the track. In agreement with the news partnerships, the team plan and realize the new graphic layouts for the upcoming season. The staff of the MotoGP racing program in the first period is involved in refurbishing the bikes used in the previous champion-
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The team LCR
ship, listing the spare parts (the new ones and the used too) and in planning the returning of all the technical material to the HRC headquarters in Japan. The ďŹ rst part of the job ďŹ nished, the technical staff of the MotoGP class is involved in technical refresher courses organized in Japan, close to the Honda headquarters, where the technicians assemble by themselves the new racing machines.
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The team LCR
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The team LCR
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The team LCR
During the winter the rider’s training becomes one of the most important factors for all the people involved in the Motorcycle World Championship and the LCR Team, thanks to Carlos Checa’s assistance, decided to place the debutant Laverty under the wing of the Spanish rider. In the pictures: Eugene and Carlos, together with Checa’s younger brother David, working on the machines during a gym training session and training on 4-stroke motocross bikes. Eugene: ”In my honest opinion, to meet Carlos was very positive for me. He’s really an ex-
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The team LCR
traordinary guy and a 100% sportsman. His training program has impressed me so much and so I’m sure that it will be very useful for me in the near future”. Carlos: “Eugene is very young but is a really strong-willed guy and has a lot of passion for the sport. I hope I was helpful to him and I will try to provide him with more important suggestions during the incoming season together with Lucio”. Lucio: “I’m very proud seeing Carlos so helpful regarding Eugene and, more so, I’m proud to
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The team LCR
put together and build, step by step, a team in which the wealth of experience is passed on in a very positive manner, thinking only in the best interest of the team�.
Carlos and Eugene together during motocross training sessions
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The team LCR
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arlos Checa was the winner of the Supermotard race called “Barclaycard Superbikers” in Bologna for the 31st edition of the popular MotorShow Fair. The Spaniard involved in the 2007 season MotoGP championship with LCR Team, got into the track on the 9 of December on his Honda 450CRF fighting with some of the two-wheels colleagues (such as Puniet, Dovizioso, Pasini, Bussei, De Angelis, Biaggi etc...) including his younger brother David. Thanks to the support of some LCR technical staff members, Carlos has been involved in two different practice sessions followed by one initial race valid for the final heat called “American Race” when Carlos finished in first position followed by Pasini and Dovizioso. The successful exhibition of the Spaniard no. 7 was clapped by the Team Staff including Lucio Cecchinello and the new young Irish talent involved in the 250cc class Eugene Laverty.
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The team LCR
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fter the his debut with Honda LCR Team last November the MotoGP class Spanish rider Carlos Checa together with the technical staff managed by Ramon Forcada, rode the new Honda RC212V at Sepang track (Malaysia) on the 22, 23 and 24 of January. Then he moved to Australia at Phillip Island track for a three-days test session (30 and 31 January – 1 February) to continue his adaptation to the new 800cc machine. In the same time the 250cc class Irish rookie Eugene Laverty left Belfast to get into his Honda RS250 for the first time at Barcelona on the 8 and 9 of February under the watchful eye of his technical director Paolo Cordioli. Meanwhile Carlos flew to Qatar for a threedays test session on the 13, 14 and 15 of February and Eugene moved to Valencia circuit on the
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The team LCR 12 and 13 of February. Both LCR riders are going to test in Jerez de la Frontera at the end of February together with all the MotoGP championship competitors. First Eugene will be involved in two-day test on the 19 and 20 whilst Carlos will be back at the Spanish track on the 23, 24 and 25. That will be the last pre season test for the Spaniard whilst the 250 rookie will move to Qatar on the 28 of February and 1 of March to test the circuit which will host the ďŹ rst race of the season next 10 of March.
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Motorbike 800 cc
Honda RC212V Technical speciďŹ cations
Overall length : 2050mm Overall width : 645mm Overall height : 1125mm Wheelbase : 1440mm Road clearance : 125mm Weight (kg) : over 148kg
Engine type: liquid-cooled four-stroke DOHC 4 valve V-4 Displacement : 800cc Maximum power : NA Frame type : twin-tube Front Wheel (inch) : 16.5 Rear Wheel (inch) : 16.5 Front Suspension : Telescopic fork Rear Suspension : New Unit Pro-link Fuel tank capacity : 21 liter
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Motorbike 250 cc
Honda RS250 Technical speciďŹ cations
Main speciďŹ cations Overall length (mm) 1,960 Overall width (mm) 640 Overall height (mm) 1,090 Wheelbase (mm) 1,350 Road clearance (mm) 110 Weight (kg) over 100
Engine type: liquid-cooled two-stroke crankcase reed valve V-2 Displacement (cc): 250 Maximum power (PS): over 90 Frame type: twin-tube in aluminium Wheels: Front (inch):17 Rear (inch):17 Suspension: Front : Telescopic fork Rear: Pro-link Fuel tank capacity (litres) 21
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Team LCR Story
11 Years on two - wheels
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Team LCR Story
L
CR team is taking part to the Road Racing World Championship since 1996 when Lucio decided to begin a new adventure in the 125cc class Road Racing World Championship with his own team building his own future. In 1998 LCR already achieved its first successes thank sto Lucio and Nobby Ueda performances and in 2001 Lucio (on Aprilia) ended the Championship in 4th position obtaining his best ever result. For the 2002 LCR team which name was SAFILO OXYDO race - LCR competed in 2 classes: Lucio Cecchinello (3 victories and 2 se-
On top the Team LCR during season 1996. On the right side the Team LCR in 1997. On back picture the Team LCR at the beginning of 1998 season. On the right page the Team LCR staff on 1999 and the LCR riders of the year 2000 (Nobby and Lucio) with Mr. Carlo Ubbiali 9 times World Champion.
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cond places) and Alex De Angelis (1 second place) in 125cc and the young Australian talent Casey Stoner (several times in the top five) and the Spanish David Checa (several times in the top ten) in 250cc. At the end of 2003 season Lucio decided to stop his rider career after having achieved 2 victories and 1 second place in 125 cc class whilst his team Australian Team Mate Casey Stoner (125cc class) got a successful season thanks to 4 podiums. Randy De Puniet rode the official RSW250 achieving the 4th position in the final world standing getting the podium for 9 times (3 victories). At the end of 2003 season the OXYDO riders
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Team LCR Story 62 62
On top the Team LCR during season 2001 with MS colours. On the back pictures the Team LCR during the years 2002 and 2003 with OXYDO colours. On the right page the whole Team Staff on 2004 and Lucio with Casey on 2006 (the year 2005 on page 59)
The three riders were also awarded by the FIM thus the LCR team was the only one to get three riders awarded in the same season. Then, in 2005, Lucio decided to redouble his engagement in 250cc class competing with Roberto Locatelli and Casey Stoner on Aprilia factory bikes. Thanks to the great performances of the Australian rider the LCR Team gained the 250cc class Vice World Title: the best results ever achieved. The following year represents an important goal for LCR Team with the involvement in the MotoGP class supported by HRC. In 2006 Casey Stoner made an impressive debut in the premier class qualifying in the 8th position overall. got: 16 podiums, 6 victories and 6 pole positions. In 2004 season the team changed its look thanks to the new CARRERA brand competing in 250cc class with De Puniet and 125cc class with Locatelli and Mattia Pasini. This profitable season gave to the team a 3rd place in 250cc class, a 3rd place in 125cc class and the “Rookye of the Year” title for the young talent Pasini.
LCR Team Statistics 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
2003 2004 2005 2006
Lucio Cecchinello 15th in 125cc class World Championship Lucio Cecchinello 14th in 125cc class World Championship Lucio Cecchinello 5th in 125cc class World Championship Nobby Ueda 13th in 125cc class World Championship Lucio Cecchinello 9th in 125cc class World Championship Nobby Ueda 5th in 125cc class World Championship Lucio Cecchinello 11th in 125cc class World Championship Nobby Ueda 5th in 125cc class World Championship Lucio Cecchinello 4th in 125cc class World Championship Raul Jara 9th in 125cc class World Championship Lucio Cecchinello 4th in 125cc class World Championship Alex De Angelis 9th in 125cc class World Championship Casey Stoner 12th in 250cc class World Championship David Checa 13th in 250cc class World Championship Lucio Cecchinello 9th in 125cc class World Championship Casey Stoner 8th in 125cc class World Championship Randy De Puniet 3rd in 250cc class World Championship Roberto Locatelli 3rd in 125cc class World Championship Mattia Pasini 15th in 125cc class World Championship Randy De Puniet 3rd in 250cc class World Championship Roberto Locatelli 13th in 250cc class World Championship Casey Stoner 2nd in 250cc class World Championship Casey Stoner 8th in MotoGP class World Championship
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Team LCR Story 64 64
TEAM LCR PODIUMS
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Team Lcr Story
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