Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/425612
IN THE WIND P32 CAIROLI, VILLOPOTO: CALM BEFORE THE STORM A ntonio Cairoli and Ryan Villo- poto got the chance to spend some time together at the recent FIM Gala in, Jerez, Spain. It was here where the two champs were presented their awards: Cairoli for winning the FIM MXGP-class World Championship and Villopo- to for winning the FIM World Su- percross Championship, which is also a part of the AMA Supercross Series. This was the first time for the two champs to hang out to- gether and have some fun before they go at it in the 2015 MXGP World Championship. During their time in Jerez, Vil- lopoto was asked in a video in- terview about his thoughts on the upcoming GP season and, in particular, the eight-time MXGP World Champion, Cairoli. "He's [Cairoli] the guy that's been there for eight years and puts in the work, puts in the time. All I can do is the same," Villopoto said. "For me as a racer I have a lot of respect for Tony [Cairoli] and I think vice versa. I think he has a lot of respect for me. And hopefully we can have a lot of good racing. That talk of, I don't want to use the word who's better, because it's completely two differ- ent worlds. I'm coming over here to race in his world and we'll see how we can fare against him." To see the complete interview click HERE https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=KeoBAOJXBv8 BARRIER TALKS NEW BEEMER T he all-new BMW S1000RR ar- rived on track with the BMW Motorrad Italia team and its lone rider Sylvain Barrier, setting its first laps on the World Superbike race spec today in Jerez, Spain. "The engine is more powerful and the electronics are a little bit better and now we have to make it work better and see how it is go- ing," said Barrier. "Even after my first 20-laps I could tell that every- thing was quite positive and I was around two seconds from the top. All the time that last second is hard to get. But right away the sensa- tion is quite good." The bike was almost complete in its basic 2015 race set-up, but had to run 2014 bodywork at this first test as the base of the bike is still so new. Barrier found immediate im- provements in some areas having ridden an Evo bike in 2014, and he stated that there will be more to come. "The electronics are com- pletely different and it is not the fi- nal version, we have some modifi- cations coming. The chassis feels more or less the same but it is even easier to change direction." BMW will once again make its own electronic package, this time to fit inside the cost capping rules, and the Motorrad Italia team will co-operate with BMW to help cre- ate the customer electronics pack- age for other BMW teams. BMW customers will buy the kit and oth- er parts through the racing division in Germany as normal, however. Barrier, who endured some hard crashes and injuries last season, including a nasty car crash on the road, said he was approaching full fitness after all his trials and tribu- lations. "I am not quite a 100%. I am still a little bit sore in my foot, but everything is going in the right direction." Gordon Ritchie The new S1000RR World Superbike race bike breaks cover at Jerez. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE Ryan Villopoto (left) and Antonio Cairoli (right) have some fun during the FIM awards banquet in Jerez, Spain.