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/517599
IN THE WIND P32 TECH3 DUO FOR SUZUKA M onster Energy Tech3 Yama- ha MotoGP teammates Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith will team up with Japanese Superbike Champion Katsuyuki Nakasuga on a specially built factory Yamaha YZF-R1 for this year's Suzuka 8 Hour, to be held from July 23-26 in Japan. It will be the first time Smith and Espargaro have entered the iconic race, and indeed 2015 will see the first Yamaha factory team since the 2002 event as the Tuning Fork brand attempts to take its first Suzuka win in 19 years. "I feel honored to take part in Suzuka, but there will be a lot to learn," Espargaro said. "I am under no illusion that it will be easy as I have never raced in an endurance event before and I don't know the YZF-R1, even though a lot of people speak very highly about it." For Smith, the race serves as chance to try another form of racing after a career spent in Grand Prix. "I'm looking forward to trying a new form of motorcycle racing and even more so along with my MotoGP teammate Pol and Katsuyuki Nakasuga, who has a strong record at this special race. I think it will be an unfor- gettable event and it will add another chapter to my life with Yamaha." The Suzuka 8 Hour has gradually seen a resurgence in importance on the international racing scene following a slump when MotoGP riders deserted the event a decade ago. Proof of this is not only the Yamaha announcement but also the news of Casey Stoner's return to racing in the official HRC factory team alongside World Superbike rider and current 8 Hour cham- pions, Michael Van Der Mark and Takuma Takahashi. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team- mates—Bradley Smith (left) and Pol Espargaro (right) to make their Suzuka 8 hour debut this July. NEW SEAMLESS GEARBOX FOR APRILIA A prilia will be the latest manu- facturer to have the use of a seamless shift gearbox, with news the Italian manufacturer will debut their version of the tech- nology at this weekend's Italian MotoGP. Following a successful test at Jerez on May 4, Aprilia manage- ment decided to fast-track the gearbox for riders Alvaro Bau- tista and Marco Melandri in time for the Italian MotoGP. Aprilia's new gearbox allows for seam- less shifts in both up and down shifts. "The positive feedback Bautista provided after the tests at Jerez immedi- ately following the Spanish Grand Prix convinced us to speed up development on this solution in order to have it ready to race as soon as possible," said Aprilia Racing Manager, Romano Albesiano. "As important as the new trans- mission is, in any case it will not be the only new feature. We have prepared various changes in terms of aerodynamics and chassis as well with respect to the bike that started off the sea- son. All of this is part of our path of improvement which we hope to successfully move forward at Mugello." PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE Alvaro Bautista (pictured) and Marco Melandri to get a seamless shift gearbox for their Aprilias at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix.