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/650535
IN THE WIND P36 BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY GETS SUPPORT T he ongoing effort to save the Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway got support from state legisla- tors in February. A resolution urges the U.S. Bureau of Land Manage- ment to restore the speedway "to safe high-speed racing conditions." The resolution unanimously passed the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee. The Salt Flats are facing a depletion of salt that forced the cancellation of all 2015 racing events. The AMA is working with the Save the Salt Coalition, the Utah Alliance and other groups and government officials to devise a plan to save the Bonneville Salt Flats. CN APRILIA RS-GP BREAKS COVER T he debut of Aprilia's all-new RS-GP at the Qa- tar MotoGP test—the company's first dedicated MotoGP prototype—was neither distinguished nor disastrous, with riders Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl both improving their times as they gained familiarity, but still languishing well down among the lower orders on the time sheets. Apart from shakedown runs at a three-day private test, this was the first time the bikes had been run in anger. The tests were more about es- tablishing reliability and looking for basic settings than going for lap times. Although outwardly not dissimilar, the bike is all new, with a more compact narrower-angle V than last year's production-based bike, and a smaller chassis to suit. The direction of crankshaft rota- tion has also been reversed, in line with current thinking. The main difference, said Bradl, "is the weight. The power delivery is more smooth and there is more power—though, of course, you never have enough." In words echoed by Bautista, he added, "The handling is much better. It's more MotoGP, so I can enjoy it." Team chief Romano Albesiano told MotoGP. com that the bike was an evolution from the former CRT machine, dubbed the ART, but with significant changes. Not only the V-angle but also the firing intervals had been changed, and the rotation of the crankshaft reversed. "The basic bike is in line with the recent tradition of Aprilia, but with a narrower V4. The engine is much smaller in three directions, and much lighter. The counter-rotating crank con- cept will also help maneuverability," he said. Michael Scott Hopefully racing will return to the Bonneville Salt Flats. Pretty, isn't it? Let's hope this new RS-GP machine can get Aprilia up to fighting with Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki and Ducati.