IN
THE
WIND
P38
"NOT OUR FAULT:"
MICHELIN EXONERATED
FOR BAZ CRASH
L
oris Baz's embarrassing
180-mph tire explosion and
subsequent crash at the first
test at Sepang was not caused
by under-inflation as originally
suspected, but by a puncture
caused by "a foreign object."
This is according to Michelin,
whose investigation showed "a
sharp cut" in the tire. This exon-
erated both the manufacturer
and the team, and doubtless also
improved somewhat shaky rider
confidence in the new tires.
After seven years away, Mi-
chelin are still experi-
menting, especially
with compounds.
There were prob-
lems at Qatar when riders found
the softer tire option was too soft,
"with some graining," according to
Lorenzo, while the harder option
erred in the opposite direction.
Only factory test riders had
access to a compound that was
somewhere between the two,
but Michelin said they would be
bringing that tire to the race.
British rider Bradley Smith
was less than complimentary
about the selection, describ-
ing it as "like a jumble sale," as
though they had a whole lot of
stock of old tires, and had just
brought them all along.
Michael Scott
An investigation into Baz's massive
crash has, according to Michelin,
placed no blame at the feet of the
French company.
LAZARETH BUILDS MASERATI MOTORCYCLE. WHY NOT?
F
or those in the know, French
Ludovic builder has created
some insane custom motor-
cycles over the years, but this
one has to take the cake. Using
a 4.7L V8 Maserati car engine,
the Lazareth LM 847 is not your
average motorcycle. For start-
ers, it uses four wheels with
hub-center steering, four individ-
ual swingarms in a machine that
makes a total mockery of the
French 100 horsepower limit for
road registered machines.
Obviously, if you want one of
these you're going to have to
ask for it because there's never
going to be a production ver-
sion, but you've got to tip your
hat to those crazy French dudes
for creating such an epic inter-
pretation of the motorcycle. CN
What a beast! Can you imagine
rocking up to the traffic lights on
this?
