Superprestigio Conspiracy Update

After airing a conspiracy theory that was floating around about the Superprestigio, we had a load of great feedback and discussion.  

JP wrote...

 Marc had a hotrod CRF that had several maps that he was choosing from during the heats. a few times he was on the straight reaching over to the right bar with his left hand changing settings on the bike. The commentators on Fanschoice.tv pointed it out a few times, wondering what he was doing, then saying he had multiple engine maps to choose from, and his bike was being worked on by his MotoGP engineers. Brad (if I heard him right while the commentators talked over him)[edit- just read a Crash.net post with him saying that he really messed up tire selection, so yeah, I heard him right] though did mention he missed the tire setup for the last race and had no traction. 

Also, the bikes don't look to have the needed wiring for TC to be used. Speed sensors for both wheels would be needed or some other way to judge bike speed vs wheel speed/spin. I'd bet it wasn't the TC that was the advantage, but the engine controls where he had a selection. TC also tends to have a particular sound when on a bike without a fly-by-wire throttle because it isn't able to shut the butterflies, so it uses ignition and dropping spark. But. if you start losing traction, and can select a different ignition and EFI map to soften the engine, et viola. Marc was the only one I saw doing that during a race. Big advantage, anyhow. Elias wasn't on a Honda and was out to lunch until getting setup help from his old MGP mechanic, and Jared Mees via phone calls. So saying him also having TC was because he won Moto2 on a Honda engined is a bit of a reach. I doubt Yoshimira Suzuki or Catalan Suzuki (Who Elias said were all faster than him Thursday) gave him a TC setup from Honda. Did Brad send a bike this time, or was it provided to him?

 Lots of good stuff in there. It was me, who made the mistake about Elias being on a Honda. And yes, it is a bit of a reach, but that's why it's a conspiracy theory, not a news story. I'm not sure the sound of well set up traction control would be audible over a TV feed with so much other noise, and bikes geared to hit the rev limiter on the straights, but that's just more conspiracy fuel.

None of the original post was supposed to put any doubts about Marquez being a hell of a rider, Elias too. But who doesn't love a good conspiracy theory? G

Superprestigio Conspiracy Theories

I explained how surprised I was that my cast iron tip for Baker to win the Superprestigio didn't come to fruition, well it seems there wasn't a level playing field, or so paddock insiders believe. They say both Marquez and Elias (a former Honda MotoGP rider and Moto2 champ on a Honda-powered bike) had electronic traction control systems fitted to their HRC Honda CRF450s. They were the only two riders to beat Baker.

Traction control is banned from all levels of flat tracks, so if this is true it's pretty sad. This is supposed to be a fun race, I thought. I guess if you're at Marquez's level, losing is bad for your image. I'm not accusing Marquez or Elias of cheating, because I'm sure there is nothing written into the Superprestigio rules to stop this technology. It's Marquez's event after all.

The last time I went to the Superprestigio, MotoGP racewinner Scott Redding explained he'd brought a knife to a gunfight, when he turned up with his stock 450. He was amazed by the level of tuning and technology HRC had put into Marquez's bike. It's racing, it's about winning, I get that, but it also kills what could be a cool event for real fans, not just Marquez fans. G

Baker in Superprestigio Shock

Well, it was a shock to me. My cast iron, put-the-house-on-it prediction that Brad Baker would win the Superprestigio came up short. How short? As short as Dani Pedrosa stood in a pothole.

Baker was slightly off the pace in timed practice, being out-qualified by Supermoto champ, Thomas Chareyre, but it wasn't a concern to me or my prediction, because Baker's a racer.

The 2014 GNC champ comfortably made the Superfinal to race Marquez for the first time in the night. After a mid-pack run to the first corner, Marquez kept tight and exited turn 2 in the lead, with Baker behind him, then checked out. Even, and I say that with all due respect, Toni Elias passed Baker, pushing him back to third at the flag. It just wasn't Brad's night.

 The American said tyre choice was crucial and showed on Flat Track Live's feed that his soft Michelin Supermoto wet was chewing up. It seemed the same for everyone though. The official Superprestigio website quoted him as saying 'I haven’t feel at my ease in the race track and honestly I’ve been much more nervous in this event than in my current competition in flat track in the US.'

In a crash-strewn night, the British DTRA riders had mixed fortunes. A strong travelling support saw Ollie Brindley make the Open Finals, but one of the UK's brightest stars didn't progress to the Superfinal this time. George Pickering just missed out on the Open finals in his first Superprestigio, while Alan Birtwistle was out of sorts after having his van was broken into and robbed outside the event. Young Toby Hales had the bad luck too, when he couldn't avoid a crash bike on his line, was catapulted over the bars and broke his wrist.

 Keep an eye out for 2017 DTRA dates being released this week. G

Hard racing, decent crowd.

Ollie looking relaxed before the battle.

The appearance of 16/17in wheels on DTX bikes made the machinery look too much like Supermoto for some hardcore fans, others didn't care.

 Avoiding first corner carnage was crucial. 30, Alan Birtwistle about to go up the inside.

Baker leads Chareyre

 Japanese rider Masatoshi Ohmori styling it up for the crowd.

British rider Alan Birtwistle styling it up for the crowd. Rad his 'Get Schooled' How To guide tips for winning a championship without team back up in Sideburn 27.  

Ollie Brindley Flying at the Superprestigio

Young DTRA racer Ollie Brindley posted a quicker lap time than Brad Baker in Friday night's Open Class class practice. Marc Marquez topped the Superprestigio class and was quickest overall, Ollie second quickest.

Ollie has always qualified well at the big races, but hasn't always had the best luck in the races. He has made the grand final in the past.

Contrary to what we posted the other days, the Fanschoice stream is for the US only. Motors TV are showing the live footage in the UK. Go to DTXBarcelona for other country details.

The other Brits out there are Alan Birtwistle (who gives us his Get Schooled tips in Sideburn 27); George Pickering and Toby Hales. 

 Photo: Anthony Brown

Superprestigio: This Weekend

Superprestigio is on this weekend and the evening main event is being livestreamed for free around the world on fanschoice.tv.

2015 Superprestigio champion Brad Baker has been in Spain since early November, training on the bike he is going to compete on, including a visit to Rossi's Ranch. As long as he doesn't get tangled up in a crash he is going to win it, he's an indoor short track animal. He did crash in the Barcelona event in 2014, breaking his shoulder, with experts blaming it on unfamiliar 17in wheels. They're not unfamiliar any more. The Superprestigio rules demand 17in wheels and Michelin road race wets, not the regular 19in wheels regular dirt track races use. This is because Michelin are a sponsor and don't make suitable 19in tyre.

British interest is stronger than ever. The DTRA has four riders in contention - Superprestigio regulars Ollie Brindley and 2017 DTRA champion Alan Birtwistle, plus George Pickering and Toby Hales.

The DTRA were allowed to field extra riders when the troubled Spanish National dirt track series fizzled out before it could hold its end of season qualifying race.

For those unfamiliar with the format, the entry is split into two: Superprestigio and Open. The former is for road racers. The only current MotoGP rider in the whole field this year is Marc Marquez, where in the past there has been a handful of MotoGP men. There are still plenty of Moto2 and Moto3 riders and, for the first time, former WSB factory Ducati rider Ruben Xaus (see him below on a Ducati Hypermotard), but the entry is nowhere near as eyecatching as previous years, but don't let put you off. Indoor short track is never boring.

The open class is for riders who compete primarily on dirt - flat trackers, speedway, long track and also, supermoto. There are top racers from Spain, Italy and the UK, plus Baker, the only American this year after Jared Mees pulled out because of injury.

The top four from each class face off in a Super final.

Here is the Superprestigio schedule so you can plan your fanschoice viewing. G

Superprestigio This Saturday

UPDATE
The third of the modern Spanish Superprestigios goes off this Saturday.

This is a shot from today's practice at the Rufea track. Baker, Mees and Marc Marquez. Love seeing the different body positions. So many ways to skin a cat.

You can watch it live on fanschoice.tv but only if you're in the US. The Spanish organisers must have done a TV deal for Europe. 

Wishing the DTRA Brits all the luck in the world: Ollie Brindley (who made the grand final last December, and also the grand final of the Superprestigio of the America last month), Alan Birtwistle and five-time UK champ, Aidan Collins who is interviewed in Sideburn 23. G

Superprestigio Grand Final

I've been trying to track down and embeddable version of this and I finally found it. With the all-time great Chris Carr giving expert commentary.
Check out the DTRA's Ollie Brindley.

We have superb photos and analysis from Superprestigio coming up in the next issue. G

When GI met Marc Marquez

As a full-time freelance journalist, I (Gary Inman, Sideburn's editor) have a very varied life. A deadline every day too. The job has taken me all over the world and Sideburn fits in around this day job and family life (though Sideburn muscles into every single day). 

Last August I was sent an email from Italy asking me to interview Marc Marquez in London. Then it was cancelled. A few weeks later it was back on, but in Italy. All a bit last minute, but I could fit it in, so I drove to London for the flight to Milan. I was picked up in a minibus by a big crew and driven to Rimini on the far coast of Italy. We pulled into the car park of the Grand Hotel Rimini at nearly midnight. 

It wasn't long since I'd watched the brilliant Grand Hotel Budapest and there were a lot of visual comparisons. No lift boys though.

The next morning, after breakfast on my own, I went to a pair of adjoining suites where the photoshoot was underway. The room was crowded with: 

• The husband and wife photography team - VanMossevelde+N
• Their two assistants
• The wardrobe man and his assistant
• The magazine's art director
• Hairdresser
• Marquez's agent (above in 93 shirt)
• Marc Marquez (through the crowd in the suit and tie)

Ten people in total, plus me. I sat and waited my turn.

 About a third of the clothing options the magazine brought.

 Marquez hair trimmings. I should've collected them for eBay...

I interviewed the world champion, on the cusp of securing his second world title, for nearly an hour, a good slot. At the end, having run out questions, I asked him the old cliche - what was better, winning races or sex? He said, winning races leads to more sex with a laugh.
The assignment was for Icon in Italy, but their Spanish version picked up the interview and photos. Then the national paper, El Pais (who own the Spanish version of Icon), took the quote and made it a front page headline, in this quite traditional and Catholic country. Obviously to try sell more magazines.
When I saw Marquez's manager at the Superprestigio he gave me the dead eye and told me about the El Pais situation, that I didn't know about until that time. Whoops.
Marquez is a nice young fella, I hope I didn't cause problems for him. I doubt it.
I was told, the week before the Superprestigio, the rider was on TV crying because he'd caught a lot of very public grief for moving from Spain to Andorra to avoid paying Spanish tax. The Spaniards, in the depths of a very rough recession, didn't like this super-rich young sportsman avoiding tax so publicly. As I understand it, he made a U-turn and moved back to Spain, or decided not to move to Andorra at all.

Sideburn - the choice of world champions.

 This is the coverage in Italy's Icon. I write for them regularly if any Italians out there are bothered. G

Super-slomo-stigio

Intoxicating video with great slo-mo from last weekend's race. Well worth watching (or we wouldn't have shared it. Duh.).
Watch it big screen. G

Superfinal Video

Ben found this on YouTube.
So proud to see Ollie with his DTRA sticker on his helmet and DTRA plate on the grid in this company.
Can anyone find a YouTube post with Chris Carr commentating? G

Ollie Brindley - Hero

No apologies for harping on about the Superprestigio for the last few days. It was an amazing race.

Apparently, it's on BT Sport from 6-8am tomorrow.

In this photo of the grand finale, the Superfinal you will see:

#4 Thomas Chareyre (multiple World Supermoto champ, I said he was a dark horse) going down having been nudged from behind going into turn 1 on lap 1.
Marc Marquez is so close to crashing, but manages to stay up, but pushes Dani Ribalta (yellow and black helmet) out wide.
#1 Jared Mees gets fouled up in the crash, losing momentum and running wide.
MotoGP star Bradley Smith in the pale blue sleeves (on the podium Philip Island earlier this year) is outside Mees and outside him is…
Ollie Brindley!

Little Ollie Brindley! The DTRA's Ollie Brindley. Ollie Brindley that smashed his shoulder to pieces (ask to see the scar) just four weeks ago while racing to qualify for this meeting. Ollie Brindley who turned 16 just one week ago.

Marquez, Mees,  Smith, Brindley!

Ollie came in sixth, ahead of Smith. Kenny Noyes was an amazing third.

The list of riders who didn't make this final includes - Shayna Texter, Alex Marquez, Tito Rabat, Troy Bayliss, Taddy Blasuziak, Toni Elias, Guy Martin, Mikka Kallio, Scott Redding, Lorenzo Baldassarri, Joona Kylmakorpi, Ivan Cervantes...

Thanks from Sideburn and the British dirt track community to Kawasaki UK for sponsoring both Ollie and Alan Birtwistle (who made the Open Class final).
If anyone out there wants to help out this young lad in terms of sponsorship (or any of the other young Brits who did amazingly well in Spain - Tim Neave put in a faster qualifying time than everyone except Brad Baker, Tom Neave was only a tenth behind), contact us and we'll put you in touch. G

Dani Ribalta's Superprestigio Final

Lining up next to young Brit Ollie Brindley and alongside Marc Marquez, Jared Mees, Kenny Noyes, Bradley Smith, Thomas Chereyre, Gerard Bailo. G

Watch Superprestigio LIVE

The Superprestigio goes off tomorrow evening in Barcelona, Spain. It's arguably the most hotly anticipated dirt track race of the 21st century, and Fanschoice TV, the same great service that has brought live casts and YouTube recordings of every GNC race this year,  is offering a live feed.

If that wasn't enough, our old mate Chris Carr is guest commentator.

The official press release (aimed at Americans, hence the Eastern Time - just google it to work out what time that is where you are) says:

The Superprestigio is set to begin at 12:00 noon ET (9:00 a.m. PT) on Saturday, Dec. 13 and all of the action will be broadcast live on www.FansChoice.tv, the official home for live streaming of all AMA Pro Flat Track events.

There is an incredible line-up of riders including:

SUPERPRESTIGIO CLASS
Marc Marquez - 2014 MotoGP WC
Tito Rabat - 2014 Moto2 WC
Alex Marquez - 2014 Moto3 WC
Scott Redding
Bradley Smith
Toni Elias - 2010 Moto2 WC
Troy Bayliss - 2001, 2006, 2008 WSB WC
Kenny Noyes - 2014 CEV SBK champ

OPEN CLASS
Brad Baker (2013 GNC Champ)
Jared Mees (2x GNC champ)
Shayna Texter
Joonas Kylmakorpi (4x long track WC, who is racing a Zaeta painted by Maxwell Paternoster!)
Thomas Chareyre (3x Supermoto WC - surely a dark horse)
Fabrizio Vesprini (2x FIM Euro flat track champ)
Francesco Cecchini (2014 FIM Euro flat track champ)
Ivan Cervantes (4x Enduro WC)
Taddy Blazusiak - (5x Superenduro WC)
Guy Martin

And from the DTRA in the Open Class

Tim Neave (2014 champ), Tom Neave, Aidan Collins (4x UK champ), Ollie Brindley, Alan Birtwistle

(WC = World Champion)

The winners of each class race each other in a grand final.

Below is a photos from the @marcmarquez93 instagram feed of him practicing yesterday at the Canudas track. Many of the top riders were there.

Marc Marquez Practice Track

Practicing with his brother Alex (Moto3 champ) and Tito Rabat (Moto2 champ).
See him in action at the Superprestigio in Barcelona on December 13.

Thanks to David Death Spray for the tip-off. G

Superprestigio - Soon

The Superprestigio organisers have moved their event from January to December, so, for 2014, there will be two in one calendar year, and it's coming up on Saturday 13 December. That leaves time for you to book a relatively cheap Euro flight out there if you fancy it.

It was a great spectacle last time, in an Olympic arena within the city, and I have a feeling it will be a 15,000-plus sell out this year.

Go to Superprestigio to find out more and order tickets (good website in Spanish, Catalan and English)

SUPERPRESTIGIO CLASS
The class for World Championship road racers.
This year there will be all three current MotoGP champions: Marc and Alex Marquez and Tito Rabat - all local riders so the atmosphere and support should be impressive.
Also from MotoGP are Scott Redding, Bradley Smith and Alvaro Bautista who are all on the provisional entry list. Spanish Superbike champion and Euro Flat Track Festival organiser, Kenny Noyes is in and Troy Bayliss is confirmed too.
No Rossi or Hayden though.

OPEN CLASS
For dirt track specialists and other disciplines, plus those who qualified through the DTRA championship and Kenny Noyes European Dirt Track Festival.
From America, Brad Baker is back and joined by 2014 number 1, Jared Mees.
UK riders include multiple DTRA champ Aidan Collins; current DTRA champ Tim Neave and European Dirt Track Festival champ Tom Neave; Alan Birtwistle and Ollie Brindley.
Dirt Quake III chopper class champion Guy Martin is racing too.
 

Pre-season Black

I know I'm not the only one who loves World Championship road racers decked out in pre- or post-season black with simple white logos. Here are a few from the recent MotoGP Valencia test. 

 Australian Jack Miller has leapfrogged Moto2 to move straight from Moto3 to MotoGP. I wonder if the other MotoGP new boy, Maverick Vinales will have the beating of him.

 Marc Marquez. Next in action at the Superprestigio in Barcelona, December 13.

Marco Melandri, back in MotoGP on the new Aprilia (who have also been away from the class for years). I hope it's better than their last effort in MotoGP.

Dani Pedrosa. T for Test. 

Or T for try harder? T for time's up soon? T for two? 

Best rider never to win a MotoGP title? Possibly.

Photos courtesy of motogp.com

Superprestigio 2

Marc Marquez's team are organising another Superprestigio, to follow January's. Brad Baker made a hell of an impression, but I hope they can get whoever is this year's number 1 (and it doesn't look like it's going to be Baker) over for this. We spoke to a bunch of top racers when we were at Springfield and they're dead keen. Here's the official blurb...

It’s now confirmed. Marc Márquez and the current No#1 Dirt Tracker in the World, Brad Baker, will compete next December 13th for the supremacy of the Sant Jordi Arena. 

Backed by Barcelona City Council and organised by RPM Racing and Moto Club Segre, the Sant Jordi Arena will live again in December one of the most exciting and thrilling duels of motorcycling. Last January, the City of Barcelona lived a unique show in the Sant Jordi with a sensational oval soil track, the match between the # 1 World dirt tracker, American Brad Baker, and the youngest ever MotoGP champ, Catalan Marc Márquez. 

A heart breaking finale, unfinished 
Somehow, back in January, the fight for the #1 dirt tracker finished null-null, as Márquez fell following a contact with Baker, two laps before the end of the race, handing the victory to the US rider. In front of 8.000 spectators, after shaking hands, Brad Baker and Marc Márquez agreed for a second edition of the Superprestigio Dirt Track with the aim to have another try of that unfinished Final. 

Over 20 riders from the World Road Racing Championship, and some of the Top American dirt trackers also invited With five months to go 16 road racers have already confirmed their intention to take part in the Event: Tito Rabat (ESP, Moto 2), Bradley Smith (GBR, Moto GP), Álex Márquez (ESP, Moto 3), Scott Redding (GBR, Moto GP), Álex Rins (ESP, Moto 3), Mika Kallio (FIN, Moto 2), Álvaro Bautista (ESP, Moto GP), Johann Zarco (FRA, Moto 2), Jonas Folger (GER, Moto 2), Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA, Moto 2), Julián Simón (ESP, Moto 2), Kenny Noyes (USA, CEV Superbike) Marcel Schrotter (GER, Moto 2), Xavier Simeon (BEL, Moto 2), Niklas Ajo (FIN, Moto 3) and Enea Bastianini (ITA, Moto 3). 

Other confirmations are expected increasing the list of riders in the Superprestigio category (reserved to road Racing riders). More than 20 riders are expected. Brad Baker will not be the only rider representing the US. These riders together with the best nationals in Enduro, MX and Supermotard will join the Open category. 

Tickets on sale from 25 Euros Tickets will be on sale soon through www.rpmticket.com and www.atrapalo.com starting from 25 Euros 

Marc Márquez: “It was a great to compete against Brad Baker, #1 in the US, in the 1st edition of the Superprestigio Dirt Track. As I expected it was a magical event, full of light, skids and racing with the crowd so close was amazing. The crash was the only inconvenient of that great evening, so I am looking forward to racing again in the Sant Jordi arena, have fun.... and try to beat Brad!”. 

Brad Baker: “I am super excited to visit Barcelona again in December! I met so many great people when I was there in January and everyone made me feel like I was home. RPM Racing and everyone involved with them was top notch and I'm sure they will make the second edition of Superprestegio even greater than the first! It's a complete honour to be invited to Barcelona for a second time and I'm really looking forward to riding with Marc Marquez and all the other great GP riders again as well”.

MotoGP on Fire

CIELO: MOTOGP™ OPENING from NERDO on Vimeo.

Spotted this on Corpses From Hell blog. It reminds me of, Chief Corpse, Maxwell Paternoster's work.

See Maxwell race his BSA - Lazer Death - and become part of his artwork at next weekend's Dirt Quake III. G

Superprestigio - Super Slo-mo

This raised the hairs on the back of my neck.
#9 is Kenny Noyes (from the Noyes Camp in Spain)
#93 is Marc Marquez
#41 is Aleix Espargaro
#7 is Alessandro Baldassari
#30 is Alan Birtwistle
#1 is Brad Baker
#53 is Tito Rabat.

Watch how the holes on the corner entry unsettle Marquez's bike, but not Marquez. G

UPDATE: We have some exciting Kenny Noyes/ DTRA news coming up later today.