Akrapovič release Evolution Line exhaust for new BMW M6

When BMW Motorsport division lets loose a new M-series designated automobile into the public arena, it is guaranteed to be an exciting new prospect laden with technology, refinement and an engine suitable to retain the tag of inspired performance with safety.

With the introduction of the latest M6 (F12), BMW has made use of its new and highly acclaimed M TwinPower Turbo turbocharged V8, 4395cc engine to power this two–door bullet to155mph (250km/h), and 195mph (315km/h) with the M-Sport package.

Of course, there is always more performance to be found from any car, be it from the engine or chassis. But to achieve both in one hit is a trick that is best left to a specialist like Akrapovič – the world’s number one manufacturer of premium replacement sports exhausts.

Akrapovič is, therefore, pleased to announce its latest Evolution Line exhaust for the new BMW M6. This all-titanium exhaust comfortably manages to increase engine performance, chassis performance and, not forgetting, the all-important driver experience.

Constructed throughout in titanium alloys, the M6 Evolution Line exhaust is a Catalyser-back system allowing Akrapovič engineers to construct high-flow link pipes to the lightweight titanium dual muffler boxes for increased throttle response throughout the engine’s rev range, a rise in high rpm output performance and a large reduction in weight (-12.3kg) over the standard exhaust.

Germany’s celebrated Sport Auto magazine recently (June 2012) awarded Akrapovič the title of Best Brand 2012 – its third such accolade in a row – and it’s easy to understand why…

ALTUS DE WET ENDS SUCCESSFUL SEASON ON HIGH NOTE WITH PODIUM AT ROOF OF AFRICA

Altus de Wet, who competed in both the National Off-road and Enduro Championships under the Brother Broadlink KTM banner and recently participated in the 2012 Roof of Africa in Lesotho, rounded an extremely successful racing season off by finishing second after the gruelling three-day, 450km race that are ranked as one of the toughest dirt-bike races in the world!

Over the last few years, the Roof of Africa, that took place for the 45th time in the mountains of Lesotho, became an ‘extreme enduro’ event for dirt-bike riders. The world’s best enduro and extreme enduro riders travel from all over the globe to try and add their names in the record books of event that is now one of the oldest races in the world.

This year Altus de Wet wrote his own piece of history finishing in a well-deserving second place after competing for a total of 17 hours 47 minutes and 28 seconds. The race was won by another South African rider, Wade Young, making it one-two for SA riders – international enduro riders have won this event for the last four years.
The race consisted of the traditional Around the Houses street race in Maseru where after riders had to complete a 60km time-trial that determined the starting order and start times for the racing section on Friday. De Wet tackled Friday from sixth position, just less than three minutes behind the leader.

After an extremely hot and long day (about 250 kilometres and just over eight hours in the saddle), De Wet posted the third fastest time and started just behind the 2011 winner and extreme enduro expert, Graham Jarvis, from the UK.

“Friday was tough, but we knew that Saturday might be even worse as some of the most technical mountain passes were waiting for us,” De Wet said afterwards.
“I was however happy with my third place and was only 26 seconds behind Jarvis.
My high level of fitness meant that I was not too tired at the end of the day and I was really looking forward to the last day’s racing,” he explained.

De Wet overtook Jarvis quickly on Saturday morning and after a ding-dong battle with the UK rider and another eight hours in the saddle, was the second rider behind Young to tackle the uphill at Bushman’s Pass to claim his best result at the Roof of Africa.

“I am extremely happy with this result,” he told his supporters between huge crowds at the finish. “This year’s Roof was tough and challenging and it was great to finish a difficult race on the podium. Well done to Wade for winning,” he beamed.

De Wet is the 2012 OR2 Class Champion after winning the class three times (he finished the national off-road championship in 3rd place overall and finished twice on the podium). He finished 3rd in the E2 enduro championship (he won the E2 class twice and finished on the E2 podium three more times) is 5th overall of the national enduro championship and claimed the overall laurels at the Humansdorp enduro.

He finished 11th in the world extreme enduro rankings (he was the best-placed SA rider and finished 8th in his first Red Bull Romaniacs event).

Altus de Wet would like to thank all his sponsors, supporters and friends who contributed to his successful racing season.

07. November 2012
In 2011 Akrapovič launched its first iPhone/iPad App, “Akrapovič Car Exhaust Systems,” and now there’s a second one available through the iTunes store.

The new “Akrapovič Motorcycle Exhaust Systems” App for the iPhone and iPad

Now you can hold the world of Akrapovič exhaust systems for bikes in your hands, hear the sounds, see the products, and find the information you need—with the launch of the Akrapovič App “Akrapovič Motorcycle Exhaust Systems.”

This new app developed for the iPhone and iPad features a neat user interface to access the following:

• Information: detailed interactive information on the comprehensive Akrapovič motorcycle exhaust range. Images, audio, and information at your fingers.
  
• Sound: experience the full effect of the deep, purposeful, resonant Akrapovič sound when you “make your own sound” with our Custom exhaust range.
  
• Knowledge: our “10 Reasons Why Akrapovič” explains why so many people choose Akrapovič exhaust systems.
  
• Motorcycle sport: catch up with the latest tarmac and offroad racing news, podium finishes, and world titles.
  
• History: the Akrapovič Timeline is fact-filled on how, when, and where, key milestones, and movers and shakers.
  

The Akrapovič App—Akrapovič Motorcycle Exhaust Systems—is available through the iTunes store.

 

Johann Zarco crowned Moto2 'Rookie of the Year' at Phillip Island

This weekend the penultimate round of the 2012 MotoGP Championship took place at Phillip Island Australia, which saw one SHARK-man crowned 'Rookie of the Year' and further vital championship points collected.

Moto2 :

Johann Zarco (JiR Team) took a superb sixth place finish in the Moto2 race after a tough battle with more experience riders in the field. Despite being as high as fourth place in the early stages, the young Frenchman struggled to stay with the lead pack and decided to concentrate on scoring further points [...]
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MotoGP:

In the 27-lap MotoGP race, Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda) continued to impress in his rookie year finishing in sixth place after a strong battle with experienced riders Alvaro Bautista and Andrea Dovizioso. Randy de Puniet [...]
Read more...

Stefan Bradl:

Off course we are all happy because we did not expect such a close fight for the fourth place today after the difficult first day of practices we had here. It’s a shame that we lost the fourth place, because I was on hard tyre today and had a small advantage on my competitors, so I thought I could take it. But the other guys had other advantages on me so we were plus[...]
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Scott Redding:

I'm disappointed to have finished off the podium today, because it was there for the taking. I didn't get the best of starts, but forced my way through on the opening lap only to be held up a little by Zarco as Espargaro disappeared off into the distance. I knew I had the measure of Marquez, so put in a pass quite early, before settling down and trying to conserve the tyres [...]
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Johann Zarco:

I’m fine with finishing the race in sixth position and happy to be Rookie of the Year and regain 10th in the championship, but although I enjoyed today’s race it wasn’t easy. At the beginning of the race I made a good start and was as high as fourth in the early laps. Then I couldn’t match the times of the leaders and fell back into the following pack. There it was a big battle and I made some overtakes and on the last lap coming out of the last corner I was fifth but [...]
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The final race of the season takes place at Valencia, Spain on 10-11 November.

 

 

 

CASTROL MINI John Cooper Works ENDS SEASON IN WINNING STYLE

It has been an impressive first season in the Bridgestone South African Production Car Championship for the Castrol MINI John Cooper Works team of Gavin Cronje and Lee Thompson. The final chequered flag fell over the 2013 season finale at Kyalami on Saturday with Cronje and Thompson each contributing a win and a second place in the day’s three races.

Thompson and Cronje got their weekend off to a great start when they qualified first and second respectively in class T before Thompson went on to win the first of the traditional back-to-back opening sprint races. Cronje was running second behind his team-mate when his car started experiencing an intermittent ignition problem. Several times the engine cut out and he had to restart the car, but was able to recover quick enough to cross the finish line in third place.

The second six-lap sprint saw Cronje lead until the second last corner on the last lap, when he slowed with an alternator problem and dropped back to second behind 2012 champion Graeme Nathan (VW Golf) third at the chequered flag. Thompson was forced into the pits after the water reservoir bottle burst two laps from the finish and was credited with seventh place.

Race three, scheduled for eight laps, was prematurely ended after six laps when a late afternoon electrical storm flooded the Kyalami grand prix circuit and made conditions dangerous. This did not prevent the all-conquering Castrol MINI John Cooper Works pair from taking a convincing 1-2 in the most difficult of conditions, Cronje leading home Thompson on this occasion.

Thompson: “This was our first visit to Kyalami with the new MINI John Cooper Works and the car proved to be very well balanced and effective around the former grand prix circuit. All the development work we have done since the car’s debut just five race meetings ago at Zwartkops Raceway in May, is paying off and we saw today just how quick and effective the racing MINI is.”

Cronje: “We had a good day today and with better luck would have won all three races. There’s no doubt that we have a serious championship contender and I can’t wait for next season.”

Team manager Donovan van Heerden: “I’m very happy with the performance of the Castrol MINI John Cooper Works and both drivers today. We’ve worked hard on developing this dynamic car and we now have a mighty package. With five race wins in our first six race meetings – three by Lee and two by Gavin – 12 podiums and several pole positions and fastest race laps, the tone has been set for 2013.”

Van Heerden concluded by acknowledging the support of the team’s sponsors: “A big ‘thank you’ to our principal sponsor Castrol and to MINI John Cooper Works, Ferodo, EPS Courier Services and Akrapovic Exhaust Systems for their invaluable and enthusiastic support. They believed in us and we’re confident we can deliver even more in the way of exposure and results in 2013.”

 

 

 

TEAM AFROX BMW ENDS SEASON WITH A WIN AND FOUR PODIUMS

Team Afrox ended the 2013 Bridgestone South African Production Car Championship on a high note with a win and a second in race two and a second and a third in race one at Kyalami on Saturday.

Starting from third and fifth on the grid for the opening six-lap sprint race, Anthony Taylor and Etienne van der Linde went on to finish second and third respectively in their Afrox BMW M Performance Parts BMW 335i class A cars behind the Subaru Impreza of Hennie Groenewald.

Van der Linde made a great start from the second row of the grid in the second of the back-to-back sprint races, which saw the top four finishers from race one line-up in reverse order. He led the field into the first corner closely followed by team-mate Taylor and this is how they stayed to the finish, beating 2013 champion Michael Stephen (Audi S4) into third place, five seconds in arrears.

The third and final race of the season, scheduled for eight laps of the 4,2-kilometre Kyalami grand prix circuit, started in the gathering gloom and light rain of a rapidly approaching electric storm and was declared a wet race, conditions that favoured the all-wheel drive cars. The conditions deteriorated as the race progressed and it was eventually red-flagged after six laps, with the results declared as they stood at the end of lap five.

Taylor, slowed by the lack of traction in the wet conditions as well as a misted-up windscreen, was the first of the rear-wheel drive cars in sixth place with team-mate Van der Linde seventh. Gennaro Bonafede, who has started from 10th on the grid, won the race in an all-wheel drive Audi.

“It was not much fun,” remarked Taylor. “There was little grip for the tyres in the wet with standing water all around the circuit. The car was aquaplaning under braking and from about the third lap I couldn’t see anything out of the windscreen. I had to open the door a few times to help clear it.”

“The programme was running over an hour late when we started and unfortunately a typical Highveld electric storm spoilt what could have been a great end to the season,” said Van der Linde. “The conditions were dangerous and they could have stopped the race even earlier. It was a shame, because we had a good day in the dry and were looking forward to another strong performance by both BMWs.”

Team manager Donovan van Heerden was not dismayed. “We showed great pace in the dry and Etienne gave us our eighth race win of the season before the rain came down. We’ve got a great package in the Afrox BMW M Performance Parts BMW 335i and we look forward to developing it further in preparation for the 2013 season.“

He paid tribute to Anthony Taylor’s contribution to the team he helped establish on the multiple former champion’s final curcuit racing appearance. “Sadly, Anthony has decided to retire from track racing and concentrate on his successful off road racing career. He has been a stalwart of the team and the benchmark for all the other drivers who have ever driven alongside him as his team-mate. He has been much more than a driver and has contributed massively to the respected status the team enjoys today.

“We will miss him, but we are hoping to announce that another former champion will be joining the team in 2013.”

Van Heerden also paid tribute to the team’s sponsors: “Without the support of our principal sponsor Afrox and the additional backing from BMW M Performance Parts, EPS Courier Services, Castrol and Akrapovic Exhaust Systems we could not have achieved what we did this past season.”

ALTUS DE WET: ENJOYS ENDURO RACING IN TRICKY MUDDY CONDITIONS

Liquorland Creighton WFO National Enduro: (20 October) – Altus de Wet has raked in the podium positions in both the 2012 Liquorland National Enduro Motorcycle Championship as the South African National Off-road Championship and rounded the enduro season off with two more podium positions after the tricky, muddy and very slippery event at Creighton in KwaZulu-Natal.

Altus, racing for Team Brother Broadlink KTM, finished third in the E2 championship (200cc) and was fourth overall (E1 and E2), but just finishing this event was an achievement as only eight competitors managed to complete the full race distance. Heavy rains resulted in the route to be wet, muddy and extremely tricky – just what De Wet likes. “I loved the weather with the rain, the mist and the muddy route,” De Wet said after the race. “It was not easy and I made a few mistakes, but I am happy with the E2 podium position and to finish the season in third place in E2 and fifth overall,” he concluded.

He could not finish the opening round in the Transkei due to mechanical problems, but fought back with a vengeance and finished on the E2 podium at each of while two overall podium positions including a race victory at Humansdorp, saw him finishing the season in fifth place overall.

He added his E2 podium position for 2012 to another national podium finish – the OR2 (200cc Class) championship in the national off-road series where he finished the season in third place overall making it three podium positions (E2 and overall in the enduro series and OR2 and overall in off-road racing) out of a possible four.

“You have to make a mindset when you race in these conditions,” he said at Creighton. “I see that that I am going to go play and although it is a serious game and a tough race, I enjoyed the route and didn’t fight the conditions,” he explained.

De Wet reflects back on the 2012 season: “It was a tough season that started with a DNF at the first event, but I still enjoyed the rest of the season and just gave my best at each event,” he said. “Competing in both the national off-road and enduro championships, is quite a challenge as it is two completely different racing disciplines, but I loved the challenge and the results showed it,” De Wet claimed.

Between travelling to national and regional events and rider and fitness training, De Wet has been quite busy this year. He is now in the final stages of preparation for the upcoming Roof of Africa that takes place from 15 to 17 November in Lesotho.

Altus de Wet would like to thank all his sponsors, supporters and friends who contributed to his racing this year.

Showdown at Shanghai: Audi drivers battle for title at WEC finale

Ingolstadt - Suspense through to the end: At the finale of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Shanghai, China, on October 28, two Audi driver teams will be battling for the world champion’s title.

32,000 fans most recently witnessed a close battle for victory in Japan. 11.223 seconds separated Audi and challenger Toyota when the cars saw the checkered flag at the Fuji 6 Hours.

With that, the seventh round of the season delivered the closest result to date in the competition between the two automobile manufacturers.
#1 Audi Sport Team Joest R18 e-tron quattro: Marcel Fässler, Benoit Tréluyer, Andre Lotterer
#1 Audi Sport Team Joest R18 e-tron quattro: Marcel Fässler, Benoit Tréluyer, Andre Lotterer

Photo by: James M. Holland
Audi won the manufacturers’ classification in the new world championship as early as in August - subject to the publication of the results by the FIA.

Now the Audi racers will be competing for the title in the drivers’ championship on the 5,451-kilometer Grand Prix circuit at Shanghai.

Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer, last and this year’s Le Mans winners with Audi, improved their chances of clinching the title when they finished the round in Japan as the runners-up.

They are 16.5 points ahead of their team-mates Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish.

If the Dane and the Scotsman win the qualifying session and the final race, the leaders of the standings have to take fifth place as a minimum to secure the title, which is an achievable task: Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer mounted the podium six times in succession, clinching three victories in the process.

All of the Audi R18 cars in the field are extremely reliable and have finished every race this year, scoring five victories and a total of 16 podium places.

Aside from the factory-fielded sports prototypes, motorsport fans in China can look forward to another highlight. The Audi R8 LMS Cup is holding rounds nine and ten together with the WEC finale at Shanghai.

16 drivers are battling for trophies and points in the company’s first one-make cup that has been held in China as of this year. The GT3 sports car delivers a power output of 411 kW (560 hp). Marchy Lee from Hong Kong is currently leading the standings.

The race weekend in China not only has a special significance for Audi from a sporting perspective. Since 2011, the country has been the largest single market for the brand based in Ingolstadt.

In the first three quarters of the current year, Audi delivered 297,060 vehicles, which is 31.4 percent more than in the same period last year.

Since 1988, Audi has been manufacturing vehicles at the FAW-VW joint venture in Changchun. In 2013, production operations will be launched at the new plant in Foshan, South China.

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "At Shanghai, we’re competing in a market that’s very important for Audi. The track there is new to all of us.

A highly varied inaugural season of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is about to culminate in China.

For us, it’s still about the title decision in the drivers’ championship which, after the early title win in the manufacturers’ championship, is crowning an exceptional endurance racing season for Audi.

After the open race at Fuji, it’s guaranteed that we’ll be in for a thrilling finale."

Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): "There’s only one weekend again between the round at Fuji and the finale at Shanghai - that’s putting another pretty heavy strain on the whole team.

That’s why we decided not to fly back to Europe but to enjoy a couple of free days in Asia. Besides relaxing there we’re focused on fostering our team spirit.

We’re very much looking forward to the race at Shanghai. In each of the past two years, we drove the season finale in China and have fond memories of the country."

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers

Marcel Fässler (36/CH), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1:
-Was on podium with Audi in China last year, in third place
-Is the only Audi racer who knows the track at Shanghai

"For us, the last race of what has so far been a very successful season, is now coming up. I’ve driven a race at Shanghai before, albeit not on the GP track version but on a shorter variant.

It’s a great track on which we’ll no doubt have a lot of fun with our sports prototypes."

André Lotterer (30/D), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1:
-Only knows China from running as a guest entrant at the 2011 Audi Q3 Trans China Tour

"The track is completely new to me. That’s why I want to learn it on the simulator. I’m sure it’s not an easy track. The first turn, which tapers down quite a bit, is absolutely unusual.

For us, it’s about achieving a big aim: the World Championship title. Up to now, I’ve been concentrating on every single race but now the decision will be made."

Benoît Tréluyer (35/F), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1: -Has never competed in China before

"Shanghai is said to be a very special track. Many of the turns are relatively complicated, such as the spiraling first bend. We want to battle for race victory at the finale - it’s important for us to finish in front of Toyota.

At the same time, for my team-mates and me, it’s also about the drivers’ world championship."

Tom Kristensen (45/DK), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2: -Together with team-mate Allan McNish took second place for Audi in China in 2010 -Has previously competed at various motorsport events in China

"It’s been a tremendous season so far which started with victory for Allan (McNish) and me at the Sebring season opener. After the round in Japan, which meant a lot to me, we’re now ending the season in China.

I’ll be driving a race for the fifth time in this country: twice I ran at Zhuhai in sports prototypes, contested a race with the DTM in downtown Shanghai and competed in the Race of Champions at the National Stadium in Beijing.

For the WEC finale on the challenging Shanghai GP circuit, our wish is to achieve victory."

Allan McNish (42/GB), Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2:
-Has already run twice in an Audi LMP sports car in China

"The WEC finale at Shanghai will be held on a track I don’t know yet. If you look at the layout you can see similarities to the previous circuits in Bahrain or at Fuji because most of the turns are long and driven at low speed.

The race will be the high point of the season. That’s when the drivers’ world championship will be decided. For Tom and I to have any chance left at all we’ll have to clinch victory."

Roger De Coster Visits Akrapovič Factory

The Slovenian exhaust system producer had the honor of welcoming one of the best racers in the history of motorsport and current manager of the Red Bull KTM Factory Team at its facilities, where he was impressed with how impeccably clean its production facilities are.

After the Motocross of Nations in Lommel, Belgium, world motocross legend Roger De Coster visited the Akrapovič factory on 3 October 2012. Older fans are probably familiar with him, but younger ones may need a little help: born in Belgium in 1944, he won five world championship titles in the 1970s, and after that started working as a race team manager. At first he was the manager of the Honda team, followed by the Suzuki team, and since 2011 he’s been managing the KTM team.

His team’s been using Akrapovič products for two years, but he hadn’t been able to find time to visit the factory until now due to his busy schedule. As he stated in his short interview for our web site, he was impressed by the quality of our products, and even more by the cleanliness of the factory. “A lot of factories where they manufacture this kind of product, with welding and processes like that, are really messy and dirty, but this is like a hospital. The environment’s so clean. It’s very impressive—I’m sure there’s no other factory in the world that makes exhaust pipes at this level.”

De Coster, today the manager of the Red Bull KTM Factory Team, visited the development center, where they design performance exhausts using dynos, the foundry, and the motorcycle and car exhaust production line. Afterwards he also met with the head of development of motorcycle performance exhaust systems, Slavko Trstenjak, to discuss continued successful cooperation between the KTM team and Akrapovič.

SHARK riders tackle difficult conditions in Malaysia

This weekend the MotoGP championship neared the end of its season with the third from last round at Sepang, Malaysia. It was a difficult weekend for SHARK riders in challenging weather conditions in both the MotoGP and Moto2 races.

MotoGP :

The MotoGP race got underway on a wet track, with rain steadily falling. Half-way round the 20-lap race, the rain got heavier and subsequently caused a series of crashes including SHARK-man Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda), who up until his fall [...]
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Moto2:

Meanwhile in Moto2, Scott Redding (Marc VDS) got off to a good start in second place on the grid - his best qualifying position of the season. However, the SHARK-man struggled with rear grip issues in the wet conditions and [...]
Read more...

Stefan Bradl:

First of all we must check the data to understand what happened. I took a very good start from eighth place, but it was pretty tough out there because of the wet and slippery surface. But I could lap with a good pace and constant speed but after some laps I had to change the map because we had too much engine-braking. Since that moment something changed and the engine was pushing me in the corner entries and I lost two positions because [...]
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Scott Redding:

I found myself up at the front from the start, but only because everyone else was really steady from the off. I was struggling almost immediately for rear grip on corner entry, every time I closed the throttle to turn in the rear tried to come round on me. In the end I found the limit and tried [...]
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All riders will be looking ahead to next weekends race at Phillip Island, Australia to collect those last minute points.

 

 

Spengler wins DTM drivers’ title, BMW Team Schnitzer tops the team standings and BMW wins the manufacturers’ title

A dream come true: A fourth win of the season at the wheel of the BMW Bank M3 DTM in the tenth and final DTM race of the year saw Bruno Spengler (CA) win the drivers’ title and cap an outstanding comeback season for BMW Motorsport. BMW also won the manufacturers’ title in Hockenheim (DE), while BMW Team Schnitzer ended the season at the top of the team standings after a dramatic finale. Augusto Farfus (BR), who started from pole position, came home in third to finish the season on the podium. Gary Paffett (GB, Mercedes), who was leading the standings coming into the race, crossed the finish line in second.

Alongside Spengler, Dirk Werner (DE, E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM) finished fifth to score a further ten valuable points for Team Principal Charly Lamm’s (DE) outfit. Andy Priaulx (GB, Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) and Joey Hand (US, SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM) also picked up points in seventh and eighth respectively. In doing so, they played a big role in BMW climbing from third to first in the manufacturers’ standings. Martin Tomczyk (DE, BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM) came home in 14th having suffered damage to his car in the opening phase of the race.

In a remarkable finale, Spengler was able to leapfrog Paffett at the top of the overall standings. A magnificent start allowed the Canadian to move into the lead on lap one, and he then set about pulling away from the chasing pack– a task made far easier thanks to the excellent pit stops performed by BMW Team Schnitzer. Paffett closed the gap to Spengler consistently after the second round of pit stops, but was unable to catch and overtake the champion, who showed nerves of steel in a dramatic climax to the season. Spengler ends the year on 149 points, just four more than Paffett in second.

After Volker Strycek (DE, 1984), Eric van de Poele (BE, 1987) and Roberto Ravaglia (IT, 1989), Spengler is now the fourth driver to clinch the DTM title in a BMW. BMW Team Schnitzer came through at the end of the season to win the team competition with 178 points.

In the manufacturers’ competition, BMW ended its comeback season in the DTM at the top of the championship on 346 points. Spengler, Farfus, Werner, Priaulx and Hand all finished in the points in Hockenheim – the first time five BMW drivers had come home in the top ten. Together, they picked up 60 points – enough to clinch the manufacturers’ title, despite BMW lining up with just six drivers, while its two rivals fielded eight cars at each race.

BMW Motorsport can look back on a DTM season, in which the three teams and six drivers exceeded all expectations with the BMW M3 DTM. As well as Spengler, who had previously won at the Lausitzring (DE), Nürburgring (DE) and in Oschersleben (DE), Farfus also joined the list of BMW DTM winners in Valencia (ES). BMW also scored a further seven podiums, five pole positions and three fastest laps. All six BMW drivers finished in the points at least twice over the course of the season, with all three teams achieving podium finishes. BMW Team Schnitzer recorded six podiums, while BMW Team RMG and BMW Team RBM both claimed three each.

Spengler was the most efficient driver of the season, scoring an average of 18.6 points per race finished. With 57.7 points per race, the six BMW drivers scored an average of sixteen points more than the eight Mercedes and the eight Audi drivers.

In winning the 2012 title, the BMW M3 has once again proven that it is at home in the DTM. To date, the most successful touring car of all time has 46 DTM wins to its name. Like Spengler this season, van de Poele 1987 and Ravaglia 1989 were also at the wheel of this BMW model when they claimed their DTM titles.

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director): “Sensational. Awesome. Unbelievable. I still cannot believe what has just happened here. Massive congratulations to Bruno Spengler and BMW Team Schnitzer on winning the Drivers’ and Team titles. This is a big day for everyone at BMW Motorsport. We returned to the DTM after an absence of almost 20 years and wanted to be competitive as quickly as possible. Now we are here in Hockenheim, and I am talking about winning three titles in our comeback season. BMW Motorsport has written another chapter in motorsport history today. I am unbelievably proud of my team. It is going to be a long night.”

Biaggi clinches 70th Akrapovič world title by narrowest margin

Akrapovič – officially the number one choice for competition exhausts – is celebrating after clinching its 70th motorsport world championship title with Aprilia Racing Team’s Max Biaggi in the Superbike World Championship at Magny Cours yesterday.

Biaggi won the championship by just 0.5 points from Brit Tom Sykes – the narrowest winning margin ever seen in the series. The Akrapovič-supported Aprilia Racing Team rider was watched on from his garage by fellow Akrapovič -supported rider Jorge Lorenzo, who is currently leading the MotoGP championship for Yamaha Factory Racing with three rounds remaining. Could he seal another world title for the renowned exhaust manufacturer before the end of the year?
Speaking about the exhaust earlier this year, Biaggi said: “I can safely say it’s the best in the world. It helped me to a few world champion titles in recent seasons, but I regarded Akrapovič as the best even before it was installed on my racing bike.”

Since Slovenian founder Igor Akrapovič launched the racing-inspired exhaust manufacturing company 22 years ago, motorsport has been at the heart of the company. Claiming 70 world titles in the space of just 12 years, since the first one with Colin Edwards in 2000, is testament to the company’s success – and it is particularly fitting that the first and 70th titles were both won in the ultra-competitive Superbike World Championship.

The reasons why so many motorcycle motorsport teams and riders opt for Akrapovič are obvious; firstly the results throughout the years speak volumes. Secondly, performance gains, durability and light weight are important requisites for an exhaust and these come as standard from Akrapovič – care of extensive design, testing and quality manufacturing processes in high-tech, modern facilities.

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Akrapovič release Evolution Line exhaust for new BMW M6

When BMW Motorsport division lets loose a new M-series designated automobile into the public arena, it is guaranteed to be an exciting new prospect laden with technology, refinement and an engine suitable to retain the tag of inspired performance with safety.

With the introduction of the latest M6 (F12), BMW has made use of its new and highly acclaimed M TwinPower Turbo turbocharged V8, 4395cc engine to power this two–door bullet to155mph (250km/h), and 195mph (315km/h) with the M-Sport package.

Of course, there is always more performance to be found from any car, be it from the engine or chassis. But to achieve both in one hit is a trick that is best left to a specialist like Akrapovič – the world’s number one manufacturer of premium replacement sports exhausts.

Akrapovič is, therefore, pleased to announce its latest Evolution Line exhaust for the new BMW M6. This all-titanium exhaust comfortably manages to increase engine performance, chassis performance and, not forgetting, the all-important driver experience.

Constructed throughout in titanium alloys, the M6 Evolution Line exhaust is a Catalyser-back system allowing Akrapovič engineers to construct high-flow link pipes to the lightweight titanium dual muffler boxes for increased throttle response throughout the engine’s rev range, a rise in high rpm output performance and a large reduction in weight (-12.3kg) over the standard exhaust.

Germany’s celebrated Sport Auto magazine recently (June 2012) awarded Akrapovič the title of Best Brand 2012 – its third such accolade in a row – and it’s easy to understand why…

Click here for full technical specifications.

SHARK Champion crowned as BSB draws to a close

14 October 2012

This weekend saw the British Superbike Championship and its support classes come to a close for the 2012 season, at Brands Hatch. SHARK riders celebrated a successful season with one Champion and high championship finishes throughout the classes. The MotoGP championship also continued from Motegi, Japan with last minute championship points collected.

Superstock 600 :

In the Metzeler National Superstock 600 class Lee Bob Jackson (Chris Walker Race School), was crowned Champion. Jackson was fastest in all of the weekend sessions, started on pole, won the race and racked up the [...]
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BSB:

The British Superbike races saw again SHARK riders in the high placings, Alex Lowes (WRF Honda) was fourth overall after a disappointing weekend of DNFs. Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) was fifth, James [...]
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Michael Laverty:

"It was nice to be back up on the podium but it was a hard second race. I struggled to get passed Alex Lowes; I put a couple of moves on him and he shut the door quite aggressively and nearly took us both down. Once he was out of the way I got into a good rhythm, but the two safety cars did make it hard work, but we pushed hard. The crash in the last race was not the way I wanted to end the season. My pace was a bit stronger and I was able to catch the leaders but I didn’t want to do anything rash out of respect [...]
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Ben Wilson:

Things havent gone my way this year,” said Ben. “I would have liked to have ended the season with a win but it wasn’t to be. But I am happy with fifth place overall and also pleased I managed [...]
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Scott Redding:

It was a hard race today, especially with my wrist, which took a bit of a beating with the hard braking here at Motegi. I couldn't stay with Rabat and Espargaro when they went past me, as I was having a few problems getting my foot under the gear lever in the final sector and then the rear started spinning up. I thought I might be able to reel them back in, but then Elias [...]
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Johann Zarco:

We can say that there were many positive points from the race. Firstly, I had good start and was fighting for seventh position and my pace was not so bad but other riders in front were at a different pace and it was hard to stay behind them and they pulled a gap. When I wanted to recover this time on them, I made a mistake on a braking point and almost went off the track. With this, I lost quite a few positions and was 15th or 14th so from there I was almost [...]
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ANOTHER CLASS VICTORY AND OVERALL PODIUM ROUND DE WET’S NATIONAL OFF-ROAD SEASON OFF

VENTERSDORP 400 (Oct 2012) – The newly crowned OR2 (250cc Class) champion of the 2012 South African National Off-road Motorcycle Championship, ALTUS DE WET, did it again – like at the beginning of the season, he once again finished on the overall podium while he also claimed his third OR2 class victory!

ALTUS has already confirmed his championship title at the penultimate round of 2012 and rounded a successful off-road racing season off by finishing second behind his team-mate, Louwrens Mahoney, at the recent Ventersdorp 400. This result will see him being crowned as the 2012 SA Natonal OR2 Champion while he will compete with the Number 3 plate for the 2013 season (he finished third in the overall standings).

GOOD RESULT AFTER TIME-TRIAL: ALTUS DE WET posted the fourth fastest time after the 60km time-trial on the Friday before Saturday’s main race and started seven seconds behind his main rival (Chris Webster). The time-trial started in Ventersdorp and followed a circle route of 60 kilometres out of town. DE WET crashed once during time-trial damaging his KTM somewhat, but he completed this section in 1:01:49,952.

360KM TO GO… DE WET went to the Ventersdorp 400 in the third place on the overall standings and if Webster put a foot wrong, he had a chance of claiming the #2 plate. He moved into the second position quite rapidly as he passed Webster before the halfway mark (his team-mate, Riaan van Niekerk started second, but experienced mechanical problems and had to retire).

The race consisted of three different loops of 60km each and competitors had to complete each loop twice for a total of 360 racing kilometres on the day. The testing route and extreme heat drained the riders and it was clear that the fittest riders would be the survivors! DE WET has maintained his high level of fitness before the event and claimed his second overall podium position of the year and third OR2 class victory to confirm his 2012 championship title.

FROM ALTUS: “I enjoyed the race and although I knew I had the OR2 championship all wrapped up, the possibility was still there to finish second overall for the season,” he said. “Chris (Webster) eventually finished fourth and beat me by a single point for the Number Two plate. Well done to him and to everyone competing in this year’s national off-road championship,” the likable Montagu rider said after the event.

KTM 350XC-f: ALTUS DE WET competed with his trusted KTM 350XC-f. He won the OR2 class three times during the 2012 season (Diamond Route 400, Kalahari 400 and Ventersdorp 400) and claimed three more podium positions – he finished second overall at the Diamond Route 400.

NEXT: ALTUS is off to KZN for the Liquorland WFO Creighton National Enduro, the final round of the Liquorland National Enduro Championship that takes place on 20 October.
He has already started his training program for this year’s Roof of Africa that takes place from 15-17 November in Lesotho.

Biaggi World Champion on Aprilia!

8 October 2012

After an exciting season and two even more unbelievable races at the end, Max has claimed the world champion title in the superbike class at the Magny-Cours Circuit by a mere half point!

Last Sunday, 7 October, was the scene of the last round of this year’s superbike world championship at the Magny-Cours Circuit. The winner of this year’s title as best “superbiker” in the world was completely up in the air until the last race because the lead racer, Max Biaggi (Aprilia), dropped out of the next-to-last race, allowing his two closest rivals—third-ranked Tom Sykes and second-ranked Marco Melandri—to advance to a dangerously close 14.5- and 19.5-point lag.

So in the second race Max had to fight all the way to the last turn, finishing fifth in a race won by Sykes and garnering just enough points to claim the champion title. After fourteen rounds, Biaggi collected 358 points, Sykes only half a point less, or 357.5, and Melandri 328.5.

After the race, the six-time world champion commented, “This is the fourth world championship out of six that I’ve won in the last race. I guess I must like a difficult challenge! The 2012 season was tight to say the least: we started off well, winning at Phillip Island after completely revamping my team, but we also had some difficult moments. We definitely worked for the title and maybe that’s why it’s an even sweeter victory. I’d like to thank the Team, Aprilia and Piaggio Group, from President Colaninno to the last worker because my success is just the tip of a great Italian company’s work. I’d also like to thank my family, my girlfriend Eleonora and my two children, as well as the ever-present Marino Laghi.”

Aprilia is also celebrating its title as best manufacturer (444.5 points), ahead of BMW (421) and Ducati (416).

Biaggi and Aprilia, heartfelt congratulations from the team that supplies the exhaust system for your RSV4 racing machine!

Photo: Aprilia Racing, BMW Mototrrad

SHARK-men riding high after the World Superbike Championship draws to a close

07 October 2012

This weekend the World Superbike and Supersport Championship's drew to a close with the final races at Magny-Cours, France. It was spectacular weekend for SHARK supported riders, with podium finishes galore and high placings in the final championship points..

World Supersport :
The World Supersport podium saw a SHARK 1-2 with Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda) and Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda) dominating proceedings. Cluzel made a break at the front of the field winning his home race by 1.591 seconds ahead of his PTR team-mate Lowes. Fellow SHARK supported Fabien Foret [...]
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World Superbike Championship:
Meanwhile in the World Superbike Championship, Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing) finished third and won the second race at Magny-Cours but heartbreakingly lost out on the championship by half a point, the closest finish the series has seen in its 25 years. During race one, Sykes was given the opportunity to win the title when provisional leader Biaggi fell not scoring points. In the second instalment, [...]
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Jules Cluzel:
I am really happy. I have won at home. I had nothing to prove today as the Championship was already finished so I just tried to enjoy myself. This morning my feeling with the bike was bad, but my PTR team did a great job with my [...]
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Sam Lowes:
The conditions were not perfect, but I knew we had a good chance this weekend because I was quietly working for the race. We've been a little bit unlucky with the weather today as I had a really good pace in the dry, but the team did an awesome job and again gave me a great bike for the [...]
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Tom Sykes:
We were on pole, took a new circuit record, got a podium and then a win and pulled back 30 points on Max Biaggi. Not easy against a rider of his level. Yes, obviously there is a massive disappointment on one hand because we were only half a point from the world championship! But on the other hand, being realistic, we are very happy and we have - by far - overachieved on expectations this year. We have [...]
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