FIM Cross-Country Rally World Championship Qatar – Paulo Gonçalves HRC – Honda CRF450 RALLY ENGLISH VERSION 26.04.17 FOLLOW US ON motul.com Paulo Gonçalves Team HRC FIM CROSS-COUNTRY RALLIES QATAR RACE 02/05 P2 IN QATAR PENDING STANDINGS Sam Sunderland (KTM), 61 pts 01 THE DAKAR Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna), 40 pts 02 Paulo Gonçalves (Honda), 39 pts 03 After Abu Dhabi, the FIM cross-country rallies the end of the event. 'The race was very interesting at world championship travelled a bit further west to various levels,' commented Paulo Gonçalves. 'There the peninsula of Qatar, for its second round from was competitiveness with a lot of very good teams, 18 to 22 April. Team HRC, a Motul technical partner physical effort and a lot of navigation. I'm satisfied contending this season under the Monster Energy with my 2nd place, my motorcycle and the team.' Honda Team banner, clinched a 2nd place at the ar- Kevin Benavides still hasn't got entirely over his right- rival thanks to Paulo Gonçalves. The Portuguese ri- hand fracture that kept him away from tracks when der thus moves forward to 3rd rank in the provisional the Dakar was preparing to cross his country. 'I'm still standings. Argentinian, Kevin Benavides, livened up not 100% fit but I nevertheless gave it my all' he stated his rehab with a solid 5th place. while already thinking about the next meet, the Ata- The two riders didn't leave the lead group throughout cama Rally in Chile where we are sure to find him in the rally. The first six were grouped in 20 minutes at top shape, from 12 to 18 August. FOLLOW US ON motul.com Takuya Tsuda Yoshimura Suzuki Motul Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000R JSB1000 SUZUKA RACE 01/08 MOTUL ON TRACK IN TWO AND FOUR WHEELERS The main Japanese motorcycle manufacturers 2016 vice-champion, Takuya Tsuda, took the Yo- compete worldwide and in all fields. On home turf, shimura Suzuki Motul Racing's new GSX-R1000R to this fight is particularly fierce as illustrated by the 2nd place. This team joined forces with Motul after first round of the local Superbike championship. a three-decade’s separation! A towering one metre Three teams supported technically by Motul par- ninety tall Sodo Hamahara pulled off the feat of fini- ticipate in JSB1000. At the end of a 200-kilome- shing 6th in his maiden Superbike racing! tre race with a mandatory pitstop, on 23 April in This season, we must also keep an eye on Moriwaki Suzuka, the first result was a pole position and a Motul Racing. The team's Hondas are testing the 17 podium. inch tyres that will become mandatory in 2018. Yamaha Factory Racing Team is the only factory The Suzuka 2 & 4 meet was, as stated by its name, team contending. Seven-times Japanese cham- one of the three of the season to bring together the pion, Katsuyuki Nakasuga, is no other than the star two and four-wheeler Japanese categories. The brand's development rider in MotoGP. Having bag- Super Formula single-seaters contributed well to ged the first 2017 pole, he unfortunately fell in the the show. Kazuki Nakajima and Naoki Yamamoto, race. His team-mate, Kota Nozane, 2nd in the last 24 drivers of teams Tom’s and Mugen, partnered tech- Hours of Le Mans, was also unsuccessful. nically by Motul, finished 1st and 3rd! FOLLOW US ON motul.com 2017 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 NISSAN NISMO FESTIVAL FUJI NISSAN'S BEST AT MOUNT FUJI The date of the 2017 Nismo Festival has been buted to the history of the brand as well as iconic unveiled. This event, the only one of its kind, will be team managers will also be present at the foot of held for its twentieth anniversary on Sunday 26 No- Mount Fuji. They will be participating in runs as well vember at the fabulous Fuji Speedway. Every year, talk shows and autograph sessions. since 1997, it attracts some 30,000 spectators. Genuine racing car parts will be on sale as well as Motorsport buffs, of course, but also those who other collectibles such as limited edition model simply like cars... The members of Nismo's person- cars. Children will not be forgotten with attractions nel in charge of welcoming them will of course be special geared to the youngest visitors. bending over backwards, as always, to ensure that 'The spirit of the Nismo Festival hasn't changed the Nissan/Nismo 'virus' is still as catchy! since its first staging. We have accumulated a lot of On the track and in the pitlane, you'll be able to experience, our know-how and inventiveness have admire with emotion cars that have built Nissan's developed, so the 2017 staging should leave a las- sporting glory all over the world. Drivers who are ting impression,' stated Nismo's President, Takao currently in the headlines, those who have contri- Katagiri. FOLLOW US ON motul.com Eric Libor Lotus 2-Eleven Philippe - Jean Baptiste Loup Lotus Exige V6 LOTUS CUP EUROPE HOCKENHEIM RACE 01/07 A TWO-PEAT FOR FRENCHIES IN BRANDS HATCH? The Lotus Cup Europe loves Motul and vice ver- changed sides in race 2 when a puncture elimi- sa. The firm with the red and white logo is once nated Xavier Georges in the 10th lap. Lisandre ma- again the official lubricant partner of the series naged to keep control over Steve Williams' V6 all which began its European tour in Hockenheim on the way to the chequered flag, inheriting the win. 22 and 23 April. What meet could be more adap- As points are allocated per class, drivers of the ted to the history of the brand created by Anthony least powerful cars have as much chance of win- Colin Bruce Chapman than the Jim Clark Revival? ning titles as those gunning for the absolute win. Frenchies, Xavier Georges and Christophe Li- For instance, David Harvey can be satisfied with sandre, were the first winners of the season on the his weekend since he won twice in Open with his German F1 Grand Prix circuit. venerable (and rare) 340R. Jason McInulty was the Xavier Georges created a void around himself hero of Production class with his Elise Cup R. His from the free practice to the arrival of race 1, thus racing in Hockenheim brought him two big suc- winning the V6 class Cup at the wheel of his Lotus cesses. The Lotuses will return to their native En- Exige V6. Christophe Lisandre arrived 12 seconds gland for the next double race in Brands Hatch on later in the lead of class 2-Eleven. But victory 6 and 7 May. FOLLOW US ON motul.com Philippe Chiappe - Peter Morin CTIC F1 Shenzhen China F1 H2O PORTIMAO, ALGARVE RACE 01/07 CHIAPPE AIMING STANDINGS Philippe Chiappe (CTIC F1 Shenzhen China), 20 pts 01 FOR FOUR-PEAT Sami Selio (F1 Atlantic Team), 15 pts 02 Duarte Benavente (Mad-Croc Baba Racing), 12 pts 03 Philippe Chiappe and his team CTIC F1 The trials couldn't begin until Sunday morning. Shenzhen China have started their new racing On waters calm at last, a single 90-minute ses- season in the World F1 H2O Championship on sion allowed the contenders to test themselves both fresh and salt water, be it lakes, rivers or and qualify. At age 53, Philippe Chiappe started bays. Holder of the last three Drivers titles with his 109th Grand Prix in Portugal from 3rd position. Motul's technical support, the Chinese team He was already 2nd at the end of the first lap. based in France also clinched its first teams title He was following Shaun Torrente when engine in 2016. It began the season in the best of ways by troubles eliminated the poleman. Erik Stark then winning, on 23 April, the first round on river Arade put pressure on him before 'lowering his flag' for in Portimao. the same reason with the arrival in view. Philippe Chiappe has a new team-mate this year, 'We had noticed fuel problems in the trials,' stated his 37-year-old son-in-law, Peter Morin. Together the French champion. 'We played safely as far as they have won the Rouen 24 Hour Powerboat the engine is concerned but I managed to seize Race four times. my opportunity...'. Peter Morin scored the two Strong winds disturbed the weekend programme. points of 9th place. FOLLOW US ON motul.com Motul Extreme Show Saint Petersburg IMIS SAINT PETERSBURG MOTUL ON LAND AND AIR AT SAINT PETERSBURG IMIS As every year, the IMIS was held in mid-April in For Motul Extreme Show’s return, the public could Saint Petersburg. The largest Russian motorcycles indeed cheer the FMX13 freestyle motocross team, show groups everything you could ever dream with Alexei Kolesnikov accompanied with his Italian of about two-wheelers, from the ordinary motor friends, Massimo Bianconcini and Vanni Oddera. scooter to the most feral, bizarre and unexpec- As for stuntmen, the never ageing Legend Stunt ted machines... Motul's booth was also home to Team is still in top shape! Georgy Taldykin's new in- machines from every corner of the planet. Quads door programme features the performance of two ready for stunts rubbed shoulders with Dmirty Kol- Parkour (the art of movement) practitioners. Out- takov's 'ice queen' with its fearsome studded tyres. side, the same Georgy was equally reckless with The World Ice Speedway Gladiators Champion Yuri Verkhovnikov and the Polish, Rafal Pasierbek was moreover present, as well as Anastasia Nifon- alias “Stunter 13”.