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Gilera To Take Part In 125 And 250
World Championship
 A
tough and ambitious challenge awaits the Squadra Corse Metis
Gilera (Metis Gilera Racing Team) as the 2006 season unfolds.
The year 2006 will mark Gilera's return to the 250cc class 13
years after the brand's last appearance in this category.
Gilera made a spectacular comeback in the 125cc class of the
motorcycling world championship in 2001, winning the rider world
championship. Now, five seasons after its sterling performance
in the smallest displacement category of the championship, Gilera
returns to the 250cc category while maintaining its presence
in the 125cc class.
Marco Simoncelli will ride the Gilera 250, renewing a tradition
that has contributed several pages to the history of championship
racing with champions such as Umberto Masetti, Libero Liberati
and Geoff Duke and, more recently, Manuel Poggiali taking Gilera
to victory.
"Gilera is back in the 250cc category says Daniele
Bandiera, Gilera brand director and this is a clear signal
of the extent to which this venerable Italian motorcycling brand
believes in racing as an unmatched opportunity for technical
experimentation and progress.
We are reiterating our commitment to the 125cc class, an extraordinarily
tough and spectacular category in which we have been present
for the last five seasons. Naturally, we will have two young
and much-awaited Italian riders racing our bikes. The last time
Gilera won two different categories of the world championship
was in 1957.
Those were the years of the Gilera 500 four-cylinder, which dominated
the top category; years that contributed to building up the legend
of a brand the world envies us. And this is partly why the new
Gilera brand, which reproduces the historic brand - the same
interlaced rings seen on the bikes that won six 500cc rider championship
titles - will feature on this year's bikes."
Technical supervision of the Metis Gilera Racing Team, which
forms part of the Piaggio Group's racing division, will be provided
by Gigi Dall'Igna, technical director of Group racing activity,
with Giampiero Sacchi as race director. The team's technical
chief is Rossano Brazzi; the choice of this well-known technician
testifies to Gilera's commitment this season. Brazzi's team formerly
included champions such as Valentino Rossi, Manuel Poggiali and
Marco Melandri, who went on to win the 250cc title with his technical
assistance.
Says Giampiero Sacchi, Team Manager: "We have a tough and
very important season ahead. This is why we have started to look
at synergy between the DRD and Aprilia Racing experiences, which,
we are certain, will bring us the results we are all awaiting.
Expectations will be very high this season. Our only objective
in the 250 and 125cc class is to win. The Gilera brand's return
to high-level racing is proof of the Piaggio Group's increasingly
firm commitment to the international racing scenario. This year
the Metis Gilera Racing Team bikes will be ridden by two talented
young riders and we expect them to commit themselves thoroughly
to honouring a company with a racing tradition that few other
brands in the world can match."
Metis S.p.A., the work placement agency that specialises in the
search, recruitment and management of human resources, will be
accompanying Gilera on this new adventure for the fourth year
running. Says Piermario Donadoni, CEO: "We are particularly
happy to continue our partnership with the Piaggio Group and
thereby associate our brand with a historic two wheeler brand
such as Gilera. The Moto GP's audience and fans are increasing
substantially and the values the event personifies - dynamism,
speed and determination - perfectly match the entire philosophy
of the company, summed up in our slogan 'Metis: Work on the move". |
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Scooter Conquers New Zealand ... Now
For Australia
 New
Zealand's Adam Hutchinson loves adventure and his "Mission
Impossible" trip from Cape Reinga to Bluff, on a 50cc scooter,
have also given him a few laughs along the way.
And, now that Hutchinson, a student at Christchurch"s Lincoln
University, and his Yamaha CY50 Jog scooter have conquered New
Zealand, a trip across the Tasman may be on the cards.
"Yep, it's something I'd like to do. Peter Payne (the sales
manager at Yamaha New Zealand) said it's not as easy as it sounds
but I think I'll probably like to give it a go anyway. We'll
see. Maybe next year I'll plot out a course from Sydney to Perth.
I figure, if this bike can survive all that I've put it through
in New Zealand, it should handle Australia okay too.
In the meantime, an overjoyed Hutchinson said Yamaha had given
him the bike to keep and it that may also mean that Yamaha has
also done the population of Christchurch an even greater service
in ridding its streets of another pesky "boy racer".
"The Yamaha is going to be my main mode of transportation
now. I'm selling my car, a Honda Accord."
He said the car, with lowered suspension and over-sized exhaust
pipes, might be seen as a boy-racer's vehicle but he's quite
happy now to put that lifestyle aside in favour of the little
motorcycle.
"I'm not really a boy racer," the 23-year-old laughed.
"But it was just so hard to say goodbye to the bike at the
end of our journey. I love it so much."
It took Adam and his 50cc Yamaha about a fortnight to travel
the length of New Zealand, from Cape Reinga on the northernmost
tip of New Zealand's North Island, to Bluff on the southernmost
tip of the South Island, and they had an absolute blast along
the way.
The intrepid travellers zipped along the sand of 90 Mile Beach,
zoomed down the Auckland motorway (if you could call a top speed
of 60kmph zooming), fought their way around a supercross track,
drove right up to the door-way of Bilbo Baggins' Hobbiton hideaway,
bumped down the stone steps of the Durie Hill tower in Adam's
hometown Wanganui, pitted themselves against a horse on the racetrack
at Mossburn and trekked the Haast Pass before skating their way
right up to the edge of the Franz Joseph Glacier.
At a maximum speed of 60kmh, riding the length of New Zealand
on a 50cc Yamaha motor scooter may not be the fastest way to
travel, but for Adam, it has been perfect because he's been able
to soak up all the wonderful scenery.
They clocked up 3168 kilometres along the way - with a few detours
thrown in for good measure and completed the journey at
the weekend when they finally reached Bluff.
The budding film-maker recorded his trip along the way, with
the aim to make a documentary "The Little Engine That Could",
which he hoped to approach European television companies with.
Adam said he wanted to appeal to people in his age group in Europe,
to show them what a beautiful country New Zealand is.
Adam, who is originally from Wanganui in the central North Island,
is now back at Lincoln University, where he was studying agribusiness
and marketing. |
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Piaggio USA Launches New Vespa 250cc
Granturismo Sport Scooter in the U.S.
 Scooter Press Portrait is right here
The new GTS 250 was launched at the 2005 IMS show in Long Beach.
Sixty years after introducing the first scooter in post-war Europe,
Piaggio, the manufacturer of the world-famous Vespa scooter,
has announced the release of the fastest and most technologically-advanced
Vespa in history -- the Granturismo Sport 250 i.e. With its commanding
engine displacement and sleek design, the GTS 250 i.e. is the
perfect choice for customers seeking both outstanding performance
and style.
At the heart of the GTS 250 i.e. is a sophisticated 250cc four-stroke,
liquid-cooled electronic injection engine, the largest engine
displacement in the Vespa range. The new system considerably
reduces both emissions and fuel consumption and provides immediate
throttle response and speed that dramatically increases precise
handling.
"The GTS 250 i.e. builds on Vespa's tradition of smart functionality
and design by adding the most powerful and sophisticated Vespa
engine to date," says Paolo Timoni, CEO of Piaggio USA.
"This scooter is sure to ignite passion in riders and become
the industry's new benchmark for urban mobility."
Due to arrive from Italy at authorized Piaggio USA and Vespa
dealers across the country by mid-December 2005, the GTS 250
i.e. has a launch MSRP of $5,799. This includes a one-year
roadside warranty.
One of the very first scooters in the 250cc category to exceed
strict U.S. CARB emissions standards, the GTS 250 i.e. is built
on a steel frame that echoes the design of the current popular
Vespa Granturismo model. The GTS 250 i.e. features a redesigned
tail light, instrument panel and a vintage-style rear rack. Riders
will also enjoy the streamlined engineering that simulates a
racing scooter, along with new, thinner side panels that visually
push the entire vehicle forward.
"Consumers are increasingly realizing that scooters provide
an economically- and environmentally-friendly solution to both
the cost of transportation and fuel conservation," Timoni
said. "The GTS 250 i.e. is the most eco-friendly Vespa ever
built, has great style, superior handling and offers the best
and most enjoyable riding experience in the scooter category."
The GTS 250 i.e. provides ample storage under its double-stitched
seat, large enough to hold two scooter helmets or numerous other
items. Its precise ergonomic design and response system make
the scooter both comfortable and easy to maneuver, whether touring
or scooting through city traffic.
To further enhance its sporty look, the GTS 250 i.e. is available
in three eye-catching hues -- Dragon Red with a black seat, Shiny
Black with a tan seat and Excalibur Gray with a black seat. Custom
accessories for the GTS 250 i.e. include a top case, windscreen,
chrome kit and more. |
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Aprilia Sportcity Passes 10,000km Test
 Promoted with top grades after
a year spent on the gas control. Sportcity successfully completed
the 10,000 km test designed by Motorbox to check the components
of the Aprilia 200cc during long distances.
The motorcycle was tested on every type of terrain and in just
about every atmospheric condition. It completely confirmed the
talents, trustworthiness, and performance of the bike even without
being covered in the box overnight and undergoing normal cleanings.
Motorbox underlines how "during the test, this scooter completely
confirmed its worth including its strong point, the 200 engine.
The lightness of the bike and the abundant horsepower of the
Piaggio engine render the Sportcity the most brilliant of its
category. Agile at traffic lights and comfortable even on the
pavement where we didn't experience any annoying creaking with
the passing of kilometers, a sign that our Sportcity was assembled
with care. Also positive was the response received from the suspension
and brakes. " |
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Our friends at Evader ahd quite a lot going on
since our last issue, so here is (most) of their news in one
block:
Julio Almeida Appointed
President of Evader
Bellevue, Washington-based Evader,
Inc. (www.evader.us) (Pink Sheets:EVDR), the maker of electric
high-performance vehicles powered by their leading-edge proprietary
technology is proud to announce today the appointment of Mr.
Julio Almeida as Evader's President.
For the past two years Mr. Almeida has served as President of
Evader's Latin American Division and through him Evader has been
successful in setting up a sales and distribution network in
that region, particularly in Brazil, where he has been concentrating
his efforts. Mr. Almeida was instrumental in securing Evader's
relationship with the Garini Group and will continue to concentrate
his efforts in Latin America while moving into his new role as
Company President.
"This company is on the verge of achieving great success.
It is carving its own niche on the road to becoming a world leader,"
said Mr. Almeida. "As the company's new President I look
forward to using my experience in the industry to help Evader
expand sales and distribution on a worldwide scale."
After 10 years with AMF-Harley Davidson in both cost management
and business development positions Mr. Almeida was responsible
for establishing Harley Davidson's assembly operations in Latin
America which were located in Manaus, Brazil. After Harley Davidson,
Mr. Almeida spent 14 years in several senior positions with Bombardier
Recreational Products. Most recently, he was the Commercial Director
of Bombardier's Recreational Products Division for all of Latin
America and was responsible for setting up that division's assembly
operations, also, in Manaus, Brazil. Mr. Almeida has a Masters
Degree from the University of Miami in International Business
and over 30 years of experience in the motorcycle and recreational
vehicle industries.
Evader Approved For
Use In Japan
Bellevue, Washington-based Evader, Inc., the maker of electric
high-performance vehicles powered by their leading-edge proprietary
technology is proud to announce today that the Japanese Department
of Transportation (JDOT) has approved the certification of Evader's
EV1000 series for road use in Japan.
"Japan is a huge market and this approval will keep us a
step ahead of the other major motorcycle manufacturers,"
said Robert Stoneham, the President of Global Distribution for
Evader. "Our products will offer the Japanese commuter an
economical and environmentally clean solution for their daily
commute."
"The timing could not be better," continued Stoneham.
"With Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi clearly stating that
the energy problems Japan faces are enormous and that zero-emission
vehicles will help, we are in a great position to achieve success
on the Japanese market."
Evader Receives Official
Approval In Europe For EV 1000
 Evader MotorSports is pleased to announce that
the European Community Type Approval Certification Agency has
given its official approval and issued a Certification of Conformity
(COC) for the sale and use of the Evader 1000 series in 25 European
countries.
"Since we had to change factories last spring and consequently
revamp our model line, this has been one of our main goals,"
said Director of Distribution, Rob Stoneham. "The European
market is enormous for Evader and the interest level in our products
is very high. With this long-awaited COC in hand, our European
distributors can now begin placing orders which have been pending."
Evader is also pleased to announce that the MOT certification
letter has been submitted for the Canadian market.
There are 25 countries that comprise the European Community including
all the countries that are committed to Evader. Although each
country has its own regulations governing vehicles, each one
abides by the EC type approval certification process. The rigorous
process, which took several months to complete, involves a thorough
analysis of all the parts in these new Evader models and every
aspect of their operation.
"With all the delays we have experienced as a result of
the changes, this is very good news," said Daniel Schneider
of the Schneider Group, Evader's major distributor in Europe.
"Based on the interest that has been built up in anticipation
of this approval, we expect a number of orders from throughout
Europe over the next few weeks." |
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