Red Bull KTM's Jack Miller, the current Moto3 Championship leader
Red Bull KTM’s Jack Miller, the current Moto3 Championship leader2014 Le Mans Moto3 PreviewJack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Romano Fenati (SKY Racing Team VR46) have been the stars of the show so far in Moto3 this year and both will desperate for victory as the riders do battle once more at the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France.
Championship leader Miller started the season with a bang as his took wins in Qatar and Texas and he has also taken pole at the last three rounds, but the Australian is being hunted down at the top of the standings by the determined Italian Fenati.Mentored by nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi, Fenati has taken victory in the last two races and appears to be a serious threat to Miller’s ambitions with just five points separating them at the top.Behind them in the standings is Efren Vazquez (SaxoPrint-RTG) who is still yet to win a race in his Grand Prix career. However Vazquez has talent, experience and consistency on his side having started his eighth World Championship season with three podiums from four races.His compatriot and fellow Honda rider Alex Rins (Estrella Galicia 0,0) is fourth in the standings as the riders head to round five, though having fought for the 2013 title until the last corner of the last race Rins probably did not expect to be 28 points adrift of the championship lead at this stage of the season. His teammate Alex Marquez is a further two points behind in the rankings in fifth place overall.Trailing those five frontrunners as they make their way to Le Mans are Jakub Kornfeil (Calvo Team), Isaac Viñales (Calvo Team), Alexis Masbou (Ongetta-Rivacold), Francesco Bagnaia (SKY Racing Team VR46) and Danny Kent (Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo) in the top ten.Practice at the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France commences on Friday morning with the Moto3 riders heading out for their FP1 run at 9 a.m. local time.
Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory + Steve ’Stavros’ Parrish
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly podcast—Motos and Friends. My name is Arthur Coldwells.
Our first segment features the new Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory. Senior Editor Nic de Sena brings us his report on the flagship version of Aprilia’s upright middleweight machine. He gives us insight into whether it’s worth spending the extra money on the Factory version, and also of course, whether this sporting Aprilia is really the motorcycle for you.
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The next guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.
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In this segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with (arguably) one of the most interesting Suzuki race riders of all time. the iconic RG500 alongside teammate double World Champion Barry Sheene. The two were almost as famous for their exploits off-track, as for their success on it. Those were the days! Steve also raced the Isle of Man TT for about ten years where he won 13 Silver Replicas, and got a podium finish. His insight into that particular brand of mayhem are fascinating.
But there’s waaay more to Steve Parrish than his motorcycle racing. He is also the most successful Semi-Truck racer ever, and, little known piece of useless trivia—he’s my birthday twin: 24th February. He is a natural entertainer and you can’t miss his recounting of the world’s most entertaining—and arguably terrifying—double-decker bus ride ever. If any of you were actually on that hell-ride then we’d love to hear from you!
