Federal Oil™, a motorcycle lubricants under PT ExxonMobil Lubricants Indonesia (PT EMLI) and Gresini Racing officially announced a new multi-year partnership in the MotoGP class. 

The commitment for more than 1 decade with a series of positive achievements in the last 2 seasons, made Federal Oil™ confident to achieve more podiums and achievements with Gresini Racing MotoGP Team in the future. 

This is also reinforced by the joining of the 8-time world champion, Marc Marquez who at his first test with Gresini Racing at Valencia in November 2023, impressed by finishing 4th at the end of the test.

SRI ADINEGARA – MARKET DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR PT ExxonMobil Lubricants Indonesia
"Federal Oil™ are pleased to announce a new multi-year partnership with Gresini Racing. We believe that the presence of the Marquez brothers who have a strong bond will give new enthusiasm to fans and all Federal Oil™ stakeholders in Indonesia, and are expected to be able to provide even better results and win the world title for the first time in the MotoGP class for Gresini Racing. The partnership that has been established for more than 1 decade is getting stronger, as evidenced by Indonesia being in the first place of Gresini's fans base according to the data we have, and mostly dominated by young people. We believe, that joining Marc Marquez is also a momentum to be able to increase brand trust and loyalty to the Federal Oil™ brand, especially for young people and matic motorcycle users. The partnership is also in line and continuing Federal Oil™ brand campaign (Pasti Makin Nyaman), especially for Federal Matic products, which Federal Oil™ and Gresini Racing are committed to providing comfort for motorcycle users in Indonesia. Especially in terms of carrying out daily motorcycle maintenance using Federal Matic products that have Triple Comfort Formula technology, which makes the engine cooler, more economical and provides comfortable also maximum acceleration on the motorcycle engine."

CARLO MERLINI – GR COMMERCIAL & MARKETING DIRECTOR
“I can’ be any happier to announce the continuation of the partnership between Federal Oil and Gresini MotoGP. When, back in 2012, we expanded our views to South East Asia, Federal Oil was our first seal for a partnership that throughout the seasons has been successful on every front, on the track and away from races. And now this newly signed extension will take the partnership to its 14^th year, making it one of our longest lasting ever, as I’m an absolute believer that duration is always the best sign of a sound relationship.  Gresini Racing will continue supporting Federal Oil™ in their activation program which aims to engage consumers and mechanics across Indonesia and to enforce their leadership in the two-wheel lubricant market.”

IP api Group, the main Italian private company in the fuel and mobility services sectors, returns to the motorcycle racing world championship scene and will do so with Gresini Racing. 
 
This is a big comeback for the iconic Italian company, which chose the Marquez brothers and the light-blue colours of Team Gresini Racing MotoGP for its two-wheeled world stage resurgence. IP’s fully Italian brand will be present on the side fairings of the two Desmosedici machines #73 and #93, on the sleeves of both Alex and Marc’s leathers as well as on the pit-box panels, team trucks and hospitality.   

The partnership agreement between IP and Gresini Racing MotoGP will have a three-year duration, a sign of great trust in a project that promises to be a really interesting one.

UGO BRACHETTI PERETTI – IP Gruppo api PRESIDENT
"IP is back at supporting Italian motorcycling racing around the world. During api’s recent 90-year-anniversary celebration, we remembered the tight-knit relationship between our Group and the great riders, the Italian teams, and their success in the motorcycle racing world championship history. With the same spirit, we will be alongside team Gresini with the ambition of accompanying it towards great sporting results. Motorcycle racing is courage and commitment, but also technique and talent: we will share the energy of the emotions that this MotoGP will give with all fans and enthusiasts.”

 NADIA PADOVANI – GRESINI RACING TEAM OWNER
“We’re absolutely proud to be announcing the start of a three-year partnership between IP and Gresini Racing MotoGP. The api Group is a historic Italian company with the Brachetti Peretti family at the helm, the same family that founded it back in 1933, and that during the ‘60s was sponsoring motorcycle racing around the world. 2024 is therefore a special year, because it marks the return of the company in the motorcycle racing scene after a long time – and obviously we’re very pleased to be part of such milestone. We’d like to thank the President Ugo Brachetti Peretti for the trust placed in our projects and for choosing Gresini Racing as a partner in this historical stage for the Group.”

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Triumph Motorcycles is the latest winner of the prestigious Torrens Trophy. The award was presented to Triumph staff during a glittering event last night at London’s Royal Automobile Club.
 
The Torrens Trophy has been awarded to Britain’s highest achievers in motorcycling and motorcycle racing – riders, engineers, manufacturers, and important personalities within these worlds – since the 1970s.
 
Former racer Barrie Baxter, Chairman of the Torrens Trophy Nominations Committee said: “It gives us enormous pleasure to award the 2023 Torrens Trophy to Triumph for its amazing work in the Moto2^TM World Championship, motorcycling’s number two grand prix series. The company has provided engines for the entire Moto2 grid for the past five seasons, proving to the world that its engineering and technology can thrive in arguably the toughest bike racing series of them all”.
 
Moto2 is the final stepping stone towards MotoGP – the Formula 1 of motorcycling – so the 32-rider grid is packed with hungry young talents who will let nothing stand in their way as they fight their way to the top of one of the world’s most challenging sports.

It doesn’t really need to be said that these riders demand everything and more from their engines, which must therefore be capable of surviving serious abuse. During Triumph Racing's five years in Moto2 its three-cylinder 765 engines have covered more than one million kms, achieving 95 race and outright lap records, enabling 21 different riders to win a Moto2™ race.
 
Surely no other motorcycle engine has had such a tough time over the last half-decade! And yet the Triumph 765 has shone throughout, providing superb performance – nudging 190mph at MotoGP’s fastest tracks.
 
Triumph Racing has thus done a great service to the MotoGP paddock and to the Triumph name, proving that a renowned brand has risen again to prove itself at the very forefront of high-performance motorcycling.
 
Nick Bloor, Triumph Motorcycles CEO added: “This award is a real honour, and a tribute to the hard work and passion of our Triumph Racing team. Our world-class engineers are always looking at new ways to enhance the engine performance, from speed, power and torque, to revs, cylinder pressure and compression ratio. This has enabled us to deliver improvements on track each season, from shorter race times to faster top speeds, which has contributed to closer, even more exciting, racing.  

“Moto2 is also an excellent platform to showcase the durability, reliability and class-leading performance of our 765 triple engines on the road. Over the last five years we’ve used the race engine programme to drive enhancements and gain insights that we’ve used to further develop and evolve our new Street Triple 765 range, which has successfully driven demand and sales across the world. It’s a partnership that we are excited to be continuing until 2029.”
 
First established in 1902, Triumph Motorcycles has been based in Hinckley, Leicestershire for more than three decades, and has produced iconic bikes that perfectly blend authentic design, character, charisma, and performance. With 86,653 motorcycles delivered in calendar year 2023, Triumph is the largest British motorcycle manufacturer.
 
It’s been a remarkable story of courage and commitment, combined with superb engineering and brilliant knowledge of the marketplace.
 
The reborn company enjoyed its first significant racetrack success when Jim Moodie won the 2003 Isle of Man Junior TT aboard a race-prepped Triumph Daytona road bike. It was the brand’s first TT victory since a Triumph Trident road bike won the 1975 production TT.

Since then, the company’s machines have won other important international successes, including the USA’s hugely prestigious Daytona 200-mile race.
 
Triumph’s five Moto2 champions since 2019 are Alex Marquez, Enea Bastianini, Remy Gardner, Augusto Fernandez and Pedro Acosta. Four of these riders will be in MotoGP this year and almost half the current MotoGP grid has scored grands prix victories on Triumph-powered Moto2 bikes – another massive testament to the power of Triumph.
 
This year Triumph Racing will also enter the motocross world championships for the first time, while also attacking the hugely popular American Supercross and Pro Motocross championships.

Previous Torrens Trophy winners

• 2022 Mike Trimby, for his tireless work to improve circuit safety and represent the riders, teams and commercial side of MotoGP.
• 2021 The Crescent Yamaha team for winning the riders’, teams’ and manufacturers’ titles in the FIM World Superbike Championship.
• 2020 Emma Bristow for claiming her seventh consecutive FIM Women’s Trial World Championship.
• 2019 Peter Hickman for his three Isle of Man TT victories and for setting the world’s fastest road race lap record of 136.415mph at the Ulster GP.
• 2018 Tai Woffinden for being the most successful British speedway rider in history.
• 2017 Jonathan Rea MBE for being the first rider to win three consecutive World Superbike Championships.
• 2016 MotoGP racer Cal Crutchlow for being first British rider to win a premier class World Championship Motorcycle Grand Prix in 35 years.
• 2015 Eleven-time TT winner Ian Hutchinson for his outstanding determination, courage and overcoming adversity to win multiple TTs.
• 2014 Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne for becoming the first man in history to be crowned British Superbike Championship on four occasions (2003, 2008, 2012 and 2014).
• 2013 Tom Sykes for being crowned the 15th World Superbike Champion, the fourth from Great Britain and only the second rider to win for Kawasaki in the series for 20 years.
• 2008 World Superbike Champion James Toseland was awarded the Trophy for his immense contribution to raising the profile of motorcycle racing in this country.
• 1998 Ian Kerr of the Metropolitan Police for 20 years of tireless work in promoting safe and responsible motorcycling.
• 1989 BMW in recognition for its contribution to motorcycle safety through the development of its anti-lock braking system.
• 1981 Dave Taylor MBE for his vast contribution to motorcycle road safety.
• 1980 Transport and Road Laboratory.
• 1979 Lieutenant-Colonel Fredrick Lovegrove OBE.

The Torrens Trophy
The Royal Automobile Club has always had a close association with the motorcycling world.  The Club formed the Auto Cycle Club in 1903, which went on to become the Auto Cycle Union in 1947.  The first motorcycle race was held on the Isle of Man in 1905 for cars – two years before the first Tourist Trophy for motorcycles. 
 
The Torrens Trophy recognises an individual or organisation considered to have made an outstanding contribution to the cause of safe and skillful motorcycling in the United Kingdom, or to have made an outstanding contribution of technical excellence to further the cause of motorcycling in the UK, or to have shown outstanding skill in international motorcycling sporting events in the United Kingdom.
 
The Torrens Trophy was first awarded in 1978 in memory of Arthur Bourne, a motorcycling journalist who wrote a column under the name ‘Torrens’. Arthur Bourne was also a Vice-Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club. It is awarded only when the Club feels that the achievement justifies it.

The Club’s Torrens Trophy Nominations Committee consists of Chairman and ex-bike racer Barrie Baxter, Royal Automobile Club Chairman Ben Cussons, double World Champion and past Torrens winner James Toseland, well-respected motorcycle journalist and TT winner Mat Oxley, commentator and former racer Steve Parrish, Club member Robert Bourne (son of motorcycle journalist Arthur Bourne, in whose memory the Trophy is awarded) and Queen of Bikers Maria Costello MBE, who has held the Guinness World Record for being the fastest woman to lap the Isle of Man TT course.
 
About the Royal Automobile Club
The Royal Automobile Club was founded in 1897 and its distinguished history mirrors that of motoring itself. In 1907, the Club was awarded its Royal title by King Edward VII, sealing the Club’s status as Britain’s oldest and most influential motoring organisation.
 
The Club’s early years were focused on promoting the motor car and its place in society, which developed into motoring events such as the 1000 Mile Trial, first held in 1900. In 1905, the Club held the first Tourist Trophy, which remains the oldest continuously competed for motor sports event. The Club promoted the first pre-war and post-war Grands Prix at Brooklands in 1926 and Silverstone in 1948 respectively, whilst continuing to campaign for the rights of the motorist, including introducing the first driving licences.

Today, the Club continues to develop and support automobilism through representation on the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the RAC Foundation while promoting its own motoring events including the Club’s London Motor Week and the RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
 
The Club also awards a series of internationally recognised trophies and medals celebrating motoring achievements. These include the Segrave Trophy, the Torrens Trophy, the Simms Medal, the Dewar Trophy and the oldest trophy in motorsport, the Tourist Trophy.

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Sunday 28th January
9am – 5pm
 
This year’s annual Australia Day, held at the cafe on Sunday 28th January 2024, is set to be a fair dinkum occasion and includes Australian tucker on the cafe’s “Specials” menu.
 
So hop along in your Holden Monaro’s, Ford Falcon’s and Chrysler Royals and Valiant’s to meet Skippy and friends!
 
Spot prizes are up for grabs on the day for the “Best Australian Car” &  “Best Dressed Aussie”
 
 
 See you at the Ace !

JACOPO CERUTTI, SECOND, STRENGTHENS HIS GRIP ON THE LEAD IN THE OVERALL STANDINGS OF THE AFRICA ECO RACE WITH FOUR LEGS LEFT TO REACH DAKAR

FRANCESCO MONTANARI CONTINUES TO ASTONISH, ONCE AGAIN THE LEADING ROOKIE, JUST MISSING ANOTHER LEG PODIUM

With just four legs left to reach the final destination of Dakar, Aprilia continues to battle at the top of the Africa Eco Race. At the end of almost 400 km of special trials tackled yesterday in segment number 8, the Aprilia Tuaregs ridden by Jacopo Cerutti and Francesco Montanari occupied second and fourth place respectively.

On the treacherous sand dunes of Mauritania, Cerutti and his Tuareg were once again protagonists, putting in an outstanding performance and battling with direct rivals, Alessandro Botturi and Pol Tarres, with whom he shared much of the route today, taking on some complicated navigation. The prestigious placement earned today allows him to increase his lead in the overall standings, with his closest adversary, Botturi, at a gap of 3’03, whereas Tarres is 22’22” behind.

With a splendid third place two days ago, his first leg podium in his first ever race in the African desert, Francesco Montanari was once again a protagonist in yesterday’s segment, finishing fourth and barely missing another sensational podium. This is an outstanding result that allows him to consolidate his sixth place in the overall standings - the best of the rookies.

Today, the riders will tackle the ninth leg, returning to the Amodjar bivouac after travelling 467 km, including 364 km of timed special trials.

For updates on all the news, follow the web page
www.aprilia.com/it_IT/aprilia-racing/aprilia-tuareg-rally/africa-eco-race/

JACOPO CERUTTI
“A complicated day, but one we came out of on a positive note! At the beginning we found rather soft sand dunes and I got stuck in the sand a couple of times. What’s more, I quickly found myself blazing the trail, having caught Botturi after just 15 km. At that point, identifying the right trail wasn’t simple, but in spite of this, I continued blazing the trail for practically the entire leg, even when Tarres caught us, all the way to the end.”

FRANCESCO MONTANARI
“This was a fantastic leg. In the first 80 km, we found a lot of sand and I found myself in difficulty on a couple occasions, but I managed to overcome quickly. After that, I navigated well and maintained a good pace. Towards the end, I tried to push a little harder, so I managed to arrive at the destination extremely close to the top three, which is truly satisfying, also because I always feel good on the bike