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NEWS
Bikesales ready for Le Minz
We're now en route to Queensland, with the brand spankers Aprilia SR50 R in the back of the Sprinter vanIn less than 48 hours, Bikesales will be at the starter’s gun for the commencement of the 2014 InsureMyRide Le Minz Scooterthon in Queensland.
It will be our first attempt at the 24-hour race, which has again attracted a capacity grid of 60 bikes – with 30 to start at opposite ends of the Xtreme Karting circuit in Pimpama to ease congestion during the Le Mans start.
The Bikesales challenge came together in about six weeks, which began with the procurement of our brand spankers Aprilia SR50 R, the liquid-cooled two-stroke which remains the bike of choice for the majority of the Le Minz field. For more information on the liquid-cooled 5.4hp/4.8Nm pocket rocket, click here.
We did take it a while to uncrate it – a function of busy schedules and a little bit of laziness -- but we eventually got it prepped and it’s now firmly ensconced in the back of our Mercedes-Benz 316CDI Sprinter van, en route to Queensland. Not that you can see it with all the pit tents and other 24-hour necessities surrounding it…
The biggest challenge for Le Minz has undoubtedly been finalising the four-rider roster, with no shortage of capable souls putting their hands up. There hasn’t been any blood-letting during the process, but we’ve come close… Selection has been a moving feast, and at first I had my brother-in-law and nephew – ‘Mr Superbike’ Rob Phillis and his son Alex Phillis – expressing interest, but that didn’t come to fruition. I then followed an internal path, and as well as this author the three other riders are Rod Chapman, Marton Pettendy and Matt Brogan, all former bike scribes now moved onto other journalistic endeavours under the Carsales umbrella. And since the team has been finalised, former Aussie superbike champion Steve Martin has joined the Bikesales freelance team, so he would have been a handy team member as well. And our editor in chief, Mike Sinclair, is also a feisty two-wheel practitioner, but his inglorious crash record just made him too much of a risk. But there’s always next year…
That’s about as far as we’ve got – the tactics ‘talk’ will come over the dinner table on Thursday evening, with key metrics to include pit stop strategy, how we can make the best of our sophisticated telemetry, and who will be best person to make the Le Mans start without tearing a hamstring. Or perhaps we’ll play it by ear – which most other Le Minz teams have been getting away with for years.
It’s all for a good cause though, with the 2014 event raising funds for the Racesafe medical team which does such a superb job of looking after injured riders at race tracks throughout the country.
As mentioned, 2014 event will be held at the Xtreme Karting complex in Pimpama, between Surfers Paradise and Brisbane, starting at midday on Friday, December 5. We’ll be documenting the entire event in words and video, and we’ll be using our social channels throughout the 24 hours to get you abreast of the highs and lows. We’re on Facebook (search for Bikesales.com.au), Twitter (@bikesales) and Google+ (Bikesales).
If the weather forecast is any guide -- 62mm of rain on Saturday! -- it's going to be an interesting event!
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Written byBikesales Staff
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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