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The competitors for the 91st Pikes Peak International Hill Climb have just concluded a two-day tire test at the Colorado road course, and it should perhaps come as no surprise that our boy Carlin Dunne has posted the outright fastest lap for a motorcycle during the tire test (the Santa Barbara native set the outright two-wheeled course record last year on his Ducati Multistrada 1200 S). What is surprising about Carlin’s result at the tire test is that he was on the Lightning Motorcycles electric superbike. That’s right, the fastest bike so far for 2013′s Race to the Clouds is a 200+ hp electric superbike that is refueled with solar energy. Petrol heads, eat your heart out.
Report: Indianapolis “Opting-Out” of 2014 MotoGP Race?
Talking to the Indy Star, Mark Miles (CEO of Hulman & Co, the parent company to Indianapolis Motor Speedway) has put some doubt into the historic venue’s commitment to host the MotoGP Championship. Having a contract to run the race through the 2014 season, Miles said that IMS might opt-out of the final year in its agreement with Dorna (IMS apparently has this option for a brief window after the 2013 Indianapolis GP). However while the news has focused so far on IMS’s ability to opt-out, both Dorna and Indianapolis Motor Speedway have options in their contract to go through with the 2014 round, and with a bevy of variables in the air, we may or may not see three American GP rounds next year.
2014 Yamaha FZ-09 – Three Cylinders of Naked
Surprise! America will be getting a 847cc three-cylinder naked bike for the 2014 model year, the 2014 Yamaha FZ-09. Replacing the Yamaha FZ8 in the Japanese company’s line-up, the FZ-09 is the first motorcycle from the tuning fork brand to sport the Yamaha’s new line of three-cylinder engines. The Yamaha FZ-09 comes about as the MIC is reporting its second-consecutive year of growth in the 751+cc sport bike segment, as well as increase in commuter riding over short-distance sport riding. With those trends in mind, Yamaha has punched out the displacement on its middleweight naked bike, and focused on giving riders a comfortable, yet stout, motorcycle. Priced at $7,990 MSRP, we think Yamaha hit the nail pretty much on the head with this one.
Trackside Tuesday: The Mind-Killer
In the past few years I’ve come to believe that, while superior physical differences (their reflexes and fine motor skills) are significant, it’s the mental differences that are the most interesting. I suppose anyone who has ridden a motorcycle even a bit beyond one’s comfort zone can appreciate some part of the physical aspect of riding a racing bike. For most of us, even the speed of racers in local events is impressive compared to our street riding. While the skills with throttle, brakes, and balance are on a level similar to the best athletes in other sports, I think that what really sets motorcycle racers apart is their ability to overcome fear.
Video: Still Think Electric Motorcycles Are Slow?
The progress in the last five years on electric motorcycles has been astounding. Taking their first laps around the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course, a 87.434 mph pace was the best an electric motorcycle could do at the prestigious road race in 2009 — a pace that was on par with the 50cc record set in 1971. In just five years after the first laps were taken by electric motorcycles at Snaefell, these machines have grown their average lap speeds by over 20 mph at the TT Zero race, setting a new record of 109.675 mph in 2013, and boasting a rate of improvement of roughly 5 mph each year since 2009. If hitting 142.2 mph down the Sulby Straight speed trap wasn’t further proof of the speeds these bikes are achieving, maybe some visual evidence will help support the notion.
Here’s Your Feel Good Moment of the Week — Now, What’s Your Excuse for Not Riding Today?
Darius Glover is a dirt bike racer. Like you and me, he lives to ride, and when he is on two-wheels he feels the freedom that only other motorcyclists can truly understand. The thing is though, Darius is paralyzed from the waist down. Where others would give up their dreams and this sport, Darius at the age of 15 instead pushed onward. No pity parties, no excuses, just simply a daily example of where there is a will, there is a way, and a reminder that you can achieve anything that you put your mind to. It’s hard not to get a bit choked up listening to Darius tell his story, but you walk away feeling uplifted after feeling his attitude come across the screen.
Erzberg Rodeo – Red Bull’s S&M Playhouse for Motorcycles
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Controlling the Uncontrollable – The Role of Ritual in Racing
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Up-Close with the 2013 MotoCzysz E1pc
Hoping to make it four wins in a row, it goes without saying that the MotoCzysz crew is working hard to close the gap to the John McGuinness and the Mugen team. However, having Team Principal Michael Czysz stuck back in the US, undergoing cancer treatments, must certainly add another level of motivation for the on-island MotoCzysz crew. Making time in their busy schedule, Asphalt & Rubber got to take some up-close photos of the 2013 MotoCzysz E1pc. The most obvious changes made to the MotoCzysz E1pc for the 2013 TT Zero race are the use conventional suspension pieces. Of course, it’s not a completely standard suspension setup, as MotoCzysz has developed its own adjustable triple clamp that incorporates tunable lateral flex parameters.
MotoGP: Max Biaggi To Test Ben Spies’s Ducati at Mugello, Michele Pirro To Replace Spies at Barcelona
Max Biaggi is to make a surprise return to riding a MotoGP machine. The former 250 and World Superbike champion will take a seat on Ben Spies’ Ignite Pramac Ducati as part of a one-day test at Mugello, as part of Ducati’s testing program, according to Italian site GPOne. Spies was scheduled to stay on at Mugello to take part in a two-day test, but after the first day of practice at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, it was clear to both Spies and Ducati that his shoulder was still too weak to ride a MotoGP machine. With work continuing on the Desmosedici, it was important for Ducati to get as much data as possible on their bike, and so Biaggi was offered the chance to ride the machine.
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SPIES!!!!!WHY???!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Colin, ever the team player, finally caught and crushed Pedrosa.
Please Please Please, let me ride Rossi’s M1!!!
PPPLLLEEEEAAASSSEEEE!!!!
Team orders: Spies, take a dive!
I agree that he is begging for Rossi’s M1! Pleassssseeeee let me ride Rossi’s bike!!!!!!
“Goddamn this Voodoo dance better well work to hold Georgie back today……………….. Hey Spies!, get over here and give me a hand will ya?”
Im a little worried. Does everybody know this is Colin Edwards? Leigh’s comment does not make sense to me unless he believes that is Spies.
Forgive me if I got that mixed up Leigh
i believe that is Colin, it’s written on his butt.
but what the hell was he doing ?
Edwards “had” rossi’s M1(factory backing anyway), when he was his team mate on the factory team prior to lorenzo remember? I think edwards is great but he seems to be out classed by his mates rossi now spies, hence my comment “spies!!! NOOO!”
Caption This Photo: MotoGP at Silverstone – http://aspha.lt/13q #motorcycle
I think Colin is “baptizing” a new leather, several riders are used to do that.
About the caption I would say: “nooooo no no no no no I don’t want to go racing !”
Ades’ comment FTW! Perfect “Colin-speak”
I’M ON FIRE! SAVE ME TOM CRUISE!!!
Practicing the Rossi high side.
Whilst trying to undo the sump plug bolt to sabotage Rossi’s bike, Colin Edwards is left behind again.
“I’M ON FIRE! SAVE ME TOM CRUISE!!!”
lol
I am DONE drinking. Period, God I promise no more drinking, just let me finish this race.
The question of who’ll fill in for Rossi has obviously been left up to Lorenzo …
To a passing fan.
PLEASE let me give you my autograph PLEASE…..
Or please let me have rossi’s unbrella girl..
YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!
After gluing his hands together, Edwards highsides in the paddock.
Thats just how all his nightmares end before he wakes up.
OK,OK, I should have spent more time checking out Edwards’ ass…. ;)
REVISED QUOTE 1:
Edwards: I been in this game so long, nowadays I just wake up, roll outta bed and go racin’.
REVISED QUOTE 2:
Crew member: I know playing to the local crowd makes Colin a popular figure here in the UK, but his impression of the English goalie ain’t goin’ down too well.
I believe what CE II was actually portraying was the old “Helpless victim on the railroad tracks” gag. With Lorenzo’s bike being the proverbial train……..
As for his 2 Tech’s in the background………
“He’s our rider right?”
“………*sigh*…..yeah…….”
Asphalt & Rubber has the funniest readers. Thanks for making us laugh everyone! – http://aspha.lt/13u
RT @Asphalt_Rubber: caption this photo of Colin Edwards & @lorenzo99's bike http://aspha.lt/13u
Maybe it was his initial reaction to hearing he might take Rossi’s bike….. some thing like Homer running around in circles on the floor…
Rossi sends a message to Lorenzo in the form of a bound and gagged former team mate.
Once the kidnappers realized they had grabbed the wrong Tech3 Yamaha rider, Edwards was unceremoniously dumped in front of the nearest Yamaha pit.
Remember the BMW/tablecloth trick; Yamaha’s about to try it with Edwards as the tablecloth.
Hey Leigh! Good quotes mate but those aren’t his team Techs, they are Ohlins specialists. You seem them all over the paddock in every garage that uses Ohlins suspension.
Just a little FYI :D
oh my God, there’s ant in my pant..