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

Any race where 1,500 riders start, 500 qualify, and only 14 finish, has got to be an epic competition, and considering the fact that the Erzberg Rodeo starts in the excavation pit of an Austrian mine…well, it takes a special rider to be enticed by such an event. One such special rider is Graham Jarvis, who was the first of the fourteen men to reach the 20th and final checkpoint. Taking 2 hours and 52 seconds to complete the course, Jarvis made the 2013 Erzberg Rodeo look downright easy. However, with one look at the race-day conditions from this past weekend, we know it was anything but.

Controlling the Uncontrollable – The Role of Ritual in Racing

While normally, MotoGP fans never get enough of seeing Valentino Rossi on TV, there is one shot they would (for the most part) gladly be spared. As he leaves the pits, Rossi stands on the footpegs, and pulls his leathers from between his buttocks, before sitting back down again and leaving. These rituals – part useful limbering up, part invocation of Lady Luck – are something many riders perform, in their attempt to exert control over themselves, and over their environment. In a fascinating press release – by far the most interesting we have received in many months – the Aspar team today provided a discussion and explanation of what riders are trying to achieve through the use of these rituals.

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.

MV Agusta F3 800: 146hp – 381 lbs – MVICS – EAS

Just as our Bothan spies had predicted, the folks in Varese, Italy have debuted an 800cc version of the MV Agusta F3. The new machine is cleverly named the MV Agusta F3 800, and as you may expect, the street bike features the 798cc three-cylinder engine that is found on the MV Agusta Brutale 800 and the still unreleased MV Agusta Rivale. Pepping that three-cylinder motor up to 146hp (note: MV Agusta continues to have some trouble converting kW into horsepower, and other publications continue to fail at checking MV’s math. Last we checked, 108.8 kW equalled 145.9 hp), MV Agusta has wedged the lump into its supersport chassis, and reports that no additional weight has come as a result.

2013 Ducati Hypermotard 848 Caught Blurring the Lines Between the Multistrada? [UPDATED]

07/11/2012 @ 12:04 pm, by Jensen Beeler12 COMMENTS

UPDATE: The water-cooled 2013 Ducati Hypermotard has now been released by Ducati.

We have a sneaking suspicion that the 2013 Ducati Hypermotard 848 that has been spotted tramping about is going to be a very interesting motorcycle indeed; as from out perspective, Ducati seems set to consolidate the Hypermotard line into a single water-cooled model, while simultaneously offering a smaller-displacement multi-tasker that will slot in under the Ducati Multistrada 1200.

Our best view yet of the bike’s exhaust side comes from the folks at Moto Revue, as we see what looks to be a finalized exhaust can and a clear view of the HM848′s water-cooled Testastretta 11° motor. There has been tremendous confusion/controversy as to whether the spied machine is a new Hypermotard or Multistrada model, and the confusion is rightfully so, as the bike takes cues from both machines.

The seat is obviously dirt bike inspired, and is very similar to the current Hypermotard setup. Similarly, the nose/fender of the bike is a direct evolution of the Terblanche aesthetic, with the tank shape and side fairings furthering this likeness as they protrude forward.

Using the water-cooled 849cc Testastretta 11° motor though (we enjoyed this lump immensely while riding the 2012 Ducati Streetfighter 848), the 2013 Ducati Hypermotard 848 is treading into a space that was previously occupied solely by the Multistrada 1200, i.e. a water-cooled all-rounder with some off-road chops. This leads us to the conclusion that Ducati is opening a new role for the Hypermotard, which struggles for sales in just about every market except Italy.

A weaker component to the otherwise robust Ducati model line-up, the Bologna Brand is surely eyeing a new way to get sales going again for the Hypermotard. Getting pressure not only to consolidate its engine line-up to fewer models, the march away from air-cooled engines continues, as emission standards continue to increase. Seeing the strong sales of the Multistrada 1200, especially the cheaper base model, everyone expects Ducati to release an 848 version of the Multi.

Since a water-cooled Hypermotard would crossover too greatly with a smaller-displacement Multistrada, it makes perfect sense then that Ducati would combine those two models into a single unit (Multitard anyone?). Distinct enough from the Multistrada 1200, both in terms of displacement and form-factor, the 2013 Ducati Hypermotard 848 could be positioned to take advantage of the best aspects from both these machines, which is exactly what Ducati appears to be doing aesthetically from what we’ve seen of the bike thus far.

Expected to debut in November at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, time will tell what Ducati has up its sleeve, but there is considerable buzz regarding this bike, both in & out of Ducati HQ.

Source: Moto Revue

Tagged under: 2013 Ducati Hypermotard 848, Ducati, Ducati Hypermotard 848, Ducati Multistrada 1200, Ducati Multistrada 848, Ducati Multitard, Hypermotard, Hypermotard 848, Multistrada, Multistrada 1200, Multistrada 848, Multitard, spy photo, spy shot, Testastretta, Testastretta 11°, water-cooled

Comment:

s2upid says:
July 11, 2012 at 12:49 PM
man that thing looks hot
AK says:
July 11, 2012 at 12:57 PM
I am so ready for new Multi… hope its a smaller Multi.
MikeD says:
July 11, 2012 at 6:07 PM
Really hope is a baby ‘Strada and not some Dorsoduro rival… (fingers crossed)…personally i have no use for such a kind-o-bike (Hypermotard) or a Duc for that matter, lol.
But the subframe /tail section sure a shell don’t look like it has any provissions to carry luggage nor looks that beefy…just saying. Then again this is a Mule and pic is pretty grainy and shitty (im 110% sure this came str8 from Duc to drop-feed us and create some noise about it before it unveiling)…so…
So ! What is it going to be ? !
Belts for street oriented bikes and Gears for race replicas coming from Ducati in the years to come OR dumping the NEEDY/FINICKY Belt Drive all-together and going Expensive but Anvil reliable all gears in the future ?
Their latest fad with the shock to the side anchored directly to the frame and swing arm sure is making life easy when it comes down to routing that rear header and maybe even tilting a bit the engine towards the back a la 1199, isn’t it ? LOL.
Darren says:
July 11, 2012 at 7:03 PM
Looks like my kind of bike. I’m looking for something new and a Ducati could fit the bill nicely. As long as it isn’t called “Multitard” :)
johnc says:
July 11, 2012 at 8:51 PM
the hypermotard is a weaker component to the otherwise robust Ducati model line-up? really? on what planet? not here on the third rock from the sun, that’s for certain.
froryde says:
July 11, 2012 at 9:34 PM
Whatever it is, just make it light.
wreckah says:
July 12, 2012 at 1:34 AM
it looks heavier/uglier than a hypermotard (shame) and less useable than a multistrada (shame).
the 848 engine is a much less nice road engine than the aircooled 1100 too…for me anyways.
i’ll pass! i’ll have a duke 690 instead.
the hypermotard may be a weaker model in businessplan-terms but on the road, it is the best ducati by far out there at the moment. :)
RJ says:
July 12, 2012 at 5:53 AM
How come “spy photographers” always have the shittiest cameras?
Damo says:
July 12, 2012 at 6:36 AM
@Johnc
He wasn’t say it was a “weak bike” he was just referring to weak sales. The Hypermotard is a great machine otherwise.
I am keeping my eye on this machine as once my obsession with my RC51 comes to a close I am going back to a middle-weight naked bike. I am currently looking at the 675 Street Triple, The 848 Streetfighter and possibly this.
I will have to put some “Hyper-Damotard” livery on it!
MikeD says:
July 12, 2012 at 1:10 PM
@RJ:
Haaaa…….i wonder too on this day and time when even a smart phone have an 8mega pixel shooter WITH FLASH ! and can record at 720p HD…it must be some mysterious powerful spell they had cast on the bike that curses it’s un-authorized photos making it blurry and grainy…yes, that is.
That must be it…….LMAO. Hey, on a positive……at least their ways are not as FUDGED UP as Triumph’s when they were drip-feeding us those silly over-rated Tiger 800s.
Westward says:
July 17, 2012 at 12:02 PM
The bike is clearly a smaller displacement version of the Multistrada…
Hypermotard Nico says:
August 13, 2012 at 3:48 AM
“Multitard anyone?”……..Um that sounds multitarded. Clearly this thing will or at least should be called the Hyperstrada!!! Having once owned a 796 and ridden a 1100 hypermotard I a sure hope in their choosing to consolidate the hypermotard lineup that they ONLY part ways with the 796. I hope that they chose to keep the 1100 hypermotard a give it a face lift. For us bigger guys it’s much more pleasant having a liter between your legs on the chugging along freeways in and or around Los Angeles. I would be truly disappointed if the only future option to step up in displacement on a 848 hypermotard is to buy a 1200 multistrada. Things I liked about the new bike from the pictures: I really like the choice of placement of the exhaust, aftermarket cans are sure to look/sound great with the new arrangement, undertail is so damn hot, thank god they have fixed this decade long engineering disaster. It’s hard to see in this photograph but in some of the other “spy” shots, I also like that they have evolved the “beak” on the hypermotard, god that thing is fugly. I loved seeing the arrangement for the ohlins on the panigale when it was released earlier this year and to see that arrangement making its transition into other models is awesome! (Let’s just hope it doesn’t get recalled) I do not find the choice to ditch the trellis subframe appealing however. Or the loss of a dry clutch. It’s sacrilegious!!! The one thing I fear above all else is the continued production of the stock handguard/turn signal/fold out mirror assembly. I saw them installed on one of the first spy photos, they need to go, or else this thing may well indeed be dubbed multitarded.

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