After holding an online contest to name its 125cc four-stroke based learner street bike, KTM has shockingly come to the conclusion that it should stick to its Duke nomenclature. Schedule to be the 2011 KTM 125 Duke, KTM debuted the concepts at the 2009 EICMA show in Milan. KTM’s plan is to engage young riders with the “Ready to Race” mantra, making them lifetime Team Orange riders with this stepping-stone model
The Mountain at Cadwell Park, as it is known, is like the British version of the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca: another one of those special points on a race track, that would not exist on the computer-generated courses we see today. Famous for lofting bikes into the air, The Mountain makes for spectacular photographs, and should be on every rider’s track day bucket list. Finding the fastest racing line over The Mountain can be difficult though, as riders have to contend with keeping the front of their motorcycles down, but such is not the case for HM Plant Honda’s Josh Brookes…
Track conditions were the talk of the paddock this weekend at the Indianapolis GP, as riders battled the changing tarmac surfaces, and undulating bumps of the Indy infield. Perhaps most vocal of his displeasure with the course was Ducati rider Casey Stoner, who called the Indianapolis Motor Speedway not a world class track, and specifically complained about plastic drains that would catch riders as the ventured in towards the edge of the track (Rossi also complained of these drains). Teammate Nicky Hayden was less critical before Sunday’s race though, saying that Stoner’s comments could be applied to many of the courses on the MotoGP calendar. However after losing a knee puck to one of the drainage grates that Stoner criticized earlier, Hayden may be re-thinking his tune.
Talking after the Indianapolis GP, Valentino Rossi explained that he is waiting to hear from Jeremy Burgess as to whether the Australian Crew Chief will retire next season. Assured of the fact that Burgess would not stay behind at Yamaha, and would not work with another rider, Rossi stated the buzz around whether Burgess would move with the Italian to Ducati, hinges as to when Burgess plans on retiring from motorcycle racing.
Under the lights of the Indy Mile, where motorcycle racing began for the Kentucky-born MotoGP racer, Nicky Hayden has signed a two-year contract with Ducati Corse for the 2011 & 2012 seasons. Not the biggest surprise in the paddock, Hayden’s contract renewal has never really been questioned this season as the American started the season off with series of strong finishes and continues to be a strong brand ambassador for Ducati in the United States. Hayden will be joined the next two years by former teammate Valentino Rossi, the pair rode for Repsol Honda in 2003, with Hayden finishing the season 5th in his rookie GP season.
Infront Motor Sports, rights holder to the World Superbike Championship series, has responded to the news that Ducati Corse will be leaving the series in 2011. Responding with an official press release, IMS’s message essentially boils down to poking holes in Ducati’s statement about technical regulations. Stating that the 2009 season was dominated by the Ducati 1198 Superbike, sans one Ben Spies, the Italian firm has clearly been able to be competitive with the current formula. IMS goes on to basically say that WSBK is about more than one manufacturer, and can’t cater to Ducati’s whims even if they do have a lengthy history together.
As expected, Ben Spies and Yamaha have announced that the current World Superbike Champion and MotoGP rookie will move up to the factory Yamaha team (noticeably not called Fiat-Yamaha in the press release) for the 2011 season. Spies’ move to the factory squad has lovingly been referred to as the “second worst-kept secret in MotoGP,” right after Rossi’s departure from the Fiat-Yamaha team to Ducati Corse.
No one makes the MotoGP media center come alive with emotion more so than Colin Edwards. A veteran of the sport, and born with no filter between his brain and mouth, the Texan Tornado captured the spotlight during the pre-race press conference at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. A stark contrast to the polished veneers of other riders, Edwards isn’t afraid to tell things the way he sees it, even if it involves some colorful language. To get an idea of what we mean, check out a portion of the press conference transcript after the jump.
Ducati has recieved a trademark with the UK Intellectual Property Office for the Bolognese word for devil, or “Diavel”, which according to MCN is to be the name of the company’s new performance cruiser (shown here in a render done by Bar-Design exclusively for Asphalt & Rubber). Interestingly enough, Ducati has not trademarked the Diavel name with the United States Patent & Trademarks Office (USPTO). However with the British government, Ducati has reserved the Diavel mark for virtually every use possible, including lifestyle items like shirts, perfume, watches, and our personal favorite: skin cleansing lotions and creams.
Missing three races because of a mystery illness, Casey Stoner put any critics he had from his sudden departure in 2009 to bed with his masterful race at Phillip Island. Racing in front of his home crowd, Stoner slid around the Australian course to a decisive victory, in what we called one of the top races of 2009. Making the moment even more special for Australian fans, and Ducatisti alike, was the special race livery that Stoner ran for his home race. Hoping to commemorate that race and Stoner’s contributions to the Marlboro Ducati team (Stoner is leaving Ducati for HRC next year), a French Ducati dealership in Moulins-lès-Metz has decided to sell a limited number of Casey Stoner Ducati 1198S Phillip Island replicas.
Er, wouldn’t it be a K1000RS? R1000RS implies some big ol’ jugs hanging off the sides.
Hey, that’s what the man called it.
Editor, editor, that should be K1000RS. BMW has that space covered with the K1300S and K1300R (which isn’t selling in the US), not to mentioned the failed K1200R Sport, which had a small fairing and resembles this mock up.
Besides in BMW’s naming scheme, historically RS denoted a racing bike, but with the intro of the R100RS the initials became synonymous with sport tourers.
If you look at their naming structure across all lines, I would expect it to be called an S1000R. Just like the naked versions of the F800S, k1300S, and R1200S are called the F800R, K1300R, and R1200R, respectively.
Regarding the design above, I love the idea and hate the sketch. It’s neither Bavarian, nor Italian, and as such has no strong design position. It’s very generic. I doubt BMW would ever make a bike that looks like this, thankfully. I imagine it would conform to the F800R/K1300R/F800GS aesthetic, or it would explore the ideas presented in the Concept6. I wouldn’t mind either, personally.
This wouldbe even better as a half faired sport touring bike.
Alright people… lets get this right. Pens and paper handy? It’s called “BMW Bike naming 101″ BMW names their bikes based off power plant and intended use. The K series engines going into their respective frames… K1300S, K1200R Sport… etc. Everyone still with me? You… in the back of the class, falling asleep… Have I lost you yet? The R Series engines going into their respective bikes… designed for the Boxer engines… R1200S, R1150RT… etc. Everyone still with me? NOW…. having said that. A naked version of an “RR” or “Race Ready” bike would no longer be an RR. It would be something more like one of BMW’s famed naked R bikes. Examples would include the K1200R and R1200R. See the trend? So, with the S1000 engine in it, we would end up with a S1000R. Sure, it doesnt sound as cool… but, we all know that manufacturers such as BMW dont name them for “cool”. The only exceptions to the “no cool name” that come readily to mind are the “Rockster” and the “Paris/Dakar” versions of the popular GS bikes. As far as the concept… I think it’s great. Maybe the artist could have been somewhat more creative with the tidying up of the engine oil cooler and such devices hanging from the front. Possibly a subtle shrouding around it would make it far less obtrusive. But, all in all… I think a bike like this would find its way into my garage if it had adjustable rearsets, adjustable clipons, and a somewhat relaxed seating position from the RR. That way I could wedge my 6″6′, 220 lb self onto it for some truly exhilirating canyon carving. Until then… I’ll stick with my Benelli Cafe Racer as choice for sexiest naked to date.
Oberdan Bezzi Ponders the BMW R1000RS – A S1000RR Based Streetfighter http://goo.gl/YcZh
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/oberdan-bezzi-ponders-bmw-r1000rs-s1000rr-based-streetfighter/ BMW版Z1000としか言いようがない。
#BMW #motorcycle : BUILD THIS!!! http://bit.ly/d7YkDS And @Asphalt_Rubber: PLEASE stop teasing me!!! Need to get some work done! ;-)