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.
And Chicken Strip Assessment Technology! RT @Asphalt_Rubber Metzeler Sportec M5 Interact Tires http://bit.ly/cUMZUy
how big are your chicken strips? RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Metzeler Sportec M5 Interact Tires: Now with Pi Sign – http://bit.ly/cUMZUy #motorcycle
So I’m thinking this will shut some of my friends up for sure!
Metzeler Sportec M5 Interact Tires: Now with Pi Sign http://bit.ly/8XsVBQ
Not to be a big neg head on such a cool idea but…Isn’t this encouraging people to lean over further in corners simply to show off?
Wouldn’t this say…increase accidents/injuries/fatalities on those that are less skilled/showing-off/being pushed for a mark on there tyres?
That said, cool idea :P
Of course, if would have to be the Germans to incorporate a scale on the tires for the squids to refer to. As we all know, experienced riders typically get the strips down to mere fractions of an inch from the edge of the profile. Having said that, it’s a confidence booster courtesy of Metzeler. How’s that? Look at the pix and tell me that you know any rider NOT capable of hitting the 5 on the strips. Even at a “Full 5″ lean, You’re still not touching the Elephant. When u can wear off the speeding Elephant, THEN yer really GETTIN IT. And, in case anyone wants to see a Metzeler carcass with the Elephant worn off from normal street use, let me know. I’ll be glad to email u a set of pix of my latest set of Sportec M1’s… Ride it like ya stole it and keep the breeze between yer knees.
They should have replaced the top figure by one that has a skirt, haha. Great on Metzeler though.
If this article had been released on April 1st, I would have believed it was a joke. As it is, I’m not sure how to take this. I’m with CBR on this one. I think it’s going encourage riders to push past their limits, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing. The last thing I want to see is even MORE squidly and irresponsible behavior on the street. On the street, I just wouldn’t allow myself to be pushed much past 4.5 or 5 on the above depicted lean scale. It’s just not safe.
Track days would be another story. That would be a cool tire to market directly to the track day crowd as a “measuring stick” on how well you are progressing. What kind of compound does the M5 have? I’m assuming it’s a sport tire and not a touring compound…
Nothing a belt sander can’t take care of. :D
Chicken strips are like herpes. You either have them or you don’t. The severity doesn’t matter. I don’t look down on people who have ‘em, but I like the fact that I have none.
Manhood rate meter aka Metzler’s Chicken Strip Assessment Technology system! http://tiny.cc/1Pn3l
RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Metzeler Sportec M5 Interact Tires: Now with Pi Sign http://bit.ly/cUMZUy
If you can’t make number 5 you need training, or some serious suspension tuning.
This is hilarious – Metzeler's new sportbike tires have Chicken Strip Assessment Technology. Chase that Elephant! Lol. http://tr.im/LSee
How good of a rider are you really when this is the way you rate your skill? When the turns come you see who can keep up and who can’t. At 38 I’m not so sure its talent or balls anyway and I know mine don’t seem as big as they once were!
well the numbers a cool for average street riders but im hoping for mor performance and longevity out of these tires because i currently use metzler m3’s and i chang the rear every 2k and front every 4k.. plus the assesment is good for people that cant reallly lean and are just trying to show off because i rubbed the elephants off my m3 and rolled over the edges after about 200 miles on it..
Who needs this, give me my Battle Axe BT0-16 and I’ll blister it enough to scrape off the leftover rubber.
Chicken strips=lean angle. Proper body position=less lean angle=more chicken strips. I can scrub my strips in an empty parking lot at 35mph with the proper body position (leaning to the OUTSIDE of the turn, the technique for tight U-turns on the street). The measure of a rider should be how fast/smooth (s)he is through the twisties, not chicken strips. If you use up all of your tires on the street (utilizing proper riding technique and body position) you are pushing too hard. Take it to the track before you hurt yourself and/or someone else.
I go to the track and it is true that you lean differently on the track but that because you have to to get around that turn as fast as possible I have no need to go that fast on the street and I rather not hang my body off the side of my bike in the street because the roads suck and in not wearing race leathers and wrecking sucks I ride hard on the street but the track is a whole other world where you can get rid of you chicken strips in the front tire on a good day
By far between bridgestone,Michelin and Metelzers…..metelzers suck ball sack…Used M3’s on the track and never again…oh yeah btw good PR for squids to show off how far the lean on their tires….
Not sure what's worse here: pretentious chicken strip meter, or faux carbon fiber sidewalls? http://bit.ly/b2f1Ft
Well funny thing about those chicken strips… I can leave mine on and out ride guys that have ground them off riding.. A lot to be said about “technique” and getting your fat butt off the seat…
My track tires are for certain off the scale but I refuse to push that hard on the street.. More squid food IMHO…
Moto tires with "chicken strip" indicators: http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/metzeler-sportec-m5-interact/
The lawyers will love it.
Especially the ones in state legislature who can get a few votes back home by proposing to outlaw motorcycles because the cost to society from death and injury have gone up.
I even think it is sad that the dead and dying will be squids…such a waste since getting on a track is so easy for anyone with common sense.
They need to replace the elephant with a pair of testicles.
The elephant represents that you have balls like an elephant!!! Yamaha kai den eimai kala.
Chicken strip assessment technology? http://bit.ly/c6hLsP when in doubt add moar numbers
Just ride with low pressure in the tyres for a while. That will certainly mark the tyres nicely. : )
My penis is huge, and I can piss really far. This tire meter will prove it to everyone who doesnt beleive me. But seriously this is funny stuff.
次のMetzeler Sportec M5のマーカーがとても面白いｗ いいねこういうの。http://bit.ly/b2f1Ft
i hope the compound is good because the marketing is lousy. What a lot of bullsh#t!