Fresh from the Ducati 1199 Panigale international press launch at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, our friends from OmniMoto.it have been kind enough to share their experience on Ducati’s newest flagship model, since Asphalt & Rubber wasn’t one of the American publications invited to test Borgo Panigale’s latest creation. Our Italian brother in arms, OmniMoto‘s Lorenzo Gargiulo shares his initiation to the 1199, while riding around one the world’s most expensive race circuits…the lucky bastard. With much thanks to him, enjoy Lorenzo’s review and continue to countdown the months until A&R will get its own chance to flog the Ducati 1199 Panigale in a similar manner.
The International press launch of the Ducati 1199 Panigale is underway in Abu Dhabi this week, with initial reports on Ducati’s flagship superbike being very positive. A track usually reserved for cars, not bikes, the Yas Marina Circuit is really something to behold. Situated on a man-made island off the Abu Dhabi coast, the Middle-Eastern track cost a cool $1.32 billion to construct back in 2009, and holds the distinction for being one of Formula One’s night races. While we wait for the Panigale to come across the Atlantic Ocean, Ducati has put together this video of Troy Bayliss taking a lap around the 21 turns of the Yas Marina Circuit. It’s an oddly edited video, but should bring grins to the Ducatisti in your life.
With nothing coming to fruition on the Mercedes deal, Ducati again made waves in August when it was reported that the company was interested in making a private stock offering in 2012. Today’s news of course is the logical extension of that announcement, as it is both 2012 and Investindustrial is rumored to be in talks with several possible private buyers for Ducati. While none of this news should surprise anyone, what is of note is the price tag being attached to Ducati is €1 billion.
It seems a bit silly to be talking about the 2014 model year when we are only into our second month of 2012. However, such is the case today because a certain Max Biaggi let it slip during the Aprilia Racing Team’s World Superbike presentation that 2012 would be the penultimate season for the Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC. Adding that Aprilia would not be developing its race bike for the 2013 season, the signs would seemingly indicate that a new liter bike model from the Italian manufacturer is on the horizon for 2014.
The Bottpower BOTT XR-1: A racier and more custom version of the Harley-Davidson XR1200X (The BOTT XR-1 is actually based off a Buell motor), Bottpower has done such a good job making the Buell look Alana Blanchard hot that the Voltron generation will forget all about the reasons their didn’t like the Bar & Shield brand in the first place, and instantly liquidate their pre-IPO Facebook stock in order to make room for Bottpower’s work in their marina-view apartments. Needless to say, I like what’s going on here.
Aprilia was in Milan today, unveiling its 2012 World Superbike team with Max Biaggi and Eugene Laverty. For this season, Aprilia Racing is outfitting its RSV4 race bikes with the company’s classic black & red livery, a break from the white Alitalia paint scheme from last year. Unable to defend his #1 plate, the 40-year-old Max Biaggi will return to racing with his “3″ on the front of his RSV4. Eager to regain World Superbike’s top position, Biaggi’s toughest competition could come from his own teammate. His second season in World Superbike, Laverty has shown a great deal of promise already on the Aprilia. Keep your eye on the Irishman for some podiums in 2012.
The oldest racing organization in the country dedicated soley to motorcycle road racing, the AFM is a Northern Californian non-profit racing organization that has helped hone the skills of riders like Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts, and Steve Rapp — not mention a weekend warrior or two. Each year the racing league comes together for a banquet, and lately the tradition has been to include a highlight film of the year’s racing. I’m not sure what films in the past have been like, but if the latest AFM banquet video doesn’t give you goosebumps, you might want to check your pulse. Bonus points for the including the Versus “Second Place” monologue — it’s very apropos.
Grab some popcorn, because this video from Ducati North America is over 14 minutes long. Telling the story of Ducati at the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), DNA has put together a great video that really captures how special the racing is at Pikes Peak, and how gorgeous the scenery is of the Colorado Mountains. With Santa Barbara Ducati’s Carlin Dunne winning the overall motorcycle category on his dealership’s Multistrada 1200 demo model, Alexander Smith from the Spider Grips Ducati Team made it a double podium for Ducati in the 1205cc class. If you’re new to racing at Pikes Peak, or wanted a quick re-cap of last year’s race, Ducati’s video pretty accurately sums up racing on the mountain and the anxiety around last year’s race.
Ducati has announced its factory team for the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), and the Italian company has secured the services of last-year’s winner and Rookie of the Year Carlin Dunne as well as six-time PPIHC winner Greg Tracy. Ducati has also partnered with the Spider Grips team, who will help prepare the teams Ducati Multistrada 1200 for the “Race to the Clouds” on July 8th. For 2012, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will be fully-paved to the top of the mountain, which will surely see the speeds of competitors increase, and lap times drop on the 12.42 mile long course that ends at 14,110 feet.
I was flipping through some photos from the 2011 EICMA show, and found these shots of the Ducati 1199 Panigale’s Superquadro engine. Unfortunately at the show, Ducati had its 1199cc v-twin motor behind a Lexan case, which created a bit of a glare, reflections, and of course had smudges from the touchy-feely Italian crowd. But still, the photos give a good idea of what’s going on in Ducati’s most-advanced production engine to date, and are better than just looking at the CAD renders. If you look at the shots very closely, you can almost see where the 195hp and 98 lbs•ft of torque is lurking inside.
Yeehaw!!! I love MM bikes!
A BLOOD SACRIFICE, THIS EVENT DEMANDS A BLOOD SACRIFICE TO THE MOTORCYCLE GODS.
All B.S-ing aside, GOD SPEED to MotoMorini and may they someday sell this on the U.S.
http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/files/2010_Moto_Morini_Corsaro_1200_Veloce_Wallpaper%201.jpg
plus many more different models…c’mon MM, give Triumph and it’s Speed Triple some hell. LOL.
Hi, I’m ringing to get a cam belt for my Moto Morini 250
There’s no Moto Guzzi 250, do you mean 750?
No, Moto MORINI. The 250 V-twin.
Never heard of it, you’ll have to go back to where you bought it.
I bought it from you.
No, I mean the people who sold it new, not second hand.
I bought it from you bran new 2 years ago.
Oh, well, you might have to find out who the Australian distributor is then, we don’t carry any spares for them.
You are. You’re the Australian distributor and importer.
Well, mate, as I said, I’ve never heard of them and we don’t have any spares.
@MikeD
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD, SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!
Random comment: I have actually never in my seen a Moto Morini in my travels and certainly not up here in New England.
They look like tasty little bikes too.
WHAT IS THAT BIKE AND WHERE CAN I BUY IT >:(
Has MM ever been profitable? Not seeing the point of continually resurrecting something that is never successful. Perhaps they should transform into a small custom shop and build by the order based on a few basic designs with a talented skelleton crew. The Italian OCC.
That is fantastic news, here’s to hoping they finally get the $hit together and bring MM to the States. I’ve been drooling over a Corsaro for some time…
P.S. Does anybody know where I can buy a set of Corsaro headlights and windscreen? They would look awesome on my naked SV!
Simply too good a motorcycle for this to happen eventually. Even with mininal development the 1200 is one of the world’s great motorcycle engines. Right – off to celebrate with summer blast on my MM..
(and Max: wait and get the Corsaro lights/screen attached to the real thing..)
Great looking bikes, but I’m with Bob–why keep bringing back stuff that apparently doesn’t sell well enough to support itself? Smacks of Indian to me rather than OCC, but what do I know–I’m just a guy who reads bike news websites. In all seriosity, I do hope they do well but I have my doubts.
Despite having a great power plant (especially in Veloce guise) the Lambertini V2 was not enough to save the last incarnation of Morini. Even their importers had difficulty making sense of a range which at one time had seven models of similar displacement using the same motor. Since MM were tiny, that kind of sales approach was insane, resulting in total confusion all round.
The problem with this resurrection is the way the company is structured, with split ownership of offices and plant.
It looks to be a recipe for conflict. If they can radically pare down and re-structure output, based around say three variants of the big V2 – Veloce, Avio (lower spec Veloce) and Scrambler – they might have a chance.
Well, I run one of the new Morini, and it’s great to hear that they may be back in 2012. In the UK it may have been a small operation (as it was in Australia and NZ), but in Spain, Germany and Italy they brand was doing well. They did have plans in getting in to the States, but wanted to do it “properly” – I guess that means covering off all the product liability issues?
One engine with a range of differnt states of tune and styling is a good way for a small maunfacturer to start out; it’s what Triumph did very well – and Morini were just trying to do the same (as were Voxan – remember them?). Perhaps they’ll succeed, but in the meantime try to ride one if you can; after all, the new Ducati seems to borrow at least some ideas from Lambertinis’ engine…
@Corsaro Chris:
Voxan…yes, yes i do, those poor PUCKERS…is a shame they went the way of the Dodo Bird so early…they had some cool bikes, including…
http://www.motorbikespecs.net/images/Voxan/Black_Magic_1000_04-05/Black_Magic_1000_04-05_1.jpg
http://image.motorcyclistonline.com/f/34684353/122_1010_14_o+voxan_motorcycle+right_side_view.jpg
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery%20C/VoxanGTV1200%2008.jpg
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/voxan/voxan_vx10_nefertiti.htm
I hope MM won’t join’em on the grave.