2012 Honda RC213V Debuts in Malaysia

While Ducati Corse is busy playing hide-the-Desmosedici at Sepang, HRC is all business in Malaysia this week, and has debuted its 2012 Honda RC213V MotoGP-contender. Honda isn’t saying too much about the RC213V, simply stating that the race bike is all new, but is also a continuation of the company’s design with the 800cc Honda RC212V. Testing the Honda RC213V over the course of last season, reigning-World Champion Casey rode the new 1,000cc machine three times in 2011, while teammate Dani Pedrosa swung a leg over the RC213V twice (missing one test because of injury).

No, This is the “90%” New Ducati Desmosedici GP12

You may have been misled by some eager journalists today and yesterday, if you saw a Ducati Corse livery-clad Ducati Desmosedici GP12 that some sites were passing off as the first shots of the “90% new” GP12. With the alleged new GP12 looking surprisingly similar to the aluminum-framed “GP0″ that was tested at Valencia, Valentino Rossi’s mechanic has now Alex Briggs confirmed that the photos taken were not of the all new “GP12 Phoenix” that the factory team will race this season. While the Ducati lords can taketh away, they can also giveth, and Valentino Rossi himself has posted the first photo of the factory Desmosedici GP12, and the bike is clearly different.

Zero Motorcycles Commences 2012 Model Line Production

Zero Motorcycles has announced the full-commencement of production for its 2012 model line, which is expected to hit dealers in February & March of this year. First off the line was the 2012 Zero DS back in December, though the electric motorcycle company has recently started building the Zero S, Zero XU, Zero X, and Zero MX at its Scotts Valley facility as well. A story we broke back in November, Zero Motorcycles debuted its important 2012 electric motorcycle line up at the 2011 EICMA show in Milan, with the 2012 range being a substantial improvement upon the company’s previous offerings.

The Dainese D-Air Racing Airbag Suit Comes to America

Getting a look at Dainese & AGV’s 2012 collection, Asphalt & Rubber was down in Orange County earlier this week to see the highly anticipated Dainese D-Air Racing leather suit, which has a four liter airbag system that helps reduce the risk of injury during a motorcycle crash. Dainese has been working on the D-Air Racing system for 10 years now, and after soft-launching the airbag suit in Europe, the Italian company is ready to bring the game-changing technology to American soil.

I Love the Nightlife. I’ve Come to Boogie.

Us Danes, we’re a strange breed. From the culture that taught you how to rape and pillage, Scandinavia is making yet another contribution to the motorcycling world with this latest video. Featuring Danish Supermoto Champion Andreas Mikkelsen, we get a RoToR camera-esque perspective (this rig is actually home made) on the Dane’s practice session at the Als Supermotard Club in Denmark. It’s videos like this that are slowly eroding my will-power to resist getting into supermotard riding. Also, I don’t know who was in charge of the music selection on this thing, but my hat is off to him/her. I love the nightlife. I’ve come to boogie.

Confirmed: KTM 350 Duke in 2013 – Moto3 Inspired 350cc Sport Bike in 2014

Our friends over at IndianCarsBikes.in were in attendance at the KTM 200 Duke launch in India this week, as the Austrian brand launched its somewhat bigger-displacement version of the popular KTM Duke 125. During the press event, KTM talked about the future of the mini-Duke line and its product roadmap for the emerging country, as well as abroad. With the Austrian brand confirming/clarifying that KTM would release a KTM 350 Duke for India in 2013, zie Austrians also confirmed that the KTM 350 Duke would be built locally in India by Bajaj, but would be exported worldwide — allaying fears that the KTM 350 Duke would be an India-only model.

Why Today is the Most Important Day for Ducati…Ever

Now that the first Ducati 1199 Panigale has rolled out of the door in Bologna, the die is cast, the chips are in play, and our course is set to see if Ducati has created a “massive breach of brand trust and honesty.” The realization of course should be that Ducati’s brand was never in danger with bikes like the Hypermotard, Multistrada 1200, or Diavel. Instead, the danger of serious brand dilution has always rested on how Ducati handled its Superbike line. A failure to produce a two-wheeled machine that is both as striking visually as it is kinetically, could permanently alienate a loyal fan base that has endured a great deal in the past half-decade.

Video: Community + Motorcycles = Motomethod

There is a lot that can be said about why dealerships fail or succeed (we’ve already seen an interesting insight on the subject of shops being open on Sundays), and one aspect on how to be a successful dealership that will surely rise to the top is one of community. Here, Vancouver-based Motomethod is all about the community, as the do-it-yourself community garden style repair shop has become a place for British Columbian riders not to work on their motorcycles, but also to congregate together with a shared love of riding on two wheels. Not exactly a new concept business-wise, but still a fresh perspective in an otherwise unwilling to change industry. More on this thought process to be published in the coming weeks. Enjoy.

Karel Abraham Releases Ducati Desmosedici GP12 Details: 999cc, 250hp, & 360 km/h Top Speed

After testing for three days at Jerez with Carlos Checa and Franco Battaini, Ducati Corse may not be saying much about the new Ducati Desmosedici GP12, but that hasn’t stop Karel Abraham from releasing some details about the new Italian steed today. The “official” technical specifications of MotoGP race bikes are always a bit vague, and Ducati Corse has unsurprisingly stuck to that trend with the GP12. Stating horsepower in the 250hp range, 15hp more than what was quoted for the GP11, Ducati also lists a top speed of over 360 km/h, up from the GP11′s 340+ km/h quoted figure.

Husqvarna Baja Concept Breaks Cover

Husqvarna continues its push into the on-road market, and has debuted another concept while at the New York IMS show today. Already showing us the Husqvarna Moab Concept in Milan, the folks at Husky have continued the thought process with the Moab, and built a more off-road capable dual-sport, which they are calling the Husqvarna Baja Concept. Another modern-take on retro design, the Baja concept carries over with it many of the Moab’s bigger design features, while sporting a 19″ knobby front tire for better off-road use. Husqvarna simply states that the concept uses a four-stroke liquid-cooled 650cc single-cylinder motor (same as the Moab), which surely will be sourced from BMW’s G650GS.

Ben Bostrom Signs with Pat Clark Motorsports – Jake Zemke & John Hopkins in Talks with PCM

Wed, December 16th, 2009 @ 11:58 am, by Jenny Gun6 COMMENTS
Home » Popular » Ben Bostrom Signs with Pat Clark Motorsports – Jake Zemke & John Hopkins in Talks with PCM

A reliable source in the AMA has just tipped us off to the fact that Ben Bostrom has signed with Pat Clark Motorsports (PCM) for the 2010 season. PCM, which has been linked to Bostrom since the beginning of the month, is keeping the deal under wraps though as they try to sign both Jake Zemeke and John “Hopper” Hopkins to the team as well. If successful, this would mean PCM is building the Deathstar of AMA Superbike teams for the 2010 AMA season.

With the combined factors of the economy and the mismanagement by DMG, there has been a substantial shortage of money in the AMA Pro Racing series, leaving many top-shelf racers still without a ride for the 2010 season. Jake Zemeke, along with many other riders, are still scrambling to find a team and a contract, as both sponsorships and prize money continue to dry up in the AMA.

In World Superbike, John Hopkins is also struggling to find a ride. After Stiggy Honda began running into trouble financially, the American WSBK rider started looking elsewhere for employment. Initially, he was linked to the Reitwagen Racing effort (along with Makoto Tamada), which will be the first BMW satellite team in WSBK, but that seat is now rumored to be going to Andrew Pitt instead (Editor’s note: Andrew Pitt is now confirmed as the second rider on the Reitwagen Racing team for WSBK 2010). This could mean Hopper is SOL for staying in the WSBK series for 2010, and perhaps the AMA his only hope to race in 2010.

As doors close for both of these riders, Pat Clark Motorsports finds itself not only in a good position by being supported by Yamaha, but also in picking up both of these competitors for less than their asking price. It’s a buyer’s market in the AMA right now, and PCM seems to be capitalizing on it in a big way. According to our source, PCM is close to putting together the Dream Team of AMA efforts, and is keeping a very tight lid on it…until now. Hat tip to The Sparrow for the scoop.

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Tagged under: AMA, AMA Pro Racing, AMA Superbike, Ben Bostrom, Hopper, Jake Zemke, John Hopkins, Pat Clark Motorsports, The Sparrow, WSBK

Comment:

Dan Lo says:
December 16, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Crazy times… RT @Asphalt_Rubber Ben Bostrom Signs w/ Pat Clark Motorsports-Jake Zemke & John Hopkins in Talks w/ PCM http://bit.ly/8EULTK
Joseph A. Gaudé says:
December 16, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Ben Bostrom signs with PCM and John Hopkins is lookin into the same… http://bit.ly/5JcZmv
Dan Lo says:
December 16, 2009 at 8:03 PM
Crazy times… RT @Asphalt_Rubber Ben Bostrom Signs w/ Pat Clark Motorsports-Jake Zemke & John Hopkins in Talks w/ PCM http://bit.ly/8EULTK
Cheap Cycle Parts says:
December 18, 2009 at 7:04 AM
Is Pat Clark Motorsports building the Deathstar of AMA Superbike teams for 2010 AMA season? http://tinyurl.com/y99ed8s
Jim Race says:
December 18, 2009 at 7:15 PM
@OnTheThrottleTV knock two off the list: http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/ben-bostrom-signs-with-pat-clark-motorsports/
James Romero III says:
December 20, 2009 at 5:17 PM
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/ben-bostrom-signs-with-pat-clark-motorsports/ http://bit.ly/4QG1Ww