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.

Canadian Superbike Championship Bans 2010 Yamaha’s from Racing – Makes DMG Look Good

Thu, December 10th, 2009 @ 6:02 pm, by Jenny Gun12 COMMENTS
Home » Racing » Canadian Superbike Championship Bans 2010 Yamaha’s from Racing – Makes DMG Look Good

Canadian Superbike Championship Bans 2010 Yamahas from Racing   Makes DMG Look Good big yamaha yzfr1 2009 b 10 01 560x420

We here in the United States have a hard enough time dealing with the antics of the Batman and Robin duo that is DMG and the AMA, but our Canadian brothers to the north have their own issues to deal with as well. In a surprising announcement, Canadian Superbike Championship has announced that it has banned the the entire 2010 Yamaha line from racing in its various series, while any year Yamaha YZF-R1 has been banned from the Canadian Pro Superbike class. More after the jump.

The announcement comes after Yamaha Canada announced that it was withdrawing from thee Canadian Superbike Championship, both in terms of series support, and team involvement. Previously, the six major manufacturers directly involved in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship contributed equally to the series, including support of its television broadcast package.

Because of Yamaha’s withdrawn support, the series has implemented these rules that all but remove the tuning-fork brand from Canadian motorcycle racing. As such, only 2009 model year or earlier, privateer YZF-R6′s will be racing professionally in Canada this day forth, or until this rule gets overturned. Seemingly, the 600′s are being sparred the knife only because of their pervasive use by privateers in the series.

“Our biggest concern is the privateer or club level racer with existing Yamaha equipment,” said Colin Fraser of the series organizers, Professional Motorsports Productions, in the release. “The vast majority of Yamaha riders utilize 600s, and we agreed that it was in everyone’s best interests to allow these existing machines to continue to compete.”

Organizers added that they plan, and look forward to, reinstating Yamaha in the future, when the manufacturer is able to return to participate in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship Series.

Source: Canadian Superbike via MotorcycleUSA

Top 5 Related Posts:

  1. Piaggio to Rebuild Canadian Dealer Network
  2. Yamaha FZ8/Fazer 8 Coming to Canada – USA Next?
  3. MV Agusta Coming to Canada
  4. Yamaha USA Swallows Up Yamaha Canada
  5. AMA Pro Racing Will Continue as Support Class for MotoGP at Laguna Seca in 2011

Comment:

  1. Canadian Superbike Championship Bans 2010 Yamaha's from Racing … http://bit.ly/5laZFj

  2. Cru Jones says:

    That has got to be some of the dumbest shit I’ve read in a long while. Poor form Canadian Superbike organizers, poor form.

  3. RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Canadian Superbike Championship Bans 2010 Yamaha's from Racing – Makes DMG Look Good – http://bit.ly/4vemRb #motorcycle

  4. Canadian Superbike Championship Bans 2010 Yamaha's from Racing – Makes DMG Look Good – http://bit.ly/4vemRb #motorcycle

  5. Aj Marini says:

    As a Canadian, I am ashamed at this move by the series. The organizers should recognize that they have a quality issue on their hands and deal with it accordingly. Banning Yamaha shows poor form.

    I’m with drawing my support and won’t attend races because it isn’t worth the effort anymore. Will the organizers ban me as well?

  6. ted says:

    Colin Fraser is involved in running both the DMG/ama and Canadian Superbike Championships.

    This guy is unbeleiveable (in a bad way, obviously). He is almost singlehandedly destroying motorcycle racing in North America.

    If anybody should be banned from motorcycle racing – it should be Colin Fraser.

    Colin Fraser – what the are you DOING man ?

    Step back and take a look at the damage you’ve done to not only the Canadian superbike series, but the American superbike series too.

    Go away Colin Fraser, GO AWAY.

    It’s guys like you that are making real motorcycle racing fans turn to GREAT racing products like the BSB (British Superbike Championship), World Supersport, World Superbike, Moto 2, Moto GP, etc, instead of watching North American (CRAP – because YOU ruined them) racing series.

    When I read about the way you’re destroying motorcycle racing in north america, you make me ashamed to be Canadian.

    signed

    -a concerned motorcycle racing enthusiast.

  7. JB says:

    Roadracing fans in North American are in deep trouble between DMG and the Canada Superbike Series. With the world wide economic issues and the major impact it is having on motorcycle manufactures we have these “geniuses” running both series into the ground! Our only hope is that they completely kill it so a new organization can start a fresh series in the future. Edmondson and Fraser retire!!!!!

  8. Canadian Superbike Championship Bans 2010 Yamaha's from Racing … http://bit.ly/86qgH1

  9. TheAssassin says:

    I remember back in the 1990′s when roadracing at Shannonville was pretty sparsley attended and supported and no rules like this were invoked. This is ridiculous…..sounds alot like a rule that this ruling would come from a “money” based organization like NASCAR or something like that, not a “motorcycle enthusiast” supported and populated organization. I guess “big business” has come to Canadian Superbike Racing: No love, just money. Pay up Sucka or leave.

  10. richard says:

    Wow, that is all I can say. Fraser has singlehandedly f*#ked motorcycle racing in North America. The damage he has done will last many, many years and will not be easy to fix. Looks like I’ll be watching all my racing online next season since SPEED’s coverage of the international racing is just as bad as DMG’s management. I think there’s a NASCAR connection in there somewhere. I’m done. I can see why the big guys like Yamaha and Honda are running away, far far away.

  11. richard says:

    Oh, and go support your local club racing! It’s the only hope.

  12. Joe Rocket says:

    This is bullshit. No other way to say it. You didn’t see them ban Honda when they pulled their factory team a few years ago. You didn’t see them ban Suzuki when the Picotte/Blackfoot (basically Canadian Factory Suzuki) Team originally said they weren’t going to field a team in 2010. And hey, they also didn’t ban Kawasaki when they originally said they were withdrawing from the series. So what the f**k are they thinking banning Yamaha?!? Yamaha was the MOST SUCCESSFUL brand in the world last year. They won championships in World Supersport, World Superbike, World Endurance, motoGP, British Superbike, Dutch Superbike, Australian Superbike, and World Motocross. So what exactly are Colin Fraser and the other idiots running this gong-show thinking?!? I used to go to Mosport and Shannonville. Not anymore. It’s no longer worth my time, effort, and money. With gas prices, admission prices, camping fees, and a lack of any real talent on display, 2010 is shaping up to be a very easy year to skip. Canadian Superbike is screwed. Totally bent-over, up-the-arse screwed. We’ve lost Jordan Szoke this year too. Bloody hell…is it ever going to stop?!? Canada’s most winningest racer. Superbike/Supersport Champ 4yrs in a row, and the poor bastard can’t even get a renewal on his contract! WHAT THE F**K!!!! I can only hope that Mr.Szoke can land a ride somewhere else in the world, where the racing scene isn’t totally f**ked, and represent Canada the way we all know he can. But back to the original issue. I think Colin Fraser should be dragged out onto the pit-lane and shot in front of all the REAL fans. We’re the ones who built this sport in Canada. We’re the ones who support it. And guess what…WE’RE THE ONE’S WHO ARE GOING TO STOP SUPPORTING IT! I suggest that any of the real fans boycott anything related to DMG/AMA, Colin Fraser, Roger Edmonston, and Canadian Superbike. It’s the only way they’ll get the message. We’re the ones that make the difference. The general public will never change the channel from Opra or Dr.Phil, or Nascar to watch Canadian Superbike. In closing, someone, somewhere, please find Mr.Fraser and bring me his head. That is all. Goodbye Canadian Superbike.