KTM RC4 Concept by Luca Bar Design

A single-cylinder hooligan-maker, the KTM 690 Duke is 330 lbs (curbside without fuel) and 67hp of two-wheeled fun, and we hope that the Austrians bring the KTM 690 Duke R our way as well. While we are on the topic of things missing from KTM’s American line-up, a decent supersport is painfully obvious, yet we can’t see the folks at KTM following the paths of other brands. That’s where our friend Luca Bar comes to mind with his latest concept: the KTM RC4. Using the KTM 690 Duke platform and its LC4 engine, Bar has designed a super-single full-fairing sport bike that takes the Austrian company’s “Ready to Race” DNA and applies it to an idea that is not all that disimilar to the Ducati Supermono.

Q&A: Claudio Domenicali Talks Frameless Chassis, Sacred Cows, & The Future for Ducati

When I sat down with Claudio Domenicali at the Ducati 1199 Panigale R launch, the now-CEO of Ducati Motor Holding was still just the General Manager of the Italian motorcycle company. Four weeks after our interview though, Gabriele del Torchio would leave Ducati for Alitalia; and Domenicali, a 21-year veteran of both the racing and production departments of Ducati, would take his place at the top of Italy’s most prestigious motorcycle brand. After reading our interview from Austin, Texas after the jump, I think you will agree too.

Is Yamaha Using A Seamless Gearbox? The Data Says No

That Yamaha is working on a seamless gearbox is no secret, with Yamaha’s test riders currently racking up the kilometers around tracks in Japan. Recently, however, Spanish magazine SoloMoto published an article suggesting that Yamaha has already been using its new seamless gearbox since the beginning of the season. My own enquiries to check whether Yamaha was using a seamless gearbox or not always received the same answer: no, Yamaha is not using the seamless gearbox. To test this denial, I went out to the side of the track on Friday morning at Jerez to record the bikes as they went by.

OCC Coming Back to TV? — Universe Collapses in on Self

After a very public father/son break-up between Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr., a steroid-ring scandal involving Paul Sr., and finally a bankruptcy proceeding, it appears that Orange County Choppers is the impossible to kill multi-headed hydra of doom that we all knew it was, as the custom chopper shop is once again headed to the small screen and recruiting some talent, on and off the show. Looking for “someone who will work alongside Paul Senior, running the shop and helping build some of the best custom motorcycles in the world,” OCC says it will be back on television with a new show later this month. Please for the love of god, will someone give this man the attention he craves so dearly??! Or, just shoot us in the face.

Alstare Superbike Concept by Team Alstare

We love us some concept bikes here at Asphalt & Rubber, and we have featured more than a few pieces of stunning design and imagination on our pages. Though, we can’t remember the last time one of these works of art were brought to us by a legitimate racing team, but that is what we have here with the Team Alstare Superbike Concept. A nod to the former Suzuki team’s return to the World Superbike Championship as the Ducati factory squad with Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini, Alstare has enlisted the help of designer Serge Rusak of Rusak Kreaktive Designworks to ink the shape of its futuristic Superbike concept, while Tryptik Studios handled the 3D modeling prowess.

Transcript: The Gay Question at Jerez

If you didn’t watch Thursday’s pre-event press conference for MotoGP at Jerez, it is worth a viewing right to the end (assuming you have a MotoGP.com account). Building off the news about the NBA’s Jason Collins coming out as gay in a self-written feature in Sport Illustrated, my good colleague David Emmett had the courage to inquire about the culture and acceptance of the MotoGP paddock for homosexual riders. For the sake of accuracy, after the jump is a full transcript of David’s question, as put to riders Cal Crutchlow, Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez, Andrea Dovizioso, Stefan Bradl, and Scott Redding, as well as those riders’ responses to David’s inquiry.

2014 Suzuki GSV-R Spotted Again

News that Suzuki plans on returning to the MotoGP Championship in 2014 should be old information for dedicated Asphalt & Rubber readers, and the Japanese company’s inline-four race bike was already spotted doing test laps last year by the eager eyes at Cycle World. Well the American print-mag has another set of eyebrow-raising high-quality photos of the 2014 Suzuki GSV-R to mull over from the Motegi race track, along with some technical insights provided by the venerable Kevin Cameron.

BMW F800GS Adventure – Germany’s Middleweight ADV

A surprise addition to BMW Motorrad’s 2013 model line-up, zie Germans have announced a new middleweight adventure-tourer, the 2013 BMW F800GS Adventure. Like its larger predecessor, the BMW F800GS Adventure is a more travel-ready and off-road capable build of the recently updated BMW F800GS motorcycle. Featuring a larger windscreen, panniers, and a bigger fuel tank capacity (2.1 gallons larger, for a total of 6.3 gallons of fuel), the BMW F800GS Adventure keeps the same 85 hp, liquid-cooled, 798cc, parallel-twin engine found on the F800GS, as well as the same chassis configuration. Pricing in the US will be $13,550 for the base model BWM F800GS Adventure.

Kevin Schwantz Returns to Motorcycle Racing – Enters the Suzuka 8-Hours with Team Kagayama

Former 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz has certainly been in the news a bit these past few months, mostly for his involvement and falling out with the Circuit of the Americas and the Americas GP, but also more recently for his comments regarding Dani Pedrosa — we also sat down with Mr. Schwantz in Austin, and the Texan gave us some sobering insight into the future of American road racing. As if all that wasn’t enough, Schwantz is making a return to two-wheeled racing, and has entered the prestigious Suzuka 8-Hours endurance race with Team Kagayama racing alongside Noriyuki Haga and team owner Yukio Kagayama.

Öhlins Releases a Semi-Active Suspension Upgrade for the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S – But, What’s Next?

An interesting development on the aftermarket side of things has graced our desks, as Öhlins has released a “suspension control unit” (SCU) that upgrades the electronically adjustable suspension on the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S so that it becomes a semi-active suspension system. Whhhaaaat??! So, if you’re the proud owner of a pre-2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S, and you think that your electronically controlled Öhlins suspension is no longer boss, now that Ducati has released its Sachs-powered “Skyhook” semi-active suspension pieces on its new batch of Multistrada sport-tourers, there is a remedy for your motolust.

Circuit of the Americas Construction Suspended

11/16/2011 @ 9:46 am, by Jensen Beeler10 COMMENTS

Circuit of the Americas Construction Suspended circuit of the americas 635x357

Previously set to host Formula One in 2012 and MotoGP in 2013, the Circuit of the Americas promises to bring more premier motorsport racing to the United States of America. However, news coming out of Austin, Texas is that construction of the new GP-quality circuit has been halted because a contract between Formula One and Circuit of the Americas has not yet been conveyed to the race track according to the parties’ previously agreed upon timetable.

While it is not clear why the contract from Formula One has not been delivered to organizers of the Circuit of the Americas, the news that the construction at the circuit’s location, with its over 300 construction workers, has been halted could mean delays in having the venue ready for the 2012 Formula One season, which in turn could cause delays with MotoGP’s plans to run at the track a year after the premier car racing series. The Circuit of the Americas organizers say construction on the facility would resume once delivery of the Formula One Grand Prix race contract occurs.

“We have spent tremendous resources preparing for the Formula One and MotoGP Championship races, but the failure to deliver race contracts gives us great concern,” said Bobby Epstein, Founding Partner of Circuit of the Americas. “We believe the United States is vital for the future of Formula One and its teams and sponsors. Given the purpose-built Tilke design, creating a unique fan experience and iconic challenge for drivers, we hope that Texas will not be left behind. More than 100,000 fans have expressed an interest in purchasing tickets for Formula One alone.”

“It is in the best interest of all parties to reach a timely resolution,” said Red McCombs, Chairman of McCombs Enterprises and Founding Partner of Circuit of the Americas. “Local businesses, fans and the State of Texas are counting on us.”

Source: Circuit of the Americas

Top 5 Related Posts:

  1. Construction Resumes at Circuit of the Americas
  2. Dorna & Circuit of the Americas Confirm Austin GP
  3. Question Marks for MotoGP at Austin – WSBK Instead?
  4. Schwantz Releases Another Statement about COTA & Dorna

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Comment:

  1. Racetrack Style says:
    November 16, 2011 at 10:36 AM

    Best wishes for an on-time opening of what appears to be an incredible facility.

    The track map key chain (or ornament) is available now at my website

    Jensen – I’ve submitted an online request for advertising information for A&R, but I haven’t heard from anyone. Can you send me rate info.?

    thanks!

  2. Westward says:
    November 16, 2011 at 11:48 AM

    I guess they never heard the phrase, “If you built it, they will come.”

    If construction becomes the issue as to why its not ready once a deal is struck, well, then I guess the genius that halted it is the one to blame…

    If a contract fails to materialise, then what? Failure to complete construction prevents that total unique fan experience for future venues (Formula One is not the world), and if there is one thing some of us hate, is half assed workmanship. ..

  3. 76 says:
    November 16, 2011 at 12:56 PM

    With issues like this, they can be so stupid simple or a complex chain of political wishes, wants and lies. Ether way it hurts the public perception as well as risks quite alot for both fans and riders alike.

    Whatever is going on behind the scenes I hope it is resolved and has little impact on the original direction of the facility as its magnificent and a important step to getting world class racing on Americans dinner plates.

  4. Exodus says:
    November 16, 2011 at 3:17 PM

    Love the website, I try to read it every day.

    I live not too far from the track (in Elgin) and I’m keeping an eye on this. I’m apprehensive that this is going to be a legendary screw up of truly historic proportions. That’s quite an emotional let down from being elated that I was getting a world class track built practically in my back yard.

    Here’s more on the story from a local source… http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/281492/developers-freeze-f1-construction-indefinitely

  5. MikeD says:
    November 16, 2011 at 6:12 PM

    Another case of ” TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE ?!”…i hope not.
    If the end product is anything like the CGI pic then it looks like one bad ass track and compound.

  6. zipidachimp says:
    November 17, 2011 at 3:19 AM

    hellmund has defaulted to bernie and is gone. now the track owners just have to give bernie what bernie wants before dec 7, and the race will be on. simple ! it’s all about the money, as if we didn’t know!

  7. AK says:
    November 17, 2011 at 5:33 AM

    Its all about Money :)

  8. ZachB says:
    November 17, 2011 at 7:22 AM

    I live here in Austin and this is a HUGE disappointment. I was expecting to see F1 & MotoGP in my city. And have a chance to ride a world class track!

    “Announced on Tuesday that she would not advance the $25 million to the organizers, which–had all gone well–could have been paid as early as Saturday. The debut F1 race was scheduled for Nov. 18, 2012, and the guidelines, particular to this one race event, said the money could be advanced as early as 364 days before the event takes place.”

    Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111116/FREE/111119900?utm_source=DailyDriv

  9. Westward says:
    November 17, 2011 at 1:36 PM

    @ Exodus

    thanks for the link, it was informative.

    It kind of reminds me of going to a buffet, my eyes are bigger than my stomach. Looks like that for Austin…

  10. Rick Deez says:
    November 20, 2011 at 3:40 PM

    Would the contract for an inner-city Formula 1 in New Jersey have anything to do with it?