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.
Careful to avoid running afoul of the winter testing ban by using the two-up Desmo that’s normally reserved for Randy Mamola, Rossi and Hayden got to try out some of their cold-weather settings today, just in case inclement weather hits one of the eighteen races during the 2012 season.
Wonder if Rossi was wearing one of those “If you can read this, the B*tch has fallen off!”….. Poor Nicky…
If he said that…..props to the guy, he can keep it humble yet cool.
If he didn’t…A&R(Jensen) ur gonna burn in Motorciclist Hell…LMAO.
Oh Rossi made several quotes like that during the 2011 season.
I read an interview with Kevin Schwantz where he was talking to VR at the California GP, and Valentino gets him off to one side and starts telling him, ‘ Keveen, you’ra just abouta my sizah, why don’ta you ridah thissa theeng ina my leathers, and I’ll justa go to-a the beach’, and Schwantz really wasn’t exactly sure how serious he was !
Here’s to hoping for a better 2012. IF he could go head-to-head with Lorenzo and Stoner, it would be just epic !
Nicky’s riding b*tch!! Lol!!!
Nothing says exclusive like a ice track spec GPZero
Lol love the link to the simpsons. Probably exactly how it went between Hayden and Rossi
"Maybe If It Snow, I Can Win" – Valentino Rossi, July 2011 – http://t.co/HfBKD6FO #motorcycle
"Maybe If It Snow, I Can Win" – Valentino Rossi, July 2011 – http://t.co/HfBKD6FO #motorcycle
How about those Pirellis!! I wonder how Bridgestone feels about that…
I hate to say it, but Nicky riding bitch in general more or less describes his MotoGP career in a nutshell…
At least Valentino can’t feel Nicky’s package when it’s that cold. :P
@ Dr. Gellar: That’s a bit harsh to say of a World Champion. He might not have 9 titles as does VR, but Nicky’s no slowpoke.
I like Hayden, but to be honest. If Gibernau doesn’t cause that crash in Catalunya, Capirossi could have easily been the MotoGP champion of 2006.
Also, if Rossi’s engine doesn’t fail him at LeMans or Laguna, regardless of Elias’s Portugal win, him knocking Rossi off at Jerez, or Rossi’s fall at Valencia. Rossi becomes champion instead of Hayden.
Being knocked off, edge out of victory, crashes, and tire issues, are all part of racing that can be attributed to the pilot. But when your engine fails you at a race you are winning, and you have one corner left on the last lap… Losing a championship by 5 points, when you should have won by 20 or more, everyone knows 2006 Hayden did not win the championship, it’s more like Rossi lost the championship.
Hayden was simply the beneficiary of the circumstances that evolved around Rossi and Capirossi…
Trane…Rossi’s 9 titles are irrelevant to my comment regarding Hayden and riding bitch. Nicky has pretty much played second fiddle to his various teammates thoroughout his MotoGP career. At Repsol Honda, it was Rossi and Pedrosa (and Barros and Biaggi to a lesser extent). And at Ducati, it was Stoner and now Rossi again. Nicky has never been the lead rider of a MotoGP team, even when he took the title in 2006.