Ducati Q1 2013 Sales Drop 5% – Audi Dishes the Details

Ducatisti: do you want the good news or the bad news first? The bad news is that the market for motorcycles 500cc and up is down 17% worldwide for the first quarter of this year, which means the “good” news is that Ducati is only down 5% for Q1 2013. Not exactly the start out of the gate that Audi was hoping for its newly acquired two-wheeled brand, but what are you going to do? Western Europe is a mess, with Spain and Italy continuing to go down like a…well, you know. While we don’t enjoy the misery of motorcycle brands, the fact that Ducati Motor Holding is now under the Audi AG umbrella means that we get far more detailed quarterly and yearly reports from the two-wheeled marque, and we’ve got the digits after the jump.

Mission Motorcycles: The Mission R Lives??!

Mission Motors tweeted out something interesting just a moment ago, a link to a new website for Mission Motorcycles. Teasing there a photo of the Mission R, it would seem that the electric superbike that does competitive AMA Supersport lap times at Laguna Seca, is finally set to come to production. It seems we won’t know everything about the new Mission Motorcycles project until June 3rd, though we can speculate pretty accurately on what the A&R Bothan spy network has been telling us. Expect to see the Mission R electric superbike in street legal trim, honed even further than when we rode the machine back in August last year.

Goodbye Husqvarna Nuda, We Hardly Knew Thee

Stefan Pierer’s acquisition of Husqvarna continues to baffle me. You will note I say Pierer, and not KTM, bought Husqvarna, since the Austrian CEO used Pierer Industrie AG in the transaction as a means to help side-step European antitrust issues. After all, we can’t have Europe’s largest dirt bike manufacturer, nay largest total motorcycle manufacturer, gobbling up even more brands in the two-wheeled world. But, I digress. Developing three road bikes (Husqvarna Nuda 900, Husqvarna Strada 650, & Husqvarna Terra 650), with three more concepts waiting in the wings (Husqvarna Moab, Husqvarna Baja, & Husqvarna E-G0), it is with even more confusion that we learn that Pierer & Co. intend to kill the Husqvarna Nuda project and its other street siblings.

Q&A: Yukio Kagayama Talks About the Upcoming Suzuka 8-Hour with Kevin Schwantz & Noriyuki Haga

In case you missed the story last week, Kevin Schwantz is preparing to race in this year’s Suzuka 8-Hour endurance race. For the race, Schwantz will be riding on a team formed by Yukio Kagayama, who in addition to having raced in the MotoGP, World Superbike, and British Superbike Championships, is also a previous Suzuka 8-Hour winner with the Suzuki Endurance Race Team (also joining the three-rider team Noriyuki “Nitro” Haga). Releasing a Q&A about his team’s Suzuka 8-Hour entry, Kagayama-san walks us through how the team came together, what equipment the riders will use, and his outlook on the team’s competitiveness.

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.

MotoGP: It’s Not Over Until It’s Over at Sachsenring

07/08/2012 @ 3:01 pm, by Jensen Beeler13 COMMENTS

MotoGP: Its Not Over Until Its Over at Sachsenring Casey Stoner Dani Pedrosa MotoGP Sachsenring 635x421

With the rainy weekend turning to cloudy but dry skies, racing for the German GP proved to be a challenge as teams had only one practice session plus the warm-up to get their dry-setups right for the afternoon’s race. With Casey Stoner sitting on the pole-position, all eyes were on the Australian to see if he could convert the front-row start into a points advantage in the MotoGP Championship, after Lorenzo’s crash in Assen leveled the points between the two rivals.

The level playing field was courtesy of one over-zealous Alvaro Bautista, whose first-turn crash at Assen took the factory Yamaha rider down with him, thus negating his 25 point lead in the 2012 MotoGP Championship. With much of silly season still undecided, the focus wasn’t just on the riders at the front, as Ben Spies, Andrea Dovizioso, and Cal Crutchlow all are vying for the last factory seat in the Yamaha garage. As the German GP would prove, even with half of the season nearly over, it could all come down to the last minute. Click on for a full race report with spoilers.

Another rocket start, another Dani Pedrosa lead into the first turn. Followed closely by Repsol Honda teammate Casey Stoner, the pair of Hondas would walkaway from the trailing Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo. Dropping his teammate to the satellite Yamaha wolves that followed, Lorenzo would find himself out in no-man’s land, with a sizable gap in front of him and the factory Hondas, as well as a safe margin to the melee that was underway behind him.

A three-way scrap for fourth, it was almost fitting that Spies, Dovi, and Crutchlow would come together for a race-long fight. Vying for more than just fourth place in the German GP, the race showed a renewed form for the American Spies. However, even though Spies was showing a renewed self, he was still losing the war, as the men he contended with were better making results with lesser machinery. Unable to catch Dovi at the finish line, Spies would have to settle for fourth, as Cal Crutchlow’s error with five laps remaining cost him his position in the fight.

For those doing the math with all the “fourths”, Spies’ looking fourth-place finish was assisted by one of the most monumental crashes of the season, as Casey Stoner lost the front of his Honda RC213V with half a lap remaining. Chasing down Dani Pedrosa for the race win, Stoner was unable to rejoin the race, thus handing his advantage in the Championship right back to Lorenzo, who had a similar price to pay in Assen just eight days earlier.

The crash meant Dani Pedrosa’s first win of the season, and the second podium in a row for satellite rider Andrea Dovizioso. The crash also meant a 20 point advantage to Lorenzo over Stoner, as well as Dani Pedrosa moving into second in the points totals, just 14 points behind Lorenzo.

Having to start from the back of the pack, Alvaro Bautista ran a fantastic race to come from 21st to 7th, catching the group the ultimately was battling for 5th. A melee between Nicky Hayden, Valentino Rossi, Hector Barbara, and Stefan Bradl. The group would be caught by Crutchlow after his mistake, as well as Bautista who had a strong late-race charge — making it a seven-way dash to the finish.

Giving his German fans something to cheer about, Bradl rode a strong race, and fended off the Ducatis. While Nicky Hayden gave Bradl the most pressure, it was ultimately Rossi that would be the Best of Bologna, though the nine-time World Champion was nearly half a minute off the pace.

With not too much going on at the pointy end of the race, the German GP had serious consequences for the Championship as a whole. The last stop in this quick three-race blast, MotoGP comes from Mugello next Sunday for the Italian GP, and then will be officially half over.

Race Results from the German GP at Sachsenring, Germany:

Pos.RiderNationTeamBikeTime
1Dani PEDROSASPARepsol Honda TeamHonda41’28.396
2Jorge LORENZOSPAYamaha Factory RacingYamaha+14.996
3Andrea DOVIZIOSOITAMonster Yamaha Tech 3Yamaha+20.669
4Ben SPIESUSAYamaha Factory RacingYamaha+20.740
5Stefan BRADLGERLCR Honda MotoGPHonda+27.893
6Valentino ROSSIITADucati TeamDucati+28.050
7Alvaro BAUTISTASPASan Carlo Honda GresiniHonda+28.246
8Cal CRUTCHLOWGBRMonster Yamaha Tech 3Yamaha+28.447
9Hector BARBERASPAPramac Racing TeamDucati+29.053
10Nicky HAYDENUSADucati TeamDucati+29.226
11Randy DE PUNIETFRAPower Electronics AsparART+53.176
12Colin EDWARDSUSANGM Mobile Forward RacingSuter+58.204
13Aleix ESPARGAROSPAPower Electronics AsparART+1’04.654
14Yonny HERNANDEZCOLAvintia BlusensBQR+1’13.543
15James ELLISONGBRPaul Bird MotorsportART+1’30.318
16Franco BATTAINIITACardion AB MotoracingDucati1 Lap
17Danilo PETRUCCIITACame IodaRacing ProjectIoda1 Lap
18Ivan SILVASPAAvintia BlusensBQR1 Lap
Not Classified
DNFCasey STONERAUSRepsol Honda TeamHonda1 Lap
DNFMattia PASINIITASpeed MasterART26 Laps
DNFMichele PIRROITASan Carlo Honda GresiniFTR27 Laps

Source: MotoGP; Photo: HRC

Top 5 Related Posts:

  1. MotoGP: Rain Provides Exciting Qualifying at Sachsenring
  2. MotoGP: Slippery Slope at the Malaysian GP
  3. MotoGP: Last-Lap Thriller at the Czech GP
  4. MotoGP: Qualifying Trouble for Ducati at the San Marino GP
  5. MotoGP: Time Marches on at the Japanese GP

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Comment:

  1. Fred Santos says:
    July 8, 2012 at 5:23 PM

    Dumb Stoner.

    Sad.

  2. Jonathan says:
    July 8, 2012 at 6:31 PM

    He was pushing. In fact he was leaned over so far that it was hard to tell when the leaning stopped and the crash started. It happened right about the time that the rain shower started too. Looks like Honda are getting on top of the chatter problem though. I know Dani always does well at the Sachsenring, but on the form of the bikes so far this season I was expecting the more nimble yamaha to be more competitive at this twisty track.

  3. Damo says:
    July 8, 2012 at 8:02 PM

    I have no idea why Stoner was pushing so hard. He should have been happy with 2nd and the lead in the championship.

    Imagine my happiness if for some reason Dani stays in form and snatches the crown from the two disposed kings!

  4. MikeD says:
    July 8, 2012 at 10:03 PM

    Stoner………..you are killing me here dude.

    Get your shit together, i know u can get out this year with the Championship in your pocket. (^_^)

    @Damo:

    I was saying the same, he didn’t need to finish first…just finish in the top 3, BUT…specially FINISH THE RACE.
    I bet he must be kicking his own ass right now. Live & Learn.

  5. KevinH says:
    July 9, 2012 at 1:05 AM

    How’s that ol’ chestnut go … “Aww Casey mate I guess your ambition outweighed your talent”. And to cap it all off, the Moto3 guys made you look like an even bigger ass.

  6. GeddyT says:
    July 9, 2012 at 9:30 AM

    Jensen… let’s at least keep the typos out of the headlines!

  7. spectre says:
    July 9, 2012 at 10:17 AM

    How did the moto3 riders make Casey look stupid? Missed that one…

    Seeing as it’s the first race he hasn’t finished since Japan last year, I think he can afford a bit of risk. Rain had just started to fall, who dares wins etc.

  8. Campisi says:
    July 9, 2012 at 4:26 PM

    “How’s that ol’ chestnut go … ‘Aww Casey mate I guess your ambition outweighed your talent’.”

    The first bit of MotoGP I ever watched began with that clip. Seeing Stoner be such an ass to Rossi after he ran over from his pit to apologize (and respond to Stoner’s quip with further humble apologies) soured me on the fellow. I respect his incredible riding talent, but to this day I can’t bring myself to think of his personality positively.

  9. KevinH says:
    July 9, 2012 at 5:23 PM

    Moto3 riders hauled ass on a heavily soaked track (that then dried out almost completely) and defied expectations that most of them would fall over. On rain tyres. After a dry practice.

    Post-race interviews put me off Stoner … I think he mistakes whinging and moaning for being humble?

    No doubt he can ride! But there are other riders who are far better sportsmen …

  10. MikeD says:
    July 9, 2012 at 5:45 PM

    @KevinH:

    Have u not know or maybe just conveniently forgotten that the most precarious time to be riding a motorcycle is when STARTS or STOPS raining and NOT when the pavement is fully soaked with clean water and not drenched with a slick mix of water, suspended tire dust and what not ?
    I think it was stated in this same article that started raining at the time of the incident…if memory serves my right*.

    Oh, by the way…i completely understand how a measly 250 * 4 STROKE * making close to 50-55hp is a TOTAL DEMON to control on WET Pavement when compared to a 250hp+ 1000cc Motorcycle…yes, INDEED, it would take skills of EPIC proportions. After all, GP Pilots get started on 250hp+ 1000cc bikes and work their way up to 50-55hp 250cc Screaming Banshees.

    P.S: Even tho im defending the guy here i made very clear before that what he did was a ” Total Bautista” move…im just giving credit to his fall but not his “star move”.

  11. KevinH says:
    July 9, 2012 at 6:47 PM

    You’d think a world champ wouldn’t forget either ;)

    Tell you what Mike – go out there in the rain and do some fast knee-down laps with a 250 then get back to us, eh?

    Bautista took out the championship leader … who did Stoner take out? Oh himself. Lorenzo back on top!

  12. MikeD says:
    July 9, 2012 at 7:08 PM

    Sorry dude, gonna have to let u down on that request…my bicycle has a flat as we speak…and it’s raining…don’t want to have a ” Stoner Moment ” … too much HP and not enough of a “clear head” to handle it…too much pressure.

  13. KevinH says:
    July 9, 2012 at 8:39 PM

    The irony is your sarcasm hits the nail right on the head there, Mike. Goes to show that even the greatest of us can let our ambition run away from our talent. Oh wait what – I said that already!
    QED.