Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 2011 – The Ducati Story

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 Announces Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Team with Carlin Dunne & Greg Tracy

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.

Cutaway Photos of the Ducati Superquadro Engine

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.

AGV, Please Make This Helmet!

In addition to testing the factory Ducati Desmosedici GP12 “Phoenix” this week at Sepang, Valentino Rossi is also trying out a new lid from AGV. Aside from the carbon fiber goodness, and of course the Rossi stickers (which add 5hp & $200), AGV’s prototype helmet sports a noticably pronounced rear spoiler. Tucked in behind the windscreen, it is obvious why the Italian helmet manufacturer designed such a large protrusion off the back of the prototype helmet, as it looks to be clearly helping the flow off the back of the helmet, across the rider’s hump, and down his backside.

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.

TTXGP Entries Announced

Wed, April 8th, 2009 @ 9:00 pm, by Jenny Gun5 COMMENTS
Home » Bikes » TTXGP Entries Announced

TTXGP Entries Announced motoczysz ttxgp

Entries for the upcoming TTXGP have been announced, and five teams have entered to run the Isle of Man on electric wheels. Mission Motors, EVO Design Solutions, Kingston University, Brammo, and Motorczysz will make up the field. The teams have just 64 more days to get their bikes ready for competition, which could be a tall order for some of them, whose bikes still only exist as CAD drawings.

We have a very reserved opinion on how TTXGP will go down. While these teams have been able to gain a great deal of attention in the blogsphere about their projects, it would seem virtually all of them haven’t actually built even a prototype yet (excluding Brammo). In the tech industry, we call this Vaporware, and with less than 10 weeks before race day, we have a hard time conceiving how all these teams will be able to deliver in this short of a time frame. Never-the-less, the TTXGP will be a big day not only for electric motorcycle racing, but also for electric motorcycles in general. Continue reading for a description of each team from their press releases.

Mission Motors

TTXGP Entries Announced mission one ttxgp 560x301

Mission Motors will race in the TTXGP with veteran motorcycle racer Tom Montano on the Mission One. Mission Motors is touting the Mission One as the fastest production electric motorcycle, the TTXGP should be a fine time for them to back that statement up with fact. With 25 years of racing experience, Montano, has achieved top-level finishes at the AMA, AFM, WERA, FIM & the Isle of Man. He also holds the distinction of being one of the fastest Americans around the Isle of Man TT course. Mission Motors will enter the Mission One in the Pro A class of the inaugural TTXGP.

EVO Design Solutions

TTXGP Entries Announced evo design solutions ttxgp 560x416

The EV-0 RR was created by design firm Xenophya Design with the goal of creating an evocative and exciting concept that would inspire sponsors to buy into the electric sportbike concept. The bike certainly looks the part, but then again that’s what Xenophya does for a living. The real test will be whether or not the EVO Designs Solution team can create the bike in real life. For the TTXGP, EVO Design Solutions is supposedly bringing 2 different models for the race:

EV-0 RR (twin GMS-M1 motor, carbon monocoque construction, lithium based battery technology, micro generator)
EV-0 R (single GMS-M1 motor, carbon monocoque construction, lithium based battery technology)

UK team EVO Design Solutions is based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in the East Midlands. The EVO team will be entering three bikes into the TTXGP – the EV0-R (Open Class x2) and the EV0-RR (Pro Class). Olie Linsdell will ride the Pro Class entry, while Paul Owens and 7-times TT winner Mick Grant will ride the Open Class bikes.

Kingston University

TTXGP Entries Announced kingston ttxgp

Kingston University in the U.K. has entered the Firstest. Again, this another bike that as far as we know, still only exists in CAD form. The Firstest will be powered by Lithium-Ion Phosphate batteries, and is anticipated to do about 70 mph around the Isle of Man circuit. What really excites us about this entry is the fact that it is a student project. Additionaly, Maria Costello, Kingston University’s rider, is a Guinness World Record holder as the fastest woman to lap the Isle of Man TT course.

Brammo – Enertia Electric

Brammo, the US manufacturer of the Enertia Electric motorcycle, was one of the first commercial teams from America to enter the TTXGP. A modified version of its Enertia motorcycle is currently under development for entry into the TTXGP. The Enertia is already available for purchase in the US and there are plans in place to make the Enertia road legal and commercially available in the UK. The Brammo team’s entry into the TTXGP is called the Enertia TTR and seasoned TT racer Roy Richardson will be the rider.

Motoczysz

TTXGP Entries Announced motoczysz ttxgp

Recently announced through a cryptic blog entry on the Motoczysz website, Motoczysz has decided to enter an electric motorcycle that would seem to carry-over some of the design and technology from its C1 MotoGP attempt. The rider will be Mark Miller.

Frame: MotoCzysz Carbon Fiber/Aluminum “Open Architecture”
Front Suspension: MotoCzysz 6X flex with gas filled single Ohlins damper
Rear Suspension: Ohlin’s with MotoCzysz swingarm and linkage
Front wheel / brakes: 16.5 x 3.5 Carbon BST with 320mm Brembo
Rear wheel / brakes: 16.5 x 6.25 Carbon BST with 220mm Brembo
Drive: MotoCzysz PMDC propulsion pack
Energy: Lithium Ion ‘Hot swap’ battery packs/digital configuration up to 15kWh
Control: 2,400A with regen
Weight: 195Kg
Power: 115hp+
Torque: 300 Ftlbs peak, 150 Ftlbs nominal
Max speed: 150mph+ (w/ single speed gear box)
175mph+ (w/ multi speed gear box)

Imperial College

TTXGP Entries Announced imperialbike

The Imperial College of London will have an entrant as well. Basing their design off a production motorcycle, and adding an electric motor in place of the gasoline powered one, the students hope to benefit from the engineering already in place in modern sport bikes. Their bike is slated to make 50hp, and weigh 640 lbs. From what we can gather, a Suzuki Hayabusa will serve as the donor motorcycle.

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Tagged under: Brammo Enertia, electric, electric motorcycle, EV-0RR, EVO Design Solutions, Kingston University, Mission Motors, Mission One, Motoczysz, Opinion/Editorial, race, TTXGP

Comment:

RennSau says:
April 9, 2009 at 11:43 AM
It is a shame that not one entry has released an actual picture of their racing cycles yet. You will know it when you see one it needs 20% MORE FAIRING BEHIND the rider than in front. The fairing design will be somewhat the genius of the team since the batteries, motors and controllers will be mainly sourced from outside suppliers.
Alex Crookes says:
April 9, 2009 at 8:01 AM
Nice precis on the TTXGP, with some pics – http://is.gd/rBTd. most of them still prototypes, so could be a very small field
IronWorks Magazine says:
April 9, 2009 at 8:05 AM
RT @EatSleepRide: Nice precis on the TTXGP, with some pics – http://is.gd/rBTd. most of them still prototypes…
Mission Motors TTXGP Entry Spotted at Infineon - Asphalt & Rubber says:
April 28, 2009 at 2:33 PM
[...] 45 days remain until the start of the TTXGP, and electric hopefuls that once only existed on paper are starting to hit the pavement. We were delighted this morning to [...]
BRose says:
May 22, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Man, I love what I’m seeing! Give it 5 years- these bikes will faster and actually more balanced than the conventional bikes – should be fun to watch.