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.

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.

WSBK: Race 1 at Imola Takes the World Superbike Championship Up Another Level

Sun, September 27th, 2009 @ 5:23 pm, by Jenny Gun4 COMMENTS
Home » Racing » WSBK: Race 1 at Imola Takes the World Superbike Championship Up Another Level

Racing went off without a hitch this Sunday, as the Imola circuit seemed devoid of earlier traction problems that almost sidelined the racing earlier this week. With Imola sitting literally in Ducati’s backyard, all eyes were on the Xerox Ducati squad, and Noriyuki Haga.

Haga, who trails Ben Spies for the first time this season coming into Imola, was especially keen on grabbing back some points from the American. Lastly, a new addition to the WSBK paddock took the form of Marco Simoncelli, who was filling in on the factory Aprilia team for the injured Shinya Nakano. A full race report with spoilers after the jump.

The Italian motorcycles clearly were dialed-in for Imola this weekend, with the Ducati’s showing strong results, as well as the RSV4′s of Biaggi and Simoncelli. So it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see that Race 1 at Imola was dominated by the close racing between the Italian machines, with American Ben Spies trailing and Johnny Rea a brief factor.

With Biaggi leading the majority of the first race at Imola, Sunday looked to be a good outing for the Aprilia squad. This mood was only affected by Marco Simoncelli’s early departure from the race, as he crashed while in 5th place (after moving up the second wave of riders with skill and ease). Simoncelli more than made-up for his Race 1 performance in Race 2 thought (more on that later). In fact, it looked like Biaggi might take it all the way to the podium before Haga passed him with three laps to go.

Once Haga had gotten around Max, he was never to be seen again, and Biaggi had to contend with an equally fast Michel Fabrizio, who at times was also showing Biaggi a wheel. Holding Fabrizio off through the rest of the course, Biaggi found himself on the second step of the podium. The Texan Ben Spies was less of a factor during the race, content to finish 4th for the race, and unable to match the speeds of the Italian beasts. With that result, Spies’ lead over Haga is reduced to just 6 points.

Johnny Rea also contended with the leaders, until a hot entry on lap three saw Rea cut-through the lead pack. Barely missing the pair of Xerox Ducatis as he over-shot the turn, Rea ended-up dumping the bike in the gravel, as he lightly hit the air wall. He would rejoin the race and finish 7th. Thankfully this move had no impact on the WSBK Championship standings.

Results from Race 1 of World Superbike at Imola, Italy:

Pos.	Num.	Rider	Country	Bike	Diff
1	41	N. Haga	JPN	Ducati 1098R	-
2	3	M. Biaggi	ITA	Aprilia RSV4 Factory	2.074
3	84	M. Fabrizio	ITA	Ducati 1098R	2.190
4	19	B. Spies	USA	Yamaha YZF R1	5.438
5	9	R. Kiyonari	JPN	Honda CBR1000RR	14.470
6	91	L. Haslam	GBR	Honda CBR1000RR	14.685
7	65	J. Rea	GBR	Honda CBR1000RR	26.822
8	96	J. Smrz	CZE	Ducati 1098R	32.694
9	66	T. Sykes	GBR	Yamaha YZF R1	33.817
10	23	B. Parkes	AUS	Kawasaki ZX 10R	34.801
11	11	T. Corser	AUS	BMW S1000 RR	35.286
12	111	R. Xaus	ESP	BMW S1000 RR	36.442
13	31	K. Muggeridge	AUS	Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9	38.698
14	15	M. Baiocco	ITA	Ducati 1098R	42.147
15	71	Y. Kagayama	JPN	Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9	46.510
16	99	L. Scassa	ITA	Kawasaki ZX 10R	46.628
17	94	D. Checa	ESP	Yamaha YZF R1	1’16.121
18	25	D. Salom	ESP	Kawasaki ZX 10R	1’16.398
RET	77	V. Iannuzzo	ITA	Honda CBR1000RR	8 Laps
RET	58	M. Simoncelli	ITA	Aprilia RSV4 Factory	12 Laps
RET	67	S. Byrne	GBR	Ducati 1098R	13 Laps
RET	7	C. Checa	ESP	Honda CBR1000RR	14 Laps
RET	10	F. Nieto	ESP	Ducati 1098R	14 Laps
RET	100	M. Tamada	JPN	Kawasaki ZX 10R	16 Laps
RET	124	L. Conforti	ITA	Ducati 1098R	16 Laps
RET	14	M. Lagrive	FRA	Honda CBR1000RR	18 Laps
RET	57	L. Lanzi	ITA	Ducati 1098R	19 Laps

Top 5 Related Posts:

Tagged under: Ben Spies, imola, italy, Max Biaggi, Michel Fabrizio, Noriyuki Haga, Race 1, superbike, world superbike, World Superbike Championship, WSBK

Comment:

Kerry Powell says:
September 27, 2009 at 5:26 PM
WSBK: Race 1 at Imola Takes the World Superbike Championship Up … http://bit.ly/AZwhu
Motorcycle_Heads says:
September 27, 2009 at 6:18 PM
WSBK: Race 1 at Imola Takes the World Superbike Championship Up …: Motorcycle news, Industry Rumors, MotoGP, .. http://bit.ly/oCUzz
Razvan Popescu says:
September 27, 2009 at 6:48 PM
WSBK: Race 1 at Imola Takes the World Superbike Championship Up … http://bit.ly/Kk1sZ
Asphalt_Rubber says:
September 27, 2009 at 9:23 PM
WSBK: Race 1 at Imola Takes the World Superbike Championship Up Another Level – http://bit.ly/2sdop #motorcycle