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.
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.
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).
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I would really like to see this bike for sale next year. it looks great, hope they don’t mess up the lights. keep it a 1up (forget the 2 seater). i would love to own an american bike.
“Hey there is fans in der, what tha heck gives?” HAHAHA!
WWWOOOOOOHHOOOOOOO!!!!! Go Erik!
Please, please, please…
Good God Harley Davidson made a stupid move in axing Buell. I sure hope Buell makes a come back. I will never cross the threshold of a Harley dealer.
I sure hope we have a real contender on our hands with this bike
WANT
I’ll look forward to it’s debut }:)
Man, that thing looks BEEFY… i like it ! , not a fan of that front brake tho.
C00l bike, wake me up when it becomes reality (selling at some dealer’s showroom floor). The more choices the better.
I hope this will press somehow some of the the big fours develop sporting HONKIN 1200cc twins (RC51, TL1000S) like they used to before Buzzing Bombs I-4 became all the RAGE.
I’ve got an 1125R and would love to see them put out a street 1190.
Maybe now Buell can do the bike the way he wants and how HD thinks it should be done.
Sure, he has less resources now but maybe more freedom to do it their own way.
Put me on the list! I suspect the first few will be high-priced and hard to get. Hopefully I’ll be able to afford one, but if not, I can wait. Just the thought that we might finally see an American world-beater is exciting even if I won’t be able to afford it.
Ok Buell, We’ll Bite… – http://aspha.lt/18j #motorcycle
Is Erik Buell set for a comeback? Let's hope so. http://bit.ly/aEqia7 [via @Asphalt_Rubber]
Hehe! RT @Asphalt_Rubber Ok Buell, We'll Bite… – http://aspha.lt/18j #motorcycle
We all know the day is coming. Start saving, boys and girls, it’s time for a fun new toy!
NOW, I’m interested in Buell.
I had no interest in those Harley engined bikes. Then came the HIDEOUS 1125′s
But now, free of those Iron vibrating lumpheads, Eric can make proper sportbikes. I’ll take one…two if they come in funky colours ;)
I hope they he can start building soon. that bike looks/sounds sick
I also hope that they eventaully make a middle weight variant as well, something maybe 800-900 cc (AKA cheaper too) that i can maybe get in the saddle of!!
COME ON EBR!!!
Think 180 HP 1190cc CR. Brutale THIS!
R
CarbonBigfoot: Just whats i was thinking too, along with a half faired version maybe a la Sprint RS & TL1000S.
I predict the S1000rr will crush it flat.
@Unclewill: LMAO…
We’ll wait for an official announcement from Avril Foujour.
Heh… love it, im with the half faired version as well. I own a TL1000s and it was purchased because i love the nakeness and v-twin, but couldnt afford a Buell. Hopefully, now that i am later on in life, if this becomes a reality it may be my next bike….
its no longer official but rather unoficially official :) she is in preproduction testing…
here is the link
http://www.ratpakrecordsamerica.com/erikbuell