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.

Spy Shot: MV Agusta F3 3-Cylinder Caught Testing

Wed, September 9th, 2009 @ 1:00 pm, by Jenny Gun15 COMMENTS
Home » Popular » Spy Shot: MV Agusta F3 3-Cylinder Caught Testing

Spy Shot: MV Agusta F3 3 Cylinder Caught Testing 2011 MV Agusta F3 spy shot 1 635x485

MV Agusta is rumored to have a 3-cylinder motorcycle in the works that’s smaller than the current F4, and Motociclismo was lucky enough to find it wandering about in the wild. Already dubbed the F3 (by the media, not MV), we know very few concrete facts about the F3, other than the visibly higher clutch case, and smaller front forks. The rest of the information is based on speculation and a little triangulation. Continue past the jump to read it.

Allegedly, the bike’s three cylinders will make a combined displacement of 675cc, and put out 140hp at 14,000 rpm’s. Weight is said to be around 350lbs, and the overall stature of the motorcycle is smaller than the F4.

The weight savings will come from the typically liberal use of carbon and magnesium by MV, but the bike is still expected to slot in below the F4 in the price department.

Spy Shot: MV Agusta F3 3 Cylinder Caught Testing 2011 MV Agusta F3 spy shot 2 635x416

Other features include the absence of a counter-shaft, a reduced-mass flywheel, and a set of variable height throttle bodies. Most noticeably absent from the F3 is MV’s signature single-sided swingarm, and undertail exhaust. Instead a GP style exhaust protrudes from the fairing, much like a Yamaha R6.

Not expected to come out of hiding until Fall of 2011, we are not anticipating getting a chance to see the F3 at this year’s EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, maybe next year though. Still, that won’t stop us from annoying everyone at the MV booth about the motorcycle.

Source: Motociclismo

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Comment:

  1. VintageWrencher says:

    Any word if it is a MV cast and built engine or are they using a Triumph as a base platform?

  2. RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Spy Shot: MV Agusta F3 3-Cylinder Caught Testing – http://bit.ly/MCnx7 #motorcycle

  3. reality check says:

    “Any word if it is a MV cast and built engine or are they using a Triumph as a base platform?”

    where does someone come up with a comment like that? From the inception of MV Agusta through the contemporary machines, MV Agusta has always been a machine designed, manufactured, and assembled in house. it’s poorly informed speculation like that that starts ridiculus rumors that get passed there have been many variations of cylinder configurations so a possible triple is like another fond homecoming for the brand. not knocking the triumph as they are wonderful at what they do, but MV is another realm altogether.

  4. Spy Shot: MV Agusta F3 3-Cylinder Caught Testing – http://bit.ly/MCnx7 #motorcycle

  5. VintageWrencher says:

    I found it ironic that the only other current production triples on the market to the best of my knowledge are the Speed Triple and the Daytona/Street Triple the latter being 675cc which is the same capacity as the above MV. I thought I would ask that question.
    Wasnt trying to start any rumours just asking a question. How is one supposed to learn if they dont ask questions?

  6. reality check says:

    Thank you vintage wrench for your response. Sorry to be hasty in my comment in any way. You made a fair point to follow up and it deserved a respectful response. Many are still not familiar with MV Agusta, at least not as much as in Europe – however it is well worth further exploration as an authentic brand with a rich history to back it up.

  7. VintageWrencher says:

    I am somewhat familiar with the brand through it’s racing exploits into the ’70′s but that is about it. Havent studied up on the marque since the Castiglioni(sp?)/Cagiva purchase other than checking out their exploits in Super Stock racing and being of the opinion that Tamburini has penned another stunning piece in the F4.

  8. Gabe says:

    Reality Check, you need a reality check: it’s common for engineers and product developers to use rival brand’s engines for chassis testing and other uses. I don’t have information either way, but who knows what’s going on at Varese with H-D writing the checks and calling the shots? Not me, and not you, I’d wager.

  9. reality check says:

    What was the amount of the wager?

  10. reality check says:

    Besides Gabe, Perhaps your missing the point which I believe was is mv building producing a bike with an engine supplied by triumph? Answer’s no. There are still countless folks walking around thinking the F4 has A Suzuki engine because a comment was made by an engineer during an interview that MV looked at the GSXR 750 at the time as a benchmark to be surpassed. Many read and saw this and mistook that Suzuki motors were used. One look at the engine and this is clarly not the case and yet the false rumor has been peretuated for years.

  11. meatspin says:

    I do enjoy the righteous indignation of MV owners/fans upon suggestion that MVs all use engines provided by Suzukis.

    hmmmm in all seriousness this triple does sound suspicious. At 675cc one must wonder………..lol

  12. Douglas says:

    Several points:
    1) Triumph doesn’t really have the capacity to be supplying engines to any other manufacture, and wouldn’t in any case. The D675 is the crown jewel in their collection right now.
    2) Triumph currently produces 3 triple cylinder engines: 675, 1050, and 2300 in the Rocket III
    3) The decision by MV to build a 675 is clearly based on wanting to compete in supersport racing, where rules were recently changed to allow 675 triples to compete with 600 fours.
    4) The details as speculated of the MV 675 are significantly different from the Triumph 675: Triumph would be unlikely to supply a motor to a different manufacture producing 10 more horsepower than their own bike, and the Triumph motor doesn’t have variable length intakes or any of the other candy speculated for the MV.

    So not a Triumph. It may end up to be a superior bike, but the Daytona is still a wizard bit of kit and the MV will certainly be more expensive. The Triumph 675 engine is also rumored to be capable of being enlarged to over 900cc, which would make it a screamer indeed.

  13. ihb says:

    [img]http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff221/Khameron2/screenshot_702.jpg[/img]

  14. Jenny Gun says:

    me thinks that’s a fake.