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July 2009

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Ducati Enduro Spotted Road Testing in Italy

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Ducati certainly has been taking its time in releasing details on its alleged BMW GS killer enduro bike. So until we get official reports, we’ll have to suffice with spy shots from Italy that seem to keep pouring in. This time around a pair of bikes was spotted in Costa of Rovigo, in between Padova (near Venice) and Bologna, by Andrea Böhm.

While far-away, this photo does reveal more about the bike than we have previously seen. For starters the front is more exposed, with less tape hiding the lines of the front fairings and fender. The effect is an almost sinister view from the side, with the headlights just coming above the bulge that is supposedly a part of the ram-air tubing

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Racing

Kenny Roberts Eyes Moto2

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It looks like Kenny Roberts will be returning to premiere motorcycle racing, this time in the upcoming Moto2 series. The new Moto2 series is almost a replay of Roberts’ earlier endevours into MotoGP, a honda motor and a custom chassis.ÊRoberts bowed out of MotoGP in 2007 after money dried up for his Proton backed team, and they were not able to remain competitive.

However, with the expected lower costs of running in the Moto2 series, Roberts may have found the perfect fit for his tight budget, and custom chassis making experience. Also, with Robert’s team already in place loosely, working on a 600cc track bike, the conversion over to the Moto2 should be fairly painless.

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News

Ken Block vs. Ricky Carmichael

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Possibly the best car show on television…ever, Top Gear has been at it again. This time the boys have sent Capt. Slow, James May, out to an airport to meet rally driver Ken Block and his Subaru Impreza rally car for a little Sunday drive.

Queue a few well-timed turns, some great photography, and toss Ricky Carmichael into the mix to see what happens. While not quite our area of focus, we thought any gearhead would appreciate this find.

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Racing

Rossi Discovers the Internet

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Despite being the media-magnet that he is, Valentino Rossi has always lacked an official website of his own. Web going motorcycle racing fans have had to suffice themselves with the plethora of fan sites out there, including the Official Valentino Rossi Fan Club site. But, all these sites missed one thing, Rossi himself.

That’s all about to change. Rossi has teased the web with his upcoming site. Call it: The Doctor 2.0, valentinorossi.com. The site has been under development for the last 3 months, but just from the look of the splash screen, it would seem we can expect that usual antics from the outgoing Italian rider once it has officially opened its doors.

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Bikes

Martini Racing Ducati 1098: Something New, Something Old

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We love the old 50’s, 60’s, & 70’s race cars here at A&R, and when we saw this Ducati 1098S done up in the Martini Racing livery, we were just smitten with the result. This particular bike was made right here in northern California, by a local dealership, Hattar Motorsports. Be sure to stop by there when you place an order for your new NCR Corse Millona.

Getting both shiny and go-fast parts, the Martini 1098 would be all the rage at your local track day…if you could part with it from your living room…you know, where’d you’d have it as a conversation piece.

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Racing

MotoGP: A Bumpy Independence Day Weekend

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This weekend was a double-wammy for American motorcycle enthusiasts as we celebrated our Independence Day on Saturday, and the coming of MotoGP to Laguna Seca on Sunday. Despite the weather being cooler than in previous years, Seca proved once again to be a hot track that would be no open book to race teams.

Teams and riders had problems keeping both sides of the tires in the sticky, and suspension proved to be an issue on the bumpy and rough Seca tarmac. That didn’t stop a few riders from breaking away from the group though, and giving the American fans some fine laps of racing. Continue through to read more.

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Banter

Happy Valentino Rossi Day

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Chuck Della Sala, Mayor of Monterey City, visited Laguna Seca today, and proclaimed July 5th to be Valentino Rossi Day.

Valentino was also awarded a key to the Laguna Seca circuity by Ken Lofink, President of SCRAMP (Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula).

Thankful for his dual-honors, Rossi commented, “I want to thank the people of Monterey and the Laguna Seca track for these great honours! I love racing here and I have enjoyed it ever since we first came in 2005 so I am very proud to have this day named after me. I hope I can put up a good performance this afternoon to thank everyone for this.”

A reminder: today’s race will not be on SpeedTV here in the US, but on FOX instead. Coverage there starts at 2pm.

Source: MotoGP

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News

MotoGP: Fiat-Yamaha Qualify 1-2 at Laguna Seca Despite High-Sides from Lorenzo and Stoner

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Working at the Yamaha North American office must have paid off for Fiat-Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, as they take the first two spots on the grid for tomorrow’s start of the US GP.

“George” will start from the pole position, at Seca while he looks to gain the 5 points that Rossi holds over him in the MotoGP Championship standings. With Rossi in the second spot on the grid, they will be joined by the lone Ducati of Casey Stoner.

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Rumors

No Kawasaki in 2010 MotoGP?

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Rumors are flying as to whether Kawasaki will be on the MotoGP grid come 2010. If the Italian press is to be believed, Hayate Team Manager Andrea Dosoli has already declared that Hayate will be a no-show for next season.

However, an interview with Marco Melandri at Laguna Seca, by reliable MotoGP Matters, suggests that Kawasaki has yet to make a decision on MotoGP, and could be holding judgment until after the next round at the Sachensring .

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