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November 2009

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For 2010 Pirelli is introducing a new high-performance streetbike tire, the Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa. Replacing the Pirelli Diablo Corsa III, Pirelli intends the Diablo Rossa Corsa (DRC) to be the weapon of choice both on the track and on the street. With a pair of DCIII”s on our Ducati Streetfighter, we’re excited to see what the DRC brings to the table after hearing about the tire at EICMA this year.

What you see above is the Millepercento Alba sportbike, a custom street machine made from a Moto Guzzi twin-cylinder, four-valve, 1200cc motor. Millepercento started out life as a dealership, specializing in Moto Guzzi, Moto Morini, Benelli and MV Agusta motorcycles. After a sordid history the dealership found new management in 2005, and rekindled its presence as a Moto Guzzi race tuner. The bi-product of that rekindling of course is the Alba sportbike model shown here.

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This week the FIM announced the 2010 FIM e-Power International Championship will run in 2010 to showcase the latest in electric motorcycle technology. Four dates are planned so far that ironically run during endurance events. The details of the electric motorcycle class have not been announced so don’t start working on your battery swap technology just yet.

The biggest shock in this announcement is the absense of eGrandPrix in the press release but the silence told the tale. Azhar Hussain (CCR). Mr. Hussain explained he will continue with the events he has planned and has the backing of the major teams that have been involved with TTXGP to date. He expressed regret that the enthusiasts will not see technology improve as fast as it would if the two groups worked together.

Taking a motorcycle off the computer screen and into real life is a difficult process, and we always enjoy seeing an insight to that undertaking. As such, we present to you some wireframe drawings of the 2010 Aprilia RSV4 R to drool over. On a side note if you’re in the market for an RSV4, these images are the perfect template for designing your own bike paint scheme. Photos after the jump.

If the Bimota DB7R Diavolo Rosso is a bit much for your holiday wishlist, consider adding this equally overpriced holiday gift item. The Catena Wall Clock is a clever use of a bike chain and gears to tell the 24 hours in the day…well 12 hours in the day, you’ll have to figure out if its day or night on your own. A while we’d love to have one hanging in our office, the $2,338 price tag seems a bit much for what is essentially $20 in parts.

A stock Bimota in-of-itself is a special machine, and for some they are the epitome of motorcycle design. This leaves a high hurdle to improve upon, but Long Beach, California firm ArthaWorks Solutions felt up to the task. Taking a Bimota DB7R, the company spared no expense in taking the 1099cc Ducati 1098 motor and placing it into a carbon framed chassis. With a weight of 164kg (361 pounds) and 164hp on-tap, the bike achieves the golden 1:1 power-to-weight ratio. But if you want to get one in time for Christmas, you better be prepared to spend the $59,500 price tag.

In an announcement today by the Piaggio Group, Aprilia has officially abandoned its Moto2 project, and will not be competing in the 250GP replacement series, nor will it be providing race equipment for other Moto2 teams. The main reason for Aprilia abandoning the project is due to the spec-motor rule that sees a modified 600cc Honda powerplant used by all the teams, but as this rule has been known for some time, there is some confusion on why Aprilia waited so long to make this decision.

UPDATE 2: The 2010 Yamaha FZ8 has now been officially released.

UPDATE: Click these links to get the latest news on the 2010 Yamaha FZ8 & 2010 Yamaha FZ8R (Fazer 8)

Rumors of the 2010 Yamaha FZ8 appear to be true, as the Japanese company has just released this teaser shot of the new middle-weight naked bike. Details are non-existent scarce on the FZ8, but it is rumored the bike will be replacing the FZ6 in Yamaha’s 2010 line-up.