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2011 Provisional World Superbike Calendar

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Now that MotoGP has finished its provisional calendar, World Superbike can release its dates for the 2011 season. With two tracks yet to be determined (one in Europe, and the other in Italy), the word provisional is very literal for this schedule. The April 17th date is traditionally done at Valencia, but rumors suggest that Dorna has strong-armed the circuit into disallowing World Superbike to race there in 2011.

Where WSBK will go in its stead remains a big question mark, as surely Infront Motors Sports would like an additional round in the ripe Spanish market (WSBK will be at Aragon June 19th as well). The other tentative venue is in Italy, which traditionally is the round at Imola. With budget and safety concerns surrounding the track, it’s again a country WSBK absolutely wants on its schedule, but finding the right host will be an issue.

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News

Ducati Diavel: Closer…closer…

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The folks over at have gotten their hands on a new 2011 Ducati Diavel photo, and were kind enough to ink in a red frame and racing stripe on the bike, to give us a better idea of what the production Italian performance cruiser could look like. With the final lines showing more fit and finish, the Diavel has really transformed before our eyes these past months. The swept back headlight design reminds us of something old and something new, but we’re still not in love with this bike yet (but we’re getting there). How about you?

Source: MotoBlog.it

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Rumors

Rumor: 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R Getting Horsepower Reduction for the American Market

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Immediately after the launch of the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R, which claimed a 207hp figure at the crank with ram-air (197hp sans the air), rumors began to swell that the new ZX-10R’s peak performance figure would be drastically less in the American market. Apparently and supposedly due to federal regulations by the EPA, Kawasaki will be lowering the rev-limiter on the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R in order to comply with US government provisions.

Whether those rumors are in regards to the ZX-10R’s emissions or noise levels at that rev range is unclear at this time, but speculation that the power decrease is due to the new 10R’s peak power figure being north of 200hp are completely unfounded (Editor’s note: the United States has no provisions, at both the state and federal level, that cap motorcycle horsepower performance levels from the factory). We’ve reached out to Kawasaki for an official response on the issue, more as we get it.

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News

Ducati Quietly Shows the GT1000 SportClassic the Door

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Noticeably absent from Ducati’s 2011 line-up is the Ducati GT1000, the last remaining SportClassic in the Ducati line. The move isn’t surprising to Ducatisti, who have seen the writing on the wall for the retro-classic for some time now. Using an obsolete air-cooled 992cc lump, the SportClassic line stuck out like a sore thumb in the Ducati supply chain, as the brand has continued to center itself around a small core of power plants for its different motorcycles. With no other current models sharing the older DesmoDue engine, and sales likely continuing to decline, Ducati has taken the the GT1000 out the barnyard door and put the beast out of its misery.

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Bikes

2011 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC Special Edition – More Than Just Traction Control Comes to the RSV4

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APRC, short for: Aprilia Performance Ride Control…that just about sums up the latest special edition motorcycle out of Noale. Taking the World Superbike winning RSV4 Factory, Aprilia joins a bevy of other manufacturers in applying race-bred electronic packages to their sport bike offerings for 2011. More than just a traction control system, Aprilia has added a multitude of electronics to the 2011 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC Special Edition.

Already leaked before Intermot, the Special Edition RSV4 Factory gets Aprilia Traction Control (ATC), which features 8 settings that are selectable via the left handlebar. However we also know now that the 2011 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC Special Edition comes also with Aprilia Wheelie Control (AWC) and Aprilia Launch Control (ALC), both of which have three settings. Similar to the Ducati 1198 series, the RSV4 is also getting a quick-shifter, dubbed the Aprilia Quick Shift (AQS), which allows the rider to shift gears without using the clutch and without closing the throttle. Photos and more after the jump.

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Racing

Official: Dani Pedrosa Out for Sepang

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After breaking his collarbone during practice at the Japanese GP, Dani Pedrosa’s chances of racing at Sepang for the Malaysian GP were held highly in question. With some close to the team suggesting Pedrosa would attempt to race in Malaysia, a press release this morning seemingly confirms that the Spaniard is out for the weekend’s races, instead intending to focus on a return at Phillip Island next week. This announcement is big news for Jorge Lorenzo, who is trying to lock up the 2010 MotoGP Championship. With only Dani Pedrosa having a mathematical chance of stealing the crown from his fellow Spaniard, Lorenzo now only has to finish 9th in Sunday’s race to claim his crown. Press release after the jump.

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Bikes

2011 Ducati Superbike 1198 SP Replaces Ducati’s Middle-Spec Superbike 1198 S

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Confirming what we already knew from ahead of Intermot, the 2011 Ducati Superbike 1198 SP will get a bevy of add-ons and upgrades for 2011, and help Ducati deplete its stockpile of 1198 lumps before the 2012 Superbike debuts next year. With a MSRP of $21,995, the 2011 Ducati Superbike 1198 SP gets a slipper clutch, Öhlins TTX rear shock (normally a $1,400 option), aluminum fuel tank with a .66 gallon larger capacity (4.75 gallons total, and normally a $1,500 option), and Marchesini forged aluminum wheels ($2,300 option).

2011 Ducati Superbike 1198 SP is taking the place of the Ducati Superbike 1198 S line, and even with all these goodies added to it, Ducati has only raised the price of the middle-spec Superbike by $200. If you’ve recently purchased a Ducati Superbike 1198 S, we feel sorry for you. More photos after the jump.

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Bikes

2011 KTM 1198 RC8 R Track

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We told KTM when we rode the 1198 RC8 R that it was the perfect bike for the track. Agile steering, gobs of v-twin power, sure-footed suspension…there really wasn’t anything more we could ask from the Austrian manufacturer (except maybe a price reduction and a free puppy with every purchase). Someone at KTM must have agreed with our sentiments, because the Ready to Race firm has taken that mantra to the next level with the 2011 KTM 1198 RC8 R Track, it’s ready to race incarnation of the KTM 1198 RC8 R.

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Bikes

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R Becomes Officially Official

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Finally breaking cover officially, the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R made its official debut at Intermot this week. For 2011, Kawasaki has taken a ground-up approach to building its liter-bike offering, and the Japanese company has its eye squarely on racing in World Superbike for 2011. Developing the race bike ahead of the street model, the new ZX-10R should prove to be a monster of a machine with its 197hp at the crank power figure (207hp with ram air) and 436.6lbs curb weight (+12lbs for ABS). However, for the US market the bike will get watered down by 10hp or so for emissions, which Kawasaki is quietly trying to downplay.

As we reported earlier , Kawasaki like many other brands is bringing an optional ABS system to the sportbike genre, but Japanese firm has also brought a very sophisticated traction control system to the party, which will be a standard option. Taking measurements every 5 milliseconds from the front and rear tire pickups, throttle position sensor, engine speed, and other inputs, Kawasaki’s S-KTRC, according to the company, is the most advanced traction control system to-date in the consumer market. With pricing starting at $13,799 MSRP (+$1000 for ABS), we’d certainly hope it’s the most advanced sport bike on the market.

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Bikes

2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 – The Fully Faired Z1000 Tourer

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Rumors have been swelling about Kawasaki introducing a full-faired version of its popular Z1000 street naked, and at Intermot today those rumors became true. Dubbed the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 (the bike is going by the Kawasaki Z1000S or Z1000SX name in other markets, which has lead other sites to misreport the model name for here in the US), the new heavyweight 1000 street bike uses the same 1043cc motor as the current Z1000, and remains largely unchanged from the Z1000 except for some modifications to make the bike fit a more touring-oriented segment.

Fitted with an adjustable windscreen and hard-mounts for panniers, Kawasaki hopes that the new Ninja 1000 will fill a sportier-touring role in the company’s line-up. Likely realizing that Z1000 owners like to log some miles on their bikes, the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 seems to be Kawasaki’s response to these adventurers’ wants, needs, and criticisms.

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