Jensen Beeler, Author at Asphalt & Rubber

Rumors

Aprilia RSV4 Race Replica Coming?

By Jensen Beeler 04/29/2010 4 Comments

MotoBlog.it is reporting that Aprilia is set to release a race-spec replica of its RSV4 superbike. While the rumor is not clear if this will be a track-only model, or street-legal race rep like the Desmosedici RR, what is clear is that the bike is expected come with a WSBK spec motor, chassis, and electronics package.

With a price tagged rumored to be around €50,000, the race replica RSV4 certainly won’t be cheap if it’s built, but compare that price to the €90,000 price tag that comes on Ducati’s 1198RS race bike that teams have to purchase from Bologna if they want to compete in WSBK, and the RSV4 starts looking very affordable. However, with most rumors, we’re not sure this story is all that it’s cracked up to be. Keep reading for our analysis and thoughts.

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Dirt

Dakar Rally Releases Route for 2011

By Jensen Beeler 04/29/2010 1 Comment

The organizers of the Dakar Rally have released details on the 2011 edition of the adventure race. Dashing hopes that the race would return to its namesake, the Dakar Rally will again be held in Chile and Argentina. With the route going as far north as the Peruvian border, Dakar riders will see many more sand-filled stages, and will have to contend with a number of rule changes. Stage schedule and more, after the jump.

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Racing

Question of the Day: Should Ducati Give Factory Support to Althea Ducati and Carlos Checa?

By Jensen Beeler 04/29/2010 9 Comments

Our good colleagues over at MotoBlog.it delved into this idea today, and it brings up an interesting issue. At what point does Ducati begin supporting the privateer efforts of Althea Ducati and its rider Carlos Checa?

Checa is of course already has a win under his belt this season, not to mention that he has had very strong and consistent finishes. Checa also leads the factory Ducati riders by 18 (Haga) & 50 (Fabrizio) points…all of which was accomplished on a machine that should be inferior to what Xerox Ducati has been racing, and achieving lesser results with to this point in the season.

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Rumors

More Troubles For Ruben Xaus in the Paddock Gossip

By Jensen Beeler 04/29/2010 4 Comments

We’re only four rounds in for the 2010 World Superbike season, and already there’s increased “talk” about the possibility of Ruben Xaus getting canned by at least the end of the season. After a stellar showing by the BMW crew at Assen (at least for Troy Corser) all eyes are again on Xaus who managed to crash four times (we feel like we’ve heard this before) at the Dutch track.

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Racing

Yoshimura Suzuki Set for WSBK Debut at Monza

By Jensen Beeler 04/28/2010 4 Comments

After getting grounded by a run amuk volcano, Team Yoshimura Suzuki is set to race in WSBK at the upcoming round in Monza, Italy. The team was originally set to race at Assen this past weekend, but having to fly from Japan, that possibility was dashed as flights were cancelled in and out of Europe.

Now as flights are once again moving, the team has merely shifted its wildcard racing plans, and set its sights on the Italian circuit. At Monza the team will used a modified version of its 2010 Suzuki GSX-R1000, which just won the Suzuki 8 Hours endurance race. At the helm of the Yoshimura Suzuki will be team rider Yukio Kagayama.

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Products

Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa Tires Get Personal

By Jensen Beeler 04/28/2010 2 Comments

At the EICMA show in Milan last year Pirelli debuted it’s new track & street tire, the Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa. The marketing scheme behind the DRC was the tire’s split-personality, and how it was tailored to meet the varying needs of performance riders. Taking this concept a step further, Pirelli has now made the sidewall of the Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa personalizable with various WSBK, country, and naming options available. More after the jump.

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News

First Quarter 2010 Motorcycle Sales Down 21% – March 2010 Sales Down 5%

By Jensen Beeler 04/28/2010 8 Comments

The Motorcycle Industry Council has released the latest figures on motorcycle and industry sales for the first quarter of 2010, and the figures show a 21% decrease in motorcycle sales compared to 2009, with the industry as a whole posting a 23% loss. These statistics paint a continued doom and gloom scenario for the motorcycle industry, but there is a silver lining in the March 2010 numbers, which show an increase in some segments, and a slowing decline in the rest. Check after the jump for a full breakdown.

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News

Funeral Home Embalms Murdered Rider on top of a Motorcycle – Yes You Just Read That

By Jensen Beeler 04/28/2010 7 Comments

The headlines don’t get much weirder than what you just read. Shot to death last Thursday, Puerto Rican rider David Morales Colón is having a rather unique memorial of his life. The 22-year-old rider has been embalmed by the Marin Funeral Home in San Juan, which has a reputation for creative embalming presentations. In Colón’s case this means being dressed and put in a riding position on-top of his race replica Repsol Honda. Video after the jump.

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News

Motorcycle Fatalities Drop 10% – Economy to Blame?

By Jensen Beeler 04/27/2010 5 Comments

In a report released by the AMA, which used data collected by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), on-road motorcycle falatities dropped by at least 10% during 2009 when compared to the year before. In 2008 there were 5,290 motorcycle deaths on US highways, but in 2009 this figure dropped to 4,762 deaths.

2008 was a record setting year not only in motorcycle sales, but also in motorcycle fatalities. Conversely, 2009 saw a massive reduction in motorcycle sales, and a 180° turn in motorcycle fatalities. With the upward trend of total deaths mirroring the trend of increasing motorcycle sales, and now also mirroring the recent downward trend in motorcycle sales, the correlation would seem obvious, if not logical.

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Bikes

Aprilia RXV 4.5 Rally Now Available to Private Teams

By Jensen Beeler 04/27/2010 2 Comments

After a strong showing at this year’s Dakar Rally, Aprilia has seen a growing demand from non-factory backed teams who are interested in running the Aprilia RXV 4.5 Rally bike in the Dakar and other adventure racing series. Bending to this demand, Aprilia, in conjunction with Team Giofil, will be making available ready-to-race RXV 4.5 Rally motorcycles to private riders.

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Bikes

Officially Official: 2010 Aprilia Shiver 750

By Jensen Beeler 04/27/2010 4 Comments

Last year we brought to you leaked photos of the 2010 Aprilia Shiver 750, which showed the naked bike getting a facelift from Aprilia. With its official press release on Friday, Aprilia has released more photos and details about the Shiver 750, which confirm our earlier reports. The 2010 Aprilia Shiver 750 looks as expected and features some minor touches like a lower seat, wave brake discs, revised sitting position, and a narrower rear wheel (5.5″ from 6.0″). Aprilia hopes these revisions will help sell a few more Shiver 750’s this year, and clear stock for the next iteration of the Shiver line. How do you think they did? Tech specs and photos after the jump.

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