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Paddock Pass Podcast #141 – The 2002 WorldSBK Season

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Episode 141 of the Paddock Pass Podcast is out, and this one takes down a trip on memory lane in the WorldSBK paddock, as Steve English, Gordon Ritchie, and Jensen Beeler talk about the 2002 World Superbike Championship.

One of the most memorable WorldSBK seasons, 2002 saw a battle for the championship between Colin Edwards and Troy Bayliss, which went down to the very last race of the season: the Showdown at Imola.

An iconic battle, the final race at Imola is considered by many to be the best motorcycle race of modern times, and it is certainly worth a discussion while we are all stuck at home because of the coronavirus.

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News

What the Future Looks Like for Norton Motorcycles

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While the year 2020 will be known almost exclusively for something else, for Norton Motorcycles the year marks a key point in the brand’s 100+ year history.

It is the year that the British marque collapsed in on itself, with accusations of fraud and mismanagement, and was then bought by India’s TVS Motor. The full history of the brand is still being learned and written in its most current chapters, but our eyes are already turning to the future of Norton Motorcycles.

Talking about his company’s acquisition of the Norton, Sudarshan Venu (Joint Managing Director of TVS Motor) has already given us some indication on what to expect.

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News

As Feared, Crude Oil Prices Tumble Even Further

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As we reported at the beginning of this month, fuel prices are sliding rapidly downward, as demand for gasoline and other petroleum products drops from the worldwide stay-at-home orders.

As a result of this at the start of April, the national average for fuel prices in the United States crossed the $2/gallon mark, and currently prices are being tracked at $1.77/gallon in the USA.

That figure is likely to drop even further though, as the price for a contract future on a barrel of oil has actually dipped into the negative figures (-$37.63/barrel) – an historical first and an alarming event.

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Racing

Sylvain Guintoli Gives 10 Tips for Riding Motorcycles on the Track

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Sylvain Guintoli is crushing it on YouTube right now, as the former WorldSBK champion continues to pump out insightful videos  about riding motorcycles while the world is stuck at home.

If you missed his explanation on why racers dangle their leg during braking, you should go watch it right now. It is the most exhaustive and complete breakdown on the subject that we have seen to date, and Guintoli combines his unique experience with clear explanations.

Moving ahead, the Frenchman is back with another video about riding technique, though this one is geared not so much towards racers and high-level track riders.

Instead, we think it fits well for intermediate-level riders who want to work on their track skills.

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News

Official: India’s TVS Motor Buys Norton Motorcycles

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It has been a long sad road for Norton Motorcycles lately, and we apologize for not covering the complete debacle that has unfolded from this historic British marque.

That being said, it is hard to condense what has happened to Norton in the past few months, as well as the accusations that have been levied at the company’s CEO Stuart Garner; but cutting to the point, the company has gone bankrupt, which has lead to allegations of the mishandling of funds and even of fraud.

Now after a week of rumors regarding a pending sale, on Friday we got confirmation that Norton Motorcycles has been sold to TVS Motors, the third-largest two-wheeled manufacturer in India, with a price tag of $20 million.

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Lifestyle

Now You Can Build Your Own Panigale V4 R Superbike, In Legos

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Ducati Panigale V4 R superbike in Lego bricks

There are two things I want to say off the bat. First, we will always post motorcycle-related stories about Legos – partially because Lego bricks hold a special place in this author’s formative years, but also because we want to support Denmark’s #1 export to the rest of the world.

Second, the Ducati Panigale V4 R is absolutely worth every dollar of its $40,000 price tag. Every. Dollar. The bike is amazing. If you want the best superbike on the market, there it is in all of its 230hp glory (of course you’re going to put the “optional” exhaust on it, are you kidding me??!).

That being said, if you want a slightly cheaper alternative to Ducati’s superbike opus, and have a little fun during these “stay at home” days, then we have a good option for you. Say hello to the Ducati Panigale V4 R superbike build kit from Lego.

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MotoGP

Paddock Pass Podcast #140 – The 2006 MotoGP Season

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Episode 140 of the Paddock Pass Podcast is out, and this one takes us back in time, to one of the best MotoGP seasons we have ever had. We are talking about the 2006 MotoGP Championship.

For this stroll down memory lane, this show sees David Emmett, Steve English and, Neil Morrison on the microphones talking about this epic season, and there is a lot to get excited about when talking about the 2006 season.

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Bikes

KTM 390 Adventure Priced at $6,200 for the USA, Arrives May 2020

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If you are looking for a pint-sized adventure-bike, and the BMW G310GS doesn’t slick your hair back, then the KTM 390 Adventure is surely something you have been following.

If that is the case, then you have been following the development of this bike for quite some time, with it taking the Austrian brand just over 6 years to get this bike to market.

But, the KTM 390 Adventure is finally ready for delivery, and in May 2020 it will land at American dealerships, with a price tag of $6,199 MSRP.

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Reviews

A “Short” Review About Riding the Ducati Streetfighter V4 S

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Every new model year, I sit down and write a short list with the bikes I simply have to swing a leg over before the year is out.

The list is governed mostly by what catches my personal interest, but also includes important machines across the different segments of the industry, with the idea that I want to be able to speak intelligently about them and what’s going on in our two-wheeled world.

For the 2020 model year, at the top of my list was the Ducati Streetfighter V4 S. The bike not only appeals to my sport bike loving temperament, but it also marks the return of Ducati back to one of its more core elements – the sport bike category.

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