News comes today from South America that Francisco Lopez has won the 5th Stage of the Dakar Rally (which is not being held in Dakar this year) on his modified Aprilia RXV 4.5. This is Aprilia’s first stage win at the historic rally, with the rule changes to allow only 450cc motorcycles being a contributing factor to this success.
Zero Motorcycles has raised an additional $5.5 million in its Series A funding, bringing it’s total war chest to just over $10.5 million in funding to date. The Invus Groups seems to have lead, if not solely financed, the Series A round, and retains two seats on Zero’s Board of Directors. The funding is reported to “help grow the company”, which in these financial climates could mean anything from paying looming costs to amounting cash for harder days ahead. Whatever the reason, it’s a positive sign for Zero Motorcycles, and an early high-point to their 2010 accomplishments.
In the hands of one Frenchman, what began life as a mild-mannered Ducati 1098S Superbike, has turned into a water-cooled Hypermotard that would do the engineers in Bologna proud. Known to us only as “Krisfox”, this builder was looking for more than the standard streetbike experience. Wishing to see the more powerful water-cooled 1098 motor in a motard format, he set out to make one of his own, dubbed the Hypermotard 1098S. Pictures and more after the jump.
Here at A&R HQ, we resided in the sunny State of California, where helmets are mandatory while riding a motorcycle. However, at one point in time we were based in a state that made no such restriction. Seeing as how that state had a layer of permafrost 6 months out of the year, that set of juxtposition didn’t make a lot of sense to us, and neither do people that ride without a lid. Take a june bug to the noggin at 60mph and see how far exercising your personal freedom take you.
While we may not be able to change the laws across the United States, we may be able to appeal to peoples’ desire to stay alive. This seems to be the same sentiment that the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation took when they ran these ads in Vietnam. There’s no hand-holding here, it’s the harsh reality of crashing without a helmet. It’s called the “I Don’t Like Wearing a Helmet, It Ruins My Hair” ad campaign. Commercial spot and photos after the jump.
Roger Lee Hayden, younger brother to former MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden, has signed with Team Pedercini for the 2010 World Superbike season. Roger Lee rode the Kawasaki ZX-6R to an AMA Supersport Championship, so theoretically he should feel at home again on Team Green satellite team in WSBK. However, the liter-bike class has proven difficult for the younger Hayden. In his three years on the Factory Kawasaki AMA Superbike team, two of those years were shortened by serious crashes.
It’s been confirmed that Davide Tardozzi will indeed move down the World Superbike paddock, and into the BMW’s WSBK effort for the next three years. The Italian team manager was at the center of some controversy after rider Noriyuki Haga failed to win the 2009 World Superbike Championship by a handful of points.
Some critics inside and outside of the paddock chastised Tardozzi for not implementing team orders, which would have kept Xerox Ducati teammate Michel Fabrizio from capturing valuable points that Haga would later need in the series.
After yesterday’s announcement about the Roehr electric motorcycles, the eSuperbike and eSupersport, many were left wanting for more information about Roehr’s latest development. While we’ve been assured by Walter Roehrich that photos and details will be coming soon, that didn’t stop us from diving into some dumpsters, interrogating some witnesses, and charging $4.50 in late fees at the local library.
The end result? We can confidently say that the Roehr eSuperbike and eSupersport will cost $30,000 & $15,000 respectively.
There seems to be a back and forth going on as to whether John Hopkins will be riding with FB Corse at a limited number of MotoGP events this year. First there was the announcement that was picked up by major reporters and even some racing sponsors which slotted the American with the Italian team.
However when the news reached Bob Moore, Hoppers manager, he flat out denied that Hopkins had signed anything, and that they were still considering offers including a ride in the AMA. Now Italian site MotoBlog.it, which has been well connected to the FB Corse team from day one, is again saying the American will be in the riders seat at the team’s unveiling later this month.
After Ducati North America announced its pricing for the United States, we now know what the 2010 Ducati UK pricing is going to be. Unsurprisingly, Ducati has raised it’s prices to be in-line with the UK’s return to the 17.5% VAT rate. Check the prices after the jump, some are not what you’d expect.
Which is faster, bike or car? The debate has gone on for ages and the folks at Autocar have revisited the issue with this comparison video. Taking one of our favorite sports cars, the Nissan Skyline GT-R, and pitting it against the Bologna Bullet better known as the Ducati 1098S, we get to see some impressive results from both vehicles. Make your pick now, and see who won the track battle after the jump.
Roeher Motorcycles, maker of the 180hp supercharged 1250sc, has announced that they will be entering into the electric motorcycle scene with two bike offerings. The American sportbike manufacturer has also announced its intent to go racing with a company backed racing effort in the upcoming 2010 US TTXGP series. Roehr will also supply their eSuperbikes race prepped to teams wishing to race in either the TTXGP series or the FIM’s e-Power Championship.