It’s the US GP at Laguna Seca, which fans should know by now means a special video from Yamaha Racing that features the tuning-fork brands riders. Instead of the elaborate plots lines, and amazing acting skills from some of MotoGP’s finest, Yamaha has toned it down a bit for 2013, and done a simple Q&A with nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi. With some help from Uccio, The Doctor got 12 questions, randomly selected from out of a helmet, which he answers in the video. Pretty basic, right? More like hilarious. If you didn’t have an understanding already of why Rossi is loved around the world, you will rapidly understand why with this video.
Confirming what we already knew, Nicky Hayden announced today, at the pre-race press conference in Laguna Seca, that he would not be on a Ducati machine in MotoGP next year. “I’m not coming back to Ducati in MotoGP next year. I’m not really sure what I’m going to do — I’ve got some options that are interesting,” said the Kentucky Kid. The news confirms reports that Ducati had told Hayden in Germany that a seat in the factory team would not be available for him in the 2014 season, which has further fueled rumors that Cal Crutchlow could be riding for Ducati Corse next season. As for Hayden, his options in the premier class appear to be rather limited.
Now 167 hp strong, those crazy Italians in Noale are upgrading there already stout Aprilia Tuono V4 R APRC for the 2014 model year, and for bonus points are adding an ABS package along with those extra ponies on the streetfighter’s peak horsepower figure. Integrating the Bosch 9MP dual-channel ABS package, which is mated to Brembo M432 brake calipers up-front, Aprilia has made the 2014 Aprilia Tuono V4 R a bit more stable while braking on questionable road conditions — keeping the bike inline with its competitors.
Just when it looked like the MotoGP silly season was getting ready to wrap up, a few new developments threw…
A couple hours ago, Roadracing World broke the story that AMA Pro Road Racing will not be aired on TV during the series’ first stop of the year at Laguna Seca this weekend — and for bonus points, AMA racing action likely won’t even be seen on the screens around the track, including the team hospitality suites and pit boxes. The word you are now looking for is “shitastrophe” — it’s in the dictionary, right next to the DMG logo.