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After 10 Years of Waiting, The Benelli 752S Is Finally Coming*

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It started life as the Benelli 2ue, debuting at the 2009 EICMA show as a follow-up model to the gorgeous (but horribly flawed) Benelli TnT 1130 series. The next year, the concept stayed the same, though the name changed to the Benelli Due – the “two” referring to the parallel-twin engine of this middleweight, distinguishing it from its three-cylinder sibling.

Since then, Benelli’s 750cc-class naked sport bike has popped up here and there, teasing us relentlessly. Last year at EICMA, the machine showed up again as a concept, slightly changed from its previous incarnation, though largely the same.

Now, we are being told that the 2019 Benelli 752S is ready for primetime (we have heard that before, mind you), and seemingly still, the Italian designed motorcycle continues to intrigues us.

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WSBK

Eugene Laverty and the Politics of Racing

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“When the music stops you need to grab a seat,” is a kids game, but in the grown-up business of the paddock, it is still just as relevant as if you were at a birthday party.

Unfortunately for Eugene Laverty, he’s been left as one of the last riders chasing a seat for 2019, and with Marco Melandri, Loris Baz, Jordi Torres, and Xavi Fores all also running in circles, the clock is ticking until the music stops for good.

Having thought that he’d be sticking with Shaun Muir Racing for next year, as the team switches to BMW machinery, the Irishman now finds himself on the outside looking in. From feeling secure that he would have a good ride for 2019, he suddenly finds himself staring at limited opportunities.

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Rumors

Leaked: Photos and Details of the 2019 BMW R1250GS Adventure

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EICMA might be next week, but the 2019 BMW R1250GS Adventure is hitting the internet right meow. Leaking ahead of the trade show in Milan, an Italian YouTube channel has the scoop on the venerable ADV bike, giving us our first look at the new ShiftCam powered BMW R1250GS Adventure.

As you would expect, the new BMW R1250GS Adventure shares a motor with the rest of the water-cooled boxer lineup, which means a 1,254cc displacement for the boxer-twin engine, which makes 134hp (100 kW) and 92 lbs•ft of torque, with help from its variable valve timing setup.

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Rumors

Specs of the 2019 BMW S1000RR Leak: 204hp, 434 lbs Wet, ShiftCam Variable Valves

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Some of the technical details of the 2019 BMW S1000RR have been leaked to Facebook, which show the upcoming superbike to make some considerable gains over its predecessor. We first saw the leak from US tuner Alpha SBK, which posted a photo of the basic specs on its Facebook page.

The goods? 204hp (152 kW) at the crank, with 83 lbs•ft of torque, which is aided by the new ShiftCam valve train that debuted on the BMW R1250GS and other “R” models from BMW Motorrad.

Curb weight is 434 lbs, when 4.35 gallons of fuel is in the bike. That weight can be reduced to 427 lbs, when the option “M Package” is installed, which includes a bevy of carbon fiber pieces and forged wheels.

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News

Dani Pedrosa Signs Two-Year MotoGP Test Rider Deal with KTM

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It had been widely rumored, and long expected, but KTM has finally confirmed that Dani Pedrosa will be a test rider for the Austrian factory for the next two seasons. Pedrosa will take on the role alongside current test rider Mika Kallio.

Rumors that Pedrosa would take on a testing role with KTM have been circulating for some time, ever since it became clear that Pedrosa would not be part of the Repsol Honda team.

The Spaniard had been linked to the Petronas Yamaha seat as well, but in the end, he felt that some of the joy had gone out of racing, and he didn’t feel he had the intensity to keep racing beyond the end of this year.

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Bikes

Triumph Scrambler 1200 Debuts in Two Flavors

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We have been waiting for the 2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 for some time now, and the day is finally here that we get to see this heavyweight dual-sport.

The Triumph Scrambler 1200 comes in two flavors: the XC model (below) is more street-focused in its design, while the XE model (above) offers a more off-road oriented package for riders, along with more premium features.

Both bikes are based around the Bonneville’s “high power” 1,200cc parallel-twin engine, which means that the Triumph Scrambler 1200 makes 89hp and 81 lbs•ft of torque.

The Scrambler 1200 XC tips the scales at 452 lbs (dry), while the Scrambler 1200 XE model is four pounds heavier, at 456 lbs (dry) – making both bikes quite heavy for their stated purpose.

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Bikes

MV Agusta F4 Claudio, The Final Superbike

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MV Agusta is set to retire the MV Agusta F4 superbike, but not before one last farewell. A final homage to the venerable machine, and a nod to the man who helped create it, the MV Agusta F4 Claudio is the supreme example of the Varesini company’s focus on performance and art. As such, only 100 examples will be produced.

The special edition model is based off the MV Agusta F4 RC platform, which means a 212hp inline-four engine when the dual-tipped race exhaust from SC-Project is installed. Peak torque hits 85 lbs•ft at 9,300 rpm, with a redline that reaches to 14,200 rpm. The bike still manages 205hp in street-legal trim.

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Rumors

Updates Coming to the KTM 1090 Adventure

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Spy shots from Europe suggest that the KTM 1090 Adventure is getting some updates. The changes appear to be a mix of cosmetic and functional, with the biggest difference on the new model being its front bodywork design.

While giving the KTM 1090 Adventure a bit of a makeover for what we assume will be the 2019 model year, this refresh also seems to include a new fuel tank design, borrowed from the soon-to-be-released KTM 790 Adventure R.

This means that low-slung side-mounted fuel tanks are coming to the KTM 1090 Adventure, which should dramatically help handling and lower the center of gravity on this big ADV bike.

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Bikes

Ducati Panigale V4 R Racer Debuts, Makes Dry Clutches Great Again

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One of the bikes we are most looking forward to seeing debut this new bike season is the Ducati Panigale V4 R. This weekend, we got part of that hope fulfilled, as the race version of the Panigale V4 R debut at the British Superbike round at Brands Hatch.

On the machine was Ducati MotoGP test rider, Michele Pirro, who undoubtedly has been helping hone the superbike for its true racing debut next season, in the World Superbike Championship.

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WSBK

WorldSBK Moves to Three-Race Format for 2019 Season

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The World Superbike Championship needs to do something different, to give fans something unique and different from the other motorcycle racing championships…or so the thinking goes.

Many ideas have been put forward, some more crazy than others, so it doesn’t surprise us to hear that WorldSBK will be making the bold move of going to a three-race format for its race weekends.

Keeping the first race on Saturday, and another full race on Sunday, the World Superbike Championship will now add a sprint race to the Sunday schedule.

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Bikes

Here Is the “New” 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R

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In a few hours, the 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R is going to debut at the AIMExpo in Las Vegas…so of course here are some photos and details on this “new” supersport, a bit early.

While there was much anticipation for this new machine before the trade show, it looks like Team Green is giving the 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R more of a modest refreshing, rather than an all-new treatment.

For American readers this news will be a bit of a yawn, but for our friends across the pond, this means that Kawasaki is re-entering the supersport market in Europe, which is of course welcomed news.

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