Valentino Rossi is sporting another of his special helmets this weekend, for his home race at Misano. Designed by the Italian’s favorite designer, Aldo Drudi, Rossi’s new lid sports a large picture of a donkey’s face, and the words “The Donkey” written where normally it would say “The Doctor”. The helmet also features Rossi’s dogs wearing donkey ears, completing the donkey motif.
American Honda announced the 2010 CBR1000RR today, with the Fireblade getting some slight cosmetic and mechanical advancements for next year. This announcement, along with the 2010 CBR600RR (article coming soon), follows Honda’s earlier announcement of the 2010 Fury as well as the new, scooters, dirt bikes and ATVs.
In contrast to Confederate Motorcycles’s forth year on the Bonneville Salt Flats, Norton Racing is also present at Bub Week with their rotary-powered NRV588, trying their luck for the first time out on the salt. With no FIM sanctioned class to race in, Norton isn’t going for a land speed record per se, but instead hopes that their efforts this year will provide the adequate momentum to have a sanctioned LSR class for rotary motorcycles in 2010.
While the internet as a whole was resistant to the idea of an Italian bred street chopper, Italian firm Cafe Racers & Superbikes has picked up where Ducati may have left off.
After spending the last two years sprinkling Italian styling in the cruiser segment, the CR&S DUU (we think the name needs some work still) is finally taking a more clear shape, and will use a traditional chopper-esque American born 2.0L v-twin motor, surrounded by modern styling that takes its inspiration from the sportbike scense.
Ducati MotoGP project director Livio Suppo is insisting that rumors of Casey Stoner’s departure from MotoGP are untrue, and that the 2007 World Champion will be back in action at Estoril. Casey has also revieled his side of the story, saying that he “was doing something [he] hated”, but also confirmed his return at the Portuguese track.
MotoRevue is reporting that the 2010 Yamaha FZ1, like the 2010 Yamaha R6, will not be updated with the R1’s cross-plane crankshaft. The FZ1 is a shining example of Reaganomics, getting the trickle down technology of the YZF-R.
So, it comes with some surprise that we hear that it won’t get the MotoGP inspired crankshaft, but never fear loyal Fazzer owners, it does seem that the FZ1 will get some love in the next two years.
More spy shots for you this week as Motociclismo snapped shots of what appears to be the 2010 MV Agusta Brutale lapping around the Almeria Circuit in Spain.
It looks like both the 989RR and 1078RR were doing their testing duties on the track, and the photos reveal a new trellis frame design, possibly a new motor configuration, along with come other cosmetic changes to the current models.
Motoclismo must have a permanent seat at the hot test tracks in Italy, because they’ve caught Moto Morini’s contender to the Strada Aperta taking laps at the Adria circuit. Essentially a motard version of the Granpasso, the new bike has an ugly interesting head-on profile, but looks the business from the rear and sides.
We’re happy to be the first to report that after much adieu, Jorge Lorenzo and Yamaha Motor Company have finally signed a one-year extension to Lorenzo’s current rider agreement, meaning the Spanish rider will ride next year again as Rossi’s teammate for Fiat-Yamaha.
It’s a rare day that we something that makes us verbally go “whoa!”, but today is that day, and apparently we weren’t alone. The Kalex Engineering AV1 is a German purpose-built track bike. Angular and boxy, the AV1 reminds us of the KTM RC8 and the Ilmor Engineering GP bike, except hotter (we didn’t know that was possible). Underneath the show and glow, is a bike with all the right numbers.
As we reported earlier this week, Ducati has allegedly handed Lorenzo a very generous monetary offer to ride for the Bologna team for the next two seasons, replacing the ill and questionable Casey Stoner. Reliable sources are now stating that Lorenzo and Marlboro/Ducati have come to a basic agreement, and that a deal could be announced at the Indianapolis GP.