In an announcement today by the Piaggio Group, Aprilia has officially abandoned its Moto2 project, and will not be competing in the 250GP replacement series, nor will it be providing race equipment for other Moto2 teams. The main reason for Aprilia abandoning the project is due to the spec-motor rule that sees a modified 600cc Honda powerplant used by all the teams, but as this rule has been known for some time, there is some confusion on why Aprilia waited so long to make this decision.
After updating their company logo last year at EICMA, Ducati felt it was time to get the Ducati Corse logo in-line with the new company branding. As such, at Milan this week the company announced a new racing logo, which has already begun to show up in the United States, and will work its way into Europe and other markets as they deplete current usage of the old mark.
Are you a European youth with a propensity to get your track day or wheelie on? If you said yes, then KTM might have a bike for you. Unveiled at EICMA yesterday, KTM has brought out two concepts that are designed to engage teens into motorcycling. Based around a KTM 125cc enduro platform, the KTM 125 Race Concept (above) and KTM 125 Stunt Concept (below the jump) have only 15hp, but pack plenty of style and attitude. More details on the concept and photos after the jump.
MotoMatters is now confirming that as early as 2012 we will see MotoGP racing back in the liter-bike category. Never popular with the manufacturers, the 800cc rule change not only cost teams in added development costs, but also never brought the promised the safety and closer racing that is was supposed to offer. For the moment it appears MotoGP will remain a prototype class, with there being no discussion of a production motor being used (like in Moto2), at least at this time.
After a reasonably successful World Superbike debut, BMW is ready to take their S1000RR racing in the World Superstock class for 2010. The team will officially wear the BMW Motorrad Italia banner, but will have full factory support from Bavaria. Heading up the new team will be Serafino Foti, of Ducati WSS Championship fame…three years running.
Even though the 2009 MotoGP season isn’t over yet, that hasn’t stopped the folks at Laguna Seca from opening up ticket sales for the 2010 races. While Laguna Seca may not host AMA racing this year, it will get the chance to host the all-American and all-Texan crew of Ben Spies and Colin Edwards.
Want further proof that HRC is trying to buy their success in 2010? Just confirmed is the news that Livio Suppo will be leaving Ducati Corse for HRC. After 11 years with Ducati, Suppo for many reasons has been the driving force and ethos of the Corse team. His departure signals not only an active acquisition strategy at HRC, but also a shake-up at Ducati Corse. While Suppo cites HRC’s offer as an opportunity difficult to resist, there seems to be some speculation about his departure being related to Ducati Corse courting Valentino Rossi for the 2011 season. Helping fuel this rumor is the fact that former Ducati test rider, Vito Guareschi, will take over as the new team manager.
Ben Spies is gearing up for a weekend in the Spanish city of Valencia, as MotoGP makes its last stop of the 2009 season. Appropriately, Yamaha is also getting ready for the addition of Ben Spies into the Tech3 Yamaha garage. Since Spies isn’t officially on the Tech3 team yet, special racing livery is needed for the weekend, and Yamaha has released his full racing kit ahead of the weekend’s races.
While many Moto2 teams are taking the path of least resistance, and out-sourcing or flat-out purchasing their race bikes, Tech3 will enter the 2010 Moto2 season with a chassis of their own design. With Colin Edwards residing in the paddock, and regarded as one of the best development riders, there seems some logic in Tech3 tapping him and prodigy Ben Spies to swing a leg over the Moto2 bike and give their impressions. However, Tech3 has announced that is not to be the case.
Living in the Land of the Free has its advantages, but one of them is not the gift of conveniently televised motorcycle races on SPEED TV. Did you miss Sunday’s race, and Tuesday’s rebroadcast? Well, we’ve got you covered…actually the organizers of WorldSBK.com have you covered. Click here for a list of WSBK races you can stream to your desktop, including Race 1 & Race 2 of WSBK’s stop at Portimao, Portugal. Thanks for the tip Cat.
UPDATE: Nakano has officially announced his retirement from motorcycle racing, saying “I think it’s time to stop and I have decided to retire. Thanks to everyone who has supported me during 13 years as a professional racer and eleven years in the world championships. Now, if my experience is a little help, I want to contribute to the motorcycle industry. I look forward to seeing everyone at the track in the near future, this time in a different capacity.”
Multiple sites are hinting that Shinya Nakano, teammate to Maxi Biaggi on the factory Aprilia WSBK team, could be announcing his retirement from World Superbike racing as early as today. Expected to make the announcement in a press conference in Japan, the Japanese rider would be retiring after 13 years of racing, and on the eve of his 32nd birthday.