World Superbikes

MotoGP: Old gremlins return for Yamaha at Jerez

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 May 2018 06:20:00 +0000

Yamaha’s old gremlins with a hot track have returned at Jerez, with Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales struggling in hot temperatures on the opening day of action at the Spanish Grand Prix.

A huge issue for them in 2018, they had hoped that a new bike and a resurfacing of the Andalusian circuit would have made things a little easier for them, but speaking after the day’s opening two free practice sessions Rossi was disappointed to come home in ninth.

“It was a difficult day, especially in the afternoon, because in the morning I wasn‘t so bad, with the lower temperatures, but unfortunately with the higher temperatures we suffered. I‘m not happy with the balance of the bike, we need to improve, but we‘re also in trouble with the tyres. After some laps we lose grip and it looks like we have to slow down more than our opponents, so I think that will be difficult, but it‘s only Friday. We need to work and improve and we will try to better our understanding tomorrow.”

However, missing out on the chance to test at the Spanish track during the pre-season, team boss Massimo Meregalli says that they’re not worrying too much about things just yet.

“We knew that we would have a bit of catching up to do on the first day of riding in Jerez, because we didn't attend the test here earlier this year, but we expected to be doing better by this stage. Both our riders gave positive feedback about the new asphalt - its surface is better, but grip-wise it wasn't as good. As in the past, the lap times change quite drastically depending on the temperatures.

“We used both sessions to collect as much information as possible, trying various set-ups and tyre specifications. Ultimately, when we put on the soft tyre to do the time-attack, our expectations were not met. We have to improve the speed and the pace - the latter is the most important for the race. We only have two sessions to do it, but I'm confident that our engineers will come up with a good solution.”

MotoGP: Jerez qualification result

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 May 2018 06:17:00 +0000

Cal Crutchlow has topped the opening day of 2018 MotoGP action in Europe by taking the top spot on the combined times, finishing ahead of his potential rival for a Repsol Honda seat in 2019, Dani Pedrosa.

Crutchlow diced with Pedrosa and third-place finisher Johann Zarco for much of the session, with reigning champion Marc Marquez unable to get in on the action when a late crash in free practice two ended his hopes.

He finished fifth behind Andrea Iannone, with the Suzuki rider the fourth man inside the lap record and only 0.1 from Crutchlow in first. The provisional second row was rounded out by championship leader Andrea Dovizioso.

His teammate Jorge Lorenzo rallied back from a disappointing free practice one to finish seventh ahead of Jack Miller and the factory Yamaha pair of Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales, struggling after not joining the rest of the field to test at Jerez during the pre-season.

2017 KTM RC390

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 May 2018 06:12:00 +0000

KTM have moved their racy RC390 into the Euro4 era with ride-by-wire, a new side-mounted exhaust, a bellypan and, er… that’s about it.

The £5099 race replica doesn’t feature the swathe of updates lavished upon the new £4599 390 Duke we rode at its glitzy launch last month on the racetrack roof of the old Fiat factory in Turin. That bike boasts a new chassis, engine mods aplenty, uprated WP suspension, stronger brakes, a crisper gearbox, revised styling, an LED headlight, evolution switchgear, a full-colour multi-function TFT dash, and a big leap-up in build quality.

KTM have raised the bar so high with the new 390 Duke that you now can’t help feeling you’ve been a bit short changed with the not-so-new, more expensive RC390.

You won’t be surprised to learn the 2017 RC390 isn’t a whole lot different to ride than the out-going bike, other than the ride-by-wire fuelling from a closed throttle is now a little harsher. That aside, it’s still the go-to machine for aspiring young sportsbike riders and racers to learn their trade.

In previous MCN group tests it’s proved to be the fastest A2-licence-friendly machine you can lay your hands on down a twisty road, and – as we’ve seen with the KTM RC Cup that supports British Superbikes – it’s not too shabby on the track, too.

Although the suspension is slightly bouncy and the brakes could do with more power, the lightweight chassis is taut, there’s plenty of ground clearance and the Metzeler Sportec M7 tyres (110/70 x 17 front, 150/60 x 17 rear) have the grip to grind out Moto3 levels of corner speed.

The 44bhp single-cylinder engine is lumpy and vibrates through the pegs and bars at low revs compared to the new Duke 390, but on the flipside the RC has an exciting, revvy spread of easy-to-manage power. Like before, the unchanged gearbox still feels a little slow and lazy.

On a more practical level the RC390 makes a lot of sense. It’s all-day roomy, comfy and on an easy blast it will return over 66mpg, which gives it a range of over 140-miles from its tiny 10-litre fuel tank.

It might not have the Duke’s latest bells and whistles, but the RC390 comes with ABS brakes, a black and white LCD multi-function dash, illuminated switchgear buttons, chunky top yoke, adjustable brake levers, radial brakes, WP suspension and a one-piece foam single seat unit that doubles up as the pillion perch.

With its minor updates the RC390 remains the sportiest in its class and despite its modest size there’s very little it can’t do. It’ll get stuck into commuting, motorway cruising and brain-out back road scratching, but now KTM have spoiled us with the new naked version, you can’t help but wonder just how much more brilliant the RC390 would be with all those tasty new mods. Next year, maybe?

KTM’s new RC390 is a machine that mixes race-fuelled fun with easy-speed and practicality, but after riding the smoother, more refined new 390 Duke a few weeks ago and a glimpse into just how good the RC could be, we’re left feeling a little cold.

Specification

Price £5099

Engine 373.2cc 4v single

Frame Tubular Steel Trellis

Seat height 820mm

Front suspension WP 43mm non-adjustable fork

Rear Suspension Single shock with adjustable preload

Front brake 320mm single disc with four-piston caliper

Colours Black/while/orange

Power 44bhp @ 9500prm

Torque 26ftlb @7250rpm

Weight 147kg (dry)

Fuel capacity 10 litres

MotoGP: Brembo statement on Jorge Lorenzo's Qatar failure

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 18:36:00 +0000

Brembo has released the following statement after Jorge Lorenzo's dramatic exit from the season-opening Qatar MotoGP, which saw the Spaniard forced to bail off his Ducati at 110mph due to a brake problem.

The team's brake manufacturer acknowledges that there was an (unspecified) issue 'connected to the braking system', which has been 'identified and resolved':

"In relation to what happened to the rider Jorge Lorenzo of Ducati Team during the Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix, Brembo is really disappointed that the withdrawal of the rider during the lap 12 was caused by an issue connected to the braking system.

"At the end of accurate analysis of our technicians, we confirm that the issue has been identified and resolved so that this anomaly can’t recur."

Lorenzo was holding tenth place when the accident occurred, in a race won by his team-mate Andrea Dovizioso.

Round two of the 2018 season takes place in Argentina this weekend.

Dani Pedrosa leaves Sepang test on top

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:35:00 +0000

The third and final day of MotoGP testing at Sepang is over and Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa closed out the first official 2013 pre-season test on top of the timesheets for the third consecutive day as the session wound down with the appearance of rain in the final hour, effectively freezing lap times, that again improved from yesterday, with five riders under the 2.01 mark.

Pedrosa’s best lap was in 2.00.100 and done on his fourth lap out of the 44 he completed and breaking the official Sepang race lap record and the pole record, but not Casey Stoner’s 2012 Sepang test record. Finishing Honda’s testing programme early, Pedrosa packed it in at 3pm, leaving the rest of the field to try to play catch-up.

Jorge Lorenzo made a quick start also in the morning and with his fourth lap he stopped the clock in 2.00.429, 0.329s slower than the Repsol Honda rider and unable to improve in the afternoon session and he finished 2nd, again. Team mate Valentino Rossi also finally made it under the 2.01 and he finished third and just 0.113 from the reigning World Champion, but it took his 43rd lap to get him there.

Marc Marquez fell to fourth, but the MotoGP rookie took his first tumble with the RC213V in the morning, harmlessly lowsiding (his lean angles wore out the leather on his elbow) out of the final hairpin in the morning session, but he returned to track to post his best time of the day in 2:00.636.

Cal Crutchlow finished fifth and he too was able to dip under the 2.01 barrier once, the same as Rossi. Stefan Brad seems to have recovered from his health problems as he was sixth and just 0.269s from the Yamaha satellite rider and the last rider to be within a second from Pedrosa.

Alvaro Bautista concluded the day in 7th and ahead of a highly impressive Bradley Smith who is continuing his learning process with the satellite M1.

9th and 10th went to Ducati riders Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso who shaved off only some thousandths of second from Wednesday’s lap times. Pramac rider Andrea Iannone was the only other Ducati rider to cut a couple of tenths of a second from his previous day that put him in 13th and little more than 7 tenths from veteran Ducati rider Nicky Hayden. Team mate Ben Spies decided to sit out the entire day of testing, because of general soreness, as he is still recovering from his shoulder injury and hasn’t been able to train.

Michael Laverty is also another rider who impressed in these testsm as the MotoGP newbie and PBM’s CRT rider started slowly to climb the charts and concluded the day as the second best CRT rider with his 15th spot leaving behind him riders like Randy de Puniet, Danilo Petrucci and Colin Edwards.

MotoGP testing will be returning to Sepang for another three days of testing from February 26th to the 28th.

MotoGP Sepang Day 3 Test Results

01 PEDROSA, Dani - Repsol Honda Team - 2:00.100 -

02 LORENZO, Jorge - Yamaha Factory Racing - 2:00.429 +0.329

03 ROSSI, Valentino - Yamaha Factory Racing - 2:00.542 +0.442

04 MARQUEZ, Marc - Repsol Honda Team - 2:00.636 +0.536

05 CRUTCHLOW, Cal - Monster Yamaha Tech 3 - 2:00.734 +0.634

06 BRADL, Stefan - LCR Honda MotoGP - 2:01.003 +0.903

07 BAUTISTA, Alvaro - Go & Fun Honda Gresini - 2:01.502 +1.402

08 SMITH, Bradley - Monster Yamaha Tech 3 - 2:02.093 +1.993

09 HAYDEN, Nicky - Ducati Team - 2:02.184 +2.084

10 DOVIZIOSO, Andrea - Ducati Team - 2:02.277 +2.177

11 NAKASUGA, Katsayuki - Yamaha Factory - 2:02.616 +2.516

12 ESPARGARO, Aleix - Power Electronics Aspar - 2:02.628 +2.528

13 IANNONE, Andrea - Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Team - 2:02.864 +2.764

14 AKIYOSHI, Kosuke - HRC Test Team - 2:03.082 +2.982

15 LAVERTY, Michael - Paul Bird Motorsport - 2:03.874 +3.774

16 DE PUNIET, Randy - Power Electronics Aspar - 2:04.066 +3.966

17 YOSHIKAWA, Wataru - Yamaha Factory - 2:04.137 +4.037

18 BARBERA, Hector - Avintia Blusens - 2:04.211 +4.111

19 TAKAHASHI, Takumi - HRC Test Team - 2:04.288 +4.188

20 PETRUCCI, Danilo - Came IodaRacing Project - 2:04.531 +4.431

21 ABRAHAM, Karel - Cardion AB Motoracing - 2:04.766 +4.666

22 AOYAMA, Hiroshi - Avintia Blusens - 2:04.915 +4.815

23 CORTI, Claudio - NGM Mobile Forward Racing - 2:05.107 +5.007

24 PESEK, Lukas - Came IodaRacing Project - 2:05.321 +5.221

25 HERNANDEZ, Yonny - Paul Bird Motorsport - 2:05.407 +5.307

26 EDWARDS, Colin - NGM Mobile Forward Racing - 2:05.913 +5.813

27 STARING, Bryan - Go & Fun Honda Gresini - 2:05.970 +5.870

Pits to victory for Pedrosa at Valencia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 15:02:00 +0000

Dani Pedrosa won Sunday's Valencia MotoGP season finale from a pit lane start, after a dramatic accident for race leader and newly crowned double champion Jorge Lorenzo.

Yamaha test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga finished in a shock second, while Casey Stoner hunted down Alvaro Bautista to snatch a podium place in his final MotoGP appearance before retirement.

Lorenzo had been one of the few riders to correctly choose slick tyres for the drying conditions, alongside Nakasuga and Stefan Bradl.

Pole sitter Pedrosa realised his wet tyre error on the warm-up lap and was joined by Nicky Hayden, Cal Crutchlow and Alvaro Bautistato in pulling into the pits to change bikes, meaning an end of pitlane start.

Slick tyres soon began to pay off with Lorenzo rising from eighth to first in the space of four laps, as more and more wet-tyre riders peeled into pitlane.

Once all were on dry bikes, Lorenzo was leading by three seconds from title runner-up Pedrosa, with Bradl third, Nakasuga fourth and Cal Crutchlow fifth. Bradl crashed out soon after.

Pedrosa caught Lorenzo after ten laps, but then ran wide and lost five-seconds.

However Lorenzo then got into a tank-slapper while trying to lap James Ellison, just before the halfway mark of the 30 laps - which turned into a massive highside on corner exit.

The Yamaha star was left fuming but lucky not to be hurt as he trudged through the gravel to only his second non-score of the year.

The incident left Pedrosa with a huge lead over Crutchlow - who also started from pit lane - but the Englishman then crashed with seven laps to go, ending his hopes of rising higher than seventh in the standings.

Nakasuga, who impressed with sixth in last year's damp Valencia race, thus secured a shock second place in only his sixth grand prix appearance!

Meanwhile Stoner - well outside the top ten early in the grand prix – got ever faster and passed Gresini Honda's Bautista to claim the final podium place with two laps to go.

27-year-old double champion Stoner waved to his Repsol Honda team, who were hanging off the pit wall and holding a pit board saying "Going Fishing", as he took the flag for the final time in MotoGP.

Stoner was the highest ranked rider to swap bikes during the actual race.

Fifth for Gresini's Michele Pirro was the best ever result for a CRT rider, while Andrea Dovizioso (Tech 3), Karel Abraham (Cardion), Danilo Petrucci (Ioda) and Ellison (PBM) followed.

Valentino Rossi's last Ducati ride ended in tenth place and one lap down, while team-mate Hayden was an early faller.

Pedrosa concluded the season 18 points behind Lorenzo and with a best ever seven wins, one more than Lorenzo this year. Third in the standings Stoner took five wins, but missed three races due to ankle surgery.

Dovizioso was the top satellite rider with fourth overall in this year's championship, with Bautista's Valencia performance confirming a career-best fifth from Rossi and Crutchlow.

Riders and teams now have just one day off to celebrate before preparations for the 2013 season begin in earnest with a post-race test at Valencia on Tuesday and Wednesday - without Casey Stoner.

Valencia MotoGP - Race Results

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 15:00:00 +0000

The race took place on a drying track, with only Jorge Lorenzo, Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Stefan Bradl lining up on slicks.

Dani Pedrosa, Nicky Hayden, Cal Crutchlow and Alvaro Bautista then realised their tyre error on the warm-up lap and pulled into the pits to switch to their slick bikes and start from the end of pit lane.

Pedrosa caught Lorenzo after ten laps, but then ran wide and dropped five-seconds behind. However Lorenzo got into a tank-slapper while trying to lap James Ellison just before the halfway mark, which turned into a massive highside.

Pedrosa then rode to a comfortable win, while Crutchlow later crashed out of second place - handing the position to Lorenzo's team-mate and Yamaha test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga, replacing injured Factory Yamaha rider Ben Spies and also starting on slicks.

Casey Stoner put in a late charge to claim third from Alvaro Bautista in his final MotoGP appearance.

1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 48m 23.819s

2. Katsuyuki Nakasuga JPN Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 49m 1.480s

3. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda (RC213V) 49m 24.452s

4. Alvaro Bautista ESP San Carlo Honda Gresini (RC213V) 49m 26.630s

5. Michele Pirro ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini (FTR-Honda CRT) 49m 50.427s

6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 49m 54.242s

7. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (GP12) 49m 55.608s

8. Danilo Petrucci ITA Came IodaRacing (Suter-BMW CRT) 1 lap

9. James Ellison GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT) 1 lap

10. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Team (GP12) 1 lap

11. Aleix Espargaro ESP Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT) 1 lap 12. Randy De Puniet FRA Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT) 2 laps

13. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT) 2 laps

14. Colin Edwards USA NGM Forward Racing (Suter-BMW CRT) 3 laps

DNF:

Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)

Claudio Corti ITA Avintia Blusens (Inmotec-Kawasaki CRT)

Hector Barbera ESP Pramac Racing (GP12)

Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1)

Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V)

Roberto Rolfo ITA Speed Master (ART CRT)

Ivan Silva ESP Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)

Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Team (GP12)

Valencia MotoGP - Qualifying

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Qualifying was the first fully dry session of the weekend.

Injured Factory Yamaha rider Ben Spies is being replaced by test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga.

Former 250cc world champion and MotoGP rider Hiroshi Aoyama has been drafted into the Avintia Blusens squad in place of the injured Yonny Hernandez.

Also running under the Avintia banner is Claudio Corti, making his MotoGP debut this weekend as a wild-card on the Inmotec-Kawasaki.

Valencia has been resurfaced for this year's round.

1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 1m 30.844s

2. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 1m 31.195s

3. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda (RC213V) 1m 31.428s

4. Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 31.512s

5. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V) 1m 31.757s

6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 1m 31.795s

7. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Team (GP12) 1m 32.503s

8. Alvaro Bautista ESP San Carlo Honda Gresini (RC213V) 1m 32.585s

9. Hector Barbera ESP Pramac Racing (GP12) 1m 32.605s

10. Aleix Espargaro ESP Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT) 1m 32.834s 11. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Team (GP12) 1m 32.877s

12. Randy De Puniet FRA Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT) 1m 33.346s

13. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (GP12) 1m 33.442s

14. Colin Edwards USA NGM Forward Racing (Suter-BMW CRT) 1m 33.453s

15. Michele Pirro ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini (FTR-Honda CRT) 1m 33.971s

16. Katsuyuki Nakasuga JPN Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 1m 33.979s

17. Danilo Petrucci ITA Came IodaRacing (Suter-BMW CRT) 1m 33.980s

18. Ivan Silva ESP Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT) 1m 34.407s

19. Roberto Rolfo ITA Speed Master (ART CRT) 1m 34.866s

20. James Ellison GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT) 1m 34.918s

21. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT) 1m 35.363s

22. Claudio Corti ITA Avintia Blusens (Inmotec-Kawasaki CRT) 1m 36.531s

Fastest practice time:

Dani Pedrosa ESP Honda 1m 33.033s (FP3)

Official Valencia MotoGP records:

Best lap:

Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha 1m 31.002s (2006)

Fastest race lap:

Casey Stoner AUS Ducati 1m 32.582s (2008)

Pedrosa leads sunny final practice at Valencia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:57:00 +0000

2012 MotoGP title runner-up Dani Pedrosa led the way during a slow-starting final free practice session for the Valencia season finale.

After a wet and gloomy Friday, Saturday practice saw the best weather of the weekend, with bright sunshine from the start of the 45-minutes.

But damp patches were still present from overnight rain and, with the new asphalt proving slow to dry, only half of the 22 riders had recorded a lap time - on wets - by the halfway stage.

As on Friday afternoon, CRT riders were the first to risk a set of slicks, with the improving lap times of Avintia Blusens team-mates Ivan Silva and Hiroshi Aoyama eventually prompting the prototype riders to emerge on slicks with ten minutes to go.

Lap times duly plummeted, easily surpassing Randy de Puniet's 1m 36.965s Friday best and culminating in Pedrosa clocking a 1m 33.033s on his 13th and final lap. The official race lap record is a 1m 32.582s, set by Pedrosa's Repsol Honda team-mate Casey Stoner in 2008 (on a Ducati).

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Andrea Dovizioso got closest to Pedrosa this morning, but 0.6s adrift, with team-mate Cal Crutchlow a fraction slower. MotoGP rookie Stefan Bradl was the final rider within one-second of the top, with Nicky Hayden - fastest in FP1 - the lead Ducati in fifth place (+1.2s).

Yamaha's newly crowned double world champion Jorge Lorenzo spent the start and end of the session waving and wheelieing to the fans on his way to sixth, with fellow Spaniard Alvaro Bautista seventh for San Carlo Honda Gresini.

de Puniet was again the leading CRT rider in eighth (+1.9s), with double world champion Stoner, taking part in his final MotoGP weekend before retirement, ninth from a brief four-lap appearance.

Michele Pirro completed the top ten on his Gresini CRT, with Ducati riders Valentino Rossi and Karel Abraham eleventh and twelfth.

Providing the sunshine continues, this afternoon's qualifying session should be the first fully dry session of the weekend.

Rossi, Dovi, Crutchlow comment on Marquez clash

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:56:00 +0000

With Marc Marquez having been sent to the back of the Valencia grid for colliding with Simone Corsi in Friday afternoon's Moto2 practice, the young Spaniard's riding style has once again been put under the microscope.

While Race Direction clearly feels Marquez has crossed the line on this occasion, and want to avoid such incidents in the future, he had some support from his future premier-class rivals.

While nine time champion Valentino Rossi laid the blame for the accident squarely at Marquez's feet, the Italian also admitted that he enjoys watching the exciting 19 year old race:

“I like Marquez very much,” said the Italian. “His style, skills and aggression is good to follow. He's a talented guy but sometimes he is a bit too aggressive. In MotoGP the speed is a lot more high and it is more dangerous so I think that naturally he will be a bit more quiet.”

Andrea Dovizioso had not seen the accident and so didn't want to comment about it specifically, although he did say that there are similarities between Marquez and Marco Simoncelli:

“Marquez is a little bit too aggressive but I think we are in the same situation as Simoncelli,” said the Tech 3 rider. “He doesn't want to crash but his ability to feel the limit is a bit different than the other riders.

“So for him it is normal [to ride like this] but he doesn't mean to be aggressive but it doesn't matter. If you are dangerous you will have to change your style. But I don't want to speak about today because I didn't see the crash.”

Dovizioso's Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate, Cal Crutchlow, also commented on the Moto2 champion's riding style. The combative Crutchlow had an interesting take on Marquez:

“I believe that people have it in for him because he's the best,” said Crutchlow. “His bike is worse than Espargaro's. There is no other Suter up there and no-one can do what he does on that bike.

“At the end of the day he's won the title and whether he's aggressive or not that's the way it is. Some people are aggressive and some are not.

“His biggest strength is that when everyone else is worried about something he isn't. Do you remember about his eye last year? Everyone was whinging about it and worrying about it but he came to the first race and won.

“I believe he's a very, very good rider.”

Marquez, who wrapped up the Moto2 title last time in Australia, will race for Repsol Honda in MotoGP next season, taking over Casey Stoner's factory RCV.

Dovi curious about Ducati MotoGP debut

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:54:00 +0000

Andrea Dovizioso will make his Ducati debut during next week's post-race Valencia MotoGP test and the former 125cc world champion is eager to get his first impressions of his new bike.

The Italian spoke with the media this afternoon about his upcoming switch from Tech 3 Yamaha to the factory Ducati squad and, while he is clearly excited about the opportunity to race for the Bologna manufacturer, he is also realistic of the task ahead.

“I'm curious for Tuesday's test,” said Dovizioso. “However my feet are on the ground and the situation is that we will have to work on the bike. I don't have high expectations for this test, but we'll have time to work on the bike [over the winter]. At the test we will start working together and understand everything as best as we can.”

Dovizioso added that he will ride the current configuration Ducati, rather than the 2013 bike: “It's normal to ride the race bike during the test so that we can start to understand the bike. Then we can try and make the changes that we will need.”

Ducati will also test at Jerez in late November.

Having been dropped by the factory Honda squad at the end of 2011, Dovizioso has performed superbly on the satellite Yamaha this year, taking six podiums and finishing as the top satellite rider with fourth in the World Championship.

While he is clearly looking forward to being back on factory machinery next year, Dovizioso admitted this weekend will be a difficult one for him as he leaves behind Tech 3.

“Today I thought about it being the last weekend with Tech 3. I think that I can see the good points and the bad points [about moving] but I'm relaxed and I'll use the time to have fun with this team and try to leave in the best way possible by finishing well on Sunday.”

Moto2: Marc Marquez sent to the back for Corsi clash

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:53:00 +0000

Newly crowned champion Marc Marquez will start his final Moto2 race from the back of the grid after being punished for a clash with Simone Corsi in Friday afternoon practice at Valencia.

Corsi was sent tumbling through the gravel after contact from Marquez as the Spaniard tried to overtake.

Marquez ran off track, but stayed on two-wheels - just as when he tangled with Mika Kallio in practice for Motegi, Japan.

Marquez had not been punished for the Kallio incident, but Race Direction has taken a different view on this occasion.

"On Friday 09 November, the Race Direction decided to impose on rider Marc Marquez (SPA) a grid penalty to start from the last position for the race in Valencia on 11 November," read an FIM statement.

"Marc Marquez rode in an irresponsible manner during the Moto2 free practice causing danger to rider Simone Corsi (ITA) which is an infringement of the article 1.21.2 of the 2012 FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations. No appeal was lodged. The decision of the Race Direction is final."

Marquez moved from fourth to first on his final lap of Friday practice, then walked down to Corsi's Ioda pit box to apologise.

"I had already overtaken other riders on that corner and I hadn't thought about him being one of the later brakers in the class," said Marquez of the incident.

"I passed him on the inside and then felt a touch, which was totally involuntary. I immediately looked around to see how he was and, when I saw that he had crashed, I became very worried.

"I went to apologise to him after the session, he understood and the most important thing is that he wasn't hurt. I publically apologise once again.

"Later, Race Direction decided to send me to the back of the grid on Sunday, and I can do little more than respect their decision."

Marquez finished third, from the back of the grid, at Phillip Island in 2011, after also being punished for a practice incident.

The teenager, previously a world champion in 125cc, will step up to MotoGP with Repsol Honda next year.

Valentino Rossi: 'Another wasted day'

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:52:00 +0000

Valentino Rossi admitted that Friday practice at Valencia had been a wasted day for the MotoGP field, with the difficult weather conditions offering little in the way of effective track time for most of the riders.

“Another day wasted by the weather,” said Rossi. “This season we have had a lot of practice that is quite useless because the conditions are half and half like today. This morning was full wet so it was important for understanding but I wasn't fast enough.”

Even so Rossi did comment that he felt that Ducati had found a solid set-up with which to use for the rest of the weekend. The Italian admitted that it was similar to that used at Le Mans, where he finished on the podium:

“This afternoon we tried a different setup, more similar to Le Mans, and straight away I had a good feeling with the bike in the first four or five laps. The feeling was not so bad and it will be important to understand our potential with the other setting tomorrow in the full wet conditions. I think that we can have good pace [in the wet] and also for the dry. At the end of FP2 my laps were quite good in the conditions.”

Wet weather has traditionally been the only opportunity for Rossi to shine aboard the Ducati and with the forecast continuing to be mixed for the rest of the weekend he could still have a chance of a strong finish to his disappointing time with Ducati.

Rossi will make his Yamaha return in Tuesday's post-race test.

Yamaha gives M1 technical presentation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:49:00 +0000

Yamaha gave its annual MotoGP technical presentation on Friday evening at Valencia.

Here are some of the key points:

• The new 1000cc YZR-M1 had a longer wheelbase, with weight distribution moved more forwards relative to the previous 800cc machine.

• Wheelie control, Traction control and Slide Control were all refined to iron out 'dips' present in the 800cc acceleration curve.

• The average maximum speed increase relative to the 800cc was 11km/h, over the first 14 rounds.

• 'In general lap times were faster in 2012 due to the higher speed, although braking time was longer'. In the example of Motegi, the top speed of the 2012 M1 was 12km/h higher, but that also meant a braking point 17m earlier than in 2011.

The YZR-M1 won the 2012 MotoGP title with Jorge Lorenzo at the penultimate Phillip Island round.

Yamaha has taken six wins from the 17 events so far, all by Lorenzo, with an M1 on the podium at every event.

Casey Stoner still struggling with ankle injury

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:47:00 +0000

Casey Stoner, who will retire from MotoGP after Sunday's Valencia season finale, continues to feel the effects of his hefty Indianapolis crash with the Australian admitting that he still lacks flexibility in his ankle.

His home dominance at Phillip Island notwithstanding, it was clear after the opening day of practice that the very different demands of Valencia are presenting Stoner with a challenge this weekend.

Phillip Island is filled with high-speed left hand corners, whereas Valencia has a host of low-speed right hand turns that place a premium on a rider's ability to shift his weight and anchor the bike.

For Stoner this has presented a huge challenge, with the double champion admitting as much after the end of opening practice:

“The foot feels average at the moment and in the wet conditions it wasn't good today,” said Stoner, who missed three events after undergoing ankle surgery.

“I still can't get the flexibility required in the right corners.

“At Philip Island there's only two corners that we need to get over the right hand side of the bike.

“Here there's a few points that I couldn't get off the inside enough so it was a bit difficult but I didn't push hard this morning.”

Stoner was tenth in wet morning practice and then didn't record a lap time in the drying afternoon session.

Casey Stoner heads for last MotoGP race

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 06:38:00 +0000

This weekend's Valencia season finale will mark the final grand prix appearance for double MotoGP champion Casey Stoner.

The Australian made the shock announcement that he would retire at the end of this season on the eve of the Le Mans round, in May.

“This sport has changed a lot and it has changed to the point where I am not enjoying it. I don't have the passion for it and so at this time it's better if I retire now,” said Stoner, who recently turned 27 years old.

Stoner added that he was announcing his decision early to allow Honda time to find a replacement and to prove that his decision was not influenced by the championship outcome.

Stoner was leading the standings by one-point from Jorge Lorenzo at the time of his announcement, but had slipped to third in the points when he was injured at Indianapolis, forcing him to miss three races.

That also ended his hopes of a third title, but Stoner has improved in each round since returning from surgery, culminating in a dream final home appearance at Phillip Island, where he dominated every track session and won for the sixth time in a row.

"Valencia should be a little better for me again, not as good as Phillip Island, but I've always had great success there, many pole positions and race wins,” said Stoner.

"I hope we can be competitive there and with the track going left it should suit our bike and me a little better at this point.

"It's not going to be easy, but it would be nice to get another good result in my final race in MotoGP."

A winner of two 125cc and five 250c races, Stoner claimed Ducati's only MotoGP title at his first attempt in 2007 - then won 13 more races on a bike that all others have struggled to even take podiums with, before switching to Honda and instantly claiming a second world crown in 2011.

The 27-year-old's 38 MotoGP wins since his 2006 premier-class debut is more than any other rider has achieved during the same period.

Already confirmed as third in this year's standings, a 39th victory at Valencia would allow Stoner to finish the season equal with champion Lorenzo and runner-up Dani Pedrosa on six wins.

Stoner, who took his very first GP win in the 125cc class at Valencia in 2003, snatched victory from Ben Spies by just 0.015s in last year's race.

It is heavily rumoured that Stoner will switch to the Australian V8 Supercar Championship in the near future, while Moto2 champion Marc Marquez's will take Stoner's place at Repsol Honda next year.

Valentino Rossi: 'It will be a strange weekend'

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 06:37:00 +0000

Valentino Rossi will bring the curtain down on a disappointing partnership with Ducati at this weekend's Valencia season finale.

When the seven time MotoGP champion switched to Ducati at the end of 2010, it was the dream deal Italy had been waiting for since the factory's 2003 debut.

Rossi, who had won two races for Yamaha either side of a broken leg during 2010, was also inheriting a bike that had claimed three wins (from nine podiums) in the hands of Casey Stoner that season.

Even the most pessimistic predicated that Rossi would fight for occasional race wins with the Ducati.

The reality has been significantly lower, with Rossi - who had never failed to win less than two races in a premier-class season - managing only occasional podiums (three) during his 34 races and not a single front-row start.

But the most baffling aspect has been the lack of linear progress.

Even die-hard Rossi fans were braced for a low starting point at Ducati, after seeing other proven winners struggle on the Desmosedici, but expected The Doctor and his crew to steadily refine and improve the package, clawing their way closer to the top.

Changes to almost every aspect of the Desmosedici have been made since 2010, but on-track progress has been sporadic - almost random - and the fundamental issues Rossi felt from the very first test, to do with the front end, never fully solved.

Stoner took 23 race wins and a world title for Ducati between 2007-2010, but Rossi was unable to adapt his previously all-conquering riding style in the same way.

Rossi's only consolation during his two seasons in red is that he has been the highest ranking of the Ducati riders - seventh in 2011 being followed by sixth (and a chance of fifth) heading into this Sunday's finale.

Rossi's pre-Valencia comments, as distributed by Ducati, made no direct reference to it being his last race for the team:

“Valencia definitely isn't one of my favourite circuits, apart from the fact that it's in Spain, which always has a great atmosphere.

“It's a 'Micky Mouse' track that's small for MotoGP and therefore difficult and tricky. There are a bunch of left hand corners, and I normally prefer those that go to the right.

“Anyway, we'll see. The asphalt was redone and that should have improved both the grip and the bumps.

“It will be a strange weekend that should be challenging for a few different reasons, but we'll do our best.”

Team manager Vittoriano Guareschi added: “It's the last race, and we have the chance for Valentino to finish the season in fifth place. We'll all do our best to help him achieve that.”

Team-mate Nicky Hayden has been the only other Ducati rider to finish on the podium during the Rossi-era, courtesy of a damp race at Jerez 2011.

Rossi, a winner of 79 races for Honda and Yamaha, is returning to Yamaha next season, where he will re-join double world champion Jorge Lorenzo at the Factory M1 team.

Rossi will make his 1000cc Yamaha debut in the post-race test on Tuesday and Wednesday, when his replacement Andrea Dovizioso will complete his first Desmosedici laps.

Pedrosa: I want to make this weekend special

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 06:34:00 +0000

Dani Pedrosa may have lost out on the 2012 MotoGP title, but victory in this weekend's Valencia finale would at least allow the honour of most season wins.

Both Pedrosa and newly crowned double champion Jorge Lorenzo have taken six victories so far this year, with Pedrosa's retiring Repsol Honda team-mate Casey Stoner next best with five.

“I'm very excited to get to Valencia and race again in front of the Spanish crowd,” said Pedrosa, also MotoGP title runner-up in 2007 and 2010.

“It's been a long time away and I really look forward to enjoy the atmosphere there; it's always a special race because it's the last one of the season and I have a lot of people there supporting me together with my family and friends.

“I enjoy riding this track and we've had good results there in the past. So, I want to make this weekend special and fight for the win and finish the season on a high.”

Pedrosa, whose title hopes ended when he fell while leading on lap two in Australia, had never won more than four races in a year prior to this season.

Avintia confirms Aoyama for MotoGP 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 06:33:00 +0000

The Avintia Blusens team has confirmed that Hiroshi Aoyama will not only ride in place of the injured Yonny Hernandez at this weekend's Valencia season finale, but return as a full-time MotoGP rider with the team in 2013.

Aoyama won the final 250cc grand prix title in 2009, then moved to the MotoGP class with Interwetten Honda.

After a injury-interrupted debut season in the premier-class, the Japanese switched to Gresini Honda for 2011, where he scored a MotoGP best of fourth at the damp Jerez race.

Aoyama then made an unsuccessful move to World Superbikes for 2012, where he managed just 18th in the standings with Ten Kate Honda.

"First I want to say thank you to the Avintia Blusens team because they have given me the opportunity to come back to the MotoGP Championship, the series were I got my best results as a racer," said Aoyama.

"Avintia Blusens worked hard this year to develop a new bike and they did a good job. I hope I can help them to continue the development of the bike and team and that we can do good things together.

"I am excited to go back to action in this class and to try their CRT machine.

"Also I want to thank the Honda World Superbike Team for accepting my comeback in Valencia, even though I still have contract with them 'till end of season.

"I will try my best next year because the past years were not so good for me and I am really looking forward to getting back to my best potential."

Hector Barbera is tipped to ride the other Avintia FTR-Kawasaki next season, meaning both Hernandez and Ivan Silva are in search of new rides.

Avintia's best result this year is a ninth place at Indianapolis, by Hernandez.

Champion Lorenzo makes Indonesian pit stop

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 10:55:00 +0000

Fresh from securing his second MotoGP title at Phillip Island in Australia, Jorge Lorenzo stopped off to perform PR duties in Indonesia prior to his European return.

Among the activities were laps of the Sentul Karting circuit with former 250cc grand prix rider Doni Tata as well as general meet-and-greet activities organised by Yamaha Indonesia.

“It is important to maintain stamina to race. Practice often to gain maximum result,” Lorenzo told members of the Yamaha Riding Academy (pictured). “Mental strength is also important when competing against other riders.”

Of his second MotoGP title, Lorenzo said: “This is my dream, it still feels like flying in the sky! I'm so happy to celebrate my MotoGP second title in Indonesia. I hope there will be Indonesian riders in the world championships again.”

The final round of the 2012 MotoGP season will be held at Valencia, Spain from November 9-11.

HRC still against control ECU and rev limit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 10:53:00 +0000

HRC boss Shuhei Nakamoto says a proposal from MotoGP manufacturers to help lower costs and improve the show will be delivered 'soon'.

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has touted the possibility of a control ECU and rev-limit from 2014, unless the three remaining manufacturers can come up with an alternative method of achieving the cost-show goals.

In a wide-ranging interview with Speed TV's Dennis Noyes, Nakamoto made clear his annoyance at speculation regarding the 2014 rules.

The Japanese, whose Repsol Honda riders Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner will finish second and third in this year's MotoGP standings, added that discussions within the MSMA are moving forward.

"We are making a proposal, but this is a confidential issue. You will know soon... We are doing this step-by-step. Next year we will go from six engines [per rider, per season] to five," said Nakamoto, who joined HRC in 1983 and was a senior figure at the Honda F1 team from 2000-2008.

Asked what he would do if he was in charge of MotoGP rather than HRC, Nakamoto responded that his first decision would be to remove the single tyre rule.

"[With open tyre rules] at some circuits one company makes a better tyre and at other circuits another. This means there are changes, surprises, improvement," he explained, citing the example of Makoto Tamada's race wins in 2004.

Nakamoto added: "The tyre grip level is so very good [now]... You cannot make sliding if the grip is so good."

Nakamoto was less specific in terms of cost savings, but sees little benefit from either a control ECU or rev limit.

"The factories are interested in development... If someone decided on a single ECU we would have no chance of development [in MotoGP]," he said, citing Superbike, the All-Japan Championship and Honda Testing Facilities as possible alternatives.

Then came one of the most revealing comments, which sheds light on the difficult balancing act needed to reach a compromise between Dorna, the manufacturers and the cash-strapped independent race teams.

Nakamoto appeared to suggest that major cost-cutting is not his priority because - since HRC views the money it spends in MotoGP as essential R&D - any savings that result from harsh MotoGP restrictions will just be spent developing similar technology outside of the sport.

"...Anyway, we spend the money, we will use the budget anyway, but it is better [to spent it] here [in MotoGP]." Nakamoto stated that having a control ECU - which Honda, Yamaha and Ducati are all unhappy about - unilaterally imposed by Dorna would be a "crazy" decision. He used the same word to describe a rev limit, since "Honda must make a new engine and this is a big cost."

Despite the difference in opinions, Nakamoto stressed that talks with Ezpeleta are both friendly and progressing.

Anthony West fails anti-doping test

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 10:51:00 +0000

Anthony West looks set to miss the forthcoming Valencia Moto2 season finale after being handed a one-month ban following the results of an anti-doping test at Le Mans in May.

A prohibited stimulant, Methylhexaneamine, was found during the analysis.

According to Wikipedia, Methylhexaneamine was originally intended as a nasal decongestant and "has been marketed as a dietary supplement in combination with caffeine and other ingredients, under trade names such as Geranamine and Floradrene, to be used as an over-the-counter thermogenic or general-purpose stimulant."

While West has also been disqualified from his seventh place finish at the French Grand Prix, his runner-up results at the last two rounds do not appear to be in jeopardy.

"Following FIM anti-doping controls carried out during the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix meeting held in Le Mans (FRA), one of the samples was found not in accordance with the FIM Anti-Doping Code," said the FIM statement.

"The sample of Australian Moto2 class rider Anthony West contained Methylhexaneamine, a substance included in 'S.6b Specified Stimulants' prohibited in competition, and thereby infringed Art 2.1 of the 2012 FIM Anti-Doping Code.

"Following the hearing of the rider, the CDI decided to disqualify Anthony West from the French round of the 2012 FIM Moto2 World Championship, held on 20 May in Le Mans.

"In addition, the CDI imposes on the rider a sanction of one month's period of ineligibility to compete in any meeting authorised or organised by the FIM or any FIM-affiliated federation or body or in any competitions authorised or organised by any international or national level meeting organisation, from 30 October 2012.

"An appeal may be lodged with the International Tribunal of Appeal (TIA) within 5 day as from the notification of the decision."

West's case revives memories of Noriyuki Haga's positive test for ephedrine early in the 2000 World Superbike season, caused by a dietary supplement Haga had used over the winter.

Jorge Lorenzo to race Schumacher, Vettel

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 10:50:00 +0000

Newly-crowned double MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo is to race against the likes of F1 stars Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel in the end of year 'Race Of Champions'.

The Race of Champions brings together some of the world's biggest motorsport stars - from disciplines that include Formula 1, MotoGP, WRC, Touring Cars, Le Mans, Indycar and the X-Games - for a head-to-head battle in identical four-wheel machinery.

Lorenzo will race a field including F1 champions Schumacher and Vettel, plus 13-time F1 race winner David Coulthard and 500GP legend Mick Doohan. Lorenzo will also carry out a demonstration run on a Yamaha bike.

“2012 has been a fantastic year for me and I can't think of a better way to finish it off than by taking on the world's best drivers at the Race Of Champions,” said Lorenzo.

“It will be a pleasure to share such a fantastic race with some of the best drivers in the world. It will clearly be a challenge to take them on at their own game but I'll do my best to get the most out of the extra pair of wheels.

“With Mick Doohan in the field, we will both be aiming to show we can do very well on four wheels too. I hope the public enjoy it and have fun with all of us!"

Other competitors confirmed fpr 2012 include Indycar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay and multiple Australian V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup.

This year's event will be held in Bangkok, Thailand on December 14-16.

Casey Stoner: I’ll be at Valencia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 10:47:00 +0000

Casey Stoner isn't tempted to change his mind about racing in the final MotoGP round at Valencia, or retirement, after a stunning sixth successive home Australian victory on Sunday.

The 27-year-old double world champion said farewell to his home fans in perfect fashion at Phillip Island, dominating every session at a circuit that had named Turn Three in his honour.

After the race, fans flooded onto the start finish-straight to hail 'King Casey' on the podium for a final time at home.

It was Stoner's first win since before his ankle injuries at Indianapolis, in mid-August, and some felt that the Repsol Honda star might decide there was little to be gained by attending the upcoming Valencia finale.

“I'm here to finish the season out. Not just my home grand prix,” said Stoner, now confirmed as third in the championship despite missing three events. “I wasn't just planning to come back for this race alone, but as many races as I could before the end of the season.

“We didn't get the results we wanted at the last two races, but got our strength back and things worked more smoothly around here. It was fantastic and I can't ask for a better way to end my career in Australia, but at the same time I'm not finishing here.

“I'm going to Valencia to try and get another good result, but I know it'll be a very different story.”

The only rider to win a MotoGP title for Ducati also ruled out any change of heart regarding his decision to retire, but did admit he will miss the thrill of racing against the likes of Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa.

“I'm very comfortable with my decision. I'm not changing my mind every couple of minutes,” he said of retirement. “Definitely some aspects I'm going to miss - the actually racing.

“I have so much respect for Dani and Jorge. I've been racing them my whole career. We've been challenging each other and fighting with each other for so many years.

“There will definitely be something missing inside sometimes, but I'll still get to watch them and I'll come to some grands prix to enjoy it.”

Those hoping that Stoner will follow in the recent footsteps of F1 world champions Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen by returning to action a few years down the line are also likely to be disappointed.

“This sport would have to take dramatic changes for me to even consider coming back. I can never say never, but honestly I have no thoughts at this time of ever coming back,” he said.

The Valencia Grand Prix will be held from November 9-11, when Stoner will be chasing a 39th and last MotoGP win. A Valencia victory would also match new double champion Lorenzo and runner-up Pedrosa for six wins this year.

Two days later the likes of Lorenzo and Pedrosa will be back on track testing their 2013 bikes, while Stoner - who made his MotoGP debut in 2006 - will be starting retirement.

2013 Ducati 848EVO (Corse SE) Specs and Prices

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:33:00 +0000

2013 Ducati 848 EVO

For 2013, Ducati returns with its middleweight sportbike, the 848EVO, as a carryover model. The only change for 2013 is the color scheme offered on the Corse Special Edition.

The 848EVO Corse SE arrives with a lightweight aluminum fuel tank, and is dressed in Ducati Corse Test Team livery - matte black and matte grey. And like last year's model, the Corse SE receives further upgrades over the standard 848EVO: Ohlins rear suspension, Ducati Traction Control, Ducati Quick Shift, and 330mm front-brake discs.

The standard 2013 Ducati 848EVO returns in three color schemes: Ducati Red with a red frame and black wheels, Dark Stealth with a black frame and black wheels, and Arctic White with a red frame and red wheels.

The 848 received the "EVO" treatment in 2011, the engine up six horsepower to create 140 horsepower at 10,500 rpm, and 72.3 ft. lbs. of torque at 9,750 rpm. And this power is all delivered aboard one of Ducati's lightest sportbike chassis; the 2013 848EVO weighs 370 lbs. dry.

The standard EVO is further enhanced with Showa suspension, 320mm Brembo Monobloc brakes, and sexy, aerodynamic bodywork.

The 848EVO Testastretta Evoluzione engine features a 94mm x 61.2mm bore and stroke, with four valves per cylinder. The liquid-cooled, 90-degree L-Twin features specially-designed crown pistons and a unique combustion-chamber design for efficient fuel burn. The 848 arrives with a 13.2:1 compression ratio, and high-performance camshafts.

Featuring Marelli fuel injection, the Desmo breathes through race-derived 60mm elliptical throttle bodies, and exhales through a lightweight 2-1-2 exhaust system that is sculpted underneath the 848EVO's tailpiece.

But the Italian engineers didn't stop at just horsepower; Ducati says "the highly advanced 848 engine was the first Ducati Superbike to introduce vacuum die-cast crankcases, formed using Vacural technology, a process that achieves a significant weight saving and ensures consistent wall thickness and increased strength."

The 848EVO features the famed lightweight Trellis frame that utilizes a 34mm main section tubes, and a front sub-frame designed of magnesium for extra weight savings. The chassis features Ducati's signature, single-sided swingarm which was also constructed of lightweight aluminum for further weight savings.

Up front, the 848EVO features 43mm Showa and a control-enhancing steering damper for optimal front-end stability. Out back, the 848EVO arrives with a linkage suspension with separate lower pick-up points for the push-rod and fully adjustable Showa single shock. Ducati says this "tandem design effectively reduces stress around the linkage pick-up area of the Trellis frame."

The 848 EVO rolls on lightweight five-spoke, Y-shaped wheels mounted with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP 120/70 ZR17 (front) and 180/55 ZR17 (rear) tires.

Stopping the standard 2013 Ducati 848EVO are massive 320mm discs up front squeezed by Brembo Monobloc four-piston calipers, with a 245mm disc out back squeezed by a two-piston caliper.

Ducati's 848EVO features carefully designed bodywork that hugs the lines of the chassis, which "enables the rider to blend effortlessly into the correct riding position." But it's not just for appeal and body position; the 848EVO's bodywork was also designed to assist with cooling and providing fresh air into the pressurized airbox.

2013 Ducati 848EVO Specs:

Engine:

Type: L-Twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder Desmodromic, liquid cooled Displacement: 849.4cc Bore x Stroke: 94x61.2mm Compression ratio: 13.2:1 Power: 140hp (103kw) @ 10,500rpm Torque: 72.3lb-ft (98Nm) @ 9,750rpm Fuel injection: Marelli electronic fuel injection, elliptical throttle bodies Exhaust: Lightweight 2-1-2 system with catalytic converter and 2 lambda probes. Twin stainless steel mufflers

Transmission:

Gearbox: 6 speed

Ratio: 1=37/15 2=30/17 3=28/20 4=26/22 5=24/23 6=23/24

Primary drive: Straight cut gears, Ratio 1.84:1

Final drive: Chain; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 39

Clutch: Wet multiplate with hydraulic control

Chassis:

Frame: Tubular steel Trellis frame in ALS 450

Wheelbase: 1430mm (56.3in)

Rake: 24.5°

Front suspension: Showa 43mmfully adjustable usd forks

Front wheel travel: 127mm (5in)

Front wheel: 5-spoke in light alloy 3.50 x 17

Front Tyre: Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP, 120/70 ZR17

Rear suspension: Fully adjustable Showa unit. Progressive linkage. Aluminium single- sided swingarm (Ohlins on Corse SE)

Rear wheel travel: 120mm (4.7in)

Rear wheel: 5-spoke light alloy 5.50 x 17

Rear tire: Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP, 180/55 ZR17

Front brake: 2 x 320mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Monobloc 4-piston calipers (330 on Corse SE)

Rear brake: 245mm disc, 2-piston caliper

Fuel tank capacity: 15.5l - 4.1 gallon (US)

Wet weight: 194kg (427lb)

Dry weight: 168kg (370lb)

Instruments: Digital MotoGP derived unit with displays for: Speed, rev counter, lap times, time, air temp, coolant temp, battery voltage, A & B trips, fuel reserve trip, scheduled maintenance. Warning lights for: Neutral, turn signals, high-beam, rev-limit, oil pressure, fuel reserve. Plus: Integrated immobilizer system.

Seat height: 830mm (32.6in)

2013 Ducati 848EVO Color Options/MSRP:

Ducati Red / $13,995

Stealth Black /$13,995

Arctic White / $13,995

Corse SE Livery / $14,995